Chapter 25: The Abduction

"We all have a Monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind."

― Douglas Preston, The Monster of Florence

Naruto & Hinata-Uzumaki Apartment

"People stealing corpses?" Naruto begins.

Hinata nods, sits up just slightly. "It's not so strange if we consider Orochimaru and the experiments he's done, continues to do even more so nowadays. It could be one person doing this or a group of people, Jiraiya has been looking into it."

Naruto hums, adjusts his body so he can look at her properly. "I assume whoever it could be is connected to the Akatsuki. I've overheard Pervy-Sage say that he's lost contact with the Two Tails jinchuriki Yugito a few months ago."

Hinata breathes out slowly, hates the way her chest tightens, an ache settling into her stomach like stones that eventually, Naruto will be their prime target.

Naruto puts her fingers under her chin drawing lilac back to azure.

"I've seen that look enough times to know you're thinking too hard, how about I change that?!"

A smile curves up the edge of her lips.

"Oh? And just how do you plan to do that?"

His fingers thread the ends of her shirt in response and her breath hitches when he casually tugs her shirt off and away, fingers exploring underneath her breasts before moving to below to skim the edge of her panties, blush rising to her face in a slow wave of scarlet when his thumb presses to the center. Naruto grins, features gaining a hooded look, Hinata covering a moan by pressing her face into one of his pillows.

"Wait, this...this is hardly fair! I shouldn't be the only one getting undressed!" Hinata pants out, lightly pulls his hands away.

Naruto blinks owlishly, smirk rising up, shifting back tossing his shirt off and pants.

Cerulean eyes her and then around his room, nods to himself.

"We should take this to your futon or one of us is going to roll of this bed and ruin the moment."

He scoops Hinata up into his arms, Hinata absently wrapping her legs around him to steady herself, feels the beginnings of his erection pressed this close to him. She doesn't miss the way he double checks his pants pocket before moving them, the flash of black and gold foils he puts between his teeth that makes her cheeks burn anew.

'Condoms.'

Naruto gently lies her down upon her futon, Hinata's toes curling as he hovers over her.

Her voice crackles, all her lessons with Hashijimi, Lady Natsu, and the rest of the Elders go blank as her fingers roam along his chest downward. "During your travels with Jiraiya...well I guess knowing him, I'm sure you visited many red-light districts and brothels."

Naruto wrinkles his nose at the mention of him, shrugs. "Yeah, for his intel at times. But Pervy-Sage is always into old hags around Granny's age, I always waited back at the hotels or went to a nearby restaurant to pass the time until he was done."

Azure eyes focus on lilac, fingers clasping with hers. "I only want you Hinata."

Hinata leans forward to kiss him, pulls back with a smile shifting herself under him.

"I'm...ready." She whispers.

He drops a kiss to the pulse point of her neck leaning back down into her, looks back up at her before snapping her bra off, draws each of her nipples into the warm caverns of mouth eliciting gasp after gasp. She murmurs out his name, fingers skimming at his boxers before tugging the fabric half down, member standing at alert.

She thumbs at the head of his pre-cum hesitantly, spurred on by his curse and hiss lowering himself closer to her touch.

Hinata turns over slightly before he can thumb the edge of her panties to fully pull them down.

"Wait, I want to do it."

She makes a show of slowly pulling them off inch by inch, goosebumps rippling across her skin once fully exposed.

'You'll be his sacrifice now; nothing more, nothing less. And as the jinchuriki's latest gift, he'll be free to do whatever he pleases with your body if he decides to keep you around once you come of age Lady Hinata.' An Elder's voice buzzes in her ear like a fly of old lessons, pushing it away.

No, he's Naruto. Her boyfriend and now lover.

Her fingers reach up to skim at his cheeks.

"I've heard the first time...hurts." Hinata swallows, tries and fails not to fidget.

She squeezes her eyes shut as Naruto tears at a packet, rolls the condom on and positions himself.

Crimson flashes in his eyes as his hands stretch her legs open.

"I'll go slow. Pinch me, hell, jab me with your gentle fist if it hurts too much." He instructs.

Hinata laughs lightly, breath stifling feeling his girth press in. The first thrust is an avalanche of pain, nails digging into Naruto's back as he freezes in place.

