Content Warning: This chapter contains a considerable amount of adult content. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter Five
Itachi ran fingers through his hair as he walked his younger brother toward the Uchiha Compound. "Are you sure you want to do this, Sasuke?" he asked as they walked to the front door.
"I can't dance around it forever, Itachi," Sasuke didn't sound completely like a zombie, but Itachi suspected a high degree of compartmentalization as they approached the house. Even before his abduction and exploitation, Sasuke did not have the happiest of childhoods. Father had been negligent, and Itachi had to play the role of brother and father more often than not. And you did such a bang-up job with that!
As Itachi moved to open the door, the door opened, and Mom stood in the doorway holding Itachi's son, Sato. The boy cooed playfully at the sight of his father. "Boys?" Mom's immaculately black hair had minor streaks of steel grey, and minor lines of worry had permanently chiseled their way into her face. Father was the clan leader, but Mom frequently was the one keeping the clan from devolving into a murder-fest.
"Hello, mother," Sasuke spoke with an unfeeling tone, "may we come in, please?"
"Of course," she opened the door, "this is your home, too. I'm sure Sota would like to finally meet his Uncle Sasuke."
Itachi took his son from mother as he and Sasuke walked inside. "Son, you're getting heavy!" My boy, it's like only yesterday you were born. I wish you could stay young just a little longer! Itachi bounced his son, not believing he'd be two years old in a few months.
"Sasuke…" Mom's voice and lip quivered, "… it's… it's really good to see you, my son!" Mom rushed Sasuke and wrapped her arms around him. She began crying.
"It's…" Sasuke froze in awkwardness, "… good to see you, too, Mom," Sasuke reluctantly brought his arms up and around Mother. Sasuke hadn't seen Mom since before his abduction. Itachi held his breath. While he questioned the wisdom of Sasuke being here today, he knew this would have to happen sooner or later. Just relax, let him try things one at a time. He's a lot better than he was a year ago.
When Mom finally released Sasuke, Itachi spoke, "Mom, I'm afraid we are not on a social call," he shook his head, "We need to speak to father."
"I'll get him," she bowed slightly before exiting the room.
A few minutes later, a female retainer entered the room, "This way," the woman beckoned them further into the house. Itachi reluctantly handed Sato back to Mother. As he and Sasuke walked the hallways, other members of the clan stepped out of the way, and children were unceremoniously pulled aside as all eyes scanned Sasuke. Thankfully, Sasuke was able to keep himself focused – Sakura reported he still suffered incidents of catatonia in extreme stress.
Reaching Father's office did little to steady Itachi's nerves as he, Sasuke, and the attendant bowed. "Thank you, Sango, you may leave." The girl turned and left. "Boys, your mother told me we have business?"
"Father…" Sasuke stared with his lifeless eyes. Itachi prepared to step in, but Sasuke composed himself, "I'm afraid we have some troubling questions to discuss with you." Don't step in unless needed; see what he can do.
"Are there any questions that aren't troubling anymore?" Father shook his head, "What do you need to ask?"
Itachi pulled the case file for Ichika Hyūga and set it before him, "Do you recognize the file?"
"How could I forget?" Father sank back into his chair, "it was my first major case as a member of the military police." Something in Father's eyes was haunted, causing them to sink back in their sockets.
"You were the responding officer," Sasuke confirmed, "and the lead investigator?"
"The only real investigator," Father replied.
"Why wasn't there a detective assigned to the case?" Sasuke asked, "Even in suspected suicides, a detective is normally sent for as part of procedure."
"I cannot speak to my supervisor's state of mind; he died before the Third Shinobi War. I also cannot speak to my father's state of mind," Father's face tightened, "I can tell you the medical examiner spoke confidently that it was a natural death, and that was the end of it."
"That was the end of it?" Sasuke asked with a tinge of skepticism.
Itachi caught the slight snarl forming on Father's face and didn't wait, "I think what Sasuke meant to ask was, why was there no further investigation? There was significant evidence gathered by you at the scene: the wasp, the photos, witness interviews, and the sketch. It was thorough investigation – which suggests you thought it was a crime scene and not the scene of an accident."
"That was procedure" he paused, "for that matter, it is still procedure for the responding officer at the scene of a suspicious death."
"So, you did think it was a suspicious death?" Sasuke came crisply.
Father shifted uncomfortable in his chair, "It was… an unusual death." Father softened his tone.
"What made it so unusual, Father?" Itachi asked. Itachi expected to be blown off over the subject. Father instead was being conciliatory – something he'd never been known to be.
"I can only speak to my intuition as a cop," Father tented his hands the way Lord Fourth did. "The whole thing seemed staged, and despite outward appearances, I did and still do believe Hiashi's claims of foul play."
"What made you think it was staged?" Sasuke's voice shifted almost to some semblance of his pre-abduction state.
