Surprise? Early update? Yep. You deserve it. So... this is the last chapter. Last update if you'd rather call it that. This is my first fanfiction, and boy, has it been an adventure. Writing this has been grand. You, my reviewers, have been so loyal and kind. Whenever I'd read your reviews, I'd start squealing. You make my days that much better. Thank you so much for reading. Anyways, please enjoy the last chapter of "A Mother's Intuition: Crushes."

-x-

Disclaimer: As much as I may want to own Naruto, I don't. COUGH. It's my birthday on December third. COUGH. Wasn't too obvious, was it?

-x-

"Do I really get to stay over?" Naruto chirped. His blue eyes were widened in excitement. Itachi nodded slowly.

"No way!" Naruto jumped into the Uchiha's arms, babbling on about how much fun they were going to have. Passersby raised their brows in unhidden amusement at the blonde's outburst. Most of them had long forgotten the grudge they had held against the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. By now they were used to Naruto's unending vivacity, and more often than not, Uchiha Itachi was the cause. The couple continued on their way to the blonde's apartment.

Naruto had been so energetic lately it was almost frightening. Obviously, it was because both Sasuke and Itachi had gotten out of the hospital alright. Itachi had had serious injuries, but time had healed them. Ino had managed to convince Sasuke out of running away again. The two almost seemed like a couple now. If you couldn't find one, you would look for the other and the one you were looking for was guaranteed to be there. Is that too confusing for you?

-x-

"Make sure to interrupt anyone speaking during dinner." Itachi instructed lazily.

"Reverse psychology doesn't work on me, silly!" Naruto grinned. The Uchiha rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the sly grin forming. The blonde continued to pack his belongings, making a note to buy some groceries on his way home from the Uchiha compound.

"I'm so excited! This is the first time I've slept over at your house!" Naruto said in delight. He waved his hands in the air to emphasise his excitement.

"Yes, I've noticed." Itachi said dryly. He went on watching Naruto skip back and forth across the room.

"Hey, don't be a poop." Naruto stuck out his tongue in displeasure.

"I'm not being a 'poop'. I just don't share your infinite energy." Itachi sighed.

"You don't want me to be there?" Naruto asked. He stood rooted to the spot, his high spirits quickly inflating.

"Of course not, Naruto. I'm looking forward to it too." Itachi couldn't help the feeling of guilt weighing him down. Just one look of disappointment from the blonde and he was sent scurrying for approval. He was so whipped.

"Sure you are." Naruto deadpanned. However, he deemed the answer good enough and finished packing.

"Ready!" The blonde announced. Itachi had to remind him to lock the door before they left. Along the way, they spotted Sasuke and Ino at the Yamanaka flower shop. After much persistence from Naruto, the two stopped to say hello.

"Ino-chan! Sasuke-teme!" Naruto called. Sasuke appeared nervous at first glance, but inside his blood was boiling in perfectly controlled anger.

"Morning, Naruto-kun, Itachi-san." Ino waved. She rested her chin delicately in her other hand.

"Good morning, Ino-chan." Itachi gave a polite nod of his head and exchanged a glance with his brother. Sasuke eagerly shuffled closer to his older brother.

"I was just about to... you know. Do that..." Sasuke muttered beneath his breath. His gaze always stayed on the blonde behind the counter. Ino looked up from the pot of daisies she was examining when she felt a pair of eyes on her. She sent Sasuke a kind smile, which was dutifully returned.

"Oh. I see. I'll take Naruto home then." Itachi's heart felt like it was going to burst with the glee he felt for his brother.

"Is he staying over tonight?" Sasuke asked. His attempts at being subtle were clearly not working, as Naruto turned to frown at him.

"Sasuke-teme, just get on with it." Naruto scolded. Sasuke looked back and forth between Ino's blush and Naruto's glare.

"Uh..." For the first time in his life, Sasuke felt at a loss for words. He wasn't sure whether he should ask Ino or pretend he had no idea what Naruto was talking about. Sasuke decided to go with the former.

"Ino-chan... I wanted to ask you something." Sasuke began in uncertainty. Ino nodded for him to continue. Sasuke took a step closer to the glass counter.

"I... I was wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner. With me. Tonight." Sasuke stared in shocked silence when Ino burst into laughter.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun. I've waited so long for you to ask me." Ino replied in a soft tone. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. Sasuke's confusion must have been evident on his face, as Naruto clucked his tongue in impatience.

