The Company of the Worthless

by Caike

After Jiraiya's death, Naruto and Hinata's friendship blossoms, leaving both of them happy... that is, until a terrible incident shatters Hinata's life. What can Naruto do? Lemon. Not abandoned, just my computer broke! Continue to read and review, please!

4. Until the Stars Turn Cold

Thank you, as always, for the reviews! I hope this chapter will please you even more! As for spelling mistakes and the like… note, I often write these at four in the morning, so cut me some slack, please.

The offer on the names of chapters two and three is still good. I'll give you a hint, a keyword: Amazing. To those who got it, congrats!

There might be a bit of out of character here, but hey, I've decided to have fun since we've moved past the tragedy. In the words of a rock band, "Fuck it, let's rock."

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Chapter Four: Until the Stars Turn Cold

Naruto and Sasuke ambled down the streets of Konoha as Sasuke tucked the sake bottle back in his pocket. "So, what are we planning here, exactly?" Naruto asked.

"Well, I was thinking we'd go and ask some of the guys to join us, and then we'd all head over to my place."

"Okay. How about we try Shikamaru and Choji? I think I know where they'll be."

"Oh yeah? How?"

"Just a hunch…"

A few minutes later, Naruto and Sasuke arrived at Team Asuma's (They kept the name in Asuma's memory) busual yakiniku place to find the two men of the team in front of a couple of empty plates of beef. "Oi! You two!" Naruto called, causing their heads to turn.

Shikamaru smiled. "Hey Naruto, Sasuke. Whaddya need?"

"You guys look awfully bored."

"Well, Ino's out, and her craziness usually keeps us entertained," explained Choji, "Why, you guys have something planned?"

"Oh, we have something alright," said Sasuke with a smirk, lightly shaking the sake bottle, slightly obscured by his robe. Both Shikamaru and Choji grinned and, after paying the tab, left with Naruto and Sasuke.

"So where to next?" asked Shikamaru as they strolled down the roads.

"Team Guy's next," said Naruto. "Neji'll know where Fuzzy-Eyebrows is."

They reached the Hyuga complex where Neji was practicing the Gentle Fist in the front yard. Byakugan activated, Neji saw them walking and said, "Ah. Good evening, guys."

"Heeey, Neji," said Naruto, "You wouldn't happen to know where Fuzzy-Eyebrows is this time of night, eh?"

"He's out with Guy-sensei…" Neji said suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. He noticed the outline of Sasuke's sake bottle and said, "Are you going to have a drink tonight?"

"Exactly," said Naruto. "So, we were wondering if you and Fuzzy-Eyebrows would join us."

Neji got a brief look of shock and then said in a very hushed voice, "Oh, no-no-no-no-no. You do not want Lee to even look at a drop of alcohol."

"What?" asked Naruto, very confused, "Why not?"

"Let's just say you'd better hope you have high house insurance."

Naruto blinked rapidly a few times. "O… kay. Well, you'll do, then," he said, and Neji nodded. "Alright, boys, now that we've got our platoon…" he grinned a wicked grin, "Let the good times roll." Soon, they were at the large, empty Uchiha complex, walking down the halls of the main house. "Damn, Sasuke," Naruto commented, observing the surroundings, "You've got one huge place. What do you do with all this space?"

"I mainly spend my days rolling coins down the floor, seeing how far I can get them to go before stopping flat," Sasuke replied plainly.

"What, really?"

"No, idiot." Finally, the group stopped at a large room with a small table in the center. Sasuke placed the bottle on the floor, wandered over to a cabinet and began fiddling with the lock.

"Uh, hate to burst your bubble there," said Shikamaru, "But that bottle isn't gonna be enough for all of us."

"Don't worry," said Sasuke, flipping open the cabinet door to reveal several bottles of varying liquors and shot glasses. "I think we have plenty." The four others sat down at the table as Sasuke prepared their drinks. "Keep in mind that we aren't just drinking for the hell of it," he said authoritatively. "We're also drinking to wash away the troubles of the past year or two, as they've been pretty rough, especially for Naruto over here." The Neji, Shikamaru, and Choji nodded in agreement. "So, with that in mind, let's toast." He raised his glass and the others followed suit. "To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings!" came back the resounding cheer.

As they downed their first helping, Naruto said, "Alright, you guys, here's how this is gonna go down. Shikamaru's gonna be the first down because, no offense, but really, you look like a lightweight. Then… it's gonna be Neji because I think Sasuke can outlast him. Finally, it'll be down to Choji, on account of his, er, build."

"And where does that leave you?" Shikamaru asked skeptically.

Naruto smiled smugly. "Me? I can drink you fools under the table any day."

"Sounds like a challenge…" said Neji with a grin.

"I think so," agreed Choji.

"Well," said Sasuke, pouring another round, "Let's see you put your money where your abnormally large mouth is, eh?"

In the end, the night progressed exactly as Naruto predicted. They talked about their lives, their pasts, interesting things that happened on missions, but slowly one by one, they dropped.

"Woof," said Sasuke, placing his glass down, "I'm out. That's it for me." By this point, they'd moved on to vodka. Shikamaru, though using chakra to steady himself, was tilting steadily from left to right. Neji, ironically enough, was having problems with depth perception (accidentally smacking himself in the face several times) and Sasuke leaned back to catch his breath.

Naruto tossed back another shot and slammed down the glass. With a wild sneer, he barked at Choji, "Alright, Choji, it's just down to you and me! Whaddya got, big man, whaddya got?"

"I can go all night, buddy," burped Choji, rosy cheeked.

"Pour us another, Sasuke!" Naruto ordered, jabbing a wobbling finger.

"Alright, alright, hang on," said Sasuke, grasping the bottle. He was forced to turn on the Sharingan to cease the tiny cup's bobbing to an extent and still managed to spill a good amount as he transferred the liquid.

"Okay, you ready Cho… Chojii-chan?" Naruto laughed at his own apparently hilarious joke.

"Any time," said Choji. "One… two… three!"

They lifted their glasses and drained the liquid, finishing at the same time. "Whoo!" Naruto yelped, shaking his head. "That was smoooooth!"

"You bet," said Choji, wiping the remaining drops from his lips.

"Alright, alright, I think we can settle this more quickly," said Neji, smacking himself again. "Each of you… Take half the bottle and drink… whoever lasts longest wins."

