Ok, first off this chapter is the one that had the lemon in it, I've since made a AFF account and plan on posting the lemons there under their own story, so if you want the lemons I'll have a link to my AFF account on my profile
Now I haven't done any internal reviews in like...feels like forever actually, however I need to just say it now because a couple of you really hit me in the feels with some of your comments.
Saligia010: Dude, I gotta say, that really made me feel better, I've had a severe winter cold for like last 3 days and thats probably what made me want to do that giant ass AN in the last chapter in the first place (/)_-) So yeah you're awesome dude, I'm glad you like the story. I try to be as approachable as possible when I'm writing, I like people reading what I write, it just makes me happy that other people enjoy the stuff I write so thanks again. And I'll be sure if I'm ever out of idea's or need a sounding board I'll keep you in mind. So till then, stay golden.
IchiNel: I wasn't really hashing my drama skills. I can WRITE drama fine, it's just keeping UP WITH that drama that throws me off. I can write a dramatic piece of literature in one chapter but that usually gets pushed aside as I come up with other off the wall ideas. So I guess you could say I have a problem with the drama domino effect, when something traumatic happens to someone it sticks with them until they can get over it, and that usually takes a long time, that or the author's use really really agressive ass kicking theropy. For instance I remember Naruto was down in the dumps in one story I read and Anko came along and kicked his ass out of the dumps and had a heroic system reboot from that. The problem with this chapter and the ones after it is like i said before Sakura's problems pop up occasionally but other than that she acts like she normally would, if a bit reserved. which is usually not how you think a victim of a near rape would act, especially when her would be rapist was killed by her and that being her first kill to boot. THAT was what was pointed out to me by Mr. PMer and personally I agree with it, however I didn't really want to change what happened, mainly because 1. I'm too lazy too...I'm sorta like Shikamaru in that regard... and 2. I don't really want to go back and change 3 chapters worth of dialogue and character development because someone doesn't like what I did with the drama so there's that too.
So the story will stay the same up until that point, but I think I'm going to have to play with Sakura's reactions to things in the later chapters.
Till then I guess.
Oh and I'm thinking of doing like I did on UFF on here and doing a Word/phrase/fanfiction/song of the day. What say you all? I come across odd things on the internet, usually its weird words or phrases, interesting fanfics or some awesome music. So does anyone want me to start putting that in the authors notes? It's just a thing I did to add a bit of spice to my authors notes. But if you guys don't want me to do that then it's fine.
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, Don't make any money off it either.
Just one of those days...
-ooo-
"speech"
'Thoughts'
"Kyubi speech"
'Kyubi thoughts'
-ooo-
Chapter 13: Returning home.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there YET?"
"NO!"
Zabuza turned to Naruto behind him, hand twitching towards his Zanbatou. "Kid...stop that now, before I hurt you."
Naruto only chuckled in response. "Too late" before he fell flat on his face, a single senbon sticking out of his ass.
Zabuza turned to Haku an eyebrow raised questioningly.
Haku nodded. "Pressure points, temporary, Induces a mild dream state."
"BACON RAMEN CRYSTAL FIREPLACE POKER FETISH!"
"Make that hallucinogenic fever dream state..."
Kakashi just shrugged. "Don't worry about him, he'll be fine here in a little while. Someone grab him so he doesn't get left behind...and yes you can drag him if you want." Sasuke perked up at that. "And no, not by his feet." His expressions fell. "You can however grab him by the hair."
You couldn't run fast enough to keep up with the black and blue blur along with the black and yellow blur being dragged quickly behind it...
-Konoha Gates
"You guys are assholes..." Naruto rubbed the top of his head gently, wincing a couple times as he felt the small patches of his hair that we're torn out regenerate slowly.
"Next time learn to shut up." Sasuke smirked, getting in his own way, a measure of revenge on Naruto for putting him through that hell he called chakra nature training.
Naruto snorted "I wouldn't laugh if I were you, there's still two more levels of chakra nature training I've yet to teach you or Sakura." That shut him up, Sasuke paled slightly and turned away from him walking slightly faster then the rest of them, Naruto could only grin at the payback he'd bring down on the Uchiha's head. However that grin turned into a frown when he noticed Sakura was oblivious to the threat he'd not so subtly hinted at.
It was going to be quite awhile before the girl truly opened back up to anyone, it had taken him some time getting over killing those villagers when he had obtained his powers, he had mostly just drowned it all in training but Sakura didn't have that luxury. He could tell by the far off look in her face that the life she took was still weighing heavy on her mind.
