Naruto knew that this decision was very difficult for Sasuke.
To leave this quiet place, to carry his daughter from under the invisible shield, to follow the alpha to where the predatory unknown awaited them. Naruto knew Sasuke had only decided to do this because he trusted him enough.
Now he was stealthily watching the omega spread Natsume's arms, massaging her before they set out on their journey. It was about three days' journey to Konoha, but they intended to reach it in at least two, cutting down on rest. For those two days, Natsu would be wrapped in a blanket, unable to move freely—and she was a very active baby.
"That's it..." the omega muttered quietly under his breath, massaging her plump legs in circular motions. "You like walking, right? Can't wait to see so many new things?"
Naruto sighed sweetly, completely forgetting that there was an unpacked backpack in front of him, and his hands were clutching his own underwear.
Whenever the alpha was playing with his daughter, he always tried to cheer her up. He tickled her, made funny faces, babble in an absurdly squeaky voice—anything to make Natsume smile wider.
Sasuke was different.
Earlier (even before the reunion), Naruto had fantasized about what the omega would look like as a father. And, of course, he couldn't imagine him coddling or making faces.
Sasuke didn't make faces or coo, but Natsume still smiled broadly whenever she saw her father. Something connected the two of them—invisible, intangible, yet so real that there was no doubt. The little girl looked at the omega as the center of her universe, and he responded in kind. When Sasuke was with Natsume, his movements suddenly became fluid, and his hands fluttered over the baby's skin like feathers. Weightless, full of tenderness. There was so much love for his daughter in Sasuke's gaze that Naruto sometimes envied him for never looking at him like that...
Natsume found something amusing in the way her father stretched her arms and legs. Raising her eyebrows, she squealed with delight and tried to put her own heel in her mouth.
...Naruto wanted to sink his teeth into the stone fireplace mantel and gnaw on it with an overabundance of emotion. The sight evoked such an aggressive happiness in him that he had no idea how to cope without lashing out at the omega and loving him to death.
As if sensing his gaze, Sasuke turned around. Naruto's expression must have spoken for itself, because the Uchiha snorted.
- Why are you staring like that?
"It's okay," he shrugged, blushing slightly. "Children suit you."
He spoke sincerely. Children suited Sasuke as well as the glow of Chidori suited him. In fact, nothing was more natural than seeing him in battle... but in those quiet moments when the omega fed Natsume—that, too, was so natural!
Sasuke's thin eyebrow rose skeptically.
- Hn. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard from you.
Puffing out his cheeks, the alpha balled up his underwear and stuffed them into his backpack, zipping it up. They decided to leave the bulk of their belongings here—Natsume had outgrown most of her clothes anyway, and there was simply no need for the rest, since they were planning to return to Konoha.
Approaching the omega from behind, Naruto carefully wrapped his arms around his waist, tensing his stomach just in case – sneaking up on the Uchiha like this always risked getting an elbow in the ribs.
"Want to stop by Ichiraku when we get back?" he murmured, glancing over Sasuke's shoulder at Natsume. "I don't know about you, but I've been dying for ramen."
Omega was silent for a moment.
- Unless we get killed as soon as we step through the gates.
Sasuke tried not to show how nervous he was about his impending return, but his every word was laced with doubt. To somehow reassure the omega, he kissed the crook of his neck and immediately caught the prickly goosebumps with his lips. For a shinobi who had already been through fire and water, Sasuke remained overly sensitive in some places.
In that particular spot, he smelled insanely delicious. Lost in thought, Naruto tried to nip his neck with his fangs, involuntarily thinking about how eager he was to introduce the omega to the bed in his house. So good and thorough.
And at that moment he received an elbow in the ribs.
"You're too carefree," Sasuke chided, changing Natsume into freshly washed clothes. "You think we're just going to walk into Konoha like nothing happened and go eat your stupid ramen?"
"He's not an idiot," Naruto pursed his lips and nuzzled the other's neck again, as if it were smeared with honey. "And you think you'll be greeted with a cannon shot."
- This is wrong?
"I don't know how it'll really be," the alpha breathed into the black-haired nape. "Not everyone in Konoha is your enemy, believe me. The guys from our class... they're certainly not so stupid as to believe everything you write on fences. They remember you from your school days."
"They remember me as silent, arrogant, and strange. It's not hard to believe that someone like me ended up a scoundrel," the omega chuckled, closing his eyes and letting kisses fall down his neck. "Which, in fact, isn't far from the truth."
Breaking away from the omega, Naruto looked him seriously in the eyes.
— Do you really believe that? That you're a scoundrel.
