Inu shook his head and groaned wanting to repetitively smash his head into the rough wood. Naruto paused as a groan escaped the other male but quickly dismissed it with a swift sniff of the air to find comfort in the man's natural cologne- dried blood and a fresh earthy smell- which made Naruto become lost in the moment. There was no fresh blood. Naruto would have known.
'Of course, you would know, insect.' A lazy eye roll could be felt in the back of Naruto's mind as the boy simply shrugged not having the heart to reply with a snarky comment. It would have driven me crazy… Naruto thought in a daze remembering the first time he had smelt someone else's blood. It had knocked Naruto out his cold indifference as something pumped erratically in the place of his heart. Blood put him on the edge, into a trance but he was unusually excited. The aroma of the crimson liquid made him unconsciously lick his lips with desire. Something he blamed the Prince for.
'God was an asshole and decided, 'Hey let's make these insects delicious' making us crazy at the mere whiff of the liquid. But seeing as you hate the insect village so much you might as will get excited as you spill their blood. Some insect you were?' Naruto involuntarily started to bite his lip will being submerged in his thoughts. The first time he was 'excited', as the Prince said, was when he had shoved a classmate off himself when he was attacked. The boy was bleeding with multiple miniature cuts on his palm. Then it happened. Naruto started to sweat profusely as his eyes dilated as the enticing scent flooded his system for the first time. The boy he had shoved looked up to give Naruto a piece of his mind but froze immediately. An arrow of fear stabbed his heart as bleached blond hair covered Naruto's quivering eyes and a sadistic smile spread proudly across his face. Looking up Naruto had chilled the boy to his bone. Scampering away like a wounded puppy the boy ran away in fear having seen the devil himself. Seeing the hasty retreating form of his attacker Naruto felt an unusual yearn. Feeling a familiar pressure he felt when he looked at happy families. Desire.
The desire for blood.
Inu got up and cleared the table and dropped the dishes into the sink, he would wash them later but sleep came first. Looking at Naruto for a response he could only pause with several blinks of his eye. Pearly white teeth, sharp enough to tear skin with a simple bite, gnawed at his pinkish lips. The scene was something straight from an erotica novel.
Here we have the innocent teen with no control over her, or his in this situation, actions. These actions being so naively sensual for any older adult to take the meaning the wrong way. I have to exercise pure restraint from jumping the unsuspecting teen. And I'm so going to jail… Obviously, Inu had not yet explored his sexuality as all erotic actions were strictly professional be it to seduce a target to gain information or infiltrate enemy territory as a couple. Inu has had many experiences in this field but he never allowed his feeling to come in between so he never knew how he felt about women or men. At times, it had become awkward with the blatant sexual acts he had to perform on his partner just to keep up the lovers act. But all the women who tried to get into his pants outside of work didn't stand a chance against Inu's self-control. Inu being a workaholic who would usually push his body to the limit until he had no choice to give in to the fatigue- seeing no benefits from a life partner. All they do is get in the way with all their whining. God the whining one man has to survive to welcome death with open arms.
"Inu-san?" Inu blinked and nodded with a slow answer to the timid unspoken question
"I'll get your night wear." Inu spun on his heel and made his journey without looking back.
Naruto followed the man only to be handed a soft crème coloured full sleeved shirt and shorts and was crudely deserted in the room as Inu retreated into the bathroom with his own nightwear. All without a word.
Did I do something wrong? Naruto asked to no one.
'Ever heard of self-control?' The Prince replied with a secretive chuckle, voice smug with the chance of hiding something from Naruto. Naruto never showed any type of sinful or positive emotion. But when it was about Inu there was definitely jealousy and possessiveness coursing through his blood. Meaning? Naruto asked lowly to retreat to the corner of the room, out of the sight of the bathroom door, slipping out his clothes and slipping on the other with ease.
