Here we are with another chapter. I don't know how much time I spent on reviewing and changing parts of it, and somehow I don't feel totally satisfied with it, but I decided to post it anyway. The last part is explicitly sexual, and since I don't think I'm that good at it, I trued to at least keep it light and funny.
Once again, thank you so much to all those who reviewed, liked and followed my story.
The temple, rebuilt after Konoha destruction, was a little different from the one Asuka remembered. Like in the past, after crossing the Southern gate that signaled the entrance to the Hida neighborhood, the main temple building stood in its imposing size at the opposite side of the square. On the left was a three-story pagoda, on the right was a small fountain where worshippers could cleanse their hands and mouths, and at the center of the square was an incense brazier. Behind the main square were the library, the lecture hall and the living quarters of the priests, and after crossing the Northern gate, there began the buildings where the rest of the clan lived.
The temple premises, however, looked newer and less decorated than before. Golden roofs and white and red walls had been substituted with simple brown or black roof tiles and white wall painting. There were some golden decorations along the walls, but they were more delicate and muted than before. The statues that had survived the destruction of the village still remained, but were darker and rougher, as if they had burnt.
Asuka brushed her hand against the side of the lion statue under the gate. Its bright blue color and smooth surface indicated its recent manufacture. A few people were inside the premises, but the square looked overall empty. She approached the fountain, dipped the wooden ladle into the water and washed her left hand first, then her right hand, mumbling a mantra that her grandmother had taught her years before. She poured some water onto her palm and drank it, and finally she tilted the ladle so that the water it contained flowed along its handle and purified it.
Asuka crossed the square and reached the main building. She peeked inside, but it seemed empty. She could see some statues inside and a shrine, where sacred objects used to be kept in. She reached the small altar and tossed some coins into the container in front of it, then joined her hands, bowed her head and silently thanked the gods for letting her go back to Konoha.
It was not long before Asuka felt a presence beside her.
"Good morning."
The priest was a few years younger than her, even though his serious and composed behavior made him look older than he actually was. He was bald, his head was round and his was skin smooth, and he was wearing a white kimono robe and loose, purple trousers, its color indicating the man's status as head priest. Had aunt Ichiko died, too?
"I had warned you all that study would cause a major hair loss, Hiroichi." Asuka looked at the man and noticed his smirk. "It's good to see you haven't changed, Asuka-nee." She laughed softly. "Yeah, I know. Still the same idiot as when we were kids."
They hugged awkwardly, as they had never done that in the past, then Hiroichi motioned for Asuka to follow him.
The two entered a square tea-house and sat on the wooden floor. A kid, whose light-blue trousers indicated his status as novice, poured them tea, then bowed respectfully and briskly walked away.
"I'm glad you're back and seemingly fine," Hiroichi offered, taking a sip from his tea. In his mind, he still had a clear memory of the night when Sandaime-sama and Nara Shikaku had brought his cousin to the Hida complex. He remembered his mother's worried expression as he examined Asuka, who was painfully screaming as they tried to figure out what to do with the spirit inside her. However, they couldn't do anything as the jutsu Asuka had used on herself was unknown to them, and she had refused to reveal how it could be reversed. She had claimed it would have put Konoha in extreme danger if she had let Amanozako loose. At the mention of Amanozako's name, his mother had looked the Hokage in the eye and shaken his head slightly. Ichiko, head priestess of the Hida clan, sister-in-law of Sandaime Hokage, couldn't do anything for her own niece.
Hiroichi remembered the desperate look in his uncle's eyes as he looked at his daughter, wriggling on the bed. In the end, Ichiko had managed to slow down the rate at which Asuka's chakra was being drained, and succeeded in reining in Amanozako's chakra, even though it would only be a temporary solution. The Hokage then decided to have his daughter leave the village and ordered the members of the Hida clan that were there that night to treat everything that had happened as confidential. He didn't want Asuka to be considered a threat to the village, and he was convinced that she would come back, eventually.
"I've been through some shit, but so have you here," she replied. Hiroichi nodded. Asuka chewed the inner side of her cheek, unsure whether to ask about the rest of the clan, fearing her cousin's reply. The man, though, anticipated her question.
"Mother had an incurable disease. She died three years ago, and I succeeded her in the temple. Many of the elders had already died by then, or would die in the following years. The war has taken a big toll on all of us, but Konoha has managed to move on," he said. "The Hida clan might be smaller than ever, but we are tougher." Hiroichi took a sip of his tea and then smiled at Asuka. "The will of fire is still strong."
Asuka smiled warmly, and the two spent some time updating each other on their lives.
"So," Hiroichi said, after a while, "have you come here just to get back in touch with me? You were never a big fan of this neighborhood, if I remember correctly."
Of course. With all that had happened leading to her grandmother's suicide, Asuka generally avoided visiting her maternal relatives. In her eyes, they were the ones who had not been able to save the woman, and who cursed her name after what she had done. Asuka remembered her mother forcing her to go there and train in fuuinjutsu. The little girl would bear to stay with her mother's sister, Ichiko, and her son Hiroichi long enough for her daily lesson, then she would run home avoiding contact with the other clan members. Frankly, she wondered how the hell her aunt and cousin could still live there, as if they were unfazed by that negative aura.
As if Hiroichi knew what Asuka was thinking about, he spoke. "I have very few memories of grandma. She passed away when I was four, after all. My mother… well, she did not feel like she had to move out of the neighborhood, as she did not feel any guilt or shame regarding her mother's actions. She's always been a placid, yet resolute woman."
Asuka lowered her eyes, taking some moments for herself to remember her aunt, a sweet feeling of nostalgia spreading in her chest. She then let out a sigh and looked at Hiroichi.
"Well, I've been away for quite a long time and have become a little rusty… I feel like I need to update my knowledge a bit," she confessed.
Hiroichi nodded briefly. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to focus on?" He could just accompany her to the library and have her stay there on her own, but he felt somehow compelled to help her. If she was back, that meant she was fine. Hiroichi could sense Amanozako's chakra inside his cousin, but its flow was calm and steady, alongside Asuka's own chakra.
"Yeah, I'd like to learn about ways to counteract genjutsu with fuuinjutsu. A little bird told me you've become expert at it." Hiroichi smirked.
Earlier that morning
"You're here too, Asuka-nee?"
