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 58: Vision and Vigilance

It took ten days to travel back to Konoha: three days on the ship and another week walking from the shore due to Namiko's pregnancy and Sasuke's vision slowing them down. Naruto suggested using his toad or Sasuke's snake summons to travel faster, but Namiko reminded him that they were supposed to stay hidden, not paint a giant toad-shaped (or snake in Sasuke's case) target on their backs.

Naruto carried Namiko for a good portion of the trip, but Sasuke refused help because he didn't want to deal with the ridicule from Naruto. And though it took much longer they made it back to Konoha without incident.

"Glad to see you all have returned…mostly unscathed," quipped Tsunade from the seat at her desk, looking pointedly at Sasuke. "So, I take it the mission was successful?"

"You know it, baa-chan!" grinned Naruto proudly, tapping into the kyuubi's chakra as proof, causing the fire-like chakra to surround him before quickly turning it off. "Namiko and I were able to separate the kyuubi's will from its chakra and fix the seals."

"Killer Bee and Motoi are planning on staying on Genbu Island, moving periodically to keep the Akatsuki from gaining access to the hachibi," added Yamato. "If they can't find Killer Bee, then the Akatsuki shouldn't come after Naruto or Namiko since they have to be collected in order."

"Excellent. Sounds like everything went better than expected, especially being able to stop Kisame from spreading intel to Madara and the Akatsuki." Tsunade noticed Namiko had a mixed look on her face. "Do you have something to add?"

"There's a couple of things actually." Namiko pressed her lips together nervously. "The good thing is that as of right now my seal is no longer weakening because Naruto and I have the keys and are able to use them to reinforce the seals."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "And the bad news?"

"Naruto and I got to see our mother in the kyuubi's mindscape…she told us that after she found out she was pregnant, Sandaime and Biwako explained that special precautions needed to be taken during our birth because she was a jinchuriki."

This caught Sasuke's attention. He may not be able to see clearly, but he noticed that Namiko and Naruto had snuck off several times to talk alone on the way back. Namiko had acted anxious and unusually quiet while they were traveling back to Konoha, but he chalked it up to her being upset about him ruining his eyes.

"Apparently, there's one time when a female jinchuriki's seal is vulnerable: during childbirth. If not maintained, it can break and release the biju. When Mito-sama gave birth, her seal nearly broke, and in our mother's case the seal almost broke when she birthed Naruto, but our father was able to keep it intact. However, Madara kidnapped her after Naruto was born and was able to forcibly remove the kyuubi with ease due to the weakened seal. I was born afterward."

Tsunade's eyes widened, and for a moment, her usually calm demeanor cracked. "So you're saying the seal can weaken to the extent of breaking? During childbirth?"

Namiko nodded, clutching her hands together nervously. Sasuke's gaze sharpened, his fists tightening by his sides. Though he already hated the idea of her being in danger because of her pregnancy, this added layer of risk made his stomach churn.

Naruto's voice broke the tense silence. "But Namiko and I have a plan and we're gonna make sure nothing happens. With the keys we've got, I can keep her seal stable through anything."

"That's reassuring, Naruto," Tsunade said, though her tone carried a hint of concern. She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her desk. "But childbirth isn't something you can predict or control completely. Even if you're confident about the seals, we need to be prepared for every possibility. With an impending war, you can't guarantee you'll be able to be there if she goes into labor. I'll start arranging a medical and protection team to assist when the time comes. And, Namiko…"

Namiko straightened, her voice soft but steady. "Yes, Tsunade-sama?"

"I need you to take it easy. Nothing that could strain you, the babies, or the seal. Is that clear?"

Namiko opened her mouth to protest, but Sasuke cut her off, his voice firm. "She'll listen. I'll make sure of it."

Tsunade gave a small nod before addressing Sasuke directly. "And you—I want to evaluate the damage to your eyes immediately."

Sasuke scowled but didn't argue. He could feel Namiko's worried gaze on him and wasn't in the mood to push back right now.

After the mission debrief, everyone was given their usual post-mission physicals, but Tsunade wanted to personally examine both Namiko and Sasuke. "Uchiha, what on earth possessed you to use your Sharingan like that? It took your brother over eight years to get to the same level of blindness that you managed to achieve in a single day!"

"I was trying to keep my comrades and my wife from getting seriously injured or dying," he spat, folding his arms over his chest. "Kisame wasn't called the Tailless Tailed Beast without reason."

