After several hours of talking, debating, and arguing, the two decided to go their separate ways.
"I hope to see you again," Naruto said, shaking Gaara's hand as he stood up to leave.
Gaara nodded, "Same," a spark of kinship flared in his eyes. As they prepared to depart, Naruto noticed that Gaara was planning to head in the direction of Konoha.
"Hey, can you do me a favor?" Naruto asked, eyes gently pleading.
"Sure," Gaara replied easily.
"If you head in that direction for awhile," Naruto pointed towards Konoha, "You'll get to the town of Konoha. When you get there, could you please tell Uchiha Sasuke that Naruto said he'll be back."
Gaara nodded, and without another word, walked off, appearing to disappear into the jungle.
Naruto watched his fading form, and with a familiar determined glint in his eye, headed out again. He wandered for the better part of three days, sleeping high in trees. After a time, he came upon a tiny village. Looking for an inn, he came upon a girl his age and stopped.
"Excuse me, miss," he asked, "but do you know where I can find an inn?" The girl smiled brilliantly.
"Of course, my father owns the only one in town," with that, she began leading him towards the inn. Following her, he looked around him. The village seemed so cut off from the rest of the world, so secluded. No taint of bloodshed and war seemed to touch the place.
He stayed the night at the inn, the food was delicious and the girl, Ray's, father, was kind to him like so few people had been. In the morning he was talking to a maid about the origins of the village when he discovered why they seemed so secluded. A small band of villagers from a neighboring town had moved out to escape the stains of war and chaos. Legend said that only people of brightest character could find the town.
He stayed a few more days, which turned into a few more weeks, which turned into months, and before he knew it, he barely thought of Konoha and Sasuke and the past he had left behind.
He had finally found a place where he could be himself.
It was a joyous day when he decided to stay and live at the village. The villagers all loved Naruto, he was kind and though slightly obnoxious, made him all the more lovable.
The next month he married Ray, the girl he'd fallen in love with when he'd first walked into the town. The ceremony was beautiful, white roses bloomed everywhere and Ray looked never more beautiful. Her long black hair wrapped in a veil and slim figure dressed in her mother's wedding dress. Deep brown eyes, gazed lovingly on the figure of the groom.
The new couple was amazingly happy. Each day was enjoyed to the fullest of its potential and Ray's father built them a beautiful cottage on the edge of the village as Naruto worked at a small blacksmith's shop as an apprentice.
Everyday was spent in happiness. Nighttimes were spent basking under the glory of the moon. Their cottage was scented with the spices Ray grew in her garden, and their joyousness was supplemented by their affection for each other.
Full moons were spent dancing under the stars, and Naruto often surprised his wife with gifts. Naruto soon became known as the man all women would like to have as a husband. He was nice and kind and affectionate.
But sometimes happiness is merely a cover for a deeper sadness. Ray soon became pregnant. It was then that Naruto noticed his seal had started to fade on his stomach. Deciding to say nothing, for his wife still knew nothing of the Kyuubi, he continued to be joyous at the imminent approach of another addition to their family.
It was nine months since Naruto's departure from Konoha and his wife was five months pregnant. The seal had all but disappeared completely, and he could no longer feel the Kyuubi in his thoughts.
But then, the town received another visitor. A young male with brown-red hair and circles under his eyes. Gaara had finally found the town where Naruto was staying at. Receiving directions from a townsperson, he made his way to the couple's cottage. Knocking on the door, he was surprised when Ray opened the door, quite obviously pregnant.
"I'm looking for Naruto," he said, confused.
"Oh, hello, please, come inside," she said, letting him in. "Naruto's at work right now, but I'm sure he'll be glad to have a visitor." Gaara was charmed by the woman's kind smile, but confused as to how she knew Naruto.
"Are you . . . Naruto's wife?" he asked bluntly as they seated themselves on the chairs that occupied the living room.
"Yes, I take it you haven't seen Naruto for awhile, have you?"
"No, it's been almost a year now," he replied.
"What's your name?" she asked, leaning forward to look him directly in the eye.
"Gaara." At that second Naruto opened the door.
"Gaara?" he asked, amazement written on his face.
"Hn," Gaara replied. Ray stood up, touching Naruto gently on the shoulder.
"I'm going to have tea with Mrs. Tou, Naru-kun," she said, heading out and leaving the two in peace. Naruto sank onto a chair in disbelief.
"W-what are you doing here?" he asked.
"Looking for you."
"Why?"
"Kind wife you have," Gaara replied, evading the question.
"Gaara, why are you here?"
"Your boyfriend, Sasuke, he's, well, let's just say it's painful to watch."
"What about Sasuke?"
"He hasn't come out of his house in six months Naruto, ever since he finally realized you probably weren't coming back anytime soon. Won't talk to anyone. A doctor has to be sent make him eat. Keeps trying to kill himself."
"What?!"
"He's lost without you, Naruto. You at least owe it to him to go back and tell him what's been going on," Gaara said, eyes speaking that he was truly worried, for both Sasuke Naruto.
Naruto bit his lip, contemplating the cost of going to visit his former boyfriend. "In five months, Ray will have had the baby and I'll go visit Sasuke. I just can't leave her alone now, of all times."
Gaara stood up, eyes speaking of a bitter disappointment. "I understand, Naruto. I just hope it isn't too late by the time you get there."
"Me too," Naruto whispered.
"I'll try to tell Sasuke you'll be back." Placing his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Naruto. "It's amazing what love will do to a person. It turns out I've found a person who makes me care what he thinks. I believe I understand you better now. Since I've been living with him, I've felt more out-of-place, confused, humiliated, and utterly happy than any time in my entire life. I'm living in Konoha now, so I guess I'll see you when you get back." With that, Gaara left, leaving Naruto to contemplate all that he'd been told.
