Worth Saving You

Naruto was doing better now, the remedies the doctor had given him helping with his symptoms, and the stress of not knowing what was wrong was lifted, the hurt soothed by knowing that he was carrying a piece of the two people that meant the most to him inside his own body. In a way, even if Sasuke did leave him again now he knew that he'd always be able to hold onto the other boy. Sakura as well, she might be dead now, but he would always have this memory of her.


As soon as he had felt well enough, he had secured a small dojo two floors below his bedroom and returned to daily training. Sasuke had been a little annoyed with this decision at first, telling him to stay in bed and heal, make sure nothing would happen to him, but the Uchiha quickly changed his tune. He would even join Naruto for short periods of time at points during his sessions, sparring lightly and pointing out weaknesses that the blond had developed.


It was after one of these sessions that Sasuke had pulled him aside before he could leave to bathe. The Uchiha had told him that his team didn't know of Naruto's condition as of yet, and that he would leave it to Naruto whether or not to tell them at this point. He did, however, request that Naruto not inform them that the baby was partly his.


This hurt Naruto a little, and the boy felt strangely depressed about this request as he sat under the spray of hot water, letting himself cry. He knew on some level that it was probably for a logical reason, but his gut still told him that it was more likely because Sasuke didn't want anyone else to know because it was him, like the Uchiha was ashamed.


He felt like an abomination already in a lot of ways, like an anomaly that shouldn't exist. This wasn't uncommon for him, not after all of the hate the villagers had thrown at him growing up. He had a reason to pull through now though. That didn't mean that it made the feelings any less painful, or any easier to deal with.


Naruto rinsed his body resolutely though, telling himself again that Sasuke had good reason. He forced himself to consider Sasuke's other comment instead. He knew that he couldn't hide his secret from the team forever, unless he left quickly which he knew Sasuke wouldn't allow unless Itachi was nothing but a cooling corpse. He wasn't sure he trusted them, though he saw that Sasuke did for the most part. He was torn between wanting to reach out to someone who wasn't a direct part of this, and a sense of humiliated turmoil surrounding his condition.


He sunk into the hot water of the underground hot-spring in the bathing area, and tried to clear his mind of that as well, there were too many questions there, without any real answers and that just made him tired and inescapably sad.

X

Naruto grew restless in the base quickly, wanting to move but knowing that Sasuke wanted the group to stay here for a little while longer, mostly because of his condition. Naruto grimaced at that as he slammed into the dojo downstairs, cursing under his breath. Sasuke obviously saw him as weak now, someone that needed protection and nurturing, something Sasuke would never have believed of him before this episode. The idea made him a little sick, both through the lack of respect that showed to the abilities that he did have and for the idea that maybe he was, because he certainly wasn't up to the level he'd been at previously.


Kyuubi's chakra had returned to him by then, the doctor reckoning that the demon had had enough trouble with the damage to his organs dealt by the jutsu, not being able to afford being spread so thin. Because of this, he was recovering faster now, and though Naruto felt he wasn't back to normal yet he felt like he could protect the child, and himself, if it were necessary. He knew Sasuke wouldn't be around to do all it the time, despite what the Uchiha seemed to think. He trained hard that day, probably a little too hard, because he left the room a bit dizzy and very very tired. He stumbled up the stairs to the kitchen to mix up his medicine. The leaves he'd been given for the baby could be eaten, or mixed into a tea, and with the bitter acrid taste they left he preferred the tea. It used up more herbs in the long run, but it was easier to take.


He was in the middle of making something to eat when Suigetsu and Karin walked in, bickering lowly about something Naruto didn't really understand. He didn't care much though, Sasuke's team was weird and he didn't really understand them. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it was just that they seemed to be beyond him somehow, and right now he had other things to focus on.


Karin smiled at him though, as she passed him to grab something from the cabinets beyond them. Naruto smiled back, and it was brighter than usual. He blushed a bit at the girl's answering giggle.


"Hello, Naruto-kun. How are you feeling? I know I wasn't much help and I'm sorry, I'm not really a doctor." Naruto was suddenly reminded of Sakura, the girl's tone almost the same. It made him a little sad, but he found himself liking her more now. He bit his lip nervously as he poked at the smoked fish he was warming.


