Not you, too!

24: Shadow of a Sandman – Neji makes a decision


Neji thought the Uchiha had lost his mind. He was nearly sure of it, in fact.
He stood in the courtyard of the Hyuuga estate watching the man as he gestured oddly. The baby in the strange looking rocker just cooed up at him.
Sasuke stood up and looked very pleased with himself. Then he turned to Neji and crossed his arms over his chest before scowling.
“What?” he asked.
“Just enjoying the show. It isn’t often that you get to see the last of his clan jump around like a monkey and all for the enjoyment of an infant.” Neji responded sitting on the step.
“He likes it. I don’t know why. Now, have you come up with anything?” Sasuke asked.
“Just a headache. Why is it you think I can do this?” Neji asked, “And why should I?”
“Because if you can than others can. I happen to know of a few who would like to and we would be paving the way. Besides you look lost without someone to care for. And I don’t think that Choji is ever coming back. When we took Koibito to the Sand last week I got the definite impression there was more going on than emissary work.”
“Yes, I know. Choji is very happy. But I can be happy without anything else. I don’t need to do this.”
“But it would make your uncle so happy. Another little Hyuuga to possibly carry on the family traditions and the bloodline limit. I can see Hiashi smiling like a boastful grandpa right now.” The baby gurgled at just that minute and Sasuke lifted him out of the rocker and handed him to the Hyuuga. “Think about it Neji. A little Nara/Hyuuga baby, all to yourself.” And the little hands reached up and pulled on Neji’s hair, cooing happily. “He likes that too. Sometimes I change over just so he can pull on my hair.”
“You’ve become very domestic, Sasuke. I can imagine you with that houseful Naruto suggested for you. Why don’t you give it a try?”
“Okay, I’ll be honest. I want to be able to do it without draining Naruto’s chakra. I want to do it on my own. I’m still rather independent no matter what this village is coming to think. And I happen to know that any child, bearing Naruto’s blood, will be a handful. I’m not about to overstress myself while this child is too needy. It can wait until you have perfected it. So, what can we try?”
Neji handed the baby back to the Uchiha and shook his head. “Okay, I did have a couple of suggestions. I thought we should first figure out how you managed to change internally and work on my abilities there. I asked Tenten to come over and help me confirm this. Do you mind?”
“You want me to get naked in front of Tenten. I doubt Iwashi will take kindly to this.”
“He won’t mind it if you happen to be a woman at the time. Now get serious.”
“Okay, so let’s put him down for a nap and start this, come on.” And they went to the small visitors room and positioned the baby on a prepared mat.

“And what brought this on?” Kankurou asked as Gaara stared at him. “I mean why change what you have been doing? I doubt anyone cares if you keep a chuunin in your home, why make things more complicated?”
“Stop while you are behind, Kankurou. He’s made up his mind. I don’t think you’re even getting through.” Temari suggested. “Gaara.” She asked and the Kazekage turned to her, his eyes narrowed and his body rigid. “Do what makes you happy. I know that you have had a lot to deal with since the Akatsuki attack. This is what you want and you have done everything for the village up to now. So, do something for yourself. I can understand it, even if our idiot brother can’t.”
“I understand it. Sort of. I just don’t want to see him get himself in bad with the village. They may not understand this.”
“I don’t think they need to know about it.” Gaara finally said. “I can keep it to myself and Choji is very good at keeping secrets. It is just something I thought you should know and I had hoped you would accept it.”
“We do, Gaara. Even if he can’t say it, we do.” Temari said, waving the puppet master off.
“Gaara. Is it what you truly want?”
“Yes, Aniki. I have finally found the acceptance I have searched for and with it I am granted true love. It isn’t something I can give up lightly.”
“Then, I am happy for you. I wish it was me, but I’m happy one of us has found love.”

