Kaerizaki
By The Ambitious Blank
Disclaimer- Naruto still isn't mine. I can't draw that well anyway..
Comments- Wow, I got so much encouragement pretty quick. n.n; I'm glad this is an original idea, 'cause it really interests me a lot, which is more than I can say for a lot of my fics that I've done. XD Anyway. Next chapter, comin' up.
Oh, also.. yeah, I am skipping ahead at seemingly random times, but I wanna hit some crucial points in Naruto and Sasuke's lives. I'm gonna try and focus more on their years at the Academy and going back into a team and things like that. So.. yeah. ; Oh, and just to clear things up.. Ino has Sasuke, Sakura has Naruto. I would have given Sasuke to Sakura, (it might've made more sense), but.. umm.. I think Ino would kill Naruto, so.. xD Yeah.
---Chapter 2- Hope Restored? Sasuke and Naruto, Reborn!
Almost nine months had passed. Nine months of morning sickness, constant kicking (especially by Naruto.. it certainly made Sakura grouchy sometimes..) and impatient waiting.
Ino and Sakura sat together outside, talking to each other about what was to come.
"What do you think?" Sakura asked, looking out over the street in front of Ino's home as she sipped at some tea. "..you think Naruto's gonna be as obnoxious of a little kid as he was before?" She patted her stomach, wincing as Naruto gave another kick, as if he'd overheard what she'd said. Ino laughed.
"Maybe. But.. I mean, this whole thing is so that Sasuke-kun and Naruto have another chance at life.. and with each other, right? They both ended up the way they were because of the horrible things that happened in the past.." She set down her teacup, musing. "So maybe if they aren't so lonely.. they won't turn out so bad."
"I hope you're right." Sakura murmured wistfully. "I certainly wasn't planning on spending the rest of my life chasing an orange blur around the house." They both giggled. Ino sighed to herself, patting her own stomach.
"You'll be a good kid, right, Sasuke?" She asked, smiling. "You'll help keep little Naruto in line, won't you?"
"I probably could use the help." Sakura said, looking down at herself. "Naruto's gonna be a handful."
"You should ask Leeeee-sannn.." Ino said, stretching out the name teasingly. "He seems to like you well enough." To her amusement, Sakura turned a vague shade of red and seemed to sink down in her chair slightly.
"I know.. and I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help. But.. I dunno, even despite all his hard work and stuff.. I betcha a baby Naruto will be more than enough to wear him out." She said, laughing again. Ino laughed with her.
"I bet so too." She said, standing up carefully. "I'm gonna go ask Tenten to make some more tea, okay?" Being extra cautious not to fall, she began to make her way back toward the house, suddenly freezing.
"M-my.. my water! It broke!" She cried. Sakura hurried to her feet as best she could.
"I'll go get Ten-- oh no, mine too!!"
Luckily for them, Tenten happened to come out of the house at that very moment. She saw the two girls, and as they shouted at her, she realized immediately what was wrong and dashed back into the house to call the hospital.
--
"A.. AHHHH!!" Sakura and Ino screamed at the same time, their hands linked together. They'd been put into adjacent beds in the hospital, and were squeezing the hell out of each other's hands. A huge group had come to watch the rebirth of the two shinobi. Lee took one look at what was happening and passed out on the floor. Gai sighed and carried him off. Hinata had run over to Sakura's side and was clutching her hand.
"Come on, Sakura!" She cried over the girls' screams. "You can do it!" She encouraged. Neji twitched. He'd never seen the girl so.. enthusiastic about something. Shikamaru looked interested in something for once. Chouji was cheering Ino on from the side.
"Go Ino! C'mon, another push, that's it! Yeah!"
Tsunade smiled as she watched, sometimes helping out the nurses and doctors as they rushed around. Ino shouted again.
"This is all your FAULT, Hokage-sama!!" She shrieked. A nurse bowed to Tsunade, fretfully.
"Please don't worry, Hokage-sama, they always say that." After getting a confused stare from the blonde woman, the nurse flushed and giggled.
"Er, okay, maybe they don't.. but I figured I should cheer you up. We're almost done."
"Okay, Sakura, one more push.. that's it!" The doctor encouraged the pink-haired girl. She was pressed back against her pillows, her face drenched in sweat, hair splayed all over the place, dampened with the perspiration. Ino wasn't any different. Both girls gave one last scream, and within a few moments, the doctors handed them Naruto and Sasuke, wrapped in layers of blankets. Crying filled the room, and all the tension in the group that was looking on seemed to melt away. Sakura stared at the child in her arms.
