In claws of evil

Chapter 21: Correction for past mistakes.

Sakura added the rice to the pot as she noticed that the water was boiling. She hummed a familiar tune as she added the chopped vegetables to the second pot on the hot plate where the meat was already cooking.

She had taken about twenty photos of the sleeping couple and had already tugged the memory card of the camera into her purse to upload it to her computer as soon as she returned to her apartment.

Lee had joined her at the Uchiha household to keep his girlfriend company while keeping an eye on the peacefully sleeping couple upstairs. She had just made sure that Sasuke´s wounds were fully healed and that Naruto´s demonic chakra had healed the blonde´s body as well as refilled his chakra levels.

Lee was smiling at her as she offered her boyfriend through nearly seven months a cup of tea after his five hundred push-ups as they heard movement from the first floor.

“… Sakura-chan? Fuzzy eye-brows?” Naruto asked with a sleepy voice as he slowly descended the staircase. His super sensitive nose had picked up her and Lee´s scent even before his ears had picked up on the girl’s humming.

“Naruto-kun… how do you feel?” She asked as Lee rushed to help him before he would trip over his own feet and fall down the stairs. The green-clad nin supported him by wrapping an arm around Naruto´s waist and tugged the blonde´s arm over his shoulder and helped his friend to a chair next to the kitchen table.

Naruto was only dressed in a pair of lose pants that hung low on his hips which made the young medic shook her head at her surrogate brother’s laziness.

“I´m tired as hell,” he grinned. “But other than that I´m just fine.”

“That´s good to hear Naru-chan…” Sakura said with a smile as she roamed through the drawers till she found what she was looking for. Naruto felt like he should run and hide as he saw the smirk on the pink-haired girl’s face.

“S-Sakura-chan… what are you up too?” the blonde stuttered as she approached him with her hands hidden behind her back.

“Lee honey, go, fetch a nice shirt for our future Otokage while I do something about this mess.” She told her boyfriend with a mischievous smirk as she grabbed the blonde´s shoulders and forced him to stay put.

Red streaked blue-eyes turned wide as Sakura revealed what she had in store for him.

“B-But Sakura-chan…”

“No buts little brother… I´ll make sure that you’ll look like a Kage,” she chuckled while Lee just shook his head and left the mansion to go shopping.
~ # ~

Gaara was sitting next to Neji while they waited impatiently for the council to get together. Tsunade had also requested the former head of council Homura to be present as he had been the one who had been in charge of the council during Minato´s reign as well as during Naruto´s childhood.

“Neji… Did you see the look on the pricks face as Naruto-kun stepped in front of him at the training ground?” the redhead asked his lover as the had a moment to themselves as Tsunade, Hiashi and Hinata were talking to Kakashi, Iruka and Jiraiya about something a few steps away from the couple.

“I sure did. I think you misjudge the Uchiha´s feelings for our feline friend. Sasuke-kun looked as if he was scared shitless as he thought that Naruto-kun was willing to take the hit for him,” the Hyuuga said with a sigh.

He had felt the surge of desperate chakra from Naruto as the first sand spear had hit the Uchiha and knew that Naruto would do anything to keep his loved ones safe… and it seemed that the Uchiha was willing to do the same for the one person he loved more than anything else.

“Maybe they are perfect for each other after all… both a stubborn and headstrong. I think they will be able to complete each other and do a great job at leading a nation like Oto-gakure. They will have an allied in Suna.” Gaara said as he had made up his mind.

“I´m sure that Naruto-kun would be happy to hear this koi,” Neji said with a smile as he gave the Kazekage´s hand a small squeeze as it would be inappropriate to kiss the redhead right now as the council were finally arriving.

~ # ~

Sasuke woke at the sound of a cry from downstairs. He sat up and rubbed his eyes with a small smile on hip lips that quickly disappeared as he began to move.

His entire body screamed in pain as his muscles and skin were still sore from the spar with the Kazekage yesterday. He quickly made sure that all his wounds were healed before he willed himself to crawl out of the bed to get dressed.

The Uchiha wondered what the blonde was up to and why he had let out that cry just now? Did the blonde hurt himself or was his body just as sore as the Uchiha´s? Sasuke decided to find out and made his way to the stairs.

He nearly fell down the last few steps as he saw Sakura standing behind his whimpering Dobe with a comb and a pair of scissors in her hands. The kitchen floor was covered in Naruto´s long red streaked blonde hair… or what used to be Naruto´s long hair.

“Sakura! What the f*** are you doing?” the Uchiha growled as he walked up the young medic and her victim. He liked Naruto with long hair though it made the half demon look rather feminine.

“I´m just making sure that Naru-chan looks like a man instead of a girl,” she told the Uchiha while she was about to finish the blonde´s make over.

“Nee-chan!” the blonde whined as she combed his unruly hair. “It hurts… Sasuke help me.”

