I'm back.
I've recently been re-watching Naruto when I stumbled upon the Three Tails ark, only to realize there aren't a lot of NarutoxGuren fics. So i decided to make one while I work on my old stories. Hope you enjoy!
Naruto felt his heart wrench painfully in his chest hearing Yukimaru scream her name but it wasn't only the young boy's cries that spurred him into action. He was running before he even realized it, the cliff's edge shattered beneath the force of his jump as he attempted to reach her.
The crystallized mass hit the water first, immediately sinking within. Naruto was close behind, propelling himself desperately towards Guren but she was quickly disappearing from sight into the dark depths of the frigid lake.
His lungs burned because in his frantic dive, he failed to take a deep breath, much less over oxygenize himself. Yet Naruto persisted, ignoring his own survival instincts and the Kyuubi's derogatory remarks on his lack of self preservation.
Before he realized it everything grew dark and it became difficult to differentiate direction. Only the slightest of difference in the pitch of black allowed him to know which way was up, but Naruto was tempted, against his own safety, to dive down further.
But it would be for naught.
Try as he might, he could no longer see Guren, only sense her general direction. It was torturous; knowing she was still alive further below, but having no way of saving her.
'If you do not leave now, you will die,' the Kyuubi's words sounded out in his mind as if they were his own.
Typically, Naruto could suppress the beast enough to relegate even its words to the silence of the seal, but any loss in concentration or distress he experienced allowed for the beast to make it's presence known. He ignored him all the same, despite knowing it was true.
In truth, Naruto didn't know why he was so desperate to save the woman who at one point, proudly proclaimed herself to be Orochimaru's disciple beyond his base instinct to preserve human life. Yet, something about the woman, a light in her eyes beneath all her darkness; it made him want to save her.
With a pained, groan, Naruto released a breath of air, realizing he'd run out of time. He could only hope she could hold on until he could return with more preparation.
"Take care of her."
He was about to begin swimming towards the light when he heard a deep voice somehow call to him in the depths. He looked down to find himself face to face with Guren, encapsulated in her crystal. She appeared exhausted, but very much alive, with one eye opened to regard him with tired surprise.
Naruto didn't have the time to question any of it. Instead he wrapped an arm around the crystal mass and began to swim as hard and as fast as possible. Yet as the water around him brightened, his vision, beginning with his peripherals, began to darken.
He was drowning.
It was a horrifying fact Naruto was well aware of as he exhaled the last of his breath, and began to inhale water into his burning lungs. But he persisted, pushing hard and in his desperation, drawing upon the Kyuubi's chakra briefly as he neared the surface.
As the light of the surface reached its crescendo, so to did the black splotches in his vision, and just as the warmth of the surface touched his face, Naruto lost consciousness.
Guren battled exhaustion as she pulled the unmoving young man to the beach, just enough to keep his head out of the water. She fell as she did so, feeling a rock tare painfully into her right knee but she ignored it and the red pulling around them.
"Naruto!" She desperately called his name, shaking him with no response.
She pulled him further onto land where she immediately initiated chest compressions. She was horrified to see just how much water was expunged from his lungs, out of his mouth and nose.
He felt so cold and in her panic, Guren couldn't feel a pulse beneath her fingers. Once she finished nearly thirty compressions, she pressed her lips against his and breathed into him.
"Wake up!" Guren demanded breathlessly as she resumed her compressions, forcing more water out from his mouth. "You can't die! Not for me!"
After repeating the process a few times, Guren, in her frustration, hammered both her fists down onto his chest, cursing the idiotic young man for throwing his life away for hers. She didn't deserve it, and neither did he.
"Naruto, please!"
The tears that pooled on her cheek had fallen onto his. Guren wiped them away, finding her thumb tracing one of the scars tenderly. She shut her eyes, unknowingly dropping more tears onto Naruto as she pressed her lips to his one more time.
With a gasp, Naruto rolled onto his side, simultaneously trying to catch his breath while also expelling more water. It was horrible a sound, but Guren couldn't deny her immediate relief. Nor her exhaustion, falling almost immediately at his side.
