Aspirant

Amaya hustled the Kunoichi back to Konoha- not that they’d travelled far from it- when a hawk circled overhead, bearing a message that her Jonin exam was near. Returning to a delicious feast courtesy of Orochimarus’ planning, they all ate their fill and exchanged stories. Kakashi and Amaya were pleased to note the Iron Steel pairs were discussing how to utilize the Style, while the Augments were bickering over who would fill the role better. Since they were supposed to provide support for either an Iron Kunoichi or Steel Shinobi, their job was hardest. Amaya shook her head and studied Kakashi, while Asuma and Kurenai skated around each other by making small talk. Inosha and Orochimaru were discussing different Summon Contracts.

That night, Kakashi and Amaya pulled Neji, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura to their bedroom, seating them on the bed. Amaya crawled into Kakashis’ lap, staring at them from her shelter. Kakashi coughed and began

“As you know, Amaya is taking her Rank Exam tomorrow. We need you to not interfere, even if you think she needs help.” Amaya added

“Kakashi will have a hard enough time restraining himself from stopping someone deliberately aiming to harm me in a spar, if you misbehave, you multiply the things that require his concentration.” Kakashi tucked her closer to his chest.

“This is also an opportunity, since Orochmaru-sama told me that the Arena used in the Chunin Exams will be utilized, because it will be a long test.” Wide eyed, the Genin scrambled to tell the others.

Kakashi leaned back against the headboard, tweaking Amaya’s body so they were comfortable.

“I really don’t like this, Amaya.” She calmly snuggled into his chest.

“We’ve both survived war, Kakashi, it doesn’t get much scarier than that. Besides, you’ll know if you need to step in.” His grip tightened.

“I can’t lose you, Amaya, not before-” He broke off his sentence, angry that he couldn’t change what was to come. She looked up at him, the same light in her eyes as there had been ten years ago, twelve years ago. Tugging down his mask, Kakashi dipped his head to kiss her lips, grateful to have someone to love, who didn’t condemn him for killing. She might point out that was hypocritical, as she’d come from a family of killers, had killed herself, but . . . all that meant to him was that she understood, that he could lean on her and she wouldn’t break.

The next morning, after breakfast, Kakashi sequestered himself and his wife to help her dress. Her neatly cut leathers, molding to her ribcage and legs, were a warm, polished brown. Knowing he had prepared, Amaya turned her back so he could fasten the corset strings of the leather top, cut to reveal her shoulders, the corset stays would settle the embedded plating. Stepping into her favourite pair of leather, heel strapped zori, reminiscent of the Uchiha led by Madara, Amaya allowed her husband to pull on the leather gauntlets that came to just below her elbow, also with metal plates embedded, though these had reinforcing seals. He handed her the Uchiha browband that took the place of a hitai ate- until she received one. The browband not only proclaimed her allegiance, it secured most of her wild dark hair out of her face. Like her nukenin relative Itachi, her face was framed by dark strands, though hers were longer.

“Dawnstar?” Kakashi asked softly, standing by the closet, ready to retrieve her kimono and obi. Amaya hummed and replied, equally soft

“Yes, actually, but . . .” Kakashi looked at her quizzically

“Will you swear vows with me again?” The nearly inaudible question stunned Kakashi, who looked at her with pale grey eyes, and murmured

“Of course, beloved.” Taking care with the delicate pale silver furisode, he wrapped it around her, tying a forest green obi at her waist. Blinking, Amaya Sealed the outfit away in one of her armguards, caught off guard when Kakashi wrapped his arms around her and squeezed gently. Amaya squeezed back, harder than he did. Inosha chose that moment to call through the door

“We’re leaving in ten minutes, be sure you’re ready.”

Sighing, Amaya quickly dressed in the sturdier Dawnstar kimono, a pretty golden pink furisode, tucking her shukusen into her obi, mentally running through the locations of her swords. Inuzashi, her katana, was actually Sealed into the scar tissue on her back, Nekowari, her tanto and Konohadachi, her leaf bladed kodachi, were in opposite armguards. Nodding to herself, Amaya strode out the door, confident Kakashi was behind her, if taking a minute to admire her.

Sakura threw her arms around Amaya and said firmly

“I would wish you luck, but you don’t need it.” Neji, and Sasuke nodded in agreement, while Naruto exclaimed

“You’re gonna pass, dattebayo!” Ino, Tenten and Hinata crowded close, like puppies seeking milk. Shino, Shikamaru and Chouji, as well as Asuma and Kurenai voiced encouragement, while Gai and Lee chorused

“May your spars be Youthful!” Rolling her eyes, Inosha ordered

“You do wonderful, my girl, or else.” Waggling her cane at the younger woman.

