Chapter Twenty-Four
For maybe the first time in months, Naruto chased Hinata on her morning run for sheer pleasure. The cold December air shook off the last lingering clouds of sleepiness as they ran down a still largely deserted street toward Hokage Rock to the north. "So, this is what you were doing while I was gone at Mount Myoboku?" He huffed as he caught up.
"Actually, the crew we're about to meet," she said as they rounded a corner, "were my usual challengers!" Hinata kept pace, her black leggings and purple athletic top teased Naruto with just enough curve on display to be exciting. God bless whomever came up with leggings!
As they crossed a street, Might Guy and Rock Lee began running alongside them. "I hope you don't mind company!" Lee called out.
"Always a pleasure!" Hinata huffed as they upped their pace. They crossed out of the North gate and began running up the trail to the top of Hokage Rock. Tufts of snow fell around them as they raced along.
"You're pretty fast for a bunch of guys with limited chakra ability!" Naruto grinned as Guy and Lee continued to trudge along.
"There is no chakra that defines the human spirit, Naruto!" Guy winked without breaking stride, "The spring of our youths is far from spent yet!"
"I see," Naruto smiled, enjoying being alive, being young.
"Naruto, I do have to ask," Guy spoke short as he controlled his breathing, "how is my eternal rival? I've barely seen him in the last month!"
"Kakashi," Naruto paused his words as the ground began sloping upward, "is doing fine; he's just busy now that Mom has him as her special assistant." Naruto took several breaths through his nose to replenish himself as the grade increased, "She wants him to be good and ready for the transition the year after next!"
"Ah, so the rumor is true!" Lee exclaimed. "Lord Fifth is staying on another year!" Lee glowed, "That means the other rumor is true! You two are married!"
Naruto extracted the Hokage's necklace from his runner's top, displaying Hinata's wedding band on the same string. "Guilty as charged!"
Hinata pulled out the necklace bearing the Uzumaki family crest and his wedding band, "We keep them safe for one another until our official wedding!"
"Please tell me you're planning on having kids!" Lee beamed ear to ear, "I need someone as an apprentice eventually!"
Naruto exchanged a look with Hinata before turning back to Lee, "I think that will wait until after the wedding, but yes!"
"Awesome!" Lee shot a fist in the air, "I bet you'll have one hot marriage!"
"Anyhow!" Guy spoke over his overexcited apprentice, "Congrats on being married in the meantime!" He winked, "Hopfeully, my eternal rival will be at the wedding?"
"Like you have to ask," Naruto replied as they reached the top and turned around back toward the village, "Uncle Kakashi will become Hokage that day. It's going to be an event to remember."
As they returned to the village gate, a dark figure stood on the far side of the gate, somber and brooding as ever. The young man raised a hand in greeting as the approached, and Naruto slowed his run as the group crossed the gate. "Sasuke?" Naruto stretched as he walked toward his friend.
"Naruto," he gave a slight nod. While Naruto and Hinata had seen Sakura a few times since the events on the Moon, Sasuke had been quiet ever since. "I need your help."
"Help?" Hinata asked, concerned.
"I need…" great reluctance formed cracks in Sasuke's usually stoic face. "… I need help choosing an engagement ring." It's what he says, but there is clearly something being left out.
"For Sakura, right?" Naruto asked, feeling a bit dumb for asking.
"Yes," Sasuke nodded.
"Congrats!" Hinata bowed slightly. "I know Sakura will happily say yes."
"Dude, another marriage on its way!" Lee's eyes opened wide, "Must be something in the air!"
Sasuke's dour demeanor refused to lift, and Naruto confirmed that not all was well despite the happy announcement. "Hon, will you excuse us?" Naruto asked Hinata.
"Of course," she nodded and smiled, "meet us at Ichiraku's when you're done." Hinata, Lee, and Guy took off in direction of the restaurant.
"So," Naruto started, "let's take a walk." He and Sasuke walked toward the market district. Sasuke remained silent, stony well into the now bustling market. "So, you going to tell me why you are acting like you're going to a funeral when you should be preparing for an epic proposal?"
"Naruto," Sasuke stopped abruptly, "It… it's complicated."
"Give me a small piece," Naruto gestured to the entrance of Senju Park, now deserted in winter.
They resumed walking along the snow-crusted trail. Finally, Sasuke spoke, "Naruto, do you think I deserve her?"
