Peace for Traitors

The Jinchuuriki are rare in that, unlike Hanyou, they exhibit organized and characteristic mating behavior. Most Hanyou are, in fact, sterile and rarely take life mates of either oni or human species. Jinchuuriki are distinctly different, gracefully navigating both the human and oni worlds with relative ease. They are pack building creatures and yet, despite this oddity, Jinchuuriki live among humans relatively peaceably. Both males and females will collect human mates, up to six. However, it should be noted here that some Jinchuuriki may form significantly larger packs purely for political reasons. Most notably, the Jinchuuriki Samea Kala of the hidden village of Wave took 13 female subordinates in order to unite the warring tribes along the northern border of her nation. Despite such aberrations, most Jinchuuriki take 2-4 subordinates and usually only 1 or 2 through political marriages.

Koumyuo Sanzo, Lives and Habits of Far Eastern Demons

Hiashi Hyuuga, clan head of the large and powerful Hyuuga family, resisted the urge to pace. They were late. In fact, they were much later than he would have expected from the highly competent ninja in his most recent intelligence deployment. The team sent to spy on the Uzumaki household had not returned and it was hours past their rendezvous time. While any number of problems might have arisen to delay his people, Hiashi had an uncomfortable feeling that the operation had gone awry. Nothing was ever simple when dealing with oni, especially the Uzumaki oni, even if the demon in question was currently absent from Konoha on a mission. Hiashi could not have asked for a better opportunity to gather much needed information, with Naruto far away and his little pack relatively undefended. However, tiny as the budding Uzumaki house was, it was still probably the most deadly threat to Hiashi's position in all of the hidden village of Leaf. No clan could claim the kind of raw power and bloodline talent that Uzumaki could, having both the power of the Uchiha Sharingan and the considerable strength of the Kyuubi. The orphan brat who was once spat upon in the streets was now a clan head in his own right and a terrible force to be reckoned with. The blond menace had given Hiashi no peace, especially since, despite his foreign blood and crude habits, Naruto had become almost unstoppably popular. The Jinchuuriki's wedding had been attended by practically every person in the village, and the image of Sasuke Uchiha, the unholy terror of the entire civilized world, kneeling contentedly by Naruto's side, was a hard thing for anyone to ignore. Sasuke, the last member of one of the most powerful clans in all history and an unmatched child prodigy, raising his hands to accept the matched bracers representing his acceptance of Naruto's domination…no, not something anyone would easily forget.

Naruto's ascension to power was almost certain. The Hokage had been publicly giving hints of her support for Naruto to become her successor. His marriage to Sasuke Uchiha gave him the legitimacy he needed to seriously contend for Konoha leadership. With Sakura, the beautiful Haruno surgeon, as his wife, the jinchuuriki had civilian support as well. The affectionate nature of their relationship was known by all and only served to build Naruto even greater support within the community. To think that the foolish oni had married them for love alone! Either the rumor was a lie or else Naruto was incredibly lucky. Every indication supported the latter. The situation was a full and unmitigated disaster, worse even than when Naruto's worthless father, Minato, became Hokage. The sheer serendipity of it made Hiashi sick.

In the three years since Naruto had subsumed the waning Uchiha standard, the blond had only increased his foundation of support and power. Hiashi had been helpless to stop it. As a clan head, Naruto was allowed a seat on the council and the blond used his influence to block nearly every one of Hiashi's proposals. True, the jinchuuriki interjected on council affairs rarely, but whenever he did, his opinion was weighed heavily. Sasuke, little raven haired monster that he was, had managed to kill off almost all of the council members loyal to Hiashi's conservative point of view. The political climate of Konoha was ripe to accept Naruto's more liberal political perspective, leaving the interests of the entrenched aristocracy a paper tiger in the political arena. Policy in Konoha was changing, becoming more egalitarian, slowly but surely bleeding authority away from the shinobi clan leaders, away from Hiashi and his family.

As awful as the oni was to contend with as a peer, the blond half-mongrel might well become the next Hokage and that simply could not be allowed. Ever since the rather grandiose failure of the once-immortal Madara Uchiha, Hiashi had been in a state of perpetual tension trying to stop Naruto Uzumaki from ruling the world. Once it would have been a joke, people would have laughed, but nothing about clan Uzumaki was funny anymore. Sure, the ancient Uchiha perversion had managed to critically wound Naruto and Sakura, but both the damn Jinchuuriki and his twice damned commoner mate had survived. Not only that, but Madara's intervention had solidified Sasuke's loyalty to Naruto, prompting the last member of the fallen house to publicly accept Uzumaki as his alpha. Some of the other clans had even begun considering offering their second and third sons as additional subordinates in order to tie themselves to the rising Uzumaki household. In most villages, marriage to a jinchuuriki was a great honor for the otherwise disenfranchised younger sons of powerful clans. In Konoha, fortunately, demons were not so well received. Hiashi was thankful, at least, for that.

The soft chime signaling the return of his team filtered through the darkened meeting chamber and Hiashi allowed himself a relieved sigh before inviting them in. Three of the four ninja entered, dragging a large wooden crate between them, one limping badly. They bowed low before him. Hiashi looked towards the doorway for the leader, but he was not forthcoming.

"Where is Kyo?" Hiashi demanded.

The ninja closest to his right pulled a letter from his belt. It was written on fine parchment, tied and sealed with the Uzumaki whirl crest. He wordlessly handed it to the Hyuuga leader, bowing low in shame. Hiashi immediately felt his belly grow cold and heavy as he opened the letter, knowing before he read a single word that he would not like the answer.

You thought to take advantage of my alpha's absence, something I consider an unforgiveable insult. However, in deference to Naruto and his soft hearted preferences, I have allowed your men to return to you. If, in your arrogance, you have come to believe that we are vulnerable without him, you have been gravely misled. Naruto is confident to leave the clan in my care and I caution you not to test the limits of my mercy again. If I happen to discover more of your people within the borders of our land, there will be more boxes and they will be smaller.

S. Uzumaki

Trying to bite back the rampant rage flooding his soul, Hiashi turned to the box. He lifted the lid and took a steadying breath in order not to gag. Within the wooden container lay Kyo…or what was left of the team leader. Sasuke had cut him apart, joint by joint, in the traditional way a clan head would choose to interrogate a prisoner of war. Hiashi hoped desperately that Kyo had managed to stop his heart early in the process, hoped that he had not endured too long…

"Damn him!" The Hyuuga leader growled.

"He knew as soon as we crossed the western rim of the forest. He met us in the valley and…The wards have been moved." One of the ninja, Haru, reported tonelessly.

"What of Kyo? How did Sasuke see past the veil? Why didn't you fall back as instructed?" Hiashi barked. The ninja kneeling before him flinched.

"He has learned to make Kage Bunshin with the same skill as his alpha." Haru reported.

"What!"

"We had him in our observation and he gave no indication of detecting our position. In fact, Sasuke appeared to be gathering wild mushrooms. We were under the impression that we had stumbled upon him, not that he had detected our approach. There was no way we could tell that it was a clone. Not even with Byakugan. His mastery of the technique is perfect."

"No one seemed to think that it was a little bit odd for Sasuke Uchiha, a notorious murderer, to be doing something like gathering mushrooms?" Hiashi asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Suki did." The other remaining male ninja said softly.

Haru scowled at the man through his mask, but the other ninja said nothing more, keeping his face pressed tightly to the floor. Hiashi made note of the tension between them, obviously there had been disagreement over this. If Kyo had had any sense, he would have listened to Suki. The lone female ninja with the team was not one of Hiashi's most trusted operatives solely for her looks.

"We have observed Sasuke and the female, Sakura, gathering mushrooms and berries in the past. Kyo did not believe there was anything unusual about it." Haru said tightly.

"Usually, Sasuke watches over Sakura while she collects the food, never actually participating." Suki said coldly.

"Well? That still does not explain how he found you!" Hiashi snarled.

"While we watched the clone, Sasuke was above us, in the trees. He was scanning for us with the sharingan."

"He can't keep the sharingan active for more than a few minutes, it requires too much chakra. If he exceeds his limits, the sharingan will permanently destroy his optic nerves. Sasuke would never risk blindness on a hunch. The veil should have held for more than enough time." Hiashi said.

"No. I mean, that description of his abilities is no longer accurate. Sasuke can use the sharingan indefinitely, he never suffers from use of the technique. He was using the technique the entire time, even as he…it was never inactive."

"Impossible!"

"I believe the chakra he shares with his demon lover may allow him an inexhaustible reservoir of chakra for the technique." Suki said softly.

"Damn him! Damn them both! So he was watching from the trees with the sharingan as soon as the new wards were tripped and distracting you with a shadow clone? Simultaneously?"

"Yes."

"That is impossible! No one has that much chakra!"

"He does. When he finally attacked us, he didn't even appear fatigued. We were easily defeated."

"Damn him! He is too suspicious! Naruto never would have moved those wards in the first place without Sasuke's urging. He is as bad as the damn Oni! Worse!" Hiashi railed.

"Yes. He is." Haru agreed quietly.

"Something has changed. Even Sasuke would not have become so much more vigilant on a whim, it makes no sense…" Hiashi mused aloud. The remaining ninja exchanged a look.

"We believe…well, we are not sure…" The ninja who had spoken before sighed, looking nervous.

"What?"

"The way Sasuke spoke about certain things was somewhat unusual. His behavior seemed to suggest…it is only a theory." Haru shrugged.

"Well, theory or not I would hear it!" Hiashi snapped.

The single female nin on the team stood, the others shooting her mildly disapproving glances. Hiashi ignored them. If the theory was Suki's, no matter how ridiculous, he was more than eager to hear it. Suki was not only a capable ninja, but an expert in battlefield psychology. Her assessments of people were almost always both accurate and pertinent to the situation at hand. Ignoring Suki was a mistake, a mistake that Hiashi was not willing to risk.