Father took a deep sigh, "She just happened to get stung by a wasp in her garden and suffer a fatal anaphylactic reaction during the same timeframe as a high-level meeting of all of the prominent clan members. When Hiashi found her, she had likely just expired or was expiring." The old man shook his head, "It looked too neat, too coordinated, like it had been planned to go off at that exact moment."
"If so, how did Hattori know she'd have the reaction?" Itachi asked. "We reviewed her medical records and found no record of prior stings or anything suggesting a wasp allergy."
"That," Father said crisply, "was where I hit a dead end with everyone and everything." He again shifted in his chair, "After the ME passed the ruling of accidental death, I was told to drop the issue by my superiors," he shrugged. "And I was a beat cop suspecting a clan leader of murder with no witness, no forensics, and no clout."
"Why the addendum to the chart about Yukio?" Sasuke asked. "You made that some years later."
"Another suspicious death with similar circumstances, with a the same person of interest as well as motive, means, and opportunity."
"Why wasn't he arrested for Yukio's death, then?" Itachi asked.
"For one, he'd poisoned himself with her diabetic medication at the same time he poisoned her, and the prosecutor's office felt there was enough doubt about a conviction if he was indicted." He shrugged, "As an experienced investigator, I sadly have to agree. The murder of Yukio would be harder to prove than Ichika."
"For two?" Sasuke rubbed his chin in contemplation.
"For two, there had just been an attack on the Hokage's family, and our clan was deeply implicated," Father turned stony, "You both may not remember, but for a few years we were under a microscope…"
"I remember, too well," Itachi cut his father off. Itachi had received orders from Danzo Shimura to murder the Uchiha to prevent a coup in progress, claiming he had Lord Minato's approval. By the grace of the divine, Itachi went to Lord Fourth to beg for mercy only to discover the orders were false. Danzo had been arrested for conspiracy to commit mass murder, and Itachi went home to vomit his guts up afterwards. If Izumi hadn't been there in that dark hour, if she hadn't forgiven you…
"It was some of the sloppiest police work I'd every seen as a result. Then there were other security incidents that cropped up years later."
"Father, was there any inkling of him being involved in the Hyūga Incident or the later assassination attempt on Naruto?"
"Nothing we could prove," Father shook his head, "Given the involvement on hostile organizations, most of whom are dead, there is no way to be sure."
Itachi had one last question, "Father, you would have been on patrol during this same time, do you recall any of these cases?" Itachi extracted three files from his jacket and handed them to his father.
Father eyed the files, flipping through the scant details, "Nothing that comes to mind," he closed the folders and stared back to Itachi, "Are they linked to this somehow?"
"They were maids that worked for the Hyūga Clan. All died within a week or two of being fired. All three were in early-stage pregnancies with the father unknown. All three died within a month of each other, the last one only a few weeks before Ichika died."
Father reopened the charts and scrutinized the reports more thoroughly. "I don't think I'm going to be much help," he shook his head. "I don't recognize any of these victims, but I know the responding officers and investigating detectives – all died during the Third Shinobi War." Father rubbed his chin, "I'm sorry boys, but you have your work cut out for you."
Itachi exchanged a look with Sasuke. "Well," Sasuke shrugged, "it's a start."
The evening walk back to the Village Hidden in the Leaves evoked strong memories for Shikamaru – he was going home. In another few hours, Temari and he would arrive. Sadly, he wasn't sure what he would find when he got there. Mom would likely harass him for not calling or writing often enough, and she was sure to bring the current lack of grandchildren up. Troublesome woman! He wasn't sure what if any reaction he might get from Dad, Sensei, or most of his friends, either.
As Shikamaru turned to look at the other troublesome woman in his life, a pang of guilt hit him in the guts again. He had wanted to have children with Temari, had planned on it for after the war. Then she nearly got herself killed. He shook his head violently to expel the intrusive memories.
"What's wrong, crybaby?" she asked.
"Nothing," he continued to huff along.
"Liar," she teased. "This is why you lose poker all the time."
"And being brash is why you lose shogi all the time," he retorted.
"That's me letting you win," she winked.
"Bullshit!" Shikamaru replied with indignance. In the back of his mind, the thought remained unsettling. Was she really throwing the game to make me feel better?!
"Tell yourself whatever you want," she smirked the sinister smile she used when she had a rope around an opponent's neck and they were doing nothing but tightening the noose for her.
"Are they having a fight, Sensei?" Rock Lee asked out of nowhere.
"I believe the term is 'marital dispute,' Lee," Might Guy responded. "Don't mind us!" he hollered.
"Swell," Shikamaru dug his hands in his pocket, and shook his head, "What a pain!" he continued to speed march around a rickshaw on the right side of the trail.
"Shikamaru?" the porter pulling the cart called out, and Shikamaru turned to see a familiar figure. Lord Jiraiya was tall and muscular, especially considering his age. Loaded in the cart was the familiar form of Lady Tsunade and her twins, Mito and Hiruzen. "Fancy running into you out here!"
"Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade," he bowed. Shikamaru blinked, disbelieving, "What are you doing out here?"
"Returning to Konoha, the kids are ready for the holidays and so are we!" Tsunade replied from her seat in the rickshaw.
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya," Temari huffed along, and bowed, "a pleasure."
"Temari," Tsunade observed, "you look well!"
"Much better than last time," she stretched out her arm and hip. "Care to continue as a convoy?
"Temari," Shikamaru protested, "we're in a time crunch."
"How long to the gate?" Lee asked as he strolled up.
"Three hours, give or take," Shikamaru replied.
"We'll do it in two," Guy winked, "Temari, climb in and hold on!" Temari did as instructed, and Guy and Lee pulled the cart with unnatural speed, the cheers of the babies carrying in their wake.
"Well," Jiraiya clapped his hands, "I suggest we give chase." The sage took off at a brisk pace, and so did Shikamaru. "While we try to keep up, we could talk."
"Jiraiya, was this planned?" Shikamaru asked.
"Naruto said your wife was calling in a favor," the sage shrugged, "She thought maybe you'd be able to open up more man to man, without her present."
"Why not send Naruto?"
"He would have come, but apparently," he huffed, "Naruto has his own crisis to deal with; partially why Tsuande and I are on our way home."
What trouble has he gotten himself into now? While Naruto was a good leader, especially in the field, Shikamaru had usually been the brains advising him. He also attracts danger like a lightning rod. "What kind of crisis?"
"Someone extremely powerful is stalking Hinata," Jiraiya explained as they trudged along.
"Since when?" The gears in Shikamaru's head began grinding at the unexpected input. Someone stalking Hinata was as unlikely as someone stalking Temari. Things can't be related, can they?
"A few months now," Jiraiya replied.
"Ji-Jiraiya," he stammered and slowed.
"Yes, son?" the sage slowed his own pace to match him.
"How powerful?"
"Able to do space-time jutsu, maybe some other ridiculous stuff," he shrugged.
"Could someone that strong…" Shikamaru weighed his words, "… destabilize the moon's orbit?"
"Kid," Jiraiya crossed his arms, "I've lived through three of the four great Shinobi Wars," he winked, "I've seen shit that defies all logic and expectation so many times over that nothing surprises me." He crossed his arms, "So, slap my ass and call me Sarutobi; you're telling me the moon is falling?"
"Well… yeah," Shikamaru sounded as dumb as the idea sounded preposterous.
"So, the sky is falling," Jiraiya rubbed his chin in amusement, "No wonder the trail feels heavy; you've got the fucking weight of the world on your shoulders – literally!" He tilted his head, "How long has it been going on?"
"A few months, around August… my god, you think they are related?"
"Hinata's stalker sent his first letter in August," Jiraiya spoke with a curious twinkle in his eye, "You never believed in coincidence."
"No," Shikamaru shook his head, "Who'd be dumb enough to stalk Hinata?"
"I don't know, but someone either real brave, real strong, or real stupid."
"Those three aren't mutually exclusive," Shikamaru grinned.
"No, they aren't, but enough about the end of the world," Jiraiya smiled, "What's the issue with you and your lady? She holding out?"
"No, hell no!" he protested.
"Performance issues? Even young men get problems. I know several doctors that are discrete."
"Hell no!" he protested at first, "At least, not that kind of performance issue…"
"Talk to me son," Jiraiya put his hands in his pocket as they continued at a brisk walk, "we got a few hours."
"Jiraiya…" talking to him was awkward. Shikamaru hadn't been close to him like Naruto or Lord Fourth. On the other hand, he needed someone to talk to, and Dad, Naruto, and Asuma weren't here. "… after Temari was wounded… after we lost the baby…"
"Most men don't blame themselves for their wife miscarrying" he stared thoughtfully, "Why do you?"
The question hit Shikamaru worse than Pain's bladed rods had when he drove them through his thighs. "I…"
"It's okay son, we're both men here, and this place is safe. Let it out."
"…I…" Shikamaru began to sob, "I was the one who couldn't keep it in his pants in a war zone!" Shikamaru buried his face in his hands. "I used the stupid, 'We might die tomorrow, so why hold back,' excuse!" Shikamaru let hot tar spill from his eyes and nose, "And then I let her go into danger and nearly get killed!"
"Neither of you knew she was pregnant, and you don't know if that injury was the end of it or not, either," Jiraiya put an arm over Shikamaru's shoulder. "Madara could have just as easily caused it from what the after-mission report read."
"But I put her in that position!" Shikamaru screeched.
"Shikamaru, would you have taken her into danger had you known?"
"NO!"
"Good, then you can forgive yourself; you're not a monster," Jiraiya said.
"How the hell can you say that?!"
"Because, you would have done things differently." Jiraiya raised a finger, "Context is everything, Shikamaru. You're afraid if you impregnate your wife again, she'll die as a result."
Shikamaru couldn't even speak the reply, he just nodded clumsily. "It's the most irrational thing I've ever felt."