"Why would you think not?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto," Sasuke stopped abruptly, "I…" he choked on his words, "I betrayed her…"
"Sasuke, you were not in control."
"I fathered a child with another woman, dammit!" Sasuke growled, eyes glowing red as his Sharringan activated.
"A woman you thought was her," Naruto raised his index finger, unmoved by what would normally be a terror-inducing sight. "Sasuke, you were tortured, drugged, and subject to some things that still make me want to piss my pants! What you did was not your fault!"
"And yet," he shrugged, deflating, "I'll never be in my clan's good graces again. She'll be a wife to man with nothing!"
"She'd be your wife!" Naruto burned like Nine-Tails was boosting him. "And for her, that is all that would be important!" Naruto softened his tone, "Sasuke, your clan abandoned you in the end, not the other way around. If they want to be dickwads about it, then who the hell cares!" Naruto crossed his arms and stared at his friend, "Do you love her?"
"Yes," Sasuke gave a shallow nod.
"And do you love her beyond the fact that she was your caregiver?"
"Of course, I do!" Sasuke growled.
"Then what the hell are you complaining about?" Naruto laughed. "Sasuke, you love her, she loves you. What else is there?"
"What about when she decides to have children?" Sasuke asked.
"Then you have children," Naruto said. "We can swap babysitting duties, then!"
"Any child I have one day is going to learn about the war."
"And my children will grow up knowing they'll likely be jinchuriki," Naruto shrugged.
"I know about what you and Sakura encountered on the moon," Sasuke added, "You know there are more where they came from."
"Yeah," Naruto replied with a deep, raspy tone. "Yeah, I know. And what is worse, my daughter is probably why they're coming."
"Your… daughter?" Sasuke stared, puzzled.
"Sasuke…" Naruto paused, weighing what he was about to reveal. You're not the only person who may have had an altered destiny because of what Himawari did. He steeled himself, "… in the near future, Hinata and I have a son and daughter, Boruto and Himawari."
"You seem… oddly confident of that…" Sasuke leaned his head, eying Naruto.
"Sasuke, you know how Obito attacked my parents the night I was born, right?"
"Yeah," he blinked, "what does this have to do with your children?"
Terrible weight came with the words, "Sasuke, my parents weren't supposed to survive, not originally, anyway."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sasuke stared like Naruto was talking in tongues.
"Sasuke, my daughter, Himawari, travelled back in time at some point, and somehow changed things so my parents survived an event that should have killed them."
"You're being serious!" Sasuke looked on in shock, but he soon returned to form, "Why not?" he shrugged, "Apparently, we're just placeholders in some cosmic battle that predates us by millions of years."
"Did Sakura tell you that?" Naruto asked, and Sasuke nodded. "Did she tell you about the warning Queen Serenity's ghost gave us?"
"About more Ōtsutsuki, yeah."
"Did she tell you that some of them are aware of the shift in the timeline; they're coming sooner than they would have." Naruto crossed his arm, "So, my daughter's desire to give me a happier life may have had serious consequences for our lives…" Naruto sighed, "… and the lives of our children."
"And yet, you chose to still get married to Hinata," Sasuke said. "And you will be committing yourself to being a father after you have your wedding." Sasuke paused, "She told me about her concerns about getting married when we were undercover. If you're so concerned about what world you'll be bringing a child into, why go through with it?"
"Because, Sasuke," Naruto smiled slightly, "hiding from the future is no protection from it coming to pass." Naruto stared thoughtful of his friend, "That is why you asked me to help you out."
"I admit," Sasuke shook his head, "I have reservations about this, but I have even more reservations about not making her mine, officially."
"Come on," Naruto patted his friend on the shoulder, "let's see what the Jade Dragon has in store!"
Temari stood bundled up head to toe against the cold December chill as she waited with Shikamaru at the gate. She wouldn't normally be out here freezing her ass off in the cold; of course, it wasn't every day that her brothers were coming to visit.
"You sure they didn't get lost?" Shikamaru asked.
"No, bonehead, they texted me about an hour ago; they should be in sight any minute."
"I'm just saying, this snow and cold can be disorienting," Shikamaru stared amused, "especially to those not used to a true winter."
"Is that a jab!" Temari spoke acidic.
"What gave you that idea?" Shikamaru stared with great amusement.
