Not you, too!

4. Training, last stage.


Sasuke attempted to relinquish the blond baby three times on the way to the Nara and Choji’s apartment. Each time Shikamaru pushed it back into his arms.
“You have to learn that no mother gives away her baby. It is something they do hesitantly. Wait until someone begs to hold him.” He said managing to keep a straight face.
“Shikamaru!” a call was heard, and the group as a whole turned to see a tall thin and very pregnant blond waddling up to them. Neji groaned. And Sasuke winced. Kankurou leaned over and spoke to the Jounin.
“Who is that?” he asked, “And will she recognize the women of our group?”
“Well, now that is Ino. And it is a good time to see. Isn’t it, Sasuru?” he said turning to the dark haired beauty holding the squirming blond baby.
“Shikamaru, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks. Have you been on a mission? And who are your friends?” she asked.
“Ahhh, Ino-san. You are looking as beautiful as ever. How is the little one coming along?” he said, as the cumbersome female body stopped near and she caught her breath. “This is Kankurou, you remember him from the village of the sand? He is visiting with his wife and son. . Shiranui Ino, this is Sasuru-kun and . . .” he faltered.
“Shuuhaijin. My son’s name is Shuuhaijin. We named him after a close family friend.” Sasuke said, in a very feminine voice that surprised the Sand ninja who was about to come up with a name. “We call him Shuuie for short.” Was added.
“Oh, he is so cute. Look at how he smiles at me. Can I please hold him, please?” she begged,
“No.” the dark haired woman said. “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea. He has been ill lately and it wouldn’t be safe for you, in your condition.” And Shikamaru stared at his colleague along with the rest of the group.
“Oh, well. I guess that’s probably for the best. Um, Shikamaru?” she turned to the Jounin and indicated the rest of the group.
“Oh, um this is Meneji, she’s a cousin of Neji’s. She was visiting from her village, and traveled with Kankurou.”
“Can I hold your baby?” she asked of Neji. Neji was quicker with his answer than the other false female.
“No.” he said. “He caught what Shuuie has.” He replied clutching Choji-chan closer.
Ino was piqued, but could not argue the point so simply made her goodbye’s and waddled away. The entire group turned to Sasuke as soon as she was out of sight.
“I thought you wanted to get rid of the baby, Sasuru?” Shikamaru asked.
“I don’t trust her. She would have figured it out. Besides, she creeps me out.” The transformed ninja said. He turned and, lifting the baby up to his shoulder as he went, headed toward the apartment of the other ninja, followed by the others.

Once in their home again, Neji pulled a blanket out of the bag over his shoulder and laid it out on the floor. He set Choji-chan down and pulled out several toys for the child. Sasuke deposited Naruto next to the other baby and fell back onto the worn couch.
“Em, Sasuru. I don’t think that ladies sit like that,” Shikamaru said, indicating the spread of his fellow ninja’s legs. Sasuke looked down and glared up at him.
“I don’t care.” He said, and Kankurou sat down in the chair opposite smiling oddly. Sasuke immediately crossed his legs in a very dainty way. “Stop that.” He said.
Neji was in the kitchen and when he returned he carried two filled bottles. He handed one to the other she-ninja and smiled at him.
“Feeding time,” he announced happily.


