Prompt from A SaiIno Shipper

Characters: KonoHana / Konohamaru and Hanabi Hyuga

Naruto-verse

Song: In the Name of Love Artist: Martin Garrix ft Bebe Rexha

Story Rating:K+

In the Name of Love by Martin Garrix

If I told you this was only gonna hurt
If I warned you that the fire's gonna burn
Would you walk in?
Would you let me do it first?
Do it all in the name of love
Would you let me lead you even when you're blind?
In the darkness, in the middle of the night
In the silence, when there's no one by your side
Would you call in the name of love?

In the name of love, name of love
In the name of love, name of love

In the name of, in the name, name
In the name, name

If I told you we could bathe in all the lights
Would you rise up, come and meet me in the sky?
Would you trust me when you're jumping from the heights?
Would you fall in the name of love?
When there's madness, when there's poison in your head
When the sadness leaves you broken in your bed
I will hold you in the depths of your despair
And it's all in the name of love

In the name of love, name of love
In the name of love, name of love

In the name of, in the name, name
In the name, name

I wanna testify
Scream in the holy light
You bring me back to life
And it's all in the name of love
I wanna testify
Scream in the holy light
You bring me back to life
And it's all in the name of love

In the name of love, name of love
In the name of love, name of love

In the name of, in the name, name
In the name, name, in the name of
In the name, name, in the name of

Konohamaru nods at the mission he was given from the 6th hokage. He tries his best to hide his excitement that he and Hanabi Hyuga will be working together for the first time.

"Now that the two of you are chunin, I expect you both to work together efficiently on this mission," Kakashi says, handing them a map.

Hanabi replies, "thank you, I'm sure Konohamaru and I will work well together, this is actually the first time we've been teamed up."

"I trust in both of your skills," Kakashi says before sending them off on their mission.

"So, here's our map," Konohamaru opens it out on the ground, so that he and Hanabi can see it clearly.

"What a strange mission," Hanabi comments, looking at the route they are meant to take.

"Yeah, it is odd," Konohamaru points out, "why would this rogue ninja leave clues and a map to get to the hidden scroll?"

"Yeah," Hanabi wonders and then shrugs her shoulders, "Oh well. Let's get going to the first stop," she points to the X mark on the map, and they head out in that direction.

Konohamaru strikes up a conversation with her, as it will take them the better part of an hour to make it to their destination. "So, Hanabi, how's Naruto and Hinata?"

"They're as mushy in love as always," Hanabi replies, rolling her eyes. Konohamaru grins, thinking how far Naruto has come from his past. "They're actually expecting another baby, can you believe it?"

"Wow, really! A second little one?" Konohamaru is shocked. Seems like Naruto has been getting quite busy lately. He averts his face away from Hanabi, trying not to think dirty thoughts about how he'd like to get down and busy with her.

They are silent for the rest of the way, until they finally reach the marked spot on the map. "Alright, so now what?" Konohamaru asks, "do you think you can use your byakugan to find the clue?"

Hanabi nods and searches the place with her visual prowess, then points in the direction of some bushes, "over there!"

The two of them go to look and find a hidden wooden box behind the bushes. Hanabi, eager to see what's inside, pulls open the tiny lid.

There's a split second of silence before a whooshing noise alerts Konohamaru to danger. He quickly covers himself and Hanabi, pulling them both out of harm's way. Three kunai fall to the ground by the box, right where Hanabi's hand just was a moment ago.

Konohamaru sighs in relief, still clutching Hanabi close to his chest. She looks up at him and then pushes away, disgruntled. "I-I don't need saving," she says, "I'm not like my sister, who falls for sappy romantic tricks like that."

"You know, a thanks would do just fine," Konohamaru retorts, a little annoyed. How is it that he's fallen so hard for this stubborn headed woman?

"Thanks!" Hanabi scoffs, "Like I said, I don't need saving!"

Konohamaru rolls his eyes, "we're supposed to work together as a team, I was moving you out of the way from the kunai! You're the one who opened the box without checking for traps."

Hanabi opens her mouth to respond and then closes it quickly, blushing. She turns around and goes back to the box without another word.

They lean over it to find a small piece of paper with some scribbled writing, that indicates where the next clue will be. They nod and head in that direction, this time more stealthily than before.

When they reach the area indicated in the note, Hanabi again uses her byakugan to scope for clues. "There's something up in that tree," she says.

"Okay, let's check it out together," Konohamaru says, already climbing his way upwards. Hanabi is right behind him, both leading up towards the tip of the tall tree.

"Where is it?" Konohamaru wonders, he's at the tallest branch, but he doesn't detect anything.

"It's inside the tree, just there," Hanabi says, pointing out a spot.

Konohamaru takes out his kunai, ready to cut into the tree, but Hanabi grabs his wrist and stops him, "Wait! Didn't you say to be careful? What if there's a trap on this one too?"

Konohamaru blinks at her, "Ah, so you do care about what happens to me?"

Hanabi blushes furiously and wears a cross expression, "Shut up! We're teammates, remember?"

