There is a shock that travels all the way from Naruto's fingertips to his head. He feels overwhelmed but not in any of the ways he has ever known. There is no risk of his feelings going haywire, there is no worry of the Beast's chakra leaking out. He feels overwhelmed with the most calming feeling he has ever experienced.

"Did you f-feel that?"

He did. He still feels something under his hand, even. He's not sure what it is, but a part of his son, for sure.

His son.

His son that will probably be born without this whole fiasco resolved. His son that will probably be a target of this whole situation.

"Naruto?"

He smiles and caresses Hinata's belly. "I did." She's big and soon to give birth and Naruto loathes the situation they're in. "How have you been feeling?"

His wife smiles. That smile she has been giving him as of late. That smile that says 'I'm not something to be worried about. I won't be a burden to you.'

That smile that makes Naruto want to kneel on the floor and beg for forgiveness.

"It's been a good pregnancy," she shares. "S-sakura even said she was surprised about it."

Hinata shares some of her burdens. But none of them Naruto can fix. Some swelling in her feet, some swelling in her hands. Shortness of breath. All to be expected.

"Sorry I can't do more to help." It's barely a breath from Naruto. But Hinata picks on it immediately.

She walks on her knees towards him. Brings his hands over her body and nestles herself in between the arms of her husband.

"This is enough."

Naruto closes his eyes and wishes he were stronger now. Stronger than anyone. Enough to dissuade everyone who even dares to think of touching his family.

He's not.

He's the Nine-Tails. He's called the strongest Beast Tamer. And yet he lives in fear of harm coming his way.

He wishes he could shield his family from all the bad in the world.

"I need to talk to your father."

•·································•·································•

The room air's feel stifling. The people inside refuse to make eye contact with one another and Shikamaru can only try his hardest to keep a calm expression. He decides to keep his eyes glued to the paper in front of him.

He writes nonsense. There are some whispers around him that at any other time he would have calmed down. But not now, not after they've been attacked by some of the very people present here today.

The air is tense and Shikamaru glances around the room. Some of the people here look nervous, but not scared. He can only imagine the things going through their heads.

Greed and ambition for sure, but how on earth have they deluded themselves that this is the best course of action?

His lord… Naruto has always believed in those around him. Lord Minato raised him to be fair and just and trustful of his vassals. It makes Shikamaru's blood boil to know that they have taken their positions for granted. That they have taken a look at their lord and thought him lacking.

It pains him to know that Naruto will take all of this as his burden.

The mumbling stops the moment Naruto enters the room. Silence envelopes every nook and cranny and no one dares talk even when Naruto sits and remains quiet himself.

They have seen this man grow. From the moment Naruto would accompany either his father or his grandmother to the Council meetings, to the moment he became clan leader. They have been under his command for years now and have seen him go through most feelings one could watch a Beast Tamer go.

Naruto looks calm and collected and yet they don't start conversation, they don't start small talk. The tension is evident in Naruto's shoulders. Shikamaru can't see his face but can feel the waves of anger radiating from his body.

"So," he starts. His voice unlike the refreshing tone he always uses, deep and contained. Angry. "As you are well aware we have been attacked." Naruto keeps his eyes on his hands, his fingers crossed. "We are investigating the perpetrators, but we already know some of them are in this very room with us."

A few of the people inside choke out of pure shock. Others squirm in their place.

"My lord," starts one.

"Shut up," Naruto commands. The silence grows stronger, "I want you all to listen first. I don't know what is going inside your heads, I don't know what promises you might have been given and at this point I frankly don't care. You will work with me in order to destroy what's left of the Uchiha and that's final."

One clan leader can't believe his ears. What impudence. "Are you threatening us?" He says, all poise out the window. His own fangs showing through.

But Naruto has had enough of being polite and reserved. He stares down the man, "I am commanding you. Last time I checked you were all vassals of the Uzumaki clan, were you not?"

"Last time I checked we were to be given a modicum of respect, were we not?"

Naruto laughs. One short chortle that makes the other man sit more straight. "Funny, you mean to take this as a slight or something? So you can justify betraying your lord?"

"I have never-"

"Shut it." Naruto takes his time standing. His full height towering the people in the room. "I am sure you have heard the rumors at least, how we have people capable of extracting whatever information we want from our prisoners."

"If it is under torture then you can't be sure-"

"I said shut up." The room grows colder and Naruto takes two steps to the man, who is growing visibly flustered at this combo. "Who is your lord?"

