Chapter 9
Hidden behind a smile
-Month later-
"Naruto.. I don't see you as much." Hinata tapped her index fingers together and her voice was growing weak. "You are on a mission or here doing paper work with Yumiko." she felt hurt, it was never like he wasn't there when she needed him. He was always so caring for people that it hurt the people that he already loved. "You should just date Yumiko."
Naruto was buried in paperwork. He has sent Yumiko on a retrieval mission of an Artifact with Sakura and Rocklee, to the Land of Earth. "I'm way too busy at this moment, Hinata" honestly he wasn't even listening to her, he was reading a scroll of what the people of the Hidden of the leave's needed. "I really do need Yumiko." He looked up to see that Hinata was in tears. "What's wrong?"
She leaned over the desk to slap Naruto across the face. " YOU!" she bit her lip "It's over!" Naruto was confused as hell. "Were we dating?" His mouth dropped " I thought we were just seeing each other as friends. We Haven't kissed in like two years!" he blushed " I dropped hints that I wanted to be on the next step in this relationship. It just seemed you didn't want that."
Hinata shook her head "I really don't know why, I Loved you! If you need me on a mission just have Kakashi assign me them" she left the office upset. Naruto was so confused, he looked down to see that he still had so much work.
"Kiba, I want you to be on your best behavior, and try no to over act." Ayame opened the door to the living room which had some building blocks on the floor. She called out "Lady Tsunade?" she heard her hush in her room. The pair walked to the room "He's down for a nap.'' Then the two walked past the room and into another room with a toddler crib.
Kiba was surprised, "Is he yours? Who's the father? Is he here in Konoha? How old is the kid?" He waited for his girlfriend to reply. Ayame was kinda irritated but it was to be expected. "He is my adopted son. He's about two. This is the reason why I've been trying to get a lot of missions. I want to give him a better life, with my own hands." She closed the door slightly and led Kiba to the kitchen. "I wanted you to meet him. Before we got more serious. He is the only kid I will ever have." She poured him a cup of hot tea in a cup. "Before Ichiru turned one, I had a hysterectomy" she passed the cup to him. "Being with him made me realize that I want to be there for him. He is the only kid I want."
"That is a surprise" he slipped his tea. " I always wondered why you were too mature for a 16 year old. You are showing off a little too much, here I am an 18 year old. I haven't done that much with my life. I envy you." he gave her a cheeky smile. "I would like to get more serious with you." He chucked.
Sasuke had sat in his living room, eating a tomato with some salt on it. His head was everywhere, as well as the paper on his nightstand. He had received it from Yumiko. While he was talking to lady Tsunade.
-Flash back, a week ago-
"I don't understand why you keep showing up to see Hatsumi, and have her train with you. " Hiashi sipped his tea. "I understand she is your partner, but there is a limit." He placed his cup down "she just turned seventeen. In several months she will be married. It's just going to look bad on her marriage." Sasuke tried not to look stunned. "She is a Kunoichi before anything else. Her skills need to be sharp. Our synchronized attacks need to be the best." He had been waiting for Hatsumi until her father pulled him into his office. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend? Or suiter"
"She doesn't. Her duty is to our family. Unlike Uchiha's; we of the Hyuga Family marry to keep the byakugan going, in an arranged marriage." He looked at a picture of his daughters. "She will be marrying Ko."
-End of Flashback-
Knock knock
Sasuke stood up and went to his door to see Hatsumi at the door. "Morning!" She smiled and stood on her tippy toes to kiss him. He kissed her back then moved away from the door "morning" She entered his apartment, "What's on the agenda today"
"We are supposed to meet Ayame at the Lady Tsunade house." He walked past her and into his room to place the paper in his ninja pouch. He quickly walked out. "We should be going" the both walked out.
-At lady Tsunade-
Ayame had answered the door "Welcome" and she let Hatsumi and Sasuke pass though. "Hi hi hi, Kiba" Hatsumi greeted Kiba, he waved to the people that had entered. "I'm Surprised to see you here Kiba."
Kiba just smiled, "I came to see my girlfriend." He caught Ayame blushing at that word. " What brings the two of you here?"
"I'm here to talk to lady Tsunade.'' Sasuke quickly answered. Hatsumi looked back at Sasuke with a questionable look, "I thought we were supposed to meet Ayame."
