Author: G.A.M.M.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
They were twenty miles from Konoha when Hinata collapsed.
"Can't... run... anymore..." She desperately gasped for air. Her hair was plastered with sweat and her face was so flushed that the parts that weren't concealed by her ANBU mask were stark red. Rivulets of perspiration ran down her neck and into her armor.
"Che- you're such a wimp." Naruto mocked.
He reached down to give her a hand up. She made it to her feet, though she was more than a little shaky. She had good reason. After they had gotten away with the scroll they had run flat out back to Konoha... so far anyway. Shikamaru had only given them three days to finish their mission and time was running short. In fact...
"We'll never make it... its... too far..." Hinata panted. She really had done her best, but no mere mortal (albeit a demon container) could ever hope to make such a journey. Well, there was Lee and Gai, but who knew what they really were anyway?
Her partner gave her a calculated look from behind his mask. 'She's reached her limit. Looks like its time for another plan B.'
"Come here." He commanded.
"Naruto wha-?"
"Come here." He repeated.
She crossed the scant three feet between them and brushed the dust off of her gear. Her breath betrayed her when Naruto swept her off her feet. Literally.
"You're going to carry me." She remarked in a rueful monotone. "Great."
"Just shut up." He grunted.
Chakra gathered around his feet as he prepared to take off again. Seconds later they were bounding through the trees, racing to beat the clock. When Shikamaru said three days he meant it. Fifty six minutes to midnight with twenty miles to go was no easy feat.
'How can he still keep going? Its just not natural... maybe...' She activated her Byakugan and monitored his chakra coils closely. 'Strange... no nature chakra. Wait- what's that?' Another source, a dim flicker of red, was beginning to appear. It was very faint, but it was clear it was boosting his system. As the hour progressed it became more prominent. Eventually every part of his network contained at least a trace amount of the inner power. 'I wonder what it is? Could this be why he never gets tired? I'll have to ask him in front of Shikamaru.'
She wasn't sure how long she stayed in his arms. It could've been twenty minutes or a day. When he held her time didn't quite work the same. 'This is getting kind of weird.' Her thoughts lingered halfway between their estranged partnership and the strength of his arms. One thing she was sure of though; he would never drop her.
"Hang on." Naruto strained the words between gritted teeth.
A sudden burst of power sent them flying through the air and above Konoha's walls. The buildings blurred as Naruto took them the final leg of the journey. Just before they got to the Hokage Tower he set her down.
"Don't mention it." The blonde gave her a condescending pat on the head.
Hinata gave him a dirty look. "I didn't thank you." A poke to his side furthered her point.
He grinned. "But you should."
"You're awful."
She didn't really mean the words and he knew it. Half of the words that ever went between them were banter. Together they made their way up to Shikamaru's office. Little had changed in the years succeeding Danzou's government as far as the Hokage Tower was concerned. It had been one of the few major structures left mostly intact after the battle. There was some new wood flooring sure, some different decor on behalf of the alliance between Suna and Konoha (made permanent by the Hokage's marriage to the Kazekage's only sister), but all in all it was the same boring old place.
Naruto gave a slight nod to the two guards just outside of the Hokage's quarters. They were always putting the same boring superfluous chuunin too, or at least they all looked the same. Naruto couldn't really tell anymore. Neither could Hinata, and she made a conscious effort to know most of the staff. She gave her own version of polite acknowledgment- a glare that would make most men blanch.
In fact, these two did. "H-Hokage-s-sama is expecting y-you." The one on the right managed. The other kept his mouth shut and looked like he would faint.
She led the way into the waiting room and paused for a moment, turning to her partner. "You'd think they'd never seen a pair of ANBU before."
Her companion scratched at his chin, only half listening. "Yeah, or they just know not to mess with an heiress and a demon. Looks like that stuttering of yours is infectious."
"When was the last time I stuttered?"
"Hell if I know."
"Whatever," she changed the topic," Demon? Hardly. I've seen flowers that were more intimidating."
Naruto flinched. 'That was stupid. How to make her forget it? Hmmm... "Actually I once knew a clan of shinobi that used flowers for their ninpou."
"Really?" Hinata asked in a voice all too eager. "Did Ino slip you a fast one during psyche evaluation or something?"
"I wouldn't put it past her, but no. Speaking of which, they're coming up in a few months I think."
She gave him her smile, her special smile. The one that she only shared with him. The corners of her mouth raised just the slightest bit and her eyes shone with a playful gleam. "We're doomed huh?"
