Naruto arrived at the training ground earlier than agreed to allow himself the opportunity to be alone with his thoughts for a time. As he did so, he couldn't help but grimace with regret.
Guren and Yukimaru had retreated to the room the boy had chosen after coming onto the sight he must have made. There they remained into the following morning, as was revealed by his basic sensing abilities.
He didn't have the courage to try and speak to them directly and wouldn't exactly blame either if they were now afraid of him. This would make their imprisonment within his home all that worse so for their sake, he decided to give them their space until he could find a remedy for his mistake.
What he did do that morning was make two clones, one to keep watch over them and their home, and the other was sent out to buy groceries and any necessities they may require. Considering they weren't allowed out of his home unattended made him wonder, and not for the first time, if coming to Konoha really was the best for them.
He never came to a conclusion in that regard other than all he could do was uphold his promise to protect them. He owed them that much and more because indirectly, his marriage to Guren was the only reason he learned the truth. It was a difficult truth and one he still struggled to reconcile with, but it was one he felt entitled to much sooner.
Even now Naruto could feel his simmering anger begin to boil at the thought. Painful memories of his youth resurfaced to reveal just how different his life may have been had anyone who knew his parents in a past life decided to show enough care to be there for him when he had nothing and nobody.
Kakashi was, at one point, his father's student, yet he'd shown no indication of this throughout their short time together as a team. Certainly, he was kind to him, but he'd clearly chosen Sasuke as the focal point of his sporadic training and attention.
Then there was Jiraiya himself; the man who he'd come to see as something of a father figure, had himself trained his real father. Yet Naruto didn't come to know of his existence until he arrived to train Konoha's greatest asset to control the Kyuubi. But that only happened when a threat to the Village's control that very asset in the form of the Akatsuki had arisen.
His anger was redirected to his own existence as a Jinchuuriki.
It was irritably ironic.
Each Great Nation seemed to put a great importance in maintaining control over their most prized weapon, yet treated them horridly in response. Making it redundant when they weren't given the opportunity to have a reason to protect. He and Gaara were admittedly his only examples in this regard, but his understanding of human nature didn't exactly leave him feeling optimistic for the fate of the others.
It simply wasn't just.
"Naruto-kun!"
Naruto was pulled from his increasingly dark line of reasoning when Lee's boisterous voice called to him. His smile reflected the light of the sun on his approached.
"You're here early, I see," Lee stopped on a dime before him, with not a single indicator he was weighed down by the orange bands that he himself had yet to grow fully accustomed to. "As expected of my rival!"
Naruto wondered where that distinction had come from.
"Good morning, Lee," he greeted the odd Shinobi with a something of a forced smile. "Thanks for agreeing to help train me."
"Is something the matter, Naruto-kun?" Lee asked, frowning.
"No?" Naruto extended the single word with faux confusion in hopes of avoiding having to explain himself.
"But you seemed troubled, my friend," Lee elaborated in what sounded like genuine concern.
"I guess I've got a lot on my mind right now," Naruto admitted, hoping he wouldn't ask for clarification. He was certainly grateful for Lee's assistance in growing stronger, but he didn't know him enough to speak freely with him. Nor was he in the mood nor correct mindset to do so.
In fact, amongst his self reflection, Naruto was also beginning to reconsider his outlook on his friendships and if they aligned with the true definition of the word. Lee, at the end of the day, was nothing more than an acquaintance.
"I see," Lee struck a pose, complete with a victory sign. "Then let us begin! After all, nothing clears the mind like a day's hard work!"
"Yeah," Naruto stood from his place beneath a tree. "What's first?"
"We fight," Lee's pose became combative. He waved him forward. "I wish to assess your tai-jutsu before we commence your training."
All the better.
Naruto stretched briefly before taking his own loose stance, observing Lee closely in turn. He didn't know much of his opponent beyond he was the student of Might Guy, Konoha's premiere Tai-jutsu specialist. Considering just how much Lee mirrored the man, it wouldn't exactly be a stretch to assume he was very skilled himself. He'd proven as much prior with how he managed to push Gaara to his limits with his hand to hand alone.
It would not bode him well to underestimate Lee.
But his anger remained and he saw this as an opportunity to release some of his pent up frustrations.
That was his intention, anyway.
His frustration only mounted when it became apparent Lee was hard to hit, and that he hit hard in turn. His every strike was either avoided, deflected, or counter-attacked. No matter what he tried, no matter how hard he concentrated, it quickly became apparent he wasn't close to offering him a proper fight without resulting to ninjitsu.
