A Dog's Life

Welcome to the next chapter of ‘A Dog’s Life’, I am sorry there was a delay with this chapter, but I had difficulty in how I wanted to present it then all of a sudden it just hit me and ended up writing the full chapter in one shot. Thanks again to everyone who pm’d me last chapter; I appreciate all your comments and take them into consideration. So without further ado, here is chapter 17.

A Dog’s Life-Chapter 17 by KitsuneFun

Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto, that honor is held by Masashi Kishimoto; I am just a fan fiction writer doing this for fun.

This inexplicable need became surer and almost transparent as Sasuke gazed lovingly down at Naruto as they both lay in bed, he gently brushed his hand through soft golden strands of his mate’s hair softly, ‘To think he thought… if I had never been turned into a dog, I would never have met you again and rediscovered my feelings,’ the thought was disturbing and brought with it thoughts of why someone would go through such lengths to keep them apart, it was disturbing to the raven haired youth.

He stood up from the bed, making sure not to waken his love while he slept, the thought disturbed him so much Sasuke felt he needed to discuss it with someone else. ‘But, who…’ the raven though, glancing briefly at Naruto, he knew he could never ask the blond’s opinion on something that mostly involved him.

‘I need to protect him.’ he knew whatever the situation was, it wasn’t good and could ultimately harm the one he cared about most in the end. With these thoughts an image of Shikamaru, the stoic and supposed genius of Arashi’s royal guard came to mind, in some way it made sense to ask the one person whose ultimate shoulders was placed the protection of Naruto by Arashi.

These thoughts in mind Sasuke quickly put on a pair of jeans, t-shirt and shoes quickly as he exited Naruto’s room in favor of located Shikamaru in order to ask his opinion. He didn’t notice a pair of eyes watching him as he left.

Those same eyes turned to regard the door thoughtfully before moving towards it.

“Are you sure you should do this?” Temari asked from next to her brother, she knew how hard it was to be in a one sided relationship, as hers was with Shikamaru.

Her brother paused in his steps towards Naruto’s door, he turned to look at her with a stricken expression before sighing, “Yes…” he didn’t seem as sure of his words as he was earlier at the landing when they had seen both Sasuke and Naruto embracing.

“Obviously Sasuke has claimed him by now…” Temari started to say only to turn her eyes away when her brother’s jade eyes began to glow slightly yellow in anger.

“It’s ultimately my decision what comes to pass… even if that bastard has claimed him… if only for one night I want to be with him in any way I can,” Gaara’s expression seemed a little possessed, but Temari knew better than to force her opinions on her brother who tended to go his own way despite anyone’s opinion in the negative.

Gaara finished with the conversation with his sister moved towards the door, opened it silently and went inside, leaving Temari behind who worried about his position in this affair.

Once inside the redhead could smell the telltale scents of sex in the air, his inner beast raged at the thought that he mate had been taken from him. Gaara knew he had stupidly waited too long in claiming what had clearly been his at one time, but he stupidly waited till Naruto was sure of his feelings before consummating their love, in the end it had caused them their whole relationship.

The redhead knew this and had cursed the fact that he had run away that one time when he saw Naruto’s true face, but the past was past and he couldn’t change something that might have given him leverage against his rival and possible solidified his connection with Naruto.

Moving towards the bed, he watched the blond as he slept, his relaxed face, if possible was more beautiful to the redhead. He had come to terms with the fact that Naruto would never look as he had before and had excepted the change, knowing in his heart the change shouldn’t matter, it was what was inside the blond that counted.

Gaara knew his next decision would be a painful one to erase from his mind, but it was better to have had been with Naruto once than to regret having not taken the step the rest of his life. With resolution on his mind, Gaara quickly divested himself of his clothes and shifted his form into that of Sasuke’s own.

The redhead moved till he was inside the covers and had aligned his naked body alongside Naruto’s beautifully tanned and equally naked form. Leaning down Gaara pressed his face briefly against the blond’s neck where he sniffed at the tan skin, Naruto’s smell hadn’t changed it was still sweet with warm tones that reminded the redhead of the sun.