"Naruto.." She said, smiling, her hand reaching up to brush over the familiar whiskers, petting the tuft of blonde hair on his head. Hinata leaned over her shoulder to look, smiling down at the baby. Ino was studying Sasuke's face. The Uchiha stopped crying after a few moments, his dark eyes opening to stare around him. Ino gently smoothed down the small bit of black hair that sat atop his forehead, smiling.
"Sasuke.. you never liked crying much, did you?" She asked. The child stared at her. Sakura giggled from the bed beside them.
"Oh, look.. they're so cute! His hands are so tiny."
"I know!" Ino cried, not able to help the happy tears that spilled from her eyes. Sakura was crying, too, and the two girls glanced to each other, laughing. The group moved forward cautiously, each taking a turn looking at the newly reborn children. Lee had come back in, peering over at Naruto first, then Sasuke.
"Amazing." He said, quietly. "A miracle." The group murmured in agreement. Sakura nodded.
"It is. It really is. Don't cry, little Naruto.." She said, poking his nose affectionately. "I'll make sure you don't have to hurt ever again." She held him up a little, so that he could look over at Ino, who held up Sasuke in return. Naruto's cries ceased as he stared at the other baby. Ino laughed.
"You see? They like each other already."
----One Year Later..
"Oh, Sakura's here already.." Ino mused, lifting Sasuke out of his high chair and carrying him with her as she walked towards the front door, opening it. Sakura stood outside, Naruto in one arm, a bag of baby items and supplies in the other.
"Hey, Ino!" She said, cheerfully. "How's Sasuke doing?"
"Pretty good, I'd say." She answered, smiling at the baby boy. "He kept me up a few nights with crying, but he's a good kid, aren't you, Sasuke?" She grinned, shaking him a little. He blinked, staring at Naruto, who was staring back with his bright blue eyes. Sakura sighed.
"Naruto's kept me up more than a few nights. But I'd say it's worth it. I mean, I'm used to getting up early, considering Kakashi-sensei used to call us out to meet him ridiculously early in the morning." She laughed, and Ino smiled.
"Come on in, then. We'll let them visit with each other." She said. "You'll like that, won't you, Sasuke? You haven't seen Naruto for a week now."
"Da." Naruto said, grinning widely. Ino stared, and laughed.
"Yeah, there's no doubting it.. that's the same Naruto. Has the same grin and everything." They set the two children in the playpen and sat down to talk. Naruto crawled over to Sasuke, and reached up, poking him in the face. Sasuke blinked in surprise and poked him back. Naruto blinked as well, having not expected retaliation. The two boys stared at each other for a while, and then Sasuke picked up his stuffed dragon from the floor and hugged it.
Sakura, who had been watching all this, reached into her bag and handed Naruto a little stuffed fox, which he took eagerly. He held it tightly to his chest for a moment, then noticed Sasuke watching him intently. Slowly, he held out the fox to the other boy, and Sasuke held out his dragon. They traded, both of them smiling brightly. Ino laughed, watching them.
"They're so much different than what they used to be."
"No kidding." Sakura said, her hands in her lap as she watched them. "But I've changed, too. I mean.. you remember me back then. I used to hate Naruto for a long time, and even when I got to know him better, I still wasn't all that nice. Now, it's like.. I can't even imagine myself hating him. I know I'm not his real mother or anything.. but I've still got that motherly instinct I've heard so much about, you know? Like I'd protect him with my life, if I had to." She said, looking down at the small blonde child as the two boys played with their toys. Ino nodded.
"I know what you mean. I look at Sasuke now, and I can't imagine myself ever have liked him like I used to. I love him, but not in the same way, obviously." She smiled down at the darker-haired boy. "I love him like my mom loves me."
"Yeah." Sakura said, nodding. "Heh.. Lee-san's been hanging around a lot lately. He says that even though I might not like him that way, he feels like he should be responsible for taking care of Naruto, too." Ino giggled.
"Riiight. I think you're starting to warm up to him a lot more, Sakura."
"Oh yeah, like you aren't the same way with Shikamaru!" Sakura shot back.
"I am not!" Ino cried defensively. The two girls stared at each other, and then they both started laughing together. Ever since each girl had realized they stood no chance with Sasuke, they'd become a lot closer friends. Ino shook her head.
"I think it's a good thing Sasuke's pretty well-behaved. Shikamaru hangs around a lot, but he doesn't do much except laze around. He plays with Sasuke a little, but eventually he falls asleep with him. It's hard enough caring for one baby." She giggled again.
