Chapter 10

I don't own Naruto

Naruto's Baby Chapter 10

"Another one!" Tsunade said to the waiter as he walked by and she waved her cup again. Shizune worried looked at her mentor, "Tsunade-sama, perhaps you have too much," she said. "'Nother one! Nother one!" A boy's voice rang beside Shizune. Next to the pink pig, Tonton was a kid who was about two years old now. The boy had his mother's eyes, but his hair was white and unlike his mother, he had two red lines at the corner of his eyes. He was wearing more traditional clothing, a jinbei; that was gray with dark blue patterns. Shizune sighed and said, "you're a bad influence on Zuko," she sighed, and yet, Shizune knew why.

Orochimaru had promised her to see her loved ones again.

Shizune tended to the baby's needs, giving him his sippy cup and wiped his face. Since his birth, she had become his nanny, though she felt like his mother most of the time. Tsunade didn't carry him often, though the boy was more than capable to walk on his own and preferred it unless it was time for his nap. Tsunade had another bottle of sake and poured herself a glass. Sometimes Shizune wondered if Tsunade drank so much in order to make up for the nine months she couldn't while she was pregnant with Zuko.

Tsunade just happened to look up at the wrong time and saw yet another ghost from the past; Jiraiya. They both caught each other's eye and the old man shouted, "TSUNADE!"

"Jiraiya?! What the-? What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Finally, I've been looking for you everywhere," he walked over toward her with Naruto standing behind with Ai in his arms. He gave Tsunade a weird look, but eventually went over and sat down next to the old man and asked for a baby seat, much like what Zuko was in. The two babies were sitting next to each other at the edge of the table in their own high chairs, and they seemed more interested in each other than in what the adults had to say.

Naruto sat and ate his food once it arrived, listening to what was going on…and choked on his food when Jiraiya said that she, Tsunade, was picked to being the fifth Hokage. Naruto being asking a million questions, annoying Tsunade.

"Who's this brat you got with you?" She asked, looking at him from behind her playing cards that she had laid out for her and Jiraiya to play.

"He's Naruto Uzumaki," Jiraiya said seriously. Tsunade's eyes widen a bit, this kid is the Kyuubi? Her eyes then directed to the baby who they seemed to brought along. "And don't tell me, this girl is yours Jiraiya?" She asked.

"She's mine!" Naruto said, and Tsunade was nearly taken back, but she began laughing, "as if kid! You're just that, a kid. How could a kid-" "He's not lying," Jiraiya said, keeping his serious tone. Tsunade was taken back and cleared her throat, looking guilty. Naruto's face had flushed. He knew people wouldn't believe him, but that didn't bother him. What bothered him was that this woman was going to be the fifth Hokage?!

Naruto had enough of this nonsense and challenged the woman, even so much as began screaming and yelling and jumping on tables. Tsunade wasn't much better and her actions, taking on the darker blonde and they headed outside.

And then, the bet was made…

Naruto was awake that night, trying to get his daughter to sleep. It was really late in the evening, and she seemed to be as awake as he was. She stared at him with big black orbs and was reaching out to him while he held her close. "You are grabby today Ai," he commented as he mostly wanted her to go to sleep already.

A knock at the door and Naruto walked over, "who could it be at this hour?" He asked himself but the door opened, and it was Shizune. "Naruto…I came to talk to you," she said. The woman had the boy from earlier in her arms. Naruto scolded and said, "Yeah well I'm trying to go to bed and get my child to sleep, I have to train tomorrow!"

"That's just it. Before you get into this, there is something you need to know about the necklace. And also about Tsunade-sama," Shizune said.

"Hmph! I couldn't care less about that crazy old bat," Naruto scoffed carelessly.

"Don't say that! She's not the kind of person you think she is! What right of you- You don't know anything about her," Shizune got defensive, then apologized for her outburst, especially when she noticed that he was trying to rock his child to sleep. "Please forgive me, I didn't mean to shout."

Shizune began to explain the curse of the necklace, and the more Naruto heard, the more he grew determined to not die, especially because of a stupid necklace. He began training immediately, taking his child to be watched over to Shizune, who didn't seem to mind watching the girl as having her seemed to be doing Zuko some good. He had never interacted with children his age, so having Ai around was helping him with his social skills. Not to mention he started to see her as a little sister.

