Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Warmth of a Cold Touch	By : ChocolateRedVelvet Category: Naruto > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 4563 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 9
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and make no profit from it

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Caution: This is the writer's first draft.
Rating: Adult
Pairing: Naruto/Haku; potential Naruto/Kimmimaro/Haku
Warnings: m/m, slash, language, fantasy, OOC, male pregnancy jutsu mentioned
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Masashi Kishimoto. This disclaimer applies to all following chapters.

Timeline: A reader asked for a clearer timeline so here you go: This chapter happens right after Naruto and Sasuke opt out of the Chunin Exams. It is the next day. If I've written any previously contradictory, please forgive me and ignore it.

Chapter Ten
Kakashi was a fuck up.
He wasn't sure when his name became anonymous with wash out, burn out, lazy, and weak, but somewhere between ANBU and today his reputation became dirty, stained with the pain of his friends' and father's death and his inability to deal.
He couldn't blame the talk really. He fell off and never got back on.
Hell, he didn't even realize he'd fallen off track.
It only slapped him in the face yesterday when Sasuke Uchiha warned him that he would not be participating in the Chunin Exams because he didn't feel strong enough to give the Leaf a proper showing and needed to focus on his fealty families. He explained how he felt negligent for ignoring them for so long and leaving the responsibility of their government on the Hokage's already taxed shoulders. Kakashi tried to coax him out of his decision, telling Sasuke was stronger than he perceived and that he was one of the most elite rookie genin in the village. Sasuke rebutted back with yes, while he was strong, that was only for a rookie genin. The more established genin would wipe the floor with him. Kakashi mentally winced at that truth. He loathed the thought of just how badly Sasuke could be trounced by Gai's weakest genin, let alone Neji Hyuuga.
Then Kakashi made the ultimate mistake. He told Sasuke not to worry about his fealty families. The Hokage and his administration did a great job governing them. Kakashi would know as they'd been dealing with the Hatake families since his father first committed suicide.
Sasuke tried to keep the emotion off his face, but the genin wasn't trained enough to evade his knowing jounin eyes. The horror, disgust, and disappointment were clear.
Kakashi never really felt shame. Not until then.
He'd been devastated when his father killed himself and again when that cursed boulder crushed Obito. He barely noticed when Rin left. He was still drowning in the guilt of Obito's death and the anger of losing something precious to him, someone he never appreciated when alive, to even know she was gone. They hadn't been that close. Finally, the Fourth died. He numbed himself from the pain of the knowledge that the Fourth was in the Death God's stomach suffering unspeakable horrors for eternity, Kushina was dead, and his mentor's child was out of reach thanks to a frightened council and determined Hokage.
He became a coward unable to keep hold on the child under his guardianship.
It was another link of neglect in a long trail.
Kakashi realized that now, after seeing Sasuke's look, thinking long and hard on it, and drinking a whole bottle of sake.
The sake might not have been needed, but it did move along epiphanies.
He laughed at that. It was a thick and dark sound totally lacking of amusement.
He stood. His stance wasn't really secure, more shaky than not. It had been a long time since he drank any liquor and it showed. He made his way across the street to stand before the wrought iron gate. It was a simply gate. It stood over eight feet tall and lacked all the decorative and sanctimonious scrolls and loops most clan gates had. The Hatake always were simple people.
Now or never," he muttered and brought his hand to his mouth. He bit his thumb hard enough to drawn blood and swiped the bleeding digit on the fourth bar on the right from the middle. The sound of a thick bubble popping sounded.
The clan house and the lands around it were unlocked.
It took him long enough to free them. It was two decades late but it was better than never. The way he was going never was a very real possibility. He didn't think past his current mission and never made a single plan to continue his family line. Actually, if Kakashi was being honest, and why not today seemed to be the day for it, he was trying his hardest to match sure he died young and in a glorious fight.
That was then.
He grasped the two bars in the middle. They were the thickest and feed his chakra through them. The metal lit up for exactly two seconds and then the gates parted, opening on their own. They only accepted Hatake's distinctive, white chakra. Now the system was initiated and would work similar to any other entry point. The seals could be chakra or voice activated from the inside or outside by someone keyed into the system.
He was all that was left so he alone could man them.
Kakashi needed to change that. Soon.
He reminded the few stories his father told him of a flourishing clan that was both a power in the ninja and civilian world. Hatakes' were (in)famously bright strategists in the boardroom and field.
Now he was all that remained of the Hatake clan. Maybe it was time to stop "courting" Iruka and start looking for a real partner. They both knew he wasn't really interested. Plus, Genma looked to be getting serious and he didn't want his friend to stab him.
