A week into officially becoming Team 7, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were tracking a fugitive. It sounded important until you learned that the fugitive was a feline.
Naruto's Shadow Clones had swept through the whole Hidden Leaf Village looking for the Fire Daimyo's wife Shijimi's lost cat. Considering Naruto knew that his wife's Team had done an identical mission earlier in the week, one had to wonder why the cat was so eager to run away. Or why Shijimi was in Hidden Leaf rather than the Fire Capital. Anyway, the first Clone to spot the distinctive bow tied to the cat's ear had popped, and now Team 7 had surreptitiously arranged themselves in a triangle formation around the cat skulking through the trees on the outskirts of the village.
Using the short-range radio Kakashi had for whatever reason shelled out for and passed out to them all, Naruto made a report. "Target spotted. Ready to grab on Sensei's signal."
"Go," Kakashi gave in deadpan.
Naruto reached out with the Force Rune and lifted the cat Tora into the air. He crafted a telekinetic box, remembering to leave tiny holes for air, and plopped the already hissing pet into the 'cage' before closing it behind the thing. "Target captured," Naruto informed Kakashi.
"Verify the cat is indeed our quarry. The bow should have her name, Tora, written on it," Kakashi said through the radio from where he was probably back in the village reading his Icha Icha in broad daylight.
Sakura came over and leaned in towards the blue translucent box of hardened light. She reared back when Tora launched at her almost hard enough to break her skull against the barrier. "Target confirmed, right coloring and the name is on the bow," she reported.
"Good! Then 'Mission: Find the Missing Pet' is accomplished! Report back to Hokage Tower," Kakashi said into their ears.
"If we have to do one more godsforsaken chore for a handful of ryo, I am going to scream," Sasuke ground out as Naruto floated the cage to his side and the three Genin began their trek back to the center of the village.
"Feel free to request a C-rank from Kakashi-sensei, but I can already tell you what he'll say," Naruto sighed. He was just as vexed as Sasuke at such a menial use of his skills every day for barely more than what a decent dinner at Ichiraku Ramen would cost. Sure, he normally did one or two solo after the Team broke up for the day, but that's because he needed the money and didn't have to split it when he completed them alone.
"Take what you can get and be grateful, kid," Sakura sighed in a decent imitation of Kakashi Hatake. "I don't mind paying my dues. Even the Hokages started out with grunt work like this. Still, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. If Kakashi-sensei actually trained us instead of just reviewing basic squad tactics, I'd feel better. As it is, the highlight of the last week was I worked up to a 500 calorie daily surplus for my BMR. I should start to put on weight slowly but steadily."
"Well, that's something considering you were all but anorexic at the time of Graduation," Naruto acknowledged. "And I'm lucky, I can farm my Shadow Clones to spend all day training elsewhere while I'm physically with you all. I've already learned the Fireball Jutsu Sasuke gave me and gotten decent at that ninja wire trick, along with all the Sealing Jutsu studying I've done and everything else I have to work on. Thing is, I'm starting from almost zero, I wasn't the Dead Last for no reason. I really was barely better than a civilian apart from the obscene chakra reserves before I got my Bloodline Limit and pulled my head out my ass."
"I train hard every day, but I was doing that anyway. What's the point of having a Jonin-sensei who won't act like a sensei?" Sasuke bit out with enough bitterness to wither the life from small plants. "I'm seriously considering hiring another Jonin to train me freelance or request a transfer or apprenticeship to someone else. ANYONE else."
Naruto hummed. "She has her shifts at T&I, but I could probably talk Anko-chan into giving us all some pointers when she's free. Or Hana-chan. Or even Tenten-chan. Better than nothing, right? Or I suppose if one of us is suicidal we could try and steal Kakashi-sensei's library and hold it hostage."
"I've heard it from her own mouth, but I still can't believe Hinata is okay with you having an open marriage," Sakura shook her head.
"To be fair, she wants to sleep with all my other girlfriends at least as much as I do," Naruto said with a fond smile at the thought of his first wife. And not the last, if either of them had any say in the matter.
"Hnn," Sasuke grunted, though he had a look of muted disgust. "I'd take anything at this point," he finally spat out. "Might as well ask them, Uzumaki."
"I'll remember the next time I see any of them," Naruto promised his teammate.
"MROW!" Tora yowled, actually filing down her claws trying to break the force-field containing her. Wow, she really didn't want to go back to her owner for some reason.
Naruto got a pretty good idea of that reason when they returned to the Hokage Tower and met with Shimiji at the Mission Assignment Desk. Apparently wanting a change of scenery, Hiruzen himself was working the desk that day instead of some random Chunin. Or maybe having the most powerful woman in Fire Country for a client deserved the Hokage's personal attention. In any case, Naruto 'handed' the cat over to her owner and the obese noblewoman immediately squeezed her tight enough to cut off circulation while rubbing her cheek against Tora's fur. "Poor Tora… good kitty-kitty… Mommy was so worried about you, I could have died!"
*I feel like I should report her for animal cruelty, but she's basically got diplomatic immunity,* Naruto commented to Hinata through their Telepathy. Really, he didn't need the Empathy Rune to know Tora was in a living hell within her owner's embrace.
*My thoughts exactly,* Hinata thought dryly as she practiced her Medical Ninjutsu skills by applying first aid to her teammate Kiba after he'd gone headfirst into a tree testing out one of his Clan's distinctive Taijutsu moves. *Well, at least the village will always make a little profit each time she visits the Hidden Leaf.*
Shimiji paused in 'loving' Tora to hand over the Mission payment to Iruka, who was acting as Hiruzen's assistant while the Academy was on break.
"Now, what will the next assignment for Kakashi's Team 7 be?" Hiruzen asked rhetorically. He reviewed a list of available D-ranks. "We've got… helping out at the senior center… digging new trenches for our sweet potato farm… ooh, you could fetch a small order from a nearby village…"
Just as Kakashi was probably going to deny they were done for the day and didn't need another Mission, Naruto staggered like someone hit him on the back of the head. "Naruto? You feeling alright?" Kakashi asked, reaching out a steadying hand to the shoulder of his Genin student.
Naruto reached up to rub his temples. "Ok… that was weird."
"What was weird?" Sakura asked, while Sasuke held his silence.