"You alright with that, Choji?" Naruto asked cockily.

"Worry about yourself!" retorted Choji. "You look like you're about to faint!"

When half the alcohol was poured into a previously emptied vessel, Shikamaru held up his hand. "Okay… ready… set…" Naruto and Choji stared fiercely into each other's eye. "Go!"

The two began, guzzling the warm fluid, second after second as Shikamaru, Neji, and Sasuke watched intently. Finally, Choji blanched and fell backwards unconscious. Naruto, finishing his drink, whooped, "Yeeeaaaah! I'm the fucking man! I'm the greatest!" and received high-fives from the conscious three. He raised Choji's bottle and agitated it gently. "Huh. Still some left. Oh well, bottoms up!" he announced, cheerfully ingesting the remaining liquid.

"Aw, damn," said Shikamaru, rubbing his temples, "I'm gonna have to carry him home, aren't I?"

"Yep," said Sasuke plainly.

Shikamaru sighed. "Ninpou… Kagemane no jutsu (Ninja Art, Shadow Possession Technique)." His shadow, wavering heavily, eventually managed to connect with Choji's. Struggling, he lifted his best friend and himself up, groaning, "Boy, Ino's gonna have to do some hangover-healing tomorrow… alright, well, see ya guys, we're out."

"Me too," said Neji, tumbling upwards like a bowling pin.

"Cool, you guys, it's been awesome," said Naruto, hiccupping. "Have a good night and try not to vomit on the way home."

"Psh, look who's talking," said Shikamaru. Slowly, he started to exit, with a last wave, taking Choji with him, and soon Neji followed.

Eventually, Naruto and Sasuke finished putting away the bottles and cups, laughing about everything they could think up. "Alright, Sasuke, I'mma head out," said Naruto, turning to leave.

"Hang on, you're way too smashed to find your way out of here," Sasuke interrupted, placing his arm around Naruto. "Lemme help you out."

Naruto opened his mouth to object, but instead put his arm around Sasuke's shoulder as well and said, "Well, okay, just this once." As they walked, they started vaguely belting a song they liked. "Dadadadadadadaaa… wait, how does this part go?" Naruto wondered.

"Like this… daaadadadada…"

"Nono, it goes – urp – it goes high there, remember? Deededeedededeee…"

"Oh, yeah, you're right."

They continued sputtering the melody until both of them, grinning wildly at each other, yelled in unison, "No boy no cry one two three go!" They immediately cracked up afterward and finally, they reached the gate.

"Well, this is it, Sasuke," said Naruto, walking across the entrance. "Thanks for this… I really needed it."

"No problem," said Sasuke. "That's what friends are for, right?"

"Right," said Naruto with a smile, and began bounding away. Already he could feel his inebriation fading thanks to the Fox, the secret reason for his tolerance, though he was fairly certain at least Shikamaru had figured it out. It kept his system clean of toxins, including alcohol, which resulted in Naruto being simply very sleepy as he went home.

He was very glad to have done this, to see that all their outward appearances could melt away and in the end make it clear that underneath it all, they were men. They were guys, simple and pure. Naruto wondered if Hinata and the rest were having a similar time. "Nah," he thought, "No way the girls do anything crazy like us."

"Sho Hinata," said a thoroughly drunk Ino, "Word on the shtreet izzat you and Naruto are hooked up."

"Is that so…" Hinata murmured tipsily with a hiccup.

"Come aaaaawn!" she groaned while a non-sober Tenten giggled. "Tell ush, whatsh goin' on? You two've had shex, right?" She took another swig of sake.

"Ino, you pig, that's none of your buh… business!" cried Sakura, jabbing a wobbling finger.

"Shh, forehead, thish doeshn't conshern you," Ino mumbled, waving Sakura off. "Anyway, Hinata… shpill."

"Uhm…" said Hinata, fidgeting, "W-well… we have… made love."

"Good for you!" whooped Tenten, giggling.

Sakura rolled her eyes and decided to hell with etiquette. "Yeah, you seemed pretty… spent when I talked to you this morning."

"Indeed," Hinata said quietly. "After all, we had just come from… doing it for a while."

"Oh-hooohh!" uttered Ino. "Now we're gettin' shomewhere! Sho, how long did Naruto lasht, eh?"

"Uhm… Let me see…" Hinata blushed, exacerbating her already rosy cheeks and began to count on her fingers. She reached her last finger on both hands and started over, stopping when she'd once again reached five.

Ino gaped. "Fuh… five hoursh? That'sh crashy!"

Hinata shook her head. "Not five, Ino-chan. Fifteen."

All three women goggled at Hinata. Ino took a deep breath. "Okay… I musht be drunker than I thought, 'cause I jusht thought I heard you shay you and Naruto bumped ugliesh for fifteen hoursh."

"She did…" said Tenten quietly.

"That'sh… That'sh imposshible, right, Shakura?" asked Ino, turning to her fellow medic. "I'm not jushst too smashed to think, right?" That'sh impossible, right?"

Sakura, dumbfounded as the rest answered, "Uh… Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's definitely impossible."

"Apparently not…" said Hinata quietly.

"But you can't have gone on that long!" Sakura objected. "You- and he- he must have gotten tired and run out of-" he voice slowed and diminished, "Sta…mi…na…"

The other two realized what Sakura had hit upon. "Hee-hee-heeee…" Ino chuckled dazedly, "Looksh like maybe we shouldn'ta been chashing after Shashuke-kun all along, eh, Shakura? Mebbe we should've gone with dumb ol' Naruto. Sho!" Ino leaned toward Hinata. "Whaddid he do to ya?"

"Ino!" Sakura shrieked. "That's her business, and-"

"Aw, shut it," Ino said, waving Sakura off again. "You're jusht pisshy becaushe Shashuke-kun won't touch you or that freakish massh you call a forehead."

A vein throbbed in Sakura's forehead. Shattering the floor with a monstrous punch, she rumbled, "Iiiinoooo piiiiig!"

"Hey, you wanna go, we'll go right now," said Ino confidently. "But keep in mind you jusht broke yer own floor wit yer freak strength."

Sakura's rage deflated as she moaned despairingly, "Oh no…! And I just paid to install the hardwood… ugh, Ino, pass me the sake, would you?" Ino did as Sakura requested and Sakura took a gulp.

