AN: And it's finally here! Sorry this one took so long, folks. This particular update was a bit harder for me to write for reasons you'll see at the end. Fair warning; heavy dialogue this chapter and a mini-lime at the end.
Chapter 7: Promise of a Lifetime
"Something must be done." Indra spoke up as he shifted in the mental seat provided by Naruto and his sub consciousness. "This Sakura girl has been impeding us at every turn; she's unwilling to accept that we're a totally new person."
"She was a supporter of ours in our last life, kit." Kurama counselled. "But this isn't our past life. Remnant's a fucked up place and it'll require different methods and a more forceful hand to get it to cooperate. Sakura doesn't understand this; she's holding us up to the pedestal we created for ourselves all those years ago and expecting us to be the same golden boy we were."
"That can't happen." Indra agreed with his Bijuu co-host. "You are the adopted son of Eddard Schnee and the heir to his corporate empire. You grew up with a family this time around, of course you'd change!"
"We can't just kill her." Naruto sighed and leaned back in his mental seat. "I may have changed, but I'm not about to kill one of my friends."
"Maybe you don't have to, my boy." Their guest finally spoke up. "There's one more reincarnated soul from your past life that may be able to replace her on your team. You just have to… encourage her expungement."
"Get her thrown off my team?" Naruto raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. "How would I go about that?"
"Espionage and deception." Indra smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You're still a Shinobi, Naruto. Put those skills to use once more."
"And we could probably get the Yamanaka girl and Tenten on board with this as well." Kurama suggested. "They're fiercely loyal to you, and I'm pretty sure Ino wants you to ravage her seven ways to Sunday, so you can get their cooperation one way or another."
"Stop trying to set me up with a harem, dammit!" Naruto blushed. "I already have Weiss and Hinata told me that Winter's also in love with me, plus there's Coco! I'm the heir to a corporation in a world where polygamy is either illegal or looked down upon; this isn't the Elemental Nations!"
"Well… who's to say you don't have a mistress or two on the side?" Their guest joined in on Kurama's teasing.
"Dammit, old man, not you too!" This time, Naruto slammed his head down upon the desk in defeat.
"It's just an idea for now, anyway, Naruto." Hagoromo chuckled. "At any rate, if you wish for me to get into contact with Sakura's replacement, you have but only to say the word."
"Who is it?" Naruto raised his head from the desk.
"Shikamaru Nara." Hagoromo answered. "He should be more than capable of taking Sakura's spot should you wish it."
"I'll think on it." Naruto nodded. "For now, my flight back to Beacon is almost over."
"Of course." The Sage nodded with a fatherly smile. "I shall await your answer."
And with the conversation over, Naruto cut the mental link to his sub consciousness and woke up from the nap that he had taken as a cover for the meeting. He blinked a few times to rid himself of the cobwebs in his head and stretched in his seat, yawning as he did so.
"Sleep well?" James asked him.
"Actually yes, I did." Naruto nodded, then noticed that the chess board in front of them had been reset while he was sleeping. "Another quick game before we land, eh?"
"Tiebreaker." Winter giggled. "Winner here takes the whole round."
"And what does our guest think?" Naruto took a glance over to the back seat of the airship they were flying in. "Who's gonna win?"
There the cat Faunus he captured sat, handcuffed to the table she was sitting at, flanked by two of James's personal guards. Realizing that she was being spoken to, she lifted her head and merely glared at the three, deigning to even speak.
"Like I even wanted you to speak anyway, Fang." He spat harshly at the girl as he turned back in his seat to face James and his sister. "Here's hoping she's made an example of."
"We'll question her first." James nodded as he moved one of his white pawns. "And then I'll request that she be extradited back to Atlas for a proper trial. She was involved with the White Fangs, had a personal relationship with yours and Weiss's kidnapper and probably knew about the entire operation. She had inside knowledge that we need and she'll serve as an excellent example to the Fangs should I retain custody…"
"I don't see why we just don't interrogate her now, then dump her body somewhere." Winter's piercing blue eyes bore into the yellow of their guest's. "Those monsters were going to rape Weiss; they disfigured you, Naruto…" Her voice dipped into an uncharacteristic growl. "I want her executed."
