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risuola · 1 year

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I — A PRINCESS // F. READER x TOBIRAMA SENJU

There wasn't much that Tobirama wouldn't agree to do in order to keep the village he loves safe and strong, so it didn't take him long to agree to an arranged marriage that was meant to give Konoha a valuable ally.

contents: no specific warnings. slight objectifying of women, underage marriages mentioned, arranged marriage duh — 3,4k words

POLITICALLY LOVELESS || SERIES MASTERLIST

When Hashirama informed about the newest political arrangement that was already set and decided, Tobirama couldn’t disagree to fulfill his duties. As the fresh settlement between Konoha and the neighbor village of the land of Hot Water bloomed, it was required to join forces with them. In order to ensure peaceful co-existing and gain protection from the Land of Fire, Yugakure offered their princess. The Kage, Minozuki of the small, but powerful clan Yasu, as a sign of ultimate unition let go of his daughter to marriage, but demanded a husband of the highest rank for her. Joining forces with the village of hot springs made a direct impact on Konoha’s forces, as the shinobi from the smaller nation were well seasoned in war, for years offering their combat-related services, taking part in many conflicts. Knowing the importance of matter, in time where wars were hanging in the air, Hashirama agreed to the requirements, offering the highest available individual for the princess. His brother.

Tobirama was always convinced he’ll end up in loveless, political marriage, as love and affection were things he couldn’t afford. He had his hands full in the village, making sure every decision made was the best one possible. He was the brain of Konoha, taking care of politics, formalities, negotiations and on top of that, he was a curious and ambitious man, so every time he had spared, he used to develop new techniques, research topics that he deemed interesting and resting. When the idea of arranged marriage with a foreign princess was brought up to him, he agreed with no further discussion, unbothered by the thought of now sharing his life with someone. A princess.

Whilst traveling to Yugakure to meet Minozuki and to take his daughter away from him, Tobirama took time to refresh everything he knew about the village of hot springs. It made for a small dot on the map, but their shinobi were one of the best: skillful, all-rounded ninjas that took part in conflicts that Senju fought in as well and Tobirama could recall few of those that stood with him side by side, facing dangers that frightened others away. Having a diplomatic conciliation with them was highly beneficial to Konoha and silently he was proud of Hashirama for making such a great deal, politically speaking. But besides that, Tobirama was also aware of a culture and traditions that Yugakure cultivated for decades now, that he found odd enough to feel uneasy at the thought of marrying one of them. A princess. Being a man so informed, so engrossed in research and so hungry for knowledge, the young Senju had never even heard about Minozuki having a daughter. She was well hidden for many years and it was troublesome enough to make him worried about the age of said princess. Yu leader was relatively a young man, by the looks of him, so his daughter could possibly be any age and although it wasn’t uncommon for males to tie with underage wives, for Tobirama it was troublesome. With Hashirama he had fought for years to let children be children and give them time to grow before they face adult responsibilities.

Arriving at the gates, the young Senju was escorted into the palace in the middle of the village. The place was warm and welcoming, but he knew that the smiles plastered on everyone’s faces as he was passing by them were artificial. Given five hours to rest after travel, Tobirama changed his clothes and familiarized himself with the details of agreement, searching for any clue about the mysterious princess. A princess. It told him just enough to know she’s a female, but he would like to know more. It wasn’t necessary for the political issue for him to know the person he marries, but his curiosity was unfulfilled. Tobirama was a man that liked to be informed about every detail possible and if there was no one who could explain things to him, he would do his own research on the matter. This princess wasn’t a matter that could be researched as there are no traces of Minozuki even having a partner, not to say a child.

Feeling the heavy tension in his shoulders, Tobirama sat down on the pillow cushioned floor, facing the leader of Yugakure. The man situated in front of him had a slight smile glued to his face, being visibly proud of the deal he managed to get with Konoha, but no princess was around him. As the maids spread down various snacks on the short table between them, following closely with a porcelain tea set that was soon filled with greenest tea Senju had ever seen, the meeting was cued.

“I hope your travel was eventless, lord Senju,” Minozuki said, beginning with trivial questions to loosen up the tension buildup in the air. “How was your arrival? I delegated my best soldiers to escort you.”

“The travel was calm,” Tobirama spoke, internally hating the plain talk. “Thank you, I was welcomed well.”

“I’m glad. I’ve already expressed my gratitude towards the Lord First, regarding the agreement that we managed to reach but I feel obliged to also show my deepest respects towards you. As you might know, I’m offering my dearest daughter to the marriage and I can only hope she’ll meet all your needs and desires.”

“I hoped to meet your daughter here, before I take her tomorrow to Konoha.” The Senju spoke, already hating the way Minozuki voiced his statements. He was offering the daughter like he would offer a blanket – golden, but blanket nonetheless – hoping it’ll meet the requirements.

“My daughter is attending her last traditional lecture with elders before leaving the village and moving to the Land of Fire, but I can assure you, Lord Senju, that my daughter is pleasing to the eye. I made sure she remained as pure as possible for her future husband. I’m sure she’ll be done before we finish revisiting the details and then, I’ll invite her here.”

“That would be appreciated.”

If Tobirama was to point red flags, Minozuki would be the biggest and reddest one in the entire proximity of Konoha but Senju was aware of traditions and rituals Yugakure cultivted for decades, so he couldn’t question them too much. If anything, he was worried about tearing the princess out of the world full of said habits. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, Tobirama spent nearly three hours talking with the kage of Yu, making the most out of his diplomatic skills and making sure no misunderstandings were left hanging, as he wasn’t present in the initial conversation between Yasu and Hashirama. Everything that needed to be said and discussed, regarding the formal procedures was covered during that meeting and when it was coming to an end, one of the servants entered the room, bowing lowly and apologizing for interruption.

“Is my daughter finished with elders?” Minozuki asked and the servant confirmed. “Please bring her in. Lord Senju wishes to meet her.”

With another bow, the man left and a mid-aged woman entered, leading another, much younger girl. A girl, that Tobirama assumed was the mysterious princess, was dressed in a simple, dark kimono with bright flowers embroidered on the bottom and fading the higher they reached, with sleeves long enough to hide her hands completely and with another layer of fabric, that covered her chest up to her jaw. Minozuki raised up and so did Tobirama, as the father approached his daughter, leading her a little further into the room. When they were close enough, she bowed ninety degrees and sat down on her knees next to the kage, after both men situated themselves back on their seats. The princess. You.

Looking at you, Senju couldn’t focus on anything other than the black strip of satin fabric that was tied around your eyes.

“You probably wonder, why would I keep my own daughter blindfolded,” Yu leader noticed the interest. “As I reassured you before, the princess has been kept pure, protected from the shameless men that arrive at our village to enjoy the hot waters. I did everything to keep her out of foul experiences.”

“I see,” Tobirama nodded slightly, understanding nothing from the tradition that was presented to him. You were quiet and by the look of your body-form, slightly tensed as your father kept his iron grip on your forearm, claiming his control over you. From what Senju could see, you were quite tall but petite in figure, with the length of your hair unknown as they were neatly tied at the back of your head in a low bun. Your skin was clear and supple but nothing more than that he could tell. Your face remained a mystery, due to half of it being covered and it didn’t truly matter how his wife would look like but it would for sure give him a little clue about your age. Without it, he could only assume you were in your teens or, preferably, early twenties, judging by the curves that your kimono accentuated. “May I ask how old is your daughter?”