Ino laughed again as Sakura suffered from her mistake and turned back to Hinata. "Now. Ash we were shaying… what do you an' Naruto do to each other?"

"Uhm…" Hinata said, pushing her fingers together. "Well, he does this thing, where he-" Suddenly, she remembered what Naruto had told her after he informed her about the eight gates.

"Listen, 'cause this is very important," said Naruto in a serious tone. "Please, for the love of God, don't tell anyone, no kunoichi, no one, about these. I don't want every yahoo who feels inadequate in the sack to seek me out for help."

"Well, i-it's nothing special," Hinata concluded. "We just love each other very much, you know?"

While Ino raised an eyebrow and Sakura ran her fingers over the hole in her floor with melodramatic remorse, Tenten cooed, "Aww, that's so sweet!"

Hinata smiled. Suddenly, with her dexterity diminished by the alcohol, she dropped her empty sake dish, which fell to the floor with a light clink. "Oops," said, and bent over to pick it up.

Ino, drunker by the second, stared at Hinata as she did so. All three women were surprised at Hinata when she arrived at Sakura's rented apartment. She wore a fishnet shirt and stockings, coupled with a low-cut short-sleeved top and a skirt that, though not overly short, bared a portion of her thighs. Sakura concluded that with Naruto's aid, Hinata's rate of recovery was accelerating beyond anything anyone could ever have predicted. "Woaaaah!" Ino gasped, "Those are huge! Those are huge boobs!" Hinata blushed tremendously before Ino had even closed her mouth.

Sakura ripped herself from her gloomy state and snapped, "Ino, what the h- Okay, that's going too far, even for a drunk pig like you!"

"Aww, don't be jealous 'caushe your body's ash flat ash yer forehead," Ino smirked, relishing Sakura's infuriation.

"I'll kill you!" Sakura roared, punching another hole in her floorboard and consequently sending herself into another weeping state.

Ino ignored it this time. "Geez, Hinata, what the hell do you eat?"

"Uhm, n-nothing out of the ordinary…" Hinata replied demurely.

"What kinda diet do you do?" Ino asked.

"N-no, I just try to stay healthy, while h-having moderate amounts of snacks…"

"Hmm…" Ino mumbled, finger on chin. "Maybe I could shtand to eat more at Yakiniku…" Secretly, though she would admit it to no one, Sakura thought the same for herself.

Sensing Hinata was a tad uncomfortable, Tenten interjected, "Uh, so, Sakura, your anniversary with Sasuke's tomorrow, right?"

"Huh?" Sakura's gaze rose from her busted floor. "Oh, yeah! Tomorrow, Sasuke-kun and I will have been together for one whole year!"

"You planning anything?" asked Tenten.

Sakura blushed lightly, emphasizing her already rosied cheeks, staring up dreamily. "Mm… I really want to give Sasuke-kun something special… something that'll make both of us happy."

"Yer gonna drug 'im, aren'tcha?" Ino asked flatly.

"No…" Sakura said, gritting her teeth and balling her fists. "I'm… I'm just going to do something that will make us a lot closer."

As the night wound down, Ino collapsed, dead asleep, and Tenten slung her around her shoulders as she and Hinata got up to leave. "Well… looks like she finally hit her limit," Tenten shrugged. "I'll take her home."

Hinata grinned and the three of them left as Sakura waved and then returned to groaning about her floor and the expense it would take to repair it. "Maybe I can get Yamato-taichou to do it…" she muttered.

Hinata was happy, truly happy as she traveled the streets. She felt herself skipping a little, gliding along in her slightly intoxicated state. The night had gone well and she felt it a huge accomplishment. Though she missed him terribly, she was able to leave Naruto, if only for a short while. Her life, for once ever since Kabuto's cruelty, was finally starting to branch back out. Eventually, she arrived back at the apartment and, stepping into the dark bedroom, began to undress.

"Naruto-kun," she whispered, placing her hand on the bed, "Are you awake?"

"Ungh…" the sleeping Naruto muttered with an involuntary snort, "Ah… I love you too, Hinata…"

Her heart swelled and she smiled, sliding into the bed with him and covering both of them with the blanket. "I love you too," she whispered into his ear, mashing her breasts against his back and smiling as a pleased moan escaped his lips. She wrapped her arms around him, running her hands on his warm, muscular chest and dropped into a deep, deep sleep.

Naruto awoke hours later with a yawn and a stretch. "No hangover," he thought, pleased. "Bet it's not the same for the guys. Thanks, Fox." A delicious scent reached his nostrils. "Pancakes? But who would be…" Suddenly, he noticed that there was no one next to him on the bed. Raising an eyebrow, he wandered through his bedroom's doorway to find Hinata, wearing an apron and standing over the stove with a pan in her hand, flipping what Naruto guessed what the origin of the pleasing smell. "Hinata…" he muttered, and she turned to face him, beaming radiantly. "You're… cooking?"

"Good morning to you too, Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed cheerfully, reaching over to kiss him.

"G'morning, but…" Naruto scratched his head, "I didn't know you could cook."

"Well, back when father and the servants would focus on Hanabi-chan, Neji-niisan used to cook for me, but when he went into more intense training…" Her expression faded slightly. "I had to either learn, eat something potentially poisonous or starve."

"Well," said Naruto, giving her shoulders a little squeeze, "It smells great. And I love you."

"I love you too," she replied, grasping one hand and pressing her to her cheek.

On the other side of the village, Kakashi, eyes still closed, awoke to the feeling of a small weight on his chest and the sensation of a tongue running over his face. "Hmm. Didn't know Shizune was into that. Feels kinda nice, though," he thought. Just then, he heard a soft "Bueh!" come from the being to whom the tongue in question belonged. "'Bueh'?" Kakashi's right eye crept open. "Oh, good morning, Tonton," Kakashi said to the small pig on his chest.

"Bueh!" squeaked the pig.

"Oh, I'm quite fine, thank you for asking," he responded, as though it were completely normal to engage in a palaver with a pig. "How about you?"

"Bueh!"

"About the same, huh. I don't suppose you could tell me where your owner is, could you?"

"Bueh, bueh-bueh!"

"So you don't know. Well, I'll just search around myself." He rose from prone position, Tonton bouncing away as he did so. Concentrating, he gathered chakra to his nose and sought the sweet aroma of the woman with whom he'd spent the last night.

