Eroninja - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Target Mabui




Komachi looked down at Naruto and the kunoichi from Suna that she had spent the night with. She smiled softly still an unfamiliar gesture for her face, but one she imagined would become a regular feature. Yet for the moment she would need to give off the appearances of the emotionless killer for a while longer. She headed to the door to leave as she needed to return to her Root duties since she worked sixteen hours a day. A rather easy feat when one had no friends or outside life. Looking back at the bed, she placed a hand over her pelvis sensing the mark on her pussy lips that she had asked Naruto to place on her. After she attended to her duties, she would meet up with Naruto again to have the seal in her mouth modified.

Once she was out in the hall, she slipped out of the apartment building like a shadow and headed towards the Uchiha district. Entering a building that had used to house a bakery, she moved to the back and pressed a button housed under a wooden table were the dough for bread had been prepared. A corner section of the floor dropped down half an inch before sliding to the side as it exposed a staircase. She quickly descended as the entrance closed itself behind herand stepped out into a cavernous area that the Uchiha had planned to use in their rebellion. She didn’t know if the cavern had existed before the founding of Konoha or if the Uchiha had created it. But she did know that Danzou had expanded it greatly adding a tunnel to his home as well as several that led outside of the village.

Reporting in to a Root commander, she learned that she was scheduled to relieve one of the two shinobi assigned to watch over Danzou. Heading down the tunnel she nodded to the man she was to relieve and wordless took his place as he stepped away. She waited outside the door for over an hour until it opened revealing the elevator car as Danzou stepped out followed by Towa, who had relieved the man who had been guarding where the elevator opened up in the mansion. Danzou didn’t acknowledge her presence as she fell into step behind him, next to Towa, nor did she expect him too. Entering the main section of the cavern again, she was somewhat surprised to see Joseki waiting for them. Guessing he had been let in via the Uchiha district entrance, she supposed it didn’t matter if he knew where Root was based only that he wasn’t seen talking to Danzou.

“Elder Joseki,” Danzou said tilting his head, “I trust you have reconsidered allowing this Maki to live.”

“I told you Danzou. I will not sacrifice my people.”

“But she is no longer your people.” Danzou said with a shrug. “It is foolish sentiment like that which is what will lead to your downfall. Perhaps mine as well since I cannot move against the jinchuriki without implicating you. While that may hold some appeal to me in the future, it is only a hindrance now. ”

Joseki scowled as he said, “Which is why moving against Maki would also cause us problems. She is smart enough to cover her bases and I’m sure if something happens to her. She’ll have set up some way to implicate me. She’ll come around again.”

“As you wish, but I doubt you wished to meet just to tell me to stay away from your people.”

“I recognize that I have made a mistake, so I’ve come to inform you that I have taken steps to find some other way to have the shinobi of the Training Force recalled.”

Danzou leaned forward on his cane in interest and said, “Do tell.”

“One of the servants in my home is in actuality a long-term spy from Kumo. They are unaware that I’ve made him one of my puppets so trust the information I’ve let leak out over the years.”

Danzou chuckled amused as he said, “No doubt information that has weakened your enemies. Yet, how does this make up for your blunder. They’ve known about the Training Force for months.”

Joseki scowled but didn’t respond to the barb as he answered, “True, but I’ve let it slip that all these maneuvers are in preparation for an invasion of Kumo.”

Danzou inclined his head in respect of the move as he said, “Clever, the Raikage is just impulsive and paranoid enough to believe such a rumor. The question is though, how will he react?”

Joseki shrugged as he replied, “It doesn’t truly matter. It will likely cost a few lives, but it’ll have to be sneaky enough that we end up blaming each other. That will limit what he can do since his forces are not prepared to engage in a war just yet.”

Danzou nodded and added, “It may be prudent of us to try and figure out his move ourselves in order to catch his agents in the act.”

“I thought that all you wanted was to end the threat the Training Force poses to your operation going on in the prison.”

“It was,” Danzou said as close to passionate as he got. “But this move you made has the potential for so much more. Think about it. We catch the Raikage’s agent in the act of some sort of sabotage. The Raikage won’t be able to pin such a move on an over-eager father this time. Not to mention with the right push the Hyuuga could easily be maneuvered into demanding some sort of retribution. If Tsunade refuses, she loses standing among the clans. But, if she decides to go through with it and demands retribution then that may spark a war with Kumo. That will force them to seek allies most likely being Iwa.”

“That would likely mean that Kirigakure would not ally with them though due to that incident around ten years back,” Joseki said.

“The Tragedy of Yosuga Pass, many Kiri shinobi still bear a grudge against Iwa for their betrayal there.” Danzou said with a curt nod. “I find the irony would be fitting that Gaara and Tsunade would form this Training Force to foster a cooperative spirit between our villages which we could unleash on our enemies. We would have the advantage just from already knowing how to work together.”

Joseki didn’t look like he enjoyed the idea of actually working with Konoha longer, but in the end having an advantage against Iwa did prove rather tempting. Therefore with a nod of his head he asked, “Then how should we precede? We will not have any idea of what they will target.”

“True, but the targets they have to choose from will not be as varied as you fear. Whatever they do, it will have to foster distrust between us. That means it would have to be something that could be pinned solely on a Suna-nin, but have painful consequences for Konoha. I’ll have some of my analysts look into it and we’ll have a list of possible targets before breakfast is done being served.” Raising his cane he said, “If you would like to join me. I would fancy another game of shogi as well.”

“I suppose that could be arranged. I’d like to see what your men come up with.”

Komachi watched the two men walk off before following behind feeling sick to her stomach. How the two men could see themselves as champions of their villages after what she had just witnessed she couldn’t understand. She felt a greater gratitude to Naruto than ever before, now that she was now questioning what she had been trained to believe. She also now viewed herself as Naruto’s blade which was pointed at the elder’s throat, as she was positive Danzou was unable to even fathom it a possibility that one of his emotionless assassins could begin to question him. It was an oversight that would cost him of that she promised.

*****

Nanabi was guided to a stateroom within the warden’s mansion. She felt a little nervous as to what the meeting had in store for her since upon arriving she had been ushered off and presented a silken red dress. She had nearly refused, but her curiosity won out, so she had changed into it before being guided to her current location by the warden’s number two man Bekko. He remained at the door after opening it and waved her in. Nanabi walked slowly, taking in the wealth on display, before stepping up to Akame. He watched her carefully, but he didn’t show any sign of desiring her in a sexual manner. Figuring this meeting would be strictly business. She relaxed, which surprised her slightly. She wasn’t sure why she had not given into the curiosity that she felt about sex, but did suppose it had something to do with the fact that any encounter under her current circumstances would just leave her feeling used. And she had experienced that feeling quite enough during her hundred years of imprisonment.

“I’m glad you decided to accept my offer,” Akame said guiding her to a chair which he pulled out for her.

Nanabi took the offered seat which he pushed in for her as she responded, “When the master whistles shouldn’t his dogs come running.”

“Indeed…” Akame said leaving a pregnant pause that Nanabi figured was where she should give her body’s name.

Naturally, she had a small problem in that she didn’t actually know it and despite Konoha’s interrogations departments best efforts her body had never given it. But it did free her enough to say, “Call me Seven.”

“Seven,” Akame repeated his face not giving away whether he was annoyed or amused. He did let some amusement enter his voice however as he said, “I would think you would tire of being thought of as a number.”

The recently minted Seven shrugged before replying, “You could say it is something I’m used to by this point. Besides, my old name and position are meaningless, even if I managed to escape this prison I would not be able to return to Iwa.”

“No, I imagine not. They did pin the whole attempted invasion on you didn’t they. It’s strange though, you are not quite the zealot they portrayed you as. If anything you seem rather pragmatic.”

Shrugging Nanabi said, “I’m also sure that they claimed I had convinced a whole battalion of genin to march into Konoha all on my own as well, didn’t they?”

“Quite true, I suppose that is why you wish to get out of here alive without being used by anyone.” Recognizing that he had paraphrased what she had told Mikoto several days before in the shower she remained silent. Her lack of reaction caused him to say, “You don’t seem surprised…”

“That you’ve bugged the showers. Hardly, I’m actually more surprised that you haven’t done the same to our cells.”

Akame shook his head pleased as he said, “Incredible, you my dear continue to impress. So your confession in the shower was to what…a way to get Mikoto to open up to you, why?”

Seven smirked as she sat back in her chair after picking up a glass of wine one of Akame’s servants had filled. Taking a sip, she answered, “She is the only one that I have yet to figure out. If I’m to achieve my goal, I can’t afford any wild cards.”

Folding his hands in front of his face as he rested his elbows on the table, Akame asked, “And just what is your goal?”

Smirking Seven said, “What do you mean? You just repeated it to me. A woman like that would be able to smell insincerity. Even now, she has refused to drop her guard around me.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. No one that approached her up to this point has even gotten her to admit as much as you have. Yet, surely you must realize that your goal is an impossibility. One could say you are already being used.”

The human Bijuu inclined her head at his point but she said, “Yet, there are levels. Are there not? For example, the vast majority of those you’ve recruited to your goal no doubt would be surprised to learn that you in turn answer to someone else.”

Akame’s lone eye narrowed at her as he said dangerously, “Perhaps. Or if they have, they are at least wise enough not to bring it to my attention.”

Seven took another sip of her wine giving the air of someone unafraid as she replied, “I doubt that if I haven’t proven myself capable of making this simple of a deduction, then I wouldn’t be enjoying such a fine meal this night. If I offend you then please stop me. However, a man in your position is not capable of all this.” The kunoichi raised her glass and waved it around the room before continuing, “No, in order to be placed in charge of this prison with the confidence to be left alone and a staff completely loyal to you requires a person in the village with far more power than you. As a result, despite where you sit, the truth is that it is not so far removed from where I am. Both of us have far more to lose if this plot goes poorly than the man pulling your strings.”

Despite her words Akame smiled as he shook his head in amazement as he asked, “However did Iwa convince you to take a mission doomed for failure like the one that landed you here?”

“By playing upon the very loyalty that they trained into us, while not having any for us in turn. I have no love for my home village and while you may be using me. Should things go sidewise, I will not allow it to catch me by surprise again.”

“And how do you plan to prevent it from impacting you?”

Nanabi held her empty glass out to the side which prompted one of the servants to fill it. Once she was topped off she took another sip before saying, “By earning my right to sit at the dinner table with the other movers and shakers in this grand plan.”

Akame sat back before waving to one of the servants who left the room. A moment later he returned followed by others bearing trays of food. Sitting them down on the table, they lifted all the trays at once presenting a banquet that put the one he had hosted for the new recruits to his plan to shame. Unfolding a napkin, the warden placed it in his lap before reaching for a lobster tail. As he did so he simply said, “Welcome to the dinner table. Now let’s discuss what I’m going to need you to do.”

Seven smiled as she reached for a piece of sushi pleased that she found herself in such a position. Yet whether Kyuubi would benefit or not, the Bijuu had yet to decide. After all, the man before her may be interested to know he had just made a deal with what many humans had considered a demon, and may be willing to help break the seal Kyuubi had placed on her that kept her from accessing all of her Bijuu chakra.

*****

Naruto was back with the Training Force and was walking through the woods hoping to meet with the woman that had been missing from his life recently. But sadly his mind was not solely focused on the potential meeting, but instead on what Komachi had revealed upon Kiyomi’s modifying the seal that Danzou used to keep his subordinates from spilling his secrets.

For Naruto it was a bit much to wrap his head around. He just couldn’t understand how the two men could plot an action that they knew could end in war or how they actually hoped that it did. If he wasn’t so disgusted by their actions, he’d have to admit the two elders were crafty and intelligent opponents. Not only had the two men quickly recovered from the debacle of their plan to kill him, but within almost a day’s time had come up with a plan that could do all they wanted and more. They had literally come up with a plan in which no matter the outcome they would gain something. If whoever the Raikage sent succeeded then the Suna-Konoha Training Force would likely be disbanded due to the mistrust if would generate, especially if there were casualties.

But what was worse was that Naruto’s more seasoned lovers had convinced him that actually foiling the attack would be worse. Komachi had all but confirmed that to be true by explaining that Danzou and Joseki were trying to predict the possible targets a Kumo saboteur would strike. Koharu had explained to him that if the saboteur was captured then both villages would demand Kumo to pay some form of retribution. She had also explained that even if Kumo had tried to disavow the shinobi was on a mission, all Joseki would need to do was produce the spy in his household to confirm that at the very least Kumo was in up to no good.

Naruto had tried to point out that according to Komachi the man had been fed false information regarding the reason for the Training Force. Tsunade had been the one to point out that it wouldn’t have mattered. If Joseki was allowing the man to operate in his house knowingly, then it was only because he had used one of the Forbidden Puppet Arts to turn the man into his pawn. Between his two lovers, they had explained that Joseki could literally create a personality loyal to him which at the snap of his fingers could switch the personality back to the loyal Kumo shinobi. It was a tactic Suna would and had used on people to place operatives in vital positions in other countries’ governments. It was an effective tactic because even the operatives themselves wouldn’t know why they were so ambitious to be placed in positions of power until the man pulling the strings let them. Naruto had asked if there was a way to prove if such a jutsu had been used on the spy. Tsunade said that there was. However, she had been quick to point out that since the man was from Kumo and the tests didn’t prove the jutsu had been used, but that there was a possibility it had. It was likely that forces within both Suna and Konoha would jump at the chance to stick it to Kumo.

His lovers had even pointed out that letting the Kumo saboteur get away could also possibly be even worse than catching them. They had said that if the operative were to escape then it would create a boogeyman by which Danzou and Joseki could create distrust between the two villages. Without the hard evidence of an attack or the person behind it, the elders would be able to create whatever narrative they wanted by which to either drive the villages apart or to war with the target of their choice. With enough manufactured evidence, they would be able to cast whoever they wanted into the villain role.

But considering he could feel Yugito heading towards the village the idea of capturing the operative didn’t exactly fill him with a sense of relief. He had yet to go to her or use her seal to ‘look’ in on her. His reason being because he trusted that if she was the operative that Kumo was sending then she would alert him when she could. He believed the fact that she didn’t was because she was being escorted to prevent Akatsuki from making another attempt to capture her. He was rather worried at the prospect of having to defuse the current situation while also dealing with a team of Kumo-nin.

Feeling like he was sitting on an exploding tag that was beginning to smoke signaling the coming detonation, he wondered how in the world he was going to stop it. Yet, despite the urgency of the situation he let his concerns get pushed to the back of his mind as he found Ino. She was alone in the clearing and it appeared she was doing her best to ignore his presence as she worked through an exercise. She moved gracefully about the area at times bending in extreme, and to his eyes provocative ways, as if to avoid some unseen attacker. It was something that had evolved from the training sessions that he and his lovers had together. Naruto had suspected that Ino had developed it as a means to fight against opponents like Tsunade and Sakura. A part of him wondered if she had created it as a means to stay competitive with the two women since much like Hinata for a time he suspected that she had feared losing ground in his heart due to a perceived weakness. If so, Naruto wished she could feel the gaping hole in his heart that her pulling away had left. He imagined most people would think him over-exaggerating since he had so many lovers. But to be truthful, Naruto was unable to understand their philosophy. To him, they believed that his heart could only contain so much love for his lovers as if once he hit some number his capacity to feel the emotion was diminished. However to Naruto, it was his heart that simply grew bigger with each new woman. That wasn’t to say he felt the same level of intimacy or connection with them, at least in the beginning. But he did feel the same level commitment that he would live and die for each of them. They were his family after all, and he would do anything in his power to make them happy, even let them go.

Ino ended her training by landing near her bag. She bent down rather conservatively bending at her knees as she pulled a bottle of water from it. She stood downing the contents as she kept her back towards him. Finally she turned towards him while she kept her face neutral.

Her complete lack of reaction made him nervous. Something which he expected seeped into his voice as he said, “Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to that,” she said her voice not giving away anything she was feeling.

Naruto smiled weakly as he replied, “I think we both know that if you wanted to, you had plenty of time to move somewhere more public.”

Again Ino didn’t truly react as she crossed her arms across her chest and said, “So talk.”

Naruto wasn’t sure where to begin now that he was in front of her. “I’ve missed you,” he said earnestly causing a small break to appear in her calm demeanor.

The small flicker of joy that appeared quickly disappeared as she said, “Not enough to actually prevent some Suna-nin from pummeling your face in. It has healed nicely, Sakura’s work.”

Naruto looked away as he responded, “It wasn’t the best of plans, but it worked. The situation was defused and we’ve made some real progress in preventing further outbreaks of violence.”

“Great. So what do you plan to do the next time a situation arises? Let them cut off a limb or worse? Don’t you understand it’s the rest of us that have to sit back and watch as you recklessly and stupidly put yourself at risk?”

Naruto nodded, but calmly said, “I had it under control Ino. He wasn’t a threat to me.”

“Then why let him hit you, huh? You could have easily blocked his punches or avoided them completely.”

“True,” Naruto conceded, “But if he swings and misses then he’d react from embarrassment, no doubt egged on by taunts from Hardliners in both villages. If I block him, then he may react in much the same manner. Taking those hits and not reacting was the best way to get him to calm down.”

Ino scoffed before replying, “Nice plan.”

“I didn’t exactly have a lot of time to think it through Ino. Why are you so mad it wasn’t like…”

“Wasn’t like what?” Ino said angrily, “Like with Kin where you were going to sacrifice yourself for someone you barely knew.”

“I was never in any real dange…”

“You didn’t know that,” she said cutting him off with a shout as she approached him to stab a finger into his chest, “What happens the next time and the potential disaster isn’t just Tsunade mindfucking with us? What then? Are we supposed to just accept that’s it’s you being you? Then what? What if you can only have either your ambition or us?”

Naruto looked shocked at her question and didn’t know how to answer it. While he wanted to say he’d choose his lovers naturally. The idea that he couldn’t have both to him seemed almost unrealistic. Stating as much he said, “This isn’t a zero sum game Ino. If I stood on the crisp of achieving my ambition but needed to sacrifice one of you, of course I’d refuse to go forward with my dream. I would always be able to try again.”

