Chapter One: Some Nightmares you can't Wake From
WARNING: I do not own Naruto or the characters. I only own my characters and my story.
SUMMARY: Married life is amazing! Being a parent makes it even better! Those are Sasuke's thoughts and have been for the past four years. To him, nothing could ruin his perfect life. Not one thing. Then the Akatsuki make their presence known once more. And in a matter of an hour Sasuke's perfect life becomes a nightmare he can never wake from.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: First Naruto Fanfiction! Yay! Must say I'm both nervous and excited to finally be posting this. Just please remember that not only is this my first Naruto fanfiction it's also my first anime fanfiction ever so please go easy on me! Hope you all enjoy! Also, I know I still have my two Harry/Spartacus crossovers to be working one, but this story wasn't giving me peace until I at least started it. Plus, my computer yet again needed fixing and has been in Louisville for about two weeks getting fixed. Now that I have it back I can work on them again. Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding! Also, as you can tell I like darker stories, I'll mostly write those stories. Sorry not sorry if that bothers people. I just figured I'd give a heads up now for any other stories I put on here. Also, here's the list of names for the kids and the meanings behind each name so you know just how well they fit their parents personalities:
Kazuki= harmonious hope, one/first shine (Uchiha kid)
Hajime= Beginning (Inuzuka older twin)
Katsu= Victory (Inuzuka younger twin)
Emi= Beautiful blessing (Hatake kid)
Akemi= Bright Beauty (Hyuga kid)
Satoshi= Clear-thinking, quick-witted, wise (Nara kid)
Takumi= Adroit, artisan, skillful (Sai's oldest son)
Hanako= Flower Child (Sai's youngest daughter)
"Talk"
'Thoughts'
"Talking with Kurama"
Chapter One: Some Nightmares you can't Wake From
Sasuke's POV:
I woke up only to roll over to find the other side of the bed empty. When noises came from the kitchen I smiled then got out of bed to get ready for the day.
Once I was done and dressed in my usual clothing I walked down the stairs only to lean against the door frame of the kitchen to watch the beautiful creature cooking.
Slowly, I crept up and wrapped my arms around my wife causing him to yelp in fear.
That's right. He. Naruto Uzumaki, or Uchiha now, is my wife.
See, Naruto won our fight at the Valley of the End and succeeded in literally dragging me back to the village. I was angry at first, but shortly after I had no choice but to forgive him since the dope had refused to give me no more than five minutes alone.
Though, I'd come to quickly not mind having the dope around. In fact, I came to only want him around. I hated when he wasn't at my side.
It was then I realized I was in love.
It wasn't until two months after I realized this that I finally got the courage to tell him how I felt.
To my happy surprise I found my arms full of the boy and his lips on mine.
From that day on we hardly were apart. We went on missions together, went on dates, went for walks, even shopped together.
A year into our relationship Naruto moved into my family's home and about two months after that is when Naruto started to get sick every morning. He told me it was just a cold and I believed him.
That is, until he passed out at lunch with our friends.
It was in the hospital that we found out that he was pregnant. We knew it was becoming more and more common for men to get pregnant but it was still dangerous, since male bodies still aren't quite built to carry a child, but Kurama kept him healthier than most men.
Nine months later we had a son. Kazuki Uchiha. The boy had my hair color, but was styled in a mixture of mine and Naruto's. His eyes were as bright of a blue as his mother's though I had no doubt he'd gain the Sharingon when he's older, and had my skin tone and Naruto's whisker like birthmarks.
Yet, despite being a perfect mixture of us both, I saw more of Naruto within the boy.
Something I love completely.
Anyways, on the day Kazu was born I proposed and eight months of letting Naruto and the girls plan everything we were pronounced husband and wife at only sixteen years old.
Jump to now, four years later, and my life couldn't be more perfect.
A hard smack to my shoulder brought me from my thoughts to see a glaring Naruto.
"You bastard you scared the shit out of me!" I smirked at him and kissed his nose.
"So what's for breakfast?" I asked again not bothering to comment on scaring him.
Naruto glared but turned back to the food and took it off the stove.
"Well Kazu and I are having scrambled eggs and sausage. You can fend for yourself." I just blinked at his back before pulling him to me once more.
"Would really starve your dear husband?"
"I would starve my teme for being an ass." Naruto replied but I could see a smile from the corner of my eye.
"What if he apologized?" I whispered kissing his neck causing him to gasp and nearly drop the food.
"I'd say go wake our son up and maybe he'll be forgiven when he comes back down." I smirked at him before letting go of my hold on him then turned to walk back up the stairs and headed to Kazuki's room.
I opened the door quietly then knelt down beside his bed and shook him gently.
"Time to wake up Kazu. Mommy's almost got breakfast done. He made your favorite." The only answer I received was a small mumbled of something. "C'mon son time to get up now." I said a little louder.
Kazu groaned before reaching up to me making me laugh as I pulled him into my arms and carried him to the bathroom to help him brush his teeth and bathe.
