Kyuubi the Bitch

A.N. Chapter 19… a lot needed to be covered in this chapter and I had two tests, and inspection, a relay race and I almost got evicted do to my rank. I hate the Air force. Seriously, just because they can’t organize their shit they wanted to kick me out because I did as I was told and passed my advancement exams so now because I’m an E-5 and have been in the military 3 years they wanted to boot me out! Well I fought it and won but it’s been a hard three weeks. Any way, hope this is worth the wait.

 

 

Kyuubi the Bitch

 

Naruto

 

Chapter 10: Of Nesting, Love, and Kidnapping

 

            Naruto was sprawled spread-eagle on the floor of the living room, staring up at the ceiling in rapt boredom. “God, this sucks.” He flopped a bit and tilted his head to stare out into the yard for the up-teenth time. There was absolutely nothing to do, and he was slowly going stir crazy. “She is punishing me. This is for all the times I pointed out her real age.” Naruto pouted and felt his hormones swing into overdrive; plunging him into a state of depression. “… when Sasuke comes home I’m so kicking his ass for this.”

            It had barely been a week and already he was practically climbing the damn walls. Between his check-ups with Tsunade—according to her he was seven weeks along, and shocked he hadn’t miss-carried—his ban from missions, and having to field questions, Naruto was ready to simply fall apart.

            It was clear that Neji had reported his condition in front of the whole team, so as far as he knew, Kakashi, Sakura, Neji, Lee, himself and Tsunade were the only ones aware of his condition. They had been sworn to secrecy, and after Sakura’s last slip and guilt trip, Naruto felt secure that they wouldn’t be blabbing. Neji simply wouldn’t, Lee listened to the rules—though he had the feeling that he would be hearing speeches of his youthful reproductive organs soon—Kakashi never said anything unless forced, and Sakura had learned her lesson the hard way. He wasn’t so worried about it, hell the whole village would know soon enough. It was kind of hard to hide a swelling body, but Tsunade had been insistent that no one find out until they had too. He was certain she had really meant to say, ‘the council’ as opposed to ‘no one’ but he kept that thought to himself.

            Knowing those assholes they’ll try and say that Yondaime’s seal is breaking and she’s trying to escape via my baby…Naruto snorted at the absurdity of that thought and thought he felt Kyuubi rumble an agreement. She had been unusually silent over the week, and Naruto wondered if it was because of the lack of danger they were in, the pregnancy itself, or the fact that the damned fluffy fox had taken to guarding the front of the house like one of Kakashi’s nin-dogs.

            “Probably thinks it’s his or some shit…” Naruto muttered glowering at the wall. For all he knew the fluffy bastard did think the baby was his, or at the very least was protecting him for reasons he couldn’t fathom. Then again, the damned fox had never made much sense regardless of what it was doing, why would now be any different? One would think it would smell Sasuke on him—hell he could smell Sasuke on him, and as the weeks passed the scent actually became stronger. It was highly embarrassing and he had yet to mention it to Tsunade as no one else had made any comments about his smell, but if this continued Naruto feared for himself when the pregnancy became visible.

            Naruto patted his flat stomach and wondered how long he’d have until he started to show. He then promptly shuddered and curled onto his side. “I have officially lost all respect as a male… mother, father… whoever you might have been, I have failed you.” Naruto whined melodramatically. “Please forgive me…”

            “Stop being such a drama queen.” Sakura snapped, rolling her eyes as she walked into the room, a small bag over one shoulder. She was dressed in civilian clothes—a small plain white blouse and knee-length shorts. It was odd seeing her dressed in anything other then her usual outfit, but seeing as both her usual teammates were out of commission, she was grounded by default.

            He had felt guilty for that but Sakura had brushed it off saying that it was better that she get some more training done anyway. Considering she was looking happier then she had in a long while, he was forced to believe her words in the long run. Though, he suspected she felt inadequate being between him and Sasuke. Sasuke had grown so much in the last three years, and though Naruto had yet to actually use his perfected Rasengan or newer attacks, she must have been aware of his strength as well.

            He tracked her with his eyes as she dropped the bag on the table beside him and lowered herself to her knees next to his head. “Have you done anything today besides mope around feeling sorry for yourself?”

            “Kill me Sakura, I’m an abomination to nature.” He dead panned, not meaning his words in the least, but knowing her reaction would kill his boredom and saying it anyway.

            “God you are such a pain.” Sakura groused rolling her eyes, and bopping him on his head. “I should have left you to rot away in self pity.”

            Naruto returned her smile before turning sober and sitting up cross-legged. “So… how did they take it?” Against Tsunade’s orders, and his better judgment, Naruto had expressly asked Sakura to inform Sai and Kiba of the events. Sai because, the fuck-head would figure it out soon enough and it was better to deal with his penis jokes before he turned into a giant whale, and Kiba because he didn’t want to deal with the initial shock and the comments sure to follow. It was far better to have Sakura deal with that and then see Kiba after the idiot had come to terms with everything. Kiba could be trusted, but dealing with him and his usual word vomit wasn’t something Naruto much felt like doing, what with his emotions so haywire.

            Sakura paused in her rummaging, pulling out a few books and some pills that Tsunade told him he’d have to start taking. She called them Pre-natal something, Naruto thought it was stupid but when Kyuubi had informed him that the baby was slowly sucking up all of his nutrients and she was constantly having to heal and compensate for him, he decided that maybe the old hag new something he didn’t and gave into the pre-whatsit pills.

 “Uh, Kiba took it… well…”

            “That doesn’t invoke confidence Sakura.”

            “Well, he didn’t say much.” She was fiddling with the book edge a clear sign of her discomfort and Naruto felt his insides twist in the irrational fear he was learning to distinguish as his hormones and tried to keep from reacting.

            “… okay. What did he say?”

            Sakura bit her lip.

            “Sakura, stress isn’t good for the baby, or so say’s the hag, and right now, you’re stressing me.” Naruto stated, well aware that this was guaranteed to win him any argument. With Sakura, any mention of the baby and she was puddy in his hands. Yes, it was low and infantile he could admit it, didn’t mean he was going to stop using it.

            Sakura looked up startled. “Oh, you’re right, sorry… well, I just don’t want it to upset you.”

            “Sakura, you’re upsetting me right now, just spill it so I can get over it okay?”

            “He passed out.”

            “…” Naruto shook his head; certain he had some water in his ear from that morning’s shower. “Come again?”

            “He passed out when I told him. I don’t think he was quiet that prepared to deal with it.” Sakura started, putting the book down and flipping through several pages. He was able to see some of the pictures and wasn’t too surprised to see it was a book on the growth of a fetus. Tsunade and Sakura had both been overly paranoid with the effects of Kyuubi’s chakra on the baby. Naruto tried to tell them that it was fine, but they wouldn’t have it.

He was starting to understand the statement about Doctors being ‘all-knowing’.

            Sakura wasn’t meeting his eyes, it was clear she was expecting him to be upset by the news, and maybe if he was a girl he would be, but at the moment all he could really think was, “Kiba passed out?” His sudden laughter shocked the girl beside him and she jerked his way with a furrowed brow.

            “Naruto what—“

            “Ha! I am never letting Dog-breath live that down!” He fell back to his side clutching his stomach as more chuckles escaped him. Boy, Kiba had no real excuse for that one. He knew Naruto was capable of having a baby, so the news shouldn’t have had that much of an effect on him. As such, Naruto was reserving the right to tease him mercilessly for it.

            Sakura relaxed, her own smile returning. “Yeah, it took Sai throwing him in the river to snap him out of it.” She grinned when that only caused him to howl with his mirth. “He woke up as irritated and snippy as ever. He has no problem with keeping quiet he just wants to talk to you when you feel like it.”

            Naruto wiped at his eyes feeling much better after that statement. So, all is well with Kiba. That’s a relief. There wasn’t much that he could do if the other had had a problem with his condition, but it was comforting to know that he hadn’t.

            “Ahh, I needed that laugh.”

            “I can see that.” Sakura nodded and leaned forward on her elbows, face supported by her hands and smiled at him. “I’m glad someone is finding humor in it. He was a right bastard to us. Wasn’t so much fun when he was attempting to kill Sai.”

            Naruto snorted, leaning back on his hands once more cross-legged. “Please, Sai can run laps around all of us in a fight.”

            “Yeah, he’s Anbu, of course he can.” She rolled her eyes unimpressed.

            “No,” Naruto said shaking his head. “That’s not why, its because he’s a confusing fuck and excels in fucking with your head. It’s a miracle Sasuke isn’t a vegetable after having Sai Join Orochimaru for the few days that he was.” He shook his head. “Man, imagine the havoc he could wreck on Sasuke given more time…”

            Sakura giggled, “Yeah, I can’t see them getting along well at all.”

            “They’ll either kill each other, or join forces and destroy us all.”

            All humor fled at that. “Don’t even joke about that.”

