You know this story I have to say has gotten more reviews than I would have thought. I LOVE YOU! KISSES FOR ALL! –coughs- Sorry, had a moment. I've been told I was one BIG moment. Thank you all so very much for staying with me…
Also, I forgot to answer one question from a review from Empress Caroline of Tamaran. You asked why Kakashi has the Sharingan at five when it was a gift. The answer is because the powder only reversed their age and since Kakashi has the Sharingan when he drank it he has it. The difference between Kakashi and Naruto's age is also he reason they are not the same age. I hope that clears up a few things, and you will find out about the powder in the next chapter maybe, so hopefully you will enjoy this chapter…
-s-
Ch 4: The Joys of Babysitting
SPASH!
Two year old Naruto was throwing his hands in the water in front of him with his ever present smile. Soft giggles were filling the room and there were some bubbles in the bath tub, which Naruto was enjoying. Sasuke sat on the closed toilet seat – arms crossed - and watched as Sakura was knelt down to the bath tub, interacting more with Naruto. Sakura was slashed on occasion, though she didn't seem to mind. "Have you done this before?" Sasuke asked.
"Once or twice." Sakura answered, not taking her eyes off of Naruto, handing him the rubber ducky Sasuke had gotten. "When you and Naruto were gone, I had a couple of missions that required a medic to baby-sit while the parents were away on a mission. I was required because the baby had a birth defect that could have killed him if there wasn't a medic available twenty-four seven and I was assigned to baby-sit for a week, but it turned out to be an extended mission when the mission became worse. So I baby-sat for a month. This baby shampoo is from then and I forgot to put that on the list." She grabbed the shampoo and put some in her hands and motioned for Naruto to come forward. "And believe it or not, I managed to create a cure for the child's defect and he's living life like a normal child. I have taught other medics how to reverse it."
"Hn." He let her know he was listening, still watching. 'I never would have thought that she could create a cure. But she's proved to me that she's grown in strength while I was with Orochimaru. She's grown stronger.'
The blonde boy's hair was covered in bubbles and he seemed excited. "Bubbles!"
Sakura giggled, "Yes, Naruto, bubbles."
"Bubbles." He scooped a handful of bubbles and placed them on her noses and he laughed.
"Oh, yeah, bubbles for you." Sakura attacked him with her own bubbles. Sasuke rolled his eyes as they acted so immaturely and bubbles were flying everywhere. Naruto he could understand, but Sakura? Something wet touched his nose and he went cross-eyed and glared at Sakura as he heard her start giggling. "…And bubbles for Sasuke…"
"Whatever." He whipped the foam from his face.
"Oh, c'mon Sasuke, lighten up. Have some fun for once in your life."
"Fun… huh." Sasuke huffed. "I don't have time for fun."
"Everyone should have time for fun." Sakura went back to Naruto and started rinsing his hair.
"What's the point of fun?" Sasuke asked.
"Even you need fun, Sasuke."
"Not with Itachi out there. Don't pretend you know anything about me. You know nothing about me."
"You never let people, Sasuke." Sakura looked at him. "I think you want to, but you're too afraid to have some-" Sakura ducked her head as something missed her by inches.
Sasuke glared toward the door and Sakura's mouth was hanging open. 'I can't believe I missed. My target was Sasuke.' Kakashi thought. "What kind of books are these?" he left without waiting for an answer.
"Ones for children…" Sakura answered, pulled Naruto out of the tub and onto the floor as she grabbed a pink towel and wrapping it around the blonde as she lifted him into her arms after she unplugged the bath tub. Sasuke followed her to the living room. She shrieked, "Kakashi! How'd you unlock the parental locks?"
"Simple, I went through the birthdates of everyone you knew. It was the first one I went to, which I guessed right was Sasuke's." the miniature copy-nin was staring at the screen as it was once again his favorite movie. Again it was at a bad scene. Sakura quickly pushed Naruto into Sasuke's arms as she jumped in front of the TV, trying to cover it up as much as she could after turning the volume down. Her face was deep read and Sasuke was looking away, trying to hide his just as red face.
"Sasuke," he shifted his dark eyes toward Naruto, who was looking at him ever curiously. "Why awe you so wed?"
"Hn." He refused to answer to a two year old version of his best friend.
