Chapter 1: Meetings and Reactions
Hello all! This was just kind of an idea that I had, and I just said 'what if..?' and started typing away. This is what happens 18,000 words later! Just a bit of background information before you read this AU-ish story: Minato and Kushina live, the Uchiha clan massacre never happens, Sasuke never gets Orochimaru's curse mark, and the Konoha twelve are all 25/26. There have been some arranged marriages for some of the people, just a warning! Anyways, I just kind of liked the idea of a baby between all of the clans and a few non-clan people, but if you don't, please feel free to go on on ahead and leave this page :)
And because I'm a noob, I'll just go ahead and say right now that I don't own the mainstream characters, or the original plotline of Naruto.
Please enjoy! :)
The yelling and shouting of threats could be heard around the village, raising from the dull roar from a few minutes earlier. The Meeting of the Clans was going nowhere. Murderous glares were sent from all sides of the room, and the insults had gone from small, haughty statements to overly dramatic and petty. Not all of the clans were fighting; in fact, the Ino-Shika-Cho were getting along as smoothly as always. No, the fighting was limited between two clans: the Uchiha and the Hyuga. They were fighting about which clan was superior, and whose heir most deserved to be the fifth Hokage. Speaking of the heirs, both Itachi and Hinata looked absolutely miserable as their fathers kept fighting and the aggression only seemed to escalate from there.
Tenten sighed and wondered if the meeting would even be useful in the end. After all, the agenda for the day was to end the power struggles and infighting between the Hyuga and Uchiha. Yet here both clans were, fighting about the same old things they had always fought about. Along with Sakura and Naruto- who had yet to arrive- Tenten was to serve as a neutral party in the matter. Other shinobi such as Gai, Asuma, Kurenai, and Kakashi had not been invited, with the only response from the Konoha Council being that it was an issue to be solved by the future leaders of the village. Tenten secretly wished they were here, so that she would at least have more people to rely on in the debate. The yelling was beginning to wear on her patience, and she couldn't help but to discuss it angrily with Sakura.
"How can they still be going at it?! It's been twenty minutes already, and there's no sign of the Hokage or the Council!"
"I don't know why it's taking them so long to get here, but that damn idiot Naruto better have a good explanation for why I'm involved in this!"
"It's such a shame to see so many people being caught up in this mess, and over such a silly argument, too."
"It isn't a silly argument, Tenten; it's a conflict between two clans that will determine the fate of the village." Neji said, appearing behind her chair.
"Exactly. And the Uchiha are clearly more capable than the Hyuga at being leaders." Sasuke claimed, sending Neji his infamous 'Uchiha glare' for good measure.
"Would you care to test that theory?"
"Gladly."
In a matter of moments, Neji was using his Gentle Fist technique while Sasuke aimed a Fireball at his opponent. A similar fight was occurring between Hiashi and Fugaku. Kunai and shuriken were flying and lodging themselves into the walls and furniture. The sound of shattering glass hardly attracted any attention at all, until some of it landed on Shikamaru and woke him from his nap. Soon, there were several small fires in the room, and much of the furniture had been burnt, broken, or both.
Minato opened the door and took in the scene before him. It seemed that even when the Konoha Twelve had reached their early twenties (and the clan leaders were middle-aged) that some rivalries never changed. With a sigh, he beckoned Naruto and the Konoha Council into the room. Quickly, they took their seats, with Minato at the very head of the table, Homura and Koharu sitting on either side of him, and Danzo sitting by Homura.
Naruto slunk off to the back of the room with Sakura.
"What took you so long to get here, you big blockhead?!" Sakura shouted while punching him square in the jaw.
"Geez Sakura, why do you always have to be so harsh?!" He cried as his nose bled and his cheek became swollen.
"Children, if you could please direct your attention to Lord Hokage, we might actually be able to begin the meeting," Homura grumbled.
"Yes, if none of you have any objections..?"
Hiashi cleared his throat. "Lord Hokage, it was the Uchihas that started it all! They-"
"If I am not mistaken, Hyuga, your prodigy over there was the one who attacked my son-"
"No, your son clearly had his Sharingan-"
"Your nephew had the Byakugan-"
"ENOUGH!" Minato shouted from his seat at the head of the long meeting table. "Both of your clans are at fault for engaging in combat, regardless of who started it. It is this type of behavior that has prompted the Council and I to call this meeting amongst the clans."
"If this meeting is to be solely amongst the clans, what are they doing back there? " Fugaku growled, pointing in the direction of Tenten and Sakura.
"They also play a critical role in resolving this conflict." Minato replied evenly, his features calm an in control, contrasting the expressions of Hiashi and Fugaku.
"How can they? They're hardly even old enough to be called adults!" Hiashi glared up at the Hokage.
"Their input is just as important in the matter as Hinata's is. And like Hinata, they too may take an active part in the resolution the Council and I have come up with."
"Hokage, your words are vague, please elaborate on this solution of yours," Shikaku stated. Choza and Inoichi nodded in agreement.
"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, the Aburame clan would prefer to remain detached from this argument." Shibi said, while Shino simply stared at the table, completely silent as per usual.
"While I understand why you would wish to do so, I'm going to have to deny your request. In order for this solution to have optimal effectiveness, the elders and I need full participation from everyone in this room. Before I begin to explain our solution, I need everyone here to sign this form of compliance." Minato handed out a form to each individual.
Fugaku raised a brow at this. "And if we don't sign it?"
"Then you lose all status in the village. Any clan members that you have in any rank, be it Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Anbu, and even Academy Student, will be immediately stripped of their title and incarcerated with prisoners of war and enemies to the village. Such will be the fate of anyone who refuses to sign."
"Father, it'll be less of a hassle if you simply comply," Itachi stated smoothly.
With a resigned sigh, Fugaku signed the form and handed it to Minato.
Said man smiled kindly. He hated that it had to come to this, but he was excited to see the outcome of the solution.
"Alright. We've signed your forms. So what's the solution?" Shikamaru yawned. He wanted this meeting to be over with already. It was such a drag to be there when he could be watching the clouds or taking a nap.
"As many of you are aware, arranged marriage is often used to ensure diplomatic ties between clans. The child produced by the marriage would often solidify the bond,and peace would ensue. However, such a tactic used to be limited to bilateral relations between two clans. With a new medical breakthrough by none other than Lady Tsunade herself, this innovation can extend to all here today. As a peace offering from myself to the clans, Naruto has agreed to participate it as well."
"That makes me feel so much better," Sasuke sarcastically remarked.
"Shut up, bastard!"
"Make me, loser!"
"Will the two of you calm down and listen to Lord Hokage?!" Itachi's words, although calm and even, held a hint of a threat. Both Naruto and Sasuke knew that nothing good ever came out of defying Itachi, and quieted within a second. "Thank you."
Fugaku turned away from his sons, irritation written all over his face. "So you're basically telling us that all of the clans would be represented in this child? How is that even possible? And more importantly, who will take responsibility for the kid?"
"It would be a shared responsibility between the clans. Each clan leader will be allowed to present their genetic contribution to Lady Tsunade, and from there, a surrogate mother will be chosen to carry the baby and do basic tasks like breastfeeding."
Danzo rose. "Since none of the clans seem to be in compliance with the mandate, it has become clear to me that they have all become uncontrollable. We must incarcerate them this instant Lord Hokage!"
"Lord Danzo, just because one generation is not willing doesn't mean that the other will refuse. There's a reason why all of the next-generation clan leaders have been included in this meeting. You are all a part of the future of the village, and I wish for you all to be involved in the solution."
"But what of the marriages and children that some of us already have? I can't leave my son when he's only two years old!" Ino interjected, causing some of her peers to cry out in agreement.
"I refuse to have my grandson abandoned for the sake of supporting unity between the clans!" Hiashi yelled.
"I thought governments were supposed to oppose having children born out of wedlock, not support it," Sasuke mumbled.
Turning to his younger brother, Itachi smiled a little. "While that is true, it is more important to ensure peace within the village." Itachi stood, addressing the entire room this time. "I understand why many of you would be opposed to the concept of this treaty, especially as a father and the future head of the Uchiha Clan; however, I also understand why this measure was created, and I agree with it being necessary. A treaty is simply a piece of paper filled with empty promises and faulty consequences that are seldom upheld on either end. Your child is the most precious thing to you- and your need to protect that child becomes the sole purpose of your life. It's that difference that in the end makes this the most effective solution for all of the clans, and for the safety of the village. I promise nothing but devotion to the child, and I encourage all of the clans to do the same."
Naruto shrugged, reclining his chair at a dangerous angle. "Well, I guess he has a point. I mean, if everyone is part of it, why would it be a problem?"
Neji scoffed. "It's not so simple, moron. There is more to being a Hyuga than bearing the name. Besides, I doubt that those without children are ready for one, and those who are already parents don't seem too keen on having another out of wedlock."
"That's true, but the alternative is even less appealing than parenthood." Tenten could feel how the atmosphere of the room had shifted from tense and ready to fight to apprehensive and confused.
"I agree with Itachi, preserving the peace is of the highest importance. But is having a child the only way to accomplish this?" Ino could remember the mood swings and backaches she had during her pregnancy with Shigeru. Not to mention the way her son had been colic the first year of his life. Even now, the terrible two's were destroying her inside, and her husband Tadashi was incredibly unreliable. Though Ino was fond of her peers, she saw how flaky some of them proved to be, and she knew that some couldn't handle the stress of parenthood. Considering the fact that this child would be born out of wedlock, Ino didn't know whether or not Tadashi would remain as loyal as his name claimed. She also was wary of how needy and whiny Shigeru was, and didn't think the boy was ready to have a younger sibling take her attention away from him.
Sensing the distress in the room, Inoichi felt the need to throw out other options. "Lord Hokage, it isn't that I don't enjoy being a grandparent, but despite their faultiness, are treaties not more prudent and simple options?"
"We've had thirty eight treaties and official documents focused solely on resolving the matter, with minimal success, if any at all. There's even a clause within the Konoha Civil Code of Conduct dedicated entirely to this conflict. It is due to the limited success of these measures that the Council and I have no choice but to create the mandate. "
"What a drag. Now I have to be a father again?! I won't be able to get a full night's rest for another two years now."