“What if the one being sacrificed was you?” Naruto stopped short of saying he’d pull back and Ino could see as much so said, “You see… why are our lives more important than your dream, but yours not.”

“I’m not trying to be reckless, Ino,” Naruto countered, “I want to be there at the end with all of you. But I can’t stop being me, and I refuse to turn my back on people I can help.”

“I-I don’t know if I can stand there and watch what happens when you gamble it all only to fail.”

“Ino,” Naruto said stepping forward but stopped as she stepped back. Looking down at the ground he said, “I understand. Tsunade’s begun looking for a cure to the Binding. I’ll let her know you’re…”

Slap

Naruto stared at her in surprise and he could see that she looked just as shocked for a moment. But then tears began to appear in her eyes as she said softly, “Bastard.” She then took off running snatching up the bag containing her training gear. Naruto watched her go unsure what happened since he thought being free of him was exactly what she wanted.

*****

Yugito moved quickly and quietly through the Leaf Village. It always had shocked her at how easy it was to infiltrate, since with an easily faked I.D. and a forged signature anyone could enter the village. It was such a stark difference from her village. Naturally though, getting inside the village was easy. Doing so to sabotage it was quite another.

Approaching a fence, she held her hand up and watched as her fingernails grew longer. She slashed along the chain-link fence creating a small gap she could slide through. She easily slipped through the parted fence and moved quietly until she was pressed against a wall of one of the buildings the fence was meant to keep her away from. She crouched down as she scanned the area and pressed up against the wall a little tighter as a shinobi appeared. The man scanned the area intently but with the eye of someone that had been doing so for several hours which became more evident as he yawned. Turning on his heel, he headed away from her keeping to the pattern that he had been using the last several hours that she had been observing him.

She wondered briefly as she detached herself from the wall if the man would have been so lackadaisical in his duties if the food supply he was guarding was for his own village. She somehow expected that the Suna-nin wouldn’t be. She ducked into a small gap between two of the warehouses just before another Suna-nin was about to appear having already timed and mapped all of the patrols’ patterns. Reaching the end of the buildings, she dropped to a knee again waiting for the next patrol to pass. As she waited it highlighted to her just how far Naruto’s ambition had come even as it also pointed out how far it had to go. She doubted the guards on duty even had an inkling of just what a show of trust their being allowed to protect the facility was. After all if they did, they would no doubt be putting more effort into their task.

The fact that they weren’t was something the Raikage had planned to exploit. Yugito had been surprised when she opened the envelope, which she had been given in the Raikage’s office, had contained Konoha’s Food Inspection Facility. The area was a quarantine of sorts through which all of the village’s food passed through before going to the various shops that had ordered it. The reason for its existence was naturally to protect foreign agents from crippling the village by tainting a farm’s crops or animals with diseases. That was why when Kumo had discovered that Konoha had made it a part of its Training Force exercises. She had been dispatched to infuse some of the already inspected items with a virulent strain of salmonella. The idea was that Konoha would quickly blame Suna for performing shoddily in its duty to protect the facility. There was also the outside chance that some of the most vocal elements within the village would suggest that Suna may have been directly responsible. With the few signs of a break-in that she had left just be a red herring to try and shift the blame. In either case it was expected the Training Force would be disbanded with an even greater potential that the two allies may descend into war.

Yugito wondered briefly why neither Danzou or Joseki hadn’t simply used one of their own agents to do what the Raikage wanted her too. But she figured that before things headed completely south both villages would be conducting an investigation into the matter. An investigation, which had the potential to expose one or both men’s secret activities to the light of day if the agent they used was caught. She supposed that having a third party be behind it also meant that even if the investigators believed Kumo or one of the other villages had been behind the plot, they would likely never get the answers that would put their suspicions to rest. It really annoyed her that an otherwise great man such as the Raikage could so easily be prodded into doing the bidding of such manipulative bastards as Danzou and Joseki. However, she was forced to admit that A wasn’t above playing such games himself as the Hyuuga matter proved although she had only learned the truth due to her being one of Naruto’s lovers. Although she believed that his attempt on the Hyuuga was partly due to the example the Raikage’s father had set when he had tried to capture Naruto’s mother Kushina.

Yugito was pulled away from her thoughts as the patrol she waited for passed by her location. To her eyes as they moved across the building she needed to enter the two shinobi stood a little straighter. She smirked since normally such a thing would throw up a red flag. However, today it simply meant that everything was going according to plan.

The patrol passed by slouching once they were out of sight causing Yugito to run from her spot. Reaching the storage facility, she leapt up onto the wall and scaled to the roof in seconds. Keeping low to the ground, she moved across the rooftop until she came to a skylight. Elongating one of her nails she sliced a small circle into the glass. She then cut the wire running along the inside of the frame before opening the latch that held the window closed. Lifting it slowly, she paused a moment to make sure a second alarm hadn’t been triggered before entering the building and slowly lowering the panel behind her. Looking around the office, where the many clerks processed the paperwork generated by the process of making sure the food within was uncontaminated, she wasn’t surprised that it appeared no one was guarding the inside of the building. The information she had been given on her target had indicated that although Konoha did apparently trust Suna to watch the outside of the buildings. That trust hadn’t been extended to the inside, which was why it should have been completely emptied before it had been locked up. Yugito made her way to the door that opened to the main warehouse, where the food was kept before being shipped to the various merchants that had purchased it.

Upon stepping out onto the platform that encircled the top half of the warehouse, she paused to take in all the cameras so as to not cross any of their fields of vision. However, a small whirling sound attracted her attention. She tried to think of what it could be, but only came up with the idea that the noise sounded like a small object being spun in a circle. Searching for it, she caught sight of a figure on the catwalk with her just as the shadow threw a weighted piece of metal attached to a rope at her. Yugito raised her arm causing the metal end of the johyo to wrap around it.

Matsuri pulled the handle of her weapon back which forced Yugito to her feet and to grab the railing of the platform lest she get pulled over it. “It seems I’ve been discovered. Konoha must trust you Sand-nin more than our intel states.”

Yugito used chakra to grip the platform so she could let go of the railing and growing her nails on her free hand cut the rope binding her arm. “Hey,” Matsuri shouted as she stumbled backwards from the sudden release of tension. Yugito leapt from the platform flying towards the Suna-nin on the other side of the warehouse. But, as she was midway through her leap she was hit by a huge gust of wind. She caught a glimpse of Temari as she was rocketed to the warehouse floor, but before she hit the ground, a giant spiderweb of cloth appeared along her trajectory. As soon as she hit it the material, it wrapped around her binding her arms and legs as it began to seal her chakra. When it was finished, she was suspended upside down and looked like an insect that had crossed paths with a spider except her head was uncovered.

Temari and Matsuri stepped into a cone of light from one of few lights that had been left on in the warehouse. A moment later they were joined by a third woman that she had never met, but had felt enter her lover’s life. She spun around lazily due to where the cloth holding her was tied to the platform above and caught sight of the security camera that was even now recording her face. Although it hurt her professional pride to be video tapped in such an embarrassing situation. She did take some small solace in knowing she had allowed herself to be defeated. Now with nothing better to do then hang around as it were, she just hoped Naruto could play the current game of human shogi better than the men that had set it in motion.

*****

Kiyomi sat back in a high backed and expensive chair in her study while surrounded by dozens of open books.

“Well, it seems my master has decided to pay me a visit.”

She opened her eyes and although she hadn’t gone anywhere, she saw Nanabi sitting across from her. The rest of the room seemed to fade away to be replaced by an empty blackness as the two Bijuu communicated mentally.

“Must we really start our conversation off with such a hostile tone?” Kiyomi asked, wishing Nanabi was as receptive to repairing their relationship as Yoruichi had been. Granted the circumstances were a bit different with Nanabi being a prisoner and unable to fully access her Bijuu chakra. But Kiyomi had tried to be less arrogant about where the two Bijuu found themselves during the moments when Nanabi would report what she learned of the state of affairs in the prison.

“That depends, are you going to remove the seal that is preventing my transfer to this body from becoming permanent?”

Kiyomi sighed before answering, “Honor our bargain and I will.”

“Then I guess you have your answer, sister,” Nanabi replied making the word sister sound like an insult.

Something which continued to infuriate Kiyomi to no end, since she had tried to call her fellow Bijuu sister during a previous meeting hoping for a much happier response. Still she refused to be baited so simply said, “Alright on to business then. Have you learned anything worth reporting?”

Nanabi gave a noncommittal shrug as she said, “Not really. That may change as I continue to prove myself. But at the moment it is hard to tell if Akame thinks I have, or if I’m still just one of the pack in his eyes.”

“Really,” Kiyomi replied arching an eyebrow and letting the pause that followed speak as to what she thought of the seven-tails’ reply.

Getting defensive Nanabi said, “What? In case it’s escaped your notice as you live in your posh house. I’m a fucking prisoner here. It’s not like Akame is going to give me a pat on the head every time I’ve distinguished myself.”

“Perhaps,” Kiyomi said her tone still reserved signaling she wasn’t exactly buying what Nanabi was selling. “Still I would expect your pride alone would demand you to outperform a bunch of lowly humans. You seem rather unconcerned about them performing so close to your level.”

“Well perhaps if you gave me access to my full powers, I’d more easily differentiate myself from the rest of the herd.”

“Then what would keep you loyal, sister,” Kiyomi replied noticing that the other woman blinked first as they stared at each in the small contest of wills. Fearing what that meant, she said, “I guess I’ll try again next week. You know to contact me if you feel anything crucial happens between now and then right?”

Kiyomi didn’t exactly expect Nanabi to reply so was surprised as the other Bijuu said, “Wait!” When Kiyomi refocused on her, Nanabi sighed before said, “Akame has asked me to keep an eye on a woman here.”

“Why?”

Nanabi shrugged in response. “I don’t know. She’s strong there is no doubt about that, but her reasons for helping Akame are unknown. I’m getting the feeling that she’s operating under her own agenda which is why Akame wants me keeping tabs on her.”

“If he doesn’t trust her then why allow her participation?” Kiyomi asked aloud not expecting an answer. But trying to think out in the open provided a few ideas of what it couldn’t be. “It can’t simply come down to strength. If anything, that would make her participation in this rebellion even more foolish. There must be something that is happening behind the scenes that we aren’t privy to yet.”

“I don’t know,” Nanabi said as Kiyomi continued to pace as she thought out loud. “As long as we have these seals that cut off our chakra it seems he doesn’t need to worry about any threat she may pose. He literally could end the threat she poses with a hand gesture.”

“True. Still I feel there must be something more to this.”

Nanabi could see Kiyomi was concerned so supplied, “There is one other thing worth mentioning I suppose. Several of the prisoners have stopped appearing at the mess hall.”

“Dropouts,” Kiyomi said her tone questioning.

“I don’t think so,” Nanabi answered, “Dropping out means death and although there have been a few of those during the training sessions. The people that have gone missing were some of the better shinobi.”

Kiyomi looked at her fellow Bijuu with concern as she said, “I-I had no idea you were in that much danger.”

“Really, I’m locked up with a bunch of crazed humans. All of whom are trying to impress the man pulling the strings through violence and intimidation. Where exactly did you think you sent me, a resort?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry for not giving the matter the proper amount of thought. Thank you for your efforts.”

Nanabi obviously looked surprised by Kiyomi’s admission so looking away said with a small waiver, “Shut up. I’m doing this for myself and my freedom.”

“I know,” Kiyomi said earnestly, “But I’m still grateful. Please continue to do your best. I will see if we can learn what has happened to these missing prisoners. Also, who is this woman you were tasked to watch?”

“Her name is Mikoto.” Nanabi noticed Kiyomi stiffen for a moment so asked, “Do you know her?”

“Of her would be more accurate,” Kiyomi said after a moment.

“Is she important?”

“To some. I don’t count myself among them since she is an Uchiha, but she appears to be a close friend of my previous host.”

Nanabi felt the same distaste for the Uchiha as her fellow Bijuu. But she said in defense of the woman, “She doesn’t seem to be like any of the other members of that clan that I have faced.”

“Nevertheless be careful. We have no idea what her true motives are.”

With that Kiyomi ended the connection and the darkness faded to be replaced by her study. She retook her seat and folded her hands in thought processing all that she had learned. She was also keenly aware that Nanabi had been less than truthfully with just how deeply she had infiltrated into Danzou’s rebellion. Confident that for the moment Nanabi was simply hedging her bets, Kiyomi hoped that when the time to choose a side came it wouldn’t end with her facing her family.

******

“Tsunade this situation is simply unconscionable. Where is the jinchuriki being held?” Danzou said angrily slamming his cane on the table for effect. Tsunade didn’t flinch as she stared at the elder feeling a great sense of amusement although she didn’t let it reach her face.

Tsunade’s amusement faded though as fatigue set in since outside of several breaks the Clan Council had been in session since Yugito had been caught in her attempt to poison the village the night before. “I’ve already told you that she is being held in an undisclosed location. It wouldn’t be that anymore if I told you, now would it?”

Danzou glowered at her and was about to speak but Hiashi beat him to the punch as the Hyuuga elder said, “I can understand your… desire to limit access to this Kumo-nin. Due to the sensitive nature of what she was here to do it would be…unfortunate should something happen to her by an overzealous shinobi. However, we should take the opportunity her capture presents to us with both hands.”

“Just so we’re clear. What is the opportunity that you believe this give us?” Tsunade watched the Hyuuga carefully as did Hinata, who was standing behind the Hokage acting as her assistant. She saw Danzou continue to glower at her, but she pushed the elder out of her mind since of all the people present she feared Hiashi’s reaction the most. All those present knew of how the man’s twin brother had died in an effort to prevent Kumo from getting the Byakugan. Although truthfully Hizashi Hyuuga had volunteered for death in order to save his brother’s life. Tsunade knew that as a result should the Hyuuga clan head push for either Yugito’s death or retaliation against Kumo, she’d be hard pressed to prevent the council from backing him.

The Hyuuga Clan Head wasn’t alone either as he had brought all the Hyuuga elders to the council room. The older Hyuugas were standing behind him as was his youngest daughter. The older men were there to lend their influence to the discussion. Tsunade though was more interested in the young girl since she appeared to have a shy interest in whom Tsunade had brought to the meeting to act as counterweight to the elders. Hanabi’s gaze shifted past the Hokage to glance up at her sister Hinata, who Tsunade had brought to the council meeting as an assistant. The girl’s gaze quickly shifted away and Tsunade felt a small sadness for the younger girl. Mainly since with Hinata’s surge in confidence and skill, since becoming one of Naruto’s lovers, Tsunade had heard talk that the Hyuuga elders were actually fighting against Hiashi’s desire to install Hanabi as Clan Head. Tsunade could imagine that it wasn’t easy to see that which she had been groomed her entire life for was slowly slipping from her fingers. The young Hyuuga must also have been taking Hinata’s presence at the meeting as just more proof of how far her older sister’s stock had risen not only in their clan but the village as a whole.

Tsunade’s gaze lifted from Hanabi to Hiashi to see that his demeanor was cool enough to prevent her from getting an accurate read of what the man was feeling. “In all honesty Lady Tsunade, we are well within our rights to react in any way we see fit. This Yugito Ni was captured with a deadly disease which she intended to poison our food supply with. More importantly though is that she is also the host of the Nibi. That means unlike… our last dealings with Kumo, they aren’t going to be able to simply deny any wrong doing and force us to make recompense. No, this woman being a jinchuriki means she was sent her with the Raikage’s blessing. If we so please we can remove the Nibi from her and find a more suitable host for it. Or, we can ask Suna to aid us in marching on Kumo. This cowardly act is more than enough reason to settle our differences with Kumo once and for all.”

Danzou’s earlier ire was replaced with grim satisfaction as he said, “Excellently put Lord Hyuuga.”

Tsunade grimaced as she quickly said, “You two can’t be serious. Yes I agree that what Kumo attempted is without a doubt grounds to start a new round of conflict. But gentlemen please remember that it behooves us to not act rashly. If we aren’t careful we could start a Fourth Shinobi War.”

“If you lack the spine to properly respond to threats facing our village, then perhaps it is time to elect a new Hokage. You are a fine peacetime leader Tsunade, but in the face of Kumo’s unrestrained hostility we need a leader not afraid of the sight of a little blood.”

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at Danzou’s dig at her old fear and fought the temptation to cross the room in order to show him just how over her hemophobia she was. Glaring at the elder she said, “It’s not the sight of blood that bothers me, Lord Danzou. It’s the potential to one day be bathing in it that does.”

“Then what would it take, Lady Tsunade, to provoke an adequate response from you?” Tsunade pulled her glare from Danzou to stare sympathetically at Hiashi. That sympathy vanished though as he said, “Perhaps if Naruto were to have been one of the victims of this plot your ire would be more noticeable.”

“There were no victims…”

Tsunade’s response was cut off by Homura who said, “This time. However, this wasn’t the first time this woman was thought responsible for a biological attack on the village. Are you forgetting that incident at the Inuzuka Dog Show? Our pursuit did catch up with her near the Kumo border as she was being attacked by Akatsuki. We found a vial of rabies which matched the strain used at the show.”

“True, but we didn’t catch up near the border but on the Kumo’s side of it, which was why we let the matter drop. Plus it could have belonged to one of the two members of Akatsuki.”

“Come now, Lady Hokage,” Homura said as if schooling an academy student. “The same woman is connected to similar biological incidents against our village, and you want to pass the blame onto Akatsuki. That is a stretch wouldn’t you agree.”

“Yes, but what we are discussing is possibly starting a new round of wars. Are we really prepared to do that?”

“Now is the perfect time to strike,” Danzou said almost eagerly, “Kumo would be completely alone. Iwa is too busy expanding its Western Border to lend them aid immediately and Kiri is still weak from years of infighting and civil war. With the Training Force already assembled, we could be half-way to Kumo before they could muster an adequate defense.”

Tsunade could see several of the clan leaders were contemplating Danzou’s words. She could see that Shikaku was analyzing all that he knew about the village in question and was probably already creating potential plans to remove the threat it posed. The others were doing likewise but also measured with the fear and anger that their families could have been harmed by the very food they provided for them. She feared that with those emotions running hot that war may very well be the outcome of the meeting. Naturally she could stop it as Hokage, but it could cost her many of the clans support and without that she might very well lose that position.

