(Continued)

I rarely, if ever, use genjutsu for good. It's always for attack or defense. This was a special case. It always is with her.

I wanted to use it once before on her in a situation similar when we were younger and she was afraid, but I decided against it.

I stroked her cheek and she turned her face into the palm of my hand.

I sometimes think of what would have happened if she got pregnant the first time we were intimate. Gosh, we were so stupid then.

I can't even imagine it. In that time, I don't know if I would've known or allowed myself to know. I would've thought she was chasing me to bring me back as usual. But a baby... and I would've been a father at sixteen, not like now is much older, but I do think differently than I did when I was sixteen.

This time she's my wife. I want everything with her.

Karin was coming in and out with equipment and types of medicine to use.

She opened the door but didn't come in.

"Sasuke, can you help me with this?"

I glanced down. Naruko was fast asleep.

I stood up and walked out to where Karin was calling me.

"We need to get a water basin."

I followed her down in silence. I could tell she was holding something back.

"Karin, say what you want to say."

Her shoulders tensed but she kept walking.

"How long will she be under your jutsu?"

I stopped walking. "A while."

She huffed and looked at me over her shoulder. "I just can't believe you're going to be a father. Are you really ready for this?"

I looked away, not sure how to answer.

I remember after the weekend we spent at that resort, she was always tired and sleeping in. I thought she was going on missions she wasn't telling me about. My worst thought was that she was seeing someone else. We went out for ramen one night and before we even sat down at Ichiraku's, Naruko couldn't hold her stomach. She said the smell of the ramen was off. We didn't get ramen. Ever. I asked her what was going on but she would say "nothing" or "I don't know what you're talking about". I remember getting really paranoid and in my head. But then the day of our wedding came and everything made sense. When she announced her pregnancy to everyone, I had to do a double take. I was so happy. She's having my child.

"I mean, it seems like only a couple years ago, you were a completely different person. Because you were."

I bit the inside of my cheek.

"She doesn't even know who you are, Sasuke-"

"Yes she does! I didn't know myself, Karin."

I stepped up close to her and lowered my voice.

"As usual, you tread a very fine line. Don't speak of my wife in such an ill manner."

I scowled and turned away from her.

"I came to you as an old friend, not a threat. Now let's get the water."

We were gone for maybe half an hour, finding the tub and then filling it with water.

We were carrying the basin back when I felt it.

My genjutsu broke immediately. I dropped my side and Karin was forced to drop hers as well.

"Hey Sasuke-!"

"Sorry!"

I ran back.

Naruko was still in bed but her hands were grabbing fistfuls of the sheets.

Her brows were furrowed and her face was twisted into a grimace.

What's happening? My genjustu should trap her for a few hours not one.

Her eyes flashed open and she gasped.

What.

But even Naruko by herself can't break genjutsu because she sucks at it.

"The pain surpassed my genjutsu?" I said aloud.

Her eyes popped even more. "Genjutsu-?"

I started to panic. She's going to kill me.

"Sasuke, I need your help out here!"

Crap.

I left the room quickly. Once I did, I heard Naruko gasp before she screamed.

My blood turned to ice.

"Sasuke, let's go," Karin called from the end of the hall.

I forced myself to move forward instead of running back to Naruko. She's in so much agony.

I returned back to Karin and lifted the water basin back up. We hurried back to the room.

"Let's get started. Sasuke, I recommend you stay up there."

Naruko shook her head. "No, Sasuke, put me under another one."

"What?"

She yanked me down. "Now!"

She was glaring into my eyes. She really wants me to?

"Sasuke, do not put her under a genjutsu. That won't help this. Let her do it on her own."

"But-"

"Sasuke please!"

"Don't do it."

I felt so conflicted. I did it to help her relieve some pain but I don't want to knock her out.

"What if I just relieve some pain?"

"That could harm her and the baby. She'll strain herself in some way. Don't. I know she wants it, but don't."