Once that was done we went back to his room where I let him put his own clothes on before taking him once more into my arms and walked back down the stairs to see Naruto had just finished getting the table ready.
"Mommy!" Kazu giggled making Naruto instantly leave the table and walk to us then took Kazuki into his arms.
"How's my big man today? Did you sleep good?" he asked as Kazu wrapped his arms tightly around his mother's neck.
"Yep!" Naruto smiled at our son before kissing him then began to walk back to the table.
Something shiny caught my eye and when I looked to it I smiled at seeing the locket I got Naruto for our year anniversary hanging on his neck.
The locket was a simple silver heart shaped locket that had "To Hold You is to Hold My Heart" engraved in pretty font on the front.
The saying started between the two of us once we both admitted our love for each other. For we both felt complete and safe in each other's arms.
In the locket itself was a justu that allowed memories to be played like a slideshow. I started them from the day we met and went all the way to the day before I bought the locket. Naruto loved it so much he never took it off. The only time was to shower to keep it from rusting.
I smiled once more before rushing over to hold Naruto's chair out, causing Kazu to giggle, then sat down at the head of the table which placed me in between the two people that were my world.
Breakfast was as lively as usual. The same laughs and no stop talking could be heard as Kazu talked about nothing but the park him and Naruto were going to today with Hatake family.
Once breakfast was done Naruto stood up and looked to Kazuki.
"Go upstairs and pick out four toys you want to bring with us today." Kazuki groaned then.
"Only four?"
"Unless you don't want to bring any." That stopped all complaints as Kazu stood and rushed up the stairs as fast as his little legs could carry him.
We both laughed as we watched him before standing and heading to the sink.
Naruto washed the dishes while I dried and put them away.
A comfortable silence fell on us as we cleaned. As I reached over to take another dish I was met with empty air causing me to turn to see Naruto was looking at the sink with his bangs covering his eyes.
"Dope?" I asked but Naruto never looked up.
"Do you really need to go all the way to the hidden stone village?" I sighed then before walking over to him before wrapping him in my arms from behind.
"It's only going to be for two weeks."
"But why you? Granny already has Lee, Neji, and Shikamaru going! And Neji and Lee have a daughter! Hell even Shika has a son! Why do they get to go together and not us?!" I sighed again.
"Because they feel like my powers are needed. We're escorting a missing nin of theirs after all." Naruto turned in my arms then and looked to me.
"At least let me talk her into letting me come too." I shook my head then. "I can fight teme!" I smirked at him.
"You're one of the strongest ninjas we have my dope, but if we both go and something happens then Kazu wouldn't grow up with either parents."
"So it's okay to risk not growing up with a father?!" he growled and I glared.
"It's not a risky mission-."
"So then let me come with you! It's been two months since I went on a mission! Neji and Lee are risking it!"
"Because the last time nearly cost you your life!" he looked away then and I sighed resting my forehead on his. "You're such a pain in the ass dope." He looked to me then and I smirked. "The Akatsuki nearly got Kurama from you if Kakashi, Sai, and I hadn't shown up."
"Yes but you did and they haven't made an attempt since then."
"Just because they haven't doesn't mean they won't." I pointed out making him pout. "Look dope, usually if they're quiet for this long means that something big and horrible is coming. I can't lose you to them dope or to anyone. I just can't." Naruto looked to me before sighing.
"While that still doesn't answer why I can't go I would feel bad for leaving Kazu if he didn't have at least one of us for two weeks." I smiled in relief when he spoke before pulling him into a kiss then a tight hug as I took in his normal scent.
"I'll be back before you know it." I whispered as I felt my shoulder getting wet and Naruto began to cry.
"I just hate not being there with you! Every time you walk out that door for a mission and I'm not at your side I worry that's the last time I'll see you alive!"
"I felt the same way when you went on missions without me. Hell, when you start missions again I'll feel the same way. But we're both strong and our friends and allies will make sure we get home to each other." I pulled him back and looked into his eyes. "We'll make sure we come back to each other when you start missions again. But for now it's enough knowing I have a family to fight to return to."
Naruto smiled then before hugging me tightly. I returned the embrace before looking over my shoulder when Kazuki's steps could be heard.
"I got them mommy!" Naruto quickly wiped his eyes before kneeling and smiling.
"Did you only pack four?" Kazu nodded and Naruto smiled before looking to me. "Daddy's is going to be gone for a little bit." Kazu looked to me making me kneel beside Naruto.
"Do you really have to go daddy?" I smiled at him before pulling him tightly to me.
"I do little man. But don't you worry, I'll be back before you can properly miss me." I promised making him smile.
I smiled back then leaned in close to his ear. "Watch over mommy for me okay?" Kazu nodded and I smiled at him before standing with Naruto and handing him to my wife before kissing them both and headed to the Hokage after one last look.
And had I known right then just what was about to happen I never would've left in the first place.
Maybe then I could've saved him.
TWO WEEKS LATER: Ten MINUTES BEFORE SASUKE RETURNS
Naruto's POV:
"Mommy look how high I can go!" I looked over and smiled as Kazuki swung higher and higher.
