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"I'm very disappointed with you two, of all people." Kakashi frowned behind his mask. He looked at Ino and Sakura with one eye, the other concealed. He folded his hands across his desk, leaning forward slightly. "I hope you know this borders on expulsion."

This brought a defiant call from the girls. "Expulsion?"

"No way, this is stupid!"

"Kakashi-sama, do you really think this is a suitable punishment for us?" Sakura spoke again. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared directly at her principal. "He's been asking for it."

"He's been asking for it? Miss Haruno, do you understand what you are saying?" Kakashi asked, his eye wide. He shook his head, leaning forward even more. He tried to stress his words to the young ladies. "Naruto Uzumaki did not ask to ridiculed and tortured on a daily basis, by students who are suppose to be the cream of the senior class. And so soon after he finally returned to school. Why, you are both part of the student council and on the yearbook committee! Yet, you the take time to harass another student who is going through a difficult time."

Sakura sneered. "Difficult time? No, my period is a difficult time. What he has is a major issue, which happens to be a pain in my ass."

"That still gives you no right to be a bully."

"I think he should just man up and stop letting it happen." Ino chirped, looking at her nails bored-like. Sakura nodded, then faked a yawn.

Kakashi's shoulders sagged, seeing that this was going nowhere. "Please, girls, will you explain to me why you must bully Naruto? He's a good kid, honestly. I'm sure if you two sat down—"

"I'm not going anywhere near that freak." The pinkette stopped his words with a wave of her hand. She twisted her head to stare at the wall. "I know him. Plenty, I might add."

"Then why do it, Sakura? You are really stepping over some boundaries with your actions, it needs to stop or I will be forced to expel you, both." He looked at Ino for a second, then back to the source of the problem. He sighed through his mask.

"I do it because... Well, it's hard to explain. You had to have been there." Sakura's face drifted for a moment. Her green eyes looked far away and her mouth relaxed, she went someplace far back in her head. When she refocused on her principal, she stood. "I'll try to lay off the idiot, okay?"

Kakashi hung his head. "You both have two weeks detention starting tomorrow." The girls whined. "With Coach Gai." Now the screeched to themselves. They were lucky they didn't get a worser punishment. Kakashi had only heard rumors about them bullying Naruto, and if he tried to get true evidence, he was sure the girls had people to cover for them and their doings. This was the least he could do—still, he felt supremely helpless.

As the girls exited the room, Ino grabbed Sakura by the arm, yanking. "Way to go Billboard-brow! You got me dragged down with you!" She glared at the pinkette.

Sakura snatched her arm away. "Whatever! You barely even stood up for yourself, you were just going to accept any punishment he gave us. Be thankful I got us somewhat off the hook." She narrowed her eyes and placed a hand at her hip. Ino rolled her eyes and did the same. They fell into a tense quiet.

"Just why can't you leave Naruto alone in the first place, huh?" Ino cocked her head to the side, giving Sakura a suspicious look. She slowly started to pace around the girl. "I mean, Sasuke isn't allowed to say a thing to him, yet you make a point to fuck with him every chance you get." Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "It's like you're obsessed with him."

The pinkette scoffed. "As if! I just don't like how he has a tie to Sasuke. That's all."

"Mmhm." The blonde girl smirked. There's a start. "So, you are jealous. Naruto and Sasuke will always have a bond to each other, while you could just be left in the dirt at any second. Is that it?"

Sakura balled her hands into fists. "No, Sasuke needs me for his image. Whether you believe it or not, I fit him perfectly. Call me a bitch if you want."

Ino laughed, her ice cold blue eyes running down Sakura's figure, like a snake eyeing its prey. Within a second, her tongue snapped. "Lies! Naruto is the one whose perfect for him, and you're the one in the way. We all see it, none of us are blind Sakura. Sweetie, Sasuke doesn't want you anymore than he wants me. And let's face it—" Ino gave the girl a mock pout. "—I was nothing more than a few rounds."

