((This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. G.I. Joe is the sole property of those who created the toys, TV shows, movies, webisodes, and video games. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties.
"normal speech"/ flashback thought
thoughts/ flashback speech and action
[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing]
[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing during flashback]
Want to give an overdue and very hearty thanks to Michaelbrent Collings, a full time writer I met at a symposium in UT. His advice and suggestions have helped me greatly with writing this story. Also links to pics for the stuff I mention via A/N are on my profile just in case...
I put up a poll on my profile and would love to see what my reader's think...))
((Three days later…))
She approached the house slowly, feeling more than a little trepidation. She still wasn't sure just how she wound up in this situation. It's a step in the right direction, she thought as she walked up the path that led to the front door, yet I'm still nervous about this… Holding the clothes she had "borrowed" from Rin she thought back to the events that led to the change in her...circumstances.
((Flashback one day prior…))
"Nonsense...We would be happy to host you!" Rin said in a mildly chiding tone as they walked. "You're practically engaged to my sochi, so why not stay with us?"
"I...I don't know what to say, Nohara-san," Mabui replied in a soft shocked tone as the invitation began to really sink in. "I mean, we're barely a couple as it is. I wouldn't want to impose," she added in a demure manner: her cheeks rosy, head down and eyes averted, hands crossed.
Rin snorted, "Girly...we have plenty of room." Then she smiled mischievously, "Besides, I've seen how you two naturally gravitate towards one another. It's like watching a pair of magnets pull towards one another."
Shaking her head slightly, even as the hue on her cheeks rose higher, she countered, "It wouldn't be proper."
Another snort from Rin, "Proper, schmoper. I saw how he looked at you last night during dinner. When you weren't looking his way. I've never seen him look at anyone like that before," she said calmly, though there was something more in her gaze. "It's the same look you give him," she added with a warm smile. "Now...no more arguing. You're coming to stay at our home tomorrow. Don't make me come and get you. I happen to have a few 'friends' that would gladly assist me," she glanced meaningfully at the rooftops.
Mabui got the message, and she nodded in acquiescence before their discussion changed to a lighter tone and a topic that made them both smile broadly. Shopping!
((End Flashback))
"And here I am…" she whispered as she set down a bag and reached out to knock on the door only to blink as it opened before she made contact. Her eyes met with a pair of lavender orbs that hardened momentarily before the black haired girl gave a minute shake of her head.
Ridding herself of memories the moment she recognized the arrival, Hinata gave a tense smile. "Greetings. You must be Mabui-san. Rin-sama mentioned you were coming today. If you will, please follow me," she said with no trace of malice in her voice. She turned and walked towards the interior of the home with a dignified grace.
Mabui inclined her head respectfully and followed the younger girl, her thoughts running quickly, no doubt...she's the one from before. Same economy of motion and graceful movement. Watching the girl move as they approached the kitchen a random thought came to her, "If I may ask…"
Hinata stopped at the entrance of the kitchen and turned around, arms crossing under the swell of her jacket. "Actually no...I will not tell you what, if any, deal was arranged between my...father and Sensei." Her tone serious and tired, as though she had been asked, or grilled, for that many times over.
Mabui blinked at the tone and mannerism before she matched it, "Actually, I don't care about that. If he wants me to know, Snake-sama will tell me." Her counter was tart as much as it was blunt, "I was going to ask how your training in Baguazhang was coming along."
Surprised, Hinata dropped her guarded posture. "How did you know…?"
"I saw you training with Snake-sama right before we left for Wave. I knew it wasn't the Hyuuga style and Nohara-san told me. Based on the descriptions I've read on the Clan style, this one demands a greater flexibility and acrobatic sense," Mabui replied with sincerity.
Hinata nodded with a slight shameful blush at her initial assumption of the young woman before her. "It's coming along. The mixture of the Bagua and Jyuuken has taken a long time but I am confident in my work and the results speak well."