The man takes two second to gulp down the knot in his throat, "Lord Naruto of the Uzumaki clan."

"Then how dare you betray me?"

"My lord I would never-"

"I already know who you are," the face of his vassal grows paler by the second, "who all of you are. Spare me the bullshit, I don't care why, I just want to deal with this now and be done with it as soon as I can."

"So the plan is to go all out against the Uchihas?" Another woman asks.

"Yes. With all of our power."

"And the people who don't answer this call?"

Naruto turns. She is not one of the people who attacked him, so he's worried maybe his investigation hasn't been as thorough. That maybe they have overlooked people.

But her eyes tell him of trust and support. And he realizes what she wants. "Then they are enemies too and will be dealt as such."

"My lord, you shouldn't threaten your vassals," chimes in another man. His voice calm but worried.

Naruto frowns. And realizes he should also let them know that although not of the mind to forgive or forget about those that have wronged him, he's the same lord they have known throughout the years. "The people in here have known me either for my whole life or most of it. I trust you all know this choice I'm making is brought solely by the circumstances we are now facing."

Silence. Clothes shuffle and a few people clear their throats as quietly as possible.

"I don't see how any of your actions could be misunderstood, my lord."

"It is obvious those who don't work for the better of the Uzumaki clan should be closely monitored."

"None of the things you have said go against the clan's wellbeing, my lord, you shouldn't have to seek support. That's a given."

"I don't know why anyone would be against taking care of this threat as soon as possible. What do we gain from letting it grow?"

"Fester, I would say. I would be even harsher than Lord Naruto, I must say, the best course of action was and is to squash our enemies as soon as they show."

The people inside the room whisper and mumble and Naruto lets it flow for a while before asking for silence again. "Anyways, the choice is made, the order is issued."

Most of the people look at him, some even nod along. There are some that keep their heads down, away from Naruto's gaze. "I will send orders to each of you when the time comes. You are all dismissed."

Nobody moves, and Naruto is relieved to see they still show him respect. Worse comes to worst…

They leave the room one after the other and Naruto hears them as they leave. He sits in an annex room, away from prying eyes, his room surrounded by his guards. He waits for Shikamaru to bring his vassals. All of them at once. All of them in different rooms. All of them with a copy of himself. Not one of them knowing the others are here. Naruto explains the same thing again and again, with the same intonation, with the same worried expression on his face.

He feels the fear he's supposed to portray, so it comes easy. His voice quivers, even, and he can see in the eyes of those in front of him that his acting is impeccable.

They call for a handful of different vassals. Some they know are loyal, some they doubt, some they already know worked with Madara.

They all receive the same story, they all receive the same orders.

His child is soon to be born. And with all this going on Naruto is worried more than ever about harm coming their way. He needs people to protect and hide his wife as she gives birth. Somewhere secluded, somewhere far away, somewhere he can visit in secret and where she can be guarded 24/7.

They all agree to help, their eyes twinkling with excitement, but Naruto doesn't know what type. He has to trust these people.

He has to trust them with his life.

"Do you understand what it means if something… anything were to happen to my wife or my child?"

They nod. They show worry, too. Chaos, is the answer, if Naruto were to feel such a surge of emotion he is sure he'll let go of whatever self-imposed binds he has for himself.

He would freely let go, if anything to destroy as much as he himself has been hurt.

"You are tasked with the birth of my child."

"Of course, my lord. I will protect your wife and child with my life."

They nod their heads and repeat the same words to Naruto. They will spare no resources on this task. On their lives, they swear. This is such an honor, they repeat.

They bow once and twice and then some more as they stand up and leave the room.

Naruto feels sick to his stomach.

He stands on his room even after all of them have left. Even after all of his clones have been released, even after Shikamaru comes to see him after he takes too long to regroup.

Shikamaru takes one long look at his lord, then places his hand on Naruto's arm.

"You can come to me when you're ready so we can keep on discussing our plans."

Naruto stares at Shikamaru's hand. His mouth is unable to move, his voice is stuck on his throat, so he nods. Nods and closes his eyes and then after the door to his room closes he brings his hands to his face and exhales a breath that's more of a shudder.

"Oh, fuck."

Hello, everyone! Have nothing else to say but thanks for all the love and enjoy this chapter!
Take care and see you next week!

Ramona! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It was funny writing Naruto as a mean lord and then as a friend lol
All the best! Take care!