A few minutes passed in silence as they signed in at the gate and walked into Konoha, the two Gate guards Kotetsu and Izumo eyeing Zabuza warily.
"Don't worry guys" Naruto waved to them, "Zabuza here is going to be joining the village." Both sets of eyebrows rose at this.
"Just how the hell did you manage that?" Izumo asked.
"Yeah doesn't seem right if you ask me." Kotetsu nodded.
"Pfft well I kicked his apprentices ass for one." He pointed over his shoulder at Haku. "And I impressed him enough to convince him to join, that's about it honestly."
"Wait...that little shrimp is his appren-" Kotetsu's words were cut off by a senbon striking the wooden beam of the check-in box next to his head.
"Yeeeeah don't do that, she's about as bad as Anko." The two chunin paled and stared at the young girl who raised an eyebrow, daring them to say anything more.
This was when Zabuza broke into the conversation. "Wait...Anko. THE Anko Mitarashi?" There was clear interest in his voice.
"Yeah." Naruto laughed. "She was my sensei for a little over five years."
Zabuza gawked, then let out a loud laugh. "HAHAHA, no fucking wonder I like you kid." and slammed a meathook of a hand on the blondes back "You think she'd go on a date with me?"
Naruto's face went blank for a moment before he turned a small glare on Zabuza, a bit of Ki filling the air.
Zabuza looked down curiously.
Naruto leaned in close so the others couldn't hear and whispered evenly "I like you Zabuza, I really do but that's not something you say to the husband of the woman you just mentioned." Zabuza's eyes widened even wider than the last time.
"WHAT!?"
"You heard me" Naruto glared.
Zabuza stood there for a moment just staring in AWE at the young genin. A cough broke the staring contest as he looked over at Kakashi.
"Anything wrong?" The silver haired jonin asked.
"Kakashi?" Zabuza asked quietly. Kakashi nodded for him to continue. "You remember when the kid reached 'don't fuck with' status?" Kakashi nodded again, this time to agree with the mist nin. "Well he's just went up another level..."
"..." Kakashi looked from Zabuza to Naruto and back again. "Do I want to know?" Zabuza just shook his head and walked off, walking towards the Hokage building, Haku not far behind him.
"What did you tell him Naruto...?" Kakashi sighed, a slight headache starting to build.
"Oh just that Anko's status as single has been changed for quite some time now." He let out a little perverted grin at the Jonin and had it been any other time he'd have felt...proud for some odd reason but now he could only stare blankly at the youth.
"Heh, well I guess we should go to see the old man now." Naruto glanced at his teammates for a moment noting that Sasuke had walked off awhile ago to go do...whatever the hell he did in his off time, while Sakura just stood there staring off into space. Naruto frowned at that and held up a handseal creating a shadowclone. "On second thought...here Kakashi, take this shadow clone with you...I gotta do something." The clone walked over to Kakashi while the real Naruto approached Sakura.
Kakashi watched Naruto talk with Sakura for a moment, the way the girl brightened a bit during their little chat sent a bit of hope through the Jonin who'd noticed the way the girl was starting off into space. Shaking his head a couple times, he sighed and rushed to catch up to Zabuza, mumbling something along the lines of 'Lucky son of a bitch.' Naruto's clone chuckling along behind him.
Naruto noticed Kakashi and his clone leave, as he turned back to Sakura "So meet me at the Akamichi restaurant tonight at 6, Ok?" He let out a little smile when Sakura brightened a bit, nodded and told him she'd see him then. As she walked off he couldn't help but notice the little bit of spring in her step again. Naruto's smile turned south into a frown though as he went over their conversation. Sakura was in a deep funk, despite how she felt about the date he had sprung on her, hell that alone had tipped him off at how much that kill had affected her. He'd asked her on a date before, sure, it was just a simple lunch date to get to know each of his classmates but Sakura had brushed him off pretty easily. Seeing her like this now just made him feel sick. He had to help her get over this and if he had to go on a date with her or something even further... then he'd suck it up and do it.
"Uzumaki-sama?" A voice asked respectfully.
'Ugh what now...' Naruto glanced over his shoulder to see a pair of pale lavender eyes staring at him. "I take it Hiashi-san want's to see me?" At the branch members nod Naruto sighed and followed along behind the man as he made his way towards the Hyuuga compound.
-With the Naruto clone-
"Ah there you are Kakashi, the mission went well I take it?"
