Sometimes, Sasuke thinks it's unfair just how fast Naruto heals, also because of course, Tsunade visits them weekly to aid in Naruto's recovery. Most of the time he's thankful, because even after just a week (they were sent home after three days), despite the sleep deprivation, Naruto looks good as new—pink skin, plump cheeks, bright smile, energetic and bouncy. Though he still has that post-birth pouch that Sasuke absolutely adores that he wishes won't go away too soon. His own urges confuse himself—he never really thought about biology before, but it turns out he's just another knothead alpha, but only if it comes to Naruto; he finds that other omegas disgust him.
Naruto spends his birthday quietly with only the baby, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Iruka two weeks after birth. Sasuke gets takeout lets him have two bowls of ramen from Ichiraku with no extra chasu and a soft-boiled egg, and an entire strawberry shortcake Naruto blows a candle on.
He gets flowers, letters, and small gifts and trinkets for him and for the baby from his friends that he responds to while Akihiko is busy feeding. Kiba gave him a tiny stuffed toy of a dog, and Naruto's absolutely in love with it.
He's surprised to get a card and gift from Sakura, a blank album with one thing in it, the label on Akihiko's bassinet in the nursery. It says 'Rokudaime no O-mago-sama, Uchiha Akihiko' (六代目さまのお孫さま・うちは秋彦 / The Lord Sixth's Honorable Grandson, Uchiha Akihiko) and the date and time of birth. The letter only contains happy birthday and congratulations. He tells Sasuke that he hopes Sakura will come see them soon.
Seeing Naruto try so hard to be able to feed Akihiko himself, who is turning out to be a hungry little thing they can't seem to separate from Naruto's breast, makes Sasuke want to bite his omega's neck since it's always out and on display.
Traditionally, biting occurs after the wedding, on the wedding night, in the marital bed. However, more modern sensibilities allow the biting during the engagement if a wedding or marriage contract can't be immediately arranged.
"In three months," Naruto said when Sasuke mentioned biting, "You can bite me after three months from now when Baa-chan's recovery period is up, or any time after then when your rut comes around,"
Naruto isn't actually one to follow instructions, but since he's already gotten this far and he's got nothing but the Akihiko's wellbeing first, might as well just wait for the three months to finish. Besides, it's gonna fly by anyway.
And Sasuke's alpha instincts are all over the place and heightened because they have a new baby, Naruto still isn't allowed physical exertion other than caring for the baby, and Sasuke can't wait for the day Naruto asks for the bite. It's all disorienting—wanting that time to pass because he wants to bite his mate, but also wanting time to slow because he can't bear to miss a second of Akihiko's breathing.
At night when Naruto is sleeping and Sasuke's done feeding and burping, he sits in their feeding chair with the baby in the sling across his chest just… adoring this child who fought so hard to be born. And Sasuke can't reign his feelings and instincts in. He can't help but take a few minutes just… watching his newborn son sleep. He can't help but stare at his dreams coming true.
Akihiko is so soft and small, pink and plush, and sometimes Sasuke is afraid of touching him with the hand that can spit fire, strike lightning, and crush rocks. His hand that knows not much else than kill, but he can't stop and isn't willing to put the baby down. When Akihiko cries and calls for him and calms and settles when he's in his arm, and Sasuke presses his nose to his small head, and touches the soft skin and dark hair, and inhales the scent of orange blossoms and sweet milk, it calms the alpha in him. Sasuke doesn't like sweet things, except for the sweet scent of his mate and child.
Sasuke looks over to Naruto who is getting a very much deserved sleep, and thanks him for this gift, this chance at a new start. The spark of a new family, a clan.
Even though he doesn't know what he's doing, even though he knows he might not be capable enough on his own to care for this child, he knows he has Naruto, Iruka, Kakashi, and Kaede to support him. Fighting a war and gods, and saving the world is different from raising a child, but he'll try his best anyway.
He silently vows to Akihiko in the night, as he sleeps in his father's arm bathed in the moonlight that showers his pink cheeks and milk-stained lips, that he will never put him the pressure Uchiha Fugaku and the village put on his children, on Itachi especially, on the clan, of leadership and shinobi life. Akihiko will have the choice to be a shinobi. That if Naruto is healthy enough to bless Sasuke with more children, he will have the choice to lead or hand over leadership to any of his siblings should they want it (though Sasuke knows someone has to receive it even if they don't want to). He vows to his child that he will never be as ungenerous with love as Fugaku, and he will always, always have Sasuke's love.
