Rated

Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke and Shikamaru sat at a table inside a bar. Each had a drink of alcohol, but were completely sober and having a good time. Life, love and careers had lessened the time the four friends could catch up. They had been talking about something inconsequential when a few young men from a table near them began talking heatedly…and rather loudly.

“I saw this chick last night…hot as.” One of the men said. “I’d give her about an 8 out of 10.”

The rest of the man’s friends hooted, apparently understanding how ‘hot’ that was. At their table, Naruto and Sasuke rolled their eyes. Kiba however, barked with laughter.

“I remember, back in the day, we used to do that. Rate the girls, we did.” He said.

Shikamaru laughed. “I remember…we must have been about 19, and Neji almost pummelled Sai for saying Hinata-san wasn’t good-looking.”

Naruto frowned. “He said that? Where was I?”

“On a mission…both you and Sasuke.” Kiba said, laughing along with Shikamaru.

“I guess we rated the girls according to personal preference. Take you for example Nara, you always rated Temari-san and Ino as the ‘hottest’ girls.” Sasuke said, taking a swig of his drink. “Guess you have a thing for blondes.” He added, looking coolly over the rim of his glass.

“I think that was proven when he married one of them.” Naruto grinned.

“Please,” Shikamaru said smoothly. “You’re 25, act your age.” He took a drink. “Besides…” He added softly. “The way you rated the girls changed drastically over the years Naruto. I believe you used to prefer green eyes…”

“Pft!” Naruto said, nonchalant. “That’s ancient history. But I do love exotic hair colouring.”

“And I do believe Sasuke joins you in that love.” Kiba quipped.

Twirling his drink, Shikamaru spoke intelligently. “But being older and wiser…” He paused. “Well, Sasuke and I at least-”

“Hey!” Kiba snapped.

Naruto was a bit slower on the accusation. “Oi!”

“We’ve all realised that looks aren’t everything. Although our significant others’ are ravishing to say the least, it is the personality that is more important. Take Temari for example; while she’ll never beat me in chess or any sort of game or equation, her wit is as sharp as mine. I find enjoyment in being able to carry an intelligent conversation with her. If she’d been nothing more than a pretty face, we would have become bored with each other within months.”

“I get that Shikamaru. While I could never have a fully intellectual conversation with Hinata because…well…I’m not as smart as her, she and I have more than a sex life. While the sex is great-”

“Can you please stop talking about my best friend having sex?” Kiba put in.

Naruto grinned sheepishly. “Sorry.” He continued. “While that part of out life is great, she and I have a connection. You said ‘significant other’ Shikamaru…but Hinata is more than that; she’s my other half. Where I love to talk, she loves to listen. And when she does talk, I delight in listening. She knows I’m not the smartest person in the world, yet she doesn’t insult me, nor does she pity me.”

Kiba nodded. “Personality is important. Looks are the bonus.”

“Hey, you’re Sasuke Uchiha…and Shikamaru Nara!” A man said, approaching their table.

“And you’re Kiba Inuzuka…” Another man said, grinning as he saw Naruto. “And you’re the one who was dead last in our class, Naruto Uzumaki.”

Naruto frowned. “Watch it baka! I could whip you any day.” He paused before his frown disappeared. “Who are you guys?”

“I’m Kenji Orichi.” The first man said.

“And I’m Kai Katsi.” Said the other. “We were in the Academy together. We were from Team 14.”

Without waiting for an invitation, the two men pulled up chairs and sat at the table. Sasuke, Naruto and Kiba were obviously irritated by them men’s presence, but Shikamaru looked thoughtful.

“I remember those names. If I remember correctly Kai-san…you were second last in the class.”

Naruto grinned at Shikamaru, and noticed as the corner of his friend’s mouth curled upwards in a disguised smirk. Kiba snorted into his drink and Sasuke remained stoic.

“So anyway,” Kenji said, changing the topic. “Team 14 is now a Chuunin team. We and our teammate, Hira Wanaki, are officials in the Chuunin exams.” He said smugly.

One of Sasuke’s eyebrows rose, watching Naruto out of the corner of his eye. Shikamaru stepped up first though.

“I was in Team 10, but we’ve disbanded because our area of expertise has changed. We’re still all good friends though. We’re all Jounins,” He slipped in casually. “Choji Akimichi is a Genin instructor, Ino Yamanaka…well, Inuzuka now, is head of Interrogation. And I’m the Hokage’s Strategist. We’re all doing well with our careers…” He said, hiding a smirk as he sipped his drink.

“Well, Ino’s pregnant at the moment, so she’s on leave.” Kiba said.

“Wait, you’re with Ino-san?” Kenji said. “Damn, she was the hottest girl in our class. She’s the one we use to rate other girls.”

Kiba growled under his breath. “While I do appreciate you complimenting my wife,” He said, adding emphasise to the last word. “I would rather you didn’t refer to her as a yardstick. She’s a person, not a poster.”

Kenji waved his arms in defence. “Sorry man, no offence intended.”

“If I remember, you two, Uchiha-san and Uzumaki, were put on the same team…to even out the talent.” Kai said.

Naruto frowned, leaning forward on the table. “At the time, yeah! But that’s different now. We are on Team 7, and we are a Jounin combat team.”

