Dangerous Lives

Chapter 35

Till forever

At age eighteen, months before his birthday, Asuma had asked Naruto for his daughter's hand, he'd spoken to Shikamaru, and Hinata. Her mother claimed that Aya, still fifteen was too young, so Naruto reluctantly said no.

At age nineteen Asuma asked once again. Naruto assured him that had it been his decision only it would be yes, but Hinata believed them to be too young, Aya being sixteen, so the answer was no once again.

Just before the festival of lights, several months after Aya's seventeenth birthday Asuma talked to his mother having their weekly dinner, something he'd done to ease the transition of him moving out last year that had just become a tradition.

"Asuma, I know you love her, but you both are quite young sweetie."

"Ma, I'm almost twenty, Aya's seventeen, we were both classified as adults when we got our headbands. The only reason her mother keeps saying no is because she doesn't want to let go of her first born daughter. If it was me, if I was a daughter instead of a son would you really be willing to let me get married just like that? Or even let me be engaged? And don't say yes because I know it would be a lie. Even as your son, you want me to be your baby for as long as I can Ma. That's what Hinata is doing.

I need you to talk to her, because I'm going to ask them one more time, and regardless of the answer I'm going to ask Aya to marry me." Hearing this Kurenai looked at her son in shock.

"Asuma, you can't just defy their wishes-

"We're both ANBU, we've seen death, we've both had to kill. Aya's almost died and I've almost died. We've been through so much in our lives you think her mother would allow this good Ma. We're not stupid, we're not rushing anything, and we're not going to announce it to the world, only four people will know. You, her parents, and Shikamaru, that's it. We do love each other and they should understand that because they weren't much older than us when they got married." Asuma said softly bringing his plate to the sink and washing it.

"Asuma, I can't change Hinata's mind-

"I'm not asking you to. I just want you to talk to her, from one mother to another." He said softly walking over and kissing her on the head. "Dinner was great but I have to go Ma, there's squad selection and training in thirty and I have to break in my second in command." He said softly walking to the door and slipping his shoes on.

"Be careful Asuma, and I'll see what I can do to ease Hinata's mind." Kurenai said watching as her son looked back with a small smile.

"Thanks ma."

O0o0o0o

"I have taken the time to examine each and every one of you looking for a second in command for ANBU squad number eleven." Sai said as he walked through the troops of squad eleven. Asuma stood wearing his mask in front of the twenty shinobi. It was another set of recruits, and when recruits were added to cells, there was almost always a change in authority; it was the time for dropouts and step ups. There were four original members left from his five member cell counting himself. There was Horse, Rat, and Tigress, and he, Wolf. The only member they had lost had been hawk in the underground ambush last year.

"The second in command for eleven will be Rat." He said motioning for the young woman with the rat's mask to take her place next to Asuma. "The newest leader of Cell Eleven will be Horse."

Hearing this both Asuma and Aya looked at Sai in shock, what in the world was going on!? They watched as he continued speaking.

"In light of recent circumstances that have occurred this past year the Hokage has requested that a special group be made for the defense of the village. Wolf, you are going to lead this new cell. You are being given the opportunity to choose who will be your second in command and the four others in your six man cell." Sai said stopping in front of him.

"I choose Tigress as my second in command. For the rest of my team members I would like the opportunity to examine the dossiers and convene with my second on the matter."

"Very well. I expect your decisions by the end of the night." He watched as Asuma nodded, and motioning for Aya to follow him he led them away from the mass of recruits and potential team mates.

"Tell me who you think of everyone you've worked with so far, would work best with us?"

"Crow, he's fast and efficient, he's intelligent as well, he's quite the strategist too." Aya said softly watching as Asuma began looking through the available dossiers.

"So we have three you, me, and Crow. We'll need a medic; if we can't get an actual medic I want two people or more who at least have medical experience."

"I've heard that the rookie Sparrow was well versed in field medicine and field techniques. She would be an asset, especially since it says here that herbal remedies are her specialty." Aya said flipping through the folder in her hands before handing it to Asuma who skimmed through it.

"She is a good choice. Any other thoughts because we need two other people…"

"Maybe Bear?" the blonde suggested.

"No he's needed as leader for squad 6, they'd be lost without him…Maybe…maybe them…"

"Who?" Aya asked looking at him curiously. With his mask on Asuma's face was unreadable.