With the most disgusting smile Tobirama had ever seen in his life, Minozuki responded redundantly, “she’s old enough to fulfill her duties. I can assure you, Lord Senju, you won’t be disappointed by the transaction. Now, as our discussion has been completed, I’d love to give my daughter the last lecture before her departure but if that’s what you’d wish for, I’m willing to send her to the chamber you’re staying in at night.”

“We’re set to leave early in the morning so I’d prefer to have her well rested. The walk is quite long.”

“As you wish, Lord Senju. My servants will lead you to your staying chamber.”

With a firm handshake, the meeting ended and you were taken away as Tobirama was walked to his room, confused as ever. He had been offered many women during the short time since Konoha has been established, which all of them he had to reject simply because of lack of the benefit to the village but this… you. You were such a mystery to him, with no face, no voice, no signs of personality. You were kept hidden as gem by your village, but Senju wasn’t stupid. With his exceptional sensing abilities, he felt the chakra that was hidden inside that petite frame, he felt the captivating mixture of light and darkness filling every cell of your body, he felt the power of which one would never suspect you just by glancing at you. It was well known the Yasu clan in which you were born is powerful and it’s only right to assume you, as the successor, are powerful as well. Hashirama even told him, that in his initial conversation he was made aware of the training that the princess had to go through to be worthy of her position.

With the thought of how many changes he’s probably not ready for are coming, Tobirama tried to rest at night. Being bothered five times by the maids and servants wasn’t benefiting his sleep, but he pushed through the night hours, overthinking every single one of his life decisions. Yes, he was ready for marriage that’s purely political and yes, he’s more than alright with it being loveless. Hashirama had the luck to marry Mito Uzumaki, that although it was more on the arranged side, they fell in love and created a happy couple for which Tobirama couldn’t be happier. His brother deserved a good family, he needed someone who could cherish him and his angelic character, his loving heart, his kind intentions and Mito checked all of the boxes, with the addition of having enough power to proudly stand next to the hokage. When it came to himself, Tobirama knew his partner would have to be higher-rank to keep the appearances but he couldn’t imagine himself being all lovey-dovey with anyone. With so much war tattooed in his memory, so many losses and so much blood, his emotions were buried deep inside of him but he enjoyed the calm that his home is and this calm was about to end.

Early in the morning, he got ready and led by a servant he met Minozuki at the gates to Yugakure. He was there, with you by his side, controllingly keeping his grip on your arm as your eyes were kept covered. You were dressed less formally but still far from travel ready, in long dress with a high collar and a black blouse underneath, so your arms were covered. Everything was kept in dark navy color that complimented your skin tone and hair. It was also a shade that Tobirama himself felt the best in and he wondered if they chose your attire based on that.

“Lord Senju,” he welcomed and you bent in half, bowing with excessive respect that was forced upon you. It was clear that it was your father who pushed you lower than you’d probably go by yourself. With a soft nod, Tobirama acknowledged the head of the village, addressing him officially. “I’m devoting my beloved daughter to your hands in hopes for her safety and our successful cooperation.”

“I will make sure to send a notice when we arrive in Konoha.”

“That would earn you my endless gratitude. Sadly, I won’t be able to attend the wedding ceremony but I hope you’ll visit our land soon, to celebrate the marriage in our wonderful hot springs.”

“If the duties allow. Now, it’s best if we take off already. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Pleasure’s on our side.”

With the exchange of bows and the short goodbye you said to your father, you left the village, led by Tobirama’s hand placed delicately on your shoulder. The Senju decided to keep the blindfold on for a little longer, until the gates closed and then he stopped you.

“Excuse me if I sound disrespectful towards your traditions, but I find this ridiculous,” he informed bluntly and pulled the band off your head, finally revealing your face. “You can open your eyes and talk.”

It took you a moment to accommodate your eyes to the bright morning sunlight. “I find this ridiculous as well,” you said quietly, finally raising your eyes to look at the man you were given to. From the deep voice you expected someone older, but as you took in his features, you could tell he was in his mid to late twenties. He looked stunning in the morning sunrays with his pale complexion marked with three thin, red lines; his light, almost white hair and long, sharp eyes. Way taller than you, strongly built, he looked almost godly in the early aura of the day. You bowed to him already, but as you saw him for the first time, you felt the need to lower your head once more. “It’s an honor to meet you, my Lord.”

“Your father refers to you as his daughter or the princess. Could I know your name?”

“My name is y/n. Y/n Yasu.”

“Tobirama Senju,” he introduced himself, slightly relieved you were not so strictly tied by tradition as you seemed before. “I’ve noticed your father is quite… protective towards you.”

“If by protective, the controlling is meant then yes, I would say it might be true,” you gave the thought a slight nod and both of you moved forward.

“I see. Well, we have a long walk ahead of us, so if you have any questions that would be the best time to ask them. Tomorrow we will be a husband and wife and after that, I’m afraid I’ll be consumed by my duties.”

“I’ve been told that you are busy in the village. I’ll do my best to not interfere with your duties, my Lord,” you said and thought about the questions you had. There were so many things that you had no idea how to even ask about. Last thing you wanted to do right after meeting him was to annoy him. “Could you tell me what is your role in Konoha?”

“I’d say I’m the voice of reason to my brother, Hashirama, who is the hokage. I take care of diplomacy, negotiations, I’m part-taking in decisions and I do research on the art of ninjutsu or train,” Tobirama said bluntly and you nodded, understanding his role as the right hand to hokage was indeed important. You could also already tell, Tobirama wasn’t the warmest of a person, by the way he spoke and looked at you, it was clear that marriage is one of his duties and he treated it strictly as one. That hinted a loveless, lonely life.

“I would like to know the history that stands behind founding Konoha, so if that’s something you, or someone else, could familiarize me with, I’d be grateful.”

“There are documents on that matter in my, no, in our home that you’ll be more than welcome to read,” he said, smiling slightly, pleased with your curiosity of his homeland. You were, after all, meant to represent it, to protect it, to fight for it and, if necessary, to die for it. That was what his wife was required to represent – the love to the village he loves.

“That would be wonderful,” you smiled as well and sighed right after, deciding to ask questions that were important to you, risking his annoyance. “Am I allowed to touch you?”, questioning it you expected a scoff, but were met with quiet hum that told you to extend on the topic. “I’m by no means clingy, don’t misunderstand me, my Lord. But I was told by people around whom I’ve been raised that my love language is physical contact. I wouldn’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“I see. Well, we will be husband and wife tomorrow and I would only assume it comes with its delicacies. Although I find it hard to answer as of right now.”

“Understood,” you nodded, taking a mental note to stay cautious. “In that case, if I do anything you find uncomfortable, please inform me so I can act on it.”

“Of course.”

“Ah yes, I recall you asking about my age,” you reminded yourself, replaying the short conversation you’ve witnessed the day before. “Is that something that still interests you, my Lord?”

“Yes. The information was kept hidden and that concerns me. You do look young and it is known that what me and my brother wanted to achieve was letting children live their lives as children, before they face adult duties. Saying that, it only worries me that you might be younger than I’d want my wife to be.”

