Note: I said that this would be part two of a two-part chapter, but it went well over 20k words before I even finished and I decided to cut this part at 7k. I think you all know what is coming and it's not easy nor short to write. So, I'm saving the hardcore angst for the next chapter. I want to give you proper angst and make it hurt in that way that leaves you hollow but strangely satisfied.

I saw in the comments that most people mainly blame Sasuke for their marriage falling apart (as we've already established that it is). Compared to what is coming, he is not even that bad yet.

It is a very difficult and fucked up situation that they are in, and the storyline I'm using stems directly from canon – Sasuke's character, his tendency toward obsession, his need to latch onto something, combined with his desire to restore his clan. And then Naruto in canon – obsessed with Sasuke, willing to forgive over and over and over, never giving up on him.

Readers are free to interpret this and any other work the way they see it and feel it. However, this is my interpretation as the author of this work: they are both fucked up. Both are super desperate and both are obsessed with each other and latching on each other. However, Sasuke has always been darker, so his way of showing it is darker. I don't think that mental illness and trauma can be reversed – or suddenly become so well-managed – as we see with Sasuke in canon after his supposed catharsis during his battle with Naruto. That's just not how it works. Also, remember that in canon Sasuke at least got to travel and atone for some of the shit he did, and that probably brought him some inner peace and allowed him to work on his mental health somewhat.

However, in the storyline of this fanfiction, Sasuke came out of imprisonment and almost immediately got involved with Naruto. He never got to soul-search and heal himself in this storyline. So his instability – both of their instabilities – were bound to come out. But they were too young and too wrapped up in each other after the war to allow each other some space (unlike in canon).

Another note: Hyuuga Naoto is an OC and is my play on the Hyuuga clan and their relations and devotion to Naruto. He was also mentioned in the previous chapter. I'll expand more on that in later chapters.

Please enjoy and let me know what you thought. :)

Chapter 5: None of You

Posted April 3rd, 2021

The Hokage is leaning over a map going over strategies with her head of ANBU Hyuuga Naoto and Shikamaru as her main strategist. Sasuke, the shadow Hokage, has just brought in some vital information that needs to be dealt with immediately. If the intel Sasuke brought in is correct… then someone has been gathering forces to launch an attack on Konoha for a while now. The issue requires swift and powerful action to ensure that any malice to the village is put out before anything major transpires.

Sasuke is leaning against the windowsill with his arms crossed – stoic, aloof, and quiet, but his presence floods the room as he follows the men around his wife carefully. Shikamaru feels like rolling his eyes but has more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

"You don't think we should infiltrate and attack them instead of waiting for them to attack us?" Naruto asks for clarification, looking up at Shikamaru.

"Honestly, no. If they've been keeping as good of an eye on us as this intel suggests and the attack is as massive as this here says, they'll know we're onto them and they may withdraw. And if they withdraw and later regroup, we may not have the luck of finding out beforehand as we do now. We barely know anything as it is. I think our best bet right now would be to send in a handful of experienced shinobi for more intel collection to know better what we're dealing with and when to expect it. We need to know how they're moving. Where they're moving and with what resources. Then when they get closer – that's when we'll have the best chances of deflecting the attack."

Naruto is silent for a while.

"Naoto-san," she addresses the man on her right at which the Hyuuga straightens more. "What do you think?"

"All things considered, with the information we have right now, I agree with Nara-san that it would not be wise to attack blindly right now."

"Not even with our strongest shinobi? With Sasuke and me too?"

"All the more reason to keep our strongest out of it for the moment."

Naruto straightens and puts her arms behind her back. She walks to join Sasuke by the window.

"Very well then. Gather the ANBU captains present in the village in fifteen minutes – we'll brief them on what we know so they can be on the lookout."

Shikamaru nods and exits, followed by Naoto who bows.

"What do you think about this, Sasuke?"

Her husband is quiet for a while, then says, "I don't know. I see how this is the best strategy, but something doesn't feel right. I think I should go back and investigate more."

Naruto sighs and rakes fingers through her hair. She eyes it between her fingers – it's gotten so long again. How come time passed so slowly and so fast at the same time?

"You just came back though." She slants a sad gaze at him. "But you are our best at collecting intel. I agree with you. Let's spend tonight together… Then you can leave in the morning. Just… be careful, okay?"

"I always am." He turns to her fully and puts both hands on her shoulders. "I wouldn't risk your safety. That's why I'm protecting the village from the outside. It's all for you Naruto—you know that."

