Naruto

Sleep did not come easy that night.

Naruto decided to avoid the barracks used by the Shinobi in favor of spending the night in one of the upper-class inns close to the castle. He knew that his decision to hand Kiba over to the civil authorities would be seen as a betrayal by his friends. In the end, however, he knew it was the correct call. At the end of the day, all of them swore loyalty to the Daimyo and the people of the Land of Fire. Failure to uphold that oath meant shame upon all the Hidden Leaf. In time, he hoped, the others would be able to look upon him again.

After a small breakfast before dawn, he decided to prepare for his meeting with Orisa about Saika. The whole affair made him feel dirty, given his past experiences. However, she seemed eager to be free of the pressures of her life and enjoyed their kiss. While some considered him naïve, Naruto knew this was a golden opportunity for Saika to become more than a courtesan. He hoped something more would arise beyond providing company to each other.

The Fallen Kingdom seemed much smaller in the daylight without any lanterns lit. Instead, it looked like any other building in the Water District of Kobe, with green walls and a single red door baring the establishment's name on a golden plaque. Law required that all buildings maintain the original style of Kobe's earliest days, with little room for deviation. However, he did not understand the reasoning behind it. Still, Saika mentioned that it was to preserve history in an ever-changing world.

He approached the front door and knocked hard. "Hello?"

No answer.

"Hello!" He slammed his fist against the door.

No answer.

"Hello! Is anyone inside?" Naruto's customary grin began to slip into a frown. Finally, frustrated, he yanked the door open only to be greeted by a stone wall. "What?"

"Not too bright, huh? Good thing you're good to look at." Saika stood at the end of the street with an umbrella. She wore a simple green robe that lacked the thrills he expected from her. "Don't you remember coming here?"

Naruto blinked and rubbed the back of his head. "I forgot, ya know? A lot has happened!"

"Whatever." Saika shook her head and gestured for him to follow. "Mistress Orisa is awaiting you in the garden. How did you sleep?"

He followed close behind her with his hands stuffed in his pocket. "Poorly. Guess you heard about what happened last night?"

She shrugged. "A little. Something about a fight that killed someone and a shinobi being arrested. One of yours?"

"Yeah." He frowned deeply.

"I think you did the right thing." She paused to give him a look that he assumed to be her serious face. "You showed that no one is above the law. People…I…respect that. We cannot have equality in a world where Shinobi are immune from punishments."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I did not expect you to be so…political."

She scowled. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Actually, I think it's sexy." He blushed at using such a word so openly. All the women in his life, minus Tsunade, generally avoided conversations about politics or the world. Saika seemed well-versed in such matters, and the thought of spending the night debating different topics excited him. Intelligence was beautiful.

Saika's face returned to her regular aloof expression, yet he noticed an extra hop in her step. "Well, this should not take too long. Mistress finished the contract an hour ago and sent a messenger to get it notarized." They entered through the private gate into the women's dorms. None of the other workers of the Fallen Kingdom were awake due to a late influx of customers. He wondered what they thought about one of their co-workers getting bought. The world Saika lived in confused him yet fascinated him.

Mistress Orisa sat at a small table in the center of the garden with a stack of papers in front of her and a small bowl of dried fruit. She watched him like a hawk, judging his every moment with narrowed eyes that promised no mercy. Naruto might have faced off against Madara Uchiha, yet the little old woman scared him beyond belief.

"About time you showed up, Lord Uzumaki." She shook her head in disappointment. "Did you not receive my message last night?"

"Afraid not," he took a seat at the table. "I did not return to the barracks last night."

Orisa's disappointment disappeared. "I see. I assume this is about Kiba?"

"How did you know?" Naruto narrowed his eyes. He did not expect such details to get out so quickly.

The old woman remained silent as Saika disappeared into the main house to retrieve a teapot and a pair of cups. Once alone, her lips dropped into a large frown. "I did not become the owner of one of the most luxurious brothels in the entire nation by remaining unaware. Your decision last night will have consequences, no matter how correct it was. Things have been set into motion that cannot be undone."

Naruto winced at her tone. Out of all the people he had to meet over the last three weeks in the capital, Orisa instantly became the most dangerous. How much power did this woman wield, and to what end?

