After he'd lost it the other day, he knew he'd reached his limit of keeping the sexy jutsu up on his own. Being pregnant was harder than he thought it would be, there was so much going on with his body that he hadn't expected.
"Naruto… It's time," a deep, rumbling voice said inside his head.
"Yeah," he agreed with the fox. "I know. I'll talk to Neji today." He trusted the fox to know what was best. After all, Kurama was the reason this was happening.
They'd first come up with the idea when he was watching Neji train one day. Seeing what a magnificent shinobi he'd become, how beautiful he was, how expertly he wielded his kekkei genkai, and he'd suddenly been struck with an intense sadness that Neji would never have the chance to pass his talents on, but the last thing he wanted to do was give Neji up.
Kurama had sensed his depression, and asked him what was wrong.
After explaining to the fox, Kurama had suggested he be the one to give Neji that chance, and from there they'd worked on it until Naruto could transform completely.
They'd talked about Kurama's chakra fuelling the jutsu if Naruto wasn't able, but it was risky. If they didn't get the balance exactly right and his form changed, a baby he was carrying might be lost. And besides that, now that he had this seal to hold the sexy jutsu, it was much harder for Kurama to lend chakra to him anyway.
Sitting at the dinner table that night, Naruto smiled over at Neji. He had loved Neji for a long time, and even though it seemed like it should be impossible, he loved him more each day. It feels so good to be able to have complete faith in someone. Neji smiled back, he was so beautiful.
"I think I need you to help me now," Naruto said. "Keeping this jutsu up and growing a baby takes a lot."
"Of course," Neji said, as Naruto had known he would. "I'm happy to do that."
"I know. Thanks."
He was grateful for more than Neji's help and support though. Back when he was a kid, and having kids of his own one day had been a vague and distant idea, he'd always imagined himself with a girl, imagined her bearing his children for him. Falling in love with Neji had changed that, he'd given up on the idea of biological children for a while, because that's just how it had to be if he wanted to commit to life with a man. But now, the fact that he had chosen a man to share his life had inspired him to find a new path, and it meant that he had the unique opportunity as a male, to carry his own child. It was an extraordinary gift. In the end, being with Neji had given him more than he'd ever known it could. It means I get to nurture and grow my baby myself, and experience the closest kind of bond possible. That meant a lot to him after all those lonely years he'd lived through.
Neji reached over and they linked hands, fingers laced, palms pressed together.
They had shared chakra before, so Naruto knew what to expect. Neji's jutsu was cool and calculated, and even his attitude was like that sometimes, but he was a passionate person and the way his charka burned had never surprised Naruto. It felt like being licked by hot flames that you knew would never burn you, no matter how high the temperature rose. In terms of receiving it, it flowed through his body, heat flaring as it spread through him, reenergising him.
When it was done, he did feel less tired, like he could stop fighting quite so hard and relax a little. He sighed contentedly.
"Better?" Neji checked.
"Yeah," Naruto said, moving to sit on Neji's lap and snuggling into his warmth. Neji wrapped his arms around him and pressed his lips to Naruto's hair.
"I've got you."
"I know." And that's why I can do all the things I do.