Disclaimer: All Naruto characters are the copyright of Masashi Kishimoto. I'm just borrowing them to write up a story with no intention of making any money. This is for fun. That's all. :) No copying of my story is allowed. That's stealing if anyone copies my story into his/her own story. Write your own story without taking others' works! (angry glare)
Once more, I thank everyone for the great support for this fic! The reviews, favs, and story alerts for "WIT II" certainly brought a smile to my face! (smiles)
Story rating: T (PG-13)(for minor sexual themes)
Written: November 2008 - present
Summary: Shion visits Konoha to request Naruto to 'help' her again, but not without changes and consequences. Spoilers. NaruShion, NaruSaku, Naru?.
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Whatever It Takes II
Chapter 3 – Vows Made
By JuPMod (aka JPMod)
Eyelids slowly blinked open, allowing sapphire orbs to gaze up at the ceiling. The owner of those eyes let a yawn escaped his being as he stretched his arms upward before training his sight to the night table where his alarm clock laid. It was just passed 8 AM, and since he felt that he no longer had the need to sleep, he casually gotten out of his double bed and padded toward the nearest window, which was adjacent to the bed. After pulling up the blinds, a small grin lit his face as he gazed at the wonderful view of Konoha and the Hokage Monument seen at an angle.
For Uzumaki Naruto, the site was something he loved the most regarding his new apartment. It not only provided the same view he had of the monument that his old apartment gave, but it also gave a better view of the village, especially the areas that were still under construction.
A sigh escaped the blond as he slightly frowned. Even months later after that nearly devastating attack by Pein, the village was still not back to normal, and he had a feeling, it would likely not entirely ever be back to normal. Much like the Kyuubi's attack had done more than 16 years ago, Pein's attack had left wounds, both physically and mentally that would not completely go away. All anyone in the village has to do was look at all the new buildings built up in the past several months and one would be reminded of Pein's Shinra Tensei attack, which left a huge circular crater in the village's heart. Things were not ever the same since then.
Another sigh came from Naruto's mouth as he closed his eyes. There was no point in being angry over a dead man, but Konoha's Jinchuuriki certainly still felt some resentment over Pein's warp sense of reasoning for doing what he did. As far as the teen boy knew, it made no sense what so ever to destroy most of the village after finding out that he was not there. Pein could have just left, but no, he had to do a final attack that left many suffering. Thank Kami that deranged man no longer was among the living.
Naruto gave a tiny chuckle, his lips twisted in a wry grin, for he could not deny that Pein's attack had given him a new apartment, which was far better than the old one. Like any smart hunter, Pein had first went to his prey's apartment, and once he found out where it was located, the Akatsuki man had torn the entire apartment complex from top to bottom. Only after not finding his quarry did the wacko went on a rampage, tearing apart the village and killing every shinobi that confronted him.
Shaking his head at the irony, the young shinobi strolled toward his dresser to retrieve casual attire. He still at times missed his old apartment, given that one came with a nice walkway balcony where he could admire the view outdoors in the fresh air. This new apartment may be updated to the latest standards and stuff with everything new so he did not have to worry about maintenance for a while, but it was not the same, since there was no balcony. Least this top-floor living quarters was an additional floor higher in height compared to the old apartment complex.
With his clothes in hands, Naruto left his bedroom to the bathroom next door in the hallway. There he placed aside his clothes, stripped out of his pajamas and nightcap, and preceded to take a shower to clean his body and rinse away the last of any sleep in him.
As he scrubbed his form, his mind backtracked to the previous day and meeting Shion again, making him smiled at the memories. Naruto could not deny that it has been quite a reunion…
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Knowing Naruto was embarrassed enough, Shion kindly asked to speak to him alone, and getting the hint, Tsunade dismissed Team 7 but not before telling them they have a large amount of time-off for the duration of Priestess Shion's stay in Konoha. Bidding the priestess and her helpers a good evening, the Godiame led everyone out, leaving Naruto behind.
As Naruto began to follow his first lover toward the far-right bedroom, he glanced back to notice Sakura kept looking back at him as she was approaching the suite's exit. He has seen that look of concern on her face before, so he smiled reassuringly at his long-time teammate that he was going to be okay. He received a small nod and grin in return just before the pink-haired girl left, but for some reason, Sakura's grin did not felt right to him.
