Redemption

Three Years Later

Naruto yawned as he woke up, frowning as he found Gaara sticking to him. The ten year old wouldn't let him go in the past years.

He noted that Gaara was growing very close to him. It was odd that in two years, Gaara would be a genin with him. But, even then Gaara knew the villagers feared Naruto.

The fifteen year old shook Gaara slightly. When the green orbs popped open and smiled, Naruto shook his head.

"Why do you always end up in here? I can never sense you."

Gaara smiled. "I can conceal my own chakra just like you showed me."

Naruto sat up with a smile. How could he forget the days and nights they spent training and reviewing the world? He'd been excellent in the Uzumaki fuinjutsu scrolls Tobirama gave them.

Maybe advanced sealing was Gaara's thing.

He ruffled the red hair, so happy that Gaara was here now and not later. Even so, Naruto still wanted Orochimaru's head for nearly killing the boy. "Would you like to spend the day with me, Gaara?"

The ten year old smiled brightly and his older brother briefly wondered why the boy didn't get bored easily.

Gaara was with Naruto almost everyday of his life and that made the blond wonder deeply. Did Gaara not want to spend time with people his age? With people who weren't hated?

"Yes, big brother. I love being with you."

Naruto smiled. "You sure you don't want spend time with your friends or train with Gai?"

Gaara's face marred into sadness. "You don't want to be with me today?"

"What? No! I'd love to spend my day with you. I just thought maybe you wanted to you know…"

The blond trailed off as he realized he, along with Gaara, had no clue as to why Gaara would want to spend time with anyone other than Naruto. Gaara loved and admired the jinchuriki to a great extent.

With Naruto, either training or seeing Naruto help villagers, his eyes were always glistened. Even When Naruto was distant, he was somewhat always there with Gaara. He watched over the redhead like a hawk.

Naruto knew that Gaara hurt seeing his only family leave the village. Even as a child, the idea of Naruto leaving for few years nearly killed him.

He watched as Gaara laid his head on his tan shoulder. His own laughed roared throughout the room.

"What are we going to do, aniki?"

Naruto thought. He knew he'd have to see his team as well as complete a few missions. He supposed he could show Gaara a bit of the world.

"Would you like to go on a C-rank mission with me? Soon you'll be a genin with me."

They both laughed, remembering the decisions of the elders not to let their greatest asset rank up. Gaara found it absolutely funny that it bit the elders on their asses. No matter how much they begged, Sasuke would not become a chunin unless Naruto was with him.

Still, most of their friends had ranked up to chunin. Even Shikamaru.

"And then we can just train and have fun. How about that hokage tower?"

Gaara jumped on the bed. "Yes! I can't wait for you to see me in action. I'm going to be all like, pew."

Gaara accidentally let sand come from his body, a thing Naruto instilled within him. He smiled sheepishly as his brother spit it out dully. "Sorry, Aniki."

Bang!

The door opened and Karin stormed in with the a sword in hand. "What's wrong, guys? I heard yelling and a jutsu and-"

Karin deflated as she watched her cousins on the bed, one shaking sand from his hair, the other blushing sheepishly.

"You guys…" She trailed off stepping over the sand and sitting on the bed in her bed. "You're both so weird."

The prophecy child laughed. "You're weird too, Kar. That's what makes you us."

Karin shook her head. "No. You two are in your own circle." She stuck her tongue out at Gaara and Naruto snorted.

"Wherever you guys are going, I'm going too."

"Then let's go, family. And Gaara, before you eat, clean this sand up." Naruto stood in a heap.

Kakashi cautiously dug through the pile of C-ranks that didn't seem suspicious. It must have really been taking energy because he looked up at Gaara.

"Are you sure the hokage allowed you to go on a mission with us, Gaara-kun?"

Gaara gave a thumbs up. "Yes. Since I'm destined to be rookie of the year, I'll need to understand the real world."

"Meh. Alright since your a family member of one of my students…" He trailed off, his single eye catching Naruto's, who shrugged in embarrassment. "I'll let you come."

Sakura humphed. "Why is Karin here then?"