"Probably," he made a show of unleashing a considerable amount of killing intent, "always fun to answer the ink blot questions. Fluffy bunnies and all that."
Hinata matched him and crossed her arms for extra effect. "If you're going to try and show off at least use more than a tenth of what you're capable of."
The killing intent the two were generating might have been trivial by their standards, but it was enough to upset lesser beings. Nervous murmurs were heard outside the door and they shared a look.
"We should go."
"Mhmmm."
They found the Hokage asleep at his post. The vein in Hinata's temple was visibly pulsing as she removed her mask. 'Why that lazy sonovah...'
"Expecting us my ass." Naruto jeered. "Look at him. Ughhh.. Its you're turn to wake him up."
He turned to her expectantly. It was a game they played often. The Rokudame had the bad habit of constantly napping, examining the clouds, or sometimes claiming to be reading the 'history within the wood grains' of his desk. Occasionally he would have a good excuse, but Naruto had shared his theory with Hinata that the Hokage and the Copy-ninja were in constant competition for worst liar. She had agreed with utmost sincerity that four black cats in a week was a stretch by anyone's standards.
"Shikamaru... Hokage-sama... hmmmm... Temari found your secret stash of ero-novels..."
The Rokudaime jumped four feet into the air. "WHAT? Oh... crap. Yo."
The shadow user looked a little the worse for wear. He pulled a cigarette from the folds of his robes and lit it, taking a deep drag. More often than not he preferred his pipe, but when he didn't have the luxury a cancer stick would do. He narrowed his eyes at the duo.
"Two more minutes and you would have failed." He muttered, checking the grandfather clock behind him. "But you didn't. Oh well... how troublesome. How did it go?"
Naruto produced the containment scroll. "How does it always go?"
Shikamaru nodded knowingly. "So you screwed up, but managed to wing it eh?"
"How did you know?" Hinata asked.
"Because that's how it always goes." The Hokage answered smartly. He was about to speak again but something stopped him. His eyes were drawn to Hinata's condition. "You look awful."
"Now, Shika-kun," she began sweetly, "that's no way to talk to a lady."
"Then he's got it covered. Eh, Shika? No ladies here."
A Naruto shaped crater was found two floors down.
"As I was saying: we ran straight back. I barely made it myself. Actually I've been meaning to ask you something. About Naruto... its strange; Shikamaru," her tone was one of cautious curiosity, "why does he never get sick? Its like he's not human or something. The way he just never runs out of energy; he never gets tired for that matter. "
"Who's getting fatter?" Naruto reappeared out of the wreckage below and dusted himself off.
The Hyuuga heiress ignored the Kyuubi container's stupidity. "And is exceedingly resilient to physical damage, not to mention how fast he heals. Its just not natural." She finished.
The Hokage shrugged. "What did you expect? With a skull as thick as his you're nearly impervious to any harm."
"That doesn't explain the rest of his body." She pointed out. "Mind my asking Naru-san?"
"Does it really matter?" Naruto droned in a half whine..
"Not really, no." She admitted. "But I'd still like to know."
Shikamaru watched with obvious amusement from under his hat. "I don't remember giving you clearance to review his medical files."
"I didn't."
"Ah. I'll have to tell Sakura not to be so loose lipped. Then again..." He took another drag again, considering. "You probably blackmailed her, right?"
There was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I taught her the rudimentary basics of the Jyuken. Apparently she needed to redirect chakra flow in order to stimulate certain areas..."
Naruto put his hands behind his head and took a seat, crossing his legs. "So that's how she got him to marry her. Funny," he continued mirthfully, "for the longest time I thought he was gay. He always had a hard on when he was in the showers... guess now I know why. Leave it to Sakura to find a way to both threaten his male pride and make up for her lack of sex appeal in one fell swoop-"
A puff of smoke from Shikamaru's cigarette triggered a coughing fit and stung his eyes, stalling his speech. "I thought you were infatuated with her?" The Rokudaime questioned lightly. He knew this game.
"For a fifteen-year-old anything with two legs, breasts and a hole is something to be infatuated with." Hinata replied evenly.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "So she treated me like shit- she was the only girl I saw on a regular basis. Besides, her hair is naturally pink. Who wouldn't be curious if the rest was?"
"It is." She confirmed, sounding bored.
"I know." His comment shocked only Hinata, who gave him a look mixed with betrayal and disgust. "No- I'm not a peeping-tom. Sasuke told me after I won a bet with him... well there was that one time when she got smashed and forgot to pull up her panties after using my toilet but..."