But her fears were silenced as the soft voice of Hinata asked, “May I speak please?”

All eyes turned to Hinata, who smiled gently before moving from behind Tsunade when the Hokage signaled her forward. The kunoichi moved to the center of the room and slowly looked around it making eye contact with all those present. Finally after taking a deep breath she said, “I know that as victims of Kumogakure’s past plots that we believe that with whatever actions we take here, justice will be on our side. Yet, I urge you to please remember Uncle Hizashi.”

“We do,” One of the Hyuuga elders said quickly, “That is why we should use this opportunity to avenge him. Lord Hiashi is right; there is no way for Kumo to claim this was not a sanctioned operation without giving up their claim to the kunoichi in custody.”

Hiashi nodded in agreement as he said, “Listen to our elder Hinata. You speak of an enemy you do not know.”

“With all due respect father, I know of Kumo very well. They have haunted my nightmares for many years as I feared they’d make another attempt and I am painfully aware that it was my weakness that was the cause of Uncle Hizashi’s death.”

Tsunade watched as a pained look appeared on Hiashi’s face for a moment before disappearing behind the calm expression that he normally wore. It was something that surprised the Senju kunoichi since she had long heard how belittling he could be towards Hinata. She wondered if a partial reason for his attitude towards his eldest daughter had something to do with why from such an early age he had been grooming his youngest to succeed him. But one thing was certain, the man was painfully aware of the effect his treatment of his eldest had had on her.

Hinata smiled weakly and sadly as she continued, “However, I can’t help but feeling that if we act from our anger at Kumo, justified or not, we would be the ones that invalidate Uncle Hizashi’s sacrifice. His actions brought the village from the brink of war. Although I know he did it to save you father, he also acted in Neji’s best interest…” She paused as she held a hand up to her heart adding, “As well as mine, and everyone in this room’s as well. His death didn’t break the chain of hatred between our villages, but it did prevent it from growing stronger. We have a chance to break it by showing mercy to the agent of the Raikage who was only following her Kage’s orders.”

“Hmph, I see why your father considers you to be weak,” Danzou said snidely to which Tsunade noticed a few of the elder Hyuuga’s agreed. She noticed thought that one of them did not and although she never much delved into the particulars of who were the powers within each clan she suspected he was the one that had fathered Hiashi and Hizashi. Hiashi also seemed moved by his daughter’s words although his reaction was simply a softening of his eyes. They hardened again though as Danzou added, “For that is all your pretty words have displayed a weakness in the face of an enemy who has attacked us. What do you think you could expect if you were at his mercy right now? I’ll tell you, he’d pluck your eyes from your head in order to give them to soldiers in his army and use your body to breed shinobi loyal to him complete with the Byakugan.”

“Lord Danzou, I ask that you at least address…”Hiashi said beginning to come to his daughter’s defense expecting her to wilt from Danzou’s venomous words.

However he trailed off as Hinata met Danzou’s gaze with her own cooling noticeably as she responded icily, “Perhaps he would at that Elder Danzou. Should I then act in a similarly beastly matter? You may call it weakness. But if this Yugito Ni in turn remembers the kindness we show her causing her to spare a Konoha-nin that she otherwise might not have, then I will take solace in that, as opposed to us acting in a manner that will spawn more hatred, which in turn will have Kumo-nin clamoring for the blood of our kin in retaliation for her death.”

“The problem with that however is that it will send the message that the other villages can keep testing us to their hearts content without suffering reprisals,” Homura said as he placed a hand on Danzou’s shoulder causing him to sit. “While distasteful, the need to inflict pain is our responsibility to bear. We shouldered that pain onto the Hyuuga to preserve the peace nearly fourteen years ago. It has done little to stop Kumo or any of the other villages from testing our resolve to peace time and time again. In this case instead of shouldering it we should in turn inflict it upon Kumo, so that much like a child who holds a lit match, they learn that it is only a matter of time before you burn yourself.”

“Gentlemen,” Tsunade said taking back control of the meeting now that Hinata’s words had cooled some of the anger present, “I am in no way saying we let this incident go unopposed. Only let’s handle this matter diplomatically.”

“It will be a waste of time,” Danzou said dismissively. “All it would afford them is time to bolster their defenses.”

Tsume scoffed at the elder before saying, “We shouldn’t kid ourselves. The Raikage had to consider the possibility his plan would fail. If so, he has already moved forces to blunt any attack we would make in retaliation. They were probably in place weeks before they even sent her. Shit, for all we know they’ve been in place since the Training Force first began practicing.”

“Very true, Lady Tsume,” Shikaku Nara said speaking up, “We did detect several units being moved towards the Hot-Water country border upon the Training Forces setting up camp. The likelihood of catching them unaware is nonexistent. Negotiation does nothing but give us a chance for a peaceful outcome. A battle with Kumo would be costly no matter how we went about it. Should Kiri and Iwa remain neutral it would give them a chance to take advantage of our weakened state after the conflict.”

“Very well,” Danzou said although his disappointment at the outcome of the meeting was well masked. Thanks to Komachi’s report, those that were Naruto’s lovers knew just how much the man had been hoping the drums of war would once more begin beating. “But what makes you believe the Raikage will agree to meet at a neutral site such as the Land of Iron.”

“Simple, I’m not going to confront him at a neutral site,” Tsunade said with a smile, “I’m going to meet him in his very home. He’ll agree to such a meeting since I’m sure at the very least he feels some concern with how Yugito is being treated while in our care”

****

“Oh fuck,” Yugito said sounding somewhere in-between pain and pleasure. “I don’t think I can take much more.”

Naruto smirked as he rubbed a particularly difficult knot from out of the naked woman’s shoulders as she laid on her stomach on one of the massage tables he had bought recently. He heard Yuugao scoff causing the man to move his gaze to the Anbu captain sitting on the couch in Koharu’s safe house. Naruto arched an eyebrow at her causing the Anbu officer to say, “You two are acting rather carefree considering right now the clan council could be calling for war.”

“They won’t let it come to that,” Naruto said confidently directing his attention back to Yugito.

“Look Naruto, I know you have reason to feel smug considering how well your letting Komachi go went. But, you can’t let that go to your head. Sure we had advance notice of what Kumo may have planned but…”

Yugito cut her off as she raised her head from the massage table to say, “Hey I would have let you known sooner, but I was escorted to the border by…”

She in turn was cut off by Naruto with a kiss as he said, “I know. We never doubted you would tell us when you could.” Yugito sighed as he moved down her body to begin working her legs after placing more oil on his hands. Looking back at Yuugao he said, “Do I look smug? Because I assure you I’m just as worried as you are. I’m just confident that those attending the meeting will prevent it from getting too out of control. Besides I don’t get to shower much attention to my kitten here so should take this time as the opportunity it is to do so.”

He focused on Yugito who purred in contentment as hands continued to work their magic. He created a shadow clone when he grabbed some more oil which moved towards the sitting Anbu captain. It held its hand out and adding to the conversation that Naruto and she were just having said, “It seems we are always operating on the edge of disaster. We should take these quiet moments to relax for we don’t know what the future is going to bring. Now, how about a massage?”

Yuugao looked at the hand and directed her attention to Yugito and Naruto just as the female blonde reached for a nearby glass of wine. She looked back at the clone saying, “I’m on duty. You may have Hiraishined her and me out of the Interrogation Department, but I’m still responsible for her.”

The clone smirked as it looked over at Yugito and said, “I don’t think she’s going to be problem prisoner. Besides, I’m responsible for both of you.”

Yuugao looked up into the pools of blue that were her lover’s eyes and from the loving way that he stared at her felt her face grow flush. Taking the offered hand, she allowed the clone to pull her to her feet where she was in turned stripped and soon found herself face down on a table like the Kumo-nin she had been tasked with guarding.

That was how Tsunade and Koharu found them causing the Hokage to say amused, “I doubt any of our fellow Leaf kinsmen would find the idea of Kumo and Konoha as potential friends and allies so hard to believe if they could see you two now.”

Yuugao’s head shot from the massage table to look at the two women as her eyes grew wide in embarrassment at being caught in such a situation while on duty. However as the Naruto massaging her chuckled and noticing the two women’s amused looks relaxed as she said, “I was just taking some advice to enjoy these quiet moments while we can.”

“Good advice,” Tsunade said sitting down on the couch, “There weren’t any to be had in that council meeting.”

“That bad,” Naruto said as he finished Yugito’s massage.

He turned to Tsunade, but Yugito sat up and grabbed his arm saying, “You’re not finished are you? There are spots that really need a good deep massage that you haven’t even touched yet.”

Naruto kissed her lightly before saying, “Sorry, we’ll have to save that for our celebration later.”

Koharu cautioned him saying, “I wouldn’t plan that party just yet. You still have quite a few obstacles to overcome before we can say we have successfully navigated this new hazard.”

“Not to mention any new ones that bastard Danzou is busy currently preparing,” Tsunade said her agitation at the elder still in full force. “Honestly, how could you work with him and Homura for all those years?”

“It was far easier than I care to admit. The years of war have made us all a shadow of the idealistic youths we used to be. Only Sarutobi really managed to hold onto those ideals, especially after sensei was killed.”

Tsunade nodded sadly having experienced much the same and said, “Don’t remind me. Once Danzou learned I planned to head to Kumo, he all but offered to help me pack.”

Koharu nodded gravely as she said, “It’s easy to understand why.”

“What do you mean?” Naruto asked confused.

It was Yugito that answered as she sadly said, “Because the first time a Senju entered Kumo territory he was nearly killed by a couple of vile traitors…”

“And the second time,” Tsunade said taking over, “He didn’t return at all, but with the Raikage’s blessing.”

****

Kin Tsuchi sat down at a table in the small restaurant that she had stumbled across on her way back from the jungles of Southern Tea Country. She pulled out a book and read over the report that she had written beneath the profile of one of the women she had located. However unlike the Bingo Book that Tayuya had used this one contained information on the women in Kanji’s harem. She had located a pair of them operating as mercenaries in the jungles of Tea. The woman’s name of the profile she was reading was Leona Heidern. She was the adopted daughter of the Ikari mercenaries’ leader and had apparently been captured on a mission with her partner as they investigated a girl’s disappearance. It was now painful obvious that Kanji had been responsible for all three of the kidnappings.

Kin turned the page to see the picture of the woman’s partner who went by the codename Whip. Much as her codename implied she preferred to use them as her primary weapon. She hadn’t learned much about either woman since that wasn’t her goal. She was simply hoping to provide intel on how they were coping with what they had suffered and to see if they had potential intelligence on some of the women that they were interested in. Fortunately both women had a strong network of support within their mercenary group so seemed to have come to some form of peace with what they had experienced. The two women had even completed their mission by returning the missing girl having located her among the others as the fled Kanji’s compound upon his death.

She closed the book as the waitress came with her order and looked at the time as she waited for the courier that would collect it. She noticed a couple of attractive young men staring at her and she imagined they were trying to picture what her face looked like since she had taken to covering her lower half with the grey camouflaged scarf that she wore. She turned enough to eat her meal without giving the mystery away as she in turn imagined them naked since she doubted they would stop their own imaginations with her scarf.

Sex was something that had preoccupied Kin’s mind as of late ever since she had left the Leaf Village upon Kanji’s death. It was she supposed a natural reaction to some of the fooling around that she and Naruto had done. To be honest, she had grown rather addicted to the pleasure she derived from sucking him off, not to mention what she received in turn when he returned the favor. It had left her with a desire to experience more, but what held her back was the life-long commitment that would come with it. She understood that they were currently looking for a cure for the Binding, but with the three medics in Naruto’s harem showing no sign of regret to being bound to him, she doubted finding a cure was a top priority for them.

Therefore at times, she was tempted to find a beautiful stranger and rock his world. But what held her back was that when she did give her virginity to someone, she wanted it to be to someone worthy of it. She suspected she had found that person already, but wasn’t sure if she was ready for the commitment that would follow. Although she had to admit that considering she was busy hunting down women of a former rival’s harem supposed she was already rather committed.

“Excuse me,” a soft cultured voice said cutting into her reverie.

Kin looked down beneath the table to see a large slug sitting on the bench next to her. Recognizing it as a clone of Katsuyu the kunoichi said, “Greetings Lady Katsuyu.”

“Good day Kin” the slug responded by lowering her eyestalks. “I know you have likely filed a report in the book but since Milady is likely to just ask would you mind telling me.”

Kin shook her head before reporting, “I found three of the women that Anko turned up from the records she confiscated from Kanji’s study. Two were mercenaries with the third being a civilian that had captured his fancy. All three have returned to their lives albeit with some emotional scaring. But their families and friends are helping them through it. None of them were aware of how Kanji was controlling them. I’m afraid however that as far as to the three women we are interested in finding went they had no information.”

“I see,” the slug responded after a moment, “I can understand Milady’s desire in Kagura due to their history. But why are you all so determined to find this Momo Hinamori woman and Suiren of Kirigakure?”

Kin shrugged, before saying, “I’m not too sure myself. But I believe Tsunade feels she may become a threat. It was only after the raid that we learned how much Kanji had twisted her to love him. I guess she’s afraid that with time and effort she’ll come after Naruto in a form of revenge. She did watch as Kiyomi roasted Kanji and she saw Tayuya’s face so could locate Naruto from her.”

“I suppose I can understand her concern then,” Katsuyu said her voice taking on a tone of admiration. “Naruto has always held a special place in her heart. It has only grown stronger now.”

“Yeah,” Kin said her tone wistful, “It’s kind of scary when you think about it.”

“Oh…”

Taking the following silence as a curiosity on the slug’s part for her to continue she explained, “I mean he’s got legends like Tsunade, and Koharu falling for him, has made Bijuu like the Kyuubi and Nibi take on human form to be with him, and seems destined to find more amazing people like that. Yet he doesn’t let it go to his head and can even make a nobody like me feel as special as he does them. I mean if he put his mind to it, he really could conquer all the Shinobi villages I bet.”

“It seems you are rather keen on him yourself. Why have you not given yourself to him as they have?”

Kin looked over at the two young men that seemed to have found another pretty young woman to focus on. Shrugging she said, “I guess I wanted sometime away from the pleasure to think on it some more.”

“Pleasure,” Katsuyu said confused.

“Yeah,” Kin said with a dreamy look as she remembered some of the encounters. Focusing on the slug she asked, “Doesn’t sex feel good for you?”

The slug looked at her strangely asking, “We slugs are hermaphrodites. When we mate we simply exchange sperm to each other before laying the eggs. I became purely female as a result of a mating ritual where my male reproductive organ became too tightly entwined with my mates. Therefore I chewed it off to allow us to separate through a process known as apophallation.”

“Wow… that was a bit too much information.”

“I see, have you not considered that perhaps your own mating rituals would be repulsive to other species.”

Sensing she had insulted the summons Kin said, “Sorry, I just couldn’t imagine how painful that was.”

“I suppose I understand, but you misunderstand. It wasn’t painful at all.”

“Oh, I guess if it couldn’t feel that, it’s no wonder you only mate to reproduce. It probably doesn’t feel that good either.”

“I…I suppose not,” Katsuyu admitted as Kin picked her up and placed her on the book she had prepared.

“Well, please pass my report on to Tsunade,” Kin said cheerfully as she placed her money on the table. “I’ll see you in a few days to take back the book when Anko has finished going over my written report.”

The kunoichi got up from the bench leaving a confused summons behind which disappeared in a puff of smoke before reappearing in the Den’s war room with Kin’s book. Sliding off of it, the summons began to contemplate if perhaps it had finally been given the answer as to why sex was so important to almost all the vertebrate animal summons that it knew. Sliding into the Harem room of the Den it decided that perhaps it should engage in some research of the mating ritual of humans.

*****

Naruto looked down upon his lover and groaned again as she knelt before him working her tits over his shaft. Reaching down, he grabbed one of her nipples giving it a pull causing her to squeal in delight as he said, “Shit, Tsunade, my cock feels incredible sandwiched between your tits.”

Tsunade paused as she pressed on the outside of her breasts to squeeze them around his hardness and opening her mouth stuck her tongue out. From the tip, she drooled all over her breasts before beginning to work her naughty pillows up and down again. Naruto sat back on his elbows moaning, “Yeah, that’s it.”

Tsunade smiled up at him only wearing her usual shirt which was opened to allow her to wrap her breasts around Naruto’s manhood. Basking in the pleasure she could see written on his face she asked, “How does it feel to get a tittie fuck from the Hokage?”

“Incredible since she definitely has the tits for the job,” Naruto said as he made sure to watch his lover to fully enjoy the experience.

“Flatter,” Tsunade replied amused, “I’ve bet you’ve said the same thing to Hinata. But your compliment does deserve some sort of reward.”

Naruto was about to ask what reward when Tsunade wrapped her mouth around the head of his cock. Feeling her tongue swirling around the tip while his shaft was mashed between the warm marshmallow goodness of her breasts caused Naruto to jerk his hips as he fought against releasing his load. Tsunade could feel he was close so pulling her mouth away as she increased the pace of her bosom said, “Go on Naruto. Cum…cum…”

Naruto still held off for a bit, but finally erupted, hitting Tsunade beneath the chin as he spewed his seed all over her face, tits, and neck. Sagging onto the bed he said, “That felt incredible.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” his lover said after cleaning his dick. Standing she allowed her shirt to fall from her shoulders before saying, “It’s good to have you to myself for a while.”

“I’m sorry if I…”

“Shh,” Tsunade said leaning forward her tits still coated in his essence, “It wasn’t a recrimination. I’m just saying I’m glad this trip had afforded me a little one on one time with you, my love.”

Naruto kissed her passionately, but before it could progress much further a horn sounded signaling that the cruise they had taken was coming to an end. Naruto sighed as she pulled away and said, “I just wish the circumstances were better.”

“They will be someday,” Tsunade said turning to head towards the shower and clean up. “On that day maybe you can take me on a cruise to Crescent Moon Island.” She paused in her journey to shower to ask, “But why so jumpy? Is it because of how you bungled things with Ino?”

“Did you have to put it so bluntly?”

