#and to be the one who makes him worse along with choji

[mydream-synopsis]

togame triggers my "i can fix him" urges but endo fuels my "i want to make him worse" temptations.

[brrahbrrahcharacterimagines]

Kidnapped (Jiraiya x Reader) PART 1

MASTERLIST

Pairing: Jiraiya x Reader

Word Count: 1231

Warnings: Violence, mentions of death, blood, kidnapping, etc.

Request: Hello, I really like how you write. Can I make a request please? Jiraiya x reader where reader is Naruto's younger sister, she went on Shikamaru's mission as a medical ninja, ending up seriously injured. since his recovery was slower than that of the others and he was in a coma shikamaru was going to visit her when he found 2 dead anbus raising the alarm They took her from the hospital black zetsu taking her with tobi Jiraiya has the mission to train Naruto and find her - @alyssa-dayne

Summary: Naruto's older sister Y/n overuses her chakra and falls into a coma while on a mission. Suddenly while recovering in the hospital, she vanishes.

A/N: I had to change a little about this request, I hope you still enjoy!

You used to hate your younger brother. Not only did he house the nine tails, but his entrance to the world was met with the exit of both of your parents. While you were still young, you were old enough to understand the hurt. You still miss them.

When Naruto grew old enough to begin training as a ninja, you thought the anger would only get worse. Even though he trained hard, you felt as if you needed to protect Naruto more than ever before. You already resented the way you were responsible for him. This only made it worse.

However, Naruto began to grow stronger. You knew that as the nine tails he should have eventually, but it was still a relief when both the responsibility and anger faded. It gave you time to finally pursue your own passion, medical ninjutsu.

You were rather good at medical-related jutsu, not to mention natural medicine as well. Your skills became well known, and quickly you started to be sent on missions. When Shikamaru was sent with his team to stop some local bandits, you were sent along with them in case anything were to go wrong.

It's a good thing that the Hokage had chosen to send you with them, as the bandits soon revealed themselves to be members of the Akatsuki. Choji and Ino both sustained serious injury, but Shikamaru's quick thinking helped all 4 of you to escape. Although the Akatsuki bandits would remain uncaptured, you were all happy to escape with your lives.

"Ino!" You cried, watching the blood rush from her face. Having ran away far enough, you watched her drop to the ground in the clearing the group had stopped in.

You rushed to her side, grabbing her face in your hands. Her eyes started to roll back in her head, breathing becoming labored. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but the heavy breathing and her bad condition stopped her from getting any message out.

"Ino, stay with me," you said, opening your bag to take stock of what medical supplies you had left. Before you were able to make your escape, you'd had to bandage Choji's leg and use some of your chakra to heal him just enough to allow him to move quicker. Now, you were worried you did not have enough supplies to save Ino, or chakra for that matter.

Gathering what remained in your bag, you got to work quickly. Choji and Shikamaro hovered over your shoulder, making you both nervous yet confident with their support.

You did all you could, wrapping what needed wrapped and giving her any medicine possible. Despite your best efforts, she wasn't looking better enough. You placed one palm over her forehead, and one over her heart. Using your chakra, you began to heal Ino.

-Shikamaru's POV-

I watched Y/n as she began using her chakra to heal Ino.

"Be careful," I warned. "Your chakra is already low. Only heal her enough so we can move her and take her back to the village."

I saw Y/n becoming weaker, but she did not stop. Ino began to stir, just barely. As she did, Y/n fell to the ground on her back next to her.

"Y/n!" Called Choji. I moved to grab Ino, who was just well enough to move. Y/n, in about the same condition, was picked up by Choji.

"We need to get back to the leaf," I said.

Upon returning to the Hidden Leaf Village, the medical nin at the hospital were able to help. Ino recovered quickly, but would need time to heal fully. Y/n, on the other hand, had stayed in the same condition she had been in before. The hospital ninja said that my prediction was correct; she had used up too much of her chakra. Had she needed to use any more to heal Ino, she wouldn't have made it.

Choji, Ino, and I spent a lot of time at Y/n's bedside. If one of us had done something differently, maybe she wouldn't be in this condition. We had all been thinking it already, but it hurt just as bad when Naruto told us as he cried and screamed at her bedside as she continued to lay in a coma. After that instance, Jiraiya Sensei began to accompany Naruto. While he typically grumbled about wanting to be somewhere else, we all knew that he didn't mind being there for his student.

I entered the hospital on yet another day of no progress. Waiting like this for good news is such as drag. Walking up to her room, I suddenly began to feel uneasy. My gut feelings are never wrong.

Sneaking closer towards her room, the feeling only grew worse. I prepared to use my shadows.

Rounding one of the final corners, the vision in my sight surprised me. It's hard to surprise me. Two Anbu members, as surmised by their masks, lay on the floor in pools of blood. My eyes followed the pools, noticing how the trail made its way to Y/n's door. Continuing to creep slowly, I made my way to her hospital room.

Slamming the door open, I scanned the room. There were blood spatters everywhere, but one key piece of the scene was missing.

Y/n.

~Later that day~

"Why was nobody watching her?" Cried Naruto to the Hokage. We were all gathered in her office to make a plan on what needed to be done. The fact that Naruto was still here and not running after him on her own was a miracle.

"Naruto," said Tsunade sternly, "I promise you we are all upset as well. We are going to get to the bottom of this. We have reason to believe that the Akatsuki are behind this attack. This may have been revenge for our attempted capture on their members."

I felt my heart tense, guilt creeping in. Our failed mission might not have only put Y/n in a mission and injured both Ino and Choji, but also gotten Y/n kidnapped and maybe killed.

"I'll find them," I said. Tsunade quickly shook her head.

"You're too close to this. Not to mention your team is still recovering." She then sighed, as if sensing the next words out of the nine tails mouth. "And no Naruto, you are not going after her. If I just told Shikamaru he's too close to this, you definitely are." Naruto huffed.

"So who do we send?" I mused. Looking around the room, there were plenty of skilled ninja. I would think to send Kakashi, but he was already committed to another mission. The same was true of Guy and Yamato. Our typical mission-oriented ninja were occupied.

"Please!" Cried Naruto suddenly. "Please go find my sister Pervy Sage!" I looked to him, finding him clutching to Jijraiya's robes.

Sending someone you deem described as 'Pervy Sage' is an interesting choice, but that was Naruto.

After not much hesitation, Jiraiya nodded.

"I'll go after Y/n," he declared.

"How many shinobi do you need to go with you?" Asked Tsunade.

Jiraiya shook his head, "don't send any. We don't need any more of our younger ninja getting hurt in all of this." He ruffled Naruto's hair, and with a promise to find Y/n he was off.

I do hope he's successful.

[luffythinker]

I'm glad your back cause I've had next to nobody to talk about Naruto/mha Au's with I have a lot of thoughts idk what this ask is but just my thoughts

Gaara is so Todoroki but also Sai is so Todoroki

How do you think Naruto would get along with Deku? I think his loud personality would be a sharp contrast to how quiet Deku is but also I can see him understanding but also not agreeing with Deku alot on different things. Both of them definitely end up getting a lot of hero costume upgrades due to destroying them. I think Naruto wouldnt like the way Bakugo sort of bullies Deku in the beginning and he would try and pick fights with Bakugo, Naruto would bring out the worse in Bakugo and try to rival him and square up him they would be so choaticlly funny together like can you not see Naruto getting angry someone compared to Bakugo because of his brashness?

Your just like that class A punk

I think Sakura would always be flailing her arms at "don't you care how Naruto's making our class look?" At either their homeroom teacher or classmates who dont give a damn about how they represented like Sasuke.

20 kids in the class idk id Kakashi would be a pro hero or their homeroom teacher but I'm going for homeroom I know that's not how it works but I'm gonna say Naruto's class is class C I know class C isnt hero course but let's pretend it is

1st years Naruto Sasuke Sakura Kiba Shino Hinata Shikamaru Ino Choji Maybe Gaara Tamari? Sai? Hanabi?

My exception for Hanabi is she skipped a grade I could say this for Konohamaru as well but I dont want him in Naruto's class he isnt exceptional enough

I'm running out of characters so I might pick up some side characters from filler arcs like

Sumaru from the star village cause I like that arc

Menma from the menma memory mission

Sora from shippuden filler

Sasume from the fuma clan

Yakumo from the Kurenai filler she was really cool character

Amaru from the Shippuden movie cause I super ran out of characters and needed one and I didnt wanna turn someone into a child

Sai gets transferred over to class C? Or he was put there to be a spy idk I never finished Shippuden so I dont know enough about Sai ( I made it to the part where Shikamaru comforts Naruto about Jiraiya's death) you can spoil me I know a lot of how everything transpires just not the details in between

For the sake of trying to fill the class I put Gaara in this class cause idk if he should actually be in another school, the sand village gives me poor people vibes I know they are not but I feel like Gaara is either really poor or really wealthy and got in on recommendation but also hes too destructive as a kid but also idk how this world would shape Gaara cause the sports festival seems to be for UA only? I feel like it shouldn't be but it is

Tenten Lee and Neji are 2nd years

Kankuro is in support course probably a 2nd year? The reason Temari isnt a 2nd year is because in gonna say she failed her test on purpose to stay with Gaara cause I remember she didnt take the Chunin exam for some reason canonly cause I remember Kankuro saying something about this to her in the Gaara chunin exam arc

Lee would so hype up Deku, Lee is the only quirkless kid going to UA hear me out, think of every character who's quirk has next nothing to do with how strong they are? Now ask yourself do you think they could still do half the stuff they've done I'd having the quirk doesn't matter

I think Bakugo wouldnt like Lee XD he'd call him bowl head or something, Tenten would not like Bakugo XDD I think Tenten should be in hero course but I also think she would do good in support

The first incident is the land of waves incident and while Deku is helping Iida with stain Naruto and Sasuke are fighting Zabuza and Haku that's where their internship lead them

I like to think everyone wanted to intern Sasuke after the sports festival but Sasuke wants to go with Kakashi cause their quirks are similar and he can teach him stuff, Sakura picks Kurenai cause in the anime Kurenai could have taught Sakura genjutsu so maybe their quirks are not so the same but Kurenai can teach Sakura something

Naruto goes with Jiraiya cause he spent a lot of time with him when he was teaching him about the frog thing when he fell off that cliff so Naruto is training with him cause hes the only person who wanted Naruto

Somehow they were lead to the same place and Kakashi figures out something and rush's over cause he has to save his students

Naruto ends up killing Haku I dont know how Zabuza would die but I want them to still go out cause this shaped Naruto very much he makes recalls to this a lot this is a pivotal point in his life Kakashi Naruto Sakura and Sasuke are there to witness Stain save Deku from the Nomu and feel his blood curdling wrath, they are taken to the same hospital as Deku Todoroki and Iida and told the same thing by the chief police cause they should not have been allowed to fight Zabuza, Naruto agrees with Todoroki and agrees to calling the chief police a mutt XD he adds mangy mutt but the situation is explained. Kakashi cant loose his teaching license like Gran torino but he loses taking on interns for a year

This point Naruto and Sakura really try to befriend Deku and his class because they were both put into terrible situations I do not think Sasuke would get along with Todoroki and I dont think he would care for Iida's personality however he would admire his speed

I dont know how to feel about Gaara getting humbled early cause his fight with Naruto in the sports festival would probably be the thing that put Naruto in the hospital with Deku during the sports fes but again I think he could meet him in the license exam but there isnt enough time to focus on truly going all out in a fight in the license exam

In the calvary battle I think Sasuke would form his own team and Naruto would form his own team as well, I think Sakura would want to be on Sasukes team but he dismisses her because from his perspective shes useless and hasn't really done anything so Sasuke would probably try and team up with Lee maybe? When they had their little fight before the tournament cause I plan to have Sasuke get his ass beat by Neji so Lee doesnt fight Sasuke in the tournament.

Naruto's team is Sakura Hinata I wanna say Shikamaru cause again my heart goes out to them but if not Shikamaru Sora cause nobody wants to be on Sora's team cause I remember him being really hyper aggressive starting a fight with Kiba and just being really jerk I do like Sora but he was mean lol Naruto is a rider while Sakura,Hinata and Sora or Shikamaru are horses

I think actually I will go with Shikamaru

Sasukes team is probably just Neji Tenten and Lee cause they might not wan a part with eachother and from Sasukes perspective these people are stronger then the fools in his class but theh wont let Sasuke be a rider which makes him mad, they either want Lee or Neji as the rider in leaning towards Neji he either completely disagrees and leaves the team or just swallows his pride cause beating the other teams Is the focus here.

Kiba Shino are a little mad Hinata ditch them maybe they will team up with Sai?

Just because Kankuro is in support doesnt mean he doesnt take part in this like Mei so sand siblings are back together here Gaara is riding and they are horses, I feel like Gaar would pick anybody to have a 3rd person here so maybe he picks Yakumo cause shes insanely quiet and murderous lol

Neji and Naruto definitely fought in the sports festival, Neji definitely fought Sasuke, I think for the sake of wanting Naruto to fight Neji and not having Naruto fight Sasuke yet I'm gonna say Neji beat Sasuke's ass in the final round for two reasons, Neji has more experience cause hes a 2nd year and I think it would be funny cause Sasuke did have a little rival dynamic with Neji

Making Sasuke more insane that Neji beat him along with Lee then watching Lee fight Gaara has to have pissed him off severely.

They also fight Kabuto maybe and he reveals to them hes evil and drops out of the competition after getting whatever he wants like in the Chunin exams, allowing someone to move up cause hes not there for his fight, I think Kabuto before they knew he was evil was Sasuke's second gay awakening cause Kabuto was kinda really nice to them and saved Sasuke at some point lol I remember pausing it on a scene where Kabuto jumps over on top of Sasuke to save him from an attack at the end of the Chunin exams

Sasuke almost gets disqualified for breaking that sound ninja's arms this is before he fights Neji but somehow he doesn't lol

Sakura having her fight where she cuts her hair. I have a headcanon that Ino gets scared of Sasuke when she witnesse him brutally beat those guys in the Chunin exam so Ino is afraid Sasuke at this point and doesnt pretend to have a crush on him anymore cause ya mans fucking psychopath.

So yeah, i'm gonna say Gaara he was humbled early on that is if he goes to UA I'm very leaning on yes he does go to UA

Sakura and Ino knock eachother out like Kirishima and Tetsutetsu and they have to determine a winner but both girls have 0 want for a rematch idk how this would end I personally think Sakura should win but maybe it would humble her in some way if Ino won showing Ino is still somewhat a stronger person than Sakura like when they were kids idk

I think Kakashi went to UA with Aizawa and Mic along with Gai Obito and Rin that sounds right

I think Sakura and Ino should be paired for the final exams for lesbian reasons/j but no yeah they need to have their argument. I would love Sasuke and Naruto to be paired I ready would but my Shikanaru heart tells me it should have the smartest kid and the dumbest kid working together Tsu and Tokoyami passing depended solely on it Tokoyami would listen to her so it's not far fetch to think Naruto and Shikamaru would depend on Naruto listening to Shikamaru I also kinda want to Sasuke Sakura pair up but Sasuke maybe Hinata because Hinata needs to learn how to have a backbone idk how pairing her with sasuke would do this but it might cause he might need her somehow we are getting

Kiba/Shino cause they are gay

Gaara and Tamari cause he needs to have a moment with his sister and apologize to her again for treating her the way he used to and they can have a heart to heart, and come out on top kinda like Todoroki and Momos final exam

If not Hinata and Sasuke, Hinata and Hanabi so they can work out their issues of Hinata being whatever she is in this AU with their dad and stuff, cause I'm thinking if Hinata is on Sasuke team shes gonna wanna only do as he says but she might try and take charge with Hanabi to protect her but she doesnt believe in her self enough and when something happens Hinata blames her self where Hanabi says she never blamed Hinata for anything that happened however their famliy plays out in this setting

I'm gonna be real with you, I dont really care for Choji and I'm not gonna pair up everyone else cause it's not really important and I dont remember a damn thing from those filler eps but I do remember Sora got on my nerves and Sasume whole thing was pretending to be a boy, Menma died with his ocarina, Sumaru thought he knew better then Naruto, Yakumo was overpowered and just really wanted to kill Kurenai so I have to rewatch those eps to give them plot and relevants

Everyone passes with flying colors

I like the idea we had where Naruto thought they weren't going to training camp and he wanted to go so he convinced Sakura and Sasuke to sneak onto the bus even though they were going anyway and there was no reason for that, that's funny as hell, Sasuke caught acting like a fool moment XD

In the training camp Class C is allowed along and I think either Kakashi or Iruka should be the one taking them cause Iruka having a falling out with Kakashi over the Zabuza thing and not trusting him with Naruto's safety from my AU is my golden goat. It's funny cause when the training camp gets attack hes unable to protect Naruto the way he thought he could.

I think Hinata would get along fine with class A girls, she kinda looks like Jirou, you mentioned before you think Kiba and Kirishima would get along I think they could be friends but Kiba is kinda mean and that's why Kirishima gets along with him cause he gets along with Bakugo. I think Shino scare the piss outta present Mic for fun. I think Kirishima would try to befriend Sasuke I think the Bakusquad would be sort of drawn to being his friend cause hes gloomy.

What does Naruto's training at the camp look like? I should elaborate on their quirks but this is overly long dnfjdjfjf

I'll end it on everyone's location when the camp gets attacked.

Naruto wants to save Sasuke I dont think the league of villains wants Sasuke but the Akatsuki wants Naruto so they maybe either came as a opposing force or are pretending to work with the vanguard squad to get what they want. They sent Itachi and Kisame only and this is where Sasuke gets in his "fight" that fucks his shit up so bad Naruto is running through the forest looking for Sasuke i was gonna say he runs into Deku and Shoji hiding from Dark shadow but I wanna say he runs into Todoroki and Bakugo fighting moonfish I say this so Deku doesnt get help fighting Muscular and saving Kota cause I think Kota would remind Naruto of Konahamaru but he wouldnt like him at first so Naruto and Deku get kicked in the balls by Kota and Naruto has 0 interest in him after that lol he just wants to fight the little kid. Bakugo and Sasuke share a tiny moment of smirking at this before Bakugo turns to yell at Todoroki for saying he reminds him of Bakugo and Sasuke. Kibas laughing his ass off while Hinata goes over with Iida to ask if they are ok, Sakura holds Naruto back so he doesnt attack Kota

"hes just a little kid naruto!"

"I dont care how old he is I'm gonna cream that kid!"

I'm going to say Hinata and Sakura are with Tsu and Uraraka when they get attacked by Himiko idk how this plays out but Hinata vs Himiko would be really fucking cool, Himiko ends up getting blood from Hinata as well

Kiba and Shino are there with Kendo and Tetsu fighting Mustard cause his smoke fucks with having bugs and Kiba's nose

The devastation in Naruto having to watch Bakugo get taken when they get Tokoyami calmed down and mr compress takes them, Naruto feels for people and I feel like he would really feel for Deku here he might feel responsible for not doing enough, Itachi having knocked Sasuke out they dont want Sasuke they want Naruto so the vanguard squad is free to take Sasuke but I feel like Itachi would have a heart and not want this to happen cause I believe itachi should be allowed to show love to his brother, he let's Naruto take Sasuke

Either Jiraiya is zooming over there when he finds out what happened so he can save Naruto and have his fight with the Akatsuki members or Iruka is gonna get hurt fighting them to save Naruto in leaning more Iruka but Jiraiya does get there but not in time, hes there to tell Naruto Sasuke shit got rocked and his brain is probably damaged from itachi's quirk

Temari would be with Iida and the rest of them when the pussycats fight spinner and Magne I think she would want to stay and help fight which unevens the oods but Mandalay says they want the students so they should go back to where Kirishima and them are, idk how this plays out shes worried about Gaara

Either Gaara is out there fighting the Nomu that was chasing the class B student and Momo when Momo put a tracking device on it or Gaara didnt do well on his final exam and is with Kirishima and thw rest of class A plus Monoma when Mandalay uses her quirk to tell them they are after Bakugo

Ino Shikamar Chojj were definitely part of the group running to get to the save haven

So either they take Sasuke captured with Bakugo cause they saw him in the sports festival and Shigaraki is like "yeah that one is really evil energy too, his quirk is strong we can get him on our side"

I dont remember what we talked about Sasuke being there when Bakugo got captured but I do remember we said did talk about the akatsuki and the league of villains at this part I'll have to find it and go over it.

This whole situation was terrible for everyone.

If Sasuke is stolen it isnt hard to convince Naruto to go with Deku to save Bakugo and Sasuke and fully agrees with Kirishima. Sakura is sort of on Iida's side that they shouldn't and she goes with them for that reason. If Sasuke is not stolen he has his fight with Naruto cause hes pissed and he leaves then

I think this is the "bring Sasuke back to me" scene my phone is at %15 so unfortunately I have to bring this Ted talk to an end I WANT ALL YOUR THOUGHTS even if you wanna build onto any part of this I think this is interesting thing I've written up >:) sorry is didn't get to have input on Sai I dont know what hes doing here I do t remember enough of his back story so if you find a way to fit him in and tie in his story be my guest he hasn't really interacted because I think Sai starts becoming friends with Naruto either in the license exam or when they move into the dorms

Also apologize for ambiguous Sasuke fate either way hea gonna leve UA and team up with Orochimaru somehow and Naruto is gonna be sad cause dorm life with Sasuke would have been fun despite everything they were friends :)

love how yall just write whole essays here!! let me get into it

What if we think of Gaara as Dabi (reformed) and Sai as Shoto?

Personally, i think Naruto and Izuku would get along really well, even if deku is quieter, i think Naruto would respect him a lot for aiming for his dreams, they're also both lowkey outcasts in society so they would bond over that. If we think about it, being quirkless is like not being able to use ninjutsu, so i think he would also get along super well with Rock Lee!! Can totally see Naruto not liking Bakugo, they would fight as rivals, but i don't see them getting along until Katsuki has his shift as a person.

