Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the related characters. They belong to the creative genius of Masashi Kishimoto

Author Note: Welcome kind readers to chapter 10. This story has Yaoi in it, don't like don't read. And this story is also unbeted and because of that I am sure that I will miss some grammar and spelling mistakes. So for that I apologize. Now on with the story:

Chapter 10

Blossoming Love…And the plan to save Naruto

Itachi and Ibiki

"Ibiki…I just got off the phone with Shikamaru and well, he suspects that the house is being watched" said Itachi as he signed a couple of papers on his desk.

The large man made his way to a seat that was near the desk. After taking a seat, Ibiki looked at his boss and waited for him to be finished with his paper work.

Finally after a few minutes, Itachi looked up and leaned back in his chair.

Ibiki feeling that he had his boss's full attention…

"Shikamaru has always had a really good six sense about things like that…so if he thinks that the house is being watched, we should assume that it is…so boss, what do you want to do about it?" asked the large scared man.

Itachi closed his eyes in contemplation. When a few minutes of silence had past, Itachi opened his eyes…

"You're right about Shikamaru's six sense…he is always very accurate…and about what we should do well…I think that we have to beef up security but not too much" said Itachi.

Ibiki looked at him in surprise…

"Surely you don't mean to use Sasuke's husband for bait…that would…could be catastrophic…that innocent man and his kids could be hurt" said Ibiki.

"Yes…that is exactly what I mean…if we make things too hard for Pein, then it could just prolong the inevitable… and really I want this over as soon as possible" said Itachi.

Ibiki regarded the man sitting across from him. This man who took over the Inagawa-kai at a very young age; this man who lost his parents in the most horrific manner possible and that same man who Ibiki had sworn his life too. This man who is currently telling me that we should use Naruto as bait to get to Pein; I certainly hope that there is more to the plan than just using Sasuke's husband because I really think that he would come back from the grave to kill us.

There are days when Ibiki…

Wondered if he really knows Itachi at all…

"Sir, you really want to use Naruto as bait? Can't we just send someone to get rid of Pein? Maybe Sai or Kisame" said Ibiki.

Looking at Ibiki with shrouded eyes, Itachi knew that he was facing opposition to the plan that he had thought very carefully about.

"Really Ibiki I can't believe that you are having such a problem with this…" said the stoic dark haired man.

"How can you be surprised, Itachi? This man was the one who made your brother very happy and don't you think that he has had enough bad luck as it is? He lost his husband and he just got shot…all of these things were out of his control and really… how can you think that this is a good idea…if we fail to get Pein before he makes his move on Naruto…then those children could be orphans…and that just doesn't seem right after they have lost so much" said Ibiki.

"Compassion…really Ibiki…I am very surprised" said Itachi dryly.

"Again…why would you be surprised? Sasuke was like a little brother to me and he deserved every bit of happiness that he got from Naruto…and to do what you are planning to do it just goes beyond what is called for…all I need is your permission and I could have any number of assassins take Pein out for good" said Ibiki.

"You are not understanding my position…Ibiki…I don't want any harm to come to Naruto and his kids…but Pein has gone into hiding…and I have already dispatched men to try and find him but they have all been unsuccessful…I am currently out of options…Naruto is the only guarantee we have to bring that bastard out of hiding…and I am not wanting to leave Naruto totally defenseless…my plan was to put more security on him but have them more undercover…" said Itachi.

"But…" started Ibiki.

"No, buts Ibiki…I have already gone over my plan with Shikamaru and he is in agreement that we will have to use Naruto in this way…and let me guarantee you that Shikamaru wants no harm to come to Naruto…in fact…if I maybe so bold as to say…I think he has a distinct interest in making sure that Naruto comes away from this unharmed…and he suggested that we bring in Neji" interrupted Itachi.

"Neji? Wow…Shikamaru is covering all his bases…he must love Naruto…to bring in Neji that is very interesting…and with Neji…hmmmm…there is no man better at getting rid of someone as Neji…he is almost sadistic with how he plans and leaves nothing to chance…will Neji be bringing Hinata in with him?" asked Ibiki with a gleam in his eye.

"Yeah, I think so that woman found out that Sakura was the one that lured Naruto here and she is very eager to see Sakura again…apparently Sakura got in the way of one of Hinata's targets and you know how she hates someone getting in her way" smirked Itachi.

"Yeah, for a woman who is so quiet, she is very deadly and we all know how much she hates it when our type of work spills over into what she call 'the world of the innocents' basically anyone who isn't in our line of work…she just hates it when they get involved…especially when kids are involved" smiled Ibiki.

