Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, just the Gushikan family.

Also the Authors note is kinda important this time.

Chapter 10~ Baby

My moms stomach was steadily growing larger and larger. I couldn't be more excited to finally have a sibling.

At three months the doctor asked if she and dad would like to know the gender but dad refused. Something about living in blissful ignorance.

So my mom agreed and we just decorated the room in pale green and yellow. The new baby's room is in the guest room across the hall from me.

Dad and I put together the entire room while mom rested and directed us.

There was a large pristine white crib in the center of the room with a gray rocking chair. And, a chest of drawers colored white in one corner of the room with a white changing station in the other. The walls were a pale green and the blankets and curtains were a pale yellow.

"The perfect baby room!" My mom exclaimed after seeing all of our hard work. "You know this is pretty similar to your old room Takara. But, we knew the gender then so your walls were a light shade of purple and your curtains and blankets were pale green."

She smiled as she glanced around the room but the smile slowly disappeared. "Somethings missing..." I glanced at dad and he shrugged.

"The painting." He grunted.

Her face brightened, "Yes! One like Takaras!"

They are referring to a painting on one wall of my room that's a treasure chest with shirikans, kunais, katanas, and gold coins falling out. My dad painted the outline and my mom colored it.

"So what do we put on the new baby's wall?" Mom asked rubbing her swelling stomach.

He shrugged, "Well you don't have its name picked out or have any ideas of what it likes. We should wait until it's born."

Mom pouted but then looked excited.

"Ooh Taka! You should paint it!"

"Uhh me? I've never been very artistic mama. I'm not as good as you and dad."

She shrugged and dad picked me up, putting me on his shoulders.

"Its not about how it looks, it's about the meaning behind it!" Mom smiled reaching up and tickling me.

"Besides, me and your mom are not good at all art." Dad grunted tilting his head back to look at me. "I can draw bold outlines fine but I'm not good at depth, color, or detail."

My mom nodded and gently pulled on my feet. "And I can't draw... At all really, but I'm very good at shading and coloring. No matter what you make I'm sure your sibling will love it!" I glanced at the wall and smiled.

Maybe I can come up with somethings."

As the months passed I spent my time furiously glaring at by siblings blank wall and shopping for baby clothes and toys.

"Ooh Taka-chan!" My mom squealed.

I turned from the rack of onesies and looked at her.

She was holding three stuffed animals and her face was pink from happiness. "Look look! I found our family in toy form! Now the baby will always have us with!"

She held out a teddy bear with a straight mouth instead of a smile. It was a light brown like my hair and had a ninja vest. "Here's your daddy!"

She set it in the cart and then pulled out a purple bat. It had a large smile showing off its teeth and looked soft to the touch. "Here's your mommy!"

And finally she pulls out a brown poodle... I stared at her unamused. She giggled madly and vibrated in joy. "Your kidding. Mom a poodle? Poodles aren't fierce at all!"

"But you're so cute! Just like a poodle! Not to mention you have that Gushikan hair."

I glared at her.

"Oh alright how about a wolf." She pulled a stuffed wolf from behind her back. It had my hair color but...

"I don't know if I'm a wolf mom. That seems pretty cliche. Besides I'm not a loner." She smiles at me and flicks my forehead. "Nope, wolves are dedicated to their pack and are super strong. Just like you!" I sigh and smile, "Alrighty, if you think so. But we are missing the baby."

I walk over to the rack and pull out a stuffed toy egg with a smile stitched on it. "Here's the baby."

Mom squealed holding the egg. "So cute!"

So the bear, bat, wolf, and egg were set in the crib to wait for the baby.

I was absolutely excited to finally have a sibling. Everywhere I went I just imagined myself there with my baby brother or sister.

Kiba kept trying to tell me having a sibling isn't fun but I think he's exaggerating.

"I'm tellin you Takara! Siblings fight with you and take your things, and feel like their better than you!" His face was turning red. Obviously he had a fight with Hana.

"I think our situations are very different Kiba... I'm the older sister, if anything I relate to Hana more." He groaned and gave me a dirty look while saying. "You're part of the problem."

I laughed at him and shrugged.

Oddly enough, after Kiba, dad was the weirdest when he found out mom is pregnant.

