Chapter Thirteen
Konoha weather is the coldest it's been in over a decade, but the sun has decided to show its face today. Naruto's hair shines like something beyond gold, something so precious, even Sasuke thinks twice before running his hands through fluffy locks.
Naruto smiles up at Sasuke, leaning into his husband's touch. His whiskered cheeks are extra rosy because of the cold wind, and Sasuke finds himself thinking, Dobe is fucking adorable,before he can help himself.
Kisame rolls his eyes as he watches the exchange between the youngest Uchiha couple. He has just driven them home, and the newlyweds were making gooey eyes at each other the entire ride home. Before Sasuke can carry Naruto up to their bedroom, Kisame grabs the teen's arm. "Oh no you don't."
"What?" Sasuke groans. Naruto decided to wear jeans this morning and the way denim highlights that shapely bottom should be illegal. The blond is frolicking around the main living room, still full of energy after an annoyingly long day at school. Sasuke is planning on fucking that energy out of him.
"Good news and bad news." Kisame keeps his grip on Sasuke's arm tight.
"Let me go." Sasuke eyes Naruto like a true predator; the blond is too sexy for his own damn good.
"The good news is," Kisame ignores Sasuke's attempts to escape, "Itachi has decided to come home from work early."
"Huh," Sasuke says, terribly surprised. Itachi always comes home late, always pushing himself to work as long and hard as possible, before his need to be near Deidara becomes too much for him to handle. "That's good, but why is it good news?"
"It's good news because you don't have to face Madara alone." Kisame says apologetically.
"Madara is coming," Sasuke feels as if the floor has been yanked from underneath his feet. "Here. Why?"
"Trust me," Kisame places both hands on Sasuke's shoulders. "Freaking out won't help you."
"He didn't come to your wedding," Itachi suddenly materializes beside them, "As clan head, he has to bless your union to Naruto."
Sasuke has only ever seen Madara at weddings, or at least the ones he bothers to show up to. Certain family members, like Itachi, are important enough for Madara to actually attend their nuptials, and bless their union in front of the entire family. Sasuke was infinitely glad that Madara declined his wedding invitation. Naruto was scared enough back then, seeing Madara, the true personification of Uchiha wrath would have induced a heart attack on the poor blond.
"Why can't he just bless me over the phone?" Sasuke has a sudden urge to grab Naruto's wrist and run.
"He's not going to hurt you, Sasuke." Itachi smiles tiredly, exhaustion exuding from his being loud and clear, "He will take one look at you and Naruto, and leave."
"If there's anyone in this family who works harder than Itachi," Kisame adds, "It's Madara."
"He scares me." Sasuke is not ashamed to admit to his brother.
"He scares everyone." Kisame shrugs, "It's kind of his thing."
"Sasuke?" Naruto's voice is small where he's standing across the room. As his mating bond with Sasuke is starting to strengthen, his ability to sense Sasuke's emotions is starting to improve. He can tell Sasuke is deeply uncomfortable.
"Everything's fine, dobe." Sasuke tries to smile and ends up looking annoyed.
"No point in lying to him." Itachi rolls his eyes at Sasuke's pathetic attempt to protect Naruto from the truth. "He has to face Madara too."
"Why?" Sasuke hisses, "Naruto should just stay upstairs." The mere thought of his blond anywhere near Madara makes Sasuke deeply uncomfortable.
"What exactly do you think Madara is going to do?" Kisame asks Sasuke, "Besides judging you for not being as powerful as him?"
"He has zero interest in you, and even less in Naruto." Itachi places a hand on Sasuke's elbow to calm him.
Sasuke remembers Madara at Itachi's wedding. His eyes crossed with the clan head once, and that was enough to haunt Sasuke's nightmares for years to come. "Stop trying to downplay this," Sasuke growls at his older brother, who stares back at him amused, as if a puppy did an amusing trick, "Madara is fucking petrifying."
"He's only petrifying if he notices you." Kisame squeezes Sasuke's shoulders again, trying to soothe the younger male. "Try to look as boring as possible and you should be good."
"Boring?" Sasuke sighs. "I wanted to have sex, Naruto won't put out at school."
"Good," Itachi says approvingly, "This isn't one of your whores, Sasuke. He is the mother of your future children. Don't ever fuck him in a public place, where a stranger can walk in on you."
"That pervert Sai is always watching us," Sasuke lets out an inhuman sound. The thought of his rival ever seeing Naruto in a state of undress or arousal is excruciating.
"Sasori used to follow me and Deidara around all over school." Itachi makes a hateful expression similar to Sasuke's. "He ruined school sex for me."
"Look at you two." Kisame makes a huffy, judgemental sound. "Acting like a couple of jealous bitches."
