Opportunity
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews. XD I really wish I could respond to guest reviewers directly sometimes. But Shisui did bring up a good idea for a story. What would you guys think about a story were Kakashi adopts Sasuke either formerly or informally after the massacre? It would be a Sasuke x Hinata pairing. I think I'm going to give that one a go. I hope the guest reviewer sees it when I put it up. Which would probably be in the next day or so. For those of you that wanted Sasuke and Hinata to have a daughter or daughters, don't worry. Like Naruto says, Sasuke is such an overachiever.
Chapter 21
Sasuke blinks when they arrive on the scene. It looked like Gaara and Mei were having a heated argument with the Raikage. That was odd.
The three of them normally got along well. Though Sasuke did get the impression the Raikage viewed Gaara somewhat as a child due to his age. He'd never seen them actually fight before, even if it was only verbally.
Sasuke and Naruto had clearly come in at the end of the conversation. If you could call it a conversation. It was more like a feud.
"Did you just threaten a pregnant woman?" Sasuke hears Mei say and feels his blood practically boil with rage.
"You can't possibly think that we should allow such a child to come to term. He or she will have the Byakugan, Sharingan, possibly both, or even a new bloodline. They will be raised by a psychotic father. That child will be a terror to all Five Nations." The Raikage explains and Naruto had to hold Sasuke back from killing him on sight.
"It's one thing to want the father dead. It's another to threaten an innocent baby. I've changed my mind. Mei if you wish to turn him into a scratching post, you may." Well Sasuke thought to himself when he overheard Gaara's response, at least the red head had some fucking common sense.
"So it's come to this. You would choose that demon's spawn over me? So much for loyalty." He mutters and gets into a defensive position.
"We did not choose anyone over you. You made this decision for yourself. If you cease this foolishness, we can all walk away now." Gaara says.
"You are both the ones being foolish. Do you honestly think the Uchiha's child is going to be anything but a terror upon the land?" He demands to know.
"The child is also Hinata's and she's the picture of kindness. Besides, children are not mirror copies of their parents in most cases. It's quite possible he or she would be nothing like either of them." Mei offers.
"Do you really want to take that chance? We aren't rolling dice here! People's lives could be at stake and you want to gamble like that?" He thunders at her.
"Don't yell at her." Gaara hisses.
"Do not raise your voice to me. I was ruling over my village before you were born, brat!" He snarls.
"So now it comes out. You view my age as a weakness." The red head says and twitches.
Oh he'd always known deep down, that there were those who thought him too young to lead. Most of them were too smart to risk his ire by actually saying so though. Still the remark stung and pissed him off. His sand flurries around him in anger.
Gaara was trying to remind himself that the Raikage was just angry He viewed himself as doing what was right for all the villages. He didn't actually mean what he had just sad. It was angry talking. But Gaara's heart and pride would not hear it.
"It can be a liability at times. You are letting your emotions cloud your judgment." He says.
"And what is your assessment of my actions? Am I misguided by youth's passion as well?" Mei snarls outraged on her lover's behalf.
"You are misguided by another kind of passion altogether. I do not blame you. It is only natural to want to side with your lover. But you are both wrong on this. You both know I am right. It is distasteful to have attack a pregnant woman, but it has to be done." He tells them.
"I've had enough of this!" Gaara says and his sand lashes out at the Raikage.
The Raikage was surprisingly fleet of foot for a man of his size. He managed to dodge. Mei sends a boiling release at him. Gaara had attacked. The time for words was over. There was no going back at this point.
"Naruto, let me go. That man just threatened my sons!" Sasuke growls at him.
"Sasuke, you've already killed the Stone Kage. Do you want people to think you are some sort of Kage Serial Killer?" He asks.
"I don't give a fuck what they think. He's dead." Sasuke growls.
"Sasuke." Naruto says warningly.
"Some things are NOT negotiable." The Uchiha snaps at him.
"Let them handle it. It's already two against one. Gaara and Mei are no lightweights." He tries to reason with him.
"I know. It's going to be three against one now. Amaterasu!" Sasuke shouts and suddenly the black flames burst into being and hurtle straight at the Raikage.
"Not good." Gaara says.
