Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto!
Hypothetically it would only take her less than two seconds to reach the priestess with a lightning coated hand. It would leave the maiden with no time to react, not that she had the ability to do so anyway. Shion was not a shinobi, Shion was nothing. Sasuke wouldn't have to put in much effort.
"Naruto? Are you alright?" Shion approached them with a stack of documents, she was flanked by her guard and elderly advisor. The priestess instantly noticed the pale skin of her favorite whiskered shinobi.
"Y-Yeah!" Naruto squeaked out. He resembled a boy who was just going through puberty instead of the fine young man he's grown into. It took a mighty effort to regain control of his body, Kurama had too much fun at Sasuke's expense.
"… Okay." Shion smiled lopsidedly at him before she signaled for all of them to sit.
"I will stand." Sasuke told her from behind gritted teeth. Hypothetically she could turn Shion to ashes with a mere glance.
"Suit yourself." Shion's snide remark was not lost on Sasuke. "Naruto, will you be standing as well?" She called out to the boy who looked like he would keel over at any moment.
"He will stand." Sasuke placed herself directly next to him, her usual flat expression cracked. If she were an enemy, the distance between them would be enough to end him with an ordinary kunai.
Shion shared a look with her guard and advisor before she decided to ignore the odd behavior. She cleared her throat and laid the papers out on the pillows in front of her.
"Our request was sent to the each of the nations some time ago, however we know that they are focused on dealing with this new age of stability. I am very excited to be working with you again, Naruto." Shion gave him another cute smile.
One jutsu to heat up the sky and then a simple drop of her hand for Kirin to reduce the temple into splinters. Sasuke had a list of ways to destroy the country.
"Me too..." Naruto replied awkwardly.
"Anyway…" Shion wasn't sure why the future father of her children was behaving in such a manner, but she had to relay the mission to them regardless. "The request does indeed have to do with the supernatural, apparitions to be exact. Daichi, can you continue the briefing from here?" The priestess waved a hand towards the captain of her guard unit.
"Yes, Shion-sama." The man bowed to his leader before he turned to the two war hero's. "Within the past few months we've noticed strange activities just outside the capital. I've had multiple soldiers go missing, never leaving a trail. Shoji-san here," Daichi pointed at the old man who stuck by Shion. "He claims to have heard many strange noises in the thick woods north of Shion-sama's temple. My units investigations proved to be a fruitless endeavor. We only spotted animals and insects."
"I've heard the cries! They can only belong to the supernatural. I fully believe we are being preyed on by a vengeful spirit!" The old advisor decided to add his own piece.
'These people are insane.' Sasuke allowed her eyes to finally land on Naruto. He paid full attention to Shion now. She could tell he was scared by the minor amount of sweat on his forehead and the way his foot tapped the floor rhythmically. Sasuke wanted to care, but… 'He promised to impregnate her.' The tomoe in her Sharingan spun wildly.
"Why would the ghost attack your people though?" Naruto asked with a shaky voice. How would he even fight a ghost?!
"I deal with all sorts of matters involving life and death as a priestess, especially with powers like mine. Perhaps that is why we are targeted." Shion shook her head sadly, knowing that she could potentially be the cause behind the disappearances.
"And you know for sure that it's a ghost?" Sasuke looked down her nose at the seated priestess, fire danced behind her eyes.
"Oni no Kuni is not a land unfamiliar with supernatural events. Naruto should remember that quite well considering what we had to handle in the past." Shion's words made Naruto nod his head hesitantly, he vividly recalled the demon they dealt with.
"Do you want us to start looking as soon as possible?" Naruto really wanted to get it over with.
"Hmm... while it is a matter of great importance, it would not be wise for you to set out when night is approaching. Those woods are hard to navigate, and I'd hate for either of you to be harmed." Shion warned the duo.
"We are stronger than anything you've seen before." Sasuke wanted to finish the mission before Shion got a chance to try anything.
"I do not doubt your strength, but as the leader of these lands, I can stop you from traveling altogether." Shion's smile was painfully fake.
"Tch…" Sasuke felt her hand twitch, it begged to spark with her chakra. 'Don't kill the priestess... don't kill the priestess...'
"We have to wait until tomorrow morning…" Naruto lamented pitifully.
"That would be for the best." Shion waved her delicate hand again to dismiss her advisor and captain. "Now, I would like to catch up before dinner is ready. That shouldn't be a problem, right Naruto?"