Tsunade smiled and said, “No, I could have put it sweetly, but the meaning would have been the same.”

Naruto chuckled but with limited mirth as he said, “I can understand why she reacted the way she did. I just don’t understand how she could think I’d come to any other conclusion. She basically wants me to stop from being me, so why wouldn’t I think she wants to be free of the Binding.”

“Naruto, she’s concerned you’re too reckless and she has a point. But that is part of the reason you react so honestly. She just wants to know that you are aware how much pain your death would cause. The truth is, I believe she was shocked to learn just how much she had come to care and cherish you. That was why she slapped you.”

“Huh?”

“I know you thought telling her that you were looking into a way to let her go sounded all noble to you. But look at it from her perspective. You have at last count twenty-eight other lovers more than willing to fill the slot she has vacated. With that said, can’t you see how she would react so poorly? To her it looked like you were just washing your hands of her since you have plenty of willing lovers.”

“But…”

“I know my love,” Tsunade said softly, “You still love her, but right now she also needs to understand that asking you to change is just as insensitive. She may wish you were less reckless, but she needs to understand that loving you means that it is a total package, recklessness included.” Naruto nodded so smiling she said, “Now I need to clean-up. We’re going to have to let the local shinobi authorities know we entered their country using fake travel papers. I think it would be best if when we did so my chest isn’t coated in your semen.”

****

Naruto chuckled and leaned back in the bed to close his eyes. When he opened them again he was sitting on his mother’s couch in the recreation of her apartment within his seal albeit with pants as opposed to how he was naked in the real world. “N-naruto…honey,” his mother said sounding a little flustered in part to what she had just felt as well as the sight of her shirtless son.

Wondering why her face was so red he asked, “Are you okay?”

“F-fine,” Kushina replied hoping her son didn’t notice how disheveled that she felt she looked. Kushina had been in the middle of berating herself for once more giving into the temptation to stay out of the chakra safe zone Kiyomi had set up for when Naruto was active sexually. Although she hadn’t really gotten all that excited from Tsunade’s tit job, since even outside of the green light her ability to feel the sensations appeared to be diminished, at the moment she could still feel the slight warmth of where Naruto’s seed had landed on the Hokage.

Kushina had felt completely disgusted with herself after the time first time she had given in. The only good thing she had to say about the experience, at least afterwards, was that she learned that she only experienced what the woman with the real Naruto did and that his taking of the woman from behind had allowed her to pretend that it hadn’t been her son causing her to feel such pleasure. At least until his lovers had cum and then gave him a double blowjob where she learned that she still experienced what the one that had been with Naruto the longest in a given session felt. Since then and in the few days that had passed Kushina had waged a battle of wills with her libido in which she lost almost as often as she won. While all the while her sexual desires continued to taunt her with the knowledge that if sex with Naruto felt that incredible while being dampened due to the lack of a physical existence, then it was no wonder his lovers were hooked to him physically as well as emotionally.

“Hey mom, are you sure you’re okay?” Naruto asked worriedly having gotten in her face while she was distracted.

Reacting on instinct she pushed him back after emitting a surprised squeak. He landed on his ass causing him to say, “Hey, what’s gotten into you.”

“It’s a question of what I want to get into me,” her libido supplied quickly causing her to say aloud, “Shut up!”

“Jeez, okay I’m sorry,” he said standing, “I’ll be on my way.”

“Oh honey, I’m sorry. I know I’m acting scattered brained. Please forgive me.”

Naruto smiled brightly at her causing Kushina’s heart to speed up, but whether from motherly affection or from some other aspect of her she wasn’t entirely sure. “Of course mom. If I caught you at a bad time I could come back. But you said you wanted to talk to me before we entered Lightning Country.”

“R-right,” Kushina said quickly hoping to move past her embarrassing behavior, “The reason I wanted to speak you was to ask do you plan to make any moves on the kunoichi of Kumogakure.”

Naruto shrugged his own face going red as he was sort of embarrassed to be talking about such things with his mother. He supposed he could understand the reason for her being so flustered due to his arriving so soon after obviously being with Tsunade. However aware that his mom was likely asking as part of her responsibility due to her being his Bijuu he nodded as he said, “If a chance arises I plan to take it. However, I doubt I’ll get very many if any. I don’t think the Raikage is just going to let me wander around freely. I don’t think I’ll get any chances to speak freely to a woman while there.”

“W-what if words weren’t necessary,” Kushina said her face growing a similar shade of red as her son’s.

“What do you mean?”

“I can make it so that you could… jumpstart a woman’s desire for you if you want.”

“How?”

Kushina’s blush deepened since she had come up with the idea as a result of experiencing sex through one of her son’s lovers. Explaining she said, “As you know… Kiyomi experienced sex through your many encounters. I…She reasoned that it was due to the chakra binding that takes places between you and them. Those experiences are also locked away within her original form as memories. I could make it that you would cast a genjutsu on a kunoichi so that she would experience those memories as fantasies which all revolve around you.”

“I don’t know,” Naruto said after a moment, “I’ve never really been any good a genjutsu.”

“That runs in the family I’m afraid,” Kushina said with a smile which her son returned. “That’s why I would make it an almost automatic response. It would also need to be an eye technique so you’ll have to make sure not to use it too overtly. We wouldn’t want someone other than the intended receiver to notice.”

“Wouldn’t she raise a fuss?”

“It would be a split-second change. She might notice something but it would barely even register and she’d likely think she imagined it.”

“Let’s give it a shot,” Naruto said excitedly, “I would hate to think we came all this way and didn’t manage to find a way to increase our influence.”

Kushina nodded, as she tried to fight down the shivers that accompanied her imaginations running wild with just how her son would put the technique she described to use.

*****

Ayame had felt uncomfortable ever since Naruto had left the village. She couldn’t exactly place it but felt a part of it was due to how one of her shop attendant friends had brought it to her attention what had happened to the last Senju Hokage that had entered into Kumo. She tried to tell herself to calm down as Naruto had assured her that he would be fine during the date they had the day before he left. She smiled as she thought about how she planned to celebrate his return.

She sighed though as she once more felt a sense of uselessness due to the fact that of all his lovers she was the weakest. It wasn’t just in turns of strength that she thought that, but in the scope of his ambition. As she felt when compared to Jinchuriki, Kunoichi, Bijuu, princesses, and even the Hokage, she didn’t understand what she really had to offer. She knew Naruto didn’t think in those terms but she wished for something more to offer than the occasional bowl of ramen. Even the other civilian within Naruto’s harem was contributing more with Tsunami overseeing the remodeling of the Whirling Tides Manor.

She felt a sense of gratitude to the other women since they had allowed her the privilege of being the official face of their relationship with the man they all cared for. Looking up at the clock she saw that it was closing time so moved from around the counter to pull the gate closed. She was reaching up to pull it down when something solid dove past the cloth hanging in front of the shop and hit her in the chest. She fell back slamming into the bar and caught her breath as a dark-haired man began pulling the gate down in her place. He turned the lock and smiling darkly at her said, “Hey Ayame. Miss me?”

“Toshio,” she said scared of her former boyfriend as much from the way his eyes were traveling over her as the knife he was wielding. Taking in his appearance which had changed considerably since he was no longer trying to resemble Naruto, she noted that his hair had returned to its natural black color which matched the beard he was now sporting likely to disguise his appearance.

“You do remember? I’m touched,” he said stepping further into the ramen bar tapping his knife against his skull in a threatening manner. “I of course remember you and how you dumped me to become a slut for the demon brat.” Ayame’s eyes narrowed at him for insulting her boyfriend causing him to chuckle as he said. “You don’t like that huh? You know you and the demon have been almost directly responsible for all the downturns my life has taken lately. Shit, I haven’t gotten laid since we broke up. T-that time at the Manhole doesn’t count. Plus your network of shop attendant whores has been tarnishing my name so that lately the only date I’ve been able to get has been from an overanxious male stalker.”

Despite the situation Ayame said, “What’s the matter the virgin killer meet his match and lost his own anal virginity?”

“Shut up bitch,” Toshio roared, “It was probably due to something that Yamanaka bitch did. She’ll get hers eventually too, but right now I’m here for mine.”

Ayame grew panicked and was aware that by now Naruto was likely in Kumo so wouldn’t be able to come to her rescue. She didn’t doubt that he would, but she knew doing so would put everything he had worked for in jeopardy so tried to prevent her fears from reaching him through the mark. She didn’t want to be the weak link that caused everything to come crashing down. She turned and tried to run around the ramen bar for the back door but Toshio caught her before she could make it. He pulled her clothes ripping the back of her uniform and exposed her mark to his eyes.

“What the fuck is this? Are you fucking serious you bitch? I’m going to fuck every goddamn hole you have and a few I plan to add and when I’m done I’m going to cut this mark off you and keep it as a souvenir.” He threw Ayame to the ground and prepared to follow through on his threat but was stopped as a clawed hand clamped down on his head.

Ayame looked up to see Toshio being lifted off his feet as Kiyomi stood behind him her eyes glowing red as her hair and face took on a more feral appearance . She held him there his legs kicking helplessly as he tried to get the hand to release him. Realizing, he was still holding his knife the man tried to plunge it into her hand, but the Bijuu sent a pulse of her chakra through him causing him to scream in pain as he dropped his knife. “What a sad pathetic creature you are,” the Bijuu said coldly. “I believe Naruto told you to keep your distance from Ayame. Unfortunately for you, you decided to disregard his warning when you thought yourself safe due to his being in Kumo.”

Still smoking from the chakra that passed through him the would be rapist asked, “Who the fuck are you?”

Kiyomi smiled darkly although only Ayame could see it as she replied, “I’m the demon part when you referred to Naruto as demon brat. I was just thinking I needed to find a body for something I had planned to correct a wrong I committed. I thank you for volunteering.” Raising her other hand she cast a barrier around the small shop to subdue the coming screams.

“W-what…” the man managed to say before Kiyomi sent her chakra into him causing him to scream again.

This time however she didn’t let up and as she channeled more and more of her chakra into him. Toshio’s screams took on a more feminine tone as Ayame watched in confused amazement. Furthermore, his hair began to grow longer and once more took on the blonde coloring that she remembered he had sported as they dated. His eyes although already blue took on the unique coloring that she recognized as Naruto’s even as the face became more and more feminine. A fact highlighted as his chest grew and expanded to press against the black shirt that Toshio had been wearing. His hips also grew shapelier and although Ayame had never seen it before she was confident that she was looking at the form Naruto took when using his sexy jutsu. The only thing she felt was missing were the whisker marks on her cheeks.

Kiyomi set the woman down gently who sank to her knees. The woman looked around in confusion before saying, “I…I’m free.” Before collapsing forward and was caught by Ayame. The Ramen waitress looked up as the Bijuu asked, “Are you okay?”

Still shaken she nodded causing the Bijuu to smile as she said, “Good, Naruto would never have forgiven me should something bad happen to you while he was in Kumo. You should have called out with your mark sooner.”

“I…I…”

“I’m aware you didn’t want to be a burden, but Naruto wasn’t the only one willing to come to your aid. Don’t forget that.”

Ayame nodded as she felt tears gather in her eyes. “Thank you.” Kiyomi nodded before directing her attention to the woman that Ayame was holding causing the waitress to ask, “What did you do?”

“Correcting a mistake I made in forgetting that just because something was a collection of unstable chakra. That didn’t mean it didn’t have feelings or dreams of its own.”

Ayame looked down at the sleeping woman and wonderef if the Bijuu was referring to the dark aspect of Naruto’s personality she had set loose in a bid to escape. If so she wondered how it would react to being given a form, but not one it had been used to or perhaps even wanted.

*****

Naruto stared off into the distance as he sat across from half dozen of what he assumed was Kumo’s finest. Three of whom were some of the kunoichi that Yugito had told him were quite influential and could aid in his goals. He tried to focus on his ambition but was still somewhat rattled by what he had felt nearly happen to Ayame as he was being escorted to Kumo upon leaving the cruise ship. Glad that his lovers were watching out for each other he planned to find some way to show Kiyomi his appreciation, before returning to the matter at hand.

Tsunade was currently inside the Raikage’s office and from her mark he could sense a vague sense of amusement coming from her. He supposed it was due to when the Raikage finally learned what it was she wanted from him for Yugito’s release, the man would be stunned by how little she was asking for, or by how much depending on his pride. Confident that for the moment she was safe he concentrated on trying to find a way to get close to one of the kunoichi present. Aware he would likely only have time for one seduction he decided his goal was the woman known as Mabui.

But being a shinobi and aware that a shinobi sometimes would have to choose a secondary target to accomplish if his primary became unattainable, he zeroed in on the blonde known as Samui. She stared at him coolly and considering her dress, he had a hard time imagining that she was as ashamed of her breasts as Yugito claimed. However he was aware enough to realize that just because her clothes flaunted her large assets that didn’t mean she liked them. It just meant that she was aware of them enough to recognize that even if it was for a split-second that an enemy lost focus as his lusts got the better of him. It was an opening which could decide the victor in a battle. He had to admit also that even as she stood against the wall opposite of him it was hard for his eyes not to be attracted to her breasts even if she wasn’t doing anything in particular to call his attention to them. Her current stance being a prime example, as she stood with one arm wrapped across her torso to hold the other tight against her body. He doubted she was even aware of the seductive visage she presented as her stance caused her breasts to be pushed together and up.

Naruto although looking out of the corner of his eye moved onto the dark-skinned red-head lest he get caught staring. He found her attractive in a tomboy sort of way. Not to say that she wasn’t feminine, but something told him the kunoichi considered herself to be one of the guys most of the time. That would present some challenges he imagined, particularly due to his current inability to interact with her outside of the current mission to watch him which she had been given. Her obvious disdain for him as a shinobi of Konoha was also apparent.

To be honest it was something almost all the Kumo shinobi present shared. He turned his head to look at a clock and saw that over three hours had passed since Tsunade had entered the Raikage’s office. Naruto took the opportunity his movement afforded him to observe who he considered perhaps to be the senior most shinobi present. He knew the man’s name was Darui from the clipped introductions he had received upon finding the Raikage waiting for as they entered the building from which the village leader conduct his business. From the laidback way the man carried himself Naruto imagined he and Kakashi would get along swimmingly. Still from his own experiences with his sensei, Naruto knew the man was also highly proficient. The dark-skinned man also no doubt was observing him as closely as or more so than Naruto was.

A loud crash of wood splintering came from the office causing Naruto to launch to his feet, but he could still feel Tsunade’s amusement so relaxed. But also did so since all the present Shinobi had pulled blades or kunai to stop him. He wondered what was going on inside the room, and relaxed somewhat as the Raikage’s voice called through a voice box on his secretary Mabui’s desk, “I need a new desk brought up from storage.”

Mabui who had been crouched on top of her desk as she held a kunai in a ready position reached down to activate the device as she said, “Yes, Lord Raikage.”

Darui nodded to the blonde light-skinned man present saying, “Shii, I’ll leave getting one to you.”

The serious looking blonde nodded, before heading off towards the stairs to fulfill his leader’s request.

Naruto relaxed and took his seat causing the Kumo-nin to calm as well. However, Naruto took the opportunity to up his release of enhanced pheromones which he had been doing ever since Tsunade entered the office. He smiled as he noticed a slight blush appearing even on the almost porcelain complexion Samui. Figuring the sudden jolt of adrenaline had only accelerated their effect he sat back to wait for the Kumo-nin he expected to explode first to reach his limit.

Now openly watching his Kumo counterparts, Naruto felt a slight worry as he noticed Darui begin to look towards Mabui as she continued to work behind her desk. He worried if that was a sign that the two of them were together but was somewhat bolstered by her remaining focused on her paperwork. While he was aware she may have been simply trying harder not to let the feeling she may have been experiencing show. Her doing everything she could not to look his way gave Naruto the impression that perhaps they had a relationship that had soured. He hoped that was the case since he never wanted to come between two people who cared for each other.

To his surprise she looked up at him to give him a gentle if cool smile. He smiled back and took it as a good sign when she quickly wetted her lips. Naruto wasn’t sure if the other blonde male that had been pacing back and forth noticed Mabui’s reaction, but he obviously reached his boiling as he said, “What the hell are you smiling at hotshot?”

Naruto focused on the man named Atsui, who outside of the shinobi Shii that had left; he had figured would be the first to react to the pheromones he had released. The presence of the three kunoichi had made Naruto confident that one of the males would react to his presence in the same vein as animals when a strange male entered another’s territory. Aware that one of those males was puffing himself up he knew that now he needed to tread carefully lest he start the international incident they were trying to avoid. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you nervous. I was just wondering if I should consider the Raikage breaking his desk a good sign or a bad one.”

As Naruto expected, Atsui didn’t react to what he had said so much as what he thought he heard when the man replied, “I’m not nervous. You think I’m scared of you.”

“I hope not,” Naruto replied hoping he sounded sincere.

“Cool down, Atsui,” Samui said as her brother tried to project himself over the sitting Naruto.

“Why should I? We should take their Hokage hostage and make them release Lady Yugito. It is what she deserves for arrogantly strutting into our village and making demands.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Naruto said calmly.

“Yeah, why’s that.”

“Two reasons,” the blond jinchuriki said while letting a little heat into his voice, “The first is it would upset an already delicate situation, and cause more pain for all those involved then you’d know what to do with. The second is because if you even tried to lay a finger on her, I’d stop you.”

“Stop this,” Atsui said swinging on the blond before he could even stop himself.

*****

Tsunade kept a cool but slightly amused look on her face as the Raikage paced angrily behind his ruined desk. She was glad that she had opted to wear her Hokage robes and hat since she could feel the twin nubs of her nipples rubbing against the bra she was wearing. Quite aware that Naruto’s pheromones were even now filling the room despite the closed door she figured that without the robe and extra support the Raikage would know just how excited she was.

As a doctor she had found it fascinating to watch as the Raikage had grown more and more agitated from her lover’s pheromones. She had even been aware of the exact moment he first felt their effect as he had paused in midsentence to send a look to the door. Tsunade had just moments before sat a little straighter to present herself as if to tell him that the man she considered an alpha male was nearby. The Raikage had resumed trying to persuade slash threaten her to release Yugito. Her calmness in the face of his growing agitation had only further upset the Kage so that when she rejected an obscene amount of ransom for his jinchuriki the man had snapped slamming his fist into his desk smashing it to pieces.