"Sasuke?" Naruto whines, "Spend time with me."
"Blondie's been with you at school all day," Kisame grin still manages to unnerve Sasuke even after a lifetime's worth of exposure; Itachi remains unaffected, "But he still wants you all to himself. Why do you even bother with that Sai bitch?"
"He's competition." Sasuke ignores the couch cushion Naruto has thrown at the back of his head, "He looks at Naruto like…"
"Sasuke looks at Naruto," Itachi finishes dryly; simultaneously catching the pillow Naruto throws at him next and throws it back at the small blond, hitting him right in the face and making him squeal with surprise, "And Sasuke doesn't like it."
"Damn right," Sasuke smirks when Naruto lets out an exaggerated hurt noise.
"That hurt, asshole," Naruto screams, "Sasuke, your brother broke my neck."
"Stop hurting my idiot, Itachi."
"Of course," Itachi obliges and turns to his best friend, "Kisame, please."
"Understood," Kisame nods solemnly and starts throwing cushions at Naruto, making the blond laugh hysterically.
"Madara shouldn't be a problem." Itachi says when Naruto runs out the room, Kisame at his heels with his arms full of pillows. "He's concerned with…" there's a meaningful pause as Itachi pauses to think of an appropriate way of finishing his sentence, "much bigger things than you."
"He's all about world domination or whatever the fuck he's planning," Sasuke says what Itachi is thinking in his usual crass manner, "But something about that fucker just bugs me."
"Your demon doesn't like his," Itachi says sympathetically, "Remember Sasuke; it's not just you in that head of yours."
It's frighteningly easy for Sasuke to wake up in Naruto's arms and go to school like a normal teenager, and forget the sinister being occupying the shadowy recesses of his mind.
"You are a demon host." Itachi reminds Sasuke, "So is Madara. Your demon is alarmed by his, and rightfully so."
If an Uchiha is as strong as his demon, than… Sasuke shudders, thinking about what must be trapped in Madara's beastly mind.
"Sasuke the human," Itachi pulls Sasuke closer to himself. "Needs to disconnect himself from Sasuke the demon. Whatever issues your demon half has are not your problem."
"I don't want to disconnect myself from…" Sasuke tries to think of a word to describe his other self, "him. He's a part of me. I don't want to ignore him or supress him. I want to…"
"Control him." Itachi finishes for Sasuke, "You and every other Uchiha ever to survive their seventeenth birthday."
"You control yours." Sasuke crosses his arms. "Your demon has never been a problem."
"My demon wants and craves Deidara. As long as he has access to his mate, he won't bother me."
"Lies," Sasuke gives in to his instincts and leans against Itachi's figure, letting himself bask in the safety and stability his brother so effortlessly radiates, "I have seen you transformed."
"Quiet," Itachi whispers, even though Deidara, Kisame and Naruto are upstairs, their heartbeats steady.
"He obeys you," Sasuke speaks in a much lower tone.
"He respects me," Itachi amends Sasuke's statement.
"Fine," Sasuke huffs, "I want mine to respectme too."
Itachi shrugs, "That could take years."
"Teach me," Sasuke inhales his brother's scent and then curses to himself when the inherent comfort of it starts to make him feel sleepy.
"There is nothing to teach," Itachi's tone is laced with amusement at Sasuke's overly relaxed body pressed up against him.
"There's demon hosts in every family," Sasuke forces himself to blink awake; "I have seen people learn how to control them."
"Uchiha demons are different. They don't take well to direction."
"Madara controls his," Sasuke says.
"Is that your new path in life?"
"Why not?" Sasuke says, missing Itachi's obvious disappointment in his excitement, "We could be that powerful."
"No." Itachi hasn't spoken to Sasuke this sternly since he was a toddler.
"Madara is scary as fuck, but he's still family. He would help us."
"No." Itachi's sharingan starts spinning and Sasuke finds himself lowering his eyes in submission, something he thought he was incapable of ever doing.
Itachi's eyes soften when Sasuke shivers against him, obviously in distress, "Keep your distance from Madara. Your demon's acting up for a reason, Sasuke. Trust his instincts."
"Whatever you want." Sasuke says obediently. Itachi deserves his cooperation after everything he's been through for his degenerate brother.
Anyone else and Sasuke would have spit in their face, laughed in the face of authority. Itachi understands what a privilege Sasuke's compliance is; doesn't mean he feels any less guilty because of the dejected vibe his brother is suddenly giving off. Clearly Sasuke was very keen on the idea of being able to rein in his demon.
"We can try," Itachi says, unable to tolerate Sasuke's disappointment for more than a mere moment, "Maybe we can figure something out."
"Madara is already expert at controlling whatever it is that lives in his head."