When Sasuke sees Naruto do anything with Akihiko, feed, coo, talk, sway him to sleep, walk him around the garden, he lets himself feel. He lets himself feel the love and the happiness when he deprived himself of it during the time he traveled. His punishment to himself masquerading as atonement. But he also feels fear. Fear of losing them. Fear of being unable to protect them. But then he remembers they have family. They have Iruka and Kakashi. And Naruto has friends.
Then there's the feeling of… compulsion. To provide. To fix everything for Naruto. It's driving Sasuke crazy, but that's what lets him know that Naruto needs help or do anything before Naruto even figures out that there's something off. Naruto's hormones are still raging and also severely nesting (the entire house is the nest), and anything that's out of place (exacerbated by sleep deprivation and exhaustion) can cause tears or a mood change. Sasuke tries to avoid those at all costs and gives Kaede very specific instructions.
It's the opposite for Naruto, whose heart feels so full, and instincts feel content, despite having to wake up every two hours to feed. Sasuke's already been a lot of help by making sure to be there pumping his milk out and ready with cold compresses so that he doesn't feel lopsided and sore after feeding. He's there helping him sit on the toilet because peeing still hurts. He's there to change his maternity pads, help rub some numbing salve on, since he still a little swollen, still aching, and there's still some bleeding, and he's ready with an ice pack of press into his pussy to relieve the ache. He's there changing diapers, wiping off poop, getting peed and thrown up on. He's there always ready with a healthy snack because Naruto's always so hungry—they guess making that much milk is exhausting. Whenever Sasuke gets to pump enough milk for a few feeds, he lets Naruto sleep and bottle feeds Akihiko.
Sasuke's been such a good alpha it makes Naruto's cry one night, declaring his love through teary kisses to the alpha's lips and face. It also makes his inner omega want to present and want another baby immediately. That's not good for their careers or their self-preservation.
Naruto's point is, Sasuke's done everything nasty about taking care of a new mother and child, and he's still here, and never complains, and never forgets to kiss him and their baby good night. Naruto's so in love with him.
"Yosh, here you go," Kakashi and Iruka arrive for dinner one evening with bags of takeout about three weeks later.
Pleasant greetings are exchanged, Kakashi sets the takeout down on the dining table, and Iruka hands over an envelope of documents to Sasuke. The husband, father, and alpha in Sasuke feel validated when he sees Akihiko's birth certificate, and the updated version of his koseki indicating he's had a son.
FAMILY REGISTRY – αM UCHIHA SASUKE Amendment #1 [DATE] XXX [BIRTH] [Name] αM AKIHIKO ∙ 秋彦 [Date of Birth] 28 SEPTEMBER [Father] αM UCHIHA SASUKE [Mother] ΩM HATAKE NARUTO [Date of Notification] XXX
Sasuke can't stop rereading the amended document. "Thank you, Hatake-dono." The next amendment to his koseki is his marriage to Naruto.
"I think we're past that, Sasuke-kun," Kakashi pats his shoulder and pulls down his mask, then joins Iruka and Naruto at the kotatsu.
"How are you doing?" Iruka asks Naruto, who's just finished feeding and burping.
"Pretty good," answers the new mom. "Do you want him?"
"Please," breathes Iruka with desperate excitement. He and Kakashi gave help when they first came home a few weeks ago, but let the new parents do all the baby holding unless asked. The child settles in Iruka's arms, dark eyes staring up at him before slowly shutting closed, sleepy, and full of milk. "Hello, Aki-chan," he presses his nose against the baby's soft hair and forehead. "Oh, he smells just like you when you were little! I wish I could just stay with you and help care for him,"
"For now, he's angel since he doesn't do anything but eat and sleep," says Naruto. "Maybe when I'm too tired for a bunshin Iruka-baa-chan can help,"
"Alright, let's get a good look at this little autumn prince," Kakashi settles down beside Iruka. "He's grown that much in three weeks, huh?" he runs a finger over a round cheek.
