Published at 18th of September 2024 10:56 am

Chapter 114 Destiny's Vow: 7 The Path to a Heir

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The following days in Konoha felt calm and almost mundane after the intense battle with the shadow of Mōryō’s darkness. Naruto, unaware of the hidden tensions brewing, spent his days training, helping around the village, and occasionally hanging out with Shion, whom he had grown closer to after their unexpected date. Life was simple, at least from Naruto’s perspective.

Shion, however, had not forgotten her mission—the creation of an heir to continue the line of priestesses charged with sealing demonic entities. It was a sacred duty she could not forsake, and Naruto, with his strength, kindness, and latent potential, seemed like the ideal candidate. Yet, as dedicated as she was to her mission, there was an unexpected obstacle she hadn’t anticipated: Hinata Hyūga.

It wasn’t long before Hinata began noticing Naruto spending more time with Shion. At first, she told herself it was nothing to worry about. After all, Naruto was just helping Shion with her duties as a priestess, and they were likely working together to combat the threat of Mōryō’s remnants. But every time Hinata saw them together—walking through the village, talking and laughing, or sitting in the training field—she couldn’t help but feel a pang of something she couldn’t quite name.

One afternoon, as Hinata made her way through the village, she spotted Naruto and Shion standing together near the Hokage monument, talking quietly. Shion’s body language seemed soft, almost affectionate, and Naruto, as oblivious as ever, was grinning and chatting casually.

Hinata’s chest tightened, and before she could stop herself, she found her feet moving toward them.

_______________________________________________________________

Naruto, completely unaware of the undercurrent of tension forming, was in the middle of explaining one of his latest training sessions to Shion, using exaggerated hand gestures and an excited tone.

“So then I pulled off this new move, and you should’ve seen the look on Kakashi-sensei’s face!” Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his head proudly. “I think even he didn’t expect me to get that good with the Rasengan!”

Shion smiled at him, though her mind was only half on his words. Her thoughts drifted to how she might approach the topic she had been avoiding. While she had already made her intentions clear about wanting an heir, Naruto still didn’t seem to grasp the full gravity of what that entailed. She had tried subtle hints, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that subtlety wasn’t the way to reach him.

“Naruto,” Shion began gently, her voice soft but serious, “you remember what I told you about the heir?”

Naruto blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. “Oh, yeah! You said something about continuing the line of priestesses or something, right?”

Shion nodded, her gaze steady. “That’s right. It’s not just about defeating Mōryō and his remnants. My duty as a priestess also means I need to ensure that there will be another to take my place one day.”

Naruto scratched his head. “Yeah, I get that. You said you need an heir, but how do I fit into all of this?”

Shion bit her lip, realizing this was the moment she had to be direct. “You… you would be the father of that heir, Naruto.”

For a moment, Naruto stood frozen, his brain struggling to process her words. “Wait… what?”

Shion nodded again, her expression calm. “It’s my duty, and I chose you, Naruto. Your strength, your spirit—it’s what’s needed to ensure that the next generation can carry on the task of protecting the world from Mōryō’s darkness.”

Naruto’s mouth hung open as he tried to make sense of what she was saying. “So, wait… you mean you want me to… you know, with you…?”

Before Shion could answer, a soft voice interrupted them.

“N-Naruto… Shion…”

Both Naruto and Shion turned to see Hinata standing just a few feet away, her face pale but her eyes determined. Naruto, being Naruto, smiled brightly, completely unaware of the tension in the air.

“Hinata! Hey! What’s up? You’re just in time, Shion was explaining something important to me.”

Hinata’s gaze shifted between Naruto and Shion, her heart pounding in her chest. She had heard enough of their conversation to understand the situation, and it made her stomach churn. But instead of retreating, Hinata squared her shoulders, trying to summon the courage to speak.

“I-I heard what you were talking about,” Hinata said softly, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger with each word. “And… and I wanted to say that Naruto is important to me too.”

Naruto blinked, confused. “Huh? What do you mean, Hinata?”

