As The Leaf Turns

Fourteen: Another Inuzuka Takes the Big Step – A Baby Comes Into Our Lives

The wedding of Kiba and Hinata took place in the wave country where a smaller branch of the Inuzuku’s lived, and worked with some local wild beasts that were more like foxes than wolves.
It was a small affair and though all of the members of the original rookie nine and all of their new life mates and significant others, along with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the various sensei’s that had been involved in the training of the two Jounins traveled along, it was no where near the spectacle that either Shino and Hana or Ino and Genma’s weddings had been.
It was larger and more impressive than the simple ceremony that the Hokage had opted for when marrying the other Sannin, but not so large as to cause dire distress.
Not that all of this information could calm the butterflies that were rampaging in the stomach of the dog boy himself.
Between his best man and his first dog, he was as calm as he could get and while he paced the floor, Naruto sat on the room’s only couch and petted Akamaru.
“You really need to lighten up, Kiba. You’re about to explode. You’ll never last at this rate.”
“Easy for you to say. One thing about taking up with Sasuke, you never have to worry about weddings or in-laws. If Hinata’s father doesn’t stop staring at me, I’m gonna hurl.”
“Hiashi? He seems cool. I think you are better off than Shikamaru. He gets the evil eye from his lover’s uncle even when he isn’t around.” Naruto added and the two shared a smile over that.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I still feel like he’s sizing me up and I’m about a foot too short.”
“You’ll be fine. Just get her pregnant right away cause he needs little kids around to make him feel better. Grandpa’s never get angry, didn’t you know that?”
“You don’t have a grandpa so how would you know. And once more you aren’t having a baby, so why should I hurry into anything?”
“We are, too. We are adopting that new baby that is gonna be born any day now. So, don’t you two want to keep up with us?” Naruto challenged.
“Yeah, that is my goal. You idiot.” Kiba answered as the blond rose to his feet and they heard the knock on the door.
“Well, it kept your mind off of this. Isn’t that my job as best man?”

The birth of the third clone created from the forbidden jutsu and the DNA of Orochimaru was a quiet affair and even the new mother was sleeping through it.
Tsunade handed the tiny baby to Jiraiya and he wrapped it up and placed it in the warmed-up Isolette. Ten hours later it was still doing well and would be allowed to go home with its adoptive parents.
Naruto and Sasuke had been called.
The pair left the hospital with the baby carefully strapped into a security carrier and enough instructions for ten babies along with the well wishes most of the staff.
Naruto carried the burgeoning bag of baby supplies and Sasuke carried little Tanomoshii down the street and into the little cottage at the edge of the village.
The newborn slept peacefully and they both sat and stared at him for hours. Sasuke started to realize what they were doing and smacked Naruto upside of his head.
“Stop it, Dobe. We need to get some things done around here. You go see what we have in the kitchen and I will go shopping when you are done. At least we can take turns staring at him that way.” He said pushing the blond out of the nursery and down the hall.
“But, Sasuke. He’s so cute. Look at those little fingers and toes. He’s like a tiny person.” Naruto cried as he was herded into the cupboard filled room.
“Of course he is. But if we are going to take care of him, we’ll need food. Now, make me a list and you can watch him while I go to the market.” He said, as he turned and headed back to the baby’s room and began folding the blankets and such while the baby slept near him.

Naruto finished compiling a list that oddly consisted of more than just ramen in all the different flavors available and he passed it on to Sasuke as he took up his watch in the small room with the sleeping child.
Sasuke headed out the door reminding his lover that there was a bottle of special formula in the refrigerator if the baby happened to wake up.
He had procured all of the things on the first half of the list and was trying to read the chicken scratch on the next item when he was caught up by a grinning Sakura followed by Rock Lee who looked embarrassed to be in a grocery store.
“Sasuke-kun. What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Buying groceries, Sakura. It seemed like the best place to do it.” He said, ignoring her and her shadow.
“Oh, I just thought that Naruto would be here. I mean, he usually buys the food, doesn’t he?” she asked looking around curiously.
“Yes. He does. I thought I should make sure that all of the things we need are purchased. Naruto is at home.” He answered figuring out that the item in question was soba noodles and reaching for it on the small shelf.
“Oh, well that is why Lee and I are going to do all of our shopping together, right Lee-kun?” she said, and Sasuke looked up at the blushing young man and the gloating woman. He couldn’t resist this one, could he? No.
“Sakura, we tried that. It doesn’t work. When Naruto and I shop together, I just can’t help myself. He bends over to pick up the sushi rice off of the bottom shelf and that is that. We get kicked out of more stores that way.” He said, before moving on to the fresh vegetables that were neatly stacked on a platform. “Yep, and just looking at this nice round piece of fruit, already I am getting ideas, imagine if that Dobe were right here, right now?” He continued ignoring the slow trickle of blood running down Lee’s face. “And if I were alone with Naruto in the fresh meat department, he would probably be overcome by the smell of the blood and that would be the end of our trip. I just hate having to apologize to the customers after one of those episodes.” And he blithely dropped the fruit into his basket and continued on down the isle.
“Lee! Are you all right? Come on, let’s get you some tissues. See you later, Sasuke.” She said as she rushed the green clad Taijutsu master out of the store.
Sasuke chuckled as he finished his shopping, knowing that Naruto would find this just as funny, if he decided to tell the blond about the run in with his ex-fan girl.
Naruto was watching the baby as the tiny hand began to twitch and wiggle. He watched in awe as the fingers opened and closed and the tiny eyes creaked open in little slits to attempt to view his world. Then he watched as the tiny little mouth opened and emitted a not so tiny little wail. Naruto rushed over and lifted the baby up out of the baby basket and carried him to the changing table to check him over and change his amazingly wet diaper. Once done, he carried his new son to the kitchen to heat up the bottle and feed his new love.
Sasuke came in the door as the bottle was nearly empty and he found his blond asleep in the big chair with the baby curled up in his arms. The tiny child was slowly sucking at the bottle with very little enthusiasm as he was nearly full and it was more than he needed. Sasuke slid it out of his mouth and watched as the tiny baby’s tongue attempted to hold to the nipple even when it was completely out of his mouth.
Sasuke stared at it and blinked a few times. “You’re Orochimaru’s clone all right. Only that snake man could do that.” He said putting the bottle on the table and leaning close to place a light kiss onto the forehead of his new son. “I love you, my little Koibito. And you too, Dobe.” He added kissing the blond’s cheek, also.

Naruto woke up to find himself still holding is new child and Sasuke curled up next to him, under his other arm. He pulled the Uchiha close and pressed his lips to the soft hair that was directly beneath his chin. Sasuke shifted and looked up at the face of his lover and then checked the sleeping baby beside him.
“Put him to bed, and then we can get some sleep in the bed. It isn’t very good for us to sleep here all night.” He said, and Naruto smiled at him.
“Okay, Sasuke. I’ll be right there. Don’t start without me.” He suggested and Sasuke turned and glared his way.
“I wasn’t really lying to Sakura tonight, you know?” he said in the doorway. “It would be kind of hard to shop with you.” And he was gone leaving a very confused blond behind him.
Naruto hurried behind the smirking Uchiha, calling out quietly. “When did you see Sakura?”


Vashta – I agree. I think he will be that way, once he gets used to her.

Marielle – Glad you are up-to-date, I miss you when you aren’t here.


Next Chapter is The Great Experiment Begins – Tenten Watches an Amazing Thing
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