"Yes that woman has very high morals for someone who kills for a living…" said Itachi.

"Well, as she and Neji both say…we choose our line of work…and that is very true…also she really likes to kill…in fact her and Neji make a very ruthless team" said Ibiki as he felt some of the stress melt away with the inclusion of the Hyuga assassins.

"…and really I am glad that they work for us…I would hate to meet them on the other side of a battle field" said Ibiki.

"Yeah, but one has to wonder how Shikamaru will like having competition…" smirked Itachi.

"What do you mean?" frowned Ibiki trying to figure out why Shikamaru would have competition.

"Well, Neji really has a thing for blonds…" drawled Itachi.

"Oh, shit that's right…Neji loves blonds" smiled Ibiki.

"Almost makes you want to be a fly on the wall for that one" smirked Itachi.

"Yeah that would be…interesting…very very interesting" agreed Ibiki.

Both men leaned back in their chairs each lost in the thoughts of the battle that would be ahead. And they weren't thinking of Pein at moment.

Neji's office

"Neji, how do you want to play this job?" asked a petite dark haired woman.

Neji sat quietly waiting for his cousin to sit down before he spoke. The dark haired woman sighed and went over to a vacant chair that was beside her cousin. Neji opened his eyes…

"Hinata…I think that this case will be very interesting…we are tasked to flush out Pein and we also have to protect someone who is very innocent" said Neji.

The dark haired woman shook her head in the affirmative…having already been informed about the situation.

"Yes, Yes…I already know that…my question was how are we going to play this?" asked Hinata with a slight note of irritation in her soft melodious voice.

Neji looked at his cousin and had to control the urge to roll his eyes.

"I think that this will be a rather difficult job…in all seriousness…you know how well Shikamaru and I get along…and apparently the person that we have to protect has no idea what he has stumbled into" said the handsome man.

"Yes, I got that information already…the man's name is Naruto Uchiha and he is…or should I say was the spouse of Sasuke…and they had three children due to the fact that Naruto has a genetic defect which allows him the ability to produce and carry children. Two years ago…Sasuke was killed by Sakura… and on a personal note I can't wait to kill that bitch…anything else that I need to know, cousin?" said Hinata.

"No, I don't think so…" said Neji.

"Well, do you have a plan for how we are going to do this? And have you seen the picture of who we are going to guard?" questioned Hinata.

"That's a yes to the first part but no to the second…why?" asked Neji.

Hinata looked at her cousin. Neji was a tall man with long black hair…in a word he was handsome. His eyes were the traditional Hyuga color, which are a pale icy blue, so pale in fact that they looked almost white. Hinata knew her cousin's love of the hair color blond and double that with blue eyes…well to say the least her cousin is going to be very enthusiastic about this target. Smiling slightly at the thought of how Neji and Shikamaru were going to clash on that particular subject. Hinata was thankful that she was going to be involved in mission. Because nothing was more fun than watching Neji and Shikamaru battle…especially since it mostly was a battle of wits. And from what she had gather on her own investigation…Shikamaru was very interested in making sure this Naruto character was going to be okay. In fact, she surmised that Shikamaru was not only interested in Naruto's welfare but in his body as well. Which sort of surprised Hinata because this was not something that Shikamaru engaged in so there must be something about Naruto that is making her friend…very, dare she say, vulnerable? In other words she was going to have fun with this because for Neji to be asked to help well that could only mean one thing…there is going to be a lot of blood.

"Well, cousin you are in luck…I have Naruto's picture right here" said Hinata as she handed a picture of Naruto to her cousin.

Taking the picture, Neji looked at it…then his eyes widen. There is one thing that Neji likes more than killing and that is blonds. You could say he was a little obsessed. And the face of the man staring back at him was his favorite kind…the UKE kind. Taking a real good look at the stats of Naruto…height, weight and etc; Neji looked at all the things that made up Naruto decided that even though he had what you would call a hard life he was relatively innocent or as innocent as the report can make a person with three kids sound…

Hinata could practically see the wheels rolling in Neji's head. And she couldn't help but smile…

"So cousin what do you think?" asked Hinata with a light tone of laughter in her voice.

Neji shook off his thoughts…

"Well, cousin it must be fate…" said Neji.

"And why is that Neji?" asked Hinata.

"Because this man is everything I could ever wish for…he is able to produce children, he's blond and he is very petite…in fact he is about as cute…" said Neji as he let his thoughts over run what he was trying to say to Hinata.

