I don't usually involve Naruto in my stories; he has enough fans for the job. This has been a challenge for me to write, and I still don't know if I've fulfilled the request with it. Maybe I'll never know :D But it's already allowed to share it, so... Here I am ^^
This is an answer to a prompt in FestNoJutsu 2023 launched in Ao3 by the /r/NarutoFanfiction channel in Discord.
A Wonderful Night
He adjusted his backpack for the fifth time in the last half an hour. The right strap was giving way and refused to stay the same length as the other one. That was simply frustrating. But… On the other hand, he was on his way to the first of many training courses for his future position as hokage. Everything was worth the suffering on the steps leading to his child's dream.
Honestly, he was so enthusiastic when he first received the letter with the list, until he actually focused on the words and read it. It sounded outright boring! It was just like he was back at school. But worse. Way worse. They expected him to memorise tons and tons of facts – not only political facts – that were maybe useful but very hard to remember. Like why the Tsuchikage bloodline developed the way it did. The reason lay in a forceful switch of successors, because one of Oonoki's early relatives turned out to have a really rare medical condition. Sakura had tried to explain it to him, simply putting it like a condition that didn't allow said man to do simple maths. Thus it made him unsuitable for any high political village position. Why did he, Naruto, need to know that? It looked like useless information. Technically, it just resulted in Oonoki becoming tsuchikage instead of a cousin of his. Big deal…
Also, Kakashi surely didn't know all that shit and turned out to be a decent hokage himself. Tsunade might have known this particular fact about the Oonoki's bloodline due to its medical nature, but... she surely didn't have to learn the rest.
"We need a proper hokage who has undergone education and preparation to be a leader not only by muscle and a great deal of chakra resources, but also with wits and a mind that could find solutions to issues of national importance. If you want to be chosen one day, you need to prepare!" That was the Council's answer to the "why". Kakashi had just shrugged. Naruto loved his ex-sensei, but he was still a bastard sometimes…
And how come Gaara wasn't undergoing it? Had Gaara, one of his dearest friends, been assigned to that absurd training, Naruto was going to have a great time. But no… Maybe because he had been a kazekage for a few years and knew these things already? Or maybe Suna wasn't such a big pain in the ass? Most probably, the latter was the case.
Naruto puffed his cheeks at the sight of the inn he was supposed to stay in for the next week. At least it had an open hot spring to relax after the tedious… lectures… he had to suffer through. And company. He smiled at that last thought — maybe Gaara wouldn't be there, but the future Mizukage and Tsuchikage would be.
The leaf shinobi attempted to enter the building but stopped at the door to look around; his eyes quickly assessed the insides of the common room before lingering on the old man behind the counter. He gave Naruto a stern look from behind his thick glasses, sizing him up.
Taking the sign on Naruto's forehead protector, the man narrowed his eyes. "Konoha, yes?" he asked instead of a proper greeting.
Naruto exhaled, unnerved. "Yes." He dumped his bag on the nearest table.
The man was seemingly undisturbed. "Breakfast at 6:30, lunch at 12:00, dinner at 7:00," he said. "I won't serve you if you're late," he added a few seconds later, handing a room key.
The shinobi grabbed it and attempted to turn when the innkeeper tapped on the counter; the knocking sound made Naruto wince, halt, and look back.
"Make sure you take that as well."
Naruto focused his eyes on a pile of papers with his name on them.
"What's that?" He asked and reached for them.
The innkeeper huffed, laying his wrinkled hands on the counter and leaning forward. "It's for you," he grumbled. "How would I know?"
"You're sour like a lemon, old man," Naruto stated, keeping a smile on as he snatched the papers and leafed through them. They consisted of an agenda and some lectures. He cringed at the sight of the small letters neatly filling each page from top to bottom. Although there were a few graphics here and there, their presence didn't make him feel better at all.
Naruto grabbed his backpack and stuffed the papers in it under the unapproving gaze of the innkeeper. The shinobi fiddled with the annoying strap once again – he couldn't fix it, of course. The strong desire to rush to his room and take a shower didn't help with his already short patience either. So, with an irate huff, he pressed the bag under his arm and turned towards the stairs. He had already lifted a foot to climb up when a voice forced him to stop in his tracks.