Mabui gave a nod and moved past her saying quietly, "I want us to be friends, Hinata. I truly do. What was done to you as a child by Kumo is frankly...it was wrong." Leaving it at that, she entered the kitchen and looked around. When her gaze reached the back glass doors, she froze. "Ohhhh Kami."
Hinata joined her and chuckled aloud. "Let's get a ringside seat. This is going to be good," she said and went outside, through the sliding door and took a seat on the wooden porch. Noticing with a grin as Mabui joined her silently. She whispered, "Seems he is in a mood to test himself."
Standing outside the sand pit, Snake Eyes wore his black baggy pants and boots. He had no inkling that his skin glistened in the sun with light perspiration collecting in the grooves of muscle and that his hair shone bright golden. His focus was on his adversaries and them alone. Which made sense as all six of them wore ANBU masks. On the opposite side of the ring, outside, was his mother, her face set in concentration.
Mabui felt her lips part and she unconsciously wet her lips as she took in the sight. "Six ANBU to his one...that's one heck of a test," she replied in a very low whisper. "I would call that suicide." Then she noticed the five medics standing by in the shade of a tree. If they're anything like in Kumo, ANBU are at least Chuunin level fighters. These guys strike me as being closer to Jouunin...
Rin spoke from her position, silencing any comment Hinata would make, "Remember. Taijutsu only. Full contact. Don't hold back, 'cause he won't. This ends when he is either unconscious, knocked out of the ring, or all six of you are unable to continue." Moving away by a few feet so she wouldn't be tempted to step in if and when things got bad for her son. This is a challenge he set for himself. One that could kill, if not cripple him for life. Only a master would attempt this...and he claims he is no master...and I have no idea where the hell he got the idea for this from...
((Insert music "Light 'em up" by Fall Out Boy. This fight sequence is translated from the ten-to-one fight in Ip Man, which I do not own.))
His face set in stone, he strode to the center of the sand ring, the only indication of his tension in the way his fingers curled even tighter into fists. His eyes moved almost lazily as the six operatives spread out and surrounded him on three sides. No recognition as they gave him a salute and took up their stances. His knuckles popped as he released his fists and brought them up, fingers intertwined in a return salute. A moment later it began when all six went on the attack.
Despite numerical superiority, they attacked individually. Which was their downfall. The first came in with a flying roundhouse kick that was caught above the knee. The ANBU was slammed onto his back, then temporarily subdued by an almost skull crushing stomp to the left side of his mask and head. A step over by Snake Eyes was done quickly as the next attacker's strike was deflected and he delivered a counter punch to the right jawline. Snake Eyes spun a quarter turn clockwise and a third attacker received the same and fell even as the blond turned more to deflect twice before landing a backhand punch that sent the fourth attacker to the ground.
Mabui's jaw dropped as Snake Eyes held his ground firmly. Watching in a combination of awe and growing arousal as he spun to meet the attack of the second man. Using an outstretched arm to knock the sloppy seeming fist strike upwards, only to capture it a moment later with his hands gripping the bicep and tricep. Five rapid punches to the left side of the mask after bending him over via leverage on the trapped arm. Followed by a leg sweep to send the ANBU face down into the sand.
Hinata winced as the take-down was completed by her sensei's rolling forward and over the currently trapped ANBU. The trapped arm following and popping loudly as the shoulder joint was viciously dislocated by the force of Snake Eyes's roll. The wince intensified as the first attacker came in with a straight forward kick that was caught by hands trapping the foot at and above the arch. Snake Eyes took a half step backwards, forcing the ANBU nearly into a full split while he(Snake) delivered a sidekick to the diaphragm of the third attacker. The outstretched leg bent and his foot came down directly over the first attacker's thigh with sickening crunch. The impact such the man went into a deeper split, the leg turning upwards perpendicularly at the point of impact and thusly, fracture.
Standing out of the way, Rin had to gulp with shock, watching her son slowly but surely decimate his opposition. Her visible eye wide and blinking to clear sweat. She simply couldn't believe what she was seeing. It defied everything she knew then she realized something she had completely ruled out. At least five years of intense training. Five years of using fifty or more Clones per day to perfect the katas and spar. He has mastered everything the scrolls taught him. Now he has to bring it all together through experience…Dear Kami...if this is only the basics and intermediate katas and moves, what the hell are the advanced moves?
