Chapter 54: Broken

Naruto was finally able to walk around the hospital with winces from how sore he was from getting cut open for the sake of his son's life. His son was sleeping with Kushina and Minato watching him which gave Naruto some time to think.

He might lose Itachi again because of the man that was his uncle. Now all he and the others can do is pray that the Uchiha would pull through. Stopping at the room, he walked in and stared at the paler then normal face of his love. He was bare chested with bandages around his chest, covering the stab wound that nicked his right lung.

Biting his lip, he walked up and took hold of the hand and squeezed it. Putting his tanned forehead on it, he felt the tears start to well up into his eyes again.

"Ita . . . please pull through. Sadao is gonna need you in his life and we haven't been married for a year yet. It won't be fair." Naruto pleaded to the unconscious man as he wiped at the tears with more falling.

Pressing his lips against the man's forehead since his mouth was covered with an oxygen tube.

"I thought you would be in here." Someone said, making the blond perk up to see someone that looked almost like Madara but was missing the lines that looked like bags under his eyes.

"You're Izuna . . . right?" Naruto asked with his eyes narrowing in question.

"Yes I am. The board sent me to check on my nephew but I see that his status hasn't changed." Izuna clarified as he walked into the room and stood by the bedside of his kin. Looking down at the crying blond, he patted his shoulder. "Uchiha have tough determination. He'll pull through."

"But-but he's hurt badly. Madara got his lung." Naruto rambled as he cried.

Pursing his lips, Izuna took a breath through his nose and let it out of his mouth. "I know but he's strong. He'll get through it because he wants to be there with you and your son."

"How would you know? You-"

Izuna interrupted with a hand going up. "Itachi wouldn't tell you but every meeting that he attended he would ramble on and on about you and Sadao. At least that's what you named your son."

Naruto nodded.

"When he told us you two were going to marry, he just went crazy it seemed like about how much he couldn't wait to be there at the altar with you. He was like that when he told us about you expecting. Sure he had to explain why you were carrying a child but we understand it."

Naruto looked at the Uchiha that was beside him. Squeezing his husband's hand, he sniffled.

"He loves you deeply Naruto. He'll give up his life for you and Sadao like my brother would for Mikoto. Yeah Madara and I are related to Fugaku, you can kinda tell with the way we think." The older Uchiha explained and started toward the door. "Oh, Naruto . . . you've helped him out in a big way."

Naruto went out of the room and grabbed the man's sleeve, stopping him. He asked, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You probably know that he was bullied in school because of his sexual orientation and you accepted him. A lot of people didn't want him in the business or in life because of who he was. You saw pass the flaws he had – like everyone else – and embraced him. Cherish him."

Naruto nodded and went his separate way from the Uchiha and walked toward his room again. He saw Sakura in the halls since she was an ER nurse. He wanted to smile at his classmate but didn't. She still hated him for going out with Sasuke years ago.

"Naruto." Her clear voice stopped him and made the blond look back at the pink haired young woman. She didn't really like him because of what happened in the past but she was told and taught that the past didn't rule you. The future and your actions do.

"What is it Sakura-chan?" He asked, staring into the crystal clear verde eyes that he thought were beautiful.

"I'm sorry to hear about what happened with Itachi. I've been his attending nurse since he came into the ICU so he's in good hands. Oh . . . one more thing I've been wanting to say since we graduated. I'm sorry for acting like a bitch when we were friends. When I found out about you and Sasuke." She apologized with a bow, holding the clipboard she had close to her body.

"Sakura-chan . . . it happens. Love makes us do stupid things in our lives so that wasn't any different." Naruto accepted with a smile.

"Another thing before I go back to give these to the receptionist. I really thought you guys were a good couple back then but was too jealous to say anything. I really was stupid for trying to put love first instead of our friendship." She said, rushing over and hugging the sore teen.

"Um-um Sakura-chan. You're hurting me." Naruto gasped.

The green-eyed teen apologized with a bow after letting him go and went off to turn the papers in.

Naruto smiled and went into his room where he saw Hidan and a few others gathered in, looking at the newborn that he carried. They heard about what happened to Itachi because it was all over the news. That night he found out that Madara committed suicide instead of going back to jail. Sitting down on the bed and tossing his legs onto it, he laid his head back.

"So how is he?" Deidara asked as he wiggled a finger at the giggling infant but stared at the blond that was his student.

"Still the same. Still has a machine helping him breathe and fluids. I hate seeing him like that." Naruto felt pressure come into his eyes that told him of tears but blinked them away. "Found out that Sakura is his attending nurse for now."

"Haruno, Sakura?" Kisame questioned with eyebrows pushed together.

The spiked haired blond nodded, taking hold of his son that Zetsu gave him. His mother has been giving him parenting tips along with his father. Sasuke and Maiko have been too, which is a big help in his part since he didn't take any parenting classes.

"I'm surprised that she took that occupation myself but she always said when we did hang out that she enjoyed helping people." Naruto blurted out as he felt his finger be sucked on by his son. Looking down at his two color-eyed son, he smiled down at him.

"How's Sasuke and them doing?" Gaara asked as he got up from where he sat. Hinata was busy working with her cousin at the family bakery. At least she enjoyed it.

"Fine. Teme and Maiko have been giving me tips since I'm a new parent and they had experience compared to me and Ita." Naruto replied, closing his eyes. Feeling his son leave his arms, he opened his eyes to see the auburn haired teen holding him.

"Get some sleep Uzumaki."

"I'm not an Uzumaki any more." Naruto protested.

"You're still gonna be an Uzumaki to me. Also I'm use to calling you that." Gaara insisted as he watched the blond he went through school with close his eyes and sigh. Smirking, he sat back down and held the dirty blond infant close to him. Looking down, he stared at the infant that was staring at him. "Uchiha, you better pull through."

When Naruto woke up again, Sadao was crying because of something. Reaching over, he took hold of his son and patted his diaper. He needed a change which Naruto took care of, tossing the soiled one into the trash. Getting up and bouncing his Uchiha son lightly, he went around the hospital and stared into the room where his husband was.

Sakura was checking his vitals and making notes on her clipboard. She looked up with a surprised face and smiled at him. Waving, she turned her attention back to her work and continued what she was doing.

Naruto smiled at her and continued to bounce their son to keep him from crying. "Sadao, you want to know something little guy. We need to get out of here but I don't want to leave your father here."

The door closed behind Sakura as she sighed. Seeing the blond bounce the infant in his arms, she strolled over to him and smiled at the child. "Just so you know there's a little improvement on his condition. He's trying to breathe on his own even with the machine. It's a good sign."

Naruto beamed at the uplifting news and went on bouncing his son. "Thanks Sakura-chan."

She nodded and went back to checking the other patients she was assigned to. Putting the papers that were Itachi's back in the file, she grabbed a few others and went on her way.

Naruto wanted to jump for joy but couldn't with the little bundle in his arms. Staring into the sapphire and ebony eyes, he whispered, "Your dad's getting better. He'll see you some more when he wakes up."

Now all he could do was wait for the Uchiha he cherished deeply to wake up but he wasn't sure when that was going to be.

I thought Gaara needed to be put back in along with Hinata even though she wasn't really there. Also Sakura. Please review. OH! I forgot to mention, two more chapters until this fanfic is finished!