#I FEEL LIKE……. you’ll probably go crazy if you watched Naruto sorry…….

[tariah23]

im so sorry you got nasty asks ppl can be so vile. i love seeing you on my dash and you always have the best posts and put great stuff on my dash. ive never watched naruto but i dont mind seeing that either <3 ily i hope youre doing ok outside of ppl being terrible

They had me like this, anon...

[celestialfeya]

Headcanon/short fanfic:

What if in the arc in Boruto where Sasuke and Boruto go back in time together, when Naruto was talking to Sasuke about himself in the past (lol) and Sasuke was giving him advice and being encouraging etc. - what if young Naruto just blurted out that he had a crush on Sasuke/romantically liked him.

Naruto is like “I’m trying get back my friend, he left the Village to go get stronger but it’s all because he wants revenge. I just want to show him that people care about him and knock some sense into him.” And older Sasuke is like “I was knew someone who was only interested in revenge. But thankfully he had a friend who really cared for him, and went after him.” Naruto replies “Oh, did he succeed?” And Sasuke goes “Yes he was able to finally convince him in the end.” And young Naruto says “Good, well I hope I can do the same then and bring my friend Sasuke back… He’s honestly more than a friend to me.” Sasuke is smiling softly and asks, “Oh, what do you mean if you don’t mind me asking?” Naruto replies, “Well, it’s just that it’s more than that to me. I don’t want to see him hurt or sad, and sometimes I feel my heart start to race when I look at him for too long. I don’t really know what that means, I feel like it just means that he’s a really important person to me… and that he’s more than just a friend. Like a best friend. Or something like that. I don’t know how to explain how I feel about him.” Sasuke falls silent. He’s curious to hear Naruto as a kid keep talking. Naruto speaks up, “Sorry, Mister. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this when we don’t know each other really. I guess I just weirdly feel comfortable around you already.” Sasuke answer him, “No, it’s okay. I’m glad to hear you care so much about this friend of yours. I think you’ll definitely be able to save him from himself.” Naruto’s face blushes slightly and he just looks at the man for a moment. “Yeah,” he chuckles, “I do really love him!” Sasuke stands there for a moment. He’s unsure of what to reply. Of course Naruto loved him when they were kids, why else would he have cared enough to chase after him so many times? It shouldn’t be a surprise to him hearing young Naruto say that, but it still kind of surprises him and catches him off guard. “Aw jeez, it almost sounds like I have a crush on him, haha.” Sasuke’s eyes widen. He mumbles, “Do you?” Then he realizes what he just said and stutters, “Nevermind. An adult like me shouldn’t be asking you about personal-“ “Maybe.” Young Naruto responds quickly. Boruto runs over to them and they both change the subject of their conversation. For the rest of the day, Sasuke’s mind is rolling over on itself. It’s going a million miles a minute, he can’t even barely sleep that night. He assures himself that Naruto was just a kid and confused about how much he cared for Sasuke as a friend, and that it was nothing more than that at all… but he can’t convince himself of it. He knows what his own feelings were about Naruto when he was younger. He had to push them aside and grow up, watch Naruto get married and have kids, and then eventually decide to do the same himself, with the woman who always wanted to be with him. But did he feel the same about her? He wasn’t so sure. He always felt like something was missing but as he grew older he couldn’t put his finger on it. Even as an adult he’s occasionally have dreams remembering times he and Naruto spent together as kids, and even embarrassing things like when they kissed in front of their whole class. What was Sasuke supposed to do? Ask Naruto when they go back to the present about it? They both have wives and kids, how crazy would he sound asking about what Naruto blurted out as a kid to him? Especially since he’ll have to erase their memories after this time together; Naruto won’t even remember that he ever told him that. He couldn’t bring it up; it just wasn’t an option. Naruto probably doesn’t even feel that way anymore now that he’s an adult. But Sasuke can’t get it out of his head. He feels like ripping his hair out he’s so frustrated. What if he’s gone 25 years not telling someone he loved them, just to find out they loved him this whole time too? He couldn’t fathom it. He felt sick.

[kakakakashi]

Haiii could I plz request a gaara fluff where ur from the hidden leaf but best friends with konkuro and have been trying to get close to gaara for so long but moody gaara refuses to warm up and the sand also gets in the way? I've just got to the sai arc in shippeden plz no spoilers.

Okay, first thing’s first. Don’t worry, dude. I’m only on episode 155, (and I’ve been putting off because I’m almost at Pain vs. Kakashi, and I AM NOT READYYYYYY!!!) so I think I’m mostly spoiler free about Gaara. Besides, I like to think this would take place between Naruto & Naruto Shippuden.

Next thing, I’m sorry. I am so so so sorry. Everyone’s got a crush on Gaara… but I don’t. I know, there’s something wrong with me! I tried my best, but if this is bad, please have him throw sand in my face. He only deserves the best. I love him & his sibs.

Lastly, omg! Girl, I LOVE that arc! I love Sai & I love Yamato. Their introduction is so funny. Like, they’re sassy little shits. They are great. You’re gonna love them… I hope at least. If not, that’s cool too. Anyway, have some sand baby.

Oh, also, I made you friends with Shikamaru too because you’re bros who travel to & from Suna to see your baes. Don’t worry, Kank is still your bestie, though. In this house, we love puppet asshole!

-

The outline of Suna shone brightly against the blue skies of spring. With Shikamaru by your side, you casually chatted about the days to come.

“So, when are you gonna ask her out?” you poked at him with a teasing smirk on your face.

Shikamaru’s cheeks flushed a slight pink, but he quickly grumbled, “What’re you even talking about Y/N?”

Picking up your pace, so you were just a step or two before him. You chuckled to yourself, “Nothing, nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re no better,” he grumbled.

That shut you up.

Sure, you’d liked Gaara for a while, but he wasn’t into you. If anything, he tried to spend as little time with you as possible. Sometimes, it made your heart ache, but it wasn’t like you could do anything. After all, his brother was your best friend. Retreating into your own thoughts, the rest of the trip to Suna was silent. Well, until you saw an all-black outline with a face painted purple.

Kankuro leaned against the main entrance, talking with one of the watch shinobi while he waited for your arrival. When you were close enough to him, you threw a huge smile his way with a theatrical wave.

“Y/N!” Kankuro called, speedily walking to meet you in a bear hug. “What took you so long? Got lost?”

You shoved him off of you with a laugh. “Oh, shut up. You take twice as long whenever you come to the Leaf.”

He rolled his eyes at your antics before he greeted Shikamaru. Then he gestured for you to follow him into the village and to the Kazekage’s office.

While you walked, Kankuro and you caught up while Shikamaru mostly just laughed at your combined tomfoolery. When you got to the building, your stomach began fluttering nervously.

After finding the main office of the Kazekage, Kankuro rapped two knocks on the door before twisting the knob open. Behind his desk stood Gaara looking as handsome as ever while he glanced over some official document.

His aquamarine eyes seemed a lot livelier since the last time you saw him, and the slight observation made you smile to yourself. He turned towards the sound of your entrance when Kankuro announced, “Guess who’s here!”

“Shikamaru. Y/N.” He greeted you with a polite tint to his voice, “How was your trip?”

“Long,” you joked with him, immediately walking around his desk to embrace him in a hug as well.

However, a coarse wall halted your body just a foot away from him. You glanced down at his small wall of sand before you noticed his blushing cheeks.

Before you could laugh it off, Gaara sputtered out, “Shikamaru! Why don’t I show you to where you’ll be analyzing those documents? Kankuro, would you mind showing Y/N where she’ll be working for the duration of her stay?”

Kankuro and Shikamaru stood, slightly taken aback by what just happened. Although, Gaara was already out the door, waiting for Shikamaru to follow him.

“Um, sure?” Kankuro said to nobody, mostly to make a joke.

Pointing to the doorway while he exited, Shikamaru left. “I guess that’s my cue. I’ll catch you later, guys.”

Now, it was just you and your best friend standing in the office.

“Well,” you were the first to speak, “That just happened.”

You’d felt slightly embarrassed at what just happened, but mostly, you felt a bit crushed. Noticing this, Kankuro decided it was best to move on. “Come on,” he nodded to the door while he started strolling out of the office, “I’ll show you where you’re at.”

You followed him, asking him if you were crazy for liking his brother. You’d had a pathetic crush on him since you met him after the alliance, and you felt like you were going nowhere. However, Kankuro disagreed.

When you entered the room you’d be working in, Kankuro confessed, “Trust me, Y/N, he’s just nervous. You know Gaara wasn’t in a place where he could process any kind of feelings when we first met you guys. It doesn’t help that he became Kazekage right after. It’s a pretty demanding job. He definitely doesn’t get much time to himself. Once he does, I think he’ll be able to sort through his feelings, and maybe he’ll realize you guys would be good together. He just needs a little more time. Believe me.”

“I’m not inclined to,” was all you could snort back at him. It was a playful jab, but you still felt a little sad. It felt like a pipe dream to believe Gaara even enjoyed your company.

Kankuro knew of Gaara’s feelings, but he couldn’t tell you outright. So, instead, he insisted, “Come on, he’s a wreck every time you so much as look in his direction.”

You stayed silent at that, but you were brought out of your own thoughts by a knock in the doorway. You turned to see Gaara standing properly in the doorway.

He looked slightly stiff, but Kankuro was leaving both of you high and dry. He not-so-casually crept out of the way with both thumbs up until he bolted out of the room. “Gotta go!”

“What was that about?” Gaara inquired when the black flash dashed past. With a shrug from you he simply brushed it off with a shake of his head and a slight chuckle at his brother’s antics.

“Um, I was hoping to apologize for what happened earlier,” he announced to you, glancing around the room to avoid your gaze. His cheeks were tinged just a pinch of pink, and it made you smile to yourself.

“No,” you try, “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have invaded your space without warning.”

“Oh, no, please don’t worry,” Gaara countered, approaching you further while trying to remedy the misunderstanding. You took the opportunity to take in every feature of his face. You mentally traced his tattoo across his forehead, the curve of his nose, the shape of his lips, the darkness surrounding his eyes, and the way his bright red locks just brushed against his skin a bit. He looked stunning, and your lungs felt tight. “I’m simply not used to people so openly wanting to hug me.”

“I always enjoy seeing you, Gaara.”

“I’m glad.” A smile spread across his face that left your stomach bursting with butterflies. “Um, you’ll be staying at the same inn as the last time, so let me know if you have any trouble.”

It felt like he was trying to escape again.

“Oh, thank you.”

Gaara noticed your expression fall a bit, and he immediately felt his entire being fall through the floor.

“You’re probably tired after traveling,” he figured, “so I’ll let you rest. If you need anything, Please, let me know.”

Something came over you in that moment, and you found your mouth moving without your brain thinking. “In all honesty, I’m more of hungry than tired. I’ve been dying to try that new restaurant Kankuro told me about in his letters. If you want to come, you’re more than welcome.”

In that moment, time stood still. You felt so stupid for suggesting it, and you wished that your words had never escaped your mouth.

Although, you were shocked when he replied, “I’d love to… but it’s my treat. I insist.”

“Really?” you murmured, “You don’t have any Kazekage business to attend to?”

The hopeful look in your eyes made Gaara’s heart soar. He’d liked you for some time, so he figured now was the only chance he’d get. From somewhere, a bit of confidence shot through him when he kidded, “I’m sure they can manage without me for a bit.”

“Then, let’s go… you don’t have to pay, though.”

“As I said, I insist.”

You strolled to the small restaurant side by side, your fingers brushing slightly while you held a shy conversation filled with innocent smiles and kind laughter. Maybe Kankuro was right about everything. At least, that’s what both you and Gaara were wondering.

Bonus:

Watching with his binoculars, Kankuro zoomed in on you two from his spot in the Kazekage’s tower.

“Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air. “Finally!”

[mysterioh]

The Ignorant Beauty and The Beast of New York - Ch. 6

PAIRING: MOB!STEVE ROGERS X READER

SYNOPSIS: Y/N is an exhausted bio major. Steve is danger with a capital DANGER. She thinks he’s a sarcastic prick with an impressive knowledge of art history. He thinks she’s cute even if she’s only running on one brain cell. All he wants is a single date, but she’s adamant upon denying.

Masterlist

I’m Your What Now?

Ah, Columbia University. The pride and joy of New York. The mecca for philosophical thinking and scientific advancement.

It kept only the cream of the crop. Sons and daughters of the wealthy, valedictorians, and exceptionally bright international students. The future president. The next Plato. Another Einstein.

There was a certain standard that came with being a student here. The ooh's and ah's and the jealous eyes that bore into their backs were natural for these Ivy League students.

And yet as Steve stood there he found it to be like the overpriced Catholic school he spent twelve torturous years at. After school, he didn't really see a reason to go to university. His future was predetermined and he had no desire to go against it.

Steve wasn't stupid. He was intelligent. An expert in combat and tact and a mogul in the business world. His performance was better than his peers with their fancy degrees and certifications. He had them under his foot and they only moved when he let them.

It just went to show that knowledge and wisdom didn't come from going to a fancy school. It came from experience and hard work, rigor, and determination. But even so, he couldn't help but feel an odd sense of pride in his chest when he learned you attended Columbia.

Mrs. Rogers, you genius woman.

He sprinted up the steps and in towards the overarching gate. It was like a world populated by teenagers. Here, twenty-five was considered middle-aged. They milled around clad with backpacks and textbooks usually in a small group of three or four. Some passed by on bikes while others strutted to the beat of their music.

There were a plethora of styles. Punks and goths. Preps and jocks. Basic white girls with their leggings and UGGs. Snazzy poets in all black and topped with berets. Those avant-garde chicks that had an aesthetic like none other. Diversity was key at Columbia. The world was being represented here.

Steve passes by, following google maps on his phone to find the Student Resource Center in a hope to find you there.  

A day ago…

"Okay," Sam sighed, holding a paper in his hand with a laptop sitting on Steve's desk. "Quentin Beck, a biochemical engineering student at Columbia. Around twenty-one years old and is most likely a total geek."

"Hey," Steve warns. Bucky snickers like a child, chomping loudly on some potato chips.

"Sorry," Sam replied. "No social media accounts. Not even an old facebook. You sure this chick's not a hermit?"

"She's probably focusing on her studies. She's diligent."

"You're defending her as if you know her," Bucky piped up.

"I do know her," Steve said.

"Yeah, that's why you're googling her like a pervert."

"Shut up before I punch your teeth out."

"Anyways," Sam called them back. "She's on the school website."

"She is," Steve pushes him to the side. "Lemme see."

"There's no picture. It's just a list of tutors."

"She's a tutor? Smart chicks are so hot."

Bucky rolls his eyes. "I can hear your heart pounding all the way over here," he said lazily while sitting at his desk.

"Get your dirty shoes off my desk."

"Make me," Bucky taunted.

"So it's got hours of availability here," Sam said scrolling down. "Like when she's working."

"Ya know Sam I know you're a freak and all, but this is low, even for you," Bucky said, his feet still on the desk and his right hand greasy with potato chips. "I didn't know you were as big of a creep as Stevie."

"I wouldn't be talking, Mr. I stalk my ex's insta at four in the morning." Sam retorted, making Steve chuckle.

"I don't!"

"Bro, I saw you the other day!"

"What the hell are you doing at my house at four in the morning, you freak?"

Nat walks in to see the three lazing around and sighs. Sam quickly slams the laptop shut and Bucky slips his feet off the desk.

"What are you three doing?" She asked.

"Nothing," Steve smiled.  

"For NY’s biggest mob man, you sure do suck at lying." He frowns. "You're also pretty horrible at signing your own damn name on important papers." She said, waving a paper in her hand. "What the hell are these hearts?"

"That's not me!" He retorted with a light blush. "How do I know it's not you?”

"You really think I have the time to do that?" She snapped at him. "We've got shipments coming in today and you have a meeting with the Gambino head tomorrow. Do you have anything prepared?"

"No…" he whispered.

"Am I the only one working around here?!" She shouted making the three cringe at her shrill voice. "What have you three been doing all morning anyway?"

"Planning," Bucky spoke up and Steve whipped his head towards him. Bucky if you say anything.

"Planning?"

"Yeah, we're planning Steve's wedding."

Nat almost snaps her neck by the way she turns to look at him. Her red locks bouncing around as she turns. She gapes at him with a million questions.

Steve sighs, rubbing his face with his hands in embarrassment.

"Stevie, you're getting married?!?!"

"Sn2 Reactions have bulky bases and only occur when you have…" you said, snapping your finger to remember what comes next. "Wait, don't say it," you stop Quentin. "Primary carbocations!"

"Correct," he smiled, looking up at you from the flashcard in his hand. "Man, you're just killing it today."

"I've been studying," you informed. "...and living in Chubbic's office.

"And it shows," Quentin chuckles.

Tutoring was slow today with only a student here and there, leaving you and Quentin with some prime time to study.

"I swear all you ever do is study," Quentin said.

"No, I don't," you denied. "Last night, I played Overwatch till three."

"Okay, scratch that, you're a geek." Quentin corrected. You huffed.

"No, I am not," you retorted.

"Y/N, you don't do anything but school and work. You don't even go to parties or socialize with other people."

"People are overrated. I have better things to do with my time."

"Like what?"

"Like...stuff," you said.

Quentin rolls his eyes. "You can't keep living a shelled life, Y/N. It's not healthy."

"I don't see how it isn't."

"You have to go out and make friends. You're gonna go crazy if you sit in your apartment forever," Quentin sounded like a mom.

"Quentin, my dude, it's the 21st century. Technology exists."

"That's not good for you either!" Quentin sassed then sighed. "All I'm saying is that you should be more open. Not everyone is out to hurt you."

You sink in your chair with a frown. You look out the window of the second floor to watch people walk by meters below. "But that’s how it always is in the end," you murmured. Quentin frowns. "Besides what do I need anyone else for? I have you."

Quentin's heart skips a beat, but he tries to ignore it. "But what if I'm not here? What if I have to leave?"

You sit up. "Where are you going?"

"I applied for this internship for this company in London."

"Wow, Quint! That's great!" You exclaimed. "I know you'll get it!"

"Thanks," he chuckles at your enthusiasm. "But I just worry about you sometimes. You're going to be all alone if I leave and I worry if you'll be alright."

"Then I'll call you every day!"

"Y/N," Quentin said with a lopsided smile. "I'm being serious."

You exhaled, masking the fear of him leaving by giving him a bright smile. One that's always only been for him. "Don't worry about me, alright? I'll be fine. You go out there and show 'em what you're made of. You're gonna kill it."

"Yeah?" He asked and you can sense the nervousness in his shaking hands.

"Like my good friend Naruto once said…" you alluded. "Believe it!" You said, giving him a thumbs up.

Quentin groans while crossing his arms. "You still watch that crap?"

"It's cool!" you defended.

"I swear you're a nerd."

"Hey, Quentin," Angelica from the front desk called walking towards you.

"Yeah?"

"There's a guy at the desk asking for you," she pointed.

"For me?" He asked puzzled. She nodded before leaving.

He gets up to leave. "I'll be right back. E1 reactions are next," he reminded. You nodded with a chuckle and took the cards he left.

Quentin walks up to the desk to find a blonde dressed stylishly at the front desk, chatting up one of the employees.

“Oh, Quentin,” Maria at the desk said as he arrived. “This is Mr. Rogers.”

Steve turns to look and his shoulders drop. “Uh, sorry, I think they’ve got the wrong person.” Quentin furrows his brows in confusion. “I’m looking for a Quentin Beck.”

“Um, I’m Quentin Beck,” he replied awkwardly, shaking the photo id that was around his neck.

“No, no,” Steve shakes his head. “I’m looking for a girl and her name is Quentin Beck.”

“There’s only one Quentin Beck here and he’s a man and it’s me,” he said in the nicest way possible.

Steve snorts. “Just because you grew a little beard doesn’t mean you’re a man,” he guffawed.

Quentin blinks once and then twice and a third time for good measure. “Excuse me?”

Back over at the table, you wondered what was taking Quentin so long. Taking a sip from your Hydroflask, you crane your neck to get a view of the front desk. The head full of blonde hair and spread of broad shoulders was hard to miss. You choked while drinking. Quickly placing your bottle on the table, you pat your chest in need of air.

What was he doing here?

You quickly jump up and run to the two. Steve catches you in the corner of his eye and pushes past a fuming Quentin.

“I knew I’d find you here!” he exclaimed.

“What the hell are you doing here, you freak?” you seethed.

“What do you think?” Steve chuckled, loving the way you pouted at him. “Here to see you, princess.”

Your cheeks burst in color and before you could say anything Quentin spoke.  

“Y/N, you know this guy?” he asked.

“Y/N, so that’s your real name,” Steve takes both of your hands in his. His smile is so bright that you cringed under him. “I knew it wasn’t Quentin. I mean it doesn’t even make sense,” he starts to ramble and you just listen. “To think someone as pretty as you would have a name as ugly as Quentin. Like who the hell names their kid Quentin these days anyway?”

“Ah, Y/N,” Steve sighs dreamily. “It’s like a sweet melody to my ears.”

You tried to reply, but all you could let out was a garbled jumble of words.

“Quentin’s a good name!” your brunette friend jumped in.

“Yeah, if it’s the 18th century,” Steve deadpanned, before turning back to you. “Anyways…”

“Y/N, who the hell is this guy?” he questioned irritated.

“Uh, well, you see, um…” you tried to explain.

“Been keepin’ me a secret, huh, baby?” Steve chuckled. “I’m Steve, a friend.”

“We aren’t friends,” you hissed, breaking from his grasp. “How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone, huh?”

“Wait,” Quentin butt in. “Is he that guy?” he pointed at Steve while looking at you. “Is he the bad guy?”

“Bad guy?” Steve asked you, making you blush under his gaze. “So you have been talking about me? Y/N, sweetheart, I ain’t a bad guy. I promise I’ll be nothing but good to you,” he said with a wink.

It’s like every ounce of sass inside of you is gone and you’re left speechless. Screw this man and his way with words.

He takes your hand in his and brings it to his soft plump lips before Quentin butts in and swipes your hand.

“Yeah, she told me about you,” he hurls at him, his voice firm and his grip on your hand firmer. “Who the hell do you think you are, messing with my girlfriend?”

Steve is taken aback by his words and you gape at Quentin. You’re his what now?

Quentin looks towards you and sends a message with his eyes. Just play along.

“Y-yeah,” you stumbled at first, “Quentin’s my boyfriend and I like his name! Actually I love it because I love him.” you straight up lied. Steve’s brows creased in irritation and he had the biggest frown on his face. You wrap your arms around Quentin’s. “So leave me alone, freak,” you hissed at him.

Now it’s Steve’s turn to be speechless. Your words pierce through his heart like a bullet. It’s like being shot in the core of his spirit over and over again until there’s a big gaping hole.

“Listen, jackass,” Quentin calls him back. “If you even look in my girlfriend’s direction, I’ll rip your eyes out,” he threatened, before turning around and taking you with him.

“Wow,” you whispered to him. “I think he bought it.”

“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do,” he said, clearly dissatisfied.

“Shut up and kiss me on the cheek.”

“What?” he freaked out with a light red creeping on his cheeks.

“Just do it,” you ordered quietly. “And wrap your arm around my shoulders.”

He sighed. “The things you make me do,” he groaned, making you chuckle quietly. He places a sweet kiss on your cheek while hooking his arm over your shoulders protectively. He turns his head to see Steve still standing there. His face twisted in a scowl and fists balled so tight you could see white in his knuckles.

Quentin’s sharp blue eyes locked with his own. His gaze was as deadly as a violent act with an intensity that had the fearless mob man’s chest tighten. His eyes drilled out any notion that it could all be a hoax. Either he was a really good actor or there really was something between the two.

Whatever it was, Steve stood still with a strange sense of deja vu. He was a hopeless romantic and hopeless in all things that concerned love. And as he watches your retreating form chuckling at something the boy whispered in your ear, he regrets even thinking he had another chance at love.

[chil2de]

i'm actually the same anon who mentioned skipping filler and asking if you were liking it! the bount arc is the only "bad" filler. the filler on its own actually isn't that bad but the only issue is the timing of where it's placed because it interrupts at the worst times. the one-off filler episodes tend to be great though. also, don't worry about not liking the art style for bleach because it changes a LOT

bleach is a fun ride and i'm glad ur enjoying it 🥺

oh hello baby!!! im soso sorry i didn’t respond to your earlier one i swear it was just my attention span LMFAO, but thank you regardless <3333

this genuinely made me sigh in relief because when i saw the amount of filler i thought i was heading into a naruto problem😭😭 but i digress because that’s good to know! in all honesty i probably wasn’t going to skip it anyway, i just don’t really believe in watching anime like that.. you know those people who skipped straight to 2015 gintama and missed out on a grand amount of character development and good arcs? yeah, it kinda feels like that to me, therefore i’m determined to sit through bleach no matter what

i had one of the more recent episodes pop up on my yt recommended and i sat there in awe like, shit. that looks so good though? and so i was tempted by the devil and i don’t regret starting it not one bit

i heard they’re making a new season so hopefully i can catch up before the drop this year :> thank you for this!!! it’s gonna be wild but give or take a few months and i’ll be sobbing ab how i finished it too early

it was either bleach or black clover and... black clover.. yeah. i like the concept but i cannot tolerate asta shrieking bloody murder like he has nothing better to do. and surprisingly, that’s referring to his sub va because i don’t watch dub

ily <3 you’ll be the first person in mind whenever i start barking at something crazy in the series

[thekatthatbarks]

Troublesome Teammates

@mouseymightymarvellous So, I had to fix something on the post and accidentally deleted it. But here you go! Thank you so much for sending in a prompt!

ao3

               “Hey, Ino!” Naruto called out to her when he saw her leaning against a building in the street.

                 Her head whipped towards him with wide eyes and she reached out to pull him towards her. She clamped her hand over his mouth and put a finger to her lips.

                 She glanced around the corner of the building and Naruto whispered through the hand on his mouth, “What are you listening to?”

                 Ino simply jerked her head and Naruto peeked around the corner. Sakura and Sasuke were in the street talking quietly to themselves.

                 “Sasuke, I promise you that I don’t have feelings for you anymore.” Sakura’s eyes were pleading as she looked up at him.

                 Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. “Sakura, you’re blushing.”

                 Her cheeks reddened further but she didn’t lose her resolve. “Well, this is still a little embarrassing to talk about.”

                 Sasuke sighed and looked away from her. “Then, why do you keep pushing me to spend time with you?”

                 “You’re still really important to me, Sasuke.” Sakura’s voice was quiet, almost sad. “Am I not to you?”

                 Sasuke glanced back at her. “Well, yeah.”

                 Sakura brightened. “Then, I want us to be better friends.”

                 Sasuke smiled the smallest bit, then nodded towards the street.

                 Naruto had been paying so close attention, he didn’t realize they were coming their direction. Ino did, though, and pulled him back behind the building. They were quiet as Sasuke and Sakura walked by them, not looking in their direction.

                 Once they were gone, Naruto looked down at Ino. “What was that about?”

                 Ino grinned. “I have… an idea. And that just confirmed it.”

                 Naruto groaned, not wanting to have anything to do with Ino’s schemes. But he had to ask, considering his two best friends might be involved. “What’re you planning, Ino?”

 ***

                 “A blind date?” Sakura looked at Ino in surprise, partially distracted by the paperwork on her desk.

                 “Yes!” Ino smiled in front of her and Sakura tried to not think about how wolfish her grin was.

                 “I don’t know, Ino.” Sakura avoided her eyes. She didn’t really have the time for a boyfriend. Or maybe that was just an excuse because she was scared.

                 Ino slammed her hands down on the desk loudly and Sakura glared up at her. “No, getting out of this one with your hundreds of excuses, Forehead. I have the perfect guy picked out for you.”