"Madara," Itachi says the name with annoyance, "Has taken certain shortcuts; ones I'm not willing to take."
"We don't do it Madara's way, got it." Sasuke is relieved. Itachi isn't opposed to learning how to control their demons, just whatever evil soul-destroying route Madara took.
Itachi is tremendously relieved to see Sasuke's mood lift again. He would go to extreme lengths to please his baby brother, something he hopes Sasuke never figures out. He may not be a cute little toddler anymore, but the way his eyes light up at Itachi's approval is powerful compulsion.
"I don't want to go all super villain on all our asses," Sasuke lets out a laugh, running a hand through his bangs so similar to his older brother, Itachi can't help but smile at the sight, it's like looking in a mirror, "I just…"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Sasuke." Itachi pulls his brother into a full on hug, "If you want control, then control is exactly what you will get."
"You're making me sleepy," Sasuke huffs against Itachi's shoulder but melts into the hug, "You're not good for my alertness."
"After Deidara and I mated," Itachi says after Sasuke has all but fallen asleep standing up against him, "I didn't dare peer into my own mind. I was content just to let the other me slink back into my subconscious, but I was wrong."
"You were busy with work, Deidara… and me." Sasuke mumbles in his elder brother's defense. "You didn't have time to go gallivanting around in your mind."
"There are organizations out there," Itachi runs a hand through Sasuke's hair, ruffling it affectionately, "dedicated to stealing the Byakugan."
"Yes," Sasuke sneers when he's reminded of the day Hinata was kidnapped, and Neji went absolutely psychotic with worry. The Uchiha clan lent quite a lot of its members to bring the Hyuuga princess back, Itachi being one of them. This was before Deidara came into their lives. Sasuke was still living at the main mansion. He remembers staying up all night, trying to keep Neji from climbing out the window and going after Hinata himself; waiting for Itachi to come home safe.
"And there are people who want the Sharingan," Itachi continues petting Sasuke.
"Fuck," Sasuke laughs uncomfortably, "There are assholes out there suicidal enough to target Nagato for his Rinnegan, what's your point."
"I think you know where I'm going with this, Sasuke."
"People want our demons."
"If we don't control our darker halves," Itachi tightens his hold on Sasuke's waist, "Then we stand to lose them."
"We die," Sasuke shivers in Itachi's hold, "If a demon is extracted then the host dies."
"And if we die…"
"Naruto and Deidara die." Sasuke entire body tenses all of a sudden. "Fuck, I hate this curse."
"It's not going to come to that." Itachi keeps his hold strong, it seems as if Sasuke's knees have buckled at the very thought of their mates getting hurt. "We won't let it come to that."
"If you ladies are done snuggling," Kisame breaks up their moment, "Then I would appreciate some help getting the living room ready for his holiness' arrival."
"Tell Naruto to behave himself." Itachi advises Sasuke.
"I will explain what he needs to know." Sasuke promises, suddenly feeling very awake, "Don't worry about Naruto."
"I'm always worried about Naruto." Itachi says dryly, just before he leaves with Kisame, who sniggers.
Deidara sighs and sits up in bed, restless; he's supposed to be napping, as per doctor's orders, but sleep escapes him.
He's only two months pregnant, but it already feels like an eternity. As a general medical rule, all male pregnancies are characterized as high risk. Deidara can't help but wince whenever he reads statistics online. Odds are against him. The percentage of males who successfully carry pregnancies to term is distressingly low. Add to that the fact that he's carrying an Uchiha child, and that's where the numbers really start to get nauseating.
His baby is developing his or her Sharingan, and along with it, a mind ready to host a demon inside. It's why the chances of successfully carrying this baby to term have dropped even lower. It's not uncommon for Uchiha mates to have several miscarriages before giving birth to a healthy, breathing baby. Mikoto herself was so exhausted after all the pregnancies, she was too tired to parent her boys. Fugaku was busy at work, and Mikoto was bed-ridden with depression, Itachi had to make do with nannies, until he grew mature enough to care for his baby brother.
Is that what's going to happen to me?Deidara thinks, desolate, What if I have a ton of miscarriages and my body and mind are so wrecked afterwards; I'm useless as a parent…
The ultrasounds so far have been normal, and Itachi would have sensed if something was wrong, but that doesn't stop Deidara from carrying this feeling of dread inside him at all times.
The first three months of any pregnancy are the riskiest, and Deidara still has one month to go until his baby stabilizes. It's scary to contemplate all the things which could go wrong but Deidara keeps researching, unable to stop punishing himself.
What if something happens to the baby?Deidara thinks, poisonous thoughts creeping in at alarming speed. Itachi sama has waited so long and after all this time, I can't give him a child…
Naruto bursts in before Deidara sinks even deeper into hopelessness, "Kisame's being mean to me."
