Rise, Son of Rome

Ch. 16- Amor castus permanens

(A love that endures)

oo0oo

Tayuya's eyes stayed trained on the masked assassin in front of her as she called behind her, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, the fool gave himself away early enough that I managed to escape unscathed." Naruto replied from his place at his guard's back. "Though I really find it rather insulting that Danzo thought I could be killed by just one of his little puppets."

"I am the best warrior Danzo-sama has ever trained; I will be more than enough for the likes of you." the masked assailant said in a cool tone. With that he jumped forward to engage Tayuya.

The ROOT member attempted to end the fight quickly by going for her throat, but the red-head was easily able to parry the attack with her gladius. She then countered with a left-hook, but the false ANBU was fast, and she missed him by a hair.

However, before the man could make his own attempt to counter he was forced to roll away, so as not to be hit by a palm-strike from Hinata. When he finally rolled to a stop the Konriu studied his opposition, and weighed his chances of success. Danzo-sama had briefed him and Sai on the prowess of the Hyuga heiress, seeing as she was a potential threat, and so the assassin knew that she was dangerous.

Unfortunately they had no data on the red-head; and heading into a fight blind is never a good idea. 'Damn it, where is Sai?'

As if to answer his prayers a second figure dropped from the ceiling and tackled Hinata to the ground. This caused Tayuya to look over in alarm, and gave Konriu his chance. The masked shinobi leaped forward, his blade poised to run his enemy through, but Tayuya saw him out of the corner of her eye and jumped backwards towards the window.

But this was what Konriu wanted.

The man moved like lightning, swinging his sword to the right, and aiming to separate Naruto's body into two halves...until said blonde stopped the sword with his bare hand.

Konriu's eyes widened a fraction beneath his porcelain mask. How had he been stopped; and why wasn't Sai helping him? Chancing a look behind, the ROOT member saw his partner still on the floor, the Hyuga girl buried underneath him...why wasn't he moving?

The answer came when Hinata pushed the young man's body off of her. There was a bloody splotch staining the abdominal area of Sai's uniform; but there looked to be no open wound.

'She must have ruptured his stomach with her Gentle-Fist once he tackled her. But, I don't understand, how is she still alive? Sai should have easily incapacitated her during that fall.' Konriu thought to himself.

Hinata seemed to read his mind, because as she rose from the blood-stained carpet she asnwered his question, "During my time under Tsunade-sama I learned that I had the sensory ability, and while not as well developed as some, mine was still more than enough to alert me to you and your partner's presence. I was ready for him."

"And yet you did not alert the blonde?" the assassin questioned.

"Because she was smart." Naruto exclaimed, drawing his attacker's attention. "She knew that I'd want one of you alive, and if she tried to alert me, one or both of you would have seen it and run off."

Konriu snorted indignantly, "Feh, like it matters. You really think you'll get me to talk?"

The mocking laughter to his left reminded the ROOT member that there was a second female in the room. Her laughter sent an unpleasant chill up is spine.

"Talk? What kind of information would we want from you? No, we just need you for a little...show and tell later." Tayuya explained. Then, before Konriu could react, Hinata hit a pressure point in his neck that knocked him unconscious.

With the failed assassination dealt with, Naruto addressed his two warrior women, "Good work you two; Hinata you were a little messy, but considering the circumstances it's okay. Now, let's clean up this fool covered in his own blood, and then we'll discuss what to do about our little friend here."

The gleam in the blonde Roman's eyes was unfamiliar to Hinata, but when she looked over to Tayuya, she noticed that the red-head looked at him with a shark-like grin.

oo0oo

While the real Naruto was dealing with an attempt on his life, a clone was making his way through the dark streets towards his destination. The Yamanaka home.

The clone had been tasked with finding Ino and bringing her back into the fold. Right now it stood inside the blonde woman's room, having come in through the window, and was waiting for her to walk through the door.

Looking over at the clock that hung up on the wall, the clone saw that he'd been waiting for about fifteen minutes. 'I suppose it's not so bad, considering I can hear them having dinner downstairs.' Thankfully, it was only another ten minutes before Naruto's clone heard the door rattle.

Cobalt eyes watched the wooden slab as it was pushed in, and the clone's ears took in Ino's voice as she thanked her mother for dinner. "Maybe next time you can try not to overcook it," she mumbled to herself. The pony-tailed blonde closed the door and turned...only to have her own blue eyes widen at what greeted her.