Chuckling quietly, you felt the weight dropping off your shoulders. Ever since you were informed about the marriage, your father assumed the younger you are, the better for a man that was about to marry you. You were told to present yourself as sixteen to seventeen, which was the smallest number believable with your youthful looks. In Yugakure it wasn’t a foreign concept to girl being given up to marriage even at the age of thirteen and Minozuki assumed, and even openly told you, you’re too old to find yourself a husband.

“Is there something funny?”, Tobirama asked seeing your amusement and you shook your head.

“I apologize, my Lord,” you lowered your head slightly, showing respect. “I was instructed to say I just turned sixteen in assumption that the younger I am, the more attractive you might find me. It’s well practiced in my land to arrange marriages at very young age for females. We have girls as young as fourteen to give birth to their first child.”

“That’s what I heard as well, hence my worry.”

“I’m 21. Is that closer to what you’d expect your wife to be?”

“So, five years age gap. Sounds reasonable. I’m relieved.”

“I’m glad. I have no muscle memory to act sixteen and by the few moments I now spent with you, I can tell you’d find it annoying, wouldn’t you, my Lord?”, asking that, you already knew the answer even if he wasn’t going to say it out loud.

“By this pace, we’ll reach Konoha by evening,” he said after a moment of silence, internally annoyed by the slow walk. On his way towards Yugakure, he managed to reach the village in just few hours and now it seemed like a waste of time to just walk slowly on the ground. There was a wedding tomorrow and he needed to fill few formalities by the ceremony. “Would you mind if I use my technique to get us faster into the village?”

“Please,” you agreed, aware of his reputation for speed.

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sunnybunny33 · 5 months

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Bueno, pero

No he visto hasta ahorita el revés o contrario

Como, Hidan siendo de Taki y que le hayan pasado todas esas cosas y sea el quien tenga el kinjutsu

Y Kakuzu siendo de Yugakure, inmortal al 100% y alabando a Jashin jsjsjs ( le gustaría el dinero?)

su trasero no sabe usar palillos

(no le pregunten como agarra su guadaña)

#kakuzu #hidan #kakuhida #akatsuki #akatsuki hidan #akatsuki kakuzu

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dira333 · 8 months

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To be loved is to be changed - Kisame x Reader

Words 4,9k

Angst and Fluff, Canontypical Violence and Death mentioned - requested by @snuggleboots for the Follower Celebration

Soul Mates

Two people bonded over time and distance, who are able to communicate via thoughts. Unlike the Yamanaka Family Jutsu, sight or Chakra usage is not needed. It has been reported that the two parts of the bond do not have to know each other before activating the bond.

The first ever documented case was reported in Yugakure. The subjects noted that they could only hear the voice of their partner the moment one of them turned eighteen.

Ever since then it has been hard to find test subjects since the existence of a bond can only be proven after they’ve turned eighteen.

Soul Bonds are not a genetic inheritance, since their existence is not inherited, as the Hyuuga-Study proved. They can also not be transferred, as a study from Iwagakure proved.

It has proven wise, however, to eliminate bonds between different Nations since the bond can be used to transfer state secrets, willingly or unwillingly.

Most female bond partners die shortly after the male bond partner has been eliminated, as an extensive Study from Konohagakure, Orochimaru, showed.

It had been business as usual.

A Shinobi life did not offer much chance for celebration. A birthday is nothing more than a way to calculate age. Kisame knew people who celebrated every day they survived, but he’d never been one for celebration. He certainly didn’t learn it from his parents.

His shoes are filled with liquid and he doesn’t bother to check if it is blood or water. It had been raining all day, making the mission harder for his opponents and a hella lot more fun for him.

But he’s hungry, and cold, and he could use a bed instead of the damp ground.

He’s still pretty far from Kirigakure, but he remembers a small village he had come by a few days earlier and directs his feet toward the approximate location.

Soaring through the air, the rain pelting his face, he wonders what time it is. Not that it matters, but he was born around four p.m., something his father liked to remind him of because his mother had missed making lunch because of his birth.

A branch snaps under his foot and he topples through the air, cursing loudly as he manages to land on a different tree. A shiver runs down his back but before he can think too much about it, he can hear a voice, sweet and distinctly female.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” He turns around, and squints through the rain. He’s pretty sure he’s alone.

“Are you a Yamanaka? I heard about your Jutsu!”

“What the hell is a Yamanaka? Where are you? Show yourself?”

“I’m in the middle of the street, how can you not see me? You’re the one who started cursing at me!”

“What the- I wasn’t cursing!”

“Oh, of course you were! I’ve never heard such foulmouthery before! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” The voice is sweet and young, but the choice of words is a bit old-fashioned for his taste.

“My mother is dead.” He waits, can’t help the smug grin when the voice falters in its reprimand.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know! When did it happen? And how? Are you okay?”

“Easy there, just tell me where you’re hiding and we’re going to get this over with.”

“Again, I am not hiding. But since you’re so blind, obviously, I am going to walk across the street and into the bakery. Can you see me? Can I see you?”

“What bakery?” Kisame’s pretty sure he’s still a long way off any bakeries.

“The main one, you know. Yamamoto’s golden bread, right at the main road.”

“What village?”

“What village? Are you kidding me? What village could I be talking about?”

Something heavy, most likely the truth, settles in Kisame’s gut. His feet suddenly feel a lot less sturdy and he lowers himself until he’s sitting securely on the thick branch.

“What time is it?”

“It’s a bit after four p.m. why? Are you okay?”

“Have you ever heard about soulmates?”

There’s Silence and it’s shocking how unwelcome it is all of a sudden. He hadn’t known a different voice in his head before, but its absence feels so utterly unwelcome now.

“You there?”

“Yeah, I’m just… Are you saying you’re my soulmate?”

“I guess so.”

“That means you just turned eighteen.”

“Guess so.”

“Oh, don’t give me that, you know how old you are, right?”

He laughs, can’t help it. You’re a whole other thing when you’re being sassy with him.

“What does it matter? It was nice meeting you. I will make sure not to bother you again.”

“Wait! WAIT!”

“What?” He blinks into the rain. This, this whole Soulmate thing, is just a big fat joke. Fate hates him, and always has. A Shinobi can hardly hold up a relationship as it is, no less a happy one. A Soulmate Relationship? Where your partner's life is bound to yours to the point that you cannot survive without your other half? That’s just cruel.

“What’s your favorite cake flavor?”

“What?”

“Cake. What kind do you like most.”

“I don’t know. We don’t have much cake here. What’s yours?”

“I like Chocolate Cake. Would it be okay if I got one? For you? For today.”

“You can do whatever you want. I don’t care.”

He keeps the promise he gave himself.

He does not bother you. Well, at least he will as soon as he figures out how not to talk to you.

You, however, have no qualms in talking to him.

“Today I got plums. I love plums. I’m going to make a Plum Pudding for my Grandmother, and some jam for my neighbors and if there’s something left over, I’ll make a cake with it. Do you like Plums? What’s your name anyway? Is it Ume? Like Plum? Or do you have purple hair?”

He’s pretty sure you’re not Shinobi. A Shinobi would not act so casually with a Soulmate bond. They are trained to be cautious about any attempt of espionage but you don’t seem to care that you blabber out too much that he should not know.