Aware he was losing his cool he took a moment to calm himself after a halfhearted apology for the outburst. As he steadied his breathing, Tsunade briefly wondered why she wasn’t more affected by the airborne chemicals. She decided that it was likely since she had already given herself to Naruto and as such outside of her arousal there was nothing more for them to do to her. She did wonder why she wasn’t bothered more by the three women outside the room, but chalked that up to her acceptance that her lover would take more women as his.

After several seconds the Raikage began to make another pitch for the freedom of Yugito to which Tsunade barely paid attention. Studying the Raikage, she couldn’t deny that he cared deeply for the shinobi under his command causing her to wonder why it never seemed to be enough to prevent hostilities from erupting between their villages. She figured that at the very least that trait united both of them as she was sure it must be the same for all Kage.

A commotion outside the room caused the Raikage to stare up at the door as he said, “What the hell is going on out there?”

Storming to the door with Tsunade following behind he threw the double doors open and was about to yell. But his shout stopped on his tongue upon seeing Atsui lying on the floor with Naruto pinning him to the ground with a knee in his back and holding a kunai to the back of his neck as several clones prevented the other Kumo shinobi from getting too close to them. “Naruto,” Tsunade said sounding stern but was secretly thrilled at her man displaying his dominance of the other, “What are you doing?”

Naruto looked up and rubbed his head with the hand clutching the kunai in embarrassment as he explained, “It wasn’t me. This guy tried to coldcock me.”

Darui sighed putting his cleaver sword away as he admitted, “Sorry sir, it’s true. Maybe the tension of worrying about Lady Yugito is getting to him. We’re all feeling it.”

“That we are,” the Raikage admitted. “Fine, I suppose six shinobi to baby-sit this whelp is a bit of an overkill. Mabui, I trust you can keep an eye on him.”

“Yes sir”

“Good, the rest of you are dismissed.” The Raikage turned on his heel as Tsunade smirked at her lover and gave him a wink. Naruto smiled as he let the Kumo-nin up saying, “Sorry, no hard feelings.” He held out his hand but was blown off as Atsui simply stormed off. The other Kumo-nin left displaying similar degrees of coolness towards him, causing the blond to sigh noisily before the Raikage shut the door to continue his discussion with Tsunade.

*****

Mabui approached the blond to apologize for her fellow Kumo-nin saying, “Don’t take it personally. Atsui tends to act first and think later.”

“Thanks,” the blond man said sincerely, “I really hope we can one day become friends with this village.”

Mabui could see the truth of his words reflected in his blue eyes which quickly shifted as they became slitted and glowed red before returning to normal. It barely registered to the woman as she suddenly grew light-headed but was steadied by the blond man as he placed a hand on her hip.

“Are you okay?” he asked as she still wobbled slightly from her sudden vertigo as well from the overpowering scent of the man that seemed to fill her with warmth.

“Y-yes,” she replied stepping away unaware of the locating and Hiraishin seal Naruto had placed on her stomach which quickly disappeared. Feeling suddenly parched she asked, “Do you want something to drink?”

The Leaf-nin nodded so the kunoichi headed to a nearby room where she prepared tea, coffee, and snacks for the Raikage and whatever guest he was entertaining. As he followed behind her, Mabui tried to calm the jitters she was beginning to feel from the blond’s presence even as she walked with an exaggerated sway to her hips.

*****

Seven was sitting in her cell as she contemplated what she should do with the information she had become privy to. The past two weeks since her meeting with Akame had been relatively difficult as a result of the combat drills she had been subjected to. Their difficulty stemmed from the large handicaps that Akame would give those who would face her. She knew the reason was that the person she had been paired with for the training sessions was Mikoto. They would often be pitted in combat scenarios where they would have to fend off a large number of attackers while defending an objective. Or they would be the attackers and would need to rely on teamwork to win. By subjecting the two of them to such hellish ordeals, he hoped to exploit the small crack that Mikoto had shown the Bijuu turned woman.

Seven’s problem though was that if Akame’s intentions were so transparent to her then she believed they must have been to Mikoto as well. Mikoto played along occasional dropping small tidbits of information about herself, but Seven knew it wasn’t anything that Akame didn’t likely already know. Her reason for doing so was obvious to Seven which was that as long as she knew who Akame was using to spy on her, it would allow the woman a certain amount of freedom as well.

Seven pulled her feet up onto the bed as she pulled her knees into her chest. Wrapping her arms around her knees and despite a particularly tough battle that morning, Seven didn’t feel any pain due to her rapid healing. A recent upgrade due to Kiyomi’s tampering with her seal to allow her more access to her Bijuu powers. Her fellow Bijuu had appeared in her cell when after a particularly vicious battle with a Mizuki backed Ninja Dropout team in full on Animal Curse Mark Mode had nearly defeated her and Mikoto. The former Chunin had seemed significantly stronger to Seven, but in the end she had still triumphed. However not without sustain quite a few injuries, as a result when Kiyomi had called out to her mentally she had ignored her. Not one to take such lying down, the red-head had appeared in person in the cell to lay into Seven, but upon seeing her fellow Bijuu’s bruised state had quickly turned nurturing. Kiyomi had lain down next to her on the bed, and placed a hand over the seal on Seven’s stomach. Seven had resisted at first but lulled by her fellow Bijuu’s warmth had finally relented. She had quickly fallen asleep as Kiyomi hummed gently and by morning although still appearing bruised most of the pain she had been feeling was gone as was Kiyomi. Seven had examined her seal and although not an expert had easily found the changes as a result of her own attempts to change her seal.

Kiyomi’s behavior had Seven feeling guilty for her double dealing. Although the seven-tails had yet to actually betray Kiyomi, she wasn’t too deluded to deny she had considered it and had practically established the connections she would need to do it. Now though, she felt trapped by her holding back on her becoming one of Akame’s lieutenants since she couldn’t exactly come clean two weeks after the fact. Not without destroying the bond that Kiyomi had been trying to repair. Therefore in an attempt to find a way out of her current predicament she was turning to the only person she felt she could, Mikoto.

She looked up from her knees to a small stone beetle on her bed which she had created with the small amount of access to her Bijuu chakra she was able to tap into even with the Chakra Repression Seal on. It had a partner which had made its way to the female Uchiha’s room while laying a small sticky string which would connect the two stone objects. The stone beetle on her bed opened its shell indicating that the other one was in use which was followed by Mikoto’s voice as she said, “My you are fully of surprises. How could you use such an intricate jutsu while the seal is active?”

“A magician never reveals her secrets,” Seven replied with a small smile since despite the blood flowing through the other woman’s veins she had found she truly did enjoy her company.

“Really,” Mikoto said sounding guarded, “It’s not a perk of your becoming a major player in Akame’s little game.”

Seven frowned even though she had expected the Uchiha to have figured out as much already. Remaining cautious herself since for all she knew Mikoto would sell her out she said, “Let’s just say it’s a perk given to me from someone on the outside.”

A note of surprise did enter Mikoto’s voice as she said, “Are you saying you’ve gotten in with the man behind Akame?”

Seven was surprised by Mikoto’s response although she supposed she shouldn’t have been. All the same signs that she had found that pointed to an even greater power must have been just as obvious to Mikoto. “No, that player has yet to make his presence known. I get the feeling you already know who it is though.”

Mikoto aware she may have given away too much said, “What do you want? I’m guessing that whatever it is you don’t want Akame to know otherwise you’d have approached me in the shower. You also don’t want the people watching our cells aware of this conversation which is why you’re using this clever little trick. But let’s get one thing straight I don’t trust you.”

“I know,” Seven said a hint of melancholy entering her voice, “From the start of this whole affair I’ve been only on my own side. Now…now I may have screwed things up with…well to be honest I’m not sure where we stand. I just want to put an end to this plot before things get even more out of hand.”

“You have a line of communication outside of the prison. I take it you didn’t tell them about your becoming one of Akame’s soldiers.”

“She still thinks I’m trying to prove myself.”

“Come clean,” Mikoto said without hesitation, “Otherwise, you take the chance things will spin outside of your control.”

“I-I can’t”

“Why?”

“I betrayed her once already. She’d never forgive me for attempting to do it again. Please, I know you don’t want this plot to go through.”

She didn’t know if Mikoto felt sympathy for her or had just picked up on the desperation but after a long pause said, “Tell me what you know.”

Seven seized the chance saying, “I take it you’ve noticed how recently some of the better prisoners have gone missing recently.”

“Yeah, I’ve just figured that they were moved outside of the prison to set up for some second stage of the plan.”

“No, they can’t, a large force of Suna and Konoha-nin are camping within spitting distance of the prison. They’ve actually been moved to the lowest level of the prison.”

“The punishment section? Why?”

“It’s been converted to some sort of lab. A man named Amachi has been working there for months now.”

“Amachi, I’ve never heard of him.”

“Neither have I, apparently though he was a prisoner in Sea Country. I get the feeling that Akame’s backer pulled some strings to get him released somehow. But why he is here is to reverse engineer Mizuki’s curse mark.”

“Are they close to doing so?”

“I don’t know,” Seven replied. “I was only given a quick tour recently. It was more of a welcome to the winning side type of thing. Akame didn’t exactly invite me to ask too many questions. When I professed some disbelief that they’d be able to crack the seal formula he assured me that this Amachi has intimate knowledge of the curse seal.”

“This woman you’re working for on the outside… what is she planning?”

“I’m not sure. I know she intends to stop the rebellion, but thus far she hasn’t seen fit to share her plans with me.” After a moment Seven added sadly, “Not that I can fault her.”

“Alright then we’ll find a way to end this from the inside. I’ll begin to make a show of opening up to you more and let Akame believe you’ve gained my trust. It should convince him that you’re upholding your end of things. Hopefully he’ll let you see more of this lab and let you take a more active role in things. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

The stone beetle folded its shell signaling that Mikoto was done speaking. It then began to crumble into dirt which she swept onto the floor. Alone again Seven realized just how sad that fact made her and suddenly wished for the warm presence of her sister again.

*****

She was on her knees in a shower and sucking on a dick as if it was the tastiest thing she had ever been given. The man it belonged to leaned his head back to groan, sending a thrill through her body causing her to increase the pace of her bobbing. What also added to her pleasure was the way his eyes automatically sought out hers to watch her please him.

Pulling back she let him out of her mouth with a loud pop and began to tongue the tip of his cock before traveling down his shaft to take one of his balls into her mouth. Fisting his shaft as she sucked on one of his testies causing him to groan again as he said, “Damn Mabui, wherever did you learn to suck cock.”

Letting his testicle slide from her mouth she responded, “This is my first time, but I’ve dreamed of doing this to you for ages.”

She took his cock back into her mouth moving back and forth occasionally stopping to run her tongue around the underside of his cock. The man she was pleasing shook his head in pleasure and amusement as he said, “They must have been some explicit dreams.” Mabui just moaned in agreement causing the man to groan. Mabui reached up and began to fondle his sack prompting her lover to place his hand on top of her head in an attempt to control the pace of her sucking. It did him little good as she ran her tongue over the tip of his cock and she felt his nuts contract before he began to spew his load into her mouth while shouting, “Ah fuck!” Mabui caught his load with her mouth eagerly and after his orgasm ended leaned back to show him the cum that he had released before closing her mouth. Swallowing, she closed her eyes as she savored the taste, before looking up at him and opening her mouth to show him that it was gone.

Wanting him in her pussy next she was disappointed as the water of the shower turned cold causing her to say, “I think it’s time for us to get out of the water Naruto.”

Mabui’s eyes popped open to see her alarm clock read only an hour later than the last time she had looked having woken from a dream featuring her, Naruto and another blonde woman she didn’t recognize. That one had featured him and the blonde having sex in a hotel room only to reveal that they were aware she was awake in the bed next to them. The blonde woman had riled her up to the point where she practically begged for Naruto to join her in her bed to end her sexual torment. The session had then turned into a foursome as they had been joined by a red-head who had been watching from the hall.

Mabui rolled onto her back wondering what was causing her rather explicit dreams. Sitting up in her bed, she felt a slight embarrassment at the uncomfortable reminder of just how sexual her dreams had been as her panties clung to her. Getting out the bed, she hoped a cool shower would calm her body and her lusts so quickly stripped.

Stepping under the cool spray of her shower, she tried to ignore the memories of the dream that the setting inspired. For a moment, she felt an old familiar temptation to call up Darui. However she quickly squashed it down since although they had shared a rather fulfilling sex life. That had been the extent of it and when she had hinted she wanted more he had promptly pulled back. They had still from time to time used each other when one or the other had been in need of relaxation. However, recently Mabui had not been the one to instigate those encounters as she figured if she didn’t change her behaviors she wouldn’t get different results. Still that didn’t mean she hadn’t been weak from time to time as the stresses of her job and a general lack of a personal life got to her.

Stepping from the shower and finding that at least for the moment her libido had calmed she decided not to tempt fate by trying to go back to sleep. Getting dressed, she walked through her luxurious apartment which featured a large panoramic window by which she could take in her village. She looked outside on the sleeping village and wondered how she’d kill the couple of hours she had before she needed to head to the Raikage mansion to attend to her duties. She bit her lip fighting the temptation to head to Darui’s apartment for some stress relief, and in the end managed to convince herself that doing so wouldn’t solve anything but her immediate desires.

However, still feeling restless she left her home and soon found herself overlooking a small rundown hotel in one of the poorest sections of the village. Approaching the group of her fellow Kumo-nin who were quietly observing the building she smiled gently at Jay, a bald dark-skinned man, as he greeted her by saying, “Mabui, I’d have thought you’d have had your fill of these Konoha Bastards. You’re likely to be babysitting the one again later.”

Mabui frowned since she had found Naruto to be a rather friendly and enjoyable individual. She let the frown disappear as she gently teased, “You’d know a little something about babysitting wouldn’t you Jay. Shouldn’t you be watching over B or has he slipped from under your noses again?”

Jay chuckled but replied, “Yeah under normal circumstances I’d still be at the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. But Lord Raikage pulled quite a few of the watch teams back to the village. Hope Bee doesn’t realize it or else he might go on another of his trips.” Directing his gaze to the hotel the man said, “Hard to believe a Kage actually turned down the posh suite we had prepared for her in favor of this dump.”

Mabui had found it a little strange as well and briefly felt a twinge between her legs as she wondered if it had something to do with the man that the Hokage was traveling with. Closing her eyes for a moment, she found herself under a desk in some office sucking on the cock of the man sitting at it while another woman spoke to him. Before she could sink too deeply into the fantasy another voice cut into her reverie as it darkly said, “We should take that cow by force and make her tell us where Lady Yugito is. If she refuses we should just unleash B on their village. There isn’t anyone capable of stopping him within it anymore.

Mabui focused on Shii and countered, “I wouldn’t be so sure. Besides by now the whole world knows the Hokage is here. If any harm comes to her while under the Raikage’s protection then it would damage relations with all our potential allies. They included”

“Allies…” Shii said the disbelief he felt at such a term applying to Konoha easy to hear, “They would only be so lucky for us to consider them as allies.”

“Don’t be so hasty,” Mabui cautioned, “Iwa has been busy expanding on their western borders. Eventually they could turn their gaze east and make a play for some of the minor countries along their border. That would all but guarantee Konoha’s involvement. Depending on who the Raikage perceives as the bigger threat we could be fighting alongside them to push Iwa back.”

“Or we could join them in taking Konoha out,” Shii replied bitterly, “It’s no less than they deserve for murdering Lord Gashira. We extended a hand in friendship and that Hyuuga bastard cut him down in cold blood.”

Mabui nodded in agreement having heard the tale many times herself over the years. She was aware that the Raikage had tried to turn it to his advantage by having the murder’s body delivered to Kumo so they could get the Byakugan. But all that had happened before she became his assistant. “Still Shii by now you should know that alliances change and shift with the wind. That is the truth of the shinobi world.” Indicating the hotel she added, “That is why the Hokage refused the room we offered her. She knew that we had likely chosen it for the ease by which we could monitor her. By staying here it forced us to scrap all our plans and has afforded her a privacy she wouldn’t otherwise enjoy. She even rented the rooms surrounding hers and filled them with shadow clones as an added barrier against us spying. But in the end it’s all just part of the game of move and counter-move that we’ve been playing against them for over a hundred years.”

*****

“Oh god Naruto, harder,” Tsunade moaned as she was pinned against the wall of the shower as her lover pressed himself against her from behind. Reaching up, he cradled the side of her face as he turned it to kiss him. Tsunade didn’t need the prompting as her tongue met his as they made out hotly while he pumped away at her insides.

Naruto withdrew from inside of her but before she could complain spun her around to slam her up against the shower wall before quickly filling her once more. Naruto gripped her ass possessively allowing the Hokage to pull her feet from the ground as she wrapped her legs around his hips. She moaned loudly as he sucked on her tit prompting her lover stop as he said, “Tsunade you need to keep it down. It won’t do us a whole lot of good to have rented those extra rooms if the entire hotel still knows what we’re up too.”

Tsunade though didn’t truly care as she pulled her torso close to his as she began to suck and nibble on his ear while replying, “S-screw them…It’s your fault you know…oh fuck…getting me all excited by those pheromones of yours…it was all I could do not to have you take me as soon as…ahhh…as soon as my meeting with….more…ended.” Naruto chuckled prompting his lover to lean back to stare into his eyes as she said seriously and more coherently, “If I’m going to have to go through that again you’re going to have to inoculate me.”

Naruto smirked already having a good idea what she wanted as he asked, “How exactly am I supposed to do that?”

