The Protector - Chapter 2 (Patreon)

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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Bleach, or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners Kishimoto and Kubo.

3/30/25

Chapter 2-

After the hours passed since his strange altercation happened in the morning, he spent his day off as he normally would. Not being one to laze about he went to visit Iruka Umino in the ninja academy, a place he haphazardly frequented, and helped the man teach the class amongst all the exuberant children that had been rilled up having the Naruto Uzumaki as their teacher once again. Nothing the brown-haired instructor couldn't handle, after all, he had been the one and only teacher that could handle Konoha's Number One Most Unpredictable Knucklehead Ninja in his youth. These days all the troubles he had with children were nothing compared to that.

The man had been happy to see him, and he had enjoyed the company. Although they mostly just talked about new plans Iruka had for the academy and his students, something he wholeheartedly agreed with considering he knew how troublesome the current shinobi education system could be. Kami knew that they needed fewer fangirls and more ninjas in their ranks for the genin.

After that, he did some light training in the training ground, trying to heighten his chakra control to even further levels. He still didn't have enough control to perform medical jutsu, something he wasn't sure he ever would be able to do. But considering the fact his chakra levels alone were more than anyone in the village combined he was proud of the control he had managed to achieve.

Although, being too engrossed in his training it didn't take him long to realize that had ended up losing track of time. As he quickly made his way over to the restaurant Sakura had mentioned the meeting would be held. 'The Golden Dragon,' as the sign read, it was one of those fancy restaurants he had never been to once in his life. This was one of the restaurants he knew wouldn't have tolerated him when he was a kid, and not only because he had a lack of money. It was because of the Kyuubi that had been in his stomach that they didn't like him, much like how most of the fancy high-end places were within Konoha. They had kicked him to the curb the moment he even stepped foot near the property, fearing that business would go down with even his presence being there, something he had gotten used to far too much in his lifetime.

But, now he was mature enough to realize that holding such a grudge would only make him miserable in the long run. It was best to leave things in the past, he had already proved everyone wrong, and that had been why he wanted to become Hokage, to gain their respect, which nowadays he had in spades.

Walking inside, it was then he felt out of his element, sure, he noticed the building on the outside was large, but that didn't put to scale what the inside would be like. All around him was a myriad of different, expensive-looking decorations, statues of dragons, and golden ornaments, not to mention there was an actual koi pond within the lobby. Honestly, he felt so out of his element, that he only barely registered a the store worker reached his backside.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have a reservation?" A man said from behind him, he turned to see the man had exited the podium that he had been standing at to greet him. He was wearing a dark three-piece suit, a staple that he belonged there, whereas he was still in his training clothes, a bit of dirt on his clothing.

It seemed the man recognized him though, and had completely changed his tune, "Oh, mister Uzumaki-sama, I was not aware you would be joining us this evening," denoting him with the utmost respect.

Naruto looked at him, "Ah, well, I think I ran a little late so my friends should have already arrived, could you see if it's under the name: Sakura Haruno or something?"

"Hmmm, well let me check," the host stated, as he went towards his podium and looked over his guest list, "Well, I'm not seeing anyone for a Sakura, but I do see one; Shikamaru Nara and guests."

"Yeah, that should be it," Naruto nodded in confirmation, figuring Shikamaru had somehow been the one to get roped into making the reservation, something he usually wouldn't expect from the lazy Jonin.

"Right then, right this way…" the host stated, as he led Naruto into the restaurant towards the private rooms area, far away from any other eyes and a nice place to be acquainted with those you already knew.

As the man led him to a particular shoji door, denoting him to step in, outside he could hear the many sounds of familiar voices, ones that were loud and boisterous, something he always enjoyed.

Taking a breath, he took his hand on the door and stepped inside. Revealing the private room they had rented to be quite an open area with a long center table that was along the floor and cushions they could rest on. The food had already been laid out, ranging from a bunch of dishes like beef or pork to curry and rice, additionally, the familiar scent of sake reached his nose, as he spotted a group of friends he knew fondly.

Shikamaru, a pineapple-haired young man with dark hair and a lazy expression, he noticed was the first to take notice of him, even amongst the boisterous loud laughter amongst the individual conversation. But he didn't call out to him, never being the type to do so as in his words it would likely be too 'troublesome.'