                 Sakura cocked an eyebrow at her. “The perfect guy? Then, why don’t you date him?”

                 “Ew, no.” Ino made a face of disgust and something just seemed to click, a distant memory blurry in her mind.

                 Sakura’s eyes widened and she stood up from her chair, pointing a finger at Ino. “It’s Shikamaru!”

                 Ino’s jaw dropped and then pouted – Sakura was surprised she didn’t stomp her foot. “How – ? Sakura, you’re ruining the point of a blind date!”

                 Sakura shook her head. “Ino, stop trying to set me up with people!”

                 “This is different.” Ino let out a breath and gave her a smile. There was something different in her eyes from all the other times she’s tried to set up Sakura. It was like hope or certainty. Whatever it was, it made Sakura feel uncomfortable. She didn’t want to disappoint Ino again with another failed date – not that Ino never said she was disappointed, she just tried again.

                 “Ino, I am not going to ruin my friendship with Shikamaru because of one of your hunches.” Sakura grabbed a random clipboard from her desk and walked out of the office, on the small hope Ino wouldn’t follow her.

                 She was wrong.

                 “Sakura, it wouldn’t be ruined!” Ino argued with her, following her every step down the hallway. Some people were giving them strange looks and Sakura felt a blush rise on her cheeks.

                 “Yes, it would. You and I both know if this date went south, our friendship would become so awkward.”

                 Ino groaned behind her. “Yeah and why would it become awkward? Because there’s already something there! Just because this first date may be awkward because it’s something different, doesn’t mean it failed. So, you’ll have to try again. Come on! I know that Sasuke isn't the reason all these dates haven't been going well.”

                 Sakura felt her face flame and decided losing Ino wasn’t worth the embarrassment of talking about her love life in front of her medics. She pulled Ino into an empty patient room and closed the door.

                 She turned on her, feeling her heart rate pick up. “What’re you talking about something already there? You think Shikamaru is the reason I haven't been liking any of these guys?”

                 Ino crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. “I’ve seen how you two are around each other. You think I just pick random guys to set you up with? I look to see if there’s some potential or chemistry or something first. But I feel really good about this one.”

                 Sakura bit the inside of her cheek and looked away from Ino.

                 Ino sighed and came towards her to place a hand on her arm. “Okay, let me ask you something. When I set you up with Genma, you had a horrible date right? You had good chemistry, but just probably not in a relationship.”

                 “Yes.” Her date with Genma had probably been the worst one. They fought the whole time until it got ridiculous enough for the wait staff to throw them out of the restaurant.

                 “Don’t you two laugh about it now? And are even better friends because of it?”

                 Sakura looked back to her to see Ino’s knowing smile. She didn’t answer her, but it wasn’t like Ino needed her to.

                 “Then, I think it already says something that you think this will make it awkward between you and Shikamaru.”

                 Sakura sighed. She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this. “Did Shikamaru already agree to this?”

                 “I thought I’d see how hard it was to get you to agree before I tried him.” Ino shrugged.

                 “Ino – “

                 But Ino had already seen the reluctant yes in her face and grinned. “Don’t worry about that part. Just show up where and when I tell you to. And make sure you look hot.”

                 Sakura’s cheeks reddened and she had “On second thought” on the tip of her tongue, but Ino had already left the room.

 ***

                 Sakura didn’t know it was kindness or cruel fate that she arrived at the restaurant first. It gave her more time to mentally prepare but it also was just more time for her nerves to rack up more. It was all she had thought about all week. Ino’s stupid words running through her head. Something already there. What the hell did that mean?

                 Yeah, her and Shikamaru had become pretty good friends over the last couple years, but that didn’t mean this would work. They joked around a lot and sometimes Sakura joined him for some cloud watching. And yeah, maybe, she had on occasion thought he was more than a little attractive. And yeah, maybe, she had flirted with him a few times and he did the same back. But that was harmless, wasn’t it? Just their playful nature coming out?

                 This couldn’t really work, could it?

                 No matter what Ino said, Sakura didn’t want to lose Shikamaru as a friend if this didn’t work.

                 That was her last thought before she saw Shikamaru enter the restaurant and go up to the hostess. She watched nervously as the hostess pointed towards her and Shikamaru’s eyes widened slightly.

                 Oh, she was going to kill Ino. She was going to throw her out of a building – no, the Hokage Mountain. She was going to throw her hard and then –

                 “Sakura?”

                 Sakura quickly realized she had buried her face in her hands in embarrassment – which just embarrassed her further. She looked up at his confused smile, knowing her face was probably redder than her face. She tried for a smile, hoping her voice wasn’t laced with all the nerves she felt. “Hey, Shikamaru.”

                 Shikamaru sat down at the table. Sakura felt comforted by the barely noticeable blush across his cheeks. “I… didn’t know you were my date.”

                 Sakura laughed and looked down at her menu. The same menu that she’d memorized five minutes ago. “Yeah, I can see that.”

                 “You knew, then?” he asked her nervously.

                 Sakura tried to calm down as she looked up and met his eyes. He was just as nervous as her. She wasn’t steering this boat alone. She dug down for some of her confidence and smiled at him. “I did.”

                 His blush was more than noticeable now, and Sakura couldn’t help but find it endearing. Her heart rate slowed back down to a normal pace as he spoke, looking down at his menu, “Well, I didn’t say I was unhappy about it.”

                 Sakura had thought it would be painfully awkward and while it was a little, they pushed through it and fell easily into conversation like they always did.

                 She had been telling him a story about training the medics. “And she just kept arguing with me, waving her hands around like crazy – “ As Sakura moved her hands around in the air around with her story, the food on the end of her chopstick flew out and went to a few tables over, hitting a man in the cheek.

                 Sakura covered her mouth with a gasp as the man glared over at her, wiping his face with a napkin. “I’m so sorry, oji-san!”

                 He grunted and looked away from her, muttering to his dinner companion. Sakura looked back to Shikamaru to see his shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. Sakura bit back a laugh, her cheeks turning a happy shade of pink. “It’s not funny, Shikamaru.”        

                 But once he met her eyes, she couldn’t help the laugh that burst from her.

 ***

                 Shikamaru walked her home and they drifted into a comfortable silence. The tension that they had been ignoring throughout the night felt so much thicker in the fresh air. Sakura felt some of her earlier nerves coming back as her arm brushed Shikamaru’s.

                 His hands were in his pockets as they walked, same character as always. Though she noticed how he kept glancing at her without saying anything. When they reached her doorstep, he asked her, “So, Ino’s been setting you up on a lot of these dates, hasn’t she?”

                 Sakura leaned her back against the door as she looked up at him. “She has.”

                 He stepped closer to her and gave her a smile. “Has anyone gotten a second date?”

                 Sakura’s heart was beating so loud in her ears she almost didn’t hear him. She let out a breath to steady herself. “No, not yet.”

                 He nodded, now only inches from her as he looked down at her. “Do you think I could get one?”

                 Sakura laughed softly and bit her lip. “Yeah I think you could.”    

                 Shikamaru smiled, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. “How about we do something Saturday? Without the planning of troublesome teammates?”

                 “I’d like that.” Sakura smiled up at him. Then, something caught up to her and she asked confused, “Teammates?”

                 Shikamaru chuckled with a nod, looking at her confused. “Yeah, Naruto set me up on the blind date. Ino didn’t tell you? I think they were in on it together.”

                 Naruto?

                 But before she could think any more about it, Shikamaru was stepping back. “Well, I’ll see you – “

                 Sakura didn’t know what compelled her to do it, but she reached out for him and pulled him towards her by his shirt. She said in a low voice near his ear, “No one has gotten a kiss either.”

                 She could feel his smile as he held her face and pressed his lips against hers. Sakura felt the rest of her nerves slip away from her as their lips moved together. It felt so right. Maybe something had already been between them before this. It could explain the sparks that seemed to light up her chest with how gentle he held her.

                 Maybe she wouldn’t kill Ino after all.

[kayteewritessteve]

Fated - 2/8

Description: You’re a rogue werewolf, a bounty hunter. It’s not the most glamourous life, but it keeps you paid well and highly entertained. But when a long time acquaintance resurfaces with a mission and a lot of money to throw around, you finally relent and take a job from him. And then things get crazy when you stumble upon your Fated Mate along the way.

Catch up HERE.

Word Count: 6,000 ish.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Werewolf!Reader

Rating: PG.

Warnings: Curse words. Sassy comments. Depictions of fight scenes and fighting, the same as canon stuffs.

A/N: I sadly don’t own any of these characters. And no beta reader, so I do proudly own all the errors and this story, so there’s that.

Sorry lovelies! I know you probably all thought this was the L&W update. Which is almost done and should be up in the next day or two. But I just haven’t had much time to write the last few days. And happened to have this part basically done in my drafts, so figured I’d just post it as my blog has been dead the last few days! And I don’t like it! Hahaha anywho, hope you guys like this part!

The large blonde instantly halts his steps, giving you a once over and then his face morphs into one of curiosity, one of intrigue, as he tips his head slightly, just assessing you. Everyone else in the room is deathly quiet, just looking between the two of you. You assume they are all just studying this whole weird interaction as it unfolds.

But not like you are actually paying much attention to anyone but the large man before you.

‘Mark him! We need to Mark him now!’ She excitedly commands but you shush her, needing a moment to just take this all in.

You’d began to assume you didn’t actually have a True Mate, as you’d yet to find them. And most wolves found them young, somewhere between the ages of 16-20. And you’d even travelled around with your Alpha to all the nearby packs often, whenever he needed to seek out alliances or reform territory treaties. And yet nothing. No Fated Mate in sight.

You’d met so many different wolves in your life, and yet not one turned out to be your Mate. But this, this human is. You never would have seen that coming. Yes, he was fucking hot as hell, and much larger than yourself, but WHAT THE HELL WAS THE MOON GODDESS THINKING?!? Pairing you with a fucking human.

‘He’s perfect,’ your wolf sighs out dreamily in your head. Whelp, looks like she’s already on board with this all.

A movement beside him causes your eyes to instantly snap in that direction. And what they land on makes your heart break, instantly. And your instincts to protect your Mate, kick into high gear. And before you can stop it, a deep menacing growl unleashes from deep within your chest.

All eyes snap instantly to you, but yours are locked on the small brunette who now has her hands on your Mate. Her hands clasping his forearm, possessively.

“Babe, who’s the new girl?” She whispers, glancing up at your Mate. And you instantly want to rip her eyes out for just looking at him. And you aren’t even going to acknowledge, or put to words, the bloody thought you just had about what you’d do to her, just for calling him ‘Babe’.

‘I’m going to kill her,’ your wolf growls out and you can feel her trying to take control. And so much for not acknowledging your bloody thought, as it definitely ended with that outcome. You watch as the nails on your fingers begin to elongate, starting to change into claws. You quickly shove your hands in your pockets to hide them.

‘Stop! Stop it!’ You command your wolf but she doesn’t appear to give one shit about that. ‘I’m willing to bet that none of these people even know werewolves exist! and you not only want to shift in front of them, but also rip their friend apart! Are you insane?!’ You yell at her in your head, but she is still trying to push through. And it is taking everything in you to maintain control here, but her need to not only protect, but CLAIM, your True Mate is making that fucking difficult. To say the least. So time to bring out the big guns, time to hit her where it hurts. ‘And on top of all of that, think of Steve, he will NEVER forgive us for that. And you know it. You hurt her, and we can kiss our chances with him, goodbye. And I mean forever!’

She halts instantly at your words, and you feel as the claws retract back and are replaced by your human nails. You release a deep sigh, relieved that she relented. If the Steve line hadn’t worked, that woman would have been dead within seconds. And you’d never stand a chance at winning him over after that. You’d never stand a chance at even having him in your life at all, after that.

He snaps his eyes down to her, a frown on his face, and you get the distinct feeling that he hadn’t even noticed she was in the room, let alone now hanging off his arm. He quickly corrects his expression, and smiles at her, though you can tell it’s forced.

“Y/N!” You hear Fury yell and you cringe. Of course he’d find you right freaking now. Of all times. Damnit!

He enters the room and glances around at everyone just standing there, silent. Then his eyes lock on you, “where the hell did you go?”

“Been here the whole time, Kakashi,” you shrug, hearing Tony snort to himself at your Naruto reference. “I’m honestly surprised it took you so long to find me. You, more than anyone, should know that I’m highly food motivated and would obviously end up in a kitchen.”

He shakes his head but ignores everything you’ve just said. “Let’s go,” he orders, “you need to be briefed on the mission, so you are on the same page as the rest of the team.”

“Can I at least eat first?” You cross your arms.

“No, briefing first, then food,” he sternly says and then promptly exits the room. He sure does like to just order people around and then walk away before they can reply. Which is just still so fucking rude.

‘Now follow me here,’ your wolf starts, getting your attention. ‘What if we eat him, then it can be a briefing AND food. Win, win.’

You snort at that. And notice as Buck leans towards you slightly, whispering, “I’ll bring the steak in when it’s done, Doll.”

You groan happily, and glance at him, “now you’re my new favourite person in the whole of New York. Name anyone you don’t like or want dead, and I’ll happily take them out, just for you,” you wink at him. And receive a chuckle in response as he shakes his head and goes back to cooking.

Your eyes drift to Steve once again. Noticing the small chick on his arm is now blabbering on and on, probably about absolutely nothing. But he isn’t paying much attention to her, his eyes are locked on you, that curious look no longer on his face. But still very much in his eyes, as they glance between you and Bucky. Probably trying to figure out if you two know each other, or have some sort of deeper relationship.

You smile at him as you walk towards him, he quickly moves out of the way, pulling the ridiculous brunette along with him as he does. You nod as a thanks to him and then exit the room, glancing over your shoulder at him as you do, and seeing that his eyes don’t leave you once. Watching you as you go, until you both can’t see each other anymore.

He isn’t a werewolf, so there is no one to inform him that you are his True Mate. But the Mate Bond is an intense thing. Even humans feel the effects of it, instantly, upon setting eyes in their werewolf Mate. Though it isn’t anywhere near as intense to them and it is to your kind.

To them it just feels like this need to know you, to befriend you, to just keep you close. Which, yes, those are all feelings your kind have as well, just in a much, much grander scale and also accompanied with the need to love, protect and Mark and Mate them, instantly. To make them yours and only yours, forever. To show every other wolf that they belong to you, just as you belong to them. It’s like marking your territory, if that territory was a living being instead of land.

Wolf on wolf Mates will usually Mark and Mate within hours of meeting each other, the pull being so strong that they can’t, and don’t want to fight it. But with a human Mate, it’s a lot more difficult, more delicate. You have to tread lightly, build up to that. First you’ll most likely need to open their eyes to the fact that Werewolves actually do exist, which doesn’t usually go too well.

And then you have to slowly build up to the whole Marking thing. First explaining Fated Mates and the Moon Goddess, and then informing them that they are yours. Which also usually doesn’t go well.

And then they have to slowly become used to the idea, to you being ‘it’ for them. And there is this little law—sort of—amongst your kind which states that you can’t Mark a human without their verbal permission. But it’s also the same for Wolf Mates. They have to consent to the Marking or it won’t take, it will just fester and rot, and hurt like a bitch. It can get infected without proper care, but if it is taken care of, it will eventually heal naturally, and there will be nothing left on the skin. No mark, no scar, no signs at all that there had even been a bite there once. That there had even been an attempt at a Mark.

So yeah, him being a human wasn’t going to be easy for you in the first place. But then add the fact he clearly already has a girlfriend, into the mix. Yeah, no, this would be damn near impossible. You sigh deeply as you continue to follow your nose to Fury, following his scent in the air to wherever he stomped off to. Completely and utterly disheartened by this insane turn of events. And honestly, why you?!

‘Us,’ your wolf corrects, sounding just as forlorn as you. But you knew she would be, wolves take Mates waaaay more seriously than their human counterparts. Mates are sacred to them, just as they are to the human side, but on a completely different level.

The human side can deal with the rejection or death of a Fated Mate, they can live on passed it. The human side has to build up to loving their Mate, the feelings are similar to regular human on human love. Though they do feel instantly protective and possessive, but the love takes time to form.

However wolves, they bond instantly. With wolf on wolf pairings, the two wolves instantly love each other. But with a human Mate, there is no Wolf to bond with, so that feeling is passed to the humans themselves. It’s instantaneous, so much so that a wolf basically dies without their Mate. Not literally, but spiritually. They usually become recluses, receding deep within the human’s mind. They don’t talk much, if ever. They refuse to allow you to shift into them. And they basically just cease to exist altogether. Still there, but not present. It’s really not a fun thing to go through for either party involved.

The human loses that constant companion, the creature they have always been able to talk to—well, at least since the moment the wolf first appeared in their mind, on their 16th birthday. 16 being the age a werewolf shifts for the first time. But ever since that moment, they become your closest friend, your strongest ally, your fiercest protector. They become everything to you.

So to one day wake up and no longer have them around, is usually almost more heartbreaking to the human side, then actually losing their Mate is. Almost.

You finally find the boardroom Fury is occupying and slowly trudge in, heading for a chair. You flop yourself down into it with a sigh, you know you need to focus on what Fury is about to tell you. But your mind is entirely preoccupied with your current Mate dilemma. If he rejects you, your life as you know it is over. But if you reject him first, you may stand a shot at your wolf getting through this unscathed. Even if just slightly. But it’s still a much better option than losing her completely.

‘We are not, and will not be doing that,’ she growls. ‘He is ours and we will make it so.’

‘You don’t get it,’ you sigh, ‘he isn’t ours. Yes, he is our Mate, but he belongs to someone else. Humans don’t usually take to these things the same as us. Not at first, at least. But if we reject him formally, maybe we stand a chance of not getting so hurt.’

‘No! I won’t let you do that!’ She stomps her foot.

Fury begins to start talking and you quickly attempt to shelf this conversation. ‘We will talk more about this later,” you sternly say. Much like a parent scolding their child.

She huffs angrily but doesn’t say anything more. You sigh relieved and try to focus your attention on the briefing now. You really need to know exactly why you’re here, and just what you’ll be walking into on this mission.

You walk out of the large glass encased boardroom, the dirty plate and utensils in your hand. Bucky had shown up about 15 minutes after Fury started talking, a plate with a glorious smelling and looking steak in his hand. Your mouth watered instantly and you quickly thanked him. Fury didn’t look too pleased by all of this, but he didn’t say a word, probably just happy that maybe now you’d be able to actually focus.

Which you sort of did. Your mind was still overthinking everything, but you’d managed to catch all the important parts. Basically some high up Hydra goon, named Heinrich, was set on world domination and destruction. You didn’t even realize Hydra was still around, but turns out they were. The American government was just covering it up all this time, and using the Avengers to handle the situation both efficiently and quietly. However, this goon was posing to be a bit more of an issue.

He was a little too good at avoiding the heroes. At hiding from them. He’d gone underground but was still very much calling the shots and moving the plans forward from wherever he was. Nat had managed to track him down a few times already, but just as they’d move in to take him down, he’d escape. He’d get away every time as if he’d been tipped off of their imminent arrival.

So that’s where you come in, not only did they need you to track him down. As all of Nat’s leads and intel kept coming up short or were going stale, and fast. But then when they did actually pan out, he was always a step ahead. Always outsmarting them.

So you were to track, hunt and capture him, with the help of the Avengers, and as fast as you could. Since they had intel that he was going to enact his plans in 2 weeks time. So you had until then to not only find and stop him, but to save the whole fucking world as well. Goddess, what the hell did you just sign yourself up for!?

You shake your head as you enter back into the living space, heading towards the sink to clean your dirty dishes. Mind still all over the damn place with everything that’s happened in the last 24 hours.

You reach the sink, turning on the water and a smell hits your nose, instantly making you perk up. And your wolf, who had been giving you the silent treatment since your little argument earlier, finally reappears.

‘He’s here,’ she says in a happy, sing song voice. And you groan inwardly. Perfect, that’s just what you need right now. Ha! Not.

“Ah hey,” comes his soft, sexy voice from behind you, and a pleasant shiver runs down your spin. His voice quiet, as if he was worried about startling you. If only he knew what you were. That you could smell him in the room, could damn near sense his presence.

You glance over your shoulder, continuing to wash the dirty plate in the sink. “H-hey, Capsical,” you stutter out, instantly wanting to smack yourself upside the damn head. Smooth move, exlax!

Your eyes snap back to the sink, needing to focus on something other than the incessant need to jump him, right here, right now.

‘I vote we do exactly that,’ she offers, being her super helpful self, as always—Note the sarcasm.

You go to sigh frustratedly but the deep chuckle behind you halts that action. You flick your eyes back to him, and the sight makes your heart sore. He looks ridiculously handsome when he laughs, but of course he would. This is just your luck.

He takes a few large strides towards you. “It’s just Steve,” he says as he offers his hand out to you.

You furrow your brows, “oh, but the Stark guy said,” you trail off, confused.

“Yeah, Tony,” his free hand rubs the back of his neck. “He always likes to mess with me,” he gives you a small smile, but his eyes are down, looking at his still outstretched hand. That you’d completely forgotten that he’d offered you! Fuck!

‘Get it together woman! You are ruining this for us!’ Your wolf scolds you.

You quickly place the plate down in the sink, whipping your hands on your jeans, and then taking his large offered hand in your own. “It’s nice to um, to meet you, Steve,” you nod, shaking his hand as sparks shoot up your arm. “I’m Y/N.”

He continues to just stare at your joined hands, and your curious what it feels like to him. What touching you, his Mate, is like. You know the feelings coursing through your own body in this moment, the warmth, the sparks, the tingles. They all feel so amazing to you, but your senses are more heightened than his.

You quickly remove your hand from his, taking a step back. His smell is intoxicating, his nearness is driving you wild, and his touch is warming you in places no creature should be warmed, by just a mere handshake alone. Goddess, it is not going to be easy to stay away from this man. Not one freaking bit.

You turn back to the sink, just before he softly says your name, “Y/N.” As if tasting it on his lips, and his voice saying it makes your knees feel weak. Makes your heart race. Makes your skin heat up. “That’s a beautiful name.”

‘I say we just kill the girl and keep him forever.’

‘Shhh, you aren’t helping. At all,’ you say back to her, needing her to just zip it for right now. Just till you can get a handle on your stupid body.

“Thanks, my mom picked it out,” you shrug one shoulder, hoping it looks nonchalant. But who are you kidding, you know it probably didn’t.

You begin to wash the plate again, even though it is already clean, but you just need the damn distraction. Even more now.

You hear a barstool being pulled out, and almost groan loudly in discontent. Almost. Can’t he just leave already?! Why does he insist on staying here, flustering the hell out of you. You’re a strong woman, but you have your limits. And this, this is bordering on those damn limits.

“Can I ask you something?” He starts, unsurely, and you just hum, nodding for him to ‘go ahead’. All while still washing this stupid, now super clean, plate. “Why um,” he clears his throat awkwardly, “where did Fury find you?”

You glance back at him, quirking a brow, knowing full well that that was not what he was about to ask. What he was really wanting to ask. But you let it slide, knowing he’d ask you in his own time. So you just shrug and turn back to the sink, “known Fury for years. First bumped into him on a job a while back, we were hunting the same guy. He liked my,” you pause, scrunching up your nose as you aren’t entirely ready to drop the werewolf bomb just yet, “skills, I guess. He offered me a job with the little team you got here, I declined. And he has just sort of popped up here and there over the years. Offering me new missions every time, each with larger incentives, probably in the hopes I’d finally say yes.”

“Really?” He questions.

“Mhmm,” you nod.

“What made you say yes this time?”

You take a second to think about that. “Um, honestly,” you place the plate in the sink and turn to face him. Resting against the countertop and crossing your arms, “the money. I won’t lie and say I’m on this mission for honourable reasons. I don’t pretend to be the good guy.” You shrug, “I agreed to do this entirely for the payday at the end. Then when it’s all done, I’ll take my money and go back to my normal life.” You finish, and though your words came out confident sounding, your heart aches immensely at the thought of leaving Steve behind. At going back to your normal life, where he won’t be. You just met him, but already you feel like you can’t live without him. Fuck, you’re doomed. So utterly doomed.

‘We can’t leave now, and you know it,’ your wolf rolls her eyes at you. ‘Plus look at him, how could we walk away from that face!’

He nods slowly, a small frown on his face. One that breaks your heart, and makes you instantly want to cheer him up. Just to get that frown off his lovely lips. “You wouldn’t want to stay after? To join the team, I mean?” He asks quietly, hesitantly.

You sigh, looking down at the floor. Of course you’d want to stay. Fuck, you’d be okay with just moving directly into his room right now. If, if it wasn’t for that brunette. You aren’t a home wrecker. As much as you desperately want to be, you just aren’t. You wouldn’t want whatever beautiful love story you both were destined for, to start out like, like that.

“I honestly don’t know. I like my job,” you shake your head, “I love it actually. It gives me freedom, excitement, something to accomplish entirely on me own. I don’t have to rely on anyone. I just,” you shrug, “I work better on my own now. I’m better off alone now.”

And no matter how many times you say those words aloud, you still don’t really, truly believe them. You are a pack animal by nature, your kind strive to have that connection, the sense of a family. Being a rogue isn’t natural for you, it’s not the way you are wired.

But you can’t go back to your old pack, and most others wouldn’t even hear you out, if you approached them asking to join. Know one cares that you were the toughest warrior in your pack, no one cares that your loyalty track record was perfectly intact. That you’d never once wavered on orders or respect for you true Alpha. No one cares that you were a model pack member before the take over.

They just don’t care. All they care about is that when the new Alpha took over, you refused to accept him, to swear allegiance to him. To that monster. You may not like being a rogue, being packless, but even if you had to go back and relive that horrible moment over and over again, you’d still make the same decision every time. Without question.

“No one truly likes being alone,” Steve says softly, almost knowingly, like he could read your thoughts at this exact moment. But you know he can’t, it’s more likely that he is reading your current body language. Which you know is probably as easy to read as a dang book right now. You’re willing to bet that you’re currently giving off apprehensive, closed off, wary, and maybe even a little disheartened vibes at the moment.

“But being on this team,” he starts, “it’s like a family. We are all misfits in our on ways, we all have dark backgrounds. Or moments from our pasts that we aren’t proud of. But I believe that’s why we are all so happy here, that’s why this team works so well.” He shrugs, “because we all had nowhere else to go, and nothing to lose by being here,” he finishes, giving you a small, sweet smile, that makes you inwardly swoon.

‘Well, we’re sold. Where do we sign up?’

“And here Mike Wazowski said y’all weren’t trying to recruit me,” you playfully scoff, shaking your head. But you can’t stop the smile from forming on your lips, not one bit. And so much for having a poker face with this man.

‘Good. Now someone else can see through your bullshit,’ your wolf snarks, and you almost gasp in feigned and/or slightly real offence. You can’t really be too sure which.

He throws his hands up in mock surrender and chuckles lightly. And yup, that’s your new favourite sound. Hands down. “Not recruiting. Just saying ya don’t gotta go it alone,” he shrugs one shoulder, “if ya don’t want to, that is.”

You nod slowly, and honestly you don’t really want to be alone anymore. You miss having people to watch out for, people watching out for you. You miss having that feeling of family, of support, of love. You force a smirk, and you’re 100% sure he can tell it’s fake, “I’ll take it under advisement.”

He just nods, a knowing smile playing on his lips, but he doesn’t push the conversation any further. “So, Y/N, tell me about yourself?”

You glance down at your feet, arms still crossed over your chest as you shrug. “Not much to tell.”