"Well, let's see," the omega's fingers began deftly buttoning Natsume's overalls, while she stared raptly at the ceiling. "I ran away from the village. Joined Orochimaru. Learned all sorts of dark tricks from him. And then I killed him... and his assistant. And then the Water shinobi. Any sane person would think I'm the one to avoid."
"There's no common sense in that," Naruto shook his head, pressing himself closer to Natsu's broad back. "You killed a shinobi because you were protecting Natsu... and you should be thanked for Orochimaru's death! That was the real villain!"
The omega looked back at the alpha with distrust, almost crashing his lips into the other's.
— Even if I burned the whole world to ashes, you would still be looking for excuses for me, right?
Naruto smiled.
- You wouldn't do that.
- Sure?
Sasuke had his doubts.
"Absolutely," the alpha nodded, smiling wider. "And not because I'm a blind fool and only want to see the good in you. I simply believe it's true... because I know you and your heart."
And, to finally convince Uchiha, he played his last trump card.
- Someone who loves their child so much simply cannot be a scoundrel.
A sparkle of life flashed in the omega's eyes, and Naruto couldn't help but close the distance between their lips and draw him into a long kiss, drowning in the thickening scent. No, he absolutely needed to introduce Sasuke to his bed. And the sofa in the living room. The table in the kitchen. The shower…
And while the alpha's thoughts were filled with trying Sasuke on every surface in his house, Sasuke himself was simply happy that there was someone nearby who allowed him to feel human for once.
—
The further they moved away, the more nervous the omega became. He glanced back at the house almost every other step until its dark silhouette was swallowed by the thick fog.
It was the first time in three months that he'd been off the island. It felt a bit like escaping a cramped cage... but when Sasuke finally set foot on the opposite shore, he was surprised to discover he'd become so accustomed to being cooped up that freedom felt terrifying and the outside world too big.
The trees emerged from the milky fog so abruptly that the omega barely had time to hide his face from the branches. Every now and then, silhouettes appeared in the darkness, as if following them closely. Sasuke felt paranoid when he was startled by a harmless squirrel nimbly jumping from branch to branch.
In contrast, Natsume wasn't afraid at all. Wrapped up warmly and securely, pressed against her father's chest, she glanced around curiously, cheerfully chewing on her pacifier. Only three months old, she already had a spirit of adventure.
Just half an hour later, they reached the familiar river. Kakashi shook his head.
— Where next?
"Upstream," Sasuke responded. "There's a waterfall there."
— Are you sure they're still there?
- If the gods love us at all, then yes.
The journey to the waterfall took about another hour. By this time, Natsume had grown tired of sitting in the tight confines of the blanket, and she began to whine miserably, wrinkling her tiny nose. Her whimpering was so loud compared to the silence of the forest wilderness that everyone involuntarily stopped, turning their heads toward the little girl.
"Shh," Sasuke said worriedly, leaning close to his daughter so no one would see him kiss her chubby cheek. "Hush..."
Frowning, the baby tried to spit out the pacifier, but the omega caught it in mid-air and returned it, which only angered Natsu further. Her delicate, rosy face slowly turned crimson.
"Do you want me to carry her?" Naruto offered, seeing Sasuke starting to get worried.
"She likes my smell better," he shook his head and walked on.
The alpha sighed and trudged dejectedly after him. Ever since they'd left the island, the omega had been as tense as a bowstring. Just touch him and he'd recoil. This nervousness was even evident in the omega's scent, and something deep inside Naruto clawed, begging for something to fix it.
Once they've settled into Konoha, he'll placate Sasuke with something. Buy him... well, what do omegas want? Clothes, jewelry? "No, not omegas," the alpha corrected himself. "What does Sasuke want? "
"Let's say..." Naruto drawled, catching up with the omega. "You could ask me anything. What would you ask?"
Sasuke gave him a confused look and shrugged.
- I don't know. I don't need anything from you.
- But…
— Whatever I want, I can get for myself.
And he proudly raised his nose.
Naruto could only roll his eyes.
The waterfall remained in place—it would have been foolish to expect anything different. It was exactly as the omega remembered it, only there was considerably less snow. His gaze slid over the cliff, and he felt a wave of cold goosebumps and took a step back. No. He would never go near this place. Never again.
"A crevice," he nodded towards a tree sticking out of the cliff, conveniently blocking the entrance to the cave.
"You're not going?" Naruto asked in surprise.
"No, I..." Sasuke looked around, rocking his whining daughter. "We need to calm Natsume down."
The Omega didn't even hide the fact that he wasn't happy being here. So, leaving him outside with Sakura, only two alphas squeezed into the cave. The dirt walls of the passageway scratched their cloaks, leaving clumps of dirt behind.
And then, once inside, Naruto immediately understood why Sasuke never sets foot in there.
It only took one breath to understand.