Gaara licked at the tan neck below him slowly making Naruto grumble and turn slightly in his sleep, when the redhead continued the slow languid movement of his tongue the blond moved onto his back and awoke to gaze with a grumpy expression up at who he believed was Sasuke, “God can’t you just let me sleep bastard?”

The grumpy voice was cute and familiar to Gaara who smiled down at the one he believed could be his only true love, “How can I let you sleep when you affect me this way,” he stated in a straightforward manner that brought the blond’s attention to his gradually hardening member against his hip.

A blush suffused Naruto’s face as he realized Sasuke’s implications, “My god Obito was right you Uchiha’s are insatiable bastards,” he closed his eyes and sighed before giving Sasuke a soft smile not noticing the frown that suffused his lover’s face at the blond’s words.

“When it comes to you…” Gaara started to say bringing Naruto’s attention back on him, “I can never have enough.” Gaara refused to let it matter that Naruto thought he was someone else and instead imagined in his mind it was only the two of them, alone together.

The blond haired boy gave him a loving smile before lifting his head to kiss Gaara softly on the mouth where he sucked briefly at the soft lips before him of his acknowledged mate, “I love you…” Naruto whispered against Sasuke’s lips before pulling back to hear the Uchiha’s response.

A look of longing so intense shook Naruto to the core as it was directed towards him, he gave an uncertain chuckle feeling slightly nervous at that look Sasuke aimed towards him, “God what’s with that look?”

“I love you too Naruto,” the blond watched Sasuke say before his dark head moved closer towards his own to deliver a soft yet passionate kiss upon his lips, it seemed odd, but in the back of Naruto’s mind something felt wrong. He quickly shook the idea off as his imagination and kissed the raven back.

“Is everything alright?” Naruto asked hesitantly, pulling away from the kiss briefly, feeling in some way he was responsible for the look the raven gave him.

Gaara smiled down upon Naruto’s concerned face, ‘He doesn’t understand how much he can affect people with just a look,’ in a way it was refreshing and Gaara found even from the beginning of their relationship just how much the blond could make him fall more and more in love with him, “I am now…” he gave a half smile towards Naruto.

The blond visibly relaxed under the smile before giving one of his own, “You had me worried bastard…” he suddenly gave a playful smirk as he stared up at Sasuke, “You said something about being affected by me earlier…” he moved his hand low till it lay against Sasuke’s penis and began to caress the length slowly from base to tip making the raven shudder above him.

Gaara closed his eyes briefly against the feeling, he worried about the time he had left with Naruto, not knowing how long Sasuke would be gone. Looking deeply into Naruto’s eyes he desperately wanted the feeling to last as long as it possibly could, “I want all of you.”

The blond paused as he looked up at Sasuke before his smile widened and Naruto removed his hand from Sasuke’s member so that he could wrap both arms around his mate neck pulling him closer, “Odd how at times like these we want the same things,” he joked before kissing Sasuke again, licking slightly at his lips briefly to get the raven’s attention, drawn by the feeling Gaara opened his mouth to kiss Naruto deeply.

Their tongues mingled in a mind blowing kiss that left them panting as they pulled apart, Gaara moved his head to lick and suckle at the blond’s neck again making sure to leave his mark over the ones previously left behind by his rival.

Naruto arched his back and moaned at the feeling of the raven’s mouth upon his neck, his legs moved apart to allow Sasuke closer to his body where it needed him most, “Sas…” he barely started saying the other’s name before his mouth was occupied again by another kiss from the raven.

“No more words…” Gaara mumbled angrily as he moved to look Naruto in the eye, the blond eyed him oddly at the request before nodding his head.

“If you say so…” no other words were exchanged as his body joined with Sasuke’s again, only gasps and moans permeated the air as they joined.

It was more than Gaara could have ever hope for as with their mutual climax, he fell atop the blond gasping with his release. He pushed his head against Naruto’s sweaty chest where he listened briefly to the thunderous sound of the others heartbeat a moment before lifting himself up.

Gaara noticed to his amusement that Naruto had fallen asleep, the extra exertion wearing him out as the blond settled into a deeper sleep than he had before. Gaara gave him a quick yet loving peck on his cheek before moving reluctantly away to where he had dropped his clothes and re-donned them.