Naruto duly noted that the two kunoichi's relationship was love hate. Karin consistently attempted to impress Sakura and be her friend. Sakura deemed Karin annoying and pestering. When he looked even closer, Karin was a lovesick puppy. Sakura kicked the mutt.

Karin glared softly with a pout. "I'm Naruto and Gaara's cousin, so yeah."

Sasuke shook his head. "Hn. You all sound like a bunch of babies."

Karin lifted her fists, but Kakashi stopped it when Sakura nearly screamed for Sasuke's safety. "Doesn't matter you all. Karin and Gaara deserve to be here as much as we do. Now I found a nice C-rank for us."

"Can we do an A-rank?" Gaara asked impatiently, jumping on Kakashi's legs.

Kakashi pushed the boy backward without so much a glance. "Meh. Just like your brother. Anyway...no. Naruto and Sasuke are still genin while Karin and Sakura are chunin. That's bad on my part to call it."

Gaara deflated. "But Sasuke and Naruto are really jounin, right Kakashi-sensei? Right?" Again, he walked closer to the Hatake.

Kakashi pushed him pack, growing slightly frustrated. "Naruto cut it-" He cut himself off. He looked from Gaara to Naruto and back again. If they didn't look so different, there would be no telling these two apart.

"Our mission is to actually escort the Fire Daimyo's daughter to wind country."

Gaara sighed. "I was hoping for escorting a bridge builder to wave country, but…" He trailed off as Naruto rubbed his head harshly.

"The rank doesn't matter so much, Shuk. What matters is how much effort you put into the mission, whether it's picking weeds or assassinating a mass murderer, you do your best and that's all that matters."

Kakashi nodded. "Gaara, take notes from Karin and your brother. They know a lot about the world. Soon you will too."

He reached forward and rustled Naruto's hair, attempting to fluster his student. And fluster him, he did.

Naruto's eyes averted to Sasuke and the dark raised brows. He deflated. "Kakashi-sensei. I'm 15." The man only chuckled. "Can we do the mission now? I'd like to get some time with Gaara as much as I can?"

"Hai. Hai. Come on team seven and family members. We're off."

Sasuke dropped his pack to make sure everything was in and Naruto checked Gaara's thoroughly.

Everything that Gaara needed for the trip he made sure he had. He'd die if the redhead came back with the slightest scratch. "Holster, uh huh. Kunai, yup. Healing liquid-"

He tensed. It was the most important thing and Gaara had forgotten it. "Gaara, where's your healing liquid?"

Gaara looked around in the bag as if he could scout better. Unwillingly, his cheeks suddenly kissed pink like a spring rose, the blooming colour so cute against his blank skin.

"I left it at home."

Kakashi shrugged. "We can wait for you to get it, Naruto."

"No it's fine. He can use mine." Naruto tucked his own ointment away. "Saiken and Kurama heal me well anyway."

"Alright, let's move out."

Gaara cheered silently, following as Kakashi led and Sakura and Karin behind. Sasuke twisted on his own heel. "Nope." He poked Gaara's forehead and the boy sighed.

"Do I have to get this now? I'm getting stronger. I can tell."

Naruto nodded fiercely. "Not now, Gaar. While I'm here, you'll get this everytime. You know I'm...infamous. And so is Sasuke. It's a curse and a blessing to be with the dangerous duo of Konoha."

Gaara pouted slightly, but moved to Naruto, letting the blond create an invisible shield around him. "This'll last all day."

They watched as Gaara's skin tingled in gold lighting before returning to normality. Enemies who attempted to hit him would merely be flown back.

"Where's the girl that we're escorting to wind?" Sasuke quietly questioned, flicking Gaara's forehead once again.

They began walking and Naruto pointed to a tall girl around their ages. "By the gate speaking with Karin."

They watched as the girl turned in their direction, awwed at Gaara, skimmed Sasuke's form. However when her eyes skimmed Naruto's full form, she froze.

Everyone noticed. Sasuke grit his teeth. "I'll kill her before she even thinks about i-"

He was cut off by a loud squeal. The Fire Daimyo's daughter squealed and jumped around. "This'll be the best trip ever."