"New way of carrying backpacks?" The woman who had just entered the inn – dressed in a dark red uniform and an earthly-coloured vest – asked. "You realise it's supposed to go on your back?" A sarcasm thick as syrup dripped into her tone. "Or you're just the hugging type?"
His first reaction was to frown, but it lasted for less than a blink as he recognised the voice; then, he felt pure joy once he turned and saw the familiar face. But her half-guarded posture and squared shoulders made him halt, and instead of expressing his emotion wildly, as he usually would, he found himself just standing there. He fought back the urge to pounce on her and greet her heartily; instead, he decided to be the adult he was often accused of not being. To show a fellow future kage that he had grown up and had better control over his primal reactions was what he should do, right? Stiffly, he also squared his shoulders, pressed his lips together, and gathered determination to answer all of her teasing questions.
"No, Kurotsuchi," he started, sighing. "It's the only way to carry my backpack, as it has a broken slider and the strap won't cooperate," he continued with a slight frown. "Also, yes."
The woman raised her eyebrows. "What's the 'yes' about'?"
"I am a hugging type." He grinned, letting his cheerfulness loose.
Naruto spun nonchalantly and bounded up the stairs without caring to gauge her reaction of blinking with a confused expression, as if she weren't sure if he was joking or was being serious.
She came as far as to open her mouth to shout after him, but decided against it with a head shake. Leaving Naruto aside for the moment, the woman approached the innkeeper behind the counter instead. And keeping a polite smile on her face, she asked about her reservation.
Naruto stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to her. His typical, radiant smile was plastered on his face, his hands on his hips, and the backpack still pressed tightly under his armpit. He was the pure impersonification of enthusiasm and boyish charm.
"Hey, Kurotsuchi," he called, looking down.
She had just picked up the key to her room, and her hand was reaching for the folder with her name on it when she looked over her shoulder. "Yes?"
He beamed at her. "I'm glad to see ya," he said simply, honestly.
She couldn't help but chuckle. There was something about his smile... Was it because his whole face brightened up as if the sun itself had climbed down into the room? Or was it the way his sapphire blue eyes flashed with some kind of pure playfulness? Or maybe because of those peculiar snicks on his cheeks and the funny way they emphasised his facial mimics? Kurotsuchi didn't know. She'd never given it that much thought before. And, truth be told, the woman didn't even realise she had been returning his smile from the moment their eyes met. The edges of her delicate lips tugged further, in an almost-grin.
A genuine joy sparkled into her distinctive pink eyes as she replied, "I'm also glad, Naruto. I'm glad to have you here."
The week had flown much faster than Naruto initially imagined. Once Chojuro joined them, the lectures turned out to be bearable. The training went smoothly, and the three of them used the free time to chat and even have a friendly, lazy spar on the lawn beside the inn. Kurotsuchi happened to be a sore loser.
Chojuro, on the other hand, proved to be a big fan of shogi; surprisingly, the innkeeper was too. That made their evenings slightly more boring, because Kurotsuchi and Naruto were both stuck watching the innkeeper and their blue-haired, pointedly-teethed comrade take turn after turn, until one of the kings fell hostage to the other one.
It was the fifth evening of their stay. By tradition, which was exactly what these evening entertainments had turned into, Naruto was sipping tea, watching through heavy eyelids Chojuro and the innkeeper's shogi game. Thanks to Shikamaru, the blond leaf shinobi had learned the rules and how the different pieces moved. But he still found it quite boring.
Quiet flip-flopping sounds made him lazily look up. His body perked up and his eyes widened at the sight of Kurotsuchi wrapped in a short, white towel, graciously descending the stairs.
"Evening, boys," she greeted with a grin. "Is it alright if I use the spring at this time?" she asked, turning to the innkeeper.
He adjusted his glasses and looked at her through them. "Of course. Just get the key from over there, so no one would bother you."
"Ah, that won't be necessary," she said through a chuckle. "I'm capable of defending myself from unwanted company. Plus" – she glanced at the two younger men – "I hoped for some wanted company for a chat at the end of the day."
