Chapter 20
Nine weeks pregnant and today marked the worst day of Kakashi's little gremlin's teamwork. Naruto tore out weeds, along with plants, and got pummelled by an angry lady until Kakashi calmed her down, then Naruto almost drowned and fell off a waterfall, then exploded after being walked by a giant dog into a mine field.
Thankfully the dog was perfectly fine.
Naruto kept trying to show off to Sasuke, trying to prove himself, but Sasuke was having none of it. Sakura kept scolding Naruto, and did nothing but flirt with Sasuke, and Sasuke just kept being grouchy and snobbish.
"That's right!" Naruto yelled. "Our teamwork is all messed up because of you, Sasuke. You think you're better than everyone else-"
"Not everyone," Sasuke admitted, and huh, there we go, some improvement. "Just you."
Dammit, Sasuke. Kakashi almost had some faith. Almost.
Just a tiny little spot of faith.
It would have been wonderful.
"Face it. I'm better and stronger than you. It's a fact." Sasuke finally turned back and glared daggers at Naruto. "Unless you have what it takes to beat me."
Naruto growled lowly.
Sakura shied away anxiously.
Kakashi smiled sweetly and raised his book. His precious, lovely book, that could never do any wrong-
And whacked them both across the head with it.
"Ow!" Naruto cried.
Sasuke grunted, wincing as he clutched his head, just as Naruto did with his own. "What the hell, Kakashi Sensei?" Naruto complained.
"Get over yourselves. You're all genin," Kakashi scolded. "None of you are all that strong. I'm nine weeks pregnant, need to constantly pee and vomit, and I could still kick all your asses in less than a minute."
Naruto whined. "But, Kakashi Sensei-"
"You're all as bad as each other," Kakashi continued. "Now go sit in a corner and think about what you did."
"Really?" Sakura grimaced.
"Yes. Go." Kakashi pointed to the fence. "And if you don't come back to me with some good reflection on your actions I'll have my dogs walk you again. Guy won't always be around to distract them."
The three twitched and instantly sat down before the fence, sulking. The kids shuffled and fussed a little, but he made sure to whack all three of them over the heads with his book before he returned to it.
.::.
"This is your fault, Sasuke..." Naruto grumbled.
Sasuke scowled. "You're the one who has been causing trouble ever since Izumi invited you to live with us."
"I don't need your pity."
"Wait." Sakura startled. "What? He's living with you?"
She must have been too loud because Kakashi Sensei smacked her with his book, then happily returned to it. Sakura whined, clutching her head.
Sasuke sneered. "It wasn't fucking pity-"
"Of course it was. Why else would you want me to live with you?"
"Izumi was the one who invited you," Sasuke sneered. "Not me."
Izumi had said something about pissing ANBU and the Hokage off, quite cheerfully too, and said Naruto had been alone way too long in that apartment he lived in. Sasuke honestly couldn't care less. There was plenty of space for Naruto in their home, but at the same time he knew Naruto would be an annoying pest.
"So you didn't want me there at all?"
"When you're acting like this?" Sasuke huffed. "Of course not. You're being an ass, and I'm in enough of a constant shitty mood without having to deal with that."
"Well maybe you should stop being in a 'shitty mood'-"
"And maybe you should stop making so much noise and freaking Izumi and I out, or put on the lights when you move about, instead of walking in the dark," Sasuke snapped.
"I can see in the dark-"
"It's not about that-" Sasuke insisted.
"Like hell it isn't. You're underestimating me-"
Why was it always about Naruto? Dammit. Wandering about in the dark had nothing to do with Naruto. If he just stopped it that would be the end of that, but the asshole kept doing it-
"Guys, enough-" Kakashi tried to butt in.
"You're always like this!" Naruto spat. "Always think you're better than everyone. Well you're not and one do I'll prove to you that I'm strong! It's just a dark hallway. There's no need to get stressed out every time I use it!"
It could be Itachi in that hallway. It could be him, dripping with blood, his mother's and father's blood-
Could be back to finish the job. To take Izumi. To kill them. But they were weak and helpless and weren't worth killing-
Shut up! That wasn't going to happen again. It couldn't. Not to him. Not to Izumi. Stupid Omega pup and stupid Naruto and fucking hell Naruto was still ranting on about not being weak! The bastard was in his face.
NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT NARUTO!