"Don't worry, it all worked out. It wasn't exactly a run of the mill occurrence, and having a demon sealed inside you tends to make things more complicated." His tone was a little bitter at that, but if Karin noticed she gracefully passed over it. Naruto silently thanked her for that. "I-I'm pregnant, and that's not something you would have been expected to detect well." He braced himself, and Suigetsu burst out laughing. A quick punch to the face from Karin shut him up though, and she smiled apologetically.


"I understand, that's rather odd. Is it rude of me to ask who the... er... mother is? Or is it a father? I'm sorry, I'm not that good with these things..." Naruto blushed a little but smiled.


"It was my friend Sakura's, Sasuke's and my teammate from konoha. She was dying, and I saved her baby. It was all I could do." He felt the sadness welling up in him again, and tried to blame it on his condition. Karin just smiled, shooting the other boy a commanding glare before steering Naruto to the little table to one side. She smiled.


"That must be tough. I think I remember seeing her there. Why don't you just sit for awhile, I'll finish your things up, okay?" He smiled wetly up at her, blinking back the threatening tears as she crossed back to the kitchen area, the familiar and soft sound of bickering soon washing over him. He relaxed.

X

Sasuke tried not to let the little pangs of jealousy he felt show on his face. He'd returned from a little bit of information gathering in the village, and talking to the doctor, to find Naruto and his team sitting around a table and eating all together. The blond was smiling like Sasuke hadn't seen him smile since he'd left konoha, and it tugged awkwardly at his heart. That smile reminded him of simpler times, when he wasn't so worried about his goals and his power.


The way his team acted around the boy put him off a bit as well, everyone seeming more at ease with Naruto than they ever were with him, even Juugo was softly smiling as he told the blond a story from his youth, Naruto listening with rapt attention. He told himself that this was the way it should be though, he was the commander and because of this he couldn't show them weakness and they would show him nothing but distant respect.


Karin noticed him first, and smiled, waving him over, scooting to make room for him at the table. He nodded coolly, and slid in between her and Naruto, the blond turning to give him a slightly distant smile and nod before returning his attention to the story. Sasuke ignored it, pouring himself some tea but not eating. He'd gotten food while in town, normally the team didn't eat together like this and it made him slightly uncomfortable. This wasn't a family, they weren't even really friends, just a group with a mission, to carry out certain objectives.


Still, it was comfortable to sit there with them, in a way that he'd never imagined it being, even if he wasn't contributing much to the conversation. Sasuke was content to just sit there then, pretending that he wasn't listening, that he didn't care what was being said, even while he was listening carefully, considering every word.


He was sure they'd been there for a long long time when he noticed Naruto starting to look tired, the dishes long cleared and everyone but Naruto had had at least one glass of sake, Sasuke having reminded him quietly that that would be bad for the baby. Naruto had just rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, and thanked Sasuke in a mumbled voice. The Uchiha found himself smiling as he slipped a hand onto Naruto's knee, squeezing lightly to get the boy's attention.


When their eyes met, Sasuke frowned a little, the blond looking distant and tired. He excused the both of them quickly, leading Naruto back to his room to the protests of the rest of the team. Sasuke had moved down in the same area early on in their stay, telling himself it was to make sure Naruto could navigate the base enough to find him if he needed help, but he knew it was because he just needed to see the blond sometimes, his stomach just barely starting to swell, just to make sure that this wasn't some sort of a cruel joke.

X

It was only a couple of months before Naruto was really showing, his stomach getting big enough that he couldn't train as he used to, and going out in public to visit the doctor became too risky for Sasuke's liking, the Uchiha still fiercely protective of Naruto and his child. Naruto was of course highly argumentative about this, angry to cover up his embarrassment about having to have someone look after him. It was kind of nice though, having someone worry about his condition after so long, having someone check up on his because they were worried about him not about what he might be capable of doing.


The time soon came then when the doctor in the little village didn't think there was anything he could do for them, for Naruto, anymore, and he recommended they visit his sensei, now living in a small shinto monastery in the hills not too far from there. Sasuke was hesitant at first, not wanting to leave the safety of the base so soon, for Naruto's sake. He knew that if they hid away like this that Itachi would never come to them, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't want his brother to take Naruto suddenly, especially now that he carried the future of the Uchiha clan inside of him.