"It went rather well, Hokage-sama" Kakashi nodded, then went through the arduous task of debriefing the Hokage of all the events that transpired in wave, the Naruto clone breaking in and giving his point of view when it was needed.
"Hmm, I see. That is quite a little adventure you and your team went on Kakashi-san. Now that the boring part is over let us get down to business, shall we?" At the agreeing murmurs from the rooms occupants Sarutobi's face hardened a bit. "Zabuza Momochi, Haku Momochi. You wish to join the Leaf Village, is that correct?" The two nodded. Sarutobi sighed "You do realize the shit storm that's going to come from Mizu over this right?"
"Not likely." Zabuza grumbled.
"How so? Why wouldn't Mizu want back one of it's seven swordsmen? If not for the warrior or his weapon then simply to collect the bounty on the man's head" Sarutobi glared at the man making it clear that the coup d'état that he had planned was common knowledge.
"Ughh, that's going to follow me everywhere isn't it?" Zabuza groaned. "The only reason I did that was because of the bastard Mizukage, the bastard started the bloodline civil war and had to be stopped, It's only my shame that follows me now since I couldn't kill the fucker myself."
Haku looked up at her adoptive father in shock. "What do you mean Zabuza-sama?"
Zabuza turned to regard his apprentice and daughter in all but blood. "The Intel from Gato's manifests coming from Mizu painted a pretty picture on the current state of the country. The Mizukage was killed almost a year ago by the Resistance cells in the country, a woman named Mei Terumi runs the place now.
"But Zabuza-sama, she's..." Haku began.
He sighed "Yeah, I know."
Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe "Oh, just what do you know about that woman Zabuza-san?
Zabuza didn't say anything for awhile, you could tell he was mulling things over, debating on whether or not he should say anything, but he just resolved himself since he'd have to say this eventually anyway. "She... " He started slowly. "Was...my teammate...along with Yagura...you know him as the fourth Mizukage." Those who didn't know that fact were surprised by that statement. Zabuza had fought alongside the fourth and now fifth Mizukage? An interesting development for sure.
"So your coup d'état wasn't a grab for power but a liberation of your friends tyranny?" Kakashi mused.
"Yeah..."
"And I thought my time as a shinobi was fucked up."
"..."
"Yes, yes we can all talk about our mental scarring due to our profession later, right now we have business to attend to." Sarutobi pulled out several papers. "Now that I have the full story on this and seeing as there is a minimal chance of Mizu getting involved I think it's safe to call you both Leaf Shinobi." He pulled two headbands from his desk and tossed them to the two mist nin. "I will however have Anbu keep an eye on you two for the next three months, strictly protocol. I'm sure you understand." The two nodded.
"Hey old man?"
"Yes Naruto."
"I'd just like to point out that Zabuza and Haku are under my clans protection, since Zabuza has a Treasure weapon and Haku has a bloodline it would be a safe bet that the council will start sticking their noses in my friends business." Sarutobi readily agreed to that, the council, at least the civilian portion was still as snooty as ever, though they had become less of an annoyance as of late they still could cause trouble now and again.
Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously. "If the council starts raising hell tell them they're under my protection, that should sway the shinobi council and shut the civilians up."
"That it will. I must say Naruto, I'm starting to feel my age when I see how much you've grown." Sarutobi grinned at the blushing blonde who's face colored just slightly at the praise. "Heh you used to be so childish Naruto, it's times like these I wonder where the hell the years went.
"Wait wait wait, backup, YOU used to be childish." Zabuza stared incredulously at the blonde, breaking out into a bark of laughter at the thought. "THAT I'd have paid to see."
"Yes, he was quite the loudmouthed little brat, but that's just his mother's mean streak showing through honestly." Sarutobi chuckled when Naruto let out a little huff of annoyance, apparently he wasn't quite grown up yet, that brought a little grin to the wizened Kage's face.
"Who was his mother?" Zabuza asked.
Sarutobi glanced over at Naruto for a moment, seemingly getting his permission. Seeing the slight nod the man continued. "Ah she was a fiery woman, even her husband was scared of her and I can tell you now he was whipped beyond all manner and reason." He took he pipe from his mouth, eyes glazed a bit remembering the woman in her prime "Her name, was Kushina Uzumaki."
Zabzua choked and spun so quickly it almost didn't seem like he'd moved. He grabbed the blonde by his black shinobi shirt almost tearing the material and lifted him off the ground so they were eye to eye. "Your mother was the Bloody Red Death!?" His voice was frantic and strained.