"That is high! Just be sure not to hurt yourself!" I called then sighed.
"You know it's weird to think that the Number One Hyperactive Ninja can be such an amazing mother." I smiled and looked to Kiba.
"I never saw myself as a mother." I admitted then looked to my son. "Though now I can't imagine not being one." I looked to Kiba and smiled.
"How's your little bundles of joy?" Kiba laughed then.
"Hajime and Katsu are the same annoying and energetic twins they were when they were first born! Poor Akamaru gets tired out by them!" said dog whined by his person's side.
I laughed then reached over to pet the dog. "He's so good with them though, and all the kids love him." Kiba smiled at the dog.
"Yeah, who knew Akamaru made such a good nannie!" we both laughed then and Akamaru huffed before turning a protective eye on the three boys that were playing.
Hajime and Katsu. Named perfectly to fit Kiba and Hinata's relationship. Hinata's family never approved of their relationship and nearly won in them breaking it off a few times. But then Kiba proposed and a year later Hajime and Katsu were born. Hajime takes after Kiba while Katsu takes after his mother.
It was obvious both were going to be chasing both men and women off when they got older.
"Her dad talking to you guys yet?" Kiba sighed then and shook his head.
"She keeps hoping he'll stop by and finally meet his grandsons, and no matter how much I try to tell her he never will she refuses to give up hope." Kiba smiled at his boys then. "Of course, she wouldn't be my wife if she did give up."
I smiled at him and nodded.
It went quiet again before Kiba looked to me. "Still no word on Sakura I hear." I sighed then and looked to the sky.
"It's been years now Kiba. If she was going to come back she would've."
"You still don't blame yourself do you?" I smiled at the question before shaking my head.
"No. I stopped blaming myself shortly after she left." I looked to him then. "She just had it in her head that her and Sasuke were meant for each other. When she found out that we were together and tried to attack me I thought I deserved it because I took her love from her. But then I realized that her love was never returned and I couldn't help who I fell for. I wouldn't want to if I could. And besides I never would be happily married with a son if I backed off for her sake." Kiba smiled proudly then and nodded.
"Good. She chose to be a rogue when she left and, though we've yet to find her, she'll face punishment when and if she's found." I nodded then and looked to our boys as they began to play hide and seek.
"Glad to see we aren't the only ones here!" I looked over and smiled brightly as Iruka and Kakashi walked over with my little niece Emi and Akemi, Neji and Lee's daughter.
Emi looked a lot like Iruka but with Kakashi's eyes, well eye. Akemi looked like Neji only with Lee's energy and 'youthful' spirit. She was going to be powerful when she gets older since she takes after both her parents in powers.
What was the strangest thing about all our kids, including those that weren't at the park today, was that they were at most two years apart. Hajime and Katsu were a one month younger than my Kazu while Akemi was a year older than them. Shikamaru's kid was just a few months older than Kazu and Ino and Sai's kids oldest was two months older than my son and their daughter was a year younger. Emi was the same age as Sai's daughter.
"You okay Naru?" I blinked in surprise before looking to the others and smiling.
"Sorry I was thinking about how it was cool that none of our kids were that far apart in age. It'll make it easier for them to be friends that way." They all smiled and nodded as we watched the now five children play hide and seek.
"They're family. Even if there had been a big age difference they still would've gotten along." I nodded at Kiba's words.
"True enough."
The two girls had already rushed off and joined the game while we had been talking and I couldn't help but stare at Akemi and Kazu the most.
'I can't wait to see you again teme. Two weeks is way too long.' I thought smiling as Kazu was the first to get caught and began to argue with Hajime about it.
"More like you every day isn't he?" Iruka laughed.
I looked to him and smirked. "Just you wait until he's older. I can defiantly see his father more in him."
"That's not what Sasuke sees. Hell, it's not what any of us see." Kiba said and I looked to him confused.
"Really?"
"Seriously Naruto? Have you not watched your son at all these past four years? I'm scared pranks will begin any moment from that kid." I slightly at Kakashi then.
"No need to be rude." They all laughed as I pouted then.
Suddenly a loud bang was heard causing everyone to look towards the northern entrance where smoke was coming from.
"What the hell?!" Kiba asked standing and instantly running towards the very confused and frightened kids with me and the others hot on his heels.
"What happened mommy?" Kazu asked as he wrapped his arms tightly around my legs as we all stared at the smoke. I looked down at him and smiled.
"Probably granny beating someone up for being silly. C'mon now, why don't you follow uncles Iruka and Kakashi to their home and play in their secret room for a bit?" Kazuki's eyes brightened before looking to me confused.
"Mommy's not coming?" I smiled down at my son, still trying to stay calm in front of him, before shaking my head.
"I'm going to see if I can help granny then I promise I will come right for you okay?" Kazu looked uncertain but nodded before taking Kakashi's hand while Kiba fought to get his own sons to follow the two men.
Once all the children were with them they both nodded and promised one of them would meet us later before rushing the kids to their home.
