The Angels are Watching

Pairing: Naruto/Neji
Archive: Just ask.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. That honor belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.


They hadn’t expected it to rain quite so suddenly. One moment they’re chasing enemy nin down the riverbank, and the next, it was raining too hard to see. Neji activated his byakugan and peered through the woods. After a moment, he shook his head, and Naruto sighed heavily, exasperated.

Inside, Kyuubi grumbled something derogatory about nature and the washing away of scents. Naruto could almost feel him shaking the imagined rain out of his fur. In sympathy, he shook his head, sending raindrops flying. Neji scowled slightly as some landed by his eye.

Naruto gave an apologetic smile, but Neji just motioned for them to find shelter. Naruto nodded and hurried to follow.

Neji didn’t pause once, leading them straight toward a jutting bit of rock. Naruto paused as they landed, brow furrowing skeptically. Neji just ducked down and slipped through the ragged crack. Looking up at the sky, Naruto heaved a sigh and followed.

The inside was not roomy at all. In fact, Naruto didn’t think he’d ever seen a less welcoming hole. Rocks jutted out from every direction, and it was a bit of a tight fit. Neji settled at the far end, drawing his knees to his chest and rubbing at his arms. Naruto dropped down beside him.

“So…how screwed are we?” he asked, with a sigh.

The missing nin they’d been chasing ranked high in the Bingo book. Tsunade had sent he and Neji specifically to retrieve them. Naruto could still remember the odd look on Neji’s face, when the Hokage had announced they wouldn’t need a full team.

Naruto’s chest had puffed out proudly as she’d explained that she had complete faith in their ability to work as a team and bring in the pair of missing nin alive. Neji had been pensive for a moment, before agreeing. Naruto had already said yes, as soon as the word ‘mission’ slipped from the woman’s lips.

He hadn’t been on a mission in some time, and not only did he feel his skills were slipping because of it, he was also low on money. And there was only so many times he could puppy eye his friends into buying him ramen. Neji had probably thought back on the four times he’d been eyed that past week, since he agreed soon enough.

Finding the Ninja had been all too easy, in Naruto’s opinion. It didn’t seem like they were hiding at all. In fact, he’d have even mentioned it to his partner, if they hadn’t been attacked first.

Neji had thrown an arm across his chest and leaped back, drawing him with him. Before Naruto could thank him, they were chasing after the now fleeing pair of missing nin. The chase had, against all odds, lasted three whole hours.

Secretly, Naruto was glad for the reprieve.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Naruto blinked, looking up to find Neji’s cool gray eyes resting on him. He scratched the back of his head aimlessly and smiled. “Nah…I never get cold.”

Neji shrugged, and it took a moment for Naruto to realize that it wasn’t some casual gesture. Neji was trying to remove his shirt in the cramped space without bumping into the rocks.

“Err…Neji…?”

Neji looked up at him, but Naruto didn’t quite know what to say. Nor could he keep his eyes from remaining fixated on the small sliver of pale skin that peeked between Neji’s raised shirt and the hem of his pants. Naruto even thought he saw a flare of navel there for a moment, as the other paused.

Mouth suddenly prepared for a meal, he swallowed thickly. “Wh-what are you…?”

“Trying to keep from getting sick,” he replied. With a soft grunt, he managed to maneuver his shirt over his head. Laying it aside, he smoothed it out. “Unlike you, I get cold.”

“Hmph,” replied Naruto, leaning as far away as possible, as Neji went for the buckle at his waist.

In truth, Naruto never felt the difference in extreme temperatures. Be they cold, hot, dry or wet. Kyuubi automatically adjusted his own body temperature to counter the effects. He’d been doing it long before Naruto was aware of him, and so, Naruto didn’t even have memories of experiences to compare the lack of feeling to.

His attention was drawn back to his companion at the soft clinking of weaponry. He looked, and immediately wished he hadn’t. Neji was completely naked. Knees drawn up close to his chest, so that all Naruto had to go on was the long exposed legs, and the bare shoulders.

Suddenly dizzy, he tried to occupy himself with dusting the water off his jacket.

Chilled hands found his warm ones and Naruto jumped. Neji was suddenly very close, head turned down as he looked at Naruto’s soaked clothes, hair falling free. Naruto was instantly mesmerized.

“Even if you don’t feel cold, Naruto, you should take these off,” he said, pulling Naruto’s jacket free to his elbows. Numbly, Naruto inched forward, to help him get it passed them. “Your clothes will never dry like this.”

Naruto made a sound that was halfway between a question and acquiescence.

He didn’t protest as Neji moved to straddle him, pulling his shirt free. The wet fabric clung to his skin, peeling free with a tantalizing feel. As Neji lay it aside, Naruto looked at the pale chest that faced him. Slowly his eyes trailed down. Over the well muscled abdomen, to the dark dusting of hair that wound low.