She shifts her position, and he slides in deeper.

"I'm okay...don't stop." Hinata breathes out, pearl eyes opening a fraction to look at him.

Naruto studies her back, moves again and she gasps. The second time feels akin to a sting, the third time a light squeeze.

By his fourth thrust he's built a tangible rhythm, Hinata murmuring out his name, Naruto groaning out her own.

Sweat and skin slap and meet, pressure building up.

Hinata tightens her legs around him just as her body locks up in a rush of pleasure, head falling back in a long moan. Her fingers thread into Naruto's hair, rhythm temporarily broken by her release.

"Fuck!" He growls, his lips find hers again, thrusts one more round before she feels her insides warm.

A moment later he slides out of her, rolls and ties off the condom tossing into the nearby bin, falls to his side to look at her. Hinata smiles dazedly in return, fingers tracing at where she knows she's left scratch marks.

"I'm going to be sore in the morning." She muses while leaning back into his chest. He nibbles at her neck, and she feels the stirrings of his erection rising up again as their eyes meet once more.

'Ah, so that's why he brought the whole packet.'

Later when they're both sated and full, Naruto wakens to fading moonlight, sunrise tinging a violet sky in wisps of pinks and reds.

Breakfast needs to be made; they both have things to do today.

Hinata curls her arms around him to his stomach as he starts to sit up, breasts openly touching at his back.

"Stay." She whispers softly, voice still heavy with sleep.

Distantly, he recalls that he's supposed to meet with Kakashi-sensei and Sakura later this morning.

"You're going to make me late y'know!" Naruto half groans even as he slips her under him, bodies connecting again like puzzle pieces.

Hinata giggles.

"I'll make sure to take responsibility."

Kakashi, Naruto, & Sakura- Training Ground 3

Kakashi says nothing as Naruto walks up an hour late to the grounds, onigiri in hand, looks right past him to wave and nod at Sakura. He's had plenty of time to figure out how to greet him since his departure and his initial encounter with Hinata, but for now, stays quiet.

"Geez, you could've at least sent a messenger toad or bird to say you were running late! What held you up; did you forget to set your alarm?" Sakura questions with a cross of her arms.

Naruto beams in return, shrugs by way of answer.

Sakura's eyes narrow until they pinpoint on a faint plum colored bruise to his neck, one that sticks out like a sore on his tan skin. It leads to what she thinks is a line of scratch marks down his back as he adjusts his jacket.

And instantly, she knows.

Heat enflames her cheeks, she's seen marks like these in newlyweds, in civilian couples just a few years older than them and even a few shinobi just returning back from missions back to their loved ones. People finally out from under their parent's watchful eyes to explore each other's bodies...

Naruto follows her line of sight, grin slipping some. "Hmm, guess Hinata didn't fully heal every mark she left since we were both in a rush y'know!"

Sakura shakes her head, ribs him gently while burying her own envy that she may never get to experience such things with Sasuke, if he's even thought about her once when he's crossed her mind far too often than she would like to admit aloud.

"Ugh, I don't need the details! Geez, just plan it better, especially if you know you have places to be the next day!" She mutters.

Naruto fake pouts. "It wasn't me! Hinata made the suggestion, and I couldn't say no to her!"

'Highly doubt that.' Sakura rolls her eyes.

She'd give him a spiel on sexual health knowing how many men and women she's had to treat for easily preventable infections in just these past few months, though knowing who his mentor was these past few years, Naruto won't need it and surely doesn't want to hear it from her when Jiraiya probably gave him an explicit version.

"So, how have you been? I heard you've done some mentoring/training under both Anko and Granny!" Naruto mentions as he properly plops down into the grass beside her.

Viridian flashes between both men, he hasn't looked Kakashi-sensei's way even once so far before tacking on a warm smile.

"Yes, but I'm sure it doesn't compare to the stories Hinata told me of you two's travels and all that you've done in terms of training." Sakura volleys back in return.

Naruto shrugs. "I've seen and learned a lot."

Cerulean skirts back to Kakashi then as he finishes his remark, Sakura turning to peer at him as well.

She raises a hand as their silence turns unnerving, only the billow of wind through the trees providing some form of noise. There's no way they can function as a proper team without trust in each other.

