Hello, guys. I hope everyone is doing fine.

This chapter is longer than my few previous one so I hope you won't get tired reading this chapter. I also hope you'll enjoy it. Thank you for waiting.

Chapter 64: Discord

Uchiha Sasuke's glare at his reflection on the mirror, if only possible, was intense enough to break the glass into millions of shards. He couldn't stand it. He hated it in fact. He loathed the glaring fact that he plucked out one of its evidences and he hoped it won't multiply.

When a worried Naruto asked what was upsetting him near ten in the evening, he wordlessly held the answer in front of his wife. Blue eyes crossed as it focused on a white strand between two pale fingers.

"Why would a thread upset you?" the blonde asked in confusion.

"This," the Uchiha started in an annoyed tone, "is my first white hair. And I already have frown lines in my forehead. Not only that but we now have a grandchild and our girl is dating almost everyday."

Naruto was definitely lost. He couldn't make any connection.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, the older man explained. "I'm- I mean, we," he quickly moved his pointer finger between them, "are getting old."

Subconsciously, he didn't want to grow old after marrying Naruto but the events for the past month had caused that particular peeve to slowly rise to the surface. And with the sight of silver strand on his mop of black hair, it finally emerged to his awareness. The reason he never wanted to get old was because it meant one thing: their end is getting closer and he didn't want to get separated from his love. Separation. That was his constant fear.

Understanding dawned on tanned face. Naruto was also scared of being separated from his bastard. Sasuke was constant in his life even when he had defected from the village and the mere thought of them ending always sent him to depression. They were no immortal, he knew and that was more reason why he wanted the power to fight what was inevitable. But one day, he read a book about death ending a life and not relationship and he had been slightly comforted by it and became a little bit less bothered.

He took Sasuke's hands in his. "That means you've spent quite a lot of time with me and putting up with my being a dobe," he told him lightly.

The dark-haired man scowled darkly, thinking that Naruto was joking.

Knowing the reason behind such expression, the blonde continued, "I'm not kidding. I'm looking forward to that time when we'll be counting each other's white hair strands and competing who has more. But for now," he paused to cup Sasuke's face so he would look at him and not at something that was invisible and unpredictable. "For now, look and live for the present because I'm here... you're here. We're here."

Sasuke was touched and he pulled his wife in a tight embrace. "I'll be with you no matter what."

"I'll hold you to that," his wife murmured as he returned the embrace.

For a minute they were like that until Sasuke decided to play the role of a bastard. "Dobe, I'm leading."

"Huh?"

"I got one while you got none. And I heard that it's the symbol of wisdom."

Naruto scowled while his hand moved to deliver an attack which Sasuke gracefully deflected by leaning sideward. Blue eyes clashed against obsidian ones. It was clear that they were itching for a spar.

Sasuke tilted his head and Naruto nodded. In a split of second, they appeared at the Uchiha training ground.

The dark-haired man was about to lit up the torches surrounding the area when the blonde shook his head. "No need. Let's use this," referring to the moonlight filtering through the gaps of trees and their branches. "It's also a practice for our eyes."

"Enough talk, dobe, let's get it on," Sasuke said as he took his stance.

"I hope you're ready for your inevitable defeat, bastard." Naruto suddenly appeared near Sasuke and delivered a full round house kick. Even before Sasuke's brain could register, his hands moved immediately to block the attack. He managed but the force sent him sliding few meters away.

Even before he stopped fully, Sasuke image distorted as he moved quickly. He kicked the blonde's stomach sending him crashing against one tree trunk. Right before his sharingan activated eyes, Naruto transformed into a piece of wood.

Sasuke leapt backward just in time to get away from the kunai that had now pierced where he used to stand a second ago.

A crouching smug Naruto pulled out the weapon and commented mockingly, "it seems wisdom is making you slow."

His opponent growled. And then they were meeting halfway in a fierce blow that upset the soil and leaves close to their feet. They gave at the same time block attacks. For every hit, a mocking look graced their face. For every hit blocked, their eyes glinted with challenge. Adrenaline was flowing through them, hot and raw.

Sasuke gripped Naruto's flying fist, twisted his arm around his back and leaned to whisper. "You're doing poorly."

Naruto shivered as hot breath fanning his sensitive ear and shivered more when he heard that low voice. And he thought that the bastard was trying to distract him through discrete seduction. He decided to play the game as well.

Few seconds later, he managed to pin his opponent to the ground. Hovering above him, he brought their faces closer, their lips almost brushing. "Am I still doing poorly?" he asked smugly because he had broken into Sasuke's tight guard.