He took a deep breath and tried to steady his raging heart. It didn't work. Still, he stepped into the compound and felt the chakra and memories wash over him immediately.
The Hatake compound was a testament to the hundreds of clan members who called it home during its existence. They feed it blood, chakra, and memories through the thousands of seals that littered the grounds. This dedication and timeless work made the house and grounds more sentient than not.
I missed you. Have you returned for good or will you leave me again?
They weren't words or even pictures but Kakashi could feel the property; the misery from an owner who neglected her and the hope that his departure would not come soon.
"I'm home," he whispered and brushed a hand against a plum tree. "I'm home and I'm here to stay."
The grounds rejoiced.

It smelled like life. Ironic, really considering what happened here. Everywhere Sasuke went he smelled flowers, trees, and even ripe fruits. The grounds overgrown in his absence.
He grimaced.
In his clan's absence the grounds overgrew and the flowers that once decorated the fronts of family homes now ran rampant. The decorative fruit trees they used to line the streets and provide a little sustenance every summer were heavy with overripe fruits.
There was so much life present.
He couldn't help morbidly wondering if the trees and flowers feed on Uchiha blood when Itachi killed his clansmen.
Were they fat from the blood of his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins?
The sound of gravel moving against stone froze him.
He was no longer alone.
He turned slowly, wondering who dared enter Uchiha clan lands. No one came here. Not even he did. He feared the memories the place brought about. The civilians were afraid of the ghosts they believed lurked about. Shinobi saw it as a monument to the fallen much like the killed in action memorial stone.
"You should not be here. This is private clan land," he told the Suna genin he met yesterday. The boy and his team were part of the chunin hopefuls entering the exams.
The red head tilted his head to the side and stared at Sasuke like he was a particularly interesting insect he wanted to dissect before he crushed him under his feet. Sasuke barely stifled the urge to take a step back. These were his clan lands. He would not allow anyone to make him uncomfortable here.
At least anyone but the dead.
Sand swirled around the redhead. The granules moved slowly. Consciously. They danced around the genin as though each grain was a living being. The sight sent shivers of apprehension down Sasuke's spine. This boy was truly dangerous. The control he showed over the sand was remarkable. And frightening.
Sasuke was very glad he wasn't entering the exams. "What is your name?"
"Gaara." His voice was rough. Dark. Deep. As though he rarely used it. Sasuke shuddered. He couldn't help it. He heard Gaara's voice and unbidden, a memory of his brother flashed by. Itachi sounded that way after some missions. He knew now they were the ANBU missions. Blood soaked missions.
This boy was a killer. "What are you doing here, Gaara?" he asked, confused, nervous, and frightened.
"You are Sasuke Uchiha."
It wasn't a question so Sasuke didn't feel the need to confirm his identity. The boy gave a chilling smile. "This is a tomb."
His first emotion was stark fright. Sasuke couldn't help wondering if the other genin meant to make this his tomb. Then he took in the boy's countenance. Gaara wasn't even paying attention to him. He was looking at the houses as though he was trying to hear them. As though they spoke to him.
Could he hear the echoes of the dead he heard? The screams for vengeance. For justice.
Sasuke glanced around him, always keeping one eye on the redhead. The boy wasn't right. It wasn't a tomb, but a grizzly memorial. He buried his family, but this still stood as a testament to their death. Their murder.
The annihilation of a clan by one of their own.
It stood for long enough. He quickly went through the seals for the Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Sage Technique. He blew the flames directly on the closet building. It once belonged to an old woman who always gave his mom the stink-eye. She never believed his mom was good enough for his father, the clan head.
She was gone now and so was his mother. Neither needed the house.
He couldn't live in such a blood stained home.
The sound of something hard striking wood brought him out of his musing. Gaara had released his sand upon a neighboring house. He considering telling the other boy to leave his clan homes alone, but then thought better of it. It might be best to do this with someone, even a stranger.
It was fitting really.
He'd been alone for so long. He closed in on himself. Ignored the responsibilities he had to his clan and stained its name. Now he was forcing himself to stand up and take care of his fealty families.
It wasn't all about him anymore.
"Only the houses," he called to Gaara, as he went to light another house on fire with the Phoenix Fire Sage technique.
Gaara grunted something undecipherable and held out his hand. The sand swarmed forward to batter another house. It didn't touch the trees or flowers. Sasuke smiled. It was the first time he'd done so in a long time.
Since his parents' death.
Finally, he was putting his family to rest.

