Iteration

‘Iteration’ is part of the space saga that began with ‘In the cold of space you find the heat of suns’ and continues in ‘Tales in Tarrasade’.

This is posted in the Naruto/Sasuke section because it is part of a Naru/Sasu/Naru space saga. However, it does feature many other pairings (and a few threesomes). Apologies to those who are expecting Naruto/Sasuke or Sasuke/Naruto every chapter.

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

Thanks to Small Fox for being my beta. For this story he has also been my muse, suggesting a number of the ideas that have evolved to create this arc.

Thank you to those who have left a review, particularly disembodiedvoiceofthedying, v, lonelylulaby, meow-ku, sadie237 and Prism0467 for taking the time to do so at such a very busy time of the year. I truly appreciate them.

For the first time since starting Iteration the publishing on the site has caught up with the writing. I have written chapter 40 but not chapter 41. We may have to drop to once-a-week rather than twice-a-week - my apologies in advance.

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Chapter thirty-nine: Rounds

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It was the evening of the day that the judge would give the verdict at Ebisu’s trial. The children had been put to bed and Naruto had left on his evening rounds. He had started with the dormitories on the Oak and then visited the feral children. Haku and Isaribi had been there but Sickler was still absent; Naruto worried what the youngster would do if Ebisu was found guilty. After that he met up with Gaara and Lee and the three of them ran between the spurs checking the hybrids on the freighters.

They ended up with Yugito and Roshi, who gave them an update on the day. Everything to do with the operation was fine but there were rumours of trouble in the upper levels of the residential sector. Then they ran back to the Oak where Gaara and Lee turned down Naruto’s invitation to join the crew for the evening meal.

Everyone else was already in the galley. Naruto apologised to Iruka and slid into his place next to Sasuke.

“Kurotsuchi’s out of office,” Shino told them immediately; he had obviously been waiting for Naruto’s arrival. “The court found Ebisu innocent, a crowd marched on the mayor’s office and station security refused to follow her orders. No one seems sure where she’s gone but Sumashi is temporary mayor and he’s announced an immediate election. He’s already sent a message saying he would like to meet with you and Naruto-san, Sasuke-sama.”

“What about Ebisu-san?” Iruka asked.

“In our guest crew room with Sickler, being looked after by Haku,” Shino told them.

Naruto was relieved that Sickler was back safely. His eyes went to Shikamaru, who was too quiet. When he realised that Naruto’s eyes were on him he looked far too innocent. He had been up to something. Naruto decided not to ask. Whatever it was, it had worked.

“Maybe the hybrids will decide they want to stay,” Kakashi suggested.

There was silence. Naruto sagged at the thought of yet another complication. He pulled himself together. “We shall have to offer them that option,” he insisted.

---

“I’m not running for mayor,” Sumashi told them as he sipped tea in their small meeting room the next morning. “Maybe in the future but not this time. I have persuaded Shibito-san to run and I am supporting him. He will run on a ‘hybrids are people too’ ticket.”

Sumashi took another mouthful of tea; Naruto suspected he was pausing to allow the news to sink in.

“If he wins,” Sumashi continued, “and I am almost certain he will, it will not be possible to own a hybrid and they will have to be paid minimum wage for their labour. Hybrid children will come under the same regulations as purebred children, which is that, up to fourteen standards, they need a parent or guardian or they are placed in the orphanage.”

“The feral children will not fit in your orphanage,” Naruto retorted.

“I know that,” Sumashi agreed. “That is why I am telling you. The feral children cannot go back to living in the service ducts. The Kaiju cannot come back because we will be investigating who was responsible for the bombings; thirty-seven people were killed. I doubt that Kotohime can return to her family; Fuma have already filed charges of theft against her.”

“What will you do about Fuma?” Naruto asked. “Will you continue allowing them to produce hybrids?”

“Not if hybrids are legally people,” Sumashi answered. “Our law is that you cannot gestate a child until there is at least one parent and that parent has signed a pledge to raise the child until she or he is fourteen standards. If Fuma want to stay in hybrid engineering, they will have to relocate.”

“We, both Uchiha and the HDL, do not support hybrid engineering,” Sasuke stated.

Sumashi shrugged. “It is not my problem. Fuma can stay and find another source of business or they can leave.”

Naruto groaned. “There is too much uncertainty,” he complained. “We have thousands of people on ships. We would have been launching the day after tomorrow to rendezvous with the HDL’s mother ship. When will we know if the change in the Warren’s law will happen?”

“A snap election is just that,” Sumashi informed them. “Five days long and I called it yesterday.”

Sasuke’s hand squeezed Naruto’s arm. “It will be fine,” he said soothingly. “We will work out a way of presenting the options to the evacuees. Roshi and Yugito will do their thing. We will reorder the hybrids into three groups. There will be those who still want to go to the sanctuary on Kaze V and those who want to go to the space station. They can leave on schedule. The HDL will look after the ones who want to stay until it is safe for them to return home and, if it doesn’t work out, they can be transported later.”