Ayame laughed awkwardly "you are" as she walked to Lady Tsunade's room. "Sasuke is here" the two women came back.
"Do you have the paper?" Tsunade looked at Sasuke. She watched as he pulled it out of his pouch. "Ayame, could you give them a pen?" Ayame had given Hatsumi the pen. "What's this'' Hatsumi looked at the paper in great detail in Sasuke's hands "Marriage License and Certificate?!"
Kiba had noticed that it was only him and Hatsumi that were shocked. "Like for real?" Then it hit him that Sasuke and Hatsumi were actually a couple. "Yes, girl" Ayame had to work in calming down the bride to be. "Hatsumi, this is your chance to actually marry someone you love." She looked at Sasuke and smiled "He truly does love you, he wants you to be his wife. Not someone else."
Hatsumi looked at Sasuke who had a small blush on him, all he could do was nod. He then fought back the blush. "I get it now. Since Lady Tsunade is Hokage, she can officiate a marriage. Kiba and Ayame will be our witnesses." Without hesitation she signed her name, and below it she printed her name. She handed the paper and pen to Sasuke who did the same.
The piece of paper was signed by everyone especially, lady Tsunade. "With that Sasuke and Hatsumi, you guys are officially married. I will be going to drop this off in records." She put on her heels and left the apartment. "Well congratulations'' Kiba hugged Hatsumi, and shook Sasuke's hand. "I'm surprised you didn't ask Naruto to be a witness." The room was silent. "He doesn't know, does he?" Kiba just hoped he could just forget this, since Naruto would kill the two men.
Ayame looked at Sasuke, then back at Kiba. "Naruto just has a big mouth. Sasuke was trying to keep it a secret."
"Kiba I promise you, I will be telling him." Sasuke reassured Kiba.
Ayame grabbed Kiba's arm "Thanks again for watching Ichiru, Sasuke." She pulled Kiba out of the apartment, before she closed the door she called out to the pair "Don't consummate the marriage here." She could tell that word of advice made the couple blush frantically.
"Rock lee you seem like a very loving man, any woman would love to have you." Yumiko had seen how loving he was to Sakura. He was also a true gentleman with all the women he crossed paths with.
"How about taking him then? Instead of taking someone else's boyfriend." Sakura muttered. She had been listening to this conversation for an hour now. As she carried the jewel artifact back to Konoha. She received a look from Rock Lee. "Just ignore it." she tried to force a smile on. "Bright side we have an hour before we reach home."
"If you say so Sakura" he pumped his spirits back up. "How about, when we return to the village I take you both out to eat?" He would love an opportunity to go on a date with Sakura. This was his chance. He had also asked Yumiko out as a friendship base date.
"I'm sorry but, I need to make sure Naruto WAS able to keep his paperwork under control." Yumiko declined his offer. She already knew the answer, that Naruto in fact did not keep up with the work. She had to return to pick up the pieces and put him back together with less stress.
"That's what I mean. Naruto is Hinata's. You recently became a ninja. Your family didn't want to give you the time of day, and overlooked you. I'm guessing you found Naruto to be a god." Sakura passed the artifact to Rock Lee. "Hinata can help him, AND while doing so she can conquer his heart."
Yumiko smiled, "To look after Naruto is my job, as his secretary." She giggled a little "He is my partner, but I never claimed him as mine. I do understand that Hinata likes him, but does she understand that he wants to make sure he becomes a great Hokage." She shrugged off the conversation. "I'm a reasonable person, I know where my duty lies."
"Well" Sakura was taken back at her answer. "Of course she knows." She bit her lip "I'm just saying you and that Hatsumi are both home wreckers. Hinata and I have been working on these men for years~. Just stay out of our way."
Yumiko laughed, this station was hilarious. Here Sakura stood, claiming a man that isn't hers, and he was thinking about marriage. She was there with Tsunade the day he asked her for information on marriage. "I think you're the one jumping the boat. I know what I am to Naruto, as well as Hatsumi to Sasuke. Have you ever thought about anger management? I'm actually in a relaxing class, where they show you to be calm and collected"
-At the Hokage's building-
Rock lee placed the jewel on the table. "The Mission went smoothly!" Yumiko placed down a scroll, "Here is the mission summary in detail to help you out." He sniffed happily. "Thank you... Could you possibly help me with the other work?" His happiness fell apart as he opened a desk draw with all the paperwork stuff in it. "PLEASE, HELP ME~!"