"Where's the remote, Kakashi?" Sakura asked as calmly as she could.
The boy shrugged, "I'm not telling. You'll only block it."
"Exactly, but I can always disconnect the direct TV."
"Please no." Kakashi begged.
"Where's the remote?" by now she turned off the TV and Kakashi reluctantly gave her the remote. "I have a better password that I know you won't discover on your own." Sakura had placed the password back in before handing the remote back to Kakashi, who's hand was shaking since he knew he would have to rack his five year old brain for the password.
The pink haired medic made her way back over to Naruto and Sasuke, who was still turned away, as she grabbed the blonde from his hands. She had picked out a small t-shirt that would be for Naruto for the night and had a pull up and explained to Naruto that he would have to go to the bathroom. After drying the boy off, she clothed him. "All done." She smiled and Naruto hugged her tightly, one she returned before he was off to sit beside his sensei turned five year old perv. "I'll make dinner." Sakura told Sasuke, who had taken a seat on the couch as he watched the two 'children'.
After about thirty minutes, Sakura called all of them in for dinner taking a seat in the tiny table that was big enough for four. Sasuke and Sakura sat across from each other with the two smaller people in between them. "I'm not hungry." Kakashi sulked, pushing his plate away.
"If you eat like a big boy, maybe I'll get you a surprise. Maybe." Sakura said. The boy grumbled as he ate his dinner without complaint, though his face was again never seen.
When they finished dinner, Sakura was able to clean the kitchen and the living room as the boys just sat and watched TV. It had taken her about two hours to accomplish this and Sasuke could see that she was exhausted as she sat down beside him. "Can we please watch something else?" Kakashi asked, his tone held boredom.
"No," Sasuke replied, obviously he had been asked that more than once. They were currently watching Forensic Files (one of my favs).
"I have an idea," Sakura said, "what if I ask a friend to come over and watch these two while we go out and have some fun?"
Sasuke looked at her, "I don't want to."
"Then you can stay here and watch them while I go out. I've been cooped up in the house all day. I'm starting to feel like a house wife and it sucks." The kunoichi stood up and walked to grab the phone.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke raised a brow.
"I'm calling someone to baby-sit with you, I don't trust you, remember?" she placed the phone to her ear.
"Fine, I'll go." The Uchiha grumbled.
"Cool."
"Hello?"
"Hey Hinata, this is Sakura…"
Sasuke almost laughed at this, 'So this is who she was planning on calling, huh?' he looked at Naruto. 'She's in for a big surprise when she sees him if she hasn't heard about this already.'
"Hi, what do I owe this surprise?"
"Actually… I kind of wanted to ask a favor of you, if you're not busy…"
"No, I'm free."
"But first did you hear about Naruto and Kakashi…?"
"Neji told me…"
"Well I was wondering if you wouldn't mind babysitting these two for a few hours while Sasuke and I get out? We've been in my small apartment all day – at least I have – and I would like a break…"
"Sure I'll watch them for you. From what I've heard from Neji, Lee and Shikamaru they felt bad for you. Has Sasuke helped any?"
Sakura glanced at him, to see him watching her as she conversed. "A little bit."
"I'll be over as quick as I can."
"Alright see you then. Hinata…"
"What is it Sakura?"
"Thank you…"
"I'll be right over and you are welcome."
With those words the connection was cut. Sakura smiled as she looked at Sasuke, "She'll be right over."
"Don't you think you're sending that Hyuuga to her death when she sees Naruto?" he asked. "And Kakashi…"
"You haven't seen how much she's grown. She's stronger and she can take care of herself… but you may have a good point…"
Not long after Sakura called her friend there was a knock on the door. She and Sasuke were ready. "Hi Hinata… and Neji…" Sakura stared at the older Hyuuga. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to help Lady Hinata." Neji answered, he and Sasuke were again having their little glaring contest. They were evenly matched. Touché! "I had seen the chaos Sasuke had left you with and I wasn't going to let my cousin suffer the same thing."
"You see, I was walking out of the Hyuuga compound when Neji arrive and asked where I was going. I told him and he came with me. That's not a problem, is it?"
"No, not at all. I think you could use some help and I will make it up to both of you, I promise." Sakura said, clasping her hands together.
