Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto and its characters. This is a collaboration work with my friend, beta reader, and co-writer Shirahane Aikawa.
Sasuke wanted to storm off away from Naruto's office or better yet away from Hidden Leaf Village as soon as Naruto gave Sasuke his mission order, but the serious look on Naruto's face when he told him his mission made him retreat back and just let it be done with. He will just hope the rehabilitation of Souren Village finishes quickly for he doesn't want to stay with that woman who only reminds him of what he lost 10 years ago.
"Since everything is in order, can you fetch them from the other room so I can tell them in detail of what their leader and I talked about our agreement…please?" Naruto asked.
"Hn" Sasuke grunted in annoyance and left to call the residents of Souren Village.
Shikamaru had a hard time in his sort of interrogation with the strangers Naruto and Sasuke brought with them. They hardly answered any of his questions just the basic information about them like their names which bothered him and especially those named Akatsuki and Hanabusa, there was something about them he can't explain. He was about to ask what they are planning about their stay when Sasuke knocked on the door calling their visitors to go inside Naruto's office.
"Sasuke, what did you and Naruto talked about?"
"About my mission." Sasuke growled.
"Is there something you can tell me about those who came with you?"
"Wait, you want me and Nozomi to enroll as a shinobi in your academy?" Kiseki asked in a raised voice. He hated all Shinobi in general for him they only cause nothing but trouble especially after what happened to their village for their village and now they expect them to train as one by enrolling them in one! There's no way in hell!
"Yes, it was actually Kaname who suggested it." Naruto said as he watch the young boy in front of him change his expression from anger to pure shock. "Is he really that against the idea of enrolling in the academy?" he thought to himself, truthfully he feels worried about him after witnessing the boy's reaction.
Kiseki wanted to argue more but Akatsuki put his hand on top his shoulder and said, "Yes we are aware of it is there anything else?"
"I already arranged the accommodation for all of you...all of you are welcome to stay there until Kaname fix things if you all still have questions about the arrangement feel free to talk to me." Naruto looked at both Akatsuki and Hanabusa.
"As for you Asuka…Kaname requested that you should familiarize with the workings of our village and how we run things as a future matriarch of your village, and for that I have my wife Rin to accompany and teach you..."
"But…can't Hana come with me instead?" Asuka finally found her voice after being silent listening to this man named Naruto discuss the conditions Kaname and him agreed at. First, she's uncomfortable staying in the same village as this Sasuke and now she has to spend a lot of time with someone she doesn't know alone familiarizing herself with how to run a village. Yes, this Rin person is the Hokage's wife but still, it's different than Hana accompanying her since she already knows and trusts Hana.
Naruto scratched the back of his head and continued, "I know it'll be uncomfortable with you being with someone you didn't know but I promise you, you'll like my wife she is kind and patient, she will teach you the ways as our former fifth hokage did for her she will be a perfect companion for you and with that being said..." he turns towards Hanabusa and Akatsuki, "I may also send the two of you on inter diplomacy missions in the future so you can learn how to use alliance for your own advantage."
Akatsuki and Hanabusa looked at each other when they heard this and mentally talked to each other.
"Kaname is opening our village to other villages?" Hanabusa asked in concern.
"That seems to be it, he must be seeking an alliance to help us defend our village in the future." Akatsuki answered.
"Then that must mean we have less time than we thought we had."
"Excuse me is everything alright?" Naruto asked on the two most trusted advisors of Kaname.
Both nodded in agreement.
Kaname was reading through the many scrolls collected through the years in the archive of his village when Seiren interrupted him.
"Excuse me for intruding but I have found the trail our attackers used."
"I see, how about our guest is he comfortable here?"
"Yes, he walks around our village investigating on his own. Is it ok for him to walk around freely unsupervised?"
Kaname nodded, "It was part of the deal I had with Naruto."
"What about sending Asuka with them? Are you sure you made the right decision on that one?" Seiren knew she was testing her limits with Kaname on this sensitive question of hers but she needed to know if Kaname was at peace with the decision of sending the woman he loves away while he is here thinking of how to end their conflict with their enemies.
He stood up and placed a hand on Seiren's shoulder, "It is about time she saw the world on her own, whatever she will choose from now on will not be influenced by me or our village. As for our problem here, you have nothing to worry about for they will receive whatever was due to them at the right time. Just monitor them and their movements for now."
When Mako saw Sasuke's guests from Souren Village, she immediately saw Asuka who looked like Hinata and curtsied in front of her.
With tears in her eyes, Mako said, "Hinata-sama you have returned."
Asuka was surprised when the woman called her by a different yet familiar name. She was about to tell the woman politely her name but Sasuke was the one who said it.
"Mako, enough of that this woman is a part of the group that will be staying here..."
"But Sasuke-sama."
"No more word out of you Mako." Sasuke said firmly.
"You don't have to be mean to her." Asuka said not liking how Sasuke treats his servant but she gasps as he turns to face her with a glare.
"What I say to her is none of your concern."
"B-But still!"
"It's alright it's my fault I shouldn't have mentioned Hinata-sama..." Mako then turned to face her master, "I apologize Sasuke-sama."
"By the way, Rin will be here tomorrow to visit 'her' so fix up some dinner since Naruto will stop by later for her." Sasuke said as he left his visitors with not much of a glance or goodbye.
"I apologize you all have to see that."
"It's alright." Akatsuki shrugged his shoulders as he really didn't care about what happened.
After that Asuka couldn't stop thinking about what happened. Sasuke looked like he's in pain and as soon as sweet old Mako mentioned Hinata's name the pain in his eyes turned into an expression of utter loneliness, she couldn't take that off her mind and it's driving her mind insane and her heart...in pain and for some reason she can feel this twinge in her heart.
Author's Note: Advance Happy Holidays Everyone and always keep safe.