Whenever mom or I mentioned the gender of the baby or would talk about names dad would leave the room and read over the clans laws. Obviously something was bothering him.

The same old routine of him leaving was angering mom and she eventually called a clan meeting (that sounds fancy but it's just the three of us).

We sat at the kitchen table as she glared at dad. "So? What's going on with you? You weren't this twitchy when I was pregnant with Takara."

He sighed. "Don't worry about it. We will deal with the problems as they come."

My mom looked like she was punched mentally. "What do you mean problems? The doctor said the baby is healthy!"

She starts to hyperventilate.

"Woah woah woah! The baby is healthy! Calm down!" He leaned over and rubbed her back lovingly.

"Then what's wrong!?" My mom yelled. She has always been emotional but since she got pregnant, now she's louder.

Dads eyes flew to me and then mom again. "This is not something we should talk about right now."

Moms face turned purple and red. "Why are you looking at Takara? Our daughter?"

He sighed. "Why are you questioning if Takaras our daughter. Out of the two of us you should definitely be positive she's yours."

"Are you questioning if Takaras your daughter?"

He paled. "Nonononononono!" He grabbed me and pulled me to him. "Look at this hair and skin! I could never deny my genes!"

"Then what? Why don't you want to know the gender? Why do you avoid talking about our child!?"

"Honey you're hysterical."

"Of course I am! Your being a jerk."

He looked at me as if asking. I shook my head. Moms just hormonal.

"Let's talk about this later." He grunted standing up.

Then my brain clicked.

"Wait dad, do you not want to talk about the baby because I'm here?"

My moms face turned dark and she stood up.

"Yes dear. Answer her."

He looked stressed and sat back down. So did mom.

"The clans law states that the first born son of our clan has instant rights to next in line as head of the clan."

"What?" I felt numbish

"So your saying, that all of Takaras hard work.."

"Is null and void if the baby's a boy." Dad finished.

"Well you, I , child.." Mom sputtered.

"You've broken the rules before!" Mom yelled, "So do it again!"

My dads calm face cracked. He was not pleased. "Don't ask me to break the clans laws! I swore an oath when I was nine! I can't break the rules!"

"You married me! I'm an outsider!"

"I combed the rules for a week looking for a loop hole! I found one! You were under the age of 9 and trained in the academy when you arrived in Konoha. You are officially not an outsider in terms of the rules!"

My mom paled "But what if I was an outsider. You would have still married me. Right?"

Dad had a shocked look on his face. "Well that wasn't what happened... I... I suppose I would have..." His face was deep in thought. "I love you. And I loved you then. I would had figured something out."

"So why can't you do that for Takara! The baby isn't even born yet and your picking favorites."

"I most certainly am not! I'm following the rules my forefathers set forth for us to prosper."

"Fine! Entertain this thought for me. Let's say in the future your ready to pass down the position as head of the family. Takara, is head of the T&I division and is considered very strong. Our son is head of the Anbu and is also strong. They are considered equal. Who do you pick?"

His face turns red.

"Ume I am done discussing this."

"It's because you care more about what the dead thinks than your own daughter! Is their anything Takara could do to secure her position?"

He groaned and turned to me.

"If she took the clans security pledge she would be head."

Moms face turns sour. "What is that?"

"A pledge that states a female will never leave the clan."

My eyes brighten. What an easy thing to do! "I'll take the pledge! I'll do it right now even!"

Dads eyes brighten and then dim.

"I can't let you do this. Not this young."

My heart dropped. "Why not! It's my decision! Why would I ever leave my clan anyway!"

"You could get married..." Mom whispered.

I snorted. "I'm not getting married."

"Kami I hope so." Dad grumbles but then claps a hand on my shoulder. "Your too young to decide if your going to stay. Besides who would continue the clan?"

"What does that mean?" I asked dumbly. Both my parents blush and my mom punches my dads arm from across the table.

"Her sibling could... Expand the clan." Mom hissed

"We don't even know if the next kid will want kids!" Dad hissed back.

"Who said I want kids?!" I yelled at them. They both glanced at me and sighed.

"This clans laws are too specific and sexist." Mom groaned.