"Drowning kinda sucks," he groaned, his voice was even more raspy than usual.
"You're a fool," Guren said, looking away from him and shutting her eyes.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Naruto said following a tired chuckle. "But sometimes it works out."
She looked over to find his beautiful blue eyes boring deeply into her own. Her breath hitched in her throat seeing the sheer relief on his face as he smiled at her. He seemed genuinely happy to have saved her.
"Why did you save me?" Guren had to ask.
"Do I really need a reason to save anyone?" Naruto said with a sigh, as if this weren't the first time he was asked that.
"But, I'm your enemy?" Guren needed to know why, beyond his damned hero complex, why he deemed her life worthy enough to exchange for his own. "You said it yourself — "
"Are you?"
Two words and the way they were uttered silenced Guren immediately. She didn't know what to say to that, only that in her heart, she truly hoped that wasn't true. Suddenly, what this Konoha Shinobi thought of her concerned her greatly..
But how was she supposed to explain that to him when she couldn't even reconcile it with herself?
"N-No, I — "
"Guren!"
She gasped and then groaned when Yukimaru jumped onto to her, hugging her tightly and for the first time, Guren allowed herself to hug him back with a bright smile. This moment, unfortunately, was fleeting.
Her hold on Yukimaru turned defensive as she was surrounded by nine Konoha Shinobi in total, three of at least Jonin status. Even at full strength, she wouldn't be able to fight them all at once.
Instinctively she looked over to Naruto, who was now on a knee, struggling to stand.
"H-Heya guys," he greeted them casually.
"Naruto, get away from her!" One of the Kunoichi of the group barked, it was a girl with pink hair and a voice Guren found grating.
"Hold on now," he raised a hand, halting the advance of one of the men who was approaching them. The girl may have spoken but Naruto's eyes were on the man with brown hair and a rather odd stoic expression. "They aren't the enemy anymore."
"You know that's not how it works, Naruto," another man, Kakashi of the Sharingan, she recognized, voiced. Oddly enough, he seemed sympathetic in his words. "She works for Orochimaru. We can't simply let her go."
"Big brother?" Naruto seemed to flinch hearing Yukimaru's scared tone. He looked at the boy, smiling reassuringly, and then to Guren.
"But she doesn't anymore," despite being a statement, his eyes were almost pleading. Seeing them, Guren felt a deep shame for ever having worshipped Orochimaru in the first place.
"No," it was all she could say, finding her shame grow, leaving her unable to look him in the eyes any further. "No, not anymore."
"And she can prove this by coming with us," Kakashi said.
"Will she be under arrest?" Naruto asked, moving to put himself in between herself, Yukimaru, and the rest of his countrymen.
As much as she didn't want to end up a prisoner in a foreign land, Guren didn't want to burden Naruto either. She'd committed a many atrocities and if apprehended, would likely never experience her freedom again.
Some selfish part of her wished she could experience the world through her new stark change in perspective. To enjoy it with Yukimaru and — Guren halted that line of thinking in order to focus on what was happening before her.
"You already know the answer to that, Naruto," one of the older women said.
"But Shizune, she helped me fight off Kobuto," he argued. "That has to count for something, right? And what if she tells us what she knows about Orochimaru and his bases? That'll help her — "
"Why do you care so much?" The same girl from before her butted in, almost angrily. "She's the enemy! Or did you forget she almost killed Hinata?"
Naruto seemed to flinch at this and so too did Guren. Not because of her actions, although she wasn't all together proud of them, but because of how it must have made her look before the young man.
And again, she couldn't figure why she put so much stock into it.
"Hinata," Naruto uttered her name softly, and the girl herself seemed to squeak and blush. He truly looked conflicted by this and Guren wasn't enthused to be the cause.
"For what it's worth, I… I am sorry," she apologized lowly, to everyone on the surface, but strictly to Naruto in her mind. "I was under the impression… I thought you all wanted to capture Yukimaru for his powers."
