The kids were jumping around the last couple of days because their uncle Sasuke came to visit for a couple of days. He called a few days ago telling me he was stopping by to rest and recuperate. Of course, I was excited he was coming to stay for a few days! However...I saw a change in those couple of days in the kids. Do they like him better than me?! All they did was follow him around for two days whereas I didn't even get an acknowledgment! He got kisses and candy and all I got was DUST! Not to mention Sakura-chan being no help. All she did was laugh at me and told me to stop sulking. Why is it always like this whenever he's around?!

"Naruto, you can't get mad, you act just like them whenever he came around before Shina was born." Sakura giggled. She was gathering her things for another extended stay at the hospital. It's been a month since she started working more hours. She tells me that they're getting closer to their goal, just a few more experiments to perfect the formula. "Glad you can see what I had to deal with. Good luck," she kissed my cheek and grabbed her things. "I'm off!"

"...I never acted like that," I mumbled.

"Uncle Sasuke, do you have anything for us from your journey?" I heard Shinachiku ask.

"Your cape is so cool!" Hanami squealed.

Even Arashi was reaching for him! What am I? Chopped liver?!

"Thank you, Hanami. And I may have something, Shinachiku." Sasuke reached into his pocket and pulled out a weird-looking rock. "I found this on one of my trails."

Shina practically screamed once he got his hands on that thing. "It looks like a slug!"

"I guess it does, doesn't it."

He ran over to me with excitement and awe written all over his face. "Look, Dad! It looks like a slug!"

"Ah y-yeah, it does look like a slug."

That rock doesn't look like a damn slug.

"Thanks, uncle Sasuke!" he hugged his leg.

Sasuke patted him on the head and gave a very brief smile. "Naruto, where am I-"

Before he could finish, Both Shina and Hanami began to pull at Sasuke by hand and cape. "Come on Uncle Sasuke, we'll show you where your room is!"

"I guess..."

Not long after, it was just me and Arashi. "At least you still want to be with poppa, right Arashi-chan?" As if on cue, he started to cry.

This going to be a long two days...


It was quiet the next day. I had just put Arashi down for a nap and thought everybody went to sleep, but when I went to go check up on everybody, I found all except Arashi in Sasuke's room silently studying him as he looked over some scrolls. So I figured I'd catch up on my paperwork as well.

Why don't they come to my office and look at me doing my work anymore? Sasuke isn't that cool. All he does is make them do a stupid ass made-up jujitsu to make them be quiet! In my office, we have fun!

Yesterday, while they talked his head off, Arashi wasn't cooperating at all. No food, no toys, not even me rocking him. Oh but here comes Sasuke and now Arashi wants to eat. Now he'll go to sleep. I don't get it! There must be a collective prank going on and everybody is in on it, even the baby because there's just no way...

.

.

Maybe I am a little...jealous...

A quick sigh came through my nostrils. I have bigger things to worry about than wondering if my kids like Sasuke better than me. I have to get these papers signed so that Shikamaru can pick them up.


"Naruto, you still doing those-oh." Sasuke sighed and shook his head. He walked over and leaned down and shouted, "Get up!"

I instantly awoke, going as far as to stand up to look around. I didn't know where I was for a brief moment until I saw Sasuke staring at me. "Oh," I said slowly sitting back down, "Hey Sasuke, what's up?"

I just wanted to let you know that the kids are asleep, but I see you were too." he grabbed another chair and sat in front of me. "Did you finish before you dozed off?"

"I uh..." I took a quick glance at the paper in front of me... I did not. "I'll finish it later on tonight! What's going on with you? How was your trip?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"The trip was the same as always, long and tiresome. I encountered some people who don't like the new ninja policies, some who do."

"Were they old?"

"Of course they were., still stuck in their old ways. Some people are never going to change."

"I see..."

There was a comfortable silence between us before he broke it.

"You really think I can't see it?"

"What are you talking about?" I questioned.

"You're jealous, aren't you," he smirked.

"Pfft! Ha! Oh wow Sasuke you really that highly of yourself?! As if!"

"Oh please." He waved me off. "You've been mopping around the last two days. Every time i see you, you got those stupid ass puppy dog eyes going on. It's getting a little pathetic."

"P-Pathetic?!"

"Yes, very much so." Sasuke doubled down. "Listen, you're kids love and adore you. Just because they follow me around for two days out of two years doesn't mean they love you any less. Stop being stupid."

"I guess so.. I've just been working so much that when the pipe burst last month, I had to work from home and the attention from the kids felt good! I just..."

"Yeah yeah, I get it. It'll go back to normal tomorrow, just watch."

"You think so?"

Sasuke leaned back in his chair and sighed. "It better. I'm getting a little tired of answering the same questions over and over again. They truly are your kids, especially little Hanami. Always clinging to my cape."

"They're kids! Besides, I don't act like that!" I said matter of factly.

"Oh really?" Sasuke leaned in. "I remember when I first came back on my first tri and you acted like you'd die if you left my side."

"That's not-"

"You know how many times I had to hear Sakura complaining to me about it? It was ready to leave, again."

"Okay okay!" I laughed to myself at the memories. "Maybe I was a little clingy back then." I looked at him and smiled. "Thanks, Sasuke."

"Mmmhmm. Now finish your paperwork, and try not to fall asleep."

Why am I surprised every time my kids display the same behaviors I do/did in the past? Maybe I was a little jealous that Sasuke was getting all the attention. I had been enjoying it since I started working from home. (I wonder if Shikamaru is having the same feelings as I do) I really don't want to go back to the office any time soon. I like being here. Being surrounded by my kids. It's...nice.