"Sasuke," she whimpered.

She sounded so helpless. I want to do something. And I'm low on chakra too. Shit.

"I'm right here. I believe in you."

"Okay, are you ready?"

I lifted myself up and Naruko bit her lip.

"You're going to want to start pushing...now."

She clawed at the sheets as she did so.

"Ha! I can't do this. Sasuke, please put me under a jutsu."

"No, just keep pushing."

She tried and it hurt to watch.

"Sasuke!"

Her hand was clutching mine so tightly, I thought she'd break it.

She screamed. I can't take much more of this.

She's calling out my name and I can't do anything but watch.

She was sobbing as she pushed the baby out. Naruko brought a hand over her mouth to stifle her cries. Her fingers were trembling.

Karin spoke up and it was the best thing I've heard all day.

"He's out!"

Naruko was sweating and had tears streaming down her face.

She was gasping for air, no, more like hyperventilating.

"Naruko?"

She covered her mouth, and glanced up at me with watering eyes. Tears slowly crawled down her face as her breathing started to lengthen a bit more.

"Sasuke, make sure he's alright," she mumbled off.

Naruko tried to keep her eyes open but they shut too quickly. Her head fell to the side.

I brushed back her hair that was wet from sweat.

She's okay. She has to be okay.

As if on cue, Karin walked up to me with a cleaned and wrapped up bundle.

"She'll be just fine. And so will he."

Karin handed the baby to me.

I cradled the baby in my arm. There was a certain warmth that filled my chest. This is my child. Naruko had my baby. We share this child.

"I still can't believe it, you know. I haven't seen her for a while. I knew you felt something for her when you first introduced us to her, but I just wasn't sure if you were serious."

Karin injected a needle connected to a tube into Naruko's arm.

"This will help her regain her strength. I'll be back in a couple hours."

She pushed her glasses up her nose. "He'll be a very powerful ninja one day. Good luck."

"Thank you, Karin."

She stopped at the door.

"I'll always be by your side Sasuke."

I smiled and sat at the edge of the bed with the baby.

I couldn't help but smirk looking down at him. Some dark hair was on his head. But he's got his mother's whiskers.

That must mean he has the fox chakra like Naruko said he would. She was afraid that the child would think she was a bad mom for giving him the Fox chakra. I reassured her that wouldn't happen. I wonder if he'll adopt the sharingan as well.

Would he want to be Hokage like Naruko?I'll make sure he doesn't live the life we had. There was too much struggle.

I'm happy we got to spend this time traveling together, being together. Naruko spent a lot her time sewing the Uchiha emblem onto the back of her clothes while I just sat with her, rubbing her belly, content with everything.

We town-hopped through these months. I didn't want it to end but she insisted the baby be born in the village and now look at us.

Once we get back to the village... I know we won't have the peace we've had.

Naruko turned over and instinctively reached out in her sleep, grabbing my clothes. She does that almost every day. She told me once that she does that because she's searching for me.

I'm here. And I'm going to be here with her and our son forever.

"Naruko, look at our son."

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Sasuke..." she breathed.

I placed him down gently next to her.

Newer, gentler tears formed in her red and tired eyes. She cradled his head in her hand and nuzzled his cheek.

"Thank you Sasuke."

That was sudden. "What? Why're you thanking me?"

She inched closer to our child. "You gave me the family I've always wanted. I love him. I love you."

I leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too." I've never seen her so happy.

We're going to have to leave after Naruko feels better. We don't have the means to keep the baby out here.

"Naruko-"

"No. I can hear it in your voice."

I sighed. Why is she so stubborn? She wanted to go to the village before so why the change of heart?

I'll just comply for now.

"Okay."

I got in the bed, laying behind her and holding her close to my chest. I pressed my forehead against her back and rubbed her waist with my hand.

She was practically purring, cuddling her baby.

I smiled and closed my eyes.

We did this for each other.