White Kunai
Chapter 25- Careful
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"Well, at least the weather is cooler now," Hinata spoke aloud to nobody in particular. The sun had started to lower which came as a relief because the rest of the day was scorching. "I wonder if you will enjoy working on the garden with your father and myself," she said to her child as she opened the door to the backyard.
Hinata stood before the flowers with her hands on her hip and a frown evident on her face. The pregnant woman crouched down beside her plants and held some of the petals in her hands. Her eyebrows creased together as she stared at them in wonder. Many of the flowers seemed to be wilted or peppered in faint black dots.
She sighed, her bangs fluttering slightly with the breeze.
"What's wrong?" a voice said from behind her.
Hinata jumped slightly before relaxing as the familiar voice registered in her mind.
"Naruto-kun," she said, getting up slowly with one hand at the crook of her back. She smiled at her husband, his robe blowing in the wind. She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "The flowers are dying."
Naruto looked over her shoulder and nodded, frowning. "That's strange. Have you tried talking to them?"
Hinata giggled. On several occasions since they had started dating she had caught her husband talking to their flowers. Mostly it was little things, talking about his day, encouraging them to grow.
She sighed again, pouting slightly. "I worked on the garden all day," she said, fixing the collar of his robe.
"Yeah?"
"We're going to eat healthy tonight."
Naruto slackened his muscles and threw his head back in a groan. "Aw, we gotta be healthy?"
Hinata giggled. "Vegetables."
"Ramen."
"Green."
"Ramen."
"Naruto-kun."
"Hinata-chan."
Hinata tried to stare at him with a chastising looking but couldn't help the smile that broke onto her face. "B-baka," she said with a pout.
"Your baka," he said, his arms slithering around her as he held her close.
They stood like that for a few seconds, simply basking in each other's presence. She could feel his heartbeat steadily as she laid her head against his chest and he felt a sense of calm envelop him as he concentrated on her chakra, serene and swirling.
Then Hinata tilted her head up and kissed him on his chin.
Naruto chuckled. "What was that for?"
"I don't know," she admitted. She untangled herself from his embrace and started to gather up her gardening supplies. "I should get started on dinner."
"Ramen?"
"Naruto-kun!" she laughed, shaking her head at his childish antics.
He helped his wife by taking some of the items and held the door open for her. "I had to try again," he said with a grin.
"Do you mind putting these things away?" Hinata asked, handing him some of the gardening tools. "I think I want to wash up a bit before making dinner."
"Sure thing, hime."
Hinata quickly retreated into their bathroom and washed herself down, wiping off the dirt and grime from the days work in the garden. The hot water soothed her skin, water droplets trailing down the curve of her stomach. The steam cleared her sinuses, relaxing her tired muscles, and the minutes ticked by. When she had entered the bedroom the smell of hot food had wafted into the room, making her stomach growl. She slipped on a loose shirt and pajama shorts and made her way to the kitchen, a smile on her face.
"Naruto-kun, you didn't have to make dinner!" she said, her eyes wandering from the different dishes that laden the table.
Naruto stood proudly next to the food, hands on his hips. "Ah, well, I sort of didn't." She looked at him questioningly. "When you went to shower-and I also considered joining you-I just ran out real quick and bought some food," he admitted, grinning sheepishly. "But I did chop up some cilantro I picked from the back to like…"
"Garnish?"
"Garnish!"
"How innovative of you," Hinata said with a straight face.
Naruto pulled out a chair for her and said, "Not sure if you're being sarcastic."
"Of course not, Naruto-kun."
He stared at her with a blank face before bursting out into laughter. He took a seat across from her and started shoveling food onto both of their plates. "Well, dig in! This stuff looks great!"
"It does," she said, her back straight and her table manners pristine. "You did an outstanding job with your cooking skills, Naruto-kun."
Naruto chuckled, his mouth stuffed full of food. "I try."
They ate in a comfortable silence for a while, their silverware clinking against the plate, and it was Hinata who broke the quietude. "You seemed concerned about something before?"
He looked away from his plate and gave her a slanted smile. "I wouldn't say concerned so much anymore…more like…conflicted."