"Calm down, Winter." James advised as Naruto moved his own pawn. "That's for the court to decide, not you and not Naruto."
"I didn't know about the kidnapping." Their guest spoke up.
"Shut up!" Naruto barked without looking at her. "We're not questioning you yet."
"Adam didn't tell me about it!" She pressed, this time a bit more desperate.
"He said shut up!" The female of the two guards harshly backhanded her with her armored hand. "Stupid animal…"
"That's enough." James admonished the guard. "She needs to be in one piece for her audience with Ozpin."
"Yes, General." The guard in question nodded her compliance.
"Speaking of…" Naruto started as he stared out of a window after moving a knight into place. "We're here."
"Looks like you're still tied up, General." Winter again giggled as she stood from her seat.
"Not for long, Winter." James shook his head as he also stood.
"You two!" Naruto called out to the guards. "Get her up, we're moving."
"Yes, sir." The male of the two snapped off a salute and harshly tugged the cat Faunus to her feet. "Walk." He commanded, his sidearm trained onto her the entire time.
It was a spectacle. As soon as they exited the airship, the students and staff of Beacon who were walking through the courtyard all stopped and stood to the side as James, Winter and Naruto led the way, followed by their prisoner, the two guards and a small retinue of six AK-130's. Though in hushed whispers, Naruto knew that the crowd was talking about their guest, as well as the presence of James, leading to the conclusion that something big was happening.
Finally, they entered the Academy proper, where they found Ozpin, Glynda and the rest of Team NITS waiting for them. After sparing Sakura a lingering gaze, Naruto stepped forward.
"Mission accomplished, Professor." He declared proudly.
"Very good." Ozpin praised him with a smile and nod of the head, then turned his attention to his guests. "James, so good to see you again." He extended a hand.
"And you, Ozpin." James took the offered hand and shook it with a smile.
"Miss Schnee." He nodded to Winter.
"Professor." Winter politely nodded back.
"And who is this?" He gestured to the Faunus girl.
"This, Professor…" Naruto began. "Is an agent of the White Fang. She and her partner attacked the train. Her partner escaped, but I managed to capture her, in case we wanted to question her."
"Excellent." He nodded, then turned on a heel and began walking away. "Please, follow me."
"I'll catch up with you all." Naruto turned to his team. "I need to be there for this."
"No, you don't." Sakura glared at him. "You're coming with us to class."
"He's still on a mission, Sakura." Ino pointed out. "We can't just up and tell him what he is and isn't going to do."
"Like Ino said." Naruto nodded. "I'm still on a mission and I have to be there for the interrogation."
"No." She shook her head. "I'm not letting you out of my sight again."
"Return to class." The tone of Naruto's voice dipped into his old 'Hokage' voice. "That's an order."
"Not going to happen." She shook her head while also standing up straighter at the tone. "I don't trust you to be at this interrogation."
"Are you questioning your Team Leader's orders, student?" James stepped in.
"Indeed I am, General." Sakura nodded. "I do not think it wise for him to be alone with this Faunus girl."
"He won't be." Ozpin also took note of the situation. "We all will be in attendance, so your suspicions of his conduct are unfounded."
"I say again…" This time, Naruto's voice held a light growl to it. "Go back to class. I'll deal with your insubordination later." He turned to Ino. "You're in charge until I get back."
"Got it." Ino nodded. "Come on, let's go." She tugged at Sakura's arm as she and Tenten walked off.
"Is she always so insubordinate?" Winter asked.
"Up until recently, things were fine between us…" Naruto sighed in frustration. "I don't know how we're going to get through this…"
"An issue for another time." Ozpin advised as he began his trek once again. "Shall we?"
It was a rather quick walk through the Academy until they made it to Beacon Tower, where they led the Faunus girl into a secluded room, before which James ordered his six robotic soldiers to take positions at and around the entrance of the room while the girl was led in and sat down at a table. Ozpin soon took his seat immediately across from her while Naruto and James stood on his right and left respectively, with Glynda in one corner of the room and Winter in another.