It didn't help his arms and legs were quickly beginning to feel heavy with the added weight of the orange bands. He briefly considered removing them, but was struck in the face harshly, reminding him of Lee's own set.
His own fist was planted into the side of his head when he raised his arm to protect himself from a devastating kick, sending him sliding back a ways. He wouldn't be surprised if the attack fractured something in his arm; the trail his feet firmly planted and reinforced by chakra left in the earth was yet another indicator of Lee's raw strength.
"That's quite enough, Naruto-kun," there were no signs of levity in those few words. If anything, Lee almost sounded disappointed.
"I'm not done though," Naruto ground out as he shook his throbbing arm while forcing chakra into it, feeling it healing already. "I can keep going."
"I, however, will not," Lee crossed his arms. "Not while you are angry."
"What?"
Had he been that obvious?
"You are not currently fighting with your full potential," Lee explained. "You are fighting me while you are angry and it is making you sloppy. I can read your intentions well before you act. As you are now, there would be no point."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Naruto snapped. "It's these weights! If I took them off I — "
"That is just an excuse," Lee interrupted firmly. "Your anger is clouding your judgment, Naruto-kun. As I said, we will not continue as you are now."
Naruto's jaw clenched so hard his ears were ringing but he relented, his stance falling to default. There would be no point in arguing when Lee had already decided it so, and he concluded what he was saying was true.
"I do not know what is troubling you," Lee called after him when he turned to leave. "And I understand why you may not wish to discuss it with me. However, I implore you join me today."
"What?" Naruto turned back. "No. You already said you wouldn't train me, so what's the point?"
"The point, Naruto-kun, is to take your mind off whatever is troubling you," Lee was now smiling at him. "And I did not say I would not train you, only that I would not fight you any longer. Gai-sensei has informed me of your request. We were to continue on basic strength building exercises today."
Naruto couldn't help but wonder why Lee was being so kind to him despite not knowing him. Whatever the case, it did prove affective in quelling some of his frustrations, finding it difficult to feel angry in his presence.
"Thank you, Lee," Naruto said before bowing to him respectfully. "And you're right, I'm sorry. I am kinda pissed right now."
"Then let us begin at once!" Lee was grinning now. "After all, nothing clears the mind like training!"
"Yeah, you said that already," Naruto muttered with a genuine smile.
After being subjected to another day of what the unprepared could almost be considered torture, Naruto once again found himself on his back, breathing heavily whilst Lee continued his one finger push ups. He found the boisterous Shinobi was correct in that during his training, he wasn't exactly given time to think about anything but keeping up, and then surviving.
He wasn't exactly free of his feelings of frustration, but it no longer burned within him with the same intensity as before. In fact, despite feeling absolutely sore all over, he'd felt the most relaxed since stepping through the gates of Konoha with Guren and Yukimaru.
He briefly wondered what they were doing then.
"Amazing work today, Naruto-kun!" Lee said from above him, his smile wide still. "I must say, I am impressed. You're doing much better than I did when I first started training with sensei!"
"That's not really saying much considering I'm older than you when you first started," Naruto muttered with something of a smile of his own.
"Do not sell yourself short, my friend!" Lee offered him his hand and he accepted it, pulling him to his feet. "Nothing stifles one's own youth than one's own self!"
Naruto didn't know what he meant by youth, but he did at least understand what he was trying to convey to him.
"Thanks again, Lee," he decided then Lee was really a good person. Someone he'd like to one day consider a friend.
"But of course, Naruto-kun!" Lee was beaming. "That will be all for today but I'd like for you to join me today in meeting my team for lunch."
"I don't know about that," Naruto, despite his previous line of reasoning, continued to think of Guren and Yukimaru. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face them but it didn't make his predicament any easier considering he didn't exactly know Ten-Ten and his last interaction with Neji wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Come on, Naruto-kun!" Lee offered him a fist. "I regret having not gotten to know my rival before you left. I am most excited to know what you've gotten up to on your travels."
"You know, I was kinda thinking the same thing," Naruto chuckled as he knocked his fist against his. "But I don't know if — "
"Alright then!" Lee jumped in place. "Let us go at once!"
"Wait, I didn't — "
Lee erupted in a sprint, leaving behind him in a literal dust cloud in his wake.
"They really are alike," Naruto said following a sigh, taking off in a tired but steady jog, fallowing the trail he lift behind.
Guren was pleasantly surprised when she smelled food upon waking. Even more so finding a note resting just beyond the door of her room. It was immediately obvious who'd left it and so she opened it finding herself smiling despite everything that happened the night before.
