For the Love of His Son

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Lord Sasuke Uchiha believes that he has lost something precious to him and struggles to convince himself everyday that it didn’t exist. What will he do when a blond haired peasant arrives at his doorstep claiming he has something the Uchiha “misplaced.” (SasuNaru)


Author’s Note: I commend each and every one of you! Lovely! I opened my mouth (or typed… not sure how that works) and eluded to the fact that you all might be seen as angry villagers attacking my humble abode and what do you do? You take the description and RUN WITH IT! I’ve read about sharpening pitchforks, calling in all friends to join the angry mob and more than just a few torches have been lit. There was even an attempted throttling. So congratulations on the beautiful descriptions! Know that I am scared. Really, I’m shaking… and only a little bit is from laughter… I swear.
Thanks for the reviews… and the mild death threats. (Ducks the cherry bomb, typing furiously even though, sadly, I know the threats aren’t going to stop after this chapter… sorry! It’s coming to the end and things have to start moving… Stupid plot.)


For the Love of His Son
Chapter 12


Sasuke Uchiha sat with his head thrown back against his chair. The young lord tenderly held his sleeping son against his chest. His feet were propped up on the large wooden table that filled most of the stone hall he currently found himself in. He idly wondered what the rest of the Uchiha clan would think of his less that proper stature, but that just reminded him that there wasn’t much of a clan left for him to give a damn about. But, there would be more. Sasuke swallowed down the emotion that threatened to escape, he was a goddamn Uchiha. There would be more because of his walking ‘impossibility’, his husband and dobe, Naruto. That was until his brother came and stole Naruto from him, under the cover of darkness. And once again, Lord Sasuke Uchiha found himself contemplating the worth of one life against many.


Sasuke growled, “Fuck.” He abhorred life’s ironic circles.


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After kissing his husband goodnight, Sasuke went to his study. Normally, every other night, he would have crawled into bed next to the blond haired dobe and held him until Naruto insisted they get ‘naughty’. Afterward, they would fall asleep together, sedated, safe and warm. But last night was different. Sasuke had ‘things’ to think about. Things including, but not limited to, his bastard brother and Orochimaru closing in on them, delegation of knights to protect and scout and oh, yeah… Naruto having his baby.


Naruto, his beautiful husband, was having their baby. Sasuke had never been so shocked, so scared or so damn happy in his entire life.


So, instead of staying near his husband, Sasuke walked down to his study for a little personal thinking time. Upon reaching the room, Sasuke headed to his desk and took a seat. He replayed the earlier conversation with his dobe again and again. Heart swelling more and more each time.


He must have been distracted because he didn’t hear the door open, the footsteps against stone floors or the gentle rub of leather clad legs. He did, however, hear the malicious, “Hello, foolish little brother.” And then his world went black.


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When Sasuke woke up, he had no idea how long he had been out, but he could hear the hysterical screaming of his son in his ears. The young lord jumped up, running down the hall. He knew the baby was crying for Naruto, so he ran passed the nursery and skidded to a halt in front of his own bed chambers.


On the floor, in crimson pools of their own blood, lay Shino and Neji. Sasuke froze… it was so similar to him finding his relatives murdered that he couldn’t force the air to leave his lungs. His mind was so overwhelmed, that had it not been for the increased volume of the screaming in his ears he may have passed out from the feeling.


Finally coming back to himself, Sasuke shouted, raising the alarm. He reached down to feel for pulses, steeling himself to find his friends dead. He let out a relieved sigh when he felt weak pulses in both of the men. Standing up, he turned to open the door, petrified because he already knew what he would find on the other side. Hearing the pounding feet of help coming, Sasuke reached out and pulled the latch. The door swung open and Sasuke stepped into the room.


Sasuke walked calmly over to their bed where he had left his sleeping husband precious hours before. He slowly ran pale fingers against the foot of the bed, feeling the soft quilt Naruto insisted they use, even though it was a horrid scattering of bright pastels. A gut wrenching sob escaped pale lips before Sasuke screamed, ripping the quilt off the bed and throwing it to the floor.


