Chapter 3: I Had Most of You
When Sasuke is away, Naruto slaves away in her office. Shikamaru looms over her desk, her most trusted advisor and caring friend, disapproves of the dark circles under her eyes. Shikamaru knows the only cure for his friend's uneasiness is having the Uchiha back; knows by now that his friend is just as dependent on Sasuke as he is on her. Shika marvels at Naruto's loyalty - when Sasuke was a rogue and had given her no promises, the whole world was against him and Naruto with him. Now that the Uchiha had vowed to her, married her in his ancestors' sacred shrine, Shika only wondered how lost exactly she was in her blind loyalty; how lost she could become in justifying her actions to satisfy the Uchiha and keep him happy, contain him in the village. She had already given him her body, her future… their bright hero tainted by this dark man.
It does not take Shika long to figure Sasuke out after he sees them together; now, grown up –-both broken, holding the other just enough to mend them, seeking the attention and approval of the other desperately. Ironic - how they fought to the death when really to kill each other all it took was to separate them.
Shikamaru does not pretend to understand a bond this intense and deep, having withstood lifetimes and apocalypses. His ninja senses are mature enough to feel the buzz of the couple's chakra when they are close to each other, the crushing intensity of their bond humbles him in his understanding of belonging. Shika wonders if he would ever want a love that intense –- no; a bond that intense robs you of choice, puts you on your knees, you give yourself until where do I begin and where do you end. Would surely kill anyone when the bond is broken, and Shikamaru knows that things never went well for long for his childhood friend. Shikamaru is a man of logic, celebrated for his deep understanding of strategy and actions and their consequences - knows that something as raw and as violent can have nothing but an equally violent end.
Sasuke is a passionate husband, and Naruto – a devoted wife. A couple of years of training and Naruto assumes the Hokage chair. Sasuke is madly proud when her face is carved onto the Hokage mountain… but they all want her attention. Every single one of them, consuming her energy and attention, and bile rises in Sasuke's mouth. Wants her to be away with him, forever, away from the village which ate away at their bond.
Sasuke still holds resentment toward Konoha for the impossible choices his brother had been forced to make by the council. The last Uchiha's loyalty lies completely only with the Hokage, and that proves to be enough for villagers and shinobi to trust him again. They know that the Hokage is holding the village up, and Sasuke is the pillar holding the Hokage up.
Sasuke does not bow to the Hokage like the rest; the intensity of their relationship and clashing chakra leaves no one questioning what their beloved Hokage's relations with the last Uchiha exactly are. Sasuke's sins are forgiven, never forgotten. The shinobi remember how Naruto chased and defended him when he was ready to make the village even with the ground with the bloodline power the very same village had worshipped.
The village has been witness to the wild possession seeping in Sasuke's eyes when he looks at her - the stable stance he takes next to her, protecting. When the Hokage needs to join her shinobi for a mission, overnight camp, one too many times shinobi had been witness to the way Sasuke looms over her while they explain a strategy over the map, quietly, protectively, dark eyes following, burning anyone looking at her with unclean eyes; witness to Naruto bent backward from the pressure of his mouth on hers, her mouth open wide and taking his tongue.
They know exactly what type of man it takes to satisfy someone with this vast amount of chakra, demonic chakra even. Mature shinobi senses can feel her chakra high, buzzing, out of balance, intense and sexual, a spark waiting for combustion. Then the Uchiha is there, eyes intense, chakra clashing with hers; and when he takes, the chakra storm quiets down; focus – back in her blue eyes, and she is a devoted leader again.
Naruto has a very high sex drive - the excessive amount of chakra coming from her Uzumaki heritage and the demon housed within, and Sasuke is there to satisfy that need, the craving to be mated, the craving to be equals in their rivalry even in the carnal. Sasuke fucks and marks her, needs to dominate her body to console himself to the role of second instead of alpha. And does Naruto fights for dominance and is shamefully dripping when she gives it away after a good fight, only he can win it, gets off with violence from being tamed by the only equal she has in the world. Some shinobi hear the sounds of their mating, their bodies coming together in raw moans, Sasuke's grunts and madly possessive words and Naruto's muffled whimpers; and Sasuke smirks in her neck as his seed fills her- wants everyone to know who she belongs to.
Violence represents the lives they lead – no room for gentle or patient.
The Uchiha manor feels like his home now more than the rest of the village. Sasuke and Naruto clean up the whole property and utilize a previously unused area of Sasuke's property as training grounds. They are free to unleash their strength there, away from doing harm; away from prying eyes when they make love in their rage. Sasuke puts the Uzumaki crest on his clothes and Naruto puts the Uchiha fan crest – the mark of the sinful clan. Deep pride swells his chest at the honour to call her his wife.