"Ahem." The Hokage made an exaggerated act of clearing his throat. "As fascinating as the color of Sakura's pubic hair is, its 00:10 and I'd like to sneak into bed before the wife comes down to drag me."
"Ex-homicidal jinchuriki in-laws keep you on your toes, don't they Shika?" Naruto slanted the shadow-user with mock-subtlety.
"Somehow I think I'd prefer Gaara over you, Uzumaki-san. At least the Kazekage would be better with kids then you."
"Oh yeah?"
"Sure." He replied. "Interactive sand boxes are a toddlers dream."
The Hokage chuckled at his own humor. The two ANBU before him couldn't help but crack a smile.
"So the mission was a success, yes?" Shikamaru began again.
The two operatives shared a glance. "More or less." Naruto answered.
"Pretty much." Hinata added.
The Hokage looked torn between asking about the details and just getting it over with. He decided on the latter. "As much as I'd like to know what you two are so keen on hiding- you always have that look in your eyes when you lie Naruto, I have better things to do."
"Such as?" The Kyuubi container challenged.
"Give you your Name and prefix." Shikamaru offered. "Since you did complete this mission it means I can give it to you right now if you wish."
Hinata moved to sit back into Naruto's lap, making an act of 'accidentally' elbowing him in the face. It had the desired effect: no snarky remark that would lead to another useless (if not highly amusing) tangent.
"Arigato, Hyuuga-san. From now on the two of you will be known as Shadow Raven Name. Or just Raven for short. Its actually wiser if you avoid using your prefix. I doubt anyone outside of ANBU would know its significance, but there's no need to make changes. Also, I have some good news and some bad news."
Naruto perked up a bit, wiping the blood off of his nose and moving Hinata's torso to one side. "Eh? What news? Did Konohamaru finally find a passing genin team?"
Hinata had her own priorities. "Bad news first."
Shikamaru produced a number of documents paper clipped together. He handed them each a pen and pointed to two blank spaces. "Sign please."
Naruto was suspicious. "I hope we're not selling our souls away or anything. I already owe Kakashi on a number of debts."
Hinata didn't hesitate and signed. Not one to be topped in the act of an uncaring shinobi attitude, Naruto immediately did the same. When he saw the smile on Shikamaru's face he knew he had just made a huge mistake.
"The good news is I just solved your partner's problem, Naruto. The bad news was that some idiot chuunin had an accident with an exploding tag inventory and blew up two dozen living spaces at the barracks. Most of you're stuff was salvaged Hinata-san, not to worry." He reassured. "The issue was that because of the housing shortage Hyuuga-san would have been living on the street. As it is, eight others are without a roof over their heads, and they were ahead on the list. Naturally since you weren't there to request a new room you were rock bottom."
Naruto frowned. 'I have a bad feeling about this.' "So what does this have to do with me? Why not just put her up with... oh no clan affiliations, right... and since the districts are... uh oh."
Hinata was completely lost. "Wait, what just happened?"
The Rokudaime leaned forward with a dark look of satisfaction on his face. "From what I remember you're flat has a guest room does it not? I took the liberty of organizing the papers so Hinata could move in with you. Its more convenient anyway- you two are hard enough to get a hold of as it is. This will make my messengers much happier. Pretty crafty, don't you think?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"YOU DID WHAT?"
When they finally returned home that night, for they now shared 'home', the two ANBU were in slightly higher spirits. Apparently Shikamaru was not going to press charges for them beating him to within an inch of his life. Of course there were other pluses as well. All of Hinata's things had already been moved into Naruto's flat. The guest closet was full of clothes, containment scrolls were stacked neatly in the provisions closet oposite of Naruto's own gear, and even her desk, lamp and pictures had been carefully rearranged into the significantly larger space. The young heiress was clearly exhausted and exacerbated by the situation, but at the very least she had a sunken bath to look forward to. Naruto's only stipulation was to clean up afterward. She was surprised at the level of organization the former rookie prankster kept in his abode. It really was a nice place.
After her bath (which was fantastic- compliments of revitalizing sea salts that Naruto used (also how his skin was so smooth she suspected)) she made her way to investigate the kitchen. She was right about one thing: she would definitely be able to cook with what the flat was equipped with. The island in the middle, the dual sinks, the massive food refrigerator and freezer, the small wine refrigerator, the numerous cooking utensils stored neatly above in polished wooden cabinets- it was a housewife's dream.
