Disclaimer, I do not own Naruto nor the fictional characters except my own. I do not own the pictures either, but I own the plot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another day had passed and Naruto wasn't awake. He recovered slowly. Too slow in Itachi's eyes. But in truth, he recovered faster than other people and faster than the doctors expected. All he wanted was to hold the blonde in his arms. To tell him how much he loved him, that was not possible. At least not yet. The raven sighed as he threw the paper on the table. He couldn't concentrate. How could he? The person he loved was in the hospital while his little brother and his father kept pressing him to finally marry and settle down.

Itachi sighed and headed home for the day but not before he visited the blonde in the hospital. The raven looked at the blonde's lifeless body laying on the hospital bed. It pained him. It hurt. Itachi took Naruto's hand and caressed it while telling Naruto about his day. "You know, I had a hard time today. I couldn't concentrate because I missed you. I wish you were awake so I could tell you how much I love you."

The raven spared Naruto one more glance before he kissed his hand and left the blonde alone. After a long drive, Itachi finally reached his house but was met with his father and Sasuke. Honestly, why did he even bother? "Itachi! Stop sulking. I know you are worried but you have to get over it. Especially now when you are going to marry Izumi!" Fugaku told his son. Itachi grew mad. How could his father say this? Marry Izumi?

He liked the girl but he couldn't love her. He wouldn't dare to try to love someone else besides Naruto. Especially when Naruto was still unconscious and so vulnerable. "Itachi! Father and I just want the best for you. And besides, you can't marry the blonde. Even when he can give you children, I don't want you to marry him! Imagine how awkward it would be. And the children! No child of mine should play with Naruto's children. He is danger!" exclaimed Sasuke.

The raven wasn't over it just yet. He needed to blame someone. It was how he coped. How he wouldn't lose himself in his wicked life. Sasuke wouldn't be able to handle it. He was delusional. He had to save himself otherwise he would be lost forever. "Enough! I will not marry her! I love Naruto! I don't care about your opinion anymore. I give up everything I truly wanted for your sake and even sacrificed Naruto but not it's enough!" yelled Itachi.

Fugaku and Sasuke were surprised but before they could answer Itachi continued. "I don't want to hear his name coming out of your mouths again! I am not going to marry Izumi. If you can not see it, then I have to show you it another way. I am leaving the company and the family!" yelled Itachi before he left his house leaving his ex-brother and ex-father. Fugaku and Sasuke looked at each other. What did they just hear? It couldn't be true!

They lost Itachi! Fugaku was slowly seeing his mistake but he couldn't take it. He lost his son because he wanted his son to be something he couldn't be when he was younger. Fugaku, too, was delusional just like Sasuke. He needed to hide. Needed to hide his mistakes, his bad personality, his bad temper. He needed to blame someone. "It's his fault. It was Naruto's fault!" Fugaku growled lowly.

In his childhood, Fugaku grew delusional. It was self-defense. With his father being terrible and his childhood horrible, Fugaku grew up blaming others to protect himself. Just like Sasuke did now. Nobody thought about sending them to a therapist. Why would they bother when these two made you think that you were the problem? Their self-defense was too strong. Maybe, it was even too late to heal them, to save them.

"Naruto," growled Sasuke lowly. As Itachi yelled at him and his father, something in Sasuke snapped. Maybe, Itachi was right. He was always right, but as he saw his father's reaction, Sasuke thought Itachi was wrong. All Sasuke wanted, was to please his father and be better than his older brother. Being better than Itachi. Better than the rest of the family but in truth, no one except a certain blonde could be better than Itachi. And they knew it but they couldn't accept it.

Delusional.

Sasuke was battling with himself. He wanted to be better than Itachi but how could he be if Itachi was always right? But was he truly right? Was what he said true? Was Naruto more important than his own future? Sasuke hadn't had an answer. He had to wait and think about it carefully. But then, he remembered Itachi's words. He said he was leaving the family, leaving them behind. What about his mother? What about Sarada? How could he do something like that to their mother?

What did she do to deserve this? Sasuke grew angry. It couldn't be. Why was he leaving them? It was Naruto's fault. Sasuke grew more and more delusional with each second. His childhood, with a father who had a bad childhood, led him to his state. He had no other way to defend himself. That was how he grew up. That was his only way to protect himself. The two stayed in the house for a few minutes longer before they dashed out and went home.

The day went on and Itachi visited the blonde again this time, he seemed happier. "Hey, I need to tell you something. I broke ties with my family. I will miss Sarada and my mother but it was worth it. I couldn't let them bad-mouthing you!" Itachi told Naruto but the blonde didn't answer. He was still unconscious. Itachi kept talking to Naruto, telling him what he wanted to do in the future, telling him how much he wished the blonde awake, and finally, crying.

"Please Naruto, wake up. I miss you."