Sasuke turned abruptly and she moved towards the large doors of the temple without a word. Naruto couldn't even shout before his best friend vanished from sight.
"She doesn't seem to be in a good mood. Sasuke is quite different from your other teammate." Shion didn't necessarily care for either. The pink haired one was too aggressive and she was always checking Naruto over for nonexistent wounds.
"She is definitely not happy." Naruto had to resist running out after her.
"Oh well…" Shion moved gracefully towards the shinobi, she slid her body close to his. "Naruto, tell me more about the life that kept you from visiting me."
The smile on her face would have seduced any other man. Shion was a very beautiful woman and her status only made her more desirable.
Naruto eventually started to talk about the events that took place over the years, but he never stopped thinking about Sasuke.
Sasuke once promised herself that she'd never get attached to anyone or anything. After losing her family, what was the point in finding love elsewhere? Attachments and bonds were meaningless. How could such trivial things avenge the dead? How would they give her power?
The scenery before her was the result of her 'training'. Trees were reduced to almost nothing and blackened grass crunched under her feet with each step. The entire area resembled a war zone.
She implanted her sword into the dirt roughly, and Sasuke felt hate creep into her heart. She was intimately familiar with that emotion, it was an old friend. Naruto wouldn't break his promises. Naruto was always the one who did things for others before himself. If pressured into it, Naruto would keep his word to Shion. Surely, he wouldn't go against that damned shinobi way he preached to the world.
A tiny laugh carried into the wind, filled with sadness instead of the joy she became accustomed to around Naruto. She blamed herself for pushing him to Oni no Kuni, her curiosity only hurt her in the end.
"Wow! What did those poor trees do to you?"
His voice reached her ears but she refused to move. Sasuke's gaze remained on the destroyed land that was certainly devoid of any life.
Naruto crouched down and let his hand hover over the once lush grass. He winced at the heat that still rose from the poor piece of nature. He knew it was victim to one of her powerful jutsu. Being almost burnt to a crisp multiple times by Sasuke made Naruto pity the scorched earth. His head snapped up and sought out the Uchiha.
A uniquely patterned Sharingan and Rinnegan watched him blankly. Naruto ignored the potential danger while walking closer to the girl. He knew from the look on her face that she was not pleased to see him. He fully blamed Kurama.
'I only relayed the information. I wasn't the one to promise the priestess intercourse.'
Okay. He blamed himself.
"Sasuke… I wanted to-"
A fist impacted with his cheek before he could finish his sentence. His unprepared body was knocked onto the ground. Naruto only had a second to rub at his face before he tensed when something sliced through the air.
Naruto reacted quickly and dug into his pouch for two kunai. He held them above his head in an "x" shaped formation. His chakra flowed through them and ensured that they wouldn't shatter instantly. For a girl with only one arm, she certainly had more than enough strength to clash with him.
"Sasuke?! What the hell are you-"
He was cut off again as Sasuke channeled her own chakra through her weapon .Deadly lightning covered its steel. It sliced through his kunai like butter, and she ruthlessly brought the sword down onto him.
Naruto rolled away right as she planted the sword into the ground. He kicked himself up and took a fighting stance. Kurama grumbled from inside him, mentioning how the Uchiha clan sucked at verbal communication.
"Sasuke…"
"Chidori Eisō!"
"Let me talk you bastard!" Naruto screamed while he dodged the thin spear of lightning produced from Sasuke's hand. His fingers crossed and two clones instantly shot towards the Uchiha. Sasuke's Sharingan anticipated the attacks, and she expertly weaved between the kunai wielding duplicates. The sword in her hand shot forward and pinned a clones foot in place before she yanked the weapon upwards brutally. Smoke clouded her vision momentarily.
A hand grabbed at her cloaks collar and delivered a hard punch to her face. She grit her teeth from the force, almost biting her tongue. Naruto gave her no time to recover before he let his right leg strike forward and nail her in the stomach. Spittle flew out of her mouth and Sasuke scowled through the pain.
She felt the grip on her clothes again and decided she's had enough. Sasuke prepared more than enough chakra for her next technique. A technique that Naruto should be very familiar with.
"Shinra Tensei!" Sasuke's Rinnegan pulsed with power and Naruto's body was thrown away like a rag doll. The surrounding tree trunks and burnt grass were uplifted from the force of her jutsu.
She heard a 'pop' faintly in the distance and knew that was a clone. That troublesome jutsu of his…
The ground beneath her began to crack, a strategy Naruto favored, she knew that much. He's done that sneaky tactic for years. Sasuke planted her feet and waited for the original Naruto to burst from it.