He groaned as he felt Tsunade flex her cunt around his large needle while she moaned, “By pumping my womb full of the cure for my lust.” Naruto began pumping harder as he leaned in to once more engage her tongue in a wet and sloppy kiss. However, she wasn’t dissuaded from making her point as the kiss ended as she picked up where she left off. “I mean it,” she said while Naruto again paid attention to her breasts, “I’m not leaving this hotel room until I’m satisfied I’ve received the proper dosage.” Tsunade felt her body preparing to ascend into pure bliss once more. She pulled her lover tighter against her and moaned as he began to suck on her neck. Almost a year of lovemaking had made her quite aware that Naruto was nearing his end as well due to his deeper and more penetrating thrusts as he tried to make sure that all of his seed reached her womb. He pulled her hips tightly against his as she felt his heat fluid her insides causing her to nearly scream in pleasure. But despite her earlier insistence that she didn’t care she muffled herself by clamping down over his shoulder.

After he was finished filling her with his seed the two remained where they were as they caught their breaths. Finally, Tsunade placed her feet on the floor as Naruto pulled out some of his seed taking the opportunity to slip from her love tunnel. He stepped back but Tsunade quickly sank to her knees and grabbed ahold of his manhood. Naruto looked down as she pushed some of her hair behind her ear before staring up at him. Her honey-brown eyes twinkled with amusement as she said, “The next dose needs to be ingested orally.”

With the hot water of the shower running down his back Naruto couldn’t help but just close his eyes and relax. That wasn’t to say he didn’t plan to make her work for her next dosage though as he had a reputation as a marathon man to protect something he suspected Tsunade wanted to turn into a sprint as he felt her begin to deepthroat him. Once more engaged in the epic battle of will and flesh with his lover he wondered about trying to convince Tsunade to take her next dosage as an anal suppository since she had yet to allow him the honor of taking her virginity there.

*****

Kiyomi was in her study when her sister Yoruichi entered asking, “Kiyomi… why is there a female version of Naruto in your bedroom?”

“What were you doing in there?” the red-head asked annoyed at being disturbed since she was researching something important as she believed she was beginning to understand the motives of the man moving behind the scenes and why he needed the Rinnegan.

“Looking for you… I should have known you’d be here you always were father’s little bookworm. Hey! Don’t change the subject.”

Kiyomi marked her place in the book before replying, “I wasn’t.” Although she did have to admit she was buying time to organize her thoughts, “She is… well she was the darkness that I set loose inside of Naruto.”

Yoruichi sent a small frown towards the door she had entered. Looking back at her sister she asked, “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Kiyomi shrugged, and answered, “I don’t know to be honest.” Getting up she moved to a window to look out upon her property as she answered, “In all honesty I probably should have just reabsorbed the chakra I used to create that dark shadow of Naruto. However, it said something to me that showed me that I was acting in a similar vein as Madara Uchiha. I thought of it as just chakra and disregarded that perhaps due to the feelings I had imbued it with that it might be more than the energy I had used to create it.”

“Still, that might be true and all…but are you sure it was a good idea. I mean the idea of a dark version of Naruto running around doesn’t exactly seem like the best thing we could ask for.”

Kiyomi looked away from the window giving her sister a small half-smile. Turning back to look outside as the sun began to rise and banish the shadows she said, “True, perhaps that is why I’ve made sure to place a seal that is keeping her asleep. However, at times I think we forget that nobody is inherently dark or light. You described her as a dark version of Naruto and perhaps that is an accurate description considering that I wished, when it was merely a shadow, to only see the worst in everything. Yet is Naruto truly only pure goodness who only sees the best.”

“I suppose not,” Yoruichi admitted.

“Don’t forget that Naruto did experience everything that the shadow tried to throw in his face. I didn’t create memories for it to experience. I merely focused it so that it took the worst impressions from them. Yet in the end it still yearned for something more.”

“What?”

“A desire for happiness. Even as it belittled Kushina, it wanted to be held and loved by her. Naruto still has darkness even with this shade’s removal. I guess I’m betting that on her own she’ll have light and cast her own shadow.”

Yoruichi nodded but asked with some amusement, “So why make it a girl? Especially as a girl in his image…are you hoping for a little threesome fun?”

“Hardly,” Kiyomi said although she did receive a quick imagine of what such an encounter may look like.

Her sister saw her cheeks brighten so said teasingly, “Perhaps now, right?”

“Oh be quiet,” Kiyomi said getting ahold of herself and feeling annoyed from Yoruichi’s obvious amusement. “Such a possibility had not even entered into my thought process.”

“Until now”

Kiyomi carried on ignoring her sister’s smirk as she said, “Truthfully my reason had to do with The Binding. We know that this technique cannot be used by a woman because it is the semen of the user that corrupts the woman’s chakra so that she can be controlled by him. If she does become evil I have no desire to have let loose another Kanji on the world. Yet truthfully I want her to have an identity of her own and not consider herself to be a cheap copy of Naruto.”

“So what’s to stop her from feeling like she’s just a cheap female version of him?”

Kiyomi turned around and smiled as she said, “I imagine there will be some of that. That is another reason why I’m keeping her asleep. I want Naruto here when she awakens because I know he’d help her come to understand she is more than the sum of the memories they share. The rest I’ll leave to biology.” Upon seeing her sister’s confused expression Kiyomi explained, “Come now. You should know exactly what I mean? Our own ways of thinking have changed as a result of these forms we have taken. When it’s cold outside don’t you yearn for our lover to be present so you can snuggle into him?”

“Well yeah sure but…”

“But what would you have done in the past?”

Yoruichi actually needed to think about it for a moment but answered, “I’d have simply generated some more chakra to keep me warm.”

“And what is method is it that generally comes to you first now?” Yoruichi’s smile was all the answer that Kiyomi needed as she said, “Exactly. Their paths are now separate and each can head in their own direction. Perhaps someday they’ll merge again, but on that day they’ll most certainly be two different and complete individuals.”

*****

Mabui wasn’t feeling at her best which she attributed to the lack of sleep she had enjoyed. After leaving the team watching over the motel that the Hokage was staying at she had decided to just go into the office to get ready for the day’s events. Having a need to get some papers from the first floor she decided to take the elevator instead of the stairs, which she felt probably showed how rundown she was. Considering the Administration Building had yet to officially open for the day, she knew it was going to be a rough one. The elevator came to a stop on the third floor of the building which was built into the mountain that Kumogakure rested upon. When the doors opened she fought back the urge to frown as Darui was waiting for the elevator car.

“Going up or going down?” he asked in his usual laid back manner although he appeared as worn down as her.

“Down,” she answered causing him to step inside the car behind her as she made room.

The doors closed and she looked at his reflection in the polished metal of them. She noticed him checking her out and as a result wasn’t surprised as he asked, “Hey, how about later tonight I come by…”

She cut him off though as she quickly dismissed the idea he was about to raise by saying, “We’ve been down this road, Darui. You’re not interested in what I want.”

“But it looks like I got what you need. You look like you want to blow off some steam.”

Mabui couldn’t deny that and looked up at the numbers displayed above the elevators’ doors. Wondering why it felt the car was moving so slow she replied, “I’m not the only one, since that’s the only time I ever hear from you. Why don’t you call up one of your other goodtime gals? I’m sure they’d be more than willing to receive what you have to offer.”

Darui shrugged before replying, “Guess, I’m going to have too. I was just hoping I could get with the best before calling the rest.”

Despite herself Mabui did flush slightly at the compliment since she had long known about his other friends with benefits so never begrudged him for that. She had been of the same mind for a while herself as she had wanted to concentrate on her career. But now being in her late twenties and probably at the highest point she would achieve had tried to hope for more. She had hoped for it with Darui, but he found the idea to be far removed from what he wanted. She supposed she couldn’t blame him though as she had little doubt that any one of the other ladies he would call upon would gladly drop what they were doing to be with him. She was tempted herself which is why she was glad when the doors finally opened allowing her to escape with a quick goodbye as she headed to collect the papers she needed.

*****

Naruto could tell it had been a relatively sleepless night for Mabui, just from the many times she had yawned already that morning. He could also tell his pheromones were having the desired effect from the many times she had discreetly tried to look at him and the few times she had been caught blatantly doing so as her mind appeared to be somewhere else. Glad it was just him and her at the moment, he wondered how to best approach her since Tsunade was unsure at how much longer she could drag out the negotiations.

Still, he let the matter slip from him mind for the moment to think about how strange being in the different village felt. A primary example had been the stares that he and Tsunade had received upon their leaving the motel they had stayed at for the night. Naruto chuckled since he had left clones strewn all over the place to prevent Kumo from being able to approach the place in case they needed to return there again. There was still a chance that even if no one approached their rooms, they might simply decide to stay somewhere else just to throw the Kumo-nin watching them for a loop. But back to the stares, almost everyone had stopped what they were doing as Naruto and Tsunade had made their way to Kumo’s Administration Building to watch them some fearfully while others appeared merely curious. Having been to Suna many times he found it a little disconcerting. Tsunade had quickly pointed out that by the time he first went to the Sand Village, Konoha and Suna had been allies for years so the villagers and shinobi had seen Leaf Shinobi many times. Due to the history that Kumo and Konoha shared it was very likely that many of the people had never even seen a member of the Leaf in person. She had joked that they were probably wondering where they were hiding their horns and tails.

Naruto chuckled, but at the same time felt a touch of depression since that was one of the greatest cruxes of his ambition and one he had yet to come up with a satisfactory answer too. His lover must have read that her joke struck a little close to home as she gently whispered, “You will…” Naruto smiled at her genuinely almost hearing the, “My Love,” that she often used when they were alone.

One thing that had surprised him though was that they hadn’t been escorted, although both of them knew that quite a few Kumo-nin were tracking their every move. He guessed the Raikage wanted them to enjoy the illusion that they were welcome in his village. Still they had made the best of it by stopping for breakfast at an outside café on one of the terraces strewn all over the mountain that Kumogakure was founded on.

From there they had made their way to the Raikage’s office where they had been met by the man himself on the first floor. He had personally escorted them up, leaving Naruto alone outside with Mabui. Naruto was about to turn his attention back to his seduction of Mabui, but was surprised that she was standing in front of him having moved during his playback of the morning. “I’m sorry what,” he asked having the impression she had already asked him something.

“I said I need to take care of something. Would you like me to bring some refreshments when I return?”

“Um…sure some water would be great. Should I come with you? I’m afraid of what would happen if someone comes by while you’re gone.”

Mabui looked tempted to say yes, but declined as she answered, “Don’t worry. The Raikage has left instructions he’s not to be disturbed today. Nobody should come up here unless summoned or an emergency happens.”

Naruto nodded, but was still a little worried since he could only imagine the scenario if some hot-head showed up and took his being alone as a reason to be upset. Guessing she figured she wouldn’t be gone long, he settled in to wait for her return. Yet after around ten minutes, he began to get worried. Closing his eyes, he sensed the mark he had placed on her the day before and found it stationery just around the corner. He frowned wondering what she was up to, since he could tell it wasn’t in the small office area where she had prepared the tea for the Kage the day before. Having watched as she prepared the tea, he tried to guess her location and placed her further down the hall in what had been marked record archives.

Using the Hiraishin, that was also a part of the temporary mark, he “looked” in on her. Naruto smiled wolfishly as he saw the woman standing towards the back of the room as she discreetly rubbed her pussy having hiked her skirt up while biting on the knuckle of her index finger to muffle her moans. Having already made sure the area outside the Raikage’s office was camera free he teleported appearing in the records room near the door. Mabui didn’t notice his entrance as a result of her closed eyes so gasped when he said, “It appears I’ve caught you at a bad time. Or was it a good one.”

He noticed her eyes immediately moved towards the lock of the door missing the privacy seal he had placed on the door as she wondered if she had secured it while smoothing out her clothes. She frowned seeing that it was but wondered if maybe he had hoping to use the leverage of catching her to blackmail her. Trying to bluster her way out of the situation she approached him as she said, “You shouldn’t be here. I’ll forget…”

“I won’t,” he replied as she stopped in front of him. Her eyes grew wide as he grabbed the hand she had been using to pleasure herself and holding it up between their faces added, “It would be a crime to forget something so beautiful and sexy.” Mabui blushed at the evidence of her arousal that still coated her fingers. Leaning in close to her causing her to get lightheaded as his scent filled her nostrils he added, “Let me finish what you started.”

Before she could react his other hand quickly found her pussy which had grown even wetter either from being caught or by whom. He began to rub her dampened panties along her slit causing the woman to moan which he silenced by kissing her. Mabui didn’t resist as his tongue ran across her lips looking for entrance which she granted. Deepening the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck even as he pushed her deeper into the room. She heard him fiddling with his pants with his free hand and heard them hit the floor before he hiked up her skirt to press his manhood between her thighs. Mabui regained some of her sense breaking the kiss to pull back enough to try and regain control of the situation. However, before she could, he slid his length along her panties causing her to gasp and her thighs to clamp around his hardness. Feeling the heat coming from his dick, which matched the heat radiating from her core, her potential protest died on the tip of her tongue. Naruto sensed her surrender so slipped her panties to the side and pushed his dick inside her hot and wet tunnel.

Both of them sighed as he entered her fully, but Naruto aware that time was of the essence couldn’t savor the moment so began churning her insides. Mabui quickly wrapped her arms around his neck as her right leg rose up to wrap around his hip. She buried her face into the jacket he wore hoping to muffle the sounds of pleasure her throat wanted to give voice too.

Naruto’s hands gripped the woman’s ass to pull her towards him harder and faster in an effort to bring them both to climax quickly. For Mabui, whose sexual engine had been running hot since the day before, it was a race that finished before it began as she quickly came. Naruto just continued to plow her soaking cunny though her orgasm causing her to experience orgasm after orgasm. Mabui seemed to lose it as she began to moan and pant incoherently while she tried to breathe. Her eyes grew glassy as her tongue hung out of her mouth as she tried to give voice to what she was feeling as she went loose in his arms. She grew taught though a moment later as Naruto jammed his dick fully inside of her and began to cum. She gave out a sound between a moan and a murmur as she began to shake from the warmth being ejected inside of her.

Mabui clung to him as their breathing returned to normal. After several minutes and now that her sexual needs had been sated, looked torn between rejecting what they had done or just basking in the afterglow. At the very least she decided to let him know how great it had been as she said, “That was incredible…”

“Yeah,” Naruto said with a somber tone before adding, “It’s a shame you’re going to forget it for a while.”

“Wha…”

Mabui didn’t finish her question as Naruto began to whisper instructions to her causing her gaze to go blank as she received them. He pulled away from her as he finished and watched as she began to straighten herself. She’d remember bits and pieces of what they had just shared but she’d strangely not be curious about who she had done it with. At least until Yugito could arrange a reunion where Naruto would have more time to explain everything. He removed the seal he had placed on the room after pulling his pants back up and stepped into the hall after making sure it was empty. Naruto sat down outside the Raikage’s office and figured that soon Tsunade would figure out it was alright to advance the plan to the next level.

*****

Tsunade had sensed it as Naruto and Mabui moved from outside the door. From the amount of time the two were away she could easily guess what they had been up to not that it was the only way she had of knowing. The Raikage lapsed into silence so she focused back on him and from the way he was glaring at her suspected he was waiting for the answer to the offer he had made. Truthfully since it was the usual list of money, jutsu, or information exchanges, she had stopped listening as she concentrated on her lover’s mark and state of emotion. Having picked up on the sense of satisfaction and release he usually exhibit after sex she decided to end the game she had been playing.

“No I don’t think that will work for me at all. I can tell you aren’t serious about this so maybe we’ll try again in a few months.”

“Dammit woman,” A shouted slamming the palm of his hand down on the desk causing it to creak, “I’ve offered a king’s ransom and yet you still won’t return my shinobi. She is a precious member of my village so name your price.”

“Is she?” Tsunade asked and leaned forward placing a hand on the Raikage’s desk. She didn’t smirk, but felt amused as his eyes darted to her cleavage for a moment. He shifted uncomfortable in his seat so she pressed forward saying, “Or is it the Bijuu she carries that is so important to you.”

“Both,” A said angrily, “What are you driving at?”

“Simple. I don’t believe you care for her as much as you say you do.

“How dare…”

“Please, don’t throw your self-righteous anger in my face. All you’ve offered is trinkets that are easily replaceable. You ordered a member of your village to poison members of mine and think you can buy your weapon back. Call me when you’re serious about making amends and then we’ll talk about returning Yugito back to you. Until then she can enjoy Konoha’s hospitality.”

Tsunade spun on her heel and began heading towards the door. She paused as the Raikage said, “If you leave this room then Konoha and Kumo will be at war before you cross the threshold.”

Tsunade paused, and turned slowly her brown eyes truly furious as she said, “You’d threaten war when we’re the ones that nearly suffered from one of your schemes. Don’t confuse me with the Third Hokage. You can’t bluff and bluster your way into making me back down. We both know that a war would quickly turn against you. The only potential ally you have is Iwa and they’re too busy starting fights against the minor countries on their western border. Kiri might help but considering the recent civil war you can’t be sure whose side they will come out on. Unless Iwa joins you at which point I’m sure there are many people in Kiri that still remember how they betrayed them making an alliance with either village unlikely.”

The Raikage scoffed as he replied, “Are you willing to chance it?”

Despite her reputation as the Legendary Sucker, Tsunade had an excellent poker face which showed none of the concern she felt as she replied, “Are you?”

The two Kages stared each other down in a battle of wills until A looked away first as he asked, “What do you want?”

“For you to put your pride on the line,” Tsunade said walking back towards the Raikage. Pulling a sheet of paper from her green jacket she placed it on his desk. A picked it up but she told him what it contained even as he read it saying, “You are going to admit that you ordered Yugito to carry out an attack meant to implicate Konoha’s allies the Shinobi of the Sand in an attempt to cause distrust between us. Furthermore, you’re also going to admit to the true mission of your Head Ninja during the failed attempt at an alliance thirteen years ago.”

“What!? Forget it…that matter was resolved and you even…”

“I’m not negotiating with you on these points,” Tsunade said sternly, “I’m telling you. You’ve gotten away with a lie for all these years and while to you it may be a matter that simply would sting your pride to admit your involvement. To some of the shinobi under my command it has left lasting scars that can perhaps finally fully heal. You claim Yugito is important as more than just a weapon. Is your pride really too much to offer for her return?”