            Naruto grinned, “Horrifying isn’t it? I mean, the bastard is capable of human interaction and curiosity. He helped with the Kakashi’s mask fiasco. No one would believe that if we told them!” His words caused the pinkette to flinch. She was still a little upset that they had yet to see their sensei’s face.

            “You know, I think I’ll take a page out of your book and live in denial.”

And now he was confused.

            “Huh? I thought you said that was a river?” How was she planning to live in a river? And how was he doing that?

            Sakura smacked her forehead with her palm and shook her head slowly. “Nevermind…” She suddenly straightened, glancing over the page of the book and shuffling back to his side. “Okay hold still.”

            The groan he released was one of long suffering and he thought of flopping backward momentarily, but her hand were already glowing green and reaching out toward his stomach. “You know, no matter how often you check, the baby’s not going to grow fox ears and a tail…”

            The minute her hands made contact, Kyuubi reared around with a mental snarl and he had to forcefully hold back her chakra. After the first time Tsunade had been flung across the room, Naruto had practiced, and though it left him tired and didn’t stop his seal from crackling dangerously—and sometimes Sakura told him her arms went numb after these sessions from the extra chakra—he hadn’t had anymore accidents like that.

            Kyuubi immediately began grumbling and ranting, her hackles raised and her ire immense. She really didn’t like Sakura’s and Tsunade’s poking about. He couldn’t blame her really, he was rather tired of it himself, he just didn’t have a habit of back handing people for it.

            “Well, its better to be safe then sorry.” Sakura retorted with a glare. “Besides, its not extra appendages we are worried about.”

            Well. That was news to him. “Uh… then what are you and the hag looking for?”

            Sakura’s brows pinched and her hands stilled for several seconds. She glanced back and forth between the text and her hands at least a half-dozen times before sighing and continuing the slow clock-wise motions. “Hm… seems okay… completely normal for a first trimester.”

            That told him so much. Naruto rolled his eyes. “And you’re looking for what?”

            “Oh, right. Well, we’re worried that one of two things might happen.” She replied removing her hands and leaning back into lecture mode. He briefly wondered if she had ever thought of becoming a teacher like Iruka. She did the lecture mode astoundingly well. “First, we’re worried that Kyuubi’s chakra might make the baby grow faster than normal.”

            Oh, well that was a possibility he hadn’t considered, and the fox hadn’t exactly brought it up before. It was a very nice cover if he did say so himself. “Huh, well I guess that makes sense. So, is it?”

            “No, no. The baby’s maturing at a normal rate, at least so far.” She smiled reassuringly.

            “Ah. But, you both are going to keep checking just to be sure right?” He gave her a knowing look a little put out. If Kyuubi had yet to expedite the gestation period then she didn’t plan to do so at all. Sakura just smiled and nodded her head, skimming back over the book to make certain she hadn’t missed anything.

            He’s been checked every day by them, and he’d quickly figured out that when Tsunade had a meeting with the council, Sakura dropped by to perform the exam herself. This was getting really old, really fast, but if his suspicions were correct, then these check ups were more than what they appeared to be. Tsunade was keeping a log. Of the development and the Baby’s chakra and the amount of Kyuubi’s leaking into the fetus. It was perhaps a good thing Kyuubi reared up every time they poked as it proved she was still rooted deep in her cage inside him, though it could also be damning as she would appear to be protecting the baby to any outsider. He wanted to just explain things to Tsunade, but his ability to talk to Kyuubi might be the damning evidence that lands him in a cell or worse.

            No, these tests, he was almost certain, were there so that when the Council did find out, they could do nothing about it as she would have proof and a continued surveillance, and when the baby was born healthy and human, well, they couldn’t do much after that. All the same, he let her and Sakura believe he was ignorant to the truth, and played the annoying brat card as often as possible.

            “Right, so no accelerated growth. Perfect… and the other reason?”

            “Well, since you are predominately male,” It was humiliating how happy that statement made him feel. He shouldn’t have to rely on someone else to tell him that it should be as plain as the nose on his face. “You’re body may try and reject the foreign element inside. What with you having the Kyuubi inside and it’s power helps you to cleanse and heal your body, we were worried that the chakra and your body’s natural anti-bodies would abort the baby.”

            Naruto felt himself pale as he started wide-eyed at his friend. He had seriously never thought of that, and worry ate at his insides a bit. Maybe there was another reason for the tests.

            ~Kit, this is getting old. The spawn is fine, and you won’t abort it unless you do something insanely stupid, which for your race is highly likely. But your body won’t do it randomly, so stop with the dramatics.~ She was apparently in a snippy mood today, more so than normal. Naruto chalked it up to her being prodded yet again with invasive chakra and let her comment slide. Besides, she had answered his unvoiced fear and it was only further compounded by Sakura.

            “The baby is fine ,Naruto. Like I said, healthy and growing strong.” Sakura patted his arm in a supporting manner and he returned the grip to her hand briefly, smiling. She was a big help in keeping sane and calm most of the time, and it was nice to have someone not likely to treat him like a leper—as most of the guys would—while being supportive.

He had a feeling his man points were dropping again.

            “Thanks.”

            “No problem. Well, now that that is over with…” Sakura stood brushing her shorts off and putting the book back into the bag and pulling it over her shoulder. “Let’s get going.”

            “Huh? Going? Where? I thought Tsunade wasn’t allowing me to do anything but D rank missions and helping Iruka in class.” He wasn’t going to complain if the ban was lifted, and as such he was already on his feet and following Sakura to the door, stopping in the kitchen to grab his Kunai pouch and his froggy wallet. She waited while he locked the place up before answering with a grin.

            “She did, but I don’t think Ichiraku’s is on the list of banned places.”

            Tsunade had actually compiled a list of places he was banned from after the third day when he had gone to the training grounds with Lee and inadvertently left a crater nearly a mile in diameter. He was slowly learning to hate free time. He desperately needed a hobby other than training, but hanging out with his friends was difficult, what with their conflicting schedules, and their usual activities when they hung out consisted of training or discussing missions or the occasional love interest or conquest.

            Shikamaru would suggest a game of Othello or the like, but he had little patience for board games in general, and he was not good at strategy. Perhaps cloud watching wouldn’t be so bad but unless one was Shikamaru one could only stand that for an hour or two before going mad.

Yep, a hobby would be nice.

            “You treating me to lunch?”

            “Sure, but I think Kiba and Sai actually planned to spot for you. I think they were expecting that you needed to be bribed before having this conversation.” She shrugged as he busted out into delighted laughter.

            “And give up a chance to tease Kiba? Not in this life! But, hey, I’m not going to pass up a free lunch!”

            “That’s what I figured.” Sakura’s smile was jovial and light as they made their way to the Ramen stand. Naruto was partially shocked to find that he made it there without incident from his fox, but the fluffy bastard was sneaky and was probably waiting for him to drop his guard. Personally Naruto was hoping the little shit would attack him and cause Kyuubi’s chakra to crispify him. Then again, that was probably why the fox was holding back.

Survival instincts and all.

            “Hey, Naruto!” Kiba bellowed waving a hand excitedly at him, his smile wide and inviting. Seemed he had more than enough time to adjust and come to terms with the information. Made Naruto wonder how long ago Sakura had told him and if she had simply lied until today about breaking the news.

            Taking his seat he decided it really didn’t matter as Kiba clapped him on the back and ordered him his Pork Miso.

            “Better make it a double order. He has two stomachs to fill after all.” Kiba jibed, elbowing him in the side. Sakura gave him a sharp glare but her worry was for naught as Sai piped in.

            “Yes, I had heard he has a separate stomach for Ramen alone, though I wonder if it is not more like a cow’s. He never seems to run out of space to fill.” His pleasant smile was returned by Kiba and Naruto gave one of his patented prankster smirks.

            “Suck it Sai.”

            “Hard to perform fellatio when the anatomy is non-existent.” That had Kiba spitting his soup out and coughing around his laughter. Naruto narrowed his eyes at Sai, realizing that the other had purposefully given him this opportunity to bring up Kiba’s mishap in a way that would bring no questions their way. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. “Though, perhaps you were offering. In which case I’ll have to decline as I am uncertain you will not intend my penis harm what with your penis envy and complex.”

Nope. Still an ass-hole.

            Kiba laughed all the harder, his hand covering his middle, his other pounding on the table beside his head. His face was almost as red as his tattoos and Naruto almost dumped his bowl of ramen on the other’s head.

            “Don’t know what you’re laughing for Dog-breath, at least I don’t have fainting spells like a damned girl.” Kiba shot up looking around before turning on Sakura with a face now red from embarrassment.

            “You!”

            Sakura grinned unrepentant and tipped her glass in a toast as their order arrived. “Thanks, for the shirt you messed up.”

            Kiba flushed darker and Naruto turned bright eyes on his friend. “New shirt?” His grin was evil and started the enjoyable teasing conversation that had him forgetting his worries in a matter of minutes.

