After wandering the streets for a bit, Sasuke found a hotel where he rented a single room. It had a private shower, so he spent the next half hour happily standing under the warm streams of water—a rarity for his lifestyle. After washing away the road dust and traces of other people's touches, he sat on the creaky bed, drying his hair with a towel.
His clothes hung over the back of a chair. Completely naked, Sasuke examined himself thoughtfully, checking the doctor's comments. His body was indeed dry, not gaining any weight, and his belly seemed small. His hand gravitated toward him, as if magnetized. He should have gotten used to it by now, but it still felt strange—to feel someone's life right inside him. His daughter's. Stroking the hot skin, the omega traced his navel with his fingertip and sighed.
Was he really having a girl? It was hard to believe for some reason.
"You've proven yourself stubborn," a note of admiration or grumbling crept into her voice. "If you managed to grow into a body like this. Did you really want to be born that badly?"
When he and Naruto had gotten into a fight, Sasuke had said, " It was an unfortunate coincidence ." But today, it turned out, the odds were one in a million.
So was this child a coincidence or a sign of fate? What if his appearance was not just a coincidence? What if there was a special meaning to this whole situation that Sasuke was destined to unravel? A message from somewhere above.
Sasuke's problem was that he believed in fate. Surely there had to be some purpose to everything he'd been through? It couldn't be that he'd endured so much pain just for the sake of it.
He believed he had to take revenge on Itachi because it was the only reason he was alive at all. And if he couldn't get it, it would mean he had no reason to live at all.
So Sasuke secretly tried to find that damn meaning in everything.
In this child.
Perhaps fate was trying to tell him something by putting the omega in this position. Why not? He was left alive so he could avenge the clan. He was given a child so he could prove he could restore the clan.
Otherwise why… why is this happening to him? Why, why, why?
His chest tightened, and Sasuke blinked rapidly, breathing through his mouth to steady his breathing. The little Uchiha stirred in displeasure, forcing the omega to bite his lip.
"It's okay," he said, more to himself than to her. "I can handle it. I have no choice."
Hiding his face in his hands, he gave himself a few seconds to be just a little weak. Just a little didn't count.
Inhale, exhale.
Everything will be fine.
He'll just continue... doing whatever he did before.
Even if you don't want to. Even if you're scared.
When Sasuke straightened up, he again exuded calm and reasonableness.
To distract himself, the omega decided to take a stroll around the city before bed. In his pants pocket was the list of herbs and medicines Shizu-san had given him at the end of the appointment. Unfolding the sheet, he skimmed the text. Nothing out of the ordinary—most of it could be found in every other pharmacy, and that was precisely what Sasuke planned to do.
The evening turned out to be cool, the first hint of autumn's arrival.
It had gotten dark, but the streets were still bustling. From what Sasuke could gather, the city was relatively popular with tourists thanks to a rare species of firefly, which in turn was attracted to an equally rare species of plant. Both began their life cycles in early autumn. Even now, strolling through the city at night, the omega could make out bright bluish dots scattered across the streets, brightening them.
There was only one pharmacy in town, and it had almost everything on the list. After paying for his purchases, Sasuke tucked the medications away in his bag and suddenly felt the need for a hearty dinner. Something hotter, richer, sweeter... There were plenty of tempting places here, smelling so delicious that he kept swallowing.
He had about a week before he returned to the island. Could the omega indulge in desserts at least for the last few evenings? Inspired, he followed the appetizing aroma, glancing around, when suddenly…
- What an ugly frog.
— Shut up! You're the ugly one!
Sasuke skidded to a halt in the middle of the crowd, causing someone to bump into him from behind, elbow him, and mutter, "What are you standing there like a statue for?" The Omega ignored him. All his hearing, all his sight, and damn it all, all his composure were focused on that one person.
— I deny it. It's obvious the omegas find me attractive. I've heard it myself.
— They're lying! They just feel sorry for you because you're castrated!
— And again, missed, my balls are perfectly fine. Want to check?
- I'm not a pervert, dattebayo!
Sasuke's heart pounded in his throat at the sound of that achingly familiar voice. It felt like a slap in the face, like a torrent of icy water suddenly falling on him out of nowhere. Pulling his hood over his eyes, Sasuke slid to the opposite side of the street, hiding in the shadows of an alley, and cautiously peered around the corner.
The stupid heart pounded so loudly that it seemed to drown out the noise of the entire street.
Naruto stood at the entrance to the ramen shop, looking fondly at his battered, frog-shaped wallet, as if to say, "You're not ugly at all, you're actually quite cute!" A tall stranger stood next to him. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. He hadn't seen this man before—at least not in Konoha. Smooth black hair, equally black eyes, and paper-white skin.
This young man bore a striking resemblance to Sasuke himself, which made the omega turn up his nose in displeasure. What was this pathetic imitation of an Uchiha doing next to his alpha?
Is this Naruto's new best friend?
A friend who doesn't cause problems? A friend who doesn't run away?
Sasuke felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. And, one after another, as if passing the baton, rage, melancholy, and a burning desire to emerge from the shadows flared within him. To say: look, Naruto.
Look at me.
Common sense tugged at his sleeve, begging him to grab his things from the hotel and run. To no avail. Sasuke froze, feeling all logical reasoning obscured by another feeling—a deeper, more greedy one. Desiring. It was the same feeling that had driven Sasuke to take a step toward the Alpha on that fateful day of their last meeting. The same feeling that was now making the little Uchiha grow inside him.
Naruto hadn't changed at all since that day... and he shouldn't have, since not much time had passed (though those six months of torment seemed like a fucking eternity to Sasuke).
His velvety skin was gilded by the warm glow of the nightlights. His blond hair was tousled, sticking out in all directions as if it had never seen a comb. Despite his slight fatigue, the alpha looked full and satisfied—he'd probably stuffed his belly full of ramen. Sasuke inhaled forcefully, fighting that idiotic warm feeling blossoming in his lungs.
Looking at Naruto is like stepping back in time. To a time when the grass was greener and the sun brighter. When everything is fine and your only problem is studying for a math test, even though you really want to walk all day. Feeling Naruto nearby is always an irritatingly warm feeling. The Omega never imagined he'd see him anytime soon. And now the Alpha is here, and…
Sasuke frowned.
What is he actually doing here?
The Akatsuki is hunting for people like him, and he's wandering around here alone, completely unguarded! Or are you saying this black-haired stranger next to him can protect Naruto? Don't be ridiculous.
Basically, Naruto should be in Konoha! Training to become Hokage and all that. Not getting into trouble! Not eating ramen in the middle of nowhere! Does he even have any brains?
"So, are you full?" Sakura appeared next to the boys. "Let's take a stroll through the market, and then we can go to bed. Kakashi-sensei bought a room at a hotel with an onsen..."
Sakura. It was the first time Sasuke had seen the girl in years. She had become even more beautiful, but at the same time, her face had acquired an unchildlike sternness, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. If anyone tried to break this cherry tree, they would be in for a surprise. A painful pang pierced Sasuke's chest. Another ghost of the past he was trying with all his might to disown.
Kakashi is here somewhere too... Sensei always treated Sasuke special. He tried not to flaunt his favoritism, but still gave him more care and attention than anyone else. Sometimes, the omega felt like he was a caring older brother... or father. Just like Sasuke always wanted Fugaku to be.
A nagging pain grew in his chest, and the omega shook his head.
So he left. Warm memories disoriented him, led him astray, and distracted him from his goal.
And now he too had to leave.
Yes, but...
The little Uchiha moved slightly, causing Sasuke to shift nervously from foot to foot.
That's it . That's who's to blame for him not being able to tear his eyes away from Naruto. Who's the reason he can't break free from the bonds. Sasuke loved his child, and that meant he wasn't capable of completely killing love within himself. A disarming feeling, paralyzing the nervous system. So powerful, it subjugates all others.
"An onsen, huh?" Sasuke heard Naruto chuckle as the three of them passed an alley. "It's rare for small towns like this to have separate springs, what do you think, Sakura-chan?"
"Same idiot as always," Uchiha noted contentedly to himself, silently following after him.
Naruto's back drew his gaze, leading him away like a shepherd leading a lost sheep. It was almost offensive how easily the alpha managed to lure Sasuke. He followed his former teammates, biting his lips and wondering what he was actually doing right now.
Why did they meet again? The Land of Water is so big.
It no longer seemed like a coincidence.
What, another sign of fate?
