Sway

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

As the carriage turned unto the main road and the village came into view, Neji took a moment to glance sideways at his companion. Even after five months of preparation, and three weeks of travel, the sight that greeted his pale eyes still managed to halt his breath.

Beside him, in a lovely pale kimono, sat a tall, proud woman, with blonde hair that shone like the sun itself, hauntingly clear blue eyes, and a smile that captured hearts with innocent ease. Her posture indicated that she was a self-assured woman, as confident as she was beautiful. And the equine limbs wrapped so delicately in layers of silk did nothing to reflect the amount of raw power hidden within sleek muscles.

Feeling his gaze on her, she turned a long neck, and raised a single slender eyebrow.

It was amazing, how completely all that training had changed his friend.

Thinking back, had they been given a mission even remotely similar to this even a year earlier, Neji had no doubt they’d have failed quite spectacularly. However, as much as he had changed in the long years that washed by in a fleeting current, his companion had changed even more.

Naruto had left the village four years ago to train. In that time, the people he had left behind found themselves suddenly haunted by his memory. Even Neji was not immune. It seemed there was not a corner he could turn, nor a street walk down, without his heart aching. Naruto had spread his wild, untamed personality across the village with unknown efficiency.

It was as if the village struggled under the sudden weight of a world without hope. That was not to say, of course, that hope had died. Yet, without the sunny, optimistic, openly random outbursts of a certain enigmatic shinobi, the world seemed that much duller.

All of the color and warmth had been sucked clear out of the village the day Naruto walked through the gate with fierce determination. Without him, the only way to survive was the ninja way. Missions weren’t as plentiful in those years as they had hoped – an addictive escape from the pain they craved more than their next breath. The missions that existed, however, were complicated and time consuming. While there were plenty of qualified shinobi to carry them out, the Hokage found herself suddenly swarmed by Naruto’s loved ones. Each needing an active outlet to whittle away the time left until his return.

They were granted the missions, and left on them with relief. Mission after mission, succeeding only in making themselves even more exhausted. It was almost laughable. To think that the one shinobi most depended upon for day to day existence was the one shinobi who was steadfastly ignored.

Neji felt a hand curl about his and looked down to find a hand slipping sweetly into his. Looking back up, he could almost see the concern hidden deep in those expressive eyes. The corner of his mouth raised in a private sort of smile and he squeezed back.

To anyone passing by, and perhaps the driver if he were looking, the scene was a natural one. A young bride seeking the attention of her new husband. But to Neji, Naruto was clearly asking a question. ‘What’s the matter?’ His resulting answer, the single, firm squeezing replied, ‘Nothing.’ However, Naruto knew him better than he cared to acknowledge, and in the soft cocking of his head, and the tiny, shy smile, he was clearly telling his companion they’d speak on it later.

Neji sighed inwardly, drawing Naruto’s arm close to entwine with his own. Their clasped hands rested lightly on Neji’s knee. For show, Neji added a sweet smile, that felt all too comfortable on his face when looking at the blonde beside him. Naruto cocked his head with a feminine giggle, and smiled back genuinely.

The smile instantly warmed him inside. That smile that had once been such a plentiful sight, had vanished for three years, leaving a cold weight settled firmly in Neji’s gut. It had only gotten heavier with each passing day, until Neji felt as if he would never be warm again.

Upon Naruto’s return, having that smile flashed so openly at him, Neji had almost dropped his guard completely. Instead, feeling significantly lighter, and pleasantly warm, he’d crossed his arms and told Naruto he hoped he’d learnt more than he’d grown. Naruto had paused at that, perhaps fleshing it out, before laughing. The sound had made Neji dizzy. An overdose of Naruto after over three years of abstinence.

Naruto had hooked his arm through a gap between Neji’s elbow and his rib and announced it was time to catch up, and that Neji could pay for the ramen.

He almost started when he felt something brush against his neck. Looking down, he found Naruto’s head against his shoulder, long, golden locks tickling his skin. Reminding himself that this was for the sake of the mission, he wrapped his arm about Naruto’s slender waist and drew him close. Naruto sighed softly and closed his eyes.

“We’re almost there, Hayashi-san,” the driver offered. He looked over Naruto’s disguised form and smiled comfortingly at Neji.

As soon as they had met him, walking down the road, the elder man had found Neji’s ‘wife’ most intriguing. He asked them questions about themselves. How they met, why they’d decided to move, would there be the pattering of little feet anytime soon? Neji had found it aggravating, even if they’d already prepared for this sort of thing. But, Naruto had smiled and laughed and talked with the man, friendly as ever, and twice as disarming in his new body.

