Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

If Hanabi really ended up marrying him...

Then what's wrong with me becoming her aunt?!

Hinata Mari stared blankly for a long time, until the cigarette in her hand had burned down to a long tail of ash. She finally snapped out of her daze.

"You've got some nerve, you little brat. How old are you, daring to climb into the bed of the eldest daughter of the Sarutobi family?"

???

Naruto Uzumaki blinked in confusion. Just moments ago, she was calling him "little darling." When did he suddenly become a "little devil?"

Sure enough—women are fickle.

The more beautiful they are, the faster they turn on you.

"You seem even braver," he quipped. "Threatening Hazuki to make you let me come keep you company?"

"That's because I didn't know you were Uzumaki Naruto."

"Oh? So if you'd known, you wouldn't have let me come?"

At that, Hinata Mari opened her mouth but said nothing.

Even if she had known, she probably still would have done it.

After all, with Hazuki running interference, she could enjoy herself without consequence. She'd been lonely for so long—why wouldn't she indulge a little?

Besides, it wasn't like Hanabi and Naruto were officially together. Just yesterday, Mrs. Yamanaka said her daughter Ino liked Naruto, too.

Thinking of that made Hinata Mari feel far less guilty.

Naruto glanced at her. Her expression had shifted to one of irritation for some reason, which made him smile. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his hand slide down to her soft, sensitive belly button.

"Mmm~" Hinata Mari's face flushed pink. She took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled the smoke toward his face.

"Little darling, you want to go again?"

"Ah, so I'm a good boy again now? Wasn't I just a little devil a minute ago?" Naruto arched an eyebrow and gently pinched the soft skin on her stomach.

"From now on, you'll always be my little darling," Hinata Mari said, grabbing his wandering hand and kissing him hard on the cheek.

A playful smile appeared on her face as she pushed Naruto back onto the mattress, falling on top of him.

"We've already done everything we shouldn't... might as well go all the way."

Anyway, she thought, as long as Hazuki is covering for me, no one will know. I'll still be Hinata's widow, Neji's good mother...

Only when I'm with him can I be myself.

By the time the sun was high overhead, Naruto had dressed and stepped out of the room, pulling on his shoes.

In the courtyard, only Sarutobi Hazuki sat alone on a wooden board, a worried expression on her face. It wasn't clear what she was thinking.

Naruto looked around, then approached her. "Where's Konohamaru?"

"Off training," Hazuki replied without looking up.

When she did look at Naruto—refreshed and clearly satisfied—her face twisted in annoyance. She clicked her tongue.

"And where is she?"

Naruto sat down beside her. "She said she was tired, wanted to sleep a little. Asked you to call her when dinner's ready."

Hazuki subconsciously reached out to straighten Naruto's collar. She hadn't done that for anyone since her late husband, but now it felt like second nature.

Like she and Naruto were... always meant to be a couple.

It felt strange, but she couldn't explain why.

"Tsk tsk tsk~"

Noticing the kiss marks all over Naruto's neck, Hazuki rolled her eyes and teased, "You were having fun while I sat out here playing lookout for you."

Then she pulled her hand away and added, half-joking, half-sincere, "You're so ungrateful."

"???" Naruto couldn't hold it in anymore. He shot back, "I did it for you! If you hadn't been so scared, I wouldn't have gone in there!"

"Who told me to go with you, huh? Tell me—who gave me that name?"

He was clearly frustrated. It was Hazuki who told him to accompany Mari, and now she was scolding him for it?

Ridiculous.

Naruto glared at her. Hazuki knew she was partly to blame and shrank into herself. "I handed you a beautiful woman on a silver platter and you're yelling at me instead of enjoying yourself."

Naruto reached out and pulled her close, frowning. "You gave me away and expected me to be happy about it?"

"Would you be happy if I handed you over to another guy?"

Hazuki went silent. She really thought Naruto would've been pleased. She hadn't expected this angry reaction.

Looking into his eyes, she saw genuine hurt.

Does he think I betrayed him...?

After a long pause, she softened and gently wrapped her arms around him. "Are you mad?"

"What do you think?" Naruto grumbled.

"I'm sorry... I thought you'd enjoy it."

Her voice was quiet, almost trembling like a leaf in the breeze. She hugged Naruto tighter.

"Fine. I'll forgive you this time," Naruto muttered, lifting her chin and teasing her lips with his finger, playing with her like a cat plays with a ribbon.

Hazuki gave in completely, doing her best to make him happy.

Then Naruto said with a grin:

"Next time something like this happens—no, any dangerous situation—make sure you call me. I'll handle it myself!"

Sarutobi Hazuki: "???"

"Go to hell!"

Sunset on green hills, autumn moon and spring breeze.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the recently melted snow began to fall again as temperatures dropped.

After coaxing Hazuki to sleep, Naruto rushed to the village gate where hundreds of Chūnin had already gathered.

The village gate marked a boundary—outside stood ninjas ready for deployment, and inside, villagers tearfully saw them off.

Young children waved at older siblings and elders, their faces wet with tears.

Partings were always the hardest.

No one knew who might not return.

But Naruto wasn't worried. He was confident he'd survive.