A smirk came to her face when he did just as she expected. Lightning chakra sparked from her blade as she stabbed directly down towards the shinobi who emerged from the dirt.
Another cloud of smoke came from beneath her. Sasuke's facial expression changed from smug to shocked in a heartbeat.
"Sasuke!" From the opposite side of the forest, a brightly colored Naruto practically flew at her. Sasuke tried to form her Susanoo but Naruto's speed was unmatched, especially in that chakra cloak. He tackled her to the ground with no prejudice.
Sasuke glared heatedly up at the glowing form of Naruto. HIs forearm pressed into her neck as he successfully pinned down her thrashing body.
"Will you let me talk now?!"
Naruto's shout and position reminded her of their fight many years ago. When they were only twelve and fought with more power than any Genin should be capable of throwing around. She relived that day quite often in her nightmares.
"Sasuke, you really have to…"
The world shifted for Naruto and he felt his stomach flip from the motion. Instead of being on top of Sasuke, she straddled him. Her blade pointed directly at his neck, godly eyes dared him to make a move.
'She used her Rinnegan.'
'That is so overpowered!'
"I hate you." Sasuke's words made him drop his chakra cloak with a big frown.
"No you don't." The sword inched closer to his neck, it grazed against his skin ever so slightly. His calm face only made her anger increase. He trusted her not to actually kill him, Naruto trusted her that much.
"You… you are a fucking fool."
"Look, if this about Shion, I really need to tell you something."
"The Kyuubi told me enough. I hate you."
"I don't hate you!"
Sasuke felt her hand quiver as she held the sword. She could easily end him. She could keep the promise she made to herself after the Uchiha clan perished. She'd be all alone...
"I'm not keeping my promise."
Sasuke froze and did her best not to pay any attention to the fact that her body pressed against Naruto's from above. She basically sat right on his stomach and she hated how comfortable she was.
"I realized there's kind of a loophole." Naruto scratched at his bruised cheek thoughtfully. He was almost too calm for someone who had a sword held to his neck.
"A loophole…" Sasuke muttered in disbelief.
"Yeah. You see, whenever I made promises in the past I knew what I was promising. When Shion asked me to help her pass down her power to the next generation, I had no idea what she meant until afterwards. Sakura-chan explained it to me actually. I wasn't the smartest, ya know." He did his best to shrug.
"Why does that matter? You've always kept your promises no matter how ridiculous they were. I'm a living example of that." Sasuke lifted the blade off his flesh but kept it pointed at him.
"Sasuke, you really are an idiot." His insult made her face twitch. "It's only a loophole because I didn't know what I was agreeing with, so the promise can't be fulfilled. It's not hard to understand. I thought of that myself by the way!" The proud grin on his face made her want to move the sword forward.
"Then you won't have children with Shion."
"Well… maybe if she…" Sasuke's blade returned to his neck with a vengeance, he chuckled loudly. "Sasu-chan, would you be the godmother?"
"I'm going to kill you one day, Naruto."
Naruto laughed harder at her flushed face, her embarrassment was obvious.
His bandaged hand rose and Sasuke watched him cautiously. Naruto used two fingers and tapped them very gently against Sasuke's forehead.
It was an action that would be insignificant to anyone who wasn't Sasuke. The simple tap on the forehead made her eyes well up with tears. Closing them quickly, she rolled off Naruto and fell onto her back at his side. Her sword was discarded carelessly, the fight was over.
They laid together for some time. The forest that surrounded them was devoid of insect noises or animals, it was peaceful in a way. They listened to each other's calm breathing and Sasuke followed the way Naruto's chest rose with every breath. She'd never stop admiring how much he's grown from the short, annoying, and infuriating kid that wouldn't leave her alone.
"Hey Sasuke, where did everyone get the idea that I could fly? I heard some kids in Suna say it, and Shion mentioned it too when we were talking. I mean I can definitely do it, but I'm not like the Tsuchikage…"
"Naruto."
Naruto stopped and turned his head to Sasuke. The Uchiha's visage was a far cry from what her clan used to show the outside world.
"I'm not keeping my promise either." She made her own fingers tap against her forehead. She was the complete opposite from the hateful girl only moments ago.
"Eh?! You made a promise to someone?! What does that mean?"
"It means… you're a loser and I won that fight."
Naruto's mouth opened in shock before he jumped to his feet in a flash.
"No way! That wasn't a real fight!"