"You're not pulling something weird out there, are you?" The innkeeper frowned, ready to scold her. As for him, she was just a young girl needing direction in life, not the damn future Tsuchikage. And actually, his view of the world and general behaviour were the main reasons this inn had been picked as a place for training.
"No. And that's why the door will remain unlocked. Whoever and whenever peeks in, they won't see anything... uncensored," she promised with a wink.
"Good," the man said; still, he squinted his eyes in a warning.
Then, as if nothing happened, he returned his attention to the board.
Naruto's body tensed as he wondered whether he should accept her not-subtle-at-all invitation or not. He really preferred the calming warm water and hot steam before the clicking of wooden pieces that was happening in front of him.
"Go," Chojuro encouraged. "It's written all over your face. Plus, I saw you almost fall asleep just a few moments ago."
Faint pink crept over Naruto's cheeks. He hadn't realised he looked so bored. Actually, he thought that he did a good job hiding it.
"We all rest differently," Chojuro added. "And if hot steam is what you need to relax and regain your energy, then that's what you should do."
Naruto grinned. "Wise as always," he praised his fellow future kage, and without waiting for another invitation or further encouragement, he shot up on his feet.
He was too hyped to remember to say "goodbye". Instead, he ran up the stairs, taking a few steps at a time. Rushing towards his room, he giggled at the image of finally getting to the hot spring and soaking into the soothing water under the dark sky, with the pale moon peeking at him from above. He almost tore his clothes, wanting to get rid of them faster, and scattered them on the bed. Grabbing a towel from the bathroom, he wrapped it around his hips, frantically looking for the flip-flops. He remembered that they were under the nightstand when he last saw them. Naruto had kicked them there. So he dropped on his knees to take them out. Finally, he put the thin rubber on his feet and hurriedly left the room.
He pushed through the door to the springs with a deep, happy sigh. His sight blurred when the warm steam coated his whole face and impaired his vision. He rubbed his eyes before daring to step further. A sound of splashing to his right startled him, and his body jolted.
"Ah, you came after all," Kurotsuchi said, chuckling.
Naruto stilled for a moment and rubbed his eyes once more before looking in the voice's direction. There she was. Little sparkling droplets slid over the smooth skin of her face; that was the only visible part of her. She smoothly glided into the waters and settled beside the pool's wall, leaning on it. Her bare shoulders rose above the surface – his eyes were drawn to the newly exposed skin – as she relaxed her head on the edge.
The man watched her as if he were hypnotised; his cheeks blushed pleasantly, making the snicks on his face less visible.
She smirked, fully realising how strongly the sight of her affected him. Kurotsuchi decided to take her mocking initiative even further: her legs floated up, becoming visible; her thighs showed above the surface, just barely. His body stiffened while his eyes followed the line of her lithe limbs.
"I know I am a delight to watch," she teased, the smirk never leaving her lips. "But are you really going to just stand there? Instead of joining me?"
The man gasped. A nervous chuckle bubbled out of his throat when he shook his head. "Have you lost your towel somewhere?"
"It's right there," she said, lifting her hand to point at one of the corners.
Naruto shut his eyes and averted his face before he had the chance to glance at her surely bare breasts.
"Are you uncomfortable?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"A bit," he admitted.
"You aren't afraid of me making advances on you, are you?" Kurotsuchi laughed. "I'm not going to; don't worry."
Naruto looked at her, untrusting. "I know you like to joke around..." He left the sentence unfinished.
"So, you know I'm not seriously trying to seduce you," she concluded aloud, rolling her eyes. "If I wanted to do that, you'd already be at my mercy."
"Oh? You're very confident." The man frowned. His arms crossed over his chest, defensive.
"I'm irresistible," she stated matter-of-factly. And let her eyes drift closed.
Naruto didn't say anything, but he couldn't help believing her. She had a "killer" body, according to the detailed descriptions in his dear teacher Jiraya's books… and his personal physical reaction, which made him feel even more uncomfortable. Adding to that, her attitude was something he had never come across, either. Somehow, he was deeply convinced that not many men would be able to resist, had she decided to put them on their knees, begging for her attention.
