Disclaimer: First of all, I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. Secondly, this is a lemon fanfiction (by "lemon," I mean graphic depictions of sex), so if you're not 18 or you object to this type of writing, find another fanfic.
Author's Note: First and foremost, big thank yous to everyone who waited patiently for the next update. I appreciate your support more than you know. Secondly, for those who are interested, I'm working on a series that will be released on my forum in the near future, so be sure to check it out. I'm not sure when my next "Bandages" update will be ready, but I'll do what I can to release it in a "timely fashion." Once again, thank you all for reading. Enjoy.
--BANDAGES--
Part III
A cool breeze swept down below the canopy as Anko Mitarashi strolled casually through the forest. It was a particularly sunny day, which seemed odd since it had rained non-stop for the better part of the week; the fallen leaves felt slick beneath the soles of her sandals.
At last, Anko came to a small clearing overlooking a nearby waterfall. Crouched down at the water's edge was ANBU Captain Yamato. Though they'd never been formally introduced, she knew her share about his exploits. He spotted her from his perch and offered a salutatory nod. Anko returned the gesture then shifted her gaze to the creator a few yards down the shoreline. A knowing smile crept over her features.
"O-one more try!" a familiar voice called out from inside the whole. "I'll get this time for sure!" Yamato's brow furrowed with exertion. It was clear he was already at his limit, both physically and mentally. Unlike Naruto, he didn't have an endless supply of chakra at his disposal.
"That's enough," Anko stated. Naruto poked his head up above the rim of the creator and stared perplexedly over at the clearing.
"Wha-? What are you doing here…?"
"Hokage-sama wants to see you."
"What for?"
"I don't know; I was told to come get you and that's what I'm doing. Now get your ass outta that hole and c'mon." Naruto turned to Yamato as if expecting some kind of aid.
"Don't worry, Naruto-kun," he said with a smile. "I'm sure we could both use the break, anyway. We'll pick this up tomorrow." As he climbed over the rim of the hole, Naruto let out a sigh of exasperation. Few things annoyed him more than the interruption of progress.
Anko, on the other hand, let her mind drift elsewhere. Her eyes moved slowly over the boy's toned chest and back. How he'd managed to lose his shirt in training was beyond her, but the view was enjoyable, nonetheless. Tiny cuts and bruises dotted his skin beneath the fine layer of dust and sweat. Anko licked her lips, hungrily. Had she not been sent here on business, she'd…
"This had better be good!" Naruto huffed. Anko blinked away her indecent thoughts and offered a casual shrug.
"Like I said, I'm just following orders…"
XXX
"What?!" Naruto's face contorted in disbelief. "Suspended?!"
"Now, now," Jiraiya interjected, "it's nothing permanent… Think of it as a precaution."
"Precaution?! What are you talking about?!"
"Akatsuki," Tsunade replied.
"What about 'em?"
"We've received news from the north… Akatsuki has taken possession of another tailed beast. That makes eight total…"
"Which would make you their final target," Jiraiya finished. Naruto's shocked expression quickly hardened. He knew where this was going.
"But, I'm strong!"
"We know you're strong, Naruto, but power isn't always what determines the victor. This is a situation that requires the utmost care…"
"This is so unfair!" Naruto spat. I've been working my ass off to get stronger and now you're trying to keep me in the village?! What am I supposed to do?!"
"Stay here and wait patiently for this situation to be resolved.…"
"And how long is that gonna take?!"
"I don't pretend to know that…"
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya snapped. Tsunade waved the old man silent and returned her gaze to the boy before her. There was a disturbing calm in her eyes, so placid and resolute. It was almost frightening.
"Naruto, I understand how you feel," she began. "You have every right to be upset, but for now, this is all we can do. With the state our military forces and Akatsuki closing in, I simply cannot risk losing you to the enemy. I'm sorry."
Naruto glared down at the Hokage from the other side of the polished desk. His eyes bore hatefully into hers. He was beside himself with frustration; every fiber in his body was ablaze.
"This is bullshit!" With that, the boy whirled around and stormed out of the office, slamming the door in his wake. An uneasy hush fell over the room, settling over the pair will a chilling resonance.
