For Better Or Worse

Disclaimer – I don’t own Naruto nor am I making any money off these writings.

Warning – Boyxboy relationships, foul language, ooc characters and basically anything more you can think of. Be prepared for anything.

Beta’d – Unbeta’d as of yet so it’s probably littered with mistakes, please forgive them.


AN - *Peeks out from behind the rock I’ve been hiding under* So I’m so, so sorry for the enormously long wait for this chapter. After my lap top caught on fire and I lost all my notes on this story it was so difficult to start over…meh…excuses, excuses. Anyway here’s a new chapter and I really hope the wait between chapters will be shorter from now on.

*crawls back under rock before the lynch mob finds me…*



For Better Or Worse

“Blah” =speech

‘Blah’ =thoughts


Chapter 7.

Naruto cooed softly at Aiko as he maneuvered the shopping cart down the straight, maze like corridors of the super market. The baby was strapped in her car seat and placed safely in the cart. It had been two weeks since Itachi had woken up from his depressed catatonic state and things between father and child had gotten a lot better. Itachi adored Ai-Chan and could spend hours just admiring the baby girl. Still most of the actual handling and taking care of the baby still landed on Naruto, why he didn’t know. The blond was a young man, a college student without any knowledge or experience with children and yet he had been stuck in this nanny role, living in the same house as his ex-boyfriend. Naruto couldn’t seem to mind though, this little girl had captured his heart the moment he laid eyes on her and everyday was a new adventure. Aiko was just a few weeks old and already Naruto couldn’t imagine what life had been like without her in it.

He was still avoiding Sasuke to the best of his abilities and that part of living in the Uchiha mansion was straining. Everywhere he turned Sasuke was there, making him his favorite tea, renting his favorite movie and simply just reminding him of things that should stay in the past. No one knew him like Sasuke and it would be so easy to go back to old ways but every time Naruto closed his eyes he could see Gaara exiting Sasuke’s room and he remembered that what he thought had been love had been nothing but lies. Sasuke couldn’t be trusted. Naruto knew this but it was so hard when years of his life had revolved around said raven. Love didn’t have an off switch even though Naruto really wished it did.

Pushing the depressing thoughts of his failed relationship to the back of his mind Naruto smiled at Ai-Chan who regarded him with serious honey colored eyes. “You are such an Uchiha already little Princess.” Naruto cooed. “You already have the glare down.” The baby looked up at him and suckled her pacifier madly as a reply. Naruto’s heart melted all over again at how utter adorable the baby was with her plump, pink cheeks, tufts of pitch black feathery hair and serious expression. “So let’s go get some formula sweetie, we can’t have you going hungry now can we?” The blond wheeled the cart down another corridor, cursing softly as one of the wheels of the shopping cart traveled in an entirely different direction from the other three making the cart difficult to control. This always happened and Naruto had a theory that the stored fucked up their carts on purpose…Just because they could and it was funny to see how stressed out and pissed they could make the customers. Yes it was probably a worldwide conspiracy Naruto nodded to himself as he pushed the cart forward.

After navigating his way through the maze of shelves a warm and sweaty Naruto finally found his way to the baby food section. He fished out the note they had gotten from the doctor at the hospital to see what kind of formula it was that Ai-Chan needed, he could never remember the name from the top of his head. Seeing the name, blue eyes scanned over the different brands to find the right one…Ah there it was. And of course it had to be on the top shelf. With a sigh Naruto stretched, trying to get a hold of the illusive box. Just a little bit further and his fingertips would reach the formula. Naruto cursed softly under his breath, was this store made for giants? With one final stretch he reached his box, gave it a little nudge and watched in horror as all the formula boxes tumbled down on the other side of the shelf. A muffled yelp let the blond know that he had managed to hit someone with his wayward formula. Great, this day just kept getting better and better. Slapping on his most apologetic smile Naruto grabbed the cart containing Aiko and hurried around the shelf to see with kind of damage he had done.

Hesitantly Naruto peeked around the corner while keeping Ai-Chan behind him; he wanted the baby to be safe if he had managed to hit some angry lunatic with the boxes that had tumbled down. The blond cringed at the mess he saw, the boxes lay broken on the floor and a white cloud of powdered formula was over everything. Coughing and cursing could be heard from somewhere within the white dust cloud.