Deidara sighs with relief as Naruto throws himself into Itachi's side of the bed, and hides under the blankets, squealing as Kisame opens the door.
"You're lucky I'm super busy blondie. I am a nightmare at pillow fights." Kisame drawls at the lump beside Deidara and then slams the door behind himself.
"He's been hanging out with Itachi bastard so much," Naruto pants because of the effort of running upstairs, "He's become a bastard himself. There's no saving him now."
Naruto emerges from the blankets and flops back into the pillows, "Sasuke threw me to the shark."
"Did you have a good day at school, sweetheart?"
Naruto picks up on the sadness masked behind Deidara's casual tone instantly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Deidara says quickly, secretly very impressed at Naruto's perception. The small blond appears airheaded but those big blue eyes see everything. Naruto's attitude is his mother's but his looks and sharp brains clearly come from his father. "I'm fine, un."
"You're not fine." Naruto sighs, "But you won't tell me what's wrong because you think I'm a baby who needs to be protected from reality." Just like my parents.
"You are a baby," Deidara agrees. "I just don't feel like talking, un."
"Fine, don't talk, I don't care," Naruto says petulantly and throws himself in Deidara's lap, burrowing into his thighs.
"Thanks," Deidara is surprised by the movement, Naruto used to avoid him like the plague, but maybe walking in on him and Itachi fucking has had a neutralizing effect on the usually shy blond. It's hard to be intimidated around someone once you've seen them naked.Deidara thinks.
Naruto rests his face in Deidara's embrace for a few minutes allowing the older blond to stroke his hair, and then abruptly raises his head, startling Deidara. "But just so you know, if you told me your problem, I would solve it."
Deidara gasps out a laugh, "I will keep that in mind, un."
"You could have crushed me," Naruto says, looking so serious and intense for a second, Deidara is left breathless; clearly Sasuke's personality is starting to rub off on the adorable fox, "You could have intimidated me, and manipulated me, but you didn't. You're a genuinely good person."
"Thanks." Deidara has been called many things by many people, but genuinely goodis a first. That kind of validation should come from one's parents, but Naruto ends up providing it.
"I don't care what your issue is," Naruto's voice drops, "If someone is bothering you, I will make them disappear. If you want something, I will go get it. If it's about the baby…"
The hitch in Deidara's breath is audible in the room's silence. Naruto hears it clearly. "It's about the baby."
Deidara doesn't say anything. His silence is answer enough.
"What's wrong with the baby?"
"Nothing," Deidara places a hand on his flat stomach, "Yet."
Before Naruto can reassure Deidara, Sasuke walks in, "There you are, dobe."
"Go away," Naruto orders Sasuke, "We are talking about something important."
"Madara is visiting us," Sasuke tells Deidara who immediately stiffens.
"Tonight?" Deidara shifts uncomfortably, "He didn't give us much notice, un."
"His schedule is psycho," Sasuke says bitterly, "There was a cancellation at the Hyuuga end, He was able to pencil us in."
"Someone is going to have to explain to me what's going on."
Deidara and Sasuke both go silent at Naruto's inquiry.
"Who's Madara?" Naruto asks, "Why is it a big deal he's coming? Why are you both so worried?"
Sasuke and Deidara exchange meaningful looks.
"You're doing that thing when you talk to each other with your eyes." Naruto says knowingly, "Shit's about to hit the fan."
"Madara," Deidara says carefully, "Is the head of the Uchiha family." He doesn't know how much Sasuke wants Naruto to know.
Sasuke walks around to Itachi's side of the bed and crawls in. A year ago, being in bed with two beautiful blonds would have been an exercise in absolute lust. All Sasuke feels right now is the excruciating need to protect and shelter. His life has taken a complete three-sixty.
Naruto turns to Sasuke, "I thought your dad was the head of the Uchiha family."
"He is, publicly."
"Your family is so confusing," Naruto massages his forehead.
Deidara can't help but pat Naruto's golden, fluffy hair affectionately. "It will start to make sense, un. Eventually."
"Madara is," Sasuke sighs, "A few centuries old."
"What the fuck?" Naruto can't help but say.
"Remember when I told you," Sasuke wraps an arm around Naruto, "that Uchiha live very long lives if they mate before their seventeenth birthday?"
Naruto remembers every moment of his wedding night perfectly, "Yes."
"Madara and his brother have taken that to heart. They refuse to die."
"I don't understand what I have married into." Naruto moans tiredly. "I'm clearly out of my depth."
