For the Love of His Son

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Lord Sasuke Uchiha believes that he has lost something precious to him and struggles to convince himself everyday that it didn‘t exist. What will he do when a blond haired peasant arrives at his doorstep claiming he has something the Uchiha “misplaced.” (SasuNaru)

Author’s Note: As always, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, but I would like to send a special thank you to Jelp who not only reviewed and told me her favorite line (I love that and yeah, gotta watch those nasty squirrels), but also told a friend to read this story and they reviewed too! So many happy smiles!!
The holidays are upon us and I am leaving to drive to New Mexico this weekend to be with my family. As a result, (do you feel it coming?) my next update may be sometime from now. I am bringing my laptop and it is a very long drive so I suspect that I will have plenty of time to write ‘in my head’, I just don’t know how much time I will have to iron out an actual chapter between all the fudge, skier’s chocolate and my sister said something about Crown Royal and Apple Cider. Shudders. I love the holidays.

For the Love of His Son
Chapter 8


“Uchiha! What the hell is going on!?” Kankuro, Gaara’s older brother, hollered after attempting to approach the two young men only to be thrown back again.


Sasuke, for his part, found himself once again watching the unfolding events in an unnatural muted silence. Strangely, the only sound he heard was the fretful cries of his son, which he knew he must be imagining because the boy was safe, deep inside the castle.


Sasuke absentmindedly noticed that the red chakra slowly throttling Gaara was causing the pale skin of the lord’s slim neck to bubble and blister. Turning his head with much difficultly, Sasuke was horrified to realize that Gaara’s sand was slowly crushing Naruto if the blood trickling out of the dobe’s mouth was any indication. Both of their faces were emotionless, like they were unaware of the trauma being inflicted upon their bodies.


Sound came rushing back into his ears and Sasuke closed his eyes against it.


Sasuke’s inner three year old set curled up, shaking in the darkest corner of his mind, “Please,” he whispered, unsure who he was talking to or what he was asking for. “He promised. He promised he’d be careful.”


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Gaara raised an eyebrow at the blond boy’s words, face devoid of any emotion.


“Ah… another quite one. Do they take aspiring lords aside and teach that?” Naruto shook his head, “No, never mind. I’ll start. My name in Naruto Uzumaki. I am the vessel for the nine-tailed fox demon, Kyuubi.” Naruto finished, waiting for the red head to share his information. What he got was nothing… absolutely nothing. Not a sound, not a twitch… nothing.


“Okay, you’re Gaara. You’re from Sand…” Naruto was getting mildly desperate. They needed to wrap this up soon. He could feel his body’s distress… how could the Sand lord not?


“Shukaku, one-tailed racoon.” It was short and creepily monotone, but it was a response.


“Listen, I really think this is a mis…understanding.” Naruto’s voice was getting weaker and he was finding it increasingly more difficult to breathe. “Kyuubi… wasn’t expecting… another like him. He… reacted… on instinct. I can make him back down… so long… as you promise not to harm anyone… in the cas…”


Naruto fell to his knees. How was the boy just standing there?! Naruto knew that Kyuubi’s chakra had to be hurting him. And then Naruto saw it, Gaara’s Adam’s Apple was bouncing up and down, his black rimmed eyes wide with concealed panic. He was in pain and having a hard time breathing too… he just hid it better.


“How are we here? How are you… what you are?” Gaara forced out, quelling the impulse to claw savagely at his throat.


“I’ll explain… answer every question,” Naruto couldn’t stop the weak, humorless smile, “It’s all I seem… to do.” Blackness was closing in on him, he futilely shook his head, hoping to clear it.


One blink, two blinks… three… his eyes didn’t open, but he vaguely heard, as if from far away… “Agreed.”


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And like a switch, things started to move in real time. Naruto screamed as the sand released him and he collapsed to the ground. Gaara staggered backward, hands around his scorched neck, he didn’t release a single sound, but his body was shaking violently from the exertion of keeping it in.


Sasuke ran towards Naruto, sliding on his knees the last several feet. He gingerly picked up the quivering frame of the injured boy, receiving an agonizing moan for his efforts.


“Dobe? Can you hear to me?” Sasuke brushed sweat, sand and blood off of whiskered cheeks. Gently touching his forehead to the dobe’s, he whispered, “Naruto, please…” Ryuu’s cries still rang in Sasuke’s ears.


Naruto’s body gave a harsh shudder and blue eyes opened to see Sasuke’s black pools swimming with worry. Naruto turned his head sharply and coughed up blood. Turning back slowly, he saw that charcoal eyes had bled to red and where glaring dangerously at the foreign lord.


Sasuke’s inner three year old was furious, demanding immediate and painful retribution, and stoic Sasuke was inclined to agree. Gaara was surrounded by his concerned brother and hovering sister, as well as several guards. Gaara’s intense, shadowed eyes never left Naruto.


Sasuke released what could only be described as a murderous growl, “Gaara.” The dark haired lord made to stand up.


“S’uke, no… s-stop.” Naruto’s voice was hardly more than a whisper, grating painfully out of his throat.