"Oh for fucks sake!" Sasuke spat, shoving Naruto out of his face. "It's not always about you and your constant training. Get it through your thick head! Itachi could be back. That's who we see every time someone is in a dark hallway in our house! We're expecting him to come back dripping in our Clan's blood and that is why we turn on the damn lights-"
Kakashi winced.
Sasuke flushed when he registered the sudden silence. Sakura was staring at him, wide eyed and shocked, while Naruto flinched, then shakily inhaled, reaching out nervously.
"Sasuke-" Naruto called out.
Sasuke slapped his hand away and stood up. "I'm done with today, Kakashi Sensei."
"Alright," Kakashi sighed.
And thankfully he stopped Naruto from following after him.
.::.
"Don't," Kakashi ordered, clamping his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"But-" Naruto protested, but Kakashi's hand held him back easily. Naruto shook his head and squirmed. He didn't want to lash out at Kakashi, but he needed to apologise to Sasuke.
He hadn't known. He hadn't known Sasuke and Izumi were scared of sudden movements in the dark. Or at least movements within their own house. He hadn't known and he was being stupid. Naruto had thought his mate was disgusted by him and thought he was inferior. Sasuke probably did, but still. This was actually a reason-
"Just give him a little time," Kakashi urged. "He'll need a breather after saying that. Sasuke isn't the type who likes to talk about deep, emotional things."
"Why did Itachi Uchiha do such a thing?" Sakura asked weakly.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "He's horrible."
"It was all horrible," Kakashi said softly. "But it's done. It can't be changed and we must live with that. All we can do is try support Sasuke and Izumi, but they also have to want the support."
Naruto looked down at his feet. He had been living with Izumi and Sasuke for about two weeks now after Izumi invited him to live with them. He had no idea why she did that, but it was nice. But now he had ruined it. He had stressed them both.
Maybe if he could beat Itachi Uchiha-
A hand landed on his head. Kakashi ruffled his hair, and Sakura's. Sakura huffed and tried to fix it, but Naruto softened at the touch.
"It's not your strong point," Kakashi teased warmly. "But be patient."
Naruto pouted.
Kakashi winked and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
.::.
Izumi was late to the jonin meeting. But it was fine, she already knew about the chunin exams from Shikaku and Anko, so it didn't bother her at all. The Hokage would huff at her later, but considering she had been breaking his door in fits of rage for quite a few meetings now, he might be more cautious than usual.
"Hey, I'm sorry." That sounded like Sakura. "The whole thing was my fault."
Izumi followed the sound, and then she caught a whiff of stressed pup, and heard whimpers.
"You better take your hands off of him right now!" That was Naruto.
"We've got a few minutes before he gets here. Now about we show these pups who the real Alphas are?"
Okay, that was an unfamiliar voice.
Izumi rounded the corner and stopped. A shithead Alpha was choking a pup. The Hokage's grandson pup. Sure, he was a bit of a spoiled brat, but that was just uncalled for. Naruto, Sakura, and some other pups stood before them, the pups and Sakura cowering, while Naruto hissed and snarled.
"Let go of me!" the pup cried, kicking and squirming in the stranger's grasp.
"You're feisty. But not for long," Puppet guy mocked.
"PUT HIM DOWN!" Naruto roared, and rushed in.
Of course. Izumi rolled her eyes, but as soon as she saw the Alpha boy twitch a finger, she moved. One moment the boy was up, the next he was flat out on his back. Izumi had taken that moment to free the little pup, putting him back on his feet, while she stabbed her sword into the ground by the Alpha brat's head, earning a shriek.
"You children are playing a little rough," Izumi drawled out lazily, eyeing the purple inked Alpha as she trailed her sword across the ground, cutting into the pavement. "I'd be more wary about picking up pups around here. Some people might just take offence and cut off a hand or two."
"Who the hell-" Purple boy began.
"Izumi!" Sakura breathed out in relief. "Oh thank goodness-"
"Naruto, stop being a hothead and analyse the situation, and Sakura, when your teammate goes to fight someone to protect another you back them up," Izumi huffed. "You have got to work on your emotional reactions to situations."
"You're these punks Sensei?" Purple boy startled.
Izumi scoffed. "No, they're my little brother's team. I just enjoy tossing them around. It's surprisingly fun." She eyed the pair of Sand brats. "Now, I don't like bullies, and you and blondie here are getting on my nerves. And it seems like you're getting on your friend's nerves too." The pair shared a puzzled look. "The kid in the tree."
Sasuke startled. He had been watching from the tree the entire time, but he knew she hadn't meant him. Izumi met the redhead boy's eyes, before looking towards the older Alphas.
