in for the kill

note1: I am a terrible person. A complete and utterly terrible person. Feel free to stone me. I was perusing Akatsuki/Sakura favorited fics and found mine, like, four pages in. And I was like, holy hell people liked this shit and I've been a lazy whore and not written anything. So I'm gonna write now, I promise.
note2: I like Twenty One Pilots' new album Vessels. It's good. Unique, and good.

arc two: we are connected
chapter: wind

Naruto sits. He doesn't get to do that a lot anymore, with all of his hokage training going on and Granny running him into the ground at what seems like every chance she gets. But now it is late, and the wind is blowing gently, rustling the treetops and cooling the afternoon air. From his perch atop the hokage monument, he can see the entire city. People wander throughout the streets, stopping here and there to speak with shopkeepers and acquaintances, the lifeblood of his home pumping freely. It's a beautiful sight, with how only a few years ago his beloved city lay in ruins, nothing more than mountains of ash and spiraling columns of smoke.

But he's saved it. They are safe, and it won't ever happen again. He won't let it happen again. And if anyone tries to harm what he holds dear, he'll make them understand the meaning of fear. Next time, Naruto isn't quite sure if he will be so forgiving of someone trying to destroy home, even if they want to save the world.

He wonders how Nagato's getting along with Ame and the new and improved Akatsuki, and chuckles at the thought of the members being forced to be 'good', relatively. Things between them have worked out rather spectacularly, if he does say so himself. The other kages may be a little pissed that he's been so forgiving, but fuck them, he stopped someone from destroying the world, thank you very much. The only kage he really gives a damn about is Gaara, and he had understood, eventually. (This may or may not have anything to do with nights spent at an exclusive hot spring, several dozen bottles of top notch sake, two long, heartfelt, apologetic discussions and one awkward hug.)

It's these thoughts that make him think of Sakura, and send him back to wondering if he made the right decision, sending her to Ame and into the arms of men who used to be her enemies. She was the perfect candidate for the job, though, and there is nobody Naruto trusts more. Politically savvy, calm and collected (usually), and filling a position in Akatsuki that desperately needed to be filled. And Sakura can hold her own, he knows for sure. He's been on the receiving end of a chakra-laden punch far too often for his liking to doubt that one. (He's more worried about her snapping and going on some sort a homicidal rampage and accidentally bringing down a building or two than actually getting herself killed. She's like that when she gets pissed.) No, he's more worried about her mental state. Because she may be made of steel, but she's sometimes she's still the little girl who was left alone by those she loved most.

(He also kinda hopes she isn't too pissed that he forgot to tell her about the transfer and got 'kidnapped' as a result. He winces, imagining the dressing down she'll give him for that one.)

And, well, he misses her.

He misses her a whole fucking lot. He might not love her anymore, but she's still one of the closest things he has to family. They've grown up together, fought together, bled together, hurt together. They bear identical scars, jagged and still a little raw, even though Sasuke left a long time ago.

(But that's a train of thought he doesn't really feel like following anymore. Sasuke's made his bed and now he just hopes he's ready to lie in it.)

A soft voice whispers his name on the wind, and he turns back to see Hinata waiting for him (like she always has). His mouth splits into a familiar grin, and he waves her forward, chuckling at her ever present shyness. She glides towards him gracefully, all porcelain whites and soft lilacs, ethereal in her beauty. Her cool fingers lace through his smoothly, and she leans her head on his shoulder. He places a kiss atop her head and sighs in content.

"Sakura's strong enough for this," she reassures him quietly, "She'll be okay."

"I know," he murmurs back.

(He doesn't deserve this girl, he really doesn't. But she's his now and he'll go through hell and back to keep her.)

The wind whistles softly, singing songs of home and sending leaves spiraling through the air. Naruto smiles (a soft, secret smile that belongs to the few who hold pieces of his heart) and turns to watch the sunset.

note3: Gah I'm working on it I promise. So... sorry. :(