"That said, I believe things are happening that need to happen," she smiled as Saika returned with the tea. "My dear, please return to your room and pack your things." She silenced the woman with a single glare. "Good! Lord Uzumaki and I will go over some things."

"Pack?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Where is she going?"

"With you, of course!" Orisa beamed with pure joy. "Anyways, enough talk. Let us get down to business. This contract is a bit…special compared to what I normally arrange with men seeking to take on…certain privileges with one of the girls under my care." She removed the first piece of paper from the stack and slid it forward.

Naruto squinted his eyes as he looked over the terms. The legal nonsense made his brain hurt. It talked about property rights, family names, and something about children. "I don't understand."

"And you want to become Hokage?" Orisa snorted. "I guess great men require greater advisors."

He maintained his temper despite the insult. How vicious could one woman be?

"In short, Lord Uzumaki, this page goes into the basic arrangement between Saika and yourself. Both of your wealth will become joined. What she has become yours, and what you have becomes hers. Any children between you will take on your last name and be considered legitimate. Upon your signature, she will take your family name immediately. I have taken the liberty of already requesting new documents for her reflecting the change." She turned the page over and pointed the finger at a line. "Your signature goes here if you accept."

A chill ran down his spine. This sounded less like a business arrangement and more like a marriage contract. "Is she going to be my wife or something?"

Orisa's face remained perfectly still as she delivered a single nod.

"I cannot accept this!" He stood up but froze when the woman grabbed his hand. "She cannot be given to me like some trophy."

"Sit down," the old woman hissed. Naruto opened his mouth to protest but froze in terror. The old woman's eyes, no longer a deep hazelnut, had turned crimson with three distinct tomoes surrounding the black iris.

Sharingan.

"Please," Orisa pleaded, her voice losing any aggression.

Fear is emptiness. Life is emptiness. All is emptiness.

Naruto calmed his breathing with the mantra and sat at the table again. However, things were far more complicated than he first thought, and with a living Uchiha, matters became dangerous.

"How do you have that?"

Orisa sighed and poured a cup of tea. "I did not always live in Kobe. Once, many years ago, I lived in your village with my clan."

"The Uchiha," he added with a whisper.

"Yes. Due to disagreements with my family, I abandoned the life of a ninja and traveled to Kobe to pursue a career in the arts. Hm. The world was far less kind than my young mind expected. Ultimately, I entered a different type of business that eventually saw me opening this very establishment."

Naruto took a deep breath and relaxed. The old woman, while terrifying, did not wish him or the village harm. "I thought you all were dead."

"Only two of us remain after the defeat of Madara and Itachi's sacrifice." She poured a cup of tea for him.

"Saika is the other," Naruto's eyes widened as the realization slammed into him like a train. The black hair, pale skin, and onyx eyes were all classic traits of the clan. Yet, she reminded him of Itachi in many ways, even in mannerisms.

Orisa's lips curled into a smile. "Very perceptive. Perhaps a Hokage can be made from you. Good looks and brains… I'm almost jealous of Saika."

He felt a blush rise from her compliments but coughed to return to the more pressing topic. "Her secret is safe with me, but why go through all this?"

"Because I believe that the carefully laid plans to keep Saika safe have come undone," Orisa's eyes returned to their typical hue. "I am unsure how, but your village may have been alerted to Saika's existence."

Naruto blinked. He had heard nothing of the sort from Kakashi or the others. As the successor of the Hokage, that information would be given to him immediately. "I have not heard anything about that."

Orisa shook her head. "Of course not. Your views on Itachi are well-known and would jeopardize certain plans."

"What do you mean?" He felt his world spinning as the conversation dragged on. "I don't understand."

"Would you allow a civilian, someone innocent and not even living in Konoha, to be taken away to be used to rebuild a clan?" Her eyes narrowed. "The loss of the Sharingan was a massive blow to the Hidden Leaf. I can promise you that certain ideas are being passed around involving Saika. As her last living relative, I will not allow her to suffer that fate under any circumstance."

Naruto wanted to argue. He tried to tell her that Konoha never did anything like that. He wanted to prove to her that his village fought for people. However, he could not deny her logic when thinking back to his own history.

"What does this have to do with me?"

The old woman took another paper from the pile and pointed at the bottom signature.

Itachi Uchiha.

