For the Love of His Son

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Lord Sasuke Uchiha believes that he has lost something precious to him and struggles to convince himself everyday that it didn‘t exist. What will he do when a blond hair peasant arrives at his doorstep claiming he has something the Uchiha “misplaced.” (SasuNaru)

Author’s Note: Oh boy, first one I’ve ever done. I’m about a page into this chapter and I must say that I wish I could just say “She died, Naruto did some stuff, Sasuke felt some stuff (don’t tell anybody) and now on with the story…” AND have you all understand exactly what I meant. Who knew that when other authors whined about having tough chapters that I should have felt sorry instead of thinking “suck it the hell up! It’s your story… if you can’t write it NO ONE will.”
Damn, aren’t I feeling stupid now.


For the Love of His Son
Chapter 3


“My lord, Sakura is dead.” Naruto interrupted softly.


Once again Sasuke felt his world shift. The array of emotions that flooded him were so powerful and numerous that outwardly he looked like he hadn’t heard Naruto’s statement at all.


Sakura had died? What did that mean to Sasuke? He hadn’t loved her, or even liked her for that matter. One could even say, with a clear conscience, that Sasuke hated her. She loved his ass of a brother, had ran away with him while carrying Sasuke’s child and intended to kill his baby as soon as the opportunity presented itself. What was there to like? Due to the fact that the baby in question was currently sleeping peacefully in Naruto’s lap, Sasuke felt it was safe to assume that things hadn’t gone as planned in Sakura’s twisted scheme. But, all that aside, how should he react or feel now that she was dead? Did she really deserve for this to happen? What the hell did happen? Is this what Sasuke wanted? What did this mean for Itachi? Did he know about Sasuke’s son? Because if he did, that might be a mild cause for concern… And, oh god, if Naruto didn’t stop looking at him with those eyes that revealed his heart was breaking to see Sasuke sitting there internally imploding he was going to…


Sasuke blinked as he felt a slight pressure against his hand. Looking down from Naruto’s face he saw tan fingertips barely brushing the back of his hand.


“I’m so sorry. I tried my best, I did, but I couldn’t and I was alone and I was so scared, I’ve never been so scared and please forgive me. I… tried.” Naruto beseeched, fresh tears all by falling from wide, pleading eyes.


Sasuke turned his hand palm up and grasp Naruto’s hand gently. Looking up once again, Sasuke let out a weary sigh, “Tell me what happened.”


The way that Naruto’s eyes widened and the slim hand tried to jerk back did not go unnoticed by the Uchiha and he held on tighter. From his attempt to get away, Sasuke expected he would have to force the story out of the boy. But when he looked up again to do just that, all he saw in Naruto’s face was grim acceptance. His son gave a fretful whimper in his sleep and then Naruto began…


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Naruto clearly remembered the day that Itachi had brought Sakura back to Lord Orochimaru’s castle. Itachi had left a month ago to “retrieve what was his from his weak, pitiful, whiner baby little brother.” Like they hadn’t all heard that before and Naruto couldn’t help but wonder why, if Itachi thought so little of his brother, that he had left him alive. Naruto couldn’t say that his life was better with Itachi gone, but he certainly hadn’t missed him.


Naruto had been sitting in the corner of the main hall, trying very hard to as unnoticeable as possible. It hadn’t taken him long to learn that no matter what he did there was no escaping Orochimaru’s and later, Itachi’s, notice. They seemed to always have purpose for him and none of it was positive. But, that didn’t mean that he was going to jump up and down and make it easy for them.


The entrance doors opened and Naruto saw Itachi saunter in with a beautiful, pink haired woman. Itachi wasn’t an easy man to read, his expression of choice seeming to be no expression at all, but anyone could tell he was happy to have her by his side. He placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her toward Orochimaru who was sitting at the head of the main table. Naruto couldn’t make out what they were saying, but Orochimaru smiled (Naruto would have nightmares tonight) and Itachi lead the woman out the side doors and presumably to Itachi’s bedchamber.


