Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto.
Guys, thanks so much for all your reviews and for the lovely support! Y gracias a mis lectores de habla hispana también!
For punctuation clarification, since it could potentially be confusing: In English you use quotation marks for dialogue; however if there are multiple paragraphs of the same speaker (i.e. Kakashi lecturing Sasuke), you always omit the end quotation mark at the end of the first paragraph and begin the next paragraph with the quote marks.
"You should have notified me", Sasuke contained his fury, but spoke angrily through gritted teeth nonetheless.
"Why?" Kakashi asked evenly raising both eyebrows.
"Are you seriously asking me why?" Sasuke's only visible eye looked at him in disbelief.
"Yes Sasuke. May I gently remind you, you haven't been in the village in over a year.
"I understand you have your reservations regarding Konoha, but I remember asking you many times in the past to stop by and stay for a while–"
"You could have at least given me a heads-up," he interrupted.
"–and you always refuse", Kakshi continued, ignoring Sasuke's interruption.
"Besides, Hinata made it clear from the beginning she didn't want us to interfere. So I didn't," Kakashi finally revealed.
"Why?" Sasuke asked now with irritation.
"You should ask her that yourself. You impregnated her, didn't you?" Kakashi remarked drily, and through his anger, a bit of shame swept in, and the top of Sasuke's pale cheeks stained pink.
"And if I recall correctly, I clearly asked you that day, over a year ago after that whole incident in the North, if there was anything else to report. You said no." Kakashi added somberly.
"So, not only did you lie to me, you put out of commission one of Konoha's best trackers.
"Maybe, Sasuke, you should be a little ashamed of yourself", Kakashi chastised bluntly, and Sasuke's large frame gradually sank a little lower in his seat.
"And I don't want to know if that whole thing between you two was even consensual" Kakashi winced, now feeling mortified. He had been mostly calm and collected throughout his speech, but at this point he was getting a headache.
"I fully understand the hardships we sometimes endure as shinobi while on certain missions and what goes under certain situations.
"But put yourself in Hinata's shoes for just a moment. She was placed in a difficult situation. I have to say, her attitude has been admirable, when we take into account you ruined her chances of a good marriage.
"Her father wasn't particularly happy either. Hiashi knows his daughter well, and what kind of woman she is. He knows she would have never allowed you such liberties under normal circumstances, regardless of your pretty face."
Sasuke's own pretty face by now was looking tomato red.
"And what would you have done? Would you have accompanied her to maternity classes? Hold her hand as she's in the middle of labor?" Kakashi scoffed and Sasuke scowled.
"I thought it would be better, for both, if she told you herself, and let you two figure it out.
"You are free to stay at my old apartment", Kakashi offered as usual, "all you want, until you figure out what you need to do.
"But if you got nothing else for me here. I seriously don't have time for your bitching. I do have a shit ton of work to get through around here."
Prior to Sasuke's outburst in his office, Kakashi had been in a meeting about budge allocations, and now on top of things, he had to placate a whole team of terrified accountants.
"Why do you have an Anbu stationed outside her house?" Sasuke inquired now snappish, feeling cross but well chastised from Kakashi's lecturing and rebuke.
"Hinata is a young single mom, carrier of Konoha's invaluable kekkei genkai, who gave birth to YOUR children. Precious Uchiha children", he emphasized, "What do you think?"
"I don't want Konoha's High Council involved in my business", he spoke with clear distaste, but Kakashi wasn't having it.
"I promise you they are not involved, Sasuke. This was my initiative, and Hinata's father is aware by the way. You don't have to concern yourself about this. The men I send to stand watch are of my utmost trust."
"I don't want them there–" at this point Sasuke was just being petulant.
"Well too bad", Kakashi snapped.
"We can't always get what we want. But I got a deal for you.
"I will have them stop showing up if you stay, and demonstrate that you can be there to protect her and the children."
Sasuke winced inwardly, unsure if she even wanted him there.
"They are your children too, Sasuke. That means those babes are also your responsibility", he asserted while speaking more gently.
"Hinata has been doing her best on her own. And I know her clan is helpful, but a mother alone struggles. Don't forget that."