You’re from Konohagakure, it seems. Your parents died young and you’re raised by your grandmother, hence the old-fashioned way of talking. You like to bake and cook and play good housewife, but sometimes, when you pass a Shinobi on the street, you wonder how their life is. If you could be good at something that is dangerous. Something your grandmother carefully keeps you shielded from.

Your voice is as sweet as the jam you keep blabbering about.

He wonders, not for the first time, how you look like. Are you as plump as the women of Yura? Thin and elegant like the people in Ishi? Maybe you like to put on colorful makeup and dance around in wild clothing like the people of Kimmun?

Whatever you look like, he cannot imagine your body next to his, your life entwined with the one he leads.

Kirigakure has gotten scarier and he’s growing fed up with orders that make no sense, superiors who are more corrupt than the criminals he’s paid to bring in.

***

On your eighteenth birthday, you see the sun rise over an ocean. It’s a breathtaking view and you enjoy it from the safety of your bedroom, the windows facing the forest.

You’re not sure if your soulmate is a quiet man or simply has the self-discipline of a god.

He rarely ever answers your questions, lets nothing slip beside a lot of curse words. But his dreams are vivid and wether he does it willingly or without his knowledge, he shares them with you.

You know they have to be his dreams. You’ve never traveled further than the next Village outside of Konoha. But you dream of lush landscapes, of mountains that pierce the sky, of the sea stretching further than your eyes can reach, of a village hidden in the mist.

He must be from Kirigakure. And while he kept quiet, you’ve read everything about Soulmates you could get your hands on. Most Hidden Villages demand of their population to come forward as soon as their Bond is forged. And while you’ve not heard of a execution in years, you don’t want to know what would happen to you if it got known that your Soulmate is from Kirigakure.

And a Shinobi too.

Some nights his dreams are gruesome and you wake up crying, your mind filled with pictures of dead comrades, of heavy rain that washes away the blood.

He never answers after that and you wonder what he feels about your bond. Is it guilt or would he rather have someone else?

But everytime you tell yourself to give this up, to stop your stories, to let his silence be silence, the wall he’s put up crumbles.

Like today. When he thinks of the ocean and allows you to see it too.

“I got a Kunai.” You tell him, the weapon heavy in your satchel. “Will you tell me how to use it?”

“Why do you need to know?” It’s been days since you’ve last spoke. You’re a little surprised that he’s answering.

“I want to be able to defend myself.”

“You’ll do more harm than good with a Kunai.”

“Don’t belittle me.”

“I’d never.” There’s sincerity in his voice. Exhaustion too.

“Bad timing?”

“Hide that Kunai away. Don’t use it until I tell you how. First you need to learn how to use your Chakra.”

“Should we do that later? You probably want to rest.”

“It’s okay.” You wonder what he’s doing right now. Does he sit down to focus on you or is he on the move? You think of him, a voice without a body, tucked into a bed and feel his amusement.

“That is new.” You comment. “I could feel your feelings.”

“I’m sorry-”

“Don’t be.” You interrupt him. “I want to know you.”

“I don’t want you to know me.”

“Oh…” He must feel it too, the pang of disappointment going through you, because he rushes to apologize.

“It’s better for you. Safer. I’m sorry you’re bound to me. I know if I die, you’ll most likely die too, but I don’t have to drag you down. As long as I am alive, somewhere far away from you, you can lead a happy, easy life.”

“Do you think I could love another men with your voice in my head?”

Silence. No matter how much you call, he does not answer.

Two weeks after your eighteenth birthday a pair of Shinobi knocks on your grandmothers door.

You’re in the kitchen stirring a pot of compote, but your grandmothers quivering voice pulls you away from the stove. She sounds scared.

“Sit down,” you tell her, her frail shoulders shaking under your hands as you lead her to the kitchen table. “I will handle this.”

“But-”

“It’s all good, obaa-chan. The Shinobi work to help us. Drink some water, it’s all good.”

You return to the door, the woman already inside your house.

“I’m sorry, her health isn’t the best. How can we help you?”

“It’s just a checkup.” The woman smiles but it’s not a friendly smile. “You turned eighteen recently and you got quite a few books from the library, yet you never came to the office to register your soulmate.”

“Oh, of course.” You nod, for the first time glad that your Soulmate is so keen on keeping quiet. “I understand. Sadly I do not have a soulmate. I was hoping I would have one, since my parents were Soulmates, but the books were right. It cannot be inherited.”

“I’m afraid we cannot go by your word alone.”

“I understand.” You nod again. “What do you require me to do?”

The two of them stare you down and you blink up at them innocently. You might not be a Shinobi or have any talents beyond following recipes, but you certainly know how to lie.

“That will suffice.” The man nods curtly. “Sorry about the bother.”

“Oh, of course. Do you want to stay for some tea? I am just making a new batch of cake if you want to stay or come back later for a slice.”

“We cannot stay.”

“I understand. But please don’t hesitate to come back later. It was always important to our family to feed the Shinobi.”

“Why?” The woman puts her hand on her partners arm, halts him in his movements as she stares you down. You wonder what she’s thinking. She’s clearly not trusting you.

“We are only able to live in safety because of the Shinobi’s work. My mother was too sickly to work as a Shinobi and my father was a tradesperson and they instructed me to always be thankful for the hard work of the Shinobi. I wouldn’t dare to disappoint them.” You bow.

“I always wanted… to train too. But I do not have any talent, it seems.” You look at the floor in a show of shame and that seems to pacify them for good.

“There is no cake needed.” They agree quietly. “But thank you for the offer.”

The door closes behind them, but you don’t trust it to keep you safe. You heard of Shinobi who can see through walls, so you don’t dare to exhale in relief and instead keep yourself as busy as you would normally, tell your grandmother in a cheerful tone all about the conversation.

“Oh, I am so sorry that you do not have a Soulmate.” She clutches her chest as she speaks. “It was so lovely for your mother to find your father.”

“Like I’d ever leave you.” You tell her and she pulls you down to kiss your temple before leaving for another nap. She’s been tired a lot these last weeks.

***

“I want to see you.” Kisame shudders at your words. But no, it’s not the words but your longing. He can feel it so intensely, that he’s no longer sure if it’s yours or his.

Life has gotten lonely as a Missing-Nin, his Hitai-Ate no longer a thing he wears with pride.

He’s been building a home, telling himself that it’s meant just to house him and no one else, but his body betrays his mind when he builds it large enough to house a family.

Yet, how can he tell you about it? How can he take you from Konoha, the safe village you grew up in, the arms of your grandmother, to a house on the shore with no neighbors

“It’s not safe.” He tries to answer, but you’ve gotten better at getting him to answer.

“I’ve gotten better. I can already walk on water! I barely miss any more when I throw a Kunai. Please, I just want to see you!”

He doesn’t say no, cannot bring himself to accept the reality so how could he convince you?

But he dreams of you, of all the bits and pieces he’s gotten to know in the last five years.

“I’m going to be in Kimmun next month.” You tell him a few days later, resolve audible in your thoughts. “It’s at the edge of the border. I’m going to be there for at least two days and there are plenty of hostels that won’t look too closely at either of us if we pay good money for a room.”

Anxiety closes up his throat. Kisame knows those hostels well enough, has killed in more than one of them.

“You will not go near them, do you understand me? I’ve got my ways, I can get into any room you could stay in.”

“So you’ll come?”

“Let me think about it.”

“Okay.” You give in easy. Too easy. He realizes why a few days later when you pick the topic back up, intent on making sure he knows exactly how much you want to see him.

