Saika
Sasuke was a married woman.
He dipped a fresh brush into a new bottle of black ink. With a deep breath, the work began with gentle strokes. The instructor guided his hand across the canvas with gentle commands. Seconds turned into minutes as a tiger took shape under a nervous hand. The instructor became just another buzz of background noise when his mind drifted away from the art towards more pressing matters.
"Oi! Sasuke! You still with us?" Kaede Kita poked at him with a wet brush. Sasuke, broken free of worldly distractions, glared at his friend. "Darn, man. You seem totally out of it."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I am fine. There is no need for concern." He frowned at the ruined tiger on the canvas. Painting or any visual arts never interested him beyond a mild appreciation. The class, however, would look good on his application to the College of Composition. "What are you working on?"
Kaede rotated his easel and smiled. "I am recreating the heroic last stand scene from The Princess' Sorrow."
Ranking among the greatest plays ever written in the Land of Fire, The Princess' Sorrow told the tale of a knight out to protect the princess of a fallen kingdom against all-consuming darkness. He gives his life to ensure she can see the morning, leaving her heartbroken despite the victory. Lord Asakura requested a yearly performance around the start of autumn to celebrate the end of the farming season.
Something about the plot sent a shudder through Sasuke.
"Impressive," Sasuke nodded with the slightest hint of a smile. "I never expected someone like you to create something so beautiful."
"That's a damn fine compliment coming from you," Kaede returned the easel to the original position and continued working. "Are you coming to the meeting tonight? It is going to be lively with everything going on."
Sasuke cursed at forgetting about their club. 'The Midnight Crew,' made up of students and teachers from all university branches, discussed the latest political going-ones within the Land of Fire and beyond. Most of their members leaned into more radical ideologies that called for grand changes to the Land of Fire and the entire world. He ranked among one of the more famous members thanks to his poetry dealing with oppression and calls for revolution.
"I cannot." He discarded the ruined canvas in favor of a new one. "Just moved into a new place and need to unpack."
"We should gather at your place for a housewarming party!" Kaede peeked over his painting. "Hey! Sora! Sasuke just moved into a new place."
Said the man, a youth barely old enough to attend the University, looking up from his animal painting. "Really? I can get some food! When should we meet up?"
"No," hissed Sasuke with a curl of his lip. "No parties. I am living with…a roommate…that requires his privacy."
Sora and Kaede exchanged a brief look. "We thought you always wanted to live alone," Kaede smirked. "So, tell me about this boyfriend of yours."
Sasuke regretted even mentioning the 'roommate.' "You both know the idea of romance disgusts me. So keep your mind out of the gutters and my personal life."
"Always the frosty one, eh Sasuke?" Kaede shook his head, clearly amused. "Whatever. Make sure you bring your boy toy to meet us sometime soon."
"I am not interested in men."
"Right. Say, Sora, remember when Sasuke almost fainted when Professor Denki requested him for a kissing scene?" Kaede chuckled as a tinge of red formed on Sasuke's face. "Or, when we had to practice nude portraits, the model winked at him."
Sora giggled and nodded. "There is nothing to be ashamed of, Sasuke. Some of us just prefer different styles of company. So, what color is his hair?"
"My husband has blond hair." The words escaped his lips before his mind could stop them. Kaede and Sora blinked before roaring with laughter. "My roommate has blond hair."
"Guess someone has a hidden life," Kaede shook his head with tears threatening to come out from the laughing. "Alright, alright. We'll leave you two alone. Though, I do think you should at least swing by tonight."
Happy for the way out of the topic, Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What's so special about tonight?"
"Don't play stupid! You must know about the Hokage demanding Kiba Inuzuka to be released yesterday. Apparently, the Court is furious over this."
Sasuke frowned. After their quick brunch, Naruto went to the castle for a meeting. He sent a message by a toad, informing that he would not be home that night, along with a bundle of flowers.
"I've been swamped moving," Sasuke leaned towards Kaede. "So, is Lord Asakura going to release the ninja?"
Kaede, satisfied with the painting, began to clean his brushes. "I don't know the details, but according to Professor Takumi, there was a massive argument in the throne room over it. General Ren wants a trial in Kobe and almost came to blows with one of the clan leaders from Konoha. Lord Asakura has not made a formal decision but seeks counsel with Naruto Uzumaki."
