For the Love of His Son

Summary: Lord Sasuke Uchiha believes that he has lost something precious to him and struggles to convince himself everyday that it didn‘t exsist. What will he do when a blond hair peasant arrives at his doorstep claiming he has something the Uchiha “misplaced.” (SasuNaru)


For the Love of His Son
Chapter 2


If silence is golden, then what happened next in the Uchiha courtyard was rainbow colored pandemonium.


“Can someone please tell me what the FUCK just happened? Did I miss something?” The tattooed guard yelled while walking over to investigate the passed out peasant.


“Even more troublesome…” Shikamaru muttered as he calmly instructed the gate be closed. The blond haired boy had pretty much ensured that he would be “invited” to stay, best to make sure no one else ambled up with anymore “gifts”.


The other knights and occupants of the courtyard proceeded to gasp and whisper about what had just happened before their eyes. Who was the boy? What was he? Was that a baby? Why would the boy bring a baby? Does anyone know what happened to the last bag of chips? Okay, so not everything was “mysterious peasant boy brings small baby” orientated, but most was…. Honestly.


Kakashi, for his part, watched his young friend and lord with a careful eye. He was among the few that knew that Sakura had run away with more than just the clothes on her back. He knew that Sasuke had chosen to give up his child for the safety of his people and knights. He also knew that the choice was slowly eating him from the inside. And now, a frail looking boy, who obviously packed a big punch, had seemingly returned Sasuke’s baby to him from the dead. This would mean… everything to Sasuke. Kakashi took a moment to pray to whoever would listen that this wasn’t a cruel trick and if it was, he took the next moment to swear to all the demons in hell that the bright eyed boy would pay dearly for his treachery. (Somewhere in the dark depths of Naruto’s psyche, Kyuubi sneezed.)


Meanwhile Sasuke looked down into the bundle in his arms, unable to think, unable to breathe, unable to remember what breathing even felt like before this moment. This baby, this little person who resembled him in everyway, from his pale skin, his dark eyes and his perpetually tussled midnight hair, could this baby be his? And if it was, how was it possible?


Sasuke’s head finally came up and he looked around slowly. He saw Kiba yelling and Shikamaru lazily instructing others to carry on with their duties. He could feel Kakashi watching his every move and see the groups in the courtyard staring at him with wonder and anxiety. Throughout it all, Sasuke could hear nothing but the gentle breathing of the baby he held securely in his arms.


Then he looked down to see the blond peasant boy that started this by demanding to see him and just like that the sounds of the courtyard flooded his ears. The spell was broken and he realized he had decisions to make, the first being to do something with the boy currently passed out or dead (it was hard to tell from that angle) in his front yard.


“Kiba, we understand that you’re confused, and none of us are surprised, so please, do shut up. Find Shino and have him help you bring our visitor upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Neji, find Hinata, have her meet me in the…,” Sasuke hesitated, something quite unheard of from the Uchiha, “the nursery. Kakashi, stop staring at me. I realize there are a lot of questions, but for now, let’s just get inside.” At Sasuke’s command, all involved began to move.


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Upstairs found Sasuke, Kakashi, Neji and Kiba staring down at their golden haired visitor, who was breathing, but not waking up for anything. Sasuke felt a great amount of frustration at this. The one person who could answer all his questions was currently napping?? Sasuke clinched his fists to keep himself from jumping on the bed and shaking the boy, screaming like a three year old in want of large amounts of candy. Sasuke realized that up until this point, life had presented him with many situations that seemed to require reactions somewhat outside of the “Uchiha box”, but temper tantrums were probably a bit much.


“So, let me see if I understand this,” Kiba whispered next to Kakashi. “Sakura was pregnant with Sasuke’s baby.”


“Ah huh.” Kakashi mumbled, encouraging Kiba to continue.


“But she, being the colossal bitch that we all love to hate, told the boss that she would kill the baby at her earliest convenience.”