"Well," the sage muttered, running a hand through his unkempt hair, "that could've gone better…"
XXX
Anko reclined in her chair and glance back at the hanging clock. He'd been gone for nearly one hour. While part of her wondered what could possibly be keeping him so long, her practical side assured her that whatever the Hokage had to say was between her and Naruto. Dismissing the thought, the jounin leaned over the arm of her chair and plucked a magazine from the floor. Kunai Monthly. She'd been a subscriber for almost three years now. Though she rarely ordered anything, she enjoyed browsing the catalogue. Just as her attention was beginning to wane, the door to the apartment creaked open.
"I'm home," Naruto muttered flatly.
"Took you long enough," she replied, off-handedly. No reply. Anko lifted her gaze from the magazine. "What's wrong with you?" Naruto plopped down on the sofa adjacent to her and sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it…" Fair enough. She didn't like to pry and did her best to leave well-enough alone. If Naruto didn't want to talk, he didn't have to; it was that simple. But she still couldn't shake the faint tingle of concern scratching at the back of her mind. Normally when something was bothering him, the kid didn't hesitate to rant openly about it. Needless to say sulking was an uncharacteristically sedate response for Naruto.
Anko tossed her book to the floor and climbed to her feet. At this point, there wasn't much she, alone, could do for him; she'd need a little help. The jounin crossed the living room into the kitchen and threw open the refrigerator door. Perfect, she thought. Snatching two cans from the bottom shelf, Anko slammed the door shut and turned back to Naruto.
"Here." He looked up just in time to snatch an oncoming can out of the air.
"What's this? …Beer…?!"
"Try it."
"N-no! I'm a minor, remember?!" Anko frowned. Since when did he become age-conscious?
"Alright," she shrugged, "then don't." Naruto idly turned the cool aluminum over in his hands, the Hokage's words still echoing in his head. Lose him to the enemy? She made him sound like a bargaining chip. What was he supposed to do now, hide behind the walls of the village while his friends and comrades fought on his behalf? The thought itself was sickening. What would become of his mission to save Sasuke? The longer he stayed locked up in Konoha, the smaller his chances of finding his friend would become. Had all his training been for nothing? Lost in his own thoughts, Naruto barely noticed Anko dropping into the seat beside him. Her can opened with a loud crack, followed by the faint hiss of carbonation.
"Keep making that face and it'll get stuck that way…"
"Shut up," he muttered. The kunoichi gave an apathetic shrug and took a swig of her beer. "Isn't alcohol supposed to be one of the three shinobi taboos."
"Wouldn't know," she replied. Before he could respond, Anko took him by the chin and drew him in for a kiss. Her lips were cool and moist, a sensation he founded decidedly… strange. Suddenly, a rush of cold liquid poured from the back of her throat and into his. Naruto recoiled sharply, but the jounin's grip held him firmly in place.
"MMFFF!" No matter how he tried, her mouth muffled his protests. There was nothing else he could do. With a sigh of defeat, Naruto grudgingly swallowed the mouthful of liquid. He shuddered at its cool bitterness. It was a curious flavor; somewhere between slightly unpleasant and tolerable. At last the woman released her hold and leaned back into the cushions with a self-satisfied grin.
"Oops," she said, mockingly, "looks like I popped your cherry."
"W-what the hell was that for?!" he panted. "I said no!"
"Yeah, whatever…" She paused. "I'll be right back." Anko set her can down on the coffee table and made her way toward the bathroom. The moment the door closed, Naruto let out a bitter sigh. 'What's her problem?' he thought. 'Gah! What am I thinking?! I don't have time to screw around with her! I need to figure out what I'm gonna do next…' Knowing her, Tsunade more than likely already had a team of ANBU keeping an eye on him. No, he'd definitely have to think this through. 'This SUCKS!'
Anko emerged from the bathroom and stopped just short of the sofa. He hadn't moved an inch. It was clear from his unfocused gaze that his mind was wandering, though she had no idea what he was pondering.
"What's with you?"
"Nothing," he replied, defensively. The jounin shrugged and flopped back down beside him. She could really care less.
"I'm gonna go take a dump…"
"Uh huh, thanks for sharing," she quipped. After muttering something under his breath, Naruto climbed to his feet and shuffled out of the room. "And don't get anything on the floor…!" The bathroom door closed with a deafening slam. Silence.