Naruto allows herself to be pulled into an embrace. Somehow his words make her core tighten with guilt instead of relaxing with a sense of security.

"It will all be okay," he kisses the top of her head and holds her tightly. "We'll be okay."

Naruto desperately wants to believe. To believe in the pure love and devotion she knows is between them – can feel pulsing through their bond.

Slowly, her arms wrap around him too.

Shikamaru is quiet and reserved - that quietness allows him to observe everything in full detail. He knows his friend – cheerful, motivated, and alive – now more quiet, paler, and withdrawn. Shikamaru has quietly observed her over the years – her climb to success and respect from others - Konoha's bright hero, now reduced to a steady decline because of her relations with the Uchiha.

Shikamaru has felt the air between Sasuke and Naruto shift for a while now - him becoming more and more intense and her withdrawing into a shell.

Other people's business does not concern the Nara. However, it's been a long while since he's been able to be impartial to the Hokage's affairs with the Uchiha. Shikamaru feels for both of them and their brokenness but could not find it in himself to excuse the Uchiha anymore. He takes a lot from Naruto and that in turn could take a lot from the village.

And there he is now again, eyeing those around Naruto angrily as she interacted with several shinobi while giving them instructions. Shikamaru just felt disgusted at the Uchiha's grip over the Hokage, his possessiveness and constant suspicion made almost every male the target of his violent black glare. And then he would pull Naruto into some standoffish display of possession, to establish that she is his. And Shikamaru is even more disgusted when Naruto allows it - blotches of violent and colorful hickeys and bite marks mar her skin and she doesn't fucking care.

"Ease up that glare a little bit, Sasuke. You'll almost burn a hole through the poor guy," Shikamaru whispers to Sasuke seemingly nonchalantly but is burning inside. "You're so troublesome. She is just doing her job, and so are they. All of the shinobi respect her and wouldn't try anything."

"You don't know that," comes the dry reply, but his gaze does ease up a little bit.

"You don't either. Seriously Sasuke – what do you think they'll do? She's pregnant with your child, for god's sake, and bears your crest. She hasn't looked at anyone else since we were in the Academy. What are you worried about? Besides, not every guy out there wants her like you think they do."

Sasuke's shoulders tense up.

"You may not want her. I know that. But those close to you do."

Shikamaru stops at that – those close to him? Then Sasuke – fidgets? Shikamaru has never seen the Uchiha display any such normal human sign of nervousness. The Uchiha slants an almost worried gaze at Shika, as if he's said too much.

Before Shikamaru can say anything more, Sasuke has already walked away.

Shikamaru is about to become a father for the second time. He feels reluctant to tell Naruto with all things considered. Naruto sees the Nara couple at the market - Shikamaru holding his toddler son and Temari holding a basket next to her very pregnant belly. They eye Naruto when they see her and Naruto's chest clenches at the realization that Shikamaru would deliberately keep away something so important from her, undoubtedly wanting to protect her. She smiles and hugs them both - she is genuinely happy for them and their little family. Having kids is what they both want, and Naruto is there to support them, as their leader and as their friend.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," Shikamaru rubs the back of his neck. "I didn't want to…" he trails off and looks to the side.

Naruto smiles, "I'm fine, Shika. I am very happy for you. Although I wish you had told me earlier. I would not have kept you so late."

Temari nudges his elbow.

"Right. Now that you know, we wanted to ask you if you would like to be the baby's godmother."

Naruto blinks at them and warmth spreads in her chest. She blinks once, twice, and her eyes are starting to sting. She goes to hug them all at the same time, Shikadai too.

"Of course I would! That is such an honor! Thank you so much for trusting me."

Sasuke is in the garden when Naruto comes home. The sun has set and the sky is a pleasant creamy color, so gentle on the eyes. Naruto sets her things inside and goes out to the garden. She kisses Sasuke and lays down on the grass next to him, watching him work with those strong hands, watching him for just five minutes, she says-

The next time she opens her eyes, she is on the couch covered with a blanket. A delicate light shines from the kitchen and it was the smell of food and the soft noises coming from the kitchen that woke her up. She goes in there and sees Sasuke cooking dinner, focused on cutting. She embraces Sasuke from behind, slides a hand down his tight abdominals and rests her cheek against his warm back. There is nothing more comforting to her than having Sasuke there with her – in the village, hers.

"You fell asleep in the garden. Usuratonkachi."