Chuckling, Amaya and Kakashi linked hands and led the charge to the Village. Hiruzen met them outside the Hokage Tower, and then Orochimaru waved them to a sidestreet, down which they eventually found the arena.

The air crackled with excitement and confusion. Those who knew a potential ninja was being tested were looking forward to seeing a skills exhibition of sorts, while those who didn’t know what was going on were confused.

Kakashi settled into position on the sidelines, his team alongside him, and the other three behind teams were ranged behind them. Hayate Gekkou walked out to the Arena floor, katana in hand. Hiruzen smirked when a female voiced cried

“Bloodstar Dance!” As four versions of Amaya sprang at Hayate, then stepping a pace away, waiting for Hayate to make his move. Gekkou didn’t disappoint. Quickly working through the four clones, Hayate whirled around in time to fend off the silent attacker leaping for his back, but he didn’t see the lion until she pounced as the Kenjutsu masters traded blows. Ivera tackled Hayates’ legs, triggering a coughing fit. Even as he lay sprawled out, woman and Summon circled silently, both with eyes narrowed. Hayate finally got up, side eying Amaya as he forced Ivera to depart, whirling around again, launching into the Dance of the Crescent Moon. Amaya grinned, lunging forward after throwing a round of shuriken, breaking the jutsu, leaping up to bring her katana down on the jonins’ wrist, marking his wrist and using the flat of her katana to land a blow on his neck, knocking over the jonin, and winning the bout. Sealing her katana away with a flash of chakra, Amaya extended her hand to Hayate, offering

“You do quite well for a sickly sword master, would you mind regular spars?” Hayate clasped her hand and nodded eagerly, coughing again and replying

“Definitely, Uchiha-san.”

Face lit up with a snarling kind of grin, Amaya waved at the Hokage. Hiruzen nodded once and made a signal. Hayate scrambled out of the arena, as Genma, Raidou, and Aoba came out while she spun warily. Eying the men, Amaya unsealed her tanto, Nekowari, into her right hand, while she unsealed her kodachi into her left hand. Sealing her kimono into her armguard, the kunoichi stood in her polished leathers, half crouched in an easy stance, and she was ready.

Genma opened fire with his senbon, Raidou held his black sword, and Aoba opened with a Fire Dragon Bullet, all surrounding the kunoichi from three directions, Amaya cursed and jumped for the side of the arena, running quickly away, barely outrunning another Flame Bullet, taking several senbon to her shoulder, landing as far from them as possible. Aoba was preparing his Thousand Scattering Crows Technique as Raidou charged her with his Kokuto. Genma stepped up his senbon throwing, so Amaya stopped and blinked her eyes, activating her Mangekyou Sharingan and freezing everyone in the Arena as Raidou and Aoba stopped still, and dropped like flies. Switching her swords for her katana, she flashed forward into a shunshin, stilling in front of Genma to slash the front of his vest. Genma reeled back even as Gai charged in with a roar, Amaya snarled at him as she ducked his attack, slamming a fist into his chest as her Sharingan flashed.

Gai also dropped, the four bodies blown away when Kakashi jumped down, using a quick Futon jutsu before lifting his hitai ate and locking gazes with her. Panting slightly, the kunoichi snarled again, leaping at Kakashi, who flashed behind her to pin her to the ground by the shoulders. Thumping her hands flat against the ground, Amaya was grinding her teeth as Hiruzen stood up.

The Hokage gestured for quiet, so the rumbling died out quickly. Kakashi assisted Amaya to her feet by standing where he’d straddled her to pin her, cupping her shoulders to wrap his arms around her from behind, his heart thrumming the message in his mind:

“Five years left, five years to love her, five years . . .” Amaya shocked the rest of the ninja present by leaning back into the pervert Copy nin, blinking her Sharingan off, flickering her chakra to unseal her wedding kimono and to clean her battered face. Kakashi leaned down to whisper to her, winning an impossibly bright laugh from his beloved in the process. Together, they turned to Hiruzen as he proceeded to the Arena floor, accompanied by Orochimaru. Kakashi eye smiled as Amaya beamed, Hiruzen returning a grin of his own. In his arms, Orochimaru carried a jonin vest and hitai ate. Sasuke approached from behind Amaya and Kakashi, voicing respectfully

“Orochimaru-sama, may I retie your hitai ate for you?” Orochimaru nodded, leaning forward when Hiruzen tossed the deep purple hitai ate to the Genin, who easily reached up, tying it quickly. Stepping away, Sasuke gestured to Sakura, Neji and Naruto, who leapt forward, waiting to be summoned the rest of the way.