'Damn, he's worse-off than I thought,' Anko admitted, inwardly. The toilet flushed twice, followed by the sound of running water. 'What's he so pissed about, anyway?' The jounin eyed the bathroom door pensively over the rim of her can. 'I guess I could...' Her teeth nibbled idly at her bottom lip as she recalled earlier images of Naruto after his morning training. The toilet flushed a third time.
"Ah, what the hell," she muttered. "I was bored, anyway."
XXX
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Naruto stood hunched over the bathroom sink, watching the tap water flow from the faucet. The monotonous sound of the rushing water blocked out the low hum of the florescent ceiling light.
"Thirsty?" Naruto froze. 'What the-?!' Slowly he lifted his gaze to the leering black eyes in the hanging mirror.
"H-how did you get in here?!" he stammered. "The door was locked from the inside…!" Anko's smile widened as she snaked her arms around his shoulders.
"You sound surprised," she whispered. "Afterall, I AM an assassin…" The warmth of her breath against his ear made every hair on his body stand on end. And yet despite the sensation, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the mirror. Her eyes held his stare; beckoning him. Was this hypnosis? Genjutsu? He couldn't tell.
All at once, the world around him began to spin. He felt loose; detached from reality. Her hands worked slowly over his chest and shoulders. Her hands felt soft yet firm through his sweatshirt. Every motion whittled away at his rigid posture, until at last, he teetered back into her, barely able to support his own weight.
"Hey, Naruto?" she crooned, mockingly. He managed an incoherent sigh, then, turned to face her. "Do you know what time it is?" Her eyes peered levelly into his. "It's shower time."
"H-huh-?" With a flick of her wrists, Anko knocked Naruto backward into the shower. The boy hit the tiled floor with a heavy THUD. The pain sliced through his mental fog and roused him from his euphoria. "Ow!" he hissed, clutching the back of his head. "G-goddammit! What the hell did you do that for?! That hurt, you-!
"Oh, quit your whining. You'll live…" Anko stepped into the shower, fully clothed, and slammed the door behind her. Her eyes gleamed hungrily over her devilish smile. It was as terrifying as it was gripping. What was she going to do, now? Would it hurt? Naruto drew in a sharp breath and braced himself. He was ready. With a yank of the wall knob, the looming showerhead blasted forth with a jet of warm water. Naruto scrambled back on his hands, but the water's range was too wide; the fabric of his jumpsuit was already soaked. Anko lowered herself onto him, straddling his midsection.
"Hey, wait a second, I-!" His words were halted by a pair of warm lip mashed over his own. Her tongue trolled the inside of his mouth, brushing against tongue and teeth as it moved. It was a strong kiss; wild and voracious in nature. Just when he thought she'd suck the life out of him, the jounin broke the kiss, leaving them both gasping for air.
"Well?" she panted. "What are you waiting for?"
"Huh?"
"STRIP."
XXX
"Do you think I was a little too cold?" Tsunade murmured, staring detachedly out the window. Jiraiya glanced up from his reading and frowned.
"With Naruto? Nah, he'll be fine. He's more mature than you think. He'll be fine, trust me."
"You don't think he'd try anything foolish, do you?"
"Probably." The fifth Hokage went rigid in her seat. "But don't worry," he chuckled. "Let him take some time out and calm down. Once he's over the shock, I'm sure he'll come around…"
"You sound awfully sure of yourself," the blonde replied, cocking an eyebrow. Jiraiya smiled.
"I have a sixth sense about these things… It'll work out. Why, I'll bet he's out blowing off some steam, right now…"
XXX
"HARDER!" Anko snarled. Her nails clawed feverishly into the boy's back as he pounded into her. The warm spray of the showerhead washed over them, beading off of their skin like liquid gems. The shower echoed with the sounds of smacking skin and primal moans.
Naruto had the jounin pinned between his chest and the wall, her legs locked around his waist. Anko couldn't place it, but there was something deliciously dirty about being rammed back against the shower wall. It was exhilarating. Despite the distinct difference in size, he seemed to have no problem bearing her weight, and from the muscular bulges in his arms and torso, it was clear to see why. 'I guess all that training paid off, afterall,' she noted, inwardly.