"Fugaku will pretend to be in charge for a few more decades, un," Deidara continues running his finger through silky hair, "Or however long normal humans are supposed to live, and then someone else will take over, probably Itachi sama."
"Madara is," Sasuke breathes in Naruto and Deidara's combined, comforting scents, along with Itachi's scent in the background. This is not helping his already low level of alertness.
"The definition of power," Deidara finishes for Sasuke.
"Physically, mentally, financially," Sasuke doesn't know quite how to describe Madara, but he tries, "He is the true Uchiha name."
"So he's like," Naruto leans into Deidara's hand like a puppy, seeking the soft touch, "a grandparent?"
"More like an ancestor," Sasuke amends, "All living Uchiha share his genes."
"If Sasuke came from him, then there must be some good in him." Naruto says adorably.
"You would think so, un," Deidara smiles at Naruto's innocence, "But no."
"He can't be seen in public because outsiders think he's dead." Sasuke continues to baffle Naruto. "Even if he steps outside, he has to cast illusions with his Sharingan to trick strangers."
"The only person he's ever cared for is his brother, un." Deidara piles the information on.
"Like Itachi." Naruto can't help but smile when he thinks of the wonderful relationship Sasuke has with his elder brother.
"Madara is very old-fashioned," Deidara pinches Naruto's cheeks, the boy is too cute when he's smiling, "Back in his day, mates didn't even speak without permission, un."
"So don't speak without permission," Sasuke adds dryly, "Act like a submissive for once."
"Sweetie," Deidara says gently, "We love how comfortable you are around Itachi sama, but…"
"Don't you dare disrespect him in front of Madara." Sasuke warns.
"I respect Itachi plenty," Naruto pouts.
"You make fun of him constantly. You play pranks on him." Sasuke says, exasperated, "You hid his laptop this morning; it took him an hour to find it."
"It was a joke," Naruto throws his hands up, "He's my brother-in-law, he knows I don't mean it."
"Itachi doesn't care," Sasuke agrees, "Madara will personally discipline all four of us if we can't control our brides."
"He can do that?" Naruto's voice is small. Sasuke is so powerful, and add to that Itachi's monstrous strength, Naruto feels invincible. To think that there's someone out there who can get through the Uchiha brothers is scary.
"He's stronger than us," Sasuke admits easily.
"He just has to bless your union," Deidara squeezes Naruto against his side, hoping to comfort him, "Just be quiet and everything will be okay, un."
"What's Madara's mate like?" Naruto asks after a few minutes.
"That's a good question," Deidara says quietly, "I often wonder that myself, un."
Sasuke, who's close to dozing off, grumbles, "Madara's mate has never been seen in public."
"Our theory is," Deidara shrugs, pretty confused about Madara's romantic life himself, "He's just too old-fashioned to let him or her out in public, un."
"Kind of like my parents," Sasuke says softly. "They never go anywhere together."
"Mikoto stays cooped up in the Main mansion," Deidara scoffs, "I keep offering to take her shopping, or to dinner and she keeps turning me down, un."
"That's because she hates you," Sasuke smirks.
Naruto gapes, "You actually want to spend time with her?" From what little Naruto has seen of his mother-in-law, the woman has the personality of a particularly prickly cactus. Not that Naruto blames her. Anyone married to Fugaku is allowed to be a bitch.
"I don't want to," Deidara grumbles, "I just don't think it's healthy for her to spend all day locked up in that house, un."
"You are such a good person." Naruto tells Deidara adoringly.
Deidara, who takes Itachi's filthiest, nastiest dirty talk with shameless pride, flushes red at Naruto's praise. It's just so novel for Deidara to get complimented on his personality after a lifetime of being leered at for his body.
Sasuke slips into blissful sleep, surrounded by Naruto and Deidara's soothing scents.
Naruto expected Madara to be a shriveled old man, hunched into himself with age. What he isn't expecting is a late twenties/early thirties looking male with enough virility to make even the most frigid young maids under Kisame's command blush.
Naruto can't help but gawk at the man's ridiculously perfect face, and waist-length mane so healthy and vivacious, it could star in a shampoo commercial and outsell even the most coveted of salon brands. Like Itachi, Madara keeps his sharingan constantly activated, but his seems more a more blood-thirsty red than Itachi or Sasuke's.
"We were able to secure the Akimichi account," Itachi finishes telling Madara one of his cryptic business stories, "They were hesitant to trust us initially, but they settled down once their investment quadrupled."
Itachi's story is so unbelievable, even Naruto is impressed, and he doesn't even understand a single one of those complicated business terms Itachi used.
Madara is seated on a loveseat, appearing as if a king addressing his subjects, Itachi and Sasuke seated across from them. Deidara and Naruto kneeling on the floor beside their husbands, which was the actual fucking norm in whatever backwards, disrespectful era Madara has time-traveled from.