"What about Boar and Eagle?" he asked looking at the blonde. "You know they would only come if it were both of them. They don't split ever and they're good at what they do."

"Asuma are you sure, you know who they are right? Who Boar is right?" Aya said flipping through the dossiers.

"Of course I do. We worked together on a few missions, I know exactly who she is."

"But you hate each other." Aya said softly as she neared Asuma. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"We don't hate each other as much as you think Aya, trust me on that. Besides we have a week to see how we work with our new team. Give it a chance Aya I think you'll be surprised." Asuma said tilting her chin up so he could see her eyes through the mask.

"Okay Asuma, okay."

"I'll go inform Sai." He said watching her nod continuing to flip through the folders on her new team mates. Crow, Sparrow, Boar, Eagle, and Wolf…this was a scarily powerful combination. Crow's strategic mind was on par with she and Asuma (They being Shikamaru's students were obviously taught strategic tactics on a daily basis.) Sparrow was an incredibly gifted healer, granted she was a brand new recruit her medicinal abilities were not to be taken lightly, it said in the dossier, and that she decided would have to be proven during field training. Boar and Eagle were twins, and two people Aya knew very well. Separate they were both quite competent and were difficult to handle, but together they were an unstoppable force, each with a Kekkai Genkai of their parents they knew each other upside down and backwards each able to cover the other's weaknesses, and Wolf, Asuma…he was brutal, vicious, and smart and an exceptional leader…he was a force to be reckoned with at the best of times, and the worst...

Aya was honestly concerned with how he and Inami were going to work together, they were like oil and water, hot and cold, black and white, fire and ice, point in case: They did not get along. The sight of those selected drew her attention, and putting the files down on the table Aya watched as they lined up, Asuma leading the group.

Once they lined up Asuma stood in front of them speaking, breaking the silence.

"The six of us form group 12. I Wolf am the group leader, and Tigress here is second in command, when I'm not around which I assure you will be a very rare occurrence, she will be in charge of the group. The four of you have been chosen by Tigress and I for multiple reasons, but namely your abilities. Strength, speed, strategic tact, medicine…the list goes on. I don't know yet what our particular focus as team 12 will be, but I'll talk to the ANBU leader to get more information. For now I want you to acquaint yourselves with your teammates learn who they are because these people are going to be your lifelines. After that you're free to go, the first team practice will be Monday evening at 6." Asuma said leaning against the wall and watching as the rest of the group turned to talk to each other. The talking was minimal and after ten minutes or so they all dispersed Asuma and Aya staying behind to talk to Sai, he however was still putting members into groups.

"Just go to my place and I'll meet you there okay?" he said, his hand reaching for hers squeezing it.

"Alright." Aya said walking from the room as she let his hand go. She'd been training all day, and the trip back to Asuma's apartment luckily was short as he lived only two blocks away. Unlocking the door the first thing the blonde did was grab some clean clothes and head towards the shower once her mask was safely put away.

Aya pulled her long blonde hair out of the pony tail and began undressing as she stepped into the shower turning the water on and sighing. She felt sweaty and gross and this was just the most perfect thing that could ever be at this very moment as the hot water poured over her. After a few minutes Aya could hear movement in the apartment tensing as a knock came to the door. The moment she realized that it was Asuma's voice meeting her ears she relaxed immensely.

"Aya?"

"In here." She called out sticking her head past the curtain as the door opened.

"Gonna be one of those long shower days?" he asked with a smile watching as the water dripped from her hair.

"Maybe, do you…do you want to take one with me?" she asked watching as he leaned against the door frame his face serious.

"Are you sure you'd be okay with that?" he asked. They had snuggled, kissed, and made-out, but hadn't been in any way physically intimate since the incident, and they both had been okay with that.

"I would, I know I'll be okay." She said softly watching as he nodded and began pulling off his clothes. Moving forward Aya made room for him under the stream of the shower and listening as he sighed. Feeling his skin against hers Aya looked over her shoulder and found Asuma facing the wall leaning his head back with his eyes closed. Turning around the blonde wrapped her arms around Asuma's waist resting her head on his shoulder.

"Can I wash your back?" she asked watching as he opened his eyes and looking at her.