Sarutobi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Ah, I had almost forgotten that was her name outside the village, fitting I guess for someone nicknamed the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero."
Zabuza's eyes bugged as he dropped Naruto. His head snapped towards Kakashi. "Kakashi he-"
"Yeah yeah, I know. Another level..."
-With the original Naruto-
Now Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze was many things, a coward was not one of them but staring up at the impressive gate of the Hyuuga compound and the dozen armed Hyuuga Branch members lining the walls put him on edge. The Hyuuga compound was never this guarded, he should know. He had pranked the hell out of the place (not counting Hinata) after that one time that Hyuuga ANBU...yeah best not to say anything...they're probably still sore over that incident...actually that may be WHY they're so guarded right now. Naruto sweatdropped heavily wondering for a moment if HE was the cause for so many guards.
After he had passed the gates he still felt the oppressive feel of a dozen sets of eyes boring into his back, glancing out of the corner of his eye he noticed they hadn't turned around to look, 'Yeah, they're still pissed at me...Damn Byakugan' an unconscious little shiver went up his spine, it wasn't the Byakugan that was bothering him. Hell, he'd be the first to admit that those eyes looked sexy as hell on Hinata but when anyone else looked at him with those eyes, they were...cold, like ice. He chocked it up to their personalities as a whole being the same way and left it at that.
They passed through the Clan gardens and several training grounds before they reached the compound proper. The main house, in all it's imposing glory. A traditional Japanese style mansion would be an appropriate description for the place...but he wasn't there to see the sight's, he was there for business and the man he was meeting held the leash so to speak on the woman who he had come to respect and even to some degree love in the short time they had been together.
The two entered the main building, going room by room until they reached a simple wooden door unlike the sliding paper doors that adorned the outside. Opening it revealed a study with bookshelves lining every wall and a single Japanese style table in the center, the branch member bowed respectfully and left, closing the door behind him.
"Welcome Naruto-san." A voice evenly greeted him.
Naruto turned to see the Hyuuga head sitting at the table which moments before had been empty. "Hello Hiashi-san, it's good to see you again." The niceties were a given in this situation and he sure as hell didn't want to piss off Hinata's dad.
"Come, sit. We have much to discuss." The man waved him over gently but firmly.
As soon as Naruto sat down he felt a wave of...it wasn't killing intent, he could tell that much but looking up he did notice Hiashi sporting a hard gaze, and like all Byakugan users it was only magnified by said bloodline.
"What are your plans for my Daughter?"
Naruto could only blink. 'Straight and to the point I see...well I guess I could answer the same.' He looked directly in the Hyuuga's eyes, "I plan on marrying her Hiashi-san."
Hiashi's eyebrows rose into his hairline, a significant show of emotion for the normally emotionless Hyuuga, which spoke volumes how much that statement had surprised him. "Well...I...I didn't think you would be so forward with such information."
"You asked wanting a straight answer and I gave it to you, I try not to beat around the bush when someone want's an answer like that from me."
Hiashi nodded "A good trait to have, and it's served you well now." Hiashi let out a breath that Naruto hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I can honestly say...that I consent to the union.
Naruto nearly fell over at that. "W-what?" he expected anger, perhaps yelling and threats, not calm acceptance and certainly not his blessing.
"You know as well as I do about Hinata's...'problems.'" Naruto let out a little growl at the tone Hiashi took when he said that word which surprised Hiashi quite a bit. 'He's already that protective of her...hmm, interesting.' Hiashi coughed to cover himself. "What I mean is that many of the elders have, for a long time now viewed Hinata as an...incapable clan heir...and I for one agree with them." A spike of killing intent followed that statement and Hiashi made quick work of covering his ass. "I didn't mean it like that Naruto-san" The killing intent lessened a bit. "Hinata has always been exceedingly...kind. She's always put her friends first among her priorities and while that is a noble practice, it's quite contrary to how we run the Hyuuga clan, where we place clan affairs above all else." The Hyuuga clan head folded his hands together in font of him. "I'm afraid she'd be a poor leader of the Hyuuga clan, but she IS a good person as a whole." Hiashi sighed. "She merely doesn't have the conviction to do the things I would, the hard choices as it were."
Naruto looked pensive, all ill will gone at the moment trying to figure what game Hiashi was playing at. Getting tired of racking his brain he just asked him. "So what's the catch for all this, you've called me here and actually approve of me and Hinata being together. Don't you have anything to say at all. Anything?"