Sasuke looked down, eyes fading back to breath stealing ebony. Naruto attempted a smile but produced a pained grimace instead.


“… not Gaara’s fault. Please… over now. O-okay.” Naruto weakly grabbed fistfuls of Sasuke’s shirt, pleading him with his eyes when his voice failed him.


“Hn, dobe.” Sasuke felt his heart beat normally for the first time since Naruto ran into the courtyard and the tension slowly left his shoulders. Once again his eyes met Gaara’s.


“Uchiha,” Gaara’s voice was as low and raspy as Naruto’s, “We need to talk.”


“Hn.”


As if the Uchiha courtyard, and all its occupants, hadn’t heard ‘that’ phrase before.


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Sasuke stood and helped Naruto to his feet. When the dobe’s knees buckled, Sasuke made to pick him up.


“No, teme.”


“Dobe, don’t be an idiot. You can’t walk.”


“Just… give me… a second.” Sasuke looked down and noticed the nearly translucent red chakra that covered Naruto’s body. “Kyuubi’s working on it.”


“I see.” Sasuke turned to address the rest, “Since ‘introductions’ are over, let’s take this inside, shall we?”


“Yeah, might as well get comfortable…” Kiba mumbled, but Sasuke noticed that the brunette had positioned himself and Akamaru between Naruto and Gaara.


Naruto tugged gently on Sasuke’s sleeve and motioned Sasuke’s head lower. After several seconds of listening, Sasuke turned his attention to Lee.


“The dobe suggests you get started on those push-ups, Lee.” Lee’s jaw dropped, Sasuke smirked and several of the knights in the courtyard laughed.


With the tense atmosphere broken, the group headed inside.


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Once again, Naruto found himself sitting on the chesterfield in Sasuke’s study. Chouji had arrived earlier, bringing Naruto a cup of heavily honeyed green tea. Naruto thanked him silently and began sipping the tea, feeling his throat’s soreness ease with each drink. Gaara and his siblings had yet to arrive, having stopped in their rooms to attend to Gaara’s injuries at Temari’s ‘forceful’ urging.


Sasuke stood looking out the window, his face showing no emotion, but his aura was tense and contemplative. Naruto watched him, thinking how in moments like this, it was easy to see Sasuke as Lord Uchiha. The only other occupants in the room were Kakashi and Kiba. Kakashi stood near his lord and Kiba stood behind his friend, casting reassuring smiles at the blond as he drank his tea.


“Sasuke,” Naruto whispered, his head tilted to the side. Sasuke turned around and headed toward the couch. He noticed that Naruto’s chest rose and fell at a more normal pace and his complexion had returned to its natural tan color.


“Dobe.” Concerned flashed through dark eyes as he noticed the dobe’s perplexed expression.


“Is Ryuu alright? Why is he crying?” Kakashi and Kiba looked at Naruto with confusion in their eyes. Even Akamaru whined, letting Kiba know that he didn’t hear anything either.


Sasuke closed his eyes wearily. Thank god, it wasn’t just him. “I don’t know. He’s been crying since the incident in the courtyard.”


Naruto attempted to stand up, only to be stilled by Kiba’s hand on his shoulder. “No you don’t, kid. You need to rest and when Gaara gets here, I’m sure you’ll be the main attraction in the ‘talk’. For such a little guy…” Kiba shook his head in disbelief causing Naruto to give him a weak glare. “I’ll go get Ryuu for you.” Kiba gave Naruto a cheeky grin, then turned to the white dog at Naruto’s feet, seriousness hardening his normally carefree voice, “Akamaru, stay with Naruto.”


“Dog Breath, I’m fine.” Naruto protested. Akamaru laid his giant head on Naruto’s knee and Naruto looked down and smiled.


Kiba turned around at the door, “Regardless, he stays.” With that, he left.


Naruto released a quiet but accepting huff. Kakashi smiled behind his mask and Sasuke made a mental note that perhaps he didn’t need to kill Kiba after all.


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There hadn’t been much talking before Gaara and his siblings entered the study, but now, there wasn’t any sound at all. Kankuro and Temari glared at Naruto as though they expected him to jump up and attack their brother at any moment. In all fairness, Sasuke and Akamaru didn’t appear very open and welcoming either.


The ‘friendly’ atmosphere was broken by the arrival of Kiba carrying a whimpering and puffy eyed Ryuu. Seeing their guests were in the room, Kiba joined his lord and pet in a round of menacing glares. Kiba handed the small boy to Naruto and resumed his position at the side of the couch.


Gaara watched as Naruto snuggled the chibi against his chest. Tiny hands curled around the soft cotton of Naruto’s shirt. Naruto gently rubbed the baby’s back, whispering soothing words and breathing in the sweet smell of the little boy.


“Explain.” The command was cold and expressionless and it made the hairs on Sasuke’s neck stand up and his teeth clench.


“Teme.” Sasuke looked down into cold, blue eyes, “I was under the impression that you were all friends? That hasn’t changed because…” Naruto looked down at the baby, shoulders slumped. Everyone in the room was well aware of the unspoken ‘because of me’.


“No. It has not.” Sasuke assured the dobe, working to consciously relax his stance.


