Ch. 2

Upon hearing Iruka-sensei accusing him of theft, and letting him unsaid know that his actions would be seen as treason, he knew that he had been stupid.

He had been so distraught at the thought of failing the exam, and thereby losing his chance of marriage and a family, that he had grabbed the chance Mizuki offered him with both hand, ignoring his common sense and never looking underneath the underneath.

He knew that his only chance of coming out of this with his life and reputation intact, was by unmasking Mizuki-traitor, and later bluffing; playing that he had known the whole time and that the unmasking was the purpose of his actions.

…o0O00o…

He was sitting in the hokage office quite in shock… he had succeeded. While he wasn't all sure that his jiji or Inoichi was fooled, he had at least fooled the council, and while he was sure that both the hokage and Inoichi was quite disappointed in his naivety, he was at least secure in the knowledge that both cared for him and would protect him, in any way they could.

He swore to himself; that he would never be so naïve again, and should he ever be offered the easy way out, he would check the facts with Inoichi, if not with the hokage himself.

When he rose to leave the office, for a bowl of ramen and his warm bed, he was stopped by the Hokages voice. The question freezing even Inoichi temporarily; while he had hoped for his jiji to be present at the wedding, he had hoped to give him as little time to object as possible.

"I would like to know about this connection the two of you have… it must be quite important for you, Inoichi, to almost break down my door to defend Naruto… I wasn't even aware that the two of you knew each other more than in passing." While the hokage's visage had been calm during his enquiry, he became quite worried upon the two temporarily frozen forms in front of him.

"Talk!" his voice was hard as steel, and the command was unescapable.

"…"

The hokage's visage became even more forbidding at the long silence.

"Naruto… what have you done?"

"I…I…jiji, I… Please… I just want a family…" Naruto was in tears, there was no way his jiji was going to accept his upcoming wedding. He had known from the beginning that there was little chance of him being allowed to marry Inoichi. Not because of the hokage not wanting to let him have a family, but because the hokage, like the rest of the villagers, would see his fiancé's actions as a kind of child abuse, the worst kind.

He himself would have seen it as such, hadn't it been for the fact that it was himself who was involved. He agreed with the public view on things, and if any of his classmates had been in his situation he would have been the first one up in arms about it. But it wasn't any of his classmates, it was him. And while he was a child in age, he could not, in anyway, see himself as a child… he had experienced too much in his life… lived through too much. He was willing to do anything to get the family of his dreams. And he had grown up partly in the red light district… it wasn't like he didn't know about how you made children. He knew about the process as intimately as he could without having experienced it himself. And while he was a little uncomfortable about the thought of what they would be doing in a week's time, he also felt a light burning in his stomach… he almost felt anticipation, and every time he thought of Inoichi's lips on his, his hands on his body, he felt a stirring in his dick. It was something he had started experiencing only a couple of weeks ago, but he knew, from what he had seen in the red light district, both in public, but also from what he had seen from the closets some of the friendly whores had let him hide in when he couldn't go home, that what he was feeling was needed to enjoy the coming coupling. While he had only seen parings of different genders having sex, he knew, from what Inoichi had taught him, that he would be on the receiving end, like the whores. Not that it mattered, they seemed to enjoy it most of the time, and he was looking forward to being hold like they usually were. Be taken care of.

Before he could try to convince his jiji that this happening was a good thing, without ever explaining what exactly was happening, Inoichi broke his tearful rambling by placing a hand on his leg; a movement that drew the hokage's eyes to Inoichi, and made him feel the burn from a worried hokages eyes.

"Hokage-sama; we had intended to inform you, but had agreed to wait until Naruto-chan's acceptance as a genin was complete. But of course if you want to know now I see no reason to keep secrets from you."