Guren, I'm going out to train this morning but I'm sending a clone out to get food and anything else you two might need. He's also gonna cook breakfast. I'm sorry but I don't know how to cook much besides eggs and toast, but I hope you like it. Feel free to throw it away if you don't and make whatever you want to.
I'm also sorry you two had to see that. And I'm sorry if I scared either of you. I've never been good at expressing myself the way I should. I wouldn't blame either of you if you hate me even more and I promise not to bother either of you.
I just wanted you to know I would never do anything to hurt you or Yukimaru. Jiraiya said once everything calms down and you prove you aren't the enemy, we can separate and you can finally be free. Until that happens, I can only hope you can put up with me. If not, I understand. I still have my apartment so if I have to, I can live there from now on.
This is getting kinda long, so we'll talk later, but only if you want to. I'll leave that up to you.
— Naruto.
"That idiot," Guren smirked at his abysmal handwriting and the few grammatical errors. Yet it read just like him; how she'd come to know him.
But her smile didn't last upon revision. Her focus was on how self-deprecating the note truly was.
It was true, she had been frightened seeing under the Kyuubi's influence, the presence of an angered Jinchuuriki wrought the sensation of impending death upon her. But that didn't exactly erase everything that had come before.
Whatever it was that happened in that room, whatever was discussed must have clearly disturbed him. Enough for even Jiraiya to ask she look after him.
It had confused her initially but it made partial sense now, after a restless night with nothing but her thoughts, she'd come to the conclusion that Uzumaki Naruto was a troubled man. And of course he would be, considering he was a Jinchuuriki.
Yet, despite all that, he'd gone out of his way to save them, offer them his home for their comfort, and even made them breakfast.
He wasn't the monster she thought him to be.
Naruto was only human.
"Guren?" Yukimaru stirred in bed, rubbing his eyes.
"Good morning," she smiled at him. "Are you hungry?"
"Uh-huh," he confirmed, looking around tiredly. "Where's Naruto-nii?"
"I," Guren wasn't certain how he would take the previous night's development. "I don't know."
"So he won't be eating with us?" Yukimaru seemed downtrodden then.
"Do you want him to?" Guren asked.
"Yes," Yukimaru answered with no hesitation. "He was so sad last night. I don't like seeing him sad."
On that, they agreed.
"Let's eat something first and we'll go look for him. How does that sound?" Guren asked.
Yukimaru cheered in agreement.
Guren discovered Naruto could indeed cook.
The meal was simple as he'd written. A breakfast of eggs and toast, but they were the best she'd ever had and the orange juice was refreshing. He'd obviously taken care in prepare the food for them and it only proved to further her resolution.
She'd been stubborn long enough.
Her journey of self reflection was unfortunately put on hold by the Anbu Shinobi that stopped her and Yukimaru from leaving the compound. In her mission to find Naruto, she'd completely forgotten that she wasn't allowed to leave the compound without his permission and presence.
This annoyed her but her feelings were, for the first time, not directed at Naruto himself. This feeling only increased when, only a few steps back through the yard, a knock was heard on the large iron gates.
"Naruto, we were just — "
But it wasn't Naruto at the gates.
It was his teammate, the girl with pink hair.
"What're you doing here?"
The question, Guren thought, should have been presented by herself, but instead came from Sakura.
"I live here," Guren said, finding a frown forming on her face. "What're you doing here?"
"You live here? There has to be a mistake," Sakura seemed to be speaking to herself as she tried looking behind Guren. "I was told by my master that Naruto lives here now."
"We both do," a smile made its way onto her face now. And it was one of vicious vindictive pride recalling all their previous interactions. Specifically the ones between her and Naruto. "This is our house."
"What?" Sakura appeared absolutely confused at hearing this. "Why? This doesn't make any sense."
"What're you having trouble understanding?" Guren asked with a smirk, her words tinged with faux innocence as she crossed her arms and leaned against the gate. "It's only natural for a man and his wife to live together."
She took a great satisfaction watching the girl try and process her words, her face clearly projecting everything she was feeling. From confusion, to shock, before finally settling into anger.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sakura snapped. "Naruto would never… he wouldn't… you aren't…"
"Married?" She finished with a vicious grin. "Yes, yes we are."
"But how, when, why?" Sakura rambled, this time in denial. "No, it isn't true. You're lying!"
"Am I?" Guren was enjoying this now but not exactly her reaction and just how strong it seemed. "Your master was it? They did tell you he lived here, did they not?"
"Well yes but — "
"So there you have it. And if you must know, Naruto and I married yesterday," Guren crossed her arms, her smirk sharpening as she shrugged. "What can I say, he's got a way with words and now we both live here, with Yukimaru. One big happy family. So, was there something you needed?"
