Disclaimer: I didn't own Naruto when I first wrote this story and I certainly don't now either.

Dedication: To everyone who read, reviewed and suffered through the horrible spellcheck-less story this once was.

Category: PG-13, Sasunaru

When I was younger I...well, lets just say that when I left with Orochimaru, there was only one person who had even stood a chance at preventing me from going. Naruto. In the end, it had been him who knocked sense into me and forced me to return after his defeat of Orochimaru. Somewhere between that inevitable (and accidental) kiss from him on the day we became genins and then, I fell in love with him.

Honestly, I can't tell you exactly why. Naruto still infuriates me at times, and even at the best, I still want to smack him over the head for being an idiot. There was just something about him though, that endeared me to him. It was how when people were depressed, just Naruto acting his part could bring people out of it. It was how when you managed to catch him in the few moments he was serious, the look on his face showed a boy far past maturity. It was all the moments in between and around.

I hated loving him because that meant I had a weakness. I was appalled that someone could find out and use Naruto against me or...worse. Even him just finding out. If Naruto found out, I knew he would be appalled. The boy was probably as straight as he could be; every day he was fawning over Sakura. I was worried that if he knew, the moments I had with him would be gone forever. That even the rivalry we shared would be gone. To be honest, it was, and maybe still is one of the only things that terrify me.

And that's why when I found out Naruto had a child with Hinata; my whole world came to a crashing halt. That hope buried somewhere in me that he just might feel the same flew away with the wind. But Tsuki was... beautiful. I could see so much of her father in her, and not just in looks. Her personality is like an exact replica of the Naruto I knew as a child, and regardless that this girl represented the end of everything I hoped for... I wanted to protect her. I wanted to protect her from ever learning what the world truly was and becoming like the Naruto I knew now. If you want to think of there being any sort of instantaneous bond there, it was... fatherly. It was the same look I saw in Kakashi's eyes when he looked at her, the same look I saw Tsunade giving her when she didn't think I was looking.

"Sasuke..."

"It's alright. It's not like I could ever have hoped that he felt the same way. Now if you don't mind me, I'll just be returning to my house if that's alright with you."

"You don't know the whole story you know. It's... probably not what you would think. Sometimes it's hard for any of us to believe it's true. But I think that's for another day, there's been enough emotional shock for your body today. I can see the weariness on you. Go home and rest."

"I'm fine, Tsunade-sama."

"Sasuke, I don't use my chakra for healing for no reason. You should know by now it's pointless to try and lie to me about it. I'll just make it an order if you don't do it willingly." She threatened, but I could see the smirk she was fighting on her lips.

"Hai. I'll do so then. Bye Kakashi-sensei, Tsunade-sama." I said before walking towards my home.

Sasunarusasunarusasunaru-

I spent the night tossing and turning, Tsunade's words of "It isn't what you think." Was running laps around my head. What had Tsuki been saying after Kakashi asked her who I was? Why was Naruto so eager to kill me? I'd given up on trying to figure out my conflicting emotions. Jealousy, pain, anger, regret, denial, and even a little happiness. Even though I wanted to kill Hinata for taking Naruto away, I was happy for him and her. I was happy that at least one of us had gotten the man of their dreams. Happy that Naruto had found someone to care for and love.

It was 5am I think when I finally gave up trying to sleep, I'd probably only gotten a good hour or so, but I'd gotten used to that while chasing Itachi. Sleeping for long periods of time was something that could get you killed when you were chasing after murderous older brothers. Stretching and getting ready for the morning, I decided to take a walk around the village to see what else had changed while I was gone. There were some newer houses, some that looked like sadly new residents had moved in. A visit to the monument showed me the teammates that had been lost in battle while I was gone; Shino, Chouji, and Neji were all among the names.

A look towards the Hokage monument unsurprisingly showed no change. Tsunade hated being thought of as the 5th Hokage and insisted that she was only temporary. The most amusing part was that she was probably the person who had remained in office the longest out of any of them. But I did see a lone figure sitting atop the fourth hokage's head. Even from my position halfway across the village I could tell it was Naruto. And a few quick jumps were all it took to find myself 10 feet from him.

"Sasuke." Was all he said, not even looking in my direction. What had I done that was so wrong to receive this treatment from him? Naruto had been cold to me before I left, but not this cold. He'd always known my goal in life whether he agreed with it or not, why should it anger him that I fulfill it?

"Naruto." I whispered taking a seat not too far from him. It seemed wrong to talk loudly here. The monuments overlooked the entire village and at this time of day you could see the sun rising.

"I met your daughter yesterday. She looks a lot like you." I said, watching him to see his reaction. When he did react, it confused me. I saw him flinch for just an instant, before his cold mask returned. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I would've doubted he ever reacted it all.

"Yes she does. Hinata-san says that it runs in her family for the children to look more like their fathers, and it does in mine as well."

We had found out during the battle with Orochimaru that the fourth had been Naruto's father. Orochimaru had tried to use the fact that his father's killer was Naruto himself. Naruto just blew it off with that he wasn't the incarnation of the Kyuubi, it was merely sealed inside him.

"Why are you so angry at me baka?" I said using my age-old nickname for him. Essentially, I hadn't changed at all. When I wanted to know something, I asked.

"Because it's your fault that my family is broken apart."

And for the second time since I returned home, my world was turned upside down again.