"The female," Suki said, "She is pregnant."

OoOoOoO

Sakura bent over the toilet again, her rebellious stomach still roiling. Sasuke had been gone for a very long time and Sakura had her suspicions that his little mushroom hunting expedition was only a cover for something else. She hoped fervently that whatever he was doing was not something dangerous or potentially inflammatory. Sasuke had been worried about spies lately, but he had never actually gotten real proof that anyone had been trying to watch them. Sakura did not much care one way or another. If the other villagers were curious, well, it was only human nature. Still, Sasuke insisted that one of the other houses was gathering intelligence for some kind of attack and while she thought he was completely paranoid, the girl was not willing to take the chance that Sasuke was wrong either. By Kami she missed Naruto! Naruto would have been able to secure the compound and put Sasuke's worries to rest without igniting the once-Uchiha's volatile temper.

The Jinchuuriki had been gone for nearly three weeks, but it seemed much longer. Naruto was highly in demand for running missions lately because of his powerful attacks and cheerful, temperate personality. The blond was the ideal ninja for peacetime operations since he was unlikely to become unnecessarily violent, but was easily able to handle a situation if the operation went awry. The girl had discovered, with certainty, that she was pregnant just before Naruto left for Wind country, but she had known there was a possibility for almost two months. She had not told him. Such a distraction was an excellent way to get someone killed while they were in the field and Sakura had no intention of doing anything that would put Naruto at risk. She had not planned to conceive; it had sort of been an accident. The child was the product of many long, cold nights away from home and the tendency for a person's memory to slip when having rather desperate sex with her spouses.

She had slipped up many weeks ago and, at the time, had only been peripherally worried about getting pregnant. It had happened after coming home from her last mission to Sand. Sakura had been away for several weeks working on a medical operation there and had come home eager for intimacy with her husbands. In fact, she had been so eager that any thoughts of contraception had, quite literally, gotten left behind with her pack. Almost three days later, Sakura realized that she had been unprotected and by then, of course, it was too late. Still, she had sort of shrugged the idea off, thinking that she would only worry if she missed her next period. She had.

Not that the idea of a child was unwelcome, she was excited in the moments when she wasn't throwing up, it was just so…sudden. The suddenness was what really worried her. Sakura had not even bothered with a pregnancy test until she started feeling especially tired and sick in the mornings. Even then, she had kept the secret to herself for several days, not sure how to tell Sasuke. Naruto would have been easier to tell, as she knew he looked forward to having children, but Sasuke was harder. The darksome ninja was a difficult person to talk to under the best of circumstances and something as important and intimate as the conception of the pack's first child was…well… She had waited. When she finally did pull Sasuke aside to tell him about the baby, he had practically sprinted off to snarl at Naruto about moving the wards. Not exactly the response she had expected, not that she was entirely sure what her expectation had been in the first place. While Sakura had no idea what the wards had to do with having a child, she merely shrugged it off. Sasuke's reactions were often hard to understand, but Sakura was a patient woman.

As always, he showed her his thoughts not with words, but with his actions. The pregnancy was no different. That night when they made love, he had been so gentle, almost reverent. The joy, the fear, the anticipation was evident in the way he held her, kissed her, brushed his lips over her belly. Naruto had left only hours before and both of them ached with his absence. Usually, Sakura would have shared rough, needy sex with Sasuke, sex that both of them only found moderately satisfying. The slow, soft, sweet lovemaking that night had been something far beyond what she had experienced with the raven alone in the past. Love with Sasuke in Naruto's absence was always a little odd. It was a way to cope with the deep, burning hole that the Jinchuuriki left in the bed when he went away, not the true intimate communication the three of them shared. Sakura could only assume that it was the same for Sasuke and Naruto when she was away. Both of them always seemed half mad with desire when she returned, if that was any indication. Still…when Sasuke had touched her that night, it had been heavy with intention, each caress a wealth of meaning. In some ways, Sakura was very glad that she had told him first. In doing so, she had given Sasuke a chance to express himself in the best way he knew how.

She sighed. Sakura only wished he would express himself during the day as well as he had that night. Unfortunately, not all things could be discussed with merely a touch. Almost since the moment Naruto had left, Sasuke had become far more…well…intense than usual. Maybe if she and Sasuke could just talk about what he was thinking, she might be able to have a life again. The girl missed Ino and her parents, but Sakura's ex-homicidal-maniac husband had made the fact that he HATED when she left the house more than obvious to everyone. Sakura grumbled under her breath and heaved again, coughing miserably.

Sasuke was always more paranoid when Naruto was away, but Sakura was truly worried about his mental health this time. Sasuke insisted on going to the market with her, saying he was not convinced that she was getting a good price on the duck. The price of duck was, of course, totally irrelevant. Sakura knew he wanted to be there to watch, to threaten, to make sure no one even looked at her improperly. He scowled every time she left the house, accompanying her on even the most trivial errands. When Tsunade offered her a mission, the raven had flatly told the Hokage to go to hell, barely giving Sakura the opportunity to explain. Thankfully, the Hokage expected him to be an ass. Sasuke had even snapped at Ino the last time the other Kunoichi had invited her to go out to a party. The behavior was annoying bordering on infuriating, and Sakura promised herself that she would kick his ass just as soon as she could stand up without feeling nauseous.

She heard the main door open and the unmasked sound of Sasuke's tread in the hall. Obviously he wanted to be heard. Sakura sighed with relief, trying to work up the strength to stand up so she could badger him into telling her what he had actually been doing for the past six hours. The words, however, died in her throat at the sight of him. With a shaky groan, the girl lowered herself back onto the floor.

Sasuke was covered in blood, the sticky red stain splashed over his kimono, coating his hands all the way to his upper arms. His arm guards were covered in it, and the fabric of his hakama pants still dripped red gore slowly onto the tile. Sakura turned and retched again.

"Please…tell me that none of that is yours." Sakura groaned against the porcelain.

"No. None of it is mine." Sasuke said, moving towards the shower.

"Sasuke!" Sakura snarled. He sighed.

"Don't worry. I dealt with it."

"What the HELL happened!" She shrieked.

"I finally caught our spies." He said, the corner of his mouth turning up into a savage little smile. \

"You come home covered up to your FUCKING elbows in blood and that is the only explanation I get?" Sakura railed at him. He turned to her with an irritable sigh.

"You should work on your cursing before our child is born, you know…"

"SASUKE!" She shrieked. He pinched the bridge of his nose, obviously annoyed.

"I felt the wards being tripped and went to intercept the intruders. I had Naruto move the wards just before he left, as I suspected that possible spies might have mapped out our barrier. I changed the dimensions of the wards just enough to confound someone expecting their previous positions. Today, four ninja tripped the alarm. I knew that someone had been out there, in the western woods, once before. The signs were small, but easily indicative of small teams of elite ninja. Today, I found a Hyuuga reconnaissance team skulking through the forest just west of the valley."

"And…" Sakura urged.

"I killed their leader and sent his body back with the others as a warning."

"Sasuke! You just killed a Hyuuga ninja!" Sakura gasped.

"I was protecting us!" He snapped.

"But…They are Konoha ninja!" She argued.

"I don't care what kind of ninja they are! No one invades my home!" He snarled.

"You just KILLED someone! Wasn't there some other way to handle this?" Sakura growled.

"I will remind you what happened last time someone invaded our territory! Naruto nearly died!" Sasuke shouted.

"That…that is true." Sakura acceded, leaning her head against the toilet.

"Any of the other houses would have done the same thing, or worse! Our enemies are counting on the fact that Naruto will not know traditional clan engagement protocols. We cannot appear weak!" He explained tightly.

"Sasuke…what does this mean?" Sakura whispered.

"Nothing…yet. Hiashi Hyuuga is trying to decide whether or not he wants to have a clan war with us. He is threatened by Naruto's growing power and political weight. Hopefully, I persuaded him to reconsider." Sasuke said, stripping off the bloodied clothing.

"Clan war…? Political weight? What political weight? Naruto only attends the Konoha council one session out of twenty!"

"You don't understand clan politics. The clans have their own rules of engagement. They all try to maintain equivalent power and authority and Naruto has badly disrupted the balance of the aristocracy. He may not use his influence often, but that does not change the fact that he has influence, Sakura." Sasuke said, sounding frustrated.

"I just…what do we do?" She asked, feeling close to tears.

Sasuke paused at her tone, turning to see her wipe surreptitiously at her eyes. Sakura hoped he hadn't seen the tears, but it was so hard not to cry, even when there was nothing at all to cry about and now…war… She drew in a shuddering breath. War because Naruto was powerful? The whole idea did not make any sense. Why? Why war? Why now?

"Hey…um…I took care of it. Everything is okay." Sasuke said awkwardly, coming to kneel beside her.

Sakura leaned against him, heedless of the gore still clinging to his skin. Sasuke bent and kissed her hair, nuzzling her softly. The girl was still angry, both at him and at herself for crying, but…well… She had to trust him in this, even if it seemed insane, because Sasuke knew how a clan worked. Even though the tears kept flowing, she tried to show him that she believed him. He had been one of them all along, a royal in the world of ninja. She had been raised in the civilian realm and her parents were just common artisans. The glamorous problems of the clans had always seemed so far away, so insubstantial…

"Are we…okay? I mean…Are we safe? Will they retaliate?" She whispered. He snorted.

"They can't retaliate for something that they will never admit to doing in the first place. That ninja I killed today was totally disavowed the moment he accepted the mission, as were the others. As far as a Hyuuga retaliation goes…well…I killed someone who does not actually exist." Sasuke explained, gently stroking her back.