He should feel flattered and he would, maybe, if not for the forbidden Jutsu that he took with him when he left Kirigakure. The Jutsu that transformed his body in more ways than one.

No matter how sweet you are, no matter how much you’re supposed to be suited for him, can he really expect you to be fine with that?

Kimmun is lovely at this time of the year. The streets are bustling with people to the point hardly anyone takes notice of him.

It’s an important time for a merchant like you when everyone’s offering and you have to have a good eye and a quick mind to gather the best of the best.

Kisame spots you easily. You’re like a Sakura Tree in a field of wildflowers, all the colors in the world doing nothing but emphasizing your beauty.

You work alone and he wonders when you started, how you convinced your grandmother to let you. You don’t seem a novice anymore, he can see it in the way your eyes seem to catch everything, how you won’t let even the most charming seller convince you to buy something you don’t want.

He follows you up to the Hotel you’re staying in, not too cheap but not too fancy either. As the day turns into night he can see you at the window, looking out into the darkness. You’re obviously waiting for him and he wonders when he turned this way, when the fearsome warrior became a man following the mere wishes of a woman.

But you’re different, aren’t you? You were picked to be with him or maybe he was picked to be with you, either way, it’s a cruel choice for either of you.

It’s best to get this all over with, so he moves even when he dreads it. He didn’t get out of Kirigakure because he was too shy, or unwilling to get uncomfortable.

…

“Close your eyes.” Your back is turned to the window - a grave mistake he will have to make you unlearn. But no, he will not, because this will end here.

“You’re here.” You say, and your voice is filled with too much delight. It makes him feel sick.

“Whatever.” He mutters before he can say “Of Course.”

“Can I look?” You ask, hands over your eyes as you move from one foot to the other.

He puts Samehada down, closes the window behind him, and draws the curtain closed. Anxiety pools cooly in his stomach but he nods first and confirms loudly second.

His eyes are on you, can’t look away no matter how much he wants to. He doesn’t miss one second of your reaction. He waits for the disappointment, for the giddiness to flake at the edges. But you curl your hands into fists in front of you and look up at him as if he hung the moon and the stars.

“What are you looking at?” He asks, his voice a bit too harsh. You’re too delicate to be treated this way, no matter his feelings.

“Can I hug you?”

…

When he wakes up from a nap he didn’t mean to take, your head rests on his chest and his water clone looks over with envy written over his face.

“Get one yourself,” he tells his clone, which is childish, but there’s no one to witness it but himself.

You’re a warm weight, your presence enough to convince him to stay in bed. No one’s been following him, he tells himself, he can enjoy this short time with you.

And even though he knows that he shouldn’t, that he should get as far away from you as possible, for his sake as much as yours, he finds himself bound to you through more ways than one. There’s the look in your eyes when you wake up, or the way you hold onto his hand when he pulls away - just to brush his teeth, okay - or how you insist on getting breakfast in bed and lean in to kiss jam from the corner of his mouth.

By the time another evening rolls around he’s lost sight of who’s the dangerous one of the two of you. You know what you want - him - and he’s never been able to say no to you, it seems. Not when Kisame wants you just as much, not when he’s never gotten anything that belonged to him and only him, before.

He wants to take you home, to the almost-finished house at the shore.

For you, he’d become a merchant or a stay-at-home Dad.

He tells you, whispers it into each kiss until he’s sure you know, repeats it in the realm that houses just the two of you, and tells you over and over again even as you sleep to the point that he knows you dream of him too.

And Kisame’s convinced, he knows it must be, that he will not leave this town without you…

Until one of his Clones goes down, alerting him of the imminent danger.

He needs to leave, right now, when the morning is not even a thought yet in the minds of this city, when your head rests easy right over his heart.

Kisame needs to leave you behind, because there are at least three high class Nin looking for him and if he cannot lead them away from the city, divert their attention with a fight, they will keep looking and they will find you.

He might not want to leave, but he will if it’s the one thing that keeps you safe.

So he does.

***

The bed feels empty when you wake up. His sword is gone from where it leaned against the window sill. Your mind is empty too and there’s no note left out for you to find. When you call out his name, out loud and in your head, you don’t get an answer.

You want to wait, tie yourself to your bed until he shows up again, until he at least answers your questions in your head, but you’ve came here with a group of other merchants - for safety reasons - and you’re expected to leave today, having only a few hours to spare.

So you make yourself go through the motions, wash the memories off your body as best as you can and leave Kimmun so unlike you’ve entered it.

Gone is the hope and anticipation. With every hour spent without his voice in your mind you feel surer of his decision.

To you it might have been a beginning. To him it was an end.

One week after your return your grandmother has to be hospitalized.

You hold her hand as she fights for breathe after breathe, as her heart stutters to a stop.

You don’t cry when her body burns, when all that’s left of her is ash and bone shards, happy memories and the ghost of her kiss, the feeling of her lips pressed to your temple or her hands folded around yours as she teaches you.

You return to your now empty house, wondering when you turned this resilient, this cold.

They say that to be loved is to be changed, but in your case it has to be different. Loving Kisame has changed you. You wonder if you changed him too, even just a little.

Work consumes you.

There’s no time to bake, no time to make jams.

You don’t dare stop to taste the plums, fearing it will unravel you at the seams.

They say one woman can’t manage a whole business alone, so you smile and nod and ask for their assistance, collect their money and open another shop in Kimmun, because why not?

You keep yourself busy until you search for a painkiller and find your tampons, unopened, unused in, what… a month? Two?

That’s when you break, because what are you supposed to do?

You’re unmarried, have no relationship to name and your business is riding on your good reputation.

It’s on the bathroom floor, hugging your knees like a little girl, that you call out to Kisame for the first time in weeks, call upon his name like he’s God and you’re the sinner.

His response is the view of moldy ceiling, the wooden boards covered with black spots.

“What?!” Even your inner voice breaks with confusion.

Memories flood your mind after that.

Running from Kimmun, someone following closely. A fight. Blood, so much blood.

Intense pain shoots through your left leg. A nameless nurse taking care of you.

“Where are you?” You ask.

“I’m hiding.” He says. “I’m not even sure this place has a name.”

“Why didn’t you answer?”

“I couldn’t. I had to focus on the fight and by the time I could answer you’d gone silent.”

“So? You could have called out to me first.”

“I’m sorry.” He sounds sincere. Not for the first time you curse your connection. You can tell that he means it.

“What happened?” He asks.

“I’m pregnant.”

Silence follows, but it is not empty. You can feel his doubts wage war on him.

“Is it mine?” He asks, voice quiet, almost subdued.

“Of course it is yours!”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Take me with you. Please! I am all alone here and we could live together, right? I don’t care where we’d be, just let us be together, anywhere is fine.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I don’t care.”

“But I care.”

“If you die, I die. It will always be dangerous.”

“Let me think about it. I want to, I do, but we need to be smart about this.”

“I love you.”

He does not say it back. But you can see what he sees, your head resting on his chest back in Kimmun, your hands joined together. And that is just as good as hearing those three words.

***

Your growing belly is hidden beneath a wide skirt.

You have not complained once since the two of you left Kimmun in the early morning hours.