Naruto let out a held breath. Since Itachi had come to the castle he had struggled to understand what Itachi’s fascination with him was. Naruto had a very clear understanding of what Orochimaru’s intentions toward him were and he couldn‘t suppress a shiver at the thought, but Itachi’s had been a mystery up until this moment. Itachi obviously felt strong feelings for Sakura, having risked being caught as a traitor in order to claim her as his own and bring her back here. After seeing this side of Itachi, Naruto realized that all their interactions had simply been for Itachi’s sadistic pleasure and Naruto’s ultimate humiliation. Not a happy thought, but better than having another Orochimaru.


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Months pasted and Naruto never saw Sakura again after that first day. In fact, no one but Itachi ever did. Rumors spread like wildfire between the servants, but Naruto couldn’t have cared less. Itachi took all his meals in his room and could be found there more often than not. Naruto smiled. It didn’t matter to him what was going on, he simply enjoyed the peace.


So, it was a surprise to him that after receiving a summons to Lord Orochimaru’s study, he also found Itachi there. Itachi had a glass of brown colored liquor in his hand and the slight tick at the side of his mouth let Naruto know that something was bothering him.


Naruto bowed to both of them, “Lord Orochimaru, Lord Itachi.”


“Ah, Naruto, my sweet, just the man we wanted to see,” Orochimaru hissed, causing Naruto to flinch. “Naruto, we need your help with a small matter. At this moment, Itachi’s sweet Sakura is in labor. We would like you to assist her.” Itachi’s grip tighten on his glass.


“In labor? Oh…” He supposed that explained her absence. Naruto turned to Itachi, a respectful smile on his face, “Congratulations.” Naruto never saw the hand move that slapped him across the room.


“Now, now, Itachi, was that really necessary? Come now, Naruto, stand up, brush yourself off. Let’s just say that our handsome Itachi has mixed feelings about the circumstances, shall we.” The smirk on the snake’s face told Naruto that he was highly enjoying Itachi’s discomfort and by proxy, Naruto’s own.


Naruto stood up, swallowing the taste of blood in his mouth, “My lords, of course, I’ll do whatever you ask, however, shouldn’t she be seen by a doctor or one of the female servants. I’ve really had no experience in this sort of…”


“SHUT UP! Just shut up. You will do what we ask, without question and you will tell no one of what you have done.” The glass in Itachi’s hand finally lost the fight, exploding over the arm of the chair.


Orochimaru chuckled, “Itachi, I must say this is so unlike you,” Itachi released a feral growl, “Naruto, I want you to go upstairs and assist Sakura. We chose you because this situation needs to be handled with certain amount of discretion. This cannot be guaranteed from a doctor or any of the sniveling servants. No one is to know anything of this and I think we all know that you understand the consequences of betraying us.” Naruto closed his eyes against the smirk that spread across Orochimaru’s face. Yes, he understood very well. “After the baby is born, I want you to kill it.”


Naruto’s eyes snapped open, wide blue eye’s shifting from Orochimaru to Itachi trying to determine if this was a serious request. Surely Itachi would never stand for his child to be killed. Was this why he seemed so upset? Why would Orochimaru ask this of Itachi?


The looks on their faces gave no indication that they were anything less than totally serious, “Kill it? You want me to kill the baby?”


Orochimaru was in his face before Naruto had even finished, all enjoyment that he had from tormenting Itachi absent from his cold, yellow eyes, “I DO NOT like to repeat myself or be question by the likes of you. You would think that even a little monster such as yourself would understand that after 13 years, Naruto.”


Naruto nodded and then waited for a strike that never came. “I can’t have you less than one hundred percent, can I?” Orochimaru answered the unasked question. “Now go, take care of Sakura and the other little problem. Don’t disappoint us, Naruto.”


Naruto bowed and left the room.