No, the first person to call out to him was a beautiful young woman with long blueish/black hair and lilac eyes that seemed to widen when she noticed him, "N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata Hyuga stated as the others halted their conversations to take note of him.

"No, I'm telling you Shino, being a field Jonin is alot better, after all— Well, would you look at what the cat dragged in," Kiba Inuzuka, a feral-looking male with dark hair and a set of red tribal tattoos around his face stated. Halting his conversation with his old teammate, Shino Abarame, a trenchcoat-wearing man who hid his face with a pair of dark sunglasses, they both looked at Naruto.

Sakura Haruno, who had been talking to Ino Yamanaka, a platinum-blonde woman with sky-blue eyes and a beautiful figure, took note of her teammate and got up to greet him smiling.

"Well, well Naruto, I'm glad you could make it," the pink-haired girl stated as she looked at him.

"Yeah, sorry I'm late, I went to the training grounds, and seems I lost track of time for a bit," the blonde stated, rubbing the back of his head in his usual manner as he gave a short laugh.

"Typical Naruto, always training his ass off," Shikamaru drawled, from his seat, overhearing their conversation.

"Yosh! I think it is wonderful that Naruto-kun will spend every waking moment training! I shall do as much training as well to ignite my flames of youth even further than before! He truly is worthy of being my eternal rival!" Rock Lee, a male with a dark bowl cut and a ridiculously green outfit shouted.

"Right Lee, although remember to eat in between your training sessions every once in a while," Tenten, a bun-haired girl who was knowledgeable of weapons lectured to her teammate

It was then that everyone fell in line with their conversations, many of those going back to finish with who they were talking to, and others starting new ones with familiar people that they had know for a long time. Naruto, too, had been a part of these conversations, not exactly being the center of attention.

He conversed with these people well enough and knew what to say and what jokes to tell. He always held a cup of sake in hand, which was redundant since with his heritage it would take an exorbitant amount of alcohol to get him drunk. But it was enough to fit in, given everyone else was drinking.

He talked about small hindrances with Shikamaru, melodramas with Ino, and even a few short greetings with the ever-elusive Shino.

And there were a few times when Naruto fell out of conversation and didn't talk with anyone at all, not that he minded. He wasn't quite the little kid anymore yearning for attention. Here he was content with staying out of the spotlight and watching the happenings going on before him, as he listened to their conversations. A standard way of gathering information, which was nothing new to him.

Although there were a few times where he would notice a set of pale-pearly eyes looking his way, it wasn't obvious, and it wasn't too much either. But those eyes looked at him enough for him to realize it wasn't unintentional, he held his peace.

The night was starting to look somber, as some of the more light drinkers were starting to feel the effects of their drink and the food wasn't bad, although he wasn't even the least bit tipsy.

But it seemed, there had been one person who had been fully inebriated…

"Yosh! It's time to issue my challenge to Naruto-Kun! We shall fight for Sakura-chan's love!" Rock Lee stated as he stood along the table swaying in his step.

It was then they realized that somehow his non-alcoholic drink had been mixed in with some alcohol.

"Leaf Hurricane!"

Before they could react, Lee had already swung his leg forward, knocking everything around the room.

XXX

A Few Minutes later.

"Well, this place is destroyed," Kiba barked out, in the aftermath of trying to stop Lee's rampage. He hadn't even been able to do anything in the wake of Lee's drunken fist-style taijutsu, seeing him as nothing as a green shouting blur. Thankfully Naruto had been able to match him, if only a little, enough to wear the exuberant shinobi out enough to where they could subdue him, although not without their rented room destroyed.

"Ass," Shino said monotonously, as he knew full well that his teammate had been the one to spike Lee's drink, thinking it funny at the time, as Kiba balked.

Off to the side, Naruto was panting a little, having not expected Lee's rampage tonight right after he had trained himself harshly in the training grounds. He guessed it went to show even now how much he still had to improve because, to him, Lee's taijutsu was still amazing. His moves were unpredictable, and his attacks were so fast he could only barely react to them— and he thought he was Konoha's most unpredictable ninja.

Unfortunately just when things we starting to get good Lee had passed out from the exertion, but not before destroying the entire room until nothing was left. The table was shattered, the paper walls were torn, with several cracks around the wooden supports, and honestly given the shockwaves Lee's punches produced he was surprised that the building was still standing.

