A/N: Hello again! I am back and this story is not on hiatus. It felt like we needed to clear that up. With no more delay, here it is! Hand-delivered sugary sweetness for your pleasure! The boys deserve a bit of a break, right?! Right! ;)

See you with the next chapter!

Ja ne!~

The young child that greeted us outside his doorstep turned out to be quite the talkative character. His guardian... well, not so much.

"Hi there! Who are you guys? No one comes around here much. Did you come to see mama? I'm Souji! What are your names?"

His father appeared not a second later and looked us over warily.

He guided Souji to stand behind him and straightened his posture, radiating tension out of every pore as he kept one giant hand on the boys shoulder.

"Introduce yourselves. Why have you come here?"

The man didn't look frightened, or defensive; on the contrary, he came across as being fully in control of the situation. As his body language shifted, his broad shoulders and muscled arms were brought to our attention. This man was confident and capable, and he would not be taking any shit from outsiders unless they had damn good intentions concerning his home and kin.

Sasuke POV

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke," I stated, inclining my head as I did so, "I am a Chunin shinobi of the Village Hidden In The Leaves."

'I really want this meeting to go in Naruto's favor...'

Looking over at my quiet companion, I cock a dark brow in his direction and silently goad him into introducing himself. He stands there for a minute with pink cheeks looking back and forth between his feet and the older man before opening his mouth, his hands curling and uncurling around the hem of his shirt.

'You can do this, Naruto!'

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto... Chunin shinobi of the Village Hidden In The Leaves," He says softly, once again biting at his swollen lip. "We have been sent on a mission by the Godaime Hokage to track down lost members of the Uzumaki clan and make a sincere effort to regroup and restore them to their paramount glory..."

The dobe cleared his throat and a confident aura overtook him suddenly. He tried once more, in earnest. "I am looking for surviving members of my clan... to reunite us and offer a permanent home in Konoha where we can live happily together."

'I am so proud of you Naruto. Don't ever give up on your hope and courage...'

"The two of you sure are far from home. I could've sworn that lineage was extinct; nations from all over were said to have a hand in the clan's genocide. It was because they were growing far too powerful, ne? Would they not have become restless and tried to overthrow other leaders and governments for control?"

I flinched before I could stop myself and the man leveled his gaze at me. The way he phrased the latter hit a little too close to home for me.

"Uchiha, huh? Looks like the two of you have a bit in common..." He scrubbed his face.

"I'm real sorry for your losses."

Stepping to the side so that Souji was no longer hidden, the buff blonde spoke in a soothing tone, "My name is Hiroshi. Seeing as you are so far from home, you are welcome to stay here for the night." He looked down and ruffled his son's hair affectionately.

"Wahoo! Daddy! Can they sleep in the loft with me tonight? Pleeeease?"

He looked towards the two of us then, and oh man, did he remind me of a younger Naruto.

I had to bite back a grin.

"You guys can totally bunk with me! - Momma can make us some awesome soup! We can have snacks and tell stories! Oh! I bet you guys have seen all kinds of places-"

"Excuse you," Hiroshi lightly reprimanded, grabbing the adorable redhead's chin and tilting his head upwards to meet his powder blue gaze, "They're not going to disappear suddenly like apparitions. Cool your lid, son. You have the entire evening to get acquainted."

Said child just looked back and forth between us and shrugged, offering a sheepish grin.

"I gotcha, dad."

Naruto POV

It was great that these people received us warmly, but I was really disappointed at Hiroshi's reaction to the fact that we were searching for the Uzumaki's.

I guess I had been expecting knowledge to flare in his eyes and an excitement to match my own upon the news that I was kin to his family. However, it was pretty much clear that the man either wasn't related to me, or he was, and he didn't know it.

When Souji explained that the two of them had been harvesting vegetables for their evening dinner, I felt terrible for interrupting them.

"Ne, Teme?" I looked to the curious raven who had stepped back and was digging through one of our bags. "It really wouldn't be too much trouble if we helped our hosts finish up their evening gardening, would it?"

In return for our labor, Hiroshi promised to bribe his wife to fix Sasuke a special plate of tomatoes. According to Souji, she had a secret recipe that was 'to-die-for'. I could tell that Sasuke was almost salivating at the promise as he dug into the soil and gently unearthed the crops with such focus that a fourth Great Shinobi War wouldn't have roused him.

After cleaning up both ourselves and the vegetables, we rolled up the cuffs of our pants and took a walk down to the beach. I couldn't help but smile the entire time, the family setting really burrowed into my heart and tugged all my emotions to the surface.

'Maybe that is what it would've been like to have grown up with a father?'