Sasuke's eyes dilated at that sexy voice. And he thought Naruto was trying to defeat him through seduction. It was going to be effected, he knew, and he'd be damned if he won't play the dobe's game. Winner takes all and he was going to win. He bucked his hips just as Naruto pressed his against the other man's before the blond put a distance between.

Sasuke flipped to his feet and said, "You're going down." Then he added with mischief in his eyes, "hard."

They met halfway again. The punches had become caresses in disguise; taunts held promises of mind-blowing pleasure and insults became entendres. It came to a point that they couldn't move without hissing every time their erections painfully brushed against their pants.

Palm against palm they gripped each other's hands trying to push the other. Suddenly, they were whirling around trying to get the other to back down and unfortunately for Naruto he was the one who ended up pressed against the tree, his hands firmly pinned above his head.

"Surrender?" Sasuke asked between pants, his eyes more focused on those parted lips.

Naruto in reply, tilted his chin stubbornly.

"Fool," he hissed before he crashed their lips together and both of them moaned at the contact. Their hands moved but not to deliver punches. Naruto pulled Sasuke closer while the latter attack his pants and boxers simultaneously.

At the contact of Sasuke's hands against his erection no matter how light it was had reduced the blonde into a mass of primal instincts. He bucked his hips while pressing his swollen lips against his lover's sweaty neck.

"Fuck me now." It was an order at the same time a plea and Sasuke obeyed because he was aching too. He was aching to be inside his needy dobe.

He moaned when Naruto opened his pants and took him out. He lifted the blonde's right leg and wrapped it around his waist. The other tanned leg where pants dangled haphazardly soon followed.

Naruto screamed silently, his eyes to the starry sky as his husband drove into him in a single powerful thrust.

"Fuck!" he heard him breathed and he knew that pleasure was coursing in that still clothed body.

Sasuke started moving desperately and feverishly and within few seconds he had established a fast tempo.

Naruto didn't give a damn about his upper clothes being ruined by the rough surface of the tree as his back cruelly rub against it in tune with their frantic meeting of hips. That didn't matter because he got what he needed- Sasuke inside him hot, pulsating, weeping and moving.

The dark-haired man was close to his completion and yet it was evading his grasp making him desperate. "C'mon," he growled. The blonde must had felt that same feeling because he echoed that word- word that became a chant for every slap of their hips; for every flash of bright light they saw behind their eyes.

Like a crashing waterfall, orgasm came to them a moment or two later leaving them breathless and boneless.

Their eyes met and they let out a rich chuckle. However, it wasn't over yet. A minute later, a writhing Naruto had his arms wrapped around the tree trunk, his forehead thumping against it while his flushed body was adjacent to the tree. Behind him was Sasuke eagerly pounding him senseless one hand worrying alternately between two taut nipples while the other was massaging his damp sticky inner thighs. But those weren't the parts the blonde wanted him to touch.

"Touch... m-me," he pleaded but his plea although heard wasn't answered. With a growl that came out as mewl, he grabbed the hand on his thighs and led it around his throbbing and weeping cock. But the hand remained still so he guided it to move up and down. He moaned at the friction which made the man behind him smirk. When he was satisfied with the movement, he let go of the pale hand. But Sasuke had other plans. He grabbed that hand and this time it was him who was guiding it to move.

Naruto knew it was his hand around his erection but it was doing things at Sasuke's guidance and discretion and to him it was erotic. Everything Sasuke did during their foreplay and lovemaking was erotic.

When he thought about that, he wondered why his lust for him hadn't receded at all for all these years but instead increasing. What was with Sasuke that had caused this lustful side? What was in his husband that made him like this? What was in him that was so obsessed with the bastard? He wanted to know. He wanted to understand. He wanted everything to stop so he could search for answers.

Well, everything did stop including his brain as they reached their pinnacle and tumbled over.

A still breathless and dazed Sasuke settled on the grass taking Naruto with him not wanting to break the contact yet.

When they had regained their composure and their breath, Sasuke perched his chin on a shoulder.

"Awhile ago while I was thrusting, you murmured 'stop' over and over again," he began quietly. "What do you mean by that? Did you want me to stop?"

"No," Naruto instantly answered while blushing. "Of course not. It's just that..." This was so embarrassing, he thought.

"It's just that what?" the other prodded.

"First it was my love for you that I don't understand and now this."

"This? What this?"

