"Like I told Lady Shion, it's not a baseless idea," Neji said as they ate dinner together. After a long day of taking care of his children and talking with Shion, Naruto could say he was dead tired. "I wouldn't know the first thing about starting up a Hidden Village, but presuming you had the blessing of the country's leader, it should be easy."
"But all towns and villages require infrastructure, and getting that set up is much easier said than done," Lee added.
Naruto set down his bowl and thought about what his friends were saying. In the end, it wholly depended on Shion's vision. Making a village from scratch was incredibly difficult, and a prospect that he was entirely unsuited for. He could teach someone how to throw a shuriken, how to focus their chakra, and perform hand signs, but he was lost in regards to actually running a village. All of the sudden, an idea came to if they didn't need to make their own village? Ashiya was already an established city with space in and around it.
It's affairs were already being handled by the standing government, and with his fiancee being the Priestess of the Land of Demons, he could rely on her to handle that part.
"What if the village was placed inside Ashiya?" Naruto offered up his idea.
The three shinobi gave that some further thought. With Shion attending to some last minute affairs and both Iruka and Taruho laid down for a nap, it gave them some time to speak among themselves. Despite being practiced ninja, the four of them were in the dark when it came to large concerns like this.
"Maybe we're thinking too big from the get-go. Before you and Shion invest all that time and money into making a village, I would actually try to set up a class first," Tenten countered.
Neji and Lee nodded along with her reasoning, and Naruto had to admit that she had a point. Perhaps they were getting ahead of themselves. It would be better to gauge the interest of the people, to see if they got volunteers to become ninjas, and see how Naruto fared as a teacher. He wasn't an idiot, but knowing how to do something and being able to explain it in an understandable way was much, much different. How would he be able to accurately teach someone the correct way to gauge the angle, speed, and force with which to throw a kunai when all that came so naturally to him?
He'd had years to hone his skills and perfect his use of chakra, and he'd gotten very good at it. The children he would be teaching, however, probably didn't even know what chakra was. He'd have to teach them the fundamentals all over again when those days were long behind him. No, if he wanted to do this right he needed advice.
"I'm thinking that we send a message to the Leaf Village and Grandma Tsunade to get her thoughts on the matter. With any luck, we might be able to work out a deal where the Land of Demons allies with the Land of Fire in exchange for proper teachers," Naruto said, his hands clasped in front of him.
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Naruto!"
"We'll need to ship back out in the next day or so, so we can relay that message," Neji added. "That would probably be our best bet."
The door behind them opened and Shion emerged, still dressed in her day-to-day clothes and stretching her arm. With a yawn she took a seat next to Naruto and leaned on her hand.
"Geez, these old geezers just don't quit. If it's not some new community art project it's some dispute with the addendums to some minor civil law," she sighed. "What were you all talking about?"
The four shinobi took the time to catch Shion up on what they had been talking about. The priestess took in their thoughts, concerns, and ideas with an open mind. She too had to admit that they all made good points. As a leader, who she allied her people with was a big deal. Simply being friendly with one country might alienate relations with another, or worse. However, the Leaf Village was a fair distance away and pretty removed from the politics of the local region. Not to mention the fact that they would make for a strong ally, even without considering the aid they could lend her country.
"I think that might be for the best. You're right in that it doesn't make sense to invest so much when we don't even know if it'll get off the ground. I'll get our information department to spread the word around the land, and hopefully we'll be able to get volunteers for the program. Naruto, how confident do you feel you could handle teaching a class?" she asked him, her voice measured and professional.
Naruto was impressed with the maturity she showed, having grown used to her acting more relaxed in front of him. "I think I could probably handle it. If I could get some training scrolls and notes from my old teachers I'm certain I could do it. Most of a ninja's training in the beginning is physical conditioning, learning basic jutsus, and getting a handle on techniques."
"You would know more than I, but I've also given this affair some thought. After some time to ruminate, I would ask that one of you stay behind to aid Naruto in this endeavor," Shion spoke, shocking all of them.
"You mean stay behind to help teach the first class?" Lee clarified.