"Nothing irrational about being worried about your lover," Jiraiya shook his head as they resumed walking. "Tsunade still has nightmares that I died." He eyed Shikamaru, "One man to another, do you want to have children?"
"Yes," he replied, "I have a duty as the sole surviving male heir of my clan."
"Not what I asked," Jiraiya shot up a finger, "I asked if you want to have children."
Shikamaru mulled the thought, closing his eyes as they continued to walk. "Yes," he said opening his eyes, "I do." He turned to stare Jiraiya in the face, "And not just because it is expected of me!"
"Why then?" Jiraiya asked.
"Because I want to make my wife happy," he stared up the trail in the distance. "Because I want to know what could have been, what still could be. Because…" he choked.
"Yes?" Jiraiya stared with his head tilted.
"Because after all the awful things I've seen and done, I want hope that there actually is a future at the end of this," he paused, "assuming we can find a way to stop the moon from falling."
"Well, one crisis at a time," Jiraiya said, patting him on the back. "When we get back, you might want to schedule a session with my wife or Sakura. Maybe scheduling couple's therapy."
"Why with them?" Shikamaru asked.
"They are among the precious few we have trained in mental health issues," Jiraiya replied. Before Shikamaru could say anything, the elder sage spoke, "There is no shame in admitting having issues, Shikamaru. You went through a very painful trauma and have lived with the aftermath ever since."
"How…" Shikamaru dipped his head and shook it side to side, "… how is she so much better than I am? I wasn't injured!"
"Oh, you were," Jiraiya again put a hand on his back, "and she's not holding it together as well as she presents." Shikamaru shivered at the revelation. "Shikamaru, she's worried sick about you more often than not. Part of the reason she started retraining as hard as she has been was from fear of losing you."
"Losing me, how?" Shikamaru couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Tell me if you heard this one," Jiraiya took his hand from his back, "A man nearly loses someone he loves – maybe she almost dies, maybe she gets addicted, or maybe she runs away from the world because of the terrible things she's seen. He blames himself for her predicament, justified or not, but, he's clueless what to do. So, he runs away, maybe he falls into the same self-destructive pattern because he lives with the guilt that he couldn't fix what was wrong."
"You and Tsunade," Shikamaru had heard this story.
"Shikamaru, had I truly been a man about it, had I stuck things out, had I had someone else to go to with our issues…"
"Yeah?" Shikamaru eyed him with concern.
"Well, maybe Tsunade and I wouldn't have needed thirty years to get married," he shrugged, "Maybe Yahiko and Nagato would still be alive and not just Konan."
"Life is full of regrets," Shikamaru said. "So, how did you two get over it?"
"Well, for one," he shook his head, "we both faced a series of crises that we couldn't just run away from, namely Naruto," he chuckled.
"Naruto?"
"I assume you know the story of how Kushina was gravely injured by Obito the night Naruto was born?" Shikamaru replied with a nod. "Minato confronted Tsunade, reminding her of her abilities and responsibility as a medical-nin. She overcame her fear of blood and saved Kushina and probably the village as a result."
"What about you?" Shikamaru asked, curious.
"Same story, I just came in a few chapters later. You remember your first mission?"
"How could I forget?" Shikamaru had broke his collarbone and right arm and spent several weeks in a sling as a result. "Hell, you were with us!"
"Then you know the story about what happened to Kushina, Naruto, and Hinata afterwards, right?"
"I know about Nine-Tails and how it came to be split between Naruto and Hinata, yes," he confirmed.
"What you probably didn't know was what a close call it was," Jiraiya smirked as he did when retelling a story.
"How close?" Shikamaru slowed his pace, "I knew something was off in Kushina's health for a long time, but I remember… after she got out of the hospital, she was like a new person."
"The short version of the story," Jiraiya beckoned him along, "that night when Nine-Tails was broken apart the first time, Tsunade and Minato had to seal part of him in Kushina to patch the injury to her Chakra network. It was never meant to be a long-term solution, and Kushina spent twelve years with a screwed-up chakra network and ill-health as a result."
"How does this apply to me?" Shikamaru asked. The story was interesting, but he preferred to be to the point.
"That patch job gradually started to fail," Jiraiya explained. "After Obito attacked on that first mission, the stress of Naruto and Hinata being lost and injured caused the seal holding Kushina together to fail. Nine-Tails' toxic chakra began poisoning Kushina as well. We had to rapidly transfer Nine-Tails and repair the damaged chakra node if we were to have any chance of saving her – which wasn't high. Because Naruto and Hinata were both linked to Nine-Tails, they both were at considerable risk as well."
Jiraiya paused the story, gauging Shikamaru's reaction. "Go on," Shikamaru nodded.
"No one had done a chakra node repair in well over a hundred years, and three lives were hanging in the balance," Jiraiya shrugged, "after having her brother and her prior lover die so close to her, I suppose I couldn't blame her for having a nervous breakdown."
