Worth Saving You

The day had been long when they got to the next village finally, and Sasuke surprised them all by renting them rooms in one of the nicer ryokans. He mumbled something about making it more believable, and handed out the keys. He had gotten two rooms, one slightly bigger than the other, and so he split them into two groups, him and Naruto in one room and the remaining three in the other. Karin pointed out that maybe she should stay with Naruto, seeing as she was a woman and all, but Sasuke scowled, and countered with some argument about him being the captain that seemed a bit weak.


Naruto felt like arguing, he didn't like the way Sasuke ordered his team around so much, but at that point he was tired. He hadn't had so much exercise in a long time, and he knew that he would have trouble when they got to the mountains tomorrow. He wanted to make sure to rest up tonight, take a nice hot bath and go to sleep.


He left quickly, not waiting for the end of the argument, and was already undressed by the time Sasuke pushed in through the door. He pulled the yukata around himself hurriedly, blushing and turning away from the Uchiha with a mumbled "bastard."


Sasuke just stood there dumbly as the blond pushed past. He'd caught a glimpse of tight muscles and smooth tanned skin around the strangely appealing swelled form of Naruto's belly. The sight was stuck in his mind, long after the blond had left, even as he left the inn to get something for dinner. He passed a ramen shop, the owner behind the counter obviously getting ready to close. He ducked inside, ordering more than enough for the two of them and tipping well.


When he returned, he found the blond still gone, and he shrugged off the small feeling of disappointment he felt at this. He was so used to seeing that smile whenever he returned, he reminded himself harshly that they were in foreign territory, not necessarily friendly, and that this was neither the time nor the place for such things.


Still, there was a lingering nervousness in his gut that wasn't soothed until Naruto pushed back into the room, looking damp and tired but much more cheerful. The blond boy's face broke out in a blindingly bright smile when he saw the takeout ramen on the table though, and Sasuke felt his heart skip a little, and the squirming in his gut quieted to a dull roar. He returned the smile.


"How were the baths?" Naruto seated himself at the table opposite him, crosslegged on the cushion. His yukata came open a little in the front, and Sasuke's eyes were drawn to the sliver of smooth tight skin revealed to him as he struggled not to stare.


"It was brilliant, it's so nice to have the grime and sweat from the journey off of me. The water was nice, from the mountain you know, some salt or herb or something I dunno, but it does wonders for aching muscles." Sasuke smiled at Naruto's cheery tone as he pushed a pair of chopsticks across the table to the blond.


"Have you taken your medicine yet tonight?" Naruto's eyes went wide and he shook his head. Sasuke just pushed himself up, using a well controlled fire jutsu to heat the pot of water he had ordered earlier, fishing the leaves from the top of Naruto's bag. The blond just watched, chopsticks halfway between bowl and mouth, as Sasuke bustled around like some sort of housewife making up his tea, he could almost hear Sasuke humming quietly like Iruka had back in the village in his childhood.


Naruto's smile grew a little sad as his eyes fell to the table in front of him, Sasuke setting the pot down by him on the little bamboo trivet it had arrived with, and an intricately patterned china cup beside it. Naruto chewed his noodles thoughtfully as the tea steeped, but it wasn't until Sasuke poured some of the dark, hot liquid into his cup that he spoke.


"Sasuke, why are you helping me like this? Am I a burden? I'm sure that if I return to Konoha they can provide perfectly good care and protection for me and your child. I know I'm not worth much like this, if something happened..." Naruto trailed off helplessly, and Sasuke felt his teeth grinding harshly as he slammed his hand down.


"Naruto, that's stupid. I'm helping you because I want to, because we have a bond that's stronger than anything I've had since my parent's died. I can't do things Itachi's way, not anymore, I can't surpass him like that. You may need help now, and you may be carrying my child, but I would be doing this either way." Naruto flinched a little at the frustrated tone in Sasuke's voice. His gaze was pained as his eyes slid closed.


"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just so confused. I don't know what's going on, I just know that I can't let your baby- Sakura's baby -get hurt. But I don't know if I can protect it either..." Sasuke felt his stomach lurch at the horrible desperate sadness in the blond's tone then, and it took him a moment of utter confusion, watching Naruto turn away with wet eyes, before he jumped to his feet, crossing the space between them quickly to turn the boy's face towards him.


