Sharingan's Heir
Written by Brown Eyed Girl17
Beta'd and typed by Love the Omni
We don't own Naruto. That all totally belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and his amazing geniusness. :O
No sex in this chapter. D: There is mention of it happening though. xD All this is the last chapter she wrote so it might be a while before she posts again. :P
Chapter Two: Homecoming
Two cloaked figures slinked through the shadows of the Uchiha compound. One had their cloak totally covering his head. The other, much smaller, did not.
"I've never been here... yeah," the fully cloaked one admitted.
"Well, I'm glad you got to see it, Deidara-kun." The other smiled. These two were none other than Hitomi and Deidara of the Akatsuki.
Hitomi led Deidara to the only house in the Uchiha District that was lived in. No one appeared to be home but, just to be sure, she searched for chakra signatures. She found Obito's so she headed to her brother's room, Deidara in tow.
She never thought much of knocking but she wished she had after she opened the door. On the bed was Obito and Haru, both naked, doing things.
"Hitomi?!" Obito screeched, springing apart from Haru and falling off the bed to get his pants back on.
"Hitomi?" Haru whipped around and his eyes clashed with the girl's. Deidara stood in the background cracking up.
"Excuse us." Hitomi slid the door shut, her jaw clenched tightly. She got two steps back down the hallway before she joined Deidara in laughter. She bent over as much as her slightly bulging tummy would allow and laughed harder. "Oh my! Damn, it hurts!" she giggled. Tears fell from her eyes. Haru and Obito joined them in the hallway, fully dressed, moments later. Hitomi just couldn't stop. "I-I'm sorry," she laughed, "but I never would have thought," she laughed again, "that you two would end up together. Oh, the irony!" She continued to laugh with the blonde for a moment more before both sobered up.
Obito looked at his little sister carefully. She was smiling, her obsidian eyes alive with amusement. She looked so much happier than when she lived here. A plain silver band lay on her left ring finger. Obito grabbed her hand and looked questioningly at the ring.
"You're married?" Obito's voice quivered. Hitomi nodded curtly.
"Itachi-kun and I got married about a month ago," her other hand went to pat her stomach, "cause this baby here is growing." Haru and Obito stared at her stupidly.
"You came all the way here carrying a child?!" Haru asked in disbelief. Hitomi nodded again.
"Itachi's going to kill you." Obito tried to hide a smile.
"Itachi wasn't there when we left." Hitomi stuck out her tongue. "He and Sasori went on a mission a few weeks ago." She shrugged.
"He left you alone and pregnant with a house full of criminals?!" Obito was angry. Was Itachi an idiot?
"That's insulting... yeah!" Deidara pouted.
"Aw, Obi-kun, apologize to Deidara please," Hitomi ordered. Obito looked strangely at his sister.
"I'm sorry, Deidara-san," Obito growled. He'd taken care of Hitomi since she was a baby and he'd be damned if he stopped now. He went to pull his sister into a protective hug but she pushed him away.
"Sorry, Obi-kun. It's just," her eyes flickered to Haru, "I'm mentally scarred forever after seeing you two naked." She smiled.
"You're not mad about us?" Haru asked.
"I'm married to my uncle. Who am I to say what's right and wrong?" She shrugged and chuckled.
"Hitomi..." Obito smiled. "Thank you," he murmured, blushing.
"Actually, thank Deidara-kun and Sasori-san. Walking in on them once or twice kind of prepares you for it to happen again." She chuckled.
"Deidara-san and Sasori-san are gay?" Haru asked.
"I'm bi, thank you very much. I did kiss your sister here... yeah." Deidara grinned, looking at Obito.
"You did what?!" Obito grabbed his sister's shoulders. He glared at the blonde. "When was this?" he asked suspiciously. Hitomi laughed.
"When I was seventeen, right after Itachi brought me back. Deidara-kun and I went out one night and came back and got drunk and bozo over there kissed me," Hitomi laughed.
"Then Itachi busted in and beat the shit out of me," Deidara began. "And you two somehow ended up having sex... yeah." Hitomi turned bright red. Obito scowled. Stupid Itachi who took away his sister.
The group went to Hitomi's old room and talked. Hitomi smiled and laughed so much more than Obito remembered. Itachi really did make her happy. This only pissed Obito off because that meant that she would leave again.
"So, Hitomi, do you know when you are due?" Haru asked.
"Sometimes in the next seven to eight months." Hitomi bit her lip.
"You mean you haven't gone to a doctor?!" Obito snapped. "You will go to one. Now!" Obito went to grab her arm but Deidara stopped him.
"Idiot. If they know she's here what do you think will happen... yeah?" Deidara asked sharply.
"He's right, Obi-kun. That's why I can't go anywhere. The Akatsuki is too well-known." Hitomi sighed. "I suppose I can ask mama but Obaa-chan..." She trailed off when she noticed the look on Obito's face.
"Obaa-chan died," he said in a choked whisper. Deidara watched Hitomi freeze and a helpless look flickered in her eyes.
"She died... how?" Hitomi spoke, her words thick with emotion.
