Hello everyone.

This chapter is a rewrite of chapter 2. The Enemy.

I didnt quite like that chapter so i changed a few things. hope you enjoy :)

XxXxXx

Fugaku crossed the hallway with great speed, he didn't want the press to find out that he was in this middle-class apartment building; he signaled his bodyguard to stay out of the way and knocked on the door marked 31. He heard hurried footsteps and the door swung open wide.

"You forgot your keys again?" A loud voice came from behind the door. The blonde boy standing there looked up and his tan skin paled considerably at the sight of the older male.

"Sir?" He whispered. He had never met Sasuke's father, but he didn't need to be a genius to know it was him. He was all over the news, and of course, Sasuke looked just like him.

"Are you the boy my son is screwing around with?" – Fugaku asked with disdain, Naruto felt his world fall apart in an instant, all his love reduced to screwing around.

"My name is Naruto, I am Sasuke's boyfriend" – He saw Naruto turn his sad eyes to the floor but in a matter of seconds his expression changed to one of defiance. Fugaku crossed the entrance while shoving the blonde boy to the side; he looked around with disgust at how simple and ordinary everything looked and once again focused his eyes on the boy dressed in a white double-breasted jacket.

"What do you want, boy? Is he giving you any money?" Fugaku was very direct with his questions, Naruto thought, another thing they shared. The older man pulled out his wallet to take out money but Naruto stopped him.

"He isn't giving me any money. I have a part-time job down the block, and I might struggle sometimes, but I don't want his money. I'm not with Sasuke because of his fame and money."

"You might be after something, boy. To have a disgusting homosexual relationship with my son, what do your parents say about this?"

"My parents are dead, sir. I never met them. I was raised in Konoha's public orphanage from birth, and my tutor is always traveling but he loves Sasuke." – Fugaku felt his resolve crumbling when he heard that the blonde boy had always been alone, but he couldn't back down. This, what they were doing, was wrong, no matter how much Mikoto had pushed him to come and make amends.

"You might know that even though I kicked this ungrateful son of mine out of the house, I still pay for his school tuition, but I will stop Naruto if you don't leave him alone, I will cut all help to the boy. I will leave this check here in the table, it's enough for you to relocate in another city, Sasuke deserves much more than you, to marry and have kids and continue the Uchiha line, you on the other hand have nothing to offer, I expect you to leave by the end of the week, I'll at least give you that much time" – Fugaku placed the check on the table and turned to leave but the voice of the blonde stopped him in his tracks.

"I won't leave him; we will find a way to make things work, we always do. I love Sasuke with all my heart, I have loved him since we were in high school and I will never stop. Sasuke is a good man, he is gentle and caring, he even took a part-time job to help with household expenses; and even though he has been away from you for over a year now, he always checks the news and the papers to see if you are okay, he gets happy with your triumphs and frets when he sees a critique, he loves you and it hurts him to be away from his family." - Fugaku didn't turn around, he left the apartment without a single glance back.

xoxoxoxo

Fugaku returned by the end of the week but he didn't go to the apartment as he had planned earlier that day. He waited patiently a few doors away, hiding in the dark. The door opened and two men came out. His son was dressed in a cheap suit, and the other in some casual attire. Naruto leaned forward to fix his son's tie and gave him a small lunch box. His son had a loving expression on his face. He took Naruto's hand tenderly and brushed away a few strands of blonde hair. The two boys shared a kiss.

"Take care, have a nice day" - Sasuke then ran, disappearing down the stairs, leaving a smiling Naruto behind.

Fugaku could feel his blood boiling; he knew Naruto had promised that he wouldn't leave, but deep down in his heart he had wished that the stupid boy wasn't tempted to take the money. He turned around to leave, and in his anger, he hadn't noticed that the blonde had come back out.

"Sir?" He turned around sharply, like a whip, to glare at the blonde. "Sasuke didn't see you, but I knew you would come. I told you I wouldn't leave".

"Why?" - Fugaku asked.

"I don't understand"

"Why did you choose my son? You could have ruined anyone you wanted, but Sasuke, he had a future ahead"

"He still does, with me by his side. I will never love anyone else; my heart and soul will never be satisfied with anyone else.".

Naruto reached for his backpack and pulled out a small container with a check tied to the top with an elastic band.

"I made extra, Sasuke loves pasta, you can have it, I'm working hard too, you know? So we can support each other." - Fugaku ripped the container from the blonde and turned away. He didn't exchange any more words with him.

The old Uchiha threw the container in the back seat, he huffed in anger and crossed his arms.

He had lost a battle, but not the war; he would find something to crush the blonde. His son would finally open his eyes to the truth. He had even paid private investigators for a year to dig up dirt on the boy, but they always came up empty-handed. The reports said he was gentle, caring, polite, and a force to be reckoned with. The best student in culinary school, and a volunteer at a shelter. The only bad thing he had found was that his tutor was an erotic novelist, a very famous one at that.

So after not finding anything, he decided to take matters into his own hands. His son had to return to the correct path of life.

