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 SunaoTsuji, disembodiedvoiceofthedying, meow-ku, SyilxPrincess, angelj232000, lonelylulaby, v, Prism0467, sadie237, satterb, blugirlani21, richon, YamanashiOchinashiIminashi and unneeded who reviewed chapter 83.

It is always wonderful to hear from readers.

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). His chapter does includes some Naruto and Sasuke action.

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Chapter eighty-four: Approval

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It had been a long morning so far and Sasuke was looking forward to it being over.

Neji kept coming back to how it was essential to reinforce their contacts in Tarrasade. Sasuke knew they needed people to be more inclined to say yes than no. He tried to ignore the small voice in his head that reminded him that no one had dared to say no to his father.

Shika had devised one of his models to monitor their influence with key groups. It was horribly visual with a horizontal line to represent neutrality. The only groups that were well above it were spacers and hybrids. Criminal gangs were low and falling; apparently Uchiha insisting on labourers, even hybrids, being paid a living wage was challenging their powerbase. The residents of Level 5 and 6 disliked them; Uchiha was pro-hybrid and they did not want hybrids living in their neighbourhoods. Businessmen and entrepreneurs were more hopeful; they were moving from avoiding dealing with Uchiha whenever possible towards a realisation that they paid a fair price and on time.

The upper stratum of Tarrasade society distrusted them; there was nothing new there.

“This is the group you need to convert,” Neji insisted. “You will never be willing to use your father’s, grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s methods so you have to win their favour.”

Sasuke thought of what he had learned from his father’s desk; the extent and depth of Uchiha’s corruption.

“They liked your mother, Sasuke-sama,” Neji pushed. “Given a chance they will like you.”

“That’s enough,” Kakashi growled.

Sasuke raised a hand. “I am fine, Kakashi-sensei. Neji-san is correct.” He sighed. “What scheme have you and Shika-san come up with?”

“Credit,” Shikamaru admitted. “Continue paying well and on time. Become a patron of the arts, like Klenn but on a much smaller scale. Perhaps concentrate on music because you have an interest in that. Take advantage of Naruto’s good start and become a prominent supporter of charitable causes.”

“And concentrate on the females,” Neji added. “Men hear Uchiha and think of your father. Women hear Uchiha and they think of you.”

Sasuke considered asking how he should concentrate on the females but decided he could leave it for another day. He was pretty sure it would involve him and Naruto entertaining middle-aged ladies and their daughters.

“I will think on it,” he conceded. “If there isn’t anything else, I suggest we finish it there for now.”


Naruto would be free that afternoon because he had spent the morning in the playroom. Sasuke was beginning to consider options when Kakashi opened the door to the corridor.

“Sasuke-sama,” he called.

Sasuke looked. Sitting against the opposite wall of the corridor was Naruto. His expression was fixed; his blue eyes intense and his whiskers high. Sasuke hurried toward him and then realised that Hikaru and Haru were sitting, cross-legged, either side of the doorway.

Thoughts of a pleasant afternoon with Naruto faded.

“Will you need us, Sasuke-sama?” Neji asked.

Sasuke checked Naruto’s expression. “No. Thank you, Neji-san, Shika-san, Kakashi-sensei.” He waited until they left. “Naruto, will in here be suitable or should we go to my office?”

Naruto stood up in one fluid motion. “Here will be fine,” he replied. “Haru-chan, Hikaru-chan,” he instructed, gesturing them towards the room.

Sasuke sat down. Whatever his sons had done, he was not going to loom over them. He saw Naruto take a deep breath and move a chair so that they would be sitting side by side.

“You have one chance to tell your father what you did and why,” Naruto said once he had sat down. “Haru, you will go first.”

Sasuke flinched. Naruto had never referred to him as ‘your father’. He was always ‘Papa’.

Haru’s chin came up. “I attacked Hi-chan. I did it because I was so angry I could not think.”

It was a surprise. Sasuke had never imagined that Haru had inherited his temper. “Why did you lose your temper, Haru-chan?”

“Hi-chan should tell you,” Haru answered.

Sasuke looked toward Naruto, who nodded.

“Hikaru-chan?” he asked.

“I said something bad to Ha-chan,” he admitted.

Naruto gave the smallest of growls.