True to her words, she didn't do or say anything more to make him feel uneasy. On the contrary, she took on a more modest body position, hiding her gracious legs deeper into the water. Her smirk shifted into a simple smile. When she spoke again, her voice had lost its seductive undertone, returning to the one Naruto was used to, and changing the subject to more… practical matters.
"If all the training is like that, I think I'll be alright," Naruto said, relaxing the back of his head on the pool's edge.
Kurotsuchi peeked at him briefly before closing her eyes again. "Yeah… It's good."
"Did you know becoming a kage is so... complicated?" He asked after a moment of silence.
She rolled her head to the left to face him, giving him a lazy look. "Of course." The woman snorted disparagingly. "Being a kage is a pain in the ass," she added matter-of-factly. "You're expected not only to be one of the best fighters – if not the best – but also to make smart decisions about your village's well-being. It's normal to be prepared as well as possible for that."
Naruto huffed and turned his head up to look at the night sky, as if it were going to give him the answers to… everything, and remained quiet for a while. His eyes, open wide, reflected the little twinkling stars, making him look like a mystic forest creature from an ancient children's book.
Then he spoke. Slowly. Quietly. His voice sounded deeper than mere moments ago, startling Kurotsuchi and piquing her curiosity.
"To be the best fighter," he reiterated, leaving the sentence hanging in the air for a few seconds as if he tasted the sound of it. "It requires quite some effort, true that. I guess the same goes for the other aspects of being a kage," he admitted.
A smile graced his lips, bringing that personal, inner glow of his to the surface.
He turned, placing his palms on the pool's edge, closer to the woman's face; he propped his chin on them. His bottomless blue pools drew her pink ones in with a child's innocence and curiosity.
Kurotsuchi felt a slight tug at her chest. It was so weird to gaze back at his face from such a close distance. She could practically see the little lines and dots in his irises, the few really faint scars over his tannish skin, as well as the tiny little hairs that every person had. And those marks on his cheeks... She had been wondering what they were when she first saw him some years ago. Then, she just accepted them as part of Naruto and stopped noticing them. Most times… When they weren't right in front of her eyes. But they were now only a few inches away… Her curiosity beated all the other reasons yet again, as usual with her.
She lifted a hand, pulling it out of the water. "Can I?" Her delicate fingers pointed at his face; little drops fell down with a quiet plop when she moved her limb into the air.
Naruto's body tensed, his reactions kicking in and readying him for defence. Since nothing threatening followed, he frowned and needed a few more seconds to grasp at what she was asking for. When the realisation fully dawned on him, a chuckle came out of his throat. "Sure, go ahead."
Kurotsuchi turned her whole body to the side. "You don't trust me too much, do you?" she commented while her hand slowly approached his cheek.
"It's just a reflex… Don't take it personal," he whispered, his tone hinted at an apology.
Kurotsuchi huffed and continued her hand's course towards his face. She focused on the touch, fully aware that she was about to enter his very personal space. On the other hand, he didn't seem to mind at all; once he was sure that she wasn't aiming to attack him, he didn't hesitate for a moment before agreeing.
The tips of her fingers skittered over one of the black snicks that marked his skin. "There's nothing. They don't feel any different," she stated, her eyebrows raising; her whole face expressed puzzlement and suspicion of some sort.
"Of course they don't," Naruto replied, laughing. "They change only when I'm in Kurama mode—"
Her hand halted half-way in its retraction. Kurotsuchi's overly amused grin dried the words in his mouth, sealing his lips shut.
"Kurama mode? Is this what you call the elaboration with the Nine-tailed Beast and stealing his chakra?"
"I don't steal his chakra!" Naruto protested almost whiningly, gaining a giggle from the woman. "I do borrow it."
"Yeah, sure," she said with derision; her hand waving in a dismissive gesture. "If you say so..."
Naruto bit his lower lip and frowned. His expression resembles that of a child who had just been disregarded by the adults. "It's true!" Aggravation and even desperation sipped into his voice.
"Ok, ok." Kurotsuchi smiled, the mocking gone from her tone. "Relax; I believe you," she said softer, meaning it.
