The Right Choice

This story is completely finished. I am just going through and doing some final proofreading, but I will be uploading at least once daily. There are over ten chapters and the story is a little over 45,000 words.

Thanks again for all the lovely reviews. I cherish each one, and I really do listen to all that you say. Still no hits on my beta request. I'm still looking on the Become a Beta page, but no luck there so far either.

To Pirate, sorry to disappoint, but my interpretation of Shino, and the Aburame from the series is that the Kikaichu are hidden almost all the time and only used when necessary. I feel like it's a combination of not wanting to make others uncomfortable and not wanting to reveal all of their secrets even to other Konoha shinobi. I also think that with that ingrained need to hid them most of the time would hold even more true in intimate moments. I know a lot of other authors use them quite often, but I'm writing this story as cannon as possible from what I've seen and read so no Kikai sex this time.

To Neko, I think I understand what your saying about the gagging for it line, but for me it's sexy because of how Dougray Scott says it in Mission Impossible II. I love that scene and I've loved that line for so long that I think I need to leave it in, but I'm sorry for the discomfort. It wont show up again so no worries. Thanks again for the reviews they're very helpful.

Chapter 9

Shino was waiting for him at his apartment when he returned, but his pleased stance stiffened instantly when Naruto came near. “You’ve been with my father.” Was all he said, and Naruto was impressed. The Kikaichu didn’t even need to leave Shino to sense it.

“I have.” Naruto answered as he made his way into Shino’s personal space. Naruto stood on his toes to kiss Shino, and pulled down the collar of his coat. Just before their lips touched he whispered, “I asked his permission to see you.”

Shino leaned away from Naruto in shock. “You what?”

Naruto laughed and leaned back in. “I wanted to make sure that there wouldn’t be any trouble for you if we were together so I discussed my intentions with him.”

Shino leaned back again and put his hand on Naruto’s chest to keep him back. Naruto lowered himself back to the flats of his feet and huffed.

“And what exactly are you intentions?” Shino asked. His heart was pounding so hard in his ears he could barely hear the answer.

“I intend to take you out to dinner and then maybe a movie, and if I’m lucky you’ll let me kiss you goodnight.”

Shino laughed out loud in disbelief. “You actually went to my father and asked permission to court me?”

“I did, and I have his permission and his approval. You said you wanted more Shino, you haven’t changed your mind have you?”

Shino ran his fingers through Naruto’s wild hair and smiled. “No Naruto, I haven’t changed my mind, I’m just surprised.” And this time when Naruto leaned in Shino let him. They kissed slow and long, but Naruto didn’t let it go any further, though Shino didn’t seem to object to further advances.

Naruto drug Shino to Ichiraku for dinner and they ate quietly. The evening went quickly. Neither could tell what the movie had been about, they’d spent most of it holding hands and giving each other steamy looks. Naruto enjoyed the moment; it was after all a rare experience for him to feel young. Shino reveled in the attention. To have Naruto all to his self made the wait all the more worth while.

When they finally ambled back to the Aburame complex Shino hovered at the entrance hoping for more than a goodnight kiss. Naruto leaned against a large tree near the entrance and smiled at Shino warmly. “I had a really good time tonight.”

“Spend the night with me.” Shino said boldly. He didn’t want to wait anymore.

Naruto sighed and smiled. It would be hard to refuse, but Shino deserved better. “Not yet.”

Naruto pulled Shino close and kissed him passionately. Shino pulled him tightly to his body. He wouldn’t let go tonight. Naruto needed to know how much he wanted this. “I want you to stay. My parent’s room is on the other side of the house. I promise they won’t hear a thing, we can be quiet. Just say you’ll stay.”

Naruto couldn’t help but laugh, “You can’t possibly thing that you can keep quiet the first time do you. No, I won’t rush this.”

“When?” Shino asked impatiently. Naruto had never seen Shino pout before and he found it hard to hold on to his self control.

“Soon.” Naruto whispered into Shino’s ear, and felt the shiver pass through both of them.

“How soon?” Shino whispered back as he attempted to pull Naruto closer to him.

Naruto put some space between them and touched Shino’s cheek brushing across the soft skin with his thumb. “I promise it will be worth waiting for.”

Shino was still pouting, but he seemed to give in. Naruto gave him one last kiss goodnight, and leapt away quickly, hoping that the distance would lessen the desire to go back.

He made his way back to his apartment and flung himself onto his bed. It had been an amazing day today, and he’d learned so many important things. Shino’s affection was unexpected and yet more then he’d dared to hope it would be. His body was beautiful in all the right ways, strong and lean with broad shoulders and thick arms bound in tight sinew that held a hidden power that made Naruto crazy. Naruto thought for just a second about the heavy alluring cock that hung between Shino’s well toned legs, but it was too much for the moment so he decided to save that train of thought for later.

