Disclaimer: Obviously, I didn't write Naruto, but I wrote this~ so win some, gain some :3

Summary: A strong person can't be determined in one clear way. Obstacles varied for most, and at times, others had it harder. For Sasuke Uchiha who had to sacrifice something precious, it ruined his life. For Naruto Uzumaki who had to nurture something controversial, it saved a life. That something was a baby. SasuNaru

Rated: M

Pairings: SasuNaru

Dedicated to: Meehalla

A/N: This is a giftfic to Meehalla who's been such a sweetheart for supporting me and inspiring me in my stories! I seriously hope that my writing won't disappoint you and thank you for giving me this chance to explore new territories. Obviously, I've never done a Family/Light Romance themed story. I'm quite used to hot and heavy themes, but yeah, see me struggle guys! It's going to be one hell of a bumpy ride~

Little Raven

By: Kaida Matsuki

Prologue

Only the weak shall perish.

The saying had always been handed down from generation to generation in the Uchiha household. It reflected the glory in their children's achievements through every avenue of academics and sports. When you hear the name, it equated to successful individuals. They were the epitome of envy from every aspiring mortal that desired recognition, honor and glory. They were known to trample their rivals and reign at the top. They were the models of society.

They were strong and perfect.

Except for one.

Sasuke Uchiha would've traded his place for this oddity that was deemed as a reject in his father's eyes. He'd never liked the man ever since he realized there was no pleasing him, but from this day on, he hated him. He hated Fugaku Uchiha with every fiber of his being for rejecting the one thing he had fallen in love with at the instant he laid his eyes on it. He loved the fragile being so much that he didn't care what his father said. He was willing to throw away the Uchiha name to have this small creature, but it was too weak and he was too young.

A baby connected to complex arrays of wires and tubes laid sleeping weakly in the ICU. He was born prematurely and with problems. The doctors later proclaimed that with his poor health, he wouldn't make it after the first month.

He was a failure.

Those were the man's words after finding out the girl he impregnated had a defective baby. He hadn't even flinched when they found out that the girl had died during childbirth. He had actually sneered then sighed, as if it wasn't trouble enough that he had to clear the issue where Sasuke hasn't even married her. That of which, they had no plans of. They were supposed to appease the girl's parents with money, but the girl was adamant in marrying Sasuke. As what his father mentioned, she got what she deserved.

Sasuke didn't love the girl, but he knew she didn't deserve to die like that. She didn't deserve to die unloved… He didn't love her. How could he? He only met her at one of a college rave parties, and frighteningly drugged his drink and raped him. It was uncommon to hear a male being raped, but it was true. The morning after, he had been terrified of what she would do. He escaped from her grasp and ran for all his worth. He dreaded every phone call ringing at his home, expecting his father to disown him after this drunken blunder. He later developed a fear for attending parties and drinking.

When days passed to weeks and he hadn't heard from the faceless girl, he grew relieved, but it was too soon.

On his father's inauguration, they got a phone call from the girl's parents, informing them she was pregnant with his child. The look on his father's face chilled him. Never had he seen him so furious and humiliated, he feared the man would kill him then. Itachi stopped him. He reasoned with him that to contain the situation from getting any worse, they should assure the authenticity of the news and if ever, take proper actions in supporting the child and mother. For a moment, he had a glimmer of hope that the tests would come out negative.

The results showed that the child was his.

It was the second day that his father looked close to beating him up. It was his first to be sneered at, as if he was nothing but a bug crushed under the soles of his shoes. He had never felt humiliated and angry at some stranger that managed to ruin his life with their claims of love from this act of selfishness.

Initially, he had despised the girl, but when he'd seen his baby boy, he held some gratitude for her, especially after learning she died giving him his son. He had imagined hating the baby, but upon seeing his small stubby red hands reach out to him, he knew he would've guaranteed the world to protect and love this small creature. This small life form needed him, and he was ready to defend him from his father's clutches.

He was ready to be disowned, ready to find work; ready to leave the Uchiha family for good. He planned to work, while finishing his studies. He would find a way in achieving everything for his baby, but fate had thrown another hurdle – One that he couldn't pass.

His baby was dying.

Sasuke's throat clogged up and hurt as he noted he wouldn't be able to hold his baby. He could only look at him, plugged into machines that struggled to extend his tiny life.

"Sasuke, we need to go."

And even that was limited.

"Can't I stay a little longer, nii-san?" The way he'd said it sounded like a reluctant child, but the depths of his reluctance couldn't fathom the heartbreak he'd deal knowing what was to come. "I just want to look at him."