"Sure." Reaching over Aya grabbed the body wash squeezing some into her hands making a lather as she began washing his back and rubbing the muscles that felt tense listening as he sighed sounding beyond relaxed. She moved from his shoulders and arms and all the way down his back, and when she was finished Aya wrapped her arms tightly around him kissing the nape of his neck.

"Can I return the favor?" Feeling the blonde nod and turn around, Asuma turned as well grabbing her body wash as he started at Aya's shoulders kneading the muscles and listening as she let out a little sigh of bliss.

"Is that okay? He asked as he moved his hands lower down her back.

"Just a little lower?" Aya said groaning as he began kneading the sore muscles of her lower back. "Just stay right there, that's perfect." His strong hands were bringers of bliss and it seemed that all too soon he'd stopped letting the water run down her back. He reached for the shampoo and began scrubbing his head handing Aya the bottle watching as she did the same while he rinsed his hair clean, and after she managed to work the shampoo through the entirety of her hair Aya did the same now working conditioner through her hair and rinsing that out too smelling the scent of Asuma's body wash. Reaching for hers the blonde paused before looking over her shoulder and catching her boyfriend's eye.

"Do you want to wash the rest of me since you're already done?" Wordlessly he agreed stepping close to the blonde so his chest was against her back as he reached for the flowery scented wash rubbing it along her skin starting at her stomach and moving down her waist and hips leaving them soapy before moving back up to her chest. Leaning her head back Aya reached over her shoulder tilting his face towards hers as she kissed him.

"Do you want to take this back to the bedroom when I'm done?" he asked breaking the kiss.

"Yes…" She said turning to face him and wrapping her arms around his neck kissing him again "I do." Quickly she rinsed off, and reaching behind her Asuma shut off the water before pulling a towel off the rack and wrapping Aya in it stepping out of the shower grabbing his own towel as Aya followed after him bringing the towel up to dry her hair as they entered his room. Her heart pounded in anticipation though she was still a bit nervous, that was just something she couldn't help. Taking a breath the blonde walked over to the foot of the bed and sat down holding the towel in place watching as Asuma sat next to her.

"You know we don't have to do this right? That it was just a suggestion?" he asked watching as her lavender eyes met his.

"I know, but I want to, I'm just a bit nervous." Aya said softly as she looked at the ground in embarrassment. Almost at once she felt the bed shift as he scooted closer to her, his fingers lifting her chin upwards so he could look at her.

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous too. I don't want to do anything that might upset you, or hurt you, and I'm nervous that I will. I never want to hurt you." He said softly closing his eyes and resting his forehead against hers. It was then Aya realized that while she'd been nervously worrying about this, so had he, probably even more so than she'd been. She could see it even now, the concern on his face. Closing her eyes Aya leaned forward meeting his lips with hers and feeling after a moment as he responded kissing her back, his hand on her cheek.

Asuma could feel the tickle of her fingers on his skin as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she continued kissing him. Pulling the blonde closer to him he moved farther on the bed and watched as she blinked her eyes open breaking the kiss to catch her breath, and using the time to his advantage Asuma wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing his way down her neck starting from the bottom of her ear and moving slowly down her neck listening to her soft panting breaths. She didn't know how he did it, but Asuma always seemed to have a way of unwinding her with the simplest of touches. Before it became too much Aya pulled him away from her neck and kissed Asuma once again, her fingers now tangling in his hair feeling as her back was now against the sheets of his bed.

Ignoring the nervousness she felt as her towel began to slip Aya continued kissing him knowing that Asuma, her Asuma would never ever hurt her. Now he kissed his way down her neck and towards her chest stopping at the towel his fingers at the edge of it as he stared at her silently waiting for her approval. Slowly she nodded and watched as he gently pulled the towel back stopping at her hips as he continued kissing his way down her body before pausing, spotting the long scar on her side that she'd gotten in the ambush. Honestly it was the first time he'd seen it. Leaning forward he brushed his lips on the dark mark before moving back up and meeting her lips with his.

He could feel her body trembling, wrapping his arms around the blonde Asuma held her tightly kissing the top of her head and just stayed there. Almost immediately he felt as her body melted against his as she let out a breath nuzzling her head under his chin.

"We don't have to do this, do you want to stop?" He murmured feeling as her hand rested on his chest

"I know, I'm sorry, I want to I really do but I get nervous and I can't help it…but I don't want to stop." Aya said softly kissing the base of his neck. "I really don't."

