Afternoon of Konoha: In which Juugo has made a discovery

Naruto worked diligently, as though trying to make up for being late today. He and Sasuke had now been together for four months, and yet they still couldn't get enough of the other. They sat at their respective desks and wrestled massive towers of paperwork. Every now and then the air would be punctuated with a sigh, a chuckle, or outburst of some sort.

At one point Naruto hit his leaning tower and just sat there motionless as the papers shuffled to the floor. Sasuke couldn't help but laugh, however he did help the blonde pick up the mess. Shika stuck his head through the door to see what the commotion was, he quickly disappeared before they tried to enlist his help. He didn't pop back in until noon, and then only because he had been given a lunch tray and a message requesting an audience with the Hokage.

He presented the request and awaited the reply, which was an affirmative. Soon Sakura, Ino, Tsunade, Lee, Chouji, and Jiraya were standing in front of the Hokage with an attentive Sasuke listening in.

Ino was first to speak, "Umm, Naruto-kun, I mean Hokage-sama," she was blushing and seemed quite nervous, "Wewouldlikeyoutoperformourweddingceremony" she gushed out all in one breath.

Naruto laughed, he had understood her perfectly, and as she was standing dangerously close to Chouji he knew who she meant. He couldn't resist giving her a hard time, and scrunched up his face, "Huh? Nande? Nanda!" it was all he could do to keep from laughing at the pained expression on Ino's face.

Chouji placed a comforting hand on Ino's shoulder; she looked into his eyes and found strength. "Would you perform our wedding ceremony?" she asked again, more calmly this time.

Naruto who wasn't finished toying with the blonde who had been the object of torment to his Sasuke for years, and more recently even he himself; well before Sasuke returned and they had merged together, had a curt comeback, "All six of you? But Sakura-san and Lee-san are already married…"

Naruto was unprepared for the excruciating smack to the face from Tsunade. "Be serious! This is nerve wracking enough for her as it is!"

Naruto picked himself up off the floor, an 'I'm okay…don't do anything foolish' gesture sent to Sasuke sat the partially raised off his seat man back into his chair. "Owww, that hurt! You aren't supposed to hit me, I'm the Hokage!"

"Well than act like it, don't play childish games with people's emotions," Came the sharp retort.

Naruto knew when he was beaten, and cowed, "I would love to officiate at your ceremony, when and where?" he asked, much more politely than necessary.

Ino smiled and quickly hugged Chouji before resuming her former unconcerned stance. They quickly ananounced that the date wasn't for another five and a half months, nit until the Spring Solstice.

Next Tsunade spoke, "Naruto there is an issue we would like to present to you." She began, then realizing her poor choice of words rephrased herself, "Well it's actually your wedding present. You too Sasuke." She added looking at the dark haired man.

Naruto was intrigued. They had received many gifts from well wishers, some nice artwork and sculpture, kimono, knick knacks, and a lot of other little goodies they had oohed over, well Naruto had oohed over, Sasuke had merely watched his blonde with interest.

"I don't understand? What about our gift? Which gift?" he mused looking at the buxom woman.

Tsunade smiled, the six of them, well five and Jiraya cheering them on, had planned this carefully. "We want to help your dream of having children come true."

Naruto fainted, and Sasuke shot to his feet angrily chiding the Godaime Hokage about teasing his blonde about something that was not funny, when she had only just slapped his face for the same thing.

She tersely replied that she wasn't teasing. She had figured out a way to make it come true. The children would be the biological children of Sasuke and Naruto. She would de-nucleate a donor egg, removing all DNA from it yet preserving the necessary component. Then she would inject one sperm cell from Naruto and one from Sasuke, effectively creating a 'fertilized egg' effect. The egg would then divide and multiply like normal and eventually be transferred to surrogate mother. She couldn't make Naruto, or Sasuke for that matter, able to impregnate, but she could make it so they could bear biological offspring.

Naruto who had been lying in Sasuke's lap listening intently jumped up and hugged the surprised woman. She smiled warmly and stated, "I take that as a yes?"

Naruto answered with two questions, when and who would be the surrogate. Tsunade countered with, as soon as you want and Ino and Sakura have offered themselves with the consent of Lee and Chouji.

Naruto couldn't contain his joy. "Sasuke, we're going to have children! You and I are going to be parents! You get to have little Uchiha's running around."

The dark man just sat on the floor apparently unable to speak. Naruto hugged him tightly and kissed him so deeply and passionately that their visitors had to look away for fear of nosebleed at the erotic sight.

When they had reeled themselves in, remembering they weren't alone, a thought struck Naruto. "Umm, why is Ero-Sennin here?"

He laughed uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his head, "Well, you see, it's like this, ummm…" he began

Tsunade cut in and answered for him, "He's with me," she offered. Jiraya grinned comically.

Naruto flopped back into his waiting lover's embrace, "WHAT! Since when?"

Tsunade didn't flinch, "That's not for you to know, just know that it is." Jiraya looked like he was as happy as he could ever have been.

Naruto pondered this little tidbit of information. "What about his 'research' for his books?" he inquired innocently.

Jiraya's face blushed, "Well..ahh, that is…I'm going to write a new book. And I am doing research…" his voice trailed off, how to put this without evoking Tsunade's wrath.