"How so?"
"Well, I've called back the ninja from the Village of Ash," he explained, the food suddenly tasting bland at this sudden change in conversation. "There hasn't been anything new with the whole White Kunai Killer thing. And even Sasuke-teme lectured me about how we shouldn't really be concerned with the events going on over there. I should be more vigilant about our own village."
Hinata thought for a moment. "That does make sense," she nodded. "But you seemed worried?"
"Paranoid, more like it," Naruto chuckled. "Since that letter, remember? I've been worried about your safety."
She smiled tenderly. "Is there any basis to the worry though?"
"There's always some reason to worry," he said, crossing his arms and nodding with his eyes closed in tight lines, his mouth pressed together. "But an actual reason that has to do with those killings from months back…? I don't know anymore." He looked at her, his face serious once more. "There was a small scare though."
"About?" Hinata asked, her eyebrows creasing together in concern.
"I don't know much," Naruto said, clicking his tongue. "Some woman was seen around our home."
"She could have been anyone," Hinata said.
"Exactly. Paranoid, remember?"
"Paranoia as a ninja can keep you alive."
"Wise beyond your years, dear wife," Naruto said playfully, grinning. Hinata smiled. "But yeah, I talked to Shikamaru and some others and it really seems as though all the things related to the White Kunai Killer are in the past now."
"I hope so," Hinata sighed, tearing the napkin she held in her hand into little pieces.
"I still want you to be really careful though," Naruto said, his voice laced with worry once more. "Your chakra is no longer reliable. Our child-"
Hinata laughed. "I know, I know."
Naruto smiled warily, his loving gaze lingering on Hinata. "Yeah."
Unspoken words were shared between the two.
Careful.
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A man sat alone in a windowless room. The stone walls and stone floors seemed to have no edge and appeared to seamlessly blend together into one, creating an illusion of infinite space. But he felt claustrophobic and confined. The air in the sunless room was frigid despite the hot weather outside.
Weather?
Outside?
The man had not seen the sky in what seemed like forever.
But he didn't care.
I deserve this. He sat with his thin arms wrapped around his bony legs. His arms, once strong enough to push a woman, willingly or unwillingly, into his bed, now withering away. His legs, once taut enough to firmly hold a woman still, now weak from lack of use. His hair, long and messy, hung limp on his head and his eyes lazily moved to the stained tray of rotten food near the slot in the large, sturdy door. The door the only thing that broke the stone walls from its repetitive monotony.
His stomach growled but he wasn't hungry. Not for that moldy bread and watery soup, swimming with small black insects.
He sighed, his slight frame shaking.
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.
Silence. Only the slightest sound of dripping water and grime in one of the corners of this wretched place that caged him.
A loud dragging sound scratched at his eardrums as the rusted door to his cell was pulled open.
The dim yellow light from the single hanging bulb in the corridor shined in a pale colored light. He squinted his eyes shut.
"Prisoner Yoru," the shadow of a figure standing at the doorway addressed him. "Get up."
He sat there for a moment, his arms still secured around his legs.
"Yoru."
"Okay," his voice came out in a gravely whisper from disuse. Yoru untangled his limbs and stood on shaky feet.
"Follow me," the guard said, moving away from the door.
Yoru froze. "What?"
"I said follow me," the man repeated.
"Where?" Yoru looked at the man, narrowing his eyes. Was he smiling?
It was more of a grimace.
"Outside."
"Outside?" The thought of an outside seemed so surreal to him now.
"You are being released," the man stated, almost reluctantly.
Yoru looked confused. "But…but why?"
The guard shrugged, his next few words laced with malice. "Good behavior was the official reason. Rich family is mine."
Yoru swallowed hard. "I don't want to go."
There was nothing left for him out there. Only people that had bubbling resentment for him. Understandable. Only guilt and reminders of the things he had done.
"This isn't a choice," the guard said roughly.
"I don't want to-"
"Follow me."
Yoru hesitated, trembling not from the chilly air seeping the heat from his body but from a sense of fear creeping up his back. "It's not safe out there."
