Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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A Tale of Tails

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Chapter Nineteen

"Geez...Hatake-san was only just healed yesterday and he's already been assigned a mission?" Haku mumbled as they left the man's humble little home, having just caught the man before he left for the aforementioned mission. Despite being in a hurry, Kakashi had still congratulated Naruto on his promotion with the promise to treat him to something once he returned from his mission.

"We lost nearly half of our forces during the invasion, Haku." Naruto answered quietly as he wrapped an arm around her, his hand on her hip as she leaned into him with her own arm wrapped around him. "With us weakened so much, the other villages might take advantage of it and try to finish us off. Not only that, but with our manpower being at an all time low, everyone's pulling double-duty to keep everything going."

"That...makes sense, but it's putting some of the ninja at risk of burning themselves out." Haku pointed out, getting a slight grimace from Naruto.

"You're not used to living in a Hidden Village as a ninja of that village, Haku. Elsewhere, something like this would seem rather foolish, but for us, it works." The fox-teen explained as he gained a serious, but soft expression. "To keep others from seeing how weak we are right now, we keep up appearances as if nothing had happened. It deters our enemies from attacking and we keep our clients, thus the village's income remains at least somewhat steady. If we lose that income, everything falls apart. When that happens, if the village is barely struggling to maintain what little they still have, you run across a situation like with Suna; fight or die."

"So...they attacked because they didn't have enough money?" Haku questioned, her confusion clear on her face as she glanced up at him.

"Yeah, essentially. Without money, you can't build or expand anything. You can't even repair anything or restock on things like food or important materials or resources." Naruto continued as they turned down another road, heading in the direction of the hospital. "Without money, you can't pay the shinobi. If you can't pay them, they either revolt or leave. Without shinobi, you have no protection. At that point, another Hidden Village could come through and take over everything, if they wanted to. Years ago, though, there were certain laws that had been passed to keep nations from 'assimilating' each other, thankfully. At the same time, if a Daimyo stops funding a village like with Suna, the same thing could happen. Despite being major military powers, a Hidden Village can be brought to its knees without raising a single kunai at them."

"But that doesn't explain why shinobi that are hurt or recovering still like Hatake-san can't have a little more time to rest." Haku grumbled, pouting slightly. Feeling a tad sheepish since he kind of distracted himself from answering her actual question, Naruto used his free hand to scratch under his chin.

"If we let everyone that was still capable of fighting rest when they could be out doing missions, the other Hidden Villages would take it as a sign of weakness because of our lack of initiative. Thus, they would attack or make some sort of move against us to either weaken us further or gain some form of advantage over us, if not wipe us out entirely." Naruto continued with the unexpected lecture, but if she actually managed to become a teacher, she would need to know something like their current topic of conversation. Just in case one of her students asked the same question at some point. "While you're not wrong that the ninja being forced to take on missions are at a higher risk of burning themselves out or getting more hurt than they already are, you also have to realize that being a ninja of a Hidden Village isn't just a career choice. It is a way of life for us. If we were to slack off or act the wrong way, it reflects on the village. By not doing anything, the other villages, again, see it as a sign of weakness. With our remaining shinobi staying as active as possible, it keeps up the appearance that we haven't lost strength. To put it more simply, we're pretty much bluffing our way through until we recover."

"...Oh." Haku mumbled quietly, looking down in thought as they started getting closer to the hospital. Neither of them had paid any attention to their surroundings as they walked, but if they had, they would have noticed how a few people had started whispering amongst themselves about the couple. Only a small portion were counted amongst Naruto's remaining 'haters', but the rest were people that had come view the newly promoted fox-teen in a more positive light. If they had paid them closer attention, they would have most likely been a little embarrassed by the attention they were getting from the bystanders. "So...does that mean you're going to be heading back out on another mission soon?"

"Most likely, yes." Naruto answered with a slight sigh while Haku frowned a little herself. Kissing the top of Haku's head, Naruto gently rubbed her side just above her hip while loosely curling one of his tails around the back of her legs, causing the ice-wielder to blush a little bit with a small smile of her own. "Don't worry, Usagi-chan. I'll see if the Old Hag will give me missions close to the village so I'm not gone too long, okay?"