Naruto's booming voice and bright smile welcomed the woman into the Hokage's office. She felt warmth spreading in her chest upon hearing the suffix he had used to call her, and her lips automatically parted in a big smile.
"Good morning, Naruto. Sakura, Rokudaime-sama," she greeted, bowing her head at the other people in the room. Sakura bowed back at her, her cheeks slightly red, while Kakashi kept his aloof air replying to her greeting, yet he fixated on her a little longer than what would be called 'appropriate'. His eyes took in every inch of her appearance, and Asuka knew the reason. Before heading to the Hokage office, she had gone to the Shinobi registration office, where she had filled in all the documents to officially be reintegrated as Leaf ninja again. She had had her picture taken, her fingerprints registered, and in the end, she had been given her own flak jacket and standard jounin uniform. The jacket was simpler than she remembered, gray and thinner, yet it felt sturdier, and somewhat similar to what she used to wear in ANBU. Under it, she was wearing a heavy, high-neck, black undershirt, with the Uzumaki clan symbol stitched on the left arm. Instead of the standard baggy blue pants, she had opted for tight black leggings. At her feet, her usual combat boots. She had never worn the standard sandals of their uniforms, mainly because it was still November, and she hated when her feet got cold. And that happened a lot. Her forehead protector, tied around her head, was somehow concealed by her bangs. Asuka had tried to style it differently, but in the end she had given up, deciding she would let her hair grow and then part it on the side. It would take some time, though.
Over all, she looked a lot like the kunoichi from fourteen years before. She knew Kakashi had been thrown back to that time upon seeing her. He smiled lightly, diverting his eyes, before he spoke.
"So, now that everyone's here, let me explain why I called you. It's bittersweet news, but extremely important." He sighed, looking out of the window, seemingly trying to search for the right words. "Aah, let's just get to the point. Sasuke's being released from jail next Monday."
Both Naruto and Sakura gasped, their eyes wide open. "WHAAT?" They exclaimed, incredulous. The blonde boy started screaming excitedly, bouncing up and down around the office, no doubt happy for his friend. Sakura began stuttering, her cheeks turning a bright red. Asuka eyed them quietly, feeling a little out of place.
"So, it's going to be all right, then? Us working as Team Seven again?" The look on Kakashi's face betrayed a little guilt. He closed his eyes and sighed again.
"Far from it." He took a document he had on top of one of the piles of paper on his desk and handed it to Sakura, who quickly skimmed through it before passing it to Naruto. The boy started reading it, but his face got darker and darker. Asuka wondered if that was due to the content of the document, or to a problem with his reading abilities. Knowing his student, Kakashi anticipated possible requests for explanation. "Basically, a little less than four months from now, there will be a trial against Sasuke. It will be held here in Konoha by the leaders of the Shinobi alliance. Its aim is to either sentence him for his crimes or acquit him." Naruto gasped, but before he could say anything, Kakashi continued his speech. "Needless to say, I'm on his side. And I think that Gaara, too, thinks the same. However, even you know that very well. In the shinobi world, even here in Konoha, there are many people who still haven't forgiven Sasuke for what he's done."
Naruto stomped his foot on the ground with an exasperated growl. "What he's done? What he's done?! Without him, we wouldn't even be here! Those people would have never gone out of that genjutsu! There wouldn't even be a shinobi world anymore! And as soon as the war was over, he has been put to jail!"
Sakura nodded vehemently. "Naruto is right, Kakashi-sensei!" She realized she had raised her voice inappropriately, and recomposed herself, bringing a strand of hair behind her ear. She was not like Naruto, speaking only through his feelings. She was rational. She could try to be, when Sasuke was involved. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "But, Kakashi-sensei, what Naruto said is not wrong. I understand Sasuke has not been a model shinobi, but he was decisive in the outcome of the war. Also, I'm currently worried about his condition. As much as Shizune is working, chakra-binding seals always take a huge toll on health. I'm worried he'll just keep on getting weaker…" After leading the initial treatment to his amputated arm, the pink-haired kunoichi had not been allowed to check on Sasuke's condition anymore. Apparently, that had been the Council's decision, and Tsunade, who was still Hokage at that time, had had no power to oppose to such decision. Shizune was the medic appointed, but she could not inform Sakura about the boy, as it was to be considered as confidential information. However, each time she exited the prison, she had a grim expression on her face, as if she was worried. Sakura had often voiced her worries to the Hokage, but she had not mentioned anything to Naruto, the last thing she wanted being to make her comrade upset and worried.
Kakashi sighed. "Listen, I know how you feel, but you cannot deny that he is… well, was, a missing nin. He was Orochimaru's right hand. He worked alongside Akatsuki and almost killed B. He showed up at the Kage summit, killed Danzo and menaced the other Kage," he said, listing all of Sasuke's counts of indictment. "To be honest, he would have already been put to death, without the mitigating circumstance of his help dispelling the infinite tsukiyomi."
Asuka's eyebrows raised. That Sasuke had to be a shinobi with enormous power, to be able to almost kill B-san. Still, she didn't have a clue as to why she had been called there. She looked out the window, avoiding to directly point her eyes to the young ninja in the room. She didn't want to be perceived as intruding.
"But he had his reasons, sensei, you know that! Sasuke's not ev-" Naruto's words were cut off by the Hokage, raising his hand in front of him.
"However," Kakashi resumed, "I want us to be fully prepared when the trial comes. I've already spoken with the Council, and they will not oppose to such decision." Sakura's eyebrow raised. She wondered just how Kakashi had succeeded in convincing the old geezers of the Council. "That's why I'm having Sasuke released. We need to prove that he's changed, that he's willing to atone for his sins, and more importantly, that the shinobi world will be better with him alive than either dead or imprisoned. I have already spoken with him, and he agreed."
Naruto swallowed a big lump in his throat, his heart keeping up its pace. "What should we do, then?"
Kakashi looked at him. "The fact that you, the hero of the war, are on Sasuke's side, might have a big impact on the final decision. The other Kage will surely listen to your reasons. Nonetheless, everybody knows that you've always been partial towards him. My strategy is to have someone unbiased evaluate Sasuke, and give a honest report on his status." While saying those words, Kakashi pointed at Asuka.