The trail led him to the bathroom where Shizune, fully dressed, had apparently finished brushing her teeth. "Ah! Kakashi-san!" she cried happily, wiping her mouth. "Good morning!"

"Good morning," he repeated back to her with a wave. "Boy, she looks better than I've ever seen her." He thought. "Hmm. I wonder… should I pat myself on the back?"

"Well, I'd really love to stay with you, but Tsunade-sama wants me really early and I'm already late," she said, walking from the bathroom to the front door with Kakashi following. She paused as she opened the door and turned to Kakashi, blushing lightly with a demure smile on her face. "I… really had a great time last night, Kakashi-san… and I'd really like to do it again sometime. What do you think?'

Kakashi smiled back, pleased. "I'd like that very much, Shizune-san. I'll contact you."

She gave one last smile and stepped out, calling, "Come, Tonton!" The pig oinked brightly, trotting happily after her as she shut the door.

Kakashi, satisfied with this development, began reaching for his clothes. "I wonder how my teammates are doing."

Over at the Uchiha complex, Sasuke wandered to the gates, where he'd promised he would meet Sakura for their anniversary date. "Oogh," he thought, rubbing his temples. "Orochimaru's White Snake power heals a lot, but it can't stop this crazy hangover. Least I didn't vomit."

"Sasuke-kuuun!" Sakura called brightly, hurrying over to him. Sasuke tried to reduce his wincing from the pitch and resonance of her voice as best as he could.

"Hey, sweetie," he said, giving her a quick kiss. "Do you mind if you could help me out with this… "headache"… of mine?"

"Oh! Sure!" she said, and her and glowed blue as she applied her palm to his forehead. In an instant, he sighed in relief.

"Thanks," he said with a grin.

"Of course," she replied sweetly. "So what are we going to do for our anniversary?"

"Well, first off, I'd like to give you this," he said and whipped out, from his ninja pouch, a small pendant: a silver snake with ruby eyes coiled around a gemmed cherry blossom with an emerald center.

"My… God…" Sakura breathed, taking the gem gently in her hands, "It… it's so beautiful, Sasuke-kun!"

"Custom-made," Sasuke informed her, "Only the best for you."

She nodded and kissed him, keeping her lips pressed to his for an extended moment, but noticed a faraway look in his eyes when they parted. She tried to ignore it, and took his hand to continue their date.

At the Hokage building, Shizune hastily stepped into the main office, carrying Tonton. "Sorry I'm late!" she anxiously called.

"Don't worry about it," said Tsunade nonchalantly, not looking up from her paperwork. "You're always earlier than I otherwise, and I've been awake for a few hours anyway."

"What? Why?"

"Oh… I just had a bad dream, that's all. Couldn't get back to sleep." She glanced at the photo of Jiraiya on her desk.

"I see…" Shizune muttered. "Well! Now that I'm here, we can get this lousy paperwork out of the way!"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "What the hell's got you so happy?"

"Oh!" Shizune blushed a bit. "N-nothing…"

Tsunade, unconvinced, let her observational skills as the most skilled medic in history kick in. "Hmm. Let's see… eyes drooped because of lack of sleep, but you're still awake because of an endorphin surge…"

"I-I had some good coffee!" Shizune protested.

"From your appearance, you only had time this morning to do some basic things and neglected to, say, wash your bed head." Shizune desperately tried to hand-brush her hair into a finer state. "That means that whatever put you to sleep knocked you out good. And let's not forget the lovely fact that you're wearing the same thing you did when you left here yesterday." Shizune had no comeback for that. "Oh my God," Tsunade chuckled, "You had sex last night!"

"I- that is-"

"Little Shizune finally got laid! I can't believe it. You're all grown up now! Did he know it was your first? Who was it, anyway?"

Beet red, she quietly told her, "… Hatake Kakashi-san…"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and then burst out laughing. "You? And Kakashi? No way."

"Why does everyone find this so hard to believe?" Shizune cried indignantly.

"Why? For starters," said Tsunade, waving her finger commandingly, "anyone who knows Kakashi knows that he hasn't gone on a date in over… oh, I dunno, almost a decade or so. And secondly, you haven't had an actual date in God knows how many years."

"I know…" Shizune replied, ashamed.

"Plus, he's very easygoing while you freak out over every little thing."

"I do not!" Shizune objected.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Huh. I guess you're right." She turned to her desk and said, "Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I blew our savings last night on booze and gambling."

Shizune's eyes and mouth flew open as she shrieked, "Kyaaah!" dropped Tonton, and shrieked again, struggling to catch the frightened pig. When she and her pet had calmed down, Shizune looked at the extremely smug Tsunade. "You, ah… you didn't blow our savings, didn't you." Tsunade shook her head slowly. "Okay, so maybe I'm a little high-strung, but only when it comes to you! With Kakashi s- that is, Kakashi…" she looked off dreamily.

"Well, at least you got a good man," Tsunade said kindly. "How was it?"

Shizune blinked, snapping out of her reverie. "Excuse me?"

"Come on! Gimme all the juicy details!" Tsunade urged eagerly.

"What're you, sixteen years old?" Shizune asked in disbelief.

"Seventeen," said Tsunade drly. "Now tell me or I'll give you old, angry patients for your shift!"

"Fine, fine, even though that's a bit underhanded. To be honest…" she blushed lightly, "It was fantastic."

"Uh-huh, now we're getting somewhere!" Tsunade said excitedly. "How did he feel?"

Shizune was confused for a moment, but realized Tsunade's meaning with a tremendous flow of blood to her cheeks. "He… well, even though he did make me, um, 'finish' really well… he didn't actually-"

"Penetrate you?" Tsunade finished.

"Must you always be so crass?" Shizune questioned.

"How is that crass? That's about the gentlest I could put it!"

"Well, yes, that is what I meant…"

Tsunade's expression became blank. "So… you're still a virgin."

"Yes…" Shizune responded, face full of shame.

"Okay. You tell Kakashi to do the job right or you won't give 'im any! Use your womanly power! Haven't I taught you anything?"

"I suppose so," she muttered.

Suddenly, a thought struck Tsunade. "Wait. Did he do this thing where he inserted a small stream of chakra with his mouth and fingers?"

Shizune thought for a moment. "Er, yes, why do you ask?"