"It's so…cruel."

"Yes..." He mused with a shrug, "I suppose it is."

"You…I mean your family…was it always like this? Sorry, I've gotten so emotional lately!" She laughed shakily, still snuffling quietly. He was silent for a long time.

"Yes…until I met you and our baka, I had no idea that there was any other way to live…" Sasuke whispered.

"Are you…glad?" She asked. He smiled into her hair.

"I actually did gather those mushrooms, you know." Sasuke said, smugly.

"Well…I do love mushrooms," she said, and kissed him.

OoOoOoO

Neji waited in the shadow of the gates for a long time, quietly examining his feelings. Hinata had been gone most of the afternoon and he knew that she was with Kiba. She was always with Kiba. He supposed that, in a situation such as this, he should be feeling jealous. On some level, perhaps he was. However, Neji was uncomfortably aware that if he was jealous, it was not because his fiancé was out doing…things…with another man. No. He was jealous of his cousin, of her freedom, of her brazen selfishness. He was jealous that she was allowed to feel whatever she wanted, that she was allowed to play at romance, while he felt firmly chained by filial duty. The emotion was foolish, especially because if he really loved her, he would allow her what small measure of happiness that he could. Neji chewed his lip, lost in thought. A man was supposed to love his wife, but Hinata had always been just an awkward little child to him, more a nuisance than anything else. In many ways, Hinata was still being a nuisance.

He heard the gate open softly and went to confront his cousin and future wife on her unbecoming behavior. She pulled the gate closed softly, trying hard not to make too much noise. He rolled his eyes. She really was a rather poor excuse for a ninja. A mistake of birth, a trick of fate, had given her everything and left him a servant in his own house. Birth was the only reason why she was heir to the Hyuuga clan instead of him. Neji was, by far, the stronger ninja and generally considered to be a more capable leader as well. Hiashi had made no secret of his disappointment in his eldest daughter and his hopes that by marrying her to Neji, he would be able to claim an heir worthy of the title. In his marriage to Hinata, Neji was being given an opportunity to rule the Hyuuga clan in the way he had always been meant to. He would be part of the main house, a master of the clan and a servant no longer…

Hinata turned away from the gate and saw him. He had expected her to be startled, maybe a bit embarrassed, but instead the girl mostly looked miserable. Her mouth tightened into an unhappy line as she crossed her arms and waited for him to approach.

"You were with him again, weren't you?" Neji accused, sounding petty even to his own ears.

"Yes." She said simply.

"This has gone on for far long enough. We are to be married in less than a month and this foolishness is becoming a scandal. You are not to see him again." Neji said coldly. Hinata took a deep breath.

"I…I will not marry you cousin," the Hyuuga princess whispered softly.

"Don't be ridiculous. You don't have any choice in the matter and neither do I. The arrangement has already been decided," he said testily.

"I won't do it. I will not marry you." Hinata said, her voice quivering just a little.

Neji pitied her a bit then, the feeling small, tight and miserable. Even as privileged as she was, a spoiled little princess, perhaps his cousin was still a slave. Both of them were bound by duty, but only he seemed to realize the truth of the situation. Hinata was young, she had not been forced to grow up the way Neji had. He could understand how she might be frightened.

"I know that losing Kiba is difficult, but everything will be okay. Don't worry." Neji said softly, trying to smile comfortingly.

"I…I won't do it. I do not love you, cousin." She whispered, lips trembling.

"Love will come with time. Hiashi says…"

"My father knows nothing of love…" Hinata hissed, her expression becoming hard.

"Stop it, Hinata. We will be married. Arguing about it is pointless. It is our fate." Neji said firmly.

"Fate," She spat bitterly, "You have forgotten what Naruto tried to teach you all those years ago. You are still a slave to fate."

"It is what Hiashi has ordered." Neji snapped, bristling.

"You are a slave to him too. Can't you see it? He is only using you!" Hinata replied.

"I KNOW where my loyalties lie! It is time you remembered your duty, to your family!"

"I won't do it. I will NOT marry you! You cannot force me." She snapped, her voice growing firmer.

"Your father can." He countered tartly.

"Your blind obedience to my father is wrong, Neji! Someday you will discover who he really is and then you will die for his whims, just like Uncle did. Don't make the same mistakes that your father did." Hinata whispered urgently.

"His motives don't matter. I am a loyal Hyuuga, just as my father was. I was never given the indulgence of being allowed to act like a spoiled brat." He hissed.

"Why do you want this so badly? It isn't as though…it isn't that you love me." Hinata replied quietly.

"It is the way of things! It is our responsibility! Love has nothing to do with it!"

"Yes! Yes, cousin, it DOES!" she shouted.

Neji's eyes widened. Hinata was by nature a very quiet person, hardly raising her voice for any reason. He barely remembered the last time he had actually heard her shout, much less in anger and she was angry. The girl stood before him with her teeth bared and her face flushed. He had never seen her so angry.

"Hina…just…don't see him again." Neji said gently.

"No. I will see him. I love Kiba and I am going to marry him. If you are not willing to fight for someone, then you don't love them enough. I love him. I am willing to fight." Hinata snarled.

"Hina, will you listen to yourself? Who are you fighting?" Neji asked, his voice gentle.

"You, Neji…you. I challenge you to a match and if I win…you renounce any claims to our marriage." Hinata said slowly, swallowing hard.

"That…you can't do that…" He hissed.

"I can. It is legal by Hyuuga by-laws and customs. Read the documents yourself." She said softly.

"Hina, no! Don't do that! You remember what happened last time we fought…" Neji whispered urgently, raising a hand to touch her hair. She slapped it away.

"Yes. I do. You won and I almost died, but Neji…I would rather die than marry you." She whispered and there was no anger in the words. It was merely the truth.

"You hate me so much?" Neji whispered, taken aback. She shook her head.

"No. No cousin. I do not hate you. I love you, very dearly, but not the way my father wants me to. I love you too much to spend a lifetime trying to love you as a wife, when my heart belongs fully to another. It would not be fair, Neji. I would rather die fighting for Kiba, than live trapped in a lie forever with you." Hinata said softly, looking sad.

"Hina…"

"I challenge you, Neji Hyuuga. I challenge you to a duel for the ownership of my marriage contract. Be in the arena at dawn tomorrow or forfeit any right to me," she said, and her voice was strong.

Neji scowled, stepping back from her. She had spoken the formal words and the gate guardians could be called upon to witness the challenge if needed. Foolish child. Neji felt a sickening knot tighten in his guts. She would not win, she could not win and yet… she said she would rather die than accept her fate.

"Fight with courage, cousin. You will lose." He whispered tightly.

"Either way, I have satisfied my honor. Take care to protect your own," she said and turned away.

OoOoOoO

"By the gods! Naruto! Slow down!" Sai huffed, as he sprinted through the trees.

"Keep up or shut up! I AM sleeping at home tonight. Believe it!" Naruto called back happily.

"Well, far be it for us to prevent you from getting much needed cuddle time with Sakura and the murdering terror of all Konohakagure." Shino remarked blandly.

"Sakura definitely, though Sasuke isn't very snuggly." Naruto replied as he ran.

"Humph, big surprise. The world's biggest sociopath doesn't like to snuggle. I knew he had to be a crappy lay." Sai announced sarcastically and rather too loudly.

"I didn't say that." Naruto replied with a toothy smile.

"Don't be rude Sai. After all, I can see it. He is almost as pretty as a girl, what else do you need really?" Shino said, moving beside Naruto as they ran.

"Don't let him hear you say that. I like my friends and I haven't completely broken him of killing people." Naruto said with a laugh.

"I thought you…like…controlled him? You know? With the thrall?" Sai shouted from somewhere several yards behind.

"Not very much or very often. I only do it if I need him to do something, or not do something, really, REALLY important. I put him under the thrall when I told him not to leave the compound and so he physically can't leave our land, well, unless he is with Sakura. Then he can. I mean he could try I guess, but it would be very hard, and he doesn't even want to in the first place. He always bitches when I want to go out together." Naruto whined.

"I noticed that at the bar before we left. He seemed totally mad. Is that what Kiba means by looks that kill?" Sai asked.

"It's 'IF looks could kill' and yes, that is what he means. He looked positively venomous." Shino said.

"Well, the Old Lady always manages to piss him off." Naruto explained.

"You could put him under the thrall for dates, especially if the Hokage is there. Dating is important." Shino suggested.

"He would never forgive me if I used the thrall on him for any little thing and, between us, I could not handle it if he hated me. Even a little," Naruto said, somewhat somberly.

"That sucks for you. He hates everyone." Sai huffed.

"No, Sasuke loves me. Believe it." Naruto said with a smile.

"He says that he hates you." Sai noted.

"He has problems expressing his emotions, not like you would know anything about that, Sai." Naruto sniped.

"Sai is just jealous." Shino teased.

"I am NOT!" Sai protested loudly, startling some birds.

"He would really have liked to be your subordinate instead." Shino continued.

"Shut UP! That is NOT true!" Sai argued.

"Ho! Maybe you protest too much!" Naruto teased, warming to the game.

"If I ever catch you guys, I am going to KILL you both!" Sai shouted indignantly.

"Do it. Attempted murder gets him off." Shino said pleasantly.

"Shut up and run." Naruto grinned.

"So…Sasuke can't leave the compound?" Sai asked.

"No. That is why no one has gruesomely murdered you in your sleep yet, Sai." Shino replied somewhat tersely.

"He can't leave without my permission or unless he is out someplace with Sakura." Naruto said.

"Yeah…But what about if someone went onto the Uchiha property? He could still kill them right?" Sai pressed.