Dismissing the thought about his friend's grin for now, the blond chuunin turned back to Shion, who already strolled into the bedroom. He quickly followed her and closed the door after hearing words from Shinobu and Miyako that they would be left alone. Only then did Naruto face the beautiful priestess, who stood in front of a large picture window as she gazed at the scenery of Konoha while gently jiggling her infant son.
"You have a wonderful village, Naruto-kun," Shion began after a couple minutes of silence. "I have not ever been to Konoha before, so this is a first for me." Without needing to take light-violet eyes off the view, she sensed him moved to stand by her left side. "When you had written to me regarding what had happened to your village, I couldn't have imagined what you had described to me. Yet now I can see with my own eyes what had happened from the areas not yet recovered." Her lips formed a sad frown. "It's sad to actually see what your people had gone through."
"Yeah," Naruto agreed, sad blue eyes set on the areas not yet started to rebuild. "After Pain's attack, we had to set up emergency shelters, hospitals, and a temporary command center to handle everything since the old Hokage Tower was destroyed. Not to mention on top of getting the village back on its feet, we still had the war against the Akatsuki to deal with as well as some problems regarding Oto. It was a very trying time for us."
Shion slightly grin before turning her head to gaze up at the young man standing next to her. "Yet your village managed to pull through okay." Her grin widened a bit, when Naruto locked his eyes with hers prior to warmly grin at what she had said.
"Well, it's going to take several years to recover from this," Naruto admitted, shrugging slightly. "We still have some people living in shelters, and not all the businesses have reopened. The Fire Daimyo can only supply a certain amount of money to help in the rebuilding effort, thus why even now our shinobi are doing many missions as possible to get much needed funds into the village's coffers."
Demon Country's head priestess chuckled. "As a hero, I'm guessing you will bring in much money, since no doubt you're being asked by many people for your services."
Naruto scratched the back of his head as he chuckled at her accurate guess. "Yeah, that's true. I don't like to be use like that, but if it helps the village to get that needed money, I'll do what I can. Least the Fire Daimyo was kind to double the mission payment for Team 7's services we provided to him in the past two months." Both chuckled again, feeling at ease with one another.
A thought brought up a concern for the blond shinobi. "Shion?" A moment after seeing he has her attention, he continued. "Did you and your attendants traveled from Demon Country alone? I'm not questioning Shinobu's abilities to protect you, but one guard does not seem enough to fight off any bandits or rogue shinobi."
Shion was touched that Naruto had asked the question. It showed his concern for her safety as well as for his son. "Before we left Demon Country, I'd sent a letter to Tsunade to ask for a Konoha shinobi escort team. You and your team were not available, so she'd sent Team Gai instead to accompanied us during the week travel to Konoha."
A relieved grin spread across Naruto's face. "Ah, that's good. You knew about Neji and Lee, so you were familiar with them."
"Hai," Shion confirmed with nod. "I also met their sensei again and their kunoichi teammate, Tenten. They were quite considerate for my safety, especially Haruki's." She giggled. "Gai and Lee at times kept sprouting off words about youth or something, much to their teammates' chagrin."
"Eh, eh," Naruto chuckled somewhat nervously at the vision of the two Green Beasts shouting out 'youthful' words around Haruki. He hoped the two didn't cause his son's ears to rupture. "Well, that's Gai-sensei and Lee for you. They always shout about the Fires of Youth."
"Least Neji and Tenten were normal," Shion smirked while rolling her eyes, which settled on her son, whose blue eyes were gazing back and forth between his parents. "Tenten stated they felt some sort of connection with Haruki, knowing he is the first child of a member of the Konoha 12." She raised her eyes to lock again with Naruto's. "If I recall correctly, that's the group of Konoha shinobi of your age group that you consider your closest friends."
"Yeah," Naruto acknowledged her with a grin just before looking down at his son fondly, which Shion copied. "We've become a tight-knit group that we've became like family to each other. Not only the twelve of us, but also our senseis as well. So Tenten is right that Haruki is special. Even I can feel it now, for our son is the first of the next generation to come out of our age group." His expression became a bit wistful. "It's a clear sign we're all growing up, Shion."
She felt it. That feeling welded up in her heart upon hearing those wise words. Shion couldn't agree more that they were growing up, and the past year has been a time of great change for not only her, but especially for him as well. She could tell he was still the same when it came to be a goof at times, who brought a smile to her being, but when it came to being serious, he has grown up a lot. She too knew she had changed, since she did away with being a spoiled brat and took her role as priestess seriously. Not only that, but since Haruki's birth, she felt she no longer was a child, given now she has the responsibilities of being a mother.