"Exactly!" Naruto continued to grasp at anything in his defense of her. "Besides if she really wanted to… erm," he seemed to think better of what he was going to say. "I just wanna know they'll be okay if they come with us."
"You say that like they have a choice," the stoic man from before added more forcefully. "This is the reality of the world, Naruto. When you commit a crime, you must face judgement."
"I know, but…"
"It's okay, Naruto, I — "
"Don't say his name so casually!" The girl with pink hair marched forward with clenched fists.
"Sakura, don't," Naruto warned, stepping in front of her.
The girl, Sakura, appeared immensely surprised by his actions, then hurt, before finally settling on being angry. "What the hell are you doing, Naruto? Why are you protecting her so much?"
"Because everyone deserves a second chance!" Naruto argued back, looking to address the others more broadly. "She was…" He immediately stopped speaking and looked back down at her. "She was tricked, by Orochimaru."
It was obvious he was trying to respect her biggest secret, one she'd told him because for one reason or another, he was just so damn easy to speak with. But it was a secret she'd rather not share with everyone in attendance, so Guren found one more reason to favor the young man.
"Oh please! You can't seriously be stupid enough to believe that?" Sakura argued. "She's a little too old to say she was tricked, don't you think? She knows damn well what she was doing was wrong. She's not sorry because she means it, she's only sorry because she's caught!"
That irked Guren, especially the manner in which she spoke down to, not at, Naruto, but she kept her ire contained to a few choice words within her mind.
"The same could be said for Sasuke," Naruto said, immediately silencing the girl's further argument. "Like him, Orochimaru got to her when she was little. I won't say more than that but she's realized he was nothing but a manipulating asshole! Or do you think Sasuke doesn't deserve forgiveness either?"
Of course she knew of Sasuke, her once competition to become Orochimaru's next host. Guren almost shivered in pure disgust at her previous devotion. It almost felt like a blind had been removed, opening her eyes to the type of person, if he could be considered that, the snake truly was.
She had Yukimaru to thank for that, Naruto as well.
"Are you seriously bringing him up to defend her?" Sakura said with tears in her eyes.
He seemed regretful at having done so.
"It's okay, Naruto," Guren said. She decided she wouldn't cause him any further pain if she could avoid it. "I'll comply in anyway I have to. And I know I have no right to ask anything else of you, but until everything is settled, do you mind watching over Yukimaru?"
Naruto, for some reason, didn't look enthused at what she'd said. Guren briefly wondered if asking him to care for another may have been too much.
"Of course I'll look after him but Guren, are you sure? I can't promise you'll be… I don't know what they'll do," Naruto looked truly concerned for her.
Her face and chest both felt incredibly warm then.
"Why do you keep implying they have a — "
"Let them talk, Yamato," Kakashi said, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"But senpai…"
"It''s like Naruto said, they're not the enemy anymore," Kakashi said with a lazy wave of his hand. "Come on then, everyone. Back to the cabin. We all need our rest. We'll head out first thing tomorrow."
"But what of them?" Shizune asked.
"Naruto's got it handled," Kakashi said, smiling with his single visible eye. "Don't you, Naruto?"
"What is happening right now?" Sakura looked livid. "We can't seriously — "
"That's an order," Kakashi's voice, which had just been carefree, brokered no argument. From anyone. "We'll be waiting for you."
"Thank you, sensei," Naruto bowed his head.
With that, everyone followed after the man, with the exception of two.
"I just wanted to commend your youthfulness, Naruto! You are truly worthy of being my rival!" A boy with two caterpillars above his eye said, offering a thumbs up and a smile that glinted even in the light of the setting sun. With that said, he sprinted after the group, on his hands.
"What is he — "
"I don't know," Naruto said tiredly. He looked over to the other straggler, the girl with pink hair. "Sakura, I didn't mean to bring him up but — "
"I hope you know what you're doing, Naruto."
He watched her go with an incredible sadness.
Once they were all gone, a heavy, awkward silence remained.
