United I Stand
Chapter Eight: A Wonderful Welcome Home

"This is so precious…" Naruko said as she, Fu, and Naruto stood at the door to their apartment.

Sitting on the couch sleeping was Hyūga Hinata and all around their apartment were various orange and blue balloons, orange and blue streamers across the walls and there was even a cake on their counter.

"Wow…I wasn't expecting this when we got home," Naruko said to Naruto only to see a warm expression on his face.

"Who is she?" Fu asked Naruko.

"She's a friend of ours that has a crush on Naruto," Naruko replied, leaving out the complex nature of her and Menma being a part of Naruto. "But still…For her to do this was sweet."

Hinata let out a small groan only to squeak in surprise at seeing the trio. "O-Oh, Naruto-kun…Naruko-chan. Welcome home. I-I'm sorry you found me like this. So u-unbecoming…"

Hinata then looked to Fu and gave a small bow. "Oh hello, I-I'm Hyūga Hinata, Heiress to the Hyūga clan," Hinata introduced.

"I'm Fu…Just Fu…" Fu replied. "Newly minted Konoha Shinobi."

"Wow. W-Welcome to Konoha! Have you guys taken her on a t-tour yet?" Hinata asked.

"Not yet," Naruko replied with a smile. "We were going to rest up before actually looking for you to let you know we're back."

"I-I'm glad," Hinata said with a smile.

"So…What's all of this?" Naruko asked the Hyūga heiress.

"W-Well I figured I'd welcome you all back from your first mission…I-I found out yesterday by Sakura-san, who stopped by to see if you guys returned yet. I figured I'd welcome you all back in a nice way."

"This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for us…Thank you, Hinata-chan," Naruko said with a bow but when she looked at Naruto, he was still staring at her.

'Naruto…What's your deal?' Naruko asked through their link but he didn't answer her. He instead kept his gaze on Hinata.

"I-I just realized, where is Menma-kun?" Hinata asked.

"He's currently talking with Sakura-chan," Naruko said.

Hinata nodded with a pleased smile. "I'm very glad. She was looking forward to speaking to him regarding some matter that occurred between them. Hopefully, she cheers up. She was pretty down when I saw her la—"

"Hinata-chan, would you like to go on a date with me?" Naruto asked suddenly, startling everyone in the room.

"Geez, a little warning before you suddenly speak after like five minutes of nothingness?!" Fu exclaimed while Naruko could only laugh.

"A-Ah," Hinata stammered.

"I know it's rather sudden but I was going to ask when we saw you again but seeing you do all this just for us…I couldn't hold back," Naruto admitted with a blush on his face.

"O-Oh," Hinata responded bashfully, her face beat red. "I-I'd love to."

"Really?!" Naruto excitedly exclaimed.

"R-Really…Oh my! I-I have a date with Naruko-kun!" Hinata exclaimed before she slumped back on the couch, unconscious.

"Ah! Hinata-chan!" Naruto exclaimed as he rushed to her.

Naruko chuckled as she looked at Fu and murmured "I believe there was something you were going to give me earlier before we saw those two perverts staring at us…"

Fu blushed and took Naruko's hand and said, "Lead the way, Naruko-chan…"

"Another mission? Already?" Anko said in disbelief as she looked at the Hokage. "It hasn't even been an hour since we got back."

"Yes. It is pretty urgent. Team 10 has encountered some trouble during their mission and they will need all the help they can. With Team 7, Team 9, and Team 8 going on important missions tomorrow and the other teams currently on their missions, Team 11 is the only team that can go," The Hokage said.

"What is the mission?" Anko asked.

"A group of Ronin have been terrorizing some villages in Hi no Kuni for a while now. Each shinobi team we sent out there was defeated and killed. They call themselves the Shichinintai," The Hokage explained.

"The Band of Seven?" Anko said. "Wait…I heard about them. They were a group of powerful samurai from Tetsu no Kuni. I thought they were beheaded or something?"