Kakashi could be both tbh, working as a teacher and underground hero in the after-school hours!!

the random konohamaru shadekjdfkjdf, not all these extras making the cut into the class helppp

may i ask why u never finished shippuden?? i felt like i couldn't stop until i got through everythingkjfgjkf

i mean to me it makes sense that the sports festival is for U.A. only, i feel like it would get way too big and out of control if it involved everyone in a bunch of other schools. but i can see gaara making it through recommendation, cause he's super rich (kinda like momo)

Lowkey feel like Lee would hate bakugo lmao, his morals are just too strong and rigid, i don't think he would appreciate seeing him put other people down, tenten and neji would also keep to themselves

About sasuke, i just don't think he would give a fuck about anyone reallykjdfjk he just wouldn't care about the other class or anyone, too busy being a angsty emo gay

i like the matches u created for the sports festival (naruto version), it would be interesting to see them fighting and working in different challenges like this.

the training bus partjhdjdj its giving haikyuu/hinata, naruto so would convinve them to do that even though it was not necessary

i do think they could take sasuke and bakugo together, but that's a lot fo wild energy to control, i wonder if the league of villains/akatsuki could handle both of themfjkkfdj

i think naruto would go even if sasuke wasn't captured cause that's just his nature, he would help a friend save anyone even if he isn't particularly fond of that person, but with sasuke in the picture he would have things moving in a heartbeat

i have no idea how to fit sai into this, especially this early into the story ?? i think we could view sai here more like shinso maybe, where we know he's there but he's not quite part of the main story/events yet

also sorry for not giving this a proper reaction and analysis, it was quite long and my attention spam was fighting me to concentrate and retain everything, but i tried my best !! thank you for all this <3

[a-girl-must-have-a-new-name]

All of the times Naruto knew she danced and the one time he didn't.

part two.

The second time Naruto noticed Hinata dancing it was purely by accident. Well, that and Kiba. Naruto had been having a pretty average night. Ichiraku's and just walking around the village waving and smiling at the occasional passerby. That all ended when Naruto was practically clotheslined by Kiba who in his excitement hardly stopped as he raced towards the poor blonde, with Akumaru and Lee right at his heels. 

“Kiba what the hell?!”

“Naruto, you're just the man we’ve been looking for! Come on we’ve got a mission!” Kiba yelled sounding half drunk as he and Lee both slung an arm around him forcing him to walk with them.

“What really? Kakashi- Sensei sent you to get me?” Naruto asked skeptically. after all, he'd just seen the man walking out of a bookstore not thirty minutes earlier.

“Not a real mission idiot! I mean we need to gather all the guy's stat! The girls have decided to go out for a night of drinking and partying and didn’t invite us!”

“They are celebrating their youthfulness in such an admirable way we too must accept the challenge and join in!  Lee added his eyes sparkling in admiration. 

“Hm… Now that you mention it, I was surprised when Sakura turned down hanging out tonight- she did say she was busy.”

“Yeah busy having fun without us! And what’s worse they dragged poor Hinata-chan out with them.” Kiba lamented as he grabbed fistfuls of Naruto’s jacket shaking him in a dramatic fashion. Naruto pushed him off, dusting his jacket down and making sure no one had seen Kiba’s antics. But finally agreed to go along with him and Lee. It had been weeks since the last time any of the rookie nine had spent time together and the desire to be around friends was palpable.

Setting off they gathered the rest of the boys. Shino and Shikamaru could be heard muttering about unfortunate luck, but Naruto could tell they were secretly glad to be out. Choji and Sai were also more than happy to be invited Choji joined in on Kiba and Lee’s rabblerousing and Sai just smiled. Happy to be invited.

"How did you even find out that the girls were going out?" Naruto asked as they made their way to a rowdy bar.

“What kind of ninja would I be if I couldn’t figure out -

“He forced Hinata-chan to tell him, she was very reluctant, why? Because the girls wanted to keep it a secret. 

"Aw Shino, why do you have to be so mean? You're my teammate you should have my back. " Kiba whined as the rest of the boys laughed. pulling back the flaps to enter the rowdy club.

“Hey, I know this song!” Kiba suddenly shouted as they made their way towards the bar. Turning his head towards the stage to get a look at the band. 

“You do?” Naruto was surprised at Kiba’s admission. While they sounded fine so far, it was hard to imagine Kiba enjoying this type of music, with their very distinct sound. Naruto was also sure he’d never heard of the band's name before, as he read the sign hanging on the bar wall he doubted Kiba knew of them due to popularity. 

“Yeah, Hinata loves this band!” Kiba sighed realizing now why the girls chose this bar for the night. 

“What? no way!” A chorus of disbelief was shouted out by the rest of the group. 

“I’m telling the truth I’ve heard this damn song more times than I could ever want to.”

“This doesn’t sound like anything Hinata-chan would listen to,” Choji muttered as he stroked his chin in thought. 

“Ah, Hinata-chan truly is the pinnacle of youth!” Lee nodded sagely as he turned his attention towards the music hoping to gain Hinata’s understanding. 

“No way! You’re out of your mind Hinata would never listen to a band like this.” Naruto exclaimed trying hard to imagine Hinata listening to loud blaring music. 

  “It’s true, why? Because she is up near the front of the stage dancing right now.” Shino answered quietly as he pointed to the massive crowd that had formed. Naruto whipped his head around scanning the crowd and sure enough, there in the front row stood Hinata. He could only watch mesmerized, as Hinata bounced from side to side as she reached her arms out above her head.

Her face was flushed whether from the exertion, the alcohol, or both he couldn’t tell but it left her looking like she was glowing. Her hair was plastered around her face and moving wildly behind her back, accidentally hitting Tenten in the face on occasion. But Tenten unbothered merely laughed, reaching over to grab Hinata’s hand spinning her around and around as Ino cheered them on. Sakura was also moving in sync with the music but had turned towards the bar spotting the boys as she began to make her way through the crowd.

“What are you guys doing here?” Sakura yelled over the noise as she neared. 

“Guys night. What about you?” Kiba offered as nonchalantly as possible. Causing the other guys in the group to groan. Kiba for all his merits was a terrible actor especially when already drunk. Sakura eyed him suspiciously no doubt knowing he was the culprit of the sudden appearance of the group but chose instead to ignore it.

“Hinata had mentioned coming to listen so we all decided to come.”

“Hinata chose to come here?” Naruto asked in disbelief as he turned back to watch the petite woman mouthing along to the lyrics. It suddenly occurred to him that he’d never heard Hinata sing before and felt a desperate need to do so now. He felt his body moving on its own before he was stopped rather forcibly by Sakura. 

“Oh no you don’t! You’re not gonna ruin this night now.”

“What do you mean ruin? I just wanna go say hi to Hinata-chan!”  Naruto yelled back defensively but Sakura held her ground, poking Naruto in the chest to make a point as she hollered over the music

“Say hi to her tomorrow! Tonight is girl’s night!”

“No fair! Naruto complained as Sakura merely grinned, ordered a set of drinks for the girls, and went back down to the stage area. The rest of the guys shrugged it off, not minding having their own night. But Naruto couldn’t help but find his eyes searching for Hinata all night. This dancing was much different from the one she’d shown him only a few months before and he wondered just where she learned it from.

   He realized rather suddenly that he wasn’t the only one who was keeping an eye on her. Noticing creep after creep staring and pointing at the Hyuga he felt a growing annoyance as he watched grown men try to slip behind Hinata and dance with her. Using his shadow clones he ignored the smirks and snickers as he sent his clones to quietly and sneakily get rid of the unwanted add-ons. One of his clones had caught Sakura’s eye but she merely rolled her own at her best friend’s antics before turning back around and enjoying the show. 

Hinata never seemed to notice the helping hand, instead of focusing on the band before her. Unfortunately, for Naruto, it seemed that the band’s lead singer had also had his focus solely on Hinata. Because suddenly he was leaning forward on the stage stretching his hand out to Hinata motioning for her to get onto the stage. Hinata gasped and shook her head not expecting to be singled out. However, Ino being the conspirator that she was shoved Hinata forward causing the girl to grab onto the extended hand for support or risk falling. With an easy tug, he had Hinata jumping onto the stage with him. The crowd went wild and Hinata’s cheeks, already flushed from dancing and drinks, turned even redder.

 Naruto was about to rescue her when the singer leaned away from the mic whispering in her ear. Naruto felt heat rising from his chest as his eyes narrowed trying to make out what exactly the guy was saying. Whatever it was, he was disappointed to see that it worked because suddenly Hinata was closing her eyes and letting the melody of the song take control. 

Her body easily found the rhythm once more and she was off. Dancing all over the stage she even used some of her ninja training to flip and spin in the air from time to time. Naruto could only look on in pure amazement as she moved her hips in ways he’d never seen before. He also could only look on helplessly as his friend moved closer and closer to the lead singer. Moving in sync with the man and even letting him pull her close to him moving their hips together. Naruto wanted to strangle somebody and wondered if for a moment Neji’s ghost had possessed him to save his poor cousin from that man’s evil clutches. Wanting to honor Neji’s memory he went to take a step forward but was once again thwarted. Cursing he spun around glaring accusingly at Shikumaru who simply shrugged not releasing his shadow possession jutsu as he took a slow sip of the alcohol in his hands. Luckily the song was winding down and apparently so was the set. He watched as Hinata shook every band member's hand before jumping down off the stage to get back to her friends. Sakura herded them towards the booth that the boys had been occupying and a chorus of relief at having a space to sit and catch their breath was sung out. 

“Hinata-chan you were amazing, such youthfulness is awe-inspiring!” Lee yelled overheads to a beaming Hinata.

“That was impressive Hinata!”  Choji nodded along as he handed the girl a bottle of water, which she gladly took. Hinata was as red as a cherry as she continuously bowed her head in embarrassment and thanks. Naruto watched as Kiba and Shino grabbed hold of her and squeezed her, proudly telling her how awesome she was and how proud they were of her. Hinata hugged them back tightly, thanking them with a giddy laugh in her voice. Sai merely smiled at Hinata before turning to ask Ino why she didn’t dance like that earning an elbow to the stomach. Shikamaru shook his head, a grin spreading at the antics happening around him as he fished for a cigarette out of his carton. 

 Naruto was about to offer his own support and amazement when suddenly Hinata was being pulled away from him. Annoyed, Naruto turned to whine about the unfair treatment when he stopped. It was the singer from the band standing there with his arm wrapped casually around Hinata's shoulders. He was trying to pull Hinata away from the group as he whispered in her ear. Naruto felt his eyes narrow and his jaw clenching as he watched as  Ino was motioning wildly behind the guy giving Hinata a big thumbs up, mouthing out the words “he’s hot” towards Hinata.

 Hinata looked mortified but nodded her head slowly. Naruto couldn’t tell if the nod was towards whatever the creep was saying or if it was in agreement with Ino’s declaration and Naruto couldn’t tell which option he hated more. Still, he sat glaring over the rest of the girls' heads at the man who seemed not to care he had interrupted something. Silently listening to the conversation.

“If you’d like to spend the rest of the evening with us, my band and I are going to go bar hopping.”

“Thank you for your offer, but I think I’ll stay and listen to the rest of the bands with my friends.” Naruto’s ears perked up at Hinata's voice. Not fighting the unabashed grin spreading across his face Naruto chuckled at the startled look on the singer’s face at being turned down. A look of annoyance briefly flashed in the man’s eyes but before he could lash out Hinata continued.

“It was amazing getting to dance on stage with you.  I can see why you love to perform the way you do. I thank you for the kindness you’ve shown me, I will always treasure this experience.” Hinata smiled brightly at the man before shocking everyone and leaning forward to kiss the guy on the cheek. 

 Naruto felt his smile once again drop as he stared incredulously at the scene before him.  The girls giggled and whistled towards the two causing Hinata to twirl around and give the feeblest of glares. The boys all smirked casting sly glances toward the blonde who seemed to be only focused on the couple in front of him.

The singer blinked once, then twice, before smiling lazily and shrugging. Stepping back away from the group as he called back over his shoulder towards Hinata. “Trust me the pleasure was all mine. If you change your mind, we’ll be in the village all week.” 

Naruto watched until the man was completely out of the bar before he turned to look back at Hinata, who was still smiling at the events that had just occurred. Naruto thought about what to say. Telling her she looked great out there seemed obvious. Everyone else had already got to compliment her and he worried he might just sound like he was parroting off of them.

 Besides, hadn’t he told her how great she danced recently? What if it sounded to Hinata- chan that he was in disbelief? He didn’t want to insult her.  But he didn’t want to not say anything!  He found himself wanting to talk, a lot. His tongue was practically pressing against his teeth desperate to speak. Before he could think of what he was saying he leaned in close to Hinata speaking loudly to be heard over the next set that had started playing. 

“So I guess you really like that band?”  Lame. Naruto wanted to slap himself. Cringing at his own stupidity, how lame and boring could you get? He was hoping Hinata would just nod and ignore his dumb question, focus on all of the other attention she was receiving so he could just sulk back into the booth. But of course, Hinata would never ignore somebody. She was too nice to do that. She blinked once as she processed the words no doubt still feeling the effects of alcohol, then nodded her head vigorously. 

“Yes, I actually found out about them on a mission, a girl we were escorting kept talking about the band. As soon as we completed the mission I went to the local music shop and found their cd. I must have listened to it for a month straight! poor Neji-nii was ready to break it I think!” Hinata giggled as she thought back to Neji’s ire at having to hear the cd replaying for the third time during a training session.  The fondness in her voice soothed Naruto’s growing discomfort and he found himself laughing at the thought of Neji having to meditate and focus while pop-punk was blasting out into the courtyard.

Naruto and Hinata moved closer to each other to speak and suddenly all the worry Naruto had felt vanished. They laughed and shared thoughts on music while both promising to listen to each other's favorite songs. As they talked neither noticed the rest of the group leaving quietly, giving them privacy and time alone as they all made their way to another bar wanting to give their two friends a moment but not quite ready to end the evening themselves. It wasn’t until the new set had ended that Naruto and Hinata even realized they were alone.

“Oh no, I hope they aren’t mad at us,” Hinata whispered feeling like she had betrayed girls' night. Naruto was rather grateful for the departure but still, he felt it was only fair to offer Hinata a solution. Quickly using sage mode he found the group.

“They went to the next bar over, I can walk you over there if you want. I think that guy from the band you like is there too if you wanted to take him up on his offer to hang out. But if you don’t we can stay here, or I can walk you home if you are ready to go.

Hinata pondered on his offer for a minute and Naruto felt his heart sink at the thought of her wanting to go find that guy again. However, Hinata slowly shook her head. 

“No, I'll just apologize to the girls tomorrow. As much fun as it was dancing on stage, I don’t want to give him the wrong impression. I’m happy to be a fan from afar.” Naruto looked back up at the girl sitting beside him. shock and relief filled him at the knowledge she didn’t want to go see the singer again. 

“Well do you want me to walk you home then?” Naruto asked standing up from the booth to allow her to slide out as well. Hinata did so but stopped and cocked her head to the side for a moment, before turning back to Naruto with a small mischievous smile on her face.

“Naruto-kun, if it’s all right with you, I’m not ready to leave yet. You see there’s another band that’s playing tonight that I like as well. Would you like to stay and listen with me?”

 Naruto watched as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and brought her hands clasped closely towards her face in a silly plea. cute! Naruto thought as turned his face to the side to hide the blush that formed as he agreed to her request.

Cheering and feeling emboldened by the events of the night Hinata grasped Naruto’s hand, practically pulling the man towards the dance floor. Naruto didn’t even bother to pretend to fight it, eagerly following Hinata. He couldn’t help but think how nice and warm her hand felt and silently hoped his hand felt that way as well.

  Hinata was once again down in front of the stage dancing. But this time the actual Naruto was dancing right along beside her, and he had no intention of letting anyone else steal her away for the night. 

[depressedkakashihatake]

Truth or dare with ShikaTema?

@temarihime might enjoy this

This was so dumb. Why had Temari let Kankuro convince her to come along to this party that the Konoha kids were having? She had better things to do.

“Ino, why am I here?” A familiar voice caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but look over at the small snack table that Sakura had set up for the table. Right where one Nara Shikamaru was standing looking as bored as always while Yamanaka Ino poked him in the chest. “This is such a drag.”

“Would you quit it with that attitude,” Tenari couldn’t help but smirk when Ino moved her hand up and flicked Shikamaru in the nose. “It’ll be fun, trust me. Besides, your favorite person is here.”

“Of course Choji’s here. There’s food.” The comment isn’t surprising in the least, but for some reason it leaves Temari with an empty feeling in her stomach. She knew Choji was Shikamaru’s best friend. everyone knew that, but still. Part of her wished the first person he had thought of when Ino made that comment was her.

“You know that’s not who I mean,” Seeing Ino thrn her eyes towards her, Temari can’t help but turn away. She doesn’t want to know what Shikamaru’s reaction will be.

“Come on everyone!” Naruto went running by them with Kiba, Hinata and Kankuro close behind. “Let’s play a game of truth and dare!”

Just what she needex. A chance to see everyone embaress themselves.

“You too Temari,” She cringed when Kankuro looked back at her. “Everyone is playing.”

Ok, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

“Oh, come on,” watching as Ino dragged Shikamaru towards the small circle forming in the middle of the room, she covered her mouth and hid a small giggle. It was always kind of funny seeing Ino manhandling her friends into the activities they were doing. “Do i have to? I could be doing something more interesting, Ino.”

“Like what? Name one thing more interesting and I’ll let you go. And no, it can’t be ‘watching the clouds’” The only response that followed was a defeated sigh. “Good. Now sit down. Temari come on! We can’t start till everyone is in the cicle.”

Well, if Shikamaru was going to suffer she could at least suffer with him. Show some solidarity for the poor soul.

“Ya, ok,” Making her way to the circle she took her spot beside Tenten, rolling her eyes when the weapons experct nudged her in the shoulder. “So, who’s going first?”

“Naruto,” Shikamaru glared at the man in question. “You want us to play, you start us off.”

“Ok,” Taking the lead as always Naruto looked between his friends and beamed when his eyes stopped at Kiba. “Kiba! Truth or Dare.”

“Easy, dare,” Kiba smirked. “I’ll do anything. Just watch me.”

“Ok,” bringing a hand to his chin Naruto thought for a moment. They knew when he had finally come up with an idea because of the wide grin that took over his face, stretching from ear to ear. “I dare you to steal Kakashi Sensei’s book.”

Temari wasn’t exactly sure what happened next. It lasted all of twenty minutes, involved some detailed planning and Kiba running off to do his dare, and then finished when Kiba came back with the sadest face she had ever scene and an story of how their new Hokage had trolled him and let him steal the wrong book.

There wasn’t a single person in the room not laughing when Kiba held up a book titled ‘How to be stealthy for dummies’.

Even Shikamaru was laughing, and it was such a beautiful laugh. Temari had never heard anything more amazing in her life.

“Ok, ok. You all had your fun,” Kiba dropped down into his spot between Shino and Hinata. “My turn. Temari!”

She cringed when she heard her name spoken with such chaotic joy. This was not going to end well for her at all.

“Truth,” she huffed, unwilling to risk getting dared into some ridiculous stunt like Kiba. “Bring it on, Dog boy.”

“Slright, let me think,” glancing up towards the ceiling, Kiba gave himself a second before what Temari could only describe as ‘an evil grin created by the cruelest being on earth’ stretched across his face. “If you had to marry someone in this room right now, who would it be?”

Oh, it was going to be like that was it?

Two could play at that game.

“Clearly Shikamaru is the supereriour choice,” there was confidence written on her face, but deep down inside of her soul she was freaking out. And it only got worse when Shikamaru turned to look at her with wide eyes. “Smart, decent in a battle, and doesn’t try to make me do too much work. Honestly, if he complained a little less about things he’d be perfect. Unlike my little brother, i have taste.”

Before that last sentence it looked like everyone was getting ready to tease her mercelessly, but as soon as those last seven words left her mouth they all turned on Kiba.

It was a shit show. Everyone laughing and poking fun at him for getting hit so bad in return for his question. Everyone’s focus was on Kiba and the burn that had just been delivered to him.

which was apparently a good moment for Shikamaru to decide he was going to slide in by her side. While no one else was looking.

“Not the best choice,” he started, keeping his eyes on the group in front of them. “But, i think if i had to marry anyone here It would be less of a drag if it was you.”

Her eyes widened. She was not expecting Shikamaru to say something like that, espeshally in such a crowded room.

“Well,” turning her head away from him she tried desperatly to stamp down on the warm feeling bubbling inside of her. Unfortunatlly nothing she did could get rid of it and it only got worse when she saw Ino watching them from the corner of her eyes. “You’ll have to buy me dinner first crybaby.”

Shikamaru sighed beside her, and she’s certain she hears a soft ‘what a drag’, but he still doesn’t move away from her.

[supertvngames]

Naruto AU - Shuji Uchiha Scenarios Part 1

Shuji Uchiha is the adoptive brother of Naruto Uzumaki. And the half-brother of Sasuke Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha from their mother’s side, and half-brother Shisui Uchiha from their father’s side. And as well as my OC.

-Pre OS-

Mikoto Uchiha adopted Naruto but has to move out of the Uchiha Distract and into the late 4th Hokage Minato and his wife Kushina’s with the newborn child. Over a while, an Uchiha man was given permission to help Mikoto. The Uchiha man is the father of Shisui Uchiha. They accidently conceive a child, the child was named Shuji. Weeks after Shuji was born, his birth father died.

While growing up, Shuji had a big brother worship towards Shisui as Sasuke towards Itachi. Shuji and Sasuke tend to argue who’s the better big brother, Shisui or Itachi. However out of all his big brothers, Shuji actually favors Naruto because Naruto took the time to listen to him and play with him. Shuji is also seem patient with Itachi than Sasuke is. Even if Shuji likes Shisui better, he looks up to Itachi. And Shuji even considers Sasuke to be most relatable.