"No, dobe. I'll be there to help you, whatever you need. This is our child now, and I know you'll protect it as fiercely as I would, because there's no way that you love it any less than I do. Stop worrying now, it's not becoming of you at all." Naruto's eyes glittered with tears, but a tanned hand swatted Sasuke's from his face and brushed them away, the blond giving him a watery smile.


"I know Sasuke, I know." Naruto got up after that, sliding past the little screens into the section of the room where two futons had been laid out. Sasuke was left alone, still sitting at the table, wondering how he could possibly make everything better.

X

The next morning Sasuke woke with the sun, as he always did, and ordered breakfast in the room. When it arrived he went to wake Naruto, but the blond was sleeping so peacefully, golden hair spread around him on the pillow, that he couldn't do it. He just sat there for a moment, watching the motion of Naruto's chest as it moved. He sighed, something about the round swell of Naruto's belly as it poked out one side of the blanket stirring something in his chest. If he had known that a technique like this existed he might have chosen this method to conceive his child, rather than using Sakura.


To tell the truth, Naruto was one of the strongest shinobi Sasuke had ever known, especially now. Naruto's kindness and devotion made him an ideal parent as well, and the genes that he could pass down to their child would be amazing to say the least. Sasuke vowed to figure out everything he could about this jutsu when they reached the temple, Naruto must know more than he had already told Sasuke.


As the blond stirred in his sleep, slowly coming around to consciousness Sasuke held his breath. He quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at his old teammate in such a way. It made him blush a little, but he forced the heat from his cheeks by the time Naruto had sat up, blinking sleepily. Sasuke put it down to instincts, to a simple case of his biological desire to protect his unborn child, but in that moment he felt a rush of emotion, pooling low in his gut.


He scowled coldly at the table in front of him, and used a small jutsu to warm Naruto's plate, uncovering the now steaming dishes. He forced himself not to turn around and watch the blond stretching, and climbing out of bed. He could still see it in his mind though, so he focused himself on preparing Naruto's medicine. He kept his eyes firmly on the herbs in his hands, and the steaming kettle of water as he heard Naruto approach, yawning widely as he sat down across from Sasuke.


"Morning Sasuke..." The Uchiha winced a little, and thrust the cup at the blond, followed closely by the tray of food.


"Here is your medicine, and breakfast. Now that you're finally awake we can leave. I will be outside waiting for you in twenty minutes, do not be late." His tone was terse and cold as he stood, turning to the door and closing it quietly behind him leaving Naruto to sit alone at that table, wondering what the hell just happened.

X

Hebi was quiet, eerily so, as they all gathered outside. Naruto was the last to arrive, impeccably dressed in his costume, his eyes confused and cool. Karin noticed the change in Naruto immediately, the serene grace he'd held when they departed yesterday had been muted by something sad and cold. Somehow she knew it had been Sasuke, how could it not be. He was acting different as well, in that hard, cold way he had been before, like he didn't want anything tot ouch him, like nothing could touch him, even if he wanted it to.


They traveled on in this silence, following the map that Sasuke had drawn out clearly on parchment, partly from records and maps of the area found in the base and partly from the doctor's directions. They moved more slowly today, and the team knew that it would be another day still until they reached the monastery that was their goal at this pace.


This seemed to make Sasuke more irritable than usual, but he didn't hurry them along, which was odd in itself. They knew that he knew that they could go faster than this, even over the slightly more treacherous terrain that lay here around the foot of the mountain. In the past he had always pushed them, made them perform at or near their limits at all times, accepting no less than their best. Something was definitely bothering them.


Even Suigetsu noticed it, the boy normally uncaring about the emotions of the rest of the team. Something about this bothered him a little though, and he told himself that it was the fact that this wasn't his mission, there was no gain in this little side trip for him. Before they had been chasing Itachi, and where Itachi went Kisame did as well, and Kisame carried one of the swords he so desperately wanted for his own.


When Sasuke stopped abruptly, telling them to make a fire so that they could stop for lunch, and a rest, they were all a little relieved, even though Naruto grumbled at the concession it was clear that the blond was tired by then, pushed hard by their passage. He had flopped down on a log beside their path immediately though, scanning for anyone who might be around outside of their party before toeing off his wooden sandals and burying his aching feet in the cool sand of the embankment.


