The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.


Chapter 110: I Want To Be Alone! The Burden Of Repression.

Monday 1:37pm, July 26th 58SSP.

Sneaking through a mist-infected hallway, Inari, Tayuya and Gaara tip-toed through Zabuza's house. Opening a wooden door, Inari exposed a stone staircase, leading to his underground basement.

"In and out, real quick." Inari proclaimed, rushing downstairs.

Followed by Tayuya and Gaara, these teenagers could barely see anything in the dark room. Tripping over a rusty bucket, Inari faceplanted the concrete floor, squealing like a girl.

Surrounded by half-stacked piles of dirty laundry, Inari's basement was lavished with a washing machine. Pulling his face from the floor, Inari rubbed his sore nose with both hands.

Rushing towards the nearby wall, Inari flipped the switch on his circuit breaker, but nothing happened. Distilled with dread, Inari repetitively flipped this switch, yanking it on and off.

"What's wrong?! The power should be on now!" Looking over his shoulder, Inari pleaded for help.

Cracking an underground window, the basement was abruptly flooded by murky swamp water. Soaking her ankles with thick slug, Tayuya ran up stairs, quickly trailed by Gaara.

Approaching the exit, Inari screamed for help, inspiring Gaara to turn around but Tayuya didn't even hear him. Creating grey sand from crushed stone, Gaara reached out before pulling Inari to safety.

Throwing Inari upstairs, Gaara was yanked below the water, littered with moss and clumps of algae. Slamming the basement door behind her, Tayuya and Inari both panted in unison.

"We have to get out of here! We need help!" Jumping to his feet, Inari brushed the moss from his outfit.

Defined by her blood red eyes, Tayuya gripped the collar of Inari's jumpsuit, slamming him against the wall. Baring her rabid teeth, Tayuya's eyes forced Inari to swallow a wad of spit.

"Stop saying that! I don't need help! I can do handle this all on my own!" Tayuya shrieked.

"I'll never rely on anybody! I can live all by myself! I don't need anyone!" Dropping Inari to the floor, Tayuya turned around.

Oblivious to the traumatized twitch in Inari's black eyes, Tayuya walked down a narrow hallway. Clenching both fists, Tayuya's legs wouldn't stop shaking, straining to stand.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up." Glancing over her shoulder, Tayuya glared at Inari.

But instead of finding the young boy, Tayuya quickly realized that she was isolated in the hallway. Standing by herself, with no friends or family to hold, Tayuya cowered against a iron cabinet.

Startled by a stomach-churning scream, Tayuya blindly ran through the hallway, running from her own emotions. Eventually, these screams morphed into a chorus of laughing children, mocking Tayuya.

Pinning both hands against her ears, Tayuya tried to ignore these voices, but they infected her mind. Crawling under the kitchen table, Tayuya curled up like a baby, shrouding her face with both arms.

Standing in front of Tayuya, a young six year old girl phased into sight, engulfed by an aura of red. Holding the beheaded remains of a poorly-stitched teddy bear, this girl was defined by bloody eyes.

"Tayuya? Tayuya? I'm sorry about your stuffed animal..." The innocent voice of Kuoyuki spoke out.

Revealing her bright green hair, Kuoyuki was the only child that acknowledged Tayuya in her youth. However, over time, even Kuoyuki began to mock and belittle Tayuya, a homeless orphan.

"Tayuya? Do you remember me?" Reaching out, Kuoyuki's voice became distorted.

Swatting one hand in reply, Tayuya brushed Kuoyuki away, knocking her beheaded teddy bear to the floor. Trembling without pause, Tayuya didn't even notice the twisted expression on Kuoyuki's face.

"Get away from me! I want to be alone!" Tayuya screamed, shouting the same words from her childhood.

Jolted by an abrupt shift in tone, Kuoyuki released a cheerful, child-like laughter, choking the mist-filled air. But this giggle soon evolved into a horrific groan, scarring Tayuya's ears.