Itachi sobbed. He had never cried. Maybe when he was still a baby but still, he never did. But now, he cried and cried. Why wasn't Naruto waking up? Why was he leaving Itachi? If this would have been a romance movie, then Naruto would have woken up and told Itachi to stop crying. But it wasn't a romance movie. It was real life. After half-an-hour crying, Itachi calmed down and wiped his tears. This love would choke him. He was already choking on his tears.

People would think that the blonde would have been the one to choke on the love when it truly was Itachi who would be the one to choke. Itachi has never loved someone as much as he loved Naruto. It scared him how easy it seemed how Naruto made him feel, made him behave. Itachi sighed before he kissed Naruto's forehead and went home. He wondered how the kids were doing. If he was being this miserable how would Naruto's children be? Itachi refused to call two of Naruto's children the blonde's and Sasuke's children.

With this, Itachi stepped inside his car and drove to where Naruto lived. Or rather should be living because he was now in the hospital. After a few minutes, Itachi finally reached his destination and knocked on the door. He waited a few moments before he was about to knock again but he was interrupted by Utakata who opened the door. He looked and Itachi and raised a brow. "Master Naruto isn't present, please come another time," informed Utakata but Itachi didn't move.

"I know, he is only in the hospital because he saved me and Sasuke. I would like to apologize. Please, I just need to see the children. I need to apologize for being so careless. For putting him in danger!" Itachi pleaded and Utakata was taken aback. The man thought about it. Was it a good idea? No, no it wasn't. Just as he was about to tell him to come another time, Hinata walked to the door. "Let him in, Utakata. I trust him." Both men looked at Hinata before Utakata sighed and stepped to the side letting the raven inside.

Itachi removed his shoes before entering the house and thanked Hinata for letting him in. "Where are the children?" Itachi asked as he noticed the rather quiet atmosphere. It was too quiet. Hinata sighed as she looked at Itachi. She walked away gesturing for him to follow her. Itachi understood and followed Hinata to where the children would be. Hinata didn't look back to see if Itachi was following her and opened the door to a room. It was a nice room. It was decorated nicely.

Itachi entered after Hinata and spotted four children sitting on the floor looking gloomy. It pained Itachi. While he was sulking over Naruto he forgot about Naruto's children. The children didn't even bother looking at the opened door or the two people now standing in the room. Hinata smiled sadly and left Itachi with the children. Itachi observed the children for a while before he spoke. But he couldn't speak. Instead, he broke and cried in front of the children. This caught the children's attention.

The children immediately ran to him to try to see what was wrong with him. "I'm so sorry, it was all my fault. If it wasn't for me or Sasuke, Naruto wouldn't be in the hospital and you wouldn't be here without your mother. I'm sorry, please," Itachi sobbed. This was the second time he cried. The children understood how sad Itachi was. He was blaming himself for something he had no control over. The children soon started crying too. It broke their hearts to see someone cry over their mother. It hurt.

After a while, the five calmed down and Itachi began again. "I'm sorry for taking your mother. I know that you won't forgive me but please let me hold the pressure. It was my fault alone," apologized Itachi but the children shook their heads. They told him it was alright. "Mom will be fine. He's strong. Just give him more time," said Haruto softly. Itachi felt stupid. Children were soothing him. He was the one who had to soothe them and not the other way round.

"Do you," Itachi started. It was hard for him, "Do you want me to tell you something about your father?" Itachi looked at Naruto's and his little, no, at Naruto's and Sasuke's children. The two looked at Itachi confused before Mito answered. "Our father? We don't have one and if you are talking about Sarada-chan's father then let me tell you something. He may have made us, but he is not our father," instructed Mito. Itachi cringed as she said 'made' but what was she supposed to say? She was a child.

"But, you can tell us more about mom. I mean, something we don't already know," added Menma as he smiled at Itachi. Itachi didn't know much about Naruto but he told them everything he knew with so much love. Even the children notice how much the raven loved their mother. Itachi was telling them about how happy and nice Naruto was and how he behaved when he visited them for the first time. The children already knew it. They asked Naruto about his life, and he answered but they didn't want to stop Itachi.

It was nice listening to him talking about their mother. How much love and passion he would put in each word as he spoke about him. "And I, I truly love him. Please, would you permit me to ask him out?" Itachi asked the four children. It was stupid and he knew it but he couldn't help it. He knew that if he wanted Naruto to love him, he needed the children to like him first. The children looked at him then back to each other.

"No."

That was what Mito said and it hurt Itachi. No, that was what they said. He should give up then. If the children didn't like him then Naruto wouldn't either. Why should he bother? The children were Naruto's everything and Itachi knew that. He knew that Naruto would choose his children over everything. He would choose Menma, Mito, Haruto, and Hima over everything else. Naruto would die for them and give up his happiness. Itachi made a decision. He should give up and move on. Maybe, he could apologize to his father and ask for forgiveness.