Turning to look back at Naruto he thought, ‘I wanted to spend eternity with you, but in these brief moments I will take what I can get,’ as he came into the room, Gaara silently left leaving Naruto none the wiser for the encounter.

The same eyes that had watched Sasuke go had widened upon Gaara’s appearance, actions with the blond then his exit. Turning to look over at the person Itachi called ‘The Key’, he crept from his place where he had been waiting on the balcony, opened the doors to go inside and stared thoughtfully down at the slumbering blond.

Eyeing the bottle and rag that he had brought with him to subdue the blond so that he could make his exit quickly, Kisame gave a brief smile, it seemed the two men who loved ‘The Key’ earlier had made his job easier without realizing it by wearing out the blond, ‘My thanks…’ Kisame thought briefly while picking up the blond in the bed sheets that covered him before making his way back towards the balcony where he had placed the dragon’s rope that awaited Kisame’s return.

Even though the landing was small compared to the regular ones attached to each level of the tower and used by passing dignitaries, guards and castle servants, Kisame felt the balcony had agreeably been sufficient enough to land upon as he made short work of obtaining ‘The Key’ and making off with him towards Itachi’s castle.

Sasuke in the meantime, oblivious to what was happening at the moment in the other side of the tower was making quick work of finding Shikamaru in the large tower. He had happened upon one of the servants earlier doing their rounds and had gotten the directions towards the genius’s bedroom, but the closer he got to the area the more a sudden feeling gripping his stomach that something was wrong.

He shook his head dismissing the feeling and proceeded to knock on Shikamaru’s door, it seemed the brunette had the tendency of becoming sleepless at night so it wasn’t a surprise why he normally seemed sleepy and out of it during the day.

The brunette opened the door and eyed Sasuke in surprise as though he had expected someone else to have knocked on the door, giving a slight shrug of his shoulders, Shikamaru allowed the raven entrance to his room.

Both of them sat at a small table placed near the balcony, the chairs were of a simple construction made of solid wood like the table and had small cushions, but were surprisingly comfortable despite their lack of refinement. Sasuke found himself leaning back slightly with a tired sigh, he wondering if coming here again was such a good idea.

When the raven didn’t speak for a while, Shikamaru took the initiative and spoke up, “Why are you here Uchiha?”

‘Why was he here…’ Sasuke thought again finding he had almost fallen asleep in the small chair before Shikamaru spoke, at the genius’s words an image of Naruto came to the raven’s mind and he realized it was foolish to remain silent about something that involved his mate, “I have a feeling you know more about what’s happening in this castle than even Arashi knows himself and I wanted to ask what you knew about Orochimaru that your keeping silent about,” Sasuke looked into Shikamaru half-mast eyes as they regarded him.

Shikamaru was never one to divulge his secrets openly just because someone mentioned he had them, instead the genius chose his words carefully in order to make sure of what he could divulge to Sasuke, “I have come upon information from time to time, whether it concerns the king or not isn’t as important as his safety especially in regards to the sennin.” It was a generalized answer that could mean anything to the raven-haired man.

Sasuke looked at him a moment silently, annoyed by his answer, before responding. He was in no way as smart as Shikamaru, but the raven was still considered somewhat of a genius on his own merits, “Don’t worry my coming here doesn’t concern Arashi so much as it concerns his son… Naruto.”

Was it his imagination or did Shikamaru flinch at the mention of his mate, “What does this have to do with Naruto,” ‘So…’ Sasuke thought, ‘The king’s guard was on good enough terms with his mate that he could easily call him by his first name’, it spoke volumes about Shikamaru’s involvement.

“I would say it has everything to do with Naruto, but I have no idea where to start…” Sasuke stated casually making it seem at first that it wasn’t an important matter.

Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed this time in anger as he leaned forward, “Cut the bullshit Uchiha… I am not about to divulge things that can hurt him.”

The result of those words was like ice water, easily unsetting the easy conversation they seemingly both had till then, Sasuke smirked having realized something in that instance of Shikamaru’s outburst, “When did you think of telling Naruto the truth?”

