Chapter 13:

A/N: Hey I'm back for a bit! I'm in my final year of college so updates for all my stories will be very sporadic. I'm trying to finish this story first and then finish the others. So yeah chapter 14 is in written form and has to be typed so that will take time.

Chapter 13:

It took Sasuke some time to get his act together before he entered the ward. He wondered if he should mention Ran, but he let it go. What was important now was meeting Naruto and seeing his daughter. Everything else could come later…he would discuss things properly soon enough. As he entered Naruto looked up at him with one of those blinding smiles. But Sasuke detected something wrong with it…he put it down to Naruto being tired after his ordeal.

Sasuke smiled back widely. "So…a girl huh?" Sasuke made his way quickly to the bed and looked down at his daughter. Bright blue eyes stared blindly up at him. Sasuke wondered whether the baby could see him, he vaguely remembered Naruto saying that babies took a few days before they could see anything. He reached out to lightly place a finger on the baby's chin. The little gurgled and its lips curved into a smile. Sasuke took in the pale skin, blue eyes and the small thatch of night black hair. This was created by him and Naruto. The Uchiha suddenly felt a wave of love and he gently picked the baby up from Naruto.

"Have you thought of a name?"

Sasuke blinked and looked at his 'wife'. "Hm?"

"You wanted a girl remember? Have you thought of a name?" Naruto was still looking at him with that veiled intense look. Sasuke pondered a bit before he hit up on the perfect name.

"Kiyoi…"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Kiyoi? Pure? You're naming our child 'Pure'?"

Sasuke nodded. "I think it's a nice name…" he didn't add that this child was a symbol of him and Naruto when things were pure…when Orochimaru's dirt hadn't gotten to every corner of their relationship.

Naruto seemed to think on it before nodding. "Kiyoi it will be. I'm tired…"

Sasuke went over to Naruto's side and sat down, he didn't want to give Kiyoi back to Naruto, and so he kept a gentle but firm hold on her. Sometime during their conversation, she had drifted off to sleep. "I'm sorry I wasn't there…"

Naruto turned onto his side and wearily closed his eyes. "Let's not talk about it right now. It's fine. I'm going to sleep now…take care of her."

And then Sasuke was alone with the baby. He cuddled her a little and then placed her in the crib. "Kiyoi…hey there…if anyone caught me doing this right now, my reputation would be ruined. So we'll keep this between you and me, ne? You don't want to ruin daddy's reputation do you?" Sasuke stopped for a moment, but then continued…he'd never ever done baby talk except when he was a child.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to meet you…daddy's really sorry about that. You see, I love you very much…your mommy too, but I have other things to do. I have to protect you, baby. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't spend too much time with you…" Sasuke sighed.

On the bed, Naruto's blue eyes were open and a steely determination was blossoming in them. He snuggled further into the pillow, letting his blonde pigtail fall onto his face, incase Sasuke thought to check if he was really asleep. He needed some sleep before he could face Sasuke.

Two days later, Tsunade decided that he was well enough to leave. Naruto also decided that the moment they got home he was going to get to the bottom of everything. Sasuke had actually stayed by their side for the past two days and Naruto realised that Sasuke staying by him for more than three hours during the day actually merited a celebration. This made feel unbearably bitter inside. He pulled on the coat that Sasuke had brought him and made his ay out of the hospital room. Sasuke was all ready outside, holding Kiyoi; her tiny form bundled up in warm clothes. Though it was making her irritable. Funnily enough she calmed down every time the bastard held her.

Sasuke looked up to meet Naruto's eyes warmly. "Shall we leave? I want to get home as fast as possible so that Kiyoi doesn't have to be cold even for a minute…"

Naruto nodded and smiled back. They huddled together and hurried out as fast as possible. Naruto sighed, thankfully since it was a chakra birth, h was back to his boy form. He didn't have to have weird liquids pouring out of him for forty nine days and that was the only positive side right now…apart from the baby itself.

Naruto stepped inside the apartment and took off the coat, hanging it up. Sasuke placed Kiyoi in her brand new crib and went to make some tea. He decided to warm up some milk for her as well, since Naruto was back in male form now and they had to heat up the milk they'd gotten and feed her by bottle.

Naruto sat on the armchair by the crib and tenderly watched their baby. The one he'd made with Sasuke…he sighed. Kiyoi had drifted off to sleep, so he decided to inform Sasuke that the milk didn't have to be heated. "Teme, we don't need the milk, she's dozed off for now." Once that was done, he just leant against the doorframe watching his dark haired husband make the tea. He missed his Sasuke…the Sasuke who wasn't cheating on him with some else…the Sasuke who had trusted him and who he could trust. The thought of Sasuke being with someone else made Naruto's whole body go numb with pain…pain hat made him feel tight and relaxed, like screaming and keeping silent all at the same time.

"Who is it?"

Naruto had surprised himself, with the question that he'd blurted out. Now he wished he could take it back…though the curiosity tore him apart, he'd rather not know. He couldn't help that resentment rising inside at the fact that Sasuke made him feel this contradictory within himself.