---

Haku had established a routine for the feral groups. They ate sequentially in the galley and bathed in turn in the bathroom; they appeared to favour the bath over the showers in their rooms. He had tried encouraging them to see the shared part of the guest crew room as a communal space with little effect; the alphas much preferred it if the other members of the groups never met.

There was much posturing and the occasional fight. Chamu had established dominance over four of the other alphas. The only one who was holding out was the alpha of the weakest group, a boy called Five. Haku suspected that Five was fiercely intelligent; it was astonishing that he and his small troupe had survived.

Five allowed Haku, but not Isaribi or Sickler, to help care for his group in a way the other alphas did not. Haku was not sure if it showed confidence or a desire for attention or merely pragmatism.

Haku lifted the smallest child from the partially filled bath and wrapped her in a warm fluffy towel. She was a skinny little thing; feather light and so malnourished that the fur on her tail and ears was dull and patchy. She sat in his lap and purred as he gently dried her. She, like all the other feral children and the bulk of the Fuma output, were cat-human hybrids. The reason she and most of the others had been discarded appeared to be their cat ears and tail. This little one was one of the most cat-like; Haku doubted that she had a human enough mouth and tongue to master speech. However, her hands were well formed; perhaps she could learn sign language like Roshi.

He sighed. He must not become any more involved. He had his own family to care for; he needed to be thinking of Mai, Itachi still had a long path to travel and he had been neglecting Kisame.

Five was drying one of the others; a boy who would not allow Haku to touch him. The other three were managing to cope by helping each other.

Haku dressed the little girl in clothes Kazuki had outgrown; he would have to make Kazuki and Ryuu many new pairs of pants because he had raided the closet for anything suitable and all the feral children other than Chamu had tails. He then helped the older boy and girl to dress while Five dressed himself and the smallest boy, who was not at all sure about wearing clothes.

Once they were dressed the little ones happily went towards the galley with him and Five following along behind. However they stopped at the doorway, peering across the threshold with their tails curling and uncurling.

Inside were Sickler and Ebisu.

“We can go,” Sickler offered. He turned to Ebisu. “They find it difficult to be with strangers,” he explained.

“It is fine,” Five decided. “Go in,” he ordered the others.


The little ones sat on high chairs or booster cushions and wore bibs. Haku regarded that as a triumph and ignored their complete disregard for cutlery and table manners. When they had finished eating, he and Five wiped the little ones’ faces and hands. Five then took them back to their room before, unexpectedly, returning to the galley.

“They will sleep,” he told them, resuming his place at the table. “They aren’t used to eating so much.”

“You look after them?” Ebisu asked and Haku could hear the incredulity in his voice.

Five scowled at him. “I tried my best. There was never enough food.”

Ebisu shook his head. “I think it is amazing that you looked after them. Raising little ones is hard. You are only a little one yourself.” He turned to Sickler. “You say there are six groups like this one?”

Sickler nodded. “Yes, but some of the others are older and the group leaders they are less...” he trailed off, obviously aware that Five was bristling slightly in anticipation of what he was going to say.

“Five is more flexible and less belligerent than the other group leaders,” Haku explained swiftly. “He will have the least difficulty adapting to change. However, all the leaders wish their groups to stay together and want to continue protecting and providing for them.”

Ebisu frowned. “I understand,” he decided. “They are families.”

Haku suddenly realised that Ebisu might be part of the solution. “Yes. What they need are some adults who understand them. People who can help them grow into independent adults without losing who they are. Perhaps people who can teach them a profession.” He sighed, hoping that he was not overdoing it. “I think Naruto-san hoped Sickler-san would help. He is such a wonderful role model for them. However, it is absolutely understandable that you and Sickler will want to resume your life in the Warren now that may be possible.”

Sickler was looking at him with wide-eyed disbelief. Haku hoped that he would have the sense to keep his mouth shut; he knew from their conversations that Sickler did not relish returning to his previous life.

Ebisu looked as if he was deep in thought. Haku could almost hear the cogs turning in his head. Finally he spoke. “Maybe some of them would be suitable for a career in vermin control,” he suggested.

Haku favoured him with a dazzling, but brief, smile. “That is a wonderful idea, Ebisu-san. Unfortunately, they are destined for the new space station and while there will doubtless be vermin and a need to control them, there will be no professional to train them.”

Ebisu looked at Sickler. “Sickler and I were planning on leaving even before the evacuation,” he admitted. There was a silence. Haku, Sickler and Five waited. “A business is a business,” Ebisu observed. “Whatever profession they choose, they will still need to understand marketing and customer service and keeping accounts. I do not think, Haku-san, that many hybrids have had the opportunity to develop these skills.”