"But, you are alone." A demonic voice polluted Tayuya's broken mind.

Clawing streaks of blood across her face, Tayuya howled with horror, beating her skull against the floor. Unable to move, Tayuya was slouched on her trembling knees, as pale as a corpse.

"I'm not afraid... I'm not afraid... I'm not afraid..." Tayuya muttered with twitching eyes.

Encouraged by Tayuya's rejection, the voices in her mind grew more chaotic with each second. At war with her own psyche, Tayuya felt like her brain was going to explode.

Recoiled by repressed memories from her childhood, Tayuya began to cry for the first time in ten years. Her tough exterior had finally crumbled away, revealing the lonely child inside.

-Flashback-

"It's okay, dear. We have all trouble expressing ourselves." The tranquil voice of a 25 year old woman could be heard.

Adorned with tan skin and auburn brown eyes, this woman was defined by her shoulder-length red hair. Wearing an ankle-length black kimono, tattered with holes, this woman was comforting her child.

"But, I don't like it... I don't want to express myself." A timid Tayuya mumbled in response.

A memory too deep for her own good, this was an ancient event from Tayuya's childhood. A moment so horrific that she buried it under the disguise of hatred, acting like it never happened.

A 4 year old child, Tayuya was dressed in dirt-covered black shorts, matching her torn shirt. Stained with mud and scoffs of dust, Tayuya's brightest quality was her crimson hair, covering both ears.

Receiving a gentle pat from her mother, Tayuya stared at the floor without pause, ignoring the piles of trash. A poor family living in a poor village, Tayuya's family barely scraped by from day-to-day.

"I know, dear, that's because you're an Uzumaki... We have trouble with our emotions." Gripping her daughters chin, the face of Sutako released a radiant smile.

Using her sleeve to wipe the dirt from Tayuya's face, Sutako displayed great pride and love for her daughter. Grooming Tayuya for a joyful future, this mom was interrupted by the nearby door.

Sweating beads of alcohol with his neck and brow, Tayuya's dad stumbled inside the disgusting house. Revealing his brown shirt and hole-covered pants, Tayuya's dad spilled sake across the floor.

"Roku! I've told you a thousand times! Don't drink that stuff in front of your daughter!" Sutako shrieked, holding Tayuya behind her.

Crawling over his own feet, Roku unleashed a bellowing chuckle from his large stomach. Defined by a glimmering bald spot, Roku's most prominent feature was his waist-length red beard.

"But that's just it, baby! I've finally found a way for us to move up!" Panting a breath of alcohol, Roku stumbled in front of his wife.

Grabbing Sutako with both hands, Roku kicked Tayuya in her stomach, knocking her to the floor. Struggling to protest, Sutako was backhanded by Roku, spewing drops of sake across her face.

"We can sell it! I found a nice underground market that pays good Ryo. If we sell her while she's still young, they pay extra." Violently shaking his wife, Roku cheered with delight.

Slapping her husband, Sutako was promptly shoved against a wooden table, breaking the cheap surface. Wiping the fresh tears from her face, Tayuya was sniffling in the background.

"We're not selling her! She's our daughter! She's deserves a good home!" Sutako pleaded.

"That's why I'm doing this! For her! For us!" Leaking sake from his mouth, Roku slurred his words.

Watching her parents scream and argue without end, Tayuya hid her face as Roku beat her mom. Enthralled by the painful groans of her mother, Tayuya eventually cried.

Grabbing a rust-covered lamp, Tayuya flung this flame-filled object against her father's skull. Knocked unconscious, Roku spilled his sake in all directions, igniting an explosive mixture of flames.

Polluting Tayuya's house with a cloud of smoke, this young girl crossed both arms in front of her eyes. Straining to see, Tayuya didn't even notice as the ceiling collapsed above her.

Moving with maternal instinct, Sutako hastily pushed her daughter to the side, taking Tayuya's place. Crushed by a beam of rotten wood, Sutako was pinned against the floor, surrounded by a fiery blaze.

