Just a shinobi - Ch 7

...as Izuku said that, they all heard a clapping noise, and when they saw where the noise was coming from they all got curious

It was Phantom who was trying to get their attention and he succeeded because everyone was looking at him " ...all I want to say is that chapters from now on will be a little different so you should be prepared "

"...can you please elaborate on what would be so different from previous chapters? " asked Riukiu she could not lie and was a little worried

"...hmm well all I can say is that it is connected to what Shinobi do and how they act on missions " was his reply and everyone could hear the amusement in his but it was not like he was trying to hide it

" ...if that is the case can't we just ask Miss Uzumaki for more details," asked Aizawa who sounded more at ease after he drank a few cups of coffee

Phantom just shook his head and answered " She can't, for two reasons one is that she can't say any information about her job because it goes against her being a shinobi too, and second, she was asked by the boss to not say anything that would be contacted to the story and if she didn't follow the only rule boss gave her then she would not be here "

" tch, so you are telling us that we won't get any information that we need unless we continue to read, right? " asked Katsuki who seemed to have forgotten his slight fear of the man

Phantom nodded his head " That is correct Bakugo San so I suggest to start reading the book you have in your hand "

" huh, what do you me... " He started saying as he looked at his hand and saw that he was holding the book " ...what the actual hell! "

" as I already said the book contains powers that can't be explained by any means, so this kind of thing shouldn't be so surprising " Phantom answered Bakugos unasked question without giving any answer that would help him figure out how the book got in his hand without him noticing

" so the book is more special than we first thought but that should not be so surprising... " thought Riukiu while looking at Phantom who was lecturing Bakugo

" So that means it's Bakugo Chan's turn to read right " asked Mina with a teasing grin

" tch shut up before I kick your a... " he was cut off by a menacing aura coming from Phantom

" Please refrain from using this kind of words and if you don't... " Phantom warned him

" men never would've I thought someone was manly enough to stop Bakugo from cursing " whispered Kirishima to Kamenari and Sero

" Just read the demn book already! " yelled Mirko who looked tired from waiting

" tch whatever... " as Katsuki said that he started to open the book and started to read the title

' Just a Proposal

"Are you sure what was wise?"

"She wasn't faking, Kurama." Naruto heaved a sigh as he opened the window. "Those were real tears. She's all torn up inside." ,

" oh it seems he can talk with his quirk," said Tokoiami he was interested because he had only met a few people who had similar quarks, and even then it wasn't as strong as Dark Shadow or not as smart meanwhile Naruto's quark seemed just as smart and it gave him many abilities

' "Ain't the tears I'm doubting. You just let her walk away. No consequences."

"I let Nagan go, sure," he grinned. "But I never said where she was going. Two guesses where.

"Hrrmmm? Wait. Oh. Ohh. Ohhh. That's clever. Does she know you're using her as bait?" '

"...he is planning something," said Midnight while trying to figure it out

Meanwhile, Kushina who was sitting next to uncomfortable Shigaraki had a proud smile " Good job Sochi you are using your brain " was her exact thought

Shigaraki who was trying to find a way out from his step-grandmother was glaring at his comrade Dabi who seemed to be enjoying his misery very much " Just read the demn book already! " yelled Shigaraki but recoiled back when Kushina punched his head

" manners young man," said Kushina ignoring the laughing coming from Twice and Toga chuckles from pres and Dabi, and black tear drops from Kurogiri who seemed delighted

" I want to kill them so badly... " Was Shigaraki's only thought

' "Probably."

"Since when did you start using your brain?"

He scoffed and created a shadow clone. "Since I had a family to protect."

Said the doppelganger didn't resist as he began to disguise it, tugging up its hood and wrapping a dark mask around the lower half of its face. In the end, it was a matter of perspective. How did the saying go? One man's trash is another's treasure. Lady Nagant's organization might try to silence her for her failure here today, scrap her for failing their so-called "ideals". Unacceptable. He wouldn't allow it. Not after she'd bawled like that. '

" Okay can someone make a note of his powers It is getting hard to keep up," said Mirko who at this point did not seem all that surprised.