Choji laughed lightheartedly. "We were going to have more kids eventually Shikamaru. I guess that this will just take the waiting out of it."
Kiba growled in irritation. "Why do I have to be involved in this?! Isn't Hana the head of the clan? She should be the one having kids, not me!"
"Your sister's already three months pregnant, with the heir to the clan. There's no way she can be involved in this, you ungrateful little runt!"
"The Inuzuka's bring up a good point." Hiashi stood, walking to the front of the room and addressing the entire assembly. "If the clans are to participate, what of inheritance and heirs? Surely this child cannot become the head of multiple clans, especially considering the laws some clans have set regarding such matters."
"Part of the agreement is that this child will only be able to inherit what is allotted to it by each clan, and shall not be considered the first in line by right of inheritance. If individual clans have rulings regarding any rights of passage, the child will undergo the ceremony as any other clan members would. You need not worry about sabotaging the main houses of your clans, if that is a concern."
Fugaku and Hiashi both looked uneasy, and for once agreed upon one major question that as of yet had remained unanswered. "Is it allowed for another clan member to take the place of the current heir?"
Minato was disappointed, seeing as how both Hinata and Itachi already had their own heirs. With a sigh, he consented to their wills, figuring that clan participation was most essential to the solution. "Yes, as long as they consent to the contract."
Koharu spoke. "I believe that the matter has been discussed thoroughly. At this point, we will be receiving each clan's candidate, and a decision from the young ladies in the back. "
Tenten panicked. How could she decide whether or not she wanted a baby in the course of an hour?! People spent years of their lives preparing for a moment like this, and she'd barely had twenty minutes! Worse of all was that she had no one to ask. Wait- Sakura was there, maybe her decision would help to put things into perspective. "What are you going to do, Sakura?"
"I'm going to wait until the end, and see who else is being involved in this." Gee. What a fat lot of good that did.
"Right. Ok."
There was a low mumble in the room, as the clans decided who would be parent the child for their clan. The Uchiha's and Hyuga's in particular seemed to be having... lively and spirited conversations. Five minutes passed, with Koharu calling the meeting to order by banging her gavel.
"I will now call out each individual clan, and ask for the representative's name. Aburame clan?"
Shibi and Shino stood. "My son, Shino, will be a father to this child," Shibi declared.
"Akimichi clan?"
Choji's eyes hardened with determination "I will."
"Hyuga clan?"
"Neji Hyuga." Hiashi said from his seat.
Tension rose within the room, but the Hyuga's remained silent. Hiashi's look of resolve and Hinata's sad expression said it all: Hiashi had refused to allow her to parent a child that wouldn't be eligible to inherit the clan. Neji's face seemed impassive, but Tenten could see the irritability behind it. Even though he was upset about being a part of this solution, the guarantee of his participation made Tenten's mind: she too would be a part of this. Who knows? Maybe being in on this together would make it more fun?
After a few moments of awkward silence, Koharu spoke. "Moving on. Who is going to be the Inuzuka representative?"
"This whimpy little excuse of a man," Tsume laughed while pointing at Kiba, who grumbled something about the former scaring her husband off.
"And as for the Nara clan?"
"I guess I'll do it, since I have no other choice." Shikamaru scowled.
"Uchiha clan?"
"Sasuke Uchiha."
After Fugaku made this declaration, all hell broke loose. Many of the other males who were representatives started complaining, and Ino and Sakura both seemed to perk up slightly at the thought. The chaos only elevated from there, with Hiashi and Fugaku angrily shouting insults at each other, with Hinata and Itachi trying to calm them down. Neji and Sasuke looked like they were about to start fighting again when the loud banging of a gavel cut them off.
"DECORUM!" Minato shouted, immediately silencing everyone. He was fuming. Things had been going so well before, but the Uchiha's statement had apparently been too much for the trigger happy Hyuga's. "Being a part of this agreement means that you will have to deal with each other, and be able to speak to each other calmly. You might as well start here and now."
He sighed and looked around the room. "We still need the Yamanaka's representative. Inoichi?"
"Ino will be our representative."
"Thank you. Now that we have all of the representatives from the clans, we still have the two young women to hear from in the back. Ladies?"
"I consent to this agreement," Sakura declared, making eye contact with Ino. While Sakura's decision would have surprised some, Ino knew that her friend had been longing for a baby. When she first told the other about her pregnancy with Shigeru, Sakura confessed her envy towards Ino, but was happy for her friend nonetheless. As Shigeru's godmother, Sakura was as doting as any mother could be, and she always saw that her godson had every need and whim fulfilled. Ino jokingly blamed Sakura for making her son a spoiled brat, but she was happy that Sakura was a reliable adult in her son's life. Ino shifted her gaze to Tenten, who looked like she was about to faint from nervousness.
The Yamanaka wasn't the only one who was focused on Tenten, and all eyes in the room were now on her- which didn't escape the young woman's notice in the least bit. Why did they have to do this by roll call? Couldn't they have just let everyone write down their decision on a piece of paper?! Tenten looked up- and regretted it almost instantly.
The person closest to her was Sakura, who seemed to give her an expectant look. It was as if the medic wanted her to just say yes or no instantly, and Tenten was slightly annoyed by it. As another unmarried woman, Sakura should respect the complexity of Tenten's situation!
Moving on to another group of people, her eyes caught those of Itachi. Tenten had never really known him well, since she'd never been on a mission with him and had never talked to him, but he still intimidated her. Although he wasn't doing anything that would cause her nervousness, the look he gave her was quite intimidating for reasons Tenten didn't understand. Was he trying to tell her not to do this, or to be the surrogate of his brother's baby? Speaking of his brother, Sasuke had a devil may care attitude about him- and probably for good reason. It was no secret that his mother Mikoto often took care of his son, and beyond that, Sasuke had been married for almost five years, so he had other people to rely on when he needed help with his kids.
Fugaku's face was the most unsettling for Tenten. She could tell that he was planning something, and it rubbed her the wrong way. Everyone in the village knew that the Police Chief was a harsh man, and at times had the tendency to be ruthless. Tenten's father told her about him when he had gone into their weapon shop to get new weapons for the police force. When he had asked for the blades to be forged, he requested that they be sharper than scalpels, and had asked for multiple sheets of blank seal paper. He had also paid a hefty sum that was intended to keep this whole thing quiet, which her father had obliged him in. For whatever reason, Tenten couldn't trust this man, and she turned away from the Uchiha.
The person whose eyes she caught next belonged to Tsume Inuzuka. Tsume was well known for being outspoken about everything, and when Tenten had spoken to her briefly at her father's forge, she felt awkward. There was something about the head of the Inuzuka Clan that made her feel weird. Tsume had told her that though it was a man's world, 'bitches ran the show', and tried to get a rise out of Tenten, who ended the conversation by simply giving the woman her new kunai and all but kicked her out of the store. Kiba sat next to his mother sullenly, displeased about becoming a father.
Next to them sat the Aburame, who were as reserved as usual. Shibi seemed to be preoccupied with his own thoughts, and had looked away from her at some point. Shino, however, gave her an unsettling stare that made shivers run down her spine. It wasn't that she didn't like Shino, but he was just so quiet and reclusive that it made her feel off. After a few seconds, he too looked away.
The Nara were much easier to look at than the other clans had been. Shikaku seemed to be encouraging her, while Shikamaru gave her a slight smile. On one mission she had gone on with him, he was her captain and they shared third watch as the rest of their team slept. It was then that they started talking about family, and Shikamaru complained about how troublesome Kaori and especially Kanako were. Tenten told him how she would love to start a family, and about her feelings for Neji, and he replied that while the latter would never show it externally, he cared deeply for her. At the time, Tenten didn't know if it was true, but she was happy that Shikamaru would attempt to make her feel better about her life.
Choza and Choji seemed to be the brightest in the room, as they openly gave her wide and encouraging grins. Choji had once stopped by the forge with his daughter Haruna, and the two of them had a long and carefree conversation. Haruna became bored of not being included, and told Tenten that she was pretty enough to be a mommy. Tenten had asked why she had said that, to which Haruna replied "All mommies have to be pretty, and if you're pretty, you have to be a mommy! It's part of the rules!" Tenten didn't have the heart to tell the child that there was no such rule, and simply thanked the little girl. Choji knew that his daughter had hit a soft spot, and apologized to Tenten, but she waved it off and complimented him on having such a beautiful and sweet child.
Glancing at the Yamanakas made Tenten feel annoyed, as they looked at her with pity. If anyone should be pitied, it should be Ino with her awful marriage.
Tenten remembered when she, Sakura, Hinata, Ino and Temari had gone out drinking for a kind of girl's night out. After countless shots, Ino had began crying about what a douche Tadashi was, and how Shigeru was so clingy and whiny that she didn't know what to do. She continued to tell them about the way Tadashi was always giving her asinine excuses about leaving her alone with their needy son, and how he rarely ever did anything to care for their child. There wasn't anything Ino could do at the time, because her pre-nuptials required them to be married for five years before divorce would be considered, and they had only been married for three. At the end of the night, all of them staggered home drunk, save Hinata since she was only a bit tipsy, and Ino begged Tenten to never tell anyone about what she had said.
But as Ino looked at her now, with that gaze of pity, Tenten felt the care behind it. Ino knew the stresses of motherhood better than anyone, and didn't want that for her friend. Ino had openly told her on a mission they had recently that Tenten wasn't ready to be a mother, especially since she was single. Insulted, Tenten had tuned her out for the rest of the mission, and actively ignored her since, but she couldn't help but feel the nagging concern that maybe Ino was right. Could she really sacrifice part of her career as a shinobi for someone else. As a single parent, Tenten would be reduced to missions inside the village, and maybe as the child got older some surveillance around the border, instead of the S-class ones she had started taking on with gusto.
The last group of people she glanced at were the Hyuga's. Hiashi looked as impassive as ever, yet he still seemed curious. Tenten had spoken to him a few times, and while he wasn't as mean as he looked, he still had a very stern air about him as he asked what her relationship to Neji was. She kind of stuttered, and tried to make it look as if they were just friends, but Hiashi had easily seen through her attempted ruse. He explained that no matter how close they were, the Hyuga clan had a tradition of arranged marriage to uphold, and advised her to stop seeking out his nephew. He left her standing there defeated, and Hinata walked over to cheer her up, stating that under her rule, she would make it possible for them to be together.