Oh, yes, Naruto was right that they were growing up alright, and she couldn't help but feel her heart clenched in love for him. Those feelings she had months ago were coming back almost full force, thus she did her best to not let those feelings overwhelm her.
Yet as the blonde young woman trained her vision on the father of her child, she spoke out the first thoughts that ran through her mind with a warm expression. "Look at you," Shion softly spoke with love that it made Naruto raised his head to look at her. "You've come so far since we've defeated Mouryou. The picture that you've sent to me of you wearing your red trench coat does not do you justice at all. You look truly like a Hokage, the hero you are. Now more than ever, I knew I made the right choice in choosing you to father my children."
Naruto warmly smiled at that, his heart clenching a bit in the process. "Thanks, Shion-chan. I have not ever regretted those three days I'd spent with you 11 months ago. They were worth every minute spent in time, and I will do so again this time as well with all my heart. I'm honored to be the father of your children, always."
For the first time in months, since the day he left her home, Shion felt her heart would burst. Her lips were in a broad smile, and it took all her will not to let happy tears flow out of her eyes. Damn this man for making her truly knew now that she could not ever love another man compared to him. Not ever.
Unable to form words due to her emotional state, the High Priestess of Demon Country did the next best thing to convey her feelings. She swiftly leaned up and locked her lips to his in a soulful kiss with all her love behind it.
He was momentarily shocked, but soon, the Hero of Konoha returned her kiss with his own, conveying his feelings through the kiss as much as he felt her doing the same toward him. He held her shoulders in his hands as they kissed with all their souls and hearts.
It was a reunion that felt right and just to the two lovers. Not since they last seen each other 11 months ago have their hearts felt so much love. It was like they have not departed at all and these 11 months did not exist.
Breaking apart with a warm smooch, Shion softly laughed at the joy she felt inside her, and seeing him warmly smiling down at her, she knew he felt the same. "Kami, I love you so much, Naruto-kun. I truly love you so much, that I know I can not ever have another man besides you. I just can't, no matter what."
Naruto could see in those shimmering violet pools of her eyes that she meant it, and it deeply warmed him to his core. "I love you as well, Shion-chan," he lovingly conveyed. "I know we can not ever be normally together due to our duties to our separate villages, but you will always have my love for the rest of my life. You have my word."
This time she was unable to prevent a few tears from rolling down her cheeks. Shion knew of his nindo, and he would always keep his promises when he gave someone his word. Her heart was so full knowing Naruto would love her for the rest of his life now, for he had made a promise of a lifetime that was almost similar to a marriage vow.
Feeling the need to change the subject before this lovable man made any more sweet sayings that would cause her more joy than her heart could handle, Shion hiccupped once before gazing at the Konoha scenery, where the setting sun has cast wonderful shades of orange and red upon the village. "To be honest, Naruto-kun, I didn't come to Konoha just to introduce Haruki to you and get you to fulfill your promise." Light-violet eyes momentarily saw he was paying attention before the twin orbs returned to watching the village landscape. "I want to know more about Konoha and its people."
Naruto blinked in surprise at her words. "You do?"
"Hai," replied Shion, her warm smile still in place. "This village and my village are now connected." Her head swiftly turned to gaze up those intriguing blue eyes. "We're a family now, Naruto-kun, and our son is a child of two villages. He will be raised not just by me, but by you as well. It will not be easy, but I know we can work out a way to together raise him despite we each live in separate villages."
Shion paused for a moment before commencing. "So knowing our children will occasionally be living here in Konoha with you, I want to know about much as I can about your village that is not written in the history books. Your cultures, clans, how you run things here, yet most importantly, I want to know your people – your friends and those close to you." She chuckled. "You said the Konoha 12 have become like a family, so I would very much want to know your family, Naruto-kun, especially now that we together have added a new addition to that family," she finished before looking down at the infant boy in her arms.
Naruto was speechless for a moment prior to chuckling in concurrence. "I have no problems in helping you to get to know Konoha better, Shion-chan. I particularly do not mind introducing our little guy to everyone I know. They have all been curious, since they found out I was going to be a father 11 months ago, and now that Haruki is here, I certainly want to introduce you and him to those close to me here in Konoha."
Giggling, Shion has a good hunch that Naruto would introduce their son as any father would, with pride and a somewhat inflated ego. She would not mind this as long as he did not go overboard. Knowing him, he might just be the type to play the 'Up the Baby' game of tossing his child in the air before catching the child. Maybe when Haruki was a couple years older, but as an infant, it was out of the question.