Itachi looked pensive, but he knew that the more time he'd exposed Sasuke to the baby, the more he would get attached to the being. The harder it would be for him to move on. He didn't want to force his brother through such ordeal, since he'd been through enough. "I'm sorry, otouto."

Sasuke's hands shifted into fists, trying hard not to tremble as he whispered in an almost broken tone, "Can't I take him home? I can have those machines installed at home! I'll hire a nurse, I'll pay anything! Just… I just want some more time with him. Whatever he has left. That's the least I could do."

Itachi sighed and stared at the fragile baby, making his heart soften at the sight. The baby looked exactly like Sasuke when he had been a baby. He would've grown up big and strong, if not for the condition with his weak lungs. He firmly shook his head, looking intently at his younger brother as if he were a child. "Sasuke, father would find a way to detain the baby from leaving the hospital. You know how the media works. They'll sniff this out and it'll stain our family with this scandal. You haven't married her and you can't save him. You need to understand you're graduating college too. Father wouldn't let you have your way, and the moment you unplug those devices to move him even for a bit, even if it were an accident, his lungs would collapse and he would die a painful death. Would you want that?"

Sasuke had to suppress a choking breath as he continued to watch his peaceful baby sleep away. His eyes started to sting, feeling utterly powerless in his current situation. His little baby was too young, too innocent, and as his father said, too weak. He wouldn't be able to survive from his household, much less stepping outside the hospital.

Steeling himself, he nodded once and turned away. His voice cracked when he said, "Let's go."

Itachi gently ushered him as he laid a hand on his shoulder. "I got you a picture if you want it. I'll send it to you later."

Sasuke nearly had the urge to shake his head, not wanting to be reminded of his pain with that one photo, but it was the only proof that his baby had lived, no matter how short it was. "I'd like that."

"It's going to be okay, otouto."

Sasuke knew he was lying. After all, the only thing he was leaving with from the hospital was a picture of his son, and only that. He felt his eyes burn as some tears escaped from the edges of it, forcing each step away from his baby. It was then his family's saying rung loud and clear within the turmoil of his mind.

Only the weak shall perish.

And he wasn't strong enough for his baby.

The duty of a strong man is to protect the weak.

Simply handed down to an orphan boy by his father. Those were his parting words that struck a chord in the young blond who had no one to protect and no one to protect him. Life hadn't been so kind to those who are without parents, but he had always remained true to his father's words. After all, he had died protecting their country as a proud jet fighter. His name became monumental, but was only buried within the pages of newspapers and later, books.

His father was praised and hailed as a hero.

But died as a martyr.

Naruto Uzumaki had found that truth at the tender age of twelve after his guardians, who had been searching high and low for him, legalized his adoption. He didn't understand what they meant, but when he had found out, he wondered why his father died like that and if he even knew. He thought that it would've changed his view for his words, but it only proved stronger in his system – embedded. He wanted to be a man stronger than his father to protect people like him.

That's why he aimed to become a doctor.

He wanted to save lives.

When he had mentioned that to his grandmother, his guardian, she was relieved. She had thought that he would follow his father's footsteps and become a jet fighter. She also became quite pleased to know that he wanted to follow her footsteps instead. Tsunade was known to be the best doctor in the country, which inadvertently made her one of the best in the world.

Although he was still considered young, he had some exposure at the hospital since his grandfather, Jiraiya, conceded to his pleas, despite Tsunade's protests for being too young. He was willing to spend his senior high working part-time in their hospital, even if it meant cutting down on his rest time. He wanted to get closer to his goal, but Tsunade would chase him off whenever she found him during his rounds, which is the reason why he chanced upon hearing the latest gossip from entering at the back entrance.

"…leaving the poor baby."

"I know and all because to keep up appearances…"

"…surely shows money talks."

Naruto merely heard tidbits of their conversation, but shrugged it off. He was far more concerned checking in on time. He couldn't show any blemish on his record since Tsunade would see that as a leeway for him to scram from the hospital. He looked back, curiously checking if the people the staff talked about was still in view, and all he saw were their backs. Two black-haired individuals slipped into an expensive vehicle that awaited them, before it immediately left.

"Brat!"

Naruto jumped, ready to sprint off when he heard Tsunade's voice, but strangely, she speed-walked past him. He blinked. He'd never seen his grandmother walk that fast, usually she would take her time. "Baa-chan, what's the rush?"

"Go home, brat. You're too young to take up hospital duties, and I don't care if you say it's mostly easy duties, you're underage."

"I turned eighteen four months ago, baa-chan."

"See! The hospital could be sued for child abuse, for letting an underage work!"