Naruto was gone.


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Blue eyes blinked open, only to shut immediately when the action sent miniature knives shooting through his head. Naruto took a moment to feel out his surroundings. He wasn’t at home, in his own bed and Sasuke was no where near. He could feel that right away. Wherever he was, it was moving and that couldn’t be good.


Moaning, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. He pushed down the sickness that threatening to overwhelm him. ‘Not now, little one. Not now.’ Naruto gathered he was in some form of carriage, but before he could take in anymore, he was interrupted by a dry chuckle.


“Why, Naruto. You’re awake. Did you miss me?”


Wide, blue eyes searched for the location of the voice. In a dark corner of the carriage, he could make out the form of a body and although he didn’t recognize the man from his shadow, Naruto did immediately recognize the red, swirling eyes.


“Itachi.”


“Now, now… has time with my little brother made you lose all your manners?”


“No, no…m-my lord.” Naruto choked out. Nausea that had nothing to do with the new baby, wrapped itself around Naruto’s stomach and squeezed. Unable to stop it, Naruto lurched into the corner and relieved his stomach of what contents it held.


“Oh, well that’s going to leave a stain.” Itachi said dryly.


Naruto wiped his mouth, sitting back slowly against his seat, pushing himself as far from Itachi as possible.


“What do you want?” Naruto asked.


“Now, I would think that was quite obvious. I want you dead.” Itachi smirked as Naruto’s skin paled even further. “I want you to suffer for taking Sakura away from me, but more than that, I want Sasuke to suffer. I want him on his knees. I want him to have nothing left but his memories and the smell of blood left by all those that he loves.”


“Why? I don’t understand why… he’s your brother.” Naruto said, curiosity loosening his tongue.


“Hmmm… why? Why not? I’m a genius, a prodigy and I have been my whole life. Every genius needs a rival, an arch-nemesis, if you will. Of course it had to be an Uchiha. Anything else would be beneath me. Sasuke is weak, but he is my brother, as you so kindly pointed out, therefore he had the potential to be great. He seemed perfect and so I let him live.” Itachi shrugged. “And then the little fool married Sakura and poisoned her with his spawn. I knew he would have to die. I was looking forward to it. But then, you came. I couldn’t have asked for a better punishment for my dear little brother.”


“What do you mean?”


“That’s a nice ring, Lord Uchiha.” Itachi smirked, looking at Naruto’s left hand, where his wedding ring glittered even in the darkness of the carriage. “It belonged to my mother.”


Naruto fisted his hand and sneered at his captor, “So, what now? Why didn’t you kill me in our bed? Wouldn’t that be enough to break Sasuke, finding his husband slain in the same place he took me again and again?”


Itachi jumped forward, grabbing Naruto around the neck with one hand, squeezing enough to make Naruto’s breaths come out in pained whizzes. “You had better learn to watch your tongue, monster!”


Naruto clawed at the hand, nodding. Itachi didn’t let go, instead he squeezed even harder. “I think we are done talking. Orochimaru is so looking forward to seeing you again.” Blackness seeped into Naruto’s vision and he slumped against the seat.


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Naruto sat against the bars of Kyuubi’s cage.


“Shit, ssshit… shit, ssshit… shit, shit, shit, shit…”


“Ah, is that ‘Ten Little Indians’ I hear, kit?”


“No,” Naruto turned around to look at the fox, twisted smile on his face, “That’s me explaining how much fucking shit we’re in… to the melody of ‘Ten Little Indians’.”


Kyuubi’s tails looped around the boy and Naruto ran tan fingers through red fur.


“He’s taking me to Orochimaru.” Naruto whispered.


“I know.” Kyuubi growled, claws scratching cement. “Someone needs to kill that snake bastard.”