"Jiraiya, you old pervert," Tsunade grumbled.

-------------------------------

It was, Sasuke had to admit, quite the wonderful anniversary day. They took a walk in the flower park, swam at one of the lakes, saw a movie (her pick, not his), went dancing, and ate at the finest restaurant in Konoha. They returned to the Uchiha complex, to Sasuke's bedroom ("My place's floor has… a blemish," she explained nervously).

"Today… was completely wonderful, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said as they sat on his head, holding hands.

"I'm glad," he replied with a smile. They soon began to kiss passionately, and it wasn't long before Sakura wanted to move further, taking her top's zipper in hand. But Sasuke grasped it, telling her, "No. Not now."

"Oh…" she said disappointedly. "I… that's fine." Together, they sat awkwardly on the bed, not facing each other. "N… Nothing has changed, has it?" she whimpered. "In all these years… you still can't let me in."

"Sakura…"

Thin, slowly widening streams of tears were running down her cheeks now. "I-I-I know I'm not as c-c-curvy as some of the other girls…" she remembered the drunken Ino's words. "M-m-maybe I'm just not strong enough, or whatever… but I love you. I w-want you to know that I love you so much, infinitely, unconditionally… even if you don't love me, even if you never loved me."

Sasuke breathed deeply, in and out, and closed his eyes. With a remorseful scowl, he opened them, revealing the Sharingan. "Sakura… here is what I want for us," he uttered softly. The three tomoe spun and Sakura's eyes glazed over.

In her mind, she saw herself in a beautiful field, with the sun shining and a cool breeze flowing through herself. "Where…?" she muttered, wiping the tearstains from her face. Suddenly, she noticed that in the distance sat her and Sasuke on a picnic blanket. They had matured past teenage years and now had the looks of young adults, truly enjoying themselves on their outing.

The scene flipped and suddenly, they were in front of the gate to the Uchiha household, where Sasuke had knelt down, a tiny open box in his hand. The Sakura in her mind shrieked in joy at the box and practically tackled Sasuke in an embrace.

Once more the view changed. Now Sakura saw the image of her and Sasuke in a building, in front of an altar. She wore a gorgeous white gown while Sasuke was clad in a fancy tuxedo. The man at the altar spoke and as he finished, Sakura and Sasuke kissed passionately.

Then, they were in the hospital, Sakura lying on a bed, struggling in pain with an engorged belly while Sasuke held her hand tightly. A tiny, crying, dark-haired baby was placed in her arms while the two parents smiled in pride.

They switched to the main building of the Uchiha land's steps. Sakura and Sasuke, older still, watched a few children running around and playing "ninja," pink hair and green eyes mixed in with the dark features.

The porch remained, but now, Sasuke and Sakura had now significantly aged, lines on their faces, their hair graying. They marveled at their children's exploits and their grandchildren's developments. Slowly, they fell asleep on each other's shoulders and the scene finally faded.

Sakura was brought back to reality, gazing at Sasuke, eyes black who had two single-tear lines down his face. "I really, really love you, Sakura, with every part of my soul. The way you are, the way you've been for me… it's incredible. But after all I've done to you, all that I denied you… I never thought I deserved you."

"Sasuke-kun," she said, putting a hand to her cheek, "You're forgiven. You always have been. All I need… is you." She leaned in to kiss him. "Now all I want," she whispered, "is for you to make me a woman." They joined mouths once more, kissing with increasing fervor until suddenly, Sasuke activated the Sharingan once more. "Wha…?" Sakura asked, but Sasuke put a finger to her lips.

"Just relax," he said calmly. The mirror-wheel eye spun again, and suddenly, she felt extreme pleasure all around her body.

"G-genjutsu used for pleasure?" she gasped, while Sasuke began undressing her. "I've never heard of such a thing…"

"The Sharingan is a powerful thing, Sakura," said Sasuke, kissing down her neckline. "Who says it all needs to be for combat?"

---------------------

"So, things have been pretty good as of late," Kakashi told the War Memorial with Obito's name inscribed upon it. "We cleaned up Akatsuki pretty well, even though it cost Jiraiya-sama his life. I haven't had to use your eye's full power, so I haven't been paralyzed in the hospital… My adorable students – well, I guess they're not technically my students anymore, and I they're not really adorable, although they kind of are, I mean in that way that, er – anyway, they're doing well too, falling in love and whatnot. And even I went on a date. Yeah, me. Pretty unbelievable, isn't it? Just felt right, you know? I think you'd like her. She's a great girl; smart, beautiful, funny, she's-"

"Kakashi?" called a familiar voice behind him.

He turned to see Shizune walking toward him and the war memorial. "Ah! Just the fine woman I was talking about. What're you doing here, pretty lady?" he asked with a smile.

"I could ask you the same," she replied.

"Oh, you know. Talking to an old friend."

"Obito?"

"Mm."

"Well… I'm here to talk to someone too."

"Dan?"

"Yes."

"Well, if you'd like me to leave," he said, taking a step back.

"No, no, it's okay." Her hand caught his, pulling him back to the memorial. "I… I think I'd like you to be here." He nodded, placing his arm around her. With a slow intake of breath, she began. "Hi, uncle Dan. I've been meaning to talk to you, but you know Tsunade-sama; making me clean up after her messes… but I love the work, I really do. And speaking of work, I've actually found something to do besides that." She put her arm around Kakashi's waist. "This… is Kakashi, my new boyfriend," she looked into his eye, "Right?" He nodded lovingly. "Right, this is he… I think you'd approve of him. I mean, hell, everyone in the village does. In fact, Tsunade-sama considers him her replacement in case of an emergency for Hokage, which…" her eyes misted up, "which I know was your dream." Sniffling, she choked out, "Well, it's been great to see you, uncle Dan. I'll see you later… I love you." Kakashi pulled her close and she sobbed into his chest. "I'm sorry, Kakashi, a shinobi like me shouldn't cry after all this time…"

"No, no," he said gently, patting her head softly, "Obito used to cry all the time – and I mean all the time – and he was one of the finest ninja I've ever known."

Shizune sniffed. "Thank you, Kakashi."

"Of course." Just then, he spotted a book in her bag, a very, very familiar book. "Hey… are you… are you reading Icha-Icha Paradise?"

She blushed. "Uh, I… yes…?"