 

-3-

 

            Konoha was busy and alive around him in the fading day and Naruto found a kind of peaceful enjoyment walking amongst them. The years had washed away most of the animosity shown him. Sure there was the occasional glare and off-hand comment, but they were mostly in regards to a previous prank he’d pulled and less about Kyuubi.

            He supposed that after saving the village from Gaara things had started the change, as they were able to see it as a good thing they had a demon to fight off demons. But what with Jiraiya’s training, and Tsunade’s approval of him, things had steadily gotten better. He assumed that they would continue to do so. Sooner or later they’d have to give up the animosity, and even if he never got the respect from the older generations, the younger ones seemed to be in full support of him. Yes, things were looking up, and Naruto smiled sucking in a large breath and releasing it slowly.

            “Remembering that Jutsu are you?” Kiba snickered to his side from where he’d been following him after Sakura and Sai had split to go their own ways. Kiba had suggested that they just wanted some alone time, and as fun as that would be to contemplate and tease with, Naruto knew better. They were checking in with Tsunade.

            Sai was working for her instead of for that creepy Danzo guy, probably informing her of his movements, and Sakura was working toward helping her create that damned report. That left him to smooth things out with Kiba, who had apparently gotten over the issue of Naruto having Sasuke’s baby.

            “Fuck you.”

            “Sorry I don’t swing that way, and I don’t think Sasuke would like that much.” Kiba sniggered, and Naruto scowled. ‘Besides, you two are so… sweet together.” Kiba collapsed into gales of laughter, tears rolling down his cheeks as he clutched his sides. Naruto swore vengeance on the ass-hole as well as for Konohamaru who had started the whole mess.

            They had been at Ichiraku’s when the Genin had run up all excited to show off his new ‘sexy-jutsu’ technique. Naruto had to give the boy some credit as the girl-on-girl action was rather ingenious. His response of, “What a game plan”—because he knew for a fact Jiraiya had written several books about just that, and he had thought about it before himself, so of course it was a good idea—garnered him several odd looks and Sai asking him if Sasuke was aware of his confusion.

What the hell did that mean anyway?!

            Then Sakura had hit both Konohamaru and himself for being perverts and Konohamaru had decided to make a point. Naruto was still feeling Ill over his choice to show the same situation but with Sasuke and Sai pressed together instead of two buxom girls, and he didn’t even want to think about the anger that had burned up his spine. It was just plain wrong, but for some unknown reason, Sakura had reacted almost as he had. Odd that, considering it was her ex-crush and her current crush on the verge of making out, but Naruto hadn’t mentioned that.

            Kiba had reacted much as he had and Sai—being Sai—had just stated the obvious. Naruto had hit the boy that time and was in the middle of a lecture that Konohamaru didn’t understand when Kiba had recovered enough to butt in. Naruto shuddered in remembrance.

 

            “What’s the big deal, Naruto-nii? I was just proving a point? Besides, having an attack that can work on a female as well is a good thing! I don’t get why you’re so bent out of—“

            Kiba sidled up to the boy and snagged him by his scarf, “Come here a sec.” Naruto blinked as the Genin was dragged a ways away and Kiba was hurridly whispering to the child. Whatever he was saying, it made Konohamaru jerk back eyes wide to stare back in Naruto’s direction with his mouth agape. He looked between Kiba and him several times before going bright red and nodding solemnly.

            “What do you think he’s telling him?” Sakura asked, her tone worried.

            “He said he wouldn’t tell a soul, and not even he’s stupid enough to tell Konohamaru about…” Naruto gestured to his belly. “…yeah.”

            “I guess so…” Sakura didn’t sound convinced but then again, she hadn’t been certain that telling Kiba had been the smart thing to do at all.

            “Oh, he is probably just informing him on why it wasn’t wise to put myself with Sasuke in Naruto’s presence.”

            “Oh… Oh!” Sakura suddenly grinned.

            “What? What the hell are you guys—“

            “I’m sorry Naruto-nii, I didn’t know.” Konohamaru said, looking repentant and yet also rather mischievous—he would know he’s taught the boy the proper way to prank—as did Kiba’s smile.

            “Uh… that’s… fine…”

            “So, how’s this?” Konohamaru asked and in moments Naruto was seeing another sexy Jutsu but this time it was himself and Sasuke pressed together, naked, in the street.

            “Oh… my.” Sakura gasped and her cheeks flushed a bit. Naruto felt awkward as it seemed the girl was nearly drooling and he couldn’t stop from flushing darkly at the image himself, knowing just how it felt to have Sasuke holding him close like that. “You look good together…”

            “Like day and night.” Sai said in a creepy fashion and Kiba rolled on the ground laughing.

 

            Naruto felt himself flush again and glared daggers at the other Nin. “I can still kick your ass dog-breath.”

            Kiba straightened up with a grin. “Yeah but it’s not very smart to do that in your condition is it?” Kiba actually sounded a bit concerned and it helped to alleviate the tension.

            “Hn. Its fine. The Hag is just being over-cautious as always.” Naruto said with a shrug as they stepped out of the way of several running kids. His eyes lingered on their forms as they passed. The girl had her hair in pig tails and she was wielding a practice kunai over her head as she chased the smaller boy who, apparently, had taken her doll from her. He couldn’t stop the smile that eased up his face. The carefree attitude, the innocence and joy that could be felt even though evils lurked just beyond the gates, that was what Naruto wanted to protect. This was why he wanted to be Hokage, so that he could keep Konoha a place where children could grow up feeling safe and loved. Tsunade had made a difference in the village, and Naruto hoped that when he took over he could continue to make them. To make sure no child suffers… In his mind’s eye he could clearly see Neji, Gaara, Sasuke, and himself.

            Konoha had failed them, but there were still children growing up carefree, and Naruto wanted to protect that. Wanted to keep that freedom alive for his child. His hand had strayed to his stomach unconsciously, but it seemed Kiba had been watching him the whole time.

            “You know, those hormones must be bad. You are reminding me way too much of Hinata right now.”

            “What?! How the hell did you draw that conclusion?”

            “You’re rubbing your belly and smiling at some kids…” Kiba looked mildly uncomfortable, “You are acting like a girl.”

            “Well, that’s a side affect of being pregnant you ass-hole! And I am not a damned girl and if you need proof I can, and will, give you an ass-beating to remember it!” Naruto raged. He would not turn into a girl, and that was final.

            Kiba chuckled holding his hands up. “Yeah, that’s probably why you smell like Sasuke too huh?” Kiba grinned at whatever his expression was and Naruto felt his face flush. Damn it, he knew it wasn’t all in his head!

            “I—I… it’s not like… I mean I didn’t—“ Naruto didn’t even know where to start, his embarrassment flustering him and he turned a glare on the other boy. Kiba immediately lifted his hands in a peaceful gesture.

            “Hey, I know, I know, alright? I was just saying…” He trailed off looking toward the sky. “It’s just strange to me…”

            “Heh, strange to you?” Naruto rebuffed and Kiba knocked his shoulder into Naruto’s casually, pretending not to notice Naruto’s flushed cheeks and embarrassment.

Maybe he could forgive him for the comment.

            “Yeah, children is the last thing on my mind, and yet you and Sasuke… you guys are really starting a family. It seems like way too much to handle right now. I mean, you’re both only 17. You’re still considered a Genin—“

            “Mention that again and I’ll feed you to your dog.” Naruto growled causing the large white dog walking beside them to start a bit. Kiba grinned at him, but let the comment slide, obviously wanted to discuss this issue.

            “I guess, I’m just shocked you two took the plunge.” Kiba snickered again. “I mean we all knew you two were crushing on each other, but we doubted you would ever open your eyes enough to admit to it, yet here you two are starting a family. I mean, I never thought you two would discuss the topic of love let alone—“

            “Woah! Woah! Woah! Wait just a damned minute!” Naruto said, stopping, his hands out in front of him. He was glad they had turned down a quieter street and that there weren’t so many people around who could over hear their discussion, but his face was aflame once more and his stomach was tying itself in knots while his heart took up relay racing. “What are you talking about?!”

            “Huh?” Kiba looked confused as he scratched at his head. “What do you mean, what am I talking about? I didn’t stutter.”

            Naruto started shaking his head viciously. “No.”

            “No?”

            “No.”

            “Uh… okay, I give. No, what?”

            “No, I am not in L—l…love, with Sasuke, nor is he with me!” Naruto spit out feeling like his face would burst into flames at any moment. Kiba looked at him with a confused expression and then shook his head as though he was trying to dislodge a thought.

            “Sorry, I must have miss heard you. I thought—“

            “You ass-hole! You heard me clearly, there is nothing romantic between me and Sasuke!”

            “Then why the hell did you let him shove his dick up your—“ Naruto cut him off the best way he knew how. The fist to the gut doubled his friend over and had him wheezing a moment before he shot out his own fist which caught Naruto in the chin. Incised, Naruto threw himself at the other and tackled him to the ground.