"Mom! Mom!" Coughing her words, Tayuya's face was obscured by smoke.

Yanking on the wooden pillar with both hands, Tayuya was too small to help, she was just a young child. Leaking tears from her face, Tayuya struggled in vain, gagging on smoke.

"Mom! Mom, I'm afraid!" Sniffling with each word, Sutako wiped the tears from Tayuya's face.

Undaunted by the sweltering heat around her, Sutako gently caressed her daughter. Combing one hand through Tayuya's crimson hair, Sutako kissed her daughter's forehead.

"That's fine, dear. You're going to be afraid, you just need to find someone who makes you happy." Whispering these words, Sutako embraced Tayuya with both arms.

"Now go, my sweet baby. Go find someone who makes you happy." Pushing her daughter to safety, Sutako was consumed by the falling roof.

Scarred by a barrage of flickering embers against her young face, Tayuya's eyes widened in horror. A moment that traumatized her entire childhood, Tayuya constantly buried this memory, until now.

-Flashback ends-

"No! Don't make me think about that! I'd rather die!" Tayuya pleaded, screaming at her own demons.

Holding her tear-filled eyes with both hands, Tayuya was slouched atop a wooden floor. Twitching without control, Tayuya's static-filled hair clung to her Anbu robe.

Distracted by her thoughts, Tayuya didn't even acknowledge the fiery blaze throughout Zabuza's house. Transforming the previous mist into smoke, Tayuya was hidden under a kitchen table.

Briefly protected from the nearby flames, sweated soon dripped from Tayuya's pale face. Exposing the eerie red tint in her eyes, Tayuya didn't have to strength to move.

"If I have to cry... I should just die." Whispering to herself, Tayuya was possessed by the memory of Naruto's face.

"If I can't be alone... I should just die." Ignoring Naruto's face, Tayuya continued to sulk.

"If I need someone else... I should just die." Roused from her words, Tayuya was reminded of Naruto's warm touch.

Blotting out Tayuya's mind, the hulking silhouette of a giant sea turtle pierced her conscious. Reaching out towards his jinchūriki, Isobu was trying to communicate with Tayuya.

Dragging Tayuya to a different plane of existence, Isobu lowered his visible red eye in front of her. A tailed beast with vast respect for humans, Isobu could feel Tayuya's internal conflict.

"Then, why do you cry?" Grumbling under his thick shell, Isobu blinked his crimson eye.

"Because-... Because I want him to help me." Tayuya explained, focused on Naruto's face.

"Then, why can't you be alone?" Groaning with a demonic tone, Isobu loomed over his jinchūriki.

"Because, I want to be close to him." Tayuya mumbled.

"Then, why do you need him?" Hovering mere inches above Tayuya, Isobu waited for her reply.

Clenching each of her trembling fists, Tayuya glared at the transparent floor with a downcast face. Leaking tears from her discolored eyes, Tayuya bit her lip out of frustration.

"Because he makes me happy. When I see Naruto, I don't want to die." Tayuya finally admitted her deepest secret.

Abruptly torn back to reality, Tayuya realized that sweat from pouring from her face and neck. Crouched under the burning remnants of Zabuza's table, Tayuya was engulfed by smoke.

"Because-... Because I don't want to die...!" Tayuya repeated, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Infected by a radiant smile across her dirt-stained face, Tayuya ruptured out from Zabuza's table. Charging through a flame-littered hallway, Tayuya was giggling like a school girl.

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!" Laughing with joy, Tayuya was unaffected by the intense heat.

Sprinting through the charred ruins of Zabuza's house, Tayuya soon approached a glass window. Leaping through this burnt surface, Tayuya broke free from the crumbling home.

Tackling Naruto into a patch of wet mud, Tayuya couldn't stop herself from laughing, exposing her brown eyes. Cured of her childhood depression, Tayuya finally found a purpose in life.

