Untitled_SasuNaru

Even though they had a key to finding Orochimaru, he managed to evade them every time they found his new location. When he figured out they were onto his pattern, he changed it. They were left at dead end after dead end. The searches took months. They lost a few shinobi along the way but thankfully, the Rookie nine and most of the people connected to them survived.



Now, it was Aito's birthday. There were two sets of gifts. One for Aito and one for the never forgotten Hikime. Aito had already learned to walk and was terrorizing everyone who showed up to give her sweets and gifts. After the cake affair and the vanilla slung all over the living room, she was in her crib sleeping off the sugar rush. She was a year old today and somehow, Sasuke couldn't be happy about it. No one mentioned Hikime or the search because today was supposed to be a happy day. The gifts in Hikime's pile were taken from the table and placed in the nursery, on her side of the room where they would stay until she was brought back to them safe and sound.



"Ne Sakura-saaaannnn!!"



"Nani Naruto?" Sakura was sitting on the couch, polishing off another piece of the cake Chouji made.



"Are you going to sit down and eat cake all day or come and walk with me?" She gave Naruto a glare that promised death if he said anything else about her cake eating.



"Naruto, I have taken a walk with you twice today and even helped you clean up the living room after the rest of the guests left. Leave. Me. In. Peace."



"Good luck with that." Naruto looked at Tenten and growled at her. The woman just laughed and tossed something at his head.



"Now children, enough." Tsunade sat down and was also tearing into a peice of cake. "Chouji, I swear this cake is going to be the death of me. I can't stop eating it."



"I'm with her." Sakura got up to get another piece. Ino asked for some as well as did half of the others in the room. Chouji smiled.



"Only the best for our little ninja girl!" Everyone fell silent with that comment and Chouji looked to the floor. Sasuke just smiled. It was forced as were many of his words these days.



"Only the best. You have the right idea Chouji." Everyone took a breath and let it out slowly. Chouji stood and dusted himself off. Everyone got the idea and excused themselves. When the population of the Uchiha compound died down to the normal few, Sasuke took a breath and looked to Aito where she slept. Soundly. Happily. He wondered if she felt the loss of her twin. Sakura bent over the edge of the play pen and gave Aito a kiss on her white locks and walked to Sasuke. She hesitated but handed him a small box that was covered in green wrapping paper with a white ribbon.



"Here." When he went to speak, she held up a hand to stop him. "Look, I know I've been a huge pain in your ass and for that, I can't say I'm sorry. You did some terrible things and I can't forgive you for them." She held out her hand. "I would like to start over if you would." Sasuke thought for a moment but took her hand and shook it. "That took me a while to make but, I think you will love it. I know, it's not your birthday, but it's for you and Aito. The directions for use are on the inside." She smiled and leaned over to press a small kiss on his cheek then turned to Naruto, giving him a hug and left the compound. Kakashi just quirked his only visible brow and watched his teammate walk out.



"Well, I think I just lost a few weeks pay on that one." Iruka nearly choked on his tea. Neji just walked out after his lover, wide eyed. Kakashi and Iruka stood up and left the compound with a last pat to the sleeping toddler and a few words of wisdom to Sasuke. When they were left alone, Naruto and Sasuke looked down tot he small box Sakura handed to Sasuke.



"Going to open it?"



"I don't know if I want to." Sasuke handed the box to Naruto who looked at it and sighed.



"Of course, give the possible time bomb to the stupid one right?" Shaking his head, grin on his face, Naruto opened the package, carefully, and pulled out three bracelets. Two were gold and one was an almost black onyx. He handed them to Sasuke and pulled out the small folded up card that was the obvious instructions.



"Infuse the black one first with your chakra then the gold ones. Place them in close proximity for ten seconds then place the black on on your wrist and the gold ones on each of the girls wrists. The bracelets work like a tracking device. By forcing a bit of chakra into your bracelet, you can cause the gold ones to react. By the force of chakra sent back, you can gauge how far away the girls are. Once the chakra is infused into the bracelets, only your chakra can remove them. Good luck!"



"Hm." Sasuke looked at the three bracelets and did as the instructions said but he only needed one bracelet. For now. After infusing the two bracelets with chakra, Sasuke let them sit together for ten seconds then walked over and slipped on his black on, then slipped the gold one on Aito's little wrist. he watched in mild amazement as it shrank down to fit on her little writ. "I guess she was good for something." He was talking to himself but when Naruto came up to his side and looked over at the blond and then back down to his baby. "Thanks for coming dobe."



"You think I would miss this teme?" Sasuke gave him "the look." Naruto just smiled and patted the Uchiha's shoulder. Sasuke stopped the blond from walking away by holding onto his hand. "Let go Sasuke."