Hinata didn't even hide the fact that she thought her cousin reaction was very funny. Giggling softly…

"Neji, one would think that you like what you are seeing and reading about our next mission" laughed Hinata.

Neji threw Hinata an irritated glare…

"Yes cousin I happen to like what I see…so? That won't stop or distract me from my mission" growled Neji.

"Oh, now…Neji don't growl at me…I am just saying that this could complicate things a little bit…because the only reason that Shikamaru would have asked for our help is that he felt the need to have the best watch someone who he feels is very precious to him…and if that is the case you two fussing at each other will be not only distracting but irritating also" said Hinata as her laughter died away.

"Hinata, I would do nothing to jeopardize the mission…but I have to admit that if Shikamaru isn't off his lazy ass in time to claim that little angel then I will have no problem doing that…and anyway cousin this will make the lull time more interesting, especially since I will have so much fun messing with Shikamaru head, for it is not often that I have the ability to make Shikamaru squirm" smiled Neji.

"So besides the fact that you plan to torture Shikamaru…what is the plan?" asked Hinata.

Neji smiled…

"Well, my dear cousin…I think that the best plan is for us to be in the house…so I think that we are going to be the help…I am going to be the butler/grounds keeper and you are going to be a maid/nanny" said Neji getting down to business.

"Okay that sounds good to me…but how are we going to be with them all the time?" asked Hinata.

"Well, Naruto has an injured arm and he won't be able to drive anywhere…so I will be the driver…especially when Shikamaru isn't home" said Neji with a smile.

Hinata rolled her eyes…

"Okay…that also sounds good… but how will Shikamaru react to us being around all the time?" asked Hinata.

"I really don't care…cousin" said Neji.

Hinata nodded her head and then got up from her chair. She turned to her cousin and bid him good-bye.

Neji nodded and then watched as she left the room.

Letting his eyes close, Neji started thinking about the picture of the very cute man.

"Shikamaru, you had better lay claim to Naruto quick…because I don't know how patient I will be when I get there…oh, my dear friend you had better not be lazy…because I certainly am not…lazy or patient" muttered Neji.

Shikamaru's POV

"So Naruto what were you dreaming about?" I teased the blushing blond.

Watching the adorable blond, I couldn't help but image how he would look in the throes of passion. Would he blush as pretty as he now? Or would he squirm? Or how about both of these things?

A man can hope…right?

Okay, I am getting at little bit…distracted.

This sweet gentle man has been through a lot and will probably have more things happen in the next couple weeks. Naruto has some really bad luck…

This beautiful man has a sadistic bastard after him…and all because Sasuke refused him. Or that is what I think happened but the only evidence I have on that is the way that Sasuke left the country. He left all he knew just to get away from something and the way that Pein has been the catalyst for everything in the last two years. I would have to surmise that Pein made Sasuke an offer that scared the hell out of him.

My friend wouldn't have left his friends unless he felt he had no other choice. But apparently Sasuke felt that after so many years he was safe…so he must have let his guard down.

But at least my friend was happy. He had someone who cared for him and someone for him to love. From what I have learned from listening to the kids and Naruto talk about Sasuke he became like a different person. I would have loved to have seen that…imagine what he must have been like; that stoic man becoming a caring loving husband and father. Naruto must be an amazing person to invoke that kind of change in a person.

Getting back to the adorably blushing man in front of me; I just can't help but have the desire to hold him and protect him from the world. Now I am not saying he is weak…I would guess far from it. Because a man who had to raise three kids by himself and maintain the art of just living; well a man like that is not weak. I don't know if I could have done it…hell it is hard just when you are divorced but this man is a widower…

I have to admire a man like that…

But even with that knowledge I can't help but want to make wild and passionate love to him.

I have always known that I was bi but I have never been attracted to a man in such a manner. I don't know why I am even thinking about him in that manner.

Hhhmmmmm, I think that I should get back to the blushing man in front of me…

"Naruto…you never did say what you were dreaming about?" I can't help but tease him more…especially if I get that kind of reaction from him.

His blushes are so cute…

"W-e-e-l-l, I…nothing" stuttered the blond.

"Oh, come on Naruto, when someone moans another person's name like you did, it makes a person sort of curious" this is so much fun.

Naruto looked at me…I just couldn't help myself…

I leaned closer and got right next to his ear. Having found out earlier that it was a very sensitive spot for him; I let my breath slowly and softly tickle his ear.

"Now Naruto, I hope that you are not trying to think of some plausible reason for you to be moaning and screaming my name…because we know that would be a lie and I am sure that you wouldn't want to lie…what kind of example would you be giving your children" I whispered softly into that sensitive ear.

