A/N: It's been too long. All I can say is that life happened. Work happened. Lost my balance, priorities shifted. I stopped writing for a while. Didn't touch my computer for months.
Yesterday someone dear to me died.
I recently told Gar that the reason I write is so I can "fix" all the things I feel are wrong. Save the world, so to speak. I can create a tale wherein everything is horrible and then have the characters do what I wish the people in this world would do and make things right. So here I am. God willing, I will always come back to writing.
Thank you so much for your patience. Please forgive any typos I've missed or the site has made. Onward.
Chapter 9
Hinata's tomb was at the base of a mountain. The mountain itself was more of a land formation that rose a few thousand feet into the air, where it then leveled off into a plateau that stretched back a few miles. The area held several such formations. At the top of this one, the plateau was pocked with caves caused by millennia of erosion. These led straight down into the mountain itself. Some went down a dozen feet, some for hundreds of feet. One went down for what seemed like the entire height of the mountain. Naruto jumped down this one and stood looking at the craggy world illuminated by the shaft of sunlight he stood in. More caves branched off at odd angles. He turned from them and faced what he knew to be the front of the mountain, toward Hinata's tomb.
Eyes closed, he took a moment to decide just how little he cared that the armies were here for his children. He didn't care at all, he found. Icky could vanish, and Beast was Beast. They'd be fine. His friends, now. The villagers. Them he cared about very much. He didn't want them here. Yes, he remembered his fight back to sanity after seeing Hinata's body: his family, his friends, and his village. He loved his sons…well, Icky. Beast he was still working on. But he honestly didn't care about the rest of it anymore. He was done. Really done this time. He just wanted to be left alone.
Least he still had Hinata.
And now that he was alone he could get back to it. No interruptions. He chose a relatively smooth spot, stretched out, and closed his eyes.
His heart pitched in anticipation. Even after hours of doing it, he still trembled. Not precisely eager, but…the way it did when he knew he was about to do something he could get in trouble for. Part excitement, part nerves; he knew it was going to hurt but somewhere in the hurt it also felt good.
-oOo-
Sometimes he started with the early memories. Before she'd known him. Those were bittersweet. He hadn't hurt her yet, but others were hurting her. More often he hung out in the adolescent memories. Academy days. He'd watch her watching him and feel some of the fissures in his spirit filled with her love. Sometimes he would touch her hair, but his hand only passed through her. He marveled at the hours she stared at him. Longed for him. Bathed in her secret thoughts of him. Her fantasies of him. They used to make him blush, but now he looked at them boldly and wished he'd fulfilled every one.
She got older and her fantasies got older. Her love matured. A slow, steady progression from admiration to sexual. The day she'd fought Pain for him, the day she'd finally confessed what was in her heart, in was in full knowledge of what she wanted from him. He would look, hear, and wish he'd given it to her.
Her memories after he'd come back from the forest were also bittersweet. To see how much he'd hurt her with his clumsy apology and experience her discovery of him and Sasuke made him ache. Or maybe the ache was because he and Sasuke had still been close then. He never stayed in any of these memories long. They were his way of paying tribute to her until he could get to the memories he really wanted. As if by spending time in these less interesting memories, he could justify his reasons for coming in the first place. It lessened his sense of wrongness, traveling through her younger memories.
At last he did turn away. Left them behind. Approached the memories of the three of them leaving the cabin with that private shudder of guilt mixed with shame and excitement he always experienced. This was it. Where things started feeling wrong but good.
Up here in the arctic. In the first village. Where it was just him and her and Sasuke. Before Kyuubi. When she would stare at him and want him and dream about him at night. He spent a lot of time in these memories, but not the majority of his time. That was coming. He was working his way toward it. Sometimes he would stare at her. She was so beautiful. Sometimes he tried to touch her. When Kyuubi showed up, and her memories started shifting to Sasuke, was when the excitement started twisting tighter.
He wanted to touch her. Be with her. Acknowledge her love at long last and tell her that now he could finally return it. He was free to do so and did love her. The way she wanted to be loved by him. But he couldn't do that. How he wished she had a memory of him touching her. Not the many innocent touches they'd exchanged through the years. Real touching. The way Sasuke'd touched her. He could relive her memory of that night with Sasuke, but he never did. And never would. He always stopped before the memories got to that night.
The only time his body had ever touched hers was the rape. This was where he spent the majority of his time. What he was now obsessed with.
At first all he could do was watch, the way he'd done when Beast showed up. Watch and cringe. He would come to apologize, the way he always did, then he would go through her other memories, the early ones. Perhaps to soothe himself. To remind himself that her life hadn't all been disastrous. But he always returned to the rape.
If only he could hold her! Stop it from happening. The rape was the cause of everything: the night with Sasuke; Beast; her death. All of that started right here with the rape. The more he traveled her memories, the more his empathy grew. The more his empathy grew, the better able he became to tolerate the memory of the rape itself. He loved her. He didn't know how all the guilt and shame had brought him to this realization, but he did. He loved her. All he wanted was to hold her.
He wasn't sure when he first slipped into Kyuubi's memory of the rape. But he thought he did it so he could hold her at last. Touch her with love in his heart.