It will take months for those back in Konoha to learn that you sold your shares in Kimmun too, just like you did with all of your belongings in Konoha. By then it will be impossible to find a trace of you, to hear even a faint whisper of what happened with the lone young girl coming from the village.

The scars on his leg have healed up. Kisame feels no pain as he lifts you up and carries you over the threshold like one does with their new wife, the future mother of their children. Like his father should have done with his mother. Like your father has done with your mother.

He’s twenty-four, a criminal by the laws of Kirigakure, and a Soulmate by the laws of nature. He’s a husband, a homeowner and in a few months, he’s going to be a father too.

Your savings will keep you two afloat for quite some time and there’s a small village a few hours by foot, that will sell them whatever they could need.

He’s not yet convinced that this can last, that you can be happy in a place as lonely as this, that he can keep you safe, but he wants to try.

Mikio is six when he takes up the black coat with the red clouds.

He doesn’t do it for the money and not for the name.

But the twins just turned three and you’re pregnant again, yet there have been Kiri-Nin asking for him in the village and he knows he cannot run forever.

Pain’s way might not be the nicest, but he promises peace.

Is there anything he wouldn’t do to make sure you’ll be safe?

“Say goodbye to Papa.” You call out to Mikio who’s drying shells in the sun. The twins are running cirlces around him, probably thinking he’ll be back tomorrow from another trip to the neighbouring village. They don’t know yet about the meaning of missions, or how long three months really are.

But Mikio comes after you. He’s got a nose for things he shouldn’t know about.

“I don’t want you to go.” He says when Kisame steps closer.

“I don’t want to go.”

“So don’t go.”

“‘s not as easy as that.”

Mikio looks away again.

“Listen.” Kisame kneels down beside him, aware how much he’s growing. He’s coming after him with his height. “I’m not going to tell you to look after Ma. That’s not your job. You’re a kid. I have to leave so that you can stay a kid until you grow up. That’s not easy, but I’m doing it for you.”

“Okay.”

“Can I have a hug goodbye?”

Mikio ponders it for a second before crawling into his lap. He’s much too big for that now, growing too heavy for it too, but there had never been a chance for this when Kisame had been a kid, so why should he deny his son something he’d never knew he could have for himself?

When he leaves, he takes your voice with you.

It follows him wherever he goes.

Kisame knows when you’re safe, he knows when you’re in trouble.

Sometimes it’s the only thing keeping him sane.

To be loved is to be changed, you’d told him once when he’d complained about how his life had hardened you.

Kisame wonders how he’d have turned out without you.

He finds he doesn’t want to know.

#my writing #Dira Writes #Kisame x Reader #kisame hoshigaki #Kisame Fluff #Kisame Angst #Soulmate Trope #Naruto x Reader #Naruto fluff #Naruto angst #Naruto Soulmate #Kisame Soulmate

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tymns · 7 months

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Naruto OC: Kino Sōden (棗田杞乃, Souden Kino, Tảo Điền Kỷ Nãi?) with a silk moth - her jutsu inspiration.

Personal Data:

Location: Konohagakure

Birthday: Feb 9th

Age: 25 (Part II)

Height: 160cm / Weight: 47kg

Classification: Sensor Type

Occupation: Anbu (former), Academy Teacher

Affiliation: Sōden Family, Renchi Clan

Family: Hino Sōden (older brother), Yugen Yao (cousin)

Relate: Aburame Clan

Natural Types: Water, Yin, Yang

Personality: Vulnerable, Stubborn

Tool: Wakizashi

Jutsu:

Silk Manipulation

Silk Clone

Poison Powder

Cocoon Dome

Aroma Ninjutsu

Sensing Technique

Sharpness Enhancement Technique

Chakra Shockwave Slash

Water Release: Water Formation Wall

Water Release: Furious Roaring Tornado

Trivia:

• Sōden Family (棗田家, Souden Ke?, literally meaning: jujube field) is based on my paternal side. Most members of this family are civilians and running a successful herbal medicines selling business.

• Renchi Clan (蓮池一族, Renchi Ichizoku?, literally meaning: lotus pond) is based on my maternal side. Renchi Clan is the shinobi clan that reside in Yugakure. They are known for their ability to control sharpness in any object through the use of Yang Release.

• The kanji 杞 in Kino means goji berry. Her full name may refers to an East Asia traditional medicine.

• • Kino dislikes her given name. She prefers to go by her codename: Usuki (ウスキ, lit. light yellow).

• Despite she had definitely achieved Jōnin level, Kino chose to remain a Chūnin rank.

• Kino’s kenjutsu was trained by her senior, Raidō Namiashi.

• With her sensing ability, she can detect moisture from afar, for example, the incoming rain.

• Blank Period: Kino becomes a member of the Aburame Clan.

#naruto #naruto oc #naruto original character #oc x canon #oc x character #aburame clan #kino souden #usuki #my oc #my art

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waffliesinyoface · 7 months

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see, the thing about Hidan is he is presented as kind of a one note character. Funny murder man who yells a lot and screams about his death cult. Fantastic. Love that for him.

but the other thing about Hidan is that the akatsuki is almost* entirely composed of people who were fucked over by the system in some way, so if he was JUST a funny murder man, he would be an outlier. (*zetsu does NOT count)

and the other other thing about Hidan is that Jashinism is explicitly about shared suffering. Hidan feels all of it. Hidan revels in all of it. Hidan believes that the bond of suffering is where humans truly understand one another on a fundamental level. He's not just killing and sacrificing people, he's sacrificing himself. He just gets back up.

And given that Pein & Konan's goals as the akatsuki are to crush the world with war the same way that Ame was crushed by war, and Yugakure went from a shinobi village to a hot springs town, implying they lost so much manpower that they literally couldn't function with a ninja-based economy anymore... hey, Hidan? What suffering have you experienced, that you want to share with others?

I want to understand you, Hidan.

#naruto #akatsuki #I don't know if deidara has a canon backstory or not but:#Itachi - uchiha massacre orders #Kisame - ordered to kill teammates to protect the village's secrets BY someone who was actively SELLING those secrets #Sasori - orphaned at a very young age by war #Kakuzu - given an impossible mission and then branded as a traitor for not succeeding #Pein/Konan - Ame getting crushed; Hanzo's regime; Yahiko dying #Obito - kannabi bridge and subsequent brainwashing by an evil grandpa

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quenchiestcactusjuice99 · 3 months

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Hi! I've just gotten into naruto and I was wondering if you have an fic recommendations based in other villages?

OKAY hi yes. meant to answer this yesterday, oops. Welcome! while currently I am writing and reading in a more DC-focused direction, I definitely still have a lot of Naruto fic recs. because i'm not sure exactly what you're looking for in terms of genre or content, some of these vary widely and might not be what you're after. so! here's some stuff from my AO3 bookmarks. (you do have to be a registered user to read some of these.)