O0o0o0

Asuma listened as the blonde let out a breathy moan, her forehead buried in the crook of his neck as her nails dug into his back. They had started off slow, just like the first time, and the longer they went the easier it was for both of them to get reacquainted with each other's bodies once again. The little touches, where to scratch, and what spots heightened the intensity…After taking that first tentative step it was easier than both of them thought to get back to how they'd been before.

Aya was so close and he could tell as he kissed her lips once again, but suddenly a voice caught both their attention as they froze in place.

"Asuma are you here? I'd like to talk to you."

"Oh Kami it's my mom!" She said in a panicked whisper, and immediately Aya felt an icy jolt of fear in her belly before pushing Asuma off her and scrambling for her clothes Asuma hurrying into the bathroom and sticking his head in the sink and turning it on, grabbing his towel and wrapping it around his hips. Opening the door he called out into the apartment.

"Give me 5 minutes, I just got out of the shower."

"Take your time I'll be in the kitchen." Hinata called back, and shutting the door Asuma sighed in relief.

"Aya, just stay up here, the last thing we need is for your mom to find you up here she'd flip."

"Yeah she definitely would." The blonde said wide eyed as she nodded her head climbing on the bed and sitting there watching as Asuma grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a t shirt, and with the towel around his shoulders he walked from the room leaving Aya behind to wait.

It was times like this that she cursed the fact that she was born without her mother's Kekkai Genkai, because the ability to look through walls would be great right now…

O0o0o0

Asuma was never happier about the fact that his room and the kitchen were on opposite ends of the apartment than he was now. Walking into the kitchen he found the wife of the Hokage, and the mother of his girlfriend sitting at the kitchen table, a hint of red fading from her cheeks.

"I'm glad I caught you, I just finished speaking with your mother." Hinata said softly, though not looking directly at him but focusing on her clasped hands which rested on the table.

"Okay." Asuma said sitting across from her at the table. "So what made you want to talk to me if you don't mind me asking?"

"Asuma I'm sure you know what we've discussed, and I want to tell you why I disapprove of these thoughts you're having about being with my daughter." The bluenette said looking up and watching as the red eyed young man scowled.

"Okay, before you begin know this. I will have a response to whatever you're going to say to me. I will explain to you why I want to marry your daughter, and you will listen to me just like I will listen to you, is that fair?" He asked leaning back in his seat watching as Hinata sat straight in her chair.

"Completely. First off, Aya's\ far too young to be married, she's too young for an adult relationship, and especially after what happened to her in those woods, you of all people should understand why that is. Secondly I understand that you two have…a bond, as teammates and as friends, and I can respect that, but having a friendship and having an intimate and adult relationship are two separate things that children your age just don't understand and-

"Okay I'm sorry but can stop you right there? Please? I do understand how after everything she's been through being in an adult relationship would be difficult, but do you really think I would force Aya into anything she didn't want to do? You're right we do share a bond, she is my teammate, and she is my friend, and I absolutely love her. That's the thing I don't think you understand Lady Hinata, and I'm in no way insulting your intelligence or your perception, but for one moment I want you to look at Aya, not as your daughter, not as the child you see her as, but as just another young lady. The way she looks at me, that little look she gives when she thinks that I'm not paying attention…you give Naruto that same look. My mother looks at my dad's picture the same way. I want you to let her decide, because if she doesn't want to marry me, you'd better believe that she'll make that known to me because she has no problems speaking her mind to me or biting my head off when she wants to. And that's one of the things that I love about your daughter…" he said taking the bluenette's hand and watching as she stared at him.

"Aya's funny without being mean, and she's smart, and she's beautiful. She's strong, but she also knows what it's like to be weak. She's not afraid to speak her mind to anyone and she's saved my life more times than I can count, and I've saved hers too. I would never ever do anything to hurt her, and I want you to know this, I want you to hear the sincerity in my voice and see it in my actions. I am not stealing your daughter, I am not taking her away from you, if you want her to live with you during the engagement period I don't mind that, I don't mind it at all, and we wouldn't be stupid about it either. I know that when two shinobi get married they gain each-others enemies, all that means is that it'll be perfectly okay for me to kill that bastard who hurt her like he did. And the engagement, the only people who would know would be my mom, Shikamaru, you, Naruto and if Aya chooses to tell them her siblings, though I think telling Kazu-Chan would be a bad idea as she's so young. I promise I'll do everything in my power to make her happy." He said softly watching as Hinata closed her eyes looking reluctant.

