Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Notes: There is a poll on my profile page. I want to know what kind of ending you think

would be appropriate. I know how it ends, just want to see what you guys think. Please

review.

Tents and Graves part 2

"I see. Nothing?" Naruto paced the room as three ninja who had been sent to look for his three missing nins, returned from searching stood in the middle of the room.

"We only found remains of their camp site, and blood that we've sent to Lady Sakura. It had been clear that there was a battle, we brought back remains of weapons that did not belong to the Leaf," The oldest of the three stood forward and spoke.

His shoulders sagged, "Thank you. I want to read everything in your de-briefing report." As the three left Ino walked in.

"What are you doing here? Weren't going to have dinner with Choji? Naruto sat down and clasped his hands together as if he was praying.

"We'll get another night; the kids are staying with a friend next week." She walked over to her friend and sat on the arm of the chair. Her arms circled around him and drew him closer to her chest.

"What am I going to say Ino?" She stroked the back of his neck, "What should I tell Hinata?"

Biting her lip Ino whispered, "Don't say anything. Not yet. Make sure first, you know? Send the Anbu. And if they fail send some more, keep sending them until they find something, until they find them."

"Yeah. I'll just keep sending them. Hinata won't have to find out."

Ino kissed him on the head, before jumping up. "It'll be ok, you know? Takeshi is strong boy."

"Go Ino, go see your husband. I know tonight is his first night back after a month."

Ino slammed her hands on her hips, "Yeah and another thing. Stop doing that. I need Choji for a good reason you know!" She smiled, a wonderful fake smile, and left the office.

Both hurting for Hinata and dreading the day it may happen to them.

"HOW CAN THERE BE NOTHING!" Naruto yelled at the Anbu. "There has to be something, an inking, any kind of sign, just something to tell us where team 2 is."

"No my Lord, there is nothing. The ninja hounds couldn't pick up any scent. I fear that they won't be recovered, it seems that either they disappeared into thin air or the persons responsible are far beyond a professional." The Anbu wearing a bear mask was the only one to speak.

"Far beyond a professional…" Naruto's gut wrenched, he knew what the Anbu were saying. "You think it may have been them?" He whispered.

"My Lord…" The sweet voice of the one wearing a wolf mask was clearly female. Her soft and silky voice swept over him in a calming fashion, how he had missed that voice. "I believe that we will not find anything at the camp site."

The tall bulky man in the tiger mask only gave a swift nod.

Naruto sunk into his large chair, his hands in front of him as if praying, "I think it is time." Naruto nodded at the man in the wolf mask, between the two there was a clear understanding.

Hinata lay in her small bed with her cold hand atop her budding stomach. "What am I going to do?" Tears sprung to her gem-like eyes, 'Will Sasuke even want another child?' Even though they had talked about it, Hinata wasn't sure after if he would after Takeshi's… lifestyle choice.

A soft knock on the old dead brown door caused Hinata to jump just slightly. Her beautiful daughter, strong and proud so very much like her father, was standing there with concern evident in her eyes. "What are we going to do?" Her voice was strained, sad, and evermore worried.

Hinata sat up, her old bed creaking and bending under her, and patted the small sport beside her. "Where is Taro?" She whispered hoarsely, her voice almost gone from crying the last few days.

Sitting beside her Katsu pushed her long bangs out of her eyes, "Still asleep." There was silence, Katsu placed her hand upon her mother's arm, "What are we going to do?" she repeated.

Hinata bit her lip, "Do you want to go back?" she asked, avoiding eye contact with her daughter.

Katsu's hand squeezed her mother's arm, "This is not mine choice to make. I love Father, very much, and I love you. If you don't… that's ok and if you do go back, that's ok as well." Sometimes Hinata would be reminded of her mother when Katsu would speak. Her gentle ways of letting you know that whatever she choose, whatever kind of life she would lead, she would be supported.

It was these times the most Hinata would miss her mother.

Katsu stood up, "I want you to get some sleep tonight, ok? Something tells me tomorrow is going to be a big day." She flashed Hinata a smile and walked out of the room, her long gray track pants and night top disappearing around the corner.

Laying down once more she thought about the new life growing inside of her, the heart beat would be beating right this second. Three months down. Another six to go.

Hinata couldn't help a tiny silver tear sliding from her eye and falling onto her pillow. "If you can hear me, I want you to know that I will love you no matter what you are."

"Where am I?" Takeshi tried to speak; the words came out in a rasp. He had been left in a tiny cage, his legs cramped up to his shoulders, while been semi submerged in cold water. He had been left there for two… maybe three days.

His wounds from the barbed wire were starting to become infected, his body was frail but his fighting spirit was strong. Not that it would help him much.

The first and only time he had been spoken to was when he had been 'summoned', since then it was nothing. All he could hear was the water hitting the stone wall, all he could feel was the cold penetrating deep in skin and he was still blind.

No life had given itself away the last few days.

But now he was out of the water and being pressed down by two people, his shaky knees buckling under him, his face so close to the floor he could almost taste it.