' "Really not good. My love?" Mei asks and doesn't need to finish what she was thinking, it was obvious.
The female Kage wanted them to get out of the way. Sasuke had probably overheard their conversation. Sasuke was pissed.
A ninja's paternal instincts were awesome in their fury and intensity. And because this was Sasuke, that was more than likely going to be taken to an even greater extreme. She didn't want her lover to get caught in the crossfire.
Gaara nods. He knew what Mei was trying to say. The red head honestly wasn't eager to take up arms against another Kage and his former friend. But there was not going to be any stopping Sasuke.
Say what you want about him, but he did want to restore his clan. The Raikage had just threatened his child. He was going to die. There was no force on this Earth that was going to change that. Not even Naruto.
"How pathetic. A Kage is scared two children who haven't even drawn their first breath yet." Sasuke snarls at him.
"TWO?!" The Raikage howls in outrage.
"Twins. Like the loser says, I'm an overachiever." Sasuke charges at the Raikage, a Chidori already formed.
"MEI! GAARA! You are going to let TWO demons roam the countryside?!" He yells at them.
"This is not going to be pretty. Advert your eyes." Gaara tells Mei.
"Excuse me?" Mei asks.
"A lady should not be subjected to whatever the Uchiha is going to do to him." The red head clarifies.
"…I survived the war. Trust me, I have seen carnage. There is nothing the Uchiha is going to do that is going to make me squeamish. I can't believe you possess such an outdated version of chivalry." She says, taken aback.
"You've seen many horrific things, I'm sure. But you haven't seen Uchiha level of carnage. This is going to be gruesome." Gaara warns her.
"Bastard, come on! We can talk about this! Besides, what are we going to do if you kill him? Someone's going to have to take over his village. They are going to want to know what happened to him!" The blonde yells.
"I'm done talking. We'll figure something out." He says and at the moment, the Raikage thought he was staring into the eyes of Satan himself.
He'd never seen eyes so full of hatred and rage. Eyes the color of blood with actual blood sliding down his face from using that attack. If there was ever any doubt that Sasuke Uchiha was a demon, this would erase that completely from his mind. That was his last thought, before Sasuke drove a Chidori right through his heart. But in one final show of defiance, the Raikage managed to drive his own fist straight through Sasuke's chest. He missed the heart, but it should be enough to kill him. He died with a smile on his face.
Sasuke chokes on his own blood. Naruto rushes down there and carries Sasuke to the hospital. Dammit! Dammit!
Gaara uses his sand to dig a hole deep enough to hide the Raikage's body for now. They needed to come up with a plausible explanation. But for now, Naruto needed him. He follows the blonde, with Mei running alongside the red head.
The medics take Sasuke in quickly. It was after all their job to patch people up, no matter who it was. That and none were dumb enough to argue with Naruto when he was clearly in so much pain.
"Someone's gotta tell Hinata." Naruto mutters.
"I will do it." Mei offers.
"Thanks." He says and nods his head at Mei, as she takes off.
"He'll be fine. If there is one thing I know about the Uchiha, he's hard to kill. After everything he's been through, I highly doubt that will be what ends him. Besides, he has children now. He's got a reason to fight." Gaara tries to reassure Naruto.
Mei races to the Uchiha District. She quickly finds Hinata. The older woman bites her lower lip. This wasn't going to be easy for the bluenette to hear.
"Hinata, you need to come to the hospital quickly. Sasuke has been injured, badly." She tells her.
"What happened?!" She asks.
"There's really no time to explain. We have to go now." She says and the Hyuga…well Uchiha (by marriage) didn't need to be told twice, immediately followed the Kage.
"Uh oh. It's the wife." One of the medics say.
"The pregnant wife. This isn't going to be fun." A second medic replies.
"I'll explain this to her." The first medic says and goes to greet Hinata.
"I'm sorry. Someone punched a hole through his chest. They missed the heart. But it would normally still be a fatal wound. However, this is Sasuke Uchiha and he was brought the hospital quickly. There may still be a chance he can survive this. But you are going to have to stay out of the operating room for us to work." He says all that in one breath.