"Naruto!" Sakura's anger erupted, bypassing Guren to enter the compound, calling his name repeatedly. "Naruto are you here? We need to talk!"
"What do you think you're doing?" Guren stepped in front her. "I don't recall giving you permission to come in."
"I don't need your permission to do anything!" Sakura's fists tightened at her side. "Now get out of my way! Naruto!"
"Considering this is my house, yes, yes you do," Guren said, readying herself as well.
"Get out of my way or else," Sakura warned.
"Or else what?" Guren retorted.
Naruto appeared between them both, just as they were about to clash, catching both their fists. Unfortunately, his appearance was only brief before he popped out of existence, confusing both women.
"Oh shit!"
Neji, Ten-Ten, Lee, and everyone in the restaurant within hearing distance around them looked at him at once.
"Naruto-kun?" Lee questioned.
"I gotta go," Naruto stood abruptly. "Listen guys, thanks again for accepting me but I really gotta go."
"What's wrong?" Ten-Ten asked with genuine worry and something that almost sounded like disappointment.
They'd just been speaking about her choice in specializing in weapons, Naruto having found his own arsenal severely lacking upon consideration. It was his attempt to make conversation when they'd hit a lull in it and thankfully for him, she'd taken and ran with it. Speaking animatedly about how Kunoichi were underrepresented in the Shinobi world, especially when it came to mastery in weaponry.
It had proven a well enough distraction from just how little he actually had to say. Though somewhere along the rather one sided conversation, she had genuinely garnered his attention and he found himself inclined to agree with a lot of what she had to say.
"I'll catch up with you later and we can continue this conversation," Naruto said, slapping down some money on the table, he began to walk away before anyone could protest this action.
Amid Lee's objections to his paying, Ten-Ten called out after him. "Okay but I'm holding you to your promise!"
Naruto arrived at his home as quickly as possible, employing a series of Shunshins just in time to see a member of the Anbu guard standing between Sakura and Guren. Their argument was fresh in his mind, his clone having been dispelled by the force of their fists.
They were currently shouting expletives at one another until they noticed him.
"Naruto!" Sakura moved to him first, grabbing his arm, she glared at Guren. "What the hell is going on? Why does this woman seem to you're married?"
An uneasy feeling lanced though him then, having admittedly forgotten Sakura and her possible reaction to the news of his marriage.
"It's because it's true!" Guren snapped, looking well and truly angry. "Tell her, Naruto! Tell her she can't just waltz into our house whenever she wants!"
"Guren," Yukimaru looked absolutely frightened and on the verge of tears.
"I can do whatever the hell I want!" Sakura argued back, tightening her hold on him. "I'm his teammate and best friend! And you're delusional if you think he'd marry someone like you!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Guren looked absolutely furious.
"I mean you're a criminal!" Sakura seethed. "Naruto only decided to help you because he felt sorry for you! He would never — "
"Fuck you, he — "
"Stop it!" Naruto projected firmly. "The both of you!"
Both women immediately went silent.
Naruto shook himself free of Sakura and passed Guren to get to Yukimaru, who was crouched, covering his ears with tears flowing freely from behind his tightly shut eyes. He gently took the boy into his arms and looked to the two women with an expression that conveyed nothing but disappointment.
"You're both scaring Yukimaru," his words remained firm and both flinched at them, Guren more so. He turned to the masked man, who up to that point, simply watched them impassively. "I've got it from here."
The man only nodded before disappearing from view.
"It's okay little guy," Naruto soothed the boy. "I'm here now."
Yukimaru hugged Naruto, keeping his face hidden in his shoulder.
"What were you two thinking?" Naruto questioned and did nothing to hide his disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Sakura seemed to mean it. "But can you please tell me what's going on?"
"What Guren said is true," Naruto admitted but continued before she could get the wrong idea. "But neither of us wanted this. It was the only way. I won't say more in front of Yukimaru."
"What? But why — "
"Sakura," Naruto interrupted her. "I said I won't say more in front him. If you wanna come in I can explain but not here."
"Okay," Sakura seemed to accept what he said, but she didn't appear anymore pleased.
Neither did Guren.
"Take Yukimaru inside for now while I speak with Sakura-chan," Naruto said as he approached her.
Wordlessly, Guren did so, but she seemed incredibly crossed. Naruto wanted to say more to her, but she was on her way in a hurry, never once turning to look back to him.
Perhaps it was for the best, because he didn't even know what it was he wanted to say.
He led Sakura into his newly cleaned up and somewhat repaired study, though the table itself could not be salvaged.
