The Red Crimson Bride

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"My handwritting was very ugly back then." Naruki said sipping from her tea. "And I can't believe that you kept it!" she said with a blush.

The two friends were now at the Hokage Mansion, drinking tea and talking about the past. Naruki saw that Naruto grew taller than ever and his facial expressions were more mature than she remembered. His spiky blonde hair grew and now it was covering the both sides of his face only the hitai-ate was preventing the hair which would fall over his eyes as well. 'He grew handsome.' she smiled to herself. He removed the strange orange suit from back then and now he was wearing a white cloak with orange flames at the bottom and the whirlpool symbol, still on his back, 'Figures' she thought.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked rising an eyebrow. Naruki blushed harder and put the cup on the table. She moved her gaze around the room only to see that it was nice and cosy. The medium size table was in the center of the room. Naruto sit in front of the table and she was at his right. She looked over him and stared at the marble fireplace. It was simple and beautiful but the six paintings which were on it's both sides caught her attention mostly. Shodaime, Nidaime, Sandaime were on the left, Yondaime, Godaime, Rokudaime were on the right. A smile crossed her lips as her eyes fell on the last one, his familiar toothy grin was also there. She moved her gaze two paintings before it and could only think that the fourth and sixth were very much alike, no, they were almost the same person only Naruto's whiskered cheeks made him different.

"Hokage-sama I-" she started.

"I told you not to call me that. You are one of my closest friends, there's no need for honorifics." he said and grabbed her hand which was on the table. She stared at his grip for a while then turned to him.

"Then, Naruto-san." she said and Naruto made a smirk.

"Like I told back then, without that too, use just Naruto." he said.

"For me, Naruto isn't just Naruto." she 'hmphed'. Naruto chuckled and let go of her hand. Then he leaned on the back of the chair sighing.

"So what have you done with the Akatsuki?" he asked. She rose her gaze and stared at him.

"I killed Orochimaru and Kabuto. For information." she said serious. Naruto blinked twice then leaned forward.

"If you did that then you probably know 'his' location." he said. She looked at him confused.

"Location? Whose?" she asked.

"Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha's." he said smiling. Naruki backed away, eyes wide open. Uchiha? He had the last name as Itachi? He was related to Itachi? She stared in disbelief at Naruto's confused face.

Itachi never told her about his family, only that he was the one responsible for it's massacre. She was curious to find out but he would tell her that it wasn't important or interesting so she dropped out the subject. But this was serious, he had a living brother which he never told her about. She clenched her fists, he hadn't been open with her fully. But what made her more confused was Sasuke's plans. He knew that she had been part of Akatsuki and wanted to keep her to find infromation about the organisation, his brother. She clenched tighter, he wanted to use her. Why does she always have to be used? Why can't she be normal? Akatsuki used her, Itachi used her and now Sasuke wanted to use her. 'I should tell him where that man is, to ruin his plans and drag him to his village for goodness sake. I told him that he is needed here and I was right.' she thought but something inside her kept her from doing this.

Flashback
r0;One certain man of them killed all the persons I loved and that were close to me.r1;
End of Flashback

Naruki unclenched her fists, he wanted information for his revenge.

"Sorry, I don't know where he is." she sighed. She couldn't do that. He was like her, he wanted the same thing as her. Naruto leaned backwards and took a deep sigh.

"It's ok. I just thought that... maybe." he said and moved his gaze at the ceiling. "You know the friend which I told you about back then? The one who left and that I was training hard to get him back?"

"Yes. He was in the same team as you. You were rivals but eventually you became good friends." she said.

"Sasuke is that one." Naruto said sighing. Naruki stared at him pityful, she could see that he was indeed very sad. Naruki leaned and grabbed his hand.

"Hoka- I mean Naruto, I'm sure that he is fine and that he will come back." she said eyeing him. Naruto turned his gaze at the tight grip then at Naruki's face.

"No. He came back to Konoha but only for his revenge. He heard that Akatsuki were planning on attacking so he and his team came and ambushed them." Naruto said.

"What happened?" she asked alarmed.

"As I said, the two Akatsuki's had been ambushed and two of Sasuke's team died."

"What about Sasuke?"

"He didn't even got hurt." Naruto said.

"Where is he now?" she asked.

"No one knows, he escaped our troops."

Naruki leaned on the back of her chair wondering. 'They are attacking already. I have to hurry if I want to stop them." she said to herself.

"Who were the two attackers?" she asked.

"Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame." he said. Naruki frowned. If Pein sent two of his strongest men then he really wants the Kyuubi fast. She had to hurry or it will be too late. Letting a dep sigh she got up on her feet.

"I have to go." she said and bowed respectfully. Naruto got up as well.

"You just got here. You can't go!" he said.

"I'm sorry but I have bussiness to attend to." she said and turned around. She walked away until she reached the door then she felt a change of wind and the last thing she knew was, Naruto's hand gripping her right shoulder. 'So fast.' she thought.

"If you're thinking that I'm letting you fight alone against them then you're wrong." he said. "Terribly wrong." he continued. Naruki frowned and released herself from his grip.

"I must do this, wether you like it or not. It's my problem not yours or anybody's else. You must understand how I feel since all of this is my fault." she said not looking at him.

"It's not your fault, I don't recall anybody blaming you for Kazegakure or Amegakure. No one said that you were behind those disasters." he said. "Not even one single person."

Naruki made a pause staring at the door's handle. It wasn't her fault? But she was there when those villages had been destroyed. And what about the other persons she killed? She even helped with the capture of a Jinchuuriki.