The first time he'd done it he pulled back at once. What kind of sick fuck was he to willingly relive the rape? To reenact it? But he'd gone back. Focused on the feel of her skin. The intense smell of her. She'd smelled of fear. He always bypassed the violence right before the rape. Focused on that short time he'd been touching her. Shut out the way he'd scratched and bitten her. Concentrated on how soft she was. The taste of her. How hot and tight she'd been. He convinced himself that her screams were from pleasure. "Hinata," he'd whisper over and over. "I love you. Please know that."
Tonight was different, as he'd known it would be. He arrived at the event, as usual. He no longer referred to it as rape. He arrived, but this time Hinata was waiting. Still in the kitchen, still at the sink, but facing him. Smiling. And, just as he'd known it would be, that tangible quality to her presence was back.
"Hinata?" His eyes ran over her. Her clothes were different. The clothes she used to wear in Konoha. "Is this real?"
"Naruto." Her smile deepened.
She hadn't addressed him like this, directly, since the night she'd given him her memories. To see her looking at him, welcoming him… To hear his name from her lips in that tone… It all felt real. So much more real than life with Chou and the boys. "What is this?" he said.
She came toward him. "Your feelings finally reached me." She took his hands. Put them around her. "Hold me like you want to. Like I want you to."
It had to be real. How else would she know exactly what he was thinking? He drew her against his body. Gasped at finding her naked. They were both naked. She was whole and perfect. Unblemished. Unhurt. Her hand slid between them and found him ready. No shame. No guilt. Just her eyes shining up at him with all the forgiveness in the world. "I love you, Hinata." He brought his face to hers.
"Show me," she whispered against his mouth.
Konoha's newest Hokage was a man named Shinji. Young. Not quite thirty. Appallingly unqualified for the position he now occupied. He'd been a keen councilman. Adept at politics, subterfuge, the hidden pathways by which villages were run.
A fighter he was not. His actual ninja rank was Chuunin. However, as he'd been the most vociferous proponent for taking Naruto's unprecedented child, he'd been shunted into Tsunade's place. A place, he always thought in rage, Tsunade was never to have lost. Yes, he'd screamed louder than anyone for her impeachment, her deposition, her assassination—anything that would get their hands on that child—because he'd fully expected Tsunade and her supporters to triumph. Had he known there were so many silent dissidents, so many people who hungered for power and for Konoha to be the unquestioned leader in the world, he would have kept his own mouth shut. Tsunade was supposed to win. She was Hokage. A woman who could no doubt take on the entire village and win. She'd conceded defeat in her ousting to prevent more loss of life.
Damn her. But for her, he wouldn't be stuck in the mess he was currently in.
If only they'd captured Naruto at the cabin. Sachi was to have been their ace. But some traitor warned them in time and Sasuke had disappeared to parts unknown. Sachi, too, apparently turned on them to side with Tsunade. All might still have been well if Sachi had remained with them, but there never had been any way to control that bitch.
By chance, the gods decided to smile on them a last time. Sachi, back when she'd still sided with the village, had put forth a plan the Fifth shot down, but which he and the other council members thought held merit: elect her and Sasuke as heads of a new military force, and she would see to it that Konoha enjoyed the kind of power that would guarantee attacks from people like Pain never happened again. Konoha would rule the world. Never again would one man's whim come so close to destroying all, as Madara's had done. Organizations like Akatsuki would never form. Konoha would rule firmly, but peacefully, equal with the Hokage…and they'd all heard her unspoken desire to see Sasuke elected to this position. She'd then proceeded to back up her proposition by showing them Gedo Mazo. Whereupon her father sealed four of the demons in her, as many as she could hold. Konoha was to have retained possession of the remaining four, but a spy reported to the other villages —such a mess. They'd received no small amount of grief from Tsunade; that bit of business went down on one of her trips to the cabin. Once she found out, she'd never left again. Kept the group who'd been with Naruto isolated.
Tsunade. The single obstacle between Konoha and permanent stability. A Jinchuuriki more powerful than Naruto, and Naruto's powerful child. None would have been able to stand against them. If only all had gone according to plan!
Instead they were weaker than they'd ever been in the history of the village. Sannin gone, elite gone, both Jinchuuriki gone. Disgraced before all. And worse! The other nations now had Jinchuuriki of their own! While Konoha had none. The worst, though, the very worst was how the entire mess could be laid at Konoha's door. They were less than dirt. All the other nations knew it and treated them as such. Kirigakure was leading the charge, as they were in possession of the most powerful Bijuu outside of the Nine-Tails. The other three nations vied for prominence, but Konoha was left to tag along in the rear. Eating dust and shame along with the other scraps the armies left behind.
It was intolerable.
No. The only way to lift the shame they'd brought upon themselves was to submit to Sasuke and the leaf ninja who'd joined him. Throw themselves on his mercy. Beg forgiveness. Beg asylum. They were at the clemencies of savages otherwise.
-oOo-
His assistant ducked into what now passed for the Hokage's tent: A stinking patchwork of animal furs propped on two poles and held down at the corners with rocks. "What news?" he asked of her.
She was an older woman, gnarled and humorless. The last Tokubetsu Jounin to Konoha's name. She pinned him with shard-like eyes as she straightened from her bow and rested the heel of one hand on her weapon's pouch. "Not good. Rogues from all armies continue to prey on our weak-"
"We are all weak!"
She paused for his outburst. "Four more women raped, seven girls gone missing, a dozen boys. Two men murdered. The villagers look to you to protect them, or else demand blood money from the armies for the loss of their loved ones."
"Is there any good news?"