"After you left she just kind of withered away. The jutsu she used to keep young was the cause but it seemed to be a bit more... like depression," Obito said grimly.
"How is Ojii-chan doing?" Hitomi asked.
"We don't know. He hasn't left their house. When he does he's visiting her grave and doesn't say anything to anyone," Haru answered for his lover.
"Obito, can I borrow your appearance for a bit?" Hitomi pleaded.
"Are you going to see Ojii-chan?" She nodded.
"Deidara-kun, stay here," Hitomi ordered.
"... yeah," the blonde agreed.
She made the hands signs Inu, Ousu Buta and Tora before, poof, there stood Obito where Hitomi once was. Hitomi, as Obito, wavered on her feet. Deidara moved to steady her.
"Are you alright... yeah?" he inquired about her condition.
"I feel a little nauseous," she admitted, "but I'll be fine in a minute," she assured him. Deidara nodded and released her.
"What's wrong with her?" Haru wondered aloud.
"I'm pregnant," Hitomi said dryly.
"I knew that, Hitomi-chan!" Haru growled. "I meant what's wrong that's making you so sick? When my mom had my baby sister she wasn't that bad," Haru explained.
"I'm just sick. This is my first pregnancy so, of course, I will be sick," Hitomi, as Obito, said. "I've got to get going before I run out of chakra." With that Hitomi walked out of the house and towards the town.
She made it out of the Uchiha District without running into any of her other siblings. Getting through the town unnoticed would prove to be the greatest challenge. Any dimwit above genin rank who knew their chakra signatures would realize she was not Obito. She had to avoid almost every ninja she came across to keep her secret. She dodged running into Ino and Temari but ran straight into somebody else.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, trying to imitate Obito's voice.
"It's fine, Obito." That voice made her freeze. She looked into Kakashi's face. Hitomi quickly pulled away from Kakashi and turned to leave. "Hey, Obito, have you seen Ayame?" Kakashi asked.
"No. What do you need Aya-chan for?" she asked. Kakashi gave her a strange look.
"I'm training her. And since when have you called her 'Aya-chan'? Only Hitomi-" The silver-haired jounin stopped. "Obito?" His voice seemed angry, his jaw clenched under his mask. "Where's Obito, Hitomi?" Hitomi panicked and fled the scene towards Jiraiya's house. She was running through an alleyway (a shortcut Mikoto showed her) when she reached her limit. She changed back and doubled over, spewing half-digested food and stomach acid.
Kakashi caught up with her. Worry creased his one visible brow. "Hitomi, are you crazy?" He asked, pulling her hair back.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I had to come back. I missed you all so much." Kakashi pulled her into a hug.
"I missed you too." He hugged his goddaughter tightly in his arms.
"Thank you, Kakashi-senpai." She whispered through the tears.
"Hm, I missed you calling me that. Ayame calls me Kakashi-shisho," he chuckled.
"She shouldn't. If your ego gets any bigger it might explode," Hitomi joked. Kakashi sighed. He missed her joking. This girl was the one who'd inherited his summoning jutsu and had signed a deal with his ninja dogs (Obito summoned snakes and Mikoto summoned slugs).
"Why did you come into the village? It's dangerous for you now that you've joined the Akatsuki." Kakashi released her to look into her eyes.
"I only joined the Akatsuki because I married Itachi-kun," Hitomi said.
"You married him? When?" Kakashi grinned. Hitomi smiled back.
"About a month ago," she answered again. "Right after we left we stopped and got married." Hitomi fidgeted nervously. "Are you mad?" she asked.
"Of course not! Itachi makes you happy doesn't he?" At her nod he continued. "So it doesn't matter."
"Thank you, Kakashi-senpai. You know, sometimes I wish mama had married you. Then you would've been my dad," she admitted. "I do love da and all but sometimes it's hard to remember that." Kakashi grinned.
"I've always wanted to be a dad. I think I would have made a great father." Kakashi rubbed his cloth-covered chin.
"If you'd married mama before da had come back then you would have been," Hitomi reminded him, "or you could still be if you'd get a girlfriend," Hitomi mumbled.
"I thought about getting a girlfriend once but then you were born and I was made your godfather," Kakashi remembered. "At first I was afraid to hold you or be left alone with you because I was afraid I would hurt you but when you wanted to be held by me I got more comfortable."
"Mama told me I always got really happy when I saw you." She smiled and then sighed. "I need to see Ojii-chan," Hitomi said, straightening out.
"Do you think that is a wise idea?" Kakashi asked.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Hitomi shot back.
"Jiraiya-sama has been watched by ANBU constantly on Naruto's orders," Kakashi stated.
"So I might reveal myself?" Hitomi's face fell. "If I wasn't pregnant I'd risk it but this is my baby," she sighed.
"I suppose I can get ANBU away from him for a while," Kakashi said to cheer her up. She gave him a smile.
"Thanks, Kakashi-senpai." She beamed. The older ninja just grinned.
"But you're going to owe me," he added.
"Put it on my tab with the others." She shrugged.