"This that keeps me wanting you as if I'm starved; that keeps us going at it like rabbits or teenagers." Then before he could stop himself he added, "Not that I mind." He tilted his head to look at his spouse, "See? It made me say that. I wish I would know." Then he added softly, "It would be nice to know."

Out of tenderness, Sasuke brushed his lips against his neck. "You're not a thinking person so why start now?"

Instead of a sarcastic or angry comeback, the blonde replied, "Because this is different. Very different. Because this is about you and me. About us."

"If it comforts you, I too don't understand anything between us... everything we created whether unconsciously or not. And I gave up trying." He placed his hands over tanned ones, each finger filling the gaps between Naruto's. "Y'know, there are things that aren't meant to be understood but meant to be felt and savored and I believe this is one of those." He squeezed his hands, "I know you're a person who never quits but just this once, can you give up?"

Naruto looked at their joined hands... their semen-stained hands; his soiled clothing and his still sticky thighs and then he laughed... lightly and warmly. He tilted his head once more, this time landing a butterfly kiss on pale jaws. "You, I mean, we just corrupted the word 'spar'."

And Sasuke joined his laughter knowing his wife had changed the subject not as act of diversion but of acceptance. "There are still a lot of things we can corrupt," he commented playfully.

The blonde just let out another rich chuckle.

-SasuNaru is love-

Life was unfair and people were traitors, was what she always thought as she walked through the market- Konoha's rumor mill and gossip center. With her head tilted in fake confidence she reminded herself that this was one of the consequences of her decision but it didn't stop her from wanting to hide or from wishing that her husband was with her. With Yuuzuki around, these people wouldn't talk behind her back, unhesitatingly and indiscreetly exchanging comments of her background.

Sometimes, they would point out that Yuuzuki was like Sasuke especially in choosing a spouse who was a nobody. Another would immediately pointed out that Sasuke's wife wasn't a nobody because not only was he a jinchuuriki but also the son of that Yondaime. It was then Yukina would wish that her dead parents were somebody and that his father wasn't just an academy teacher and his daddy a mere prodigy child of that Hatake also known as The White Fang.

Not only was her background the subject of gossips but also her and their child's place in Yuuzuki's priority list. She always ignored those but lately her husband was proving that the gossips were right. She and Haruo were second compared to Miki. Ever since, her sister-in-law started dating, Yuuzuki would always spend a time checking out her date and secretly watching them for a short time no matter how busy he was. Often times, he would even accompany his sister in shopping and once in a while would pay for it.

It took time for her to admit to herself that she was jealous. So jealous that there were times she couldn't even bear to talk with the blonde girl even for awhile. She always felt guilty when she would see her confused and hurt look but she couldn't help it. In her eyes, Miki was unconsciously (or was it consciously?) stealing Yuuzuki from her and Haruo.

She never thought things would turn out like this. While they were dating, everything was fine until they had affixed their signature on their marriage contract. Funny how a piece of paper could change everything.

When Yukina returned home, she was surprised to find Miki looking after her child rather than the babysitter.

Miki looked at her silently, judging her mood. She noticed that lately her sister-in-law was acting strange towards her and Yumiko whom she confided about this development commented that the brunette had bitching mode.

"Welcome home, neesan," she said carefully. "The babysitter went to the manor asking if I could substitute for her because of some emergency. She didn't tell me what kind of emergency but she told me that there was no need for you to pay for today."

Yukina nodded as she started taking care of the groceries. "Your mother is here now, Haruo-chan. Isn't that great?" she heard the younger girl said softly. "Your cute auntie is leaving now."

"Miki," Yukina called out, "let's have snack together."

Sensing that the older woman was in a good mood, she immediately accepted the invitation.

"I heard about your latest date being a disaster," Yukina said.

"The guy was being a jerk," she said. The sixth guy she dated had busy hands and before those hands could grab her chest, she had sent him flying across the ice cream parlor.

"Was that the fifth guy you dated?"

"The sixth guy."

Of course Yukina knew it was the sixth guy because Yuuzuki was keeping tabs. In fact she knew about the guy's profile because somehow Yuuzuki managed to grab hold of it.

Miki leaned forward, "I'm curious…"

Yukina arched an eyebrow.

"How does your first kiss felt like?" the medic-nin blushed as she asked this.

"Wonderful," the other female answered immediately, "because I shared it with someone I love." But it felt like it had been a century ago because things had been simple back then. There was no crowd backbiting about her. There was no girl she was competing for Yuuzuki's attention.

"Did it hurt?"