Konohamaru smirks, he loves making her get flustered. "I'll be careful, don't worry." He slices open some of the bark, very gently, moving away a layer of the tree. Sure enough, he can see a small bit of paper sticking out. He goes to reach it and instantly feels that something is wrong.

"Ah!" Konohamaru yells out loud at the burning sensation on his hand. When he reached for the paper, something like poisonous gel leaked from the sides of the tree and covered his hand.

Hanabi grabs the paper from his hand and stuffs it in her pocket before grabbing Konohamaru and skillfully rushing him down to the ground.

Once they are seated, she wraps his hand with a bandage and wastes no time with her healing jutsu. Konohamaru winces at the sharp pain, but it soon subsides with the green glow emanating from Hanabi's hands. "I told you," Hanabi says, although gently this time, "I told you to be careful."

"I'm not sure how I could've avoided that stuff," Konohamaru says. "But thank you for acting so quickly. If we had stayed there a minute longer, it might've spread over my entire arm."

"Yeah, I realized," Hanabi says, still focused on healing him.

"Hey Hanabi, can I ask you something while we're here?" Konohamaru gulps down his nervousness. She nods, looking a little anxious herself. It's been at the forefront of Konohamaru's mind for some time now, and he's sure she knows exactly what he's about to say. "Why are you so afraid of falling in love?"

Hanabi closes her eyes and sighs before replying, "It's not that I'm afraid of anything…I just…don't want to be perceived as weak."

"Why do you think it's a weakness?" Konohamaru asks her, still puzzled. The two of them have been best friends since they were young, and there's always been a strong chemistry between them. However, every time Konohamaru gets close to confessing his true feelings towards her, she shuts him down. He wants an answer this time.

"Hinata was always pining after Naruto, since she was little. I saw firsthand how much it hurt her to be blindly in love with someone who never noticed her," Hanabi explains.

"Well, now they're married and happy, and they're even expecting a second child," Konohamaru points out, "so how is that so bad?"

Hanabi looks at him straight in the face, "Hinata had to get burned one too many times before Naruto finally noticed her. Sure, they're happy now, but she spent several years with no one by her side. She even trained hard for his sake, not her own."

"I think Naruto was her motivation for herself," Konohamaru says, "just because she always loved him doesn't mean that she was weak or lonely…she had you, and Neji back then."

"I don't ever want to lose sight of myself by falling for someone else," Hanabi says, looking back at Konohamaru's hand, which is now fully healed. "Hinata did everything in the name of love, but I want to become strong for me."

"Why can't you do both?" Konohamaru poses, getting up slowly.

Hanabi blinks at him, confused. Konohamaru continues, "You can still be an independent, strong individual who loves someone else. Doing something in the name of love doesn't diminish who you are as a person. In fact, I believe that fighting for the people you love only makes you that much stronger. Sure, heartache and rejection hurts, it's like a fire burning in your heart, but it also makes you resilient and helps you grow. I think Hinata and Naruto are stronger now that they have each other. You can't hope to live all alone your whole life, and to only fight for yourself…that's the very opposite of teamwork and family and love."

Hanabi opens and closes her mouth several times, it seems she's at a loss for words. Konohamaru looks at the piece of paper they found in the tree, determining where to go next. He figures that she may need some time to process everything he's said to her. Perhaps he was too forward, too bold? It's obvious that he likes her…but what will she do about it? Does she like him back?

They travel in silence once more towards the final clue. If they are able to decipher the last message, then they can find this important scroll and bring it back to Kakashi.

The last clue is hidden in a tiny clearing, where the setting sunlight pours in softly through the trees. Konohamaru breathes in deeply, taking it all in, "it's beautiful here," he says with a smile.

Hanabi, usually cynical and skeptical, actually smiles back at him, "Yeah, you're right."

Konohamaru's eyes grow wide at her genuine smile. He loves watching that radiant smile, it's better than the warmth of the sunshine.

Hanabi utilizes her byakugan once more to find the last clue, and she startles when she finds it. "It's underground! There's a hidden latch, right there, that leads to an underground lair."

"Wow," Konohamaru digs at the dirt and finds the latch she's talking about. He opens it, revealing a trapdoor and a flight of stairs that leads down to a mysterious dark cavern.

Konohamaru holds a hand out for her to take, "you ready? You'll have to be my eyes."

He expected her to reject his hand, to turn away, or to make a remark. She surprises him by taking his hand in hers and activating her byakugan, leading the way for them both.

"You trust me?" she asked him, before everything around them went pitch black.

"Yes, with my life," Konohamaru says honestly. He watches her nod before she leads him further down the stairway, until he can no longer see in front of him. Her hand guides the way through the darkness, and her voice leads him. She whispers to him when the stairs end, and then warns him that there's a long hallway ahead.

They walk in the darkness for some time, and Konohamaru wonders, "how long is this hallway? Do you see an end in sight?"

Hanabi further strains her eyes to see ahead of them, "oh! There's a turn ahead and then there's a light, that must be where we need to go."