“Ah huh”


“And then, before Sasuke could prevent said evil doings, the Weasel Bastard himself came and spirited Lady Imma Slut away.” Sasuke rolled his eyes, if he wasn’t still keeping his inner three year old in check, he may have actually seen Neji smirk at Kiba’s creative descriptions.


“Yes, that’s right, continue.”


“Okay, this is where it gets a bit sketchy in my humble opinion,” Kiba’s face looked like it hurt him to think. “So, Sasuke let her go thinking that the baby was as good as dead from the moment she grabbed Lil’ Weasel’s clammy hand and walked outta the castle. But then, out of nowhere, a boy, with chakra like none of us have ever seen, shows up and just hands Sasuke his baby. Just like that. Have a nice day… don’t forget to Pay it Forward. Oh look, a nice comfy piece of courtyard, mind it I indulge? Really??”


“Thank you, Kiba, for that riveting journey through the inner workings of your mind. I think we all feel a little sicker for it. Neji, tell me what you see.” Sasuke said, his eyes never leaving the sleeping boy.


“Byakugan!” Neji spent several minutes looking over the sleeping boy.


Kakashi idly looked over at Sasuke. He had noticed that the young man hadn’t removed his eyes from the bed and it’s occupant since entering the room. He moved closer until they could talk without the others hearing.


“So, is he yours?” Kakashi asked in a monotone voice that failed to cover the concern behind the heavy question.


“Who? What… I don’t even know this boy…” Sasuke muttered.


“Sasuke. I meant the baby. Why would I ask if this young man was yours?” Kakashi asked with a rather prominent raise of this eyebrow.


“Oh right, of course. The baby. I don’t know. God I ho… I don’t know.” Sasuke said firmly. He found himself unable to continue. He couldn’t let himself hope. He had spent the last 8 months convincing himself that the baby was dead, had never even been given the chance to be born and now… now what? “Hinata is in the nursery using her sight to see if his chakra is compatible with mine and Sakura’s. I will know one way or another soon.”


Kakashi nodded his head and gave Sasuke’s shoulder a quick squeeze. He opened his mouth to offer some form of, well, something, when Neji gasped.


“What?!” Sasuke demanded, his head snapping up to give Neji his full attention.


“Well, I’ve never seen anything like it. The boy has two different chakras. One is strictly his and one seems to be underneath, fused with the boys and yet separate enough to be different.” Throughout his explanation Neji continued to look the boy over, shaking his head in disbelief at what his eyes told him to be true.

“What the HELL is this THING!” Kiba yelled, “Okay, I take back the part about the boy showing up being sketchy. This fucking takes sketchy to a whole new level.”


At Kiba’s outburst, the boy began to shift and whimper. They all watched as he seemed to pull into himself, away from Kiba.


“God, Kiba, the kid’s all but in a coma and he still can’t stand your voice.” Kakashi smirked.


Sasuke watched the boy closely. His bright blond hair lay plastered against his face barely touching the three thin scars he had running across each of his cheeks. Sasuke could tell that his normal skin color was probably a healthy tan, but now, since Kiba’s rant, his face had paled to a sickly white. Sasuke watched horrified as the boy started to shake, silent tears streaming down his face while his mouth formed inaudible pleas that Sasuke’s ears strained to make out.


Before he even realized his minds intent, Sasuke moved to the side of the bed. He reached out and gently touched the boys shoulder, “Shhhh, you’re okay. No one here will hurt you. Calm down now. Shhhh…” The boy froze and Sasuke continued to murmur soothing sounds at the boy. Finally, the boy’s face relaxed and he released a peaceful sigh.


“Neji, is there anything else?” Sasuke questioned after a few seconds of watching as the boy seemed to seek out the warmth of his hand.