“Now I don’t believe that,” he chuckles softly again. And damnit, if he could just stop doing that, it’s really fucking with you. “There is obviously a story here,” he gestures to your form. “Fury doesn’t just hound people for years, for nothing,” he shakes his head, quirking a brow at you. “Ex-military? Ex-cop? I’m just curious what you did to end up on Fury’s radar, is all.”

‘That Mate pull though,’ your wolf giggles out excitedly. ‘He wants to get to know us. Give him something, anything. I beg you!’

You sigh at your wolf’s over eagerness to spill all your dirty deeds to this man, without really even knowing a thing about him. Besides the odd stuff you’d heard about him over the years. But you have to tread lightly here, you can’t overstep. You need to remember he is taken, he isn’t truly yours.

“None of the above. It’s a long story, I was ah,” you falter, trying to figure out how to word this without giving too much away. “I was part of a team, I guess you could say. We had an amazing leader, he’d have done anything for us, given his life to protect us. But ah,” you shake your head at the horrible memories of that day. “He was killed. During a mission. And the guy that took over just,” you sigh, “it just wasn’t the same. I couldn’t devotedly follow him, or his orders, like I should have. Like I was supposed to, so I left,” you shrug, dropping your arms to your sides. “Decided to branch out on my own and became a bounty hunter. And a few years later, here I am,” you raise your hands to gesture around the room. “And that’s the whole story, in a nutshell.”

“I’m sorry about your leader, Y/N,” Steve says softly, and you know if anyone can understand the true feelings behind losing someone you care for, it’s him. The man out of time. “It’s never easy to lose someone we care deeply for, but we just keep pushing forward for them. To make them proud,” he smiles, but it isn’t a pitying one. It’s more reassuring. As if to tell you that you are strong, that you can live on past tragedy, and not only that, but that you can rebuild your life. Make it better, or at least just as good as it was before.

You nod, “thanks, Steve.” You can feel the tears pricking your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall. Not here. Not now. You need a distraction, someway to get off this heavy topic and back to lighter conversation. “So, tell me about yourself? What truly interests the great Captain Rogers?” You pause, then snap your fingers, “oh! I know! You collect stamps, don’t you?” You grin widely, pointing a finger at his, “don’t lie!”

He laughs, like truly laughs. The sounds stemming from deep within him, from deep within his belly. And you are instantly proud of yourself for being the cause of such a beautiful sound. Such a spellbinding reaction from this wall of a man. He glances down at the countertop for a moment, shaking his head almost fondly. And then his eyes flick up to you, from under his ridiculously long lashes. “No, I don’t collect stamps,” he grins widely. “I’m actually more into drawing.”

“Huh,” you hum, giving him a once over, appraisingly. “I never would have guessed that. You any good?”

‘Of course he is,’ your wolf rolls her eyes. ‘What a stupid thing to ask. You still suck a flirting, FYI.’

‘Shhhh!’ You hiss back at her in your head. ‘And I’m not trying to flirt with him!’

‘Bull. Shit.’ She calls you out. ‘I swear you forget sometimes that I’m literally in your head.’

‘Like I could forget that,’ you scoff. ‘Now zip it, I can’t focus with your constant narrating.’

He shrugs, “I dunno. I just draw for fun, a way to unwind. I don’t really show many people, so I have no idea how good I actually am.”

You get the distinct feeling that he is so full of shit right now. That he is just being modest, being humble. And now you’re so curious how good he actually is. “Well, if you ever decide to share, I’d love to see some of your work some time.”

He nods, smiling, “of course.”

You nod and then turn around, realizing you never put your plate away. You pick it up and glance at Steve over your shoulder. “Which cupboard?” You ask lifting the plate up for effect. Steve points to it and you quickly put it away, then open a few drawers until you find the utensils one, and put those away as well. Making mental notes of where they went for future food endeavours.

But now as a silence hangs over you both, only one question bounces around in your mind. And even though it’s slightly morbid, your curiosity is getting the better of you. That’s a lie, it’s more than just a curiosity, you need to know what you’re up against here. “So, ah, was that,” you turn back to face him, and you’re positive you look sheepish as hell—Which is a pretty odd descriptive word to refer to a wolf as, but you’ll ignore that currently.

‘We don’t act like sheep,’ your wolf scoffs, ‘we hunt them,’ she shakes her head, a toothly grin on her lips. ‘Now I know I’ve said this once already, but seriously, get it together, woman.’

And she’s clearly still being her extra sassy self. ‘And once again, not helping!’

He nods, urging you to continue. So you do, “that woman earlier, is she like,” you clear your throat, awkwardly. “Like your girlfriend or something?” You glance up at him, trying to gauge his reaction and then quickly add lamely, “she ah, she seemed nice.” Wow, could you be any more obvious?!

‘The answer is no,’ she shakes her head at you again, this time in disappointment.

‘Still not helping!’ You huff.

“Who?” He furrows his brows, looking utterly confused. It’s actually kinda cute. But of course it is. Damnit. “Kelly?”

“I don’t know,” you laugh awkwardly, and shrug, “I guess?”

He shakes his head and is about to speak when you smell two people close by. You tense up but instantly recognize Bucky’s scent, though the second one is new. Your eyes snap up just as Bucky and another guy enter the room.

They come towards you, and once they reach you Bucky gives you a handsome smile, “hey Doll.”

You grin at him, “oh hey, bestie. Thought of anyone for me to take out yet?”

“Take out?” Steve quietly murmurs under his breath, sounding both confused and slightly irked. It’s so quiet that you almost didn’t catch it, but thanks to your enhanced hearing, you had. Making a mental note to thank the Moon Goddess for that enhancement later.

Bucky just chuckles, side eyeing the man beside him, “maybe just one.”

You pick up on his meaning and wink, “consider it done.” He just nods, grinning in response.

“Do I even want to know?” The new guy says as he looks between you and Buck sceptically, his eyes slightly narrowed.

“I honestly think it’s best if you don’t see it coming,” you smirk wickedly at him, and he just stares back at you, looking almost nervous now.

This all earns a hearty laugh from the large brunette. “I can already tell that I’m really gonna enjoy having you around, Doll.”

The new guy looks at Steve, sighing deeply, “damn man, looks like we got two of them now.”

You glance at Steve and see the same curious look in his eyes, just like when he’d first witnessed you and Buck interacting. His eyes just shifting between you both as he assesses the situation. “Yeah, looks like it,” he says quietly, nodding.

You have to fight to not grin like an idiot when you realize it isn’t actually a curious look at all, it’s a jealous look. The last thing you want is to upset him, or make him jealous, in any way. Not a good base for a long term relationship. But at the same time, you will most likely be subjected to witnessing that woman all over him, and often. So maybe a little jealousy on his end isn’t such a bad thing.

You turn to the new guy, offering him a smile and your right hand, “I’m Y/N, by the way.”

“Sam,” he smiles back, shaking your hand, all jokes aside now. “Welcome to the team, Y/N.”

“Thanks,” you nod, “though I’m not actually on the team for good. Just here for the mission then I head home.”

Bucky frowns, “wait, just for the one mission?” He glances around at the other guys, “you aren’t sticking around after?”

You shrug, “not sure, honestly. But that wasn’t the original plan when I agreed to help.”

“Damn,” he sighs, “I was really looking forward to the permanent backup against Bird-Brain over here,” he nods to Sam.

The aforementioned just rolls his eyes, “I’m going to ignore that comment this time. Mainly because now I’m super curious why Fury would bring an outside agent in on this mission. You ex-special ops or something?”

“No,” you shake your head. “Nothing like that.”

“Ex-shield?” Bucky asks next.

“No, definitely not,” you chuckle.

“Okay,” Sam nods slowly, “so you’re enhanced then?”

‘More than you could ever know, Bird-Brain,’ your wolf snickers. Clearly liking the nickname.

“Sort of?” You scrunch up your face. And it’s not technically a lie.

Sam glances at the other guys quickly, then shifts his eyes back to you. “Okay, consider us intrigued.”

“Would you be interested in showing us some of your skills?” Steve asks, drawing your full attention back to him now.

‘We’d gladly show you any ‘skills’ you’d like, big boy,’ your wolf purrs in your head. ‘Just say the word and we’re yours.’

And you straight up almost choke on nothing, but quickly compose yourself before you cause a scene. “Sure ah, yeah,” you nod quickly, “yeah, I can do that.”

“Alright, let’s head down to the training room then,” Sam says excitedly as everyone heads towards the elevators.

Now you aren’t sure exactly what they are all hoping for here, but what you do know is that even the two super soldiers won’t even be able to keep up with you. Not a hope in hell.

They don’t stand a chance against you. Yes, they may be enhanced, but nowhere near as much as you are. And you honestly can’t wait to show them this fact, first hand. You can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when you show them all up.

Because as for your ‘skills’—Well, in the famous words of Tony the Tiger, ‘They’re greeeeeat!’

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Middle Ground [4]

After the debacle with the giant crab, Sakura forced the majority of the party to stay on bedrest for a week. Whenever Naruto even thought about sneaking out of bed, Sakura appeared with a wooden spoon in hand to rap him across the knuckles.

“Geez, you’re like my mom,” Naruto complained.

“I wouldn’t have raised a strange child like you,” Sakura sniffed in return.

For the first few days, Sakura took to eyeing Kisame whenever he entered the room. Her eyes followed him especially closely whenever he got too close to Naruto. But as the days went on and no one in the party turned up dead in the middle of the night, Sakura decided that Kisame’s contract hadn’t been a hoax.

As soon as Sakura declared him well enough, Naruto ran to find the old man with the boat to report about their crab exploits. Kisame tagged along, dragging the half-rotting carcass of the slain gigantic crab as proof.

However, things didn’t move as smoothly as they had hoped. The old man was more than happy to take them out to the deep water of the Sleeping Gulf. It was a small vessel, so only Naruto, Neji, and Kisame managed to squeeze in together. There, Neji cast water breathing over them. And then they dove into the waters in search of the legendary weapon that was supposed to lay in its depths. All in all, it was a solid strategy.

To Naruto’s surprise, however, there was no sparkling sign pointing a a brave hero toward this boon. Waving fingers of kelp gave way to an underwater ruin of what must have been a great city. Sprawling and cold. Offering no clues.

After the first dive, the trio showed up on the doorstep, sopping wet and covered in kelp. A snail slowly crawled its way up Naruto’s shoulder.

“Of course it’ll be hard to find. It’s a super-important weapon, right?” Sakura said in response to Naruto’s complaints. Asuma plucked the snail off Naruto’s shoulder. After glancing it over, he tossed it into the pot where dinner sat bubbling away.

“Try again tomorrow. Maybe you’ll have better luck,” Kakashi suggested. Naruto scowled as he shook the water out of his ear.

Day after day, Naruto returned just as soggy and just as empty-handed. Some days, they were ambushed by irate sea hags or eels. Whenever they returned covered in scratches or bites, Sakura just gave them a sympathetic grimace and healed them up. When she got to Kisame, Sakura did the usual routine of nagging and teasing him like she did for the others. But since her healing magic had no effect on him, they made due with playing pretend.

“What if someone notices?” Sakura asked one night as they headed out to grab more firewood from the shed in the back.

“No one could suspect you of anything. You’re Miss Perfect,” Kisame mocked.

Sakura jumped up to kick him in the rear. It wasn’t a hard blow, but it was enough to make him stumble a few steps.

“You little brat,” he growled. Throwing his wood aside, he ran after her to deal a retaliating blow.

But just a few nights later, Neji noticed something over dinner.

“Sakura, I saw Kisame limping. You’re a good enough doctor not to miss something like that, so I’m assuming that he’s trying to conceal it from you on purpose,” Neji declared.

Sakura choked on her leg of pheasant. Naruto leaned over to thump her on the back. Tenten poured her another drink and pushed it into her hand. Once Sakura’s coughing had settled somewhat, Neji spoke again.

“I’m sorry for upsetting you over dinner. Maybe I should’ve said it later.”

Sakura waved her hand. “No, no. It’s fine,” she assured him. And then her eyes flickered to Kisame. “I’ll take a look.”

She knocked on Kisame’s door a couple hours later. He rushed to hide his grimace as she barged in without waiting for his response.

“Hey! What if I was in the middle of something!” he protested, throwing his wet cloak at her. She dodged it, listening to it land in the corner with a wet thud.

Sakura rolled her eyes. she nudged his ankle with her foot and watched his face screw up.

“You sprained it,” she announced in a flat voice. She reached into her belt to pull out a length of plain cloth.

“What’re you gonna do? Strangle me?” Kisame scoffed.

“Oh, if only,” Sakura sighed. She sat down on the floor. Before Kisame could snatch his foot away, she seized it. Ignoring his pained protests, she wrapped the cloth around his foot, and then up his ankle in swift tugs. 

“Try moving it. Stupid,” Sakura challenged.

Glaring at her, Kisame slowly twisted his foot. And then an odd look crossed his face as he repeated the motion.

“That should support your ankle until it’s healed. Just don’t go too crazy,” Sakura warned as she got to her feet. She dusted off the back of her pants as she added, “I might not be able to cast healing spells on you, but I’m still a doctor... Stupid.”

Sakura paused in the doorway. She thought for a moment, and then stuck her tongue out at Kisame before she slipped out of the room.

"Oh yeah, real mature!” Kisame called after her. But still he looked down at his bandaged foot and smiled a little.

-----

One night, almost a month after Naruto had begun his search for the legendary weapon, Sakura glanced out the window. During the day, she slipped in and out of towns, offering medical help where she could. It was when she was free, later in the day, that she had the time to worry like this.

Sasuke and Tenten sat at the other end of the room, speaking in low voices as they polished their weapons.

Kakashi had found a dusty chess set hidden under the bar. He and Asuma had taken to playing each other during the quiet moments.

“They’re usually back by sundown,” Sakura remarked after a bit. She began to feel an anxious knot forming in the pit of her stomach. She set her book down, accidentally closing it before she could mark her place. She cursed softly.

Asuma glanced her way as he pushed a pawn forward two spaces. “They’re three grown men with a bunch of weapons between them. They’ll be fine,” he assured her.

“I’ll go out and see if I can track them. Sakura’s right. They shouldn’t be this late,” declared Sasuke as he got to his feet. Tenten nudged the bottle of weapons polish aside before the end of the cloak could knock it over. But just as Sasuke grabbed his bow, the front door burst open.

Naruto hobbled in, Neji half-slung across his shoulders. Kisame held Neji up on his other side. He hung back to shut the door before he hurried forward to help Neji into the nearest chair.

“I’m fine,” Neji gasped as everyone rushed to him. He waved a feeble hand to no one in particular. “I used up all my spell slots. I just need a nap.” Sakura still checked him over for any injuries. And then she moved on to Naruto, who, besides some bruising on his ribs, seemed alright too. When she glanced at Kisame, she caught him wincing, but he still waved her off.

Kakashi moved the chessboard to the side to clear the table. Asuma slipped into the kitchen to warm up the stew that had been simmering away in the cauldron. As everyone moved around setting the table, Kisame headed upstairs. His heavy feet shuffling on the old floorboards.

“You gonna wash up before dinner, big guy?” Tenten called after him.

“I’ll skip dinner. Night,” Kisame called back.

Tenten's forehead wrinkled as she turned to Sakura. Putting on a smile, Sakura squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s eat. I’ll check on him later.” 

Everyone crowded around to dig into dinner. A thick stew filled with crab and other seafood. And there was enough hearty, dark bread to sop up the broth that lingered at the bottom of the bowl. As they ate, Naruto launched into detail about the monstrosities they’d faced at the bottom of the sea. He waved his spoon around to reenact the tentacles that had grabbed onto his ankle in the murky depths.

Sakura ate quickly. She squeezed out of her seat between Tenten and Asuma, not wanting to interrupt Naruto’s tale. Slipping into the kitchen, she filled up a bowl with the stew, adding a loaf of bread and a glass of ale. She took the narrow stairs that led directly from the kitchen upstairs. It was probably a passage the staff had used when the building had still been a functioning inn.

Sakura bumped the small door open with her hip. She could feel the warm, damp air wafting out from the end of the hallway. Kisame had probably taken a bath while everyone else ate. She had no free hands to knock, so she tapped her foot against his door a couple times.There was the rustle of fabric.

“Yeah?” Kisame called.

“Open up. My hands are full,” Sakura ordered. There was a pause. And then the door swung inward.

Sakura shoved the tray into Kisame’s hands. He looked surprised as he brought it to the small desk in the corner of the room.

Sakura leaned back on her heels, letting the door shut under her weight. Kisame wore his towel draped over his head ostensibly to dry his hair. But Sakura knew better. She scowled at him as she watched him settle in the desk chair. And she continued to stare him down as he ripped off a chunk of bread and dunked it into the stew before sticking it in his mouth.

“It’s fine,” he grunted, not looking at her.

Sakura stood there, arms folded across her chest as she watched him finish his dinner. Only when he had gulped down the last bit of his drink did Sakura speak again.

“Let me look at it, you big idiot,” Sakura insisted. Kisame wiped his hands and then his mouth on his towel, which he then flung into the corner that he apparently designated for dirty laundry. He met her stare, hand pressed to his cheek. And she could see him calculating whether or not it was worth arguing with her that night. After a long moment, he let out a sigh of defeat. Sakura crossed the room to grasp his arm. She tugged his hand away from his face. He was much stronger than her. But after a moment, he relented.

“You have to be more careful than everyone else. My healing spells don’t work on you,” she scolded. She ran her fingers along his cheekbone. And then she reached into the belt slung around her waist. The little bottles inside clinked together. Kisame was surprisingly still as she searched for the right one.

“It won’t heal you. But it’ll make it hurt less,” she told him as she uncorked it. Kisame sniffed. He scowled, reaching up for it. Sakura held it just out of his grasp. His hand rested on her wrist instead.

“I keep telling you, Doc. I heal fast. Don’t worry about me,” he told her for what felt like the millionth time. And for the millionth time, Sakura retorted. “Don’t care. What kind of idiot tells a doctor not to help them?”

Kisame snickered. He flinched a little as the concoction touched the gouge on his cheek. Sakura cupped her hand over his eye to stop the medicine from running into it. His other eye swiveled to her, watching her as she worked.

“What was it this time?” she asked.

“A merrow,” Kisame grumbled.

“They’re territorial.”

“Pissy, more like,” he went on complaining. Sakura smiled a little at that. She dabbed a little soothing ointment along the cut.

“Do you think if you dealt necrotic damage to me, it would heal me?” Kisame wondered.

Sakura frowned as she considered that. She could tell from Kisame’s serious expression that he wasn’t joking. And a serious question deserved a serious answer. But she shook her head.

She pointed at herself. “I’m a cleric in the life domain. Pretty much the polar opposite of necromancy. Even if that would work, I couldn’t deal that kind of damage,” she declared.

“Shit.” Kisame sighed, rubbing his jaw. As he looked up at her again, Sakura squinted. It looked like the cut had shrunk somewhat.

“Alright. I’ll let you get some rest. Bring your own dishes down. I’m not your maid,” Sakura said, her hands resting on her hips. Kisame barked out a laugh, shaking his head.

“I wouldn’t ask you to unless I wanted you to smash my head in,” he assured her. Sakura found herself laughing too as she headed back down the stairs. Back into the kitchen.

As she peered out past the swinging doors, Sakura could see (and hear) that Naruto had moved on to some new tale. His eyes sparkled as he moved his arms and his mouth to weave his tale. Kakashi sat in the corner, feet up on the bar as he listened. Asuma plucked an idle tune on his dulcimer, playing a soft accompaniment to Naruto’s words. Sasuke leaned against the table, picking at his bread like he wasn’t listening. But he still nodded his head and smirked as Naruto spoke. And on the opposite side of the table, their backs to her, Neji and Tenten sat together. Tenten absently stroked Neji’s hand as she sat entranced by Naruto’s tale. Her shoulder leaning against Neji’s arm. 

In the firelight, all of them glowed so beautifully. Sakura lost her breath a little as she realized how happy it made her to see them sitting there. unhurt. Smiling.

She leaned against the door for a moment, just watching them. In her daze, it took her a minute to realize that Naruto had stopped talking. He was staring right at her. Slowly, heads swiveled toward her.

“There you are! You’re just in time for the best part!” Naruto called, motioning for her. Sasuke scooted over a bit to make space for her on the bench. 

Tenten held up her cup and announced, “Asuma found some wine in the back cupboard!”  Asuma continued playing as he dipped his head. 

“Is this the story about the flaming bear? You’re awful at telling it,” laughed Sakura, pushing past the door. 

“So get this. We get a letter from this dowager in the west one day,” Sakura started off as she made her way to her seat. 

-----

“Maybe we’re not bringing the right people. Sasuke, are you sure you don’t want to come?” Naruto said one day as they headed out at the crack of dawn.

Sasuke stared at him. Slowly, he lifted his hand to point at his hair, which, as usual, flickered like the flame on top of a candle.

“I’m... literally... part fire, Naruto. Why would I dive into the water?”

Naruto wrinkled his nose as he considered that. “Oh.... yeah. My bad,” he replied. 

Rolling his eyes, Sasuke leaned against the doorway. 

“Hey. Sasuke?” Naruto then asked.

“What.”

“How do you shower, then?” Naruto questioned.

“Alright! We’re off! See you, folks!” Kisame hurriedly announced. Grabbing Naruto by the collar of the shirt, he dragged the hero down the dirt path before Sasuke could roast him to a crisp.

“It’s a maze,” Neji declared when they returned that evening. He only winced a little when Sakura grasped his calf. She squinted as she examined his wound from different angles. Grumbling under her breath, she pulled on her glasses to get another look. Sasuke wandered up behind her and conjured a ball of fire into his palm for better lighting. She grunted her thanks without looking up.

“Someone messed with a sea urchin,” Sakura discerned after a while. Neji didn’t have time to respond as she grasped the end of the spine and tugged hard. He bit back what was surely a swear.

“This is poisonous. You’re lucky this didn’t hit you in a major organ,” Sakura went on. She cast an easy purification spell over him before she closed up the wound. 

“Naruto, I gotta be honest. It seems like we’re getting nowhere. Maybe we should try something else,” Tenten suggested, her hand in her cheek. 

“Aw, come on. We almost got it,” Naruto whined, leaning back in his chair. 

“No, we don’t,” Kisame and Neji both snapped in response. 

Naruto lurched forward, front two legs of his chair hitting the floor. He scowled at them. “Fine! What do you brainiacs suggest?” 

“You say that like it’s an insult and not a sad commentary on your lack of thinking,” mumbled Sasuke. Naruto ignored him as he looked around the room.

“Well? Kakashi? Anyone?”

Kakashi gestured toward Sakura, who was finishing up slapping a bandage over Neji’s calf. She got to her feet, brushing her hair out of her face. 

“I believe Sakura has some ideas,” Kakashi suggested. Because he had heard many of her suggestions one night as she sat at the kitchen table with Sasuke. And only when he had gone to cut her off had he realized that she had been drinking herbal tea and not alcohol. 

“Okay. Sakura?” Naruto prompted, tone still a little testy. 

Sakura took a deep breath before she gave a smile. Only it wasn’t really a smile. 

“Neji casts control water to part the sea. That gives us ten minutes to navigate the sea bed. Asuma casts freedom of movement on you, doofus,” Sakura punctuated the last word with a pointed look in Naruto’s direction. “And you run off to find your mythical whatever. The rest of us hang back to deal with any amphibious creatures that try to mess with us.”

It was silent in the room. And then Tenten spoke. 

“I like that plan,” she declared. 

“Me too,” Sasuke agreed. 

“Yeah, let’s do that. I’m done kicking urchins and getting stabbed in the ass by sea hags,” Kisame said, nodding. 

The following morning, they set out at dawn. Asuma had a quick word with the fishermen about their plan. It took a little persuading, but they agreed to delay their fishing for a couple hours. 

“You okay?” asked Sakura as she watched Neji step up to the shore. Water lapped at the very tips of his toes.

“Not the easiest spell I’ve ever cast. But preferable to getting chased by another merrow,” Neji responded. Smiling, Sakura took a step back to let him concentrate. 

Neji extended both his hands. He murmured an incantation. And then slowly, as he separate his hands, the water in the Sleeping Gulf mirrored his movements. Slowly splitting apart in a clean line. In the meantime, Asuma cast his spell over Naruto. Naruto jumped a couple times in the sand to test the efficacy. 

“You have ten minutes. Move or you’ll drown,” Sakura called as she watched him take off down the wet sand. He easily dodged the spiny patches of pink and red coral. 

Once Naruto was out of earshot, Sasuke sidled up beside her. 

“You’d seriously let him drown?” he asked.

Sakura snorted. “No. But he doesn’t have to know that.”

Sasuke considered this for a minute before he shrugged.

Neji followed after Naruto, moving the water as he progressed. Tenten tagged along, her daggers held in her hands, eyes darting around as she searched for any creatures that lurked in the little crevices of stone that littered the sea floor.

Kakashi had brought a little hourglass with him. As the grains of sand began to run out, everyone began to shift uneasily on the beach.

Lips twisting to one side, Sasuke glanced at Sakura. “You’ve got a backup plan, I’m guessing?” 

“Yeah,” she replied, heaving a sigh. “But you won’t like it.”

With a wave of her hand, she cast water walk over the remaining members of their party. They watched as Sakura took a couple tentative steps onto the surface of the sea. And then she turned around to gesture for them to follow. 

Kisame was the first to follow her. He gave the water an appraising look as it held his weight easily. Kakashi and Asuma followed just after. Sasuke hesitated, lingering on the shore. 

“It lasts an hour. I won’t let you fall,” Sakura insisted, holding her hand out to him. 

“We don’t have time for this. Sorry, man,” Kisame interrupted. He grabbed Sasuke and hefted him over his shoulder. Ignoring Sasuke’s threats, Kisame began a cheerful stroll back out onto the open sea. 

It didn’t take long for them to find the strange divide in the water’s surface. They stopped at the edge, peering down to find Naruto struggling to pull a sword from a crack in a stone. Just in front of it stood a weathered statue of a woman with her hands held out in prayer. Sweat beaded on Neji’s face as he struggled to hold the spell for just a little longer. 

Sakura crouched down. “Need some help?” she offered.

Neji’s head whipped up and around, searching for the voice. Kakashi waggled his fingers in a little wave. 

Neji let out a sign of relief. “Please.”

Sakura cast the very same spell Neji had cast several minutes ago. As she grabbed hold of the water, she nodded at Neji. He lowered his arms, face relaxing. 

“Naruto?” Kakashi called. 

“Yeah?” he yelled back as he wiggled the sword in an effort to free it from its prison. 

“Have you tried doing something else?” the thief queried, knowing what the answer would be. 

“No. But I think I almost got it!” Naruto assured him. 

Kakashi and Sasuke exchanged a look. 

Asuma squinted at the statue. “Say, Tenten, is there any sort of writing on that thing?” he questioned. 

Tenten stepped around Naruto. She ran her fingers along the arm of the statue as she circled around it. Near the feet, she found some raised bumps. She made a face as she brushed the algae aside with the tips of her fingers. 

“Yuck! Uh... it just says the Hero’s Legendary Blade,” Tenten reported. “Oh. Wait. There’s more...... Only... only the truly penitent shall wield the might of the goddess.”

“Penitent?” Neji repeated. 

Tapping his chin, Asuma turned the word over in his head. And then he craned his neck to observe the sword and the statue again. His eyes lit up. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he hollered, “Naruto! Kneel!”

“What?” Naruto yelled back, sweat rolling down his neck and forehead. 

“Just do it!” Asuma snapped.

“This is weird!” Naruto protested even as he got on his knees. He wiggled around a little until his knees found two depressions in the stone. As he pressed his weight forward, the stone sank down with a groan. Eyes popping open, Naruto grabbed the sword again and pulled. It still refused to give.