Sasuke handed out tasks to each team member, pulling Karin aside and quietly asking her to check on Naruto before he went out to gather a little firewood. Suigetsu followed him, watching him until they were far enough away from the others that they could talk. Surprisingly though Sasuke was the first one to speak, without even turning around.


"What? Can't you go summon some water or something useful? Do you have to follow me?" Suigetsu grinned, closing the distance between them quickly as Sasuke lazily picked at the dry wood on the ground.


"What happened last night that made the two of you so edgy? I don't think Naruto appreciates you treating him like this." Sasuke tensed a little, turning to glare at the water nin.


"Naruto won't admit his own weaknesses, he never would, and especially not when he feels this vulnerable. Did you not see him out there? He was obviously feeling tired and over extended a fucking hour ago, but the idiot won't say that." Sasuke bit his lip harshly as he turned away, swearing quietly and grabbing at the dry wood at his feet, suddenly wanting to be done with this chore and back at their resting point, making them some food and making sure everything was alright with the blond.


Suigetsu cocked his head to the side, looking after his leader with a puzzled sort of glare. The man actually cared, which was something he'd never seen in the boy, not unless he was talking about killing his brother or something, and that couldn't be healthy. He waited to smile until after he'd heard the Uchiha pass over the little hill separating them from the past. This was the best thing to happen to Sasuke since he'd killed that snake bastard.

X

The rest of the day passed in silence, and Sasuke made sure to stop them for rests every couple of hours. He would usually come up with some sort of excuse, though by the end of the day Naruto was glaring at him at each stop, though he could tell the blond was grateful for the rest itself. It was well after dark when they arrived at the next little town. Sasuke breathed a small sigh of relief, almost thinking that he should call a stop for the night and just deal with camping but after his show at the last town he knew that every single member of the group, Naruto most of all, would take that as the excuse for worrying about the blond that it obviously was.


There was only one inn in the town, but thankfully there were plenty of rooms available. There were enough that they could each have their own even but somehow, even after the tension that had grown between them since yesterday, he still couldn't bring himself to do it. He walked out with four keys, each with a large wooden tag on it, a number emblazoned on each on in a deep gold over burned tracks of black. He distributed them to his team, holding the last one to himself as he met Naruto's eyes. The blond sighed but nodded.


Naruto was just glad to be able to stop. He was tired, and the extra weight made his feet and ankles hurt after the frequent walking. He was mad at Sasuke for treating him differently now, it wasn't like he was lame or injured, things were just a little harder now, but mostly he was mad at himself because he was obviously letting his weakness show. If there was one thing he had learned about the Uchiha in their time training together, before the boy had run off like that, it was that Sasuke hated weakness.


Still, as soon as they were in their room, they had bid goodbye to the rest of the team at the top of the stairs, Naruto had started to disrobe, hanging his garments up neatly and pulling a yukata over his form, blushing when he felt Sasuke's eyes on him. He ran from the room quickly, not bothering to tell the Uchiha where he was going.


He hated it when Sasuke watched him like that, especially now. He already knew he was a freak, now he was a freak twice over. He hated the way he looked, the way he was bloated and ugly in ways that made him not only ugly but vulnerable. He hated the way it made him feel, the shame that rushed hot in his cheeks when Sasuke watched him. He didn't want to care what the bastard thought, it had just sort of happened one day. Naruto blamed it on the hormones in his body, some fundamental and natural desire to please his mate on some primal level. That made everything more embarrassing for him though, because he wasn't some girl, and Sasuke wasn't his mate, fuck they probably weren't even friends anymore.


That's what hurt most in the end, and what made him the most ashamed. Sasuke didn't want him, he never would want him, not like that at least, and Naruto really, really, really wanted him to. That was what made him cry quietly in the corner of the empty onsen, that was what kept him awake, listening to the quiet even breathing of the pale boy sleeping so close to him. That was what made him force his smile when he got back upstairs and saw Sasuke waiting up for him, scowling over a pot of boiling water and a hot meal he pushed towards the blond as soon as he came through the door.


Still, Naruto decided that whatever the cause, and no matter how soon it would be over, he would enjoy this halting care while it lasted, because when this was all over, and the child was growing up somewhere, probably far away from him, Sasuke might never even look at him again, and he would just have these memories to look back on. He blamed these feelings on hormones too though, telling himself he wouldn't care then.