The man pulled back, suddenly feeling too bare in front of her gaze and the almost-there smile that was doing funny things with his heartbeat. It was unsettling and uncomfortable. Even so, he didn't want to leave her company.
Kurotsuchi's hand sank under the water, and she let her body take her previous position, seemingly relaxing. But the little spots that had been in contact with Naruto's skin felt burning, and the tingling sensation on her fingertips had become stronger. To ignore it, she focused on remembering the conversation that they had had.
"So," she whispered, her eyes closed, "what is 'Kurama mode', exactly?"
Naruto scratched the tip of his nose. "Well… When his chakra infuses my body, I feel like ablaze in his flames, burning with his raw power; it's when I can hear him, see him, and talk to him… It's the moment I feel him and myself become one."
She nodded a few times at his attempts at definitions and, without any other movements, just asked, "What's it like?"
Since he didn't answer, she peeked at him before turning her eyes up, to the night sky. "What's the feeling of being one… with him, the Nine-tailed Demon?"
The man clicked with his tongue. "It's like… as if I'm capable of moving the whole world... Like… If I can do anything... everything."
Kurotsuchi nodded. "I was wondering what it is to have him live inside of you, taking on your body when you lose control. But… It has never been like volunteering. You've never chosen it yourself." She paused. "The choice has been made for you," she said thoughtfully, and it sounded more like she was reasoning aloud than actually talking to him.
"I've never asked for him to be sealed inside of me; that's true. But I've grown up with him. He knows my best… and my worst… He knows all of the dark corners of my wishes, desires, and fears. He's an inseparable part of me... He helped me become who I am now. I can't imagine myself without him," Naruto still replied.
"But it hasn't been what you want," she disagreed, not looking at him even for a brief moment. It looked as if she was arguing with the sky, not with the man beside her. "It's not what you wish for."
"No."
She contemplated her next words.
"Then... what is it that you really wish for?"
"That's easy – to be a hokage." He simply shrugged. "That's always what I've wanted, what I've really longed for."
Kurotsuchi remained silent, her pink eyes boring into the night sky.
"Is that what you want?" He asked suddenly, making her turn and look at him with confusion.
"You mean?"
"Is being the Tsuchikage what you really want?" Naruto reiterated.
Her jaw loosened as she figured that she couldn't really say "yes". Kurotsuchi pressed her lips tightly for a few seconds until her brain processed the question and tried to provide her with something she could use as an answer.
"I… haven't thought about that," she admitted in the end.
He chuckled. "Well, it's worth it to give it some thought, considering it's your only life and the position is quite... demanding, to say the least."
Kurotsuchi shook her head. "It's just something I've always known will come. Inevitable future. My future in case I live long enough," she paused. "I never thought of being anything else; I can't imagine it."
"That's fine." He shrugged. "Though you still haven't answered my first question."
She smiled. "Do I want it?"
He nodded and gave her a side glance. "Yes." His clear blue eyes twinkled, curiosity peering from within.
"I guess..." she said slowly. "I don't really mind, if I gotta be completely honest. The annoying part… is that everything feels predetermined, destined, and" – she stared at him while pronouncing with a grave, formal voice – "prefated."
"Prefated?" Naruto raised his eyebrows with a huff. "Is there such a word?"
Kurotsuchi shook her head. "Nope. But somehow it fits right on the spot."
He burst into a laughing fit, but the kunoichi only let herself smile restrainedly. When he could take a proper breath again, he leaned in towards her.
"You're a very strong kunoichi, no doubt. There must be something you can do to feel the fate in your own hands. No matter how small."
Kurotsuchi's lips curved in a smirk. "Maybe there is…"
Naruto climbed up, slowly taking in the sight of Suna laying spread out below him. The stars sparkled, struggling to stay visible in the sky above, fighting the darkness that threatened to swallow them. Storm clouds were hanging above the village and its surroundings, making everything look like it was under a black cover. Desert crickets were singing from the occasional bushy formations along the snaking path; their song resembled the crickets' song back home.
But he wasn't here to listen to them. He was a man with a mission, and he needed to approach the matter carefully. If Temari's words could be taken with no reservation, his target had stormed out down the hallway about an hour ago looking furious and distraught.