Even when Tenten considered the possibility of being with Neji, one essential puzzle piece had yet to be factored in: Neji's feelings for her, if they were there. They had never gone on a date before, and didn't do anything particularly romantic as a couple, but Tenten couldn't help but wonder if she was something more than a friend to him. After long training sessions they had as genin, he would sometimes go with her to get gelato, and a few weeks after their first Chunin exams, he started to greet her with more affectionate gestures. Nowadays, he would often place his hand on her shoulder whenever she was near, and would invite her to Hyuga Clan celebrations whenever he was allowed. That had to mean something, right?
It seemed as if everyone in the village knew about her feelings except for him. They made eye contact, and Tenten was more confused now than she ever had been. She saw the apprehension in his eyes, but she also knew what he was trying to tell her: she was in way over her head. Neji knew he had communicated this thought, and reclined slightly into his chair, all the while keeping eye contact with her. But Tenten actively ignored this message, seeing the nervousness he repressed, and finding the fear of loneliness that he could hide from everyone but her.
Swallowing her fear, she made her mind. "I will be a part of this as well," Tenten said. Neji's eyes visably widened, and he sent her a look that made it clear they would talk about this- a look that he rarely used with her. She pretended not to see it, and looked at the rest of her peers. Itachi's reaction was unreadable, but he didn't seem to be angry, and Sasuke still looked as if he didn't care. Kiba was still pouting, while Shikamaru and Choji smiled at her. Ino was shocked, and gave her a worried look. Hinata beamed at her, pride evident in her face, and Sakura's smile was genuinely impressed. Naruto, for reasons unknown to her, was completely silent the entire time, seemingly wrapped up in his own thoughts.
The Hokage smiled at her in a way that was slightly patronizing, and addressed the entire room. "Very well. Report to the Hospital by 8:00 a.m. so that you may give your samples to Lady Tsunade. Thank you for being here today, and please, tell your clan members about this as soon as possible. Have a nice night!" Minato beckoned Naruto over as the room began clearing out, and Tenten lingered behind for a moment. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned around only to see Neji and Hinata.
"Hey Neji! I-"
Neji cut her off. "Tenten, are you certain you're ready for something like this? Parenting won't be easy- especially with a group like this." His tone was angry, and it caught her off guard. She knew that he was unhappy with her decision, but she was a grown woman, damn it! He should respect that, at the very least.
"Are you saying that you don't think I can do this?" At the thought of what she had just said, Tenten's heart broke. How could he say such a thing?! Had he not told her to lead her life the way she wanted just a few weeks prior? Under his scrutinizing gaze, Tenten felt like a foolish child in over her head. Neji's patronizing expression made her feel smaller than she ever had before.
"I'm saying that I don't think you're ready for something like this." Neji placed his hands on Tenten's shoulders. "I'm worried about you, Tenten. I just wanted you to know that."
"I- I know you do but I just thought" I just thought that you would be lonely with the baby, and that we could have a sort of family together. I just thought of all of the times where you talked about starting your own family and looked at me meaningfully after saying so "... that maybe" That maybe we would be happy with each other, that maybe we could find peace amongst this chaos together. Maybe I thought that you and I would find part of ourselves in this baby, and have a fairytale ending. I just thought that maybe..."nevermind."That maybe I could finally found out if you returned my feelings...
Neji sighed, rubbing her shoulder slightly. Tenten didn't want to think about any hidden meanings behind the gesture. she closed her eyes and just focused on how warm his hand was, and how soothing it felt to have him kneading small circles onto the stressed area. She started to relax into his hand. Opening her eyes, Tenten saw Neji give her a sad smile as he slid his hand from her shoulder down her arm, taking her hand in his for a moment. And just like that, it was gone. Neji turned and walked over to the watercooler in the corner of the conference hall as Hinata's hand replaced his. Tenten smiled at Hinata, who had become one of her closest friends as of late, and was taken by surprise when the latter embraced her tightly. "If it helps, I believe that you can do it Tenten," Hinata chimed, a gentle and warm smile lighting her face. Pulling away, Hinata held Tenten at arm's length.
Tenten returned the smile. "Thanks, Hinata."
"Hinata, Neji, we're leaving now," Hiashi barked. With that, they walked away, leaving Tenten deserted. She figured she might as well go home, too. As she was about to head over to je apartment, she remembered that it was Thursday night! Now she had to explain to her parents why she, an unmarried twenty-six year old woman was parenting a child to multiple elite clans. As if the night couldn't have been made any harder. On her walk over, the realization of what she had done struck her, and she panicked in a way not unlike a teenager would have.
What had she done? How could she explain this to her parents? 'Hey Mom and Dad, guess what? At the meeting of the clans I decided to become a parent, because otherwise I would have ended up in federal prison! Aren't you proud of me? ' yeah, right. Her parents were going to kill her, and she would probably end up crying alone on the couch tonight. For a moment, Tenten wished she had been born into a clan- that way she would at least have an excuse for making the decision that she made. She would even be seen as a martyr- sacrificing herself for the sake of the clan and bearing the child to preserve the peace within the village. Instead of that scenario, she would forever be estranged from her family, and be stuck alone and miserable raising the child with nine other people. To top it all off, she would probably be hated by the kid- her kid, even- and die alone old and withered in a house full of cats. Ok, maybe that was going a bit overboard, but she was allowed to be a bit depressed!
Opening the front door of her house, she saw her parents in the kitchen, both of them probably laughing over some stupid joke her dad had told. Her mom was by the oven, cooking one of her of concoctions, while her dad was sitting at the front of the table, drinking his evening gin and tonic. Her mother gave her a warm smile, and her father boisterously declared her presence with a loud "there she is!" Tenten sat next to her father, her guilt tasting like bile in the back of her throat. She didn't deserve their kindness or love right now- not after what she had did to them. If they threw her out on the streets and told her to never come near them again, she would bear them no ill will and happily comply with their request.
It wasn't until her mother shook her shoulder violently that Tenten noticed her parents were talking to her. Their looks of concern made her dizzy, and she wished she could turn back time and deny the Hokage's invitation to that stupid meeting.
"What's wrong, Tenten? You're never this quiet. Did the meeting go over well, at least? "
Realizing how quiet she had been, Tenten attempted to shake her nerves off. "I guess you could say that... I have something I need to tell you guys..." The dreary tone of her voice didn't escape her parents' notice.
"Did someone say something to you? About not being born into a clan?"
Why was the situation so unreal? It was going to be impossible to explain to them. "No... it isn't that..."
"Is it good news or bad news? " her father asked.
They had always wanted to be parents, right? But they also made their less than positive views about wedlock and the like very clear. "A bit of both, I guess..."
"Dinner's almost done. Do you want to wait until after to tell us? We can go out for gelato, if you want?"
"Yeah," Tenten faked a smile. "That'd be nice."
"Ok," her mom said, serving her what looked to be some kind of meat with burnt vegetables on the side. When Tenten cut into it, it seemed to be completely raw, as blood and some slimey goop seeped from the center. The smell of it was even worse, if possible. There was the burnt meat scent was there, along with the pungent vinegar aroma that practically made her gag. As she looked at it, she lost her appetite instantly. In fact, the only thing that looked edible on her plate was the salad. Her dad gave her a look said he shared her disgust.
"Thanks honey for the uh... exotic meal."
"It's not exotic- its supposed to be roasted chicken with vegetables..."
"Oh..."
For a moment, silence hung about awkwardly, and then, the three of them were laughing hysterically. Tenten forgot about her earlier despair, and enjoyed the moment of family time. It reminded her of when she was little, the way her parents were being immature, how they playfully bickered and laughed at their own jokes. Finally, they had calmed down enough to speak without panting or giggling.
"How about that gelato, then?"
"That sounds like a plan."
Walking towards the village center, they arrived at the Amorino shop. They all seemed to order their usuals- her dad had pistachio, her mom got mango, and she had strawberry. They sat outside of the parlor, eating their gelato and people watching. Eventually, her mom asked about what had happened at the meeting.
Tenten paused, thinking about how to approach the issue. She had to tell them, but the lump in her throat made it hard to talk. "You know how the clans are always going at each other's throats?"
"Yes. What of it?"
Had her mouth always been this dry? The sandpaper-like texture of her tongue made it stick to the top of her mouth, and her cheeks seemed to be stuck to her teeth. "The Hokage had this idea to unite them. He wants to do so by having them all get together and produce a child..."
"So why would that have made you upset?"
Tenten felt hot. Really, really hot. The back of her neck was chilled slightly by her nerve induced sweat, and the hair on her arms were standing on end as goosebumps sprung up without warning. Her breath became shallow, and the shakiness of her inhale made her entire body rattle with anxiety. 'Now or never, Tenten, ' her mind told her. The obnoxious taste of bile crept into the back of her throat, and forcing it back down, she told them. "The Hokage wanted me to be a part of it..."
"What does that mean? What did he tell you to do?!"
When had her hands started shaking? As a matter of fact, when had her entire body started shaking? It was uncontrollable, and she felt was so helpless at that moment. "I signed an agreement, saying that I would be a mother to the child. "
The confusion on her parents' faces destroyed her mentally. What had she done to them? How could she ever face them again? "But... why would you do that? Why would they ask that of you?! I just don't understand.."
Why hadn't she considered their feelings before signing that stupid agreement?!
"I don't know why I signed it, ok?! I just... I felt like... I had to do something... and Neji was in on it and everything! I thought it would be better, that it would be ok if we had each other in this process. But now, he doesn't even think I can do this! He told me at the meeting and I felt like crap after he did! And now you guys won't forgive me for doing this to you, and I'll be alone with a baby that'll hardly be mine..." Tenten's sobbing escalated as she spoke, and by this point she had snot and tears pouring down her face. Her breathing could only be compared to hyperventilation, and she could just imagine how ugly she looked right now. Her nose was surely red and swollen, and her eyes were probably the same. Slowly, Tenten glanced at her parents, and saw the loving, supportive expressions they wore.
As she met her mom's gaze, she didn't see anger, sadness or betrayal- only a warm smile and teary eyes. "We aren't mad at you, sunshine."
Her father's face was no different than her mother's. He put his strong arm around Tenten's shoulder. "You did what you had to do."