"But, sensei, Asuka-nee does not even know Sasuke!" Naruto's remark was silenced with an elbow in his ribs by Sakura. "That's exactly why her report will be unbiased, idiot." Naruto's eyes suddenly flashed with understanding.
Kakashi nodded. "Yes. Not only has she never met with Sasuke, she wasn't here during the war, either. Therefore, her rational thinking is not affected by emotional memories of the war."
The woman nodded briefly. "Understood. What will I have to do, once he's out of prison?"
Kakashi shrugged. "Not much, really. He'll be weakened by his stay in prison, both physically and mentally. He will need to get used to the normal shinobi life in Konoha, since it's been a while since he had normality in his life. You will have to train him in chakra control and taijutsu until he gets back in shape. After that, I'll assign some minor missions to him, as he won't be allowed to wander too far from Konoha, and you'll be supervising him. A two-men cell, if you will. I expect a daily report from you. Naruto," he said, looking at the boy, "You'll join them from time to time, but your duty is more that of psychological support." (Lady Tsunade would kill me for sure this time if you two started fighting, he thought)"Sakura, you'll regularly check up on him, and inform me as soon as you think there's a problem. Of any kind."
The kunoichi nodded, then her eyes wandered to the left, and her cheeks turned red. "What… where is he going to stay? I mean, will he need to be monitored during the night, too? I don't know if he should go back to the Uchiha neighborhood, alone. Will Asuka-san have to stay by his side during night-time, too? Because, you know, I have a spare room in my house that he could use. I mean, if you agree, if he agrees, it's something that just came to my mind and…"
As Sakura rambled on, the color on her cheeks deepened more and more. Asuka looked at Kakashi, whose glinting eyes betrayed his amusement, and silently begged him to stop the girl's ramblings before she made a total fool of herself. It was not good to make fun of a girl's pure feelings.
"Sakura, I think Sasuke might want some time for himself at night. It's going to be tough for him. However, if you notice any signs that he might enjoy your company, feel free to invite him to your house, I really don't mind."
Sakura clapped her hands together, her face happy.
"Sakura, Naruto, you might take your leave now. I'll see you in the next days. Asuka, stay here for a while, I have some details to share with you."
The pinkette nodded and turned to leave, sparing only a glance to Naruto, sure he was following her. Instead, his eyebrows started wiggling like crazy, and he brought a hand on front of his mouth as he sniggered. "Sensei, you could just have told us you wanted to stay alone with your girlfriend so that you two could make out…" he then started chanting the k-i-s-s-i-n-g song with the two adults' names, his shoulders raising and lowering along with his laughter. Beside him, Sakura's cheeks were the color of her hair as she quickly looked at the two other ninja in the room.
Kakashi sighed loudly. Why was his student such an idiot? "Naruto…" he started, his tone menacingly low, but he was interrupted by Asuka.
"Well, you could stay as well and learn how it's done, uh, Mr. 'My-first-kiss-was-accidentally-with-a-boy-and-now-I-fear-I'll-never-kiss-anyone-again-and-die-alone'?" She teased, a knowing grin on her face, enjoying the sudden muteness of the boy and the redness spreading over his face. Two high-pitched sounds came from Kakashi and Sakura. The man tried to hide it by feigning a cough, while Sakura started giggling. Naruto pouted, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Asuka-nee, I told you that as a secret! You were not supposed to spill it in front of others!" he whined.
Sakura was laughing heartedly by then. "Geez, Naruto, you're such an idiot! You'll never find a girl if you keep on acting like a child!" The blonde ninja eyed his friend, frowning. "I don't think you're one to speak, Sakura… 'I want Sasuke to sleep at my house!'" He said, doing a very poor impression of the girl. The outraged gasp that exited Sakura's mouth and her twitching eyebrow had Naruto grow pale. He had probably crossed a line there, and now she would kill him. Why couldn't he just shut up, sometimes?
"Guys, please. As much as I'd like to see Sakura beat your ass, Naruto, I fear I don't have time for that. You're dismissed," Kakashi said, waving his hand towards the door. Once the two young shinobi had left, he leaned back onto his chair, sighing, closing his eyes.
"You were never good at taking a joke…" Kakashi's eyes opened and looked at Asuka, whose lips were scrunched in an attempt not to laugh at him. God, she really hadn't changed that much. Seeing her dressed like she used to all those years ago had been a pleasant surprise.
"Did you really make me stay behind just to make out?" She questioned, smiling, as Kakashi still had not spoken.
He wished he had. He closed his eyes again and sighed for the umpteenth time that morning. "Of course not. Here," he said, rummaging through the documents on his desk, then handing her a scroll.
The scroll contained information about Sasuke Uchiha. After general data about his age, family and background, there was a list of the missions he had accomplished when he was a genin in Konoha – apart from a C-rank mission, only D missions – and then his criminal record as missing nin, which basically listed the deeds Sasuke had illustrated earlier to Naruto, plus a single sentence written down hastily, 'Assassination of Itachi Uchiha'. There wasn't much more information inside the scroll on that matter, though.
Asuka vaguely remembered Itachi. When she was still in the village, rumors said he was a genius like Konoha had rarely seen before (probably Kakashi-level, she had heard), and that he was about to join the ANBU division, just before the whole Amanozako incident. Kakashi had told her that, years later, following Danzo's orders, the prodigy had murdered his whole family – except for Sasuke – to avoid a Uchiha coup d'état in the village. The truth had been covered as the act of a genius gone crazy, and Itachi had therefore taken on the role of missing nin while, in reality, he had acted for the well-being of Konoha.
Asuka clenched her teeth, remembering his story. So much darkness in the village. She didn't like to admit that, because he was a dear friend of her father, but she was glad Danzo had died. She had never liked him.
The last piece of information on the scroll regarded general statistics on the boy's strengths and weaknesses. Even though the 'weaknesses' field was blank. Asuka swallowed the lump in her throat.
'How you could train someone like him is beyond my understanding, Princess. He sounds super badass. You're going to make a fool of yourself, I already know that.'
Asuka hummed, because Amanozako was right. That guy seemed to have nothing to learn. Once he got used to chakra again and to fighting with only one arm, he would probably surpass her, both in strength and ability. Probably Kakashi knew that, too. But she was not there to train the boy; her main duty was to evaluate him. In that regard, there was another thing that was biting at her brain.