Naruto's clone chuckled and replied to her mumbling, "Well soon you won't have to worry about that Ino, because after tomorrow you'll be eating real food."

"M-Master...is it really you?"

"You seem surprised Ino. What, did you think I'd forgotten about you?"

Ino didn't know what to say. On one hand yes, she did think the Roman had forgotten her, but Ino also knew that to voice such a belief would show weakness. And weakness was something her Master had no need of. So she kept silent.

The clone could see the conflict in his follower's gaze, and it told him all he needed to know. Unfortunately, being a clone, he knew that he could not provide the comfort Ino needed. Sighing in resignation Naruto's clone spoke again. "I see. Apologies Ino but, I am only a clone of my creator, and am unfit to have this conversation with you. However, tomorrow afternoon you may speak with the Imperator if you wish."

Ino's eyes turned down to look at her carpet. 'He didn't even come to see me himself?' Looking up at what she now knew was a clone, the Yamanaka heiress asked, "Where can I meet him?"

"Before I give that information to you Ino I have to know...do you still desire to serve under the Imperator's banner?"

For Ino this was a surprise. He asked her? The blonde warrior was going to give her a choice? But...wasn't this what she'd wanted all three years; why she went through hours of grueling training? So, looking into her Master's eyes Ino answered, "Yes."

Naruto's clone nodded his understanding. "Very well, then you may speak with him at the caravan that will be posted about twenty miles east of here in the small village of Shien." With his job finished the clone made to dispel himself, but Ino had one more question.

"Wait. The reason he didn't come to see me himself...what was it?"

The clone could see the hurt in her eyes, "He had a meetings all day, it's likely that my creator was simply tired and wished to get some rest. He has a busy day tomorrow." and then he dispersed.

Ino stared at the space where her Master's clone had just been standing. While she'd gotten her answer...she still felt an emptiness inside.

oo0oo

"So it's settled then. Tayuya you'll take this swine over to one of the training grounds and get him ready for my little demonstration in the morning, then, after I've called out Danzo on his little scheme we'll drop the fools body from the window for all to see." Naruto explained to the two women in front of him.

While Tayuya looked ecstatic about her part in the plan, Hinata looked wary about the idea. The Hyuga heiress decided to voice her thoughts, "But Naruto-kun won't that just make Danzo-san angry, and give him cause to turn the village against you?"

"That's the idea Princess." Tayuya replied. "That mummified old fool will use it as tinder to fan the flames of the village's anger, but the Imperator has already sent out men from our camp to spread word of the Leaf's attempt on his life. So while it may look like he killed a shinobi of Konoha, the rest of the world will know better, and it'll only get worse after the Imperator lets them get a few shots in."

This last bit of new alarmed the Hyuga heiress and caused her to turn her pupil-less eyes towards her blonde love. The young Roman immediately took notice of her expression and explained. "Hinata I need to suffer some form of injury while inside the village to make the attack more believable. Then, from there, I can use Princess Yuki's newly created satellite to send a message to each of my provinces relaying the treachery of the Leaf."

"S-Satellite?" she asked in confusion.

The descendant of Cesar nodded, "That's right. Koyuki's village has come up with a way to send out images on a screen through a series of electromagnetic waves; it's new, but effective for broadcasting news quickly to a widespread population. I've supplied many of my provinces with them, and those that haven't gotten a hold of the technology yet will be informed through word of mouth."

Hearing how far the village of Spring had come technologically sent Hinata's mind whirling. Even the Hyuga clan didn't have such luxuries! Shaking her head to get herself back to the present, Hinata's eyes still held a look of discomfort as she eyed Naruto.

Seeing that it would take more to reassure the violet-haired woman of his safety Naruto sighed and turned to Tayuya. "I'd like you to get started now Tayuya, take the fool and have your fun. But don't go overboard; he needs to be recognizable to Danzo so that he knows how badly he failed."

Tayuya saluted her Imperator and hauled the unconscious ROOT member over her shoulder. With one last look at her blonde superior, the red-head vanished in a ripple of air.

Hinata saw this and sent a confused look in Naruto's direction. He saw this and replied to her unspoken question, "Tayuya's shunshin is done through sound waves instead of smoke. It's one of the things unique to her, something she picked up during her time as an Oto ninja."