Guren was about to apologize for the position she'd placed him in, but his next words halted any thoughts.
"You can go now," Naruto said without turning to face them.
"W-What?" Guren failed to understand the meaning behind his words despite hearing him clearly.
"Go," Naruto said, finally turning to them with a dour expression. "The both of you. Be free. Take care of each other."
"But won't that get you in trouble with your village's leadership?" Guren continued to fail to understand why the young man before her was doing so much for a stranger at best, and an enemy that very morning.
"Probably," Naruto admitted following a sorrowful sigh. "But after everything you two have been through, you deserve to be happy."
She felt numb hearing him speak. And as much as she wanted to follow his command an even greater part of her didn't. Guren could not comprehend why, but she didn't want to see any further harm befall him.
Not when he'd already done so much for them in so little time.
"You should hurry," Naruto urged. "It won't be long before they start wondering why I haven't returned with you two."
Silently, Guren stood, finding it difficult to maintain her footing, but she pushed through the feeling of lightheaded exhaustion. Their eyes met where she saw nothing but resolution in his bright blues, and it only made her feel heavier.
But there was no denying his words. Despite her every instinct, she knew what had to be done.
Taking a hold of Yukimaru's hand, she began to pull him along. They'd made it all of a few paces before she felt the boy who had quickly become important to him, pull himself free of her.
"I don't wanna leave Naruto-nii," Yukimaru cried, literally doing so as he crashed into Naruto, hugging him tightly.
Naruto looked incredibly conflicted, almost uncomfortable at the contact, but returned the hug reluctantly. Guren watched silently as he kneeled before to the boy, placing his hands on his shoulder.
"Listen, Yukimaru, you have to be strong," he glanced in her direction. "For you and for her. Everything'll be okay now. I…"
He appeared reluctant to say more.
"No!" Yukimaru denied as he hugged Naruto again, burying his head into his chest. "I wanna be with you and Guren forever!"
Naruto returned the embrace again, his eyes shutting tightly, tears falling from behind them. It seemed Yukimaru's affection was reciprocated.
Her heart simultaneously raced and fell into the pit of her icy stomach at the sight.
"You have to go now," Naruto whispered, pulling back to ruffle his hair. "But one day, I promise, we'll see each other again."
Naruto seemed surprised seeing her limp towards them, and even more so when she placed a hand on his shoulder, and the other on the boy's head. "Guren?"
"Let's go," he said, smiling seeing both boy's look of confusion. "Before your friends think you let us go."
He seemed to understand at once.
"I can't promise you'll be pardoned," Naruto whispered. "You need to go."
"Maybe," Guren admitted. "But I'm done running. Besides, I'll feel better if your watching over Yukimaru until I can."
She realized she was asking much of the young man, but she was resolute in his care of Yukimaru. She truly didn't know of anyone she would trust with his care more, not even herself.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Naruto asked, standing to meet her eyes.
She smiled as she looked up at him. "Not really, no. But out here, on the run from Orochimaru and the many village's I've wronged; it's not the life I want for him."
"I'll protect you both!" He shouted so abruptly he actually startled her. Especially after a moment of stunned silence, she truly wasn't expecting it. "I promise, I'll do everything I can to make sure you'll both be happy!"
Guren once more felt her face grow warm, certain in that he likely didn't realize just how his words could be interpreted. She also knew she shouldn't interpret them that way, because he was likely being the person she was growing to understand.
A kind young man.
"I'll hold you to it."
She felt her world beginning to spin around her, before turning on its side. Just in time for Naruto to catch her, hoisting her up into his arms once more.
"How many times does this make?" He asked with a tired but cheeky grin.
"Shut up."
The trip back to the Leaf was tense.
Despite the colorful conversation he maintained with Yukimaru, describing his village, he could feel the eyes of most of his team on them. It likely didn't help the young boy insisted he hold both his and Guren's hands along the way.