"From time to time, you will be joined by shinobi from other villages as well, to make sure that we're not handling Sasuke's case with kid gloves, nor that we are giving him a preferential treatment."
"Kakashi," Asuka said, putting the scroll in the pocket of her vest, ignoring the man's last remark, "I personally don't think I'm that unbiased." It was true that she didn't know Sasuke. But she knew that he was an important friend of Naruto's, and a dear student of Kakashi's. How could she not take their feelings into consideration?
"I know you wouldn't want to hurt Naruto, or me, but please don't let your feelings hinder your decision. It is a very challenging task, but I really think you're the most suited person to do the job. Not only because of your unrelatedness to Sasuke; most of all, for your love for the village." He paused briefly, stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the young kids playing shinobi on the Academy grounds, next to the Hokage building. "Also, I know that… if there is someone able to save Sasuke from the darkness he is in, apart from Naruto and Sakura, it is you."
Asuka brought some hair behind her ear and looked away, embarrassed. "You're really making it difficult to not want to make out, you know," she joked, to ease the mood, relaxing when she heard Kakashi chuckle.
"Speaking of the devil… Sakura seems very into this Sasuke," she commented, changing topic. "Poor thing has even offered to share her house… she must be really in love." Kakashi nodded. "Yeah. I just didn't feel like ruining her expectations by saying that Sasuke will be monitored by ANBU 24/7…" Asuka hummed. She had suspected something like that to happen, given the potential danger of the subject. "Oh, right," Kakashi then added. "I thought about assigning you to ANBU, too. But for this job, it is not necessary, since you'll basically be a supervisor. However, when all this is over, I'd like to reinstate you in the black ops division, alongside Team Mu. It has not changed much since you left, both in terms of formation and specialization." Asuka smiled brightly at the news, remembering her past team, before focusing back on the current matter of her supervising one of the most powerful ninja on Earth.
"From what I understood, Sasuke's behavior will be mostly cooperative; however, can you tell me anything about what I should be most careful of when dealing with him? Like, in the event he freaked out and decided that the missing-nin life was better? It's not like I'd enjoy being annihilated without even fight back." Or at least try to.
Kakashi shrugged. "Everything we know about his abilities is in the scroll I gave you. To be honest, he doesn't have many flaws. Being a Uchiha, Sasuke was naturally gifted with the Sharingan. However, he also acquired the power of the Rinnegan. It's the most powerful doujutsu," he explained, noticing the confused look on Asuka's face. "It allows him all sorts of space/time jutsu. If that weren't enough, he's expert at both taijutsu, ninjutsu and genjutsu. He can cast illusions with his eye only."
Asuka gulped. Against taijutsu and ninjutsu, with her abilities and Amanozako's powers, she could defend herself. That Rinnegan thing sounded very annoying. But what worried Asuka the most was… "If he decides to use genjutsu, I'm fucked," she stated, matter-of-factly. Kakashi smirked at Asuka's discomfort. "I figured you'd still suck at that. However, we still have some days before Monday. If you feel like training, I know a person who could help you with it."
"A little rusty, uh? More like almost completely."
Fuck. Hiroichi was right, teasing her. Before jumping into the whole genjutsu issue, Asuka had needed to review seals and techniques she had learned years before, yet never used since and thus completely forgotten. That afternoon had therefore been spent reviewing old and basic techniques.
"How long were been unable to use chakra?"
Asuka's eyes narrowed at her cousin. Was he still mocking her? "Totally unable, twelve years," she grumbled. How could it be possible to forget those many things? Twelve years were not that much time. She cursed under her breath. 'And we still haven't even mentioned genjutsu,' she thought, a little worried. She wanted to catch up to her old fuuinjutsu level as soon as possible and focus on new stuff. Otherwise, she would be screwed.
On his part, Hiroichi was impressed. Twelve years were a lot of time. And, in a few hours, she had been able to go through a lot. Asuka was truly the prodigy his mother used to describe. When he was a kid, Hiroichi looked up to his cousin. Many people from the Hida clan had never truly accepted the fact that his aunt had gotten married outside of the clan, but they had turned a blind eye as her husband was indeed the Hokage. However, many of them, especially among the elders, still couldn't accept the fact that Asuka, considered a genius at fuuinjutsu, was bound to the Sarutobi surname.
He noticed a few beads of sweat that were falling on her forehead while she was performing a sealing jutsu.
"Let's call it a day, Asuka-nee. You're getting tired," he said, ignoring the annoyed look from his cousin. He didn't want her to overexert herself, otherwise the next day it would only be worse. "Don't give me that look. I won't let you go home empty-handed," he added, smirking, turning to the shelves of books and scrolls that lined the library walls. He took a couple of scrolls and some books and turned to the woman. "Here," he said, smirking at the shocked look on her face. "Recognized them, uh?" She looked at him as if she had been sentenced to death penalty. "I hated those books," she complained. "So boring," she added, mumbling under her breath. Hiroichi's head tilted to the side as a complacent smirk spread on his face. "I bet you'll rediscover them, now that you're wiser." Asuka's eyes narrowed. Did he mean 'older'?
"I want you to read at least two of them by tomorrow afternoon. When you're done, come back here. We'll start from where we left off today." Ignoring Asuka's gasp, he briefly waved at her, turned away and went back to his duties at the temple.
Asuka was left there, a pile of books in her arms and the strange sensation to have reverted to a wannabe ninja, mocked by her teacher. "Fuck."
"No swearing, Asuka-nee. We're in a temple, after all." Hiroichi's amused voice sounded very clear to her ears, even though he was almost out of the library.
Gosh, how she hated her cousin.
As she was exiting the temple, Asuka noticed a woman walking towards her. Or, more like, stomping. She squinted her eyes to focus on the woman's face and froze. Her heart started beating like crazy, but she couldn't move.
The woman was beautiful. Her long, straight, black hair waved right and left with each step she took. Her deep blue eyes stood out greatly against her pale skin; her cheeks were flustered, and she was huffing. She brought her right arm high above her head and focused her weight on her left leg, as if she was about to spring.
Asuka knew that stance. The hammer punch, theyhad named it. She could dodge, if she wanted. A swift motion to the left would do the trick. But Asuka didn't move.