Carefully, Ozpin made a temple with his hands under his chin as he studied the girl. She was trying to hide the fact that she was a Faunus with a bow tied around her ears, but he was experienced enough to tell a Faunus from a human. After clearing his throat, he began.
"What's your name, miss?" He asked.
"Blake." She answered softly. "Blake Belladonna."
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Belladonna." He smiled. "My name is Ozpin, the Headmaster of this Academy… though I suppose you already knew that?"
"I did." She nodded.
"Now, Miss Belladonna, you hold information that we need." He explained, his voice unnaturally even. "If you cooperate with us, I can promise you mercy, but if you don't…"
"Just to be clear..." James leaned down to whisper to his colleague. "I'm taking custody of her. She's committed crimes against Atlesian citizens and she should be tried in an Atlesian court."
"One thing at a time, James." Ozpin whispered back, then turned his attention back to their guest. "Now, what can you tell us of the White Fang?"
"Plenty." Blake spoke up. "Though you should know that I was planning on leaving them at the exact moment he came along." She gestured to Naruto.
"A likely story." Naruto scoffed. "She's just trying to save her own ass, Professor."
"You understand, we can't take your word on that." Ozpin directed a lingering gaze on her. "You were caught in the act with a known and wanted criminal."
"And said criminal ordered the raping of my little sister and the butchering of my little brother." Winter piped up from her corner. "I see little room for mercy here."
"It's the truth!" Blake defended herself. "I was with the White Fang because they promised equality and peace for the Faunus! I wanted no part in the recent assassinations and terrorism!"
"Blake Belladonna…" James had finished swiping through his Scroll for one particular document. "Partner: Adam Taurus, wanted for multiple cases of breaking and entering, grand larceny, grand theft auto, five counts of assault, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and…" He paused as he slid his Scroll onto the table so she could see her own rap sheet. "Ten counts of murder."
If Blake could have gone any whiter, she probably would have. Already, the case being made against her was too much to overcome and she knew that she didn't have a leg to stand on.
"So, how about you just snitch on those scumbag friends of yours, huh?" Naruto leaned in and placed both hands on the table. "Or are you now figuring that since you're looking at either life in prison or a firing squad, you're gonna take the info down with you?"
"Those eyes of yours…" Blake finally spoke after a very long pause. "I've heard you can enter people's minds with them."
"So, she finally caught on…" Indra chuckled.
"I was hoping you'd recall that particular ability I have." Naruto smirked. "I'm your only chance of getting out of this alive."
"Naruto?" James glanced questioningly at him.
"Enter me." Blake all but begged. "Please!"
"HAH!" Kurama cackled. "She's begging you to enter her, kit!" Another round of roaring laughter. "Well, don't disappoint her, give her all you got!"
'Dammit, Kurama!' Naruto mentally screamed. 'Enough with the innuendos!'
As soon as he got his foxy tenant under control once again, he nodded and shifted his eyes into his Mangekyou form, which Blake recognized from the train encounter.
"This is what I did to Adam, though with an entirely different reason in mind." He explained. "I wanted to break him, while I just want to read you."
"If it'll exonerate me, then do as you please." She remained resolute.
As he walked around the table, he prepared himself to dive into her mind. He had never done this before outside of the usual uses of Tsukuyomi, so it'd be an experience for them both. He knelt in front of her so he was level with her sitting form and locked eyes with her, immediately trapping her within Tsukuyomi. The thought of just how easy it'd be to break her here and now crossed his mind for but a split second as he dedicated himself to sifting through her memories to see if she was telling the truth.
"… She's fucking hot." Kurama's voice came through once again when they came upon the first… risqué memory.
"Are we voyeurs?" Indra asked. "We're watching her shower…"
"I feel very dirty…" Naruto shivered in disgust at himself, but nonetheless got a nosebleed. "How do the Yamanakas deal with this kind of stuff, seeing every waking memory floating around in here?"
"Keep this memory up a bit longer…" He could tell that Kurama was practically drooling. "She's got a nice set on her…"
"That's it!" Naruto declared as he closed the memory before his nosebleed could get worse. "On to the next! Can't be much worse than this!"
It was worse.
"Now we're just watching porn…"Indra groaned.
"Holy shit…" Kurama at this point really was drooling. "Cat girl's got some moves!"