Hinata gives a shaky nod. Thankfully, Naruto was right there. He holds her steady. The blonde wasn't sure, but he thought her knees might give out on her. Hinata clearly hadn't taken the news well. Well if he was in her position, he probably would be trying to barge into the operating room. But Hinata was well a practical woman. She understood the doctors needed to work.
Hours later, a medic comes out of the room. Hinata rises to her feet instantly. He walks over to her.
"We've stabilized him. It's a good thing that the hospital wasn't experiencing a blood shortage. He lost a lot of blood. You can see him now if you wish. He's currently asleep. It's not a pretty sight, I'm afraid." The medic warns her.
Hinata darts into the room immediately. She ignored the warning. Sasuke was laying on the bed. But that Sasuke on the bed was so different from the man she was used to waking up next to every morning.
' Sasuke had always had a fair complexion. But now his skin was practically ashen white. He had lost a lot of blood, just as the medic said. His face was grimaced in pain, even in his sleep. She couldn't see the injury itself. But there were a lot of bandages. She could only conclude that was a massive hole in his chest.
"Hin-ata?" Sasuke asks, opening his eyes slowly.
He had heard someone crying. He was sure of it. It sounded like Hinata. It took all his strength to do so, but he managed to open his eyes. Yes, it was the kitten. Yes, she was crying.
"You're awake!" She exclaims and hugs him tightly.
"AHHHH! H-inata too tight. You are holding me too tightly. The injury! Fuck!" He hisses.
"Oh sorry." She mumbles hastily and releases the death grip.
"It's okay. The important thing is our family is safe now." He states.
"What are you talking about?" She asks.
"It doesn't matter. It's over now. I don't want you to stress yourself. It's not good for the twins." He informs her.
"You don't want me to stress myself when you have a giant hole in your chest and nearly died?!" She asks in disbelief.
"I didn't die though. I'm a survivor." He reassures her.
"You are impossible! That's what you are." She snaps at him.
"Should you really be yelling at me when I have a giant hole in my chest?" He asks mockingly.
"Now, I know you are going to be okay. Your sarcastic sense of humor is still intact." She breathes a sigh of relief.
"Lay with me, Kitten." He tells her.
"Alright. But we'll have to be careful." She looks at all those bandages warily, as if she expected them to turn into vipers and bite them both.
"Careful isn't really in my vocabulary." He informs her.
"I know." She says as she crawls into the bed and soon lays by Sasuke.
Sasuke smiles and kisses her forehead. It still hurt like Hell. But he had his family next to him. That was all that matters. He feels himself drifting off into sleep. A healing sleep. His body needed it.
Slowly but surely, Sasuke's chest healed as Hinata's belly grew rounder. Both Asa and Sasuke were constantly fascinated by this. Sasuke at least had the decency to keep it to mostly belly rubs. Asa, well her curiosity was not so easily satisfied. She must have been asking a thousand questions a day and was constantly trying to talk to the twins. (Did she actually expect an answer, Sasuke wondered?)
"Well it wasn't easy bastard, but we convinced his village that an assassin got him. Found a body of a lightning affinity type of ninja. Told them that he was the assassin. He's dead, so it's not like he can plead his innocence." Naruto informs him.
"Good. Surprised you were able to stall for so long while you came up with an answer." The Uchiha muses.
"Oh it wasn't easy. Most of them thought he had gotten kidnapped, I guess. But we managed. How's Hinata doing?" He asks, knowing that Hinata was close to her due date.
"She's restless and a bit jumpy. I can't blame her. The boys apparently like to kick, a lot." Sasuke answers.
"Well that's good. Means they are healthy." Naruto offers.
"Yeah. She gets the strangest cravings too." Sasuke continues.
"Like what?" Naruto wonders.
"Strawberry ice cream." He answers.
"What's so strange about that?" The blonde questions.
"On a pumpkin pie." He finishes.
"That is a little weird." He answers.
"I'm assuming one of the boys likes strawberry ice cream and the other pumpkin pie." Sasuke says sagely.
"So you ready for this? I mean the whole being a father thing?" He asks.
"It's a little late to ask that now when she's nine fucking months pregnant." Sasuke points out.