He had saved them the trouble of walking for another two weeks. The kindly driver completely enchanted by the breathtaking beauty and her carefree attitude, had offered to take them to their destination free of charge. Neji had initially been wary, but after a few days realized the man just wanted to bask in Naruto’s presence. Female or not, Naruto was akin to nothing else in life, and for that, Neji couldn’t blame the man in wanting to prolong the inevitable.

With an internal smile, he recalled being assigned the mission.

Naruto had been happy to be offered one of such magnitude, perhaps proud that he was finally worthy, official rank or no. Neji, who had become accustomed to having the blond around once more, accepted only to save himself from the agony of another year without him.

The mission, the Hokage had explained, would be a prolonged one. There was no guarantee that either of them would be able to return to the village within an acceptable amount of time. In fact, they’d been warned, they could be stuck at their outpost an entire year.

Naruto, who had returned only recently, was glad to be leaving again. There was something in his eagerness that saddened the Hyuuga. Neji couldn’t understand why Naruto wanted to leave so soon after returning home. For his part, Naruto didn’t explain.

The Godaime dismissed them, and Naruto hurried off happily. Neji was moving to follow when she halted him by calling his name.

“This mission is more important than it appears, Neji,” she’d said. “It’s true, I need shinobi I can trust dispersed beyond our borders, but this particular mission for you is double edged.”

Neji had nodded in understanding, moving to sit at her offer.

“There is movement in our enemies that has me concerned. I’m assigning this mission to you and Naruto, as it is the farthest from us. And I need him as far from Konoha as he can get.” Sighing, she reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of sake.

Neji declined the offer of a drink, wanting her to explain why she wanted Naruto away from the village so soon after his return. Neji surely didn’t. He could think of many who felt the same, but at the moment, they didn’t matter.

The Godaime took a deep drink from her sake cup and settled it upon her desk. “There is first, the issue with Sasuke.” Only many years of training kept Neji from responding. “I need Naruto to focus his energy elsewhere. I’m afraid he may have become…obsessed, to put it mildly, and it is best for him to redirect his momentum if he’s to accomplish anything.”

Neji wasn’t sure ‘obsessed’ was putting it mildly. Frankly, in his opinion, Naruto had bypassed obsessed, and was well on the way to completely unstable. He could understand the Hokage’s desire to correct such a promising shinobi’s downward spiral as quickly as possible.

“And then, there is…another group. They want Naruto for entirely selfish reasons, and will do everything within their power to obtain him.”

Surprised that anyone had taken enough interest in the blond to want to ‘obtain’ him, Neji nodded, putting the information safely aside for a quieter moment.

“Therefore, Hyuuga Neji, your mission is to guard Uzumaki Naruto with your life.”

Neji blinked once, now mildly concerned about this ‘group’ after Naruto. However, he accepted the mission, with the Godaime’s gratitude.

Setting all of his questions aside, he and Naruto had spent five months training in preparation. The time spent was more for Naruto’s benefit than his own. The blond had to perfect the delicate art of being a woman, while still training in case of a struggle.

He had been swarmed by the kunoichi within their tentative circle of friends. Most surprisingly, the biggest help had been Hinata-sama. She had quietly taught Naruto the secret art of the Hyuuga women. The graceful walk and flowing movements that their other female friends lacked.

Hinata-sama had taught Naruto how to put on a kimono on his own, and the proper way to tie an obi. She taught him how to eat and speak like a well bred lady, which Neji was thankful for, because he doubted – important mission aside – that he could act any differently than he did now. The differences in their natures would be so glaringly obvious without it. It could endanger their missions and their lives.

Ino drilled Naruto in flower arranging. Forcing names, meanings and styles into him with such efficiency that it was almost scary how easily Naruto could now have a conversation with her, or her mother.

Sakura taught Naruto the proper ways to care for his hair and skin. Now that his Sexy-no-jutsu had been tweaked to survive a twelve month stint, Naruto would need to know how best to care for his new body, lest it betray him.

Tenten, surprisingly, taught Naruto how to cook more than Ramen. The blonde shinobi was now a rather adept cook. Capable of more than simply boiling water. Also, quite surprisingly, Tenten was the one to train Naruto in the art of the tea ceremony, and ceremonial dance. Neji didn’t want to know, really he didn’t.