"I got in two months ago, and I already have permission from the school to spend my remaining hours here in preparation for college." Naruto groaned as they went past this similar conversation for the nth time, but unlike before, Tsunade wasn't chasing him out, which was weird. "So what's happening?"

"Nothing you should know."

"Did the old pervert do something again?"

Tsunade's jaws snapped shut and clicked her tongue in fury, surprising Naruto by the intensity. Somehow, he prayed that the old pervert would live through Tsunade's wrath after she was done with him. Better yet, let her simmer down before she could find the old pervert.

"Jiraiya," Tsunade called out in an even, controlled tone, but the people in the vicinity within earshot knew it was but. If looks could kill, his grandfather would be six feet under. "We need to talk."

Naruto mentally cringed and made plans to slowly inch away, until Jiraiya grabbed his shoulder, sending a distressed look while Tsunade glared from the pervert's back. He motioned his hands and mumbled, "Umm, I was just about to go."

Naruto was not that stupid. He valued his life.

Jiraiya's hold on him was relentless as he forced a nervous grin. "Naruto, you wanted proper duties, right? I can give you one now."

Naruto bugged out at hearing the offer. Although Jiraiya conceded, all he got was cleaning duties and if he was lucky, he could observe how to handle the patients. He was forbidden to enter most of the rooms though, so most of the cases he observed were from small accidents at best.

"Your first case will be a patient from the Pediatric ICU."

Naruto wasn't sure what his face looked like, but he didn't care. He'd never thought of entering an ICU, especially not even dreaming of having a case there. An ICU was short for Intensive Care Unit where patients needed dire help and attention, while Pediatric focused on children or babies. It wasn't a rare occurrence where people that young ended up there. Without a second thought, he nodded with unhidden enthusiasm.

That was until Tsunade pulled them both to the nearest vacant ICU.

Naruto wondered if he made the right decision.

"What the hell were you thinking, Jiraiya?!" Tsunade struggled to keep her voice down, but she itched to grab his neck and wring it tight. "Why'd you agree? I told you the baby had not much enough time, and you decide it's better to keep him here? What about his father? You let them abandon the baby here! We're not following protocols! Do you understand what we got into?"

"They were going to discard the baby, Tsunade."

Naruto had so many firsts on this supposedly uneventful day. He never heard his grandfather use a grave tone, while delivering it with a serious look. This had Tsunade hesitate and clench her hands, sighing aloud and leaning on the door. "So what do you plan to do now? We can't have the nurses attend rounds for that baby. We don't need any more of that news circulating that we let a client leave their baby."

Jiraiya patted Naruto's back and then said, "Naruto will handle the baby."

"What?"

A unison of two incredulous voices clashed in shock.

"Naruto can't handle a baby for his first case!"

"Yeah, I can't handle a baby for my first case!"

"He's too clumsy, he could drop the kid!"

"Hey!" Naruto's head snapped at Tsunade, but was promptly ignored.

Jiraiya merely walked to Naruto and grabbed his shoulder, leading him further inside the vacant ICU. Naruto grew curious where they headed, but when the ominous sounds of beeping sounds from the heart monitor, he felt his heart plummet. When the plastic divider parted, his throat clogged up at the pitiful sight that made his heart clench.

There was a small baby boy plugged to so many machines, making its form seem smaller in comparison to the intimidating equipments. Although he looked weak, the baby looked beautiful sleeping.

"He's so…" Naruto whispered, unable to voice out the turmoil of emotions brewing inside him. He felt pity for the small baby for being so weak. He couldn't believe such a sweet being could be left behind, and he felt rage towards the parents that abandoned him. He didn't know what to say.

"Cute, right?" Jiraiya smiled at Naruto as he nodded in complete agreement.

"Like an angel," Naruto whispered in adoration. He couldn't stop staring at the beautiful baby, but once he took his eyes off him, he looked straight at his grandparents. "I'll keep him."

Naruto looked back at the baby, feeling resolution steel him as nothing seemed to matter in the face of a being so sweet and fragile. He felt his heart swell with limitless love and devotion, controlling his urges to gather the baby in his arms and rock him with lullabies. In that very moment, his father's words came into mind like clear water, as if it was made for that very second.

The duty of a strong man is to protect the weak.

And he wanted to be strong for this baby.

A/N: So… What did you guys think? :) I liked how this story flowed when I was writing it (I actually wrote it at work while on my break haha) wow, can't believe how many years it's been since I started writing here! I started writing here during my high school and I'm still writing now that I've graduated from college, and found a job! Sorry, had a moment there. Anyway, tell what you think and hit the pretty review button~ :3