“I called him Akatsuki,” Hikaru admitted.

Sasuke froze. He would not lose his temper. He would not strike his son. Naruto growled again. The little colour in Hikaru’s face drained away.

“I said you would never trust him, because he had lived with the Akatsuki,” he gabbled.

Sasuke shut his eyes. He would be ice; too cold and too hard for the molten heat of fury. “Naruto, please take Haru-chan to the kitchen, make sure he has his meal and then joins his siblings in the playroom. Haru-chan, losing control is never acceptable and we will discuss it another time.”

Then, without planning to do so, he followed them out, slid the door closed and leaned against it. Naruto looked at him in concern and then crouched down in front of Haru.

“Ha-chan, I need to talk to your Papa,” he said. “Go to the kitchen and tell Choza-san that we sent you to have your midday meal. Then, when you have finished, go to Kiba-san in the playroom.”

Haru gave him a Shikamaru look with his Naruto-coloured eyes, nodded and then ran off down the corridor towards the kitchen.


Naruto stood, turned and moved towards him. Sasuke shut his eyes and waited. He felt Naruto’s warmth, his whiskers, his breath and then his touch.

“I love you,” Naruto whispered.

It was what Sasuke needed to hear. Naruto could never have loved a man like his father. He risked allowing the ice to melt and discovered only anger; the rage had passed.

“We will talk with him together,” Sasuke said and Naruto nodded.


Hikaru was still standing exactly where he had been when Sasuke had left the room. He looked at them with huge blue eyes in his small, white face.

Sasuke sat on one chair and Naruto on the other.

“Hikaru-chan, why did you say such things?” Sasuke began.

Hikaru looked away. “We were arguing. He was winning.”

Sasuke shut his eyes and counted. Once he reached ten he opened them again. “You said dreadful things that are lies just to win?”

“He likes Zetsu. How could he like Zetsu?” Hikaru complained.

A tiny part of Sasuke sympathised; he felt the same way about Shikamaru. “He knows Zetsu, you do not,” Sasuke reminded him. “Even if you disagree, or do not understand, it does not justify you calling your brother a traitor. You said I did not trust him, Hikaru-chan. How could you? How would you feel if he had said the same to you?”

“There are lines you do not cross,” Naruto added. “You crossed one, Hikaru-chan.”

Sasuke was grateful for the interruption. Naruto was correct; keep it simple.

“Hikaru-chan, we love you, but we do not like this part of you,” Sasuke told him. “You will stay here while your To-chan and I decide your punishment.


They went into the corridor and shut the door.

“A punishment room?” Naruto suggested. “Like Iruka-sensei used with Tayuya?”

Sasuke liked the idea. It was simple and did not require him to strike one of his children. “Not for too long,” he decided. “We have to remember that he is only little.” He thought about it. “Only until after the others have been put to bed; he sleeps in his own bunk this time.”

Naruto hesitated but then nodded. “This time,” he agreed. “I shall go organise it. Give me a few minutes and then bring him along.”


They put Hikaru into one of the spare rooms and arranged for meals to be delivered before going to the playroom to collect the babies and so that Sasuke could speak with Haru. He found a quiet corner and sat with Haru in his lap.

“Losing your temper is always a bad thing,” he began.

Haru nodded gravely. “It was weird,” he admitted. “My mind didn’t work.”

“That is why it is so dangerous,” Sasuke admitted. “You do things without deciding to do them.”

“Like when To-chan chased Ran,” Haru suggested.

Sasuke had only been thinking of himself. “Yes, like that. I have lost my temper sometimes. Neither of us are proud of the times it has happened.”

“You almost lost your temper with Hi-chan,” Haru observed.

“Yes. I stopped myself. Your To-chan helps me do that. Now, what Hikaru-chan said. There is not one tiny grain of truth in it. I trust you utterly and completely.” He touched the crest over Haru’s heart. “You are Uchiha.”

Haru smiled. He placed his small hand over Sasuke’s heart. “We are Uchiha,” he replied.

Sasuke’s throat closed and he blinked away tears. “Yes. We are Uchiha.”


Naruto was studying him as they carried the babies to the nursery and put them down for an afternoon nap.

“Teme?” he queried once they had activated the monitoring system and slid closed the door between the nursery and their bedroom.