Despite the setting sun, Naruto still emanated a soft glow—or was it just Sasuke's imagination? He kept a respectful distance from the alpha, following the trail of herbal scent, which stood out strangely from other people's scents... as if it had an entirely different density. Naruto still smelled like Konoha, and the association made Sasuke's eyes water.
Their relationship with Uzumaki had always resembled a tangled web—you could never tell where the end was and where the beginning was. Just threads. Hundreds of times intertwined, dozens of times knotted, forming bonds. The relationship between them, like that between an alpha and an omega, had only recently become entangled in this tangle. Everything else defied all expectations.
He has a child from this man.
Damn, he's in deep trouble.
He was about to sink back into despair, but Naruto laughed loudly at his own joke, and a crushing rumble echoed through Sasuke's chest. Unbearable! It felt so good and yet so painful—he wished he could run as far away as possible! But his legs, against his will, continued to follow Uzumaki.
Sasuke suddenly realized he couldn't leave this city without talking to Naruto. And that was probably the stupidest, most foolish, most irresponsible decision he could ever have made.
He didn't know why he was giving in to this spontaneous impulse at all. He simply felt it was necessary.
To snatch just one more drop of that tender, infuriating warmth. To make sure that all this trepidation, these glances, weren't a figment of his imagination.
To know that he still had a reason to eventually return to Konoha.
—
Naruto had been roaming the Land of Water for a month, and for a month now he hadn't found any trace of Sasuke.
He, Sakura, Kakashi, and Sai had traveled here under the guise of carrying out a few small missions deemed safe by the Fifth Hokage. Tsunade had been very hesitant to let him leave Konoha, and only after Sakura had pestered her with endless persuasion.
Missions were going on as usual, but Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. And Naruto was very, very nervous.
Even as time passed since their meeting, the strange feeling surrounding the omega didn't go away; on the contrary, it even intensified. Everything felt wrong. That Sasuke was so far away. That Naruto wasn't with him now. For some reason, it felt important to be close, but he couldn't explain his desire to the alpha. He'd already thought about Sasuke often since he'd left Konoha. But the last six months...
Sometimes Naruto would wake up in the middle of the night with his heart pounding. The image of Sasuke would quickly fade from his mind, and the alpha would wonder if he'd ever experienced the same thing. It would be a damn shame if he were the only one going crazy at night.
Uzumaki sighed loudly, returning to reality.
He stood in front of a counter selling cashmere scarves. The cold weather was coming soon, so the alpha decided to stock up on something warm in advance.
He shook his head.
Sasuke's face stubbornly surfaced in my memory all evening.
Without thinking twice, Naruto glanced at the wide variety of goods and pulled a bright orange scarf from the stack. It was soft and incredibly warm… quality like that would have cost a pretty penny, but Naruto allowed himself to splurge. His birthday was next month, so he could pretend he'd just bought himself a present early.
Birthday?
Sasuke also had a birthday a couple of months ago.
Alpha shook himself again. What the hell was going on! He took out his wallet to pay for the purchase, and at that moment…
- Sorry…
A thin voice came from somewhere below. Naruto looked down, examining the unfamiliar girl. Despite her high ponytail, she barely reached his chest.
"Hello," the alpha replied, confused. "What's wrong? Are you lost?"
The girl blushed embarrassedly and put a folded sheet of paper into his hand.
"They asked me to pass this on…" she stammered. "And they asked me to read it while your friends weren't looking. Goodbye!"
And, flapping her tails, she darted back into the crowd.
- Wait! Who...
But the girl ran without looking back. Naruto watched her with a wary gaze, then looked down at the letter. It was never a good sign when strangers slipped you anonymous notes. After paying for his purchase, he tucked it into the inside pocket of his jacket and scanned the crowd. Despite the late hour, the evening fair was still bustling. Fireflies swirled in the air.
Sakura and Sai stood near the herbalist's shop, ignoring him completely. Gathering his courage, Naruto held his breath and unfolded the letter.
"At midnight by the main fountain. Bring your tail and you'll never see me again."
And it's funny, but Naruto immediately understood: Sasuke.
His neat handwriting. His irritating impudence.
The alpha's heart skipped a beat, and he swung his head around wildly, as if hoping to spot the omega in the crowd, though he knew perfectly well he wouldn't just show up. His fingers crumpled the letter nervously and clenched it in his fist.
Sasuke is here.
Sasuke is here.
Sasuke...
"Naruto," Sakura, sneaking up behind him, made him flinch. "Are you finished?"
"Y-yes..." the guy breathed out, tucking the wad of paper into his pocket; he needed to pull himself together immediately. "So, shall we head to our room now? I'm dying to sleep! Looks like we'll take a swim together next time, Sakura-chan!"
The girl rolled her eyes and turned away, heading toward the hotel. Sai followed, casting an unreadable glance at the alpha. Naruto completed the chain, and as soon as his friends turned away, all the feigned amusement vanished from his face.
He stared ahead, hearing and seeing nothing but Sasuke's ghostly form.
Omega found him himself and, even stranger, contacted him himself—that was completely out of his league. Sasuke almost never made any advances toward Naruto, turning their relationship into a game of cat and mouse. That's why every step he took was so valuable. So damn valuable.
Ideally, he should have told the team everything. After all, that's why they were here now—to find and bring back Sasuke. He should have told Kakashi about the meeting, shown him the letter, so he could have come up with some kind of cunning plan. They would have set a trap for the Uchiha... or an ambush... or a stakeout.
This is how it should have been.
And how it won't happen.
Because, paradoxically, Sasuke's trust was more valuable to Naruto than anything else in the world. They could capture the omega, bind him, and return him to Konoha, but Naruto knew that if they did, he would never look at him again. Sasuke's trust and attention were too fragile. They couldn't be neglected.
And it seems Sasuke himself knew this perfectly well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have left this note.
That bastard, he saw right through the alpha!
Naruto tried to act normal all evening. He made silly jokes, annoying Sakura, and then argued with Sai. Finally, after a quick, lazy shower, they went to bed at ten.
For another two hours, the alpha lay on the futon, without closing his eyes, and stared at the wall opposite.
Today he will see Sasuke.
Sasuke allowed himself to be seen.
Sasuke.
Naruto was shaking with nervousness and excitement.
What should he expect from this meeting? He couldn't even begin to guess, but he knew he had to do everything possible to ensure it wasn't wasted; otherwise, it would be a step backwards.
When the clock struck ten minutes to midnight, Naruto quietly got out of bed, grabbed his clothes, and went to the bathroom.
By folding the seals, he created a shadow clone.
"Pretend to be asleep as naturally as possible," he muttered, quickly pulling his tracksuit top over his T-shirt.
"Yeah. And don't screw this up," the clone snorted, shuffling his bare feet across the cold tiles. "Just make sure it doesn't end up like last time, ttebayo..."
Naruto flushed.
— Actually, I'm going to a business meeting, not a date!
In fact, the alpha was lying to himself—literally. Because he had no idea what this meeting would be like. Perhaps a date wasn't the worst-case scenario, just the most unlikely. No, knowing Sasuke… it could end in a fight. Well, he was always happy to fight an omega. He'd learned a lot in these months!
Nodding to his own clone, he gave him a high five and ran out the hotel doors.
The streets were bright and crowded even at night, and the fountain mentioned in the note was right in the center of town. Wasn't the omega taking a risk by choosing such a prominent location? Was he counting on Naruto not starting a battle in the middle of a peaceful city?
Running around the corner, the alpha braked sharply at the sight of a tall, dark figure.
The fountain stood in the middle of an illuminated square, but even so, under the lantern light, Sasuke managed to remain an unremarkable shadow. If Naruto hadn't been so eager to find him, he wouldn't have noticed him at first glance.
And yes, it really was Sasuke.
Right here, in the flesh. Like a picture straight out of a dream.
As if sensing his presence, the omega turned around, and Naruto realized he was staring at him like he was a ghost. He let out a disbelieving breath.
- Is it really you...
"Were you expecting someone else?" Uchiha raised an eyebrow.
It took a titanic effort for Alpha to maintain control of his emotions. He wanted to pounce on Sasuke. To get as close as possible, to feel his presence with his own hands (or maybe even fists). To feel his breath. His scent.
"I didn't think you'd make contact yourself," Naruto said, involuntarily taking a step forward and hiding his sweaty palms in his pockets. "Why?"
A long-forgotten hope flickered inside. Perhaps a miracle had happened, and Uchiha had finally come to his senses? What if he'd... come to his senses?