Shuji even met Izumi, Itachi’s lover. Shuji sees Izumi as a big sister-figure, mainly due to Shuji not being as stingy as Sasuke especially when it comes to Itachi.

Shuji is practically a mama’s boy, he is always seen with his mother Mikoto. Shuji learn about not just cooking and cleaning, but learn about Mikoto’s fighting skills at a very high level. Mikoto is a role-model to Shuji.

Shuji doesn’t get along with his stepfather Fugaku. Mainly due to Fugaku not being the type to open up his feelings and being a hardass.

Shuji, in-person, witness the death of his mother Mikoto and his big sister-figure Izumi in the hands of Itachi. Naruto was staying for afterschool after a prank gone messy. Shuji and Sasuke found each other as they see Itachi, as he spares them seeing the potential of them obtaining the Mangekyou Sharingan. Both Shuji and Sasuke try to fight off Itachi yet they had no progression. Shuji had to break down the news to Naruto about Mikoto’s demise.

Shuji did his best to enter the academy, to be with his remaining siblings, so he wouldn’t be alone at the house. He was then accepted.

Shuji tries to convince Sasuke to move into his and Naruto’s house because they’re family, and they’re all that’s left for each each other. Sasuke, however, prefer to live in an apartment, to which Shuji visits to keep his half-brother company and see how he’s doing. They train from time to time.

Shuji along with Naruto have been oppressed and discriminated by the Konoha villagers. Shuji has notice that this has happened before the Uchiha massecre, however now, it’s more nasty. Shuji simply doesn’t understand why they hate him and his big brother but he definitely wish the villagers are dead.

While with Naruto, Shuji noticed a girl who has been looking from afar. The girl was Hinata Hyuga. To Shuji, she seems rather cute and nice. Shuji encourages Hinata to come and hang with him and Naruto. Shuji even noticed another girl, Hinata’s little sister Hanabi Hyuga, to which both Naruto and Shuji convinced her to stick around as well.

Shuji helps Naruto train, especially when it comes to preforming the ordinary beginner jutsus.

Shuji does make time to make food and clean, and Naruto does his share as well since the two are working together.

-Original Series-

Shuji and Sasuke may have hold resentment towards Itachi for what they did to their parents and clan. However, Shuji wants to put the revenge mission on hold. After all, there’s nothing they can do for right now. Both he and Sasuke had some disagreements. Yet they still train together.

When Shuji sees that Naruto failed the graudation exams, he purposely funk himself so they could be ninjas another time. Shuji simply doesn’t want to leave his big brother’s side, until Naruto told Iruka that Shuji failed the graudation on purpose because he knows that they need the money.

When first meeting Konohamaru Sarutobi, Shuji thought he was some sort of strange kid even for the grandson of the 3rd Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. Shuji, like Naruto, began to befriend Konohamaru. Naruto and Shuji played with Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon. Even invite Hanabi after convincing Hiashi that she needs to stimulate her mind in order to be an effective fighter. It’s the only way to have her live her life better.

Instead of a three-man squad, it’ll be four-man squad for each team: Team 7 - Naruto, Shuji, Hinata, & Sasuke Team 8 - Kiba, Shino, Sayuri, & [A new girl character, a non-clan one] Team 10 - Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, & [A new girl character, possibly a Sarutobi] Same could be said for Team Guy/Gai, and two more teams in the same year as them. One team would have three girls and one boy, both teams have females senseis

Shuji overheard some girl’s talk about Naruto, how she is badmouthing him as an orphan. Shuji pummels Sher to the ground. Enraged that someone is making of his brother after he and Shuji lost their mother.

When seeing he’s on the same team as his brothers and the girl he loves, Shuji was rather happy that they got to stick together. Shuji can fight along side with his relatives and his love, he reassures Hinata that they can all protect each other, they all have each other’s back. Yet, Shuji couldn’t help himself to protect Hinata (and his brothers).

When visiting the Hyuga District to pick up Hinata, Naruto and Shuji get violently angry at Hiashi for badmouthing his own daughter Hinata, being stopped by Kakashi. Hearing Hiashi says that Hinata is a “failure” and that the Hyuga, Shuji remarks that if she was a failure, she’d be taking after him, a lousy good-for-nothing selfish man who is nothing more than someone who brought two girls into the world only to refuse to take responsibility as a father.

After seeing Hinata having a bad situation at her household, Shuji offers to invites Hinata to his and Naruto’s house, at least dinner so he could cook, maybe once every afternoon as a getaway and to get to know each other.

There are times in B rank missions that Shuji ends up in trouble to which Hinata comes to his aid, although, Shuji isn’t upset. Shuji is, in fact, happy to see Hinata becoming stronger and more confident.

Shuji would even help out Naruto and Sasuke from danger as well, especially if it seems over his head, yet he doesn’t want to bear losing his only family he has left.

Shuji would grow from 1 tomoe at the early of the original series, to 1-&-2 tomoe, then 2 tomoe at the middle, later 2-&-3 tomoe, and then fully mature 3 tomoe at the end of the original series.

Shuji did run into Orochimaru at a different place and time, possibly on a mission soon before the Chunin Exams arc with a mix members on Shuji’s part. However, unlike with Sasuke who woke with the power up, Shuji woke up yet he is technically dying but manage to fight on.

It was until later on, Shuji was at death’s door compare to Sasuke when receiving the Curse Mark, until something alerting happens to either of his brothers or Hinata. Shuji finally overcomes the mark’s effects on him and began to have a murderous anger.

When Shuji sees how horrible Neji went through, being enslaved with a mark that can kill you, losing a parent, all that at such a young age. All the while, Shuji holds a grudge against Neji for looking for an opportunity to kill Hinata, yet Shuji still sympathize Neji.

Shuji sees that Gaara, like his big brother Naruto, a special power (although, it’s the power of a Tailed Beast) to which his own village fears and hates him for something that can’t be helped, yet also sees that Gaara got it worse than him and Naruto especially since he has his own father trying to kill him, unable to communicate with his siblings properly. Shuji pities Gaara.

After the Invasion on Konoha by Suna and Oto, Shuji’s speech patterns became more aggressive, especially after the mark reactivates. In Japanese, at first, Shuji’s 1st person pronoun was “Boku”, then it became “Ore”, to show how aggressive Shuji became.

Shuji begins to see that things between him and Hinata aren’t going anywhere. He sees Hinata showing more visible affections towards Naruto.

Shuji and Neji are having a rocky relationship. Until later on, when Hinata becomes temporarily blind, seeing Neji took care of her and even go out to help her condition, Shuji finally fully forgives and trusts Neji, and even tells Neji what’s on his mind, which is vowing that he will find a way to free him and the Side Branch family.

When he and Sasuke heard that Itachi return, and is after his big brother Naruto, Shuji was scared and furious. By the time he and Sasuke run into Hinata, Shuji explains to her on the way that Naruto is in danger and that they need to find Naruto as quickly as possible.

Shuji have to remind Sasuke that they have to run away with Naruto and nothing more, they can’t take on Itachi since he did defeat Kakashi. By the time, they did met up with Itachi, Shuji tries to think of how to escape with Naruto, only to see Sasuke charges at Itachi with a Chidori with Shuji thinking “What a dumbass”. Shuji tries to help Sasuke out but Itachi beats the crap out of Shuji and put him in a coma as well.

By the time both Shuji and Sasuke woke up from their coma, like Sasuke, Shuji became different than he was before. Shuji became rather moody, bitter, and has guilt. The encounter with Itachi and Kisame haunts him. He, his brothers, and Hinata were in a no-way-out situation to which they all could get killed. Shuji tries to rationalize and justify his failure only to see the fact he wasn’t good enough. Shuji finally begins to see why Sasuke couldn’t put the revenge mission on hold, so Shuji then train with Sasuke more than ever.

Naruto and the others began to see Shuji is becoming more and more bitter after each mission and those missions was that they either failed or even success through dumb luck. Especially since he and Naruto seen the suffering and unfortunate events in different places. Shuji ask them how many times they are going to get beaten before they wise up and they realize that being a ninja isn’t a game. Think of Leo from TMNT 2003 Season 4, I admit he was a jerk but he has his reasons.

When Kakashi told Shuji let go of his revenge like Shuji did once before he was put into a coma. Shuji told him that he didn’t let go, he put it on hold, and that Itachi plan to take his older brother Naruto away from him. Shuji already lost his mother, his big sister figure Izumi, and eldest brother Shisui, he not planning to let Itachi go around free. Kakashi tells him that he too lost his loved ones and he only look into the past. However, unlike Sasuke, Shuji doesn’t buy it, his response is “you no longer seek retribution? You dishonor your loved ones. I will honor the memory of my fallen”.

Well, that’s it for the scenarios for Shuji Uchiha for now. I might have more plans for him, some I having a bit of a mix feeling, but I’ll discuss them another time. Until then, see ya.

[spaceguybob]

Oniwaka in the Mountains - Date scenario / Fanfiction - PART 3 FINAL

Later that day, you felt something that only could have been described as divine exhaustion. Oniwaka seemed much calmer and cheerful, his eyes following you everywhere like a cat, even caught him standing right behind you a few times when you turned around. He would flash you the biggest grin and find an excuse why he is behind you. Then you decided to let him do whatever he wants and waited, soon after the floor behind you creek, and a pair of big hands enveloped you from behind with his warm breath on your neck. You felt happy.

After preparing food, which was hard considering you had a big Oni glued to your back trying to interrupt everything you were doing, you and Oniwaka sat down to eat. After your very, very long shower, you both changed into loose t-shirts and lounge shorts, and you were amazed how much bigger and bulkier he looks in a simple white t-shirt. Dangerously handsome.

"You alright? You have been staring at my t-shirt all the time. What? Don't you like it?" Oniwaka asked confused trying to read your expression. "I'll just take it off then..." He started pulling the material up but you stopped him and explained. Your face turned bright red as you mumbled it out.  Oniwaka picked your chin with his hand to look directly in your eyes.

"So... I should keep wearing it and then take it off when we are alone, is that what you are saying?" He replied with a sly smile and laughed when you started protesting it was not what you meant. But he knew exactly what you meant, and from that moment he would do everything to catch your gaze. 

"Why are you embarrassed?" He asked at some point seeing you blush again.

Of course, you were embarrassed, and you knew Oniwaka did all those things to make it worse. You decided to take the initiative and you pushed him up the wall, which was hard considering Oni was a mountain of muscle but he didn't resist at all.

"Now what?" He said with a low teasing voice.

"You... You make me... Ugh!" Oniwaka smiled at your lack of words.

"You are so beautiful and handsome in every way and I love you!" You finally said and your words had an immediate effect on the Oni who started blushing himself and tried to wriggle away from your weak grasp. It felt a bit like holding a wardrobe that was about to fall.

"Why are you embarrassed?" You asked this time giving him a taste of his own medicine. But Oniwaka wasn't going to be teased that easily, besides he was much stronger than you so he easily grabbed you and picked up.

"Just... Just shut up" he said with a nervous laugh landing a kiss on your lips.

Once the food was served you are slowly joking and talking, Oniwaka would tease you, especially about the rice balls which you spent hours making to have them look like small animals.

"I wouldn't mind having food like this every day of my life." He added with his mouth full.

"Cute and fluffy? It does take a while to prepare..."

"No. With you." He replied slowly. You couldn't stop smiling after that. After the food was finished Oniwaka seemed even more relaxed, it was something you already noticed early. He loved his food and after eating a good meal would be happy.

With a small surprise ready you asked the Oni to maybe see if there are any board games around. While he was busy with that you washed the dishes and prepared tea.

Choji was very kind with helping you and the treats you brought with you could make anyone dizzy.

Coming back to the main room you saw Oniwaka being excited over a Go game board, then he looked at you carrying a tray and quickly got up excited.

"What do you have here?" On the tray, you prepared a plate with dango and mochi together with some of the special fruit butter and a drink for both of you. "Wha-! Oh man, I didn't have dango in years!" He stole a skewer before you even managed to lay the tray on the floor between you.

"Hey! Manners!" You jest at him with a pretend frow. Oniwaka just shrugs innocently with his mouth full then points at the Go board.

"I challenge you to... Mmm.. uhh... A go game" he said chewing.

You always enjoyed playing Go with Shiro who was good at it and would kick your ass whenever possible at it. Happily, you accepted the challenge, and you both spent an evening getting excited over who is going to win. At one point you managed to win three times in a row only for Oniwaka to take you easily in a next round. In the end, it was a tie between the scores. The Oni rubbed his hands a few times pleased and then stated he will prepare the bed. There was no argument at all that you are going to sleep together, and Oniwaka pulled out the largest futon he could find and set up the bed.

Meanwhile, you cleaned the rest of the dishes and turned most of the lights out. The outside was peaceful and serene as before. Once everything was checked you closed the door and went back to the kitchen to make sure everything is washed or in the fridge.

You heard a grumble and cough, twice now. Oniwaka was trying to get your attention. Already in bed, completely naked with the duvet covering his hips and arms stretched wide in the air, his hands gesticulating for you to come, inviting. And there was this greedy, cheeky smile again. The Oni knew he can get whatever he wanted this way. You quickly undressed, turned off the main light leaving only a small lamp next to the futon and climbed into bed straight into his open arms burrowing your face in Oniwaka's chest. He was both soft and hard, and oh so warm. Within seconds he turned the tables and was laying on top of you, holding your head in his arms kissing your lips, then slowly your jaw and neck. His scruff grew anew since he shaved earlier and was tickling driving you insane. Soon with Oniwaka showering your body with tender kisses, and whispering into your ear how much he loves you, you fall into a long, deep and dreamless sleep.

*

Through your closed eyelids you could feel the light slowly creeping in, surrounding you.

A large, rough hand caressed your head, moving away from the fair from your face. You stop it before it goes away kissing the inside of the palm. Slowly opening your eyes you realize you aren't in bed at all. But wrapped in a blanket, next to Oniwaka sitting looking at... Oh your heart almost stopped seeing the mountains painted by the gold and crimson colours of the morning sun, another valley opened below before you. Surrounded by the blooming peach trees, it felt unreal. Oniwaka sitting next to you, with a mysterious expression, looking at you. He must have gently carried you to here, at the end of the tranquil valley from where you could see the whole mountain range.

"It's beautiful" You manage only a few words. "It's so beautiful." Rubbing your sleepy eyes, feeling a flush of emotions, trying not to show it. The sun slowly crept up your legs than your arms warming your whole body.

"I... A wish we could live like this... Together." You form the words slowly, maybe it's because your mind is still foggy and it all feels like a dream, but you say it anyway.

"Forever?" Oniwaka asks nervously rubbing the side of his hand. "Would... Would you like to be with me forever?"

"Y- yes!" You answer without hesitation reaching for his hand.

"I... Ah... I'm angry with myself. I wanted to..." Oniwaka was struggling to say why he felt getting angry on himself. "I... ah... thought about this for a long time and... It's nothing much because I'm really short on money but... "

He hands you a small wrapping he kept hidden away, his large hands trembling slightly and his face very red at this point.

"Would... Ah... I would like to watch the sunrise every morning with you from now on." Oniwaka says looking directly in your eyes, holding your hand, waiting nervously for you to open the wrapping. Feeling a hot flush in your chest, you unwrap the box and within it, you find a very simple silver ring, with a  lapis lazuli insert, polished to perfection, glimmering and changing colours in the morning sun. The Oni bit his lip nervously unsure what to do, you were unsure what to do, what to say.

"Oniwaka... I..." You start slowly holding the ring. Shocked and at the loss of words.

"You don't have to... If you don't want to." He interrupts you halfway. "I...I'm sorry... I'm an idiot." He turns his head away fidgeting slightly, but you pull the large hand to get his attention back.

"Hey, can I say something first?" You squeeze his palm.

The Oni glares at you with red eyes and a grey face.

"Oniwaka Houzouin, you make my heart very happy, You big idiot. Of course, I want to see the sunrise with you every morning, and see the moon set every night."

The shock on Oniwaka's face was so damn cute you had to smile, then passing him the ring you suggested he should put it on your finger. The Oni gently took the ring and slid it on, wrapping his both hands around your and kissing your palm, and your fingers. Then leaning towards to taste your lips with a smug expression.

"I made coffee while you were sleeping." He reached for a thermos and two mugs that were sitting next to him all along. You gladly take the coffee, filling the warm liquid fill your mouth and then the heat spread pleasantly through the body, cleansing the night fog.

"Hey... Listen." Oniwaka started with a softer voice, his eyes looking directly into yours. "Be patient with me, okay? I've never been close to anyone, I don't know how to behave. It's strange being just two of us... But at least now I don't have to... you know, worry about what I feel. And I can be there for you, and watch you sleep."

You smiled gently, and then move closer to him, having his arm around your neck, both looking at the sunrise.

[misssunflowersandsangria]

Please Have Snow and Mistletoe- Chapter 3

My deers!  Merry Christmas Eve, eve from my little corner of the world.  Thanks again for going on this journey with me.  I hope you’re enjoying it so far.  Just two more chapters!   Enjoy babes!

Summary:  Sweet treats lead to honest hearts.  

Chapter 3:  Sweeter than a Sugar Plum 

**

The next morning Shikamaru tried to make up for his behavior. It wasn’t fair to keep Temari at a distance just because he might have some confusing feelings for her. So instead of having breakfast altogether, he had it made so they wouldn’t have to leave the warm bed. Now though they were just lying there together enjoying the peaceful morning. 

Temari thoroughly enjoyed being spoiled by him and having more time to talk. She learned more about his past and just what he’d managed to accomplish in just a few years. She was completely impressed by him but he was pretty dazzled by her as well. It was very affirming to have him be in just a bit of awe of her. 

“I just don’t understand how you can stay away from all of this?”  She gestured around the room. Thinking of his parents and his friends who were over the moon to have him home. “Work is important but there’s just so much more.” 

Shikamaru looked up at Temari from where his head was resting on her lap.  “I wanted to prove myself. I’ve lived with the pressure of being the Nara family heir. I wanted to show the world that I was worthy of carrying that name. But also that I could accomplish things without my last name. If that makes sense. I’ve silenced a lot of those naysayers and critics. There’s little else that I need to accomplish. I’ve done what I set out to do.”

Her hand was gently carding through his hair.  “Are you happy?”

He considered his response carefully.  “I think so, but something still feels like it’s missing.” 

“Think you’ll ever figure out what that is?” 

“I might be getting closer to knowing.”  She settled back against the headboard analyzing everything she’d learn about him. 

For Temari, Family had always come first. Moving away had been the first selfish thing that she’d done but it was what was for the best. What she needed to grow. But she always came back to them. 

Shikamaru was just a little lost. It wouldn’t be hard to find his way back. 

“So what’s on the schedule for today?”  She was able to go through the number of clothes he’d ordered for her. It was far too many things for just two more days but he was insistent that she take it home with her.  The uneasiness of the previous evening was long gone and they were back on familiar and comfortable ground. 

“Christmas cookies with the Akimichis” 

An amused grin crossed her face.  “Really?”

“Yup, ever since we were kids we’d have a gingerbread house decorating contests and decorate cookies for Santa.” 

She couldn’t help but think about how sweet of a tradition that was. 

Choji and Karui’s home was incredible. Welcoming and inviting a delicious smell filled the air. The decorations reminded her of a winter wonderland. 

“Temari!” Ino eagerly gathered her into a hug and Temari easily reciprocated the affection. It was easy to love the blonde. 

“Welcome to our place. I’m so happy that you could come.  Shikamaru hasn’t been around to do this with us.  I doubt that he’s going to be very good at it.”   Karui teased giving Temari another welcoming hug. 

“Ya, ya, don’t listen to them Tem. They’re all mean to me.”  Temari just grinned and followed Karui into the kitchen. It was huge, state of the art, and outfitted with the newest technology. On the counter and the island were icing, sprinkles with trays of cookies ready to be decorated. Along with supplies ready for them to make their own batches. 

“Okay team Nara, here’s your aprons.  Feel free to use anything in the kitchen.”  Temari couldn’t help but laugh at the matching cheesy reindeer themed aprons they’d been given.  She still hadn’t quite learned what the obsession was with deer. 

“Let me help you with that.”  Temari felt her skin warm at the casual way he brushed away her hair to tie the apron around her neck.  His fingertips lightly touched the skin there.  His hands grazed along her sides to pull the ties around her waist. 

“Than-thank you.” She stammered flushed and felt a little too warm. He nodded before securing his own apron. 

“You look ridiculous.” 

He chuckled and while that might be true she looked absolutely adorable. 

“I don’t know, I’m pretty sure I’ve never looked better.”  Temari laughed before taking his hand to drag him towards their supplies. 

“Okay Nara, let me see what you can do.”

—

“Those look terrible.”  Ino criticized Shikamaru while holding up a goblin looking elf creature. 

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry that we can’t all be as artistic as Sai.” 

The named man just grinned showing off another perfectly decorated snowflake-shaped cookie with elaborate icing.

“I’m sure they taste better than they look!” Temari interjected trying to be supportive. 

Temari bravely took a bite before her expression changed into one of horror. She swallowed it down before taking a large drink of cocoa. 

“Yup, delicious.”

The group all began to laugh out loud offering her pats of comfort and refilled her drink.

“She must really love you if she’s willing to eat a cookie you made Shikamaru.”  Chouji grinned, throwing an affectionate arm around her.

“Come on they can’t be that bad.” After taking a bite his expression matched hers as she sent him an amused look.

“Why would you people let me make these things every year?”  That cookie was absolutely disgusting.  

“It’s a tradition. Besides you just usually ended up eating everyone’s cookies while we kindly fed yours to the trash can.” Chouji explained 

“Ugh fine, Tem let me try one of yours then.” She gladly handed one over, and the delicious flavors floored him.

“Is there anything you’re not good at?”  She grinned, flicking her hair over her shoulders. 

“Probably not.” 

The other two couples watched them with delighted eyes. Their teasing jabs, casual touches, and heated looks were signatures of a couple that was in love. 