"After the massacring of his clan, Itachi Uchiha came to me with his sibling and placed them in my care. He served as our silent guardian. Between his illness and the looming war, he decided to give the duty to another in the event of his death." She reached across the table and gripped his hand. "Itachi told me that if Saika was ever in trouble, you would help."

Naruto felt his throat dry. While their friendship had been short, the 'Last' Uchiha opened his eyes to many truths about the world. In some ways, Itachi trained him as much as Kakashi or Jiraiya. He owed everything…the world owed everything…to Itachi's sacrifice.

Without another word, he took the pen and signed the forms.

Finished, he slid the forms back to Orisa and smiled. "Nothing will happen to Saika. I'll make her the happiest woman in the world, no matter what. Believe it!"

Orisa shook her head and signed her part of the forms. "A bold deceleration. Itachi believed in you wholeheartedly. Hm. It seems that I will have to believe in you as well."

Naruto took a deep breath. His skin crawled with nervousness over the idea of being married. He had never experienced a relationship before, and now he had to please a wife. Where would they live? No matter what happened, Saika needed to stay far away from Konoha. Kobe? How would that work when he became Hokage?

"Slow down," Orisa commanded with a tap of her cane. "I have prepared for this. Ask your questions quickly."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Where will we live?"

"In the city." She looked over the paperwork once more for errors. "Itachi kept a small house relatively close here. It will serve you both well."

He relaxed slightly at the thought of not having to return to the barracks. "Does she know any of this?"

Orisa shook her head. "Not the full truth. She remembers her family but not their fates. Itachi used a false name when interacting with her, posing as a friend of mine. So I figured it best to keep her ignorant of the Uchiha."

"Can she…use the Sharingan?"

"Yes, but I have forbidden her from using it." She made a few notes on one of the documents. "Luckily for us, she is a woman of even temper that rarely gets upset."

"Does anyone else know about this?"

Orisa placed a clip around the paper before whistling for a servant. "I have informed Lord Asakura about the developments. He promised me that no harm would come to Saika. So as far as the Land of Fire is concerned, Saika is simply Lady Uzumaki."

Saika returned with a single prepared bag and a deep frown. "Mistress Orisa, there will be a box of my things that will have to be delivered to my new residence. Please have them handle my instruments with gentle care. I will not hesitate to charge you for any damage."

Orisa exchanged a thin smile with Naruto. "On your way, Lord and Lady Uzumaki."

Naruto stumbled to his feet and took Saika's arm gently. The woman pulled him closer. "As my husband, I expect you to have no reservations about invading my personal space. We shall drop my bag off at our new house before enjoying a small brunch together in the park." Before he could protest, Saika began to drag him out of the garden with her head held high.

"Poor bastard," Orisa muttered with a shake of her head.

Saika

Saika never expected that Orisa planned to marry her off so quickly but accepted it happily. She knew the old woman had a large soft spot for her. But, in the meantime, her husband required her full attention.

Naruto's status as the savior of the world and future Hokage meant that he ranked among the nobility of the Land of Fire. Their marriage announcement needed to be handled adequately, given her former position as a courtesan. Luckily, she knew how to word things to make them look romantic and win the hearts of the nobles. First impressions mattered in the city of Kobe, and her ambitions required them to be a real power couple. He had the renown of a gentleman but the manners of a vagabond. She would need to teach him proper etiquette and dress quickly to avoid scandals.

Their first proper meal together would be the perfect assessment of his abilities.

After dropping her bag off at their new home, she took him to a higher-end restaurant to order a pair of bento boxes for a quick meal at one of the many parks surrounding the castle. Their conversations remained simple at first, discussing the weather and basic facts about themselves. His intense love of orange and ramen seemed easy to remember and gave her excellent gift ideas. He seemed interested in her tastes with equal enthusiasm. She made a mental note to repay Orisa for the opportunity given.

She leaned against him once their meal was over. He ate too fast for her taste, but that habit could be broken easily. His grooming needed to be improved now that she saw his face in the daylight. Stubble meant that the man could not decide between being clean-shaven or having a beard, thus making him appear indecisive.

"Tell me about your first mission as a shinobi," she watched a couple stroll by.

Naruto groaned and shook his head. "Oh, come on. Don't make me relieve that!"

Saika snorted. "That traumatizing?"