Even with his confident voice, Inoichi's nervousness was betrayed by the wetting of his lips; his tongue only just left his mouth for a moment, but that moment was enough for the hokage to be aware that Inoichi didn't feel as secure in his actions as he tried to portray.¨

"The elders of my clan have demanded that I find another spouse, capable and willing to carry children for the clan, as we are in rather desperate need of more clan members. As they seem to be willing to ignore my preferences, and the fact that Naruto is both willing and capable of carrying children, we have come to the agreement of marriage upon him becoming a shinobi. Before you try to make me take back my proposal, be aware that according to the village charter, once someone becomes a shinobi, they become an adult in any way… I would have wished for more time before we are pressed into marriage, but I do not have more time, and the longer time there goes without me confirm the identity of my future spouse, the higher the risk of being forced into an unwanted marriage.

Naruto are aware what it would mean to get married, and while I would, quite frankly, feel like a pedophile was it any other at his age, I respect Naruto enough to see that he is as far from being a child as being possible considering his age. Please thing things through before trying to stop us." After his last word Inoichi bowed low in his seat, hand still on Naruto's thigh, both to show their closeness to the hokage, but also to calm his young fiancé; his heart was beating so fast and hard that Inoichi could feel it through his jumpsuit.

The hokage, whose eyes had followed Inoichi's as they moved from his own to the hokage's young would-be grandson's thigh, let his eyes meet Naruto's.

He was almost vibrating in anger at Inoichi's words, but followed his advice. He was right, his young protégé would soon be a shinobi, an adult in the eyes of the law, and as such he would be able to, and needed to, take his own decisions when it concerned his own life. He needed to hear Naruto's thoughts on this matter, and the reason he had taken the decision he had. Marriage, especially at that age, was a serious matter. Almost as serious as taking the decision to become a ninja, and if he expected him to be able to take that decision, he needed to respect this. But he needed to know the reason for why.

"Naruto… why? Why would you want to marry now? Are you even old enough to have figured out what gender you prefer?... don't look so heartbroken my child, I just need to know the reason for your decision."

Slowly Naruto's tears stopped, and as he dried his eyes he took a deep breath. He wasn't good at articulating himself, but he hoped that his jiji would understand anyway.

"I really, really want a family. Let's face it jiji… who is ever gonna want to marry me? I got a lucky strike when Inoichi-kun asked me… I'm not going to bet my future on the possibility that I'm gonna get asked again… quite frankly I doubt that will ever happen. Especially not after finding out about the fox. Now I know it's not just because of stupidity that the villagers hate me… it's because of fear. Stupidity and hate can be over won. But fear is almost impossible to fight against. And it's not just because I see Inoichi as my only chance for a family! I won't insist that I love him… I doubt that I do. But I do like him, and I believe that we could have good life together… he is a good man, no matter the prejudice of the civilians and some of the ninjas, and he will take good care of me. I love you jiji, but you are old, and I have to look out for the future."

The hokage sucked in through his unlit pipe, seemingly not noticing the missing smoke, and looked at Naruto with a long and searching look. Seemingly getting what he wanted he nodded.

"This is truly what you want?"

"Yes jiji. Please, please don't try to stop me." Tears started to gather in Naruto's eyes again, and Inoichi made an aborted motion, as if he wanted to gather his young soon-to-be husband to his chest, but thought better of it due to their location.

"Very well… but if I must come with a suggestion?" at their relived nods he continued.

"I feel that I would be best to keep your marriage a secret from as many as possible, for as long as possible. While I agree that you are free to make your own choices, as long as it really is your choice, and I am quite aware that circumstances have forced ninjas as young as Naruto to take part in honey comb missions before, due to one reason or another, most in this village, be they civilian or ninja, will not look favorable on your paring. And no Naruto, for once it will not be due to your prisoner, but rather your age."

The two men, because Inoichi was right, in spite of his age Naruto truly was an adult, looked first at the hokage, then each other. Then as one they nodded. Whatever could make their lives easier, they would take. And it wasn't like they could keep their marriage a secret from those who mattered anyway. They were too ingrate a part of each of their lives, for them to be able to keep such a thing secret. That and those few they could not keep it a secret from anyway, were on the invitation list to their wedding.