Shion nodded. "Even I can understand that it wouldn't be good if Naruto was forced to teach every single student on his own. Having at least one other qualified ninja to help him would keep things balanced."
The three members of Team Guy looked at each other. With all this talk of alliances, it wouldn't hurt to leave an impartial emissary behind. Moreover, it would be a great first step towards convincing the village elders and the Fifth Hokage to accept the idea. However, it would also mean leaving behind a member of their team, not to mention it would be one less ninja to defend the village. In a time of instability such as this, would Tsunade really agree to it?
"I'm not necessarily opposed to it. I don't want to make promises, but as a jonin I am afforded some leeway when it comes to decisions such as this. I think it would be fine for us to leave a member behind, but I will say that at any moment Lady Tsunade might ask them to return," Neji said, staring down Shion and waiting for her reaction.
Shion, for her part, was relaxed. It was good that they were receptive, and she would take what she could get. Without a doubt she'd need to meet with this "Tsunade" person to work something more detailed out. But now the question remained: who would stay behind.
"I think Tenten should stay behind."
Everyone turned to the voice and were surprised to find that Naruto had spoken up. Neji regarded him curiously, willing to hear him out. At their stares, the blonde ninja continued a bit hesitantly.
"Neji is a jonin and an important member of the Hyuga clan, even I can probably guess that they would need him back home. Lee, you're an incredible taijutsu expert and one of our most powerful ninja, but I can handle things in regards to that. Tenten, on the other hand, is a weapon specialist and can teach the students the basics of shuriken jutsu and weapon handling," Naruto said with surprising insight.
The others were surprised to see the Leaf Village's class clown and former troublemaker speak so sagely. In the confines of the dining hall, devoid of any other servant or guard, silence reigned for a few moments as both Neji and Shion considered the logic. Without speaking it aloud, pragmatically Tenten was the weakest member of Team Guy. That was not a black mark against her though, her talent with weaponry and her aim was the best in the village. There were few, if any, who could match her in a proper sword fight or in a contest of accuracy.
Eventually, Neji spoke up. "I think that makes sense, if Tenten isn't against it."
Suddenly put on the spot, Tenten jumped a bit and scrambled to find the right words. She was flattered, if anything, but also unsure. She'd need to spend a lot of time over here which meant not seeing her parents or friends for awhile. She'd need to be separated from her team for who knows how long.
"Um… uh…" she stammered out before Shion raised a hand.
"Please, don't feel like you need to give me your answer now. I'd rather you come to the conclusion after given time to think instead of rushing into an answer," she smiled beatifically. "I don't want to put you in a compromising position."
Tenten let out a sigh of relief and sipped her tea to try and diffuse the awkward tension that had accumulated. For Naruto, he was just glad that no one had guessed that he had made up most of that on the spot. His reasoning was solid at least. He glanced at Shion out of the corner of his eye to see her still smiling, still radiating that confident aura.
She isn't the priestess for nothing, she's as cool as a cucumber! He thought to himself. In her position, he might not be so confident in his people skills. He was just glad that no one had put him in charge of a whole country. Two kids, priestess at eighteen, and now trying her best to secure an alliance with the leaf village. Man she's amazing.
Naruto caught himself in the midst of his thought and felt a bit of blood creep up his neck. Shion glanced at him and cocked her head to the side in confusion. Her fiance looked a bit red in the face. Was he sick?
"Are you alright?" She bent forward to touch her forehead to his. "Your face feels a bit hot."
"T-That's, uh- I mean-" he choked on his words, her face practically pressing against his.
Tenten chuckled snidely, taking a bit of enjoyment at how flustered he was after he had put her on the spot. Neji rolled his eyes as Lee seemed to bite back manly tears of joy. Shion finally pulled away, now convinced that he had probably not gotten enough rest last night. She patted his head gently and mentally made a note to get some medicine from the doctor tomorrow.
"How about we go to bed early tonight?" Shion smiled brightly, practically radiating comfort and warmth.
Naruto nodded tightly before turning the other way to cover up his blush. Geez, did she have to be so… motherly about everything? His heart could only take so much closeness! Dinner concluded not long after, the three members of Team Guy taking their leave to talk things over on their own. Naruto and Shion began walking back to their room, the former still a bit hot under the collar.