•••
Sasuke grew up practically alone.
He didn't have a father to teach him how to be a man. How to be disciplined and how to be accountable. How to deal with difficult situations in life, and how to act with honor when things get tough. How to be a gentleman, and be respectful to women.
And when his body started maturing, and growing hair in places it shouldn't have, he never had a close male figure to explain him the whys and hows. Indisputably, Oroshimaru was a terrible mentor if he might say so. He didn't have someone to teach him how to shave, or explain why he was suffering embarrassing hard-ons in the waking hours of the morning at thirteen years of age. From very young, he had to learn how to manage most things on his own.
He thought about his own little children, growing up without a father. And it bothered him tremendously.
Feeling down, he took a swig at his umpteenth cup of sake, and drained it in one swig. It was in that moment Naruto peeked his head through the noren curtains of Ichiraku Ramen.
He had been running around all of Konoha looking for Sasuke for the past... five minutes, when he finally felt the mostly concealed, purple dark aura that usually emanates from his now very gloomy looking best friend.
Sasuke sat slumped, head down and forehead leaning on his arms. A few empty bottles, plus one half-full sake bottle sat around his person.
Naruto gestured to Ayame behind the counter, silently asking what was wrong, but she shrugged her shoulders uncertain.
"Oi Sasuke! I have been looking for you man. What are you doing?" Naruto scrunched up his forehead in a frown, he had never seen Sasuke look so... mopey.
"Sakura-chan and I wanted to invite you to dinner."
"Naruto... I fucked up...", he mutters with a drunken drawl.
Naruto sat next to him, and looked at his friend carefully. Truth be told, Sasuke had fucked up many times in the past but rarely had he ever see him regret his actions or apologize.
Naruto frowned in puzzlement, scratching his golden head.
"I am... a father...", Sasuke confesses low with his head still down.
Suddenly, Naruto's shoulders starts heaving. Slowly, the heaves become stronger and his chuckles turn into uncontrollable laughter.
"Pffff BHA HA HA ha ha...
"Sasuke... what the fuck man..." Naruto wipes some merry tears from his eyes, and Sasuke looks at him as if he could punch and murder anytime.
"So...", he starts a bit more delicate after calming down from his laughing fit, "who's the special lady?" he asks and wiggles suggestively his blond eyebrows.
Sasuke does not speak for a while, feeling a little annoyed.
A customer comes in, and one leaves the shop. Ayame brings out more drinks to a couple, and her father walks out of the back kitchen with some bowls of steaming ramen.
Outside Ichiraku's noren curtains, the summer evening is alive with the sounds of children's laughter and families taking a leisure walk. The peaceful atmosphere of Konoha is evident in the gentle breeze and comfortable temperatures that soothe the senses.
"... Hyuga Hinata..."
The sound of her name fades away amidst the usual sounds of Ichiraku, blending into the chatter and clatter of customers enjoying their meals. Naruto blinks several times.
He then grabs Sasuke's sake bottle and pours himself a cup, which he immediately drains in one gulp.
"You impregnated Hinata!?" he almost screamed.
"Say it lauder for the people in the back", Sasuke remarks drily.
"How the hell that happened?"
"It was.. an accident..."
Naruto gives him a flat stare.
"Sasuke, I'm a married man and I have a daughter. I know how babies are made.
"How could you get sweet lil' Hinata pregnant and leave her like that!?" he whispers energetic.
"I did not know she was pregnant" Sasuke bemoans in his drunkenness. "Nobody fucking bothered to tell me..."
"So you guys bumped uglies, and you left not knowing she was pregnant...?"
"...we had sex because we were stuck at this place, and it was a way to survive..." Sasuke trailed off, realizing his own filthy deception despite his inebriated state, fully knowing he had wanted to throughly bone her sweet body during their forced confinement. He certainly still wanted to bone her sweet body now.
"Sure..." Naruto wasn't sure that made sense, but Sasuke was too drunk for him to ask for details.
"So... do you even like her...?" he wondered aloud.
"..."
"Mhh, of course you do..." Naruto mumbled to himself after taking a good look at his friend.
"So... mhh... are her heavies as nice as they seem?"