Hiashi was beginning to get a headache from all this. Succumbing to simple human weakness he let his shoulders relax and sent a hand northward to rub the spot between his eyes, trying in vain to quell the ache this was causing him. "Look Naruto" The Hyuuga said, dropping all forms of decorum and speaking plainly for once. "For years now I've tried my best to raise my daughter, I know I've done a piss poor job of it and Hinata has all rights to hate me for the way I've treated her but I've always tried my hardest to push her to be better, to grow." The Hyuuga sighed once more, "If only my wife Hitomi was still alive today...then maybe..."
Naruto chuckled slightly "Hitomi. A name given to those with beautiful eye's. Fitting in a way I guess."
Hiashi smiled. "Yes, even among the Hyuuga, Hitomi's eyes shone brightly, not holding the cold glaze that is present in the others of the clan. A trait my daughter shares with her mother." The Hyuuga leaned back in a more relaxed position. "The Elders heard of your 'dating' and have expressed their want for Hinata to be married to you. Most of them still see you as the demon but they can't deny your bloodlines or that Hinata is a 'lost cause' as they called it. So they're trying to make the most of the situation and marrying her off to you. They aren't forcing you...but all things considered they might as well be."
Naruto frowned, he hated being used and he hated his friends being used even more than that. This little power play was as devious and underhanded as you could be, selling out your own family for political power. It was sickening. "And why are you agreeing with them, you could just as well tell them to fuck off, you're a clan head, they're just advisors and elders, do what the Hokage did and put your foot down. It's not gonna change the fact that Hinata and I are going to get married but it sure as hell will show them you are the leader of this place, not those annoying old fossils."
Hiashi was already shaking his head. "No Naruto, this is one of those things that no one man can change. This clan is run differently than most, the branch family is just the tip of the ice burg and the elders may just be my arms and hands but that doesn't mean they can't choke the head if given enough incentive." He waved a hand around a bit to accent the metaphorical scenario "Just know that I consent to the marriage along with most of the elders. I may not like it but I have to look at it this way, she would have been married off anyway at some point. Might as well have it be the son of a man who I greatly respect and you, who I now respect in your own right." He nodded his head respectfully at the blonde "You would walk into the home of a disgruntled father and tell him you plan to marry his daughter, not even flinching when I layered on a fair dose of Hyuuga brand killing intent on you. You might not know it but that takes guts and balls of a size I don't care to measure." He reached out a hand to shake, Naruto grasped it firmly, the two holding the shake for a time before Hiashi spoke again. "But If you hurt her I will Jyuuken you in a place that even the Kyubi can't heal, you understand."
Naruto paled slightly along with Kyubi in his mindscape, the two nodded, one visibly the other not so much.
"Good."
-2 hours later, Akamichi family restaurant-
Naruto stood in front of the restaurant, waiting for Sakura, he had gone back to Anko's place to wash and slip into something more comfortable, switching out his armor and ninja gear for a mixture of shinobi and civilian clothing. A plain orange button up t-shirt and dark gray Anbu pant's which his tail was still stuffed into since he really didn't like showing the thing off. His fox ears were pinned under one of his homemade hats. He had found he liked the dapper look with the beret-esqe piece of headwear, this particular one was black with a bit of aesthetic flare, a small red Uzumaki swirl sewn into the front of it.
Of course just because he was dressed casually didn't mean he wasn't armed to the teeth, a pair of small and intricate seals were tattooed to the boys arms, (a triumph in the boy's mind at how his sealing abilities were progressing) Within the seals lied a full assortment of kunai and shuriken, as well as one seal on the back of his neck that contained a standard Anbu ninjato. Standard weaponry, sure but undeniably effective.
A slight tap of footsteps alerted him to his date's arrival. He turned to greet Sakura but froze as his jaw hit the floor. He had said to dress casual and that's how he usually preferred it but Sakura...she...just, damn. In front of him was a goddess in human form, sure she didn't have the figure of someone like Anko or even Hinata for that matter but her outfit more than made up for it.
Slitted blue eyes roved over her for a moment taking in every jaw dropping detail. Her Pink shirt was cut along the midriff to show off surprisingly defined abs and a somewhat curvy waist. The plunging neckline of the shirt was tastefully accented by a small cherry blossom shaped pendant, now normally he'd have objected to how... risqué the V in her shirt would have been but he noticed that in lieu of a bra she had chosen to wrap her chest with bandages, the soft white of the bandages accenting the pale red cloth of the shirt.
