Not you, too!

20: Love lost and love found – A world gone topsy-turvey

Shikamaru closed the door and smiled. He walked down the hall to his room and crossed the threshold.
Neji lay on the futon and watched the shadow ninja enter. He smiled at the thoughtful expression on the Jounin’s face.
“What?” he asked.
“He wants to know if we can go for a vacation to the Sand. I think he has a little crush on the Kazekage.” He whispered as he crawled over the Hyuuga. “Our little boy is growing up, mother.”
“He has been grown up for a long time. He just needed to find someone he wanted to be with. I hope it goes all right for him.” Neji responded.
“Mmmm. Hey, are you tired?” Shika asked.
“Not really. I was hoping we could have that alone time you promised me. What took so long with the Hokage?” Neji asked wondering but knowing that some things would not be available to him.
“I had to meet Iruka’s baby. He is a cute little boy, named Hebichani. Iruka and Kakashi adopted him last year. It was another of the Orochimaru clones. I think I know why it isn’t public knowledge. There is another that lives near the correction facility. Izumo and Kotetsu are raising him. Um, Tsunade has asked Naruto and Sasuke to raise the last, but if they turn it down, we are the next best choice. I said I would talk to you about it.”
“An Orochimaru baby? And I thought it was rough caring for Choji-chan. I don’t know, Shika. That’s a lot to ask. Why not use an existing family or ask a heterosexual couple?”
“Cause they would eventually want their own child, or already have one. This has to be done carefully. One of Orochimaru’s problems was lack of affection. He was not an only child. I didn’t know it but he killed his brother when he was a baby. I guess they don’t do well with siblings. I understand that she wants only very strong ninja’s also. It is a big deal and I would understand if you don’t want it. But, if you do, I’ll help with it. I promise.”
“Let’s wait and see if Sasuke decides to keep it. I know what he was saying back at the hotel was more for giving the child birth, but I think it goes farther than that. I bet he takes it.”
“Yeah, and it’s not like he is gonna revive his clan, anyway. That is water under the bridge.”
“Now, about you and me,” Neji said, pulling the Nara man down to lie along his body.

Sasuke shifted against him and Naruto woke.
He looked up to see deep black eyes staring into his sleepy blue ones.
“What is it?” Naruto groaned out, “can’t sleep?”
“No. I think I have slept enough for now. I told you - tonight. You aren’t finished.”
“What?” Naruto’s eyes flew wide. “Sasuke, you have to be kidding. Don’t you want to wait till at least tomorrow? I am tired.”
“You have the stamina of the Kyuubi vessel. Don’t play tired with me. I am ready.”
And the Uchiha’s hand started the seals of the Orioke no jutsu once more. Naruto groaned and rolled onto his back.
“Are you trying to kill me, or do you have something else to prove?” he groaned, watching the transformation complete. Sasuke stared at him and shook his head.
“I will not be called a virgin again, in any form. Now, do we do this, or do I find someone else?”
“God! You are a stubborn prick. Hang on.” And Naruto crawled up on his knees and pressed his hand onto Sasuke’s shoulders focusing his mind and pumping chakra through his arms. His hands began to glow blue as he transferred his chakra into the dark haired beauty and watched the circles under Sasuke’s eyes fade. “Are you gonna want to fuck me after, cause I don’t think I have the chakra for another go after this one?”
“This will be sufficient. Oh, and don’t get me pregnant. One scare a month is enough.”
Naruto smiled wickedly and slid his hand down the pale shoulders to the soft rise of flesh below them.
“By the way, Gamatatsu was wrong. These aren’t just nice, they are perfect.” And his lips found a firm nub and sucked happily.


Gaara stood next to Temari and watched Kankurou talking to Shikamaru. He was tense and tired from the strain of the travel and discussions of the issues of the possible re-occurrence of his ‘condition’. Tsunade had pronounced him healthy and stable and sent him on his way offering to visit him when she was finished with some of her piled up backlog.
Gaara had snorted and told her that all he would expect was a few of her favorite spies to come and verify that he was still an adult and that was about all he would tolerate. He even gave her a list of the only ones he would accept.
Tsunade laughed out loud and patted his back firmly.
Now as he waited to leave the leaf village he was restless.
Shikamaru and Kankurou had formed a tentative friendship and the puppet master was even now offering to have the shadow ninja come to the Sand for a small visit and telling him to bring his ‘family’ with. Shikamaru said he’d run that one past the wife and let him know.
They laughed together heartily.
Gaara felt a hand touch his shoulder and the fact that the sand had allowed it meant it was a friend of sorts. He turned to see Choji standing there, holding a small bag and a scroll.
“I wanted to give you something. If you ever feel like you need to, I mean if it’s your decision, everything is on the scroll. I made it for you only, and it’s warded from anyone else opening it. The bag is some cookies. I like them and Neji says they are just like the ones my mother used to bake. I think he’s right.”
Gaara stared for a while and then took both items from the chubby young man.
“Thank you. For everything, Choji-kun.” He said, as Temari turned and smiled oddly.
“Gaara?” she said, and he glared her way in response.
“See you later, Gaara. I hope we do, at least.”
“We will, later Choji.” He said as Kankurou walked up and picked up his puppet and his pack and they headed out of the gate once more.
“So, you made a new friend Gaara?” Temari asked.
“Temari, I would suggest you don’t continue on this line of questioning.” Gaara said, firmly.
“Okay, so what’s in the scroll?” she asked as they took to the trees.
“A new jutsu. I may even try it. But, first I would have to find someone I trust to have around. And that is obviously not either of you. I have Naruto’s word on Kankurou’s ability and You are not the motherly type, Temari. Perhaps Sasuke would like to visit with us for a while? He said I was cute, like that.” And he leapt ahead of the two other sand ninjas.