“Hm... what’s missing?” wondered Asuma. Sakura puffed her cheeks out as she thought, too. She glanced down at the falcon emblem twisted around her forearm. And then it occurred to her.

“You’re in front of a goddess. Where’s your offering?” she chimed in.

As Sakura spoke, Tenten began digging in her pockets. She managed to find a gold coin. After squinting some more at the statue, she found a little round shape between the carved hands. When she dropped the coin into the spot, the sword dropped out of the crack with a metallic clang.

Naruto stared at the sword. The one he had been wrestling with for over ten minutes. Just lying there. He grasped the hilt, expressionless.

“Are you serious?” he whispered. 

“Come on, kid. We gotta get moving!” Asuma urged. 

“It was that easy?” Naruto continued to mumble as Sakura cast water walking over him and the rest of their companions. She released her control over the water. But as the waves came crashing down over him, he floated easily to the top. The sword still clutched in his hands. 

Tenten got to her feet, arms held out for balance. She laughed as she bumped into Neji and caught sight of his equally bewildered expression. 

“Let’s go. We probably attracted some attention with that stunt!” Sakura called over her shoulder. 

“I can’t believe it. All that struggling. It was... a coin? And... kneeling?” Naruto muttered. 

“Naruto!” Sasuke yelled.

As their party ran toward the shore, they heard a deep growl rumble up from somewhere under the waves. 

“Ah, shit,” sighed Kakashi. 

“What is he doing?” Sasuke hissed as he glanced over his shoulder. Naruto sat in the same spot, still unable to process how easy it was to retrieve the weapon he had struggled to find for over a month. And as he sat there, a deep purple tentacle broke the surface of the water. 

“Can we just let him drown?” Sasuke asked. 

“Sadly, no,” groaned Sakura as she turned and began running back in Naruto’s direction.

They arrived home well past sundown, covered in ink, guts, and they didn’t know what else. 

“Well. Calamari for dinner,” Asuma announced as he headed straight into the kitchen with his pack bulging with still-wriggling tentacles.

“Wonderful,” Neji grumbled, rubbing at the round imprints left in his arm. 

“I’m over seafood. Forever,” Tenten growled, trudging in after him.

They ran out of hot water running baths for everyone. And by the time everyone had washed up and eaten, it was late. 

Naruto sprawled out on the floor of the kitchen, the sword still clutched in one hand. 

“After all this time. It was that easy,” he sighed again. 

“What matters is that we got it, kiddo. Think positive,” Asuma urged as he stepped around him to finish washing all the dishes.

“I feel so dumb,” Naruto confessed. That made Asuma pause. He rested the pot on the edge of the sink, thinking. 

“You kind of are. No need to feel bad about it though. Everyone’s good at different things. Apparently planning isn’t your strength,” answered Asuma.

Naruto frowned. And then he didn’t as he took in those words. After a while, he responded, “Huh.... I guess so.”

Upstairs, Sasuke lay fast asleep in his bed, exhausted by hours of swinging his sword and shooting arrows into a rabid sea monster. On her way up, Sakura decided to stop by Kisame’s room. He had taken a fair beating during the battle. 

She knocked. There was no response. 

“I’m coming in,” she warned. 

She opened the door, readying a retort to one of his usual teasing insults. Instead, she froze as she spotted Kisame holding a rag soaked with blood. He lifted his head in time to catch the shock spreading across her face. He looked down at the rag.

“Ah. Relax, Doc. I was cleaning my sword,” he told her. He pointed with his free hand to his weapon propped up in the corner. The newly-polished blade gleamed in the light of the little fireplace. Sakura let out a sigh of relief. 

“Shit, Kisame. That scared me,” she admonished. The door swung shut as she crossed the room. 

“Aw, you care.”

There was the teasing. 

Still, if he felt well enough to joke around, Sakura knew she had little to worry about. She grabbed his hands. Other than a popped blister and some little scratches, he really seemed fine. But Kisame’s grin faded as he looked her over.

“You’re looking kind of ragged around the edges, Doc. You alright?” he queried.

Sakura rubbed her hands over her face. “Believe it or not, shoving Naruto’s intestines back into his gut isn’t my favorite thing in the world. So, no, probably not that okay,” she confessed. Kisame cringed. 

On top of that, the kraken had managed to twist Sasuke in the middle, severing his spine. That hadn’t been an easy fix either. 

Most people would chalk it up to all the spell slots Sakura had expended to keep her friends going in battle. But as Kisame scrutinized her expression, his eyebrows rose. 

“Healing is tough, huh,” he commented. 

And just from the way he said it, Sakura could tell that he understood. At least to some degree. Her shoulders sagged. 

“Yeah,” was all she managed to say. 

Kisame reached out. And with an awkward hand, he patted her shoulder a few times. Sakura laughed at how lost he looked. That seemed to ease some of Kisame’s awkwardness because he laughed too. 

“You’re too stressed, Doc. The next town we hit, you should let loose a little. Get drunk. Start a fight. Or... you know.... other stuff,” he suggested. Sakura punched him in the arm for the last suggestion. 

“You’re nasty,” she scolded. 

Kisame held both hands up. “Just trying to help. Didn’t mean anything by it,” he insisted. 

Sakura punched him again. Just for good measure. While she knew it couldn’t possibly hurt the bulky fighter, he still put on a big show about how he’d bruise in the morning. They both knew that was untrue.

“Anyway, I’m being serious. You’re working too hard. All we have to do is stab and hit. Your job is to make sure we’re alive to do all that. It’s a big responsibility,” Kisame pointed out. “You need a chance to relax too.”

“Okay, horndog. Thanks for the life advice,” Sakura snorted, rolling her eyes. She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room. Kisame’s laughter followed her out. 

Sakura headed up all the way to the top floor of the rickety building. She had claimed the lone bedroom up in the attic. Partly because she didn’t want the creaks of someone’s footsteps hovering above her head. But partly because she wanted the stained glass window that sat up there. The pink and green bits of glass coloring the world outside in fantastic colors. And she liked the strange, watery lights the glass projected onto the weathered floorboards on moonlit nights like this one.

She changed into her nightgown in efficient motions. Folding up her tunic and her leggings. Thumb running along a tear in the side of her tunic. She would have to ask Kakashi to mend it for her in the morning.

Sakura let out a sigh as she sat on the edge of her bed. Which was lumpy and a little smelly compared to the feather bed she had back in the Imperial Citadel. But it was a bed nonetheless. One she was grateful for after their journey through the desert.

In the quiet of the night, she finally had a moment to collect her thoughts. 

Now that Naruto had finally retrieved his weapon, they would be leaving the comparative safety of the coast and heading for the mountains. And if memory served her right, the mountains were as frigid as they were treacherous. She would need to find a merchant who sold warmer clothing on the way up there. Some of her herb stocks were running low. An apothecary in a bigger town might carry some of the things she needed, but it wasn’t the right season or the right climate to forage for the remaining leaves and flowers. On top of that, she hadn’t heard back from her home village in many weeks now. She wondered if things were alright. Had they fallen ill? Were they just on the move?

Sakura slapped her hands to her cheeks. All the thoughts crowded together at once, congealing into a massive headache. It seemed like as soon as she tried to solve one problem, another popped up in its place. 

Although she hated to admit it, Kisame was right. She was stressed. So stressed that all the herbal tea in the world wouldn’t help untangle this mess.

Several minutes later, Kisame heard a knock on his door again. He almost didn’t answer until he heard the knock again. And then Sakura’s voice drifted through the wood.

“...Kisame?”

He let out a deep breath. “...Yeah?”

She closed the door behind her. Looking so different from how she had a little while ago when she had barged in teasing him with all her signature sass.  She took up less room than she normally did, somehow.

He leaned his elbow on his thigh, staring her down. Eyes lingering on the way her hands fisted at her sides. Like she was gathering up the will to say something big.

Sakura felt her face go hot as she realized what the hell she was about to do. She fumbled for the right words. She let out a huff. And maybe because he saw that she was trying, Kisame didn’t rib at her.

She took a few steps toward him. As she approached, he sat up straight, elbows landing on the armrests of his chair.

Only his eyes followed her movements as she reached out to take his right hand. Placed it on her waist.

“...Ohhh.” He dragged the sound out. It was a little rumbly, like a dragon was stirring to life somewhere in his chest. His eyes took her in a second time. Dragging more slowly, lingering in places other than her face. But after a moment, he arched an eyebrow at her.

"Why me?” he asked.

Sakura looked anywhere but at him. But as he nudged her a little closer, she had to rest her hand on his shoulder to keep balance. Feeling her face go hot, she found the words. 

“It has to be someone I trust.... not to make this weird,” she replied.

“You trust me?” he questioned. Sounding incredulous.

His tone made Sakura really stop and think. And he gave her the time to do just that. When she finally came to an answer, her eyes met his. 

“....Wow... yeah. I guess I do.”

A bewildered smile pulled at her mouth. The same smile tugged at the corners of Kisame’s lips too. He tilted his head to the side as he looked over her face again.

“Alright, then. Not make it weird? I think I can do that, Doc,” he chuckled as he pulled her into his lap.

[raendown]

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Word count: 5032 Chapter: 2/9 Rated: T+ Summary: When his brother disappears coming home from town Madara goes looking for him only for both to end up taken prisoner in a castle hidden by magic generations ago. The candelabras talk, the furniture sleeps, and a great white beast hides himself away in the eastern wing. As he uncovers the story behind this place and gets to know the last small group of ‘survivors’ Madara gradually makes a new home here in the least likely of places.

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Chapter 2

In the wake of the monster’s departure a deep silence stretched out for a long time. Izuna rested his head between Madara's shoulder blades knowing there were no words that could help either of them feel better at the moment. Neither of them said anything until his body began to shake with coughs and Madara spun to gather the other in his arms, helping him sit and patting his back gently until the fit passed.

“You’ll die in here,” he whispered, horrified. “I failed. I…”

“There’s nothing you could have done, Aniki. It’s not your fault.”

Madara shook his head. Logically he understood that the chain of events had not started with him but if he could not blame Izuna then there was simply no one else to carry that burden. How could he ever blame his sibling for running towards the only visible beacon of safety if he were being chased by wolves? In all the years Madara had lived he’d never heard of wolves actively attacking humans, generally they stayed away as most other wildlife did, so he could understand why someone might panic in that situation.

“We made our best attempts to stop him!” a voice cried from nearby. Madara lifted his head to look around but despite the candelabra still sitting just outside the barred door he couldn’t see anyone there.

“Show yourself! Who’s there?”

“I am here in front of you!”

The light before them flickered but the dancing shadows revealed no new faces even when he squinted.

“Quit hiding,” he growled. “I don’t see anyone.” He rubbed Izuna’s back soothingly as they both craned their necks side to side in search of whoever was talking to them. That was definitely not the creature’s voice.

“Down here, good sir!” the voice tried once more and this time when the light wavered Madara noticed the candelabra was moving.

He also noticed there was no one there to move it.

The candelabra was waving at him. And the longer he stared the longer it continued to wave, some of the filigree near the top of the main post shifting as if to form what looked like an honest to god smile. When both he and Izuna failed to so much as move, staring with equally wide eyes and frozen bodies, eventually the candelabra stopped waving and bent both of its secondary arms down in a mockery of the way a human might set both hands on their hips.

“Well I must say, how rude,” it seemed to scold them. “Not even allowing for a proper greeting. Where are your manners?”

“Izuna can you hear that?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it…is it talking to us?”

“Yeah.”

“Are we dreaming?”

Without warning the entire candlestick holder bent as though to toss its head back and began to laugh. “Oh, how rude of me! I’m so terribly sorry. It’s been so long, I quite forgot how strange I must appear to you! I assure you that we are all quite real!”

“Merciful gods above, Aniki, are there more of them!?” Izuna moaned with despair and Madara reached back to pat him on whatever he could reach, possibly a leg.

“It must be something in the magic of this place driving us mad. Maybe we should play along?”

He jerked when his brother struck him weakly. “Are you nuts? It’s a talking stick of wax! What are you going to do, talk back?”

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone else in this entire castle to talk to. Did you notice all the dust? It’s like no human has been in here for centuries.” Madara shrugged. “I’ll take a candlestick delivering my meals over whatever the hell that beast is!”

“Simply no manners at all; continuing to ignore me.” They looked over to see, of all things, that the candelabra had crouched down on to the floor and curled in to itself. As they watched it began to shake with dramatic sobs. Madara considered just waiting to see what would happen but the damn thing just sounded so pathetic and he had to admit he was curious. This place was full of strange magics. If he could ask a few questions and understand even a small bit of his own situation he would appreciate it.

“Uh…sorry about that. It’s…I’ve never talked to a candle before.” Even Izuna cringed over his awkwardness.

The candelabra, however, popped back to its ‘feet’ as though it had never been sad in the first place. “Quite alright! You may call me Hashirama! May I know your names, good sirs?”

“I’m Madara. This is Izuna. What…is this place?”

“Ah, it would be hard to explain here. Come, come, come along. I will gather the others!” With ringing plinks and plonks he began to hop away down the hall, the metal of his body echoing on the stone floor.

He didn’t get very far before Madara called after him in a dry tone, “Thanks but I think I’ll stay here. Doesn’t matter how much weight I’ve lost this past year, I still don’t think I’m going to fit through these bars!”

With a startled exclamation Hashirama turned and hopped back in their direction, leaping up to pop the latch and then backing away to gesture for them to come out in to the hallways with him. Still they both hesitated. If seeking shelter was the only crime that got Izuna locked up and trying to find his ill brother got Madara locked up as well then who knew what that crazy animal would do to them if he discovered they were wandering around freely? Seeing their hesitation, Hashirama shook what might have counted as his head.

“I beg of you to believe me, he is not a terrible person. Circumstances have made him distant and wary but inside he is a good man. If only he believed it of himself.”

“You’ll forgive us if we don’t believe that,” Izuna grumbled.

“Please, come along! He is possessed of quite a temper at times but rest assured he would never hurt me. I will convince him to see sense about locking the two of you away in this drafty tower, don’t you worry.”

Still smiling cheerfully he began to plink away down the hall again, pausing every few hops to beckon them along. The two brothers traded long dubious looks before finally Madara muttered under his breath that they might as well. If the monster was unpredictable enough to lock them away then he probably wouldn’t hesitate to eat them or something for making his magic candle thing cry twice. Either way they were going to catch hell so why not explore a little bit and get their answers before death found them?

Hashirama was an incredibly enthusiastic guide unhampered by his tiny size. The sounds of his incessant hopping were thankfully muted as soon as they exited that particular tower and returned to carpeted hallways but it hadn’t mattered much anyway as he chattered incessantly about the history of the castle and how long ago it had been built. Madara and Izuna shared a doubtful look, both of them knowing such massive grounds as it would take to house a castle this size would definitely have been noticed by at least one villager in the past few hundred years, but neither said anything. With a terrifying monster in charge of things there was obviously some kind of magic at work here, they could have deduced that much even without being told.

And to think Madara hadn’t even truly believed in magic until tonight.

Their chipper guide being the only source of light, they were sort of beholden to his long-winded tour but from the sheer amount of words spilling out of him it seemed like he hadn’t had anyone to talk to in a very long time. Madara found he didn’t quite have the heart to interrupt such earnest happiness. At least the history of the castle was quite interesting; on the rare occasion he found time for himself Madara had always enjoyed slipping in to their village’s very small library and reading up on the history of the land around them. He was proud to say he’d read at least half of the books in the library. His favorite were always the lurid battle descriptions and the long explanations of tactics or favored weapons.

“Oh but you must be weary after such a fraught evening! Allow me to show you gentlemen to your room, of course!” Hashirama paused at yet another juncture in the endless hallways and beckoned for them to come along before hurrying off in another direction.

“Room?” Izuna muttered quietly in Madara's ear. “He’s not sticking us back in the cell?”

Madara could only shrug. He was hardly going to complain about being offered more comfortable accommodations. For a fleeting moment he considered waiting until they were unsupervised and making a break for it. There didn’t seem to be any sort of guard rotation or security posted. He would bet that two able bodied men could escape if they could find their way out – as long as Izuna didn’t have any coughing fits and draw attention to them.

The moment he began to think about such things, however, he felt a twisting down deep in his soul that cried out with a sense of wrongness that he understood immediately, though he could not have said how. He was still recovering from how oddly winded the feeling had left him when Hashirama finally came to a stop in front of a door carved with the same simple design many other doors had been. Madara was startled to realize it was the same symbol burnt in to the monster’s chest across his collar bones.

“Here we are! You need only ask and I will see to your every comfort! Oh, we will have such fun together, I am so sure! Wonderful to have guests again! Come, come!” With a double hop Hashirama leapt straight up off the floor to grasp the door handle with both hands, wriggling his entire metal body back and forth.

“Do you…want help with that?” Madara asked hesitantly.

“I am most capable, fear not!”

And so he was. The door unlatched with a soft slick and swung open, carrying Hashirama's light away so they couldn’t see the inside until their guide dropped down to the floor and hustled inside ahead of them. There he went around and bent his head to light a few candles so they could get a first glimpse of their massive room.

Both of their jaws fell open as they stared in open wonder at the opulence around them. Thick carpet at their feet led the way to matching beds, each with their own heavy canopies and bedding so decorated Madara would have expected to find them being displayed as wall hangings in the mayor’s home. A matching wardrobe and vanity set stood between the two beds, all four pieces shaped from the same dark wood and intricately carved, any one of them more expensive on their own than the entire contents of the Uchiha household back home. Dust covered every inch of the room and still it was not enough to stop the two brothers from thinking it was a room fit for two princes to stay.

Yet Hashirama hemmed and hawed, tapping at his chin with one arm candle and wondering out loud if this was truly fit accommodations for them. Madara wondered silently how there could be anything better.

“If you would prefer separate rooms we could move to the apartments in the southern wing,” he offered.

“No, this is…fine. This is great.” Madara swallowed thickly. “We can really stay here?”

“This is incredible,” Izuna declared without reservation, daring to step forward and brush his fingers over the intricate patterns stitched in to the bedding. Hashirama tutted at them.

“Serviceable at best. However, if it pleases you then I shan’t keep you awake any longer than necessary. Oh we really should shake out the dust at least – but you do so look tired. I simply cannot decide!”

The metal idiot looked so distraught Madara could only lift an eyebrow in bemusement. “We can shake out our own bedding.”

“Are you certain?”

“It’s just dust. Dust never killed anyone. Except you, Izuna, just sit down or something and let me get yours.”

While Izuna rolled his eyes and Hashirama continued to fret, Madara stripped the duvet off both beds and snapped them in the air a few times each, cringing for having to be so rough with such beautifully crafted pieces of art. After they were both tucked back over to the beds again he turned and flopped backwards on to the one he arbitrarily decided would be his own.

Then he moaned like a cheap lady of the night.

“Oh sweet flame…I’m floating on a cloud…”

Silence followed his statement for a single heartbeat. Then he heard Izuna scramble towards the other bed and the muffled thump of another body sinking in to layers of luxurious bedding. His brother immediately let out a moan just as he had.

“Is this what heaven feels like?” Izuna asked in a dreamy voice.

“Nnn…”

“Ah ha ha ha!” Hashirama's tinny little voice somehow managed to boom all throughout their massive room when he laughed. “I shall leave the two of you until morning then, shall I? Rest well! Tomorrow the tour continues!”

Madara gave very little thought to any sort of response. He managed to crack one eye open to see that Izuna had slipped under the blankets and disappeared, no more than a slight lump among so much fluff, then his eyes slid closed and the comfort of a real mattress under his body carried him down in to slumber as quickly as the snuffing out of Hashirama's candles.

He slept so deeply he did not dream. Or he thought he didn’t. Unless the impression of endless hours in the darkness, cool and comforting, counting as a dream.

Waking came slowly, a gradual drift from one darkness to another, and it took a long time for him to realize he couldn’t see anything because he had rolled over in his sleep and buried his face in what felt like a cloud of happiness. Upon lifting his head he determined it to be just a pillow, albeit the softest pillow he had ever encountered in his life. Which, to be fair, was a very limited number.

Slowly pushing himself in to a sitting position, Madara looked around and took a few minutes to let it sink in that everything from the night before had not been some fancy of his own imagination. He really was in a far too opulent room fit for kings and queens with Izuna just barely struggling his way up out of sleep on the far side of the room. With sunlight spilling in through the open drapes he saw beautiful details that he hadn’t been able to in the dark. Each wall was hung with incredibly delicate artwork and the edges of the ceiling looked as though they had been painted by hand. Underneath the dust he could tell that the carpet was woven with a repeating pattern of rich red and golds.

“This place is insane,” were the first words out of Izuna’s mouth as he too took in the spectacle of such grandeur in the light of day.

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well in my life. Which is weird since, you know, prisoners and all that.”

Izuna sat up a little straighter and coughed a few times, settling his face in a serious expression. “I mean, it’s nice and everything. This is cool. But we can’t stay. We have to get the hell out of here, you know? There’s no telling why that thing wants to keep us!”

Running a hand through his hair, Madara hesitated.

“Look, I didn’t want you to worry last night. It’s been a long time since you slept well through the night and I just wanted…anyway. Here’s the thing. I can’t leave.” When Izuna opened his mouth Madara interrupted him. “I don’t know how to explain it but I can’t. You remember that creature made me swear that I would stay here and not try to leave? He said I was bound here. And…I think he meant that more literally than we knew.”

“Bullshit! Come on, we can just slip out while that candle thing isn’t here!”

“Hashirama has nothing to do with it. Look, the creature said that ancient magics were listening when I swore not to leave and now whenever I think about escaping I get this twist inside me that- I can’t go. It makes me feel wrong to think about it. I can’t say how I know but I don’t think I would survive leaving.”

Izuna slumped back down when he had been about to stand up. His entire body looked wilted with defeat and Madara could not have felt more terrible.

“You’re not the one who is bound,” he tried to offer. “I don’t think he meant anything bad would happen if you were the one that left.”

“Like hell I’m leaving without you!”

“Great. Wonderful. I knew you’d say something dumb.” Madara rolled his eyes.

“The only dumb thing here is this stupid castle!”

It was all too likely the two of them would have taken out their infamous tempers on each other if left to their own devices for much longer, something that happened all too frequently at home. Luckily they were interrupted by a knocking at the door and treated to the sight of Hashirama's metal smile as he popped his head in to the room.

“Best of mornings to you both, I trust you slept well?”

“Decent,” Madara grunted.

Hashirama tittered, unoffended. “I’ve come to fetch you for a morning meal!”

Afraid that if he refused he would have to stay here and listen to Izuna have a meltdown over the fact that he couldn’t leave, Madara hopped off the bed and gave a sharp nod. He waited until Izuna followed along and then allowed himself to be trudged off down twisting hallways that looked so different now after the shadows had been chased away by the sun.

Last night the castle had given the impression of being forgotten by time, a gloomy space caught between worlds, but now it resembled more of an abandoned mausoleum. Suits of armor and statues and expensive pottery provided decoration to keep them busy gawking in every direction until they were led down to the first floor by the same sweeping grand staircase Madara had climbed on his own in the dark. What he had taken for an empty atrium looked more like a grand receiving room well suited for social gatherings and the like. A strange place, for sure.

The kitchens, at least, had a modicum of normalcy. Madara supposed it didn’t matter how much money was involved, kitchens the world over were bound to look at least slightly similar. It didn’t matter that there were a dozen stoves instead of one or that the counter for preparations ran several times as long as his own handcrafted wooden counter at home. What mattered was that he felt some of the gathering tension drain away to know that here was a place he belonged to more than the fancy frippery covering the rest of the castle.

“My dearest, my darling,” Hashirama called in to the cavernous room. “Oh love of my life!”

“If you think to flatter me in to some favor you are sorely mistaken,” a new voice answered.

Madara almost thought his eyes might fall out when a tessen fan drifted around the corner with no hand to guide it, gliding along several inches above the floor seemingly of its own volition. When it stopped in midair he was startled to see the ribs snap open to their fullest extension, giving him a direct view of the pattern inked in to lacquered paper, and he very nearly fainted dead away when the pattern shifted across the paper to form a face with pinched lips and narrow eyes.

“Our guests, I presume,” the fan declared. It was a woman’s voice and not very warm.

“Yes my sweetest.” Hashirama blew the fan an ostentatious kiss which lit one of his candles and then gestured to the two men with him. “This here is Madara and there beside him is Izuna. Brothers from the nearby village.”

“I suppose you wish me to cook for them.”

“Would that I had any other to ask,” Hashirama responded softly.

Amazingly, the pattern-woman unpinched her lips until her expression had relaxed in to something more pensive than irritated. Dipping in the air like she was nodding, the tessen fan drifted away without another word to stoke the embers back to life under a nearby stove. Madara watched her go with his brows up near his hairline. When he looked back Hashirama was wearing a besotted expression.

“My wife Mito” he explained. “A braver woman could never be found in any kingdom.”

“How exactly does a talking candlestick end up married to an animated war fan?” Madara blurted, immediately dropping his face in to one hand at his own lack of tact. He felt a fist impact his shoulder but couldn’t bring himself to scold Izuna; he did sort of deserve it.

Luckily Hashirama took no offense, though he did fall somber once more.

“We were not always this way,” Mito said as she slid her body under a loaf of bread and bore it over to the closest countertop.

“It is a curse laid upon the castle. Once we were as human as you are.” Hashirama leapt up to the counter and looked up at them with arms folded behind his back. “I trust you know of the Sannin, the Great Three who guard the ancient magics of the lands?”

“Yeah,” Izuna drew out the word with curiosity. Every child in their village had grown up on such fairy tales.

“The strongest of the Three was once a patron to this kingdom–”

Madara interrupted without thinking to point out, “This isn’t a kingdom.”  

He did not expect Hashirama to tilt his head back and let out a laugh more bitter than one as cheerful as he should be capable of.

“It was and is, no matter that the people have forgotten their lord. There were…two brothers. As is custom, the duty of ruling these lands was meant to fall to the oldest. Unfortunately illness had laid him low in the prime of his life and the throne fell instead to the younger brother who promised to hold it only until his sibling recovered. However…” Hashirama trailed off with pain in his voice.

“However, instead of recovering the illness spread,” Mito took up her husband’s tale, pausing a moment to spin through the air and remove several perfect slices of bread from the loaf. “All across the kingdom people fell ill, dying faster than messengers could seek help from the younger brother. Though he did what he could there was no stopping what nature itself can never stop.”

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Madara shuddered. “The plague.”

“Yes,” Mito agreed. “The black plague, a nightmare to behold and hellish to contain. When the death toll rose to its heights the younger brother was forced to drive all of the ill together and abandon them lest they continue their spread of death.”

“Really the only way to deal with that,” Madara nodded in sad approval.

“Yet he did not see his own actions that way. Tasked with ruling a kingdom that should never have been his own, cursed to make decisions while his people fell around him, the younger brother took responsibility onto his own shoulders and he himself held the torch when they burned the quarantine zone. It is impossible to say if any inside were still alive. Though he understood the necessity still he could never forgive himself for what he had been forced to do.”

Hashirama shook his head. “A monster he called himself and locked himself within his rooms, emerging only when it was necessary to perform the duties he owed to the kingdom he had sworn to watch over. The elder brother recovered, as some with the plague do, but it did nothing to ease his guilt. Nothing could be done to console him.”

“Sounds whiny,” Izuna muttered. Thankfully it seemed like neither Hashirama nor Mito heard him.