"Miki, kisses aren't painful unless-"

"I mean the sex," the girl blurted out. Yukina couldn't help but chuckle at the redness of her cheeks. "I read about it in the pocketbooks but sometimes things were exaggerated so I wanted to know. I wanted to ask someone whom I could truly trust."

Before her sister-in-law could answer, they heard Yuuzuki calling out "I'm home."

"I'm going now," Miki said. After asking those questions she was too embarrassed to stay and face her brother. "Thank you for the food."

When Yuuzuki entered the kitchen, he immediately dropped a kiss on Haruo's forehead then on Yukina's forehead. "I saw Miki blushing. What did you two talk about?"

"Girl stuffs," Yukina said as she offered a glass of water to her husband.

"You're not suggesting anything to her, are you?"

Such inquiry hurt Yukina a lot and it was shown with the way she placed the glass on the sink.

"Is there something wrong, Yukina?" Yuuzuki became even more worried when his wife just laughed. "Yukina?" he reached forward but his hand was slapped away. He looked surprised to see tears falling on her cheeks as she laughed.

"Don't touch me," she said harshly. The Uchiha heir wondered what he did wrong.

"You made it sound as if I was the one who started talking about first kiss and sex," she replied between sobs. "I'm tired, Yuuzuki," she confessed. She was tired competing against Miki; she was tired being his wife; she was tired hearing gossips and ignoring them. She was so tired.

"Then let me cook dinner and-"

"No!" she snapped. "I'm tired of all of this shit."

Yuuzuki frowned at that crude word. "What shit, Yukina?" he inquired tersely.

"Choose, Yuuzuki. Me or Miki."

"What?"

"You heard me right. Miki or me."

"What do you mean by that? You're both important to me."

"It doesn't seem that way to me. Miki is more important to you," she accused hysterically. "You always look after her… Always have time for her… always. Why don't you marry her instead or make her your mistress and-"

Yukina grabbed her stinging cheek, eyes full of pain as she looked at her husband who had slapped her a second ago.

"Don't you ever dare address Miki like that. Don't you dare let me hear that once again or…" Yuuzuki growled, his voice dangerous and his eyes cold. Even if she was his wife, she wasn't allowed to say that. Nobody was allowed to say that. She was lucky that she was his wife or she would have received more than a slap.

"You obviously made a choice," She said and with that she took the wailing Haruo and left.

Yuuzuki looked at his hand which he used to slap Yukina. He growled and slammed it on the table. When did life become so complicated? What was wrong with Yukina, anyway? He was so mad and confused that he couldn't even run after Yukina. He needed to cool off.

-SasuNaru is love-

"What's wrong?" Kakashi blurted out as he opened the door and found both his daughter and grandson crying.

"I need some place to stay," Yukina said.

"Kakashi, who is-" Iruka trailed off at the sight of Yukina. "What's wrong?"

"Not now," she replied as she sat on the couch. "I don't want to talk about it right now."

The two immediately nodded in understanding. "Have Haruo had his milk yet?"

The jounin asked. Yukina could only shake her head. The former grabbed the little Uchiha and started comforting him while he signaled Iruka to prepare milk. It was fortunate that they had milk bottle and Haruo's milk powder in their house.

"Ssh… don't cry, little guy. Your milk will be here any moment."

-SasuNaru is love-

Hisayuki who was on his way home after his night flirting with few of the village women, looked surprised when he saw Yuuzuki sitting outside the Hyuuga compound.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"Stuffs."

"C'mon, let's get inside."

The Uchiha heir nodded and followed his friend into his room. Hisayuki left to get some Japanese wine.

"So, Yukina refused to have sex with you or something?" he joked because Yuuzuki was claming up.

"She made me choose between Miki and her. Why would she do that?"

"Jealousy," Hisayuki pointed out intelligently.

"Why would she be? There was no competition. It wasn't as if I was showering Miki with all my affection."

"She's just threatened. Ever since and even now, you always look after Miki. I even wondered how you managed to have a girlfriend." Hisayuki had thought highly of Yukina when he noticed that the girl wasn't complaining about Yuuzuki's protectiveness of his sister but it seemed to him now that she hadn't noticed until now. And when she did, she crumbled. Immediately. Perhaps out of shock or perhaps out of pain. Either way it just proved to him that women were trouble.

Yes, he thought women were troublesome and that was why he only flirted with them, keeping things light and lukewarm. Of course, his flirting had caused embarrassment among the clan members and had complained about it to his parents. His father then got stricter which made their father-son relationship strained. There had been no day that they didn't bicker much to his mother's disappointment. Their relationship would have remained strained if it weren't for his uncle Neji and his family who intervened. Shouhei had told him the sudden change of treatment of his father on him while his uncle and aunt had discussed matters with his own parents.

