The Sly Fox and Its Secrets

Sakura handed Naruto a pill for his headache, watching him closely, as if he were fragile. Naruto cast an irritated glance her way.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"I'm scared," she said, and Naruto raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why?"

"What if something's really wrong with you? Why didn't Tsunade tell us what she saw? I thought…I never thought you could get sick, I thought the Kyuubi would always heal it."

Naruto's eyes widened when she turned away, trying to busy herself. She was shaking.

"Are you crying?" he asked incredulously, nervous.

"No!" She swiped at her eyes. After a moment she stamped her foot in frustration. "Dammit, Naruto, you're such an asshole!" she cried suddenly.

Naruto spluttered, whip-lashed by the sudden turn in the conversation. "W-what?"

"You have absolutely no respect for my feelings!"

"Where the hell did this come from!" he cried, hoping the pill for his headache kicked in within the next minute or so.

Sakura swiped at her eyes, taking on a stance that looked eerily similar to Tsunade in her powerful anger. "You're such a fucking jerk! How could you have said something so horrible! It's not like you! What's gotten into you anyway? I understand you're upset about Sasuke, but you didn't have to take it out on me!" She was really crying now, and Naruto was at a loss. She's still upset about what I said to her all those nights ago.

Guilt washed over him. He was sorry for that, he really was. He'd thought about it multiple times. His mouth felt dry. It was time to apologize. "Sakura," he said gently, "Calm down and listen for a-"

"You were my first!" she said angrily. "Then you had to go and defile it like that! Make it all seem like it was nothing."

Naruto stared at her, stunned. "Well, you did a shitty job of showing me you cared!" he shot at her. Was he really getting attacked over her mistake? Damn! He leaned back against his pillows, crossing his arms over his chest.

Sakura sniffed, wiping her eyes."So what if I can't forget Sasuke, neither can you. That doesn't mean I can't move on."

"Sakura, you're not even letting me say I'm sor-"

"You're not ready to let him go, either. You never moved on." Sakura whispered. "Even after all this, you're still going to try."

"Of course I am. What else do you want me to say?" Naruto wondered, watching her closely. He felt a pang at the subject change.

"I guess it's twisted," Sakura continued, ignoring him. "I can't let either of you go. Is it weird to think that we were brought together because we shared a common sadness from Sasuke's absence in our lives?" She walked towards a window. Looked outside for a little while.

After a moment more she said, "I care about you."

Naruto bent his head, fiddled with his bed sheets, closed his eyes and took a breath. He did not want to have this conversation. He didn't want to hurt her again.

"You said you liked me for so long, yet you're silent. So I guess this is the third time you reject me." Her voice hung suspended, melancholy.

He sighed, weary. "Things change, Sakura."

"Do you regret sleeping with me?" she asked quietly, still thinking of his words from that night.

"No!" he insisted, silently cursing. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that-I shouldn't-You know-I want you to know that-argh!" He shook his head, stumbling over his words.

She smiled faintly at his attempt. "You told me that you knew I would always love Sasuke more than I loved you. It's true that I'll always love him, but the more I think about it, the more it sounds like you, not me."Sakura surprised him by saying. Naruto looked up at her. Was everyone coming to this conclusion now? he thought bitterly.

"We both love him," she said.

Naruto looked away, leaned back. It was his turn to look out the window. "I said I'd bring him back, I never said anything about loving him," he said gruffly.

Sakura smiled at him sadly. "But you do." She walked out of the room then, and Naruto noticed how her shoulders shook as she left. She was still crying. Cursing, he sank into his pillow, wanting the day to end. Hell, he wanted this year to end. The whole year had been tarnished with the war, the past couple weeks had been torture, and now it was bordering on three weeks since…he closed his eyes. No, he wouldn't think of it. Before he could drift off into a light sleep, Tsunade burst loudly through the door to his room, looking furious.

"The hell-?" Naruto squealed, sinking further back into his bed and eyeing her imposing figure warily.

"You better not ever fucking lie to me ever again, brat!" Tsunade hissed, grabbing Naruto by the gown and yanking him forward. Naruto's eyes widened, unsure of exactly what was going on. So he said nothing. Tsunade released him to stalk to the door and close it with a snap. She paced for several seconds. Finally, she took a deep breath.

"You let someone talk to the Nine Tails," she accused.

Stunned, Naruto gaped at her."No! I never-"

"I said don't fucking lie to me!" Tsunade shouted, slamming her fist against the wall and leaving a dent. Damn, she's pissed. Naruto met her gaze, apprehensive.