"What the hell is going on here?!" And there, as if on cue, the owner of the restaurant walked into the destruction, as all of them looked sheepish at Lee's rampage. "It looks like a shinobi war happened in this room! Who the hell is paying for all this!"

"I will, Sir," Naruto walked up to the man, pulling out his checkbook from the seal on his person, writing down a number, "Just give me a name to write you as. I hope this is enough to pay for the damages… maybe renovate and get a structural evaluation as well," he added, showing the man the number he had inscribed.

The man had sourly changed his tune, knowing full well that the number Naruto had written was more than enough to pay for anything that Lee might have broken. "Why yes Sir, uh… thank you for being so generous with this offer, I'll be sure to have this fixed up by the next time you visit… although if you do, try not to bring these friends along," he stated, looking at the Konoha 12 with a mean look as he went to the Konoha bank to cash the check he had gotten.

Naruto's friends speechless at what had just happened, he just looked at them confused. "What?" he asked.

"Dude, that was badass!" Kiba hollered, having not expected Naruto of all people to help them get out of that situation.

Naruto just sighed, not having wanted to deal with this kind of situation when he woke up that morning. This night was already over, the restaurant was torn, and at this point, it would be better if they all headed home, he wanted to anyway.

"Alright, I think this party is over with…" he told them. Casting a glance towards their unconscious green-suited friend, he realized they couldn't just keep him lying there, lest he somehow obtain more alcohol.

He decided to get things over with, walking up to the blue beast, he hoisted the male onto his shoulder. "I guess I'll take Lee to his home, any objections?" He questioned them.

"No. He's my teammate, I should be the one to take him home," Tenten told him, but he disagreed, he knew that nobody else would be able to keep hold of him should he wake up and go on a rampage again.

"No, you won't be able to restrain him if he crashes out again, and besides, I know where he lives, it'll be no trouble," he explained, and the bun-haired girl wanted to object, but she knew she couldn't.

But even so, her nerves would not be quelled, not until…

"N-Naruto-kun…" a voice spoke up, as Naruto turned his attention to the blue-haired girl with lavender eyes of the group. "Neji-Nii-san taught me what to do in this situation, and I think my gentle fist can be helpful… so if it isn't too much to ask, I want t-to know if I could join in bringing Lee-San back to his home," Hinata stated, tapping her forefingers together as she did so, not being able to look Naruto in his face when she asked him.

Naruto weighed the options, on the one hand, he wasn't sure how Hinata would fare in a fight against Lee. But he was sure that she would help assist him in taking Lee down should the need arise. And besides, if she came along, the trip to the youthful Jonin's residence would not seem as boring or quiet.

"Alright, fine, you can come, Tenten, you stay," he told them, as Hinata helped him along as she hoised Lee's arm onto her shoulder as well, pulling him along.

Leaving the rest of the Konoha 12 flabbergasted in his wake, not expecting Naruto to take charge of the situation like that.

"Wow, and who died and made him Hokage," Kiba said; trying to lighten the mood.

"Jerk," Shino stated bluntly, much to his teammate's bewilderment and overall childish behavior.

As they all began leaving as well, the dog-loving male shouted, "What? No after-party?!"

Kiba's teammate only sighed

XXX

The walk back to Lee's residence was an eerie one, a dark night that would send a chill down a person's spine with so much as a rat's movement as it knocked against the trash in the gutters of the alleyways. The fog was present, although not blindingly so as if wafted into the roads. It brought in his mind a grim reminder of the man he had encountered that morning, as he wondered what exactly he had been up to, and what he had been warned about, entrancing him with an uneasy feeling.

Or it would have, had he been anyone else, had he not been a shinobi who was a licensed killer by nature. Had he not seen the darkest depths of history in war.

A silent walk such as this one would bring any civilian to their knees in the empty streets.

Although, thankfully, the streets weren't silent at all.

As Lee's drunk bables encompassed the roads that night, an interruption to the eerie atmosphere.

"Hey Naruto," the green-suited male said, him still being hauled on both his and Hinata's shoulders as they dragged him along. Naruto carried the brunt of his weight given he still had his weights strapped on him— them reasoning that if they took them off and he somehow went on another rampage they would be able to restrain him easier.