The guard looked angry. "No. It's not. And when you were out there, it was probably worse."
Yoru's face remained passive.
"Now follow me or will I have to take you out in chains?"
Yoru looked at his pale hands and spindly fingers. He slowly curled them into a fist and tried to stop his hands from shaking. He sighed, dropping his arms to his side, slowly coming to terms with the fact that he really did have no reason to live. He felt as though his strength was sapped from him or as though his muscles had atrophied from neglect. He felt his chakra buried deep inside of him, untapped and thought to himself, almost begrudgingly, that he would keep it untapped.
He no longer wanted to use his abilities.
No, he wanted to repent.
He wanted punishment for what he had done.
He wanted to see his family…but he also didn't want to face them.
He was in captivity for over five years and in all those years he had no visitors.
He did hear whispered rumors from the guards walking back and forth along the hallway.
More deaths and killings?
Only women being targeted once more?
Married women? Women with children? Women pregnant with a child?
A kunai through their hearts?
Was it a copycat killer?
He didn't care so much for that news in the beginning.
He did start to care a few months ago. He remembered the conversation between two guards well.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"The lady's dead."
"Which one?"
"You know, that lady. The one that lives in the mansion. Sora's daughter."
That's when Yoru felt his heart freeze.
"She was found with a kunai through the chest."
Cruel irony.
It couldn't have been true. It couldn't.
Yoru swallowed hard and began to follow the guard.
He was going home.
And he was going to find out what was the truth and what wasn't.
He didn't know that he wouldn't be out for long.
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A few days later
"These breaks are my favorite breaks," Naruto said, opening the door to his office to allow Hinata to venture in.
"Your lunch breaks?" Hinata asked as she placed a few small containers of food on the counter.
"Well, yeah, but I also mean the days you come to visit," the Hokage said, shutting the door behind him.
Hinata placed her hands on her hip. "Kissing up to me, huh?" she said playfully. "What did you do?"
"Can't a guy just express his happiness at seeing his lovely and beautiful wife?" Naruto said, inching closer to her with a wink.
Hinata seemed to ponder at his words. "I'm fat," she said out of the blue.
Naruto stopped. To say he was slightly surprised would have been an understatement. He made sure to shower his lover with compliments and express his feelings for her whenever he could. Hinata had always been quite shy and a bit self conscious while growing up. "No," he said, unsure of how to handle this situation. He tried to hide his nervousness. "No, you're just pregnant."
"That's just a nicer way of saying I'm…I'm rotund," Hinata said with exasperation, poking her fingers together.
Shit, Naruto thought. She rarely did that finger thing anymore. His eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape. Kurama grumbled in his head, patronizing him for even thinking about running away. The fox laughed at his predicament. "Hinata, you're fine the way you are. I love you for you. All of you."
Hinata stared up at him with wide, sad eyes that made Naruto want to just melt. "I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from," she said, truly looking confused.
"Hormones?" Naruto said with a very weak chuckle, rubbing the back of his head nervously. He just really wanted to spend his lunch break eating food peacefully with Hinata but he felt as though he was walking on eggshells. He definitely remembered back when Sakura was pregnant and had felt she was fat as well. Sasuke didn't exactly give the perfect response and spent the next few days sleeping on his and Hinata's couch.
Naruto chuckled and recounted that memory aloud, gaining laughter from Hinata.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun, I really don't know what came over me," she said, turning back to the food and opening the containers. The smell of her delicious cooking drifted into the room and Naruto felt his mouth water. He watched her spoon the food out onto two plates but his thoughts started to wander.
"Eh, doesn't matter," he said, coming up beside her. "How'd I do?" he grinned.
Hinata pretended to think. "I'd give you a three out of five."
"What? That's it?" he asked, feigning hurt.
She giggled. "Three point two out of five."
"Now see? That is a score I can live with."
Hinata almost rolled her eyes.
Naruto gave her a lopsided grin and splayed out his hands across either side of her waist, pulling her to him and peppered a few light kisses all over her face as she laughed and tried to gently pry herself away.
"Naruto-kun, what are you doing?"