But, Naruto had no such qualms. And it was then that Neji learned a whole new aspect about his teammate. He couldn’t say it was unwelcome. If he were ever forced to take a wife, Tenten would be well received by his clan. If he could just get her to agree to parting with her collection of sharp pointy things.

When he was not being trained how to act like a woman, Naruto was being taught how to fight like one. Anko and Kurenai-sensei took over his training. Naruto complained that they were worse than his own sensei, but openly delighted in the many new, useful jutsu he was being taught.

And so it was, five months after accepting the mission, Naruto and Neji arrived at the hokage tower to receive new identities. According to their new papers, they were Hayashi Seiichi and his recent bride, Hayashi Nanako. They were travelling, in search of a new village to settle in, which of course, had already been assigned. Still, to keep the illusion real, they were told to wander several villages along the border.

They left that same day. Their hitate safe with the Hokage, and nothing but a few hidden kunai to connect them with a ninja village.

It had been awkward at first, but much to Neji’s discomfort, had grown increasingly easier with each step away from their home village.

By now, he and Naruto had developed their own secret language of gestures. Gestures that appeared as normal as a husband and wife’s day to day, but for the shinobi, was a complex form of communication.

Naruto reminded him quite suddenly of the fact, by sighing tiredly. Neji realized he’d slipped yet again, and mentally cursed. Raising his arm from Naruto’s waist, to about his shoulders, he kissed him atop the head.

‘Neji, pay attention’

‘I am paying attention.’

Naruto lay a hand against his chest.

‘We’re here.’

Neji looked up at the sign hanging above the village, cool eyes taking in the sight of the villagers slowly milling to a stop. The carriage drew to a halt in front of the inn, and Neji nodded thankfully at the driver. The man smiled kindly in return, as Neji untangled himself from Naruto and stood, dropping to the ground in a fluid step.

Naruto made a show of rubbing at the corner of one eye gently, and fiddling with his hair. Pretending not to see them, Naruto scanned the villagers and surrounding buildings. Finding nothing amiss, he smoothed out the front of his kimono and smiled at Neji, who waited, arms open, for him.

Neji made sure to smile back, as Naruto stood and took the necessary step toward him. Neji’s hands curled about curvaceous hips, and lifted the other shinobi easily, settling him down on the ground, as if he were truly a much treasured wife.

“Good luck,” the driver called, in parting, and Neji gave a solemn nod.

Naruto smiled, taking many of the villagers by surprise. “Thank you for everything, Toki-san,” he said, waving. Thankfully, it was the gentle Hyuuga wave Hinata-sama had taught him, and not the wide, flagging wave of Naruto’s own habit. “Good luck at the market!”

The man gave a final acknowledging nod, and drove off.

Naruto turned around when the man was out of sight and smiled widely at Neji. “Well, shall we dear?”

Neji could feel copious amounts of amusement. Naruto enjoyed using endearments in an attempt to make him slip. Sure, this was a serious mission. However, regardless of all of Naruto’s training in the past four years – some in preparation for this, most for something else – the mischievous spark that resided in his chest all of his life, had only grown into a monstrous flame.

It was reassuring.

Neji nodded, picking up their bags, from where he’d gathered them from the cart earlier, during Naruto’s preening, and followed his partner into the building. Behind them, soft voices began to buzz.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


After they had rented a room, and made it known that they were looking to stay, and would need a home, Neji and Naruto retired, a mission report at the forefront of at least one of their minds.

As Neji settled the baggage on the floor, Naruto crossed over to the raised futon, dropping into it with a moan.

Looking up, Neji really wished he hadn’t.

Naruto’s kimono had spread wide, tauntingly exposing long legs, and slender thighs. He kicked his legs lazily, his geta dropping from his feet, and stretched. Reaching behind him, he struggled with his obi, forcing his back into an arch, one heel settling into the edge of the futon, to be used as leverage.

Neji would have chided him on his unacceptable behavior, were he not so entranced by the sight.

Naruto gave a soft grunt, followed by another, of a lower tone. The sound allowed Neji to snap out of his haze, reminding himself, that his companion was a very male shinobi undercover. Slipping out of his haori, he folded it once, settling it over the back of the chair, and moving to the other’s side.

Silently, he pushed Naruto unto his side and made quick work of untying the secure knot.

“Thanks,” Naruto sighed, sitting up and pulling it free. He haphazardly tossed it aside. “This thing’s easier to get on.”