As they walked, they stopped at the nursery to check on the two children. The nanny that had been checking in on them, a younger girl, assured them that the two boys had been perfect angels. As the two looked over the pair of cradles, Shion spoke up.
"You know, I always worry that my duties as Priestess will prevent me from seeing them grow up. It's why I try to make as much time for them as possible."
Naruto understood that. "Is that why you don't like the idea of servants helping to raise them?"
"It's… unfortunate, but necessary that I need to rely on nannies. I keep it to a minimum where I can, but I'll be away for hours at a time handling things. I can't just leave them alone," she explained. "However, I don't want them to grow up feeling like their mother is a stranger to them."
"Yeah, I get it. That was one of my biggest worries on the journey over here. That they might not accept me or something," looking back, it had been a stupid worry. They were babies, they probably didn't even fully understand who he was.
"Going forward, I made a promise to be with them always. My mother was amazing, she did everything she could to make sure I grew up with a great childhood. I want to make her proud."
Instinctively, Naruto stepped forward and brought the young girl into a hug. He didn't quite understand why, but it felt right. The young ninja rested his chin on his fiancee's shoulder, not saying a word but just letting the moment go on. Shion didn't pull away or say anything, instead merely leaning into it.
Eventually, he spoke. "You'll do amazing, you've been doing amazing. Besides, I'm here to help now, and I'm not going anywhere. In a few years, I'm sure we'll look back and laugh at how worried we were."
Shion chuckled. "When did you get so sensitive."
"Mmm, I dunno, maybe when my wife convinced me to try out gardening," he smiled cheekily, jabbing his wife slightly in the side.
She yelped and laughed as she pushed the blonde boy away, now a bit more wary of his finger jab no jutsu. Naruto took a practiced stance, ready to pierce her defenses and jab her once more. The two went back and forth, Shion slapping away his precision strikes as Naruto tried to get past her seemingly impenetrable guard. Eventually, the two devolved into a mess of quiet laughter.
It felt right. It felt… homely.
0-0-0-0
That night, Naruto slept better. The kids cried once or twice, but some quick thinking and a shadow clone later and he had it under control. Remembering Tenten's advice and some of what Shion had coached him on earlier that night helped. He had no idea why he hadn't thought of this sooner. Using his shadow clones he could ensure they both got a good night's sleep.
The following morning, now rested and ready to take on the day, Naruto got up with vigor. The sun was shining, the birds chirping, and Shion… was currently changing in front of him. With a hoarse squeak, he turned on his heel and tried to forget the image that had just been burned into his vision. Was that normal? Was she trying to tell him something?
Shion hummed innocently as she donned her Priestess vestments, either not taking notice of her fiance or not caring. Naruto looked back nervously and saw that she was more clothed now, to his relief. Wait, why was he embarrassed? He had seen her naked before! Maybe it was just how used he was for getting clobbered by Sakura when he saw a girl changing. This… This was normal! Yeah, he was her fiance after all. They had two kids, for God's sake!
Confidently, he turned around fully only to get an eyeful of Shion not a foot or so away. Her backed turned to him, she fiddled with her bra. Instantly, the heat that had been suffusing Naruto's face came back with double the force.
"Hey, Naruto, do you mind hooking my bra? I can't seem to get it," she asked.
"I, uh, I mean can't you do it?" he asked, looking anywhere else.
"I did try, but I can't seem to do it. A little help?"
Naruto looked back, thoroughly unsure of what to do. What would Kakashi-sensei do? What would Jiraiya-sensei do? Well, on second thought, the latter wouldn't be so helpful in this situation. He just had to do it! This was normal for a couple, and he was a ninja! He wasn't afraid of any bra, unhooked or not!
Reaching forward, Naruto clumsily tried to fasten the thing together. Embarrassment quickly turned to confusion, then distress, and then finally frustration as the damn thing just wouldn't clasp! He felt like an ape trying to break into a bank vault here. His fingers fumbled around as Shion hummed innocently. Eventually, she thought to give him some advice.