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As Naruto made his way quickly to Itachi’s room, he had no idea what to expect, but the entire situation made Naruto want to do nothing more than hide in his room until this feeling of dread left him. The closer he got the harder it became to breathe. He knew nothing about childbirth beyond that it didn’t seem pleasant. He didn’t know Sakura at all. Shouldn’t she feel comfortable with her nursemaid and what would he do if she didn’t know about Naruto’s other responsibility?


Before he knew it, he was at the door. He could hear the shifting and painful moans coming from beyond the door. He felt his stomach flip and had to force the vomit back down his throat. He opened the door and stepped inside.


Sakura lay on a wide bed in the center of the room. Her pink hair was plastered against her face with sweat, her eyes closed tight, her face red and her body shaking from exertion. Naruto saw her fingers fisting the shirts desperately like she was searching for some leverage against the onslaught of agony. Naruto closed his own eyes against the reddish pink stain that was developing on the sheets from underneath Sakura. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that the only two words going through his head were: Oh fuck; repeated again and again at different, elevating levels of panic.


The scream that ripped from Sakura’s throat had Naruto’s eyes snapping open. Once the scream ended, Sakura’s eyes opened and Naruto shifted forward slowly. He gave her a gentle smile, “I’m Naruto and I’m here to help.” He never expected her rather un-ladylike snort.


“Ah yes, I should have known that he would send you. Who better to kill a monster than a monster, right?” She sneered through her pants.


Naruto froze. Sakura understood the circumstances completely. Naruto shook his head, confusion and disgust warring within him. Naruto had seen the look on Sakura’s face before. He had seen it in every single face that had ever looked at him and knew who he was. There nothing he could do to win her trust and he didn’t really want to. As Sakura started to tense up for another contraction, Naruto turned his back and headed to the adjoined bathroom to retrieve towels and hot water. It was going to be a long night.


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“SASUKE, YOU DAMN BASTARD!!” Sakura screeched through a contraction.


It had been three hours and Naruto knew she was close to giving birth if the volume of her screams were any sign of completion. She only let Naruto touch her when absolutely necessary and glared to the best of her current ability throughout the ordeal. Mostly she had screamed at him, but this last outburst was interesting. Why would Itachi’s brother be a bastard? Naruto understood, boy did he understand, that this baby wasn’t wanted. He had in his possession a death warrant with the unborn child’s name printed in blood with himself listed as executioner. Naruto blinked as realization hit. What if this child was Itachi’s brother’s?


Naruto decided to risk asking the question to satisfy his curiosity, “Does Lord Sasuke know that you are having his baby?”


Sakura looked at him, the exhaustion of the day not quite enough to keep the hatred from taking over her face. She smirked, “Yes, he does. I told him and then explained all the ways that I would kill the abomination whenever I got the…” Her sentence was cut off as another contraction hit.


Naruto looked to see the baby’s head immerging. “My lady, the baby is coming. You’re almost done. Just a few more pushes and it will be over.” Naruto thought he heard her mumbled thank god, but he was busy preparing to catch the newborn.


Several screams, pushes and curses directed at Naruto and the new discovered father of her baby and a tiny wail was heard from the dark haired infant in Naruto’s arms.


“It’s a boy!” Naruto couldn’t help the smile that blossomed on his face as he gently cleaned the little face and hands. As he watched, the tiny baby became more and more lethargic, his perfect face becoming paler and paler. The baby was dying. Forgetting that he had been giving that exact chore, he began to panic. In the back of his mind Kyuubi finally spoke out for the first time since this ordeal had begun.


“Kit, he needs his mother’s chakra to ground him. He can’t develop his own without it.”


Naruto quickly placed the baby on Sakura’s chest. “Here, he needs your chakra or he won’t be able to make his own.”


Sakura look at the baby and then pushed him off her roughly. Only Naruto’s quick reflexes stopped the baby from falling to the floor. “And your point is?” She sneered.