"Ah, not this one. I want something special." Kakashi responded with a glint in his one visible eye.
"Well? What do you want, Kakashi-senpai?" Hitomi asked. Kakashi paused and pretended to think about it.
"I want you to stay with me while you're here," Kakashi said. Hitomi was taken aback by his request.
"Senpai," she breathed.
"I miss my goddaughter. Ayame is a good kid but she's no replacement for you," Kakashi admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
"I'll stay, Kakashi-senpai, but we'll have to be careful now," Hitomi reminded him. "I am a wanted criminal here." She laughed.
"Criminal makes you sound like a common theif." Kakashi frowned.
"How does 'convict' sound?" Hitomi asked.
"What does 'traitor' do for you?" Kakashi joked.
"'Traitor' sounds like something you'd call my father. I never really betrayed Konoha. I did marry a traitor, though," Hitomi said thoughtfully.
"'Traitor by association'. Whatever. Let's get back to my apartment before someone sees you," Kakashi advised. Hitomi nodded in agreement.
So the two snuck back to the silver-haired jounin's home, Hitomi once again wearing the form of Obito. They kept their conversations to a minimum. Obito and Kakashi weren't known to be too friendly towards each other, only civil on account of Hitomi. Once the two arrived at Kakashi's apartment she dropped the jutsu and wavered on her feet. Kakashi steadied her.
"Are you alright?" Kakashi was concerned.
"I'm fine. This kid just sucks all of my chakra," Hitomi groaned.
"Well, it does have some of Itachi's chakra to it, so it's probably the foreign chakra in your body that's causing this," Kakashi thought aloud. Hitomi grinned.
"Very good. You learned something since I was away, Kakashi-senpai," Hitomi giggled. "Who taught you that? Mama?"
"Yeah." Kakashi's eyes glazed over at the mentioning of Sakura. "I should go bring Jiraiya-sama by for you." Kakashi changed the subject. Hitomi made a mental note to ask Kakashi if he still loved her mother another time.
"Can you bring a note to Obito while you're out?" she asked, biting her lip.
"Why?" Kakashi asked, suspicious.
"Because I left Deidara-kun with him and Haru-chan," Hitomi explained.
"You brought another Akatsuki member into Konoha and left him with Obito?" Kakashi asked between clenched teeth.
"Yeah, why?" Hitomi wondered.
"Obito tends to wear thin on people's nerves so leaving him with an S-rank criminal..." Kakashi trailed off.
"Deidara-kun won't lay a finger on Obi-kun." Hitomi shrugged. Kakashi gave her a look. "He won't because, while Itachi-kun is away, I'm in charge of the Akatsuki." Kakashi's jaw dropped.
"You what?!" Kakashi gaped.
"I'm in charge of the Akatsuki right now," she repeated. Kakashi watched her with wide eyes.
"And you think your plea of 'I'm not a traitor' will work on anyone? Please, Hitomi, you're the Akatsuki leader!" Kakashi ranted.
"It's only temporarily!" Hitomi cried. "I just look over things until Itachi gets back," she explained. Kakashi grinned.
"I know." She knew he was joking but she couldn't help but notice the accusing tone underneath his jokes as if he was blaming her.
Hitomi didn't say anything to that. She just went to the kitchen and scratched out a note on a small notepad that was used to write down their grocery lists.
"Please give this to Deidara-kun or Obi-kun," Hitomi said, tearing out the page and handing it to him.
"I bring Jiraiya-sama here. Just be patient and lay low alright," Kakashi advised, leaving the pregnant Uchiha all alone.
* * * * *
Akatsuki
Itachi and Sasori walked through the secret door that led to the base. Upon arriving to the base, both men were surprised to find that no one was outside or roaming the hallways. They figured that they'd be in Itachi and Hitomi's apartment. No one was there.
"Hello?" Sasori called, heading to the office to find Kisame drunk and asleep, sitting on a chair and Karin working on paperwork.
"Karin, where's Hitomi?" Itachi growled.
"She's not here." Karin bit her lip. Kisame woke up and, in his drunken state, slurred out the truth.
"Shee went back to Konnoha with Dayyydara foravisit," he said happily. Karin carefully watched Itachi's face constrict with rage before he calmed himself.
"Get up, Kisame. We're leaving," Itachi ordered.
"Wa?" the drunken shark asked.
"We're going to get my wife," Itachi growled. Kisame stood up and stretched, efficiently popping many of his joints. Karin rolled her eyes at this. Kisame smirked. He cracked his knuckles.
"Does that turn you on, Karin?" Kisame asked. Karin scoffed.
"Not likely," she snapped. Karin glared at Kisame from her seat at Itachi's desk.
"Can you two stop?" Itachi asked angrily. "I know you two are fuck buddies but can we focus? My pregnant wide is in the enemy territory alone."
"Um, actually, she's with Deidara," Karin corrected.
Itachi blinked. "We have to leave. Now," Itachi ordered. Sasori sighed.