I looked to Kiba then. "Let's go." With his nod we took off for the smoke with Akamaru right behind us.
Sasuke's POV:
"Finally home! I cannot wait to hold our youthful daughter once more!" Lee yelled with fire lighting his eyes.
Sika sighed beside me.
"Do you ever just act calm?"
"No he does not. Take my word for it." Neji said looking to his wife.
I smirked at him. "I can't complain. I have two at home."
"As do I." Neji agreed sharing my pain yet secretly loving it as much as I did.
"It must be a drag to live with them every day." I looked to Shika.
"Just because yours and Temari's kid acts like you doesn't make him any less annoying."
"My son doesn't wreak havoc every day for us." I gave him that one.
Suddenly an explosion was heard causing us all to look to the smoke right at the entrance in confusion.
"What the hell?" Shika asked.
"I don't know, but let's go and see what's going on." I said rushing behind Neji and Lee with Shikamaru at my side.
When he made it into the village I growled when I saw a familiar robe design.
"Ah one of the men we are looking for! If you're here then your beautiful and powerful wife must be somewhere nearby!" I growled even lower as Kisame spoke showing his shark like teeth as he grinned evilly.
"I won't let you anywhere near him!" I growled before rushing him.
Only he jumped high to dodge the attack then landed on a nearby roof.
"Sorry to point this out but you don't get to make that choice. Pain gave us our orders and we are to follow them. I hope you've kissed him goodbye, because he will be coming with us!" Suddenly more explosions were heard as Tsunade and all the others rushed to us as the rest of the Akatsuki joined Kisame.
All but one I noticed in fear.
Kisame must've seen my expression as he started to laugh. "Noticed a certain someone not here do you? He wanted me to send his regards. He has a little errand to run for Pain. He trusts you'll understand." I felt my heart hit my stomach as I growled.
"No!" I rushed for the laughed shark man but the group vanished to fight someone and found Naruto.
"Sasuke!" I turned and glared at the Hokage. "Don't be stupid!"
"They're after Naruto! Itachi might've already found him for all we know! I won't just stand here and let him be taken from me! From Kazu!"
"Baka!" she yelled punching me in the face. "Calm down and think would you! They didn't attack any of us while we were here wide open for attacks and they hung around long enough to talk pointlessly with us and they stayed together."
"So?" she sighed.
"So they were trying to get his location out of us. Meaning Naruto is still somewhere in this village hiding. They also must be planning for a huge plan if they didn't bother to fight us now."
I calmed slightly at her words but still was confused. "So why attack a village if you don't know where your target is and if you don't plan on attacking right away?"
"Chances are they want us to be in a certain area before attacking. Possibly in a place that'll make it harder for someone to leave should they succeed in getting Naruto." Shika spoke.
I went to answer when suddenly something slammed into me and I found my arms full.
"You're okay!" I blinked some before wrapping my arms tightly around my wife.
"Thank God you're safe!" I whispered pulling him even closer.
When I finally felt I was okay enough to pull back I held his face in my hands. "Where's Kazu?"
"I sent him and the kids that were with us with Iruka and Kakashi. One of them will stay with the kids and the other will join us shortly." I sighed in relief then before turning to the others.
"Are all the kids safe?" when everyone nodded I looked to Naruto sternly. "Do not leave my side for a moment." Naruto simply smirked and took my hand.
"Didn't plan on it." I smirked back then looked to Tsunade as she spoke.
"So we know the end game for them is Naruto. We know they haven't found him yet which we can use to our advantage." She spoke as Jiraiya stepped forward.
"We'll keep Naruto with Sasuke, Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru while the rest will scatter and try to keep the Akatsuki separated long enough to figure out their plan and stop it."
"Meanwhile Naruto's group will stay around this area and help any survivors get to our safe houses." Tsunade finished as everyone nodded.
Kiba and Hinata shared a kiss, as well as all the couples, before everyone scattered to find the enemy.
"Don't do anything stupid while we're gone brat." Tsunade said turning to Naruto.
"I don't see why we can't fight to." She glared then as did I.
"Dope they don't know where you are yet! If you go out and fight it'll only help them in moving their plan along faster."
"That still doesn't mean we can't fight!" he yelled right back and pouted when I glared deeper. "Look Kurama and I are okay. We've been practicing our bonding and we can handle a fight now! I won't let the Akatsuki get me!" he said.
"Do you ever just listen to people when they want to help you?" Neji asked.
"You're so troublesome." Shika sighed.
"I admire your youthfulness and your willingness to fight my friend, yet I must agree with the others on this one. They are not a group that backs down easily when it's something, or someone, they want."
"I agree with Lee." Jiraiya spoke up.
Naruto just glared at us all and I sighed.
"Naru-." I never got to finish my sentence because suddenly Itachi appeared.
"We knew once we saw my little brother out of the village but not his wife if we waited long enough they'd find each other." I glared before taking a protective stance in front of Naruto.
"You won't get him!" Tsunade growled also stepping in front of Naruto as did everyone else.