The talent was what Naruto was more worried about. Shino had said that he could sense emotions. Naruto knew that he’d be able to sense any deception so his mission was going to be trouble. He’d have a hard time hiding it from him. The problem was how? He didn’t think he’d be able to keep the secret from him if he spent any more time with Shino so the problem was how was he going to keep away from Shino. Naruto sat up in his bed and looked around. His pack was ready to go when he was. All he had to do was write a few letters and he could leave tonight. Shino wouldn’t be able to suspect anything if he just left now. That was it. He’d leave tonight, and as soon as he got back he’d give Shino anything he wanted.

He found some paper and wrote four letters. One to Tsunade telling her what he was doing and not to try and stop him, one to Shino telling him to stay put and that he’d be back soon, one to Shibi to make sure he knew to tie Shino down if necessary, and one to Sakura to tell her that he was gone, and have her deliver the letters. Once he was done he placed them all in separate envelopes and then again in one big envelope. He addressed the large one to Sakura, and whistled out the window for on of the hawks he used as Ambassador, and was off before Konoha was put to rest for the night.

ooOOoo

The Anbu had been difficult to get around. They were guarding the outer rim of the village, and he was sure they were assigned to watch for him, but Naruto had spent years learning to be quiet and it was finally paying off. He slipped over the fence and out into the forest toward where Sasuke was thought to be in the most resent report, and when he was clear of the village by miles he let loose in the trees traveling at breakneck speed toward his destination.

ooOOoo

The forest thinned as he approached the river. His feet made no sound as he landed on a branch of a tree that reached over the water. Sasuke was sitting on a stone writing in a small book. His concentration seemed to be focused, but Naruto knew better. Ne leapt down onto the stones below him across the river from Sasuke and waited. Sasuke finished writing in his book, blew on the ink to dry before putting it away in a pocket. He looked up casually as if he’d known Naruto was there the whole time.

“I thought you’d given up by now Naruto.”

“I decided to give it one last shot. I want you to come home. There’s nothing left keeping you from coming with me unless you just don’t want to.”

Sasuke stood up and walked slowly across the river to where Naruto stood and looked him in the eye. So many things had changed over the years and yet so many things were still the same. Naruto was still the most beautiful person he’d ever known, and the only real friend he’d ever had, but there was no going back. There was no changing the past, and at this point he just couldn’t believe he’d be welcome in Konoha. “I’m a missing nin Naruto. They’ll just put me in prison if I go back, and I can’t be in a cage. Madara has promised me answers, but he’s only giving me a piece at a time so I have to wait. When I have what I want I’ll come back on my own and they can do with me what ever they like, but until then I have to stay.”

Naruto knew that Sasuke was hurting, but he had no idea how much. His eyes weren’t fierce like they were when they were children, just resigned and sad. He hated to see someone he cared for so much in that much pain. “Please, Sasuke. Tsunade will do what ever I ask, and if I want you to be free and able to live the life you deserve then she will make it happen. You don’t have to stay here anymore. Just come home. I promise everything will be alright.”

The wind started to pick up over the water, and the change made the hair on Naruto’s neck stand on end, but he ignored it. Sasuke was wavering. This was the first time Naruto had ever seen a lack of conviction in his eyes when he was offered his home back, and Naruto was hopeful. Sasuke reached out to touch Naruto, but suddenly there was a sound carried on the wind that pulled his attention away.

Naruto looked to the other side of the river and there stood Madara his eyes lit with a fire that spoke of maniacal glee, and Naruto felt true fear like he’d never felt before. This was a truly dangerous man, and he was looking at Naruto like he was ready to jump out of his skin with excitement.

“I see your friend has finally decided to grace us with his presence.” Madara spoke. It was low and dangerous and a bit demented. Naruto knew in that moment he’d made a mistake coming here alone. This was what Jiraiya had warned him about all those years ago. This was what he’d been trained for, but suddenly it didn’t seem enough. This man had some sort of leverage on him, he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

“I’ve come to take Sasuke home. He doesn’t belong here, and you have no need for him.”

Madara laughed at Naruto, and Sasuke took a step back when he heard the deranged tone to it. “You’re right young Naruto. I don’t have any use for him any longer. After all he’s served his purpose by bringing you to me. I knew you would come. He was so sure you’d given up, but I knew better. He can go anywhere he likes now, and I won’t try to stop him. You’re the one I want.”

And then he was moving. Naruto couldn’t see him he moved so fast, but it didn’t seem to matter because what ever it was he did made the world stop. Naruto looked into Sasuke’s terror filled eyes a split second before something in his abdomen snapped tight.

“NARUTO!” Was all he heard as he was pulled at lightning speed through the woods, disappearing into the dense foliage.

Last update for the day. Look again tomorrow afternoon. Sorry to leave it on a cliffy.

All the information for this fiction was either taken from actual episodes, manga, or one of several Naruto information sites. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments on any of the info I use, I'm trying to stay in line with the actual story as I can. Thanks.