Honesty
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I want to thank everyone who supported this unlikely pair from beginning to end. It didn't seem to catch fire, but I do believe that we have made a strong case for it. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and if you are interested, feel free to check out my other stories.
Chapter Notation: This is the epilogue. Unless you see a scene in Italics, it takes place twenty years after the last one.
Chapter 17
"Father, papa don't look so sad. I'll still visit regularly and this is a good thing. It means our family is spreading out. Let them try to hurt us again, when I'm a Kage now." A young woman says, twenty years later.
Her name was Naoko. She was Sasuke and Karin's eldest child. Her name meant honest and pure. Well she certainly was purely honest. She could be tactful when she desired to be though. Apparently, this one of those times.
"I know. It's just hard to accept that you're all grown up now and that you won't be living with us back in the District anymore." Sasuke says as he kisses his daughter's forehead.
"You knew that was going to happen when you and Uncle Naruto forced Onoki to promise either me or Kurama the Kageship." She says with a reassuring smile.
Kurama was Sasuke and Karin's second child. He was their first son. Sasuke had named him after the Nine Tails. Why? Quite frankly, he wanted to fuck with people. Who was going to mess with a boy named after a fox demon that could level villages? No one. That's who.
"Yes, we knew. I just don't think either of us expected for the time to pass by so quickly." Jugo says as he hugs her.
Sasuke smiles. The twins could have almost passed for Jugo's biological children. They both had Karin's hair and eye color. Naoko was the spitting image of her paternal grandmother. She looked exactly like Mikoto Uchiha save for coloration.
Kurama had the same vibrant hair color and exotic eyes as his sister. Though his hair was styled like Madara's. Other than that, he looked almost identical to his father.
"Well you know what they say, time flies when you are having fun." Kurama says with a wink.
Kurama was powerful, but he was also rather easy going. He had a playful nature. It was because of that that he had decided not to become a CoKage. He couldn't imagine himself sitting behind a desk for hours at a time, battling paperwork. Naoko was just the more practical of the two of them.
"That's true." Tatsuya agrees with a smile.
Sasuke had four children, but there were two different mothers. Karin understandably less than eager to be a surrogate again after what happened last time. Surprisingly, Kurenai had volunteered to help them out.
In the end, Karin was Kurama and Naoko's biological mother. While Kurenai was Tatsuya's and Ayaka's birth mother. Sasuke was actually rather pleased by this.
The fact that two women had helped to revive the Uchiha Clan meant that there was more genetic diversity. That was always a good thing for a Clan. (Quite honestly, sometimes Sasuke wondered how the Hyuga Clan managed to remain so insular and yet so healthy.)
"You look beautiful in your Kage robes, big sister." Ayaka says.
"Thank you, little sister." Naoko says as she smiles and flicks her baby sister's forehead affectionately.
Ayaka was the youngest of Sasuke's children. She had raven black hair like both of her biological parents and had inherited Kurenai's naturally light red eyes. Her Sharingan didn't change in color when activated, save for her tomoes. Her hair spilled a few inches past her shoulders regally and she had inherited most of Kurenai's facial features with Sasuke's trademark ivory cream colored skin.
Ayaka's name meant flower. She lived up to it. Unlike most of her siblings who had a natural fire affinity, her first affinity was earth. At sixteen, her unique fighting style had already made her a Jonin.
"Yeah. You clean up good." Kurama teases her.
Tatsuya was also sixteen and a Jonin. Like his sister he had dark semi curled hair that reached to his shoulders, along with red eyes. His name meant to achieve and he lived up to it. All of the Uchiha children were bright, but it was Tatsuya who was truly the academic at heart. It was rare to see him without a book or a scroll in his hand.
"You don't look so bad yourself, brother. Maybe you'll actually get that Sand Ninja to notice you." Naoko says with a smirk that caused Kurama to blush.
"Oh yeah. She's definitely Sasuke's kid. Smirks just like him and everything." Naruto says with a laugh.