"Aah. I was exhausted."

Things are not all bad. They love each other. It'll be okay.

Sasuke turns to face her.

"I know. You're overworking yourself." He levels a gaze at her, "Remember that you're pregnant. Be gentler to yourself."

Naruto looks away and pulls away from him.

The food smells good but is bitter in her mouth.

"We can either sign a deal with the Raikage or the Mizukage. We have to be careful how we word it though, I don't want our relations with either one suffering," she reaches to comb a hand through her hair and Shikamaru watches her – did she even brush it this morning? The Nara catches a glimpse of an angry hickey blatantly resting right under her jaw, so fucking obvious and so fucking inappropriate to mark the village's leader in such a way and gripping the edge of the desk is not enough for Shikamaru anymore:

"Or we can-"

"How much longer, Naruto?" Shika bites out and Naruto looks over to him, startled at the kind of tone she has never heard from him before. She blinks when she sees the furrow in his brow and his eyes are burning.

"W-..What?"

"How. Much. Longer." He repeats and takes a breath to steady himself. This really is untypical for him, but he has watched her slowly falling apart for so long and had suppressed the feeling of anger and disgust for so long for the sake of not meddling in people's business.

"How much longer will you let him do this to you, Naruto? How much longer until you see that what you are going through is not right? You've had five miscarriages already – - and you're pregnant again?! - a huge burden on your body and your psyche – and all to make him happy! You never even wanted fucking kids, but you are so desperately dependent on him that you would literally let your body be used and abused again and again in fear that he will leave if you don't!"

Naruto just stares at Shikamaru, eyes wide, and just when she thinks he is done – he thought he was done too– more comes out and he has been suppressing it for so long, the anger is just so much he stands up and slams his hands on the desk—

"And he keeps fucking disrespecting you all the time! Disregarding your duties, forcing you into intimacy in front of others in his sick display of possession, leaving fucking blaring hickeys and bites on visible spots on your body – the Hokage's body, a public figure - in his obsession that every single man is out there to get you. I can't watch you go through this anymore Naruto, you are just as guilty for allowing him to use you like that! He manipulates you and keeps you in some sort of possessive sex bubble. He disrespects you all the time, and in front of others. I know you have this special bond between you, but nothing about your marriage with him is healthy anymore - and I and the other people who love you just can't bear to see you suffer anymore."

Shikamaru is out of breath and falls back in his chair. Silence spreads and hangs heavily between them.

Naruto's head is down, and she is looking at the pen between her fingers. Shikamaru's comments are true – she knows - every single word. Those were all things she thought about when she was alone in her office, alone at her home, or when she looked at Sasuke's eyes.

It did not use to be like that – yes, Sasuke was possessive before, obsessing over her but she also had obsessed over him, chasing him for years. Since her miscarriages began however, the air between them had completely changed. Sasuke became even more possessive but in a growingly disrespectful kind of way, darker, his temper shortened, and he looked at her differently. It wasn't the old rivalry that made her want to improve so he could acknowledge her; now it rather made her feel like a child seeking the approval of an overly expecting parent with a task that was way above the child's capabilities.

It was becoming glaringly obvious to Naruto that she was not going to be able to give Sasuke an heir. What that would mean for them though, she did not have the heart to think. A sickeningly obsessive Sasuke was still better than Sasuke gone in Naruto's mind.

Naruto honestly felt pathetic after Shikamaru's comments – but that feeling wasn't triggered by him; she had felt pathetic and sorry for herself for a long time now. Naruto was just sorry and surprised to find out that her pathetic state was so blatantly obvious to those around her.

She felt small and spineless.

"How long have you been holding that in?" She's still looking down, her voice hollow.

Shikamaru shifts in his chair, suddenly feeling guilty about the outburst – his words had undoubtedly hurt her.

"A long time, to be honest. And it's not just me who thinks so, Naruto. There are others who need you too. Not only him."

Temari gives birth shortly after. Naruto gives Shikamaru time off, but he insists on coming back to work after a couple of weeks, tries to convince her that Temari's got it, and she has help at home. After some convincing, Naruto sighs and welcomes him back, updates him on everything. She is secretly glad that he insisted on coming back, she was kind of drowning on her own.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow evening?" Shikamaru asks as they part. "We are having a little get-together for the baby and of course we want her godmother there."

Naruto hasn't seen Shikamaru's daughter yet, she wanted to give them privacy as they recover and get used to parenting two children. Shikamaru looks to the side.