"You're in rare form, today!" She huffed, stamping her boot. Goddamn, it's cold! Temari tried to hide her shivering, but every fiber of her body right now wanted to be back home in bed and under dense blankets – and with Shikamaru keeping her warm.
"What can I say?" he shrugged, "Your brothers haven't visited since the war. After that, we were their guests non-stop for almost two years."
The mention of their extra long furlough left Temari conflicted. On one hand, she had recovered back to where she was before the injuries that nearly killed her. On the other hand, the security threats in the background had left her bitter toward her home village; she didn't know if she could ever go back now. Between threats to Shikamaru's life and jilted suitors wanting to kidnap her, there wasn't a whole lot to look forward to back home – if it was even home.
"Hey, you awake?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yeah," she shrugged, crossing her arms, "just deep in thought."
"Anyhow, I think I see them!" he pointed into the swirling maelstrom.
Several figures, all bundled in heavy layers approached. As the group neared, Temari saw three of them. Gaara and Kankuro were easy to distinguish, but a shorter figure stood between them. Kind of a light bodyguard if they intended to have one. As the group approached, Gaara pulled down the scarf concealing his face, "Big sis!" he waved.
"Gaara!" Temari ran up to her brother and embraced him. "Welcome to Konoha!"
"Hey, where is my hug?" Kankuro asked, smug as ever.
"I missed you, too, jerk!" She changed over to Kankuro. As she unwrapped herself from Kankuro, she turned to face the companion, face still obscured by a heavy scarf and ski goggles. "And you are…"
"Oh, sorry! Where are my manners!" a chirpy female voice spoke with a giggle. The goggles and scarf pulled away to reveal a young woman with dark eyes, gently rounded cheeks, and a fine point to her chin.
"Matsuri?" Temari blinked. The girl has grown! "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't let Lord Gaara and Kankuro get lost in the snow!" she chuckled. "It's good to see you again, Temari!"
Matsuri had been a prominent shinobi and probably one of Gaara's greatest admirers before the war. In fact, she'd been Gaara's first real friend after becoming Kazekage. Temari didn't know why, but the muscles in her lower back tightened t Matsuri's presence. Dude, you've been gone for months, and you weren't really present the past few years! Of course, they'd have replaced you in the trio – lighten up! "It's… good to see you, too," Temari stumbled over the statement, wondering why she was being so awkward around the girl.
"If it's all the same, I suggest we get in out this hot sun!" Shikamaru bellyached. His black hair was powdered in snow crystals. I told you to wear a hat, crybaby!
"How about Ichiraku's?" Temari suggested, "We can warm up and catch up on old times." She turned to Gaara, "You won't even recognize the place, it's changed so much."
"Sure thing," Gaara said, looking at his travel companions, "you guys hungry?"
"Famished!" Kankuro shook excited at the prospect of a hot meal.
"Did somebody say ramen?" a deep but boyish voice asked. Everyone turned to see Choji and Karui approaching the gate.
"Choji!" Shikamaru ran to his friend and hugged him.
"Easy, boss, my fiancé might get jealous!" Choji snorted.
"Good to see you again," Karui said with a slight bow, "You as well, Temari."
"Did he say fiancé?" Temari asked.
"Yup!" Karui held up her hand and pulled off her winter gloves to reveal a band of gold with a diamond on her ring finger.
"Wow, congrats!" As she congratulated the two, Temari noticed a sight she'd never seen. Gaara subtly moved his hand to his side and had Matsuri's hand in his. No way! Her heart jumped and her back tightened. Gaara was holding hands with a girl. You should be happy for him, just as he was happy for you. Why aren't you? Temari wondered as she followed the group in the direction of Ichiraku's.
Shikamaru was assaulted by the bright light and sound of a small band as he entered Ichiraku Ramen. The place was much larger than it had been when he'd been growing up. "Ah," Teuchi greeted, more contestants for the ramen competition?"
"Ramen competition?" Shikamaru asked.
"Oh yeah!" Choji said over his shoulder, "Big time competition here today!" He turned to Teuchi, "Is it too late to enter?"
"Of course not! Ayame!" Teuchi called out to his daughter, "If you want to seat this crew, I'll get Choji signed in.
While a crowd obscured most of group, Shikamaru could see Captain Yamato, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba among the pool of contestants. "You'll have to pardon me," Karui said, "but I want to offer moral support for my fiancée; I'll join you all when they're done."