Tsunade sighed, making notes on her pad. "You're correct but I'm sure there had to have been a less…damaging and dramatic…way to eliminate him."

Sasuke's jaw tightened, his dark eyes narrowing as he resisted the urge to snap back at the Hokage. "If there was another way, I would have used it. Protecting Namiko and the others was my priority." His tone softened slightly, almost imperceptibly, when he glanced at Namiko sitting on the examination bed. "I'd do it again if I had to."

"I know, and I'm sure you know what I'm about to tell you…the damage to your eyes is irreversible and only going to worsen." Namiko visibly winced at Tsunade's admission. "You need to transplant Itachi's eyes if you want any chance of seeing again."

Sasuke's expression remained impassive. "How long is recovery?"

Tsunade flipped through her notes. "The procedure itself is less than an hour so I can do it whenever you feel ready, today even. After surgery, ideally, I'd like to keep your eyes covered for at least three days. I know you can see light and shapes right now and can get around somewhat on your own, but for those three days, you'll need to be in total darkness to allow your brain and chakra to adjust. You'll be completely dependent on others during that time."

A sour look crossed his face. The last thing he wanted to deal with was being in total darkness for three days and having to lean on others, especially Namiko when he was supposed to be the one taking care of her.

Namiko reached over, placing her hand lightly on Sasuke's. Her touch, though gentle, seemed to pull him back from the edge of his frustration. "Sasuke," she said softly, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes, "Three days in the dark is nothing compared to being like this forever. We'll get through it together."

He turned his head toward her, his dark eyes meeting hers as best as they could. The tension in his shoulders eased, but only slightly. "I'm not worried about myself," he muttered. "I'm worried about leaving you vulnerable. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around."

Namiko let out a soft laugh, her smile faint but warm. "Sasuke, marriage is about give and take. Plus, we're home in Konoha; I have the whole village to protect me. Nothing bad is going to happen in three days." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "And besides, Naruto is always there if I need him."

Sasuke's mouth twitched as if he were considering a smirk but couldn't quite manage it. "Naruto, huh? That's reassuring," he said dryly.

"Hey!" Naruto's voice echoed from the hallway just outside the room as if on cue. A moment later, he burst in, looking indignant. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm the best nurse you could ask for…well, Sakura would probably argue with that…"

Sasuke groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose, and Namiko couldn't help but laugh. Even Tsunade cracked a small smile before clearing her throat. "Naruto, as much as your enthusiasm is appreciated, this isn't the time. Get out."

Naruto stayed quiet, giving Namiko a grin and a quick thumbs-up before walking out the door. Despite everything, it was moments like this that reminded her how lucky she was to have her brother and Sasuke by her side.

Tsunade straightened, her tone becoming firm again. "Sasuke, think it over but don't take too long. The longer you wait, the more strain you'll put on yourself—and Namiko doesn't need that kind of stress right now either."

Namiko's hand instinctively drifted to her stomach, and Sasuke's gaze followed the motion, knowing where her hand went even though he could barely make out the shape of her arm. "Fine," he said finally, his voice quiet but resolute. "Let's get it over with. The sooner the better."

"Good. Shizune, go ahead and prepare the procedure room." Shizune nodded and quickly left the room as Tsunade continued, "It's fairly straightforward. You'll be under observation for a few hours after, and then you can go home." She turned to Namiko. "Alright, your turn. Let me check you over."

Namiko switched places with Sasuke, though he didn't go far. He stood close, his hand brushing against the edge of the mattress as if silently assuring her he was there. Tsunade wasted no time, grabbing a new clipboard and beginning Namiko's check-up.

"How have you been feeling?" Tsunade asked, her tone brisk but not unkind. "Any nausea? Dizziness? Pain? Bleeding?"

Namiko shook her head. "The nausea's pretty rare now, and the walking didn't cause too much trouble. Just a little sore from the long trip. Though I have been more emotional."

"That's to be expected; a lot is going on with your hormones right now." Tsunade hummed, pressing her fingers gently against Namiko's stomach before switching to medical ninjutsu, her skilled hands carefully assessing. "You and the babies are progressing well, though you've been pushing yourself more than I'd like, given the circumstances it couldn't be helped. Travel at this stage isn't ideal."

"I didn't really have a choice," Namiko replied softly. "We couldn't stay there."

"True, but now that you're back, you need to prioritize rest. That's an order," Tsunade said firmly, giving her a pointed look. "Your chakra reserves are lower than I'd like, but that will replenish with quality rest."

