Sasuke stayed on the outside, knowing he had every right to run in there and interrogate the girl. For personal reasons he didn't do such a thing. Instead, he walked away because he understood how hard it must be for his niece to even admit it. He'd been in the same boat some seasons ago. The circumstances were pretty much equal too in its own way. He wasn't sure how well she knew the fox but he hoped it was enough to plead the sickly canines case. He needed another insight on the matter before he passed to much judgment. He'd also rather confront the girl tomorrow than tonight.
Today had been pretty stressful in itself . Adding a white fox to the turmoil was just a plus. He moped the rest of the way to his little home, smiling when he got inside and saw his vixen playing some odd chasing game with the children.
"Sasuke, you're back!" Naruto skidded to a halt, causing the kids to crash into his back one by one, a brief dust cloud generating. "Did you find her?!"
"Father!" Jirou wriggled his way out of the crying wreck and over to the Alpha where he jumped up and down till he got his late evening hug.
"Hey son, and yeah, I found her."
"Well, what happened?" The fox asked, worried from the dismal way the other had spoken.
"I'll tell you about it later. What are you guys playing?" Sasuke mumbled tiredly, nuzzling his most energetic son with his snout. It wasn't something the kids should hear or have to worry about.
"Oh, dad said we could stay up late if we caught him." The first born climbed out above the dog pile just to be knocked back down by said dad's tail.
"I told them no such thing!"
"Uhuh, well we should get the girls back to their parents for dinner." He chuckled over the whimpering and off the wall complaining from his nieces that gathered around.
"We just got here though?"
"I don't want to eat dear again."
"I likes the mouses!" Netsy shouted above her sisters, tongue out and tail blazing in excitement. She disregarded their quizzical stares for her outburst and kept on with her merriment.
Naruto shook his head, getting his own young together to groom them for their dinner plans. "We all have to eat whatever they catch. If it's the same as the other night then oh well. Be grateful it's something."
"He's right, now come on before my brother wakes up."
"Can I go?" Saboru peeked around the fox, nervous for the answer. He just needed to talk with his father a minute or so. Since the parent was also the Alpha then he should be able to help him with his problems more, hopefully.
"Sure, if it's okay with Naruto?" Sasuke's ebony orbs switched towards his mate whom nodded.
"He can go. He's the only one of our boys that doesn't look like a porcupine."
"I don't look like a porcupine..." The first born pouted as he was ushered over by his pa's paw to receive his lickings that would do nothing to flatten his prickly pelt in between his ears.
"I agree. Naruto's just clearly jealous because his fur is fem-"
"Erhm, my fur is what?" The fox snapped his head at the raven, a grin twitching and showing off fangs.
"If you'd stop clearing your throat, then maybe I could tell you." He smirked at the other, daring him to call out his sarcastic remark.
"...Take Saboru and go."
The children weren't sure what was going on from the looks the adults were sharing. They didn't have to think long on it before the pack leader led the group of seven out, counting his smallest child at his side. His mate stayed back at the den, seething to himself and straightening up their kids. It didn't take them long to drop off his nieces since they didn't live to far. Their parents were awake and about preparing for their return.
Sasuke didn't make small talk with them because he had a higher calling to tend to first. He could tell something was wrong with his son just because of how quiet he was. None of his children were ever that quiet or so still.
"Whats bothering you, Saboru?"
"Hm?" He'd been fighting with himself as they trekked forth and now back. He was trying to find the courage to get this lump out of his throat. It was as if he couldn't utter a word till his father addressed him.
"What's wrong? Are you not happy?" The pack leader went ahead and got on with it since their private time was going to be short.
"No, no! I'm happy! It's just that...Am I..wrong?" Saboru looked down, ears alert for an oncoming response or peculiar sounds from the wolf beside him.
"Wrong for what?"
"For not wanting to go back to my other life?"
Sasuke stopped their stride, hearing a different question within that one. "You don't like it here?"
"I do! I just...never mind!" He shook his head, thinking what a stupid idea it was to even bring it up. Of course he liked it here but it wasn't necessarily about that.