“Sakura…Sakura Haruno as she was known back then, is now a very influential medical ninja, and I’m now head of the police here in Konoha.”

“And I’m training under the Hokage.” Naruto said. “But we as Team 7, get asked to take on the hardest, most dangerous missions. We emphasise in strength.”

“Wait, wait. You’re still training?” Kenji asked, smirking.

Naruto smirked, somewhat maliciously. “Hai, my special training.” He paused for a second. “My Hokage training. Tsunade-baa-chan is retiring soon…I’m going to be the Rokudaime.”

Kenji and Kai went slightly pale, each taking a nervous swig of their drinks. Kiba again snorted with laughter, but this time Kai noticed.

“What team were you on Inuzuka?” Kai asked loftily.

“Team 8, and like Team 7, although not always together, we get asked to do specialist missions.”

“What sort of missions?” Kenji prodded.

Kiba leaned forward, whispering dangerously. “Assassination.” Kai and Kenji swallowed nervously. “And we’re the best. With my nose, Shino Aburame’s bugs, and Hinata Hyuga’s eyes, we are very precise…and very deadly.” He paused again. “You won’t see us coming.”

Kai laughed though. “Hinata Hyuga, now she was a weird one.”

The men of Team 7, 8 and 10 suddenly became very silent. Kai, the poor, unfortunate man, didn’t notice. He was sitting next to Naruto, and was completely oblivious to the blonde’s murderous glare. Kenji too, didn’t notice, and the two continued.

“She had the money and the Byakugan, but that was all she had going for her.” Kenji said.

“I suggest you stop there.” Shikamaru said lazily, looking up at the ceiling.

“Why, did I insult one of your ‘Rookie 9’?” Kenji said, slurring slightly.

Kiba snarled outright and Kai laughed. “Oh, did we insult you teammate? I mean, come on, you’re a guy…you all are.” He turned to Naruto. “You should know she was weird acting, and weird looking. What do ya say?”

In that moment, Kai was hauled to his feet and held up in the air by the scruff of his neck. Naruto, the one holding him up, snarled at him furiously, eyes nothing but slits, and his irises looking more red, than blue.

“I suggest you listen very, very carefully to Shikamaru. I do not appreciate you insulting my wife. Hinata is a beautiful person, a talented shinobi, the eldest daughter of the Head of the Hyuga clan, and the mother of my children.”

Naruto voice was rough and harsh, anger seeping from every pore. In his grasp, Kai paled…and not just from loss of oxygen. At the table, Kenji stiffened, slowly and carefully getting to his feet.

“G-G-G-Gomen…” Kai gasped, breathless and terrified. “I-I-I d-d-didn’t realise-”

“It shouldn’t make a difference if she wasn’t my wife. Hinata is a human, and doesn’t deserve to be rated…or treated, with such insensitivity.” He let go of Kai, who stumbled backwards. “I think it’d be a good idea that you two left.”

Without another word, Kai and Kenji stumbled off, terrified. Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, throwing them onto the table.

“I’m going home guys. We’ll do this again soon. Ja ne!”
--------------------
Naruto opened the door to his house ten minutes later. Closing the door quietly, he smiled when he heard soft singing and saw a dimmed light coming from under a door. Walking across a darkened room, he opened the door to his youngest son’s bedroom.

Hinata was standing over their son’s crib, tucking him in as she sung softly to the sleeping toddler. She finished her song, kissing the blue haired boy on the head. Naruto made his way over to the crib, kissing Hinata on the temple. Looking down into the crib, he grinned as he noticed that their two-year son was wearing a froggie nightcap. He gently stroked his son’s head before he lead his wife out of the now dark room.

“He was a bit fussy. I think he realised you weren’t here Naruto-kun.”

Naruto chuckled. “He’s two, I’d expect some tantrums. Remember what Kazuki’s were like?”

Kazuki was their eldest son, soon to be turning five. Much like his father in personality, he was notorious for his tantrums when he was two. Their youngest, Kawato, was much more placid, more like his mother in personality and looks.

Entering their bedroom, Hinata moved over to the bed. “How was you night Naruto-kun? Did you have a good time?”

“Hai, for the most of it.” He said, removing his shoes and shirt, before moving over to Hinata. “But then some guys that used to be in the Academy with us came over and said some things that spoiled our night.”

“Did they insult you Naruto-kun?” Hinata gasped.

“No,” He shook his head. “They insulted you…but I set them straight.”

Hinata nodded and Naruto smiled warmly. He moved over to his side of the bed and found his pyjama pants, taking off his current pants and throwing on the comfier…more ‘froggily’ designed pants.

“And us guys had been reminiscing. We’d been sitting near a group of guys who were rating girls. We laughed about it, remembering how we used to do that. But we realise now that personality is vital, and the fact that you…and their ‘significant others’ are beautiful, is just a bonus.”

Hinata watched as Naruto slid into bed beside her, snuggling up to her as he wrapped an arm around her waist. She listened to his breathing for a minute before speaking.

“So…” She said sweetly. “Where did I used to get rated?”

Naruto smiled. “Top of my list.”

“Mmm…” She sighed. “That’s all that matters to me.”

She trailed off, surrendering to the sweet and sensual kisses Naruto was placing along the column of her neck.