'Nope. Let me enjoy this moment of power, insect.' Naruto growled in annoyance but looked out the railed window. The moon bathed everything generously in its radiant white glow. The crisp cold air sent refreshing tingles down Naruto's spine, as it drifted into the room from the sliding window, only for him to give into the gentle burning in his lung to take in deeper breathes of frosty cold air. Closing he eyes he leaned towards the railing with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Inu on the other side of the door scolded himself. Changing into his night wear his mind still mingled boldly on the image of Naruto biting his lip. Inu had no time for this nonsense so he pushed the image out his scope and forced himself to run though the routine for tomorrow. He doesn't want to screw up anymore then he already had. But a satisfactory smirk danced ghostly on his lips, thinking about the speech he would give to Naruto's school teachers as he gave them a piece of his mind- it would be very entertaining.
Walking out the room only to be surprised by Naruto's still stature staring out the window at the clear sky. Stars punctured into the inky black background like holes in black paper allowing white light to stream down to grace the still night. A breathe-taking view only admired by ones lonely at heart-like Naruto.
Not wanting to disturb the boy he got to work at removing two futons from the closet accompanied by two pillows. Sleeping with his mask on was something Inu was accustomed to, like a second layer of skin, but Naruto would surely be annoyed. That he firmly believed. Laying the temporary beds out, Inu's being the one closest to the window and Naruto's right next to his. Luxury of having separate bedrooms was something Inu couldn't afford- or allow. He did not trust the boy to be safe alone. Not after what happened in the library. He would not repeat his mistake again.
Naruto seemed to have moved almost soundlessly appearing beside Inu, much to his shock, but he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"I'll leave the window open." Naruto merely nodded in response and padded down onto the futon, facing the wall-away from Inu-almost in an irked move. Must be annoyed by the mask... Inu thought and turned off the light. Slipping into the warmth he faced the ceiling, hand under the pillow feeling the cold metallic kunai, drifting off.
"Inu-san?" Naruto turned to face the man, voice soft testing to see if the man was awake. A soft 'hmm' from Inu and turn of his head put Naruto on the spot.
"Where were you?" Inu saw no reason to lie. If he lied then Naruto would not bother to open up.
"I spoke with the Hokage about the Library incident," Naruto winced looking up with guilt, "don't worry you're not in trouble." Inu reassured the boy with a gentle tone, feeling an irrational part of his head forcing his voice into a whisper like when sharing an intimate moment.
"Are you in trouble?" The question left Inu breathless. No matter how much Naruto seemed to be detached, Inu was becoming his anchor slowly but surely.
"No." Naruto nodded, trust running deep in his eyes, as he stared up at the man ready to turn and sleep.
"Why were you at the Red Light district Uzumaki-san?" Inu cursed himself for his unruly habit of opening his mouth questioningly. I feel like such an asshole now…Damn Inu groaned in his head but an inattentive lick of his dry lips showed Naruto preparing to answer the question. Inu's habit came from being a Captain, the power of being able to question his cadets about their actions left Inu feeling like he could demand anything from anyone- sometimes.
"I was visiting someone…" Naruto answered vaguely, curling his legs and arms closer to his chest. Waiting for Naruto to continue Inu gritted his teeth in hope of keeping his trap shut.
"There is a woman there who gives me free meals in exchange of fur from the animals I've hunted. Sometimes she gives me money for the exchange but the food is nice." Inu nodded once more, he would not have known this seeing as Inu only guarded Naruto in the day and on weekdays. Once Naruto entered a 'secure' area like the school Inu had no choice to leave seeing as he had no jurisdiction over the Civilian council owned academy school. To add to that Inu had to report to the Hokage in that window of time to talk to the Hokage about Naruto or be notified of any side missions Inu had to complete. Only to return to the exact time the school ended to once again stalk Naruto back home or to aimlessly wonder the outskirts of the village. Something Naruto did to get away from people. The boy would jog or walk for miles in any direction, allured by animals, flowers and trees.
