Chapter 17: Sasuke's Destiny, When destinies coincide.

OV: Sasuke realizes just how much Naruto loves him and how much a part of him Naruto is when the chance of losing him becomes all too real.

AN: This was going to be my last chapter, but I had this idea and I didn't want to start any other stories… so I added this little side step into SasauNaru world….

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Naruto opened his eyes slowly not really wanting to wake up. He heard Sasuke shift beside him and a wide grin brightened his sleep riddled features. Sapphire eyes gazed lovingly at the snowy skinned man who lay naked and stretched out with abandon across the bed.

Naruto gently rose from the bed and padded on bare feet toward the bathroom and adjoining closet. He hastily dressed and prepared for the day. He knew Sasuke would be angry that he had left this early, and without waking him. Worse yet he knew that it was Sasuke's tradition to make him breakfast in bed on his birth day. Today he just didn't feel like celebrating his birth, or worse the tainted aura of despair that spread over him these past few years.

Although he had been well loved by the entire village, and every small plan that was contrary to him and his family was instantly quashed, he still felt guilty about the Kyuubi no Kitsune that was still sealed within him. Worse yet, the ramblings of his worried mind had been assuaging him with thoughts and images of the other Bijuu who were still safely locked up beneath Konoha's peaceful streets unbeknownst to all the villagers.

It had all started five years ago.

:Flashback:

"Sakura, I need to see Tsunade Baa chan!!" he had yelled as he crashed through the door to the hospital's research center. He knew Tsunade had been watching over Sakura as she had been working with some new poison darts that had been recovered from a recent encounter with enemy nin.

Sakura hardly glanced in his direction, and really only acknowledged him faintly with a slight inclination toward the door. Naruto raced out of the room in a most unHokagelike fashion, and in his haste nearly bowled over the very person he sought.

Rather than waste her breath trying to tell him to be careful, Tsunade just grinned at him. He was still the enthusiastic and energetic young Naruto he always had been from the day she first met him.

She paused in her musings to note a darkness to his eyes and a peculiar tenseness in his smile.

They walked to a private office and he told her what had him so stressed. The seal which had been weakening for such a long time was finally beginning to fail. It had begun to actually cause Naruto pain and he had to train himself to unconsciously keep a flow of his own chakra to keep it in check.

Tsunade sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. She looked tired and Naruto thought she'd fallen asleep until she spoke softly. She had explained that she had feared this for some time, and reminded Naruto of the scrolls Jiraya had left in her care and she had presented to him so long ago.

Her face grew darker when Naruto told her he had already been restudying the scrolls and learning all he could about this 'key' safely contained within. His clenched jaw and serious eyes were almost more than she could take. Without actually coming out and saying anything he had told her there was a chance that using the key could kill him. The downside was if he didn't use it the seal would weaken and break and that could not only kill Naruto but allow the Kyuubi to escape.

Hey had turned to training sessions where Naruto brought the scrolls and they both pondered over the intricacies of the seals and Jutsu required. Naruto had told her that he wanted to perform the key ceremony on his birth day. He wanted it to be just the two of them but to have an entourage of well trained and powerful ANBU ready if needed.

Finally he had decided it was time to tell Sasuke.

That hadn't gone well.

They had wound up having one of their most dangerous and enigmatic spars ever. Eventually Sasuke had relented and revealed he was so angry at himself, and not so much Naruto. He too had been hiding his secret from his dobe, his thought was he was protecting the blonde; actually he had been trying not to admit there was a problem. His eyes had begun to fail. He had fallen victim to the Uchiha's pitfall.

They had lain there, bodies touching, as they regained their breath.

:End Flashback:

Naruto entered the research building. He was surprised to find Tsunade and the guard already waiting. A thin sad smile spread across the old woman's Genjutsu masked face. Even now when she was in her darkest twilight years she couldn't bare to look her age. Although she didn't look twenty anymore she was still youthful and beautiful.

Naruto broke into that blinding grin only he possessed and asked if she was ready.

Her reply was to inquire if he had told Sasuke what they were planning that morning.

When he confessed that he had told him some of it, but not that he could die in the process she had become enraged. She had very nearly refused to allow the ceremony until he went home and took care of what she felt was necessary.