"Okay. You have my consent. I'll talk to Naruto tonight, come over tomorrow and ask him again." she said softly now standing to her feet as Asuma grinned.

"Thank you, thank you so much." Asuma said also standing, but the glare he was given made him halt.

"Asuma, I do love you, you're like a nephew to me but I swear, if you ever hurt my daughter nothing in this world will stop me from inflicting the most amount of pain I can to you without actually killing you, do you understand me?" she said seriously.

"Absolutely."

"Good." She said softly, and with a smile she nodded at him before walking from the apartment. Asuma watched out the window making sure that she was actually gone before he jumped in celebration, she consented, she actually gave her permission to propose.

O0o0o0

Aya sat on the bed anxiously watching as the time ticked by. What they could be talking about for almost a half an hour she had no idea. Closing her eyes she relaxed with a quiet sigh, and several minutes later the door opened and she felt Asuma flop on the bed, opening her eyes she glanced over just in time for him to kiss her, his hands tangling into her hair. Letting her eyes drift shut she kissed him back before pulling away.

"So what did my mom want to talk about?"

"It's absolutely nothing to worry over, something she and my mom had discussed and she felt I should know about it is all." Asuma said easily as he kissed her again before allowing the blonde to breathe.

"Oh, so everything's okay?"

"Absolutely, and if I recall we were in the middle of something?" he said with a grin his hand resting on her hip as he began kissing the blonde pulling her so she was on his lap.

"We were in the middle of something weren't we?" The blonde asked as she slipped her hands under the t-shirt peeling it off of her boyfriend as he held her steady and watching as she pulled off the shirt of his that she'd pulled on after being interrupted and dropping them both on the floor. Already she could feel him straining against the material of his pants pressing against her. Smirking the blonde squirmed on his lap listening as Asuma groaned softly before he laughed.

"Yes we were." Asuma felt as her fingers slipped under the waist band of his sweat pants as she began tugging them down moving backwards and pulling them off his legs. The moment she took him in her mouth Asuma let out a hissing breath his fingers tangling into her hair feeling as she began moving, her hands moving up and down the shaft. He groaned feeling the pressure building up before stopping the blonde and watching as she pulled away looking at him in confusion.

"I want tonight to be all about you, not me." He said softly as he pulled her into his lap slowly pushing into her listening as Aya moaned softly closing her eyes. Carefully his fingers traced along her thighs moving slowly upward to her hips feeling as the blonde began moving, her hands gripping his forearms as she leaned forward, her lips seeking his. Asuma wasted no time, pulling her close he kissed her hard, one hand tangling in her blonde hair, and the other still on her hip to help keep up with the rhythm she'd set for them. Slowly her arms came to rest on his shoulders as she ground her hips against his hard letting out a shuddering breath groaning as he pushed into her again.

"You know I love you right?" Asuma asked listening as the blonde's breathing got shakier as she hummed her affirmation. "You know that I'd do anything for you…anything at all because of how much I love you?" he whispered placing slow deliberate kisses down her neck feeling as her body began trembling harder as his hands slowly moved up her legs, and past her hips, the simple touch pushing her over the edge as his arms wrapped tightly around the blonde's body, holding her against him and listening as she shakily panted for breath, he too feeling the waves of pleasure crash over him leaving him exhausted.

"I love you." Aya said softly feeling as Asuma's grip around her body tightened. "I love you so much and I was scared that I'd never be able to love you like this again because of what happened." Leaning down Asuma kissed the top of her head smelling the faint scent of green apples from her hair as he rested his cheek on her head.

"I'm just glad you aren't afraid of me anymore." Asuma felt as Aya shifted her head to look up at him, and glancing down his red eyes met her lavender ones before the blonde looked away.

"I'm sorry I was, I'm sorry it happened." Hearing this caught him off guard, but more than that it made him angry.

"Don't you dare apologize for that, Aya look at me." He said cupping her cheek and forcing the blonde to look at him. "Don't you dare apologize for something that wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault Aya."

