What Does It All Mean?

Part II, Chapter X: Surprise Him

Author's note: Ah, my favorite chapter thus far. Oh… and um, how is Naruto so well informed? Let's just say that Sakura told him. And warning for Naruto's potty mouth.

An Anbu standing outside his room told Sasuke that Naruto would be there soon to escort him through town. When he was finished getting ready, he sat quietly at the foot of his bed, staring at the blank wall. He balled his hands into fists, relaxed, and then clenched them again.

The door clicked open and Naruto slowly opened the door. Sasuke, not forgetting to send him an angry glare, stood on both legs, his weight on his left leg as he held a crutch on his right side.

Naruto looked at his feet. "Where's the other one?"

"I don't need it," Sasuke said matter of factly.

Naruto shrugged. "That's fine. It's not like you can run away, anyway." He waited for Sasuke to walk up to him and enter the hall before closing the door. As they made their way out of the hospital, all six Anbu members remained above them on the rooftops of the buildings Naruto and Sasuke passed.

They walked side by side in utter silence for ten minutes. Sasuke found them approaching a three-level apartment complex not too far from the academy. Naruto led them to a door at the end of the walkway on the second floor.

Naruto was about to knock on the door before he stopped himself. "Hey…" he turned to Sasuke.

Sasuke looked at him.

"Just do one thing… don't tell Akio-chan who you really are. Not until Sakura-chan says so."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his old teammate.

"That's the least you could do."

"I don't owe you anything."

"It's not for me, you idiot. It's for them, especially him. Don't screw up," Naruto growled as he knocked on the door.

They could hear a gentle pitter-patter of footsteps and fumbling of the locks from the other side. The door then opened a crack and Sasuke saw his smaller image standing there. The boy who opened the door had a smile on his face as he fully pulled the door back. "Naruto-nii-chan! Uchiha-san! You're here!"

Naruto put on his biggest grin. "Hey there!" and proceeded to pat the boy on the head.

The boy smiled and stepped back as he let them in. Naruto and Sasuke took off their shoes and Akio led them deeper in the apartment. "Okaa-chan, Okaa-chan, they're here," he said as they entered the dining nook.

Sasuke cast his eyes upon her. Her hair was past her shoulders, like how it was in her youth. She stood beside the table, laying out the placemats. He noticed her look up and immediately, the colors in her cheeks left. Soon after that, she smiled. "Hi, Naruto…" her eyes turned to him, "… Sasuke-kun."

"Sakura," he said.

"So!" Naruto leaned down to get to Akio's eye level. "What's for dinner?" he rubbed his hands together in delight.

"Pork," Akio answered quickly.

Naruto's mood dropped and so did his jaw. "But… ramen…"

"Tomorrow, Naruto-nii-chan!" Akio told him, sticking his palm out in front of him, stopping the adult's complaints. "Okaa-chan said she'll make some tomorrow."

"Oh! Well I'm definitely coming over!" Naruto grinned.

"I'll just be a few more minutes," Sakura adjusted her ponytail off her shoulder and onto her back. "Make yourselves at home," she barely gave the men a glance before re-entering into the kitchen.

Sasuke's eyes followed Sakura but then stopped when he felt a tap on his arm. He looked down to see his son smiling up at him. "Sit down, Uchiha-san."

His last name sounded odd coming from the boy's lips. He nodded and proceeded to the brown couch Naruto was sitting on. Akio flopped on the middle cushion of the couch next to Naruto, leaving space for Sasuke to sit on the right side.

"Ano-sa, Naruto-nii-chan," Akio tugged on Naruto's sleeve, "hosts are supposed to offer tea to guests, huh?"

"Yeah," Naruto answered.

Akio nodded, then stood, turning to Sasuke. "I'll get you some tea, okay, Uchiha-san?"

"Oh no," Naruto stood and put a hand to Akio's shoulder. "You sit. I'll get the tea. Your mom will never forgive me if you hurt yourself." He walked away, disappearing into the kitchen.

"I'm grown up though," Akio muttered as he sat down. He turned to Sasuke and smiled. "I'll be seven years old tomorrow," he declared.

Sasuke lifted an eyebrow. "Tomorrow is your birthday?"