“He’ll die! He’s your baby too. How can you possibly want him to die?” Naruto screamed, hugging the bundle close to him. He shivered when the baby didn’t so much as move.


“He is NOTHING! I wasn’t meant to be with Sasuke. I was meant to be with Itachi. The first baby that I have will be Itachi’s. This… this thing does not exist. Or have you forgotten what I can only assume was the second part of your ‘mission’ here today?”


And for a moment, Naruto had. He looked down into the woolen blankets. The baby was so pale, but as Naruto looked on, the baby sluggishly opened his eyes. Eyes as black as midnight looked up at him. Naruto felt his heart stop. In those eyes, Naruto saw innocence, pain and unconditional love. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t kill this baby labeled ‘monster’ from conception. He would die to protect this baby. He would kill if he had too.


Naruto looked up to demand Sakura save her son and felt all the air leave his body. Sakura’s face was white and the sheets were soaked in crimson blood. Drips could be heard dropping onto the stone covered floor. Naruto gently set the baby on a table at the side of the room and ran to Sakura’s side.


“Sakura! Oh my god. SOMEONE HELP ME!” He screamed. Naruto gathered chakra into his hands and prepared to give his own to help her survive. As he reached over, Sakura grabbed his wrists, “I would rather die than have your demon chakra touch me.”


“Let her!” Kyuubi growled in Naruto’s mind.


“No, Sakura, you will die! Think about Itachi…” Naruto drifted off as a smile crossed Sakura’s face and for the first time he saw the beauty that she could be.


“Itachi…” She whispered and as Naruto looked on, Sakura died.


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Naruto wasn’t sure how long he stood there staring at Sakura’s still form. In a trance he reached across the dead girl and gently closed her eyes. What had he done? She was dead and the baby was alive. Things couldn’t be more backward.


“Kit! The baby won’t be alive much longer!”


Naruto tore his eyes away from the girl and headed toward the table. The baby still had his eyes open but Naruto could only just make out the slight movements of his chest rising and falling.


“What do I do? Kyuubi, what do I do?” Naruto asked, gathering the precious boy into his arms.


“There’s nothing that can be done, kit. He needed his mother’s or father’s chakra. He’ll get neither now. At least you won’t have to kill him.” Naruto could mentally feel Kyuubi’s tails wrapping around him providing him comfort.


“Not good enough. Not nearly good enough. What if… what if I give him my own?”


“No, it won’t work. It must be his biological parents. His body will reject any foreign chakras. Kit, stop this. I can feel where this going. It is NOT your fault. There is nothing you could or can do. Hold him and let him feel warmth until his end and then walk away.”


“I have to try. You know I do. He’s different, special. I can’t let him go without a fight.”


“God Naruto! Stop being stupid. It won’t work, but what if it does. Congratulations, you’ve saved him so that you can KILL him!”


“Doesn’t matter.” And with those words Naruto once again channeled chakra to his hands and pushed it gently into the infant child in his arms. Naruto stared into the midnight pools and didn’t blink once as he kept giving and giving, begging silently for the baby to live, for the baby to accept him, just this once, for someone to accept him.


Tears ran down Naruto’s scarred cheeks and the baby’s tired eyes finally closed. Naruto felt his heart break and he slowly started to lose hope when the baby gave a feeble cough. The little boy began breathing in huge gulps of air while color returned to his sickly face and Naruto fell to his knees.

“Welcome back, chibi.” Naruto closed his eyes and silently thanked anyone who was listening.


“Kit, I, that, well, that shouldn’t have worked.” It wasn’t often that Kyuubi was speechless, but with his kit, anything was possible. “But now what? Any minute someone could come in…” Kyuubi stopped speaking as he heard footsteps heading this direction. “Now! They are coming now!”