"Up, Naruto. Right there, clasp that," a second later it was done, and Naruto felt like he had just been put through the ringer.
It's too early for this, he thought to himself.
"Thank you," Shion chimed, donning the rest of her clothes.
"I should check in with the others to see what they decided to do. Bushy brow is probably already up and at 'em and I don't need to get roped into another hug," Naruto said, his fiancee chuckling. "Will you be alright for a bit?"
"Of course, it's not like anything is going to happen in the center of my palace."
"Please don't tempt fate like that."
They both shared a laugh as Naruto's blush finally began to recede. He headed for the door and opened it, only pausing as Shion spoke once more.
"Oh, and Naruto," he turned to her, only to see the coy smile that had spread over her face. "Thanks for hooking my bra."
"Y-You were messing with me!" he cried out as she ducked beneath his arm and ran out the door. "You minx!"
"Anything to see my hero blush like that again!" she yelled back as she disappeared down the hallway.
She's going to kill me, Naruto thought, but couldn't fight the smile that spread over his face as well.
True to his thoughts, Lee was already training in the courtyard. The hot-blooded shinobi was currently balancing a rock on his foot as he walked around on his hands. Neji and Tenten stood to the side, observing their borderline masochistic friend. Naruto walked over to them, receiving a small nod from the former.
"We make for the Leaf Village today," Neji began, not looking at Naruto. "Lady Tsunade will undoubtedly want us back soon. However, after talking about it at length, we decided that Tenten would stay behind."
Naruto was a little surprised. In his mind, it was a fifty-fifty shot as to whether or not they'd accept. Seeing his look, Tenten explained.
"More than just Lady Shion's idea of a hidden village, Tsunade sent us with you to make sure you were protected. Neji told me that Shion was worried about your enemies tracking you down here, and she has a point. So, we decided that by staying behind I could guard both you and her as well."
"I guess I understand, but that does worry me."
"I'm doubtful they would come after you any time soon. With their recent losses and Lady Tsunade actively trying to hunt them down, not to mention the other nations, they'll have their hands full for a while," Neji added. "And training a new generation of shinobi would be a valuable experience for someone looking to become a Jonin."
"So I guess we're doing this then. Alright, then I'll give it my all! Believe it!"
Tenten nearly chuckled at the blonde airhead's hyper demeanor. Truth be told, she was a bit worried. Both for herself, her team, and her village. Tenten was not a prideful person, and she could acknowledge that many of the other so-called "rookie nine" could and did outclass her. Her talent for weaponry was impressive, but she paled in comparison to her own teammates, let alone other, stronger foes. This could be a good opportunity to hone her skills and develop new techniques.
Naruto's words helped quell the feelings of doubt that were niggling at the back of her mind. If he was going to give it his all, then she would too! She fist bumped the longtime troublemaker turned new father, sharing in his confidence. Neji, watching, also felt a bit relieved that his teammate would be taken care of. The Land of Demons had a diverse geography and plenty of areas to train. They would both be okay.
The four of them spoke more about their plans, and Neji promised to relay Naruto's request for training scrolls and advice to the teacher's at the academy. There would almost certainly be more talks in the future, but for now it was the best they could do. The ninja stood at the gates of Ashiya, sharing goodbyes before their final departure.
"Oh Naruto, throughout this journey I have seen you mature so much! It is enough to make a youthful man such as me cry!" Lee sobbed.
"It's… only been about a week or so, Lee."
"So long!"
Neji ignored his teammate and addressed Tenten. "Take care of yourself. I hate leaving you alone with that one, but something tells me you'll figure it out."
"Please, I was trained by the Guy-sensei, I can handle a loudmouth and a couple of kids," she smiled.
"We'll see each other again soon, no doubt. Until then, take care of them. I'm trusting you on this mission."
"You can leave it to me, Neji!"
With that, the Hyuga turned back to Naruto who was currently wiping Lee's snot off his jacket as the man hugged him. With a roll of his eyes, he stepped forward and regarded the boy more carefully. It was said nothing was invisible to the Byakugan, but it was plain to see the emotions in Naruto's eyes.