"So, will one of you explain what's causing this tension between the two of you? It's not in relation to you being a jinchuriki; is it?" Sakura questions, eyes Naruto more than Kakashi for an explanation.

Naruto snorts, leans his head against his palm. "My Father was Kakashi-sensei's teacher. I'm pretty sure he never planned on telling me, but I found out anyways via doing my own research."

Sakura stiffens, she'd imagined, hoped, that the cause of his foul mood was something more innocent in nature like one of his favorite instant ramen cups going missing from his cupboards or one of his plants having dried out in his absence.

No, like most things Naruto deals with, this is far darker in nature.

Her gaze turns back to Kakashi only to see him in a deep bow, tips of his silver locks brushing against blades of grass and dirt.

"Naruto. I know keeping the presence...the presence Minato-sensei had in my life from you wasn't right, but you and I both know there were strict orders to limit discussion of him to only when necessary. It doesn't make up for the past, but I promise to be honest with you moving forward."

Naruto blows out a low breath.

Apologies.

He's been on the receiving end of so many since his return, extra coupons or discounts at the markets to lavish gifts of colognes, clothes, exotic plants, and enough ryo to carry him and Hinata into early adulthood to make up for years of terrible sacrificial gifts.

And while he's thankful to Granny for the changes, it doesn't change the fact that at the end of the day he's still Konoha's jinchuriki and that Hinata is still considered a 'present' in the eyes of Tsunade's many advisors.

"It's fine, that's all I've really wanted. For people to just be truthful with me and believe I'm not just a demon." Naruto mutters as Kakashi raises his head.

His trust is fractured, though not in so many pieces it can't be repaired Kakashi decides as he fishes out two bells.

Sakura's lips quirk up slightly, nods towards them.

"Don't tell me you called us out here to do the Bell Test all over again?"

Kakashi nods, smile rising beneath his mask.

"Time flies; doesn't it? It's been roughly 3 years about now since we first conducted the Bell Test when you were fresh graduates from the Academy. Though Sasuke is unfortunately not here with us to join in on this re-test, I still want to test you two's skills to see if you can manage to get these bells off of me."

Naruto arches a brow as he gets to a standing position, stretches out his arms.

Cobalt glimmers at the challenge, cracks his knuckles.

"Alright, just say when!"

Kakashi raises up his arm slowly as Naruto and Sakura get into position.

He looks between them both, nods, hand flying back down in a blur.

"Go!"

He disappears in a flash into the surrounding forests, swish of the bells jingling the only noise they have to go by.

Sakura twists her gaze to Naruto before he can move, jade eyes narrowing at his sharp look.

"How about I go for ground attacks, and you get him out of hiding in any upper trees or bushes?" She suggests.

Naruto nods without looking at her. "Works for me."

'He does know this is just an exercise, right? I don't plan to attack sensei seriously.' Sakura considers seeing that haze fill Naruto's eyes. She can't be sure it's the same for him, though she isn't about to press him on any ulterior motives he may have.

She balls up her hands, slams one fist down into earth.

"Earth Release: Fissure!"

The ground splits open into a stream of cracks, Sakura weaving through upended branch and dirt to find any sign of silver hair.

Naruto meanwhile takes to the trees, draws in a breath.

"Toad Oil Bullet!"

The gunk shot sticks and melts away at bark and leaves, Naruto forming a path towards the center of the woods.

'Should I use water or wind to find his location? Water will probably push him out of hiding more than wind considering he could hear the whistle of wind coming and adjust his position.' He decides.

"Water release: Toad Oil Vortex!"

Sure enough, this much destruction pulls Kakashi out of a thicket of moss and pine, lightning crackling through his fingers as the spiral of oil and water smashes into the trees beside him.

Still, Naruto grins.

He's in earshot now.

"Risa and Kaoru get into a final fight for Soichiro's love with Risa being the victor! Pervy-Sage wanted to change things up and see how readers would react to having the fan favorite Kaoru lose for once y'know! In despair, Kaoru runs into the arms of Takeshi and is possibly now going to-"

Kakashi stills in place, tries to step back only to see vines curling at his ankles.

Sakura studies him the from the shadows, openly grins. "Any closer and you'll prick yourself on a thorn sensei and experience some annoying gastric pain for the next week or so once it hits your bloodstream.'