Hiruzen took the vest from Orochimaru, extending it to Amaya and announced

“Congratulations, Uchiha-sama, you’re an elite jonin.” Nodding, Amaya perched the vest on her shoulders, pausing when Kakashi smoothed the fabric on her shoulders. The elder Elite Jonin deftly grabbed the hitai ate from Orochimaru, extending his own to Amaya after tearing it off his forehead. Hiruzen nodded when he realized what they were doing.

Kakashi raised his voice to declare

“I, Kakashi, Steel Father and the Head of Clan Hatake, do take you, Amaterasu Uchiha, as my own wife. My life, my loyalty, my clan, my abilities, my love, they are yours, and I take into my keeping the same that is yours.” He extended his hand, which Amaya took, raising her whiskey eyes to his grey lakes, intoning clearly

“I, Amaterasu, Iron Mother and the Head of Clan Uchiha, do take you, Kakashi Hatake as my own husband. My life, my loyalty, my clan, my abilities, my love, they are yours, and I take into my keeping the same that is yours.” Bowing their heads, they withdrew their hands into a Seal of Reconciliation, before withdrawing completely, handing over each other’s hitai ates, before turning to face Sasuke, Sakura, Neji and Naruto, who all obediently dropped to one knee. Naruto spoke first, meeting Kakashis’ eye squarely. Carefully, Naruto pronounced

“I, Naruto Uzumaki, Augment Acolyte of the Iron Steel Style do swear my allegiance to the Hatake Clan, of which Kakashi Hatake-sama is the Head.” Sakura spoke next, raising her head to also gaze at her sensei.

“I, Sakura Haruno, Iron Aspirant partner of Sasuke Uchiha, do swear my allegiance to the Hatake Clan, of which Kakashi Hatake-sama is the Head.” Kakashi responded first

“I accept your allegiance to my Clan, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno of the Hatake.” Amaya lifted her chin to speak, her iron will apparent in every word.

“By virtue of Clan Uchihas’ blood alliance to Clan Hatake, I too, accept your allegiance.”

You could hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence, but this circus wasn’t done yet. Sasuke, as the Heir of the Uchiha Clan, cleared his throat and declared

“I, Sasuke Uchiha, Steel Acolyte, do swear allegiance to the Head of my Clan and the Head of our Ally Clan, but too, I swear allegiance to my sensei and his wife.” Neji needed no prompting

“I, Neji Hyuuga, son of Hizashi Hyuuga and Akita Uchiha Hyuuga, do swear my allegiance to my Aunt and Uncle, though my loyalty belongs to both my parents’ Clans.”

Amaya smiled at them, responding gently

“As Head of the Uchiha Clan, as Nejis’ Aunt, I accept your allegiance.” Kakashi added

“Sasuke, as your Sensei, and Neji, as your Uncle, I accept your allegiance.” Amaya turned to survey her grandfather.

“Hokage-sama, as Head of the Uchiha Clan, one of the Founding Clans of Konohagakure no Sato, I freely offer the allegiance of my Clan and our ally, the Hatake Clan, to you, the Kami no Shinobi.” As one, the Genin rose to bow to their Hokage, in unison with Kakashis’ slow nod.

Hiruzen cleared his throat and laced his fingers in front of him.

“I thank you, Shinobi and Kunoichi of Konohagakure, for renewing your vows of allegiance, not only to me, but also to Konoha.” Amaya flashed a smile at her grandfather before barking

“Oi, Iron Kunoichi, Steel Shinobi, stay out of the house for a few hours!” Sealing her kimono, vest and hitai ate into her armguards, Amaya raced off, Kakashi at her heels.

The kids groaned as one. Resignedly, Hiruzen collected his granddaughters’ and grandson-in-laws’ charges for practice. Genma, Raidou, Aoba and Gai rose with groans, while Hayate was being fussed over by the onsite medic and a panicky Yugao.