"But… Naruto, Hinata, and Lord Fifth all survived…" Shikamaru added, confused.
Jiraiya smirked, "I found her in her office, sobbing over how Kushina would die and it would be her fault if she botched the procedure. I faced a choice," he closed his eyes as if seeing the moment. "I could keep my trap shut, probably saving me the hassle of Tsunade kicking my ass. Or, I could remind her that if she did nothing, Kushina would die regardless. She'd probably kick my ass for putting that responsibility on her."
"Did she kick your ass afterwards?" Shikamaru asked.
"Heh," Jiraiya grinned, "worse, she finally realized she loved me!" he winked. "Three years of marriage, a set of twins, and now a set of triplets later; I'd like to think it was the right call." They continued to walk, "It had its price. It meant I had to stop being something I was, and grow into something else entirely." He stared thoughtfully, "Tell me Shikamaru, do you regret getting married?"
"No," Shikamaru responded before Jiraiya's lips had closed.
"If you had to do it all over, right to here, would you?"
"Yes," Shikamaru felt conviction return that he'd feared lost.
"Then I'm guessing you two have your own crisis to confront," Jiraiya looked up toward the rising moon, "much sooner than later." The two of them redoubled their speed as the moon stared down at them.
"Yeah, I guess so," Shikamaru stared up and the moon, knowing it was getting closer by the minutes. "Wait a sec… TRIPLETS?!" he chased after Jiraiya as they ran along.
Hinata woke in the warm, heavenly embrace of Naruto's arms. At first, she thought she was still dreaming, but a check of her watch confirmed it was 1609. Despite feeling mentally groggy, the rest of her was mostly refreshed after the much-needed sleep cycle. She surveyed her surroundings: at some point, Naruto had ditched his jacket, boots and pants – leaving only his thin green t-shirt and boxers.
As she regained her senses, overwhelming heat blanketed her body. Hinata hadn't remembered taking off her scrub pants during her nap, but she could feel the smoothness of her high thread count sheets around her now bare legs. She was also still wearing her scrub top, the armored jacket once belonging to Naruto, and her underwear.
As she shifted to make herself more comfortable, Hinata's hands found purchase on his sculpted chest. No man living should have a right to be shaped like this! She had seen his body and touched it many times before. Just like the past, the sheer presence of him was making her burn up. Hinata's Byakugan activated, and she admired every curve and feature of his body as clearly as if he was naked. Oh gods!
The heat proved too much; Hinata's hand frantically unbuttoned the armored flap and took down the zipper of the armored jacket. Far from cooling things, the sensation of clothing loosening made her pant hungrily, and the telltale sensation of moisture in her core reminded her that she had him alone to herself.
Hinata clamped her eyes closed in embarrassment, suppressing her Byakugan – he didn't even have to try. They hadn't been truly intimate in months. In the weeks leading to boards, Hinata hadn't so much as pleasured herself. Now, his mere presence left her panties moist, and she was horny for more. Boy, you make me a fool, ya know!
Hinata's hands slid over his chest, eliciting a sleeping grin from her fiancé. She needed satisfaction, and she needed it now. Hinata freed a hand and began tugging down her now moistened panties. The rush of cooler air on her ass and womanhood sent ripples of goosebumps up and down her body, and she hugged herself to Naruto's shaped form. Well, that didn't help! She stared down at him, knowing exactly what would cure her need. Delayed gratification is so overrated at times like this!
Her hands traced up and down his chest and stomach in several long, loving strokes, making his grin spread even wider than before. "N-Naruto-kun…"
"Mmmmm…mmmmm…" he moaned.
Hinata's right hand felt the elastic of his waistband, "Please," her hand slid beneath the band of confining material. Her fingers traced along the inner curve of his hip, through thin curls of hair until she found the naughty bit of anatomy she'd hungrily lusted for, "Please…"
"P-Please?" Naruto mouthed a confused response more than spoke it. Nevertheless, his manhood seemed much less confused as it hardened to steel.
Hinata's fingers tightened along the length of his thoroughly erect penis. Logic dictated that she stop before things went any further. Who the hell are you kidding?! You've wanted this for months! "Please," she stroked his length as she felt herself shiver, "please!" she whispered desperately. She was a wild animal in heat, and he possessed the one and only thing that would satisfy her.
"Please?" his voice became more distinct, though still confused.
"Please," Hinata's other hand began tugging at his boxers as her right refused to stop pumping him.
"Please?" his grin widened as shorts slid down his hips and his starring member sprang free of the confining material. His hips moved with her motion.
"Naruto-kun," she said with cheeks burning in embarrassment, "Please! Please!" she stroked him more.
"Please?" he gasped breathless as his eyes opened wide. "H-Hinata?!"
"Please…" the walls of logic collapsed as the words escaped her mouth, crude and unfiltered, "… Fuck me! PLEASE!"