Kakashi Hatake was a man on a mission. This wasn't really surprising considering who he was. He was one of Leaf's strongest elite jounin. He was a former ANBU captain and regularly got drafted back into the force to conduct a mission one of the current members just weren't capable of accomplishing.
Missions were an everyday occurrence for him.
At least they should have been.
Kakashi hadn't conducted a mission in over ten months, a lifetime considering his record.
At least if you didn't consider his horrible C mission turned A in Wave. If that counted, well, then his record was a little less spotless and a lot more telling.
He was great once, but he let it slip. He let life and death get the best of him.
He was done letting the gods walk all over him.
So today, Kakashi was on a mission to let the Third know as quickly as possible that the two genin everyone was coming to see, really one, wasn't going to participate in the Chunin Exams. He came right after trying and failing to convince the genin to change their minds.
Kakashi expected pain and torture. Maybe even a few D missions thrown in to make him really suffer. Still, he was a man and he was going to take his punishment like an adult.
Even if he did cry during it.
He nodded to the secretary when she called out to him, letting him know he could enter the Third's office.
The Third looked up, surprise clearly etched on his leathery face. "Kakashi, back so soon?" Then he pursued his lips. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sir," he lied.
The Third shifted just the tiniest bit and the corners of his mouth turned down a little. Any less skilled shinobi wouldn't have noticed the change, but Kakashi did. The Third was concerned. Kakashi could understand why. He came in through the door and he wasn't holding his trademark orange book.
"Sir, I came in to give you prior notice that two members of my team will not be participating in the chunin exam."
"Is that so?" the Third asked blandly. The emotionless nature of his voice let Kakashi know he wasn't quite mad. He was livid.
Death seemed a very real possibility but Kakashi was done being a coward. He fostered on. "Yes, sir. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha have declined to participate. Only Sakura Haruno is interested in entering this season's Chunin Exams."
The Third leaned back and ran a hand over his face. "You're going to have explain yourself, Kakashi. What exactly did the boys say? We may still be able to salvage this."
"Naruto does not feel he is strong enough to really represent the Leaf and his clan well. He is also very focused on taking care of his clan."
"He's got one vassal," the Third bit out with exasperation.
"Pardon me, my lord, but Naruto also has his fealty families to look after."
The Third's gaze sharpened. "I wasn't notified of any alliances." He yelled, "Hitomi!" The female jounin currently working as his secretary appeared after a moment. "Check the notifications pile and pull out anything you have on Uzumaki." He turned back to Kakashi. "What's Sasuke's excuse?"
"It seems he has noticed Naruto's new responsibilities and he feels guilty for neglecting the Uchiha fealty families. He wants to focus on them. He also seemed more than a little turned off with the relatively high rate of death in the Chunin Exams."
"You told him how deadly it was?"
Kakashi shifted his right leg, feeling even more uncomfortable with the Third's gruff tone. "He asked and I did not feel it best to lie."
The Third waved him off. "Of course, of course. So, right now, neither intends to enter the exams?"
"Yes, sir."
"Only Sakura."
Silence filled the room.
"Kakashi, do you want to be Hokage?"
Kakashi couldn't help jerking at the question. It was so off tangent, it struck him dumb for a moment. "Uh, no."
"You sure, because since you got this team you've been doing a very job at giving me reasons to have a heart attack."
"I promise you it's not a ploy to win the hat."
"Hmm," The Third hummed noncommittally.
"Sir, while I'm here-"
"Ask, Kakashi."
"I just want to tell you that I'll be taking all the Hatake fealty family files and will be governing over the members from now on."
The Third lunged out of his chair. He slammed both hands on his desk and glared at Kakashi. "Are you telling me you're taking some of the paper with you when you leave?"
"Uh, yes, sir," he answered nervously.
"You're a good man, Kakashi," he said with a slightly deranged chuckle.
"Thank you, sir," he stammered, feeling distinctly nervous with the fervent attention the Thrid was paying him. He knew the village leader hated all the paperwork that came with leading the Leaf, but he didn't realize it was that bad.
He definitely never wanted the hat.
"I'll do something about the boys. We really need them to participate. It will boost up village morale and notice."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't provide better news," Kakashi said as he headed out the room. He knew a dismissal when he heard one.
"No more heart attacks, Kakashi. I'm an old man now."
Kakashi stopped at the door. "I'm not sure I can promise you that. I do have an Uzumaki and Uchiha on my team, but I want you to know I'm not doing it for the hat. Wouldn't want it anyways as the thing is cursed." He closed the door behind him before the Third could throw something at him. Probably that glass ball he always used to perv on the village women.

