Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto
Piece of the Puzzle
Chapter 11: The Melancholy of Uchiha Momo
With the semi-finals of the third part of the chunin exams now over, another intermission was taking place. This one was longer then the previous break, to give spectators plenty of time for last minute bets on the final match.
Having won her second match, Momo made her way to the kunoichi's changing room. Along the way, she mentally reviewed the battle she had with her team-mate, attempting to discern whether she revealed too much of her skills.
'Let's see, I used the body flicker technique to dodge the destruction beetles, and the fire release: great fireball to incinerate them. I also used my tonfa against him when I engaged him in close-quarters combat.'
While Momo reviewed her mental checklist, her body moved on autopilot. She was almost to the changing room.
'I don't think anything I revealed is of concern to the Rain swordsman. His sword skills should easily trump my tonfa skill, even with my sharingan. If I use the great fireball technique, he'd most likely use a water technique to counter it. My speed might be my only advantage.'
Momo was grateful Naruto had taught her the body flicker technique, and how to effectively utilize it in combat. It just might give her the edge she needed.
'Since my illusions are useless against him, the best plan I can think of is send my earth clones against him, watch his movements with my sharingan as he fights them, and try to find an opening I can exploit.'
Momo's thoughts were broken as she entered the changing room. Being the only kunoichi left in the tournament, Momo had here privacy here.
'Huh, I get the whole place to myself. That's kind of nice.'
Growing up with five siblings, her parents, and a staff of nannies, maids, groundskeepers and others, Momo had learned to value moments like this.
Soon, Momo had changed back into her now standard attire. She wore her navy blue t-shirt with the Uchiha crest on the back, much like her father once wore. A navy blue pair of bicycle shorts and white skirt, just like her mother once wore, went with it.
Instead of bandage wraps or pink elbow wraps like Sakura used to wear, Momo wore elbow and knee guards. The added protection would be of use for blocking, rolling, and striking attacks. Given that Momo may need to do a lot of dodging in her next match, they were sure to be useful.
Momo was not wearing sandals, but combat boots and black socks. Due to the climate of Fire Country, wearing sandals was very common. Momo however, was more practical minded then fashion oriented, and preferred the extra protection.
Her forehead protector was around her neck still, as Momo still found it awkward wearing it with her goggles. She had grown accustomed to them, especially how they were tinted to protect her eyes from the sunlight.
'I wonder why more people don't wear sunglasses? I've only ever seen the Aburame clan wearing any.' Momo wondered.
Momo's hair was tied into a bun, with a pair of acupuncture needles holding it in place. Should Momo be forced into a desperate situation, they would be her last resort.
Finally, Momo pulled on a pair of fingerless, metal backed gloves. They would keep her hands safe, and allow her to wield her tonfa with ease.
Having finished getting changed, Momo took one last look at herself in the mirror. Confident that she looked like a serious kunoichi, Momo left the changing rooms for the contestant's waiting lounge, to prepare for her final match.
As Momo changed her attire for her final match, Naruto was discussing Momo's fight with her, and the one's he would someday see as his, parents.
"So what do you think she did?" Naruto asked them.
Due to the cover from the trees, only Konohamaru knew what really happened.
"Hn." Sasuke pointed out.
Again Naruto looked at Sakura for a translation. She merely sighed again.
'I'm going to have to teach Naruto how to understand Sasuke. I know I'll never get him to speak up, at least not outside the bedroom that is.'
The less said about that, the better.
Suppressing a giggle and light blush, Sakura explained to Naruto what Sasuke said.
"Naruto, Momo just fought her team-mate, so whatever she did to win the match either involved something she learned from you, so her team-mate wouldn't expect it, or she exploited a weakness of his, possibly both."
Naruto accepted that explanation.
"That's true, I suppose. I should have known that."
He then slumped down in his chair.
Sakura looked over at Naruto, noticed his unease.
'He must be feeling embarrassed now. It was just a simple question, but he must feel like it was a stupid one. I should do something to cheer him up.'
