Insomnia

XII

Naruto returned Neji to the Hyuuga compound later that evening. They’d discussed the implications of Neji’s pregnancy on Konoha and Suna. It the conversation, Neji realized Naruto was much smarter than many gave him credit for and decided when Naruto finally became Hokage, he would support him. Naruto thought more about Neji and the fetus than he did anything else, working to make sure it was Neji who told when he felt it necessary. He acted a silent bodyguard, too, blue eye tinted with orange to warn off anyone he didn’t deem worthy.

In the end, Neji told Hinata.

She’d told Hiashi.

Hiashi demanded an abortion. Until he was faced with a very moody Naruto who, point blank, told him the child was the seed of one Sabaku no Gaara.

It took Hiashi a moment to realize Sabaku no Gaara was the Kazekage of Sunagakure.

When it was settled, Neji decided he’d move in with Naruto for a while. That had hurt Hinata, but she understood. Neji had trusted her with a secret and she, in his best interests, had shared that secret. So Neji got to sleep in Naruto’s bedroom while the blonde crashed on the couch, and he got way too much help from the female shinobi of Konoha to be comfortable as his body accommodated the growling child within him. Apparently, male pregnancy became normal after Shikamaru. Neji still acted his scathing self toward others to prove nothing was wrong with him, but he would be defensive when Naruto told him to contact Gaara about this. It always resulted in an argument. As Neji’s stomach grew rounder, Naruto became more insistent until Neji finally exploded.

“It’ll ruin him!” he finally screamed. Naruto only stared at him.

“He’s fucking Gaara of Sunagakure and he says a baby by a man will ruin him,” Naruto said almost snidely of Neji. “I liked you better before I kicked your ass.”

Neji’s eyes welled with tears, blurring the image of the blonde. Naruto gave an exasperated sigh.

“Gaara deserves to know. He’ll find out one way or another and it’d be best if it came from you.”

“He doesn’t need to know.” Neji replied defensively.

Naruto exploded. “Yes he does! You’re carrying his child, Neji, his –baby–! You love him! You could have a family, be free! Pull your head out of your ass, Hyuuga!”

“What if he doesn’t want it!? What if he doesn’t want us!?”

“Bullshit! You know he wants you! He’ll want your child too, because it’s –his–! That’s how Gaara works.”

“It’ll ruin him,”

“Then let it. He would.” Naruto sighed. Neji sniffled, rubbed his eyes. “Think about it Neji. I know it’s hard and it’s scary, especially while your emotions are being fucked with. Your baby needs his father.”

Somehow, Neji found the couch and sat down, burying his head in his hands. He felt Naruto’s hand on his shoulder and cried. Naruto let him cry, let him work it out, and was still there when the brunette calmed enough for rational thought.

“What do I say?”

“The truth. In as little words as possible.”

“I’m having your baby. Come to Konoha ASAP.” Neji said sarcastically. Naruto nodded sagely.

“Sounds about right.”

Neji sighed heavily and leaned back on the couch, rubbing his eyes. This was going to be a long and tortuous process. How would Gaara be Kazekage in Suna while his family was in Konoha? Would Neji go to live in Suna? Would Gaara even want the responsibility?

“Look, go sleep on it,” Naruto finally whispered. “We’ll write the letter when you wake up and I’ll go get Shizune to send it.”
“Will it even work?”

“Don’t know until you try.” Naruto said. “Just go nap and I’ll get some tomatoes, all right?”

“Bribery always works for you.”

“Gotta practice somehow.”

Naruto left Neji then, to let the brunette man sleep on the couch. It was a rather fitful sleep, but somehow, Neji managed. When he woke, a bowl of chocolate covered tomatoes waited for him, along with a pen and a slip of paper. Naruto was conspicuously absent. Heaving a sigh and picking up a slice of tomato, Neji began to write.