Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Duty ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

 

“Konoha! I swear!” echoed into the eerie darkness of the room. The man responsible for the cry cowered on the floor, gripping a nasty gash in his arm. Blood was beginning to pool and without treatment, the man would definitely die from the wound. The thought excited Ichiro ever so slightly. He tamped down the raw rush and focused on the task at hand. No need to lose focus so soon.

 

“Konoha hmm?” Ichiro murmured slowly, fingering his razor sharp blade. “That's a long way off now isn't it? Sure you're not trying to throw me off the Uchiha's trail? You being all buddy, buddy with the sailors he `freed' recently?” Ichiro gazed far too calmly down at the dock master at his feet. Of course the twins knew where Uchiha was from, but it was fun to toy with the man anyway.

 

“I heard them talking about Uchiha returning to his home and wife in Konoha. I swear on my first born son!” the man gasped, beginning to sob wretchedly. “Please don't kill me. That's all I know! I swear to you!”

 

“Does your son have a mother?” Ichiro murmured softly. The dock master looked up and nodded hesitantly, wondering if he'd just doomed his whole family with his stupidity. “Oh good. I'd hate to orphan a child tonight,” Ichiro said seriously. The nasty twin's words slowly sank into the man's terrified brain and the desperate sobbing increased.

 

“Ichiro,” Jiro admonished with a long-suffering sigh. “I have better things to do than avoid the police for the next month. We're not going to kill anyone tonight,” he said firmly to his elder brother. “You got to cut him a little, that's enough. Now let's get going. We're chasing a ninja, not an old man. He'll be traveling fast and hard already.”

 

Ichiro gave an exasperated sigh and glared at the trembling dock master. “Fine. You get to live for now. You should thank my brother for his tender heart,” he said solemnly.

 

“Th-thank you Master,” the man squeaked to Jiro, pressing his forehead into the floor and ignoring the lashing pain the movement brought to his arm. Of course he'd say anything to anyone at that point, if it meant he kept his life and his family would be safe.

 

Jiro snorted and waved his hand. “Ichiro, let's get moving. This is getting dull.”

 

“Only because you won't let me kill anyone,” Ichiro growled. “You get off on it just as much as I do, so what the hell is the problem with it now?”

 

“The problem is,” Jiro said calmly, “That we have better things to be doing right now. Once we get Uchiha back home and get his eyes, we can play with him all we want,” Jiro assured his darkly psychotic twin. Ichiro occasionally needed to be talked out of his tendencies to butcher anyone in his path, his sense of humor being a tad on the stiff side. He tended to be rather emotionless most of the time, but sometimes something would set him off that would make him damn near impossible to deal with. At least Jiro hid his own psychosis well, behind humor and pranks, so people didn't realize just how very screwed up Ito's twin sons were. Not that he minded the episodes of insanity all that much. It made life interesting at least.

 

Ichiro looked temporary mollified at the prospect of a `for sure' kill. “Have a nice evening,” he said politely to the pale dock master, “And have someone look at that cut. It looks like it hurts and you don't want to get an infection.” The dock master just stared and nodded dumbly.

 

Ichiro sighed pleasantly and followed his brother into the night air. “Nice fellow, wasn't he? Helpful.”

 

“Hmm,” Jiro snorted with a shrug and a slight smile. “You're a pain in the ass. You know that right? I mean seriously, everyone thinks you're the serious one, but I really think you have more issues than me.”

 

“Of course,” Ichiro said with a small smile. “I was just having a little fun though.”

 

“What your night's ruined now that you can't get your rocks off by slashing up a pathetic commoner?” Jiro murmured, rolling his eyes. “You need a few more hobbies dear brother or a girlfriend…boyfriend, whatever.”

 

“You get off on it too,” his brother reminded him again, looking a bit annoyed by the boyfriend comment. Everyone always assumed they liked boys, being so blond and pretty. Jiro thought it was funny, Ichiro didn't. “Besides, I haven't killed anyone in months. You know how Father is about it.” He sighed softly and shrugged. “At least we have the Uchiha to look forward to. I'll bet he's really hard to kill.”