"It felt like a flashback. Or more like a flash-forward. The Time Rune activated itself out of nowhere. I saw myself ask Hokage-sama for a C-rank. We met with the client, Tazuna. Then it was like I was seeing two things at once. Victory and defeat, overlaid over each other. I know this sounds crazy… but I think the fate of Wave Country depends on our Team taking that Mission." Naruto looked like he couldn't believe the words coming out his own mouth.
Iruka unexpectedly snorted. "Full points for originality and performance, Naruto. But you've only been a Genin for a week. You can't scam your way into getting a C-rank just because you're bored with D-ranks."
Hiruzen, on the other hand, had gotten an expression as serious as the grave. "Naruto-kun. Look me in the eye. The Time Rune activated itself. It showed you a vision. You have expressed every detail. Is that all true?"
"I've got the depleted chakra to prove it. It only lasted a few seconds and I still feel like I just did a full Change," Naruto answered the military leader, standing up straight. "Hokage-sama, I do swear that I had a premonition or some other glimpse of the future. If Team 7 or some other competent Team doesn't escort the bridge builder Tazuna, Wave Country will fall. That's what I believe based on what I saw."
Hiruzen hummed in thought. He pulled out his pipe and began to pack it. "Iruka-kun, please send for the client Tazuna. I believe I would like to ask a few questions about the precise details of why he needs a ninja escort."
"You're not taking this seriously, are you Hokage-sama?" Iruka gaped. "This is just another one of Naruto's pranks!"
Hiruzen's head turned, and if there'd been a creaking hinge sound effect it would not have seemed out of place. "Did you mishear my command, Iruka-kun?"
Iruka paled, before getting up and rushing out the room.
"This isn't a prank, right?" Sakura whispered under her breath to Naruto in the silence that followed.
"I swear on my future firstborn, I'm telling the truth. I'm more freaked out that the Runes can apparently turn themselves on without warning. Granted, Time is a bit of a special Rune all by itself, but still. Imagine if Yang Sakura could switch just like 'that' with you if you hadn't locked her up. Or if Sasuke randomly breathed fire without making any hand seals. On the other hand, I'm apparently an oracle now. Maybe I should play the lotto," Naruto answered, trying to put a humorous spin on it at the end.
Sakura, or rather Yin Sakura, gulped at the very thought of her alternate personality being able to take control without any forewarning. "Okay, yeah, that does sound pretty freaky. Are you okay?"
"I'm adjusting and I filled up my tank a little from my network. My real concern is that another vision could hit me whenever and drain us all dry trying to sustain itself," Naruto frowned.
"Then let's hope your new gift of prophecy proves infrequent until you have more chakra than you know what to do with," Sasuke said, in a mix of dry humor and mild jealousy.
"Crazy that you're being literal," Naruto gave a weak chuckle.
"We're all mad here," Kakashi said lightly. At least he wasn't reading Icha Icha, he seemed to be fully present and focused on Naruto for the moment.
Iruka returned a few minutes later with a man in his late 50s. He wore a rope hachimaki, clothes distinct from normal Fire Country fashions, had an open bottle of spirits in his hand and a flush to his cheek to indicate he'd already imbibed some. "What's going on here? I asked for ninjas. These look like a bunch of wet-nosed brats," he drawled with a mild slur and a hiccup at the end.
"Tazuna-san," Hiruzen spoke, drawing the apparent client's attention. "I am the Third Hokage, current leader of the Hidden Leaf Village."
"You the boss? Heh, I wish I knew, I woulda tucked in my shirt," Tazuna gave a drunken chuckle.
"A few questions for clarity's sake. You requested a shinobi Team escort you back to your home country and act as bodyguards while you complete your current project. Based on the details you disclosed about the potential threats you expect and the price you were willing to pay, we assigned the mission as C-rank. In case you were unaware, C-ranks are generally assigned to experienced Genin cells or individual Chunin. They would prove more than adequate against your common bandits or highwaymen." Hiruzen took a deep puff of his pipe. "I shall ask you this directly, Tazuna-san: did you withhold any information or give us deliberate misinformation? I have reason to suspect you were not fully honest with my staff."
Tazuna paled like someone slit his throat. He took a big gulp from his bottle, but his hands were shaking so bad he missed at first and spilled some on his shirt. "P-p-please, you don't understand. I had no choice," he sputtered once he'd gotten enough liquid courage in his system.
"So help me understand, Tazuna-san," Hiruzen said with infinite patience, sounding like the wise elder he appeared to be with his Transformation still up.
"I didn't have the money! I know that's pathetic, but I didn't have the money! I can't afford the kind of security I need!" Tazuna was starting to cry, he was getting so worked up. "I'm begging you, at least give me a refund. I'll get civvie mercenaries instead, I won't bother you fancy ninja anymore!"
"Forget the issue of payment for the moment. Let us start over. Tazuna-san, why do you need protection? Who is it you're so afraid of?" Hiruzen asked, steepling his hands while his pipe stayed tucked in the corner of his mouth.
Tazuna took another pull of his bottle, draining it dry. "Damn it all, I'll tell you," he bit out. "Have you ever heard of Gato?"
"Founder of the Gato Company? The shipping magnate? Why would one of the richest men in the world be a threat to a humble construction worker?" Hiruzen asked.
"We thought it was our lucky day when he showed up in Wave Country, offering to buy up all our businesses and 'modernize'," Tazuna bit out with a tone of pure hatred and defeat. "Turns out all the ships are a smokescreen for his real business. Drugs, contraband, sex slaves, you name it, he moves it around if you pay his price. He wanted Wave Country as a base since we're a prime location for sea trade. He's got us all by the balls, and the Daimyo's in his pocket. He controls the flow of everything, even our food and water, and if you can't pay his prices then you're shit outta luck. He and his goons do whatever the hell they want to whoever they want, and if you defy them you get killed. Wave Country is slowly dying, crushed in the stranglehold of that monster."
Naruto could now say with certainty that he had seen a truly broken man. Tazuna looked ugly with his grief and despair, clutching his empty bottle like a child would a teddy bear. Hiruzen spoke up after a beat of silence. "You stated that your current project is a bridge stretching from the primary island of Wave Country all the way to the mainland of Fire Country. Am I to presume you're trying to save your country by making a route for land trade to bypass Gato's monopoly on sea trade?"