A couple more years are needed for the village to trust Sasuke again. They love their new Hokage, the village's bright hero, and it is undeniable that Sasuke is an invaluable asset to the village. Sasuke takes on the role of protecting the village from the outside, often being sent for intelligence gathering missions where his Sharingan and Rinnegan prove invaluable. The village is thriving, Konoha is the strongest village in the shinobi world. All of the other villages want to partner with Konoha, Suna being the strongest ally with the most trade going on. Konoha shinobi are widely known for their competency, bringing the village a fortune in mission fees.
Senju and Uchiha rule Konoha, once more, as in the beginning. Sasuke has become the shadow Hokage, much like Itachi had been, and Naruto promises him that she would never allow another shinobi to make the impossible choices Itachi was faced with. Soon after their shrine handfasting, Sasuke feels the need to atone for his sins through travels. Naruto, as always, insists that his redemption is home in Konoha, and she is right - his redemption lies with her. Comes home and takes her on the porch, never made it from the garden to the house. Knows that his acknowledgment of Naruto and their bond has blossomed to love – the love had always been there but they are aware of their hearts now… his dark heart, and it twists in him twists with possession, knows he needs her to stay sane and whole. He keeps her satisfied and cumming under his hands with the disparity of a broken man.
The protective stance Sasuke has over he leaves no one questioning what exactly Sasuke will do if anyone dares to cross Naruto, and the way he looks at her leaves no questions about what he will be doing to her once nobody was around and he could have her. They were Konoha's power couple, their passion for each other is famous in the other villages. Konohans see their beloved hero is happy and cared for by the Uchiha which helps them accept him again. His shinobi accomplishments in favor of Konoha restore the respect he once held as a promised child, a genius of his clan.
During his travels for the village, he goes out of his way to do good. When he is home, he tries to connect with the people in the village, especially Naruto's important people who have looked out for her and cared for her when he had not been there, Sasuke remembers with a heavy heart. Sometimes they hang out together and his old academy classmates have become more accepting of him seeing that he makes their friend happy and is completely loyal to the Hokage. Sasuke has bonded the most with Shikamaru. The Nara heir's calm personality and affinity to stay out of people's personal business make him a trusted companion, someone Sasuke can be sure would watch over Naruto with no ulterior motives while Sasuke travels.
Sasuke's therapist warns Sasuke - he is too attached to Naruto, too dependent on her. She warns him that he needs to find happiness outside of her as well, he needs to make himself whole, on his own, because he cannot possess her fully. Sasuke disagrees. The way she is so pliable under his fingertips, the way she orgasms and falls apart and then asleep in his arms, the way she bears his marks, is enough a sign to Sasuke that he possesses her.
The water is soft, luke-warm as it washes over alabaster skin. Sasuke cups handfuls of water and fingers rub his face slowly as he lets the river take away his worries. It is now morning and Sasuke relishes in the beauty of the forest. He has found within himself the ability to see the beauty of life again for the first time since he was 8… the first specs of beauty he found in the depths of her blue eyes, the ring of her laughter, then in the sweetness of her kisses, the grounding calmness of the tightness of her arms around him… the warmth of her core wrapped around him and her spasms of bliss. The water is soft and caressing against Sasuke's skin. His S-ranked solo mission has been successful, and he will be able to report the good news to the Hokage later tonight.
Sasuke walks in and finds Naruto asleep on her desk. Concern tingles at the back of his throat – she overworked herself again. Threads pale fingers through her hair - she relaxes into his touch and blue eyes flutter open to meet dark liquid fire. He often takes her right there in her office, in the holy place where the fate of the village is decided, and this time is no different. Her orgasm milks him dry and he convulses as thick ribbons of his seed claim from inside, deep where only he has been. Then he lifts her up, helps fix her clothing, and leaves her with an open-mouthed bruising kiss, "keep me inside you," he orders in a low and silky voice and Naruto is drowning in his musky smell. "Keep me deep inside you, think of my seed so deep inside you as you are talking to the diplomats during your meeting. They will look at you, Naruto, you are so fucking beautiful, and they will want you; but I am inside you and you are mine." "Fuuuck, Sasuke…" Naruto pulls his hair and it hurts; their rough kiss hurts and everything they have been through and how deep their love is-hurts. A pleasant ache pulses between her legs and in her lower belly; the warmth it radiates to the rest of her body settles a tingly and pleasant feeling.