'Naruto! I don't want to die! I don't want to die, because you make me happy!" Beaming with laughter, Tayuya nuzzled Naruto's face.

After searching for ten years, Tayuya finally found the happiness that her mom told her about. Rubbing, stroking and sniffing Naruto's hair, Tayuya resembled a completely different person.

"No! No! My house! My step-dad is gonna kill me! Literally!" Inari cut in.

Falling to both knees, Inari threw his hat to the ground before screaming with anxiety. Comforted by a gentle nudge from Karin, Inari felt like a dead man.

Surrounded by Jūgo, Suigetsu, Isaribi and Gaara, these friends were illuminated by Zabuza's burning house. Doused under a constant barrage of drizzling rain, this fire eventually died out.

Glancing at the ash-littered remains of his previous home, Inari promptly glared at Tayuya. Too distracted by Naruto's cute face, Tayuya didn't even acknowledge the burnt house.

"Maybe we can build a new one, before he gets back?" Gaara muttered, instantly shrouded by Zabuza's shadow.

Twitching with shock, Gaara accidently tripped over his own feet, leisurely caught by a stream of sand. Fuming with demonic rage, Zabuza's shark-like teeth torn through his white mask.

"Okay, now... Dad. I know this looks bad." Inari spoke out, trying to butter Zabuza up.

Without warning, Inari was viciously smacked upside his head, unleashing a loud howl through the air. Walloping a handful of whelps against Inari's skin, Zabuza was actually being really nice, for a demon.

"Okay, stop, stop! I need an explanation!" Karin interrupted, stomping her foot against a puddle of mud.

Slipping on this wet surface, Karin accidently faceplanted the ground, tasting a mouthful of mud. Gagging with disgust, Karin took several minutes to regain her composure.

"It was Isobu… When Tayuya bottled her emotions inside, they went straight to him." Naruto explained.

Blushing with a nervous hesitation, Tayuya sat up on Naruto's lap, scratching the side of her neck. Blowing the hair from her eyes, Tayuya grabbed Naruto's hand for comfort.

"Wait, so you did that whole thing?!" Karin shrieked, shoving her mud-covered face in front of Tayuya.

"The mist, the swamp floor and the screams... That's so cool!" Cheering for her friend, Karin raised one hand towards the sky.

"Can you do that for Halloween?" Wrapping one arm around Tayuya, Karin was dripping with mud.

Tightening her grip on Naruto's hand, Tayuya rolled her auburn brown eyes in response. Ignoring the mud that stained her vibrant hair, Tayuya prompted her chin against Karin's arm.

"Maybe." Tayuya murmured, displaying a genuine smile.


One hour later.

"So... Who are you again?" Karin muttered, pushing her glasses up.

"I've already said my name, four times." Haku replied with a feminine smile.

Adorned with an ankle-length blue kimono, held in place by a white sash, Haku resembled a beautiful girl. Defined by wooden sandals on his feet, Haku's shoulder-length black hair rustled in the breeze.

Squinting each of her crimson eyes with suspicion, Karin dramatically leapt around Haku. Observing him from several different directions, Karin pointed at Haku with an accusatory glare.

Standing in the center of Kai's trade district, Karin and Haku were sent out on an errand for food. But, always filled with an inquisitive nature, Karin was determined to ask questions.

"That's a boy's kimono! You picked the wrong dress!" Karin teased, brushing up against Haku.

"Like this part right here! It hangs way too low!' Grabbing Haku's groan, Karin's entire face turned blood red.

Leaping back with a panic-filled shriek, Karin accidently bumped against a pile of wooden barrels. Knocked loose, these barrels rolled down a desolated street, slamming against a cart of cabbages.

Creating an explosive mixture of freshly-watered produce, these pristine cabbage were scattered across the road. Stained with dirt, insects and filthy footprints, dozens of cabbages were instantly ruined.

"Why does this keep happening?! My cabbages!" An elderly shopkeeper cried with tear-filled eyes.

