Chapter 39

Kakashi began to explore. The main room was huge, with a fireplace already burning away, long couches with fluffy blankets and rugs. There was a huge bookshelf stocked with books, even Icha Icha, much to Kakashi's joy, and a table with tea and snacks already sat out. Kakashi munched on some of them and poured himself tea, before continuing his exploration. Including the bedroom, there were five doors, the large, double doors were locked. The ones Kakashi assumed would lead him outside Mr. Kidnapper's wing of the castle. The next room was a dining room, with two cushioned seats at the table. The other door lead to a bathroom, with a swimming pool inside it, and another room inside it that lead to a private sauna.

Why was there a swimming pool?

Kakashi shook his head and walked out.

There was one last door. He opened it and flinched, almost dropping his tea. He caught it with shaky hands, and drank in the room. A purr escaped him, and he couldn't help but slowly take a step inside.

It was a nursery.

Mr. Kidnapper had made their baby a nursery.

The walls were a pale green, and the carpet a cream colour with a thick, white rug. The curtains as white as the rug along with the large white crib that sat against the wall to his right. A rocking chair sat in the corner right next to it, a teddy seated upon it. Kakashi approached the crib, running a hand along the railing. The green bedding caught his eye, and he couldn't help but shakily smile.

Mr. Kidnapper had given him a very beautiful nursery.

There was a little dresser, a mini bookshelf, a rocking horse and a changing table. The bookshelf already filled with baby books. Kakashi's eyes burned, and he quickly wiped away the tears, sitting the tea aside. He paused at the swirling portal that appeared, and watched as Mr. Kidnapper stepped out of it. Mr. Kidnapper softened immediately, and brushed his hand against Kakashi's cheek. Kakashi leaned into the touch, his Omega cooing.

"I thought you were still asleep," Mr. Kidnapper admitted. "I was hoping to surprise you myself..." He hesitated, looking around the room, before hugging him. "Do you like it?"

"It's great," Kakashi admitted, leaning into the embrace, wiping his eyes. "I hate that I'm crying though..."

Mr. Kidnapper purred soothingly, nuzzling into him. "That's understandable."

"You actually made this?" Kakashi smiled.

"Yeah, through trial and error," Mr. Kidnapper admitted. "I'm glad you like it. I wasn't sure about colours, since I don't know about the gender-"

"I don't know either. Green is nice though." It reminded him of home. He looked up at Mr. Kidnapper. "I take it you plan to keep me here for a long time then."

"Yes. Perhaps when I think you'll behave you might walk the grounds of the castle, but for now you won't be leaving the wing. Servants will bring you food and tend to your well-being."

Kakashi definitely wouldn't leave through the main doors. But Mr. Kidnapper had said nothing about the windows. He fought off the urge to smirk. No, he kept himself to a sulk instead.

"Oh, and don't bother with the windows either." Mr. Kidnapper sounded amused.

Kakashi scowled.

Bastard.

"I know you're going to find this frustrating," Mr. Kidnapper acknowledged, pulling away, holding him by his shoulders instead. "But I'm not letting you or the baby get hurt. I know you can protect yourself in normal circumstances, however you're in a much more delicate state right now."

"So you'll take me away from my home when it was just attacked by a creepy snake guy. Oh yes, because that's reasonable," Kakashi argued. "You can't just keep me here..." He paused. "Me and the baby... We belong in Konoha."

"The place full of death, misery and arrogant, self-righteous people. Konoha's people are so far up their own asses that it makes them blind to the rot and filth they live in. They believe they are better than those who shed blood and tears to protect their home. They believe they have a right to judge those and their children for one simple misdeed." Mr. Kidnapper scoffed. "Half the time those 'misdeeds' aren't even wrong. I won't let them hurt our baby like they've hurt you."

"Yes, there are horrible people there, but there are also good ones." Kakashi glanced down at his stomach. "I... I never thought of having a baby, but this pup, I... There will be plenty of people who will love them..."

Mr. Kidnapper softened. "Yes, there will be." His voice hardened. "But you had plenty of people who loved you until the day they all turned on your father." Mr. Kidnapper cupped his cheek. "Have you really forgiven them for that?"

That was an old wound. And admittedly, one Kakashi never thought would heal entirely.

Kakashi frowned. "I'm not going to live my life hating the world and people. I never did. All I hated was..." Kakashi didn't even want to finish that sentence. Obito would screech like a demon if he ever heard those words. Dead or not.

Kakashi startled at the sudden murderous intent, but as quickly as it came, it died off. Mr. Kidnapper embraced him again, clutching him tight.

"You will never feel like that again," Mr. Kidnapper growled. "I won't let you."

"Thanks?"

He wasn't sure if that was something to be thankful for or not, but Kakashi would just go with it for now. Mr. Kidnapper was a rather annoyingly, overprotective Alpha, but Kakashi was starting to get used to it. And he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

.::.

Sasuke's scent was sickening. It was full of so much distress, terror, pain and confusion and it made Sakura want to shy away. Her Alpha pup reeled in confusion and stress and they wanted to comfort Sasuke.

They needed to comfort Sasuke.

"Sasuke-" Sakura finally caught up to him, catching his arm. "Wait! Please, calm down a moment and talk to us-"

Sasuke yanked his arm free. "Don't tell me to calm down! Itachi was here. He was trying to kidnap Naruto and he put all of us under a genjutsu and he was fighting Izumi and she got hurt! She was hurt! And I couldn't do anything to stop it. I'm supposed to avenge my clan and stop Itachi from hurting anyone else ever again, but how can I do that when I'm this weak?"