The genius snorted while crossing his arms and leaning back lazily in the chair, it was a defensive move since he wasn’t about to fall into Sasuke’s trap, “He doesn’t need to know anything about what is going on, he is marrying Orochimaru after all, there is nothing else that needs to be discussed.”

Sasuke’s smirk widened as he looked almost mockingly at the brunette, “But its funny isn’t it how he has so many people that love him, yet he has no choice in who he is made to marry… don’t you think that suspicious Shikamaru?”

The raven didn’t realize it could be possible, but the normally quiet and together genius became enraged with his words, and lunged at Sasuke pinning him to the ground with his body and held a knife pressed against the raven’s throat, “Don’t you think that upset me… I love Naruto and I can’t be with him because of that stupid snake-like bastard… now even his heart is yours, but am I allowed to care…” Shikamaru started to shake, realizing what he had done, before moving off of a surprised Sasuke to sit on the floor nex to him with his knees drawn up towards his chin, “I know its stupid… that I have no right to feel this way… I have given up on him wanting me and have resigned myself to just being his friend at best, but its hard loving someone like that… Not being able to give into those feelings,” tears began to gather lightly in Shikamaru’s eyes and he stopped talking to forlornly look down at the ground as though expecting something there to take away his pain.

“You may not believe me, but I understand…” Shikamaru glared up at Sasuke, at his words, despite the tears trickling down his face.

“Don’t talk to me about understanding my feelings Uchiha when you have him,” if the situation had been reversed Sasuke had a feeling he probably would have killed the person who had said that to him.

The raven nodded his understanding, “Your right, but I didn’t always have him and it killed me that I had to deal with him and still smile as though all that was happening around us didn’t matter… there is also the fact that Orochimaru has an inexplicable claim on him, when according to your words he should belong to me, with that situation facing us how can I claim otherwise?”

The genius eyes him a bit and sighed in annoyed-like manner, “Well despite all upcoming events and purposes it seems that Arashi doesn’t want the wedding to take place despite his words… his actions since Naruto has entered the castle have confirmed it,” Shikamaru took out two folded pieces of paper, handing them to Sasuke, who eyed them suspiciously, “Just take the damn thing Uchiha.” Shikamaru muttered angrily under his breath over the stupidity of someone who he cared about falling for such a jerk.

Sasuke ignoring the words being directed towards him and with a frown took the papers, opened then and began to read, his eyes widened as he realized what the words inside implicated, “Orochimaru has been refused entrance to Rasengan on the grounds that Arashi wishes to give Naruto time to get over the cultural shock of being in a different world… therefore he wishes to delay the engagement till his son understands the significance and can better face his attention,” he looked at Shikamaru in surprise.

“Despite what he may say to others Arashi does love his son… he hasn’t been the same since Shuzaku’s death, but even he doesn’t want to loose the only thing that still links him to her right away,” Shikamaru stood up and fixed his ponytail that lay askew after he had jumped Sasuke, “The best chance I can see for you two is to take him to Sharingan and get him with child before your absence comes to Orochimaru’s attention, in that way Arashi cant be laid to blame for something Naruto supposedly doesn’t have knowledge of because as far as the sennin is concerned Naruto’s memory is still removed.” The brunette didn’t look at Sasuke as he said this, so he didn’t notice Sasuke’s surprised look at he stared up at him.

Sasuke was surprised that genius would help him after all that he had said earlier,“Thank you,” was all the raven could manage to say as he stood up and straitened his clothes, if Sasuke had been a lesser man he could see where Naruto could only benefit from having someone like Shikamaru in his life and Sasuke made up his mind that he wouldn’t give his mate reasons to leave him for such a person.

Shikamaru, finished with adjusting his ponytail, turned to look at him a moment before giving a brief smile, “Your lucky his feelings mean more to me than my own Uchiha or you would be dead right now instead of me helping you so you better remember that.”

Sasuke smirked over at the genius, “Oh I know I am, but don’t get anymore ideas about making him yours bastard… I don’t like sharing,” Shikamaru gave a short laugh at the raven’s answer before ushering him out of his room.