Only all that exercise did not, unsurprisingly, allow him to gain any muscle mass. After all containing the demon inside him and maintaining the seal would require a lot of energy, which could have been used for proper growth.
"Inu-san?" The boy muttered, half-conscious. Taking in the musky fragrance of the sheets in deep breathes Naruto's left the comforting heat around him lull him to sleep. Concentrating only on the murmuring of the rustling leaves outside.
"I promise to look after you Naruto, nothing will stand in your way now." Inu promised darkly with the villagers in mind. With the Hokage's consent the blood Inu's Bloody White Sabre had thirsted for years will now have its favourite meal. Rough fingers eerily outlined Naruto's jawline while moving messy hair out of the boy's serene visage. Inu would be the family Naruto dreamed of. And no one would stay alive to stand in his way.
Even if he has to shove dirt onto his Sensei's name to save Naruto then he would do it. Minato left his legacy unguarded thinking unwisely that the village had the mental capacity to understand the difference between being a host and being possessed. But Inu was there. I'm there… He repeated softly to himself.
Years of berating himself for the death of Obito and afterwards the growth of distance between him and Rin has forced Inu to become a harsh judger of character. His cadets always coming out more successful than others because he taught them the essentials for making resilient teams by teaching them about using their brains and valuing their own and others' lives more than the success of their mission. Something cadets fail to understand is that sometimes failure is an option and is not frowned upon as it's seen as a positive turn. After all the cadet is alive in the end and not just a nameless number in the body count at the end of the month.
Naruto's breathing became regular and soft. Something Inu could not understand is how different Naruto was compared to the image he had created in his mind. Inu had thought Naruto was vulnerable to any attack and would be constantly in the state of crying and paranoia. But here stood a very tall pillar with titanium foundations. The building eerie and dark, stripped of any unnecessary decorations. Walls mouldy and covered in wall flowers, trying to conquer the sheer high of the building. But inside it was different. A delicate chilly breeze reigned the halls which twisted and turning in the most untamed manner giving the traveller a hard time to reach just a set of stairs. The stairs leading to another nail biting maze which leads to more stairs. Repeating this journey which seems like eternity. Until you get to the top and you enter a small sinister room which had no distinguishing features. It was empty.
That was Naruto. You reach the end after gaining his trust only to see his heart is missing. Not that anyone will find out. There are creatures of darkness which guard and roam the passageways, scaring the wits of any onlooker. But Inu won't be scared. No. Inu has seen worse in other people to even compare Naruto to them. Naruto was a saint beside them.
Inu clutched the kunai under his pillow with a firm grip, then only did he fall gently into a light sleep.
Golden grains of light sprawled over the two inhabitants as a summer breeze swept through the small room. Inu laid there. Still. Staring at the ceiling until his internal alarm clock forced him to get up from the comfortable heat of the blanket. Naruto had not moved an inch in the night, his face still abandoning all emotions. Getting up the taller man immediately got to work. Efficiently making a bee-line to the wardrobe and to the bathroom without a moment's hesitation. Coming out the shower after a quick wash the man walked to Naruto's curled up body only to whisper.
"Uzumaki-san it is morning, wake up." Naruto immediately bolted up and snapped his head to survey his surroundings. Inu did not move, allowing the boy to confirm there were no hostilities. Placing the pile of clothes from his hands onto the futon next to the boy Inu pointed to the bathroom.
"Take a bath then come down for breakfast. There is a spare brush in the bathroom." Sitting up Inu saw a slight nod and walked away to carry out his duties.
Ready to go back to school Prince? Naruto asked with a teasing tone only to have a growl as an answer. 'I'll have you know insect that I am very proficient in the art of studying. Unlike you my kingdom always encourages self-learning, but in this village you mindless crawlers do not value science as much as warfare.' Naruto snorted in agreement. Picking up the clothes he took a quick shower, making sure to use the minimum possible soap and water, and brushed his teeth. Then he carefully unfolded the clothes to admire the feeling of being clean.
