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’. There is also a one-shot ‘Silver Leaf Tales: Tying the knot’.

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 readers who have written a review and particular thanks to Nemo-Hime, SunaoTsuji, richon, Kat Saama, lividangel, Prism0467, satterb, disembodiedvoiceofthedying, v, V-anon, cynaga and sadie23 who reviewed after chapter 72.

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

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 hoping for Sasuke/Naruto or Naruto/Sasuke action in every chapter.

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Chapter seventy-three: Busy

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Naruto had persuaded Kakashi and Asuma that they should anchor the Oak off the station rather than mooring in the freighter dock; that way he could use the Snow Willow get to and from the household. Unlike the Oak, the Snow Willow was small enough not to give the station gunners problems; he could leave it moored at the household’s private dock.

He had established a new routine. He was up at ship’s dawn to see to the babies and then he turned up the speaker in their bedroom so that Sasuke would wake if one of them cried. He grabbed a quick breakfast, jogged to the docking bay, took the Snow Willow to the household and spent the morning working with Shino and Shikaku on the alterations. He would then return in time for the midday meal before spending the afternoon with the babies and children in the playroom.

Evenings were for Sasuke and the rest of their family.


Today was different. This morning they had six interviews with different media channels, to be held in one of the secure meeting rooms in the household. That afternoon they had booked photographers for an imaging session on the Oak.

In the evening they were going to a meal with Klennethon Darrent.

Naruto had thought that getting it all out of the way on a single day was a good idea until that day arrived.


He woke up at his new time, just before ship’s dawn. He lay in bed for a few minutes; there was no point rushing because the plan was to travel to the household later in the morning using the Sakura.

He sighed. He knew that Shino and Shikaku would understand that he had a busy day but he felt bad about not making his usual contribution.

It did not do any good to lie in bed and brood. He slid out of the bed and went into the nursery. Teruko was awake so he picked her up and cuddled her while preparing their feed. Takara woke next. Unusually but usefully, Tsuneo was last.

Once he had them all changed and fed he still had time in hand before the children started waking. He decided on breakfast and took the babies with him.

Naruto had not expected anyone to be in the galley, it was too early, but Iruka was there. He started making breakfast as Naruto arranged four chairs to make a stable platform for the babies’ basket.

“I can do that,” Naruto objected.

Iruka waved him to a chair. “No, I want to. It reminds me of old times.”

Naruto peered at the rota on the wall. Konohamaru was on breakfast duty. Kono-kun was a reasonable cook but nothing like Iruka. Naruto settled back and enjoyed the aroma of his impending meal.

“Any progress on getting Ran-chan to give up his room?” he asked.

Iruka smiled. “I think so. Taking him to the playroom was an excellent idea. The children push him out of his comfort zone without actually threatening him. Kazu-chan is particularly good at it and Haru does a good job of monitoring the situation.”

Naruto thought about it. “I think he and Haru may become friends,” he suggested. “Ha-chan understands about being lonely. None of the others do.”

“You are all right with that?” Iruka queried, tipping the panful of food onto a warmed plate.

“Yes,” Naruto replied. He watched the plate as it crossed the room and settled in front of him. “This looks lovely, Iruka-sensei. Thank you.”


He had intended to train but that would be a bad idea while digesting such a large meal. Instead he took the babies to his office and reviewed the questions that the media channels had submitted.

The interviews were going to be recorded, which took away some of the pressure. On the other hand, Uchiha had no editorial control, so the outtakes might end up being broadcast.

Soon it was time to make sure Sasuke was up. Naruto did that, delivered the babies to Kiba in the nursery, gave the children a hug, showered, dressed in his uniform and walked with Sasuke to the docking bay.

Neji and Shikamaru were already there; Naruto assured that Hamaki, Terai and Fu were aboard, prepping the Sakura for launch. He could see Neji checking him and Sasuke over. He nodded his approval that Naruto was wearing his plaque on the platinum collar rather than the usual plain leather choker before pinning small HDL ribbons to their jackets.

