Naruto: Paradise for One [R-18]

"Kurenai-sensei." Saul spoke as they jumped through the trees back to Konoha. "It was a success. We killed them all."

Kurenai glanced back at the boy, unnerved. He didn't act like any Genin. He was mature, composed, detached, coldly reporting to her as if someone hadn't just died by his own hands.

From the time she'd known the Genin, he'd always gone above and beyond to be polite and respectful towards everyone. Kurenai had not expected him to go against her decision openly, even if the boy might have gone behind her back like he did with Yakumo. Yet he had also clearly given regard to the reasons she had decided to pull the team out.

Kurenai was confused. Should she be happy the boy had finally listened to her concerns about safety? Or should she be mad that he slightly undermined her authority in front of the Duke? She was sure Saul had his reasons. When speaking to him, he gave her the same feeling as the Hokage. He was measured, somehow always in control of the conversation. It had been this way since the very first day they met.

Saul was just 18, though. Regardless of his apparent maturity, he had just killed someone for the very first time. She wouldn't let him get by with simply bottling everything up inside - the guilt would eat you alive.

"Saul... Is everything alright? You know, you didn't have to stay back and help the Duke. Regardless of success or failure, he still has to pay the mission fee."

Saul shook his head. "Those ninja. They might have been planning to assassinate him. How would we explain to Konoha if anything happened to him before another team could arrive?"

Kurenai sighed. This boy was really thinking too much. Even with Yakumo, he did everything in his power to try and ensure the best outcome. He was just a Genin! If something had gone wrong, it wouldn't be his fault! Actually, wait...

Kurenai wiped some sweat from her brow, feeling as if she had accidentally dodged a kunai. If something had really happened, wouldn't it be her who took the blame? Maybe they'd dock her pay? Or worse!

She changed the subject. Kurenai wasn't going to be able to get Saul to open up from that angle. She'd have to start from a different setting, preferably somewhere he'd feel safe. Maybe to meet at a restaurant? Asuma always liked those. This could also serve as a way to repay him as well! It would be two birds with one stone.

"Would you guys like to come out with me this evening? I'd like to treat you all to some BBQ."

Interesting... Saul might have found the 'chink' in the armor Kurenai surrounded herself with.

Yakumo didn't respond. She must have still been angry with the woman.

"I'd like to, Kurenai-sensei." Saul spoke up.

Hinata followed, "I'll come with you, Saul-kun!"

Somewhere in the Wilderness

Saul looked at the black haired woman in silence as they carried the two bodies through the forest. Hinata was his, yes, but he hadn't exposed some of his darker sides to her. He wasn't sure how she would react to what he was about to do. Little by little, he supposed, would be the best way. As long as he didn't go too far immediately, things should be fine.

"Hinata. Let's stop here."

"What are we going to do with them, Saul-kun?"

Saul sighed. Here it goes...

"I'll need you to do the same thing you did for me last time, when that branch member broke in. Knock them out, painlessly, when I request. This time however I'll be doing more than simply observing. Do you follow so far?"

"I can do that for you Saul-kun... But why haven't we just killed them? Isn't that what you told Kurenai and the Duke?"

He had made a deal with the Duke afterward, to send a 'Shadow Clone' every day to work as his bodyguard. The pay was... Miserly at best. But if the duke required him to do a task, he would pay extra for every task completed according to half Konoha's mission standards. Saul did not believe the Duke could resist the cookie in the jar right next to him for long - his strategy was textbook temptation. The money was not the main goal however.

The use of shadow clones necessitated a permit to leave Konoha freely. Saul, after all, needed to resummon them daily as a precaution to avoid his clones amassing too many experiences.

Every day he would summon a new clone, and that clone would be allowed to leave Konoha. Yet because he was using the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, that clone could summon another clone and do other things. Clones would also be allowed to enter Konoha at his discretion in order to transfer his pay from the Duke.

This meant Saul could realistically keep prisoners now. Or as Orochimaru would like to call them, test subjects. These two dead men walking: the missing-nin. They would be the first. But they certainly would not be the last.