Midori had always known how to pack a punch. You wouldn't tell, given how long and thin her limbs were, but she had a lot of strength and was good at taijutsu. Her specialty, though, was swordsmanship. Asuka liked to tease her, saying she should go beyond the border and become a samurai. The other girl always gently replied that Asuka could fuck off, but she would always add that her future husband had to be even better than her, and that they would open a dojo for kids who wanted to learn the way of the sword. Sometimes Gyon would take his nose out of the book he was currently reading just to remark that, in his opinion, husband and wife should never work together, as they wouldn't have anything to say to each other at night. Rolling their eyes upwards, the two girls would call him a 'boring old man' and then they would all laugh together.
Still, Midori knew how to pack a punch. Her fist collided with Asuka's face in all its power. She felt her cheekbone creak, and a sharp pain spread through her face. Oh, the bruise it would leave.
The woman was gawking at Asuka. "Why didn't you dodge?" She asked. The brunette shrugged, looking down at the pile of books still in her arms. "Well… guess I kinda deserved it." She raised her eyes and noticed the frown on Midori's face. "Yeah, you did," she replied, grumpily.
Not a second later, Midori threw her arms around Asuka's neck and pulled her into a tight hug. Asuka sighed and leaned into the other's body, her head resting on her friend's breast. She smelled of mint, like so many ears before. The brunette's mind rapidly elaborated a stupid joke to crack, not to start crying in her friend's arms. That would be so lame. "You might have grown a lot taller than me, but your rack is still the same as when I left… non-existent." The other woman laughed, tightening her grip around Asuka. Her cheekbone felt the added pressure, though, and Asuka whined. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Midori exclaimed, detaching herself from the other woman and placing her hand on Asuka's cheek, where her punch had landed. A blue chakra enveloped her face, and Asuka felt a peaceful, soothing sensation spreading from her cheekbone, to her mouth and eyes.
"Never knew you could perform medical jutsu."
The black-haired woman looked gravely at her former best friend. "The things you learn, in fourteen years," she spit out, in her typical passive-aggressive manner. Asuka looked down at her books and bit her lower lip, and Midori sighed. "Have you become a total crybaby while you were away? I was joking, you idiot."
'Princess, I think I like this one.' Asuka internally sighed. 'Shut up, Amanozako.'
Midori rolled her eyes upwards, before offering an explanation. "I had gotten tired of bringing my students to the hospital, so I learnt first-aid medical jutsu myself. It's more practical." That was not entirely true. Godaime had forced her to do so, shortly after becoming the new Hokage. She was getting tired of all the complaints from the kids' parents that had to accompany their children to a medic every other day. Phew, stupid parents and their wimpy kids. They got worse with each passing year. When she was a child, had she only dared to go home complaining about a bruise she had gotten at the Academy, her mother would have just given her another one to complain about.
"I missed you." Asuka's smile was warm as it had always been, but her eyes carried poorly concealed sadness. Midori didn't know what happened during those years apart, but they surely hadn't been easy for Asuka. She sighed deeply, ending the treatment to the woman's face. "I hope you did. I've been so angry, you know? Disappearing like that." She cursed when tears started rolling down her cheeks. "Not even Gyon managed to find a plausible reason. And he's a fucking genius," she said, trying to laugh, yet unable to stop crying. "I'm sorry…" Asuka replied, unsure about what to say. She had struggled a lot in the past years, that was true, but so had her friends. "It's ok," Midori whispered, hugging her again. "Just, please, if you ever intend to disappear again, warn me in advance. At least I'll be prepared."
They looked at each other with a tinge of embarrassment in their eyes, before they burst out laughing. Just like that, the fourteen-year gap in their lives seemed cancelled.
Midori walked Asuka home. Lessons at the Academy had ended, and she was about to go to the market when she had seen Asuka. "Do you want to come inside?" the brunette asked, as they arrived in front of an apartment building. Midori looked at it with a raised eyebrow. "Isn't this… where the Hokage lives?" Asuka shrugged. She didn't know what kind of relationship Kakashi and Midori shared. When they were kids, they didn't talk much together. Well, back then, Kakashi didn't talk much with anyone. "Yeah," she replied. "We're living together."
Midori's blue eyes widened slightly, before she whistled and started elbowing Asuka in the ribs, a knowing grin on her face. "Straight to the biggest shot in the village, uh? It's always good to aim high!" Asuka snorted. "We just started from where we left off. The fact that Kakashi's the Hokage has got nothing to do with my feelings." Midori smiled warmly at her friend. "You two were so perfect together. I'm glad you found each other again." Asuka seemed surprised to hear that. "People used to tell me we made an odd couple." Those people being mostly Asuma, and sometimes Anko. The only two people who dared to talk to her not fearing a violent reaction. But that was true. Apparently, Kakashi and her had nothing in common. Yet, they had found a balance between each other that had proven itself stable and strong. Asuka didn't like to talk about their relationship and Midori had always respected that (provided she gave some totally anonymous insight into the whole s-e-x topic, which Midori was so curious about), but she knew her friend, and knew she was happy. On the other hand, she didn't know Kakashi well. Sometimes (more like, rarely) he would tag along when Asuka met with Midori and Gyon. He wouldn't talk much, but his comments were always intelligent and on point. Gyon, being his analytical and matter-of-fact self, appreciated that part of Kakashi. On her part, Midori had once caught him looking at Asuka, as she spoke, with such an intensity she had felt somewhat jealous of, and wondered if she'd ever find someone who would look at her like that. You could tell he was completely into the girl. "You complemented each other. That's what I've always thought." Asuka smiled brightly. This time, no sadness was in her eyes. "I'm so lucky, you know. Being with him… it's so simple, uncomplicated… And the fact that I'm back… I just owe him a lot."
Midori smiled back. "That said, I'm not coming in. Hatake-san might be your lover, but he's the friggin' Hokage, and I'd feel like intruding. Maybe some other time, after I'll have seen you two together." Asuka laughed.
"However, do you have any plans for Saturday night?" Asuka's eyes brightened. Saturday was the day when her old team would usually meet. Based on their own missions and jobs, they would either meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. "Gyon and I have not stopped that tradition, even if not religiously, and I'm sure he'll be shocked to see you again. He's been in the Land of Sand for the past two weeks, and he's supposed to come back to Konoha on Friday. He has no clue you've come back. I bet he'll be at a loss for words, for a change," Midori said.