Blushing without end, Karin hastily gripped Haku's hand before dragging him down the street. Disappearing behind a narrow alleyway, this young couple was consumed by wooden planks.


Meanwhile.

"Do you... Do you think they really like us? Do they like me...?" Isaribi stuttered with a nervous tick.

Drifting atop the bottomless reef of Kai, Suigetsu and Isaribi were swimming in the ocean. Snagging stray fish for a bite to eat, Suigetsu offered a nibble to Isaribi.

"Does it really matter what they think?" Suigetsu groaned, shoving a live fish into his mouth.

Chopping on a mound of flesh and bone, Suigetsu's shark-like teeth shredded this harsh mixture into jelly. Swallowing a mouthful of fresh fish, Suigetsu groaned with delight.

"Mmm...? Mumbling under his breath, Suigetsu swam beside Isaribi, wrapping one arm around her shoulder.

"Because, I like you." Chuckling with a shark-tooth grin, Isaribi was instilled with an anxious blush.

Staring at the ocean's surface with twitching eyes, Isaribi twirled her trembling fingers together. Swishing her webbed-feet through the water, Isaribi could easily drift in place.

"But-... What do you like about me?" Isaribi questioned, staring at her deformed reflection in the water.

Isaribi didn't want to be a shinobi, or some type of rabid experiment, she just wanted to be normal. But her bandaged reflection was a complete distortion of her dream, she felt like a monster.

Gripping Isaribi's chin with one hand, Suigetsu rubbed the scales underneath her bandages. Exposed to a sudden burst of sunlight, Suigetsu's white hair sparkled like a diamond.

"I like your face." Suigetsu chuckled, defined by his violet eyes.


Meanwhile.

Obscured by shifting columns of sand, Gaara was being directed by the elderly outline of Tazuna. Gagging on a mouthful of sake, this alcohol was fuel for his art.

Wearing the ornate jacket of well-respected stonemason, Tazuna's lavished fabric was drenched with sake stains. This brought attention to Tazuna's black pants, contrasting his wooden sandals.

"So... Naruto's back in town for one day, and my home's already burnt to the ground." Tazuna grumbled.

"Never a dull moment." Infected by a wide smile, Tazuna chugged his bottle of sake.

"Too bad I sold my old lake-house, or else, we'd just sleep there!" Laughing, Tazuna's large stomach swelled with volume.

Carving an archway out of crumbled sand, Jūgo carried massive boulders from the shoreline. Dropping these rocks in front of Gaara, an endless supply of sand was established.

"It would take too long for wood to settle, but with your sand as the bedrock. We'll be done by nightfall." Filled with pride, Tazuna had never worked with sand before.


Meanwhile.

"Do I have to wear this?" Naruto mumbled, crammed inside of Tayuya's tight shorts.

Adorned with a petite crop top from Tayuya's own closet, this purple shirt loosely clung to Naruto. Exposing his naked shoulder and stomach, Naruto scratched his whiskers with confusion.

"Yes, I said so!" Tayuya ordered.

Wearing a similar attire to Naruto, Tayuya's crop top was colored bright red, matching her hair. This also revealed her petite stomach, pale from lack of sunlight.

As these half-dressed teenagers stood in an isolated cabin of Koyuki's ship, Snowball was sleeping in the background. Defined by various chakra-rods that protruded out from his fuzzy body, this cat was sleeping the day away.

"We have the whole day off! So I wanna have some fun!" Shuffling through her game console, Tayuya found a pair of controllers.

Strapping a bundle of mechanical devices against Naruto's wrist and ankles, Tayuya jumped for joy. Pulling a cushioned mat across the wooden floor, Tayuya ordered Naruto to stand there.

"Okay, this is my favorite game! We just have to dance!" Displaying a radiant smile, Tayuya strapped her controllers on.

Yanking on Tayuya's borrowed shorts, Naruto readjusted his crop top, but it barely covered his chest. Staring at her favorite boy, Tayuya became distracted by Naruto's tight shorts.