"Yes, Lee," he answered, tired, this being the fifth time he was asked a stupid question by his friend.

"Why do you have whiskers?"

"What?" Not really expecting such a question.

"I mean, yeah, you have the ky… Kyuubi, but I thought Lord Hokage said you had them before you had the Kyuubi sealed into you… how does dat make any sense?" Lee slurred drunkenly, still being led across Konoha.

Naruto paused, "I'm… not sure."

He didn't really know the answer, he just always had them, ever since he could remember. He thought back to the images he had seen when his parents had shown him the night of his birth after he had just been born. Realizing that he had indeed been born with his whisker marks, a full head of hair, too.

His mother didn't have whisker marks, neither did Mito, Kurama's first Jinchuriki, so why did he have them then? He supposed it had to do with his mother having Kurama, Mito already had her kids before she had sealed the Kyuubi within her, that was why Tsunade didn't have any.

Yeah, that was probably it, not that Lee would see his reasoning.

"Ano, I like Naruto's whiskers, I think they make him look cute," Hinata said, blushing slightly. "Like a fox."

"Really? Because I think they make him look like a kitty cat… a nice, little, cat— not like Tora! That cat I want to kill!" Lee said, remembering the demon cat they used to have to chase around as genin.

"Lee, quit touching my face," Naruto said, smacking his friend's hand away as he tried to reach for his markings, repeatedly doing so, as Hinata giggled.

"Alright, we're here!" Naruto stated, looking at Lee's residence, a large apartment building, where they could leave Lee for the next few hours until he became sober. Dragging Lee up the steps towards where he lived, having already retrieved the key from his person, not that they couldn't just pick the lock, they were ninjas after all. Here they weren't all too worried that Lee would relapse again, after all, his sensei, Might Gai was in a room just next door, and he should be able to take care of it. Even being in a wheelchair, Gai could still tangle with the best of them.

And if Lee did break something, it wouldn't be on his paycheck, so he didn't mind.

"Home sweet home," He said.

"Hey, this is my home."

"That's right, Lee," said Hinata.

"And that's my couch!" he pointed towards his cushions as they led him through his rooms.

"Uhuh," Naruto added.

"That's my bed!" Lee said as they laid him on it.

"Yup," he nodded, as he made to leave.

"Naruto-san?"

"What, Lee?" He answered him, having been called out as he was about to head out of his bedroom.

"You think we can spar again? Without my weights?"

Naruto sighed, "Sure, why not…" it couldn't hurt, or it could, but he imagined that it would be worthwhile in the end. Lee was an amazing fighter, even when he was drunk.

As he and Hinata made to leave, Lee's voice stopped them.

"Naruto-san…"

"What is it, Lee?" As he sighed again, this wasn't how he wanted to spend his night.

"I think… I think I miss Neji."

Anything Naruto could have said at that moment was gone, as his breath left him. What could he say? He knew how Neji had died, he had died right in front of him. Neji had given his life for him in the war, and Hinata had tried to give her life for him as well. He didn't even have the time to register it as he had been in the midst of the battlefield. He didn't even have the time to visit his funeral, not that he could, it had been a hyuga-only event, something they did as tradition. But if he had heard correctly, the Hyuga elders saw it fit to bury Neji among their main brain members, right beside his father. His name was engraved on the memorial stone, too and they had listed him among the shinobi who had died in the war in a place among all the villages.

Neji defied his fate, truly, dying an honorable death.

And yet, even as he was without breath, he did not know what to say.

"Yeah… me too."

But Lee had fallen asleep by then, the only one to hear his admission being Hinata, who looked at him with fallen eyes, as he walked out of the room, the girl to follow.

"Come on, I'll walk you home," he told her, although it was more out of courtesy than anything, he doubted Hinata would find anything in the darkness that she couldn't handle, even with the restless drunkards and silent killers in the night.

Hinata nodded, still thinking of what Naruto had said that night, and how much he had changed.

XXX

A few minutes later.

Unlike with their walk with Lee his walk with Hinata was far more quiet, as not a word had been spoken among them. The streets of Konoha were far more eerie than when they had ventured previously, and the roads leading to the Hyuga clan district were far.