"Momo's speed was impressive, and she used the body flicker technique quite well. Her skills with her tonfa are also impressive considering she's only had them just under a month. You've obviously trained her well."
Sakura's comment immediately brightened Naruto up. Receiving a compliment from her was very rare for Naruto, and it was always appreciated.
"You think so? I just had her master the basic three, learn to wield tonfa to give her an edge in close quarters combat, and a couple of ninja techniques. Momo didn't get stronger just because of me, she was already really good."
"Don't be so humble, it's not like you. Sure, Momo has a lot of skill, but you helper her just as much as we did, and just like you helped us too."
"Huh?" Naruto said with a confused look. "How did I help you guys?"
Sakura giggled at Naruto's confusion.
"You were the one who was always there for us, encouraging us and never giving up. You were an inspiration for us, and we knew you'd do the same for our little girl."
Naruto was now beaming from Sakura's praise.
"Aww, thanks Sakura. It was nothing though, really. You guys and Momo are the talented ones. All my encouragement wouldn't mean a thing if you weren't all so good already."
"I told you to stop being so humble. We never would have been as good as we are if you wasn't for you."
"You never would have been so good if you didn't already have what it took to be so good. I still say you're the amazing one Sakura."
Sakura felt oddly pleased by Naruto's praise.
"Thank you." Sakura said quietly, with a blush, not making eye contact with Naruto.
Sasuke watched the interplay between his wife and best friend, and was actually pleased by it.
'Sakura has never been as happier now that Naruto's back in our lives. I never noticed how much his attention affected her. I have to admit, even I've been feeling better with him around.'
Sasuke, although he would never admit it, had a problem showing affection. It showed in how much Sakura was affected by a compliment from Naruto. Even Sakura realized this.
'Ever since I started dating Sasuke, Naruto stopped trying to get my attention, and hardly even spoke to me. I never realized how much I missed his affections. Sasuke, he's everything I ever wanted, but he's never admired me as much as Naruto did.'
"How did you find time to raise six children and still run a medical clinic? I mean, wouldn't you also need maternity leave too?" Naruto further inquired.
Pushing aside thoughts and feelings Sakura thought were long buried, she then answered Naruto's question.
"It's simple really. We used surrogate mothers so I could focus on my career."
Naruto just stared at Sakura blankly. Looking at him, she sighed and explained it in more detail.
"A surrogate mother carries a fertilized egg and lets it's develop in her womb. That way I didn't have to go on maternity leave, and was always at full strength."
"Oh, I get it." Naruto said, but Sakura was not too sure he did. "So who was Momo's surrogate mother?"
"It was a woman named Asami. She was one of Sasuke's former admirers." Sakura answered. "She was quite enthusiastic about the idea as well. I think she just liked being able to say she was carrying Uchiha Sasuke's child."
"Hn." Sasuke said offensively.
"Sasuke!" Sakura chided, "that's not very nice of you to say!"
Naruto was confused.
"What did he say?" He asked Sakura.
"What my darling husband, who might be sleeping on the couch tonight meant to say, is that he's quite glad his former admirers, not useless fangirls, were the surrogate mother's for his children so his wife, who he loves very much and is quite beautiful, can keep running her own medical clinic and stay close to home." Sakura replied in one breath with a sickeningly sweet tone and a creepy smile on her face.
Naruto, who was starting to pale and frighten a bit at Sakura's tone, turned to look at Sasuke, who looked like he needed a change of pants.
"Is that right?" Naruto asked the condemned man.
Sasuke could only nod in response.
'Man, Sasuke is whipped.' Naruto thought to himself. 'Now I'm glad he got together with Sakura instead of me. I don't know what I'd do with a girl like her.'
It is a good thing then that Momo was not exactly like Sakura.
"So, what happened to the women who were your surrogates then?" Naruto asked.
"Well, while they were pregnant they got to stay with us so I could observe and take care of them. They were all treated very well, since we could afford a large staff to look after things." Sakura explained.
Having a lot of excess funds and a large estate, Sasuke and Sakura hired several maids, nannies, and others to help with taking care of their large family while keeping their careers. It made for a unique home life for the restarted Uchiha clan.