It was from this desire for secrecy, justified to his team and Naruto as a desire to make everything look realistic and not like some sort of obvious trap, that Sasuke's strange plan was born. He returned to the base earlier than usual that night, carrying a large box under one arm. Naruto, who wasn't aloud outside the base anymore, had run up to him as soon as he got back, smiling and asking about everything.


It was Sasuke who had commanded him not to go outside anymore, and it was fundamentally for his safety, and that of the unborn child, but Sasuke felt almost guilty about this sometimes. He enjoyed it more than he felt was proper, having Naruto waiting for him when he returned every day. It seemed domestic, almost perverse to him, like Naruto was some sort of wife, and that was probably where his idea had come from in the end.


He'd herded the whole group into the kitchen, setting his packages on the table before starting his explanation.

X

Naruto was seething as he thrust his limited possessions into a little leather satchel Sasuke had bought him in town just for the trip. He didn't want to do this, he didn't enjoy being this weak and now he just felt as useless and alienated as he had as a child, back when no one would recognize his strength and potential. He had vowed then that he would never let himself be that weak again, but here he was, needing just as much help as before and the stakes were so much higher.


He reigned in his anger though, one hand laid over his stomach as he paused, bringing his pounding heart back under control. He had to do this, he had no choice. If he didn't, their child would be in danger, and he couldn't let the memory of Sakura down like that. To tell the truth, he also knew he couldn't let Sasuke down either, Sasuke had so much hope riding on this child that he couldn't let it come to any harm.


He pushed the last of his things into the bag and stood, slipping into the kimono Sasuke had brought him. It was layered, all in soft spring colors that Sasuke admitted he had had help picking out. They looked great on him, and when he pulled his long hair up onto his head in a messy bun he had to admit he looked like he could really be a woman.


The thought made him scowl. He knew that he couldn't just prance out there looking like himself for more reasons than just Itachi. A pregnant man would bring too many questions, and they couldn't afford that. It was Sasuke who had made the plan, a cover story for them. Naruto would be posing as a mildly wealthy but eccentric daughter of a minor lord from rural fire country, bringing an offering to the shrine her father owed obligations to. The doctor had sent ahead a messenger bird, and they knew the little monastery would take them in upon their arrival, already privy to the sensitive nature of their situation.


He knew he had to do it, but that didn't mean he liked the situation at all. Still, as he slipped the final layer of the kimono on, and slid the matching comb into the messy bun of hair piled on his head he had to admit that the image he was presented with was a nice one, he made quite the pretty girl. The thought did little to calm his reservations though, as he made a final cursory sweep of the room before closing it's door for the last time.

X


Sasuke was making the final preparations for their departure, he had secured all of the supplies for their trip this afternoon, and now he was packing them into a series of storage scrolls to make their journey easier. He had only just finished when he heard the sound of feet behind him, and turned to chide Naruto for being late, the rest of the team already waiting outside for him so they could leave. They would never make it to the next town before sunset if they left much later, and he didn't want to risk camping in the open with Naruto in such a condition.


His comments froze in his throat though, as his eyes widened at the sight. Naruto made a damn fine girl, and he hadn't expected the blond to look so pretty. He'd described Naruto to the girl at the clothing store, telling her that this girl was his new girlfriend and he needed a present for her. The clerk had been very enthusiastic, and Sasuke admired the way the soft colors sat against the blond's tanned skin, thinking off handedly that maybe if Naruto were really a woman then he wouldn't hesitate to settle down with him after Itachi had been taken care of, if he still survived.


He startled a little at that thought, and turned, scooping the storage scrolls into his bag with a grunt and heading towards the door, a silent Naruto trailing after him.

X

Naruto had been nervous when he came down the stairs, feeling a bit foolish all dressed up like this. The look in Sasuke's eyes when the Uchiha saw him made him want to smile brightly though, he could see the admiration there. He had been fighting for admiration and recognition from that boy for so long that it didn't really matter to him at the moment if it was for his strength or merely how good he looked in woman's clothing. Naruto would take what he could get from Sasuke, after all.