"That is what we've heard but unfortunately, we were mistaken," The Hokage responded. "For a while, we didn't even know we were dealing with them but when a shinobi returned near death, he was able to confirm to us that they were the assailants."

"So you sent Team 10 to stop them?" Anko asked.

"No, they were sent on an assignment to gather Intel for a target when that shinobi returned here. He and his team had just met with Team 10 at that village before they were attacked," The Hokage explained.

"Shit…Well, Alright…I'll go grab the rugrats and Inoichi," Anko said with a grumble.

"Inoichi is currently on another assignment I had assigned for him before I summoned you so he won't be able to join you on this mission," The Hokage said.

"Really? We ju-Oh fuck a duck. Alright, I'll go gather them up!" Anko said.

'I guess Dango is going to have to wait for later…' Anko bitterly thought.

"Wow…What a beautiful sight…" Sakura said as she gazed out over the entire village. Menma had led her to the top of the Hokage monument. She wondered why she never thought of coming up here before.

"Naruto showed me this spot," Menma explained. "It's become our spot when we need to clear our heads."

"I see…" Sakura whispered. "But why bring me here."

"You said you took a life, right?" Menma asked.

Sakura nodded.

"You probably feel unsure about yourself and your position as a shinobi. You probably feel less pure, right?" Menma asked.

"Y-Yes…How did you know?" Sakura asked curiously.

"It was my birthday. I had just turned five years old, I wasn't allowed to go out on my birthday but I did anyway. I was lonely and I wanted to talk to people. Of course, I was ignored and ridiculed. On my way home, a drunk shinobi cornered me in the alleyway. Called me all sorts of cruel names before he tried to murder me. He fell and the kunai slid to my feet. He pulled out another one and came barreling into me. I held up the kunai and he stumbled and fell on top of me. The Kunai I was holding was in his chest. He died," Menma explained.

Sakura gasped out in horror.

He was only five years old and he killed someone…

"Oh Menma…" Sakura breathed out.

"When the village elder came to me, I was covered in his blood. I remember feeling as if something died in me but my elder told me that I was defending myself from someone that intended to harm me. I did nothing wrong but I still felt like a monster. I had killed someone…they had family, friends…people that cared. I was just no named orphan and I took away a family member….I felt horrible."

"That's exactly how I feel," Sakura softly admitted.

Everything that Menma had told her, she had felt and it was messing with her.

"But one day, I met a kind old man with long white hair with red lines going down his eyes. He was a goofy and a pervert but a nice guy. He took the time to talk to me when my elder did not…He said that it's natural to feel that guilt and it is what makes us human. If I didn't feel that, I would become the very monster that I feared I was…But what he said next spoke to me. He said "Kiddo, in my long line of work as a shinobi, death is always there. It could come for me at any time. Whether by enemies, my own hands, or my health. It'll always be there. But just because the shroud of death is around me, doesn't mean I have to become that shroud myself." And I realized what he was trying to say."

"That I don't have to kill my enemies….I can spare them," Sakura summarized.

"Exactly. After we spoke, I made a promise to myself. If I could, I would never kill again. I know there will be times when I need to break that oath but it helps me remember that killing doesn't make me an unfeeling monster. I can show mercy and you can as well," Menma finished.

"Wow…I-I never thought of it that way," Sakura said. "I feel better…But why talk to me about this? You hate me…"

"I dislike you, yes. But that doesn't mean that I'm an unfeeling monster," Menma told her.

"Well…Thank you all the same," Sakura said with a grateful smile.

"I haven't forgiven you, you know?" Menma told her. "I can't…Not yet."

"Why?" Sakura softly asked as the pair looked at the village. "I'm not her…I'm not the one that hurt you so why take it out on me?"

Menma remained quiet for a moment then answered, "Every punch you landed on Naruto told him things about himself. That he was stupid, pathetic, and worthless. You made him feel that he was nothing. You caused him pain that you will never be able to heal with words alone…"

Sakura lowered her head in thought.