The older wolf surveyed over his youngest, starting to get an idea of where this was going. "Okay, then did you like it there too?"
"Will I be judged for my honesty?"
"Not at all."
"Okay then...Well I liked certain aspects, not all of it." He glanced up, receiving a nod and went on, "The other kids were always nice and annoying sometimes! The adults were okay too. I even lo-liked Senbei! Liked, like for a while till all this... Now I hate him so much, but then again, he did teach me everything that I know, including things that I shouldn't know." Saboru fumbled, catching himself running his mouth, revealing way more than he even understood. He didn't know how to word his distress so he had just spouted whatever was coming to mind.
Sasuke furrowed, picking out pieces he understood and attempting to put them together to make a complete puzzle with what he got. "Are you trying to tell me that you're worried you're not like us?"
He looked up to his father and shrugged, replying, "More or less...I keep waiting to wake up. I've only been here for about a day and half now and it seems so surreal. I-I'm afraid to go to sleep just in case this isn't..." He trailed off, eyes casted away.
"Likewise."
"What? Why?" Saboru peered at the wolf, looking for signs of mockery in his voice or expression. He never believed Alpha's could be scared of anything because they were leaders. They were the ones that had to hold it together when everyone else fell apart.
He smiled with warmth to his child, staring back at curious baby blue that resembled his mates look precisely. "Well for instance, you weren't here two seasons ago. I was told you were dead and I had to believe that for so long until the first night you spent with us. When I woke up early and saw you were still there, I came to except that I wasn't insane after all."
"But you're still afraid?"
"Everyday of my life, because I never and will never know what'll truly happen the next day. I worry for you, your brothers and even Naruto sometimes." The Alpha couldn't help but chuckle at the aghast face his son made at the mention of the fox in such a careless manner. "We have a love-hate relationship. I'll explain when you're older!"
Saboru sighed and simpered, accepting the answer. "Fine…I guess. Can I stay up tonight? Just for a little while."
"Sure, I'll even stay up with you. We need to get going though before your dad freaks out and bites my head off." Sasuke nudged the kid along, starting back up their walk home.
They'd been out talking only for a little while now but it was still late. The sun was down and the moon was trying to make an appearance in the clouded sky. The few remaining wolves that were outside, were now heading in when the heveans above darkened. It was also dinner time which was basically leftover time.
"Where have you two been?" Naruto skeptically eyed the duo returning. His two boys beside him sat on their haunches, prepped and stone still because their papa refused to let them ruin his work. He'd tamed their bristled pelt to a slicked back fancier type.
"What did you to our sons?!" The alpha blinked in horror at his dolled up boys, glad he didn't leave Saboru to suffer the same fate if it was possible since the boy's fur was already glossy and fine. Still, his other two looked very prissy and uncomfortable.
"What do you mean? They're gentle-wolves!" The fox smiled, tail swishing at the his 'work'.
"Gentle-what?! They look fake! And there is nothing all that gentle about wolves!"
The poor souls on their dad's right, nodded and pleaded with their puppy dog eyes for freedom.
"Fix them!"
"Oh, fine! Come here, kids." He quickly ruffled their young's hair, laughing inside at his mates furry. He'd only done it to get a rouse out of the canine for the sly comment the wolf had made earlier. "You know this was a joke right?"
Sasuke grumbled something coyly before heading over to help. His third born followed behind him, snickering at his siblings peculiar appearance. Sorting them back to their spiky style was easy. All they had to do was mess with their fur and roll them around a bit which was more fun that it should have been.
"Again!" Ichiro giggled on his back with his brother, ready for their fourth go along the floor. Their parents were passing them back and forth, getting a cackle out of it themselves at how easy it was to roll them.
"No, that's enough. We'll come back later and play." Sasuke shook his head, helping the boy's back up on their paws. He was sure the Tsuyoi Alpha was wondering where they were by now.
"He's right. We need to go see your boyfriend, remember?" The fox teased their oldest whom shied away behind the pack leader.