Neji nodded, “Actually yes, quite a lot. I don’t know where this boy came from, but they didn’t treat him well. He has two cracks ribs, several lacerations on his back that one might receive after being whipped and numerous soft and deep tissue bruises. His “personal” chakra is almost completely gone. The second chakra is weak as well, but seems to be slowly healing the boy completely independent of the boy‘s will.“ Neji shook his head again. Was this even possible? “We can only assume that he found the baby where Sakura was and we know that she was with Itachi at Orochimaru’s castle. I don’t need to tell you that it’s a hard three week journey on foot from there to here. And with a baby… I don’t know what else to say beyond that this boy should not be alive.”


“So?” Kiba asked.


“So, it is safe to say that this boy carried a newborn infant through hell when he shouldn’t have been able to stand, much less run, to begin with.” Neji concluded.


Silence followed this statement as they all worked to understand what this meant. Sasuke hadn’t realized that he was absentmindedly rubbing the boy’s shoulder until a sound that could only be described as a purr broke the silence. Sasuke started, staring down at the boy. “Hn” A small smile worked it’s way across the boy’s sleeping features.


“And apparently, even in a coma the boy can recognize the dulcet and ridiculously articulate tones of our fearless leader.” Kakashi remarked, smirk safely hidden behind his mask.


Without turning around Sasuke replied in a clipped tone, “Wipe that smirk off your face, Kakashi or I will choke you on your own damn mask.” With that, he turned and left the room. The others shared a look and followed him silently.


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Sasuke entered the nursery to the harmonious sounds of a baby wailing his lungs out.


“Ah, my lord, he has been c-crying since you left.” Hinata explained as Sasuke walked further into the nursery.


Sasuke wanted to pick the little boy up and nuzzle his sweet, midnight locks but would not allow himself until he knew for sure that the boy was his. His heart pounded in his chest, seemingly screaming at him to believe the impossible, but his damn Uchiha mind would not let eight months of heartache and flimsy cover-up be pushed away so easily. So standing steadfastly near the door, Sasuke asked the most important question of his young life.


“Hinata, is the baby mine?”


Hinata attempted to soothe the baby by rubbing his tiny stomach, “Yes, his ch-chakra is a perfect m-match to yours.”


Sasuke slumped back against the wall. Screw the Uchiha clan and their perfect composure. With his head bent down to his chest and his dark locks falling in his eyes, Sasuke took deep breathes. He’s mine. The baby isn’t dead. He’s alive and he’s here and he’s mine.


“S-Sasuke, there’s something else you should know…”


Hinata never got to finish since the door to the nursery was rather forcefully pushed open.


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Naruto stirred slowly from the warmth that Kyuubi’s tails were providing him. He rubbed his eyes and attempted to sit up. As he suspected, his entire body revolted against the attempt. You know you’re in serious pain when even your mental body is against all movement, Naruto ruefully thought to himself, but something must have awoken him.


“Hey, Kyuubi, do you hear that?”

“Kit, go back to sleep. I’m trying very hard to keep us alive right now and your annoying chatter is… annoying and NOT helping.”


“And you know that I appreciate all that you do, O’ Master of My Life, but something is off…” Naruto tilted his head to the side causing Kyuubi to smirk. If only the Kit knew how much he resembled a chibi fox when he did that.


“Oh my god! It’s Chibi… we need to get up! Wake us up! Now! Chibi is crying. He needs me. Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”


“Naruto, you’re insane! You can’t get up! You’re a hairs breath from being DEAD.”


“Shut up! Yes, I….”


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“Can!”


In a dark guest room, in the upstairs of the Uchiha castle, Naruto sat straight up.


“I’m coming, Chibi. Hold on.” Naruto muttered. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pushed himself up. After standing still for a moment to be sure that he wouldn’t crash immediately to the floor, Naruto made his way slowly to the door.


“I swear, I cared for that baby for three weeks. I ask for a little down time and I can’t even get that. Inconsiderate bastard.” Naruto complained as he made his way across the hall, using the cries of the baby to lead him. At reaching the door, Naruto pushed it open.


