Chapter 58 Be a Good Boy

Following the new relationship with Koji, the atmosphere changed significantly. From him hiding from me, not looking me in the eyes.

To now? He couldn't stay away from me. He was almost glued to my side, and he clearly didn't know the meaning of keeping his hands to himself.

By now, I was sure that both Haruto and Arata were well aware of what was happening, but it was impossible to keep anything a secret, given how Koji was acting.

And well, it was hell.

Because, I wanted sex, it was great, and having Koji beg for it like a puppy begging for food wasn't helping at all.

I had to admit, I didn't expect I would like it that much; the original Kaguya hated it. Yet, what I experienced just didn't match those memories at all.

"Koji… your hands are on my breasts again… what have I told you about that?" I asked, doing my best to ignore his hands squeezing and playing with my chest as he sat behind me, sniffing my long hair.

"That I shouldn't do it." he said, but did nothing to stop his actions.

"So, why are you doing it?"

"Don't be like that Yuki," he whined. "The way your scent changes when you get turned on, its impossible to ignore, you like it, so why can't we fuck?" he begged, nuzzling his face into my neck.

"No means no Koji, not until we leave again. I don't want more people knowing about it, I told you, if the Clan finds out, there will be hell to pay. So, do it in secret, not in the open."

"Please Yuki," he whispered as he moved a hand from my chest down my stomach, and slowly moved it further down.

"No," I quickly stopped his hand. "If you're a good boy, and you wait until we're back out in the field… then maybe I'll reward you."

His ears practically perked up at that.

I stood, brushing myself off and giving him a look that made him squirm. "Can you do that for me, Koji? Be a good boy for your partner?"

His throat bobbed in a swallow. "Yes, ma'am."

I smirked. "Good."

Even as I took my leave from Koji, who wanted to follow, but didn't dare to. I wasn't left alone, no, ever since that day, either Koji himself or Kuro would always be by my side. "You sure you don't need to be by his side, Kuro? Keep him out of trouble?" I asked as I made my way over to the Command tent.

Kuro snorted softly, his tail flicking once as he trotted beside me like an escort. I had this feeling that the mutt was smirking.

"I'll take that as a no," I muttered under my breath, amused despite myself.

Koji might've been the clingy one, but Kuro had clearly taken it upon himself to keep an eye on me—as if I were now part of their pack. It wasn't unpleasant. Just… noticeable. And more than a little telling.

Still, I appreciated the company. Especially now. As much as I teased Koji, and as much as I enjoyed having power over his reactions, the truth was this walk wasn't just about stretching my legs. It wasn't even about getting away from his hands for five minutes—though, yes, that too.

No, it's about time for our team to return to the field. I hadn't told the others yet, but the supplies we had requested had already arrived. But I was honestly afraid that if I told Koji, he would just get even harder to handle.

He was so very eager to leave camp, and honestly, I didn't blame him, but that didn't change the situation here.

There were still things I needed to confirm. Routes, troop movements, and the rumors I'd picked up through stray lines in letters and murmurs near the mess tents.

If Suna was going to enter the war in full force, I needed to know before I started to poke my head around inside their lines. And the only one who could give me that information was Commander Shikadō Nara.

The command tent came into view, the canvas edges rustling lightly in the breeze, guards standing out front with that same exhausted readiness every long-term frontliner wore. I nodded to them, and they moved aside without question.

My reputation had spread, and the news of my team's success behind the lines had gotten us a lot of respect. Add on my status in the Hyūga Clan, and they didn't stop me.

Inside, the familiar scent of ink, old parchment, and candle wax hit me all at once.

Commander Nara didn't look up from the map he was studying. "Yuki. You're early."

"Staying in camp too long will make my team dull, and we can't afford that once we move back out, so while I would like to enjoy a few more days in the bath, I would rather get everyone back alive," I replied, stepping forward.

Commander Nara hummed in acknowledgment but didn't look up. "Good instincts. I wish more squad leaders shared them."

He tapped one of the red-marked sectors on the map—an irregular crescent of terrain to the west. "You are here to learn about the situation, and I will tell you what I can. So far, we've seen a sudden drop in their forward patrols along the interior, but supply lines on the outer edge have doubled in security. That usually means consolidation… or staging."

My eyes narrowed as I stepped closer, studying the inked terrain. "They're repositioning."

"Most likely. Our informants think they are preparing to go all out to capture Rivers, likely even push our lines back, and attack the Land of Fire itself, forcing us back so they can take full control of Rivers, and I feel like they are right." He sounded lazy and tired, but I could feel that he was taking it seriously.

It was just a drag.

He continued to fill me in on the situation, giving me information about the movements of other Konoha squads and teams. Possible routes Suna might take once they launched their attack.

I soaked it all in, it was useful and valuable information. And it could mean the difference between life and death.

"Finally, I don't want you to stay in there for so long this time. Come back here in no more than two months. If you don't, well, I assume something is stopping you. If you don't return in three, I assume you are dead or captured."

I gave a small nod. "Understood. We'll be back in two months, one way or another."

Shikadō didn't respond right away. He finally looked up from the map, his sharp eyes meeting mine. "Yuki... if things go south, prioritize your lives. A team like yours is important, and if you die out there… the Hyūga Clan will never forgive me."

"I don't plan on dying, because if I do, the Hyūga Clan will never forgive me either."