"We write a lot in the baby book Baa-chan gave us, to note the changes every week. So far, it's just his weight," Naruto adjusts himself on his zabuton and prepares the pump to empty himself. "I'm so excited for him to grow a little more be all chubby so I can kiss him all over,"
Iruka chuckles. "Baa-chan and Jii-chan are excited to kiss you all over too, Aki-chan,"
"Tsunade-baa-chan came by yesterday for a checkup, and we asked if it's safe to bring Aki-chan out now. She said it is, but to keep warm and not too long since he's so small, so we're bringing him to the memorial and to Ero Sennin next week,"
"Would you like to come with us?" Sasuke sets a tray of tea down for Iruka and Kakashi while Kaede prepares the table. Ever since Naruto brought up visiting the memorial, he's also been thinking of bringing Akihiko to his parents' graves but hasn't mentioned it to Naruto yet.
"We could have a quick cup of tea at the memorial after presenting Aki-chan to Minato-tou-chan and Kushina-kaa-chan! We're just gonna pick up tea from a nearby café though so that there's less work for Kaede-san, except for Sasuke who's picky about his tea,"
"Sure!"
The visits to the memorials are waterworks for Naruto. They only stay a while since he's not allowed too much exertion and because it's getting too cold for Akihiko. After their tea, Naruto and Sasuke get home just in time for another feed, which Naruto dutifully does then promptly passes out on the side of the bed nearest the bassinet.
At the three-month mark, Tsunade gives Naruto the all-clear. Naruto's response is a bunshin to help around the house while Kaede looks after the baby for a few hours, and another bunshin to read his class modules, while he gets some sleep. Akihiko can sleep for longer now, but between the childrearing and helping Kaede out at the house since Sasuke is back at the tower and now doing it fulltime, it's a little hectic, especially when he's got tons of reading material from the classes he signed up for.
Naruto returns to the office a week after Akihiko turns three months old, and Shizune thinks Kakashi barely gets anything done since he keeps on loitering around Naruto's desk asking to peek at the baby slung across Naruto's chest.
Kakashi is so behind, Shizune takes matters into her own hands and gifts Kakashi his own sling so that he can strap the baby to himself too.
Akihiko stares up at his silver haired grandfather as he gives out instructions to a couple of chuunin.
Naruto comes over while Kakashi relays his instructions and sets a small bottle of lukewarm milk on his table and leaves. Kakashi, continues on with this spiel, picks up the bottle, pops off the cap, tries out the temperature on his bare, gloveless wrist before proceeding to feed his grandson.
The chuunin stare at him. What an odd thing for a Hokage to do.
"That is all," he tells the group of chuunin, who are staring at the child strapped to him. "I know he's cute, but you really need to go do what I told you to,"
"H-hai!"
Naruto laughs as the flustered chuunin leave. He lets Akihiko finish feeding before he approaches the desk and plucks the child out of Kakashi's sling. "O-mago-sama is getting fans, is he?" he places him on his shoulder to burp. "Sorry about having to this so soon after coming back, but I'm taking next week off, but I'll leave a bunshin for you,"
"What for?" he removes the sling from his chest and deposits it into his drawer.
"Sasuke's been feeling off and Baa-chan said it's his rut coming on. It's his first in more than a year, so I need to help,"
"Alright," Kakashi nods, "If you're sure you're healed enough. What about Akihiko?"
"I already asked Iruka-sensei and you two will have him for a few days. Kaede-san will be staying with you,"
"Don't forget to see Tsunade-sama for safety,"
"Yep!" he feels Akihiko burp. "We're gonna see Baa-chan aren't we, Aki-chan? She's going to be poking and poking your cute little tummy!"
Kakashi shakes his head, listening to Naruto coo at the child as he works.
"Hi there, handsome!" Iruka greets the baby when Naruto brings him over with his bag, Kaede right behind him.
"It's true," Naruto in faux misery when Iruka takes the giggling baby from Naruto's arms. "Iruka-baa-chan loves you more than me, Aki-chan,"
"Yes, you're our handsome autumn prince, aren't you, you lovely baby," Iruka ignores Naruto and keeps on cooing at the smiling baby as they make their way to the kotatsu.
