Last chapter - mixed feelings here to be honest.

I started this in 2018 and it took time but I finally finished - My God. It's the first fic I actually finished so I will now aim to do the same for the one I started even earlier, that's what makes us ninjas! See further notes at the bottom as I wrap up this 25-chapter fic of mine :)

Twenty-five hours of labor was what it took for Yumi to give birth to a strong baby boy who bore the full visage of his father – Sasuke Uchiha. In the months leading up to the birth, Sasuke and Naruto together fretted over what to get for the baby. Sasuke always went with Yumi to check on the progression of the pregnancy, which often resulted in bumping into Sakura of all people in the hospital. Sasuke willingly ignored her.

"Come now Sasuke," Yumi said as they walked back home one afternoon. "Must you continue to be so cold with her? Her crime was being obsessed with you."

"She sabotaged my relationship with Naruto," Sasuke reminded. "She's lucky all I'm giving her is a cold shoulder."

Yumi shrugged. "So you're just going to ice her out forever?"

"I can try."

"Damn, that's cold. It's certainly going to make for future awkward social situations," Yumi noted. Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why would you say that?"

"She's been assigned to my care for the birth of this child," Yumi explained. Sasuke made a face of displeasure.

"Don't make the face," Yumi chided. "She didn't volunteer for this."

"Yeah of course she didn't," Sasuke replied, not believing that for a second.

"She's good at the medical stuff," Yumi said, "and she has more experience working with Uchihas than most medics in the world."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "She better not fuck this up."

"Oh, she won't, or she'll have to deal with me," Yumi waggled her eyebrows. Sasuke shook his head as Yumi giggled.

Yumi had a generally good attitude for most of her pregnancy but as the due date approached, she began to get somewhat anxious. Then one day, she just fell into labor.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!" As the water spilled out onto the floor from her last checkup. Sakura was the first to act, directing Yumi to the nearest bed they could find as Yumi began her labors. The kunoichi guided Yumi through the whole birth, never leaving the woman's side for the full twenty-five hours.

Hajime Uchiha. That was the name Sasuke and Yumi decided on for their child, who turned out to be a healthy baby boy. Yumi was exhausted and coated in sweat and blood as Sakura gently placed the newborn into Sasuke's waiting arms.

"There you are," Sakura said softly as she presented the babe. "He's strong, like his father."

Sasuke wasn't prepared. Not for the bundle that he cradled in his arms. He wondered if this is how they felt, his parents, Fugaku and Mikoto when he and Itachi first came into the world. It was the first time the last Uchiha allowed himself to think of them in an exceedingly long time. But then he realized, he wasn't the last Uchiha.

Not anymore.

"I'm a father," Sasuke said, sounding more vulnerable than the small, frightened boy he'd once been. He gave Sakura the most earnest expression brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, Sakura for helping bring him into the world."

"You're welcome," Sakura choked out. It was the first time in longer than she cared to remember that Sasuke regarded her without hostility.

"And thank you Yumi, for giving me the honor and privilege of a child," Sasuke said tenderly to the mother of his son.

"You're welcome," Yumi replied tiredly, fresh from labor. "Knock me up again and I'll chop your dick off."

Sasuke laughed happily. Naruto had been standing by in the waiting room in the maternity ward, anxiously fretting over when exactly Sasuke's kid would be born when someone finally collected him to meet Sasuke's first born.

"Meet Hajime," Sasuke presented his boy with pride as Yumi looked on with fondness as the blonde swallowed deeply, staring into the squirming newborn with wonderment.

"Hajime," Naruto repeated, committing the name to memory.

"Thank you Naruto," Sasuke said, heartfelt.

"For what?" Naruto asked in confusion. Yumi was the one to thank as far as he was concerned.

"For saving me. For pulling me out of the darkness I was stuck in." Sasuke said. "If you hadn't...I wouldn't have a son. You did that for me and I will never stop feeling grateful for that. You may not have been right to save me, but I'm glad that you did."

Naruto almost cried but chose to swallow the tears. "Anytime," he replied quietly as he watched the baby Hajime squirm while Sasuke returned the boy to his waiting mother.

It all happens in a daze, between the long nights filled with crying to the longer days full of stumbling around to care for the newest addition to Naruto's apartment, which before long became their apartment – Naruto, Sasuke, Yumi and Hajime, the precious Uchiha baby and everyone decided to stop by and stare in awe at the miracle child.

"Holy shit Sasuke, you're a fucking father!" Suigetsu remarked as he couldn't tear his eyes from the quiet baby. Hajime in turn wouldn't stop looking at the former missing-nin or his very sharp teeth.

"Just like his father, he's the cutest!" Karin gushed over the infant, grabbing at his tiny feet.

Jugo said nothing, but his eyes were brimming with joy as he stood over the Uchiha child.

"Why is everyone so surprised that I'm a father?" Sasuke said, flummoxed at everyone's collective disbelief at his paternity. He was well aware of how far he'd gone in his earlier years, but did everyone have to be so shocked that he could conceive?