Asuka nodded lively. "I can't wait to meet you guys. Just tell me where and when, I'll be there."
Midori giggled, and turned around to leave. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the other idiot what he wants to do. You know he's a fusspot." She waved a hand at Asuka before walking away.
Asuka reading. That was truly an unusual view. She was sitting at the table, book open in front of her, her head rested on her left hand, while she turned the pages with her right hand, her lips moving ever so slightly as she read quietly. She looked so intent on her book that she hadn't even noticed Kakashi had entered the house.
"Hey," he greeted, "sorry I'm late." That day had been hell. It seemed as every citizen in Konoha had conjured behind his back not to let him go home until 9 p.m. Asuka startled and looked at Kakashi wide-eyed. "Oh fuck, I didn't even hear you!" The man chuckled softly and approached the table, circled around the chair Asuka sat on, planted a masked kiss on top of her head and peeked at the books in front of her. "What are you reading?"
Asuka leaned back against Kakashi's body, silently asking for another kiss – to which the man was more than willing to comply – then closed the book in front of her so that Kakashi could see its title. Barrier ninjutsu. The book was huge, but Asuka had already gotten to half. "I've sucked today, so Hiroichi gave me homework for tomorrow. Good thing I had already studied those, so it's basically just review. But I must admit, it's not as boring as I remembered. Oh, and I have a few kanji here, I don't remember their meaning and I did not find a dictionary in your house, so… would you help me with them?" Kakashi hummed lightly, pleased with how seriously Asuka was taking her job. He was proud of her. He passed a hand around her chin to lift her head and leaned down, pulling down his mask to kiss her again, properly this time, feeling her hand sneak around his neck and pull him down to deepen the kiss. When they parted, his eyes briefly ran to her cleavage. Under a woolen oversized cardigan, open on the front, she was wearing a silk slip dress with a deep, soft neckline, and he could clearly see the mounds of her breasts from his position. She was not wearing a bra, and he fought the urge to plunge his hand inside her cleavage and take a good squeeze.
He stood up, not effortlessly, and went to the fridge. "Have you already had dinner?" He asked, grabbing some eggs, leeks and boiled rice and placing them onto the counter. Asuka quirked an eyebrow. "Why? What time is it?" She asked, her eyes traveling to the clock on the wall. "Holy shit! I've been reading for the past four hours?! I must have gone insane," she commented, bringing a hand to her head.
"I'll take that as a no," Kakashi laughed, proceeding to cook. Asuka thanked him and cleared the table from the books, then setting down plates and cutlery for her and Kakashi.
While they ate, Asuka told Kakashi about her cousin and her meeting with Midori. The man listened to her, glad that Asuka was slowly getting back to her normal life and recreating the bonds she had in the past.
When they finished, Asuka grabbed her and Kakashi's plates and placed them into the sink, proceeding to do the dishes. In the meantime, Kakashi wrote the pronunciation and meaning of the kanji Asuka didn't TV remember, then plopped down onto the sofa, producing his Icha Icha book from the pocket of his pants. After a while, Asuka sat down beside him, snuggling into his side and resuming reading her fuuinjutsu book. Kakashi brought his arm around her shoulder and, for a while, they both read in tranquility.
"Kakashi…" she said, after a while, nuzzling his chest. The man smirked behind his mask. "Study, Asuka." In response, she huffed, and her arm hugged Kakashi's waist. "I was studying." The man didn't raise his eyes from his book. "You were snoring." Dammit. "I dozed off a little, but I did study. You can test me." Kakashi closed his book and placed it on the coffee table near the sofa. He then slid his arm around Asuka's waist and made her sit on his lap, straddling him, but he wasn't looking at her face; his eyes were fixated on her breast. "See something you like?" She teased. He hummed while his finger ghosted over her nipple, protruding from the fabric of her dress. Asuka inhaled, her hand reaching for Kakashi's mask, only to be blocked in mid-air. At her raised eyebrow, he simply stated back at her. "What is a five-seal barrier?"
Seriously?
"A jutsu that creates a barrier around a place, by putting four forbidden tags connected with the user's chakra around the place to be protected and a fifth tag on the location. Inside the space surrounded by the tags, the material's destruction is forbidden."
Her wrist was released, and Asuka could finally pull down his mask, but he wouldn't let her kiss him. She hissed as his fingers pinched her nipple. "What's the highest-level barrier technique?"
So that was it. He wanted to play teacher and student, uh? Well, she couldn't wait. "Six Red Yang Formation." Kakashi pulled lightly on her hair, exposing her neck. His teeth grazed her throat, his tongue hot against her skin, tracing the scar she had there, while his fingers continued their sweet torture on her nipple. He took his time, asking her other questions, each time conceding something to Asuka – caressing his scalp, opening his flak jacket, letting her hands roam on his chest – but always remaining the one in control. "What's the hand seal sequence for an Earth barrier?" He asked to her ear, his teeth grazing her lobe, while he slid his hands inside the arms of her cardigan and took it off of her, letting it fall on the floor. "Snake, monkey, ox, hare, rat." Asuka's voice came out in shallow gasps, as Kakashi continued his ministrations to her neck and to her nipple. She subconsciously jerked her hips, feeling herself getting wetter with each passing moment. He wouldn't let her kiss him, and she was quivering with excitement. She had never been the patient type.
"Now, for the practical part. Perform it. The Earth barrier." Even though he had been the one to initiate that little game between them, Kakashi was having a hard time maintaining his self-control. He frowned, though, as Asuka's hands made the wrong sequence of seals. "This is not an Earth barrier," he stated, slightly annoyed. She had listed the right sequence a few seconds ago. Asuka's naughty smirk, however, had his lower region twitch. "I know," she replied. "It's a sensory barrier." Kakashi glanced around them and couldn't see anything beyond his living room. From the outside, nobody could see or hear them. Their presence had been completely muted. "I noticed. Why did you put this up?" He let her lean into him, trapping his hand between her breast and his chest, the warmth and moisture of her crotch radiating to his groin. He bit his inner cheek to restrain himself. Her warm breath tickled his ear. "Because I want to scream, sensei."
If Kakashi had been any other person, a normal person, he would have thrown himself on Asuka. But Kakashi was a master at self-control. Even though his jaw was hurting from the strength he was clutching his teeth with. He wanted to take it slow, to take his time and satisfy the woman on his lap so that she would indeed scream. Scream his name, scream her pleasure.
