Altogether, around 8 ½ months had passed since Ino had become pregnant. Ino was as big as a house and always tired. Naruto did nothing anymore other than completing his obligations to the village and taking care of Ino. Either she was hot, cold, tired, hungry, and/or uncomfortable usually all the time. He was already on his way to Ichiraku to get her some ramen. She had even threatened him, saying that if he dared to even sniff her food she'd murder him by snatching Kurama right out of him.
He noticed Sasuke and Sakura on his way. The two we're holding hands and Sasuke was talking to her belly softly. He chuckled. The indifferent shinobi had turned into nothing but a little puppy since Sakura first announced her pregnancy. He couldn't even imagine how he'd be when their son, Daisuke, arrived.
"Hey, Naruto!" Sakura called to him. "How's Ino?"
"Demanding as usual. Sasuke got lucky with you, Sakura-chan. You're so passive, 'ttebayo." Remembering all the pummelings he'd taken from her, he instinctively held his head. "Well, most of the time anyways."
She giggled and turned back to Sasuke, who still wouldn't speak to him. Giving up with him, he stepped into Ichiraku and ordered a few to-go orders of ramen with extra pork. Teuchi was quick with the noodles, understanding his rush and he was out quickly. He jogged all the way back to Ino's apartment and burst into the door.
"Ino!" He panted. "I got the stuff." She appeared, hobbling, from her room. Her eyes lit up and she snatched the bag from him. Kissing him on the cheek, she turned and hobbled back to her room. He sighed and turned to leave. His belly rumbled, but he didn't have time to find something to eat. He was due to go out the perimeter of the village with Sasuke and Sai, Sakura's replacement rather than Sasuke's.
He met his two friends near the village gate and he started to doubt whether he should've made this arrangement in the first place. Sasuke dipped his head cooly to him. He had gotten over his love for Ino, but he'd not completely forgiven him yet for impregnating Ino while they were together. He'd told Sasuke that it took two, not just him, to make a baby, but Sasuke hadn't acknowledged him when he'd spoken.
Sai broke the awkward silence. "I suppose we should be going then." He stated passively.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, but Sasuke said nothing, only led the way out of the village.
He returned from his mission, a simple roundabout of the area surrounding Konoha, around two in the morning. Sasuke left them quickly, giving a hasty goodbye to Sai and nothing to Naruto. He bid farewell to Sai and began to slowly make his way home. He saw Rock Lee on his way and waved, but Lee ran over hastily.
"Your lover, Ino, was requesting you all day." He said in his still strange accent.
He nodded. "Thanks Lee." He murmured before picking up the pace and changing his route to head to Ino's.
He let himself in and headed straight for her bedroom. A yawn erupted from him as he opened the door and shuffled in sleepily. "What is it, Ino? I was on a scouting mission today, 'ttebayo."
She looked up at him, concern shadowing her gaze. "Are you okay? You've been really...out of it."
He shook his head, panting. "I'm fine. Just .. between you and missions, I haven't had much time for sleep."
She patted the spot beside her on the bed, indicating for him to come sit with her. He hesitated for a moment before shuffling across the room and plopping down beside her. She leaned over and kissed his lips gently. He leaned into it as much as he could. But, tired as he was, he couldn't give Ino much for enthusiasm.
"I love you, Naruto, but you don't have to neglect yourself to take care of me ... us." She said, rubbing her belly. "Now sleep."
She lay his head on her belly and ran her fingers gently through his hair until he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
He woke up around 2 pm to find Ino gone. He was tucked in, completely comfortable. He crept out of bed and silently entered the bathroom. He undressed quickly and turned on the shower. Slipping in under the hot water, he breathed a sigh of relief. It felt good to take a hot shower and get a good night's sleep. He stayed in for about 45 minutes, standing under the water for about 30 of them and washing the rest of the time. Getting out, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed into the living room. Ino was on the couch, looking through a magazine; "マザーズ週刊！赤ちゃんの名前：どのようにあなたの赤ちゃんに名前を付ける." (Mothers Weekly! Baby Names: How To Name Your Baby.)
He sat next to her and kissed her forehead. "Thanks Ino. I needed that."
He wrapped his arms around her and she nuzzled her head into his chest. "I think it's time to name the babies, Naruto."
He sat back to look at her. "Are you sure? D-Do we have to right now?"
"Of course!" She pulled away, an impatient look on her face. "Why do you keep putting this off?"
Truth was that he was nervous about the babies. He didn't know if they would accept him and he didn't know if he'd be a good father or not. Naming the babies made his fears feel all too real as he realized that they would be in arms soon.
"Putting it off? I-I'm not, 'ttebayo!" He flinched at the accusation. "I'm just...nervous that's all."
Her irritation faded and sympathy filled her gaze. She snuggled back into his chest. "It's okay. We're in this together, I promise."
He took a deep breath and nodded. "What did you have in mind?"
She smiled and looked up at him. "I was feeling 'Kintaro' for a boy."
He nodded, impressed with the deep meaning in the name. "Golden boy, huh. What else?"
She shook her head. "I haven't thought of another boy name yet, but wanted you to pick the girl names."
He thought hard for a moment. He wanted to give his daughter as deep a name as Ino had given their son. Thinking of how beautiful Ino was, he thought a baby girl was bound to take after her and the best name popped in his head. "Yumiko." He stated with confidence.
"Beautiful child." Ino said, nodding thoughtfully. "It's beautiful, Naruto. Great job."
He blushed and kissed her forehead. "If we have a girl, she's bound to take after you, so it just seemed right."
She grinned and nodded. "Well, our job now is to think of two more names, but we can do it another day."
She smiled with pleasure at his name choice and pulled his wet hair so that she could kiss him. He sighed unintentionally and kissed back harder, rubbing her belly gently. His stomach burned like it always did when Ino was close to him. He groaned inwardly and gently moved her hand from his hair, sitting back up.
"Er, you know, Naruto .. I'm really sorry I .. I'm just too big and I felt really awkward and uncomfortable last time." She blinked up at him apologetically.
"Y-Yeah. It's f-fine, 'ttebayo." He stammered. He grit his teeth, placing a hand on his stomach and draping his arm over his eyes.
She sighed. "I don't mean to do that to you." She whispered and he bit his lip.
"I-I know." He shrugged. "I should be learning better self-control anyways."
She giggled and kissed his neck, which always made him lose control, but he just groaned and clenched his jaw tight.
'Always the tease.' He thought to himself.
A few days later, he awoke in Ino's house for the third day in a row. He heard a low groan coming from Ino's room. Rubbing his eyes, he slid into the room to find Ino groaning in pain. He snapped to his attention, his sleepiness completely leaving him as he rushed to her side and helped her up to a sitting position.
"What's wrong, what's happening?" He asked, beginning to panic.
"Labor. Early." She could only squeeze out those two words, wheezing as she spoke.
He instantly scooped her up, instantly forgetting how heavy she was, and dashed out of the room. He slung the hospital bag they'd prepped a few weeks ago over his shoulder and leapt out of the door. He moved quickly, rooftop to rooftop, heading straight for Tsunade-baachan, at the hospital. If Ino was going into labor, he wanted her to be taken care of by the best.
They never had thought of more names. But, it didn't matter. He had a gut feeling that they didn't need to. Everything happened for a reason.
'A little longer and I'll be able to meet you, Yumiko and Kintaro.'