"But Naruto is from the Hidden Leaf," Sora joined the conversation after finishing his rough draft of a tree. "He'll protect his friends."
"No." Sasuke shook his head. "He is different than they are. Naruto…did not grow up like most of the shinobi of his village. His heart is with the common people despite his station and power."
Kaede gave a slight snort. "Sounds like you've been reading too many books about him. Heroes like that don't exist."
"Perhaps you're right." Sasuke decided to use graphite to sketch the outline of the tiger. "All we can do now is hope he makes the right decision."
The rest of the class passed without many conversations. Sasuke wanted the most basic passing grade with the least effort. Hence, a mediocre mark for the project was more than acceptable. He spent another hour with Kaede and Sora discussing the latest events of their club. They seemed to know very little of what went on in the castle, and he managed to sound aloof enough to avoid raising their suspicions. After a quick meal, he decided to head home to prepare for Naruto's arrival.
Located between two parks and sitting next to the canal that ran through the city, their new home took influence from conservative and modern traditions in equal measures. Stone walls mixed with wood created an atmosphere of serenity. Whoever Orisa bought the place from obviously took good care of the home. However, the garden in the courtyard needed some attention. He figured it would be a good time waster when Naruto had matters to attend to or returned to Konoha.
A slight frown replaced the calm smile on his face. No matter how much it hurt, he needed to accept that Naruto was required to split his time between Kobe and Konoha. Of course, the details needed to be discussed, but he trusted the blond not to be away for too long.
He placed his small backpack inside the drawing room before going to the master bedroom. Orisa's servants had delivered the rest of his items earlier in the day, along with the instruments. A few things needed to be sorted, but the house appeared ready for them.
It always began with a bath.
He allowed the warm waters to wash away the ills of the day. However, while waiting for Naruto, something odd broke his regular routine. He let his mind wander into a different frame of reference, one that held confidence and hope.
He became herself.
Saika took her time in the bath, not expecting her husband anytime soon. That allowed her time to work on a few lines of poetry running through her head. Beyond that, she needed to think about what to serve him as a meal. According to all the books she had read, wives enjoyed cooking their husband food. She did not know how to cook, but the idea of it being complicated made her laugh. The cooks at The Fallen Kingdom ranked among the dumbest people she had encountered. If they could do it, she could do it without issue.
Such sentiments came back to bite her hard.
To ease what must be a stressful day, she decided that dinner would consist of a hearty bowl of ramen with fresh fruit and cream as a dessert. Slicing the fruit, primarily strawberries, seemed simple enough. For the ramen, she followed a simple cookbook on one of the bookshelves in the room that was to be Naruto's office.
"What the hell is chicken broth?" She scanned the recipe looking at all the steps. According to her limited culinary knowledge, ramen consisted of noodles in a liquid with slices of meat. Thus, she decided to forgo looking into this 'chicken broth' in favor of using plain water. Noodles, being made of wheat, could easily be replaced with bread. Since she had yet to pick up groceries, the bits of dried beef in the pantry seemed like a solid choice.
The idea sounded good in her head, but the mess stewing in her pot looked far from appetizing. She shook her head and was preparing to toss it out the window when the front door opened.
"Saika?"
Naruto stepped into the kitchen, forcing a smile on a tired face. He gave her a quick hug before looking into the pot. His face scrunched in the confusion of the random mixture boiling on the stove. "What's for dinner?"
"Ramen," she declared before ushering him to the table. It was far too late to back away from her original plan. How bad could it be?
For his part, Naruto decided to grin and await his bowl in silence. She filled the most enormous bowl in the house to the brim with 'Ramen.' Then, using a pair of porcelain chopsticks from the drawer, she served it to him on a silver tray.
"Enjoy, my love. May this meal symbolize how I feel about you." She fixed herself a bowl and joined him at the table. Her eyes narrowed, awaiting him to take the first bite.
Naruto took a deep breath, summoning what energy remained in his stressed body, before gathering the 'noodles and dried beef. "I shall enjoy every bite." The mixture disappeared between his lips. A forced smile confirmed the awfulness of the dish.