“Um…excuse me, are you okay?” Naruto asked gingerly as he stepped closer.

“Do I look alright?” A voice answered testily and a shadowy figure started to emerge.

“Ah, a bit on the pale side but otherwise unscathed.” Naruto chuckled nervously at his own lame joke.

The white powdered male became clearer as the dust slowly settled and Naruto locked eyes with a pair just a bit paler blue that his own. Long blond hair was fixed in a ponytail and the man was dressed rather conservatively in dark slacks, white shirt and a dark suit jacket…Of course now everything looked a milky grey. The blond was tall and slender and despite his rather feminine features no one could mistake him for a girl.

“I really am sorry, it was an accident.” Naruto apologized again.

The stranger gave him a half hearted glare through slanted ice blue eyes but then grumbled out. “It’s okay, other than a makeover nobody got hurt.” The man dusted himself off and Naruto caught sight of the shiny badge stuck to his belt.

“Oh.” He said with a smile. “You’re one of Dad’s boys.”

“Excuse me?” The stranger looked at him as if he was a lunatic and Naruto supposed that he couldn’t really blame him.

“The badge…You’re a cop right? My dad is the chief of police…But he’s on leave now.” Naruto hurriedly added when he saw the other’s narrowed gaze. Why did he have to ramble like a madman? Naruto was sure that he wasn’t exactly making a shining first impression on the stranger.

“Huh, so you’re Uzumaki’s kid hmm. No one at the station mentioned that the Chief had become a grand dad.” The longhaired man said with a glance over at Ai-Chan who had started to whimper, not happy with being ignored.

“Oh she’s not mine.” Naruto said as he went to pick Aiko up and cradle her in his arms for a while until she calmed down. “It’s…It’s a long story but let’s just say that I’m helping a friend out. My name is Naruto by the way.”

“Deidara.” The other replied.

“So Deidara, can I do anything to make this up to you? At least buy you a coffee?” Naruto looked over the white powdered male pleadingly.

A young teenager who worked at the store had found his way to the accident site, his pimply face dark red with anger and the hand holding a broom was actually shaking. The looks the teenager was sending Naruto were certainly not happy ones, they made the blond twitch nervously and wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Deidara took pity on the fidgeting younger man and he nodded his head to the offer of coffee, he was fairly new in town and it wouldn’t hurt to get to know someone other than his partner and the old grumps down at the station. He was rewarded with a huge dazzling smile from the other blond and he could feel the corner of his own mouth twitching in a small smile in reply. Nah…it wouldn’t hurt at all to get to know this blond.

Quickly Naruto nabbed one formula box that hadn’t broken and made his way to the register before the boy would murder him with his broom. Naruto was glad that his victim had taken things as well as he had and he looked forward to get to know the other more. You could never have too many friends and Naruto admitted to himself that it was nice to speak with someone who didn’t look at him with pity or smugness because they knew all that had happened between him and Sasuke.

As Deidara helped him pack the groceries and load them into the car their hands touched and Naruto felt a spark run through him. He hadn’t felt something like that other than from Sasuke in years and he had to admit that it felt good. The blond had absolutely no plans on hitting on the other blond and he wasn’t even sure he was attracted to him, he didn’t know him at all…It was just nice to know that he could still feel something, anything other than hurt and bitterness. Perhaps in time his heart could heal.

oo—oo—oo

Naruto parked the car in the Uchiha’s driveway and unloaded it with a smile on his face. The coffee had been…nice. Deidara seemed like a decent person underneath his prickliness and he had made Naruto laugh with his very sarcastic sense of humor. He had gotten the other’s number as well as given him his own and Naruto looked forward to talk to Deidara again and introduce him to Kiba and Sai. For some reason Naruto had the feeling that Sai and Deidara would get along swimmingly, they had the same weird sense of humor that Naruto didn’t really get.

With the grocery bags on one arm and Aiko on the other Naruto struggled with the door when it suddenly swung open and Naruto found himself face to face with an Uchiha. It wasn’t one of his housemates though; no this was the big bad wolf himself, Madara.

That long, shaggy dark hair should look unkept and wrong on a fifty plus year old man but somehow on Madara it worked. The whole man was an anomaly and no matter how he tried Naruto had never been able to figure him out…He wasn’t sure he wanted to either. Madara’s mind was bound to be a scary place.