"I'll stay with Karin, Itachi-san," Sasori informed him. "Just bring Deidara-kun home in one piece, alright?" Itachi gave a curt nod and mumbled something under his breath.
"Kisame, let's go," Itachi said. The two Akatsuki members left the building in much haste. Karin breathed a sigh of relief and Sasori sat in the chair Kisame previously occupied.
"So... you're fucking Kisame?"
* * * * *
Konoha
Hitomi waited in Kakashi's apartment. She was worried. Had someone seen her earlier? Did Kakashi get caught with her note? Panic had set in for the kunoichi.
The front door opened and Hitomi consoled herself and waited to see who had come. It was Kakashi, with Jiraiya in tow.
"Hitomi?" Jiraiya called softly. Hitomi walked out of her hiding spot and looked at her Ojii-chan. "You really did come back," Jiraiya breathed. He walked to her and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Hello Ojii-chan," Hitomi whispered. Tears leaked from her eyes as she hugged him back. She sniffled, which alerted Jiraiya and Kakashi to her tears.
"Hitomi..." Kakashi sighed.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying," she admitted. "Pregnancy emotions," she reasoned with a watery chuckle. She wiped away the salty drops with the sleeve of Itachi's sweatshirt she wore. She had long since taken off her cloak. Jiraiya held her tighter.
"I missed you so much," Jiraiya sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about what we said to you."
"Ojii-chan, I'm the one who should be sorry. I left and I was so angry with Obaa-chan that I didn't bother to check up on any of you." Hitomi was bawling by now. Kakashi sighed at the emotional encounter. He pulled out a familiar orange book and began to read from it.
Jiraiya kissed her forehead. Hitomi finally pulled away from him. She furiously wiped away her tears, soaking the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
"Are you alright?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeah," Hitomi answered. She walked into the bathroom and looked at herself. "I'm a mess," she commented, and it was true. Her black eyeliner and mascara was running down her cheeks. Hitomi turned on the water and rinsed off her make up. Kakashi snuck up behind her in the small bathroom and stopped her from continuing to wash the rest of her make up off.
"Hitomi," Kakashi sighed. He pulled out the bottle of remover from the cabinet next to her head. "Here." He handed it to her.
"You kept it?" she breathed.
"Of course. You always come back home," he answered cockily. Hitomi chuckled.
"Well, it's true." She hugged her godfather. "I just can't seem to stay away."
The silver-haired jounin posed and said, "it's because I am just so irresistible." Hitomi rolled her eyes.
"Of course," she answered sarcastically. "Thank you, Kakashi-senpai, for this," she indicated the small bottle. He nodded and left the tiny bathroom. Hitomi proceeded to remove the black stains on her face.
Jiraiya stood observing from the other room. The elder man smiled at Kakashi when he came out of the bathroom. "You really are like her father," he commented. Kakashi shrugged.
"I would have liked to have had a daughter like Hitomi," Kakashi admitted, "but I don't think I would've wanted anyone to be my wife other than Sakura." Kakashi sighed.
"So you're still in love with Sakura?" Jiraiya asked. Kakashi didn't answer for a moment. Hitomi listened from the bathroom. She held her breath and waited for Kakashi's answer.
"Yes, I still love Sakura, but nothing can change the fact that she's married to Sasuke." Kakashi sighed. "Maybe I wouldn't mind so much about my feelings if there were no kids involved. But with six children how can I ever hope that anything like that could happen between us again?" Kakashi asked.
"I don't think the older kids would mind so much, especially Hitomi. Sasuke isn't exactly a good father," Jiraiya commented. Hitomi clenched her fist. So what if her father was awful to his wife and kids? It wasn't their place to question their father's motives. They weren't Uchihas so how could she expect them to understand the pressure they all went through.
Sasuke and Sakura had both given up their own respective significant other to restore the Uchiha clan. There was also so much pressure on them to have as many children as possible. The strive for perfection was too much for them all. Obito was gay, Hitomi fell for her uncle and now Inabi has become angry, very angry.
So how would Jiraiya and Kakashi even think they could understand an Uchiha? She sighed. Perhaps she'd been spending too much time with the ever proud Kisame. However, she still sympathized with her family. All she hoped for was that her baby would have a normal childhood.
Hitomi left the bathroom and looked at the two shinobi before her.
"I need to speak to my mom and dad," she whispered softly. Jiraiya and Kakashi's jaws dropped.
"Why?!" Kakashi gritted his teeth.
"They're my parents for one and, two, I need to talk to my mama about this." She patted her slightly chubby stomach. Kakashi looked over her.
"He'll turn you in," he warned.
"Who, dad?"
"Yes. Sasuke isn't a very forgiving person," Jiraiya piped in.
"I know but I have faith that he actually cares about more than power and his job as a shinobi. Perhaps his nindo?" Hitomi shrugged.
"So you have complete trust in your father now, huh?" Kakashi asked bitterly.
"No. If I did, bringing Deidara-kun wouldn't have been necessary." Hitomi grinned. "After all, 'Sasuke' is only the man who gave me life. You, Kakashi-senpai, were the one who raised me." Hitomi winked, leaving the two men stunned. "I'll be back after I see my mama." With that Hitomi left to go back to the Uchiha compound. Kakashi soon followed as did Jiraiya.