"Please! I love him! I would give him my life. If I knew that this would have happened then, I would have pushed Naruto away. I wouldn't let him take the aim which wasn't for him. Please, I beg you," Itachi pleaded. It was pathetic but he didn't care. He would stoop on his lowest just to be with the blonde. Everything. He looked at the children on verge of tears. He couldn't cry. No, he shouldn't cry. Itachi was the adult after all but still. He dared his tears to fall. If they did, then he would blame himself.

The children were smiling. "We accept you, Itachi-kun. I bet you would make a good father," said Haruto, and Itachi looked at him confused. The children laughed and explained to him why. They needed to be sure, sure that Itachi meant it. They had to make sure their mother would be in good hands. Itachi chuckled lowly. These children were Naruto's. "But I want a little sister! Can you give me a little sister and a little brother?" Hima asked innocently. Itachi blushed.

If only the child knew what he had to do to have a child with the blonde. "Don't be silly Hima. Of course, he can! He can give us four mini us," exclaimed Menma happily, and Itachi's face grew redder. "No, six of us. A mini-me, mini Hima, mini Haruto, a mini-you, a mini mommy, and a mini him," added Mito. From the four of them, Mito knew the most. She was just like her mother. She was curious and often searched for an answer to her question. She once asked her mother where babies come from and saw him blush lightly.

Just as Naruto was about to tell her about bees and such, she interrupted him by saying 'I want the truth! The ads on tv late at night show something different from bees'. Naruto was shocked. Damn his curiosity and the genes. He had to explain to Mito how children were 'made'. Since then, Mito would use this to tease adults. She was just like her mother. Unpredictable. Itachi collected himself and he let out an awkward laugh. Before he could answer their request or give in, Karin entered the room and told them that dinner was ready.

She invited Itachi too and he accepted it. Just before he was about to leave when he notice Mito mot moving. He raised a brow and asked why she wasn't following. This was the worst thing Itachi could have asked. "When you do it with him, then make sure to be quiet. I still need my sleep and I'm sure that you don't want the others to find out how you 'make' babies. Oh, I heard Orochimaru saying that he likes it freaky tho I don't know what that means," she told him and with each word, Itachi's face grew redder and redder. He needed to say something in return.

"And what if we aren't quiet?" he asked back. Why was he saying that? How could he talk to a child about sex? Then, Itachi realized that it was the worst thing he could have said in his entire life. Mito smirked as she answered him. "Well, I would record it and upload it on the internet. I would also tell him that you are, what Kabuto always tells Orochimaru, a pedophile! Mom hates them but I have yet to find out what it means!" she shot back, and Itachi grew pale. This child would be the end of him!

She smiled like she hadn't had an uncomfortable speech with an adult and walked down to the kitchen to eat. Itachi took his time to recover before he followed her. He needed to watch out. This child was something else. If she was a smaller version of Naruto, then how was Naruto? And, he likes it freaky? Itachi blushed. How can she say that to him! As Itachi reached the kitchen his face still hadn't returned to its original color but no one questioned it.

They knew why. Mito told them. Karin knew that Mito and Naruto would destroy Itachi. The poor man would die too soon. Hinata on the other side only shook her head. She needed to talk to the blonde once he was awake. It was nice to have a clever child but it didn't need to know everything! They sat at the table and enjoyed the food while talking but Mito wasn't finished. She wanted to see how far she could get before Itachi died out of embarrassment.

"Aunts, and friends, and siblings, Itachi decided to become our new father and promised 6 children!" exclaimed Mito happily as she hid her smirk. The children including Yua were happy while Hinata, Utakata, and the maids looked at Itachi. Karin on the other hand gave Mito twenty bucks and kept laughing. Itachi wished he could disappear but he couldn't. "I can't wait to inform Sai and Shikamaru!" Karin added. She knew how protective the two could be.

Utakata smirked and spoke. "Let not forget to inform Temari-san and Fū-chan." Hell would break loose. These people were trying to kill him before he could kill himself! Maybe, choking would have been the better option. It seemed like that. Damn, he should have had chosen to choke from the love.

Itachi was in the hospital. He came to visit the blonde. Although it was past visit hours, Itachi still entered the building. He got permission from Kurama but not before he kept pleading with him. Itachi was sitting next to Naruto and took his hand in his. "Hey, you know, I confess to your family and they accepted me. I can only hope that you do too. Oh, Mito-chan will be the end of me," Itachi stated as he remembered their conversation.

"She said that we should 'make' six babies! As I was about to tell her that it wasn't possible we were interrupted but in the end, she told me to make sure to keep quiet while having sex with you. What are you teaching your children?" Itachi asked as he chuckled. "I just wish that you wake up soon." Itachi gave Naruto one last glance and kiss before he headed home. Or to the place he used to call home. As Itachi reached his place, he had already made a decision.