"It was. I won."
"No, I didn't want to fight!"
"Don't care. I won."
"Get up right now you bastard, I'm ready for round two."
Sasuke stood up with her soft smile. Naruto narrowed his eyes at her and rocked back and forth on his feet, anticipating her next attack. Her smile widened when she noticed the missing sandal on his left foot.
How could she keep her promise when she was in love with such an idiot?
Shion paced back and forth and resisted the urge to bite at her nails. The reason behind her newfound anxiety was the two shinobi she expected to see the previous night.
After she caught up with Naruto, he rushed off, ignoring her call to stay and eat dinner with her. Then she could barely sleep due to the explosions that sounded off in the distance. Her guards were deployed, but none returned.
'Was it the apparition? Maybe another demon has begun to attack...' Shion tightened her hands into fists.
The doors to her temple were pushed open suddenly.
"We're back!"
"Lower your voice. My ears are killing me..."
"You almost broke my fingers, twice!"
"Hmph. So what?"
Shion turned with wide eyes to the new arrivals. They stood side by side and looked like they've been through hell.
Naruto's face was covered in dry blood and had acquired a few new bruises. His outfit was also torn up in multiple places, his pants reduced to knee length shorts. Somehow, he only had one sandal on.
Sasuke's dark hair was all over the place. It revealed her Rinnegan to Shion, and the priestess made sure to avoid eye contact. The long cloak she wore was reduced to tatters, it barely covered the baggy black clothing she wore underneath. Her upper lip housed a long fresh cut that complimented the bruise on her cheek nicely. Shion had to give her credit for appearing dignified despite her disheveled state.
"D-Did you two encounter an enemy?" Shion stuttered as she approached the teammates. It must have been an intense fight.
"Huh?" Naruto squinted his eyes at her in confusion. "No? We had a little fight."
"I won." Sasuke placed her hand on her hip. She fought back a wince at the sore flesh. Naruto didn't hold back against her and a big part of her loved that. Her Uchiha blood boiled when Naruto traded blows with her.
"You're a liar." His accusation made her scoff.
"Where's the proof that you won?"
"Kurama is all the proof I need!"
"The Kyuubi is biased. I could kill you and that fox would still say you won."
'She's right... damn Uchiha vermin.' Kurama growled out.
Shion blinked owlislhy while trying to follow the conversation. 'They were the cause of those explosions? That was a "little" fight?!'
"Point us in the direction of those woods you were speaking of." Sasuke practically commanded Shion.
"You... you want to leave now? You both are a mess." Shion was really only worried for Naruto, they all knew it.
"I don't really want to leave at all..." Naruto sucked in air loudly when Sasuke elbowed him harshly. "We want to leave now." His correction satisfied Sasuke.
"Alright..." Shion frowned. She pondered the relationship between the two and knew there was a bond that went beyond simple teammates. "You can exit my temple from the back and continue on the small dirt path leading deeper into the forest. Eventually you'll see a large sign my guards put up as a warning. That is the area where Shoji heard the noises come from."
"Thanks." Sasuke's smirk caused something spiteful to bubble up in Shion. It was different from her attitude less than a day ago.
A similar expression suddenly appeared on Shion's face.
"Naruto, may I give you a little gift for good luck?" Shion's question put Sasuke on alert.
"Oh! Like one of those tiny charms you had in the past? You know, the ones used to ward off demons." Naruto nodded at the memory. Shion giggled into the sleeve of her shrine outfit.
"No, it's much better than that."
"Sure!" Naruto answered in his friendly way.
"Perfect..."
Shion stood on her toes to reach Naruto's face, and much to Sasuke's rage, she left a long kiss on his bruised cheek. It left Naruto frozen when he felt the girls soft lips dangerously close to his mouth.
"Maybe you'll get a better reward after dealing with the apparition. Good luck to you as well, Uchiha." Shion turned around and retreated into her shrine.
Sasuke was wrong about Shion. She was nothing like Hinata. Whereas the Hyūga would timidly watch Naruto from the sidelines, refusing to speak up, Shion had much more confidence. Confidence that Sasuke wanted to shatter into little pieces and scatter in the unforgiving wind.
"That was weird… her lips were very soft." Naruto yelped when Sasuke grabbed him with her Susanoo's arm. The large purple skeletal hand squeezed him in its grip.
"We will never come back to this country, understood?"
Naruto hoped Oni no Kuni would still exist when Sasuke was done here.
"I spy..."
"Do not."