"If not for those villages then for my babies and the targets." she said and grabbed the handle. But before she would press it the door opened by itself. Voices filled the room and Naruki stared with shock at the short persons.

"Otosan we-" a voice stopped as his eyes fell on Naruki. He looked up at her confused as Naruki looked down with eyes wide open at the small child.

"Hey, get out of the door Hikaru, you're blocking the way!" another voice said.

"Yeah, we want to get in!" a girl voice said this time. Naruki watched as the three little ones were pushing each other in order to get in.

"Stop pushing you two!" the one called Hikaru said. But too late as the other two pushed harder and the three of them fell at Naruki's feet. Hikaru was at the bottom, over him was a girl and another boy was on top of her. They groaned and got off of each other arguing.

"It's your fault!"

"No, it's his, he pushed!"

"No, it's yours, you blocked the door!"

"She was at the door." Hikaru said and pointed at Naruki. The other two turned their head at Naruki and stared at her.

"Hey, you three." Naruto said waving from behind Naruki. The other three smiled and ran at him.

"Otosan!" they yelled and hugged his legs almost making him collapse. He chuckled and muffled their hair. After they broke apart, Naruto turned towards the still shocked Naruki. "Kids, she is a long-time friend of mine, Naruki." he smiled. " Naruki, these are Hikaru, Shiori and Hitoshi." he said pointing at each one. Naruki looked at the small kids speechless. 'They are so tiny and cute.' she thought to herself. Hikaru had spiky blonde hair and white eyes. Shiori had long lavender hair and blue eyes, and finally Hitoshi had blonde hair, which wasn't that spiky as Hikaru's and white blue eyes. The three of them had marks of whiskers on their cheeks.

"Hello." they said smiling. Naruki waved still surprised. Naruto leaned down and smirked.

"Hey kids, give her a hug like you gave me, I'm sure she'll enjoy it." he said. Without expecting it, the three little ones ran towards her and hugged her legs. She looked down at their smiling faces and found herself laughing.

"Naruki nee-chan!" they said cheefully and hugged tighter. Naruki smiled and leaned forward until she reached their level and hugged the three of them. Naruto sat back crossing his arms and grinning. Naruki sent him a knowing look but continued to hug the kids. So this is like having children. She hoped that the moment will last forever, she hoped that they were her kids not somebody's else.

They broke apart and Naruki longed for their embrace, it was an undescribebale feeling, she wanted to hug them over and over again, not having enough.

"They are beautiful, Naruto-san, how old are they?" she asked smiling.

"Next month they'll be four." he said. Naruki let a deep sigh and leaned her head down. The family in front of her stared confused but then she rose her head smiling.

"The next month, my kids would have been four too." she said.

"Where are they?" Shiori asked.

"They sleep with the angels, dear." Naruki said and straightened.

"Won't they woke up?" Hitoshi asked. Naruki hesitated. Naruto noticed and gripped his son's shoulder.

"Enough with the questions, kids, she is a little bit tired." he said.

"No, it's ok." Naruki smiled and leaned forward again to reach the little ones level. "They won't wake up but soon I'm going to sleep too and we'll dream about each other. Then we'll wake up together." she smiled and pressed Hitoshi's nose making him chuckle.

"Can we play with them when we'll meet?" Shiori asked. Naruki turned to her.

"Of course." she smiled then got up. "I should go, I have to find their dad, he lost himself on his way here." she winked and turned towards the door.

"Naruki nee-chan, please stay with us and play." Shiori said. Naruki stopped and turned slowly at them.

"Pleaaasee?" the three of them said in unison with puppy dog eyes. Naruki stayed a few more moments staring at their begging faces as Naruto was grinning mischievously behind them until she let out a deep sigh.

"Ok, just for a few hours." she said and smiled. The kids smiled also and grabbed her by the hands.

"Come, we will show you a great place!" Hikaru said cheerfully and the three of them pulled her towards the door.

"What about you?" Naruki asked turning to Naruto.

"I have to go at the Academy, so I won't be able to join you right now." he grinned. Naruki rose an eyebrow but couldn't say anything as she disappeared through the door.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Naruki walked along the streets being guided by the three small children. She smiled friendly at the villagers and she felt overwhelmed by the majestic beauty of the buildings. Also the villagers gazed confused wondering why the Hokage's children were with an outsider but seeing that the little ones were happy they didn't think that they were in danger.

Finally they reached the park and the children started to chase each other laughing. She followed them also laughing and played with them. That day was perfect for walking in the park. Naruki could see that the park was filled with children and their parents or teenagers kissing on a bench under a tree. She smiled, love was in the air as they would say. She sighed and took a sit on the grass leaning against a tree. The kids continued their play and Naruki watched them happily, it gave her a warm feeling, like her children were playing in front of her, not Naruto's. She put instinctively her hand at the abdomen, remembering the large scar she saw that day after waking from coma, and massaged it.

"I love you two so much and I'm very sorry that I couldn't protect you." she murmured.

"Naruki nee-chan, watch this!" Hikaru yelled. Naruki rose her gaze and watched as the boy flipped in air. After he landed on the ground she clapped and congratulated him as his brother and sister were murmuring 'Show off.'

"Very nice, Kenji!" she said and her smile broke. Kenji? She named her son like that (after her oldest brother). Why did she have to use that name now? She felt tears falling, maybe coming to Konoha, to her friend Naruto wasn't such a good idea. All of this brought her bad memories. She leaned her head down, her shorter hair covering her face. 'Why?' she thought.