"I know it's stupid. He's probably blown it up while I was away, or if we even finish the damn thing he'll just take it over and establish tolls even worse than the tariffs," Tazuna spat out. "But I had to do something! I couldn't just sit still and watch as he ruined everything good in my life and my homeland. I escaped here to order all the supplies we needed to finish the bridge. The whole country pooled what we could spare, and it still barely covered it. I didn't have enough left over for a proper escort. But if I go back there with nothing, I'm a dead man walking. That's the truth, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen silently puffed for a solid minute. "Imagine, for argument's sake, that price was of no concern. What level of security do you feel you need? Have you any idea of what forces Gato may have hired to 'remove' the problem you present?"
Tazuna looked at Hiruzen with naked, desperate hope. He cleared his throat and wiped his face before answering. "He mostly relies on a small army of thugs he's picked up over the years. They're dumb muscle but they get the job done. Over 50, probably less than 100 total. But I know for sure he's hired ninjas in the past. When I was on my way here, I nearly got ambushed. These two twin brothers, wore breathing masks on dry land and had this big spiked chain between these gauntlets they wore. I managed to hide and they walked right past me, I've never been so scared."
Hiruzen hummed. "Iruka-kun, please fetch me the latest copy of the Bingo Book."
Iruka, who'd been listening in horror, ran to one of the shelves behind the desk and came back with an inch-thick booklet.
Hiruzen flipped through to a specific section, as if he already had a good idea of who Tazuna had described. "Are these them, Tazuna-san?" He held out the book.
Tazuna stumbled over and took a look. "Yeah, that's them. Are they bad news?"
"If we'd given you a protection detail meant for a C-rank mission, then they would have been. These are the Demon Brothers, Missing-Nin formerly of the Hidden Mist Village. They were Chunin rank before they defected, and are notorious for their effectiveness as a two-man team. They would have had little trouble killing a Team of Genin or a lone Chunin as a supposed C-rank Mission would have merited. What's more, they are known associates of an even deadlier Missing-Nin and were last seen fleeing Water Country alongside him. If I had not gotten advance warning to examine your case more closely, you would have walked to your death… and taken some of my shinobi with you." Hiruzen didn't sound mad so much as disappointed, the perfect scolding parent. Which was a bit funny given his physical age but appropriate for his calendar age.
"Shit. So I really am doomed," Tazuna sighed, closing his eyes and shoulders slumping.
"Not necessarily," Hiruzen said, and Tazuna looked up incredulously. The Third tucked the Bingo Book closed and handed it back to Iruka. "Consider the money you provided for a C-rank mission as the first installment in a payment plan. I would be happy to discuss a very reasonable deadline and rate of interest. You will get your protection detail, suitable for the A-rank Mission this truly is."
"Is this a joke? Nobody's this lucky," Tazuna breathed, actually trembling he was so overwhelmed.
"Well, it would seem you are, Tazuna-san. I am very serious. You will go home and finish building your bridge. Set aside all worries apart from that goal. I will give you a Team of our best and brightest to ensure no minion of Gato's touches a hair on your head," Hiruzen grinned.
"Thank you," Tazuna said, falling to his knees and bowing full dogeza. "Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
"Now, now, I appreciate your gratitude but there's no need to prostrate yourself," Hiruzen gave a soft chuckle. He looked up, and his expression hardened. "Jonin Kakashi Hatake. Report your current stats, and do be honest with yourself."
"Ninjutsu: 5. Taijutsu: 4. Genjutsu: 4. Intelligence: 4.5. Strength: 3.5. Speed: 4. Stamina: … 3. Hand seals: 5," Kakashi rattled off, suddenly stiff at attention.
"I see." Hiruzen said no more than that. "We'll formally write up a new Mission scroll to reflect the new rank and objectives. At the moment, I'm inclined to assign Team 7 with a supplementary 3-man cell of my own choosing. The Genin will focus on protecting Tazuna-san from the civilian enforcers, two Special Jonin for the Demon Brothers, and another Jonin to assist you, Kakashi-kun, against their A-rank associate as well as any other potential adversaries he has gathered to his cause."
Iruka's jaw dropped. "Hokage-sama! Surely you jest! Sending green Genin on an A-rank, that's insane!"
"That's twice in one hour you've questioned my command, Iruka-kun. Once more and you're demoted back to Genin. As is, expect a fine for insubordination to arrive in your mailbox within a day," Hiruzen said without even looking at the Umino next to him.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Apologies, Hokage-sama," Iruka bowed, apparently cowed.
"Team 7, would you be willing to accept this A-rank Mission to escort and protect Tazuna-san while he completes his life-saving project? I feel compelled to warn you that this Mission will likely involve numerous 'first blood' scenarios, and of course there's no guarantee you'll return alive and whole. Answer individually," Hiruzen ordered with all the authority of his station.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi bowed immediately.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Sasuke, if anything, seemed eager at the promise of danger and the chance of lethal combat.
"... Yes, Hokage-sama," Sakura assented, probably swayed by the fact Sasuke had already agreed.
"Believe it, Hokage-sama," Naruto said with a nod and an unflinching look.
"So be it. Tazuna-san, please adjourn with me to my office to discuss the fine details of the payment plan. Team 7, report to the Main Gate at 0600 tomorrow morning. Pack for at least a month abroad. Say your goodbyes tonight. Dismissed."
Team 7 turned and left the room, walking through the Hokage Tower until they were outside.
"33/40, if I'm doing math right then you're 82.5% the perfect ninja. And based on how Hiruzen looked at you, you've lost some of your edge. Damn, you really were a candidate for Fifth Hokage at one point, weren't you?" Naruto commented to Kakashi once they were in the fresh air.
"That's neither here nor there, Naruto," Kakashi said dismissively. "You heard the Hokage. Do whatever you feel like doing on what might be your last night in this village. I expect you to be ready, willing and able at the Main Gate tomorrow morning. And yes, I'll be on time, Hokage-sama gave me a direct order. See you tomorrow, my cute little Genin." He vanished in a Body Flicker.
"See you tomorrow," Sasuke said dismissively before taking off with rather more energy than he normally displayed.
"He's excited that we might end up in a kill-or-be-killed situation. Still sure you want to marry that, Sakura?" Naruto asked sarcastically.
