Title: The Arranged Marriage
Author: Praecipula
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Rating: M
Pairing: Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki (SasuNaru)
Warning: Fluffiness like cotton candies, Crack Plot. Yes, this is absolutely crack so don't take the storyline, characterization and scenes too seriously. I'm not joking. UN-BETA.
Author's note: So here it is! After two years of silence I finally have the courage to put up a multi-chap story. The last time I was brave enough to try it, I took it down after only three chapters I think but I'm asking you to please trust me on this. It's a plot I really want to finish and enjoy writing about. Those who like Crumbling Promises will probably enjoy this too. I think.
Prologue: The Parents of the Groom and…the other Groom.
Once upon a time, just for the heck of it, two families met in Konoha Hospital. By the name of the place, the readers should have an idea of what these families were. Yes. Konoha Hospital was one of the leading hospitals in the whole country of Philippines. Only the rich and famous find it in their black hole pocket to spend more than 2000 pesos for a simple checkup. You'd think the cause for these check-ups are illnesses like cancer, AIDs or any life-threatening disease. While it might be a good thing that they weren't those, it was still a sad thought when, quote one resident doctor Ibiki said "I just had a patient with a normal cough insisting it's chronic bronchitis." People, if it aint hurting you that much, please refrain from thinking too much.
Now let's go back to the two families. One of them was Uchiha Family, the sole owner of the Uchiha Empire that practically dominates real-estates, telecommunications and utilities of the country. They have left and right investments in land productions. With each five condominium you come across in the country, you can bet four out of five that the Uchiha Empire owns. They are that big. Oh hey, let's ask this little nurse girl here.
"Do you know the Uchiha?"
"Uhm..yes, I live in Sharingan Eyes."
See? Sharingan Eyes was one of the most famous projects of Uchiha Empire. The idea was there are five condominiums built in a 14,870 hectare land. They are named, Kusanagi, Amaterasu, Sharingan, Izaanagi and Susanoo. Inside that land, built several malls and fields for golf, soccer, whatever sports that will cater to the tenants. The advertisement for it went on like 'Whatever you need, it is in your city.' Yeah, so it's like you have your own little city in your city, if that makes sense. Even normal people know the project. What a blessed person that nurse was.
Uchiha Empire was so famous that they got their own subway station named after them. As commuters get off the Uchiha Station, they will immediately step into the Uchiha's affiliated buildings. It might also be because since the Japanese colonization, Uchiha had been in the country. Their ancestors were already rich; they just had to maintain it throughout until 21st century.
The other one family is the Namikaze. Although 75% of the country' citizens haven't heard the name yet, they will be surprise to learn that they own the 65% share to Senju Malls. Now you're surprise. Yes, the Namikaze were literally the force behind the success of several Senju Malls. Just last year, the SM Rasengan was awarded as the largest mall in Asia and the third largest in the whole world. Rumor has it that they are planning to bag the number one but the company hasn't release an official statement yet.
Unlike the Uchiha Corps, Senju Inc. was just recent. Uchiha Empire had several generations to build their power but Senju only started by the hands of Tobirama Senju. The rag to riches story is really popular. For a while, it has been incorporated into graduation speeches to motivate the younger generations that hard work really pays off. The story was Tobirama was just a simple shoe maker, working in the busy and harsh streets of Quaipo City until he managed to save enough money to build his own store and that store grew until several products were offered a place in their racks. Today, there over 300 branches of Senju Malls scattered from urban to rural areas.
Such heavy people that you will not see loitering just anywhere. But Konoha Hospital was acceptable so here it was, the two families, about to cross path.
"What if-"
"Kushina, it'll be fine." Minato Namikaza nearly gritted the word out, having cut off his wife's words for the umpteenth times. He always considered himself a patient man but when it comes to his red-haired partner, he always felt like falling from the end of his patience.
"Yeah. Yeah, of course." Kushina gazed down on her huge belly and massaged it gently. It was her first baby so even though she rarely gets nervous about anything, she could not help but be scared of something that can hurt the baby. She smiled softly when Minato's hands covered hers and together they rubbed her belly.
"I hope he or she will look like you."
Minato's hand tightened. "No, it should be you. Just as beautiful as you."
"Really?" Kushina snickered, about to cross her ankles but realized she could not. "All this time, you thought of me as beautiful? Why am I only hearing this now?"
"Don't." Minato widened his eyes but his lips curved into a small smile. "I know what you're doing."
Kushina wanted to fish out more compliments when she heard her name being called across the hall. They turned their heads to see a dark-haired couple and a seven year old boy moving towards them.
"Mikotoooo!" Kushina yelled with giddiness, standing up to meet the Uchiha mistress. She kissed her cheeks and tried to hug her but the bumps in their belly prevented them. They both laughed at the awkward action.