Sure, they could have hoped along the rooftops, but even he felt like that was unnecessary, as he didn't mind taking the longer route. It killed time, something he had found himself in short supply of recently, as he kept himself busy, but he didn't mind. He didn't feel tired as much as he used to, although that wasn't to say he was an insomniac. But he would admit, that after the war the eight-to-ten hours of sleep he used to get was cut down to three or four, he just didn't feel the inclination to sleep as much, something always had to go on.

Maybe that did make him an insomniac? He supposed.

Although he had never labeled himself as such, he always reasoned that he would sleep whenever he felt tired, which was in short order. The missions he took stole enough time out of the day to where he didn't feel the excess hours. A-rank, B-ranks, even S-ranks, he took them all of course. Missions that took a squad days he could do in hours, and month-long missions he could do in days.

He never found himself bored, because if he was bored he could train, and grow stronger than he already was. There was always a new threat, a new possibilty something could happen, a threat for the peace he so desired.

In a way, he was like his old master, Jiraya. Spending so much time protecting Konoha, yet he would go long without having stepped foot in its doors. He didn't mind that fact, he was protecting the people he cared for from a distance, and that was all that mattered.

It was likely the same reasoning that Jiraiya had kept throughout the years. Sometimes, people would wonder why Jiraya hadn't taken him in when he was younger after they announced who his parents were to the world, and for a time he would have questioned the same. But Naruto could understand him now, Jiraiya had been grieving, and a broken individual bitter at the losses of his student, his best friend, and his love, he wasn't prepared to handle the responsibility of taking care of a child.

He was prepared for that peace when there was still war.

Jiraiya had been protecting him from a distance, and that had been enough to soothe his responsibility, even as the guilt was still present. But it had been enough, as others persisted in the peace of Konoha he was still out there, fighting for it.

That was okay.

In the silence of the night, the dirt along the streets at their feet, Naruto was able to take notice of his traveling companion. Hinata Hyuga, a face he had known for a long time, but it was now he was able to grasp just how beautiful she was, and how much she had changed. Her hair, long dark tresses that reached down to her back, her exotic eyes, her enticing face. She had always been a modest one, but even with her baggier clothing, he could tell her figure was something else, different from Sakura, and different from Ino too. And she was different from the child she used to be.

No, Hinata Hyuga was a woman.

He realized one that he had an attraction to, at least on a physical level. Idly, his mind wandered, as he wondered what this woman's body would feel like beside his own. The heat along his flesh, the contortions of her face as she was racked with exertion and pleasure, their panting breaths. He wondered what it all would feel like.

But he wrested his mind back to the present, as even if his body did want that outcome, he wasn't sure his heart did, not now, not yet.

Because remembering what Hinata had said what felt like ages ago when he had fought Pein in the crater that was Konoha, she had come to his rescue. She had admitted she loved him.

She loved how he had been, but with the changes, he wasn't sure if those feelings persisted. Even if they did, even if he did desire her body, he could never claim such a prize, the toll being too high, at least for him.

But the fantasies were a pleasant experience if anything. An idea, of partaking of the fruit he would not allow himself to feast upon.

She loved him, but he knew he didn't love her, not in the ways she wanted.

He didn't know if he could love her.

And it wasn't that he disliked her. It certainly wasn't that he found her unattractive. He had known her all his life, ever since he had joined the academy and even if they hadn't been close they had at least understood each other. He had been slow on the uptake back when they were training to become shinobi, but when they were genin he gained clarity. And maybe they could have had a chance, maybe they could have become something more.

They could have had a family, a son, a daughter, that was all within the realm of possibilities.

But now he wasn't so sure.

Now he was walking as a stranger with a woman he had known all his life.

The added silence of the shadowed roads gave him time to pay attention to Hinata's actions, she was fidgeting, her hands moving like lighting. Moving down, moving up toward her bosom, her fingers seemed restless. But even more than that her gaze darted back and forth, casting a small glance observing him for a mere moment only to dart back down towards the stones along the pathway. He watched her, and maybe she knew that fact, but she didn't say anything. She didn't say much at all, but he could see her lips moving, as if in quiver, slowly, almost not at all. She was trying to say something, trying to formulate what she wanted to say, but perhaps the process of expelling them was too much for her.

Finally, she did speak up, her voice melodic, as it had always been. "Ano, N-Naruto-kun?" she called to his attention.