"He needs the practice for when he goes after Itachi," Sakura said half-heartedly, though she was looking after the retreating Uchiha with uncertain eyes. She shook her head. "Well, guess you really should be careful what you wish for. We wanted something more than a D-rank. Now we're going on an A-rank. Are we really ready for that?"
"I don't think we have a choice," Naruto said soberly. "Look, however academic all the test scores really were, you were Kunoichi of the Year. You can handle some roided-up mooks who can't even feel their own chakra. You've got your Taijutsu training, and the Academy 3, and working sets of shuriken and kunai. That might not sound like much, but it's more than any civilian grunt will expect. And, dead serious, you're a pretty, skinny girl. They'll underestimate you. You can make them pay for that."
"Can I, really?" Sakura asked, sounding all an insecure teenage maiden.
"You can. You will. You must," Naruto said solemnly. "I mean, unless you want to get beaten, raped, and killed. And not necessarily in that order."
"Thanks for that visual, Naruto," Sakura ground out, but she seemed a tad more settled as she said it. "I've gotta go pack. See you tomorrow, bright and early." She waved and took off at a brisk walk for her own home.
*In a way, that fluke with the Time Rune saved Tazuna's life, along with whoever got assigned that 'C-rank'. But now it's my life on the line, and a whole country with me,* Naruto projected to Hinata while he started to walk back to their apartment.
*You are a Progenitor, Naruto-kun. And the future Hokage. You can handle it. I know. Believe it,* Hinata thought supportively.
*You always know what to say, honey,* Naruto thought warmly.
Naruto got back to his place and dug out his camping pack. He'd recently gotten the trick to make functioning D-rank Storage Scrolls, and he'd had Shadow Clones making a small stockpile. Naruto took his existing stock of a week's worth of supplies and tucked them into the handy pocket dimensions created by the right symbols on paper charged with chakra. Kinda crazy, when you really thought about it. That done, and freeing up a lot of volume in the pack, Naruto grabbed Gama-chan and went to stock up on all he'd need for a month-long A-rank.
Higurashi's supplied an extra set of shuriken and kunai along with a sharpening kit. Turns out a retired Inuzuka ran a surprisingly well-stocked convenience store and with Tsume's seal of approval the owner had changed his tune regarding Naruto. Naruto went there for dry food and basic first aid supplies. An outdoor and fitness retailer supplied a quality sleeping bag and a small one-man tent. With all his purchases, Naruto returned to the apartment and sealed everything into the Storage Scrolls item by item. Clearly labeling each Scroll, he tucked them into his pack until it was filled almost to the brim.
Figuring this might be his last chance, Naruto went to the Hospital and donated a load to the care of Dr. Franken Stein. When he got home, he got into a meditative pose. He focused on making each of the 20 new Connections and using the power of the Change and Healing Rune to handle any glaring red flags in his new Wards' health. One poor bastard had a mix of asthma and COPD, his lungs felt terrible to Naruto's senses. After Naruto had healed the last to get a dose from that day's donation, he turned his focus to his whole network. Almost 150 strong, each of them available to be tapped for chakra. Only Hinata, Anko, Hana, and Hiruzen were fully through the Change, though.
Focusing on his Connections to Anko, Tenten, and Hana specifically, Naruto opened a telepathic link with the Mind Rune. *Pardon the intrusion. You lovely ladies hear me?*
*This takes 'mindfuck' to a whole new level,* Anko snarked, distracted from supervising her Snake Summons terrifying her current interrogation victim.
*Naruto? I'm kinda in the middle of something,* Tenten thought distractedly while she was dodging blows from Might Gai during a 3-on-1 spar between her teammates and her sensei.
*Naruto-kun? Is there something wrong?* Hana looked up from doing inventory for the pharmacy at the Inuzuka Kennels where she worked.
*I won't take up too much of your time. If you're free, please come to dinner at Ichiraku Ramen tonight. I'm leaving for an A-rank Mission tomorrow, and I want a good last memory in case I don't make it,* Naruto projected, aware that each of the three could only hear his own thoughts. It would cost exponentially more to maintain links between all 4 of them than just him to them individually.
*Very funny, Brat, but even I don't get assigned A-ranks often. No way Hokage-sama ok'd a team of rookie Genin even accompanying one of those,* Anko snorted.
*A-rank?! Are you serious?! What the sweet everloving fuck?!* Tenten gasped.
*Naruto-kun, please be joking. An A-rank fresh out of the Academy? I don't want to say you're doomed, but you're doomed,* Hana bit her lip in worry.
*I'll explain when you show up. Ichiraku Ramen, tonight at 8:00. I really hope you can come.* With that, Naruto ended the use of the Mind Rune to the trio.
Hinata entered the apartment a couple hours later to find Naruto mindlessly doing pushups. *Not that the sight of you hot and sweaty isn't a treat, but what's the point? Your muscles are already in peak condition from the Change,* Hinata projected through their own always-on link.
*The point is it gives me something to do besides just sit here and think about the fact I might not come back, and if I do there will probably be blood on my hands,* Naruto thought flatly, pumping his arms and chest over and over to try and get out the pins-and-needles nervous energy like ants under his skin.
*I could offer a much more pleasurable alternative,* Hinata thought suggestively.
*I'm not in the right headspace. I wouldn't be having sex with you, I'd be doing it at you. I'd just be using you to get off,* Naruto denied, his eyes on the diamond his hands made together and the sweat drops pooling on the wood floor.
*Who says I'd mind? I'm sure the day will come when I'm in a mood where I just want or need to bounce on you like a living dildo. And if I know you at all, you'd happily volunteer to help me work out my frustrations. Let me be there for you, Naruto-kun,* Hinata pressed.
*You asked for it,* was his last coherent thought before he heaved himself to his feet. He unzipped his pants, fished out his cock, and walked over to Hinata. She moved at his forceful manhandling to bend over the back of the couch. He pulled down her short-shorts and the panties underneath, leaving them hanging between her knees. He gathered some of his leaking precum from his slit and spread it across Hinata's lower lips, purely to make sure she didn't tear. Then he lined himself up and sank to the balls in one heavy, sharp thrust.