"Nice seeing you again, Minato." Fugaku Uchiha stepped back from his wife as she indulged in baby talks with Kushina. He felt his son Itachi subtlety moved closer to him. He glanced at him but the child pretended to look inside the tinted glass of the Ob-gyn room.
"Have you shopped for baby shoes in the-"
"Kushina." Fugaku smirked. "Itachi just jumped from grade one to grade four today."
"Really?! That's awesome!"
"We're really proud of him." Mikoto's cheek reddened and dragged her son from glaring at his father to sit between her and Kushina. "Tell us how you impressed your teacher."
Minato laughed when a look of smugness crossed Fugaku's face. "I really wouldn't want to be your son, even for the money."
"Serves him right. He kept bugging me to buy him a game."
"What game? Why don't you just buy him then?"
Fugaku frowned. "Skyrim is for 18 above."
"Itachi's mentality is 18 above."
"Yeah but—wait till you get a child of your own."
Minato was about to say how excited he was for that to happen when the door of the clinic opened. A nursed stepped out and asked for the Namikaze family. Kushina's face instantly paled. Minato moved beside his wife and put his arms around her. He nodded to Fugaku and Mikoto as they entered the clinic.
An impossibly big-breasted blond woman was writing on the desk. She stopped and stood up when her next patient entered.
"Hello Kushina and Minato, how are you?" Tsunade couldn't help but grin seeing the mixed emotions in the couples' faces. Wherein Kushina appeared to be nervous, there is just plain excitement in Minato.
"We're fine." Kushina's voce took on a smaller tone.
Tsunade sighed. "The baby's fine too Kushina. Stop worrying too much, you're practically here every two weeks for examination."
"Yes, but I still can't help it but worry for the baby. What if-"
"Wife." Minato kissed the babbling red-haired cheeks. "I won't let anything happen to you and the baby. Calm down."
Kushina bit her lip and settled down a bit. "It's only three months from now. I know we said we want it to be a surprise but an…arrangement a few weeks ago made us decide that we want to know the baby's gender now."
"Oh?" Tsunade's brow quirked in curiosity at the statement. "What arrangement?"
"Fugaku and I decided to marry our children when they come of age. We have been discussing partnership but it's not only us that are involve so we figured in order to convinced the other members, we would need to have a stronger ties other than just being friends for ten years." Minato explained, not hesitating because Tsunade was practically a part of their family as she was the family doctor since he was little. He trusts her with his life, as well as not to chat with paparazzi.
"But what if they don't like each other?" Tsunade asked dubiously.
Kushina waved off her hands dismissively. "That won't happen. Did you see Itachi? Uchiha have good genes and well, if the child takes after Minato, he or she will be set."
"You are far more beautiful than me, wife." Minato rubbed his wife's shoulder tenderly and Kushina leaned into the touch, happy with the comfort.
"Looks are just factors."
"I know." Kushina nodded softly. "But the Uchihas are good people. I trust them.
"Fine, come here." Tsunade moved closer to the table. "I'm excited to know too and then can probably shop now for the right gifts."
Minato accepted the white cloth given by Tsunade and supported his wife as she took off her panties. She was already wearing a loose dress so all she needed to do was wrapped the cloth around her. He grabbed her shoulders as she lay unto the metal table. Tsunade squeezed out a liberal amount of lubricant jelly in Kushina's belly before using the x-ray device.
"Uhmm..there." Tsunade stopped moving the device and focused on one spot. "See it?"
"What is it?" Kushina and Minato uttered at the same time, anxiously trying to decipher the image of their baby.
Tsunade's lips stretched into a grin as she turned to the couple. "It's a boy!"
"Oh my god…" A tear slipped down Kushina's eyes and before she could say the words again, Minato's lips were already on hers. She returned the kiss softly and laid her a hand on his that was cupping her face. Minato pressed their forehead together when they separated.
"I'm having a boy. I'm…overwhelmed."
"Right." Kushina laughed heartily. "A little Minato, Dad would be so happy."
After Tsunade prescribed more necessary preparation for the nearing delivery, the couple exited the clinic with euphoric smiles. The Uchiha couple was already standing up to congratulate and inquire.
"It's a boy." Kushina announced cheekily.
"Oh my god." Mikoto grabbed her hands and squeezed them, honestly happy. "That's so great! A little Minato, can you imagine it?"
"I know." Kushina snickered. "What the hell, right?"
"Hey!" Minato growled. "No swearing, the baby might acquire it!"
"S'only a joke. I love youuuu."
The same nurse stepped out again, halting their conversation. "Doctor Tsunade is ready for you, Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha."
"Okay. Itachi stay with your Aunt Kushina for a while, okay?"
Despite Itachi's displeased frown, the Uchiha couple moved inside without him. Kushina beckoned him to sit between her and Minato. She then proceeded to pinch his small cheeks, gushing about how she would want her son to be as beautiful, intelligent and nice as him. Minato just laughed at his wife's antics, both of them knowing how much Itachi hates to be treated like a child.