Naruto stared wide-eyed; even Hinata scarcely believed she'd said the words. So shocked was she, that Hinata didn't register Naruto shuffling off his boxers, nor did she register her panties being torn off, material shredding like an over-inflated ballon. Freed of confinement, sprawled out with her legs apart, and she felt the familiar pressure of him between her legs, sliding into her hot, soaked channel. "HAAAHHHAAAAAAAHHHH!" Hinata reveled in everything she'd been missing for months.
Naruto dreamed of Hinata, as he usually did. Sometimes she was shy, needing him to guide her to her joyous pleasure. Other times, she'd be forward and teach him new erotic lessons she'd learned from Make Out Tactics. In all dreams, she was loving as she was now. The heat of his dream lover woke him several times, feverish from the heat trapped by his clothing. Mostly still asleep, he'd peeled away his jacket, his pants, and his boots before settling his head back on the soft, heavenly cloud to indulge further. Tonight's dream was pleasurable enough that the hands massaging his chest and stomach could have been real.
Floating in the void, he heard her call his name, "N-Naruto-kun…" cute, shy as she'd always been.
Being suspended in the dreamscape was too much to let go. The best sounds Naruto could form were a primal, "Mmmmm…mmmmm…"
Her silk-smooth hands traced down his body. "Please…" the innocuous words slipped into his ear, pleading, nervous, and having the slightest hint of teasing as the hand slipped past his defenses. Her soft fingers encased his cock as it sprang to life at the unexpected, friendly company. Hinata's voice beckoned again, "Please…"
"Please?" the layers of sleep began receding as his lips moved dreamily.
Her grasp became stronger, "Please," she stroked him back and forth, "Please!" she begged.
"Please?" Naruto struggled to understand what was happening as dream and reality collided.
"Please," Naruto sensed the layer confining him pull away. All the while, Hinata's hand continued pumping him back and forth. His body remembered what he was supposed to be doing, and hips began thrusting with her playful teasing.
"Please?" Naruto's lips tightened. He was helpless to her advances, and he enjoyed every second of it.
"Naruto-kun… Please! Please!" her pleading mews became desperate, and the pressure of the hand had finally shaken him to full wakefulness.
"Please?" Naruto gasped as his eyes popped open, confirming the sweet dream had been anything but a dream. His boxers were already down to his knees and her panties were also at half-staff. I need to be sure! "Hinata?!"
"Please…" she spoke with eyes wide and cheeks reddening, "…Fuck me! PLEASE!"
Naruto froze momentarily at the crude request, not believing the words had come from her mouth. She did say, "Please!" It would be impolite to deny such a kindly worded request! It was all Naruto needed as he shed his boxers the rest of the way down his legs like they were on fire. His left hand grasped her errant panties, and a devious bit of Tailed-Beast chakra summoned itself to his hand. Hinata's underwear shredded like tissue confetti, and Naruto gleefully tossed the shreds of fabric up and over his shoulder as he rolled Hinata to her back.
Hinata didn't wait to splay open her legs, and he didn't wait to bury himself inside her. Momentary panic gripped Naruto as his thrust hit home: he hadn't pleasured her, and he was not wearing protection, either. Before he could complete his first thrust, the hot, velvety moisture of her channel assured him that she was already ready as he slid in with barely any resistance. As he pulled back to thrust again, he remembered Hinata let slip that she'd changed to injectable contraceptives. Good for three months, and you had it injected only a few days ago! I have the best fiancé ever!
Naruto's head began spinning and his eyes rolled back in his head. He lost himself in how good sharing the moment felt as her walls tugged at him, begging him to release. Not so fast! We're not even fully undressed yet! Hinata tugged at his t-shirt; Naruto hunched forward to help her pry it away. Soon, he was naked as the day he was born and not in the least ashamed of his nudity.
Hinata's remaining garments were annoyingly more persistent as Hinata awkwardly struggled to slip from the weight of her armored jacket and scrub top. It worked once, why not again? "Here," Naruto grabbed the material of the scrub top over her stomach, "let me help you with that!" Naruto again summoned Tailed-Beast Chakra, and the scrub top and bra beneath split down the middle, leaving the jacket intact. His hips hadn't even stopped moving back and forth as he continued to thrust lovingly inside her.
"Naruto!" Hinata grasped the flaps now created by the destroyed clothing and tugged; her impressive breasts sprang loose like flowers in bloom. "You fiend!" despite the malediction, Hinata's legs tightened around his hips and pulled him in deeper. Hinata drove her head back into the pillow and moaned as her hands massaged her ample breasts.
"I've been called worse!" he laughed as playfully thrust back and forth. Hinata writhed in pleasure as his arm pulled her body up and free from what remained of her clothing.
"You owe me…AHHH!" she spasmed around him, "… A new scrub top!" Hinata bit him on the collarbone. Hot breath and the sensation of her teeth on his shoulder made his dick twitch inside her, but he held on even as her fingernails scratched up and down his back and shoulders.