"Who are you?" He asked once again.

A man grunted and pressed him down so hard his face smashed into the stone floor. The feel of blood dripping from his nose almost overwhelmed him.

Suddenly a voice appeared, and another, and another. The room his was in became alive with chatter;

Friendly chatter.

Takeshi caught a few words from many of the people who seemed to be piling into the room. "Ah, It's good to see you. I heard your son just started school."

"I saw your wife last night, whatever she's doing that makes her that happy tell me… maybe I can get some peace from the old woman, you know?"

"I saw the cutest guy on the way here."

"So I told the Doctor 'Yeah I know… no more fatty foods. But will it still burn when I pee?'"

Takeshi had never been more confused. Where was he? What was happening?

Suddenly there was silence before a sultry and seductive voice commanded everyone's attention. "Is the following here? Sato Matsu? Wonderful, good to see you, can't get away this time can you? Maki Nami? Uh huh. Oh, and last but not least, Uchiha Takeshi and Ito Akemi."

Takeshi's blood froze in his veins.

"The bidding shall start in 10 minutes. And remember our surgeons are on hand for a fast transfer, unless of course you want the whole package in which you can take it after it has been tagged."

Bidding, tagged, surgeons?

Akemi, could it be?

What is going on?

The snow was deep, her boots starting to become damp but Hinata continued. Her little body was rugged up in a large light blue fluffy coat that didn't suit her in the least and her legs wrapped in dark warm leggings.

She had spent the night thinking it over, and over and over some more, and finally she came to a conclusion. The young nurse she had seen earlier that day had told her with a clear voice "Mrs. Uchiha you should tell your husband. After all he's not going to think you're hiding a beach ball under there you know? Not like my stupid husband."

In just one week Christmas will come and Hinata knew that her children wanted to spend it with their father. She knew Takeshi wanted to spend it with them too. And Naruto had assured her that he would be home in time.

Coming across the main house Hinata took a deep frosty breath in and let it out in a small puff. She was never a proud person, not like her husband, but she couldn't accept his feelings over their son. Couldn't yet forgive him for blaming her for their son's choice, but she could understand him. If he had been born in the Hyuuga family he would have been outcast within seconds, and should anyone approach him they would shunned as well.

But this is her and while her blood will always be a Hyuuga she is grateful for getting away.

Standing at the door Hinata was unsure if she should knock or not. Biting the corner of her slightly blue lip she raised her fist and knocked gently.

And waited.

And knocked again.

And waited.

And as she went to knock again a cold voice came from behind her causing her to jump, "Hinata." Looking at him she concluded that he looked fine, though she noticed that he seemed a tad thinner than last time.

"I-I-I need to speak to you."Her face became flushed with embarrassment at her sudden stutter. Sasuke cocked his head to the side and regarded her seriously.

She was sitting there her eyes wide with worry while he sat across from her in the dining room, the room was silent but inside of him it was total chaos.

Another child? What would we name him, would she want to live at the crappy apartment or come home? When is he due, do we still have the baby stuff from when Taro was born?

"Well…" He wasn't quite sure where to start but before he could say anything more Hinata exploded, "The baby is yours!" She cried out. Sasuke was a little taken back.

"Of course it's mine Hinata. " He whispered. "You aren't the type to be unfaithful."

He paused his lips he knew that if he made a mention of Takeshi and how the spirits may have made it up to them she was likely to leave. And maybe not come back.

Looking at her he noticed her bottom lip shaking and tears starting to well up. Sasuke knew that what she needed wasn't silence, she needed to know what he wanted.

Another child. Another son. This time he'll be right.

Sasuke's dark eyes bored into her pale ones, "Another child?" He gave her a small smile, "We were talking about it before. We're having another child." Tears started to slip from her shining eyes, her face started to glow and her lips became a grin.

She looked out the window; the snow had started to fall once again, "We're having a baby." She sounded in awe.

"Well then. It would be best for you to be here." A devilish glint appeared in his eyes and Hinata who caught a glance at it blush several shades of red. "I also think we should remind the bed what it's really for."

Within seconds he had gotten around the table and picked her up out of her chair. Her legs around his waist, "B-But what about the baby?" She stuttered again, however this time it was from her husband and the fact he was attached to her neck. A very sensitive part of her neck.

"Baby will be fine, after all this is how it was created right?" Hinata couldn't argue, only because he had already gotten them to the bedroom.

I missed you. I missed you. I missed you.

For the brief hour that Hinata had left Sasuke she had never been happier. Her heart was pounding with joy, her face was flushed from their… activities… and she felt she was in the right place.

She was on her way to the apartment in order to get their items. The kids were hopefully still at their Uncles Neji's and Aunt Tenten's.

Without warning she felt a presence behind her, however it wasn't threatening, she turned only to see an Anbu in a wolf mask. "What?" she whispered.

"Mrs. Uchiha?" "Yes?" It was the Anbu, her heart pounded, she knew what was going to come was no good. "The Hokage has requested you join him as soon as possible."

