For the Good of the Village: Final

Ch 11 Be Gentle

She couldn't breathe. Dots littered her vision. Her head felt light. The air rushed past her and the sound of her running feet and gasping pants were a cacophony of garbled noise. She was on the verge of passing out again.

Again? She admonished herself. What have I done? Her eyes darting anywhere, everywhere. She was moving by muscle memory at this point, not even sure where here was, but she just knew she had to get there and fast. Buildings were just structures to her, one passing another till Hinata was within eyeshot of the Hyuuga compound.

Why am I running? She asked herself. Naruto-kun is there and I just…we just…

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, all of her time with Naruto flooded her mind. All those late night worries, all of those teenage tears wetting her pillow, and all cold lonely walks where she wondered if he thought of her or worried about her could be granted their coveted boon: to tell him all of these things plus how she felt. Then there were his lips on hers, his hands on her, that beautiful ring and all that love in his eyes and in his smile, just for her. It was right there for the taking, but…

"It's about a year and a half too late, Naruto-kun," She confessed to herself, a harsh reality she had to admit despite the sting to her soul.

The intimidating walls and cumbersome door of her home compound loomed like a goliath fortress. Sasuke had been welcomed with open arms due to his specialized doujutsu. If anything, he had been highly recommended before her and Sasuke had taken the needed steps to make the suggestion true. Haku had been another potential choice hinted as an eligible bachelor (Although it was still unsure if he was a male considering his exquisite feminine good looks). That consideration had been eliminated when word that he (Haku politely but adamantly confirmed that he was a male) and Ino had become an item. Hinata had been extremely happy for them. Others had not received the news of her and Sasuke's union well and let her know through sideways glances and less than polite gossip of how a majority of the female citizens (and non-citizens) of Konoha, including Sakura, felt about Sasuke being won over by the village princess. At the time, her family had not openly accepted her back. After some secretive closed door conversations with their new live in guest Orochimaru, Hiashi had been insistent that Hinata consider a relationship with someone that could give her and the family strong, healthy children to uplift the Hyuuga clan from the financial strain they were enduring now.

Since the new found peace had taken such a stranglehold on the Hyuuga purse strings and the less than hostile lands surrounded Fire, Earth, and Water country, the need for shinobi missions from Konoha or the prestigious price of hiring a full blooded Hyuuga had all but disappeared. The family was suffering in a very bad way. There was talk that the Mizukage had some influence over the ongoing peace around the Fire Nation's borders. What had happened to Hinata and the family those many years ago was the catalyst to a new way of fighting the shinobi nation.

Through peace.

The concept was entirely new and unheard of. Luckily, the Fire nation and its large resource rich cities like Konoha had to adjust, mainly in skill adaptation and industry. However, with such a drastic turn of events, many of the specialized clans like the Naras, Inuzukas, and especially the Hyuugas had no real need for their specialized talents. If anything, there was a great demand that they retire and seek out other specialized trades to supplement their incomes.

The Yamanakas were fortunate to still own several flower businesses to keep up with the influx of revenue. The other clans were not as successful, with some exception. The Akamichi's were renowned hibachi chefs and there was always a need for fine dining, especially when business deals had to be discussed. Inuzuka dog breeding and training, be it for law enforcement or pedigree breeds, were of high demand more for status symbols than for defense or active duty. The Naras were always exceptionally brilliant in any form of strategy, be it business, politics or infrastructure, the youngest Nara was enduring a fairly heavy heart break that made the gloomy young man even more so. When news came out that Temari and Neji were to be married, it had hurt Shikamaru to the point of motivation. Try as he might, his attempts to win over the feisty dirty blonde Temari into his arms and dissolve the suitor/engagement she had with Neji for the sake of his safety had failed. By her own words, she admitted to Shikamaru that there was just too much riding on the heads of herself as a Sabaku and the relationship Suna had with Konoha. With a heavy heart, she married her chosen suitor.

Neji had not taken his time in Suna well. If anything, he felt he had just escaped one prison only to be bounded and shackled into another. It wasn't till he found that the villagers openly admired and praised his prowess, that it gave him the freedom to explore and, despite warnings, even challenge the family so he could be free (Temari told him exactly where the gates back to Konoha were and to not let it hit him on the ass as he left) that he had the epiphany there really was no reason to go back. Acknowledging that his prison was, in fact, his home, he begged Temari for forgiveness and thanked her, and her brothers, for welcoming him in their home and apologized for his very rude behavior.