He beamed at her. "That's wonderful."

"Well… thank you," she said, cheering up. "To be honest, I never thought of reading them before. I knew Jiraiya-sama had written them, and, with all due respect to him, that told me what kind of books they were. But ever since yesterday, I decided to check them out, and… I have to admit; I really, really like them! I've gotten about halfway of the through since this morning."

"That far already, eh?" Kakashi said with a seldom-seen sort of grin. "Do – do you remember when the main character went to that island-"

"Yes! And he met that woman!"

"Right, and then there was that part where he said-"

"'Sorry, babe, I've got a ride to catch!" they cried in unison, then broke out laughing.

"That line was so deep!" Shizune breathed.

"I know!" Kakashi agreed eagerly. Kakashi tossed his head backward; hand on his forehead protector, exhilarated. "Oh, you are so the woman for me!"

"I hope so," Shizune quietly murmured.

"You know, I can't believe I'm saying this so soon," Kakashi said, taking Shizune's hands in his, "But I love you, Shizune. I really do."

"Kakashi," she whispered, "I… I love you too." No longer hesitant, she yanked down his mask and kissed him passionately.

He kissed back and asked, "So when do you want to do something?"

"Now," she said huskily. "And please…" she recalled her master's words from earlier, "Let's do it properly, this time?"

Kakashi smiled his usual, charming smile. "What kind of gentleman would I be to deny my lady such a request?"

-------------------------------------

"One month?" Tsunade repeated the next day.

"Yes," said Naruto, "Just one month, that's all I need." He recalled the events from the morning, which had lead to this conversation.

"Hinata, you know what I was thinking?" Naruto asked as they lay together in bed.

"What's that?"

"I was thinking… maybe we should go back to our teams."

"You mean… come out of retirement?" she asked meekly.

"Yeah. We can go back to doing missions and stuff. Don't worry, we'll still see each other plenty."

"It's not that…"

"And I want you to know that I'll always be there to protect you. I'll give you this Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) kunai, so that if you ever need me, I'll instantly be at your side."

"I want to be stronger," she said suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I… I want to become better, so that I can protect myself and, if need be, you and everyone else important to me."

Naruto grinned. "Alright… I understand if you want to train some."

"Not just that," she said, "I want you to train me."

Blinking, Naruto asked, "What?"

"You're the strongest person I know, body and soul. I can't think of anyone better."

Naruto took on a solemn expression. "I need you to understand, I was trained by the two greatest and harshest teachers Konoha has ever seen: Kakashi-sensei and Ero-sennin. If you want me to teach you, you'll have to acknowledge that I'll be even stricter on you."

"I know," she replied immediately. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good," said Naruto, satisfied. "Then I promise you that in one month, I'll turn you into an S-class kunoichi."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

"I promise. And I never go back on my word!"

"Okay. So I'll put you and Hinata back into Team Kakashi and Team Kurenai respectively after one month," Tsunade decided, drawing up the paperwork. "Are you sure you can live up to your promise? Can you really train Hinata to such an extent in that short a time?"

"Hey, Ero-sennin managed to turn a failure like me into what I am now in two and a half years, and Hinata's way smarter than I am," Naruto said confidently.

"Good, good," said Tsunade. "Now get out of here! Time's a-wastin'!"

"Yes ma'm!" he saluted, and dispelled his bunshin.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata finished their reps of vertical, one-handed pushups. Naruto felt the knowledge his doppelganger had gathered flow into him. "Ah. Then we're all ready," he said, flipping off of his hand and landing nimbly. Hinata did the same. "Okay, Hinata, if we're gonna do this, we have to do it right. If you don't come at me like you're trying to kill me, you'll never be able to succeed. Can you do that?" He saw her hesitate. "Hinata. Look at me."

Her gaze shifted to meet his. "Byakugan!" she bellowed.

He grinned. "Good. Get ready." His hands formed their cross. "Tajuu Kagebunshin no Jutsu!" Countless Naruto duplicates rushed at her and she assumed her Gentle Fist stance, blasting each clone as quickly as she could. One seized her arms and flipped her, softly but sternly scolding, "You have to be faster."

As she fell, she twisted in midair, spinning and roaring, "Kaiten!" The dome of chakra emerged, knocking back several bunshin. She fought, on and on, but the army never seemed to diminish.

"As of now, I know your every move," he said, using the battle data he'd accrued from his copies. "I'll work to exploit every weakness. You need to work around that." His voice came from different directions. "Forget what you've been taught, what's engraved in your bones. Break free of the bindings of tradition, what you've been told you have to know, and crush what's in your path until you've made your own way. Evolve."

"I… can't…" she panted, fighting on and on.

"Yes you can. Long ago, you made up your own move, I remember, something very powerful but specific to you. I know from that that you can become stronger than Neji, stronger than your father, stronger than every Hyuga before you. Stop thinking. Just fight."

Once again, she found herself believing in his words. She let her body act on its own, letting her movements flow like a graceful dance, one long, connected movement.

"That's it…" he urged, "Use the anger, the suffering, every injustice that's been done to you and hone it into a weapon! Steel must first be blasted in the most searing infernos and hammered roughly before it is ready for combat. But once it's been formed, it becomes a deadly, battle-ready blade. You are the steel. You have been scorched and pounded. You can, you will become that blade!" Her body dragged on though her energy had been depleted. She let out a roar of resolve; thrusting everything she had into her attacks until finally, she'd fully exhausted herself. He dispelled the jutsu, catching her falling body and cradling it tightly.

"Naruto-kun…" she smiled sweetly up at him. "I… I can feel myself… becoming stronger…"

"And it's only been one day," he replied, matching her smile. "We've got thirty left."

"I… I want to do more," she said, "I want to keep going!"

Naruto recalled his and Jiraiya's search for Tsunade so many years ago. "A wise man once told me that play is as important as work. Let's rest now, then we'll get right back to this. How's that sound?"

"It sounds… good," she whispered, falling asleep in his arms. Gently, he picked her up and walked back to their apartment, where he laid her on the bed and tucked her in.

It was then that he breathed a sigh of relief. "She did it," he muttered, "She totally did it." "Thirty more days of this?" he thought, "This is going to be fun."

----------------------

Sakura and Sasuke, meanwhile, walked down the roads of Konoha to partake of a late lunch. Latched onto Sasuke's arm, Sakura cooed, "Oh, Sasuke-kuuun, last night was amazing! I really needed that."