"After they gave birth, we named them the godmother of the child. It seemed appropriate. We even gave them a house in the Uchiha property, so they could stay close by." Sakura finished explaining.
"That was nice of you guys." Naruto said to them.
"Thank you. We felt alone in the district, and this way we could slowly open the district up while forming bonds with it's new residents. Eventually we did open up the remaining property to the public."
"Any chance I could get a house near you guys?" Naruto asked them. "I wouldn't mind staying close by."
Sakura looked like she wanted to say yes, but had to turn Naruto down,
"As much as we would love to have you closer to us, the only properties near ours are reserved for our children so their families can stay close. The only other homes are on the outskirts."
"Oh well, it was worth a shot." Naruto replied with a pout while crossing his arms.
Sakura meanwhile, was giggling at Naruto's slightly childish actions.
"Well, if you want to move in with us, you could wait until we're senior citizens. You'll be just middle aged, and would be welcome to take care of us." Sakura joked.
Naruto shook his head in response to that before actually replying.
"Nah, I don't want to be that close. Besides, couldn't you guys just pay someone to take care of you?"
Sakura thought about that for a moment.
"I suppose we could, but I'd feel better if it was someone we trusted watching over us. When we're older we'll be more vulnerable, so it would be nice if someone close to us was keeping us safe."
A sullen look came over the former team seven. Knowing Naruto would live the longest brought both joy and sadness to all of them. They were joking about it a second ago, but now it felt uncomfortable. Luckily, Naruto never knew when to stay quiet.
"Don't worry about it." Naruto said with a smile on his face. "I'll find a way to watch over you guys. You're the closest friends I have, and we're practically family. I'll keep you both safe, believe it!"
Naruto's words brought comfort to his former team-mates.
'Naruto, you always know how to cheer a person up, don't you?' Sakura thought. 'Not only that, but you're always looking out for your friends and those you consider family. You would do everything you can to protect them.'
For a second, Sakura considered what it would have been like if she had married Naruto instead of Sasuke.
'No, it's too late to think like that. Naruto is a great guy, and I'm sure he'll make a lucky girl very happy someday.'
Sakura had been admiring Naruto now, and noticed his face became serious again. It seemed that something was concerning him. Curious about what it could be, Sakura addressed Naruto.
"What's wrong, you look like something's bothering you now?"
Naruto exhaled deeply, and answered Sakura.
"I was just thinking of what you're guys' home like must be like. I know you and Sasuke are both working all the time during the day, and only have the weekends and holidays off. You must not have much time to spend with all your kids."
Naruto was not aware, but this topic was a sore spot for his former team-mates. He was right, Sakura and Sasuke did not have a lot of time to spend with their kids, and neither of them was willing to give up their careers.
'It almost broke us apart.' Sakura thought. 'Luckily we managed to work out a solution, but even so, it's still not an optimal one.'
Sakura came up with the idea for using a surrogate mother while she and Sasuke donated their genetic material. After some convincing, Sasuke agreed to the idea. He also conceded to hiring a staff to help them.
Sasuke did not want to admit it, but the thought of a woman other then his wife carrying his child, even if Sakura was still the biological mother, made him uncomfortable.
Not only that, but he was reluctant to hire a staff. He was untrusting of them at first, and felt it hurt his pride to need help. In the end though, if he wanted a new family, and with Sakura, it was the best way to go about having one.
"I mean," Naruto continued, unaware of his companions unease, "they must have spent more time with your hired help then with either of you. How do you manage to have a large family and keep your careers?"
"It's not easy." Was all Sakura said.
Sasuke was silent.
Naruto could tell they did not feel like saying anymore regarding the current topic. Settling for inward reflection, Naruto focused his thoughts, and entered his mindscape.
Naruto paced in front of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon's cell, where the demon in question was taking a nap. Pacing in his mindscape had become a habit of Naruto's. One day he discovered that time in his mindscape passed by much slower then it did outside. While an hour could seem to pass here, a second would go by in the real world.
