Chapter 8

Hello, everyone!

For this chapter, it might seem like it jumps a lot, but I had to do this. See, this story isn't meant to be a lot of action and more on Naruto and Ai's relationship as parent and child. Granted one can have both, but this chapter is extremely OC-centered. It's because she is the main focus of this story, kind of the plot device one might say. It's been difficult not to make a Mary-Sue character since it seems that no matter what kind of OC is made within a fandom, on some level they are Mary-Sues. Even doing a character that is an infant can be considered Mary-Sue on some level such as how other characters could view her. I honestly try to keep them within character when they interact with Ai.

For example, Naruto is her parent, but he is also a child himself, so he will make mistakes, but he cares for his child very much and will put her needs over his own. Iruka is an adult who's spent plenty time with children, but he babies Ai because she is a baby. Sasuke feels indifferent towards her but because on some level he does have a connection with her, he's rather more bothered with her existence. Sakura is still denial over her and later in the story one will see that she doesn't treat the baby badly, in fact, she will try to be nice to her since she's just a baby. Kakashi loves to dote on Ai, but he can be extremely careless at times, though not as often as Naruto, etc.

While I do have a general idea on which this direction this story will take, it can very well change…I can assure that she won't be as Mary-Sue-ish as she was in the original story. I wrote that years ago and I've learned a lot (I still make mistakes such as plot holes and grammar errors).

I Don't Own Naruto

Naruto's Baby Chapter 8

"Thank you for watching over her," Iruka said as he handed the infant to Sakura. "I know it's a lot to ask since it's your day off but I don't know who else wouldn't be on a mission right now." The pink haired girl smiled, "it's nothing Iruka-sensei. I don't mind, really." Sakura said as she placed the girl on her hip. Ai was busy sucking on her pacifier and looking around to pay attention to whoever was holding her. "Here is her schedule," Iruka handed the girl and smiled, "Ai's been learning to talk but all she can say at the moment is a few things. Most of it is baby gibberish."

Ai turned back and saw the bright colors of the girl's hand and grabbed a hand full of pink hair, and yanks. Sakura winced, and Iruka chuckled a bit, "she also loves to yank on hair for some reason. She does it with everyone who holds her."

"I'll keep that in mind," Sakura said as she made the child let go of her locks. Iruka looked at the girl and asked, "by any chance are you going to the chunin exams to see Sasuke's and Naruto's matches?" Iruka just remembered that those were today. Sakura nodded, "yeah. You don't mind if I take her do you?"

"Well I guess not, but you have to extra careful. That place can be really dangerous and lately, loud noises have been frightening her. If they're offering a small daycare for the adults there, I would appreciate it if you place her there instead of the stands," Iruka said.

"I'll make sure she's safe. You can count on me," Sakura said and took the baby bag from the man. Iruka leaned down and kissed Ai's forehead. Sakura smiled, "it seems like you're more of a parent to her than Naruto."

Iruka blushed and said, "Yeah well, ya know…she's just that adorable, and she's like a daughter to me." Sakura waved him off and carried Ai out of sight.

When Sakura walked, she didn't head to the arena. She walked towards the village gate, and a smirk etched on her face. Her appearance changed to that of a red-haired young woman with a purple robe around her waist and wearing gray clothing. Once she was out of the village, she met up with her teammates, Sakon and Ukon, Jirobo, and Kidomaru.

"Looks like you have no trouble getting the infant," Sakon said.

Tayuya, the woman who held the girl, smirked right back, "the man handed her to me," she commented. "It so easy to fool anyone when you know who you're impersonating."

"That's being a ninja 101," Kidomaru said, and Sakon raised his hand, "Okay now we have to get back to Lord Orochimaru. The plan will take place soon, and Lord Orochimaru doesn't want the kid injured in any way."

"I'll take her," the four turned and saw Kimimaro. They were surprised and said, "you're sick, why are you here?"

"I want to be of service to Lord Orochimaru and any way possible," the white haired man and looked down at the infant. The girl had met the man's eyes but unknowing to her innocent and young self, she was now the victim of kidnapping. "I'll take her back to the lairs," Kimimaro said. Tayuya handed him the girl and gave him the bag. They nodded to each other and the four vanished off. Kimimaro dug in the baby bag and found Naruto's sling and wore it and placed the girl in it, securing her in before he began to take off. He only had a limited supply of energy, and he had a long journey back.