Shaking this cute image from her mind, Tayuya turned the TV on before stretching, popping her legs. Sliding her panda hat over Naruto's head, Tayuya briefly marveled over his whiskers.

"I still don't understand why I'm wearing this...?" Naruto muttered.

"Because I'm hungry, and you look like a snack! Now do what I say!" Tayuya snapped.

Inspired by the techno beat of her video game, Tayuya forced Naruto to dance with her. Twirling, stepping and grinding around each other, Tayuya couldn't stop herself from smiling.


Forty minutes later.

Standing in front of a porcelain sink, Tayuya was dripping sweat from her neck and face, drenching her exposed stomach. Wiping the sweat from her hair, Tayuya rubbed this liquid against Naruto's stomach.

Blushing as she touched him, Tayuya caught herself peeping at Naruto's shorts, swelled with hesitation. Grabbing her toothbrush, Tayuya splashed a handful of water against her face.

"Okay... That was really fun, but we still have more stuff to do!" Tayuya explained.

Flinging water against Naruto, Tayuya used her naked hand to wipe his sweat away, biting her own tongue. Ignoring the urge to hug Naruto, Tayuya dramatically poked him in his nose.

"This is a race! The winner can do anything they want, all day!" Spraying toothpaste across her brush, Tayuya leapt into action.

Fighting over the sink, Naruto and Tayuya both leaned over this rushing water, rubbing their faces together. Gargling and gagging on paste, Naruto and Tayuya viciously scrubbed their teeth.

Straining to push each other away, Naruto and Tayuya were both defined by paste-covered mouths. Spitting several insults under her muffled breath, Tayuya continued to brush her teeth.

Hovering in front of a glass mirror, Tayuya and Naruto shoved their faces against this shiny reflection. Pushing Naruto down at the last moment, Tayuya spit a mouthful of paste before washing her brush.

"I'm done! I win! So today is my day!" Using her toothbrush to point at Naruto, Tayuya giggled with glee.

Standing up and rinsing his mouth out, Naruto wiped the paste from Tayuya's lips, met with a nervous glare. Pulling on Naruto's hand, Tayuya led him into a wooden hallway, looking for more fun.


Thirty minutes later.

Strolling down the crowded market place of Kai, Naruto was dragging a wooden palette behind him. Stacked towards the sky with a pile of endless hats, Tayuya was collecting her payment.

"I can't believe I'm still wearing this..." Naruto murmured, glancing at his crop top.

Enraged by a group of giggling school girls, checking Naruto out, Tayuya leapt into a frenzied assault. Baring her teeth, Tayuya easily dispersed these peeping girls, hiding Naruto behind her back.

"Shush! It's my day, and I like that outfit!" Tayuya argued, turning around.

Flinging several strands of hair against Naruto's face, Tayuya poked his stomach with dreamy eyes. Wearing a perfect match of black shorts and colored crop tops, Tayuya felt really cute beside Naruto.

"That's why we aren't wearing any shoes! Fun! Fun, fun, fun!" Grabbing Naruto's waist, Tayuya shook his entire body.

"But why do you like this? It barely covers anything." Naruto cut in, pulling the loose sleeve of his crop top.

Stuttering under her breath, Tayuya's anxious face turned bright red, matching her crimson hair. Waving both arms through the air, Tayuya struggled to find an excuse.

"It covers too much, if you ask me." Karin teased, poking her head over Tayuya's shoulder.

Pushing Tayuya forward, this red-haired girl tripped over her feet, falling against Naruto's bare stomach. Catching herself with one arm, Tayuya's hand accidently slid inside of Naruto's shorts.

Leaping back with a nerve-wrecking squeal, Tayuya's blushing face infected her entire body, spreading to both arms. Yanking her panda hat from Naruto's head, Tayuya shoved this fabric down his throat.