"Hey, wasn't too bad for me, either," replied Sasuke with a cocky grin. "I love you, you know that?"

"I do!" she squealed back cheerfully, "And I love you too!"

As they entered the restaurant, a bubbly waitress greeted them. "Ooh, another cute couple!" she yelped, "We've been getting a few of those, lately!"

"Two, please," said Sasuke.

"Certainly!" said the waitress, and led them to a table.

They sat down and the waitress took their drinks, after which Sakura and Sasuke began to chat. Suddenly, a voice behind them said, "… Sasuke?"

The two turned, and Sakura, spotting two familiar forms, responded, "Kakashi-sensei? Shizune-sempai?"

"Thought it might be you two," said Kakashi, pleased, "although I'm not sure I could confuse that combination of pink and black hair with anyone else."

"Hi, you guys!" Shizune called, smiling. "Sakura, I must say, you look great!"

"You too!" Sakura replied in the same fashion.

Suddenly, the same thought struck both women. "We'll be right back," they said together and rushed off to the restroom.

Little did they know, however, that the same had happened to both men. "So," said Kakashi, "You and Sakura finally did it, eh?"

"Yep," said Sasuke, "And you and Shizune had some fun too, I take it?"

"Uh-huh." They talked a bit more about each of their nights of passion, until Kakashi asked, "Genjutsu, huh?"

"Mhm. Effective, I'd say."

"I can see. I didn't even think about its practical uses… You know, that gives me an idea…"

"Huh?"

"It's nothing," Kakashi said pensively as Shizune and Sakura returned from the lavatory, "Nothing at all."

---------------------

Hinata awoke from her nap with a few heavy blinks as Naruto was dressing. He smiled to her. "Ready to start up again, Hinata?"

Her muscles ached from the earlier training, but nevertheless, she answered, "Yes. I am."

"Good," he said, offering her his hand, "Then let's get going." Once they returned to the training ground, Naruto produced several hundred clones and said, "Alright, Hinata. Over the month, I'm going to be tougher and tougher on you, little by little." Hinata nodded. "Here we go." The army descended upon her and, despite her body's pain, she defended herself from the barrage. "She's doing well," Naruto thought, "But I can see the strain on her body from the constant combat. It's going to start slowing her down."

Hinata noticed it as well. Slowly, it became harder and harder to move at her optimal speed. "Doesn't matter," she decided. "Fight on, push through the pain." Blow after blow, spin after spin, even as her lungs felt as though they were in flame, she forced herself to continue. Finally, however, her legs gave out, folding underneath her. She struggled to get up over and over, wheezing from exhaustion. "I… I can still fight," she gasped and flipped herself onto her hands, using her limp legs as makeshift flails to attack Naruto's remaining bunshin. Suddenly, she felt her body scooped up by a gentle pair of arms.

"I know you can keep fighting," Naruto whispered into her ear as she panted, "And there will come a time where you will. But for now… let's just relax, okay? No need to rush."

She nodded, clutching his jacket. "Thank you," she murmured, "for everything."

He kissed her. "It's the least I could do," he said, and carried her back home for the second time.

----------------------

"'He gazed into her eyes and said, "If ever you reach out to grasp my hand, you can be sure that it will be there to carry you," and bounded away, into the deep, mournful night,'" Kakashi read from Icha-Icha Paradise at his apartment, Shizune in his arms.

"Wow," she said, "That was an amazing chapter, Kakashi."

"Yeah. Jiraiya-Sama sure could write," he said, closing the book and laying it on the table next to him.

"So," she said unabashed, wrapping her arms around his neck, "What do you suppose we do now?"

"I think you have an idea already," he said smoothly.

"I do," she said, and eagerly pulled his mask down with her teeth. As soon as it had crossed his jawline, she began kissing him vigorously. "Oh, Kakashi, whatever you did to me last night, it was amazing!"

"I've got something even better planned for tonight," he said with an excited grin. They quickly undressed and Kakashi began his work. The night before, he had reached the seventh gate, not wanting to risk the eighth, and had finally taken her virginity. "Now, I'm not an Uchiha, so this I might not be able to do this like Sasuke can," he thought, "But I think it'll be quite effective." "Shizune," he said quietly, "Look at me."

"O… Okay," she said breathily and established eye contact. As she matched his gaze, his Sharingan spun and she felt a strange sensation all over her body; like a buzzing, but making ever part of her vibrate with intense pleasure. "Kakashi… what… what is this?"

"Something a friend inspired me to do. It's about to get a lot better, though," he said, and put his mouth on hers, activating the first gate with ease. She moaned into his mouth and rapidly, he activated gate after gate until he reached the penultimate one at last. "… I can't do it yet, not in good conscience," he said, and settled for thrusting inside her until she was hoarse from screaming in orgasm.

Kakashi, not one for intense expression, had climaxed more silently, but just as effectively. She laid herself by him and he whispered to her, "When you wake up, we'll find out what happens to the blonde beauty."

"I… can't wait," she croaked, and promptly nodded off.

"Boy, am I good at what I do," he muttered, and, with an arm around his lover, dropped off to sleep as well.

-----------------------

"So how goes the training?" Tsunade asked one of Naruto's kagebunshin.

"It's great. She's coming along extremely well." He grinned. "There's no doubt in my mind she'll surpass Neji.

Tsunade smiled. "Very well. I'm impressed. But one more thing before you go…"

"Yeah?"

Softly, she asked, "Have you used the Eight Celestial Pleasure Gates on Hinata?"

Naruto blinked rapidly. "How… do you know about those?"

"How do you think?" she asked flatly.

"Ero-sennin told you?"

"A long time ago."

"Why?"

She blushed, and hastily replied, "H-he was a pervert, r-remember? Why wouldn't he do something like that?"

With bated breath she waited for Naruto to respond. Finally, convinced, he said, "Sounds right to me." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that all?"

"Y-yes," she said, "And, uh, good for you. Dismissed!"

She watched the bunshin disperse and fell into deep recollection regarding when Jiraiya had disclosed that information

"Sorry, but no thanks!" roared a young Tsunade as she walked away from an equally aged Jiraiya.

"Come ooooon, Tsunade-hime! I'll make it worth your while!" he begged, chasing after her.