"Tou-chan wa?" says Naruto as he sets the bags down at the kotatsu.
"He'll be home soon," Iruka answers. "How's Sasuke-kun?"
"He's a little groggy. It's going to be a rough rut, so he's on some medication to help regulate his hormones so it's not so bad. Tsunade-baa-chan has him on half the dose for the next year to stabilize him,"
"And you're on birth control?" Iruka asks.
"Yes, and Sasuke's using rubber just to be sure," Naruto nods. "Even though Tsunade-baa-chan says I'm probably going to have smooth sailing pregnancies from now on, I'd rather not. Aki-chan is a handful already and I've got clones, Sasuke, and Kaede-san,"
"Good, good," Iruka nods. "Now, say bye-bye to Mama, Aki-chan," he lets Naruto take the child again.
"Be good for Iruka-baa-chan, okay, sweet boy?" He scents the baby, who calms and becomes sleepy. "Kaa-chan, I'll leave a bunshin for you just in case, and all the things he might need are in the scroll with Kaede-san in his baby bag. Also, I've got a lot of extra milk here," He hands Iruka back the baby, then opens the insulated bag they brought in, revealing a lot of frozen milk.
"Did you pump all of this?" Iruka's eyes widen, taking one frozen bag and inspecting it. "How much milk is in here?"
"Honestly, I don't know," says Naruto, "It's Sasuke who labels everything. I just pump away. I'm a cow, sensei, like you won't believe. I almost never run out. I'm the one getting tired from the pumping,"
Iruka studies the frozen bags. There are dates. So he'll have to use the older ones first. "Have you thought of donating to the hospital?"
"I've already donated half of everything I pump. Aki-chan can't possibly finish it all. Sasuke even got a freezer specifically to store the milk. At this point, the hospital can probably confidently say half of the donated milk they have in storage is from me. Baa-chan already gave me milk bags in exchange for free,"
"Alright, go, Sasuke-kun needs, you," Iruka ushers him out.
Naruto creates a bunshin. He gives Iruka a hug, and the baby one last kiss, and leaves.
Naruto asks if it's okay to be on suppressants while feeding, and Tsunade is glad Naruto had the brain cells to ask. She gives him a light dose that's enough to keep him from going through a full-blown heat, and instructions for his birth control.
Sasuke's already been taking the medication to keep the rut from coming in too fast, but it makes him groggy. It doesn't dull the senses, however. For now, it's a bad fever. Maybe tonight or early tomorrow, Sasuke will already well into his rut. Naruto hopes the medication can help, not that he doesn't have faith in Tsunade, it's just that Sasuke had taken suppressants far longer than he was supposed to since he was pregnant, and he hopes Sasuke's post-rut symptoms won't be too bad.
"Naruto," he groans as Naruto presses a cold towel to his cheek to help cool him down. "Akihiko?"
"He's already with Iruka-sensei," answers Naruto, dipping the towel back into the bowl of iced water. "My poor alpha," he says, wiping the towel down his neck and his collarbone.
Sasuke smells so good. Naruto can't wait to be bitten, can't wait to bite Sasuke back.
Naruto can feel his own body reacting, too. He, too, feels warm and stuffy, and his skin is prickling with needles, like the only thing he wants to do is snuggle in next to Sasuke and let their scents mix and calm each other through the fever. But Sasuke can't take care of himself right now. So he tries to keep him cool, hydrated, and fed, keeps close and scents him to keep him calm.
By early morning the next day, the sun hasn't even risen yet, Sasuke's in his proper rut. Naruto finds himself in a fever worse than yesterday, but nothing like a full heat.
"Naruto," Sasuke half-drunkenly tears the condom packet open. He's thankful he's lucid enough to read the posted reminders on their lampshade to grab the condoms when he wakes up.
He's flushed, the blood rushing to the surface of the skin, tinging the pale complexion red.
Naruto wakes up to the movement, his own skin sheening with sweat from the light heat trying to match his alpha's rut. "…suke?"
Sasuke's teeth are on his neck in an instant.
Naruto comes back to the office the following week.
"Fuck's sake, Sasuke," says Shikamaru at lunch. "You didn't have to do that," he gestures to Naruto's neck, littered with almost-healed bites, the skin already knitted itself back together, but the mating bite still a little bit pink, swollen, and fresh.