            One of them transported them to the nearest training ground—Naruto had the feeling that it was Kiba, since he doubted his chakra would work that well, and Kiba had had enough write ups for fighting in the streets that it would be second nature to transfer them—and the scuffle continued. It wasn’t a full on fight, and Naruto was aware that Kiba was avoiding his stomach area completely, but it was still a good brawl.

            “Dog-breath, don’t be sick!”

            “You’re the one that let him! And for what reason?! Seriously, did you really want to test the equipment that much?” Naruto kicked him in the face, hard.

            “He asked me you fuck-head!”

            “Oh, and let me guess, you just happily bent over and said yes.”

Now he was angry.

            “What the fuck?!” Naruto screamed, throwing a few Kunai that effectively pinned Kiba to a tree. Akamaru had stayed to the side since the beginning of the fight but now moved to stand between Naruto and Kiba. From the tingling on his arms, Naruto was certain Kyuubi’s chakra was simmering if not visible on his person. He refrained from touching the other. “What is your problem? You were fine with me and my issues five minutes ago and now you’re acting all ape-shit on me! What is your problem?!”

            Kiba glared at him and jerked one of his arms free, tearing his sleeve in the process. “Damn it, that’s my favorite shirt…” He cursed a bit more before freeing himself completely and turning back to Naruto. “I don’t have a problem with you, I just don’t get why you agreed if it’s not for, well, those kinds of reasons.”

            Naruto sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. Why was this so hard for everyone to grasp? He was getting really tired of explaining himself to them. Hell, he shouldn’t have to at all, it was his body and his baby, so they could just keep their damned noses out of it! Still, he didn’t want them getting the wrong idea and then having Sasuke come after him for that rumor getting out.

            “Look, Sasuke needed someone he could trust to be strong enough to protect his kids in case he fails and Itachi comes after them. He also wanted someone who would protect them from the village elders and anyone who would try to use them for their blood limit and blood ties. I was the only one he trusted to do that, and who could.”

            Kiba was giving him the same look Sakura had when he’d told her, but he slowly blinked it away, shaking his head. “I will never understand you two.”

            Naruto smiled a bit, his emotions pulling another 180 on him, suddenly leaving him flying high as a kite. “Yeah, luckily for you, you don’t have to.”

            “I still say you’re both crazy… hey.”

            “Hm?”

            “You owe me a new shirt.”

            “What?! That was totally an accident!”

            “No it wasn’t, you knew I couldn’t actually hit you and you’re knocked up ass!”

            “I did not—“

            “You cheated and maliciously murdered my shirt—”

            “Murdered?!”

            “—As such you must repair it or make amends by—“ Kiba broke into a grin as Naruto started once more to chase him around with a kunai.

            “I’ll show you shirt-murder you mutt!” Naruto was grinning as much as Kiba when they began the light tussle once more. Kiba purposefully pulling his hits and avoiding Naruto’s mid-drift and Naruto avoiding using any chakra at all, his blows just as pulled. It was little more than mild wrestling, all the same it helped in ways Naruto had been unaware of needing help with until that moment.

The afternoon was fun.

            Sakura’s lecture that evening was not.

            But she was a girl, and girl’s never did understand the cathartic and mental stability fist fights could bring. Now the fight would have been better if he had fought with Sasuke, but it wasn’t useless, and Sasuke wasn’t available at the moment.

He didn’t bother telling her that though, there was enough speculation as it was.

 

-3-

 

            Sasuke was beside him.

            Dark eyes looked at him and Naruto felt his insides heat and curl pleasantly. Those eyes were so focused and serious that it left him feeling almost bereft. Slowly, pale fingers reached up to caress his cheek. The tips lingered over his features, as though memorizing through touch alone, as though each contour could keep him closer. Naruto felt his lips fall open in a gasp, his chest tight and those eyes bore into his own as lips—thin, pale; perfect—smirked.

            Both hands framed his face in a tender grasp and then that face was leaning close to his own. The scrape of breath rustling small hairs on skin, and then those lips parted just before making contact.  Wet, slick inner lips caressed his own. Drawing a line of desire over him. His gasp parted his own lips and Sasuke pressed harder, far more demanding. The hot, agile tongue slipped between his teeth, expertly tracing the gum line and mapping his insides.

            Cheek, pallet, and tongue. When had Sasuke learned to kiss like this? Naruto trembled, his own arms reaching up to bind the other closer still, pressing his own clumsy kiss into that mouth. Talented lips pulled away only for wicked teeth to nibble, capture and play with his lower lip. It was worried and suckled to the point of near pain before Sasuke released it with a final scrape of teeth.

            His lip throbbed with his heartbeat and his face stung with the heat, but he in no way wished for the end of this interlude. Heaving his breath out from between his abused lips, Naruto pushed up onto his tip toes, arms tugging down on the neck and shoulder’s in his grasp, demanding more from that mouth, and demanding it now.

            Sasuke smiled and chuckled at his reaction, those hands slipping around to brace his hips in a cage of joints and tendon. His hands were hot, and Naruto was certain they were branding his skin through the light layer of his cloth. He wriggled and let out an impatient sound that only made Sasuke’s eyes turn mirthful.

            “Patience, Dobe, is a virtue.” He purred, and Naruto narrowed his eyes. If he wanted to play this game, then they would play. Releasing that tempting neck, he placed his hands on the narrow, toned hips and jerked them against his own, grounding his need against the others.

            “Patience is overrated.”

            Sasuke grunted, smirk still in place and he nodded, finally giving in and leaning back in for a kiss, this one open from the start, the wet tongue slipping in before their lips even connected and Naruto’s hands scrapped up the back clutching at the cloth that covered Sasuke’s shoulders. Pressing closer, closer, until he swore his ribs would crack, Naruto moaned. It wasn’t enough, it never would be enough.

            Gasping, Naruto canted his hips rubbing himself unabashedly against the darker teen, and was rewarded with a slower buck, and hot hands slipping around to cup his buttocks. The contact made his knees turn instantly to jelly and he slumped completely against Sasuke.

            God, he didn’t care if he was reacting like a girl, he needed Sasuke to touch him, to keep up that friction, to bring him to completion, anything so long as he didn’t stop. Sasuke seemed to agree, as his fingers bit into his flesh, the tips tracing the seam in his pants that ran between his cheeks, tracing over his entrance. He trembled feeling his body become aroused around him. His opening slicked in that annoying way he was becoming accustomed to. It was humiliating, but hey, it made this whole process easier in the long run. Though right now, he didn’t mind just getting off this way. They had time, and they could play for a while yet.

Yeah, that sounded good.

            Sasuke pulled him tight against him, hands helping to continue their friction as he sank to his knees, dragging Naruto along with him. They both groaned as the movement jarred their lips clumsily and they scrambled to recapture their previous momentum. Hands gripped and pulled as the burn and pressure made his insides swim and his head fill with nothing but the command that this not stop for any reason whatsoever.

            “Sasuke…” He gasped as lips slipped from his to scatter desperate kisses over his chin and teeth nipped at the soft flesh just below the bone. He shuddered whimpering and begging with his hands and thrusting hips. “… so good… please…”

            “Shh… Naruto…”

            His name sounded like an addiction or a sin, and at one time that would have bothered him, but the worshiping quality to it only made him burn hotter and he groaned willing to do anything he said. He could feel the hardness under Sasuke’s pants, pushing, rubbing, thrusting against his own, and he easily arched when Sasuke pushed to place him on the ground. His legs fell open with ease admitting Sasuke’s hard body between them. The friction and pressure increased as Sasuke’s movement was freed and he started dry-humping him in earnest. The stationary ground giving them far more brace than their muscles and hands could hope to, but Naruto missed the feel of those hands on his ass as they moved to hold his thighs captive instead.

            “Naruto…” The gasp was right by his ear, they were both damp and exhausted, and ready to topple over into the abyss at any moment. Naruto could almost taste it on the air, and then a tender kiss was placed to his ear lobe as the words he’d desperately desired grazed his senses. “… I love you”

 

            Naruto jerked awake at the pounding on the front door, and blinked rapidly to dispel the images and the dark flush that immediately engulfed him. Damn stupid dr—nightmares! They are nightmares damn it! Naruto shook his head and rolled out of the bed when he heard the door pull open and Sakura called out a greeting.

            She was dropping by every morning. It was nice he supposed as the weeks passed by, but it was a little consolation to him. His belly was still flat for the most part, but he was beginning to suffer the consequences of his actions a bit more fully. He was nauseated most mornings, though it really didn’t hit him until evening. Certain food made him vomit and just the smell of cooked meat made him run for the bathroom. It was beyond irritating, especially since his boredom was causing him to get antsy and so head taken to reorganizing, cleaning, and restoring the buildings in the Uchiha district. It was slow going due to his constant vomiting and mood swings, but it was keeping him busy enough. He just hoped Sasuke was okay with it.

