Disclaimer: I don't own the unparalleled Naruto. I am not making money off this fanfiction story.
A/N: Originally completed 5/29/10. Sand sibling rivalry! Gotta love 'em. Do review once you read; this is all I ask!
Rated K+ for mentions of blood/violence.
Brothers
He Screamed
Were mothers supposed to cry out like that when they had babies? It made Kankuro's heart pound to hear it. The door was locked, and he had to see what was going on. He pounded on it insistently. When no one opened the door or moved to help him, he banged even more loudly. He glared at the man who'd been assigned to care for him and his sister, silently ordering him to grant Kankuro's request as he always did—there was an advantage to being the Kazekage's son. But this time, the caretaker just scowled and shook his head.
Just then, the door opened. Kankuro stood on tiptoe to see inside, but a man slipped out and shut the door so quickly that Kankuro couldn't manage to catch a glimpse of the room's interior. It was Yashamaru. He looked pale and shaken; it was hard to tell if the fluid trickling down his cheeks was sweat or tears. Kankuro quickly pulled on the leg of his pants. Yashamaru, upon looking down and noticing him, immediately offered him one of his sweet smiles.
"Your mother is having a baby," he said.
"Baby," Kankuro echoed him.
"That's right. You wouldn't want to wait around in there while your mother is in bed," Yashamaru cajoled him. Kankuro couldn't see why not; Father and Granny Chiyo were allowed in. "That room is no place for children," Yashamaru explained patiently. He crouched next to little Kankuro and patted his head. "Don't worry; it won't be long now. And when it's all over, you'll have a new baby brother."
"Brudder?" he repeated. He blanched when a scream came from behind the door, the loudest, most horrible scream yet. Then a baby's voice joined it—and he wasn't crying, sobbing, or even wailing. He was screaming too, as if he were in excruciating pain. From the caretaker's arms, three-year-old Temari began to sob. Kankuro whimpered and gulped down a sob of his own. Yashamaru rose and put his hand on the doorknob.
"You'll understand in time," was all he said. Then he disappeared into the room again.
But Kankuro didn't understand. Not in the days to come. Not when he was older.
Not ever.