“We worried. That was all. We were worried for the state of his mind after what he had done.” Hashirama looked away. It was hard to tell in a face made of metal filigree but his expression took on a distant quality. “We appealed to the Sannin who watched over our kingdom and beseeched her to intervene. Forgetting, of course, her wicked temper and her utter lack of patience for fools. She revealed that she had indeed already intervened, saving the life of the eldest brother and all within the castle when the plague began, and she did not appreciate having more asked of her. It was never our intention- We could never have predicted- I believe that I will always regret, though not for my own sake.”

He closed his eyes and Mito drifted across the kitchen to hover at his size. She danced out of reach when he held out an arm to embrace her, wary of the flames, and Madara wondered if it was maybe too intimate a moment for him to watch the sadness in both of their gazes to be denied a simple touch. Finally Hashirama went on to finish his story.

“She cursed him out of temper. If he felt so strongly a beast, she said, then a beast he would be. His form changed to that which you witnessed last night and the residents present here in the castle were changed to whatever form suited her whim. Many became furniture, some became animals, a few became clothes or drapery. In a fit of pique for the lord’s self-pity the great Sannin removed us from memory across the Kingdom and hid us away from curious wanderers in the forest, trapping us in time. And so here we have been ever since, alone and lonelier by the year as one by one our numbers dwindle.”

“You’re not dying as furniture?” Madara cried out, shocked.

“Not dying, no. They simply give in. I will show you.”

Hashirama murmured to his wife and she dipped her blades, returning to whatever simple meal she was preparing for breakfast. With a wave he turned and beckoned them to the hallway they had come in from. Madara expected to be taken on a journey but he found Hashirama stopped just outside of the kitchen where he stood on the floor staring up at a massive portrait hung to face inside the kitchens.

The woman portrayed was beautiful, though severe. Her hair was long and caught up on the top of her head in a simple style. Both hands folded across her lap, eyes closed, her shoulders remained straight and stiff in a way that spoke of royal blood.

“My cousin,” Hashirama told them with regret heavy in his words. “Our beloved Touka. She was always the strongest among us and yet even she grew tired of this endless existence, closing her eyes and going to sleep the way so many others have. Now you wouldn’t know them from true furniture.”

“Well…shit.” Madara couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Incredibly, that seemed like the right thing. After a moment of incredulous blinking Hashirama began to laugh that impossible booming laugh until it echoed up and down the hall, filling one small part of this massive castle with happiness once again.

“Very well put, my good man.”

“Just…call me Madara.”

“Indeed. Well, Madara. Izuna. Shall we dine? It’s been a long time since any of us have prepared a meal. You will let us know, I hope, if there is any part you find undesirable and we will hasten to remedy that for you!”

“Right. Sure.”

Despite Hashirama's mood swinging back up as hopped away to check on his wife Madara found himself feeling saddened as he stood out in the hall and stared up at the portrait hanging before him. To know that this was a real person trapped in the oil and the canvas, a woman who despaired of her own state so strongly that she had chosen to fall asleep indefinitely rather than go on and wait for an end, he couldn’t imagine living like that. He was grateful for the hand that slid on to his shoulder and squeezed gently.

“You know he’s not telling us everything,” Izuna said in a low voice and Madara nodded.

“Hearing what we have though…do we really want the full story?”

Izuna shook his head with an expression just as sad as Madara felt. Together they looked up at the painting and Madara wondered if maybe the beast had taken them prisoner not out of cruelty but to be kind to those left awake. He supposed he would be pretty lonely too after so many years watching everyone he knew go quiet and still.

Whatever the case, there was obviously more going on here than he had originally assumed even after discovering the place was run by a horrific man-beast and a talking candelabra. Madara tore his eyes away from the portrait and spun his brother around by force to march them both back in to the kitchen. If someone wanted to tell them more about what was happening he had to admit he was curious enough to listen but until then the best thing to do would be to keep their heads down as much as possible. It had kept them both alive this long. Hopefully it would keep them safe long enough for him to figure out how the hell he was going to get Izuna to a doctor for the cough that started up again as soon as they left the hallway.

[linisen]

Promise

For @nhweek, day 4 Lies/Promises

A soulmate AU where what you write on your skin turns up on your soulmates skin, High School setting. 

__________________________________________________________

Don’t be sad, I promise to always be your friend

That sucks! I promise I will get you a cat when we grow up, five cats. If you want!

Yeah, I promise to make you all the ramen you can eat. Finally mastered my mothers recipe

I know you’re scared, I promise to be with you, whatever you need

I love you, I promise to love you forever

I’ll never want anyone else, I promise to be only yours.

I promise, I will kiss you the first chance I get

The promises had been countless throughout the years. Ink from markers etsed into their skin as they wrote. Her cursive flowy handwriting contrasting his scratchy barely readable ones. She always understood though. The writing as well as the what he was saying. She had been his only friend, his best friend and now. Now she was more, something else. But then again, she always had been.

Soulmate. Everyone had one. Everyone walked around with markers behind their ears or in pockets, writing on their hands and arms. Some found each other early, some late. It was rare to never find yours. It was fated after all. Meant to be. All you had to to was let life do it’s thing and you would find each other. It was said that it was bad luck, exchanging names and addresses. You were supposed to meet at the right time, for the soulbond to be truly strong.  

At first, when they were little, they had called each other the others favourite animal in the absence of names. He was fox, she was kitten.

They’re orange! I like orange! He had written in orange marker, to press his point about the amazingness of foxes.

I like orange too, she answered.

Do you have a favorite color? He asked, tongue poking out in concentration as he was writing. The skin on his hand colored, her neat handwriting forming on it.

Purple

Naruto looked through the penbox, fining a light purple one, smiling as he drew.

<3

They still used the silly names sometimes, to be sweet, or to tease. When they grew older, and entered their teen years and high school, the animal names seems a little uncool, embarrassing, he though. He started calling her other things instead, things he heard the seniors say. Beautiful when he wanted to be charming, babe when he wanted to be sweet. Kitten when he was nostalgic. His when he missed her too much.

They didn’t go to the same school, he had figured out as much since they didn’t start on the same days, go on break on the same days. He wondered if she was far away, if he would have to wait long before they finally met. He hoped not. He longed for her so much already. What if he had to wait years, or decades?

Naruto looked up at his hand, resting on the closed locker beside his opened one, orange message forming before his eyes.

Good luck on your test today

I know you’ll do great

(っ˘з(˘⌣˘ ) ♡

Naruto grinded big. She always drew the cutest figures. He picked up the purple pen resting behind his ear to answer.

You too babe.

First days can be scary

You’re amazing

Everyone will want to be your friend

She was starting a new school today, had just moved from the town where she grew up to a bigger city, her father's company expanding. She had been scared, and they had talked a lot about it since she found out a few months ago. Today was the day, mid-term and monday. Horrible way to start really. He hoped she would be okay. Wished he could be there with her, hold her hand. Fight of anyone who looked at her wrong.

I doubt it

But I always have you

He frowned at the message. She always second guessed herself, couldn't see the amazing person he knew she was. At least she had started to trust in him, that had been a battle as well, getting her to trust that he would never leave, he would always be her’s. Somedays, she still didn’t believe it.

Always kitten

<3

“Naruto!”

He snapped his head towards the sound, seeing Sakura walk down the hall, waiving with a big smile. They had calculus together this morning. She was alone and there were writing on her right cheek, odd. Naruto closed his locker and waved back, calculus book under his arm.

“Morning Sakura!” he leaned closer as she came up to him, reading the word ‘Sasuke’s’ on her cheek. “Where’s the idiot?”

Sakura were usually seen with her soulmate Sasuke, possessive arm around her waist. Sakura blushed, hand coming up to touch the soul writing on her cheek.

“He’s sick today,” she explained, which of course would explain the possessive writing. As Naruto watched, another mark next to it appeared. Slowly the word ‘girlfriend’ formed under the idiots name. Crazy.

“He knows that just makes people watch you even more right?” Naruto sighed, turning in the hallway towards the classroom. Sakura was one of the most popular girls at school, which was why Sasuke was always so protective. Naruto didn’t blame him. If he knew  others were wetting his soulmate he would want to stake claim too. Maybe he should. He had no idea who hitted on her when he wasn't there. Many held out for their soulmate but there were some, more and more, who were in couples with people who weren't. Dredd pooled in his stomach, wondering about if here would be people checking his soulmate out today, since she would be ‘The New Girl’. Next to him Sakura smiled, that small thing that she only reserved for Sasuke, blush deep.

“I don’t mind. I like being his.”

Well of course she did. Naruto liked being his soulmates too, didn’t mean he went around marking her up so everyone could see it. Because he want and idiot. Even if the thought was tempting.

“You have math club today?” he asked, steering the conversation in a different direction. Sakura shook her head, pink hair dancing around her face as she did.

“Nope, boxing club. So I’ll probably be a little late to homeroom. Oh! That reminds me.  Kiba said he had a friend that recently moved here that starts today. Maybe we’ll see them then.”

“Oh really? I didn’t know Kiba had friends we didn’t know about.” Naruto said as they entered the classroom, sitting down in the back.

“Apparently they knew each other before Kiba moved here. When they were kids.”

Naruto nodded, opening his text book to stare down at the text. He really didn’t get any of it.

“Eeeh, Sakura? Any tips for the exam?”

“Idiot, did you not study again?”

Just as Sakura shut the book on his right hand, hard, another message appeared on his left ring finger.

Do your best fox

The test did actually go better than expected. He was pretty sure he had gotten most of his answers correctly, except perhaps the last ones for extra credit, which he didn’t really need to get an okay grade, which was what he was aiming for. As soon as they got out into the hall, he pulled the marker from his ear, pulling his wrist up and started to write. He was so preoccupied by gushing about how well the test had gone he didn't really look where he was going and just as he turned the corner he stumbled right into someone. The impact caused him to slip, hand scrambling to catch himself as he felt the tip of the marker catch skin. He sat down on his ass, hard. He looked up, meeting pale lilac eyes. This was a new girl. Naruto had never seen her before.

“Oh! Im so sorry I wasn’t -”

There was a line across her cheek, right under her eye, purple stark against her pale skin. Naruto laughed, reaching out to touch it.

“Sorry, seems I got you,” he said as his thumb caressed the soft skin. The white exchanged with pink underneath his touch, eye growing wide. Her hand came up too, hand cupping his cheek as her thumb mimic his movements.

“F-fox?”

Naruto’s breath hitched, eyes growing wide as he pulled her sleeves down, revealing one arm filled with orange, her orange, and one arm with purple, his purple. The conversation they had shared this morning about classes and her new school and his basketball practise. All there. He looked up, meeting her gaze, smiling big as he closed the last inches between them, lips slotting warm against each other. A warm tingling feeling of finally, finally.

She let out a startled yelp before relaxing into the kiss, sighing against his lips. Her hands came up to fist in his sweater as she drew him closer. It was not how he had envisioned their first kiss, sitting on the floor of a high school corridor, inkstained cheeks. It was perfect  all the same.

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Ayesha Liveblogs Naruto Shippuden S20 (Pt. 4)

Hashirama’s “:O” face at everything is so endearing

Hagoromo is now really the time for a family story there are three children and a sad old man in need

“It was a few thousand years ago” Zetsu just said it was 1,000 years ago how bad are you guys at telling time 

I wonder how Hashirama feels about Madara being his Soulmate™

“I want make sure [the Tailed Beasts] don’t fight amongst each other, and that people don’t use their powers for evil” better 2 have tried and failed I guess 

“That’s because a toad’s dream is destiny” weird flex but ok

“So then, will everything I do now be meaningless?” “Don’t waste your time worrying” Ffgkjhfgkjh damn I didn’t ask for a lecture on fatalism in my Naruto liveblog

Lmao @ this dude revealing his thievery scheme after talking to Hagoromo for 0.5 seconds what makes him think everyone will be on board with it 

“I only want you to go away as soon as possible” ah looks like Hagoromo made a friend lmao 

“If we make it too sturdy, you’ll break your bones when you try to destroy it” they actually did a really good job of making Hagoromo charming like consider me charmed I wanna hear abt ur ninja way

Hahahah I admire Futami for not bringing up the horns for the entire length of time it took them to build the bridge 

Futami: Hagoromo-sensei gave me a high-five one time and it touched my heart so I formed a cult around him

Wait if Hagoromo only gave 8 disciples chakra are the nine of them together responsible for fathering all the shinobi world what kind of Gengis Khan fuckery

Minus the Hyuga, who, for some reason are moon aliens, I guess

“Throughout this long history men appeared, one after another, with the desire to use the tailed beasts for their own evil purposes. And that turned the tailed beasts against mankind. Anyway, back to my story.” Hahahaha did Hagoromo just go “(A/N: Fuck Obito and Madara lol)”

Unbelievable you’re telling me there was someone who wanted to get with this old man with horns and three eyes who leads a cult and you won’t show me WHO where is the justice 

OH HEY FUTAMI HELPING RAISE THE KIDS I GUESS? WILD

Mmmm I love Ashura already 1000/10 endearing impulsive baby

Some filler storyboard artist who I respect beyond reason: But what if... we added.... a dog

“It might even be bigger than yours” please don’t tell me they fished Zetsu out of the river

"I didn’t realize you thought so deeply about [chakra being used as a weapon]” “Yeah, well” “But then again, what will be, will be” what kind of parenting is this Hagoromo kjhgkjhgkjhg

Indra, 10 years old: I am concerned about the ethical impact of my innovation

Hagoromo: YOLO, son ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

“I’ll be watching you” Is that the voice of......... Pubescent Zetsu 

LMAO IT IS

These kids are really emotionally unprepared for the boar considering they were following boar tracks into the woods 

ARE YOU SHITTING ME THEY EVEN USED THE SAME FILLER DOG NAME LMAO WHO IS WRITING THIS 

I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY KILLED THE DOG I’M SO MAD

Wow @ them having Indra invent chidori instead hkjhgkhg poor Kakashi

Indra awoke his sharingan over losing his dog I cannot believe this how are dogs the central plot device of multiple arcs

“Whatever is in this village belongs to everyone - that’s the law” wow along with fatalism this arc is also teaching us about the practical failings of communism 

“The law is still the law” where’s the post that says Sasuke is ethnically a cop. Because that’s this arc

Not 2 be that gal again but Indra’s voice is also nice on the ears he has inherited his grandmother’s kekkei genkai of having an attractive voice and a terrible moral compass

...............kekkei grandma 

“Looking into his eyes reminds me of my mother’s eyes” I was kind of joking about the kekkei grandma thing but fair

“At that moment I felt that I understood for the first time why heaven had blessed me with two sons” have you ever considered your eldest son is mean in part because you make comments like this 

“What will the two of you do when you are out in the world alone” wow Hagoromo is giving his kids some kind of High-Stakes Bell Test 

Hahaha I like Taizo I hope they don’t do anything to him but they probably will because he’s had so much screen time

HAHAHAHA I LOVE THIS SQUAD it’s the first ninja team and the boy is the healer!!!

Ashura: OH NO I’VE FORGOTTEN HOW TO GENJUTSU

Kanna and Taizo: WE GOT U BUDDY WE GOT BATS

I thought I was going bananas for a sec but the intro did change lol 

Poor Tenzo I think he’s been officially discarded from OPs RIP

Side note: Having a Naruto blog has made me so wary of Kakashi and Sakura standing next to each other I don’t trust the ppl on this website to be normal for a second RIP x2

“They’ll suffer, sure, but everyone dies eventually” okay calm down Taizo

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s possible or not, because I’ve decided to do it” I admire Ashura’s blind optimism lmao

Not to poke too many holes but why would the water in the well not be affected by the Divine Tree

I take my comment about healing back ludicrously all the men get to display chakra natures and the women can only display glowing yin chakra hands booooo

Omg there is a Tenzo after all in an ED at least!! This is the first time I’ve seen all three members of the Naruto’s Dad Association in one place!!! Bless up

A shot of them standing all together!!!! My heart!!!!!!!!

SASUKE AND NARUTO’S GRINS AT EACH OTHER I WEEEP

[Hagoromo as Kakashi voice]: TEAMWORK!!

I was very much expecting Indra to go crazy and kill those two guys but wow that was a scene

“Enough to make you fall in love with him and follow him all the way here” At least Ashura gets like a real wife instead of Hagoromo’s ‘ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ she dead’

Hagoromo: Indra’s a dick because his eyes are red trust me it has nothing to do with my parenting I’m a chakra scientist

“Indra, just what is the meaning of this” it’s a temper tantrum lmao

Was it really necessary to kill both of those guys Indra one best friend death usually suffices for mangekyo my dude

Minato joining Kakashi in the club of Boyz Who Jutsu Was Plagiarized

Hagoromo really has absolutely zero hesitation to attack his son and you wonder why Indra has a complex

“THIS IS THE POWER OF OUR BOOOOOND” he said, as he punched his brother in the face with a thousand wooden hands (mood)

Indra’s Lightning Teleportation Jutsu is really doing The Most the Raikage is not nearly this dramatic about it 

Can you... just.... declare that your soul will be reincarnated? Is that how that works? 

Also. Who slept with Indra?! U made him out to be like. Very Not Okay. But he’s the forefather of the Uchiha?? WHERE ARE THESE CHILDREN COMING FROM TELL ME WHO IS BANGING THIS OUT OF CONTROL FAMILY

Hahahahaha I’M SO READY FOR THIS RIDICULOUS TEAM 7 TRYING TO UNMASK KAKASHI EPISODE BRING IT THE FUCK ON

I knew the Sukea voice would be different but omg I’m still thrown

“S-kay-a” is really not how I thought that would be pronounced wow 

“If I’m able to capture this Kakashi guy without a mask on, it’ll be the biggest scoop since the Leaf was established” a little arrogant Kakashi but okay kjhgkjhgkjhgjhg

This is such an adorable and weird bonding exercise of Kakashi teaching his kids how to break into Konoha’s archives I’M WHEEZING

I would pay money to see Kakashi explain what he was doing to all those dudes in ANBU who probably thought he was intimidating as all fuck catching him a wig with three twelve-year-olds breaking into his own file

“Who cares what I look like anyway!” THIS IS SO DUMB I LOOOOVE IT

“I think that a woman might’ve drowned right over there on the river bank” HINATA!!!!! UR TOO NICE TO BE ENLISTED INTO THIS SCHEMING HAHAHA

Oh I remember seeing reference to this scene booooo do they really have to make it weird all the time

This concept is even MORE ridiculous in the show bc it expands beyond Team 7 to all the other Konoha rookies like Kakashi how much do u enjoy teasing the children that this is how you’re spending your day

HAHAHAH Kakashi is lucky that the person who knows him best has face blindness and can’t call him out for his schemes 

Okay not to betray my own brand but ᵏᵏᵍᵃᶦ ᶜᵘᵗᵉ

They really designed a nicer apartment for Kakashi just so they could animate his silhouette in the shower STUDIO PIERROT PLEASE

Fhkjhkjfhkjhkf that last scene made me so uncomfortable I don’t really like seeing Kakashi’s mouth while he talks it’s weird

You know I spent a lot of this interlude chanting main arc main arc in my head but alas now that we have arrived I’ve remembered that the war arc climax is a mess

“If my chakra runs out, I’m done” seriously Obito.......... how are you here

Can you imagine if Naruto actually died.... what would that even mean for this series I can’t imagine 

“I already marked this space, so I can hide out in my time-space” I want to know how Obito “marks a space” is it like a jutsu or does he just have to nod at it and go “my space now”

 I would also pay money to see what Obito and Sakura talked about when they had to hang out in Kamui for a solid two minutes lmao 

“So you’re friends with sensei huh?” “Yeah it’s complicated but I think we’re cool now” “Yeah, same with us and Sasuke” “Sorry about that” “I don’t forgive you but thanks”

“You alright?” define ‘alright’ but also Obito’s never been alright a day in his life, Sakura 

Uh oh foreshadowing to the heavy gravity space where Obito d*es

Okay maybe this is the part of me that is still clings to their Part I friendship but Sasuke helping Sakura stand really brings out my inner soft bitch

 “It would’ve been helpful if we could’ve received this advice a bit earlier” Tobirama’s bitter about sitting through five episodes of filler

Tobirama: Why haven’t u been helping this whole time

Hagoromo: It all comes down to Madara’s magic pelvis—

“This man lent me his power and that’s why we were able to get here” does Sakura not know Obito’s name either khgkjhgjkgh

How many times will we watch these same two flashbacks of Obito’s life

Looks like Kakashi brought a knife to a taijutsu fight LMAO

God Rin is such a good friend to Obito and he repays her by literally defacing her grave 

“Am I powerless to do anything but sit here and watch” it’s not really your fault you can’t fly Kakashi tho u could try throwing some kunai or smth ur not a one sharingan pony

Ddkjhsdkjhd why does Obito get a line worrying about Naruto’s death but Kakashi doesn’t he’s spent the past two days trying to kill Naruto

I’m still emo abt Kakashi trying to die for Sasuke that’s his soooon

“Rin... this time, let’s spend some alone time together, just you and me” Why phrase it like that, Obito

"Why save someone useless like me” Kakashi get some therapy

“A fool full of only mistakes” it’s hard to disagree with Zetsu when they’re flashing back to every mistake Obito has ever made

Where’s the graphics set where Obito goes ‘admittedly I lost my cool here’ because that’s what that flashback was 

Update: found it

“Don’t cry, Obito, you’ll just get laughed at” this fantasy is an indication that Obito has no real comprehension of how fucked up Kakashi was by Rin’s death

Can you believe that Rin still dies in Obito’s jonin AU like....what. It’s not even like “AU of what I want” it’s like “AU where I learn how to cope with trauma” 

Also was this just an out for not designing an adult Rin bc he’s been thinking about Rin endlessly for like three episodes straight so..... what up with that

It’s still so fucking funny that Iruka’s in Obito’s jonin fantasy like when did they meet did he just absorb secondhand Iruka appreciation from Naruto 

“But, if you screw up, I won’t hesitate to step up as a candidate for Hokage myself” yesssssssss let Kakashi be the playful menace he truly aspires to be

Gjghjkhgjhg Obito’s “euuuuuuuuehhhh” when the paperwork dropped was funny

Sasuke’s face when Sakura punched Naruto was also v funny 

Honestly to be real for a second Obito imagining himself as buddies with Team 7 makes me mad u’ve done nothing but make these kids’ life TERRIBLE until today babysitting license REVOKED!!!!!!

Am I a hypocrite for enjoying AUs ft. Obito? Mayhaps!!!

“You told me that saving you was pretty much the same as saving the whole world, remember?” (Well.)

“I’d say, you did your best” You know that post that said it makes sense that Rin said this bc she’s a Scorpio. I’m still upset about it

You know... Naruto’s “the coolest guy” (“nothing but awesome”) comment about Obito is a direct parallel to “Bravest man I ever knew” in HP and that’s why, if I were to meet either adult man, I would dropkick both of them. In this essay I will—

“It’s kind of annoying seeing [Kakashi] all stiff and useless” u right Obito

Kishimoto pick up the phone I just want to talk about that rabbit bijuu design 

“A Susano’o? But whose?” DAD’S HEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRE

Kakashi with Six Paths Power REALLY feeds into my theory that Kakashi is Hagoromo’s transmigrant 

THAT’S MY TEAM READY TO SAVE THE WORLD TOGETHER!!!!!

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 KAKASHI GETS HER VULNERABLE AND THEN THE BOYS ATTACK WHILE KAKASHI GUARDS THEIR BACKS AND SAKURA FORCES HER INTO PLACE THIS IS WHOLEASS TEAMWORK

“I really love you guys” YEAH HE DOES 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Okay arc over haha right guys we’re good now RIGHT GUYS??

In part, Kakashi jumping around to save his students feels very much reminiscent of Part I’s “MY SENSEI SENSES ARE TINGLING” swoop and scoop that he and Gai loved to do

Lmao @ Kaguya spitting Madara out like he’s a bad-tasting vegetable

Coming up with an OP specifically for VOTE2 is so extra but I kind of love it the Diver parallels!!!!

Sasuke is SUCH a liar abt his attitude towards Team 7 - more specifically towards Sakura and Kakashi bc he has already granted that he cares for Naruto

Sasuke: Comrades? I don’t know her

Also Sasuke: Constantly urging Sakura and Kakashi to get to safety and actively intervening when they’re not

“Honestly at this point I don’t think anything could shock me anymore” Sakura really needs a hug and a nap

“I shall be sure to ask Obito tell me that tale in the afterworld” the real question is if Obito will still look 12 when he takes Hagoromo on the harrowing journey that is his life

Kakashi truly has endless love in his stupid ass heart Obito’s like, “Hmmm... whoops sorry 4 committing mass murder” and Kakashi’s like “Hehe, we all mess up sometimes :) See u in heaven”

Madara and Hashirama really did invent being in gay love huh

WOW I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO TEAR UP BUT KJHFKJHFKJH MY BABY BOY SAYING GOODBYE TO HIS DAD HE IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SWEETHEART

“You’ve now finally settled things with Madara” Tobirama has been waiting for like a hundred years for his brother to get over his ex

Hagoromo: Naruto’s your new conference room congrats kids 

Mmmmm I don’t like aaaaannnnnny of this

“You’re suggesting that I enjoy a roooOoomance” why say it like that Sasuke

I genuinely think this is the maddest that Kakashi’s ever been at Sasuke that boy is very, very grounded

“I, too, had two children at one time” OMG KAKASHI OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED TEAM 7 DAD BY HAGOROMO (ur miscounting tho Kakashi actually has four (4) children)

“I think I shall let Naruto handle this” said Hagoromo, and everyone who encountered any problem in this series ever

I’m very distracted from Sasuke’s dictatorship speech by the fact he looks so much like an alien. What is UP with his eyes they never look like this???? Why are they so far apart and narrow and angled

“Your blood will be the last that I shed” what r u just gonna keep genjutsuing ppl Sasuke? Could just keep the Tsukuyomi on then, homie

It also plays into the Hagoromo and Kakashi are related (spiritually or literally) that Hagoromo is equally as useless with advice to him lmao

Kakashi: What should I be doing, sir?

Hagoromo: Sometimes I like to pray :) 

Fjkkjgkjhgkjhk Sasuke claiming that Naruto is his only bond never ceases to amaze me like Sakura and Kakashi are RIGHT THERE ghkjhgkjhgkj u have been protecting them this whole time while they shout how much they care abt u. Just admit u have a crush on Naruto and go!!!