Naruto crossed his arms with a tiny pout. He was not pleased that Sasuke wouldn't help take his mind off the ghost situation.
Sasuke kept her gaze on the ground as they walked. Her thoughts were occupied by things that would cause her to stray from the path to atonement.
Shion kissed him. It was only on the cheek, but she still placed her disgusting lips where they didn't belong.
Sasuke took solace in the fact that she personally took Naruto's first and second kiss. Accidental or not, it didn't matter. If not for that happening many years ago, Shion would be a stain on the holy ground. Stupid bimbo shrine maiden...
'What do I do? Shion is one of the many girls who care for him.' Sasuke's face was sullen. 'Do I even deserve having something like that with Naruto?' Having a relationship with anybody was the last thing on her mind for years. Training, killing Itachi, killing Danzō, destroying Konoha, and then the war took her mind off having a significant other.
Sasuke had too many fears, too many insecurities, and too many regrets. Despite all that, she didn't want to end up like Mei and lose the one she loved.
Her eyes shifted from the dew covered grass to Naruto at her side. He observed every inch of the woods around him. The Jinchūriki tried to spot any ghosts that would attempt to steal his soul or whatever nonsensical scenario that his mind crafted to scare him.
"Naruto, I don't see anything in the immediate area. Calm down." Sasuke tentatively placed her hand on his arm and rubbed it hesitantly. It took a lot of willpower for her to take the initiative when it came to physical contact, but with Naruto she always acted out of character.
"I'm not scared. Yeah, I'm just trying to test myself by sensing things without Sage Mode. That's all. It's training."
Sasuke chuckled lowly at his blatant lies. Naruto sighed in defeat when he realized that Sasuke caught him in the act.
"I hate ghosts."
"I know. I promised to protect you, scaredy-cat."
Naruto's eyes widened. He saw Sasuke's smirk, she hasn't called him that in years.
"Fuck you, Sasuke."
Sasuke's smirk became strained when she thought of an easy retort to that. She didn't know how he'd respond to words that were better suited to come from a person like Mei.
They continued their trek quietly, both focused on the mist covered woods in front of them. After sometime Naruto started to walk a bit strangely, it confused his teammate greatly.
Seeing her raised eyebrow, Naruto rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I really gotta pee."
"Sometimes I wonder if you are an actual child trapped in an older body." She told him in her deadpan tone.
"Hey! I drank a bunch of water after we woke up today. It's a basic human function, don't shame me." He was also incredibly scared but omitted that detail.
Sasuke sighed and pointed in a random direction. "Go on then."
Naruto remained in his spot, he tried and failed to speak for at least fifteen seconds. Watching him make a bigger fool of himself than usual, she was about to question him before her eyes widened.
"No way."
"Sasuke, come on. You just have to stay close by!"
"I am not coming with you to relieve yourself!"
Naruto glared at her and spun around. He began to march off into the mysterious woods, mumbling curses with her name involved.
Sasuke huffed and tried to tame her wild hair. The nerve of that idiot to want her around when he had to do something like that.
'It's not even the first time this happened.' Sasuke recalled one of the most awkward moments in her life. Being stuck together by a few no name bandits, her cheeks lit up at the memory. It was the first time she's seen a boys... private area. She remembered how much of a struggle it was to look Naruto in the eye after the event.
The area remained silent, and she finally managed to fix her frazzled hair. The atmosphere certainly played into that "spooky" feeling that Naruto hated. She hoped he'd be alright by himself…
"Sasuke! Something touched me!"
At his shout, her head snapped in the direction of his call. She didn't have to wait long before an ear piercing howl of wind filled the air. The noise alone told her what it was, a Rasenshuriken.
"Is he serious?" She couldn't believe that he'd use that simply because he was scared.
Five seconds later, she witnessed nature itself being destroyed by the technique, and Sasuke knew that he was in fact serious.
The forest lit up beautifully from the explosion. Sasuke palmed her face and ran in the direction of his voice.
"I should have went with him to pee..."
Sasuke added a regret to her list.
A/N - Naruto and Sasuke obviously kissed in the very beginning of the series, but there was that filler with great animation (for some reason) in Shippuden where they did it again.
No, Naruto ain't having babies with Shion. This story isn't including anything on the scale of drama that would bring lmao. That's why the situation was kinda resolved between Naruto and Sasuke. Fighting is the best way for the two of them to make up, very romantic I know.
Next chapter will have the final confrontation between Sasuke and Shion.
Thanks for reading fam :)