"For the last time, no, Jiraiya!"

"Really? Not even one date?" he asked, incredulous, "I'd show you, I can do… incredible things with these fingers of mine," he added with a sly grin.

For some unknown reason, Tsunade stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?" she asked, skeptical.

"Oh yeah. Women swoon and writhe at my touch!" He began to pose. "I'm the ultimate sexual beast, the great toad pervert of-"

"Yeah, yeah, the pervert bit," Tsunade cut him off. "I'll tell you what… I'll let you show me what you can do."

Jiraiya's eyes bugged out. "What, really?"

She blushed. "Y-yes," and quickly added, "But only to prove that you're nothing but an arrogant jackass! I bet you're all talk!"

"Is that so…" he said coolly. "Then let's find a place to do this, shall we?" They wandered for a while until they found a suitable in and paid the price of one night's stay. "So…" he gulped awkwardly after they'd undressed, "How do you want to do this?"

"Um…" she uncharacteristically pushed her fingers together, "I… I guess I'll start reluctantly – and let me make that very clear – k-kissing you."

"Sounds good to me," he replied, and little by little inserted his tongue into Tsunade's mouth. "Her scent is so beautiful, and her taste is amazing!" he thought as his tongue swished around her mouth.

Little did he know that she was thinking similar thoughts. "Wha… what is this feeling I have for him?" she wondered, enthralled by his workings, "I… haven't felt anything like this since… Dan."

Jiraiya, pleased, noticed her nipples had become erect. "Hot already?" he uttered smugly, "I think you've already lost this bet."

"Sh-shut up!" she gasped. "I'm not finished yet!"

"You will be," he replied, still supercilious, "We haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet."

"What do you m-mmph!" his tongue thrust in once more, she barely felt a tiny stream of chakra in her mouth. Instantly, pleasure flooded her senses, the pleasure induced by his every touch amplified.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, was thoroughly enjoying himself, relishing what he'd done to her. "No time to admire my own work, though," he thought, and continued onward.

Tsunade felt his fingers push on an area around her breasts and another wave of sexual thrill powered through her, and soon after that, another nudge right down her torso. Suddenly, nearly every point on her body ached for pleasure and Jiraiya was happy to comply. He grinned lecherously as he pressed his palms into her breasts. "Finally," he thought, "after all these years I've gotten my hands on them; the biggest, most firm and perfect set of jugs I've ever drooled over!"

As he squashed her breasts as hard as he could, taking her nipples, sucking and squeezing them at rapid pace, she screamed in pleasure. "Oh… my God," she thought, "I didn't know Jiraiya had anything like this up his sleeve!"

"It's her first time with the gates, and as much as I'd love to go on, I can't let myself," he thought, and cast the protection jutsu. Thrilled, he got into position and drove into her with all his might, her screams of delight as the sweetest symphony to his ears.

Finally, she climaxed over and over, with his own release chasing hers. "So," he said as they basked in the afterglow, "I take it you admit defeat?"

"Y…" she began, then, eyes wide in realization, said, "Hell no! I… I think you just got lucky!"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "You think I can't do it again? Bah! I can do all that and more!"

"I think it was just a fluke."

"Then how about double or nothing?"

"You're on!" she said with a clenched fist.

"Then let's get this started!" They started again, this time with more fervor, and Jiraiya quickly activated gate after gate.

Tsunade could not believe what she was feeling. Her desire was escalating at an exponential rate and then, suddenly, her mind went completely blank, melted down to just one incredible feeling of pleasure, that one emotion and… one more. Jiraiya resonated in her heart; everything he was, every aspect of him now deserved her affection.

Jiraiya's heart raced. He had reached the final gate. "Oh, if only she loved me," he thought with a look in her eyes… and then, suddenly, he saw it. Reflected in her chocolate orbs was the shining light of love. Jiraiya was overjoyed; the one thing he had been seeking all these years was finally his, and what better way to celebrate than hitting the last gate? With one final drive, he activated it, sending both of them into sweet, sweet ecstasy.

They awoke the next morning at almost the same time. The events of the last night still ringing in his head, Jiraiya asked, "So… do you want to do something later?"

"What, like a date?" she asked back, gathering her clothes.

"Uh… yeah," he said hopefully.

"Look, Jiraiya, I'll admit I really had a great time last night," she said as she dressed, "But that's just what it was, remember? We said it would be just a great time."

"Oh," he said in disappointment. "Are… are you absolutely sure?"

"No," she thought, "I'm not. Tell him you love him. Tell him you need him. Tell him you want to grow old together. Tell him you want to spend every waking moment with him. Tell him anything, anything, but…" "Yeah. I'm sure."

He inhaled slowly. "Well… okay. I'll, uh… I'll see you around, right?"

"Right," she said. "And before we get out of here… what the hell was it you did last night?"

"Er…" He gave a brief summary of the gates, ending as he said, "And the last gate has a very special property, which is…" he trailed off.

"Which is?" she urged.

After a moment's hesitation, he drew a deep breath and said, "Which is that it's the most powerful. That's all."

"Well… I can't say I'm not glad you know these, especially after last night." She walked towards the door. "So… I guess this is it."

"Yeah," he said. "See you." She waved slowly and was gone. After a few seconds of contemplation, he walked steadily out of the room. "What the hell happened? Did I screw up the last gate?" He shook his head. "No. I don't screw up, especially not with ero-jutsu. Then the only conclusion… is that she's lying. She's lying and she loves me like there's no one else on the planet. But… I know she'll never admit it." With a resigned sigh, he walked onward. "Oh well. At least I have new material for my novel."

Tsunade wondered just what would have happened if she'd admitted her feelings to Jiraiya all those years back. "You always had to have your stupid pride, didn't you? Idiot." With a longing glance at his picture, she took a swig of sake and got back to work, hoping that time – and booze – would ease her pain.

-----------------------

And that's this chapter over. It's been completed for a while, but my internet crapped out, so I have to mooch off the sometimes-working neighbor's internet.

Like I said, the characters got a bit out of character here. Anyone who watched the anime will know that the song Sasuke and Naruto drunkenly belt makes this all a little meta.

I took a big leap deciding whether or not to include the Jiraiya/Tsunade bit. I hope it pays off. As always, review, review, and review some more! Tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, all of it! Your reviews help my writing grow!