A stared at the paper and read it to make sure it said all that Tsunade had related. After a moment he signed and reaching into his desk applied his seal. Tsunade folded it back up and stuck it in her pocket before saying, “Today you’ve made a wise decision. One that I’m glad to say has thwarted the plot of two old fossils whose tune you were dancing to.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say that your source in Elder Joseki’s home has been compromised and leave it at that. He leaked you the false information on why we assembled the Training Force hoping your actions would cause his lies to become truth.”

“How do you know this?”

Tsunade simply smiled before turning to leave as she replied, “I can’t say just yet. My hope is that you’ll take my words to heart and that perhaps my Great Uncle’s efforts to forge a partnership between our villages can be realized. By the way, send someone to extract your man in person. Don’t just summon him back. Otherwise you may not like how he is returned.”

A ignored her warning instead saying, “When will Yugito be returned?”

“I’ll send word as soon as Naruto and I leave the village. Thank you for the hospitality.”

A just stood to look out on his village as Tsunade left his office. He knew the Hokage would keep her word since with his admission of guilt keeping the jinchuriki would do her more harm than good. The admission would cause him some problems outside of Kumo, but inside his standing wouldn’t fall since many would believe he had only admitted his involvement to get Yugito returned. The rest would be attributed as nothing but lies generated by Konoha. Even her capture had been explained as Konoha interfering with a peaceful mission to render aid to a village in Frost Country. His higher ups knew the truth, but many of the rank and file would believe the lies. He wondered briefly if his lieutenants, many of whom were genin during the Hyuuga incident would realize that they had been lied to and what they would think of him if they did.

One of those people entered his office and asked, “Sir, how did the negotiations go?”

“Not very well for me personally I’m afraid, but the Hokage has promised to return Yugito.”

“I understand sir,” Mabui replied, “She’ll likely take a land route for her return to her village. Should I send an escort?”

A nodded, answering, “Yeah, tell them to remain far back though. As a matter of fact, have them report to me. The last thing we need is for another Senju to die in our territory. The last time that happened Konoha nearly ended us during the First Shinobi War.”

“As you wish, sir.” Mabui said turning to fulfill her orders.

She stopped though as he said, “Also, send word to our man in Joseki’s residence that I want him to return. I’ll wish to speak with him as soon as he enters the village.”

“Are you sure? It will not be easy to get another agent in such a high ranking Suna-nin’s home.”

A didn’t respond so Mabui turned to leave frowning slightly as she felt more cum leak from her, only to be stopped by her panties. When she spoke with the man that had deposited it there, she planned to have a few words with him about being so promiscuous while on duty. She wondered why she couldn’t picture his face but simply chalked it up to how tired she was.

*****

Yugito had returned to Kumo far quicker than any in the village had expected. The reason being, that before Naruto had even left the village he had Hiraishined her to a safe-house in Hot-Water Country. The very same one where she had been converted to his cause as it turned out. Therefore upon hearing from Katsuyu’s clone that she was free to return to her village, she had easily made it in record time. From some of what she heard Tsunade and Naruto hadn’t even made it to Lightning’s border yet. A part of the reason was that she figured the Hokage wanted to see how A would react if he thought he could move against them without the Kumo kunoichi being used as a hostage. The other Yugito was sure was due to Tsunade’s traveling companion and her unrivaled access to him throughout the trip.

Yugito’s return had been heartfelt as the Raikage had shed tears as had a few others. She had quickly apologized for her failure and the hardship it had caused, but A had assured her that there was no way for her to know that the alliance between Suna and Konoha had become so close as for her to expect Suna-nin inside such an important facility. Yugito felt a pang of guilt at that, but pushed it away hoping her letting herself get caught might one day lead to a similar close alliance for her home and the other two villages. The mood though had fallen considerable when Mabui had entered the office to inform the Raikage that their man in Suna had died. The Raikage had grown pale as he asked how to which the secretary had informed him that it appeared that an Iwa-nin had tried to break in looking for plans on the Training Force. In his role as a servant their man had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Iwa-nin had also been killed by several Suna-nin that had heard the commotion.

The Raikage though simply collapsed into his chair at the news and whispered softly to himself, “She warned me this would happen.”

“Lord Raikage,” Yugito had said worriedly.

But the Raikage didn’t explain as he stood and tried to smile at her saying, “Yugito, you must be tired from your ordeal. Rest, and we’ll see about finding you something to fill your time when you’re ready for duty.”

“I’m ready now sir.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He ushered her out of the office while asking Mabui to stay so they could make preparations for their spy’s funeral and to inform his family. About half-way to the door she began to move under her own power instead of being pushed so the Raikage turned to head back to his desk. She turned back just before leaving the office in time to see his shoulders slump as the weight of his position got to him as well as the sadness of needing to bury another of his men.

*****

Mabui answered the door of her apartment and smiled upon seeing Yugito standing there although she was surprised since they weren’t especially close. “I figured you’d want to spend the night painting the town red.”

Yugito smiled as she asked, “Mind if I come in?”

“Not at all,” Mabui said stepping to the side and opening her door wider. The Jinchuriki entered and taking in the large apartment said, “It must really pay to be the Raikage’s assistant.”

Mabui nodded but reply, “It has its perks. But I always thought you enjoyed your small apartment. You certainly could afford a bigger one if you wanted, plus I’m sure quite a few places would offer a discount to Lady Yugito.”

“Perhaps, but without someone to share it with all this space would be wasted on me.”

“Sometimes it does get lonely I admit,” Mabui said as she moved to the kitchen in order to prepare something for her guest. Indicating a chair the white-haired woman said, “Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?”

Before sitting down Yugito channeled chakra to her seal which had contained her Bijuu but had been modified to act like the mark Naruto placed on his other lovers. She felt him appear behind her so sat on his lap just as Mabui looked up to ask if she was thirsty or hungry again. Seeing Naruto, Mabui pulled a kunai but it slipped from her fingers as Yugito said, “It’s time to remember.”

Mabui upon hearing the phrase Naruto had given her which when uttered by Yugito would trigger her memory of their encounter looked off blankly as she recalled everything. Focusing on the two blonds she said, “You bastard.” Focusing on Yugito, she said, “A…And you, when did he turn you?”

Yugito was sitting sideways on Naruto’s lap and looked at her lover with a smile as she said, “When Akatsuki tried to grab me. I’ve been his lover ever since then.”

“L-lover?” Mabui repeated confused, “You mean he’s….”

“Oh yes,” Yugito said with a large smile, before leaning down and kissing him.

Mabui watched mesmerized before realizing she needed to inform the Raikage. She looked down at the kunai at her feet which she had dropped but she was rooted to the spot. She struggled against the invisible force that held her in place and frowned when Naruto said, “You can’t move. It was one of the conditions I placed on you that would trigger when you regained your memories.”

“You’ve set all this up didn’t you? For what? Did you want another piece of tail from Kumogakure?”

“Actually, you’re the one that set all this in motion,” Naruto replied as he stared at Mabui while Yugito continued to place kisses along his neck. “You and the Raikage to be exact, the two of you were so quick to believe the Training Force was assembled to do Kumo harm you very nearly fell right into a trap that could have ended in war.”

“Yugito, you traitor. You allowed yourself to be captured.”

“Yes,” the blonde kunoichi admitted pulling her mouth from Naruto’s ear, “But…he knew I was coming even before I could tell him.”

“How? The only ones that knew were the Raikage, myself, and…”

“And the man that turned our spy into his puppet and let it leak that Suna and Konoha were conspiring to attack us. Who in turn told the man he was in league with, which was overheard by a woman aligned with us.” Yugito said and then began to once more begin planting kisses along his neck.

“Us…”

Yugito sighed as she was forced to answer the questioning tone in her fellow Kumo-nin’s voice. “That’s right us. Naruto and those of us who have decided to follow him, body and soul.”

“He’s brainwashed you,” Mabui said with a sense of fear that she was next.

Yugito laughed as she looked down on her lover with admiration which was mirrored in his eyes as he looked at her. Mabui could see the feelings the two had for one another and felt a pang of jealousy but quickly fought it back using her anger. Standing the kunoichi approached the other Kumo-nin as she said, “I’ll admit at first I was hesitant. But he’s shown me over the time I’ve been with him that he’s worthy of my feelings for him which is why I want his dream to become a reality.” Coming up behind the other woman she whispered into her ear, “And I know you experienced the reward that comes with joining him.”

Mabui shivered as her body tingled from the memories Yugito’s words dredged up. Trying to ignore them she asked, “His dream?”

Naruto was the one that answered as he said, “I want to unite our villages in friendship and understanding. Like what we’re trying to form with Suna. The Training Force wasn’t assembled to destroy Kumo. It was in part to show Suna and Konoha how to work together. The other reason was to prevent a rebellion from erupting in Konoha, although most of its members are unaware of that fact.”

Mabui looked surprised before saying, “The Hokage and you are also…” She trailed off upon receiving a nod from him but then said, “I see, so the Hokage…Yugito…me….we’re all just pawns in your game.”

She was surprised when the Konoha-nin looked hurt by her accusation but he shook his head as he replied, “I can’t fault you for thinking that way. However, they’ve all joined me willingly as I hope you will. I have a connection to this village through Yugito and now you. The last thing I want is to see it hurt.”

“Then why did you force the Raikage to lie?”

“I did no such thing.” Naruto replied, the confusion in his voice easy to hear, “Besides you know perfectly well he ordered Yugito to…”

“Not that, about the Hyuuga incident. Hiashi Hyuuga killed Lord Gashira to prevent the alliance between our villages from going through. He even concocted some story claiming that our ambassador was trying to kidnap his daughter and even cold-bloodedly sacrificed his twin. You would force my Raikage to shoulder the guilt for such a man in order to free a woman that betrayed him.”

Yugito looked hurt at Mabui’s words causing Naruto to get up from the chair and comfort his lover. Pulling her into a hug from behind he stared at Mabui from over Yugito’s shoulder as he said, “No, I did it for a man named Hizashi Hyuuga at the behest of Hinata Hyuuga.”

“What?”

“I’m afraid you’re wrong in saying that your Lord Gashira was innocent. He was caught red-handed as it was. Hizashi Hyuuga chose to sacrifice his life for his brother despite the resentment he felt about his son being regulated to the Branch Family. He did it not as his duty to the leader of his clan, but as a brother. However, his death caused a wound within the Hyuuga that nearly tore it apart.” Naruto paused to give Mabui time to absorb his statement, as well as due to Yugito spinning his arms to again tease and nibble along his neck and ears. Trying to focus on the other woman he continued, “Your Raikage ordered Hinata’s abduction since he orchestrated the whole thing as a way to get his hands on the Byakugan. As a result of Hizashi sacrifice though that plot failed but due to how everything worked out his death was never officially recognized. This is an oversight that could only be corrected by the Raikage admitting to his role.”

Despite his story ringing true Mabui said, “I don’t believe you. But I don’t need to, do I? You’ve gained this ability to control me, are you going to make me act like a little slut too?”

Yugito turned in her lover’s arms and draped an arm over her shoulder to pull Naruto’s head towards hers in a deep kiss. When it ended Yugito said, “I’ve finally gotten a chance to be with my man again. I was hoping to share the experience with you but if you’re going to be nasty sleep in this big empty apartment by yourself.” Yugito pulled away from her lover before heading towards the door and said, “I’ll summon you when I reach my home.”

Naruto nodded as Yugito slipped from the apartment and focused on Mabui. Finally he said, “Give me time to prove that my intentions are honorable. If I don’t, then I’ll let you tell the Raikage the truth about me.”

Mabui shrugged as best as her immobile body would allow her before saying, “If it’ll help you ease your conscious. But even if you don’t keep your word, it doesn’t appear I’m in any position to force you to honor any bargains.”

“True,” Naruto conceded, “But at least then you would be right in thinking of me as a liar and a bastard. I’ll prove to you Mabui that a world where Kumo and Konoha can exist peacefully is possible.”

Naruto felt a tug from Yugito so quickly gave Mabui some instructions where she would remember everything but could not reveal it to anyone other than Yugito when they were alone. A moment later he disappeared, and despite herself, she wondered what it would have been like if she had taken part in the Konoha and Kumo relations the two blondes that had visited her apartment were no doubt already engaging in.

*****

Naturally for Mabui the next day was filled with trying to find ways to circumnavigate the programming Naruto had left with her. Unfortunately the blond apparently had thought of the many loopholes that she could possibly exploit. Truth to be told though, she was surprised at how just self-aware she felt. She’d imagine that a shinobi with Naruto’s abilities would at the very least erase the anger she was feeling towards him in an effort to twist her allegiances from Kumo to him. She found though that instead of focusing on anger her mind kept wandering to what it was that he had done to get Yugito to turn.

Now with her insight Mabui found it strange that she hadn’t noticed how Yugito had changed since her encounter with Akatsuki, or Naruto as it turned out. Before although highly respected Yugito had seemed standoffish or cold to many except perhaps the Raikage and B. However since her meeting Naruto, Yugito had become more open and friendly even to the point that the Raikage had mentioned it on occasion. He had attributed the change to her near brush with death. Now knowing better Mabui felt the desire to confront the woman, which she decided to do now so informed the Raikage she was breaking for lunch.

She found the woman waiting for her in the lobby of the administration building which was empty due to the people off enjoying their lunch breaks so asked, “Watching me for your Master?”

Yugito gave her a chilly smile but answered, “Hardly, I just figured I’d save you the trip of having to find me. By now you have to know that whatever commands he left in your head are preventing you from talking. It’s only natural you’d turn to the one source you have for information.”

Mabui frowned at being read so easily, but followed as Yugito turned to leave the building. They walked along one of the paths cut along the side of the mountain silently until she asked, “What else has he done to me?”

“Nothing”

“Do not lie to me.”

“I’m not lying,” Yugito said looking at the other kunoichi, “Naruto doesn’t enjoy using this aspect of The Binding. He’s hoping you’ll come around on your own.”

“That’ll never happen,” Mabui said causing Yugito to shrug in reply. Her curiosity got the better of her causing her to ask, “What did he do to seduce you?”

Yugito smiled at her in both amusement and embarrassment as she said, “He used my pride against me. The reason I was missing for a week after my encounter with Akatsuki was because he pumped me full of his chakra which has a rather stimulating effect on women and bet me I couldn’t resist him. I took him up on it and lost.”

“I see, then he forced you to be silent as well and you’ve at some point began to…” Yugito began laughing at her causing Mabui to snap, “What? It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

Yugito’s laugh died down and then said, “You’re saying I was behind enemy lines too long and began to identify with him. There may be some truth to that I suppose. I didn’t come to love him right after I gave into my lusts after all.”

“L-love him?”

Yugito stared at her with a small happy smile as she said, “Yes, I do. This whole ordeal only showed me how much.” Mabui remained silent which the blonde took as her asking for an explanation so Yugito continued, “He knew about the plot for a full week before I crossed the border into Fire Country. I wasn’t able to contact him due to the escort Lord Raikage assigned to me. When I finally was free to move on my own I had torn myself up in knots worrying that with his ability to sense me closing he’d suspect I was debating to go through with my mission. When I finally could call to him and he appeared he just smiled at me causing me to blab everything. He told me he already knew and that he was glad that the Raikage sent me.” Yugito paused to look at the other woman as her smile grew wider, “He never once doubted me. He then laid out the scenarios that they had come up with and let me chose the one we eventually settled on."

"Why?” Mabui asked but seeing she needed to clarify added, “Why would you choose one that would embarrass the Raikage and force him to lie about the Hyuuga incident?”

“Lord A, is a great man. He doesn’t even realize that he was what Killer B clung to in order to keep his heart pure enough to tame his jinchuriki. However, he isn’t perfect or without blame in how the shinobi world currently is.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying he isn’t lying when he admits his involvement.”

“You’re wrong?”

“Am I,” Yugito said stopping on the path and turning towards the woman. “I know you became his assistant after it happened. But why come to me for answers when you could look in your precious records room. We both know the answer to who is lying would be found there.”

Mabui looked away first as she replied, “A has never lied to me.”

“I don’t think he’s ever lied to a Kumo-nin directly,” Yugito said causing the green-eyed woman to face her again. “He didn’t need to. He merely had to lie to Konoha and we all took it as the truth. One thing my time as Naruto’s lover has taught me is that it is all too easy to always see ourselves as being the ones in the right. However, that is how those we wrong see themselves as well. If we’re going to build a world of true understanding we have to strip away the lies we tell ourselves. Otherwise we’ll always claim our acts as just even when it’s merely a blatant attempt to add another weapon to our arsenal.”

Yugito began to walk away so Mabui called out, “What if I refuse to come around to his way of thinking?”

“Then you can continue to lie to yourself that you are happy with the way the world is. But don’t begrudge those of us that strive for something more. Joining Naruto was the first decision I ever truly made for myself. I’m going to see it through to the end.”

Mabui watched the woman go before turning and heading back to the office. Coming up to her desk and tempted to enter the records room to get to the bottom of who was telling the truth she was forced to put her plans on hold when she found a young genin waiting for her. She smiled at the young man asking, “Can I help you?”

“I was told to drop these off ma’am,” the Youth said handing her the sign out report for the gates to the village.

“Thank you,” she said before moving to sit at her desk figuring she’d go through it first before filing it in the Records Room. However she only made it through about half-way before she began to feel a small amount of dread. It only grew as more and more names of Kumo shinobi began to appear, but not ones on missions. The men who were signing out had all recently requested leave for personal reasons. That they would all begin to leave the village perhaps in itself was nothing, but that they did it slowly over the course of the night and day since the Hokage had left did. She was torn between alerting the Raikage and doing nothing. “Shii is watching the Hokage,” she thought trying to convince herself that she was simply imagining things, since now that she was aware of a conspiracy she was probably just seeing them everywhere. However remembering how angry Shii had become when he learned what the Hokage had asked of the Raikage. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was planning to make it so that the Hokage couldn’t spread her lies. Fearing what Shii’s foolishness could unleash upon her home. Mabui did the only thing she could and alerted the Raikage. To her surprise as he leapt through the window of his office to stop his subordinate, she found that she was following in his wake.

****

“There’s a least twenty of them Milady. They have all gathered together and are on their way here. I estimate it’ll be about three minutes,” Katsuyu reported since Tsunade had left several of her summon’s clones along the path they had traveled. As a result they were more than aware that the man tasked with guarding their exit from Lightning Country intended to insure they never left.