The hokage finally sunk a little in his seat, and waved them off. It was getting late and all of them needed their sleep. But even as the two future spouses left his office, the hokage moved a paper closer. He would need to make absolutely sure that his surrogate grandson would become a genin, it would be his wedding present to the pair. That and Naruto's inheritance. Minato was wrong; if Naruto was old enough to marry, he was old enough to learn who he was. No reason to wait until he became chunin.

…o0O0o…

Ino had been informed of her father's imminent wedding, but not who his partner would be. It pained her that she would have to accept someone into the role of her mother, when she didn't know that person. But her mother's actions were unforgivable. Being unfaithful already was bad enough, but letting everyone know about it. That just harmed the clan.

She had looked forward to at least discuss her father's future bride and wedding with Sakura, even if she wasn't all that happy about the fact that her father was remarrying, at least she would be able to have a gossip session.

But no. she was not allowed to tell anyone about the marriage. Why it had to stay a secret, she didn't know, but she would sit her father down after being put on Sasukes team, and discuss the whole situation with him. He had to understand that leaving her without stuff she was allowed to gossip about was equal to child abuse. She was sure he would give in upon being told that.

Now she needed to get prepared to ensnare Sasuke when she was put on his team. He was the rookie of the year, and while Sakura was better in a written test, she was sure that she had scored female rookie of the year; thereby being placed on her beloved's team.

…o0O0o…

Inoichi and Naruto was sharing a lunch basket, and it would have been to the surprise of many, had they known, that the basket didn't contain any ramen, on the top of the Yondaime's head.

Afterwards Naruto was sitting in Inoichi's lap, his back against his partner's chest.

"I have told you about the extra exam, the true exam, to become a genin." At Naruto's thankful smile and small nod Inoichi continued.

"I am not allowed to tell you what it is, and quite frankly; each jonin-sensei gives a different test, but I want you to remember what the 'Will of Fire' stands for, what it means…"

"It means putting the village and your team before yourself." Inoichi nodded solemnly in agreement to Naruto's words.

"That it does. And as long as you remember the will of fire, you will pass, and we will get married in three days."

Naruto smiled happily and leaned back in his partner's arms. While he was always smiling, it was only in the presents of his future husband that the smiles were true.

As they were sitting in silence, and he was playing with Inoichi's fingers, Naruto quietly asked a question that had been on his mind for a while now.

"What do you think Ino will say to me becoming a part of the family? I mean I'm in her class in the academy, and I can hardly say that we have been friendly towards each other in the past… will she accept me?"

Inoichi sat in a thoughtful silence for a little while, and when he answered it was with a comforting hug to his little Koi.

"I think… I think that in the beginning she will be very against it. Both because of your age and gender, but also because she doesn't want a new mother, or in your case father. But even then; im sure that you will win her over. Just promise me one thing…"

"Yes… what?"

"Promise me that you will not let her get away with disrespecting you… I can't do anything against the villagers, but I don't want you to experience disrespect in your own home. While I could easily tell her how to act, and probably get her to not openly act against you, that will only make the transition harder. She needs to respect you on your own merits, and she won't do that if I meddle too much in the relationship between the two of you.

But even then… I want you to know that should she ever become too much, I want you to tell me. I will not accept her running you out of our house. Worst case scenario she will move to her aunt's place, and live there.

I just hope that you will do your best to get a good relationship with her… she is my little girl, and I don't want to lose her."

Naruto turned his head and looked Inoichi in the eyes. Seeing the honesty in them he gave him a blinding smile, and after a moment's hesitation he leaned forward and let their lips connect. It was a chaste and innocent kiss, but even then; it was filled with his hopes for the future, their future. It was his first kiss, and while it made Inoichi shortly regret being the one who would steal its givers innocence, he none the less deepened it. He needed to. If he let his soon to be husband come to the wedding bed as innocent as he was now, it would spell disaster.