Sasuke tensed slightly, his hands clenching at his sides. "She won't have to do anything. I'll make sure of it."

"You're forgetting, you'll be recovering from eye surgery for the next three days." Namiko gave him a tired smile, reaching for his hand. "We'll both just rest together."

Tsunade watched the interaction with a faint smile of her own before clearing her throat. "Good. The babies' heartbeats are strong and their growth is right on track for twenty-three weeks. That's what we want to see. While they could survive if they were born now, I'd like to get you as close to forty weeks as possible. If you do go into labor prematurely, we have ways of helping them thanks to medical ninjutsu, though I can hope that won't be necessary. But overall, I'm satisfied with how things are progressing."

Namiko let out a soft sigh of relief, her hand drifting to her stomach again. "Thank you, ba-chan."

The Hokage straightened, jotting down notes. "No problem. Just remember, I don't want to see you doing any strenuous activity until after the babies are born. That goes for dealing with this one's stubbornness too." She jabbed her thumb in Sasuke's direction, earning an annoyed huff from him.

"I'll be fine," Namiko reassured her, squeezing Sasuke's hand before sliding off the bed. "We'll both be fine."

Tsunade nodded, a rare flicker of softness in her expression. "Good. Now, Sasuke, let's get you taken care of. Namiko, stay here and rest. I'm pretty sure Naruto is still right outside the door. I'll keep you updated with everything until you're ready to go home."

Sasuke hesitated for a moment, his grip tightening briefly on Namiko's hand. "I'll be back before you know it," he promised, his voice low.

Namiko smiled up at him, her eyes warm. "I'll be waiting."

The door closed behind them, leaving Namiko alone in the quiet exam room. She forcibly blew out the breath she was holding as she sat in the silence.

Anxiety was getting the best of her. So much was going on and while she was trying to be a "good kunoichi" and keep her emotions in check, the hormones that came with being pregnant made it almost impossible for her to not be overwhelmed.

Two orange and black clad arms wound around her shoulders as Naruto pulled her to him. Her hands fisted in his jacket as her tears soaked through the colorful, familiar fabric.

Naruto stayed silent as he held her tightly, allowing Namiko to continue to cry until her sobs had turned to quiet sniffles. "Feel a little better?"

She wrapped her arms around her brother, hugging him as she nodded wordlessly against his chest. He laid his cheek on top of her head. "Do you want to talk about it? You know you can tell me anything."

"I know," she said as she leaned her head back to look at him, "It's just…everything going on is overwhelming. This war looming ahead, not being able to use chakra correctly, being pregnant…the idea that in four months or so, Sasuke and I will be parents to not one but two babies. And right now, I'm trying very hard not to worry about his eyes and imagine all the horrible things that could go wrong in the next hour."

"He'll be fine! Baa-chan is doing it, so don't worry."

"How can I not worry? I love him…" her voice broke slightly, fighting off tears again. She suddenly changed gears, letting out a soft groan. "And I have to keep him calm and relaxed for the next three days…"

"Sasuke might whine like a baby about having to be coddled, but he'll be back to his normal asshole personality before you know it."

She smacked his shoulder, and he let out a yelp. "He's not an asshole, and you know it. Some best friend and brother-in-law you are…"

Naruto rubbed his shoulder, sighing in surrender. "You're right. He's not an asshole, and while he still has his jerk moments, he's changed for the better. Because of you."

Namiko blinked in surprise at her brother's words as he continued, "You've made that change in him. Yeah, we still bicker and fight because he's still my rival and that's just our friendship, but for the first time I can ever remember, he's…happy…because of you. There's a softness in his eyes that wasn't there before. I should've known something was going on between the two of you months ago with the way you two talk to each other. You're good for him." He smirked as he added, "Maybe too good."

"Nii-chan, you've got it wrong. He's good for me too."

Naruto raised an eyebrow before looking at her stomach and back to her eyes. "Really?"

She shot him a disapproving look, crossing her arms over her stomach. "We've talked about this before. You know that was both mine and his responsibility, and we both screwed up. If he were truly bad for me, he would've bailed on me and the twins."

"Good point."

"What you don't know is just how much he's protected and helped me. And I'm not talking about when we were with Orochimaru or traveling, I mean since we've been back too." She breathed deeply and slid off the exam table. "I've had night terrors for a couple of years now. Sakura was giving me medicine before I left to make me sleep through them, but when I was with Sasuke, I obviously no longer had access to the medicine, and I had them nightly. Sasuke realized he could stop them with his Sharingan and when Orochimaru made us share a bed, his presence kept me from having them altogether."

