It took a full two weeks for Naruto to recover from his wounds, but he didn't mind it at all. He would endure any amount of pain if it meant he would get to keep Sasuke with him. It was taking longer to rebuild the damage done to the village, but Naruto was confident he could restore the balance. What worried him most, was the reception Sasuke would no doubt get because of it. The other hadn't left the bed during those two weeks hardly and it scared him that Sasuke might not recover mentally from this. He walked into the bedroom, bandages peeking out from the collar of his shirt. His wounds still healing along with Nine Tails after taking direct hits from King's chakra. He stared at Sasuke's back and he frowned. He moved forward and around the bed to look at Sasuke. Seeing the other was sleeping finally, the other hardly slept. The constant pain of the cursed seal as it attempted to repair itself was keeping Sasuke from resting. He sat down on the edge of the bed, gently pushing Sasuke's bangs off his face as Sasuke shifted a bit and buried his face more into the pillow. " ... his .. skin is warm." He muttered as he frowned and looked down at his feet on the floor.

' ... I imagine .. this is a painful process for him.' Nine Tails spoke up as Naruto rested his hands on his knees. ' Mm ... to .. have all that power ... and rage surge through you all at once ... I'm lucky .. it didn't destroy him completely. All because of my reckless actions.' He gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. ' ... our reckless actions you mean. I also played a hand in that.' Nine Tails spoke as Naruto clutched at his pant legs. ' ... Sasuke can't take much more of this ... mentally or physically .. having to contain such an unnatural power .. ... I saw it for the first time ... clearly, the godly presence of King ..' He said as he glanced at Sasuke's sleeping form. Nine Tails shifted a bit inside of Naruto. ' ..I'm afraid ... that was nothing close ... to what ... King is truly capable of ..' Naruto's eyes widened as he looked forward. ' ... what...?' He relaxed his hands some. ' .. King ..was merely reacting to Sasuke's immense emotions at seeing you mortally wounded like that... but that was hardly a true show case of his power ... a better example would be that time ... before the cursed seal was completed ... and Sasuke and King rampaged on the village, nearly destroying it before ... your father gave his life to stop them.' He replied as Naruto's eyes widened before they lowered and he shook his head. ' ... how ... how is Sasuke ... still able to ... exist with something like that inside of him... ? Even with the cursed seal ... '

' ... I imagine ... King plays more of a part in that ... than you realize Naruto. Part of the reason that ... Sasuke remains mentally intact ... is because King isn't fighting to escape his prison inside of Sasuke.' Nine Tails spoke, ' No more than I try to escape from you ... it may not seem like it, but we beast ... play a key role in ... such forbidden jutsu working so well.' He added as Naruto shifted to turn and face Sasuke as he gently brushed the other's cheek. ' ... so ... King ... is cursing him ... and somehow ... saving his life at the sametime ... how .. ironic ...' He muttered as Nine Tails gave a dry chuckle. ' ... even King knows... that Sasuke didn't ask for such a fate ... it was shoved upon him much like ... how I was forced onto you ...' He growled lightly as Naruto closed his eyes. ' ... but I hardly see you as a burden Nine Tails ... you are my friend ... and have helped me through a great deal with your knowledge and power ... I just wish ... King could do the same for Sasuke ... offer him knowledge ... power ... and ... the right to be happy .. ' He muttered as he sighed and shifted to stand as he walked towards the window, staring out at nothing in particular.

' Mm .. I too wish .. for something similar .. but as to King ... I cannot speak. He is not the same ... as I knew him.' He said quietly as Naruto closed his eyes as he sighed. " Na .. ruto?" Naruto's eyes lifted when he heard Sasuke's voice, turning his head to see the other was awake and staring at him. He moved over to him quickly as he leaned down and smiled. " Hey, hey ... how do you feel?" He asked as he gently pushed the other's bangs off his face as Sasuke closed his eyes. " I'm fine ... just ... hot ... and ... tired .." He murmered as Naruto frowned a bit. The other had been sleeping all day, but clearly it hadn't helped and he sat down beside Sasuke. " How about a cool bath .. and some warm milk?" He asked as Sasuke tilted his head and shifted a bit to curl up as he buried his face into the pillow, clearly looking in pain and uncomfortable. " ... I ... just want to sleep ..." He whined a bit as Naruto looked worried before he nodded a bit. " I know ... just close your eyes Sasuke ... " He said as he shifted to curl up around the other, pulling him close as he felt Sasuke bury his face into his chest and snuggle up to him and he narrowed his eyes as he gritted his teeth. ' ... I have to do something ... and soon ... '