Temari had had enough of the conceited Hyuuga and made it clear that there was a very willing, annoyingly bright, short, and lazy Nara that would take Neji's spot in a snap if she so chose it. Why hadn't she? Pride is the only thing that came to mind. Temari and Shikamaru had a love that was not visible through the contemporary sense but through action. Temari had been hounded by Shikamaru the whole time. He had come to annoy her, check on her, and, even though Neji had not openly objected, he had attempted several times to make love to her.

Though none would have figured her to be so, Temari's heart was crushed under the weight of duty to her people. She would not fall for Shikamaru and decided to push him away. When he made it back to Konoha on his last visit, he had heard that Temari and Neji were married. It was not so long ago that the news came of their child to be born. Shikamaru had never been a very social person. Now, he seemed to be a perpetual recluse. Rumors had it that a certain blonde haired coding specialist had been his rebound girl/shoulder to burden as he reminisced in cutting silence over Temari.

Hinata had felt a strong empathy to Shikamaru, knowing what it felt like to lose someone to fate, but now the tides had changed. Fate, as Neji would have proudly proclaimed, was a cruel taskmaster. Here she was, bounded and indebted to another as the one she had loved for so long had finally come home, and what was she doing after throwing herself at him and getting caught red handed by her betrothed and intended? She was running away.

If only he had returned eighteen months ago. That time would have been just right for her and Naruto to have their much deserved and very simple reunion. Then they could enjoy nothing but love, sweet talks, and an expedient wedding where the two of them could go live in his wonderful home and live out the rest of their lives in normalcy and bliss.

That was not to happen. Now, there would be a lot of explaining to do and hard answers that needed to be said. Naruto would want to know, would deserve to know why Sasuke of all people. The answer was more than simple enough. It wasn't just the pressure of the family but so much more. This wasn't the place for her to ponder what she needed to say or how to say it. She needed to go back to Naruto and explain, to talk to him, and…and…

"To welcome him back as I should have." Hinata admonished herself. Spinning on her heel, she started her way back to the top of the Hokage mountain when she just thought of the silliest thing: Was he still there? If the last person she saw him with was Sasuke…

"Where would he be at this late hour?" Hinata thought out loud. Out of the corner of her eye, Sasuke walked under a streetlamp, looking rather pale and unusually aggravated. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke was silent, seething, and roiling mad. Sasuke was normally a very patient and unflinchingly calm person. Those were ideal traits in the mind of the Hyuugas. That he would seem so shaken and angry spoke volumes of whatever incident that must have happened between him and Naruto.

"Oh, Kami." Hinata just realized that she left Sasuke alone with Naruto, and she was very aware that Sasuke could be extremely flippant. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Hinata rushed over to him, checking him for any injuries, but Sasuke brushed her off. Under the visible light, he looked paler than usual. "I'm fine," He growled under his breath.

Hinata had heard the glorious stories and seen the report Itachi had given to Tsunade about the climactic battle between Madara, Akatsuki, and their leader Pein. Her blonde haired obnoxious beloved troublemaker was powerful enough to be considered a small god. It's one thing to read about the strength of a person on paper, but Hinata had seen the devastation back at the Forest of Death and how the whole village was on lockdown because of his wrath unleashed. If he had gotten more powerful like the reports had suggested and her intimate knowledge of how motivated he was about training, if Sasuke was this visibly rattled than she knew Naruto had restrained himself from actually doing any harm to her betrothed.

Hinata didn't want to rebuke him for lying to her. She could sense it. "What happened?"

Sasuke petulantly turned away from her, his hands fisted at his side.

"Sasuke-kun." She pleaded, taking his tight fist into her hands and forcing him to look at her. "Please, tell me?"

"He almost killed me," Sasuke admitted, the words coming out more angrily at himself than at Naruto. "It was like I was facing my brother. He was right in front of me, and I still didn't see it coming."

Hinata's eyebrows pinched angrily. "I'll go talk to him. He needs to know-"

"Hinata, I can fight my own battles." Sasuke accepted her hands, rubbing her knuckles with his thumbs. "But, yes, you should go talk to him. I'm sure he's waiting for you. I know you have a lot to tell him."