“Uchiha is correct.” Gaara said, still taking in the blond ‘mothering’ a child that could be none other than the Uchiha heir. “Naruto, you are the Kyuubi holder but I have never heard of you.”


“Right to the point. Huh, works for me.” Naruto paused to take a spit of his tea, he’d need it. “Apparently, my father, the Fourth, sealed the demon in me the day of my birth. I was then taken from the village, under mysterious circumstances, and stayed with my caregiver until I was five. Then Lord Orochimaru came and took me to his castle, where I lived until several weeks ago.”


“Naruto was unaware of many of these facts until a week ago. Kakashi had a hand in the demon’s sealing.” Sasuke added.


Gaara nodded his head, taking in the information. “That explains how you hold the demon, now explain how you were able to talk to me in the courtyard.”


All eyes snapped to Naruto. When had the two young men talked? They were all standing right there.


“Oh, well. I knew, from Kyuubi, that demons can communicate telepathically with each other. After Kyuubi attacked, I could hear him and Shukaku growling at one another. I figured if they could do it, why couldn’t we.”


Behind Naruto Sasuke ran a pale hand through midnight hair. He could feel it, the upcoming revelation that Naruto had once again defied all known reasoning. Chibi Sasuke threw up his arms, muttering “Bring it on…”


“So, I forced my conscience to travel along with Kyuubi’s. Once there, I found you on that hill. Was that somewhere you’ve been? I know I never have.”


“Yes.” Gaara said, not elaborating.


“Wait, wait, wait. You’re saying that while your demons were trying to kill one another, you just ‘decided’ to chat with my brother, in his head. No, it’s impossible.”


“Ah, ah, ah, Kankuro, we don’t use that word anymore. It’s on the “Do Not Use List”, after Itachi, before Sakura. Sorry.” Kiba informed the shocked man, cheeky grin back on his face.


“Kankuro, it happened.” Gaara stated, still staring at Naruto. “How.”


“I told you. Kyuubi can do it, so I tried it and it worked.” Naruto was getting so tired of explaining this to everyone that he met.


“So, you just ‘wanted’ to and it happened.” The disbelief in Temari’s voice was almost palpable.


“Perhaps Naruto, you should explain your chakra training to the nice people.” Kakashi suggested, pleasantness dripping from his voice.


“What do you mean? The fact that I have none?”


“No, dobe, the fact that your motto seems to be if you can think it, you can do it… and you DO.” Sasuke growled. He flinched when he saw Naruto recoil slightly at his tone.


“Oh, I see.” Naruto mumbled. Sasuke mentally kicked himself.


“You made it sound like you can talk with the demon.” Gaara said, bringing Naruto’s attention back to him. Naruto wondered why the red head never actually asked questions. Everything was in the form of a commanding statement.


“Yes. Can’t you?” Again, the confused tilt of the head.


Gaara’s eyes widen fractionally, he wasn’t used to answering questions about himself. “Not conversationally.”


“Oh. That’s… odd.”


“Ah, kid, pot calling the kettle black, right there.” Kiba whispered, although everyone heard.


Naruto smiled his first real grin since the courtyard, a relaxed chuckled coming from his mouth, “Yeah, I guess you’re right!”


Gaara watched the boy, fascinated by his carefree attitude. How had that happened? He found himself drawn to the blond boy. They had many things in common, apparently more than just sealed demons and yet, who they each were and had turned out to be, was so different. Gaara watched Naruto adjust the black haired infant on this lap.


“Uchiha, that is your son.”


“Hn.”


Both men stared at each other. Gaara wanting an explanation for Naruto’s behavior and Sasuke just wanting this to be done. Naruto rolled his eyes. Damn stubborn lords.


“I gave him my chakra to ground him at his birth because his mo… Sakura wouldn’t. We don’t know how it worked, but somehow, it did more than save Ryuu. It make me his…”


“Mommy!” Kiba finished. Naruto started choking, pointing his finger threateningly at the laughing brunette.


“What!” Temari and Kankuro yelled together.


“Enough.” Gaara quietly said, standing. He was tired and Naruto was too much of an enigma for one sitting. “I think we have heard enough for now. Later, I would like to talk with you again, Naruto.”


Naruto smiled brilliantly, “I would like that, as well.” Gaara’s breath hitched, not that anyone noticed.


Gaara bowed his head slightly to Sasuke and walked out of the room followed by his siblings.


“Damn, kid. You sure know how to liven things up. So, what? You can talk to people telepathically now?” Kiba flung himself in a chair across from the blond.


“No, I don’t think so. If I could again, it would probably only work with Gaara since we both house demons. It does make sense though, doesn’t it? Being able to, even if only this once. It’s not that farfetched.” Naruto looked at Kiba and Kakashi, hoping for agreement. He avoided Sasuke’s eyes. He already knew how he felt from his earlier interruption.


“Naruto,” Kakashi said, “It doesn’t matter if we think it’s crazy or not. You can do it. Be proud of that. I know your father would be.”


Naruto felt his throat close up and nodded slowly, “Thank you.”