"And a new bra!" he took her ear in between his lips, nibbling and sucking. "And new panties!" he thrust with a bit more conviction, feeling control slipping away. "Hell, let's just take you lingerie shopping," his hot breath spilled into her ear as he traced it with his tongue, "I saw some new designs you should try out!"
Hinata fell backwards in hysterics. Laughter punctuated a mild scream as her hips bucked up and down with his. Naruto groaned as his fingernails dug into the sheets and his seed released. Naruto panted as he felt himself going soft within her. Naruto weighed using his reserves of regenerative chakra to extend things or go again, but he resisted the urge. The moment had been perfect, one they would talk about for some time, and he didn't need to drag it out. There will be time for that later!
"Gods," Hinata huffed, hands again massaging her breasts, "I've missed that!" Her walls clamped around him in aftershock.
"So did I!" Naruto waited a moment before he slipped from her body and leaned down to kiss her breasts. Hinata raked her fingers through his hair and hugged his body to hers as she let him bury his face in her chest.
"Is…" Hinata giggled, "… there a chance of a repeat performance tonight?" She again stroked his hair, "Dr. Hyūga is in dire need of stress relief," she rubbed the back of his head, "and this new treatment shows promise!"
Naruto became hard again at her sweet seduction. Babe, you make this too easy, ya know! "I think," he kissed and sucked at her breasts, "it might warrant clinical trials, lots and lots of trials!"
"I'm not letting you get away again," she sighed dreamily as she massaged his scalp and shoulders. "I don't give a damn about appearance or any of that crap!"
"Get away?" he paused feasting on her breasts and stared up at her.
"You moving out," she stroked his hair, "was the worst decision we've made as a couple."
"We're not married," he reminded her.
"That never stopped Asuma or Kurenei." Hinata began to chuckle, "Our parents most certainly didn't wait, either!"
Naruto's parents had lived together since they were sixteen, and they hadn't been married until they were nineteen. Presumably, they hadn't slept in separate beds for years on end. While his parents never disapproved of him sleeping with Hinata, they had made it clear that he was not to make them grandparents. Until recently. "Hinata, my parents are cool with it, and yours at least don't seem to mind…" Her hand on his lips ended his words.
"Naruto," she stared with her hypnotic eyes, "I'm being stalked by someone who could snatch me from my bed in the middle of the night, and no one would know anything about it until after it was all over." Her lip quivered as she continued, "Presumably, he wants to do to me what you just did, except I'll be crying for him to 'Please stop!'"
The words shook Naruto to his core, "My god…" The thought of anyone taking Hinata away was bad enough. The thought of anyone violating her physically or emotionally took Naruto to a place deeper and darker than any hole in Blood Prison.
Hinata reaffirmed her grip around him. "So, if you're worried it's going to look like you're taking advantage of me or my situation, don't!" Gentle tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, "This is the first time in months that I've actually felt safe from everything!"
Kyuubi's words from last night haunted Naruto. Not the grand gestures, but the little things. There wasn't a Ten-Tailed Beast to be destroyed or an army of zetsu creatures to be repelled. Right now, the only thing that mattered was protecting Hinata – she didn't deserve this. "I'm sorry, love," Naruto traced away her tears, "I'm treating this too much like a mission and not enough like an, 'Us,' problem." If it means spending the night with you in your bed, I'd call it a bonus!
"Does that mean," she bit her lip, "you'll be staying?"
"Yes!"
"How long?" she asked.
"The duration."
"And after that?" she asked.
"After," he traced one of her perky nipples with his finger, and she shuddered, "you and I have to have a serious talk about a wedding, young lady!" Naruto giggled.
"I… I'm here right now!" Hinata squirmed and also giggled, "Why don't we talk right now!"
"Okay," he went for double jeopardy, kissing her nipple then gently tracing it with his tongue, "We already know where; how about when?"
"The cherry blossom season…" she moaned, "… always seemed most romantic!"
Naruto paused his teasing, "Hinata, that's like, only a few months from now."
"I didn't say it had to be this spring; I'd be willing to wait until the next year, silly," she tapped his nose. "After all, it's sure to be a big event: two war heroes, a future Hokage marrying a princess."
"In the meantime?" he asked, tilting his head.
"In the meantime, there is a lot to do," Hinata took his hands and guided them over her breasts, "For one, I need you to protect the family assets."
He massaged her breasts, "What fine assets they are!"
Hinata again bit her lip and grinned, "Thanks," she caressed the side of his cheek. "For two, we need to resolve this issue with Neji and Tenten."
"Damn," Naruto had put the situation out of his mind, "I truly forgot about that one!"
"I'm naming you as my advisor," her legs slithered around him, "until we are officially married. It will give me any excuse I need to keep you around."
"Do you sleep with your advisors normally?" he smirked.
"Only ones that impress me," she tickled his ear in response. "We're also going to have to find time to plan our wedding, and…"
"And?" Naruto turned a side eye toward her.
