Author's Note: 𝟭𝟴, M/M, Mpreg, Mates, Limes & Lemons later on, so be forewarned

𝘼𝙡𝙨𝙤, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙎𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙠𝙚'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

It was like a punch in the gut, knocking all the air out of my body. I was frozen in place, unable to move or even form a coherent thought.

It was as if I was being dragged down by an invisible force. My body was heavy with the weight of her words. Naruto was pregnant? How? Slowly, I started sliding down to the bedroom floor. I watched as Sakura eyed me one last time before shaking her head solely and leaving.

I had seen Naruto naked numerous times and he was most definitely male. So how could that statement possibly be true?

The guilt and the regret I felt were unbearable, and I could feel a dull ache in my chest that refused to go away. Despite my own emotions, I couldn't bring myself to shed tears.

Though the pressure welled up in my eyes, subconsciously I held them back. It was as if there was something inside me that refused to let any fall. It was a silent pain, a cry trapped in the depths of my soul, but on the outside, I maintained a calm composure.

He's pregnant... Did that mean it was mine?

No, I refused to entertain that thought, while retreating to my bed. I felt exhausted and drained. All the events replayed in my head. I went from bliss to hell in only a matter of minutes.

The wounds inflicted upon me were not physical, but emotional. The hatred that emanated from Naruto's deep blue eyes had left me with a shattered soul. This pain could not compare.

Physical pain had always been a staple in my life, something I could deal with that came along with being an assassin. I had endured countless cuts and bruises, broken bones, and stitches. But seeing Naruto in pain was a different beast entirely. It pierced right through me, draining every ounce of strength I had left.

It was as if the very essence of my being had been stripped away, leaving behind an empty shell. I felt numb and lifeless, devoid of joy and hope. The energy that had animated my body was gone, replaced by a heavy silence.

Just two weeks ago, I found myself locked away in my apartment, unwilling to leave or even catch a glimpse of the sunlight. I stayed there reliving it all. It was Kakashi who eventually came to my aid, pulling my hapless body from my room and dragging me outside.

Initially, I was hesitant and angry, I just wanted to sleep and let time pass me by, all I needed was time to forget, but after a few minutes outside, I realized how refreshing it felt and how much I had been missing it. It dawned on me that my room was suffocating the life out of me, and I would have let it. We walked just taking in the scenery of the place I once called home.

Kakashi's actions helped me see the world from a different perspective, and I was grateful for the opportunity to clear my head during the walk he took me on.

I could feel a couple of glances and people whispering, "That's him," amongst themselves when we walked by. News in Konoha traveled fast, and the Harunos were not quiet when they called off the wedding.

And because the wedding was called off so abruptly, the Harunos had to give a reason why to the elder council and the Hokage. So, now it felt like everybody knew about my quote "infidelity." And now, my personal life had been the new gossip circulating through the village, like an uncontrollable fire.

"Ignore them," I heard Kakashi say. I did not particularly care if they knew. I just cared if they tried to talk to me or ask me about it, then there would be a problem. The last thing I needed was a murder to add to this. I sighed. This was why I remained in my apartment. I knew I had no tolerance for people. I had held my head high refusing to let them ruin my day.

We continued, ignoring the onlookers and simply enjoying each other's company on this otherwise normal day. The warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze felt soothing on my skin, but I couldn't shake the feeling of numbness inside.

It was as if something was weighing on my mind, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. We walked in silence, and even though we weren't speaking, it felt like we were communicating through our shared presence and the calmness of the moment.

"You know you can come to me for anything." Kakashi offered in his usual casual tone. I knew he was trying to get me to let my guard down without pressing the issue.

Standing there beside Kakashi, looking at him in a different light felt strange. I had never really seen him as an older male figure in my life. He was more like someone who could help me hone my craft and become stronger, he was my sensei, a mentor, and a guide. But as I looked around us, I couldn't help but notice that this moment was different.

Kakashi had always been a source of strength for me, a steady presence that never wavered. He had taught me lessons, imparted wisdom, and pushed my abilities to their limits. But now, at that moment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability.

A vulnerability that I had kept hidden for so long. I had never let my guard down around Kakashi. I had prided myself on being independent, never relying on anyone. Back then, I never wanted to be vulnerable or dependent again. I believed those traits were a sign of weakness.

I could still see my parents' lifeless bodies covered in their blood. Their death still haunted me. I had learned the hard way, long ago that this world was not for the weak or kind-hearted.

But now, as I stood there beside Kakashi, the weight of my words to Sakura and her parents hit me like a slap to the face. I had told them what they wanted to hear, but deep down never thought I needed anyone, and that I was fine on my own. I realized that those thoughts were empty. They were a lie that I had told myself, as a desperate attempt to shield myself from the hurt that I knew deep down.

And now, all I wanted was to be a part of Naruto's life. His strength, determination, and loyalty inspired me. I had never seen anything like it before. Naruto's fearlessness and his unwavering belief in his family and friends. He believed in me, filling me with that warmth.

His willingness to do whatever it took for what was right had struck a chord deep within me. I could still feel the comfort of his embrace in the arena once he sensed my unease, that wide smile that greeted me whenever he saw my face.

He took me in even after, and I repaid him by being deceitful to him. He showed me his world.