ASPIRANT

After learning of their dismal defeat and Kakashis’ impromptu wedding, Genma set his jaw and tracked Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura to the Hokages’ training field. He needed answers with Hisanas’ memory reawakened. Entering after flaring his chakra, Genma waited for the Hokage to notice him. Hiruzen asked perplexedly

“Shiranui-kun?” Genma bowed and then hesitated, before replying

“Ohayo, Hokage-sama, I was wondering if I could talk with Uchiha-san for a moment.” Sasuke eyed the Tokujo before he said abruptly

“Ask in front of them, Hokage-sama is Amaya-samas’ grandfather, Naruto and Sakura are sworn to Hatake-sama.” Forcing a breath out, Genma explained quickly

“Before the Massacre, I was involved with Hisana Uchiha, after . . . I never got proof of her death.” Noticing the way Sasuke tensed, Genma continued

“Who exactly is Uchiha-sama? She doesn’t look like Hisa-chan, but if she survived-” Genma didn’t finish, the pain in his eyes begging Sasuke for hope. Sasuke hated to shatter it, but . . .

“Amaya-sama was twenty at the time of the Massacre. She’d married and been Cast Out five years before, after she married Hatake-sama the first time, about a month after she had their daughter Akashina. Hisana-san died quickly, as they all did.” Genma controlled it well, but both Sasuke and Hiruzen saw his internal shattering. Sasuke continued

“I wasn’t old enough at the time, but I think I can get access to the other houses and the important documents now that I am a Genin. Do you know of any others mourning my people?” The question caught Genma off guard, his brows furrowing, and he said slowly

“I know Daisuke Uchiha taught Kurenais’ team, other than that, I don’t know.” Sakura chimed in

“Didn’t Faith flee after she recovered from Shisuis’ suicide? I don’t think she took anything with her.” Sasuke shrugged.

“Come on Shiranui-san, let’s find your Hisa-chans’ things.”

Together, they scampered off, the Genin and the Tokujo. When Sasuke made an offhand comment on shuriken, Genma replied in kind about senbon. Although they didn’t really touch a subject beyond Bukijutsu, Sasuke found he respected the Tokujo for getting to that position largely thanks to his skill in that area. Genma was grateful the kid let him have his privacy at Hisanas’ by sifting papers at the kotatsu while Genma looked through the achingly familiar rooms. He and Hisana had spent time here, quite a lot of it, and seeing it again . . . he expected her to slink around the corner and push him to sit with her, or to be made to brush her hair.

Although he’d never objected to time spent with the pretty Uchiha, brushing her hair had been his favourite. Something about it had soothed her from her normally restless pacing, and to be the one capable, the one allowed, to make it so had felt wonderful.

Genma nearly cried when he found a present with his name on it. It was a package of senbon, and a photograph of the two of them laughing together. Oh, Hisana-koi . . . The leaves of the tree outside the window were gently ruffled, as if she was telling him to let go.

Sasuke walked in, holding up a sheaf of papers.

“She left everything to you, except the house. Take whatever you like, I’ll have the appliances replaced and if you want to live here, I won’t stop you, but I need to hire my team to take care of the District, I can open a lot of avenues, I think.” Aware the young Uchiha was rambling for some reason, Genma considered that. Taking up residence in his dead lovers’ house, perhaps . . .  Maybe Raidou or Aoba will stay for a few months . . . Jerking out of his musings, Genma replied

“I think I’d like to see about that.” Sasuke nodded and commented

“I have to report to Amaya-sama, but I think I can more than spare time for lunch. You coming?” The young scion shot a glance at the Tokujo, who looked a little lost. Shaking his head, Genma sighed and answered with an affirmative.

ASPIRANT

Raidou woke on the Arena floor, and stumbled to the Med nin section of the Arena. Despite being a veterinarian, Hana Inuzuka had volunteered to cover as one of the medics because she knew Raidou was assisting with the assessment. She was alarmed at the weary look in his eyes, as if the weight of the world sat on his shoulders.

“Raidou?” The palpable concern in her voice had him looking up at her, the electricity sizzling between them when she put her hand on his shoulder had him flinching awake, as if he’d nearly fallen asleep.

Glancing around, Hana made sure no one was looking before she dropped to her knees and cupped his face in her hands.

“Talk, quickly, Raidou.” His eyes met her gaze squarely, not giving an inch no matter how dominant she was. Hana stared back, and whispered

“Please . . .” He nodded and spoke concisely

“She used the Sharingan to put us under a Genjutsu, where we saw the whole stadium, dead, spectators, Hokage-sama, Orochimaru-sama. The shock alone put me under, because it felt so real.” Hana sucked in a breath in disbelief.

“What about Hatake?” Raidou blinked.