But that wasn't the end of it. There came a time when the clan members had threatened to disown him. They even requested Hinata and Kiba to do so and if they didn't, they would take it to the hokage. Of course unfazed, Hisayuki told them they could do whatever they wanted but it would be there action that would caused embarrassment on the clan's name and not his. In that end, it had been settled within. He was still the heir and the members just turned their head every time he flirted. Besides, it wasn't like he was sleeping with anyone he flirted. Or he didn't practice safe sex.

"Dammit! Why did things turn out like this?" He heard his friend wondered out loud before the latter emptied his cup with one gulp.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke and Naruto stopped wondering why Yukina hadn't brought Haruo to the manor when a disheveled looking Yuuzuki stumbled into the kitchen and settled in his former seat.

"We had a pretty bad fight," he answered the silent inquiry from his family. "She left. Took our son with her. Probably with father, right now."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Naruto asked worriedly.

Yuuzuki shook his head. "I have a mission today. I have to meet my team soon." He looked at everybody, "I'll handle this on my own. I'll ask for your help when I need it, okay?"

Everybody nodded with understanding especially when it was obvious to them that Yuuzuki was serious of trying to solve his problem by his own.

Forty-fives minutes later, Yuuzuki found refuge from his marital problem in his mission. For once, he had forgotten that he had no wife waiting back at home and no son to play with as he focus on maiming and completing their mission.

-SasuNaru is love-

Strands of black and silver hair caught the wind as it gently blew. One pale hand reached to tuck the annoying strands behind his ear as he looked at his former mentor.

"So she's safe?" Sasuke asked Kakashi. Both men were leaning against a railway on top of the administration building.

The jounin nodded. "Yeah but she's crying almost non stop."

"She's eating? Is Haruo doing well?" As much as they wanted to look after their grandson, they knew the boy needed his mother more than his father at his age.

"Iruka is forcing her to eat. We're looking after Haruo too because she's incapable of doing it." He looked at his former student and asked, "Did Yuuzuki mention the cause of their fight?"

"No. What about Yukina?"

"She didn't. Like I said, all she does is cry."

Silence dawned on them for a moment or two. Each was on their own thoughts.

"So what are we going to do? Dobe and I had discussed about doing something but I wanted them to fix this on their own. After all, they're no longer kids."

"That's what I'm thinking also but Iruka is stubborn."

"So is Naruto."

They looked at each other and sighed. They had to spend a lot of their time in convincing their respective spouse and failure was not an option. They wished each other good luck before they separated.

-SasuNaru is love-

Yukina was on her bed, blankly staring at the white ceiling as if the universe had stopped moving and time had ceased flowing. Even after two days, it still hurt. Her broken heart never ceased from throbbing in pain. And she was torn between getting angry or relieve that her husband hadn't come for her and demanded her to go home. Perhaps Yuuzuki was as tired as she was and didn't want her anymore. When she thought of this, she started crying again, wetting her still damp cheeks.

Yukina could never remember any situation where she cried harder than this. Every time she thought she was as dry as any dessert, a new set of tears would start flowing. So depressed and wretched was she that she had disregarded Haruo who reminded her too much of the source of these wretched feelings she now felt. She told herself it was fine because her parents understood and was taking care of her little boy.

When Kakashi came home, he found a worried Iruka stepping out from their daughter's room carrying a tray.

"She refused to eat again?" he asked as they entered the kitchen.

"She ate a little."

"And Haruo?"

"He's been a good boy all day and he's sleeping now." He joined his husband on the table and took his hands in his. "Kakashi, we should do something."

His husband sighed. They'd been through this already. "What more can we do, Iruka?" He looked away when his spouse put on that puppy look he learned to master from their certain former student. "We look after Haruo. We let her sulk and cry all she wants. We gave comfort which was turned down or ignored."

Iruka knew his spouse was telling the truth but... "We could talk with Yuu," he suggested.

"Talk what? To take her back? We don't even know their problem and besides he's on a mission."

"I know. Naruto mentioned that to me."

The silver-haired man looked alert. "You guys didn't plan on doing something right?" He watched as his spouse tilted to the left side.

"Who knows..."

"Iruka..." came an exasperated warning. "Let them fix it. Besides we don't know-"

"How can they fix it when they're away from each other?"