"Shut the fuck up Ino!" Sakura pushed against the blondes shoulders, forcing her into the lockers. She took a step back and glared at Ino. "You've forgotten something in your brilliant analysis. I actually love Sasuke! Yeah, and I have since like second grade." Tears brimmed the pinkettes eyes. "You say everyone knows Naruto and Sasuke are meant to be. Ha! And where do I fit in? No—everyone forgets that I was there with them, I'm the reason that they even met. What, was I suppose to step aside while my two best friends run off into the sunset? No!" She used both her hands to pull at her pink locks, shutting her eyes against Ino's blue orbs. She spun around and held her back toward the other girl. "No... I loved both of them, but, I don't want to end up alone. That's why I have to keep Naruto out of the picture, it's only harder now that he can have kids." The last part was said bitterly. She turned back to Ino.

Ino's face could be described as understanding, yet still judgmental and Sakura rolled her eyes in anger. She demanded to know what else Ino wanted to throw in her face. "You said you don't want to be the one alone. But if you'd shut up and look around, Naruto is already alone. And not because of you, he was left by his parents and family. You remember Karin right, they've come back to town and haven't even spoken to him." Leave it to Ino to know the towns gossip. "I see where you're coming from. I get that you want Sasuke too, that you've worked and purged yourself into the person suitable enough for him, but maybe your in love with status... God, how do I make you understand?" She threw her hands up in frustration.

"I don't have to understand it, I only have to put up with it." Sakura shook her head. "Like I have been. And about Sasuke! He owes me, we've been riding this roller coaster for years ...a-and I've seen Naruto in the back of his mind." Sakura slowly walked up to Ino, putting her hand on the locker and leaning in close to her fair face. "Do you know what it's like... for the man you love to call out another name when he's suppose to be making love to you? And without even realizing it? Maybe that's the worse part, he does it unconsciously... so I know it's whats real. Then... I have to turn around and act like I didn't hear a think."

Ino shook at the seriousness of the pinkettes words, her face faltered. How could this run so deep? They were still so young—so many thing were to come and they were trapped in this circle of aggression—Depression. How were they expected to get over this? Love and lust... It was going to kill everyone. A little of this ran through each member of their posse, some with lighter degrees of this... madness, what else could it be called? Ino herself was addicted to her own face, vanity was her sin. But never had she seen such a concentrated dose of insecurity anywhere, like between the three of these people. They were mad, demanding, and lonely. Sakura refused to let go of her foothold, Sasuke was in denial of what he truly wanted, and Naruto—he was pregnant. God, why didn't anyone help? They were falling apart. "Ino-pig!" Sakura yelled. "Stop giving up on me."

The blonde took a deep breath. She blinked back tears and stared Sakura in the face. "I-I can't tell you what to do. All I do know is this, Sakura... You're going to lose no matter what. And it's not because of the baby, it's fate. You're destined to do something else, you can get out of this town and Naruto and Sasuke can't. But they'll be fine. You'll rot if you stay here watching them go on." Because a flower had to bloom using its own roots. It wouldn't work at night, with Sasuke, it needed warmth. It would be overshadowed and burnt by the sun, with Naruto. Ino could see this clearly, but saw Sakura struggling with the fact.

"But where do I go?" Sakura was not ready to let go. "No. I've been here since the beginning and I'm going to stay right where I am. Its not fair! Why did the clouds open up and choose me to be the loser? No! It's us three," She sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"Wrong three." Ino slid to the ground against the lockers. "You mean Naruto, Sasuke, and the baby... which I hear is a girl." She watched the pinkette storm down the hallway, then reached in her pocket to pull out a cigarette.

/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\/O\

Dinner at the Uchiha Mansion went according to an unwritten code. First, the servants would set the table and alert the family and any guest that dinner would be served in 5 minutes time. Then everyone would make there way to the giant table and sit in their somewhat assigned seats. You never sat next to someone random—guests were expected to sit next to whomever had invited them. Despite popular belief, Sasuke and Itachi were allowed to bring 'friends' to dinner as long as they followed Uchiha protocol. After sitting, dinner would be brought out on the finest of china plates. The servants whisked around serving small portions to eat person, then again when that plate was finished. A simple wave of a hand would stop the re-delivery of another helping. It went unspoken that there was a two plate maximum, no matter how delightful the food. Uchiha's never stuffed themselves—how rude would it be to overindulge in something they knew was delicious. Throughout dinner, there were boxes small talk. Light subjects always, heavy topics were very, very rarely discussed at the dinner table. The person must be wanting to make scene if they drop something serious, at such an airy place. When dinner was over, everyone went to the outside patio for casual wine and conversation.