"You're guests here in our village," Izumi said coldly. "You want to keep sleeping in nice comfortable beds, or do I need to boot your asses in a cell until the exams?"
"Kankuro," the redhead sneered. "You've already annoyed a Jonin? You're such an embarrassment to our village. Have you forgotten the reason we came all the way here?"
"I-I know." Kankuro sweated nervously, sitting up slowly. "H-Here's the thing, they started the whole thing really-"
"Shut up," the Alpha pup ordered sharply. "Or I'll kill you."
Izumi noted the murderous intent. It lingered within the Alpha pup, but right now it was spiking. Izumi tilted her head, curious, but remained watchful. Sasuke was the closest to the redhead Alpha right now, but Izumi was confident she could protect him if the youngest Sand ninja snapped. Kankuro raised his hands in surrender, as did the blonde Alpha.
"I-I'm sorry, Gaara! I was totally out of line."
Gaara met her eyes. "I'm sorry for any trouble he caused."
Izumi nodded. "Thank you for coming to stop him."
The boy disappeared into sand, emerging by his squad's side. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Sakura rushed forward.
Izumi stopped her. "What is it, Sakura?"
"They're from the Village Hidden in the Sand, and despite us being allies, they must still have permission to be here," Sakura insisted. "So state your business, and it better be good!"
Izumi scoffed. A moment ago Sakura was cowering, now she was all fearless.
"Are you kidding?" The blonde Alpha startled, then chuckled. "Have you been living under a rock?"
Izumi sighed. "It's because they live here. Most of the genin here don't know that the Chunin Exams are coming up. You guys get to know early because you need to travel here, but since they live in the village they don't."
"That doesn't give them much time to train for it," Blondie said, baffled.
"Surprise!" Izumi called out cheerfully. "It's what we ninja do on the rare occasion. Expect the unexpected, and all that."
"What are the Chunin Exams?" Naruto blinked.
Izumi scoffed. "For someone who says he trains a lot, you sure know nothing."
"I do train a lot!"
"Read a fucking scroll or two then." Izumi rolled her eyes. "The Hokage has to do that a lot, and for someone who says they want to be the Hokage all the time, you gotta get used to that idea. Use the title and take a hint. You can do that at least."
"Uh..."
"Well, boss, it's supposed to be the way for a genin to become a chunin and do higher ranking missions," the pup said.
Bloody hell, the kid not even out of school knows before Naruto even does.
"Really?" Naruto beamed. "Well why didn't you say so? I'm so there!"
Blondie laughed, as did Purple boy, but the group finally turned and walked away once more.
Izumi snorted. "You're going to be there? Sorry to say, but you only get recommended by your Sensei, and considering your lack of teamwork lately he might not let you through."
"Then we just gotta prove to Kakashi Sensei we're all good!" Naruto grinned. "Easy as that."
Sasuke jumped down from the tree, but he was sullen, more so than usual, his Omega side reeked of distress. Izumi tilted her head at him, and then saw Naruto shrivel.
They were arguing again then.
"Sasuke!" Sakura threw herself at his arm. "We could train together. How about it? Or we could go get some tea-"
"Sasuke, Izumi." Naruto bowed his head at them.
Izumi blinked, baffled, but Sasuke threw Naruto an alarmed look.
"I'm sorry. I didn't listen to your house rules. I've been refusing to eat the vegetables and I keep leaving the lights off in the dark," Naruto apologised. "I'd understand if you want me out. I've barely cleaned anything, I've not cooked-"
Sakura huffed. "Of course you haven't."
"I wasn't expecting everything all at once," Izumi cut in. "But yes, I'd appreciate it if you could do more around the house. I don't trust you in the kitchen unless it's to pour some boiling water in your ramen cup, but you could pick up your clothes or tidy up after yourself. But you also broke the first big rule I told you to do."
"Why is Naruto living with you anyway?" Sakura sulked, pressing closer to Sasuke's side.
Sasuke ignored her.
"Because none of your business," Izumi said. "So yes, Naruto, I'm irritated, and you and Sasuke keep constantly arguing, but I'm not chucking you out. I accept your apology and now I expect you to do better." She glanced over at Sasuke. "What do you think, pup?" she asked softly. "He apologised to you too."
Sasuke sighed. "If he improves then fine. Do whatever. Just leave me out of it."
Izumi nodded. "See? Got a chance to change, Naruto. Don't fuck it up."