"You can bring Sasuke too. I won't mess in y'alls business, I promise."

Naruto smiles but Shikamaru can see the sadness in her eyes. He hasn't seen her smile like she used to in a long time.

"He is on a mission. It works out better that way, only for me to come. Go home, take the day off tomorrow—no, I don't want to hear protests. Help your wife with the kids and dinner. I'll see you tomorrow evening."

Shikamaru goes to leave and when he's closing the door, he hears her bellow, "Hey, is Temari making ramen?" Shikamaru chuckles as he walks.

Maybe the old Naruto isn't completely lost after all.

It feels weird not wearing her ninja clothes. Naruto can't remember the last time she wore a kimono. The cloth is light and makes her feel breezy in a liberating kind of way as she walks the streets to Shikamaru's house. She actually left work early to go home and shower and prepare – now her long golden hair has that lightness of hair just washed and dried, and the skin on her face feels clean and supple. Her kimono is casual, reaching down to her midthighs, very beautiful with a gentle blue color that accentuates her eyes and hugs her form beautifully. She is still in the first few weeks of pregnancy and is not showing. The kimono has a high collar which makes her look collected and official, a reminder of her post as a leader. She stops by the market to buy fruit for dessert – almost tempted to instead buy ramen! – and wraps a hand around the handle of the basket when she hears someone calling her name. She recognizes the familiar chakra before she even sees him and turns around.

"Gaara!"

He is walking to her, holding a basket of his own. His gait is measured as always, his shoulders and back are straight, and his teal eyes are boring into her. A genuine and warm smile spreads on his face when he nears her. Naruto leaves her basket on the ground and goes to hug him, happy to see her dear friend. They are both the leaders of the two strongest shinobi villages in the world, two fellow kages, friends who fought the war to save the world. Gaara wraps his free arm around her. People whisper around them and greet - it's not every day they see two powerful kages together in the market of all places.

"I haven't seen you in soooo looong!" Naruto exclaims and something makes her not want to let him go right now, holding on to him a little longer. Something about having a close friend she hasn't seen in a long time grips at Naruto's chest and her eyes begin to prick with the revelation of how badly things have been going for her since the last time she had seen him, since she had just found out she was pregnant for the first time. Something in her screams for her to vent to him, tell her close friend everything - how miserable she has been, how she constantly feels the urge to vomit from self-loathing and regret, how hopeless and helpless she is in her struggle to keep her relationship, and this revelation – this self-reflection of how broken she actually is, of how deeply she is drowning and how much it hurts chokes her up, makes her squeeze his shoulders tighter to fight back tears.

Gaara feels her stiffen but doesn't let go of her, always patient, always available to her. She takes a deep breath and pushes the self-pity away - for now – and withdraws to look at him. Immediately, her nostrils miss his earthy scent, and she takes in his appearance – a dark sweater hugging his built and slender torso, teal eyes looking down at her, and – is that an undercut? Short hair around his ears and at the back of his neck only to get longer on top and be slicked back. This hairstyle accentuates the bridge of his nose and his teal eyes and Naruto looks away, suddenly very aware of her appreciation for his looks.

"Why didn't you tell me you were here? I would have arranged for accommodation for you and your associates!"

A corner of his mouth moves up in a gentle smile. "I'm not here for work. I'm here for my nephews and my sister."

Naruto blinks up at him. How could she forget that Gaara was Shikamaru's brother-in-law and her goddaughter was his niece?

Gaara looks down at her basket, still on the ground, and picks it up.

"You're headed to their dinner I assume?"

"I am."

"I'm staying with them. I just needed to come out and grab some things my sister forgot." And just like that, they fall into a slow pace together, walking the streets of Konoha as pink and orange paint the sky.

Naruto laughs, genuinely, for the first time in a long time. "Was Shikamaru too lazy to come out to the market?"

Gaara chuckles, his deep voice rumbles. "Actually no. He's been helping all day. We all have. They've got a lot on their plates now with the new baby." He looks at her from the corner of his eye, "Besides, I got to meet you and take a walk with you."

For some reason, Naruto feels heat rising up to her cheeks at the way he says it and how he concentrates on her and the present moment. They walk and talk, two dear friends not having seen each other in a long time.