I had let my pride blind me and keep me from recognizing the potential for an unadulterated love. The kind of love that I feared. The dull ache in my chest had returned once again. What could have been had I not self-sabotaged it? When given the chance, I should have told him everything. He deserved the truth but I foolishly believed I could juggle two lives.

We stopped walking, turning down a secluded part of Konoha where the street was narrower. He leaned against a nearby building, crossing his arms while the shadow of the building fell over his face almost eerily. I stood in front of him, knowing he was waiting for me to speak.

"It's too late," I reasoned while mimicking his actions and crossing my arms.

"The Haruno's say besides your infidelity that you've gotten Naruko pregnant." He stated.

I shook my head. "They speak nonsense. Well, on the pregnancy part at least." Kakashi already knew about the other part. After all, he had warned me.

"Sakura said she had sensed the fetus."

I snorted. "She made a mistake is all. Naruko can't get pregnant it is impossible." Fetus, I don't know why that word struck fear within me. A kind of fear that overshadowed everything else.

"Why impossible? Sakura is skilled in her craft." As I watched him thoughtfully place a finger on his chin, I couldn't help but think that I had unconsciously mimicked many of his mannerisms. It was a subtle reminder that I had looked up to him more than I cared to admit.

"Because Naruko is physically incapable of getting pregnant!" I wanted him to change the subject, just talking about it made me feel uncomfortable.

Kakashi just shrugged dropping it. I could tell he was not convinced, but something about his nonchalant behavior and his belief in Sakura's skill got me thinking.

What if?

No, that was impossible, right?

Then again, I knew nothing about Kitsunes, just what I heard from my elders. They didn't have the same customs and traditions regarding relationships, mating or even breeding as humans did.

Maybe, it was considered normal or even expected for the prince to have a partner of any gender. But regardless of their culture, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Usually, that feeling was right. Even if Naruto could, it was too soon... Wasn't it? considering our first time was not that long ago? I had to know the truth.

I felt myself pinching the bridge of my nose. I knew what I had to do.

Kakashi spoke as if reading my mind. "I doubt she'll want to talk to you, all things considered."He gave a light chuckle. I was not amused.

"I need to know if there's even a slight chance," I said, my hands clenched. I couldn't believe I was going to pursue this.

"Eh, what the hell I have some free time. I'll join you." He said while stretching his right arm over his chest and then his left.

I realized that Kakashi and I had reached an impasse on our walk. He had led me to a spot near the Haruno's home as if he knew we'd come to this point. I was grateful for his presence, knowing that he would be the mediator.

As we approached the house, its size became apparent. It was a medium-sized home that loomed in front of us. I had no time for reservation as I raised my hand and banged my fist on the door. "Come on, I know you're in there!" I could feel myself inwardly sneering at the thought of what Sakura said. Was she playing mind games?

The door finally opened, and her mother stood on the other side. Seeing her, my frustration boiled over. "Where is Sakura?" I demanded, my voice rising with anger. "I know she's here!"

Sakura's mother seemed taken aback by my sudden outburst, but she stood her ground. "I'm sorry, but I cannot help you." She closed the front door before I could respond. As if that flimsy door could protect her.

I turned away, feeling a mixture of anger and impatience. Kakashi had placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. "Let's give her some time to cool off," he suggested. "She's probably still hurt."

I nodded in agreement, knowing that pushing too hard wouldn't solve anything. We both turned away continuing our way back down the street. I was ready to come back as many times as necessary until I got the confirmation I needed.

We walked back in complete silence before Kakashi tried to reassure me that this was a learning experience and that I shouldn't take it too personally if she didn't want to speak to me. It was important to remember that she would engage in conversation with me again when she was ready. Honestly, he was not helping my mood.

"Sasuke!"

I was faced with Sakura. I could tell she had been running, her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing heavily.

She asked through gasps, "You wanted to see me?" There were a couple of onlookers watching the scene play out.

I ignored them knowing I owed her an apology; we were close at one point, not romantically but close friends.

As I stood before her with my head lowered, I could feel the weight of my words. "I'm sorry," I said sincerely, "for the pain and humiliation I caused you and your family." It was difficult to look her in the eye as I admitted my mistakes, but I knew it was necessary for the sake of our friendship.

She jerked her head to the side releasing a shaky breath. "Why did you come?"

I could feel my pulse racing as I spoke, "I need to know, is it true? What you said back in my apartment those weeks ago."

I watched as her gaze lowered, and a solemn smile formed on her lips. She gave a tiny nod.

Maybe this was her finally accepting the truth and that my feelings didn't match hers, leading to a sense of peace and closure. It was clear that we were not meant to be together in a romantic way, and that realization would allow her to move on and find happiness elsewhere.

As much as it hurt, I knew that I would never love her in the same way she loved me, and I hoped that she found someone who could reciprocate her feelings fully.

While she spoke, she locked eyes with me, "Yes, that woman is pregnant, but Sasuke whoever she is, be careful. Her Chakra is something I have never come across before. It is raw and powerful. She scares me."

"I'm aware," I replied. "Thank you." I offered her a small nervous smile. I wondered if Sakura and Kakashi were able to hear my heartbeat. Everything else was muffled by the sound of blood rushing to my ears.

My stomach felt like it was going to turn over. I was torn between conflicting emotions, but I knew one thing. Naruto was just going to have to kill me. It was going to take every demon in that damn village to keep me away from him and my unborn child.