Not you, too!

27: A New Life and an Old Enemy – How to Start Over Again


It was a little freaky when Koibito was hungry and he would pull the bottle into his mouth by wrapping his tongue around the nipple and dragging it in. But, Naruto had long since gotten over this, and sometimes even held it just a little out of reach to encourage his son to strengthen his muscle.
“Good boy, Bito. You will grow big and strong and be able to protect the village one day. Ne, Sasuke?” he said as the brunet returned to the kitchen.
“Hnnh?” Sasuke asked since she wasn’t really paying attention.
“No change?” Naruto said, indicating the door behind Sasuke and the body that slept there.
“No change. I didn’t know the Dainichi pulled that much chakra when it cleared the evil intention from someone. I sure hope he wakes up soon.” And she moved across the room to sit near her family.
“It will work out. Just, be patient. He’ll make it, he is an Uchiha, you know. They are a stubborn bunch.” And he raised the empty bottle before him. “Now, look how good your son is. He finished this whole thing. What a good boy.” The blond said, making a face and bringing a giggle from the baby.
“Naruto, you are insane. Be careful he’s been grabbing headbands lately. Kami only knows when yours was washed last.” And on cue the baby grabbed for the Hitae-ate on Naruto’s forehead.
Once his hands had a hold, there was no force that could release them and the headband came free. Naruto’s hair fell loose and slack without the ever-present band to hold it in place.
The blond locks dangled around the Jounin’s face and set off his strong cheekbones, making Sasuke wonder why he had ever decided to continue wearing the headband the way he did, pushing his hair up and making it look like a fountain on the top of his head.
Sasuke was suddenly beset with a strange desire to run fingers through those same strands of blond silk and as we are talking about Sasuke here, such thoughts are suspect and she pushed them back and went back to her earlier plans to make some tea and set it in the room incase Itachi woke and needed it.
It had been three days and Tsunade had even come and pronounced no physical damage other than a near complete loss of chakra that she had boosted enough to allow his body to begin its own repair. She had also posted three ANBU around the house and the family began to feel like they were imprisoned.
Naruto bristled about the lack of faith their leader had displayed in Sasuke’s control over his brother with the Seidan or Dainichi, but since Tsunade had no more information on them than they had all discovered at this point he couldn’t really fault her.
So now they just waited and the stress had Sasuke spending the entire time as Sasuru, which didn’t faze Naruto but drove the ANBU crazy and the word was that Naruto had a lover that Sasuke had caught him with and the Uchiha was now missing, again.


The world was a constant changing place. The first change that had now affected Neji was the fact that she couldn’t decide when morning overtook her whether to start the day with a good cry or sing a little song.
The raging emotions that plagued her were not lost on Shikamaru who wasn’t sure if his lover was possessed or just had overdone the jutsu and become a full woman inside/out and in her mind also.
Neji was stirring a pot of miso soup and flavoring it with salty tears when he found her and wrapped his arms around her resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering little calming words to her.
“You look so pretty today. I love the way your hair is just glowing and shiny. Did you buy some new shampoo?”
“No. I don’t know why it is like that. DO you really think I look pretty? I feel bloated really.” She said, turning in an attempt to see his face. Shika shifted to look directly at her.
“Well, you don’t look at all bloated to me. You look absolutely perfect. I love you, Neji.”
Neji leaned into his arms, soup forgotten and tears suddenly dry. “I love you, too. I just don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You probably need to be more feminine while going through this. It’s okay, I don’t mind. I love you whatever you look or act like. Just relax and let me finish this, all right?” Neji nodded and turned over the spoon. She smiled as Shika tasted the soup and smiled at it. As she moved out the door to find another task to do, the shadow man quickly grabbed some seasonings and began to repair the ruined soup.
He had lived in the house watching his father cow up to his mother for enough years to know when it is better to be deceptive and just ride out the emotional storm. He was very good at keeping in his mother’s favor.

