Love Uner Fire Book2 Chapter1

Book Two, Chapter One


                                           "New Beginnings"


           "As you have been informed, there is a critical hole that needs to be filled, and you fit the place perfectly. The squad needs a chakra control specailist, and I could think of no one better than you," she filed through notes and data logs as she spoke.

"May I ask as why the spot became available in the first place?"

The woman scoffed at the man's inate ability to bring up uncomfortable subjects. Reluctantly, she answered. "The previous Chakra/Genjutsu user was... made inable for combat situations. I've removed her from duty for her personal safety."

"Let me guess. Expecting a new arrival?"

Tsunade threw daggers with her eyes at him, but knew it to be useless. "Perceptive as ever, for a blind man."

Echo shrugged his shoulders. "We all have our talents."

The Fifth Hokage rolled her almond eyes. He was finishing conversations, trying to get it over with. There was no beating around the bush with her old student, he was all buisness. "As of now, you are reinstated into the Konohagure Shinobi Ranks; Post-Chuunin Level."

The now Chuunin sighed, "Oh, joy. More of what I don't need."

Tsunade gritted her teeth, anger boiling inside the Sannin. She had granted amnesty for his absence, and he smart-mouthed her? As she continued, she interlaced her fingers, resting the tip of her nose on them.

"You are assigned to replace Haruno Sakura in Team VII as the Chakra Control Specailist, either until she is fit for service, or you decied to jump ship again."

Echo's "Could care less" frown vanished as his lips formed a straight line. "Request permission to speak freely... Lady Hokage."

She knitted her eyebrows, unsure what he was going to say, but her curiosity prevailed. "Granted. To an extent."

He nodded in acknowledgement, a trait he used to distract others of his blindness. "The Fitfh should practice what she preaches, words have wings and a nasty habit of returning to their owner."

At first it was an annoying riddle, but like a puzzle, the peices quickly fell into place. Tsunade's eyes fell and her head sank. Her blonde bangs cast shadows over eyes. Echo referred to when she left the village after the deaths of her brother and lover in war. She ran from the pain, hoping to find escape, only to face it when Orochimaru made his devilish offer.

She had returned to Konoha,  as the Fifth Fire Shadow, no less, but it became clear that not everything healed with time. Her gaze fell upon Echo, and for once, she was glad he was blind, her tears concealed. A weak smile formed on her lips. Echo hadn't aged a day in fifteen years, but his maturity was unquestionable. Had she given the same speech to Naruto, he would've exploded in a rage of threats to unseat her and claim the title of Kage for his own, but Echo had taken the blow, and in return, showed Tsunade the hypocrisy in her words without lashing back.

"I'm sorry, Echo. That was uncalled for," she apologized.

A smile formed on Echo's face, "Hatchet's Buried" written all over it. "Anytime, Sensei. So, when am I supposed to meet my squadmates?"

Tsunade sat upright in her chair, having completely forgotten why they were here. "Oh, I forgot. An hour at the proving grounds."

He nodded again, having finally reached the end of the conversation. "Understood." He formed the mold seal, but stopped. Knowing Kakashi was the Captain... "I think I'll walk. There's no rush for time."

As he turned to leave, Tsunade frantically searched through her drawers, and retrieved something. "Echo. Catch."

Tracking the sound of fabric rippling through air, Echo easily took hold of the object with his left hand. He rubbed his thumb across its smooth metal surface, tracing a rectangular shape with soft corners. The steel plate was attached to a long strip of fabric, thin yet sturdy, and the outline of a leaf was etched in the center of the plate.

"A Konoha ForeHead Protector. Extended ties." He lifted it to his nose, and took a sniff. "Brown dye. This isn't standard issue. Did you--"

Tsunade smiled. "Welcome back, Echo."

"Huh," he chuckled. "Thanks." With his back turned, Echo untied his old headband, it bore no mark showing nationality or ninja alliance, and placed it into a pouch on his belt. With great care, he placed the band over his eyes, and gently tied the long fabric into a double knot, letting the spare inches fall down his back.

Tsunade inhaled, then exhaled slowly. "It must be a hard burden," she thought, "Being unable to face someone with the naked eye. Even for Echo."

Giving the band one final tug, Echo turned around. "Thanks."

She grinned wider. Even though it was just one word, Tsunade knew he put as much meaning behind it as he could. "Anyitme," she replied, her vision blurring again. "Damn tears," she thought.

Echo bowed, and turned to the door. Shizune walked in, and held the door open for Echo to pass through. In disbelief, she closed the door, and looked at Tsunade. "Was that... Echo?"

Tsunade swiveled in her chair to face the window. She'd forgotten to clean her face of tears. "Yeah, it suprised me, too."

Shizune tilted her head. "Are you... crying?"

"It's just the rain." Tsunade replied.

"Inside?"



"He's late. He's always late," Naruto complained, leaning against a tree. The only reason he arrives on time every day is because one time Naruto decided to show up around the time Kakashi would appear. Kakashi was waiting for him, and chewed Naruto out for making him wait.

"A keen observation, Naruto," Sai said, his plastic smile present as always. "Seems you were compensated with foresight since you lack--"

"Don't. Just DON'T," Naruto shot at his teammate. He had no liking for Sai, he always made cracks about certain male organs, or lack thereof, and seemed to know which buttons to push. And lately, the number one Knucklehead Ninja was a bit on edge. Especailly with Sai around. "I'm in no mood."

"And why's that, friend? Is it because you're incapable of satisfying your woman?"

