Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (either manga or anime!); the wonderful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns all rights. However, the plot and Namiko Uzumaki are mine!

Chapter 46: Twist of Fate

Skeptical laughter trickled from Namiko's mouth. "You're joking…"

Hinata shook her head. "Neither of us would ever joke about this, Namiko."

Namiko's jaw went slack as all the color drained from her face and her body went numb. Panic began to set in. "What? There's no way! Well, I mean it's possible but…I—we…what? Are you absolutely sure?"

Sakura nodded. "You're definitely pregnant. By the size, I'd say you conceived maybe seven or eight weeks ago?"

'Seven or eight weeks ago?' Her breath quickened as her mind began to race. "That would have been right around the time Sasuke and I returned to Konoha and I had my physical, but Shizune checked me then and I wasn't pregnant!"

Sakura thought for a moment. "If you had just conceived, it wouldn't have shown on any testing yet. You should've been retested a couple of weeks later but it probably slipped through the cracks."

Namiko stared off into space as she wracked her memory. 'When did we have sex around the time we came home? The only time would have been…oh. The Uchiha munitions store…' Namiko flushed bright red at the memory.

"I'd say you just remembered exactly when you got pregnant." Sakura tried to keep her face neutral. "I've seen that same look on quite a few of my patients' faces at the hospital."

Namiko pressed her lips together nervously. "We only…had sex…" she whispered the words even though she knew no one was close enough to hear but her friends, "…once around that time frame…so it's not that hard to figure out when it happened."

Silence hung in the air as Namiko stared at her stomach in disbelief, her thoughts swirling in her mind. "I'm really…pregnant?" Her voice quieted to barely a whisper, "You both are sure? …like really sure?"

"One hundred percent," confirmed Sakura. She traded looks with Hinata. "Hinata, you may want to tell her the rest."

"The rest? Is there something wrong with the—it?" Namiko couldn't bring herself herself to use the word 'baby' just yet.

"No, no, nothing is wrong with them! They're completely healthy!" Sakura held up her hands in front of her, trying to calm Namiko when she realized what she said. 'Shit…'

Namiko's eyes went wide. "…them?"

Hinata nodded slowly. "Them. It's twins."

Everything around Namiko froze in place. She slumped forward, placing her hands on the ground to keep herself upright. "…twins…as in two…at the same time?" She stared blankly at the dirt in front of her.

"Fraternal twins tend to be genetic. Although it's too early to tell if they're fraternal, like you and Naruto, or identical," explained Sakura calmly.

Namiko felt her heart pounding in her chest, each beat echoing louder in her ears. 'Twins? How am I supposed to do this?'

She could barely process being pregnant with one child, let alone two. Thoughts of Sasuke immediately filled her mind. How would he react? He hadn't exactly been planning for a family—neither of them had. They were only sixteen years old and still trying to figure out their place in the world. But add this?

Hinata placed a gentle hand on Namiko's shoulder, her lavender eyes filled with concern. "Namiko, I know this is a lot, but you need to breathe. I don't want you to pass out."

Namiko hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath. She snapped back to reality, taking a deep breath as she tried to push down the rising tide of panic. "I…don't think I can do this…I'm not ready to be a mom…"

Sakura knelt beside her, offering a reassuring smile. "No one's ever really ready, Namiko. But you won't have to do this alone. You have Sasuke, Naruto, us, and so many others to help. We'll support you every step of the way."

Tears welled up in Namiko's eyes, but she stubbornly blinked them away. "I know, and I'm thankful I have you…but what if I mess up? What if I'm not good enough? I never knew my mom…I don't know what it's like."

"You are more than good enough," Hinata said softly but firmly. "You've faced so much already, Namiko. You're one of the strongest people I know. And these babies…they're going to be so lucky to have you as their mother."

Namiko swallowed hard, the weight of her new reality beginning to settle over her. "I…I need to tell Sasuke," she whispered, a hint of fear creeping into her voice. "And please, please, don't breathe a word of this to anyone until I figure this out."

Sakura nodded. "We won't say anything. Though as a medical shinobi, I have to tell you absolutely no more combat training of any kind; regular training and exercise is fine though." She placed a gentle hand on Namiko's shoulder. "And don't worry, we'll be here for you both. You're not in this alone."