Akio nodded. "That's why Okaa-chan is going to make ramen! It's my favorite."

Sasuke found himself taking mental notes.

Naruto soon returned with a cup of tea. He placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch Sasuke sat on. Naruto then returned to his seat.

Sasuke said nothing and took the cup in his hands. He sat at the edge of the couch, crutch propped against the couch's armrest. The three sat in silence as Sasuke drank and the sound of him putting the cup back down on the table seemed to echo. Sasuke looked beside him and noticed a few framed pictures sitting on a table to his right. He reached over, tilting the frame for a better look. It was of Sakura and Akio sitting on a red and white-checkered blanket, laid out on a grass field.

"That's when Okaa-chan made a picnic for Naruto-nii-chan and me."

Sasuke turned to Akio. "Both of you?" and then glanced at Naruto.

Naruto returned his stare, eyebrows furrowed.

"Yeah. Okaa-chan made a really good lunch, I learned some ninja skills, we played and watched the sky," Akio turned to Naruto. "It was fun, huh?"
Naruto immediately changed his expression to a smile. "You bet! We should do that again."

Sasuke turned away, putting the picture back in its place. He watched Sakura at the corner of his eye as she walked in and out of the kitchen, setting the table that sat not too far from the couch.

"Okaa-chan," Akio asked as she set down four rice bowls on the table. "Where are my drawings?"

"In your room," she answered as she continued setting the table. "On your desk."

"I'll be right back," he smiled at retreated into the hallway.

Sasuke drank another sip of tea as Naruto exhaled, as if releasing a nervous breath. Sasuke noticed that Sakura did not look up as she continued to set the table. He only took his eyes off her when Akio re-emerged from the hallway with a few sheets of paper in hand.

"Whatcha got there?" Naruto asked.

Akio smiled as he stood before both men, holding up a drawing he made earlier. "I drew this today. There's Naruto-nii-chan, me, Okaa-chan and Uchiha-san," he said, pointing to each figure as he named them.

"Wow, you got the details of our clothing," Naruto praised. "Good job, Akio!"

Akio smiled as Naruto ruffled his hair.

Sasuke's eyes scanned over the artwork. His eyes darkened when they set on the smallest figure standing by the one with the blond hair and orange pants. "May I see what else you have?" Sasuke noticed his son was holding more than one sheet of paper.

Akio nodded and handed them to him. He sat down beside Sasuke and scooted closer to him, eagerly observing Sasuke's facial responses.

Sasuke looked at the sheet of the four figures once again before placing it underneath the pile. The next one looked like a dog with white fur and brown ears. The corner of Sasuke's mouth moved up, noting that the dog only had three legs. "It looks like Akamaru," he thought out loud.

"Yeah! It's Kiba-oji-chan's dog! Akamaru is nice."

"It's… well done. Your drawing," Sasuke struggled to find the right words to praise his son. He continued, putting the three-legged Akamaru underneath the pile.

The next drawing was of a figure, standing alone on the white sheet. Only the face was colored in with a peach crayon; the drawing lacked eyes, hair and clothes.

"That'll be my dad once I finish," Akio informed. "I don't know what he looks like."

Sasuke turned to the boy. "Your mother never told you?"

Akio shook his head. "She doesn't say much about Otou-chan," Akio's eyes dimmed as he stared at the incomplete sketch. "Okaa-chan said I look like him but…"

Sasuke shot a look at Naruto, who gently shook his head. Sasuke looked to Akio again. "Your mother is right. You do look like him. Exactly like him."

Akio's eyes turned to Sasuke, eyes slightly widened. "Really? Even now?"

"Aa," Sasuke said stiffly, ignoring Naruto's wide eyes and panicked looks.

Akio opened his mouth but the words did not come; Sakura announced that dinner was ready. Sasuke put the drawings down on the coffee table and took his teacup in hand. He slowly made his way to a seat at the square table. Akio chose a seat on Sasuke's right, facing Naruto. The empty seat directly across from Sasuke was reserved to their hostess; Sakura began to fill their bowls with rice. After filling everyone's bowls and serving them tea, Naruto said a quick chant of thanks and began to dig in. Sakura ate slowly and quietly. Sasuke reached for his chopsticks, watching his son just stare at his food. They both said a quiet thanks and Sasuke began to eat. He tried to recall the last time he had her home-cooking. However, the memory was so old, he barely recalled it. All he could grasp was a mission during the afternoon. It was spring. Her hair was long, like how it was now.