The sharp smell of iron and stone assaulted his nose, a bitter taste tipped his tongue, and he staggered, bracing his hand against the nearest wall. The scent was far from fresh, even rotten, but it still carried a sense of terror. A savage, primal terror that could only be experienced when one was face to face with death. And somehow, Sasuke's scent was woven into this deadly bouquet like a thin thread. His heart twisted.
"Hey, is everything okay?" the sensei asked worriedly. Despite the mask on his face, even he pressed his elbow to his nose, trying to shield himself from the suffocating aroma.
"Sensei..." Naruto said hoarsely. "This place..."
— Yes.
This is where Natsume was born.
The flashlight's beam slid across the cave floor, and the alpha's condition worsened. Everything he saw was covered in blackened streaks of blood, which had long since soaked the ground and frozen along with it. He shone the light further, taking in the rest of the space, and discovered a pile of bloody rags, hastily crumpled and tossed into a corner. Blankets, towels, bandages... everything was covered in blood and smelled of death.
Naruto watched, tears welling in his eyes. This place held so much pain that he couldn't bear to even be there. What must it have been like for his omega—tortured, vulnerable... alone?
"Here it is," a travel bag containing scrolls was found behind one of the cave's rocks. "We're lucky the Root shinobi were too busy chasing Sasuke to look in here."
Backing away, Uzumaki scrambled out of the cave into the fresh air, where he took a shuddering breath. He felt nauseous. His nose was clogged with the cloying scent of Sasuke's blood, and the alpha's gaze darted around in panic, trying to find him.
Uchiha was found at the foot of the waterfall. Sitting down on a cobblestone, Natsume lay on his lap, he shook a pine branch with a large pine cone dangling from it over her. He loosened the blanket's cocoon slightly, and, taking advantage of the freedom, the little girl stuffed her fist into her mouth. Drooling it, she stared at the pine cone with wide eyes, as if it were a new wonder of the world.
"She has so many things to learn about this world…" the thought flashed through the alpha's head as he came closer.
"Do you like it?" he heard the omega's voice, drowned out by the roar of the waterfall. "I wish I could admire a common pine cone the way you do..."
Picking up another twig, he tickled her striped cheek with the soft needles, and Natsume squealed with delight, her eyes widening even more. Amused by her reaction, Sasuke smiled, and… Naruto had probably never seen such a gentle smile on his face. So gentle, it almost hurt.
Noticing his approach, the omega asked:
"Did you find the letters?" He glanced at Naruto's face and frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"
Shaking his head, the alpha stepped closer, leaned down, and unceremoniously pulled the omega close, burying his nose in his hair. He inhaled. Sasuke smelled sweet and sour, subtle and rich at the same time. It smelled like hands that had just picked a handful of wild berries. Smeared with juice and dirt. Green from grass. Pricked by thorns. Sasuke smelled so good…
Frozen for a few seconds in surprise, the omega shook his head indignantly and hissed.
"What are you doing?" he snorted, looking out from under his disheveled bangs. "What's wrong with you today?"
"I love you," Naruto thought for some reason.
"I don't know…" he sighed sincerely, kissing her temple through her silky hair. "You don't like it?"
The omega pursed his lips in embarrassment, feeling his cheekbones flush. It wasn't that he didn't like it… Naruto was being clingy today, and his touch felt so good, but Sakura was watching them so closely, and the enemy could literally jump out of nowhere.
"You're weird. You need to be on your guard, but you're just dreaming…"
"I saw what happened in that cave," the alpha thought to him, but didn't dare bring it up out loud. "You have to be so strong to survive something like that. And you did it. God, I'm starting to think saving Konoha wasn't such a great feat."
Realizing she was being ignored, Natsume frowned. Freeing her other hand from the blanket, she tried to stuff both fists into her mouth and was very upset when she couldn't – there was so much injustice in the world! And, realizing this injustice, the little girl burst into tears.
"I don't know how we'll be able to cross the border safely if she's crying," Sasuke sighed worriedly, rocking her. "And it's barely been two hours..."
- You are worrying ahead of time.
- You're not worried enough.
The alpha bit his lip. He knew the omega was on edge, but… looking at him, Naruto felt as guilty as if he'd dragged Sasuke out of the house himself. Sitting down on the stone opposite, he clasped his hands together with a serious expression.
"We can go back to the island," he said. "If you want."
Sasuke, who was rocking his daughter, looked up at him uncertainly.
"And then what?" he sighed, seeing the alpha throw up his hands. "That's it."
—
Two days passed without incident.
With every step toward Konoha, Sasuke grew increasingly tense. He barely spoke, walking silently forward, his brows knitted together, glancing around. It might have seemed like he was simply intensely focused, but in reality, the omega reeked of fear. Naruto could feel his scent wavering, and instinctively began to feel nervous himself, as if the omega's discomfort were a personal shame.