Seeing the small amused grin on her face as she shook her head, Naruto's curiosity was piqued. "What's so funny?" he asked with a grin.
The mother of his son lifted her head to emit an expression that was stern yet amused. "Do not even think of playing 'Up the Baby' with our son."
Instantly, Naruto brought up both hands in the surrender pose. "I will not even think of doing that, Shion-chan. You have my word," he concluded with a nervous chuckle. He knew better to ever provoke a mother's wrath.
"Good," Shion said in satisfaction, and with that said, she trained her eyes to once again look upon the view outside the picture window. The sun was already halfway setting below the horizon, thus the lights of the village came on, providing a gorgeous combination of the red/orange horizon to the foreground of the shining man-made lights.
"Beautiful," the blonde priestess whispered at the view.
"Yeah," Naruto agreed as he too looked at his home village, "but not as beautiful as the two people besides me now." With that said, he wrapped his right arm around Shion's waist without taking his eyes off the scenery.
Her heart once more near brimming with love, Shion rested her left cheek on his right shoulder, feeling content and safe with his arm around her and her son in her arms. Despite knowing that life would not ever be trouble-free, the long-haired blonde has a sense that this was going to be a good beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
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Finishing his shower, Naruto amusingly shook his head. Even after many months apart, he was able to reconnect with Shion so easily that it just felt right. Not only that, but it felt good to be a father as well. Overall, the blond knew it just boiled down to the fact that he was delighted to have a real family to love on top of his friends and comrades.
After drying himself, the Konoha chuunin donned black slacks with orange leg strips, which went along the length of each pants leg, and his old gray t-shirt that has the Konoha Fire symbol on it before putting on his usual shinobi sandals. He then left the bathroom with his sleeping attire to return to the bedroom to make-up his bed and put away the sleepwear.
Knowing it was going to be a long day, Naruto took in a big breakfast in the kitchen of several cups of instant ramen, juice, and even some scrambled eggs. Before he had left Shion last night, he promised to return the following morning to take her and their son on a walk about the village. She wanted to get to know Konoha, and by Kami, he was going to do the best he could to introduce people, places, and other things around the village to her.
Once he ate and made sure he has everything he needed, a few weapons in his strapped leg pouch and his Gama-chan wallet, Naruto left his apartment and headed toward the hotel to begin his day.
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Blinking light emerald eyes open, Haruno Sakura woke from sleep with a tiny grin on her face. It has been quite a good night rest for her. Not that she minded the beds she mostly slept at hotels and other places during missions, but nothing beats sleeping in your own bed at home. After two months, it was good to catch a full night's rest in her private soft bed for a change.
Yet the grin on her face faltered upon remembering the last time she saw a certain blonde shinobi of a teammate of hers. As much as she understood that Naruto has promised Priestess Shion to help her sired the next priestess, it did not mean the pinkette has to like the whole situation. She had been hoping that the blonde girl would give birth to a girl, so Naruto would be freed from his promise. However, Fate gave Shion a boy, thus Naruto has to once again 'mate' with the Demon Country's priestess.
After sitting up and drawing her knees up so she could rest her chin on the knees while wrapping her arms around her legs, Sakura frowned at the thought that her blonde knuckleheaded friend has already begun bedding the floozy priestess last night after she left the hotel. Eyes narrowed as her lips unconsciously made a snarl.
"I just can't believe Naruto has to mate with Shion again! Why him? Why did she have to fell in love with him of all the men in the world? Would it make any difference who the guy is, if she is just looking to pass her bloodline to her daughter?"
"SHA!" Inner Sakura screamed. "THAT'S RIGHT! THAT BLONDE BIMBO WANT TO KEEP NARUTO FOR HERSELF!"
Sakura closed her eyes on that thought Inner Sakura gave. Her whisker-faced friend had stated months ago that even though he loved Shion, a relationship couldn't be possible due to their duties and living in separate villages. Yet why did she have a sense of dread that Shion could, just as Inner Sakura stated, keep Naruto for herself and somehow prevent him from finding someone else to love?
"No," the pinkette mentally answered as she shook her head while opening her eyes. "Naruto always gave his word, and he knows he is free to find another woman to love, thus Shion should not have any means to hold him bound. She would put herself in a bad light in Naruto's eyes if she ever tried to take back her promise to let Naruto go if he found another to love."