That was until Kimimaro met with an unforeseen enemy.

Kakashi and Sasuke.

They stood at a good distance from each other, but Ai was laughing and reaching out for Kakashi. She wasn't aware of the danger was in, or had been in.

"Looks like you're going to be late to your match Sasuke," Kakashi said.

Many people were impatient waiting for the Uchiha to arrive at the match. They've waited long enough, and after two delays, the proctor was about to forfeit the match, and that would have made Gaara the winner. However, they had arrived just in time.

In a twister of leaves, Kakashi and Sasuke made their entrance, along with a tag-along no one had expected, especially Naruto. The girl was clinging to Sasuke's hair as he was the one holding her, but it didn't seem like her grip was bothering him. Naruto froze when he saw his child in Sasuke's arms, crying loudly. Many questions ran through his mind in one second.

"Sorry we're late, you wouldn't believe the traffic," Kakashi tried to laugh off.

Naruto didn't care if anyone saw what he was about to do. As the people cheered for Sasuke who finally arrived, Naruto went over and plucked his daughter from Sasuke's arms, who was still crying. Shikamaru was surprised to see Naruto be like this, especially since he didn't know that he had a child. It was when he had a closer look at his child that he a small cut mark on the corner of Ai's lip. He wasn't mad at Sasuke though. He directed his anger to Kakashi.

"WHAT THE FUCK KAKASHI-SENSEI? WHY IS MY CHILD HURT?!" He shouted and looked like he could murder him in cold blood.

"Easy Naruto! I didn't do that!" Kakashi defended and would need to talk to him about what had happened later. Kakashi was about to pick her up from Naruto, but the blonde haired male back off and held his child close to his chest protectively. "I'm holding on to her," Naruto would have a "talk" with Iruka about Ai's care for now on. This was ridiculous.

Sasuke watched how protective Naruto was over the infant, and he thought about what that man who tried to kidnap her had said…he wouldn't say anything about right now. It was not his concern at the moment, "Naruto," he said. "Did you win your match?"

Naruto smiled at him, Ai having calmed down but was clinging to Naruto as security, "you know it."

"Come on Naruto, let's go so they can start the match. And this time I would like to take the stairs," Shikamaru said and started to head back to the waiting area. Naruto followed after him, "what are you mad that I gave you a little push?" He ran with Ai in his arms until they made it to the stairs and that was when he was careful.

Shikamaru eyed the child and asked, "so what's the deal?"

Naruto had completely disregarded the fact that Ai was supposed to be a secret…but he no longer cared. "She's my daughter. I gave birth, and I'm raising her,"

Shikamaru sighed, "man I'm glad I'm not you having to deal with an infant," he said, and Naruto scolded, "she's the best daughter in the world!"

"That's not the point," Shikamaru said and just as they were about to reach the top of the stairs, Naruto had turned and stopped when he saw two guys talking to Gaara…and witnessed their brutal murders. When one of the men ran out and was dragged back by Sand, Naruto had to cover his child's face to make sure she didn't see the horror. She began to whimper, and Naruto had to muffle her cries with his hand. Gaara walked around and by them, and all Naruto could do was hope that his child would stay quiet and not make a single sound until he was way out of their sight. Naruto and Shikamaru both remembered yesterday when they were in the hospital and how Gaara was about to kill Lee.

When his shivers vanished, and they were finally able to breathe, Naruto plopped himself on the stair and sat down with Shikamaru. His grip on Ai's body is never loosened.

"If we come up the stairs just a second earlier, that could have been us just now," Shikamaru said in relief and in fear, "I've never in my life seen anyone kill like that without even batting an eye. Things don't look so good for your friend."

Naruto thought about Sasuke since he had his match against Gaara. He looked down at his child, who was looking up at him with her large onyx eyes. Naruto moved his hand and stood up. "We have to go tell Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto said and began running to go tell them in the stands.

"Relax Naruto," Kakashi said once the blonde and Shikamaru came to explain to Kakashi that Gaara was serious about killing and how they needed to stop the match. "There was a reason why were late getting here," he said and turned to Naruto.

Naruto was getting frustrated, but Sakura had the nerve to asked, "why was that?"

"Well, it's kind of a long story-"

"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR TALKING!"