Sumaru, as usual, was precisely on time.


The rest of the morning went far too slowly. Naruto hated interviews. Neji had tried to get him to think of them as a spar between them and the interviewer, but Naruto much preferred actions to words.

He pulled down his jacket and sat on the sofa. They had reached the third; after this one he could have a break. The first two had gone smoothly, with the interviewers sticking to the agreed questions and, hopefully, Sasuke and him managing to provide answers that sounded thoughtful rather than prepared.

This interviewer was from a channel that specialised in ‘lifestyle’. His name was ‘Bubbles’ and he made Naruto miss Yukie Fujikaze, which Naruto had thought impossible.

“We always start by asking all our celebrity guests the same ten questions,” Bubbles told them with an utterly false smile.

The lust in his eyes was real; Naruto could smell his arousal. Bubbles wanted Sasuke. Naruto reminded himself that scaring him witless was not an option.

There followed a number of utterly banal questions, many of which Naruto could answer but some he could not. He did not have a favourite flower and he had no idea about popular dramas.

He should have eaten a smaller breakfast and trained. It would have worked off some of his aggression. The urge to growl at Bubbles and his stupid questions was growing.

“Our viewers are always interested in celebrities’ typical days,” Bubbles told them. “What would be a typical day for you, Naruto-san?”

Naruto concentrated on what Neji had said. It was important that the residents of Tarrasade saw them as real people. The decision had been made to answer this question honestly, but leave out the fucking.

“I spend most of it caring for the children, but I try to include one long training session, so I remain in shape, and some time in my office catching up on HDL business,” he replied.

Bubbles smiled at him. Naruto suppressed a shudder. “Thirteen children is a lot, Naruto-san. Are you the primary care giver?”

It was a supplementary question; Naruto hated extra questions. This was a tricky one. He wanted to acknowledge Kiba’s contribution but Neji had emphasised the danger of Kiba coming over as a servant.

“Yes,” he began, “but Sasuke and many other members of our extended family help. One of them spends a great deal of time with the children, which is wonderful.”

“Ah yes, the children’s Guardian, Kiba,” Bubbles noted. “Kiba is a dog-human hybrid, is he not?”

Naruto could see the trap in front of him. They were going to come over as a rich couple who had bought a dog-human hybrid to raise their children. He decided to go for a risky swerve. “As you know, Bubbles-san, we had not originally planned to have hybrid as well as purebred children. A hybrid engineer stole some of my stem cells. Kiba-san worked for that hybrid engineer. He has been with our fox-human hybrid sons since their conception. It was he who made sure that they were returned to us, where they belonged. He has been with us ever since. He is a member of our family.”

“Do you not want to know about my typical day, Bubbles-san?” Sasuke asked.

Bubbles was distracted; Naruto breathed a sigh of relief.


As soon as Bubbles and his crew were out one door Naruto was out the other. He had twenty minutes before the fourth media channel arrived. If he pushed it he could manage a session on the trampoline and a quick shower.

He was glad he had done so. The interviewer, Yurika, was shrewd. She wanted a video clip that would be shown across known space for generations.

“What do you say to those who do not believe that hybrids qualify as humans, Naruto-san?” she asked.

The question was worded differently than the one she had submitted. She wanted to put Naruto on the defensive so he opted for attack instead. He looked towards the camera and smiled.

“I would ask them to reconsider. Hybrids’ genomes are essentially human genomes to which the hybrid engineers have added some genes from other animals. I spent my childhood thinking I was a monster. Now I think of myself as a person. Every person is unique, hybrid or purebred, and has the potential to be amazing.” This type of camera was controlled by line of sight, so Naruto looked directly into the cameraman’s eyes. “You are unique. You have the potential to be amazing.”

When he turned back to the interviewer, her eyes were icy. Naruto wondered if she was annoyed that he had hijacked her question or whether she was one of those who hated hybrids.

“And what about you, Uchiha-sama,” she continued. “What do you say to those who look at you and Naruto-san and see a rich and powerful man with his pet?”