“How have we never met her before?”  Sai whispered to Ino. His Love was the mother hen of their group. If Shikamaru had been seeing someone she’d have been the first to know. 

“I don’t know. He clearly knew how to keep her a secret and I’ve been busy with work. Oh well. She’s here now and he’s happy.”  Was there much else she could ask for her friend? 

“These are delicious!” Temari groaned happily taking a bite of a snowman shaped cookie. Shikamaru just smiled at the bright and content look across her face.

“Let me get that.” Shikamaru’s thumb moved towards her mouth to rub away some red icing. 

His thumb lightly traced along the soft skin of her bottom lip while Temari held her breath. His hand curved around her chin slowly moving her face towards his. 

Temari’s eyes looked up, meeting his gaze before he dropped his hand in surprise. 

“I got it.” 

“Thanks.”

“Ahem, well all this sexual tension is really hot so why don’t we finish up here so I can go fuck my husband,”  Ino announced shamelessly. Shikamaru rolled his eyes but appreciated that the attention was no longer on him.  

They cleaned up and packed up all the treats they made except Shikamaru’s. Karui gave Temari a full batch of her famous cookies to take home with her. 

After their moment in the kitchen, Temari intentionally tried to keep some distance between herself and Shikamaru. Her feelings toward him were already confusing. Each moment they shared together was only making it worse. She didn’t know how many more almost-kisses she could take. 

“Drinks tonight!”  Ino announced her great idea before everyone left.

“Ino-“

Ino leveled Shikamaru with a look. “No, you’re not invited. Just me Karui and Temari.  You and the boys can stay home.”

“I don’t-“ 

Temari placed a hand on his arm. “Shikamaru, it’s okay. Ino I’d love to.”

“You’re so much more fun than him. Okay, I'll pick you up tonight.”

—

“You know you didn’t have to agree right.”  Drinking with Ino could be classified as an extreme sport. 

Temari rolled her eyes “Come on. I’ve only known her for a few days, it’s obvious that you can’t say no to that girl. Besides, it would look really weird if I didn’t want to hang out with your friends. I promise I won’t say anything that will reveal our secret. I’ll be fine.” 

Turns out that high altitude and strong drinks were a lethal combination. 

“I really like him!”  Temari complained out loud. She wasn’t sure how many drinks in she was but she was feeling giggly and happy. 

Karui laughed while taking another drink. “Of course you do, he’s your boyfriend!”

“He’s so annoyingly handsome and he’s smart, that's so hot,”  Temari complained with a frown. 

“We need to make this a new tradition! Drinks with the girls on Christmas Eve, eve!” Ino declared and they raised their glasses in agreement. 

Ino threw her arms around Temari.  “I’m glad he met you! There were some real bitches that were trying.” 

Temari’s eyes sharpened “Where are they? Shikamaru is mine! I’ll kill them.” 

Karui’s fist tightened. “Ya let’s go get them!” 

Ino stood up before sitting right back down. “Wait, I can’t drive. Let me call Sai and then we will go get those bitches! “ 

--

“Hello?”  Shikamaru groaned answering his phone. He’d text Temari a few hours ago and she assured him that she was fine. With nothing else to do, he’d gone to bed. 

“Hey, Choji and I are coming to get you. My girl got your girlfriend and Karui drunk. This isn’t a job for one person.” Sai explained on the other line. 

Shikamaru sighed, how did he know this would happen. “Of course she fucking did. Okay, I'll be ready.” 

—

The girls were the loudest in there and would have probably been kicked out if everyone didn’t know who they were. 

Temari stumbled into Shikamaru’s arms with a grin. 

“You okay Tem?”

“Yes! Ino gave me a drink that tasted like a cookie. Now we are going to go after all those bitches that tried to hook up with Shikamaru.” 

He rubbed at his tired face.  In her drunken haze, she didn’t seem to recognize him.  Chouji and Sai both had their hands full too. “We don’t have to do that.” 

“Yes, we do! He’s mine, they need to know.”

“It’s okay Tem. He knows that you are his too.”

An adorable but unsure look crossed her face.  “Shh, that’s a secret. Don’t tell Shikamaru that I think he’s cute.” 

He grinned amusedly. “Okay I won’t, ready to go home?  I’m sure Shikamaru misses you.”

“Yes!”

“Sai! I want to keep drinking.” 

“Beautiful I think it’s time to go.” Sai tried to reason with her. 

Ino stomped her foot. “You never let me do anything I want.” She pouted. They all knew that was a lie. 

Temari intervened and wrapped her arms around Ino. “Ino, stop I want to go home. I miss Shikamaru.” 

The other blonde perked up and nodded. “Okay, let’s go.” 

Chouji already had Karui asleep on his back.

Shikamaru drove Ino’s car back while Sai and Chouji took the other. Temari was sitting content in the passenger side with a grin on her face. 

“Do you think that Shikamaru likes me?”  She wondered out loud. He was still amused that she didn’t realize who he was.  

“You don’t think he does?” 

Temari shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s so fast but he makes me feel special.  I feel all floaty when I’m around him.  He could have anyone though. Why me?”

His hand reached out to hold hers comfortingly. “Because you’re you. That’s enough for him.”

Her loopy grin was far too cute.  “Thank you, stranger. I think I really like him too.” She leaned her head against the window and with that he heard her breathing even out. 

Temari had unknowingly pushed him to face his feelings about her. She was someone different that was for sure. Beautiful, kind, smart, and wonderful. 

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Their arrangement was only meant to last for a few days, easy and simple.  Sing some carols, eat a few meals together. That was it. Now though, his heart felt tied up in knots. 

This wasn’t realistic. You didn’t just fall for someone after knowing them for a few days. He’d gone his entire life never feeling this way about anyone. And yet Temari had so easily brought these emotions to the surface in such a short amount of time. 

This couldn’t be real? He was just getting caught up in Christmas and being home. In a few days, everything would be back to normal and life could continue on. 

—

“Why are you up?” 

Shikamaru looked up seeing his father standing there. “I just got back. Ino got Temari drunk so she's sleeping it off right now.”  Shikaku just chuckled and took his spot across the Shogi board from his son. 

“It’s been nice having you home Shikamaru.” 

“I, I’m sorry I know I haven’t been home much.” 

“I understand, I don’t particularly like it but I get it. Your mother though.” 

“I know.” 

Shikaku moved his piece before looking out towards the forest. “I haven’t seen her smile as much as she has the last few days. Having the house filled with people and laughter.  You and Temari helped me give her back her smile.” 

“Dad…” Shikamaru struggled with not revealing the truth and just admitting everything. 

“I’m not trying to pressure you. That’s your mother’s domain. I’ll just say that if you can find someone that can make you smile, who pushes you to be better, that inspires and supports you. Well, don’t let them go.  You’re my son, that’s enough. I’m proud of you regardless of what you’ve accomplished not because of them. The Nara name is safe with you.”  

They played well into the night. As busy as his father was when he was younger he was always up for a game of Shogi. For Shikamaru, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d let himself play.  It was a sobering realization. 

Shikamaru made his way back to the room thinking about what his next moves would be. He couldn’t imagine on the 26th returning back to his busy lonely life. The world wouldn’t end if he stepped away from the fast-paced existence he’d built for himself.  The new year would bring with it a new and better way of living. What remained to be seen was who would be standing next to him. 

“Temari?”  He was surprised to see her sitting up holding onto his stuffed deer. 

“I woke up and didn’t find you here. I got worried.”  She admitted.

He nodded and settled under the covers before pulling her in close. His hand rubbed up and down along her back.  Temari sank into his warmth. 

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, I took the medicine and water you left out. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” 

“I didn’t say anything embarrassing did I?” When she drank she knew that she became loud and talkative.

“Nothing too bad, just that you think I’m cute.”  He replied with a cheeky grin. 

Even in the dark, he could make out the blush across her cheeks  “Oh my God.” She ducked her warm face against his chest. 

“You, Ino, and Karui were also planning on going after anyone that tried to date me in the past.” 

“Ahh! Say no more.”  He chuckled pulling her in close. 

There was a little more but he’d keep that information to himself for now.  “Christmas Cookie cocktails will make anyone a little loopy.  Thanks for going out with them.”  He never thought about how important it would be for his significant other to get along with his friends.  

“They’re both great, in another lifetime I’m sure that we would be great friends.”  It could be this lifetime but that wasn’t the case. 

“Get some sleep Tem, it’s Christmas Eve, we'll have a busy day.” 

Christmas Eve, their last day together. Their inevitable end.

Temari reached up to place a soft kiss against his cheek.  Her lips lingered against his skin for just a little longer.  

“Good night Shikamaru.” 

*

**

Please Have Snow and Mistletoe 

Chapter 1:  Flight 4XMAS

Chapter 2: A Scene from a Snowglobe

Chapter 3: Sweeter than a Sugar Plum 

*

**

I want to believe that in the Naruto-verse the InoShikaCho moms all hang out.  I’m working on the last two chapters right now because I want them to be out by Christmas.  Alas, I’m a procrastinator and have gifts to wrap too so :fingers crossed: it all comes out on time.  Again, my sincere thanks for your support my sweet loves.  

[steeltoss]

Pre Shippuden — Shippuden Era

Ages 16 - 22. This is a continuation of the events in Hokkaido's life.

Age 16

I left off on her six month mission in Konohagakure. Backtracking a few months before she turned sixteen, she worked directly under Tsunade Senju amd had slowly reconnected with her old friends, including Neji Hyūga, Kiba Inuzuka, Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akamichi.

That being said, her sixteenth birthday was spent in the Hidden Leaf. The party was small and planned by Ino, complete with a few cupcakes and dango. This was the first birthday she enjoyed after Emi passed away.

Speaking of Emi, Hokkaido constantly worried over Ichika and often wrote letters to the younger one. After all, next year Ichika would start the Amegakure Academy.

Aside from her mission, nothing too big happened this year. Though she found out Sasuke was missing. He had become a Rogue Ninja. Okay that's pretty big but still.

Age 17

Upon her journey towards Amegakure after the six months had passed, the Kunoichi had taken it into her own hands to search for Sasuke. She strayed off the path she should have been taking to go to the Hidden Rain Village.

From here, she runs into some nasty company.

This was the first time she met Pein and Konan. And they looked like they were ready to end her.

Upon activating her sharingan, interest was sparked in her by Pein. She was spared on one condition. Well a few, but one big one.

She was to join the Akatsuki, accept the Rogue life and abandon her old life. This would mean abandoning the Hidden Rain and Ichika.

But on the other hand, maybe she could find Sasuke. She had no clue just how wrong she was. But she agreed nonetheless.

So she was taken back to the base, fron there, she met the other members.

Okay don't kill me but here's what happens when she first meets the Akatsuki: [her opinion and relationships will change over time]

Pein: Of course when they first met, she was intimidated and activated her sharingan, but being spared and hopefully brought closer to her brother, she would do anything he asked, for now at least.

Konan: Seeing her special skills, Hokkaido was intimidated but wouldn't admit so. She seems to be the only female here.

Deidara: I'm sorry Dei, but my little angel thought you were a very beautiful lady until you spoke the first time. Needless to say, she was rather shocked but admired his hair and explosives anyway.

Kakuzu: one word. Fear. This man is huge and crazy tall, also his personality reminds her of what its like to bite into a crabapple.

Hidan: she admired his dedication, but didn't like how he greeted her with “Fuck, there's another one? At least this one has a decent rack”. She punched him. And threatened his life only to find out he's immortal.

Tobi: well, he's very hyper and welcoming at least, but she wondered why he wore that mask.

Kisame: is he a man? Shark? Man-Shark? Either way, she kept a distance and admired his strength from afar.

Sasori: puppets are completely and utterly horrifying and she wanted nothing to do with this weird puppet man. Until she saw how red his hair was and her cheeks dusted a pale pink. It reminded her of someone she met a few years ago.

Itachi: . . . Her brother. Her brother, who had killed the clan was in the Akatsuki. Upon seeing him, she wondered if it was too late to leave the Akatsuki. She rurned her nose away and sighed.

Zetsu: “are you a. . . Big, adorable plant man?” i think it's safe to say Zetsu stared at her and quite possibly closed his trap around himself to save himself the embarrassment or black Zetsu threatening to eat her.

Back to Age 17

Sasuke wasn't with them, and she felt like shutting down completely. She was now at square one again. She had hoped this was her ticket to helping her brother, but ahe didnt know he didn't want help.

And honestly, you can't help someone who doesn't want any help.

Aside from her mind overworking, she now had to face Itachi as he was staring her down.

“hey, Itachi... ”

From there, the two walked around as he explained what really happened that day. She was torn. The Leaf had ordered this massacre?

Maybe she wasn't ready to go home after all.

Age 18

On her eighteenth birthday, she had spent her very first one with Itachi in nine years, and she oncr again, was crying those sappy happy little tears.

She never really expected a group of terrorists to the villages to get her gifts, yet they had.

Konan had gotten her a pair of fingerless gloves; Hokkaido appreciated the gesture because her hands were usually cold and Konan usually got things she needed or wanted anyway as the two had become closer.

Kisame had given her her very first katana, which, she undeniably adored the gesture; and she was extremely pink cheeked, she wasn't in love with him but she really liked his caring and understanding attitude.

Tobi had gotten her a mask to match his, which she never would wear; instead, she retaliated with offering to share dango with him instead. Which results in him squealing.

Sasori had claimed he didn't give a damn about things she wanted but still placed a small wooden figure of well, GAARA, in front of her; which led to the idea he had read her diary and had fully embarrassed her. But this little figure was different. Gaara was dressed as the Kazekage.

Deidara had picked her up some paint; remembering she hsd spent endless nights she couldn't sleep to paint her ceilinv and walls, and was out of it.

Zetsu uh, well, gave her a few seeds for flowers. It was for a joke since he figured she would never use them, but she held o to them. Just wait. These gifts will be brought up later.

Kakuzu, and i can't stress this enough, didn't do shit.

Hidan, on the other hand, tried offering immortality if she converted to jashinism.

Itachi had saved his for last. He had gotten her a journal and pens, as well as her stuffed panda from Amegakure.

A part of being an official member of the Akatsuki meant missions. And she had completed several, but what made her panic would be the one where the hunt for Jinchuuriki began.

It was a silent battle with herself. She had already dedicated herself to the Akatsuki but she knew two Jinchuuriki. Gaara and Naruto.

The day Gaara's One Tail was extracted, she covered her mouth upon hearing those certain words.

“He's dead”.

As if she had been hoping her life wouldn't get worse, she had already made up her mind. She really, really despised Deidara now. And she knew she would be killed if she straight up abandoned post.

However, on her next solo mission, she managed to leave a scroll for the Hokage and wanted word passed silently between the Five Kage's. She was playing both sides as of now, but desperately wanted out.

Would they believe her?

No. Not yet at least.

Age 19

Silence. She had succumbed herself with silence, almost like a vow she had taken. Deidara, Sasori, they were dead and war was coming.

She promised herself she would hate Deidara for what he did to Gaara, but she couldn't help but feel pity. Deidara was only a teenager when he died. [I think he was nineteen?]

With the Fourth Shinobi War coming, she was scared. Having no idea what to even do, Hokkaido assumed she would die.

Because I'm a lil bitch, I'm making you wait until she turns 20 for more details.

Age 20

The Akatsuki was no more. Almost all had died, and Hokkaido felt a slight empty feeling in her heart as she sat in front of the Five Kage's.

This was judgement. Would she be allowed to repent and become a better person or be banished forever, or die? Her mind was going wild.

Though, she couldn't help the feeling of ease as she saw Gaara, the Kazekage and boy she used to know, standing and perfectly fine.

“During the time of my extraction, I could see she wanted nothing to do with the Akatsuki organization. She looked almost forced to be there”.

The words Gaara spoke made her face turn pink and look away. Why was he trying to help her when she had fallen into the wrong group of people?

As if she hadn't already felt like she had succumbed herself in a repetitive cycle of falling for Gaara each day she thought about it, him helping her only dragged her deeper into the pit.

And Kami, he was so beautiful.

“and I'd like to offer that if you don't trust her, that's fine. She can return to Suna with me and Kankurō. She can build herself from there”.

So she moves to Suna and begins working on herself as a person, much of the things she had thought about was the very questions Gaara had asked along the way.

“why help me?” she had asked, the gaze he gave her was hard but he responded with: “you aren't the only one who was in the wrong. It would be wrong of anyone to not let you change yourself. I was given a chance and was once feared and hated, so can you answer this for me, do you wamt to live? Do you want to start a new beginning? If so, keep walking with us”.

And so she walked.

Age 21

Life in Suna was much different than the Hidden Rain or Leaf. Not many people would contact her or look her way for the first few days. After all she was an outsider and reformed terrorist.

Hokkaido had grown close to Temari once more, as well as Kankurō. These two, when free, helped her with the adjustment.

Hokkaido had left Amegakure behind, the ache in her heart subsiding as she realized Ichika had grown into a decent young child and chose to not become a shinobi, considering shinobi had too many hardships and heartaches to deal with.

As for Gaara, the two often spent time gardening and cultivating cacti.

Something from the past had finally been planted. The flower seeds Zetsu had given her way back on her birthday spent with the Akatsuki.

The katana that Kisame had given her was placed on a display.

Her Traditional Japanese Sword Display

The katana which is the most recognized full sized samurai sword and is often the first piece in any collection. It sits at the bottom and has a beautiful violet ito handle wrap.

The second would be the wakizashi which is a mid-sized sword that resembles the katana and the ito handle wrap was midnight blue.

Then the third which is a tanto. The tanto is the shortest of the swords or in many examples can be as short as today's standard survival styled knife. The ito wrap is black.

This is an example of how the stand is:

Age 21

The mask Tobi had given her had brought up bitter memories and had long sense been tossed into a storage box.

Her fingerless gloves had been destroyed during the war, but since she used them for swordplay, Temari had gotten her a new pair as a gift.

The wooden figure Sasori had given her of Gaara was more or less embarassing since she lived with the sand siblings and had hidden it away in the storage box.

Her panda sat on her bed, displayed and untouched except for during the night.

Age 22

Upon the next year, Hokkaido watched as relationships blossomed between many people, marriages and children coming into the world, she began wondering if she would ever have something like this in her own life. She highly doubted it.

Having been back and forth from Konohagakure, she grew closer to Shikamaru once more from childhood as she often joined the male and Temari on days they'd spend time together.

Other times, Hokkaido would stick to Kankurō and help with making puppets, she rather enjoyed painting them.

And occasionally, when Gaara was free, the two would still garden together and had began talking more, sometimes the two would even go out to the village and walk around together.

Her feelings for Gaara seemed to only hrow stronger as she had grown older, and she imagined herself having a future with him. It always made her heart hammer and her face turn blood red.

This year, she had cut most of her hair off to her shoulders as it had grown too long. She soon admits her feelings to Gaara, unsurprisingly, he was silent.

She most definitely assumed she blew it, but nearly a week later, Gaara had shyly asked if she would allow him to court her.

This was most definitely the beginning of a new and beautiful relationship.

I'll pick up with pre boruto - boruto era soon. Though im not sure if these are even good. @temarihime @thefifthkazekage @how-troublesome @houndninja

[acefrogmonarch]

Headcanons pt.4

Middle school and early high school

I know American class but also Japanese class schedules. I don’t know if I want either or a hybrid.

Based off this post (If i can find it)

Naruto-band

Shikamaru has a knack for playing the drums, but he's never serious about it. He plays the drums because the systematic rhythm helps him think of strategies for shoji.

Has been asked multiple times to join the jazz band in Spring. He refuses everytime because it cuts his time in shoji, but once he gets his own cubie in the band hall he sets up his shoji board and plays it when he has free time.

Hinata has played the violin but hates the way her fingers hurt after being forced to play for long hours.

So she seeks asylum in the band hall, and has secretly taken lessons how to play the saxophone. It's her favorite of all the wind instruments.

She has been asked to join the spring jazz band, despite not being an actual member. She easily took the first chair when they were evaluating their skills.

Choji has been following a senior that's been teaching him the guitar, he's in the brass section playing the tuba. Has been asked to replace the senior when he gets older and wants to.

Naruto is in the brass section with Kiba but only Kiba is the trumpet player. Naruto is a trombone player and tells dad jokes. He didn’t fit the mold of a trumpet player but he still loves it regardless.

But his energy is definitely on par, if not greater than the rest. He will always cheer up everyone around him and is a part of the cheerleading squad.

Hates that there aren't anyone other guys. He just wants to flip off someone's shoulders. Damnit! 

He's flipped off Sasuke's and Shikamaru's shoulders before. In Sasuke's case, it was during elementary/primary. They were on the playground and this was Naruto’s second ever attempt to land a backflip. They couldn’t do it because the teacher caught them when a group started forming and they started betting their snacks from lunch to see if Naruto failed or not.

They continued their promise after school and Naruto broke his arm, but he did do it right after. He ate like a King the next day. It was great for him.

The first time Naruto did it was completely by accident and because he was so excited that he got a trampoline.

He’s never taken gymnasium classes before and has not seen a backflip before. But he somehow did it. It still shocks his parent’s to this day. Sasuke and him are neighbors and he came over to see what Naruto was so happy about.

Sasuke came just in time to see him do it. It was the greatest moment of his life because then Naruto tried to do it again and fell flat on his face. 

In shikamaru’s case it was during middle school and they were next to the pool. They were at Sasuke’s house for the day because he had a cool deck and pool.

Naruto wanted to jump off his shoulders into the pool. Shikamaru agreed because he didn’t think Naruto could actually do it. He realized his mistake when Naruto beamed in total confidence and Sasuke moved away from the pair.

Naruto didn’t do his back flip because Shikamaru moved the second Naruto decided to jump, without warning.

Needless to say, Shikamaru didn’t support his legs enough and Naruto accidently kicked him in the chin. Naruto ended up on the pool, back first, and Shikamaru fell on his ass.

Naruto swims up to the edge of the pool and looks at Sasuke, trying so hard not to laugh.

Naruto: Did I do it?!