"Leave him alone, vixen. Let's go."
"Sure, sure wolfy." He grinned, planning to do the exact opposite.
The family soon left their den with the fox tailing at the back, tormenting his first born. It got so bad that the child had to beg his father to interfere.
"Father, make him stop, please!" They were nearing his friends home and he'd all but die if his dad carried on in there.
"Naruto," Sasuke groaned out, getting a smidge bit annoyed.
"Okay, I'll stop!"
"Good." He heard the fox cough something obscured sarcastically so he shot a look back at him. "What'd you say?"
"Nothing, you're hearing things. I didn't say nothin' about you being a kill joy. What's that? I don't know." Naruto mumbled rapidly, crystals darting around innocently.
"Why do I even bother." The Alpha rolled his eyes, smiling anyway. He liked his mates little comments sometimes. Their kids found it amusing as well judging by their chuckling.
Tobi soon came outside upon hearing the voices. "Tobi welcomes Sasuke and family! Come in, come in! Hitomi has set up everything." He escorted his new friends inside where his son was sitting near entrance all ecstatic.
"Hi!" He greeted loudly, smiling and waving a paw to everyone passing by.
"This is awfully nice of you, Tobi." Sasuke spoke up over the fox's snide comment about the wolf being a show off. The dining center of the place was set up a little overboard. There was an oval spot of meat stacked in the middle for anyone to grab a slice and chow down.
"Tobi thanks you." He smiled, settling down with his son and the guests.
Everyone dug in like the animals they were, chatting every now and then. Muzzles were soaked and cleaned by their parents or themselves. Things carried on like a normal dinner party till the real conversation took place with side ones going on.
"Tobi wanted to ask you about our living situation." He conversed with the raven, glancing off every now and then to their two boys in deep conversation.
"What about it?" Sasuke, caught by surprise, choked for a split second. He hoped he hadn't given any wrong signals lately to lead to this. His mate shifted at the random topic as well.
"Tobi doesn't want you to think that this will become a permanent thing. We already have a place in mind. But Tobi needs time to secure it."
"That's completely understandable, right Naruto?" He turned to the other for backup.
Naruto nodded in the moment, saying, "Totally, please take as long as you like!" He grinned when the wolf flashed an incredulous look his way. His mate shouldn't have brought him in it at the last the second.
"Thank you!" Hitomi beamed, sitting awfully close to the fox's precious son, turning to nuzzle against said boy whom blushed.
Now it was the raven's turn to look smug. He relished in his vixen's rising temper, laughing inside at the twitchy eye movement and all other irritated actions that followed. He didn't understand why the canine was having a problem with their kids' little friend now.
"Tobi shares son's gratitude, but we can't stay. It'll only take tomorrows noon to check it over and mark everything. Clan should be out of your fur by the evening," The wolf boasted, not seeing his child's sudden saddened mood.
"Do you mind if I ask where you're all going?" Sasuke asked, curious to the new boundaries that would have to be set.
"It's far down south east. Tobi and clan are actually planning to move to a different mountain after we get settled there."
Ichiro gagged on his piece of meat, swallowing too fast at the dreadful news. He got a pat on the back from his middle brother that cleared the chunk out. He then looked towards his friend whom displayed the same emotion he was feeling. It was completely unfair that the adults just made decisions without their kids in consideration. His dad was definitely thrilled about it all.
"That's inspiring! How far?"
"Ha-ha! What my mate meant to say was, why?" The raven bit down, refraining from snarling at his outspoken partner.
Naruto scoffed at the undermining from his wolf before he saw his sons dismal pose. He felt at fault for this somehow so he got up and circled around to comfort the child.
"Tobi thinks it best because of the foreign threat. It'll be safer for the young." He followed the fox's movements to the little ones.
"You're running away?" The Uchiha never thought he'd ever hear those words come out of his mouth about the Tsuyoi clan.
"Tobi doesn't see it that wa-"
"Well you are!"
All eyes switched to the scarlet child that had clearly inherited the fox's forthright mouth as well, Saboru.