Hizuren Sarutobi was not pleased.
Kakashi Hatake just left his office after delivering the notice that Naruto opted out of participating in the chunin exams and Sasuke was seriously considering doing the same. He sighed and wondered if he could get away with having Kakashi beaten and quartered. Granted, the little brat had taken some of his horrendous paperwork with him, so he couldn't be too mad.
Okay, who was he kidding. The brat told a pretty large pile of paperwork with him. The Hatake clan had a lot of fealty families. Plus, because him that snot nosed Uchiha brat took his own files. Right there 10 percent of his work was gone.
Now if he could only get the civilians to stop sending him ridiculous requests.
Still, really, was it too much to ask to have a capable ninja force? It should have been easy for Kakashi to convince his students to enter the exam. He was their leader and should have their trust.
A little hero worship went a long way.
Unfortunately, Kakashi didn't know his team, and his actions killed any chance of hero worship.
Hiruzen was going to have to do the job himself. What was the point subordinates if you still had to do the shit yourself?
He called out to one of the hidden ninja shadowed around his room. "Send someone for Naruto. I need to speak to him immediately. Also, send a notice that Sasuke Uchiha's presence is demanded at dinner."
A short discharge of charka and he had one less bodyguard force.
Less than five minutes later Naruto entered the room. Hiruzen was an accomplished ninja capable of reading even the most stoic persons at first glance, so it didn't take him long to realize that the boy before him was not the same child he saw when he allowed Haku to join the Leaf.
"Naruto, it's so good to see. I'm sorry I haven't called you in or stopped by, but well…" he gestured to the mounds of paperwork on either side of his desk.
Naruto chuckled. "It's okay, Old Man. I totally understand. I'm starting to understand the horror or paperwork too."
Hiruzen clenched jaw at the reminder of Naruto's new status. He hated that the Uzumaki clan were a Leaf clan and Naruto was the head. It ruined his plans and he knew where to lay the blame despite their denials, Homura and Danzo. Both men claimed they hadn't sent the paperwork directly to the Fire Court but he didn't believe them. They must have done it. Who else was on Naruto's side was smart and cunning enough to bypass him entirely.
"Yes, well consider it practice for when you become the village leader."
Naruto appeared flabbergasted for one moment. "Wow! Haku really is a genius. He said the exact same thing when I complained," he exclaimed.
Hiruzen chuckled. Yes, the boy had changed but some things remained the same. Naruto was still a very bright, bubbly person with a lot of life. "I wanted to talk to you about the Chunin Exams."
Naruto waved him off. "No need to worry, Old Man. I'm not going to enter the exam and embarrass Leaf."
The boy thought he was going to be an embarrassment? Hiruzen wondered how much of that feeling was from the academy instructors and how much was from Kakashi. He'd done his best to protect Naruto but he was a busy man. It seemed he failed the child worse than he originally feared. "I actually think you would do Leaf proud."
Naruto laughed. "That's because you haven't seen me spar. I'm good, but only for a genin. I know the other Elemental Nations are sending their very best genin and many of them will be aiming directly at Leaf, as we are the best. Don't want to be an easy target, you know?"
"Of course, Naruto. I understand but from what I've heard you've become a very accomplished ninja. You're skills could even be considered chunin level already. I'm sure you're ready for the exam."
"Thanks, Old Man. I'm, uh, really flattered by that. Don't really agree, but super thanks." Then Naurto seemed to ponder his words for a moment. He started to feel hope. "I'll consider entering, but I make no promises. Going to spar with Haku and see how I do. I know I can't beat him but maybe if I get kind of close, well, it will show I'm getting stronger." He paused. "Soon I'll have your job, Old Man. I hope you're ready for it."
Hiruzen chuckled. "I am, Naruto. You have no idea how ready I am."
They talked about nothing for a few minutes. Then Naruto remembered that he had a lunch date with Haku and a spar after that with Kiba and Shino.
Hiruzen sighed and wondered if it was too late to revoke Haku's citizenship. The boy was meant to help Naruto, give him family and strength, but not enough strength to ignore Hiruzen's strong suggestion.
He could always order Naruto to participate. He considered the option for a moment and nothing longer. He actually winced when he thought of what havoc Naruto would run on the exams if he were forced to enter. The boy hadn't pranked anyone since his Wave mission. Hiruzen didn't believe it was because Naruto didn't have any ideas or was too mature for such juvenile actions. Haku or Homura stayed his hands. If he forced him to participate the Chunin Exams would be his new prank grounds.