While the two mothers chattered away, Naruto crawled close to Sasuke, staring at him with his wide blue eyes. Sasuke blinked his narrower dark ones, turning to look at the other with a questioning look.
"Ba!" Naruto cried, and without any reasoning at all, lunged forward. The two boys' foreheads knocked together, and Sasuke fell onto his back. Those dark eyes widened in surprise, a small red spot forming on his forehead, and then the tears began to flow. Sasuke opened his mouth and started bawling. The two girls had been watching, and both of them were surprised. Ino jumped up and lifted Sasuke into her arms.
"Shh, shh, baby, it's okay.. Naruto didn't mean it." She cooed. Sakura reached down and picked Naruto up into her arms.
"God, Ino, I'm so sorry.. Naruto! What's gotten into you?" She demanded of the child. Naruto stared at her, then at Sasuke, and giggled. Sakura sighed heavily.
"You're impossible. I think we'd better go, Ino.. sorry about that." She smiled weakly and picked up her bag.
"It's not your fault, Sakura." Ino said, smiling back. "Wave bye, Sasuke.. maybe you two'll get along better tomorrow." Sakura moved and gave Ino a brief hug, then turned to walk towards the door. Quite suddenly, a rubber ball flew through the air, hitting Naruto straight on the head. Sakura hadn't noticed what had happened, and flinched as Naruto seemingly started crying for no reason.
"Ohh, what's the matter now, Naruto?" She asked as they left the house.
Ino stared down at Sasuke, who looked quite pleased with himself.
----Four Years Later...
"Can Sasuke come out and play??" Naruto yelled as he pounded the unmoving door with his small fist. Just as Sakura opened her mouth to scold him for being so rude, Ino opened it, smiling.
"Good morning to you too, Naruto." She glanced up at Sakura, who rolled her eyes.
"Naruto insisted on coming to see Sasuke at eight in the morning. I told him I'd let him, if he ate all his breakfast."
"I wanted ramen, but Mommy said I had to have some miso soup, 'cause it's better." Naruto said, as if the fact was one that everyone would need to use later in life. Ino laughed, and turned around.
"Sasuke! Naruto's here to see you! Hurry and finish your breakfas--" She blinked as the dark haired boy pushed past her.
"Hi, Naruto!" He said, cheerfully. Sakura blinked. She still hadn't gotten used to the fact that Sasuke smiled a lot more now. Ino leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms and watching them. Naruto beamed, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Hi, Sasuke!" He returned. "Mommy said we can go to the park today 'cause I ate her miso soup instead of ramen, it was icky.. wanna go??" As Sasuke blinked his big, dark eyes in confusion, Sakura gave Naruto a playful bonk on the head.
"Well, it was either my 'icky miso', or you starving."
"I'd rather starve!" Naruto shot back, sticking out his tongue. Ino snickered to herself.. Naruto hadn't changed all that much, after all. Sakura smirked and put her hands on her hips.
"Is that so? Don't make me put you in time out again, kiddo.. you won't be able to see Sasuke for a few days." She threatened. Naruto's blue eyes widened.
"AHH! No, okay, okay, I'm sorry!" He cried, clinging to Sasuke, who still looked vaguely confused. Ino laughed and patted them both on the head.
"Go on, you two. Sasuke, be careful, and remember to hold either Naruto or Sakura's hand until you get to the park, okay?" She asked, ruffling his dark hair. Sasuke made a noise of protest, trying to straighten it back into it's proper messy spikes.
"Mommmmm.." He whined, fixing his hair. Ino grinned and then disappeared back into the house, closing the door behind her. Naruto giggled.
"Heehee.. Sasuke, you look funny with your hair all messed up." He said, grinning. Sasuke glared at him and bopped him on the head with one of his small fists.
"Shut up!" He snapped. Naruto kept laughing. Sasuke pouted, and Naruto smiled and hugged his friend.
"Awwh, don't look so mad, Sasuke!" He said. "I'm just kidding! You're my bestest friend ever, after all." He said, puffing out his chest and patting Sasuke on the back. The Uchiha blinked, thought about that for a few seconds, and then smiled back. They grabbed each others' hands and started off toward the park.
----
"Hey, it's Lee-san!" Naruto cried, breaking away from Sakura and Sasuke and running over to the figure clad in green and a Jounin vest across the dirt road. Sakura's eyes widened as she took Sasuke's hand and hurried after.
"Naruto! Naruto, stop!" She yelled. Lee blinked down at the small blur approaching him, laughing when he saw who it was, reaching down and scooping Naruto into his arms.