Shion, however, seemed to understand exactly what was happening. She regarded Hinata with a calm, almost indifferent expression, as if she didn’t see Hinata’s presence as a threat.

Hinata took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. “Naruto… I’ve always admired you. And I’ve always wanted to be by your side. So… if Shion is asking you for something like that, I want you to know that… I’m here too.”

Naruto blinked again, completely lost. “Wait, what? Hinata, you’re here for what?”

Shion looked at Hinata, then back at Naruto, her voice calm and almost reassuring. “Hinata, it seems you misunderstand. My goal is to ensure there is an heir, someone who can carry on the role of protecting the world from the darkness. I chose Naruto because I believe he is the right person for that. Whether he has other women in his life is not my concern. My only objective is to fulfill my duty.”

Hinata’s eyes widened, surprised by Shion’s bluntness. “Y-You don’t mind if… if Naruto and I…?”

Shion shook her head slightly. “No, I don’t. My focus is on the heir. If Naruto wishes to have others by his side, it does not affect what I need from him.”

Naruto’s face was now a perfect portrait of confusion. “Wait… wait, wait, hold up! What are you two talking about? What’s going on?”

Hinata blushed deeply, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. “Naruto… Shion wants to… to have a child with you.”

Naruto’s eyes widened in shock, and he felt his knees nearly buckle. “W-WHAT? A child?!”

Shion sighed softly, realizing that no matter how many times she explained, Naruto still didn’t grasp the concept fully. “Yes, Naruto. It is a necessary part of my duty as a priestess. It’s something that must happen.”

Naruto’s face turned bright red, and he looked from Shion to Hinata, completely overwhelmed. “B-But… I mean… I’m not ready for something like that! And you’re both… I don’t know… this is all so sudden!”

Hinata, still blushing furiously, looked at the ground, but her voice was firm. “Naruto, I… I don’t want to lose you. I’ve always admired you, and I’ve always wanted to be by your side.”

Naruto stared at her, his heart pounding. “Hinata… I didn

"... Hinata... I didn't know you felt this way," Naruto stammered, still trying to wrap his head around everything.

Hinata blushed even deeper, her hands fidgeting nervously. "I've always admired you, Naruto. Since we were kids. And... I don't want to just stand by and watch this happen without telling you how I feel."

Naruto blinked, speechless. The weight of both Shion’s proposal and Hinata’s confession hung heavily in the air. He had fought fierce enemies, survived countless battles, and faced down overwhelming odds. But nothing in his ninja training had prepared him for this.

Shion, sensing the awkward tension, stepped forward. "Naruto, you don’t need to make any decisions right now. This is something that can be discussed later. But I will say this: whether you choose to have others by your side, or not, my duty remains unchanged. I chose you because I trust your strength and spirit."

Hinata turned to Shion, her soft eyes still filled with determination. “I understand that your mission is important. But… Naruto’s feelings matter too. I… I want him to know that he doesn’t have to face this alone, and that... I’m here for him. No matter what.”

Naruto stood there, utterly flustered, caught between the two women. He scratched the back of his head, his brain spinning. “Man… this is a lot to take in. I mean, Shion, I get that you have to do this whole heir thing, and Hinata, I… I didn’t know you felt that way, but... this is way too much for me to handle right now!”

Shion nodded solemnly. "I understand. It is a lot to ask, and I don’t intend to pressure you."

Hinata, her voice softer now, nodded as well. "Naruto… we’ll give you time to think about everything. You don’t have to decide anything now."

Naruto, still overwhelmed, nodded slowly. “Yeah… thanks. I think I need some time to think this all through.”

Shion and Hinata exchanged a brief look—one filled with silent understanding, though their motives were different. While Shion’s mission was clear and unyielding, Hinata’s feelings were personal and deeply rooted. Both women, in their own way, were fighting for the same thing: a future with Naruto. But it would be up to Naruto to decide how that future would take shape.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the village grew quiet, Naruto found himself walking home, his mind filled with questions, doubts, and unexpected feelings he didn’t quite know how to handle.

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