"Shika - aren't you lucky? Two kages as godparents to your kids!" Naruto muses, holding a tall glass of some sweet low-alcoholic drink. Sasuke would hate how sweet this drink is, Naruto thinks – and then realizes that is the first time she had thought about him that evening. She had been having such a great time with Shikamaru's family that she – almost – forgot all her troubles at home. A fleeting thought runs through her – for a moment she feels thankful that Sasuke is away, that he was not there to ruin this evening for her – and she feels immediate regret at that thought. Sasuke, although having become more unhinged and intense, is still her husband, still the love of her life, and her constant bond. She takes another sip to push down the regrets surging up.

She feels a pleasant buzz and a lightness in her gait she hasn't felt in a long time. Her skin feels warm and she closes her eyes, listening to the quiet music and the white noise of people's voices. Naruto feels satisfaction at the family scene in front of her eyes – Shikamaru and Temari as happy parents, Shika kissing his wife's forehead and then that of his daughter. Gaara is playing with his nephew and godson. They all had a good meal together, and most of the other members of their training squad were there. Naruto has spent the last couple of hours catching up with her classmates – the people she went through the end of the world with – and warmth pools at her chest both from the alcohol and an odd sense of… satisfaction. Completion – almost… And without her husband there. The weight of the Hokage robe is off her shoulders now and so are her worries.

Gaara eyes the blonde where she is standing by the window, her shoulders relaxed and a drink in her hand. He gives Shikadai back to his father. He heads up toward her. A sudden voice, close, makes Naruto open her eyes.

"Do you want to stand outside for a bit?" And she nods, and warmth pools at her elbow as he holds it and guides her slowly. Shikamaru is sitting at the table holding his son and playing with him when he eyes the two kages walking out. The Nara has to confess that Sasuke may be right slightly right to worry about at least this one. Sasuke got jealous of basically any male around Naruto, but Shikamaru could actually see a reason he would be wary of Gaara for so long. The way the Suna kage looks at her is so… earnest. With longing and utter respect. And Shikamaru realizes that that's how he has always seen his brother-in-law look at the Hokage and he had never thought anything of it because Naruto was just so completely engulfed by Sasuke that nobody else ever stood a chance. The only one who didn't realize that was Sasuke himself which only made him self-sabotage their otherwise strong relationship with his jealousy and possessiveness even before their fertility problems came along.

Shikamaru realizes that… he is actually not bothered by the realization of how obviously Gaara is in love with Naruto – and has been, even before her marriage to Sasuke. Shikamaru sees it now. He knows his brother-in-law well – a patient, stable man, but would he really wait for her that long? Was this why he still refuses all of the proposed matches for him? Shika hadn't seen Gaara date anyone since he's been close to his family – which was since the end of the war – and every time someone asked him or suggested anything about setting him up with anyone, Gaara just brushed it off with being busy. He was the Kage of the second biggest and most successful shinobi village. He surely wasn't short on proposals and options.

And yet, his soft teal eyes are completely concentrated on Naruto as Shikamaru watches them stand on the balcony together side by side, Naruto waving her hands in the air, undoubtedly telling him a long and detailed story, and Gaara leaning over the rail, holding his drink with both hands, and directing all of his attention on her… with love in his eyes. Longing. Shikamaru's chest tightens. He couldn't imagine being just a friend to Temari and her being married to someone else, someone who was not good to her – not anymore… and him unable to do anything. Suddenly, he feels even more respect for Gaara, admiring his patience and honor as a man. As someone who treats his childhood friend and leader well. And something inside Shikamaru makes him want to help Gaara – maybe somehow get them more time together – because Shikamaru dully recognizes that Gaara is by far the better man.

His lips press in a tight line though because he knows there is no way Naruto would see that. There was a time during the war when Shikamaru had noticed how much time Naruto and Gaara spent together but that was mostly with other people around and during the planning of strategies. Shikamaru hadn't thought much of it then because it was obvious how pathetically desperate for Sasuke Naruto was. The depth of her bond with Sasuke, their experiences together, and the honest and loyal love she bears for him, and her constant need for his approval and attention will continue binding her to him blindly.

At first, of course, nobody had liked the thought of Naruto and Sasuke together, but nobody was actually surprised. When his madness and obsession – the curse of the Uchiha clan - focused on Naruto now instead of on revenge, they had still been fine, completely giving themselves to the other. But in the past couple of years Shikamaru has steadily seen the decline in his friend's wellbeing and mood and he was beginning to despise Sasuke although being on good terms with him before that.

