Sasuke panted. 3 Chidori's… One more and my chakra nil. He thought glumly, staring across the waters of the Lost Valley at his opponent. His opponent, thankfully, looked like he'd taken quite the beating too. Naruto is on his third tail… If I can get one or two more, the Kyuubi's chakra will overtake him and destroy him. Sasuke nodded to himself, and immediately re-activated the three-wheel Sharingan.

Orochimaru had told him that fighting the Kyuubi was the closest thing to fighting Itachi. The Kyuubi beats any damn Uchiha ten-fold. Sasuke thought as he infused some chakra into his kunai. That's why I have to beat it… I just wish it weren't you, Naruto… Sasuke thought sadly, preparing to make the finishing blow.

Naruto's now red eyes flashed as he watched Sasuke charge towards him. Is he seriously trying to kill me…? He thought, still somewhat shocked. Sure, he was on his third tail by then, but the blond had never been the fastest of people when it came to thinking. What bewildered Naruto the most, though, was Sasuke's surprising lack of emotion when they both knew good and well he could win if he really wanted. He knows friendships are my weakness, and he's a friend. Naruto thought firmly still determined to hold back.

"Sasuke…" Naruto growled, glaring at the knife and its holder.

Sasuke made no attempt at a response, but instead settled for slashing at Naruto's right arm. The knife cut deep, and Naruto cried out. Why the hell didn't he dodge that! Sasuke thought, almost furious at Naruto for going easy on him. It was like mocking him. And this stubborn Uchiha would not stand for it. Sasuke was about to slash again when he realized Naruto was still making a racket.

Naruto was clutching his head and screaming out in agony. Something told the raven haired shinobi that it wasn't because of his arm. Patiently, Sasuke waited.

Another tail lashed out from behind Naruto, and his skin started to turn red.

Sasuke smirked. Orochimaru was right… It damages his skin… It's gone red with blood. But is that all this stage does? Sasuke was a tad disappointed and a tad anxious. Now he was going to have to fight a crazed Naruto with four tails worth of power. He took out another knife in the other hand, but Naruto seemed to have no interest. He was still clutching his head. Then something happened to make Sasuke seriously think about fleeing.

Five more tails lashed out.

Naruto was hardly recognizable. His nose had grown like a fox's snout, and his fangs were huge. He now had blood red ears, and his nails were slowly become long claws. Sasuke could feel himself pale. But apparently, a little of the Naruto he knew was still there, as the fox was still shrieking. Despite himself, Sasuke found himself reaching out to his dying friend, but was stopped by a blinding wave of red chakra that took over the valley. Sasuke felt himself going unconscious in an eerie calm, but before he hit the rocks, he heard the distinct sound of an infant crying…

--

"He was found with an infant?" A female voice was saying in disbelief. Sasuke thought for a minute, then pinned it as Tsunade's.

"Not just AN infant, THE infant. And the infant was slumbering on top of him." Said another female voice. Tsunade did something between a snort of laughter and a guffaw.

"What the hell happened, I wonder…?" Tsunade mumbled, then made a sound of dismissal to the other nurse. Sasuke was now trying his damn hardest to hide his chakra's spike which should've told the old hag he was awake. Maybe if I just lie here, she'll think I'm dead, and go away. Sasuke thought, a bit childishly, but still hopefully.

"Don't bother with the chakra. I know you're awake," came Tsunade's irritated voice. Sasuke reluctantly opened one eye to spot the hag glaring down at him from a spot closer than he would think comfortable. He flinched.

Tsunade smirked. She knew good and well what effect she had on people. "So." She stated, sitting back away from Sasuke a bit.

"You gonna tell me what happened?" She asked simply. No point in trying to torture an Uchiha. She thought bitterly.

"No," came the stubborn, yet shockingly simple, reply.

"We've got ways of finding out anyway, so you might as well tell me what really happened."

"Why don't you use those ways?"

"'Cause I like talking to arrogant Uchihas."

Up went the Sharingan. Tsunade chuckled. She'd known Sasuke for long enough before he'd scampered off to Orochimaru for power. That, and she'd known Orochimaru, but she bet the vast majority of Sasuke's attitude was his own, not the old snake's.

"Look, I'll tell you what we know, then you tell me what you know. Sound fair?" She asked. It was like negotiating with a toddler, and about as rewarding as one too.

"No."

"Good. I'll start." She took a deep breath. "Naruto. You fought him, and more than one tail came out, probably over four, from our experience. And the Kyuubi's chakra took over. The old Naruto is gone." A minor intake of breath from Sasuke, well hidden, but Tsunade caught it.

"The seal on the Kyuubi, however, had another thing coming. It fired back at the Kyuubi, and stole some of its chakra, and gave re-birth to Naruto." She said as calmly as possible. She could just feel a blank glare boring into her skull.

"Naruto was… re-born?" Sasuke's voice was almost a whimper.

"Yeah. The child is currently being taken care of by your other teammate, Sakura. But that won't last. She's going to take the place of me, as a Hokage, since, well, obviously, Naruto can't." She said, somewhat awkwardly.

Sasuke was now gaping openly. The concept of his old friend being re-born was still just a little ways beyond him. The attempt at thinking of Sakura as a Hokage was simply outrageous. She's so meek! How the hell will she protect anything! He thought stubbornly avoiding the subject of Naruto in his mind.

"And you'll be his care taker in a short while." Tsunade said, smirking at him. Sasuke just about died.

"Wait, what?"

"You're basically his adoptive father."

"F-Father!"

"Yeah."

Silence.

Then who the hell is the mother! Sasuke couldn't help but silently muse. He must've looked like a train wreck, because Tsunade was now laughing at him. He glared, instinctively activating his three wheeled Sharingan. Tsunade held up her hands, and tried to stifle her laughter.

"Oh, and just as a warning. The seal is just as loose as it was when you knew him, if not more." She said, still giggling a bit. Sasuke gave her the special glare that said: "I'd like to do terrible things to you. Very terrible things." She coughed and immediately straightened up.

"And if it found if you have injured him in any way, you'll be executed for punishment for abandoning the village." She said strictly. Foster father a Kyuubi, or die. For a minute or so, Sasuke seriously contemplated as to which could be worse. Either way, in his imagination, he ended up the same. Dead.

Standing up, Tsunade gave him one last smirk. "The elders didn't think this was suitable enough for a punishment, but knowing you, I think it's perfect." She said, still clearly enjoying herself. Sasuke now distinctly remembered why he had wished she hadn't noted he's awoken.

Walking bout and slamming the door behind her (by accident or on purpose, the worldwill never know.) Tsunade left Sasuke to his misery. Raised for the most part by a snake-wannabe, constantly battling/befriending the most powerful Jinchuuriki, and now adopting the one and same. I almost pity the guy. Almost. She thought as she happily rejoined Shizune.

Show your gratitude.

R&R.

...please?

AlternateEndings.