"Can't you see we're busy? Go hang out with your girlfriend somewhere else!" Tayuya complained, pointing at Haku.

Met with a condescending scoff from Karin, Haku was shoved in front of Tayuya, revealing his black eyes. This also brought attention to a sparkling ice necklace, draped in front of Haku's partially exposed chest.

"Actually, he's a boy! Isn't he cute?!" Karin proclaimed.

Ripping Haku's kimono open, Karin rubbed his flat chest, completely violating his personal space. But instead of complaining, Haku just smiled at Karin, humming a tranquil tone under his breath.

"A boy...?! He looks like a trap." Tayuya blurted out.

Stomping her right foot in protest, Karin swept one arm through the air, magnified by a hostile snort. Ignoring the nearby civilians that glared at her, Karin pushed her glasses up.

"Then I've been caught! He's adorable!" Karin shrieked.

Interrupted by the distinct squawking of Shisui, this black raven casually perched himself atop Tayuya's shoulder. Shedding a handful of black feathers, Tayuya didn't even acknowledge this bird.

"Yea, yea... Take your boy toy somewhere else. I have plans with mine." Tayuya stuttered, panicked after hearing her own words.

"Onward, my nerd!" Rushing Naruto down the street, Tayuya was shrouded by her pile of hats.


Twenty minutes later.

"This is nice... You've been here before?" Tayuya mumbled, sprawled atop a section of grass.

Tayuya was laying beside a sparkling stream of water, coursing through the forest outskirts of Kai. Located next to Tazuna's old house, this was the stream that Naruto and Kakashi sat beside, over two months ago.

Resting her head against Naruto's lap, Tayuya was pulling grass from the ground, twirled between her fingers. Burying her face against Naruto's naked stomach, Tayuya felt a warm sensation through her body.

"Yea, but it was a long time ago." Naruto murmured, playing with Tayuya's hair.

Swishing his bare feet through a stream of water, Naruto basked under the chirping of distant birds. Illuminated by faint rays of the setting sun, Tayuya's crimson hair glimmered like garnet.

Smacking her lips together, Tayuya breathed a dramatic sigh of relief, nuzzled against Naruto's warm stomach. Distracted by her happiness, Tayuya didn't even notice Naruto's violet eyes, gazing down upon her.

"You said you wanted a fun life... A world without pain or regret... What if I could create that world?" Brushing Tayuya's face, Naruto was hypnotized by her hair.

Enthralled by Naruto's gentle voice, Tayuya wrapped both arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Pressing their noses together, Tayuya combed both hands through Naruto's hair.

"That sounds fun." Whispering her reply, Tayuya instinctively kissed Naruto.

Startled by a jolting splash of water, Tayuya rolled out of Naruto's lap, jumping to her feet. Glaring at the shark-toothed face of Suigetsu, this shinobi was bathing in the stream.

"Oh, hey." Suigetsu chuckled.

Throwing a rock against Suigetsu's skull, his face abruptly dissolved into a puddle of water. Replaced by chakra-filled streams, Suigetsu sighed before cleaning the water from his ear.

"Fuck you! You ruined my moment!" Tayuya spat out, snarling with rage.

"You're half-dressed and alone in the woods. What kind of moment were you hoping for?" Scratching his nose, Suigetsu was defined by his shark-tooth grin.

Left utterly speechless by Suigetsu's words, Tayuya accidently bite her own tongue, unable to speak. Concealing the deep blush on her face, Tayuya hurled another rock at Suigetsu.

Poking her timid face out of the water, Isaribi slowly crawled onto the shoreline, trailed by a headless Suigetsu. Healing his wound with ease, Suigetsu crossed both arms in front of his chest.

"Go fuck yourself..." Slurring her reply, Tayuya grabbed Naruto's hand before dragging him away.


One day later.

"So... this is our new home? Not too bad." Kahyō spoke out.

"Yea! I love it!" Paku squealed.