He risked a glance over his shoulder, confirming his senses. He, they rather, were being observed closely by everyone with varying reactions. Kiba looked angry, Shino impassive, though it was always difficult to gauge his reaction from behind his glasses and high collar.
Lee offered him another toothy grin and a thumbs up, with Ino similarly grinning at him but differently. As per usual, Sai's obviously false smile put him on edge, while Ten-Ten offered a look of uncertainty, similar to that of Shizune's. Yamato's death glare made him shiver, and Kakashi only offered him a closed eye-smile behind his favorite book.
Hinata quickly looked away, but she seemed upset all the same. Sakura, out of everyone, looked to be the most perturbed by the sight they must have made. His sheepish smile was promptly returned with a frown, making him feel worse.
Yet Naruto still believed what he was doing was right because it felt right. He couldn't ignore their feelings nor could he pretend they were without reason, but he also couldn't ignore his own.
Saving the two from Orochimaru and a life on the run felt right above all else. He felt conflicted for reasons he couldn't quite understand, but he was certain in this.
This feeling was confirmed seeing Guren smile at him. It was the briefest of expressions, but it was a true, tangible reassurance that what he was doing was right. And it felt right, warming his heart in a way he never felt before.
They finally arrived at the Leaf where they were promptly met with a small squadron of Anbu guard, their sole focus on the two new arrivals.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto instinctively stepped in front of the two.
"It's protocol, Naruto," Kakashi informed him calmly. "As you know, the Hokage has been made aware of the situation, but we can't have them simply walking through our village unattended.
"They're not unattended, they're with me," Naruto said, not looking away from the caricatures of animal masks.
"You know that's not how this works," Kakashi was patient in his explanation. "Besides, if anyone can convince the Hokage for leniency, it'll be you."
Naruto once more glanced at the amassed team and realized his sensei was correct. None of his fellow Konoha Shinobi seemed ready, much less willing to plead their case.
"We'll be okay," Guren assured him calmly. Yet the sweat on her brow gave her away.
"Yeah, you will be," Naruto silently promised. He kneeled down next to Yukimaru, who appeared incredibly anxious. "I won't be long. Make sure you take care of Guren for me, yeah?"
The boy nodded, taking his request seriously.
"Can we at least make sure they get seen by a medic first?" Naruto requested of his sensei.
"That's part of the admissions process," Kakashi confirmed. "And if it'll make you feel better, I'm sure Yamato wouldn't mind making sure our guests are treated properly."
That did not make Naruto feel better. But on some level, he trusted the often times horrifying man knowing deep down, he was a good person.
"Fine," Naruto stood. "I'll catch up with you two soon."
He watched them be lead away, feeling a sense of urgency to speak with the Hokage.
Tsunade Senju, on the other hand, did not seem too happy to see him. It didn't help she'd requested to speak with him alone first.
"Why is it always something with you?"
It was not the greatest of greetings, nor the one he wanted to hear. She was agitated, that much was obvious. Naruto decided to dust off his diplomacy skills, knowing full well it was more than his own well being at risk.
"Hokage-sama," Naruto bowed his head.
"Don't," Tsunade filled her saucer to the brim but somehow managed not to spill any on the way to her lips. "That won't work with me. Not now."
Naruto contained a semi-snide remark. "She can help us find Orochimaru."
"Is that the only reason you're so dead set on helping the enemy?" Tsunade questioned.
"She's not the enemy anymore," Naruto was quick to deny.
"Not to you, maybe," she was just as quick to respond. "But your feelings hardly reflect the laws in place. She's committed genocide, Naruto. There's no other way to put it. It's a fact. She's wanted in many villages. How do you think it'll look like to the world if we were to simply pardon her?"
"She was being influenced by Orochimaru," Naruto argued. "I… It's not for me to say, but he's manipulated her since she was young."
"And I suppose she suddenly knows right from wrong?" Tsunade pressed, uncaring. "Don't tell me you actually believe that?"
"I do," Naruto replied, resolute.
