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 unneeded, Kat Saama, disembodiedvoiceofthedying, SunaoTsuji, prettypurpletiger, Prism0467, sadie237, Dorkchic and lividangel who reviewed chapter 75. I also received two emails, which was great.

I cannot emphasise enough how much reviews and emails from readers encourage me to keep writing this story.

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-six: Moving on

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It started off as a typical day. Konohamaru got up, washed, dressed and arrived early enough in the galley to intersect with Haku. He fed Shou while Haku battled with Mai. Mai had just started to talk and her favourite word was ‘no’.

Konohamaru had no doubts that Haku would win.

Haku, Shou and Mai had moved on by the time the other children began arriving. Hikaru and Ryuu were first and Haru was last, as always.

Yuki sat next to him and they had a chat. He told Konohamaru about what Ran had done when he had come to the playroom the day before.

Konohamaru wondered what Yuki thought about the connection between Ranmaru and Ran. Yuki had never brought it up so they had not discussed it.

Perhaps it was best not to talk about it. That was how Konohamaru felt; he tried not to dwell on it.


After breakfast he made his way to the shop to work on the new mini-mothership. Now that the miniature Mulligan drive and improver were installed, she would soon be ready for her maiden voyage. Konohamaru was helping Kotetsu with the final wiring.

They were still discussing a name for her; front runner was the Maple.


Inari was already there; probably Izumo and Kotetsu had invited him to breakfast to ensure an early start. He and Izumo were working on a module that could be fitted into one of the ship’s docking bays, increasing its flexibility.

They were bending sheets of metal. Rivulets of sweat were trickling down bare torsos; Konohamaru resolved to book an appointment with C-san for more than just talking therapy.


He had been helping Kotetsu with the wiring for most of the morning when Akemi brought him the message that Sasuke-sama wished to see him.


When he arrived at Sasuke’s office he discovered that Naruto and the triplets were also there. The low table between the comfortable chairs had been replaced by a fluffy blanket on which Teruko and Takara were sitting.

Konohamaru looked about for Tsuneo and found him exploring the floor around Sasuke’s new desk.

Not so new; they had been in Tarrasade almost four divs.

“Kono-kun,” Sasuke acknowledged. “Come in and sit down.”

Konohamaru picked up Tsuneo and sat in the chair next to Naruto’s, across the blanket from Sasuke.

“We have been discussing the compound,” Sasuke began. “In fact the whole Uchiha development in Tarrasade. I have decided to have a team that concentrates on that rather than Uchiha operations as a whole. I want the core of that team to be us three.”

Tsuneo was wriggling so Konohamaru guided him down onto the blanket. What did Sasuke mean? On one hand it would be wonderful to be in a team with Naruto and Sasuke. On the other, he still thought of himself as belonging with Inari and Tayuya.

He watched Tsuneo set off in the direction of the desk.

“I need you to develop into our expert on Tarrasade, Kono-kun,” Sasuke continued. “I want you to build on your potential and train as a negotiator. You will need to study hard.”

He was not being offered a choice. “It will be an honour, Sasuke-sama,” he replied.

“Neji says you will make an awesome negotiator,” Naruto interjected.

That was interesting; Konohamaru waited, hoping that Sasuke would say more.

“People have to trust a negotiator, Kono-kun,” Sasuke explained. “Of everyone in the crew, Neji-san says you are the person outsiders are most likely to trust. Any outsider, not just a resident of Tarrasade.”

“Then there’s the other stuff,” Naruto added. “You’ve had a proper education and you know how to deal with bigwigs. Add in your local knowledge and you came out way out in front in Shi-chan’s analysis.”

“Naruto and I are going to walk the site this afternoon,” Sasuke informed him. “We would like you to accompany us.”

“Kamatari-kun will be coming too,” Naruto told him.

“Neji has suggested that Kamatari would be an ideal combination of assistant and protection for you,” Sasuke explained. “The question is, is he mature enough to handle the responsibility?”

Konohamaru was not sure what he thought. He had his own knife; he could defend himself. Even so, there was no denying that he was a target; he was Hiruzen-sama’s grandson as well as being a member of Uchiha.