Unfortunately, it was only good for those rare occasions when Naruto was required to do something he rarely did, and always tried to avoid. It was good because it gave Naruto time to think.
Currently, Naruto was pondering what he just discovered of his team-mates home life. What he found out concerned him.
'It seems like they're hardly there for their children. What kind of a life is that?'
Memories of his own childhood came to Naruto in glimpses. His own past was as unmemorable as it was unpleasant. To him, everything prior to the day of his third genin exam was a blur.
'If I ever have a family of my own, I will always be there for them.'
Naruto knew what it was like to grow up without parents. His children would never know what that was like.
'I wonder how Momo dealt with this? I'm guessing she made some friends in the academy. She was popular with the boys, although she found them to be a nuisance. I don't know if she had any friends among the girls though.'
Thinking of Momo made Naruto remember the time he spent with her recently.
'Heh, I've probably been the person she's spent the most time with lately. Come to think of it, I haven't gotten close to anyone except her lately either. I wonder what she's doing now.'
Naruto made a passing glance at the fox, who was still asleep, thus received no answer from it.
'There's still some time left in the intermission. I'll check on her and see how she's doing.'
Naruto then disappeared from his mindscape, just as the fox rolled over and started snoring.
In the early days of the chunin exams, all fights took place immediately after the other. However, during the fateful exams where the Hidden Sand and Sound villages, the matched were delayed to allow Uchiha Sasuke to arrive for his own fight.
The nobles and other potential clients in attendance used the delay to place additional bets, use the facilities, and take care of other matters. Thus the delay turned out to have a benefit. Later exams would incorporate intermissions between rounds to accommodate this discovery.
Therefore, instead of a plain viewing terrace for the contestants, they now had a luxurious waiting lounge to occupy. It had tables, chairs, vending machines, and other amenities. The Swordsman from the Hidden Rain Village was not here, having left to meditate in private before the finals. Momo sat a table by herself, eating a granola bar.
"You know," Naruto said to Momo, who jumped in surprise, "those things don't taste very good. It's like eating cardboard."
Discovering it was only Naruto who sneaked up on her, and glad she did not start choking, Momo calmed down.
'It's okay, there's nothing to be ashamed about having someone as great as Naruto sneak up on you.' Momo thought to herself.
Momo then took a few deep breaths, and swallowed some water to relax herself.
"Are you okay?" Naruto asked her.
"I'm fine, you just surprised me." Momo replied.
Naruto started scratching the back of his neck, a habit Momo learned indicated he was nervous.
"Sorry about that. I didn't think you'd get so scared."
"I was not scared!" Momo replied indignantly. "It's not polite to sneak up on someone like that!"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, alright?" Naruto said as he waved his hands up in self defence.
Momo "hmphed" and crossed her arms, pouting slightly, not unlike how Naruto did earlier with Sakura.
'I swear, no matter what it takes, I'll make sure he can never do that to me again!' Momo thought to herself.
Having got to know her, Naruto knew Momo was not too upset, just acting like she was so someone would do something nice for her to cheer her up.
'I used to do that too. That's kind of sad now that I think about it.'
Resolving to address that issue later, Naruto complimented Momo on her success so far.
"You did a great job out there Momo! You were great!"
"You really think so?" Momo asked Naruto, with a pink tinge to her cheeks. It seemed she would never be able to completely stop blushing when Naruto praised her.
"Yeah, it was incredible how you beat that first guy! I never thought you had it in you! I figured you'd just distract him with an illusion, and when he was off-guard, bam, toast him with a fireball!"
Still unable to remember how she beat her first opponent, Momo settled for watching Naruto's re-enactment of the fight with a shadow clone of his.
'Hmm, the plan Naruto thought I would use is very similar to what I had in mind. Am I too predictable?' Momo thought as she watched Naruto's performance.
Momo was not paying attention to how the fight actually went, but to Naruto's over the top performance. She even giggled as Naruto as he did so. His acting was not bad, and the time spent with Momo allowed him to do a flattering impression of her.