Sasuke, trying to reclaim his composer: No, not at all.

Shikamaru, on the ground rubbing his chin: How did you even hit me!?

Naruto: Again!

Shikamaru: No!

Sasuke, running inside to get a camera or phone to record it: Yes!

Naruto is sometimes very confused as to why he is going to a house, when he has an apartment and his milk is about to expire! Also, his stash of untouched ramen!

Kushina: Naruto, sweetie. Where are you going?

Naruto: My apartment!

Minato: Naruto, we have a house.

Naruto: What’s that? Is it edible?

Kushina: Sometimes. During winter.

Naruto: Why winter?

Kushina: There are houses made of cookies.

Naruto: Really?!

Kushina, nodding along: Yup!

Anyway after High school they sometimes played together. Naruto had to buy a new entire trumpet because he rented from the school. Hinata bought her saxophone and has kept it under maintenance.

Shikamaru’s parents bought him his drum set and he learned how to play on his own. Choji does keep up with his guitar lessons but he did save up alot to get his electric guitar and a bass.

Card games

Hinata, Sasuke, and Shikamaru cannot play competitive and strategic card/board games. Scrabble, poker, 21, War, Bullshit is off the list. A Lot of decks, mostly up to 3 at a time and they are very distinguished between all of them.

Sakura refuses to play but does rude commentary to any group she is overseeing. Usually magic, because of Sasuke.

Choji doesn’t play anything but he does place bets on who would win with his snacks.

Magic the gathering.

Sasuke, Itachi played. Black Commander Deck

Sai, again his older brother. Green and Black Commander Deck.

Tenten; She found it and didn’t want something that Lee and Neji enjoy. Standard White and Blue Deck.

Yu-gi-oh.

Hinata; only because Neji played. Silent Magician Deck

Neji; because Lee played. He didn’t want to seem stupid. Hero elemental deck

Lee, he just likes the anime. But does have Yusei’s deck

Ino, she likes the pictures on Toon town and they let her do whatever but to some extent.

Both. 

Kiba; Rarely, Magic first. Green and Red Commander. Gear deck

Naruto; Rarely, yugioh first Odd-eyes deck and Black and White Standard Deck.

Kiba, dissing on Yugioh.

Naruto: Shut up, your mother buys you mega blocks instead of legos.

Hinata and Sasuke are both petty about each other’s card games. They each have respective sleeves and taunt each other, constantly.

Neji and Lee look at Tenten on the magic side and hate that she betrayed them. She’s just glad that they don't harp on her in her card game.

Pokemon.

Shikamaru, because no one knows how to fucking play.

Shino only collects the cards.

Shino showing Shikamaru his deck.

Hinata: Oh, are you playing?

Shino: You can play it?

Shikamaru has tried to teach Shino. Shino doesn’t sleeve his cards and when they take damage, he puts some non wet, non greasy food on his card.

Once the pokemon dies, Shino eats the snack. There are crumbs everywhere and Shikamaru’s pet peeve is being messy. Shikamaru appreciates Hinata’s and Sasuke’s sleeves.

Shows

Ino loves Reality TV and other things. But hates the Kardasians. Loves Rupaul drag race.

Sai is often encouraged by Ino to watch anime around her and he also finds anime that she thinks he hasn’t seen.

Sai has brought up Keeping up with the Kardasians and it was a mistake, he thought she would like it.

Ino: The Kardaisians are garbage and Kyle Jenner is a fake as hoe!

Sakura, from another room, hearing Ino rant: Did someone bring up the Kardasians?

Sai: Yeah.

Ino: Never do that again dear.

Sai: Got it sweetheart.

Ino has never actually called any other of her partners by a pet name but she does with Sai and they act like a married couple sometimes. They never talked about it. I mean they have shared stuff about each other that no one else knows. Coming out to each other, learning together because they both feel safe and comfortable with each other. Trust each other a lot.

Elementary bus crew.

Morning

Konoha 12 except Hinata

Naruto was so used to being independent that he has left his house on his own for school. It has freaked his parents more than once but they just watch over him as he goes to school.

Naruto always spots a red haired kid on the opposite of his bus stop with two older people that he holds their hands. Naruto always waves at him and waits until the day he waves back.

Gaara is very affected by his past life, like he was carving the kanji for love when his mom walked in because Temari tried to stop it but couldn’t take the blade away from him. She got slashed on her arm as a result.

Karura walks in and gasps softly.

Karura: Gaara sweetie.

Gaara: Mama, you're alive?

Karura: Of course. Please put the knife down.

Gaara: Knife?

Gaara completes carving in perfect kanji and stops once he completes it. Then the pain registrator for him

Choji is allergic to mustard, he found out in elementary and by accident. Shikamaru went to the teacher and Hinata stayed with Choji because he was rubbing his face and making his hives worse.

Afternoon

Rest of the Konoha 12 except (Hinata Neji and Shikamaru) No Sai yet.

Middle school. Bus Crew

Morning

Konoha 12 except Hinata, Ino, and Sakura

Afternoon

Konoha 12 Except Hinata, Tenten, Neji and Sasuke

High school bus crew.

Morning

Hinata was too scared to do it on her own in elementary, she tried in middle school and failed, but she succeeded in high school. She has to wake up an extra hour and walk to her stop but she doesn’t after freshman year. She got used to it

Afternoon

Everyone unless they have clubs, even then there is an after after school bus.

Hinata and Neji are on the richer side of town and everyone in middle school often joked about how they are on the west side while everyone else is on the east side.

They all meet on sports day. The other schools were pitted against each other east versus west.

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto were in a group together and were mocking Neji from a distance.

Naruto: Ew, is that a West sider?!

Sakura: Is that a boy or girl?

Naruto: It doesn’t matter! It’s a west sider!

Hinata from behind them, joins in.

Hinata: Ew a west sider.

Naruto, turning around: You got that r-

Hinata a carbon copy of the guy they were mocking.

Naruto: AH!!! They got us from behind!

Hinata blushes: Naruto-kun 

Naruto: Oh, it’s just you Hinata.

They don’t know each other at this point, Sasuke and Sakura look bamboozled at their interaction.

Hinata is going to therapy for this because her parents are worried and she just wants a break from the whole past life stuff.

Hinata sighs to herself: Not again

Hinata walks off towards where Neji is and leaves Naruto in her wake.

Naruto’s motto: We are here to cause some ruckus, then DIP!!!

[variablejabberwocky]

on a more serious note...

realizing that if a story isn’t fluff or fix-it fic then im really just...not interested anymore

like canon is so fucking depressing that even just alternate canon in the sense of different team compositions (and similar “canon-ish, but what-if” stories) is also depressing

like, honestly? none of the genin should have graduated

ino, shikamaru, choji, and shino know basically 0 taijutsu, 0 ninjutsu, and 0 genjutsu. they’re relying almost entirely on their family name and said family’s hidden techniques, of which there aren’t many

kiba and hinata are slightly better knowing at least a little taijutsu along side their clan’s special techniques

sasuke should never have been allowed to continue at the academy after the massacre without at least having mandatory therapy/counselling sessions at the same time. he also should never have graduated without coming back with a clear psych eval instead of his VERY BLATANT flight risk/unstable clusterfuck of a brain he had in canon

sakura should never have graduated, period. hell, NO ONE should ever graduate on purely written test scores when you are training to become a ninja. ninja’s are active. they have to be able to do SOMETHING physical even if its just dodging and running away. either that or graduate immediately into a desk genin position...which would still prolly require physical ability since they’re too low rank to have clearance for much paperwork so would prolly act as in-village runners and messengers instead. if she knew some actual ninjutsu or genjutsu in addition to all the theorywork then maybe she could have passed...as one of the worst students in that class, not the “top kunoichi”

(at least with lee and gai they can do the physical aspect just fine and that INCLUDES taijutsu, an actual ninja skillset, so it makes sense to allow someone like them to pass but not someone like sakura who doesn’t know basically anything other than theory and history and rules. i mean fucking hell being an expert in art history and theory doesn’t make you an artist, so why the fuck would being knowledgeable in ninja history and theory make you a fucking ninja???)

and naruto? holy shit. either get him a private tutor like konohamaru got or get him out of that fucking village. or just don’t enter him into the ninja academy at all and get his hopes up only to crush them again even more violently than you already have. you seriously expect a starving, abused, neglected, under-equipped, uneducated, and almost homeless 5 year old to keep up with the goddamn clan heirs? really. his teachers abuse him. the one fucking person who gives any shit about him before he enters school abuses him. his classmates abuse him. his teammates abuse him. his jounin sensei abuses him. all three of the fucking sanin abuse him. hell, the people who’ve been the kindest and most compassionate to him? two chakra impressions of dead parents he barely even met and a fox demon that’s being blackmailed into helping him until stockholm syndrom kicks in and he begrudgingly becomes naruto’s friend

honestly? naruto might have been better off if kumo-nin kidnapped him as a toddler instead of going after hinata and isn’t that just fucking sad. kidnapped, kidnapped, being better than staying in the village of your birth that your parents died to save

even worse? naruto only failed the graduation exams because of a chakra issue beyond his control he’s had since birth. the same kind of thing lee’s got going on just in a different direction. something there is already a precedent of the teachers taking into account, unless gai got lee out of there by taking him on as an apprentice first, then adding teammates later. something that could have been at least minimized (or worked around) with some actual fucking compassion and explanation instead of what naruto got. so him not passing? pure bigotry.

the supposed “deadlast” should have graduated three exams earlier

even hotter take? any education system that promotes there being a “top student/rookie of the year” and a “deadlast” is fundamentally flawed and counter-intuitive for its goddamn stated purpose

ffs naruto may have been treated ever so slightly better if danzo of all people had gotten his grubby mitts on him instead. THATS how fucked up the village AND the academy is towards naruto

and none of that even really gets into the meaty bits of why the academy is a complete and total failure, OR the other things i was gonna complain about, but this is already long enough as-is

[vesperlionheart]

Pompeii 45

She had an invitation for an interview at the end of the week, and the clinic was only a two hour drive away. Shizune was lending her a car and Sakura had spoken to the boys about it. Neither liked the sound of it, but they had to admit that a two hour commute was better than moving out of Pompeii where they were most comfortable moving around and being themselves.

Neither Sai nor Yamato had an overwhelming love for Pompeii, but as much as they denied it, Sakura knew that Pompeii was where they felt the most on top of things. If they left the place where Tengu and Kitsune could walk openly through the streets and not fear human persecution it would mean learning to live in hiding. She didn’t want them to have to go through that, so she had been purposeful in searching for places that would take her close to the limits of Pompeii’s boundaries.

She needed a source of income. She couldn’t get by much further without one and it was killing her inside to have to forgo the gift giving season for financial reasons. It was so stupid to admit, but with everything piled on top of each other, the spare cash for presents wasn’t there and she was reduced to old fashioned, silly coupon books and cookies.

God she was nearly out of flour too. Soon she’d be stuck with ramen again. What sort of doctor lived off ramen out of med school?

Sakura hated how ashamed she felt.

She loved Sai and Yamato and wanted to bless them, wanted to treat them right and show them as much kindness as they had shown her.

With a frustrated grunt Sakura pulled out a box of old, mostly forgotten, art supplies that were mostly dried up and old. She couldn’t make art like Sai could, but she did have one or two hidden talents she could put to use if she remembered how to utilize them.

Sakura prepped a piece of parchment and tested out the calligraphy pen on some scratch journal paper. She practiced the words a few times, unsatisfied with the results until the fifth page. She remembered the feel of the flowing script and wrote out her words again and again until she was positive she had it down.

Your arms like branches encircle me And I am made well in the shade of your love

The first poem was finished without issue, and Sakura was worried her good luck wouldn’t hold for the second poem, but karma must not have been a bitch just then because the second poem came out just as she had hoped it would.

Sakura blew on the ink until the gloss was gone and dried. She then hid the poems in the pages of a book and set that book aside under her table. The noon day sun was up and she felt like she had finally done something productive in the morning. She never got patients anymore, but at least she had accomplished something.  

She would never think anyone silly for complaining about lack of work again. Her mind was ready to go numb from the disuse. If she didn’t have the castaways to help out she didn’t know how she’d manage to hold onto her sanity.

Kin and the others were still a little weary of her, especially after hearing about the town hall concerns, but the more the Senju vilified Sakura, the more Kin and the others seemed to welcome her. They might suspect her to be more dangerous than appearances suggest, but they didn’t hate her or think her the great evil the rest of Pompeii thought her to be.

“The Senju are all liars anyway. You have to look at where they are in the hierarchy and ask yourself how they’ve managed to maintain that much power for so long. No one at the top is there without a little blood on their hands or sin in their shadow,” Dosu had scoffed one day when Sakura came to bring them books and magazines.

“The world needs villains in order to make heroes and the Senju have always been heroes, even when there was no evil,” added Kin.

Sakura remembered being nervous, licking her lips, and then voicing her thoughts to the group. “What do you think I am?”

Kin had stared up over the edge of the magazine that was seven months old and a little battered around the edges. Her stare was half lidded and lacking the energy to be piercing. “You’re neither. You’re just a person. Don’t be so full of yourself.”

Sakura couldn’t help but like Kin for her attitude.

She had more magazines and some books she could take down to them. It was better than hanging out in her house for another day, waiting for the hours to pass before Sai came home from work and Yamato came home from the errands Sakura could no longer safely go out and complete. (The grocery store run was a suicide mission in her mind.)

Sakura dressed for the cold, noting that last year she needed almost twice as many layers. Maybe it was global warming or something else, but Pompeii was unusually warm in ways even she noticed.

She left out the back and had her hands stuffed deep in her pockets when she heard the shouting two blocks over. Like other times, the streets were mostly empty, but there wasn’t supposed to be a town hall meeting...at least...not one that she knew of. Tsunade had been kind enough to keep her up to date on such political maneuverings so far.

Sakura ducked into the shadows and pressed herself close to the side of a building. The voices sounded stationary, circling around a central point. They were loud and angry and the sort of voices Sakura wanted to avoid. Sai wasn’t anywhere nearby and Yamato...she wasn’t sure. If she left now there was a chance she’d be seen. Had she already been seen? They were close enough to hear, maybe they had heard her already.

She smelled something strong and nearly gagged as the accelerent burned with a roaring woosh. There were a few cheers and then some more angry screaming. Sakura hated the part of her that couldn’t help but be curious.

Curiosity killed the cat-

Sakura edged around the corner of the building to see the back of the crowd lighting a stray man, a literal man made out of straw, on fire. Inside the burning man there were branches, flowering branches with the blossoms dripping with flame. The straw wasn’t stray, but bleached wood. Around the head of the effigy was a grown of blossoms trailing in pink layers.  

At the front of the circle Shikamaru and Choji stood there, glaring at the flames. Sakura recognized Kankuro and Temari, remembering how Gaara had fallen sick not too long ago. Shino was there too, hanging close to the back with the collar of his hood popped. There were others she didn’t recognize except by their faces from moments in passing, but the ones she did remember hurt so much worse.  

“Look at it, it’s not even burning right. The wood ain’t natural,” someone screamed before throwing another bottle at the burning body. “Bitch, burn!”

-But satisfaction brought it back.  

Behind the effigy on the wall in graffiti streaks were the words she had been seeing all around the clinic on the outside walls in different strokes. ‘Burn the disease’ ‘Purge the outsider’ ‘drive out the sickness’ ‘Plague bitch.’

“What are they doing still talking about it? Pretty soon there won’t be anyone left. My old man’s out of it now.”

“My parents too. The neighbors said their kid was sick with fever this week too. It’s everywhere.”

“It’s too many places for them to be doing nothing about it,” Kankuro bit, voice deep and angry. It was then she remembered that Tenten had also fallen ill. Hadn’t Kankuro fancied her?

Shikamaru lifted something to his lips and the lit the end up, smoking a thin white roll of tobacco. “Naruto isn’t even waking up anymore. Pretty soon that will be everyone who got touched by it.”

“And Ino…”

Choji’s words were harder to hear, but they made her heart fall like a lead weight in her chest. She nearly lost her footing as the shock and horror washed over her. Ino? She hadn’t heard about Ino. She hadn’t known....

“I’m not going to listen to them any longer. They know it just like we know it, so I’m going to do something about it!” One of the citizens Sakura couldn’t name spoke up. He pointed to the burning body and snarled. “She’ll burn better than these cursed trees.”

Too many more voices roared in agreement. Kankuro looked ready to march along with them when only a year ago he had looked so happy just to see her visiting Gaara. Even Temari looked ready to draw blood for the sake of her youngest brother.

Someone threw something at the burning body and Sakura saw it was a cinder block. It sailed through the air and landed on the twigs, tearing it down from the post into a pile on the ground at a young woman’s feet. She screeched and stomped at it and the sound of cracking branches sounded louder as her efforts were aided by another pair of stomping shoes.

The twigs were in pieces but still smoldering as the group started to turn, rallying behind a cry that sounded familiar in a way she didn’t want to know.

Sakura braced against the wall, safe in the shadows, watching the group move like the mob she knew them to be. A mob hungry for her blood.

They didn’t get far before a gust shrieked through the air and shoved the first few bodies up and over the heads of those behind them. There was tumbling and flailing limbs before the front row was upright and looking at the body of the man responsible.

“You!” Temari hissed, reaching for her brother. She grabbed for Kankuro and helped him up. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be gone from Pompeii.”

Pein angled his chin up so that he was staring down at the clustered bodies in front of him like they were nothing more than dirt at the tip of his shoe. His eyes rippled with purple light and the air hummed with his energy. He looked regal in a double breasted pea coat the color of coal, cut to flatter his masculine figure.

“You are unsightly. Disperse.” His words were curt and dismissive just like his tone.

“What the hell. He’s in on it with the bitch, that’s why he’s never here, staying out of her way while she cleans us out,” someone hissed. The woman then turned to Pein, shouting out the rest of what she had to say. “You’ve always been a villain, looking down on us. You’re no better than any of us and we all know it. Get out of our way.”

Pein made a dismissive sound with his teeth and his lips before closing his eyes and then looking away, completely disinterested with the woman’s accusations.

“Bothersome.”

The woman’s eyes flashes and she reached out with her hand, growing scaly with the beginnings of her transformation before a jagged bolt of white lightning ran through her palm and then struck the ground in front of Kankuro and his sister. They both jumped back as the woman dropped to the ground in a cry of pain, holding her smoking hand that was burned too bad to bleed. Another vein of lightning shot out and scarred the ground in front of the group.

“You can’t do that, the Senju-”

“Are running around with their heads up their asses, I know dear,” Pein drawled lazily. “And the Uchiha and their shiny gold badges are nowhere to be seen. Ask me if I give a damn, darling.”

He looked up from his fingernails as if waiting for an answer but smirked when there was only tense silence from the subdued mob.

“You’re a villain,” Choji challenged.

The roll of his shoulders was less of a shrug and more an act of nature. He stared at the sky when he spoke. “There are worse things to be.”

“Are you in on it with her, then?” Shikamaru asked, stepping in front of his more agitated friend. He pushed Choji back and held him with the palm of his hand, a gesture that was more meaningful than purposeful. “You’ve never claimed to be a good person, Pein, but people tend to forget that about you after years of your quiet. I may not be my father but I know almost as much as him.”

“And yet you continue to play the fool. For a Nara you’re awfully stupid. I never thought I would see one in a mob. I’d rather be a villain than an idiot.”

“And I’d rather not let my emotions cloud my judgments when making decisions, because that’s where I think too many people have gone wrong. It’s gotten to you at least. Or is it something else? You want Pompeii for yourself and she’s the easiest way to get it?”

Pein closed his eyes and sighed, heaving out a breath that escaped his lips in a puff of steam. When he opened his eyes again there was lightning crackling behind his lashes. He was a barely contained storm in human form.

“You bore me boy. You’re not your father. Go home and put this foolishness behind you before I am agitated further.” Pein eyed the still smoking hand of the Naga woman to make his point clear.

“I don’t like agreeing with him, but I don’t think I can help it this time,” a new voice interjected.

Sakura almost came out of her shadows to see the new form join the fray, but didn’t need to. She knew that voice far too well to ever doubt it. A second later Yamato stepped up to stand beside Pein who was looking sideways at the new arrival with a slight curl to his lip.

A few bodies in the back started to break away, backing up and away. Pein was a powerhouse on his own that could likely wipe them out without the help, but there were too many stories and years of bad blood for most other residents to stand Yamato’s presence. There were too many stories of what he did in the dark.

Sakura watched as more and more figures began to break away, grumbling to themselves and each other about the unfair circumstances. Someone bemoaned the fact that the Uchiha were all on holed up in the mountains and the Senju drawn back into their compounds. No one was managing the streets.

“You were entirely unnecessary,” Pein huffed. “I was doing just fine on my own.”

“I don’t doubt that,” said Yamato. “But it was less a desire to help you and more a need to stick up for my family when I see them threatened. I’m not about to stand back and let people talk about Sakura like that.”  

Pein sneered, a new sort of emotional anger coming into the details of his expression. He had been cool with the mob, mocking them nonchalantly with half a heart, but when he looked at Yamato he looked a little more expressive than before.

“You sound very high and mighty for the cast off bitch. I want to burn that look off your face.”

Yamato glared back with a smile sharp enough to cut yourself on. “You’re no angel either. Where do you think you get off talking down to them when you doubted her yourself.”

“Ah, I see she tells you these things. You two must be...close.”

“Huh, something like that.” Yamato had a bag on each wrist, but he still managed to stuff his hands into his pockets.

There was a lick of light darting across the ground, uncontrolled and raw. Yamato didn’t flinch as it burned the earth between them.

“I didn’t care if it was her. I didn’t care one way or the other if she was a saint or a devil. It didn’t matter to me and yet you’re the one she takes in. Revolting filth. You don’t deserve it.”

Yamato’s smile slipped as a sound passed his lips. A soft chuckle sounded like how salt felt on an open wound and another lick of lightning danced behind Pein. There was the sound of thunder somewhere.