Her mom hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her forehead the way she had when Tenten was little. "Let's go home. You can stay in your old room for tonight."
"I'd like that," Tenten replied with a grateful smile.
As they walked home, her nerves were finally at ease, and she vaguely wondered how the clans were handling this situation.
Fugaku, Itachi and Sasuke walked along the path quietly, each caught up in their own thoughts. On their way back home, they passed a playground full of playing children and doting parents. This scene only served as a reminder of what had just happened, and triggered emotions in each of the men.
Itachi was a strange combination of exasperated and ecstatic. The former because he would have to explain this to the rest of the clan, and the latter because he loved children- especially Sasuke's! While there was no question about whether or not he loved his son, Toshio, being an uncle was rewarding in its own way. Katsuro was indeed a bit of a brat, but Itachi hardly had to deal with that as an uncle. He merely had the job of spoiling the boy and sending him back to Sasuke.
Among his excitement over being an uncle again, there was a bit of disappointment as well. He and Masumi had been considering expanding their family, and he swore he could hear the pitter patter of little feet. This time, they wanted a baby girl, one that would most definitely be spoiled, but sweet and beautiful nonetheless. Toshio had overheard this conversation, and had been talking non stop about how he would protect his baby sister, and about how he would be the 'best big brother ever.' There was a bit of sadness as Itachi realized his brother had the opportunity to be a father again. Of course, he and Masumi could have a child at any time they wanted, but Itachi felt that the negotiations were barely beginning, and they were sure to be too time consuming for him to devote enough time to his wife were she to get pregnant. Glancing at his father, Itachi saw emotions entirely different from his own.
Fugaku was angered at having his authority taken from him so easily, and was now plotting a way for the Uchiha to have more control over this child than the other clans. His face clearly displayed his fury, forehead wrinkling in hate for the Hyuga. There had to be some way to override the authority of the Hokage and Council, he just had to figure out what it was. The only solution to this situation in his mind was for the Uchiha to gain full custody of the child, and early on as well.
It was hard for Fugaku to accept these rules being imposed on him, especially concerning his grandchildren. Toshio and Katsuro were both outstanding young boys, and he knew Mikoto was dying for either Itachi or Sasuke to have a girl. Fugaku wanted nothing to stand in the way of his grandchildren's success, including another grandchild. If it were a fully Uchiha child, he wouldn't mind so much, but since the other clans were to have a hand in this child's upbringing, he worried that it would be corrupted by their influence. Not to mention how the rest of the clan would react to the news. The Uchiha were highly dissatisfied with the way the village was running, and some had even spoke of forming a coup. Of course, Fugaku had shut it down before anything happened, but he couldn't help but be suspicious. Sighing, he remembered that the one member of the family that would be most affected was his son. He stole a glance at Sasuke, who seemed to be annoyed.
But that was only the tip of the iceberg. How was he supposed to explain to his wife and three year old son that he had been forced into bearing another child? Surely Satomi wouldn't believe his story, and what of Katsuro- the child was far too selfish as it was, how could he be expected to guide a younger sibling through life's challenges?
Sasuke was infuriated, and he was at a loss of what to do. The only reason he married Satomi was so she would produce his children, and it showed in their relationship. She was always demanding that he spend more time with her, and claimed that he should at least attempt to love her back. It annoyed him incessantly, but he would set that aside in front of Katsuro. Even though Sasuke and Satomi were not on good terms in any sense, Sasuke recognized that their separation would harm their son. Katsuro needed to be able to see male and female interaction, and Sasuke believed that the best way to do so was by observing his birth parents. Wanting only the best for his child, Sasuke stayed.
While others would be reluctant to believe it, Sasuke loved his son dearly, and had never been happier than they day the kid was born. He might not shelter the kid as much as other parents, and he was not the most affectionate man there was, Sasuke cared deeply for Katsuro, and did everything possible to ensure the kid was happy and healthy. Though his facial expressions wouldn't reveal it, Sasuke cherished moments where Katsuro would ask him to demonstrate his 'cool ninja tricks', or to tell him stories of intense missions he'd been on. Sasuke even enjoyed the times that Katsuro had fallen asleep on the couch, and had to be carried to bed, and the precious moments when his son had climbed onto his lap and snuggled into his chest. But the times Sasuke loved most were when would look into his eyes and say 'I love you, Vati.'
Surely, these special moments were shared by many parents and children, and while he had no qualms about having more kids, Sasuke was concerned about this new child that he had been forced to conceive. It wasn't just the fact that there would be nine other people to have to deal with, but more so with how the kid was supposed to be able to identify with all of the clans and their traditions. Moreover, some of the kekkei genkai would require weeks of time devoted solely to training with that specific bloodline trait, so how would there ever be time for the child to learn all of them? And most importantly, what if this child wasn't capable of using any bloodline trait, and was a rather ineffective ninja? These questions couldn't be answered by anyone, and only time could tell, but nevertheless Sasuke accepted his newfound responsibility, and would now proceed with telling his family about it.
Coming to the street he lived on, Sasuke turned to his father and brother. "I trust that you two will tell the rest of the clan?"
Itachi smiled slightly, "Yes, of course."
Sasuke smiled back, "Good. Father, did you want to tell mother about this, or should I?"
"Do you honestly think that your wife will let you out of her sight long enough to let you speak to your mother?"
Letting out a small chuckle, Sasuke shook his head. "No. That damn woman drives me insane. You two are lucky that your wives gave you something to love. But what else can you expect from arranged marriage, right?"
"I guess so. I believe Masumi and I are one of the only couples in the clan to have naturally fallen in love."
"That's true. I wish I could go back and pick someone other than Satomi. All she does is whine and bitch all day, and Katsuro is starting to imitate her in that."
Fugaku chuckled a bit looking up at his youngest son who had grown to be almost half a foot taller than him. "You have to remember that he's only two, Sasuke. You were possibly one of the most difficult two year olds I have ever met- getting you to take a nap was a nightmare for me, but if someone else went to put you down, you'd listen to them. God, you used to piss me off like nothing else could. But if I can say so, I'm proud of you, and what you're doing for the clan in fathering this child is appreciated."
Sasuke's lips turned up in a half-hearted smile. "Thanks. Now I have to deal with the fire-breathing dragon I call my wife. Literally. I'm just glad her ninjutsu skills are minimal, at best."
At this, all three of them laughed at Satomi's expense, and Sasuke finally turned to go into his house. He stopped by the mailbox to see if Satomi had checked the mail, and she apparently had. Sighing to himself, Sasuke stepped onto the porch, wiping his shoes on the mat before taking them off and setting them to the side. He opened the door, and almost instantly felt a little person slamming into his shins.
"Vati, Vati, you're home! Read a story to me! Or we can play dinosaurs, or ANBU, or something! Come on, Vati, you have to, 'cause I say so! Let's go! Stop being so sloooowwww, Vati!" Katsuro had started pulling on Sasuke's hand, attempting to get his father to move from where the man had been standing. Katsuro had started to pull a little too hard, and he slipped on the slick, wooden floor. Sitting on his butt with tears in his eyes, Katsuro looked up at his Vati pathetically. He sniffled dramatically, then threw himself on the floor and began throwing a tantrum.
"Waaaahhh! V-Vati does-sn't lov-v-ve me n-n-no more! Waaaaahhhhhh!" Scowling slightly at his son's melodramatic display, Sasuke tried to pull the boy up to his feet. Katsuro refused, throwing his head back and screaming as his father started trying to stand him up. The ear piercing shriek caused Sasuke to pull the boy over to a corner. Giving him a sharp swat on the butt, Sasuke kneeled and sternly looked Katsuro in the eyes.
"You're going to stay in time-out until you stop throwing this tantrum. If you leave the corner, that's an extra five minutes plus a spanking. Understand?" Katsuro's eyes widened, and he threw himself into Sasuke's chest. The latter sighed, and stood his son up to face the corner. "I'll come and get you when I think you're ready. Until then, think about why it's wrong to throw tantrums." Standing up, Sasuke went to find his wife.
He didn't have to look far, she was in the kitchen checking on the dinner she had placed into the oven. Sasuke sighed in slight disappointment. It wasn't that Satomi couldn't cook, but that her cooking was rather bland and paled in comparison to his mother's. Everyone in the clan had jokingly said that with Satomi as his wife, Sasuke would starve to death. Of course, she hadn't taken that well, and had thrown a fit over how Sasuke 'hadn't even tried to defend her,' and how he was the 'biggest asshole of the century.' If she reacted in that way to some light teasing, he wondered what she was going to do when he told her the news.
Leaning against the countertop he decided to make small talk. "Hey.'
She looked over at him, and wished she hadn't. It wasn't that she hated her husband- no, she was hopelessly infatuated with him- but she could always tell that he didn't return her feelings. She felt that all she could ever be to him was a surrogate, a carrier of his children, and the woman he had all but been forced to marry. Satomi never understood why Sasuke never loved her; she was beautiful (which was why he had picked her over the other women), she was fairly smart, she was a loyal wife, she had his baby!, but most of all she loved him. She always made sure to say she loved him when they were in bed at night, when she saw him leave for a mission, when they were sitting next to each other on the couch, and whenever he was with Katsuro. Looking at him in pain, she faked a smile.
"Hey. How was the meeting? Did everything go over well?"
"You could say that. It depends on how you look at it, I suppose."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"All it means is that a solution was reached, but it's one that some people won't be happy about. Listen, because of this meeting, I have something that I need to discuss with you and Katsuro, and I want to wait until dinner to do so, alright?"
Nodding her head numbly, Satomi agreed. "Alright. Speaking of Katsuro, what was all that crying about earlier?"
"He started throwing a tantrum and fell and hurt himself."
"Oh, that's it? He does that all the time lately."
"Really? How do you discipline him when he throws a fit?"
"I ignore him, but then he carries on and it annoys me, so I tend to lock him in his room."
"Do you at least give him a warning before locking him in his room?"
"I usually tell him to shut the hell up, so kind of."
"Satomi, you can't tell a two year old to shut the hell up. That doesn't count as a warning, and all it's going to make him do is carry on even more every time you talk to him."
"Well, how was I supposed to know that?!"
"It's common sense, Satomi! No wonder the kid's always whining to me- it's because you're such an awful mother!"
"At least I don't spank him! That's child abuse, you know."