The sudden stillness made him realize he’d been caught, and he blushed furiously. Looking up, he plastered a carefree smile on his face and scratched at the back of his head. He froze as Neji’s hands undid his pants. Eyes widening, as cool hands slipped beneath the waistband to slide against heated skin.

Neji moaned softly, surprising them both.

It was his turn to blush, as Naruto’s brow furrowed, eyes searching his questioningly. Neji cleared his throat and readjusted his weight, so he was balanced more on his own legs, than hovering so tantalizingly close to Naruto.

But the blonde suddenly moved closer, and Neji shifted back with a bit of a start.

“You really are warm,” he said, by way of explanation.

Naruto was quiet for a moment. He lifted his hips, and Neji quickly drew his pants down. They caught on his boots, and Neji turned to free him completely. Once finished, with an attractive flush to his skin, he made to move aside and suddenly found himself pressed firmly against Naruto’s body.

Naruto slid his hands up and down Neji’s back hypnotically.

“What are you doing?” Neji asked, but his voice sounded distant, hazy. There was a tremble to it that made Kyuubi growl appreciatively, and Naruto pulled him closer, burying his nose in silky hair.

“Warming you up,” he replied, and was surprised at how casual it sounded.

Still, there was a huskiness to his voice that made Neji shiver.

Humming to himself, Naruto drew Neji as close as the cramped space would allow, silently thanking whatever God had carved out this place. It wasn’t often he held someone so closely. In his entire life, he’d only ever been hugged twice. Both times had been Iruka.

Neither of those times did either of those hugs make him feel heat pooling solidly in his belly. Nor did they leave him panting softly, or struggling to breathe properly. Neither hug urged his hands to drift lower, searching out more skin, more places to warm, more…something.

Neji hissed softly as Naruto’s hands slid over his rear. They traveled down the backs of his thighs, curved intimately in the dips of his knees and slid back up. He leaned back, as Naruto’s hands glided over a slightly trembling belly.

Naruto had seen that look before. The girls in the village had plagued Sasuke with that look for years. The desperately craving look, that begged for sustenance, and a great deal of it at that. And although he’d never kissed someone before – barring that one incident with Sasuke when they were twelve – he found himself leaning forward.

Neji’s mouth opened almost before their lips even touched. This was new to Naruto, who flailed helplessly. Neji cupped his chin delicately, and slipped his tongue into his mouth. Kyuubi gave a wild flutter deep within, and the inexperience was shoved aside, as he pushed forward suddenly. Neji’s eyes opened in surprise, but he was moaning the next moment, as Naruto’s tongue delved deeply into his mouth, brushing along every inch possessively.

The brunette relaxed into Naruto’s body, even as his hair was gripped a bit painfully. His mouth was freed, as Naruto gave a yank, exposing his throat. Neji gasped as a hot tongue, warm lips and sharp canines nipped, sucked, bit and licked the sensitive flesh.

His hands fisted in Naruto’s hair, and the blonde gave a contented growl.

Suddenly, Naruto’s hips jutted up and they both groaned, as their erections brushed between them. Naruto drew Neji close, and thrust up, delighted by the way Neji moaned.

Mouth trailing ever downward, he found Neji’s nipples and thrust his tongue against first one and then the other. Neji squirmed in his embrace, back arching, hands fisting his hair harder. It sent pleasurable shivers down Naruto’s spine, which pooled at the base of his back and surged passed his hips, to collect in a steady, surging throb between his legs.

There was just enough space to bow Neji back over his arms, the elder shinobi now on his knees. Just enough room to duck between them and take him into his mouth. Neji inhaled sharply, but couldn’t move, lest he bump into the sharp crop of rocks about them.

And so the brunette was left with the difficult task of remaining breathing as Naruto attempted to suck the life clear out of him. In the back of his mind, a joke about Naruto’s loud mouth being finally put to good use formulated and died.

He’d barely thought it, when it was torn from him, as were any other coherent thoughts. He was too busy coming. Naruto drank him down, not the least bit amazed by the fact that his body had adjusted to the intrusion, had prevented his gag reflex from kicking in where it surely should have, and was currently humming with contentment.

Kyuubi was very, very pleased with him, and wasn’t holding back with the praise.

Naruto did his best to ignore him, instead, following the phantom movements that guided his body. Kyuubi was helping him make his first time far less awkward than it had any right to be. Not that he was complaining.

He already felt hopeless enough when it came to dating. He hadn’t ever dreamed he’d actually get a chance at sex. He’d never dreamed his first time would be with a guy. Much less with Neji. And yet, that odd voice of society that had plagued him since childhood was strangely silent. Almost condoning his actions. If nothing else, it seemed to welcome him to another part of it. One step closer to ‘them’. One step closer to belonging.

He actually, had trailed off quite a bit. By the time he realized he was still moving, Neji was crying out, practically begging him to fuck him. Naruto, was rather thrown by the complete lack in composure, from the usually reserved shinobi.