Kakashi sighed. Iruka and Naruto were cut from the same cloth. Not only were they pranksters but were dictated by their emotions most of the time. "They don't need someone to pamper them. They're no longer kids. What they need is someone to knock some senses into their heads."

The brunette looked up when the other stood up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to talk with Yukina."

"Eh?" He went after his suddenly so serious husband. "Wait-"

But Kakashi didn't and he could hear the door being locked. Before he could even demand for the door to be opened, Haruo started wailing. Sighing, Iruka went to his grandson.

Kakashi looked at the pitiful figure completely hidden by the blanket. He should have done this earlier but his emotion as a pampering father had overrode reasons. He took a seat beside the bed and pulled back the blanket to see his daughter's face.

Yukina groaned. "Leave me alone."

"Look at me, Yukina and listen," he said in a voice that brook no disobedience.

The lady followed the order but said, "I don't want to talk about my problems."

Kakashi scowled. Unlike Iruka who was completely oblivious of the cause of their fight, he had assumptions. And for few days he spent his short free time finding out if his assumptions were correct. They were.

"Don't you think you've cried enough? That you've sulk and hid enough? Crying or running away isn't the answer."

Yukina remained quiet.

"Is running away the only thing you're capable of? In a way, you're agreeing with their opinion that you don't deserve to be his wife and an Uchiha member."

"What do you want me to do? What do you expect me to do? What should I do?" she burst out. It was easy to talk when she didn't have to start explaining from the scratch.

"Get up and fight," he answered simply and forcefully. "I know it hurts but it won't stop unless you fight back. Don't leave any regrets."

"It's not simple, daddy," she breathed.

"Nothing is simple especially marrying into a prestigious clan. We thought you were aware of that."

"I miscalculated." She had been foolish thinking there won't be changes between her and Yuuzuki after marriage. She had lulled herself to false security by her husband's vows. She had depended too much on him so when he started failing she too started failing them. Getting into things was simple but getting out wasn't not that she wanted a divorce.

"Now that you know, then correct it. Yuu chose you because you're different from the rest. You're special."

"You're wrong," she half-wailed. She was about to look away but strong fingers gripped her chin.

"Don't be stupid," Kakashi almost snapped. "Who wears his ring? Who's the mother of his child? Who carries his name?"

Yukina answered between sobs.

"Then don't say nonsense things." He patted her head and he stood up. "Iruka and I raised you to be strong and courageous so stop being like this. Remember you also have Haruo's needs to be taken account of." With that, he left her to her thoughts.

Although she didn't want to admit it and preferred to stay cocooned in her bed, she knew her daddy was right. But she'd be damned if she would go back there without her husband coming to fetch her.

-SasuNaru is love-

Taiyou wasn't much of a drinker but he always preferred to drink until midnight during missions. He'd be in the darkest and farthest corner of any bar, becoming the shadow and totally unseen by the other customers. His drinking session was always spent alone because Yuuzuki preferred to rest while the other two would always passed out two or three hours later with the way they were drinking. But he was thankful for this solitude which he used for reflecting the day's events.

He frowned when he noticed a figure approaching his table then relaxed when he realized it was just his young captain.

"What's wrong?" he finally managed to ask what he and the other two were itching to ask since their current mission started. They had spent a lot of time together as friends and teammates that they were sensitive to each other's vibes and since few days ago their young friend was emitting a negative vibe.

Much to the older man's surprise, Yuuzuki answered.

"Yukina."

"What's with her?"

Without hesitance or reservation, he told Taiyou what happened. Among his three teammates, Taiyou was the most sane and polite enough not to crack green jokes or talk morbid matters. He was the only teammate who was qualified to be called a descent conversation partner except when he was discussing hedonism and aestheticism.

"I don't even know what shit she was talking about. She didn't even tell me. She just went straight to making me choose between her and my sister," he said in a frustrated tone. "What the fuck? Why would I? There was no competition anyway."

Taiyou chuckled at the lad's naïveté and ignorance. While the former was due to his age the latter was due to his position in the village social structure. Either it was out of respect or fear or both, not all rumors especially ones that were related to an affluent family member reach the ears of any clan member.

"Yuu-chama, didn't Yukina-san mentioned any rumors to you?"

"Rumors?" he repeated his brows furrowed.

"Just as I thought, she didn't." Until now he thought his captain's wife did tell him. Wasn't sharing one of the main themes in marriage?

"She didn't what?"

"You're really living in a different world," the older man quipped before he downed one small cup of sake then explained.