“That goes without saying, yeah? But, Kyuubi, Jiraiya couldn’t remove the seal and at the time, it didn’t seem important. So what if I couldn’t use my chakra around a man I hoped never to see again. But now…” Naruto ran a tentative hand across his stomach, “The baby is going to d-die, isn’t it.”


“Kit…”


“Really, you don’t have to say anything. I’m not stupid. I know how the baby is sustaining itself and when I’m in that man’s presence, all my chakra will go away and the baby with it.”


“Kit, I wish I could tell you differently,” Naruto snorted, “Naruto! I may have been angry as hell to be locked in the likes of you, but I don’t take pleasure in your suffering, especially since everything you’ve suffered can be traced back to my presence in your life… something that you never asked for.”


Naruto covered wet eyes with the heels of his palms, rubbing at the tears, at the headache and at the surreal circumstances he found himself in. “Of course, I know that.” Naruto started to laugh dryly, “Itachi, that goddamn bastard… little does he know that just by taking me to Orochimaru he’s already hurting Sasuke… taking away, no ‘killing’ his child.” Tears washed down Naruto’s cheeks, “Oh teme… I told you I would hurt you… I told you.”


“None of this is your fault.”


“Fuck that. It has to be someone’s fault. Nothing just happens.”


“Then blame the right people, brat!”


“There’s nothing we can do, is there? No wishing this better. No forcing chakra into dying babies. Sasuke’s baby is going to die. I’m going to feel it leave me and know that it won’t ever come back, that I couldn’t protect it when it was at it’s most vulnerable.”


“You know I would offer my chakra, but without your chakra, mine is as good as gone too. The seal that blond brat put on you forces your chakra to act as an ‘escort’ to mine. Without yours, mine is locked in this cage with me.”


Naruto rubbed swollen eyes on the red fur of Kyuubi’s tails, “I know. Not your fault. I don’t think I would have let you anyway. Nothing against you, but it’s best that you, all of you, stays were it belongs.”


Naruto continued to gently rub his stomach. He would never feel his baby move, never hear its first cries or wipe away its first tears.


Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, whimpering, “Kyuubi… this hurts. It hurts. It’s not fair!”


“I know. Kit, you should rest. Things are going to get bad fast when we reach Orochimaru. I’m sure he doesn’t intend to give you a hug upon your return. The baby probably wouldn’t have made it through that bastard’s ‘welcome home’ anyway.”


“Ah, yes… that makes me feel so much better AND gives me something to look forward to.” Naruto blandly said.


“Sarcasm is unbecoming.”


Naruto gave a small smile, “I guess…. Kyuubi, do you think if I tried, I could feel the baby? Talk to the baby? Explain what is going to happen so that the chibi isn’t s-scared. So that the baby knows it was l-loved, wanted.” Naruto’s heart broke and sobs tore from his chest. “Oh god!” Naruto curled into a ball. Kyuubi nuzzled him with his snout.


“I’d say it was impossible…” Kyuubi chuckled, “Give it a try.”


And so Naruto did.


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It was a forgone conclusion that Sasuke would be going after his dobe. That really wasn’t the question. The question was, did he involve the other knights in the castle? Could he responsibly take away all fifty knights and march to ‘war’ while leaving his castle and the villagers that relied on him defenseless? He knew who had taken Naruto, but he didn’t know where. Carriage tracks were found at the front of the gate, but immediately disappeared when they reached the forest line. Itachi would have no problem covering his tracks.


So Sasuke had no idea where Itachi was taking Naruto. Back to Orochimaru’s? It was such a long way and Naruto said that Orochimaru had left his castle with Itachi. They must be holed up somewhere nearby, but where? In what direction?


Sasuke started when he felt Ryuu’s chibi hands bat his face. Looking down he saw the dark haired boy looking at him, head tilting to the side in curiosity.


“You look just like your mother when you do that.” Sasuke’s smile was sad as he ruffled the boy’s black hair.