"Hinata... Everything I'm doing has a good reason. Last time, I was just looking. The man after all was a Konoha ninja. Regardless of his position against us, I wouldn't do something that could seriously harm a fellow villager."

Yet. The current risk to reward ratio for doing so was extremely unappealing.

Saul continued, "But these people, they're already dead. What I do is no longer a concern to our Sensei, Konoha, or to anyone else. Do you understand? What I'm going to test might seriously harm, or even kill them."

Hinata fell silent. Saul could tell something was bothering her.

"What is it, Hinata?"

"I don't want t-to question you."

"Only a foolish man rejects the offer of counsel. Humor me."

Her Saul-kun was super smart, perfect in every way. What in the world was she doing? Couldn't she just believe in him!?

"...I-I believe in you, Saul-kun. You wouldn't do anything bad."

Oh, but he would. That's why Saul needed her fully on board for what was coming up.

"Hinata, I'm serious. I asked you to tell me. You wouldn't break your promise over something like this, right?"

The black haired girl froze.

"No... Saul-kun, whatever you're going to do to these Ninja, I'm s-sure it's important... But why?" She met his gaze with her pure white, innocent eyes, "W-why... are you lying about it?"

Saul didn't respond, only silence. Hinata felt pressured to explain further,

"If you're keeping them alive, as a secret from everyone... There must be a reason. Are we going to do something that's... not good?"

Oh my lovely Hinata. She was such a shining example of an indoctrinated Ninja, almost fanatical to her village, without even knowing. Torturing and killing helpless men and women was completely fine as long as they weren't affiliated with the village, but keeping it from the village was something horrible? Should he also hand the reins of his life over to Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, on a silver platter?

Saul decided to answer a question with a question. Understanding was best realized by one's own thinking, rather than being told. In this way you would not doubt it later on when someone else told you otherwise.

"Hinata, did the Hyuuga clan always have your best interests in mind?"

The former clan heiress vehemently shook her head 'no'. "Of course not, Saul-kun! My father, the elders, the clan, all they cared about was their appearance alone! My suffering was just... An embarrassment. Even now..."

"So you wouldn't tell the village we had sex, right?"

Hinata blushed, "...Of course not! If the clan knew, then... T-they'd take me away."

"Is what we're doing together wrong then? Since we're having to keep it a secret. Wouldn't it be right to at least tell Kurenai-sensei?"

Hinata's mouth was wide open. Shock at the similarity of his current words combined with her previous question gave birth to a growing sense of realization.

"Y-you're right, Saul-kun."

Saul nodded, "If I revealed I was experimenting on another Ninja, Hinata, the Village would react in the same way that you know the Hyuuga would. The village does not care about me, rather it cares about the village as a whole. Insights into the mind," Saul pointed to his head,

"Are something very risky to those in power. If the village learnt of my growing knowledge in the field, wouldn't it just be easier to get rid of me? I'm no clan ninja. And our village, the only thing we are good at is killing."

Hinata felt anxious and fearful. Her beloved Saul-kun might be taken away from her!? She panicked just at the thought.

Saul frowned. This was no good. The girl's emotions were practically written on her face. While sweet, anyone both motivated and discerning would likely be able to find out something purely from her reactions. If he told her any specifics - the knowledge might become more of a liability than a mitigation of risk.

"I cannot tell you anymore. I'm sorry Hinata. It's for the good of the both of us."

Hinata hugged him. "Please don't apologize, Saul-kun... I-I'm sorry..."

He stroked her head, smiling gently while comforting her. Hinata leaned deeper into his embrace. Once he properly figured out how to erase memories, should he erase some of hers too?

Author's Note: Been feeling burnt out lately, so I decided to find a new game yesterday called Mad Island. It was pretty fun, but it also ate into the free time I normally use to write LOL.

That being said I felt much better while writing this chapter - everything felt much less tedious, and the ideas flowed in my head smoothly. A relative break is probably in order - I've pumped out 60 chapters for this story, yet it's not even been a month.

I'll still do a chapter for you guys daily, no hiatus. However, I'm not going to continue pushing it while I play the game to give myself more free time to recharge. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!