"Even Sasuke is not just going to go around attacking Naruto's visitors." Shino huffed.

"Yeah…But what if Sasuke did not know they were visitors? What if someone just came into the compound without announcing themselves?"

"Oh come on! No one would be that stupid!" Naruto laughed.

They ran in silence for a long while as the sun began to grow tawny and long shadows stretched from the trees. The terrain grew denser, the forest thicker and more lush. When the trees were so thick that the ninja barely had to jump between them anymore, the young men knew they had entered the outer borders of Konoha territory. The land would only seem like more wilderness to anyone who did not recognize the subtle signs on the trees signifying that this was indeed the hidden kingdom of Leaf. To the returning shinobi, the subtle embrace of their homeland could not have been more obvious and welcome. Though the team was tired and had been running for many hours, they moved faster through the trees, each eager to reach home at last. As the trees spread out to afford glimpses of the weakly shining lanterns beyond, Naruto broke from the rest of the group, heading towards the Uchiha estate. Shino and Sai waved to him briefly before turning back towards their own destinations. They would turn the reports in tomorrow morning, the sun was nearly set and business could wait a while longer.

Naruto dove through the trees, a black and orange blur against the greenery. He was eager to hold Sakura in his arms, to run his fingers through Sasuke's midnight hair. However, the first sense of his home and his mates was not the musky tang of Sasuke's sweat or the sweat perfume of Sakura's bath salts but…blood. He paused, breathing heavily, mouth open to capture the scent. The putrid scent of drying gore was heavy in the air, flowing thickly from the west. A brief pang of panic lanced through Naruto's soul before he was able to ascertain that it was not Sakura or Sasuke that had been hurt. The scent of their bodies was faint on the wind and coming from the opposite direction. The jinchuuriki breathed a sigh of relief, though he noted with concern that the blood did smell decidedly human. He moved towards the scent, finding traces in the western forest of a brief struggle and, somewhat later, a hurried retreat.

Naruto groaned. It was not the first time some hapless hunter or curious villager had tried to sneak onto the vast territory of the Uzumaki estate. The other times, however, he had been home and available to stop Sasuke from completely tearing the person apart. This time, well, it would appear that the intruders had not been so lucky. The signs in the forest gave every indication that his subordinate had, in fact, torn a human body into progressively smaller pieces. It seemed excessive, even for Sasuke, almost ritualistic... The raven haired shinobi was hideously territorial and not without good reason, as far as Naruto was concerned. The only times when someone had effectively penetrated the Uchiha forest was during the massacre of Sasuke's family and the nearly successful attempted murder of Naruto himself. Sasuke had his full blessing to protect their home as he saw fit, though what had happened in the western woods was more than merely a reaction to an intruder. No. Sasuke had taken his time here. His belly filled with ice and worry, Naruto turned away from the blood smeared over the grass and ran towards the main house.

OoOoOoO

Both of them sensed him at once, their heads rising in unison as the warm thrum of Naruto's returning presence thrummed deeply through their souls. Sasuke smiled quietly, hiding his face behind his hair out of habit. Sakura laughed out loud, moving to pull some of the duck eggs out of the fridge in order to make Naruto's favorite kind of ramen. Sasuke enjoyed the way her graceful body moved through the kitchen, the way her long pink hair flowed between her shoulder blades. Soon Naruto would be home and Sasuke would be bent against her, groaning for his alpha in unfettered passion. Naruto would stroke him, caress him, command his submission and the release would be glorious. Despite how he had once tried to deny it, Naruto was an amazing lover and Sasuke ached for him in a way too intimate to express. The raven knew that Sakura felt the same. Even if he had not seen the cherry blush spreading over her cheeks, he would have known through the link they shared that the girl was as eager for Naruto's touch as he was. Sakura began humming softly, her posture practically taught with anticipation.

Sasuke smiled and returned his attention to re-sharpening his sword, the lustrous steel shining almost purple in his hands. The katana was not the one he had carried during the years when he only dreamt of blood and vengeance, that one had been lost among so many other things when he had finally been dragged back to Leaf. The lavender sword had been a wedding gift from Naruto, forged of the finest steel in the entire world, wrought in the renowned forges of Iron country. Naruto had had it made almost a year in advance and had travelled thousands of miles to the north to collect it himself. More than a weapon, the sword had been a symbol of the Jinchuuriki's trust, given to Sasuke at the same moment as he spoke his vows. Such a thing was not usually accepted and had caused quite a scandal among the other villages. After all, who had ever heard of an Oni alpha gifting his subordinate with a dangerous weapon of all things? Why not just give him a nice kimono?

The guests had whispered and the gossip was still spreading, so far as he knew. Naruto had been gently chastised by Killer Bee over the choice and had frankly told the other jinchuuriki that the way he chose to conduct his family was not anyone else's damn business. Sasuke smiled at the memory. The sword was easily the finest object he had ever owned and Sasuke loved it. He loved it for its grace and its power, but mostly because Naruto had given it to him as a token of love and he had finally allowed himself to cherish the emotion. It truly was far too fine a weapon for the hard use it had had today, but Sasuke had left as soon as he felt the wards being tripped and the lovely sword had been the weapon in his hands at the time. Cutting through better than fifty hard joints had dulled the blade badly and Sasuke hoped he would be able to regain its perfect edge.

He knew that there was a good chance Naruto would be angry with him over the Hyuuga spy, but the once-Uchiha did not care. He had pledged his love and service to Naruto and that meant protecting the idiot even if the dobe did not realize the threats that surrounded him. Sasuke did not blame Naruto for his ignorance, though it often frustrated him. Like Sakura, the blond had not grown up in the squirming pit of intrigue and death that was life as among the high houses. To Naruto, the dangers in life were largely a matter of perspective and most people were good if only given the chance. Usually, the blond was right and his sunny brand of optimism was, perhaps, Naruto's most magnetic quality. Still, Sasuke was not willing to take any chances, not with Sakura so vulnerable.

"I'm back!" Naruto bellowed as he stomped through the hall.

"Naruto!" Sakura squealed, running to jump into his arms. Sasuke said nothing but stood and moved to meet him nonetheless.

.

"Sakura! Teme! By Kami I missed you guys!" Naruto thundered jovially.

Naruto pulled them both into his arms, kissing and nuzzling every inch of available flesh until Sakura was giggling madly. Naruto picked her up in his left arm as easily as someone would a child and crushed Sasuke against his chest, his blue eyes intense and searching. The raven had the uncomfortable desire to look away, to drop his gaze from the probing blue. Only Naruto could ever look at him that way. Only Naruto could make him feel as though his every thought or sin was laid bare to see. Sasuke met his alpha's mouth gently, his worry that Naruto might disapprove of his actions plain in the way his lips softened beneath the blond's. Naruto kissed him, accepted the submission, his hand hard in Sasuke's hair as he plundered the other's mouth. After several breathless moments, Naruto released them, though his nose lingered a moment in Sakura's glittering mane.

"Dobe, I see you managed to survive." Sasuke greeted him blandly.

"Hey teme, I see you managed to hack somebody into itty bitty pieces while I was away." Naruto said, raising an eyebrow. Sasuke crossed his arms.

"I intercepted a team of Hyuuga spies. You have managed to make some rather impressive enemies, idiot." Sasuke said with a huff.

"How do you know they were there for me and not for you? And why did you kill one of them like that?" Naruto asked seriously.

"It is how a clan should treat any who dare invade their territory. It was the traditional way a prisoner of war is dealt with. I sent a message in the only language Hiashi will understand." Sasuke hissed.

"Teme, I do not think that antagonizing the Hyuuga is a wise idea. Besides, Neji and Hinata are my friends!" Naruto argued, frowning.

"Friends or not, their loyalty is to their clan and they probably have no idea that their leader has been threatening us!" Sasuke snarled, trying to explain.

"Sasuke, are you sure a few people wandering around in the western woods is really supposed to be a threat?"

"Are you blind or just stupid? Those were not just people! They were an elite intelligence operation, probably trained assassins!" Sasuke railed.

"I made duck egg ramen with wild mushrooms for dinner!" Sakura shouted, obviously trying to diffuse the argument.

"Ah! I love you! Thank Kami! Ramen! My favorite!" Naruto cheered, and Sasuke knew the argument had been dropped for the moment. Sasuke sighed.

"I even bought freshly made ramen noodles from Hojo's stand! I remembered how much you liked his noodles last time," Sakura said cheerfully.

"Sounds amazing! I'm starving!"

"You're always starving." Sasuke said sourly, rolling his eyes.

Though Naruto had decided to drop the matter in favor of dinner, Sasuke was still angry. He tried to summon his patience and wait until a more appropriate moment presented itself. The Jinchuuriki was only being stubborn because he did not fully understand all the factors at stake. If Naruto knew that Sakura was with child, Sasuke was fairly certain his attitude towards the matter would change.

"What about the mushrooms? It's still pretty early for those, you must have had to hunt around for them a long time, Sakura." Naruto said, eyeing the large basket of freshly cleaned mushrooms with appreciation.

"Well…actually, Sasuke got those. I…uh…wasn't feeling well." She finished lamely.

"Oh? I don't suppose those are from the western woods?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sakura always wants mushrooms and it seemed as good a distraction as any. I had a shadow clone get them while I dealt with…other things." Sasuke said with a shrug. Naruto frowned.

Sakura stirred the much debated fungus into the rich duck broth, adding green onions and a spoonful of miso as well. The soup cooked quickly, the rich aroma drifting through the kitchen. Sasuke had never taken the time to cultivate an interest in food until his capture and return to Konoha. Before, food had been fuel, a necessary weakness of the human body and nothing more. Enjoyment of eating had been something almost foreign to him, something civilians did. He was glad that Sakura had slowly, but surely changed his attitude about taking meals. The scent of the soup was making his mouth water and Naruto looked about ready to gnaw off one of his own limbs. Food had been one of the first ways that Sakura had shown him that she still loved him. That despite all he had done, Sasuke still had another chance. Since then, he had grown to love her cooking, to enjoy the experience of good food for its own sake.