The One Where An OC Moves In With Kakuzu by Tozette is about 10k words and takes place in Ame. it's pretty straightforward, a little cracky, and very enjoyable. this author has a very good grip on Kakuzu's characterization, i highly recommend everything else they've written as well.

a study in demons by saintbedo is 2k words and technically takes place in Kiri. it's a short and bittersweet character study of zabuza.

he wants to be tender and merciful by nithenoel is 40k. it's a time travel fic with Gaara. it's been a long time since I read this one, but i'm certain that at least the majority of it takes place in Suna, if not all of it. i'm a sucker for Gaara-centric stuff, and this fic is all about him trying to repair his relationship with his siblings.

look twice by tciddaemina is about 9k, a soulmate fic with itachi/kisame pre-canon. it's from kisame's perspective, so at least the first part is in Kiri.

denizens of the sands of time by CherShare is 42k, another time travel fic with Gaara but to the Warring States period or directly after the formation of Konoha, i forget. iirc Gaara sort of starts building his own village and adjudicates for the wandering desert clans and stuff, so... technically takes place in early early early Suna? it's tagged Tobirama/Gaara.

To Stay the Tides by TheDroidsYoureLookingFor is 126k and the majority takes place in the Land of Waves. SI-OC and soulmate AU, i think the main pairing is the OC and Kisame. I don't remember how many canon characters come into play here, i think there's a lot of OCs and worldbuilding with Wave and Uzushio and stuff.

I Never Sharpened My Teeth by DrDiabolical is 25k and probably darker than most of the other stuff on this list. it's young Kakashi-centric, in a world where he gets kidnapped to Kiri and experimented on. mind the tags and rating; it's explicit and a lot of stuff happens. But as far as i remember the author tags accurately and clearly.

Steam by Ornery Otter is 62k and it's only on this list because of how much i enjoy it. it's an SI-OC from Yugakure, but only the first few chapters take place in Yu. so this one is maybe disqualified. but i like it a lot so :p

Plasticity by Mixelation is 177k and again, maybe doesn't count? but it's another fic near and dear to my heart. SI-OC gets kidnapped by the Akatsuki, so some of the fic takes place in Ame. this is another author that just writes bangers, and has a killer (ha) grasp on Akatsuki characterizations. i'd recommend pretty much everything they've written too. (there are also nearly endless AUs and spinoffs of this AU that you can find on Mixelation's tumblr, increasing in whackiness and fun as they go).

a dog and a shark walk into a bar by cloudycats is 42k and once more, maybe doesn't count since it doesn't really take place in a village. this is an AU where canon Kakashi wakes up in a noncanon world where he committed the Uchiha Massacre and is partnered to Kisame in the Akatsuki. i really enjoy this one.

Deadbeat. by Tozette is 33k and i just read it today actually. it's an SI-OC who is Kakuzu's daughter. i cannot describe how much i fucking love this fic. whatever youre thinking, its almost certainly better. its on here because it doesn't happen in any big village.

man, i sort of lost the thread with these last 4 recs, they're more like 'doesnt happen in konoha' than 'happens in another village'. anyway! thanks for the ask and I hope these help. feel free to ask for more recs anytime. welcome to the fandom!

Cheers <3

#cactus answers

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jacksgreysays · 9 months

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Tobirama matter of factly planning a temple of the Shikabane-hime in the middle of Konoha is SENDING me oh my god?? Is Shikako still born to Shikako and Yoshino in this universe? How does everyone react to maybe having a mortal incarnation of their patron deity growing up before their eyes? Wait does Shikabane-hime create the Garden during the Founding era. Is she also worshipped in Sand?? And not to hijack other anon’s prompt but the full saying is “by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes” so.. Jashin? Does Konoha have beef with Yugakure in this world? I LOVE THIS AU AAHH

First of all, Tobirama is a very clever lad: if a goddess is going to support their village built on the shakiest network of treaties and alliances, then he's going to take that support and use it as a foundation because otherwise all they have to go on is his older brother's charisma and that's NOT going to cut it long term. Also, he really is quite jealous that all Izuna had to do was look at Shikabane-hime to get a cool technique while he has to actually go through the scientific method WHILE ALSO DESIGNING THE VILLAGE.

I think Shikako looks enough like Yoshino that in this universe, they think it's the other way around--that Yoshino is, if not a mortal incarnation of their patron deity (because MAYBE Shikako is immortal in this universe due to the massive amounts of earnest worship actually working to make her a goddess even if she wasn't actually one in the beginning) then some kind of... goddess blessed? Like... this Konoha is so off the rails that there may be a separate order of priest/priestess-nin and Yoshino would be recruited for that.

And, like, I do like the Shikaku and Yoshino's love story, and it would be very sad if they didn't get together, so it's not that the priests/priestesses of the Shikabane-hime CAN'T fall in love and have families (and also, because Shikako is just like. Hey. As long as everyone involved is a consenting adult, the genders of said parties does not matter. Hooray marriage equality decades earlier)

Anyway, then if they do still have child Shikako, it could be a very... !!!! ... A Chosen One!!!! And then, THIS Shikako would be the "she who has divine right" version of Hokage!Shikako from my Hail To The Queen series... but that's maybe getting too self-referential?

I do think Shikabane-hime and Gelel create the Garden during the Founding era--because her arriving in each universe post-Split makes the Garden, if it hasn't already been made--so I would think that, yes, a version of her is also worshiped in Sand. But if she didn't stick around to make contact with the shinobi who would become the founders of Sand, they may know her by a different name? Like, in Land of Wind she is Gelel but in Land of Fire she is Shikabane-hime and it becomes a matter of, like, denominational differences.

Alternatively, rather than the Kazekage clan being called "Sabaku no" (of the Desert) perhaps they are called "Yokuchi no" (of the Oasis)? But I suppose that depends how early on in the timeline she is for Sand.

And finally… IS THAT WHERE THAT PHRASE COMES FROM? Oh my god, I'm so bad at identifying when prompts are references to things. It just goes right over my head T_T

I don't think Yugakure even exists long enough for Konoha to have beef with them. If one of Shikabane-hime/Gelel's early "miracles" DOESN'T include a divine smack down of Jashin, possibly erasing Yugakure--or possibly the whole of Land of Hot Water--from the map via volcano (I mean, hot springs are usually because of geothermals, and if she can make an earthquake she can probably make a volcanic eruption) then I don't know what counts as a miracle.

#jacksgreyson #anonymous #ask box advent calendar #review response #dreaming of sunshine #by the pricking of my thumbs #brainstorm #tobirama senju #yoshino nara #shikaku nara #shikako nara

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jesseevelann · 2 years

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Deidara: Hey, Nii-san, leader wants you.

Hidan: Yeah, whatev- ... what did you just call me?

Deidara: Nii-Sa... ... ...

Hidan: ... Deidara?

Deidara: forget everything i said, hm.

Hidan: Deidara wait-

Deidara: FORGET EVERYTHING I SAID!!!

#deidara #deidara of iwagakure #hidan #hidan of yugakure #the akatsuki #naruto #naruto shippuden

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scentedpoetrywitch · 4 months

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look at this picture ! he looks exactly like his twin brother hidan ! don't you think !?!

#naruto oc #male naruto character oc #gorgeous man #hideki of Yugakure

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riversimmone · 4 months

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Three's A Crowd - Chapter 2

RiverOfTheSand

Summary:

SasuSaku. He didn't mean to kill that man. He had simply reacted to being attacked. And now Konoha is forced to hunt down the rogue members of Team 7, or risk open war. Eventual NaruHina.

End chapter notes:

A bit ominous? The trouble is just around the corner. Please review and stay tuned! You won't regret it! ^_^

XXX

Read from the beginning. This is a work in progress story you can find on tumblr and AO3 and completed on FF.NET.

[All tumblr posts will be tagged ‘Three’s A Crowd’ with their corresponding chapter for quick and easy access.]