I looked up at my companions and the sight made me chuckle. Sasuke looked pretty miffed to be confronting the water again so soon. His eyebrow twitched every couple of seconds as we began our trek to the beach, but I do love water and Souji was so thrilled; I couldn't decline his request that we all go together.

The kid's happiness truly was infectious.

Before I knew it, we were attempting to build sandcastles with only our hands and chakra. I've never actually done this, but as my chakra control is better than Souji's is, I quickly gained the upper hand.

When I felt the castle was almost finished, a mud ball came flying from out of nowhere and landed on the perimeter, rolling right through it! The offending object had been thrown with enough force to break the chakra bonds and return it into a heap of boring old sand.

"Damn it!" I yelled.

I looked up, whipping my head from side to side, looking for Sasuke. "What the heck did ya do that for, huh?"

A soft giggling erupted from just behind my shoulder and as I turned around, both Sasuke and Souji had a large pile of mud that they'd dragged over from the tree line and the boys were in the process of compacting it into suspicious little spheres.

"Oh no, you don't!"

I shadow cloned myself into three boys with matching mischievous expressions and aimed for Sasuke, wanting to tackle him and bury him under the sand for his involvement in my sandcastle's destruction.

Quick and sly as ever, the raven snatched up his mud balls and ran, looking over his shoulder as he went.

"Ha!" I hear the triumph in his voice as a clod was aimed perfectly at my foot.

Tripping over the hard misshapen clump of mud, I came to a rolling stop, tumbling feet over shoulders as my momentum slowed.

Graceful as ever, I landed with my face in the dirt and my rear stuck up in the air- I knew instantly that a target might as well have been sported over the seat; white trousers, or not.

I cried out in agony as a hard packed ball of mud was thrown at me and made contact with my muscled ass cheek. Maybe it helped that I wasn't clenching, but.. 'good lord what would posses someone to be that rough with my ass?'

After a brief pause, I sniffled and fell on my side, being a bit over-dramatic but not willing to let it go.

"Et tu Brute?"

The high pitched peals of laughter at my display made me open my eyes and my heart skipped a beat at the sight. I love it when Sasuke smiles, but at this moment in time, he is positively crying with hilarity. I tried my best to memorize this side of Sasuke as he dropped to the ground a few feet away and clutched his stomach, the giggling still tearing through his lanky frame.

I smiled at the way his eyes crinkled while they were shut. Tears leaked down regardless, and the way I could actually see both of his sharp canine teeth that stood out from all the rest, pearly and straight- oh man!

It was too adorable.

My heart pounded harder as he clutched at himself and I wanted to touch him too.

What shocked me a even more was when he snorted and opened his mouth next, "Ha, Dobe!" Sasuke wheezed, "I totally nailed you! Hahahah-"

My jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? That was, like, the lamest pun ever!"

I rolled over and straddled his hips, taking advantage of him as I gave my best effort at tickling his sides.

"Why do you gotta be such a bastard all the time, huh?" I chuckled as Sasuke started gasping for air. When his laughter almost became silent and his face grew red I released him and sat back a bit, bringing my hand up to my mouth, as if in thought, though I already knew I was about to get payback.

After a moment of searching for Souji, I winked at him and inquired, "What do you say we bury Sasuke in the sand as a punishment for being such a twerp?"

"Aww yeah!" Souji squealed.

I barely get to look back down in time to keep my eye on the raven so he wouldn't get away before the kid was crouched down and digging in the sand like crazy, sand flying freaking everywhere.

Digging a place to stuff this shapely body, I presume.

When I finally met my most beloved's gaze, his eyes were alight with humor and a smirk danced on his lips... Lips I desired to lean down and steal a taste of...

Watching his mouth, I unconsciously dipped in closer and caught sight of a pink muscle peaking out between Sasuke's lips and-

"Naruto! Are you even listening?"

Changing my intent, I lean down hurriedly and whisper, "You earned it, Teme!", before I flash stepped and dropped him into the hole meant for his body.

He was laughing the whole time.

Sasuke POV

It was a hilarious sight to see, and man, how I do like fucking with the handsome blonde. I rarely get to act like the youth I am unless I'm around Naruto, so sometimes, instinct calls and I can't help myself.

'I nailed him in the ass..'

It was totally worth it, even when they buried me and added small breasts atop my sand coffin.

We didn't get into the water, thank Kami. However, we did tell stories about our days of being genin as we watched the sun go down.

Using a burst of chakra, I exploded the sand off of me and showered the two culprits, watching as they laughed and sputtered. It got precariously close to setting before Souji perked up again and guided us home so that we could meet his mother.

A relieved, "Souji!" met us at the door as a young blonde scooped the boy into her arms as we crossed the threshold. He giggled.