"Oh, this I got to see!" Kanakuro said.
"I'm morbidly curious," Temari said, "care to join me, Matsuri?"
"I'd be delighted," the other girl replied. She turned to Gaara, "We'll be back shortly."
Shikamaru stared at Gaara, "I guess that leaves us."
"Maybe for the best," Gaara's voice was tight. "Let's have a seat." Ayame guided the men to a booth.
"So," Shikamaru sat back, wondering what trouble he was about to be a part of, "what brings you to Konoha?"
"Well, I heard Naruto and Hinata had been married; I would be remiss to not give them a gift."
"They are going to have a traditional wedding in a little over a year, ya know," Shikamaru nodded.
"It wasn't my only reason," he shook his head, "I have… difficult news and a request for help."
"Okay…" Shikamaru cocked up an eyebrow, "… you got me."
"Shikamaru, Matsuri and I…"
"Are involved?" Shikamaru guessed.
"Yes," Gaara nodded in affirmation.
"How serious?"
"I was… planning on proposing to her on New Years' Eve in a few days," Gaara again spoke like his throat was trying to stop his words.
Shikamaru leaned back, "I see," he brought his hands behind his head and stretched, "what a pain. I'm assuming you're worried about something?"
"Namely, my sister," Gaara said, "I never told Temari."
"How long?"
"We became a couple right after the war."
He kept that a secret two years?!"Are you planning a traditional proposal?" Shikamru asked, hoping he wasn't stepping over a line. Sunan couples traditionally sealed a proposal with intercourse. In fact, having sex as an unmarried couple was still considered an act of proposal in Suna.
Gaara flushed, "I… yeah… if she accepts, of course."
Shikamaru stared at Gaara, tilting his vision to get a different perspective. "There is something else?"
"Potentially," Gaara sighed and his eyes dropped to the table.
"What is it?" Shikamaru winced, having a bad feeling he was about the be involved in family politics.
"My sister told me of the White Kitsune, namely, Lady Akemi Hyūga," Gaara spoke reluctantly.
"Akemi? Does Matsuri have some kind of fertility issue?"
Gaara shook his head, "I do, or at least, I may."
"Why are you coming to me with this? Why not Temari, or speak with Akemi directly?"
"For one, it's already beyond awkward talking about this with you; try to imagine talking to Temari about it." Point taken! "For two, this actually does involve you, especially if nothing can be done."
"You mean the fact that Temari's child could be the heir to the throne if you can't have children."
"Yes," Gaara nodded.
"I see…" Shikamaru tented his hands, "… does Matsuri know?"
"Yes, I did tell her everything when we started getting serious."
"And what were her thoughts?"
"She told me it didn't matter, even if we decided to adopt." He shrugged, "However, I know Temari's worries about being targeted and presumably yours in the event that I am sterile."
"Gaara," Shikamaru rubbed his chin, "Why exactly do you think you're sterile or infertile?"
An embarrassed look overcame Gaara. "It's how Shukaku was sealed in me initially."
Shikamaru tilted his head, "I don't follow,"
"For one, I was born almost two months premature, and for two I was sealed before birth." Gaara stared down at the table. I've been plagued with developmental issues most of my life as a result – probably not helped by my father's indifference, if not outright hostility towards me."
"A father's love can be a terrible thing," Shikamaru quoted Kakashi. "How bad of developmental issues? I mean, everything thing is where is should be, right?"
"I'm anatomically and genetically male, if that is what you mean," Gaara spoke mildly irked. "The seal, from what I understand, was a type that no one in The Hidden Sands knew how to use properly – some type of seal the Uzumaki Clan had used with Nine-Tails." He paused, wincing, "It tends to cause fertility issues in males and females if not properly performed."
"If they didn't know what the hell they were doing, why did they do it?" Shikamaru asked, wondering how Gaara's father and advisors could have been so goddamn careless with something so dangerous.
"Pride for one thing; it took almost eight years of me having dubious control of Shukaku before my father even admitted that he should have talked to Lord Fourth – who did an admirable job with correcting the seal." Gaara pursed his lips, "For two, you know how you don't know what you don't know until you know it?"
