The Agreement

Sorry this was posted a tad later than usual. I had an impromptu family thing come up. My haste to get this out to you might mean a few more errors than normal. I apologize ahead of time. Enjoy!

The Agreement

Chapter 15: The Green Eyes of Jealousy

When the doorbell rang before lunch the day after the quadruplets’ formal introduction to Konoha, no one was surprised. People came and went so often that the doorbell was constantly ringing (except when there was a sign outside indicating if a quad were sleeping and to just knock quietly instead).

Sasuke was in the kitchen preparing bottles for the quads as he heard Hinata go get the door. He was glad she went to get the door because currently he was distracted with his task. He kept sending amused glances through the open kitchen door into the living room, enjoying the view of Naruto sprawled out asleep on the floor with the quads next to him. The quads were quietly cooing and blowing spit bubbles as they lay on their backs, still unable to move much on their own.

His amused expression was replaced with a more serious one as Hinata came in looking nervous (more nervous than he'd seen her in some time) with Sakura following behind her. Sasuke watched as Sakura sent a few glances towards her husband and the quads, but she didn't look amused at all.

"It seems I have to come here if I want to see my husband any more. And even when I come he's asleep," Sakura said, her tone light as if trying to brush the comment off, but her expression was unhappy.

"S-sorry Sakura-chan. Naruto-kun has been a b-big help to us. We appreciate everything he's done for us," Hinata mumbled out. Sakura's pressed her lips together thinly.

"Indeed," Sakura said. Sasuke didn't like her tone or her expression.

"Come just to see Naruto or anything else?" Sasuke clipped. Sakura turned to look at him and flashed him a smile, all hostilities gone. She held up a black medical bag.

"I came to give the quads a house call check-up to see how they're doing," Sakura said. Hinata smiled at her widely.

"That's so nice of you!" Hinata exclaimed happily. Sakura returned her smile, her expression softening.

"Naruto had said something about seeing if he could bring them to the hospital today to have a check up, but clearly he got side-tracked," Sakura said, gesturing to her husband lying sprawled out on the floor asleep. "I also brought a little something for the quadruplets. I'm sorry again for missing their formal introduction yesterday. The hospital has been keeping me fairly busy," Sakura said as she handed him an envelope. It was clearly money to be set-aside for the children until they were older; most of the guests yesterday had given similar gifts to the children. Sasuke nodded his thanks.

Sakura put her medical bag down on the kitchen table while Sasuke put the envelope in a secure place. When he came back, he saw Hinata and Sakura standing somewhat tensely together in the kitchen.

"Do you mind if set my things up here?" Sakura finally asked breaking the silence. She waved her hand indicating the kitchen table before her hands went back to resting on top of the medical bag that was perched on the table.

"Go, right ahead," Hinata said. Sakura nodded as she opened up her medical bag and laid out a mat that seemed the right size for infants along with a few medical devices.

"I'll take them one at a time," Sakura said, walked through the doorway toward the living room to pick up a quad. She frowned at her husband before gently lifting one of the quads up from the ground, gently cradling the child's head. Sasuke watched her as she looked down at Kitsu, his oldest son. Her frowned had deepened as she looked at Kitsu, and then toward the other children. She murmured something before heading back into the kitchen. Kitsu wiggled slightly as she laid him on top of the mat.

"That's so strange," Sakura said, her large forehead creased with worry lines.

"What's the matter? Is he okay?" Hinata asked, coming up to Sakura's side, looking over her little one, and checking for any bumps or bruises.

Sasuke had a feeling Sakura's worried look didn't have anything to do with Kitsu's health. Sasuke finished getting the bottles ready for the quads and turned to stand next to Hinata. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure he's fine. He's an Uchiha after all," Sasuke said, emphasizing Uchiha. Sakura turned to look at him, giving him a confused and almost pitying look.

"He has Naruto's whisker-like markings. So do the others," Sakura said, her voice coming out in slight gasps as though she were trying not to hyperventilate.

Sasuke hadn't quite expected that reaction. Sakura was connecting things in her mind that didn't need to be connected. She was seeing her husband's markings on children she helped to deliver, children she knew that had come from Hinata's womb. Sasuke actually felt sorry for Sakura as she took a sidelong glance at her husband and then back at Hinata. If Sasuke had been in her situation, he knew what she would be thinking: my husband had an affair, and these children are his.

"The marks are smooth, though," Sakura said quietly as she ran her finger along Kitsu's cheeks. He laughed at her, grinning widely as he showed her his gums. "Naruto's actually feel like there are whiskers pressed against his cheek. They’re slightly raised," Sakura noted sadly. Sasuke jumped at her words, finding a way to stop everything from going down hill quickly. It would be very bad if Sakura started accusing Naruto of things that he had no idea how to respond to.

