Naruto: Paradise for One [R-18]

As much as he wanted to, Saul did not spend the entire night with Yakumo. He didn't dare to.

Hinata was there waiting for him at the door with her Byakugan active. The clone he left to keep an eye on her gave a resigned smile, and then dispersed. The memories merged with his own.

...

Oh.

He was glad he had the foresight not to dispel the clone.

"Saul-kun." She was unnaturally quiet.

"Hinata." Saul's voice was cold. He could not give even an inch, especially not now.

She took his arm, speaking calmly. Her Byakugan was still active. "Come inside, Saul-kun. You must be tired."

He didn't move. "Hinata, if you keep acting like this, I'd rather sleep outside."

"Why? Why why why why why!!!????"

She was being calm right? She wasn't acting out right? Didn't she just want him back? Why didn't he seem happy to see her!? Did he want to stay with that thieving slut? Was he going to discard her like trash just like her clan?

She was growing increasingly unstable. He wouldn't be able to work with her like this.

"Deactivate your Byakugan, Hinata." He commanded, shaking off her hand. Saul judged active physical contact with her was too much of a risk right now.

Hinata's hand lingered in the air, frozen in disbelief. Then her hand lowered, as tears streamed freely down her cheeks. She wasn't listening yet.

"Saul-kun. I can see it. You did it with her... I've been dedicating everything to you! Everything! You're the one person who actually believed in me! The one person who acknowledged my efforts! So why, Saul-kun, why..."

"Hinata. I still believe in you." He knew he was taking a risk by stepping closer, but he did so anyway. He needed to convince her not just with his words, but also his body language, "Why don't you deactivate your Byakugan? No matter whoever else I bring into my life, I still won't abandon you. Look at me. Aren't I back now?"

Hinata trembled, then started openly crying. "Saul-kuuuuun!!!"

Saul opened his arms. She rushed in, hugging him and sobbing. He hugged her back, thankful he didn't have to use the frontloaded body flicker technique he had ready just in case.

The Next Morning

Hinata was up early, washing his clothes. She was humming as she did so, washing the same shirt over and over thoroughly. He approached her from behind.

"Good morning, my wonderful Saul-kun."

She didn't even turn to look at him, but that was something the Hyuuga did as a courtesy rather than a need. Hinata had 360 degree vision even without activating her Byakugan; no matter from which angle he approached she would always know.

She seemed abnormally cheery considering last night. Saul made casual conversation.

"Having trouble getting out a stain?"

She giggled, "You could say it's something like that."

Saul looked a little closer. That was the shirt he wore yesterday.

"Why are you still washing it? It already looks clean to me."

"Saul-kun... You didn't take off your shirt when you were doing it with Yakumo, did you? I could smell her."

She could... Smell her? Hinata was going a little crazier than he'd like.

"Hinata..." He said warningly.

The girl was quick to turn around. "I'm s-sorry, Saul-kun. I won't wash it anymore."

This wasn't about the shirt.

"Hinata, I've told you many times that I like Yakumo as well as you. Shouldn't you be happy for me?"

"But-"

"Listen to me. I love you Hinata. No one can ever change that except you. But look at what you're becoming now. Jealous, vengeful, even a little smell is a great offense? If you keep this up Hinata, Yakumo won't even have to try to steal me away from you. You'll push me away yourself."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. Her hands froze, dropping the shirt into the water. After a few seconds passed in silence, she nodded slowly.

"You're right, Saul-kun. I understand."

He smiled, lifting her up into a princess carry within his arms. He gave her a kiss on her forehead, and Hinata gave him a soft, affectionate smile. She'd do anything to remain like this, his beloved.

"If that's so, you're coming with me. While you were busy with my shirt, I sent a shadow clone to make breakfast for us."

Breakfast? Oh no, how could she forget!? She always made him breakfast first thing in the morning to show him just how much he meant to her in even the smallest ways. "S-saul-kun let me down! You don't have to - I'll do it! Please!"

He chuckled, "This is your 'punishment.' Now you have no choice but to lay in my arms as I make you breakfast instead of the other way around."

Hinata felt warm inside, so warm.

"N-no!" She giggled. "Stop it!" She loved him so much.

Somewhere in the Wilderness

A new Saul arrived at a seemingly inconspicuous spot within the forest. Underneath a big tree, fallen leaves surrounded a barely visible silvery glint of metal. A chain extended outwards through the leaves, tied around the nearby tree. Most animals would not suspect a thing, walking by. Any observant hunter however, would immediately recognize the signs; it was a bear trap.

Saul picked it up carefully and set it aside. Below was a small patch of dirt, the ground below. This was a double precaution. He formed the hand seals for the trench jutsu, opening up a pathway.

Last night he had been at work all night excavating the dirt beneath the tree, using its roots to hopefully stabilize the underground space. He also created multiple small holes leading to the surface, providing the air to breathe. He was new to doing something like this, so Saul wasn't sure if everything would work out. If it failed, well, then it was no matter. In that case the evidence would be buried for good.

He carried a bag, filled with loaves of bread and water. Arriving at his two, still unconscious prisoners. Hinata had done the honors of keeping them knocked out with her gentle fist, but Saul didn't plan on keeping her so intimately involved with his secrets. She would know only what she needed to know.

Saul brought out a book on Human Anatomy that he was so kindly given by the ninja manning the hospital. He opened it up, flipping to the section labeled 'tendons.' He had reviewed it many times before, but... Now it was different. Looking at the two unconscious ninja in front of him, Saul pulled out some tools.

There was a small, sharp knife originally meant for sawing through sections of wood and rope, with a serrated edge. A pair of bone shears, meant for crushing through bone of prey at precise points. An alcohol based disinfectant, which would make sure they didn't succumb to an illness. And finally, a bunch of gauze bandages. Ninja had them in plenty, often even using them as fashion accessories. Saul would need them to stop the bleeding.

Why was he doing this? Couldn't he handle them with just Genjutsu?

Well certainly yes. That's what he was trying to do... But he needed assurance. He'd come as a clone to see them every day, but there was a period between before he woke up and the morning where he'd have to dispel himself. Ninja were quite resourceful creatures. He didn't want to leave them with the ability to escape their bindings.

The human body is moved by the contraction of muscles. They were arranged in pairs across the human body, connected to bone through tendons. When the muscles contracted - the bone moved. When the bone moved, that was how the body moved. And what connected the muscles to the bones, allowing them to move the body? The tendons of course!

Severe the tendons, and the body could not move no matter how hard one tried. He'd do this for multiple muscles throughout their limbs. Even if they tried to escape - they would not be able to once he did this. His Genjutsu would not be something to fear, no. It would be a delightful escape from the hell of pain he was about to inflict on them for his own assurance. He was looking forward to finally being able to delve deep into the secrets of the mind with no fears, no holds barred.