“It’s the truth, nothing to thank me for. Come on, Kiba. Shows over. Duty calls if we want to get to dinner on time.”


Kiba nodded, “See you soon, kid.”


Naruto watched the two men leave the room, Akamaru trailing behind. Naruto sighed, he didn’t want to be here with Sasuke. Apparently he was as troublesome as Shikamaru had suggested on many occasions. Ryuu wiggled in his lap, blowing teeny raspberries at Naruto.


“Dobe.” Sasuke walked around the couch, taking the chair Kiba had vacated.


Naruto closed his eyes. Dammit, he was so tired. He was tired of being tired and he was really fucking tired of conversations that started out with a serious ‘dobe’.


“Naruto, look at me.” Sasuke said irritably.


Naruto’s head snapped up, Sasuke’s eyes widened when blue eyes faded to red. “No, teme! You look at me. I told you I would leave. Hell, I almost begged you to let me. This is who I am. Aren’t you the one that said you ‘liked what you saw’? I am tired of explaining myself. I wish I hadn’t…” Naruto cut himself off because he knew what he meant to say next and he also knew it wasn’t true.


“You wish you hadn’t what, dobe?” Sasuke’s voice was harsh and so cold Naruto shivered.


“I wish,” Naruto turned tired eyes to the seething lord, voice coming out in a whisper, “I wish I was normal… for you.” Naruto’s eyes were once again a brilliant blue and shrouded in sadness.


Sasuke felt all the anger drain from his body. God, he was tired too. He stood and walked to the couch. Sitting next to Naruto, he drew the boy into his arms, securing him against his chest as he leaned back against the arm. Sasuke sighed, nuzzling his cheek against the top of his dobe’s head.


“Naruto, I’m tired of you having to explain yourself too. I’m tired of hearing about and seeing you in life and death situations. I almost thought… today, in the courtyard. Fuck dobe.” Sasuke closed his eyes, willing the visions from earlier away. He could hear Ryuu’s soft breaths as he snuggled against Naruto’s warmth. “I want to be with you and Ryuu. I want nothing else to get in our way. I want to sit quietly and just ‘be’ with you and it feels like just when things start to calm down, something else comes up. And the truth is, the biggest threat is still out there.”


“Because of me, teme.”


Sasuke didn’t say anything for a moment. Instead he concentrated on feeling Naruto’s heartbeat against his chest, reassuring himself that the dobe was alive, here and in his arms. “No, Naruto. Just because. It’s no one’s fault. Stop blaming yourself.”


“But if I hadn’t come here…” Naruto began.


“Ryuu would be dead, I would have never met the one person who allows me see the sun and you would still be in that hellhole with those fucking bastards. No contest, dobe.”


After a moment Naruto whispered, “Sasuke, do I really help you see the sun?” Sasuke almost didn’t here the question it was spoken so quietly, laced with so much painful insecurity.


“Naruto, you are the sun.” Sasuke whispered into golden locks. “Close your eyes, dobe.”


Naruto smiled and did as he was told. Within moments the three of them fell asleep, wrapped up together, safe and happy, for as long as fate would allow.


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Dinner that night was quieter than it had been since Naruto had arrived. He sat to the left of Sasuke, his chair pulled closer than necessary, Ryuu securely in his lap. He answered questions directed at him pleasantly enough, but wasn’t his usual loud, engaging self. Everyone from the knights to the smallest child noticed. Sasuke smirked when nearly everyone at the table seemed to blame their visitors, glares firmly in place when they weren’t trying to draw Naruto into a conversation.


Gaara and his siblings sat to the right of the Uchiha. They were quiet too, but perhaps that was because they had never been subjected to a full castle dinner before. It never happened at their homes and in all the times they had visited Uchiha’s castle, it had never happened here. Glancing at his dobe, Sasuke hoped that before the Sand siblings left, they got to see Naruto when he lit up the room and everyone in it.


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That night, his son’s crying awoke the lord of the castle. He walked tiredly into the nursery to find Ryuu with tears streaming down his face and hiccups escaping from whimpering lips.


“Chibi, shhh, what’s the matter?” Normally, since he had been moved into the nursery from his ‘nest’, his son would sleep soundly through the night. Sasuke picked the boy up, rocking him gently against his chest. Ryuu wanted nothing to do with it. He squirmed and cried, moist, midnight eyes looking up at his father as though his heart was breaking, pleading for relief.


“Ryuu, what is it?” Sasuke started when Ryuu stilled and stopped crying. The boy looked directly into his father’s eyes, his black eyes piercing into Sasuke’s.


Realization hit, “Naruto.”


Turning, Sasuke ran out of the nursery into the dobe’s room across the hall. Opening the door, he felt himself relax seeing blond locks peeking out of the covers. Stepping closer, his heart froze when he saw Naruto’s face illuminated by the moonlight slipping through the window. His mouth was open in a silent scream, his blue eyes wide open, but unseeing.


Sasuke lay Ryuu on the side of the bed, jumping in and pulling Naruto toward him.


“Naruto, wake up. Wake up. Come on, dobe, wake up.” He rocked the blond like he had his son not five minutes ago. “It’s okay, you’re okay. Wake up.” His arms tightened around the blond, hands rubbing gentle, reassuring circles against the smaller man’s back.