“I know your heart well by now. And you mine” Sasuke u unintentionally romantic dumbass

“Finally decided to kill me, huh,” said a thrilled Sasuke, taking a lesson from the Kakashi School of Very Much Needing Ninja Therapy

This entire fight is the Life or Death equivalent of this tweet:

Lmao one of these boys lost a tooth I want to know which of them has a dental implant 

Omg............... Iruka what is going ON.... u are suddenly v pale and also I think ur VA might be different could they not get the same Iruka or has he just forgotten how Iruka sounds

It was real unclear until this fight that Sasuke had any of the same powers as Nagato

“Now I can finally be alone... farewell, my one and only... friend” again... Sasuke... u can be in love with Naruto and still have other friends!!!!!!! Ask Naruto he has tons of friends he’s not in love with*

*Disclaimer: they are all in love with him

The idea that everyone Naruto’s ever cared about is spiritually trying to help him kick Sasuke’s ass is p funny

“Sakura and Kakashi are still there, they’ll figure something out” cute that you have such an assload of faith in your loved ones in ur life-flashing-before-you moment Sasuke but with what jutsu lmao

“I began to see a shadow of my own family in Squad 7″ YEAH HE DID  😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I still can’t believe that Kishimoto really wrote that all it took for Sasuke to return to Konoha was Naruto explaining to him how love and empathy work 

Omg Sasuke laughing...... I missed your laugh you precious boy

“Release the infinite Tsukuyomi once I’m dead by transplanting my left eye into Kakashi or someone else” Fhjfhkfh it detracts a little from the significance of Sasuke offering his eye to Kakashi to add the “someone else” but I guess they gotta make the syllables match up

Why is every Uchiha’s long-term plan just to die before they have to deal with the consequences of their actions

“I’m sorry” “Sorry? For what” “For everything” “You got that right” Sasuke I think u need to treat all of ur teammates to ramen 

“It’s finally back to the way it was” Kakashi loooves his baaabies 

TENZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

Omg they included Guren from the filler arc in this crowd hahahaha

Gaara and Naruto enveloped in that same beam of light like Kakashi and Tenzo in the Tsukuyomi kghjghkgh SP said gentle gay rights

“I’m forbidden to talk about it” Team 7 would RIOT if Sasuke was locked up in a cell like that fuck you

Hahahaha I wish I could see the scene where Kakashi and Iruka decided to ambush Naruto with study materials 

Okay this is definitely a different Iruka ahhhhh weird I don’t like it

Iruka bursting into tears whenever Naruto talks about his progress.... same

I 100% believe that the vast majority of the reason Kakashi became Hokage was to pardon Sasuke but also that prison scene still seems appalling to me STOP MAKING THINGS WORSE THAN THEY WERE SHOWN TO BE

"Maybe next time” is super funny in the context that he does take her on his next mission outside the village and comes back with one (1) whole baby

Sasuke’s introspection usually seems to amount to “Birth is a curse and existence is a prison... oh hey Naruto <3″ 

The moral of the story seems to be that the best way to show someone you love them in ninja language is by telling them you want to keep punching them for the rest of your life

[darquedeath4444]

Ripples

NARUTO

Pairing: Sasuke x Sakura

Summary:

Hozuki Sakura holds an ability that is rare even within her clan. Captured by Orochimaru alongside her brother, Suigetsu, they are freed when Uchiha Sasuke comes along looking to recruit a team to go after his brother, Uchiha Itachi. Alongside Karin and Jugo, they form Team Hebi under the Uchiha. However, this may soon become a relationship with more to it than just give and take.

Prologue

Uchiha Sasuke hacked through the glass container almost as easily as if he were looking through a genjutsu with his Sharingan. Water flooded out of the human test tube and he watched as the puddle began to ripple, shifting into a humanoid shape.

Before his eyes, the water began to ripple, then slowly brought itself together to form a humanoid shape. "Finally...it feels like it's been forever."

"You're the first, Suigetsu," Sasuke said, unfazed. "Come with me."

The other teen raised an eyebrow. "First? Then there are others?" He slowly stretched his limbs. 

"Two," Sasuke replied. "Jugo from the Northern hideout, then Karin from the Southern hideout."

"Really?"

"What?"

"Nothing, to be honest. I just don't like them."

Sasuke looked down dismissively at Hozuki Suigetsu. "You don't have to get along. Just work together."

"Of course. You did save me. If you tell me to work with them, I don't mind." Suigetsu smirked. "You're crazy for choosing them,” he added.

"Shut up," the Uchiha snapped. "Hurry up. We're going."

"Such superiority," Suigetsu chuckled.

Sasuke blinked, and the Hozuki was behind him, a finger pressed to his head.

"Let's just make our relationship clear," the Hozuki said. "Just because you defeated Orochimaru doesn't make you superior to me. We were all after him. Someone would have gotten him sooner or later. You were a favorite, so you weren't locked up and you had a better chance than us."

Sasuke held still. "So?"

"In this situation, I've got the upper hand." Suigetsu pointedly pressed his finger harder into Sasuke's head. Then he huffed, withdrawing his hand. "Just kidding."

Sasuke shot him an annoyed look but allowed him to explain himself.

Suigestu raised his hands in mock defeat. "Even in this situation, not a single irregular heartbeat. I've heard rumors about you, Uchiha Sasuke. You're team defeated Momochi Zabuza, right?"

Sasuke didn't reply but Suigetsu took this as a yes anyway. "I'll go with you," the former Kiri-nin said. "But I have a few things I want to ask of you."

Suigetsu yanked out the Kubikirobocho, smiling. "Heavy." He swung it. "So this is the Bloody Mist Demon Momochi Zabuza's Kubikiribocho."

"Can you use that with your strength?" Sasuke asked.

"The Swords of the 'Seven Swordsmen of the Mist' was passed down from generation to generation. I've always admired them and they were the reason I trained. As long I have this sword, I might not lose even to you." He stabbed it into the ground. "Besides, if we're going to include Jugo, it might be helpful to have this thing around."

Sasuke scoffed dismissively and turned back towards the path. Behind him, Suigetsu rolled his shoulders. "Well then. Let's get going, Sasuke."

Suigetsu eyed the redhead female standing there like she owned the place.

He reeeeally didn't like her...And her voice.

Sasuke did not notice or, more like, did not care, about what Suigetsu thought. "Suigetsu, go free everyone being detained."

He huffed. "Huh. Still talking like you're above." He slowly got to his feet.

Karin’s eyes flashed at this. "Don't you dare!" She snapped.

Suigetsu eyed the girl, then his male companion, and decided that the Uchiha was much more bothersome to deal with. He could feel Sasuke watching to make sure his order was being followed before he turned back to Karin. "There is no longer a need for a guard. What are you going to do?"

Suigetsu stood up and stalked out of the room.

When he came back to a closed door, Suigetsu sighed. Uchiha Sasuke may have been a genius, but he was emotionally dense. After waiting a few more seconds, he slashed right through the door.

Karin shot him a murderous glare as he entered, and he easily ignored it. "Let's go, Sasuke. Karin doesn't seem like she's going."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "She said she'll come with us."

"Wh-who said I'll go?" Karin stuttered. "I'm just...just...heading in the same direction!"

"Oh, that's convenient." Suigetsu smirked. "Let's go partway together, then."

"Just partway," Karin repeated.

Suigetsu rolled his eyes and turned back to Sasuke. "Now it's Jugo, right?" 

"Jugo? You're going to include him?" Karin asked.

"You're only coming with us halfway, right? Then it shouldn't concern you."

"N-no, it doesn't concern me."

Suigetsu snickered.

Karin let out a threatening growl. "Are you picking a fight?"

The three of them made their way out of the now empty hideout. "Jugo is being kept in the Northern hideout," Suigetsu muttered, more to himself than to anyone else, but his companions heard him anyways.

Karin turned to him, annoyed. "You have a problem with that?"

Suigetsu scoffed at the thought. "Nah."

Sasuke shot him a look and Suigetsu responded with a smirk. "It's convenient, that's all," he said.

"There was a prison break."

Suigetsu looked up at the familiar voice. "You okay being out here?"

"All the guards were killed. Without anyone to constantly power the seals, all that's holding me in is the seal itself." There was a pause. "Everyone's going wild. It's dangerous to approach now."

Suigetsu eyed Sasuke and Karin, who were once again waiting for him to recover. He took another gulp of water. "We're heading over to collect Jugo," he muttered under his breath so that neither would hear him. "Any info on him?"

"Jugo? He's also going wild."

"I guess that means he's dangerous to approach?"

"Yeah."

Suigetsu groaned. "Well, I guess it's worth it. You're there too, right? At the Northern hideout."

"You're coming?"

"Course."

"Suigetsu?" The Hozuki blinked up at Sasuke, who was looking down at him. He must have been very distracted, for he didn't even notice the Uchiha approach him.

"Eh, my bad." Suigetsu got to his feet, noting with relief that Sasuke didn't seem to notice anything. "Sorry, let's go."

He carefully glanced over his shoulder to the small body of water he had been resting by, just in time to see a figure made purely of water wave a goodbye before it soundlessly collapsed, causing ripples.

Sasuke had known the Northern hideout was where he would meet the most resistance, simply because the experiments kept there had mostly lost their minds. Jugo was easy to spot, for all they had to do was follow the trail f broken furniture and occasional bodies left behind. The orange haired teen flew at them the moment they approached. 

Suigetsu eagerly stepped forward and the blade of the Kubikiribocho blocked Jugo's attack. The orange head narrowed his eyes.

"You didn't use that kind of power last time," the Hozuki muttered. "So hard too."

Sasuke watched the two fight it out before he finally decided that he had had enough. "Suigetsu, stop. We aren't here to fight. I'll talk to him."

Suigetsu felt a flash of irritation as the Uchiha attempted to cut in. "He isn't someone who'll listen to you. You'll have to take him by force,” he told him. 

Jugo's eyes flashed with recognition. "You're Suigetsu! I remember now!" His arm began to grow bigger and Suigetsu felt the killing intent flare. The two of them exchanged several more blows before something screamed within Suigetsu's head, a split second before he found himself restrained by a snake.

Sasuke had straightened and while his posture was relaxed, something rang warning bells in his head. "You two...Do you want me to kill you?"

A surge of killing intent, more intense than anything he had ever felt in a long time, hit him hard. Suigetsu stiffened even further, eyes wide. Why couldn't he stop his trembling?

Then, before he knew what was happening, Jugo screamed. He tore through the snakes and he ran off into a room, slamming the door behind him. Suigetsu stepped away from the snakes as they loosened. Shaking off his discomfort, he gestured curiously towards where he had vanished.

"Hurry up and lock the door!" Jugo's voice came from within.

"I came to get you out of here, Jugo," Sasuke said. "Come with me."

"He's scared," Suigetsu guessed,

"No, that's not it," Karin said.

"I don't want to kill any more people. I don't want to go outside. Just leave me alone!"

"What?" Suigetsu frowned. "Split personality..."

"Jugo is driven by an intent to kill, and he can't stop it," Karin told them. "He can't stop himself, but he really doesn't want to kill."

They heard Jugo release a shuddering breath. "If Kimimaro isn't here, I'm not going out."

Suigetsu recognized the name."Kimimaro...the Kaguya." Even he had heard of him.

"Kimimaro was strong," Karin explained. "He was probably the only person who could keep him controlled."

Suigetsu wracked his mind. "But isn't that guy..." dead?

"Jugo," Sasuke spoke up. "Kimimaro is no longer alive. He died for me."

There was a moment of silence. "He...died for you? Then...are you..." There was a shift from within. "Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Ah."

The door slowly opened. Jugo stood at the doorway, looking warily at the Uchiha.

The orange head did not require much more convincing for him to join them and they gathered outside the hideout a while later. Sasuke stood before the other three, a faraway look in his eyes. "My motive is to kill Uchiha Itachi of the Akatsuki. In order to do that, I want to borrow your strength."

"Thought it was something along those lines," Suigetsu muttered, but he did not say anymore. He had a brother, Mangetsu, but the older was already dead. All in all, him and his siblings had gotten along so he could not say he understood the Uchiha’s feelings.

Sasuke turned to the redhead. "However, Karin. You said you already had other plans. What are you going to do?"

Karin blushed. "Uh...yeah! I was thinking and I've decided that it's not something I have to rush."

"Be honest, Karin." Suigetsu bared his teeth. "Don't you just want to be by Sasuke's side?"

"W-why would you say such things?" Karin demanded.

"Bullseye! See? You're stuttering." He smirked. "Besides, I know something. In the past, you and Sasuke-" Before he could finish, Karin punched him in the face.

"Suigetsu, stop agitating her. I believe I've already told you that you have to work together?" Sasuke's face was blank.

"Kay~ My bad, Karin." Suigetsu smirked, knowing Karin could tell he was not sorry in the least. "Anyway, I guess I'll stick around," he said. "Itachi's partner is a former member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. It's a part of my goal to take his sword Samehada."

"Someone's compensating by collection swords."

Suigetsu gritted his teeth. He turned away, fixing Sasuke with a serious look. "Besides, I know I've told you, but I need your help in getting someone out."

Sasuke nodded briskly. "I haven't forgotten," he said, then turned to the last person. "Jugo, now that you're out, what are you going to do?" Suigetsu turned to the orange haired teen.

"Kimimaro said that you will be the revival of his existence. He sacrificed himself to protect you." He looked at Sasuke. "I want to see how strong of a shinobi you really are."

Sasuke nodded. "Then it's decided," he said. "Now, Suigetsu. You still have business here, don't you." 

"Yeah. Like I've said, I'm probably going to need your help with this." Suigetsu then turned and began wandering back into the corridors of the Northern Base. Sasuke followed, Karin and Jugo trailing behind.

"We're recruiting another one from here?" Karin asked.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I've only agreed to set this person free. Whether they will join us depends on their abilities."

Sasuke looked curiously around the corridor as Suigetsu led them through. The air was damp and heavy and Karin kept complaining about it. Jugo was quietly following.

Suigetsu broke away from the main corridor, leading the way through a much narrower, less well-lit corridor. The air became even heavier.

"How do you know of this place, Suigetsu?" Sasuke asked. He was annoyed to have found out that not even he knew of this structure.

"Uh...a little bird told me." Suigetsu sighed. "Okay, this definitely looks like it."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "A-"

"It's not my fault! I've never been here." Suigetsu sounded like he was talking to someone else entirely.

Jugo suddenly tensed.

"What?" Sasuke turned to him.

"There's someone here."

"What? No. The only ones here are us and...the chakra signature coming from straight ahead," Karin said.

"There is someone here," Jugo insisted. "I can sense it." He paused. "I've sensed this feeling before."

Suigetsu blinked. "Wait, you can feel it?"

Jugo nodded warily and Sasuke fixed his gaze on the Hozuki.

"Eh, you'll see." Suigetsu turned around dismissively. They kept walking until the white-haired teen came to a stop and Sasuke realized that they were now standing in front of a huge metal door. Seals were placed all over it and he noticed them to be lightning based that electrocuted anyone that stepped through the door if the seals weren't deactivated properly.

Suigetsu pointed at the seals. "I'm sure someone like you can easily break through something like this."

Wordlessly, Sasuke destroyed them with his lightning chakra. The Hozuki hummed, then shoved the door open.

The air became even damper.

A stream ran from the left wall to the right wall, the water vanishing through a hole in said walls. The openings were blocked by metal bars, which also held the electric barrier seal.

There were bodies of water everywhere, looking like the leftover puddles of a rainstorm.

At the far end of the room, Sasuke could make out a tank similar to the one Suigetsu had been in. This tank was also covered in electricity seals. The former Kiri-nin mockingly stepped aside and he easily cut through the seals, along with the glass. Water gushed out, puddling at their feet.

Similar to Suigetsu's situation, a figure began to form in the puddle. In a few seconds, a pink haired girl around Sasuke's age sat in the water. The girl slowly got to her feet and the movement caused the girl's hair to shift. Sasuke caught sight of striking green eyes. The girl looked at Sasuke curiously.

"Uchiha Sasuke," she murmured. She didn't even wait for a confirmation and instead, she turned to Suigetsu. "You're late."

Suigetsu crossed his arms. "Take pity on me. I was stuck with her-" he jammed a finger in Karin's direction. "-And I had to travel through the killing heat." He tossed her something from his pouch and the girl threw the black cloak over herself. She slowly got to her feet, stretching each limb. Suigetsu moved to her side, gripping her arm. "Okay. Guys, this here is Sakura." The girl, Sakura, smiled. "Kura, you probably already know, but-"

"Jugo and Karin," the girl chirped. The two mentioned narrowed their eyes in turn. Confusion swam in their gazes, and Sasuke guessed they had never met her before too.

Suigetsu nodded. "I'm going to be traveling with these guys." He shot Sasuke a look, shrugged, then turned back to Sakura. "Sasuke here is hunting down his brother."

Sakura's eyes brightened at the word 'hunt'. "I'm good at hunting."

Suigetsu smirked and nodded. "So, Sasuke, can she tag along?"

Sasuke's face gave nothing away. "I cannot simply allow someone to join us because they are 'good at hunting',” he said.

"But she really is," Suigetsu insisted. "All she needs is a body of water. Orochimaru used her as a spy when he was desperate enough."

"Yet, she was locked up. If she was sent out as a spy, she could have simply escaped."

Suigetsu's smirk widened. "She's good because she can spy on anyone from anywhere."

Sasuke leaned forward. "Explain." He knew there were things Orochimaru kept from him. Perhaps this was one of them.

"Though it works once at a time, Sakura can use any body of water as a 'medium'. As long as what she is looking for is also close to a body of water, she can spy on them." He nodded at Sakura, who placed both feet firmly in the puddle on the ground. She made a hand sigh and closed her eyes.

A second later, Sasuke felt something brush the back of his neck. He turned around to come face to face with a Sakura made purely of water. The water Sakura waved her fingers at him. "Boo!"

He noticed Karin and Jugo watching him curiously, and it took him a second to realize that they couldn't see the water version of her.

Sasuke turned back to Sakura. "Hn. How does it work?"

"I'm simply matching the vibrations in the water to something only you can see," Sakura explained. The water version of her vanished. "It's the same for my voice. What you are seeing and hearing is made up purely of the small vibrations and the movement of the water."

Sasuke thought through this. Karin's sensory abilities would be useful as a whole, but it wouldn't hurt to have someone who could keep an eye on Itachi from a distance.

He crossed his and everyone present looked at him curiously. "From now, we will call ourselves 'Hebi'." Sakura's eyes brightened when she realized what this meant.

Sasuke turned around briskly. "We'll continue this elsewhere. The air here is...suffocating." He turned, expecting them to follow, and they did. Sakura took a few shaky steps and stumbled. Suigetsu grabbed her arm again, helping her regain her balance.

"Stupid Kabuto," she muttered. "Stupid four eyes electrocuted me a few days ago when he came to ask me if there were any changes in our usual targets and I told him that Uchiha Sasuke betrayed Oto to eloped with an Uzumaki Naruto." 

Sasuke froze and Sakura let out a soft laugh. "I was lying, of course."

Suigetsu snorted, seeming amused. "I doubt that's the only reason," he said. "When was the last time you walked on your real two feet?"

"Years," she replied easily.

"And how do you know of Naruto?" Sasuke asked, slowing in his steps. He just about managed to stop his eyebrow from twitching.

"I usually can't see outside the room we were in before cause of the seals, which was powered by the shinobi on watch to make sure they’re extra effective. But sometimes, some of them slack off and I use those times to...explore, I guess. Though I can't go out in my real body I could, technically, walk around in my water form so I've been nearly everywhere!"

"Hn." Sasuke turned back to face the front, trying to ignore the cheerful chatter coming from behind him.

"Anything else?" Suigetsu asked excitedly. "Dirt or something I can use against someone?"

Sakura shoved the white-haired teen away playfully. "You're gonna have to earn it, Sui-nii."

Everyone stopped walking.

"Sui...nii?" Karin asked.

Sakura nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "This Hozuki Suigetsu is my brother."

Chapter ONE>

Chapter List

[nessaiscute]

look who missed you

“What? I can’t come?” I gasped.

I was sitting on my bed when as Meghan was telling me this. She was putting on her dress, and I was just about to grab my sword and getting ready to spare with Glitch. I can’t believe this, what is this even about? How come I can’t come? What if something happens to her? I don’t trust Mab as far as I can throw her, and don’t even get me started on Titania. All the stuff shes done to my queen, if a hair on her hair isn’t in the same place it was when she gets back....

“Ash, its just queens meeting. No guards are allowed. Even knights.” Meghan explained.

“How do you know this isn’t a trap?”

“Ash my knight, please relax. I can handle myself. We’re just going for drinks and talking bout politics, besides you hate these social gatherings.”

“If you say so.”  I stated, I didn’t know what else to say.

Meghan then walked up to me, i stood up and she wrapped her arms around my neck. I found myself memorized by her scent. The softness of her arms.

“Ash, I won’t be gone long.”

“I-I know that. I... just don’t trust the other queens.”

Meghan then smirked, “You sure you just don’t want  to go a day without your queen?”

My heart skipped a beat, “N-No. What are you even talking about? I love you Meghan but I’m not clingy. I... I’ll spare with Glitch the whole time and this will just give me time to torment the guards. I’ll have a blast.”

Meghan then kissed my lips quickly, ugh i hate it when she kisses me like that. so short, having my body begging for more. that sweet sensation taking over for just a brief second and the joy leaving just as quickly.

“Don’t miss me too much okay? I love you.”

“As if.” I smirked and she left, i watched from the balcony as the carriage took her to wherever they were meeting.

So now the golden question is: Now what do I do?

At first i decided to go to the Library, reading has always been my favorite thing to do when Meghan is doing duties. I found my fave book and started reading it.

Why is the library always vacant? This is a great place to be, The winter court library was always filled with fey looking stuff up. I guess these people are use to their tech. Hm, I wonder if they keep that Naruto manga Meghan loves so much.

Meghan.....

Oh no, i wasn’t doing this. I’m the great Ash, the ice prince. I’m not some clingy boyfriend who can’t leave his mate alone for five minutes without needing attention. I went to the end of the world for her, i can handle this. This is easy, just get back to your reading Ash.

However that was becoming harder and harder, I could barely focus on the pages in front of me. My mind wondered off to the taste of Meghan’s lips and the softness of her arms, and the passion in her eyes. I was missing her scent, her sweet voice. i miss running my fingers though her hair or caressing her face.

I put the book down, I suddenly felt like not wanting to do anything; giving up on that endeavor I went back into my chambers.

I don’t know what do with myself right now, I look around mine and Meghan’s room. its filled with pictures or me and her since I found a way into the realm of iron. My life has been so fun since then, I don’t even recall a time where i wasn’t human. Sometimes it feels like Rowen and Mab were just a bad dream.

And thats exactly how it should  be.

All these pictures fill me with joy, I look at my face in all of them. I’m smiling and just enjoying myself. My eyes are full of life, Meghan also looks as happy as can be. The grin on my face is apparent is a good thing no one else is here or they would laugh at me. I don’t care, I’m happy now. I’m going grin like an idiot and i dare someone to try and stop me.

Meghan.... I love you....

Thinking of Meghan’s name right now made me happy but also popped my balloon of joy. Suddenly I missed Meghan’s touch and and her smell. I missed her presence. I wanted to hear her voice. Suddenly, I found Meghan’s scarf and coat. on their rack nestled high on the wall. I pulled them off wrapped the scarf around my neck and put the coat on my torso. The coat was small but I didn’t care. The scent of pumpkins went though my body, I sat on the floor and let that scent over take me. In my head i imagined te coat was Meghan’s arms holding me, I also did my best to imagine her voice in my ear. 

Ash, I love you so much.

I love you too Meghan.

Ash, you’re the best thing thats ever happened to me.

That’s my line.

I know you’ll save me whenever I’m in trouble.

Only with my very life

“Hey Ash! Where are you? Why aren’t you training with-”

When Glitch saw me on the floor, cuddling up to Meghan’s clothing like some kind of high school boy, he just stared. He looked puzzled, his face was blue. probably thought he was in some kind of dream.

Finally he collected himself, bowed and said, “I apologize Ash, you are clearly very busy with your duties. Excuse me.“ and left.

Yes thats right Glitch, just walk away and no one has to get hurt.

Glitch snapping me back to reality made me drained, I wanted to go back to my fantasy. I picked up the remote and turned on the tv and cuddled up in bed, I kept the TV very low, i didn’t even use the blanket. Meghan’s coat and scarf was all I needed. Quickly I dozed off, my mind filled with thoughts of my lovely queen.

Meghan.... please come home soon,

Meghan’s POV

Ugh that was terrible.

I stormed into the throne room; Glitch greeted me, I sat on my throne, i know he would have something for me to do. I needed it, that stuck up.... wench.

“That bad huh?” Glitch asked

I guess he could sense my glamor, “Oh, I just love being mocked in almost every way possible. Also, it seemed like I was the only one there not allowed to bring a guy. Oberon and Mab’s new boyfriend seemed to be there and-”

“Im sorry my queen.” Glitch inquired, “Mab has a boyfriend?”

“I know right? I didn’t think anyone would want to date that crazy witch but there he was. They made out in front of me, i thought I was going to barf! We didn’t even talk about anything. Titania and Mab just wanted to harass me.”

Glitch then grinned “Well, why don’t you head upstairs into your room? You should go see who missed you.”

That remark confused me, There is no way Ash turned into some young love sick fool. right? Ash is strong. He can handle blades and magic, I’m sure he can handle me being gone for a few hours. I went into my room, and when I opened the door and my heart melted at what I saw. Ash cuddled up  sleeping, wrapped in my clothes. He looks so happy there, he missed me. He thought of me the whole time. I softly removed the clothing put them up, and then nestled myself in his arms. He instinctfully wrapped his arms around me.

“M-Meghan..... Is this a dream?”

“Nope, I’m home Ash. I thought you were a strong prince.”

“Turns out without you I’m not as strong as I thought I was.” Ash mumbled, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too. It was hell.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well.... you have a new father in law.”

Ash immediately perked, “What?

“Your mom has a boyfriend now. They can’t stop making out. They’ll most likely  get married within the week.”

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish I was my love. They even made out in front of me. I lost my lunch.”

Ash’s face looked sick imagining his mom making out with someone.

“L-Lets talk about something else.” Ash stated.

Ash then kissed my neck, “I love you so much. I’m happy you’re home.”

“I never want to leave again.” I replied.

We didn’t say anything else, there was no need to say anything more. I stayed in Ash’s arms all night. He kissed my neck every now and then. I felt his breathe and smelled his scent.

Ash, you’re the best.

[pain-somnia]

A Gift From The Universe [6/?]

Day’s Note: hello everyone. I usually hate to make these long notes at the top of a chapter but I have to get this off of my chest right before I start this update.

I don’t want anyone reading this story if they have a problem with ShiItaIzu. Exit now if you do. Don’t read my work.

I know there has to be some people that probably read my fics and just ignore them despite the fact that you would be missing out on a huge chunk of the story by doing so and that’s cool. But it’s rude—so rude—to leave a review telling me you find them creepy and that you’ll just skip them. The comment isn’t necessary if you’re trying to tell someone that you like their story. I even said in my notes that I don’t want to hear any negative and bigoted comments about them.

Actual criticism of my writing is expected. I’m not going to please everyone. But telling me that a relationship creeps you out isn’t going to make me stop writing about them. So just stop reading. I wish FF didn’t have that 4 character limit for the tags. This is a ShiItaIzu story just as much as it is a SasuSaku and InoSai story.

For everyone else: sorry to put this block of text on top of this update. Enjoy some more ShiItaIzu on the side of your SasuSaku.

Also this update is dedicated to @gyuppii, Irene, @stelduggery, and @xxxsasusakuxxx, for always indulging me when I go headcanon crazy

FF.NET

first chapter * previous chapter

Chapter Six: Back-Talk

Inuzuka Hana slid into the available seat next to Izumi. The other brunette tutted at her and tapped a finger on her wrist.

“Sorry. My idiot brother ate chocolate again and I had to wait for his medication to start working.” Hana had a way of sounding affectionate while still being annoyed with Kiba.

“When is that kid ever going to remember that he’s allergic to it?” Shisui’s voice came out sounding thick as he had just stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth. He had gone ahead and started cooking the meat while they waited for Hana to arrive.

“Hopefully before the next false alarm.” Itachi served the girls some of the more choice grilled meat slices before taking any pieces for himself.

“There was another false alarm?” Hana’s jaw dropped.

“We didn’t head home until the sun was already up,” Izumi let out a large yawn.

Hana patted her shoulder sympathetically. She had been friends with the Uchiha trio long enough to know about how the entire clan would stand vigil whenever their ancient former clan head seemed as though he were about to finally pass away.

The wizened old man was practically senile at this point but it was as if he refused to die.

“Obito-nii was freaking out because he thought Madara had finally croaked but the old man just turned over and asked him for his breakfast and then got up and walked around complaining about how useless his caretaker is.”

Shisui paused in his explanation to stuff more meat into his mouth.

“He called Sasuke Izuna again. I never get tired of that. The little guy just sighs now and peels his tangerines. Doesn’t even grumble about it not being his name anymore.”