Neji hummed in reply and got up, returning to their bags to retrieve the necessary equipment to write out their mission report. There was a bit of rustling as Naruto moved across the sheets, settling himself in the center of the futon, and folding his legs before him. Out of the corner of his eye, Neji watched the blonde remove the kanzashi from his hair, setting them aside far more delicately, as long golden locks tumbled down like a silken waterfall.

He realized he’d been caught staring when Naruto smiled. With a soft, dismissive snort, Neji turned his attention back to the report, sitting down and setting up the ink and scrolls. He could feel Naruto looking at him. Tried to busy himself, as the other got up and padded over softly.

“What are you telling baa-chan?” he asked, dropping both arms unto Neji’s shoulders and looking over one.

Neji resisted the sudden urge to rub one forearm. After all, that had a delegated meaning in their little language and, he had no idea why he wanted to do it anyway. “Nothing more than that we’ve arrived,” he replied, steadfastly ignoring the warm curling sensation in his belly, as Naruto’s soft breathing registered in his ear, and against the sensitive skin of his neck.

Naruto gave a snort, and rested his elbows against Neji’s shoulders. “This is going to be so boring,” he whined. Neji sighed, tired, and not in the mood to try and talk Naruto into being excited about this, admittedly, boring assignment. The only reason they were fifty yards from nowhere, was to secretly keep Naruto safe. Of course, the blond didn’t know that, couldn’t know it. And so, Neji just had to endure his incessant whining.

Unfortunately, the more he tried to concentrate on writing the extremely simple report, the more he was distracted by Naruto.

“Umm…Neji?”

“It’s Seiichi, Nanako,” he corrected.

Naruto sighed. “Seiichi?”

“Yes?”

“Do I really have to be this way for a whole year?”

“Yes.”

Naruto whined, the sound from some low point in his throat, that sent a little tremor through the thin space between them, to attack the back of Neji’s neck. He ignored it.

“But, it’s uncomfortable,” he continued.

“It’s only a year, Nanako. Bear with me.”

Naruto grumbled under his breath, shifting as if to move away. And then, he paused. Neji could almost feel the vulpine grin, as Naruto resettled behind him, pushing breasts against him that felt all too real to his tired body than they had any right to be. Although, he reminded himself, Naruto had said he’d adjusted his jutsu. He hadn’t explained how, but…Neji mentally shook himself. His partner did not have breasts! It was just an elaborate illusion, that he could quickly dispel if he just had a moment to use his byakugan. But, he couldn’t, and so, he forced himself to write the report, and ignore the soft mounds that attempted to cradle his head.

“You mean…bear for you,” Naruto purred.

Neji stiffened.

Naruto’s hands stroked over his long hair, curving across his skull deliciously. “How many children do you want, Se-ii-chi?” he whispered, drawing out the name, with a seductive little twist.

He lowered himself, drawing his hands down Neji’s chest, and slipping them beneath his juban. As delicate fingers slid across his flesh, Neji tried hard not to shiver. “Shall we start soon?” Neji swallowed, forcing his hand to remain steady, and complete the proper kanji.

Realizing Neji was ignoring him, Naruto gave a pout and straightened. Neji, thinking he was going to leave, gave an internal sigh of thanks. However, the hands simply slipped back up the way they’d come, fingertips brushing his nipples lightly and making his heart jolt. The hands traveled up his neck, across his jaw, over his cheeks, and to his temples.

Now, being a ninja, Neji was highly aware of how vital a point Naruto’s hands had settled upon. And yet, he trusted Naruto so completely, instead of feeling threatened, as he’d been expecting, he felt his eyelids droop, wanting to close, as knowing fingers pressed expert circles against them.

He actually sighed, leaning back into the calming touch. The brush he’d been using, rolling out of lax fingers.

Naruto was quiet as he slowly relaxed the heavy set of Neji’s shoulders. Fingers trailing wider, the more relaxed the other got. They slipped down across his neck, working out the tight knots that resided there, before moving to the weakening shoulders.

Before he realized he was in danger of falling asleep, he was waking up. As his eyes fluttered open, his vision was greeted by an angel. Long blond hair curtained his face, while gentle blue eyes looked down at him with an emotion he couldn’t quite read. He blinked, and it was gone.

Instead, a soft kiss was pressed to his brow, directly over his carefully masked curse seal. Hands moved to pull him up, deceptively strong in their delicacy. As he stood, he wavered forward into a supple body, that supported him easily.

“Come to bed, Seiichi,” a female voice purred. “It’s been a long day.”