His gaze went south for a moment to take in the sight of her shorts. Which, despite the provocative nature of her shirt were rather plain in comparison. Just a casual pair of denim jeans cut off at just above the knees and a pair of tennis shoes finished off the ensemble. After a moment of staring he noticed she had several earrings in each of her ears as well, each stud accented with a pale green gem that matched her eyes wonderfully...not that you could really see the earrings he realized, as she had removed her headband which let her hair fall into a cascade of pink.
In the process of rolling up his jaw he made a vow to do this kind of thing again, if all women dressed up like THIS when going out on a date...he'd DEFINITELY have to do this again... Naruto smiled at Sakura opening the door to the restaurant and gesturing inside.
"Ladies first" He chuckled.
"Well shouldn't you be going in before me then?" She joked, a small smile on her face.
"Oh you wound me fair princess" Naruto mock grabbed his chest in pain before joining her in a chuckle, a tension neither knew had been there disappearing as the two walked into the restaurant.
The first thing to hit was the smell, being run by the Akamichi gave the place a pedigree unmatched anywhere in fire country. The food was rich, yet affordable and the service was courteous and friendly, with waiters and waitresses often spending time talking with the guests helping them feel at home.
The second thing they noticed was that the place was nearly empty, having come between lunch and dinner they just missed break time for the ninja teams and hadn't quite made it to the 'end of a hard day's training' meal. That didn't mean there wasn't anyone there, in fact there were several people that both Naruto and Sakura recognized, one such group was team 10, or Ino, Shikamaru and Choji along with Asuma their sensei
"Naruto, Sakura!" Ino yelled merrily, her hair flipping around in her haste to get up to greet them.
'Oh Kami, Ino...' Naruto groaned mentally. One of the few people, girls of his age group in particular that had caught Naruto's interest when it came to other potential wives. When they had first met that wouldn't have even been considered given her crush on Sasuke but Naruto had found out in short order that after he had landed Sasuke on his ass during their first meeting he had left an impression on quite a few of the girls in his class, Ino being one of his fans. His FANS! He'd didn't even know he HAD fans until a group of a dozen or more girls flocked around him during break one day...that incident had almost turned deadly...good thing he kept a spare change of clothing on him at all times, he really needed to invest in some tougher clothing, he really couldn't afford to have them ripping his clothes off at every given chance...but that was then, this was now, and Ino had that fangirl look in her eyes again...
Although she hadn't tried to declothe him, she HAD flashed quite a few sets of bedroom eyes his way, not to mention her constant come on's she seemed to throw his way. If she wasn't such a fangirl he might have considered it, but as of right now she was still a fangirl and that was a bad mindset to be in. Oh but don't think that made her weak, due to finding out her crush liked self sufficient women she had taken to upping her training to try and get his attention. The results being, her body was as fit if not more so than Sakura's, and he had been personally training Sakura for the past month and a half!
Asuma waved at the two, flagging them towards the table. "Hey why don't you two join us, we just sat down for some barbecue."
Naruto looked over at Sakura for a moment, an unasked question on his face. Sakura just smiled and nodded slightly, taking a seat next to Shikamaru, leaving a space for Naruto to sit next to her, which he gladly took. The group chatted idly until Choji brought up the fact that the two of them were together outside of a mission, and asked if they were dating.
"Well yeah, it is kind of a date." Naruto laughed uncomfortably as he noticed Ino's frown, "But, it's just a friendly date between teammates, kinda like what you guys are doing."
"Oh, that's good" Ino smiled, as their waiter brought them several helpings of meat so that they could cook on the little grill in the center of the table, the waiter also laid a basket of bread down next to Naruto. Ino perked up at that a mischievous smile on her face. "Hey Naruto, could you pass me a roll?"
"Uh...sure Ino. You want butter on it?" At the affirmative nod he grabbed one of the rolls and spread a small bit of butter on it, handing it over to the other blonde. Now normally that would have been it, but Ino saw fit to throw another one of her dirty one liners into the mix...
"Mmm, A good man always knows how to butter a woman's muffin" She giggled, taking a bite out of the bread.
Naruto groaned and smacked his head into the table, hard.
Asuma and Choji choked. One on his cigarette, the other on a piece of meat he had been eating.
"Troublesome..." Shikamaru sighed, beating on the back of his friend to dislodge the offending chunk of food.
Sakura...she just turned away from everyone, a pained look on her face.