Naruto was glad the interviewer was not a spacer. If she had been a spacer, Sasuke would have challenged.

“Once I had controlled my anger at the insult to my beloved,” Sasuke replied, “I would remind myself that I am the luckiest man in known space because I have such a unique and amazing person as Naruto as my life-partner. Knowing this to be the truth, I would assume that any person who said such a thing was envious.”


The fifth interview was trivial when compared to the fourth. The sixth and last was probably the most important; Shimon Hijiri was a respected journalist who had indicated that he wished to concentrate on their plans for the compound.

“Why now, Uchiha-sama? Why not eight standards ago when you took control of Uchiha?”

Naruto suppressed a smile; Sasuke could hardly admit that Uchiha had been broke.

“I was not ready then, Shimon-san,” Sasuke answered. “I believe I am ready now. I want to develop the Uchiha compound as the headquarters of the Uchiha Corporation. Although I see most of our operations being in far-flung systems and along unfrequented routes, we need a home base. Tarrasade has always been Uchiha’s home.”

“And how do you see this impacting on our local economy, Uchiha-sama?”

“We are planning two phases, Shimon-san. During the first phase we will be refitting large sections of the compound for its new purpose. We hope to recycle most of the materials we need from the current compound but those materials we require we will try to purchase locally. We will also need labour. In the second phase, we will be looking for exceptional employees to work in the new headquarters.”

“Employees, Uchiha-sama?” Shimon queried.

“Yes, we realise this is a part of the new Uchiha that was not part of the old.” Sasuke looked towards Naruto and then back to the interviewer. “We aim to be exemplary employers.”

“That is interesting, Uchiha-sama. For those of us who remember your father, it is extraordinary.”

“My mother was a very private person, Shimon-san, but the privileged few who knew her would not find it at all extraordinary. We aim to build a new Uchiha that Mikoto Uchiha would have been proud of and that we can pass onto her grandchildren.”


After that there were only a few more exchanges between Shimon and Sasuke. Naruto relaxed, although he made sure he looked attentive rather than vacant. It was a relief to have an interviewer who was interested in what they were trying to achieve rather than in them as individuals.


Then he made a quick check on progress in the playroom before they returned to the Oak on the Sakura. They should have time for a swift meal and a shower before the photo shoot.


Naruto was still uncertain about the idea of releasing portraits that included the children but Shikamaru had calculated that the odds of someone managing to obtain unapproved images increased div by div; it would be close to a certainty by the time the children were ten. They had decided to release a number of official portraits each standard, which would greatly reduce the value of any clandestine images.

Sasuke and Naruto would be in their uniforms, the children in new versions of their usual clothes and the babies in pristine sleep suits. They were going to use a version of the now infamous brown, leather, curved couch.


They had selected photographers who were renowned for their discretion; Kikujo and Yurinojo. While Sasuke and Naruto had been giving interviews in the household, Konohamaru had been helping Kikujo and Yurinojo to set up in the larger meeting room on the Oak.

There was a circular rail set up around the room. Mounted on it, equally spaced, were twelve cameras.

Haru darted towards one of them. “How does it work?” he demanded.

Naruto saw Kikujo pale. “Haru-chan, come here,” he ordered. They needed to get some decent images before Tsuneo started screaming or Kazuki could not stay still.

Luckily Yurinojo knew his job. He had them arranged within minutes. Sasuke and Naruto were on the couch with the basket of babies between them. The children were placed about them to create an arrangement that looked spontaneous.

Kikujo was soon satisfied with the results.

“We are done?” Naruto checked, delighted.

“Unless you want some images of each child, or of you and Uchiha-sama alone,” Yurinojo suggested.

“No, done is wonderful, isn’t it Sasuke?”

“Excellent,” Sasuke confirmed. “Thank you Kikujo-san, Yurinojo-san. Why don’t you take the rest of the children back to the playroom? I’ll stay so Haru can ask his questions.”

