White Kunai
Chapter 24- Concern
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The door to Naruto's office opened and he looked up, frowning at whoever dared enter without knocking.
"Sasuke-teme," Naruto rolled his eyes. Of course. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Sasuke shrugged and stood in front of Naruto's desk with his arms crossed. "Sakura came back to the house with her friends."
A grin formed on the jinchuriki's face. "Couldn't handle it?"
Sasuke took a seat on one of the chairs. "She's taking care of the baby now."
"And you couldn't stand Ino's high pitched squeals, huh?"
"Your wife was there too."
"Yeah, but she's adorable and doesn't make those cooing sounds," Naruto stared off into space, a lecherous smile forming on his face. "At least not all the time."
Sasuke groaned, letting his head fall back. "Shut up, dobe," he said. "I don't need to hear about your sex life."
Naruto laughed. "You're the one that came waltzing in here unannounced." He stopped laughing abruptly. "Who you calling dobe? Respect your Hokage."
"Apologies, Hokage-dobe."
Naruto couldn't help but smirk at his rivals' humor. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, his arms behind his head. "So what brings you here anyway?"
Sasuke looked at Naruto, his face looking more serious than normal. "Some of my Anbu men informed me that they have seen a woman lurking around your home."
Naruto's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed. "What woman?"
"Tch," Sasuke sniffed. "You tell me."
Naruto looked at him confused. "I don't know what you mean."
Sasuke blinked. "Do you need me to spell it out for you?"
The Hokage frowned. "Yes."
"A woman has been seen around your home," Sasuke said slowly. "A woman that isn't Hinata."
"And…?"
"If a strange woman is seen around a married man's home while the wife isn't around what do people assume?"
Naruto stared at him a few minutes before slamming his hands down on his desk and standing up. "I am NOT cheating on Hinata!" he said incredulously.
Sasuke smirked. "I didn't think so."
Naruto sputtered. "Then-"
"I doubted this woman was some…mistress-"
Naruto snorted.
Sasuke glared at him but continued. "I doubt that this woman was some mistress of yours. After all, it was a miracle in itself that you got the Hyuga to fall for you."
"Hey! I-"
"But the problem still remains that there was an unknown figure lurking around your home,"" Sasuke said, becoming serious once again. "The Village of Konoha's Hokage's home. The home where your wife and future child spend a lot of their time."
As Sasuke was speaking these words Naruto felt his body turn cold. And just as quickly, he felt his blood boil with anger. How dare someone threaten Hinata and his baby?
"Who. Is. This. Woman." Naruto demanded.
Sasuke seemed to hesitate. "We don't know much. For all we know this woman could actually be a man or some other ninja in disguise."
"What do you know?" Naruto asked again.
"We think she has red hair," Sasuke said, once again standing at his place in front of the Hokage's desk. "But even that we cannot say one hundred percent."
Naruto clenched his fist. "How don't you know?"
"Our priority is mainly protecting the Hokage, not the Hokage's house."
"Your priority should be my wife!" Naruto shouted, his feelings getting the better of him.
"Our priority is this village, and in turn you-"
"I'm connected to Hinata," Naruto said, his voice deep with a tumult of various emotions. "So in turn, she is the village. My-"
"Naruto, I understand you care for her," Sasuke said. "I regret our choice in Anbu placement but we don't have many to spare anymore anyway. After the war we lost a lot of capable nin and it takes time to nurture new Anbu. We're spread thin as we are."
Naruto's jaw clenched as he stared down his friend. Then he shifted his eyes away with a sigh. He sat down in his chair with a thump and put his face in his hands. "Do you know why this woman was by my house?"
Sasuke shook his head. "We don't know how many times she has been there or what she's been doing or even if she's actually been in the house. We've just seen her around the area only to disappear. For all we know she could simply be living in that part of town or have to walk by there to go somewhere-"
"Then follow her and see where she goes."
Sasuke nodded. "We're planning on doing that. She might not even be a problem. She could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time... In this case when some Anbu men happened to pass by your home. I don't know if she's actually a ninja."
Naruto looked confused. "What?"
"No one has sensed chakra from her."
"She could just be very hiding it."
"She could be."
Naruto grumbled. "So we don't even know if she actually did anything wrong?"
"That's right."