"Oh...N-Naruto-kun, did you mean what you said before?"

The blonde in question looked to his companion and eyed her. He knew what she was talking about; it was probably there even as he was being attacked. After so many years apart, and leaving on such unfavorable terms, it's no wonder she'd be wary of his declaration.

"Do you believe I meant what I said Hinata?"

His reversal made the kunoichi look away, so that she wasn't staring directly into Naruto's endless blue eyes. She'd forgotten how powerful his gaze was. "I-I'd like to it's just...after what happened-"

"That's in the past now." he cut her off. "And I'd like for it to stay there; wouldn't you? Besides, look at yourself Hinata, you've become such a powerful kunoichi since that incident. I have faith that you can redeem yourself once you've been let loose on the battlefield."

At this the Roman leader stepped over towards the silent heiress. When he was within inches of her, Naruto cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her head. Blue met lavender as their gazes locked. Naruto watched as Hinata's porcelain skin flushed a rosy pink, and his eyes danced with mirth as she swallowed a gasp. "In the short time we spent together before I left, I never once showed you just how much you meant to me...how close I truly hold you to heart."

Hinata could feel her heart beat rapidly in her chest, how it beat against her rib cage in an effort to free itself from her body. She'd spent many nights dreaming of this moment, hearing her blonde love say such words, and as it played out before her Hinata knew...this was beyond any dream. This was real; and it was beautiful. "You were under pressure, I understood that. It was enough for me...to just be there by your side. Even now, you could have left it at forgiving me and it would have been enough, this...this is more than I deserve."

"No." Naruto shook his head. "It's not even close."

The armored blonde began to lower his head, the height difference making itself known as Hinata stood on her toes to meet him half-way. The Hyuga heiress let her eyes flutter shut, mirroring the actions of her love, and for a few brief seconds all there was in the world were her heartbeat and the heat of Naruto's breath across her skin. Finally the trance was broken, and their lips met.

Rough met smooth as the two drank in the others emotions. Three years of love, devotion, suffering and heartache passed between them as their lips melded together.

Hinata felt a tingle move up her spine and she gripped the leather armor of her lover to keep herself from falling to her knees. Her breathing halted, as if she'd forgotten how at the touch of Naruto's lips. It was too much, and soon she was forced to pull away. Taking in deep breaths through her nose Hinata looked up to see if Naruto had been as effected.

Smoldering eyes, overflowing with emotion greeted her.

Naruto's eyes, which had returned to their smooth, ocean-blue had now darkened into a deep, almost purple, navy-blue. But it wasn't just the color that made Hinata's breath catch in her throat; no, it was the emotions that swirled in their depths. Paramount among them was lust, and a desire unlike anything the Hyuga heiress had ever seen before.

Naruto's breath was coming in short, shallow bursts. His head was swimming from the carnal hunger that had exploded throughout his brain the minute he tasted the beautiful kunoichi's lips. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

He'd told Hinata the truth when he said that, during his time away, he'd taken multiple women to bed. But none had ever provoked such a strong reaction before. It only hardened his belief that Hinata was special. Looking down at the Hyuga heiress, Naruto could see the want and the love that seemed to be filling her pupil-less eyes to the brim. Unable to hold back any longer Naruto dove down and reclaimed her lips.

Hinata's gasp was choked down as her love took possession of her lips again. Only this time, he drew her up, his hands finding her hips and lifting her so that Hinata was forced to stretch so as to make up for the difference in height. Her legs burned from the over-extension but she forcefully ignored it, her mind choosing instead to focus on the pleasure that being so close to Naruto brought her.

She whimpered softly as his large hands gripped tightly against her hips, and she could feel her lips swell as the former Leaf shinobi took complete control of their kiss. He dominated her, pushing his tongue passed and into the cavern of her mouth, and from there he explored.

Naruto let his tongue graze over the roof of Hinata's mouth, and he felt how the young kunoichi shivered under his fingertips before he went searching for her tongue. She responded shyly to his probing and his tongue quickly overpowered her's, running circles around it before the blonde pulled back. Naruto only looked down at Hinata briefly before hoisting her up by the hips and carrying her over to the bed.