"Itachi, you have clearly inherited my intelligence."
Is that… pride in Madara's voice?Deidara thinks. He doesn't mind sitting on the floor, but this kneeling business is irritating. It's funny, Deidara can stay on his knees for hours when he's sucking Itachi's dick, but a few minutes of this and already his body is uncomfortable. He wants to go upstairs and sleep for days. Being pregnant is exhausting.
"Everyone in our family is exceptional," Itachi states, his tone is not arrogant nor humble, just matter-of-fact.
"You and I are extraordinary, even in an exceptional family." Madara takes a sip of his tea, and makes a face. "Terrible." Naruto looks at the handsome geezer with disbelief. How can someone so old be such a child?
"I can get the chef to make you another cup." Itachi offers.
"The tea is fine." Madara sighs.
"What's bothering you, Madara sama?" Itachi inquires politely.
"Such a fine specimen of Uchiha flawlessness," Madara gestures to Itachi, "Being wasted under Fugaku's care."
"I'm doing fine," Itachi says blankly.
"Why don't you come work for me, directly, Itachi?" Madara asks, "Your potential could be so much better utilized."
"No thank you." Itachi politely declines. While working for Madara directly would be less tiring, and more rewarding, Itachi doesn't agree with a lot of his ancestor's barbaric ideals. He is a peaceful individual. Fugaku is annoying, but Itachi is comfortable with his father's mediocrity. Madara's brilliance will surely destroy him.
"You are too soft," Madara's facial expression is blank, but obviously disapproving in a manner only an Uchiha's can be, "I should have taken you from Fugaku the day you were born. I would have raised you so much better."
"He's a person," Sasuke can't help but say, "You can't just take him from his parents."
"Sasuke…" Itachi squeezes his brother's knee.
"Fugaku is a terrible father," Madara doesn't seem offended at Sasuke's informal, disrespectful tone, "Are you telling me Itachi would not be better off with me?"
"It would be more of the same," Sasuke shrugs, "Fugaku loves Itachi for his abilities, and you would too."
The silence that follows afterward makes Naruto shiver beside Deidara, who puts an arm around the younger blond to comfort him.
"You do realize that I can take Itachi from you," Madara seems amused at Sasuke's glare, "If I wanted to. Every single Uchiha, living or dead, belongs to me. I own all of you. It's my blood flowing in your veins."
"You will take Itachi," Sasuke hisses, "Over my dead body."
"Sasuke," Itachi says tiredly, "Silence."
"Listen to your aniki," Madara advises Sasuke.
Sasuke smirks, "I know why you are here, Madara sama." The sarcastic emphasis on the suffix isn't missed by anyone.
"I am here," Madara cocks his head to the side, as if he cannot understand why such a weakling dares to speak to him with such insolence, "to bless a child of my clan for successfully mating."
"Lies," Sasuke's Sharingan spins into existence, "You don't care about my mating."
"The Hyuuga cancelled a meeting," Madara shrugs, "I had time to come see you."
"No one would ever cancel on you," Sasuke shakes his head, "You are Madara Uchiha. No one is stupid enough to waste your time, even if you have an infinite amount of it."
"I was wrong," Madara murmurs, still staring at Sasuke in a bone chilling manner.
Itachi never thought he would hear an Uchiha says those three words, let alone Madara.
"You are exceptional," Madara addresses Itachi, ignoring Sasuke's bristled state, "but you are missing it."
"You can't have Itachi," Sasuke reacts very strongly to Madara's interest in his elder brother. "It's not happening."
"What am I missing, Madara sama?" Itachi is remarkably calm beside Sasuke, who is so riled up; the temperature of the room has dropped several degrees, his demon threatening to make an appearance.
"Darkness," Madara smiles, and it's stunning. Even for an Uchiha, the fucker is hauntingly handsome. "And this one," he gestures to Sasuke, who growls, "Has it in spades."
"Calm your husband," Itachi orders Naruto, who snaps out of his daze, and quickly rushes to Sasuke's side.
"Deidara," Itachi turns to his mate, "Upstairs." It's not safe for the pregnant blond to be present during this showdown.
Deidara is hesitant to leave Naruto alone with three angry Uchiha.
"I got blondie," Kisame, who is watching the show with the same unhealthy interest a bored housewife shows in a daytime soap, "Relax."
Deidara bows to Madara, "Permission to be excused, sir."
"Leave," Madara agrees with Itachi's order, "No reason to bring to put your unborn children in danger."
"Children?" Itachi asks, truly surprised for the first time tonight.
"You are having twins." Madara informs Itachi. "It's obvious."