" Don't worry Mirko San Deku Kun has it covered he has been writing anything he thought important in his notebook " replied Uraraka causing the mentioned boy to Blush up

" Izuku right let us check the notebook after the reading okay? " asked Riukiu with a smile when she got the nod from the green-haired boy

' "Follow her," he commanded it. "Make sure she gets where she needs to go safely."

A blink. "And if she's threatened?"

She likely would be. "Do what needs to be done and help her return safely."

His clone saluted and shot out the window in a streak of gold. '

" Still can't get used to how fast he is," said dejected Ilda he could not figure out how human was that fast, and at one point he was content with his speed...well not anymore

' Naruto closed it behind him with a grim nod.

...time to check in on Rei. '

' "You let her go? Just like that?"

"Yup." Naruto bobbed his head in agreement and flung himself down onto the couch beside her with a hearty sigh. His smile was telling. "Just like that."

Rei Todoroki found herself somewhat...concerned by the nature of his smile. It was the same one he'd worn when he thrashed Endeavor within an inch of his life and left her husband a beaten broken man; that said smile was currently directed at the ceiling of their humble little hideaway worried her to no end. '

" I very much enjoyed that chapter," said ever stoic Shoto no one knew what to say at the moment when he said that, and they felt more confused when other Todorokis agreed with him except Natsumi

" ...let's just continue reading," said Riukiu with confusion getting nods from others

' The children were all abed at last, and they were alone. It was just the two of them down here in the den.

She should've been excited by such; finally, a chance to speak with him in privacy without prying eyes or little ones running around underfoot. No distractions. No one to interfere. '

There was suddenly a red flash in the room and the room's residents saw what it was they were dumbfounded " Miss Rei do you have a crush on my son "

It was Kushina and she was holding Rei's arms with stars in her eyes " ...w-what n-no...I d-don't think so " was Rei's shaky reply

" Don't worry Rei San I am sure soon you will call me Mather in low " said Kushina with a bright smile

Rei didn't know what to say and timidly asked "...c-can we go back to reading "

' And yet. Rei worried.

She worried a great deal.

Why on earth wasn't he concerned?

She could hear the wind howling outside; rattling against the trees, causing the house to creak. Yet for all that, the room was warm, lit by a warm, insulated hearth. Firelight cast flickering images about the room, causing their shadows to shrink and grow. His seemed so much larger compared to hers, so strong and determined, while hers flickered and faded.

"Don't worry." He smiled at her. "I'm here; I'm not going anywhere."

Rei wasn't sure if it was quiet confidence or actual arrogance on his part that compelled him to say those words. Either way, his suddenly blase attitude concerned her. He'd been downright determined earlier. Fierce, even. Why would he let a potential enemy go their own way, unless...her eyes widened and sure enough his eyes danced with mirth. Ah. She should have known. In the brief time she'd known him, Naruto had proven himself a man of many talents and facets, but stupidity wasn't one of them. '

" Exactly my son isn't dumb he just has a hard time figuring out the situation sometimes," said Kushina

' She sat a little straighter on the sofa, regarding him anew. "You converted her, didn't you?"

A wry smile touched the corner of his mouth. "Not so much converted as...convinced."

Rei pursed her lips. "Naruto."

"Miss Rei"~! he sang back, teasing her. '

Midnight licked her lips " So he can tease people it makes you wonder how much teasing he can take before he cracks "

" Sigh...Midnight please remember that there are children here " was the reply from Aizawa

" and that's why it's so fun " was Midnight's immediate answer

' "Don't." she held up a hand with a wince. "Please don't call me that. You'll make me feel old."