"There are comments of how unworthy Yukina-san is to be your wife. Not only because she was an academy teacher but because or mainly because of her lineage. Although these people had tolerated your dating..."

"They should mind their own business," Yuuzuki snarled while clenching his fists. "How come I didn't hear about this?"

"Because nasty rumors and comments involving affluent clan members circulate only among commoners. For our ears only. We never mentioned it to you because we thought she told you."

"She didn't." He looked away, hurt and disappointed because Yukina had kept it a secret. When did they start keeping secrets anyway?

"And her jealousy of Miki came from the comments that Miki is more important to you than your family."

"W-what?" He could feel his chest tightening with different emotions. "That's stupid."

"Tell that to whoever made those comments. But your recent actions seemed to prove this people correct."

"Damn. How stupid can I be?" He had hurt Yukina. He had failed to protect her.

"Yuuchama, I know you're worried about your sister and I know that couldn't be help but you should... er... y'know... because you're a family man now."

"I know." He now knew. He too should make adjustment. Yukina was no longer his girlfriend but his wife. Thus it was only right if he lessened his time with Miki. Besides, there were still four persons who were looking after Miki with some much wariness.

With things clear, he knew what he should do when he returned home- asking Yukina to come back to him and God! he hoped she would.

-SasuNaru is love-

A less depressed-looking Yukina let out a chuckle as Haruo tried once more to catch her pointer finger and missed. A second later, her boy let out a gurgle. She was about to kiss him when the doorbell rang. "Mommy will be back," she murmured. Her heart felt like leaping from her chest when she opened the door and found her husband or was it going to be former husband very soon?

"Hi," Yuuzuki said in a voice that came as a squeak because of nervousness. And if only they weren't having a couple's spat, they would laugh.

"Hi to you too," Yukina replied indifferently although she wanted to nurse the cut on his forehead.

The worry that had surged within him at her indifference decreased a bit when his wife invited him in. He smiled when he saw Haruo trying to remain seated. When their eyes met, the boy stretched his lillte and plump arms towards him.

The Uchiha heir looked at his wife, silently seeking permission to touch their child.

With her left arm crossed against her chest, she nodded and looked away. "Go ahead. You're his father after all." Yes, Yuuzuki was Haruo's father. Nothing would changed not… not even the outcome of their meeting that day… not even time.

Knowing a perfect opportunity when he sees one, he asked, "Am I still your husband? And I'm not talking about titles here." He picked his boy and carried him in his arms. Haruo became silent as he pressed his head against warm chest, his nostril filled by the scent of his father who he missed so much. And while he savored that moment, seeking blue eyes met with brown ones and locked gazes.

"Yuuzuki," she breathed. There were so many things to say that words were overloading her brain.

His gaze glided to her hand and saw their wedding ring. He slowly reached for that hand. "Yukina..."

"I don't know," she finally answered. She wanted to be with him but she was scared now and that feeling wanted her to never go back to the source of her problems and joys. "There are too many of them. I don't think I could-"

"But you're not alone," he told her almost desperately. "You'll never be alone. I'm here to fight with you; to listen to your silent screams; to wipe away your invisible tears and to suffer with you. There is no need to hide anything from me."

"I know but I have nothing to give you in return. We are a world apart."

"But we already closed that gap. We already built a bridge." And he hoped Yukina would realize that he was on that bridge waiting for her to meet him halfway. There was so much hesitation in her eyes that it was slowly suffocating his heart. "Please. I know the name Uchiha carries too much burden but give me another chance. Just once and if we still fail, I'll be the one to file for divorce anytime of the day."

Yuuzuki looked so desperate and so alone that all of her thoughts of refusal evaporated in a second. Yukina squeezed his hand finally deciding to give them another chance and this time she'd do her best to make it work. She was wiser than yesterday. She'd proved to everyone that she was worthy to be Yuuzuki's. She softly touched his wound on his forehead while saying, "didn't I tell you to be extra careful so you won't make me worry too much."

The Uchiha heir who had reflexively leaned into her touch looked at her trying to confirm if he understood her underlying message correctly.

"Yes, Yuuzuki. Let's do it once more. This time, better than before."

And the happiness he felt for regaining what he lost or almost lost was beyond words. He roughly pulled her to him and fused their lips together for one furious kiss.

"I'm sorry for everything," she said between pants and loud kisses. "Especially for making you choose."

"I'm sorry for making you feel unimportant," he whispered back. "You and Miki are in different plane. You're my wife while she's my sister. Both of you are precious."

"I'll try to remember that."

