The village of Konoha was quiet under the gentle blanket of night. Warm lanterns glowed along the cobblestone paths, their light flickering softly in the evening breeze. The shadows of rooftops danced on the ground, cast by the tall paper lamps swaying gently above. It was peaceful the kind of peace that had been fought for over generations, and now, finally, was being enjoyed in full.
In the heart of the village, the Seventh Hokage walked with his wife, Hinata, by his side. His bright orange cloak rustled faintly behind him, embroidered with the bold red flames and the kanji for "Seventh Hokage" on the back. His hand was casually intertwined with hers, and a satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his face.
Naruto Uzumaki, now a legend across the Five Nations, had finally gotten the life he'd always dreamed of. He had a home, a family, respect… and still, he couldn't quite believe it.
Despite his heavy Hokage duties, Naruto had insisted on one more responsibility one that many found unusual for someone in his position. He taught part-time at the Ninja Academy. Some thought it was a waste of his time. Others assumed it was a publicity move. But the truth was much simpler.
He liked it. or maybe...he have something exciting there
"Teaching's different," Naruto had said once to Iruka, years ago. "When you're Hokage, you protect everyone. But when you're a teacher... you shape them. You help them become better than you ever were."
That was Naruto. Even after becoming the strongest shinobi in the village, he still saw himself as a knucklehead ninja, wanting to help the next generation find their own paths. His daughter, Himawari, was among the latest batch of bright-eyed kids learning kunai basics and chakra control, and Naruto took no small joy in occasionally dropping into her class and surprising the students.
Tonight, though, there were no papers to grade, no shadow clones filing reports, and no Academy visits. Tonight was a rare moment of quiet. Just him and Hinata, walking hand in hand through the village streets.
They passed the edge of the Hyūga district, and Naruto's steps slowed. Music soft and celebratory drifted from a nearby home. The house glowed in the darkness, lanterns strung along its fence, paper flowers dancing in the gentle breeze. Fresh sakura petals had been scattered along the entrance.
A wedding.
Naruto stopped.
Hinata did too, unsure of why until she saw the dark grin crawling across her husband's face.
"A new marriage," he murmured, his voice low. "Fresh couple. Probably still drunk on their vows."
He turned his head slowly toward her, that smile sharpening. "Tell me, Hina… don't you think it's a good night to welcome the bride?"
Her breath caught not in surprise, but in resignation. She had sensed the shift in him the moment they stepped out for their walk. That glint in his eyes, the way his fingers twitched, the restless tension in his shoulders… she had hoped it would pass.
"Naruto-kun…" she whispered, lowering her eyes.
He didn't scold her. He didn't need to.
"I'm the Hokage," he said, as if that alone explained everything. "And tonight, I want something different. That house… it's practically inviting us."
Hinata didn't answer, but her hesitation was short-lived. She knew better than to protest. This wasn't the man who stumbled over his words as a teenager. This was the man who had carved peace from war, who had bent nations to treaties, who could command armies with a glance. And when that man decided something… even his wife could only follow.
Wordlessly, she stepped behind him, her expression unreadable as they walked closer to the lit home, their footsteps soft and deliberate.
The newlyweds' house was modest but freshly decorated paper lanterns glowing warmly, flower petals scattered like a trail of dreams. Through the partially open window, the soft laughter of a woman echoed, followed by the low murmur of a man's voice.
Naruto stepped forward silently, standing just before the gate, eyes scanning the place with almost casual confidence. He turned to look at Hinata over his shoulder, that wicked grin still resting on his lips.
"You're quiet."
"I… I understand, Naruto-kun," she said quietly, her gaze lowered.
He reached back and gently brushed his fingers beneath her chin, tilting her face up. "Good girl."
Then he turned toward the door, his steps confident, slow… predatory.
The door creaked open slowly beneath Naruto's hand, no knock, no warning.
The soft music inside stuttered into silence. A man barely into his twenties stood frozen in the entryway, still in his wedding robe, his smile faltering as the glow of the lantern outside cast a tall shadow into the room. Behind him, his new bride stood in white, clutching a porcelain tea cup with both hands, the floral design trembling slightly with her fingers.
Naruto stepped inside like he owned the place because in many ways, he did. His boots clicked softly against the wood as he crossed the threshold, his Hokage cloak sweeping behind him with quiet authority. Hinata followed without a word, her presence silent and graceful as ever, her expression unreadable.
"Seventh… Lord Seventh," the groom said quickly, bowing low, voice strained by nerves. "We we didn't know you were"
"At ease," Naruto interrupted calmly, waving a hand. "This is your night, after all. No need for titles."
The young man straightened, but his confusion deepened with every step Naruto took into their modest home.
"I heard there was a wedding," Naruto said, looking around with a slight smirk. "Couldn't help but stop by. A celebration like this… it's part of the village, isn't it? And everything in this village…" He let the sentence hang, unfinished but heavy.
The groom swallowed hard. His bride peeked out from behind him with wide eyes, her posture still and nervous. Naruto's gaze found her and lingered.
She was young, nervous dressed in ceremonial white with dark hair pinned up carefully, lips still painted from the afternoon ceremony. She looked at Naruto not with defiance, not even curiosity but with something else entirely.
Reverence.
Fear.
He stepped closer.
"I see you've chosen well," Naruto said to the groom, eyes still on the girl. "She's… beautiful."
The groom gave a tight, unsure smile. "Yes, sir. I'm… I'm lucky."
Naruto's expression shifted slowly. The smirk returned, but darker this time. "Lucky," he repeated. "Hmm…"
His eyes locked with the bride's. She didn't look away. She couldn't.
"Tell me," he said softly, "Have you served your husband yet, tonight? As a wife should?"
She blinked, stunned, face paling. The groom turned rigid.
"L-Lord Seventh, I… I don't think"
Naruto's voice turned cold. "I didn't ask you."
Silence fell again. Even the wind outside seemed to stop. Hinata stood in the doorway like a statue, her presence felt more than seen, eyes lowered.
The bride finally managed a whisper. "N… not yet."
Naruto stepped right in front of her now, gaze heavy. "Then tonight's not over."
She stared at him, lips slightly parted, unsure whether to speak, breathe, or run.
"Relax," he said, his voice dropping into something both calm and unsettling. "It's tradition, isn't it? A Hokage's blessing for the new couple. A gift… from me."
He turned briefly toward the groom. "You want to serve this village, don't you?"
The man nodded, hesitantly.
"Then understand everything that belongs to this village… belongs to me." Naruto's eyes were a slow burn. "That includes the beauty of it. The joy. Even what you hold most precious."
The groom didn't speak. His hands trembled slightly, clenched at his sides. His jaw twitched like he was grinding his teeth, forcing himself not to act or to stay still. That silent war between pride and fear. Duty and love.
But Naruto never gave room for hesitation.
He turned back to the bride, raising a hand not touching, just close enough for her to feel the weight of his presence.
"You're lovely," he said. "Obedient. A proper leaf girl."
She nodded slowly, unsure whether it was a compliment or a command.
Behind them, Hinata quietly stepped further inside, closing the door with a gentle click. She didn't speak. She didn't argue. She knew this part of her husband the part that didn't ask for permission, only submission. She had learned to live with it.
Naruto looked over his shoulder at her.
"Take a seat, Hina. We'll only be a while."
Hinata obeyed, walking toward a chair by the wall and sitting gracefully, hands folded in her lap. Her eyes didn't meet the bride's.
The room was quiet again.
Naruto turned back to the couple, voice calm, low, final.
"Now… show me your loyalty."..
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