He raised a single eyebrow, wondering what she was going to say, if anything. "Sure, Hinata, what is it?"

"I was wondering… how have you been? …With everything, lately?"

An odd question, although it wasn't an uncommon one. It was a pondering he had received alot lately, and he didn't quite mind. It was the cost of having not spoken with some person for quite a while, you grew out of touch, and it was only natural that one would want to know how the other had been doing with their time in their absence.

"Things have been good… stable," he answered her. That was what he wanted. Everything was so peaceful and serene for everyone else, a common answer he gave to people summarizing the events of his life as of late.She nodded, still lost in thought, and he doubted that was the only question she had on her mind that night.

"That's good," she said, although she didn't seem very assured.

"And you?" he questioned, trying to fill the time, they were almost at the Hyuga household, and then the night would be over, at least as far as his reunion with the Konoha 12 would be concerned.

She didn't answer him, as a matter of fact, it had taken him all but two seconds to realize that she had stopped in her movements. He turned back, looking at Hinata who was now looking up at the sky, nearly a full moon as the celestial body reflected her own pearl orbs that lay within her. Her hair swayed in the wind, as did her small modest dress in the coldness of the night.

He wondered why she stopped, but right as he was about to question her on it she spoke up first.

"Naruto-kun… Are you happy?"

Her words came so fast he couldn't help but be surprised, the peculiarity of the question that she asked him, her voice was soft, as if she weren't fully paying attention to what she was saying. But deep down, he knew she was.

The contents of her question being something he didn't quite suspect, and as such, only was left to babble a response. Of all the things he knew she was to say, it hadn't been this.

"I-I…"

He tried to speak, but it was then that Hinata looked at him, gauging him for a response. It was a simple question, was he truly happy with the life he held? Under her gaze, he wasn't so sure.

"... No, I don't think I am," he said, as he continued walking, his companion following suit.

"I see…" was her only response, yet it held the uncertainty of what she was to say next. She had noticed him, if nobody else did, he didn't smile quite like he used to, he didn't laugh, and he was more reserved than the bright and shining knucklehead that everyone was used to. Sure, that side of him might have faded with many in time, but she knew the wasn't the stuttering anti-social mess that had troubles with her self-worth and confidence that she used to be, even if that side of her had never truly gone away.

She noticed these changes in him, and it bothered her all that night.

"But…" Naruto was the first to speak again. "It is not as though I am unhappy. It's more a contentment that I feel, if not for myself than for others. Because that's how I am, that's how I've been, if I can imagine others happy, if the people I care about are satisfied, then I should be satisfied too. They're living their best lives, and if I have to work even harder so that they can achieve that then so be it. That's what I'm content with. And why shouldn't I be satisfied?" Amid his speaking, he stopped in his walking, because they had reached the Hyuga manor, the gates being closed, although he knew that the guards were to be aware of their presence. Now he only found himself looking at the moon up above, even as Hinata's gaze fully rested on his figure.

Truly, he meant every word he had said, and perhaps he had changed so much from his youth, maybe he had matured, or it was the fact that he wasn't within a constant state of aimed hatred anymore. But he found that sadness or sorrow wasn't the feeling that he allowed himself to have. Grief was for those who were given the opportunity, those who deserved the opportunity.

He didn't have that luxury, but that was okay.

If he had to sacrifice those feelings he would do it in a heartbeat.

So no, he wasn't happy. But he was happy that the people he cared for were happy, and that was all that mattered.

"I suppose this is goodbye," he said, not for the last time, but a see you later, maybe not for a while, but that time would come.

Hinata only continued to look at him, as she silently made her way towards the gate of the manor, channeling a small amount of chakra so the seals would recognize her presence. Before casting a final gaze towards her love once more pensively and in reflection.

It was strange, the hero of the war, the hero of the nations standing right in front of her yet he couldn't even say he was happy, even when he had brought so much joy to others. That didn't seem fair.

Naruto had changed so many lives, influenced so many people, and had gotten them to take the reigns and head toward a better path, and truly, he had done the same for her.

She wanted to be there for him, to repay him for all the joy he had caused, and possibly even give him a sliver of that feeling as compensation. Wanting to thrust herself into his arms and hold her head onto his chest, feeling his heartbeat, knowing he was alive. And perhaps, if she couldn't quite gain his love she would find it another way, she wouldn't mind offering her body in its place.