Slipping on the crisp white shirt he systematically started to button all the holes while relishing the feeling of the cold fabric against his skin. Next he slipped on similar cargo pants form yesterday but this time with was a dark earthy brown. Looking in the mirror Naruto blinked hard to recognize the boy staring indifferently back at him. His skin which was once dull with dirt and grime was now a delectable tan which shimmered an alluring gold. His mane of hair which once lacked lustre was now shining a pallid blonde.
'Now that is a boy fit for royalty. No son, or insect, of mine will be seen covered in dirt and wearing battered or torn clothes!' The beast hollered with definite pride, filling the empty space where Naruto's heart should be with infectious warmth. But as he continued Naruto snapped. 'I can't wait for the guardian to see you. Maybe he will ruffle your hair: an innocent gesture but underneath is a turmoil of sinister lust brewing. Or he might just outright confess timidly, something improbable with his personality, but think about the unsophisticated heart-felt words being exchanged. Finally he might just lose all control and slam you against the wall and whisper sweet yet dirty nothings into you-'
Prince Naruto hissed thankfully interrupting in order to preserve his distinct perspective of Inu. If the Prince had carried on only Naruto would know was a stuttering mess he would become when facing Inu. Naruto looked carefully into the mirror and wiped out any creases in his shirt while running his fingers through his hair to at least tame the beastly mane of hair. Prince merely snorted and most likely paddled down for a deserved nap- not that he actually did anything.
"Good you're here. Breakfast, eat up." Naruto entered the room with carefully placed strides and took his place in his chair eyeing the bowl of oats and fruits with inquisitiveness. But he patiently waited for Inu to join him on the table so they my sit together. Something Naruto prided himself was his manners, well the manners he showed to people he cared about anyway, while Inu finished with his work and joined the boy at the table with swiping gesture they began eating.
Naruto still felt the urge to watch Inu for a few more seconds to try and catch his face but his etiquettes screamed at him for such a rude though and he tensed his head so he would concentrate on his bowl of lumpy grey oats. Reaching out he cautiously took a small hesitant bit out the food, chewing it excessively to examine the flavour rolling around his tongue.
"How is it?"
"Bland." Naruto immediately responded with an undertone of disappointment- which Inu caught.
"Sorry but being an ANBU means I don't stay home much so I can only keep items with a long expiration date. But now you're here I'll see if I can find anything to suit your tastes." Inu spoke in a gentlemen's tone. Where did that come from? Inu scolded himself finding his tone to be reserved only for courtship. Not that Naruto does not deserved to be courted- damn it. Stop Inu. Professional face on. Now! Inu missed the way Naruto brought his head down while he tried to hide his bright flushing skin.
"No. I like it." Naruto quickly said and quickened his pace to show his enthusiasm.
"Okay. Today I'm going to drop you off at the academy. Then at the end of the fourth period I'll pick you up straight away for your examination. I don't know how long it will last but you'll most likely miss the fifth and sixth period. I'll speak with your teacher and we'll see how much you know. Is that fine?" Inu asked. Naruto nodded with a hard eyes.
Inu stood and placed his plate into the sink and took out a wooden container. Carefully he place a tissue paper on the base and filled it with soft fruit, he can't have Naruto swallowing anything too hard of now, and closed the box and placed a Pocky box on top. Tying the box and sweet together with a simple string he passed it to Naruto who had approached the sink to obediently put away his plate. What a good boy… shame he had to become like this. No point crying over spilt milk now Inu thought sadly.
"I won't speak." Naruto said as he took hold of the box, much to his excitement- well if you could tell from his blank face- as he saw the Pocky, and looked up with a calculated look.
"Yes that would be best. They have hurt you and showing them you have recovered will be like rubbing dirt in their face. As much as I would love that don't speak today until the examination." Naruto nodded and Inu placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder and misinterpreted the shudder which he felt in his skin. Inu squatted down slightly, surprising Naruto was tall for his age bit was frighteningly thin, and moved his hand up the boy's neck. Naruto's skin tingled at the touch of the delicious warmth and he looked up in surprise. Inu hand ruffled the back of his head letting his rough fingers massage the scalp.