The Uchiha walked around the table and his eyes grew wide as he saw that the girl had tied his little demon up with chakra restraining robes to make sure that Naruto didn´t escape her.

“Damn it Sakura! You can´t do that to him,” the raven growled as he began to free his struggling blonde.

“But I´m almost done… and you know Naruto… he´s not patient enough to take care of hair that long and I don´t picture you braiding his hair Sasuke-kun,” she giggled as she stepped back to look at her work.

Naruto´s waist long hair was gone and the blonde now had a hair do that made him look a lot like his father. It left the Uchiha breathless as he thought that Naruto looked even hotter like this.

“Wow… damn Naruto… long hair looked good on you… but this… is just hot,” the Uchiha nearly moaned.

“…Really?” Naruto asked as he saw his lover drool all over the floor.

“I thought you would like it Sasuke-kun,” the pink-haired woman giggled. “Naru-chan… you should take a shower while I clean this up. Lee-kun should be back any minute now with some new clothes for both of you… hey Sasuke-kun I didn´t say that you should shower with him!” She chuckled as she watched the Uchiha drag the blonde towards the master bathroom on the first floor.

“… Guess I´ll just leave the new clothes in you bedroom then,” she giggled as she turned the music on to give her former teammates some privacy as she suspected them to be rather loud during their “shower”.

~ # ~

“Why did you summon us Hokage-sama,” a former member of the council asked. Tsunade had asked all the members of the present council as well as those who had been a part of the council as Minato was Hokage to show up to this unscheduled meeting.

The present councilmen were sitting on their official seats while the former members sat on chairs which had been brought in by Tsunade´s assistants earlier.

“I have summoned you here today as some disturbing news has been presented to me. News that which the former council has kept from me,” the angry Hokage growled. “I don´t like it when people keep secrets from me.”

“What kind of information?” the Inuzuka clan asked. Kiba´s father had only been in the council for about two years so he didn´t have a clue what the Hokage was talking about… as well as the Nara, the Akimichi and the Aburame clan.

“I have learned the truth about Uzumaki Naruto´s past and linage,” she told them. “Naruto is the only son of Uzumaki Kushina of the wave and none other than our great fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato… a fact that has been kept a secret from me and the rest of Konoha.”

“What?!” most of the new council grasped.

“But if Naruto-kun is the Yondaime´s son-” the Akimichi began.

“Then why has he been raised as an orphan and an outcast?” the Nara added.

“Because he´s a monster!” Homura growled. “The Yondaime hated his son because he was the reason why his fiancé died while giving birth to the little monster. That´s why he sealed the demon inside of his own spawn. Why should the demon-carrier enjoy the wealth of the Yondaime? He doesn´t deserve it.”

Surprised and angry grasps could be heard through out the room at the former head of council’s harsh and hateful statement.

“Minato loved his son more than anything in the world. It wasn’t Naruto´s fault that Kushina died during labor… it was the Kyuubi´s as it slashed her stomach and gave Naruto his scars. Naruto is Naruto… not the Kyuubi. Even now… after he merged with the youma he´s still himself Homura!” Jiraiya growled angrily at the old man.

“Minato was not a man who blamed others… He chose Naruto as the Kyuubi´s vessel as he couldn´t ask anyone else to give up on their newborn child. He had confidence in his son’s strength and will power even though Naruto had just been born,” Kakashi added. “And I should know as I was present as Minato sealed the Kyuubi inside of little Naruto.”

“I have learned that Minato wanted that Naruto should be known for his great sacrifice… but that you, the former council threatened to ruin those who wanted the truth to be known… and if that didn´t work you threatened to hurt or even kill Naruto.” Tsunade fumed. She had to restrain herself from attacking Homura who looked at her as if she was crazy for taking Naruto´s side in this matter.

“So what. That demon should have been killed long ago. I would have done it myself but Jiraiya, Iruka or Kakashi always seemed to get in my way-” SLAM! The old man was thrown backwards as Gaara´s sand hit him.

“I will not allow you to talk about my brother like that!” the Kazekage growled. “Do you think that anyone bothered to ask Naruto if he wanted to become the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi? What do you know of the loneliness and pain he had to go through his entire life because of his father´s choice that night all those years ago? What do you know of the pain of his father who had to make that decision to save the life of a nation he had sworn to protect? Naruto has always done his best to protect Konoha and those he loves… what have you done that could even be compared slightly to the things he has been willing to do… willing to sacrifice for you and Konoha?”

“… You are just as much of a demon as he is,” Homura growled at the redhead. “How they could allow you to become Kage I will never understand.”
“Shut up you… you ignorant bastard!” Neji yelled at the man. The entire council agreed with the Hyuuga and shouted at the old man in anger and disappointment.