Sasuke went to him and hugged him. “I want you to fuck me, dobe. Even if it means using a hypo afterwards.”

He felt Naruto’s arms wrap around him and his breath in his hair. “Me or growling-possessive-Naruto?” he asked.

Sasuke was confused by the question. He pulled away a little and looked up into Naruto’s face. “There is only you, dobe. They are all parts of the you I love,” he emphasised.

Naruto let go of him and undid the soft leather choker that carried his plaque. He placed it safely on a surface and then touched the thin band of his controller. “This is a beautiful thing,” he stated.

“It made the life we lead possible,” Sasuke agreed, wondering where the conversation was going. He had been hoping for a mind-blowing fuck rather than yet another in-depth discussion.

“Before Shi-chan was captured, I told him how much I wanted to be able to fuck you without switching,” Naruto admitted.

Sasuke had long ago accepted that, as Naruto’s best friend, Shika was privy to all aspects of their sex life.

“Anyway, while he was away he thought about it and he had an idea,” Naruto continued.

While most of Shikamaru’s ideas were excellent, there were exceptions. Sasuke steeled himself.

“My controller monitors my responses and knocks me out when certain parameters go over thresholds,” Naruto reminded him. “Well, he thought that the sensors in the controller could be used to monitor how close I was to switching to growling-possessive-Naruto and send a signal to a...” Naruto flushed slightly. “...a thingy.”

“What thingy?” Sasuke asked and then caught on. “A prostate stimulator,” he clarified. He imagined quickies where Naruto fucked him and was immediately hard. “Has he made a prototype for us to try?” he asked.

Naruto nodded. “We would need to be careful,” he warned.

Sasuke was already undressing. “Hypo to use if you go wild. Which you won’t,” he added hastily. “Hypo for if it doesn’t work and we get stuck together by your knot. You get those while I use the head,” he suggested.


Within a short time they were sitting cross legged and naked on the bed. Naruto handed Sasuke a wooden box. He opened the lid. Inside, nestled on dark red silk was a prostate stimulator; Sasuke recognised it from the training he had done before becoming a cat. It was a tasteful dark blue. He looked more closely and saw the Uchiha fan on the base near the handle; trust Shikamaru.

“Have you tried it yet?” he asked.

Naruto scowled at him. “Of course not. It’s for us, not me.” He looked into the box. “It’s such a funny shape,” he commented.

“Knowing Shika he probably broke Rin’s security and looked up your medical scan to make sure it is a perfect fit,” Sasuke replied. “Does it have an on switch?”

“The Uchiha crest,” Naruto replied. “It gives a bit when you push it and lights up.”

Sasuke followed Naruto’s instructions and the fan symbol glowed obligingly. “Excellent,” he observed. “Let’s lube it up, get it in and then I’ll give you a blow job.”

Naruto was on his hands and knees in a blur of movement. He gave a small growl of assent. “Hurry up, teme,” he demanded.


Sasuke soon forgot about wanting to be fucked. In all the standards they had been together he had never been able to give Naruto a proper blow job. Anything beyond a gentle suck and growling-possessive-Naruto would be raring to go.

Now he could lick, slurp, prod, suck, massage, tease and swallow. Naruto was moaning, yelping, whimpering, twitching, grasping and begging. It was wonderful.

“Do you want to come in my mouth or should I ride you?” he asked.

If the unfocused look in Naruto’s eyes was anything to go by, he was having problems thinking. Sasuke sucked the head of Naruto’s erection and watched as the aftershock of the stimulator hit him.

Sucking Naruto to a climax was fine with him.

“Ride me,” Naruto gasped. “I don’t have the control to fuck you,” he apologised. “Not yet,” he added.

Sasuke leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. “It’s fine, sweetheart. This is great.”

“May be frying my brain,” Naruto joked. “Turn around. I’ll prep you.”


Sasuke tended Naruto’s erection while Naruto kissed, licked and fingered his hole. Every time he sucked or stroked Naruto’s attention would wander.

“Stop that,” Naruto ordered. “Give me a chance to concentrate.”

Sasuke had prepared himself thoroughly using the e-machine but nothing could substitute for Naruto’s tongue, lips, whiskers and fingers. He gave in, obeyed and dedicated a minute or so to relishing how good Naruto could make him feel.