"I'm a free man. I do what I want," Sasuke shrugged. "Let's go."
He turned around, confidently walking off somewhere into the depths of the streets, and the alpha hurried after him.
"Maybe this really is a dream?" he thought, catching up with the omega and now keeping pace with him. "Sasuke and I, calmly strolling through the city at night and not even trying to kill each other."
A temporary truce? But why? What's going on, Sasuke?
Naruto glanced sideways and began to greedily examine the omega, trying to satiate his corporeality. The streetlights illuminated his face well, revealing the imprint of deep fatigue. Sasuke had always been a pale toadstool, which for some reason delighted the alphas and even the girls (something Naruto categorically failed to understand!). However, today Sasuke seemed much paler than usual. The porcelain pink of his cheeks had faded to an unsightly gray, and there were light bruises under his eyes. His lips looked chapped and dry.
And the smell...
Naruto sniffed discreetly, noting with displeasure how much the omega's scent had changed. There were still recognizable notes, but something was clearly off. The Alpha couldn't quite put his finger on it. And he couldn't decide whether he liked the change or not.
Sasuke's scent seemed... overpowering. There was too much unnecessary stuff in it. It wasn't horrible, just too different.
Is Sasuke sick with something?
Did Orochimaru do something terrible to him?
Or… or was the scent of another alpha unnecessary ?
Naruto's blood immediately boiled, and at that moment, a hoarse laugh erupted from deep within him, causing him to pause momentarily. Kurama laughed as if reading the alpha's thoughts, and this alarmed Naruto even more. What was so funny about that? Sasuke looked and smelled like a disease, what was so funny about that?!
To his surprise, Sasuke suddenly turned into a barbecue restaurant that was open even at such a late hour.
"Sa!.." the alpha screamed, but lowered his volume to a furious whisper just in time. "...ske! What are you doing?!"
"Shut up, I haven't had dinner," he snapped, making his way to an empty table.
The situation was becoming increasingly absurd. They were sitting across from each other. In front of the omega was a large plate of pork, tea, and a slice of tiramisu. What was dessert doing here? Sasuke, whom Naruto knew hated sweets, was now sitting there, devouring the cake with great relish.
This was just nonsense. The alpha tiredly ruffled his hair, accepting the rules of the game. Perhaps he'd just have to accept all the strange things that were going to happen tonight. Frowning, he silently watched the omega—in the restaurant's glow, he looked even more exhausted. Even his sleek black hair, the envy of other omegas, had lost its silky sheen.
"Naruto," Sasuke finally began, giving him a dark look. "Go back to Konoha."
Alpha snorted, raising an eyebrow expressively.
- And you're telling me this?
"You're a jinchūriki. The Akatsuki are hunting you."
- Yes, otherwise I don't know!
Sasuke's mouth dropped open in indignation, casting Naruto a glare as thorny as a thorn bush. Instead of being pricked, the Alpha found the look unexpectedly pleasant. The Omega had always been easily angered—at least in that regard, he hadn't changed a bit.
- Then what are you doing here, you idiot?
"You know the answer yourself," Naruto smiled sadly.
Sasuke paused. The Alpha watched his expression curiously, catching every hint of emotion, every movement. The Omega closed his eyes, turned up his nose, and let out a haughty "hn."
- I am amazed at your recklessness.
"You met me to warn me of danger?" Naruto asked in surprise, feeling something inside him twist and turn.
- Of course not. Shut up.
Sasuke returned to eating the cake, and Uzumaki fell silent, his eyes darting over him. Sasuke was angry, rude, and mischievous, as usual, but something was still wrong. The omega's true state was betrayed by that strange smell and the dark circles under his eyes.
Maybe he's injured? Sasuke's body was hidden under his cloak, preventing the alpha from checking.
- So, are you... ahem... okay?
"Yes," Uchiha said casually, without looking up from his tiramisu.
Of course. He'll just tell the truth. Naruto slumped in his soft chair, wondering what he'd gotten himself into. He should yell at Sasuke, grab him by the scruff of the neck. Drag him outside the city limits and beat the crap out of him.
But... damn. The Omega was acting so weird that Naruto couldn't find the right moment to fight. There was simply nothing to latch onto.
And so they sat in the barbecue joint. Sasuke was close, so real. Their legs could touch under the table with any careless movement. Their hands, too. Naruto was melting like a piece of ice in the deserts of the Land of Wind, and he wanted it to never end.
When the omega was around... no matter how stupid and annoying he was... Naruto could finally feel like he was home.
Having finished eating, Sasuke stood up and placed the payment for dinner on the table. Without a word, he walked toward the exit, and the alpha hurried to follow him—it seemed as if if he lost sight of Sasuke for even a second, he would immediately vanish into thin air.
"Yeah, right," he muttered, remembering his conversation with his own clone. "Maybe this is a date after all."
The alpha's nerves tensed in anticipation of an answer. The omega glanced at him with displeasure, but surprisingly didn't say a definitive "no."
"A date?" he asked mockingly. "Is that how you see it?"
How did Naruto feel about this? "A date with Sasuke" sounded very awkward. Naruto had never considered their relationship that way. In his mind, Sasuke had never been equated with the concept of an omega . Even if the Uchiha was indeed one, it had never been Naruto's first priority. He had never even considered treating him like an omega—standing on ceremony, courting him, and doing all the other traditional things expected between people like them.
Sasuke was just Sasuke. The one he looked up to, the one he hated for his arrogance. And the one he was so irresistibly drawn to.
But the date , damn... It really did sound awkward, but somehow Naruto didn't deny it. He suddenly remembered the day he pinned Sasuke to the floor with his body, and his cheeks felt incredibly hot.
"Well, it just looks that way, idiot. It was your idea!" He hesitated for a second. "And how... how do you perceive it?"
Uchiha snorted.
"We're walking down the street. I'm trying to persuade you to return to Konoha. You're being stubborn, and I seem to remember why you irritated me so much in my school years. Usoratonkachi."
Naruto's hand suddenly twitched against his will, catching Sasuke's palm and squeezing it tightly. Dry. Cool. Calluses where the omega usually gripped his sword.
"Please," Naruto begged silently. "Don't go. Don't leave me again. Just don't do this to me."
Sasuke flinched, but didn't pull away. Their arms locked around each other with such force that bones crunched somewhere down there. This wasn't how alphas were supposed to hold their omegas' hands, but he didn't care. Sasuke wasn't a pushover. He was made of the same stuff as Naruto.
And so they walked. Hand in hand. The alpha's heart was pounding in his chest.
He reminded himself that he couldn't screw up. That this meeting had to end in Uzumaki's victory, one way or another.
"Are you alone?" he asked quietly, walking side by side with the Uchiha, occasionally bumping shoulders.
— Yes.
— Are you lying again?
Sasuke lowered his eyes, seemingly even feeling guilty about what had happened.
"I'm on Orochimaru's mission. He and Kabuto are currently in the hideout."
Naruto gritted his teeth. Of course, the omega could easily lie to him. As it turned out, he was a master at it. However, the alpha chose to trust him, just as the omega had trusted him today.
"He..." Naruto cleared his throat. "Does he treat you well?"
The black eyes narrowed contemptuously.
"He doesn't treat me like that. I'm not his pet."
Uzumaki rolled his eyes. Of course. As if Uchiha Sasuke could answer any differently. This answer didn't satisfy his curiosity—the omega's obvious fatigue was too suspicious. Sasuke had been known to exhaust himself during training in his school years, and this wasn't the first time he'd shown up looking less than his best, but never in Naruto's memory had he let himself go to the point of black eyes. A strange feeling settled beneath Naruto's skin, and he couldn't rest until he figured out the real reason.
"You just changed," he said carefully, testing the waters. "And you started smelling strange."
Sasuke flinched suspiciously, casting a sharp glance at the boy. Naruto tensed – had he hit the nail on the head?
"Strange?" the omega chuckled discontentedly. "Do you think I stink?"
"Not in that sense, you idiot! It's just weird, okay? Weird doesn't mean bad, weird means... weird! It's like... I don't know! Tell me, Sasuke, are you sick or something?"
This question caused him to smile inappropriately.
"I'm not sick," he said, looking down and biting his lower lip for some reason, trying his best to suppress a smile. "It's even funny how it smells like illness."
"This?" Naruto latched onto the word. "What is this? Tell me!"
— He ran away.
- Sasuke, dattebayo!
— I'm fine, you idiot. Shut up already.