Mabui bit her knuckle to keep from groaning as the heat low in her body rose during the display of skill, power, and ruthless precision. Her eyes followed him as he punched, dodged airborne kicks and wove his way amongst his enemies. His face never losing that focused intensity. She didn't look away as a reverse sweep and ridge hand to the throat combination took down the third attacker with a spray of sand. She couldn't keep count as rapid fire punches landed up and down the ANBU's chest and head, sounding like a drum being struck repeatedly.
Snake Eyes calmly straightened and spun gracefully on a heel and toes as he now faced down the remaining three opponents with his hands in a ready posture, the slowly turning steps keeping two of them in his direct line of sight and the third within his peripheral. The fourth ANBU was taken out by a ridge hand strike to the left side of the neck followed up by Snake's hand gliding around the neck in a sweeping motion that forced the Anbu's head downwards to meet a then rising knee with cracking force. He met the attacks of the fifth and sixth opponent evenly, stepping, blocking, deflecting and countering both at once. Never losing his concentration.
Number five was knocked unconscious as he was spun tightly into a dip and a violent tight fisted blow landed right behind the left ear. He never even had time to think much less counter the unexpected blow.
Opponent six, the last man of the elite operatives back flipped to the very edge of the pit, the masked head turning to survey the carnage of limp twisted bodies. Behind the mask, the man sweated heavily. How in the hell is this remotely possible?! In the span of a couple of minutes, this guy...a damn kid!...has taken out five ANBU. We got in some licks, but they were so few, they hardly even count...I hung back to get a feel for him but this is ridiculous! his thoughts interrupted as this destroyer moved in to finish him. He reflexively sent out two weak straight forward punches that were deflected with ease and his world went black a second later.
Rin was running forward even as she saw the final ANBU bend backwards at the waist as blow after blow sounded off like revolving-barrel senbon launcher. She could see each blow land, the fist coming back and rolling behind the other fist as it slammed forward. They worked like a circularly rotating sledgehammer over and over again. "Naruto! Stop! It's over!" she shouted as the fallen ANBU collapsed into the sand, A final blow almost delivered but stopped before it could connect.
((End Music))
Turning in a tight circle, fists at the ready, Snake Eyes surveyed the battlefield and had to blink at himself. The pit was a mess. Everywhere he looked he saw groaning bodies with a couple screaming and/or rolling in agony. He barely acknowledged the medics as they swarmed the fallen, hands already encased in Medical Chakra. He was breathing heavily, nearly panting, yet it was evenly spaced. What was that just now?...I made the right moves and strikes...why did it seem off? As though there was more to it then what I had done? he wondered as he brought a hand up to his head before looking at his hands and seeing the uniform redness that covered their every surface.
Rin approached him slowly, making him look at her before she spoke softly, "Alright sochi...that's enough. It's over now...you did it. You defeated six superiorly trained opponents in hand to hand. Hit the showers…" she said firmly and watched him depart in a daze, not even noticing as he subconsciously stepped around both Hinata and Mabui to go inside. Joining the two awestruck girls, she murmured, "I wouldn't have believed it possible, but there's no use in denying it. He was absolutely right."
Hinata rose quickly to give the medics a hand. Pushing down her squeamishness as she saw the damage done up close. This is just brutal. The only thing more so would be the Jyuuken because of the Chakra injection.
Mabui on the other hand, couldn't exactly stand. Afraid she would give herself away if she tried. Yugito teased me I don't know how many times over my preference in men...but it's never hit me this hard. Her thoughts were interrupted as what Rin said sank in. She looked up as Rin stood there, staring at the double glass doors. "He was? About what?" she asked distractedly. Get yourself together girl! That's his mother standing there!