"Well, good morning, Naruto-kun. How are you doing?" He asked, smiling. Naruto spread his arms wide, grinning.
"I'm good, except for having to eat Mommy's icky miso soup this morning."
"Awwh, I'm sure it wasn't that bad." Lee reassureed him, laughing and looking up as Sakura approached them. "Good morning, Sakura. I see Naruto-kun is already giving you excercise."
"Indeed." Sakura said, bopping Naruto on the head again. "How many times do I have to tell you not to run away from me, Naruto??" She demanded. Naruto giggled.
"Oopsie." He said, smirking at Lee, who laughed again and then set Naruto down, dropping down into a kneel.
"And how are you, Sasuke-kun?" He asked.
"Fine." Sasuke answered, shifting from foot to foot. Naruto ran over, latching onto Sasuke's arm again.
"Of course he's fine! He's with his bestest friend ever, right, Sasuke??"
"Uh-huh." Sasuke said, with a hesitant nod. He was a little more shy than Naruto was. Naruto beamed and turned to look at Lee.
"We're gonna go to the park! Wanna come play with us??" He asked, enthusiastically. Lee stood up and thought about it.
"Hmm, I dunnnnooo.." He said, stretching out his words purposefully to tease the Uzumaki child. "I was going to do some training today, buutttt.."
"Awwh, pleeeeeease?" Naruto begged, staring up at him with his big blue eyes. Lee chuckled inwardly.
I betcha there's not a person in the world that can resist those eyes. He mused, smiling.
"Well.. okay."
"HURRAY!" Naruto launched himself back into Lee's arms. Sakura knelt down and picked Sasuke up.
"Shall we go, then?" She asked, smiling over at Lee, who smiled back. The four of them walked down towards the park, where the two elders set down the children, who immediately started running around. Lee smiled back at Sakura then moved to go play with him.
"Oh no!" Naruto cried. "It's the evil, giant, thick-browed monster! I, Uzumaki Naruto, the Hokage of Konoha, will defeat you!!" He shouted. "Run, Sasuke, I'll save you!" He said, standing in front of his hand, picking up a small twig and holding it like a kunai. Sasuke reached down and picked up a longer stick to use as a sword.
"I'll help too!" He said, as Lee marched towards them, making growling noises. Sakura watched them with a smile on her face, sitting down on a bench to watch their game. Eventually, the two five-year-olds managed to stab Lee enough that he let out a roar and fell to the ground, unmoving. Naruto climbed onto his chest and cheered. Sasuke watched from a little farther back, giggling.
"We won, we won, we beat the monster! Good job, my best Jounin!" He yelled triumphantly, giving a thumbs up to Sasuke. Lee suddenly sat up and grabbed Naruto, giving a playful growl. Naruto screamed.
"Ahhhhh! He got me! Help me, Sasuke!!" He called to his friend, who ran over and immediately started poking Lee in the leg. Lee roared again and reached down, scooping little Sasuke into his arms as well.
"Get him!" Naruto cried, biting down onto Lee's arm. Sakura yelled at him to play nice, and Naruto hesitantly released Lee's arm. Sasuke was still furiously poking at Lee's chest with his stick. Lee moved over to a pile of leaves and unceremoniously deposited the two children into it. The leaves flew everywhere, and Naruto exploded from the pile, throwing them about him. Sasuke was laughing and throwing them around with him, and the two ran around in the rain of leaves. Lee moved back to sit down next to Sakura, exhausted.
"Y'know, Naruto's gonna make a good ninja again." He said, chuckling. "Got some good tactics on him."
"Still, he shouldn't have bitten you, Lee-san.." Sakura said, frowning. Lee grinned at her.
"Oh, don't worry, I can take it. I mean, I've taken a lot worse, haven't I?" He asked. Sakura sighed and smiled.
"Yeah, I suppose so." She agreed. Lee turned to watch the two boys as they frolicked together through the leaves, smiling as they tired themselves out and collapsed into the pile, side by side.
Naruto lazily threw some leaves over at Sasuke, who threw them back. Eventually, it escalated into an all-out wrestling match, the two of them turning over and over in the leaves. The foliage caught in their hair and clothes as they pinned each other down, each of them growling playfully as they fought. Eventually, Naruto pinned Sasuke down, then collapsed on top of him, exhausted. Sasuke gave a soft "oomph", but didn't protest, too worn out to do anything about it.
It wasn't long before they were asleep, exactly as they were.
---To Be Continued...
Nice and fluffy. . It's gonna be basically like this for a bit. Teehee.