There… The small frame of a seemingly fragile woman was sitting on the edge of the highest rock, swinging her feet into the nothing underneath. Her head snapped in his direction when his foot skidded, and the quiet crunching sound alerted her – her whole body tensed, ready to act.
"Don't kill me," Naruto shot his hands up, pretending to surrender. His emblematic grin plastered on his face.
She relaxed back down. "What are you doing here?" Her voice sounded hollow in the darkness.
"I'm happy to see you too," he said merrily, fully ignoring her words and her mood. "What a weird meeting, eh?" He closed in, still playing ignorant. "Can I sit down and keep you company for a bit?" The man was readying himself to sit while talking.
"No!" she snapped.
Naruto stilled his movements.
The woman let out an exasperated breath and added in a hiss-like voice, "I came here to be alone and to think."
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt." He pulled back up and took a step, increasing the distance between them. "I came here to sightsee. I've heard it's prettier at night. Didn't expect you to be here."
Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes. "Expected or not, I'm here first. So either you shut up and join me" – she patted the spot beside her and looked at him with narrowed eyes – "or be gone and come back later." As she pronounced the last word, she pointed sharply in the general direction of the village.
Naruto lowered himself slowly, as if he were trying to get close to a wild animal. When he took a seat, he was very careful not to touch her by accident. She seemed like she was going to lash out at him if he did.
"Don't play poker," she told him with a grave face. "Seriously… don't ever play poker."
He smiled, huffing quietly. "So I was already told," he confirmed.
They let the minutes slip away between them in silence until Kurotsuchi finally lifted her gaze.
"What do you want, Naruto?" She asked; her voice had lost the irate edge. She sounded… tired and resigned.
He nudged her shoulder with his and whispered back, "What's wrong?"
She smiled an almost-there smile as her chest filled with warmth. She knew him. They had been bumping into each other occasionally for their common training or formal events for the last few years. He had become her friend. A real one. A dear one. And so his familiar, reliable presence brought her… calm. She leaned on him – both physically and emotionally – letting her head lay on his shoulder and preparing to share her worries.
"It's my granddad," she said, staring somewhere in the distance.
Naruto followed her gaze to the streets of Suna underneath them. There were people moving around while resembling an ant colony; their shapes – like little black dots – were projected on the lightened streets; the chatter and usual evening noises were somehow muffled from the distance – faint, almost nonexistent, but still there.
"What's wrong with him?" Naruto asked when he felt the tension in Kurotsuchi's body start to dissipate.
"He's gonna retire earlier than expected, and I'll have to step in."
"Oh..." he paused. "But is he alright?"
"As alright as an old rooster like him can be."
"But... isn't that good? No more training, boring preparations, and so on? Getting to the real deal?" Naruto was very careful in his word choices as well as with the tone he used.
She shook her head, rolling it on his shoulder. "Done with the training and gonna lose the little remains of freedom I still have."
"What freedom?" He giggled.
Kurotsuchi pinched his leg, making him jolt with a pained yelp, and rubbed the spot.
"I could manage my free time, no matter how limited, however I liked. I could go out to drink, read a book, or walk for hours outside the village borders—"
"You've never taken walks outside of the village borders, Kurotsuchi," Naruto interrupted.
"But I could have!" She protested. "It was allowed."
The man snorted.
"I could go on lame dates with boring men. And no one could stop me."
His whole body tensed, making him look like a prickly porcupine. "What?"
"Come on, Naruto, you can't possibly think I just sit on my butt. I go on dates, and I do have some nude fun from time to time." Her voice was heavy with sarcasm. "As if you don't do the same..."
The lack of any interruption on his part, or even an answer, for that matter, forced her to pull back and look at him. The intense red colour of his cheek threw her into confusion at first. Then she burst into a laugh while he averted his face, firmly clenching his jaw. Not only did he become more flushed, but his ears and neck coloured intensely as well.
"Stop it!" He breathed out. "I'm not…" Naruto couldn't push out the next words and just left them unspoken.
But he didn't have to finish the sentence, as Kurotsuchi was clever and even insightful when she wanted to. She took a few breaths until she could speak again.