Seeing the time on her nightstand's clock, Tsunade's apprentice stood up from the bed and prepared herself for the day. Her sannin sensei had told her yesterday to report to her to begin some further medical training, now that Team 7 would be in Konoha for some time. Sakura knew she still has some way to go until she was a medic-nin on Tsunade's level, thus why the Slug Sennin insisted on further training.
As she dressed, a new resolve came over the teenage kunoichi.
"I'm going to keep a close eye on you, Shion. If you dare break your promise, I will do what I can to protect Naruto! You will not break his heart!"
"IF SHE DOES, WE'LL SEND THAT FLOOZY TO THE MOON! SHANNARO!"
Mentally nodding in total agreement with her inner self, Sakura tied her hitai-ate on its usual spot as a hair band on her head, finishing dressing up, and seeing in the mirror she was ready, the only female of Team 7 clenched a fist in determination to keep her new pledge.
Leaving her bedroom, Haruno Sakura once more reminded herself why she became strong to begin with. Ever since that incident in the Forest of Death involving the Sound genins during that first Chuunin Exam, she had vowed to herself that she would not be left behind ever again as her teammates grew stronger. Ever since Sasuke left the village, she had vowed to not be a burden and become a great asset to her teammates, especially to Naruto, who had made her a promise to bring Sasuke back. Ever since she had learned about Orochimaru's plans to use Sasuke's body to stay immortal, she had vowed to truly rescue him and not just bring him back to Konoha. Ever since Naruto told her of him being the Kyuubi jinchuuriki and why the Akatsuki was after him, she had sworn to protect him with all her strength. Protecting those she cared about was why she has become strong.
Now she has made a new vow regarding the most important man in her life next to her father, and by Kami, Sakura sworn she was going to keep it!
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End of Chapter 3
A/Ns:
1) Okay now. First thing I like to tell everyone is that I'd changed my mind when it comes to the arrangement of names. I went back to the previous two chapters and changed the names to fit the Japanese way – family name first and personal name last. I'd noticed a large number of great fics, like "Team 8," does it this way. Besides, the Naruto world is based on the Japanese culture, not American, thus it made sense to tell the names this way.
Speaking of the name arrangement, if anyone ever read my Kim Possible fic "A Bond of Honor," I kept to the American name arrangement thus the Japanese characters in that fic have their personal name mentioned first and their family name mentioned last. Since KP is based on American culture and the story itself is based in America, well, it makes sense to keep the names that way away.
So I think I learned a lesson here. From now on, all my Naruto fics will have the Japanese name arrangement. :)
2) Another minor thing I changed is Naruto's shinobi attire. Since Chapter 430 came out, I thought Naruto looked cool in that trench coat. So I added the coat in the last chapter. As this chapter mentioned, his coat and Toad Sennin look makes the girls go wild, thus why the Uzumaki Naruto Fangirls Club have the hots for him. XD
3) To be honest, despite that Pein destroyed a good portion of Konoha, it made sense he would have gone to Naruto's apartment complex first before ransacking the village for his target. Chapter 430 confirmed that the Hokage Tower was destroyed along with many other places, yet even if Pain didn't left a crater in the middle of Konoha, Naruto's apartment building would still have been destroyed as I mentioned why it would be.
So thus why I've given Naruto a new apartment in this chapter. :)
4) I'm quite aware that in the anime fillers, the name for all the Rookie 9 + Team Gai – Sasuke is the Konoha 11. Yet after many months after joining Team 7, I think Sai would be part of the gang. It's why by the time of this fic, Sai is now considered part of the group and thus why they are now known as the Konoha 12. :)
5) Despite that "WIT II" has been listed as a drama and romance, this fic also has some comedy and family moments in the story. There are only two slots for the genre listings, thus I can only list the story under two genre categories.
I'm trying to get close as I can to how the Naruto series shows itself. The series has a great combination of drama, action/adventure, and comedy elements. Some episodes would be total comedy, others a combination of comedy and drama, and some would be total drama, etc.
So this is what I'm aiming for this fic. There will be times where a chapter would be drama, other times would have some comedy elements, and of course, there would be romantic elements, as this chapter shown. It brings a good sense of balance to the story IMO. :)
6) Last, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Not only does it contains some nice NaruShion fluff but also the promises of the three main characters. Naruto and Shion have promised to love each other for the rest of their lives, even though they can not ever be together like any normal couple. And Sakura vows to keep an eye on Shion and protect Naruto. How will this drama unfold? Well, we'll see as the story progresses. ;)