He packed his stuff and packed everything which truly belonged to him and not his family. After that, he went to a hotel and slept in peace knowing he had Naruto's family approval to ask the blonde out on a date. The next day, Itachi went to the office and removed his needed material. He was leaving everything behind. People would say that it was too far. He was going too far but Itachi knew he did the right thing. He didn't want to be like his father. He wanted to be himself.

Itachi bought a small apartment and decided to open his own company. And he knew who to hire first. He still hadn't had a name but it was ok. It wasn't a last-minute decision or idea. Itachi always wanted to open up his own business but his father wanted him to work for him. For the Uchihas. Itachi planned everything before he called his friends. "Hello?" answered the person on the other line. "Hello, Kisame? It's me, Itachi. I want you to gather everyone and come to this address," said Itachi and ended the call giving Kisame no time to respond.

After two hours, everyone came. "Itachi, why are we here, un?" asked Deidara as he looked at the man. All he wanted to do was to continue his art! "Hello, I decided to open my own business, my own company!" No one said a word. No one dares to say anything. "What?!" they shouted. It was the first time Itachi wanted something. The raven smiled and explained it to them. He wanted to do something he liked and something he could be proud of. After explaining to them what he wanted to do, he told them about Naruto.

"So, you fell in love with my nephew?" Nagato questioned, getting the attention of everyone. "He's your nephew?" Itachi asked shocked. Nagato nodded his head and told him how he found him. Well, it was Karin who found him in the US and introduced them to each other. They kept talking about the business until Obito spoke up. "Wait, what about me? I work for your father's company. How should I tell him that I will work with you?" Obito questioned his cousin. Itachi smiled and answered. He had already thought of that.

"You don't tell him you are leaving. You will work with me under a code name. Tobi, it is. You will make sure to inform me about everything related to Naruto. Make sure that they don't harm him." Obito nodded his head. His cousin was clever. "But what about Madara?" asked Sasori as he raised his brow. "What about him?" asked Hidan, as the others looked at him like he grew seven new heads. "Idiot! Madara has his own way to find out about things! We need to find a way to trick him."

Hidan made an 'ah' face before his eyes grew wide. He finally understood it. "Don't worry, I have the perfect distraction," assured Itachi, and the others nodded their head. They trusted him. They continued discussing a few important matters before parting away. That day, Itachi visited Naruto again and told him about their progress. The doctor told him that Naruto would wake up soon. In two days. Hopefully. Itachi thanked the doctor and left the hospital. Two days. Two days and he would be able to finally talk to Naruto!

The day went on and Itachi made huge progress. He already bought a place for his company to stay. Itachi used the two days to build his company. It was rather fast. At the moment, Itachi already made a name for his company. Well, everyone knew about the company but not about the name. He wanted Naruto to choose one for him. He knew the blonde would name it wisely. Even Fugaku and Sasuke heard about Itachi's new company. The company did many things.

Kakuzu would look after the money while Nagato and Itachi were the official CEOs. Hidan was there to look out for danger while Deidara and Sasori informed the other with their art. Konan made flyers and made sure to support the hospital. Kisame was Itachi's right hand. Itachi even asked Orochimaru to join his company because that man had information he needed but Orochimaru didn't accept. He told that he would wait until Naruto woke up and asked him to join.

And then finally, two days passed. Naruto would be awake today! Itachi was told to wait until he would be called because it could be a bit too much for Naruto to wale up with so many people around him but Itachi didn't care. He took his phone with him and made his way to the hospital. Once there, he found many reporters trying to enter the hospital but they weren't allowed. How they knew that Naruto would wale up today, Itachi didn't know. He continued his way to the hospital door until he was stopped.

"Uchiha-san what is your relationship with Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto?" a reporter asked Itachi. Itachi stopped and looked at the man. His relationship with the blonde? "Naruto-kun and I aren't in a relationship but, I can tell you that I am deeply in love with him and will come for the people who hurt him in the past, present, and the future." Itachi turned around and walked inside the hospital. The cameras caught everything. Everyone saw it.

The Uchihas, the Uzumakis, the Hyuugas, the Naaras, and even someone Itachi didn't know yet. She was watching it. She saw how Itachi talked about him. Maybe, it wasn't that bad. Maybe, just maybe, she did the right thing in leaving the blonde. He was loved, truly loved by someone. She list wished that she could talk to him. Just once would be enough. She sighed as she turned the tv off and went back to her old job. The job she hated with a passion. The job which destroyed her and with it, Naruto.

Choke yourself to sleep

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading! Don't forget to vote and comment if you like this story/chapter so far.

Total word count 4218