Standing in the crowded dockyard of Kai, these Yuki kunoichi both stood beside Haku. Crushing his bones under her icy grip, Paku hugged the young boy from her childhood.

"You've really grown up! You're cuter than me!" Giggling like a school girl, Paku poked Haku's nose.

Roused by this display of affection, Karin ran through the crowd before blocking Haku from view. Repetitively poked by Paku, Karin eventually bit her finger, incased by a hardened layer of ice.

"Relax... He's basically my little brother, his pants are all yours!" Caught off guard by this sudden tease, Karin blushed.

Strolling through the background, Tazuna was escorted by Gaara and Jūgo, stained with clumps of sand. Holding a bottle of sake with one hand, Tazuna raised this liquid to his lips, drowning himself.

"Excellent work... That house will last for at least fifty years." Tazuna choked on his alcohol.

Merging together from nearby mist, Zabuza ruptured into view, holding Inari in the air with one hand. Defined by his legendary Kubikiribōchō, this ancient blade was strapped against Zabuza's back.

"Why is everyone mad at me? I didn't do anything! Naruto's girl did it! She went insane!" Inari declared.

Nodding in agreement, Karin held her chin with an inquisitive posture, standing beside Haku. Gazing up at the morning sky with crimson eyes, Karin soon wrinkled her nose.

"He's not wrong... I feel like Tayuya lost her mind in this chapter." Karin muttered.

Shrugging with a carefree attitude, Karin shoved Haku onto Koyuki's boat, pushing him up the wooden stairway. Caught at the last moment by Paku, Haku became the center of a fierce tugging contest.

"Let go! He's coming with me!" Shrouded by her spiky red hair, Karin leaned over Haku's face.

"No, he's not! I came all this way to see him!" Paku shrieked in response.

Pinching the bridge of her nose with exasperation, Kahyō was shaking her head in the background. Standing behind the bulking silhouette of Zabuza, this elite shinobi dropped his step-son to the ground.

"Actually, I have a mission they could take on, if they need Haku's expertise." Zabuza grumbled.

Concealing the blush on her face, Karin's brief hesitation was hidden by her crimson glasses. Raising one finger in front of her red face, Karin winked with confidence.

"Yea, his expertise. That's what I'll call it." Karin stuttered.

"Have you talked to Naruto about this?" Gaara cut in, but Karin completely ignored him.

Seeping deep into conversation, Karin searched for any excuse to bring Haku with her.


Ten minutes later.

Standing at the end of Koyuki's ship, Tayuya was propped against an iron railing, gazing up at the blue sky. Shrouded by the overcast shadow of a massive bridge, Tayuya scoffed with annoyance.

Startled by Naruto's footsteps, Tayuya abruptly straightened her back, trying to look calm and cool. Sniffling for air, Tayuya scratched her nose before casually yawning, stretching both arms.

"Look at that stupid bridge, I wonder what kind of lame name they gave it." Tayuya rolled her eyes.

Leaning against Naruto, Tayuya rested her chin atop his arm, smacking her lips before sneezing. Wiping her nose clean, Tayuya ignored the rapid pounding inside her chest.

Constricting Naruto's hand, Tayuya buried her face against his neck, tightening her grip with each breath. Wiggling closer, Tayuya could feel the warm beat of Naruto's heart.

"That's actually my bridge. It's named after me, do you like it?" Naruto spoke out, scratching his whiskers.

Dropping her jawline in shock, Tayuya hastily stuttered for an answer, biting her lip out of frustration. Seated atop an iron railing, Tayuya wrapped each of her legs around Naruto, holding him in place.

"Whatever... It's pretty big." Tayuya slurred her words.

"But what are we doing now?" Poking Naruto's nose, Tayuya couldn't get close enough.

Brushing Tayuya's face with his warm hands, Naruto stole the breath from her lungs, pressing their lips together. Knocked loose by her twitching feet, Tayuya's sandals fell to the floor.

"We're gonna have fun." Smothered by Naruto's voice, Tayuya finally felt happy.