"Is that even legal?" This time Naruto fell victim to the spectacle that was Blake's sex life.
"We're wasting time here!" Indra admonished the pair while stifling his own nosebleed, and seeing as this was someone else's mind, he projected himself into the fray and closed the memory. "We've gotta go deeper!"
"Like the dude in the memory we just saw?" Kurama suggested and got throttled by both Naruto and Indra for his trouble.
"Bad fox!" Naruto yelled. "No more sex jokes or innuendos for you!"
"Then don't open up another of those memories!" He shot back. "The jokes are begging to be made when you open up a porno in front of me!"
"Here it is." Indra sighed as he came across some clean memories that actually contained what they were looking for.
"I'll be damned." Naruto chuckled. "She was telling the truth after all."
"We can confirm that she was telling the truth." Indra nodded. "But we still need more information on the Fangs as a whole, not just Blake."
"Got it!" Kurama exclaimed as he found another batch of memories, this batch of the many meetings that Blake was in attendance for.
"She was a direct subordinate of Adam, so what we're getting here is quality info." Naruto reasoned, then closed the memories once they were done with them. "And I think that's all we need."
"No more pornos?"
"No!" Naruto once again yelled. "I'm done here!"
Before Kurama could protest, he cut the connection to Blake's mind and ended the Tsukuyomi. Once he was back in reality, he shook his head a few times and pinched the bridge of his nose just as it began bleeding, and he knew why… not that he'd ever tell.
"Must have strained myself a bit too much." He chuckled through his lie as he was handed a rag from Winter.
"Well?" James asked. "Is she telling the truth?"
"A hundred and fifty percent the truth." He responded as he wiped his nose clean. "And I went one step farther. If you wish to follow up and ask her about the Fangs, I can fact check her story."
"Then what's to be done with her?" Winter asked. "If she didn't know about the kidnappings and if she was planning on leaving…"
"Miss Belladonna…" Ozpin regarded her after weighing his options. "You may stay here if you wish. The next school year is only a few short months away, I'm sure I could fit you into the curriculum."
"There's always a catch." Blake lightly scoffed. "So, if I were to say yes, what would the catch be?"
"In return for safe harbor, you tell us everything you know about the White Fangs and we put your story up against what Naruto here saw in your mind. If it's genuine, then you have nothing to worry about."
"That's… acceptable." She nodded after a hesitation.
"And it is for me as well." James agreed. "I'm willing to overlook this rap sheet in favor of information, so consider your record wiped… for now."
"Mr. Uzumaki, you're free for the day." Ozpin turned to the blonde. "Classes are over, so you're free to return to your team while we all work the rest out."
"Of course, Professor." Naruto nodded and went for the door.
"Winter, you can go get some air as well." James excused the girl, a knowing glint in his eye.
"I'm fine, General." Winter shook her head. "Naruto has to deal with the insubordinate member of his team, so I'll let him have his privacy."
"Dog house for you, my friend!" Kurama laughed.
'What did I do?' Naruto was mentally panicking.
"Your younger sister." Indra supplied.
'Not yet, I haven't!"
"Not like that, Dumbass! You kissed her and Winter saw you!"
'… Shit.'
"You can salvage this, Casanova!" Kurama encouraged. "Work that charm you have!"
"I wasn't going to immediately return to my team." Naruto shook his head. "Wanna join me for a walk, Winter?"
"No." She once again shook her head. "You have responsibilities now. Plus, Weiss might want a call from you before the day's done. Can't disappoint her, right?"
Naruto knew the tranquil fury of a woman all too well. Hinata, while soft-spoken, was a master of that kind of intimidation once she put her mind to it… and he was now receiving the mother of all death glares hidden behind the kind veneer his sister always wore when talking with him.
"I… guess you're right." He faked a smile. "Take care, Snowflake…"
Before Winter could even say anything else, he opened the door and ducked out of the room. He knew he had fucked up, and he knew that the best thing he could do was wait. He knew Winter would cool off eventually, he knew she'd call and apologize. He was her soft spot and she his, it was always how things would go. They'd get into a fight and then they'd make up the very same day.