"So I might be stressing out for no reason?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I know."
Naruto sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. "I've just been paranoid since reading that threat letter."
Sasuke stared at his spiky haired friend. "The murders have stopped, right?"
"Yes," Naruto mumbled, his hands still covering his face.
"Maybe it's all over then," Sasuke said, not believing his words.
Naruto opened his eyes blearily. "Sure."
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Naruto said, sounding tired.
A young man wearing glasses walked in and bowed. "I have a message from the leader of the Village of Ash, Sora."
Naruto didn't even look surprised.
"Continue," he said, his voice grim.
"He just wishes to thank you for the ninja you've had stationed there and wants you to know that he appreciates you for trying."
Naruto gave him a weak smile. "Tell him I'm grateful for the thanks and that I'm sorry I couldn't accomplish much more."
The man nodded, standing straight, his black hair moving neatly back into place. "Is that all, Hokage-sama?"
"That's all," Naruto said with a nod. "Thank you."
The man bowed once more and turned and exited the room, shutting the door on his way.
Sasuke looked at Naruto. "You've called the ninja back?"
Naruto nodded. "I don't think there is much left to do there now," he said with a sigh.
Sasuke put his hands in his pocket and turned to leave. "Well, you have your own village to run," he said bluntly. "Concern yourself about Konoha. Live your life with the Hyuga. Let them handle their own business."
Sasuke flickered and seemed to vanish and Naruto chuckled to himself. Sasuke would be Sasuke. Self-preservation.
Unless friends are in danger because then the body just moves on its own.
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It was late when Hinata started to head back home. Ino offered to walk her back and Hinata asked her, with slight suspicion, if today was her turn to watch her. Ino laughed and had said no.
As Hinata walked back she realized that for the past few days Naruto hadn't sent someone to watch her. Either that or she just didn't realize she was being shadowed. She sighed. It was odd not being able to sense things. It sort of felt like having to live nine months with one hand tied behind her back. She felt blind. (Not to mention using her Byakugan could prove fatal from chakra exhaustion now).
She was so preoccupied in her thoughts that she didn't realize someone had walked up next to her.
"Sasuke!" she said, surprised. Sasuke said nothing but kept up his pace with her. "What are you doing here?"
"Has anyone been following you?"
Hinata tilted her head, perplexed. "Do you mean anyone other than those Naruto-kun sent to watch over me?"
"Yes."
Hinata's eyebrows came together in worry. "I'm not sure. Why, has there been?"
Sasuke said nothing.
There was probably nothing to worry about.
But still.
"Sas-"
"I'll walk you home."
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Hinata shut the door behind her, leaning on the wooden frame in wonder. Why would Sasuke offer to walk me home today? She sighed and slipped off her shoes before venturing into her home.
She inhaled deeply through her nose and her eyes lit up.
The kitchen light was on and as she entered the room the scent of baking cinnamon buns got stronger.
"Naruto-kun, you're home!"
She stood in the doorway as she watched her husband slide out a tray of her favorite freshly baked pastries. He was wearing her apron that was a bit too small on him and had flour and cinnamon sprinkled all over it. He gave her a lopsided grin as he set the tray down on the counter to cool.
"I made your favorite Hinata!" he announced, thrusting his chest out proudly. "Cinnamon buns! From scratch!"
Hinata walked over to him and pretended to inspect the sweet mounds of cooked dough. "Hm…"
Naruto looked flustered. "Wait, wait! I forgot the frosting and stuff!" he quickly added the finishing touches before standing back. He watched Hinata pick up one of the now finished cinnamon buns and turn it around in her hands. She ripped off a piece of the pastry and popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly. He held his breath.
"Delicious!"
He whooped before grabbing one of his own and ripping of a giant chunk with his teeth. He promptly coughed it out. "Hot! Hot!"
Hinata giggled. "You should be more patient, Naruto-kun," she chastised playfully, watching as he let water from the faucet run over his tongue. She smiled. Sometimes this big, bad, savior of the ninja world could be just like a child.
"Hinata, I think I burned my tongue," Naruto whined, looking at her with sad eyes.
"Aw," she said, shaking her head with a smile. "What can I do to help?"
"Kiss it to make it better?" he asked coyly.
She laughed before tiptoeing slightly to place a light kiss on his lips.