Ryuu’s head tilted cutely to the other side, “Mmmmama!”


Sasuke’s feet slipped off the table in his surprise. “What? What did you say Ryuu?”


Again, the tilt, “Mama!” Chibi hands clapped in excitement and black eyes darted around as if expecting the requested person to simply appear before him. He was an Uchiha after all.


“You said your first word! Oh my god… DOBE!” In his excitement, Sasuke turned to the door and then felt his stomach drop. “Shit…” Sasuke held the boy against his chest tightly, “Chibi, I’m so proud of you! Mama is too. He’ll be here soon. I just need to figure out how…”


Two chibi hands planted on either side of Sasuke’s face with enough force that Sasuke had to looked into his son’s eyes…


His son’s ‘blue’ eyes, with two black commas spinning wildly. “What the…” And Sasuke felt himself pulled in.


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Sasuke still sat in his chair in the main hall. The colors were distorted so he knew he was in some form of genjutsu. He heard a soft rustling to his left and immediately turned his eyes in the direction, Sharingan blazing.


He saw a black haired boy, perhaps twelve years old sitting on the table. He had one knee pulled up to his chest, while his other leg swung lazily over the side. His head rested on the bent knee and his pale face held a perfect Uchiha smirk. But the thing that kept Sasuke frozen in his chair and speechless were the boy’s eyes. Blue Sharingan.


“Hello, Father.” The boy said, lifting his chin.


“Who are you?” Sasuke whispered. If his little three year old weren’t six feet under he’d be seen being dragged over an invisible line, marked ‘To the Impossible’ while kicking and screaming.


The boy’s smirk turned into a full wattage Uzumaki smile, “I think you know.”


“Ryuu? But it’s impo…”


“Isn’t that word on the ‘no-no’ list?” A perfectly arched eyebrow punctuated the question.


“I believe it has been reinstated due to recent events. Explain.” Sasuke leaned back in his chair, as long as he was on the other side of the ‘looking glass’ he might as well be comfortable.


“To the point… very good, Father, seeing as I don’t have much time. Suffice it to say… I can bring you here… because I needed to. Mama said that you just need to tell yourself that you were powerful enough to achieve the Mangekyo, so I did.” The boy shrugged as though he were talking about putting on a pair of socks. Sasuke remembered that conversation… it was the first time he had noticed Ryuu’s eyes were blue, but convinced himself he was seeing things. “Or as Mama is so fond of saying… I just can.” Ryuu smiled again, bringing both legs up and hugging them to his chest.


Sasuke couldn’t help but think how young and fragile it made the boy look. “Why are you so old?”


“Ah, well, I thought you would feel more comfortable talking to a grown boy rather than a five month old. Me spouting out complicated ideas and realities might be hard to believe with me in such a small body.”


“Oh, yeah, ‘cause this is better…” Sasuke mumbled. Where was his inner three year old when he needed him?


If Ryuu heard his father, he chose to ignore him. “It was no secret to me that my real mother hated me. Even as I was being nurtured in her womb, her hatred beat at me daily. And although you had no control of the situation, I knew that you weren’t sure if you could allow me in your life either.”


Sasuke snapped his eyes to his son. His mind was still reeling from his baby son being able to bring him here, talk to him and now, now the boy was telling him he knew all along he was hated… unwanted. The guilt clutched his heart like a vise.


“Stop, Father, obviously that isn’t the case anymore. However, at the time, I had already decided that even if that woman offered her chakra to me, I wasn’t going to take it. And then the most unexpected thing happened. Mama came.” Ryuu gave one of those smiles. Those smiles that would be the death of Sasuke one day. “He held me, he demanded that my ‘mother’ help me. I was dying and at the time I was glad, but I had to see, just once, who this person was who held me and cared for me as though I were precious and then I could die happy, maybe even loved.”