Hinata felt the silk sheets give way as she was set down among them, surrounding her in a sea of white. But her attention was quickly turned to the man that hovered above her; Naruto loomed over her, sitting upright on his knees. Even with her face flushed from their make-out session, Hinata could still feel the increased heat that came with her embarrassment. Why did he have to stare so intently?

Unable to hold his powerful gaze any longer the shy heiress looked away, bringing the fingers of one hand up to her lips, where she quickly captured a knuckle between her teeth. When her blonde love chuckled, she thought he was mocking her, and Hinata closed her eyes in shame. 'I kept saying I was different, and yet I can't even look at him.'

Any other thoughts were interrupted by Naruto's voice filling the air. "Hinata you have no idea how much it lifts my heart to see you so innocent. After so much time spent with hard-faced soldiers and enemies it's...refreshing."

His words caused Hinata's pale eyes to snap open as she turned to look up at blonde. "You mean you're not upset that I'm not like the...others?"

"No, in fact it makes me glad." Naruto's hand cradled Hinata's cheek, his thumb tracing small circles over the delicate skin. " The other women were nothing like you; they all wanted to be rough and active. But that's not my style. While I may be a hardened soldier out in the world, I prefer to be gentle when alone with those close to me. I let the other girls have their way, but, I always felt as if I wasn't able to give them enough attention. Hinata...will you let me love you?"

Hearing Naruto say those things, and having him ask what she wanted, made Hinata's heart swell with the love she'd fostered for her blonde warrior. With a demure smile the Hyuga heiress nodded, giving the okay for Naruto to do as he pleased. She'd never imagined Naruto would be so gentle.

Seeing her give the okay Naruto set to work immediately in displaying his affection. He leaned down and took her lips into a soft kiss, while bringing his hands up under her black t-shirt. His hands came into contact with the velvety smooth skin of her sides and he ghosted his thumbs in circles at the places where her hips started. By this time Naruto felt the need for air again and pulled away from Hinata's lips, only to dive down again, but this time with his target being her slender neck.

Naruto's lips captured a small patch of flesh between them, and from there the blonde let his teeth gently nibble down on the spot, periodically switching with his tongue which heatedly lashed against the Hyuga heiress' tender skin. He was spurred on by the gasps and whimpers that sounded from the squirming body underneath him.

Hinata had never felt like this before. It was as if her body were on fire. With just the span of a few minutes Naruto had turned her from a hardened warrior to a simpering bundle of nerves; nerves that were alive and charged by the pleasure of the blonde's actions. Then Hinata's ears picked up the sounds that were echoing throughout the hotel room. 'A-Are those...Is that me? How could I let myself make those kinds of sounds -gasp- but, i-it feels so good. Not even my dreams felt this good, -whimper- oh Naruto-ku—' "Oooh!"

The violet-haired woman's thoughts were brought to a screeching halt, and mixing with her cry of wanton pleasure was the sound of Naruto as he began to lay siege to the place Hinata's neck met her shoulder. He wrapped his lips around the ivory skin and began to suck, as if trying to bring forth all the pleasure held in that single space. And by the sounds of things, it was working.

Hinata began to trash wildly under this new attack. Her dreams consisted of the basic understanding she had of a sexual experience, never something like this. The fare-skinned kunoichi was unprepared for such a move and the immense pleasure it wrought. Unfortunately, her lover didn't spend too much time on that spot, and all too soon Naruto pulled away to look into Hinata's eyes.

What he saw was a large boost to the jinchuuriki's ego. Hinata's eyes were lidded and hazy with pleasure while her face had gone from a rosy pink, to a fiery red. The Hyuga heiress' lips were still swollen from their last lip lock, and he could hear the deep breaths she was taking to recover from his latest assault. Smirking gently, Naruto leaned down to place a chaste kiss on Hinata's flushed forehead before whispering against the skin, "That was only the beginning, there's much more to come my love."

At that Naruto turned his attention to Hinata's form as a whole, finally taking in just how much she'd changed in the three years since he'd been gone. Gone was the heavy parka that she used to hide her upper-body, right now it was replaced by a thin, black t-shirt that was beginning to cling to her skin. This let the blonde Roman's eyes see the outline of her curves as well as the impressive swell of her breasts. Turning his eyes down, Naruto saw that her legs were dressed in deep-purple, skin-tight pants that ended just past her knees; giving him a perfect idea of what her milky-white thighs would look like without the pants there to hide them. On her feet were shinobi style sandals.