Tonight was such a night. At the table tonight included; Fugaku, Mikoto, Itachi, and Sasuke Uchiha. That was all, but it felt like a crowd.

"Mother, father." Sasuke called, looking up from his plate. "I've gotten another man pregnant."

Silence. Fugaku froze with his fork in hand, staring at the table. Mikoto rose a pale hand to her mouth. Only Itachi moved, he moved to stand next to Sasuke, putting a hand on his shoulder. The younger raven was grateful. He looked at his father, who still stared at the table. "I've gotten him pregnant, and he is five months along. There is no chance that he will get an abortion, even if he could. I know for a fact that this is my child as well." Sasuke continued in an unwavering voice.

Fugaku slowly looked up, his deep black eyes menacing. His face slipped into a frown as he glared at his youngest son. "What?" He spat.

"I-I got a man pregnant." Sasuke missed a beat. He wasn't expecting this kind of slow rage. He was prepared for something fast, quick so that it would be over soon.

"You—" Fugaku jumped from his chair, slamming his hands against the table. "—faggot—what?" He moved from behind his chair, taking several steps toward Sasuke then pausing out of frustration. He slammed his hands down again. "A man? You got a man pregnant? Of all the stupid shit you could do! How fucking dare you do this!"

"Fugaku, dear. He's made a mistake..." Mikoto started, then trailed off, glancing toward her sons. She looked Sasuke in the face, searching for something, for some sort of answer to the problem. She took a deep breath, seeming to accept whatever look Sasuke had made. "He needs our help."

"To hell he does!" Fugaku grabbed the nearest chair, throwing it to the tiled floor. The sound of the crack echoed through the dining room, making the servants flinch and hurry to exit the room. "He needs more help than we can offer! I thought it was bad enough having one faggot son, now it's gone and spread." He wrinkled his nose as if smelling something bad. He ran a hand through his hair harshly.

"Father," Sasuke said, getting to his feet. "No matter what you think of me, I'm begging you, please support this innocent child. The circumstance of its conception are muddled, but it's still your grandchild in the end. The other parent cannot financially support himself and a child—he'll go broke in a month."

"Innocent. Grandchild. Broke." Fugaku hissed out each word. "Not only did you knock another man up, but a poor little fairy too! How fucking stupid are you Sasuke?" Fugaku stomped his foot.

Surprisingly, Sasuke scowled at his father. "Do not insult Naruto!" He took a step forward himself, fists balled.

"Uzumaki Naruto?" Fugaku rolled the name around in his mouth, knowing exactly who the other parent was now. He thought back years ago when that kid use to show up at his mansion, the two boys use to wreck the place with their antics, but it abruptly stopped. He had asked his youngest son what had happened to his blonde friend, but his son just shrugged. So, this is what they were up to now. "Oh, of course. And an orphan!" Fugaku slammed down another chair.

Mikoto finally got to her feet. She slowly made her way past her husband, not even glancing back at him, as she made her way to her sons. She wrapped her arms around Sasuke, her tears melting into his shirt. "Oh, it's little Naruto... I see, now." She sniffed. Kushina had been her friend—yet, she had no idea when the funeral was held. Mikoto remembered Naruto from when he was just a toddler and was ecstatic when he and Sasuke became friends. But when that stopped, she had no idea what to say to her son. She was disappointed in herself, she did nothing to help the child of her friends, and all because of her last name—there were no handouts in this family.

"Mikoto! Do not baby that stranger!" The head of the Uchiha family demanded. "I want him out of my house, now. And don't think of coming back."

Sasuke's chest caved in and he felt himself swaying. With the support of his mother and brother, he managed to stay on his feet, but his mind swam away. He was being disowned. Now his life was truly over. He wouldn't be able to support Naruto or his kid out on the streets. The media would be all over this, harassing him as he sat in his box. Naruto would be ashamed of him.