Naruto was tired, but he had come this far. He needed the baby to be dead. That’s what they wanted, so he would do it. He would kill the baby… for now. Once again calling on his chakra, he bent his head toward the baby and whispered, “Sleep, little chibi, I’ll see you soon.” Naruto pushed his chakra in and stopped the baby’s heartbeat. He watched the small chest rise once more and stop.


The sound of the door opening brought Naruto to his feet. He looked to see a tall, blue faced man standing in the doorway. Kisame looked around and smirked at what he saw.


“Oh, little Naruto. What have you done?”


“There was nothing I could do for her, sir, I tried. The baby is dead. I was just leaving to dispose of the body.” Naruto respectfully replied. The urge to rush his words was great, but Kisame would sense something was up.


“Let me see the brat.” Naruto walked forward and shifted the blankets so the man could see the pale, still boy.


“Very well. Get rid of it and then report to Orochimaru. I’m certain he’ll have something to say about this.”


“Of course,” Naruto replied and walked out the door, leaving the first nightmare of this day behind him and heading straight into the next.


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Naruto all but ran to his room. He threw open the door and slammed it violently behind him. Placing the baby on his bed, he placed his hands over the baby’s still chest and gathered up the chakra that was holding the baby’s heart and lungs in stasis. After a moment, those dark eyes opened again and the baby let out a weak cooing sound. Naruto gathered the boy into his arms and smiled.


“See, Chibi, I told you I’d see you soon. I’m going to get you out of here, but I have to do a few things first. I know that you don’t understand me, but please, please be as quiet as you can. I know you’re tired, scared and hungry. I will take care of all of that soon. For now, sleep. Sleep and when you wake up, I’ll be here to take care of you. Sleep, Chibi, sleep.” The baby’s tiny eyelids blinked once, twice, three times and then remained closed. Naruto placed the baby in his laundry basket and gently slid him under the bed.


Standing up, Naruto made his way to the door. He knew this plan was weak and that discovery was all but guaranteed, but for now, it would have to work. He had explanations to give.


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“Naruto, you disappoint me.” That was all the warning Orochimaru gave before he picked Naruto up and threw him into the stone mantel above the fire place. Naruto slide to the floor, cradling his ribs and blinking the stars from his eyes.


“I’m sorry, I…” Naruto gasped out, his breathing labored.


“I don’t care about your excuses. You were to help Sakura, not kill her. Now I will have to listen to Itachi bemoan his loss. My god, she was gone for a month and you would have thought… but now, now she is dead. He’ll be impossible.” Orochimaru’s tone suggested that Itachi was whining over a stain on his favorite pants, not the death of a young woman.


Orochimaru shook his head and slowly walked toward Naruto. He bent down until his face was level with the blue eyed boy.


“Itachi is with her now you know. He’ll be down soon to talk to you himself.” Orochimaru leaned in until they were but an inch apart, “Don’t worry my sweet, whatever he does, know that he can’t actually kill you. When the time comes, that privilege will be mine.” Naruto felt a tongue lick up the side of his face and then Orochimaru was gone.


Naruto wasn’t sure how much time had passed before he heard the door open again. He stood slowly, aware that he had at least two cracked ribs from his “discussion” with Orochimaru. Itachi’s face was particially hidden in the shadows, but Naruto was surprised to see a tear trail slowly down his cheek.


“Naruto.”


Naruto could tell by the sadistic smile that spread across Itachi’s tear stained face that he wouldn’t be getting away with just a few cracked ribs this time.


The door clicked shut and then the screaming started.


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Sasuke wasn’t aware that Naruto had stopped speaking until his son started to cry. He looked up to find Naruto’s whole body shaking violently, his eyes wide open but obviously seeing something he couldn’t vocalize into words.


“Dobe.” Sasuke reached over and removed the baby from Naruto’s lap, placing him gently in his nest where the baby immediately calmed down. “Dobe, you can stop now. That’s enough.” Naruto continued to shake, his breathing becoming fast and shallow. “Naruto!”