“He and their brats weren’t in the Genjutsu at all.” Hana rummaged in her pack for food pills and a pain killer. Handing him the pills and a glass of water, she brushed her knuckles along his cheek and picked up the forms she needed to fill out, leaving a dazed Raidou to remember how he had come to be so special to the Inuzuka.

Two years ago

Raidou stood before his Hokage, ready for action. Hiruzen looked over his pipe in interest at the man in front of him, who had signed onto the Guard with a request to take missions to stay sharp as the Village needed. Tsume would skin him if he sent anyone but the best man to protect her best tracker (who was also her sixteen year old daughter) while on the hunt for a human trafficking ring.

“Raidou, I need you to take a position on a two person mission with an Inuzuka. You will be both bodyguard and superior. Can you do it?” The tokubetsu jonin regarded him with carefully bland eyes, and replied

“I am at your service, but it will be difficult if they’re older than me.” The dry, truthful statement was what he expected of the other man, matter of fact and little else. Which was good, because he wouldn’t get fresh with the little heiress, but he wouldn’t back down either, not when his sensei had been an Inuzuka.

Nodding, the Hokage ordered the ANBU

“Collect Hana Inuzuka and the Haimaru, tell her to meet Raidou at the gate for her next mission in an hour.” Raidou accepted the scroll, saluted his Hokage and moved with all speed to gather his things to meet her at the gate.

When Hana arrived, she didn’t get a word out before he informed her dryly

“I’m to act as both your commander and bodyguard. Get used to the Alpha male act.” Before sixteen year old Hana could protest, the Haimaru Sankyodai started barking at Raidou. The scarred man growled in his throat, snarling in a canine fashion when one of the Haimaru wouldn’t settle. Hana watched in awe as he introduced himself to her ninken, nodding when he said curtly

“Raidou Namiashi, Tokujo in the Hokages’ Guard. I’ve already studied the mission scroll, you can see it when we bed down for the night.” Striding away, Raidou was unaware of how well he’d done the role of dominant male, leaving a stunned Inuzuka Chunin in his wake.

That night was a cold one, so when Hana looked at Raidou, who was ready to keep watch, she offered as boldly as possible

“The Haimaru will guard the camp while we sleep . . . Raidou-san.” Raidou raised a brow and replied affably if still a tad curt

“Call me Raidou. That’s fine by me, do you need-” He let his enquiry hang in the air. An embarrassed Hana nodded, and meekly crawled in beside Raidou as the Haimaru took their cue and spread out in a three point guard formation. Raidou wrapped himself around Hana, providing warmth for the night as an Alpha would. Hana deliberately turned herself so she could bury her nose in his throat, pleased to be tangled in someone strong, if older than was conventional for her age. Raidou was a little shocked, but tired enough to not object.

For the entire three months outside Konoha, every night, Hana would either curl up in Raidous’ lap or slip into his arms. Her guilty pleasure was having him skin to skin, his muscled body warm around her. But no matter what she tried, she couldn’t get him into bed. One night, she asked him as they lay together

“Why won’t you take what I offer?” He regarded her, her sad eyes as she lay atop him inside their combined bedrolls. His caress of her head and careful answer stunned Hana, and took the sting (or most of it) out of the subtle, continual rejections.

“At this moment, I am your Taichou and Alpha, add to that civilian convention, and I would be committing grievous offences against you, Hana. I am twenty nine, scarred and usually somewhat surly. Why do you keep offering?” She burst out

“Because you are an Alpha! I’m the Heir to my Clan, and how can any male near my age compare to your strength alone? The scars are sexy as all hell anyway, Raidou. It means you put your life on the line for something important! I think I-” A finger on her lips stopped her from finishing her sentence.

“Not yet, Hana. Our people have grown used to the civilian age of majority, so let your family keep you a little longer. If you feel this way then, then you may approach me on this subject again, until you reach the age of civilian majority, we will leave this alone.” His firm tone brooked no argument, and Hana snuggled down to his chest again, feeling a dull ache in her own chest.

Present

Hana covertly watched Raidou, her heart contracting painfully. He had had a point, back when she’d first met him, but she knew he’d nearly died at least once, in the time since, and that he hadn’t sought her out hurt. No matter how sensible it was, she wanted more from him. She had eventually cornered him one night while her mother was on a mission, Kiba distracted by some of their cousins, and begged for touch, for anything he’d give, and wanted to hate him for reducing her to it. He’d looked at her, something about him had radiated barely leashed tension, and she’d known then that that was the wrong night to beg an alpha male. He’d been forced to kill a brainwashed child that day, and a harshly sexual make out session when he was drunk meant he didn’t remember, at least, she didn’t think so . . .