"You ready to cum?" she hissed, taking a nibble at his ear.
"S-shut-up!"
"W-what's wrong? Is little 'Naruto-kun' getting tired?" As much as he hated her derisive tone, for some reason, it seemed spurred him on. Between the sweltering heat of the shower and the blazing sensations coursing through his body, he could feel his endurance beginning to wane. She was amazing, as always.
Anko reached up, mid-thrust and took his face in her hands. Her ebony eyes burned into his, locking him in a stare-down. Tiny streams of water trickled from the tips glossy black hair. Her ample chest heaved arduously against his. Each thrust drove her back against the cool tile wall. Her head was spinning. She felt drunk. Suddenly, Naruto buckled beneath her.
'Dammit!' he cursed, 'I don't think I can wait!' Naruto drove faster than ever, clutching the jounin tightly against him. 'Just a little longer…!' Suddenly, Anko threw her head back and let out a long, feral howl. That was all he needed to hear. With one final thrust, Naruto drove himself up to hilt and came. The warm suction pulsing around his shaft made the genin shudder. As the last waves of pleasure began to taper off, the couple was left panting against the shower wall.
"Shit," Anko chuckled, breathlessly. "That was… Damn…" Naruto grinned. He was quite prod of himself, and rightfully so. As the raven-haired kunoichi relaxed against the cool blue tiles, a gentle sigh escaped her lips. The crystalline mist of the showerhead billowed around her, playing over her silky skin. As she sat there, eyes closed, face tilted to the ceiling, Naruto felt as though he were seeing her for the first time. She looks so beautiful, so tranquil. It was the first time he had ever seen her look so at peace; he couldn't help but stare.
"What's with you?" she murmured.
"N-nothing…!" Naruto blushed and glanced away, inadvertently brushing his cheek against her hardened nipple. The boy lifted his gaze to the leering face above him. The ravenous gleam in her eyes gripped his heart with anticipation. He knew that look all-too-well. Despite his mind's hesitance, his body had already begun to react; within seconds, his member rose to full mast within seconds. Anko inhaled, sharply and drew him closer.
"H-hey, what the-?! Wait a second! I said wait…!"
XXX
Sometime after Naruto nodded off, Anko threw on a t-shirt and wandered out into the living room. Since her last orgasm put her in a particularly good mood, she decided to reward her young lover with a special dinner. Somehow, she felt take-out wouldn't cut it.
She had just settled onto the sofa with the only cookbook she owned when a knock at the door called her attention.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Who is it?" Anko called from the couch. No reply. With an agitated grunt, the jounin climbed to her feet and shuffled off to the front door. "You'd better have a damn good reason for making me get up…!" Anko opened the door and stopped just short of the weathered "welcome" mat. A short, squat figure stood a few paces from the apartment's entrance, its body draped in a worn, brown tarp. The only visible features were a silver tresses and a single eye peering out from behind a left lens of a pair of eyeglasses. Even-so, something about him seemed… familiar.
"Forgive me for disturbing you…" the stranger began with a bow. "You are Anko Mitarashi-san, yes?"
"Who wants to know?"
"No one of any importance… What IS important is the name of the one I served. I believe you are quite familiar with my master, Orochimaru-sama, are you not?" Anko's eyes flashed wide with shock. The mere mention of the name made the mark on her neck ache. Past images of her former sensei flashed in and out of her mind, chilling her to the very marrow of her bones.
"My, my," the stranger chuckled, "such a fierce expression… It would seem you still hold a grudge against our master…"
'That voice…! Those glasses…! I remember him now!' Anko's cool black eyes narrowed, venomously. "You're that boy from the Chunin exams… The one that dropped out halfway through…"
"So, you do remember? I'm honored, Mitarashi-san…"
"You've got some balls showing your face around here…!" The stranger lifted a hand, defensively.
"One moment, Mitarashi-san… I didn't come to antagonize you, nor do I seek to harm you in anyway… I simply wish to pass on some information…"
"Which is?" The figure paused, his one eye gazing bitterly at the ground.
"Orochimaru-sama… is dead."