"Naruto!"

A voice called out from the crowd.

Naruto looked up to see a girl with long pink hair he hadn't seen in a while—

Haruno Sakura.

She was scanning the crowd frantically until Naruto waved, catching her attention. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she ran over to him.

The spring breeze tossed her hair and lifted her red cheongsam dress, revealing pale, smooth thighs and lightly jiggling skin as she ran.

The beauty of youth.

When she reached him, her smile faded, replaced by a light scolding.

"Why haven't you come to see me these past few days?"

Her tone was reproachful, but before Naruto could reply, she softened.

"Forget it. It's wartime. I guess it's normal you didn't have time."

She tiptoed, standing close to Naruto and measuring their height difference.

"Hey, how come you're half a head taller than me now? You used to be shorter!"

Her voice was like a breeze in his ears, taking him back to six months ago, before Orochimaru's invasion and the current war with the Hidden Cloud.

They hadn't seen each other in a long time—Sakura had been swamped with patients at Konoha Hospital.

Yet she was still the same talkative girl.

Naruto smiled faintly. "I'll be even taller next time."

"Tsk. I'm a girl. Why are you competing with me?"

"You started it."

"I'm allowed! I'm a cute girl!"

"Sorry, no. I only like married women now."

Sakura burst into laughter and lightly slapped his arm. "Why are you so funny now?"

???

What's funny?

Naruto thought to himself. I was being serious!

But she was still just a little girl—Naruto didn't want to argue. He tilted his head and went quiet.

Sakura was a little annoyed. Just when they were having a good conversation, Naruto went silent again. Typical idiot.

Early spring flowers hadn't bloomed yet, only new grass sprouted. No one noticed them—some would trample them without care.

More and more people were arriving. Departure time was near.

Sakura's annoyance faded. She poked Naruto's chest with a finger.

"What?!"

"Why so aggressive?"

Sakura reached into her bag and pulled out a letter. "I found this at your house when I went to clean this morning. I haven't opened it."

"You still clean my house?"

"Who else does?"

"How'd you get in?"

"I'm a ninja, don't underestimate me."

"Breaking and entering... that makes you a thief."

"Ahhh, you bastard Naruto! Talk like that again and I swear I'll never clean your place again!"

Naruto smirked and took the letter. The sender was Mao Yue Xi Gao.

Inside:

Will.

"Naruto, this is the first and maybe the last letter I'll ever write to you."

"This is a will—something all frontline ninjas are required to write."

"I've been struggling with what to say. But I'll try."

"If you're reading this, I've probably already died. Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye."

"You're listed as my heir. You can live in my apartment."

"Under the bed is a box. It has all my savings from years as a ninja. Use it however you like."

"If I die..."

"Please live your life well."

"I'd love to see you grow up, get married... I've watched you for so long. It's hard to let go."

"No more sad words. I hope you find a beautiful, kind wife to spend your life with."

"And if possible... visit my sister's grave once a year. That's my last wish. I know you'll do it."

—Maoyue Xiyan Liu

The sky overhead was gray, the snow falling again, covering the new grass of spring.

Naruto stared at the letter, stunned. A whirl of emotions surged in him. For the first time, he felt sorrow for someone else.

Before, he only felt sad when his goals were out of reach.

Now, he grieved because of Xiyan's words.

She'd brought him cake for his first birthday.

It's fine, he thought. Even if she died in battle, I'll find a way to bring her back.

He forced a smile for Sakura. "Thanks, Sakura. For bringing me the letter."

She blushed. That smile—it was soft and warm like water. Her heart skipped a beat.

When had Naruto last smiled at her like that?

Probably back in the Academy.

Back when she hated his stupid grin.

Now, she realized how foolish she'd been.

Could she win back the boy who once loved her so much?

Her heart stirred, and she was about to say something...

But Naruto suddenly touched her forehead. "No fever. You must be an idiot. What are you daydreaming about?"

Sakura: "..."

"Idiot Naruto! You'll be the death of me!"

Her rising emotions collapsed under his teasing. She huffed and turned to leave. Naruto waved, but she ignored him.

A moment later, she ran back and shouted:

"Stupid Naruto! You better not get into any trouble, okay?!"

"What'd you say?"

"Don't let anything happen to you! I'm waiting for you to come home!"

"You're waiting? Then maybe I should get into trouble."

"You'll drive me crazy!"

She stomped away, furious, then stood at the village gate and watched him go.

Ino suddenly appeared, breathless and flustered.

"Forehead Girl! Where's Naruto?"

Her golden hair was a mess—she'd clearly run here in a rush. Her mom had a fever, and she'd had to manage the shop alone.

Too late.

Sakura smiled lightly. "He's gone. I saw him off... alone."

"???" Ino frowned. She felt provoked.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just saying—when it comes to Naruto, I won't back down."

"Oh please. As if you had the right to back down."

As Konoha's thousand-strong army led by Naruto departed for the front lines, a ten-man elite team from Hidden Cloud, led by the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and Bokuto, had already landed in the Land of Fire.

They were lying in wait along the route Konoha forces had to take—ready to strike.

"This time, Konoha will bleed heavily."