"I'll be there on a moment's notice if there is a problem. Here," Inu passes a thin rectangular piece of paper with inky black frenzied scribbles all over it, "just rip this in half and it will emit a type of chakra. Don't worry others will merely dismiss it but I'll be open to identifying it all day and be there seconds after." Naruto let his eyes widen as he stared at the mysterious piece of paper.
"But won't all the natural chakra filtering out from everything overpower the chakra from the paper?" Inu let a chuckle loose much to Naruto's annoyance.
"Clever boy." Was all Inu commented before answering which nearly gave Naruto a heart-attack, well if he actually had a heart to malfunction. "With age your body naturally ignores the natural chakra around you as your body matures and learns to tell the difference between the chakra which is natural and chakra you want to pick up- I will enjoy learning with you. Just trust me to come." Inu ended the conversation.
With an addicting buzz surging through his skin Naruto grasped as Inu's chakra cloaked them for he transportation. The journey being more comfortable as Naruto's body was more used to the forceful pull of the unknown force as it warped time and teleported them to the school yard.
Inu's voice broke through Naruto's musings. "This is the academy. It used to so much better…" Inu reminisced with nostalgia shrouding his voice. Naruto couldn't help but agree. The academy which once prided itself in giving village children a taste of the hard cold truth about war and was trusted all round by clans to provide lifesaving training which will help their children to flourish. But here was a building hijacked by the Village Council to teach a curriculum to suit their budget and needs. Manipulating the children to believe whatever they think is right. For all they know the children could be made to believe in the Uchiha clan are gods and we should all kiss the ground they walk on- wait don't they already do that?
'What a messed up system, insect' Prince muttered half asleep.
"Let us go." Inu clasped, once again with a firm assuring grip, Naruto's hand supportively as he lead the boy through the iron gates. The brightly coloured building smiling intensely in the sun welcomed all the students into its premise. But behind those double wooden doors was Naruto's worst nightmare. Well nightmares are something people fear and Naruto fears nothing so let's call it a minor setback.
Hordes of parents and children exchanging hurried goodbyes turned their heads to the sound of gates creaking open. Mothers, fathers and guardians glowered in their direction.
Inu walked calmly, much to Naruto's pleasure, everyone's faces contorted from puzzle to horror. Naruto loved the familiar pressure building around him, it confirmed he wasn't living in a delusion. But without hesitation Inu released some invisible restraints. Like a flood of gushing water from a tsunami pounded and swept away all the resentment in the air which dominated in the air seconds ago. Instead there was a chilling feeling of promised death impending in the air. Naruto shivered under now hostile absent air. Inu tugged the boy back onto track and the people parted, with fear buried deep in their bones, hoping to appease the ANBU who had obviously showed he wasn't an ornament to be taken lightly.
The duo reached the door and Inu paused.
"This is where I stop. But remember Uzumaki-san that you are in charge of your life. Don't let others trample over it just because you don't want to clash." Nodding appreciatively Naruto masked his displeasure and let go of Inu's hand uncertainly. Naruto stilled for a minute and pushed forward with the chit tucked safely in his pocket.
Sasuke strained his hand to stop it from reaching up and wiping his grim features. Last night he could barely catch any sleep as his ears still rung in a cringing girlish high-pitched screams. He could still hear the vulgar voices of girls praising his god knows what now. All voices quietened down into an unsettling silence making Sasuke pull out of his brooding. Letting his dark ominous eyes wander around the classroom he back tracked to see a graceful form enter the room. It that the Uzumaki brat? Sasuke let his shutters fly open at the transformation.
Once there was a dim boy. His skin was always grimy. His dirty blonde hair was a disgrace to all women, seeing as its length could have anyone have second thoughts. His petite form was squeamishly malnourished.