"Okay..." Haku mumbled quietly as she nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. She knew it would happen eventually, but that didn't mean she liked it any better. As a shinobi of Konoha, Naruto was expected to take on missions to put money in both his own and the village's pocket as well as fighting in the village's defense, or offense, and even taking on critical missions given by the village itself. It was one of the reasons why she had decided to actually become a teacher; she couldn't stand being in the apartment by herself. She couldn't stand the emptiness, the loneliness of it. It reminded her of the hole left in her heart from Zabuza's death...

She had come to terms with his passing and had been learning to move on because of Naruto, but...she felt like there was still something missing. She hoped it finally went away once she started working as a teacher, if the Godaime allowed it. It would certainly keep her busy on a more regular and daily basis. It would keep her mind off it, at the very least. Yeah, it wouldn't really solve the issue since she'd just be ignoring it, but...it was a start, at least. It gave her time to think about it. At a later date...

"Come on. Scarecrow said Sasuke's room was on the second floor." Naruto suddenly spoke up, snapping Haku out of her thoughts just in time to realize that they were already in the hospital. Detaching from his side with a great deal of reluctance, Haku followed him up the single flight of stairs, smiling a little at his back. He had done so much for her in the past eight, almost nine, months she'd known him. From what she was told, though, apparently she had done just as much for him at the same time. Maybe she had done the 'impossible' and broke his shell back when they first met. Maybe him caring for her for the first couple weeks they'd known each other had made him gentler and more caring of others. Noticing that she was staring at him as they reached the next floor, Naruto glanced around in confusion for a moment before eyeing her awkwardly, his ears pinned back. "What's with that look? What are you thinking about over there?"

"Oh, nothing..." Haku sighed out with a small smile as she slipped back under his arm like before, forcing him to keep walking as they entered another of the identical looking hallways that littered the entire structure. "Just thinking about the love of my life."

"Mnn..." Naruto groaned quietly as he looked off to the side, his flushed cheeks hidden beneath his fur. Even still, Haku smiled lovingly as she felt two tails curl around her, running across her rear before hooking around her hip. Giggling softly, Haku gently pet the part of his tail at her hip, only for her cheeks to burn crimson as she leaned into him more, holding herself against his side more firmly. His hand had slid down from her hip to cup her rear, his hand hidden beneath his tails. At first, she hadn't thought much of it, but that was before he started squeezing.

"N-Naru...N-Not here." Haku quietly hissed at him with a slight glare, even though she was lightly nibbling on her bottom lip with a coy smile hidden by her top's high collar. Getting only a faint smirk from him, Haku grabbed his wrist and forced his hand back up to her hip. As he rubbed her side, she couldn't resist sighing quietly in contentment while melting against his side. She was happy with how her life had turned out. She was glad Naruto had stopped her from killing herself so long ago. She would have missed out on so much if she had succeeded that night. "Just wait until we get back home, but you have to behave yourself until then..."

"Feh..." Naruto huffed with mock annoyance before burying his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent with a tender smile on his face. Haku smiled more brightly as she leaned up to give him a tender little kiss on the lips, only to giggle quietly as Naruto's whiskers tickled her nose. Rubbing her nose with her free hand, Haku nuzzled her cheek against Naruto's shoulder again, a beaming grin on her face that was hidden by her high collar.

If she had commited suicide that night, she wouldn't have gotten to know the love of her life. She wouldn't have learned what real love was. She wouldn't have learned what real happiness was. She wouldn't have become friends with Sakura. She wouldn't have learned what it was like to live a normal life. Even if Zabuza had survived the fight and they continued traveling together, Haku knew now that she wouldn't have learned any of the things she knew now. Of course, there was always that random chance that she could have still experienced such things at some other point in her life, but Haku couldn't imagine herself with anyone other than Naruto now. Over the last eight months alone, they had invested so much in each other, emotionally and physically, that nothing would ever separate them.

