Lying on the carpet next to her Naruto smiled. "Wow Moka-chan, you really know how to make a guy feel welcomed.
She chuckled. They were coated in sweat and naked in the middle of the hallway. "Well, I am very glad you appreciate it. Since you are the only one who will ever get that sort of welcome from me."
"You know I was only gone a week. What would you do if I were gone six months?"
"Give you a welcome that would probably kill you, so you had better never be away from me for that long."
He laughed. "Yeah, but what a great way to go!" He gave her a quick kiss before standing.
"What are you doing? I know you have plenty of energy left."
He began putting his clothes back on. "I was supposed to report to the Tower as soon as I got back. I'm sure the Hokage will be upset that I've kept him waiting, if I keep him waiting much longer he'll probably send godfather to come look for me."
She sighed and stood up herself. "I suppose it can't be helped." She gave him a wicked grin. "We'll just have to continue this tonight."
"Definitely!"
"And I'll go ahead and make you my special ramen to celebrate your return!"
"Ah, heh, great," despite his best efforts he failed to sound very enthusiastic. "Oh that reminds me, I've hired a servant. I hope you don't mind, I kind of had to make a snap decision."
As she pulled her dress back on she gave him a surprised look. "I have no objection, but I thought you were the one worried about spies living with us."
"Oh it's o.k.; I've already explained what I'll do to her if she tells anyone any of our secrets."
"Why did you suddenly decide to hire a servant? Does she have some special skill?"
"You might say that," he laughed a bit. "What she has is sweet tasting blood. You're welcome to see for yourself if you like."
Moka smiled. "I'm glad you've finally gotten to enjoy the taste of blood, now you understand how much pleasure I always took from it."
"So you're really o.k. with me bringing her here?"
"Of course," Moka replied. "Just so long as the only thing you use her for is her blood."
"Well I thought she might do a little cleaning too." He finished adjusting his clothes. "You know when one of my clones dispelled to give me the memory of bringing Sasuke to the hospital I also got the memory of you saying something about warning him not to do anything like that again."
She nodded. "He came once with flowers and tried to kiss me. I sent him away with his flowers and a warning."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I did not want you to attack or perhaps even kill him. Sasuke seems to be beloved here and I did not want his actions to cause you trouble."
"You should have told me Moka-chan," he said seriously. "I don't want there to be any secrets between us."
She smiled. "I see, in that case why have you never said anything about hating my ramen?"
"Ah, you know huh?" He rubbed the back of his head.
"When I was split into two personalities my gentle side was oblivious, but I have known since I destroyed the rosary."
"Then why have you kept making it for me?"
"Why have you kept eating it?"
The two of them shared an embarrassed grin.
"I won't make it for you anymore," Moka promised.
"No! Please make it for me Moka-chan! I want to have it for dinner tonight."
"Why?"
He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. "Because it's one of the ways you show me your love."
XXXXXXXXXX
Tayuya sat nervously in the grand hallway. Naruto had told her to wait while he tracked down his first wife. That had been awhile ago and the longer she sat there the more nervous she got. She kept looking at the door and half expecting a squad of ANBU to come bursting in. When they had arrived the Chunin guarding the village had recognized her and wanted to arrest her.
Naruto had looked at them, just looked. The Chunin had snapped shut their mouths and frozen in place. He had then brought her here. Before their arrival he had explained what would happen if she betrayed him or told anyone his secrets.
"I'll cook you," he'd said with an easy smile. "I'll use my weakest flame so it'll take a good long while. Betray me and I promise you'll burn."
She had no doubts at all that he would do exactly as he said.
"Hey Tayuya," a cheerful voice called.
She jumped to her feet. There was Naruto and a gorgeous woman with silver hair and red eyes. She knew that this would be his first wife… who also drank blood.
"Moka this is Tayuya, Tayuya this is Moka, she'll show you a room." With the hasty introductions complete he headed for the door. "Well I have to meet with the Hokage I'll see you both later." And with that he was gone.