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Sasuke and company stood shocked as the “all but in a coma boy” marched into the room, muttering darkly under his breath.


“I didn’t know that I would have to do everything… I thought, ‘This little guy needs his father’…. Chibi, shhhh…. I’m here. Buddy, I know that you’re tired and I’m, hell, I’m fucking exhausted. I need you to help Naruto out okay. Calm down. Come here.”


The golden haired boy, whose name apparently was Naruto, gently picked up Sasuke’s whimpering son and tucked him lovingly in the crook of his left arm. Sasuke noticed that at some point Naruto had been changed into one of his own nightshirts. The hem fell past his knees and the sleeves hung inches past his fingertips. Sasuke watched with amazement as Naruto rubbed his eyes without even pulling up the sleeves.


“… so I take it upon myself to bring him to said father, forsaking all else, including my physical and mental health, and what thanks do I get… can’t even fucking sleep…”


Naruto began to collect blankets from around the nursery, gathering them in his right arm, seemingly unaware of the audience he had. Is it possible he’s still asleep? Sasuke wondered as Naruto breezed right by him.


“Stupid teme, if he thinks I’m taking care of this baby all by my onsie, he’s got another think coming… bastard…”


And with that, Naruto exited the nursery, slamming the door behind him.


“Did that dobe just call me a bastard?” Sasuke asked the silent room. Poorly covered snickers were his answer.


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Upon entering Naruto’s room, Sasuke found his son in what could only be described as a nest of blankets on the side of Naruto’s bed. Since he couldn’t immediately identify Naruto, he could only assume he was under the mountain of blankets to the side of his son’s nest.


As he approached the bed, the baby released a pitiful whimpering hiccup, probably brought on from all the earlier wailing. From beneath the mountain of blankets a slender, tan hand came to rest on the baby’s tummy.

In a whisper so quiet Sasuke almost didn’t make it out, Naruto said, “Chibi, don’t be sad. We don’t have to be scared anymore. Daddy’s here now. He’ll protect us.”

Sasuke’s breath halted. We… us??


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In the days that followed, Sasuke and those in charge of the littlest Uchiha began to learn the best way to care for the young boy. Anytime he was tired or cranky they returned him to his “nest”. Sometimes it would warrant a verbal response from the sleeping Naruto, but most of the time a hand would emerge from Mount Naruto and that was all the baby needed to go to sleep, calm down or just gurgle happily.


Sasuke found that time spent with his son went smoother if he stayed in Naruto’s room. So that is how, on the day that Naruto finally woke up, Sasuke was there, finally indulging in a bit of sweet baby hair nuzzling. Not that he’d ever admit it.


“Um… hi.” Sasuke just resisted the urge to start at the sound in the normally silent room. He looked up to see Naruto awake, his bright eyes locked on the baby in his arms. Sasuke had to resist the urge to demand that Naruto look at him that way. Okay, where had that come from.


“It’s about time you woke up, dobe.”


“Ah well, I was a little tir… WHAT! Don’t call me that, teme!” Sasuke noted that Naruto must be completely healed if he could sit that quickly, while pointing and screaming.


“Hn” Sasuke smirked and adjusted the baby on his lap.


“Ah… can I hold him? Please.” Naruto whispered from the bed. Sasuke looked up and nodded slowly. He stood and placed the infant in Naruto’s lap. Sasuke stepped back and the sight in front of him almost made his knees give out. Naruto immediately brought the baby’s face level to his, rubbing his cheek gently against the side of the baby’s sweet cheeks. He watched as Naruto smiled softly and whispered tenderly to his son as though the baby was the sun and Naruto’s sole purpose was to worship him.

“Naruto, I can’t thank you enough…” Sasuke began. Naruto looked up, tenderness still in his eyes along with curiosity. Sasuke felt his heart skip a beat. “I can’t thank you enough for bringing him back to me. I don’t know how or why… Sakura… I was sure that she had…”


“My lord, Sakura is dead.”