They continued strolling the night streets. Their souls felt surprisingly calm. Usually, Sasuke's presence would evoke a flood of conflicting emotions in Naruto, and just one glance at the omega was enough to set him off… But today, everything was different. Perhaps because the Uchiha himself wasn't hostile. Which, in fact, should have raised many questions, but Naruto couldn't concentrate.
Their hands were still connected.
A flower garden was blooming in my chest.
Now that Sasuke was around, everything was perfect again. Just fucking perfect.
A thought occurred to him, and the alpha reached into his jacket's inner pocket, hoping it was still there. Pulling out a neatly tied bundle containing a scarf, he hesitated a bit, but handed it to Sasuke. Sasuke raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"But it was your birthday, ttebayo," Naruto muttered embarrassedly.
"It was back in July, you idiot," Sasuke pursed his lips. "And what kind of rag is this?"
— You're such a wimp! It's a handkerchief, okay? A handkerchief! Winter is coming soon...
- So, you bought it for yourself, and now you're trying to pass it off as a gift?
The omega's voice was laced with mockery, and Naruto snorted loudly. "Oh, man! He knows how to ruin everything good!"
"Sasuke, damn you! I'm trying to be nice to you, and you're acting like an arrogant bastard!"
Sasuke chuckled smugly, amused by the alpha's growl. His black eyes, still filled with coldness and some indescribable melancholy, suddenly sparkled with mischief. And... and Naruto couldn't be angry with him anymore. No way! Opening his mouth, he hoped the omega wouldn't hear how loudly his heart was beating.
— Do you take it or not? I'll count to ten. One, two, three...
He continued counting slowly, watching the omega's face frown in confusion. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, looking at the gift with the expression a wildcat might have on a human-held piece of meat. Was it safe? Was it a trap? But he really wanted it…
He made his decision when Naruto drawled the word "nine." He grabbed the handkerchief, felt it with a businesslike air, and tucked it into his shoulder bag. A poorly concealed satisfaction was etched on his face. The Alpha looked at him—and suddenly felt satisfied himself. Much more satisfied than if he'd kept the wretched handkerchief for himself.
"Is this considered courtship? Did I just... court Sasuke?"
Why was it so pleasant to think about this?
Omega suddenly stopped, and Naruto stopped too.
They stood before the open gates marking the exit from the city. The place was completely deserted. The lantern lights faded, giving way to the moonlight. Fireflies flickered a soft blue. A paved road extended out of the city, stretching far, far into the dense forest.
Naruto knew where this was going even before Sasuke let go of his hand.
No. No, please, not that.
"Don't go," he said, trying to catch the slipping hand, clinging to it until the last. "Do you hear me, Sasuke? Don't do this."
Omega froze, and sadness once again swam in his eyes. Or maybe it wasn't that, but something else, something far more terrible and complex. Last time, he'd said goodbye to Uzumaki mercilessly, but today he did it reluctantly, and couldn't even hide it properly.
"Not now," the omega said, turning his gaze toward the black forest. "I have to do what I have to do. Otherwise, there will be no point in all this."
— Even if it breaks you? Even if it could kill you?
"Usoratonkachi," Sasuke tilted his head to the side, and inky strands of hair softly draped over his sharp features. "I have enough reasons to remain alive and unbroken."
He looked down again, as if something were drawing his attention like a magnet. Naruto looked in the same direction, but saw nothing but a stone-paved road. What was Sasuke thinking when his gaze became so full?
What happened to him during the time they hadn't seen each other? Why is he so different now?
"Go back to Konoha, Naruto," Sasuke's voice grew colder. "Train, get stronger, so that when I kick your ass, I won't feel like I'm bullying a schoolboy."
The worry faded into the background, and the alpha flared up again. Smug idiot!
"You? Will you defeat me? I've learned cool things you couldn't even dream of!" He frowned, his anger lasting only a few seconds before he shuddered. "But if you say so, that means... you'll still return to Konoha? Right?"
— Yes. So you come back too. You won't achieve anything by chasing me around the world if I'm planning on coming back anyway. Right?
A quick flash of hope was overshadowed by an unpleasant realization. Naruto chuckled, running a hand through the already tousled nape of his neck. How stupid. It was a sweet lie he'd managed to half-believe.
"You're only saying this so I can go back to the village, right? How easy it is to see through you," the omega frowned in displeasure. "But seriously, Sasuke. You... you even for a second consider going back? You want it, don't you? At least somewhere deep down inside?"
Silence fell between them. The Omega stared at Naruto, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair. His infinitely black eyes reflected the moonlight, and the Alpha found so much life in their depths… so much, so much life. And pain. And fatigue. And everything, everything.
And then it suddenly occurred to him that Sasuke was indeed very handsome.
How ridiculous—he usually just snorted when he heard someone admire the omega's looks. In school, he'd seen his beauty as a challenge. He so desperately needed to be better than Sasuke, stronger, and certainly a hundred times more handsome, so that all the loving glances directed at the omega would be directed at him.
And now Sasuke's beauty opened up to him like a night flower, and he realized he didn't want to and couldn't compete with it. He wanted, like the other idiot alphas in their class, to admire it. To have it for himself. To touch it, at least with the tips of her lips...
Naruto tried to imagine an omega with a trash can on his head. He tried to imagine him smelling like a dead rat. He tried to imagine him as an alpha.
This didn't make Sasuke any less handsome. Damn it.
"My return to Konoha," the Uchiha suddenly said, breaking the prolonged silence. "It depends on what happens if I return to the village."
"Everything will be just like before!" the alpha exclaimed mindlessly, taking a step forward. "The word of the future Hokage, dattebayo!"
If the omega was worried about facing condemnation from the villagers of the Leaf Village—well, that's probably what he would , but he'd have to deal with it. Naruto would help him... and Sakura, and Kakashi-sensei! There were still people in Konoha who cared about the Uchiha. All was not lost! There was still a way to turn back, and if only Sasuke could understand that...
— Nothing will ever be the same again.
...and all the boy's hopes were dashed by that cold, uncompromising tone. He swallowed the cold lump in his throat.
- Why do you say that?
"Because it's true," Sasuke shrugged. "Everything will be different."
"What do you mean, different?" Naruto asked cautiously. "Bad?"
Sasuke stared at him, and goosebumps ran across the alpha's skin—he'd never seen an omega look like that before. So much timid, painful hope, but also so much fear. The Uchiha seemed completely bewildered. That's the look of people who don't know if anything awaits them at the end of their dark path.
Thin lips parted, wanting to say something, but froze in indecision. Sasuke ran his tongue over them.
"But I don't know that anymore," he said honestly.
Naruto pulled himself together. Okay, they had to talk about this sooner or later.
"Is it because we slept together?" he asked bluntly, overcoming his embarrassment. "That's the whole point, right?"
His palms began to sweat just remembering that night. Sometimes Naruto still relived it in his dreams, and he woke up with something other than disgust. However, he still didn't know what Sasuke thought of it. Maybe he even regretted it?
"No," the omega licked his dry lips again. "Although it… it was…"
The Uchiha suddenly became flustered, falling silent, his eyes darting around, trying his best to suppress the emotions threatening to surface. Naruto pressed lightly.
"But you don't find it disgusting, do you? You don't find me disgusting, right?" A glimmer of hope entered his voice. "You don't… hate me for this, do you?"
- I hate you, but for a completely different reason.
- Why?!
- Because you're a dumbass.
"Sasuke!" Naruto snapped again, losing the last of his patience. "I'm serious with you here!"
"I'm serious with you too!" the omega snapped.
"No, you're making fun of me! You're not telling the whole story!" Uzumaki frowned. "Maybe you don't want to admit that you're just afraid to go back? To be responsible for your actions?!"
"I don't have to take responsibility for anything!" Sasuke took a short step forward, pressing his menacing silhouette against the alpha. "I've done nothing wrong to Konoha. I left because I wanted to. And I'll come back if I want to. Only if..."
"Only if there's still a place for me in Konoha," his gaze concluded. Of course, Sasuke wouldn't say it out loud. His wounded pride wouldn't allow it. The sky would sooner fall than the Uchiha would admit that being accepted still mattered to him. And it did matter to him, Naruto knew. He was exactly the same.
"What if, Sasuke?" he asked quietly, not retreating despite the mere ten centimeters remaining between their faces. "You're probably thinking you've burned all your bridges. But that's not true! You won't burn mine. And not only that. Sakura, Kakashi-sensei... we're all here just for you, because you're valuable to us. And even if things get tough, we'll be ready to help you. And accept you..."