They're at the lunchroom and Naruto is feeding Akihiko under a nursing cover as he eats the bento Naruto prepared for himself, Sasuke, and Kakashi, who's having a working lunch with Shizune.
"Shush," Naruto shoves an octopus sausage in Shikamaru's mouth and the jounin almost chokes on it.
Sasuke scoffs, his own neck bandaged. "You think that's bad," he holds up his only hand and shows Shikamaru the bandaged part between his thumb and his wrist. His sleeve falls with the gravity and there are two more very bruised and fresh bites on his forearm.
Naruto blushes red to the tip of his ears.
"I don't have the luxury of fast healing," says Sasuke, but he's very smug about it.
"God, you two are troublesome,"
"What kind of wedding?" asks Naruto as he fixes Akihiko who is fussing and trying to get comfortable enough to latch on him. "Honey, we've done this a million times—there you go," he brushes a finger over a chubby cheek.
"The we go to the registry with witnesses and sign a form wedding, or we dress up and get married before the gods wedding, and then a reception and cake if you like," says Sasuke absently as he sets a tray with a pot of tea and rice cakes down on the kotatsu.
"You're hungry, huh?" Naruto chuckles at how serious Akihiko's face is as he feeds from him. "Did Sasuke-papa tire you out, Aki-chan?"
"The goal was for him to fall asleep after eating so I can work on some reports," says Sasuke as he pours them cups of tea.
Naruto pops a rice cake ball into his mouth. "What kind of wedding would you like?"
Sasuke hums as he unseals some documents from a scroll. "According to tradition, the clan head usually has a big wedding. Since there is not much of a clan to celebrate, I would be fine with either,"
Naruto waits for him to finish. "I know there's a 'but' there,"
The alpha gives in. "I'd…" he stammers, flustered. "Like to see you dressed up though,"
"It's that book, isn't it!" Naruto accuses him. "Iruka-sensei told me you were reading clan traditions on marriages!"
Sasuke is thankful hasn't brought the teacup to his lips yet or he would've choked on hot tea. "Well, yes and no. Mostly I just want to see you in decent clothes that are not orange,"
"Aki-chan!" Naruto says dramatically in mock offense. "Sasuke-papa is being mean to Mama!"
"I am not,"
"I like orange," Naruto pouts at Sasuke. Akihiko is wearing orange pants with a navy top embroidered with the Uchiha crest on the back and on the left breast. "But okay," he says, "If you'd like a dressed-up wedding, I'm okay with that,"
"Really?"
"Of course!" Naruto smiles at him, then turns to Akihiko, who has no care in the world but his Mama's milk. "Isn't that what we're doing? Reestablishing your clan? Then we should follow tradition. Not too closely though since tradition is sometimes… weird. I'm not sure I want a big event though. Maybe a little bit of a dinner party with friends?"
Sasuke gives a shallow nod. "We can work with that,"
Akihiko is seven months old and strapped to Naruto's chest, looking up at the trees and flowers, as Naruto and Sasuke walk through a garden park with cold tea in their hands. On Naruto's back is the Hatake crest. Sasuke doesn't mind—he likes it, actually. It shoos away people and gives them peace and quiet when out together. He and Sasuke are at the garden parks, looking at the flowers, having a good time, and showing Akihiko around, then resting on a picnic blanket on the ground.
Today is a date. They went to inquire at the temples for a schedule for their wedding, then books the same restaurant Kakashi held their engagement dinner at because Naruto likes the cake there, and they ordered the food to be served. They visited the seamster and Sasuke insists that they buy Naruto's wedding kimono and not rent it and have it as a keepsake. Naruto argued that it's a waste of money, that he wouldn't be able to wear it again after their wedding, that it'd only yellow in storage. He blushed when Sasuke whispered in his ear to wear it for him at night so they could get their money's worth.
(Naruto cried a little though when Sasuke had two white haoris made, one with the Hatake crest for when Iruka and Kakashi give him away, and another for the Uchiha after the ceremony when they arrive to their reception.)