“Kama-kun is ready to be promoted to crew?” he queried; Kamatari could no longer be a trainee, essentially a cat, if he was out and about with Konohamaru.

“We will see how he behaves this afternoon,” Sasuke admitted. “The alternative is Sumaru.”


On his way back to the shop, Konohamaru imagined trying to negotiate with Sumaru there. There would be the usual few minutes’ grace when the people accepted Sumaru at face value; a stunningly handsome young man. Next they would start feeling uncomfortable because some primeval instinct recognised danger. Then, slowly, the realisation that he was utterly lethal would seep into their conscious mind.

That did not strike Konohamaru as conducive to smooth negotiations. Hopefully Kamatari would step up.

---

Kamatari checked his image in the mirror. He looked as smart as he could.

He had been doing well until the incident with Ran. After that neither Iruka-sensei nor Kakashi-san had trusted him as much. They had stopped talking as if he would soon be promoted to crew.

Not that Kamatari did not like Ran. He did. Ran was endearingly straightforward. Kamatari would never tire of listening to him say no to Iruka-sensei.

This was his opportunity to make up the ground he had lost; if he was to operate as Konohamaru’s assistant they would have to give him his knife.

Also the idea of working closely with Kono-san appealed to him. Konohamaru had been through a tough time since Ranmaru had died. Kamatari liked making him smile.


He had discussed it with Moegi the evening before. Once she had finished in the infirmary she was usually wound tight, like a spring. Kamatari had helped, as he often did, by making her climax. After that they had talked. Moegi had suggested he study the plans for the compound, look through the progress reports and familiarise himself with any equipment they were taking with them on the inspection.

He had done some of that after the evening meal and more this morning directly after breakfast.


The compound, which was huge, was going to be divided into two. The bigger part would be the Uchiha company headquarters. The smaller part would be the future household.

Not that the smaller part was small; it was twenty times the size of the current household. Given that Sasuke-sama had thirteen children, Kamatari was confident it would be filled within a few generations.

But, for now, only a few parts of the future household were going to be developed: more secure meeting rooms, the private section of the park and Naruto’s running route.

Kamatari was not interested in the meeting rooms. The park would be good when it was finished, like Shikamaru’s level on the Oak only bigger. The running route looked great. It had started off as a simple, long, looping corridor but the idea had evolved. Now the plans showed short cuts, viewing ports and detours that took the runner through tunnels, climbs and other obstacles. There were even places where the ceiling was high so you could jump.

He was looking forward to using it.


He checked the mirror again and smiled. Moegi had allowed him to fuck her and then sleep in her bed; he felt great as well as looking smart.


They were meeting at the entrance to the old household. Kamatari had thought he was early but Konohamaru, Gai and Tatsuji were already there. Sumaru arrived next. He was wearing his tags, which meant that Naruto would be there in his own right, or as Sasuke’s partner rather than his bodyguard.

Then Sasuke and Naruto arrived, like night and day, and everyone else faded a little in comparison.


They set off. Jirocho, Chief Fitter of Wasabi Engineering, met them as they emerged from the household. They began walking the site. Kamatari had charge of the large tablet that could be used to display the detailed specs. Every time they stopped he had the appropriate plans ready.

Kamatari remembered the time when Naruto-san had first visited the Sanctuary and then returned bringing Sasuke-sama. He wondered what would happen if they came across a youngster like him now. Would they take him on? Kamatari doubted it; Sasuke-sama was obsessed with security since Shika-san and Haru-chan had been abducted.

His attention turned to Kono-san, who was listening carefully on everything that was said and asking a quiet question here or there. Kamatari could see why it would be better for Konohamaru to be in charge of day-to-day monitoring while Sasuke or Naruto only made occasional visits.

Everything stopped when Sasuke-sama and Naruto-san appeared.


They had examined two locations when Kamatari realised that Naruto’s attention was focused on one of the exits.

The third time Kamatari was quick enough to see what Naruto-san had noticed; they were moving some of the workers away as Uchiha arrived.