"No actually, it's not. When I spank him, it's out of disciplinary action, not because he didn't 'shut the hell up'!"
"Oh really? How would you like to explain that to a judge? Do you really want to have a divorce and ruin Katsuro's childhood?! Do you?!"
"No, but it sure as hell sounds like you do! And face it Satomi, I would win custody if we took this to court, and you know it. Remember that time when I'd been on a mission for a week, and Katsuro ended up in the hospital because you didn't treat his ear infection? It went onto your record as child neglect, and don't think for a minute that the judge won't look at that, along with his broken arm that he had for three weeks before I took him to the hospital!"
"How was I supposed to know the difference between him actually being in pain and him just whining like he always does?!"
"How could you not know that something was wrong?! His ear was leaking puss, and his lymph nodes were swollen as hell! And his arm had obviously been broken, with the angle it was bent at! How could you ignore our son long enough for those things to have happened?!"
"I wasn't ignoring him!"
"Then what the hell were you doing?!"
"I don't remember, but don't you dare accuse me of neglecting our son when you're the one who leaves for weeks on end all the time!"
"I only take those missions to put food on the goddamn table! And then your sorry ass spends it all on fucking designer handbags and shit! So then I have to work more, just to pay the fucking bills!"
"You have no idea what I do with that money! Absolutely fucking no idea! And you don't even fucking know how hard it is to take care of that brat when you're gone! He never fucking listens and he's always fucking crying about the littlest goddamn thing!"
"You have to be shitting me because Katsuro is only two fucking years old! He would probably listen to you if you actually gave him the fucking time of day!"
"Bullshit! If he was a good kid, we wouldn't have to fucking discipline him!"
"He is a good kid, he just needs an actual fucking mother in his life, you stupid bitch!"
"Well, I'm sorry that I'm not your mother! I can't be fucking perfect like she was, you stupid fucking Mama's boy!"
"You could at least try to pretend you give a fucking shit about our son!"
"No I can't! Not when I sleep next to a man who doesn't love me back! Not when you're always gone, and Katsuro is always fucking asking where his Vati is! Not when I live in this empty goddamn house! Not when you don't return my feelings, Sasuke! Not when I know you'll never love me back..."
"Satomi, stop pitying yourself and get the fuck over it. No, I don't love you; I never have and probably never will. But half of that little boy is yours, so you could at least pretend to act like his mother every once in a fucking while. You talk as if you have no one in this world-"
"No I fucking don't, Sasuke!-"
"But that little boy loves you so fucking unconditionally, and you treat him like absolute shit! That's why I want you to get the fuck out of my house, and why I'm leaving you."
"Sasuke... you wouldn't!"
"I just did. Get your shit and get the fuck out."
Satomi stood there, shell shocked at what had just happened. She tried to think of something to say, something to console Sasuke long enough to let her stay with him for at least one more night. Finally, she opened her mouth. "But... what about Katsuro?... He still needs me..."
"You should have thought about that before you chose to neglect him."
"But Sasuke!-"
"It's too late to try to make excuses with me. Get your stuff and go. Now!"
Sobbing as she ran up the stairs, Satomi grabbed her suitcase and filled it with the first things she saw. As she was about to go downstairs, she saw something to be used for later. An evil smirk came across her face as she snatched the paper, thinking how she would get her soon to be ex-husband back for what he had done to her. Sniggering evilly to herself, she reveled in the delight that vengeance would bring her. Deciding she'd been upstairs long enough, she zipped up her suitcase and made her way downstairs.
As she passed Sasuke on her way out, he spoke to her. "Oh, by the way, at the meeting today it was decided that I would be the father to a child shared by the clans." He smirked viciously as he opened the door and roughly pushed her outside. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." With that, the door was slammed in Satomi's face.
Scowling in fury, she made her way down the street towards her parent's house. She remembered that beautiful piece of paper that she grabbed on her way out, and pulled it out of her bag.
Looking over all of Sasuke's account information and passwords, she laughed without mirth. Oh yes, payback for Sasuke Uchiha was going to be a real bitch.
As Sasuke closed the door, he looked over to the corner where Katsuro was curled into a ball, sobbing. Walking over to his son, he lifted the small boy into his arms and rubbed his back with his fingertips. Rocking him slightly, Sasuke tried his best to shush the child. "Ssshhhh, Katsuro, it's going to be alright."
"W-Why di-d Mom-my have to l-lea-ve?"
Looking at his son's face, Sasuke used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears that had fallen. Taking a deep breath, Sasuke wondered how much of that conversation his son had heard. Sighing, he tried to explain. "Vati was very angry with Mommy, and the way she treated you. There were a lot of things that happened between you and Mommy while Vati was away on missions that he didn't wasn't a good Mommy to you, and Vati thought it would be better if it were just you and me. I'm sorry you had to hear all of the bad things that we said to each other, but you need to understand that I love you, more than anything else in the world, and that what I did was to protect you, ok?"
Katsuro nodded sullenly, and buried his face into Sasuke's shoulder, sucking his snot up his nose loudly. Sasuke cringed, but decided it was better to let the child be instead of trying to press a tissue to the kids nose. Kissing his son's forehead, Sasuke glanced at the time. It was half past nine, and thirty minutes past the time Katsuro needed to be in bed. "It's past your bedtime, and you need to get some sleep."
Katsuro shook his head. "I just want you to hold me."
Nodding his head, Sasuke cradled the child to his chest, and realized he still needed to tell Katsuro about what had happened at the meeting. "Katsuro, how would you feel about being a big brother?"
His son looked up at him. "What's that mean, Vati?"
"It means that in a few months, you're going to have a little brother or sister, and you're going to have to help me and the other parents take care of the baby."
"Is it going to be fun?"
"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The baby might cry a lot, and you might need to change its diaper from time to time, but your baby brother or sister will always look up to you and love you. Does that sound like something you're going to be ok with?"
"I don't know..."
"Why not?"
"When the baby comes, are you going to stop playing with me and loving me?"
Furrowing his brow Sasuke shook his head. "The baby might need my attention, but I promise that I'll never stop loving you, and that I will always make time for just you and me, ok?"
"Ok. Will you make time to play with me right now?"
Laughing a little, Sasuke shook his head. "It's nine fourty-five, and you should be asleep right now."
"But I don't wanna sleep! Sleeping is for babies and old people!"
Sighing as he had done all night, Sasuke decided to be unusually playful with his son. "But don't you know what happens to little boys who stay up past their bedtimes?"
Katsuro looked up, afraid of what could happen to him. "N-no. What?'
Sasuke smirked, leaning in to whisper in his son's ear. "The tickle monster comes to get them!" And with that, he ran his fingers all along Katsuro's stomach and sides, as the little boy succumbed to fits of giggles. Katsuro started squirming and trying to push Sasuke's hands away, but Sasuke only tickled him harder and faster.
"I-i'm gonna peeeee!" At that, Sasuke stopped his attack, laughing at his son. After a few minutes passed, Katsuro yawned, and though he tried to hide it, Sasuke noticed.
"Alright, let's get your teeth brushed so you can go to bed."
"But Vatiii-"
"No buts. Go get your pajamas on."
"Can I at least sleep in your room tonight?"
With all that had happened tonight, Sasuke caved to his son's request and nodded. "But you have to lay down, be quiet, and go to sleep ok?"
"Ok!'
With that, the little boy ran upstairs, tripping a few times but getting back up as if nothing had happened. In about ten minutes, he was in his pajamas with his teeth brushed, and was sitting on the edge of Sasuke's bed.
As he brushed his teeth Sasuke wondered what would happen next in his life. Would Katsuro truly be ok with his new brother or sister? And how would the rest of the clan react to the child? Rinsing his mouth with mouthwash, he spit it out in the sink and dried his mouth with a towel. He turned off the light as he left the bathroom, and settled down on his bed, pulling his son to his chest. Lying in bed with Katsuro, Sasuke pictured a little baby running around his house as Katsuro had done. These images changed occasionally, from a babbling baby boy to a sleeping baby girl. As he thought of his future child, Sasuke couldn't help but feel happy. He didn't care what gender the child would be, as long as it was his baby.
At least if it was a girl, his mother would finally have someone to gush over and dress up.
Walking onto the veranda of her home, Hinata carried a tray of tea over to her cousin, husband and son. Hideaki was pestering his 'Uncle Neji' about what he had done all day, and how pretty the sunset was, and had he seen Aunt Hanabi's new boyfriend? While Neji was speaking to his 'nephew', Hinata served everyone tea.
She smiled as her cousin- who was more like her older brother- spoke to her energetic son. Hideaki truly lived up to his name, as he shined with his bright and happy personality. When most people met him, they had a hard time believing that this talkative child was truly hers and Hiroaki's. While Hinata was quiet and clam, Hiroaki was stern and chose not to speak to people he didn't consider of importance. It reminded her a little of her father, and of Neji when they had been younger.
After the fight between Neji and Naruto in the Chunin exams, her cousin became more lighthearted, even gaining a sense of humor. Neji had come over for dinner about three to five times a week, in order to gain a closer relation to the head family, and his presence there had made Hinata feel happier, as if her family was becoming closer. Hiashi had even started training with Neji, teaching him several advanced techniques and jutsu that most Hyuga couldn't even dream of doing. It really was no wonder that by the time Neji had turned sixteen he was a jonin with job offers from the Feudal Lord and ANBU.
Shortly after Hinata had turned seventeen, the suitors had arrived from within the clan, and her father had asked for Neji to help him in his decision making. While Hinata had dates with the suitors, Neji had been watching from the shadows, making notes of the behavior of the males and any advances they tried to make on his cousin. After the dates, Neji immediately reported to Hiashi, and from there some would be eliminated for being too forward with the clan heiress. As the elimination process continued over the next six months, Hiroaki had spoken to Hiashi and Neji, stating his commitment to Hinata, and his wish to make her happy, and his hope that she would grow to love him. It was for those reasons that Neji and Hiashi had picked Hiroaki to be her husband. Hanabi heard about this, and told her sister before her father and cousin had the chance. She remarked that while Hiroaki was reserved and boring, at least he would make her happy and treat her well. Hanabi also remarked that as Hinata's younger sister, her blessing was the most important, seeing as how she was the one most likely to make Hiroaki's life hell.