Ryuu shut his eyes, recalling some far off memory, “I forced open my eyes and there before me was life. He loved me. He knew me. He understood my pain and offered to take it as his own.


“I’ve heard everyone’s theories on how Mama saved me and to a degree, that might be true, but I chose him. I wanted him. I needed him and he needed me. And so ‘I’ accepted his chakra and I used it to obliterate every last shred of that woman. And Father, had you not wanted me, turned Mama away, I would have pushed you out as well.”


Sasuke just stared. He watched as tears ran down pale cheeks so like his own. His breath caught when pale eyelids opened to reveal intense spinning blue eyes.


“He is mine! I chose him for me… Father, I chose him for us. I need him. Please, Father. I need him.”


Sasuke stood and gathered his son into his arms. “I don’t understand how any of this is possible, chibi. Your Mama and you seem to do things that no one else would even consider, much less succeed in. But I am going to get him back.” Sasuke rocked the crying boy, “I need him too.”


“I don’t have much more time left. This ‘illusion’ is taking its toll. I’ll probably sleep for two days when I’m done. Don’t expect anything like this again… I am only five months old, you know… and… this is so…hard, Father.” Sasuke’s watched in horror as the boy started to gasped for air.


“Then end it! End it now.” Sasuke stood back from his son expecting the illusion to end, but instead found himself with an arm full of his crying son.


“I can feel Mama… He is scared. My brother is scared too. You’re going to help them… right?” The boy fisted Sasuke’s shirt in desperation.


“Shhh… Yes, I will help them, I promise.”


“I know… you will. I love you, Father.” Ryuu stepped back, “Don’t… let me… fall.”

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Sasuke’s eyes snapped open and his arms tighten reflexively around his unconscious son, as the baby fell limply into his arms.


“I love you too, little dragon. And I will always catch you.” Sasuke whispered into sweaty, dark locks. “You, your Mama and your brother.”


As Sasuke stood to take his son upstairs, the main doors burst opened, revealing Kakashi. “In the courtyard… You’re going to want to see this.”


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Naruto found himself in a white space. There were no walls, ceilings or floors. He felt grounded, but looking down, he couldn’t see what he stood on, just endless white. He considered calling out for Kyuubi, maybe the fox had been right, but then he noticed something in the distance. He walked cautiously towards it. When he realized that it was a wooden rocking crib, Naruto ran to it.


Slightly out of breath, Naruto fell to his knees and looked into the crib. He saw dark blue blankets adorned with Uchiha fans and in the middle of the bundle he saw a sleeping, pale skinned baby with midnight black hair.


Naruto gently picked up the sleeping baby, a sob escaping his throat. “You are so beautiful! Just like your father and brother.” Naruto rocked the baby, knowing instinctively that he held his son in his arms, “Little one, things are going to get scary but I don’t want you to worry. I wish I could shield you from that. I wish we could run into your father’s arms and stay there, but that won’t happen, not this time.” Naruto smelled his son’s baby scent and touched his perfect nose and silken hair, trying to memorize everything about a child he would never know. “I want you to know…” Naruto couldn’t see anymore because the tears were blurring his eyes, “I want you to know that I love you. I will always love you. And you were wanted, little one. Your father…” Naruto couldn’t talk over the lump of emotion in his throat, “Your father loves you so much and he would be so proud! He’s going to be so hurt, but I’ll tell him how beautiful you are. When you look down on us, little one, I want you to smile because we are missing you and thinking of you and loving you… forever.”


The baby shifted in the bundle and Naruto hastily wiped away the tears from his eyes. His breath stopped, like it always did, when deep black eyes peered up at him.


“Hello, little one. I’m your Mama.” Naruto bent, placing a gentle kiss against the baby’s forehead. The baby blinked, but stared right into Naruto’s blue eyes. With effort, a tiny hand worked it’s way out of the soft blue blankets and touched Naruto’s wet chin.