Dad gave her an annoyed look. " The clans security pledge was designed so that if a women somehow became a leader she couldn't abandon the clan for another when she got married."

Mom groaned anyway.

"Look I'm ready for the pledge! I'm not going to get married into another clan." I said calmly looking at them.

"If you take that pledge you could never marry any of your guy friends, they are all in high clans, even Naurto is a descendent of one. Also I don't think you could convince any man to take your name anyway. Even a citizen." Mom said softy.

"I'm ready. Dad please! I want to be head of the clan." I turned to him a stared him down.

"I... Won't do it. You're just a kid. You will fall in love someday. I don't want the clan to hold you back."

"But the alternative is my baby brother taking my rightful position away from me!" I said crossing my arms.

Dads eyes find moms and then slid back to me. "There is a 50% chance it's a girl."

I angrily turn my head away from him. I stood up and glanced at my moms swollen stomach. I went from an excited older sister to hating the child inside my mom. It's taking my place already.

I ignored my parents and walked out the front door and ran to the training ground.

It was already late at night, and a cool breeze was ever present at the training ground. Not that I cared, I was red hot with anger.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" I yelled punching a tree trunk and then recoiled in pain.

"All you alright miss?"

I turned around to look at a boy around a year older than me. He had a black hair, circular eyes, and large eyebrows. He talked in almost a robotic way, like everything is scripted.

He looked concerned staring at my bandage wrapped hand. Now staining with blood.

"Ah you're bleeding, give me a moment. I believe I have ointment for that." He dug into his pack and pulled out a small container.

He handed it/forced it into my hand. I gave him a small smile and unwrapped my hand to apply the ointment. This guy is way too weird to be an assassin.

"Wow your hands are bruised and scared like mine!" He said enthusiastically and unwrapped his hands to show me.

"Oh wow, ya you've worked super hard like me!" I said smiling. "But I bet your future isn't being ripped from you in front of you." I mumbled.

"What did you say?"

I flushed embarrassed and smiled. "Oh nothing! So are you a taijustu expert in training like me?" I questioned.

"Yes! I am working under the amazing and strong Guy-Sensei! Unfortunately he won't take me seriously until I graduate."

There was fire in his eyes.

"Oh I've heard of him! My trainer, my dad that is, used to work with him and has helped him train before!" I happily said, tilting my head to the side remembering all the stories my dad would tell of that particular student. Guy is a good man a little eccentric though. I had met him when he was working with my dad in the Anbu once.

"Oh! You are Gushikan-sans daughter?" Oh? its surprising he's heard of me.

"Yes! If you don't mind my asking, how do you know of me?" I was truly curious.

He blushed and rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Actually I had heard of you before your father. When Guy-Sensei had first began to talk to me and was encouraging me to work harder... He told me about you. A girl younger than me and with a crippling disability, however you never stopped training and you're at the top of your class even with only taijutsu! Your story filled me with the power of youth!"

I flushed and gulped, I had never had a fan before. "Thank you, I-I really appreciate that! Although it's not that bad, the disability that is. I'm going through lots of therapy to correct it. Hopefully someday I'll have ninjutsu and genjutsu." Someone not related to me or is my friend thinks I'm cool... Cool! I smiled and stood straight looking him in the eye.

"Do you want to spar?" I tried to act cool but I was too proud to really look cool.

He suddenly looked nervous again. "I'm not that good yet. But I will become strong!" There's that fire in his eyes again.

I sweat dropped.

"Then I'll go easy on you!" I said smirking.

He shook his head. "I cannot allow you to go easy on me! That would not be fair! Let's spar with all of our might!"

I was slightly taken aback but smiled. "Alright! Let's do it then!"

We took a few steps back and agreed on the 'When the kunai strikes the ground we start rule' and I threw the kunai.

I breathed out and rolled my shoulders. I pulled my fists up and readied myself.

The kunai hit the ground.

I sprang forward and he prepared himself for a forward attack. But when I got close I spun around him so I was staring at his back.

In slow motion I saw him tense as he realized I was not there, but he was too late.

I kicked the backs of his knees and then pushed my knee into the small of his back launching him to the ground.

I finished the fight by pulling out a kunai and stabbing it into the ground next to his face.