Soon, Sasuke felt Naruto’s arms return the embrace, his face tucked against his chest. And then Naruto started to talk, his voice sounding dead, totally absent of emotion.


“Orochimaru told him that I was why he was getting punished because I was a monster. Cook told him he didn’t believe I was the monster and that Orochimaru and Itachi were the monsters. I knew what was coming. I knew what they were going to do to the only two people who ever showed me kindness, but at that moment, I was so happy. He stood up for me. No one ever had before. And then it began. Sasuke, you have no idea. What they would have done to me, had in the past, they inflicted on Cook and his wife. Horrible things and the whole time, at the end of the day, when their tormentors finally left, they still gave me a gentle smile before trying to find comfort in each other. Then Orochimaru came in and asked if Cook believed I was a monster yet. He yelled no. He was going to die, he knew it and he still stood up for me. And then…”


Finally Naruto broke, sobs warred to escape his chest, making breathing nearly impossible, he clung to Sasuke, gasping for breath.


“Shhh… it’s okay… shhh.” Sasuke didn’t know what to do. How do you mend something so broken?


“Then Itachi lifted up the cook’s wife. He held a knife to her throat. She was so broken, there was nothing left in her eyes, just emptiness. Itachi said, “And now?” Cook started crying, he said he believed I was a monster and not to kill her. He just kept saying “Yes, he’s a monster” while sobbing. Itachi said “That’s all Naruto needs to hear” and slit the woman’s throat. Before Cook could scream, Orochimaru killed him.”


Silence filled the room. Sasuke just rocked the boy back and forth. Someday, Sasuke seethed, he would find Itachi and when he did…


“Sasuke, I AM a monster. If I let it happen, I could kill all of you, tonight, without a thought. I could even kill Gaara… even he and his pitiful demon couldn’t protect you. I would bathe in your cooling blood as the sun breached the horizon. I would be… unstoppable.” If Naruto’s words were frightening, his tone down right chilling.


“Dobe,” Sasuke shifted Naruto until they were face to face, “I believe you could, but, as you said, only IF you let it happen. You never will and because of that you are NOT and never will be a monster.”


Naruto’s eyes still looked dead and so Sasuke’s continued, “Naruto, Cook didn’t mean it. His precious person was about to die before his eyes. He was scared, but dobe, he watched untold horrors happen to himself and his wife for weeks and never backed down. If it had been me and it was you being hurt, I can’t say I would have lasted that long.”


Blue eyes blinked, Sasuke could see Naruto struggling to understand, to believe what Sasuke was telling him, “He didn’t mean it. He was scared. He was human and he loved her.”


“He loved her.” Naruto whispered and snuggled further in the lord’s embrace. “Please, just tonight, please don’t leave.”


“I won’t.” Sasuke replied and Naruto fell into a fitful sleep.


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Sasuke’s unique scent filled Naruto’s senses as he was slowly pulled from sleep. Naruto smiled, the dark haired man smelled like the first snowfall of winter and cinnamon. His head rested on Sasuke’s thigh, a cheek pressed against the lord’s toned abdomen. Opening his eyes, he saw Sasuke holding Ryuu against his chest, nuzzling the boy’s midnight crown. Naruto thought that the picture the two Uchiha’s made was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. So content was he, that Naruto didn’t even notice the purr he released.


Sasuke looked down into sleep filled blue eyes. Golden spikes framed Naruto’s tan cheeks and the gentle sounds of contentment coming from the dobe filled Sasuke’s heart. This is how Naruto should always be. He should never be afraid or alone. The only tears that should grace those sky blue eyes should be those brought to life from laughter and happiness. Sasuke ran long fingers through blond strands and swore to himself that someday he would give that to his dobe.


“Mmm… Morning, teme.”


“Hn. Dobe.”


Naruto rolled his eyes and smiled, “How’s my little dragon?”


“Better. You scared him last night.”


Naruto thought for a moment as he offered the little chibi one of his fingers to hold. “Teme, is it normal for him to do that? Be that attached or connected? I don’t like the idea of him feeling what I do…”


“Dobe. I’ve never had a baby before.” Sasuke shrugged, “You should know that yesterday, I heard Ryuu crying too, even though he was nowhere near us. So maybe it is.”


“But, you don’t think so, do you? Something else different… not normal.” Naruto smiled sadly.


“Dobe, it’s normal for you and that’s just right for Ryuu and I. Come on, we have been waiting for mommy to wake up so that we could eat breakfast.”


Sasuke pushed Naruto off him and stood up. Walking toward the door, he smirked as Naruto sputtered behind him about being called ‘mommy’.


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The next few days found Naruto talking with Gaara more than anything else. Well, mostly, Naruto talked ‘to’ Gaara, but it was beneficial for them both.


On this particular day, they set in front of the fireplace in the library. Gaara in a high backed chair and Naruto on the rug covered floor with a cooing Ryuu.


“Gaara, why do you always look so tired?” Naruto asked, rolling a small ball in the baby’s direction.