One of the servants had already set the table in anticipation of the meal Sakura was making and all that was left to do was move the soup over from the stove. Sasuke settled the sword into its scabbard and moved to help Sakura with the soup pot. She was chatting with Naruto about the mission and the weather and anything and everything other than babies and would-be assassins. Sasuke sighed. It was going to be an awkward evening. One of the servants bowed politely and carried his sword away to the weapons room. After much squabbling and hard handed logic, Naruto had finally agreed to hire a small staff to look after the vast Uchiha mansion. The Jinchuuriki didn't like the idea of 'all sorts of strange people in my house,' but there were actually very few alternatives to hiring at least a couple housekeepers. The Uchiha estate was simply too large for anyone else to maintain and still live the life of a shinobi. Even Naruto, with an army of shadow clones, had barely been able to keep the house in working order and he had acceded in the end out of sheer exhaustion.

The old woman who had cared for him in the beginning, Sasuke now knew her name was Yuko, was the first to become a permanent fixture in the household. Naruto had been less cagey about a kindly old lady and Sakura had come to like her as well. Yuko was careful and silent and believed that discretion was the better part of valor, a philosophy that served her well in the boisterous Uzumaki household. Even now, the old lady was sweeping the deck just beyond the sliding doors, unobtrusively available if Sakura should need her help. Sasuke smiled at her and received a smile and a small bow in return. Though the title was not official, Yuko-san had basically become the major domo of the Uzumaki clan and Sasuke sometimes wondered how they had managed to survive without her. The house was cleaner, the library was organized and while Naruto still worried that one of the staff would accidentally walk in on the trio during sex, that particular problem had not yet come up. Sasuke had quietly hired a couple more people for additional help since Sakura became pregnant. Yet another topic of conversation that ought to be avoided indefinitely.

They sat down to dinner with a rather desperate sounding "itadakimasu!" from Naruto, who began eating even before the soup had been completely ladled into his bowl. Sasuke tasted the soup and decided that he liked the dish, even with all the extra mushrooms. Lately Sakura only seemed to want mushrooms, every kind of mushrooms, and chocolate ice cream. The combination was odd to say the least, but Yuko had said something about weird cravings being normal. Sakura tasted the soup and sighed luxuriously.

"Ah! Sasuke! The mushrooms are delicious, I love mushrooms…" She exclaimed dreamily.

"Mushrooms huh? That's new…" Naruto said, looking at her suspiciously. Sakura sighed.

"I have been kinda…craving them…lately…" She muttered.

"That and chocolate ice cream." Sasuke added, spearing some duck in his chopsticks.

"Oh…?" Naruto asked, around a mouthful of noodles. Sasuke took a breath and tried to stay calm.

"Yeah…well…it's probably because…well…I'm pregnant." She said, smiling a little shyly.

Naruto's soup spoon landed back in his bowl with the resounding crack of breaking porcelain and ramen broth was flung everywhere. The Jinchuuriki coughed hard and finally managed to bring air into his lungs around the inhaled wad of ramen. Yuko came in from her watchful sweeping and silently went to fetch a towel. Sasuke groaned. She was both lovely and powerful, but Sakura had the worst timing. The blond's eyes were huge and very blue as he stared at their wife. Sasuke took another bite and tried to convince his foolish belly to relax out of the tight knot it had been wound into. Sakura swallowed hard, pushing her noodles around nervously with her chopsticks. Naruto blinked once, then again. Sasuke held his breath. The Jinchuuriki cocked his head attentively, fixing Sakura with that deep azure gaze that, as far as Sasuke knew, only he could achieve.

"My love…could you please say that again?" He asked quietly.

"I'm pregnant." She repeated, her hands trembling only a little.

There was a moment of fragile stillness, with Naruto staring dumbfounded into Sakura's eyes. Sasuke stared too, trying to read the jinchuuriki's reaction, but he was not allowed to contemplate the problem for very long. The blond pounced up onto the table, heedless of the food, and lunged across the serving dishes to nuzzle Sakura's cheek.

"Oh! Wow! Really? When…I mean what…I mean when…Ah! Wow!" Naruto babbled, smiling hugely.

He stood and wrapped her in his arms, laughing wildly. Sasuke deftly moved the cracked soup bowl out of the way, saving Sakura a soggy knee as the jinchuuriki dragged her laughing across the table. The pair stared at each other for a gentle moment and Naruto laid his hand against her belly, practically purring with happiness. Sasuke enjoyed the way that Naruto's eyes lit up with joy as Sakura nodded once more. They kissed passionately and then Sasuke was being manhandled onto the table as well, caught in Naruto's powerful left hand. Chopsticks flew and Sasuke would later have to wash the noodles out of his hair, but in the moment only the calluses on Naruto's palms and the scent of Sakura's hair seemed to matter. Though he hated to admit it, Sasuke had desperately missed him, had longed to see what he would say about the baby. They kissed and touched and fed her bites of mushrooms and generally made an awful mess. Sasuke laughed, at first quietly and then louder as Naruto nipped him playfully on the ear. It was the first time he had really laughed in weeks. When they had regained a little of the breath lost laughing and kissing, Sasuke was lying against Naruto's shoulder and Sakura was tucked into the blond's arms. For the first time in many weeks, Sasuke felt like he could relax, like he could finally breathe. Naruto turned to Sakura, stroking a finger down her face.

"How long until…you know…" Naruto asked, nuzzling her throat gently.

"About seven months." She murmured.

"You knew before I left…naughty…" He accused, the corner of his mouth raised in a taunting smile.

"She told me the day you left for Wind country." Sasuke said quietly, running his fingers over the crest of Naruto's ear.

"I…I didn't want to worry you. If something had happened to you on that mission, because you were distracted…" She turned away, hiding her eyes.

"I understand. It's okay. I love you…baby, are you crying?" Naruto asked, suddenly concerned.

Sakura snuffled softly, pressing her face into the table cloth. Sasuke moved a bit closer, rolling so he could hold her. The girl was shaking, her nearly silent sobbing vibrating through her body like beads through a sieve. Sasuke said nothing, not sure what to say, running his hands over her back in soothing circles instead. Naruto cupped her cheek, his face worried. Sasuke met his eyes over her shoulder, shrugging a bit to show his mate that he was equally mystified by the behavior. Naruto rumbled softly, lapping the tears from her face with the roughened velvet of his tongue.

"If anything…anything had happened…Oh! I just…I couldn't…Oh Naruto! I'm so glad that you're home and s…s…safe…" She sobbed, practically hysterical.

"It's okay baby, I'm home. I'm not going anywhere for a long, long time." Naruto whispered, smiling gently.

Sasuke rose onto an elbow and met Naruto's lips over Sakura's shoulder. The kiss was needy and a little rough, but Naruto's hand in his hair was gentle and soothing. Sasuke moaned against his mouth, feeling his body heat with the contact. At last, the warmth fully returned to his blood, chasing away the chilly uncertainty that always came with Naruto's absence. For the first time in weeks Sasuke felt the gnawing anxiety melt away into the luscious inferno of Naruto's embrace. He felt comfortable, safe. Sakura was running her lips over his neck, kissing and licking in tiny teasing circles over the taught muscles.

"That was why you were so worried about the wards." Naruto murmured against Sasuke's lips.

"I won't let them onto our land, near her, near our child…" The raven haired ninja whispered fiercely, biting Naruto's mouth aggressively.

Naruto pulled back from him, looking at his subordinate steadily. Sasuke scowled and met his eyes with just a hint of haughtiness. While his perspective had widened to include the undeniable fact that the dobe was occasionally correct in his assessment of certain situations, in this case Naruto was wrong. Even now, the thought of someone entering his home, laying their hands on Sakura made his vision hazy with rage. He remembered how she had looked, bleeding in the snow, lying over Naruto's still, cold body. He remembered the bruises on her arms, on her face, on her hips. She had tried to hide the marks while Naruto was healing, but he had seen them anyway, the indelible evidence of what had almost happened. The thought made him sick. Once he had hesitated, he had watched it happen because he was not sure what to do. He had let them hurt her, for reasons that no longer made sense in his fractured memory of that awful day. He had almost allowed Naruto to be killed, had practically watched him die through the pounding lens of the sharingan. Never again. No one would be allowed to hurt her, to hurt his family, ever again.

"It was a reconnaissance team? You are sure?" Naruto asked, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Hai." Sasuke hissed through his teeth.

"You think the Hyuuga are plotting something?" Naruto asked, chewing his lower lip.

Sakura nuzzled against Sasuke's chest, obviously worried that they would fight again. Naruto kissed the back of her neck soothingly, but his eyes never left Sasuke's face. The tension stretched, brittle and infinite for a moment longer. The raven haired ninja took a deep breath before replying again.

"I do."

Naruto was still for a moment, obviously thinking. He turned to Sakura, who was looking up at them with soggy green eyes made even wetter with concern. Sasuke ran his fingers over her face, gentle and loving in a way that his language never was. Naruto kissed her once, softly, and moved to place his hand over her belly. He brushed his nose against Sasuke's, allowing the other nin to study his face. Sasuke looked into his alpha's expression finding warmth there, unspoken anticipation, as well as dark aggression and the slightest trace of fear.

"If they come again, don't worry about sending messages," Naruto whispered, "Kill them all."