"What happened in here?" Sakura asked as she looked at the hole in the wall his fist created, and then to the broken table.
"Uh, sit down, please," Naruto motioned to the seat across the broken table and himself, deciding that particular part of his explanation wasn't necessary at the moment.
"No, not until you tell me what's going on!" Sakura pressed, impatiently. "Why does that woman seem so damn sure of herself, even if you are married?"
Naruto allowed himself to fall into his own seat, feeling heavy once more in more ways than just physical exhaustion.
"We didn't have a choice," he began following a heavy sigh. "Our marriage was the only way to save them both from being imprisoned here."
"So it is true?" Sakura didn't exactly sound understanding. "And so what? She's a criminal, Naruto. I did my research, the things she's done."
"I know," Naruto acknowledged, running a hand through his hair.
"Do you?" She questioned. "I mean, do you really? Because — "
"I know, Sakura," Naruto repeated more forcefully before continuing softly. "I know. But I also know she's changed now. And before you say it, yes, I also know that doesn't really mean much to the people she's hurt, but Yukimaru needs her. Trust me when I say I tried to find an alternative, but Tsunade herself said this was the only way."
Sakura seemed to deflate, finally taking the offered seat.
"That doesn't explain why she seems to think this house is hers too. And what's with this house? Tsunade-sama said it's yours. How is that, by the way?" Sakura asked.
"Because as my… as my wife, it's technically hers too," Naruto said. "And as for the house, well, it's kinda a long story."
"I have time, Naruto," Sakura replied, crossing her arms.
"And I'll tell you, Sakura-chan, but you can't tell anyone else about any of this. At least not yet. It's a village secret I only discovered yesterday," Naruto said.
"Are you okay, Naruto?" Now, Sakura appeared concerned. "You kinda look…"
"Lemme guess, like shit?" Naruto finished with a small grin.
"Yeah," she returned the smile.
Naruto was suddenly struck by her beauty with that smile and it only hurt knowing his feelings would never be reciprocated. Especially now that he was married.
He proceeded to explain everything to her. Beginning with his deal with he Hokage in exchange for Guren and Yukimaru's freedom, leading to the discovery of his parentage and everything that came with that revelation.
All together he kept his explanation brief and by the end of it, Sakura was in tears. Before he could ask what was wrong, she rushed to hug him.
"I'm sorry," it was all he was able to make out in between her sobs.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto was absolutely floored by her reaction. He wasn't as ignorant to believe she didn't care about him despite it not being in the way he did for her, but he truly did not expect such a reaction. "For what?"
"For everything you idiot!" Sakura only held him tighter.
From their awkward position, Naruto held her back, basking in the rare affection. Upon consideration, he couldn't remember a time anyone hugged him.
"No one deserves that, Naruto. No one," Sakura finally pulled back to wipe away her tears before kneeling beside him, taking a hold of both his hands. Her stunning large eyes glistened in the light as they regarded him with sympathy. "I can't believe Kakashi-sensei and Tsunade-sama kept your parents a secret from you! It's just not fair!"
"Thank you, Sakura-chan," Naruto felt his heart swelling as well as his own tears burning his eyes.
"For what?" She asked, sniffling.
"For caring enough to cry for me," he said, wiping away a stray tear from her warm cheek before he could realize what he was doing.
"Of course I care about you, idiot," Sakura's face visibly darkened but offered no other outward reaction, not any he expected. "I wasn't lying earlier when I said you were my best friend."
"Yeah," Naruto smiled despite feeling his heart constricting in his chest. "My best friend."
"I'm going to speak with Tsunade-sama about this," Sakura stood abruptly, turning away from him, she wiped at her face again. "This isn't right. You shouldn't have to throw away your dream because of that woman."
"It was my choice, Sakura-chan," Naruto said.
"It's not much of a choice, is it?" Sakura snapped, clearly frustrated once more. "Not for you."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I mean you're too damn nice for your own good sometimes, Naruto!"
Naruto was unsure of why that made her so angry and it was hard to decipher what she was thinking when she wouldn't face him.
"Sakura-chan, I — "
"I'll fix this!" She interrupted him resolutely, finally looking to him with an expression to match. "She can't have — this isn't right! I can't say I agree with you wanting to help her, Naruto, but I'll be damned if I don't try and help you get out of this!"
"But she'll be imprisoned if you do," Naruto tried to remind her.
"I know that, Naruto," Sakura didn't look pleased at the reminder. "So we'll just have to find a way to work around that."
"If the Hokage couldn't find a way, I doubt there is one," he denied. "At least not right now."
"So what, you're just gonna give up, Naruto? You're okay with marrying someone you don't love?" She challenged.