Enjoy. :)

Chapter Two. Calling Card.

Sakura Haruno murmured softly, waking up slowly but surely as she dimly became aware she was in a tree, her back against the trunk and one leg hanging over the edge of the thick branch. It was night, the soft, cool breeze greeting her like an old lover and she smiled slightly. She was used to this, waking up in an unusual position instead of the comfortable bed with feather pillows she'd had growing up.

To her right, she sensed Naruto, seeing him a moment later as her eyes adjusted to the moonlight in the near darkness; Sasuke was several feet in front of her, his back to her, but wide awake. He was the lookout for the hours that passed over midnight, seeing as though he always seemed to sleep the least out of them all. Sakura was about three hours early in waking up to relieving him.

She could tell he knew she was awake now, but was clearly ignoring her.

Sasuke Uchiha was the epitome of his clan: gruff, arrogant, dismissive, and gorgeous. Sakura wondered sometimes if he even liked her, let alone love. When they were alone, with nothing to do but knock about, he could be so considerate, so loving, that she put aside the picture in her head of the brusque young man who left her alone when she was upset and ignored her advances unless he was feeling particularly amorous. They had all lost loved ones to enemy Shinobi, but Sasuke was the only one who had decided to become emotionally disconnected because of it.

Even Naruto had noticed. But no-one actually said anything about it.

Naruto snored in his sleep, louder than the last time, but the pinkette ignored him, her eyes boring into Sasuke's back.

The country east of the land of rice paddies was called the land of hot water, home to the hidden ninja village, Yugakure. They were currently resting just inside the border, with Hashirōn Town as their next stop before leaving again, heading north-east, to the land of frost. Hashirōn Town was only ten miles south-east of the village hidden in hot water. Sakura glanced up, past the canopy of the treetops, and stared at the stars instead of the ignorant Uchiha. They had been careful not to pick a spot to rest that would normally be used by ninja squads. It wasn't an easy life, but it had its perks: no missions other than the ones they set for themselves, no rules, and regulations other than the ones they had agreed upon as a group.

But Sakura missed those things, even if Sasuke and Naruto didn't. Her eyes returned to Sasuke's back and he shifted slightly, as though sensing her stare. She missed Ino Yamanaka, Kakashi Hatake, and the rest of her friends in the rookie nine. The devastation caused at the Chunin exams seemed a life time ago. Kitsúne was her here and now, and she had come to terms with that.

Sakura sighed deeply as Naruto Uzumaki groaned off to her right, distracting her from her thoughts. She tore her eyes away from her raven haired lover again, and frowned at the blonde instead. She could see his face; his expression morphed right in front of her, from annoyance to glazed lust. He grinned and murmured huskily.

"Fuck me… yeah… like that…"

Sakura raised her eyebrows at him, both flustered and irritated. When was he going to grow up? Naruto was only a foot away from her, lying on another thick branch to her right, so she lifted her leg that was dangled over the side and pushed the blonde. He wouldn't wake up, and instead continued with his suggestive comments. Beyond irritated now, she didn't just push him this time; using her body weight as leverage, she shoved Naruto, hard.

He tumbled over the side of the branch, hit a smaller branch underneath it (really, it was just an oversized twig), half-screamed in his sleep and toppled out of sight, onto the forest floor. If the night wasn't already quiet and if it wasn't dangerous to laugh and caw like an idiot, Sakura would've done exactly that. It was so comical, even though she felt a little bad for the blonde. It wasn't the most elegant of descents.

She stuck her head over the side of the branch she was on, ignoring Sasuke now, as he shifted his head slightly to look down at the blonde as well. The pinkette grinned down at her teammate.

Naruto snorted, groggily waking up, and Sakura giggled at him. He looked up, spotted the pinkette, and stood shakily. He climbed the tree again, but moved out of reach of the violent Kunoichi and mumbled at her.

"I'm getting away from you, you feisty bitch."

Sakura giggled again, knowing he wasn't as angry as he sounded. He never was really, just annoyed. She sighed heavily, trying to get comfortable again, her makeshift bed feeling more comfortable than it did when she'd first fallen asleep. Sasuke returned to ignoring her and she closed her eyes, annoyed at him.

They were heading into enemy territory tomorrow, and if he wasn't careful, she planned on making a scene in front of them just to force the Uchiha to cover their tracks. She giggled to herself, though audible by both of her boys. Tomorrow was going to be so much fun.

X X X

Neji Hyuuga watched the sun rise, thinking about the night gone before. He had been trying out some of the local delicacies with his teammates and due to his own aversion to everything spicy, was the only one not passed out from the smorgasbord laid out for them by the innkeeper. So he'd decided to keep an eye out for their quarry, his senses primed and with the occasional activation of his Byakugan. They were in the land of rice paddies, looking for a cold blooded assassin with ninja abilities who was going around and picking off teams that carried the insignia of either Konoha or Kumo.

The problem was, no-one knew who it was, only that it was a lone assassin.

This was a goodwill mission as well – just another way to boost the relations between the leaf and cloud villages. Even the strongest alliance could fall apart with a single act.

Neji sat up straight, as the orange of the sunrise faded. They had left Gakutsuna town, realising that the disreputable people watching them from the alley ways were all ninja. They were not here to get into a brawl with random Shinobi, no matter how much Lee and Guy Sensei had seemed disappointed when Neji reminded them of this. So they'd set up camp in the forest between the seedy town and a tea shop, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. He prodded his team mates awake; Tenten rose last, the laziest of them all.

"Can't we sleep just for a little while longer?" She asked.

"Come on Tenten," Lee roused on her. He was wide awake the moment his eyes opened. "Where's all that indomitable youthful spirit?"

She groaned. "Still with that dinner I ate last night."

Guy laughed. "All these youthful antics are making me want to break a sweat. I recommend–"

"Wait," Neji said seriously. "Nothing wakes Tenten up better than tea."

The brunette Kunoichi shot him a grateful look and he hid his blush at her attention, as he always did. They packed in silence (well, Neji and Tenten did), and moved swiftly. Apparently, they were racing to see who would get to the tea shop first. Neji had long come to terms with the antics of his Sensei and Lee, but it still made him inwardly cringe, every time. He shared a look with Tenten, knowing she felt the same way.

The outside of the tea shop was quiet and stiffening slightly, Neji realised something was wrong. What was it? He glanced at his comrades, at their expressionless faces. That was the problem: there was no aroma of tea coming from this tea shop. Team Guy entered the shop as though they already knew what they were going to find.

The man was a civilian. Neji's Byakugan confirmed he'd never infused his chakra. There was no development whatsoever. He was murdered, the cuts on his body consistent with quick, precise fatal blows; done by one or more kunai. Neji looked the body over. The man was in his seventies and his shirt had been torn off of him in order to carve a symbol onto his exposed torso. It was familiar somehow.

"This is certainly the work of a depraved Shinobi," Lee said softly.

"Guy Sensei," Tenten said tentatively. "I've seen that symbol before, in Lady Tsunade's office. It's a calling card, isn't it?"

Guy nodded sourly, but it was Neji who responded. "Kitsúne."

X X X

#sasusaku #sasuke x sakura #fanfiction #my ao3 #All images are not mine #MULTICHAPTERED FANFICTION #Three's A Crowd #Chapter 2

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