Saika sampled some of the 'noodles' and nodded. "It should be noted that this is my first time cooking ramen."
"I figured as much." Naruto took another bite.
"How bad is it?"
"Well… it's the thought that counts." He smirked slightly. "If I did not know better, I think you're trying to tell me to leave you alone."
She laughed softly. "Okay. New dinner plan. You go to the store and grab something for us to eat. I'll dispose of the evidence of my failure."
"Deal."
An hour later, Saika joined her husband in the small courtyard at the front of the house with a bottle of wine. He brought back two containers of actual ramen and moved a small table outside so they could enjoy the final days of summer. They ate in silence, enjoying the presence of the other between exchanging quick glances. She did not need words to communicate with him. Every gesture, every look, every smile told her everything she needed to know about him.
"My lord, would you care for a story tonight," she broke the silence only after they had finished eating. "Or perhaps I can play a song for you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "My lord?"
Saika did not realize a smile had formed. "As the master of this house, you are a lord here. Since I live in the house, you are my lord."
He shook his head. "You don't need to call me that. We're partners, spouses, equals." The sentiment made her heart leap, but she was determined.
"Think of it like this." Saika dragged her cushion next to his. "As the mistress of this house, I am the lady here. Since you live in the house, I am your lady. Distinct and equal, we are our home's lord and lady." As his eyes studied her, she allowed her mask of formality to drop to show a genuine look of admiration. He took her hand and placed a delicate kiss on the top.
"If that is the case, I would prefer a story tonight…my lady."
Saika opened her arms to allow him to rest his head on her chest. "Very well. I am skilled at the telling of many tales. Tonight, let us do one in celebration of the bond between lovers. Rest, my lord, and listen to my words…."
Everyday troubles slipped away in the echoes of the past as twilight consumed Kobe.
Naruto
Blue eyes opened to the first rays of dawn peeking through the window.
Naruto's mind tried to recall what had happened the night before. He remembered eating dinner with Saika and relaxing in the courtyard as she told him a story. Then, everything else disappeared in a blur of soft kisses and gentle caresses. Somehow, he made it to their bed but forgot to slip out his clothes.
"Glad to see you slept well," Saika sat at a small vanity across from the bed. "Go take a bath while I fetch breakfast."
"What happened?" He groaned while struggling to his feet.
She gave him a sideways glance. "You got sleepy after my story, so I put you to bed."
"Thanks." Naruto rubbed his eyes before stumbling into the bathroom.
Thirty minutes later, dressed in a basic robe, Naruto entered the kitchen, where Saika had prepared a spread of chopped fruit and fresh pastries from the nearby bakery. She sat at the table with a cup of tea, waiting for him to prepare a plate.
"What is your schedule today," she nibbled on a cinnamon roll between sips of tea.
Naruto rubbed his head. "Don't know. Lord Asakura is still trying to decide what to do with Kiba. So everything is on hold until then. I'll probably train a bit today before spending time with you…if that's okay."
The last thing he wanted to be to anyone, especially her, was a pest.
"Hm." She finished her roll and poured a second cup of tea. "I have class later this morning but should be home this afternoon."
Naruto thought for a moment. "How about I take you out for dinner once you get back? Somewhere fancy and all that."
"My husband wishes to take me on a date?" A haughty smirk formed on her place face. "Are you aware of what that requires?"
"Food?"
Saika chuckled and shook her head. "First, you must present a lady with flowers. Next, you are to escort her to the restaurant and ensure a dining experience of the highest quality. Afterward, the gentleman must escort her home to receive a kiss."
Naruto blinked at her idea of a date. It sounded highly troublesome compared to just finding a place to eat. Then, as if able to read his mind, her expression slipped. The smile faded into a straight line, with narrowed eyes turning crimson.
Yup…this was Itachi's sister.
"I shall make this a night you'll remember for the rest of your life!"
Her calm joy returned in an instant. "Good answer."
General Eiji Ren
The Hall of Ministers, located on the second level of Castle Tate, remained silent pending the arrival of Lord Asakura.
At age sixty-six, General Eiji Ren wanted to retire. So he joined the Land of Fire's small army during the opening days of the Second Ninja War as a conscript. A single act of bravery landed him a spot at Kobe's military academy to become an officer. Through the years, he crawled to the top of the army's hierarchy to eventually be named 'Lord-General of the Army.' However, the title never felt right, and most honored his request to simply use his previous rank of 'general.'