            Heh, who cares what that fuck-head wants. He could have cleaned this up years ago if he really wanted to do it himself, so he can just deal with it. Naruto thought with a scowl, not feeling generous in the least. It was Sasuke’s fault he was pregnant—Naruto was conveniently forgetting the fact that he had agreed, it made hating the bastard easier—and so it was his fault he was puking his guts up, nauseous, bored, and dreaming about him in such an awkward manner.

            Naruto pouted. He’d been having wet dreams about the bastard for the last week, and the worst part about it, was that he actually was very horny most days, as though his skin was itchy and he couldn’t scratch it. When Sasuke came back, Naruto was going to kill him for this, he just had to find a fitting punishment for him.

            “Naruto!”

            “Wah!” He jumped at the sudden cross-looking pinkette that was in front of his face. “Sakura… you need something?”

            “I’ve been calling your name for the last ten minutes…” She trailed off looking him over before her eyes turned concerned. “You okay?”

            “I’m fine. Just sleepy.” Naruto slumped from the room, still in his boxer shorts and sleep shirt. He had no reason to dress. Sakura would scan the baby, they would talk about the progress he’s made on the houses, she’d offer to take him to lunch, then reassuring him that everything he was dealing with was normal. It was getting old. Not that he didn’t appreciate her company, he did, and he was glad he had someone to talk to about it all, but sometimes he really just didn’t want to think about his current condition and just hang with his friends. He was out of luck as everyone else seemed busy with missions and Sakura was unwilling to change the topic.

Seemed she was living vicariously through him.

            “Oh. Well, that’s normal… but it usually doesn’t hit you until later. Then again you are not a normal pregnancy case.”

            “Hn. What else is new?” He busied himself by getting the tea she had told him would settle his stomach but was safe for the pregnancy. He wasn’t all that concerned, Kyuubi could burn out toxins before they ever hit the baby, she’d stated as much, so there was really no concern there, but he humored Tsunade and Sakura.

            “You’re still nauseous?”

            “No I just decided I like the taste of vomit and added it to my daily routine for the hell of it.”

            “No need to get snippy.” Sakura was pouting as she took her seat, having learned not to attempt to take over any job he had tasked himself with. The verbal fight wasn’t worth the head ache it would cause her and so she’d learned to cope with it. “It’s normal for the first trimester, and in certain cases, the whole pregnancy to have side effects like that.”

            Naruto almost dropped the pot. “What?! No! I have two weeks before this blasted trimester is over and I get my chakra back—“

            “Naruto it’s not like clock-work it’s just usually around the second trimester that the chakra system recover—“

            “—I will not put up with vomiting for nine months!” Naruto continued glaring at her. He wasn’t usually one to kill the messenger but this shit was seriously unfair and Sasuke wasn’t close enough to rip apart.

            “Look. All I’m saying is sometimes that happens. Its most common for it to fade with the first Trimester or so, as your body adjusts. But it can persist longer. Some women—“

            “Eh-hum?” Naruto lifted an eyebrow and crossed his arms at her word choice and the Pinkette rolled her eyes heavenward as though begging for heaven to open up and save her.

            “Naruto you are the only man who can do this, so yes, other women—“ She glared back at him and he returned to his tea. “—often have other complications such as persisting head aches, swelling of feet and ankles…”

            “Great. This little parasite is following his bastard father’s footsteps already… fucking Uchihas…”

            “Naruto!” Sakura sounded offended and Naruto let his head fall heavily on the wall wishing she had chosen another time to drop by. It was obvious she was on her problem, and right now he couldn’t deal with that. Hell everyday he could feel his balls depleting of testosterone and shriveling up—Tsunade told him it was all in his head and that he was perfectly fine if a little pregnant—and dealing with her estrogen was not something he wanted to do.

            “What?”

            “How can you call your child—that?!”

            “Easily! The little bastard is causing hell! I can’t do anything, I’m an emotional fucking wreak, I’m throwing up, I’m having weird dreams, and I keep craving weird shit! Fuck!”

            “N…naruto calm down…”

            “No! I wanna eat brussel-sprouts sautéed in butter and garlic!” He yelled throwing his arms in the air and watched as Sakura blinked calmly at him in return.

            “I can get you some Naruto. They are very healthy for—“

            “I hate brussle sprouts!!!” He hissed and her eyes widened in realization. “I am craving them and I know I don’t like them, and yet the little fucker can’t handle even the aroma of the lovely and beautiful goodness that is ramen!”

            Sakura giggled. “Well, that too is nor—“

            “He’s fucking with my Ramen!” Naruto growled stomping his foot in an epic display of his temper. “That is not to be tolerated!”

            Sakura patted his shoulder consolingly. “Yes, yes, children are vile little creatures, but Naruto?”

            “Hm?” he intoned suddenly too tired to even voice any words. Man, this emotional rollercoaster was nothing short of hell.

            “You chose this.”

            “I know. Trust me I know… I’m just…”

            “Tired, cranky, and pregnant?”

            “Yeah.”

            Sakura took her seat again and Naruto finished bringing down the sugar and cups. He loaded the sweet granules into his cup before adding the slightly bitter liquid. Sakura watched silently a moment. She used to make comments such as, “Would you like some Tea with your sugar?” But now she refrained until her own drink was fixed.

            “You know by the end of the fourth month, if you are still consuming that much sugar, you’re going to feel the sugar high the baby gets off of that.”

            “What?”

            “You’ll be able to feel the baby in another month or so.”

            His eyebrow again lifted. “Uh, I already do.”

            Sakura spit her beverage across the table then. “You—what?! How can you possibly—”

            “Blame Kyuubi.” His explanation made her pause and then he was once again subjected to glowing hands pawing at his middle. “Sakura…” His whine was well deserved he felt.

            “The baby is still too small for its movements to be felt physically how…”

            “Huh, no, I don’t feel it moving.”

Now Sakura was looking confused and irritated.

            “Naruto, you just said—“

            “That I can feel the baby, but it’s not a physical feeling it’s like a mental one.”

            Green eyes went wide. “You are mentally communicating with the baby?”

What the hell was she on? Seriously.

            “No! God, Sakura what the fuck kind of baby do you think I’m carrying?!” Naruto’s risen voice made the girl glare and growl holding her head. As if she was the one with the head ache.

            “Naruto…”

            “What?! I told you I can feel… sense the baby. It’s chakra, I can feel it as clearly as I can feel Kyuubi or you! How is that so hard to comprehend?”

            “When talking to you Naruto, breathing is a complicated concept.”

            “Huh?”

            “Forget it. I don’t care.”

            Naruto huffed as she completed her scan in silence, obviously just as irritated with his presence as he was with hers. He supposed he should apologize to her but he didn’t much feel like being charitable. So the tension stretched on until she finished and stood up with a sharp movement. “Healthy, normal, and perfect.” She muttered, waiting for some response. Her attitude made him stay silent and she finally turned with a huff. “I need to report to Tsunade.”

            She was already to the door and sliding her shoes back on when Naruto shuffled to his feet. He didn’t want to talk about it, but it was slowly eating at his mind and though Sakura had told him that nightmares and bizarre dreams were normal he wasn’t sure she understood the dreams he had meant. Besides he was horny at random moments and it didn’t make sense. He was already pregnant what was the point in that?

            All Kyuubi ever said was that it was his inferior human impulses, which helped very little. Sakura had answered all of his questions so far, and if she didn’t know, she asked Tsunade, which made his encounters with the Godaime so much more comfortable now that he didn’t have to talk about the embarrassing shit to his mother figure. It was far better to question Sakura now, then to let this fester, but damn was this embarrassing.

            Bunching his shirt in his hands, Naruto looked at his toes as he posed his question just as her hand touched the door. “W—wait uh… I uh… I’ve been having… dreams…”

            “I already told you Naruto, dreams are normal—“

            “About sex!” He barreled straight ahead, not looking at her, the words tumbling out like an avalanche and he just couldn’t stop them. “It’s happening most nights, and I either wake up bothered and sweaty and messed up or I need to do laundry! And sometimes the burn lasts all day, and I just can’t stop thinking about it! I don’t get it, I’m already pregnant, so why am I like this? Is it because I’m male? Is my body just messed up?”

            It was her gentle touch that stopped the words and he found he was breathing heavily as she gently touched his chin urging him to look up. Swallowing back his fear, he did so, and found warm understanding eyes. His worry melted away then and he felt himself breathing deeply even before she started talking.

            “Naruto. You’re hormones are on overdrive. It is very natural for pregnant women to have an increased libido and desire to be intimate. As the body changes it becomes more emotional as they feel unattractive and want the reassurance that their significant other still finds them desirable. So don’t worry, this is also normal… though, again, it’s usually less pronounced this early on.” Sakura shrugged. “But Pregnancy is hardly a science when it comes to the effects on each individual.” Her hand rubbed his shoulder soothingly. Naruto let out a breath and laughed a little, her words easing his doubts and mind far more than he had thought possible.