Ino set the table and adjusted the bowls for a fifth time.
Hayate pulled on her skirt and she looked down at her tiny blond son. He grinned at her and she picked him up.
“Are you excited Hayate-kun? You only get one first birthday. And only one first birthday party.”
“Kaasan, birday!” the baby yelled and Ino smiled at him. His smooth blond hair was hanging limply around his face, parting only to allow him to see and dangling at his shoulders in the back. His eyes were dark and looked more like his father, but his face reminded her of her own father more.
Her precious Hayate was his grandfather’s pride and joy, even more than his father.
Not that Genma wasn’t absolutely thrilled by his son, but Inoichi was beset by the boy.
In no time at all, the sounds of guests arriving had her lifting the child and rushing through the house.
Genma was a quiet and accepting host, and the new arrivals were feeling very comfortable in the Shiranui household.
Sasuke and Naruto stood at the door, behind Shika and Neji, with Koibito on the blond’s hip.
Hayate rushed forward and clung to the closest available leg of the Uchiha. Sasuke looked down at his new appendage and smiled warmly. Ino was never able to see this face on the formerly emotionless Shinobi without blinking a few times.
Neji patted her elbow and she turned quickly.
“Ino may I use your bathroom?” the transformed ninja asked and she nodded as she waved in the direction.
Neji was out of hearing as she turned back and caught a whispered comment from her former teammate.
“I can’t believe she is only two months along. I will positively die before the baby is born.”
“Something troubling you, Shikamaru?” Naruto asked, leaning in and noticing the dark circles under the shadow man’s eyes. “You don’t appear to be sleeping enough. What is it?”
“Oh, just this lingering sound of sobbing at all hours of the night. I can’t get back to sleep once I figure out what has set it off this time. So, what is your excuse?” Shika asked when he returned Naruto’s look and found similar signs of sleeplessness there.
“Me? You try having an unconfirmed repentant homicidal maniac with a penchant for genocide sleeping in your guest room. See if you sleep much.”
“I got that. So, Hayate? What do you want for your birthday, kid?” Shika asked as Neji returned down the hall.
“Kunai.” The child stated clearly and the group winced.
“That would be called living up to your name.” Genma said plainly, lifting the child and heading for the kitchen all the while explaining in clear and decisive terms why said child is too young for a sharp weapon. The rest stood back and stifled their laughter.
The knocking on the door indicated new arrivals and Ino rushed to greet them.
The Konohamaru corps had arrived, and on their heels Sakura, Lee and Tenten.
Soon the party is in full swing as others have arrived and begun the task of socializing.
Ino smiled as she watched Tenten and Lee asking Neji about her condition and the progress. It was cute to see and though Tenten looked a little lost with Iwashi away on a mission the party was quite a success.
Ino wondered how many more of these would their little group be involved in over the next few years.
“What?!” she heard Sakura screaming from across the room, and Ino rushed to find out what had gone wrong at her baby’s party.
“Sakura-chan, it isn’t like that.” Naruto attempted to mollify his friend. “I just said trying. We haven’t yet.”
“You are planning it! And that is just as bad, Naruto. How could you even consider such a thing?” she said, her inner Sakura blossoming on the surface.
“Well, I guess because I really want this. Sakura haven’t you ever really wanted something? Besides we can’t until we find out about Itachi, so don’t worry about it.”
“No, Naruto. We shouldn’t wait.” Sasuke said, bringing renewed color to the pink haired Kunoichi’s face. “I think we should start immediately. We don’t even need the Hokage on it, because we already have proof that it is possible.”
“Na-ru-to!!!” Sakura growled out. The blond slunk in his seat to avoid possible dismemberment from an infuriated friend.
“He said it, Sakura-chan. Don’t hurt me.”
“What is going on in here?” Ino said coming to stand near her husband as the group sat around her living room eating the rice cakes she had gotten her mother to make.
“Ino, Naruto has talked Sasuke into, into . . . ” Sakura began.
“Now really, Sakura. Sasuke said it was just as much his idea and he is blooming with youth.” Lee corrected, earning himself a scathing look.
“It really is their decision, Sakura-chan.” Tenten added.
“I think it would be wonderful for Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun.” Hinata contributed.
“And it did already work for Neji.” Kiba injected, as Shino nodded next to him.
“What did?” Ino interrupted.
“Oh, Sasuke and Naruto want to make a baby, too, Ino dear.” Genma answered her from his station near the wall. “And apparently the Haruna girl is against it to the point of damaging Uzumaki-san over this. It is very interesting.” He concluded.
“Where is the baby?” she asked. He indicated the back yard where Konohamaru and Udon were showing Hayate how to throw his new rubber Kunai. She smiled warmly and then turned on her guests. “Now hear this!” she began capturing the attention of the crowd. “This is my home, and this is my son’s birthday party so what I say goes, correct Shiranui-san, my love?” Genma nodded matter-of-factly. She continued. “Sasuke I don’t care if you start wearing bikini tops and hula skirts in the dead of winter, as long as you are happy. If you want to go through nine months of maternity, more power to you, and I’ll be right here to offer advice or hold a pillow up for you to elevate your feet. You are obviously a better mother than I am, and I am pretty good. So, if Haruna-san is in opposition perhaps she is not as good of a friend as she claims, and maybe you are better off excluding her from these plans. I seem to note that no one else here has any complaints so I say go for it. But be careful. We all worry about you as it is.”
And that said, she smiled at her stunned guests and one gloating Uzumaki and said, “Does anyone want tea?”

Itachi had a terrible headache and he felt as weak as a newborn kitten. He blinked at the sunshine coming through the window and turned away. The room was unfamiliar so he knew he wasn’t at the Uchiha compound, but where was he?
He pushed up on his elbows and the blanket fell away from his chest, sending a cool draft across his sensitized skin. His hair fell about his shoulders as it was unrestrained by its usual tie.
“Hello,” he said. “Is anyone here?” and the door opened to show a comely young woman with a tasteful dress and a soft looking cotton apron entering the room. Itachi squinted as she approached and attempted to place her familiar face. “Do I know you?” he asked.
“All of my life. How are you feeling?” she asked and her voice struck memory cords all along his cortex.
“I feel like I had sex with Kisame’s sword. What happened to me?” he asked.
“You are the victim of the Dainichi Sharingan. It has a rather confounding affect. I could help you learn it when you are better. Have you figured out who I am yet?” she asked as he continued to stare at her blatantly.
“You remind me of my mother. But she is dead, isn’t she?” and the girl nodded. Itachi’s eyes filled with a cloudy look and he sniffed once before the tears slid relentlessly from his eyes. “They’re all dead. How could I do that? How could I kill them all?” he wailed as she reached out and pulled him into her arms.
“Aniki, it’s okay. Cry if you need. You didn’t know what you were doing. You didn’t know.” And she rocked him against her chest, his hair flowing around him like a curtain.
“Oh, god! Sasuke what have I done? What have I done to us?” he continued until his words faded and his cries turned to hiccoughs and sniffs.

Vashta – Did I say that? How about a dirty blond squirt that can’t sleep and has issues with bbq?? I am feeling pulled now, I don’t know if I can take so much lovin’. More on Itachi in the next chapter.

Marielle – I don’t know if they will have such a smooth ride, but it does seem that they are doing better than Gaara and Choji. Again, Itachi is in the next chapter and it should have some interesting effects. Stay tuned.

Next chapter is An Avenger, A Rescuer or A Reviver – Carry on Uchiha
.