“Um…Hi.” Naruto said as he shifted his both groceries and baby in his arms.

“Hello Naruto.” Madara purred. “I see you’re still slaving for my lazy nephews…My offer still stands you know. You always have a job waiting with me. I can guarantee you’d be better treated there…I would see to it myself.” The elder Uchiha opened the door and let Naruto through.

“Uh, thanks?” Naruto replied as he sat the bags down on the floor. “I’m not working here though, I’m helping family out.”

“If you say so.” Madara nodded his head and kept his intense gaze on Naruto, completely ignoring the newest little Uchiha. “If you ever need anything, feel free to call me anytime.” Madara turned to Itachi who was just walking down the stairs. “I trust you’ll have those documents ready by tomorrow at the latest.” He said and none of the warmth that had been present when he spoke to Naruto was left in his voice.

“Yes uncle, everything will be ready.” Itachi replied in the same formal and stiff tone.

Naruto felt like rolling his eyes, what was it with these Uchiha’s? The blond would never talk to his family like that and he knew that Iruka would laugh his ass off and slap him over the head if he tried being as formal with him as Itachi and Sasuke were with their uncle. Suddenly Naruto understood Itachi’s fear of raising Aiko too Uchiha and he promised himself that he would do everything he could to help Itachi make sure that Ai-Chan didn’t become as emotionally stunted as the rest of the family was.

Madara said his goodbyes and left with one last lingering look on Naruto that the blond didn’t even notice. Itachi noticed though and he furrowed his brows as he watched his uncle leave. He wondered why Madara had taken such interest in Naruto, everything Madara did had a purpose and Itachi couldn’t help but worry a bit.

Itachi walked up to Naruto and lifted his daughter from the blonds’ arms to his own. “Hi there my Princess.” He cooed as he kissed Ai-Chan’s downy hair. “Did you have a nice time with uncle Naruto?” He continued to nuzzle his baby girl.

“Did everything go okay?” He asked Naruto as he and the blond moved to the kitchen to put the groceries away.

Naruto nodded with a small smile on his face that made Itachi raise an eyebrow. The smile slipped from the blonds’ features though when they ran into Sasuke in the kitchen.

Sasuke greeted them both and gave Naruto long longing looks that was steadily ignored by the blond.

Itachi sighed silently. He wished he could help them somehow but he didn’t know how. Sasuke had fucked up beyond belief and maybe time was the only help for his spoiled little brother.

“Has his evil overlord left?” Sasuke asked as grabbed his coffee cup and blew on the hot liquid.

Naruto realized his eyes were stuck on Sasuke’s full lips as the raven blew on his coffee and he hurriedly turned away, cursing himself. Why did the bastard have to be so fucking gorgeous? Why did he have to be such an ass? Naruto knew by now that the raven was poison but his heart still fluttered every time he saw Sasuke, he hated it.

“Yeah, uncle has left. I swear he can smell weakness…like a vulture.” Itachi hissed the last word out as he rocked Ai-Chan in his arms, making her honey colored eyes heavy and sleepy; her thumb fell out of her mouth as her tiny body relaxed completely, safe in her daddy’s arms. “I have a tiny little spell of depression and he sees his chance to butt in on my business.” Itachi continued to complain.

“Oh yeah…Real tiny depression.” Sasuke muttered under his breath but he was wise enough not to say it out loud. His older brother could be scary when he wanted to and wasn’t there a saying about letting sleeping dogs lie or something like that? Sasuke wasn’t about to take any chances.

Naruto’s phone rang and the blond fished it out of his pocket, looked at the display and smiled. He flipped the phone open and walked out the room to talk. “Hi, I didn’t expect to hear from you again so soon…”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Who was calling Naruto and why did it make the blond smile like that? Naruto used to only smile at him like that. This was not good…Sasuke was growing desperate; these past weeks he had tried everything to get Naruto to listen to him but the blond just seemed to drift further and further away from him. Sasuke couldn’t stand it, their lives wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.