The Omega fell silent, listening so intently that Naruto felt uneasy. Sasuke usually brushed off his heartfelt speeches, but now he seemed to be waiting for something. Something that, perhaps, was the reason he had started this entire meeting.
"So I don't know what will be 'different' there, Sasuke," he continued, lowering his voice to a soothing whisper. "The bridge between us will never burn, I won't let it."
Sasuke blinked slowly and reached forward. Naruto, however, didn't push him away and, for some reason, moved toward him.
It was their first normal kiss.
(The first was an accident. The second was based on instincts.)
And the third one turned out to be normal.
The omega's lips were rough and cool. A strange scent filled Naruto's head and lungs, and he inhaled voraciously, pressing in. Sasuke kissed him with his eyes closed, completely absorbed in the process. Their teeth clashed, their tongue exploring Naruto's mouth, sending hot shivers down his spine.
Kissing Sasuke was surprisingly pleasant.
It wasn't like Naruto had anyone to compare himself to. But maybe he didn't want to compare himself to anyone.
He tangled his fingers in the black hair at the back of Sasuke's head and pulled him closer, hoping to press his body firmly against his own. But at that moment, Sasuke protested, putting his hands out to brace himself against his chest, keeping the alpha at bay. But he didn't break the kiss; instead, he pounced on Sasuke with obscene greed, almost biting.
Damn, what a... the blood in the alpha's body didn't know whether to rise to his cheeks or fall below his waist.
Naruto pulled away from the reddened lips, his gaze flashing with determination.
- Let's fight.
Sasuke blinked his eyelashes, looking stupid.
"What?" There was no blush visible on his cheeks in the darkness of the night, but the alpha desperately wanted it there.
"I can't let you go like that. I can't just stand by and watch you walk away. And for some reason, I can't attack you like a rat. So let's fight! And when I beat your face in, you'll let me drag you back to Konoha by the scruff of your neck."
Sasuke's lips curved into a slight smile, and the alpha confirmed that no, he wasn't raising his fists to attack the omega today. As if sensing a new lease on life, Sasuke tilted his head slyly to the side, and there was something about it… something… the alpha had never seen such gentleness in him before. In both the tilt and the smile.
- We will not fight.
- Why?
- Because I have to go.
He took a step towards the forest, and Naruto finally panicked.
"Then I'll go with you!" he cried desperately, causing the omega to raise his eyebrows. "You want revenge on your brother, right? Let's do it together. Just tell me how, and I'll help..."
- No way.
- Why?!
"Because you have nothing to avenge Itachi for, Naruto," Sasuke said, turning away and calmly walking away down the road. "Go home."
His silhouette gradually receded, and the alpha stood at the gate, clenching his fists, and for some reason, he couldn't do anything. He'd been much more confident that time, in the Valley of the End, when they'd beaten each other half to death. Back then, Naruto had felt like he could actually do something, influence Sasuke, bring him back... so why was he now paralyzed by impotence? Where had it come from?
"So why did you call me?!" Naruto shouted at the retreating back. "Were you trying to make fun of me?! Did this even get you anywhere?!"
Sasuke paused for a couple of seconds and glanced quickly over his shoulder at the alpha.
— Yes.
And he continued to walk and walk and walk until he disappeared between the black trees.
Sai stood in the middle of Shimura Danzo's reception area. His stance was soldier-like, his hands at his sides. A mosquito buzzing around the room kept trying to lick his pale skin, squeaking under his ear, but couldn't find a more succulent spot. Sai controlled his breathing. He controlled how many times per minute he blinked and whether he could lick his lips to moisten them a little.
It was the dead of night outside. Half an hour ago, he and the rest of his team had returned to Konoha. His teammates had immediately gone home to get some sleep, but Sai had headed straight here.
There was another one standing next to him.
Sai didn't know his name. He knew that in Root they called him Kuma—"Bear." Now the snow-white bear mask was lifted, revealing a dry, masculine face. Sharp cheekbones, a scar at the corner of his mouth, and hazy, whitish eyes, so reminiscent of the Hyuga clan. Perhaps Kuma was a bastard, and that's why he ended up here—because there was no place for him in the clan, and Danzo had taken him in and raised him so well...
They usually didn't report together. Danzo preferred to listen to his subordinates one by one.
Only this time, both the first and the second were united by a common cause.
One person united everything.
"So, Uchiha met with the jinchuriki," Danzo concluded Sai's story, tapping his wrinkled fingers on the surface of the table.
Sai nodded. He'd been keeping a close eye on Naruto, morning and evening. The fact that he'd replaced himself with a clone that night might have fooled Sakura and Kakashi, but not him. Sai followed the two throughout their walk, remaining an unnoticed shadow in the alleys. To his surprise, the Uchiha hadn't noticed his surveillance—the omega's absentmindedness struck the alpha as very odd, but he couldn't find a logical reason for it.
After they parted, Sai waited in vain for Naruto to rush after the Uchiha, but it didn't happen. He stood at the city gates almost until dawn. At first, he paced restlessly, as if an invisible, insurmountable wall separated him from the omega. He slapped himself several times. And then he simply stood there, gazing longingly at the distant forest, his clothes bunched up against his chest.
"Did you see Uchiha when he came to the meeting in Orochimaru's place?" Danzo glanced at Kuma. "An unexpected, but extremely pleasant surprise. What can you say about that?"
"Mr. Danzo," the man paused. "Omega is pregnant."
Sai suddenly felt something.
He barely restrained himself from casting a distrustful glance at his colleague. Danzo's black eyes tore away from his own hands and flicked to the man's face. He didn't even bat an eyelash. The mosquito settled on his neck, happily lapping up blood.
- You are sure?
"The wiretap we planted in the package for Orochimaru. It was with the omega when he visited the hospital."
There was a stirring in Sai's chest. He'd never had a soft spot for children, omegas, or pregnant people, so he couldn't be moved by the fact that an omega he didn't even know was carrying a child. But the mysterious stirring under his ribs suggested otherwise. Sasuke Uchiha was pregnant, and for some reason, he cared.
No, it probably wasn't the Uchiha's fault. Alpha saw him as nothing more than an appendage to Naruto.
The thing... the thing was just about Naruto.
Sai wasn't sure. He'd only recently begun to emerge from the shell that had insulated him from human emotions, so he could often be confused. However, what he saw that night led him to the following conclusion: there was something obvious, bright, and sparkling between Naruto and this omega. Something that made Sai think deeply and for a long time.
"So, a hospital," Danzo continued interrogating. "Did you manage to find out anything interesting?"
— The gender is unknown. According to the doctor, this isn't the most successful pregnancy.
Danzo rubbed the scar on his chin, looking unexpectedly pleased. Sai didn't understand this—how could the Uchiha's pregnancy benefit him? Either way, it made him uncomfortable. "He shouldn't have known about this ," the alpha suddenly thought. This is all very, very bad.
"Does the jinchūriki know?" Shimura asked meanwhile. "Did the Uchiha tell him something when they met? Sai."
Alpha emerged from his anxious thoughts.
"No. I'm also not sure that Naruto is the child's father," he added unexpectedly, as if this assumption could divert unnecessary attention from his friend.
"But you reported that they spent their estrus together. When was that? Five months ago, I think? Six?" Danzo reminded, becoming increasingly satisfied. "It all fits together."
Sai shouldn't have felt this way, but he truly regretted reporting that incident... But shouldn't he have? It's his job, so why did he feel this overwhelming sense of guilt?
"Then what was the purpose of the meeting? An Uchiha wouldn't take such a risk without a reason. What were they doing?"
What were they doing? Sai wanted to say what, but he had no idea how to describe it. He could say they were walking hand in hand, then kissing at the city gates, but that would be saying nothing. Because there was something much, much more. Something that made his friend's face grow so excited and soft... Damn, Sai wished he could feel what Naruto felt when he looked at that omega. Maybe someone like that would come into his life again?
For some reason, Sai didn't want Shimura to know the details of this meeting, so he tried to summarize.
"Naruto's meeting with the Uchiha wasn't informative," and that was absolutely true. "More like... emotional."
Alpha knew: if he couldn't understand these emotions, then Danzo was even less destined to do so. The man narrowed his eyes, processing what he'd heard. Kuma stood, staring indifferently ahead, as if he'd disconnected after fulfilling his role.
— Nevertheless, the jinchuriki didn't try to bring him back and didn't even go after him?
- No.
— Any ideas why?