-

This was a battle that Naruto would fight on his own. He didn't want to involve Sasuke because the grief would be too much to bear. Fugaku had pulled some strings to get him kicked out of his volunteer program. He had to find another part-time job because the owner of the restaurant was friends with the Uchiha family and had fired him upon Fugaku's request. It had been the worst months of his life. He silently struggled, he shouted and cried in his solitude and smiled every time his boyfriend came home.

Fugaku had to know he would fight for Sasuke. He would work twice or even three times as hard no matter what came his way.

XxXx

Itachi crossed the double dark wooden doors and was greeted by a maid who took his suitcase and coat away. He had been abroad for a while on a business venture and was glad to return home; it wasn't the same without Sasuke. So he would have to rephrase that. He wasn't that glad to be home.

"Is my father home?" - He asked the maid

"In the office, sir" - Itachi hummed and left for his father's office.

Fugaku lifted his hard gaze from the paperwork and greeted his son with a nod before returning to his work

"Did you do well?"

"Nice to see you too, father"

"I'm busy Itachi"

"Are you still busy trying to destroy Naruto's life? Won't you let them be free?"

Fugaku remained silent for a moment. "I know what you are trying to do, and believe me, you are in for a fight. They love each other, and they are willing to go through hell and back to be together. Naruto is a great kid; you will love him if you give him the opportunity. He's a bit of an idiot sometimes, but he's a nice kid."

"That's idiotic, Itachi. Your brother needs to come back. I will deal with the boy. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"No father, it is you who has no idea, you have been so engrossed in this stupid battle, thinking that your son and his partner are disgusting that you have missed all the wonderful things your son is going through" - Itachi had been smart enough to go armed, he knew what he was going to do and he was prepared. If his father had hired and paid for a bunch of photographers to paint a horror story of his son's life, he could play a similar game.

"Look at this" - he tossed a photo at his desk, a picture of his laughing son. "How about this one" - he dropped another one, an unsuspecting Sasuke buying groceries, Naruto holding some herbs with an annoyed expression. Picture after picture fell over the wooden desk, every single one depicting a happy boy, whose cobalt eyes shone with love. "He needs to be saved? From what? From happiness? I barely even saw him smile in this house and every single time I've visited them I have found a home, a welcoming and warm home free from prejudice, expectations. Father, give them a chance"

"Itachi, get out" - Fugaku said in a detached voice. His oldest son left without another word. Once alone, he threw the pictures to the floor with a swift swipe.

Anger had turned to sadness after a few months, but the image of his smiling, laughing son had taken over his mind. "Was he so tough on them all this time? Was Sasuke unhappy in his home? Did he do something wrong?"

And then Fugaku turned to anger again, he was angry because he hadn't found a monster in Naruto, but instead he found a gentle and hardworking young man who had nothing more than love for his younger son. Itachi was right, and it pained him to admit it; he wasn't ready for that yet. He wanted to hold onto his idea of his son having a normal life with a normal family, but at what cost?

xoxoxoxoxo

"How do I look?" - Sasuke asked his boyfriend. Naruto stood up from the couch and walked towards him. His hands deftly fixed his boyfriend's tie.

"Impeccable" – Naruto kissed him softly, "hot, as usual" - he was about to kiss him again when the doorbell interrupted them.

"Can you answer the door? I have to give my presentation a few finishing touches before heading back to college." – Naruto sighed and playfully spanked his overly serious boyfriend.

Fugaku stood behind the door, not smiling but bowing as a greeting; this simple gesture made Naruto's heart race a thousand times.

"Who is it?" - Sasuke asked from his room

"You might want to come outside" – Naruto called. Sasuke came out of the room a few seconds later and froze in his spot.

"Father?" Sasuke hurriedly made his way to the blond and stood in front of him, shielding him from the older man. Naruto laced their fingers together and with a soft tug, he pulled the boy to his side.

"I… I am not an eloquent man when it comes to these situations. I can't say my heart and my mind have changed, but I am willing to try and change. You look happy, healthy, and most of all free.

I want you both to come for dinner tomorrow, for your mother's birthday" – Sasuke stood there, unmoving. He did not dare to answer because he would probably cry and Naruto felt it wasn't his place to say something so he just squeezed his partner's fingers again, reassuring him, letting him know he was not alone. "I am sorry, boy. For everything I did to you." – he said turning to the blonde, Sasuke looked at them and Naruto shook his head.

"Nothing happened. I'm fine." He said it more to Sasuke than to the older men. "There's no need to apologize."

"See you tomorrow, I hope you can make it." - Fugaku bowed again and left, not waiting for a reply. He didn't want one; he was scared his son would reject it, but he was in his rights after all.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks and burst out laughing. Whether it was from joy or nervousness, they didn't know. All they knew was that Fugaku had accepted them, even if it was just a little.

Naruto jumped on him, wrapping his legs around his waist. It was so sudden that Sasuke fell backwards and their laughter erupted again.

"Baby steps", Sasuke whispered against his boyfriend's lips before diving in for a kiss.

"Yes, baby steps" - the blonde reassured, suppressing a laugh.

Unknown to them, Fugaku was still behind the door. He heard the loud thud, the laughter, and their hopeful words. And he smiled, a sincere and heartfelt smile.