Weapons are drawn in quick succession. Naruto comes through the doors after Sasuke, and lays her hand gently on his shoulder. "Sasuke? What's wrong? Is Akira alright?" She asks, peering around him, at her second born.
Sasuke grunts out a "Hn" and points around at her friends, clustered around with disbelieving looks on their faces, with Gaara as the vanguard.
"I always knew something was going on between you, but I never guessed that it was this!" Gasps Ino, stepping forward and breaking the silence.
"Tsunade told them you were back from the dead." Says Sasuke, suddenly remembering what he had wanted to tell her before.
Naruto glares at him, and steps out from behind him. "Hi guys!" She greets with a nervous smile, and timid wave.
"I always knew you didn't have a pair." Says Sai, finally getting a good look at her.
Naruto drops a hidden kunai into her waiting hand. "You're right, and if you want to keep yours where they are, you'll refrain from using such innuendos around my baby."
Sai takes a step backwards, and raises his hands in a hopeful sign of peace.
Naruto nods her head smugly, and takes Akira from Sasuke's arms.
"Dude." interrupts Kiba. "You look like a chick!" He exclaims. Akamaru barks in agreement, with his tongue lolling out.
Naruto looks down at her body, and gasps as if surprised. "Would you look at that!" She nudges Sasuke with her elbow. "I guess that would explain how I was able to give birth, huh?" She asks.
Sasuke resists the urge to roll his eyes, and instead takes the opportunity to steal Akira back from her mother. Itachi would kill him if he found out he let Naruto carry her around so soon after giving birth! It doesn't matter that the Kyuubi has her completely healed, Itachi would still send a kunai his way if he though that Sasuke was allowing Naruto to put any strain on herself.
The psychological weight of many stares lands on Sasuke, causing him to look away from his niece, and brings him closer to thoughts of his death. If one person doesn't want to kill him, there is always another.
"What have you done?" Asks Gaara with a glare.
Naruto smiles, and throws her arms around the red-heads body in a tight hug. For a moment he doesn't move, but when he does, it's to lightly return the embrace.
"Oh Gaara!" She gushes. "I have so much to tell you! I got married, and had two healthy children! Kurama has been a great help! We were so worried the seal would break, but between the two of us, it was actually quite simple to keep intact."
Gaara pushes her away gently away, to hold her at arms length. "Naruto." He interrupts. "Why are you a girl, and why is Uchiha holding your child?" He asks calmly.
Naruto blinks. "Didn't Baa-chan tell you?" She asks confused.
Gaara shakes his head with deliberate slowness.
Naruto sighs. "I'll try to make the long story short. Itachi and I were appointed as the Hokage's Shadows when we were young so I took on the alias of the village idiot. When I 'disappeared' it was because we needed to go on a mission, but my new reputation made it nearly impossible for me to blend in, so I left hoping that Baa-chan would assume that had just gone to train or something. Our mission ended about a year ago, and we were sent with Sakura-chan on a rescue mission that required the best of the best. We resigned to continue to help the village that we were in, and Sakura-chan returned home. While I was in the village, I got married. We finished the mission we had in the village so here we are!"
Sasuke clears his throat. "That was a long 'short story'." He tells her.
"You married Uchiha?" Asks Shino quietly.
Naruto grins and nods her head proudly. Sasuke nearly groans when he is once again glared at. Why do they always blame him?
"Even after everything?" Asks Chouji curiously.
Naruto nods her head. "We've been through so much together. We both felt like it was time for us to settle down and start a family. Sasuke's been a huge help in getting everything ready. It's been nice to sit down with my husband at the dinner table to eat."
If looks could kill, Sasuke would be dead many times over. He finally lets out the sigh he's struggled to hold in for so long. "Naruto." He says. "They think you're talking about me."
Silence and confusion follow. "Why is it that everyone always jumps to the wrong conclusion?" She shouts, exasperated. She pokes Sasuke in the chest. "I blame this on you!" She accuses.
"How can you blame it on me when you've been the one telling them all about your happily ever after?" He deadpans.
Naruto blinks, and opens her mouth to retort, when the doors swoosh open and Itachi comes through with a happily sleeping Sousuke. He looks around, obviously sensing the tension, and then stands beside his wife.
Weapons are drawn again, as the ninja go into high alert at the sight of a top enemy. "You're supposed to be dead!" Hisses Temari, while her hand inches towards her fan.
"Itachi! They think I married Sasuke!" Says Naruto, either missing or ignoring Temari's words. She carefully wraps her arms around his waist, and bends over Sousuke to kiss the ex missing-nin. Itachi complies without even a trace of hesitation.
"As you can see." Points out Shikamaru, speaking for the first time from off to one side. "Naruto has married Uchiha Itachi, and the children belong to him."
Surprised gasps run through the crowd. Sasuke rolls his eyes.
"Wasn't Itachi in Akatsuki though?" Asks Hinata, worriedly watching her friend, her comrade, her hero.