"Here we go." Naruto mumbled quietly to himself as they reached the room, reluctantly detaching from each other as they neared the door. Before he could grab the door handle, however, it suddenly opened on its own. "Sakura?"

"Oh, Naruto, Haku!" Sakura greeted with a friendly smile as she quietly shut the door behind her, briefly hugging Haku for a moment before stepping back and tucking one of her bangs behind an ear. "If you're here for Sasuke-kun, he hasn't woken up yet. The doctors say he's in a very minor coma right now, but they said he should wake up and make a full recovery in the next week or so."

"Hmm...I hope his moody ass wakes up soon." Naruto mumbled quietly as he crossed his arms over his chest, grimacing slightly as he turned his gaze down towards the floor for a moment. "I miss having an actual sparring partner..."

"Hey! What about me?" Haku growled at him, lightly prodding him in the side with a senbon needle, eliciting a quiet yelp from Naruto as he jerked away from her with a weak glare. "Which reminds me, we haven't sparred in a while."

"I told you already, I've been too busy recently..." Naruto grumbled, pouting slightly as he rubbed his side where she'd poked him. Smirking slightly, Sakura shook her head at them with a laugh, distracting the pair.

"Hehe! You two argue like an old married couple, you know that?" Sakura laughed out, getting twin looks of embarrassment as they looked in opposite directions with Haku looking bashful while Naruto was doing a mixture of pouting and glaring at the wall. "Hey, I promised Ino that we'd hang out after I visited Sasuke-kun, so I have to go, okay? Did you still want to meet up tomorrow morning, Haku?"

"Well, I...kind of have plans tomorrow." Haku answered, momentarily ignoring Naruto's subtle look of confusion. "I'll let you know when I'm free again, though."

"Alright. Have a good day, you two." Sakura gave in parting as she walked away, leaving the pair behind.

"What was she talking about?" Naruto mumbled curiously, jabbing a thumb in the direction Sakura had gone. Haku smiled sheepishly as she fussed with her collar for a moment.

"I've kind of been teaching her the basics of Muon Satsujin. Partly to spice up her taijutsu a little bit and..." Haku trailed off for a moment, her voice dropping in volume as she continued, staring off to the side. "And to try making her a little quieter. She was too loud for my liking..."

"...Someone finally managed to get the Pink Banshee to shut up. Thank god." Naruto sighed out exaggeratedly, getting a weird look from Haku. Laughing for a moment, he hooked two tails around Haku's hips again as he uncrossed his arms and wrapped one around her waist, the pair starting to walk as he explained himself. "Everyone used to call Sakura the Pink Banshee back in the Academy because of how loud she was. Kind of mean, but it fit her too well. On the other hand, none of us were brave enough to call her that to her face. She tends to get violent when people piss her off."

"...How long have you all known each other?" Haku asked curiously, looking up at him.

"Eh...I met everyone back when I was nine, so...Going on eight years now, I'd say." Naruto responded with a slight shrug, surprising Haku a little bit. "Geez...It's been that long already, huh? We've come a long way from the annoying little brats we used to be..."

"Hey. Don't go getting lost in the nostalgia now." Haku teased lightly, poking his cheek playfully. Naruto only scoffed with a roll of his eyes as they exited the hospital, heading back in the general direction of their apartment. "We aren't that old yet."

"Nostalgia? Are you crazy? I hated those days." Naruto retorted with a grimace; he wasn't lying, either. He had to put up with so much bullshit back then. The villagers' hatred, getting bullied by half of his classmates and most of the other students, dealing with the biased teachers and staff, and that was just what other people put him through. That didn't include what he put himself through back then. Self-hate was a terrible thing. "My childhood wasn't a happy one, both before and after the bullshit that is my body. If anything, I was a mean and angsty little shit back then. As tempermental as I am, I'm a fucking angel compared to the fiendish little bastard I used to be."