Sasuke jumped onto the bed, grabbing Naruto’s shoulders and shaking him. “Naruto, that’s enough! He’s not here.” Sasuke pulled Naruto toward him until their foreheads touched. “Itachi is not here. No one will hurt you. Dobe, he’s not here, but I am and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”


At those words, Naruto fell against Sasuke’s chest. His small hands fisted Sasuke’s shirt and a sob escaped his throat.


“You’re done now. We’ll talk more lat…”

“No, let me finish.” Naruto took several more calming breathes and still curled into Sasuke’s warmth, opened his mouth to continue.


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Later, the door to Naruto’s room opened and Naruto stumbled in. On his way to the bed, he caught a glimpse of himself in the tarnished mirror on the wall. His face was covered in blood. He looked at his hands and the room started to spin. He fell harshly to his knees but didn’t flinch.


“I can’t. I can’t tell. I can’t…” Naruto began to whimper, rocking back and forth onto his heels.


“Kit, what is it? What can’t you tell? Kit?”


“I can’t tell. I can’t.”


“Kit, you are scaring me! What can’t you tell?!”


“I can’t tell which is mine and which is hers?” Naruto looked at the blood on his shaking hands. “Where does she end and I begin?” And with that Naruto fainted to the floor.


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A soft whimpering pulled Naruto back out of his sleep. His body protested the movement, but the baby needed attention now. Naruto walked to the bed and pulled the basket out and onto the bed. Naruto smiled at the baby and walked to his basin to wash his hands and face. He desperately tried not to notice the pink tint to the water as he walked away.


“Okay, Chibi, first things first.” Naruto pulled out a milk bottle he had stolen from the kitchen on the way back down to his room and proceeded to give the little boy his first meal.


“So, kit, do you have a plan because I would imagine that someone might notice you raising a child.”


“Well, obviously we have to leave.” Naruto replied while smiling down at the suckling baby.


“Oh, leave you say. What a novel idea. Why haven’t we done that before… oh yes, I remember. Because it is IMPOSSIBLE!”


“Only because we had no where to go. Now we do. We’ll take Chibi back to his father and in return hopefully we will be allowed to stay.”


“Kit, I could name one hundred reasons why this will never work, but for now I’ll stick to the top three. One… there’s no way Orochimaru will let you walk out of this castle. Two: We know nothing of this second Uchiha, but I do know I’m not fond of the first. How do we know he is any different. And three: I know this is a trifle thing, but you have three cracked ribs, a severe concussion, a bruised kidney and a back that is all but ripped to shreds. Fluid is building in your lungs as we speak and… damn it, Kit, this is insane.”


“Point made. Unless there’s anything else, Chibi is finished, it’s time to go.” Kyuubi growled and prepared to start giving his kit an exuberant amount of chakra.


Naruto began to pack up a few essential belongings for the trip to Lord Uchiha’s castle. He knew it would take three weeks at best. He also knew that Kyuubi was right, but he’d either die trying to get Chibi away or die after he was found out. Best to try.


After he was packed, he performed the seals that left an identical replica of himself standing in front of him.


“Okay, I need you to keep a low profile. After tonight’s “talks”, I won’t be expected in the main hall for a few days. So, be seen then but try not to draw attention. Give me as much time as you can. Good luck.” Naruto’s twin saluted and headed to the bed.


Naruto opened the his bedroom door and snuck out into the hall. He knew the only chance he had was to get to the kitchen and take the service exit out of the castle. The kitchen staff should be hard at work preparing dinner and hopefully Naruto and the baby could slip unnoticed through the hassle of the preparation. He could feel Kyuubi supplying him with chakra and could only hope it would last him until Chibi was safe in his father’s arms.


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“And after creating a “distraction”, I made it out of the castle and started running. I only stopped to rest and feed Chibi. At the towns and villages I ran into, I either bought or stole milk for Chibi and moved on. And then I made it here. You know the rest.”