Eiji watched the delegation from Konohagakure shuffle into the room led by Kakashi Hatake, Seventh Hokage. He knew a few of the faces from previous meetings with the shinobi, such as Jonin Commander Shikaku Nara and Tsume Inuzuka. The rest of them, members of Konoha's council, seemed unimportant to the actual decision-making. His eyes widened as the final three members entered the chambers.
Orochimaru. Tsunade Senju. Jiraiya. The legendary Sannin together again as a single team. It seemed that Kakashi hoped to use them to immediately the Daimyo. He glanced at the empty chair next to him, wishing his messenger had reached Naruto before the meeting began.
"General Ren," Orochimaru purred with a sickly smile. "My wife and I were wondering about you. How is your health?" The snake summoner brushed his fingers against the hand of Tsunade. "My pet does not mind checking up on you."
No amount of pain would drive him anywhere near the twisted clinics operated by Orochimaru or his wife. It pained him to think that the last of the mighty Senju had fallen so low as to become the lover of such a vile creature. Danzō's decision to grant amnesty to Orchimaru still angered him after all these years.
"My doctors tell me my health is acceptable for a man my age." Eiji glanced at the door once more. "Lord Jiraiya, do you mind sending one of your frogs to your student? I sent a messenger an hour ago, but he has yet to arrive."
"Toads," the Sage corrected with a smirk. "I summon toads. And don't worry about him. He is probably busy."
He felt foolish even asking.
Lord Asakura arrived with a small group of ministers at the hour's end. The man scanned the room and seemed to shrink at the unexpected presence of the Sannin. Then, he hurried to his spot at the head of the table.
"Good morning, everyone." He forced a polite smile. "I hope Kobe's hospitality treated you well last night. Did you enjoy the feast, Kakashi?"
The Seventh Hokage, currently buried deep within the latest release of the famed 'Make-Out' series, looked up. "Apologies. What was that?"
Lord Asakura muttered the question again before looking down. Eiji loved his lord dearly, but the lack of confidence weakened the nation in critical moments. He worried their enemies would use his kindness to gain an advantage on and off the battlefield.
"Let us begin," Lord Asakura took a deep breath.
"One moment, honorable Daimyo." Eiji bowed his head. "We are waiting on one more. I believed Lord Uzumaki should be present for this."
Kakashi closed his book and placed it on the table. "Join Uzumaki has not been summoned by our delegation. May we begin, Lord Asakura? We are all eager to put this mess behind us." The Hokage exchanged glances with Jiraiya.
Lord Asakura removed a scroll from his robes and unrolled it on the table. "We are here to discuss Kiba Inuzuka."
"Sorry!" Naruto Uzumaki stumbled through the doors of the chamber. "I just got the message about the meeting."
Eiji could not help but smile at the last-minute arrival of Naruto. Initially, the boy was irritated and represented everything he disliked about the shinobi. Recent events, however, forced him to reevaluate Naruto. There was much to like despite a brash personality.
"Join Uzumaki," Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "This is not a public meeting."
Naruto took a seat next to Eiji and smiled. "I am here by the grace of Lord Asakura." The boy had actually read the letter. He was impressed.
"This is very true," Lord Asakura confirmed. "He is a welcomed addition to this gathering.
With Naruto's presence, the Daimyo seemed more relaxed and confident. The boy had that effect on many people, including Eiji. He seemed so sure of himself that one felt inspired looking at him. No wonder why his grandsons practically worshipped the last Uzumaki.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Lord Asakura finally studied his scroll. "These past two days have tested the boundaries of the relationship between the Land of Fire and Konohagakure. Before I announce my final decision, I want to stress the pride we all feel about the Hidden Leaf Village. My great-grandfather fought alongside Hashirama Senju in the chaos of the Warring State Period. He shared the First Hokage's dream of a peaceful land united by a love of freedom."
"Regarding Kiba Inuzuka, I have spent the past day reading the reports gathered by Kobe's ministers. The death of anyone, shinobi or civilian, is a tragedy that demands justice. There are disagreements about who should deliver justice for the slain. Due to the nature of the treaties signed during the founding of the Hidden Leaf, the final decision rests on my shoulder."