Not that she had any interest in being one.
The kitchen and bath may have been the highlights, but that didn't mean she overlooked anything. The choice of couch and bean bag, the massive H.D. television, her bed which had a tolerable level of softness for her... it was a significant upgrade over her previous quarters. She had been tempted to ask about which bathroom she should frequent (there was a sink and toilet in the guest room, the full bath in the master, and a shower-sink-toilet combo in the common) but it had been clear her partner didn't care so long as she was tidy. The only thing about the accommodations she might have complained about was the superiority of Naruto's bed. Instead of a double it was a queen with silk sheets and the exact level of firmness she liked in a mattress. She couldn't have picked one better herself. Top it off that is was lavender... she could have sworn someone was hinting at something. Maybe this would be a good thing.
On the other hand the company could have been better.
"If you're done staring at my bed, I'd like to go over some ground rules... and as for those sheets- they weren't there before. Sakura probably took a chance and ran with it. There's now way she'd stay out of the loop on something as big as this. Plus she knows you well enough. Ughhh... she's always looking for an excuse to get me into a relationship. I feel like Shikamaru whenever I think about it; troublesome."
Hinata tolerated his attempt at humor. "I see. Well, if it helps, she has very good taste. I wouldn't mind swapping with you."
"I would."
"Ok then."
"... this is... awkward, I guess." Naruto confessed. "I've never shared a place before, let alone with a girl... woman."
His tenant flopped back onto the bed and rolled for his benefit. "Well get used to it. Though, to be honest, I've never been in a situation like this either. It is kind of strange, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Naruto leaned against his oak dresser that was braced against the wall. "Remember that time when I said you were using me for practice?"
Hinata shrugged. "I guess."
He grinned. "Looks like I just sunk lower."
That got a laugh. She covered her mouth and looked straight at him. The tinge of pink in her cheeks almost made her glow. For a moment Naruto thought he was seeing a Hinata from an earlier time. Maybe a better time. 'She looks carefree. When was the last time I could just laugh like that? Maybe this is a gift? If I can figure out whatever it is about her that makes me feel, then I can use it.' Her eyes shimmered a silver and lavender sheen. 'Those eyes... again. Sometimes when I look at them I forget who I am... ANBU.'
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up your highness." Working to establish order once again in his household, the blonde stalked over to his antagonist and picked her up to her feet. "Just don't get too comfy. Eventually I'll be able to find other housing for you. This isn't a permanent set up."
"I never said it was." Her pleasant gesture, unimposing, disarmed him some. She twirled away from him and out into the living room, onto the black leather couch. "Are you coming?"
Naruto ran his hand through his hair, a habit he had picked up some time in the last four years. A nervous habit. 'I'll have to be careful about that issue.' He thought darkly.
"No, I thought I'd take a trip to the West." Casually, but hopefully not too casually, he sat down in the matching armchair. "Right, ground rules."
If he expected Hinata to respond verbally she didn't. Instead she just stared at him. After what might have been a minute she made a motion with her hands.
"Ok then. One: do what makes sense. You see how I run things around here, so just do as I do. Keep it clean and organized, ask if you're unsure about anything. There's no reason we can't be sensible adults about this. Two: if you want privacy you'll have to make it. Lock your doors and don't sleep in the nude. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not particularly keen on modesty."
"Sounds like an excuse to see me naked." She said dryly.
Naruto gave her a foxy grin and a wink. "And if it is, its your problem- my house. Aaaanyway, on to the don'ts. Don't run around and scent the place without having me sample it first. I know girls like to do things like that, but my nose is a bit sensitive. In fact, rule number three: ask. When in doubt just ask. Four: I run on a schedule, you know that from our training. Don't expect to sleep in unless I say so the night before... and don't expect me to make you breakfast either. I'm feeling generous, so tomorrow will be my treat, but in the morning I'm going to show you around the kitchen. Do your own shopping. If we need to we can switch off on getting things we both use like milk or whatever."
"Can I give you a rule?" She asked tentatively- an heiress never had to ask. Fortunately he withheld any witty remark. "Ummm... I get kind of... weird during certain times. So cut me a little slack now and then."
Naruto nodded, looking wise if it was possible. "Yeah- you don't have to tell me twice. I remember the cramps you had in Wave."
"Aren't you tact?" She repiled sarcastically.