Shaking himself free of the situation, he put his game face on as he made for his team's dorm. Once there, he opened the door rather quickly and stormed in.
"What the fuck were you thinking?!" He bellowed as he slammed the door behind him.
"Something wrong?" Sakura innocently asked as she finished slipping into her pajamas.
"Sakura…" Ino warned. "I'd not antagonize him now…"
"I'm not apologizing for what I did." She glanced over to her friend of another life.
"Haruno Sakura!" He again bellowed, this time in Japanese. "Stand at attention when your Hokage is speaking to you, Jounin!"
Instinctually, she shot to her feet and snapped into attention while Ino and Tenten did the same while the former erected a Silencing Seal around the room.
"Now, explain to me why you thought it'd be a good idea to second guess me in front of both Ozpin and General Ironwood!" He continued his Japanese tirade. "Make me understand why you thought insubordination and outright embarrassing me in front of the Headmasters and my own sister was a good idea!"
"Hokage-sama!" Sakura sounded out in Japanese. "I…"
"Who the fuck said you could speak?!" He got right into her face, eyes blazing with the Sharingan. "I don't remember saying you could speak! Or are you still being rebellious?!"
Silence was his answer.
"I thought so!" He turned on a heel and temporarily dropped the Silencing Seal as he opened the door. "You two go for a walk." He said to the other girls in the room, this time in English.
"Right away!" Ino rushed out of the room a bit too quickly for her own tastes, followed closely by Tenten.
After closing the door and checking to see if the Silencing Seal was up, Naruto turned around and regarded his pinkette teammate again. "Speak freely." He sighed.
"… I went too far." She also sighed as she sat upon her bed. "I just… I'm scared for you, Naruto."
"Scared for me?" He asked with a quirked brow. "Why?"
"You know why!" Her head snapped up to stare at him. "You're changing! You're not the same person you were in our past lives!"
"That's the thing, though." He couldn't help but chuckle. "That was my past life. The current me is what my current life has turned me into."
"I don't know if that's better or worse…" Her head drooped once again. "Knowing that Indra's not causing this or knowing that you've become what you are of your own volition."
"And what am I?" He took a seat beside her.
"You're a mix of your old personality and Sasuke's." She glanced over at him. "You can still be an idiot at times, but you're darker than you were previously. And it scares me…"
"I was disfigured at a young age and I very nearly had to watch my own sister be raped in front of me." He shook his head. "Tell me you wouldn't do what I did to those who wanted to harm her." He paused and lifted her head up so their eyes met. "Look me in the eyes and tell me that you wouldn't go to any lengths to see them pay if it happened to you."
"It's just…" She tore herself away from his grasp. "It's a shock… to me, at least. I remember you as a happy-go-lucky dense little idiot… but now I'm seeing shades of that personality mixed in with a bit of the Uchiha's obsessive hatred."
"If it's about reigniting the Curse of Hatred, you don't have to worry about that." He gave her a reassuring smile. "I broke through Kurama's shell, and he was the physical manifestation of hatred itself… I think I can handle the risks that come with these eyes of mine." He deactivated his Sharingan and gave her left knee a reassuring squeeze with his right hand.
"I want you to promise me!" The worry came back and she grabbed him by the collar of his cloak with both hands. "You never go back on your promises, so I want you to promise me you won't change!"
He smiled as he lifted his hands up to caress her own gently. As he took her hands into his, he leaned his forehead up against hers and she could swear she saw those coal black eyes give way to the oceans of blue she had grown so fond of.
"It's a promise of a lifetime." He promised in Japanese, his voice a hopeful whisper to her ears.
"I'll hold you to that…" She returned the smile as she got lost in the ocean that was his eyes.
She didn't know if it was the frustration within her giving way or if it was the undeniable tension between the two or just the atmosphere combined with her unvoiced want… but Sakura was slowly leaning into him, pink and black highlighted blonde intermingling as their foreheads never lost contact. Similarly, Naruto also found himself losing control of his own actions and leaned in as well.
As soon as they both closed their eyes, their lips met and a jolt of electricity shot through their bodies. She raised a delicate hand and unclasped his cloak while his hands went to exploring her short pink locks. They had completely lost themselves into the kiss that they didn't want to end, but had to as they broke for air.