I watched as the blushes seem to spread over his face. Then I noticed him shiver and let me tell you it had nothing to do with the weather. I was finding his inability to speak something that I would like to see again. His eyes closed as if on their own accord…

And that lead me to the conclusion that he really was enjoying what little I was doing. If he is that sensitive when I just whisper softly in his ear then imagine what he will be like when I get him into my bed.

By the way, I have decided that I am most definitely getting him in my bed.

"Naruto, I am still waiting" really this man was absolutely adorable.

Naruto's eyes opened slightly.

"Fine…Shikamaru…I was having a dream about when Sasuke asked me to marry him and then we were making love…when somehow the dream changed from Sasuke to you…but it was just a dream" blurted out Naruto.

How I did not expect that…holy shit that man is honest. Really who would have thought…

I looked at Naruto and gave him a smirk. I don't know if he saw it but I can guarantee that he felt it in my tone of voice.

"Well, you know what they say about dreams…that they are the wishes and desires of the person dreaming" I whispered again softly into his ear.

Naruto turned his head toward me…

And he just looked at me with his lips softly parted…

My… what do I see? Why I a man who is panting?

I can't help but laugh softly at the predicament that Naruto finds himself in…

Hell, he looks like he is weighing his options…

Option one: Turned his head back where I can get to his ear again.

Option two: Maybe he is thinking about jumping into my arms? Okay that option maybe a hope of mine but…well a man can hope, can't he?

"Shikamaru…why are you doing this?" asked the blushing angel.

I smiled…

"Why do you think…I am doing this Naruto?" I won't pretend that I don't know what he is talking about.

"I…haven't felt anything but grief for so long and you are doing crazy things that make me want to feel again…I won't…I can't…I just don't know…I feel guilty and so very turned on…I am starting to…" Naruto's voice died out as his confusion and other emotions seem to have overcome him.

Okay I wasn't expecting that…on one hand he is feeling guilty because of Sasuke and the other hand he obviously he does sort of feel something for me.

"Whoa, Naruto slow down…I understand and I am willing to take this whatever it is as slow or as fast as you would like but know this…you have nothing to feel guilty about and that it is very okay to feel what you are feeling…in fact if you didn't I would probably worry" I stated to the confused man before me.

Naruto looked at me…

"It just is so fast…I never expected to feel anything ever again for someone and here you are invading my dreams…it is a little discombobulating to say the least" muttered Naruto.

"What is so fast?" I asked with a strange feeling of curious anticipation.

"My feelings are so cluttered Shikamaru…I…well, I just don't know" said Naruto.

"That is perfectly normal and expected…and to be honest this is sort of becoming well…I really don't know but I don't think that we should nip whatever this is in the bud…do you Naruto? Don't you think that we should try and find out what could happen?" I asked.

This is strange…how much I don't want him to give into the feelings of guilt…

I wonder…

Well, like I told him…we should wait to see.

"Naruto…would you like something to drink?" I asked wanting the intense conversation to end for now.

Naruto looked at me in relief…

"Yeah, I would like something…maybe some ice tea and would you mind bringing out something for the kids?" Naruto asked as he settled back into his chair again.

"Not a problem…Oh, before I forget…I have two people coming tomorrow who will be helping around the house" I said as I straightened back to full height.

"Oh, really…who? And what for?" asked Naruto as he looked up at me.

"Well, I have a woman coming…her name is Hinata and she will be helping out around the house and also with the kids and I have a man coming his name is Neji and he will be also helping around the house and he will also be the driver for you when I am not here so that you can go out and take the kids and have a little fun" I said as I looked down at my angel.

"That is very nice of you Shikamaru…I know that we have disrupted your household so much and for that I am sorry" said Naruto with a smile.

"No, Naruto you are not a disruption in fact you are more of a distraction and a very welcome one at that" I flirted lightly.

Naruto smiled shyly at me.

I smiled back and then I turned to go inside to fix the drinks.

While walking into the kitchen at thought hit me…

Neji has a thing for blonds…

Oh shit!!!!

Well, Neji it seems you and I are going to be at each other's throats more than usual…

That bastard had better keep his hands away from my Naruto. Because if he doesn't… I will kill him…

TBC

Author Note: Well, here you go… chapter 10. I hope that you have enjoyed it. And I want to thank all of my reviewers: demarra, Blackmoon wolf 15, BonneNuit, -siarafaerie-101-miss and SoulReaper Rukia. And I would like to thank all of those you put my story on story alert and all those you put me on author alert.