“It’s not about deserving, shit face. It never is with her.”

Yamato started to turn, taking a step away, and then another when Pein called out again.

“Then why is it you?”

Yamato took another step and then stopped, but didn’t turn around. He glanced off to the side and saw the still smoldering remains of the burning effigy. He glared at the flowers on fire.

“She did tell me about it, told me about you, about how you doubted her. I remember thinking something similar, about how if it was her I wouldn’t mind. If she wanted to raze Pompeii to the ground I would be her right hand in doing it, but that’s not her. I know in her heart that this is nothing but grief to her. She’s watching her friends suffer or hate her everyday and I wish there was something more I could do. This isn’t her.”

“You wouldn’t have been the only one who would have stood with her if this was her doing. You’re not that special.”

Yamato looked back over his shoulder. “But I believed in her first and I’m the one that gets to make dinner for her tonight. You can keep your dreams if you think it’ll help, but I don’t need to.”

The air around Pein clapped with a roll of angry thunder as another bolt of blue lightning burned the ground in front of Yamato, but the man was already gone. Pein snarled at the empty road, still smoldering from where his lightning had struck. His hands were fists at his side, curled so tightly the knuckles stood out white.

He turned and started to step away when he faltered. Pein looked to where the last of the burning figure still smoldered. He approached it and then kicked some dirt over the flames before sighing. The sight of what was left over wasn’t anything worth a double take.

Pein stretched out his hand and water fell from his fingertips like a miniature mist shower. The water fell over the flames and doused them right away. Pein reached into the pile and pulled out a twig with a pink bud on the end. He worked it between his fingers and the bud peeled open for him.

Sakura blinked and he was gone.

To: Sai Love: Sakura

You have taken the dull colors of my existence and made them vibrant Where once the ash and gray was my horizon, You bleed sunsets in my heart and stop up my veins with the blues of a thousand skies I will forever be better for having known you And forever changed for having loved you

[kuriquinn]

Not Too Late

Summary: Sasuke is friendly with her – a friendliness that is simultaneously a relief and torture. Their friendship is as it always was, but she finds she is no longer satisfied by that. [SasuSakuMonth2017 – Day 2– Prompt: “Something More”]

Disclaimer: This story utilizes characters, situations and premises that are copyright Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, Shonen Jump and Viz Media. No infringement on their respective copyrights pertaining to episodes, novelizations, comics or short stories is intended by the author in any way, shape or form. This fan oriented story is written solely for the author’s own amusement and the entertainment of the readers. It is not for profit. Any resemblance to real organizations, institutions, products or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All fiction, plot and Original Characters with the exception of those introduced in the books, manga, video games, novelizations and anime, are the sole creation of KuriQuinn and using them without permission is considered rude, in bad-taste and will reflect seriously on your credibility as a writer. You will be thrown into a pond if you are found plagiarizing.

Warning(s): Road To Ninja OCness for the characters. So flirty, dreamboat Sasuke and emotionally stunted Sakura :P

Fanon Compliance: Takes place several years after The Flip Side

AN: Again, sorry for the lateness, unpacking is kicking my ass. But I now can see my kitchen table, so yay for small victories! Editing will be done at a later date.

This fic was inspired by Anne of the Island by LM Montgomery (my favourite author growing up!). For some reason, the scene where Anne finally figures out how she feels about Gilbert struck me as being a believable way for RTN Sakura to figure out she’s in love with Charasuke.

The clouds are rolling in, threatening a late summer storm, when Sakura finally sets foot through Konoha’s giant gates. Weary and covered in road dust, she waves at Izumo and Kotetsu, before beginning the long trudge into the centre of the village.

She’s been away for almost a month, teaching a series of seminars on antidotes throughout the five shinobi countries. As the foremost medic in Konoha (after Lady Tsunade, of course, though the Hokage is too busy running the village to make many trips these days), Sakura is in high demand for her poison expertise and field training. Although she’s proud of her skills, and the networking will be a step up when it comes time to put forth her candidacy for Hokage, she can’t help feel exhausted.

This trip felt longer and more stressful – possibly because it’s the first one she’s undertaken alone. Her former teammates are so busy these days with their own pursuits. Menma is often away on missions with ANBU – although he’s sworn to secrecy on the matter, she’s pretty sure that he’s the new ANBU commander – and Kakashi is inspiring the next generation of shinobi at the Academy. As for Sasuke, he’s been taking on more responsibility within Konoha’s military police and among his clan, and so rarely has time to spare.

He doesn’t even have the time to flirt anymore, she thinks with grim humour as she passes by the Uchiha district.

It’s quieter than usual, she notices a beat later; most days it’s bustling with activity even late into the night.

The Uchiha are one of the oldest and most respected clans in Konoha, after all, and are usually at the centre of every village tradition and activity. The atmosphere here was always such a stark contrast to her own quiet upbringing – even more so after her parent’s deaths.

Whenever she and Menma used to come here as genin to pick up Sasuke or visit him on their days off, they always ended up running into someone who needed help around the house or with their chores. His older cousins would tease him good-naturedly, and his little cousins would take along with them, in awe of their status as ninja (even if they were only genin at the time).

Sasuke would complain about it, but both Sakura and Menma could always tell that he secretly loved it. He liked people relying on him, would go out of his way to help his older aunts and uncles, and even got his teammates to help him tend to his mother’s garden.

He was even more dedicated in the years after his brother left.

He’s a good guy, that wheedling voice at the back of Sakura’s head reminds her. He’ll make someone a good partner one day.

But she shrugs away that thought, because she’s made her feelings on that particular subject very clear – both to Sasuke and herself.

Being Hokage is an important job, and demands a lot – she’s seen as much with Tsunade; there’s no way she can dedicate herself to that and a family. Besides, as Hokage she might one day end up in the same position as her parents and have to sacrifice herself for the village. The idea of leaving her child or children to grow up orphaned haunts her; she knows from experience there’s no fate worse.

Besides, there will be no shortage of children to look after in the village, especially with all of her agemates pairing off and starting families.

Ino is engaged to a civilian art expert named Kyoya, and somehow Shikamaru managed to charm the Kazekage’s painfully shy sister over the course of the past few chuunin exams. There’s to be a state wedding in Suna next month before Temari officially relocates to Konoha. Choji just recently returned from a trip to Kumo, a soft-spoken bride in tow – apparently, he didn’t want to deal with the fuss of a big wedding.

And then, of course, there’s Menma.

Sakura recalls how a few months ago, Hinata stalked across the town square and flat-out told him they were getting married. And then he sighed, like it was a huge imposition, but accepted.

It should have been the most painful moment of her life, but all Sakura could feel was happy for her friend. She has long-since grown out of her one-sided crush with the Uzumaki boy (and doesn’t it gnaw at her that Sasuke accurately predicted that!), and despite Hinata’s overbearing nature, they’ve developed a mutual respect.

I guess it’s true that they say – that people change, she muses as she leaves the Uchiha district in her wake.

She considers whether she ought to stop at the Hokage Tower first, or home, and decides on the latter. Her mission wasn’t an urgent one, so there’s no need tor report in immediately. Besides, Suna’s desert is still clinging to her skin and her hair feels stiff with sweat. She needs to bathe before she can in good conscience enter the Hokage’s presence.

ロードトウニンジャ

Sakura takes her time once she’s home, enjoying a long shower and the feel of clean clothes on her skin. She even takes a short nap before heading out into the village; there’s no food in the house, and she doesn’t feel like getting groceries this evening.

As usual she heads for the Yakiniku Q, expecting to have a nice meal and perhaps some conversation. There’s always someone around to chat with – one of the double-edged perks of being the child of heroes, she supposes.

When she arrives, she sees a table at the back where a few of her friends are sitting quietly. It’s another oddity – usually her friends are the loudest in the room – but she chalks it up to the lateness of the day.

“Sakura!” Ino gasps when she sees her. “When did you get back?”

“About an hour ago,” she replies, sliding into an empty space. “Have you all ordered yet?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Hinata sneers. “Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?”

“I’m not due to start any shifts for another day or two,” Sakura replies, frowning at the animosity. Hinata is never pleasant per se, but she’s stopped being so confrontational since her engagement.

“You…have you spoken to anyone else since you’ve been back?” Neji asks, eyes shifting to Tenten, who shakes her head incrementally.

“No, I haven’t,” Sakura says slowly. “Guys, what’s going on? Why are you all acting so…suspicious?”

“If anyone’s acting suspicious, it’d be you,” Hinata returns. “Then again, maybe it’s just who you are. I knew you were cold, but I’d think you’d be a little more upset that your fall-back guy is dying.”

“Hinata!” Tenten objects, eyes flitting anxiously to Sakura.

It takes about ten seconds for her to understand who exactly the Hyūga heiress is talking about, and five more before the meaning behind her words sink in. Once they do, she can only stare at the pale-eyed girl in disbelief.

“What?” she echoes faintly, feeling the blood drain from her cheeks so fast that she feels dizzy.

“Shut up, Hinata,” Ino says with uncharacteristic sharpness. She regards Sakura with the air of someone preparing to diffuse an explosive tag. “Sakura, don’t look like that, it’s – Sakura, do you hear me?!”

“You shouldn’t have told her so suddenly, Neji chides his cousin, who crosses her arms unrepentantly.

“She’s strong enough to take it. You beating around the bush wasn’t doing her any favours.”

“Is it…is it true?” Sakura asks her best friend in a voice that doesn’t sound like hers. “Is Sasuke…?”

“He’s very ill,” Ino confirms gravely. “He got sick about a day or so after you left on your mission.”

Almost a month ago!

“I’m surprised Lady Tsunade didn’t mention it to you when you got back,” Neji remarks.

“I…I just went straight home,” Sakura explains faintly. Her decision to luxuriate in the shower and nap suddenly seem ridiculous and selfish in the face of this new reality. “What’s wrong with him?”

“We don’t know,” Ino says. “Whatever it is, it’s bad enough that his parents brought him to the hospital. The healers don’t – Sakura, please don’t make that face!” Because if the Uchiha, who tend to have their own private family healers see to their needs, brought Sasuke to the hospital, it has to be serious. “He’s strong – you know how strong Sasuke is. He’ll pull through.”

“Shizune was here earlier and she figures there’s no hope,” Hinata remarks, taking a sip of sake.

Ino’s jaw sets, and in a move that is utterly uncharacteristic of her, she promptly marches the Hyūga girl away before Sakura throws a punch at her.

Not that she is at all in the mind frame to do so, because she is still struggling to make sense of what all this means.

“Don’t worry, Sakura,” Neji tells her, resting comforting hand on her shoulder. “Sasuke is Uchiha. They have strong constitutions. I have no doubt that he will pull through.”

But she doesn’t miss the slight waver in his voice, as if he isn’t sure what he’s saying is completely true.

Numb, Sakura shrugs off his hand and stands to leave. She barely hears her friends worriedly call her name as she steps out into the street, staring unseeingly ahead of herself.

The rain has started in earnest since she went inside and now beats down in sheets. Passersby sprint through the road, trying to find shelter, but she barely feels the water on her skin. The air throbs with energy, vibrating with the thunder, and three blocks away, Sasuke Uchiha lies dying. 

“Don’t be such an idiot.”

“You’re so annoying.”

“If you spent as much time on your jutsus as you do on flirting, you’d be better than Menma.”

“Why would I go on a date with you, you playboy?”

She remembers every single time she told him to leave her alone, or wished he would move on and get out of her life. Now that he might just do that, Sakura realises that it would be like cutting out a vital organ.

She begins to run.

ロードトウニンジャ

“What’s wrong with him?” Sakura demands as she bursts into the Critical Care ward, not bothering with a greeting.

“S-Sakura-sensei, you’re not supposed to –!”

 “Symptoms, Ando, or don’t bother speaking,” she barks.

“P-patient presented with…with shortness of breath and coughing,” her intern stammers. “Within a day it transitioned into full-fledged hemoptysis, resulting in the family admitting him to Critical Care. He’s required constant monitoring and daily healing sessions to keep his lungs clear.”

“Anything else?”

“I’m really not supposed to –”

“Then don’t – pass me his chart! He’s dying and you’re wasting my time with red tape!” she snarls, grabbing the clipboard from the flustered teenager and storming down the hallway to the wing where the patients dying of terminal diseases are housed.

The fact that Sasuke has been placed there makes her want to vomit.

Upon turning the corner, she finds her way blocked by two familiar figures. Kakashi and Menma are like two pillars against the doors, both of them looking a little pale as she marches toward them.

“You can’t go in there, Sakura,” Kakashi tells her as she gets within arms reach; his usual exuberance has disappeared, replaced with a sombreness that matches Gai’s.

“The hell I can’t,” she growls. “Move before I make you move.”

“It’s Lady Tsunade’s orders,” Menma tells her. “You’re not permitted to treat a loved one, Sakura, you know that. It’s hospital policy and standard in the four laws of medical ninjutsu.”

“I am the student of the Sannin Tsunade,” Sakura bites out, thumbing at the seal on her forehead, “and I am exempt from those laws.”

“Not today, you aren’t,” Menma maintains. “If you step foot in that ward, Tsunade will stop treating him and restrain you herself. Are you willing to gamble with your friend’s life just to feel useful?”

His words cut a chink into the desperate fury that has been driving her since she left the restaurant.

Under the empathetic eyes of her friends, Sakura is forced to make a difficult decision: either stay here, useless, and let Tsunade do her best to heal Sasuke, or kick up a fuss and delay him getting the treatment he deserves.

She swallows a painful lump in her throat.

It’s really no choice at all.

Her shoulders slump and she lets Kakashi guide her out of the Critical Care ward and into the general waiting room. 

She spends the rest of the night pacing every other hallways and demanding news from the nurses, until Lady Tsunade sends Shizune out and tells her she will be drugged and sent home if she doesn’t stop. After that she adopts a lone window that looks out onto the Critical Care ward across the courtyard and waits, trying not to imagine the horrors that could be happening over there right then.

That Sasuke’s died, or that the damage to his body is irreversible.

Her vigil lasts the night, through hours of the storm raging outside and the darkness that threatens to consume her. Kakashi and Menma come and go in the background, trying to tempt her to go home and sleep or eat something, but she ignores them, refusing to acknowledge anyone unless it’s someone with news of Sasuke.

Because Sakura has come to a bitter, belated revelation: that she is in love with Sasuke Uchiha. That she has always been in love with him, and she knows that now.

Her knowledge comes too late, because now she might not even get the chance to tell him. She has been so blind and foolish, so focussed on becoming something worth her deceased parents’ pride and trying to impress the one man who would never see her as more than a sister that she wasted their time.

Tsunade is right: Sakura shouldn’t be anywhere near him right now. She doesn’t deserve to be near him.

But…but if he dies…he’ll go without ever knowing how I feel. He’ll die thinking I don’t return his feelings and then…

And then she’ll be left without him.

Instantly, Sakura can see it – years and years of emptiness stretching out in front of her, all of her other dreams and ambitions fulfilled, but pale and colourless shadows of what she hoped for. Hollow, because there will be no one to share it with.

She presses her head against the cool window, feeling the vibrations of the raindrops on the other side of the pane, and for the first time since she lost her parents, she wishes she could die too. If Sasuke leaves her, if he dies without a word or sign or message between them, she won’t make it. Nothing has any value without him.

She belongs to him and he to her, and he’s always known that and she always insisted it wasn’t true.

The storm rages all the rest of the night and into the morning, the winds and thunder seeming to keep time with her pacing. Only as the heavy raindrops fade away and Sakura can’t take one more moment of sitting uselessly in the waiting room does she hail one of the nurses.

“Have you heard anything about Sasuke Uchiha this morning?” she asks, forcing her voice to remain steady and professional.

Under normal circumstances the staff aren’t allowed to share information with anyone that isn’t family, but everyone here knows Sakura and her desperation is clear on her face.

“The last I heard, he’s better,” the nurse says. “Lady Tsunade pulled him through the worst of it about half an hour ago. I heard her tell Lady Shizune that he’s going to make a full recovery.”

“And they’ve…they’ve figured out what was wrong with him?”

“Yes. Some underlying genetic condition, I believe. Once Lady Tsunade figured it out, she was able to heal the cause – oh! Lady Sakura, what’s wrong?”

Stunned and thankful, Sakura has burst into relieved tears and flees the hospital.

ロードトウニンジャ

In the wake of Sasuke’s recovery, Sakura avoids going to see him.

Menma and Kakashi press her on it, but she can’t properly explain to them what the problem is; eventually they give up trying, but she sees their judgemental looks and knows she deserves them.

How is she supposed to explain that she’s afraid to face Sasuke? His family were by his side through his sickness, while she was off pursuing her own interests for a month. No one thought to inform her of his condition, because she made it utterly clear how she felt – or didn’t feel – about him, and it was only when he was dying that she let go of her stubbornness and accepted her feelings for him.

That after everything, she hardly deserves to be his friend, let alone to love him. Even if she still has his friendship, she has no idea what to say.

The self-flagellation continues unendingly for a while, even days after Sasuke is up and about. Hinata holds a party one night to celebrate his recovery (and also to apologise for her lack of tact when she told Sakura about it), and they run into each other there. They make easy conversation, exchange pleasantries and then Sakura makes an excuse that she has to work.

For the first time in their lives, Sasuke doesn’t bother to flirt with her, and she tosses and turns in bed that night thinking what that means.

A week later he comes to see her at the hospital.

“There’s a familiar sight,” he remarks, taking note of her hunched over several charts.

Sakura jumps and stares up at him, her cheeks warming both at the sight of him and being caught unawares. “S-Sasuke! What are you doing here?”

“My final check-up was today,” he says, speaking to her in the same easy tone as he always did. “As soon as I get the okay, I’m headed to the training grounds.” He pauses, and then with the same comradely grin as always, suggests, “You want to come along? It’s been a while since we sparred, and I think Menma’s picking out china patterns or something.”

Sakura looks at him rather blankly.

“I wish I could,” she says slowly, “but I can’t. There’s a viral epidemic two towns over, and Lady Tsunade has me watching vaccine samples all night. There’s no way I can get away.” She bites her lips and offers him an apologetic glance beneath her lashes. “I’m really sorry. I’d actually love to go with you.”

“What about tomorrow afternoon then, after you’ve gotten some sleep?” Sasuke asks, apparently not put-off by her refusal.

There’s a beat of hesitation, but Sakura musters a smile. “That works for me.”

Their eyes meet for a beat longer, and then she looks away.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, then,” Sasuke states. He pauses, and then adds, “Don’t work too hard tonight, or you’ll be too tired.”

He leaves before she can think of a response.

Sakura looks after him as he goes away and sighs, throwing down her pen.

Sasuke is friendly with her – a friendliness that is simultaneously a relief and torture. Their friendship is as it always was, but she finds she is no longer satisfied by that.

She wants more than his friendship, but also more than the cheap rose of a momentary fling. Without his usual one-liners or appraising looks, she can’t tell if he’s finally moved on or is just better at hiding it. She  worries that maybe he no longer feels anything for but friendship, and wonders if all her years of rejecting him have finally taken.

Sakura groans and presses her palms to her eyes.

“This is ridiculous,” she says out loud to now one. Within barely a fortnight, true love has reduced to one of those insecure girls that obsesses over a man. “I’m not doing this. I just need to…to get over it.”

If Sasuke can apparently get over her so easily, she’ll figure out how to do the same. By throwing herself into her work, if she has to. Success and ambition will have to take the place of love, and she tries to comfort herself by the fact that she’ll do great, noble work as Hokage one day, especially without having to worry about her own heart.

Unsurprisingly, she doesn’t believe herself.

ロードトウニンジャ

When Sasuke comes to pick her up from her house the next afternoon, she takes more care than she ever has with her appearance. She knows they’re only going to train, but something in her wants him to notice her as a woman – perhaps flirt with her the way he used to.

They take the long way to the training grounds, passing through the forested paths where the trees are just beginning to change their colours.

“It’s been a while since I came this way,” Sakura says, only to fill the silence between them that falls just short of companionable.

“Me too,” Sasuke says. “I think I only ever used this way because it took longer to get to the training grounds.”

“And we still always got there before Kakashi-sensei,” Sakura agrees. “Because he always had some kind of life-or-death competition with Gai-sensei that he had to finish before training.”

“Remember our first battle as a team?”

“Yes! You passed out, I got thrown into the pond and Menma ended up buried up to his head in the ground.”

“That was still less embarrassing than having to introduce ourselves,” he says.

“That’s right! You talked for ten minutes straight about your tomato garden and how much you liked salad!”

“And Menma had that huge speech about how it was his duty to repopulate the Uzumaki clan throughout the five shinobi nations,” Sasuke remembers, shuddering. “And then Kakashi figured that was a prime teaching opportunity and gave us the sex-talk.”

“That was mortifying!”

“Speak for yourself, you didn’t have him follow you home to assure your parents that he had “dutifully ensured their son would be responsible in all matters of a sexual nature”,” Sasuke says, rolling his eyes. Then he winces and says, “Sorry.”

“No, it’s…it’s alright.”

They are quiet again.

“You were always so strong in the face of that,” Sasuke says after a while. “I don’t even know what I would do without my family, but you…it just made you stronger. Even back then, you dreamed of becoming Hokage to make them proud or die trying.”

“Well…that last part of the dream has changed,” she says lightly. “Most dreams do, over time.”

“And some don’t,” he says seriously, something resolute entering his voice. He stops walking, and Sakura is forced to do the same, staring up at him in surprise. “Things haven’t changed for me – not really. There’s something – someone – I’ve always wanted, even from back then. Maybe it was always a dream, but I’m going to keep wanting it, even if it can’t come true.”

Sakura opens her mouth to speak, but the words get stuck somewhere in her throat. It’s as if she’s been struck dumb with disbelief and a mounting terror that if she speaks she’ll break the spell of what’s happening.