Itachi placed a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder in silent comfort before he moved out of the kitchen to place Aiko in her bed and get those documents ready for his meddlesome uncle. He had seen the shadows in Sasuke’s eyes and knew that his little brother was close to cracking. If he had been a less selfish man he would have let Naruto leave…To place a bit of space between the former lovers but he couldn’t. Itachi needed Naruto there with them; if the blond left Itachi would come unglued again as well…He couldn’t handle Anko’s death and Ai-Chan’s everyday needs without the sunny blond there to help them. Naruto’s brightness helped Itachi and Sasuke from drowning in the darkness all around them.

Sasuke was left alone in the kitchen with his thoughts, as much as he hated to admit it he needed help. He needed to talk to someone who knew Naruto, who knew what he could do to make the blond at least hear him out. Sasuke knew who that person was, that didn’t mean he had to like it. Grabbing his car keys Sasuke walked out the house and towards his car with a knot in his stomach. He only hoped that Iruka wouldn’t slam the door in his face without listening to him first.

oo—oo—oo

Naruto was walking down the street, carrying the notes for Madara firmly in his grip. He placed one sneaker clad foot in front of the other, happy that he had volunteered to take the documents to Madara’s office. It was a nice day out and after spending so much time at the Uchiha mansion it was nice to have some time to himself… Babyless. Sasuke had mysteriously vanished and Naruto thought it would be a perfect for Itachi to spend some time alone with Aiko. Naruto’s thoughts drifted back to Madara, he didn’t quite know what to make of the older Uchiha; the blond knew that Sasuke hated his uncle with a passion and that at family gatherings in the past the raven had always warned Naruto not to be alone with Madara. Itachi’s warning words also rang through his head. Still there was something about the man that fascinated the blond, he didn’t know if it was in a good way or a bad way but Madara had a way of looking at you and see all the way inside to your most inner secrets…It must be ha handy skill to have as a business man.

Raised voices were heard from across the street and Naruto woke from his musings and looked over. By now familiar red hair met his gaze as Gaara shouted something at a long haired man whom Naruto vaguely recognized from high school, what was his name again? …Oh right Neji. Naruto narrowed his eyes, he didn’t really want to see Gaara at all but for some reason he couldn’t look away, it was like some sort of traffic accident that you couldn’t tear your gaze from even if you wanted to. The shouting grew louder and the blond could see that the brunet male had a red tint of embarrassment on his cheeks as he tried to calm Gaara down.

The redhead was fighting off Neji’s hands as the brunet tried to grab him and pull him somewhere more private. Naruto wasn’t proud of himself but he rejoiced in Gaara’s discomfort and if he was really honest with himself the wanted the redhead to hurt as much as he was hurting. Didn’t Gaara already have Sasuke to fuck? What was he doing here with this man then? Was he that much of a whore that one man wasn’t enough?

More screaming was heard and then the echo of a slap sounded through the air. Gaara grew silent and watched Neji with large green eyes as he held his hand to a burning cheek. The long haired male turned and walked away without another glance behind him and Naruto watched how Gaara mindlessly stumbled out into the street, his eerie sea green eyes empty looking and filled with tears.

Funny…Seeing his wish come true and the other man in obvious pain didn’t make Naruto feel any better, his heart was still broken and now that pain was accompanied by a dull ache in the pit of his stomach for wishing harm on another human being. When had he become that kind of person? Naruto didn’t like it at all.

Blue eyes were still locked on the redhead and suddenly Naruto saw a minivan coming speeding down the lane where Gaara now had stopped and stood with his arms around himself. What was the idiot thinking? Why wasn’t he moving and why wasn’t the car slowing down? Without any conscious thought Naruto’s feet started to move on their own, he dropped the papers he was carrying as he ran like the devil while shouting at Gaara to get out of the road. His heart was pumping, his breath seemed stuck in his throat and he could feel his muscles bunch and stretch under his skin as the blond gave his all to get to the other man in time.

Naruto felt the softness of Gaara’s cotton shirt under his fingers as his hands came in contact with the redhead’s torso and he pushed the other man to the ground.

White sheets of paper fluttered in the wind as the sound of screeching tires, protesting metal and shattering glass could be heard as the driver slammed on the brakes… Then there was silence.


TBC…


AN – *Dodges rotten tomatoes*… Next chapter will have more Sasuke in it as well as his first meeting with a certain long haired blond that seems to have caught Naruto’s attention…Jealousy…nah, Uchiha’s are above such feelings, aren’t they? Thank you so much for reading and please review…