A sniff. "Two of the armies lost control of their Jinchuuriki again. Which two is unclear. Seems like all four erupt periodically."
"So they are still too distracted to move on Sasuke and the child, then. I tell you, now is our time to act! We must beg mercy and protection from Sasuke."
"And I have told you that he harbors no love for Konoha or the council that exiled him. What is to stop him from killing us the moment we approach him?" Her eyes moved up and down his body. "You?"
"I am Hokage!" he intoned, drawing himself up.
Her name was Kai. She stared at him now until he slowly deflated. Not till his eyes fell from her face and his head lowered did she deign to speak. "You're what?"
"No one."
"What?"
"No one. Mistress."
"That's right. No one. Unless I say you are."
And it was she who'd told him to accept the nomination of Hokage. He was careful about his private life, so it was doubtful anyone knew of his long relationship with Kai. He'd introduced her to the council as his assistant, but the truth was she'd raised him from the age of five.
She'd been many things to him over the years. Mother, sister, friend, protector, provider. He didn't question her when she said he was old enough to begin pleasuring her. He never questioned her about anything. Could not begin to imagine life without her. It wasn't love. It was so much more than love. Obsession. Possession. To be owned by her. To know beyond life, death, and all doubt that she was the beginning and end of all existence for him, the meaning of life, the definition of him…it was an addiction he could not give up. Would not give up.
So now he waited, every limb loose and relaxed in expectation of punishment for his outburst. Sometimes leadership and this war got to him. Made him forget his place. Who he was. He would be corrected. He wanted to be. This he loved. The pain she gave him. How it emphasized her ownership and where he belonged. The pain was safety. Security. And after, he would be given the supreme gift of entering her body. Inflicting the pain in turn, flogged by her ragged demands for harder and faster, until she bled. Only then did he know he owned her just as fully.
Sasuke appeared amidst a score of people he knew and many he didn't. It was Naruto's house; there were the friends who'd been at the cabin, their parents or guardians, and a bunch of people who were in the process of petitioning these parents and guardians for help and advice. That, or they were receiving instructions of some kind. Point was, the house was full, yet he could see no sign of Naruto.
Everyone went silent at seeing him.
As there were quite a few things jostling for prominence in his mind, Sasuke spent some seconds staring back. He was peripherally aware of Ino, Shikamaru, and Kiba joining their friends and greeting their parents, but he decided his first priority was, after all, his son. "Where's Ikioi?"
"Who?" Konohamaru pushed his way to the front.
"My son."
No one seemed to know. No one spoke. Just stared at him.
What patience Sasuke had evaporated. "Have I stepped into a dream world, or are there several armies, each in possession of a Jinchuuriki, coming for my son? Where is he!"
This time they all looked at each other before looking at him. It was Inoichi who spoke now, shouldering his way forward to do so. "What do you mean they all have Jinchuuriki? Where did you learn this?"
"From your daughter."
Inoichi looked at her. "All the nations? I thought you said Suna was our ally?"
Ino nodded. "I did. But I have since learned that was a ploy to get close to Naruto and his child. Gaara's gone, dad. No one's seen or heard from him in months." She started to launch into all she'd learned in Konoha, but Sasuke shut her up with a raised hand.
"Where's Naruto?"
Shrugs.
He asked the next question through his teeth. "Where's Chou?"
Chou himself answered from right behind him. "Sasuke. Thought I felt your presence. Is-"
"Where's Icky?"
"Perfect timing," Chou nodded. "Was just about to give the boys breakfast. Come along, I'll show you where they are."
Sasuke followed him out.
-oOo-
Apart from all the people inhabiting the village, two things struck Sasuke: the shield doming the village, and the steel structure in the center of it. But then they were entering the house next door, where he saw Sakura passed out on the couch. Chou went into the kitchen. Sasuke saw an assortment of bottles, some of them huge, all full. They were warming on the stove while Chou returned to a mixing bowl full of baby cereal. He watched as Chou added mashed bananas. "Had to stop when I sensed you next door," Chou explained.
"Where's Icky?"
"In that steel box."
"And Naruto?"
"Good question, all things considered. Tracked his chakra to Hinata's tomb. He's somewhere in that mountain."
"Doing what?"
"Presumably, more of what he was doing at his own house."
"Which was?"
"I honestly couldn't tell you. But I can tell you what it looked like," he said before Sasuke could explode. He proceeded to recount Naruto's hours of solitude, culminating in his catatonic state. "Konohamaru brought him out of that. There was a brief period of aphasia, but then he was fine. Wherever he is in that mountain, I'll bet he's doing more of that."
"So, like he was when Hinata's body showed up?"
"Yes. Sort of."
Sasuke digested this. Couldn't immediately process it. He was about to ask about his son when Sakura spoke from behind him. "Chou. When you were telling me about the Hirukage you didn't mention the catatonia or aphasia. Nor did Konohamaru give me a report on how he found his Boss. I want to hear more about this."
"Of course," Chou said. "Well-"
"No," Sasuke interrupted. "Naruto doesn't sound like he's in any immediate danger, and I need to see my son." He gestured at the food.
Sakura folded her arms. "As soon as you're done, I'd like a word."
Sasuke gave a nod as he followed Chou outdoors once again. He watched closely as Chou unlocked the structure with chakra and entered. Paused on the threshold to note that this box was the reason he couldn't simply sense Icky. It blocked him somehow. No wonder Naruto had no problem leaving his son inside. Still negligence, he thought as he entered.