"Maybe." He turned and pulled Naruto into his arms. They hadn't really spoken since Naruto set off on searching for the newest compound. They needed to talk and Naruto was studiously avoiding him. Naruto growled and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to stay as far from Sasuke was was possible with the man's arms around him.



"Let me go Sasuke. I want to go home and sleep before the search tomorrow."



"We need to talk dobe."



"No we don't teme."



"Yes, we do." Sasuke started walking forward, forcing Naruto to walk backwards and Naruto yelped when he landed against the couch with Sasuke between his legs. "Ever since I read the things given to me by Tashiro, you have avoided me like the plague."



"For good reason."



"What would that be?"



"Accosting, torture, unusual attitude. Aren't those good enough?"



"I am not torturing you and if you didn't want me kissing you, you would push me away. As for the attitude, losing part of yourself will do that to someone."



"I have noticed. When she was taken you started kissing me. If you haven't noticed I have a boyfriend."



"Sai? He is not your boyfriend. You haven't slept with him yet and you don't even kiss."



"So you do spy on me!" Naruto pushed at Sasuke's chest and watched the Uchiha stand up. "I don't believe you Sasuke! Can't you just leave me alone like you have for the years before you came back? You did a great job of it then!" Naruto stood up and ran a hand through his hair. "And what the hell does it matter if I have a boyfriend or not? What I do or don't do with him is my personal business, not yours. It's not like you care anyways." Naruto headed for the kitchen and grabbed up a peice of the left over cake made by Chouji. After polishing it off, he headed for the door. Sasuke was in step behind him. As Naruto let the door close behind him, Sasuke sighed.



"If I didn't care dobe, I wouldn't be trying."





The child had been silent for the five months they had her. She didn't cry or make noise when she was hungry or needed a diaper change. They thought something was wrong with her but it seemed she was just a quiet baby. She did however, smile a little when Kabuto got hit over the head or beat up in front of her but it was somehow never seen by any of the adults.



Today was her birthday. Her gift was across the room. Black eyes looking from one man to another, she paused and then started walking towards it. She'd learned to walk at a faster rate than most children. When she got over to the gift she reached out and grabbed it. When nothing came out to attack her, she sat down and started tearing at the paper. Inside was a white box. Little pink tongue peeking out of her mouth, she opened the boc -after nearly tearing it to shreds- and pulled out the stuffed snake inside.



"A stuffed reptile Orochimaru-sama? Don't you think it will make her soft?"



"Hn." Obviously, he was ignoring the whole point of the statement and just watching the way Hikime played with the toy. She turned and gave them both one of the brightest smiles then turned back to continue playing the with snake. Orochimaru walked over and squatted down and gently plucked the toy from the toddlers hands. She made a small sound then went utterly quiet and stared at her hands. "Even at such a young age she understands..." Orochimaru handed the toy back to her and picked her up.



Kabuto just watched as his master took the child from the room and back to the lab. He pushed up his sliding glasses and left the room. He went to an abandoned hall and looked around, throwing out a small flare of chakra to make sure he was alone, and then made the seals to open his secret lab. When he shut the door, he took off his coat and shirt, tossing them over onto a separate rollie stool and walked over to his desk. Sitting in the new, uncomfortable chair, he pulled his files out of a secure drawer and opened them to the most recent entry.





Sai just watched as a very irate blond walked in to his apartment and started taking off his gear. If the look on his face wasn't evidence enough that something was wrong then the way he was jerking off his gear and tossing it aside was a good indication. Setting his paint brush aside and wiping off his fingers, Sai stood and capped his paints then walked over to naruto who was pacing around the apartment. Crossing his arms over his chest, Sai just waited, face expressionless, for Naruto to stop pacing enough to speak what was on his mind.



When the blond didn't stop, Sai walked to him and stopped him with a hand on the crook of his elbow. Naruto stopped and his body tensed before he relaxed and turned around. Confusion was written across his features. "What is it Naruto-kun?"



"He- Sasuke has been spying on me! And he tried to kiss me again!"



"I told you he was spying did I not?" Sai pulled away and watched as Naruto walked to the couch and sat down.



"And I didn't believe you." Naruto sighed and ran a hand through his growing blond locks. it was time for a cut but he'd avoided it in favor of searching for Sasuke's lost child. Grabbing up a pair of shears, Sai walked over and sank down behind the blond. Naruto moved to sit on the floor in front of Sai without question as to what the scissors were for and just sat there, reflecting over what Sasuke told him as his hair was cut. "Why would he be spying on me?"



"He is interested in you Naruto-kun."



"That isn't possible. It's Sasuke for crying out loud!"



"Then why does he kiss you?"



"Because he's into torturing people."



"Possibly. But wouldn't the explanation make more sense with the former reason?" Sai told Naruto to take off his shirt and toss it into the dirty clothes while he went to get the broom.