Naruto noticed the look on Sakura's face immediately. Scowling, he turned to Ino and glared "Ino, a word please." He stood up and walked towards the front of the restaurant, forcing Ino to follow quickly or get left behind.
Once the two were outside Ino huffed "Just what the hell is your problem Naruto? It was just a joke"
"'My problem' Ino, is that Sakura took offense to it, and right now anything that affects Sakura affects me."
"Oh? So you are dating then?" Ino leveled a glare at the man, a twinge of jealousy touching her voice.
"No Ino, we're not." He sighed again, he'd have to tell her sooner or later, rather now and be done with it than later and have her beat his ass for not telling her what happened to her friend. "Sakura, was very nearly raped and killed on our last mission Ino."
Ino's eyes flew wide. "W-what?" She gasped in disbelief.
"Yes, it's true, she's spent the last week nearly mute, barely saying anything to anyone, I've only just recently gotten her talking. Your little comment may have only sought to get a rise out of me but it also was a little too sexual for Sakura, the last time someone even mentioned anything close to sex she actually flinched and wouldn't talk to anyone for the rest of the day."
Right about then Ino was feeling terrible about herself, the fact that she had hurt her best friend, even indirectly, hurt her more than she thought it would. "I'm sorry." She whimpered. "I didn't know."
"Knowing something and doing it are two different things Ino, you knew it would make me and everyone around you uncomfortable and yet you did it anyway. And it's not me you have to be sorry to." He gave her a pointed glance.
Ino sniffled a few times before nodding, the two of them walking back inside. Surprisingly Ino took Naruto's spot at the table burying her head into her friends chest and hugging her tight. It was one of the worst fears of a Kunoichi to be raped on a mission, Sakura had experienced that fear first hand and Ino had just reminded her of it. She whispered 'I'm sorry' insistently into the girls chest wraps, soaking the material with what tears the girl was shedding.
Sakura was uncomfortable with how close the woman was to her, she looked to Naruto across from her and noticed that he wouldn't look her in the eye as he mouthed 'Just let her.' Sakura nodded and wrapped the girl in a hug, a few tears of her own working their way into the Yamanaka's hair.
Needless to say the three other men at the table were confused at this sudden change in Ino but when they noticed the glare that Naruto was leveling their way they thought it best to leave the matter to the girls, who were handling it rather well considering.
After the tearful moment between the girls the meal was eaten in relative silence, afterwords Ino and Sakura said goodbye to everyone, Naruto watched the two leave and saw Sakura glance over her shoulder at him, a small smile spread across her face as she mouthed a thank you. Naruto smiled back and nodded.
"What was that about?" Asuma asked, walking out of the restaurant with Shikamaru and Choji next to him.
"It's not my place to say Asuma-san, the only reason I told Ino was because she was friends with Sakura." He let out a weary sigh "I will say this though, this world is dangerous for a shinobi, Kunoichi even moreso and there are times where close calls require a last resort." Without another word he turned and walked away.
Shikamaru and Asuma grimaced and looked back to the two distant girls, they could guess where he was going with that, A Kunoichi's worst fear and the last resort to take care of it. Yeah they could imagine. The three men said goodnight to each other and walked back to their homes, respecting Sakura's privacy over the matter.
-ooo-
"What do you mean they're staying here!?" Anko growled, none too pleased by the fact that a certain pair of Mist nin were crashing at HER tower.
Naruto sighed. "It's exactly as I said, until they have enough money to buy themselves a place they're under our care."
Anko rubbed her head in irritation, a headache beginning to form. "And just WHY are we doing this again?"
"Because Haku is my COUSIN Anko!"
Anko raised an eyebrow in surprise, looked from Haku to Naruto and back again "On whose side? And how close a cousin are we talking about?"
"Mothers side and I'm pretty sure its distant, the Uzumaki and Yuki clans are cousin clans to begin with and even if I'm related to Haku its maybe 4th or 5th cousin, possibly a couple times removed as well."
"So it would be ok if you two fucked then?" Anko mused, tapping her chin idly with a finger.
Naruto let out a choked sound half way between a gasp and a gag, Haku blushing up a storm next to him and Zabuza laughing his ass off, oh how he enjoyed people like Anko.
"Why the hell are you asking ME that?" Naruto griped, pointing an accusing finger at Anko.
"Well, even I can tell the girl has the hots for you, have you popped her the question yet?"
Naruto's jaw dropped, finger going slack along with his jaw. Haku blushed an even deeper shade of red While Zabuza actually stopped laughing and stared, shocked at the woman's gal.