"I can't believe you, Naruto! You, who had the most twisted, dirty-novel-writing, skirt-chasing, perverted mentor that could have existed; you, who have women throwing at you on every step because... well, you're a war hero. You're telling me you never rubbed off on anything he could've taught you about dating and... women in general?"
Naruto's face fell, and a slight scowl appeared between his brows.
"You don't have any relationship experience?"
He shook his head.
Kurotsuchi's comprehension failed to justify such a thing. He was attractive, he certainly wasn't stupid, even if he vigorously was trying to look like he was, and his general demeanour was thoughtful and pleasant. There was no reason he wouldn't have relationship experience. It wasn't something to be expected or even… guessed. "What's wrong with you? Why the hell not?"
He pulled back. "I-It's not that I have none," he said, his voice trembling with discomfort. "I just... didn't find anyone I like enough, ok?" He attempted to defend himself, looking at her with a mix of shame and anger.
"That's not a fucking valid reason not to have fun," she spat back.
"It is!" He insisted and crossed his arms over his chest.
The woman opened her mouth to attack him again but reconsidered and closed it instead. She assessed his burning face, the rage sparkles in his eyes, and the sadness seeping from his whole being.
"You miss him, don't you?" she asked, her tone suddenly turning soft, almost tender.
There was no need to explain who she meant. He knew.
And he nodded, sighing heavily, confirming, "Every single day. I sometimes catch myself talking to him and expecting an answer as if he never… left."
"You are childish sometimes," Kurotsuchi whispered, lifting her hand to prevent him from interrupting her. "But – I want you to remember this – I like you just the way you are," she confided, and after a moment of contemplation, she leaned in and pecked his cheek.
He stiffened while she settled closer to his body and relaxed her head on his shoulder again.
"Don't you ever lose it, you hear me?"
"What?"
"The caring Naruto."
He could hear her smiling, bringing a smile to his own face.
"The one that comes all the way here, just to check on me." She giggled. "The one that listens to me venting. Naruto, who tells the truth, even if it is embarrassing... That Naruto doesn't lie, you know." Kurotsuchi rubbed affectionately her nose into his shoulder. "I like my Naruto friend. Don't ever let him change or go away." She pried a glance at him, adding almost silently. "Please?"
He hesitated, but braving through his doubts, he lifted an arm. And, even though his hand trembled, he caressed her short black hair. Raspy breath filled his lungs when his fingers slid through her locks — they were so soft and smelled so… good. "I also like you the way you are, Kurotsuchi. You turned out to be much more... different than I thought."
She huffed, letting out a chuckle. "You too." A pause. "I thought you were as dumb as a fence post. At first," she added with a conspiratory tone.
"Hey!" Naruto sounded genuinely hurt.
She laughed, burying her face on his shoulder. "Relax. You're not." The woman patted his knee. "You're naive, kind of... But I find this trait of yours… cute."
"Kurotsuchi!" He sounded desperate with discomfort.
She laughed again, lifting her head to face him. Her hand approached his cheek, and her fingertips boldly skittered over the black marks. He blushed yet again and a shiver ran down his whole body, transmitting back to her through her hand. The woman leaned in, just a bit, almost imperceptibly.
He froze, his eyes widening. A vivid anticipation radiated from all over his face. His expression of ultimate trust forced the woman to speak and give him some explanation…
"You know… I'll be very bored and frustrated once I take upon the Tsuchikage's hat," she whispered, leaving the rest she wanted to say just hanging there for the next few moments while her lips pressed together in a fine line.
Her other hand found his, which lay on his leg, and brushed over its top. Ignoring the slight tremble, she added almost silently. "Maybe you wouldn't mind stealing me once in a while and taking me away from all of the hustle? Keep me sane?"
Naruto took a shaky breath. He looked straight into her eyes and held her gaze there for what felt like forever. His hand, which she was caressing mindlessly, turned and captured hers, fingers curving around hers. The edges of his lips tugged in an almost-there smile, his features turning tender.
"I'd love that," he mouthed, and squeezed back very, very gently.