Kakashi withers.

'GI upset or spoilers?'

Naruto's describing events that haven't even taken place yet in Make Out Paradise Volume 2, wrenching his eyes shut as Naruto floods the area with his clones shouting out more and more future events.

"And guess what? Eijiro is going to break up with Hazuki!"

"What's wrong sensei? Are you worried that Yuichi is going to die? Don't worry, that's probably not going to happen until the end of this volume or the next one depending on the feedback Pervy-Sage gets from his editors or something y'know!"

Even blocking off his ears, he can still read his lips, gritting his teeth before closing his eyes as well.

When he opens them again, Naruto and Sakura wave the stolen bells in front of him.

Azure studies him flatly, tinged with the slightest bit annoyance that he didn't fully take them on seriously.

"Geez, you don't even know if I was lying or not."

'Knowing you, none of that was a lie.' Kakashi considers, straightens his posture with a nod.

"You two have both come so far, I feel comfortable now after seeing both in action to give you the full details of the mission I've been assigned to."

Naruto leans forward expectantly hearing the seriousness in his voice, frowns as he holds up photos of a destroyed Suna. A majority of the buildings have been battered with bombs, layered in soot, fallen brick, and glass.

His blood freezes seeing Gaara's body being taken away in a clay bird, Kankuro's sweaty shivering form, currently admitted for poisoning.

'Gaara.'

It's started, one by one each jinchuriki to be kidnapped...

"The Akatsuki have gone after Gaara for the One Tails jinchuriki. Suna has formally requested Konoha's backup in rescuing him before the Tailed Beast can be extracted." Kakashi explains forcing him to focus on the here and now.

Hinata's voice rings in the back of his mind. "I can't help but worry, you'll eventually be their target too.'

It's only a matter of when and where they'll try to corner him.

Sakura raises a hand. "Will it just be Naruto and I joining you?"

Kakashi shakes his head. "Not exactly. There will be one more person from Konoha along with Lady Chiyo who volunteered to help guide us through the territories that border the Land of Fire and Wind."

Sakura perks up at this like he expected.

'Lady Chiyo is known globally for her use of poisons! Anko-sensei said the only person whose ever been able to counteract her toxins during the previous wars was Lady Tsunade. I'm sure I can pick up a thing or two having her join us!' Sakura nods to herself eagerly. It will be somewhat like old times minus Sasuke; they'll probably rotate between an assortment of teammates until they can get an official replacement.

Kakashi looks next to Naruto who looks indifferent to the name, instead wants to know which shinobi he's chosen from Konoha.

He blows out a breath, considers how his final choice of a team member will affect the dynamics between them all. His gaze lingers on Naruto knowing his past history in particular with the boy.

Lady Chiyo won't be an issue knowing how she will help them not get lost in the wide dunes and sandstorms that plague the region at this time of year, seems to have an unfortunate familial connection to one of the Akatsuki's members based on the short notes Lady Tsunade gave him.

Naruto meets his gaze back, lips twitching just the faintest bit downward.

"In addition to Lady Chiyo, they'll be one more member joining us: I've requested to have Neji Hyūga aid us in tracking down which members were the one to take Gaara. If we can get to their secret base in time, it's possible we can prevent the extraction from happening."

Neji-Hyūga Compound, Branch Quarters

"I'm surprised that weird sensei of yours is okay with separating you from your team. Then again, those other two aren't all that special without you to help back them up, so I suppose it doesn't matter what they think of this." Hizumi dryly chuckles to himself from behind him as he watches him pack up his gear.

'Does he truly have nothing better to do right now?' Neji wonders.

No, on cloudy days when it rains like this coating everything with a misty, humid air, Hizumi usually slips away from his studies to see what the Branch family is up to no matter how much of a pest he's silently considered.

He stays silent, Hizumi padding closer to him as if he didn't hear him, breath warm in his ear with the scent of gin and sake.

"Really now Neji, are you sure you want to agree to this and not just pass it off to Hoheto or Tokuma? They have just as much, if not more experience in complicated assignments like this. We don't want to risk you being harmed or injured again like before."