"There's no need to do that, Sakura. We're just friends helping a friend in distress." Neji smiled at Sakura while saying this but glanced at Sasuke, who was glaring daggers. Hinata walked by them.
"I would hug you if you would let me," Sakura teased.
"That's inappropriate." Neji assured her. "You two should get going if you wish to have fun without having to worry about them. They will be fine with us."
The girl smiled and bowed in respect. "Thank you, Neji. And we will have fun." She walked passed him quickly as he watched after her for a few moments before looking at the dark haired boy.
"You should have fun, Uchiha."
"I have no time for fun, Hyuuga."
The Byakugan user's face became stern. "Don't make everything about yourself, Uchiha." He turned his attention to Sakura's retreating figure as Sasuke did the same. "What has she done for you on more than one occasion and when you can't even return it for her just once? I'm surprised she still accepted you back when the death penalty would have been best." Both prodigies were again glaring. "Naruto and Kakashi also… You should be grateful that there are few who have had the decency to care about you with such ill treatment from you. Naruto and Kakashi understand, but Sakura has been given the worst of it. If she is hurt again you will have more than me after you. Just this once, let her have some fun, even if it makes you uncomfortable. Put yourself aside and do something that's best for someone else for a change. You may find something that makes you happy." Neji walked inside Sakura's apartment and shut the door in Sasuke's face.
"Hn," the Uchiha said as he went to catch up with Sakura. 'Nothing will make me happy until Itachi is dead.'
"I was thinking that we could do something fun before we do the boring stuff. We can stop by your place so you can pack some clothes."
"Hn."
"C'mon." she grabbed his hand for a second, dragging him behind her as she sprinted. Sasuke noted that her hands were warm before she let go, sensing that he didn't like the physical contact.
-Meanwhile with Hinata and Neji-
Neji had just shut the door in the Uchiha's face and seen his beet red cousin. "Lady Hinata?" he asked, concerned but followed her gaze. She never seen such a small Naruto before, at least, that she can remember. Neji's pale eyes shifted to the pervert himself, who was grinning innocently under his mask. "Did anything happen, Lady Hinata?"
"No, Neji." She shook her head before looking at him. "I didn't believe you."
"That's what Shikamaru and I thought," he replied with a chuckle. "Though I must say, Lady Hinata, I never would have thought of you as one who would be going out with a child." Hinata waved her hands in front of her innocently. "Naruto does act like one twenty-four seven."
"It's not like that…"
"Would you like to come and sit by me?" Kakashi asked as he pat the seat beside him and Neji glared.
'He's already putting moves on my cousin,' the older Hyuuga thought. "Hinata, you sit beside me." She nodded.
'Did I forget something?' she sat beside her cousin as he grabbed the remote.
"Hey, can we watch-?"
"No," Neji interrupted Kakashi.
"But you don't even know what I was going to say." The small silver haired boy defended.
"Is it about unblocking the SPIKE channel?" the brown haired boy asked, knowingly.
Kakashi crossed his arms, 'He's good.'
Neji smirked, "I thought so…"
"Hinata…" the said girl jumped upon hearing the small voice. Neji followed her gaze as she looked down at her two year old boyfriend. Her face was red.
'She hasn't blushed for awhile, so this situation has defiantly had some effect on her.' Her cousin watched her as she reacted to Naruto.
"Naruto…"
"You'we pwetty." Naruto grinned, "Do I know you?"
"Uh… well… you and I… were…" Hinata started stuttering.
'Why does Naruto get all the attention?' the copy-nin asked himself. 'I'll have to think of something.'
"Don't even think about it…" he looked up to see Neji watching him closely.
'First I've got to get rid of her cousin…' Kakashi started to ponder on ways to separate them.
'He's up to something.' Neji thought as he looked at the TV. 'It won't work Kakashi.'
-Back with Sasuke and Sakura-
Sasuke was starting to think that Sakura had no idea where she was going. She walked in front of him and he followed, not really caring about anything as he once again had his hands shoved in his pockets. "Do you even know where you're going?" he asked, Sakura realized that what she was doing was annoying.
"Of course," she looked over her shoulder. "But before we go anywhere I want to show you something."
"Hn," the Uchiha continued to follow her until they were standing on top of the Hokage Faces'.
"We're here…" she said cheerfully, looking out over the village of Konoha, hands behind her back.