"Yeah. But still. It's a big step. Just don't be a bastard to your kids like you are to everyone else who isn't Hinata." He says cheerfully.
"You really are such a loser." Sasuke scoffs.
"SASUKE! HELP!" Hinata calls out.
Naruto was truly impressed by how fast Sasuke could move. He had always known the other ninja was fast. But damn, he wouldn't be surprised if Sasuke had just broken the sound barrier. Holy fuck!
"What is it?" Sasuke asks Hinata anxiously.
"My water just broke. I need to get to the hospital." She informs him.
Sasuke didn't need to be told twice. He darts outside the house, with Hinata in his arms. He got her to the hospital in less than a minute. Naruto blinks and follows along.
Childbirth was not a pretty sight. Naruto fainted during the delivery. Sasuke rolls his eyes at Naruto's squeamishness. He lets out a yip of pain when Hinata's grip on his hand, almost crushed it.
"It's okay Kitten. I'm right here." He tells her.
"AHHHH!" She screams in pain.
Sasuke winces. He didn't like hearing her in such agony. But he knew that childbirth was painful. He wasn't completely oblivious about the facts of life like Naruto. He told her that she should take some of the pain meds. But Hinata was insistent on doing it the natural way.
For some reason she thought that the drugs might hurt their twins because of the Byakugan and/or Sharingan. Sasuke wasn't sure where she got this idea from. He pawned it off to the worries of a first time mother.
"Push!" The medic instructs her.
"How about I push you out the window?!" Hinata growls.
"…" Sasuke didn't know how to react to seeing his wife threaten a medic. (He was torn between laughing his ass off and being terrified really.)
"I can see the head! Push!" The medic says, ignoring that threat.
Hinata cries out and soon her cries were joined by the cries of a newborn baby. The medic hands the newborn to the nurse to give it the standard once over to make sure nothing was wrong.
"Alright, push again! This should be easier because his older brother cleared the way for him." The medic continues.
"She's going to kill you if you keep this up. You realize that, right?" Sasuke asks.
"Oh all women in childbirth issue threats like that. She wouldn't be human if she didn't." He states cheerfully.
"AHHHHHH!" Hinata cries out again and soon the sounds of another baby crying are heard.
The nurse quickly takes that one and gives him the once over. Sasuke waits anxiously. He kisses Hinata and tries to soothe her by whispering praise at her.
Sasuke found himself glad that he wasn't a woman after seeing and hearing all that. Childbirth sounded dreadful. He'd rather face Madara again than experience it personally.
"Congratulations. You have two healthy baby boys. Poor woman, the eldest was 9 pounds and the youngest was 8." He exclaims.
"I want my sons now." Hinata says.
"Of course. Of course. But first let's get you cleaned up. Sasuke you can hold them while we do so." He says and hands Sasuke the twins.
Sasuke nods and looks down at his sons. It was the first time he got a good look at them. The eldest had Hinata's blue hair but his onyx eyes. He even had Itachi's markings on his cheeks. The youngest had Sasuke's raven black hair and the trademark lavender eyes of the Hyuga clan. There was a gentleness about his face, that resembled his mother.
"Their perfect Hinata. Just like their mother." He murmurs at her and rocks them in his arms.
He couldn't help but marvel that he had helped to create two such tiny, innocent looking beings. Innocent hadn't been a word he could apply to himself in well over a decade. He figured this was Hinata's influence.
They were both so fragile. He felt a surge of protectiveness. He really should have drug the Raikage's death out longer trying to take his sons away from him.
"I want to see them!" Hinata says and clearly wasn't happy about the medic deciding she needed cleaned up before she could hold her children.
"You are good now. Sasuke, perhaps you should let your wife see them before she attempts to kill me?" The medic asks.
Sasuke smiles and walks over to Hinata. He gently places their sons in her arms. He was glad she was laying against the bed, which had been partially propped up so she could sit. The woman had just given birth to two healthy sized boys. Sasuke had no idea where she found the strength to even remain conscious at this point.
She smiles at them and proceeds to nurse them. Sasuke felt a bit sorry for his sons. They were going to be spoiled from the get go. He really hoped that they didn't think all breasts were as perfect as Hinata's. He chuckles at the thought.