Hiruzen didn't even want to consider how angry the ninja, both allied and not, would be at finding themselves the target of one of Naruto's infamous pranks.
He grabbed a sheet of paper and wrote out a missive. If he couldn't get Naruto to enter, maybe a little pressure from his classmates would. Same for Sasuke. The Uchiha were notoriously concerned with their image.

He was going to get sunburned.
The line to enter the Leaf wasn't long per se but it took time for the guards to go look over each and every person and their papers.
Kimimaro tilted the straw hat he wore just a little lower, trying to hide a little more of his face, hoping to prevent it from being as burnt as his arms. He trusted Master Orochimaru, but he couldn't help wondering on the intelligence of entering the Village Hidden in the Leaves through the front door.
Ninja were sneaky, shadow bound bastards for a reason. It was the best way to get in and out of a place without being noticed.
Orochimaru claimed Leaf had a history of ignoring people who actually notified them of their presence. They were always looking for people sneaking in, so much so that they ignored those who declared themselves.
Kimimaro hoped things hadn't changed since his Master was a resident.
He hated to kill and run. He preferred long, drawn out battles that tested both parties. They were always more satisfying, even those few times he lost. He earned those victories and defeats. His success didn't simply occur because the other party wasn't prepared for the attack.
He sighed and stepped forward. Finally, he was at the head of the line. "Papers?" the chunin at the gate drawled, clearly bored. Kimimaro felt for him. He strongly suspected he would turn traitor and kill Master Orochimaru himself if he was placed at Sound's gate.
Thankfully, Sound didn't have a gate. They preferred underground bunkers.
Plus, Orochimaru would never place him at any gate. He was liable to kill every last piece of trash trying to enter. His master had a hard enough time keeping recruit blood off his hands.
He handed the brunet his paperwork. The guard was a brunet who wore a bandana over his hair and across the right side of his face. It was interesting.
Kimimaro waited, hold tight over his chakra, for the guard to finish reading his stuff and let him in. Piercing grey eyes locked on his. Pressure held down his shoulders. He immediately thought of what would happen if he were denied entrance. His master would be disappointed. He needed to deliver the message to one of their Leaf contacts and reestablish connection with others. The man could have sent others but he trusted Kimimaro to complete it despite his illness.
"All of your paperwork is proper. Have a blessed visit in the Leaf."
Kimimaro breathed a sigh of relief and bowed low at the waist. He was relieved. Kimimaro could have entered the village through any of the gaps in their security Orochimaro and his Leaf agents discovered over the years if they denied him entrance, but his master wanted him to pass through the gates.
He didn't understand it but he would do as the Sannin asked.
Orochimaru was a big picture person. Some of his plots took literal decades to come to bear fruit. Kimimaro figured there was a reason importance was placed on the method of entrance.
"Wow, that guy's boss has got him on a short leash. Thought he was going to have a heart attack if he was denied. His master must be a tight ass. " The words drifted to him as though they were an afterthought. He barely heard. Didn't realize who and what they were talking about until he'd taken a few steps past the gate. Then he blanched bone-white.
Shit! The guard read his mind when his gaze connected. It was only by luck that Kimimaro hadn't thought of his master's name. He rarely did. Orochimaru was just his master most of the time.
Thank goodness for that habit.
Then he felt violated.
That bastard read his thoughts. Was nothing private anymore?
Kimimaro was so busy building up his anger toward the brunet guard he didn't watch where he stepped and walked right into another person. Hard.
He was thrown back by the other individual's moment and fell on his ass.
"Shit. Haku, are you all right? Dude, are you fine?"
Kimimaro was surprised on two different fronts. He couldn't believe he was thinking so hard he lost control of his spatial awareness bad enough to walk right into someone else. Then there was the person whom he bumped into.
He recognized him immediately. Haku formerly of the Yuki clan of Mist and Zabuza, Demon of the Mist's, apprentice.
What the hell was he doing in Leaf?
He knew all too well who Haku was. Kimimaro tended to pay attention to any former citizens of Mist trained in the ninja arts. His master only provided a reason to seem interested in the brunet without it being suspicious. Haku was one the men that Orochimaru watched considering taking over his body, but the Sannin knew he could never approach the brunet while Zabuza was around. Orochimaru could have killed Zabuza easily, but the seals needed for the soul transfer worked best when the target body allowed Orochimaru access. There was no way Haku would have welcomed the Sannin if he killed his hero.
The last he heard Haku and Zabuza died in Wave battling Leaf.