"Slimy-creep-did-what-now?!"

Namiko ignored his comment. "When we came back home to Konoha, I never told Sakura that the terrors were still active. When we moved into the apartment with you and he was sleeping in the living room, I still had them pretty badly and the only way I was able to fall asleep was when he held me. So he would come in my room after you went to bed and hold me until I fell asleep, then wake up before you and go back out in the living room. Do you still think he's not good enough for me?"

"Okay, okay…you've made your point. But I'm your big brother. Aren't I supposed to think no guy's good enough for you? Even if he is my best friend and your husband." His teasing grin made Namiko shake her head in amusement. "Alright, let's go wait in the waiting room until we hear something from baa-chan."

As they walked down the hall, Naruto threw his arm over her shoulders. "You know, I really am amazed at your relationship with him. You're so calm, even when he's broody and stubborn."

"I'm not always," she muttered, crossing her arms as a smile played on her lips. "You have no idea how many arguments we've had over stupid things. Like whether or not he needs to take breaks during training or if he's eating enough. The man is impossible sometimes. I can only imagine how irritated he's going to be about having to lean on me completely for the next three days."

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, well, I think you're the only one who could handle him. Sakura might've punched him through a wall by now if it were her."

Namiko laughed softly, shaking her head. "I love him, Naruto. Stubbornness, flaws, and all. I wouldn't trade my life with him for anything, even if it's not what either of us planned."

Naruto gave her a reassuring squeeze. "You know I'm here for you to help you out. I can even come to help you deal with Sasuke's dramatic ass over the next couple of days."

Namiko let out a laugh that sounded suspiciously like a hiccup. "He's not dramatic—"

"He is so dramatic," Naruto cut her off, grinning. "He's just quieter about it than me. But don't worry, you've got me to call him out when you're too nice to."

She smirked, shoving him lightly. "You're just as impossible as he is."

"And proud of it," he shot back before getting serious again. "But seriously, don't stress yourself out too much, okay? You've got a lot on your plate, but you don't have to carry it all by yourself. You've got me, Namiko. Always."

Namiko smiled through the tears that welled up again, pulling him into another tight hug. "I love you, nii-chan."

"Love you too, imouto," Naruto replied warmly, ruffling her hair.

Before either of them could say more, the door creaked open. Both siblings turned toward the sound as Tsunade walked in, her expression unreadable.

Namiko's heart jumped into her throat, her hands clenching at Naruto's jacket sleeve as she tried to brace herself for whatever news her godmother was about to deliver.

"Well?" Naruto prompted, his usual impatience breaking through. "How's Sasuke doing?"

Tsunade crossed her arms, letting out a sigh. "The procedure went exactly as planned. He's stable, but he'll need as much rest as possible while his vision adjusts. No chakra use, no sudden movements, and you need to keep him calm. That means no arguments—" she stared pointedly at Naruto— "no stressful situations, and absolutely no indulging his ridiculous pride."

Namiko released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her body sagging in relief. "Thank you, ba-chan," she whispered as she hugged her.

Tsunade softened slightly, hugging back momentarily before letting go. "He's going to be fine, Namiko. Just take things one step at a time. He's lucky to have you."

Namiko nodded, wiping at her eyes. "Can I see him?"

"He's resting, but yes," Tsunade replied. "I'll take you to him."

With a final glance at her brother, Namiko squared her shoulders and followed Tsunade toward the recovery room.

The moment they walked in, Sasuke immediately tensed, his old signature scowl etched into his features. Namiko breathed a sigh of relief as she grabbed his hand. "Hey…I'm here now…" She brushed a few stray hairs from his face. "How do you feel?"

"Fine, just don't want to be here right now."

"I'll let you leave in a couple of hours. I want to make sure there are no complications after the fact, but everything looked good during the procedure. I'll give you medicine to take home to keep any pain and swelling down," explained Tsunade, glaring at Sasuke even though he couldn't see it. "But you're not going anywhere until I clear you, so don't even try to be stubborn."

Sasuke grunted in response, shifting slightly on the bed but not pulling his hand from Namiko's grasp. His pride wouldn't allow him to admit it, but the feel of her hand in his was grounding—reassuring. The complete darkness was unnerving, but the pain in his eyes was barely an ache now compared to the intense heat when he had been using Amaterasu.