"She means yes, you idiot. She'll go out with you." Naruto snapped. The moment the words were out of his mouth, however, a smile brighter than the sun itself appeared on his face.

"I'm so proud of you!" Naruto squeaked. He sniffed for emphasis. Itachi shared Naruto's feelings of satisfaction. Sasuke let a small smile break through his emotionless facade. Ino returned the smile, and soon enough, the two were wrapped around each other in a hug. Itachi took the hint and pulled Naruto out of the store.

"I'm so proud of him, 'Tachi. Can you believe it? He's dating now! He has a girlfriend!" Naruto sputtered. Itachi consolingly patted him on the head, as that was all he could offer. He was desperately in need of consolation himself. Sasuke, his baby brother, was growing up too fast!

"I wonder if we'll see them later." Naruto broke the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.

"Most likely." Itachi said. His head was still spinning with images of his younger brother.

"Oh, just relax, 'Tachi. It's not like they're doing the dirty-dirty or anything. And anyways, we've been dating since last year, and you have absolutely no problem with that." Naruto stated. Itachi thought this over.

"That's true." He agreed. Naruto was always his voice of reason.

"So, what are we doing when we get to your house?" Naruto asked. His voice seemed to carry with the wind.

"Whatever you like, Naru." Itachi replied almost automatically.

"Oh, no you don't." Naruto shook his head. Itachi raised his eyebrows innocently.

"We're not playing that game, Itachi." Naruto explained. Apparently the explanation wasn't enough for Itachi, so Naruto went on. "We're not playing the 'I'm just going to let you do whatever you want because I have no interest in what we're going to be doing' game."

Itachi chuckled softly.

"I know, I know. I'm just thinking." Itachi replied honestly. Naruto took his hand, and started to walk faster.

"Well, listen to me!" Naruto huffed.

"Alright, alright. You're so needy, Naru." Itachi teased. He loved getting underneath the blonde's skin, pushing his buttons, making his blood boil.

"I wouldn't be so needy if you didn't provide me with what I needed." For Naruto, this was classified as an innocent comment. Itachi, however, could see beneath the underneath. He knew there was a half truth in that statement. He understood that Naruto was really getting fed up with his recent behaviour. He just wasn't listening to the blonde as much as he did before.

"I'm sorry, kitsune. I don't mean to ignore you. I've just had a lot on my mind the last couple of weeks." Itachi apologized. He sincerely felt bad for what he was doing. He knew communication was one of the most important things in a relationship, and he was currently atrocious in that area.

"Well? You're never going to get it out of your head if you don't share it. Let's hear it." Naruto said.

"Not right now, Naru. When we get to the compound, okay? After dinner." Itachi sent the blonde a hesitant smile.

"Hmpf. Fine. Only if we can have a proper conversation on the way there though." Naruto let go of Itachi's hand and crossed his arms in what was meant to be a menacing act. Too bad it just made the blonde look cuter.

Itachi played along and pretended to fear the blonde's wrath. "Of course, Naru."

-x-

"Itachi, dear, do you know when Sasuke will be back?" Mikoto asked from her perch at the doorway. Itachi looked up from the jigsaw pieces he had been trying to piece together.

"No, Okaa-san. I wasn't told." Itachi replied in the gentlest tone he could muster. He had become exceedingly frustrated with the puzzle he had been trying to make with the blonde.

"Oh... alright. Boys, dinner will be ready in 5." Mikoto faded into the dark hallway.

Sasuke and Ino made it to dinner after all, and the six were able to sit down peacefully at the dinner table.

-x-

An hour or so after dinner, Naruto complained of being hungry again. Itachi dutifully got up and made him a hot cup of tea and brought him biscuits while the blonde complained to Sasuke and Ino.

"Thanks, 'Tachi!" Naruto leaned forward so he could plant a kiss on the Uchiha's cheek. Itachi pulled him between his legs, where he sat comfortably. After finishing his snack, Naruto opted to find out what had plagued Itachi's mind.

"C'mon, please. Tell me!" Naruto whined. Itachi let out a loud sigh.

"Alright, fine." He muttered in irritation.

"Oh! I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Naruto whispered. He never really knew when enough was enough, but he could recognize the after effects and disarm them.

"No, it's alright, Naru. You have a right to know anyways." Itachi soothed.

"I... do?" Naruto asked in confusion. Itachi cleared his throat before beginning.