Hinata let out a gasp, her hands digging into the furniture to get a steady anchor for what was probably going to be a good, hard fuck. Naruto reached out and grabbed Hinata's hair at her nape, twisting the locks in his grip until he had a solid hold on his wife as if her mane was a short leash. His other hand went to his mouth and he sucked three fingers quickly. Then he shoved them up her ass, purely to feel her clench and make the fit in her pussy become tighter. She let out a whimper as he treated her rougher than he ever had before.
Setting his feet to get a solid stance, Naruto proceeded to fuck all his fears, worries, and dread out of his body and into Hinata's. His quad of orange-sized balls swung up, all but slapping her clit on each entry. Any enjoyment or pleasure she gleaned was of no consequence though. Naruto had warned Hinata that he would use her. And he did. He treated her less like a human lover and more a blowup doll, an object meant only to satisfy his lust.
Naruto's endurance had been steadily improving, but something about this time was different. It was as if all the positive of the pleasure was muted by all the negatives on Naruto's mind. It took a solid 90 minutes before he felt his peak was near. He withdrew his massive cock from her rubbed raw pussy and pulled his fingers out from her nether hole. She nearly collapsed to her knees, panting and crying from sheer sensory overload. Naruto wordlessly turned her head and shoved his cock into her mouth and throat. *Do the thing,* he ordered, still lost in some kind of weird haze where he didn't see Hinata, just a warm body.
Hinata, however she felt after his near-assault, was still a loving wife. She reached up to press her fingers to Naruto's perineum. With a light push, she sent a Gentle Fist jab of pure concentrated chakra to stimulate his prostate. And then Naruto felt the closest thing to happiness since leaving Hokage Tower. For a blessed 60 seconds or so, he could just float on waves of physical ecstasy as he pumped 4 pints of his cum into Hinata's belly.
When he finally came down from his orgasm, Naruto somehow felt better and yet even worse than before he'd started. He pulled his softening prick out of Hinata's mouth, who gave a heavy gasping inhale once he was clear. She hadn't gotten a full breath before he'd put it in. Without a word, Naruto tucked his still-wet dick back into his pants and zipped up. Then he sat down on the floor next to Hinata, not touching her but still sharing space. He focused on the active Connection from the proteins being absorbed into her bloodstream and channeled chakra through the Healing Rune and into her body until it stopped taking, all damage erased.
They both just lay there on the floor, Hinata slowly recovering her breath while Naruto simply sat there. Hinata finally wriggled her short-shorts and underwear fully down her legs. She bunched up the panties and used them to wipe her crotch. A little red came away; even if the wounds had closed, some blood had still leaked while they were open. Hinata laid the soiled cloth to the side. Then she reached out towards Naruto's face.
"Please don't touch me right now," Naruto forced out his numb lips.
Hinata paused. "Would it help if I told you I came, like, 7 times during that whole thing?" she asked, honestly sounding like she wanted it to help.
"I made you bleed, Hinata-chan. But because of the Connection, you can't run away. You're trapped with me. And if I can do that, who knows what else I'm capable of?" Naruto asked.
"In your own defense, you warned me and I still said 'go for it'. I admit, I wasn't expecting it to be like that, but you didn't rape me, Naruto-kun. You did exactly what you said you would. And I let you." Hinata's voice was steady and sure.
Naruto sighed and held his head in his hands. "See, I know that up here." One hand went down to his sternum. "But in here, all I know is that I hurt you using something that is meant for letting you feel how much I love you." The hand dipped to his navel. "And now I'm worried whether this Seal is as perfect as we think. Maybe the Fox can influence my behavior or subconscious. Or maybe it's slowly bleeding into me and I am a monster like they call me."
Hinata's hand moved back towards Naruto's face. Only instead of a caress, it was a slap so loud it was probably audible from outside the apartment door. Naruto, not even really feeling the pain, turned to face his suddenly spitting mad wife. "If you love me, never say that again. You are not a monster, Naruto Uzumaki. Don't insult the man I love that way."
Naruto reached up to rub his stinging cheek, a mild effort of the Healing Rune numbing the pain and mending the burst blood vessels that otherwise would probably have made a rather prominent bruise. "What's it say that I feel better now? I think I was trying to get you to punish me the way I 'punished' you."
"You did nothing worth 'punishing' over. But let's not flog a dead horse. Do you feel better now?" Hinata asked.
"Much better physically, a little better mentally. My emotions are still all over the place, I'll let you know when they settle," Naruto replied honestly.
Hinata stretched. "I'm taking a bath. You're going to join me."
"Yes, honey."
By the time they'd gotten out of the bath and rinsed off in the shower, it was gone 6:00 PM. "Let me show you my favorite place in the village," Naruto offered once they were fully dressed.
"I will, but only if you don't act as though this is a 'last' not a 'first'," Hinata countered.
"I won't," Naruto promised. "I'm not allowed to die, after all. Not without your permission. I'll come back, I know that. My main concern now is whether you'll still love the version of me that does. The one that's killed."
"I'll always love you," Hinata said. It wasn't some innocent assurance. It was a vow from the depths of her soul.
"As I'll love you. Now let's go, we need to get to the top of Hokage Rock and then back down in time for dinner," Naruto grinned.
After a solid 45 minute hike from their apartment building to the observation deck above the Hokages' carved faces, Naruto took her to the spot that always just felt 'right'. Directly above the Fourth's head. "I used to come here to think," he told his wife as they both just enjoyed the view of the whole village, from Hokage Tower at the base of the mountain to the Main Gate over a mile away. "Sometimes I'd imagine I was Fifth Hokage looking down on my 'kingdom'. Other times I'd take comfort that up here, no one could glare at or ignore me. Sometimes… I felt like jumping."
"Oh, my love," Hinata breathed, sounding in physical pain at his own emotional agony.
"Well, I didn't. And now I never will. It's not just my life anymore. It belongs to you, and Hana-chan, and all the others in my network. And our future children. And my Progenitor family, out there among the stars. I survived for 18 years. But now I'm living. I plan to live for a very long time, honey," Naruto said, giving her a small but heartfelt smile that was somehow as sweet as it was painful.
"I'll hold you to that," Hinata told him, pulling him into a crushing hug.
Naruto kissed the top of her head and just held this wonderful woman who was somehow his. The moment passed, and they pulled apart. "Well, time for dinner with the girls," Naruto said, heading back towards the stairs.