One night, Tsunade was drinking while Shizune sat next to her, tending to Zuko and Ai. Jiraiya noticed the boy and how much of a resemblance he looked to Tsunade's brother, though with just different color hair; white, which made him worry a bit.

At Jiraiya's request, Shizune took the infants so he could sit and talk to Tsunade on his own. Before Jiraiya could start talking, Tsunade beat him, "remember a few years ago when we met up?" She asked him. "We both got drunk," he commented as his food was brought to him, along with his drink. He shot that down first, "if you're saying what you're going to say, I know." He said. "That boy, he's mine, isn't he?"

Tsunade nodded, "yes. Zuko is your son."

"And you're bitter about that fact, aren't you?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade took a swing of her drink. Jiraiya sighed, "I'm sorry I couldn't replace him. I never wanted to. It was just one night…one, drunken night," he said to emphasize the regret he had placed in her heart.

"At least I'm old enough to have it acceptable to have a child…Naruto on the other hand," Tsunade commented and turned to Jiraiya. "What's the story with him? How'd he ended up with a brat of his own?"

"It's not a pretty story," Jiraiya commented. "I wouldn't think so," Tsunade said. "From what I understand, Naruto was eleven when it happened…he was attacked, and when he found out he was having a baby, he wanted to keep her because he wanted someone to be his family," he explained. "You'd think having a kid would make him more mature, but I think it's done nothing on that line. Sure he watches out for her, but for himself? Not a chance." Jiraiya commented. "And yet he still has his dream. That dream to be Hokage and his child are the only things that keep him going."

Tsunade's mind was heavy, and she wanted to scoff it off once more. On some level, she understood why he would want to keep his only family. Zuko's birth was a bloody mess that had really affected how she saw her son. Shizune, who had been the one to pull him out, had tried to hide the blood but Tsunade just had to look while he was covered in the bloody mess. She lowered her head, and she knew that she hadn't really treated him as nicely as she knew he deserved. She was thankful to Shizune, who was practically his second mother to him.

Jiraiya took a swing and asked, "were you ever going to tell me about my son?" Tsunade looked at him, and sighed, "it depended on if he asked or if I ever saw you again. You know now. Do you want to be a part of his life?"

"I can't," Jiraiya answered. "I still have my job to do, and it involves training Naruto and tracking the Akatsuki's whereabouts. Don't get me wrong, he's my son, and I do care about him. Who knows? Maybe I'll be around whenever he becomes a genin, and I'll take him on a journey like I'm doing with Naruto," he said, and Tsunade smirked, "We'll see if that day ever arrives."

"Take the kids and go!" Jiraiya told Naruto. Things had gotten bad, and two infants shouldn't be on the battlefield. Tsunade was going against Orochimaru and Kabuto, and things were about to get hectic. Naruto had brought Ai with him because there wasn't anywhere else he could keep her without her being along, and Shizune had brought Zuko out of sheer habit.

Naruto created a shadow clone and took his daughter and Zuko from Shizune, and ran off. The clone held the two babies, through by the time that Naruto was fighting Kabuto to defend Tsunade, the clone had poofed, but not before the two were hidden away from where far from the battle; back to the hotel where Tsunade was staying.

"There, there, it's okay babies," Naruto's clone cooed as he laid the two babies down in the same crib. Zuko was getting watery-eyed, and Ai was already in tears. Even as a clone, Naruto's heart ached, "shh, it's okay Ai," he hushed softly and wanted to cradle her, but as he just laid her down, and was still holding on to her hand, the clone vanished, leaving the girl scared and sad.

Zuko reached over to the smaller girl and pulled her into a hug but for his own sake. He had seen his mother getting hurt, and she was crying out. As a toddler, he didn't understand why and just hearing his mommy's voice in distress frightened him, just as Naruto's clone poofing away frightened the girl.

And that was how the hotel manager found the two infants an hour later when the guests were complaining about the sound of babies crying from the room.