Namiko took another deep breath, trying to steady herself. She could do this. She had to do this. Not for her, but for the two tiny lives growing inside her.

She pushed herself to her feet, her legs still shaky but finding strength as she stood, wrapping both of her friends in a hug. "Thank you, both of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Hinata smiled softly. "That's what friends are for."

Namiko managed a small smile in return. But as she turned to leave, heading towards the apartment she shared with Sasuke and Naruto, her heart was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope.

As she walked through the village, Namiko's thoughts were consumed with how she would tell Sasuke. Would he be happy? Scared? Angry? They had been through so much together, but this was beyond uncharted territory. She couldn't predict how he would react.

Finally, she reached their apartment and paused at the door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. This was it. She had to face this head-on. With a deep breath, Namiko pushed open the door and stepped inside, steeling herself for the conversation that would change their lives forever.

She could hear Naruto and Sasuke talking in the living room. She closed the door softly as if maybe she was quiet enough, then she could sneak to her room and avoid the pending conversation, at least for a little while longer. When Naruto's voice called out to her, she knew there was no avoiding it. "Namiko? You're back already?"

She toed off her sandals and walked around the corner timidly. "Yeah…uh…Sakura was needed at the hospital, so we decided to save our training session for another day." Namiko swallowed the bile that tried to rise when she made eye contact with them. 'Ugh…I should've known my nausea was more than just my weak stomach…'

Sasuke noticed her apprehensive behavior with ease. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, just bummed we had to reschedule our training. I was looking forward to sparring against Sakura." Namiko was quick to force a fake smile; one that both boys saw straight through but didn't question. "Sasuke, I was wondering if you'd want to go out with me since I'm free now."

Sasuke nodded and stood without delay. He knew something was going on and wanted to know exactly what. "Sure, let's go."

"You two are just gonna leave me here by myself?" whined Naruto.

"Sometimes we want to be alone." Sasuke smirked at him as he put on his sandals. "Or would you rather us kiss in front of you again?"

Naruto scrunched up his nose at the thought. "Nevermind, just keep your hands and other parts to yourself."

Namiko flinched as she had her hand on the doorknob, and while Naruto didn't seem to notice, Sasuke did. He scoffed, waving his hand dismissively.

"Whatever, we'll be back later."

As they stepped onto the main street of Konoha, neither said a word. He let her lead them where she wanted. He didn't want to ask questions just yet, and he didn't have to ask where they were going, he already knew.

The Uchiha Pond.

When they arrived, Namiko walked to the end of the dock, staring blankly out at the frozen pond. She folded her arms under her chest, partly to try to fight the chill in the air, and partly to shield her heart from whatever was about to be said.

Sasuke stood about a meter behind her, his concern palpable through the softness of his voice. "Namiko, do you want to tell me what actually happened today?" He took a small step forward, wanting to turn her around but deciding to let her work through whatever was bothering her. "Because while Sakura may have been called to the hospital, I know you and Hinata would've just trained together instead."

Namiko remained silent, as if searching the icy pond for the right words. Her heart was pounding in her chest, each beat more pronounced than the last. She knew this moment was going to be life-changing for both of them and once the truth was out, there was no going back.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Sasuke, she finally spoke, "Sakura and I started to spar and Hinata stopped us right after because she noticed something…off with my chakra. Sakura checked me over with medical ninjutsu and…"

She took a shaky breath before continuing, "I'm…pregnant…" She flinched so hard at the words that Sasuke could tell even though she was still facing away from him.

"You're…pregnant?" he repeated slowly, trying to wrap his mind around the information.

She nodded before turning to face him, trying her best not to allow her tears to escape as the words poured from her mouth and jumbled together, "I swear I had no idea. I mean, Shizune tested me when we came home to Konoha, but Sakura said it must've been too early to show on the exam. I wasn't trying to trick you or anything and if you don't want this, I don't blame you if you want to walk away or want me to get an abortion—"

"No." The single word came out of his mouth harsher than what he intended. At her startled expression, he reached forward and grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb tenderly across her wrist. "Innocent lives need to be protected, and I promise I'm never going to walk away from you or our baby."