"Naruto-kun." Naruto turned back to look at Hinata. "Let's come back up here when your face is carved on the Rock."
"Believe it," Naruto grinned, feeling truly at peace since his vision.
They got back down to the village and took the familiar route to Ichiraku Ramen. They got there to find Hana and the Three Haimaru Brothers waiting anxiously by the entrance. "Naruto-kun, Hinata-chan! What's this about an A-rank?" the veterinarian demanded, striding up to them with her trained hounds behind her.
"Hokage-sama's orders. I'll explain once everyone gets here and we're served," Naruto promised. He dipped in for a quick kiss to Hana's lips, then focused on giving each Haimaru Brother some quality scratches.
Hinata greeted Hana with her own kiss, though for whatever reason it escalated to tongue right there on the street. There was the sound of a thump, like someone tripped, and then Tenten's voice came from ground level. "Warn a girl before hitting her with that!" The two direct imprints on Naruto turned to regard the still-undecided girlfriend. She was by the corner, and probably had tripped when she caught sight of the ex-Hyuuga and Inuzuka tasting each others' mouths.
"Hey, Tenten-chan," Naruto waved after the third Haimaru Brother finished licking his fingers. "You know Hinata-chan. This is Hana Inuzuka. We're engaged to be engaged, she's already… 'committed' to me."
"Pleasure to meet you. Tenten on Team Gai, right?" Hana grinned at her potential sister-wife. "Yet you're not a Taijutsu specialist, you focus on ranged and armed combat?"
"Uh, yeah. Figured it would round out the Team since my teammates are a Hyuuga and Gai-sensei's willing disciple," Tenten managed with a blush. "So, have you seen the Uzumaki gay twincest act too?"
"Twincest?" Hana blinked in shock.
"Me and a male Shadow Clone 'perform' together," Naruto elaborated. Hana got a faraway look before developing a nosebleed. Having started carrying a pack of facial tissues for situations just like this, Naruto handed the Inuzuka a few. She plugged up her nose, not even looking embarrassed at her perverted reaction. "And Anko-chan is on the rooftop planning the perfect moment to pounce. Come on down, you viper," Naruto said without even looking.
"You're learning. Maybe I can stop going out of my way to leave traces and actually sneak up on you from now on," Anko said, leaping down from atop the Ichiraku Ramen building. "Now what the actual fuck was that nonsense about an A-rank Mission?"
"Let's talk inside," Naruto said, holding open the flaps while his four dinner companions (plus the dogs) entered his favorite place to eat.
"Hey, it's my favorite customer!" Teuchi grinned from where he was cleaning some cutting knives behind the counter. "And you brought company! What can I get for ya?"
"An Extra Large BBQ Pork with everything until I say 'stop', please," Naruto said, taking a central stool. Hinata sat to his direct left with Tenten next to her, Hana to his direct right with Anko on her other side.
Teuchi tilted his head. "First mission out of town?" he guessed astutely.
"You have no idea," Naruto nodded.
"Seriously, Brat, what's going on?" Anko pressed. "And I'll take the same but with Miso, old man."
"Shrimp," Hana put in her order. "And 3 low-sodium Butter noodles for my dogs."
"Chicken," Hinata chimed in.
"Spicy Shoyu, please," Tenten tacked on.
"Coming right up!" Ayame grinned from where she was doing some basic prep before going to help her father with all the cooking.
"To answer your question, Anko-chan, I had a vision of the future. I'm not joking, the Time Rune decided to turn itself on and give me a sneak peek of what's ahead. I reported it to Hiruzen, and it turns out a client for a 'C-rank' Mission lied about the details because he couldn't afford a higher rank. He spilled the beans, and Hiruzen decided the Mission was both A-rank and that we'd still take it. For whatever reason, he's assigning Team 7 to take it with two Special Jonin and a Jonin as reinforcements. I report to the Main Gate at 6:00 AM," Naruto explained for his three guests' benefit.
"Has he gone senile?!" Anko exploded.
"Isn't slandering a superior officer a misdemeanor?" Hinata posed rhetorically.
"I'll take the fine, I actually mean it! You graduated last week, for gods' sakes! What is he thinking?!" the Snake Mistress ranted.
"He's thinking that I'm the one who drew the issue to his attention so in a way I deserve to see it through. He's thinking that with all the supervision he's adding, this is perhaps the safest opportunity for me, Sasuke, and Sakura to have our 'first blood'. He's thinking all the danger will probably unlock Sasuke's Sharingan, which will make him a better asset for the Hidden Leaf. He's thinking that Kakashi might be able to crunch through A-ranks solo like candy, but having to protect the 'innocent' Genin might finally snap him out of his self-induced slump. And he's thinking that helping Tazuna-san is the right thing to do, and with my Shadow Clones I can speed up the completion of the bridge he's building exponentially," Naruto listed off. He hadn't used the Mind Rune to read Hiruzen, he just knew his grandfather-turned-brother figure that well.
"Well, when you put it that way… what exactly are the expected threats to this Tazuna?" Hana checked.
"Between 50 and 100 E-rank thugs, and at least 3 Missing-Nin: two ex-Chunin who specialize in tag-teaming and some A-rank guy they hang out with. We have to allow there might be more Missing-Nin or even legit shinobi on payroll for the guy who put the hit on the client," Naruto answered.
"Okay, rewind and start over. What exactly are the Mission details?" Tenten said, making the 'timeout' gesture.
Naruto reiterated the story Tazuna had confessed earlier in the day. The tale of a criminal invading an innocent country, imposing his own despotic rule, and the desperate last gambit of a simple citizen to break free.
"Oh, for the love of… just send an ANBU to assassinate Gato and this whole problem goes away," Anko huffed by the time Naruto finished and their first bowls arrived.
"Except for the small issue of the power vacuum, dozens of trained tough guys suddenly without a paycheck or boss, and the question of where all those billions of ryo and hundreds of ships end up," Hinata drawled while she broke her chopsticks.
"We humbly receive," the five of them prayed before digging into the delicious looking and smelling food.
"So send a good ANBU who can stage it as a suicide and forge a will donating it all to one of our shell companies after impersonating this Gato and ordering all the man-child bullies to pack up and leave," Anko stood by her argument.
"We have shell companies?" Tenten blinked. Then she had her first bite. "Damn, this is better than Hinata's cooking. No offense."