-oOo-
Icky was sitting on the floor. A padded, toy-strewn floor, he was relieved to note. Yuudai zoomed around on all fours. Round and round, up and down. Fast as a ninja using chakra, but he wasn't using any. Sasuke went to Icky and hunkered down. Icky continued to stare at Yuudai, a frown of concentration pinching his little face. "Icky?"
It wasn't his son who responded, but Yuudai. Sasuke accessed Sharingan when Yuudai dropped from the third level to land in front of him. A barrier between him and his son. Sasuke braced himself but all the other boy did was stare at his knees. He thought maybe Yuudai was waiting for-
Icky screamed at seeing him.
Brought back to the present, Sasuke was in time to see Icky scuttling towards him. All else left his mind as he scooped his son into a tight hug and felt Icky squeezing his neck in turn. "Ah, my boy. My baby boy. You have no idea how much I've missed you."
Icky surprised him by pulling back, letting loose a stream of gibberish, and pointing at Yuudai.
"What?" Sasuke looked at Yuudai too. Chou was now shoveling cereal into his mouth.
"Icky's close to Beast," Chou said. He pushed a smaller bowl of cereal in Sasuke's direction. "Here, feed Icky. But yeah, when Naruto's not training them, I sense Icky's been trying to communicate with him."
"Beast." He gave Icky a spoonful of cereal. "I see some things have changed while I was gone. My son's eating solids, Beast, Naruto…training? Why don't you start at the beginning. From Hinata's funeral."
Chou spoke during the consumption of the cereal and bottles, and while they each changed their respective charges.
A part of him knew bitter joy at learning Naruto's reaction to their breakup, but the majority of him felt chastened. Chastened and…unworthy, at just how much this breakup seemed to be fucking with Naruto's mind. Even when Naruto was hating him, he still loved him. Loved him so much his sanity suffered when they were apart. It was just like the pregnancy, Sasuke thought. And then he felt dense pride that he still had so much power over Naruto. Felt valid. Almost vindicated. Such depression on Naruto's part had to mean there was a chance for them.
That was for later, though. He tucked his happiness over Naruto's grief away to focus on his training methods with the boys. Hearing of the moves and power both were capable of put a frown of confusion on his face. "That's it?" he said when Chou finished. "That's how he's training them?"
Chou shrugged. "Far be it from me to criticize. I'm no ninja, nor have I any clue as to how ninja training should be undertaken. I do know that the way he handles Beast is appalling. Well what do you know." Beast yawned. "Looks like today's going to be one of his sleep days. He goes down about once a week, every ten days or so. Yup, and there goes Icky, curling up beside him. No, they don't need the blankets. Beast puts out more than enough heat to keep them toasty. Shall we? They'll be asleep for a good twenty-four hours."
"No. I want to sit with my son a minute, for fuck's sake. The hell is up with that sleep pattern? He wasn't doing this when I left."
Chou folded himself back to the floor and joined him in staring at the boys.
Sasuke listened to the same analysis Naruto'd received about his son and Yuudai with great attention. He had questions, which Chou answered, but most of his thoughts were taken up with one thing. "You think Yuudai can be taught." It was a statement.
"To an extent. Naruto's certainly trying, but given his approach, I'm not sure what it is he's trying to teach him. Naruto's not…doing well, these days." Chou peeked in his direction.
Sasuke caught the unasked question. "I'll address it, Chou, don't worry. But right now I have a war to fight." He got to his feet. "Question. Could anyone get into this box, or just you and Naruto?"
"They'd have to have really strong chakra placed precisely on the locks…which are undetectable."
Sasuke stared at him. "I want to show you something."
Chou looked at the new eyes. Listened to the question that followed. Considered it with a tilt of his head. "Not sure. Have you tried?"
"I tried exiting here just now in that manner and was blocked. Which I find fascinating. So I assume I'd be unable to just appear in here as well. But I'm not asking about me. I'm asking about someone with access to more chakra than I do. Can someone powerful enough manipulate the same space/time jutsu to enter this box?"
"You'd have to ask Naruto. He said this box was more Fuuinjutsu than steel, hence its ability to keep Yuudai inside, but…yeah. I don't know."
Sasuke looked around at the interior. At his son who was now sleeping on Yuudai's back. At Yuudai himself. He nodded. "Okay. I don't like it, but I'm going to trust Naruto for the moment. At least until I can come back here and address this myself. Right now, there are a few things I need to attend to." He followed Chou out, but not before he'd made ten clones, the way Naruto apparently did. He stood outside, eyes shaded as he stared up at the structure and considered all he'd been told. Forcibly turned his back and pushed his worry aside. "Looks like the villagers are settling in?"
"Yes."
"Is there a house available for my use?"
"Probably."
"Select one for me. Not too big. This will be my residence. Once you've selected it have Sakura, her inner circle, and her advisors brought there. Tell them to wait for me. How long can you maintain this shield?"
"I've tethered it to the natural chakra around us. It sustains itself."
"…What? How."
A shrug. "Something I saw Naruto do when he was shielding Beast. Handy."
"Right. Moving on. Are you Naruto's assistant?"
"He's been treating me as such."
"In that case, I hereby name you as assistant to the Kage office of Hakumeigakure. Now you're my assistant too."
"All righty."
"Once you've assembled everyone, set up a hospital-"
"We'd need a suitable building. Supplies."