"He can't like me. I mean, he tried to kill me!"



"I know."



"And he made quite sure that I knew he hated me to the very core of his soul! It doesn't make sense for him to be interested in me."



"Naruto, stop being stupid."



"I'm not being stupid Sai."



"You are." Naruto looked at his teammate and proceeded to pout. Sai just quirked a brow.



"I am not acting stupid."



"Then why will you not see reason?"



"Because the reason you're giving me is an impossibility."



"is it so hard to believe he may like you?"



"Were you not there when he tried to kill me? Or did you just send a clone to stop the sword from making the blow?" Naruto's blue eyes narrowed as he spoke and Sai just let out a breath -like he'd seen everyone do when getting 'frustrated'.-



"I was there Naruto-kun and I heard the words he spoke. But it seems, for all of his faults, which are many, he has one that happens to be sitting in my apartment, brooding."



"I am not brooding!"



"And looking for an argument." Naruto opened his mouth to argue that but realized Sai was right and closed his mouth, crossed his legs and stared out the window.



"I don't like him Sai."



"Yes you do Naruto."



"No. I don't." Naruto looked back to Sai. "Or do you not sleep with me at night and listen to the nightmares?"



"I know about your hospitalization Naruto-kun. I know about the nightmares and I am the one who holds you while you shake after waking. But can you look me in the eye and tell me you do not like him? Have some small hope that it is possible?" Sai smiled but it was just as fake as the rest of his emotions. "It seems no matter how hard I try, I cannot get you into my bed for anything more than sleep so there must be someone else Naruto-kun. Is it so hard to think it is the Uchiha?"



Naruto frowned and looked to the floor. Sai was right. Somewhere, deep inside, he thought it might be possible. Hoped it might be possible. He pushed Sai away because he didn't want to make a commitment. He just never really figured out he was waiting for Sasuke. So why was he sitting on Sai's couch and not over at the compound? Because after being let down enough times, he didn't really know if he wanted to open himself up to the only person who'd hurt him enough to make him want to stop. The blond looked to Sai who'd walked back to his painting but instead of painting, he pulled out his sketch book and some pencils. he made quick glances at Naruto and then looked back at the paper. Naruto just sighed and went back to the pose Sai was drawing him in.



Maybe he should just give up pushing his teammate away? Maybe he should actually take the next step with Sai? No. That wasn't happening simply because he didn't know if Sai could actually feel anything during a relationship or he just wanted the sex. After a half hour of sitting and thinking about what he should do, Naruto stood, stretched and walked over to Sai. peeking over his teammates shoulder, he noticed the drawing and let a smile touch his lips.



"You're encouragable." Sai looked up with a smile that naruto thought might have been real.



"But it still gets me no where."



"Quite possibly." Naruto stood and looked around. "Got anything I can wear? My stuff needs to be washed."



"Have you checked your apartment?"



"If you haven't noticed, I've been crashing over here since the girls were kidnapped."



"I noticed." Sai stood, set his supplies away and went in search of something that would fit Naruto. He came out with some blue pajama pants and a white tee shirt. Handing them over, he watched as Naruto stripped to his boxers and pull on the clothes. Licking his lips, Sai gave an appreciative nod at Naruto. The pants were tight over his ass and loose the rest of the way down. The tee shirt was tight enough that it outlined his chest, torso and shoulder muscles.



"Nani?"



"Nothing Naruto-kun." Sai just shrugged and walked back to his painting. "If that is all, leave."



"You really need to learn to say please."



"Even saying please gets me nothing so why bother?"



"If everyone thought the way you did Sai, this world would be in a constant state of war. Sometimes, it's just good to say please." Sai just stared at him with a blank face. "I'm going!" Naruto looked around, located his sandals, slipped them on and poofed out of the apartment.





Sasuke had just laid down on the couch with Aito when she started squirming. "DA!" He looked up to see Naruto standing in the door of the living room. With a small sigh, he let the toddler go and watched as she ran at Naruto full speed -nearly tripping over her own feet in the process- and ran right into his outstretched, tan arms. He picked her up and tossed her into the air. Sasuke felt his stomach drop but knew that Naruto had a good hold of his child. Not once had he let her fall, unless he was faking it to get back at Sasuke for something.



"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Sarcasm was dripping from Sasuke's pores as he sat up and watched Naruto with his daughter. Naruto ignored him in favor of playing with Aito. When she started running around his legs, Naruto picked her up like a sack of potatoes and looked at Sasuke.



"Sai kicked me out and I have no where to sleep tonight. Can I crash here?"



"Don't you have an apartment?"



"With no bed. Or couch. Or chairs." Sasuke just shook his head.