"Stop cussing so much!" Haku hissed under her breath with a slight glare, lightly digging a knuckle into his ribs enough to cause him some discomfort, making him lean away in return without pulling away from her. Getting only an indignant huff in return a moment later, Haku pouted slightly, glaring at him a little more intently. "Mmnn...I'm gonna kick your ass if we ever have kids and they start talking like that because of you."

Naruto went silent as he looked away, pouting quite noticably even though his cheeks were burning red beneath his fur. Feeling his hand gently squeeze her hip as he held her a bit tighter, Haku couldn't help blushing a little bit as well, leaning into his side more fully at the thought of them starting a family. Sakura was right; they really did bicker like a married couple. Maybe not an old one, but a married couple nonetheless...and it made her heart swell with joy at the thought. Lightly chewing her bottom lip with a small, hopeful smile, Haku hoped they had the chance to have a baby one day. At least a couple more years down the line, just long enough for them to at least get themselves financially stable...and moved into a bigger place than the tiny little apartment they currently lived in...

"Hey, you hungry?" Naruto inquired, snapping Haku out of her little daydream and making her look up at him in time to see him grimace a little heavily, eyeing a food stand and sniffing the air hungrily as they walked by it. "I'm starving. I haven't eaten since dinner last night..."

"I'm sorry. When you said you were taking me to see the Hokage, I got so excited and nervous that I forgot to make us something to eat before we left..." Haku sheepishly explained, an awkward and apologetic smile tugging at her lips. Snorting slightly, Naruto shook his head at her response. Having slept in a little bit that morning, he had actually thought it was kind of cute how she was frantically rushing around the apartment, trying to get ready after he said he wanted to introduce her to Tsunade and look into getting her started on becoming a teacher.

"Feh...It's fine. I've had to go longer without eating before." Naruto mumbled dismissively as he kissed the top of her head. "So, what do you want?"

"...We could go to Ichiraku's." Haku suggested, not really knowing many other places. Even after eight months, Haku still wasn't all that familiar with Konoha yet; she really needed to get out more. "We haven't gone there in a while and Ayame was asking about you when I stopped by last week."

"Eh...We're not too far away right now and it's pretty close to the apartment." Naruto mumbled in agreement, lightly nudging the side of her head with his nose as he lightly nipped her ear, smirking as Haku grinned coyly, nuzzling his shoulder once more. "Ichiraku's, it is..."

"Mmm...I'm gonna hurt you, boy..." Haku whispered playfully, blushing again as his hand dropped back to her butt, his tails masterfully hiding the appendage as he firmly squeezed her left cheek. Gasping slightly as his hand shifted a little lower after a moment, Haku bit down on her bottom lip while holding on to Naruto a little more tightly, trying to ignore his finger tips as they teasingly brushed against her crotch from behind. Digging her nails into his hip, Haku stifled a quiet moan as he pressed against her clothed entrance before glaring at him heatedly, but the lust in her eyes was quite obvious to him as she put her free hand on his chest, lightly pulling on his fur as her breathing grew heavy. "D-Damn it, K-Kitsune-kun. Not...Not in pu-public."

Naruto simply grinned mischievously for a moment before kissing her on the lips for a moment, the pair drawing closer to the ramen stand that was Ichiraku's...

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"As much as I...enjoy getting woken up like this..." Haku gasped out, struggling to catch her breath as Naruto held her from behind, the pair having yet to get out of bed with the thin sheets pulled up over the lower halves of their naked bodies. "You're going to...make me pass out with exhaustion...if we keep going like this."

"Mmm...That sounds like a challenge..." Naruto teasingly whispered in her ear as he gently kissed the side of her neck, getting a quiet mewl out of her as she leaned back against him more, her eyes closing with blissful contentment. Feeling her shiver as his teeth lightly grazed the sensitive flesh of her neck, Naruto cupped her breast and squeezed it slowly and gently, earning him a quiet whimpering moan from Haku as she started to writhe with euphoria.