Rin glanced down at Mabui and grinned. Rapid deep breaths. Slight squirming at the hips and thighs. the flushed face and suddenly averted eyes. Oh yeah...she's got the hots all right. Instead of embarrassing her, she replied cryptically, "So much of what we were has been lost."
Mabui blinked at the non sequitur, unable to connect the dots. "Huh?" was her brilliant response.
She couldn't help herself. Rin laughed softly. "Get Naruto to explain." Her smile in place as she went to the doors, "C'mon. Let's get you settled in," she said as she entered the house, clearly expecting Mabui to follow.
Getting to her feet, Mabui found her legs steady though she wanted to curse as her thighs rubbed together with each step as she indeed followed Rin inside and up the stairs.
Rin spoke simply, "First left is Naruto's room. No sneaking in there at night," she teased, not a bit surprised at seeing the girl's cheek turn red. "Bathroom is at the end of the hall. Your room is here and mine is just down on the right. Last on left is off limits," she said as she opened the door to Mabui's room. "I took the liberty of having the clothes you bought yesterday delivered here." Leaning against the door frame, she crossed her arms nonchalantly.
Mabui glanced into the room before entering, pleased to see it was nicely furnished with bed, nightstand with lamp, armoire, and chest of drawers. The window had a nice set of vertical blinds in a shade complementary to the room's overall light peach tone. She nodded to herself as she found herself feeling relaxed by the room's atmosphere. She immediately set her small bags inside the armoire and closed it with a click before facing Rin with a smile and bowing, "Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home."
Rin waved it off, "Wouldn't have it any other way. Lunch is in a couple of hours, so you relax." She added before closing the door behind her.
Waiting a full thirty count, she approached her door and listened intently. She never said I couldn't sneak in during the day...Besides, this is chance to learn about his tastes and other things...Opening the door, she peeked out and around before padding on bare feet to the bathroom. Smiling as she heard Naruto, she presumed, soaking in the tub. She turned and quickly walked to his room and entered. Keeping an ear pressed to the door after closing it softly for a good twenty seconds.
Nodding to herself, she turned around and froze in surprise. Where the rest of the house was done in a combination of rustic cabin and contemporary, his room was feudal traditionalism. Rough woven tatami mats covered the entire floor. The walls were cleverly painted and trimmed with varnished strips to resemble rice paper room dividers. A low centrally located raised hardwood platform was his bed frame with a folded tri-fold pad, Shiki futon, Kakebuton, and a thick Soba gara makura. A small traditional seeming lantern turned out to be a disguised lamp.
Stepping further into the room, she heard the telltale scritching of the tatami mat fibers as they caught on the ridges of her feet yet it didn't feel abrasive in the least. Walking around the bed platform, she slid back a recessed panel to reveal a full length mirror which in turn slid into its own recess to uncover a hidden closet where he kept several changes of his uniform and boots. With them were only a few sets of casual clothes that made her nod in approval at it seems he leaned towards solids and thin vertical striping. Followed by the typical all black mourning wear issued to every shinobi after graduation. Going to have to take him shopping sometime… Her eyes lit up as she discovered a full men's kimono in a clear garment bag to keep it safe. Then she saw something unusual. Carefully slipping it out, she looked at the garment. His tastes seem to run towards navys, grays, browns, and blacks...why would he have a white trench with red flame trim? Why does this seem so familiar? She hung it back neatly and reset everything before closing up both panels.
Moving to the other end of that same side, Mabui ran her slender fingers lightly over the panel and found matching fingerholds. Recognizing it, she swung the doors outward much like opening a set of double doors and her eyes widened slightly as she understood she had located Snake Eyes's weapons cache. She smiled appreciatively as she snooped in her latest find. The left hand door securely held a horizontal six tier sword rack. Four of them firmly holding a set of twin ninjato and twin hiltless kodachi. The last two tiers held twin hickory training bokken made to match either ninjato or kodachi.