"There are no objective reasons. Most likely, this decision is driven by certain emotions."
Sai remembered what was going on in the room when Naruto returned there.
Sakura screamed so loudly that the entire inn rose to its feet. She shook Uzumaki by the collar of his jacket, and he looked guiltily into her eyes, perfectly aware of his mistake and not even trying to fight back.
Kakashi Hatake said little. He just sighed so hard that Sai thought his mask would blow off. The older alpha seemed completely unsurprised by what had happened. He treated it as something inevitable. Like a tornado you watch and know it will get you, so there's no point in being afraid—all you can do is prepare for the consequences.
"Sai," Danzo's voice distracted him again. "From now on, your task is to ensure the jinchūriki never finds out about the child."
Alpha didn't even bat an eyelid, while a nasty feeling stirred inside him, raising silt from the bottom.
"Hinder his free movement, don't let him into the Land of Water. You can even lead him on a false trail, I don't care. Track the messenger birds, if the Uchiha suddenly deigns to deliver this news by letter. Make sure the child doesn't even exist for the jinchūriki."
Danzo had no idea what he was asking for.
Confident in his shinobi abilities, Sai didn't know what he had to do to wean Naruto off the Uchiha. For the past few months, Naruto had been methodically going crazy, frightening his teammates with his obsession. One day, Uzumaki couldn't even finish his ramen, staring blankly into space for several minutes, and then looked sadly at Sai and said in all seriousness, "I was just thinking, Sasuke's never tried ramen. No, I mean, Sasuke has tried it, but not this particular one. This one has tomatoes, and Sasuke likes tomatoes. Anyway, Sasuke isn't much of a fan of ramen, but Sasuke would have liked this one. Although you know what's weird? It turns out Sasuke likes sweets, which is something I definitely didn't expect from him. Never liked them before, and suddenly he does. It's even kind of cute, not in that way, but in a different way, don't get me wrong! Anyway, what I mean is, Sasuke has funny food preferences. "What do you think?"
Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke. This monologue was full of fanatical madness.
Sai then silently shrugged, looking at his comrade as if he were a complete idiot, and only thought to himself, "This is somehow abnormal." Although the situation had ceased to be normal long ago. Naruto's head was filled to the brim with the omega, so much so that it was frightening. And after they met, he even began to resemble the local madman—he could turn every damn conversation around to the Uchiha.
If Sasuke were taken from Naruto... Sai couldn't imagine what would happen to his friend. And he didn't want to find out.
Danzo raised his hand, a gesture that meant "you are free."
Alpha had no choice but to bow his head and leave the room. A terrible feeling gnawed at him from within, making him bite his lip. It had been a long time since he'd felt the weight of a moral choice fall upon his shoulders. Sai, in principle, had never been guided by morality—he simply followed orders. Lord Danzo's orders were clear to him, and he didn't dare act differently.
And yet, a seed of doubt was sown in his head, one that would haunt him and, in the future—who knows?—help Sai do the right thing.
When the door closed, Danzo turned to his second subordinate. He didn't want to divulge this information in Sai's presence. Loyalty was loyalty, but who knew how deeply Sai had grown attached to the jinchūriki? Danzo hadn't taught him to feel affection, and yet it could flare up in the young alpha suddenly, uninvited and unwanted. That's just the way humans were.
"Kuma. Gather as many people as you can and head to the Land of Water. Stay there for a couple of months, send out alerts for the Uchiha, and wait. Sooner or later, he'll crawl out from under Orochimaru's protection."
He was certain the Sannin wouldn't be able to tame the omega. He'd signed his own death warrant when he'd taken on the task of training this red-eyed devil. Now that the devil was carrying the demon child within him, he'd never allow his body to be taken.
"What next, Lord Danzo? Should I deliver the Uchiha to you?"
No. Shimura didn't need the devil to reappear in Konoha. He would only bring discord and chaos. He hoped the omega would die during the fight with Itachi, or at worst, allow himself to be consumed by Orochimaru... but no, the little brat had somehow managed to survive, and it seemed he was planning to make his life considerably more difficult.
He barely had time to rejoice that Konoha would be freed from the Nazi tumor in the form of the Uchiha clan, when the surviving red-eyed offspring decided to have more. Restless.
— Omega is not needed. Bring me the child.
There's nothing better than a well-trained, domesticated Uchiha in service. He'll be a formidable weapon for the village. He'll be far more obedient than Itachi was—Shimura never managed to train him properly.
- Then what to do with father?
"You figure it out yourself," the man shrugged. "Killing an omega that has just given birth won't be difficult."
Kuma nodded obediently.
— What to do with his eyes?
"Bring me the eyes of the Uchiha and his child. Everything else is useless trash."
Danzo thought about how he would explain the appearance of the Uchiha bastard Fifth, but it soon turned out that there was no need for that.
Two months later, Konoha was destroyed by Akatsuki, and Tsunade fell into a long sleep.
And Danzo was happy to let this disaster happen.
—
Sasuke settled into a secluded spot on one of the rocks that dotted the island. A wide, old tree root loomed overhead, providing shelter from the drizzling rain. A warming fire crackled a meter away. From such a low altitude, the omega had a good view of the gloomy sea—now lapping against the rocks, its whisper soothing his ears.
It was a wonderful place for Sasuke to escape to for some alone time. At some point, being in his own quarters no longer felt safe, so he spent most of his free time here.
A soft cashmere scarf was spread across the omega's lap.
He diligently worked a needle threaded with red thread, embroidering his clan's crest. His shirt was embroidered with an identical one—Sasuke never wore clothes without marking them with his family crest; his pride simply wouldn't allow it. Neither Kabuto nor, especially, Orochimaru would do him a favor (and he wouldn't trust them with such an important task!), so the omega did the embroidery himself.
Once upon a time, his mother had done the same. She taught her son to embroider, though he would have preferred to spend his free time practicing rather than engaging in what he then considered such a stupid and useless pursuit.
The white and red Uchiha fan looked ridiculous against the bright orange cashmere... but the combination warmed Sasuke's soul.
It was the seventh month of his dire situation, and the omega was... big. And probably deeply unhappy.
The fears and anxieties that had tormented him at first now coalesced into a constant, soul-tormenting melancholy.
His initial enthusiasm had faded, and now he had little desire for anything. Training had become meaningless and was a chore, hampered by the fatigue that had gripped his body. His stomach was heavy, weighing him down and restricting any movement. His legs were swollen, so Sasuke spent much of his mornings trying to twist and turn to massage them. His chakra was barely enough for three or four techniques. He dutifully took the vitamins and herbs the doctor prescribed, but either they had no effect, or that was the maximum benefit they could provide.
Sasuke didn't recognize himself at all, but he was probably too tired to be upset about it. What kept him going was the simple thought that falling apart simply wasn't allowed. Well, it simply wasn't allowed—and there was nothing he could sign. He had no such right. He simply had to do what had to be done, holding his head high with dignity.
The only thing that melancholy could not take away was love .
A powerful jolt erupted from within his abdomen, and Sasuke winced, placing his palm on the rounded area to try and ease the pain. Thanks to Naruto's genes, this child was simply restless. He trampled on his organs all night long, like an elephant, delivering confident kicks left and right. His chakra became so vigorous and powerful that it sometimes overwhelmed Sasuke's—and the omega had to exert incredible effort to keep it from being noticed.
Nevertheless, Sasuke accepted this torment with undisguised pride. Of course, his child would be strong.
Because this is Sasuke's child, and he has Uchiha blood in him.
Because his second father is Naruto.
And their daughter will surely take only the best from both. Yes, she will have Naruto's kind heart. And a flexible mind like Sasuke's. She will certainly be the most beautiful child in the world—maybe not to everyone, but certainly to Sasuke, and he valued his own opinions over most.
Another push - the omega was able to feel a tiny heel with his palm.
"I understand, Uchiha," he muttered. "I want you outside too."
He would have received disapproving glances from the other omegas if he'd said it out loud, but Sasuke couldn't wait for him and his child to finally be fused into two separate living beings. Pregnancy, after all, wasn't for him. Sasuke saw nothing natural in his condition. Even Naruto would have handled it much better, and it would have been more logical if they'd switched places, but life had worked out that way.
So yes, the omega was madly waiting for the day when he could finally feel like himself again.
And then... and then you will have to try even harder.
Sasuke feared parenthood wouldn't be for him. He was completely incapable of affection—at least not yet. He couldn't coddle, either. He couldn't care for, either. He didn't know a single lullaby, and he certainly couldn't sing one.