"What if it'll be a boy too?"
"Hm?" Kushina moved her arms away from the small frame. "What do you mean?"
"What if I'm having a brother, what happens to the arrange marriage?"
Kushina and Minato both frowned. Of course it had cross their minds but it will be odd if Kushina and Mikoto will have children of the same gender, right? Kushina tried to save the situation. "That's like...really odd to happen so-"
"Kushina!" Mikoto's voice called out before even opening the door. Her face was flushed and her eyes are impossibly wide. "I'm having a boy too!"
Itachi had been the one to break the silence by laughing hard.
The only sound that can be heard in the Uchiha library was the continuous tapping of fingers into the wooden desk. The two people sited on the large desk were both looking in the large painting of Madara Uchiha, the pioneer of Uchiha Empire. They were gazing at it with matching frown as if asking it to resolve the current dilemma they were both facing. Back in the day, it was rumored that Madara knew everything.
"It doesn't matter." Fugaku sighed, leaning back on his chair. "We'll still go on with it then."
"What if, they grow up both straight?" Minato's forehead knotted, feeling like the whole arrangement will be impossible now no matter what.
"Well we just need to open their eyes sooner and make them understand that they'll marry each other."
Minato started shaking his head. "I don't know about this Fugaku. I don't want to force my son if ever."
Fugaku let out an exasperated sigh. "Well what do you propose? The board members are still against our union, they still want to be the sole owner of Uchiha Empire. Several companies are already moving forward, as leading empires, we should be the one leading that innovation. Of course we can achieve it independently but our powers will be unstoppable if this partnership happens."
"But sacrificing our sons? Fugaku you know this is the one and only child Kushina and I will have due to her difficulty in conceiving. It's even a miracle we managed to produce one. I'm not about to ruin his life if he wants to have his own decisions."
"Then how about this? We tell them they'll marry each other from the beginning but if they don't want to in the end then no forcing will take place. I treasure my sons too so if something won't make them happy, I will not intervene."
Minato sighed, reluctant. The offer was reasonable, unlike their first arrangement wherein the boy and girl will need to marry each other despite anything. And if this didn't work, Minato was sure he and Fugaku can still survive. "Well, sounds fine to me but I still need to talk to Kushina about it."
"Call me then."
"It's fine with me." Kushina smiled brightly after hearing what Fugaku and her husband discussed. She squeezed the sixth little lemon in her ramen and mixed it all up. Her pregnancy cravings leaned towards sourness and ramen. She knew it was not healthy so she was trying to control giving in to them now.
Minato gingerly pulled his chair closer to her. "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly while trying to gather her wife's long hair behind her so it will not touch her food. "I can still say no to Fugaku, you know? This is our child's future."
"Minato." Kushina spared her husband a glance between slurping the noodles. "You were the first one that worried me when we learned that Mikoto and I will have both boys. I wasn't sure if you are open to homosexual relationships but now, I'm glad that you are not a homophobic because if you are, I will be greatly disappointed. Love knows no bound. It cannot be defined. Until now, I'm still struggling putting into words how much you mean to me."
"Me too." Minato put on his best puppy eyes, causing Kushina to snicker.
"And if there is one thing I want for our son is to have a secured future. I would never want him to grovel for something he wants. He deserves to have the best. I will always pray that he be in good hands and I know the Uchiha's will give it to him. I want to secure a future for him where I can rest in peace, literally. We will not always be there for him; we will grow old so as much as possible, I want to be assured that he will still be okay."
"Me too." Minato repeated, pulling his wife into a hug.
A month later, Mikoto Uchiha gave birth to a healthy baby boy. They named her Sasuke Uchiha. The baby, even though still a baby, already looked so handsome. Like his parent's he has pale skin and dark-hairs. Even the snobbish Itachi Uchiha couldn't resist Sasuke's charm as he was always by his brother's side. He found the baby too cute especially when it became irritated by cheek pinching which Itachi developed as a hobby. Fugaku couldn't count the times he refrained Itachi by having too much fun in making his baby brother cry.
Three months later, it was Kushina who gave birth to another boy. This time, it had tanned skin and blonde hairs and captivating blue eyes. It was a little Minato alright but his loud cry was none other than Kushinas. Even the nurses who are used to crying babies cringed when they hear the little blond release one. Minato, who couldn't move on from a book, named his son Naruto Uzumaki. Later, when Kushina learned that it actually pertains to Narutomaki in ramen, a brief war occurred in the Namikaze household.
These two boys will grow together, no doubt about it. The two families just wish all will go according to what they wish for. Hah. Don't try Fate; she's got a habit of ruining lives.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Yes, it's set in the Philippines. I'm sorry if ever you are unfamiliar with it. I would want this to be in somewhere I know well. And anyone from my country will know where I based the Uchiha and Senju's background. Heh.