Sasuke blinked. "How was this hellbox thing brought?"
"Toads brought the construction materials and assisted Naruto's clones in building it."
"Fine. Map out the location for the hospital and I'll handle the rest."
"Got it. What are you going to do, if I may ask?"
"Something that should have been done a long time ago. I'll meet everyone in an hour."
Both boys remained as he'd left them, sound asleep. He remembered Chou's information on them, but it was Kiba's words that gave him pause. The assertion that Yuudai was his now that Hinata was dead. He didn't know how Kiba came by this notion, whether it was because he and Hinata had shared something, or because he was partner to Naruto, Yuudai's other parent. However Kiba's logic worked, there could be no question of Yuudai belonging to him if Hinata's father and cousin were nearby.
However, for right now he would accept responsibility for him. He'd gotten Hinata raped, which had led to her death. Yuudai was his burden until such time as Naruto straightened out, or the Hyuuga claimed him.
Regarding Chou's information on the boys, though, as far as he was concerned, they were both ninja. As such, young as they were, he felt no compunctions over what he did next.
He had a clone assist him, but told him to observe for now. Calling forth lightning in his hand, he extended this into a sword and slashed at Icky.
Yuudai kept snoring.
Seeing as the sword stopped short of his son, that might be expected. He next swiped at Yuudai. Still no reaction from either boy. As he'd thought: they were oblivious to threats. All well and good for Naruto to train their abilities, but unless they knew when and where to hurl those abilities, such training was pointless. He transformed into Sachi. His clone did the same. Accessing his new eyes, he attacked once more.
First the safety of Icky and Yuudai. Then the village. Then he'd see about Naruto.
"Show me," she whispered against his mouth.
He started to, eager to give her this at long last, but her eyes turned red. Kyuubi stood looking at him from his great height.
"The fuck," Naruto squawked. "What-"
"Naruto." It was a reproachful growl. "Stop this."
"I want her."
"She's gone."
"I want her."
"This is madness."
"No. It's not crazy if you know it's happening."
"The last time you refused to listen to me you got pregnant."
"I want her. And she wants me too."
His chakra obliterated the image of Kyuubi, and then Hinata was there. Soft and smiling and waiting for him.
Having only known Sasuke and the rape, it was quite the revelation to be with a girl. And Hinata wasn't just any girl. She loved him. He loved her. She closed her arms around him after Kyuubi left and pulled him down into a dark world of heat and passion.
Sakura listened with everyone else to Ino and Shikamaru's report. She sensed Kiba had a lot to say, but he stood off in a corner by himself, arms folded and gaze turned inward. "I'm going to get back to that in a minute," she said, still staring at Kiba. "For now, Kiba, why don't you tell us what happened when Sss…when our friend took you?"
He spoke without looking at her. "Because I don't want to."
Sakura turned to face him directly. "And why the hell not?"
Now he looked at her. A scowl. "Because it was personal. To him. Why don't you tell me what's been going on right here?"
"Meaning?"
"Chou. You reek of him. And see that…when I said his name just now, your scent spiked."
Sakura's face tightened in rage, a fact all present noted, but Ino said, "I can tell you something about Sasuke."
Still glaring at Kiba, who was gazing back, Sakura spoke through her teeth. "What."
It only took one sentence.
"What?" Sakura swung toward her. "And since when can you say his name?"
Ino told of Sasuke finding them in the woods. Being allowed into his mind. "He got his eyes from pain, Sakura." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Just being in there, seeing it first hand, feeling it…it made me sick. Guys…" She turned to look at all of them. "Some really horrible shit went down up here. Sasuke and Naruto broke up."
Gasps.
"I think what's wrong with Naruto has something to do with Hinata, but more to do with that. The fact that he and Sasuke broke up."
Wide-eyed frowns as this was processed. Then Konohamaru spoke up. "Sad, man. Just sad. But what I'd like to know is why we got armies up our asses but no attack yet. That shit ain't suss to you guys? Makes no sense."
Sasuke walked in. "I agree. Before I address that, though…" He unsealed the group. Waited for them to recover. Noted that there was no reaction to his eyes and figured word was starting to get around. "In case you didn't know, Hakumei has two Kage. I'm Yorukage. If you'd like to swear fealty now in order to become citizens, I will accept this."
They looked at each other. Shrugged. Nodded. One by one they went to their knees and swore allegiance to Hakumeigakure, its Yorukage, and its Hirukage. When they stood, they bowed low to Sasuke.
Sasuke gave his deepest bow in return. "What you have done for me, Naruto, and our son will never be forgotten. Never. As long as I breathe you have my protection. This I swear to you as First Yorukage of Hakumeigakure." He straightened. Considered some other gesture, such as shaking hands. No. A Kage remained dignified. "Right. I'm afraid I must assign missions immediately. Kakashi."
"Yes, Yorukage."
He knew a moment of elation that his former teacher was now answerable to him. "The armies. I need you to find out what they're up to. See-"
A thunderous boom reverberated throughout the village.
"It's them!" Konohamaru screamed. "They're finally attacking the village!"
"No." Sasuke forestalled the rush outside by raising his voice. "It's my clones. I have a few Susanoo helping five hundred clones build a hospital." Pause. "And ten more training my son and Yuudai. Which brings me to my next point," he said, ignoring the stares. "Hyuuga Hiashi. Neji. What do you know of Hinata?"