"It's not like… " Naruto stopped short of saying what was on his mind. If he couldn't have her love, he didn't want her sympathy either. Perhaps it was selfish of him, but he didn't want Sakura to feel sorry for him.
"It's not like what, Naruto?" But she'd heard enough to question him either way.
"Never mind," he found he couldn't hold her gaze any longer.
"No, finish what you were going to say," Sakura pressed him. "Naruto, look at me. What were you going to say?"
"Forget about it," Naruto did as he was asked, but not fully.
"Is that what you really think?" Sakura's anger gave way to sadness. "That no one could ever love you? Is that what you really think?"
"That… that's not what I said," he muttered, but it was true.
"No but you were thinking it. And if that's what you really believe, then you truly are an idiot, Naruto."
With that said, Sakura stormed out.
With a heavy sigh, Naruto practically melted into the chair.
He loved Sakura even more for what she said, but he knew it to be true. If nothing else, their interactions then proved his reasoning true.
She would never love him.
On some level Naruto knew it was possible he may one day find someone else who would love him, but he didn't know if he could ever stop loving her. And their in lay the problem, because that wouldn't be fair to anyone.
At least with Guren it would be easy knowing she hated him. She, of all people, would never love him and if enduring their arrangement meant her and Yukimaru's freedom, then he would do just that.
Endure.
Guren watched Yukimaru sleep absentmindedly and with unfocused eyes. Her thoughts filled with nothing but Naruto, as she found, was becoming the norm as of late.
It was only natural he would side with his teammate and self proclaimed best friend; the same girl he cared for beyond that of simple friendship. It was to be expected he would choose the annoying girl with pink hair over two strangers in a confrontation.
Yet reason did nothing to quell her frustration.
Seeing Naruto side with and treat Sakura with kindness angered her beyond reasoning. Guren realized there was no point in denying the fact. All that remained was to try and decipher exactly why that may have been.
In the end, she didn't come to anything resembling a conclusion.
Guren wasn't certain whether or not she should have been grateful for the distraction upon feeling his presence approaching some time before he knocked. Upon quick consideration, she realized she could actively sense his presence without having to even try, and now that she was aware, she could almost feel him standing just outside their door.
There he remained for a while, long enough to almost prompt her to call out to him before he knocked on the door very lightly, the sound itself conveying reluctance.
Guren answered the door, finding his eyes immediately.
"How is he?" Naruto asked first.
A smile almost found its way onto her face at his consideration of Yukimaru first. "Sleeping," Guren answered, finding she could no longer meet his eyes. "Listen, Naruto — "
"Can we talk?"
"Oh," she was surprised, if not a little on edge by the seriousness in which Naruto spoke. "Okay, I guess."
"Not here," Naruto looked over her shoulder to Yukimaru briefly.
Guren followed him back to the office he'd trashed the night before, and had since cleaned up some. She observed the echoes of his anger remaining in the fist size hole in the wall, and the and the table which remained broken but in place.
"I figured I'd see if I could get Yamato-sensei to fix it," Naruto muttered, shamefaced as he palmed the back of his head.
Guren realized he'd followed her own line of sight.
"Right," she didn't know what else to say.
"Uh, sit down, please," Naruto said as he himself took his seat behind the ruins of the desk.
For once, Guren didn't argue, simply doing as she was asked with her hands on her laps. Feeling for reasons beyond her comprehension as though she was about to be reprimanded like a child for doing something wrong.
Though not entirely receptive to any such activity, she would admit like she'd truly lost herself. Taking to stooping as low as to have a childish, unnecessary spat with an actual child that needn't have happened, nor would it happen again.
"What did you ned to talk to me about?" Guren decided to ask when it became apparent he was nervous to begin, as evident by how his right foot bounced in place, and how his eyes shifted from everywhere but to her.
"Well," he elongated the single word before taking a deep breath. "There's a lot really, but I wanted to start by apologizing."
"You don't need to apologize for that girl's behavior," Guren muttered, crossing her arms and a leg over the other.
"That's not… uh, I kinda wanted to start from the beginning. Ya'know, for getting you into this mess," Naruto continued to come across as uncertain in what he wanted to say.
"You said we had no other choice, right?" Guren questioned as she focused intently on his expression, only to find confusion, and maybe even some relief, but no signs of deception. "This was the only way?"
"Yeah but… " His continued confusion and just how expressive he was in displaying it was almost adorable.
Guren decided to pretend she hadn't just thought that. "But what? Is it not true?"
"No, it is!" Naruto was quick to add. "But are you saying you actually believe me?"