The day wore on. Naptime finally arrived and the four adults sat around the kitchen table sipping some strong coffee.
“Okay, I know that the stuck-up Uchiha here isn’t going to ask, but I will.” Kankurou said, ignoring the glare that the other sent him. “How did Uzumaki and Akimichi learn a Jutsu like this one? And how do you and the Hyuuga know so much about baby care?”
Shikamaru just sipped at his dark brew, as his lover fielded the curious Sand ninja.
“Any Jutsu must be explored for possible future use. If we had not practiced this, your brother would be left with no rescue. As for the origin of the Jutsu, that is Choji’s secret.”
Sasuke stared at her and lifted his creamy dark cup of coffee to his lips. It was perfect this way, not to sweet. He drank a long sip before realizing that some vermin was crawling up his leg. A kunai came out of a secret pocket and Kankurou squawked at him.
“Hey, no fair using weapons. You can’t carry those on this mission.”
“But this is training,” Sasuke said in his best Sasuru voice. “Now, keep your hands to yourself.”
And Neji stifled a smile as Shikamaru sighed.
“You two would be perfect if we were going on a retreat for marriage counseling. You have to act like a couple at least in public. That is part of this training also. If you can’t do it, I will have to . . . . .” and he glanced up to see the reaction to his suggestion, “ trade off with you.”
Neji glared at him and turned to the others. “You will start acting the part or I will cut off your chakra until you learn to get along.” He raged. Sasuke stared as the sand ninja went pale.
“Keep your skirt on, Neji. It will be fine, I’m not trying to steal your man.” The Uchiha stated simply. “As if anyone could. Besides, I have my own issues.”
Kankurou blanched slightly. “You mean I have missed this? Okay, I have been out of the loop for a while. Flesh this out for me.”
Sasuke smiled up at the Puppet master with a winning look. “Okay, so the three of them have been living here for about three months. Neji still has an apartment, but almost never goes there. Really Hyuuga you should just make it official and let them rent it out to someone who needs it. And by the way, Shino caught you two in the alley behind Ichiraku’s and told everyone. Not that it was a surprise. So, come on out of the closet boys.”
“I think Sasuke has his part down, perfectly. That was the best impression of Sakura and Hinata at lunch I have ever seen.” Shikamaru said, as he stared at the Uchiha who had lifted his cup and stopped the longest tirade or even speech that he had made since the Nara had met him.
“Thought you would appreciate that. Oh, and you are right. I did overhear Sakura say that almost word for word, last week. Personally, I don’t care what you three do here.”
“Okay. So, you and Neji here, are a couple. And you share the apartment with a ninja that can turn into a baby. Now, I understand. And the Uchiha has issues, but we already knew that. Naruto we will have to wait and see what he has been up to when he is his regular self, I guess.” The Sand ninja summarized.
“No. Naruto has issues also. He just hasn’t figured them out yet. He is a little slower than most. And as for everyone else around here, Um, should I go into Sakura-mode again?” Sasuke asked, batting his eyes innocently.
“NO. Just let him catch up the normal way. That is way too creepy.” The Jounin said.
As they talked quietly, a sound filled the apartment. Neji looked over at the transformed ninja who glared at her.
“I guess that is your way of saying I have to go. But, I don’t go alone. Come on, hubby.” Sasuke said, as he rose and tugged at the hood of Kankurou’s sweatshirt.

Naruto sat in the middle of one of the two cribs that filled Choji’s room. His little face was pinched in unhappiness, creasing it across the old whisker marks there. He was uncomfortable and wasn’t sure how to remedy it, so he chose the only method that seemed to work for everything. He cried.
The pretty lady that had held him so tightly when the ugly fat one had reached for him; came into the room. He looked up at her with tear-streaked cheeks and tried to tell her what he needed.
“Wahhhhh!” he screamed.
“Al right!” she yelled and he froze mid scream, his shocked eyes becoming even more watery as he realized she didn’t like him.
“O-kaa-san, hate, Naru-chan?” he asked, as she leaned over the crib rails and lifted him out. He felt the warmth that was irritating him, burn against his skin as she held him.
“No. I mean, no. I um, what is the matter?” she asked, and the small boy shifted his sore bottom on her arm. Her eyes went wide and her mouth opened like she was about to scream, and this sent the baby into a pouting cry.
“Naru-chan is owwie!” he said.
“You can’t mean, . . I can’t do that. I eh, Neji!” he called and in doing so woke the other baby in the room. Choji-chan was also crying as the door opened to admit a very pissed off female Hyuuga and an amused Kankurou.
“What are you yelling about?” Neji asked as he picked up the crying Akimichi child.
“I am not changing this.” Sasuke growled out.
“And who do you think is going to do it?” Neji smirked as he spoke.
“Let him. He’s the daddy.” The dark haired beauty said.
“Hey, he’s your best friend. You change it.” Kankurou said, backing away. Suddenly watching didn’t sound like such a great idea.

Serenia – Yes, I suppose you are right, but I have problems with that. See, I have an old friend, Named René. Ten years ago, his name was Renee and he went through some changes. Now my dear friend has some new equipment in exchange for the old. And I have issues with pronouns. Is it proper when talking about Renee to say she, and then segway into René and say he in one sentence? I get really confused.
But as for my fic, I am aware that the proper thing to call her would be Sasuru-chan or Sasuru-san, but Shikamaru and everyone in the room knows that this is only a jutsu, so they realize that Sasuke is still a man, in a woman’s body. So, it may be a case of humor or reality check for him to go with this. He will probably correct it on the mission.
I also love the rivalry between the two-bloodline limit prodigies. Nothing between them is left out of their fights, including who has the prettiest shoes. I have some plans for those two in this little story. Help me out, with some ideas, Kay??? You know my e-mail. I welcome suggestions from any source. “Winks to readers”

Vashta - It's comments like that about Naruto, that earned you another chapter. What do you think????


Next chapter is Evening falls
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