When Naruto began to slide down the bed Hinata began to panic, thinking that he had been displeased with what he saw, but before she could voice her concerns it soon became clear that, that wasn't the case. His warm hands gripped her waist, and then trailed down her legs as the armored blonde continued towards the foot of the bed; her thin pants doing nothing to shield her from the warmth that radiated from his palms.

Once he reached the edge of the bed Naruto stood up. After reassuring Hinata that it wasn't anything she'd done the blonde Roman set about removing his armor. He started with his boots, letting them quickly drop to the floor, before unfastening the clasp that held his pteruges in place around his waste. From there it was just a matter of undoing the clips that held his leather armor to his chest, and then slipping it over his head, before the mighty soldier was left in just his crimson tunic and his bracers. Looking down at Hinata, Naruto's lustful eyes scaled up and down her lithe form, trying to find where best to start. 'Well, you start at the bottom everywhere else, why not here too.'

Kneeling down at the edge Naruto hooked one hand underneath the calve of Hinata's left leg, before raising it up into the air. Hinata looked down her nose, and passed the edge of the bed to watch and see what her lovers next move was.

Naruto eyed the foot in front of him curiously. He'd never done something like this with any of the other women he was with; Tayuya always desired to ride on top of him, Fu was more into giving him oral pleasure before being rammed, Haruna was surprisingly too shy to try certain things, and Temari was strictly a missionary type of girl. This would be the first time he'd done this, but he remembered Jiraiya mentioning it while they searched for Tsunade.

'Something about how it only worked with certain girls, and that those kinds are hard to find. Guess we'll see.' he thought as he began to undoing the straps that held the sandal in place. Once those were out of the way Naruto slowly slid the piece of footwear off, and as her foot was bared, the blonde leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss over the top. He smirked when the smooth appendage twitched from the contact.

From there Naruto set about lavishing the Hyuga heiress' entire foot with kisses until he reached the tips of her toes. As he arrived there, the blonde tried another experiment. He slid the smallest one between his lips and sucked on it; like he had the spot on her neck. The sounds that reached his ears let him know he'd done something right.

Up at the head of the bed Hinata watched with unbelieving eyes as her lifelong love set about kissing her foot, and they widened even further as each one sent shocks of pleasure shooting up through her leg and into her abdomen. As the kisses continued Hinata felt a heat begin to pool inside of her stomach; her fingers gripped the silk sheets tightly as the fire grew in intensity. And then Naruto turned his attention to her toes.

The fire inside raged, and her fists clenched down until her knuckles felt ready to pop. Hinata had no idea she was so sensitive. She mewled in pleasure as the unusual act sent arcs of pleasurable electricity coursing through her body. The pleasure only increased as Naruto began to trace the squirming digits with his tongue, Hinata could feel the heat travel from her stomach to down between her legs, and from there she could feel her body reacting to the pleasurable feelings; her juices were beginning to stain through her pants.

Naruto's enhanced sense of smell easily caught the scent of the bluenette's arousal, and it spurred him on into continuing his exploration. Letting her left leg drop the blonde removed the other shoe and then began to slither back up the bed. Naruto nipped and licked at the smooth flesh of Hinata's calves, while his fingertips slowly traced the sides of her seemingly endless legs until finally he reached her knees. Looking up towards the head of the bed the former Leaf ninja smirked as he took in the sight of his flushed lover.

Hinata lay flat on her back, one hand over her eyes while the other gripped tightly to the bed. Behind her hand the young woman's pearl-like eyes were squeezed shut while she panted, desperate to control herself.

Looking back down at her body Naruto quickly noticed the darkened patch at the crotch of the Hyuga girl's pants, but decided that he'd save that spot for later. Instead, the blonde continued upwards, this time sliding Hinata's sweaty shirt along with him.

"Raise your arms." he commanded gently, and Hinata obeyed without question. She was beginning to feel trapped inside of her clothes, and welcomed any form of relief from the heat.

From there it was simply a matter of slipping the now useless article over her head. But as he brought it up near her wrists, the Roman leader had an idea. He tied the shirt around them, forming a knot with the sleeves, and wrapping the rest against the rails of the headboard. Hinata noticed right away and Naruto held back a laugh at her wide-eyed expression.