“Speaking of Sasuke,” Hana rolled her eyes and let out a breathy laugh, “I heard he’s going to be named rookie of the year.”

“Let me guess,” Izumi examined her nails to try and hide the smug grin creeping onto her face, “Kiba has been complaining about our little guy?”

“Wow, how did you know?” Hana asked sarcastically. She let out a sigh and pouted. “I swear Kiba has ADHD. He could have been rookie of the year if he applied himself.”

Shisui snorted which earned him a glare from Hana. Itachi tried to frown at him but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. Izumi just gave Hana’s shoulder a comforting pat.

“Sasuke is a dork but I wouldn’t have expected anyone else to take that spot.” Shisui leaned back and patted his stomach. “I am stuffed.”

“You ate two thirds of the meat on your own,” Itachi noted. “And all of the pickled daikon.”

“Ita-kun had to fill up on rice because of you,” Izumi scolded Shisui.

“Well maybe you should just cook us up something later. I know Hazuki-san has been teaching you how to cook.”

“That would be nice,” Itachi agreed.

“Come on guys,” Izumi protested, “I’m still terrible at it.”

“I’m sure you’re not that bad. You do everything well.”

“And you probably look super cute in an apron too,” Shisui added with a wink. “Give Itachi a run for his money.”

“Will you three please stop flirting in front of the single mess over here,” Hana feigned a glum tone as she joked.

As she was Izumi’s best friend she was trusted with the status of their relationship. She would have had to have been blind not to notice. Hana always teased Izumi about how she smelled of both boys after any of them came back from a long mission. Izumi’s face would flush red and she would stammer as Hana barked out a laugh at her embarrassment.

“Awww!” Izumi wrapped her arms around Hana and brought her into a tight embrace. “You’ll always be my favorite.”

“Hey!” Shisui turned to Itachi for backup but was ignored by him in favor of drinking his tea.

The girls laughed at him and Izumi slid the bill across to him.

“You did eat the most.”

“Now that’s just mean Izumi.” Hana shook her head and pulled out her wallet. “I’ll pitch in too Shisui.”

“You know what, you’re my favorite too.”

“Hey!”

. .

Ino was digging through Sakura’s bag for a hair brush when she found a neat little carton of the best fruit in the world.

“Yum! My favorite,” Ino chirped pulling out the box of cherry tomatoes. “The perfect snack for break time.”

“Those aren’t for you Ino!” Sakura snatched the box out of her hands.

“If not for me than who?” Ino snatched the box back.

Ino watched as Sakura’s face practically glowed red. Flustered, Sakura averted her gaze and muttered something under her breath. Ino heard her but decided to tease her by pretending she hadn’t.

“Come again?”

“...ke-kun.”

“I’m sorry I still can’t hear a thing you’re saying.”

“Sasuke-kun, okay?” Sakura snatched the carton of tomatoes back. “He got rookie of the year and I wanted to give him something and he doesn’t like sweets.”

“What about my gift? I got top scores too!” Ino pouted and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

“But did you get rookie of the year?”

“No,” Ino said glumly, still pouting. Sakura wanted to roll her eyes. Ino was taking this so seriously.

“Fine,” Sakura sighed. “I’ll make you some pudding later.”

“Yay!” Ino threw her arms around her neck. “Now come here so I can get those tangles out of your hair.”

Ino reached back into Sakura’s bag. As she grabbed the brush her hand brushed against a jar. Curious, Ino pulled it out of the bag as well.

“I also made a salve...for burns,” Sakura mumbled. “I use it for burns I get when I work in the shop. I thought I might, I don’t know, give him some?”

Ino stifled a groan. This was what always made her so frustrated with Sakura! She was doing so well with breaking out of her shell but then there were these little clouds of self-doubt and Sakura would draw back into herself.

“Give it to me then.”

“What?”

“Well, I technically helped make the salve. I knew where all of the ingredients you needed could be found.” Ino shrugged. “I could give it to Sasuke-kun. It’s not like he’s any less cute now that I’ve met Sai-kun.”

Sakura’s jade eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open. Her right eye was twitching and it was obvious that Sakura wanted to say something but she was holding back. It was a hilarious sight but laughing would ruin Ino’s little game.

“Don’t you think giving such a practical gift would show Sasuke-kun such a mature side of me?” Ino shook her head slightly to shake out her long ponytail in a flirtatious manner. “Like I’m sure he already knows how gorgeous I am but what a way to remind him of how smart and considerate I am, right?”

“Or pig-headed.”

It was Ino’s turn for her jaw to drop.

Sakura’s pale pink brows were drawn forward in a glare, her round cheeks puffed out and flushed red. It was the angriest look Sakura had ever sent at Ino.

“Pig-headed?”

“Stubbornly draping yourself all over him all of the time and squealing like a little pig despite his obvious discomfort,” Sakura huffed. She puffed her chest out, hands on her hips. “Really attractive Ino, really. Just so appealing.”

Ino scoffed, absolutely insulted. She wanted Sakura to be more honest but not that much.

“I at least do something.” Ino jabbed Sakura’s forehead with her pointer finger. “The brain behind this giant forehead is only good for books but not for real life apparently.”

Sakura sucked air in and puffed her cheeks out more, face turning an even darker shade of red. She snatched the jar out of Ino’s hand and stormed off mumbling under her breath something that sounded like “I’ll show that pig doing something.”

“Finally,” Ino exhaled feeling exhausted. Grabbing her bag she headed into the Academy building.

I can’t believe she called me a pig!

. .

Exhausted as he was, the graduation test was a breeze.

Sasuke packed up his hitai-ate into his pack and stifled a yawn. He was ready to head home and have a cat nap out on the engawa with Shiro and all of the cats.

Naruto had originally wanted to drag him along to celebrate graduation. Sasuke was almost willing to go along with the hyperactive kid. There was a part of him that was relieved that his friend had shaped up enough in the end to graduate, but there was another part of him that wanted to go home and rest.

And there was a bigger part of him that wanted to rush home and show off his new hitai-ate to his family.

He didn’t graduate early like his brother or Izumi. No one graduated early anymore but there was always hope to be the exception just to prove that he could be just as great as Itachi. But he was the top of his class and now officially the youngest shinobi in the Uchiha clan. A shinobi like his loved ones. He finally had the forehead protector that put him one step closer to his older brother’s level.

So he was a little proud of himself.

All he had to do know was get home without being stopped by anymore people trying to congratulate him.

Almost as soon as he thought he was in the clear and was heading down the road that lead to the far side of the village to the Uchiha district someone called out to him.

He would have ignored it and pretended he hadn’t heard of it weren’t for the fact that the voice sounded familiar. A good kind of familiar.

“Sasuke-kun!”

All day it seemed as if Sakura had something she wanted to say to him but couldn’t get the words out. It was such a contradiction to the usual chatter that flowed out of her.

Sasuke slowed to a complete stop to allow her to catch up. He was avoiding everyone but it didn’t seem right to ignore Sakura.

There was also a part of him that was kind of hoping maybe Sakura had come to congratulate him. There was something pleasurable about her acknowledgement that was different than the recognition from that of his family.

It was a kind of pleasure that made the back of his neck heat up and his stomach go light and airy when her eyes sparkled as she beamed up at him.

“Um…”

Sakura’s gaze was averted but there was a pretty bloom of pink flushed on her cheeks. A bashful tuck of her hair behind her ears brought his attention up to the hitai-ate tied on top of her head where her red ribbon was previously.

No more bunny ears…

Sasuke looked at her  expectantly. There was no way she had traveled to the far end of the village just to stand in front of him.

“I, uh, got you something.”

Sakura swung her pack off of her shoulders. For the first time that day Sasuke noticed that it was misshapen, a different sort of bulk than it usually had when it was filled with her books and journals.

“Just to say congrats, you know? It’s really amazing that you got rookie of the year—not that I doubted you would get it! It wasn’t a surprise at all, really…”

Now she was rambling. Sakura did that often but usually it only took a look from him for her to realize she was straying from the point and she would get right on track. But she wasn’t looking at him, keeping her eyes trained on the ground.

“Here!”

Sakura thrust out her arms in front of her. In her hands was a carton of cherry tomatoes and a flat, circular jar.

“It’s an ointment for burns,” Sakura explained. “You favor your katon and well, your forearm protectors don’t really do anything for your cheeks so uh…”

Her voice trailed off and that’s when Sasuke realized he still hadn’t made a move to take the gifts she was offering.

“Thank you,” he said softly, finally taking the gifts.

That was the magic of Sakura.

Naruto was his first friend, fated to be his friend since the day Kushina made that wish, but Naruto didn’t really understand him. They were always at each other’s throats and arguing but that’s just how they were.

Barbaric as it was, they were friends that spoke with their fists.

And then there was Sakura who seemed to be able to get him even with how little he contributed to their conversations in comparison to how much she filled them.

“I hope you find it to be soothing.”

Sakura smiled so sweetly that all Sasuke could do was nod in response. He was the one receiving a gift and yet Sakura was the one that looked overjoyed. It was strange making someone that wasn’t his mother or his brother so happy by doing so little.

It was strange but he wanted to do it again. He swallowed and quickly thought of the first thing that came to mind considering where they were standing.

“We’re pretty close to that senbei shop I told you about. Do you want to—“

“Sasuke!”

Sasuke stiffened at the call of his name. There was no mistaking that voice.

“Hey Little Uchiha!” Shisui ran up to the pair and ruffled Sasuke’s already disheveled feathery hair.

“Cut it out!” Sasuke grit his teeth and elbowed his older cousin. Shisui always had the worst timing. Or convenient timing as it seemed like it was his life mission to embarrass Sasuke whenever possible.

In retaliation for the elbow to his ribs, Shisui placed Sasuke in a headlock.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Sakura-san.”

Sasuke turned as much as he could to see his brother bowing in greeting to Sakura, having missed when she had introduced herself.

“So cute!” Shisui dropped his hold on Sasuke and proceeded to ruffle Sakura’s hair with both hands.

“Shisui!” Sasuke hissed. Normally so polite, Shisui was being overly familiar and rude.

“Hands off the prepubescent girl, Shisui,” Izumi scolded knocking his head with her knuckles.

Hypocrite, Sasuke griped inwardly. She has reacted the same when she first met Sakura.

“I’m pubescent,” he heard Sakura mutter under her breath.

“Izumi is going to make us an early dinner. Would you care to join us?” Itachi smiled pleasantly, holding up the shopping bags in his hands as if they further explained what he meant.

Sasuke choked on air at his brother’s invitation. How did he make everything seem so easy? The words came out so smoothly while they were trapped in his own throat.

“Izumi-nee knows how to cook?” Sakura clasped her hands together in front of her chest, beaming up at the older girl in admiration.

“We’re about to find out,” Shisui answered while giving Izumi a smirk.

“I wish I could but I have to go help my parents in their shop today. I keep running out of allowance.” Sakura rubbed the back of her neck, giving them a sheepish smile. “It was nice meeting you all though. Bye Sasuke-kun, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Sakura turned and jogged down the road, her long hair trailing after her. Sasuke was watching her until she turned the corner until he felt the eerie sensation of being watched.

“What?” He glared at his brother’s lovers. They snickered into their hands, not taking him seriously.

Itachi emitted a sigh, causing Sasuke’s head to snap in his direction.

“That’s just too bad, Sasuke. I guess your invitation for senbei would have been turned down as well. Better luck next time.”

“What?”

Sasuke’s cheeks heated up. He didn’t think they were close enough to hear him!

“It’s none of your business!” He snapped at them before marching into the Uchiha district.

“What did I say?” Itachi blinked at his younger brother’s retreating back.

“Don’t worry about it Ita-kun.” Izumi rubbed his upper arm in a comforting manner. “It’s just puberty.”

Shisui cringed at Izumi’s words and held himself tightly.

“May the gods be with us.”

. .

Sakura was wiping down a table when Nara Shikamaru strolled in.

“They’re in the patio,” she answered his unasked question. Besides picking up satchels of his mother’s favorite jasmine tea, Shikamaru was also tasked with locating his father who was most likely hiding in the Haruno’s tea house, playing shogi with Haruno Kizashi.

“I’ll let him play another game. I don’t feel like heading home yet. You free for a round?”

“I can’t play today.” Sakura gestured to the apron she was wearing. “I’m working. Want a cup of tea?”

“Do I gotta pay for it?”

“Nah. I’m in a pretty good mood so it’s on me.”

Sakura went back into the kitchen and prepared some Shui Hsien tea. It was a favorite in the store amongst the villagers that preferred the tea from the far, far away land her mother’s family had immigrated from generations ago.

Brewing tea was Sakura’s favorite part of working for her parents. Playing with the fire to make the perfect cup of tea was down to almost a science. Just like how creating the environment for their different leaves was down to a science.

When she brewed teas she could imagine herself brewing antidotes and creating new medicine to assist those that needed her help.

Sakura thought about her hitai-ate sitting on her desk in her bedroom and inwardly squealed with excitement.

She was a genin now and that was the first real step to becoming a shinobi others could rely on. She was on her way to achieving her dream.

Day’s Note: here’s the latest update you guys. I’m sorry for putting that huge block of text at the top but I was so freaking irritated and it’s not like I can have a private discussion with guest reviewers and I really needed to say it to everyone just so y’all know my stance on comments for ShiItaIzu. It’s just so unnecessary to say that━just exit the fic and move on.

In other news I set up a ko-fi and the button can be found on the desktop version of my tumblr blog or as ChronicallyChill on ko-fi. Or you can go here! Most of my money is spent on medical bills and other bills I have to take care of. I am lucky to live under my parent’s roof as they “moved me back in with them” (I was paying rent but hadn’t moved out completely yet because of work) when my illness was no longer manageable on my own.

I actually can’t drink coffee so donating a coffee is hilarious to me but any spare cash goes towards food money. I am chronically ill and things like cooking, even just making a sandwich can be hard because I can’t stand for too long because I am constantly in pain or exhausted or I don’t have the time because I needed to sleep more or worse couldn’t even get up in the morning but had to force myself to get to work, so most days I go without breakfast (and dinner usually). So if I have $3-4 to spare I am able to grab something to eat in the morning.

To readers of The Planning Of A Matriarch: and update is coming up! Be on the lookout for it coming out around it’s one year anniversary.

For everything else I’ve started updates on them too but i’m trying to complete the requests that were sent to me on tumblr as well because they’ve been sitting incomplete in my docs.

Talk to you guys soon (really soon hopefully!)

[jetzelda]

A Shinigami, a Pirate and a Mafia Boss walks into Konoha

While tracking Madara and some Dark Phantoms through one of Naruto’s dimensions, Tsuna (Reborn!), Ace (One Piece), and Ichigo (Bleach) pay Konoha a visit out of curiosity. Of course, when they find a young, neglected version of Naruto Uzumaki scraping by in life, the trio don’t have the heart to not interfere.

It probably should have been harder than it was for three unaffiliated teenagers to get into the capital ninja village of Fire Country. They only told the gate guards they were wandering vagabonds in search of jobs and Konoha seemed a good opportunity. The guards seemed to buy it, despite the trios odd clothes. (It had been a separate pain in the ass to get Ace to wear a shirt so no one went crazy over his obvious pirate affiliated tattoo. He compromised on an sleeveless, flimsy, open vest).

They had journeyed to this Elemntal Nations Dimension with Naruto, Rukia, Reborn, and Oga and Baby Beel. They had noticed a tear in the Dimension and assumed it to be the work of a Dark Phantom. They entered the tear together, and split into two groups to cover more ground. As much as Naruto loved Konoha, it would bad if he got identified there. The village was large enough to call a city, and yet blended with the forest enough to call it a town, or a village. Tsuna was drinking in the sights with open wonder. He never got tired of seeing nature and civilization blend so effortlessly. Ichigo’s interest was more subdued, dodging the crowd and spotting the occasional spirit. He was never certain which dimensions would have spirits. Ace was more interested in finding the nearest food. Which was probably why he was distracted enough to allow a blur of orange and yellow to smack into his face while shrieking.

The small child, because that was apparently what the shrieking blur was, lost its grip on its bucket of paint, which miraculously soared over Tsuna’s head to land perfectly upturned on Ichigo’s, drenching him in pink paint. The child was quick to scramble off Ace and flee. Two dark green blurs followed the child’s pursuit from the scene.

Ace rubbed his abused nose, and yet snickered at his ally’s predicament. Tsuna fretted, hands ready to take the bucket. “Ichigo? Are you okay?”

The teen slowly removed the bucket from his head. “Fantastic.” He bit out flatly, eyes smouldering. “If you excuse me, I need to teach a kid a lesson he’s clearly never been taught before.” He dropped the bucket, turned on his heel, and stalked off in the direction the kid fled. Tsuna sighed and followed. Ace trailed them still snickering. It wasn’t hard for Ichigo to follow the kid’s spiritual signature across the village. Though apparently his dark green clad pursuers gave up halfway through the village. The teens ended up at a wide open space, labeled a training ground. The orange clad child was crouched, facing a large tree, with his back to the teens. He was very involved in whatever it was he was doing, and had not noticed their arrival. Ichigo stalked up to him silently. Only when the orange haired teen was feet away did the child perk up and spin around. But Ichigo’s hand struck like a viper, grabbing the kid by his collar and lifting him high off the ground before he could flee or react some other way.

“Gah! Leggo! You big bully! How’d you sneak up on me?!” The child cried, squirming. No answer came from Ichigo immediately. He was busy being stunned by the revelation of the kid’s whiskered face. All three teens recognized it. It was hard not to. Ichigo was holding a younger version of their sunny comrade. Naruto Uzumaki. Well crap. This put Ichigo in a tight spot. It was mutually agreed between all the heroes that they would not interfere with the personal life of one of the others’ dimensions without permission or unless absolutely necessary.

And here Ichigo was. Holding a small Naruto Uzumaki. Very small. And growing concerned the longer Ichigo held him and remained silent.

Well, Ichigo wasn’t one to back out of what he started. “Uh, Mister? Will you put me down now?” Little Naruto asked cautiously. “You see this paint.” Ichigo said, instead of answering.

“Uh...”

“This is your paint.” Ichigo said flatly. “Anything you got to say to that?”

“...Pink looks good on you?” The blond offered sheepishly.

Ichigo scowled more. Little Naruto winced at the sight. “Try again. Last try before I find those adults that were looking for you.”

Blue eyes widened in panic and he mentally scrambled for what the teen could possibly want. “Uh-ah-I’m sorry?” Ichigo arched a brow at the questioning tone. “I’m sorry!” Naruto affirmed. “Real sorry! Honest! I didn’t mean too! I was just trying to ditch those chunin!”

Ichigo grunted and lowered Naruto to his feet. “Better.” He moved his hand to through blond spikes and turned the head to Ace. “Now him.”

“Uh...”

“He was the body you hit.”

“Oh..” Naruto fidgeted in place. “I’m sorry muscle guy. Honest. I didn’t mean to run into you.” He had been totally focused on fleeing the chunin.

Ace grinned. He liked his nick name. “No worries, squirt. Not a scratch on me.”

This was all very new for Naruto. It wasn’t the first time he got caught, not by a long shot. But this was probably the first time without people yelling at him, or saying they were disappointed, or punishing him. When the scary faced one took his hand off his head, he didn’t feel like running.

“Good.” Ichigo crossed his arms, looking down at the kid. “And what have you learned from this?”

“Uh..” Naruto tilted his head to the side. What had he learned? No one asked him that besides the old man, and never ever after a prank. “To...uh...watch where I’m going? And hold on to my paint bucket?” He offered.

Ichigo grunted. “Good enough.” This probably the most interfering they should do before talking to their Naruto. “Let’s go.” He said to his companions, shoving his hands in his pocket and turning back the way they came.

Ace ruffled Naruto’s hair as he passed him. “See ya, squirt.”

Tsuna gave the blond a warm smile. “Stay safe, Okay?”

Naruto openly gaped at the retreating backs of the three teenagers. That never, EVER happened after a prank. “W-Wait!” He called, chasing after them.

Ichigo groaned. So much for not getting involved. Tsuna couldn’t help the chuckle. “Positive attention does wonders.” He murmured. They would have to get a message to their Naruto later. The little blond caught up with them quick enough. “Who are you guys?” He questioned. “Aren’t ya, ya know, mad at me?”

Ace snorted. “Nah, I mean, Ichigo’s probably pissed for turning into a pink berry-” “-Go F*** yourself, Ace!” “-But it was funny as shit.”

Tsuna rolled his eyes. “You should watch your language.”

“He’s probably heard worse.” Ace dismissed. “Ichi’s just being grumpy.”

“Call me that again, I dare you.” Ichigo threatened. Ace grinned and mouthed ‘berry’ at the back of Ichigo’s pink head.

Naruto smiled a little at the banter. He nearly melted when the brunet turned a warm smile back onto him. “I’m Sawada Tsunayoshi, But call me Tsuna. The one you hit is Ace, and the one you covered in paint is Kurosaki Ichigo.” Ace gave a grin and two fingered salute. Ichigo grunted.

The small blond puffed up. “I’m Uzumaki Naruto! And I’m gonna be Hokage, dattebayo!” He declared loudly and proudly. The glares villagers shot the blond didn’t go unnoticed by any of the teens.

Tsuna didn’t turn off his warm smile. “That sounds like a big goal, but I’m sure you’ll make it there some day.”

Naruto was floored once again. Only the Old Man  or Teuchi and Ayame at Ichiraku ever gave Naruto positive feedback at his Hokage declaration, and Naruto was pretty sure they just said that cause it made him happy.

“But being Hokage is hard work, right? He’s the strongest ninja in the village, in charge of protecting all its citizens.” Tsuna recited what their Naruto had told them. “So you’re gonna have to work really hard to become the strongest.” Tsuna paused in his walk when he felt a tug on the back of his shirt. He turned around to see. Little Naruto was holding Tsuna’s shirt between his fingers, face pointed to the ground. Ace and Ichigo stopped to see the holdup.

“Do...Do you really think I can be Hokage?”

Oh Naruto. Tsuna directed another warm smile at him, placing his hand on his head. “Why should I think otherwise?”

That certainly did it. Naruto followed them around like a lost puppy after that.

When Naruto found out that the trio were foreigners, he took it upon himself to give them the Uzumaki Naruto Tour!

“Over there is the Ninja Academy! That’s where I learn to be a super awesome ninja!” “Over there is where the super important family compounds are. I’m not allowed over that way, but it’s super easy to sneak in. Well, kinda easy.” “That really tall building is the Hokage Tower! That’s where the Old Man is, keeping it warm until I take the hat!” “Over there is the bar I painted pink! The owner dropped a plate on my head!” “That’s Hokage Mountain! All the Hokages faces are there! Mine will be too!” “That’s the market street. Everything’s a lot of money there.” Whether little Naruto knew it or not, his tour was incredibly revealing on how the village treated him. Big Naruto had already informed him on how shitty his childhood had been, in retrospect. But hearing it was very different than being here and seeing it. Ichigo was returning every villager’s glare with a fierce one of his own, which sent them scurrying, even if he was still pink.

But otherwise, they didn’t actively interfere. It wasn’t their place, not until they talked with big Naruto anyways. The trio still lead the way through the village while Naruto pointed out the sights. They needed a place to stay, and already had an idea where to go. Little Naruto’s voice began to falter as they entered the Red Light District. He shuffled closer to Ace as women in heavy makeup and scanty clothes leered at them and scary men eyed them. “Old Man says this area is bad..” He trailed off.

Well, Ichigo had hoped it would scare the kid away. The kid was tougher than he looked “It’s not bad.” Ace corrected. “It’s got it’s bad parts, sure. But it’s mostly misunderstood.” He patted Naruto’s head. “People who don’t have a lot of money go here. And we don’t have a lot of money.”

Naruto furrowed his brow as he considered his answer. He stuck by Ace’s side while Tsuna and Ichigo entered a bar. He considered his apartment that he didn’t actually pay for, how it had a bed, and a kitchen, and a bathroom, and good windows and door. He looked at some of the buildings with broken windows, and the bright flashy lights, and people smiling as they talked to each other. Not bad. Not really good though. Like him. Tsuna and Ichigo exited the bar. “Well, we got a place to stay.” The grumpy teen said.

Ace grinned “Lead the way.”

The walk took them straight through the Red Light District to a more forest part of the village. It was just outside of the district, bordering a more abandoned training ground. The space was big and open with a very large, old house. The house was probably nice once. A large home for a large family. But it was weathered by time and very old fashioned. The whole structure was made up of only wood, shoji screens, and tatami mats. No modern doors or windows. The home was raised up off the ground with a space big enough for little Naruto to crawl under.

Little Naruto followed the teens into the house, politely leaving his shoes outside like they did. They explored separately. All Naruto found was a lot of dust. But Tsuna announced they had a working sink and toilet. And Ace found a closet full of old futons, blankets and pillows. The small blond frowned when Tsuna and Ace settled on the outer wooden pathway surrounding the building, satisfied. Ichigo was using the sink to wash off the pink. Little Naruto didn’t understand. “This place is old and crappy. Why do you want to live here?” He asked. Whiskered cheeks puffed in annoyance when the teens chuckled. Ace ruffled his blond spikes. “When you live out in the dirt and rocks, any place with a roof, water, and blankets is amazing.”

Naruto considered this. “But my apartment is loads better, you can stay with me.” He offered.

Ace shook his head. “Nah squirt. That’s real nice of you to offer. But we won’t fit.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. We’ll do just fine we don’t have much. And we don’t need much, not when we’re together.” He ignored Ichigo calling him a sap from inside.

Naruto pondered this. And he continued to ponder it later that night when he was sitting with a cup of ramen, alone in his apartment.

The next day, Naruto was silent in class. His teachers were unnerved and his classmates confused. But no one approached him about it. No one usually did. Though Iruka-sensi did shoot him a few concerned looks. He didn’t even complain when he lost a Taijutsu match to Sasuke.

Naruto ignored all of them and exited school the way he entered it, silent. His mind was focused on the three teens that treated him like no one else in the village did. He didn’t even spend a whole day with them, and yet they made more impact on him than anyone in the village ever did. Aside from the Old Man...except maybe they did?

He frowned and kicked a rock in his path. He never spent all day thinking about the Old Man. And he just spent a whole day thinking about those teens And this thinking was so confusing. Ugh. He wanted ramen.

Except he ate the last cup of ramen last night. And he really should buy more ramen for home instead of going to Ichiraku’s. Even if the market sucked. He heaved a sigh and headed to the market.

Naruto passed Ichigo as he walked to the market. He stopped and backtracked to the teen. The scowly teen was relaxed with his eyes closed. His tall frame was tilted back in a small chair with his arms folded behind his head and feet propped up on a tiny table. There was a jar on the table with a tiny bit of ryo in it, and a sign in front of the table.

“Whatcha doin?”

Ichigo didn’t crack an eyelid. “Read the sign, brat.”

The word didn’t sound malicious from the teen, unlike how most of the villagers used it (brat!), so Naruto ignored it. Instead he squinted at the sigh. “Uhm...”

After about a minute, Ichigo frowned and opened his eyes. “Can’t you read?” He asked. It was more curious than condescending, but Naruto bristled anyways.

“I can read!” Naruto defended hotly. 

“Then what’s my sign say?”

“UH...Talk ta goats for a ryo.” Ichigo scowled. Naruto winced. “Uhm...I’ll just-” He turned to flee when Tsuna walked up, carrying shopping bags. The brunet smiled and Naruto just wanted to melt.

“Hello again Naruto. Doing well, today?”

“Yeah..I was just gonna get some food, so-”

“New plan.” Ichigo interrupted sharply. “You’re going to help Tsuna carry the groceries home, and tell him what my sign says.”