The right hand door utilized five bracketed shelves for their pieces. Set in a diamond, she recognized the manrikigusari, the kusarigama, the kusari-fundo, even a kyoketsu-shoge, but it was the central set that begged her attention. Instead of the typical kama, or scythe, the eight foot-chain was attached to a one handed knife with a slightly curved blade. She was filled with an urge to see him use it in either practice or actual combat. I bet he's amazing... she thought before she turned her attention to the depth of the cache.
She reached out and ran fingertips over the harness she recognized all too well as it hung from two clips at where his shoulders would be. Beneath the harness, the rest of the inner cache space was filled by a chest of drawers. Atop the chest, from left to right, sat his gloves and bracers, his hitai-ite, and his mask. If the front panels are any indication, they're four inches tall… she surmised as she looked at the seven drawers. The first was locked but the next opened smoothly with the barest of touches. Set in foam cut outs, covered in cloth like a display case, sat his "killing knives". They were fanned out in an arc. Twenty knives. she counted, examining the flat knives curiously, Razor sharp too. she added after knicking her finger open. Well balanced. Made for throwing...oh shit, these are made for precision strikes. Not for piercing armor. She knew exactly what it took to have that sort of skill and her fiance's position rose up another notch or two. This explains the Kukhri knives...they replace the conventional kunai most use today. She closed the drawer gently and systematically went over the others. Each drawer held display type racks of his preferred weapons: Kukhri knives, an assortment of differently styled shuriken, supply packs, tagged storage scrolls, those senbon-like knives identical to the one he used on Gato. The last drawer surprised her as she opened it. Inside was a beautifully crafted katana. The red manganese tinted blade shined from meticulous cleaning and care. Being a kenjutsu practitioner, her hand reached out to take the rayskin grip. She gasped aloud as a barrier appeared out of nowhere to stop her from making contact. She pulled back her hand and quickly closed not only the drawer but the cache as well. She turned around to leave, when the door opened.
Closing the door, Naruto definitely wasn't expecting company when he turned around. His blue eyes went very wide and he froze. A classic "deer-in-torchlight" moment if there ever was one. His left hand clenched tighter on the overlapping folds of the towel at his hip, the right coming up in a half ram sign on instinct. He bent slightly at the waist and his eyes narrowed in automatic focus. Recognition of his "guest" halted his chakra moulding, thusly canceling out his instinctual use of the Kanashibari no Jutsu. Straightening, he relaxed his posture and found himself smiling… no, smirking… slightly as he lifted an eyebrow in question.
Her hand had risen to her chest in reflexive surprise only to have the palm lay flat over her heart as her eyes drank in the sight of him languidly standing there: the golden skin with only slightly paler scar tissue, the way he hooked his thumbs into the waistline of the towel; serving to make the front dip slightly and give her a tantalizing glimpse of the flesh below his navel. In bonus, his arm positioning made the biceps, pecs, and abdominal muscles stand out some. The total package made her mouth go dry and her heart race. Does he even realize…? He has to know… her thoughts rambling as she watched him approach on silent feet. How can he be silent? The tatami… Her body moved of its own volition, matching him step for step until they stood inches apart. Mabui's hand left her heart to palm flat over his, never breaking eye contact. Kami, I could just drown in those eyes... Her cheeks flushed as she felt his right arm encircle her waist as his free hand lifted her face up slightly. Her eyes widened as he leaned forward. Is he?!...her eyes fluttered shut as she rose up onto the balls of her feet and toes.
A hand interjected itself between them, preventing the kiss from happening. Rin merely smiled in amusement and lifted an eyebrow, unfazed by the heated stares she received from the couple. "I knocked...not my fault you two were so… entranced with one another." she withdrew her hand and concluded her business. "Now that I have your attention, Tenten stopped by on her way to the front gates. Her team has a medium term mission, maybe a month. She won't be taking lessons until her return." She couldn't help but chuckle at the way Mabui's face showed her frustration and her son's narrow eyed stare didn't lighten up. She merely turned around and left with a parting shot. "Might want to get that taken care of…" she closed the door with a laugh.