Itachi just stood there before sighing. "Why must you also make the inevitable prolonged? We will have the Nine-Tails within the hour."
"You sound very sure of that Itachi." I spoke making him look to me.
"I am." Suddenly Itachi moved his robes to the side to reveal Kazu hanging passed out in his hand.
My throat tightened then and suddenly there was a breeze and Naruto was instantly in front of us. Itachi took off for an alley with Naruto hot on his heels and the rest of us not far behind.
"Let go of my son!" Naruto yelled running even faster.
"Itachi!" I yelled as I watched him pull my son closer to him.
Itachi jumped onto a nearby roof as Shikamaru and Neji made it first to Naruto side in the alley.
I looked up to my brother as I drew closer to the alley.
"Say goodbye to your family little brother." With that another explosion was heard to our right. We looked just in time to move back from the debris of the now destroyed house.
Successfully separating us from Naruto.
"No!" I growled and went to jump onto the roof only to see Naruto and the others take off after Itachi. "Naruto wait!"
"Catch up if you can but I won't let that bastard hurt my boy!" Naruto had paused just long enough to yell that to me before taking off once more for Itachi.
I growled before jumping onto the roof myself and heard the others behind me as I took off after my wife.
Just as we were about to reach him Kisame jumped in front of us.
I growled and went to attack only for Gai to jump up onto the roof then.
"I got this fish! Go and save your wife and son!"
"Thanks Gai!" I yelled rushing past both men as Gai attacked.
Only to notice Naruto and the others weren't anywhere in sight.
"Shit!" I yelled before turning in fast circles trying to figure out where they would've gone.
"Split up! They couldn't've gotten far!" I nodded at Tsunade as the three of us took off into different directions.
Jiraiya's POV:
'Dammit kid! Why the hell did you have to take off like that?!' mentally yelled though I knew at this point Naruto was running on motherly instincts and nothing else.
I looked around desperately before I saw Kakashi rushing to me.
"I found Naruto and the others! Itachi and the rest of the Akatsuki are surrounding them!" I cursed before pushing myself faster.
"Take me to them now!" Kakashi nodded and took the lead.
"I just hope we make it." I muttered to myself.
Naruto's POV:
"Itachi!" I growled pushing faster as I watched the bastard jump down and rushed into the park.
The three of us jumped down and moved closer to the man who held Kazuki up then put a Kunai to his neck.
I paused then and felt my heart stop.
"Itachi just let him go! He's your nephew for crying out loud!"
"I destroyed my whole clan. Killing this child won't make a difference to me."
"Give him up Itachi. You're outnumbered." Shika said as Neji released Byakugan.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." We all turned at the new voice and saw the rest of the group join Itachi.
"Give us what we want and we'll let the boy go." Sasori spoke.
"I won't give you Kurama! I won't let you use him for something evil!" I growled then looked to Kazu as he began to stir.
"If you don't then the boy dies." Itachi spoke as Kazu fully woke up then and looked around before his gaze landed on me. The moment he saw me he began to cry and reach out for me.
I instinctively took a step closer only to pause when Itachi held the Kunai a little closer to his neck.
"Neji can you see a way to free him?" Shika asked quietly.
I barely turned my head and saw Neji shake his head softly and I cursed in annoyance.
'Sasuke where the hell are you?!' I growled and made a mental note to lecture the man when we both were calmed down and knew the three of us were safe.
"Why kill an innocent child? He doesn't have anything to do with this." Shika spoke up.
"He is the son of the Fox vessel and my little brother."
"That aside the boy has nothing to do with the situation. Killing him will only anger Naruto and Sasuke making it forever impossible to get the fox and also possibly be the end of your little group. Letting the boy go is your best option." I looked to Shikamaru like he was crazy but then I could see it on his face that his brain was on full planning mode and I turned to Itachi once more.
Placing all my trust in Shikamaru and whatever it was he had planned to save my son.
"Shadow boy has a point." Deidara spoke with a shrug.
"He is trying to trick us." Sasori spoke.
Itachi just remained silent as he looked between the three of us.
"Let him go Itachi. Killing that boy will only cause your plan to fail." Shika said again.
"And just how will our plan succeed otherwise? We need the fox for our plan and in order to get the fox we need this boy's mother."
"And it's been proven he won't come quietly." Deidara mumbled.
"Let my son go and I will." I finally spoke up.
"Shut it Naruto!" both Neji and Shika growled.
I looked to Shika and gave an apologetic smile, knowing I'd ruined whatever he had planned, before looking to Itachi.
"How can we be certain you won't run the moment the child is in your arms?" Itachi questioned.
"This is my son's life on the line at this point you bastard. Even if I took off he'd be in danger." I pointed out.
Itachi really seemed to think on it at that point.
"Don't trust them Itachi! They're just going to take off and I don't feel like dealing with Pain when we fail because of it!" Deidara growled causing me to glare at him.
Itachi continued to stare at me as he thought my words over.
"I let the boy go and you'll come with us?"
"Not until I know he's safe. Once I know he's safe I won't fight you." I told him then turned my thoughts to someone else.