"I think I follow," Shikamaru nodded, "they thought it was going to be easy following instructions from a scroll and it wasn't." Shikamaru hooked his hands behind his head and leaned back in the booth. "So, you think Akemi can help with this little issue." Shit! Very poor choice of words! "Gaara, I didn't' mean to imply…"
Gaara held up a hand, "It's fine; I get what you mean" He nodded "And yes, I think she can help."
"Then why come to me?" Shikamaru tilted his head, curious where he came in.
"For one, you know her. For two," he shrugged, "well, I've never had to deal with this kind of issue, nor has Kankuro." Gaara turned his hands up, "You also are known for being discrete all around."
"You're worried about the nobles moving against you?"
"I'm still more worried about them targeting Temari, to be honest," Gaara folded his arms. "Father left many issues with his death, and my potential lack of fertility is… troubling…"
"You want me to arrange the meeting?" Shikamaru crossed his arms, "Do we keep Temari out of the loop?"
"What do you think?" Gaara asked.
"It's your life, and your health, Gaara," Shikamaru shook his head, "Just you not wanting her to know is reason enough for me."
"It could also negatively or positively affect your lives as well as any children you have," Gaara reminded.
"There is that, but are you sure you'd want us knowing about your personal issues?"
"Maybe not intimately, but it doesn't mean I should keep you and her in the dark, especially if I'm involving you anyhow."
Shikamaru gave a small nod, "All right, that is a good point." He sighed, "what a pain. "I'll make the arrangements."
"And the winner is… HINATA!" Kakashi's voice boomed from the section of the restaurant where the competition was going on.
"Wait, what?!" both men turned in the booth to see the crowd near the eating contest gasping in surprise. Shikamaru stared in disbelief as he eyed the red letters of an electronic counter above Hinata: 46. No way, she's a great athlete but no competitive eater!
Choji clutched his stomach, his counter read in bright red: 36. Kiba, now being carried out on a stretcher only had nineteen, Captain Yamato thirty, and Shino seventeen. Holy crap! Even Naruto and Lord Fifth have never eaten that much ramen in one sitting!
Kakashi held out a microphone to Hinata like a gameshow announcer, "Hinata, anything you have to say in the wake of your victory?"
"It-it tasted real good!" she spoke shy, cheeks turning cherry red.
Shikamaru and Gaara still hadn't gotten their jaws off the floor. "I would have never guessed!" Gaara balked.
"Nor would I," Shikamaru shook his head.
"Hey guys!" Naruto called as he burst in through the doors with Sasuke in tow, "Did I miss anything?"
Shikamaru exchanged an amused look with his brother-in-law, "You might say that!" Shikamaru exclaimed in disbelief.
"What… oh?!" Naruto turned to see Choji kneeling before Hinata, holding out a prop crown to Hinata, now wearing a white sash that said: champion.
"I concede to the prowess of the Legendary Queen of Gluttony!" Choji groaned, bowing his head as he handed her a simple plastic crown. Hinata placed the crown on her head and held one of the many bowls stacked around her as Teuchi snapped a picture of Hinata and then a picture of Hinata and Kakashi.
"Dahhh!" Naruto's jaw dropped, "Forty-six bowls!"
"How does she stay so slim?!" Gaara balked.
"You would, too, if you worked out half as hard as she does!" Temari's voice cut like an acid-etch on glass as she approached the booth. She smirked, "So, little brother, surely the holidays weren't the only thing bringing you here to Konoha?"
"Part of it is those two," Gaara pointed to Naruto and then Hinata.
"Oh?" Naruto asked.
"I hear congratulations are in order, plus, it is your wife's birthday today," Gaara extracted a package from a pack he'd been wearing. "I couldn't resist the urge to present you both with a gift!"
"Gaara, you didn't have to!" Naruto shook his head.
"I insist!" Gaara said.
"Lord Gaara," Hinata approached and nodded, followed by Kakashi.
"Hinata," Gaara stood and bowed in return, "Congratulations, it seems several times over, and happy birthday as well!"
"Thanks!" She stood beside Naruto and took his hand.
"And without further ado," Gaara opened the pack he'd been carrying, revealing a glass bell-shaped cloche covering a small pot. In the pot, several brilliant red flowers grew.
"Gaara!" Shikamaru had the image of this particular flower burned into his mind. "A Sunan Poppy?!"