"Ano-sa, Uchiha-san?"

Sasuke looked over to his son.

"Have you… seen my father recently?"

Sakura's eyes widened. Naruto nearly choked on his rice.

"You're a ninja, right? I thought you got hurt during a mission. I thought you might saw my father out there--."

"Akio-chan!" Sakura exclaimed, her hand falling to the table, chopsticks dropping from her hand. Naruto and Akio both stared at her with shocked eyes; she had never raised her voice like that in such a long time, and never to Akio.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto called her name, as if reminding her, cluing her in on her behavior.

After realizing what she had just done, she shook her head and tried to smile. "I didn't mean to yell, Akio-chan. I'm sorry I raised my voice at you. It's just that you shouldn't bother Sasuke-kun when he's trying to eat."

Akio nodded slowly, understanding. "Oh… okay, I'm sorry, Okaa-chan, I didn't know." He looked over to Sasuke. "I'm sorry to bother you, Uchiha-san."

Sasuke shook his head. "You didn't bother me," he then looked over to Sakura, whose cheeks were pink from embarrassment. "Not at all…"

--

"You can tuck me in tomorrow night, Okaa-chan," Akio told her after he brushed his teeth and changed his pajamas.

"Alright, good night," she said to her son and kissed him on the forehead.

Akio turned to Sasuke. "Good night, Uchiha-san."

Sasuke hesitated for a moment, and then placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder. "Good night."

Akio left the doorway to his room and hopped in his bed. Naruto followed and sat on the edge of Akio's bed. "Two stories, Naruto-nii-chan!"

"Hai, hai… let's see…" Naruto pondered.

Sakura walked away from the open door to the end of the hall, which connected to the entrance foyer. Sasuke followed slowly, without his crutch and stood right behind her. He had learned so many things in one evening. It just added to the questions he already had. "Sakura," her name fell on to his lips so easily.

"Please," she lowered her voice to a whisper, and turned to his direction, yet not directly facing him. "Please wait until he's asleep."

Sasuke said nothing and just leaned back, back against the wall, arms crossed. Sakura crossed the hall and stood against the wall opposite Sasuke, directly in front of him. Her left arm hung across her midriff and she used that to support her right elbow, right hand cupping her cheek. They both stood about six feet away from Akio's room.

"And then," Naruto's proud, spirited voice exited the door, "I kage-bushined, multiplying into a thousand! The snake couldn't take it and it exploded into little pieces!"

"Wow…" a marveled Akio said. "You can defeat giant snakes too!"

"That's right!" Naruto laughed.

"Another story!" Akio exclaimed.

"Hm… how about when I used the Rasengan during the Sannin battle?"

"I already heard that one on Thursday!"

"Oh… hm…"

"Ano-sa, Naruto-nii-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you tell me a story about my parents?"

"You-your parents?"

"Uh-huh."

Sasuke noticed Sakura's eyes turned to the door.

"Hm…"

Sasuke kept his ear open, listening to what Naruto would tell his son.

"There was this one time," Naruto began, "during the Chuunin Exam, when this evil man from the Village of the Hidden Sound was after your dad."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. He even put a curse on your dad's neck so he could control your Otou-chan."

Sakura inhaled and it sounded like a gasp. Sasuke's arm crossed his chest; his hand flew to his neck.

"Why was that bad guy after him?"

"Because he wanted your father to be on his side."

"But Otou-chan would never leave Konoha!"

A pause.

Sasuke's eyes fell to Sakura's feet.

"But then, because of the curse, your dad became unconscious. I fought a lot before that, but I got knocked out. Your mom was the only one awake. She was very brave, though. She tried to defend us against that evil man's henchmen. One of them even held her by the hair and your mom had to cut her own hair to escape."

"Okaa-chan cut her hair?"

"This short."

"Whoa…"

Sasuke's eyes fell to her ears, where he remembered her hair strands once ended.