"He's using our relationship as material." Tsunade added bluntly with a 'what? You are.' Shrug to Jiraya's quizzical glance.

Sakura and Ino were both curious as to which the men would choose to aide them in their new adventure. Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other and in unison inquired, "Why choose? Two is better than one!" Sakura and Ino both sweat dropped, their men rushing to catch them.

Once they had recovered, Tsunade made appointments for the proceeding Wednesday. She glared at both men, "Today is Monday; you get any sexual tendencies out of your system today. No sex at all tomorrow to build up your sperm count, them you will need to meet me at my office first thing Wednesday morning."

They both readily agreed and the informal meeting was adjourned. After their unexpected guests had left, Naruto and Sasuke just sat there staring at each other. They were going to be parents. Could life get any better?

It was as they were finally getting this thought through their minds that a knock on the door, and a "You two in there? Can I come in?" interrupted their thoughts.

"Juugo! Of course, get in here!" Naruto called.

Juugo entered the office; he crossed through to the back of the desk when he didn't immediately see his duo. As he expected they were there, they were sitting, naruto still reclining with his head on Sasuke's lap. "Do I even want to know?" Came the sarcastic inquiry.

Naruto just grinned widely and excitedly explained their wonderful news. Juugo joined in their enthusiasm, then began to offer great news of his own. He was a bit reluctant to give up much information at first, but when he realized they were genuinely curious and affectionately concerned he told them the whole story.

He hadn't come home the night before. They didn't reveal that they had not noticed this fact due to their preoccupation that morning. He explained that he had run into the most intriguing person that afternoon at the reception. He remembered her from his earliest days at Orochimaru's compound, from before he had been locked up because Orochimaru was afraid of him. She had always been so kind to him, and he remembered her bringing him food and talking to him. For so long she had been the only one to acknowledge his existence. No one else would come near him for fear of him going into curse mode and attacking them.

She had never been afraid of him, and he had thought of her as a friend. Suddenly she had stopped visiting, and he had never known why. He had become bitter and eventually sunk into insanity as his life had been spent shut up in a dark cell in the most desolate prison Orochimaru had. The only time he had any contact was when Oro's scientists would knock him out and come in to remove blood to develop the curse seal jutsu.

Last night after he had given his speech, he had heard what he thought was that familiar voice, and he had been compelled to follow it to see where the source was. As soon as he saw her he knew it was the same person although she'd grown up since last she'd visited his cell. He'd been wary to approach her at first, but she had felt his gaze upon her. When she turned to see who was staring so intensely at her she could barely believe her eyes.

She had run up to him and hugged him tightly. The years melted away and they were transported back in time. They were two kids looking at each other through the bars of the cell. They had found a quiet corner and had just started talking. They caught up on the elapsed time pretty quickly, Anko had been in Konoha, Juugo had been locked in his cell. He had immediately forgiven her when he found out she had escaped from the madman's clutches.

They moved on to what had brought Juugo to Konoha, and he relayed the tale of Sasuke's defeat of his brother and another Akatsuki. How they had been 'captured' and he'd been cured of his curse by Tsunade. This story leads to the story of Naruto and Sasuke's quick realization of their feelings, Sasuke's amnesia, and their eventual marriage.

Anko quickly surmised that her weird 'attack' on her last mission and disappearance of her seal had happened at the same time as Sasuke's and coincided with Juugo's curse release. She had felt different afterwards, and her teammates were considerably worried at her sudden change in personality. They were used to the outspoken, do things my own way, sadistic Anko. After the release of her seal, Anko had mellowed and had gained a new focus and drive she'd always had, but had been eclipsed by her desire for blood.

They had talked for hours, and as everyone was winding down at the reception had decided to go for a walk, as they were both reluctant to relinquish the other's company. They had eventually wound up at Anko's house, and she had invited him to stay in her spare room, and he'd accepted understanding that there was nothing sexual implied.

When he had finished his story, Sasuke was both surprised and genuinely happy for his friend. He took in the news of Anko's release of her seal, and made a mental note to be sure to bring it up to Tsunade. Naruto being the hopeless romantic he could be at times just gave him a sappy grin as he imagined Juugo happy with a woman…which lead to the expected sub-thought…empty house! He immediately set to scheming how he could ensure favorable results, with Sasuke's approval of course.

Suddenly feeling that he'd accomplished all he was going to for that day, Naruto declared the day done, and set to putting away those papers that were important enough to merit it. Soon he and Sasuke were following a jubilant Juugo back to their rooms.

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Thus ends the afternoon, what else can happen this evening. Heh, no one point out that I totally forgot Anko when Tsunade was lamenting about not having anyone out of the village range to check about the broken curse seal. I totally forgot about Anko then, and only when I was trying to figure out who to hook up with Juugo did I think of her...I mean they're perfect match. Both were Oro's test subjects, both survived and escaped, and in my fic both have an even tighter bond because of the broken curse. Oh and I still haven't got that engagement flashback yet… Juugo's liaison and the baby thing were paramount for this chapter, (Did you know that my theory is actually scientifically sound? Newsflash to all homosexual males, you could theoretically have biological children of your own…now if there was just someone brave enough to do it!)

I promise it will come next chapter, pretty much near the beginning.

So on to Chapter 5, Evening, to be posted tomorrow or Friday. 

-Kneise