OoOoOoO

Sasuke moaned in helpless abandon as Naruto moved within him, thrusting hard into his captive body. Too much time had passed since he was last penetrated and the flesh was tight and sensitive around Naruto's thick arousal. He panted, trying to relax as Naruto moved further into him. There was pain and stretch and the molten, consuming pleasure that melted Sasuke's very mind into white hot nothing. Sakura was still lying in a spent, boneless heap beside them, her pale flesh rosy with completion. Naruto had taken her first, making her cum again and again until the very air seemed charged with her cries and the scent of her passion. They had both loved her, with fingers and tongues and finally with Naruto's cock. The girl had been ravenous for them, as the healing scratches on both his and Naruto's skin still attested, but not so much as the Jinchuuriki. Weeks alone and celibate had put a clear edge onto Naruto's sexual appetite. The blond had taken her, softly at first, but had never once stopped moving in the hours since they had retreated to the bedroom. He had bent Sakura over the bed and penetrated her while moving his fingers into Sasuke's mouth. An edge of discomfort, a hint of bruised dignity, had stung him but Sasuke had allowed the invasion because…because it was Naruto. There was something wildly erotic about the feel of Naruto's hand in his mouth, stroking his tongue, gathering wetness to rub against Sakura's sensitive nipples. Naruto knew how to make him feel both helpless and aroused, how to halt Sasuke's ever meticulous mind so that his body could react without distraction, how to remind him to whom he belonged.

After the softness of their initial reunion, Naruto had moved powerfully in Sakura as she sucked Sasuke's erection. The three of them had been connected through her flesh, pulled magnetically to the very edge of orgasm by the strong, hot friction of her glorious body. Sakura knew how to tongue him, lapping the hardened flesh, bringing him to the edge before setting her teeth gently against the crown, breaking the rhythm. She had been able to keep him stimulated, aroused beyond the normal limits a man should have, his every nerve tingling with the thrusts of her tongue. He had screamed in ecstasy when she pushed her tongue into the tender slit and only Naruto's sharp claws against his thigh had prevented Sasuke from releasing into her clever mouth.

Sasuke cried out as Naruto's clawed fingers roamed over his belly, moving lower to stroke the hardened flesh between his legs. The raven could still feel the ghost of Sakura's mouth on the tender skin, the muscular teasing of her tongue against his sensitive body. He shivered. Naruto ran his tongue over the electric spot behind his ear rumbling in powerful approval of the almost desperate whimper escaping through Sasuke's clenched teeth. Sasuke struggled just a little, just enough to feel the vibration of Naruto's warning growl as the jinchuuriki held him tighter. Naruto pushed Sasuke's legs further apart, achieving an even deeper angle of penetration. He gasped as the blond pounded against his prostate, sparkling spots dancing in his vision. The raven was lost in the sensation, the powerful motion of Naruto's hips merging with his own heartbeat until Sasuke could not tell which was which. They moved in graceful, practiced union, bodies colliding with sinuous grace.

When Sasuke was very close, held back only by the tight grip of Naruto's hand on his straining penis, Naruto gestured to Sakura. Moving with the sensuous undulation of a hunting cat, the girl moved beneath them, her ample curves luscious in the soft bedroom light. She licked Sasuke's neck, kissing away the tears flowing unheeded from his eyes. A moment of stillness, of indrawn breath and Sakura's fingers against his scalp, and then Naruto was moving him. The jinchuuriki guided Sasuke into the girl's moist body, enfolding his aching length in her tight heat. The sensation was beyond physical, beyond anything human experience had taught him. The pleasure was more than mere ecstasy, more than love or thought or feeling itself. Sasuke felt his soul swell with fullness even greater than the intimate ache of Naruto moving in his stiff body. Naruto had taken them this way before, many times, but the eroticism of the act never waned. Sasuke whimpered softly into Sakura's hair, his flesh singing with desire so intense the feeling bordered closely on pain. Sakura wrapped her arms around him, undulating smoothly to deepen his movement into her body. The soft press of her breasts was luscious against the heaving planes of his chest. She sank her teeth into the long muscle of his neck and Sasuke arched against her in ecstasy.

Naruto was moving him, moving into him, moving into her, deep and inescapable. They were one. Naruto thrust hard into Sasuke, the oni's powerful body setting a new rhythm. He drove Sasuke into Sakura with the force of a freight train, each stroke bringing more vibrating pleasure than the last. Sasuke and Sakura cried out as one, their breath mingling in heady abandon. Naruto was loving them both, claiming them as his own once again. The Jinchuuriki drove him into her even as Sasuke's own body was ravished and he could only moan and scream and kiss her and finally give into the blinding orgasm. Naruto strained inside him, pumping low and deep, as liquid heat spilled into his quivering flesh and Sakura shrieked her release against the curve of his throat.

OoOoOoO

"Naruto-sama…Naruto-sama…?" The voice called in the darkness.

Naruto woke to the sound of his name called quietly from beyond the bedroom door. He blinked once, seeing as easily in the darkness of the room as he would in broad daylight, searching lazily for the source of the noise. The jinchuuriki was still tangled amongst Sakura and Sasuke, warm and comfortable for the first time in weeks. He groaned. Yuko-san better have a very important question in order to wake him at this hour of the night. Naruto toyed with merely ignoring her. Still, the old woman never bothered him in bed unless the matter was fairly urgent and though the voice was quiet he detected an element of strain in it as well. He sighed. The faster he got up and dealt with whatever new disaster had befallen the staff, the faster he could go back to bed.

Naruto rose, careful not to disturb Sakura or Sasuke with the movement. He untangled himself gently from Sasuke who had fallen asleep against his chest and moved a pillow into Sakura's hands so she wouldn't notice the absence of his head against her belly. They were beautiful, spread in an artful array of pale limbs and sleeping faces over the bed. Naruto sighed and brushed a stray lock of midnight hair away from Sasuke's fine, aquiline features. In sleep, the dark haired ninja looked younger, his face smoothed of the ever present scowl. Naruto took a moment to appreciate how lovely his porcelain skin looked covered in the rose colored curtain of Sakura's hair. Truly, his mates complemented each other in an aesthetic even a very great artist would never have dared to dream of. Asleep against one another, pale and fine and gorgeous, the two of them looked like angels. Naruto smiled ironically. The image was deceiving; he knew that they were demons, monsters, both of them. Somehow the truth of their nature was even more satisfying.

Naruto quietly pulled on his kimono and a pair of soft sleep pants. He moved out into the hall where a small oil lamp burned beside a worried looking old woman. Naruto smiled at her gently, aware that in the semi-dark his pupils would be frightening slits. Yuko bowed low before him and gestured a short way down the hall to avoid waking Sakura and Sasuke.

"Naruto-sama! I apologize for waking you! You have a visitor." Yuko explained, bowing again.

"It's fine! It's fine! Please, just 'Naruto' okay?" He said, laughing awkwardly.

"Yes, Naruto-sama. The girl arrived just a few minutes ago and at first I thought to turn her away, but…" Yuko quibbled, wringing her tiny hands.

Naruto stared at her. It was the most he had ever heard the old woman speak in a single moment since he had met her. She was obviously upset and Naruto began to worry about his late night visitor more and more. With one last weary sigh, Naruto gestured towards the main reception area. Yuko bowed again and led him towards the brightly lit sitting room. Once they had reached the screen door, Naruto gestured for Yuko to pause.

"Did our visitor give you a name?" He asked, trying not to yawn.

"Hai. She is the lady Hyuuga Hanabi." Yuko said softly, obviously worried about his reaction.

Naruto frowned, but nodded, Sasuke's previous words ringing loudly in his head. Yuko knelt and opened the doors to reveal a thirteen year old girl sobbing uncontrollably against the tea table. Naruto hesitated a moment, a hysterical teenager not the sort of situation he felt confident handling well and walked quietly into the room. The girl noticed his presence at once and threw herself into a low bow at his feet.

"Yuko, could you make some tea please?" Naruto asked softly, wondering if his evening could get any weirder.

The old woman bowed and hurried off as Naruto knelt beside the quivering girl. He had only met Hinata's little sister a few times before and remembered her mainly as a sharp tongued and sarcastic child easily moved to anger. Sort of a brat really. Usually she was with Hinata who softened the girls nature tremendously or Neji who merely tolerated her with chilly silence. He had never spoken to her alone and certainly never seen her in tears. Her long black hair was spread out in a wet fan around her shaking shoulders, her feet bare and dirty from running.

"Hanabi? Are you alright?" He asked softly.

Naruto was suddenly very much aware that the princess of a house that he now saw as an enemy had come alone. Not even an escort was waiting beyond the curtains in the main hall. Naruto was not sure what that meant, but Sasuke would have likely said that it was dangerously improper. Could the whole thing be a trap? A ploy? Was Hanabi even aware that his subordinate had hacked one of her kinsmen into pieces earlier that day?

"N…Naruto! P…Please…I…I…need your help!" Hanabi sobbed, pressing her face hard into the tatami.

"Shhhh…slow down. What is the matter?" He asked gently.

"Sister…my sister…Oh! She's your friend right? You'll help her, won't you?" Hanabi asked, her pale silver pupil-less eyes wide and desperate.

"Hey, calm down, shhhh! What is the matter with Hinata? What is going on?"

"She…She challenged Neji for a duel, t…to win her marriage contract back from him! They fight tomorrow at dawn! She is going to die! You have to stop her, she listens to you! Please!" Hanabi begged, dissolving into hysteria again.

"Hinata is fighting Neji?" Naruto whispered.

"She does not want to marry him, and I don't blame her. Cousin is boring and cold and he never even tells her that she is pretty! She IS pretty!" Hanabi snarled.

"But…Kiba does?" Naruto prompted kindly.