Namiko squeezed his hand gently, her thumb brushing over his knuckles and bringing his focus back to her. "I know it's not where you want to be, but you need to rest. Humor me, just this once? We'll go home as soon as she lets us and you'll rest the next three days there. I'll make sure of it."

Her tone was soft but firm, the kind of voice Sasuke could never quite argue with. "I'm not some helpless invalid, Namiko. You don't have to babysit me."

"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Namiko tilted her head, her expression soft but teasing. "Oh, I know you're not helpless. But you are stubborn, and someone has to make sure you actually rest instead of working your way into an even longer recovery."

Naruto peeked his head into the room, grinning wide. "She's got a point, Sasuke. Don't make us have to drag you back here because you tried to run off and do training or something stupid."

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Sasuke muttered, though there wasn't the usual bite in his tone.

Naruto stepped fully into the room, crossing his arms. "Nope. My schedule's wide open for making sure you don't give my sister any grief. So you might as well get used to seeing my face…or, um, hearing my voice at least..."

Sasuke sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't know what's worse—this recovery or having to deal with you annoying me like a fly."

Namiko laughed softly, leaning closer to Sasuke. "Be nice. He's just trying to help. Besides, you're stuck with us, whether you like it or not."

Tsunade rolled her eyes and started toward the door. "I'll check in on him in a bit. Namiko, if he gives you too much trouble, you have my permission to sedate him."

Naruto burst out laughing, and even Namiko couldn't help the amused smile that tugged at her lips. Sasuke, however, groaned. "Just great…"

Later that evening Tsunade discharged Sasuke and the two walked home. Thankfully it was dark and they didn't have to worry about prying eyes wondering why the Uchiha was wearing bandages around his eyes. And despite Sasuke's initial protests, he wanted nothing more than to lie down in his own bed with Namiko and sleep.

Namiko climbed into bed, lying her head on his shoulder. "I'm not going to lie, I was scared when Tsunade took you back for surgery…I'm so glad you're okay."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I told you I'd be fine."

"I know, but I can't help worrying about you," she said quietly. "I don't think that's something I can turn off, no matter how many times you tell me not to. I love you."

"I love you too." Sasuke's lips twitched into the barest hint of a smile. "Hn. You're too good to me."

"Not as good as you deserve," Namiko whispered, her voice almost trembling with emotion.

Sasuke scoffed lightly but didn't bother arguing. Instead, he tightened his hold on Namiko and closed his eyes again, relishing being able to hold her. He felt a small movement against his side as Namiko made a soft oof noise. "What's wrong?"

Namiko furrowed her brow as she sat up, moving away from him slightly. "What do you mean?"

"You made a noise like you were uncomfortable."

"Oh, that?" Namiko let out a small giggle. "Maybe slightly. Our little girl seems to be doing somersaults inside me right now, that's all. It's a weird feeling, but sometimes it can be a little uncomfortable. She's strong."

Sasuke froze. "Wait, so the movement I felt against my side while you're next to me was her?"

A bright smile lit up her face as she sat up. "I didn't realize you could feel that! Here, give me your hand."

Once Sasuke sat up and held out his hand for her to take, she placed it on her right side and they both waited with bated breath.

A moment later, he felt a tiny thump against his hand followed quickly by another. "That's her?"

"That's her." Tears glistened in Namiko's eyes and she bit back a sniffle, her voice cracking slightly.

"What about our son?"

"Men, always more concerned about their son," she teased, moving his other hand to the lower left side of her stomach. "...right here. He's a little quieter, but you might catch him moving if you're patient."

Sasuke waited, his expression unreadable but his focus entirely on her words and the stillness beneath his palm. A moment later, a soft push met his hand and rolled under her skin. His breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and Namiko caught the slight upward curve of his lips.

"There he is," she murmured. "He's always gentle, like he's testing the waters."

Sasuke's fingers twitched ever so slightly against her belly. Another faint, almost hesitant nudge greeted Sasuke's palm. His stoic demeanor slipped as he allowed a glimmer of wonder to show. "He's careful," he murmured, almost to himself. "Like he's already thinking things through."

Namiko laughed quietly, brushing a hand over her husband's as she held his gaze, even if he couldn't see it. "Guess he takes after you."

Sasuke didn't reply right away, his focus entirely on the movements beneath his hands. The faint nudges and soft shifts against his palm stirred a deep, unfamiliar warmth in his chest—one that both exhilarated and terrified him. "And the girl…she's definitely yours."

Namiko feigned offense, placing her hands on her hips. "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"

"She's stubborn," Sasuke said flatly, though the faint smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his teasing. "And already making her presence known."