Everyone froze, all except Sasuke. Sasuke who Sakura had never seen like this. He was always so calm and cold. He was always strong and smart. Sasuke was a genius and he was calling himself weak? Of all people?

What did that make her?

"And why the hell was Itachi after you in the first place, Naruto?" Sasuke spat. "What made him go after you? He shouldn't even be aware you exist! Is he going after my squad now? Whose next, Sakura? Kakashi? He's just going to keep killing everyone I interact with until I snap!" Sasuke wavered. "If he's going after you then he thinks you're important, but he still doesn't think I'm important enough to kill! I'm still worthless to him-"

Naruto was pale, as well as Choji and Ino. But to Sakura's surprise Shikamaru looked grim, as if he had been expecting this. But how could anyone expect this to happen? Sasuke was the best of their year. Sasuke shouldn't be able to think any of this. He should know how strong he was.

"Then we'll just have to fight him off together... Team 7 as one..." Sakura tried weakly.

Sasuke bristled. "Because that's a brilliant idea, Sakura! Give Itachi more targets. Fantastic thought, why did I never think that?"

Sakura winced. Okay, that wasn't the best idea, but they would think of something. They had to, for Sasuke's sake.

.::.

"And what do you think you can do?" Shikamaru asked sharply. "We're all kids here. If someone like Izumi got hurt fighting them, and if someone like Jiraiya, a Sanin, couldn't stop them, then we're fucked. That's why there is training available for those of us who want to become stronger. That's why we have teachers."

"You don't get it!" Sasuke yelled. "None of you get it. Itachi was my brother and he murdered my entire family! Izumi and I had ANBU guarding us for months. We couldn't go back to our home for weeks because of all the blood and bodies people had to clear out. It's my responsibility as the last Uchiha who can face him, who isn't his mate, and kill him. I have to avenge my entire clan to let them finally rest peacefully!" His eyes grew dark as he glared them down. "So don't you dare tell me to calm down."

"I doubt Izumi cares for that sentiment," Shikamaru said. "Did you even catch her scent? She was terrified for you. But she also wasn't going to back down. Not when we were all behind her."

"So that's it? I'm always just going to be in the way..." Sasuke gritted his teeth.

He had always been in the way. Itachi had always been the stronger one. Unbeatable. Unbreakable. Sasuke was nothing in comparison. No matter how hard he tried... He couldn't help his clan when they needed him most. He couldn't help Izumi and now she was hurt. Itachi had gone after Naruto and Sasuke hadn't done a single thing to help.

He needed to get stronger.

He was wasting time standing about here. Sasuke scowled and marched past his fellow rookies. They all looked confused, Sakura even calling out for him. "Sasuke!" She rushed after him. "What-"

"I'm going back to Konoha," he said coldly. "I have training to do."

.::.

"Guess I'm leaving lovely Izumi and the kids in your hands, Guy." Jiraiya smiled.

"Bite me." Izumi scowled. "Or better yet, yourself. You'd get too much enjoyment otherwise."

"You're as cranky as ever." Jiraiya sweat dropped.

"Master Jiraiya," Guy called out. "Please, find the Lady Tsunade. We really need her help. We have no clear leadership. My student is still suffering the effects from being poisoned. Kakashi has been abducted by a powerful Alpha. We need her help desperately."

"Also we just got attacked by Itachi and Kisame," Izumi said dryly. "So that's a big problem."

"My dad's also gonna go crazy soon if he keeps having to run things." Shikamaru picked at his ear. "It's such a drag."

"So Naruto isn't in any danger anymore, right?" Sakura asked.

"I'll be around to keep him out of trouble." Jiraiya grinned.

"Huh, funny, considering you were around before, and yet Itachi still got to him," Sasuke scoffed.

Jiraiya paused, then eyed Izumi. "You two really are related."

Izumi grinned proudly.

.::.

Naruto watched as Sasuke left. He hadn't known what to say to him ever since Sasuke had yelled at all of them earlier about Itachi. He couldn't say anything, because Sasuke was right. Itachi was too powerful, and that meant Naruto had to get stronger, strong enough to defeat Itachi.

So that one day Team 7 can beat Itachi and put Sasuke's demons to rest.

.::.

Tenzo stared grimly down at the memorial. He had just come back from another mission, this time from spying on the Sand, and was thankful to see that they were a mess right now. It was a little petty, but he did in fact blame them partially for Kakashi's kidnapping. If they hadn't distracted everyone with a war-

No. It was a useless thought. But still, he wanted to apologise. He already had to Rin Nohara's grave, and the Hatakes back at the Hatake estate. Lord Fourth and Kushina too. Now all he had left was Obito Uchiha.

"Kakashi's been kidnapped by the Alpha he bonded to," Tenzo said bluntly. "We're working on finding him, but so far Pakkun and his hounds haven't caught his scent. Don't worry too much though, we'll find Kakashi and bring him home. But..."

He stared down at the memorial. "We, his friends, we're all hoping that this baby will change Kakashi for the better. I want Kakashi to stop hanging around graveyards so much, and if this baby stops that I'd be very grateful. And maybe this baby will help Kakashi look forward to the future. I want that for him, and I think all of you would like that too."

Tenzo backed away from the memorial. "I hope we don't see each other again anytime soon. Goodbye, Obito."