It seemed their information was more than a little shady. He wondered if Zabuza was also alive. That would explain why his infamous sword hadn't surfaced anywhere. If he were truly dead, the blade would have fetched quite a price on the black market. He knew Suigetsu Hozuki, one of the chunin members of Sound, was searching everywhere for it.
"Hey, you okay?"
He shifted his gaze from Haku who was coming to stand with the help of another member of the Leaf, to the person helping the brunet. He was blond and male. And so bright, he damn near hurt Kimimaro's eyes. He wasn't used to such coloring. Or personality.
Sound was dark, both in warfare and personality.
Eyes still on Kimimaro he patted Haku down, brushing away any dirt he may have gathered from the ground. Then he released Haku and held his hand out to Kimimaro. The Sound ninja tightened his jaw when he realized he was still sitting on the ground. He'd been staring dumbly up at the blond like an idiot academy student, acting nothing like the elite jounin he reported to be.
He accepted the hand knowing that ignoring it would be considered rude and grab the attention of people passing by. He'd been on the ground too long to deny he needed help. He shuddered at the feel of the blond's callused hand sliding into his. Then the boy tightened his grip and pulled Kimimaro to his feet. "So sorry about that," he apologized. "It's all my fault," he stammered. "I, uh, pushed Haku-chan and he knocked into you. Sorry again."
"It is all right," Kimimaro replied as he dusted the dirt off his white clothing. He wasn't very successful. He hated the color, but knew it was best to wear it on missions. He tended to wash out in it and most people only saw a white haired person wearing all white. A white blur. Not exactly a good description.
Plus, any blood washed out relatively easily.
"Oy! You must be one of those chunin entering the exams? Wow, this is a horrible first experience in Leaf. Got to make up for it."
Kimimaro blanched at the blond's words. There was another reason he hadn't wanted to take the blond's hands. Only now he remembered why. Even the best-masked chakra couldn't prevent someone from feeling your chakra pool when he touched you. Physical contact stripped any masking attempts.
Kimimaro thought hard about what he was going to say. He entered the village as a civilian and was told to remain unnoticed as a civilian. If Orochimaru wanted him to masquerade as a chunin hopeful, he would have sent him with that trashy team of Sound entrants. He blushed and held his hands out. "Kind sir, I am not a ninja. No, I was trained to join the samurai forces, but I was not able to complete my schooling."
The blond tilted his head to the side. "Huh. Sorry about that. You're not a ninja?"
"No, I'm a merchant, well a merchant's assistant." He reached into his pack and pulled out a bundle of scrolls. "I was tasked with delivering these goods."
Thank the gods he came up with a reason for his chakra stores. While most people with access to their chakra ended up in the ninja forces, not all countries had hidden villages, big or small. Those that didn't either sent their children to nations that did to train or found ways for them to use their chakra stores to the betterment of their village. Kimimaro discovered this on one of his many missions. He was tasked with stealing a shipment for a rival competitor. He was surprised to find the shipment sealed in blood locked scrolls. The merchant washed out of a neighboring nation's ninja academy and decided to return to his family occupation, blacksmithing. He was quite an accomplish chakra blade crafter and his works were always protected by his blood sealed scrolls, hence why a ninja was sent to steal his supplies and kill him.
Naruto glanced at the scrolls and then grinned widely. "Haku, look he works for a weapon's crafter," he called out to the brunet. Kimimaro's gaze automatically drifted to him. The brunet was the more dangerous of the two and Kimimaro couldn't believe he hadn't been watching him all the time. There was just something about the blond that snagged his attention and held it prisoner.
"Hey, you know what? I totally got to apologize. You hungry? I'll buy you lunch to say sorry. I know this great place for ramen. It's awesome. You'll love it." The blond was talking so fast it took Kimimaro a moment to figure him out. Then his eyes widened marginally in surprise. Had the blond just invited him to lunch on his tab?
"You must be hungry from your travels. Please join us." Haku said with a small smile. There was something about his smile that warned Kimimaro that he didn't want to turn the blond down. "My master would greatly like to apologize for our actions. Please allow us to cleanse the stain of our mistakes."
Master? Haku Yuki of the Mist now belonged to this bright blond. He needed to figure out what the hell was going on. Master Orochimaru would love his initiative. That was the only reason he was accepting. He ignored the way his eyes kept straying to the blue-eyed blond.

"You're going to have to repeat yourself?"
Genma's mouth tilted up just the slightest bit. Iruka wasn't exactly pleased to see his question amused Genma, but he kept quiet about it. He was more interested in hearing what the jounin had to say.