"You don't strike people as the settling-down type," Yumi winked at the father of her child. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Wow he looks just like you Sasuke-kun," Sai said, standing far too close for Sasuke's comfort. The Uchiha had to fight off the urge to punch Sai in the face. But Hajime didn't seem to mind as he returned Sai's staring in kind.

"I read it is customary to present gifts to a newborn child," Sai pulled out a set of paintbrushes. "Here," he shoved them into Naruto's arms. "So that he may express himself with art should he chose."

"Right," Sasuke deadpanned.

"His name is Hajime?" Gaara asked. Even he stopped by to see the child after an hours long meeting with Kakashi and his siblings, the diplomats of the Wind Village. Since Temari was around, naturally Shikamaru was with them, which prompted Ino and Choji to be in the very crowded apartment.

"Yes," Naruto said as Yumi nursed the baby, "Sasuke named him."

"Fitting," Kankuro remarked.

Sakura had taken care of the newborn since his birth, making sure Hajime had everything he needed – from vaccinations to nutrition to sleep to attending to any disease the child would have picked up that was prevalent in newborns. She was instrumental in making sure Sasuke and Yumi were well equipped to care for their child. Sakura even gave Naruto a few tips since he'd been around so much.

"Alright," Sakura wiped her hands, "I'm going to go home, I have to get changed."

"Oh?" Naruto said curiously. "What you got a hot date?"

Sakura blushed profusely, refusing to answer.

"Seriously?" Naruto said excitedly. "With who?"

Sasuke was also interested to hear, though he'd never admit it. He figured Sakura would be hopelessly obsessed with him forever.

"Rock Lee," Sakura screwed her eyes shut as she provided the answer.

"Oh ho ho!" Naruto smiled. Ugh, Sasuke thought. To go from him to that taijustu nut job…no, no let her. Anything to have the kunoichi move on from him for good.

"It's just a date," Sakura said, "that's all."

Naruto waggled his eyebrows, dead-set on teasing her, "Not if he plays his cards right."

"Don't be gross Naruto," Sasuke chided as he rolled his eyes.

Sakura's green eyes flared irately, "Shannaro!"

"Nobody told you to be crude, usuratonkatchi," Sasuke went on to say as Naruto tried to dodge Sakura's blows. Hajime, who was held in his father's arms, watched the spectacle and was amused as he began to coo joyously.

"Hi," Sasuke said as Hajime started fussing in his arms. They were at the village cemetery, where Sasuke's parents had been buried so many years ago, when Sasuke was just a boy himself. "I'm sorry I haven't come here before. I have no good reason, I just...couldn't."

"It was hard to live without you. I felt lost and confused most of the time but didn't dare show it to anyone. I was the sole inheritor of the Uchiha name. I didn't want to bring any shame to it. I knew had to present strength but...I lost my way." Sasuke noted his defection and the actions he took after. "I must confess when I dedicated myself to vengeance, I didn't believe there'd be life after for me. It took the actions of one ridiculously stubborn man to get me back on the right track. If not for him, I'd probably be buried with you, if that. But I'm here, still alive and living as best I can. On that front, I bring good news. A grandchild."

"Hajime," Sasuke said to his child, "these two are your grandparents," he pointed at the tombstones of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha. "I showed you the pictures already, but I wanted to show you where they've been put to rest. And to make a promise." He turned back to the graves.

"I promise to not let Hajime fall to darkness without a fight. I won't hide what happened to us from him. In time, he will learn what became of his clan and why. But I won't let my son be consumed by hatred as I was. I want him to learn from my mistakes and walk a good path, but one he chooses. I won't force anything on him, only guide him as I wish I could have," Sasuke said, looking adoringly at his child. "I'm worried though, for in the first time in my life, I finally have something I never had before. Hope. I know we'll be okay. I just wish you could meet each other. Perhaps...in another life. In the meantime, I'll live in this one, as long as I can.

"May we meet again."

Sasuke noticed he was sleeping more and more as the days dragged on. When he roused from bed one lazy weekend morning, he realized he no longer had nightmares. He couldn't help but wonder if a certain someone was a factor in that.

The Uchiha looked at the blonde dobe snoring soundly beside him, slumped over his pillow, and drooling. Sasuke felt a small smile stretching his mouth as he fondly stared at his partner. It was astounding that they had gotten here, to this place, to this relationship.

And to think, Sasuke once planned to kill Naruto.

Sasuke's gratitude grew with each passing day. He was so glad that Naruto fought for him as fiercely and devotedly as he had.

Because of Naruto, Sasuke's life changed for the better. He had things to hope for now, people to love and live for.

And it was all thanks to this wonderful, ridiculous blonde man sleeping beside him.

"Dobe," Sasuke said, but Naruto kept slumbering. The Uchiha chuckled. "Such a sound sleeper," he mused. He pressed two fingers on Naruto's nostrils. In seconds, Naruto shot up like a lightning bolt when his body tried to inhale.

"I'm up, I'm up," He said curtly, looking around wildly.

"Good morning," Sasuke said with an amused expression. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," Naruto pouted, realizing it was just Sasuke. "I was having a perfect dream, too. I was in heaven, but it was full of ramen. All kinds of ramen, ones I never even heard of. Man..."