Eventually Naruto had to return to his duties and he was worried about leaving Sasuke alone, so he'd asked Sai to keep an eye on him and he'd handle the extra workload. Sai was a bit against it, but after seeing how stressed Naruto was, he went along with it. He sat in the living room as he worked on some sketches, but his brush paused when he heard footsteps. " Sasuke? Are you up?" He called as he shifted to set his sketchpad down before he moved to stand, looking back towards the room before he walked around the couch, " Sasuke?" He called as he paused infront of the door, knocking on it some. When he didn't get a response, he came in quickly. " Sasuke?!" He called and his eyes lifted as he saw the other standing infront of the window, a blank look on his face as the wind whipped about his hair and his clothing. The seal marks glowing on his skin and running down his arm and leg as he tilted his head. Sai's eyes lifted, " S - Sasuke ...?" Sasuke heard Sai's voice and he turned his head to look at the other.

Sai slowly walked towards the other, " Sasuke ... what .. are you doing?" He asked as Sasuke lowered his eyes. " ... i ... it hurts ... " He said as he winced as he grabbed his arms as he stumbled back and hit the window as he gasped out as Sai's eyes widened. " Sasuke!" He shouted as he ran towards the other, grabbing ahold of him as he looked at him with wide eyes as Sasuke thrashed a bit in his arms. He cursed before he managed to reach into his pocket before he puled out a needle, something he'd gotten from Sakura, he pushed the needle into the thrashing Sasuke's neck as the other struggled for a bit longer before he slowly went lax in Sai's arms. He relaxed some as he looked down at the sleeping Sasuke, his face twisted in pain. He frowned. ' ... I'm sorry Sasuke ..' He muttered as he managed to lift the other up and get him onto the bed. He made sure he was comfortable before he pulled the blanket up, but paused when he saw the small swell of Sasuke's stomach under his shirt and his eyes lifted. He released the blanket before he pushed the other's shirt up slowly to reveal the small bump and the cursed mark spread out halfway across it. ' W ... what? Pre...gnant ..?' He thought as he looked at Sasuke's face and then lowered his eyes as he shifted to stand up. ' How can this be ..?' He questioned as he looked at Sasuke's face, the other was able to bare a child for Naruto?

Was that why Naruto showed so much interest in him ... Sasuke could possibly bare a child and pass on the King to that newborn? The thought caused anger to swell up inside of him ... which surprised him because it was towards Naruto of all people. He shifted to cover Sasuke up, setting a cool rag on his forehead before he moved to leave the room, leaving the door cracked as he walked out into the living room. Shifting to sit down as he raised a hand to his chin in thought. ' ... why else hasn't he announced that Sasuke is with child ...?' He thought and he was so lost in his thoughts he didn't realize that time had passed and soon the door opened as Naruto walked inside. He let out a sigh as he rubbed the side of his head and he paused when he saw Sai sitting in the living room, looking lost in thought. " Sai?" He questioned as he tilted his head. Sai turned his head slightly to glance at Naruto before he moved to stand. " Welcome back .." He said as Naruto offered a tired smile and nodded as he moved towards the kitchen. " .. how is Sasuke?" He asked as Sai walked around the couch. " ... sleeping. He had a bit of a fit earlier, but Sakura's sedatitve brought him some relief." He said as Naruto paused in taking a drink of his canned beer before he moved forward with it and then pulled the can away as he frowned downwards. " ... they are getting more frequent ... he woke up screaming from night terrors the day before ..."

"... perhaps, we should seek aid from the elder council ... ?" Sai suggested as he crossed his arms over his chest and Naruto took another sip before he shook his head. " ... I already know what kind of response they will have." He said with a frown as he looked annoyed. " ... they would sooner toss Sasuke in a cage like a beast and leave him to rot." He said as Sai's gaze thinned slightly. " ... is that the only reason you are trying to avoid them?" He asked suddenly as Naruto looked confused as he lifted his gaze to Sai. " .. huh?" He asked as Sai locked eyes with Naruto as his expression became a bit fierce. " ... I saw. The cursed seal is not only spreading ... from straining to contain King's power, but ... Sasuke is ... pregnant." He said as Naruto's eyes widened as he stared at Sai, he clutched the can a bit as Sai glanced to the side. " ... I'm not sure how it is possible, but with Sasuke being bound to a God, I have no doubt some changes happened to his body. ... but one ... would question your motives ... knowing that Sasuke can bare a child ... would it be possible for him to pass on King as well?" He asked as Naruto's pupils thinned as his gazed darkened. " ... what the hell are you implying Sai ..?" He growled lowly as Sai closed his eyes. " ... I'm not implying anything ... I'm simply ... curious to know why've you kept this hidden." He asked as Naruto lowered his head some, his bangs casting a shadow on his face as Sai continued.