“Shukaku and I don’t have the ‘relationship’ you seem to share with Kyuubi. Also, Shukaku wasn’t sealed inside me the same way as Kyuubi. As a result, if I sleep for long, he can get out.”


“Oh… have you ever tried talking to him? Or maybe we could look into finding out more about my seal… I could ask Kakashi.” Naruto grew quiet, thinking of different ways to help his new friend.


“Naruto, I’ve lived this long…”


“Not good enough. There has to be a way. Maybe I should talk to him?”


“Who? Shukaku? No.”


“Why the hell not? You won’t even consider that I might be able to help you?” Naruto sat up, staring harshly at the red head.


“I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s dangerous and Uchiha would never allow it.”


“Sasuke doesn’t know everything and he doesn’t have the right to control or make my decisions. If I can help, I want to and I will.”


Gaara sighed. He had talked to Uchiha more about the mystery that was Naruto and Sasuke had said that Naruto was stubborn to a fault, especially when he got it in his mind that he could ‘help’.


“He cares for you.” Gaara stated.


“I… well, I guess.” Naruto blushed.


“Have you told him?” Gaara asked, looking blankly out the window.


“T-told him what?”


“What they did to you.” Green eyes locked with blue. Naruto couldn’t look away if he tried.


“I, Gaara,” Naruto released a nervous chuckle, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


“I’m not stupid and neither are you. Don’t waste my time. Playing in someone’s mind tends to have side effects. Have you told the Uchiha that his brother and Orochimaru raped you?”


Naruto felt the sick race up his throat. “N-no.”


“He needs to know. You need to tell him. He needs to know how to proceed and this information is vital to that.”


“I don’t know how. Can’t I just pretend it didn’t happen… it’s worked so far.” Naruto gathered Ryuu into his arms, seeking quiet comfort from the infant.


“Naruto.” Gaara’s eyes softened, “I will allow you to help me. Ask Kakashi, talk to Kyuubi. I t-trust you. I ask you do the same for me. He needs to know. He needs to hear it from you, before he tries something and you freeze up.”


“Gaara, how do you know this?” Naruto stared at the lord, searching for answers.


“I’ve had similar experiences.”


“Gaara…”


“I’ve handled my demons,” they both shared a smirk, “you need to handle yours.”


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Sasuke knew that Naruto and Gaara had many thing to discuss and he was glad that Naruto had found another friend, but once again, he felt like Naruto was giving all his time to everyone else. Sasuke barely stopped the pout that threatened to overtake his mouth. He was still an Uchiha… dammit!


Stalking toward the kitchen, the lord of the castle began his ‘dobe hunt’.


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The Sand siblings would be leaving the following morning and for tonight’s dinner, Chouji and Naruto were making a feast. Currently, Naruto was working on dessert. Cake batter and whipped cream freckled his hands and face as he headed toward the pantry for another pan.


“Dobe.”


“Ah! Oh, hey, teme. What brings you to the pantry?” A blond eyebrow raised in suspicion.


“You.”


Sasuke leaned forward and gently grabbed one of Naruto’s hands. “What have we here, dobe?” Sasuke brought a finger slowly to his mouth and, while never breaking eye contact, gingerly began to suck the sweetness off of tan fingers.


“Sasuke… what are you… ohhhh…” Naruto closed his eyes, the image was too much. He felt Sasuke’s tongue circle and suck, pulling and pushing his fingers in and out. “T-teme.”


“I missed you, Na-ru-to.” Sasuke whispered after releasing the boy’s newly cleaned fingers. Naruto’s eyes flew open when Sasuke began to lick cream off his cheeks. “Such a messy, dobe.”


“S’uke…” Sasuke stopped the flow of words with his mouth while pushing Naruto’s back against the pantry’s shelves. He loved the sound of Naruto’s breaths coming out in short pants, never giving a thought to his own hampered breathing.


“Sasuke, is this us…”


“Yes, dobe, we are going… So. Terribly. Slowly.” Sasuke’s voice was like velvet, making Naruto’s chest hurt in it’s attempt to keep his beating heart inside.


Naruto looked up at the dark haired man, Sasuke’s eyes were filled with lust and want. He wanted Naruto. God, how had Naruto gotten so lucky as to invoke that look in the lord’s eyes.


Boldly stepping forward until his chest touched Sasuke’s, Naruto reached his arms up, circling the lord’s neck.


Naruto purred, “Teme… I’m so glad that we’re going… slow.” Fisting handfuls of midnight hair, Naruto’s gently yanked Sasuke’s head down until their mouths met and tongues fought for dominance.


Chouji absently wondered where that extra pan was.


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The following morning found the Uchiha courtyard similar to how it had been when the Sand siblings arrived. Albeit with much less drama.


“Uchiha.” Blank stare.


“Sabuku.” Stoic smirk.


“Idiots.” Huge, cheeky grin.


“Dobe.” Lust filled smirk.


“Naruto.” Blank stare.


“Broody bastards.” Twitching mouth.


Then Naruto couldn’t hold it anymore and he started to laugh. It seemed contagious and soon smiles and chuckles could be seen and heard throughout the courtyard. Well, barring the two lords. They don’t ‘do’ contagious laughing.