Naruto woke and felt the warm breath of his lover rush across his shoulder. He looked out the window and placed the time near noon. He looked back at the sleeping Uchiha and smiled. Sasuke slept soundly like a small child does when they have just gone to the fair and had more fun than they thought was possible and wore themselves completely out from it.
He liked thinking of their activities that way. Naruto lifted a lock of soft black hair and rolled it between his fingers.
He smiled again as Sasuke shifted closer with the touch.
“Mmm, no. Don’t wanna have mbaby, wanta muffin, kay?” the Uchiha mumbled in his sleep.
“Yeah, I’ll give you a muffin, Sasuke-kun.” He said. Long black lashes rolled up and exposed sleepy black eyes. “Hi, cutie. You want that muffin now or after a long hot bath?” he asked.
“What are you talking about, Dobe?” Sasuke asked.
“Nothing. Hey, I wanted to ask you, are you really thinking of taking that baby?”
“Are you dead set against it? I have learned some about childcare. I could do it.”
“I know that. I told you you’d have to get yourself a house full. You are a good mommy when you set your mind to it. There are some minor things but you have the instincts.”
“Really? And what are those minor things?”
“Oh, you know cuddling and baby talk. You’ll learn. But I doubt little Orochimaru will need a lot of that. Kid’ll probably come out spouting jutsu’s and trying to kill us.”
“He will be a baby. He won’t be like that. I don’t think any one else could handle it. Think about it, Naruto.”
“Hmm, you know you have a point. They might try to get Sakura to do it, and that would be dangerous. So, we are gonna be daddies. What do we do first?”
“Tell the Hokage. Then, we figure out where and how we do this. At least it isn’t me carrying it. That would make it more difficult to do. I won’t be too tired out after a couple of days rest. I don’t think we should stay here. We need to find something away from the center of town. Your apartment is a dump and I won’t raise a child there.”
“Okay, so do you want to sleep or go house hunting?”
“Lets stay here for a little while. I was comfortable and I’m a little eh, sore.”
“That could happen to anyone. Feel like getting even later?”
“No, this is fine. I waited for this, I’ll take the good with the bad.”
“Any regrets Sasuke?” Naruto asked.
“Yes. I waited too long to ask you, Stupid fox boy.”
“By the way. Kyuubi says you are the best we’ve ever had.”
Sasuke’s eyes went wide and he grabbed the blond by the hair. “What?” he growled.
“You didn’t think you got me without him? He is always there and he was especially exited about your female form. He wanted me to tell you something, but I don’t think you are ready for it.”
“Tell me, Dobe. Nothing could shock me, now.”
“He says you could very easily live through carrying a baby. I would have to keep infusing you, but we have plenty of chakra to go around. Or I could do it, you know?”
“Now, that is something to think about. Tell him thanks. I guess.”
“Remember Sasuke, if we are lovers, you two are also. He listens to you and you don’t have to send him messages through me. I think he likes you, he keeps calling you his little vixen.”
Sasuke groaned a little before chuckling and pulling his face into Naruto’s chest.
“Come on, Teme. Let’s take that long bath. I hate being sticky, I’m used to being at the river or the Onsen.” Naruto said, peeling loose and rising from the bed.
“I don’t want to know any more.” Sasuke said slowly following the blond.


::: Oh, yes. I got Kyuubi, Temari, Kankurou, Gaara, Shikamaru, Neji and Choji into that chapter. Is it getting crowded in here?

Vashta – Honey keep up. They done it two times. As for sparks, watch for lightening to strike. I was really expecting a harsher emotion on the Gaara/Choji concept, but I take your challenge. Planned it anyway. I’d say that Sasuke has accepted Naruto’s offer. Not that he had many choices. More fun in the works. Hey, I haven’t brought Itachi into this little romp yet.

Marielle – Glad you made it. Now for some more fun. I am on a roll. Next chapter will introduce some other pairings that are set to confuse confound and make you say “hmm”.
And possibly send your wallpaper to peeling from the overdose of humidity. We’ll see.


Next chapter Moving in, preparing for the baby and watching the world move around us