In the end he had convinced her that it was for the best this way. Sasuke needed to stay strong for Nari, Suke, and Ryuu; if he was worried about Naruto he wouldn't be able to be his best for them. Naruto had reasoned that if he died because of the ceremony it would be better for Sasuke not to know what had transpired. He felt it would be easier on his raven haired lover.

His pleading blue eyes and plaintive begging had placated her and they had begun to set up for the ceremony. The ANBU had been ordered to remain outside and only come in if a certain signal was given, no matter what they heard or saw.

Naruto lay on a soft tatami mat on the floor. His majestic robes were neatly folded and placed with care on the lab table. Tsunade looked at Naruto and asked him if he was ready to begin.

His unwavering nod spurred her on and she began the long procession of hand seals that was required. Naruto closed his eyes and tried to contact the fox.

When he reached the usual room where the fox was housed he wasn't surprised to see gaping cracks had formed in the gates that bound the fox within him. He noted the blue chakra woven between them reinforcing the weak points.

He stood directly in front of the crumbling gates and bowed his head. He was saying a silent goodbye to his family so that if things didn't turn out well for him he wouldn't feel he had not reached closure. When he raised his eyes he was staring into the fiery gaze of the Kyuubi.

"It's been a long time," Kyuubi snarled.

Naruto merely looked at him his gaze never wavering. He had found peace with his tenant and even now had no hatred or fear.

Kyuubi talked to him about what was about to happen and actually seemed interested when Naruto began to ask questions. Eventually they came to an agreement. For his freedom Naruto made Kyuubi swear an agreement that he would pass on through the land of Ninja and humans and take the Bijuu with him to the beyond.

What Kyuubi couldn't know was that there was someone else who had arrived to keep him in check if he should change his mind.

Sasuke had woken to find the bed cold and knew immediately that Naruto had left without waking him. He decided to allow Naruto the dignity of doing this on his own and had stationed himself directly outside the door. The other ANBU had moved aside without question.

Sasuke's plan was to remain alert and keep constant vigil over Naruto's chakra. If he felt anything amiss he planned to enter the room at any cost, he knew he still had enough power within him and his love for Naruto would boost that, as well as his Sharingan was more powerful now than ever. If Naruto lived to hate him for the rest of his life for interfering it would be worth it; at least he would be alive to hate him.

Tsunade had collected her chakra into her hands and was finally ready to use the key to open the seal. This was not to strengthen the seal, not to buy more time, not to make things better for a little while. This was a key to fully open the seal and release it.

She pulled her elbow up above her shoulder with her hand hovering near her collar bone, fingers splayed. With a mighty shout she jabbed her chakra laced hand into the scroll and removed the key. Then, in one swift movement she jabbed the key into the seal.

No one was prepared for what happened next, especially when at first it felt as if nothing had happened.

Naruto had been standing in front of the gates a mutually respectful smile on both his and Kyuubi's face. Suddenly he was forcefully shoved out of the room as the walls containing Kyuubi vanished. His body went numb and his muscles contracted forcing his back to arch up off the mat and slam back down hard. His eyes were squeezed shut and his mouth was set in a grimace as an intense heat coursed through his body. Just when he didn't think he could withstand the intensity anymore or he would spontaneously combust, it was gone.

From her point of view, Tsunade watched as Naruto writhed in agony but there was nothing she could do. The Kyuubi chakra spread over Naruto's body and caused his skin to glow orange briefly. The light was intensely bright and suddenly it just extinguished. As it did an enormous shroud of orange glowing chakra engulfed the building taking the shape of the fearsome Kyuubi no Kitsune standing with back arched and feral snarl lifting the corners of its mouth. The nine terrible tails were whipping through the air rending bursts of dry heat through the air. The image hovered over the building for a short moment and then as quickly as it had appeared it disappeared as if it had evaporated into one last gigantic burst of heated ozone. Naruto's face relaxed for a moment, but then the light was back even brighter. Tsunade had to shield her eyes from the white hot brightness. Then it just seemed to be absorbed into his flesh.

Naruto fell into a calm sleep from which he didn't awaken for three days. Over the course of this time he had a great conversation with the Kyuubi.

Sasuke had entered the room with trepidation after the ceremony had ended and Tsunade had bade him to come in. He had faithfully watched over the unmoving body of his one true love not leaving unless one of the kids was there to relieve him just long enough to use the bathroom.