When Akihiko fussed while Naruto was being measured, Sasuke took a bottle from their baby bag and fed him and distracted him with all the colorful fabrics and accessories, promising Akihiko to spoil his Mama like he deserves. The measurements took a while, so Akihiko got a good nap strapped to Sasuke's chest while the seamster did his job. After the seamster, they had lunch, and cold tea and cake from a café nearby.
It's April and turning warm, and spring brings about new leaves and flowers, and Akihiko, who wasn't out all that much during the fall and winter, is absolutely wide-eyed at all the greenery and colors.
Naruto chuckles. "Sasuke, look at him,"
Sasuke hums with a smile, watching Akihiko look around with big, wide eyes. He pulls a small but thick blanket out from their baby bag, lays it out, and Naruto places Akihiko on it to let him stretch his adorable chubby legs.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Aki-chan?"
The baby babbles up at him, and Naruto just wants to bite those cheeks and those tiny toes. How blessed is he to have such a cute baby and such a handsome husband?
"Have you thought of who you want to invite to the ceremony?" Sasuke asks.
"Just us. And Baa-chan, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, Aki-chan," answers Naruto, lying next to Akihiko. "I want it to be quiet," he brushes a finger over the round cheek. "We've been surrounded by so many people all our lives. It's noisy. Rowdy. I want it to be just us, quiet and peaceful as we should be in front of the temple—if Aki-chan doesn't fuss—promising to love each other. Wouldn't that be just so nice?"
Sasuke runs his fingers through Naruto's hair. "That would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"But at the reception, we can invite anyone, right?"
"Of course,"
"Okay! I'll list that down then,"
Akihiko says his first word at ten months, on a weekday, on Sasuke's birthday.
He's hungry, teething, and fussy, and his gummy, two-toothed mouth is impatient and wanting to latch already, but Naruto didn't get to prepare a bottle that morning, and he's not ready yet with the nursing cover, and all Akihiko's getting is his mother's clothed chest wet with spit.
"Oh, honey, you're okay," Naruto tries to coo as he reaches for the nursing cover. He's got a mountain of papers and Kakashi's waiting for him to finish something important. "Mama's right here, okay?"
Akihiko whines, "Mama!"
Naruto gasps. He looks up at Kakashi, Sasuke, and Shizune at the other side of the room, who're equally stunned.
"Did he…?" says Sasuke, staring at his fussing child.
Akihiko whines again, grasping at the clothes, demanding to be fed. "Mama!"
Naruto breaks into tears of joy. "Yes! Yes, I'm Mama!" He presses his nose to the child's temple and tears the patch off his neck to start scenting the baby and try to comfort him, despite Naruto being overcome with emotions himself.
Sasuke does the same, joins Naruto behind his desk, and gathers his family into his chest.
The child whimpers another, "Mama!"
"Yes, I'm sorry, baby, I know you're hungry," Naruto sobs, not caring about propriety anymore and pulls open his shirt and Akihiko latches immediately, calming as milk floods his tiny mouth. Naruto looks up at his alpha. "Sasuke, he called for me,"
"He did," Sasuke smiles, and Naruto can see it's so full of pride.
"I'm Mama,"
"You are," the alpha agrees, pressing a kiss to Naruto's hair.
"I'm Aki-chan's Mama,"
And Sasuke thinks this is the best birthday he's had since he was a child. They have yakiniku at Hatake estate to celebrate Sasuke's birthday and Akihiko's first word.
Akihiko's first birthday is as simple as Naruto's. They celebrate both at the Hatake estate and not the Hokage's residence, with ramen and mango shortcake. Naruto doesn't need any more presents because he's got everything he ever wants and needs by his side, his parents, his mate, and his baby.
They send out the invitations for the wedding reception about a month before the actual date.
They have the invitations made and Sasuke is reviewing the guest list against the invitations at the kotatsu when he sees a name he doesn't expect to see on one of the envelopes to be sent out.
"You're sure?" Sasuke asks, holding up the envelope with neatly brushed calligraphy, 春野サクラ. Haruno Sakura.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he says, letting Akihiko have a taste of mashed bananas with a little splash of milk.
"Hn," Sasuke checks that off the list to mark it.