"Yes, considered the finest gift a Kazekage can gift anyone," he nodded, pressing the cloche and flowerpot toward Naruto and Hinata, "A fitting gift for your birthday and your marriage."
"Gaara! I-I don't know what to say!" Hinata exclaimed.
"Before anyone worries, this is a unique breed that I've spent the last several years cultivating," Gaara smiled impossibly large for his normally stony face, "It does not produce the addictive compound found in the wild ones; also, it is hardy in a much cooler climate. It should survive well here in Konoha after the spring thaw." Gaara spoke with a delight Shikamaru had never seen in his brother-in-law. "Until then, it should survive well indoors, preferably in a warm room that gets some sunlight; although a grow lamp will suffice for now."
"I should get this home, then," Hinata said, "It's starting to turn snowy again." She bowed again, "Thank you again, Gaara! Please, will you join us for tea tomorrow?"
"Of course," he nodded, "as long as my companions are invited."
"Hell, everyone here is more than invited," Hinata said, "Thank you again!"
"Happy birthday, and congratulations," Gaara nodded. Hinata and Naruto left.
Shikamaru waited for several moments after the two had left the restaurant before he spoke, "Gaara…"
"Yes, Shikamaru," Gaara smirked.
"You said it doesn't contain the addictive compound; does it contain the aphrodisiac effect still?"
"The jury was out on that," Gaara shrugged with a slight chuckle, "The blossoms are plenty fragrant in their own right, but testing was inconclusive if it still had that particular effect." The mischief in his voice hinted that it hadn't been ruled out, either.
Hinata removed the cloche covering the flower as she turned on a desktop grow light on her nightstand. As she set the glass cloche down, she brought her nose to the flower, inhaling gently. Warmth filled her at the smooth, sweet fragrance. While nowhere near as dedicated as mom was, Hinata loved to cultivate plants of all types. "Oh, Naruto, you simply must smell this!" she said excitedly.
Naruto approached, bringing his face close to the blossoms, "Can't believe we spent months chasing these things down, only for him to create a legal version to gift." Naruto rubbed his nose slightly after rising back up, "Yes, they are quite lovely."
Hinata giggled, the fragrance a welcome addition to the room. She hadn't even had a chance to put out her usual cinnamon-scented pinecones with everything that had been happening lately. "So, anything you want to do today?" Hinata asked. Her heart began racing at the innocent question.
Naruto gave her a curious stare as he chewed his lip, "Tell me, how did you put all that ramen away?"
Hinata giggled again, "Oh you know, I work out a lot!"
"Forty-six bowls of workout?!" Naruto exclaimed, beginning to laugh softly.
"It's just like running a marathon," she laughed nervously, brining a hand to her lips, "you get started, and you just don't stop until its over." She shrugged and leaned her head to the side, "I just happened to win in the process!"
Naruto approached with a curious twinkle in his eye, "All that marathoning," he brought a hand to her stomach, "must leave you quite sore!" he came nose to nose with her as he began rubbing small circles on the slight bugle that was her well-fed belly."
"N…N…Naruto! That tickles!" Before she could protest further, he brought his lips to hers, teasing at first. Soon, his kiss became firm, and Hinata felt herself knees giving way. She was flopped halfway on the bed, her legs overhanging the edge, and Naruto continued to rub her tummy first through her exercise top, and then under it. "This," she panted, "is some birthday gift!"
"I'm just getting warmed up," his words caressed her skin as he separated from her lips, kissing his way down her chin and following down the curve of her neck. His hands, meanwhile slowly dragged her shirt upward under her breasts.
Naruto paused his kissing just long enough to pique Hinata's curiosity. She leaned her head up to see him between her knees, and his lips began soft butterfly kisses on her stomach. "AHHH!" Hinata moaned and her legs quivered as his lips sucked and his tongue tickled along her toned stomach. "Naruto!" she moaned, "Naruto…" she threw her head back and moaned his name again as she reached down and raked fingers through her husband's mass of spikes.
Naruto gave a deep chuckle as he slid his thumbs under the elastic waistbands of her athletic leggings and the pink panties underneath. His other fingers kneaded into her butt before he tugged down her leggings and underwear. His tongue traced along her tummy one more time until he retreated toward the outside of her hip; her leggings and underwear slid down beneath her knees. Hinata's arms flopped overhead, and she brought a hand to her mouth to catch her increasing number of moans as her body undulated.