"I still don't think this is a good idea," Kakashi growled under his breath. Hitomi sighed.
"Have a little faith, Kakashi," Hitomi advised. "Deidara won't let anything happen to me while I'm here," she assured him.
"Hitomi, did you really mean what you said back there?" The silver-haired jounin asked.
"What did I say?" Hitomi asked.
"That I raised you," he reminded her.
"Would I waste my breath if I hadn't?"
"Do you always answer a question with a question?" Jiraiya asked.
"No," Hitomi, still as Obito, replied.
"Fair enough." Kakashi laughed. When the group got to the entrance to the Uchiha compound Hitomi stopped and stared at the Uchiha crest.
"Hitomi?" Jiraiya whispered. She nodded and walked in a few moments later when the gate was out of sight she released the jutsu. She wavered on her feet a moment. Kakashi helped to steady her.
"Easy, now, Hitomi," Kakashi said as she leaned on him.
"Only seven more months of this to go," Hitomi groaned to herself. She mumbled about beating Itachi within an inch of his life the next time the horny bastard got near her.
The main house stood there proud and tall against the skyline. Hitomi breathed deeply before entering her former home.
In the kitchen stood Mikoto fixing dinner for Ayame, Inabi and Fugaku. When the door opened the pink-haired Uchiha never expected to see Hitomi standing there.
"Hi-tomi," she gasped as the glass bowl she'd been holding fell to the floor, shattering on impact. The floor was now covered in glass shards.
"Hi Mi-chan." Hitomi waved. Ayame stood up and ran to hug her sister. "Aya," Hitomi warned when she about squashed her pregnant belly.
"Hitomi nee-chan, you're fat! Like mama was before Fugaku-chan came along," Ayame observed.
"Well, she is pregnant," Inabi pointed out. "Baka."
"Why? She's just a weak, useless girl," Inabi snapped.
"Inabi, stop that now," Hitomi ordered.
"Or you'll do what, traitor?" Inabi smirked, obviously pleased with himself.
"Oh, I won't do anything, but my Akatsuki friend, Deidara, will," Hitomi replied in a sickeningly sweet voice. Inabi squinted his eyes hatefully at her.
"Wench," she snapped as he left the room. When he did he passed Obito and the eldest Uchiha tried to observe the situation.
"What's Inabi pissed about now?" Obito asked. He looked over at Mikoto who stood beside...
"Hitomi, you're back!" Obito grinned. "Good thing too. Blondie was getting restless without you."
"Blondie?" Mikoto echoed.
"Deidara," Hitomi explained. "He came with me here. Speaking of, where is he?"
"Right here... yeah," Deidara announced. Obito made a sour face.
"I thought I told you to stay with Haru," he growled.
"No way in hell I'm staying in that room after what Hitomi and I saw... yeah," Deidara growled back stubbornly.
"What? Did you walk in on Haru and Obito having sex?" Mikoto wondered. Obito's jaw dropped.
"You all knew?" he squeaked.
"Yep," Ayame giggled. "Inabi-kun knew first and he told Mi-chan and I and then it made sense why you guys were acting so strange," Ayame announced.
"Heh, some ninja I am," Obito grumbled. Hitomi snickered.
"It's alright, Obi-kun. Think of it this way: we all accept you," Hitomi pointed out. Obito sighed.
"What's my consolation prize?" he asked.
"Nope. No consolation prize, just your prize and no consolation to it." Hitomi grinned. "Although I don't see why our family would care about you and Haru," Hitomi continued.
"Yeah, after all, Hitomi is the one who ran away with our uncle and the Uchiha clan murderer and the one that takes the cake: she left pregnant," Mikoto reminded him.
"No, I think her marriage to him took the cake... yeah," Deidara interjected. Mikoto froze. Ayame released Hitomi and took a step back to look at her sister.
"Hitomi nee-chan is married to Itachi-teme?" Ayame's eyes watered up. "That's not fair, Mi-chan! Now Hitomi won't ever come back home again." Ayame cried and Inabi rushed back in the room.
"What did you say to her this time, Obito?" Inabi growled. Ayame shook her head.
"Nee-chan is leaving forever all because of stupid Itachi." Inabi turned expectantly towards Hitomi, waiting for an explanation.
"Well?" He raised his eyebrows.
"She's upset because Itachi and I got married," Hitomi answered.
"You married the bastard who killed our clan? Who attempted to kill our Hokage and father?" Inabi screeched. Then he lost it. He attacked her angrily. "I will kill you, traitor!"
"Inabi, calm down!" Mikoto ordered but the boy ignored her. Hitomi dodged all of his attacks and even landed a few punches of her own.
"I will become better than you! Then I will be worthy of the title 'Uchiha Prodigy'!" he yelled.
Hitomi stopped mid-punch. "What?" Hitomi breathed. "What did you say?"