"None taken," Hinata chuckled, savoring her own first taste.
"We're ninja, we've had shell companies since they were a thing. The Hidden Leaf hasn't even started many since it was founded, we inherited all the ones started by the various founding Clans," Hana explained to Tenten.
"I'm pretty sure the plan is just to keep Tazuna alive, even if that involves killing all of Gato's hired goons he sends after him. Hiruzen will probably work from behind the scenes to get a criminal investigation into Gato through the Fire Daimyo's court," Naruto postulated.
"At what point did you switch from 'Old Man Hokage' to his freaking given name?" Anko asked. She took a bite and blinked. "Huh. This is better than some dango. And I mean that as glowing praise, by the way," she directed at the Ichiraku father and daughter.
"Much appreciated," Ayame bowed while Teuchi was already preparing Naruto's second bowl, very familiar with his bottomless appetite when it came to noodles in broth.
"Since he asked me to," Naruto said simply. Hiruzen's newfound youth after the Change was, at the veteran shinobi's insistence, an S-rank secret. He wasn't going to betray his friend's trust or his Hokage's will by blabbing.
"Well, he's Hokage but he's still human, and I suppose your first name is better than an irreverent nickname," Hinata added to the deception.
"True enough," Hana nodded. She looked down at the Three Haimaru Brothers literally licking their bowls clean. "Those went quick, you two really know what you're doing," she complimented the chefs.
"So, this is really happening. You're off on an A-rank Mission tomorrow?" Tenten asked just to make sure.
"Yep. In a perfect world, Kakashi-sensei and the three backup ninjas will handle the whole thing and I'll just be along for the ride. Well, actually, in a perfect world this Mission wouldn't have happened, but you know what I mean," Naruto confirmed. "Much more likely, I'll end up having to kill at least one of the grunts who comes for Tazuna or his family. I'm not good enough to incapacitate in the face of lethal force yet, I'll have to respond in kind. Here's hoping all that training I've been doing pays off."
"I'll have a drink with your name on it, Brat," Anko said in a solemn tone.
"You never forget. You do learn to live with it," Hana gave her own advice.
"It helps to not think of them as 'people', just 'the enemy'," Tenten said in a muted tone, reflecting on her first raid on a bandit camp.
"Thanks, really," Naruto nodded, finishing his first bowl with a little slurp. "So, enough about me. What's everyone been up to?"
The dinner conversation flowed from there, all of them feasting to the point of bursting on the gourmet cuisine. Naruto was about to cover for all of them when Hana wordlessly cut a check and handed it to Teuchi while he was still fishing in his pocket for Gama-chan. "My treat," she said, looking at him as if daring him to refuse.
They got up and Naruto made his goodbyes.
"I'll be sure to let Gai-sensei know Kakashi's Team got an A-rank," Tenten said with forced levity.
"Why would he care?" Naruto blinked.
"Oh, didn't you know? Kakashi Hatake and Might Gai are 'Eternal Rivals'. Gai is currently in the lead with 47 wins in challenges to Kakashi's 46," Tenten chuckled. "It's over silly things like arm wrestling or sushi eating, but they've basically been platonic bros locked in competition since they were our age."
"Huh. Learn something every day," Naruto hummed. He bent down to hug Tenten and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. "I'm coming back," he promised in her ear.
"I know you are. I'm just sad that not all of you will. You lose something when you take a life, Naruto," Tenten sighed.
"But I have so much more to gain once I come back and can put some serious effort into seducing you," Naruto joked by telling the honest truth.
Tenten chuckled. She gave her own peck to Naruto's whisker-marked cheek. "Get back with a legit A-rank on your record and you'll be a lot closer. See you later, Naruto." She stepped back, as if reluctant to turn away, before finally breaking eye contact and walking back towards her apartment building.
Anko had her hands in the pockets of her trench coat. "If you die, Brat, I'm going to kill you," she said, not looking at him.
"That sounds counterintuitive," Naruto chuckled.
"I mean it. Konoha's got a secret zombie Jutsu. I'll bring you back just to take out all my frustrations on you," Anko bit out, clearly feeling some kind of emotion and just as clearly not handling it well.
"Well, I always was afraid of zombies. So I guess I'll try extra hard not to die," Naruto said with a nod.
Anko seemed to dither, before she kissed two of her fingers and then pressed them to his cheek. "For luck. Let's talk when you get back." She vanished in a Body Flicker before Naruto could respond.
Hana managed to get the Haimaru Brothers out of their food comas and walked up to Naruto. "I do hope you don't expect me to just leave with nothing but a hug and a kiss," she said, some mix of hunger and worry in her eyes.
"Oh, of course not. You're coming back to our apartment and I'm going to fuck you until you have trouble walking tomorrow," Naruto stated rather than asking. "Hinata-chan's still a bit tuckered out from our 'goodbye' earlier, so I'm afraid she'll probably just watch."
"How will I live with the disappointment?" Hana asked sarcastically, though her breath had hitched and her nipples had rather obviously gotten erect.
"Shall we?" Naruto posed, offering his arm.
They went back towards his apartment building. At the entrance, Hinata paused. "Boys, your Mommy and Daddy need some alone time. Let's go for a walk with Aunt Hinata, okay?" the ex-Hyuuga said down to the Three Haimaru Brothers, with a knowing look and wink at her husband and future sister-wife.
"Go with her, boys," Hana ordered.
The triplet hounds nodded and turned to focus on Hinata. Naruto traded a loving look with Hinata before leading Hana through the door and up to his floor. He let them into his apartment with the key. Hana took a few deep sniffs while he closed the door behind them. "Just how rough was this 'goodbye' to Hinata?"
"It got a bit brutal. Still safe, sane, and consensual, but I was in a certain mood when it got started," Naruto admitted. "Luckily, I was able to heal all the damage at the end, that's how she was so fine at dinner."
"Well, that saves us a conversation," Hana chuckled. "I may not be on a monthly cycle anymore. But little secret, Inuzuka women go on 'heat' once a year or during moments of extreme arousal. If you don't have the strength to hold me down and keep me in my place, I'm basically going to eat you alive while fucking myself on your cock."
"Intriguing," Naruto said with a mild growl, feeling his cock thicken and grow heavy at the thought of Hana lost in a hormonal frenzy.