Asuka placed her hands on either side of Kakashi's face. "Did I pass?" She asked, an amused smirk and playful expression gracing her features. It was beyond himself how she could be so sexy and intriguing, yet at the same time so simple and unsophisticated. "Yeah," he replied. "You could have elaborated more on some answers, but I did appreciate your initiative." He glanced at her breast, still covered by her silk dress. "And your fashion sense." She laughed, the ringing sound echoing inside the barrier. "Well, if you liked the absence of a bra that much," she purred into his face, taking his hand and bringing it to her thigh, prompting him to move it upwards, "I bet you'll love my lack of panties." Her words were rapidly followed by a moan, as Kakashi's fingers reached for the tuft of hair covering her mons veneris, and down to her labia. "Ha. This makes up for the lack of elaboration," he whispered, bringing his finger to his nose and inhaling her scent. "You pass with honors," he joked, sliding the straps of her dress down along her arms, undressing her chest, placing small kisses on her breasts.
Asuka whimpered when Kakashi moved her hand away from his groin. Her touch felt like fire on his body, and a part of him just wanted the woman to kiss and touch him all over his body, but at that moment, he wanted to focus on her. "Impatient, are we?" He asked, teasing her. She pouted. "You're mean… I just want to feel you," she pleaded, lifting his shirt, her fingers running on his abdomen, her hips jerking forward, the friction causing her to moan, and him to exhale. His eyes then fell onto the book he had put aside. "Hey," he whispered, "there's something I'd like to try, if you're willing to…"
Kakashi let Asuka take off his shirt and plant kisses and small bites on his chest and neck. "Whatever you want," she said to his ear, her voice low with desire. Kakashi was so excited. For the first time, he could actually act out one of his favorite passages from Icha Icha Paradise. He rewarded Asuka with a deep, hot, long kiss.
Kakashi took off Asuka's dress, then lifted her and laid her beside him, facing the headrest of the sofa, then quickly stood up, discarded his pants and boxers, and positioned himself behind the woman, caressing her breast and her belly, down to her crotch. He kissed and nibbled her neck and her back, while mentally rehearsing the words he was going to utter. His heart was beating so fast inside his chest. Kakashi moved Asuka's hair away from her ear and towards her other shoulder. He gently sucked her earlobe.
"You're only allowed to orgasm when I say so," he whispered.
There. He felt like he had dropped a bomb, and was now waiting for the explosion. He didn't know how Asuka would react. They had never really explored power play, and he was a bit anxious that she might not be into it that much.
Kakashi was holding his breath when he felt Asuka quiver, her butt pressing against his crotch. "Oh, fuck," she mumbled, "Kakashi, I'm so aroused right now, that I might come only if you talked to me like that again…" She twisted her neck a little so that she could see him out of the corner of her eye. Then, suddenly, she let out a gasp and a loud moan as Kakashi unexpectedly entered her and started thrusting. His hands were grabbing her hips with such a force that Asuka suspected they would leave a bruise. Not that she cared, anyway. It all felt so good.
The volume of Asuka's moans intensified tenfold when Kakashi slid a hand to her front, stroking her clitoris. His teeth grazed her back, leaving a wet trail in their passage. So much tension was building up in her insides. "Kakashi, I'm…" she managed to blurt out. She wanted to comply with his fantasy, so she needed to hold back.
She felt only a little tinge of disappointment when Kakashi pulled out of her and removed his hand from her groin. "Only when I say so," he ordered to her ear, causing the hairs on her body to erect, and an excited shiver to run down her spine. He caressed her breasts and her inner thighs for a while, before entering her again and resuming his thrusts. Asuka gasped, her arousal level sky rocketing. Subconsciously, she started caressing herself, searching for a relief. Her hand was gripped by Kakashi's hand. For a second, Asuka thought he was going to forbid her to touch herself, but his fingers only added pressure to her strokes. Subconsciously, her legs spread a little more, and her hips started meeting Kakashi's thrusts with increasing urge, because she was desperately needing some sort of relief. Then again, abruptly, Kakashi slid out of her, and she couldn't help but whimper at the sudden feeling of void inside her. "Only when I say so," he repeated.
She turned her head and her eyes met his, and Kakashi could clearly see her expression, her 'I'm so aroused and I want you inside of me so badly it hurts, but I'll refrain from actively do something because I would only ruin this game which is frankly so exciting' expression, and chose to bit down on her lower lip instead. Their fingers were still combined in tantalizing motions along her labia and clitoris.
"Please, Kakashi, allow me to kiss you. Please," she managed to say, her voice coming out in ragged breaths, because she needed some kind of distraction from the aching longing between her legs.
Kakashi let Asuka kiss him, but she only limited herself to butterfly-kissing his lips; she was still sticking to her role of being the submissive party, because she wanted to make him happy, and because she too found that game highly arousing. So Kakashi grabbed her jaw and directed their kiss, and, even if his mind was halfway clouded with lust, and love, and passion, he rehearsed the next line in his head. "Will you come for me?" He asked against her lips, his eyes never leaving hers. Under normal circumstances, Asuka would have burst out laughing. Those were words she associated to horny housewives reading porn. But right them, Asuka found herself extremely turned on by them. Maybe it was because Kakashi was the one uttering them. Her answer, however, didn't take long to be formulated. "I will. Please. Make me come."
And he did. Asuka wouldn't have been able to describe her orgasm better than 'being thrown down from a skyscraper, realizing you were able to fly and starting ascending to the sky, only to be hit by a flying train and being thrown into an erupting volcano'. She expressed that whole description with a heartfelt "Fuck," whispered shakily as she slumped against the couch. "Fuck," she heard in her ear, as Kakashi tightened his grip around her waist and mimicked her slumping motion. They both abandoned their bodies to gravity and collapsed onto the sofa in a limp mass of flesh and post-orgasmic elation.
"Fuck," Kakashi whispered, again, while he cradled Asuka's body in his arms. It took her a while, because her mind was still dizzy and light and she felt oh so good, but she couldn't help being her stupid self, sometimes. "So it takes an orgasm to make you curse, uh?" She couldn't think of any other time Kakashi had cursed in her presence. Twice. He sighed, not out of exasperation as usual, though. "One as grand as that," he conceded, his lips finding Asuka's temple and resting there.