"Not exactly the way I would put it if you did want me to, but tell me, Naruto; is there a reason I shouldn't?" Guren pressed.
"Ah, I guess you got a point. And no, but what changed?" Naruto questioned.
"Nothing really," Guren admitted with a sigh before making another admittance. "I guess I've had time to calm down and really think about it. As far as I see it, you don't exactly have much to gain from this deal."
"Oh," Naruto palmed the back of his head again, clearly still confused. "In what way exactly?"
Of course she wasn't about to voice the conclusion she'd come to the day before. In truth, if anyone was to gain anything from her marriage, it would be her. But she wasn't going to say that either.
"How about you answer me this; in what way do you benefit from this other than having someone to fuck?" she said before fully considering her words.
Naruto's eyes narrowed in frustration, making Guren realize she was backtracking.
"Are you gonna keep flipping my questions back on me? I wouldn't do that. I know you might not have any reason to believe me, but I'd never force myself on anyone," he stated. Though anger tinged his words, there was anguish in his eyes.
That implied accusation in particular seemed to hurt him.
"I see that now," Guren whispered, feeling true shame at his reaction and her having caused it. "I mean, I guess I already knew that. I was just… I … "
"You felt trapped?" Naruto finished with a small smile of understanding that had her looking away. "Cornered?"
"Something like that," Guren finally admitted having been confronted with his compassion once more. "Yeah."
"Guren, I can't say I can fully understand what you're going through, but believe me when I say we're both in this now. I think it'd be better for all of us if we try and deal with it," Naruto seemed to find his words now. "At least for now."
"For now? What do you mean by that?" Guren questioned.
"Look, I know you're probably just waiting for your chance to escape, right?" Naruto held up a hand seeing her about to argue. "Wait, please, just listen."
In truth, Guren didn't know what she was going to argue otherwise. After all she couldn't honestly dispute his words as that had been her very intention. She may have come to the conclusion Naruto wasn't to blame for the consequences of her own choice, but that didn't mean she wasn't still regretting that same choice even now.
"I wasn't lying when I said I would protect you and Yukimaru. Obviously I didn't know this would happen but that still stands. Believe it or not, I aim to be Hokage one day and — "
"And our marriage is standing in the way of that?" Guren interjected.
"That's not what I was going to say," Naruto was quick to reply, but seemed to be considering his words once more. "And it doesn't have to. But no, that's not it at all. You see, I've recently learned I might have some… influence. I can't get into it right now, but just know our arraignment doesn't have to be permanent. We just have to be patient until I can figure out how to get out of this marriage without risking either of you."
"Influence? This have anything to do with the meeting between you, the Hokage, and the old Sage last night? The one that riled you up so much?" Guren asked.
"Yeah," Naruto appeared once more ashamed of himself then.
"Right, and you said you can't tell me what it was about, but I imagine you had no issues telling that girl?" Guren said, raising a sarcastic brow.
In truth, she was curious as to what could have been revealed to Naruto that would elicit such a visceral reaction from him. It obviously must have been something of substance and it truly did annoy her knowing that little girl was privy of something his own wife was not.
Not that she was anything more to Naruto than just that in name and out of obligation on both their ends.
"That's different. Sakura-chan, she's my teammate and my friend. She has been for a long time. Well, technically," Naruto added, almost in afterthought.
"Technically?" Guren questioned.
"It's a long story and not the point," Naruto grew serious once more. "Guren, I'm not gonna ask anything of you other than that you please be patient with me for now. I know you might not care but it's just more than my own neck on the line here. If you try and escape it won't end well for any of us."
"Is that a threat?" Guren challenged.
"You know its not, but it is the truth. Tsunade… the Hokage risked a lot by arranging this in the first place, not just me. I know you might not care and I know I'm only repeating myself now, but I need you to please be patient. If not for the Hokage's sake, or even my own, then please, for Yukimaru. Can you honestly tell me you'd both be any safer out there?" Naruto presented.
The answer to that question was why she'd agreed to allow herself to be captured in the first place. But what she failed to fully consider then was the opposition she may face from those not of a like mind to Naruto.
"Funny, you didn't seem too happy with the Hokage last night," Guren couldn't help herself.
"Guren," Naruto sighed. "Again, that's not the point. I — "
"Oh but I think it is," Guren cut him off. "You may sympathize with our situation but I don't think you fully understand what's at stake here. Hell, I know I didn't until I got here. There are things that are simply out of your control, Naruto. Out of the control of even your Hokage. That being the opinions and agendas of others."
Naruto didn't respond, taking instead to seemingly consider her words.