Among other things. For better or worse, the chapter of her life, the time she'd spent with Enji, was over now. Maybe things could've been better. Maybe she could've stuck it out. Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe their fractured family would've become whole by the end. She'd never know now. '

" There wasn't any light at the end of the tunnel, " thought Rei she figured that out when Enji became obsessed with being number one and putting her in a mental recovery hospital

' Naruto tilted his head. "Just Rei, then?"

A faint hint of pink hit her cheeks and she felt her quirk slip away from her for a moment; manifesting in tiny tendrils of hoarfrost beneath her fingertips. She curled her hands into fists to hide the slip. It was too much to hope he wouldn't notice. Mercifully, he didn't remark upon it. '

Rei also had a pink tint on her cheek but no one seemed to comment on it even Kushina who looked like the fox that caught the canary

' ...I would prefer that, yes." when he didn't challenge her request, opportunity knocked. She seized it. "May I call you by your given name as well?"

"Sure." the baffling blond shrugged. "Go right ahead."

So informal! No, no, focus. She had another concern to address. "That woman...Lady Nagant. She knows where we're hiding-

"Nope."

Rei blinked. "Nope?" '

Others also blinked in unison " What does he mean " asked Mirko but no one answered they were as confused as she was

' His smile gained an impish quality. "Means no. Used an old shinobi trick."

...you blindfolded her, didn't you." '

" ...really? " everyone seemed dumbfounded they all thought he would do something more but it just proved how unpredictable he was

' "OI!" he recoiled with a laugh. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of kidnapper!"

She smiled softly. All this banter made her feel young again. "You can kidnap me anytime."

Naruto's brow shot into his hair. "Eh?" '

" ...Eh?..."people in the reading room were confused for a moment it took a full minute to digest what they heard and saw and when they finally did they all looked at Rei who looked like she would pass out from heatstroke

" ...M-mom are yo... " Fuyumi was cut off by Phantom " You will have time to speak with each other after reading this chapter so if you may please continue Bakugo kun " he then smiled when he got node from the explosive boy

' "...?!"

Rei whined and buried her head in her hands. If her face had been pink before, she was certain it was gone scarlet now. No! No, no, no! She'd said that aloud, hadn't she?! She hadn't meant to! Accursed tongue! This was what she got for running her mouth. She was still coming down from an adrenaline high. She'd be kicking herself come morning. Too late to stop now. Might as well go through with it.

"Lady Nagant," she peeked through splayed fingers, not trusting herself to look at him fully. what is she to you? A tool?" '

Heroes all straightened after hearing that while Naruto seemed like a nice guy this would just prove that he was a man who hated injustice and nothing more but if he wasn't then...

' "No." he shook his head and her heart hurt to hear those words. "She'll never be a tool for anyone again." his brow furrowed, darkened by some distant thought. "She's done being their gun." '

The heroes sighed at that they were all glad that their first thought was correct they might not say it out loud but they knew that they would lose to him he beat up Endeavor like he was a kindergarten and they all knew how strong Endeavor was second only to All Might so they were little varied

' A blink on her part. Her fingers fell. "Gun?"

He steepled his fingers and laid his chin atop them. "It's her quirk."

"Sounds frightening...and what of me?" she looked up at him through her lashes and tucked a stray strand of pale hair behind her ear, "What am I to you? What happens now? What comes next?"

He'd freed her from a dying marriage and spirited her away to safety. For that, she would always be grateful.

But she had to know what followed. Did he expect her to bind herself to him? Did she want to?

"M'not sure." he shrugged, and for a moment she wondered if he'd read her thoughts. "I don't know you. I'd like to think we're friends. '

There was a pause in the room filled with heroes and villains for a moment until "Is that all he wants " asked Himiko who first time had a confused look on her face

' Friends. Ha! Friends didn't do what he'd done for her!

But they weren't more than that either now, were they? She didn't know how to define their relationship, or if there even was one. She didn't know what she felt for him yet. Her heart was scarred but he just might heal it. Things had been good with Enji too, in the beginning. Before he had gone sour. Before she'd made mistakes. Before they'd ruined one another. She wasn't sure she could ever trust someone like that again; even if she wanted to. Her duty was to her four children. She would bear these regrets and guilt in her heart. They would be her burden. Hers and hers alone, so that her children might never suffer them.