"Shut the fuck up Naruto" swift, Sasuke smacks his friend in the back of his head.
"Ouch!" Naruto complains and Sasuke slouches again.
"... yes, her tits are amazing ...", he confirms drunkenly with a mutter.
"So... what happened when you went to see her earlier?" Naruto inquired with more gravity.
"..."
"Sasuke... Did you like... run away?"
"..."
Naruto started laughing again.
"I believe that is fair to say", Naruto started solemnly, "that history has proven that the true scaredy-cat, has been you all along Sasuke", Naruto snorted.
Sasuke threw him a flat, unamused look.
"How could you run away from those cutie pies?"
"Do you know them?"
"Of course I do", he gestured as if obvious. "The girls get together often and Sakura invites Hinata sometimes to dinner.
"So what are you gonna do? Are you gonna disappear again?"
"Of course not", Sasuke frowned. "I'm not a douchebag", despite what that snarky little sister might say, "I just needed... time to think..."
"It's up to you man, but I will tell you this much. Children aren't a burden. If you decide not to be part of their lives, you might come to regret it one day.
"And then you know... Hinata-chan is a good woman. Very sweet and a total homemaker. Some jerk will sweep in eventually and marry her. And then you will become one of those loser dads watching another man raise your kids and bang the woman you want."
Sasuke took his head out of his arm to peer at his friend. His dark eye red-rimmed.
"Have you been crying?"
"No, I'm just drunk and tired", Sasuke confessed grumpy.
"Let's go. Stay at my home, tomorrow will be a new day."
•••
"What kind of gay shit is this?" he asked blandly, hangover and in the mood to be a little bit of an asshole.
Sasuke stared at the fine, cream colored porcelain mug in his hand adorned with delicate sakura tree branches and blossoms, filled with steaming tea and milk.
"That gay shit is Sakura's favorite dinner set. You break it, she's gonna murder you", Naruto reassured with a jovial smile as he finished his plate of veggie omelette and rice.
"Yes, if you break it, I will kill you", Sakura announced calmly without skipping a moment from the other side of the kitchen countertop, while finishing washing some dishes.
"She will", Naruto assured him, "Sakura-chan loves that set."
"That is a very fine and very expensive gift from dear Hinata, so you better be careful", Sakura warned.
Sasuke's ear perked up unwittingly at her mention.
He looked at the cup again... It did look like something his okasan would have liked.
"Yes! That's dear Hina-chan's precious wedding gift", Sasuke's right eye twitched at Naruto's pet name.
"Yes, how dare you come to my home all drunk and messed up, and make fun of my stuff. After I made you breakfast you jerk", Sakura grumbles with noted annoyance.
Sasuke blinked, and stared at Sakura with a tired look.
"You disappear, don't show up for years. You don't even show up to our wedding", and gestures herself and Naruto. "And now you appear in my house, drunk as hell.
"What is wrong with you?", she complains as she puts away the last dish.
"And talking about wedding gift. You cheapskate did not only not show up to our wedding, you did not get us a wedding present either.
"Here, you get me this dining set..." Sakura walked to the living-room and ripped a page out of a magazine, "and we are good."
"But Sakura-chan...", Naruto let out a nervous laughter.
"Don't Sakura-chan me Naruto!
"This one, the farmhouse oak," she emphasized. "Not the pine. Not the bamboo one. Oak. Real aged oak."
"But that's the more expensive one Sakura-chan...", Naruto faltered and tried to placate his wife.
"I know. Have you seen this cheapskate's bank account? He can more than afford it. So there", she concluded handing Sasuke the shiny magazine paper.
Sasuke stared at Sakura with a flat look, folded the sheet and put it in a breast pocket.
"I'm leaving. I'm taking Kushiko-chan to the park. The house better be intact when I get back! Or else.
Sakura disappeared inside her bedroom.
"Listen. You get Hinata flowers", Naruto whispered when his wife left the room, resuming a conversation they had started much earlier when Sakura wasn't around.
"What kind?"
"It doesn't matter. It's the thought that counts man.
"And and... I think she likes sweets... chocolates can be a bit tricky... like Sakura hates white chocolate, so I would find out first what kind she likes...