“But I-” Ichigo silenced Naruto’s protests with a look that Naruto didn’t want o find out the meaning of. He puffed his cheeks in a pout, and took some bags from Tsuna. Tsuna shot Ichigo his own confused look, but ending up shrugging and going with it.

The walk back to the old house seemed to stretch on forever. Tsuna waited until they reached the Red Light District to break the silence. “What about Ichigo’s sign?”

Naruto puffed his cheeks again and grumbled. “I don’t see what the big deal is about stupid goats.”

Tsuna blinked. “Naruto...His signs wasn’t about goats. It was about ghosts.”

“Oh...” It took a few seconds for the implications to process. “H-He can talk to ghosts?!” He squeaked out. “Ghosts are real?!”

Tsuna tilted his head. “Naruto, can you not read?”

Naruto wilted and looked away. For some reason, he couldn’t get angry around Tsuna. He blamed the warm, gooey smiles. “I can.” He insisted. “Just....it doesn’t always make sense.” “So reading is a struggle for you?” Tsuna clarified. Naruto nodded. Tsuna hummed. “Can you not ask your teachers for help?”

“They don’t like me.” Naruto said, dragging his shoes on the ground while they walked. “They ignore me when I ask. So I stopped asking.” His downcast gaze missed the tightening of Tsuna’s eyes and fists.

“And your classmates?” Naruto gave a shrug. Tsuna hummed again.

The two came upon the house. It looked exactly the same as the day before. Just as old and dirty. The only difference was Ace snoozing away in nothing but shorts on the outer wooden walk way. Tsuna bid Naruto to wait for him while he put groceries away. Naruto sat on the walk way with his feet dangling off the edge. He listened to Ace’s snores and wondered why he told Tsuna he had trouble reading. Now Tsuna was gonna think Naruto was dumb just like everyone else did.

The blond looked up when Tsuna returned with a few books, and a plate of veggies. He frowned. “What’s that for?”

Tsuna smiled. “I’m going to help you read better.” He didn’t even laugh when Naruto’s jaw dropped.

Despite knowing they shouldn’t interfere without their Naruto’s permission, the boys couldn’t help but want to shower little Naruto in everything he was lacking. The boy was so starved for positive attention that he practically moved in with them. They didn’t even turn him away when he got annoying, they just directed him on each other.

Ichigo had two younger sisters. He knew how to handle kids. He just imagined little Naruto as Yuzu, who needed more attention, and was louder. The blond usually came to Ichigo to ask random questions about ghosts. Ichigo managed to be patient, but when he needed his space he would sic him on Ace.

Ace was all grins and jokes. When he wasn’t sleeping, he would listen to Naruto’s talk of pranks, and would even throw in his own advice. Little Naruto was a lot like little Luffy had been. And now that Ace was older, he knew how he should’ve handled little Luffy. Naruto didn’t often get on his nerves, but if he needed to sleep, Ichigo was where he sent him. But if both Ichio and Ace were done with him, little Naruto would seek out Tsuna. The sky teen had the patience of a monk, or even a god. He never ceased to give Naruto those warm smiles that made him fuzzy and happy. Lambo and I-pin instilled the patience and child-rearing in him. Tsuna would sit and help him with his Academy homework. And it actually started to make sense! Naruto actually started carrying his back pack and books again. Any questions he had from school he would take straight to Tsuna. Ichigo would join in occasionally. Ace usually just slept through anything school related.

Naruto even started sleeping at the house. The first time had been an accident. When he woke up, he panicked, apologized, and fled. The next time Tsuna had to inform Naruto that he was welcome to stay. The unsure look on his face almost brought Tsuna to tears, and Ichigo and Ace to finding some asses to beat. After being repeatedly assured he was welcome, Naruto would typically end up cuddling one of the teens in their futon. And considering the teens usually ended up splayed out or cuddling in their sleep (body heat served better than blankets, especially with Tsuna and Ace’s fire), none of them truly minded. After the third night of sleeping over, Naruto dubbed them all his nii-sans. It was after about two weeks of this that someone new appeared in the routine. Naruto ran straight from school, waving to the ladies in the Red Light District as he passed (They were actually really nice and thought he was cute! Him!) He came upon the house and froze. Ichigo was sitting outside on the walkway again, talking to a girl. She had black hair, and was probably as short, er, tall as Naruto was. She was real skinny and wore a pretty blue dress. She turned to him and smiled.

The blond shuffled awkwardly and considered running. He didn’t talk to many girls besides trying to ask Sakura-chan out. And that always ended badly (He didn’t really count the ladies in the Red Light District. They were older and just...different-er). But Tsuna came outside with drinks, and Tsuna’s drinks were real good. So he walked over slowly and sat next to Ichigo. The girl had to lean forward to look around the tall teen.

Naruto sipped his drink as he felt himself being looked over. “Uhm....I’m Uzumaki Naruto. Who’re you?” He introduced, remembering what Ichigo and Tsuna said about manners. Ace never really cared.

The girl nodded in approval and smiled. Just introducing himself to her felt like when Iruka-sensei gave quizzes. “I’m Kuchiki Rukia, a friend of Ichigo’s.”

“Oh.” Naruto looked up. Ichigo was purposefully and loudly drinking from his straw, ignoring both of them. “I didn’t know Ichi-nii had more friends.” Ichigo’s drinking got even louder when Rukia laughed.

“Oh we have lots of friends.” She said. “And you’ll probably meet a lot more of them, eventually. We’re busy people with important things to do.” She told Naruto seriously. The blond nodded in acceptance of this information, just as serious “I’m here cause I had to deliver a message. But I’ll probably stick around a while.” Naruto fidgeted with his glass. “Uhm...What was the message?”

Rukia flapped a hand. Oh, just permission from another friend. Not important.” She clapped her hands together. “What is important is I hear you’re a ninja! Now show me what you’ve got!”

Naruto swallowed nervously.

Ace poked his head out of the doors. “Wait, so what was the message?”

Rukia glanced over her shoulder at him with a small, knowing smirk. “He says “Give him a the childhood I wanted.”“ She answered slyly. Naruto tilted his head in confusion. Him who?

(”Don’t think I forgot you broke one of our own rules!” Rukia declared, kicking Ichigo in the head!)

The first time, Naruto was walked to school by Tsuna. He had woken up late in a panic. Ichigo had already headed off to ‘work’, and Ace and Rukia were still sleeping. Tsuna calmed him down, made him breakfast, and walked him to school, holding his hand. Tsuna had warm, soft hands. Naruto arrived just on time, with no idea how Tsuna managed it. The blond never noticed the stares and whispers.

The next time, Ichigo was walking him and quizzing him for a test that day. This time he did notice the stares and whispers. But Ichigo told him to ignore them and focus on the test. So he did. Naruto didn’t manage to remember all of it, but he managed to barely pass the test.

The time after that, Ace complained loudly on being left out. He carried Naruto on his shoulders to school, much to the blond’s delight. He didn’t even care people stared and whispered.

Rukia was more subtle in her jealousy. She walked him to school, holding his hand. Her hand was kinda  like Tsuna’s hand. Hers were soft like Tsuna’s, but colder. He still liked it. She was serious like Ichigo, but nice like Tsuna. She kept his mind off the stares and whispers.

Soon, it was common to see Naruto with one or more of the teens, walking to and from school. And really, they were surprised it took so long for someone to approach them.

It was a day Tsuna and Ichigo walked Naruto to school. The blond managed to wheedle  Ichigo to carry him on his shoulders, while Tsuna carried his books and read to him from a chapter further than what the class was on. They just reached the gates of the school when another group approached, drawing more stares and whispers.

Narutos face lit up. “Old Man!’ He jumped off Ichigo and scrambled to give the Hokage a hug. The ANBU remained in a defensive and deceptively loose square around the man. The Hokage smiled like a kind grandfather and hugged Naruto back. “Hello Naruto, doing well?” “Mhmm!” Naruto grinned. “Real well! I got a 68 on my last test!” He announced proudly. “Tsuna-nii is real good at explaining!” The Hokage’s eyes flicked to the teens.

“Indeed. Nii-san you say?”

“Mhmm!” Naruto pointed. “That one’s Tsuna-nii! And that’s Ichi-nii! Tsuna-nii’s really nice! Ichi-nii’s grumpy but awesome!” The Hokage chuckled at the description.

“You should probably head to class before you’re late, Naruto.” Tsuna advised.

“Oh yeah.” Naruto detached himself from the Hokage and ran to class. “Bye Old Man! Bye ANBU! Bye Ichi-nii! By Tsuna-nii!” He yelled.

The atmosphere turned serious without the blond. The Old Man folded his arms behind his back. “I’m sure you can understand my concern at four teenagers with no viable story to suddenly take an interest in one of the village’s orphans.”

Ichigo tilted his head as he gave the Hokage a flat stare. “Not really no.”

The Hokage frowned. “It is quite suspicious.” He insisted.

“How? Tsuna countered. “He’s an orphan. No parents to help him, and clearly no friends or other family. Why should a man of your standing care about one orphan in a village that probably has more of them than they should?”

“Naruto lives on his own, that essentially makes him a ward of Konoha and therefore of mine-”

“Then why doesn't he live with you?” Ichigo responded sharply. “Why don’t you do the parenting?”

“Well, I am quite busy, as I’m sure you can realize-”

“Did you know he couldn’t read?” Tsuna asked calmly.

“What?” A new voice cut in faintly. A brunet man with his hair in a high pony tail and a scarred nose had approached. He looked ill at the new information. Tsuna recognized him as Naruto’s teacher based on his description.

“He couldn’t read, at least not well enough to match the level of his peers.” Tsuna continued without remorse. “With no friends to help him, and teachers who could help him, but don’t.” He shot the teacher a pointed look.

Ichigo crossed his arms. “And let’s top that off with a village that obviously hates him and actively sabotages his home life, while also overpricing him in all necessary monetary activities or just flat out banning him from necessary establishments, like the library and store.”

“But please.” Tsuna continued. “Be suspicious of the teenagers that come along and want to take care of him. Because that’s totally logical and what a leader of a village who has actively abused and neglected him should do.”

The Hokage took a deep breath and rubbed his forward. When it was laid out like that, in public no less. “What do you want?”

“To take care of Naruto.” Tsuna said. “To help him be the ninja he wants to be.”

Edited 4/10/2018. Expect a Second part.

[theclosetpoet7]

Sore ga ai Deshou

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine

Thoughts on the story: Okay, so this is where it all began, my first ever SasuSaku fic. Sasuke is a bit of a fuckboy here, I tried to let his anger manifest into lust in the plot; evidence of my immaturity when I first started writing it as well as my tendency to like reading fics that hurt so good.

Summary: Sakura had always known that Uchiha Sasuke was far from her reach. Yet, she had extended her arms and opened up her heart to him even if it meant that he had the power to take it into his hands and crush it. Post-War. SasuSaku

Rating: M

"What if life hands you an apple, dangles it in front of you, gives you a little taste, tempts you with it then tells you that you can't have it. Under these circumstances, would you still reach out to the forbidden fruit?" - theClosetPoet7

Chapter One

Break the Spell

Sasuke-kun is back.

In the final fight between Madara and Naruto, he miraculously showed up and together as I knew they would, both my teammates joined forces and defeated the ancient Uchiha. And as always, I watched at the sidelines. I felt the intense fear of losing them, and I felt the burning hope that they will somehow come out victorious.

"Our story will not have a sad ending." That is what I kept telling myself. Our story will not have a sad ending.

Though I've always known that I would never be able to stand equally with them, I wasn't completely useless. I was their back-up, healing various wounds that could've been fatal, breaking grounds to assist them, and throwing punches at various Zetsus that came at me. I stood and watched as they delivered the final blow, and I was right by their side the moment their bodies decided they were too tired to stand and had shut down altogether. I was quick to go to their side, summoning the last bit of chakra I had left and tried with all my might to stabilize them.

I was successful. We were successful.

The war was over. We had won. Madara was finally gone. We've claimed our right to live in this world of ninjas. It was thrilling and oh so satisfying. The fields were filled with triumphant shouts and happy tears as teammates patted each other's' backs and loved ones reunited. You can see the intense happiness they felt when they saw each other's faces. I was one of them; it was too good to be true, being reunited with Team 7. Having all of them alive and just breathing was enough to bring tears of joy to my face. And when both my boys regained consciousness and finally looked to me, my heart swelled.

Naruto had this wide grin that reminded me of how I'll always rely on him.

Sasuke-kun had this look of serenity on his face that was much too beautiful to describe.

Kakashi-sensei unfortunately thought it was the right time to take out his Icha-Icha Paradise book and

Sai had a look of relief as he sat down and rested his back against a tree.

I laughed, pumped my fists up and yelled out

"Shannaro!"

_______________

I've always had various scenarios in my head depicting how my next meeting with Sasuke-kun would go. One of them involved me helplessly throwing my arms around him and saying "Welcome Home". Another one entailed me to punch the daylights out of him for the pain he has caused us these past few years. What I didn't expect though was his immediate apology for everything he had done and me awkwardly smiling and accepting it. Of course, Naruto was quick to accept his apology while Kakashi-sensei opted to just ruffling his hair and saying,

"I understand."

Suddenly everything was the way it was supposed to be. Team Seven was complete.

_______________

Eight months later.

Konoha was on the verge of full recovery. Under Tsunade's rule the village was quick to work on the damage caused by the war. Everyone was in high spirits as the hope that this world will be alright had spread out. The people were looking to their leader to pave the way to the better tomorrow. It was tiresome and just plain boring to Tsunade. How she longed to go to a bar, drink her worries away and gamble. As Hokage, she knew that was out of the question, not when she had too many responsibilities. Just a bit more, she always said to herself. She knew that the time has almost come for her to choose her successor. She didn't need to think much about the person who will be replacing her, after all, he had displayed an enormous amount of skill during the war and she knew from previous records that he had and has been a great asset to the village.

Yes, Konoha will be safe in the hands of Hatake Kakashi.

"Tsunade-sama." a voice she had known all too well called out.

"What is it Sakura?"

Sakura raised her eyebrows as she observed her master. She shook her head as she saw that the hokage had a cup of sake in her hand, a dry and wrinkly hand. She sighed. Tsunade was getting old. And she was dying. The war had taken a toll on her. She used up all her reserved chakra and had sustained a great deal of damage internally. After all, with the experience of being cut in half, who would expect anyone to fully recover? But that wasn't the cause of her morbid condition. Her kidneys were failing. Instead of using up her chakra to maintain her youthful appearance she decided to put all her energy into keeping herself alive and fulfilling her duties as the Hokage, her final mission.

"You haven't taken your medication this morning." Sakura spoke softly.

"Hah, I've always known that with Shizune gone, you'll be the one to pester me." A look of sadness passed over the hokage's face as she remembered her first apprentice and how she was found dead on the field. It was such a waste. Shizune was the person she had always known would take care of her once she was on her deathbed. Nevertheless she took the medication and drank it. She looked to Sakura as she wiped the water out of her mouth. A smirk made its way to her lips and Sakura responded with a questioning look on her face.

"And you know you shouldn't be drinking." Sakura added

Tsunade barked out in laughter. She looked at her apprentice and a smile full of pride made itself known. Her apprentice had achieved so much at such a young age.

"You have time to reprimand an old woman when you have a hospital to take care of?" She said.

"Oh, right, they'll do without me for a few hours. Make sure to take the medications I have prepared for you Tsunade-sama. I've concocted some herbs that you can drink as a tea which may help. And again, stop drinking. You know how toxic that could be to your condition." Sakura instructed with a serious look on her face.

"Fine, fine, now stop focusing your energy on me Sakura. You know better than to waste your time on a lost cause." Sakura had a look of pure sorrow when she heard those words. But she was quick to recover from it. Tsunade felt the guilt immediately.

"Sorry, forget about what I just said. I would like to know the updates on the condition of the Uchiha's eyes". She shifted the topic.

Sakura had been placed in charge of studying the effects the Mangekyou had on Uchiha Sasuke's eyes. Sasuke had been complaining about his vision and Sakura had placed him on various sessions entailing her to study the condition of his nerves and his blood vessels. She had managed to heal most of the damage but it would take more time for her to fully bring his eyes to pre-Mangekyou status. The sessions were long and tedious but Sasuke had been patient and cooperative with her, only once in a while complaining that she took too much time off her work for him.

"I'll always have time for you Sasuke-kun." she had said. He had looked at her like she was crazy and shook his head.

"Hn." he replied.

Sakura sighed at the thought of Uchiha Sasuke. Their relationship didn't mend overnight but it had bothered her how often Sasuke tried to point out that she had much better things to do with her time. He was her teammate after all. Of course she would take some time off to watch over his condition. It had nothing to do with her feelings whatsoever…

Of course it didn't

Oh hell it did, it wasn't shocking to know that as soon as Sasuke was labeled as a friend again her feelings had resurfaced as if she never locked them inside a little box in her heart that said "Don't open unless you're a masochist now". It was hard to ignore the thumping of her heart against her rib cage whenever they were alone and she was healing his eyes. Sasuke was far too beautiful to be a man. He had the body of a shinobi, fit but not too muscular. His onyx eyes took you to places you only dream of. His voice sounded sexy that it sometimes spoke wicked things to her ear in her dreams. Once in a while she would let her own oculars slip down and look over his lips. Sasuke-kun looked like he had soft lips, she often wondered what they would feel like if she were to lean a bit further and….

She had to stop herself. Sasuke was her friend and she shouldn't be having such thoughts… thoughts of holding him... thoughts of kissing him… thoughts of���..

"Sakura?"

"They are improving. Sasuke-kun has been complaining of pain however and I'm still looking into it." She quickly recovered.

"Have you checked the blood supply to his eyes?" the Hokage questioned.

"Hai, there seems to be a bit of swelling at the back. I've made a decoction which might help ease the pain a little. I was on my way to delivering his medications when my instincts told me to see you firs.t"

"Ah, ever the intuitive one."

"Oh, and Naruto has been pestering me about whether or not he can come talk to you. He's still not very happy when you sent him a message saying that he would have to wait before he becomes hokage." Sakura wasn't surprised about this development. Naruto was still eighteen years old and far from being mature enough to be hokage. She smiled as she remembered when they went out to Ichiraku's to celebrate Kakashi's promotion.

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei, you're old and probably too perverted to become hokage. Why don't you step down immediately and give the position to me?" the blonde-haired loud mouth had asked. Sakura choked on her noodles and Sasuke cleared his throat.

"Naruto! You idiot, you should be happy for Kakashi-sensei, plus you're too young to become hokage." Sakura had pointed out

"Stupid dobe." Sasuke muttered

"But sensei doesn't really want to become hokage. I bet he'll be much happier ogling women and reading every piece of Ichi-Icha novel." Naruto said with a frown on his face

"That's where you're wrong Naruto." Kakashi had decided to interrupt their little squabble. "I do want to become hokage."

Sakura and Sasuke stopped eating and looked towards their sensei. He had never mentioned this before. They never knew he wanted to become hokage.

"I want to. For Rin and Obito." He added.

That was enough to silence the team. Kakashi had this look of seriousness on his face. And suddenly, their teacher looked much older than his age. As if he experienced far too much pain than most people did in their lifetime. Maybe losing Obito the second time made him rethink his life's goals.

Sakura frowned at the memory of seeing Obito finally pass. Unlike her, her sensei wasn't lucky enough to be able to reunite with his long lost teammate. That thought alone brought a wave of sadness to her mood.

"Tell Naruto to wait. He'll be hokage soon enough. Make sure to beat him up the next time he questions my decisions. And make it hurt." Sakura sweat dropped when her master spoke. Well, she didn't need to be told to beat up that idiot.

"What has been bothering you? Your mind seems to be elsewhere."

"Gomen shishou, I was just thinking about something. Nothing to worry about. I'll come by later to do your check-up." Sakura turned and left the office.

Tsunade reached for another cup.

"And no sake." Sakura poked her head in the office again.

"Hai, Hai." Tsunade replied.

Tsunade smiled and stretched her arms. She stood and went to her window and looked at her apprentice as she left the building. Sakura had blossomed into a fine, capable young medic. Most people might even say that she has surpassed the Fifth Hokage. Well not completely surpassed. There was still time. She was a great shinobi, proving herself time and time again on the battlefield. She was Konoha's best medic. Of course, Sakura was much too modest to ever agree with those claims. However, she wasn't stupid as to not acknowledge her own strength. Tsunade felt her heart warm up. Haruno Sakura was her legacy to this world. She smiled as she saw her pink-haired apprentice stoop down to talk to a crying child.

Yes. Konaha will be in safe hands.

_______________

"They say that hope over an unrequited love is the most painful kind of hope. Even if you were once clearly rejected, you take out memory after memory to prove that you were once special even when you weren't." - theClosetPoet7

Sakura had always known that Sasuke was a private person. Most of their sessions took place in his living room only and he never invited her to go any further than that. So when she decided to open the door to his apartment anyway she was nervous. She had been knocking for about two minutes and nobody had come. The jar with his medicine needed to be left at room temperature and who knows, someone might try to steal it in this neighborhood if she left them outside his door. Anyway weren't teammates supposed to have privileges?

She entered the dark halls. 'Tsk' she thought to herself.

'Why did Sasuke have to have a gloomy home?'

As she made her way to the kitchen and placed the jar on the counter she decided that the next time she'll see her teammate she will insist on helping with interior decorating. A smile made its way to her lips when she saw the picture of Team Seven on a desk at his living room.

"He's home." she sighed.

While she searched his apartment for a note to leave on her delivered goods, her keen senses told her that someone was in the house. She was surprised to hear that he was home after all. She turned her attention to his bedroom and made a mental note to improve her hearing abilities.

"Sasuke-kun?" she called out.

No answer.

'It's not like him to not hear me come in.'

She slowly made her way towards his room. What was he doing anyway? It was already nine am, he couldn't possibly be just getting up. Sasuke was an early riser, by this time he was probably already up and about, maybe walking around the village or training with Naruto.

Her thoughts went back to when she was greeted at her office the other day with the sight of both her teammates bleeding with a bunch of broken bones.

"Sakura-chan, we need you..." Naruto had whined.

"Hn." Sasuke added

She had spent her first hour that morning healing their wounds and mending their broken limbs.

"I shouldn't be wasting my chakra on a bunch of idiots who think that beating each other up is the best kind of training." she had complained

"But Sakura-chan, it wouldn't really be training if we didn't take it seriously plus it wouldn't be considered a battle if we didn't have battle scars." Naruto had replied with the biggest idiotic grin he had.

"Well, the next time you want to have battle scars then you should come to me and I'll personally guarantee that you'll have one." Sakura had cracked her knuckles and Naruto instantly paled as he remembered how painful her punches could be. She would heal him afterwards yes, but they had hurt like hell.

"Sasuke-kun, have your eyes been giving you any trouble lately? I hope you didn't use them today." Sakura turned her attention to the dark-haired Uchiha who hadn't spoken a word during her exchange with Naruto.

"I didn't."

"Good, I'm working on a decoction that might help in easing the pain you've told me about during our previous session, I'll bring it to you once it's finished." she said

"Hah! Teme, you've been complaining about some pain? Has Sakura-chan been babying you too much?" Naruto spoke in a teasing tone.

"Shut up dobe." the stoic ninja muttered under his breath.

Sakura had smiled weakly and proceeded to calming down her teammates before they decided to engage in another rough ramble. After all she didn't want to waste anymore chakra then she already had.

She smiled at the memory but shook her head. She seemed to be daydreaming too much nowadays.

She focused her attention on the task at hand. Wasn't she just looking for Sasuke?

She headed for the direction of his room. As her steps came closer to his room, a sense of impending doom washed over her. Something didn't seem right. Her heart clenched as she made her way closer,

Closer…

and the sounds became clearer.

Much much clearer

….and she realized what was happening on the other side of that door.

Bed creaking.

A grunt.

"Sasuke-kun?" she called out again.

That's when she heard it.

A moan.

Then another grunt.

"Sasuke-kun…" A woman's voice.

Her eyes widened.

Another moan.

"Ahn… "

Sakura stood frozen in place. She didn't know that Sasuke engaged in such activities. She was shocked that he would even allow himself to get close enough to a woman let alone be having sex. He was having sex. The thought alone seemed foreign to her. And her heart clenched again.

She had to stop herself when she felt a wave of jealousy. He was simply human, of course he would respond to his urges once in a while. What was she thinking anyway, that he would suddenly have feelings for her? That he would, that he would… at least think of her first when he decided to make human contact?

'Yes, I've always thought that I was at least the only woman who was close to him.' she answered her own question.

She heard another moan and she instantly blushed. Whoever was inside that room seemed to be enjoying herself. Sakura let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. What was she doing? Shouldn't she just leave? It wasn't like Sasuke was her… was her...

She felt herself tear up. Her eyes shifted to the ground as she heard what could have been the climax. 'Don't you dare Haruno,' she told herself. Her heart suddenly felt numb.

After a minute or two, a shift on the flooring suddenly caught her attention as she heard footsteps make their way towards her direction. Her instincts told her to run and never speak of this again but her feet stayed rooted to her spot as she decided that she wanted to know who this person was.

Who was beautiful and amazing enough to share Uchiha Sasuke's bed?

Was it Karin? That red-haired bitch had staked her claim as soon as she made eye contact with Sakura. Sakura however wasn't too worried because Sasuke obviously hadn't shown any interest. Had he finally given in to his teenage instincts?

Sakura shook her head. It couldn't possibly be Karin. Besides, that former rogue nin was on a mission. Who could it be then?

Her eyes stayed glued to the floor when as if in slow motion the door to Sasuke's room opened and she saw two dainty feet step out of the doorway.

'This is it Sakura.', she told herself. 'This is when your heart breaks. This is when you finally see that Uchiha Sasuke has always been out of your reach.'

"Sakura."

Her eyes shifted and what she saw broke her heart into a million pieces.

.

.

.

.

Long blonde hair

.

.

.

A body that could knock the socks out of any man.

.

.

.

A face that was far too beautiful to be considered average.

.

.

.

"Ino."

_______________

"Ino-chan! I finally found someone I like! "

"Who?"

"Uchiha Sasuke." .

.

.

"Ino, do you like Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes."

"Then this means we're rivals… "

.

.

.

"I'm sorry Sakura."

_______________

"You've found your way under my skin, and I'm trying not to love you but I hate the way I keep on giving into you like I always do… no matter how I try."

– Break the Spell by Daughtry

Chapter 2-17

AN: Hi! So this is my first time writing a fic (Please be kind! :D ) I hope you'll like it. This story has been floating around in my head for a while now. In the manga, it was acknowledged that Ino still loves Sasuke and she is seldom used as the other woman so tada! :D This story is SasuSaku.

-Remastered-

Random Musings:

This story started out with the intention of adding a little spice to the SasuSaku fandom, specifically for me. (Aside from a way for me to entertain myself before falling asleep.) It sprouted out of my brain at a time when us fans were still clinging onto the hope that they would definitely get together even if there were a lot of near misses along the way. (Sasuke almost killing Sakura. Sakura questioning his presence in the war.) And it came out before Kaguya became the ultimate enemy. And before Naruto and Sasuke had that final battle. Honestly, there was a time that I wanted to change some parts of this story but decided to just let it be. It is just fiction, but I appreciate everyone who supported it. And I appreciate all the reviews. Even the spiteful ones.

This was my first time taking up the challenge of writing. And how difficult it was. First of all, you may have noticed, if you read through all that in one seating, that there is a change from using the past tense in narration to present. I wish I could edit all of it. But I don't think I can at this point.

Still though, I will read through everything again. And edit parts I want. And if you are here, reading it for the second time, then I would like to thank you again. Dear reader, you are absolutely awesome!