Choji heard the door and crossed the room to the entry area of Gaara’s home. The Kazekage was just taking off his cape-like wrap and setting his gourd by the door when he saw the chuunin looking at him.
“They know?” Choji asked.
Gaara nodded and removed the heavy belt from his waist.
“They have given their acceptance. I was not sure for a little while, but it was not a requirement for me.”
“I’m glad. It means that they love you, Gaar-chan. Just like I do.” And the redhead turned to face the chubby chuunin.
“I think I need to be with you very much. Are you in the middle of anything?” he asked and was greeted by a large smile.
“Nothing at the time. What do you have on your dirty little mind?” the other asked in return.
“I was thinking of a long soak in a tub of bubbles and some very slippery activities while we are there.”
“For someone who is possessed by sand, you like to play in the water an awful lot.”
“You were the one who gave me my first bubble bath. I think that was the best part of the whole first month.”
“Really. I thought you were going to say you liked it best when we decided to try spending the evening as adults. I think that is my best memory.”
“Second best. I’m sticking with the bubble bath.” Gaara said, pulling his lover close and smelling his earthy musk. “I will cherish that memory till my death. Come Cho-kun, let us get very naked and very soapy.”

“You did what?” Naruto yelled. Sasuke passed him and continued on to the bedroom.
“I told Gaara how to do the Jutsu. I told him exactly how to do it.” He said turning into the small room they had made a nursery and placing the squirming child in the small swing and starting it up.
“Okay, so why?” the blond asked. “You do know that it is still my jutsu right?”
“Because he was curious and asked. I also told him about the close call we had because of it. I think he needed to know for some reason. I just shared it in exchange for something else. I shouldn’t have to explain it to you, and as for your jutsu, it has become a little widespread for you to start being possessive of it, don’t you think?”
“I suppose you’re right. But, why does Gaara want it?”
“Why don’t you ask Gaara? I have to make dinner, watch Koibito. He’s been acting like your son again, so you’ll probably have to change him.”
Naruto turned to the baby as Sasuke left the room. “Huh?” he said as the baby smiled up at him.
After an hour or so of playing with the baby, and changing him, Naruto heard voices in the house so he picked up his son and took him down the stairs.
Neji and Shikamaru were standing in the living room with Sasuke, who was whipping his hands on a towel. The Hyuuga man was smiling broadly and Shikamaru looked confused.
“It is a matter of channeling it directly without loosing it. Like sending it through a continuous circuit. Then, there is no loss and the body retains the chakra. I can do it, and even with the internal organs, I could last the full year in the guise.”
“Neji. I know I’m supposed to be the genius, but I don’t understand why you would want to stay that way for a year?” Shikamaru asked.
“Ah, that’s simple Shadow man. He and Sasuke are planning on changing the world. They have solved that problem you asked about. Ne, Sasuke?” Naruto said, giving the baby to Shikamaru while he confronted the glaring brunet.
“It would work. So, you figured it out, eh Naruto? But it’s Neji that is talking about using the jutsu, and you can already keep it up for that long if you wanted to.”
“But not without a great deal of strain on both my and Kyuubi’s reserves. Tell me more, Neji. I really am interested in this. I wonder if it could be used for other Jutsus.”
“Nothing that requires an outpouring of chakra like your Rasengan or Sasuke’s Chidori. But we could use it with his Sharingan, and my Byakugan. Your Kage Bunshin’s wouldn’t work because they require outside clones and then when they are destroyed the chakra is expelled. But for Henge or substitution it would be invaluable.”
“And you are practicing it for that?” the genius asked.
“No. Shikamaru, Sasuke came to me to find this and I was skeptical at first. But that’s because I couldn’t believe it was possible. Now, I know that it is. Can we have a baby, just like any other couple? It would be all my effort, but I would need your cooperation, in the beginning.”
“If I remember Tsumon correctly, I would be doing a lot more than the initial creation. If you want this that badly, I am willing.”
“Congratulations, Shadow man. You’re getting what I have been pushing for, for months.” Naruto said pounding the Nara man on the back firmly.

::::And what is it that drives me? Oh, well. There we have another chapter.

Marielle – Panic not, there will be M-preg. Geez, girl. Here’s a tissue. Now most of the other babies will turn up in the new companion fic, As The Leaf Turns. A play on my mother’s favorite soap opera, of course. Rather blatant in fact.

Vashta – Neji, yes. I am going there, too. And I do agree with you about girls, having three of my own. They are a different beast than boys, and luckily I only have one of those. As far as the Choji/Gaara, be patient one more chapter and you got it. This had to be said first and then they can come out and ‘play’

Next chapter How to Bring Forth a Miracle in a House of Love
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