“Too bad… I am sure Naruto would have found a threesome rather interesting,” the genius slammed the door in Sasuke’s face before he could turn around and respond to the comment leaving the raven out of sorts after the conversation.

Shaking his head, Sasuke walked off towards the bedroom he shared with his mate; intent on continuing things with the blond that he had started the night before.

Temari watched the raven-haired man leave and hesitantly approached the door to Shikamaru’s room and gently knocked on it.

The door opened quickly on an annoyed Shikamaru, that had started to undress for bed so he was only wearing trousers as he answered the door, the site of the genius without his shirt left Temari temporary speechless, “Oh its you Temari… I thought it was the Uchiha wanting to punch me out, but I guess he decided to go back to Naruto.” Temari noticed that despite his seemingly normal look, his eyes seemed sad.

Biting her lip, Temari stepped closer to look up at Shikamaru, she pressed her palm against his warm chest hoping to sympathize, “Would you like me to join you tonight?” she shifted her form till it became that of Naruto’s own.

The change in form however didn’t have the same reaction with Shikamaru as it had in the past, he shoved off her proffered hand, “Not now Temari… in fact I don’t think its wise for you to ever come to me like that again,” unemotionally he pushed the surprised girl away from his door before closing it swiftly and locking it for the night.

Temari eyed the closed door and tried to control the tears that stung the ridges of her eyes, but they soon won out and began to run hastily down hers cheeks, “Oh god…what do I do,” she collapsed to hers knees and began to cry harder, as her worst fears were realized when Shikamaru declared that he no longer wanted her even to be his substitute lover.

It was only with an odd misplaced determination that Temari managed to raise herself from the ground and head off towards her room, with the certain knowledge that she could no longer be with the one she loved the most that she made a decision to leave Rasengan and return to her father’s palace at Suna.

Meanwhile Sasuke returned to the room he shared with Naruto and was surprised to see that his mate was no longer sleeping in the bed they shared, odder still was the chill that permeated the room. It was then that the raven noticed that the door to the balcony had been left ajar.

Thinking that perhaps Naruto was outside, he walked over towards the doors to look out, but it was empty, the whole room was empty leaving a foreboding feeling within Sasuke’s gut, ‘Dobe…’

He looked back at the room and noticed that his mate’s clothes still lay on the floor and that the covers where missing. It seemed unlikely that Naruto would choose to take the bed covers with him out the door when he could be in his own clothes.

Trying to school his fears, Sasuke opened both the closet and the bathroom thinking perhaps… or maybe hoping that Naruto was hiding, but he was nowhere in the room.

‘Where could he have gone,’ Sasuke thought while sitting on the bed, maybe it was his imagination and that Naruto was fine and he had only wandered off somewhere briefly in the tower.

It was then that Sasuke felt a smooth hardness against his right hand near Naruto’s pillow as he sat; Sasuke looked down and noticed the corked bottle near his hand. Lifting it up he read the words with gradually widened eyes, it read, ‘chloroform’, “Oh God no… Naruto!” he yelled hastily throwing down the bottle as he rushed out of the room intent on finding his mate.

Itachi stared into the crystal ball in amusement as he eyed his brother’s antics, “My… my… little brother aren’t we getting sentimental… its too late however, I have everything I need now to destroy the gates,” he turned to look down at Naruto’s slumbering form, smirking as he gently caressed the soft tan flesh of the blond’s back, making the other moan slightly in his sleep as he grasped the pillow on Itachi’s bed closer.

“Not now… Sasu,” the blond yawned, still asleep he didn’t notice his precarious position or the heated look that overtook Itachi’s eyes as they stared at Naruto glowing a bright red.

“I really can’t blame you little brother… your mate really is a delicious specimen… too bad I have to kill him to obtain what I desire,” the older man briefly touched the blond’s head, touching the soft hair there, before moving off towards the door where Kisame was standing.

“Is their anything else Uchiha-san?” Kisame asked hesitantly towards his love while trying to ignore the pangs of guilt he felt in handing over someone, who was clearly precious to other people, to be in Itachi’s clutches.