Sasuke is guarding the meeting, scanning the outside area for intruders with his Sharingan when it happens – the council and some foreign established diplomats propose an adventitious marriage match for the Hokage – Konoha will benefit greatly from the alliance – and why is Naruto still letting them talk?... IS that hesitance, doubt, anger and panic rise in Sasuke- and Naruto interrupts them and declines the offer. Sasuke expected her to yell, banish them for even such a suggestion; but she is a leader now and it would be unwise, she is cautious and measured now. Sasuke blinks, how has he not noticed the change, and the buzz of his chakra crawls up Naruto's back, demanding of her attention. She sends them away, politely again, and she has not even turned around when Sasuke is right there, in her space, black liquid fires pin her down.
"You really have no idea how these men look at you, do you? How their eyes crawl over your body, how much they desire to replace my place in your bed," and he is looming over her again as he backs her into the table, pale fingers encircle her jaw. "You know you did not marry a good man, Naruto. If you wake up one day and decide you don't love me anymore, if you ever go to another man, I will scrub their germs off your tongue with a kunai and lock you in a cage until you love me again". Something broken inside Naruto twists; screams that this is the exact way she wants to be loved.
He takes her there, but with a bitter taste in his mouth. Sasuke sees the Uchiha shrine marriage as the only ceremony he cares about, the one he finds legitimate, but is reminded that in the eye of the shinobi world he is still not Naruto's husband until they obtain a legal marriage. He wants everyone to know that he is her husband, that Naruto has given herself to him completely, that the woman so many men want has given herself to him. Naruto says the same again, "we will do it as soon as Iruka-sensei returns from his healing at the village of the mist for the injuries sustained during the war. You know he is the closest person I have to a father, Sasuke." And Sasuke understands, but desires to possess her fully, to make it known to everyone, for her to carry his last name and his children. He tells her so—catches the thunder which crossed her face, how she stills, and then she masks it.
…Did she really think to escape his eyes?
Naruto comes home late, Sasuke wakes up and look up at her with heavy eyes. He really is the most beautiful creature Naruto has ever seen - with his silky black hair, deep black eyes, broad shoulders and lean muscular build. He is much warmer than one would think, and Naruto uses his warmth as a grounding force. She tells him to go back to sleep, takes her clothes off and gets under his blanket. He is sleeping on his side and Naruto faces his back, curls into a ball and probs her forehead against his warm back, an arm move to hold his waist with care. His warmth against her tired mind, measure breathing and presence, calm her busy mind and once again, she finds refuge in the man who also seeks shelter in her.
One by one, their friends begin forming families and Naruto watches with the corner of her eye Sasuke's faint smile as he lets Ino's and Sai's baby grab his finger. Naruto finds an old team photo - remembers Sasuke's two goals when they were young and had just joined the same team: to avenge his clan and then resurrect it. His revenge had gone terribly wrong and had cost so much more than originally anticipated… which only put all the more weight on Sasuke's second goal. Naruto had thought about having kids before… only to realize that she did not really want any. She wanted her village and her husband and that was enough for her to feel whole. She felt full with their life right now, felt she was more suited for a loving and passionate wife than an attentive mother. Sasuke had not brought it during the years… she assumed he had arrived at the same outlook. Their line of work would get terribly in the way, but Sasuke deserved an heir. The love she bore for Sasuke and her own brokenness made her want to please him, again, and the thought of carrying the child of such a powerful man who loved her so deeply sent a warm tingle through her chest.
The Uchiha really did choose the best land in Konoha – vast forests and virgin springs. A sinful land, now belongs to Sasuke alone. He scouts the area, feel Itachi's and his cousin Shisui's presence with him, memories of a past life of belonging, of love and togetherness. Discovers a hot spring, warm puffs of mist into the air. Takes Naruto to the hot spring in the evening, insists for her to leave the village be for now, Naruto. Be with me. Forget them now. Kisses her, makes an oath that this is their place as they descend into the warm velvet water. Feels tightness in his throat that she is preoccupied, not always fully present with him. The hot spring, with its tranquil warmth and quiet forest around, is their escape, where they there, present. And so is their home.
Months later, Naruto comes home to find Sasuke surrounded by piles of dusty books, holding a family album. They spend the evening with Sasuke telling her who is who in the pictures and baby Sasuke just looked adorable when he was little. Wetness covers his lashes when they pass pictures of Itachi, and Naruto is there for him again. "I was never able to avenge him," Sasuke lets out quietly. They come to a picture of team 7 and young Sasuke, so focused on revenge and… rebuilding his clan. Naruto looks at Sasuke in thought, sharply. She can feel Sasuke's lingering pain and regret over the past. He will never get to avenge the sacrifice his brother had to make. "Sasuke," Naruto licks her lower lip in nervousness; doesn't know how to go about it… "What would Itachi want for you? What would your parents want?"