Tayuya was left alone facing the strange woman who was looking her over.
"You are a servant," the silver haired woman suddenly said. "Know your place and serve well and I promise you will be well treated."
"Thanks," Tayuya answered carefully. She'd decided to put away her normal attitude at least until she understood her circumstances.
Moka lifted a single eyebrow. "You will refer to me as Moka-san."
"Yes Moka-san."
The other woman leaned in much too close and there was a slight smile on her lips. "Naruto was right," she said. "You do smell delicious."
Tayuya tried not to panic. Fuck, how the hell did I become a juice box with two straws in me?
XXXXXXXXXX
Hiashi was usually not one to display his emotions, but it was pretty damn obvious he was not happy.
"Where have you been?" The Hokage demanded. "I know you arrived in the village over an hour ago."
"I went by my home to see my wife."
"Which wife?" Hiashi asked dryly.
"Moka," Naruto answered.
Hiashi frowned but was not surprised by the answer. "And was meeting with your first wife more important than meeting with your Hokage?"
Naruto grinned. "I don't know about more important, it was definitely more pleasant."
Hiashi made a hand sign. "Pain."
Naruto was caught completely by surprise as he felt a slight twinge on his chest. He quickly grabbed the spot above his heart and cried out as he pretended to collapse. He hoped his play acting had been convincing.
Apparently it had. Hiashi leaned back and spoke. "You forget yourself Naruto. You are indeed a very special case and many exceptions have been made for you. However you are still a ninja and I expect obedience from you."
Naruto took a moment to, 'recover' and then stood back up again. "I was an hour late. From what I hear Kakashi is always at least two hours late to everything. Do you punish him too?"
"You are not Kakashi," the Hokage reminded him coldly. "Kakashi does not burn people alive in the streets. Nor is he known to deliberately disobey orders."
"And what orders did I disobey Hokage-sama?"
"Your mission was to kill all the members of the Sound Four. Yet I have a report that not only did you bring one of their members into this village but you refused to allow her to be arrested."
"You sent me to destroy the Sound Four and I did. The other members are all dead and Tayuya is no longer a threat. In addition I also killed a member of Akatsuki."
"You were attacked by Akatsuki?"
"I was, I killed one who was called Sasori and was a puppet master. I drove off another one named Deidara who used explosive clay."
Hiashi considered that. "I have never heard of this Sasori, but Deidara was a terrorist from Iwa. If you were able to defeat another attempt from Akatsuki that is impressive. I look forward to reading your report. That does not however explain why you have spared Tayuya. She is a well known and dangerous enemy, hand her over to the ANBU."
"No," Naruto said softly. "She belongs to me now."
"Do you require another lesson?" Hiashi asked.
"Do you require a pile of ANBU corpses?"
The two men stared each other down.
"You are coming very close to the edge Naruto," Hiashi said slowly. "Why do you wish to protect Tayuya?"
"What can I say? I like her body." Or at least her blood. He doubted Moka or Hinata would like that, but it was the most believable excuse he could think of.
Hiashi wrinkled his nose in distaste. "You are disgusting."
"Really? Am I more or less disgusting than someone who tries to sleep with another man's wife?"
"That too was quite repulsive," Hiashi admitted. "Sasuke was certainly in the wrong and has been made to suffer for his actions. Your wife considers the matter to be closed. I hope that you will as well, but I should warn you that you may not seek revenge against Sasuke. The prohibition against harming ninja of this village still holds. Anything you do to Sasuke will be done to you."
Naruto smiled. "Does that mean if I give him a kiss on the lips I can expect one from you?"
Hiashi stared at him.
"There's no need to worry, I'm satisfied that poor dear Sasuke has suffered enough. If Moka is content then I am too. I won't do him any harm."