"Thank you," he whispered, then immediately regretted his words. They sounded so lame. You don't thank your partner for having sex with you, do you? He wondered if any other man had ever thanked Asuka after sex. She had told him about her past partners, even the occasional ones she knew of, because Amanozako had been there and controlling her actions and so she was not aware of all the partners she had had. But they had been a lot. While him, on the other hand, how many had he had? Three. Four, if he counted that alcohol-related incident with a client on an escort mission. Which he had cowardly blamed on a genjutsu, and the poor thing had believed his words. Kakashi had never reported on it, of course. And, before meeting Asuka again, it had been two years since he had last had sex. She was so much more experienced, and Kakashi felt like a stupid kid, or a total dork thanking the girl he had lost his virginity with. So, so lame.
But probably, Asuka had a different conception of the word 'lame'. "Thank you," she giggled. "It was indeed grand. Overwhelming. Majestic."
She tilted her head to be able to look at Kakashi in the eye. "Who knew Lord Jiraya could actually teach something useful?" Kakashi deadpanned. "He was Yondaime's teacher, among other things." She dismissed that comment with a wave of her hand. "Yondaime was a prodigy. If anything, Jiraya ruined him," she joked. The truth was that Asuka admired the Toad Sage a lot. Her father used to tell her all sorts of stories about him, and there was so much pride in his words. But he was, indeed, an asshole. "Last time I saw him, he asked me if I was still underage. When I told him I was still 17, he went away mumbling about deceptively developed girls." Kakashi scoffed at that. He had been there, too, and he remembered the clear envious look in the Sannin's eyes, when they had settled upon him. "Lucky boy," he had spat out. "However," Asuka resumed, "I'll concede he had nice ideas. Maybe we could try out more of these." Kakashi chuckled. "Would you like to borrow my books?" He asked, an amused grin spreading in his face. Asuka grinned back and patted his cheek. "Maybe."
The woman closed her eyes and blissfully abandoned her head onto Kakashi's chest, his arm tightening his grip around her waist. Their legs were tangled in a sweaty and slick mass of limbs, and probably Asuka would need to clean and sanitize the sofa the following day, because she didn't really fancy the idea of a potential guest sitting on a thickened pool of their body fluids. (Even though she highly doubted Kakashi had ever invited a guest to his house.) Moreover, once the barrier was down, Kakashi's dogs would unmistakably recognize the peculiar smell in the room. And the last thing she wanted was another conversation with a dog about sex. To be honest, Bull was already looking at her with the same expression of a child discovering their parents in the middle of sex, and she didn't want to traumatize him further. He was her favorite among Kakashi's dogs, after all. Her train of thoughts then departed from Normal Station, and she first ranked all of Kakashi's dogs from most to least favorite, taking into consideration criteria as obedience, charisma and cuteness. Them, age wondered if Kakashi had a favorite dog. She bet it was Pakkun. He had that I don't give a fuck attitude that the man admired, after all. He was like that, too. Asuka then voiced her musings aloud, and scoffed at Kakashi's reply (of course not, they're all my irreplaceable ninken).
The woman then looked at the clock on the wall and sighed aloud. She tilted her head towards Kakashi's face. "Shower?" She proposed. His mouth barely tilted upwards. "And you said Lord Jiraya was the pervert," he commented. Asuka huffed. "We don't have to have another round." 'Not if you don't want to,' she mentally added."But it's almost midnight, we're all sweaty and sticky… I just thought it would be a way to save time and go to bed early… or at least, not too late." When Kakashi smiled, Asuka's heartrate accelerated. It was that smile he reserved for very few people; that small, gentle, soft smile which had always made Asuka melt inside. She was not able to smile like that. She was always louder, even in her facial expressions. "Shower," he said, as he playfully tickled Asuka in the waist to make her stand up.
"I told you, we don't have to have another round," Asuka said, when Kakashi started kissing her neck, his hands sliding up and down the woman's curves. Let me wash you, he had said, grabbing the shower gel, but that had clearly been an excuse to touch her. "Are you kidding?" Kakashi replied. "We have fourteen years we need to make up for. There's no way I wouldn't want another round." She laughed softly. "I'm irresistible, I know. You just can't keep your hands off this body of mine." Kakashi's chuckle tickled her neck, and Asuka felt a shiver run down to her legs. "Says the one who's been groping my ass ever since we've stepped into the shower."
Her face jolted back, her eyes wide with indignation. "Excuse me," she started, bringing a hand to her chest, "Have you seen your butt?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. I'm not a teenager girl who could be insecure about her body. I don't look at myself in the mirror often, and I certainly don't look at my ass, that eyebrow said. Asuka swiftly moved behind him. "It's, like, the perfect ass! The ass that all the asses aspire to become!"
"Stop it."
"The ass that seems sculpted in marble! Sleek, and firm, and toned,"
"Stop."
"You could write poetry about it!"
"I got it. Stop."
"I'll write one. 'Ode to a Perfect Ass,' it will be titled. Hey, isn't that a totally captivating titl- mmpff"
Kakashi had hooked his arm around Asuka's face to interrupt her blabbering. For a few seconds, the only sound they heard was that of the water falling down on them. Sensing she had calmed down, Kakashi released Asuka. She turned to face Kakashi, then her eyes glinted with playfulness.
"Thou, still unravish'd piece of meat, foster-child of squats and runs, Konohan histor-"
This time, Kakashi shut Asuka with a kiss, while his hands rested -not too lightly- on her cheeks. After a while, Asuka pulled back a little, their mouths only slightly apart. "Seriously, I think you still have time. You can have your butt carved into the Hokage monument, instead of your face. Which is always half hidden, anyway. Think about it."
Kakashi couldn't take it anymore. His head shot back and his shoulders quivered from the booming laughter that was shaking his body. He just seemed to not be able to stop or control himself, he just kept on laughing heartedly, not minding the water droplets entering his mouth.
Asuka was staring at him, dumbfounded. She had already seen him laugh, but it had never been like that. She didn't know he was capable of such a laugh. Carefree, heartfelt, like he had lost the self-controlled aura that always surrounded him. He looked younger, and happy, and oh so handsome. She stared at the man, mesmerized by that vision, and made it a personal mission to spur that reaction more often.