"I want to be the Uchiha prodigy! All da talks about is how great you are or how well you did this and that. I'm sick of it! I want to be the one he's proud of." Inabi broke down and joined his twin in crying.
"Da talks about me like that?" Hitomi was confused.
"Nonstop. You really hurt him when you left. He always wished you would have been his heir even though you were a girl." Inabi spilled the beans. Kakashi, who stood forgotten next to Jiraiya, walked over to Hitomi and hugged her as she too began to cry.
"What's going on here?" Sasuke snapped from the door. Hitomi pulled away and her onyx eyes clashed with that of her father's.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hitomi." He eyed her. "Where's Itachi? Finally realize that everyone was right?"
"He's on a mission. Deidara brought me here for a visit," she mumbled. Things were so awkward between her and her father right now. Hitomi shuffled around on her feet, changing the weight to rest on her left then right.
"Hm, what a disgrace you are," Sasuke told her. Hitomi never said a word to him. She stood and took his verbal abuse until Kakashi stepped in.
"Sasuke, that's enough. Inabi just told everyone how much you admire Hitomi," Kakashi continued to stare at the Uchiha, "and then you come in here and tell her she's a disgrace? Sasuke, she's your daughter!"
"If you want to be her father so bad, take her." Sasuke glowered. "She's of no use to anyone."
"Did you ever once love me?" Hitomi's voice was quiet. "I remember a time when you would hold my hand and help me with schoolwork. If I'd never gotten the Mangekyo Sharingan would you have continued to care or was all that a dream?" Tears streamed down her face. His silence said it all. Hitomi nodded and turned to leave. "Come on, Deidara. I want to say goodbye to mama before we leave."
"Hitomi, wait. You just got here." Mikoto tried to smooth things over but it wasn't working. "It's probably not a good idea for you to travel so much while you're pregnant."
"I don't want to be here." Hitomi's voice broke. "Deidara, please. I just want to go back home."
"Alright. Let's go... yeah." With that, they left. Kakashi looked at Sasuke in disbelief.
"How could you say that to her?" he asked.
"Why did you say that?" Inabi growled as well. "I don't care who you are. No one hurts my sister!" Inabi once again attacked but Sasuke blocked him easily.
"That traitor is not your sister," Sasuke spoke, his voice dark.
"When Itachi betrayed you, did you stop thinking of him as a brother? When you left did mama ever stop loving you? No. She just moved on," Obito pointed out. Sasuke paused.
"Does that really matter now?" Sasuke asked. "She's with him. She chose him over the clan."
"Did she? No. I believe that they both are doing this for the clan. A full-blooded Uchiha child." Obito glared at his father. "And I'm gay."
"I knew that." Obito's jaw dropped.
"Does everybody know?!" Obito shrieked.
"Pretty much," Mikoto told her brother. He groaned again.
"And here I thought I was doing a good job of hiding it." Obito sighed.
"You're too oblivious to the world around you when you're with him," Inabi said.
"With who?" Haru entered the conversation. All of the Uchihas' eyes fell on Haru.
"I told them about us and they already knew," Obito explained to his lover. Haru paled before turning a bright cherry red.
"Th-th-they kn-knew?" Haru choked out.
"It was obvious. You two were always sneaking around," Sasuke commented.
"Oh, where's Hitomi? I thought I heard her voice," Haru wondered, trying to change the subject.
"She left," Jiraiya finally spoke. "Sasuke here made an ass of himself and she and Deidara went to talk to Sakura."
"Oh. About the baby?" Haru asked.
"Why would Hitomi need to talk about the baby?" Sasuke asked.
"Deidara told me that Hitomi isn't able to go to a doctor to see if every thing's alright and she's really weak and sick." Haru sighed. "Didn't you know?"
"No!" Sasuke yelled at the boy and ran out of the house to the hospital. The inhabitants in Konoha watched the Uchiha and shrugged it off. They never really cared about the Uchiha since he betrayed the village.
Sasuke ran into the hospital and got the attention of the nearest nurse and threw her against the wall.
"Uchiha-sama!" she cried out.
"Where's Sakura?" he growled out between clenched teeth.
"I'm not going to tell you! You're angry with her again, aren't you?" she demanded to know. "You're going to leave now, Uchiha-sama. No more screaming matches between you two this week." The nurse pushed Sasuke off of her and glared.
"I'm not angry, I'm frantic, Mikoto's sick!" he lied. The nurse's demeanor changed.
"Oh, in that case, she should be in her office." The nurse smiled politely and apologized for her rude behavior.
"It's not a big deal." Sasuke brushed it off and left. He entered his wife's office and his dark eyes zeroed in on his daughter and her blonde companion.
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura attempted to calm her husband down.
"What's wrong with Hitomi and the baby?" he asked before she could speak again. Sakura's jaw dropped. Then her emerald eyes crinkled in amusement.
"You're worried about her, aren't you?" Sasuke turned his nose up at them.
"No."
"You are worried!" Sakura chuckled. "See, Hitomi, I was right. Your father's just an ass. He doesn't hate you." Sasuke glared at his wife before looking at Hitomi who was actually crying.