"Mama, you worry too much!"

The woman nuzzled their noses together and Hiroshi just shook his head from where he was sitting behind her. "Quite the contrary, my boy. I've just missed you."

She was a true beauty with a tiny nose and a smattering of freckles across it. Her hair was also quite long, and was braided in a single plait down her back.

"Sweetheart, we have guests..."

Though she smiled through the pleasantries, her eyes were sharp as she appraised us. Her gaze lingered over Naruto for a few moments before she released her redheaded son and shook our hands.

"You may call me Yuna. Why don't we get dinner started before we die of hunger, hmm?"

As she began to prepare ingredients for the meal, we told her about why we came and I tried really hard not to simply stare at the tomatoes on the counter. I haven't had the pleasure of eating any since we left the village. They are so damn expensive to buy in markets these days... not that it matters, of course.

"So, Naruto. Where are your parents?"

Oh, shit.

I snapped my neck over to where Naruto was sitting, but he didn't flinch back from her question, answering it in a steady manner, "I'm an orphan. Nobody I've talked to in the village seems to remember anything about them. I do know my ma had red hair.. but that's all I could really tell ya about it."

A smile crosses my features before I can help myself.

'You're so strong, Naruto.'

I'm proud of him for not getting upset at the direction that the conversation seems to be headed. Pulling out the scroll with our Hokage's seal, I hand it to her as she wipes her hands clean and shoots me a knowing look.

Sitting at the table next to the dobe, we exchange glances and I reach under the tablecloth for his hand to squeeze.

"Your Godaime speaks highly of the Uzumaki for their abilities with fuinjutsu. You said that the borders would be open to any new Uzumaki's that were looking to settle down and rebuild the clan? That does sound nice.. but what if your people move there and after reaping the benefits, your leader tries to eradicate us?"

"That's something you'll never have to worry about! Grandma Tsunade is a trustworthy person, with a huge heart and honest intentions. She would never hurt anyone innocent-"

"...Wait a minute, ma'am... you said 'us', meaning that... you're my kin?" Naruto said softly, looking astonished.

Wistful, she allowed herself a small smile, "Indeed I am." Yuna sighed, before returning the mission scroll and setting our plates in front of us.

"Boys? Come eat," she called.

Dinner was over quickly, with only Souji's exited chatter to warm the atmosphere. As soon as all the dishes were in the sink, his mother sent him off to bathe and give us a few moments away from innocent ears.

"Alright, let me explain. I was born in Uzushiogakure. My mother died during childbirth and I didn't have a father, so I grew up an orphan, passed between homes. When I was 6, I was invited to a home where they sheltered me and kept me close at hand for about ten years. Back then, the couple had been passing through the town when the woman called me out on my 'beauty' and offered food and warmth to me, needless to say, I accepted that which I thought was kindness from her. To my perpetual disappointment, I was treated like a guest and not one of the family... a bargaining chip, if you will. Her husband was a gambler and just as quick as he would make a small fortune, he would lose it all again. I suppose if it came to the worst scenario she could have loaned my body out for pay, but alas.. Anyhow, my best friend growing up was Hiroshi," she gestured to her husband across the table, "and I had fallen in love with him during the time I stayed in their small village."

I watched as Naruto's unblinking eyes glazed over at the thought of someone else growing up an outsider, just like him. Finally falling in love with her childhood friend. Just like him (us). His grip on my hand tightened as I returned my attention to Yuna.

"-Right before I turned sixteen, I became pregnant and was frightened, with no idea of what to do. When I told my guardians, they decided to schedule an abortion. Upon their lashing out, they also revealed to me that I was to be sold to a rich Lord from the Land of Void as his bride, since the couple was in a deep debt.

That couldn't happen if I was laden with another man's child, and because no one else wanted the man due to terrible rumors of his cruelty.. my 'family' saw it as a fortuitous opportunity. Terrified, I ran away and dragged Hiroshi with me. While we were traveling, we heard many rumors and came across men who wanted to cart me back to that couple for the promise of a reward once I was married off. It took us until after my son was born to find a place to stay where we could relax and use our given names again. Thank Kami, my husband was once a shinobi and with his protection we made it safely here... we have never left this place since."

It struck me then, just how brave and true to themselves the Uzumaki are.

Hiroshi scratched the back of his neck ruefully as he looked us in the eyes.

"I'm real sorry for lying to you kids. But it was some weird questions you was asking and after going through all manner of people in my day, I don't take to trusting many folks with their intentions right off the bat. It wasn't my place anyhow to be telling you about the lady's business. You understand," he apologized.

Naruto POV

After trading brief stories about some of the happier moments in our lives, Hiroshi and Yuna finally decided it was time for bed, against the wishes of a clearly drowsy ten year old who wanted to stay up and keep talking with us.