In the beginning of their relationship, Hinata felt awkward. Her feelings for Naruto had yet to cease, and it felt wrong to be dating Hiroaki when her heart felt as if it belonged to someone else. One day Hiroaki turned to her, and told her that he knew about her infatuation with Naruto, and promised that while he knew his feelings were not returned, he would never stop loving her, and would always seek for her to love him. It was at that moment that Hinata had realized that she could never be happy with Naruto, because it would never be accepted; but if she were to marry Hiroaki, she would have a chance at being loved back, and though he was reserved, he was genuine and sincere in what little he said.
True to his name, Hiroaki had a stern face and reserved body language. He was a bit taller than average, but still quite a bit shorter than Neji. He had defined cheekbones and a strong jaw, and his long light brown hair framed his face slightly before it flowed down to his mid back. He wore a traditional beige yakuta, and enjoyed taking long breaks to drink tea with his wife.
Their marriage was fairly happy and quiet, and they lived together for four years before conceiving Hideaki. When she had first told Hiroaki that she was pregnant, he merely smiled and said that he was happy for them. As the Hyuga clan held a festival- which was closer to a soiree considering how formal everyone was- Hiroaki made the request that everyone in the clan abstain from drinking alcohol, in order to support Hinata. She remembered how everyone in the clan, and even a few people from other clans, had remarked about what a supportive husband he was.
Throughout the pregnancy, he would care for her dotingly, and ask how she felt. When her feet became swollen and her back ached, he would always be there to give her a massage. During her first trimeseter, he would hold her hair when she had to vomit due to morning sickness, and rub her back soothingly afterwords. He made sure that she ate well and often, and would always give her the foods she craved.
As Hinata's pregnancy progressed, Hiroaki was as supportive as possible, though still very reserved. Concerned about his parenting skills, he went to parenting classes, bought several books, and started volunteering at the village orphanage. Hiroaki also decided that he had to make more of an effort to be close to her family. They would eat dinner at her parent's house four times a week, at least, and Hiashi, Hiroaki, and Neji would often go into the parlor and smoke cigars and talk about politics, money, and the like. Hiroaki also made an effort to bond with Hanabi and her mother. He would help them with the gardening, and became a handiman whenever Hiashi was away on business. In the time that he had spent with her family, her parents had come to accept him as their son, Hanabi thought of him as her older brother, and Neji considered him a very close friend.
The day Hideaki was born, Hiroaki stayed in the room with her, as the midwives prepared her tub. Hinata had insisted on a water birth, despite Hiashi's offers to give her a luxury room in a private hospital. When asked why, she merely replied that it felt right, and that she would be perfectly fine with Hiroaki taking care of her. A few hours after her water broke, Neji had come over to see how she was doing, explaining that he had denied a mission to support her. It was at this point that Hinata and Hiroaki had decided to make Neji Hideaki's godfather, and Hanabi the godmother. As several people came to coo over the beautiful baby boy, Hinata spoke to Hiroaki quietly as soon as she had the chance.
"I'm so happy it was a boy. Now, the clan can go back to its tradition of first born son inheritance."
Looking into her eyes, Hiroaki's gaze softened. "Even if we had a daughter, I would love her just as much as I love Hideaki. It doesn't matter to me what the gender of the child is, just that it's our child."
Hinata's eyes filled with tears as she realized at that moment she had grown to love him. Even when Naruto came to visit her and the baby, she felt her love for her husband as deeply as anyone could. Leaning against his shoulder to rest for a while, she caught him off guard. Giggling, she brought her lips to his ear. "I love you so much," she whispered, and kissed his cheek tenderly.
"You missed," he said as he leaned down to put his lips onto hers.
After breaking away from her reverie, she poured the tea and sat down next to Hiroaki, who cleared his throat and asked "How did the meeting go?"
Looking up from her tea, Hinata made eye contact with Neji, who frowned with an emotion she couldn't name.
Hideaki bounced up and down. "Did you kick Sasuke Uchiha's butt today, Uncle Neji?! Was he all like, 'wahhhh, I want my mommy!-'"
"Not quite, son-"
"-and you all like 'hahaha! I win, and you're a chicken butt!'-"
"It didn't quite happen that wa-"
"-and he was all crying cause you were so cool-"
"Hideaki, would you please be quiet?!" Neji raised his voice at his talkative nephew, whose normally bright and cheerful face was now crestfallen. Guilty, Neji watched as Hideaki went over to his mother, burying his face into her chest and clinging to her desperately. Sighing, Neji beckoned him over, placing the small boy on his lap and holding him tenderly. Using his thumbs to gently wipe away the crocodile tears that were falling, Neji lowered his voice, making it gentle and soothing.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, but I was just very angry about something that I have to do now, and you reminded me of it. You see, at the clan meeting, I was told that I had to have a baby, and I don't know if I want to do that yet."
"S-so wh-why didn't you j-j-just say n-no?" Hideaki stuttered, looking up into Neji's eyes. In them, he could see thousands of unspoken worries.
Hinata spoke up. "Baby, sometimes grown ups have to do things that they don't want or else they get in trouble. There are things that we have to do that we don't like, or that aren't fair, simply because it's the way things are. Uncle Neji is doing the clan a really big favor by having a baby, and tomorrow we're going to make sure that he knows we all love him, and that we're all grateful for his sacrifice." As she said the last part, Hinata looked into Neji's eyes, giving him a warm and kind smile which he returned.
Hiroaki cleared his throat and spoke. "Well this sure is a change. I never quite saw you as the father type. Then again, I never saw myself as a dad, but look at what happened. You'll do fine as a parent, Neji, just fine."
As she looked at the image of him holding her son, she could tell that while reluctant, Neji would make a fantastic father. "Yes, you'll be a wonderful father."
"Thank you both. And as for the little one, I believe it's far past your bedtime."
"Nuh-uh Uncle Neji! I'm not even-" he let out an exhausted yawn, "tired yet."
All three adults chuckled, with Neji standing up and walking to Hideaki's bedroom. Setting his nephew down onto the bed, Neji pulled the blanket up to his shoulders and set the stuffed bunny next to the sleepy child. Looking down at Hideaki, Neji wondered if this would be how raising the child would be. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Hideaki call out to him.
"What is it?"
"How're you going to have a baby if you're a man?"
Neji, for once, was speechless, with his mouth agape like a dead fish. "You'll learn about that when you're older," he said, turning off the lights and fleeing the room.
Hanabi stood by the corner of the hallway, sniggering to herself. Her face lit up with a malicious sense of humor. "Yes Neji, do explain how you intend to birth this child."
"Shut up, Hanabi!"
Ino's headache had evolved over the course of dinner, and was now a full on migraine. Her son had refused to eat any of his food, and had started screaming that he was only able to eat dessert. After he was denied this, he attempted to convince Ino that he was allergic to every food except dessert, and was instantly shot down. He had been in time out for about fifteen minutes before he quieted down. Ino had just let him out, and had been trying to get him to pick up his dinner dishes; however, what little patience she had was waning, and she was about to go off the deep end in anger. It didn't help that her husband simply sat there, reading some stupid book while she was trying to discipline her child.
"Shigeru, stop crying and clean up your dinner dishes!"
"But they're too heavy! Mama, it's too much! You hate me!" The toddler threw himself on the floor, sobbing for no logical reason. Ino let out an annoyed growl, and looked to her good for nothing husband for assistance. Tadashi sighed, and went over to the screaming two year old.
"Shigeru, why are you throwing a tantrum? All you have to do is put your dishes in the sink!"
"They're too heavy! I can't do it!"
Sending Ino an exhausted look, Tadashi sighed. "I tried." And with that, he walked to the stairs.
Ino saw this, and knew she needed to tell both of them what had happened at the meeting. "Before you go upstairs, there's something I need to tell you two."
"It can't wait?"
"No, it can't."
"Fine, but it better be worth my time."
As he sat down, Ino remembered how selfish her husband had always been. Recalling the day he had asked for her hand in marriage, she wondered why she had put up with him for five years.
As Tadashi approached her that day, she had felt a sense of dread. From the way he walked, his nose up in the air, she knew she wasn't going to feel anything but contempt for him. Even though he was from her own clan, she found that he rubbed her the wrong way, and she got the feeling that he was a real snake in the grass. Still, she smiled as he came up to her, and politely introduced herself.
When Ino voiced this concern to her father, he brushed it off as her being unable to accept that she and Sasuke could no longer continue with their brief fling. Ino vehemently denied this, yet for the first time in her life, neither her father nor her mother believed what she said.
As she was forced into marrying him, she became slightly depressed. She wouldn't go out with her friends and only left the house when she had a mission. Sakura came to her house, and the lecture she gave eventually snapped Ino out of it by reminding her of who she was. She was Ino Yamanaka, the future head of the Yamanaka clan, and she was not the type of person to lay around and mope.
As she reminded herself of who she was, she knew what she had to do. Glaring at her husband, Ino went over to her baby boy, and picked him up off of the ground. Holding him for a moment, she thought about what she was about to say to him, and worried about what his reaction would be. Sniffling, Shigeru looked up at his Mama, and gave her the most pitiful look he could manage. Sighing for the thousandth time, Ino pushed back his dirty blond bangs, feeling his face that had grown warm with frustration. She placed a gentle kiss to his hairline, stroking his hair and rocking him slightly. She carried him over to the couch, setting him down on her lap. Taking a deep breath, Ino forced herself to get it out.
"So a lot of stuff happened at the meeting today, and I have something big to tell you guys."
Big blue eyes looked up at her, filled with tears. A small bottom lip trembled with sadness. "Is it a good thing, Mama?"
Nuzzling their noses together, she gave her son a reassuring smile. "Yes, it's a very good thing. You see, when a mommy and daddy have a baby, it makes the grandmas and grandpas happy. And because a lot of the clans in the village don't like each other, we need to help make the clans happy with each other again. So, Lord Hokage thought that if all of the clans had a baby together, that it would make them all happy again, and there would be no more fighting."
Tadashi stared at her for a moment, piecing together what she had just told them. "Ino, are you telling me that you're having a baby with someone from another clan?!" Weren't they married? Was she even allowed to make these kinds of decisions without him. It wasn't that he cares for her personally, but he was entitled to half of her assets in the will, and his son already had the other half. With a new baby, his shares would likely be reduced, or even cut out altogether! There was no way he would let that happen!