"Yes. Kiba-sama is nice and cute and Sissy always smiles when he is with her. I wish she could marry him!" Hanabi said miserably.

"Obviously she does too." Naruto said with a smile.

"Yeah, but Neji is ready to marry her and that is what father wants too…" Hanabi sobbed.

"Your sister is free to fight for her happiness Hanabi, you would not want her to spend the rest of her life sad. Wouldn't Neji be sad also to be married to someone who does not love him?" Naruto offered.

"But…Cousin is very good. He is VERY good. Only your wife has been able to beat him in the last three years and before that…only you…" Hanabi snuffled and Naruto detected a hint of hero worship in her words. He sighed.

"Your sister is very strong too. You don't think she can win?"

"Sister is very smart and very strong…but last time Neji almost killed her! He WOULD have KILLED her!" Hanabi shrieked.

"Shhh….Shhhh…I remember." Naruto said, trying to calm her.

"She won't do the same! Even if she sees a way, she wouldn't kill him. I don't think she even can! It is against her principles. Sissy is very proud of her honor." Hanabi said, a little bitterly.

"Neji and Hinata have some…um…history. Neji just lost his temper that day, I don't think he would really kill her…"

"He WOULD! He is in ANBU! He kills people every day and he doesn't even care!" The girl wailed.

"Oh…I think he cares." Naruto said thoughtfully.

"I HATE HIM!" She shouted, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Hanabi…"

"He is going to kill her! I love my sister! Please! Please! Tell her not to fight him! Please!" Hanabi begged.

"Hanabi, now listen to me, your sister is going to win. I know her and she is strong, stronger than anybody else even knows. She can beat him, she WILL beat him. Hinata is not going to give up or hesitate because Kiba is important to her and she doesn't want to lose him. You need to support her! She needs to hear you cheering her on, because this fight is going to be very hard and she loves you. Loving somebody is not just about your feelings, but about theirs too!" Naruto said, looking the weeping girl firmly in the eyes.

"Sissy…she…she is strong, but Cousin can be relentless!"

"You have to trust her! If you show her that you believe in her, I know she will do it!" Naruto said, brushing the damp ebony hair out of the little girl's face.

"I…I…love her. I can't lose her!" The girl cried.

"If…If it comes to that. I will stop him myself." Naruto promised.

The teenager flung herself into his arms, clinging tightly to his waist. Naruto laughed softly, patting her head awkwardly. Hanabi sobbed a moment longer before regaining a fraction of her composure. She released him, blushing hard and trying to wipe the tears off her face.

"Y…You promise?" She asked, fiddling with her hair.

"Yes. I promise, but only at the very end, only if she has lost for certain!" He stipulated, face serious.

"You won't let her die?"

"No. Definitely not."

"You don't care if that makes Father angry?" She asked, a little afraid.

"Not even a little bit. Want some tea? I think Sakura has some chocolate ice cream around here too…" Naruto offered with a toothy smile.

"Hai!" Hanabi agreed enthusiastically and hugged him again.

OoOoOoO

Sai was drawing the stars again, the vague and almost uncomfortable stirring that the stars brought to his chest almost strong enough to call a feeling. He could sense Shino moving on the street below him and wondered if the other ninja might scale the building as he had before to socialize. Shino was his friend and sometimes came to talk. Sai liked having friends, friends like Naruto and Sakura were the best, but Shino was good too. Naruto said that friends liked to talk to each other for no other reason than because the act made them feel happy. For Sai, talking to Shino made him feel alert and comfortable and he hoped that the sensation was what Naruto had meant.

The ninja held the sketchbook on his knees where he crouched upon the narrow ledge of his apartment building. He had chosen the residence since it was one of the tallest buildings in Konoha, even though the place had few benefits other than its height. Perhaps one day, when Naruto was Hokage, he would allow him to sit and draw at the top of the tower. Sai hoped so. Naruto was almost always nice to him. The graphite moved over the page almost with a life of its own, drawing the distant lights that filled Sai's thoughts and the skies above. He had drawn the stars many times before, but the task was difficult, never right. No rendering of the stars captured the true essence of the night sky. None of his drawings brought the same kind of sensation to him and so he drew them again and again...and again. The exercise had taken on a kind of obsessive quality and the floor of his tiny, spartan apartment was covered in the drawings. The air was chilly and his feet were stiff with the cold, he would have trouble moving later. Sai barely felt the pain, distracted by the knowledge that fall would begin soon. He felt a dull spark of anticipation of the season since the cold air would make the stars bright and clear and perhaps then…perhaps then…

"You are going to freeze to death one of these days. You stay out too long because you ignore the cold." Shino said grumpily as he hauled himself up and out onto the ledge beside Sai.

"Hmmm…" The other ninja replied vaguely.

"Sai, you're angry aren't you." Shino stated blandly.

"Am I?" Sai asked vaguely.

Truly he didn't know. Anger, like all other emotions, was foreign to him and difficult to recognize. Root had taught him to feel nothing, had rubbed out everything except logic, calculation. If he had been able to feel as a child, Sai did not remember what it was like. On nights like tonight, when he drew the stars, there was something more in his mind. He felt something, he was sure this time that the sensation was a real feeling, but could not name the emotion. It could be anger, he supposed.

"You always draw the stars when you're angry." Shino replied, settling himself in an irritable lump beside Sai on the ledge.

"I must be angry a lot." Sai replied in a pleasant monotone.

"Just since Naruto married. It's because you're jealous." Shino said conversationally.

"Am not!" Sai said loudly, not paying much attention.

"You just say that because you think that those words are what you are supposed to say, what people expect." Shino said with a sigh.

"It isn't?" Sai asked, brow furrowed as he drew.

"No. Usually it is, but now I think maybe it isn't. It sure isn't the truth." Shino replied.

"I wonder what they are doing right now…with Sasuke." Sai said, very quietly.

"Sai…I know you are in love with them, but you really need to let it go. It has been almost three years!" Shino said seriously.

"Am I in love?"

"As close as someone who doesn't even know what an emotion is gets, I would imagine." Shino remarked dryly.

"I just wish…I wish I could be there, with them, like before…" Sai whispered.

"Sai, it wouldn't be like before. That is what you don't understand." Shino said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Naruto is still nice and Sakura is still sparkly and Gaara does have two subordinates…" Sai argued tonelessly.

"A pack isn't a team! A pack is…well…sex is involved you know!" Shino hissed.

"Kakashi sensei says sex will change your life."

"Maybe, but in your case I am not sure what it would change into!"

"I want to protect them." Sai said, tearing the page from the book and starting the drawing anew.

"From what, Sai?"

"Everything. I want to be with them."

"No offense dude, but I think you are a little…uh…damaged for pack life." Shino whispered sadly.

"Damaged…?" Sai asked, cocking his head.

"Look…jinchuuriki packs are really…um…complicated ok? I mean socially complicated. You know how you don't understand stuff sometimes? Like why people are mad or why people get upset?" Shino asked gently.

"Yeah…"

"Well, you kind of have to know that stuff to survive in a pack. The social dynamic is very important and very delicate. Even normal people have a tough time…"

"Oh…?"

"Look, even if Naruto does take other subordinates, which he won't because Sasuke would kill him, that person would have it pretty rough. You wouldn't be happy. I spent last summer in Sand, with Gaara, I know ok?"

"Is Gaara's pack complex?"

"That is an understatement; even Gaara doesn't have the whole thing completely figured out. I mean…look at Gaara's subordinates! Hagane and Arashi fight all the time!" Shino argued vehemently.

"Hagane and Arashi are from warring clans. Kakashi says that is why they fight." Sai muttered flatly.

"That is part of it, they were both political marriages…sorta…Still, the fighting is also just…I don't know…how they communicate too. They are close in a way that you can't understand, Sai. You can't understand, because you have forgotten how to interpret emotions. I barely understand it. On the outside, from the way they act, you would think that Hagane and Arashi hate each other and Gaara, but that is just on the surface." Shino said, frustrated.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…well…" Shino sighed, "The dynamic that they have together, is just…really…different. I say so because very few people understand how they relate. Gaara is good at ignoring people, and so Hagane baits Arashi to get a rise out of him, but it doesn't always work. If they argue too much, Gaara acts mad, but secretly he finds the whole thing sort of funny and titillating so it isn't really a big deal. Arashi has all kinds of issues and so if Gaara didn't act angry, he probably would start thinking that he didn't love him anymore or…something. I told you, it is confusing."

"I guess so…"

"The Fukakage of Wave brought her grandson, Mako, to try for a political marriage earlier this year. He's a super nice kid, I saw him briefly while I was there, very pretty. I met him because she has been bringing him to visit Sand almost every year since he was thirteen and even then he didn't adjust well." Shino said darkly.

"What happened?" Sai asked, frowning a little now.

"I heard he tried to kill himself. Why, you ask? Because of stress." Shino said tartly.

"I wouldn't do that." Sai said, smiling.

"I know. I know, but…it is really hard, Sai. Please believe me." Shino pleaded.

"I do. I do believe you…"

"But…"

"But…I'm not sure if I care."

OoOoOoO

"I am not getting up at the fucking crack of dawn to watch the Hyuuga's kill each other! Come back to bed!" Sasuke growled.

"Get dressed Sasuke."

"Fuck you." He grumbled into the pillows.

"Sakura is coming and I need you to protect her in case…in case I'm busy." Naruto said with a sigh.

"Busy? What the hell do you mean?" Sasuke asked, cracking an eye suspiciously.

"I told Hanabi Hyuuga…"

"Wait!You told who?"

"Hinata's little sister, I told her that I would step in and stop Neji if the match went too far. If Neji lost control or…" Naruto explained.

"You…did…WHAT?" Sasuke roared, moving almost too quickly to see.