Hinata agreed. Sasuke told her he had suggested Naruto see the Hokage. As the Hyuuga princess started her on her way, Sasuke called out to her. "Hinata."

"Hai?"

"He won't understand."

Hinata agreed again. If he was the Naruto she remembered, then the right thing was for him to not understand.

Xxx

"I sent him home," Tsunade answered a question Hinata hadn't even asked when she crossed the Hokage's office threshold.

"Arigato," Hinata bowed, ready to leave, but stopped herself when she realized something.

Tsunade had already anticipated the question of 'Does he know where his home is?'

"Sakura is with him."

"Sakura," Hinata's delicate voice chewed the name as if something distasteful had been sampled. "Haruno Sakura?"

"Yes," Tsunade waited for Hinata to ask or offer anything else.

Hinata didn't. Bowing her head, she exited the tower and made her way towards Naruto's home with due haste.

Xxx

She didn't have to wonder if Naruto was inside his home. The lights were on and the only slippers missing were Sakura's. Next to her footwear were a pair of sandals that she didn't recognize but could assume were his.

Swallowing a painful lump in her throat, she tried to brave through the motion of just knocking on the door and greeting him as if the last time he saw her wasn't when she was naked and accepting his marriage proposal. Just the idea of how wonderful and horrible that moment had turned out made her want to run back to the compound and hide in her room.

"No, you need to take control of the situation, Hyuuga Hinata," She admonished herself, poising her hand over the door to knock.

"But…what if I'm interrupting." Her small voice was filled with doubt. "Who am I to just come unannounced? If Sakura is here with him, then there's the chance…"

Raising her hand towards the door again, firmly ready to knock, she demanded that she use the strength to knock. "He doesn't know what's going on. I have to tell him."

Her will faltered. "But what if he doesn't want to see me? Sasuke said he was angry and…what if he's angry with me? He has every right. Sakura's with him and there's just no reason for me to-"

The door was pulled open so hard and Naruto's appearance was so sudden Hinata nearly fell over herself trying to get away.

Naruto caught her by her flailing hand, steadying her on her feet, and not letting go till she got her bearing. "Hinata-chan, what are you doing here?"

A flood of happiness surged through her. Naruto didn't seem mad at her. If anything, he seemed extremely happy to see her. Almost relieved. This was going to be easier than she expected. Dear Kami, he's so handsome. His smooth cheeks were something out of place from her memory, but his eyes, those cobalt blue eyes and baby soft hair, those lopsided smirking lips and those shoulders…

"I came to see you, Naruto-kun, to apologize."

Naruto's blank face confused her. Wasn't he curious why she had done what she did with him?

"And to explain what happened back at the Hokage Mountain?"

She could tell he remembered now. His back straightened and his lips curled warmly, invitingly. She could feel her skin warming at how his lips had felt on hers, how his eyes roamed over her body and how he had wanted her. She suddenly felt very exposed. The boy she remembered from her past was just as easy to read but was more of a man now. Dear, Kami, how was she supposed to stay true to her path with him looking at her like this? Compulsively, she covered her hands over her breasts. Not that he had been staring at her disrespectfully, but more because she had revealed them, as well as most of herself, to him and could sense his desire for her so strongly. The mention of desire brought up a thought that had made her come to his home.

"I see you have company, Naruto-kun." She could smell the ramen from the opened doorway. "If this is a bad time…"

It wasn't her place to ask what his plans were with Sakura. After all, she was an engaged woman and what Naruto wanted to do with his old crush or any other woman…

"No, no, no, it's not what you think!" Naruto quickly cleared the air, rushing to put on his shoes. "I'm glad you came. Would you like to go somewhere? Maybe show me around and…uh…just walk?"

Strangely enough, he didn't seem like he was going to invite her in. Then it dawned on her, where was Sakura?

"But…you have company, Naruto-kun. If you leave now without letting her know, that would be rude." Hinata squinted at him, curious as to his jittery posture and eagerness to leave.

"Well, Sakura's here and we were enjoying one of the ramen bowels she had made for me in one of the scrolls-"

"Wait," Hinata held up her hand, her voice curious. "One of the ramen bowls 'she' made for you?"

"That's right." Naruto was slipping on his other shoe. "She said she made a whole pantry full of food different flavored ramen just for me."

"She made all the bowls of ramen in your pantry? The one's that taste like they're from Ichiraku's?" Hinata asked in disbelief, confirming what she heard. "And she told you this?"