They brought him food and he ate without noting what he was consuming. He knew Naruto was going to wake up and he was certain he would be there when he did.

On the third day Nari brought some breakfast in and stopped just inside the door. Sasuke was sleeping, curled up on the hard floor next to Naruto. He had his hand linked with Naruto's and had the tanned flesh pressed against his pale cheek.

Nari sat the Bento box down and slipped out without disturbing him.

Five minutes later Naruto's eyes shot open and he looked around his surroundings. It took only a moment to remember everything, especially the three days conversations he had shared with his former tenant.

He looked over at Sasuke and grinned revealing two very sharp canine teeth as he did; a permanent reminder of the Kyuubi that had been inside him for so long and was now a small part of him.

Sasuke felt the change in atmosphere and awoke to see blue eyes full of love and happiness looking at him. He pulled Naruto to him and kissed him deeply.

They sat up and the first sound between them was Naruto's stomach growling loudly. Sasuke laughed, something he did most when he was around Naruto and their children. Naruto felt unnaturally keen senses picking up on the Bento box Nari had left and Sasuke followed his gaze. He stood up and brought it to Naruto who devoured the contents within seconds.

Sasuke could feel something was different, but he also knew that was the whole plan with the ceremony so he didn't address it. Instead he offered a hand to his dobe and led him home where they were greeted enthusiastically by the twins. Nari had left on a mission after delivering the Bento box.

Tsunade appeared at their front door just as they were getting ready to go inside. She admonished them for not waiting for her before they left. She followed them inside and performed a thorough check on Naruto's entire body. None of them were expecting her to inform them that the Kyuubi seemed to have fused some of his chakra into Naruto when he had left his "host". Well, none except for the Kyuubi's former container that is. During their talks he had told Naruto he was leaving a "parting gift" for the boy he had come to terms with over the years. This did explain the more feline features of Naruto's face and the lengthened teeth and fingernails. His cheek scars were also deeper and more pronounced, like they would be when Naruto had tapped into the Kyuubi chakra a little but not all out.

Naruto looked at Tsunade and a question formed on his lips. "Could I use the Kyuubi chakra to heal like I used to?" he pondered.

Tsunade admitted she really didn't know, but it would be worth checking out the next time he got hurt. Naruto only grinned wider. He looked at Tsunade's hands and then at Sasuke's eyes. Tsunade grasped what he was implying and shook her head.

"I'm sorry Naruto, but you are the only one who benefits from the Kyuubi chakra," She reminded sadly.

Naruto took Tsunade's hands in his and said, "Then I won't use it, I'll use my own."

Tsunade recognized the stubborn set of his jaw and buckled under it. "Okay, gently release some chakra into my hands," she directed.

He did and Sasuke leaned closer to see what they were up to. Tsunade took the chance to place her hands over his eyes and with her and Naruto's chakra to help heal them. They were beyond a complete healing, but their combined chakra could help them some.

When she removed her hands Sasuke opened his eyes. He looked at Naruto and a tear escaped from the corner of his eye. "I can see you. Not just your outline and vague form, I can actually see you."

Naruto frowned, and then grinned as thoughts passed through his head that he hadn't known how bad Sasuke's eyes had truly become.

Sasuke looked at the man who was always there for him. From their childhood Naruto had always been there. Sasuke remembered asking Itachi about the lonely blonde boy and being encouraged to befriend him. Every moment that had been happy and held any true feeling for Sasuke since his brother's betrayal had also come at Naruto's hands. Their lives had been intertwined together from an early age.

Sasuke took Naruto gently into his arms and held him tight as the tan skin relaxed against his own luminescent flesh. "I never believed in destiny. I didn't get a chance to hear what you said to Neji about destiny, but he told me about it once. But I believe you were my destiny. You were the other part that completed me."

He placed a lingering kiss atop those unruly spiky golden locks. Naruto didn't answer, he didn't need to. Everyone could see he felt the same way by the wide grin that lit his face and caused his bright cobalt eyes to glisten with happiness and love.

Okay kind of lame I'm sure, but it was an idea I wanted to work into the story. I guess I could have done it better in terms of fitting it in, but Naruto is older and the seal is weakening…

-Kneise

One more chapter to go!!