“I want my family to be whole,” Sasuke continues. “I want my brother back. I want my parents to grow old surrounded by grandchildren. I want my wife to be the woman I love until I die.” He peers at her intently. “In that dream, my wife is you.” Sakura barely has a chance to acknowledge the burgeoning feeling of happiness, when he takes her hands in his. “I know I said I’d wait for you, but I’ve been thinking it over. And perhaps it’s not waiting that’s the problem. Perhaps I’ve been asking you the wrong thing all these years. I’ve been asking you out on dates, when I should have been asking you to marry me.”

Marry?!

“And so…” he takes a deep breath, vulnerability crossing his features for the first time since he started speaking, “if I ask you differently today – if I ask you if you want to spend the rest of our lives together – will you give me a different answer?”

She still can’t speak – her brain is stubbornly stalled somewhere around the word ‘love’. Instead, she lifts her eyes and gazes into his for a long moment, trying to convey her answer - nstead, she lifts her eyes and gazes into his for a long moment, trying to convey her answer – yes, yes! A million times yes, you annoying man! – and he seems to understand, because he breaks into a breathtaking smile.

And then she can’t to much else but grab him by the lapels of his shirt and drag his lips down to her own.

He makes a noise of surprise, but a beat later realises what’s happening, and then his arms are around her, pulling her in closer to him. His mouth is unexpectedly soft against her own, but it becomes harder and more demanding as the kiss deepens.

Eventually they pull away from each other, and Sasuke stares down at her, breathless.

“Is that a ‘yes’?’ he pants.

“It’s an ‘I love you’, you annoying man.”

His eyes soften. “I love you.”

She blushes and hides her face in his chest.

“I don’t understand how you could keep loving me after all this time when I’ve been such an idiot,” she says, hoping that her words are lost in the fabric of his shirt.

“I tried to stop,” he says, causing her to pull away and stare up at him in anguish. “Not because you’re an idiot – you’re not – but because it’s hard to compete with someone like Menma.”

“You’ve competed with him your whole life.”

“Yeah, on arenas where we were evenly matched. When it came to your affections, he already had them without even trying.”

“I got over Menma.”

“I know that. But I still figured I needed to give you time after he and Hinata became engaged. He was your first love, after all. If I approached you right after, it would have felt like I was rubbing it in your face,” he explains reasonably. “And I…didn’t want to be your rebound.”

“You are not my rebound,” she tells him fiercely. “And Menma was no my first love.”

He cocks his head to one-side, inquisitive.

“You were,” she says, looking away and feeling her cheeks redden. “But then one day you showed up and started handing out roses to every pretty girl within a ten foot radius and I decided I didn’t want to be just another one of your admirers.”

He stares.

“Sakura, that was before we were genin even. You already…?”

She crosses her arms, defensive, cheeks red.

To her surprise, Sasuke groans and slaps himself in the forehead. “I’m a moron.”

“A bit, yeah.”

“And here I though I needed to do something dramatic like almost die to get you to accept your feelings for me, when you already had them!”

Sakura shudders.

“Don’t joke about that,” she begs, “It’s too soon.”

Sasuke sobers. “When I was sick, Tsunade told me about how you reacted. She said you almost took out Kakashi and Menma to get to me. You’d be amazed how determined I was to get better after that.”

She smiles wanly at that and shivers.

“I’ll never forget thinking you were going to die,” she whispers. “I knew right then. It was like the world shifted. I knew and…and I thought it was too late. I thought I would lose you and have to pay for my mistake by being alone forever.”

Sasuke’s eyes soften and he pulls her close, cradling her protectively in his arms. They stand like that for longer than Sakura knows, though she doesn’t care. If he wanted to stay like this forever, she would agree without hesitation.

Except he doesn’t, because he pulls away.

“Let’s make an agreement,” he suggests. “No more waiting.”

“huh?”

“We’ll tell my parents tonight and get married as soon as we can find someone to perform the ceremony,” he goes on. “And you’ll move in with me and my family, and then you’ll never have to be alone again.”

“Move in with your…Sasuke…that’s a bit…soon,” she protests weakly. “Besides, what if they’re no…alright with…with me?”

“You know my mother loves you. And my father respects you, which he’d say is more important than liking you, but he’ll learn to. If by some fluke they disapprove, we’ll just elope.”

“They’ll disown you!”

“So what? That just means they’ll have two disowned sons. It might give them the motivation they need to accept Itachi back home,” he snorts.

“Sasuke!”

“Besides, it’s occurred to me that there’s never been an Uchiha Hokage,” he continues with the air of someone musing one of life’s greatest mysteries. “No one in my family will have a problem with my wife once you succeeds Tsunade.”

Sakura blushes darkly. “I haven’t even officially said ‘yes’ yet.”

Something dark enters Sasuke’s eyes.

“I guess I’ll have to keep convincing you then,” he tells her, and then his lips are on hers again.

She decides she likes his form of persuasion.

終わり

Thank you all for reading! Reviews and concrit are much appreciated - and if you’re feeling generous, I also accept tips through ko-fi (just scroll to the top and click the button!)

クリ

[i-am-made-of-memoriies]

Trapped in Konoha (pt. 2)

Niva walked through the gates of the village and wandered the forest outside the gate. After five minutes, she found a familiar clearing. She recognized the trees and sitting right in the middle was her request flyer. Niva tried putting her hand on the trees and ground in order to open the portal but none of those methods were working. She closed her eyes and tried to search for the telltale ethernano signature that an anima portal gave off. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find anything. Niva was beginning to panic. There was no way that she was in the wrong spot and anima don’t just close like that. She couldn’t afford to be stuck in this world with no way of communicating with her friends, no way of telling them where she was. Niva hurried back to the village hoping to find someone who could help her. She ran into the Hokage’s office, bursting through the door.

“Lord Hokage!” She started, “The portal, it’s closed! I can’t get back! Do you know how to re-open it?!”

The Hokage stood up and looked Niva in the eye.

“The only people that would know about dimensional travel are the Uchiha. Unfortunately, they were all massacred years ago. Sasuke is the last one but he doesn’t know anything about dimensional travel.”

“Then who can I ask?!” Niva cried, “If no one in this village knows, can I ask other villages?!”

“Niva,” The Hokage said calmly, “You’re too young now. Wait until you get older then you can go search for answers.”

“Lord Hokage you don’t understand! I have friends waiting for me back home! They’ll be so worried!”

“I understand how hard this is for you but there is nothing we can do at the moment. I promise to take care of you while we wait for your strength to grow. Then you can go find the answers you need.”

It wasn’t the answer Niva wanted, but at least there was a chance. Niva bowed respectfully and stepped out of the office. On her way back home, she thought about what Erza and Natsu must be thinking. She’d been gone for longer periods of time, so a day wasn’t a problem but what about a week or a month or a year? They would probably be panicked by then.

Niva stepped into her apartment and took the note off her bed. She’d be staying there for a while. She probably should make the best of it. Niva quickly made some rice and steamed some vegetables. She owed Naruto a dinner so she knocked on his door. Naruto opened the door quickly again.

“Hey!” Niva said sweetly, “I made dinner for two! Wanna come over?”

“I’d love to ya know!” He said closing the door behind him, “Let’s go now!”

Naruto and Niva walked into her tidy apartment and sat down at the table. Niva picked up two piping bowls of rice and vegetables and placed them in front of Naruto and herself.

“It was really cool how you beat up Sasuke today ya know.” Naruto said in between bites, “You need to teach me how to do that.”

“I’d love to.” Niva said sipping her tea, “More people need to be able to beat up that stuck-up little brat.”

“Yeah!”

The two of them talked throughout dinner. Niva learned a lot about Naruto. About how he grew up without parents and about how the whole village shunned him for some reason. Niva could guess that the reason had something to do with the incredibly dark energy surrounding him. It was getting late so Naruto went home without helping Niva clean up. Niva picked up both the bowls and cleaned them out in the sink before placing them in the cabinet. She walked into the bathroom and took a shower. The water felt heavenly and the warmth was so soothing. Niva stepped out of the warm chamber and brushed her hair. She put on her pajamas and lay in bed. Who knows how long she’d have to stay in this world. It would be best if she made friends. After all, they could help her find what she needed.

Niva woke up the next morning at seven on the dot. She threw on her burgundy tunic, shorts, socks, sandals, and grabbed her bag of equipment. She walked down the street, munching on an apple. The morning was warm and the shops were already bustling. On her way to the academy, she caught up with Sakura.

“Hey,” Niva said walking beside her, “Sorry about yesterday, I see how much Sasuke means to you.” Even if it’s an unhealthy obsession with that brat. She thought.

“It’s okay.” Sakura replied, “Let’s just be friends from now on.”

“Okay.” Niva said. She’d try her best to get along with the fangirl but stuff happens.

���Oh yeah,” Sakura started, “The exam’s today by the way.”

“What?!” Niva exclaimed, “No one told me this!”

“Actually Iruka mentioned it, you just weren’t paying attention.” Sakura said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Agh! Don’t lecture me! Damn it!”

Niva sprinted to the academy and burst through the classroom doors, taking a seat before anyone had even entered the classroom. She pulled the books out of her bag and started speed reading them. I’ve always had a good memory. She thought, I really gotta use it now!!! The rest of the students came ambling into the classroom taking their seats. Instead of Sasuke sitting next to her, today it was Hinata.

“Hey Hinata!” Niva said, still staring at her books.

“H-hello.” Hinata said tentatively, “Are you ready for the exam?”

“Probably not.” Niva said, desperately trying to cram, “I’ll try anyway.”

Iruka-sensei walked into the room. “Today you’ll be taking you ninja exams.” He said, “These exams will decide your futures as shinobi. Take them seriously. You will be going into the exam room one at a time and will be tested on ninjutsu, taijutsu, ninja history, and battle formations. Choji Akimichi, you’re first. Follow me.”

“Oh god.” Niva said, panicking, “I’m next!”

The fifteen minutes that Choji was gone went by like seconds.

“Niva Dhari, you’re next.”

Niva walked into the testing room. There were several ninja sitting at a panel waiting to evaluate her. Iruka-sensei handed her a sheet.

“You may now begin the written portion of this test.” He said, sitting back down at the panel.

The questions were easy. She expected far more complicated things for a test deciding your future as a ninja. She answered all the questions in a few minutes and handed her sheet to Iruka-sensei.

“Next is the ninjutsu portion.” Iruka-sensei said, placing the test on the table, “From what I hear from the Hokage, you have no chakra and cannot perform jutsu.”

“I can replicate any jutsu you want me to.” Niva replied.

“Okay,” Iruka-sensei said. His voice was unsure, “Do a clone jutsu.”

“Yes sir!”

Niva quickly formed a clone out of water.

“Good job.” Iruka looked surprised, “Show any other ninjutsu-or whatever you do techniques that you know.”

Niva showed Iruka what she had shown Kakashi and Lord Hokage minus the incineration, burning, and destruction of trees and other items.

“That is impressive!” Exclaimed one of the proctors, his eyes wide.

The rest of the exam went by without a hitch. The proctors gave her the highest possible scores in everything but ninjutsu, handed her her forehead protector, and sent her out of the room. Niva walked back into the classroom with a spring in her step. I’m officially a ninja! She thought. One step closer to getting home. She entered the classroom and saw Choji showing off his forehead protector. Niva decided to hide hers so that she could brag a bit later. Sakura ran over to her, looking concerned.

“Did you pass?” She asked, scanning her body in hopes to see her forehead protector, “Oh gosh. I mean you were only here for a day… I’m sure you’ll pass next exam!”

Niva frowned, playing along with Sakura. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just-” She whipped out her forehead protector, “I passed with top scores!”

“Oh!” Sakura’s eyes lit up, “Good job!”

“Heh. You’re so gullible Sakura.” Niva went to go sit back down at her desk. Sasuke was sitting across the aisle from her looking uninterested and cold as usual. He probably wasn’t worried about the test. Apparently, he was the top student before Niva arrived. Niva sat back and spaced out for who-knows-how-long. By the time she snapped back into reality, the test was near over.

“If you’ve finished your test, you may go home.” Iruka-sensei announced.

Niva grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Her arm was grabbed by Sasuke.

“What do you want?” Niva sighed.

“What were your scores?” Sasuke asked, almost angrily.

“Perfect on everything but ninjutsu. I don’t have chakra so I use another form of jutsu-esque techniques. It does the job though.” Niva answered, not paying attention to Sasuke’s quickly angering face.

Sasuke turned his back, replied with a quick “Hn”, and left.

Niva arrived at the Academy right on time. They were going to be assigned their three man teams today. She heard from Iruka-sensei that there would be one group of four given the abnormal number of graduating shinobi.

Niva took her usual seat with Hinata sitting next to her again. She sat full of excitement. She wouldn’t mind anyone on her team as long as it wasn’t Sasuke. Or even worse, Sasuke and Sakura together.

Iruka-sensei walked into the room holding a clipboard.

“I understand that all of you are excited to find out what team you’re on.” He said, glancing at the practically bouncing Naruto, “Remember, these teams were designed to bring out your best qualities and find people you work best with. Nothing more.”

“Yes sensei.” The class replied in unison.

“Okay I will begin.” Iruka sensei started reading off the group lists. Niva wasn’t paying attention until she heard Naruto’s name.

“The 7th team will be: Naruto Uzumaki,” Naruto grinned, “Sakura Haruno” Naruto grinned more but Sakura cringed, “And Sasuke Uchiha.” Sakura’s eyes lit up but Sasuke looked like he had just been forced to drink spoiled milk, “Oh and this is the team of four.” Iruka-sensei added, “Niva Dhari is the fourth.” Niva smiled for a second then realized what had happened. She was stuck in a love triangle. Naruto liked Sakura, Sakura liked Sasuke, and Sasuke, well, it was more of a demented love line. Not to mention, her worst fear had come true. She was in a group with Sasuke and Sakura. God this was going to be tough.

“You may go home for today.” Iruka-sensei said after reading all the groups, “Be sure to be back early tomorrow so that you can meet your sensei.

Niva was the first to arrive in the classroom. Next was Sasuke, then Sakura, then Naruto. Even though Naruto was rather late, their sensei still hadn’t arrived.

“Hey!” Naruto exclaimed, “Let’s put the chalkboard eraser above the door so that when sensei walks in, he’ll get chalk all over himself!”

“Well he was late,” Niva replied, grabbing the chalkboard eraser.

Sakura ended up helping them. After the eraser was successfully placed, the three sat back down at their seats, anticipating their sensei’s entrance. Time went by and soon he was at least an hour late. At about one and a half hours after their assigned meeting time, the classroom door slid open. The chalkboard eraser fell perfectly on top of their sensei’s head. Then Niva realized, her sensei was Kakashi. The guy who had found her outside the village.

“Ah!” Niva exclaimed, “Kakashi-sensei, I’m so sorry! This was my doing, I didn’t realize you would be our sensei!”

Naruto looked around guiltily, not knowing what to say since Niva had taken the blame.

“Did anyone else help with this?” Kakashi-sensei asked, looking not angry at all.

“Yep.” Naruto answered, “Good prank huh?”

Sakura turned a deep shade of red and looked away, “I didn’t do anything!” She exclaimed, “It was Naruto’s fault.”

Kakashi already looked exasperated, “Meet me on the steps by the Hokage faces.”

The four ninjas nodded and set off to meet Kakashi. By the time that they had arrived, Kakashi was nowhere to be found.

“He’s probably late again.” Niva muttered, molding her kunai into different shapes, “We should find some way to entertain ourselves.”

“Ooh!” Naruto exclaimed, “We should spar!”

Sasuke and Niva nodded.

“I’ll referee.” Sakura responded, glancing at Sasuke, “Alright. First match, uhhhhh, Naruto versus Niva!”

Naruto and Niva stood across from each other. Naruto looked determined to win but Niva wasn’t going to go easy.

“Begin!” Sakura jumped out from in between the two and watched the fight commence. Naruto began by attempting to throw the same punch he had at the beginning of his fight with Sasuke. Niva decided to block it then deal a kick to the stomach. She stopped her foot right in front of his stomach, not wanting to deal serious damage. Instead of that, she tackled Naruto and pinned his arms behind him.

“I won.” She said, letting Naruto go, “Sasuke you’re next.”

“But I’m the referee!” Sakura cried, “I decide the matches!”

“Just ‘cause you don’t want to see Sasuke get his butt kicked doesn’t mean you can interfere with me challenging him.” Niva replied, “Fight me Sasuke.”

“Fine.” Sasuke said, stepping in front of Niva, “I’m not going easy on you this time though.”

“Tch. I’ll still beat you.” Niva said, smirking.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. Sakura started the match and Sasuke got into a fighting stance. Niva decided to beat him with speed. She went in for a punch so fast that Sasuke wouldn’t have time to knock her off her feet.  Sasuke barely blocked it and reeled back slightly, a bruise forming on his upper cheek. Niva took this moment to jump behind him and tackle him, pinning his hands behind his back.

“I thought you weren’t going to go easy on me.” Niva taunted, still pinning Sasuke to the ground.

Sasuke was going to retaliate when Kakashi-sensei walked up the stairs to see Niva viciously pinning Sasuke on the ground.

“What is going on here?” He sighed, “Niva please let Sasuke go, let’s get to know each other.”

Niva pushed herself off Sasuke’s back, shooting one last scowl at him before sitting down.

“Now that none of us are trying to kill each other,” Kakashi-sensei started, “Let’s get to know each other. Tell me what you like, what you dislike, and what your goals are for the future. I’ll start.”

Kakashi said that he rather not say much about anything and let Sakura go first.

“I like or who I like-” Sakura started. She glanced at Sasuke and blushed furiously, making Niva groan roll her eyes. “I dislike, Naruto! And my goals are to be with-” Sakura looked again at Sasuke, this time making Niva dramatically collapse.

Naruto was next. He liked ramen. And wanted to become Hokage. That seems pretty cool. Ramen is incredible after all. Next Sasuke. He doesn’t like much and hates a lot of things. Gosh, could he be any more emo?! Niva thought, disliking him more every second. He didn’t have a dream because it would become a reality. He would avenge his clan and kill a certain someone. And apparently he could. Niva was so done with him and his emo antics.

“I’m Niva. I like ramen, training, and cats. I dislike some things and a lot of people. Especially those who are stuck up and unwilling to make friends because of their severe superiority complex. I also dislike zucchini. My dream is to become strong enough for people to respect me and give me the answers I want. I also want to leave a mark on this world by becoming the strongest shinobi ever!”

“That’s good.” Kakashi-sensei said, “I’ve learned a lot about all of you. Meet me in front of the training grounds early tomorrow. Don’t eat anything, trust me, you won’t want to.”

Niva wondered what Kakashi was up to, she was also worried for her poor stomach. What was he going to do?!

Niva arrived at the training fields a little late, not expecting Kakashi to be there. When she arrived, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto were all sitting there looking bored. Her assumptions were correct.

“Why don’t we spar again!” Niva suggested, “This time Sasuke versus Naruto since that was the only combination we didn’t get last time.”

Naruto and Sasuke stood across from each other, ready to fight. Niva told them to begin, and they were off. Naruto tried to kick Sasuke but Sasuke grabbed Naruto’s leg and dropped him straight on the ground.

“The winner is Sasuke!” Sakura declared happily, trying to hug him.

Kakashi came walking towards the four kids and saw them happily talking. Maybe they figured out a way to get along. He thought.

“Alright.” Kakashi announced, “I have an exercise for you. If you can get a bell from me, you succeed and can officially become part of my team of genin. If you fail, you go back to the academy. The catch is, I only have three bells meaning one of you will definitely be going back. You have until noon. It’s guaranteed that you will not win unless you try hard enough to kill.”

“I’ll win!” Naruto announced, “I’ll get a bell for sure ‘cause I’m gonna be Hokage one day ya know!”

Naruto ran at Kakashi but was quickly stopped.

“I haven’t even said start yet.” Kakashi said, “Now you may begin.”

Niva ran at Kakashi so she could get a good idea of his strength before making any real plans. Niva pulled out a kunai and began attacking Kakashi. She attempted to slash at him with her kunai but he dodged. Niva wasn’t done though. She elongated the kunai trying to catch Kakashi off guard. Instead, he ducked under it and kicked Niva away. She rolled over backwards, breaking her fall and went to hide in a nearby bush. While Kakashi was busy fighting Sasuke, Niva had an idea. Metal. She peeked through the bush and saw the bells wiggling on Kakashi’s belt. If she were to extract them, she would have to be extremely careful not to let them jingle or Kakashi would be on to her. Niva steadied her hand and went to work. She chose the steadiest bell and began gently tugging it. The bell was on the verge of jingling when Niva quickly stopped it. She decided to take a different approach. The quick way. She took a deep breath and jerked her hand backward. The bell came flying toward her. She caught it in the palm of her hand and squeezed it tightly.

“Kakashi sensei!” she exclaimed, “Look at what I’ve got here!”

Niva held up the bell in front of her face.

Kakashi looked down at his belt. When did she grab that? He thought. Then it hit him. That slight jingling I heard, she must have used her metal magic.

“Niva you may go sit down by the stakes and eat one of the bentos.” Kakashi said, still surprised, “I suppose you pass.”

“Thanks sensei,” Niva started, “but I think I’ll help my teammates get the other bells. I’ll eat later.”

Kakashi thought for a moment then tentatively nodded. Niva jumped back into the bushes knowing that Kakashi was expecting her to use her metal magic. She saw Sasuke sparring against Kakashi. Sasuke was fast but his movements were too obvious. Even she could tell what he was going to do next. Niva decided to go check on Sakura. Hopefully their brains combined with Niva’s taijutsu knowledge could get Sakura somewhere. Unfortunately, Sakura couldn’t live up to Niva’s expectations. There Sakura was, consumed by a rather weak genjutsu. It seemed as if she was having some existential crisis in there. If Niva were to help Sakura, she would give her presence away and possibly harm both of them. She had no choice but to watch Sakura suffer. When the genjutsu was released, Sakura whispered Sasuke’s name and collapsed. If she wasn’t such a fangirl, she might actually be strong. Niva thought, dragging Sakura’s limp body into the bushes with her. A few minutes later, Sakura’s eyes fluttered open then closed again as she smiled.