Naruto closed his eyes, a sense of peace washing over him. “I know, little one.” Naruto whispered. “I’m scared, but I’ll be okay.”


Naruto gently placed the baby back into his crib, tucking him in so that he felt safe and warm in the time he had left. “You don’t have to be scared though. Sleep, little one, sleep. I love you.”


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Naruto woke up to the feel of Kyuubi’s warm fur against his face. Before Kyuubi could say a single word, Naruto broke down, screaming, sobbing and clawing at his hair as his heart broke into a million pieces.


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“Kyuubi?” Naruto’s voice sounded raw and harsh, even to his own ears. “Before this is over, I’m going to kill that fucking snake bastard.” The blond’s voice held no emotion. It was a statement of fact.


Kyuubi smirked, “I know you are.”


“Can you feel something?” Naruto said sitting up. His eyes hurt from crying, but thankfully, everything else was numb but for the boiling anger that bled from his broken heart.


“Yes, it’s one of your clones. He’s been following us for awhile.”


“He’s awfully close if we can feel him, what’s he doing? Come to think of it, how is he still around?”


“What? Oh, you mean in the whole ‘don’t use chakra thing?’ Well, he was already gone before you conceived, so all the clones you had out didn’t factor into the baby making chakra distribution. Technically, you aren’t using chakra because it was already gone.”


“Okay, so what is this guy doing?”


“I think he wants you to tell him what to do.”


“And just how do I do that?” Naruto stood up. If there was a way, then he could get a message to Sasuke, let him know where they were. “If I had the use of my own chakra, I could create a new one to relay a message, but that’s not an option…”


“Use mine.”


“But…”


“For the amount of time the clone would be in use I really don’t think it would matter and at this point, kit, isn’t it worth the risk?”


Naruto nodded, “Hell yes.”


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Sasuke followed Kakashi outside, still holding a sleeping Ryuu in his arms. When the main doors opened, he shut his eyes against the sunlight, but when he opened them, he stopped in his tracks.


The courtyard was full. Knights, castle workers and villagers all stood in front of the main stairs like they had just a month ago for Sasuke and Naruto’s wedding.


Stepping forward, Sasuke looked around meeting determined eyes. “What is this?” He asked loud enough to draw anyone’s attention that wasn’t already on him.


Kiba, Shikamaru and Jiraiya stepped forward, along with several men from the village. Jiraiya placed a comforting hand on the lord’s shoulder. “They are all here because they heard about Naruto.”


Sasuke flinched. What did they all want from him? More assurances that he would get Naruto back? He had to think about their well being too. Sasuke bowed his head.


“My lord?” A gray haired man said, stepping up from the group. “We understand that you are worried about leaving the castle and the village undefended, but we have all come,” the man spread his arm wide toward the crowd, “To say that we will defend ourselves and the castle while you take as many knights as are needed to save Lord Naruto.” The crowd gave a cheer of agreement.


“I’m not sure that’s how this works…” Sasuke began. Kiba stepped toward the lord.


“Boss, all the villagers voluntarily evacuated the entire village to stay within the castle walls until we get back.”


Sasuke’s eyes widen in shock, “The whole village?” Sasuke remembered being a little boy and his father calling for an evacuation into the castle walls due to foreign raids. Half of the villagers insisted they were just fine where they were and Sasuke’s father was left with no choice but to send out knights to forcefully bring the wayward and angry villagers in. And now, because of his dobe, the entire village evacuated in less than five hours, of their own free will… Everyone? Sasuke’s smirked. Thank god ‘impossible’ was back on the books.


“I also sent a toad to Gaara, he returned with Gaara’s agreement to send aid to the castle as soon as possible. They are on their way.” Sasuke nodded, awestruck, although his face remained as blank as ever.


“I sent my summons out to find Itachi’s trail,” Kakashi said, “I should hear back from the dogs soon.”