And yet a voice in her heart bleated. It's not fair! Where's my joy in all this? Don't I deserve to be happy? To be held? To be loved? '

"...Mom a-are you alright " asked concerned Natsuo

" Don't worry I am doing fine actually I have been doing better after I got teleported here " replied Rei with a small genuine smile showing what she said was true calming down her children and Dabi

' In hindsight, Rei wasn't being fair, she knew. Naruto's focus -his heart! was fixed firmly on his son and only recently now, on Toya. In time he'd surely get to know Fuyumi, Natsuo, and even little Shoto. He'd likely come to care for them as he did these two. He'd make such a wonderful father to them. Even if he could never love her. She...she could be content with that, even if hurt...

"Tenko seems to like ya."

Rei's head snapped up with a jolt. She fumbled. Recovered quickly. "And I, him. He's a good boy."

"He is. Naruto bobbed his head in a glum nod. "He's been through a lot."

"Has he?" she blinked, "And his mother...?"

She'd never considered it. Tenko didn't look a thing like his father. She might assume he'd inherited his mother's appearance, but she'd seen neither hide nor hair of any such person since coming here. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. The conclusion she came to wasn't a pleasant one. They were either separated, his mother was dead, or perhaps...

"Tenko ain't mine by blood." Naruto seemed almost chagrined to admit it, judging by the way he scratched at the back of his head. "I adopted him...after a certain incident." Blue eyes rose to meet her and there was a shift in the air. "It took me a while to tease it out of him, to figure out what happened." his eyes met hers again. "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room." his voice gained an edge that hadn't been there before, the warning rumble of a protective father. "Can I trust you?"

She touched a hand to her bosom. "Until the day I die."

Naruto told her. Slowly at first, haltingly, but tell her he did. She immediately wished he hadn't.

Tenko. That boy. That poor, poor boy. How was he even sane? '

Shigaraki sighed while looking at the TV with some sadness, jealousy, and disappointment his other self had people who cared about him it made him wonder if Naruto was the one who found him that day would he have life that too

' "Do you have any idea how hard it is for him to open up to people?" Naruto's gaze was cold as ice, colder than anything her Quirk could ever hope to conjure. "It took me ages to win his trust. And yet he willing befriended Toya. And you." his eyes regained their lively luster. "I hope you understand the level of trust that implies-

"He called me mother!" The words burst out of her before she could think to hold them back. "I would never harm him!"

Naruto didn't recoil. He was too strong for that. But he did pause. A rueful smile touched his lips. "Did he now?"

"Don't you think that boy deserves a mother?" '

" I knew it " screamed Kushina with outer joy while looking at Rei with the other heroines and female students they all figured out what she meant

" Ladies please let Bakugo continue it won't take long before, this chapter ends," said Phantom

' "He does." A grim nod. "He does, but I haven't had the time to look for...oh." his eyes met hers widened. His face went red. Aha! Not so dense after all. Naruto, she realized, wasn't one to listen to logic, but emotion was another matter. Appeal to his heart and he'd hear you out. "Oh," he said again, looking away. "Never really thought about that."

Rei found herself perking up. He hadn't? Good. There was hope then. Maybe not now, maybe not for a few years, but hope.

Doubt whispered in her ear. He'll betray you. Just Enji. Once he's squeezed a few children out of you...

She tossed her head and shook it away with a growl. No. It wasn't like that. There had been extenuating circumstances with Enji, mistakes neither of them had been willing to face. Naruto would never go down that path. He wasn't afraid to discipline any children under his roof. She'd seen him with the boys. He was good with them. If there was a problem, he'd face it head-on.