"You should." And they were kissing again and pulling each other close. When something plump got in the way, it was only then did they remember their child. They pulled away immediately and looked at Haruo who happened to fall asleep peacefully. The two chuckled.

"Why do I get this feeling that he'll be daddy's boy very soon," Yukina commented.

The two waited for Iruka and Kakashi to come home so Yuuzuki could apologize, thank them and assure them that their daughter would be fine. After that, they went to the Uchiha manor so Yukina could apologize for the trouble as well as for making them worry.

"A word with you, Yukina-chan," Naruto said and without waiting for her reaction he left the room expecting her to follow him. She did, leaving Yuuzuki and Sasuke alone.

"Ne, otousan I know that a long time ago many had criticized your choice of spouse. How did you deal with it?" Yuuzuki asked. And that statement alone told Sasuke their situation.

"I'm not affected," he answered truthfully. He believed it was one of those perks of being a bastard. "As long as I know chichiue is perfect for me, I don't give a damn about those."

"But chichiue..."

"He does get affected so it's my job to assure him its fine. You have to find on your own how to assure Yukina. It's all about conviction, Yuu."

"Conviction," he repeated softly. He still had a lot of ways to go as a husband and father but he would certainly improve. And those people who had nothing better to do than criticize Yukina and his choice... well they could all burn in hell. He was happy with what he found in her; was proud with what they had found together and was ecstatic with what they were going to build with their own hands. The path maybe rocky but the goal would be worth it and in the end one day they would laugh triumphantly at all the troubles they had overcome.

In another room, Naruto stood by the window looking outside and behind him stood a very nervous Yukina. She had never seen this very serious side of her father-in-law. So serious was he that in her opinion he looked so fragile.

"Welcome to my world, Yukina," Naruto almost whispered.

"Eh?" What did he mean by that? she wondered.

He looked at her over his shoulder and explained, "With all these gossips, it sucks to be an Uchiha by marriage right?" He laughed when his daughter-in-law stuttered in utmost denial. He turned around and perched his hips against on the window sill. "I felt what you're feeling. In fact, once in awhile, I still feel it." Even after being an Uchiha for many years there were still a remaining few who still disapproved his marriage with Sasuke. And yet some of them would shower their attention on the Uchiha children as if his blood wasn't running through their veins.

When Yukina's eyes met Naruto's, the lady then knew she had found a kindred spirit. "How?" she asked quietly, still embarrassed to admit that what the man said earlier was true.

"Sasuke," was the immediate answer. "Like you, I get easily affected with gossips regarding my marriage no matter how strong I am. But Sasuke is always there to knock some senses into me sometimes literally. And I know Yuuzuki will do the same for you." He paused for a second before adding quickly, "Of course he won't literally knock-"

Yukina had to chuckle, "I know what you mean, chichiue."

The blonde grinned. Unconsciously he started twirling his ring around as he said, "marriage isn't what keeps me with Sasuke. It's our love and his possessiveness. Yuu may not look like it but deep inside he is possessive but not as much as his otousan. You can't escape him even if you want to. Sasuke even our children are scarier than all these worthless criticisms combined."

"I have no plans to flee," she confessed.

"Good." Naruto moved forward to clamp her shoulders in comfort and affection. "Be strong, Yukina because the real fight is not against those people but against your doubts and insecurities."

The brunette nodded. "Thanks, chichiue."

And seeing the determination in her eyes, Naruto was certain that someday Yukina would find out that the joy she would soon have was worth the pain caused by those comments. That realization would be the prize for staying strong against all odds until then he hoped the girl wouldn't crumble beyond repair.

-SasuNaru is love-

It was almost near ten when Yuuzuki and his family came home. Yukina gently placed Haruo on his crib just few meters from their bed which looked like it had not been slept in for the past few days.

Yuuzuki, seeing the frown on her face said, "I didn't sleep here. It wasn't the same without you." He sat on the bed and with eyes gazing intensely on his wife he asked, "Come to bed with me, my dear wife."

Goosebumps spread through her. She looked at his outstretched hand then at his face and she knew he was already in the middle of their bridge and that he won't walk farther than that. He was just waiting for her to meet him halfway.

Gathering all her courage and confidence from the very core of her soul she walked. And for every step she took, she felt light and felt like she was coming home.

Yuuzuki grinned in relief when his arms wrapped around his love.

I won't let you go. Never.

TBC

Looking at the sleeping form of Naruto and Kisho, warmth spread through Jiraiya's body and he laughed. He could only imagine how they would react when they would find their picture included in his novel.