Naruto: The Prince of Lust-Chapter 259 -

Sitting back down after a moment of silence, Haku discloses to the bun-haired beauty, "I chose Naruto-sama to be your first for several reasons; he spared me and Zabuza-sama, he saved you and your father, he's kind, caring, strong, funny, and handsome. He'll be Hokage one day and likely enact many great changes to our world. You can do so much worse for your first time; I know I did. You simply can't see that because you're overly emotional about idealistic comforts. But remember this, life doesn't owe you anything, much less a fantasy, so stop focusing on how things ought to be."

Though she looks defeated to Haku, he appreciates her simple nod. Before he leaves, they then discuss the costs of her living situation and business expenses. Tenten barely squeaks by with the tenders she makes after her missions and what she makes as a kunoichi is her savings. Like many teams in Konoha, Team Guy meet in the mornings for training before working missions until noon, after which, the rest of the day is for self-improvement. Haku takes the spare keys to Ten Out of Ten and the apartment upstairs before leaving to meet Naruto at the hospital.

It didn't take long for Naruto, Karin, Iruka, and Haku to leave the hospital with the Chūnin sensei. Wheeling Iruka's wheelchair, Naruto's excitement could not be tamed and Haku wouldn't have it any other way. Making their way home, the ecstatic blond talked a mile a minute, all the while, Haku simply enjoyed the feeling of having genuine bonds and a home to walk to. However, the pleasantness of their peaceful walk made him worry about the turmoil in the future.

Haku wondered about Mei and what her plans to uproot their life might entail, because sure as her love for Naruto and Zabuza, he had no doubt she was planning something. Though the former hunter-nin is alert, he's never been deft at predicting that woman's movements, and despite Haku's implicit trust in Naruto, he's worried. Mei may make a move soon and Haku has to have faith Naruto won't be swayed by her.

Thoughts on how best to preserve Naruto's way of living are interrupted when Sakura and Ino meet them on the way to Iruka's. They present their happily embarrassed sensei with a bouquet of wildflowers along with congratulations and well wishes. Naruto had invited them, along with all the other rookies and their sensei, to lunch. Many agreed to come and those training for the final task of the Chūnin exam said they'd pass by. Sakura and Ino, however, want to borrow Karin before joining them at Iruka's.

KURENAI

Walking under the sunny blue sky blessing the bustling village of Konoha, Kurenai enjoys her peaceful stroll to Iruka's house. The homes in this residential area are strictly for shinobi—mostly those of a non-combative, clerical, or educational position—and once she passing the last of the homes with tall thatched gates, it's no more than a twenty-minute walk to Iruka's home. Like the others Naruto invited, she happily accepted the invitation to Iruka's Welcome Back luncheon and is helping Haku prepare the meal. The Chūnin sensei has been in the hospital for nearly six months after his spinal injury, and absent any blood-family, it warms her heart that Naruto will be there to help care for the teacher.

Walking the nearly empty path of the rural neighborhood, Kurenai's thoughts, once again, stray to Naruto, adding an audible sigh to the numerous insects clicking and birds chirping around her. Her blond lover is currently escorting the daughter of someone important, just as Asuma had, and she couldn't for the life of her understand why this is happening to her again. It nearly feels deliberate, as if she's at the center of a cosmic comedy and the joke's on her. Worst of all, she feels as if history will only repeat itself if she doesn't find her balance in this.

'No,' she mentally contradicts. 'Nothing will change unless I stop hesitating.'

She just doesn't know why she's hesitating. With her well-trained mind and honest heart, Kurenai knows two things with absolute certainty; she loves both Asuma and Naruto—if in different ways—and she knows that some intangible thing is stopping her from making a clear and confident choice, leaving her hesitant, indecisive, and standing still. The dilemma is so preoccupying, Kurenai asked Naruto for some space and relieved him of his assistance with Hinata's training; using an actual genjutsu of him to train her. She needed time to think, though another part of her self is accusing her of simply running away, as she did with Asuma. Her heart and mind were in such repeating conflict, she's relieved to sense her friend before the busty beauty lands smoothly beside her.

Sliding her hands in the large front pockets of her brown coat, Anko curiously asks, "aren't you a bit early?"

Playfully bumping shoulders, 'hello,' a smirking Kurenai answers, "I'm surprised. No new notes on how I ought to defile Naruto next?"

"Oh, babe," Anko huff with a smirk. "I've got notes for days. But I'm willing to wait until I see how you both smash your pissers. I won't know how to help my babies if I don't know where they're at."

"For the last time, I'm not letting you watch," Kurenai snorts, groaning in amusement. "I wanted to get an early start before they get there. I'm not sure how many are staying for lunch so I want to be sure there's enough."

"With two weeks before the finals, these brats got a lot of last-minute training to get in," Anko comments. "I can't stay so that's one less mouth to feed."

With concern, the raven-haired beauty asks, "is everything alright? Are you alright?"

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"Yeah, I'm still in a weird place but it's fine." Anko shrugs before clearing her throat and considerately voicing, "I actually need to ask you something... and I'm not sure how much I should say."

As ninjas deal with sensitive material on a daily basis, Kurenai isn't bothered by her friend's hesitation and relays as much. "If it's work-related, you know you don't have to tell me anything compromising."

"Yeah, I know," Anko hums with a small smile. It's clear to her that Anko is uniquely bothered by this information as she slowly explains, "it's work-related, for sure, and I was brought in, but, it's the intel that sucks here."

"Okay," Kurenai gently words with a nod. It's not uncommon for ninjas to work without the complete story and she asks, "what do you want to ask?"

Turning her pupil-less brown eyes on her friend as they walk, Anko asks, "can you check-in on Yūgao? Like, often?"

Nearing Iruka's, Kurenai's ebony mane flows over her shoulder and collar bone as she turns a suspicious gaze on Anko, answering all the while, "...I can, of course. Why?"

"That's the complicated part," Anko half-heartedly smirks. Hiding what appears to be sadness, a cheerless beauty express, "you and me are her closest friends and she's going to need her friends now more than ever."

Feeling the sun suddenly get hotter, Kurenai's concern grows as she apprehensively asks, "Anko?"

Joylessly, Anko finishes, "just like Kakashi needed his friends after Obito and Rin."

It's enough of a blunt hint to stop Kurenai in her tracks, gripping her stomach at the rancid thought of Yūgao suffering the loss of her life. 'Hayate is dead,' her mind realizes as she asks her friend, "how?"

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