"And, we're going to have to start planning for babies, Naruto," she turned pink. "Both making them and what comes after."
"That might be a complication, Hinata," Naruto felt his back tighten, "I'm still kind of like Akane's babysitter a few days a week."
"Then we'll care for her here," Hinata continued, "We can keep her in the nursery; it will be good practice for me – for us." She stared with her large purple eyes, "Naruto, are you… okay with all of this?"
"Yes," he said without reservation.
"Including the part about having babies… I know it's a big step!"
"Yes," Naruto nodded to reassure her, "and I know about the expectation of you being pregnant within a year of us being married." He stared long and hard, "Hinata, what about you; this puts all that medical-nin training on the shelf, doesn't it?"
"I can still be a medical-nin," she raised a finger, "and I only ever planned on practicing in the clinic or hospital part time. Don't think I'm going to foist raising our children off on a nanny."
"You know, our babies will have at least four grandparents wanting to spend time with them."
"And let them, but just don't let them become a replacement for us," she said. "Um…" she again turned pink at her cheeks, "… Naruto… another thing…"
"Go on," he brought himself nose to nose with Hinata.
"From now on… no protection, other than my injected contraceptives."
Naruto blinked twice, "Are you… sure about that?!"
Hinata again turned deeper red and shrunk in on herself, "I mean," Hinata seamlessly grabbed him by the shoulders and rolled him onto his back. As Naruto came to rest sprawled out, Hinata grasped his length in her soft hand, "the whole point of switching to the injection was so that we could do away with all the secondary measures."
"And look where that got Neji and Tenten," he reminded, voice quivering as she fondled his penis.
"For one, the injection is a lot more reliable than the patch," she replied.
"For two?" he asked,
"For two," a cool pointer finger traced down his scrotum between his balls, "if something went wrong and it was yours, I'd be prepared to have it. No reservations." Naruto's eyes clamped closed, and he chewed down on his bottom lip at her lustful taunts. "Tell me," she whispered to his ear like a seductress, "do you feel the same? If we had an accident right now…"
"Hey, hey!" he placed a finger on her lips, "Yes, if we had an accident right now, I'd be a man about it!" Hinata snatched the finger and began to suckle it. Gods, I'm helpless and she knows it!
"If that is the case," Hinata straddled over his hips and pressed herself down on him, "then let's move onto the second trial!"
Naruto drove his head back into the mattress as his hips greeted Hinata's thrust. "Doctor Hyūga, I seem to be having side effects from treatment!" Naruto giggled as his hands began tracing up and down from her thighs, her butt, her sides, and her breasts.
"Please…" she gasped breathless, "… described it in great detail!"
"Cold sweat," his head jerked side to side as he approached his limit, "rapid heartbeat…" Naruto huffed, "… and an uncontrollable rise in libido!" Naruto twitched inside her and breathlessly mouthed "Oh god, oh god…" repeatedly as he came.
"Good!" Hinata strained to not yell, "Good!" The smile carving itself into her face betrayed otherworldly bliss, "Very, very, good!" she laughed as she constricted around him. "I definitely see promise in doing this going forward!" Hinata refused to remove herself from him as she came down off the blissful high. "N-Naruto?" she tapped her index fingers like she did as a child.
"You're too cute when you do that, babe," Naruto's hands moved to massage her butt, "What's up?"
"I… I want you to ask your mom to activate me out of reserve status, at least until we take down whomever is stalking me."
Naruto half-turned his head, not pausing his hands on her rump, "Dare I ask, why?"
"Naruto, I don't make a good damsel in distress," she smiled, grinding against his hips as he kneaded her fine rear end. "I meant what I said about wanting you near me, that includes if you get sent on a mission or some other assignment."
"That will be a fun conversation," Naruto squirmed, "but Hinata…"
"Yes?" she continued to egg him on; unfortunately, time was not a friend.
"While I could do this all night," he grinned, "if we don't at least rinse off soon, we're going to go to our meeting smelling like sex."
Hinata gave a coy smirk, "I hate when you talk sense." She leaned over, nose to nose, and kissed him, "It's very unbecoming of you." She smirked, her lips barely separated from his, "We rinse off now and have bath time together after the meeting?"
"I'm… a very, very dirty boy, ya know!" he laughed as his heart fluttered.
"Filthy!" she kissed him one last time before they separated.
Author's notes: Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. Miracle of miracles, I was able to get this out faster than expected.
I owe credit to fellow author Water Rolls for inspiring Naruto's creative use of chakra in removing stubborn bits of clothing. If you want to view the source material, please check out Homecoming by Water Rolls. It is an excellently written NaruHina story.
For anyone reading at time of publication, I'll be posting a poll regarding a character's fate to my FFN profile. It will contain minor spoilers. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Otherwise, thank you again for reading, I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you next chapter. Stay healthy and stay safe, wherever you are in the world.
Version history: totally forgot to include Shikamaru's reaction to the news of triplets in the original! My apologies!