"I don't know," he said, finally kissing her deeply on the lips, pulling at her bottom lip with his teeth.
Hinata felt a shiver run through her body as his playful kisses quickly filled with desire. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back as he trailed his kisses down to her pale throat.
She sighed happily. "I don't know what it is about you, Naruto-kun," she said softly, running her hands across his back. She could feel his muscles rippling beneath his clothes as he wrapped himself tighter against her.
"What about me?" he asked, his hands moving lower and lower.
"You always seem to…" her breath hitched as he sucked at a sensitive spot near her collarbone and his fingers squeezed at her bottom.
"I always seem to…?" he repeated, smiling against her skin, knowing full well his behavior misted her train of thought.
He was teasing and she knew it. "You always seem to want to…want to-"
"Kiss you? Touch you?"
She hummed. "All of the above…" She almost forgot what she was going to say as he continued his light ministrations. "But-"
"But?"
"But you seem to love doing that right before we're about to eat," she finally got out, melting into his arms.
Naruto pulled his mouth away from her skin and looked at her, a wicked grin on his face. "That's because the food reminds me of just how much I want to eat you all up," he said, kissing her soundly on the lips once more.
He felt her smiling against his lips and felt satisfaction run through his veins.
Until he heard the door open.
"Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled in frustration, turning immediately, watching as the shadow ninja stepped through the doorway, the slightest pink gracing his cheeks. "You know not to come bother me when-"
"I know, I know," Shikamaru drawled, lingering at the edge of the door. "When Hinata comes." Hinata turned a deep scarlet as she pushed away from Naruto, who looked unfazed, if not a little bit peeved at his old schoolmate. "But this was important."
"It better be," Naruto mumbled, allowing one arm to rest on Hinata's waist, despite the red that threatened to overheat his wife. "Could have at least knocked…"
Shikamaru let himself fully inside the room before stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Ino's on her way."
Naruto seemed to sit up a little bit straighter. He knew where this was going. "What happened?"
"It would be a drag to repeat the same thing twice," Shikamaru said lazily. "I'll wait until she gets here."
Naruto frowned. "You couldn't have interrupted us later then?"
Shikamaru smirked and scratched his cheek absentmindedly. "Well, from what I saw, good thing I came in early."
Hinata burned at his insinuation but Naruto burst out laughing. He was going to say something but the door to his office flew open.
Ino walked inside casually, looking around the room to see who else was there.
"You guys treat your Hokage so disrespectfully," Naruto pouted, crossing his arms and leaning back against his desk. "Don't even bother to knock…" he trailed off.
"Yeah, yeah, oh great Orange Hokage," Ino said, rolling her eyes and placing one hand on her bloated belly. "What's so important that I had to leave my lunch early for?"
All eyes turned to Shikamaru.
He blinked once. He wasn't a guy to beat around the bush.
"Yoru is dead." He looked at all of their individual expressions. Naruto's mouth was tight and grim. Ino was frowning, her eyebrows knit together. Hinata looked conflicted, biting her lower lip. "You don't look surprised."
Naruto scoffed. "With all those random killings? And the hate Yoru probably accumulated by killing those women?"
Ino nodded. "It was bound to happen. I should give the good news to Sai," she said, almost sarcastically.
Hinata was silent. "Who did it?" she finally asked.
Shikamaru sighed and rubbed his temple with one hand. "Not sure. He had a-"
"Kunai in his heart," Naruto guessed. "Note?"
"Note," Shikamaru confirmed.
"Where is it?" Naruto asked.
"I don't have it."
Naruto frowned. "What do you mean?"
"A messenger came from the village again," Shikamaru explained. "Said this was all that leader, Sora, would tell him. His son was dead. Killed by the "copy-cat" White Kunai Killer. A message was left but it wasn't disclosed to him."
Naruto walked over to his desk and started pulling out his kunai holster and weapons.
"Naruto-kun…?" Hinata questioned warily.
"Naruto, we shouldn't get involved," Shikamaru said.