Neji spoke for is uncle. "That she was pregnant. And is now dead."
"No specifics on either condition?"
Head shakes.
"I see. I'll need to speak with both of you alone then. Kakashi, leave for that mission now."
"At once, Yorukage." He vanished.
"Chou assists the Kage office, but I need a personal assistant." He looked over the raised fists. He wanted age and experience, but also youth and ferocity. An idea came to him. "Someone find me Moegi."
Konohamaru moved toward the door. "I will, sir."
"Right." Sasuke thought for a minute. Ten thousand things clamored in his mind to be addressed. He had to be selective. "I need ANBU. Forehead protectors. A symbol. Something to identify us when the armies come. And I need an advisor." This was where he really needed age and experience. Again, he looked over the raised fists. He met a flat stare at the back of the room and felt a jolt of accord. Someone he could trust, who was knowledgeable and unbreakable. "Morino Ibiki. I name you advisor to myself. Do you accept?"
Ibiki came forward. Bowed. "I do, Yorukage."
"Good." He stopped as another titanic boom shook the village. "Put in motion my requests. Uh…please. Thank you. Neji, you and your uncle come with me. Ino, you too. The rest of you, take instruction from Ibiki for now. Ibiki, intercept Konohamaru when he comes back with Moegi. I don't want to be disturbed for anything less than the armies attacking. I'll come down when I'm done." He frowned. "And form a war council for when I am done."
He led the Hyuuga and Ino upstairs, found a room with a desk, and took a moment to lean his hands on it.
One of them closed the door.
When he lifted his head, he had himself more or less composed. More on the less side. He cleared his throat. "First and foremost, you should know that Hinata's child lived. She named it – him – Yuudai. He's currently with my son, being trained by my clones should Sachi put in an appearance and try to take one of them. I cannot assign any guard stronger than they are themselves unless it's myself or Naruto, so don't be alarmed that they're alone." He turned to face them.
All of them opened their mouths to speak. Hiashi lurched toward him with urgency all over his face. He checked them all with a raised hand.
"Please," he said. "What I have to tell you won't be told to another soul. It's too…difficult. Too painful. I can't even speak of it." Not after Kiba. "Not accurately enough to…for you to understand. So Ino I need you to lift it from my mind. What happened. The emotions. All of it. So Hinata's family can see. And hopefully understand. Just," he said when they all moved toward him. "Just know that this will be hard. On all of you. Do you want this?"
Nods from the Hyuuga.
"Are you sure? Once you see you won't be able to forget. Believe me, I know." He looked away from them.
Hiashi studied Sasuke. The anguish on his face. Neji met his eyes. Ino waited for direction. "When she died, I felt it," Hiashi said. "My daughter. A child I abused and ignored, who then grew dear to me. I felt the moment she left this world. I need to know. Show me my child."
Sasuke nodded. "Then please forgive me. If you can."
-oOo-
Ino suddenly didn't want to do this. She could feel the pain already. Whatever had Sasuke and Naruto so different. But Neji and his uncle were staring at her. Sasuke waited against the desk. Eyes closed. The fingertips of one hand bracketing his forehead. She took a steadying breath. Stepped to Sasuke. Gently moved his hand and cupped is head between her palms. The Hyuuga placed their hands on her back.
Immediately, she could tell the difference. Not as much resistance. There was some; places he walled off from her, but all things concerning Hinata were lined up before her. She felt him guide her to the beginning. To his, Naruto, and Hinata's last night in the cabin, and took it from there.
It was an effort. Seeing Naruto devolve and unravel. Seeing Sasuke and Hinata's growing fear. Their dependence on each other. But when Kyuubi took over-
-oOo-
He hadn't thought reliving it would be so bad. Bad, yes. But not this bad. Now that he was in full awareness of how much he was at fault, it was unbearable. To see his passivity when Kyuubi first attacked now galled him to the bone. To know there was now an audience to his shame only made it that much worse to relive.
And now, to see again the aftermath of Hinata's assault. Teetering and bleeding. Helpless in his arms. Arms he later tried to comfort her with. This too he relived with private castigation, and yet his night with her still soothed him. The remembered love he had for her still ached. The lies he'd told hurt.
He'd forgotten the lust he'd felt for her after. He'd been hating her again by then. Wishing her and the child in her dead. He didn't hide this from Ino. Let them all know exactly what kind of man ruled them, the man they'd sworn allegiance to. He considered hiding his secret pleasure at her demise. Almost did. But he was guilty, so hid nothing. Not even his attempts to kill Yuudai.
-oOo-
Ino withdrew her presence from his mind and he was able to breathe. He didn't want to but he raised his head high and measured the other people in the room.
Neji was glaring at him with Byakugan, fists tight. Hiashi's face was largely unchanged. Ino went to a corner where she could cover her face and cry in private. "Ino," he said. "I don't have to remind you that what you've seen doesn't leave this room, do I?"
"No."
"You're dismissed."
When it was just the three of them he addressed Hinata's father. "I failed her. Short of harming my son, this village, my position in it, Yuudai, or Naruto, I will pay any price you ask." He waited.
Hiashi blinked through the stew of emotions roiling inside him. Tried to sift his own feelings from Sasuke's. He knew pride, anger, hurt, grief…but in the end he wasn't equal to the task. Pushed it all down and locked it away. Later. Time enough later to process. For now he would deal with facts. "My daughter is dead. I do not know that any price can change that. But her son lives. I claim him now." He turned to go, Neji on his heels.