            “Thanks, Sakura. I needed to hear that.”

            “No problem Naruto. That’s what I’m here for.” Her smile was bright, their argument temporarily forgotten with the sudden topic and mood shift. The only good thing about the Problem is the emotions never lasted long. “Anything else bugging you?”

            “Naw, I was just confused because I was dreaming of Sasuke, but if its normal to dream like that of the father of the child—er well… in the case the… other… father…—er… whatever. Yeah, I get it now.” Naruto grinned up at her only to have his good mood summarily dashed at her expression. There was a light frown on her face, her eyes wide with disbelief and Naruto was left wondering what it was he’d said wrong now.

            He attempted another laugh, rubbing the back of his head and closing his eyes to avoid looking directly at her. “I mean, you said it was normal, and of course I guess I would dream of him seeing as he was… my… uh… first so…”

            “Naruto.”

            “No.” He snapped looking up at her, his false mood gone. “No. whatever you’re about to say, I don’t want to hear it. Thanks, I feel better now why don’t you—“

And Sakura hit him.

            The shock was what held him silent more than the fact that her fist hand slammed him into the floor and she was now towering over him. If he hadn’t been so shocked he might have started yelling at her about his ‘condition’ and so on, not that he was really worried, but just because he knew it would stop her dead in her tracks. But the simple fact remained that he was too stunned and her glare was cold. Colder than he had ever seen her eyes before.

Sakura wasn’t playing, and she wasn’t in the mood for games.

            “You are going to listen to me, and you are going to listen good Naruto Uzumaki.” Her voice was deathly whisper that held more venom than Orochimaru could ever hope to find in his giant ass snake. Naruto shivered and nodded slowly.  So this is Sakura the Kunoichi. Wow, she really has grown up… Naruto could definitely see Tsunade’s influence on her and he sat up straighter giving her the attention he would give the Hag if she’d used that tone. “No one, and I mean no one, does this sort of stuff with someone they consider to be only a friend. Friend’s don’t offer to bear each other’s children just because they asked unless they were surrogates, and even then, most times there is more to it then mere friendship. And they certainly don’t have sex with each other to obtain said children, all in the name of friendship. You are dreaming about Sasuke because you are in love with him.”

Okay, this insanity had to stop.

            “God, what is with you all accusing me of this shit? First Kiba and the whole, “we could see it from day one” and now you? I told you it’s not like that.” Naruto rubbed at the back of his head and averted his eyes from the icy glare the girl was directing at his head. He swore he was actually breaking out in Goosebumps. “Sure I love him, but it’s a different kind than what you’re implying. He’s family, Sakura and—“

            “Fucking hell, Naruto!” Sakura cried, and the volume of the words startled him once more. “Family?! Naruto, what you two did would only work between a mother and father in a family, and trust me their love is exactly the kind I am implying you have!”

            “Now just a—“

            “No!” Her finger was now nearly jabbing his eye out. “Listen to me you retard! It was cute and funny at first but now its just down right sad!”

            “Hey—“ Again he was doomed to be cut short as Sakura continued to scream her lungs out, her temper running away from her at an astounding speed.

            “Kiba—whatever the dork might have said—is right! We have all known Naruto! You fucking kissed the first day we all became Genin!”

            Naruto’s face flushed brightly and he found himself babbling incoherently. “I—that—no it—not on purpose!”

            “Hmph.” Obviously from her lifted brow, Sakura felt otherwise. “Naruto even without that instance I have known for the last three years.”

            “What the hell gave you that idea?” His heart was fluttering in a panic. Shit, what was he doing wrong that was making everyone think this shit? He had to stop this quickly before it grew too far out of hand. Pissing off Sasuke was a fun past time, but he really didn’t want to deal with him if he caught wind of this rumor.

            “Naruto, the one person you didn’t prank was Sasuke. The one person you immediately singled out to be your rival, was Sasuke. Hell, you were the only one who could ever get close to him, and you always were. You followed him around constantly!”

            “Because he was my rival! That’s what rivals do!”

            “Oh, okay, so you’re astounding attention to detail where he was concerned, knowing what kinds of foods and candies he preferred, knowing when he was tired, or joking, or simply needing a fight, are you saying those are all because of your rivalry?”

            “Yes.” It was a stupid question on her part, and Naruto was really greatful he was male and not female. Their minds seemed to warp reality to meet whatever romantic delusions they wanted to see.

            “Okay, then how do you explain that time you challenged me?”

            “Huh?” And she lost him again. “Challenged you? For Sasuke?” His question only gained him a short nod. “…uh, that never happened Sakura.”

            “Yes it did Naruto. On that mission when we were escorting the Fire Lord’s wife and her damned cat home.”

            Her words triggered the memory of his rather awkward molestation of Sasuke and he flushed.  “I still don’t remember challenging you.”

            “Naruto you saw me clinging to Sasuke’s arm and you glared at me. Not just that but you gave me the same sneer and look Ino used to give me, except with you, there was no simple bickering. You made it loud and clear at that point that Sasuke was yours and if I stepped out of line… Naruto, you would have killed me. I could see it in your eyes. I didn’t know it then, but they were slitted. You had called on Kyuubi.”

            Naruto’s breath froze in his lungs as the memory returned. He’d assumed it had all been the work of his hormones, and he really wasn’t certain why he was so angry, but he did know what the trigger was. Sakura had gotten that right at least.

 

            She had her arm around Sasuke’s and Sasuke wasn’t pulling away. He didn’t like that. No more than that he wouldn’t stand for it. After working so fucking hard to capture the damned cat he finds the two of them dicking around? That was unfair and uncalled for! Damn it how could they just stand their flaunting this… this betrayal. Yes, they had betrayed him.

            Sakura’s voice piped up in question and he zeroed in on her face. Her. It was her fault, and it showed in the way she held Sasuke’s arm a little tighter, and her guilt only intensified when those green eyes widened in understanding and she swallowed reflexively. God he wanted to rip her limbs off, and if she didn’t let Sasuke go in the next ten seconds, he would. His inner beast purred in contentment at that thought, and he had to silently agree with her, though he couldn’t name why.

 

            Naruto swallowed hard and felt himself shaking slightly. It wasn’t true, it couldn’t be true and yet, yet, if he looked at it from that perspective it did make more sense, but no, it couldn’t be! He would have known if he was and it just wouldn’t be fair to love the bastard now, not now when he was having his god-damned child! Damn it, this is all Sakura’s fault for messing with my head! I’m not in love with Sasuke! I’m not!

            “You see Naruto? I mean, hell you went after Sasuke when he left, you broke down into fits when he left, and then… Naruto.” Her voice became subdued as she gripped his shoulders tightly. “I was there when you fought Orochimaru… I saw just how far you were willing to go to bring back Sasuke.”

            “Ah—“

            “Naruto, you were willing to die, to… be ripped apart!” Her eyes were glassy and distant, seeing some passed horror that was too profound for her to voice properly. “You were willing to do that all for Sasuke. Naruto, if that’s not love, then a lot of stupid fools are marrying for pathetic reasons in comparison.”

            His shaking had grown worse, and his heart simply wouldn’t slow down. Kyuubi was becoming restless inside and had started prodding at him non-verbally, obviously wanting him to stop, but he couldn’t. His mind was a blur of colors and thoughts and his grasp, his understanding, of reality was shredded in tattered pieces at his feet, brought down solely by the girl in his company. “… you… you got it all wrong Sakura…” His voice was shaky and small, he hadn’t sounded like that since he was a small child begging the Hokage not to take away his Sasuke.

            Blue eyes widened and bile raced up his esophagus as his head grew light and disoriented.

His Sasuke.

            Dear god, was that it? Was she right? Was this all because of what had happened back then? Could it be love, or was it simply a possessive need to keep the dark-haired boy close? Sasuke never had remembered his time spent in Naruto’s company, and though that had hurt—the first time he’d tried to talk to Sasuke after he’d woken from his comatose state, the boy had punched him in the face and kindly told him to fuck off—at least Sasuke had woken up, and after a while even remembered his name. That was enough right?

            But no it wasn’t. That was why he pushed his way into Sasuke’s life, he made himself a rival, he fought with Sasuke and forced his friendship on him, and his feeling of family and now… now…

He had taken his child.

            Naruto was going to throw up.

            “Naruto… are you okay?”

            Sure, now she sounds remorseful. It was a distant thought as Naruto tore free from her light grip and nearly collapsed.

            “Naruto!”

            He needed Iruka. He needed to talk to Iruka, right then and there. There was no time to waste and as Sakura was reaching out for him, Naruto tore off out of the house and down the street. Chakra he wasn’t supposed to be using forcing him faster harder and farther until he was banging on Iruka’s front door, uncaring of the early morning hour on the other’s rare day off when the teacher would surely wish to be sleeping in.