"Such a thing is against our pre-nuptials. Don't you realize that, honey dearest?"
Ino scowled at him. "My father was at the meeting with me. It was an official decision made by the head of the clan and myself. It overrides that contract, my darling husband."
Gaping at her like a fish out of water, he stuttered "You can-t-t-t be s-s-serious!"
"Yes, Tadashi, I am. If I hadn't agreed, everyone in the clan would be in federal prison. I had to do it, and I don't regret it. If you have a problem with that, then leave and don't ever come back." Ino's iron determination to protect the clan could be seen in her steely blue eyes, and her voice hardened with a fierceness that he had never heard before. Suddenly, he realized why Ino was as respected as she was- and he saw why she was a woman whom one did not want to make an enemy out of.
As Tadashi stared at her, he knew why Inoichi had no hesitation about making her the head of the clan, and he feared what she could do to him. It was that fear that made him want to run away and cling to what he had of his petty life. Ino was known to be able to kill in cold blood, and Tadashi was a coward. Standing, he nodded, and walked towards the stairs when Ino stopped him.
"Take nothing but the clothes on your back, and the shame in your conscious. Your name may mean loyal, but you aren't anywhere near that. Leave. Now!"
And as the door slammed shut, and Shigeru cried out for his father, Ino knew that she had made the right decision in becoming a mother again. Lifting Shigeru off of the floor, she took him over to sit on the couch. She felt she owed him an explanation as to why his father had left, and what would be happening within the next few months.
"Sweetie, you know that I love you, right?"
Shigeru nodded and whimpered. "Why did he leave? Will he come back?"
Stroking his hair, Ino shook her head. "No, sweetheart, he isn't coming back. What happened tonight with Daddy was that he wasn't able to accept something that would save the clan, and he got mad and left."
"But Daddy's part of the clan, too! Why would he want to leave forever?"
"Because sometimes grown ups are silly, and they get mad about silly things. But that doesn't matter. I want to talk to you about big changes that are going to be happening in the next few months, ok?"
"O-ok."
"Mommy is going to give you a new brother or sister within the next year. That means that when the baby comes, I'm going to need your help. I might need you to feed the baby, play with it, or change its diapers. Also, as a big brother, you're going to need to protect your baby brother or sister, and be there for him or her when things are rough. So you think you can do that?"
"I guess..."
"No guesses. I need you to promise that you'll be the best big brother you can be."
Looking at his lap, Shigeru thought for a moment before he puffed his chest out and said "I promise!"
Ruffling his hair, Ino smiled. "That's my boy! Now, we need to get you into bed, ok? Go put your jammies on, I'll tuck you in when I'm done cleaning up."
Shigeru ran upstairs and did as he was told. Ino went over to the table and began putting the dishes into the dishwasher. Tomorrow, she would call her parents and tell them what went on between her and her soon to be ex, and then she would take all of Tadashi's stuff to the local homeless shelter for donation.
With the dishwasher full and running, she left the kitchen and went upstairs to go tuck her son in. When she got upstairs, she noticed that the door was shut. She knocked, and Shigeru opened it almost immediately. He walked sleepily over to his bed, getting under the blanket and waiting for his Mama. She tucked him into bed, watching as he drifted further into sleep. Stroking his hair sadly, Ino hoped he wouldn't grow up to be resentful to her for making his father walk out on him, and wondered if he would be happy with just the two of them.
Smiling to herself, Ino decided she would have to go baby shopping tomorrow. Hopefully, this one would be a girl!
What a drag, she won't eat a bite! Shikamaru scowled in irritation. "Come on, Kanako, just eat two bites?"
"Noooooo!" The toddler pursed her lips as tightly as she could, pouting stubbornly and turning her head the other way.
"But if you don't eat, you'll end up shorter than your mom!"
"Mommy, Daddy just called you a-"
Kanako was cut off by a spoon of sweet potatoes being shoved into her mouth. Swallowing the disgusting stuff, she attempted to run away from the table before her father caught her by the waist and pulled her into his lap. Kanako was adorable, but very stubborn. Her little eyebrows were soft and delicate, and her lips seemed to naturally be pouty. She had black hair which she insisted on wearing in ponytails every day, and her eyes were a light brown. She had a little button nose that everyone felt a need to poke, and she hated it because of that. Her cheeks were round and rosy, and at the moment were currently puffed out in annoyance.
"What were you saying about me, Shikamaru?" Kaori asked, her tone pleasant and her fists raised. Kaori was petite and slightly busty, and was fairly average in looks. She was highly intelligent, and the first time that she played a game of Shogi with Shikamaru, she beat him. She was a control freak, and most definitely a type-a kind of person, which Shikamaru felt attracted to. In the beginning, he was only married to her because it was what the clan had arranged, but they had grown to love each other, and Choji had always teased them about being more similar to an old married couple as opposed to a young married couple.
"Nothing dear, but could you get her to eat something? I've hardly gotten her to eat anything off of the plate!"
Kaori shrugged. "If she doesn't eat at the table, she'll find out later that she doesn't eat at all."
Choji walked in carrying his daughter, Haruna, with his wife Hanako trailing behind. Haruna was a slightly chubby child, but always had a bright smile on her face. Her face was round like the moon, and her eyes were the same light green as her father's. She had short, dirty blond hair like her mother, and she generally wore it down with clips keeping it out of her face. When she smiled, she had small dimples that were inside the smile line, compared to most people's dimples being on the outer part of their cheeks. Haruna was also Kanako's best friend, and they would often be at each other's houses on playdates and sleepovers.
Hanako was a full-figured woman. Her face was round and soft, with large gentle eyes and rosy cheeks. She had one of the prettiest faces in the village, no doubt, and was one of the kindest and most caring people Shikamaru had ever met. She always wore very feminine clothes, and was often making some type of food or dessert for her family. Hanako was always a welcoming hostess, and a wonderful friend to Shikamaru and Kaori. She and Choji had been sweethearts as teenagers, and Choza had happily consented when Choji wished to marry her. They were one of the most harmonious couples Shikamaru had ever met, and they were so in love with each other that they were the envy of many couples in the villiage.
As Choji placed his daughter into her seat, Hanako set the plate down in front of her, and Haruna ate her food happily.
"See how Haruna eats without putting up a fight? That's what you should do, Kanako."
Laughing at his friend's misfortune, Choji offered some advice to the flustered father. "Don't try to force it on her, Shikamaru. If anything, it'll make her want to eat less just so she can get a rise out of you. "
"Yeah, well you try feeding her, then!"
"Ok." Taking the spoon from Shikamaru, Choji sat down in front of Kanako. With a gentle smile, he lifted the spoon to her lips, and she opened her mouth happily and ate the food. "It's not hard, you just have to be patient with her is all."
Shikamaru couldn't believe that he had spent the past year and a half trying to get Kanako to eat, and all Choji needed was five seconds.
"So what was it you needed to tell us? Nothing bad, I hope?" The worry in Hanako's eyes was comforting to Shikamaru and he remembered why they were at the Akimichi house in the first place.
"It isn't bad, per se, but it's definitely a little startling. Basically, the fighting between the Uchiha and Hyuga has caused the Hokage to think that all of the clan heads should have a baby together. Sound about right, Choji?"
The room went silent. While he knew how blunt Shikamaru tended to be, Choji was not expecting him to be this harsh. Maybe the meeting had worn him out, and he was probably just tired since he didn't have time to take a nap this afternoon.
"Uhhh, yeah, if you put it bluntly, I guess."
Kaori stared at her husband. He simply brushed off the fact that he was fathering a child that wasn't hers, and he hadn't even asked her about it whatsoever! "So why didn't they write another treaty like they always do? And what does this have to do with the Nara clan anyway?! It's the Uchiha's and Hyuga's problems, not ours! They should be the ones settling it! I swear, if you're lying to me-"
"Calm down! As if I want to deal with this!"
"Hah! You could've fooled me with how harshly you just told me about this! It's as if you don't care what I think anymore! What, am I not good enough for you, is that it?! Fine, go have this baby, see what I care!"
"You're not making any sense right now! Do you even hear what you're saying?! You know I love you, and that you're the only woman I want to be the mother of my children! Kaori... please... don't be mad at me... if I hadn't done it, we'd all be in prison." Gasping, Hanako looked to Choji, asking if it was true and receiving a nod. Catching this, Kaori started to cry as she looked at her husband, the man she had come to love, the father of her beautiful baby girl...
Suddenly, Kaori pulled Shikamaru to her, tears in her eyes. "I love you, too. No matter how dumb you can be."
"Eeeewwww! No kissing allowed! Stop it!" Kanako squealed, banging her hands on the table in an effort to stop her parents kiss. Laughing, they pulled apart and Shikamaru put her on his shoulders. Turning to the Akimichi family, Shikamaru smiled and headed towards the door.
"Thanks for having us over, we'll be heading out now. Take care!"
Choji, Haruna, and Hanako waved to the Nara family as they left, and went inside to talk this over on the couch. Hanako wasn't mad at Choji, and was rather happy that she could be a mother without having to give birth again!
Turning to his daughter, Choji became slightly serious. "Haruna, being a big sister is going to be a big responsibility. You're going to have to protect this baby, and help him or her when things get tough. Do you think you can do that for me?"
"Of course Papa! I'll take her out for ice cream, and candy, and cookies, and cake, and barbeque, and-"
"Ok, ok, calm down! I know you'll be a great big sister, honey."
The small family laughed as they sat on the couch, huddled together and enjoying each other's company.
At the same time, Shikamaru and Kaori were having a similar conversation with Kanako.
"Of course I'll be a good big sister! I'll make sure that the baby does everything I tell it to! And it will always listen to me and do what I say, no matter what!"
Shikamaru laughed. "Being bossy isn't all there is to being a good big sister, Kanako. You also have to listen to your baby brother or sister when they need help with something, and you have to be patient when they don't do things right away."
"Hmmmm. I guess you're right. Hey daddy, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
As the two families discussed the baby, both Haruna and Kanako asked the same question:
"Will it be a sister?!"