"I confess, it was me," Sasuke said. Sakura looked at Sasuke, bewildered. "It's my fault the children have Naruto's whisker like markings." Sasuke turned to look at Hinata, her gaze wide upon him, and he flashed her a glare, warning her not to say anything. This statement was true as he had gotten Naruto’s sperm after all. His gaze returned to normal as he looked back at Sakura. "Naruto and I had a little heart to heart the other night. You see, Naruto has been helping out just like family, and I thought it only fitting to give the children the whisker-marks." He paused, letting his mind work through the details so that his story sounded at least somewhat plausible and not made up on the spot.

"What?" Sakura asked during his pause.

"I was going to do something rather sentimental. If I gave the children whisker marks then Naruto could say the children were his children too since he’s been acting like their third parent. However, Naruto noticed at kind of the wrong time," Sasuke said, watching as Hinata looked at him with an expression just as confused as Sakura’s.

"What are you talking about?" Hinata asked.

"About two days before the introduction ceremony, I began to use a black dye to give the children the whisker-markers. Don't worry-" Sasuke said, before Sakura could interrupt, "I double checked to make sure the dye would be safe for the infants. I decided that since Naruto has been such a big help with the quads that I would make him feel more like family. After all," Sasuke said, knowing he was probably touching on a sensitive nerve with Sakura and being the bastard he was, he was enjoying it, "clearly Naruto loves being a part of our family. I thought it fitting that they quads look a little more like him. Sort of like their third parent." Sasuke repeated. "I think it would be wonderful for Naruto to claim all the children as though they were his own. Giving them the whisker-marks was the only idea I could think of. I thought Naruto would notice it and think that they were growing to look like him. Unfortunately, he noticed at a rather awkward time. He was the only one to notice them yesterday, during the actual ceremony. Naruto pointed them out to Neji, and Neji had the audacity to ask me later that evening if he thought Naruto was the quads’ father!"

Hinata's eyes were wide, and Sakura was looking at Sasuke in confusion.

"I almost hit Neji," Sasuke said, turning to look at Hinata. "But I thought you wouldn't appreciate it." Hinata shook her head no. "I told him that all you had to do was look at the quads to see that they look like me." Sasuke picked up Kitsu, and held him so that their faces were close together. "See? Like father like son," Sasuke said, putting Kitsu back down on the mat.

"That's very true, you are definitely his father," Sakura said, sighing as though in relief.

"Hinata, help me feed Muchuu, Tenpi, and Seiryuu while Sakura has Kitsu," Sasuke said as he walked into the living room with Hinata. Hinata picked up Seiryuu and Sasuke took the other two boys back into the kitchen. Sasuke sat down at the table, sitting across from where Sakura was working. He juggled the two boys around. He laid Muchuu across his lap while he began to feed Tenpi.

Movement caught his eye, and he noted that Sakura had quietly left Kitsu on the table. He wasn't worried about Kitsu since the mat was turned up at the ends and would prevent him from rolling off, but he did wonder where Sakura had gone.

"OW!"

Naruto's yelp made Sasuke look out toward the living room. Naruto was standing up, cradling his head where a large size lump was forming.

"Get up you lazy oaf! Sasuke and Hinata are in there trying to feed the babies. Here Sasuke's telling me you're like one of the family, and you're out here sleeping while they're in there taking care of the babies. Go and help!"

"Hi to you t-t-too," Naruto yawned as he rubbed his head. "You didn't have to hit me so hard," Naruto grumbled as Naruto walked back in the room, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Sakura followed close behind him, and pointed toward Sasuke who had Muchuu on his lap.

Sasuke did his best to keep his hands steady as he fed Tenpi. He was shaking in rage. Why did Sakura have to hit Naruto to wake him up? Naruto was clearly exhausted, and he deserved to sleep. Even if she had wanted his attention, she could have gotten it another way. Sasuke clenched his teeth, and did his best to relax. There was no way he could let his anger get the better of him, not when he held one of the quads.

All of his anger dissipated in an instant as Sasuke jumped as Naruto brushed his hand across his crotch. It took a moment to realize that it was just an accident because Naruto had merely scooped Muchuu up off of his lap. Nonetheless, Sasuke sat very still as Naruto went over to get a bottle off of the kitchen counter and plopped down in the chair next to Sasuke. Naruto seemed oblivious to what he had done as he began to feed Muchuu. Oblivious or not, it had happened, and the sensation practically burned across Sasuke's crotch. It tingled as he got a hard on. Talk about bad timing. He could feel his erection straining uncomfortable against the side of his pants, tugging his clothing off to the side, twisting his pants uncomfortably. He gently adjusted Tenpi in his arms and moved his body around, very gently rearranging his pants.

Sasuke glanced out of the corner of his eyes, watching Naruto feed Muchuu. The look of happiness that radiated off of Naruto as he looked down at his son made Sasuke smile as well. He lost himself in thinking about how good Naruto looked acting as a father until a patting sound made Sasuke return from his thoughts. He turned his head to watch as Hinata began burping Seiryuu. Sasuke frowned.