He was skirting the law, as even though Naruto did own his Hitai-ate, he was not yet truly a ninja of the leaf. But as he had the tactile approval of the hokage, he dared show Naruto how a real kiss should be.

He let his tongue first flicker against Naruto's lips, but slowly he started to massage them with it. As Naruto had yet to learn to breathe through the nose during such actions, he soon opened his mouth for air. Inoichi let him suck in a lungful of air, and then started to conquer his mouth with his deft tongue.

He explored the hot wet carven of his young soon-to-be lover, and turned his body, so they sat chest to chest. He slowly let his hands move down Naruto's back, and up his front. As he moved his hands over his chest, one of his fingers caught one of Naruto's nipples. The soft moan coming from the young boy turned man was enough to stir the elder man's arousal. He let go of the younger's mouth, and run his lips and tongue over his chin, down his neck, to softly nip at the juncture between shoulder and neck.

Meanwhile his hands continued to caress the young man's body, this time moving underneath his shirt, and one hand moved down to cup the small, but awakened, arousal.

Naruto's moans was now loud, insistent and consistent, and he turned his head, letting his teeth softly worry Inoichi's ear, as one of his hands had moved behind Inoichi's back, the other buried in his hair.

As Naruto was very young and unexperienced, it came as no surprise that he soon reached his peak. What was a surprise; was the fact that upon Naruto's soft whine at reaching completion, and the resulting tug on Inoichi's hair, Inoichi reached the same. Whether it was because of him living in celibate since Ino's conception, or the stimulation of having the willing and moving Naruto in his lap, he didn't know. But his breath was lost upon him seeing white, for the first time in a long while, at least together with a partner.

Afterward they kept sitting in each other's arms, spent but happy. When no questions came from Naruto, about what had just happened, Inoichi was a little puzzled. After the short explanation from Naruto, about his experiences in the red light district, and a few follow up questions about what the difference between male/female and male/male coupling was, they lay back, Inoichi feeling a little like his old teammate upon his satisfaction at lying, looking at the skies. Even the normally hyper Naruto was blissed out enough to just enjoy lying silently.

It was first upon realizing that his lunch break had long since passed, and that he needed to get back to his office, that Inoichi released his young lover and, after another smoldering kiss, left the quiet lunch spot, to return to work.

Naruto hardly noticed the usual hateful looks during his travel to the hokage tower; he had an appointment with the hokage, who needed to stamp his agreement to his ninja certificate, including picture.

He had wanted to paint a kabuki mask on his face, but after the talk with his jiji after the whole Mizuki-traitor thing, and his agreement that Naruto was adult enough to make his own choices, he didn't want his jiji to start doubting how grown up he really was. In the end he had taken a boring, but serious picture, and filled out his information card. Why he needed to fill one out now, when he would need to fill out a new one upon his marriage in just three days, he didn't know. But jiji had always complained about bureaucracy, while at the same time saying that even if it seemed a little useless, it was indeed needed, so it was possible that there was a higher meaning behind the actions. Just because he couldn't see why something was done, didn't mean there wasn't a good reason behind it.

…o0O0o…

As the hokage found no problems with his papers, the meeting soon turned into a happy talk about what would soon be happening; from which team Naruto would end up on, classified until further notice, to how life would be as a genin, to Naruto's upcoming wedding, and how the hokage was feeling about that, which was old… very old. As the talk started to come to an end, and Naruto prepared to leave the office; the door banged open, and with a war-cry a young child sprang forth, to attack the hokage. In front of Naruto's disbelieving eyes; he stumbled over his own scarf, and went down.

Naruto didn't appreciate being accused of attacking a child, but tempered his instinctive reaction of hitting the young boy over the head.

He officially thanked the hokage, using –sama and everything, for his time, and on his way out he run his hands through the clearly offended young boy's hair, ruffling it, and once he had passed the young boys teacher, who was having a monologue about how great he was, he put a finger under his eye, and made a face at the talking man's back. What a loser.