Namiko blinked a few times to make sure she heard him right. His gaze softened, laying a gentle hand under her chin to tilt her face up so she had to meet his eyes. "You're not going to lose me, Namiko," he said firmly, his voice low and full of emotion, "I'm not going anywhere."

Her shoulders dropped in relief. "You're not?"

"I told you before, I'll never willingly leave you." He pulled her to his chest and kissed her forehead. "I also told you that I'd protect you for the rest of our lives and I'll protect our child as well."

She tensed in his arms and he pulled back to see her face. Namiko refused to meet his eyes as she bit her lip nervously and muttered, "…ren." She glanced up at his face, and at his confused look, she repeated, her voice clearer but still barely audible, "Children…there are two…babies…twins…"

'Twins?' Sasuke's calm exterior remained intact, but his thoughts were racing inside. 'How am I supposed to protect not just Namiko, but two children as well? The idea of fatherhood was never part of my plans—at least, not yet. Maybe in ten or fifteen years, but now? Everything is changing so quickly.'

He stepped back to hold her at arm's length, Sharingan quickly flashing to see she was indeed correct; he could make out her and the kyuubi's chakra systems, but two smaller ones were barely visible, nearly microscopic, but able to be seen thanks to his dojutsu.

"Twins…" He let out a long, slow exhale. He couldn't let Namiko see his worries. She needed him to be strong, to be the calm presence she could rely on. Sasuke was silent for a long moment.

Tears welled up in Namiko's eyes, her voice filled with anxiety. "I don't want to face this without you. I can't do this without you. I need you."

Sasuke pulled her back into his arms, holding her close as she buried her face in his chest. "I'm here," he murmured into her hair. "And I'm not leaving. We'll get through this, Namiko. We'll make it work, no matter what."

Namiko clung to him, feeling the warmth and strength of his embrace. She knew they had a long road ahead of them, full of challenges and uncertainties, but with Sasuke by her side, she felt like she could face anything.

She let out a shaky breath, leaning into his touch as if drawing strength from him. Her head suddenly tilted back. "But what if something goes wrong? What if—"

"Nothing's going to go wrong," Sasuke interrupted gently, though the words felt hollow in his ears. He wanted to believe them, but the truth was, the thought of losing their unborn children was a fear he hadn't even realized he had until now. But he couldn't let that fear control him. Not now. "Worrying won't make it better," he said, seemingly more to himself than her.

The tears she had been holding back began to fall. "I just…I want to do it right. I want to be a good mother…I never knew mine, and I don't know how—I don't want to fail them."

Sasuke's hand gently rubbed her back as he kissed her forehead. "You're already thinking about what's best for them, Namiko. That alone tells me you're going to be an amazing mother. We'll figure out the rest together, okay? Step by step."

Namiko looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes meeting his. "But what about you? How do you feel about all this? I know this isn't what we planned—"

Sasuke cut her off with a soft kiss, silencing her worries for a moment. When he pulled back, his expression was calm but determined. "It's true we didn't plan for this. But that doesn't change how I feel about you or them. I'll be by your side, no matter what."

The reassurance in his voice brought a wave of relief crashing over her. For the first time, Namiko allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could do this.

"Did Sakura or Hinata say how long you've been pregnant?" he asked tentatively, keeping his arms around her until she decided to let go.

She looked up at him with a timid smile. "Seven or eight weeks. Meaning we conceived them right around the time we got back to Konoha."

"The only time around then was—oh…" A cocky smirk graced his lips as he felt the back of his neck warm at the memory. "That was a good night."

Namiko shot him a disapproving look and lightly smacked his arm. "You could at least pretend to have some decency!" She rolled her eyes. "It's embarrassing enough that we not only had to be reminded to use contraceptive jutsus after that, but we had to be reminded by my godmother who's also the Hokage—oh no…"

Namiko's face paled and she pulled out of his arms and began to pace on the dock. "I'll have to tell ba-chan…she's going to be pissed. She warned us to take precautions, especially since I'm a jinchuriki."