He's not the first one to mutter this or outright ask him if he feels ready for this mission despite having officially gone up in rank to jonin for almost a year now. The scars to his chest and arms are forever reminders of his weakness in the Main family's eyes, how close he's brushed with death...

'I already confirmed my agreement.' Neji sends him a clipped nod, Hizumi drawing back seeing his resolute expression this is no longer up for discussion.

Tomorrow morning, he heads out.

His stomach tilts, blowing out a breath to calm this dull ache building within him.

Being a part of Team Kakashi will be...interesting.

Sakura and Kakashi-sensei he can handle being around, but it is Naruto Uzumaki that concerns him the most.

And Hizumi knows this too, the very same boy who was ready to kill him just a few years ago will now be his teammate. He sees the crack in his features and pounces, opalescent gleaming.

"It's good you aren't very concerned about dealing with our resident jinchuriki or I suppose I should call him Naruto to keep up with these new rules. Anyways, I'm sure he's never forgotten how you treated Hinata once she was casted from the clan. Maybe it would be easier if you just asked to investigate this Suna assignment with your usual team, no matter how weak they are in comparison."

He can practically feel the smirk in his tone insulting his teammates and sensei.

Tenten and Lee are perfectly capable shinobi. Sure, Lee may have his eccentricities, though he's one of the best taijutsu users that he knows and Tenten isn't in the realms of being a powerhouse like say Sakura, but she is proficient with a variety of weapons on and off the battlefield that has aided them in assignments.

He trusts them both with his life.

But Hizumi, who has lived the life of a pampered scholar and hasn't even visited the training grounds once would never understand this.

Neji shrugs, finally half-glances to him. "It's a direct order from the Hokage. Even Gai-sensei knows not to question it."

Besides, to replace him, they're receiving Baki and Temari who both know how navigate through the Land of Wind, know exactly what these Akatsuki members look like.

Hizumi simply hums, pearl eyes catching on his old omamori charm between his bag of first aid and a pouch of kunai, scoffs.

"I'm surprised you didn't just throw that away after that disastrous mission. Hinata has been bad luck ever since she was sacrificed."

His hand reaches forward for the gift only for his arm to be jabbed, glare turning hard.

"Hizumi. I trust you have a stack of scrolls and documents that need to be reviewed before the end of the week, don't you? Or maybe you would prefer to be gorging yourself on some sticky toffee cake than bothering me; right? Uncle would hate to know that the ryo he's spent on you having the finest tutors in the Land of Fire is going to waste."

Hizumi bristles, cheeks gaining a hue of red as he stalks away wordlessly back to his room.

Right before sunrise, he leaves without any goodbyes. He nods to Hiroto and Horoka assigned night guard duty this week on the way out. Knows he'll probably be gone for at least a few weeks, maybe into early next month.

"Best of luck Neji." Horoka mutters.

Neji nods in return, they'll need more than just luck if this mission is to be a success.

He bows in greeting to Kakashi and Sakura as he walks up, Naruto studying him with an expression he can't read.

"It's a pleasure to be working with all of you." Neji bows in greeting, Sakura and Kakashi giving light nods in return.

Naruto crosses his arms behind his head, laughs icily.

"Sure. Can't say for myself though the feeling is exactly mutual that this will be a 'pleasure'!"

Kakashi sends Naruto a look that he ignores, azure darkening on pearl, reminds him in his piercing gaze of the very reason behind his ambivalent feelings agreeing to this assignment.

'All is not forgotten or forgiven.'

-x-

Naruto and Hinata doing the deed marks the biggest shift in their relationship! Look forward to more romantic moments between those two with the changes to canon! It's been kind of hard to gauge how people have been feeling about these latest chapters, hope you guys are still enjoying this! I've been having internet/wi-fi issues, it's slowed down my writing some and given me a bit of a headache.

I'm doing rotation writing, so the next story I update will either be The Emperor & I or Mistaken Identity. I've started on both their next chapters, it's just a matter of which one I should focus on.

As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters along with my other NaruHina writings, MHA stuff, and original writings. I've started doing The Couple Of The Month to highlight doing writings for one couple each month. This month's couple is Soul x Maka from Soul Eater! So, feel free to send me any suggestions of a couple you want to see me write about! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!

Otherwise, let me know your thoughts as always!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!