Shikamaru snaps his eyes away, having been lost in thought. He looks to the left to his wife, and she is looking at the couple on the balcony too, her lips pressed in a thin line, and Shikamaru has the feeling she is thinking the exact same. He reaches and holds her hand, suddenly feeling overwhelming gratitude that he is with the right person.

"And I was never able to find that place again! Best ramen of my life!" Then her eyes look down and darken. "Jiraya died before I had the chance to ask him where exactly the place he took me to eat ramen was. Maybe I was just starved, or maybe it was the fact that he was there with me, or maybe both, but I think about that place often and how good of a memory it is." A soft but sad smile graces her face.

Gaara looks at her in thought. His chest aches and his fingertips burn with the need to hold-but he controls himself, like he has for the last decade. She belongs to another man, a dangerous man. And by her own choosing – Gaara had always recognized the disparity Naruto wanted to belong to someone with, and with bile in his mouth Gaara had long ago realized that someone was the Uchiha. There was not a single molecule in Gaara that thought the Uchiha deserved her – he was a criminal, a traitor, he had hurt her, tortured her with his repeated spiral down to madness, and yet she had forgiven him again and again. Gaara just could not bear seeing her miserable, even if she belonged to someone else and however unworthy that other someone was.

Gaara takes in her appearance carefully and while she looks to be in glee at the moment, Gaara can sense and see the marks of the burden she has been carrying – the dark under eyes, the paler skin, the blue eyes, duller than before. He had heard of her initial pregnancy and then her following miscarriages. He assumed that there were more miscarriages that people did not know about, and he absolutely knew that it wasn't Naruto in the relationship who wanted to get pregnant and keep this cycle of torture going. The Uchiha was forcing her through this cycle of suffering in his sick ambition to restore his cursed clan. Anger rises in Gaara at Naruto's inability to see, to acknowledge the situation for what it is, and his own inability to help her out. She does not want to be helped out, he reminds himself, and says nothing as always.

"You said that ramen place had green curtains around? Did it have a big red circle in front as a sign?"

Naruto takes in his question and her eyes drift up and to the right, trying to retrieve the memory from so long ago. "It did—what, do you know the place?!"

Gaara nods. "There is a ramen place with green curtains and a big red sign right outside of Suna in an area with an oasis. Do you remember seeing a lake or a spring there?

Naruto turns to him fully now. "Yes! Yes it did! Even the inn I stayed at with Jiraya – I believe – was called The Oasis!" She puts both hands on his shoulders now, her grin fully revealing her white teeth. "Oh my god Gaara, I can't believe you figured it out!" And just like that, she draws him into a hug again and he embraces her. He lets his body sink into hers more now than a few hours ago at the street and fills his lung with the scent of her hair now that he knows she wouldn't notice – being buzzed with alcohol – although that makes him feel a bit dishonorable. It's a tiny piece of her that he can take with himself – everything else is continuously seized by the Uchiha.

He withdraws reluctantly and still gazes down at her with warm eyes, "I can take you there next time you visit. In the spring, when our diplomatic meetings are due."

Naruto looks at him and nods with excitement, "You are a good friend, Gaara – thank you," and her hands leave his shoulders to rub together at the thought of that ramen. She really had no idea how Gaara looked at her – her whole world was consumed by darker, deeper eyes that had devoured her soul long ago.

They go back inside and engage in conversation with the others when not even a minute later there is a commotion coming from the direction of the balcony. The two kages and the rest go to see what is going on.

Naruto's heart drops in her stomach when she sees Sasuke, visibly having come in through the balcony, arguing with Temari who is blocking his way while holding her baby. Sasuke is seething and yells her name loudly over the commotion:

"NARUTO!" And Naruto answers, like she always does, and his dark eyes pin her down more intensely than they ever have before, with something sickeningly dark and insane in them. The Sharingan flares and he shoves Temari away - she stumbles back but manages to not drop the baby. He trots to Naruto more enraged than in any battle Naruto had seen him in and she feels herself recoil from him. He is a step away from her when he pulls back and swings his fist and Naruto closes her eyes only to hear the sickening sound of flesh and bone connecting with flesh and bone. Naruto realizes Sasuke had been aiming for Gaara who had been standing directly behind her. The lingering warmth on her shoulders tells her that Gaara had grabbed her shoulders, ready to shove her away if needed. Sasuke grabs Gaara's sweater and catches him as he sways back from the punch, and delivers another powerful hit to his jaw, cracking his lip and spilling blood. Naruto stares in horror, frozen, as Sasuke draws back to form another fist.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY WIFE YOU PIECE OF SCUM" Sasuke shouts and goes to deliver another punch. Then finally, people around them snap back and go to restrain Sasuke, taking him away from Gaara forcefully. Sasuke is strong and at first pushes them away, goes to try to punch again. Gaara plants his foot to his chest and kicks him away, the others successfully restrain him.