"We did take precautions after that, but it wouldn't have worked since you were already pregnant. She'll probably be upset," Sasuke admitted, "but she cares about you and wants what's best for you. Once she calms down, she'll focus on making sure you and the babies are safe and healthy. And probably making my life a living hell."

She suddenly stopped in the middle of the dock with a gasp. "Naruto…"

Sasuke groaned as he ran a hand through his hair. "I take it back, he's going to make my life a living hell, if he doesn't try to kill me first."

"I'll handle telling Naruto since he's my brother, but maybe we should keep this quiet for a while. Sakura and Hinata already said they wouldn't tell anyone."

"Agreed, though, what if you start to show early since there's more than one?"

"I'm not sure. Sounds like I need to make a trip to the library soon."

Sasuke reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "One thing at a time. Otherwise, we're both going to get overwhelmed."

Namiko's eyes softened at his words, the love she felt for him shining through her worry. "You really think we can do this? Raise these babies together, and be a family?"

"I know we can," Sasuke said without hesitation. "We've faced impossible odds before and come out stronger. This is just another challenge, and we'll tackle it the same way we've tackled everything else—together."

She nodded slowly, feeling a flicker of hope reignite within her. "Together," she echoed, letting the word settle in her heart. "Okay, we can do this. But you better be ready to run if Naruto starts throwing punches, especially since he has Sage jutsu now."

Sasuke chuckled, a rare sound that made her smile despite everything. "I'll take my chances. Besides, he's not the only one who can throw a punch." He pulled her into his arms again, holding her close as they stood on the dock, the weight of their future pressing down on them, but no longer feeling unbearable.

For the first time since finding out she was pregnant, Namiko felt a sense of peace wash over her. With Sasuke by her side, she knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead. They weren't just two young shinobi anymore—they were going to be parents, and together, they would protect the family they were about to create.

"I love you," she whispered into his chest, her voice filled with a quiet certainty.

Sasuke pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, his arms tightening around her. "I love you too, Namiko. And I always will." He pulled back and trailed his hand down her arm before linking their fingers together. "Let's go home and watch a movie or something to give both our minds a break."

"You're right." Namiko sighed, nodding again. "My mind already feels like a blender…"

They walked home and found the apartment empty, but Namiko didn't give it too much thought as she and Sasuke put on a movie and curled up on the couch together. She laid her head on his lap, pulling a blanket over the lower half of her body. Within minutes of the opening sequence, she had fallen asleep.

Sasuke couldn't help but allow his thoughts to stray from the movie and refocus on Namiko and their twins. Sasuke gazed down at Namiko as she slept peacefully, her chest rising and falling steadily. The soft glow from the TV cast a gentle light across her features, making her look almost ethereal. He gently brushed his fingers through her hair, careful not to wake her, his mind a whirl of thoughts.

When he said one of his goals was restoring his clan, this wasn't exactly what he had in mind. He had meant to restore its honor, not literally restore it by getting his girlfriend pregnant. But the future he envisioned was no longer just about him; it was about her, their children, and the life they were about to build together. It was daunting, but for the first time in a long time, he felt a sense of purpose beyond his quest for vengeance and power.

Sasuke knew the road ahead would be challenging. While their relationship was no longer a secret, Namiko's pregnancy would have to be hidden until further notice. They would have to be cautious, especially with Naruto around. Sasuke felt a pang of guilt at the thought of how Naruto would react—his best friend, his brother, who had always been there for him, would undoubtedly feel betrayed when he found out.

Keeping Namiko's pregnancy a secret wasn't just so Naruto or Tsunade wouldn't kill him, but if it became public knowledge that she was pregnant by him, it could spell danger for her. The potential for someone to come after her or their children due to the possibility of acquiring the Sharingan was a risk.

But this was something they had to face, and Sasuke was determined to protect Namiko and their children at all costs. He placed his hand gently across her still-flat abdomen as if to solidify his promise to protect them. He had already lost his family once; he wasn't going to lose another.

Over the next few days, Namiko noticed more subtle changes in her body. Her chakra seemed more sensitive, fluctuating with the tiniest of emotional shifts. The chakra control needed to perform most of the ninjutsu in her arsenal was a struggle at best. She could only assume it was because of the twins—how her body was adjusting to protect not just one, but two extra new lives.