"Why here?" Sasuke inquired in his monotonous voice, trying to sound annoyed and bored.
"I like to come here to think." The kunoichi sat down at the edge of the head they were on, which was the Second Hokage. "I wanted to share it with you."
The dark haired boy raised a brow as he looked down at her, "Why?"
She shrugged, "I thought you might like it, to find a quiet place to think when you don't want anyone to find you." Her gaze was still looking over her home village. "Not even Naruto knows I come here. So if you wanted to get away from him, this is a safe place to come. Just stay out of view, obviously."
Sasuke took a seat beside her though a good distance away. Sakura was currently looking up at the sky. Stars twinkled above but the moon shown the brightest in the blanket of darkness. "It's pretty…" she said.
Her partner lay down and turned his back on her, left arm under his head. Sakura shook her head before turning back to the buildings down below. She never could understand Sasuke; no matter how hard she tried he was still unpredictable.
"Can I ask you a question, Sasuke?" Sakura waited for an answer as she looked at him for any signs, but none came. She sighed, 'He must already be asleep.'
"Are you going to ask or not?" came his reply, still motionless.
"Were you planning on coming back once you killed Itachi?" Sakura spoke cautiously.
"Why would you care?" he asked her a little harshly.
"… Just curious, I guess…"
"Don't worry about things that don't concern you."
"… Very well…" Sakura responded sadly, her eyes trembling with emotion but no tears. Sasuke could hear the hurt in her soft voice. Again he had done it, and did he care? "… Sorry to have brought it up…"
A few minutes had passed in complete silence and neither spoke. During that time, Sasuke was actually thinking about someone other than himself. Perhaps Neji got through to him? Probably not. He turned his head to get a glimpse of Sakura only to turn on his back and realize she wasn't there. 'Where'd she go?' he asked as he sat up, though not in panic. The Uchiha looked over the Hokage head and he could see a flash of pink down below. He let out an aggravated scowl as he stood up to follow her, 'What's-' he stopped when he heard a little racket – what sounded like a startled person - in an alley as he swiftly made his way down to the street. Quickly his feet ran in the direction his teammate went. Turning sharply and skidding to a stop, he blinked. Sakura had two men in a headlock.
"I am woman, hear me roar!" Sakura's grip tightened.
"Sakura… what are you doing?" the stoic Uchiha asked.
"We're sorry, we won't do it again…" one man begged. He was skimpy and bald with dark skin and deep brown eyes. The other was under her left arm; Sasuke couldn't see his face, only his black hair with blonde streaks.
"Promise…?" the kunoichi trailed, looking both over cautiously.
"Promise." Both said in unison and the girls grip let go. She stood in front of Sasuke, not even knowing he was there, looking at the men. Shaking her finger and she scolded them as if they were children.
"Don't do it again." The men nodded wildly and ran off in the other direction as fast as they could. "Let's go." She told Sasuke, who was confused with what just happened, but followed silently.
-s-
"We're back…" Sakura announced as she opened the front door to her apartment, Sasuke following with a few bags in his hands also. It was about ten o'clock at night when they returned.
"Did you have fun?" Neji asked as he got off of the couch. Sakura nodded, but Neji knew otherwise. She was putting on a fake smile.
'Uchiha,' he thought bitterly. 'You couldn't at least let her enjoy herself?'
"Where's Hinata?" the pink haired kunoichi looked around. No sooner had she asked Hinata appeared.
"Kakashi and Naruto are sleeping," she said. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't know where to put them, so I put them in your room."
"That's fine; I locked my dresser and closet from a certain someone." Sakura replied. "Thank you both so much for watching them. I really do owe you."
"You don't need to do that…" Hinata assured her.
"So… did anything bad go on?" the Hyuuga heiress blushed.
"W-Well… uh…"
"Something did." Her cousin answered, chuckling softly. "Naruto started streaking in front of us after he had to use the 'potty'." He looked at a still flushing Hyuuga.
Sakura placed her hand to her mouth, feeling bad for her friend and trying to cover the snicker that was threatening to escape. "I-I'm sorry, Hinata." She was smiling under her hand.
"I-It's f-fine…" she stuttered.
"You haven't stuttered in ages, Hinata. That means you are embarrassed with seeing your boyfriend naked." Sakura smirked and Hinata looked away, face beet red.