Anko had to stifle a giggle but continued her line of questioning. "I know you've thought about it and Hinata didn't complain when you asked her to be your wife as well."
Zabuza's eyes widened at the implications, this brat was not only married to the snake mistress Anko but someone ELSE as well. "Wait, wait wait. How the hell are you married to two women." He asked, shocked.
Anko cast a glance his way, Naruto still in too much shock to answer. "He's a CRA participant, since he's the last of two separate clans and a wielder of several powerful bloodline traits, and considering I OWN this tower and the land around it, he's now a man of considerable land holding's through me so he is more than capable of marrying more than one woman to revive his clans."
"..." Zabuza was actually speechless at this, he had never heard of that before and said as such to the snake woman.
"You haven't heard of it because the last time it was used was after the first shinobi world war to shore up the members lost to the major clans of Konoha." Anko rubbed her chin in thought "Hell I think it was the old man Hokage who actually started the damn thing after a good 40% of the village's ninja were killed off. I think the current Heads of the Aburame, Inuzuka and Yamanaka clan were born from that sort of arrangement"
Zabuza turned to Naruto who was just coming out of his daze "Kid, you are one of the luckiest bastards I know of."
"Sooo" Anko began, leaning over slightly to look at the girl eye to eye, a small smirk on her face. "If Naruto did ask you to marry him, would you?"
Haku's face turned a deep shade of crimson as she pondered the question, averting her eyes from the seductive snake Kunoichi. Who, she noticed, didn't wear a bra under her mesh shirt. "I-I...don't know, maybe?"
"Anko, don't try forcing her into something, you know my policy on this, I gave Hinata a choice and she took it. Haku has that same choice but its up to her if she wants too." He turned to address Haku "And that choice will always be open to you, it's not like there's a time limit to this sort of thing. So take some time to get to know me and decide for yourself."
Haku nodded, grateful to the blonde as Anko backed off with a huff.
"You're no fun Naruto, you never let me screw with people anymore." She turned her nose up at the blonde in question who just gave her a resigned sigh.
"Anko, if I didn't stop you from doing half the crap you do, most of the people in Konoha would be physically and mentally scarred by now."
"And for good reason." She growled. "You and I both know most of the people in this village deserve a bit of payback for the way they treated you."
Naruto in a bit of tactful genius changed the subject, pointing to Haku and Zabuza. "So it's alright for them to stay, right?"
Anko frowned, he always did that sort of thing when she tried getting a bit of vengeance back for all the times the people of this village treated him like crap, but he'd have none of it and usually scolded her...actually scolded her for pulling the crap she used to do. "Alright." She sighed, she knew when to accept defeat when he was being stubborn, else they would just argue about it for the rest of the night. "They can stay...But you owe me." She leveled a glare his way.
Naruto shivered unconsciously at the look. "What do you want Anko." He was getting a bad feeling about this.
"I think it's about time we finalized a few things." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as Naruto gulped. He knew that look and the way she licked her lips definitely tipped him off on what she was after. "You two!" She snapped, barking an order at Haku and Zabuza who snapped to attention. "You can take any of the rooms on the third or fourth floor. The fifth floor is mine and Naruto's and we're going to be busy for a few hours. So don't bother us." She giggled maniacally. "Or you'll regret it..." She left that final threat in the air as she dragged a mumbling Naruto behind her to their bedroom.
-ooo-
LEMON MOVED TO AFF
LEMON MOVED TO AFF
The two collapsed onto the sheets. Naruto on his back, Anko laying on his chest, the two gasping for breath and it was several minutes before either were able to say anything.
"Holy shit that was awesome." Naruto broke the silence, laughing in short gasps.
Anko joined in his mirth. "I was gonna say incredible, but that works to."
The two chuckled again enjoying each others warmth, that is until she felt Naruto poking her, well a part of Naruto poking her. She glanced down between their legs to see that his cock was indeed hard again.
"Ehehehe hehh..." Naruto chuckled. "Up for desert?" He joked.
Anko stared for a moment before that registered, letting out a bark of laughter she could only shake her head "Nah, we need to get up early tomorrow, I have to do a few things and I know you have team practice as well, we'll save that invitation for another time." She playfully stroked him a couple times as he pulled the sheets up over them, Anko snuggling into his chest. It wasn't long after that both were sound asleep, sharing in each others warmth for the night.
-ooo-
Like I said at the top the lemon is on my AFF account, whick the link is on my profile here.
Ciao.