"N-No, it's...It's not..." Haku whispered breathlessly, leaning her head back a little more as she turned her upper body a little more, giving him better access to her throat and chest. Despite her words, her body was starting to ache with a hungering need for him once more, her actions contradicting her half-hearted defiance. Feeling his hardened member pressing against her from behind, Haku could only moan once more, savoring the feeling of his fang-like canines as they teasingly grazed her throat again; she'd never realized just how much she enjoyed it whenever he did that until after the first few times. She enjoyed it so much that almost any time he did it to her, she could no longer resist temptation...and now was no different.

Reaching up with one hand, Haku ran her fingers along the side and back of Naruto's neck before tightly gripping his dense fur along the back of his head with a throaty moan as he bit down, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as he started sucking immediately after. Pushing her hips back a little bit, Haku wordlessly encouraged him to keep going. Apart from their errands yesterday, they had been unable to keep their hands to themselves for the past twenty-four hours since he woke her up upon his return to the village. The only reason they had even gone to sleep at a reasonable time last night was because they had worn each other out to the point of passing out...and she didn't care.

If anything, she couldn't get enough of him...

"Na-Naru...Stop...Stop teasing. Please. I can't...I can't take...much more..." She whispered breathlessly as she moved her hips slightly, still gripping the back of his head and neck as he sucked on her throat, still biting down on the supple flesh. Breath hitching in her throat, Haku's spine arched pleasurably with a horny moan as he slid into her from behind. Surrending herself to him, Haku could only moan in ecstacy as he lifted her into a more upright sitting or kneeling position without detaching from her. As he released her throat, Haku kept her head leaned to the side as he slowly thrust in and out of her, covering his hand on her breast with her own as he kept fondling the globe of fatty tissue and soft muscle.

Growling quietly in her ear, Naruto bit down on her shoulder at the base of her neck while his free hand slid from Haku's hip to her stomach, only to lightly drag his claws along the ultra-sensitive flesh above her entrance. Instantly, Haku whimpered with pleasure, gripping the fur on his head and neck more desperately as he started thrusting a little deeper up into her. Purposefully going slow to torture her, sexually, Naruto could only growl a little louder as Haku started moaning louder with lustful need. The moment his clawed finger tips brushed against her clitoris and the parted lips of her entrace, Haku's whimpering moans grew even louder, her hand moving from his to her unoccupied breast as he teasingly rubbed the hyper-sensitive nub of flesh and nerve endings.

Feeling her pleasure climb to greater and greater heights, Haku no longer cared about the time or the fact that she was going to be meeting with Tsunade in a couple hours or how they hadn't used protection once since he came back. All she cared about was her beloved Kitsune-kun and what he was doing to her. Even as the knot in her core built up into a raging inferno of ecstacy, Haku only held on to him as she started bucking her hips in perfect rhythm with his, even as a cry of orgasmic bliss clawed its way out of her as her strongest climax to date rushed through her body like the crushing waves of a tsunami.

"Ki-Ki-Kitsune-kun! Ha-Harder! Please!" Haku pleaded desperately as she gasped for breath, her eyes squeezed shut as they teared up from the intensity of her orgasm. Crying out with ecstacy once again as her lover started thrusting more forcefully, Haku felt her mind grow hazy with her lust and desire, only for a starburst of lights to fill her vision as Naruto continuously jabbed against her 'g-spot', causing another powerful orgasm to ripple through her body just seconds after her previous one. As she shook with pleasurable convulsions, Naruto finally released Haku's shoulder while letting go of her breast, only to turn her head as much as possible. Slipping his tongue into her mouth, Naruto kissed her with as much passion as he could muster, pouring all of his love for her into the liplock, his own climax fast approaching.

Unable to hold it back any longer, Naruto thrust as deep into Haku as possible before releasing his seed inside of her, getting one last long and throaty moan from her. Although slower and calmer than before, their tongues continued to dance as they stayed where they were, letting their bodies rest for the moment. As his hand slid back up from her crotch to her stomach while his other hand rested on her hip, Naruto simply held her as she released the scruff of his neck and gently caressed the side of his head and cheek. Finally breaking the kiss, Naruto slowly pulled out of her, letting Haku relax against him fully as she leaned back, burying her face against the side of his neck lovingly.