"That was fast," Sasuke noted.

"She kept popping the bottle out of her mouth. She also didn't have that much at breakfast," Hinata said, frowning in concern.

"Ahaha...She’s fine. she woke up at around 4:30 this morning. She downed about three bottles then," Naruto explained.

"I hadn't realized any of the quads woke up last night," Sasuke said. It had been the first time that they had all slept throughout he night – or so he had thought.

"Well, it was the smell that woke me up. She needed a diaper change. She was already awake, but was kind of fussy. After I changed her, she was still fussy so I made her a bottle – then another and then another. She eats more than her brothers," Naruto said, smiling. Sasuke smiled as well and then looked down at Tenpi who had also stopped sucking on his bottle.

Tenpi had fallen asleep. The bottle was still in his mouth, but his eyes were closed and his mouth hung open, a little bit of the milk leaked around the edges of his lips and toothless gums.

"Come on Tenpi. Finish your bottle before nap time," Sasuke said soothingly, lightly stroking Tenpi's almost non-existent hair to get him to wake up. Tenpi's mouth began to suckle on the bottle, and his eyes slowly opened again. It was strange. Sasuke was finding that he didn't feel any different holding any of the quads. Tenpi might not be his biologically, but it didn't seem to matter. With Hinata and Naruto, they felt like a small family.

"Kitsu's done his check up," Sakura said. Sasuke looked up. He had almost forgotten that Sakura was even there. He looked up at her only to see that she seemed upset about something. She quickly turned away to watch Naruto with Muchuu.

That didn’t improve her mood either. She was obviously sad. Sasuke frowned, realizing that she had been upset that he had been tender with Tenpi, and Naruto was being so tender with Muchuu. Sakura turned her head to look at Sasuke. She covered her frown by quickly giving him a quick smile before turning to look at Hinata.

"I guess I'll take Seiryuu since she's almost finished being burped," Sakura said.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

After Sakura had finished her check-up of all the quads, Naruto and Hinata took the quads up to bed for their afternoon nap. Sasuke would have gone with them, but he had seen Sakura making noticeable attempts to catch his eye. As he watched Naruto and Hinata walk up the steps with the quads nestled safely in their arms (Sakura's eyes were on them as well, frowning at the apparent idea of them alone together) Sasuke waited for Sakura to speak.

"The children look like Naruto. Especially Tenpi. Tenpi has no noticeable resemblance to you," Sakura said quietly and sadly. Sasuke bristled.

"If you're implying that you think the Tenpi’s not my son, then you’re implying that you think that Hinata and Naruto had an affair. You're wrong. I created those children, and I know I did," Sasuke said, trying to keep his anger in check. He was sure he knew how the situation might seem shady to an outsider, but Naruto was her husband. She ought to know he would never do anything like that.

"But Tenpi-"

"Tenpi is my son, damnit!" Sasuke snarled. And he meant it too. "They're only a few weeks old. You can't really tell who they'll look like until they're older," Sasuke added a bit more gently. Sakura turned to look at him, slightly shocked at his tone. He thought she would argue more with him, but she merely shook her head and sighed.

"It's my fault, really. I can't give him children, and he knows it. He's latching onto yours instead," Sakura said, her hands in front of her stomach.

"You told him you can't-"

"Of course I told him!" Sakura snapped. "And he said he'd love me no matter what. Yet he's here every day, caring for the quads like they were his own. It makes me jealous."

"Then let him care for them like they were his own. Hinata and I love the help he gives us. And," Sasuke paused, wondering how to phrase his words. He took a deep breath remembering his resolve that he would put Naruto before his own selfishness, "you're more than welcome to help too."

Sakura looked at him and smiled sadly.

"Maybe. It's just so hard for me to watch Naruto with them. And it's hard to watch you so happy with them too..." Sakura murmured.

Sasuke bristled at her confession. Even after being married to Naruto, after making accusations that he was being unfaithful, she was still thinking about him? Before he could make a comment, Hinata and Naruto came back down the stairs. Naruto was gesturing wildly, and Hinata was giggling. Sakura turned to look at them, jealousy flashing in her green eyes.

"I've got to get back to the hospital," Sakura announced drawing Hinata and Naruto's attention to her.

"Aww, Sakura-chan. Do you have to?" Naruto asked, jumping the last few steps to reach her. He flashed baby-blue puppy dog eyes at her. Her hardened expression softened and she smiled at him.

"Yes. Why don't we go to Ichiraku Ramen for dinner tonight?" she suggested. He nodded enthusiastically. "We haven't done anything together in a while," Sakura said sadly. Naruto looked apologetic and guilty.

"Aah...yeah...I'm sorry. Dinner will be good," Naruto promised. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips before waving a goodbye to Hinata and Sasuke. As she left, Naruto scratched the back of his head morosely.

"I think I'm in trouble..."


Next Chapter: Past Confession


Sorry for the slight delay in updating this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it! ~ Jelp