Naruto finished his tale, purposely skimming over confrontations with Orochimaru and Itachi and leaving a certain furry friend of his out of the story all together.


Sasuke recognized that Naruto was leaving out portions of the story, portions that he would need to know eventually. Swifting Naruto in his arms so that he could look at him better, Sasuke said, “Someday, I want to know what Itachi did to you. I also need to know what this red chakra of yours is, it’s like nothing I have ever seen.” He felt Naruto tense in his arms, “But not today. You are the bravest person I have ever met. For someone your age to have survive is nothing less than a miracle.”


At this, Naruto sat straight up, indignation evident on his face, “My lord, how old are you?”


“Nineteen this past summer. Why?”


“Well, my lord, I will turn eighteen in October,” Naruto smugly replied.


Sasuke choked on nothing and began to cough violently. The dobe was seventeen! Parts of Sasuke that had quietly be shoved to the back his mind, knowing that the beautiful boy was just that, a BOY, began to scream in Sasuke’s ears. Sasuke shifted uncomfortably under the young ‘mans’ bright gaze.


“Now, now, no need to kill yourself. It happens all the time.” In a quieter mutter, Sasuke heard Naruto say, “All the bloody time.”


As soon as Sasuke had sat up, having gained control of himself, he found the blond bundle back in his arms. Naruto didn’t say anything and Sasuke wasn’t sure he could talk without giving away his new found “observations” about the grown Naruto.


Just when Sasuke was sure that Naruto had fallen asleep, the boy lifted his head.


“Sasuke,” he asked, “What did you name the baby?”


“Oh, well, I actually haven’t named him anything yet.”


“Why not? I can’t call him Chibi forever. I mean it’s quite obvious that he’s going to grow to be tall and handsome just like his father, so he can’t be a chibi then.” Naruto was quiet for a moment and then what he had said dawned on him. Sasuke found the blush that spread like fire across Naruto’s cheek bones adorable.


“Anyway,” Naruto sputtered, “You must have considered some names.”


“Actually, I never did. When Sakura left, I was convinced that she had killed the baby. I didn’t want to believe it, but what choice did I have. I couldn’t risk war with Orochimaru over a non-existent baby. I couldn’t…” Sasuke’s voice trailed off, but not before Naruto heard the pain laced, unspoken message of a father’s grief for his unborn child.


“Well, he’s here now, safe and sound. What do you think?” As if he knew he was being talked about, the dark haired infant began to kick his tiny legs and coo.


“Dobe, I was hoping that you might help me. You were there at his birth, you spent the first three weeks of his life with him. Any suggestions?” Sasuke unconsciously tighten his hold around Naruto when Naruto began to squirm at the name “dobe”.


Naruto relaxed against Sasuke and thought about his time with Chibi, “He’s a fighter, teme. Fierce but regal. From the beginning the fates have been stacked against him, but he came away triumphant and loved…. Ryuu.”


“Dragon… Ryuu Uchiha.” Sasuke tested the name. In his silence, Naruto turned until his cheek rested against Sasuke’s heart, his breathing evened out and Naruto fell asleep. Sasuke looked down and felt his heart clinch. This moment could be from his childhood dreams. Him sitting against the headboard of his bed, his newly named son asleep beside him while the mother of his child, exhausted, curled up in his arms and slept soundly.


Sasuke jumped up so quickly he was honestly surprised he hadn’t woken up the dobe or Ryuu. He walked quickly to the door and after stepping outside, closed it gently. He held his hands up in front of his face only to see them shaking. Shoving his hands into his pockets he leaned heavily against the closed door. What was happening to him?


“S-Sasuke?”


Turning his head, Sasuke saw Hinata heading down the hallway toward him.


“Are you o-okay?” She asked, concern coloring her voice.


“I don’t know… Hinata, do you have time? I think we need to talk.”


Hinata nodded and Sasuke stood up and lead the way to his study.