Sasuke looks at the family picture in thought, his thumb caressing over it. "For me to find peace. To have a family again." He looks at her and she smiles at him lovingly, shifts on her knees in nervousness. A shimmer of light makes its way into Sasuke's eyes and he activates his Sharingan; sees Naruto's flaring orange and yellow chakra about her, Kyuubi's red one, and there is a small speck of purple chakra low in her abdomen. Sasuke feels his throat tighten and he is gripping her wrist so hard there will be a bruise. Naruto's breath catches when she sees the raw emotion on Sasuke's face.
Sasuke wants to shelter his wife and unborn child from the world, now more than ever wants to be there to watch over her, always. They tell their closest people and Iruka arrives shortly after, insisting that his injuries can wait and he wants to marry them now as a gift for expecting their first child. He holds Naruto tightly, is so proud of his two students, about to become parents. Iruka is one of the few people who trusted Naruto the whole time during her quest for Sasuke and accepted Sasuke back immediately and Sasuke cannot help but be grateful to the man for wishing them well so genuinely.
Her belly swells a little as the weeks pass and Sasuke makes even more damn sure that the village is a safe place for his wife and future child. He will name his son after his brother.
Naruto is in her office holding her little baby bump; feels satisfaction that Sasuke will be happy, pride that she will give him what he most wants; that she is once again able to please him the best, understand him the best. Because at the end, hasn't it always been like that between them? Naruto chasing Sasuke, bending backwards to give him everything that he wanted to make him preparations are on the way in Konoha. Although they have been married according to Uchiha laws for a couple of years now, Sasuke understands why they need the official legal marriage. Even more, he wants it. Wants people across al nations to finally know, finally confirm what everyone suspect and half-knows; Naruto is his. And she will give him an heir. Hates how men looked at her, especially the Kazekage - with fond longing, only how a man should look at a wife; with a quiet challenge in teal eyes, overcast with disapproval but respect for Naruto's choice. Sasuke had noticed even during the war battles, how he looked at her, with patience and something more, and it made his skin crawl. Blatantly warns the Uchiha that if the past repeats itself, I'll fucking slit your throat like the coward you are. Naruto was of course oblivious to it all.
Not everyone approves of their union. Sakura meets them on the street and Sasuke stands closer to Naruto protectively, his instincts. Naruto feels a tightness, only has been speaking to Sakura as her Hokage for years since she found out about them. Sakura congratulates them with a tight smile.
At two months, Naruto loses the baby. She is in a meeting when she excuses herself. Shikamaru, being a devoted and loyal friend, follow her outside, knows something is wrong. Golden hair overcasting her face and she is doubled over in pain, leaning against the wall of the hallway. Shikamaru rushes to her, "get Tsunade-same here immediately!", he orders the closest shinobi and helps his friend to the floor. She is shaking and as they rush her into Tsunade's cabinet, blood is already trickling down her legs.
Hushed whispers and sympathies follow the couple after their loss. "It happens often to moms in their 20s, especially first-time pregnancies," offers Tsunade as an explanation. "I see nothing wrong medically. Try to rest more – stress could have gotten to you." Tsunade looks at her with sympathy, quiet pity, and Naruto despises that that's how most who know have been looking at her for the last couple of months. And Sasuke… tan jaw clenches. Sasuke's eyes have changed.She got pregnant making love to her husband, wanted to fulfill his dream, give him an heir. Now they try for a baby. Approaches her with love and devotion, like always, but now there is anticipation, expectation in his eyes and deliberation in his touches beyond just satisfying and loving his wife. His eyes, Naruto loves so much, deep and dark; now watch her more closely, sharper, focused on her in yearning. Dark eyes follow her, looking for signs of pregnancy even when it is too early to show, whilst offering touches of love – maybe to soothe both of their anxieties.
Naruto does become pregnant again, and silent resolve settles in Sasuke's eyes. Naruto feels her anxieties unburden, she is his equal again, able to meet him in everything, provide him with everything. Her final declaration of love and devotion – a child, and Uchiha heir. Lets her shoulders relax; Sasuke is her loving husband again – passionate, tender, his touches – void of reluctance, the instruments of his passion for his equal, the only woman and shinobi who can meet him in everything. She has proven herself to him once again.
Sasuke finds more books and albums in the Uchiha library – reads and explains pictures to Naruto's belly, talking to their child and her tiny baby bump. Naruto feels Sasuke's eagerness, his shoulders so much tenser than the last time she was pregnant; clinging to this new chance, erasing the past as an unfortunate event. Naruto still studies Sasuke's regal features in awe, the light smile on his face beautiful.
Naruto smiles tightly, strokes his midnight hair; blue eyes water as Sasuke is talking to her belly with love and she does not want to interrupt the genuine moment, nails dig into her palms to give Sasuke just a moment more as she feels the blood pooling under her.
Note: This chapter was hard to write and it took a while. I was not sure how to present the situation so I appreciate your thoughts.