Livin’ on Love By: DJ Rodriguez   (Author’s Notes: Hey everyone. Guess what? FINALS ARE OVER!!! After going through a lot with classes and work at college, I am now officially free!! No more works, schedules, or even reports! Its all me for now!   Darien: We appreciate all of the support and reviews from readers such as yourselves. We hope to continue despite any and all bumps that come along the road.   DJ: This chapter shows on how Tenten and Naruto got through their relationship and marriage. As I’m sure some of you know, handling a marriage is no picnic. But if you really care about someone, love can go through anything, even a blazing inferno of turbulent trouble.   I do not own Naruto or Livin’ on Love by Alan Jackson. Now, on with the fanfic!)   Naruto was in a good mood as he came up the hill that led to his abode. He had just returned from a B-rank mission, which was basically to protect a high-ranking officials’ daughter from bandits and cutthroat thieves as she went to a nearby city for civil duties. The blonde shinobi got in a good workout from battling some Rock and Cloud missing-nins, but fulfilled his duty to the letter. Of course, the young girl was smitten with Naruto and pleaded with him to stay with her a little while longer. The Uzumaki legend chuckled, already experiencing girls throwing themselves at him. But, he gently reminded her that he was happily married. It crushed the fair maiden, but at least gave her the comfort that she was now a friend.   ‘I still don’t get why girls go after me, even if they know I’m married. Oh well, at least I know I’m married to the most beautiful and talented kunoichi ever to grace the land.’ Naruto thought to himself with a smile. All in all, he was relieved to be back in home in Greenery Country where he can be with his wife and his two children. He called out “Tenten-chan! I’m home!!” Even after all this time, he was still loud as ever. Well, vocally of course. He smiled warmly at seeing his wife, blushing when he saw her breast-feed their son. However, his eyes bugged out comically when he saw four other women behind her.   “Sakura?! Ino?! Hinata?! Tsunade-obachan?! Shizune-neechan?!” he exclaimed in surprise. Hinata waved back timidly to him, blushing up a storm. Tsunade and Shizune smiled and waved at him, but Sakura and Ino merely snorted in anger and turned their heads away from him. However, he caught the slight blush that was on their cheeks. He raced up the hill and came to the front door, embracing his wife for a moment. “Honey, why are they here?” he whispered in her ear. Tenten merely smirked and answered that they just came out of the blue for a visit.   “Naruto-kun, its good to see you again!” Shizune declared happily before hugging her ‘brother’. Tsunade just smiled as she went to him and ruffled his hair. “Different body, same gaki.” she mused playfully. Naruto just smiled and enjoyed the affection. He had really changed in their eyes, just physically in any case. But, he was still the same on the inside, though he was more mature then ever. Hinata bowed to him politely, blushing badly. Sakura and Ino simply looked away, letting him know that they were still mad about the death of Sasuke. “Well, its good to see you all again. Even those two are a sight to see, sort of.” Naruto said. The last comment really got the two Sasuke-fan girls fuming.   The group went further into the home, Naruto putting his weapons pouch and other sharp objects away. After all, he did not want his children to get hurt. As soon as Mouko saw her father, she squealed in delight and reached out to him. Tsunade smiled at the scene as she handed the bundle of joy. “How’s daddy’s little girl? You’ve been good while I was gone?” Naruto asked in a playful tone. The small child smiled brightly and laughed in sheer joy. The blonde hugged her close, glad to be back home with his loved ones. “It seems that you attract young girls as well as older ones, gaki.” Tsunade stated with a smirk.   Naruto looked at her and replied “Yup, it’s a curse. But, I’m already taken by two beautiful women in the world right now.” He gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek, then turned and gave Tenten a kiss on the lips. Sakura and Ino were still fuming while Hinata and Shizune thought it was cute. The group went outside to the backyard, the parents sitting side-by-side as they held their children. The girls picked a spot anywhere on the patio deck, Sakura and Ino making sure to set some distance between themselves and the couple. Shizune asked “So you two, how is it that you came about to marrying one another?” Tenten and Naruto looked at each other for a moment, then slowly turned their gaze out to the field that was spread before them.   “It was not easy to manage, that much I can tell you. And it wasn’t from dodging Hunter-nins and fighting Missing-nins. At first, our love was put to the test.” Naruto started to say. His wife nodded and added “We went to Hell and back as we stayed together, but it only made our love and commitment to one another stronger.” They went back in their minds, remembering the various days of the past when they were simply boyfriend/girlfriend. From being under Jiraiya’s wing, to Tenten’s discovering of the Kyuubi, to their encounter with Orochimaru and Sasuke, to their encounter with the Akatsuki group, all the way to their marriage ceremony.   {{ Flashback }}   Two weeks after the exodus from the Leaf, the Sannin and his two students were walking towards the Land of Grass. Jiraiya heard some reports about some high-ranking Missing-nins giving the small village and the royal family a hard time, and he figured that this would be a good warm-up for them. As they walked to the small land, Tenten and Naruto were walking together and talking about their training. “Damn, who would have thought the old lecher was actually good at being a shinobi?” the girl asked in amazement. After foiling their sensei’s attempts to see girls in the bathhouses along the way, Jiraiya finally took them seriously and Tenten was just astounding on how brutal and sadistic his teaching methods were.   “Heh, I was just like you. I found him at the bathhouse and I thought he was a joke. Still is, but when it comes to being a strong ninja, he knows his stuff.” Naruto replied. Tenten smiled at the young man, who soon received a whack on the head courtesy of Jiraiya. “Oi, brat! Stop talking about me behind my back!” he spat out. Tenten just giggled in amusement as her crush and her sensei got into their old arguments again. It kept up for five minutes, until Naruto used a small, quick Rasengan on the ground and the small explosion caused Jiraiya to trip down.   “Come on Tenten-chan, we need to hurry.” Naruto stated and the two walked all over the flashy Toad hermit. The blonde made sure to wipe his feet on his hair hard, and that caused Ero-Sennin to go ballistic and chase the two. “Get back here and face me like shinobi, you brats!!” he exclaimed loudly. Tenten turned and gave him a Japanese raspberry, one eyelid pulled down and sticking out tongue. “Not a chance, baka! That is until you actually call off your ecchi ways and be a man for a change!” she retorted. Then she let out an “eep” and made tracks with Naruto flying off her hand like a flag. Jiraiya used his Hari Jizō (Needle Guardian) technique and rolled up into a ball, chasing after them like a pinball.   After twenty minutes of being chased, the two groups stopped for a breather. That, and it was almost sunset. Jiraiya unrolled from his needle ball and stated “You two, go into the forest and grab some firewood. I’ll set up camp. Go on now, get out of here.” he ordered. The two panting teens huffed in annoyance at the old man, but went into the woods. Jiraiya maybe a peeping tom, but a fool he was not. He knew that Naruto needed to trust and open himself more to the girl, and to do that… he would have to tell her his secret. He only hoped it worked out for the gaki. Sighing, he went about the task of setting up camp.   In the woods, Naruto and Tenten were picking up dry bark and tree branches on the ground floor. The former members of Konoha mumbled along the lines of “tough geezer” and “sadistic jerk” when they came upon a beautiful lake. It was secluded by many groupings of trees, and various animals were at the edge drinking up the clear, cold water. Of course, the appearance of humans startled them but they just went back to their business. “Its… its… beautiful.” Tenten softly spoke in awe. With the sun setting, the sky a brilliant twilight color, and the setting as it were, it was like something out of a fairy tale for the pre-teen.   As Tenten knelt down besides the water and drank up its contents, Naruto looked at the scene and just smiled. Ever since they left, he and Tenten became good friends. It was a rocky start, but it was coming along nicely. However, a thought entered his mind and his smile quickly became that of a frown. ‘Sooner or later, I have to tell her. But… will she accept me still, or run back to Konoha?’ he thought. The idea of telling the girl, who had warmed up to him, his secret of Kyuubi ran through his mind many a time. But, he was unable to tell her because he was scared. Scared that he would lose a friend.   He shook his head, feeling that now was the time to do it. If he postponed it any longer, it would only build up and the results of the aftermath could be very bad. He called out “Tenten!” and the girl stopped her drinking to look at him. “Yes Naruto?” she asked. He sighed, feeling that things were going to go downhill from here. He went and sat down next to her, facing her instead of the lake. “Tenten, there is something I need to tell you. Something very important. I would have told you sooner, but I had to be sure that the time was right.” he started to say. The kunoichi thought that he was going to confess his feelings to her, and that made her very tingly inside. However, she had a suspicion it was something else, given his solemn and serious face.   “What is it, Naruto?” she asked. He took a deep breath before gazing intently into her chocolate-colored orbs. “Do you remember the day when the Kyuubi attacked Konoha about thirteen years ago?” he asked. She nodded, saying that it was all in the history books and that the Yondaime killed the demon. The blonde shook his head and said “That’s not necessarily true. The Kyuubi was too strong and powerful to simply kill, no matter how talented the human is. The Yondaime had no choice but to seal the demon inside something. Or rather, someone.” Tenten was surprised and confused by this new load of information.   “Naruto, how do you know all this?” she asked. Naruto sighed, this time a look of sorrow and forlornness in his ocean-blue eyes. “I know because… I’m the container. Yondaime chose me to bear the Kyuubi, sealing it inside me when I was just born. That’s the reason nearly everyone hates me in Konoha, because they see me as the demon rather then his jailor.” he answered in a heavy heartened tone. Tenten had to put her left hand over her mouth, she was just too shocked by the news. Naruto saw the shock and fear in her eyes, slowly standing back up.   “I’m sorry if I deceived you, Tenten. If you see me as Kyuubi… I understand.” he whispered, his voice full of sorrow and sadness. He thought he lost another friend to that damn fox. He turned away and was about to leave when he felt something suddenly press up against his back, arms wrapping around his torso tightly, and something wet soaking the back of his shirt. He turned his head and saw that Tenten was crying, her hug harder then even Tsunade’s. “You baka… why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she whispered harshly. Naruto was very surprised by this change in her attitude, and when he turned around to face her… Tenten slapped his face hard. A large red handprint was on his left cheek.   He was about to demand on why she did that, when she simply hugged him hard in the front and sobbed into his shirt. “You idiot. I care for you, and I don’t see you as the Kyuubi. All this time, those fools in Konoha hating you for something that is just sealed inside of you… such idiots. I’m surprised that you haven’t gotten revenge on the village for the way they treated you.” she whispered to him. Naruto did not know what to do logically, so he acted on instinct and held Tenten close. “I have new respect for you… Naruto-kun. You are more resilient and a man then any of them back there.” she said before snuggling back into his chest.   Naruto was very happy, although tears were coming from his eyes. ‘She accepted me… she accepted me!! Thank you Kami!!’ he praised to the deities above. Nearby, watching from the trees above, Jiraiya smiled. “You did right, gaki. You did right.” he whispered. He vanished before they could sense his presence.   ~Three years later~   Tenten and Naruto were facing off against Sasuke near the border of Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire). Over the time with Jiraiya, the two had come a long ways. Tenten mastered not only throwing weapons, but handling them as well in combat. Give her a weapon such as a katana or kodachi, and she would effectively cut down anyone or anything in mere seconds. She also mastered all of the low and mid-level Katon techniques, and some high-level ones as well. Her sealing techniques were also top-notch, and her ability to use toads was impressive. She incorporated Jiraiya’s needle technique, but she formed a smooth hair barrier that was as hard as diamond.   Naruto had come a ways as well. He created two new versions of Rasengan, the first one was splitting the ball of swirling wind and chakra into ten small pieces. Each ball was on a fingertip and thumb tip, and he could either shoot them out like bullets or use them as a type of shredding claws in battle. The second version was using them on the soles of his feet, propelling him as if he were on skates or launching him into the air like a cannon shot. It took some control and time to master, but Naruto had improved with the Fourth Hokage’s technique. He also mastered many Doton and Fūton techniques, same as his girlfriend Tenten.   Both were fighting Sasuke who was using his Chidori Nagashi (One Thousand Birds Current) and channeling it into the sword Kusanagi. Tenten was using her katana aginst him, and Naruto was using kunais. All three were bloodied, battered, but not beaten. “You two should just quit now. There is no way you can beat me.” Sasuke sneered as he charged at Tenten. The kunoichi tried to dodge, but the jerk was simply too fast. She closed her eyes, expecting her to be slashed or hit. She felt nothing. She opened her eyes to see Naruto blocking the electrically-charged sword with his kunai. It was shocking him badly, but he stood firm.   “Back off, Uchiha! She’s my precious person, and I will not lose her!” Naruto declared before shoving him back. Sasuke merely smirked as he was pushed back about seven feet. “You cannot win dobe. Those emotions of yours are weak, just like you.” he stated smugly. Naruto growled and was about to attack, when he felt something behind him. He turned to see that Tenten was glowing pink, her eyes closed and a serious yet calm look was on her face. “Tenten-chan?” he asked in wonder. The girl opened her eyes, and a hard and pirecing gaze was set on a slightly surprised Sasuke. “You know nothing Uchiha. One who knows nothing, can understand nothing.” she stated firmly. Naruto felt the energy coming off from her, but it was not hate or loathing.   It was love. It was the love she had for him, and it was consuming her like a wildfire! He understood and stood by her side. He put a hand on hers that was holding the katana, the energy now coursing through his being and increasing in intensity. “Sasuke, you made your decision. We have made ours.” he told his former friend. The Uchiha simply growled and charged in, aiming to kill them with one swipe. The couple closed their eyes, channeling all of their energy into the blade. However, it was not just chakra. It was all of their emotions; hope for the future, strength to carry on, and… the magnatiude of their feelings for one another. The blade suddenly exploded in pink light, and the duo opened their eyes.   “FIRE SLASH!!!” both screamed out as they swung the blade hard. Both swords connected and a large flash of light surrounded the field! Jiraiya, who had just finished taking care of his former friend, looked at the display with interest. After a few minutes, the light died down, and standing was Sasuke and his pupils. It looked like the Uchiha brat had won, a smirk on his face. However, he saw that it soon turned to shock when the Kusanagi was cleaved in two… and his head falling off also gave away who the victor was. Tenten and Naruto still held the katana with their hands, but soon limped down in exhaustion. It was over. The Snake Sannin and his pupil were defeated, never again to terrorize anymore.   {{ End Flashback }}   After retelling/reliving their memories, that caused the girls who was listening to them go into shock. ‘So that’s how they beat Sasuke-kun! They worked together!’ Sakura and Ino thought. For a long time, the girls had plotted revenge on Naruto and Tenten for taking their ‘precious Sasuke’ from the world. However, after seeing that they had children and were trained by Jiraiya extensively, the two women knew that Naruto and Tenten would be nearly impossible to beat. Any threats to their children would be dealt with harshly, and they would also incur the wrath of Tsunade.   Hinata was surprised, and also glad that Naruto had someone close in his life. She was still devestated that she was not his, but satisifed that he now had the life he so deserved. Tsunade and Shizune were slightly surprised by the tale, but were happy for their friend. The pigtailed-blonde stood up and gave her adopted son a hug. “Its good to see that you and your wife have come far, gaki. I hope that you and your family have good fortune in the future.” she told him. Shizune hugged him as well, saying on how happy she was that he had a good life with a nice family.   Naruto was glad that some parts of his old life were happy for him. Tenten smiled, glad that her former idol approved of the marriage and love between her and her love. Shizune asked “Naruto, can we stay for dinner?” Seeing as it was no problem, barely considering Sakura or Ino a threat, he said yes. As the girls went inside, Naruto and Tenten stayed for a while to look at the setting sun. “Honey… thanks for being there for me.” Naruto whispered to her. The glowing kunoichi smiled and kissed his cheek. “Anytime sweetie.” she replied.   Two young people without a thing   Say some vows and spread their wings   And settle down with just what they need   Livin’ on love   She don’t care ‘bout what’s in style   She just likes the way he smiles   It takes more then marble and tile   Livin’ on love   {{ Livin’ on love, buyin’ on time   Without somebody nothin’ ain’t worth a dime   Just like an old-fashion story book rhyme   Livin’ on love   It sounds simple, that’s what you’re thinkin’   But love can walk through fire without blinkin’   It doesn’t take much when you get enough   Livin’ on love }}   Two old people without a thing   Children gone but still they sing   Side by side in that front porch swing   Livin’ on love   He can’t see anymore   She can barely sweep the floor   Hand in hand they’ll walk through that door   Just livin’ on love   {{ Repeat }}   {{ Repeat }}   No, it doesn’t take much when you get enough  

Livin’ on love…

  (Author’s Notes: I hope everyone enjoyed this. I believe in listening to music that has meaning, and this was it. In relationships or in marriage, if you can withstand the storm of it, then you’ll have little to fear in the future.   Darien: For all of you that are in a relationship or married, we wish you the best of luck. So, any of you have any advice for the characters here? Naruto, Shizune, Tsunade, Sakura, Ino, Hinata, and Tenten? Take your pick!   R&R, no flames, enjoy, leave long reviews, and have a happy holiday!)