Naruto; Emperor

Spark

When he returned to the Izakaya, everyone told him in unison, "You're screwed,"

Naruto slumped in defeat on the cushions of one of the more private room, "Don't I know it," He looked at Misao, "Can I get some food?"

Misao cheered, "On it! But you're still screwed!"

Naruto whimpered, "This is bad. This is really bad, dattebayo!"

As he rolled around, he couldn't help the way his heart pounded from his memory on the head of the Yondaime talking to Hinata. He was also overwhelmed by how she could actually look past his status as Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi and see Uzumaki Naruto. Not to mention the way she confidently told him that if 'Naruto' became something more other than Hokage then she will celebrate it. It meant that she will always support whatever 'Naruto' wanted to be.

He sat up and pondered over the new revelation he learned about Hinata. She had known long before he did and she had been rightfully afraid. But she didn't turn her back on him. Instead she watched and discovered for herself that he's not Kurama. And then she became...enamored with him simply because he worked hard despite his mountains of failure. She even believed that her fear of him was shameful.

Naruto was not without marriage proposals. He had met daughters of nobilities that wanted to be with him because of his status. When his godfather learned of it, he had needled Naruto to accept them. Create his harem of beauties, as he put it. Naruto had been tempted. But then he read reports after reports from his Oniwaban about the numerous harems around the Continent from numerous courts and ruling houses. He had asked them because he wondered how a life with a harem of beauties be like.

It was a battlefield.

A garden of flowers with poisons and thorns. Hiding snakes and other deadly schemes beneath their vibrant blooms and verdant leaves.

It doesn't help that ever since he grew close with Kurama, he could sense negative emotions and dangerous intents. Even though he has not chosen anyone as his intended, the girls were already treating their possible competition like mortal enemies. Then there were those who had killed their competitions. He could see the ghosts of the people they had wronged following them and cursing them. Becoming their personal onryou. So with these two senses showing him the true reality of having a harem of beauties, Naruto decided that it wasn't worth it. It was only funny on the surface, watching them argue over him. The truth of the matter was ugly. Even more when mothers begged for his judgment when their children became victims for the competition.

Naruto hated seeing ghosts of children that cling to the clothes of their bereaved mothers.

He could not understand how his predecessors could have so many women in their lives. How could they live like that?

So Naruto made up his mind to only have one wife for a lifetime. He knew that his life will be longer than hers, so he could only compromised so. At least his children would be mature enough to handle half-siblings. Hopefully. Hindsight would be 50/50. He can plan all he wants but fate's a bitch.

Naruto looked up to see his foods coming in. As he watched plates and bowls of serving being placed before him, he returned to thinking about Hinata. He felt like he had found his Queen, his Empress, but how does he go about it? When he talked to Hinata that day, the thought of making her his Bride has been plaguing his mind. But the fact of the matter was; he had lied about his name and origin. Not by malicious intent but a lie remained a lie.

It flattered him that Hinata still think highly of 'Naruto'.

The fact that she's not even lusting after 'Haruto' despite the magnetic pull he naturally has for being the Ruler like so many other females showed him the depth of her feelings for 'Naruto'. She might not even realize it. She probably believed that she admired him deeply. That only made him want her more. But like every single one of his retainers had bluntly burned him with; he's screwed.