"I hope you had fun, Sakura. And if you need anything else, be sure to ask." The dark haired girl smiled before exiting the building.
"Sakura…" Neji began, she looked at him. His face was serious but you could see concern. "Next time you want to get out call someone to baby-sit these two and go hang out with the girls. I'm sure they would be more," he shifted his pale eyes toward the Uchiha, who was glaring, before returning them to Sakura, "fun than Uchiha."
"Do you still want to fight, Hyuuga?" Sasuke challenged, glaring.
"You should be helping Sakura with the children, Uchiha. These are your teammates as well." The Hyuuga prodigy responded. "But if you do want to fight-"
"Stop it," Sakura said quietly, getting both boys' attention. "Just stop fighting. Please. Thank you Neji… for caring." She managed a small smile.
"Very well," his voice was as sincere with what he had said before. "But if anything goes wrong, your friends will be here to help. Let us know if Uchiha doesn't help, I'll be one of the first after him."
Sasuke remained silent but glared again. "Hn," as he walking passed them, with his bag on his back.
When he was out of sight, "Thanks Neji." Sakura smiled. "But that's not necessary."
"If he hurts you again he'll have all in Konoha after him. You know everyone in the village is fond of you."
"I know, but you know I won't let Sasuke get hurt."
"After everything he's done you still trust him? Possibly love him?" the pale eyed boy asked. Sakura only nodded slowly.
"… Maybe…"
"It is none of my business about your relationship, but we have become more acquainted because of Lee. Even being teammates on a couple of assignments, we still will do what we can to watch out for our own. The Uchiha still has to earn some trust and if he hurts you again he will loose all that he has now. I will leave you now. Goodnight, Sakura."
"Night, Neji and thank you." He nodded before shutting the door. Sakura made her way to her room and quickly grabbed some pj's before walking to the bathroom. After she changed, she found Sasuke in the living room sitting on the couch. All the lights were off and only the moons glow shown through the curtains and she sat next to Sasuke because the other one was dirty – thanks to Kakashi and Naruto.
They sat in silence for minutes and Sakura suppressed a yawn before standing up and going to a small closet just out of sight. She tossed a blanket that landed right beside him. "You can have the couch," she said moving the coffee table toward a wall.
"Where are you sleeping?" he asked, watching her move around in the darkness, though he could only see her outline.
"I'll take the floor." The kunoichi spread a pad on the floor and put a small sheet on it before sitting down pulling a blanket over her. "Night Sasuke." She said as she lay down and turned her back on him. Sasuke was still sitting up, looking at her. After a few moments, he spread his own blanket and lay himself down on the couch. It was just long enough for him to fit.
"Hn," he replied. Before he went to change, he had heard her and Neji's conversation about him. Everything…
"After everything he's done you still trust him? Possibly love him?"
"… Maybe…"
"Night." He answered after a minute to think. If his Sharingan was activated, he may have been able to see the smile that formed on Sakura's face just before she fell into a comfortable slumber.
-s-
I can't say I liked this chapter; the other three were the best so far I think.
This chapter was a bit more serious so to make up for the lack of humor, here's a quiz for you all. All Naruto baby!
What have you bought or have been given that has to do with Naruto? (A wall scroll) (a Naruto action figure) (the uncut DVD box set from 1 to 6) (a set of cards with Sasuke on the case and it comes with a Sasuke coin) (the 'Friend or Foe' magazine with the Itachi card –score-) (another magazine that only has Naruto posters which I still have to put up) (a Naruto blanket that I love) (a Sasuke T-shirt) (three Naruto PS2 games two of which I still haven't played yet due to college and fanfic) about 11 things for me.
Who is/are your favorite character(s)? (Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Kakashi, Itachi, Gai, Lee, Neji, Tenten, Hinata)
If you could talk to Sasuke, what would you say/ask? (Honestly, I'd talk to him about everything)
If you could talk to Itachi, what would you say/ask? (Why'd you do it?) The Uchiha massacre is what I'm referring to.
Ok, there's my little fun quiz, some of these I had to think of. I would like to hear yours. I may do another one in the future. I'll get some more humor in the next one, and your ideas and thoughts are still very welcome. Anyway, please review the chapter and I love you all lots.