"I said I never let anyone speak to the Nine Tails," he repeated firmly. Tsunade clenched her fist but didn't let it fly.

"Then why," she began, voice shaking, "Why are you approximately five weeks pregnant?"

Naruto stared at her. For several long moments he said nothing. What did anyone say to something like that? Finally, he made for the door. "I'm leaving. Apparently something is very wrong with you. Were you the one drinking, Granny?"

Tsunade blocked the door with her body. "This is not a joke, Naruto," she said through clenched teeth. "How you can be such an idiot at a time like this is beyond me."

Naruto felt his whole face turn red. "I'm the idiot? I'm not the one trying to persuade a guy that he's five weeks pregnant!" he shouted, vexed.

"Tell me right now, who you let speak to the Nine Tails, or if anyone did so against your will, or so help me I will send you to Ibiki," she swore darkly.

Naruto stilled, her anger sending him reeling. She'd meant it, too, he realized with mounting apprehension. "No one." he repeated. Tsunade's cheeks were splotchy. She was wild-eyed as he said it. For one horrifying moment, he truly thought she was going to send for Ibiki. It hit him hard then: she wasn't fooling around. He was dumbstruck.

She placed her hands on his shoulders, her golden eyes boring into his blue ones. He held her gaze defiantly, and she pulled away from him after a few seconds, seemingly satisfied…for the moment. She rubbed her temples.

"This is beyond me," she muttered, massaging her temples. She looked so serious, so forlorn, that Naruto actually began to feel afraid.

"Am I really…?" His voice trailed, just saying it in his head sounded completely ridiculous and asinine. There was no way he could actually say it out loud.

"Yes," Tsunade snapped. "Four weeks, six days. Five tomorrow."

Naruto blinked. It was too weird, too surreal, to believe for a second. "I really can't believe you," he said finally.

Tsunade's shoulders sagged. "It's not common knowledge. It's the Nine Tails. There was a rumor, legend of sorts that dealt with Jinchuurikis. Supposedly, there is a slight chance of escape in a human body. Demons are the original users of jutus, the original manipulators of nature with ancient arts. They can manipulate your very being if they know how. It's hard to tell what really happens. No one really knows. A deal is made with the demon, it is then consummated, and a child is conceived as a result. It's a dangerous, dark, taboo. A black art. Such a person might even be more desired than Jinchuurikis." Tsuande groaned, glaring at Naruto.

"Do you know what this means for us politically, should it be found out?" she pressed.

Naruto was silent. He was still trying to absorb it all, and he was failing.

"Do you have any idea what will be said? 'There goes the Leaf, dabbling in the dark arts!' They'll grow suspicious, thinking we're creating some sort of super soldier. Not to mention the backlash that we're already experiencing from the failure of Sasuke's capture. We're on thin ice with the Allied Shinobi Forces, Naruto! To think what would be said when they realize the conception date suspiciously lands around the day you fought Sasuke! They would undoubtedly think we were working with Akatsuki. It's been done before, but with the Hidden Stone." She eyed him.

"Tell me this wasn't a result of a tryst with Uchiha. Tell me it was someone else," she pleaded, though Naruto knew she had answered her own question long ago. Naruto's face burned. Ashamed, he looked away.

Tsunade cursed. "Not only are you carrying a powerful child, but this child will very likely be born with both the Kyuubi's chakra abilities and likely the Uchiha's Sharingan. The Sharingan is a strong bloodline limit. I can almost be sure that is what will happen. Do you know how dangerous this is?"

Naruto shook his head as he processed it. "It doesn't make sense."

Tsunade's nostrils flared. "How the hell can it not-"

"No deal was made." Naruto explained calmly, and he felt a little more at ease as he thought so. As if, if he explained it, there was no way it could be true. "How could this have happen if a deal wasn't made?" As shocking as the news was, he still wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the thought. Perhaps Tsunade was losing her touch. Maybe she'd made a mistake.

He clung to that.

Tsunade scrutinized him. "Are you sure you weren't placed under some type of genjutsu so you wouldn't remember? Are you under one now? I'm calling in Kakashi!" She seemed so anxious. Naruto squirmed and wrinkled his nose. He was not under some type of genjutsu. Yet he allowed Kakashi to examine him.

"Well?" Tsunade pressed.