"Just as you know what I've done, others know as well. Who's to say someone won't try to cash in on the bounty on my head? Or that someone won't seek revenge on me? Or that they'll try and get to me for my bloodline, or even Yukimaru's? You can't be at our side at all times. You can't possibly predict everything that might happen to us when you're not around," Guren continued, seeing cracks in his already weak composure begin to show themselves in his frown.
"You'd be safe here," he protested but his uncertainty began to manifest in his words.
"Maybe, but Naruto, what kind of life is that for us?" Guren argued. "Are we supposed to live in isolation within this house until everyone either forgives and forgets? Because I promise you that's not happening anytime soon."
"I know I just… " Naruto raked a hand though his hair before allowing his head to fall, his eyes now obscured by a curtain of his own hair. "If we could just prove to them you've changed. Maybe… maybe… "
He did not continue.
"Naruto, I am sorry for the way I reacted initially. Really I am, but we both know how this ends. I don't mean to diminish your dream but I've seen the way your own people look at you, and you're a Konoha Shinobi. How can you possibly — "
"My dad was the Hokage," Naruto, in turn, interrupted her.
"What?" Guren could not believe what she'd just heard.
"Maybe you're right, maybe I'll never be Hokage," Naruto rested his chin on the knuckles of his interlaced hands, his eyes remaining obscured. "My dad was Namikaze Minato and my mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina. That's what I learned last night."
Guren was dumbfounded and truly at a loss for words, because she knew he was telling the truth. There weren't many in the Shinobi world, or those outside of it, who could claim not to know of the Yellow Flash. The Yellow Death as he was known to Konoha's enemies.
The resemblance was uncanny and revealing in hindsight. As was the secrecy surrounding him and his connection to such important figures in Konoha beyond his status as the village's Jinchuuriki.
The fact he was revealing such a secret to her now was not insignificant. Nor could she understand why he would reveal such a thing to her in the first place.
"Okay," Guren continued to have difficulty putting to words all she was thinking. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm starting to see just how much politics play into everything," Naruto sounded despondent. "And I hate it. I really, really do, but that's just how it is. Believe me or not, I don't care, but I do aim to change that. All I'm asking is that you give me time."
"Time to change what?" Guren asked.
"To be honest, I don't even know yet," Naruto admitted, looking up to reveal a sad set of eyes that seemed to somehow be devoid of some of their previous radiance. "But I have to try. And if somehow end up failing in changing this shitty world, you have my word I'll find a way to get you out of Konoha. I'll get you and Yukimaru as far away from all of this as I have to, to make sure you're both safe and happy."
Guren felt her heart skip a beat and then shutter in her chest.
"What would that mean for you, though?"
She had to know.
"What kind of man would I be if I can't keep my word?" Naruto's words were self deprecating then. There was no mistaking it. "That's what it would mean to me, and more."
Once more Guren found the ability to speak eluded her for a time, feeling a warmth spreading across her entire being.
"But why?" Eventually the words came, but they did so before she could fully consider them. "Why risk so much for us? For me?"
"Why not?" Naruto's reply came immediately. "I know you probably wanted an answer instead of another question, but really, why not? I don't know if you really regret what you've done, although I really hope you do, but you know what I see when I look at you?"
She could only shake her head slowly as he held her undivided attention.
"I see someone who put the life of someone else before their own," Naruto smiled slightly and it reached his eyes this time. "I see how much you care for Yukimaru, and how much he cares about you. You also saved my life. That means something, ya'know, even if you might not think it does. I know deep down you're a good person."
All thoughts ceased in that moment, leaving Guren with only emotion. Emotion she didn't care to place, much less label then and there.
"Guren?" Naruto looked concerned now. "You okay?"
"Huh?"
"You're uh," Naruto was unsure of himself then. "You're crying."
She was.
Guren felt the hot tears trailing her cheeks first before realizing just how much her eyes stung. She quickly his her face behind her sleeves, wiping furiously at her eyes.
She couldn't be crying. Absolutely not! Because she'd sworn off all tears the day she buried her mother.
And yet, somehow, Naruto had reduced her to tears with words alone.
No.
Not just words.
Guren stiffened feeling a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around her and as much as she wanted to push him away, she did not. She could not. She only began to cry harder, feeling as though something inside, something she'd been holding back for years finally snapped.
"It's gonna be okay," Naruto's words were a balm to her burning soul, both proving to sooth and elicit further tears. "I promise, Guren. As long as I'm here, nothing and no-one is ever gonna hurt you again."
She believed him.
Sorry for the long time in between uploads. Things have been kind of shitty lately but hey, that's life.
Anyway, until next time! Hopefully sooner this time.