"I win!" I said smiling. But he looked crushed. My smile dropped and I walked so I was in front of him.

I stretched a hand out and after a moment he grabbed my hand and I pulled him to his feet.

"Don't worry about it! Give it a few months and you'll be stronger than me! Especially if you keep training hard!"

He smiled. "Perhaps, or..." His eyes got a flame in them. "Perhaps you are destined to be my rival!"

I blinked at him.

"Can we still be friends?" I mumbled staring at him.

He froze and blushed. "Oh course!"

I laughed. "Oh wait! I almost forgot"

I pulled out the ointment and gave it back. He thanked me and gave me a real smile.

He didn't stay much longer and left for home. I stayed though and continued to not quite angrily kicked a tree.

Soon it was late but I didn't care. I didn't want to go home. I eventually sat against the poor tree I had been assaulting.

I finally dozed off.

I woke up in large strong warm arms.

"Dad? I grumble.

He hummed.

He was walking and the air was cold so we weren't home yet.

"Do you not think I'm strong enough to to be head?"

He stopped walking and sighed. "You are strong. You have great potential and I'm proud of you. I just, want to follow the rules."

"What if it's a girl?"

"Then it will be much easier. You'll have instant rights over your strong baby sister."

"Dad is their anything I can do to be head if it a boy? Except the pledge."

"Yes, be so strong I can't deny your better in every way."

I nodded, "Then that's what I'll do."

The months continued to pass and my parents both refused to know the gender. They also instantly forgave each other for their fight and left it to fate what would happen.

I on the other hand began to force my friends when I could to spar against me. Sometimes two at a time. I would get the crud beat out of me but I always got better.

Dad began therapy for me three times a day, well, in the morning and night with him and with my donor after school.

I was going to be strong.

"Taka-chan!" My mom called to me as I sat on the couch reading a book on babys.

"I've decided on a few names for the baby!"

I glanced up as she sat down next to me and put her hand on her stomach. She is currently five months along.

"Ok let's hear them." I said setting down my book.

My dad was sitting on the floor polishing Yang and looked up too.

"Ok so if it's a boy I'm thinking Taichi-"

"No, not that name." My dad cut her off.

She turned with a sour face. "Why not?" She whined like a child.

"That's the name of Takaras great great great grandfather. The one who forged Yin and Yang putting the Gushikan family on list of great clans. While your at it..." He glanced over her shoulder looking at her list of names. "Take Taichirou off the list too, that her great great grandfather."

My mom sighed as she scratched off the names. "I thought you had no say."

He shrugged. "We also can't let copy cat names infest our family. Everyone's their own person."

Mom groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Ok then, Takara, how about Taro, Takeo, Takuya, and Teiji!" She looked expectingly at me as I rolled the names over in my head.

"All of them have good meanings, I kinda like Teiji, that means righteous and well governed right?"

She nodded. "I like that one too! And, it's a Te name like your dad."

I nodded back. "And the girl names?"

She glanced back at her list. "Tetsu, Toki, Tokiwa, Tomi, Tomiju, and Tanaka."

I scrunched up my nose. "Definitely not Tomi or Tomiju."

She frowns "Why not? I think they're cute?"

I glanced at dad and he had a sour face too. "They mean rich or wealthy, I don't want a little stuck up sister."

She marked them off. "What about Tanaka? We have never had a Tan in the family."

I shook my head. "Tanaka means dweller. Sounds gross."

She groans and crossed it off.

My dad clears his throat and we glanced at him. "Actually why don't you look for girl names that don't start with T... Only the next in line is supposed to get a T name... Like Shika for the Nara clan or Chō for the Akimichi clan."

My mom gave him a sharp look.

"Then why can our possible son have a T name."

Dad went back to cleaning his swords. "Never mind me. I have no say after all."

My mom looked back to me. "So what's your favorite girl name?" She was so cheerful.

"Uh I guess I'm not a real fan of any of those names. They all sound weird with our name."

Mom wasn't pleased. "Well I like Tokiwa!"

I flinched. "Eternally constant? Doesn't that sound boring?"

"Nope!"

She got up proclaiming she'd do more research and ran away.