"Then you truly are naive," Tsunade poured herself another drink from her gorge. "Even if you're right, and she's somehow seen the error of her ways. Do you think that'll suffice for those she's killed? Will that bring back the souls she's eradicated for that snake?"
Naruto didn't understand why she was being so hostile towards him, and it was made worse knowing she was right. His feelings for the woman would be entirely different if she had been the one to have taken his parents from him, or that of any of his friends.
But he also couldn't ignore Yukimaru and his own forgiveness. He had to believe it meant something.
"You're right," his words seemed to surprise the woman. "But I know I'm right too. I can't say why she should be forgiven, or even that she should be, but I know she's changed. Yukimaru, he needs her. Please, all I'm asking is that she's given the chance to prove herself to everyone."
Tsunade regarded him for a long while. Truly studying him in a way that almost made Naruto uncomfortable. It certainly made him nervous knowing she held all the cards. It was entirely up to her what happened to Guren and Yukimaru.
"It'll create an international nightmare," Tsunade sighed, taking to drink straight from the gorge this time. "Damnit, Naruto. Why is it always you?"
He didn't know what to say, so he wisely chose to say nothing.
"You said you wanted to be Hokage, right?" The question had to have been rhetorical, so he chose not to answer it either. "Well here's your first lesson in politics."
Naruto couldn't help but feel concerned seeing her reach for another bottle from within her desk, indicating she'd already been working on her current one if she was already on a second.
"I'll pardon her, given her information proves to be useful to us," Tsunade began.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Naruto bowed again.
"I'm not done yet," she said firmly. "There'll be consequences, one way or another. I can't simply pardon her, even if her information proves to be of use."
Naruto didn't follow her contradiction.
"It'll take more than useful intel to buy her freedom," Tsunade said. "It'll require a sacrifice on your end."
"Anything," Naruto was quick to answer.
"Are you sure about that?" Tsunade questioned meaningfully. "Even if it means your dream?"
This gave him pause, somehow knowing what she was eluding to immediately.
Was he really ready to exchange his dream for Guren and Yukimaru.
He was, this much he knew. But not without question. To be Hokage was his dream, after all.
"Yes."
Tsunade sighed heavily. "What about your future?"
Again, Naruto was unsure of where she was going.
Did she mean his dream of becoming Hokage? Surely she did, but he'd already acknowledged it.
"Yes?
"Being Hokage takes more than just being the strongest, Naruto," Tsunade said as she poured another saucer-full, confusing him further by pushing it in his direction before retrieving another. "You really should study policy as well."
"I'm willing to learn," Naruto said.
"Good, we'll get started on that soon," Tsunade indicated towards the saucer.
Reluctantly, Naruto lifted the saucer, spilling some of its contents onto his fingers. He felt a queasy feeling in his stomach at the smell, remembering a certain celebration with Jiraiya, the hangover he felt the next morning more specifically.
"To your marriage," Tsunade said, taking a drink.
Naruto almost drank alongside the toast, stopping just as the bitter liquid touched his lips.
"Say what now?"
"If we're to pardon an enemy of many villages, we'll need more reason than just what use she'll be to us," Tsunade said with the beginnings of a slur to her voice. "A marriage on the other hand, to an up and coming Shinobi, may do it."
"Are you saying I have to marry Guren to save her?" Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"That is exactly what I'm saying," Tsunade minced no words despite slurring them. "I can't pardon this woman on her merits alone. But if she were to marry into one of Konoha's major clans, certain exceptions could be made. But consider this, Naruto. The optics surrounding your betrothal to her may very well effect your future chances at becoming Hokage. So I'll ask you again, are you willing to give up your dreams to save this woman?"
Naruto knocked back the sake, wincing and wondering how Tsunade and Jiraiya drank alcohol without so much as flinching. "What did you mean by one of Konoha's major clans?"
"A good question indeed," Tsunade smirked at him. "One I'll be able to answer only upon meeting one of a few prerequisites."
"What prerequisites?" Naruto asked, placing the saucer back on the table, grimacing seeing her refill it. "And why can't you answer them without me meeting them?"