"It involved Tora escaping Lady Chieko on her visit to Konoha." He shuddered at the thoughts of the murderous mouser.

She blinked and tilted her head. "Do you mean to tell me that Tora is THAT old? Shinobi enter service around thirteen, no?"

Naruto tightened his grip on her. "Evil keeps that cat alive far beyond natural limits. Promise me that you will avoid that thing at all costs. One day, it will claim a life! I mean, it took three genin to capture the damn cat."

"Maybe you just sucked back then?"

"Hmph. Maybe I should let Lady Chieko introduce you to Tora. We both know how happy that would make her."

Saika felt the color drain from her face. "I will trust your experience in this matter, husband."

"Husband, huh?" A giant toad suddenly appeared from a pond with a strange man atop it. He whipped his long white mane around before hopping off the animal. "Not a bad catch, Naruto! She looks like a flower waiting to have her petals plucked!"

Naruto glared at the man while turning different shades of red. "What the hell are you doing here, pervy sage?!"

"Pervy Sage…This must be Jiraiya." Saika felt her blood pressure rise. The man looked like one of the creeps that got a little touchy without paying. His aura made every woman in the park glare his way.

"Ah! I see you know me!" Jiraiya grinned and did a little dance as his student groaned. "My reputation must be grand!"

"She only knows about you because I told her how much of a pervert you are!" Naruto's temper flared. "What the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be trying to sneak into a bathhouse or something?"

Jiraiya chuckled and shook his head. "Chill out, kid. Just thought I would check in on you. Didn't expect you to marry so quickly. Hmph. You should have invited me to the wedding. I have loads of stories to tell about you."

Naruto groaned, hanging his head in defeat. "We just got married this morning. Long story."

The Toad Sage poked the empty bento boxes with his foot. "Some wedding feast."

Saika shook her head, tired of the man already. She tolerated ninjas, but the Sannin rubbed her the wrong way with his bravado. Time to play the role of her husband's guardian. "Lord Jiraiya…we are enjoying some time after we joined souls. Please depart unless you have important matters to discuss with my husband."

Jiraiya stared at her with a broad smile, but Saika saw under the mask of friendliness. Something about the Sage made her heart race in terror.

"Hmph. You're sure a pleasant thing. Guess I shouldn't expect too much from one of Orisa's…." The Toad Sage did not finish the sentence as Naruto stood.

"I dare you to finish that sentence."

A tense moment passed between master and apprentice before Jiraiya took a step back. "Apologies, Naruto and Saika. This is just a little shocking. That said, you two did look comfortable before I showed myself." He waited for Naruto to calm down before continuing. "Kakashi is about to arrive within the next few hours along with Tsume Inuzuka. I hate to say it, kid, but you've royally fucked up."

Naruto plopped to the ground and held his head.

"My husband wished to ensure justice for the slain man," Saika placed an arm around Naruto and glared at Jiraiya.

"Spoken like a civilian." Jiraiya shook his head. "Naruto insulted the entire Inuzuka Clan and every shinobi in Konoha by allowing civil authorities to capture one of our own."

"Are we not all loyal subjects of the Fire Daimyo? So why should Shinobi get special privileges compared to the rest?"

Jiraiya snorted. "Girl, have you ever seen a battle between ninjas? No? Let me tell you…your husband here could destroy this town instantly if he wanted to."

"Then it is a good thing he is a man of virtue, unlike some of you who have visited our city." While she held little love for Kobe's political system, most of the people who lived in the town were good folk trying to do their best.

"That's enough from both of you." Naruto looked at his teacher with a severe expression of weariness. "I assume Kakashi wants to see me upon his arrival?"

"Yeah, he does. Fair warning. You're about to receive an ass chewing of legendary proportions." The Sannin sighed heavily. "Beyond that, I am going to give you a piece of advice that I had to give your father. Your loyalty belongs to your comrades first, not the Daimyo."

The man disappeared along with the toad in a puff of smoke.

Saika wrapped her arms around Naruto. For the first time in her life, she worried about the future. Crimson eyes stared into the heavens in search of an answer.

Another chapter done! I debated including the final scene with Jiraiya but decided in favor of adding it to speed the plot along. The relationship between Naruto and Saika will continue to involve overtime as they begin to experience one another. Thanks for your continued support and prepare for a very heavy Saika chapter next time.