I looked at dad and he was laughing to himself. "When she was pregnant with you she didn't tell anyone your name until you were born so that no one could say no. I don't think she realized you might not like some of her name choices."

I smiled back at him.

'Teiji and Tokiwa? I can live with that.'

I sat with Naruto after a little sparing. I was telling him about the last shopping trip my mom made me do and how I found a onesie that said, "Best Oops Ever" and when I tried to give it to mom she got angry and made me do laps around Konoha.

"So you're okay with the baby now?"

I shook my head. "Not really but mom said when I hold it everything with change." He shrugged and smiled. "I guess I'm going to be a big brother!"

I rolled my eyes. "I think all my friends will be. We will need a lot of help. We could sent it to daycare, we have the money, but moms against it. She'd rather raise it herself. She'll take a year off but after that I'll have to help a lot, you too of course."

He nodded at me and then said, "Wait is your mom still working now?"

I nodded back, "Ya she's six months along but she's still at the prison. She only does paper work though and sits in on interrogation to scare the prisoners. Nothing dangerous."

He whistled. "Your dads okay with her working while so far along?"

"Yeah, as long as she doesn't see action he's fine with it."

We shrug.

"So do you want a brother or a sister?"

I barely hesitated. "A sister. That way my position is in the clear."

"What will happen to your clan though. If it's a girl... No one will carry the name on."

My mind drifts to the laws placed.

"One of us will be forbidden to marry and change our name but is allowed to have kids out of wedlock. To preserve the name."

Narutos eyes widen, "That's crazy!"

I shrug, "Anything to preserve the clan. Since I'll be head of the clan, it will probably be me. I don't really mind that much though. I don't plan on getting married."

I glanced at the sky and stand up.

"I need to head home, it's almost time for therapy." I hug him and wave goodbye as I run off.

I stood in front of the stupid wall that my mom had given me the job to paint.

I was running out of time, only a few more months and I didn't even have an idea for it.

The door opened and mom puttered next to me, she put an arm around me and stared at the wall.

"Ok I admit this is hard. Not only don't you not have a name but you don't even have a gender. Sorry Taka."

I sighed, "It's kind of intimidating."

She gasped and smiled. "I have an idea! To get rid of your blank canvas syndrome!"

She disappears out the door and reappears with dad and three cans of paint.

He sets them down and she opens then to reveal:

The pale purple I've had as my bedroom color my entire life.

The living rooms light blue.

And dads scroll rooms red.

Mom dips the palm of her hand into the blue and at about waist level for her puts her hand print on the wall.

"Ok! Now you dear!"

My dad steps forward and gently dips his hand into the red and then places it onto the wall, about a foot from moms.

"Ok your turn Taka!"

My face broke into a smile and I dipped my hand into purple. I walked to the wall and stood on my tip toes to make sure it's perfect. I pressed my hand right in-between my parents marks. Then stood back.

My hand was slightly lower but... It was perfect to me.

"Ah! That forbidding stainless wall is no more!" My mom sung out.

"So Takara, now what?" Dad grunted.

I smiled at them both and they held their paint covered hands together making purple.

Inspiration hit me like a train.

"I'm going to paint you as your summons!" I said pointing to my parents.

I pulled out a pencil and began marking on the wall. Muttering, "The bear will go over daddy's print and it will look cool and scary. The bat will go over mommy's print and it will be happy and soft."

I noticed my parents both stifle a laugh a little and my dad lean over and kiss my mom.

'Gross' I thought, but I didn't really care.

I'm happy.

Authors Note:

Ack! What a dialogue heavy chapter, forgive me! Anyway I hope you enjoyed the baby preparation!

So to add a little reader interaction, I made two polls, one is a poll of girl names and the other is boy names. I want to know your guys opinions on the names I am considering so please vote!

Also I've never made a poll before so if somethings wrong message me please!

I'll have the poll open until I submit the next chapter, so no spoilers on what the name could be. You also have the option to pick two names out of the four I provided for each gender. Choose wisely, you're gonna have to see that name a lot.

Ok on to deviantART, today/tomorrows drawing is from her being ambushed on her way home from Suna. I hope you'll enjoy!

As always I love reviews but I'm just happy if you read the story.

Thanks for reading and have a nice day!

~ToL