Sasuke looked up with an eyebrow raised and handed Naruto a cup before walking to the living room. "Who is who?"

Naruto walked to the armchair and sat down facing his husband. The orange sweater hanging on his slight frame, made him seem to drown in it. Sasuke couldn't help but notice that Naruto did not look very healthy. In fact the only bright thing about him seemed to be the two fierce blue eyes that were boring into his own. Naruto's next few words made a chill run down his spine.

"Who are you sleeping with?"

Sasuke blinked, but by the time he opened his mouth, Naruto gave him a warning look. "Sasuke…I want you to tell me everything. I know you're with someone else…who is it?"

Sasuke took a deep breath. "Yes I am sleeping with someone." He almost winced as something shattered in those blue depths.

Naruto felt everything come apart, but he forced himself to hold it together. Knowing something and hearing it right out of Sasuke's mouth were two different experiences. "W…who? Why?"

"For power." Sasuke sighed. "Listen…I'll explain everything to you. But you must promise to listen without jumping into conclusions till I finish." He waited for Naruto's affirming nod.

"Naruto, when I was little, about seven years old, my parents were killed in the Uchiha massacre. What I am about to tell you, not even Itachi knows…" Sasuke's eyes took on a pained and distant look. "Then night before my clan was killed, a boy stood yelling for a whole night outside my home. I'd seen him many times on the streets; he was beautiful, powerfully and looked familiar. I remember I went to the window with my father to see whether the boy would go home. I felt extremely sorry for him out there in the cold, but my father told me he was a bad person. The boy went away in the morning. The next night, I was in my room…asleep. I woke up to loud screams echoing all over our compound."

Sasuke's eyes now filled with light horror. "I peeked out to see everyone lying dead on the streets…the people I knew and interacted with daily…I ran out looking for my parents…Itachi was away…and then I entered our family dojo…he'd killed them, Naruto…my parents lay dead in front of him. He attacked me with a shuriken, but then let me go. I still remember his last words…" this time Sasuke's were filled with determination. "If you want to avenge your family, then hate me…curse me and live a long life until you have the power to kill me…If you don't act fast enough, I'll kill everything you hold dear…even your precious brother…"

As Naruto watched Sasuke repeat those words, he saw a gleam enter the man's eye. This was the Sasuke who waned revenge…revenge so badly he would give anything up…this was not the Sasuke he'd come to know.

"I'd lived my whole life trying to find him….the scroll trade, the gang, everything…but then you came along and I forgot about it all for a while…until I found Kidoumaru…such power he had, Naruto…it was everything I needed to overcome Uchitake. So I went to the source of this power…to Orochimaru…"

Naruto gasped and opened his mouth but held back. He let Sasuke go on. "Orochimaru promised to train me and give me that power…he was one of the Sannins along with your grandparents…but I'm sure your family must hate him. He asked me to sleep with him as payment. And I did."

Sasuke sighed. "I love you…Orochimaru means nothing to me. But his training means everything…and though I love you, unless I kill Uchitake, I cannot keep you safe. I'll have to watch it all go down in front of me again. And I won't let that happen. You have to let me go to him and train…Uchitake must be killed and I have to do it!"

Naruto waited a while and then stood up to look at him. "You are going to Orochimaru? Have you lost your mind? Yes! My family hates him because he can't be trusted. If you had to kill Uchitake so badly, why not go to my grandparents at least?"

"I just want his training. Your grandparents wouldn't help me…and Orochimaru knew of my shame all ready. You want me to go telling everyone that I failed to protect my family?" Sasuke growled. "And your grandparents are so worried about me being with you they wouldn't understand the danger."

"Why not me, bastard? I'm not a child…I have the Kyuubi and I've been trained by the Sannins as well…" Naruto's eyes bore into his. "I know I was pregnant…but once Kiyoi was bon I could have helped you! It's not like you found this Uchitake right now…so I could still help you…my chakra coils will stabilize by tomorrow…this is my family too you know…I can't sit by and watch while you fight some creepy killer…"

Sasuke turned away. "You were pregnant. I need power Naruto…Uchitake is not some normal ninja…you're my wife…you don't have the power I need…"

"You're calling me weak?"

"I'm calling you soft. You're too soft. You don't have the hatred it takes to kill someone like Uchitake."

"I see." Blue eyes blazed, tinted with red. "So only hatred can give you the power you want?"

Sasuke frowned. "Yes. And it was a mistake marrying before I killed Uchitake, contract or no contract. You made me love you; you made soft…you held me back essentially. If I hadn't married you, I could have done this faster and not hurt you…and anyway…I couldn't bring my self to ask you for help. I'd rather you didn't know anything about it."

A wave of emotions swept over Naruto. He suddenly wanted nothing more than to hurt this man standing in front of him so arrogantly. He was human too and no matter the fact that he'd borne a child he was a man. He had pride too, though he'd let it go for this very man. "Yes, maybe we did make many mistakes. Maybe I made a mistake falling in love with you? Well, it's ok. At least I have Kiyoi." Naruto turned and walked to the kitchen with his empty cup. He appeared at the doorway again. "So you would rather go to a snake and shame yourself more, then ask me, your husband for help? Good. This makes it easier for us."