"Great," Konohamaru sighs in relief, "It's uncomfortable not being able to see anything…although, I have to admit, I do enjoy holding your hand."

Hanabi makes a small noise of surprise at his candid remark. "I-I don't mind it either," she whispers back. Although the cavern is quite chilly, Konohamaru feels bathed in warmth with Hanabi at his side.

They finally reach the turn, and Konohamaru can see again from the faint distant light. When they make the turn, they both realize that it's a fire ablaze up ahead. The fire gets larger and larger as they approach.

They finally reach the flame, which stretches across their path, from one wall to the other. Beyond the fire, they can see a pedestal with the scroll sitting on it. "Whoever made these clues sure enjoys theatrics," Konohamaru points out.

"Do you think there's a hidden trap in this one too?" Hanabi asks.

Konohamaru nods, "more than likely. Let me test something out. Rasengan!" he blasts a ball of wind energy towards the flames. They part for a moment, but then continue to roar on even after the rasengan is dissipated. "Just as I thought – this fire can't be put out."

"So how are we supposed to cross it?" Hanabi asks.

Konohamaru shrugs, "is there another clue perhaps?"

Hanabi looks around the small cavern and then uses her byakugan. "Oh! The wall here! It says something, like a riddle."

"What does it say?" Konohamaru asks. The writing is small, barely visible to the naked eye.

"Those who possess the will of fire may freely pass," Hanabi reads. She looks up at Konohamaru, "it must mean you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you're grandfather was the 3rd hokage after all. He's the one who was always talking about the will of fire. I think I've realized that if anyone possesses it, it's you," Hanabi tells him confidently.

"Really?" Konohamaru stares at her, at a loss for words by her praise.

"What you said to me earlier…I never thought of it in that way. I was always afraid to do anything in the name of love. I wanted to be true to myself, and to become a strong ninja of my own doing. I never wanted help from anyone. I don't possess the will of fire like you," Hanabi says.

"Yes, you do," Konohamaru tells her, "You are a strong kunoichi, the strongest one I know. And although you're stubborn, you keep the leaf village and your family close to your heart, even if you don't realize it."

Hanabi looks up at him, surprised. "How can you so easily read me?"

"Because I know you. I know your heart," Konohamaru tells her, holding her hand in his. She looks at him with adoration, and she leans closer to him, closing her eyes. Their lips meet and something electric passes between them – her lips are warm and soft against his, and his heart skips a few beats as they kiss. There's a tingling, almost tickling sensation that surrounds their bodies. Perhaps it should be startling, but it's somehow calming. When they part their kiss, they are shocked to realize that somehow, they've passed through the wall of fire.

The scroll lays perfectly still on the pedestal. Hanabi grabs it with confident fingers, and then passes it to Konohamaru, who secures it away in his pouch. Somehow, they know that there are no more traps.

They walk through the wall of fire again to get back. Without words, they have an understanding that they'll be safe through the fire. There's a tingling sensation again as they pass through the flames unharmed. Hanabi leads him back up the staircase, lacing her fingers with his in a more intimate way than before.

"Excellent, you've retrieved the 3rd hokage's scroll, thank you," Kakashi says, looking at the contents of the scroll.

"Ah! So it really was my grandfather then?" Konohamaru asks.

"Yes, it seems he laid out a course for you to take when you became a chunin, to test that your intentions are true to the leaf. I have no doubt in you Konohamaru, but it seems that your grandfather suspected you might be upset after his passing, and that you might turn on your beliefs," Kakashi explains, reading the scroll.

"So, then why did I come along?" Hanabi asks.

"I figured the two of you might need each other's help," Kakashi says, "After all, teamwork is what makes a ninja strong. Now that I know you both work well together and possess the will of fire, I'd like to make a request for you both to become jonin."

Hanabi and Konohamaru smile at Kakashi and thank him graciously.

They exit together, and Konohamaru bites his lip, a little unsure of what to say. Will Hanabi acknowledge their kiss? Will she come forth about her feelings?

Hanabi turns to face Konohamaru at the doorstep of the Hyuga residence. "Thank you again Konohamaru," she says, blushing a little, "I'm going to train hard to become a jonin."

"Yes," Konohamaru says, "you'll make a great jonin."

"I'm going to do it in the name of love this time," Hanabi says, surprising him.

"Love? For-for who?" Konohamaru stammers out.

"For you of course," Hanabi says, reaching a hand up to brush some brunette hairs from his face. She cups his cheek and kisses him lightly on the lips. "You do the same, ok?"

"Yes," Konohamaru breathes out, still stunned by that kiss. "I will."

"Good. Let's practice together and cheer each other on," Hanabi says before waving her goodbye. It's a promise to them both – they will work hard together this time, no longer alone.

...

Author's Note: Thanks for the prompt A SaiIno Shipper! I had fun with this one, I even made up a dumb little mission haha. Hope you enjoy! And again, no longer taking any new prompts for a while, sorry guys! Any reviews are welcome! Hope you all have a great 2017