Naruto accelerated away as they approached the fourth stop, across the open space that would be the park. By the time the rest of them caught up he was talking to some hybrids and the fitters who were lurking at the periphery looked distinctly uncomfortable.

“Jirocho-san?” Sasuke queried.

The Chief Fitter flushed. “Everyone uses hybrids to do the heavy lifting, Uchiha-sama.”

Sasuke just looked at him; Kamatari was grateful that he had never been on the receiving end of such a look.

“I assume they are employees, Jirocho-san,” he said finally. “The contract specifies Wasabi Engineering will only use properly screened employees.”

The man looked panicked before he pulled himself together. “I will look into it, Uchiha-sama,” he replied.

Kamatari was hoping that Sasuke-sama would not leave it there when Naruto rejoined them.

“Wasabi sends someone down to the lower levels at station’s dawn and he takes his pick from those wanting work,” Naruto explained. “They pay them a pittance, Sasuke. They don’t even feed them.”

Sasuke turned back to the Chief Fitter. “This is not acceptable, Jirocho-san. Such practices bring the Uchiha name into disrepute.”

Jirocho paled.

“We did not go with other companies that were cheaper specifically because we thought that we could trust Wasabi Engineering not to break the terms of the agreement,” Sasuke added. “Perhaps we were mistaken. Maybe we should reconsider.”

“I will see to it, Uchiha-sama,” Jirocho promised hastily.

“That would be wise,” Sasuke warned him. “Naruto, I shall leave the matter in your hands. I have seen enough for today. Progress is impressive, Jirocho-san, but the good impression you had made is now marred. Will you need Gai-san and Tatsuji-san, Naruto?”

“Perhaps,” Naruto admitted. “We may go down to these ‘lower levels’ and check out the situation.”

“I could see if Kisame-san and Itachi are available,” Sasuke suggested.

“That would be excellent, Sasuke,” Naruto replied. “Thank you.”

Kamatari kept himself very still as Sasuke-sama and Sumaru walked away. The urge to leap up and down or run about was almost overwhelming.

He and Kono-san were off for an adventure with Naruto-san.


Kamatari brought up a map of the station while they were waiting for Itachi-san and Kisame-san. Like most space stations ‘lower’ referred status rather than position. Most people lived in Levels 5 to 1. Above Level 1 came Prime and above that the Outer Residential Ring and then the Inner Residential Ring.

The Uchiha compound was linked to Level 1; it had been built long before Prime or the residential rings existed.

The freighter dock was linked to Level 4 and the rest of the docks to Level 3. That meant that the spacer quarter and its related services had spread over most of Levels 4 and 3. Most successful ex-spacers lived on Level 2.

Below Level 5 were Sublevels A, B and C.

---

Naruto was cross.

They had barely started the refit and already they were exploiting workers. Worse, those workers were hybrids; as patron of the HDL that was not acceptable. True, they were being hired by Wasabi Engineering rather than Uchiha but Sasuke had assured him that they had put appropriate clauses into the contract.

His whiskers twitched. One of the hybrids had said something that bothered him. He had said that they were the lucky ones because they were able to get work.


When Itachi and Kisame arrived they brought a radio for each of them.

“I thought we would start at the lowest level and work up,” Naruto told them as they connected earpieces, microphones and transmitters.

Itachi frowned at him. “Why?” he asked.

“Consider it a survey,” Naruto replied. “If we are going to live in Tarrasade, we should understand it.”


They received a lot of looks as they made their way through Sublevels A and B to Sublevel C.

Despite the air filtration system, Naruto could smell it. Tarrasade was the same as most other huge space stations; the lowest level was essentially a flophouse for the dying.

He asked the others what happened to the bodies. Konohamaru was too shocked by what he was seeing to hear him. Gai and Tatsuji shook their heads. It was Itachi who answered him; when someone died, scavengers took the body away and sold it for its recycle value.

Naruto guessed that some of the scavengers helped people along. He could not decide if that was bad or good.

He clung to his sense of proportion. Tarrasade was better than many other stations. Even the poorest were given air and water was free if you could get to a public faucet. There were recycling points, including lavatories, on all levels. The station was in good repair, so bits did not fall off killing lots of people.