Deidara doesn't have time to process the news; he lets himself out the room quickly.
Madara shakes his head at Itachi's alarm, "You didn't know? You would have if I had trained you." It's too early for even the most sensitive medical tests to recognize the existence of twins but Madara sensed it within seconds. So advanced and heightened are his senses.
"Shh," Naruto strokes Sasuke's hair, "Calm down, it's okay. Just relax. No one's taking Itachi away from you. I promise."
"Your brother is useless," Madara stands, his towering figure making everyone in the room seem miniscule.
"You won't take him. You won't take him." Sasuke chants on repeat.
"You have what it takes." Madara approaches Sasuke, making him growl.
"You can't take Sasuke either," Naruto says, whimpering when Madara's eyes target him next, like bright red lasers.
"Take him? Your mate will come to me." Madara grabs Sasuke's collar and forces the younger male to make eye-contact with his clearly more mature, more powerful Sharingan.
"Madara sama," Itachi hisses, "That's enough."
"We are cursed." Madara continues to smile pleasantly as Sasuke snarls inhumanly, "The Uchiha have a nasty habit of losing everything important to them."
"Sasuke don't listen to him," Naruto nuzzles his husband's neck, trying to break the sudden, hypnotic spell his husband seems to be under.
"When you lose everything," Madara continues, ignoring Naruto and Itachi, "Come to me."
"I don't need you." Sasuke hisses, rapidly losing control of his demonic counterpart.
"Of course not," Madara scoffs and gestures to Itachi and Naruto, "You have created your own little fantasy here. You even have two nephews on the way. Your life is perfect."
"Don't listen to him." Naruto begs. It's clear that Madara is trying to poison Sasuke's mind.
"Perfection is an unstable state," Madara informs Sasuke, "It goes as quickly as it comes. The only thing constant in this world is pain, suffering, and emptiness…"
"Madara sama," Itachi says, angry, "Stop this."
"Enjoy your paradise," Madara smirks, "But when reality comes knocking, you are going to need someone to guide you, and I would like that person to be me."
That said, Madara places his hands on Sasuke and Naruto's heads, like a loving, caring grandparent, "Bless both of you."
The sudden shift in Madara's attitude is so alarming, every other occupant in the room freezes. Even Sasuke's demon is confused by the sudden action and pauses in its angry wailing to process Madara's shift.
"I wish you a lifetime of happiness." Madara strokes their hair once and releases his gentle hold, "Itachi," He nods at the confused male. "Have a good evening."
"I will show you out," Kisame snaps out of his trance and respectfully leads Madara, who follows him out quietly, disappearing into the dark hallways.
Naruto shivers pathetically, "What just happened?" He asks his brother-in-law, because Sasuke is clearly in no condition to answer.
"Madara happened." Itachi sighs, and gestures to Sasuke, "Please deal with him." He asks Naruto and goes after Deidara. His mate is sure to be shaken after the recent development.
"Bastard, snap out of it," Naruto says, his voice small.
Sasuke blinks at Naruto's pleading, the sharingan disappearing, "Where did he go?"
"Madara left." Naruto wraps his arms around his husband's neck, "Ignore everything he said, he was wrong."
"I'm sorry you had to see that," Sasuke grabs Naruto back, clinging to the beautiful blond like an anchor.
"Don't apologize," Naruto places soft kisses on Sasuke's forehead, "Every family has crazy, psycho old people."
"I'm sorry I lost control like that," Sasuke noses along Naruto's jaw.
"He threatened to take your brother away from you," Naruto cuddles Sasuke close, "And then he basically told you how bleak your future is, and how you are going to go running to him when everything you love is taken away from you. How were you notsupposed to lose control?"
Sasuke blinks, "When you say it like that, I don't feel so bad."
"Don't feel bad." Naruto forces himself to smile for Sasuke's sake, "I'm so proud of you."
"You are?" Sasuke asks, still a little dazed after his encounter with Madara.
"You stood up to someone a thousand times stronger than you, for your brother." Naruto obediently wraps his legs around Sasuke's waist when the seme stands up. "You are so brave."
"It was the most suicidal thing I have ever done." Sasuke starts walking, Naruto a comforting weight in his arms.
"I understand." Naruto mumbles.
"People who go to work for Madara directly don't come back." Sasuke tells Naruto when they are back in their room, "I have seen it happen countless times. I'm not going to let him take my brother."
"He doesn't want Itachi anymore," Naruto lets Sasuke take him to the bathroom. "He wants you."
"Strip," Sasuke feels violated after making eye contact with Madara for a few seconds. It's as if the beast reached into his mind and effortlessly turned it upside down. Maybe a nice hot shower with his dobe will help cleanse his mind.