X

Sasuke had been worried when Naruto came back from the baths. The boy had looked tired, not that that wasn't expected, but his eyes had been a bit red, like he'd been crying. The site made something in Sasuke's heart swell a little, though he scowled to cover it. Still, after Naruto was tucked away in bed, the room dark and the boy's chest moving evenly in sleep, Sasuke found himself unable to shut his eyes, that image haunting him. He hated seeing the blond like that, especially when he knew that if he tried to help Naruto would only deny his feelings like he had before, trying to appear stronger, to hide those insecurities.


Sasuke had used a cleansing jutsu earlier, normally he didn't take time out to do things like visiting the baths during missions, but he found himself antsy, itchy with the emotions and fatigue running through him, so he decided he might as well make the exception while he was here anyways, since sleep wasn't coming to him. He only ended up watching Naruto's peaceful face as the blond lay on his own futon, a scant few feet away and it was frustrating to say the least.


Sasuke stripped from his clothing quickly, pulling on a still freshly folded yukata from the basket by the door, gathering up a towel and some of the complimentary toiletries before heading down.


The hallways, and the baths themselves were quiet and empty, as expected in the middle of the night. Sasuke liked it that way, he'd come here to think and he didn't want the distractions that would come with other people. He let his mind go blissfully blank as he washed himself under the showers in the first room, trying to shed all of the worries and other things that plagued him then. He was looking forwards to a long hot soak afterwards, to mull everything over.

X

Naruto woke before Sasuke did the next morning, not that he'd gotten a lot of sleep last night. He had woken up sometime in the darkness to some small noise, only to find Sasuke gone from the room. It was unsettling to be alone in the little room, and try as he might he hadn't been able to fall back into sleep for a long time, not until Sasuke had returned. Naruto had been about to yell at him for leaving, but he'd seen the boy's dark hair hanging around his face in wet hanks and the tired way Sasuke carried himself and he'd paused, unable to do it. He'd settled for pretending to be asleep instead.


This morning though, he was almost glad to wake up before the Uchiha, to watch the boy sleep for a little bit. He looked calmer, but still somehow tense, even while he slept quietly. Naruto bit his lip hard to keep from crossing the short space between their futons and petting Sasuke's smooth white cheek, wanting to sooth away whatever had made him this way.


He got up instead, brushing out his hair and donning his clothing before he slipped outside, key in hand, and went down to the front desk. He ordered breakfast for the two of them, and a pot of water for tea, then slipped back upstairs. He would let Sasuke sleep a bit more, even if the Uchiha had been grumpy and short with Naruto lately, the boy still deserved it. They would be up the mountain by tonight probably, and then they could rest again.


As he slid into the room quietly though, he found Sasuke up already, looking irritated. Naruto rolled his eyes as he sat down. He could see the question and scolding in Sasuke's eyes, along with a twinge of fear and a flood of anger, covering relief. Naruto almost smiled at how much those cold, dark eyes expressed when the Uchiha was tired. He settled himself across the table from the Uchiha.


"I ordered some breakfast, the woman at the desk said it would be up in a half hour. When do you plan for us to leave, Sasuke?" The other boy grunted, but didn't say anything for a moment, not looking at Naruto.


"Next time, don't leave without waking me up. I can go get us food and things, don't bother. We can leave as soon as everyone's ready. I'll go speak to the others after we eat."

X

There was less tension that day then there had been the last, but that was mostly because of the roughening terrain around them. Naruto was focused on carefully picking his way up the slope while still keeping up with the rest of the group. Sasuke, on the other hand, was busy frowning over his shoulder at the blond, but still pushing the group as fast as he thought they could go. He could tell that Naruto was struggling, and he was torn between slowing down a little, to let Naruto go more easily, and his desire to make it to the monastery as quickly as possible.


Naruto's medication was running low, and the blond was getting even bigger around the middle. He wanted someone who could understand to look his former teammate over as soon as possible. Then there was always the problem with camping, if they didn't make it there by nightfall. Sleeping out in the open like that, they would be vulnerable to attack from all sides. Even if they could find a cave or other such readily defensible place, with only one entrance they'd be trapped inside if the were attacked. It just made Sasuke nervous, and the more quickly they could make it to their destination the better.