She thought about that pondering, if she brought him home with her, using her body as a semblance of payment for the man she loved, if he would feel something for her, or even for himself. Or maybe they would return to his apartment, going there as they spent the night away.

She could do that.

But she couldn't.

As Hinata looked away from the man she loved, thinking of what to say, she pushed on the door and went into her manor.

She had her own responsibilities, as heiress, she had a presence to hold.

XXX

Naurto had watched as she left.

Pleased that his dear friend had made her way home.

Even if he couldn't love her he did care for her.

Although, a small part of him, his bestial side, did desire something more would happen that night. The part that was still the small little boy that wondered why the people avoided him, the part that had wondered what it had been like to feel normal. To have a family, to have a mother and a father who had been present. But he hadn't had that, and he didn't entertain the notion of having that anymore.

Because even if a small part of him wanted it, he knew the rest of him would only be in the way of that opportunity.

"You can come out now, I know you're there," he spoke to nothing in the wind.

A man appeared before him in a shunshin, his body was covered in black and grey armor and padding as a pale white porcelain mash adorned his face in the style of a tiger. The man's biceps were exposed, the only part of him that was exposed short of his wild brown hair, showing his individuality. On his arm, there was a marking, a spiraling leaf that resembled a fire, the symbol of the Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, or the ANBU black ops division within Konoha.

He was kneeling. "Impressive, Naruto-sama, that you were able to spot me." The ANBU's voice was laced with respect.

Naruto wasn't one for pleasantries, as he only spoke in a serious tone. "Why are you here?" His figure was tall, without any hint of humor or unsureness. This was the voice of the strongest shinobi in the world, the one who had fought numerous battles against some of the most powerful foes the world had to offer.

"Right. Lord Hokage requires your presence, he has a mission for you," the messenger declared.

Naruto nodded, "Very well then, I'll meet Rokudaime-sama shortly."

"Hai!" The ANBU said, vanishing as quickly as he appeared.

Leaving Naruto alone on the outside of the Hyuga manor, with nothing but his thoughts, and the moon overlooking him on that coldly eerie night.

XXX

Kakashi Hatake was a tired man.

There wasn't any other way to describe it.

The copy ninja of the leaf was a person who had seen too much in life, long by shinobi standards. He had been granted several monikers, and seen even more battles. Being one of the veteran shinobi to serve in the Third Great Ninja War, leading to the next war to follow. Being one of the few shinobi to attain the feared rank of S in the bingo books. He had served a number of three Hokage, being the sixth to fall into the lineage. He had witnessed his fellow shinobi die, sending a few of them on that path on his own. He had even fought a goddess, even if he hadn't contributed as much as he would have liked.

That was to say, Kakashi Hatake had endured.

He was a shinobi in every sense of the word.

He made sacrifices, he pushed on.

Now, standing in the office of the great leaders of the will of fire, his visage was shrouded in darkness, he had sent his guards away. The silencing seals were activated in the room, the windows blackened so that no soul could witness what happened inside.

In front of him stood his most loyal shinobi.

Dressed in the dark plating of ANBU armor, a gray chest plate, and arm guards over a set of gloves that went up to the elbow and a sleeveless shirt that went up to his neck. He wore a pair of black pants with black bandages tied around his ankles, a holster at his right leg, and black shinobi shoes.

This ANBU's unique designation that set him apart from his brethren was his porcelain fox mask, as his golden blonde hair spiked out in his head in all directions. A Spiral tattoo of a leaf on fire, once hidden from the world with the wonders of sealing jutsu now shown proudly on his shoulder for all to see. His blue eyes stared at him as he kneeled.

"Kitsune," Kakashi nodded. "At ease," he gave the order, as the man stood up.

"Hai!"

Truthfully he still felt a little uneasy at the name he was given, or rather being an ANBU in general. Kitsune. A fox. Just as what had laid inside of him, but he wasn't given the name because of what had been sealed in him at birth. He had been given the designation of the trickster, the hunter, the predator with a cunning wit. That had been why he was given his name, his identity within the covert unit of the Konoha forces.