"What's wrong?" He pointed to Hitomi.
"Nothing. She's just emotional right now," Sakura explained. Sasuke gave a sigh of relief. "Now, Hitomi, you were lucky this time. Everything is alright with you and the baby but if you don't get checked out regularly then who knows about next time?" Sakura ranted.
"I'm sorry, mama, but it's not safe for me to go to a medic when I'm associated with the Akatsuki," Hitomi explained.
"Then you're staying here," Sasuke ordered. Three pairs of eyes landed on Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura breathed.
"If Itachi is unable to take care of her and his kid then I will," Sasuke said.
"Da, I don't think I should stay here. Itachi-kun and Sasori-san should be back from their mission soon and we can't trust Kisame to stay sober long enough to take care of the paperwork," Hitomi ranted.
"I'll go back and take care of it," Deidara suggested.
"Alright, I'll stay, but just for the little one." Her hands rested on her still mostly flat stomach.
"Good; but we have to tell Naruto," Sakura reminded them. Sasuke sighed.
"Leave that to me. Sakura: call Rekki and Ryuho and tell them to get down here. I'm sure Hitomi's missed her friends," Sasuke ordered. The pink-haired kunoichi did as she was told while her husband left to initiate a verbal battle with the Hokage.
He heard his daughter beg for the phone through the closed door. Sasuke shook his head. He walked down the hallway intending to go find Naruto but, as fate seemed to have it out for the head of the Uchiha clan, he ran into that bastard, Neji.
"Hyuga," Sasuke spat in greeting.
"Uchiha." He returned the gesture. Sasuke side-stepped the Hyuga and went about his way.
Sasuke exited the hospital, silently rehearsing the meeting with Naruto in his head. He went over several strategies, trying to find one that would work best to his benefit. So far Sasuke had found none and now he was face-to-face with the door to the Hokage's office. The Uchiha vaguely thought of winging it but his ANBU Captain training would not allow it. Sasuke hesitantly opened the door and walked in.
"I was wondering when you would come in," Naruto announced, still shuffling through his paperwork.
"Yeah, well, I was wondering how to break the news to you..." Sasuke trailed off.
"You and Sakura finally getting a divorce?" Naruto asked before he thought about his words.
"No." Sasuke gritted his teeth. Was he that bad to his family?
"Well, then, what is it?" Naruto was annoyed.
"Hitomi came back," Sasuke answered. Naruto shifted in his seat.
"So what do you want me to do about it?" Naruto asked.
"Can she stay in the village until the baby is born?" Sasuke voiced his request.
"You want her to have his child here and then let her go back to the Akatsuki?!" Naruto was stunned. "Of course she can, teme, because now you're acting like a real caring parent." Naruto chuckled as relief washed over his friend's features.
"Keep that quiet," Sasuke muttered.
"What, that you care about your kids? Sasuke, that's a good thing, especially in your case when this may be your only chance to see your daughter and grandchild slash niece or nephew." Naruto's face wrinkled in amusement. "Your family is messed up, teme! How come Hitomi decided to come back? Tell me everything."
"Dobe," Sasuke shot back. "That is none of your business." Naruto pouted at his friend.
"Fine. I'll wait till Sakura-chan tells Ino who will tell Hinata-chan who tells me everything."
"What are you, a gossiping old hag?" Sasuke asked.
"I am not old, thank you, I'm only thirty-six. Sasuke-teme." Naruto bristled.
"Yeah, sure. I remember when we were fifteen and thirty was a million years away," Sasuke remembered. He and Naruto continued their discussion, cheerfully remembering the good old days.
* * * * *
Somewhere near the outskirts of Konoha
Kisame and Itachi stood a good distance from the Konoha main gate. The two were planning on how to get their other two members out.
The Sharingan user's red eyes swept across the area before the gate. A glimpse of blonde caught his attention. He felt the rage within him build. The Uchiha disappeared for a moment only to poof in front of the blonde Akatsuki member.
"Going somewhere?" Itachi asked.
"Itachi-san!" Deidara thought he could have at least made it back to the bade without seeing Itachi.
"Where is she?" Itachi growled. Deidara held his breath.
"She stayed. Sasuke and Sakura told her to," Deidara told his superior. Itachi's eyes narrowed.
"You left her alone with that bastard?!" Itachi was enraged by now. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"Hitomi said she would be alright, Itachi-san... yeah," Deidara defended himself. Itachi's red orbs smoldered.
"How is she alright when my bastard of a brother is near her?" Itachi growled possessively.
"Itachi-san, Hitomi is sick and Sakura and Sasuke want her to stay in Konoha so she can be taken care of... yeah," Deidara said. Itachi's demeanor changed. His look of anger turned into one of concern.
"Hitomi's sick?" Itachi repeated.
"Not sick, sick but sick from the pregnancy. She's been really pale, Itachi, yeah," Deidara tried to explain.
"Then I'm staying with Hitomi," Itachi declared.
"But, Itachi, what about the Akatsuki?" Kisame asked as he walked over to them.