Sasuke didn't know how to be cheerful. He had no idea how to make his child smile if he couldn't do it himself.
...Naruto would have made their house fill with children's laughter.
Naruto, even though he was a fool, would have done a great job of raising a kind, happy child.
The omega pressed his cold palms to his warmed cheeks and shook his head, returning to reality. First and foremost, this would be his child, which meant caring for her would fall on his, the omega's, shoulders. He couldn't push the responsibility of caring for his daughter onto someone else simply because they were supposedly better at it.
He had to handle this himself, because if he couldn't, what kind of father would he be? And Sasuke wanted to be a good father; he had to.
If he needs to learn to smile to make his child happy... then he will learn.
Omega tried to imagine something pleasant, and his imagination happily conjured up a vivid picture: he was returning to the family home with a little Uchiha in his arms. He said to her, "Welcome home. Your grandparents lived here, and so did I. And now you'll live here too. Isn't that wonderful? "
A weak smile appeared on her lips of its own accord.
Well, there you go. It's not that hard, right?
"You're lucky, mini-Uchiha," he said quietly. "You'll have a really big house. It'll have spacious rooms where you can run and play. And an indoor garden..." The omega thought for a second. "The house is probably really dirty now, since no one's lived there for years. But when we get back, I'll definitely fix everything."
And in the Uchiha clan's quarter, through which a cold wind was now blowing, the light would finally come on.
All the blood, sweat, and tears the omega had to shed were worth it. To breathe new life into his clan.
"There you are!" Kabuto's voice rang out.
Startled, Sasuke stuffed the embroidery under his cloak and confirmed the genjutsu had taken hold, distorting the viewer's perception. If not for the power of the Sharingan, he would have given himself away completely—his stomach was now visible even from space. Shielding his glasses from the rain with his hand, the beta crawled under the root and sat next to the omega, completely disregarding personal space.
— It's cozy here.
"It was until you showed up," Sasuke snorted. "Why did you come?"
— Your dinner. Three hours have passed, and it's still sitting on the table untouched.
Omega shrugged.
- Well, let it stand there. I'll eat it when I get back.
In fact, he'd deliberately waited until later to avoid encountering either Orochimaru or Kabuto at the table. But unfortunately, today the beta stumbled into the meeting himself.
"Every night, it's the same thing. I leave food on the table, and then—poof!—it disappears late into the night. Sometimes I feel like I'm feeding a wild animal," Kabuto remarked, peering intently into the omega's face. "I haven't seen you for three days, probably, and this is where you're hiding. What's wrong with the cave?"
Sasuke didn't like having strangers in the cave. The closer he got to the baby's arrival, the louder his instincts cried out to keep as far away from danger as possible. So, yes, he now left his chambers very early and returned very late, having virtually no contact with the other two.
Omega left the question unanswered, not deeming it necessary to justify himself. Talking to Kabuto was a waste of time. Kabuto, in turn, narrowed his eyes.
— Do you have any secrets from us, Uchiha?
"Oh yeah," Sasuke thought darkly. "One big, very round secret that you're looking at right now, but you can't see anything, you idiot." Instincts told him to cover his stomach with his hands. Just in case. The Omega complied.
"Hn. I don't have to spend family dinners with you," he replied in his favorite manner. "And you clearly didn't come because you were bored."
Kabuto's brow furrowed, but the line between them quickly smoothed out, and a faint smile touched his lips, giving Sasuke an unpleasant feeling. He didn't like it when the beta looked pleased.
"I bring you some interesting news," the man said slowly, trying to draw attention. "Still, being on an isolated island, you're missing out on a lot, Uchiha."
"I don't think there'll be anything good there," the omega chuckled. "If you're talking about it with such enthusiasm."
Things that might make him and Orochimaru happy never made Sasuke happy.
"Whether it's good or not is up to you to decide," Kabuto smiled a little wider and blurted it out in one breath. "You see, Konoha was destroyed."
The omega's heart suddenly exploded and began pounding wildly. For a second, his vision went dark. The little Uchiha began to struggle again, and it took all his strength to maintain a straight face, but to no avail—Kabuto easily read his pain and interpreted it his own way.
"It's funny that you're still worried about Konoha, even though you know you'll never return there. No one's waiting for you there. Although, maybe you're not worried about the village at all?"
"What happened?" Sasuke breathed out, trying to pull himself together, but realizing with bitterness that this time his emotions were getting the better of him.
Sometimes he foolishly forgot that life outside the island went on as usual, not frozen in anticipation of Sasuke joining it. And while he wasn't there... while he wasn't looking...
"It was only a matter of time before Akatsuki showed up in Konoha," the beta continued nonchalantly, enjoying the omega's reaction. "I think you know what they were looking for in Konoha."
Sasuke knew. They were looking for Naruto.
And he... he personally sent him to the village.
Uzumaki's bright image swam bright red, and the image before his eyes blurred. A ringing silence filled his ears, his palms sweated, his fingers digging into the fabric of his cloak until his knuckles turned white. The child continued to kick, causing his ribs to creak with pain, but the only way the omega could react was to let out a long, quiet breath.
"It's not a village there now, it's a crater," Kabuto said matter-of-factly. "It's a shame we couldn't finish off the Fifth, even though our messenger reported she's fallen into a long slumber. Who knows when she'll wake up, or if she'll wake up at all..."
The fifth? What did he care?! Sasuke stared at the beta, wanting to know the most important thing. He couldn't show his interest—after all, he was reveling in the omega's ignorance... but right now, Kabuto was the only source of information, so Sasuke's gaze begged him to continue talking.
"You want to know what happened to the jinchūriki?" Kabuto smiled, happy to have at least some control over the omega. "I knew you still cared about him. Although I still don't understand why, I'm glad to be proven right."
Were they mocking him? Sasuke's lips pursed, his gaze shifting from pleading to one threatening his death. It was unacceptable to be looked down upon like this.
"I see you're all impatience," the beta's smile turned wary, and he hastened to add, "The jinchūriki survived. And not only survived, but also finished off the leader of their organization—much to the delight of Orochimaru-sama, by the way. Now stop looking at me like you're planning to flay me alive."
The tension released Sasuke like a click, and he closed his eyes briefly, calming down. Yes, that's it. Naruto said he'd get stronger—it turns out he wasn't lying. This is his alpha. He can be trusted to protect the child.
- Go away.
"What, so quickly?" Kabuto raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to know the details?"
Omega wanted to, but an inevitable storm was brewing inside him. His eyes stung, his throat tightened, and he couldn't let anyone see his weakness.
"You came here for my reaction, right? The show's over. Shut up and get lost."
"You think being rude helps you disguise yourself," the guy chuckled, but nevertheless rose from his barely settled spot. "But in reality, it gives you away."
Uchiha watched his retreating back.
I counted a few minutes, got up and hit the rock with all my might.
A sudden pain shot through his arm, and blood trickled down his broken knuckles. Sasuke groaned softly, hiding the shock beneath his cloak, then glanced quickly at the site of the blow—the blood stain was quickly washed off the stone by the intensifying rain.
His hand was throbbing, but the omega didn't pay any attention.
There was no one left to pretend to. He finally allowed himself to choke, pacing back and forth across the small area in a sudden surge of panic.
Why, why wasn't he there when Naruto was defending their homeland?
Maybe if he had returned to the village, they would have been able to prevent...
But Sasuke was here, Naruto was there. And Konoha was destroyed.
If so, then the Uchiha clan's quarter had been destroyed along with the village. His family home was no more, and the omega, with a howling sorrow in his chest, suddenly felt more clearly than ever before like he had been doubly orphaned.
Home is gone. His home. Their home. The place he thought would always welcome the omega as his own. Where... where should they return now? Is there any room left in this world for Sasuke?
Naruto's smiling face flashed insistently in his subconscious, and the omega covered his face with a bloody palm, breathing heavily. His legs were weak, his head heavy, and the little Uchiha kicked angrily, as if trying to bring her father to his senses: Pull yourself together! Come on!
"I know," Sasuke croaked, wincing in pain and rubbing his stomach, trying to dispel the pain. "I know..."
Even if they no longer have a home, he will still have his daughter. And as long as Sasuke has her, they will become the embodiment of that very home for each other—wherever they are, wherever they go, they will carry that feeling with them. Because that is what it means to be an Uchiha.
"I will love you," Sasuke thought with bated breath as he felt a slight movement beneath the skin of his stomach. "How much I will love you..."