Karin shakes her head in amusement as she stands next to Kurenai. The two of them were both very proud mothers. She was actually rather impressed with how seamlessly, the Genjutsu Mistress had accepted that the biological father of two of her children had twins with another surrogate. That and how she made sure that Mirai never felt left out, despite her being the only "Uchiha Sibling" without any Uchiha blood.
"So have you noticed any cute guys in the Stone Village?" Mirai asks Naoko cheerfully.
"I haven't really had a chance to look. Mostly because I don't want father to traumatize anyone that I look at before I'm officially a Kage." She admits.
"I would not traumatize someone for you looking at them." Sasuke protests.
Immediately all the Uchiha siblings and everyone else in the room gives him a look. They didn't buy that. They were also pretty sure that Sasuke knew that wasn't accurate either.
"Sasuke, I think that we all know that what she said is entirely accurate. It's alright. You are just overprotective because you care." Jugo says as he kisses his cheek.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with making sure that anyone that catches their eye is suitable." Sasuke grumbles.
Jugo shakes his head and wraps his arms around the Uchiha Patriarch. Sasuke was the very definition of a protective father. All his kids were sixteen and older though. It was time to loosen the reigns, just a bit.
"That's true. Though it's a little hard for any of them to find girlfriends or boyfriends, when their potential suitors are all worried you'll Chidori them." Emi notes in amusement.
Emi was Suigetsu and Karin's daughter. She was 18 and a weapon's mistress. She had inherited her father's love of swords and his snowy white locks which flowed down to her waist. Her eyes were the same color as her mother's though and she wore glasses like Karin.
Yes, somehow Karin and Suigetsu had resolved their sexual tension. Sasuke wasn't exactly sure how they FINALLY got together, but he was relieved that they had. It made things so much easier for everyone involved.
"Um I get Itachi, Mitsu, their children, grandchildren, etc. But I think that Aoda and Garuda might raise some eyebrows." Naruto points out.
"I know that a giant snake and hawk might frighten some people, but I didn't have the heart to tell them no. They are all looking forward to the ceremony." Naoko says.
That was putting it mildly. Naruto glances out the window and notes that more than a few Stone Villagers were a bit wary of the truly enormous bird and reptile. Still they knew that they were Sasuke's Summons. So thankfully, a panic hadn't erupted. Well at least not yet.
Sasuke smiles as they prepare to head out for the ceremony. It was hard to believe. His children were all grown now. They were all Jonin. It seemed like only yesterday, Kurama and Naoko were born.
"THE PUPPIES ARE COMING! THE PUPPIES ARE COMING! WE NEED TO GET MISTRESS KARIN TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY! ARF! ARF!" Itachi barked loudly.
That made everyone spring into action really quickly. In almost no time at all, Karin was taken to the hospital. For once, Sasuke was actually happy to see Tsunade.
No one was a better medic than her. If anyone could deliver the twins safely, it was the busty Hokage. That did calm him down somewhat. Well at the very least, it kept him from completely freaking out.
"Don't worry, my shield. Everything will be fine. Karin is hardly the first woman to give birth before." Jugo tried to reassure him.
"I know. I just can't believe it's finally happening. We are going to have a family." Sasuke whispered.
"We've always been a family. Now it's just growing, but I feel the same way." Jugo said as they walked into the delivery room.
Needless to say it was a bit crowded. Normally, only the father and mother were allowed in. Tsunade wasn't' stupid though. She knew if she didn't let Naruto and the rest of Team Taka in, there wouldn't be a hospital left to deliver the twins in. So she was a bit more lenient than she normally would have been about the rules.
Karin didn't exactly go into motherhood with grace, but Sasuke didn't blame her. It couldn't be easy to deliver one baby, let alone two. After what seemed like an eternity and many death threats from the red head, two loud cries were eventually heard.
"There they are. You two were rather cruel to your mother. I'm going to have a look and make sure they are healthy. Shizune, will you help Karin clean up?" The blonde asked and Shizune rushed over to help Karin.
Team Taka and Naruto watched Tsunade anxiously. They were all waiting with baited breath to find out if the twins were healthy or not. Naruto was the most worried. If something went wrong with Sasuke's kids, he wasn't even sure that HE'D be able to calm the bastard down. It was a little frightening in all honesty.