A bit of melancholy, happiness, uncertainty, doubt, but also that ever present confidence and energy that seemed to be infectious. No doubt he would be okay, Neji was sure. As much as he still seemed like that overeager brat he had been at the chunin exams, Lee was right, he had grown. Perhaps this whole unexpected child thing would prove to be a boon rather than a curse. Only time would tell.
"With these affairs in order, I suspect we'll be seeing you two in the Leaf Village sometime soon. Lady Tsunade will almost certainly want to speak with Lady Shion about her plans," after a moment, he added. "And she will likely wish to see Iruka and Taruho."
"No doubt. Hopefully she doesn't pass on her bad habits to them," Naruto said with a smile. "Take care, Neji. Keep an eye on things for me."
"I will, you can count on me. Until next we meet, Naruto."
Lee gave another impassioned goodbye and group hug to both of his friends before following behind his team leader. Tenten and Naruto watched them walk down the road, slowly disappearing into the forests ahead. With her teammates gone, she hoped that she wouldn't feel too lonely. A hand came down softly on her shoulder, and she turned to see Naruto with a determined grin on his face.
"Let's get back, Naruto," she nearly laughed. At the very least he was still the same in some ways.
The two of them walked back to the palace together, taking in the sights. Ashiya was indeed smaller than the Leaf Village had been when they were young, but there was something natural to it. As if every part of it just clicked, and there was no friction between the people here. Citizens and travelers waved their hellos and shop owners hocked their goods at them. It was a far cry to the aire of stigma and hate that had infested Naruto's own childhood. Back then, he hadn't even understood why so many people despised him. It was different now, but… for the longest time it had been an uphill climb.
At least his kids wouldn't need to worry about that. He'd make sure of it.
"Ooh, check it out Naruto, a dongo shop!" Tenten pointed. "Wanna stop there for a bit?"
"Sure!" truth be told, he was a bit hungry.
The two were sat down and served promptly. The little shop was off the beaten path a bit, but it seemed popular. Caterers sat down and talked among themselves, sharing details about their day and their plans. It was all very normal, mundanely so. It was a nice change from the thinly veiled tension in the Leaf Village at least.
"So, do you think you're ready to be a teacher. Be honest," Tenten asked her new partner.
"Well, I sure hope so," he laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "I wasn't the greatest student, but I taught Konohamaru everything he knows, so I can't be that bad."
"Speaking of, do you think you'll past down those techniques of yours."
That caused Naruto to pause. Tenten continued nevertheless. "I mean, the rasengan and the shadow clone jutsu are your specialty. Do you think the kids would be able to learn them?"
"I… don't know. The shadow clone jutsu places an enormous strain on one's chakra reserves and can lead to death. I don't think I want to try and make kids do it. The rasengan…"
Well, that required immense chakra control. Even he hadn't been able to fully master until after days and nights of training on top of being taught by Jiraiya himself. However, it was also a technique that had been passed down again and again. From Jiraiya to his father and then to him. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to try and offer his students.
But that would only be for much later, a technique of that strength required not only the ability to do properly, but the character to use it properly. He wasn't about to hand out the rasengan to just anyone. It was food for thought, at least.
"We'll see," he said, finishing his earlier thought. "Let's see if they can master the basics first."
She nodded as their food came. The two ate and conversed a bit more on mundane things. How the kids were doing - Tenten was particularly impressed and envious of his shadow clone trick - and his plans going forward. As far as he could tell, he wasn't a regent of any kind and didn't hold a lot of political power. Then again, he had only been here for about a week. Maybe that would change in time.
"I was wondering where you had gotten off to," a voice cut in. They both turned to see Shion there, flanked on either side by her guards. The people in the shop seemed at awe that their Priestess had just walked in.
Shion sat down at their table, a pleasant smile on her face. "Another stack of papers done. I'm pretty much scot free for the rest of the day. Or, at least, until Advisor Tenma finds me again. Did your teammates leave, Tenten?"
"Yes, Lady Shion. They were hopeful that your ideas would reach Lady Tsunade. I have no worries about getting her blessing to greenlight this project."