"I'm unsure about drinking sake at the wedding," Naruto says that night when Akihiko's been put to bed, and he slides himself into the sheets next to Sasuke. "Baa-chan says it's okay, but I'm still on the fence since I'm still feeding,"
"Well, if she says it's okay," says Sasuke, letting Naruto lay his head on the crook of his shoulder of his stump.
"I don't want to drink sake," Naruto pouts. "What if Aki-chan gets drunk?"
Sasuke sighs. "Naruto,"
"I know it's stupid," the pout doesn't leave his lips.
Sakura wonders why she even received an invitation at all.
"You look gorgeous," says Sasuke, as if his breath is literally stolen from his lungs as he sees Naruto for the first time on their wedding day.
Naruto, in his white shiromuku kimono and wataboshi, meets Sasuke outside of the shrine, where a shinshoku is holding a wagasa, a paper parasol, over his head to protect him from the sun. "And you look so handsome!" says Naruto without a pout, loving how good Sasuke looks in his black montsuki hakama. "Look at you, always so effortless," (9)
Behind him, flute players ready to serenade them to their walk to the altar in the shrine garden, and shrine maidens with bells. Kakashi and Iruka, both in formal hakamas in the forest green and gray colors of the Hatake, approach them with Akihiko in his own navy and white hakama.
"Sasuke, look at our baby!" Naruto gushes and plucks Akihiko from Iruka's arms. "Aren't you so handsome!"
"Mama!" the baby giggles.
Sasuke presses a kiss to the child's head. "Hello, Akihiko,"
"Alright, try not to rumple Mama's wedding dress, darling," Iruka collects his grandchild from the bride.
"Thank you for coming, Baa-chan," says Naruto when she walks in wearing her best kimono.
"You promised me good sake, didn't you?" Tsunade jokes as she grins at him.
"I guess we did," Naruto chuckles.
Kakashi puts a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and another on the Hatake crest on Naruto's back. "Sasuke, take care of our Naruto," he says. He still feels like he's giving Naruto away so soon.
"I will," says Sasuke.
With that, the shinshoku flute players begin, and they start the procession up the stone steps, onto the stone path to the shrine, past the plaques of prayers and wishes, through the lion dog guardians of the shrine, passing the hall of worship into the gardens, where a priest is waiting for them.
They offer water, rice, sake, and fruit at the altar while the shrine maidens dance with the bells.
Sasuke and Naruto approach the altar while the priest calls upon the gods, then pours sake for them to drink three times from the same dish, and then Sasuke declares his vows as they exchange rings. (10)
"I pledge to you, my love, my loyalty, my faith, my trust and my truths, my life and my death," he puts the ring on Naruto's left hand ring finger, and Naruto puts the ring on Sasuke's ring finger. "My strength and service are yours to wield, my weakness yours to hold. With this wedding vow, I bind myself to you,"
"Alpha," the priest gives them a small smile. "You may kiss your omega,"
Naruto is surprised it's a chaste one. Sasuke pecks him on the lips, once, twice, thrice. Then twice more as their small audience gives them a round of applause. A shrine maiden approaches Naruto and taps his shoulder, then she lets her take outer layer of his shiromuku with the Hatake crest off, then replaces it with another with the Uchiha crest.
The shinshoku hands them a pen, and they sign their marriage contract.
They probably take forever taking pictures.
Sasuke rents the function room next to the one they'll hold the reception in to serve as a place to rest before they entertain the few guests they invited.
Akihiko doesn't fuss but does ask for his Mama, and Naruto gets a few minutes to cuddle with his baby and take a few pictures as a family in the restaurant's garden before heading in to rest.
Kaede has set aside the wataboshi and lightly combs down any stray hairs on Naruto's head. She's called over by a server of the restaurant to the door.
"Aww, but I still want to cuddle," says Naruto, seated at a table with a glass of tea, when Iruka asks for the baby so he and Sasuke can prepare for their entrance. He blows raspberries on the chubby cheek. "Ne, Aki-chan, you and Mama have the same name now! We have the same name as Papa!"
The baby giggles and babbles back. "Mama!" Sasuke comes into his view and giggles even louder and reaches for him.
Sasuke bends over and kisses the small hands that pat his cheeks. "Are you having fun?" the baby babbles at him. "Mhmm, isn't Mama pretty?"
"Mama!"