"They're both perfectly healthy." Tsunade said after a few agonizing minutes.
She wisely places the two bundles of joy into Karin's arms and steps back. Sasuke was at her side in a flash. She had never seen anyone move so swiftly before, not even during the war.
"They are pretty cute rugrats, I have to give you that much." Suigetsu said merrily.
"Pretty cute?! How fucking dare you?! They are clearly the most beautiful babies in the entire world!" Karin snapped at him.
"Well it's kinda a miracle really. I guess Sasuke's pretty boy genes won out over your tomboy genes." The violet eyed ninja continued taunting the new mother.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. It was rather clear that Suigetsu had absolutely no sense of self-preservation. You didn't taunt a woman after she just gave birth, especially not a red headed ninja woman. That was just asking for it.
True to form, Karin started cussing up a storm and tried to strangle Suigetsu. Multiple times. Sasuke was actually a bit impressed by how brutal Karin could be. Damn.
"They're beautiful, Sasuke. Truly." Jugo said.
"I know they are, but thank you. I love you. You know that, right?" Sasuke asked as he caressed Jugo's cheek.
Jugo smiled and kissed the palm of Sasuke's hand. Of course, he knew that. He might have been a little insecure initially about Karin carrying Sasuke's twins, but that was over now. It had obviously all worked out in the end.
"I know that. I never doubted that for a second." He told him and Sasuke smiled.
"Can we see the hatchlings?" Aoda asked as he peeked his giant head through the window.
Sasuke blinked. He could only hope that the snake's appearance hadn't caused a panic. That wouldn't end well.
"Of course." Sasuke said as he scooped up the twins and brought them towards the window.
For the animals, it was love at first sight. Aoda, Itachi, and Garuda adored the "hatchlings." The twins seemed utterly fascinated by them as well. Not that Sasuke could blame them, even he was still a little in awe of Aoda and Garuda some days and who didn't love puppies?
"Who would have though that Sasuke's kids would be so cute?" Naruto asked with a laugh.
"That's it! CHIDORI!" Sasuke said as he chased after the now running blonde.
The memory brought a smile to Sasuke's face even now. He had gotten what he had always wanted. A family.
Naoko takes the stage and a loud chorus of cheers and applause rang up. Sasuke felt very proud. She definitely had a regal walk. They had gone over this. It was important to carry yourself the right way or people would walk all over you.
"I see that catwalk practicing really helped!" Kurama chimes merrily.
Sasuke gives his eldest son a dirty look for that comment. Kurama seemed to thrive on questioning authority. It was just another reason why he shouldn't be a Kage. He had the ability and the intelligence, but not the temperament.
Kurama was much better off as a combat ninja. He specialized in Ninjutsu. Like his father, he enjoyed using the Chidori. However, he was fond of all weather based attacks really. Fires, floods, tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, etc. You name it and the mischievous ninja would do it.
"Big brother is going to get in a lot of trouble at this rate." Akaya notes with a giggle and Tatsuya nods in agreement.
"Yeah. He is pushing his luck." Naruto agrees with more than a hint of amusement in his voice.
Tatsuya wasn't nearly as "flashy" as his elder brother. He preferred to look before he leapt. Maybe that was why he was training to become a medic. It was a new experience for people to see a Uchiha heal instead of destroy. So that career choice had raised a lot of eyebrows at first, but eventually everyone had accepted it.
"Thank you all for coming. It means the world to me, my family, and the Stone Village that you have all decided to attend." Naoko says to the crowd.
Ayaka was different though. She was training to become an Academy Instructor. While her sister excelled in Genjutsu, she preferred to rely on Taijutsu and some Ninjutsu. She couldn't resist a good Chidori anymore than her other siblings.
Sasuke was quite content that his youngest child had chosen to become an Academy Instructor. It was one of the safest jobs that could be chosen. That and Medic. Obviously Kage and Combat Ninja were more concerning, but he had faith in his children's abilities. He, Taka, and Naruto had taught them well. Even his summons and the dogs had chipped in.