Haku smiled encouragingly. “I think you are correct, Ebisu-san. Perhaps there will be a need for someone to teach those skills as well as those related specifically to vermin eradication.”

Ebisu looked at the high chairs and the chairs bearing booster cushions. “I do not think I was caring enough to Sickler when I raised him,” he admitted. “Those little ones need a lot of care. They need someone like you, Haku-san. Perhaps I could be of help to the group leaders, like Five-kun, and to the others when they are older, but I know those little ones need more than that.”

Haku was impressed. From what Sickler had said, he had not thought that Ebisu possessed that much insight.

“Tonton-san,” Five announced.

The other three looked at him.

“The little ones need Tonton-san,” he informed them with confidence. “Is Tonton-san going to the new space station?”

---

Kisame followed Haku as he made his way down the levels of the Oak towards where Kotohime and her people were staying. He understood why Haku was angry with him; Haku was a spacer, he wore a knife, and suggesting he needed an escort bordered on an insult. Even so, Kisame had insisted; he did not trust Han and his Kaiju.

Sure enough there were two Kaiju warriors on the door to the level where Kotohime and her people had been accommodated.

“I am here to see Tonton-san,” Haku announced.

Kisame could see that one of the warriors thought Haku was the prettiest thing he had ever seen, which he probably was. If Kisame had not been there he would have made a pass and would have had one of Haku’s knives sticking out of his hand.

Han appeared from nowhere. He hulked, too large for even the Oak’s corridors. His gaze stalled on Haku before moving to Kisame.

There were few things that Kisame would have liked better than to fight Han. He did not know why. Perhaps it was meeting someone larger than him. Perhaps Han’s dolphin genes called to his shark ones. Now he had an additional reason; Han’s eyes had rested on Haku as they had lingered on Sasuke during their encounter in the Warren. The dolphin-man obviously found brunettes attractive.

Or perhaps Kisame was reacting to the flash of madness in Han’s eyes.

“Han-san,” Haku acknowledged. “My name is Haku. I need to speak with Tonton-san about the feral children.”


In her way, Tonton with her piggy snout was as ugly as Kisame himself. Kisame felt sorry for her; it was an advantage to have people recoil from him but for her it could only be painful.

“I already have five babies to care for,” Tonton pointed out.

Haku sniffed. “It is partly your fault. You and the others released them into the Warren.”

Tonton stiffened. “There were people who said that they would care for them,” she countered.

“Well it didn’t work out,” Haku reminded her. She flinched and Kisame saw Haku relent a little. “They are remarkably independent and you will have Isaribi to help you. I am sure that the HDL, or even Naruto-san himself, would give you financial assistance. Five-kun insists you are the correct person,” he added.

“Five?” she whispered.

Denka glided noiselessly into the room. “Kisame-san,” he acknowledged and waited.

“Denka-san, this is Haku-san, an Uchiha queen and my partner,” Kisame replied. “Haku, this is Denka. He is most senior among Kotohime’s people.”

Denka bowed. “Haku-san.”

Haku bowed in return. “Denka-san.” He turned back to Tonton. “Please consider it Tonton-san. They know and love you. If it is not you it will be a stranger.”


“That was a waste of time,” Haku stated as he and Kisame walked up the levels. “She is weak.”

Kisame doubted that. He knew that Tonton had helped Sickler collect the last two groups. “She is unaccustomed to having the freedom to make her own decisions.” A thought occurred to him. “You are purebred. She may be unaccustomed to speaking with purebreds as equals.”

Haku sighed. “I did my best. I think I was getting somewhere before that Denka arrived. Then it was hopeless.”

Kisame decided to distract him. “We should hurry back. You left Itachi in charge.”

Haku speeded up.

---

Itachi could not believe that Haku had only been gone twenty-five minutes; he was already considering gutting Chamu.

As soon as Kisame had left, Chamu had resumed his campaign to dominate Five. He was determined to provoke Five into a confrontation. Five had responded by pretending that the door to his group’s room was soundproof and that he could not hear Chamu.

It was a clever tactic; Itachi approved.

“Stop it,” Itachi told Chamu after putting up with his tirade at the closed door for twenty minutes.

Chamu turned on him and hissed.

“Don’t even think about it,” warned Itachi in a soft voice that would not carry. “Not unless you want me to humiliate you in front of the other alphas.” He could see that the boy did not believe him. “I spar with Kisame for fun,” he added.

He could see Chamu deciding that, on balance, it would be unwise to take it further. “You are Kisame-san’s lover,” he acknowledged.

Itachi thought of Haku, gritted his teeth and pretended that he did not perceive the insult.

Chamu turned his attention back to the door. This time he was thumping on it, demanding that Five open up.