A smile blossomed on her face when she leaned closer to him. She saw his smile, just before her eyes shut and their lips hesitantly met for the first time.
Kakashi cleaned his throat while getting up, his palms pressed firmly on the table in front of him.
"Alright, thank you all," he said with a voice too merry and in complete dissonance to the tired look of the visible part of his face. "It was a long but fruitful meeting, and I'm confident we can call it a day and retire for the evening. Make sure to rest well and have a wonderful night." He finished with a stiff bow.
The common relief was palpable. The kages, with the assistance of their advisors and bodyguards, started to gather their documents and charts, piling them diligently and putting them back into their respective folders.
Shikamaru and Naruto exchanged gazes filled with reassurance. The young Nara even smiled. Sometimes Naruto wondered if his friend's facial muscles hadn't atrophied because of the lack of use. But here he was, a happy and intact smile on his face, making him look almost attractive.
Gaara, together with his siblings, headed towards the door after giving brief wishes for good rest to everyone in the room. Shikamaru let out an exasperated breath.
"That's me," he said, nodding in the Kazekage group's direction. "Gotta escort them before I can go home. See ya tomorrow, Naruto. Have a good night."
Naruto grinned, saying a quick "you too," supported by a wave of his hand.
Shikamaru slunk behind Kankuro's back into the hallway, disappearing magically.
Naruto turned to meet his other leaf comrade's tired smile. "Good night," Ino whispered with a small wave.
Her task was to escort Mei and her official companions. So, her blond hair swung as she caught up with the mist shinobi. Smiling, she dove into happy chatter right away, making Chojuro blush pleasantly.
Kakashi sat back down and turned to Darui, while Naruto slowly approached Kurotsuchi.
Pointing at his chief with a small tilt of his chin, he asked, "Do we wait for them to finish?" He tried to sound lighthearted but was inwardly dreading the answer.
"Oh, no," she declined, shaking her head. "The formal part is over. They can sit here and chat the whole night if they want. I'm deadly tired and have a date with my bed." Kurotsuchi's voice was almost shrill with annoyance and exhaustion.
She put her Tsuchikage hat on and impatiently gestured to Naruto to move on and lead the way. He did. And he didn't try to talk with her either. The whole group moved in complete silence until they reached the appointed inn, where Kurotsuchi dismissed her advisor and bodyguards for the night. They didn't wait for a second invitation to disappear upstairs.
Naruto hesitated as to what to do since she refused to either meet his eyes and hint or tell him straightforwardly. He didn't want to force his presence if it wasn't wanted. So he considered wishing her a good night and leaving, when a feather-light tug on his sleeve made him change his mind in an instant. She didn't look at him, but a sneaky smile tugged at the edges of her lips. A playful flame twinkled in her eyes as she turned towards the stairs.
Naruto followed her, keeping a respectful distance. All in all, he was here in the role of a Shinobi or the Leaf who escorted the tsuchikage – nothing more, nothing less. Not to mention that he needed to make some tremendous efforts to keep his eyes away from the bare right thigh, relieved by her red gown on every step she took.
She unlocked and quickly looked around before grabbing Naruto's hand and pulling him inside. Once in, she shut and locked the door. Her lungs slowly filled with air before she let it out even slower.
Naruto stepped in the middle of the room and watched her. Patiently, he waited for her to meet his eyes.
When she did, the woman took her hat off and carefully left it on the small dresser beside the wall. "I ain't gonna need this," she whispered, turning fully to the man with the most warm and radiant grin she had ever met.
He approached her and reached for her hand. Slowly and with heart-melting gentleness, he pulled her closer until her chest was touching his. He leaned in… and stopped a weak breath away from her.
"No, you won't need it," he agreed before their lips sealed each other with a searing fever.
Soon they had to pull back a bit, gasping for air, but with wide smiles on both their faces.
"We should listen to Hokage-sama," she whispered, still breathless.
"I always listen to Lord Sixth," Naruto mumbled while leaving a burning trail on the side of her neck. At the same time, he tugged at the zipper on the side of her dress. "Don't worry." He chuckled and added with a hoarse and low voice, "We'll have a wonderful night."
Thank you, dear girls, for the support and the corrections. ❤️