Itachi gave a rare smile, as he looked over at Kisame, lifting his hand he pressed it against a surprised blue cheek that darkened into a blush at the Uchiha’s touch, “I believe you have done more for me than I could have ever asked for… I believe that deserves something…” he leaned closer till his face was almost touching Kisame’s own, “Don’t you?”

Kisame could feel his heart beating faster at his loves closeness, perhaps Itachi could care about him after all; “Yes…” he managed to say despite the lump of emotions in his throat.

Itachi gave a menacing look then that surprised the merman, “So do I…” it was then that Kisame, who was focused on Itachi’s presence, felt a sudden sharp pain in his chest, in surprise he looked down to see a knife imbedded to the hilt there.

Kisame looked up in pain and betrayal at Itachi as he slide to the floor in a pool of his own steadily flowing blood, “Why?” he tried to ask as he looked upon the one he had given his heart to.

Itachi continued to eye the merman emotionlessly as he had withdrew the blade and looked with disgust upon, what he felt, was a now worthless blade, “Because I find it disgusting to have someone as ugly and worthless as you in love with me.”

‘So he had known all along…’ was Kisame’s thoughts as he could feel his life draining away along with his blood, ‘I was foolish after all wasn’t I Itachi’, he gave a sad smile as he looked up at the man he still loved despite his betrayal, “You may think I am worthless, but I don’t consider feeling as I did worthless… I only hope that the one you eventually choose will make you see that…” it was with those finally words and a tragic sigh that Kisame died without noticing how for a moment Itachi’s eyes seemed to soften at his words.

“You really are very cruel Itachi… I’m impressed,” The Uchiha ignored the laughing voice of the one man he hated the most in the world as that person entered his bedroom door, “But you are right he is ugly and worthless… you are better off without him.”

Itachi’s fists clenched slightly as he tried to control his hatred towards the older man that made him kill to prove his loyalty, “I did what you asked of me Orochimaru-sama… leave it at that.”

The sennin laughed again, “You really shouldn’t take it so seriously Itachi… after all what is life anyways, but a means to an end,” the older man turned to eye an unaware and still sleeping blond, “I had hopes of gaining the throne by mating with Naruto-kun before he was killed,” he gave a lackadaisical shrug not seemingly caring either way, “but it appears as though my former lover Jiraya, his wife and their son don’t want me in their darling grandson’s lives… it really is too bad cause now their will be no more delays for you in destroying the gate.”

“No… their won’t,” Itachi couldn’t stop eyeing Kisame, he may not have loved the man as he deserved, but he was beginning to regret killing him in order to realize his ambitions.

Orochimaru didn’t seem to notice this as he knelt beside Naruto on the bed, he brushed back the blond’s spiky locks to stare down at his face, “It really is too bad… I really wanted to play with Naruto-kun for a couple of years… maybe continue my line with him, but it seems your darling brother has spread his seeds and contaminated him,” his hand moved to caress the blond’s exposed belly, he felt a throbbing presence of life inside and it filled him with disgust.

Itachi’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked over at Naruto’s belly in shock, ‘My brother… it means Naruto is carrying my family,’ the thought upset him more than he would have thought.

The older Uchiha didn’t notice when Orochimaru left the room, leaving him all alone with his thoughts, all he could do was look at the boy lying on his bed, unconsciously Itachi moved closer till he found himself sitting in the area Orochimaru vacated, his hand half raised above the area began to shake with an emotion he had never felt before… regret, “Can I really do this…” his hand fell the rest of the way down till it lay still on Naruto’s belly.

Without realizing it, Itachi gave a brief affectionate smile, “My little brother’s child…” it reminded him that sometimes their were things worth more than ambition.

Well that’s it for chapter 17… I know that there was a lot of shocking developments in this chapter, but I am very happy with how this chapter turned out. Also I know some of you saw it coming; yes Naruto is pregnant, but there will be a surprise there that I bet you won’t be able to guess. I am curious though what you might be thinking so please pm me if you can, I love hearing your thoughts and I will comment back on what may happen if you ask the right question. Also if anyone has any ideas for names for the baby/babies I would love to hear them. Goodbye for now.