Naruto quietly obeys, shivering when Sasuke growls at his slowness, and rips his shirt off, "Hurry up."
"I'm not as fast as you," Naruto whines, and quickly removes his jeans and boxers, before Sasuke can damage them too. His clothes are too pricey for the caveman routine Sasuke has got going on. He was fine with his boring old clothes, but Sasuke insisted on buying him expensive designer things.
Sasuke turns the water on and steps in the shower, groaning when the hot water hits him, instantly taking a lot of the tension away.
Naruto steps in and quickly wraps his arms around Sasuke's waist, placing kisses on his back, "Sasuke is so perfect," He coos at the taller, stronger male, "Even his shoulder blades are sexy."
Itachi is having twins,Sasuke thinks jealously, as Naruto grabs the shower gel and starts washing his back, He's going to have two children, and my dobe isn't even pregnant yet.
Naruto hums as he washes Sasuke's body, enjoying the way hard muscles shift under his hands. His husband is so perfect physically.
That loser Sai thinks he deserves my Naruto,Sasuke doesn't understand what's coming over him, all of a sudden he feels wild, like a feral animal. Clearly an encounter with Madara has shaken him in the worst way.
When Naruto is done washing Sasuke and himself, he grabs some shampoo and starts working on Sasuke's skull, trying to massage his husband's headache away.
Sasuke basks in Naruto's loving care, his demon purring like a content cat, despite the fact that his mental state has been clearly thrown off.
"Everything is going to be okay." Naruto murmurs, enjoying bathing Sasuke even more than Sasuke is, "Your evil super-villain ancestor is wrong."
Naruto's soft hands which roam all over his body, his sexy voice… This is mine,Sasuke thinks, a wave of anger comes out of nowhere, making his nostrils flare like a rabid bull. Naruto's flat stomach, which doesn'tcontain Sasuke's child, meanwhile Itachi's having twins.
"Chouji's coming for the sleepover tomorrow." Naruto keeps whispering in a low, soothing voice, to make sure his rabid husband stays calm. He doesn't realize that Sasuke is already in a state of mental chaos.
Sasuke has never bothered competing with Itachi before, choosing instead to worship him, but this twins thing is really bothering him.
Naruto rinses them both off, and places a kiss on Sasuke's shoulder, "There. All clean. Now all we need is a good night's rest."
Sasuke opens his eyes, and Naruto gasps. The sharingan is back. "A good night's sleep?" Sasuke says mockingly. "My brother is having twins, and you want to sleep?"
Naruto squeals in surprise when Sasuke throws him over his shoulder and carries him out the bathroom. "Sasuke, you're tired. You need rest."
"Twins," Sasuke growls, "I haven't even gotten you pregnant with one child, and Itachi's having twins."
He's jealous,Naruto realizes, as Sasuke settles between his legs and reaches for the lube they keep in their bedside drawer, Madara told him he has no future, and that just makes him want to get me pregnant even more.
"I don't want to sleep," Sasuke hisses, "I have work to do."
"This isn't good for our baby, you know." Naruto spreads his legs even wider, he doesn't want to give Sasuke the wrong message. He isn't rejecting the dominant male, which would come off as a serious insult when Sasuke is feeling so emotionally vulnerable.
"What?" Sasuke's voice is more animal than human.
"You are upset," Naruto lets Sasuke pin his wrists up above his head, "Is this how you want our baby to be conceived?"
Sasuke is out of breath, all he can see is red, and Naruto's scent is driving him crazy, but his mate's voice overpowers all other senses.
"Call me superstitious," Naruto smiles up at Sasuke sadly, "But a baby created, when his or her father is angry, and mother is scared out of his mind, is going to have nothing but bad luck in life."
It's the word scared which snaps Sasuke out of his daze and makes him roll off Naruto. He's scared. Sasuke groans, I am a terrible husband.
Naruto turns toward Sasuke as soon as the muscular weight is off him, "You need to sleep."
"You need a better husband." Sasuke massages his forehead, "One with a less demonic family. You deserve better than this, Naruto."
"You can't do any better than me," Naruto jokes, trying to lighten the mood, "I'm already out of your league."
"You must have been a serial killer in your past life," Sasuke stares up at the ceiling, "to end up with a mess like me."
"Or maybe I was a saint who vowed to be alone forever, so he could give himself to god and serve the community," Naruto smiles, "And the universe is rewarding me by giving me my soul mate in this life."
"Dobe…" Sasuke sighs, "You are delusional."
Naruto kisses Sasuke's forehead, "Rest."
Sasuke burrows his face in Naruto's neck, groaning when the blond holds him protectively. I might just have a chance at happiness. Sasuke thinks when Naruto strokes his hair, Madara is wrong.