"Think about what you're saying!" Itachi spoke, his voice full of authority. He whipped around the table to stand directly infront of his father. They were almost the same height now. They glared at each other, a battle of wills. Despite his earlier comment, Fugaku did place a great deal of respect in Itachi's hands. "Sasuke is your son, he is an Uchiha. He's made a mistake and now you want him out on the streets. Is it because you're ashamed? Think about how he feels. Because the family name is disgraced? Grandfather Madara already did a fine job of that, yet still he's a millionaire—and your father. Scared of the media? We could easily cover this up, or we can embrace it and watch as the world sees the Uchiha family welcome another grand member to its heritage. Just think it over, disowning Sasuke will only make things worse." Itachi watched as the information sunk into his fathers brain. "We need to be a family more than ever."

Fugaku sat down in one of the chairs he didn't destroy, rubbing his temples. He stayed doing that for a long time, long enough for Mikoto to finally stop mumbling sweet and reassuring words to her youngest son, and turn to look at her husband. "Dear, I'm not letting you kick out any of my children. Certainly not my grandchild." She moved to Fugaku's side, her hand combing through his hair. "Dear?"

Then the strangest thing happened. The second strangest thing that had happened in Sasuke's life, behind falling in love with an idiot. His father looked up with water in his eyes—not tears. He had his hand over his mouth and his eyebrows knitted up with a mix of sorrow and rage. "Didn't I... Didn't I raise you right?" Fugaku asked, his emotions trailing deep. "I bought you everything you want, both of you. I made sure you did all your homework, made sure the nanny knew your skin was sensitive to sun, I-I even made sure the cooks made your favorite foods twice a month." He covered his face again. "This is my repayment! Never think that I never watch you Sasuke. I saw all the self-destructive things you were doing to yourself. Drugs and alcohol—and you know why I let you get away with it? Because I knew you were weak—I counted you out. You've always needed an image, to take yourself away from reality."

"Father..." Sasuke croaked but a quick wave of Fugaku's hand silenced him.

"Yes, you are weak." Fugaku approached his youngest son, his eyes having dried and his face set into a disapproving frown. "I should've known you would do something stupid like this. Yet, I gave you enough credit not to knock someone up out of wedlock. But, you are no longer allowed to be the weakling of this family. You are an Uchiha—of my very own seed. I've let this go on long enough." The head of the family grabbed his son by the collar of his shirt, yanking him nearly off his feet. Mikoto squealed and hurried to lay her hands upon her husbands arm. Itachi stayed in place. "You will take full responsibility of this child. You will start working straight after graduation, you will calm the media, you will redeem yourself. I want him or her to be raised in the proper etiquette of an Uchiha—God forbid it end up like its pussy of a father. Or the poor, orphan one."

"Naruto would never let me have full custody. He cares too, he loves the kid." The raven stated, not sure if he should be feeling relief or dread. This was what he wanted, his father to help—but not in this way.

Fugaku growled, but he had seen this outcome. "Fine. Let the other boy have some custody. But have him mind, the child will have our namesake. And from that, it will be recognized as part of our family and not his." The man released his son. He started to leave, then paused. "One more thing, Sasuke. All of what I said will come to fathom, so it would be best that your little friend Naruto, cooperates. Despite what you might think, I genuinely take an interest in my children. Now that I'm going to have a grandchild—" He gave Sasuke a twisted grin. "—Let's say I would like to keep the courts out of this. Having to fight for my own blood, ha! Our family may be very unorthodox, but it's powerful. But as I remember, that blonde boy was quite hardheaded."

Sasuke nodded and took a couple steps back to steady himself. "Thank you... Father." What else could he say? The worse Sasuke would have to do is patch things up with Naruto. Fugaku would be pull most of the weight—even with Sasuke having to work at Uchiha Corp.

"Where did I go wrong Sasuke? What made you this way?" Fugaku asked instead, his back to both his sons. At least they were standing together. "I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for the innocence of the child. You are the father—but you surely do not know how or are capable, to be one."

This chapter is edited as of March 29, 2013. I made some changes to fix some confusion, I hope it's better now.