"Even if I said no, would it stop you?"



"Not really." Sasuke just looked into blue eyes. Well, at least he was being truthful. Naruto smiled and looked down to the squirming child under his arm. "Come on you little terror, it's time for a bath! You're still covered in cake!" Sasuke watched as Naruto brought his daughter out of the living room. Naruto had, inadvertently, become the girls other parent. Aito didn't look to Sakura, or Tsunade and sometimes, not even him but to the loud mouthed blond instead. he should have been angry but somehow, he couldn't find the anger anywhere. Over the year he had Aito and the handful of months he had Hikime, Sasuke had formed a strong bond with them and now, he didn't regret a minute of the unnatural pregnancy. he wondered if his mother felt like this when he was born. What about with Itatchi?



Sasuke shook his head and realized he was standing outside of a closed door. Looking down, he noticed a dark stain on the floor and sighed. His hand, of its own accord, reached out and slid the door open. Black eyes rose and he watched as his memory formed the picture he'd feared so long ago. Sometimes, he still did. His mother and father were still laying in their bed. His mother's face was filled with am almost...peaceful terror. His father's face was filled with rage. And then, his eyes drifted off to the corner of the room, nearest the window. He'd seen glowing red eyes.



Hand gripping the wood in a grasp that was making his knuckles white, Sasuke closed the door and stood there, in the hall for a few moments before taking a deep breath and walking away. His brother had caused the deaths of his entire clan. His brother had known about the experimentation. His brother, more than likely, knew about his twins. It seemed his brother knew everything. And the hate for him grew into an endless void. He'd given up his revenge in turn for saving his daughters. His hand fisted and he walked into his bedroom, closing the door with a ringing silence. Walking to his bed, he sat down and looked at the floor. He loved his daughters. He hated his brother. What a dead end.



Shaking his head, Sasuke fell back on the bed and closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath. He gave up on his revenge. he wouldn't pursue Itatchi. Unless he came after Naruto. Again. Or his daughters. But...if he stopped the bastard before he got a chance, there would be no danger...

With a smile on his face, Sasuke drifted into a deep sleep. His dreams didn't start off as nightmares but they eventually progressed that far.





Naruto jumped awake and looked around. Aito was sitting up and staring at the empty crib next to her. The blond frowned and stood, walking over to her. When she noticed him, she started making grabby hands at the empty crib. Naruto laid her on her back, pulled her blanket over her and sighed. After telling her to go back to sleep and kissing her forehead, he went to investigate the hollering.



His ears brought him to Sasuke's room.



"Not again..." Shaking his head, Naruto opened the door and hollered at Sasuke. The uchiha didn't wake up. Naruto growled. He didn't want to get near that bed. The last time he had, it had been embarrassing. Stepping into the room, Naruto looked around and spotted something small and circular. An evil grin practically splitting his face in half, he picked up the object and made sure there was nothing sharp on it. After deciding it would work for his purposes, Naruto brought his hand back from Suna and let the object fly. he had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing when Sasuke snapped awake and looked around, a large bump appearing on his head. It didn't work. Naruto started laughing and actually fell down, clutching his stomach.



When a fist connected with his head, he couldn't even stop it. He just continued laughing. When he was grabbed up and thrown onto the bed, he did stop laughing then and looked at Sasuke. His eyes were red and swirling.



"Ne! Teme, you were screaming again so I woke you up. Don't look at me like that!" Sasuke said nothing but the door closed and then he started walking towards the bed. No, walking wasn't the right word, stalking was more like it. Naruto went in a defensive position as he moved to get off the bed. He ended up falling over the edge of the bed. "Sasuke! I need to get back to the nursery!" That still didn't stop him. And his eyes kept swirling. Naruto had a very hard time trying to keep himself from looking up.



Sasuke looked like some dark...entity as he came closer to the bed and then his pale hands wrapped around one of Naruto's ankles. Naruto didn't panic but instead of making things worse, he waited. He should probably have fought but even though Sasuke seemed menacing, his grip was surprisingly gentle. The blond watched as Sasuke's form appeared over his and those swirling red eyes phased, slowly, back to black. With the moonlight spilling from the window, Sasuke looked like some dark rouge. It was a good look for him. But this was awkward.



"Tem-" Naruto was stopped by a finger against his lips. Then Sasuke's weight settled over him, holding him to the ground. Blue eyes widened at the position and he started stammering. This, was not good. His stammering was stopped by Sasuke. The Uchiha pressed their lips together and Naruto frowned. What had Sai said? What had Sakura told him on their last dispatch? Even Neji had told him a few things...



With a sigh, Naruto knew he was defeated. He didn't try moving out from under Sasuke and instead, wrapped his arms around the Uchiha's neck and opened his mouth to deepen the kiss.