It seemed a fair deal to Naruto. Haru had that look on his face; Naruto would send someone to rescue Sasuke later.


They were back in the playroom much earlier than expected. Naruto caught himself looking at the schedule on the wall. He shook himself; they had become too dependent on routine.

“What do you want to do?” he asked the children.

They were too surprised for his liking. Hikaru recovered first.

“Play netbag?” he suggested.

“Dancing with To-chan!” Yuki squeaked.

“Dancing with To-chan! Dancing with To-chan!” the others called, even Hikaru.


Kiba looked after the music and everyone else danced. After a few minutes Kiba went over to the intercom.

“This is Kiba. Haru might want to know that there is ‘Dancing with To-chan’ in the playroom gym.”

Sasuke and Haru turned up in a remarkably short time. Then they danced until everyone but Naruto dropped.


The excitement of the photo shoot followed by the dancing ensured an easy evening meal, bath time and bedtime. Shikamaru turned up for bath time and bedtime; Naruto listened with half an ear to Haru telling him how the cameras worked.

Then Shi-chan told them a story.


Shikamaru slid down the pole first, followed by Sasuke and then Naruto.

“Fifteen minutes,” Sasuke told them. “We are taking the Sakura. Sumaru, Gai and Tatsuji will be accompanying us,” he added as he vanished through the door into their bedroom.

Naruto resisted the urge to argue that including Hamaki, Terai, Fu, Sumaru, Gai and Tatsuji was ridiculous.

“Looking forward to seeing Darrent-san?” he asked Shikamaru.

“Looking forward to getting off the ship,” Shi-chan admitted. “Even if it means taking an army.”

Naruto thought about it and realised that Shikamaru had not even been to the household. “He is a bit jumpy about your safety,” he confirmed. “I’ll work on him,” he promised.


The restaurant had changed. There was an extension containing a private dock big enough to take a ship the size of the Sakura and, above that, a circular private dining room, the circumference of which was a viewing deck.

Sumaru accompanied them in the elevator from the dock; Gai and Tatsuji had travelled up first, Terai and Fu would guard the dock and Hamaki the ship.

Garner Parrad met them as they exited the elevator. He greeted each of them by name and then showed them a security station with three places. It had displays from cameras in the dock, the lower lobby, the upper lobby where they were standing and in the private dining room.

“As Naruto-san will be present as a guest, may I suggest that Tatsuji-san, Sumaru-san and Gai-san perform their duties from here?” he asked.

Naruto hoped that Sasuke would agree. They waited.

“Very well, Garner-san,” Sasuke decided. “Gai-san?”

“Looks fine, Sasuke-sama,” Gai confirmed.


Naruto had to admit that the view was spectacular. He looked about. He could see a Go board set on one low table and a shoji set on another. He spotted one puzzle and then another. The room was decorated in warm colours; browns, deep reds and golds.

It had been decorated for Shikamaru; there was absolutely no doubt in Naruto’s mind. Thinking about it, Klennethon Darrent had probably built the whole extension for him.

He risked a sideways glance at the others. Shi-chan was, as always, oblivious to the detail of his surroundings. Even so, Naruto saw how he relaxed as he entered; Klennethon Darrent had got it spot on.

Neji looked impassive but Naruto could smell his anxiety.

Sasuke was scowling.

There was no sign of Klennethon Darrent’s young, blond companion, nor of any security. The only other person present was Garner Parrad.

“Uchiha-sama,” Klennethon Darrent acknowledged. “Naruto-san, Neji-san,” he paused slightly, “Shika.”

Shikamaru smiled. “Klenn,” he replied.


Naruto surprised himself by feeling comfortable, something he had never been in Klennethon Darrent’s company. He decided that it was easier now that Klennethon Darrent was more interested in being friends with Shikamaru than playing games.

Also, Klennethon Darrent had played the critical role in returning Haru and Shikamaru. Naruto felt that more than made up for him telling Sasuke about his fox-human lifespan.

Finally, he had an advantage that Neji and Sasuke lacked; he could tell that Shikamaru did not want Klennethon Darrent as anything more than a friend.