Since returning to the village, Naruto ran around with Ai at his hip basically. He wasn't afraid to hide her or the fact that he was her mother. She was his child and people would have to deal. If they asked, he'd tell them to piss off. Though when he went after Tsunade to get her to heal Kakashi, Sasuke, and Lee, he had crashed into Konohamaru. The boy seemed really upset about something, but Naruto didn't really ask about it.

Though Konohamaru didn't hide his sudden questions about the baby girl in Naruto's arms. "Hey boss, why do you have a baby with you?"

"Huh? You mean my daughter?" Naruto said and looked at his child. She was so big already, and a year old. Actually, that reminded him, he wanted to throw a birthday party for the girl and since her birthday had passed, he would need to throw one soon. It was why he was going to talk to Iruka once more. That man had apologized so many times that Naruto was feeling bad and annoyed at it.

"You're daughter?! But how? Did a ninja stork give one to you by mistake?" He asked. Naruto chuckled, "yeah, let's go with that one." He said. "But anyways, where's the old lady with the attitude; she needs to come with me to the infirmary."

Tsunade came around the corner with Shizune with her, and in her arms, Zuko was clinging on to her kimono. Naruto looked at Tsunade, "hey! Did you forget that you're going to heal Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei and bushy brow?!"

"Yeah I guess I did," Tsunade teased, and Naruto growled, but they seemed to be heading in that direction until they ran into Shikamaru and his father.

"Well if it isn't Naruto," Shikamaru said to him. "Shouldn't you be off stuffing your face somewhere?"

"How about you? You're usually still asleep at this time?" Naruto asked as he adjusted Ai from one side of his body to the other. "Very funny, I'm out because my dad asked me to come along with him but don't ask me why" he retorted and eyed the kid. He remembered seeing her from the chunin exams, but the way the girl looked at him, it didn't seem like she remembered Shikamaru at all. She clung to Naruto's orange jacket in comfort as she wearily eyed the other teen. Naruto didn't seem to notice, and Naruto and Shikamaru talked about the new Hokage, though the conversation was very short. "So long, we're going to the infirmary! I'll see you later Shikamaru, and I'll show you the killer new technique I picked up!" Naruto said as he hurried down the steps, holding on to his child tightly so he wouldn't drop her or accidently fall.

They headed to the hospital, and the first person they went to heal was Sasuke. Sakura was in his room, having been visiting him practically every day that she could. Naruto ran in with Ai in his arms, "Sakura! Sakura! You'll never believe it! She's going to make everything okay again!" Naruto chirped. "Don't worry; Sasuke's going to alright now," he expressed in a softer voice.

Ai let go and began sucking her thumb, and looked around her surroundings but she didn't know where she was.

Naruto looked at his child, but then he turned to Sasuke as he was being healed and his eyes widen. He remembered Itachi and how he hurt Sasuke, and how he said he was his child's father. That meant Sasuke was his child's uncle…right? Naruto watched as Sasuke woke up and Sakura embraced him. They were really close, and yet for some reason, they seemed so far away.

Sasuke had woken up, and as Sakura was hugging him, he looked over to Naruto, but his eyes fell on the infant he was holding. He remembered Itachi holding that child, and he grimaced. Naruto turned to leave, making the girl's head rest on his shoulder and she looked at Sasuke unknowingly.

His hatred for the girl was sparked.

"Come on, you're not done," Naruto said to Tsunade, as he walked her to Kakashi's room.

"Disgraceful. To be taken out of the game by two low-life punks like that. I thought you were supposed to be the best," Tsunade chided as Kakashi was now sitting up, but he looked exhausted. Naruto smiled at him waking up, though, and Ai seemed to recognize Kakashi as she clapped her hands and reached out to the man.

Iruka had burst in the door and saw Kakashi awake. His eyes water with tears of joy and he went to his side. "I'm glad you're awake Kakashi, you've been out for about a month," Iruka said and turned to Naruto and Ai. Iruka hadn't actually seen Ai since Naruto came back, but when he saw her, she smiled, "you've gotten so big!" Iruka said to Ai. The girl smiled and continued to clap. She was around the two men she was most familiar with aside from Naruto and that made her feel very comfortable.

"Okay yes, now that's all fine and good, not please help my student! He's in the next room!" Gai said in tears as he wanted Tsunade to hurry up and help his student now.