Naruto nods, and a frown mars her normally happy face. "He went to protect me. By placing himself on the inside, he was able to help all the jinchuriki, in minor ways that is. If he did anything too drastic, the Akatsuki would have begun to suspect him. He was always able to delay the extractions just a little bit to try and give the villages a chance to rescue their jinchuriki. He's probably on of the only reasons Gaara is still alive. Him and the old lady, that is."
"Have you talked to Iruka-sensei yet?" Asks Chouji looking worried. It's no secret how close the two of them are. How will Iruka act, knowing that his favorite student is married to an ex-Akatsuki member?
Naruto smiles brilliantly. "Yup! He was kind of mad at first, cause he saw I was pregnant and, like you guys, assumed that they were Sasuke's. When I told him the truth, he was really happy though. I still have to find Kakashi-sensei. Baa-chan said he was out on a solo mission, so I have to wait 'till he gets back.
Sousuke yawns loudly, and Naruto turns around to smile at him.
"I believe it is time for us to return to our home." Suggest Itachi. Naruto smiles at him.
She then turns to the crowd. "We're 'going to get them home, but feel free to come by!" She says cheerfully.
She takes Akira once again from Sasuke's arms, and leaves him watching helplessly as they disappear in a swirl of leaves.
All eyes turn to him, and he's immediately bombarded by questions. Is there no end to this torture?
At home, Naruto sits heavily in the rocking chair that's placed between the twins' beds. "I'm tired." She mumbles.
Itachi chuckles, and places Sousuke in his bed. He makes sure he's comfortable before he gently removes Akira from his wife's easily relenting grip. He places her in her own bed. Then he turns back to Naruto, and kneels in front of her. He entwines his fingers and places them on her knees, and then rests his chin on them.
Naruto opens her eyes just enough for Itachi to see the blue of her eyes. "Are you too tired to eat breakfast then?" He asks her.
Her eyes snap open. "Are you cooking?" She asks.
Itachi smiles. "Only it will please my beautiful wife." He admits.
Naruto grins. "Then what are we waiting for, most gracious husband?" She asks playfully.
Itachi smirks, and pushes himself onto his feet, but captures a kiss before he straightens himself completely. "I'm waiting for the company of a lovely assistant." He tells her, offering a hand.
She smiles and takes it. "Always the charmer." She mutters.
Itachi chooses not to answer, and instead leads them into the kitchen, but not before he sets up the baby monitors.
They finish relatively quickly, and Sasuke walks in the door looking slightly disheveled. Naruto smirks, and leans back against the counter. "Looks like Sasuke-teme still has an admiring fan clup." She taunts with a grin.
Sasuke glares at his sister-in-law. "Not another word from you." He hisses. "You don't know what they're like." He says with a shudder. "They're everywhere."
Naruto laughs. "Some ninja you make!" She says with mirth. "You can't even escape a couple fan-girls! I don't know why people are so afraid of you, if only they knew! Who would have thought that the best way to get to Uchiha Sasuke, all one would have to do is think like a stalker fan-girl!"
Itachi chuckles, but at the same time sympathizes with his brother. The fan girls are everywhere. The only way to get rid of them is to scare them off. He had to spread a rumor that a few of his fan club members 'went missing' after asking him out. They left him alone after that, only watching from afar.
"If little brother does not wish to associate himself with the females around him, then there is nothing we can do to force the issue. I'm sure the girls are very persistent, and think we should not provoke him overly much on the matter." Says Itachi calmly, placing plates on the table. Sasuke shoots him a grateful look, while Naruto pouts, somewhat disappointed that He took his brothers side.
"Sasuke, Naruto and I completely support your preferences towards other males. I suggest that you tell these girls that they simply have no hope in the matter, and pursue your preferences openly, rather than keeping them hidden."
Sasuke's face twists as his emotions battle between denial and exasperation. He's not gay! Bi maybe... Finally he just shrugs, and sits at the table. Then his head snaps up. How did Itachi know? How long has he known? What about Naruto?
The smile on their faces says it all. They both seem both encouraging and understanding. He groans, and barely resists the urge to bang his head on the table. Of course they know. Is there anything they don't know?
"How?" He asks, knowing it's all he needs to ask.
Naruto shrugs. "You talk in your sleep. It's kinda cute." She says.
Sasuke blushes slightly despite his carefully controlled facial muscles.
"So..." Says Naruto. "Are you ready to tell us about Sano now?"
=D =D =D =D =D =D =D
Yeah... this is mostly just a filler chapter. That and I really really really wanted to introduce a love interest for Sasuke. Please let me know what you think, by the way.
Sorry for the wait... and the length... again... yeah...
I have a plan for the 'rest' of the plot. ItaNaru are cute, but a simple happily ever after would be kind of boring, no? I have an un numbered chapter just waiting to be put into the story, so don't get bored just yet.
FLUFF EVERYWHERE! MUAHAHAHAHA! ~Cough~ I'm not crazy! ... But the voices in my head are arguing again. ~Sigh~ -.-