Kakashi sighed. "He's in the clear," he assured her. He studied Naruto with an unreadable expression. Naruto crossed his arms, staring back at him, ignoring the heat creeping up the back of his neck from embarrassment.. Tsunade had entrusted her newly gathered information to him. There was silence Naruto couldn't bear, and then Kakashi had to go and open his mouth.

"So Sasuke's the daddy?" He tried to sound light, but Naruto sensed an edge to his voice. Fear?

Naruto rolled his eyes. "No, I'm the daddy, as far as I'm concerned the bastard is not in the picture!" he huffed, face burning when he realized exactly what he had said. Great. It sounded worse said out loud, he quietly despaired. Kakashi looked dubious.

"I still don't believe this!" Naruto cried, throwing his arms in the air. "It sounds ridiculous and stupid!"

Kakashi smiled nervously, running a hand through spiky silver hair, and Tsunade put her face in her hands. "This doesn't get out. Kakashi, Shizune, and I are the only ones entrusted with this information for now. It's too risky, it could put our position with the Alliance in jeopardy. We cannot allow anyone but those involved to realize Naruto's chakra displacement, as it will give them cause for concern. We must hide him, and quickly."

Kakashi nodded in silent agreement. "Where can we hide him so that the Kages will not be suspicious of us bumping up the date? Tsunade, they will take offense. We're supposed to be flanked by ninja from the Hidden Mist and Cloud-"

"I understand, but the man from the Hidden Mist implanted a stolen Byakugan in his left eye, we cannot afford for him to notice anything-"

A sudden idea occurred to Naruto, who'd been sitting there silently, listening through a haze. He shook himself. "Why not send me to the Mount Myoboku? I'm safe in the Toad lands. Have them summon me and use that excuse for my absence. Say I'm being trained. Even you are not in control over when I am summoned there and for how long," Naruto suggested. Tsunade blinked. Sometimes Naruto had sudden strokes of brilliance. Or maybe he was always like that, hiding under his obnoxiousness and boundless energy.

"Yes, that would work…"

"Tsunade, you should converse with Fukasaku, tell him what we have learned. He is wise, and with help from the Great Sage, they might aid us in coming up with a decent plan. Naruto is important to them. Until then, maybe we shouldn't send him there right away. It's only more suspicious. Have him summoned after he goes into hiding, on his way to the rendezvous point with the Cloud.."

Tsunade's brows furrowed. "I can see the sense in that, it helps our image and gives the appearance of also being taken unaware-" Before she could finish, an ANBU officer appeared in a puff of smoke, startling them all.

"Lady Tsunade, Akatsuki members have been spotted in the forest!"

Naruto's eyes widened, and Kakashi had to push him back down, much to Naruto's dismay.

"Stay here, brat!" Tsunade ordered, and Naruto cursed violently.

Tsunade barked out orders. Then she smiled grimly. "I have our reason to send Naruto on the move immediately. I will send a letter."

For the moment, Naruto was alone in the hospital room while Tsunade and Kakashi argued over the best way to hide Naruto under the noses of suspicious Kages. Mainly the Hidden Cloud and Mist were their concerns.

Gaara, they believed, wouldn't cause a scene. Although Naruto doubted the same could be said for Kankuro and Temari, who seemed more hot-headed than their quiet, observant brother.

He listened to the murmur of their voices, and tried to digest everything that had just happened. The fight with Kiba, the shock of this supposed pregnancy…He wrinkled his nose.

Wow, that sounded so...well...stupid! Him, pregnant? No, no, it was wrong on so many levels. He wanted to cry out in frustration, or laugh. The fates must hate him. He had always believed his fate would at one point tangle with Sasuke's, but now it seemed their lives would always be entangled. One night. One freaking night with Sasuke, and he gets pregnant. Of fucking course!

Still…

How?

Was this really happening? Casting a quick glance towards the door and noting the silhouettes of the Hokage and his former teacher, Naruto closed his eyes and reached into his mind, determined to find answers from a more believable source.

When he opened his eyes again he was bathed in ruddy orange light. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the dimness of the cell. He waded, knee-deep, through the waters that dripped from the Kyuubi's terrible maw. A dark chuckle bounced off the steel of the prison, echoing eerily, and Naruto hesitated.

The Nine Tails watched him with the hungry eyes of a predator. The demon smiled until Naruto could have counted each tooth, canines pale as bone gleaming like death in the dark. Saliva dripped in long tendrils from his jowls, adding to the pool.