"Aw, Hina-hime," Naruto hummed, pulling her to him. "I think this…this battle scar needs more than one kiss to do the job."
"Battle scar, huh?" she asked, bringing her hands up around his neck.
"Mhm. And the scar is on my tongue..." he winked before capturing her lips with his. They stood there, in the warm kitchen, just sharing light touches before Naruto pulled back with a grin. "I think I felt our baby kick," he said.
She looked down at where her stomach was in contact with him and placed her hand on her rounded belly. "I felt it too."
"We have a strong little baby, huh?"
Hinata nodded, smiling wistfully. "Strong like his father."
"And mother," Naruto said, wiping away some frosting on the corner of her lip. He popped his finger into his mouth and Hinata went red at the indirect kiss. "Sweet."
She let out an airy laugh before moving to the refrigerator. Naruto watched her as he grabbed the cinnamon bun he had abandoned before.
"So what would you like for dinner?" Hinata asked.
Naruto spit out the chunk of the pastry he ate. "Oh, that's awful!" he said with his tongue sticking out of his mouth.
Hinata gave him a nervous smile.
"You said it was delicious," Naruto pouted.
"Delicious…attempt?" she said warily.
Naruto chuckled. "Well, I think I spoiled my appetite with this horrible dessert."
"Naruto-kun," Hinata admonished, putting her hands on her hips. "First, you come home early with no explanation and next you won't even eat dinner?"
Naruto laughed. "Excuse me," he said, copying her pose. "You're the one that hardly eats now a days," his playful demeanor changed to worry. "Really, Hinata. You hardly eat now."
Hinata dropped her arms to her sides. "I just feel nauseous," she said.
"But your cooking is delicious!"
Hinata smiled gratefully. "That's sweet, Naruto-kun. But I just feel strange when I eat it."
Naruto frowned. He seemed to be thinking. "I'm going to treat you to some fancy-shmancy dinner tonight."
Hinata shook her head frantically. "You don't have to do that!"
"Nonsense!" Naruto said, grabbing her hand. "You've got to eat some place! And I'm going to take you to the best place we have in Konoha!"
Hinata laughed as she let her husband pull her along. "Ichiraku?"
Naruto paled. "Well, that pretty much is the best place kind of, but not today! Today we will be eating high class," he said grinning.
Now it was Hinata's turn to pale. "At least let me change into proper clothes."
"You look beautiful as always, 'Nata."
Hinata turned red.
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"I. Am. STUFFED!" Naruto proclaimed rubbing his belly lazily.
Hinata watched him fondly as they walked down the darkened street towards their home. "The food was amazing," Hinata said.
Naruto nodded. "Not at good as yours, but it'll have to do." Hinata laughed and Naruto watched her before slipping his hand into hers. "Did you feel nauseous this time?"
She shook her head. "I actually really think I only feel sick when I eat my own cooking," she said, looking downcast.
Naruto looked confused. "That doesn't make sense. You even use some fresh ingredients from our garden, right?"
"Right," she confirmed. She sighed. "It doesn't matter. It's probably hormones?"
He huffed. She didn't seem too sure about her conclusion, but then again he didn't know what to say either. "So Hinata," Naruto said, his frown changing into a sly smile and looking at her with half lidded eyes. Hinata immediately knew where his thoughts wandered and she couldn't help but want to roll her eyes. She didn't of course. She was a Hyuga. "Hinata, I'd love to go home and make sweet love with you but-" (at this point he was grinning at the bright red his wife had turned) "-but I'm feeling a bit tired."
"I-I'm okay with that Naruto-kun," she said, her old, shy demeanor returning with the talk of their sex life. "My feet have been aching all day anyway."
Naruto's joking manner immediately vanished. "What? I didn't know that! Hinata, if you told me that I wouldn't have taken you walking everywhere."
"Oh no, it's fine-"
"C'mon, I'll carry you home if you want," he said, ready to scoop her up.
She held out her hands to stop him. "Naruto-kun, I'm okay!"
He looked at her, a petulant expression present on his face. "You're carrying our child, Hinata-chan," he said, his voice soft. "I want to do all I can to make everything easy for you."
She smiled at his sensitivity. "Thank you," she said, putting her hands on his chest before giving him a lingering kiss. "But I'm not made of glass. I can handle a few aches and pains. But it's nice to know what a doting husband I have."