"It's a little too late for that. The messenger came even after we explicitly stated we would want nothing more to do with this situation." Naruto took a deep breath. "And I think I know who the culprit might be." He tensed. "And I'm not going to let innocent people die by letting this suspicion go by unchecked." Naruto looked up at his three friends, his palms flat against his desk. "Hinata. Ino. We all have our suspicions as to who this killer is."
Ino sighed.
Hinata held her hand to her chest, a mannerism she found she does when nervous. "Otto."
Naruto nodded grimly.
"He did seem very angry after all the events with his wife and all…" Ino trailed.
Naruto looked instinctively towards Hinata and her growing stomach. "I would be angry too."
Hinata gave him a small, tender smile. "You're going now?"
Naruto nodded. "I won't stay too long."
Shikamaru cleared his throat. "You're taking Anbu with you."
Naruto raised his eyebrows. "Are you telling your Hokage what to do?"
Shikamaru stared him dead in the eyes. "No. I'm telling my friend he should take extra precautions so he can come back home to his wife and future child."
"Listen to him, Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly.
Naruto grinned. "Alright then. I'd love to take Sasuke-teme."
"I'd love to join you and catch the bastard killing everyone but I can't in my present condition," Ino said, laying a hand on her stomach. "Also, Sakura won't like you taking Sasuke away for too long," Ino warned.
"I don't plan on staying longer than I have to," Naruto insisted. He looked at Shikamaru and gave him a brief nod.
Shikamaru melted into the shadows, off to find Sasuke.
"And before you say anything, Hinata," Naruto said, crossing his arms and giving her a mischievous smile. "No, I will not be taking you."
She wasn't planning on going but she laughed anyway. "If you say so."
He turned serious. "Take care of yourself."
Ino made a choking sound in the back of her throat as she rolled her eyes. "You two will never get out of the honeymoon stage." Her face showed disgust but her eyes twinkled with delight. "Don't worry lover boy, your Hinata should be fine."
Naruto laughed. "If you say so, Ino. I'll hold it against you!"
She just shooed him off, waving her hand. "Yeah, yeah. Now if you don't mind, I think I'll return to my lunch. I'm eating for two as well now." She walked out the door, shutting it behind her.
Naruto looked at Hinata who was staring down at her bump, one hand resting against it.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.
Hinata sighed and looked up at him, smiling guiltily. "I don't want you to go."
Naruto marched over to her and placed both his hands on her shoulders. "Well…I guess it isn't so urgent that I have to go today." Hinata's eyes widened and the corners of her lips started to lift. Naruto pretended to think. "Yeah, I think it'll be alright if I go tomorrow morning. What do you think?"
"I think that sounds better," Hinata smiled. "But you sure it's okay?"
Naruto shrugged. "Truthfully, I don't even think it matters anymore."
Hinata's expression gave nothing away as she smoothed out the wrinkles on his jacket, straightening his collar.
"Hinata…?" Naruto asked slowly. He could tell by her little mannerisms that something was still wrong.
"I don't like that place," Hinata admitted. "And I don't like the idea of you going there."
Naruto wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled at her coyly. "I'm the savior of the world remember? Hero of the village. I'll be fine."
"I know, I know," she sighed. "I can't help but worry."
Naruto gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "That's alright," he said. "I do the same when you get sent off on missions."
"Life of a ninja."
"Isn't it great?" he said, half joking.
"Perfect," she said, giggling. "The Village of Ash is dangerous. Be careful. Stay safe, okay?"
"I will."
Neither of them knew that the danger lay at home.
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Authors Note:
So, confession time. I have actually had most of this story written for months now so a lot of this is old work. (I've been having too much fun writing one-shots for my Tales of Two Ninjas story). I'm going try and update more frequently and finish the story up in a few more chapters. Everything's coming to an end. Drop a review, it's greatly appreciated! I'll update really quickly if you guys show your girl some support.
Thanks and take care!
-Magma
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Up Next: Prune
"'What assassin?' Naruto asked quickly, wanting more than anything to grab the man by the collar and shake the answer out of him. 'What assassin?'
'Some red headed women,' Otto answered, swallowing thickly.
Naruto felt his heart stop."