"NARUTO!" Sakura punched Naruto in the head. "This is your job not hers. Why don't you ask Hinata for help?" He sobbed quietly.
"It's fine, Naruto. I am your secretary. No need to ask for help" she giggled. "I am your Shizune. You are my Tsunade " Sakura look pissed off, "I'm very sure that they might be lesbian lovers" she chuckled awkwardly as she tried to forget her comment.
"What if we were" A very pissed womanly tone was heard. "Is there anything wrong with it?" Rock Lee, and Yumiko turned around. Sakura was too scared to look her in the eyes. "Lee, go rest." Rock Lee bowed and left the room. "Naruto You're done for today, go hang out with Sasuke for all I care. Yumiko take this to Hatsumi please." She handed Yumiko two pieces of paper. Tsunade watched as Yumiko placed the paper in her pouch. "She is currently at my house." Naruto and Yumiko left together.
They were walking together, "What were the odds of that happening?" Naruto was beyond frightened. He tried to shake off the death glare Tsunade had given Sakura. "To be honest I am scared to be alone. Fear that I will be a punching bag to old granny Tsunade or Sakura." He received a warm and loving smile from her. "Can I ask you a question?"
Yumiko nodded, and Naruto took a breath. "Would you go out with me?" they both blushed right away "I mean to dinner? Not like a date-date. It's not like I couldn't ask you on a date- date. I would, but I don't think you like me. I mean Like me, like me that way" He made the situation awkward. "Maybe some other time. I wouldn't mind a date-date." she giggled as they both were overloaded with blushing. "Anyways, if you.. umm...care to join me, to deliver the papers Lady Tsunade gave me, to Hatsumi."
He nodded, and the two walked to Lady Tsunade's in a giddy mood.
-At Tsunade's house-
"So we brought some food for lunch." Ayame said as Kiba and her, had placed down the bags of food on the kitchen counter. Ayame started to take the food out of boxes and place them in bigger containers. Sushi was placed on a big flat dish.
"That's a lot of food." Hatsumi was amazed "I don't think we could eat all of this" she laughed "not even if Ichiru wakes up from his nap. He couldn't help us eat all this."
"I could eat" Kiba had given Ayame a look as if he could eat her up. "But don't worry we have some guests coming over." Kiba looked at Sasuke giving him a smug cheeky smile.
Sasuke looked at Kiba and it was like he could read his mind. "The more the merrier" he had to tell Naruto now.
Knock knock
Hatsumi had opened the door to see Yumiko and Naruto. "Come on in! This is a surprise. I thought you were on a mission.. Naruto, I thought you had a lot of paperwork to do?"
Naruto walked past her and said " she came back today. Well Tsunade gave me the rest of the day off due to Sakura." That comment left Hatsumi confused.
Yumiko whispered "I'll tell you guys later" then she hugged Hatsumi. "I actually have been in the loop and sending messages to Ayame and when I was planning to return. Which you have already guessed are related to."
"You're here too." Naruto greeted Kiba as they fist bumped. "This is a strange group-" his eyes landed on the "FOOD". Naruto smiled "Can I have a bite to eat?" He gave Ayame the puppy eyes, as his stomach made a rumbling sound. "Sure. Just leave some for the rest of us." He thanked her as he hugged her. "Like I was saying this is an odd group."
Yumiko looked at everyone, she was pleading for someone to tell Naruto the reason. "Naruto If you want I can serve you. Just sit at the dining room table." As Yumiko instructed, he sat down. Sasuke had sat in front of him "Here's the deal, Naruto." He tried his best to be friendly. "I don't want you to be overly dramatic about this." Hatsumi sat down next to Sasuke "Or, to blab to the whole world. Okay" Naruto nodded, as his eyes were pierced on Sasuke. "Hatsumi and I, just finished signing the marriage license and certificate"
Naruto Jaw dropped "EXCUSE ME?!" He was dealing with a lot of emotions "What?!" He had a hard time processing this. "This is a joke" Yumiko had placed a big plate in front of Naruto. Just like that, his mind was on the food in front of him. "Let me eat first and we will talk about this later"
"Mommy it's loud." Ichiru had shuffled his feet into the living room. His eyes were on Naruto and his food. "I want food too." Kiba had fixed a small plate for him, while Ayame sat Ichiru in his high chair.