She could see Naruto's eyes looking up, seeing if he had heard correctly considering the doubt in Hinata's voice. "Yeah, Hinata-chan. Isn't that nice of her?"

"Extremely," Hinata's polite tone seemed forced. "May I come in?" Hinata slipped off her sandals and cinched her feet into the house slippers.

"I don't think it's a good idea at this time," Naruto mumbled, craning his neck towards the hallway. "I really think it would be a good idea to go."

"Why so?" Hinata stood up straight, pulling her hair over her shoulders that had fell over her face. Striding inside the house, Hinata saw the dining room table had one huge pot of ramen served with two bowls sitting.

"Where's Sakura?" Hinata inspected the bowls, seeing one was empty and the other half full.

"Well…" Naruto rubbed his neck with embarrassment, his eyes flicking towards the hallway. Hinata followed his glance to see why he seemed so ready to bolt. Piled on the floor was Sakura's medic skirt, in the hall was Sakura's nurse's blouse, and right at the bend towards the bedrooms and bathroom lay Sakura's simple yet very functional bra.

Hinata picked up the undergarment with bemused curiosity and red cheeks. "If you wish for me to leave, Naruto-kun, I can. I know you had a long standing crush with Sakura, and if you want to…with her, than who am I to stop you? I'll go-"

Naruto took hold of her arm, tightening firmly and sincerely. "Hinata, there's only one person I want to share a bath with."

His suggestive tone made her knees weak. The way he looked at her, the way he wanted her, everything in his body language to the way his voice hummed with a sensual hunger for her made her throat dry. Instinctively, she licked her lips. The little motion caught his eye and made him smile.

Dear Kami, she wasn't even trying to do anything suggestive and here she was…

"Naruto-kun, please, I'm engaged-." She began, but was interrupted by Sakura calling to him from behind the bathroom door.

"Naruto, I'm ready to have my back scrubbed!"

Hinata lavender eyes turned to him, questioning his intentions to Sakura's siren's call. She was answered by apprehension and a very palatable desire to leave. Now she had an idea that Naruto would be able to appreciate.

"Sakura needs her back scrubbed." Hinata rolled her sleeves up, tying the ends of her robes to her hips. "Let's not keep her waiting."

She didn't think Naruto could look handsomer than with the ear to ear smile of mischief that he wore right now.

XXX

Sakura had taken her time getting ready for Naruto to join her in the bathtub. The water was hot, some candles that his parents (she presumed) had left behind were lit, the bubbles in the bath were high enough to give only a translucent view of her goods, and those towels she had grabbed were folded neatly at the edge of the sink along with the rest of her undergarments and stockings. Pulling her tie out of her hair, she combed out her long pretty pink locks with her fingers, fluffing it up to give it a little volume before she decided to dip it into the water. She decided a little show for Naruto wouldn't hurt. It wasn't hard to turn a man on, she knew. If there was one thing she remembered about this one in particular was that he had a raging, annoyingly strong crush on her back in the day. Had she known he was the son of the Fourth Hokage and that his parents were this loaded, she wouldn't have been so standoffish with him. Besides, now that she knew what his father and mother looked like, and she could see that he had grown up extremely good looking, there was no doubt their kids would be as well if she decided to go that route.

He wasn't Sasuke good looking, but who was she to be picky? That path had been cut off from her, by the same Hinata that had spent every waking day and night pining and whining, moping and weeping about how much she missed her 'Naruto-kun'. Was she angry that the girl that was supposed to be waiting for Naruto decided just a year and a half ago to up and snatch her Sasuke-kun from her? No, she wasn't bitter. Not at all. Not one little bit. Nope, nope, nope.

Cupping her hand over her mouth, she tested her breath. "Better rinse."

She fished through the medicine cabinet and found some mouth wash. She gargled, spit, and rechecked her breath. "Good." Sakura stepped back, examining herself in the mirror, pleased at what she saw. Everything was in place. Legs toned, stomach trim, female assets firm, shapely and perky. "Welcome home, Naruto," She winked at the mirror.

Slipping one foot into the extremely warm water, she bit back a hiss till she was acclimated to the temperature. The next foot came in, then the rest of her body. Her girlish hum of approval was followed by a moving shadow by the door. The awaited knock made her jump a little. Was she really going to do this, with him? Sighing in frustration and clenching her fist in resolve, she decided it was already too late to turn back now. Tsunade had given her some under the table orders to 'Keep an eye on him' considering what was going on with Hinata and her Sasuke-kun. This was a little more than just a polite friendship reunion with surveillance mission parameters in mind. No, this was a little bit of feel good medicine for her and some 'get back' for Hinata.