"You've been listening in?"
"I've heard everything kid, but I still don't know where you're going with this. Shikamaru had it right to keep them talking until back up arrived. But I don't know what you're thinking." I smirked then and nodded slightly.
"I figured that's what his plan was, but with Shika you never know."
"Don't change the subject brat!"
"Don't call me brat, bastard!"
"NARUTO!" I sighed then and looked to the fox.
"Alright, fine, do you remember what you told me when we first merged?"
"Kid where're taking this?"
"Just….do you remember?"
"Yes I remember. I told you you were my true vessel. The only being that could handle my power as they grew older.
"Can you use someone of the same blood to be your vessel?"
"Well I suppose so. I was in your mother first, after all, but only until you were….wait…. kid, you're not…." I looked from Kurama then only to flinch when he spoke once more. "Are you insane?! Don't answer that you've already proven it! Kid not only will that kill you but it would destroy your husband and take you from your son! Not to mention what it'll do to him!"
"I don't like it any more than you do!" I yelled as he glared. "I know what it'll do to Sasuke and Kazu both! I know it'll mean I never get to see him grow into the fine young man I know he'll be! But I can't let you be used for their gain Kurama! They wanna merge you with the others to unleash something evil!"
"You don't think I know that?!" he yelled and I sighed before shaking my head.
"Look, whether it's by them or by my choice I won't be making it out of this fight tonight. The Akatsuki taking Kazu sealed my fate. I won't take you and him with me." I looked to Kurama once more then. "So I'll ask one more time. Can you go into someone who shares my blood?" Kurama sighed as well but finally answered the question fully.
"Since he's your son he should be able to with stand me, though not nearly as well as you."
"But can he live a long life?"
"With the Sharingon also in his blood I believe he'll be able to. But using me will be very harmful to him. More so than before you and I were merged." I nodded then and sighed in both relief and sadness as I looked up to Kurama and gave him a teary smile and petted his nose.
"Then tell me what to do."
Kurama didn't speak for a minute. "First he must have something physical of yours. That way I can reach him even if he's no longer in your arms."
I nodded as I thought of something. "Would the necklace work?" Kurama nodded causing me to as well. "So what do I need to do?"
"Tap into my chakra and I'll take it from there." I nodded then.
"How long will you need?"
"Only ten seconds. Fifteen at most." I nodded once more before smiling sadly and petting him again.
"This is goodbye then my friend. Watch over my family for me?" Kurama did not look happy in the least with this plan but nodded anyways and moved to gently rub his head against me.
"I will. Goodbye my friend. It's been some crazy years." I laughed then and let my tears run free then.
"That they have. But I had a good life." With once last smile I waved to Kurama then turned my attention back to Itachi who, thankfully, was still trying to decide if I was tell the truth or not.
"Please Itachi. Let him go and I'll go with you. I won't fight." I told him and that seemed to make Itachi finally give in.
"Don't do it Itachi! Something about this just isn't right!" Deidara yelled and I glared at him.
"He is acting out of instinct now Deidara. I don't think he'll do anything that'll be harmful to his son. He will come with us." Itachi said as he set Kazuki down who instantly took off towards me.
I scooped him tightly to me and cooed at him trying to calm his tears.
"It'll be alright now Kazu. I'm here. I'll always be here." I whispered to him.
"I wanna go home mommy." I felt my heart break at his words making me hold him tighter.
"I know you do. And uncles Neji and Shika will take you to daddy then you can go home." Kazu looked to me.
"I wanna go home with mommy." I smiled at him.
"I can't go home honey." I told him then took in a deep breath as I took my necklace off, instantly feeling naked without it, and put it over his head. "Keep this with you and I'll always be with you alright?" Kazu nodded before burying his head into my chest.
"Can we go home now?" I looked to the two behind me, who were still glaring, before walking over to Shika and giving him a now screaming Kazu as he tried to get back to me.
"Naruto-."
"Don't Shikamaru, just, don't." he glared but held his nephew closer.
"You'd better have a plan to get your ass out of this." Neji growled and I smiled at him.
"Just get my son to his father." I turned from them then and faced Itachi.
"You do have a plan right?" Shika whispered and I smiled softly before looking to him.
"I do, but you'll hate it completely." Shika looked to me in shock then glared.
"Then there's no way in hell I'm leaving you alone! Neji can get Kazu to safety!" I sighed then and looked to him.
"Just get my son out of here. It about ten seconds it won't matter if they get me or not."
"What do you mean? Why ten seconds? Naruto just what is it you're planning in that head of yours?!" I smiled once more and tapped into Kurama's chakra discreetly as I told them quietly what was going to happen then began to walk towards Itachi.
"You're joking right Naruto? Quit being troublesome already!"
"He just tapped into the fox's chakra!" I heard Neji gasp to Shika.
"Naruto don't!" Shikamaru yelled and I looked to the three of them.
I tried to ignore Kazu's screams for me and tried to fight off my instinct to rush over and hold him tightly as I turned for the last time to my friends.