"I love you...so much, Kitsune-kun..." Haku whispered quietly amongst her labored breathing, both of them winded and weakened from their repeated love making. Smiling tiredly, Naruto slipped an arm behind Haku's knees before shifting her position so that she was sitting in his lap sideways, cradling her against him in his arms.

"And I love you, Usagi-chan..." Naruto whispered back as Haku weakly lifted her head and tilted his head down for another tender kiss. Resting his forehead against hers, Naruto smiled more lovingly, their eyes closed as they basked in the aftermath of their coupling. "Forever and always."

"Mm-hm...Forever and always." Haku whispered back before playfully nudging his nose with her own, getting a quiet breath of laughter from her vulpine lover. Leaning her head against Naruto's shoulder with her nose buried in his fur, Haku inhaled his scent with a content smile as she finally managed to catch her breath. "Mmm...We both need a shower, but because of you, I can't feel my legs..."

"Hm...Well, I guess I'm just going to have to take responsibility and clean you up myself, now aren't I?" Naruto questioned rhetorically with a flirty smirk as he nudged her cheek with his nose, getting a quiet giggle from Haku as his whiskers tickled her a little. Not waiting for an answer, Naruto moved to the edge of the bed before slowly standing up with Haku in his arms still. As he went to the bathroom, Haku nibbled on her bottom lip with a small, sultry smirk as she slowly ran her fingers through the fur on his chest and up along his neck.

Even as worn out as she was, Haku could feel the fire of desire burning inside of her still. She didn't know why either of them were suddenly so horny, but she didn't care. She was thoroughly enjoying their time together. Whatever it was, she actually hoped it stuck around a little bit longer. She really couldn't get enough of him. As he sat her down for a moment to get the shower started, Haku wondered if she had enough strength left in her for one last round without passing out. Feeling those 'flames' burn just a little hotter than before, Haku didn't care if she did or not. She wanted...No, she needed him inside of her again, just one more time. Only then would she be satisfied...

"Alright, let's get you cleaned up, hm?" Naruto teased lightly as he came back over to pick her up, only for Haku to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him down. Forcing her tongue into his mouth, Haku kissed him deeply and lovingly, getting him to pause for a moment as she purposefully tried to get him worked up again. Even going so far as to reach down with one hand and gently stroke him, Haku smirked faintly against Naruto's lips as she felt him start to swell and stiffen at her touch. After a moment, Naruto deepened the kiss further, understanding what she wanted and being in full agreeance with her wishes. Picking her up, Naruto held her against his body, supporting her with his hands under her rear as she weakly tried to wrap her legs around his waist.

"Just...Just one last time, baby..." Haku whispered breathlessly as she broke the kiss for a moment, her arousal spiking even higher while her heart raced with excitement and desire. "I...I can take it. Please..."

"Anything you say, dear..." Naruto whispered back a bit teasingly as he stepped under the warm water spraying from the shower head, gently pinning Haku against the wall as he slowly lowered her down on to his member. Whimpering quietly, Haku buried her face against his neck as she gasped for breath, already on the verge of having a mini-orgasm as he sheathed himself inside of her. Lifting her head back up, Haku held the sides of Naruto's head as she hungrily captured his lips once again, moaning quietly as her beloved started to slowly and gently thrust into her.

She didn't care if she did pass out afterwards. Tsunade could wait. Her love for Naruto, however, couldn't. She didn't care if she ended up getting pregnant in the end; she knew they'd figure it all out when the time came, no matter what. She just wanted to feel that thick warmth flood her insides again...

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"So...What happened to coming by in the morning?" Tsunade questioned light-heartedly, giving Haku a knowing smirk as the young woman fidgeted awkwardly in the chair in front of her. From the moment Haku had stepped into her office, Tsunade knew exactly why the poor girl was walking with a very noticable limp. Her hair was still a bit damp from a recent shower, she still seemed a little dazed from lingering sensations, and the way Haku looked down and to the side out of embarrassment only cemented Tsunade's thoughts on the matter.