He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing his nose against hers. "That's right."
She giggled before pushing him away. "We're in public," she explained at his protests.
"But no one's around!" Naruto moped, following her like a kicked puppy. Then he realized that they were approaching the street their house was on and quickly rushed to her side, draping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to his side.
Hinata felt the change in the way the muscles around his mouth seemed to tense and the tight grip he had on her. "Is everything alright?"
"Yup," he said shooting her a smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes and she knew everything was not all right. She looked at him with a blank expression and he almost cringed at this un-Hinata-like demanding look. He sighed. "Let's just get home." She frowned. "Please?" he almost pleaded.
She relented. "Of course."
He gave her a hesitant smile. "Love you."
"I love you too," she said, smiling genuinely.
They finished their trek back home in silence.
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Hinata woke up the next morning feeling slightly sluggish from the big meal she had the night before. She yawned and sat up, stretching and letting out a small sigh as her muscles loosened. She blinked her eyes wearily a few times before turning her head to look at the sleeping man beside her.
Naruto was sprawled on his back, his mouth open, and a little bit of drool present at the corner of his lip.
Hinata smiled before running one finger along his whisker birthmark.
Naruto's eyes immediately snapped open.
"Morning," she said softly.
He yawned loudly before taking hold of her hand and kissing each finger. "Good morning, love."
A faint pink dusted her cheeks. "Do you remember that time…" she trailed off, trying to think of the right words. "One of the first times when we started sharing the same bed…"
"I like where this is going," Naruto said, amused. He sat up and pulled her over so that her back was against his chest and his legs on either side of her.
Hinata shook her head at her the perverted direction her husbands mind took as she leaned into him. "Well, one of those days I remember I had woke up before you and I did the same thing I did now."
"Touch my whiskers?"
"Mhm."
"Oh!" Naruto said, his eyes lighting up. "I remember!" he laughed. "I'm still sorry about that," he said, pressing his lips against her neck.
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About Five Years Ago
Hinata woke up with a slight ache in her nether regions but a blissful sense of contentment and a smile on her face. She wondered what pulled her out of that well deserved sleep when she felt a slight pressure near her waist. She saw a muscular, tanned arm wrapped tightly around her body and turned her head slightly to watch the man holding her breathe out deeply. He mumbled something in his sleep, his mouth twitching into a slight smile and he pulled her closer.
Hinata giggled and snuggled up to him, fingers gently tracing the contours of his muscles, the light blonde hairs on his skin rising on contact. His naked chest was pressed against her equally naked one and she couldn't help but blush. Pushing away just the slightest to create more room between them she pressed the palm of her hand against his hard chest, marveling at how opposite it was compared to her softness. She placed the lightest of kisses on the crook of his neck appreciating this time of quiet and serenity to admire his body.
Hinata blushed at the thought. What was she doing? She was ogling Naruto. She bit her lip and pulled her hand back to her body, wondering if she should continue. She stared at his face, his smile turning into a frown, apparently because of the lack of warmth. She felt his fingers move against her bare back, pressing against her skin to pull her close again. He picked up his left leg and threw it over hers. If Hinata wasn't blushing, she sure was now. There was nothing but skin to skin contact between them now.
She contemplated whether or not she should wake the man but he looked so peaceful that it would have been a crime to break him of his reverie. She let out a soft sigh and lay her head next to his, almost nose to nose. She blinked lazily, simply admiring his features. His ruffled golden hair, strands stuck to his forehead after last nights sweaty affair. His forehead, just a little less tan than the rest of his face, being always covered by his forehead protector.
She pouted. His eyes. She really loved those bright, blue eyes. They were hidden from her view. His nose. She smiled. She didn't know why but she really found his nose cute. She just wanted to kiss the tip. She resisted.
His lips. Hinata smiled and bit her own lip in response, her thoughts going back to the activity that occurred a mere few hours before. Those lips were everywhere last nice. Tracing a path across her body, leaving a fire in its wake. She blinked and shook her head. She was starting to feel flushed. She swallowed and forced her eyes away.