Still, after pushing the team straight through the hottest hours of the day, Sasuke stopped them for a late lunch, he'd brought supplies from the last town and set about making the food, with Juugo's help, sending Karin and Suigetsu to find some water and make sure Naruto was okay. The blond mumbled a little, but still smiled at the two, when they came over, sitting low on the log next to him.


Sasuke scowled as he helped Juugo light the fire, and pull the cooking tools from the storage scroll. He was suddenly filled with the urge to go chase those two away from Naruto, and make sure the boy was alright himself. It was silly and irrational though, logically he knew he could trust them but he didn't want to.


He kept silent though, as he dismissed Juugo and rolled out the things he'd bought this morning in town, noodles and dried stock and a few kind of vegetables, with some broiled, dried fish as well, nothing that would spoil on the trail. He knew Naruto should be eating better though, and he snuck in some vitamin powders to make sure he got everything he needed, even though his medications were running low.


He couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face when he handed Naruto a bowl of the warm broth, his joy was contagious and Sasuke was sure if there hadn't been an all too precious bowl of boiling hot liquid between them then Naruto would have hugged him tightly. Instead the blond just beamed up at him.


"Ramen! Thanks Sasuke!" The Uchiha just turned away, no one in the group saying anything about the obvious peace offering between them, content with warm food and pleasant air between them.

X

Naruto was exhausted, stumbling in the darkness when Sasuke sent Suigetsu ahead to see how far away the monastery actually was from them. Karin had said it was a manageable distance from her chakra sensing, but Sasuke wasn't sure exactly how much farther Naruto could make it in his current condition. The Uchiha was torn between setting up camp here, making sure the idiot was okay and not pushing himself too hard, and hauling them the seemingly short distance more to the monastery, where he was sure they would be safe and well hidden, even from his brother.


The blond heaved a heavy sigh as Sasuke called for them to rest here while they waited for the answer. He couldn't say he wasn't relieved in a way, thankful for the chance to rest that he desperately did need, but he was also angry. He was angry at himself for being this weak, and angry at Sasuke for seeing it in him. He couldn't let Sasuke see him weak like this, he could feel the tears prickling in his eyes, threatening to fall as he blinked them back, heavy breath hitching a little.


Sasuke shot him a concerned look, but he didn't see it. The Uchiha barely stopped himself from checking on Naruto then, wanting to activate the sharingan to see the boy's chakra flow for himself but not wanting to show Naruto he was that worried. He knew the blond would think it was for the child he carried, and it was in a way, but it was more than that as well and he knew he couldn't risk it, not really.


It was a tense hour before Suigetsu returned, saying it was close, maybe about forty five minutes by path, and that he'd spoken with the guards at the gate and they were expecting them. Sasuke nodded a little tensely, before turning back, his eyes meeting Juugos grimly. The large man nodded.


Naruto wasn't really pleased about being carried, and Sasuke wasn't that fond of the arrangement himself, but it was necessary. The blond only put up a token complaint before settling on the larger man's back, secretly glad for the opportunity to rest. He saw Sasuke relax a little then as well, which made him a bit more glad.


They made better time like that, and they were at the gates to the monastery within a half hour. There were two guards there when they arrived, smiling in the lantern light. They had brought a small cart down for Naruto, and Sasuke relaxed visibly when Naruto was placed in it gently, the blond having fallen asleep on the journey over. The Uchiha stayed close to the cart as the monks who had come down to meet them led them up a rocky slope and around to a small building with no windows on the outside that stood next to one of the tall walls surrounding the compound.


Sasuke listened carefully as they gave several brief instructions, though mostly he ignored their words, too tired to care right now, only wanting to put Naruto to bed and go to sleep himself. He bid them goodnight and promised that he would meet them and the rest of his team in the morning for breakfast before he turned and scooped up the sleeping blond. He frowned at how light Naruto was now, as he carried the boy up the staircase inside and to the room that they would share for now.


He was careful putting the boy to bed then, so as not to wake him. Naruto needed his sleep, especially after how he had struggled today. Sasuke sighed as he flopped down on his own bed, though he spent a long time staring at Naruto across the dark room before sleep came.