Hinata clung tightly to their shared embrace. They shared stories and laughs and a silence too comfortable, and to her mind, too intimate for something they could never be. The signs had been clear, her time with Naruto was coming to an end. It was selfish of her to wish for more time. But Hinata had long come to the conclusion she was selfish. Faking her death, leaving the heiress position for Hanabi, the long letter she wrote to Naruto had all been selfish acts. She wanted freedom, a clear conscience and to not be forgotten.
She still recalled what she wrote, apologizing for not only spying but greedily borrowing his strength without ever giving anything in return. Even as a child, lonely but driven, he was an example for her. He managed the impossible and it made her believe she could achieve the improbable. When she doubted herself, doubted working for Orochimaru it wouldn't be long before Naruto did something to restore her faith.
He deserved more than her guilt-ridden ramblings but as she believed that would be their last communication, it was all she had. And yet, fortune smiled upon her and now her dear friend was in her arms. The kunai he'd gifted her, the significance apparent to her before he promised he'd be there for her if she ever needed him, was another boon born of her greediness. That the wrong thing kept netting her what she wanted made Hinata wonder if that's how Orochimaru got started.
"Hey, you ok?" she heard Naruto ask and she didn't know how to answer it. She loved her freedom but missed Hanabi and her friends dearly. She wished life didn't take more than it gave, she wished things could have been different. A reality where she found a place in the village, kept with her friends and watched Hanabi grow.
"Just lamenting wasted time… We could have been friends much sooner if I'd done things differently," her response earned a chuckle.
"You know, there were days where I got so frustrated with my lack of progress or the loneliness became deafening and I just wanted to quit. But, I don't know, I just always got this feeling someone was watching over me, maybe even pulling for me and now knowing what I know, I'd like to think that person was you. I guess what I'm saying is, Shika and Shino are my best friends but I think you were my first even if no one understands it but us. I'm alright with that."
It was Hinata's turn to laugh as she fought back tears, "I'm alright with that, too."
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"I will kill you." Jiraiya appeared confused, though not actually threatened by his fellow Sannin's words. Karin and Tayuya couldn't fault the man as while somewhat condescending, the statement was otherwise innocuous. What Jiraiya couldn't know, having just returned to the manor, was Orochimaru was in a bit of a mood. The two Uzumaki knew the warning signs but when she demanded, in a clipped tone no less, that Naruto go shower and change because he reeked of her they knew they had to tread lightly. Jiraiya knew none of this but both doubted it would have mattered; he didn't seem the type to walk on eggshells.
"Because I'm surprised you can cook? Isn't that an overreaction? An extreme overreaction?" he asked across the island.
"Stab you in your liver. Quarter turn forward, quarter turn back, quarter turn forward and pull. Then, you'll be dead." Orochi said as she continued to thinly slice daikon for pickling.
"Naruto would save me, I'm his beloved Godfather."
"He's in the shower and I'd burn your body."
"Fire suppressant seals would prevent that," Jiraiya pointed out.
"Then I'd drag your corpse out back and do it there," she spat as the grip on her knife tightened.
"And risk Naruto's garden? Don't think so," the Toad Sage said with a knowing smirk. To the surprise of Karin and Tayuya, it didn't seem to annoy Orochi or anger her further as she continued.
"I'll feed you to Manda."
"He doesn't actually eat people."
"He'd make an exception."
"For meat this tough? Doubt it."
"Pocket dimension. I'll put you in a pocket dimension," Orochi responded as she laid her knife against the cutting board and exited the kitchen. The three that remained were quiet until she was out of earshot but once it was safe, Jiraiya laughed. When he saw the confusion on their faces he laughed more before explaining.
"With Tsunade, you let her explode. It'll be violent but it'll be quick. With Orochi, you give her something to churn at so she can work through how she's feeling. Either way, tiptoeing around them won't do you any good because neither is great at self-soothing so they'll just stay mad."
"You're pretty smart for an old fuck," Tayuya complimented.
Orochi arrived at her room just as Naruto was exiting their bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist. He smiled at her as he sat on the bed. She sat beside him and breathed in, delighted that her former subordinate's taint had been removed. She didn't like him smelling of another woman, especially not that one in particular. She was fond of Hinata, all told, but knew the girl was capable of getting ideas in her head.
"For the record, it was a hug," Naruto said. Orochi looked at him in disbelief.
"Did she hug you for the entire time you were there?" He laughed as he scratched the back of his head, a tell he hadn't rid himself of. She narrowed her eyes but softened them just as fast. She knows her husband, knows he isn't fickle nor easily swayed. She inched closer, the chill from having recently exited the shower rapidly being replaced by his natural warmth.
"I'm frustrated," she admitted. "Today has been a study in aggravation."
"That's understandable," he said. "We should still be on the beach, our only worries being what we were going to do for the day."
"Sounds nice," she admitted. "We'll have to go back someday."
"Oh shit!" he exclaimed. "It was supposed to be a surprise but we can totally go back whenever we want since we own it. I had a whole thing planned but… yea, we own a small island near Moon Country."
"Even for you that'd be prohibitively expensive, Naruto-kun."
"It would be if I'd paid for it but the King gave it to me for saving his and his son's life. Between the two, I couldn't tell you which was more of a petulant brat."
"I feel like there's a story here," she said but Naruto shook his head.
"Honestly, not really. Jiraiya was getting obnoxious about needing a break so we went to Moon Country for a little respite. I uncovered a plot to overthrow the king. It wasn't even that involved, it took me like an afternoon. Instead of fleeing the conspirators tried to attack me so I cut them down. All but the leader, Jiraiya half-drunkenly hit the leader with a Rasengan so got mutual credit for my work. Didn't even kill the guy. Can you imagine? Hitting someone with a Rasengan and they freaking live, shameful ass pervert. And the man was so trifling he accepted it!
Anyway, Jiraiya wanted something or other, I didn't pay attention as I was too annoyed but when the King asked me what I wanted I picked the island. He agreed as long as I didn't build a hotel on it."
"I don't think I'd believe that if it were told by anyone else." Naruto shrugged, he couldn't disagree. "I'm sorry, Naruto-kun."
"Huh?" he replied, intelligently.
"I was short with you when you returned," she explained.
"Oh! It's fine, Kurenai-sensei said your senses would be heightened. Who could be polite with a sudden bout of nausea?"
Orochi smiled. The last of her annoyance melting away. When Naruto stood up, presumably to get dressed, she grabbed his towel and pulled him back to bed making him fall to his back. She swiftly mounted him and brought her face down to his. "My problem with smelling Hinata on you had nothing to do with heightened senses, Naruto-kun." She did not expect him to chuckle and certainly hadn't predicted his response.
"I know," he said, his smile equal parts amusement and pride of having gotten one over on her.
"I'm going to get you back," she whispered, only causing his smile to widen.
"You promise?" he asked in faux innocence. No one was surprised when the couple didn't come down for dinner until an hour later.