“Akamaru and I are more than ready and all of the other knights are packed and ready to leave when you are.” Kiba said, tense smile on his face. Sasuke knew that the shaggy haired young man was worried about his friend.


Sasuke looked around the courtyard. He saw knights standing ready at their horses side. He saw Hinata and Ino directing villagers to make room in the courtyard for all of their ‘guests’. He saw children running around, smiles on their faces as their mother’s and father’s put up temporary housing until Naruto was returned.


Until Naruto was returned…


Sasuke cleared his throat, once again drawing the crowd’s attention, “Thank you. All of you. You don’t know what this means to me or what it will mean to Naruto, but I’m sure my dobe will tell you all about it when he returns.”


Again, the crowd erupted in cheers.


Turning, Sasuke handed Ryuu to Hinata who had appeared at his side, “Hinata, he’ll be sleeping for awhile, perhaps a couple of days. He’s okay, he just exhausted himself earlier.” Hinata gave the young lord a questioning look, but nodded and took the black haired chibi inside.


Jiraiya, Shikamaru, Kiba and Kakashi came up to Sasuke. The young lord looked at them. He didn’t say anything, face as stoic as ever, but his eyes showed his gratefulness for their help, for their support, but mostly for their friendship.


“The fact remains that we still have no idea where he is. I would leave right now, but I want us together, no splitting up. When we find Orochimaru and Itachi, I want them dead. I want their fucking heads placed at Naruto’s feet. There will be no other alternatives. Is that clear?”


All the knights nodded. After today, Naruto and everyone that he loved would be free of this threat.


“Akamaru might be able to pick up a trail once we get going…” Kiba began, but Kakashi cut him off.


“No more than my scouting dogs and they have yet to find anything.”


Sasuke nodded. He opened his mouth to ask Jiraiya to tell him everything he knew about Orochimaru when loud gasps and shouts were heard throughout the courtyard. He turned to look at what had caused the commotion, only to have his heart skip seeing a blur of golden hair running toward him.


‘Naruto’ stopped in front of him, breathing heavily, but Sasuke could tell right away that it was a clone. Its eyes weren’t bright enough nor his hair unruly enough. To stop the excited murmurs that spread across the courtyard, Sasuke looked up, “It’s a clone.”


The clone nodded and gave a small smile. “Teme. I know where he is and where they are taking him.”


Sasuke stepped forward. He knew… god, he knew that this wasn’t his Naruto, but he wanted to wrap his arms around him and hide him away none the less. “Tell me.”


“They are headed about half a days ride away to what looks to be an old hunting lodge. It’s still on your land. Orochimaru waited there while Itachi came and took Naruto. When I left Naruto, he and Itachi were almost to the lodge.”


“You talked to Naruto?”


“No, yes… it was another clone… powered by the fox.” Sasuke closed his eyes. He knew Naruto would only use Kyuubi’s chakra if he were desperate, but it still made Sasuke’s blood run cold. Every time Naruto used the chakra he was hurting himself, little by little.


Jiraiya stepped forward, “Why would it be powered by the demon? Naruto has more than enough of his own chakra?”


Before the clone could answer, Sasuke cut him off, “Jiraiya, now isn’t the time.” His tone was cold and the words signaled the end of the conversation. The baby was Naruto’s news to share and if Sasuke were being truthful with himself, he knew that he would probably only be bringing Naruto home, if that. He wouldn’t make it in time to prevent harm from coming to the dobe and Sasuke knew Itachi and Orochimaru wouldn’t pull any punches. He shook his head. He couldn’t think like that. He would save his precious person and god willing, their baby too.


“Kakashi, Kiba… prepare to leave. Choose ten knights to stay behind, everyone else should be ready to leave in fifteen minutes.”


The clone backed away, his job was done and he prepared to ‘poof’ back to the real Naruto to share his success. Just before he could, he felt a hand on his shoulder.


“Wait.”


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“Will the clone tell the Uchiha about the baby, kit?”