Having finished his routine, Naruto noticed Momo was smiling and even laughing a bit.
'That cheered her up nicely. I hope she can keep that positive attitude up for her next match.'
Naruto knew it would not be an easy fight for her.
'Then again, that's what I'm here for. It would be unfair of me to give her advice, so I'll just give her some moral support. I'll ask about her home life later, when it's more appropriate.'
"So," Naruto began, "any good drinks in the vending machine? I'm getting thirsty."
Momo shook her head.
"No, there's nothing good. I just got a bottle of water to wash down the granola bar."
Momo had finished eating it before Naruto's re-enactment of her first match. Everyone knows laughing while eating is a good way to start choking.
"Okay then, I'll get for myself."
As Naruto obtained a bottle from the vending machine, he remembered an incident that happened during a break in Momo's training. They were both resting in a field, having some water while holding a conversation.
As one person spoke, the other would drink some water. What neither realized is that were both using the same bottle, thus they had several indirect kisses.
It was not until they reached for the bottle at the same time, brushing over each others hands, that they realized what they were doing.
Ever since that day, they each brought their own water bottle and kept a close eye on it.
Taking a gulp from the cool bottle of water, Naruto noted the time displayed by the clock on the wall.
'It's almost time for Momo's final match. I better give her a last minute pep talk.'
Naruto sat down next to Momo, and placed his water bottle where he would not mistake it for her's.
"Your match is going to start soon."
Momo checked the clock, and noticed there was only a few minutes left in the intermission.
"I know it seems like you've got a tough opponent, and the odds are against you, but don't worry about it. You're a strong shinobi, and your parents and I believe in you, so you'll do fine."
Naruto's words comforted Momo.
"Just remember, it doesn't matter if you win or lose, you've still got a strong chance of being promoted anyway. Just do your best out there, and we'll be proud of you."
Momo was smiling happily now.
"Now go out there and kick that guy's butt!" Naruto exclaimed, almost ruining the moment.
They got up, and Momo was about to leave, when Naruto did something unexpected. He pulled her into a hug.
"For good luck." Naruto said after releasing her.
Momo was too flustered now to think straight.
"Thank you." Momo managed to reply.
"You're welcome. Now get going."
Momo then ran off to her match, exhilarated from Naruto's embrace, and confident in her chances.
'Naruto and my parents are both proud of me. I won't let them down. I will win!'
Back in the break room, Naruto went to pick up his water bottle, and froze.
'I forgot which one was mine.'
Sighing, Naruto picked up both of them.
'Oh well, no sense letting both go to waste.'
In a way, one more indirect kiss between Naruto and Momo would not make a difference. They would be having their first real kiss soon enough anyway.
Author's Notes: Looking back on this chapter, I think I could have done better in regards to Sakura's thoughts. Initially I was concerned it appeared to be biased towards Naru/Saku and against Sasu/Saku. I do in fact prefer the latter, but try not to let my feelings on a particular pairing show so as not to appear unprofessional. I've seen many stories bash Sakura and Sasuke for becoming a couple while Naruto wallows in angst, but never one that had him accept the change, not portray any of them in a negative light, or have Naruto move on to see Sakura and Sasuke, as well as their eventual children, as the family he never had.
I think a better way of handling it would be to not show any regret on Sakura's part for choosing Sasuke, but for letting her new relationship allow her to grow distant from Naruto. Instead, she could have decided to help Naruto find someone so he could know the happiness she now did. That would help explain her eventual acceptance of Momo's feelings for Naruto and willingness to support them; she wants both to be happy while making up for her past actions. That is what eventually happens though, so while I now would have done some things differently, the end result is the same.
Another thought, is the age difference really an issue, given the context of the Naruto world and the culture of the country it is based upon? As the age of consent in Japan is thirteen (and I must say once more that Naruto and Momo did not take their relationship to a physical level until she turned eighteen, as well as nothing graphic will appear in this fic) I get the feeling this story would appeal better to an Eastern demographic, where relationships like this could be more common. I don't know for sure if they are though.