Hinata's face looked curious. She stared at the lines marking his cheeks. Those lines had always fascinated her. Ever since they were kids. They were so distinctively Naruto. She wasn't sure if he had them because of Kurama's influence or some other reason. Either way she was fond of those whiskered marks. She couldn't help it.
She raised her hand to touch them.
It was the lightest of touches. As light as a feather but the moment her fingers made contact with the marks, Naruto's eyes snapped open and she felt all the calm and tranquility evaporate. Before she even knew what had happened she was pinned into the bed with something cold and sharp against her skin.
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Present
Hinata giggled. "I should have known better than to wake up a sleeping ninja."
Naruto grinned against her neck. "I still wasn't very used to not waking up alone yet."
"You flipped me onto my back and held a kunai to my throat."
Naruto groaned, throwing his head back. "I apologized a million times, Hinata!"
Hinata laughed. "You don't have to apologize! It was a funny moment, huh?"
Naruto chortled. "You were in shock. You stared up at me with wide eyes and I felt so bad for scaring you. I don't want to ever scare you."
"I wasn't scared," she said, turning her head so her lips could reach his. "I was surprised. And you made up for it."
"I sure did, didn't I?" Naruto said huskily. His fingers trailed along her outer thighs and he nipped at her skin lightly. "I think I should make up for my laziness last night right now."
Hinata's breath hitched. "You'll be late to work," she said, her heart beating faster as she felt his fingers venture to the inner side of her thighs.
"That's alright," he said, nibbling her ear. "I'll make up for that too." She hummed in response, tilting her head to the side.
Indeed, Naruto was late to work that day.
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Hinata watched her husband run around the room, frantically throwing on different articles of clothing. She sat on their bed, the sheets tangled around her legs and waist. Her bare chest gleamed from their vigorous lovemaking.
When they had finished Naruto had reluctantly slipped out of bed and took a quick shower. Hinata had really only just finished calming her heartbeat and catching her breath when he popped out of the bathroom and wiped himself down with a towel. She was now sitting contently with a smile on her face.
"Would you like me to try and make you a quick breakfast?" she asked as Naruto buckled his pants.
"Nah," he said, rummaging through his drawers to find a shirt. "I don't have time. I'll grab something to go real quick."
"You sure?"
"Positive," he said, slamming the drawer and opening another one. "Where the hell is it…" he grumbled to himself.
"Top right, folded with the rest of them," she said sweetly from the bed.
Naruto followed her instructions and gave her a quick thanks before pulling a shirt over his head. He turned to face her as he pulled on his jacket and stopped with it only half on.
"What?" she asked innocently, fidgeting in her spot a bit nervously. "Is there something on my face?"
Naruto groaned. "Hinata, stop looking all cute and sexy and stuff," he said, turning away from her as he finished getting dressed. "I'm late enough as it is. Why did you have to seduce me this morning?"
Hinata laughed, her face red. "I seduced you?"
Naruto chuckled, heading towards the door. "I don't remember the details." Hinata just giggled. "I'll see you later, Hinata."
"Naruto-kun, wait!"
He stopped and looked at her once again and noticed her eyebrows were creased in worry. "What's wrong?"
"You didn't tell me why you were acting so strange when we were walking back from dinner last night," she said, sort of apologetically.
Naruto grimaced. "Nothing to be concerned about. I'll tell you when I get back. I promise."
She sighed. "Well, if you promise…"
"Believe it," he said, grinning. "Just be extra careful, okay?" She tilted her head but nodded. "I love you, Hinata!" he said, heading out the door once more.
"I love you too," she said softly as she heard the front door shut. She let herself fall down into the bed and stared up at the ceiling. What could have gotten Naruto so worried? She sighed, rubbing her protruding belly. "Something has your daddy scared," she said, talking to her child. "Now what can be threatened to scare your father?"
The answers to that question were present in that bed.
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Sorry for the late update! I was having too much fun writing NaruHina AUs. (Now I will shamelessly promote my other story: Tales of Two Ninjas- a series of different NH centric one-shots and AU's).
Also a lot of the little details I include in the chapters (this one and the previous ones) are actually relevant (as you'll find out later).
Anyway, please leave a review and check out those AUs!
Stay tuned and take care!
-Magma
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Up Next: Careful
"His ear twitched. He heard the distinct sound of a door closing from somewhere else in the building. His body tensed in preparation for whatever was to come."