Her morning sickness had been intensifying so much, that even Naruto was finally starting to notice. "Imouto, maybe you should go see Sakura or something. You've been getting sick for a while."

"I have already. She said I'm fine and it'll pass. I'm not contagious, or you and Sasuke both would be sick." Namiko groaned, lying her head on the cool surface of the dining table, trying to keep her nausea at bay.

"I hope not, because no one should puke that much," replied Naruto as he scrunched up his nose. "You look awful."

'Say that to any woman who's ever experienced morning sickness and they'll kick you in the balls…you better be thankful I have to keep this secret or I'd kick you myself, nii-chan.' Namiko rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping from her words, "Gee, thanks, nii-chan." She sat up and forced a weak fake smile, hoping it would reassure her brother. "I'm okay."

However, Naruto wasn't convinced. He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. "You sure there's nothing else going on? You've been acting kinda weird lately. It's not the kyuubi, is it?"

Namiko's heart raced, but she quickly masked her anxiety with a casual shrug and a shake of her head. "I haven't been sleeping well, so I'm tired, that's all. I just need rest." It wasn't a complete lie, she hadn't been sleeping well, mainly due to the guilt over harboring another secret.

Naruto seemed to accept her answer, though he still looked concerned. "Alright, but if you keep feeling sick, promise me you'll go back to the hospital, okay? I'm heading out."

"I promise. Be careful," Namiko replied, grateful when Naruto finally dropped the subject. She watched him head out the door, likely off to meet with Kakashi or work more on Sage Jutsu. As soon as he was out of sight, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. How long could she keep this up?

Sasuke entered from the kitchen, noticing her exhausted expression. He didn't need to ask; he could tell by her pale complexion and the way she rested her head on the table. "Drink this," he said as he set down a cup of ginger tea in front of her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, just tired of lying to him," she admitted softly as she sipped the tea. "I hate keeping this from him."

Sasuke sat down beside her, resting a hand on her back. "You won't have to hide it for much longer. Once we have a plan and know what to expect, we'll tell him together."

Namiko nodded, leaning into his comforting touch. She knew Sasuke was right, but the weight of more secrets was beginning to wear her down. She wanted nothing more than to have everything out in the open, but the timing wasn't right.

Sasuke was about to suggest they take a walk when a loud, ominous rumble shook the ground beneath them. Namiko sat up straight in her chair, her chakra sensing immediately on high alert. "One very strong chakra, but…it's in six different places?"

The sound of an explosion caught both of them by surprise. "What is going on?" she asked, her heart pounding.

Sasuke was already on his feet, his expression tense. "I don't know, but it's coming from the village center." Another explosion sounded, this time much closer. "Stay here," he commanded as he started toward the door.

"Not a chance am I letting you out of my sight." Her blue-violet eyes bore into his charcoal ones with stubbornness.

He pressed his lips together tightly. He honestly didn't want to let her out of his sight either, and she would most likely be safer with him. "Okay, but you need to actually listen to me."

As they dashed out of the apartment and into the chaos unfolding in the village, Namiko felt a fierce determination rise within her. For the sake of her unborn children, for Naruto, for Sasuke, and for everyone she cared about, she would fight with everything she had.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the all-too-familiar black robes with red clouds.

The Akatsuki had arrived and the battle for Konoha had begun.

A/N: Sorry, not sorry for that cliffhanger. I hope you enjoyed the sweetness of all the baby discussion. Yes, this will be a big part of the latter portion of this story, so be prepared for drama and fluffiness among the action. We still have about 20 chapters left, give or take a few. I'm still planning on a chapter a week, but we'll have to see how that works with school back in session and some very intense parts coming up.
I'd love to know your thoughts about how the conversations went in this chapter and how you'll think everyone else will react.
Thank you all so much for your love and comments! I think I hit a record for most comments last chapter AND I'm on track to break 10,000 hits on AO3 and 22,000 hits on FFN with this chapter! You all are amazing!
Love, Eriisu

PS: Comments are my tip jar!