But there were children in Sublevel C; people who were fading away without ever having a chance to live.

The few hybrids there were either very old or maimed; only functional hybrids found their way to Tarrasade.


Sublevels B and A were interesting. Lots of hybrids lived there. Walking through the corridors made Naruto’s hackles rise. Gai described it as ‘rough’. Itachi told him it was where the social outcasts and criminals lived. Sublevel A was where Wasabi recruited its labourers.

Levels 6 and 5 were full of what Naruto thought of as the ‘decent poor’. He did not see any hybrids. Naruto suspected that people in Level 6 aspired to reside in Level 5 while those in Level 5 looked down on those living in Level 6.

Levels 4 and 3, particularly Level 4, felt like home. Naruto had lived feral in the corridors of a residential sector that served a spacer quarter.

They found a bar that served food and ate; it reminded him of being on the Silver Leaf. People recognised him but left them alone; the spacer code insisted on privacy.


On Level 2 he found a branch of the HDL. He stood in front of the office, which looked more like a shop, and frowned. Why wasn’t it on Sublevel B or A?

He asked Konohamaru and Kamatari to accompany him inside. The volunteers he met were mainly purebred and female. There was a lot of blushing and giggling.

They said that few hybrids came to them for assistance and that they spent most of their time making ribbons to sell and ‘raising awareness’.

Naruto thanked them; selling ribbons was better than nothing.


They skipped the upper levels because crowds had begun gathering in Level 2.


Once they were back in the household, Naruto thanked the others for accompanying him, checked that the babies were happy with Kiba and had a very long, very hot shower.

He managed to be in the snug, with the babies, by the time the children had their mid-afternoon break. He cuddled them close and tried to get the images of the children in Sublevel C out of his mind.

He needed to speak to Shi-chan.

---

Shikamaru listened to Naruto’s account of what he had found. He was not surprised but that was because he had had few preconceived ideas about how other people lived. Once he thought about it he did care; it was disturbing.

He could not care about everything; in that direction laid madness.

He could, however, solve the specific problems that Naruto raised.

“So you need a hospice for dying hybrids, a charity that picks children out of Sublevel C and three separate agencies that provide labourers,” he summarised as Naruto finished.

“Three?” Naruto queried.

“Competition,” Shikamaru informed him. “Uchiha will be insisting that the companies it works will use labour from an agency. If there is only one it will become corrupt, overcharge and the companies like Wasabi Engineering will go back to recruiting directly. I can whip up a mathematical model to illustrate.”

Naruto looked like he had sucked a lemon. “No, I take your word for it. I also need a branch of the HDL in Sublevel B or A,” he suggested.

Shikamaru interrogated his data crystal array to confirm his suspicions. “It won’t last more than ten days. The criminal gangs won’t stand for it. You need a branch on Level 4 that is cautiously active in Sublevels B and A.”

“Manned by hybrids the HDL pays rather than purebred females that do it because they are in love with the idea of Sasuke and me,” Naruto added.

“That would be wise,” Shikamaru confirmed. “I’ll knock out some models for the hybrid hospice and the HDL office. Do you care where the credit comes from for the children’s charity?”

“You mean you will fund it,” Naruto checked.

Shikamaru shrugged. “You know how it is, Na-chan. I have more credit than I know what to do with. I think the agencies will end up being profit making. I can set them up and see where they go. I usually end up selling that kind of venture to the people who operate them.”

Naruto was thinking. Shikamaru gave him time. While he waited, he worked out the stages to setting up the agencies and the tweaks that would be necessary to make them distinctive.

“I think the hybrid hospice and the children’s charity will have to work with the scavengers,” Naruto told him.

That was interesting. Naruto was usually right about things like that; his instincts were almost always spot on. Shikamaru made a mental note.

---

Konohamaru straightened his jacket. He told himself again that he could do this. It did not matter that Jirocho-san was twice his age. Jirocho did not see a callow, young man. He saw the representative of Uchiha and the grandson of Hiruzen-sama.