Itachi hoped that Haku would understand and threw him across the room. “I told you to stop,” he said calmly.

The fight was brief. Chamu had potential and fangs. Itachi had skill and experience. It ended with Chamu pinned to the floor by Itachi’s foot, which was across his throat.

“The only reason I did not kill you was that Haku would not like it,” Itachi informed him. He pressed down. “Haku would forgive me,” he observed.

There was fear in the boy’s eyes. Itachi did not like seeing it. He liked the boy’s spirit. He removed his foot. “You have a great deal of potential as a fighter,” he acknowledged. “However, challenging an adult like me, who has been trained since before I was as old as you are now, is unwise.” He scowled at the boy. “Judging on appearances is also unwise. You must learn to observe more closely.”

Itachi turned away from him and walked towards the galley. There were four possibilities: the boy would walk away, he would attack, he would resume his assault on the door or he would follow Itachi.

He followed Itachi. Itachi responded by making tea; it worked as a ploy for Iruka and Sasuke. He placed a cup in front of a chair and filled it. Chamu sat down.

“Why aren’t you the leader?” he asked. “You’re older.”

Itachi reminded himself that Chamu was a feral boy and not a spacer, so did not know that asking personal questions was rude.

He decided to answer. “My behaviour proved me unworthy to bear the Uchiha name.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”

“I killed many people who did not deserve to die,” Itachi told him. He sipped his tea. “My judgement is only sound while I am sane. I can trust Sasuke to kill me if I revert.”

Chamu paled. Itachi could see him finally realising how ill-judged his attack had been.

---

Naruto sat at the table in the galley of the guest crew room. Also around the table were the six alphas of the feral groups, Sickler and Haku.

It was obvious that four of the alphas had submitted to Chamu; only Five was still holding out.

“Why can’t we go back to living like we did before?” Chamu argued.

Naruto was about to try again when Five spoke up. “Because it was awful.”

Chamu hissed at him and Naruto could see Five stopping himself cowering.

“That’s enough,” Naruto snapped.

Chamu had the gall to hiss at him instead. That was it; Naruto snarled. A growl started somewhere deep in his chest and bubbled up through his throat and out into the room.

The six alphas and Sickler froze. Chamu suddenly seemed very small.

Naruto controlled himself. Every time he was with them it reminded him how difficult they were. He would owe Haku more than another kimono once they finally had them settled.

“We have spoken about this,” Haku said into the silence. “Most adults would decide to divide you all up. Naruto-san is trying to keep you in groups. We are looking for a suitable guardian among those who are going to the space station.” He looked at Chamu. “The new space station will be a fresh start. There will be many employment opportunities or chances to start your own businesses. There will be a flexibility that the Warren cannot offer you.”

“We don’t need a guardian,” Chamu muttered. “We have been looking after ourselves for standards.”

Naruto and Haku exchanged looks and then Haku smiled at Chamu.

“We have someone in mind,” he said.

Naruto stood up, went to the door and opened it. On the other side was Tonton.

Five was out of his seat and running towards her. He hugged her and she stroked his fur.

“Tonton-san is the best,” Five announced.

Chamu scowled.

“Chamu-kun,” Tonton acknowledged, taking a seat at the table.

“Tonton-san,” he replied, reluctantly.


Naruto checked the chronometer. If he ran at full speed between his morning’s commitments, he could spare a few minutes to visit Sasuke in his office with the good news that they had a solution to the feral children problem.

“I thought you were going to insist that they stayed with us,” Sasuke admitted.

Naruto looked at him as if he was crazy. “I am not having them around as role models for the children,” he declared.

Sasuke smiled at him. Naruto had not been expecting a smile. On consideration he realised that Sasuke had also been anxious about the feral children’s influence. He scowled. “I would always put our children first,” he insisted.

“Like when you brought Ryuu home with you,” Sasuke reminded him.

Naruto flushed. Sasuke was correct; sometimes his desire to protect the needy and defenceless got the better of him. Luckily Chamu had been a constant reminder of the downside of keeping the feral children close.

“Not that Ryuu isn’t as precious and as loved as the others,” Sasuke added hastily.

Sometimes Sasuke could be so sweetly earnest about the children. Naruto remembered him showing the portraits of them to Sakura-san; as proud of each child as he was horrified to be sharing such intimacies with a stranger.

“I love you,” Naruto told him.

Sasuke sighed. “I love you too. I want, I need, more time with you. I want to share a bath, fuck and play with the children.”

Naruto understood. Too many moments between them were like now; perfect for fucking if it was not for the fact that Naruto would be rendered completely brainless or end up fixed to Sasuke by his knot. The only sensible time to fuck was late evening and often one or both of them were too tired.

“I have to go,” he admitted.

Sasuke stood up, came over and hugged him. Naruto hugged back.

Then he was off, running, to complete his rounds.

---