"It feels like it was." She said squeezing her eyes tightly shut to stop the tears that came anyways. "I feel like I should have known sooner, but I-I didn't notice until after it was over, because his eyes had changed colors. I should have known, I-

"Aya stop it, don't think about it anymore, we can't change the past and the gods know how much I want to, but we cant. We just can't. We have to live with what we've learned and experienced, we have to endure, and more than that we have to survive it, we have to survive and thrive and become something better than what we were before all of this started…before everything, before your Jonin exam and before you became an ANBU we were separate, two different parts of something meant to be more than what it was. Now I know that it didn't change anything out there, but our love, it changed everything between us and made it into so much more, it took the love that we had for each other growing up and turned it into something profound and beautiful and absolutely amazing, and it's something I would never change back. Aya, I love you, and I want to be with you until the day I die, I truly do." He said bringing his lips to meet hers feeling as she kissed him back hard.

"I love you too, I love you so much, I wish…I wish my parents would be okay with this, us wanting to be together like this, us loving each other like this, because it's not nothing, this love we have isn't nothing. I know we're young, and I know that to them we're just kids dabbling in some form of affection that we think is love but, I know this is. I know that what we have is true love and I know now that nothing will change how we feel about each other. If this didn't break apart our love then nothing will." She said squeezing him tightly

"It didn't break and it won't, I promise, Aya, I promise."

O0o0o0

Asuma stood bracing himself as once again he knocked on the door to Hokage's office. There were sounds from the inside, and moments later the door opened and he was met with the familiar face of his sensei Shikamaru.

"Hey Asuma, Naruto's waiting for you."

"I know." He said watching the faintest of smiles on the man's face before he turned leading him into the office. As he walked in he spotted the blonde writing at his desk, another in the corner assigning missions, a third filing papers, and finally the original standing near the open window. Naruto stood there for a moment staring out at the hidden leaf village, there had been such peace for so long, that he'd over looked the signs of danger. It had been foolish of him.

"Would you like me to leave the room Naruto?" Shikamaru asked watching as Naruto turned.

"No, Asuma walk with me." The blonde said stepping onto the ledge before leaping from the window.

"Good luck." Shikamaru said watching as his Godson nodded following after the blonde Hokage he landed in a crouch only feet from the blonde, and as he stood Naruto motioned for him to follow.

"We've been in an age of peace for so long…" Naruto said trailing off pausing to let several young children run by them. "That I hadn't noticed the danger that was forming just outside of my own village. I had been so blind that not only did I put the lives of my villagers in danger, but the lives of my children as well." He said as they walked through the wooded path heading towards a place he knew they would not be interrupted or over heard. Asuma watched as the scenery began changing, becoming something very familiar, and immediately he knew where they were heading.

"Hokage-sama…"

"I had told you, that had it been my decision alone, I would consent to you marrying my daughter." Naruto said unlocking a gate and entering it, holding it open for Asuma to follow and watching as he did so before locking them in. "And I will but it will be on my own terms. I know you're familiar with the forest of death. As an ANBU a large majority of your training is here…however it is not the forest that I want you to be concerned with." Naruto said as he led them through the forest.

"I don't doubt that." As they made their way through the forest going towards the center, memories of their past times in the forest began stirring. As they passed a river Asuma recalled fishing with Aya during the Chunin exams. As they passed a large tree Naruto could vividly recall meeting the snake sanin Orochimaru for the first time during his own chunin exams. Bits and pieces of the forest held memories for the both of them, and in no time they reached the center where Asuma knew from previous experience an arena lay. They walked into the building and finally entered the fighting area, both pausing in the middle of the arena.

"In certain ways, I haven't been the best father to my children. I've ignored signs of danger, they lost safety and security, and trust in the fact that I could keep them safe." He said removing his Hokage's cloak. "We are going to fight until one or the other concedes. I want to see what the man who wants to marry my daughter is made of." He said, a rasengan forming in his right hand watching as Asuma pulled his chakra blades from his hands taking a step back. "Don't you dare hold back, because I won't." Naruto said launching himself at the teen watching as he quickly dodged him turning to keep track of the blonde who'd vanished in a flash.

Sensing danger behind him Asuma quickly turned blocking the slash of a kunai with his chakra blades. Pushing Naruto back Asuma leapt away his mind racing as he began thinking of a plan. Catching the faint flash of yellow to his right Asuma knocked aside another rasengan knocking Naruto off balance before forming several hand signs watching in relief as the blonde fell under his genjutsu. This would give him enough time to come up with a plan, at least he hoped it would. After all it was a simple genjutsu of them fighting. Closing his eyes for a moment Asuma began listing anything that could help him in this battle.