"I don't know. Let Tobi run the Akatsuki for a while," Itachi suggested randomly. "He'll keep you all from getting into too much trouble while I'm gone," Itachi said, more to assure himself then Kisame and Deidara.
"Itachi-san, are you sure about this... yeah?" Deidara wondered.
"Yes. Don't accept any missions and try not to leave the base too much. You and Sasori can be in charge of the paperwork, alright?" Itachi said to his comrade.
"Yes, Itachi," Kisame answered for the blonde. "What do you want me to do?"
"Advise Tobi if needed." With that, Itachi used to body flicker jutsu he'd stolen from Shishu before he'd killed him. Itachi reappeared in the Uchiha compound behind an abandoned home. Being in this place reminded Itachi of the genocide he'd committed back before he had something worth living for.
He snuck through the mini-village to the main house. He used the body flicker jutsu again to get to his wife's childhood bedroom. The room had formerly been his own. The previously unpainted walls were now a light pastel violet. When this room was his own he'd kept very little in the room. A bed, a dresser, desk and chair was all he'd had. Hitomi, on the other hand, had filled the room with her essence.
Even though she was no longer living in this house her bed was still unmade from the last time she had stayed here. Pillows and plushies littered the floor along with mountains of clean laundry Hitomi had never put away. Itachi grinned as he put away her clothes and made her bed. Itachi knew Hitomi was a bit of a slob and hated to put away her clothes so he had always done it for her.
When this task was finished he continued to look around his former room. There were weapons on her desk along with books, scrolls, paper and pens. Her walls had crayon drawings tacked to it. These drawings were signed by their creators: Inabi, Ayame and one was Hitomi's own artwork. Itachi admired it. He guessed what they said about an Uchiha was true to an extent. An Uchiha excels at everything but, maybe, art. He sighed and began to go through her desk as she waited.
* * * * *
Another place in Konoha
Hitomi, Sasuke and Sakura walked through the village towards the Uchiha compound. The villagers looked at Hitomi like she was poison. Hitomi tried to ignore them but was having a hard time doing so.
Sasuke noticed the depressed look on his daughter's face and, for the first time in a long time, he wanted to take her hand into his own. He wanted to be her father for a second time in her life. Sasuke ignored the surprised looks he got and grabbed Hitomi's hand.
The younger Uchiha turned and searched his eyes. When she found a vaguely familiar look she smiled a real smile. Hitomi accepted it and the family continued back to their home, Sakura's eyes alive with joy as she watched her husband and daughter reconnect.
They came upon the entrance of the Uchiha compound and Sasuke felt a flicker of familiar chakra. His eyes scanned their surroundings.
"Da?" Hitomi asked.
"I thought I felt Itachi's chakra," Sasuke admitted. Hitomi paused a moment and then looked at her mother.
"There's a possibility it's the baby. It would make sense as to why you're sick..." Sakura trailed off. Hitomi looked questioningly at the woman. "Well, if yours and Itachi's chakra isn't mixing well, that could be what's making you sick." Hitomi bit her lip, waiting for her father's snide remark but it never came.
The family just continued to their home. The main house was strangely quiet and empty. Hitomi ignored the feeling that she was being watched as she left her parents for her room.
Hitomi entered her room and immediately knew it was out of place. The bed was made and her clothes weren't on the floor. She looked around suspiciously. Had her mother cleaned it? Hitomi wondered. She shrugged it off for a moment until someone wrapped their arms around her waist. Hitomi's heart lept into her throat as she struggled.
"Hitomi, enough." Her limbs fell limp at the sound of Itachi's voice.
"Ita-kun?" she whispered, her voice caught in her throat. She turned around in his embrace to face him. Her black orbs softened when she saw his face. Hitomi returned the hug as tears sprang from her eyes. "I missed you," she continued.
"Why'd you leave, Hitomi? I was coming back for you." Itachi held her tighter.
"Well, I was homesick, I guess," Hitomi admitted shyly.
"You missed your family and friends too?" Itachi asked. He suddenly felt guilty. It was his fault Hitomi wasn't able to see those people she cared about. He was being selfish when he married her, forever branding her an S-class criminal in the bingo book.
"I do but I know it's not safe for me to be here, especially when Deidara just left. I should have waited for you to come back before I left. I bet leaving Kisame in charge wasn't too intelligent." She chuckled.
"He didn't do too bad actually..." Itachi informed her. "He did his job in a way that would've made the fifth Hokage proud," he teased. Hitomi grinned.
"I take it that Karin did a whole lot of his work?" Itachi nodded as he rested his forehead on her shoulder. He inhaled her unique scent. Strangely, this action always calmed him.
"Yeah, mostly," he mumbled. He was tired. He hadn't had a good night's rest since returning from his mission.
"Do you want to lie down, Ita-kun?" Hitomi asked. He nodded against her shoulder. Hitomi pulled away from him and led him to her childhood bed. The two laid there wrapped in each other's arms simply enjoying the other's company. Itachi rested his hands on Hitomi's belly feeling content with life.