"You and I need to talk about where this relationship is going. Just how far we both want to take it."
"I thought you said that," Iruka replied back faintly. He hadn't been expecting those words. Honestly, they were the last thing he ever expected to hear from Genma Shiranui.
It wasn't that Iruka didn't want to discuss their relationship. He just didn't think Genma would ever want to do that. Genma was so relaxed and laid back Iruka wasn't sure he thought about tomorrow, let alone months or years down the line. He was way too much of a go with the flow kind of person.
It was refreshing.
He was the total opposite of him. Iruka wrote daily task lists and could tell you just where he expected to be in his life three months or three years from now. He hadn't even thought to pencil Genma in.
To be honest, he was too afraid to do so.
Genma was a special high jounin member of the Leaf's ninja forces. With his brown hair and eyes, pale skin and fun, but relaxed personality, Genma could be with anyone he desired.
Iruka didn't think badly of himself. He was confident in who and what he was. That meant he knew all too well that he was a chunin level schoolteacher with little to no real battle experience. While jounin dated people from all levels of the military and even civilians, most relationships between jounins and lower level ninja didn't last.
Iruka was realistic enough to consider that he and Genma probably wouldn't make the cut.
Even if it killed his heart every time he thought about that.
He wondered if this was the "it's been fun, but" conversation. Gods, he hoped not. His day had been shitty enough with the endless parent-teacher meetings. He didn't think he could handle getting broken up with on the same day.
"Uh," Genma sighed and ran a hand over his jaw. Iruka was very aware of the five o' clock shadow he wore. It made Genma appear even more rugged and handsome. It turned him on, even though Iruka knew Genma preferred to be clean-shaven and only didn't keep up his grooming habits when he was under a lot of stress.
He was still hot as hell even when exhausted.
Genmna was had to be under strain from either with Hokage's office or with his Uzumaki clan responsibilities.
"I know we didn't exactly talk about this, but I've been thinking. I'm interested in making this a long-term relationship. Are you?"
"Yes!" The words burst out of Iruka before he even got a moment to digest the question. Then realizing just how he sounded, Iruka tried to calm down just a little. Anything to take off the edge. "Yes, I like being with you and wouldn't mind dating for years."
Genma looked at him, clear consideration in his chocolate gaze. "And if I mentioned marriage?"
His heart started beating double time. "I would not be opposed." He wasn't exactly lying. He just didn't mention how he was likely to hogtie Genma and drag him to a temple if he thought he could get away with.
They never really talked about their emotions before. They weren't wordy men and Iruka was a firm believer that actions always spoke louder, but he figured it might be the right time to say something. He reached across the table and grabbed Genma hand. The jounin's eyes widened. "I'm not sure if I'm breaking some unspoken ninja code here," he said with a chuckle, "But I just want you to know I love you, Genma. Never really intended to. I was afraid to, but I've fallen in love with you Genma Shiranui."
Genma stilled for a moment. It was long enough to set Iruka's nerves screaming. Then all of Genma was moving at once. He walked around the grabbed Iruka from his seat, took the seat he'd pulled Iruka from and placed Iruka in his lap. All in a matter of moments. "I love you, too, Iruka. Only the gods know how much I love you, but I promise I'll do everything possible to show you just how much."
Then he proceeded to kiss Iruka senseless.
Genma curved his fingers to cup the back of Iruka's head. He tilted his head, lifting his head up and coaxing him to open his mouth. Iruka answered the silent demand and parted his lips for him. Genma's tongue was hot and swift. Determined and hungry. It seared Iruka's senses as it enflamed his body.
No one ever kissed him like Genma did. As though the jounin couldn't get enough of him.
It took Iruka a few heated minutes to remember they were in the middle of his classroom.
Thankfully all his classes were over and it was the end of the day. "You want to go back to my place?" he breathlessly asked against Genma's lips. The jounin grinned. "Do you really have to even ask?" he replied.
Iruka flushed, heated by the desire he could see in Genma's eyes and feel against his hip. "Right."
"Come on, babe, lead the way."
Iruka did. It wasn't the easy trip it normally was and should have been. Not with Genma placing heated kisses against his throat, the back of his neck, and any other patch of naked skin he could reach.
By the time he reached his apartment door, Iruka was surprised his legs had enough strength to hold him up.
He quickly unlocked his door.
"Wait. Wait," Genma stammered as he braced his hands against the door frame. Iruka blinked up at him in shock. He was more than a little surprised to find Genma putting things on halt. He was even more surprised to find his hands fisted in Genma's shirt and pulling him into the apartment. He released his boyfriend. "What now?" he asked exasperated.