"Please, take him and get out of here. They won't come after him because they have me and that's all I care about. Just tell Sasuke I'm so sorry and that I love him and that he'd better not blame himself." I glared at them to silently telling them not to do the same either.
"There's no other way?" Shikamaru asked.
"Not unless you want them to get their hands on Kurama, or worse, kill Kazu then get their hands on Kurama." Both looked lost at what they should do and I smiled at them then looked to my crying son. "I love you Kazu. Take care of daddy for me and the rest of your crazy family. They're going to need your smile." I told my son who kept crying for me.
I looked to the other two and nodded as I spoke quietly once more. "Now get him out of here. They won't know what's going on in time and, hopefully, they'll never know I gave my son Kurama. Hopefully they'll just think I released him and spend their time looking for his actual form." Both looked pissed and upset but both knew me well enough to know my mind was made up. I smiled once more as they finally nodded.
"We will be back for you Naruto. We promise." Shikamaru said to keep up the act before they both took off with Kazu crying safely in Shika's arms.
"Are you done with the heartfelt goodbyes?" I turned a glare to Itachi as I told Kurama to go for it and instantly began to feel light headed.
I tried counting to ten and when I thought I was close my vision was nearly all black.
With the last of my strength I smirked at Itachi, who seemed to know something was wrong, before speaking.
"You lose." With that my world went black.
Shikamaru's POV:
"We need to find Sasuke, or anyone, and soon." I told Neji as I tried to ignore Kazuki's cries for his mother.
"I see Kakashi and Jiraiya coming just ahead." Neji said and not a second later did both men appear.
"Where's Naruto?" Jiraiya instantly asked taking his grandson from me who instantly began pulling on his hair and pointing in the direction Naruto was.
"Glad we found you. We have trouble." I told them both what had happened and their reactions were expected. Both paled, Kakashi tried to find something to support himself while Jiraiya silently cursed before holding his grandson closer and fought off tears.
"Where is he?" Kakashi finally spoke and we turned to go back to where we'd left Naruto only to pause when we saw him just laying on the ground unmoving.
Both seemed to lose their fight with the tears, even Neji and I had to look away, as we heard people land behind us. I turned to see Sasuke rushing to Jiraiya. "Kazuki!" Sasuke called and instantly took his son into his arms tightly then looked around in worry. "Where's Naruto?" I looked to the man, really not wanting to show him the scene, before sighing and moving so he could see his wife.
Sasuke seemed to pale, well paler than normal, and held an unreadable expression as he stared at the body.
Slowly, he handed Kazu to the closest person, which was Kiba, and moved to the body while everyone fought their emotions and tears.
Everyone was losing.
Sasuke fell to his knees before Naruto and pulled his upper body tightly to his chest.
It finally hit me that Naruto was gone when he head simply rolled to the side looking away from Sasuke.
He looked to be sleeping. Like at any moment he'd jump up laughing that he really had us fooled which would causing everyone to try and kill him for scaring us to bad.
But he wasn't jumping up. And he wasn't sleeping.
Naruto was gone.
Finally, after minutes of everyone grieving, Sasuke spoke sounding much older than he was.
"What happened." I looked to Neji who nodded then began to explain what I wasn't able to.
Once Neji was done Sasuke looked to Naruto and finally let his tears fall.
"Baka! Why the hell did you do it! All for that damned fox?! Now Kazu won't grow up with both parents! Didn't we always say we'd find a way home to reach other?!" Sasuke yelled before pulling Naruto higher and cried into his neck.
Kazuki was still struggling to get loose and finally succeeded when Kiba lost his fight with his emotions and the kid instantly ran to his parents.
"Daddy?" Sasuke looked up to his son who looked sad and confused. "Is mommy okay?" that seemed to make Sasuke cry harder but he gently set Naruto down and held his son tightly.
"Mommy's-." Sasuke stopped there not knowing what to tell his son. Or just so emotional he couldn't get the words right.
"Your mommy's going to be asleep for a really long time." I tried helping but only seemed to make the kid sadder.
"I don't mommy to sleep for a long time!" I tried again.
"Your mommy didn't want to either Kazu, but he-."
"Stop." I looked to Sasuke in shock. The man still had tears running down his face but his eyes held know emotion in them. Almost like he was just a walking corpse or something.
"Sasuke?" said man stood and turned to all of us before looking to his son then the necklace around his neck then suddenly his Sharingon was out and Kazu was out in an instant.
"Sasuke!" Lady Hokage yelled in shocked anger.
Sasuke looked to her and glared as his eyes went normal again. "He doesn't need to be awake for this conversation."
"What conversation?" Kakashi asked.
"About Naruto. About that damned fox. About any of it."
"Well I get him being to young to understand but I don't get why he needed to be-."
"For someone so smart you're being an idiot right now." I glared at him then. "I don't want him to know about anything not only because he's too young but because of the pain it'll cause.
"Well until he's older to where he'll understand only our emotions will-." Sasuke suddenly laughed and I was suddenly very cautious of the man before me.
"You still don't understand."