Naruto was fast, he had loads of chakra, and more endurance than most people probably on the planet, that being said he wasn't as young as he used to be, after all he was close to being in his 40's now. Even though he wasn't the smartest he had amazing instinct which helped him succeed. Most importantly he was a Jinchuriki, a host of the nine tailed fox Kurama he'd called it. He was a sage of Senjutsu, and had the ability to mesh not only his normal chakra with his elemental chakra but his demonic chakra as well making him a fearsome opponent. He also always had a reason for doing things, and he was a very emotionally attached man, especially to his family. Asuma watched as Naruto brought up his hands releasing him from the genjutsu jumping back, blue eyes meeting red.

"I have to say I haven't been caught in a genjutsu that vivid in years, you're truly your mother's son." Naruto said once again charging, though this time splitting into several Kagebushins as he did so, all of them charging after the teen who instead of backing away ran towards them, taking every clone out as he made his way towards the blonde.

Naruto watched as his clones were quickly wiped out. He was impressed, Asuma's skill that was touted in ANBU was not at all over stated, there were only a few that could keep up with him as well as Asuma was doing right now. His reaction time was amazing, his speed remarkable, and his genjutsu impeccable. Before he would concede however there was one more thing he wanted to see.

Asuma fought hand to hand shocking even himself as he matched Naruto's blows with his own, he wondered to himself if the blonde was even trying, because Kami knew he was. He wanted to call it, but knew that he needed to keep fighting, because it was for Aya, all of it was for her. Suddenly the sound of her scream caught his attention, and faster than the blonde could register he'd been slammed to the ground by the black haired teen and watched as he'd raced from the building. Standing Naruto brushed himself off and walked over to grab his cloak before heading off after Asuma.

Two of his children would soon be engaged, Asuma passed his test with flying colors. Naruto just hoped that Minato would as well, because knowing Gaara like he did, the Kazekage wouldn't just let anyone propose to his daughter out of the blue. Walking from the building Naruto spotted Asuma trying to calm what he'd thought had been his girlfriend but to Asuma's surprise she vanished from his arms in a cloud of smoke, and turning he spotted Naruto who was staring at him.

"You have my consent to propose, as my future son-in-law, you have lived up to and surpassed my expectations of you. Asuma, I don't give you my daughter's hand lightly. It will be your job to take care of her, to do for her what I failed to do. I trust you to do that." With that said Naruto walked past Asuma before motioning for him to follow. "Now I wish for you to tell me what you intend for the future."

O0o0o0

"Okay Minato, you're good to go." Nia said smiling at the bluenette. "You're all ready to be discharged." Minato watched as the brunette bustled around his room writing on her clip board before handing him the papers to be signed.

"Can I ask you something?" Minato asked before she could leave the room, and watching as she nodded Minato motioned for her to close the door which she did. "The Kazekage told you what he and I discussed right?" Minato asked watching as her face grew serious before she smiled softly.

"Yes, Gaara and I have discussed in depth about you proposing to our Naminé-

"Well what's the test? I remember he and my dad talking about testing suitors, making them go through something to see if they're worthy or something like that…" Minato said trailing off watching as she smiled softly.

"Minato, sweetie nothing could have shown us more than what you've already done to get her back home to us how much you care for her. There is no test you have to go through to marry our daughter, if anything you made your own test, and you passed brilliantly. The love you have for my daughter, I cannot describe how much that warms my heart, to know that she found somebody she loved so much in her bestfriend." Nia said smiling at him. Suddenly a knock came to the door before it opened.

"Hi mom, hi Minato, how are you feeling?" Naminé asked standing near the edge of the hospital bed.

"I feel pretty good." He said grinning at her.

"Minato's actually being discharged as we speak, maybe you could go set up the guest bedroom for him at home so he can rest when he gets there?" Nia asked watching as her daughter nodded.

"Okay, I'll do that when we get home then, I thought it would be okay to bring him with my sand if you were okay with that." The red head said watching as her mother nodded.