Gaara pushed closer to Naruto with a pout, holding on to the taller boy's arm. "You're my brother, not hers." he whispered possessively. Naruto understood fine and well. Gaara had wanted Naruto to teach him things and spend his entire quantity of attention on the redhead. With a fangirl, things like that didn't go well.

Naruto nodded. "You got that right." Out of spite, his Ichibi and blue eyes skimmed the girl's figure, deciding they liked dark hair, muscles, and pale skin above anything else. So they only had the hots for a single person. What was the big deal?

Sasuke pushed him. "Naruto. She's our client." he hissed.

Naruto blushed. "Sorry?" More of a question than a statement. If Sasuke knew his real thoughts, which would he be more angered by?

They turned back her blushing cheeks and twiddling thumbs. "Great." Sasuke muttered. "Now she has the wrong idea."

Naruto cringed as the girls ahead of him squealed. He couldn't fathom what made them- Sakura and Yuka, that was her name- squeal so much.

Looking over, he watched as Gaara pointed out all his strengths to his older cousin. Karin nodded, but she was more focused on glaring into the girl's conversation ahead.

"Konohamaru and Hanabi get so jealous that my brother's strong and powerful. They get jealous when I learn new things. That's why I'm rookie of the year."

He shook his head at the boy's tinge of childhood arrogance, hoping silently it would dissolve by the time graduation appeared. If anything, he feared the confidence.

Confidence was a disruption to life in the Namikaze family. Afterall, it was confidence that led Naruto into seeking power and confidence gave Pein the idea that he would not be caught.

Maybe he liked this tinge of arrogance.

"Are you listening to me?"

The blond looked up and over, finding Sasuke's pretty face. "Yes. I'm listening to you."

"What did I say, dobe?"

"What did I say, dobe?" Naruto mocked in annoyance.

The Uchiha pushed him slightly and they both smiled. "I said, I think I found a way to defeat Hikari's monster." Sasuke whispered. He didn't want Gaara hearing.

Over the past two years, Naruto had revealed everything about his travels Sasuke needed to know. The main points included the prophecy and what was within his body. It hurt Sasuke a lot.

Unbeknownst to Naruto, it hurt the Uchiha more than anything in the world. But he'd keep it a secret.

Since then, he and Naruto had been looking through ancient techniques, attempting to keep Naruto alive. Naruto wondered if he could tell Sasuke to leave it alone and let fate have its way. However, could he hurt Sasuke more, much less Gaara?

"What is it?" He asked softly.

Sasuke blushed lightly and just as he opened his mouth, a loud yelp cut them off. Naruto watched as Gaara tripped, falling to the ground by a missed step.

Naruto tensed and ran, attempting to catch the boy. It had been too late.

The sharp twigs of summer sting upon the ground had cut parts of his face, hands, and shirt.

Naruto rushed over, grabbing his bag and pulling a cloth from it. "Shit." He hissed. The barrier didn't work on small things like that.

Gaara put his hands up, but the jinchuuriki spoke. "Are you alright? Let me put this ointment on it." Damnit, Gaara, stay still."

Sakura sighed. "It's just a few cuts, Naruto. Let the boy live."

Naruto stopped and stared over Gaara. Could they claim him an exaggerator? They didn't see what he saw.

The world rushed by in a blur and Naruto knew the pain was coming. Gaara was falling, and falling fast he was, onto a thick branch, right in the middle of his stomach. It went by fast, yet slow, almost suspended. Then impact. The blond could feel his own bones move in a way they shouldn't, jangled. Without knowing, he knew there was blood seeping from skin that seconds ago was smooth. He didn't don't move - anything to delay the part where he had to take in what Gaara looked like now. Torn and dirty skin, reddened, weeping.

The gap in the boy's stomach was sharp enough to cut flesh as if it posed no resistance. At once a fountain of red came from the wound, the ebb and flow in time with a terrified heart, killing the boy all the faster. Naruto stood watching as if he could not hear the screams of pain, as if it were a silent theatre production of no importance. He never moved at all until Gaara's mark was bled out, his red blood mingling with the gravel and taking on an earthy hue. Then he would make a precise turn and march on, never even a spot of blood on himself or a thought in mind of his now dead brother.