"So you have finally come," the demon rumbled, highly amused. Naruto eyed the Kyuubi warily. He cursed it. This is the work of the Nine Tails alone. The damn fox, he realized angrily. He asked one simple question:

"How?"

The Kyuubi laughed. "Stupid, insolent human whelp. Do you think your kind could keep secrets from a being such as I? I'm meant to be free." The whole cavern rumbled and echoed with the word free. The Kyuubi laughed, something lethal and predatory.

Naruto glowered at the beast. "You're sealed within me-"

"Fool! I live in the child!"

Naruto inhaled sharply, fearful. Was this child demonic? His hands traveled to his middle, gripped his shirt until he pinched his skin, as if he could claw through and rip it out with his bare hands. Was it true? Did only evil lurk within him? The Nine Tails laughed as if reading his thoughts.

"Go ahead," the Kitsune taunted, gleeful. "Try and cut it out from your belly, I'll stop you."

Naruto felt a tremor course him, a fear, a weakness that made him ill, but he quickly regained his composure. "I will not let you escape!" he snarled. The Kyuubi only laughed. Naruto tried to breathe. Could it be? Was this child just a manifestation of the Kyuubi? Somewhere, a corner of his mind not touched by fear, a thought stood firm. Look into this deeper before you keep freaking out. He looked up.

"If you had knowledge of this, why not try it before? Like when you were sealed within a woman? Like my mother. Would have made it a hell of alot easier, don't you think?"

The Nine Tails regarded him. For a moment, Naruto believed the demon would keep its secrets, but it seemed far too amused at the idea of distressing its host.

"I did not know of it. I was visited by a spirit, who graced me with the knowledge. I knew of the pent up desire between you and the Uchiha. It was far too easy to goad you both in that direction. He only needed a little push to act on it." The demon growled as it reflected. "Disgusting humans, your mating rituals sicken me. I had to listen to the sound of your body slapping against his, but when I heard it, I knew I was triumphant."

Naruto flushed, angry and sickened. "This child, will it be a human version of you?" For a moment, the Nine Tails seemed thoughtful, and Naruto wondered if he could take it for doubt.

"What else could it be if it comes from my very soul?" the demon answered.

Naruto frowned, trying desperately to find a loophole. A way around that might free him from carrying yet another monster. "But the child has mine and Sasuke's genetics. That's something you can't give it. It'll have its own mind, not yours," Naruto guessed. The Nine Tails seemed infuriated by the thought.

"No, a part of me will live within it!" it snarled. It quieted in its cell, eyes bright. The demon grinned crookedly, cocking its head.

"Listen," It breathed. Naruto frowned, but closed his eyes and listened. At first, all he could hear was the water rushing past his legs, and the breathing of the demon, but beneath it all, struggling to be heard, was the faintest of thumping sounds. It grew louder as Naruto zoned in on it.

"Your child's heart is forming, Naruto. Soon, the beating cells will beat as one. It lives. I live."

Naruto ignored the comment and zoned in on the life form. There it was, his own chakra wrapped around the developing embryo almost protectively. For a moment, he was awed by the idea of it, but he was also wary of the growing child.

Naruto reached out for it, searching for a malevolence. He was touching his child, he suddenly realized, and the thought left him confused, taken aback, awed. Sasuke's child. Their child. Suddenly it was so real it was overwhelming. It was almost too much. It was too much. All at once. He could feel how his body struggled to support it, how the embryo clung to him for sustenance. Yet, he could not feel the Kyuubi's evil.

Yes, its chakra was there, helping create an artificial womb, but he detected nothing frightening. Naruto grinned, and he had hope that the terrible beast he caged would remain imprisoned.

"Yes. You live," Naruto said, coming out of his trance-like state to glare up at Nine Tails. His grin broadened.

"You only live in me."

The Kyuubi snarled, thrashing against the burning steel that confined it. It cursed, howling with rage, trying to fit a claw through the bars in the hopes of gutting its host.

Naruto turned his back to the fox. "You better damn well learn to get used to it, fox, 'cause none of these tricks are going to work. As long as I'm alive, you're stuck here. You want out? You're gonna have to die along with me." He eyed the demon fiercely.

The Kyuubi watched him from the gloom in his prison before saying, "We'll see, whelp. We'll see who's left alive when this is over." Malicious laughter hissed through the Kitsune's teeth, leaving Naruto unsettled, but mostly determined.

"Yeah," he whispered, once again noticing the slight drum of his child's forming heart. It seemed to echo through him until it was all he heard.

"We'll see."