 

“I'm sure he'll be a challenge for both of us,” Jiro said with a grin. He hoped so. Ichiro was right; Jiro really did miss making a wonderfully messy kill. Their father was getting too good at preventing their little sprees through Porttown. It was a shame, really, that the man was such a killjoy.

 

***

 

“Sasuke,” the delicate, feminine voice gasped into his ear. He shuddered lightly and thrust his body harder into her pliant body. She was still so tight, even after months of being together daily. She still gripped his hard flesh in a wonderfully hot, wet embrace that he just couldn't get enough of. Sasuke didn't think he'd even tire of the feel of her skin, the sound of her soft sighs, or and delicate flutter of her lips over is body. “Please,” she murmured, digging her nails into his back and arching into him.

 

“Beautiful,” he groaned, grasping at her hips and rocking hard, quivering in excitement at the slick, wet sound her body made with each thrust. No one could ever excite him like this, not even his moronic best friend screaming another battle challenge. She drew the strongest emotions from him without conscious effort or even the desire to do so. She drew them out and cherished them all. He felt safe and content with her, like he'd never really been able to have with anyone else, even his best friend.

 

“Sasuke…I miss you already,” she murmured, wrapping her legs around his muscled rear and hips. “I miss you and wish you hadn't left me here alone.”

 

Sasuke sat up, blinking at the pale morning light that filtered through the trees. He groaned, both at the realization of where he was and at the straining remains of the dream in his pants. “Damn it,” he muttered. Unfortunately he wasn't at home in bed with Hinata, buried in her welcoming body. Instead, he was stuck out in the middle of a completely alien country, dreaming about their last moments together.

 

They'd barely left their bed during the short time they'd had together before his mission. The last time had been as he was starting out the door to leave. She'd kissed him, clinging to him desperately. The parting kiss had turned into something a bit more serious and before he realized what he was doing, he'd pushed her down onto the entryway rug and pressing her sleeping robe away from her otherwise bare body. It had taken only the barest of adjustments in his clothing and he was sliding into her, thankful that the housekeeper hadn't chosen to bid her master a farewell. Though, no doubt she'd heard every one of Hinata's sweet cries as she'd come apart under her husband. It had been a truly beautiful moment, one that made him wish all over again that he didn't have to leave.

 

He glared balefully at his lap and then stood and stretched. It had been too many months for him to even accurately guess the time he'd been away…maybe four or five months? He didn't really know how close he was and from the biting chill at night, he knew he'd run out of time anyway. Glancing at the mountain range on the horizon, knowing he'd be there within the next day or so, but also realizing that winter had already fallen there. He wouldn't be getting home anytime soon.

 

He cursed under his breath and bent to roll up his sleeping mat and blanket. All of this wasn't helped by the fact that he knew he was being followed. They hadn't approached him yet, but he felt their presence on occasion. He wished that they'd just attack him, or do whatever it was they planned, so he could get on with his journey.

 

Pushing away the annoyance of being watching all of the time, he decided to head towards the town that he knew was nearby. The map that he'd received with his other supplies suggested that it was small, but perhaps he could find some shelter to wait for winter to ease a bit. Maybe a month or two….

 

He gathered his belongings and headed in the general direction of the town, hoping he'd find it before the short day slid into darkness again.

 

***

 

“What to you mean, you `won't take me out?'” Naruto demanded angrily of the old ship captain, who was sitting rather grumpily across the table from him.

 

“What do you think I mean?” the old man scoffed back, slamming his beer down. “The winter storms are starting. There's no way in hell I'd get men to work on the ship, even if I was stupid enough to take her out. Winter storms are a nasty lot, waves higher than the sails, wind that will send the ship cart wheeling across the water…. No sir, I won't take you out until I deem the time is right.”

 

Naruto rubbed at his temple and squeezed his eyes shut. Wasn't this just perfect? He was so close, so close. “When will that be?” he asked in what he hoped was a polite tone. He'd never had any particular skill in that department, tending to piss people off more than anything, at least initially.

 

“About a month, but could be three,” the old sailor said with a shrug.

 

“What the fu…!” Naruto yelled jumping up, then catching himself and turning around to gain his composure. He pinched the bridge of his nose and hissed in frustration. “I've already lost a whole month. The trail is nearly cold and after even one more month it might disappear entirely,” he growled softly.