Now there was a seraph in the form of a boy. His skin glowing a healthy tan shimmering in the sun to dare anyone to take a bite out of. His pastel blonde hair still untamed but now full of lustre was roughly combed back but his visage was framed with soft spikes which still somehow looked threatening. His form still petite but his features much more refined and scholarly with thin wrists impeccable at flicking pages and eyes once distant now looked more defined with simmering emotions.
"Hey is that Naruto?" A loud voice broke through everyone's daze as an average girl with strawberry pink hair and green tea coloured eyes- she was a walking snack. Would you like some strawberries with your green tea, miss? Naruto joked with himself.
'Actually keep it too yourself I'm sure she is poisoned. I can smell it.' Prince growled as all signs blared danger in Naruto's head. Her figure stalked to Naruto as she walked around him like he was an injured animal and she found something humorous in the animals bad luck.
"A change in look?" Sakura- the dessert coloured human- reached out and crudely pulled on the white collar of his shirt.
'She's touching. Insect do something! She's touching! TOUCHING!' Prince roared in Naruto's head as Sakura continued to circulate around Naruto's rigid form.
"A bandage? Let's see." Both her hands reached for the white fabric.
'She knows. That bitch! Insect. No, you're my kit so do SOMETHING?!' Prince tried to pull Naruto out of his defensive mechanism to just let everything happen. Sasuke shook his head internally as he thought he is the same. Everyone went to turn away and continue on normally.
Prince raked his brain to think of something to make the insect- oh sorry I meant kit- rupture into devilish anger.
'He is watching. Inu is watching,' Prince roared with pure conviction, 'and that bitch is going to take Inu away from you. FROM YOU!' Naruto pushed away from Sakura's grip.
'YES! SHE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR FAMILY. THAT BITCH!' To everyone's shock, Sakura lost her footing fell back but Naruto did not stop there. He stalked dangerously towards her retreating frame and thrusted out to grab the hand which touched his bandage. Slowly he pushed against her palm watching her face drain in color turning white as a ghost while pain trickled into her system.
He's going to break her hand! Sasuke comprehended with similar horror. Sakura's devoted followers tried to reach the scene and save the reckless girl. But when moving a meter into their vicinity Naruto pushed harder and an ear-splitting crack sent chills down everyone's spine. Indifferently the boy stood and surveyed his endeavor and reached out and pushed to fingers against Sakura's lips to push them into a detrimental smile- making sure to crush her injured wrist with his other hand in the process. I'm sure it was an accident.
She can't touch Inu-san now Naruto mumbled while feeling accomplished.
'Beautiful work. But it could have been better. Some suggestions are not making it obvious you hurt her you dim wit. Now you won't be able to attend school. Try explaining that to your precious Inu!' Naruto growled in answer.
"What's wrong?" Iruka rushed in with a bead of sweat rolling down his temple and off his chin. Naruto picked up his dropped box of fruit and took a piece of paper from the table. Decisively he wrote in flawless handwriting explaining the situation. Unceasing the paper he handed it innocently to Iruka who read it with a wary glance to the other students who stood frozen like dead garden granite statues.
"I can't speak due to circumstances. Miss Haruno had unfortunately lost her footing on her last step," Iruka read out and looked at Sakura with a nod and continued to read, "You can ask Sasuke to confirm my account." Iruka glanced towards Sasuke to find he was simply staring back.
"Fujisaki take Haruno to the medical ward and have her hand checked out. Uzumaki take a seat and class let's get started. We have a long day ahead of us, a mandatory physical test and exam will take place after the break. So let's get geared up for that." Naruto made his way to the back of the class with a chilling smile adorning his face.
'I don't take anything back. You were still a dim-witted insect.' Prince grumbled with annoyance. But inside he was happy that Naruto at least fought back. Maybe he had a fighter on his hands.
So let's hear about this hostage the village have captured? Naruto asked with his attention fully turned to the Prince. Damn right I have a fighter…