In a blink, faster than a blink, Sasuke was staring down at him, face savage and fists clenched. Naruto sighed again, feeling tired. Sasuke's eyes blazed hot with the bloody sharingan swirl in his rage, glowing red in the near darkness. Naruto met his gaze and crossed his arms.

"Sasuke…it's early and you are shouting…"

"When the HELL did you talk to her?" Sasuke snarled.

"The child came here last night…"

"What…?"Sasuke hissed.

"…and asked me to help her sister." Naruto finished stubbornly.

"Hiashi Hyuuga's youngest daughter came here last night? Why didn't you WAKE me?"

"She was just a scared kid, Sasuke…"

"Wrong, baka! She is the Hyuuga second in line!"

"She loves her sister and Hinata is my friend! I am not going to let Neji lose his shit and kill her in some kind of indignant rage! For BOTH their sakes, I would step in. Believe it!" Naruto growled.

"Naruto! You…you…MORON!" Sasuke shouted, running his hands angrily through his dark hair. Naruto shrugged.

"I doubt that it will come to that anyway. Neji only lost his temper the one time and they were so much younger then…"

"It doesn't matter! If you step into Hyuuga family business you will give Hiashi the perfect excuse to bring war against us!"

"What? For saving the life of his daughter?" Naruto asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Yes, damn it!" Sasuke shouted.

"I refuse to sit back and let something horrible happen just for the sake of politics!"

"Is it politics to put your own family first?" Sasuke snarled.

"I DO put my family first! That does NOT mean I just cease to care about my friends!" Naruto railed, angry now.

"Send Hinata a fruit basket in the hospital then!" Sasuke snapped.

"Sasuke…" Naruto warned, fangs growing longer.

"I don't care if the Hyuuga brats kill each other! It just means one less for them to send against US!" Sasuke shouted.

"Hinata would never attack us! Things aren't just black and white!" Naruto yelled, his teeth and nails long and sharp.

"This is, idiot! You are too naïve!"

"And you are too paranoid!"

"Moron!"

"Bastard!"

"Baka!"

"Jerk!"

"Asshole!"

"Get DRESSED, teme!"

"Fuck you dobe!"

"I'll thrall you if I have to!"

"Damn it! You PISS ME OFF!"

"Are you two fighting again?" Sakura asked, stepping into the bedroom with a yawn.

She was dressed in a traditional kimono of the Uzumaki livery, resplendent in the black and orange of the new clan. The orange whirl designs stood out from the black silk and she wore an orange sash with fringes long enough to almost brush the floor. The image she struck was regal and proud, the garb of a true matriarch. Her long pink hair was woven into a swaying braid down her back, pulled tightly back from her face in a simple, martial style. The girl surveyed her husbands with an expression of affectionate disapproval, lips quirked up on one side in a hint of humor. Naruto noticed, too, that she wore the high silver bracers with the Uzumaki whirl design of the clan on both wrists. The metal, though thin, was heavy and Sakura did not wear them casually. She was dressed to intimidate, to establish the power of their house. Sasuke groaned.

"Please tell me you do not agree with our idiot?" He pleaded. Sakura arched an eyebrow.

"Sasuke, if you think I am going to sit idly by and let two of my dearest friends kill each other over misplaced filial piety, you are wrong. Neji would never forgive himself if that happened and Hinata, well, I protect my friends." Sakura said, her green eyes sharp.

"This is suicidal, I hope you both realize that. This is going to turn into a disaster!" Sasuke spat sourly, moving to grab his livery out of the trunk.

"We are ninja, ya know! Disaster is sometimes in the job description!" Naruto said smiling. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"The Hyuuga are not going to take this lightly…" He warned. Sakura crossed her arms, green eyes becoming stormy.

"I love how you two have already just decided that Hinata is going to lose! The match has not even started!" she railed.

"Sweetheart, Neji is one of the strongest ninja in the entire country…" Naruto hedged.

"He may be, but she is stronger." Sakura asserted.

"You do remember that it took five jounin to pull him off of her last time they dueled and she almost died anyway. Your faith in her is stupid." Sasuke said darkly, pulling on his kimono.

"Just because Hinata is not the kind of person to fight at her limits merely to prove that she is the best does NOT mean that she's weak. She will crush him. You'll see." Sakura replied.

"I hope you are right…" Sasuke whispered angrily as he dressed.

"I am."

"We need to leave. Necessary or not, we are going to support her." Naruto said firmly.

"Baka…"

"I'm ready." Sakura said coming to kiss him.

"I see that." Naruto smirked.

"You will both regret this!" Sasuke snapped.

"Hurry up!" Naruto called over his shoulder.

"Damn it." Sasuke groaned, the argument well and truly lost.

OoOoOoO

"You are not fighting Neji. I forbid it." Hiashi said firmly, arms crossed across his chest.

"It is nearly dawn, Father. Leave me to prepare." Hinata replied softly as she pulled on her arm guards.

The girl had braided her long black hair into a tight weave down her back. Hinata was not taking any chances and wore as much armor as she could easily move in. Speed would not be as important as being able to withstand hits. Her logic made Kiba anxious, but he had agreed with her assessment of the risks. Fighting Neji was not about showing off, but about beating a ninja with skills superior to her own. The match would be one of wits in the end, wits and endurance. She was nervous, but Hinata made her heartbeat slow and her breathing calm. Calm was the key. She had a strategy and though beating Neji was difficult, she knew the task was not impossible. Cousin would fight her with everything he had and so, simply, she must do the same. The thought of hurting him made her sad, but Neji would not hesitate; her father had beaten all the hesitation out of him long ago. Her father had made done all he could to make Neji into a mindless drone, a deadly weapon that Hiashi could wield at his disposal. He had used Neji's natural determination and righteous spirit, twisting it until the boy became hard and bitter, a self-proclaimed slave of fate. Naruto had saved him once, but Neji was still brutally loyal to Hiashi, obeying him without thought. Even now, he was loyal at the cost of his decency and, she knew, such blind obedience would one day cost her cousin his life.

Hinata took a breath and then another. She could not marry Neji. If she did, then she would share his shackles and lose so much more than her freedom. She thought about the conversations she had had with Kiba before, they had talked about the match so many times. All the Inuzukas believed in using instinct, but even he knew that would not be enough. Their pillow talk had been battle strategy for almost two years, the plan for the duel revised in the heat of making love. Both of them knew that the match would be the only way to stay together. Hinata had lost her temper with Neji yesterday, but in a way Cousin was right. They had run out of time and so she could no longer delay the challenge. Kiba's words rang strong in her head.

Hurt him Hina! He would do the same to you! Bait him and defend, again and again, get him to lose his temper. Like a badgered dog, he'll start to lose focus and just react…

"You would rather disgrace us all with this scandal! Just to marry that…that…mutt?" Hiashi growled angrily.

"He is as fine a husband as any." Hinata said, her voice very soft.

"Your cousin is ten times the man he is and a Hyuuga besides! He will make the bloodline strong! He will be a strong leader for us, the kind of leader you will never be, Hina!" Hiashi argued.

"Perhaps…but I do not love him."

"Love comes with time, child. I did not love your mother when we married and we too were cousins. Things were awkward for a while, but it gets better…" Hiashi said kindly.

"Does it?" She asked, thinking of Kiba.

I love you Hina. You are the kind of leader every clan would kill for! Your father believes you are weak because he only knows how to use fear to lead. A beaten dog is a broken thing. You and I both know a leader cannot compel love with cruelty…

"Hina, don't be belligerent." Hiashi said, scowling.

"Mother barely speaks to you."

"She speaks when she wants to."

"Of course she does." Hinata muttered, checking the edge of her kunai.

Don't use the Byakugan, Neji has mastered that technique far better than you. He is practically obsessed with it! Use it against him. Use taijitsu, use bombs, anything to distract him. He has come to rely on Byakugan too much. Make him follow multiple targets. Force him to use energy until he is weak. Force him to burn through his chakra, tire him out…

"This is not just about your worthless feelings Hinata! This foolishness may well cost you the leadership of our clan!" Hiashi threatened.

"Just because you do not understand my feelings, does not make them worthless." Hinata replied.

"Why you choose that filthy mongrel over Neji I will never know! Your cousin deserves this marriage! By marrying you, he can finally be a part of the main house! You would deny him that? Deny him the opportunity he has worked so long to achieve?" Hiashi asked.

"Being a member of the main house is not as desirable as he thinks."

Use fire and air. Even if the attacks are small, it doesn't matter! Distract him, just like Sakura did. That was how she beat him, she forced him to focus on too many things at once. Take your time and wait for it, you'll see it, when he drops his guard. Wait and let him get too confident…

"You shame me daughter.'

"And you me Father. I know about what you did." She hissed, almost silently.

"What are you talking about? That Inuzuka has filled your head with lies…"

Kill me if I ever lie to you Hina, I don't want to live with that. I would rather die than bring you any pain, any shame. I swear, I ain't smart or fancy, but you know I couldn't lie to you…

"No. Kiba tells me the truth, always. It is you who lie. I know you tried to have Naruto killed…"

"The business of running our clan is more complicated than you know. Don't talk about things you don't understand." Hiashi said sternly.

"I understand, Father, that you fear anything that does not follow your rules."

"My rules protect us."

Fight him Hina! Crush him! I know you can do it! It will be simple…

"You fear him and you should. Goodbye, Father. Either way, you will be rid of one last disappointment." Hinata whispered.

…just win.

Without a pause, the Hyuuga princess turned on her heel and strode towards the opening of the arena. She never stopped, never looked back. For once in her life, Hinata felt the tightness in her soul relax. For once she was sure, sure that she was doing the right thing.

Fight him and exhaust him. Survive, baby, come back to me. Survive...