"Laws in place before my ascension," Tsunade answered, leaning back in her seat. "But laws I have to follow nevertheless. There's many things you don't know about yourself, Naruto. I suspect you already know this. Things I'm not allowed to reveal to you until you become a man."
"What do you mean by that?" Naruto asked with eyes narrowed.
"I mean until you become of age," Tsunade replied evenly. "To do so there are three prerequisites, to be specific. One, when you turn eighteen. Two, when you become a Jounin, or three, you get married. Until you meet one of these requirements, I'm not allowed to reveal what I mean."
"Let me get this straight," Naruto no longer concealed his ire. "I can go to war for this village, but I'm not considered an adult until I'm eighteen, or I get married?"
"Or unless your promoted," Tsunade added playfully.
Her humor did not alleviate his mood. Quite the opposite, in fact. It angered him.
"Then promote me," Naruto said.
Tsunade hummed. "No."
"What do you mean, no?" Naruto ground out.
"You have the strength of a Jounin, don't get me wrong, Naruto. But you don't exactly conduct yourself befitting the ranking," Tsunade explained bluntly.
"What the hell does that mean?" Naruto continued to grow angrier as their conversation continued.
"That exactly," Tsunade said, taking another drink. "You're quick to anger, constantly disregard orders, and you try to bend the word of law when it benefits you. So tell me, Naruto. If you were in my position, if you were Hokage, would you promote you?"
No he would not.
It was hard to come to the conclusion, but he came to it nevertheless knowing she was right.
"I can change," Naruto said.
"Maybe," Tsunade relented. "But, and I know how much your word means to you, believe me I do, I can't simply act on it alone to promote you. There are processes in place, others you have to convince in order for me to do so. Who knows what'll become of this woman in the meantime."
"Why does it feel like you're forcing my hand here?" Naruto asked seriously.
"Because you're doing the same to me," Tsunade was suddenly serious. "What you're asking me to do is not insignificant. It's not just your judgment on the line here, Naruto. What do you think'll happen to me if I do pardon her, and you're proven wrong?"
Naruto was ashamed to admit it was not something he'd truly taken into consideration.
"I'm sorry," his head fell.
"Don't be," Tsunade said, her expression softening. "I'd do that and more for you, Naruto. But there has to be some give and some take. There are consequences to all of our actions. I'm not above them and neither are you."
They fell silent for a time.
"So there's no there way?" Naruto asked.
"I can offer her as much leniency as possible," Tsunade said, finally setting the gorge down on the table with a resounding clank. "But I simply can't promise her freedom. At most, I can save her from death, but no. There's no other way. So I'll leave the decision up to you, Naruto. And I'll ask you again, is she worth your dream?"
She was.
They both were.
But it was still asking much, of both of them.
"Even if I agree, who says she would? Guren's choice in this matters too," Naruto said.
Tsunade hummed again, shrugging her shoulders. "I suppose so. It's only her life on the line. Her own future. If you're so sure of her change, it's the best I can do, Naruto. This I promise you."
Naruto messily knocked back a second shot.
"I'll talk to her."
"I'll arrange it," Tsunade said, waving him away. "I have Kakashi's report. I'll get your detailed one later. For now, you're dismissed."
With that, he turned to leave.
"And Naruto," she said, stopping him in his tracks. He didn't turn to face her. "Think about this. I mean really think about this before you make your decision. I think it'll be one of the most important one you ever make."
Naruto left without another word.
"To your marriage," Tsunade said, taking another swig, alone. And then another. "And to your future. I truly hope you know what you're doing, Naruto."
So this is a story that's been kinda knocking around in my head for literal years, ever since first discovering Naruto fan fiction, back when I was watching Naruto as it played out.
Fuck I'm getting old.
Anyway, this is meant to be a little side project for now as I shake off the cobwebs for a few other stories I already have. What can I say, life sucks, writer's block sucks, and I've been busy with work.
Let me know if you guys want to see more of this and if I should include anyone else in the pairing.