“Sasuke!” She cried, “You saved me! Thank you!” Sakura embraced Niva tightly, still closing her eyes.

“Eh, Sakura…” Niva started, “I’m not Sasuke.”

Sakura pulled away from Niva. “Oh.” She said, disappointedly, “I suppose I’ll go find him now.”

“You probably shouldn’t.” Niva advised, “Kakashi’s onto you. He knows you’ll probably go running to find Sasuke.”

Right on cue, Kakashi peeked into the bushes. “Found you.” He said, attempting to kick Niva.

Niva jumped out of the way and began sparring with Kakashi. She summoned a large sphere of water and began attacking Kakashi with her signature ice needle move. Kakashi easily flicked the cold and deadly needles away and returned to using taijutsu on Niva. She breathed deep and shot bright fire out of her hands aiming right at Kakashi. He used him mud wall jutsu to deflect the fire, emerging unscratched. He threw a barrage of kunai at Niva but she attempted to blow them away with her wind magic. All but one were blown out of Niva’s way. The last impaled itself in Niva’s upper shoulder. Niva cursed under her breath and prepared to escape.

“Why are you fighting me?” Kakashi asked, “You already got a bell.”

Niva grimaced in pain, “I was giving Sakura time to escape.” She said as she summoned water in one hand and fire in the other, making a smoke shield.

It was getting extremely close to noon and Naruto had just gotten himself disqualified by attempting to eat a bento.

“It’s noon now and only one of you has retrieved a bell.” Kakashi announced, “Eat your bentos, and we’ll talk later. Unless you’re Naruto.” Kakashi tied Naruto to a wooden stake and handed everyone their bentos before leaving.

“Kakashi can’t see us right now.” Niva started, “We can give Naruto some of our food.” Niva picked up her chopsticks and began feeding Naruto.

Sakura and Sasuke finally gave in and began hand-feeding Naruto. Suddenly, Kakashi appeared right in front of them, looking rather terrifying.

“You broke the rules.” He announced, “You weren’t allowed to feed Naruto, yet you did. Because of that you all-” He stopped menacingly. All four of the genin were bracing for the impact of his next word. “Pass.” Kakashi finished, smiling.

“WHAT?!” The four yelled in confusion.

“You pass.” Kakashi repeated, “Good job. You may go home now. Our first mission is tomorrow.”

[depressedkakashihatake]

Kakashi and Asuma walking in shikamaru and Choji's first kiss during a mission

Kakashi was already dreading a joint mission. Naruto’s always arguing with everyone, Ino and Sakura won’t stop trying to one up each other and Shikamaru and Sasuke just seem annoyed at the entire situation.

This is not what came to mind when he thought ‘good easy team up mission’.

“You have been complaining for 20 minutes,” Asuma’s protests cut him off in the middle of his sentence about how Naruto and Sasuke never seemed to get along no matter how hard he tried. “Please, Kakashi, i can’t handle anymore.”

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Kakashi huffed “You thought i’d make a good Jonin Sensei, you deal with the fall out.” he grumbled under his breath, diverting his eyes when Asuma glared at him.

Silence fell between the pair as the continued walking through the forest, a pile of tree branches tucked away under Kakashi’s arm while Asuma carried some dry grass. The perfect starters for the fire they were going to need to make dinner.

Stepping past the last littke row of bushes, Kakashi ducked under the tree that blocked his view of the camp and immidiatly stopped dead in his tracks.

This was worse.

this was so much worse than everything he had to deal with so far on this stupid mission.

“Awww, what the hell Asuma?” he withdrew his free hand from its pocket and threw it over his eyes “Do they not know about appropriate time and place?”

Beside him he could hear Asuma groaning. The sound of a man who realized he was going to have to give his students ‘the talk’

Even with his hand over his eyes, Kakashi could still see it. The image of Shikamaru leaning over from his spot with his lips pressed firmly into a kiss with Choji that he was certain had started long before they had arrived on the scene.

“Where is everyone else?” Asuma asked, his voice dripping with amusement even though Kakashi knew he was just as annoyed as him.

“S-Sakura and Ino ran off to the river to get some water.” Choji stammered, indicating that the boys had actually managed to pry themselves away from each other. Lowering his hand, Kakashi glared at the pair.

“Sasuke and Naruto ran off somewhere to practice tree climbing,” Shikamaru continued, leaning back against the tree that he had been sitting under ever since Asuma and Kakashi left “Sounded like a drag.”

Of course. everything sounded like a drag to Shikamaru, just like it did to his father.

“So ypu two decided to...” Asuma cut himself off, clearly unable to find the right words to describe what they had just walked in on.

that was ok though. Kakashi had no probls finishing it for him. “Make out,” he glared at the pair “you decided to make put while we were gone.”

“Well, we were bored,” as usual Shikamaru gave his shoulders a shrug and acted like nothing had happened “And i wanted to try it...”

Kakashi’s brain broke. that was the only way he could describe it. His brain had stopped working immidiatly and took a solid two minutes to reboot before he could speak again.

“try it?” Asuma started, turning his eyes towards Kakashi “you mean...”

“Your first kiss and you decide to have it on a mission without even having a fire lit to make it a little more romantic!?” and Gai accussed him at being bad at Romance “Asuma what the hell are you teaching these kids!?”

“Not all of us are emotionally stunted Porcupine!” Asuma snapped back at him “At least the had it at 15 rather than waiting till they were 20 and having their first kiss in a Dango shop in front of all their friends!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Asuma seemed to understand the predicament he had put himself in. The anger quickly melted away, replaced instead by nothing but fear.

“K-Kakashi i didn’t...”

The usual cool headed and aloof shinobi was no where to be found. Instead, Kakashi rounded on his friend and gave hima hard shove in the shoulders, squaring up for a fight.

“At least i started dating my boyfriend when i was 20,” he argued “you went on a soul searching mission of your own and only started dating Kurenai after you two had Genin teams. I was starting to think you two would never get your shit together.”

Immidiatly fear was replaced by anusement. Asuma caught on quickly to what Kakashi was doing and rolled with it easily, knowing it would make them walking in on Shikamaru and Choji’s first kiss just a little less awkward

though, a lot more embaressing judging by the way Shikamaru turned around and hid his face in Choji’s shoulder while the Akamichi continued to watch.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Asuma raised his voice dramaticlly “i didn’t realize we were having a race. You seemed so busy making out with Gai every chance you got that i didn’t think you were even paying attention to anyone else.”

Shikamaru groaned and Choji laughed as Kakashi lunged forward and tackled Asuma to the ground, the awkwardness of their interupted kiss forgotten while their Sensei’s got themselves into a wrestling match

[jouissezduprintemps]

Something to Prove, Chapter Nine: Out in the Open

Rating: T Warnings: Swearing Words: 3203 Fandom: Naruto Summary: As Suna prepares for its first independently-held chunin exam since Gaara became kazekage, the sand siblings must make sure that everything goes off without a hitch.

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“To the success of the second test, and a smooth transition to the third.” Baki lifted his sake cup in a toast, which was met by his students and Shikamaru from around the table.

They’d snuck into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, one that would be easily looked over by the visiting ninja. The village continued to buzz with excitement, as it would until the guests returned to their own lands.

The table was low to the ground with cushions arranged around the sides. Baki had taken a seat at the head of the table, and Gaara had taken the foot. Kankuro had a side to himself, sitting across from Shikamaru and Temari. Shikamaru sat near to Gaara, and Temari was to Baki’s left side.

Shikamaru found it strange that they weren’t given any menus. The old woman behind the counter brought them various dishes from the kitchen without explaining what they were. He wasn’t sure if this was the style of the restaurant or if they were getting the royal treatment, but he found it a little unnerving.

“You’ve both done an excellent job with this exam,” Baki praised Temari and Shikamaru. His admiration didn’t come easy, and Temari was incredibly pleased with herself.

“Thank you, Sensei. It hasn’t been easy,” Temari admitted.

“If it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.” Baki extended a hand and let it rest briefly on Temari’s shoulder. “I’ll admit, I was worried how the other villages would treat this exam, because you’re all still so young. But you three have acted with dignity and earned their respect. Your father would be proud.”

Although the last statement was meant as flattery, Gaara tensed ever so slightly. If Shikamaru hadn’t been so close to him, he would have missed it. It was gone as soon as it came. “Your praise is much appreciated, Sensei.”

“You may be Kazekage, but to me, you’re still Gaara. You’re not so important that I can’t take pride in you.”

The old woman brought a large bowl of rice to the table, and Shikamaru was thrilled to see a food he recognized. He served himself a decent portion and was about to pick up his chopsticks when Baki turned his attention to him.

“And Shikamaru of the Nara clan. I’ve heard a lot about you, but I didn’t think we’d get the chance to meet.”

“It’s an honor to meet the sensei of the Kazekage,” Shikamaru spoke smoothly, no stranger to polite custom and conversation. To his relief, he could tell that Baki was pleased with his response.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you and Temari faced one another in the Konoha chunin exam. You’re the kid who gave up.”

Shikamaru chuckled. “Yeah, that was me.”

“Who’d’ve thought,” Baki mused, clearly entertained by this fact. “I thought Tema was going to hunt you down and kill you in your sleep after that.”

Shikamaru looked to Temari, who only shrugged. “You pissed me off. Nothing new.”

“But here you are. I don’t know if that’s a testament to your persistence or to Tema’s stubbornness.”

“More than a little bit of both,” Kankuro added, pleased to get a jab in at his older sister.

“These three don’t get along with a lot of people,” Baki admitted. “You’re pretty unique for all three of them to enjoy your company.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Shikamaru grinned, hoping that was how it was intended.

“So I take it you plan on moving to the Sand?”

Shikamaru arched an eyebrow in confusion. “Huh?”

“Well, I assume you’d move to Suna because of Temari’s status. It’d be a social step up for you, rather than a step down should she move to Konoha.”

The way Shikamaru and Temari looked at him told Baki that he had vastly misjudged the situation. There were times he forgot that he wasn’t related to his students, and he wondered if he had overstepped his bounds.

“He’s got a point,” Kankuro spoke up between mouthfuls. “We are royalty here.”

“I’m sorry,” Baki tried to save face. “I’d been under the impression that you two were… well… serious.”

“That’s not what they say,” Gaara mused, putting in his opinion for the first time.

“Hey, you shut up,” Kankuro snapped at his brother. “We don’t need a repeat of yesterday.”

“Kankuro,” Baki warned.

“I’m just saying-”

“Stop. Think about what’s going to come after those words. It usually never turns out well for you.”

Kankuro hunched his shoulders slightly, displeased at being scolded in public.

Baki turned his attention back to Temari and Shikamaru. “Temari, what exactly is going on here? The elders aren’t going to be happy if there’s too much confusion. I’m able to tell because I’ve known you for so long, but it’s only a matter of time before others start to wonder.”

The two exchanged a glance before Temari took it upon herself to inform her sensei. “We’re together, but it’s recent. Just in the last couple of days.” It was uncomfortable to say out loud, simply because she didn’t like sharing her private life. Thankfully, they were the only ones in the restaurant.

“Who knows?”

“Everyone at this table, now.” Shikamaru answered.

An awkward silence fell over the three siblings. None of them had been romantically involved before, for a large number of reasons, both familial and individual.

Baki laced his fingers together as he thought. “Well,” he began. “If that’s the case, I’d tell you to keep it to as small a number as possible. Konoha and Suna may be allies, but we don’t need any questions about loyalty. Of course, this is assuming the kazekage is on board.”

Temari bit her tongue, resisting the urge to rant about how sexist it was to need her brother’s permission. She was angry, and she was looking for an outlet. She didn’t need to unleash on Gaara.

“Temari’s a grown woman. I won’t tell her what to do. I wouldn’t tell any ninja what to do in a situation like this.” Gaara’s tone showed that he’d already put a lot of thought into his response.

“And the hokage?”

“Tsunade seems to be a reasonable enough person,” Gaara concluded. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with missions or loyalties, I can’t see her being opposed.”

“So you’re okay with this?” Kankuro demanded.

“Are you not?” Gaara countered, staring his brother down. “If you want to tell our sister what she can and cannot do, be my guest.” He then turned to look at Shikamaru and Temari. “You’re both highly intelligent shinobi, and I don’t think either of you would take a risk you hadn’t calculated. I trust that you both will be discreet.”

Temari was touched that Gaara had so much faith in her, but she was still walking a fine line between enraged and pleased. “What I do is my decision, not anyone else’s. I’m willing to keep this quiet, but that’s as much say as any of you will have.”

“I think that’s fair,” Baki determined, watching Gaara and Kankuro to judge their reactions.

“Once the exams are over, and the other villages’ ninja have left, I can travel with Shikamaru to speak with Lady Tsunade.” Temari stated, not offering any room for negotiation.

Baki turned his attention to Shikamaru. What was it about this ninja that made Temari so determined? She’d always been stubborn, but she wasn’t digging her heels in the sand this time. She seemed dedicated, far more than most kunoichi would be to a relationship that was only days-old. He supposed she’d always been a particular one. He wouldn’t be surprised if, all this time, she’d simply been biding her time until she found someone worth her energy. And, if anyone could give her a run for her money, it would be the lazy Konoha nin who forfeited a match he’d already won.

“Well, that settles it.” Baki allowed himself to smile, trying to bring balance and peace back to their circle of five.

Shikamaru wasn’t thrilled at the restrictions that had been placed on them, but, at the same time, he couldn’t imagine that they would have done any different. Temari didn’t like others to be in her private life. He probably wouldn’t tell but a handful of people from the leaf – his parents, Ino, and Choji. The only real obstacle was that, now, he had to talk about it with Lady Tsunade, like it was some sort of international issue.

Actually, now that he thought about it, that’s probably exactly what it was.

Baki was never one to leave good enough alone, and he had far too much fun with his students. It was like they were his niece and nephews, and they were always open game. He thought himself hilarious when he asked, “Now, Temari, I don’t have to give you the talk, now, do I?”

Although Temari laughed at his joke, Kankuro snatched the bottle of sake from the center of the table. “I’m not drunk enough for this shit,” he complained. At this rate, he’d be dead of a heart attack by the time the week was through.

Baki parted ways with them as they left the restaurant, making sure to shake Shikamaru’s hand before he left. Shikamaru walked side-by-side with Temari, taking up the rear behind Gaara and Kankuro. The more sake Kankuro had at dinner, the worse his filter became. At this rate, both his brother and sister agreed that the best course of action was to get him in bed.

As they walked through the street, Gaara turned his head so that he could look at Shikamaru out of the corner of his eye. “Baki likes you,” he informed him, catching Shikamaru off guard.

He was surprised that he’d managed to make a good impression, and even more so that Gaara felt the need to assure him of that fact.

“He doesn’t take to people quickly. I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re different.”

“Thanks, Gaara,” Shikamaru said genuinely. As strange and unique as Temari’s family dynamic was, he felt oddly at home in the chaos. He could relate to having a sensei that was more like a parent, and, although he was an only child, he saw similar behavioral patterns in Choji and Ino as teammates. The three siblings were, after all, on the same squad. The bonds formed in that environment went beyond blood ties.

He didn’t say it aloud, but he was relieved that he didn’t have the chance to meet either of Temari’s parents. She rarely talked about her mother, but, from what he’d heard about the fourth kazekage, that wouldn’t have been pleasant in the least. Unfortunately, his family wouldn’t be so easy. Sure, his dad would probably be happy he brought home a girl at all, but his mom would probably give them the third degree. That wasn’t something he was looking forward to.

When they entered through the front door of their home, Temari allowed herself to smile as she took off her shoes. “This is the first night in days that I won’t be sleeping in shifts,” she sighed, elated.

“Oh, yeah.” Shikamaru realized she was right.

“You should sleep in tomorrow,” Gaara suggested. “I have a meeting with the council, but we’ll manage without you, Temari. They’ll understand.”

“Thanks, Gaara.”

Her brother nodded before wrapping an arm around Kankuro. “Come on, I need you to walk with me if you’re going to get to your room.”

“I don’t need sleep!”

“Of course not.” Gaara humored him, clearly amused. “If that’s the case, you can work on your puppets.”

Shikamaru chuckled when the pair rounded the corner of the hall.

“I love them,” Temari reminded herself before shaking her head.

“It’s never dull, that’s for sure.”

Temari walked down the hall to her bedroom, leaving the door open so that Shikamaru could follow her. She began to let her hair down, removing one band at a time. “You know Kankuro doesn’t hate you, right?” she asked. “He’s just protective.”

“I figured,” Shikamaru shrugged. “After the hot springs incident, he was acting like my best friend.”

“That’s about right. And Gaara… is just Gaara.”

“That much I knew.”

Temari smiled to herself, prompting Shikamaru to ask, “What is it?”

“Who do you think will have a better reaction, Choji or Ino?” She turned to face him as she ran a comb through her hair. “I know you won’t be able to keep it from them.”

Shikamaru grimaced. He could already hear the ear-piercing volume of Ino’s excited pitch. “Ino, for sure.”

“Really? Sure, she’ll shriek, but that’s pretty normal for a woman like her.” Temari caught herself. “Not that I mean anything by that.”

“I know,” Shikamaru assured her.

“But I’d expect that. I don’t know what to expect from Choji.”

“You know, neither do I. We’ve been best friends all our lives, but I don’t have a clue.”

“Just make sure Naruto doesn’t find out.” Gaara spoke as he stood in the doorway, startling them both.

Temari gestured with his comb. “He’s right. If Naruto even guesses, it’ll be all over the Leaf.”

“The good thing about that is, if Naruto starts it, no one will believe it,” Shikamaru countered.

“Just a thought.” Gaara straightened from his leaning position against the door frame. “Goodnight.”

“Night,” Temari responded to his retreating form.

“Isn’t it early for him to sleep?” Shikamaru asked.

“Gaara doesn’t really sleep. He gets maybe two hours at a time, if he’s lucky. It’s a cyclical thing, so he’ll sleep, then be awake for a while, then sleep again. He goes to bed early to try to get another cycle or two.”

Shikamaru grimaced, unable to imagine what that must be like. To him, that would be torture. “Can’t a doctor help him?”

“It’s Shukaku,” Temari explained, a look of pity in her eyes. “He won’t talk about it, but it seems like the sand demon thinks it’s a game to keep him awake.”

“Shukaku?”

“Gaara says that’s its name.”

“Damn.” He wondered if Naruto suffered from the same thing. Did Naruto’s beast communicate with him like Gaara’s seemed to? Did he know its name?

“Apparently, if he doesn’t pay attention to it for a few days, it throws a tantrum. When he was younger, that’s when he would transform. Now, he’s stronger than it, and it knows it. Instead of attacking, it acts like it’s giving him the silent treatment. As if that’s some sort of punishment for Gaara. When that happens, he’s able to sleep for one or two nights.”

Shikamaru had a thousand questions as far as Gaara was concerned, but he was too polite to ask any of them. Her brother had scarred Temari both mentally and physically, but in recent years they had developed a sort of peace. He didn’t want to interfere with that by tugging on the wrong string.

Temari noticed that he was on edge and felt a little guilty that she’d said everything she had. She climbed up on her bed and positioned herself behind him, sitting on her knees. She put the comb in her mouth as she untied the band in his hair, setting it to the side once it had been untangled. With the comb in her right hand, she divided his hair into parts with her left, gently working through any knots she found.

Shikamaru leaned back slightly and closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. They sat this way in silence until she’d finished working the knots out of his hair. He seemed so at ease that she continued to drag the comb through his black locks for a few moments more than was strictly necessary.

Seeing that he was calm, Temari stepped back down off her bed and set the comb on her bedside table. She opened her closet and withdrew her pyjamas, admittedly dissatisfied that her sleep wardrobe consisted of little more than old shirts that were either faded or not quite the right size. She was too preoccupied to notice that Shikamaru had walked up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. His lips brushed against the nape of her neck, and she tilted her head to the side. She let out a satisfied sigh.

She twisted around in his arms so that she was facing him. She rose up on the balls of her feet to kiss him, unsure of when he’d gotten so much taller than she was. Her arms snaked around his neck, and neither of them moved away. It had been three days since they talked, three days spent in the middle of the desert, sleeping in shifts and keeping track of lives.

Within the stone walls, none of that weighed on their shoulders.

Temari’s fingers grabbed a hold on his shoulders as his arms moved down to her thighs, lifting her up to his level. She allowed her legs to wrap around his waist. He staggered slightly as he shifted their weight to just one leg, freeing the other to kick the door shut. Unable to watch where he was going, it took a few lumbering steps for him to move across the room. His hands let go of her thighs as he leaned over, laying her down on the edge of the bed.

His knees came to rest on either side of her hips, and he made the bold decision to let his hands roam, well aware that she would have no qualms about stopping him if she became uncomfortable. Reluctantly, his lips left hers, and he used his core to lift himself up on his knees. His hands knotted in the fabric on the back of his shirt, and he pulled it up and over his head, managing to get both the tactical long-sleeved shirt and his fishnet undershirt in a single go.

He paused long enough to look down at her, trying to judge her reaction. The color in her cheeks made her half-shut eyes seem more vivid. When he didn’t come back down, she looked up at him, her breath hitching in her throat. He hovered over her, his hands supporting him on either side of her shoulders. His hair hung down in his face, and she allowed her fingertips to trace the muscles on his chest. He leaned forward and kissed her deeply, shifting his weight to one hand. The other began to search for the way to remove the red band from around her waist.

She arched her lower back, giving him enough room to find where the fabric was secured. To his credit, he didn’t take long to figure out how to remove it. He tossed the fabric to the side, where it joined his discarded shirts on the floor. With that out of the way, he found it far easier to pull the strings that secured her kimono. His lips trailed lightly down her collarbone and over the exposed skin of her chest. His fingertips caressed her abdomen as he leaned back down to kiss her.

Her hands grabbed his hair, and she pulled him forcefully against her. She’d waited far too long for this to be patient now.