"I can't let you do that," Sasuke said.
Both Hiashi and Neji were halted at the door. The chakra surrounding them, Sasuke's chakra, kept them pinned where they stood, unable to turn around. "Release us," Neji bit out.
Sasuke ignored him. "Yuudai is Naruto's son too. A father has more right than a grandfather. Naruto is my partner. Therefore, in his absence, I will look after his interests until such time as he instructs me otherwise. Yuudai is under my protection. You may see him but you cannot take him."
And both Hyuuga knew they were powerless to change this. Against Sasuke they were no match. Not now.
"Then let me see my grandson. And I want a hand in his training. His protection. All aspects of his life. Every detail, I want to know. He is Hyuuga."
"As soon as he's able I will have Naruto confer with you about him."
"Very well. Now let me see him."
The visit was a disaster, one Sasuke felt he should have anticipated.
Upon entry to the training box he found Icky in tears, but Yuudai took one look at the Hyuuga and attacked. Both Neji and his uncle resorted to Kaiten; Yuudai smashed right through. His own chakra didn't immediately stop the boy. Juuken had no effect. By the time he landed by the Hyuuga and physically snatched Yuudai off them, they were in critical condition. And it had only been half a minute since they'd entered the training box, surely no more than a minute. Yuudai snarled and writhed in his grasp. Turning his new eyes on him he leveled a powerful Genjutsu at him. He had to fight the boy, shoving and forcing the Genjutsu into place until Yuudai's eyes closed in slumber.
His clones had been dispersed in trying to help the Hyuuga. He made ten more and handed the boy to one. Another went to Icky and began comforting him. He went to the Hyuuga.
Neji was out, but Hiashi was conscious. "I'm sorry," Sasuke said. "I should have considered my training them would have Yuudai-"
"That is no child." Hiashi coughed up blood. "He is-"
Whatever else Hiashi had to say was lost. Sasuke sent one of the clones to get Chou.
He'd been waiting with Sakura, her advisors, and the rest of the cabin crew for over an hour while Chou tended to the Hyuuga in Hakumei's interim hospital when he turned to Sakura with a question. "Why aren't you helping Chou?"
"Because I can't stand him," she snapped. "And because he told me not to."
Kiba stared at her scowl. Ibiki quietly reminded him that his war council and Moegi were waiting. "They're going to have to wait," Sasuke murmured. "Naruto is the next order of business and I can only do one thing at a time." Naruto surfaced in his mind clearly just then. "On second thought…" He made two clones. "Take them." Ibiki bowed and left. The clones went with him.
Chou came in shortly afterward. "There was extensive internal bleeding in the elder Hyuuga. His spleen was demolished, several shattered ribs, and a lacerated aorta. That…I barely got to that in time." They watched him wipe his hands on an equally stained rag. "That aorta was a challenge. And I haven't regrown organs in years, but elder Hyuuga is out of the woods. Younger Hyuuga's arms were destroyed. Completely. Nothing but bone fragments. You said he stopped Beast at full charge?" He shook his head. "That boy can run through solid stone, I'm sure. Younger Hyuuga stood no chance. The time and skill necessary to repair such damage…I'm still working on him. Taking a break now because you need my input about Naruto, yes?"
Sasuke frowned. "Sakura is excellent. Why aren't you putting her expertise to use? Or Ino's?"
Chou answered without looking up from his hands. "Ino I didn't know about, but I'd be delighted to have the lovely Sakura working beside me."
Kiba's eyes narrowed.
"But she's made it clear how much she dislikes me. I won't have her issues clouding her judgment when it comes to taking orders from me. " He looked up at last, right at Sakura's reddening face. "And she would be taking orders from me. Naruto named me head of all medical services."
Sasuke found Sakura's rage both reminiscent of their Genin days and inappropriate. He stared at her. "Whatever shit you have going on with Chou, get over it. Now. I need everyone working at capacity and beyond. I have zero patience or time for self-indulgent bullshit. Is that clear?"
Sakura glowered right back. "You better watch who you're talking to. I'm not your servant."
Sasuke walked right up to her. Looked her up and down. Drilled into her belligerent stare with a hooded gaze of his own. "That's exactly what you are. A citizen of Hakumeigakure. Which I rule as Kage. Whom you swore allegiance to. You serve me, Sakura. You are under my command. You are my tool, my weapon, and whatever else I wish. If that's not the case then forgo your oath and take your ass over to the armies hunting my son. I warn you, though: I will wipe your mind clean of so much as your name before you go…and seeing as I've never done such a jutsu before I can't vouch for my skill in execution. You might die in the attempt." He blinked. "Are you staying or going?"
It was almost more than she could stand, bowing her head for this former team mate. But she'd sworn her allegiance. Fucking son of a bitch! "Staying."
"Then as soon as we're done here you go with Chou. And work under his direction."
The silence in the room was profound.
"Yes. Yorukage."
Sasuke's chin lifted. He felt great satisfaction at bending the high and mighty Sakura to his will. All that remained now was for him to finish training the boys and to see to Naruto. "Chou, your report. Include Hinata's death and Naruto's reaction to it."
Chou inclined his head. "Got it. So…"
The telling was shorter than Sasuke would have thought. Everyone frowned. "And your thoughts, Chou?" he said.