"I-I'm sorry for being late, Hokage-sama...I, uh...I slept in a little longer than I had anticipated." Haku mumbled out shyly, her cheeks a dark crimson behind the collar of her top as she nervously fussed with the sash around her waist; she and Naruto had actually gone for another two rounds instead of one before she finally got around to cleaning herself up. They'd settled for a bath in the end, giving Haku time to relax her aching muscles as she sipped at an herbal tea of her own making to help recover her lost strength. If she hadn't drank the medicinal tea, Haku knew for a fact that she wouldn't have been able to walk to the bathroom door, let alone to meet with Tsunade.

Even still, she made Naruto carry her to the administration building, just in case...

"Slept in, huh?" Tsunade mumbled, still smirking as Haku fussed with her collar, unknowingly flashing a glimpse of the 'necklace' of dark hickies she bore across her throat because of Naruto. Shaking her head at their antics, Tsunade picked up a folder that was set off to the side on her desk before setting it down in front of Haku. Although a little confused, Haku hesitantly reached over and picked it up before looking through its contents. After only a few seconds, though, Haku looked up at Tsunade with surprise clearly written across her face, realizing what it was. Smiling still, Tsunade nodded her head in confirmation. "Report to the Academy next week for your interview and orientation. From there, they'll get you set up with everything you'll need to know and what you'll have to do in order to get started. Your foot is in the door now, Haku. Don't waste this opportunity."

"H-Hai! I won't!" Haku exclaimed with a beaming grin before standing up a little hastily, her legs nearly giving out from under her in the process. Bowing deeply a moment later, Haku straightened back up with misty eyes, but her smile didn't fade in the slightest. "Th-Thank you so much, Hokage-sama! I'll do my best!"

"Good because that's all I'll accept." Tsunade returned, still smirking. She had no doubt in her mind that Haku would keep her word. Reaching into a drawer, Tsunade pulled out the Konoha hitai-ate she had acquired yesterday afternoon before passing it to Haku. "Here. You're going to need this...and just so you're aware, I'll be testing your actual fighting skills soon. I want to make sure you're as skilled as you claim to be, so use your time wisely and train while you can."

"H-Hai, Hokage-sama!" Haku exclaimed, still too excited from her newfound dream finally coming within her reach. After getting a dismissive wave from the woman, Haku didn't waste time leaving the office, bowing once more to Tsunade before she even opened the door. Leaning against the wall not too far down the hall, Naruto opened his eyes and looked up just in time for Haku to lunge at him, wrapping her arms around him with the biggest smile on her face that he had ever seen her with. Squealing happily into Naruto's chest to muffle it, Haku couldn't resist nearly bouncing with energy as she pulled back, only to smash her lips against Naruto's in an unexpected kiss.

"Haha! Settle down, will you?" Naruto laughed out as he caught Haku just as her legs gave out from under her. Blushing, Haku grinned sheepishly, still struggling to contain her joy. "When do you start?"

"I-I got an interview and orientation at the Academy in a week and they're going to help me with everything I'll need to do and know to get started!" Haku blurted out happily, still surprising Naruto with just how much energy she really had. Even after everything they'd done that morning. He'd never seen her so excited about anything before and it made him happy knowing that she was happy. That was when Haku held up the hitai-ate she'd been given, grinning cheekily as she playfully stuck her tongue out. "Academy, here I come!"

"Just what did you put in that tea of yours, Haku?" Naruto teased with a shake of his head, getting another sheepish grin from her as she stepped back a little. "Geez...You're more hyper than a kid on a sugar rush."

"Ehehe...S-Sorry." Haku laughed nervously, fussing with her collar awkwardly as she apologized...

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A/N: Okay, so I am fully aware that this chapter turned out pretty smutty, but I actually did that on purpose, believe it or not. I also wanted to focus a little more on Haku this time around and I hope I did her justice with how I'm portraying her character in this story. While I'm pretty sure a good number of y'all will figure out a couple of the things I'm setting up for future chapters, but that's only because I'm kind of...obliviously obvious some times. Anyways, before I spoil anything, I hope everyone enjoyed the new chapter!