"And definitely get something for your brats", Naruto concluded.
"Like what?"
"I don't know man, they are just babies. Maybe a toy or something."
Naruto leaned away quick and smiled brightly at his wife when she returned with their baby in her arms and a baby backpack.
"You two look like two obasans gossiping. What's so interesting?"
"Nothing nothing Sakura-chan..." and Naruto gets up to give his wife and cute baby daughter a peck on the face.
"Oi Sakura-chan! What's Hinata's favorite dessert?" Naruto asks casually as Sakura is about to step out the door.
Sasuke repressed a face-palm. He knows Sakura is cunning enough to pick up on stuff.
"Cinnamon rolls. Why?"
"Nothing. Have fun!" Sakura narrowed her eyes at both men. Naruto sweats profusely, but eventually she leaves.
"Really? You might as well just told her" Sasuke winced.
"Sorry Sorry. But Sasuke my man, I can't keep shit from my wife. Help me out here."
"Where is she going?" Sasuke ignored Naruto's whine.
"She's taking the baby to the park. She's meeting there all the girls...
"You want to check it out?" Naruto offered. "I'm sure Hinata will be there", and wiggled his blond eyebrows.
•••
"So apparently he started a whole kerfuffle at the Hokage's office. Even heard some people in the meeting peed themselves" Ino chimes in, like it's the hottest buzz around Konoha's ninja.
"Ino how do you know this?" Sakura asks with interest.
"So, I have this cousin that works for the Ministry of Budget Operations, who was there when it happened. But he couldn't hear everything because it all went too fast.
"Then Sasuke and the Hokage were cloistered in the office for almost half an hour.
"It's kind of funny", Ino chuckled with mischief. But Temari was looking a little upset.
"That Shikamaru didn't tell me anything", she pursed her lips while placing back the pacifier in her five-month old for the third time that morning.
"Of course not Temari. Per policy he has to keep everything that goes on inside that office a secret", Sakura added knowingly.
"But I'm his wife", she protested.
"You know Temari, I never find out anything that my Sai-kun does when he goes out on missions" Ino sighed despondent.
"And he knows how bored I get alone with the baby at home."
"That's true", admitted Sakura.
"Sakura, how come you don't know anything?"
"Why you all look at me?" she asked defensive. "Look, Naruto came in last night, dragging Sasuke's butt into my couch, drunk as a skunk.
"He looked a little worse for wear this morning... But Naruto and him were whispering to each other, gossiping like old women earlier today.
"What do you think that was about?" Asked a curious Temari.
"I don't know..." replied Sakura.
"I hope it's a woman", Ino chuckled again impish.
"My cousin isn't sure, but he thinks he heard something about a pregnancy", Ino smirked and everyone gasped.
"What!?"
"Nani?"
"Wow!"
Hinata, who sat at the edge of the group, having to tow around the largest baby carriage, coughed a little as she was drinking some water at that exact moment.
"Hinata-chan are you ok?"
"Yes yes!" she stammered out a little nervous.
Everyone turned back towards Ino with eager faces. The new mothers were thrown out of a world of ninja action and adventure into one of motherhood and quiet domesticity. As expected, they craved some excitement, even if it consisted of just silly gossip about Konoha's most handsome but also most antisocial shinobi, and formerly one of the top wanted missing-nin.
"You think so?"
"I don't know, but it would be great if Sasuke for once in his life suffered a little because of a woman. I would call it, Karmic Justice."
Ino smirked and the girls laughed playfully, while Hinata blushed and never spoke a word.
••
"What are they doing?" Sasuke asked from the shadows of a tree.
"Just hanging out. You know, have the babies get a bit of early morning sun. Gossip a bit. Probably complain about their husbands... I don't know man, woman stuff!", Naruto gestured aimlessly.
Sasuke stared at the group of giggling ladies, huddled at times, maybe talking about some nonsense. But his focus would ultimately fall back on Hinata, who would sit quietly aside, moving occasionally towards the baby carriage containing their two bundles of joy.
"Ya' know, now that I think about it, you and Hina-chan are perfect for each other", Naruto remarked as he looked at the group of laughing ladies.