"I told you," he answered while looking down at her bra covered chest. "I want to show you just how much it means to me that you've truly stayed loyal to me for so long. So please, lay there and just enjoy."

oo0oo

Beyond the outskirts of the Leaf, traveling through the trees were the Ichiraku's. But they weren't alone. Traveling beside them were Konohamaru Sarutobi and a third of the ANBU forces that were loyal to Tsunade; the rest having stayed behind to guard their Hokage. The two civilians were carried on the backs of two shinobi.

They walked in a layered diamond formation, with the two civilians and Konohamaru kept in the center. Konohamaru walked a little ahead of the ramen chefs, his head bowed low so the night would conceal his pain-filled eyes. Hanabi had refused.

When he asked her to leave the youngest heiress to the Hyuga clan said no. Said that she couldn't take the risk of her father catching up to them; she didn't want to see the Sarutobi heir get hurt.

Her reasons helped balm the wound caused by her refusal but they did not heal it. She had been Konohamaru's only friend in the whole village...and now they were forcefully being torn apart. It pained the brunette greatly to hear Hanabi say no, but it got worse when he realized what that would mean. She would still be in the village during the attack.

After Otogakure fell the Imperator planned to pick away slowly at Konoha while dealing with the rest of the world. Hanabi would be forced to watch as the village crumbled around her until finally collapsing...it made the young teen's eyes well with tears. She was going to suffer, and all because of the Leaf's stubbornness.

Shaking his head to dispel those thoughts Konohamaru looked up, his eyes drawn to the full moon, and he let his imagination conjure the image the young heiress around the pearl of the night sky. 'No, I won't let that happen. I'll talk to big brother and plan a raid one the village. I will protect Hanabi from such torment.'

oo0oo

Naruto stared at the soaked panties that lay before him. He'd finished with Hinata's breasts, making sure to leave his mark several times over, and had now made his way down to her core. After removing her pants the smell that had permeated the air hit him full force...never had he experienced anything like it. With her underwear soaked Naruto could make out the outlines of Hinata's folds. He lifted his hand had pressed two fingers against the center; he was rewarded as Hinata's entire body jolted.

As he began to massage his fingers up and down her slit Naruto moved his body up so he could capture the heaving kunoichi's lips. With her moans muffled beneath the kiss, Hinata began to lose herself in the heat of the moment. Her entire world began to spin, her hooded gaze became hazy, and the shapes and forms of the room around her began to blur together into a sea of colors.

"Aaah!" Hinata's pupil-less orbs snapped shut as she threw her head back, effectively ending their kiss. Naruto had moved passed her panties, and now had his index-finger buried knuckle deep inside of her. She felt him as he reached her barrier, felt as he pulled back and then began to massage the walls surrounding it.

Wanting to be careful, Naruto only added one other finger, and from there he slowly scissored the two digits inside of his lover's core. Watching Hinata's flushed bosom heave, and listening to her as she gasped and cried in pleasure the blonde wasn't surprised when he felt his manhood stiffen beneath his crimson tunic.

"N-Naruto-kun...-gasp-, please..I-I can't take anymore."

Naruto turned his attention away from her breasts, and made eye contact with the woman beneath him. Her hair was disheveled, splaying around her like a violet curtain, and her eyes were brimming with wanton desire as she sucked in deep breaths between her swollen lips. She was beautiful. "Are you ready then?"

All she could manage was a nod.

The Roman warrior reached beneath his tunic and pulled away his own underwear, flipping the hem up over his fully hardened piece. Naruto slid Hinata's panties down her thighs, giving him a clear view of her virgin lips. With one look in the horny kunoichi's direction Naruto got all the conformation he needed. Slowly, almost agonizingly so, the blonde pushed passed Hinata's sopping core and entered her.

Once inside, Naruto was amazed at the heat that surrounded his shaft. It was like a volcano. Unlike anything he'd experienced with the other girls. But he didn't let that delay him for long, and soon began to pus forward again, until meeting with the same wall of flesh as before. While Tayuya and Temari had taken him without so much as a grunt, Haruna was much more shy, and the battle-hardened warrior felt Hinata fell into that same category.