"Do you remember the man who attacked us and ordered your kidnapping? We've had several encounters with him."

"Yeah, I remember." Naruto said with a hint of grimness.

"Wait, what? You were kidnapped?" Ino asked. Sasuke squeezed her hand in a reassuring gesture.

"On an escort mission." Sasuke said. Ino turned towards him.

"So? What happened?"

"Well, a ninja from the Village Hidden in the Darkness shot a sedative at Kenji, the person we were supposed to protect. They demanded we hand over Kenji, but Itachi flat out rejected. Itachi was our team captain, by the way. Anyways, the guy got a hold of Naruto, and took him as a hostage. Naruto was underground without food or water for around five days. Worst of all, he had a dangerous Genjutsu placed over him. It really scared him. It scared Sakura and I as well. But it scared Itachi most of all, I think." Sasuke explained.

Ino stared at him with wide eyes.

"O-Oh my gosh. That's horrible." She turned to face Naruto, giving him a sympathetic look. Naruto nodded sadly. The blonde wouldn't admit that those things in the Genjutsu had scarred him. He wouldn't admit that he still had nightmares about them eating him. He was being eaten alive.

Itachi saw the bitter memories flashing through Naruto's eyes and pulled him closer.

"Continuing on... we have found out the identity of the man." Itachi paused to let the information sink in.

"Who is it?" Naruto asked.

"A subordinate of Orochimaru's." All three of his companions tensed at the name, 'Orochimaru.'

They didn't have the best of memories with the man.

"Oh... why?" Naruto questioned. His head felt like it was going to burst with unanswered questions.

"The Kyuubi, Naruto." Itachi whispered. "Orochimaru is on a quest for power, remember? And the Bijuu hold the most power, and even more the nine-tailed fox."

"Stupid, stupid me. What else would anyone want me for?" Naruto muttered. His day was obviously ruined.

"Stop it, Naruto. You've changed so many people's lives with your personality. Those who don't want you are only missing out on a friend... or more, of a lifetime." Itachi was surprised when the words came out of Ino's mouth and not his own. He was beginning to like the girl more and more as he got to know her better. Sasuke had definitely made a good choice.

Naruto grinned softly. Ino's words had made him feel the slightest bit better.

"You guys are such great friends. You have no idea." Naruto shook his head, laughter filling the room.

"I have an idea of how great I am." Ino said with a well timed smile.

"Of course you do." Sasuke teased.

"You know the best, though." She teased back.

Once again, Itachi took the hint and dragged Naruto out of the room.

-x-

The two were laying in Itachi's bed, curled against each other and drowsy with sleep, when Mikoto burst in.

"Nuh-uh. Not you two." She exclaimed. Her hands were on her hips, clearly expressing her disappointment.

"W-what do you mean, Okaa-san?" Itachi asked blearily. He lifted his head from its position on the pillow. The bright light from the hallway flooded into his room.

"You aren't sleeping in the same bed. Absolutely not! Not in this house, young man!" Mikoto huffed. Naruto couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Mikoto-san, please. Itachi wouldn't do anything inappropriate."

"Exactly! Okaa-san! What do you take me to be? A paedophile?" Itachi's eyes widened in apparent surprise at his mother's accusations.

"I'm sorry, boys. I'm just frustrated from having to explain to Sasuke and Ino-chan that sleeping in the same bed is not okay." Mikoto let out a sigh, letting her dark bangs fall into her eyes.

"No, no. It's perfectly alright. I'll go sleep in a different room. Thank you for being so patient, Mikoto-san." Naruto smiled gratefully. She nodded slowly, glancing warily around the room.

"You can sleep in the room across the hall. Once again, I'm very sorry. Good night, Itachi. Naruto-kun." She muttered. Her slim form made its way down the hall and back into the study.

"Okay... good night, I guess." Naruto whispered.

"Good night, Naru. I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Itachi replied. He reached out for the blonde, holding him in a tight embrace. He smelled of ramen and of... the sun. He didn't know how to explain his bizarre logic. That is simply what his blonde smelled like.

"I love you." Naruto said into Itachi's hair. Itachi breathed in again, inhaling as much of him as he could.

"I love you more. You mean the world to me, Naru." Itachi voiced the tender feelings in his heart. Naruto could bring out the best in him on the worst of days. Naruto was a ray of sunshine in his cloudy life. A rose in his garden. The shower when he came home from a mission.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, 'Tachi." Naruto said. He stood in the bright hallway, staring back at Itachi with bright eyes.