“Sabuku, thank you for coming. You and your siblings are always welcome.”


“Yes. It was an… interesting visit.”


“Ah… you both loved it. Should we hug?” Naruto interjected.


“NO!” Both men shouted… um, spoke very calmly.


Gaara turned his attention to the blond, “Naruto, you will remember what we talked about?”


“Yes.” Naruto fidgeted, “And I’ll see what I can find out about the seal.”


“Thank you.” Eyes raised across the courtyard. That was… new. “Oh, I almost forgot.” Gaara turned his green eyes toward Sasuke. If the dark haired man didn’t know better he would have sworn he saw amusement in those eyes, “I hear the Fifth Hokage is making her rounds. I suspect she will be here within the week, two at most.” Yes, that was definitely amusement.


“Hn. Thank you for passing on that delightful news.”


“My pleasure.”


And with that, the Sand entourage departed.


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Naruto sat himself next to Sasuke at dinner that night. Once again the table was back to how it had been. Although things had loosened up around the Sand siblings, everyone was glad to be just the ‘family’ again.


“Teme?” Naruto asked, touching Sasuke’s hand to gain his attention . “Who is the Fifth?”


“Huh, I’m surprised you don’t know, actually. She was a teammate of Orochimaru’s when they were younger. Her name is Tsunade. She is a healer of unsurpassed ability and stronger than many as well.” Sasuke noticed, with no small amount of pleasure, that the dobe had yet to remove his hand.


“Oh. Why would she come here?”


“I am the lord of my lands, as Hokage, she is the leader of us all. Her job is to protect Fire Country. Occasionally, she ‘tours’ to stay in touch with her people.”


“That doesn’t sound bad. Why did you and Gaara seem so… well, against it.”


“Well, she is… unique. I said that she tours to stay in touch, but I suspect that she does it to avoid her real responsibilities.”


“If the old hag is so irresponsible, then why is she Hokage? Why don’t you kick her out?”


“Hn. It’s not that she is irresponsible, it’s just that these trips are more of a vacation to her and a chance to annoy the rest of us.” And drink. Note to self, Sasuke thought, check how much sake we have, acquire more if necessary.


“Oh, I think I see. Will she have a problem with me, do you think?” Although the answer was obvious.


“Oh, come on, kid! Of course she’ll have something to say. I’d be disappointed in her, and you, if she didn’t.” Kiba yelled from further down the table.


“Dog Breath, no one was talking to you!” Naruto hollered back at him.


“Hey, without you, this place would be really boring. What with you fainting, trying to kill strangers, telepathically speaking to others, randomly whipping out forbidden jutsus…”


“Dammit! I passed out! Do you hear me? Passed out! From exhaustion!”


“Whatever you need to tell yourself to faint… oh, I mean sleep, at night.”


The conversation fell apart from there.


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Several nights later, Sasuke was lying back in his bathtub thinking about his dobe, his son and the happenings of the castle. Things at the castle had fallen back into the pattern that had been established before Gaara had came. Naruto working around the castle, with Sasuke occasionally having to hunt him down for ‘private’ time.


Ryuu was growing everyday. He would be three months old soon and some of Sasuke’s favorite moments were the times he spent with Naruto and the chibi. Naruto would sit down between Sasuke’s legs, leaning back into his chest, while encouraging the dark haired chibi to smile or attempt crawling. So far, the young boy could only rock back and forth on his hands and knees until he fell on his face. Naruto thought it was adorable, Sasuke worried for the boy’s Uchiha pride.


Sasuke closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the tub.


“Hello, teme.” Only years and years of Uchiha training kept Sasuke from screaming like a little girl.


Sasuke attempted to turn his head around, but Naruto’s breath in his ear held him frozen.


“I just wanted to remind you that we are taking this,” Naruto nibbled at Sasuke’s earlobe, “Slowly.”


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Naruto stood outside Sasuke’s room, forehead pressed against the door. It had been nearly two weeks since Gaara had left and Naruto still hadn’t told Sasuke about his ‘experiences’ with Itachi and Orochimaru. He knew he needed to, but what if Sasuke was so disgusted that he never wanted to touch Naruto again?


And Naruto was man enough to admit that he wanted, needed and savagely craved Sasuke’s touches. But Gaara was right. So far Sasuke had been very reserved. Their encounters involved kissing and nothing below the waist. Part of Naruto wanted Sasuke to touch him everywhere. If the dark eyed man could make him feel this good with just kissing, surely others things would be just as good, if not better. Another part, however, and it was a big and ugly part, starting shaking at the thought, fear griping his chest, making it hard to breath.


Naruto sighed, dammit, Gaara was right. Sasuke needed to know so that if, god willing, Sasuke still wanted him, he would work with Naruto to overcome his fears.


With this in mind, Naruto decided to tell the lord about his past the next day. But tonight, oh tonight, he was going to give Sasuke a taste of his own medicine. The man chased him down and had his way with him whenever the mood struck him. Now it was Naruto’s turn. This may be the last time Sasuke ever allowed Naruto to touch him and Naruto intended to make this time count.