Naruto is still frozen, heart thumping in her ears loudly and she may vomit right then and there. She sees as Gaara stands up and wipes his lip just to look at the blood on his fingers – does he know he's bleeding from his eyebrow too? Sasuke is thrashing and trying to get away:

"You dirty piece of shit, you've been after her for years! I know what you did- I KNOW WHAT YOU DID and the one time I'm gone you think you can just have her!?"

Naruto finally looks at Sasuke, absolute humiliation gripping at her throat. She can't recognize her husband. His feral gaze, the deep furrow in his eyebrows and the creases on his nose, the way he is struggling and spitting out insults and accusations. He honestly looks… insane, and Naruto's eyes water – she hasn't seen him like that since his quest for revenge. It's like he had spiraled down again, deeper than even Naruto could reach him.

And in that moment, Naruto knows that it really is over.

"You are the only one who thinks that, Uchiha," Gaara replies, standing up. There is a pause for a second and Sasuke is about to explode again when Shikamaru catches him in his Kage mane jutsu and the others can finally release him. Sasuke breathes deeply and stares at Gaara with hatred. He briefly takes in the way everyone else is staring at him – with apprehension, disappointment, and some with fear.

But he couldn't care less, because he had seen that bastard on the balcony with his wife, his eyes crawling over her body, thinking that telling her about some stupid ramen place (Sasuke had been able to lip read with his Sharingan, safely hidden in the darkness of the trees) would make her his.

"You deserve for me to fucking kill you," Sasuke lets out but Shikamaru is holding him with his jutsu. Shikamaru himself is shaking with anger at the Uchiha's audacity to crash their family event and most of all, the audacity to shove his wife and baby and attack his relative. Gaara doesn't say anything, just glances at Naruto and sees her standing there in terror, pale, with tears dripping down her cheeks. Sasuke follows his gaze, at first ready to snap again, then takes in the anguish that tears his wife's face and she is crying and her eyes are so disappointed and angry and terrified and hurt.

Sasuke swallows hard, suddenly recalling the last time she had looked at him like that, her much younger face torn with betrayal and hurt… after he had shoved a chidori through her chest all those years ago.

"Naruto…" He starts, suddenly all his anger is turned to dread. He feels the jutsu is released now but he doesn't move. Naruto finally snaps out of it - realizes now that her nails had made her palms bleed from her tightened fists. She looks down to steady herself, just for a minute more before she completely breaks down. She takes a step forward:

"Let's go home, Sasuke."

Shikamaru tries to protest, worried for her safety as he eyes the man. Naruto brushes him off. Sasuke doesn't move from his spot. Naruto walks to him abruptly, with anger in her step, and he almost thinks she will attack him - she grabs his forearm, her chakra flares, and they both disappear in a flash.

Naruto teleports them to the Uchiha manor, their sacred home, and Sasuke sways on his feet and falls from the nausea he gets from her jutsu, gags and vomits on his hands and knees. Naruto walks in the house without looking back at him, without running to help him like she normally would. Her jaw is so tightly clenched that she hears her teeth crunch and she knows her eyes are red. She walks upstairs and takes her clothes off on the way. She turns on the shower to scorching hot water and gets in, trying to wash and scrub off the utter humiliation and deep anger and need to hurt Sasuke the way he had hurt her.

Her teeth must not be clenched tightly enough because a soul-wrenching sob makes its way through and then another and then another until she is weeping from such a deep place of anguish that nearly no sound comes out.

She wraps her arms around herself and kneels down to the floor, letting the hot water redden her skin. She weeps first for tonight, then for the years of misery, she weeps because of her own inability and lack of strength and self when it comes to Sasuke. She weeps for her lost marriage, for her broken heart and shattered dignity, for the rotting bond between and how she would surely die in the process of that bond falling apart.

Reviews for me are like ramen for Naruto. :) I appreciate all of you. It's a pleasure writing bitter-sweet angst for you and making you suffer. 3

And yes, in my mind, adult Gaara has an undercut and he is a badass gentleman.