"Nope." He said with mock cheer. "Alright, last rule. Never, and when I say never I mean never follow me if I leave in the night."
Hinata paused halfway through what would have been an agreeing gesture. "Ummm... anything I should know about then? Like why I shouldn't? It isn't an 'if I told you I would have to kill you thing is it?'"
She was sorry she asked. Naruto gave her a dire look. "Just don't."
"H-hai." 'I better listen to him. Whatever it is I don't think I want to know.'
Both stayed silent for a while after that. Naruto went to get them each a small glass and they toasted to being screwed over by Shikamaru. He was tempted to have a second drink, but the fatigue was finally beginning to catch up with him. Stifling a yawn, he went to go was the glasses and replace them on their respective shelf. The hard sake he had poured returned to its refrigerator. He came back with a pear in each hand and two napkins.
"They're really good." He said simply, tossing her one and then handing her a napkin.
He sat beside her on the couch, careful to unfold the napkins so as not to leak any juice onto the expensive leather. He watched her eat and was drawn to her lips as they moved over the pear. Juice dribbled down her chin. The moist fragrance of her lips carried to his nostrils, and he breathed deeply. There was something... calming about her, watching her do things. It was as if he got some sort of inner peace by observing her when she appeared contented. He idly toyed with the idea of her playing wife and had to stifle a laugh.
"Man, I'm really losing it." The lilt in her voice was easy on her ears.
"I'm a woman last I checked," she jibed, "and what is it you've lost?"
"My mind of course. I just had an image of you flouncing around in an apron and making me pancakes- I nearly choked."
Hinata giggled. "That does sound pretty funny. But you're definitely losing you're mind. The day I become content to be a housewife is the day the world ends. Love is such a boring thing really."
He leaned forward slightly. "Isn't it?"
Suddenly she realized he was right next to her. "Y-yeah..."
He leaned a little closer, still. His eyes looked... intense and... happy? Playful? "Careful Hina-chan... you'll get juice on my couch."
Her breath caught when he gently used his finger to collect the liquid on her chin and placed it in his mouth. "They're good aren't they?" He said more to himself than to her, though his gaze never wavered.
"Uh-huh..." She was so tempted to do the same to him if only... he bit into the pear again. The sweet nectar flowed from one corner of his mouth, dribbling down his lips. In a nearly identical motion she reached forward and wiped it up with her forefinger, depositing the sweet taste of him and the fruit into her mouth.
It tasted very good.
She was staring at him, she realized. Staring with no excuse. 'Damn... damnit.' She blinked in an attempt to break the feeling growing in her, a pressure in her chest. It did little to relieve her distress.
"Looks like you're all done." He said quietly. She was nearly frozen when he took the pear from her hand and finished it in front of her. "I think you got the better one. You can never tell with these, you know. I'm going to go clean up. You should wash your hands."
She nodded dumbly and did as he said. When she returned from the bathroom he had put the pears down the disposal and the napkins into the small wastebin under the sink. His hands were freshly washed.
A thought struck her. "If we do this right, I think it could be fun."
"Fun?"
She flashed him a smile. Better than the other special one. This one was new. It was a beautiful smile with teeth... bright beautiful smiling Hinata...
"Yeah."
He looked away, as if weighing the matter. "Fun... I like that. Fun."
He stopped his dialogue there then shrugged, heading towards his room.
"G'night." She said sweetly in mock adoration. It wasn't lost on him.
"Don't sleep naked." He taunted right back.
"Sure thing."
"..."
"..."
"KAMI-SAMA! I ALMOST FORGOT!" He yelled suddenly.
Hinata almost jumped back in alarm, so startled was her partner. "What? What's wrong?"
If he was his former self, Naruto would have been bouncing off the walls. "Tomorrow- its tomorrow! How could I forget? TOMORROW! YEAH! Sorry Hina-san, you'll just have to wait and see."
With that, he shut his door behind him and left an extremely confused Hinata standing alone. She felt tired with him gone so abruptly, very, very tired. She half walked, half staggered into her room and fell asleep almost immediately. Just before she passed out she wondered what he had been so excited about. 'Must be something important...'
Meanwhile, on the other side of Naruto's door, a certain Kyuubi container's heart was hammering in his chest. 'That was too close... why did I behave so strangely? If it wasn't for that event tomorrow I would have lost it for sure. Kami-sama! What is she doing to me... and... why do I like it?'
So began another chapter for Dark Fox and Night Orchid, two individuals linked as a single entity known as Raven.