"Thank you for giving me such a fun night. I've never had a sleepover at someone else's house, and you've given me a great introduction to the world of sleepovers."

"Only you would think of something so cheesy to say. You're welcome. I'm glad to have been able to introduce you. After all, you're only allowed to sleepover here anyways." Itachi teased. Naruto chuckled softly.

"Love you, you silly shinobi." Naruto mumbled. He spared one last glance at Itachi's curled up form in the blankets before heading off.

"I love you more than you know." Itachi called back.

"Stop with the lame love declarations!" Sasuke and Ino chorused.

-x-

A sharp crack of thunder jolted him awake. He remained hidden beneath the covers, holding his breath in anticipation. He could hear the rain pelting the window, and it didn't seem like it was going to fade away anytime soon. Another crash of thunder, and the lightning illuminated the guest room like a camera flash. Naruto curled into a tight ball while his heart tried to break out of his chest. The air inside the covers was growing warm, making his skin damp with sweat.

Maybe I should hide in the closet.

Naruto quickly replaced the thought with; I'm going to hide in the closet.

He waited in distressed silence for the next bout of thunder. When the bang came, the blonde slipped out of the covers and sprinted to the closet. He tried to ignore the eerie way the lightning brought out the shadows of the room. Naruto moved a pair of shoes to the side as he made himself comfortable. Wrapping his arms around his knees, the blonde allowed himself to relax to some extent. The stiffness had not left his body.

Throughout his whole life, Naruto had been frightened of thunderstorms. He hadn't had any specific reason then, and he didn't now. It had become a habit to run into the nearest room without a window. The windowless room was usually a closet. He didn't want to see the lightning, and the cramped area would slightly muffle the sound. He would wait out the thunderstorm, and after making sure it wasn't coming back, fall into a restless sleep. The blonde leaned against the farthest corner, feeling strangely uncomfortable in the place who gave him the most comfort on these types of nights.

I miss Itachi.

Naruto shut his eyes, sucking in his breath when the thunder made the house vibrate.

Stop stalking me, thunder. I'll call the police. You too, lightning.

Naruto smiled weakly at the lame joke he had produced. What's a guy to do in a closet? No, that's just dirty.

The sound of the closet doors opening brought both a sense of fear and a sense of relief to Naruto. He raised his arms in defence, but lowered them when he saw who it was. Uchiha Itachi. The eldest Uchiha had never failed to bring a smile to the blonde's face, this time included. The raven kneeled in front of Naruto, bringing him into his arms. He shut the door behind them, and settled himself on the frigid wooden floor.

"Itachi..." Naruto murmured into the cotton shirt. Itachi reassuringly stroked his hair, using his sharingan to spot movement in the darkness.

"I'm right here, Naru." Itachi whispered. The blonde's breathing eventually slowed down to the point Itachi could relax.

"Thank you." Naruto breathed before closing his eyes and letting himself drift into sleep. Itachi kept up the rhythmic motion of his hand in the blonde's hair until he couldn't keep his eyes open for any longer. As Naruto dreamed of the patient raven and Itachi dreamed of the enthusiastic blonde, the storm outside quietly faded into a gentle rain shower. Little did they know, the weather was a metaphor for their hectic relationship. Sunny on some days, stormy on others. Of course, the day they met was a golden day. Filled with sunshine and blue skies and the like.

And how had it all started?

On a mother's intuition.

-x-

My goodness. I'm crying as I'm writing this, because it didn't actually sink in until now. Thank you so much for sticking with me and supporting me. I love you all so much. It's been real. WTR, signing off.

Reviews:

Saya420: Aw... I'm sad to see you go. Thank you for sticking with me throughout the whole story. Haha. Yes. I am the master of cliffies. I really hope you liked the fanfic!

Sweetyamiyugigirl: Yeah, I know! Poor 'Tachi! Hopefully you understand why Sasuke left now. Unless you were being sarcastic. Hahah. Thanks for reading!

In The Mix: Well, jeez. You've been reading/reviewing for a while too. I really hope you liked the ending. Not sure if I failed or not. Haha. Anyways, I was planning on making Hinata and Naruto best friends before I ended the story, but I thought now was a good time to end it. Ino kind of took her place. Thanks for reviewing!

Namikaze naruko14: Haha thanks! Sucks that I ended the story the moment you started reading. Sorry. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Did the ending suck too much?