Naruto soon widened his attention to Sasuke’s balls and erection, which felt great but it was not what Sasuke had planned. He ran the tips of his fingers from Naruto’s inner thighs, across his balls and up his slender, curved length before diving down to engulf him. Naruto gasped and Sasuke took advantage of his lapse in concentration to pull away and turn around.

Impaling himself on Naruto’s erection was familiar territory. The strange part was not being flipped onto his back as Naruto switched.

Sasuke concentrated on moving to maximise Naruto’s pleasure. He was buoyed by the sight of his beloved: the flush within the golden sheen of his skin, the points of his teeth behind pink lips, each twitch of the curving whiskers and the glorious blue of his eyes through the screen of his lashes.

Hands on his thighs stilled his movement, followed by a gesture demanding lube. Sasuke reached for the bottle and squirted a generous amount into the proffered palm. Naruto gave it a few seconds to warm against his skin and then wrapped his hand about Sasuke erection.

“Move,” he suggested.

Sasuke smiled and continued as before except that now Naruto’s hand caressed him.

Part of his mind observed that they would need a lot of practice to be good at this; he has never ridden Naruto to a climax and Naruto’s concentration faltered every time Sasuke pushed him towards growling-possessive-Naruto and the stimulator pulled him back.

Suddenly they changed to another gear and thought yielded to sensation. Naruto’s hips began moving, dictating a faster pace, and Sasuke obeyed. Sasuke was swept higher and higher towards the crest of a wave that broke without warning. Naruto’s hand stilled and Sasuke watched ribbons of cum decorate Naruto’s chest. One more thrust and Naruto climaxed. It was both familiar and strange; Sasuke found himself missing Naruto’s knot.

Naruto pulled him down and met him halfway for a kiss. “Fun?” he asked.

“Fun,” Sasuke agreed. He thought about it. “Good fun,” he decided. “Another type of quickie.” He stroked Naruto’s chest. “The thing works, but did you like it?” he asked.

Naruto considered. “It was a bit weird,” he admitted before smiling. “Bath?” he asked.

“Bath,” Sasuke agreed.


They put the ‘thingy’, as Naruto called it, to sterilise, cleaned up in the shower and were soon chin deep in the bath.

“Do you want to thank Shi-chan or should I?” Naruto asked.

Sasuke froze at the mere thought of it before realising that Naruto was teasing him. “Dobe!” he complained.

“You are so easy sometimes,” Naruto admitted.

Sasuke decided that this was nice. One of the best things about quickies was that Naruto talked during and afterwards. Then he imagined this being all they had, no growling-possessive-Naruto or fluffy-soft-Naruto, and he thought for the umpteenth time how incredibly lucky he was.

“Teme?” Naruto asked.

“It will never replace our proper fucking,” Sasuke insisted. He tried to think of an analogy. “It’s a tasty snack rather than a feast.” Then he suddenly thought that it might not be the same for Naruto. “Of course if you prefer it...”

Naruto growled at him. “Don’t be silly. How could I prefer it? When I switch, either way, the world becomes just you and me and it’s wonderful. I would never give that up.”


They talked. They started with Hikaru and then moved on to the other children. Tsuneo woke up so Naruto went to get him while Sasuke cooled the bathwater. He swam about while Sasuke explained the approval ratings model that Shikamaru had devised.

“We are going to have to work on the high status families,” Sasuke told him. “Neji insists that the way to start is to concentrate on the ladies.”

Naruto’s whiskers twitched. “We?” he queried.

Sasuke thought of all the reasons why meeting females without Naruto at his side was a bad idea. “We,” he insisted. “Dobe, it will be like when I met Sakura-san and it will be a hundred times worse if you aren’t there.”

Naruto sent Tsuneo across the bath to him. Sasuke gathered him up and tickled him. He giggled but pushed Sasuke away, preferring to swim.

“We could always distract them with the children,” Naruto suggested.

Sasuke watched his sunshine-haired, sapphire-eyed, golden-skinned son; Tsuneo was a chubby ball of hyperactive happiness whom no female would be able to resist. Then he thought of Kazuki and Ryuu. Would they be as pleasantly disposed towards tails and ears?

They would have to be.

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