"What's so funny?" She asks him.
"Nothing. It's nothing, Kitten." He says and brushes the bangs away from her eyes affectionately.
"No, I want to know." She insists.
"It's just I hope they don't get spoiled. It's rare to find a woman with breasts like yours." He states honestly and this causes Hinata to chuck a pillow at him.
"You asked." He says with a laugh.
"Mmm I guess so. What shall we call them?" She questions.
"The blue haired one has Itachi's markings on his face. I'd like to name him after Itachi, if that's alright with you. The younger one has Hyuga eyes. We could name him after Neji." He says.
Sasuke hadn't really known Neji well. But he was aware that the other ninja had sacrificed himself to save Naruto and Hinata. Without Neji's sacrifice, he never would have the opportunity to fall in love with Hinata or his sons. The man deserved a thank you and this was the only way that Sasuke really knew how to honor him.
"Itachi and Neji. I like that. That way they'll be remembered." She says with a smile.
Sasuke nods and rolls his eyes. Looks like Naruto was finally regaining his consciousness. He looks around in confusion.
"You missed most of it loser. Two boys. Both healthy. We named them and everything while your dumbass was passed out." Sasuke taunts him.
"Hinata, are you okay? That looked horrible!" Naruto says.
"I'm fine Naruto. I feel weak but it was worth it. Come look at them." She says with a smile.
"Awe they are so cute. Good thing they took after you and not this ugly bastard." Naruto says.
WHACK. Naruto yelps. The blonde was now nursing a nasty bump on his head. Sasuke was twitching.
"Do you mind if Asa and Akira come in?" Gaara asks, peeking his head through the door.
"Hinata?" Sasuke asks.
"Let them in." She says with a smile.
Asa and Akira come bounding in. The two were ever inseparable. Both had giant lollipops in their hands. Gaara gives Sasuke a look like, Well I had to do something to keep them calm? Sasuke shakes his head in amusement.
"They are so cute!" Asa chirps merrily and rushes over.
Akira follows his friend. He wanted to get a better look too. Curiosity was a powerful force, especially in childhood.
"You are amazing." Sasuke tells Hinata.
"You have a lot of pampering to do to make up for what I just went through she responds.
"Anything you want." He replies.
"We'll start with a nice bubble bath and a back massage." She begins.
"I like where this is going." He says.
"…Damn bastard, you really take that whole clan restoration thing seriously. She just had twins and already you two are planning to jump each other!" Naruto says.
"She'll need time to heal. I'd say 4-6 weeks before you could resume full intimacy." The medic says.
"Well there are ways to pamper her without going for a homerun and…" he whispers something to Hinata that makes her go bright red.
"What'd that bastard say to you?" Naruto asks.
"It's nothing." She stammers.
Sasuke was a creative person when he wanted to be. There was more than one way to make love. He smirks at how scandalized his wife was at the suggestion. How she could still blush like a virgin, he had no idea. But it was…cute.
"I WANT TO SEE THE HATCHLINGS!" Aoda cries out from the window.
"What the?" Hinata and Naruto asks.
"Sorry. It's Aoda. I guess he wants to see the kids." Sasuke says and rubs the back of his head.
"Is that safe?" The medic asks, not sure how he felt about two newborn babies next to a snake the size of the hospital.
"Yes, it's safe. Aoda loves kids." Sasuke says.
"Well…if you think it's safe." Hinata says uncertainly and lets Sasuke carry them over to be inspected by the giant summon.
"They are adorable hatchlings and resemble their parents so strongly." He muses.
Itachi and Neji tilt their heads. That wasn't the mother, the father… or the strange man and woman who pricked with needles. What was he? They reach out their chubby hands curiously.
"And so brave. Yes, they are fine hatchlings. Pleased you had them in March. Spring is just starting. There will be lots of food and warm weather for their first few months." Aoda states.
"…Thank you Aoda." Sasuke says.
He didn't have the heart to inform the snake that the month didn't really matter. They were humans, not animals. It's not like they had to go out and hunt to feed their children. Neither child would be sleeping outside in the cold either. But it was the thought that counted. Aoda meant well. Sasuke knew that. And as an added bonus, he'd make a fine babysitter.