Sasuke's cheeks reddened slightly, and inquired feigning aloofness, "Yeah? How so...?"
"You are both silent and reserved. You guys would probably enjoy each other's quiet company, and Hinata's sweet demeanor could probably tame that bad-temperament out of you", Naruto observed with a chuckle.
Sasuke ignored Naruto's jibe and continued his observation. The other ladies sat with their own little children on their laps. Perhaps two growing babies was too much for Hinata definitely thick thighs.
But Naruto's comment from the day before bothered him. The thought of another man taking her and raising his kids, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Hinata... he didn't think she had any talent for seducing men, but she likely didn't even need to put in that much effort. She was a woman beautiful enough who could attract any man to fill her bed with just a passing glance, if she wanted to.
"I'm leaving", he announces, feeling surly.
"Where are you going? The girls are probably only going to be here for a little while", Naruto assured.
Sasuke did not say, but patted his friend's back.
"Thank you Naruto", he simply replied with a hint of a smile.
Puzzled, Naruto looked back at his friend who had just disappeared.
•••
He sat on the bare wood floor in her back porch, waiting for her to come back home. An arrangement of pale pink peonies mixed in with whimsical greenery, a box of warm cinnamon buns just out of the oven from a corner bakery, and a couple of teddy bears lay on the floor at his side. The blankets and pillows from the day before were nowhere in sight.
He felt foolish looking at the bouquet of flowers, the arrangement recommended by the florist. And wondered if Hinata perhaps hated his guts. Of all things, he impregnated her, not with the usual, but two bundles of joy. Double trouble.
Did she hate the new life she has been forced into? Yet, she had looked so sweet, and content, as she so lovingly nursed their child, right in the very spot he currently sat at.
In any other scenario, he would have normally waited at her front porch, but being thoughtful for once, he didn't want nosy neighbors to start any strange gossip about Hinata if they were to see an unknown man waiting for her at the front of her house.
He could not sense the presence of an Anbu anywhere, which probably meant he follows her around wherever she goes.
He didn't like it. Even if he made his peace with the village, the reality was they betrayed his clan once. And if they did it once, they can always do it again. Itachi might have loved Konoha and died for it's stability and preservation, but Sasuke wasn't Itachi. He wasn't as good, altruistic or as self-sacrificing as his dear aniki.
He had to admit, Kakshi had been good and honorable. But what happens after Kakashi steps down? Now, more than ever, it was in his best interest for Naruto to finally achieve his dreams and eventually take on the leadership mantle.
He knew he could trust Naruto to protect his family. Nonetheless, leaving Konoha once again, and leaving Hinata all alone...
Noises from inside the house broke him out of his introspection, and Sasuke realized she was now home.
•••
Hinata pushed brisk the baby carriage along the streets of Konoha, as she was in a big hurry to get home.
After she left the park, she went to the farmers's market to pick some fresh fruit and vegetables. She was always on the lookout for new seasonal produce for her babies to try. Fortunately, they were not picky eaters and ate most of the pureed foods she's been preparing, maybe except overly ripe fruits. However, breastmilk was still their favorite.
But Kuragari was acting up, and had been crabby ever since they left the produce market.
Though her babies were normally well-behaved, with some quirks of their own, they were usually gentle and good-natured infants (Akiko being more so). However, Kuragari was very particular about laying on clean nappies. After joyfully soiling his diaper not long ago, he now demanded to get changed and she knew he was a full two minutes away for a full-blown temper tantrum.
She rushed home, and was relieved when she turned around the corner to see the front of her house.
Quickly, she picked up the large double-baby carriage and brought it over the front door. She fumbled with the keys for a second in her rush to open the door, when both babies began to cry.
After she managed to enter the house, she noticed a tall shadow standing in the doorway darkening her entryway. Feeling already bewildered and a bit distressed at her son's angry fit, she raised her eyes and stiffened immediately, surprised by his presence there.
"Sa...suke", she froze for a moment in the middle of chaos, but swift she turned her attention back to Kuragari, just as he started screaming bloody murder.
"Can-can you please watch Akiko-chan for a moment? I will be done fast." She disliked asking others for favors but she was now frantic and desperate.