"Kiba Inuzuka, having committed a crime within Kobe, will be tried in Kobe."
Eiji held his breath in anticipation of the outburst from Tsume Inuzuka, but nothing happened. His eyes darted between the calm Hokage, an annoyed Tsume, and a smirking Shikaku. This was not the enraged cries he expected from them. Instead, a cold chill ran down his spine at realizing they had expected this. His hand slid down to the pistol hidden in his jacket.
"Very well." Kakashi opened his book again. "Before we depart, I shall like to discuss the arrest of Saika Uchiha. Forgive me; I meant Lady Saika Uzumaki."
Lord Asakura blinked a few times in confusion as his mind tried to catch up to the reveal. "I see…"
Naruto remained wholly calm and began to move to the exit. However, the Three Sannin moved quicker to block his departure.
Saika
Saika looked out the drawing-room window at the trees showing the first hints of yellow. The weather forecasts predicted a quicker onset of colder temperatures as September ended with winter weather arriving much earlier. She did not mind the thought of early winter. However, spending a cold night by the fire with Naruto seemed almost too romantic.
Almost.
She decided to skip class that day to work on her projects after Naruto received a summons to the castle. A single day of a missed lecture would hardly hurt her near-perfect marks. Preparing poetry for the masters of the College of Composition took priority over the mathematical madness of Professor Tomo. She also needed extra time to prepare for her first date with Naruto.
Date.
A slight blush formed on her cheeks, followed by a giddy giggle. Of course, she needed to hide her excitement around him. It would be unbecoming of a lady to get so worked up over a dinner out.
Just as she started to compose the following line in a long poem about the fall of the Western Han, a knock at the front door destroyed her focus. Disgruntled, Saika marched to the front door with all the fury of a mistreated artist.
"Good morning." Her tone, flat and unwelcoming, told anyone to go away.
Sakura Haruno, Hinata Hyūga, and Shino Aburame stared blankly at her. "Lady Uzumaki. We need you to come with us."
Two chapters this quickly? Am I man or machine at this point?
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to do a little bit of fluff and show a bit more of Saika's alter-ego. Things involving Kiba (and now Saika) have crossed a point-of-no-return. I wonder how Naruto and Saika will get their happy ending. Beyond that, I hope you enjoyed seeing things from General Eiji Ren's perspective. I'm playing around with the idea of giving a glimpse into other characters (Kakashi, Lord Asakura, and Sakura) heads to show their thoughts on things. Let me know what you all think about that.
More importantly...I am planning some smaller scope stories than this one! I have a few ideas for pairings. Tell me which one (review or PM) you would be interested in seeing.
Naruto x Fem. Jiraiya (Romance/Fluff. An adult Naruto is forced to undertake a mission with his pervy mentor. Insults about a certain book series causes Naruto to attempt to woo the Self-Proclaimed Queen of Perverts. Jiraiya...learns the beauty of actual romance.)
Naruto x Fem. Kurama (Romance/Horror. Set in the time of Boruto. With a failing marriage and a village demanding too much from him, a mysterious woman appears in Naruto's dreams to offer him an escape. Unbeknownst to the world, the Nine-Tailed Fox is far much more than what she initially revealed).
Naruto x Sasuke (Romance/Fluff. Sasuke discovers Haku in the forest during the mission to the Land of the Wave. This causes a chain of events that leads to very feminine Sasuke staying in the village. After the war, he decides to enter the race to win Naruto's heart. Prepare for a Sasuke and Hinata cat fight).
Naruto x non-mother Kushina (Romance/Drama. Naruto, one of the few remaining Uzumaki, is selected to become the next container of the Nine-Tailed Fox instead of Kushina. Alone and isolated within this strange new village, he encounters another Uzumaki with a fiery temperament. A rivalry between him and Minato breaks out).
Naruto x Mito U. (Romance/Humor. Mito Uzumaki decides to seal herself within the Nine-Tailed fox to help Kushina. Things are going smoothly until she awakens too late and discovers a heart-broken Naruto. She decides that only an Uzumaki can love an Uzumaki...and at least Naruto is not a whimp like her last husband).