"Lucky for you, I had it a couple months ago for this year. We've got almost 10 months for you to get stronger than me so I don't end up winning when I attack you," Hana said with a certain teasing tone.
Naruto silently filled a mind-box with the Strength Rune. Then he grabbed Hana and bodily picked her up before half-throwing her at the nearest wall. While she was dazed, he grabbed her two wrists and brought them up above her head before holding them in place with just one hand. The other went to her shorts and pulled them down. He sucked his middle finger into his mouth before bringing it down to give some test pumps into Hana's already well-lubricated pussy.
"Yeah, I think we're good," Naruto said teasingly while Hana seemed to honestly struggle against his grip and was unable to overpower his psychically-enhanced muscles.
"How–" Hana gasped, eyes wide as all her efforts to break his hold fell short against the might of Naruto's enhanced brawn.
"Progenitor thing," Naruto offered in explanation. "Even just from the Change, I'm as strong as physically possible without any chakra tricks for this height and weight. If I throw in the Strength Rune, it goes up an order of magnitude. What you're feeling now, that's one 'box' worth of active powers. I can add more, if I'm willing to spend the chakra. If I went up to two…" He did just that. Hana started to gasp and writhe at his 'gentle' finger thrusts. "Pretty sure if I did a full three I'd break your pelvis with a lovetap, so let's call this our limit. Now, do you want me to let you go, or do you want to find out what sex with a guy with Kage-level strength feels like?"
"What do you think?!" Hana hissed, her whole face getting flushed and seemingly becoming more and more worked up the longer she struggled and still couldn't break free.
Naruto slid his finger out of her clutching hole, bringing it to his mouth to savor the flavor. Hana whimpered at the sight. A bit awkwardly with one hand, Naruto unbuttoned his pants and managed to pull out his tool, hard and hot and oozing pre. Hana had squeezed her thighs shut, as if that would work. Naruto grabbed one creamy thigh and gave a 'soft' pull. She opened like a doll at his titanic touch, her clothes still around her knees tearing in half like rice paper. The sound of ripping fabric made Hana give a keen of raw desire. Naruto gently maneuvered Hana's leg, testing her flexibility and finding to his delight she could do a full vertical split. With little ado, he lined himself up with her leaking tunnel and, conscious he might actually hurt her in his powered-up state, slid every inch in with cautious but insistent pressure.
"Sage's staff, how are you so deep?!" Hana gasped once his head pushed past the much less rigid ring of her cervix until he was balls-deep, the crown cushioned in her womb.
"Ward anatomy, your cervix is about as flexible as your ass now. Has the handy benefit where you can take all of me, plus dilation during labor will be a lot less painful," Naruto said, understandably distracted by the feel of being fully encased in a woman he loved. And he did love Hana. She had chosen him, him, out of every other option to spend her forever with. Sure, the Alpha thing had helped, but the point stood. Anyone who was willing to give Naruto everything got his everything right back. He spent half a second wondering how it was possible to love Hinata as much as he did and still have room in his heart to feel all he felt for Hana. Then Hana ground down against him a little and he decided he didn't really care.
Moving slow and smooth, Naruto withdrew until only his head was inside before plunging back up to the root. Subjectively, it felt gentle and soft as a lazy morning romp with Hinata. With his every move amplified by the Strength Rune, Hana was outright screaming at the rush of sensation and the physical power of the man staking his claim on her. She kept 'fighting', trying to free her hands and writhing as much as she could in his inescapable grip. Naruto truly didn't even feel it with his powers active. But whatever floated her boat, he would focus on driving her to a screaming climax or two until she managed to milk his own out of him.
For a good 20 minutes, Naruto kept his steady cadence up and into Hana. By the time he finally came, she was limp in his grip and held up only by his hold on her wrists and leg. Once his body finished filling her up with half a gallon of his seed, Naruto withdrew his deflating member from her inner chambers. He gently set her probably numb leg down on the ground, then swept her up into a princess carry rather than see if she could still stand. He brought her over to his bed, laying her down and kneeling on the floor beside her. One hand went to comb through her hair while the other went to rub her swollen belly with a hint of possessive pride.
"Honey? You still there?" Naruto asked after a solid minute of Hana doing nothing but staring vacantly and mouth breathing.
"... Next time, we're doing it up my ass," she finally said, sounding half delirious. "Maybe just one box instead of two, though. Guess this taught me never to underestimate you, Alpha."
"Sure thing, Hana-chan," Naruto gave a huff of laughter. He leaned in to kiss her lips. "By the way, I love you."
"Love you too," Hana said, a tad more coherent.
There was a knock from the door, then Hinata let herself in with her own key. The Three Haimaru Brothers padded into the room. They went up to the bed, obediently sitting in a line facing Naruto and Hana. Out of growing habit, Naruto opened mental links with the trio.
*Hooman Mom and Dad have fun mating?* One asked with a doggy grin.
*Hooman Aunt is fun, we like her!* Two panted, apparently having got in some exercise during the stroll.
*Should we expect a pup in 9 months? Since you were saying 'goodbye' and all,* Three thought with a certain dry wit.
"Yes, One, we did. That's good, Two. And no, Three, it wasn't that kind of goodbye," Naruto answered in order.
"What kind of goodbye?" Hinata asked, not privy to the dogs' thoughts herself. Her own link with Naruto didn't extend to any other links he made.
"Three implied I knocked Hana-chan up in case I don't come back so she'd have a legacy of me," Naruto explained to his wife.
"Hmm… well, you did just load her up. You could trigger ovulation right now and make it happen," Hinata said, sounding inappropriately excited at the idea of Hana getting pregnant.
"Oh, really? Could you?" Hana gasped, getting swept up in the idea as well.
"That's Ward brain talking. We're not ready for kids yet," Naruto said firmly, shutting the two women down before they really got going. "While we're on the subject of my load, Hana, we should probably get you to the toilet sooner than later."
"I have a much better idea," Hinata said, her frown at the 'no' to the pregnancy thing turning into a bright grin. Then she crawled onto the bed and got situated with her head between Hana's inner thighs.
On the off chance he did die on the Wave Mission, Naruto mused, the sight of Hinata slurping his cum out of a just-fucked Hana was a sight he would take to his grave.