"You two really need to get out there if you want your Baa-chan to be sober when you dance," says Iruka, "They've already served the sake and everybody's ready to toast to you,"
"Excuse me, Uchiha-sama, Naruto-sama," says Kaede, also dressed in her best tomosode kimono, "There is a Haruno Sakura-san looking for you. Should I let her in?" (11)
"Sure!" Naruto says before Sasuke can say anything.
Sasuke bites his tongue.
Sakura apologizes. Sasuke believes it's genuine this time and he appreciates her tearful apology. He just hopes she's gotten her shit together instead of just being here because she was invited. Naruto of course, acts like she hadn't done a serious slight on him. Sasuke's just glad Naruto has a friend back. Maybe in time, she'll earn his friendship, too.
There aren't that many guests, just the people closest to them, having a good time with people they like spending time with, eating good food, drinking good wine, and enjoying good music and dessert. Though, Sasuke thinks the people are a little bit reserved since the Hokage is one of the people hosting the reception.
The music starts and Sasuke pulls Naruto to the middle of the function room to dance.
Our story begins on the other side of this door.
"I hope you like this song," Naruto brushes Sasuke's hair away from his face to get a peek of those gorgeous eyes.
If you can't sing, I'll sing for the both of us
"You're right, I don't sing," Sasuke puts his hand on Naruto's waist as they start to sway to the music. "Seems like you thought about this,"
Because you noticed the little important things.
So don't be shy, come here next to me, darling.
"Maybe a little," Naruto leans in and presses a kiss to Sasuke's cheek.
Faint in the silence of heart and mind
A gentle melody line is the sound of the future
"So, Uchiha-san, how do you like being married so far?" Sasuke tries to joke.
"Eh," Naruto shrugs as he jokes back, "Doesn't feel like any different from the other week, Uchiha-san,"
Sasuke chuckles. It's true, though. It's just like every other day they've had together thus far. And everything, every day, every tomorrow, is just about to get better.
"Though I do like having a new name,"
"You do?"
"I waited a long time for it,"
"Thank you for holding on to me, Naruto,"
"I'm never letting you go, Sasuke,"
You're here for the important things
So don't hide it. Let me hear your voice, darling (8)
FAMILY REGISTRY – αM UCHIHA SASUKE
Amendment #1
[DATE] XXX
[BIRTH]
[Name] αM AKIHIKO ∙ 秋彦
[Date of Birth] 28 SEPTEMBER
[Father] αM UCHIHA SASUKE
[Mother] ΩM HATAKE NARUTO
[Date of Notification] XXX
Amendment #2
[DATE] XXX
[MARRIAGE]
[Name] ΩM NARUTO
[Date of Birth] 10 OCTOBER
[ADOPTIVE Father] αM HATAKE KAKASHI
[ADOPTIVE Mother] ΩM HATAKE IRUKA
[Date of Marriage] XXX
[Date of Notification] XXX
(8) These lyrics are translated/transliterated into English from the song Darling (ダーリン) by Faky
(9) The shiromuku（白無垢・しろむく）is the white kimono and may be worn with the wataboshi（綿帽子・わたぼし・the bridal hood）the equivalent of the veil. The black montsuki hakama (黒紋付袴・くろもんつきはかま）is the most formal traditional attire common men may wear. Other more formal traditional clothes are left to history, the arts, and the imperial family for ceremonies. Shinshoku (神職 ・しんしょく・ kami employee) a man who works at a shrine and holds religious ceremonies there.
(10) according to shinto wedding tradition, it is the groom who vows to the bride. also this isn't really how shrine weddings go i just winged it. i know it takes about 30 minutes depending on the procession and the ceremonial activities the priest and the maidens do, other than the ceremonial sake drinking.
(11) Tomesode (留袖) is the most formal kimono type worn by married women.
ruri-san who draws some of the best sasunaru drawing sasunaru in wedding clothes ? /ruri_kohaku_iro/status/1642183417528987649
and that's the end of the main story i guess! i have some omake (extras) that didn't make it in. the future of Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Naruto, and Uchiha Akihiko, if you will. i may have forgotten to write something here in the end notes so i'll post it in the extras. there will probably be one or two more extra chapters if i get my shit together and write too lol.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! I LOVE YOU AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.