 

“Well if it's all that important to you, you could head across the land instead. It's slow goin', but maybe you'll bump into him on the way,” the sailor suggested with a shrug.

 

“Pardon?” Naruto asked curiously, turning back around to eye the man.

 

The sailor smiled a little at the hopeful gleam in the loud ninja's eyes. He pulled a worn map out of the pack sitting next to his chair and spread it out on the tiny, scarred table. “You see, here's the general area of Konoha and this is where we're at right now. Rumors are that your friend sailed out on a ship called The Dragon a little over a month ago. It all happened in the night, but the dock master here said he saw a dark haired man being carried onto it. When I showed him the picture you've been circulating, he said he was positive that it was the same man. Said he was too pretty to forget. The man likes his male staff pretty, if you know what I mean.” Naruto snorted in amusement and waved for the man to continue.

 

“Anyway, this is the place they'd mostly likely head towards,” he said pointing to a small bay. “Takes about two weeks to get there, but there's not much else to head towards in between, so it'd be my guess.” He smiled and leaned back. “Rumor has it, from the last ship to return, that something happened on The Dragon and a few men were killed…the bad sort at least. The sailors are whispering about some dark haired guy that freed the sailors on the ship. Coincidence?” he asked with a raised brow. “Looks like your friend probably got free and killed his captors. In all likelihood he's now trying to get home and the only way to do that is to head across land at this point.” He smiled wider at the new hope in Naruto's eyes.

 

“Now if you look here, you can see a nasty mountain range. If your friend really wanted to get home, he'd have to cross it to get back to Grass Country and then Fire Country. No sailor would be stupid enough to offer him a ride home right now. So either he's still in Porttown, or he's somewhere around these mountains.”

 

“Could he have crossed them yet?” Naruto asked, trying to judge the distance.

 

“Nah. With winter already there, he'd be stupid to try, ninja or not,” the old man snorted. “There are several towns along the base of the range though.”

 

“So how does this help me?” Naruto grunted. “It's not like I can cross either.”

 

“True,” the man grunted with a shrug, “But you could meet him on the other side. Either way you'll have to wait out the winter storms. Snow piles up higher than a man's head, easy, up in those mountains. He won't go anywhere.”

 

“Thanks old man,” Naruto grumbled, despite the brief dead end. “Guess it's time to go tell his wife what I know,” he sighed. “I'd hoped to know more before I went home.”

 

“Sorry I couldn't do more kid,” the sailor murmured, taking a big swig from his drink. “Come back in a few weeks and maybe I'll be able to do more.”

 

“Yeah, maybe,” Naruto sighed, tossing a bag of coins to the man for his work and wandering out of the small, dingy bar. “Fuck,” he whispered in frustration.

 

“Bright side, he's not dead…probably,” Kyuubi grunted, settling down onto his belly and peering through his cage bars. He had to admit that he was starting to enjoy the hunt a bit, now that he'd gotten into it. “So where to now Kit?”

 

“Home to see Hinata and Granny and then we're going to go patrol that mountain range. If the man is right, Sasuke should come through them in two or three months. We'll train and get to know the area while we wait,” Naruto said with a small smile, despite the set back. Sasuke was alive, as far as they knew. Hinata would definitely need to hear this news.

 

***

 

Hinata rubbed her rounded belly and sighed as Sakura gently worked on the swelling and pain in her poor feet. The chakra caress was even nicer than a good, old fashioned, foot rub and she was intensely grateful her friend had offered it. She'd felt ungainly and sore for so many weeks, she had almost forgotten how it felt otherwise. Her chakra had suffered horribly too, most of it deeply entangled with that of the twins'. She couldn't even do this simply healing massage on her own anymore. “I love you Sakura,” she hummed softly.

 

Sakura laughed and shook her head. “I'm a married woman Hinata.”

 

“Me too,” Hinata said with a small smile. “Should we really let it stop us?”