The idea of that blueberry haired pale skinned Hyuuga made her want to retch after what she did to her. Still, what better revenge was there than 'an eye for an eye'? Hinata took her love, it would only seem fair that Sakura took hers.

xxx

"Come in," Sakura called out huskily, turning to look over her shoulder and batting her big green eyes at Naruto when he peeked in.

Naruto looked away, fumbling with the door. "Sakura-chan, are you sure?"

"What?" Sakura demurely turned her bare shoulder towards him. "You're just washing my back, right?"

"Heh," Naruto ran his fingers through his hair. "Of course, silly me."

"Did you expect something else?" Sakura bit her lips, lifting her chest just high enough to give him a good view of her suds covered flesh.

Naruto's large blue eyes steered away. "That's not you back," He gulped, trying to look away but failing miserable.

Sakura giggled into the bubbles. Bracing herself on the edge of the tub, she stood up, letting foamy bubbles dribble down from the middle of her chest to half way up her shins.

The girl was absolutely, shamelessly naked, covered only by a spotting of bubbles.

"Here," Sakura beckoned, pulling her long pink hair over her left shoulder, turning away to give him another amazing view. Taking a sudsy sponge in her hand, she dangled it with two fingers. "Don't be shy. I promise not to bite."

"That's disappointing," Naruto slid his fingers over Sakura's, catching her eye as she turned to look at him with amused astonishment. "I was hoping the new Sakura was a little more friendly than the girl I remembered."

"Hmm," Sakura hummed, raising one single pink eyebrow at him. "Oh, I am. Now scrub."

He did.

Smoothing the soap evenly over the curve of her neck, the plane of her back and shoulders, Sakura leaned back against Naruto. Scowling disapprovingly, she turned to him. "How could you?"

"What?"

"Your clothes."

"My clothes?"

"Yes."

"What about them?"

"Take them off."

"I can."

"No, you will."

"I will?"

"Don't you want to?" Sakura asked, her tone cute and disappointed.

"Okay," Naruto turned his blue eyes away, shy and conflicted. "But, can you turn around? This is my first time."

"Really?" Sakura blinked in surprise and a personal accomplishment. "That's so cute. I would have never thought so considering how bad Tsunade-sama speaks of Jiraiya-sama."

Naruto chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "What can I say? I'm saving myself for my one and only."

Sakura's frowned, turning to face Naruto without any sensuality or flirtation. "Really?"

"I've only had my heart set on one person my whole life. I never even thought about being with anyone else. I never even dreamed of having anyone else touch me, so I wouldn't even know how to do this. You can understand that, right?"

Sakura's face darkened. Taking Naruto's hands, she exhaled slow and long. "Naruto, a lot happened when you were away."

"I'm sure, Sakura-chan." Naruto's playful grin turned serious. "By the way, you make the best ramen outside of Ichiraku's. Thank you for spending all that time learning how to make it."

Sakura's cheeks flushed bashfully. "Stop bringing that up. You're welcome."

"No really, it is absolutely unbelievable."

Sakura's pink eyebrow raised inquisitively. "Unbelieveable as in 'wow, it's the best' or 'unbelievable' as in you don't believe me?"

"I'm just curious, Sakura-chan, did you saute' the leeks with peanut oil in the dashi stock while you mixed in the kelp and bonito or did you just render the pork, beef, and chicken juices to add flavor the stock before you added the home made egg noodles?" Naruto leaned in close, touching her chin to face him with the his finger.

Sakura's purposely shifted her chin out of Naruto's hands, folding her arms over her chest and turned away. "You're beginning to upset me, Naruto. If you're going to keep this up then I might as well go home. I really put a lot of effort into making those Ichiraku scrolls for-"

Poof!

The sudden release of a henge caught Sakura completely by surprise, making her nearly fall out of tub. Water sloshed all over, spilling onto the floor. When Sakura looked up, there was a blue haired Hyuuga scowling down at her with her robes hiked up to her thighs and her sleeves rolled to her elbows.

"No, please don't go, Sakura-san. I promise to be gentle."