"That's fine love. Minato sign these papers and Naminé will bring you to the mansion. Try to take it easy, I'll inform your parents and Tsunade of your discharge, when you return to Konoha you're to stop by and have her check you for any abnormalities. I want biweekly checks until I'm sure that you've fully recovered. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Good, and no activities that will raise your heart rate until you've been cleared by Tsunade, is that understood? " Nia asked watching as her daughter blushed and Minato tried hiding the tint of red in his face.

"Absolutely." He said quickly thanking the gods that her husband had not been in the room, as it had been blatantly obvious what Nia was insinuating.

"Good, Naminé bring him home, no need to be here longer than necessary." Nia said with a smile watching as her daughter's sand wrapped around the pair before they vanished.

O0o0o0

"So how are you really feeling?" Naminé asked the moment they'd arrived in the guest room.

"I'm really okay, just tired is all." Minato said sitting in a chair watching as Naminé opened a window letting the light of the setting sun into the room. Grabbing the blanket from the closet she shook it before carefully making the bed. Closing her eyes Naminé focused on the chakra in the room, she could feel her's in the sand all around, she could feel Minato's in him, and opening her eyes she smiled a bit. Her father's chakra was still strong in the center of the village, and she could sense no forms of it in the room she was in. Sitting on the bed Naminé nodded to the spot next to her and watched as her boyfriend grinned standing and making his way to the bed before sitting down next to her. Leaning her head against his shoulder Naminé smiled feeling as he kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek against the top of her head.

"Just remember that I can't do much." Minato said listening as Naminé laughed softly.

"I wasn't planning to do much, it's not my intention to kill you." She said with a smirk. "But I do want to sleep with you tonight."

"Okay." He said as the redhead nuzzled his shoulder.

"I really missed you."

"I know, I missed you too." Minato said kicking off his sandals and leaning back on the bed feeling as Naminé did the same. She was so content just to lay there relishing the gentle touch of Minato's hand against hers listening to the soft sound of his breathing. "Is it too much to ask…" he said slowly sitting up watching as Naminé leaned up to look at him curiously.

"My scars?" Biting the inside of his cheek Minato looked away before nodding. He watched as slowly she pulled her long sleeved shirt off, the sight making his eyes widen. Naminé however didn't stop there and carefully pulled her tank top off leaving only her bra on. Now Minato couldn't look away. He knew that her mother had lightened them as much as she was able to, but still they were very easily visible, some long some short, some wide some thin, and covering a large majority of her body.

"I know that my body isn't beautiful…but I'm not ashamed of these scars." Naminé said feeling as Minato's fingers grazed the lightened lines along her torso, her hand covering his, the bluenette pausing to look at her. "I was told by someone wise beyond his years, that every one of these scars was a mark of my defiance towards them." She said bringing his finger across one of her scars. "I will not give up." She whispered watching as his eyes watered before bringing his finger across another. "I will get home."

"How could you do it? How could you stand so much pain for six months Naminé, eleven days almost killed me the first time, how could you stand it for so long?" Minato asked, his voice pained.

"Because I knew you were looking for me. Days ran together, a lot of it was a huge blur and I really don't remember most of it, I don't want to either. I have nightmares again. My mom actually had to have Tsunade help her make something that will help with the nightmares because they were so bad, but I hoped, I hoped you were looking for me, that my parents were looking for me, and when I realized how long it had been…I broke down and I shut off, that lasted weeks until you found me. I was in some kind of daze…I- Minato I gave up, I gave up on everything because a search for six months…its' unheard of, it's absolutely unheard of in all of the nations, especially in the hidden sand village." She said softly.

"I wanted to die, I was hoping that I would so I could have some peace." Minato brought his arms around the red head tightly squeezing her.

"I never stopped looking for you, not for a second were you ever gone from my mind, I worked so hard to be able to go and look for you. I trained hard so I could fight and become stronger than I'd ever been. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I knew you were out there." He murmured holding her tightly against him. "I wouldn't stop until you were home. I would never stop, no matter what happened…I promised you, remember?"

"I do remember." Naminé whispered reaching for her tank top, her sand closing the window, the chill from the autumn cold now dissipating from the room as they held each other tightly.

Sorry for the wait guys, see i've been homeless working 2 jobs going to school having sick and injured family members and dealing with a lot of problems which have caused huge issues for me but i'll never abandon a story. this I promise you! thank you for your reviews, they mean so much to me and they encourage me to work more on this story! with so much love to all of you -H09