It turned out that the future child was the only thing he had left.
And Naruto.
Can two people replace the whole world?
Sasuke reached his room after eating his cold dinner.
He walked down the narrow corridor, leaving detection seals every ten meters. Lately, Sasuke had been trying to secure his quarters as thoroughly as possible, trying to keep himself as isolated as possible from Orochimaru and Kabuto. Although it seemed the former was nothing to worry about—the omega could hardly remember the last time he'd seen the Sannin. He'd stopped showing up for breakfast, barely supervised training, and the omega sensed he'd be able to strike soon.
Shaking his rain-soaked hair, he lay down on the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin and tucking his legs up to his stomach. Winter was approaching, and it promised to be cold. Their island was located at the northernmost point of the Land of Water—thanks to Orochimaru's paranoia, damn him. Sasuke usually had no problem with cold temperatures, but pregnancy had transformed his body into a delicate, extremely fragile structure. Just touch it, and it would fall apart.
A candle stub burned low on the floor, illuminating the endless series of scratches on the wall. Sasuke sighed and pierced another one with his kunai.
Just a little while longer, and the world will welcome the newborn Uchiha. I can't wait.
"Good night, Uchiha," the omega muttered quietly out of habit and closed his eyes.
But less than an hour had passed before he woke up, sitting up abruptly in bed.
The seals posted along the corridor signaled someone's presence. One after another. One after another. Someone was heading straight for the chambers with quick, confident steps.
Sasuke leaped to his feet with lightning speed and threw his cloak over his shoulders, hiding his Kusanagi under it. He had barely activated his Sharingan when the door swung open unceremoniously the next second, revealing a worried Kabuto.
- Let's go, quickly.
As soon as he finished speaking, the beta turned and walked out, leaving Sasuke completely bewildered. Standing barefoot on the cold floor, disheveled and disgruntled, the Uchiha was taken aback for a few seconds before following Kabuto out. "It's okay," he assured himself. "They're just crazy, and this isn't their craziest prank."
"Did something happen?" he asked, matching Kabuto's quick pace.
Instead of leaving the hideout, they only went deeper inside. Passing the common areas and laboratories, the beta led Sasuke to a place the omega himself rarely visited. He only knew that this part of the cave contained Orochimaru's private quarters and his personal laboratory, respectively.
"Orochimaru-sama's health has deteriorated sharply," Kabuto muttered. "He's expressed a desire to transfer into your body sooner."
The omega's insides clenched and his legs grew cold. Sasuke pulled himself together, feigning submissive indifference.
"My body isn't perfect yet," and she's carrying a baby, damn it. "I don't think it's ready for migration yet. Will that be okay with him?"
"I said the same thing, after all, we still have several months to spare. However, Orochimaru-sama knows best. That is his wish."
This hadn't been Sasuke's plan at all. He hadn't expected the Sannin to notice so early... at least not this night, when the omega had been caught unawares while sleeping. Still, there was no time to be afraid. Pursing his lips, Sasuke looked at the colorless back of Kabuto's head and began to think.
Calm down. Everything is fine.
Inhale, exhale.
It was bound to happen sooner or later. You waited for it, you prepared.
There was no more reason to worry than usual. Sudden? Well, just a little. But, living under the same roof with Orochimaru, Sasuke always expected something like this. Then again, those two were crazy . So no. There was no reason to be alarmed.
Sasuke felt the hilt of the Kusanagi, which he had hastily tucked into his belt. The sword was fully prepared for combat.
They wanted to take his body, they wanted to harm the child. They couldn't let them do that. The little Uchiha huddled in her belly, as if she knew her father had no time for her right now. This was wonderful. He'd get them both out of here soon.
Reaching a large door in the wall, Kabuto pulled the handle and stepped inside. Sasuke followed, taking in the room with a quick glance. Chains on the walls, cages scattered everywhere. A bucket of someone's entrails in the corner. In the center of the room, illuminated by a wide chandelier, stood a surprisingly clean table, the kind you sometimes see in hospitals.
Sasuke stopped abruptly mid-stride, lurking in the shadows like a predator.
"I want to conduct an examination before handing your body over to Orochimaru-sama," the beta muttered, putting on medical gloves and opening the equipment case. "We need to make sure you're completely..."
He didn't have time to finish.
Sasuke attacked from behind without warning. The first attack grazed Kabuto, cutting a long slash across his shoulder. He managed to parry the second, raising his scalpel (it was instantly cut in half) and prudently jumping as far away as possible.
"Of course..." he croaked, grinning. "I knew you wouldn't let things go smoothly. You're always nothing but trouble, Uchiha... I told Orochimaru-sama we can't trust you."
"At least you were right about something," Sasuke said, holding out the blade of Kusanagi, crackling with flashes of lightning. "I never trusted you two."
They stood in opposite corners of the room. The air grew tense and seemed ready to spark at any moment. Sasuke knew full well that Kabuto was no pushover.
Despite the fact that he'd been playing the role of cook all this time, the beta was clearly capable of much. Orochimaru wouldn't have hired someone so incompetent as his assistant.
Kabuto's foot slowly moved across the floor, his body assuming a suitable attacking position. Sasuke's body did the same. He was barefoot, and the icy stone surface froze the skin of his feet. What a trifle.
"And yet, you were quite convincing in your intention. What changed?"
"There are some things," Sasuke chuckled. "Things that make much more sense to me."
He attacked again.
The source of this meaning was now sitting inside him, actively absorbing his parent's chakra—what a stubborn child! Sasuke was sparing his techniques, trying to make do with his sword and physical strength, feeling himself rapidly approaching his limit. What had Sasuke been doing in this hole for so long? What had he been waiting for? He should have finished Orochimaru off the moment he first learned about the child.
But no! He stayed because... because... why did he stay at all?
Sasuke darted across the ceiling, dodging another attack, and felt his feet peel off the surface with horror, just like when he fell underwater.
Not letting himself fall, the omega quickly jumped to the floor and bit his lip - awakened by a powerful shake, the little Uchiha began to stir in his stomach, vengefully kicking his father in the kidneys, causing him to see double.
Kabuto was still standing on his feet, moving with difficulty, bleeding, but standing.
"What a shame, Uchiha. You looked much stronger during training."
Sasuke rose slowly, gasping for air. How ridiculous it was, when your own child could cause you more pain and damage than your rival. If he passed out right now… it would be… bad.
Unfastening the shreds of his cloak from his shoulders, he let the genjutsu wear off, enjoying the shock contorting the beta's face. Let him watch—he won't tell anyone anyway. After all, dead people don't usually blab.
"Ridiculous..." Kabuto slurred, unable to look away. "A cheap illusion to distract..."
"Yes?" It was the omega's turn to grin. "So it works."
The seconds he gained were enough to form the seals – a deadly flame burst from Sasuke's mouth, illuminating the entire room.
Fire instantly engulfed Kabuto's body, eliciting a pitiful cry, and the air filled with the smell of scorched hair and flesh. Getting close, Sasuke lunged, striking the beta squarely in the heart.
Kabuto collapsed, and Sasuke suddenly sank to the floor with him, clutching his head and groaning through clenched teeth. The image before his eyes flickered, sometimes appearing, sometimes fading into darkness. His legs weakened.
But it was too early to relax.
One of his enemies was defeated.
Somewhere here, hiding in the dark corridors, there was another one.
Her blood boiled with adrenaline. Her heart skipped a beat, pounding with either triumph or fear. The little Uchiha kicked, making her stomach ripple. The smell of burnt meat made her throat ache with nausea.
Sasuke stood up slowly.
Swaying from side to side, he wandered out of the laboratory, leaning one hand against the wall and the other holding his stomach.
"Well, I'm sorry," he mentally snorted, catching each thrust with his palm. "I'm so sorry I disturbed your sleep. I was only trying to save us, so could you please stop making a sloppy jowl out of my liver?"
But the little Uchiha had no intention of stopping. After taking a few steps down the hallway, the omega staggered and fell to his knees again, his forehead resting on the cold floor.
His chakra was drained again, his strength draining from his body. His vision was blurred by the bright flashes of a headache. Sasuke realized he was suffocating. "I hope you're okay," the omega suddenly thought, irritation giving way to worry. "I hope I didn't hurt you. Just hold on a little longer. I'll finish him off, I'll protect you and me... I'll protect..."
Trembling all over, he tried to get up, but fell limp on the floor.
The last thing he heard before his eyes closed were someone's footsteps echoing in the dark depths of the corridor.