"She'll be a good Kage." Jugo whispers to Sasuke and he nods.
Naoka would make a damn good Kage. She had been training for it all her life really. While he had never been as obsessed with it as Naruto, Sasuke though tit was poetic justice in a way. Finally, his Clan was going to lead a ninja village.
It wasn't the village that they had helped to found, but that was alright. Maybe it was better to do so in a village where Naoka's part of the Clan would have a relatively clean slate. Away from the horrors of the past.
"I know she will be. This ought to make the Leaf think twice about ordering another Massacre in the future. Now we are spread out to two villages and if they tried it, it would definitely trigger another Ninja War." Sasuke whispers.
Jugo gives his lover a sad look. He places a reassuring kiss to the top of his head and sighs. For twenty-one years, things had been going peacefully. Well minus the whole Onoki kidnapping a pregnant Karin thing. The gentle giant was almost positive that things would stay that way.
Sasuke wasn't so sure. The orange haired man got the impression that the Uchiha Patriarch was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was worried that this would all be taken away from them somehow.
"Sasuke, it's alright now. You don't have to worry about anything. Everyone's safe now. Alright?" He asks.
"You're right. I'm being a bit paranoid. Today's a good day. Naoko is becoming Hokage. Tatsuya is about to become an official medic. Somehow Kurama hasn't blown up the village and Akaya is an assistant instructor." He says with a smile.
"That's right. They are all doing amazingly. You raised them well. You should be proud. Don't let the past allow itself to be a dark cloud over your head on a day like today." He says and kisses Sasuke's cheek.
Sasuke smiles. He was very grateful that he had Jugo. The man always knew exactly the right thing to say. People were still rather shocked that the two of them were together, but had gotten used to it.
It would be difficult to find a pair of people who were more different. Somehow though, it worked. The two were like Yin and Yang. They were complete opposites, yet fit together perfectly.
"I love you." Sasuke tells him.
"I love you too. Though you should probably move about three feet back." Jugo warns him.
"Why?" The raven haired man asks with a raised eyebrow as he does as his lover bid him.
Suddenly a loud meow is heard as a ninja cat rushes past them. Despite his old age, Itachi and his Mate were still chasing after cats. This was much to the bane of any feline in the nearby area. Thankfully, Suigetsu was able to rescue the kitty.
"That's why. You'd think he was still a puppy." Jugo laughs.
"Yeah you would think so." Sasuke agrees and he smiles as the ceremony continues on.
The celebration continued until late into the night. There was music, dancing, food, and grand time was had by all. Sasuke hadn't seen a celebration that was anywhere near as jubilant since the end of the war. It was impressive really.
"Good night." Sasuke says to their children as he hugs them and Jugo does the same.
"You are going to bed this early? Father, you're getting old." Kurama teases him.
Sasuke twitches at that. He playfully rolls his eyes at his eldest son and flicks his forehead. He deserved that!
"Owe! I'm just saying. It's not that late." Kurama insists.
"Kurama, it's 3 in the morning. Besides, I doubt that Jugo and Sasuke will be getting much sleep anyway." Naruto says with a grin.
Jugo shakes his head. He walks over to Naruto and gives him a swift swat upside the head. Honestly, the man had a heart of gold. Every once in awhile though, he would say something that made it obvious he had been taught by two perverts. Jirayia and Kakashi.
"Owe! Hey, I was just teasing!" He grumbles.
"Uh huh. Good night, loser. Come on, Jugo." Sasuke says with a smile and the two of them head off towards the hotel that they were staying in for the night.
Sasuke smiles and he opens the door to their hotel room. Their children had insisted that they get the Honeymoon Suite. Sasuke thought it was sweet actually.
"They certainly went all out. The rose petals in the shape of a heart on the bed are a nice touch." The gentle giant muses.
"Yes, they are. I feel almost guilty that we are going to mess up the bed." Sasuke says with a smirk as he pulls Jugo down for a deep kiss.