Tsunade and Iruka looked at each other at the emotional reaction this brought forth in the new council while the former members stared regretfully at the ground beneath their feet… well except for Homura who yelled insults back at the Kazekage and the new council.

~ # ~

“Ahhhh cold… Teme!” Naruto cried as his back was pressed against the cold tiles in the shower. His heated skin grew goosebumps which made the blonde tremble slightly.

“I know koi,” Sasuke said with a lusting voice as he pressed his aroused body against the blonde´s. He too, was trembling, but not from the cold but from desire and need. He needed Naruto and he needed it now.

The Uchiha roughly grabbed the blonde´s left leg and wordlessly demanded that Naruto wrapped it around the Uchiha´s back which he did without protest as he was just as needy as his dark-eyed lover.

Their eyes met before mouths crushed together in a rough yet passionate kiss. This wasn´t going to be soft and gentle but rough and hard… even though their muscles ached from yesterdays fight and training.

“F*** me Sas´ke,” the blonde growled into the kiss as he bucked his hips against the Uchiha. The spray from the hot shower made their bodies’ slick and made it easier to rub against each other.

“Mmmmm yesss,” the raven hissed as he groped Naruto´s ass and made the blonde move his hips in the right position to slam into that hot, tight cave after he had prepared the moaning blonde.

“Ahhhh,” the blonde pushed himself further down on the Uchiha´s cock while he buried his claw-like nails in his lover´s ass-cheeks.

“Bite me,” Sasuke moaned in a mix of pain and lust as he pounded into his blonde lover´s hotness faster, harder and deeper with each thrust. He loved the intense feeling of pain and burning desire he felt every time he was having rough sex with his Kitsune-koi… it was addictive somehow and it made him feel alive.

Naruto let out a purr-like growl and buried his fangs in Sasuke´s pale shoulder which earned the half-demon a satisfied cry from his lover who came hard inside of the blonde.

Sasuke rested his forehead on Naruto´s shoulder as he reached in between them to stroke the blonde till completion while whispering promises of eternal love and affection into Naruto´s soft locks.

The blonde soon joined the raven in his orgasmic bliss and together they slid to the tiled floor as their legs trembled from their activities.

“I guess you like my new hair-cut?” the blonde panted with a smile on his lips. He was leaning against his pale lover, his chin against Sasuke´s; eyes closed as he enjoyed the afterglow as well as the closeness between them.

“Yeah I do.” He said. Sasuke gently moved the blonde away from him and captured his lover´s lips in a sweet kiss. “Say… I think we have stayed here long enough to learn about our strengths and weaknesses…”

“Yeah I know what you mean. The sound is waiting for our return. Let´s pack out stuff together and say goodbye to everyone tonight, that way we can leave tomorrow at dawn…it´s a long trip to Oto-gakure after all,” the blonde grinned. He somehow managed to get onto his feet and dragged the Uchiha to his feet as well.

~ # ~

Tsunade watched the bickering and exchange of insults for about fifteen minutes before she decided that this was leading nowhere.

“Alright!” She growled so loud that everyone shut up immediately. “Here´s what we´re gonna do. I want the old council to give Naruto-kun an official apology and tell him the truth about his linage so that he will be able to begin his life as the Otokage along side the Uchiha without having to worry about his past.”

She walked towards Homura who looked as if he was about to say anything. She punched him square on the nose which earned her a cry of pain from the old man.

“I also want the new council to give both Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun all their family assets as they are both the heirs of their families’ wealth. They will need it to re-make Oto-gakure as they seem fit.” She added. “From this day on… everyone will be informed about the truth about Naruto´s past… everyone – do I make myself clear! I want the council to make an official statement… and I want it to be announced in public… to long has Naruto been treated poorly… I want him to become a respected Kage who can be proud of his family and who will accept Konoha as his allies.”

“I agree lady Hokage,” Hiashi told her and the council. “Homura! I hereby order you to release all of the Namikaze clan’s assets down to the last scroll!”

The former leader of the council was about to open his mouth in protest as evil glares from the new council, Naruto´s friends and a certain pissed Kazekage made him hold his tongue and nod in hesitant acceptance.

~ # ~

Naruto and Sasuke were met by a beet-red Lee as they exited the bathroom with nothing but a towel around their waists.

The bowler-cut nin handed them each a band new outfit while mumbling something about them enjoying the springtime of their youth which made the nearly naked men chuckle.

“Sakura has dinner ready for you once you get dressed,” Lee told them with a shy smile as he left the two men alone so that they could get dressed.

Naruto looked at his pale-skinned lover and suddenly understood why Lee was blushing like that. Sasuke´s neck and shoulders were covered with brushes from Naruto´s claws as well as love bites. The colorful markings stood out on the fair skin and one should have been blind not to notice them instantly.

The Uchiha didn´t seem to care about the branding… maybe because he was Seme.