Taking over her lips in a soulful kiss Naruto gently pushed his way forward, the hands that held her hips feeling as she tensed under the intrusion. He sat there for a moment, letting Hinata get used to the feeling of being full, before pulling back and doing it again. As he unhinged himself from her lips Naruto was met with the Hyuga girl's moans of pleasure.

They were the music that lulled him to sleep after they were finished.

oo0oo

The sun peeked over the horizon on the morning Naruto was set to put his plan into action. The rays shone through the window of the embassy building, and into the room the blonde leader was staying in.

Laying in bed, wrapped in the stained silk sheets, Naruto spooned against the Hinata's smooth back. Unfortunately from his position the light of the new day easily beat against his eyelids. With a groan the blonde cracked his eyes open; ocean-blue, instead of cobalt, met the day.

He looked down at the curtain of hair that framed the back of the women he lay with. Naruto leaned down and placed a chaste kiss atop the crown of her head, before lifting himself onto his hand, and then rolling off the bed. His feet hitting the floor seemed to have been louder than he thought, because almost immediately after, a faint groan echoed through the room.

"Naruto-kun, why did you leave?"

The blonde looked over at the lump of flesh and sheets, sighed and answered, "Today isn't the day to be laying around love; I have work to do."

Hinata rolled over so that she was facing him and asked, "What would you like for me to do?"

Naruto thought about it for a moment. His eyes hardened in focus as he considered the best option before he replied, "I want you to start heading towards Shien; it's where I'll be meeting up with all those who I've poached from Konoha."

"You want me to leave your side? But then who will protect you?" the former heiress questioned. Her blonde love's response was a chuckle, before he reminded her that he still had his guard with him, and that included Tayuya. "But still..."

"You have nothing to fear Hinata, I will set the plan into motion and return to you as quickly as I am able. But for now we must part ways again; I'd rather not risk you being captured during the escape."

Hinata let her eyes drop and stare at the side of the bed Naruto once occupied, her head nodded in resignation of his plan. The Roman warrior voiced that he would take a shower first, and that after he left she would immediately take leave of the village.

Once he was dressed and in good order Naruto eyed himself in the mirror as Hinata placed his laurel wreath headpiece around his blonde locks. "There," she whispered gently, "now it's perfect." After sharing one last kiss, Hinata watched the powerful man exit the room alongside Tayuya. Once she was alone the young woman sighed to herself before deciding it was time to go.

Giving one last look out the window and at the village below Hinata turned away and she too exited the room.

oo0oo

Naruto met up with his guard outside the village embassy. Each of his Centurion looked well rested and ready; just what he liked to see. Turning to Tayuya he asked, "Has our friend been prepared?"

"As instructed Imperator."

His face broke into a wolfish grin, ocean-blue eyes darkening to a cold cobalt. "Then we but await divinity of the moment." And with a stern nod he and his guard began to move towards the Hokage meeting hall.

The walk was filled with confused looks, though Naruto could make out a few angry ones too. It seems Danzo had gotten a head start on his little campaign against him. That was more than alright with the blonde though; it just meant everything would be over sooner.

Once they arrived Naruto and his guard were greeted by a pair of ANBU. When asked to leave his guard outside the Roman leader simply replied, "And since when does a foreign dignitary let himself get separated from his security while in the presence of strangers?"

The masked shinobi had nothing to say to that, as telling him it was ordered by Councilman Danzo would only tip the suspicion further against them. So, begrudgingly, they let him pass.

"Did that old fool really believe that his pathetic little attempt would work?" Tayuya questioned as they moved through the halls.

Naruto didn't look at her as he replied, "He must have other assassin's waiting in the halls, concealed in the shadows. My guess is those two he sent last night were supposed to report in; and when they didn't he panicked."

"So what do you think his next play will be, once the meeting starts?" the red-head whispered, making sure to keep their ANBU guide from hearing her.

"I suspect he'll attempt to play the homage card; saying I owe the village for housing me as a boy. And when that fails, I have little doubt the old war hawk will try to bully me with scare tactics. It's sad really. Danzo isn't anywhere near as smart as he'd like to think he is."

By this time they'd arrived at the doors to the meeting hall. Naruto motioned for his Centurion to stay put, and walked through the opening doors with Tayuya by his side.