 . . . Except he had smelled of booze due to having a sake bottle emptied over him, had needed something, anything to distract him. Sweet, innocent Hana begging him to hold her had held even more appeal than usual. It would have sickened a civilian, but he knew Hana had forfeited her childhood, and that sharing her body was her right, his privilege if she allowed it. A civilian girl couldn’t break his hold, but Hana could. Maybe he was rationalizing away an irrational decision, which was why he’d ended up with a massive case of blue balls and a disappointed kunoichi.

Raidou didn’t know how to fix this, but he wanted to. Wanted to hold Hana again, especially after being told Hatake had married (again, apparently) at twenty six, wanted to finally stroke and finger and fuck Hana into ecstasy. Dejected, he sat while Hana observed him, barely noticing how the Haimaru sat at his feet, expectantly. Finally, the leader of the Haimaru brothers, Shoshu, prodded Raidous’ hand with a whine. Raidou looked at him and chuckled, ruffling the ninkens’ fur, which meant his brothers crowded close, wanting more pets from their Inuzukas’ chosen mate. Hana looked up from the forms when Raidou laughed out loud as her ninken jostled him.

Smiling, Hana teased

“I think my ninken like you, Raidou-san.” Raidou glanced at her with undeniable heat in his eyes. Hana gasped internally as he looked at her in blatant invitation. The colour rushed out of her face.

“You remember.” He nodded when she made the statement.

“That’s why I walked away when I did.” The casual rejoinder relieved Hana, who finished her report and said slyly

“Well, you did say we could discuss it right about this time.” Raidou nodded and rose to murmur in her ear

“I’ll let you and the Haimaru submit your report while I prepare a picnic.” Slinking off with a salute, Raidou was gone in moments, an event that had the Haimaru whining.

ASPIRANT

On his way to prepare his picnic supplies, Raidou ran into Gai, who was moaning

“My Eternal Rival got married without me! That is very not Youthful! Do not you agree, Raidou-san?” Raidou nodded and quickly went on his way, nodding to Aoba and fleeing to his apartment, making a stop at the store and continuing to a secluded spot he knew Hana could track him too.

ASPIRANT

Hana quickly submitted her report, but had an unanticipated delay in the form of Kiba and Akamaru. Kiba launched himself at Hana for hug, freezing when he smelled Raidous’ rapidly fading scent, of clean male musk, sweat, sandalwood and arousal, yelping when the Haimaru smugly informed Akamaru that their Inuzuka was in a mating dance with an Alpha they liked. Hanas’ otouto spluttered for a moment before he exhaled, and said with surprising maturity

“Well, at least he’s strong enough for the Haimaru, but Hana-” Kiba turned concerned eyes on his sister

“I’ve seen a dog-nin mated to a lion-nin while at Hatake House, they’re mates, partners, does this guy treat you well?” Hana was touched that her brother was more concerned about how Raidou treated her than anything else.

“He’s always treated me as someone precious, no matter how capable I am, but he’s also made a point of knowing my limits so he can cover them, and in return, showed me his so I could do the same.” Kiba was pleased with this answer, and hugged Hana again, backing off to scoop up Akamaru, cradling the puppy against his chest, smiling at Hana before he ran, but Hana didn’t have time to even sigh in relief.

Her mother asked incredulously from behind her

“Raidou Namiashi?” Hana turned around to look at her mother. Tsume Inuzuka had her arms crossed, looking expectantly at her daughter, who ran a hand over her face and admitted

“It started on that mission we had when I was sixteen. He said to me before we left Konoha that I was to get used to the alpha male act as he introduced himself to the Haimaru, he growled at them and snarled at Shoshu! It was so strange, and because the nights were cold, I set the Haimaru on guard duty, and he offered to share body heat so I wouldn’t freeze. He never touched me inappropriately,” Hana rushed to reassure who mother, whose thunderous look went skeptical. Hana continued

“I offered, plenty of times, intoxicated by his strength, but he always said no.” The chunin couldn’t stop the hurt that overtook her face again.

“He explained that he was Taichou and Alpha on the mission, and that ninja have become accustomed to the civilian age of majority.” Tsume was stunned, especially when Hana pouted slightly and finished

“Then he said to let you keep me a little longer, and we would revisit the topic when I was eighteen if I still felt that way.” Inuzuka-sama grinned then, and ordered

“Get on your way then, Hana-chan, see if he’s your mate.” Hana didn’t need to be told twice. She whistled for the Haimaru and darted away.