" ...if it is for a tactical play, I can understand it, but I wouldn't agree with it. Using Sasuke and your own child to keep ahead on the board, is cut throat, even for yo-" " YOUR WRONG!" Naruto shouted as he crushed the can in his hand as Sai jumped some as Naruto glared down at the floor. " Your wrong ... it has nothing to do with being Hokage or trying to get ahead in this stupid ass war! It is to protect them! What do you think will happen if people find out that Sasuke is pregnant!? They will get the same idea as you and then not only is Sasuke's life more in danger, but our child's as well! I would NEVER think to use Sasuke to gain some advantage in this war! He isn't some tool for people to use! He is a fucking living human being! Does noone understand that he feels! He feels emotions! He feels pain both mentally and physically! He isn't some monster ... why do none of you see that?! It's always about what you can gain or lose from using him ... I can't stand it." He growled as he threw the can in the sink violently as Sai looked surprised and felt ashamed of himself as he glanced to the side, " I ... I'm sorry Naruto .. I was out of line." He stated as Naruto was quiet before he closed his eyes and shook his head. " ... it's fine. Your a logical person Sai ... I know .. in this type of situation ... most logical people would think that way, but ... I'm far from logical ... I'm just simply trying to protect my family ... and save my wife .." He said as he looked up at the other slowly with a pained look on his face.

Sai's eyes lifted even more before he looked down, he was about to speak when he heard footsteps and he glanced to the side to see Sasuke walk around the corner and stand there. Looking in pain still, but more aware of himself as his flushed face was scrunched up a bit in confusion. " ... Naruto ... what's going on?" He asked as Naruto looked away for a moment to gather himself before he moved towards Sasuke and smiled at the other, " Nothing, how are you feeling?" He asked as he touched his hand to the other's forehead, feeling his temperature had dropped some. Sasuke sighed a bit, " Mm ... better ... I think ... it is finally passing." He said as he watched Naruto pull back and lean down to lift his shirt, seeing the cursed seal had calmed as well, but the black tendrils still remained spread out, no doubt infecting Sasuke's own chakra veins. He frowned before he stood up and pushed a hand through Sasuke's hair to slick it back off his face as he smiled. " ... how about a bath and some food? I'm sure you two are starving .." He said as he raised his hand to set it on Sasuke's stomach, rubbing it some. Sasuke lowered his eyes as he nodded. " ... sounds good." He said as Naruto smiled and then glanced back at Sai. " Thank you for your help today Sai ... I've got it from here." He said as Sai lowered his eyes and nodded, he then bowed his head to the two. " ... of course." He said as he turned to leave, " Sai .."

His eyes lifted at the sound of Sasuke's voice calling him and he turned his head to look at the dark haired male as he moved towards him. Sasuke paused infront of Sai as he smiled a bit. Holding out his hand. " ... Thank you ... for looking after me ... I'm sorry if ... I caused you any trouble, I know that it is hard to be around me because of - " " It was no trouble at all, infact, it was a pleasure actually." Sai cut Sasuke off, which surprised Sasuke as he felt Sai take his hand and squeeze it as he gave Sasuke a small, but warm smile. " Please don't hesitate to ask for my help in the future ... I do not hold you accountable for what happened that night. You are our Hokage's wife ... and a brave warrior who still fights fiercely for your home, despite how we have wronged you ... so ...you have nothing but my respect and admiration ... " He said as he turned to leave, leaving Sasuke stunned by his sudden words as the door closed and he turned his head a bit before he lowered his eyes as he smiled some as Naruto smiled a bit behind him.

Sai walked down the steps and out onto the street as he frowned and turned to walk down towards his own home. His mind lost in thoughts, he clutched his hands at his sides. His mind flashing to earlier when Sasuke had his fit and he closed his eyes. What Naruto was doing ... was nothing that could help the other, he knew it was against ... all his faith and trust in Naruto, but he had to do something ... before Sasuke ... and that unborn child became tools of war ... he lowered his head as he paused in his steps. " ... forgive me Naruto .." He muttered. Naruto stood in the kitchen as he boiled some water for ramen, he stared at the pot as he suddenly slammed his fist on the counter as he lowered his head. Sasuke stared up at the steam that rose from his bath through half lidded eyes. He closed his eyes as he turned his face to the side. Everything hurt, but he had to do something ... before he drove Naruto crazy.