As he entered the blonde's eyes immediately locked with Tsunade's. The two stared at one another for only a brief moment, but in that time, an entire discussion took place; one the female Hokage nodded in agreement to. From there Naruto's cobalt-blue eyes scanned the room, taking in the other prominent figures that surrounded him in a circle. Each of the clan leaders were present, and the three members of the Hokage's advisory council sat beneath her.

The seats were done in the customary circle, with the Hokage's seat at the head. But that place was raised high, and slightly towered over the other members of the governing body. Beneath this podium, and set obviously apart from the rest of the circle, were the seats of the Councilmen.

Naruto eyed the three of them with particular disgust.

"Well now, doesn't this just bring back memories." the robed blonde muttered to himself. "But this is no time for such things; we have work to do."

At his insistence to start the meeting Homura, one of the elders, replied. "Yes but, do you truly feel it necessary to have this woman here with you? What harm could possibly befall you in here?"

"The thing about that Councilman Homura is; I'd rather not find out. So, with all due respect, I'll have to insist that Tayuya stay." was Naruto's response. It got a rise out of Danzo.

"Can we really trust a woman who we know has been affiliated with Orochimaru; how do we know she has not poisoned your mind boy?"

Naruto let the 'boy' comment slide as he motioned to the red-haired woman beside him. "Tayuya has been nothing but faithful to me since the day I rescued her from death. Not once has she attempted to return to Orochimaru, nor convince me to join with him. She is one of my most trusted legionnaire."

Tsunade took this time to step in, "Very well, if you're sure, then we'll get right down to business. We of the Hidden Leaf wish to formally request an alliance with your organization known as The Eagle."

"If we're going to be talking alliances, I suppose it's only right that I inform you that we are in the process of dropping that alias and are about to begin flying under our true banner."

"And what would that be?" questioned Choza Akimichi

Naruto smirked. His grin made the hairs on every clan head's neck stand on edge as he spoke a single word. To many of them it held no meaning, their clans never having any connection to the mighty empire, but to others it stopped their hearts; the very breath catching in their throats.

"Rome."

oo0oo

Hinata hopped through the trees, careful of her sore body, and making sure her Byakugan stayed active to watch out for possible threats as she moved further and further away from Konoha. She hadn't been running for long, ten minutes at the most, but her mind couldn't stop worrying about the blonde Roman and the possibility of his plan failing.

'What if his guard isn't enough to protect him, or Tayuya is incapacitated while they try to escape? Naruto-kun may be powerful but I doubt even he could take on the entire village alone.' Hinata stopped along the next branch she touched down on. She debated turning around and going back, being there in case her love needed her.

But that would be direct defiance. Something Naruto, no matter how much he cared for her, would be able to tolerate in front of his soldiers. He was the leader, the Emperor, and to go against a clear command would be unforgivable. With that in mind, Hinata let out a sad sigh and turned her back to the village again; this time she didn't look back.

It would be another thirty minutes before she made it to the town of Shien, and once she arrived, it swiftly became apparent that this was a place that had been shown the gracious hand of Naruto's empire. While still a part of Leaf territory, Shien would more than likely be quick to cut ties once the blonde's plan was put into action. Hinata could see poles set up a few yards from each other, all carrying wires throughout the town; something Shien didn't have before.

The town had been just as it's position said; and outpost. A place for ninja who were performing boarder patrol to stop and rest from time to time. It had small shops and an inn, all family owned, and was a relatively small place compared to many of the other places in Fire Country. But now, now Shien was beginning to look like a place where people would want to visit.

Besides the electricity, Shien's streets had been paved over. No longer were they dirt roads, now they were made from segmented concrete. And Hinata could see on the corners that there were drainage junctures for the rain water to flow into. The buildings weren't anything special yet but Hinata saw the looks on the residence faces and it lifted her spirits. These people were happy.

Naruto's dream was coming true.

Then a rough, unwelcome voice passed through her ears. "Hinata-san...what are you doing here?"

The former Leaf kunoichi turned, lavender meeting onyx-black, and replied. "The question is, what are you doing here...Sasuke Uchiha."

oo0oo

A/N: And there's the next chapter. It was my first time doing a lemon; why do they call it that anyway? So I don't know how well I did, but I had thought about placing it in the chapter that came before, and then I thought 'nah, that's too easy'.

Anyway, not much I can think of to say about this one sooo review and PM me if you have anything to say.