-1Last time: "I do not keep he around for my own protection. I'm the one who cares for her. The one who loves her. I, as in me," Sasuke said, motioning to himself. "She calls me 'Otou-san' because I am. I am her father."

"You? You're her father?" Naruto couldn't believe it. Sasuke had a daughter. Sasuke was only frickin' 19 years old! 'What the hell???!!!

"Yes, she is my daughter. And if you do anything to hurt her in any way, I will kill you without a second thought!"

"God, calm down. I get it!" Momentary pause. "How old is she?"

"She just turned four. Almost a month ago, just after we escaped from Orochimaru," Sasuke answered, smiling at the sleeping girl next to him.

'No wonder he was smiling at her earlier. A daughter? She… must be really precious to him, like Konohamaru is to me,' Naruto realized. He watched silently and Sasuke looked out towards the trees and absently fingered Keiko's raven-colored locks.

"So, what are you doing near Konoha?"

"Passing by, maybe going to the Hidden Cloud Village (a/n: anyone know the ancient name for it??? Y'know, like Konoha or Suna??). Kimimaro said he was heading up there. Just trying to avoid other ninja and troublesome things like that," the Uchiha answered.

"You know, we would all really appreciate it if you came back t Konoha," Naruto piped up. Sasuke looked at him in surprise.

"But I'm a traitor. I don't really care if I am hated, but I don't want Keiko exposed to that treatment. She's had a hard life already," the teen told him. Naruto smiled. Sasuke was… different. Not so… uncaring.

"The village wants you back, Sasuke." Again, a shocked look. "For one, they think it'd be better to have you on their side, after hearing about everything that you've done. You took out a whole village about a year ago. No one at Konoha has that kind of strength. Not even me, and I'm the best ninja in the entire Fire Country!" Naruto exclaimed. Sasuke looked away.

"I am not proud of the things I've done, Naruto…"

"But the way the village sees it, you took out one of the village's that we were having… conflicts with. And two, Tsunade told them that the curse mark that bastard put on you was affecting your ability to think for yourself, causing you to play into his arms. It's all fine, Sasuke. I have people coming up to me, all the time, asking for me to hurry up and bring you back." Naruto grinned triumphantly. He seemed to have warmed up to the… new… Sasuke.

"I'll come back, but only if Keiko is treated as a citizen. One who is perfectly ordinary and is treated as if she has lived in the village her entire life." Sasuke was staring into the fire now. Naruto smiled softly. The Uchiha really cared, didn't he?

"Of course, Sasuke. Besides, your girl is… as Sakura would say, adorable. I'd say… I'd just say whatever Sakura said." Sasuke looked up and smiled a small, kind smile.

"Her… her middle name is Sakura. I needed a name, one that meant something to me, and Naruto is a boy's name, so that was ruled out. So I decided to give her the name Sakura." Naruto grinned from ear to ear.

"You know, that might just save you from being whaled on when you get back to the village. Sakura is… totally a vicious demon! I swear there is some sort of steroid in that sake she and the hag drink!" Naruto cried.

"Be quiet. I don't want Keiko waking up. We've been traveling for a while now, and this is the first real break we've taken in weeks." Naruto nodded.

"Hey, Sasuke, you get some sleep. I can watch for you. You look lie you kinda need it!" Sasuke glared for a moment, then agreed silently and laid down next to the sleeping child. Naruto smiled, then took out one f the magazines Jiraiya had lent him, flipping to the page with the bathing suit models.

a/n: so, how was it? Still really short i ussually type chaps (on other stories i have on my comp) 2,000+ words, but I'm working on it. It's just hard to concentrate because I have my CST testing next week (biting nails) yeah… I'm still in mid-school, though moving to HS next year! yay me! (rolls eyes)

R&R pwease!!!