“I told him not to tell Sasuke about Orochimaru’s seal. If Sasuke remembered on his own, that’s one thing… but I don’t want to give him another reason to come barreling in, he’ll only get killed that way. Itachi and Sasuke seem to be each other’s weakness, don’t you think? Nothing makes them lose their stoic composure faster than the other one. He doesn’t need another reason to hate.” Naruto gently knocked the back of his head against the bars he leaned against. “I’ll hate for both of us,” Naruto rubbed his stomach, “For all three of us.” Closing his eyes, Naruto sighed, “I hope I wake up soon, as enjoyable as your company is, I want this over.”


“You should rest, kit.”


“Right…” All of the sudden Naruto felt his body jerk and fire ran up the side of his face. “Ah… wake up time.”


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Naruto brought a hand to his jaw, opening and shutting his mouth to try and work out the pain. “What you couldn’t be bothered to bend down? Kicking was the only option?” Naruto muttered. His impudence earned him a kick to the other side of his face. Naruto spit out blood and smiled, “So, that’s a yes then?”


Naruto was dragged to his feet, “Have you lost your mind, little monster? That would be disappointing… I haven’t even done anything ‘fun’ yet.”


Naruto bowed his head and whispered darkly, “You’ve done plenty…” Looking up, he smirked at the dark haired man, “No, I just see no reason to show respect to the walking dead.” Naruto yanked away from the bruising grip. “Sasuke is and always has been stronger than you. And,” Naruto chuckled dryly, “He’s coming to kill you.”


Itachi reached forward and grabbed a fistful of Naruto’s hair, lifting him out of the carriage and dragging him across a yard leading to a dark, abandoned two story lodge. “We will see won’t we. But while we are waiting, I think I’ll see just what you’ve learned while you were away being my little brother’s whore.” Naruto’s eyes watered from the pressure on his hair, but mostly from the impending horrors he would face.


Suddenly he felt the tell-tale signs of a clone memory come back and his feet stumbled. He almost thanked Itachi for ‘holding’ him up.


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‘Naruto’ prepared to ‘poof’ away when he felt the warm, strong hand on his shoulder.


“Wait.”


He turned around to see Sasuke standing his front of him, “Yes?”


Sasuke leaned forward until his mouth was against ‘Naruto’s’ ear, “I know how this jutsu works too.” He whispered. ‘Naruto’ felt Sasuke move so close to him that the lord’s chest was pressed against his own, filling him with warmth and one of Sasuke’s knees parted his trembling legs.


“I almost died when I saw you were taken, dobe.” ‘Naruto’ felt a nibble on his ear. “I know that you are scared, but I’m coming for you.” Pale hands carded through golden silk, “We are leaving right now and we will be there soon.” ‘Naruto’ felt gentle kisses on his nose, eyelids and the corner of his mouth, “Wait for me, dobe. Be strong.” Sasuke attacked rose colored lips with all the fear, anger and intense love that threatened to overcome the lord’s senses.


Stepping back, Sasuke held whiskered cheeks gently between his palms, thumbs rubbing soothing circles, “Ryuu said his first word today, Naruto… he asked for his mama.” ‘Naruto’s’ eyes widen at the moisture he could see in Sasuke’s eyes. “He’s more like you than we ever imagined, dobe. And I’m sure the new baby…” Sasuke choked, “Whatever happens, Naruto… I love you.”


‘Naruto’ felt the warmth leave him suddenly and he looked up to see Sasuke walk away from him and toward his waiting knights, never looking back. With a nod, he disappeared.


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Naruto blinked back tears. Sasuke understood. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or monumentally worse. Itachi dragged him forward but released his hair once they reached the large wooden doors. Naruto watched in horror as the doors slowly opened. His hand instinctively went to his stomach to offer some protection, however futile.


“Sasuke… it’s already too late.” Naruto whispered and then he heard the ominous hiss.


“Naruto… my sweet.”


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