But, the blood kept gushing out of Gaara. It didn't gush in a constant flow, but in time with the beating of Gaara's heart. At first it came thick and strong, flowing through his fingers as they clasped the ripped flesh. He felt the blood move over his hand, the thick fluid no warmer or cooler than his own skin. After a few moments more the blood was still leaving his rapidly paling flesh, but the pulses were slower, weaker.

"Aniki?" Naruto broke out his his daymare and watched Gaara, who had been applying the ointment on himself. "I'm fine."

The green eyes made him cease his own heavy breathing. "Yeah." He whispered, he stood helping his brother up. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I overreacted."

Haruto pushed further in. 'Tell him what you saw. Tell him what will happen.'

He inhaled and grabbed hold of his brother, pulling him along with the rest of the team. "Stay with me, now Gaara. We're almost to Suna."

Gaara sighed. "I can't be stronger."

Naruto stopped and looked back, staring down at his brother. Gaara put his head down. As if Naruto's gaze was mightier than anyone or anything. "What?"

"I can't get stronger because you won't let me."

Naruto ushered the team to move forward as he stared at his brother. "Gaara. I train you all the time. You're an academy student beyond the rank of chunin because of what I've taught you. How...how can you say that?"

Gaara wiped his eyes, frustrated at being so weak before his older brother. "It's true. Brother, you are my safety, shelter when the storm winds rise to fever pitch. You've been the one my heart relies on for as long as I can remember. Since the death of the Namikaze, I owed you more than anything. I learned to be more like you. When I was scared, you saved me. Kissed me as brothers do."

Naruto's heart broke a little at Gaara's own. Had Gaara always felt inferior or was it just coming more because he was growing?

"I was shattered and you put the pieces back together with tender love, as brothers do. I curled into you, felt your protection, as a little brother does. Yet there's going to be a time when the roles reverse. I see it coming like the lights of a distant train. So let me grow strong dear brother, strong enough to shelter you when your storm breaks."

Gaara wiped his eyes. "I can't grow if I'm being sheltered."

Naruto thought, guilty and embarrassed at his own volition. He'd treat Gaara like a child, but in reality, the boy was growing. Gaara was growing and everyone, but Naruto accepted it. He felt ashamed for trying to hold on so long.

If Pein were still around, would he be treating Naruto like the blond treated Gaara? Probably not so much.

He shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Shuk." He always did it. Treated Gaara like he was more precious than anything in the world, but maybe he was overdoing it.

He cared too much. He was Gaara's protector and guardian after all. And he had to protect Gaara from anything. Why wouldn't he? Naruto grew up learning how to protect Gaara. It was instilled in his blood the moment he saw the whiney little child.

He told Gaara just that and the redhead smiled sadly. "I know. But I promise, if you let me do things on my own, I won't let you down."

Naruto smirked with his eyes closed. "Hn. I know you wouldn't. You're too strong for that, Rookie of the year."

Gaara blushed at the praise, so used to talking about it, but never when his brother, prophecy child, joined in. "You've been around Sasuke too much." he commented, wrinkling his nose as Naruto squeezed it.

The blond smirked. "Hn." He joked. "I know."

They laughed and Gaara hugged the 15 year old. "Can you take the barrier off now?"

Naruto ruffled his hair. "You're pushing it." He warned.

Gaara laughed as the blond grabbed him. "I know."

Naruto stomped his staff.

"Prophecy Sage Art: Single Movement Technique."

Gaara laughed as they sunk into the ground and appeared next to their teammates. Sasuke glance at Naruto. "Usuratonkachi."

"Hey, teme-"

"Enough you two." Kakashi stated loudly, ceasing their potential banter. Sometimes even he wondered how they managed to stick together all these years. "It's nearing nightfall. We'll rest here. By tomorrow, we'll be in Sunagakure."

Naruto sighed heavily. He really wanted to be back in Konoha. That way, Gaara wouldn't have to survive a night in the wilderness of the world. But he guessed not.