Their breaths intermingled with each other for but a fleeting moment as they dove right back in, their minds hazy with wanton lust and their hands now exploring their clothed bodies. Slowly and gently, Naruto pushed her down into her bed and deepened the kiss to the point where their tongues were shamelessly entwined within two lifetimes' worth of pent up emotions and tension.
After breaking the kiss for a second time, Naruto worked himself out of his boots and undid his belt, which ended up being thrown haphazardly across the room with a thunk of the Sonata hitting a wall. With Sakura's help, his vest and shirt had also been discarded, leaving him in only his pants. He then very quickly went to work undressing her, starting with her shirt, and this is where she flipped their positions. Sensually licking her lips, Sakura straddled him and leaned down to tease him with a maddeningly short kiss, then leaned back up and began to slowly unhook her pink bra.
As he stared up at her, Naruto's hands came to rest upon her hips while she began rolling them a bit just to tease him a bit more. A throaty groan escaped him as he was hit in the face by her falling bra. Shaking the object from his face, he stared in amazement at the absolute stunning beauty that was Sakura's topless form. Shaky hands went up to caress her perky 34C's, and as they did, she moaned and leaned down once again, this time for a rather sloppy kiss as she continued to roll her hips until she felt the treasure beneath his pants begin to grow. After another groan, Naruto flipped their positions again while she went to shedding him of his pants.
Soon enough, the Silencing Seal was being tested to its limits, as no one on the outside of their dorm was aware of the lewd, loud and very, very passionate lovemaking going on inside. After some time, Sakura howled out in bliss as she hit her high for the fourth time, fingernails dug into Naruto's back and back arched slightly as he continued his charge. In the middle of it all, they shared a rather sloppy kiss that ended with a saliva trail between them.
He was close now. As he went to pull out, her legs locked behind his back and her moans of 'keep going' spurred him on further. After charging her a few more times, he buried himself inside her and their eyes locked as his essence poured into her again and again until he was spent.
As he pulled himself out, he collapsed beside her and was barely aware of her snuggling happily into his arms. Their minds were still hazy, but their needs had been fulfilled. They didn't feel the gravity of the situation as the curled up into bed together that night, no they went to bed with smiles and a glow.
It wasn't until the following morning that reason had reasserted itself. With a rather loud yawn and a stretch, Naruto glanced around the room to find it still empty.
"Ah well." He shrugged. "It's the weekend anyway; Ino and Tenten must be out shopping or something."
"Yeah…" He heard a voice beside him and his eyes snapped back open.
Glancing down, he saw the very naked form of Sakura cuddling up to him with her hugging his right arm between her breasts. Reality had hit him full force… no, reality had smacked him right in the face and as he tried his best not to panic, Sakura stirred and gently propped herself upon her left arm.
"Morning." She smiled.
But he was not smiling. Panic was beginning to grip him, reality was laughing at him and both Indra and Kurama were silent; they knew that this was something he had to deal with alone.
With wide eyes and a panicked heart, Naruto's thought drifted to both Weiss and Winter and how he had betrayed them both. As a million questions ran through his head, one of them, perhaps the most important one, he voiced aloud.
"What have I done…?"
AN: And it's done! So, what did you guys think? I'm not experienced when it comes to writing limes/lemons at all and this was probably my second or third lime I've ever written overall, so what did you think? Was it good? Hopefully this chapter will ease the tension you guys seem to have with Sakura, but if it doesn't, then I've set up a contingency with this chapter anyway. It's only a matter of if you guys want to keep Sakura or replace her with Shikamaru.
Now, pairings. Sakura will definitely NOT be a pairing option; this was just a one-time thing that they went through to clear the air only to have it backfire on them completely. Winter's officially in, but I have yet to write her chapter, so look forward to that at some point. My question to you guys is twofold: Do I keep or replace Sakura with Shikamaru, and do I continue down the Coco subplot or do you guys think I should stop at just Winter and Weiss? Coco for third girl? Another girl for a third girl? Keep it strictly Schnee siblings? Give me good, solid reasons for your choices!
This is ZeroDivisionRaijin, signing off!