“Hn… I bet she picked those out and forced Lee to pick them up,” Sasuke said with light disinterest at he looked at the clothes that was given to him. He raised a brow as he saw the blonde lick his lips while staring at his neck.

“Yeah,” Naruto purred as he walked towards the Uchiha till they were noting but an inch apart.

“… Naruto… what are you up too?” he asked as tanned fingers found their way to one of the bite marks and brushed lightly over it before he kissed the abused skin in apology.

“I kinda like it,” the raven whispered as he wrapped his arms around his beloved Kitsune. “I want them to know that you chose me as your mate… as chose you.”

“… Maybe you should mark me too then Teme,” the blonde purred as he continued to kiss and caress the Uchiha´s neck lovingly.

“Hn. Maybe but not now. Let´s get dressed and get something to eat. None of us have had any food since yesterday morning… and whatever Sakura is cooking smells really good.” The Uchiha moaned as sharp teeth pierced his skin.

“… Guess we better get dressed then,” the blonde pouted as he stepped away from the Uchiha only to be dragged back against the pale man´s strong chest.

“Yeah… but not before I get a kiss,” Sasuke crushed his lips hungrily against the blonde´s. Tongues met in a heated dance while pale as well as tan hands caressed their opposites smooth skin.

Both were dizzy as they had to part for air. The towels around their waists had somehow managed to fall to the ground at their feet which left two very naked… and very around lovers standing in the middle of the bedroom; pressed tightly against each other as Sakura barged in to yell at them for taking to long and that the dinner was getting cold.

The young woman froze mid sentence and stared at her two former teammates with wide eyes until the Uchiha spoke to her.

“Was there something else Sakura-chan or do you mind leaving so we can get dressed?”

The girl snapped out of it and looked from Sasuke to Naruto before she gave their naked bodies’ one long last stare before she left the room and close the door behind her. Both men shook their heads as they heard Sakura let out a loud fan girl squeal from the other side of the door before she rushed down the stairs with a giggle.

“… Girls,” Naruto chuckled as he left Sasuke´s warm embrace to lock the door. Both decided that it would be best if they got dressed and grabbed some food before they were interrupted again.

En minutes later the two men descended the stair with their new outfits. Sakura and Lee both stared at their friends who looked dashing.

Naruto was wearing well fitting black pants, a dark sleeveless fishnet shirt and a teal gi with an orange swirl on the back and a smaller one just next to his heart. He had left it untied and the baby-blue obi was hanging over his shoulder. The outfit along with his new hair-cut and the slight feline touch made him look like a wild version of his father.

Sasuke was looking a lot like he was as he had been training at the Sound with a few changes. His hakama pants were traditional hakama pants. (Like Ichigo´s – from Bleach), they were all black and very lose which made the blonde tease the Uchiha by telling him that he looked as if he was wearing a skirt. This again made the Uchiha growl at his chuckling lover and hit him over the head.

Like Naruto, Sasuke also had a dark grey fishnet shirt beneath a white gi with the Uchiha crest on the back. He had tied the gi with a white obi with the Uchiha emblem in the center.

They looked like they belonged together perfectly which made Sakura and Lee smile brightly at their friends.

Soon they were all sitting around the table; talking about the past as well as discussing plans for their individual futures while enjoying the delicious food which the young medic had prepared for them.

None of them knew anything about the ruckus that was going down at the Hokage tower as Naruto talked Sakura and Lee into helping them pack for their departure.

~ # ~

Tsunade, Hiashi as well as Kakashi and Gaara were breathing down Homura´s neck as the former council member signed all of Namikaze Minato´s assets over to Naruto, and the Uchiha clan’s assets to Sasuke.

Jiraiya and Iruka collected the keys to the storage rooms where all the smaller items like scrolls, family pictures, things that had been important to Naruto and Sasuke´s families while they were still alive.

There was some pieces furniture, paintings, jewelry as well as clothing… everything was going to be carefully packed up in boxes and sent to the Sound as a surprise for the two Kage soon to be when they would arrive at their new home.

Tsunade made sure that the money where deposited at the local bank while the deeps for the property that belonged to Naruto and Sasuke was kept in a hidden drawer at her desk till the Uchiha and the Uzumaki heirs stopped by her office later today.

“Hokage-sama?”

“Yes Kakashi-sensei?” the blonde Kage asked with a sigh as the final pieces of family values of the Namikaze clan were transferred to a secure vault.

“Would you mind if I inform our young friends about this?” the copy-nin asked her.

“… I want to tell them about this myself, face to face, but I would appreciate it if you would ask them to stop by my office in an hour. You, Iruka and the others are welcome to join… but you have to keep it a secret till I´ve had the opportunity to talk to them alone. I want to surprise them both… and afterwards we can celebrate.” For the first time that day she was able to smile as things were going in the right direction.

TBC