Hiashi eyed him carefully. He hadn't expected such a tame submission in this matter. "I am most pleased to hear that. Then if you agree I shall consider this matter closed." Naruto nodded his agreement. "As for Tayuya…"
"She is mine now," Naruto said cheerfully. "I'll kill anyone who tries to take her from me."
Hiashi frowned. "If your two wives are not enough for you there are other… sources for what you seek. I dare say Jiraiya could give you ample assistance in the matter. There is no need for you to keep a dangerous enemy kunoichi for the purpose."
"How about we just say that I'm a man of strange tastes? You want to keep me happy and she is one of the things that will keep me happy. She was supposed to die so it's not like you had any plans for her. Why not just give her to me?"
"I cannot, 'give' her to you. There are no slaves here in Konoha."
"Really?" Naruto grinned. "I wonder what the cadet branch members of your own clan would say about that." The way the Hokage's hand suddenly twitched told him he'd scored a hit. "Anyway, she'll be a servant working for me of her own free will."
"She is no maid servant; she is a deadly enemy kunoichi. She cannot be allowed free access to simply cause harm or leave to return to her master."
"I'll guarantee her good behavior. If she causes trouble or tries to escape I'll kill her myself."
Hiashi did not like it. He suspected there was more going on than a simple desire to satisfy his lust. From what he'd learned Naruto had never shown an interest in any woman other than his first wife. What are you playing at? There is more here than meets the eye. "I could grant her a parole and place her in your care. However were anything to happen I would hold you responsible."
"She'll be a model citizen… just like me."
"I find that less than reassuring, but it will do for now."
XXXXXXXXXX
In the short time she had known him Moka had done any number of difficult or painful tasks for Naruto's sake. If it would help him she was ready to make any sacrifice. Whether it be a sacrifice of blood, time, pain, or the most terrible sacrifice of all… her pride. And so she took a deep breath and did what she knew she had to.
"Hinata?"
"Yes?"
"Will you teach me how to make your ramen?"
XXXXXXXXXX
The next morning Sasuke was surprised by a visitor holding a little box wrapped with a red bow.
"So how are you feeling Sasuke?" Naruto asked in a deceptively pleasant voice.
Sasuke looked at him glumly from his hospital bed. He was nowhere near fully recovered. If it came to a fight he doubted he'd have any chance to even escape. "You hear to kill me?" Sasuke sounded bored.
"If I wanted to kill you would I bring you a gift?" Naruto tossed him the box.
Sasuke caught it out of the air. It was a small box that fit in the palm of his hand. He looked at Naruto. "When I open it will it explode or just spray poison?"
"Neither," Naruto assured. "Come on Sasuke, we both know that if I wanted you dead you'd already be smoking by now. Open it, I guarantee it's something you can use."
"Hn," though suspicious he wasn't about to show Naruto he was afraid of anything. Pulling loose the bow he carefully opened the box. Inside were a pair of shiny brass balls, each the size of a golf ball. Seeing what the gift was Sasuke immediately threw the whole thing in the waste basket. "You think you're being funny?" He asked angrily.
"Yeah actually, when I told the girls this morning what I was going to get you Moka, Kokoa, and Tayuya couldn't stop laughing." Hinata hadn't approved though.
Sasuke didn't know or care who Tayuya was. (The only Tayuya he'd ever heard of was an enemy ninja.) "So instead of attacking me you think you're going to just mock me? Do you think I'm that weak? I am going to make you and Moka pay for this."
"No you won't," Naruto said calmly. "You're not going to do a damn thing."
"That a threat?" Sasuke said contemptuously.
Naruto shook his head and approached the side of Sasuke's bed. "Threats are for enemies, and you and I are going to become best friends."
"That would take a miracle," Sasuke said flatly.
"No it wouldn't," Naruto assured. "It would just take a few magic words, and I happen to have some."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Smiling Naruto leaned down and whispered in Sasuke's ear. "I know you're a traitor."