 

Sakura grinned at the quip from the happy little woman. And why shouldn't she be at least a little bit pleased? Naruto had returned that morning, looking pale, thinner and haggard, but still grinning in spite of it all. He'd caught Sasuke's trail. It was old, but still a trail. “He'll be home before you know it Hinata,” Sakura said, moving her chakra filled hands up to Hinata's swollen ankles.

 

Hinata shivered lightly at the lovely sensation, blushing and shrugging at Sakura's curious glance. “It's been a long time since anyone has touched me. Nothing personal I promise,” Hinata admitted shyly. She missed Sasuke's touch more than she liked to admit to anyone. She craved it, wanted it desperately and not necessarily in a sexual way. She missed the way he'd gather her into his arm and gently kiss her every time he came home, or the way he'd rub his calloused fingers over her skin when he washed her back. Hinata missed sleeping in a bed that didn't feel huge, empty and cold and the soothing sound of his peaceful breathing at her side. She missed everything that was Sasuke.

 

Sakura smiled and moved her hands away, nodding. “I understand, a bit, I think. Lee was on a mission for two months once and I thought I'd go ballistic. It was right after we'd gotten married too. When he got home…well that's when Mika was conceived,” she finished with a small smile and a shrug.

 

Hinata laughed a little, feeling better than she had in months, despite her continued loneliness. “We weren't married long before…everything as well…and well our feelings were still complicated, but I have such wonderful memories to keep me company.”

 

“I know I tease you about it all of the time,” Sakura said with a smile, leaning back on the couch where she'd been cradling her friend's feet, “But how is marriage with Sasuke? I mean really?”

 

Hinata smiled and pulled her feet out of Sakura's lap, wrapping her arms around her knees as best she could with her belly poking out. “Interesting,” she sighed after a moment. “At first we were a bit shy around each other…except for in bed. That worked out surprisingly well right from the start, especially considering who we are. Everywhere else we'd stumble around each other and blush and apologize. But in bed…he was…we were amazing. I know he seems so cold to most, but we both know he's not that way, not anymore. After Itachi's death he mellowed out I think, especially after he started spending most of his time around Naruto. I think Naruto helped him find a little peace and humor in life. Sasuke was so gentle and sweet with me, always. I sort of thought, when I signed the contract, that he'd be the type to come to me at night, stay with me long enough for the necessary parts to be over with and then disappear from my bed.”

 

“Not so?” Sakura asked with a devilish gleam. So she wanted a little dirt on her teammate! Who could blame her? Even she half imagined that Sasuke would be a bit of a cold fish in the sack. He was usually rather serious and not given to a lot of outward shows of emotion. She had a hard time imagining him letting go of his iron control to do anything involving lust and pleasure. She even remembered an incident with Naruto, where she'd overheard him teasing Sasuke about needing to take matters `in hand' a bit more often to wind down, to which the dark haired man had sneered, `It's a waste of valuable training time, idiot.' Apparently he'd relaxed a bit on the matter over the years.

 

“Not so,” Hinata agreed softly. “To give you an idea, that last place we made love was in the entryway,” she said with a soft laugh, pointing to the rug by the door. “And that isn't the strangest place.” Sakura shook her head and laughed lightly, happy to see this Hinata back, at least a little.

 

“After the first little while we got used to each other,” Hinata continued with a small smile. “We didn't trip over each other anymore. We started to learn what the other liked the most; how we took our coffee or tea, what foods we liked and hated, what books the other enjoyed…the simple things. It was really nice,” she sighed thoughtfully.

 

Hinata's eyes started to tear lightly and she bit at her lip. “It didn't matter that I couldn't conceive, no matter how hard we tried…not to him, b-because we had started to fall in love with each other. It was really, really quite wonderful Sakura.” She smiled and hastily wiped the unshed tears away. She'd done enough crying already. “Guess we should have told each other before he went off and got himself killed on a mission.”

 

“But at least he's probably still alive,” Sakura reassured softly. Wanting to hug the sad, lovely little woman, but knowing it would only make her cry. Hinata was tired of crying, she'd often told Sakura so.

 

“We know that now, thanks to Naruto,” Hinata sighed softly, “But next time that might not be the case. If I ever get him back I'll make sure he knows I love him. I don't want either of us to die, regretting we never said it out loud.”