He rose from the sofa now, no doubt looking to flee after that admission. "Guess we should be getting to bed-

"Wait." Rei tugged at his sleeve before he could. "Might I...have a moment of your time?"

He dithered. "What for?"

She guided him down into the seat beside her. Felt his hip brush hers. He didn't resist. Firelight flashed over his face again, casting half of it into shadow. His face was wholly unreadable. '

" I am surprised it looks like she is trying to make a move on him," said Midnight with a grin on her face

'' "I have a proposal for you." Rei looked down, twiddling her thumbs for a moment to muster her resolve. "If we're going to hide, don't send me away." she found it and raised her gaze; trying her best not to tremble as she might his eyes. "Let me stay. Let me be Tenko's mother. Let me...

She swallowed, hiccuping a little. Oh gods, she couldn't say the rest. She didn't care what he did with Lady Nagant or whomever. This was her chance. Her moment.

Even if it wasn't love yet, it could be. Hopefully. Maybe. Someday. Feelings could flourish given time. Somehow, she knew if she let him out of her sight now she'd never have a chance. Nagant -and any others who might follow- would leap past her. The stars had aligned in this instant. If she let it slip...

...let me be your wife." '

" oh my she did make a move on him," said Midnight with a small red tint on her cheeks she didn't actually think something like this would happen she was just joking

Residents in the room were all shocked especially the Todorokis and Rei who seemed like she would have another heatstroke

It took a minute for everyone to calm down but they still managed

' Naruto's jaw popped open with an audible click. "Ha?"

"Don't make me say it again!" Rei felt herself wilt a little beneath his baffled stare. "I don't think I can.

"You already have four kids to look after. Are you willing to take on a fifth?

She pouted. "You said yourself you'd help with Toya."

"I did, didn't I?" he granted her a rueful smile. "But are you sure? I know Jack is all about romance...

"There needn't be any at first." Neither did she apparently, having already ruined one marriage through her inaction. "We could give it time." His eyes flitted to her right hand. She willed herself to be bold and lay it over his. "Won't you at least consider it?" '

" taking the initiative I see, good because my son is too dense to do that," said Kushina making already embarrassed Rei more embarrassed

' His fingers squeezed hers. Rei took the plunge.

"We mentioned hiding earlier until this mess with Endeavor blows over." she ran a hand through her pale hair thoughtfully. "I'd like to suggest disguises as well. I'd considered growing my hair out, maybe dying it blue, wearing different clothes...

That got a blink from him. "Well, with your ice power, you'd certainly be unrecognizable...if you want to, go for it."

"I certainly intend to be by the end of this." She scooted a little closer. "Speaking of recognition...

Oh gods, her heart was beating so fast. Take the plunge again!

'Banzai~!'

"I never had a chance to thank you for what you did." She hummed softly. "That was sweet of you. Here. Let me express my gratitude again.

Naruto made no move to escape her. Warm lips graced his. Soft, slow, and lingering. He didn't respond even when she tilted her head to deepen the kiss; she could tell he was too shocked to react meaningfully. That was just fine. The shock was good. Better than rejection at any rate. She took wicked pleasure in his stupefied expression as she pulled away. '

" Rei San you would not mind if I call you daughter-in-law will you," asked Kushina not getting any answer

' "There." she touched two fingers to her lips and licked them once, silently savoring the taste of him. "I hope that expresses my gratitude properly."

Naruto flushed. "...you did. And I can hear you two up there!" He called toward the staircase. "Tenko! Toya! Bed! Now!"

Little feet scampered up the steps. '

" it's finally over! " yelled Bakugo who seemed happy with getting rid of the book

...To be continued

Hi guys sorry for not posting sooner in a few months I have the final exams that let me get into college so I am not able to post any sooner

There is an important announcement I want to make the week after today I am going to release an extra chapter where I will answer questions on this fanfiction and other fanfiction so please ask as many questions as you want I will answer as many questions as I can after one week and that's all

Hope you enjoy the reading and if you do please follow for more Goodbye