True to my word I began to live two lives at once. My doppelgangers helped me to take care of both the boys though both of them refused to have contact with one another. When I told Naruto about Sasuke, he'd been upset and angry at first though he understood Sasuke's position. I quickly realised that Naruto was worried I'd grow to like Sasuke more than him and pay him more attention, so I strived to devote all my time to both boys in equal share as I knew Sasuke felt the same way but in reverse. He signed the papers and returned them to me with a slightly awkward expression which I had found adorable.
Thankfully my doppelgangers were so good that it was very difficult to tell which was which, though at first it drove a wedge between Naruto and I. "You're spending all your time with him and you don't even think about me anymore!" He yelled at me in a rare fit of rage that he flung at me. "Sasuke is so great, Sasuke is so smart, well if you're going to be like all the rest then just adopt him already and replace me!"
"Naruto!" I gasped, shocked that he would ever think that I would do such a thing. "Please calm down, there's no need to be so upset…"
"You're either with him or out on missions for weeks at a time, you don't care about me anymore! I hate you I hate you!" Anger sparked in my chest and with a powerful slam my palm hit the table with a crash, shocking Naruto into silence as he stared at my furious expression, one he saw only on extremely rare occasions.
"Enough Naruto Uzumaki." I ordered him in a dark voice and he gulped, shaking slightly as I towered over him. "There is no on, no one, who could ever replace you in my heart, Naruto. Don't you ever think so little of me that I would give you up so easily, you are the most important person in my life." I told him firmly as I dropped to my knees and gripped his arms tightly, shaking him a little. "You are the one I love most in this entire world, Naruto. Please don't be so angry with me. I'm trying, I'm trying my best but Sasuke needs me too and I want to help him, I care about him. Try to understand Naruto, I'm not doing this to hurt you, I'm trying to do my duty to you, to Sasuke and to this village. I have to go on missions because I am a ninja and so are you. You'll understand one day, I promise, but for now just try to be patient with me. Please." Breaking down slightly my shoulders trembled as I gripped onto him, feeling completely drained and worn out.
Guilt crushed Naruto's face and he slowly picked up his hands and placed them around me, hugging my head as he snivelled. "I'm sorry aunty, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I love you, I really do love you so much." He started before wailing so I pulled him into my lap and dried his eyes, holding him against me as my hair draped around us both.
"I know Naruto. I love you too." After that, Naruto saw it more of a competition between him and Sasuke, vying for my attention and approval. On the rare days I persuaded both boys to actually be with me at the same time, it was always a contest. Toady was such a day where I carried all of our washing in a large basket after taking it to the cleaners as our washing machine had broken, Sasuke and Naruto walked by my side. My nephew glanced around quickly before suddenly bolting forwards.
"Hey Aunt Yume, look at this! I can climb a little higher in the trees now!" Naruto called before sprinting forwards and jumping for the lowest branch of a tree, scrambling up and I chuckled as I watched him attentively, making sure to keep an eye out in case he fell. He was slow and clumsy but he was doing well, going higher and higher. Beside me Sasuke looked up to me face, seeing that my attention was solely on Naruto so he zipped up the tree with the grace and agility of a cat, surpassing Naruto before then lounging on a branch. "No fair Sasuke you show off! I was in the tree first ya know so find your own!"
"You're too slow, idiot." He answered back with a dry tone and Naruto only took that as a challenge so he dragged himself up and continued to climb. This was not going to end well. Sighing in exasperation I watched as the two boys raced one another, going to the very top of the tree until finally they both stood on a branch that was too weak to take their weight and it snapped.
"AGH!" Both of them cried out, dropping like stones and immediately I flung the basket up into the air, performing a transference jutsu and used the washing and the basket to switch places with the boys. With a poof they both appeared above me, blinking in surprise before they both fell into my arms and I caught them safely, supporting them easily with one in either arm.
"You were both amazing." I told them in order to calm their argument which was brewing. "Sasuke, you were so quick and agile. Naruto? You were very brave and determined. Always strive forwards like that and never give up, it'll help you both become a great ninja one day." I said before looking up at the washing which was decorating the tree. Sighing again I put the boys down then was up there in a flash, gathering everything together and was back down in under twenty seconds.
"Wow! Is that your light speed jutsu?" Naruto asked and I chuckled.