            He wasn’t aware of how long he was pounding on the door for, but from the haggard appearance on Iruka’s face when he opened the door, it was clear he had woken the other. “Wha—Naruto?” Brown eyes widened slightly as the teacher straightened to his full height. He must have looked bad then, but he really couldn’t be bothered to care about that. Slowly, as though coming to terms with events, Iruka’s face turned calm and understanding.

            Stepping aside he held the door open gestured that Naruto enter. “Come on in, and I’ll make some tea.”

            Naruto was heaving air in and out of his lungs, he was shaking and was certain the moisture on his face was from tears, yet aside from the mortification that he was crying openly, and the sickening terror and thoughts running through his head, those calm; casual words were very settling and he found himself taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. In reaction, his tremors stilled and he was able to follow the brunette into the house and sit down calmly on the couch.

            Iruka closed the door like normal. He didn’t attempt to do so gently or quietly, nor was it fast or hurried with his worry, and that too worked to force Naruto into a state of rational calm more than any words or embraces could have. “You have a tea preference?”

            “Decaf.” Naruto responded automatically, knowing from the many rants from both of the women in his life that the stimulant wasn’t good for the baby.

            His and Sasuke’s baby.

            The baby that might be from the person he loved.

            The nauseated feeling was back. The acidic burn of bile and half digested food climbed up his esophagus and he could taste its sour warning. “I—Iruka…” His voice cracked and he felt like he had all those years ago when he’d run to the other as a broken and small child. He swallowed and tried to choke back his sick while he attempted to stall his shaking hands. He hadn’t even told Iruka about his condition. How could he explain what was wrong without explaining that? More than that, how could he face this parental figure with this?

            “Hm?” Iruka asked as he turned from the kitchen with a tray. It was missing the tea pot and Naruto was aware that it was probably still heating on the stove top.

            He mouth had gone suspiciously dry and he found himself breathing erratically once again. What was he doing here? What was he hoping to achieve from this conversation? Why had he even bothered to come?

            “I… I… Iruka I…”

            “Your ready to tell me your secret now?” He asked warmly, and Naruto’s head jerked up with enough force to give him a startled headache.

            “Huh?”

            Iruka smiled and sat across from him, elbows braced on his knees hands clasped together between them. “Sorry for not coming by sooner, but I thought it would be best to wait until you felt safe enough to confess to me on your own.”

            “What?” His voice was brittle and sharp with his confusion and Iruka’s smile shrank his demeanor turning to that of the teacher when dealing with a potential problem.

            “Tsunade pulled me aside and told me of your condition. She thought it best that both myself and Kakashi knew about this so that we could be your support system if need be. I had not intended to keep this from you, I merely thought you would want to broach the topic yourself.”

            It felt like he’d been struck in the gut. The relief and vertigo of the situation left him slumping into his seat. He knows? What the hell is the point of all this secrecy if everyone already knows?!

            ~Kit, just be grateful that they do and let them help. You are hurting us all with your emotional stress and I would appreciate it if you would stop.~

            If he wasn’t three seconds from a complete melt down, he would have found it odd that the fox was sounding almost concerned and worried. As it was, he’d dealt with enough life altering oddities he simply ignored this one for the sake of his own sanity. He didn’t bother responding to Kyuubi his mind still reeling and must have missed the scream of the kettle as Iruka was suddenly pushing a warm mug into his hands, his own callused hands.

            “Naruto, I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to calm down.” His stern tone was as settling as his grip. “You are a Ninja, and as such you need to focus and calm yourself.”

            It was an attack on his pride, and it worked. Closing his eyes, Naruto focused on his heart beat and slowed his breathing, holding it for long moments before releasing it slowly, forcing his heart to slow and for the adrenalin to recede.

            “Good, that’s much better.” Iruka said with a smile. “Now, drink up.” Iruka pulled back and allowed Naruto to pull himself back together again, and it felt good to have that moment of dignity. He drank obediently and wasn’t too surprised to find it was the same damned tea that Sakura always prepared for him, it made him smile and it seemed that was the moment Iruka had been waiting for.

            “So, what brings you here today?”

            The emotions tried to take over again, but now that he could focus on what was causing them, it was clear that the emotions weren’t his own. They were hormone induced, and he could control those. He’d been acting like a child, a recalcitrant child at that and he would not allow that to happen again. Drinking a large amount of tea—as though he could force down his emotions and fears that easily—Naruto faced Iruka head-on.

            “I think… I think I’ve done something bad Iruka.”

            “Oh?” Iruka asked, calmly sipping his own tea. It smelled stronger than his own, and Naruto was almost certain it must have been caffeinated. “And what have you done this time?”

            The casual jibe made Naruto smile reminding him of his pranking days and it was easier to speak after that. That’s right… that’s why I came here. Iruka understands me. He knows what to say to make it make sense…

            “Iruka, Sakura—well, Kiba before that I guess and well, Tsunade implied it but… er well its not that important really who started it…Uh…” he scratched at the back of his head trying to figure out how to explain this mess. Finally, he decided it was best just to say it straight out. If Iruka needed more details he’d ask. “Everyone keeps insisting that I’m in love with Sasuke.”

            Blue eyes held brown daring him to answer and the scar-faced man set his tea down. “I see.”

Okay, what did that mean?

            “Yeah, so I think their full of shit, but then Sakura pointed out some things and… and now I’m confused! If I am in love with him then that means I betrayed Sasuke’s trust!” Naruto clutched his drink tightly as his voice rose. Now that the fears had gained form, he couldn’t stop the spill of words. “He only asked me to have this kid because of our friendship and trust! If I was in love with him that changes everything, I took advantage of the situation, I may as well have raped him! He didn’t want those feelings and if he finds out its going to ruin things and what if he doesn’t want me near our child after that? What if I want more than he’s willing to give?!”

            His fingers were pulling on his hair when he looked up at Iruka. The teacher was silent and was looking at the floor in obvious thought. It was reassuring to see that. As much as passionate statements were fun and often inspiring, this was an issue he needed solid answers for. The fact that Iruka was taking the time to find the proper words and answer comforted Naruto and gave him the sense that things would be fine.

            “Can I be completely honest with you?” Iruka finally voiced, his eyes lifting. For a moment Naruto wasn’t sure how to respond, but slowly he inclined his head and Iruka nodded back. “No matter what, Sasuke’s and your relationship has always been extreme. Be it fighting, working together, being friends, and I would even bet that if you two managed to become lovers,” that statement made the blonde blush darkly, “I’m willing to bet it will remain that way. You two have survived trials and wounds far deeper and devastating  than most. More than that you two have always landed on your feet. This will be no different. Sure, he might not love you back, and you two will fight, but you’ll never lose his friendship Naruto, and who knows, he might just choose to love you back.” His smile was kind and reassuring, but still his words hadn’t answered all of his questions.

            “But Iruka, I don’t even know what it is I feel for him! I don’t know how to love that way, or even what that would feel like?” Naruto swallowed to push off his feelings of inadequacy. “I barely understand the love that one feels for family and friends!”

            Iruka’s expression turned guilty and sad and Naruto turned away attempting to keep the annoying tears from falling again. He’d acted enough like a girl to last him a lifetime. “I thought the feelings I had for him were like family since they ran so deep and it hurt to lose him… but …”

            “Naruto, I can’t tell you what it is you feel for him, but maybe I can help you to clarify.” Iruka offered with a smile.

            “Okay.”

            “How do you see me Naruto?”

            “Huh?”

            “I see you like a brother, so I see you as family.” Iruka confessed and Naruto gave him a watery smile.

            “Yeah. That’s right… me too. I see you like family.”

            Those eyes softened and the smile became brighter. “Okay, now, the feelings you have for me are they the same as the ones you feel for Sasuke?”

            Naruto blinked and thought about it. Were they the same? At one point he would have said yes very emphatically, but now he wasn’t so certain.

            “Try closing your eyes.” Iruka suggested. Doing as told Naruto closed his eyes, and then Iruka continued. “Now, picture me.”

            Slowly, an image of Iruka formed. His face set between a scowl and a laugh. It was an expression he’d often seen during his academy days, and he felt himself smile. He really had run his poor teacher ragged back then.

            “Now, what do you feel?”

            “… happy.”

            “Anything else?”

            “… content.”

            “Okay, now I want you to think of Sasuke.”

It happened like lightening.

 

            Sasuke scowling at him as he passed the bridge annoyed at him for the fight they’d had when Sasuke didn’t remember him, but that was fine because at least he would remember him now…

 

            Fingers brushing over the curse seal with a reverent sort of caution, but no fear, never any fear…

 

            Bruised knuckles from a fight that he hadn’t had to have…

 

            The expression of triumph as they stood top of the trees, finally mastering their chakra, the moon lighting his quiet expression.