He was aroused mentally and physically. He wanted satisfaction. There were several orgasm calling his name.
"Will you marry me?"
That threw Iruka 180 degrees. "You're serious?" he asked, even though he was pretty sure Genma wasn't kidding. He wasn't the kind of person to joke about something that serious. Certainly not at a time like this.
"Will you marry me?" he repeated.
Tears filled Iruka's eyes. "Yes."
"Will you bear my children?"
Emotion wouldn't allow Iruka to speak so he nodded his head.
Genma gave him a wry grin." Just wanted to get that clarified. Your heart is not the only one on the line, babe."
"I really wish you would stop calling me that," Iruka sniffled.
Genma chuckled. "Liar."
His fiancé knew him so well.

"This is more than a little unexpected. We weren't supposed to meet for another couple of months." Chiko grinned, savagely. "What have I do garner your attention early?"
There was just enough of a bite to his words to remind Danzo that Chiko knew secrets he wouldn't want exposed, not that he would ever live to tell tales. Danzo was a very careful man. "Relax. A mutual acquaintance of ours has captured my interest."
Chiko sucked in a deep breath of cloves and then slowly exhaled. Cinnamon clouds diminished his vision for a moment before dissipating on the air. "Which one?" Chiko asked.
Danzo didn't answer. Instead he settled into the chair provided for him and took his time arranging his clothing to his utmost liking. Chiko's mouth tightened in displeasure, but he didn't comment on his actions. Danzo didn't expect anything else. They had been playing this game since he and band of outcasts entered Leaf lands. "Every year you pay your taxes."
Chiko grimaced at the mention of the eight toddlers he "paid" Danzo every year to stay out of his business and keep the Hokage unaware of the slum villagers. Danzo had to acquire his new recruits somewhere and while the slave trader provided him with the numbers, the quality wasn't exactly up to par most of the time. Children suffered so heavily in slavery and often weren't capable of being good ninja anymore.
The slums provided Danzo with healthy toddlers unconnected to the Leaf.
"This year, I request that my payment be made in a different way."
Chiko exploded. "You take and take and provide nothing. You want more children! I refuse. I know how little they live under your reign."
Danzo laughed. Really, Chiko's anger was the most amusing thing he witnessed in a long time. The boy may be cutthroat and as brilliant as a Nara, but he was no match for Danzo. He could not refuse any request Danzo made.
But his passion was to be commended. Chiko was the Shadow Lord he hoped Hiruzen would be. He really would do his best to kill Danzo. He knew that given enough time he just might find a way to accomplish his goal. Danzo watched him like a hawk waiting for the moment he became too strong and then evolved into a problem. "This year I will not ask for any children. Instead I want to provide you with some of my men."
"What? To provide us with security?" Chiko sneered.
"Yes, actually."
Chiko was flabbergasted. It clearly showed on his dark, handsome face. Danzo loved moments like this: when his statements or actions stumped his enemy.
"I will provide you with a dozen men and women. I want you to have them volunteer to help Naruto and Haku at both their clinic and dojo."
Chiko blanched, an impressive feat considering his deeper complexion.
"They will rotate of course, and when they are not working to better Naruto's clan, they will be here, training all the little children who want to be ninja."
"Ghost or visible?" Chiko asked after a moment.
"Please explain your question?"
"Will the children be able to enter the actual Leaf forces or will they become part of your Root?"
"Both. After all Uzumaki is the only orphan the Third knows exists."

AN1: I'm a forgetful ass who didn't send out notices on the OC orphans. Sorry. I promise to do that soon. Like hopefully this weekend. If not, it's because I'm writing. Swear my chapters are getting longer in length with each one. This one was more than 7,000 words!
AN2: Whoohoo! All three sides of my lusty triangle meet. Readers (and writer) rejoice! Seriously, though I have been waiting for this FOREVER!
AN3: To the readers who missed Danzo there you go!
AN4: Super thanks to all my readers and reviewers. I was so flabbergasted by the reviews for the last chapter. You guys will never know how much each and every one meant to me. I seriously considered stopping posting. The writing wasn't really coming along and RL was making me reconsider other decisions. I told myself I was going to write this story whenever, but I caved into my conscience and posted the last chapter since it was done and BAM! I get all these reviews. So to say THANKS, I'm giving the 200th reviewer a prize. You give me the slash couple from Harry Potter or Naruto and I'll write the M-rated scene. Yes, smut people. Again, I ADORE each and every reader.
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Warmth of a Cold Touch