Then he realized he was three fingers deep and brushing something apparently very sensitive.

He blinked in surprise, and quite a bit of awe, as he watched his fingers move as if on their own. In and out of Neji’s tight body, the Hyuuga’s hips desperately pumping in an effort to move them deeper. Neji’s skin was completely covered in one alluring blush. A pretty shade of almost red dusted his glowing skin.

“N-Nnn…Naruto….”

Naruto looked up at him, and became mesmerized by how beautiful Neji looked. His head thrown back, long hair flowing all the way down past Naruto’s contact with his body, brushing the blonde’s legs sensually. His gray eyes were half lidded in bliss, eyelashes fluttering over dark pools of lust. His mouth open wide and gasping, neck bared to the blonde, covered in marks of ownership.

Naruto groaned at the sight, barely registering the freeing of his hand, slick with Neji’s come. His hands furled about slender hips, and Neji’s arms circled his neck, gripping him as if afraid of suddenly being abandoned.

It was the desperate grasp that finally unwound him. And with Kyuubi directing the movement, Naruto pulled Neji down, and shoved up. The cry that tore from Neji’s throat was so raw and full of emotion, that Naruto found himself drawing him very close, thrusting deeply.

Shaking, Neji removed their hitate – the last remnants of clothing upon them – and dropped his forehead into Naruto’s. Naruto knew somewhere that this was more than just a random fuck. The feeling growing with every shove, Neji’s soft gasps against his mouth, and their eyes staring deeply, holding nothing back.

Naruto had never seen such an unguarded look from anyone. He’d never seen such an honest desire directed toward him. It shocked him as much as it aroused him. Somewhere in the vicinity of his chest, something was growing. Something he couldn’t attribute to Kyuubi’s influence. Something that very much wanted to never, ever let Neji go again.

A strange new feeling that wanted Neji near forever. That was willing to do whatever it took to keep him there. A feeling that wanted to take him, possesses him, bow him over every surface and lay a claim so deep, Neji’s descendants would know whom he belonged to.

And it was that feeling that burst out from his chest and intoxicated his every cell as Neji came again, hard and hot against him. Naruto shoved into him, riding out his orgasm until his own broke, sending him flying forward helplessly and crashing into a million pieces that spilled all over the warm body in his arms – like a wave upon the shore.

The air was heavy around them with the sounds of their coupling still echoing. Their harsh breathing making the air thick.

Neji’s hands slipped free of him, dropping down over his chest and coming to a stop in the curve of their bodies. Naruto could feel him trembling, perhaps with something other than desire now. He decided he didn’t want to know, instead busying himself with calming the shaking shinobi. His hands rubbed soothing patterns over Neji’s back, fingers combing gently through his hair.

It wasn’t until he heard – and felt – Neji actually give a sob, that he pulled him away to look him in the eyes. But whatever it was, Neji had already hidden it away. Buried deep again, in layers of guilt and self-loathing.

Naruto stroked beside Neji’s eyes softly, causing the elder to close them. Neji didn’t pull away as Naruto leaned in once more and kissed him sweetly, this kiss all him. Instead, his hands quietly drifted up, stroking at Naruto’s jaw with numb fingers.

Naruto pretended he didn’t feel the tears that slipped free, and Neji didn’t acknowledge that they’d fallen.


Miles away, two ninja appeared in a room darkened by the suffocating presence of a storm. They bowed in unison, forms wavering until they were two different people entirely.

“How did it go?”

“The mission was a success,” a soft female voice replied.

Her companion nodded his agreement. Silent in a way their leader had never seen him before.

“Thank you, Hinata, Kiba.” Tsunade folded her hands together and rested her chin to the backs of her hands. “There is still a lot of work for us to do, but for now, we’ve started them down the right path. Good work. You’re dismissed.”

They bowed and left, and Tsunade was left alone in her office. Sighing, she looked out the window, and over at the monument. Rain darkened the visages rendered there, and made her heart feel heavy.

“Well,” she whispered. “They love him more than you ever could have expected, Yondaime-sama.” She leaned back in her chair. “Thanks for laying the foundation, Sandaime-sama.” Her chair swayed side to side slowly. “I’ve played my hand. Now, it’s up to them.”

At the knock on her door, she turned around, smiling thankfully at Shizune, who crossed the room and settled a brand new flask of sake and a cup against her desk.

Pouring herself a cup, she held it up. “Here’s to them,” she stated, cup dipping in the direction of the monument.

“The Hokage?” Shizune asked.

“Why not.”

She blinked as Shizune poured herself a glass and clinked it against the Godaime’s.

“To the Hokage,” she replied with a smile.

Tsunade drank hers down and gave a laugh. Yes…to the Hokage. The ones who had taught them, to love and respect one another. Who guided their actions even after death. The silent Angels who watched over them. The men with all the plans.