 

            The warmth of his shoulder as he helped Naruto back to their camp, both exhausted but pleased. They had achieved their goal and come out victorious, there was nothing better than…

 

            Blood. Sharp needles puncturing the body and leaving it torn and wounded. He was falling, falling… oh god no…

 

            There he stood before the giant snake terrified but willing to die to save them. To save his friends. Black eyes met his and the strength there, the promise made his breath catch.

 

            Warmth. Sheets embracing them as the night crept by. Dark hair spilled over the soft cotton of the pillow, the perfection lost amidst the rumple of sleep. Deep breathes made his chest rise and fall rhythmically almost monotonous. Peaceful. Sasuke was sleeping easily now, and it was so nice to see that, even if he could still see the scar on his neck from the battle with Haku, and even if he could still remember the nights where he screamed himself awake… now in this moment…

 

            Pain. Betrayal and anger burned through him as he came to terms that Sasuke had left. He was gone, gone, gone and nothing would bring him back except…

 

            “Naruto.” His voice a low moan as he sank deep inside of him. His arms a warm embrace, his eyes soft, warm, and sincere. Sweat dampened his skin and made his dark hair cling to pale flesh and he had never looked more alive.

 

            “Naruto. What do you feel?”

            “… disappointment, joy, happy, sad, angry, comfort, confused… and… and safe…” Naruto opened his eyes and looked at Iruka a sudden understanding, if not comprehension, settling over him. Iruka smiled at him with knowing eyes.

            “Are they the same Naruto?”

            “No.” Naruto shook his head. “No they aren’t.”

            “Uh-huh.” Iruka returned to sipping his tea and after a moment Naruto drank his own as well. In silence they finished the tea and before he realized it, Naruto was smiling. He wasn’t ready to put a name to the feelings just yet, but now he knew and understood.

            He loved his friends as just that, and Iruka and Tsunade fell into the category of family, as did Sasuke, but Sasuke was more than just that. He was special. He always had been.

Always had been.

            With a dawning understanding Naruto found his mouth dropping open a little and felt a sensation close to floating. What he felt for Sasuke, he had always felt. It hadn’t changed, it had only deepened over time. No, that wasn’t right either, he had only just become aware of it over that time. The feelings never changed; the feelings couldn’t change anything.

            “… nothing has to change. Does it?” Naruto asked and Iruka smiled wider.

            “Nope. When you love someone, you love them. Regardless of what kind of love that is, and unless you want that to change things, it doesn’t have to. That’s the beauty of love Naruto. It just is.”

            Naruto grinned and felt a bubble of excited laughter escape him. “Man, why couldn’t Sakura have said that? I went through all this for nothing.”

            “Not for nothing Naruto.”

            Naruto nodded feeling the tension creep back in. This discussion had trailed long enough, and now it was becoming far too weighted for his liking. It was definitely time for a topic change.

            “Yeah… well I guess I should let Sakura know that I’m okay…” He really didn’t want to face her at the moment, but he had just run off in a fit of girly emotions, Sakura was probably freaking out and running around looking for him. It would be best to reassure her now before she managed to run to Tsunade and get her involved.

            And like always, Iruka stepped in, as though just knowing what it was Naruto needed to hear. “Why don’t you just take some time for yourself. Take a walk, I’ll go find Sakura and explain things to her.” Iruka’s offer was something close to a miracle and Naruto gave him a grin worthy of it.

            “Really? Thanks Iruka. Sakura’s a good friend and all but…”

            “She’s a little intense.”

            “Yeah.”

Nothing more needed to be said.

-3-

 

            The sun was setting. It cast the sky in a multitude of shades and colors. The last of the sun’s hues lit on the hidden village and turned it a golden glow. It glimmered like a small flame, fragile and warm, strong, but not without its faults. Konoha was a treasure, and that fact was made more apparent in this moment.

            He’d always wanted to protect Konoha, he’d lost sight of that somewhere along the way somewhere between hunting down Sasuke and getting pregnant he’d forgotten the drive that had once been there to defend the village. Sure it was an abstract thought once or twice, and he would never let anything bad happen to Konoha, but it hadn’t been the burning goal in a long while.

            “I really was lost for a while, huh?” His voice was soft and nearly non-existent as the wind came up the Cliffside. It was chill now but not cold, and Naruto breathed in deeply enjoying it. “Seems I’ve been rather silly and narrow minded as of late.”

            The whole afternoon had been his alone. Not even the damned fox had intruded and it had given him plenty of time to think. He’d retreated to the monument several hours back and had simply enjoyed the day; the warm sunlight, the caressing breeze, the song of the trees and the tranquility of simply existing. His discussion with Iruka became more solid as the hours passed, and it became apparent that he had been right.

            Love didn’t change things, and it certain didn’t happen suddenly like an infection or disease, it simply was. When one chose to acknowledge its presence was another thing entirely, but it didn’t upend one’s world, and it certainly never hurt anyone. That was very reassuring and it was as though a weight had lifted from him, a weight he had invented himself.

            The forest that surrounded the hidden village appeared to dance below him, and he found himself smiling. How many times had he sat here watching the dance and wondering why everything seemed to tie in and work together and yet he seemed just outside of it all. Now, it was as though he was simply watching it from within it. He had never felt this comfortable, or secure in his position with the village.

            He belonged, to Tsunade, Iruka, Sakura, Konohamaru, Kiba, Neji, Sai, Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Hinata, Lee, Kakashi, and now, to Sasuke and their child. Warmth filled his chest and made him grin with a sudden influx of emotion. Standing up Naruto breathed deeply of the air, watching the day slip away. The Twilight made it seem unreal, like a fade of a dream dwindling on the edges of consciousness.

It made him brave.

            And reckless.

            “I love Sasuke Uchiha!” his cry echoed down with the wind and several nearby birds were startled into flight. The words were like a living thing, and left him feeling light. They were true, truer then ever before, and he acknowledged that no matter what type of love that was, the simple fact remained that he simply loved the other boy, and that was fine; it was okay to. “I love the Teme!” He was laughing now thoroughly amused with his new freedom and energy. When he comes home, I’m going to kick his ass and then he’s going to buy me Ramen. Naruto nodded to himself still quite pleased with himself when he felt Kyuubi stir. He had thought she was waking up to tell him how stupid he was and how it was reckless to bother with the Uchiha brat, when his senses twanged in warning and Naruto spun around quickly.

            “How quaint.”

            Instincts and training had him crouching in a defensive stance, one hand lower than normal in deference to the child in his womb, and he felt his chakra pool there even before he heard the derisive snort and the words that put his entire body on alert.

Sharingan.

            His words choked in his throat as his muscles locked upon seeing the tall figure dressed in dark robes with red clouds. Features similar to Sasuke’s framed by long dark hair pulled back in a pony tail made him feel sick and lightheaded. No…

            ~Kit, get out of here now!~ Kyuubi’s fear was what made him jerk his eyes from the other and jerk back. He couldn’t escape. Not without the proper use of his chakra, and he was still too close to the village to get away with using Kyuubi’s chakra, and he had to think of the Village as well as himself and the child. ~Kit, survival comes first, run!~

            She had a point, but Itachi would only follow him, and perhaps it would be best to deal with him now. But then my child will be treated like a demon… they might try to take him away…Baring his teeth Naruto stood his ground. He couldn’t run, but he couldn’t fight, he was stuck no matter what choice he made, and worse yet, Itachi also held the contract to Kyuubi.

            ~Kit! Run!~

            “You are not as foolish as they would like to believe.” Itachi’s smile was cold, and yet was also—in a very morbid and freakish way—proud. Naruto swallowed back the denial and the panic his instincts and Kyuubi were pressing into his mind.

            He was trapped.

            Fighting with Taijutsu would only get him so far, and again Itachi, who excelled at Genjutsu—which of course he had to be horrid at—along with his having the Sharingan, it was a useless battle. Besides which, he had no chakra control, he’d have to use Kyuubi’s which he simply could not do. Not here, near the village, not close enough for the council to find out, but he couldn’t just wait to die either.

            But… if I can lure him away… we could fight elsewhere…but can I lead him there? Can I out run him? Naruto frowned knowing the answer to that already. No, I can’t… but if I follow him willingly I can attempt to fight him later… damn it, no I can’t do that either… without my chakra I can’t—

            “You are aware of you inability. That is good.”

            Naruto snarled and crouched lower still. “I’m not going to die quietly. And I’m not dying here.”

            “No. You aren’t.” The words were so certain, so dark that they startled Naruto and it was then that he saw the change in the eyes.

Pinwheels in blood.

 

Screaming.

Dark eyes closing with death.

Pale skin marked with ink.

Needles.

Red chakra.

 

-3-

 

Dripping.

Echoes of pain.

Memories far from happy.

Decaying thoughts, dreams, and wishes. Trapped in endless corridors filled with liquid emotions.

            “So… this is a corrupt soul.”

 

A.N. Please don’t kill me. 0.0 Sorry this is where it had to end but on the upside chapter 20 is 90 percent completed… *Hides until next Naruto chapter*