"Then help us to." Lady Hokage spoke but I could tell she was cautious too. Everyone was."
Sasuke sighed before slowly taking the necklace from Kazu's neck and held it tightly in his fist.
"I don't want him to ever know the kind of pain I feel right now," he looked to us then, "and because of that I don't want him to ever know about Naruto, the Akatsuki, any of it."
It was then I began to believe Sasuke was losing it.
"Not have him knowing about his own mother?!" Lady Hokage yelled.
"That's right."
"That's impossible Sasuke! First off he's old enough that some memories may have taken hold enough for him to remember later one! Second off pictures hang all over the place in all our houses! How the hell do you expect us to explain those?! What about the villagers?!" Kiba yelled causing Sasuke to glare.
"Simple. Tsunade will figure out a way to block any memories Kazu may be able to hold on to. As for pictures and mementoes, take them all down and hide them. Leave nothing out that he could find about Naruto. As for the villagers, a law was made for Naruto forbidding everyone to speak about that damned fox and a law can be made for Kazu." Everyone just looked to Sasuke in shock.
"You want to wipe Naruto from the village?!" Jiraiya gasped.
"I don't want him knowing the pain I'm feeling now. And I don't want him looking for answers. If the Akatsuki never learn where the fox actually went then Kazuki will be safest not knowing anything either."
"And when Kurama-."
"Don't ever say that name!" Sasuke growled looking to me.
"And when….the fox….makes contact with the boy?" Sasuke looked to his son.
"Since I know he can hear us he'll know not to ever make his presence known." I was beginning to worry for the man in front of me then.
"Um….right….Sasuke this just isn't possible." I tried reasoning.
"It's very possible because everyone will go home and do as I've asked!"
"You're asked us to wipe a person we all love from our lives forever! We know he was your wife but he was our friend and family too! We loved him and we all feel the loss right now!" Ino yelled through her tears as Sai tried to comfort his wife. "How can you just ease him so easily from this village?!"
"I know it won't be easy." Sasuke said finally calming down. "But it must be done. To save Kazu from the pain this night caused, and to keep him safe."
"And how is him not knowing anything safe? Naruto should be the best example on how hiding something like this isn't ever good" Neji said.
"And he'll become a ninja. You won't be able to stop that. Even if you try you know he's too much like Naruto. He will become a ninja and then the chances of meeting people, friend and foe alike, will see the resemblance and will tell Kazu somethings. He'll begin asking then." Sasuke seemed to think on that for a moment.
"When and if that time comes I'll deal with it." Was all he said. Then looked to Lady Hokage. "Tsunade please." Sasuke begged.
Everyone looked to the woman, who looked every bit her actual age now, before she finally sighed and nodded.
"Alright, fine, you win. I'll see if there's a jutsu we can use to block his memories. But I'll warn you now, memories are tricky. If something, even the smallest of things, makes him remember something then if he would've held any memories they will all come back. There's nothing we can do at that point."
Sasuke sighed in relief but nodded.
"As for the mementoes and the villagers, we'll do as you ask. But again, should he find anything in their homes and asks about it there's nothing anyone can do."
"They can refuse to answer him." Sasuke growled.
Tsunade sighed and nodded. "Yes, they can do that I suppose. Now then, as for the villagers. I'll make the law to stop anyone from speaking of Naruto, but I won't erase him completely. He's done way too much for this village to be lost to its history forever." Sasuke seemed to think on this before nodding.
"Thank you. All of you." The night's events were slowly catching up with him and I walked up to the man.
"Why don't I get you two home now?" Sasuke huffed then.
"Home died with him. Now it's just a house we live in." I sighed at that but nodded and looked to my friend's body once more. "I can't leave him." Sasuke said following my gaze.
"I'll take him to the Hokage Tower. He'll stay there until a funeral can be prepared." Tsunade spoke and picked up the man she saw as a son and began to walk sadly back to her tower never once looking from Naruto's peaceful face.
Once Naruto and Lady Hokage were out of sight everyone slowly left leaving only me, Jiraiya, and Sasuke who still held Kazu in his arms.
Sasuke looked to the locket before opening it and let all the memories play out before us.
Soon the pain was obvious on his face and he snapped the locket shut before tossing it hard into the forest where it landed somewhere out of sight.
"Let's get back." Was all he said leaving me and Jiraiya looking in the direction the locket went before turning to help Sasuke back to his place.
As we walked I could only think of thing.
'Things will never be the same again.'
So what do you think? Good? Bad? Neutral? Remember this is my first attempt at anime fanfiction and my first Naruto one so please go gentle! I hope you guys enjoy it and I do promise I've not forgotten my Harry/Spartacus crossovers. This one just wasn't giving me peace so I needed to get this one at least started so that I could focus better on the other stories. Also, sorry yet again for my absence. I just got my computer back yet again from being fixed in Louisville for about two weeks. Now that it's back I'll be able to work more on my stories. Thank you to my fans who are like the world's most patient people! I love all of you guys and your support does not go unnoticed! Thank you again and I hope you enjoyed this one!