"That's what I wanted to hear, Jōnin Hyūga, be safe out there," he said, giving me a hard look.

I just responded with a nod as I turned around and led Kuro along. "Alright, it seems like we will be leaving tomorrow, hopefully Koji will enjoy the surprise, just… don't tell him, alright? Or he will get too excited to sleep." 

Kuro chuffed quietly, brushing his shoulder against my thigh as we walked. A silent promise. No leaks.

With his silence secure, I went off to make some other preparations, as the leader, I had much work to do.

-----

The fire crackled low, embers hissing and popping as the evening cooled. The scent of dried meat and roasted rice hung faintly in the air, mingling with wood smoke and the familiar stink of a long-held camp.

Arata sat cross-legged, a flask in hand. Haruto was beside him, legs stretched out, leaning on one arm as he quietly sipped from a small ceramic cup. Neither of them spoke for a time.

Finally, Arata broke the silence.

"You noticed it too, right?"

Haruto didn't look up. "If you mean the way Koji's been following her around like a stray that got fed once, then yes. Very hard to miss."

Arata grunted. "It was a crush before. Clumsy, easy to ignore. This? This is different."

Haruto nodded slowly. "He's gotten clingy. Overconfident too. And Yuki… she's not pushing him away."

"She's also not exactly subtle," Arata muttered, swirling the contents of his flask. "I've seen less suggestive flirting in a brothel."

Haruto gave a soft, tired chuckle. "They're young."

"That's what worries me," Arata said with worry. "Yuki is a good leader, strong as hell, and at such a young age, she is talented for sure, but I worry."

"That their emotions will get in the way." Haruto finished for him.

"Yeah, it's dangerous, that love can give them strength, or it can cause them to hesitate, make mistakes." Arata agreed.

They sat with that truth for a while, letting the fire crackle between them, the silence thick but not uncomfortable.

"I think she knows," Arata said finally. "Yuki. I think she's aware of the risk."

Haruto glanced sideways at him. "You think she's prepared for what it might cost?"

Arata took a slow sip from his flask before replying. "No one ever really is. But I trust her to make the call when it matters."

Neither spoke for a while. They just sat there, listening to the sound of the camp, other people sitting around, guards on the walls. The crackling fire.

"But enough of that depressing thought, say, how do you think it happened? You think Koji was the one to say it? or did Yuki finally figure it out?"

Haruto let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly? I think Koji's too much of a wreck to confess properly. My money's on Yuki making the first move. Probably caught him so off guard he didn't even realize it was happening."

Arata barked a short laugh. "You think she ambushed him?"

"I think she dragged him into something he didn't even know he wanted until it was too late."

Arata shook his head, grinning despite himself. "Poor bastard never stood a chance."

Haruto's smile faded a little, replaced by something more thoughtful. "Still. He's trying, you can see that much. I think he really cares about her."

"I know he does," Arata said. "That's what makes it dangerous."

Haruto nodded slowly. "Yeah. But it also means he might be willing to fight harder. Be better."

"Let's hope that's the kind of man he turns out to be," Arata murmured, staring into the fire.

A beat passed, quiet and steady.

"Still think we should warn him?" Haruto asked eventually. "Tell him not to screw it up?"

Arata snorted. "At this point? It's too late. He's already knee-deep in it. All we can do is watch."

Haruto gave a slow nod, lifting his cup for a final sip. "Then we watch."

The two men sat in companionable silence, the fire burning low as night settled fully around the camp.

-----

Night fell over the camp again, most people went to bed, while the night team woke up, the camp never slept, not fully, not this close to the action.

But we liked to sleep at night, so as the sun went down, so did I. 

Neither Haruto nor Arata was anywhere to be seen. The two had likely figured out that we would leave soon, so they took the chance to enjoy their final night in the camp, before getting back out where a peaceful night would be difficult to come by.

I stripped down to my undershirt and shorts, grateful to breathe without tight wrappings again.

I had just sat on the edge of the bed when I heard it; the only other person in the tent had stopped breathing.

"Koji," I said without looking.

The Inuzuka started breathing again, having held his breath as he watched me. It was flattering, but honestly, he was a bit much at times.

"Are you seriously pretending to be asleep while spying on me?" I asked, finally turning to face him.

Koji didn't answer at first—he just gave me a sheepish, lopsided grin from where he lay sprawled on the far cot, one eye barely open.

"I wasn't spying," he said. "I was… admiring."

I raised an eyebrow. "You stopped breathing."

"Because you looked really good, and I didn't want to make a sound and ruin it."

I tossed a pillow at his face. He didn't dodge, just let it hit him and grinned harder. Idiot.

"You're such a mutt," I muttered, crawling into bed and dragging the thin blanket over me.

I didn't even get one full second of peace before I heard him shift.

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"I'll stay on top of the covers?"

I rolled onto my side to glare at him. "You're already half under them."

He froze, caught red-handed, his hand already halfway up my thigh.

I sighed, already too tired to properly scold him. "Fine. But no groping, Koji. And if you start sniffing me again, I swear I'll tie you to the cot and make out with Kuro."

He gave a small whine but scooted closer anyway, his warmth pressing up against my back, one arm settling lightly around my waist.

"I just sleep better near you," he murmured, more serious now. "That's all."

I didn't respond. Not out loud, anyway.

Instead, I reached down and entwined our fingers, that way I could be sure he wouldn't use them to distract me from sleeping.