And Sasuke felt something freeze inside as he watched Naruto dump a futon in Kiyoi's room and shut the door after him.

Another twig drew al in of blood as he walked through the thicket. Unsure of whether he'd need his chakra in a battle, he'd been making his way through the forest like a normal civilian would do, though it was painfully obvious to him that this was a slower way of progress. It has been a week since left…Naruto had still been in hospital when she'd disappeared. He let his thought linger on the welfare of his brother in law for a moment before coming back to her.

He was an Uchiha, damn it! He was supposed to be good at tracking people, but this particular trail had just disappeared all of a sudden, leaving him lost in this forest. He sat down. Tired, hungry and emotionally fatigued. Itachi had always been better than Sasuke at controlling his emotions, but now the anger, worry and hurt seemed to overwhelm him.

Why did Mirai just leave? He'd been so happy when she'd finally given into him…it had seemed like she loved him…why was this woman making him doubt himself?

Itachi sat down for a while and let his mind wander. Somehow everything seemed to link back to the Uchiha massacre, once you really thought about it. Even Mirai's concern for Naruto and attitude towards Sasuke only developed after Sasuke began to treat Naruto weirdly. What the heck was going on? Itachi couldn't comprehend the weird gut feeling in his belly that told him everything was going to go from bad…too really really worse.

Arashi sat at the table tapping his fingers and trying not to let hi restlessness get the better of him. This Hokage business was the pits…either paperwork piled up, or he had nothing do…but much worse…he had to keep everyone's secrets. He had to sit in his office and wait…twiddling his thumbs…for something to happen. When this happened, he took to worrying about Sasuke and Naruto, his parents, the kids, Kakashi, Iruka, the village, the daimyo of Fire Country, Suna, Wind Country, etc…needless to say he was a worry wart.

So the slight tug of chakra he felt, that brought him back to his cozy little office was at once a welcome change. No doubt since it was from Mirai, it was bound to be more worry, but it might just give him something to do. He focused his chakra and felt the room around him dissolve, to be replaced by a dark cave. He watched the Akatsuki's meeting through Mirai's eyes. A man with spiky hair stood on the highest finger of a great statue that towered over Mirai. On the finger next to him stood a dark haired woman. Mirai's parents…Pein and Kourin, he supposed.

"The child's been born. Zetsu and Hidan have managed to catch the eight-tails and now all we need is the last one…in one of the most powerful ninja villages…Konoha. But my daughter Mirai, a great friend of the jinchuuriki has offered to help me…easy prey?" Pein smiled.

"Kisame. Tell us what information you have…" Kourin's voice was commanding.

"The jinchuuriki is known as Uzumaki Naruto. He is the Hokage's son and is married to Uchiha Sasuke. He has the ability to reproduce and has just had a baby daughter. In order to release Kyuubi, we need to capture them both. An all out attack will be necessary."

"Are you trying to tell us that one measly village can beat us? We are 'S' class nins? Dangerous too…I do not like your plan Kisame." Kakuzu interrupted.

"If we take a chance and lose our lives due to our ego, then our mission cannot be fulfilled." Kisame grinned. "But if you would like to try on your own, then you're welcome to do so…"

"Enough! Now that we know our next target, I suggest we think on our strategies. Tomorrow we will all have one ready for the final plan." Pein leaped down to land in front of Mirai…"maybe you should rest my daughter…you look worn out."

Sasuke was sitting on the couch gazing at a muted TV screen, his attention totally focused on the clattering in the kitchen. This was the only indication that Naruto lived in the house at all! They had barely spoken to each other during the past two days, except about Kiyoi and some domestic issues. Sasuke found himself longing to talk to the blond, but unfortunately for him Naruto just wasn't giving in. To top it all off, that Takeshi Ran guy kept calling at intervals.

Naruto walked in and placed the tray on the table. He cleared his throat to get Sasuke's attention and then sat down to his own dinner. Kiyoi was asleep thankfully and made no noise. Sasuke sat down as well and began eating. The fish was perfect and the rice grainy the way he liked it. He sighed. "Naruto…"

The beautiful blue eyes looked at him expressionlessly. "Hm?" the sound seemed to have been made only because the blond thought Sasuke had expected it.

"I'll have to get back to…training the day after tomorrow."

Naruto didn't bother replying, but continued to eat. He finished before Sasuke and cleared his plate. Then he just went to sit at the couch, gazing at the TV that Sasuke had been so dispassionately gazing at it.

"Naruto…."

The blond refused to look at him. He just stubbornly looked at the screen. Sasuke gave it up. He started to clear the plates when the door bell rang. Sasuke looked at the still Naruto and went to get it, just as Naruto himself stood up. They made it to the door and opened it to see Iruka.

"Arashi told me to tell you…Itachi's disappeared…"

A/N: so yeah that's it for now. Please review and let me know how you liked it!

Taka

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