As Sayuri ran about the garden, Shino thought of how happy he'd been since the day she was born. It was so astonishing to him that one little person could make him feel so important, and so loved. He would never admit to it, but he spoiled his little lilly. Of course, she was a thoughtful and sweet child, but she still received everything she asked for in a heartbeat. Her long lashes covered her dark gray eyes, and her face always held this deep sense of engagement during a conversation. She was so much like Natsuki that Shino thought they shared the same soul at times.
As he thought of how happy his little daughter made him, he remembered the day she was born. Holding her for the first time, he looked on in amazement as she opened her brown eyes to gaze at him. Her face had scrunched in confusion, her eyebrows furrowed as she adjusted to the light. Placing his finger in her hand, he smiled a bit as her fingers closed around it. Natsuki watched quietly, and she would retell this moment to her little daughter many times as a bedtime story.
"Sayuri, it's time for you to come inside."
Pouting, she walked over and held onto his hand when she reached him. As she did this, her hand was squeezed reassuringly, making her beam up at Shino. He took in her sweet face, the rosiness in her cheeks from running around, the telltale dirtiness of having eaten ice cream and not wiping her face, and the little teeth that had been poking their way through her gums for the past few months. Dusting her polka dot pants off, followed by her bright yellow shirt, he helped her take off her shoes and led her into the large house. He was nervous about explaining the situation to his wife and child, and wondered if they would forgive him for giving into the Hokage's demand so easily.
Pulling Sayuri into the washroom, Shino lifted her onto the countertop and picked up a washcloth, setting it under the faucet until it was wet. Wringing it out, he started to gently clean his daughter's face as she struggled. Regarding her patiently, he decided to find out the reason why she was fighting him as he cleaned her face. "Sayuri, why are you being difficult?"
The little girl huffed and crossed her arms as she pouted up at her father. "I'm not! I just don't want a clean face!"
Resisting the urge to slap his hand to his face in frustration, Shino tried to get a better answer from her. "Why not?"
She looked at him as if he had just asked the dumbest question in the world. "Because! If my face smells sweet, the butterflies will give me kisses! Don't you know!"
Shino smiled a little at her response. "That's true, but your face is really sticky right now and it's covered in dirt. The butterflies don't give kisses to little girls with dirty faces."
Sayuri's face scrunched up as she considered that. After thinking deeply, she looked up at Shino. "Ok, you can wash my face, but only if I can get butterfly kisses later!"
"Of course," he said as he kissed her forehead. Taking the cloth into his hand again, Shino resumed cleaning her face. He wondered how she had managed to get chocolate on her forehead, but then again, he kind of didn't want to know. As he continued wiping her face, Sayuri started humming a random song-one she had probably made up herself. "All done," he told her as he lifted her off of the countertop.
She smiled brightly and pulled his hand. "Let's go find Mummy! I want her to tell me a story!"
"Of course. But before storytime, I have something to tell you and your Mummy, alright my little lilly?"
"Ok!" Sayuri let go of his hand as she skipped ahead to the library where Natsuki usually was. As Shino walked into the room, he saw his wife lying on the chase lounge, a book in her hand and their daughter bouncing about in her lap. The two of them were laughing about something, and Shino smiled to himself as he watched his happy family. Natsuki turned her head towards where Shino was standing and gave him a warm smile.
"Dear, come sit with us, please." At that, he made his way over to the chase lounge, sitting down in the chair next to it. Natsuki's indigo eyes had a hint of curiosity in them. "Sayuri says you have something to tell us?" Shino chose to look away from her eyes, and watched as a piece of her long black hair slid over her shoulder. He continued to look over his wife's slender figure as he thought about what to say.
"Yes, I need to tell you two about what happened at the meeting." he paused, and felt that he had failed to stand up enough for his clan and family at the aforementioned meeting. As the head of one of the four noble clans of the village, he should have tried to be more adamant in the Aburame's wish for neutrality. "You see, the Hokage and the Council feel that despite the treaties and laws, the infighting between the clans has gone on for too long. Instead of drafting another treaty, the Hokage wishes for all the clans to participate in the creation of something more lasting..."
Natsuki's gaze became leveled as she watched Shino struggle with what he was saying. "I'm sure it isn't anything too drastic..."
Shino shook his head, lifting his eyes to meet his wife's. "That's where you're wrong. The Hokage feels that the most effective peace measures came out of arranged marriages, especially after a child was born. Now, all of the clans are to have one member be a parent to this child, and... I didn't feel it would be right to volunteer someone who wasn't there... so now I am partially a father to this baby..."
Natsuki looked at her husband with pity. She knew that he would never do anything irrational, but she felt there was something he wasn't telling her. "What would have happened if you didn't agree, dear?"
Shino sighed. "Every Aburame would have ended up in federal prison, and those who had attained any rank would have been stripped of it..." As he wallowed in his regret, he felt two small hands cupping the side of his face. Looking up, he saw Sayuri standing in front of him, her eyes filled with a determination he didn't know a two year old could have.
"Daddy, you don't have to be sad. Mummy and I still love you, and you're a good person. Nobody is allowed to be mad at Daddy because I say so, ok?"
Smiling a bit at her response, Shino nodded. "Alright, my little lilly." He lifted her into his arms, kissing the tip of her nose gently. "I believe it's time for you to go to bed."
"But what about storytime?!"
Natsuki laughed. "What story do you want to hear, my love?"
"The one about when I opened my eyes for the first time."
As Natsuki told the story, Shino watched his daughter fall asleep, and he knew that his family and his clan would accept his decision.
Kiba sighed as he walked into his mom's home. That meeting had been so stupid! The Inuzuka family shouldn't be involved in a bilateral spat between the Hyuga and Uchiha! Sighing, he went over to Akamaru, and looked at the new litter of pups that were born five weeks ago. The fuzzy little things were pouncing around the living room, trying to get their father to play. Akamaru lay there looking miserable as puppy after puppy came to jump on him.
"I'll know how you feel in a little while, boy."
"What do you mean by that?" Turning around, Kiba saw Hana standing in the doorway.
"New agreement with the Hokage. I was forced into parenthood."
"Oh. Well, think of it this way: at least now our kids will have someone to play with."
"Yeah. I guess you're right. I just never thought of myself as a dad, you know? Now I don't even get a choice in the decision. How's your baby coming along?"
"I just got a sonogram today. It's healthy and the doctor thinks I'm about four months in."
"Yeah, well, it hardly shows."
"Thanks. At least now I now someone doesn't think I'm a fat cow."
"What do you mean?"
"One of my clients asked me if I had gained weight. I mean, of course I have-I'm pregnant for God's sake! But it still upset me. It's probably just the hormones."
"Yeah, I think it is."
One of the puppies ran over to Kiba, biting his pant leg and letting out a playful growl. Laughing, Kiba picked the little guy up, playfully grabbing its ear and growling back. The puppy barked and started licking his face, with Kiba laughing the entire time.
"They must be very similar."
"What are you talking about?"
"Puppies and children. Both of them always want to play, neither knoow right from wrong, and they're both innocent and adorable."
"Yeah, you've got a point."
"Kiba, I know you're not happy about becoming a father, but of my word as your sister counts for anything, I think you'll do great at it." Hana kissed the top of his head like she had when they were kids and left the room.
As he looked at Akamaru and his pups, he saw the litter curled up against their father, sleeping. Setting the one in his arms down, he pet his dog on the head.
If parenthood as a dog was close to parenthood as a human, Kiba might not mind so much.
Minato and Kushina sat on the patio of their apartment drinking wine. Kushina had been on a mission during the meeting, and had only returned an hour ago. She was happy that her husband didn't have to imprison any of the clans, especially the Uchiha's. No matter how strong her relationship with Mikoto, Kushina worried that if they had used force, that the latter would have never forgiven her.
As she walked past the village gates, Mikoto had pulled her aside and told her the news- all of the clans had accepted, and they would now be in-laws. Mikoto was still reserved, but Kushina knew that she was excited to be a grandmother again. For a while, the two talked about preparations, and Kushina had told her about the plans to build a house by Hokage mountain for the baby and the parent's. Mikoto faltered at this, saying that Sasuke already had a house of his own, but Kushina explained that it was only to make sure that the child had some consistancy in its life, and said that Sasuke could come and go as he pleased. With the air cleared on this, Mikoto realized that she had to go home, saying something about a clan meeting. Hugging her friend goodbye, Kushina headed back to her own home and family.
Walking into the mansion, she found Minato and Naruto at the dining room table with some of her old baby books piled in front of them. When they heard her walk into the kitchen, both men perked up, and she told them that she had already heard the news. Naruto's smile fell, and Kushina walked over to her son, telling him what a great daddy he was going to be. Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek and laughed when he asked her what she thought the baby was going to be like.
"I don't know son, but this child will probably be the most spoiled one in the village!"
Laughing, Minato added, "More likely, it'll be the most spoiled in the Land of Fire."
Naruto grinned. "I'll make sure it'll be the most spoiled child in all of the nations, believe it!"
The three of them laughed as they sat down at the table, looking over a 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' book. Kushina laughed as she remembered her pregnancy, and claimed that half of the book was b.s. Minato went up into the attic, and returned with a photo album filled with pictures of Kushina's pregnancy, the sonograms, and all of Naruto's 'firsts.' Going through every picture, and always having a story behind it, a serenity of sorts filled the room. After a few hours of this, Naruto decided he would turn in, and bid his parent's goodnight.
Minato turned to Kushina. "Would you indulge me in sharing a bottle of wine?"
Giving him a saucy smile, she winked. "It depends. What kind of wine?"
Growling a bit, he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "It's a sauvignon blanc."
"Oooh, I might just take you up on that."
"Mmmm, shall we take this outside, then?"
"Let's go."
And as they sat on the patio, Minato and Kushina felt nostalgia for the days when Naruto had been little, and they both thought of what it would be like to finally be grandparents.
Minato raised his glass. "To being grandparents at last."
Kushina smiled. "To being grandparents at last."
In his room, Naruto looked at his stuffed fox that he'd had as a baby. A fond smile crossed his face, and he took a shot of sake. "To being a dad at last."
The stillness known as nighttime settled over the village as everyone began to turn in. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day, and those who had been at the meeting had much to prepare for.
Unbeknownst to them, an old enemy watched on in the shadows. "How fun! This is quite unexpected, but who knows how this new arrival will fit into my plans? It may just prove useful..."