The days passed by in peace. Nights spent discussing what was going on back in the village and whether or not we should extend our mission a little longer. Sasuke rarely left my side and I'll admit, I've been thinking about confessing to him.

Things are going well lately, I imagine even in a worst case scenario- were I to get rejected, I'm sure we could stay friends and work through it. But I don't really think he would reject me anymore. He may not understand his feelings himself but what we have now feels as much like a relationship as anything else I have ever known.

I am content. One evening after Sasuke and I have our dinner outside near the water, we come home as the sun sets just in time to catch Yuna as she was putting her evening knitting project away.

We parted ways for the night, before Sasuke and I wet into the loft and propped open the makeshift roof window that Souji told us about in confidence.

Rebellious as I ever was, at the young age of ten, the redheaded boy desired to wander around under the stars at night in much the same way. Sneaking out of the house added to the thrill of a glistening night sky, I guess.

Sasuke hummed in appreciation and moved about to clean up our things into a neat organized area now that we could see well enough without a candle. In one corner there lay a pile of clean furs draped over a thin mattress.

"It is kind of her to let us stay here with such accommodations. Souji is even letting us use his room. I never expected to be practically welcomed into the family like this," I murmur softly.

Indeed that's what happened.

When Hiroshi showed skepticism about the leader that would come after Tsunade, whether they would continue to better the village or turn into someone like Danzo, I fought tooth and nail to make them believe that I am going to be the next Hokage.

\Whatever it takes. I will always keep my people safe and protected.

I turn to Sasuke who regards me intently as he strips down to the bare minimum and stretches out on the furs.

"What's that look all about?" I ask, my head tilting to one side and my hands beginning to feel slightly sweaty. I slide my gaze away from the temptation that is taut porcelain skin interrupted by nothing but a tiny stretch of onyx cloth- just long enough to pull my shirt over my head and try to steady myself. Striding quietly to the bedding to join the raven, I have to make a conscious effort to keep my breathing and pace steady with his gaze still settled on me. I gently release a sigh and lean down to crawl across the furs.

As I move to get comfortable, Sasuke mimics my posture, facing me with his head propped up on his palm.

"What are you thinking about?"

Trying to relax with my emotions all riled up and the intoxicating scent of Sasuke infiltrating my nose, I know I'm not going to be calming down anytime soon. "- I'm thinking that this feels like being included into a family I never knew," I roll onto my back and lace my digits behind my head, "They're alive, Sasuke! There are still Uzumaki members alive here, and there could potentially be so many more.. I don't know what to do with myself, knowing that I'm not alone- Ouchhh!"

I rubbed my side where Sasuke gave me a good jab and winced.

"What the hell was that for, bastard?"

"Stupid Usuratonkachi, You haven't been alone in a very long time. I'm right here aren't I? I'm family too.. don't forget about me so easily! Stupid baka.." The raven peered at me with wide eyes that reminded me of a predator.

I swallow down the hard lump in my throat.

'He really does care about me.. it's not a fantasy.'

Blushing, I can't help but feel a rush of pleasure at his words, nor can I do anything about the small grin stealing its way across my face. '

'I'll never forget about you, Sasuke. I promise. I love you too much.'

Sneaking an innocent look at him, I find that he's still looking intently at me and oh shit, I know I'm in trouble.

I responded with that look.. and he probably saw it... and oh, shit. However, the cocked brow Sasuke had been sporting smoothed out and his facial features took on a far gentler expression than I expected. His eyes held something so soft and warm that the butterflies in my stomach felt like a storm keeping me immobile, trapped in a sea of my own emotions.+

"Naruto?"

The soft puff of sweet air barely carried my name but it was enough to make me feel like time had stopped right then and there. Unable to tolerate the pleading in his voice, I want so bad to tell him. Such a simple statement yet something that would inevitably turn our worlds inside out... I'm tired of being scared of a rejection that may never come.

Just before I can ground my determination and try to express myself through quivering lips, Sasuke reaches out for me and my breath catches in my throat, betraying my intentions.

The look in my beloved's gaze is so steady and sure that I'm mesmerized at the sight. His warm hand caresses my abdomen before sliding further up, over a pink nipple to rest on my chest and in one gorgeously fluid motion his other hand is on the pillow next to my head as he partially hovers over me, only a breath away.

"I..."

It is everything I've ever wanted.

My heart soars out of my chest at the sight of those gentle eyes so full of warmth focused completely on me and I could cry in joy, but with those perfectly pale bow shaped lips so close to mine, all I can think is that the tiniest tilt of my head would seal our first real kiss..

To Be Continued...