Although his position was only for dramatics, he was far above most ANBU in the leaf. Taking on missions most shinobi required a full squad with an efficiency in stealth and coercion that would leave many not knowing he was even there.

As Kakashi observed his former student, the legacy of his mentor, probably the best student he ever instructed— even if he didn't participate much in the ways of growing his success admittedly. He wrapped around his desk, rolling his knuckles along the hardwood as he did so.

"Well then, how have you been, Naruto?" He questioned.

As the blonde shinobi took hold of his mask, taking it off and placing it along his waist. "As fine as when you asked me on my last assignment, but I doubt you called me in here for such pleasantries. Eh, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto told him.

Although the white-haired Hokage shook his head, his figure was fully concealed short of his black eyes and white skin that showed along his head. He wore his signature black facemask, a black Hitai-ate on his forehead. His body was adorned with the white clothing that was the Hokage robes, a large hat on his head, and all. "Unfortunately that wasn't the reason I called you here," he commented towards his student's joke.

As he reached onto his desk, pressing his fingers towards a particular seal that only reacted to his chakra as in a puff of smoke, papers revealed themselves to him.

Naruto noticed the seriousness across Kakashi's expression, how he was able to do it with Kakashi barely showing his face was through years of practice on his part. As the blonde gained a serious expression as well.

"Who do you need me to kill?" he questioned, already knowing this mission was anything but.

Kakashi grimaced slightly at his old student's words. Truly, Naruto had been an innocent sort, rather foolish and lighthearted, he had been willing to save people in the end, and still was. But here he was, asking that same person to take a life for the sake of his village's gain as if he had corrupted him. Forsaking the small boy who would shout at the top of his lungs that he would become Hokage. Yet, he knew that with the introduction of this world's peace, there were still those who wanted a semblance of war.

Naruto knew that, too. And he had been all too eager to keep the peace they all had constructed. Even if he didn't want to be an enabler in demoralizing his student, sending him on the dark path that every shinobi was forced to endure, somewhere Naruto never would have gone in life. It was his job as Hokage to make the tough decisions, for the sake of Konoha.

And it seemed Naruto had been sacrificed in that effort, not that he hadn't been willing to do so.

And so, Kakakashi Hatake, the sixth Hokage of Konohagakure no sato said the words of who's life he was to end. His words came with an impassiveness that not many could muster when they were ordering the death of a man.

And Naruto…

Naruto, he took it in stride.

End Chapter.

An: Alright, I'd like to thank all of you for reading the previous chapter, and those of you who are new or old that read this one, it means alot. Especially considering the last chapter didn't do so well, it wasn't terrible, but I've had a few one-shots do better.

It's just a little disheartening.

But that's fine I suppose, I don't entirely do this for the views, but if some of you would leave a few reviews that would be nice.

This chapter in my opinion was the best out of the three I have written (I really liked the scene with Hinata), the next one probably dropping next week, or maybe the week after.

And yeah, Naruto is in the ANBU, I had to catch myself because last chapter I mentioned Naruto not having any tattoos, glad I caught everything in proofreading and changed it up. That was a bit of a misdirection to throw those of you who pay attention off.

There were a few people who left reviews, most suggesting Yoruichi, and some bots who said they wanted to make a comic out of this (yeah, right). There was one person who suggested Orihime, who I'll admit, I think is my favorite female character in bleach. The problem is that I can't think of any way to get around the fact she likes Ichigo.

Aside from that many of you mentioned that you thought the writing was good in the last chapter, which I hoped to have a repeat with the quality in this one.

Again, this was a bit of a slow burn, but stuff will pick up soon.

More bleach elements will show up throughout the story, especially next chapter when I have an actual fight scene.

Someone also wondered if this Naruto will be nerfed at all, and to that I have to say… yes and no. Don't worry, this Naruto will still be extremely strong, it wouldn't make sense otherwise. But he'll develop and have different abilities in this one, maybe even a few bleach powers. But I don't see a point in nerfing Naruto, the opponents he'll face in this one will be strong, some of the strongest he will have ever faced.

Let me know any theories yall have, or if you have any suggestions where the story might go through.

And if you have a suggestion on the pairing please let me know.

I may end up posting on another story next week, since I already have an update lined up.

But try to come back for this one by leaving a favorite or follow.

Please leave me lots and lots of NICE reviews.