"Something like that." We continued onwards, however the next challenge came in the form of a rock climbing competition, one that Sasuke won and Naruto nearly ended up cracking open his skull. Next was grasshopper catching, leaf collecting, log breaking and a finally a river hopping contest. I was run ragged keeping Naruto from getting himself hurt and I was soon out of breath chasing after him, Sasuke sauntering along at my side with observant glances in my direction every now and then.
"Hey Sasuke! Bet you can't jump the river!" Naruto yelled before taking the leap and my heart leaped to my throat.
"Naruto!" This boy is going to give me a heart attack one day. Fortunately Naruto landed safely on the other side and Sasuke grit his teeth, growling in irritation before rising to the challenge, not wanting to be outdone by Naruto in something so he jumped too, landing even further than Naruto had.
"Aw come on! You had to go and show off a little more didn't you? Well this time you're not going to beat me, I'm gonna win believe it!" Naruto shouted boldly before the two boys started to run forwards, gunning for the other side of the bank where I stood with the washing. We were never going to get home at this rate. Yelling in determination Naruto leaped at the same time as Sasuke, however both of their feet slipped on the damper side of the bank and they gasped before plunging into the water.
"Boys!" Shrieking I quickly dropped the washing and dove in after them, grasping Sasuke by the arm and catching Naruto by the back of his jacket before pulling them both towards me, draping them both over my shoulders before teleporting back to the bank where we were all soaking wet. Just perfect. I ordered them both home with no more messing around, wanting to get them both dry and warm as quickly as possible however they both fell ill before they'd even got through the door. Both of them had a cold so I lay them side by side on individual futons, placing cold cloths over their heads after giving them some medicine. "You two are so cute together, acting like brothers and rivals." I said to them as I stroked back Sasuke's hair and rubbed Naruto's head with the cloth to cool him down. "But you don't need to fight for my attention, I love you both with everything I have."
Leaning down I kissed them both goodnight before laying down at their feet, listening through the night to their breathing. I stayed with them for three days until they were both better, Naruto feeling triumphant as he had recovered before Sasuke had who took another day to return to normal. I knuckled them both on the head, berating them for being so idiotic and falling into the river whilst acting like children before I hugged them both, too happy that they were better to be angry for long.
Naruto grinned as I hugged them whilst Sasuke just looked mildly inconvenienced but he didn't push me away this time as I hugged them. Now that they were better I walked them both to school then gave Naruto his lunch. "Have a great day, behave yourself!" I called after him as he ran inside, Sasuke following but I placed my hand on his shoulder and gave him his lunch too. "Don't forget your food Sasuke. I made some of your favourites so make sure you eat everything, I don't want you to get sick again." I told him as I instinctively pushed back his hair, smiling down to him. "Have a great day at school, okay? Try not to be so hard on Naruto and have a little fun. Pull a prank or something on Iruka-sensei then tell me all about it, I promise I won't be mad."
"What kind of guardian tells a kid to cause trouble?" Sasuke questioned dryly however I just chuckled.
"One who used to cause plenty of trouble herself. I'll be waiting here to walk you home later, please don't leave without me this time." I requested however he just turned away from me, still not having taken the bento box.
"What's the point? You'll go home with Naruto afterwards anyway." He grumbled but I didn't take it to heart, taking his hand and placing his lung in his grasp so that he had to take it.
"Not today. Haven't you realised it yet Sasuke? I always walk you home on a Wednesday because Naruto stays behind at school to train longer. Besides, I have to make you dinner and help you with your homework, so I'll be staying for a while. If it's alright with you, of course." Sasuke stared at me for a moment before looking away, a slightly sheepish expression touching his face in a mild blush.
"I guess. See you." He left me at the gate, not looking back even when I shouted for him to have fun with a smile and a wave. Satisfied that both my boys were safely in school I went off to do my chores. I knew a mission would be coming up soon so I did my best to spend as much time with Naruto and Sasuke as I could. Of course, when I came back from a mission, Naruto was always overjoyed to see me and gradually, Sasuke seemed to express gladness whenever I came back. It took a long time but he slowly accepted me into his life, growing accustomed to my fussing and me fixing his meals. He even asked me for help in training, wanting to learn more so I helped him the same way I did Naruto though the one thing they absolutely refused to do was train together.
It was difficult, juggling so many responsibilities but not impossible. I found a way to manage until it became second nature to me. I loved them both like they were my own little brothers. No, more than that. I loved them like they were my own sons.