They quickly set up camp. Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara had a tent, Kakashi, and then Karin, Yuka, and Sakura shared.

After dinner the blond stood. At the same time, he and Sasuke spoke.

"I'll take first watch."

They stared at one another and Kakashi sighed. "In order to avoid the largest debate of who has more energy, you both can take first watch."

And there they sat. Naruto leaned his heavy back and shoulders against a tree, listening to the calm beating heart of his best friend.

Sasuke was close, the sword Itachi had been training him in close to his chest. He laid his head on the blond's shoulder.

"You won't die, Naru. I promise you won't. Not while I'm here."

Naruto simply nodded. "I know."

"My brother…" Sasuke began.

"Itachi" Naruto pushed forward.

"My brother has been sick. He's been waking up every morning and throwing up. Three days ago, while you were training Gaara in motion sleep…"

"The week of meditation." Naruto murmured.

"Yeah, that. It had been the third week Itachi was sick. So my father finally took him to the hospital. It was odd and a bit unsettling. They found more chakra in Itachi. Another heart, beating and alive."

Naruto laid his head against the tree. He couldn't believe what he already knew.

"They said Itachi is pregnant. Three weeks along. He said it must have happened on a mission. Father kept asking him, but Itachi...he doesn't know who the father is...of the child I mean. Father said the child will be heir of the clan, but Itachi still has to marry a woman and produce more children."

Sasuke sighed. "There's a human in Itachi and it's going to be here in about eight months, Tsunade-sama said."

Naruto smiled softly. "You're going to be an uncle. At only 16."

Sasuke smiled too. "Is that all you can say?"

Yes, Naruto thought. If he said more, Sasuke would know. He closed his eyes, replaying how it happened in his head. How it went down. He couldn't say anything more to Sasuke about the Uchiha being an uncle.

Because he was too.

Itachi and his ANBU squad jumped through the trees, attempting to get back to Konoha in time to cleanse their sins and drown their murders in the love of family.

Yugao laughed lightly, wiping her blade clean. "Taichou, we are going fast. We should slow down."

Itachi shook his head. "This is the right pace-" The 20 year old cut himself off, stopping as he felt the chakra hiding somewhere.

His team stopped as well. He waved. "Move on. I'm going to scout this area. Don't come back unless I send one of my crows."

A series of Hais and they disappeared amongst the trees. When he was sure they were alone, he called softly.

"Come out, coward."

The figure stepped from behind the trees and stared at Itachi, his purple eyes glowing in the moonlight. "It's been long, hasn't it?"

Itachi looked away. "I was ordered to kill you on sight if seen."

"I know."

"You killed your clan. The fourth hokage."

"I know."

"You've doomed your brothers. Especially the blond."

The man sighed. "I know."

"He wants to kill you."

"I know that too."

'He's only doing what you told him."

"I did tell him to kill me."

Itachi smiled sadly, angry that their lives had been ruined because of the choices of others.

"I don't hate you."

He let Pein come over and kiss him. Kiss his face, neck, eyes, heart, entire being. And when their clothes had been shed and they danced, Pein smiled at Itachi, kissing him for a final time.

"I know. And I don't hate you."

Naruto sighed loudly, glad that the comfort of his shoulder had put Sasuke to sleep.

Was Sasuke so oblivious to that? Naruto knew Pein was the father. He knew the Uchiha knew. Just Sasuke didn't. Itachi would tell him in due time.

He wondered briefly how powerful the child would be when born. And this made him smile.

His family….his clan would be reborn in three different ways. His family. So small and young...inside Itachi. His love's brother and his brother's love.

"Pein." The teen whispered.

And that's that. Once again, thanks for the reviews. It means a lot. Next chapter, we'll see Itachi's progress. I mean the whole next chapter is a progress, with a few extra bits in there. Eh...maybe not. Maybe we won't see Itachi's progress so much. If and when Sasuke gets pregnant, we'll definitely see his progress. It's inevitable. Haha. You'll understand when you see the title. Haha. Don't hesitate to tell me what you liked.