"Then…I'll prove it somehow," Sakura whispered. "I'll prove to you that I mean everything that I said. I don't know how but I will…I promise."

"I look forward to seeing you try, Haruno," Menma simply replied.

"What a wonderful oath," Anko's voice said from behind, which prompted both Sakura and Menma to turn around and launch kunai at her. Anko caught them both with her index finger after ducking them and twirled them around.

"Nice reflexes kiddos," Anko said with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Menma asked.

"The Hokage has us going on an important mission to help Team 10," Anko explained. "I got lucky that I saw you with my 20/20 vision." Anko winked but seeing the serious expression on Menma's face made her sigh.

"We just returned an hour ago..." Menma said.

"I know but orders are orders," Anko said.

"Tch…I'll gather my siblings," Menma told

"No need. Just replenish your wares and head to the gate. I'll snag them. Besides, they can't be far," Anko said before she vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Menma snorted and said, "Well…Looks like the welcome home is short. I better prepare."

"Yeah…I guess you should," Sakura replied before the two stared at one another. Menma stared down at her emerald green eyes and tensed for a moment.

Those eyes…He couldn't let himself be drawn in by them.

Not again.

Menma nodded and started to walk away, but when he gained a good distance, Sakura shouted, "Menma!"

He turned around and gave her a curious look. "We may not get along but I don't want you to die before I can fulfill my promise so come back safely. I'll be here!" Sakura shouted at him.

Despite the words, Menma could hear the seriousness and worry in her voice which made him chuckle.

'Worried for me? Never thought I'd see the day,' Menma thought. Instead of replying vocally, Menma turned around and continued to walk but raised his hand in a lazy wave before putting his hand into his pocket.

And if had turned around again, he would have seen Sakura smile in relief.

Naruko and Fū were in the middle of cuddling on the bed, just basking in their new…whatever it was they were in when they heard a knock on the window. Both Naruko and Fū looked up and shrieked in horror at Anko peering through their window, her face pressed up against it with a wide, goofy smile.

Anko let out a hearty laugh, which was muffled by the closed window before Naruto busted into the room with a kunai. "What's the problem?!" Naruto said as he looked around before he saw Anko, immediately put together the issue and laughed as well.

"Look at it this way, at least you two weren't getting it on," Naruto said as he waggled his eyebrows only to duck a pair of kunai thrown at him. "That was close," Naruto said with a cheeky smirk.

Once Naruto let Anko in, they all sat in the living room but Anko was looking at Hinata's unconscious body curiously.

"I asked her out on a date. She said yes and well…She fainted," Naruto summed up.

"O-Okay…." Anko replied. "Well, the reason I am here is because we have a mission."

"What? We just got back!" The trio shouted, which caused Hinata to stir.

"W-What? What's going on?" Hinata mumbled out.

"Hey, you're awake," Naruto said with a bright smile.

"Mhmm…W-What was the shouting?" Hinata said.

"I was just telling my Gaki trio that we have another mission," Anko said.

"B-But they ju—" Hinata began.

"I know, they just got back," Anko said with a sigh. "You think I like ruining shit like this kids? Cause I don't but Team 10 needs some help and we're the only team that can get them what they need."

"Team 10…That's Shikamaru, Chōji and Ino, right?" Naruto recounted.

"Nice job kiddo," Anko replied with a grin.

"Well hell, looks like we have to help them," Naruko said.

"Y-Yes…I do not wish for a-any of our friends to perish…" Hinata said.

"Damn it, Hinata-chan, when I come back, we'll go on our date okay?" Naruto asked.

"O-Of course," Hinata said with a stammer and a blush but there was an adorable smile on her face that made Naruto grin.

Just then, Inoichi appeared in the room and said "I should have expected you three would be here."

"Hey, Inoichi-sensei. You bummed about this mission too?" Naruko asked.

"I wish I could be but I'm bound to another mission," Inoichi said with an apologetic smile. "Fu, the Hokage said you and I are going on a mission for some Intel. I was originally supposed to do this alone but the Hokage figured that having you with me will show you Konoha does things."