"Oh well, I'm sorry," Sasuke said feignedly. "I just thought we could have some fun."

"Fun?" Naruto perked up.

"But you're too tired," Sasuke lay down, pulling the blanket on their bed to cover himself as he turned away from the blonde. "You can go back to sleep."

Naruto pounced on the raven-haired man, planting his lips on Sasuke's pale neck. Sasuke turned back and kissed the blonde deeply as both men smiled into their embrace. Neither one could recall being so filled with bliss in a long time.

"So you're going on a trip huh?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah, to see Gaara off in the Sand Village," Naruto mentioned to her, while Sasuke spoke with Kakashi and Shikamaru. The Nara was to head off with both the blond and the Uchiha.

"What a perfect excuse to have a vacation," Sakura gave her friend a knowing smirk.

"Vacation? Please! I'm lucky if I get to do anything I want with these two," Naruto griped. It was a mission after all, nurturing the flames of goodwill between the now longstanding alliance between Wind and Fire.

Determined not to leave his son behind, Sasuke had his child in his arms. Yumi was due for a break after all. It would be the young boy's first voyage outside Konoha, though he would not remember it, given his tender age.

But Sasuke would and so would Naruto. That was enough.

Hajime was practically a year old now. So much had been experienced and there was still so much more to live through, to live for.

For once, Sasuke couldn't help but eagerly anticipate what the future would bring to them, he, his son, and his love.

"I wish you well on your journey," Kakashi bade his former underlings farewell. He was proud of the man Sasuke had grown into and the inspiring figure Naruto had become for the larger world.

"Kaka-sensei, you're acting like we're gonna be gone forever," Naruto smiled. "we'll be back in like two weeks."

"Let the man engage in ceremony, usuratonkatchi," Sasuke said, giving the Hokage a silent and respectful nod.

"Are you two gonna be like this the whole trip?" Shikamaru groaned as he also bade his Hokage farewell respectfully. "What a drag."

"Oh please, Shika, don't be such a whiner. We're gonna have fun!" Naruto encouraged with a grin.

"This isn't some pleasure trip," Sasuke chagrined. "We're envoys on a diplomatic mission taking critical documents for the Kazekage to review and determine a proper response to recent developments in the region."

"Yeah, yeah. But we're gonna have to stop at some inns and take it easy – for the sake of the kid." Naruto suggested. "I know of at least three decent ramen stands along the route."

"Oh joy," Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"My son may be young, but he is not weak. He is an Uchiha after all," Sasuke said haughtily.

"He's a baby," Naruto replied, "If he were any weaker, I'd be worried."

"Whatever dobe," Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"This is gonna be hell," Shikamaru moaned.

"Says the guy running to see his girlfriend," Naruto teased as the three diplomats exited through the village gates.

"Whatever man," Shikamaru bit out, "the sooner we get there, the sooner we can get this over with."

"What's got you in such a good mood anyhow, dobe?" Sasuke asked the blond, his partner, his companion.

"I'm happy," Naruto beamed. "Now let's go see Gaara!" He rushed ahead of Shikamaru who kept bemoaning about how much walking they had to do and Sasuke, who cradled his young boy close as Hajime rested contently in his father's arms.

Naruto wrangled them into trying three separate ramen shops and the blond slurped greedily on countless bowls. While Sasuke kept complaining and chiding him for being such a slob, Shikamaru always spotted the fondness in the Uchiha's onyx eyes.

Then again, it wasn't subtle.

It would make Shikamaru think of Temari. Do I look at her like that? He wondered. Temari certainly looked at the Nara that way, the lazy genius realized, precisely like that.

He should probably do something about that.

Shikamaru made a note to stop by a jewelry store – away from Naruto and prying eyes that would whisper in Temari's ear. He didn't know much about romance, but he knew enough that the next step in such a relationship requires an element of surprise.

The Kazekage greeted his friends with a warm smile and was overjoyed to see little Hajime again, who upon arriving in the famed Village Hidden in the Sands, kept his eyes open in wonder at the new environment around him.

"I thought it was time to share the world with Hajime," Sasuke said, holding his son in his arms. He hadn't complained once about carrying his child. Anything to keep his son, his family by his side.

Naruto watched Sasuke and Hajime together with a wistful smile. "We should get a camera." He said to his partner as they headed toward the Kazekage office.

"A camera?" Sasuke replied as Hajime cooed. "Yes, that's a good idea."

They could make countless memories and countless more with a camera. But it wasn't about preserving the time they had together.

It was about making the best of it.

THE END

Side note - wouldn't it have been funny if in all that time Sasuke had been off traveling on his own he ended up impregnating all kinds of women, slowly rebuilding his clan one baby at a time XD - I know he's committed to/married to Sakura but that shit would've been hilarious XD

But that's it - almost 6 years writing this fic - wow! I'm just glad I got to finish this one. I know I got a lot more to write for my other Naruto fic aside from others I'm working on (cough cough GoT, SPN - haven't posted those yet...)

Check me out on Ao3. I'm kunoichidelahoja on tumblr. Thank you to everyone who stuck with me this long in writing this fic! Bye!