"Initially, I thought grief over your breakup with him was what had him so withdrawn. He came home from that funeral a broken man, Sasuke. Never saw him like that. After…well, he was just cold. Shut down. I thought the boys, working so closely with them, would soften him, but if anything he's worse. He was never affectionate with Beast, but he used to show love toward Icky. Now?" He frowned at his shoes. "Most troubling is how much he isolates himself. Hours at a time. If he happens to be out of his room but not interacting with the boys, he's silent. Brooding. Miles away. All of this I thought was grief. Hinata, Sasuke…I thought that's what it was. But this isn't emotional. At least, not solely, not anymore. It's physiological. I told you of my assessment after Konohamaru came. I've never seen anything like that. It was his chakra and yet it felt…different. It's not a disease or a virus or bacteria. But I feel almost certain that this is foreign. Almost as if he's under attack. But one's chakra doesn't attack its owner."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "It's probably Kyuubi. You don't have the experience I-"
"No, Sakura, it most definitely isn't the Nine-Tails. I can feel that being inside him very clearly. Minutely even. I had Naruto explain to me in-depth about the demon and his current abilities. I have a good feel for the Kyuubi now, and this isn't that."
"He's not actually being attacked though?" Sasuke said.
Chou shook his head.
Sasuke thought. Rubbed his hands down his face. Put them on his hips. Stared at the floor. "All right. I get that Naruto needs help right now, and we will help him, but he's not the main issue. My kids are. They…" It hit him that he'd just publicly claimed Yuudai. For a few seconds he considered correcting himself, but then just forged ahead. "They're in danger from more than the armies."
"Sachi?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yes, Sachi. She can appear at any time, but it's not just her. She was meeting with someone while she was here. Someone who could appear and disappear at will like she can. Either of them, Sachi or this person, could appear beside my kids and take them or kill them."
Kiba frowned. "What do you want us to do?"
"Hold down the fort. I thought I could use clones but it's not working. I need to spend time with them physically. Make sure they understand the danger they're in-"
"Hold on," Shikamaru said with a raised hand. "This is the second time you're speaking about these kids as if they're not just babies. Noticed it when you said you had ten clones training them. Training. And now you think they can understand the danger they're in."
Sasuke nodded. "Right. About my kids." He gave them as succinct an overview of their abilities as he could manage. Chou likewise gave an extremely condensed version of his analysis that nevertheless had everyone agog. Sasuke met their stares as something occurred to him. "I'm…probably going to need help. With them. Naruto was training them on his own without much success that I could see. I'm not faring much better with the clones. Can't imagine that'd be different in person." He took a breath. Looked at his hands. "I already made the biggest mistake by taking Naruto away from you guys. His friends. His support. And none of what happened after would have happened if the people who'd come to the cabin had been allowed to stay. Hinata-" A sob flew out of him. Surprised him. One hand rose to his mouth to keep anymore sounds from escaping him, but scalding tears formed and spilled over that hand.
He'd never cried over her. Or grieved. Now, having unearthed his memories of her with Ino and the Hyuuga, having then gotten her family hurt, and having now at last discovered who he truly was, he also learned that he wasn't quite as without feeling as he'd thought. He missed her. And now, in hindsight, he respected the hell out of all she'd done and what she'd been through.
His new villagers watched him in silence.
He was some minutes shuddering in grief and remorse. Hand clamped so hard over his mouth that the fingers were white. Other hand on his hip. Eyes still streaming. Just trying to breathe and maintain himself in front of his villagers. Breathe and maintain. Okay. When at last he felt like he could continue, he looked up at them. The compassion and deference on their faces almost finished him. Almost. He cleared his throat.
"As I was saying. Hinata was right to stay with us, though it cost her. My son would be dead without her. And had he died, Naruto would still be dead. Had she stayed with us she'd still be alive. Naruto tried to stop her leaving, tried to go after her when she left anyway…" He closed his eyes. Forcibly brought himself under control. "But by then she was pregnant with Yuudai. Naruto calls him Beast. Only thing he responds to. Like I stated previously, he's got an unbelievable amount of Kyuubi power in him in addition to things I've never encountered." This time he hesitated so that he could take a deep breath and meet their eyes one by one. "Naruto's right. He always is. About needing you guys. I can't do this alone. I do need help. With my kids. I am your Kage and I will keep you all safe; I know how to do that. This I promise. But I don't know how to be a father. Not this part of it, and not…not with children this powerful. Chou and Naruto can't seem to get through to Yuudai. My clones certainly aren't. So…I…help me. Please."
A full minute wherein they continued to stare at him. The sheer amount of commiseration and understanding he sensed from them had him lowering his eyes in embarrassment.
It was Sakura, crying quietly, who detached herself from the group, put a fist over her heart, and gave the lowest bow possible. Chou was next. One by one they all followed suit and held the bows.
In his shock it dawned on him that in baring his weakness, by putting his trust in them, he'd earned far more loyalty than they'd given him when they pledged their fealty. He'd done something Naruto-like. And had been rewarded with the devotion and support such actions had always earned Naruto.
He remembered when they'd gone back to the village after all those months in the forest. How left out and insignificant he'd felt. Jealous of the love shown Naruto. He could admit now that he'd hoped his village would welcome him back as a hero too. That they would look at him as they were looking at him now.
I have to let them in if I want to be taken in, he realized.
Humbled, he gave his deepest bow in turn. "Thank you."