“Darrent-san,” he began.

Klennethon Darrent looked at him warily.

“As Haru’s parent and as Shi-chan’s best friend I thank you for returning them to us,” he said simply. He could not offer more; he was sworn to Sasuke.

Klennethon Darrent gave a small bow. “I am honoured, Naruto-san,” he replied.

Sasuke had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. “We are in your debt, Darrent-san,” he acknowledged.

Klennethon Darrent gave the smallest of smiles. “No, you are not,” he answered, “because I did not do it for you or for Naruto-san but for my own selfish reasons.” He paused. “There is one thing that you and Naruto-san could do for me.”

Naruto stiffened and he saw Sasuke tense.

“You could allow me to meet Haru. I know that Shika suspects he is a typed five and I am a typed five.”

Naruto saw Sasuke swallow his initial reaction, which was to deny even the possibility. “Naruto and I will discuss it,” he conceded.


The meal was delicious. Naruto concentrated on that and the stars. He had no chance of following Shi-chan’s conversation with Klennethon Darrent and little interest in the polite exchange between Sasuke and Garner Parrad that Neji was managing. Then something that Shikamaru was saying caught his attention,

“...happened to reprint Ranmaru?” he was asking.

“He chose to go with Sasori,” Klennethon Darrent replied. “He also insisted that Sasori destroyed all the unprinted clones that had been grown in sensory deprivation, including all those of Ranmaru. Amazingly, Sasori did it. I have Pein’s ship. They have new identities, credit and a sweet ship with one of the miniature Mulligan drives.”

“You have the mind printer?” Shikamaru queried.

“And the uploader,” Klennethon Darrent confirmed. “I have people studying them.”

Naruto saw Shikamaru nod his approval. “Talking about ships,” Shikamaru added, “we would like to move the Dart’s improver and miniature Mulligan drive to a larger ship, a mini-mothership. Is that within the rules? Can we do it ourselves?”

Klennethon Darrent sipped his wine and considered. “A mini-mother ship sounds interesting. However, I am fond of the Dart as she is. Send me the designs for the mini-mother ship and I will consider selling Uchiha another miniature Mulligan drive and lending Uchiha another improver. I am also interested in your strings of minigates. If I paid you, would you lay some strings along specific routes for me?”

Naruto was not surprised that Klennethon Darrent had worked out that they had minigates; it was the most likely explanation for the speed of their communications.

“We could negotiate a deal,” Sasuke suggested. “The minigate strings for the miniature Mulligan drive.”

“That is a possibility,” Klennethon Darrent agreed.

Naruto liked that Klennethon Darrent had not mentioned Haru again; a meeting with Haru should not be a bargaining chip. Slowly, reluctantly, he was beginning to appreciate what Shi-chan saw in Klennethon Darrent.

“Nice interviews, by the way,” Klennethon Darrent added. “Well done in getting in such a powerful message about hybrid rights, Naruto-san.”

The interviews had not been live and the first of them had yet to be broadcast. Naruto scowled.

“You will be pleased to know that Kikujo-san and Yurinojo-san cannot be bought,” he added. “Perhaps I could have a copy of the portrait you choose to release.”

“I am sure that will be possible, Darrent-san,” Sasuke agreed.

“Thank you. Coffee? I have an exceptional blend that I believe you will appreciate.”


The coffee had smelled good but Naruto had chosen not to drink it. Sasuke had accepted one cup and Shikamaru three. By the time they were on the Sakura, Shikamaru was chattering like Haru and Sasuke was humming one of the tunes they had danced to that afternoon. Naruto smiled; it was a sure sign that Sasuke was slightly intoxicated, buzzed from the caffeine, or both.

Once they were alone in their room, Sasuke started to sing rather than hum. Naruto watched as he shimmied in the direction of the bathroom, shedding clothes on the way. In the doorway he turned, smiled and beckoned.

Naruto growled; all thought of an early start the next morning forgotten.

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