Hinata freed her legs from the offending garments, and Naruto pressed her knees apart. She stared down, and heard him purr, "Happy birthday, babe! Ikadakimasu!" His tongue traced along her womanhood.
"AAAHHHH!" Hinata drove her head back into the mattress and didn't even try stifling her scream as Naruto went down on her. Hinata grew alarmed at the sensation of hands seizing her hands hand feet. "Naruto!" her head thrashed about, eying shadow clones deviously massaging her hands and feet as they suckled fingers and toes. OH GOD! Her face contorted, and she began rapidly mouthing his name, unable to assemble words.
Naruto's strong hands cupped her buttocks and brought her firmly to his mouth. He continued lovingly running his tongue through her increasingly soaked folds – suction and tongue causing her clitoris to swell and waves of unbearable pleasure to pulsate outward from between her legs. Naruto freed a hand from her butt, sliding into her channel with one, then two fingers, and began scissoring his fingers back and forth.
The pulsating waves made Hinata's hips bounce and her insides to clamp down on his fingers as she screamed as her body tingled throughout. She panted rapidly and an aftershock hit before the first wave ended. Her limbs went floppy as the clones release her hands and feet. "Gochisousama!" his words came against her hot, soaked womanhood. "You're fucking delicious!" His tongue traced in one last aggressive swipe.
"You're… too much…" she spoke between gulps of air as his fingers withdrew, "… when you talk dirty like that!" She laughed, still fuzzy-headed from his naughty actions. "What inspired this?"
"Well," he wiped his mouth, "I remember a certain fiancé doing the same for me on my eighteenth birthday." He grinned like a wolf as he stood between her legs, pulling off his shirt. His tight body heated her as she eyed tight bands of muscle and scar over his heart. "Of course, I think there was a second part to what you did," he pursed his lips and he shed his pants and boxers.
Oh, I remember well! Hinata eyed him in his aroused glory and clawed at her annoyingly still present athletic top and bra. As removed her final layers, she giggled, "Oh my god, happy birthday to me!" She knew he wouldn't disappoint, and he didn't.
Sakura marveled as she watched Hinata, Hanabi, Akemi, and Lord Fifth blaze through the fire and water display of that had become the group's signature on the now repaired memorial fountain in the crowded courtyard of the Hyūga Compound. The climax of the show came at midnight with the dramatic flash of fire and water synced with fireworks to mark the start of the new year.
For all her wonderment, a dark cloud hung over her throughout the display. Sasuke had promised to meet her here and celebrate the changing of the year at midnight, and he promised they would discuss their future after the show. She had arrived early and mingled with the crowd, each moment with growing anticipation of how Sasuke would make an entrance. Except, he isn't here!
The rational part of Sakura, the part that was a medical-nin, searched desperately for any reasonable explanation as to why Sasuke decided to stand her up – mission, health emergency, or some other crisis. However, each theory fell flat. Naruto was here, so there was likely no crisis; Sasuke would have mentioned a mission or texted, and he likewise would have reached out to her if he was having some kind of health problem. He said he'd meet me here to discuss our future! Is there a future now?!
As the crowd began dispersing, some revelers left into the cold night for home. Others lingered, indulging in food and drink or visiting the various vendor stalls ringing the courtyard. For what felt like an eternity, she waited, scanning the thinning crowd for his tall, brooding frame, his stony face. By 0045, the crowd had lessened to stragglers, and still no Sasuke.
Sakura at first didn't feel the tears tracing her cheeks. She'd been out in the cold so long the heat of her tears took several moments to reawaken numbed skin. As the nerve endings awoke, the piercing burn of her tears grew in pace, and a harsh vice began winding around her stomach as she went from crying to sobbing into her hands.
"Hey, why the waterworks?" a familiar hand landed on her shoulder. Sakura removed her face from her hands and took in Ino with her hand on Sakura's shoulder. Sai, Hinata, and Naruto stood nearby, both looking concerned as well.
"Please," seeing her friends and their romantic partners did nothing for Sakura, "I just want to be alone right now!" She resumed crying.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" Hinata asked, not quite forceful.
"Sasuke was supposed to be here with me tonight… he… he stood me up!"
"Hmmm…" Naruto hummed then chuckled, "… that would explain it."
"What's so funny, you jerk!" Sakura exploded at her friend and teammate's callous words. She got up in Naruto's face before she felt firm hands on her shoulders.