'Takeshi,' Hinata's mind went into a frenzy. She knew the other two children were safe, she knew Sasuke was safe. Her sister, her friends, but her son.

Her son that was out there on a mission.

Hinata grabbed at the Anbu, "Is it my son?" She whispered with great fear. "I am unable to tell you. The Hokage has asked that you join him as soon as possible."

Naruto had asked to see Sasuke first. A part of him was glad that He and his son were at odds; it made his job a little easier. However Sasuke just nodded.

"He's gone Sasuke." Naruto whispered. "Just gone. We think we have an idea."

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, "Naruto for the first time in weeks I have my wife in my arms, I find out I'm having another child, and now you're giving me this news?"

Sasuke stood up. "I am not glad that he is gone. But I can't allow myself to… to…"

"To what Sasuke? To feel?" Naruto glared at him, their talks had ended in fights more and more. "Your son, flesh and blood, is gone and do you know what that means?"

Sasuke tipped his head up, "That this new child is the replacement?"

"What... what about the blood line? Sharingan and all that?"

Sasuke looked away ever so slightly ashamed. "He does not have it."

Naruto narrowed his eyes in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"As it turns out, Sharingan and the Byakugan appear to cancel each other out."

Without another word Sasuke headed for the door, "Wait! Wait Sasuke, Takeshi may be dead or dying!"

Naruto's door slammed.

Now he had to deal with Hinata.

"Hey Uchiha, heard your son was a pillow biter." Sasuke's left eye twitched, he knew that people had heard about the truth and now he had to deal with the disgrace his son had left behind.

Sasuke sat at his desk reading his paper work ignoring the fools around him. They laughed and jeered; they incited comments about his family and the Uchiha blood line.

A man sat down in front of him. "What do you want Kita?" The man looked at him with a strange look in his eyes. The two of them at worked together during missions and had been forced into patrolling together many times and yet the two of them never really spoke.

Kita was a tall man, standing a good few inches above Sasuke. He had short spiky honey brown hair, his hazel eyes were always changing deep inside and sometimes Sasuke would swear they were green and sometimes he would have sworn they were blue.

"I know what you're going through." He stated, his eyes glazed over and staring out into space. His voice was deep and smooth but Sasuke could hear something among his vocals.

Sasuke let out a small growl. "Say what you want to say and go Kita. Don't play games with me."

The man slowly turned his head and met Sasuke's glare with his normal soft and kind eyes, "My son is homosexual." Sasuke couldn't help his surprise showing on his face for a split second before becoming his normal stoic self.

Kita's eyes bore into him, "I found out one afternoon. Came home from a mission early." His lips tweaked into a grin, "Found a half naked kid in my kitchen." The grin fell from his face and he looked away almost ashamed.

"I told him it was ok. It was just a phase, he'd get over it. I really hoped he would."

Sasuke thought back to all the times he had ever heard Kita talk and could not remember one time he mentioned a son. He knew that Kita's wife died during a mission many years ago but he knew nothing about Kita's son.

"Made him promise he would stop doing… well you know. He changed, happy to depressed so I thought maybe he needed someone in his life. I arranged a marriage. A sweet young girl, very cute, happy as can be kind of kid you know?"

Sasuke said the only thing that could come to mind, "You never said you had a son."

A sick look flooded Kita's face, if anything Sasuke could have sworn he was going to kill himself.

"I had everything planned out. You know, he begged me not do it, told me he wasn't ready. Said he couldn't. I told him not to disappoint me. That's the worst thing a father can say. Don't disappoint me. I knew he didn't want too; I backed him into a corner. Came home from a mission late one night, couldn't find him anywhere. Thought he ran back to his old ways.

Looked everywhere and a few days later he was found. They fished his body out of the water. I was told that it was an accident." Kita looked at Sasuke and leaned forward, as if what he was about to say could destroy the world. "But I knew. I knew Uchiha. A father always knows. I backed him into a corner and left him with two options. Be unhappy for the rest of his life, or move on to the afterlife and have peace." Kita let out a heavy breath, his eyes became glassy with tears and something struck Sasuke.

"I killed my son."

"Hinata, we will find him. I swear."

"Y-you swear?" Her laugh was cold and drenched in sadness, "You swore that you keep my son alive. You swore that he would be home in time from Christmas and you said it was a low key mission Naruto. My son could be dead! And you are sitting in your goddamn CHAIR!"

"You should burn in hell for what you did to him. I loved him! He was my BEST FRIEND!"

"Wherever I go, my family goes. I lost a lot of years because of my actions. But you, young man, you could fix everything."

"Akemi, what's going on? I don't understand what's happening." "Takeshi, these people aren't shinobi, they're underground, I mean Earth's crust underground." "What do you…?" "Don't you get it?"

Sasuke held his son, "I'm your father. I'm going to make you strong, and going to protect you." Takeshi's hand gripped his finger, "You're going to be strong. My son." Sasuke looked around, "I love you."