"I-I see…" Fu said as she looked to Naruko, who looked mighty disappointed. Fū leaned over to kiss her cheek and said, "I'm sorry Naruko-chan…I hate to leave you and my other new teammates but if the Hokage wants it, no sense in denying it…"

Naruko shook her head, took Fū by the face and softly kissed her.

Hinata looked stunned.

"I'll explain in a second…" Naruto said.

The two broke apart and Fu stood up walked to Inoichi and said "Let's do this Sensei!"

"Sorry guys but I'll keep her safe. I promise," Inoichi said as he grabbed Fu's shoulder, and with a swirl of leaves, they were gone.

"So things happened between Naruko and Fu during our last mission," Naruto said as Naruko blushed.

"How o-odd…So to make sure I-I understand. You, Menma-kun, and Naruko-chan are the original Naruto-kun but now Naruko-chan is taken? Does that mean you're all taken?" Hinata asked.

"Nope," Naruto responded. "We may share a soul but lately, we've all had different wants."

"G-Good…I-I would have felt really guilty if all of you w-were with Fu-san…" Hinata said.

"Don't be," Naruko said with a grin. "We share the same lifespan and soul but there are some differences between us."

"And while Fu is cute…" Naruto said. "I don't know, I just don't have an interest in her like I do you but I mean I guess I do since Naruko likes her…This is all a work in progress but I say, while we share the same life force and soul, we are different in some ways so treat us as our person?"

Hinata blushed deeply but nodded. "I'm glad to see you two are as c-confused as I am," Hinata commented with a small smile.

"I mean, we've only had this going on since like…three weeks?" Naruko asked Naruto, who shrugged in response.

"Honestly, the days just blur together…" Naruto replied.

"While I am deeply amused by this," Anko said with a stare that showed her own confusion. "We need to get a move on."

"Oh right," Naruko said.

"Man…I'm guessing you already told Menma because he's not here, right?" Naruto asked.

At Anko's nod, Naruto sighed. "Damn it, there goes our tradition…" Naruto grumbled.

"I know, I'm so bummed," Naruko said.

"I'm sorry?" Anko and Hinata asked in unison.

"We'll explain but let's get a move on, yeah?" Naruto asked.

Anko and Naruko nodded and Naruto turned to Hinata and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Our house is your house. You can chill here until we get back if you want to. And when I come back, you and I are having that date."

With a wink, Naruto began to pull away but the red-faced Hinata caught his shoulder and boldly kissed his cheek, which caused Naruto's face to redden to the point that Naruko and Anko thought steam would come out of his ears.

"That's a new reaction," Naruko noted in amusement while Anko let out a laugh.

"F-F-For luck," Hinata said with a smile.

"T-T-Thanks…." Naruto stammered back.

Naruko saw Anko tilt her head curiously as a faint smile appeared on her face before her sensei shook her head and shouted, "Let's get a move on!"

"R-Right!" Naruto said. "S-See you later Hinata-chan!"

"Bye Hinata-chan!" Naruko said.

"Later Pearls!" Anko said before the trio walked out. The second the door closed, Anko said "She's so going to faint."

Seconds later, there was a thump, which caused Naruto to look through his window only to see Hinata on their couch, unconscious again. "Jinx…" Naruto said to Anko, who stuck her tongue at him.

Naruto frowned and stuck his tongue back at his sensei.

Naruko watched for two minutes as the two continued to stick their tongues out at each other and merely sighed before she focused her thoughts on Menma and said, 'Menma…Inoichi-sensei is not going to be on this mission and we instead may have to deal with Anko-sensei and Naruto being a bunch of idiots…'

"Kami help us all," Menma replied.

"Guys!" Naruko said.

"Hm?" The two replied while glancing at her.

"The mission," Naruko said.

"Oh yeah," The two said in unison before they said, "Jinx, you owe me a ramen/dango!"

Naruko sighed again but funny enough, she smiled as well.

What a strange but happy life….