With shaking hands, Naruto pulled the latch and silently entered Sasuke’s bedroom.


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Naruto almost fainted… passed out!… when he saw that Sasuke was in the bathtub. From his position at the door, he could only see the back of the dark haired lord. His smooth, pale shoulders made the damp curls around his neck seem so black they gleamed a bluish tint in the flickering light.


‘Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.’ Naruto wasn’t sure he could move, breathe… oh god, or think! He reached blindly behind him to leave again, he couldn’t do this. What had he been thinking? And then Sasuke sighed, resting his head back against the tub, exposing his slender pale neck to Naruto.


On their own accord, Naruto’s feet silently took him toward the lord. In his mind he kept telling himself that this may be the last time… the last time he was allowed to touch Sasuke, taste Sasuke…. Feel Sasuke.


He knelt down near Sasuke’s head, leaning in until he could feel Sasuke’s heat against his skin, “Hello, teme.”


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Sasuke tried to say something, he really did, but then the dobe attached his mouth to the side of his throat and all rational thought left.


“Teme, I thought I would show you how much I appreciate you going so slowly with me.” Naruto’s voice was low and husky. When had Naruto learned to talk like that? Sasuke’s hands gripped the sides of the tub.


“Remember this?” Naruto trailed gentle kisses from Sasuke’s hairline down to his shoulder and behind his neck. “Thank you for that” Sasuke moaned, low in his throat.


“Or this, teme. Do you remember this?” Naruto bit down on Sasuke’s jugular, sucking and then soothing tenderly with this tongue. Sasuke couldn‘t stop his hips from bucking at the sensation. “Thank you.” Naruto breathed in the lord’s ear.


“And, Sasuke, thank you for this.” Naruto moved to the side of the tub so that he was facing the dark haired man. Black eyes devoured the blond hair and blue eyes of their tormentor. Naruto leaned forward placing a gentle kiss against the pale forehead, the smooth eyelids and flushed cheeks. Tenderly, Naruto captured Sasuke’s pale lips in a chaste kiss like none other they had shared. Sasuke felt a tentative hand rest on his bare chest and the rose colored lips tremble against his own. “Thank you, thank you, thank you…”


Naruto pulled away. Sasuke saw that his eyes were closed and a small smile graced his lips.


“Dobe.” Sasuke’s voice was like warm honey and it made Naruto’s insides burn.


Naruto moved behind the tub again, fisting handfuls of black hair and pulled Sasuke’s head to the side. Naruto leaned down and tasted the muscled neck once more, leaving no area untouched by teeth, tongue and lips.


Sasuke’s hands gripped the sides of the tub so harshly he was absently amazed the tub hadn’t cracked.


“Ahhhh… Naruto!”


“Shhhh… teme. Slowly, remember?” Another gentle nibble on a pale earlobe.


Sasuke shut his eyes, waiting for more. At the gentle click of the door behind him, his eyes popped open and his head snapped around.


“What? Naruto?” Sasuke sighed, leaning back against the tub again. What was that?! He sifted and a hiss escaped his mouth. He was so painfully hard that even the gentle motion of the water was excruciating.


“Dobe.” Well, it wasn’t going to go away by itself. As Sasuke’s hand slipped under the water, he couldn’t stop the nagging thought that Naruto had been saying goodbye.


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Naruto’s plans to talk to Sasuke were put on hold the next day when the main gates were opened for none other than the Fifth Hokage and her entourage.


The occupants of the castle gathered in the courtyard to welcome the blonde haired woman. Naruto, who was standing behind Sasuke, was shocked to see how young she looked. Talk about impossible things, he huffed.


Tsunade approached the Uchiha. Although he would never know, he was her favorite lord. So stoic, so serious, so easily played with…


“Ah, Uchiha. I’ve heard many interesting things have happened here. Why is it you don’t share with your Hokage? You know I only care about your well being.”


Sasuke smirked, “Of course, Hokage-sama. I count myself so very lucky for that.”


“Still a brat. Why do I tolerate you.”


Naruto looked beyond the Hokage to see a tall, gray haired man. He had red tattoos under his eyes and wore a odd shaped forehead protector. He looked… familiar. Hoping to get a better look, Naruto stepped out from behind Sasuke.


“Ah, who do we have here?” Naruto heard Tsunade ask.


Naruto smiled nervously, hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh, hello, Hokage-sama. My name is Naruto Uzumaki.”


Naruto didn’t even realized she had slapped him until he fell against Sasuke and was held up in his arms. Sasuke felt his eyes bleed to red, his glare fixed steadily on the blonde woman in from of him.


“What the hell!” Kiba roared, coming to stand in front of Naruto, Akamaru growled menacingly at his feet. Shino, Shikamaru, Lee and Kakashi also came to stand next to their lord and the blond haired boy, weapons still sheathed, but bodies tense and prepared for anything.


Holding a hand against his abused cheek, Naruto turned to look at the Hokage. The pain was excruciating and tears streamed down his cheeks.


Tsunade’s intense eyes glared at the blond boy, her face twisting into a snarl.


“You,” she hissed, “are a liar!”