"Sure I can," Sasuke replied loud enough in the middle of baby cries.
He stood there for a second, feeling lost and not knowing what to do, as Hinata rushed back inside carrying their screaming son into the baby room, hoping to change him quickly.
A/N: Next, Sasuke and Hinata talk :)
Mia: So in the story, I just thought only the Hokage, Shikamaru and Hinata's father would be aware. Not even Hanabi, I know I didn't add much about her but maybe in the future I might, just felt like it would have been too much in that chapter alone. I always thought Sasuke telling Naruto himself, like you just saw in this last chapter, as a way for Naruto encourage Sasuke.
I think the biggest problem (and I don't mean to say that it could not have worked) is that canon Naru/Hina and Sasu/Saku have absolutely no chemistry whatsoever (most fans of these ships will never admit it). Heck, at this point I even think even NaruSasu have more chemistry. Kishimoto, I believe, said once he didn't want to write about romance, but then I'm sure SP had other ideas and I'm sure all the sucky parts of Naruto were probably SP ideas, and Kishi was not strong enough to be like, fuck no you are not doing that to my story. He did create a complicated love triangle from the very beginning, so he had to give it some form of closure. I have read the theory that Sasuke was supposed to end up with Karin, but because she was never a popular character that idea was eliminated by the studio. Who knows. But I think Boruto would have worked much better if it had been a girl instead. It would have been something new, a female daughter might have added some nuance, and as someone who's born from the two descendants of Kaguya, maybe she could have been a reincarnation of Kaguya herself, and we could have had a story where she has all these struggles because of this. Maybe she would have had the personality of Kushina. Maybe Sakura would have had a very stoic son, someone with the personality of Itachi. I think I would have watched that. Instead, we got Mediocre Naruto 2.0 with aliens, nerfed beloved characters, and other nonsense.
Bloodberry: Yes! Kushiko after Kushina... yeah I'm not that clever lol. I tried to look up what that name meant but apparently it can mean different things depending on the name characters. Out of the group of girls, I have thought of only one being suspicious given her background. But I'm still debating how much I want to develop that, I don't want this story to drag on. Glad you liked the chapter!
Iri: This chapter should have clarified why Kakashi didn't tell, ha ha ha. "Hinata is both attracted and terrified of him", yes! That is perfect, it fits in with the chiaroscuro theme. I'm hoping I don't butcher Hinata's growing attraction to Sasuke in future chapters!
Hashira: I think of Sasuke being more upset about being kept in the dark and being just too taken by the surprise. Next chapter should hopefully clarify certain things between the two of them """""")
Portsidecrowds: No he did not expect it, he's only a young man in his early 20s lololoolol. This idea will play a bit more later on (young and stupid I mean ;). I think of myself in my early 20s, and I was probably not as stupid as I was in my teens, but I was probably still pretty clueless about so many stuff nonetheless. At the same time I always think of the Naruto crowd as being extra mature because of their life and experiences (I mean, they fought in a war in their teens so that's huge), but I do think it would be realistic for him to not really think of pregnancy at all. I mean, cannon Sasuke disappeared from his family for 10 years (just wow) and was surprised to meet his daughter. Like, did he not even know he had a daughter? I don't know. I went with this type of reasoning because it seemed very possible with him.
Don't worry about the updates, it is what it is lol. I use the FF app and it's pretty glitchy all the time. I don't even get notifications and the PM messaging system is basically nonfunctional. I had people send me messages for years and I noticed that about a month ago when I logged in the desktop web for the first time in ages. I had people ask me back in 2021 if I was alive and ok :( (I felt so bad). But what can you do!
Hinataoveranyhoe: lmao that username! But I had the same experience you had with that chapter with this one short fic I read a while ago, where Madara killed the entire alliance with his Susanoo cumming (yes, you read that word right) on the entire thing and it's just wow wow wow. It is in my favorites if you would like to traumatize yourself lol. But glad you like the story, thanks for the encouragement!
Thanks everyone, I appreciate all your comments! : all the guests, yesandyeah, tnkstar, huaniri35, Zsyree, Lady, Kiats, Dots, z.
See you next chapter!