"Before you remove my front teeth," Naruto smirked. "There is a very nervous young man in the clan leader's training room that has been talking to himself for a little over an hour now." He let the words sink in, "You might want to check on him, see if he's all right!"
Everything froze, and Sakura felt the hands holding her back release. She turned toward the far end of the courtyard, continuing past into the gardens – now dormant for winter. Sakura arrived at the door to the training room, and she could hear a human voice speaking with variable tone. Sakura worried her thundering heart might give away her position as she gingerly slid the door ajar.
As eyes adjusted to the dim light from the room, she saw Sasuke, pacing back and forth in a manner most uncharacteristic. His face curled in frustration, and he frequently ran fingers through his hair as he paced, muttering to himself, "All right, let's try this again!" He huffed, "Sakura, will you marry me?!" Sasuke instantly shook his head, "Dammit! She'll think I'm some kind of weirdo if I ask like that!" He dropped to his knee, and stared up where she would be standing, "Sakura, marry me, please!" His obsidian eyes opened wide, pleading.
He stood and shook his head, "Yeah, beg, see if that works!" he said to himself.
He wants to propose! Sakura's heart jumbped several beats at the revelation. He hadn't stood her up; he'd been here the whole time and probably lost track of how late it was. Sakura gripped the door, took a deep breath, and slid open the door to reveal herself, "Sasuke?"
"Ah!" Sasuke spun on his feet, startle. "S-Sakura!"
"Sasuke," she approached slowly, not wanting him to panic, "I've been looking everywhere for you! It's well after midnight."
"WHAT?!" Sasuke's mouth dropped, and he stared down at his watch, "Oh god! Sakura, I'm so sorry!" He began tearing up, "I-I didn't… I didn't mean…"
"It's okay," she closed the distance and put a hand on his cheek. "It's okay, Sasuke…"
"It's not okay!" he turned from her and buried his face in his hands. "I ruined this, like a I ruin everything," he shook his head.
"You haven't ruined a thing," she began to rub his shoulders.
"This was supposed to be perfect!" he moaned.
"Perfect for what?" she asked, "Naruto said you've been here for well over an hour!"
"I was…" Sasuke paused, looking like he was choking, "S-Sakura?!"
"Yes?" she shivered as he took her hands in his.
"WILL YOU MARRY ME?!" Sasuke's effort to force the words made them come out explosive, and his voice shrank, "Please?"
"Yes…" she squeezed his hands, tears of her own now flowing, "Yes! I will!"
"You will?!" he asked in clear disbelief.
"Dammit! I said yes, didn't I!"
For the first time since Sakura could remember, unbridled joy crossed Sasuke's usually expressionless face. "You did!" He frantically reached into the pocket of his robes, extracting a ring box, "I hope it fits! Hinata texted her best guess!" He opened the box, extracted a band of white gold beset with a ruby cut to the shape of a heart.
Sakura nearly fainted as the blood ran from her brain to her cheeks as he slid the beautiful ring onto her fingers. As the ring slid home and it glowed in the dim light of the room and the moonlight spilling from the door, Sakura actually did feel herself sway. When she came to, she was braced in his arms, and he stared with an intent smile. No releasing her, he brought his lips to hers.
"Awhooo!"
"YEAH BOY!"
"COME ON, SASUKE, SLIP HER THE TONGUE!"
The chorus of Ino, Hinata, and Naruto broke the moment. As Sasuke separated, he glared at the trio, Sai staring stunned but at least silent in the background. Sasuke shook his head, "Our friends are assholes sometimes," he chuckled.
Sakura lay back in his arms, still fuzzy-headed from his kiss and fainting. "Yeah, but I don't care!" She found her footing and held herself close to Sasuke, "Let's give them something to talk about!" Sakura brought her mouth back to his, and this time, she did slip him the tongue.
Author's notes: Hello, everyone. Thank you for reading as always. For those who reached out, I am fine, and I apologize for this being so damn late with this update. I've had a hectic last two weeks at work and not much in time of writing as a result. I do hope the chapter was worth the additional wait. Because I'm so behind, the next update on this probably will be September 9, 2023. Hopefully I can play catch up after that. Next chapter will start getting into the journey to the Land of the Whirlpools and a few plot threads. Until then, stay healthy, stay safe!