"But even though her hair was short and she was bruised up, she kept fighting. And then, there was this burst of purple chakra and your dad woke up. The curse took over him; there were black markings all over his skin, like his skin was on fire. He found out that those evil sound ninjas hurt your mom and then he attacked them.

"But he wasn't the same. The curse made him not think straight. He kept attacking. Your mom was scared and she wanted him to stop."

"But why? Ninjas are supposed to get rid of their enemies."

"True but the curse made him think of nothing but to kill. Your mom was scared he'd kill everyone."

"So… did he?"

"She stopped him. She hugged him and cried and begged him to stop."

A pause. "He did?"

"He did. He saw her crying and then the black markings disappeared from his skin."

"Okaa-chan healed Otou-chan."

Sasuke's eyes fell to her hands.

"Otou-chan cares for Okaa-chan. I'm positive," Akio declared a matter of factly.

"Why do you think that?"
"Because he was mad when he saw Okaa-chan beat up. And he did what she said because she was crying. He probably doesn't like seeing her cry either."

Sasuke locked eyes with Sakura. She stood across from him in the dimly lit hall, eyes slightly widened, trying to read his expression.

"When we were younger, your father made it very clear that he didn't want your mother hurt. He did care for her, even when he was young."

Sasuke could not bring himself to look at her anymore.

"Well, time to sleep!" the bedsprings creaked slightly. "Good night, Akio."

"See you tomorrow, Naruto-nii-chan," was followed with a yawn.

Sasuke looked towards the door and saw Naruto walk into the hall. He turned off the lights, closed the door behind him and looked up to meet eyes with Sasuke. Then, he looked over to Sakura, whose right hand covered her mouth. "He's asleep now. He seemed pretty tired," Naruto said in a low voice.

Sasuke made his way to the dining table. Each step on his right foot caused a biting pain to shoot up his back. He stood beside the table, clutching one of the chairs, using it for support. "Did you ever plan on telling him?"
Sakura and Naruto walked from the hall and joined him near the dining table. Sakura shook her head, arms crossed.

"He doesn't even know my name--."

"And why the hell should he?" Naruto growled. "We didn't think you'd come back!"

"Stay out of this," Sasuke hissed.

"I won't--!"

"Naruto," Sakura said gently. "Please."

Naruto turned to her, an expression of hurt lining his eyes. "Sakura-chan…"

"I need to answer his questions."

"You don't owe him anything!"

Sakura reached out to Naruto and placed a hand on his forearm. "It's okay," she managed to put a gentle smile on her face. "It's alright."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, reading the gazes the two exchanged. He felt his stomach shifting erratically.

Naruto balled his hands into fists, and then looked away from her. "It's true. I never planned to tell him. At least, until he was old enough and when I had the courage to say it.

"The truth is, Sasuke-kun, I didn't know how to explain to him that his father left very early on. I just… couldn't."

"But didn't he want to know why you suffered so much ridicule?" Sasuke watched Sakura's eyes shift. "Kakashi-sensei told me," he provided, answering her silent question.

"Naruto, Ino and myself tried our best to keep all of that from him."

Naruto's arms crossed.

"But you understand, right?" Sakura continued. "I was scared to tell him that his father left. How could that make him feel? If you could have seen him growing up…" Tears formed in Sakura's eyes. "He wants to be the perfect boy, a boy his father could be proud of."

Sasuke declared, "But Akio is my son."

"Do you think you can stake claim!" Naruto burst. Sakura turned to him, but he interrupted. "Sorry, Sakura-chan, but I can't just stand here." He turned to Sasuke. "You left for years, not planning to return! Then I bring you back to town after your ass got kicked, you find out you left behind a family and you're still acting like some stupid shit!"

"Naruto, please!"

"I'm the boy's father."

"You were never here for him!" Naruto's fist tightened.

"Both of you--!" Sakura called.

"I didn't know; you know that," Sasuke glared at the jounin.

"You shouldn't have left Konoha in the first place!" he responded.

"Please stop," Sakura cried, tears welling in her eyes.

"I had my reasons for leaving. But I'm Akio's father, unlike you, Naruto!"

"You son of a--!"

"Don't, both of you!" Sakura raised her voice over the racket in front of her. All three became silent, a thick fog of tension sitting over them.

"Y…you're my… father?" came a shaking voice from the foyer.