"Okaa-san called her a 'spitfire' and said I was the same way—that I moved all the time but Naruto didn't."

"He makes up for that now," quipped Sasuke before going silent in awe of finally being able to feel the babies.

Namiko rolled her eyes, though her smile softened. "Fine, I'll give you that one. But let's not forget, she's your daughter too. If she's stubborn, she gets it from both of us."

Sasuke hummed in agreement, his smirk fading as he pressed his hand just a little more firmly against her belly. "I didn't think…I'd ever feel this."

Namiko tilted her head, watching him carefully. "Feel what?"

"This. Them." His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "I never thought I'd have a family again."

Her heart clenched at the vulnerability in his tone, and she reached up to cup his cheek, guiding his face toward hers. "You deserve this, Sasuke. You deserve them. You deserve to be happy." Her thumb brushed over his cheekbone as she added, "You've fought so hard to make it this far. I'm so proud of you."

Sasuke closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. He wasn't used to hearing words like that, but from her, they didn't feel like empty platitudes. They felt…real.

"I don't know if I'll be good at this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Being a father."

"You will be," Namiko said firmly. "You already are. You care about them, and you love them. That's what matters."

He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by another strong kick from their daughter. Namiko gasped at the sensation, laughing softly. "See? She agrees with me."

Sasuke's lips quirked into the faintest of smiles again as he rested his forehead against hers.

Namiko shifted slightly, her hand still covering his. "Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

She hesitated for a moment, her voice softer when she continued. "What do you think they'll be like? When they're here, I mean. What kind of people do you think they'll grow up to be?"

Sasuke didn't answer right away, his fingers flexing lightly against her stomach as if trying to feel their children's movements again. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "I hope they're strong. Not in the way we were forced to be…but strong enough to protect what's important to them. And smart enough to avoid the mistakes I made."

Namiko smiled faintly, her thumb tracing idle patterns along the back of his hand. "They'll have us. Both of us. They won't have to face the kind of pain we did."

"You say that now," Sasuke muttered, though there was no sharpness in his tone. "But the world isn't kind. It never has been."

"That doesn't mean we can't make their world better," she countered, a quiet determination in her voice. "We can teach them to love and to hope. We can give them the family we never had."

For a long moment, Sasuke said nothing, the weight of her words settling over him. His free hand came up to brush her hair away from her face, his fingers lingering against her temple. "You're too optimistic for your own good."

"And you're too pessimistic for yours," Namiko shot back, her lips curving into a teasing smile.

"Hn." Sasuke's faint smirk returned, and he shook his head. "They'll probably take after you more. Bold. Stubborn. Always talking back."

Namiko gasped in mock outrage, lightly smacking his shoulder. "Hey! You're not off the hook here. If they're anything like you, they'll be brooding and impossible to read. And don't get me started on how good they'll be at holding grudges."

"I don't hold grudges," Sasuke said flatly, earning a pointed look from Namiko.

"Uh-huh. Tell that to Naruto."

Sasuke scoffed, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward again. "Fine. Maybe they'll take after both of us. Stubborn, bold, brooding…a perfect mix."

Namiko chuckled, her laughter quiet but warm. "As long as they're happy and healthy, I don't care what their personalities are like. That's all I want for them."

Sasuke tightened his grip on her hand, his expression softening ever so slightly. "They will be. I'll make sure of it."

Namiko tilted her head up to press a gentle kiss to his jaw, her lips brushing against the faint curve of his smile. "We'll make sure of it."

"Godaime," said an ANBU as he entered Tsunade's office. "We have reports coming in of strange white humanoid figures seemingly scouting all across the Land of Lightning and creeping into Fire's borders as well."

"Probably looking for the hachibi's jinchuriki…" Tsunade pursed her lips. 'If they find Killer Bee, then Naruto and Namiko are next…we can't let that happen.'

Tsunade straightened in her seat. "Tighten up our security and get more scouts out to keep watch. We need to be ready for anything."

A/N: Lots of fluffy cuteness in this chapter, but danger is still on the horizon. More cuteness and slice-of-life in the next chapter as well.
Thank you all for being patient with this update! I have a lot going on with my family right now, so updates may be a bit more sporadic until things calm down. Right now, I'm planning on updating again on the 28th as long as things calm down. I may update earlier, but I'll post on Twitter and BlueSky if anything changes. (and sneak peeks of course!)
Love, Eriisu

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