"You're right so shut up," Kakashi said and glared, "it was because Ai was being kidnapped that we were late. If we hadn't had caught the man, your child wouldn't be here," Kakashi said. Naruto stiffened.

"Wait, that baby is Naruto's?" Ino asked as she was sitting next to Sakura. They all looked at Naruto with widening eyes. He didn't want to explain this. He wanted to save Sasuke!

As they watched the match, Naruto was more amazed then worried as Sasuke showed off his new skills. He was faster, and that jutsu…the Chidori. As Naruto watched, he didn't notice the small white feathers falling down until he was hit with a sudden drowsy feeling. His arms are loosened, and luck was the only thing that didn't make him dropping the now sleeping baby in his arms, or landing on top of her. Instead, Naruto fell to his side, his arms loosely around his daughter as they were both under the genjutsu, just like most of the people were at the arena when the invasion began…

Naruto sat on his bed, staring at the crib with dull eyes. He was covered in bandages, injuries from his fight with Gaara. He looked over and saw the black garbs he would have to wear in a short bit. He moved forward to sit on the edge of the bed and looked over and saw Ai, looking up at him. She suddenly smiled at him and reached up, wanting his attention.

She didn't understand what was going on, or what had happened.

Naruto stood up and began to get dress, and he reached down and picked up the child. She would be wearing black for the first time today. He had a small traditional wrap to dress her in. It was for the Third Hokage's funeral. He grabbed Ai's sling and just as he was about to do the transformation jutsu, he stopped himself. "No…no more transformations." He said and turned to his child, sitting on the bed. "She's my child, not Natsuko's. Natsuko doesn't even exist," he said and picked up his child, holding her close for a moment before laying her down in the sling, which she was getting too big for but regardless, he would still use for today.

Naruto had almost lost his child during the chunin exams. He owed Kakashi so much for protecting her while he was gone…and for saving her before when she was being kidnapped. He would never let his child be in danger ever again if he could help it.

Naruto locked his apartment with his Ai in her sling, and he headed out to meet with Sakura and Sasuke. They were all quiet, and most were in mourning to be shocked that Naruto was freely carrying a baby. Naruto walked with his teammates after meeting in the alleyway.

The funeral was dark and gloomy, and it began to rain. Naruto held Ai firmly in the sling, his right arm resting on her while his left was to his side. Ai was sucking her fingers, making some cooing noises as infants did unknowingly.

Standing next to them was Konohamaru, who was crying, and Iruka, who was comforting the boy. They soon got in line to lay white flowers in respect for the deceased. Naruto was handed two; one for him and the other for his child. He went in line behind Shino, and as he walked closer to the picture of the Third Hokage, memories flashed in his head. He remembered how the old man was so nice to him. How they even bickered at each other.

And how it was his decision to let him keep his child.

Naruto laid his flower on the table and looked down to see Ai still holding hers in her tiny palm. Naruto eased the plant from her hold and laid it on the table, next to his. He walked back, next to Konohamaru and Iruka and wondered aloud why did he have to die.

Though Naruto knew that if it were his friends and his child, especially his child, in danger, he would gladly sacrifice his life for them.

A few days later, Naruto was running through the village. He was giving a new sling that would be perfect for when he had to run around, and Ai had grown out of her old one. This new sling was like a long wrap that could be adjusted in different ways; a gift from Iruka. Naruto had Ai on his back, held securely and was careful not to run too fast or her head would be jolted back and forth, and that could really hurt her.

He went to Ichiraku, and when he placed his child in the baby seat, he began digging for his free Ichiraku ramen. The man was very confused when Naruto had the baby with him, but he didn't seem to ask too much considering. At the moment, Naruto was very concerned for his free ramen, and he needed the ticket.

A chuckle came from the chef, "I think I found your ticket," he said and pointed to the girl who was sucking on the ticket. Naruto screamed and snatched it from her and pointed, "No! Bad baby!" He said firmly, but the message didn't seem to get across to her, though she was upset that her chew toy was taken. Naruto easily replaced it with a spare pacifier, and she quieted down easily enough.

"She looks just like ya," the chef commented with a grin. Naruto smiled at that, "thanks. I think she does as well."

All the while, no one was aware of the soft jingle of a bell that rung by and two men in red clouded cloaks.