It really was a romantic room with soft blue walls and a plush white carpet. There was a golden canopy bed with a giant heart made out of rose petals on it. There was even a romantic looking fireplace with a love sofa in the middle of the living room next to a coffee table that had a romantic dinner laid out on it. Sasuke idly notes that there was also a mini kitchen and a bathroom.
Jugo smiles and returns the kiss. Some days, he couldn't believe that it had actually happened. That he and Sasuke were together and had a family. (Well they weren't his biological children, but in every other respect the twins were his sons and daughters as much as they were Sasuke's.)
"They are good kids." Jugo says after breaking the kiss.
"Very good kids. Hell they even remembered to get us some champagne. Nice. We taught them well. I have always told them that it's the details that will make or break anything you do." Sasuke says as he pours them both a glass.
"That's true. So how strong do you think that bed is?" The orange haired man inquires.
Sasuke glances at it and smirks. Jugo couldn't help but think that Naoka had definitely inherited his smirk. All the Second Generation Uchihas had actually. It never failed to make his heart skip a beat though.
He knew fully well what that smirk meant. Naruto had been right. They definitely weren't going to get any sleep tonight. Jugo definitely didn't mind that fact in the slightest though.
"Oh I'd say that it looks strong enough." Sasuke says after putting the glass down and he quickly pins Jugo to the bed playfully.
"I hope so." He says and smiles up at Sasuke before flipping them.
He was probably the only person that Sasuke would ever allow to dominate him. They did change occasionally. In general though, the Uchiha Patriarch was just fine with letting his lover take the reigns.
"Mmm me too. I've always wondered why you wanted me in the first place. I know it wasn't just because of my looks. You aren't that shallow." He muses.
"You were my cage. The only thing that kept me from going into a rage. After that, well I began to notice things. You're looks certainly helped. The wrapping paper is very nice, but mostly it was your ability to survive with your sanity intact." He admits.
"Well that's very…romantic." Sasuke says sarcastically.
"Well you asked. Also you have a very nice ass. That definitely helped." Jugo informs him with a grin.
Sasuke shakes his head in amusement. If nothing else, he could count on Jugo to be completely honest. That was probably one of the things that he loved best about him. Well other than the fact he was an amazing lover and father. Though those three things were closely linked in his mind. All of them reflected his caring and genuine nature.
"And I fell for you because of your honesty and your gentleness. The great sex definitely helped too of course." He admits.
"I can live with that." Jugo says and kisses him.
"Mmm good." Sasuke replies after returning the kiss.
The two spent the rest of the early morning and most of the following afternoon in each other's arms. They were a tangled pile of limbs and heated moans. The rest of the world simply ceased to exist for a few hours. They were with their most precious person and that's what mattered most.
"MEOW! WHY CAN'T YOU CRAZY MUTTS LEAVE ME ALONE?!" A ninja cat hisses in the morning as she darts across their honeymoon suite and some of Itachi's descendents chase after her.
"Some things never change." Sasuke mutters in annoyance once their afterglow was rudely interrupted.
"Well as long as I have you, I think that I can put up with some ninja animals with lousy timing." Jugo says.
Sasuke smiles. That was true. Eventually the animals would wear themselves out. Besides, they had more important things to do. They really should shower before they left to have lunch with the kids.
"True. Let's go get cleaned up. The kids are waiting for us." Sasuke says.
"Alright." Jugo says as he follows his lover.
They were rather late for lunch. In Jugo's defense, a naked Uchiha in a shower was a very hard thing to resist. There were after all benefits to taking another S Class Ninja as your lover. One of them was stamina.
"YOU'RE LATE! Where were you two?!" Naruto demands.
"Oh we just lost track of time." Jugo says with a smirk.
Sasuke snorts in amusement. Alright. So Jugo told one white lie in the over twenty years they had been together. He still had an impressive track record of honesty and what the kids didn't know, wouldn't hurt them. Besides, who wanted to hear about their fathers spending some quality time in the shower together?
"Liar!" Naruto says and the others just laugh.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Sasuke smiles as they head back to the Leaf. Jugo and Sasuke walk hand in hand together. Just as they had done for the past twenty years. After all, Sasuke never went anywhere without his shield.