Snuggling deeper into his arms, Mabui blushed hotly and pressed her cheek against Naruto's chest. Listening to the beating heart and savoring the heat he exuded. Not looking up as she spoke softly, "I swear, it's like she delights in torturing us." She sighed as his arms tightened around her in what she presumed was agreement. Matching him, her breath caught as her hands encountered nothing but warm skin. Don't look down. Don't look down. Whatever you do...don't look down… she admonished herself though the urge to do just that was growing impossible to ignore.
Moving smoothly, Naruto glided around the young woman. He pressed his chest against her back now, arms once more tightening slightly around her waist as he lightly pressed his lips against the side and base of her neck. Feeling a sense of male satisfaction filling him as she shivered and moaned at the same time, her arms rising with one hand holding the back of his neck and the other cupping his cheek.
Reacting to his new position, she couldn't help but wiggle her hips back at him. Resulting in her eyes flying open as she felt a certain something between them. "Oh Kami." she whispered hoarsely, stilling her body so as to not tempt and torture them both. "I...I...I better go." she stammered as she reluctantly made to leave. Halted by the strong arms, she mewled in pleasure despite herself. "Not now..not like this." she said quietly and rushed from the room as he arms set her free. Not stopping until she got into her own room and leaned her back against the then closed door, panting.
Naruto stood there, before his hands clenched into fists. Picking up his towel and re-securing it around his waist he opened a wall panel that had been behind him to reveal his chest of drawers. Getting dressed in his normal day to day house wear, he padded down the stairs to find his mother in the living room. Apparently waiting for him. Leveling a half-hearted glare at his kaa-chan, he signed rapidly.
[Just couldn't help yourself, could you? That could have waited a few minutes...But nooooo, you just had to interrupt something…]
Rin laughed softly at the quasi outrage on her son's face. "I'm your mother...it's one of the perks. I get to embarrass and torment you to my heart's content." Her laughter rang out at the way his eyes rolled and shoulder slumped before he took a seat on the couch across from her. "Now, you weren't surprised by the message. What gives?"
[Part of my plan.] he explained with a now intent expression, [So far everything's falling into place.] he concluded with a smile as he turned to see Mabui coming down the stairs. He waved and patted the seat next to him in invitation.
Mabui joined them and gave Rin the same half-hearted glare as Naruto. "That was mean, Rin-san…" I was soooo close...
Rin just shrugged, "Again, a perk of being a mom." she said with a knowing smile, "Can't make it too easy for you two." she added, chuckling before she got serious.
Used to how his mom could suddenly change demeanor at the drop of a dime, he relaxed. Slipping his arm around Mabui's shoulders.
Mabui took her cue from him and simply leaned against his side. Finding the mercurial changes of Rin more than a little disconcerting. "So what now?" she asked, wondering if she was going to regret asking.
Rin looked at the two for a moment before answering, "It's obvious you two are going to go through with this whole political marriage thing. Just as it is obvious you two definitely have feelings for one another. So now,I have a simple question for you… Will you walk beside him or will you watch him walk ahead?"
Mabui blinked as it took her a moment to get what she was being asked. Her gaze hardened as she also got very serious. "Bring it on." She looked to Naruto momentarily and saw his nod of approval. Knowing he supported her made a big difference in terms of her confidence and self-esteem.
Rin laughed, really laughed. "He has been rubbing off on you. Alright then. Starting tomorrow, we'll whip you into shape." Her smile turning dangerous as Naruto's eyes widened slightly. She nodded to him in confirmation, "That's right sochi. We will all be working with her. Before you object," she said, stopping him from signing with a lifted hand, "This was decided while you were on your mission. We agreed that if she wanted this as much as she claimed...then she's going to have to prove it and get herself up to snuff." At Mabui's confused look, she clarified, "All of his sensei's want a crack at you. Hope you're ready to be worked into the ground."
Mabui gulped but she nodded anyways, "I'm not going to back down. I'm not afraid."
Rin leaned forward, shadows falling over the visible eye as her smile turned downright evil and she made her voice gravelly, "You will be. You... will... be."