That was the last straw. "Leaf Shinobi or not, you'll pay for that!" Naruto yelled as he released a spring loaded kunai from his sleeve. Sai, in like manner, reached for his katana, and the two charged. Yelling with effort, Naruto clashed his weapon against Sai's with all the strength he could muster.

The two branches snapped in half in their hands. "Wha?" Sai questioned examining the remainder of his stick.

Naruto was equally confused. He hadn't equipped himself with kindling that morning had he?

"Leaf Shinobi or not, you two are both adults and should start acting like it," a voice called from the shade of a tree.

Naruto sweatdropped and Sai frowned. "Kakashi-Sensei..."

The decendant of Konoha's White Fang stepped from the shadows, holding their weapons in each hand. "Naruto, how many times must you be told not to fly off the handle like that before you actually grasp the concept?"

"Yes, Sensei," Naruto sighed, eyes downcast.

Kakashi tilted his head. "Interesting," he thought to himself, "Usually he'd have some last second comeback. I wonder what he has on his mind..." His attention turned to Sai. "As for you, Naruto is your teammate, and more importantly, a comerade. Is that anyway to treat a friend, as you call him, with low jokes?"

Sai's face turned expressionless. "No, Kakashi-Sensei. But Naruto just can't take a joke for the life of him," he replied, his sly grin returning.

Naruto closed his eyes. It wasn't the joke that Sai made, but the implication.
Two weeks ago, Naruto and Hinata were just married, and nothing seemed to be more perfect.

(Flashback)

Naruto succesfully finished the difficult task of opening a doorknob with his foot while maintaining his balance and holding his newlywed wife in his arms. She giggled uncontrollably at his efforts as they walked inside. The rug caught his foot, but Naruto was able to spin around so he landed on his back and she on his chest.

"Sorry, wasn't watching where I was going...," he laughed, "An angel distracted me," Naruto smiled, gently running a hand through her silken violet hair. He found her hairpins and removed them, letting her locks flow down like a lusturous waterfall.

Hinata gasped, and her cheekbones flushed pink. "N-Naruto...," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. She untied his head band, and leaned close to Naruto's face. "I-- I love you, Naruo..."

Naruto smiled warmly, Hinata's face was raidiating with deep admiration and respect. He could see all the pain, all the dissapointment vanish as he gazed into her magenta eyes. "I love you, too, Hinata..."

The air was growing thick as tension started to build and their hearts raced. Naruto's hand slid across her cheek, brushing her soft skin ever so gently. It started to smooth down to her neck, causing Hinata's face to light up like a christmas tree. Slowly, Naruto's hand made its way right above her heart.

She closed her eyes, mind racing. "I-- I can't--," she thought, before the darkness took her.

Naruto gasped in shock. "H-Hinata?"

No response, only his own voice.

"Hinata." Naruto closed his eyes. Placing one hand on the back of her neck, and the other under her knees, Naruto lifted his wife bridal style, into his room, and laid her on his bed. "Sleep well, my love," he whispered, pulling the sheets over her, and left, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

Hinata woke up the next morning with a start. She wasn't in her bed. She wasn't in her house. And she hadn't taken to sleeping in kimonos recently. Then it all came back to her. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. She'd passed out on their Wedding Night. Ashamed, she closed her eyes. It wasn't something she could have avoided, but...

She lifted her gaze the door blocking her view. "Naruto..." Hinata got out of bed, tiptoed across the room, and opened the door silently. There he was, draped along the sofa, fast asleep. "Oh, Naruto."

Hinata shut the door. Finding an oversized black shirt and some of Naruto's shorts, she changed out of her Kimono, and into Naruto's clothing. It was strange, wearing something fit for the other gender, but she felt comfortable in them. Having changed, Hinata crept out of the bedroom, and sneaked into the kitchen. She found a few eggs, some spices and a jug of soon-to-expire milk.

Working as quietly as she could, Hinata cracked the eggs onto a skillet, and sprinkled the spice into them. Once they were just about done, she pulled out two glasses, and poured the milk.

Naruto woke to an unfamiliar scent, and he sleepily got up and made his way to the kitchen. He opened the door, and stood there.

"Good morning, Naruto... I-I made breakfast...," she greeted him, gesturing to the table where the panfried eggs steamed from just coming off the pan. "Um, sit down, please," she asked as she brought the milk to the setting, and sat herself.

To say Naruto was at a lack for words was an understatement. It was his first time having a woman in his kitchen, much less a woman wearing his clothes, in his kitchen. "Man," he thought, "That old shirt never looked so good." He took a seat, and clasped his hands together. "Idita--" He stopped himself, the took hold of Hinata's left hand in his right. "Iditakimasu," Naruto said, both a blessing on te meal as well as a thanks for it.

Hinata blushed, but smiled. "Iditakimasu," she replied before breaking her chopsticks and partaking of the meal.

"Whoa! This is amazing! Uhh, what is it?" Naruto asked, taking another bite.

"Uh, it's, um, eggs. I fried them, Naruto," Hinata said.

He scratched the back of his head. "Gee. Never thought of doing it like that. I usually just microwave them with my Ramen to add flavor."

Hinata laughed, then continued eating, not giving her imagination a chance to ruin her appitite.

"Hinata."

"Naruto, I--"

"No, Hinata. It's ok. I realize that... when you get nervous, you'll shut down. I would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable," he smiled, taking her hand in his again. "I'll wait for you, Hinata."

Hinata smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Naruto."

(End Flashback)

Kakashi noticed Naruto's expression with concern. "Naruto? You ok?"

"It's nothing," he lied, but knew saying something now would be better than having his sensei probe until he found out. "Sai just hit me a little below the belt."