Rating: Mature

The Secret of our Hearts

Chapter 1: A Heart Reborn

." (AN: Konnichiwa! This is my first fic, so please be gentle with me. In this story, I decided to change the ages a bit. During the Chuunin exams, Naruto was 14 here, and Anko was 19. This story takes place four years later. Meaning Naruto is 18, and Anko is 23.)

Konoha Village

The first rays of morning light fill the dark room of Naruto Uzumaki. The light shines right in his still closed eyes awakening the young man. Slightly annoyed, the young man sat up and begins to get dressed. Years of dealing with the hatred of the villagers towards him, has hardened his once overflowing heart. With Sakura crippled of chakra while on a mission, Sasuke betraying the village, and Iruka having been slain by Orochimaru, Naruto was once again alone.

He watched as Kakashi, his mentor sacrificed himself to protect him. He cringes at the memory. The rage that welled up within him caused his scar to burn "One day, one day Orochimaru will pay with his life!" Naruto says with a slight red aura. As he walks towards his dresser to grab a shirt, he brushes his hand over the scar on his stomach from that night one year ago when he would meet his only remaining lifeline.

He looks at his clock it reads 9:45 am. "Time to meet Anko, I guess. She better be on time." Thinking that he is not truly alone, he smiles a bit, and grabs his Hitae-ate while walking towards the door. Over time, the former loudmouth brat turned ANBU Captain Naruto Uzumaki matured. He lost his baby fat and grew tall and slender. This made him handsome, but still no one would dare approach the Kyuubi container. The pain that the fox spirit caused was still fresh in their minds. He also became more reserved, and stopped pulling his childish pranks. However, it seemed as though no one noticed by the continuance of the hatred. Naruto walked towards the Ichiraku ramen stand and sat down. He waited patiently for Anko. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, he was getting a bit annoyed. "She is always late; whoever let her become a Jounin should be married to her." He says laughing. He started to reminisce about the events that led to this point.

-Flashback-

Naruto sits in the back of a crowd. This crowd is here to mourn the death of all of the brave ninja who died protecting the village. Naruto started sobbing quietly. He was alone and he could not take it anymore. He sat there with the wound he got the previous night in the battle with the forces of the sound. It was too much for the young ninja to bear. Just as the pain had reached its peak, a hand touched his shoulder. He looks up to see that the hand belongs to Mitarashi Anko, a junior Jounin, and a known hard ass. He looked into her deep brown eyes and wondered why she of all people would be here with him.

At first Naruto jumped into a defensive stance, but after seeing her eyes red from crying, he relaxed a bit. "Anko-san, why are you here?" Naruto asked a bit shocked. "You can call me Anko, Naruto you are not alone." she said supportively. "Yes, I am!!! Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan, and Iuka-san are all dead! Moreover, Sasuke betrayed us. I have no one left." as Naruto said this he was breaking down. He clutched onto her tightly crying into her coat. In an uncharacteristic move, she hugged him tight and sat there with him. "You are not alone; I will be here to support you from now on." As she said this, she felt the familiar feeling of wanting revenge coming from the young boy. He looked up at her shocked, but smiled and hugged his angel tightly.

-End Flashback-

He starts thinking back on how the death of Kakashi had affected Anko. He thought back to the Chuunin exams, when she cut him with a kunai. She had freaked him out and yet he could sense a strange gentleness exuding from her body, as if she was using her anger as a shield. Naruto could relate, as he used his smile as a shield against the pain he felt. He wanted to talk to her about it then, but with the exams in full swing, it would have to wait.

After the Jounin death, Anko went looking for a shoulder to cry on, but found none. She had once said that the pain had driven her to the only other person who knew of the pain of being alone, as much as she did. Somehow, she knew he would not push her away. She just sat there very vulnerable. Crying and holding tightly on to Naruto. He just sat there and held her, not wanting to take advantage of the current situation.

After several weeks of pain. Anko came to a decision. While training with Naruto as she had a kunai with a note attached. She was going to hand it to him but she lost her nerve and threw it at him instead. He caught it and read the note. He blushed, and walked up to an even more embarrassed Anko. He smiled and hugged her. She could feel his heart jumping and took the initiative. She held his face and closed her eyes while leaning closer to him. She pressed her lips to his as a tear ran down her cheek. Naruto realized this and smiled. Neither of them had to be alone now. They would always have a friend to share the pain.

However, is that all they were destined? Naruto was pondering this idea. He loved Anko with all of his Heart, but he wondered if she felt as strongly as he did. He knew she loved him. However, was it enough to take that next big step? Perhaps, it was time to put up or shut up. He sat up for many nights wondering if it was the right time.

Meanwhile she was wondering the same thing. She waned to complete him and share his sorrows. However, there was still one thing keeping her up at night. Orochimaru's curse mark. He could control her if she let her guard down. She could very well harm the one she has sworn to protect. Was this a risk she was willing to take? Was he willing to take the same risk? Could she control it? These questions haunted her night after night. However, her body feels warm when she thinks of her "Naruto-kun". She calls him that all the time when they are alone. However, because of her status she will not say this in public.

Naruto ordered a soda and continued to think. He would be killed if his plan were to fail. She would certainly bury him in a swamp to rot if he did not play this right. He remembers the night when they had their first date. They had promised to remain sexless until their wedding night. He smiled but was kind of nervous thinking about Anko nude, and willing. "I bet she is a demon in the sack." He thought to himself blushing.

He is disturbed from his thoughts by a dango stick in his shirt around the collar. Only one person could do that to him. "Nice one Anko-chan!" He says smiling. She appears in front of him. "Who are you calling chan?" He appeared behind her and grabbed her waist. "Would you like to be called baby instead?" he said knowing that she loved that. She jerked a bit, embarrassed at being pronounced that way in public. He decided that it was now or never, and there was no looking back. He grabbed her hand and placed a silver ring on it. She blushed but knew why he had done this. "I love you Anko, and I want to be with you always. Mitarashi Anko, will you marry me?" She was so happy that she thought she was in heaven. "What are you stupid?!" She said in a mock angry tone. "Of course, yes, Naruto Uzumaki, I will marry you!" She hugged him and cried into his chest. "Finally I can be with Naruto-kun forever." She said under her breath.

They took off towards the church located on the southern side of the village. The priest was hesitant to say the least, but Anko "Convinced" him. Never try to stop a girl in love was his lesson that day.

"Do you Naruto Uzumaki take Anko Mitarashi as you wife?"

"Believe it!!! ...Ugh...I mean, I do."

Naruto said embarrassed. Anko thought this was a riot, and started giggling.

"And, do you Anko Mitarashi take Naruto Uzumaki to be your husband?"

"Hell yeah!" She Said Excitedly

. "I now pronounce you husband and wife you may now kiss..."

Before the priest could finish, Anko was all over Naruto like a cat in heat. She was apparently sick of holding back her primal urges. She groped and kissed the stunned young man. They started going at it on one of the pews. Fortunately, for the Priest and the Janitor they left before the entire building collapsed.

Both Ninja were happier than at any point in their entire lives. This however did not relieve the pain of their mutual pasts. On the other side of the coin, their combined strength might just be enough to secure a meaningful future for them. However, they were blissfully unaware of the trials laid out for them.

Authors Notes: So this really is my first fanfic. I always wanted to try this, but I was waiting to find a couple suitable for such a dark romance/drama.

As I am new to this, I would like any constructive criticisms you might have. Feel free to R&R. I want to know how to get better.