"Excellent," she clapped her hands together. "As thanks for your hard work, how about I treat you two."
"A girl after my own heart," Naruto leaned forward on his hand, drawing a smile from Shion.
"Don't get comfy Mr. Uzumaki, I'm a woman of many secrets. I could be manipulating you."
"If you are, it's working."
Tenten nearly gagged as the two flirted sappily in front of her. The two lovebirds kept speaking, occasionally drawing her into the conversation. Before long, it had devolved into the three of them sharing embarrassing stories from their village.
"And then- then the old man, he looks at me, and says 'if you paint one more line Naruto that's two weeks detention!'" Naruto was nearly in tears as he recounted the first time the fourth hokage caught him painting the village faces.
"Oh no!" Shion gasped, trying to stifle her laugh. "What'd you do?"
Naruto paused, before speaking. "I dumped the whole bucket over the face!"
The three roared with laughter, the shop still plenty lively around them. The sun had begun to set, casting the city in warm orange hues, the sky a soft purple that stretched as far as the eye could see. The three of them finished their stories and exited the shop, thanking the owner and promising to return. The man, his shop now twice as popular with the local townsfolk, eagerly nodded with a smile.
The walk back to the palace was quiet, and unhurried. Shion had checked on the kids before leaving and assured Naruto they were perfectly well. Even so, Naruto wanted to see them again today and spend some time with his boys. It wouldn't be too long before they thought their dad wasn't "hip" or "cool" enough to hang with. He had to get in his quality time where he could. Shion explained that things in regards to the Hidden Village project were getting underway. The message would be sent out to every village in the Land of Demons, offering instructions and details to those curious.
The White Lily Palace was calm as they returned. The guards stationed reported nothing out of the ordinary, and both the palace servants and stewards informed them that all the local affairs had been taken care of. Naruto returned to the nursery and checked on his kids. Iruka was rolling around, babbling gibberish as his brother, as expected, slept softly. How these two would get together when they grew up, Naruto had no idea.
Even so, he held Iruka in his arms and played with the child. The infant grabbed at his father's hands, always amused when he managed to get around his grabby guard to tickle him. Naruto glanced over to see Taruho glaring unimpressed at his father. He could almost feel the disapproval and such frivolity radiating from the baby. It made Naruto chuckle deeply, eliciting a matching laugh from Iruka.
The young father scooped up his other son to share in their games, and despite the blonde child's sour demeanor he, too, lost before the mighty tickling hand. Soon, Naruto was forced to split his attention between each son as they vied for more amusement. A creak of the floorboards made Naruto look up, Shion leaning against the doorframe.
"Busted, boys," Naruto looked down at his kids.
"Guh-buh!" Iruka nodded seriously, accepting the grim nature of the situation.
"Oh dear, whatever shall I do. The father of my children is spending time with his kids. Oh how a mother laments moments like this," Shion sighed dramatically, coming over to next to him. "Whatever am I to do."
"I'm afraid the only option is to give in."
"So it is," she leaned over, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.
Despite his initial surprise, he didn't pull away. It wasn't so heavy as making out, but it felt natural. Right. Taruho burbled something indignant at having been forced to see his parents be lovey-dovey of all things, and right in front of him no less!
"Give any thought to the wedding?" She asked him as they broke off the kiss.
"I did, and I think I know how we can kill two birds with one stone."
"Oh, go on mighty hero," she said coyly.
Lightly, he flicked her forehead. "Cute. I'm thinking we have the wedding in the Leaf Village. It would give us time to talk to Grandma Tsunade and for you to meet all the cool people I know!"
Shion gave it some thought before nodding enthusiastically. She had never been able to travel too much due to her responsibilities, and she was curious about her husband's hometown.
"And, you know, I need to grab my stuff from my apartment."
The comment came out of nowhere, so much so that Shion snorted, which quickly turned into a laugh, which then devolved into a fit. The young couple, in the privacy of a nursery, their kids in their arms, laughed like a couple of hopeless drunks. They laughed and laughed until they were sure the guards at the wall could hear.
And they didn't care.