Four months later, Naruto was rushing his wife into a hospital as their daughter was being born. Passing the time outside in the waiting room, he fidgeted nervously. Would everything be okay? Was everyone all right? It wasn't until the doctor stepped out of the room that his nervousness piqued.
"Is everything alright?" he asked, unable to calm the rapid beating of his heart.
"Your daughter is fine, sir. She'll be fine."
"What about Ray, is she okay?" Naruto asked, still unable to be calm. The doctor cast his eyes downwards, as if avoiding this moment.
"She's not going to make it sir. There's nothing we can do," the man whispered. Shoving past him, Naruto entered the room. Gasping, he saw his wife, lying down and breathing heavily.
"Honey, are you okay?" he asked, begging any gods out there that she would be alright, that she would make it.
"This . . . really is the end, isn't it, Naruto?" she said, a hint of a smile perking at her lips. "I never . . . imagined . . . going out this way."
"You're going to make it," he pleaded, sounding more and more like he was trying to convince himself.
She shook her head, black hair strewn around her. "No . . . I'm not." Taking Naruto's palm in trembling fingers, she kissed the back of it gently before leaning back and sighing and closing her eyes. "Take good care of yourself, Naruto." Her eyes fluttered open one last time to reveal red eyes like blood. The last thing Naruto remembered before he blacked out was his tear drops falling down his face and hitting her lifeless hands that were still clutching his, and the blaring of the heart monitor.
He awoke to find himself on a hospital bed himself. Breaking out into sobs as he recalled the events, his curled himself into a ball, a defensive position he hadn't used since Sasuke had last cheated on him. He form trembled with pain and suffering.
A doctor soon entered the room, carrying the only love left in Naruto's life. His daughter. He looked up to see the baby and smiled sadly as he took her into his arms. Smiling and crying at the same time, he observed her wispy blonde hair and her bright blue eyes. With a gasp, he revealed her bellybutton to see the seal of the demon fox imprinted upon it.
"No," he whispered. "Not you, why you?" he cried. The child seemed to sense his distress and scrunched up its face and whimpered quietly.
Hugging the child like a life line, he closed his eyes and drifted slowly to sleep. The only chance he had left at happiness, falling asleep in his arms.
He dreamed that night about two sets of eyes, both able to turn that haunting shade of red.
A few days later, he was leaving the hospital when a nurse passed him in the hall and touched his shoulder gently.
"I heard about your wife," she said sincerely. "I knew her, she was a good person. I know you've probably gotten a lot of this, but I'm sorry."
"Thank you, miss. That means a lot," he said, holding Vulpis, for that was her name, close.
"It was so brave of her, refusing to take any pain medicines when she was dying. Went out like a true Uchiha."
"What?"
"You didn't know? Her family is a branch family of Uchiha's. They moved away to get away from the Uchiha's penchant for violence. Changed their name and everything." Naruto gasped.
"That's why when she died she had the sharingan." The nurse merely nodded and bid him farewell, leaving the blonde to his thoughts.
A few days and a funeral later, Naruto was making his way out of town. A horse had been supplied to him by Ray's father, and Vulpis rode in front of him.
Waving goodbye, he turned away from the one place he'd every truly been able to call home. But now he was going back to Konoha, to see the one man who had stolen his heart away and taught him to love.
The horse marched it's way proudly through the gates of Konoha several days of travel later, as if it knew the precious pair it carried. Naruto guided the horse through the crowds of people. All of them watched as he headed towards the Uchiha mansion.
Hopping off, he carried the tiny baby inside and entered Sasuke's room. He was sitting up in bed, staring, lost, into a bowl of soup. Deep circles showed themselves around his eyes and he seemed much to pale and thin.
"Sasuke," he whispered. Sasuke didn't lift his head. "Sasuke?"
"So you're back," Sasuke said, as if his voice was cracking for months of disuse. He finally lifted his eyes showing that they were full of tears. "Gaara said I'd lost you. If I can't have you then don't put me through the pain of having to be in your presence."
"Sasuke, I missed you," Naruto cried. Sasuke laughed, a bitter, grating laughter.
"I missed you, too." Then he set his bowl beside his bed and cried into his knees helplessly.
Naruto walked over, and still holding Vulpis, hugged Sasuke, who immediately turned and cried into Naruto's chest.
"She's dead, Sasuke. Gone forever and I couldn't save her." Naruto whispered, crying as well. Sasuke looked him in the eyes.
"Who's dead, Naruto?"
"My wife, the second person I gave my heart to only to have it shattered."
"Who was the first?"
"You will always be my first, Sasuke."
"I'm so sorry," Sasuke whispered. "I know now what it is to hurt. To feel so unloved. I can't believe I put you through that."
They hugged again, and thus began the healing process. The two decided to start over completely, as friends. Naruto and Vulpis were soon living with Sasuke, though. And a year later, they were celebrating Vulpis's first birthday, when Sasuke kissed Naruto, a signal that he was ready to dedicate himself to Naruto.
Five years later, Vulpis was six. Naruto and Sasuke had made sure never to push her into anything she didn't want to do, and always giving her the love they both had lacked as children.
Nothing could have made them happier, though, when on her sixth birthday, wearing a belly-shirt that revealed the seal her father had passed on to her, with blue eyes sparkling with the potential sharingan hiding beneath their depths, she announced that she was the best ninja ever. And when the boys her age doubted her because she was a girl, she beat them into next Tuesday.
The End!
Hope you enjoyed!