Kamatari was beside him holding the large tablet. In his boot was a knife; Kamatari had been promoted to crew.

They walked with confidence towards Jirocho-san.

“Jirocho-san,” Konohamaru acknowledged.

“Konohamaru-san, Kamatari-san,” Jirocho replied. “How may I help you?”

This was it; Konohamaru took a deep breath. “Sasuke-sama is not happy that you broke the terms of the contract,” he replied. “We are researching agencies that will provide suitable labour and will give you with a list of their names within twenty days. Until that time you will pay your labourers at least ten credits a day. You will give them a midmorning break of at least ten minutes, a midafternoon break of at least ten minutes and a midday break of thirty minutes.”

He could see that Jirocho-san was about to object.

“There are other companies interested in the contract, Jirocho-san,” Konohamaru reminded him. “A contract you have broken.”

“Just the hybrids?” Jirocho asked, hopefully.

Konohamaru frowned at him. “All the labourers you use who are not employees, purebred or hybrid,” he clarified. “Jirocho-san, I am sure you understand that it is in the long-term interests of Wasabi Engineering to operate in a manner that is acceptable to Uchiha, hopefully in a way that would mean we were comfortable recommending you to others.”

There was a pause.

“May I enquire about your grandfather’s health, Konohamaru-san?” Jirocho asked.

Konohamaru allowed himself a small smile. “He is well, Jirocho-san. Thank you for asking. We are in regular contact.”


After that the rest of the inspection tour was easy. He asked questions. Kamatari took note of Jirocho’s answers.


Once they were back in the household they made their way to Konohamaru’s new office. Konohamaru gestured Kamatari to a seat and made tea; if Sasuke made the tea when people came to his office Konohamaru would do the same. Meanwhile, Kamatari looked through his notes.

“Any thoughts?” Konohamaru asked.

Kamatari’s nose twitched. “Who checks they are using the right materials?”

Konohamaru had not thought of that. If they were spacers they would keep their word or be challenged. Those who owned Wasabi Engineering were not spacers. They had already broken the terms of the contract without thinking it was anything out of the ordinary.

“We’ll ask whether anyone knows how people usually do it,” Konohamaru decided.

Kamatari twitched his nose. “Ask Shika-san?” he queried.

“And Grandma Biwako and Shikaku-san,” Konohamaru replied. “They understand how the non-spacer world works. Kurenai-san often knows stuff, but probably not about this. If I don’t get anywhere asking them, I will ask my grandfather.”

“Hiruzen-sama,” Kamatari checked.

“Yes,” Konohamaru confirmed as he brought the tray to the table and poured the tea.


There was a silence as they sipped their tea. Kamatari broke it.

“Do you think Naruto-san will do something about what we saw?” he asked.

Konohamaru knew Kamatari was talking about their visit to the lower levels. He shuddered at the memory of it. For the first time in his life he had been ashamed of Tarrasade.

Sublevel C would certainly benefit from Naruto’s attention.

“Naruto-san spoke to Shika-san,” Konohamaru replied. “That is where the agencies have come from. I expect other stuff is happening as well.”

Kamatari considered. “Do you think Naruto-san will just sort out the hybrids? Do you think he will do something about the purebreds?”

Konohamaru did not know.


Once Kamatari had gone Konohamaru worked a little longer and then wandered along to the playroom. Iruka-san was there, sitting at one of the tables with Ran, Haru, Hoshi and Yuki.

Konohamaru stopped just inside the doorway to watch them. He was sorry that Ran no longer needed him so much but he was also relieved. Iruka was ready to be a parent; he was not.

He was happy being Ran’s special adult, like Shikamaru was to Haru and Inari was to Hikaru.

A thought stole into his mind; his Ranmaru would have been pleased by the scene before him. This Ran was being given a chance to adapt rather than doped into a passive acceptance. Haru was home. Yuki no longer looked so sad.

He himself no longer looked so sad; Konohamaru thought that Ranmaru would have been pleased by that too.


Ran had spotted him. He was looking at him with those huge, solemn eyes. Konohamaru smiled at him. Ran did not smile back.

But one day he would.

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