“Twenty huh,” Tsunade said sounding calm despite the concern the number gave her, “That number was always unlucky for us Senju.”

Naruto stepped up behind her saying, “You suspected this? That’s why we used the cruise to enter the country and are taking our time going back.”

Tsunade turned towards her lover as she admitted, “I figured it was always in the cards. The last few times my Great Uncle traveled in these lands it didn’t end very well for him. It seems someone wishes for history to repeat itself.”

“Say the word and I can have us back to Konoha in…”

“No, better we confront this head-on then to scurry back to Konoha with our tails between our legs,” Tsunade said taking her green jacket off.

“Alright, I’ll…”

“Do nothing, my love,” Tsunade said cutting him off and smiled at the face he made.

“Not going to happen,” Naruto said defiantly.

“My Love, please let me take care of this. I want to show you my strength,” Tsunade said turning to face her lover.

“I’ve never questioned your strength,” Naruto replied earnestly.

“I know, but the only time you’ve truly seen me fight. I put on such a miserable display. Please let me do this.”

Naruto relented but said, “Fine, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. Twenty jounin is a tall order for anyone, even a Senju Princess.”

Tsunade smiled turning just as the Kumo-nin began to appear and spotting one of the men that had escorted her to first meet the Raikage said, “Fancy seeing you again. Did I forget something back in Kumo?”

Shii narrowed his eyes as he replied, “Just like your ancestor you’re going to regret entering Lightning.” Flashing through several handsigns a light began to emanate from Shii temporarily blinding the Hokage. However, she nonetheless managed to avoid being decapitated by a pair of Kumo-nin that launched themselves from behind the glowing man. She was able to do this in thanks to Katsuyu riding on her shoulder and in her smallest form, who having naturally poor eye sight could only truly tell the difference between light and dark. As a result, she could easily see the two dark spots approaching through the light. Warning Tsunade of such, the Hokage ducked beneath the men’s blades. Both men surprised at missing were caught unprepared as she retaliated. First, by hitting one man in the chest a blow which sent him flying off until a tree caused him to stop upon his hitting it. The other she grabbed by the wrist squeezing it so that he dropped his sword, she then followed up by grabbing the back of his head and slammed his face into the ground.

She blinked the remaining dots from her eyes in order to see the other eighteen Kumo had assembled in order to challenge her. Tsunade cracked her knuckles before asking, “Who’s next?”

A kunoichi decided to take be next as she shouted while charging the Hokage. Naruto watched from a nearby tree as his lover effortlessly slipped through a volley of kunai and shuriken thrown by the other Kumo-nin to advance on the woman. He winced as the yell was cut short as a result of Tsunade catching her with a clothesline that sent the woman’s body into the air tumbling end over end. Before her body hit the ground though, Tsunade caught the woman by the ankle and tossed her at another man who had decided to be follow in the kunoichi wake. He gasped audibly when the Kunoichi hit him in the stomach causing him to fold around her.

Shii decided to join in at that point leaping at Tsunade with his hands glowing as he used his medical ninjutsu as a weapon. For a moment Naruto flashed back to the fight with Kabuto, but it was only an instant since Tsunade avoided a swipe at her neck with the chakra scalpel. Her counter unlike with the others so far was hardly devastating as she simply chopped his neck. Shii jumped away and upon landing behind her asked, “What’s the matter feeling your age?”

Tsunade smirked not even bothering to look back as instead she focused on the remaining Kumo-nin while replying, “Don’t worry, you’ll feel it soon enough.”

Shii frowned and launched himself at her shouting, “Don’t underestimate me.”

However mid-way through his jump it became apparent that Shii’s body stopped working, at least how he expected it too. The man landed in a heap, and from the way he twitched about Naruto had the impression that his body wasn’t moving how his mind was telling it too.

“That should keep you occupied for a while,” Tsunade replied before deciding to finish the fight once and for all. Biting her thumb, she pressed her hand to the ground and summoned Katsuyu fully. Smiling from her perch on the slug’s head she said, “Let’s finish this.”

“Yes, milady,” the Slug replied before splitting into millions of smaller slugs that spread out over the forest like a tidal wave. The small slugs stuck to all the Kumo shinobi present joining back together and trapping inside the larger slugs that formed as a result. The Kumo-nin tried to resist but soon found themselves drifting off to sleep as the mucus of the slugs induced sleep.

Naruto dropped down and smiled at his lover asking, “Feeling redeemed?”

Tsunade smiled with a nod and allowed Naruto to place her jacket back over her shoulders. She gripped one of his hands causing him to ask, “What now?”

“I don’t know,” Tsunade admitted, “I suppose we’ll have to deliver them to the Raikage.”

“That might not be necessary,” Katsuyu said in her soft manner, “It appears the Raikage is on his way here, and in a hurry.”

*****

Mabui stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom as she applied some make-up. Adding lipstick to her lips, she thought back to the week previous when she along with the other shinobi the Raikage had summoned to stop Shii had come across Naruto and Tsunade.

The two Konoha-nin were obviously prepared for the encounter to get violent, but the Raikage tried to put them at ease as he said, “I’m glad to see you both unharmed. I assure you that this was not a sanctioned action.”

/]

[/“Yes, your man has made that quite clear,” Tsunade said pointing towards a tree showing that Shii was still alive and tied to its trunk.

/]

[/Mabui was aware that Yugito was concealing the concern she felt for the two, but detected a note of anger as she asked, “What should we do with these fools?”

/]

[/“Their fates are in the Hokage’s hands,” the Raikage said. Lowering his head he said, “I ask that you treat this as…”

/]

[/“Don’t do it, Lord Raikage,” Shii shouted angrily. “Do not shame yourself in front of this thing of Konoha on my account. I knew that my actions could only end with my death, but I won’t have your name stained in an attempt to spare me. You already needed to do it once to save Yugito.”

/]

[/The Raikage had looked at his solider and after looking at the others could see it was a sentiment shared by many of his subordinates present. Remembering Tsunade’s words in his office about how the lie of the Hyuuga Incident had left lasting scars. He could now see them present among his own forces. By allowing the lie to exist it had cast the victims of his plot as the villains and this in turn had allowed some of his best and brightest to believe they were acting with justice on their side in their attempt to kill the Hokage. Actions that now could and normally would end with their deaths.

/]

[/The Raikage aware that his silence was what had led to this moment had shocked all those present as he admitted, “Shii you idiot, you’re wrong. I was the one that ordered the kidnapping attempt against the Hyuuga.”

/]

[/Shii looked shocked whispering, “No…”

/]

[/“It’s true. Our analysts came to the conclusion that the Third Hokage was desperate to forge alliances and would try to forgo war in almost all instances. Not a hard thing to imagine considering his entire life was spent fighting. That a generation of our children has grown almost to adulthood without knowing the truths of war is due in no small part to his efforts. Therefore, Gashira approached me with a plan to get our hands on the Byakugan using his desires against him. He even took into account how we could turn things in our favor if he failed. What we failed to account for was Hizashi Hyuuga and his love for his brother. Even though we knew that it was not Hiashi that we received, we couldn’t call Konoha on their deception lest we take the chance on our own duplicity being uncovered. Therefore, we let the matter drop.” The Raikage paused as his shinobi stared at him. He turned to face Tsunade as he asked; “Only it didn’t, did it Lady Hokage?” Tsunade didn’t respond so he beseeched the kunoichi, “Lady Hokage, please…”

/]

[/Tsunade turned from him cutting him off as she said, “Lord Raikage, I don’t know why you’re asking me anything. These men’s lives are yours to do with what you want. I suppose I should thank you for the demonstration, it’s been ages since I’ve been able to cut loose like that.”

/]

[/“Demonstration,” The Raikage repeated with an air of disbelief.

/]

[/Tsunade didn’t stop walking as she called back, “On Kumo pursuit and capture tactics.” She looked over her shoulder with a small smile as she added, “Unless, that is you don’t feel the need to report this incident. I believe in this case a little white lie might be appropriate as it would be a shame to see such spirited youths have their lives or careers marred by stupid actions.” She directed her gaze to Shii who looked down in shame as she added, “Especially since it would mean the lessons learned here today wouldn’t spread.”

/]

[/Tsunade turned away causing the Raikage to bow his head towards her in thanks. Mabui’s own gaze though was locked solidly on Naruto’s back. However she noticed Yugito staring at him also as the woman was the closest one to the leaving Konoha-nin. For a moment Mabui had seen an image of Yugito walking with them as well and suddenly felt a strong desire to chase after them. However, it faded to reveal that Yugito was still standing on the path. When she turned though, there was no mistaking why she wore such a proud smile.

Mabui finished applying her lipstick and stepped back to look at herself in the mirror. She wondered briefly what Naruto would think before stepping out of her bedroom. Walking into her living room, she stood and faced the last place she had seen the young man when he had made his promise to prove himself to her. She then channeled her chakra into the temporary seal that Yugito had revealed to her when she had asked how the jinchuriki would contact her lover. A moment later, Naruto appeared and his eyes widened in surprise as they traveled up and down her body.

She felt emboldened when it became apparent that he liked what he saw, which was her dressed in a green lingerie corset with matching panties and sheer stockings. His eyes stopped drinking in her appearance to meet hers and with a smile he asked, “Not that I complaining, but considering our last conversation why such a warm welcome?”

Mabui smiled shyly not sure what to say, but managed to reply, “Considering you said then that you would prove to me your sincerity I felt it fitting. I’m actually surprised you haven’t visited me in order to say that you have.”

Naruto looked confused and asked, “What are you talking about? I’ve been racking my brains all week to come up with a way to prove myself.”

Mabui looked shocked as she said, “B-but what… I mean what with happened with Shii and the others and how you spared them.”

Naruto chuckled as he said, “Oh that…I didn’t have anything to do with that. Tsunade was the one who decided to let the matter drop. To be honest, I think she didn’t want me fighting them because I probably wouldn’t have been as gentle as she was. They were threatening a woman I loved after all.”

“S-she’s aligned with you though isn’t she?”

“Well yeah,” Naruto said with a shrug, “But that doesn’t mean I’m behind everything she does. She isn’t a machine that I’ve programed to act a certain way. She just believes in our dream as much as I do.” He turned his back towards her and she wondered why at least until he said, “But don’t worry. I’ll find a way to prove my own intentions are just as honorable.”

Mabui realized that he wasn’t looking at her due to her misunderstanding his role in what had happened with Shii. As a result, she figured that he thought it probably wasn’t proper of him to look at her in her current state of dress. He waved at her without looking back telling her that he’d be back when he thought he had. This time Mabui gave in to the desire to chase after him that she felt, quickly closing the distance and spun him around. He looked worried he had upset her at least until she sealed her lips to his a light kiss. Naruto’s arms wrapped around her waist and when the kiss ended he whispered, “I’m not really sure I deserve that.”

Mabui smiled gently before answering, “I have it on good authority that you do.” She then kissed him again and this time put her desire to be held in the same regard as his other lovers into it. Naruto responded to that desire as the kiss grew more passionate. Their tongues began to dance as they tried to get their faces and bodies even closer together.

Mabui ended the kiss able to practically still feel the connection to him through the thin strand of saliva that connected them. Her eyes grew hooded as her lust began to take over. But before she could once more taste his lips again, Naruto bent over and picked her up in his arms. He looked around the large apartment and not finding what he sought looked down at the woman in his arms. Mabui got the hint and nodded her head in the direction of her bedroom.

Naruto carried her in his arms making her feel safe and needed in a way she hadn’t even known how badly she wanted. He placed her down gently on the bed before stepping back to divest himself of his jacket and shirt. Mabui licked her lips as his athletic torso appeared and cooed happily as he joined her on the bed to pick-up where they had left off. She ran her hands over his warm body as they made out heavily. His hands were also busy traveling over her frame as well. She sensed him preparing to end the kiss so surprised him by rolling him onto his back and straddling him. She sat back to stare at him feeling his hardness press against her through the clothes they both still wore and felt that his eyes were simply reflecting the same desire she felt so began to kiss down his body.

She tongued his belly button upon reaching it as she slid down his body before stopping when her face reached his tented pants. Placing a hand on his clothed dick she gave it a squeeze as she said, “It’s hard to believe this gave me so much pleasure, but I’ve never actually seen it.” She unbuckled his pants slowly in order to build her excitement. His tented boxers appeared next after she pulled down his zipper and noticing the stain that appeared around the tip said, “It appears I’m not the only one getting excited at the unveiling.” She then kissed his tip before sucking his boxer clad dick into her mouth. She made sure to bathe his cockhead with her tongue as she tried to suck the precum from his shorts. When she pulled away Naruto noticed the lipstick mark where her lips had been.

Mabui suddenly pulled his boxers down exposing his cock to her eyes and stared at it in wonder. Kissing the tip again, she then slid her mouth down his length until he hit the back of her throat. Pulling back up, she plunged down again increasing her pace until she was soon working her mouth furiously up and down his raging hard-on. Naruto groaned as he buried both hands in her white hair as he delighted in the blowjob. As she pleased him orally, he slipped his legs out of his pants and once free, spread his legs to give her more room to work.

Naruto felt the urge to cum begin to appear so pulled her mouth from his cock. She tried to resist him having a desire to taste his seed, but Naruto managed to pull her face towards his as he sat up to occupy her mouth with his own. As they kissed, he pulled her corset down to expose her breast and began to pinch and tease one of her nipples. Mabui moaned into his mouth and allowed him to pull her up the bed towards him. He laid her down on her back before moving down her body similarly to how she had to him moments before stopping to bathe her tits in attention. Mabui’s hands became entangled in his hair and after several minutes he felt a slight pressure encouraging him to move down.

Naruto took the hint so moved between her legs easily able to see her arousal through the soaked panties. He sucked her pussy through them for a moment eliciting a cry of pleasure from his newest lover. Wanting to drink directly from her nether spring, he pushed her legs up into the air so he could slowly peel her panties away. Once she was free of them, he brought the soaked silken material to his nose and gave them a deep sniff. His dick lurched and he nearly lost control in order to just bury it inside of her. However, he quickly restored his composure and after kissing her thighs on each side buried his face in her cunnie.

As he ate her out, he placed a hand on her pelvis and dragged his fingers through the trimmed stripe of white fur that lead to her pussy. As his tongue probed her insides, his index finger began lightly flicking her clit back and forth causing Mabui to gasp and spread her legs further. Naruto pressed his mouth harder against her folds causing the kunoichi to moan, “Ooooooohhhhhh you’re so good at that.”

Naruto smiled thinking along the lines of how practice made perfect, but kept his comment to his self. Instead, he began to work his tongue over her clit while burying two fingers inside of her and worked them in and out. Under the onslaught, he quickly brought Mabui to climax and drank down his reward as she came hard.

As she recovered, he laid her on her right side and lifting her left leg began to feed his one-eyed snake into her slick and ready hole after lying behind her. Mabui groaned in post orgasm discomfort as she felt her pussy being spread to accommodate the intruder, but as she became more and more aware she began to work her hips to meet his thrusts. She looked over her shoulder and planted her lips to his tasting herself as they slowly rocked against each other.

As their tongues wrestled against one another, Mabui reached down and alternated between rubbing her pussy and the shaft currently sliding in and out of it. Naruto used the hand holding her leg up to spread her legs further apart as he began to pound her harder and faster. Mabui responded by reaching down further and rubbing his nuts in an effort to get them to shoot their load. Trying to get his seed as deep as possible, he rolled them over onto his back where he used his hands to pull her knees back and used his legs to thrust his cock inside of her as deeply as he could.

“Yes,” Mabui began moaning as she pushed against the headboard of her bed to push her body into his thrust. “Oh my gods” she shouted, “keep it up I’m almost there.”

“So am I,” Naruto said, letting one of her legs go to play with her clit. Mabui tensed immediately and came as soon as her womb was flooded with the warmth of his release.

Naruto clung to her as they basked in the afterglow of their shared release. Naruto rolled them over onto their sides again with his semi-hard cock still buried inside of her. Although the urge to sleep was overpowering she asked, “Naruto, what’s the plan for after?”

“After?”

“After you make your ambition a reality.”

He pulled her tighter against him and tiredly whispered, “We’ll worry about that when we get there I suppose.”

Mabui was about to say she meant for him and his other lovers of which she was now including herself, for she feared once his goal was finished he wouldn’t need them. But her concerns died on her lips as he kissed her cheek as he added, “I suppose it won’t matter though, since so long as I have you and the others in my life any goal we set for ourselves should easily be able to be met.” Mabui melted into him after that as she let his warmth lull her into sleep and found herself dreaming of things she had never considered possible before.

*]

[*Author’s Note: Well as always thank you to those that take the time to review. They truly are the best reward after putting all the time and effort into writing a thirty-thousand word chapter such as this one. To answer some of the questions about people set to appear in some of the upcoming chapters I ask that people please be patient. I know the desire to know if a kunoichi you’re interested in seeing appear is sometimes hard to ignore, but I think the surprises sometimes make it worthwhile…right? With that said I don’t have a problem revealing the ones I’ve already confirmed so the next few chapters look like this.

*]

[*Chp. 35 Target: Rin

*]

[*Chp 36. ??????

*]

[*Chp, 37 ??????

*]

[*Chp 38 ??????

*]

[*Chp 39 ??????

*]

[*Chp 40. Blast from the Past Arc: Mito

*]

[*Chp 41. Blast from the Past Arc: Guren

*]

[*Chp 42. ??????

*]

[*Chp 43 Blast from the Past Part Duex: Toka Senju

*]

[*Chp 44 ??????

*]

[*Chp 45 Blast in the Past: Sara

*]

[*The question mark chapters for the most part are more events then tied to Naruto expanding his influence as such to keep the surprise of what events those chapters contain I don’t wish to post their titles just yet. But in any case as you can see there is still plenty of story to go. So please read and enjoy and until next time take care, Sincerely The Lemon Sage

*]

[*Also, I still plan to use AFF.net as a backup sight. Once I find a new primary for my story I will post the link on both my FAnfiction.net profile and on a new chapter here. But this will likely be after the New Year. Thanks for all the support and for letting me know how much you’ve enjoyed this story.