The closer they got to the border, the less snow and fog there was. Winter was drawing to an end, but in the Land of Fire, it never really began—the snow in Konoha usually fell and melted immediately. By the end, they were walking through the withered grass, their cloaks unbuttoned and their scarves loosened.
A large bridge awaited them at the border between the two countries.
Sasuke sat down wearily on the step, pushing back his shirt collar to feed Natsume. His gaze wandered thoughtfully over the bridge—no doubt about it, he'd been here before. Despite the many years, that day still came back to him as easily as if it were yesterday.
Their first mission in the Land of Water. All three are timid, inexperienced kittens, too young to be involved in such adult matters. Their first serious adversary. A sense of the reality of death.
"Nostalgia, huh?" Naruto plopped down next to her, casting a tender glance at his smacking daughter. "And I had no idea back then that all these horrors were just the tip of the iceberg."
No one could have predicted that they would experience so much bloodshed, pain, and, strangely enough, happiness. That one of them would eventually defend Konoha alone, while the other would share a cave with Orochimaru. One would become the country's hero. The other would be called everyone's enemy. And then they would have a child.
"At first, I often wondered why you saved me back then," Naruto sighed.
Sasuke shrugged. He didn't want to be sarcastic.
"You were the only part of my past I managed not to lose," he looked away, feeling naked from such revelations. "That's why."
His mother and father were gone. Numerous relatives were gone. His beloved older brother was gone. Only one rope remained, tying Sasuke to reality. Sometimes the omega felt as if if he let go of Naruto's grip, he would simply lift off and float away like a balloon. Lost somewhere in the clouds and vanish. And then Sasuke wanted, so badly wanted to tell the alpha: "Just don't let me go."
Naruto was slightly embarrassed by what he heard (the blush suited him very well) and scratched his neck.
— No one has ever sacrificed themselves for me.
It was completely new to Naruto back then—knowing that someone could value his life above their own. Maybe it was from that moment that Sasuke became special to him ... no, earlier. Much, much earlier. From the moment his fist first met the omega's nose—which means back in first grade.
"Just another kilometer from the bridge, and we'll finally cross the border," Kakashi announced as he approached. "Sasuke, how are you?"
The Uchiha chewed his lips. He wasn't exactly bursting with enthusiasm, and there hadn't been a moment in the past two days when he hadn't doubted his choice. The Omega glanced at Naruto to reinforce his confidence, then looked down at his daughter. She was selflessly sucking every drop of juice out of him.
— I'll finish feeding Natsume, and then we can go.
"If we encounter any of our people, we'll try to resolve things peacefully first," the sensei warned. "So try not to attack everyone indiscriminately."
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"How can I attack someone when I'm holding a child? I can't even scratch my own damn nose," he squinted, looking from one to the other.
Helplessness choked the omega. As long as he held Natsume, he couldn't participate in the battle. Most likely, if they were attacked, he would simply hide behind Naruto and Kakashi or flee into the forest, where he would hide under the tree roots.
"That's what you have me for," Uzumaki grinned and gave him a thumbs up. "I'm the alpha, dattebayo!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. As they crossed the bridge, he whispered quietly in Naruto's ear:
— If I didn't have Natsume in my hands, I would show who's the alpha here.
"Oh, really?" His blue eyes flashed playfully. "If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure. You can't fool nature..."
His hand landed on the omega's lower back, swiftly moving lower, and blood rushed to Sasuke's face. The next second, Naruto was already flying off the bridge, meekly accepting his fate.
The border with the Land of Fire was crossed late in the evening. No sirens blared, no hail of shuriken rained down, and the sky didn't collapse. The dark forest greeted them with the whisper of fallen leaves crunching underfoot. Sasuke, always glancing around, unknowingly walked close to the alpha. The greater the anxiety, the more it displaced his pride.
Natsume was behaving simply wonderfully. Fresh from a recent meal, she sat quietly in her father's arms, crumpling her blanket and breathing hotly on his neck, occasionally sucking on the thin skin. She did this so often and with such force that hickey marks had already formed near the omega's Adam's apple. Sasuke winced, but did nothing about it—it was better for her to drool all over him than to scream at the whole forest, attracting the enemy's attention.
However, as it turned out, the enemy didn't need that. After another hour of walking, their luck ran out. The branches above them began to rustle, and a scream pierced the silence.
— Stay where you are!
Naruto and Sasuke instinctively leaned toward each other, closing the gap in an instant. Sakura and Kakashi unsheathed their weapons. They didn't want to start a fight with someone from their own village, but if Natsume was truly in danger…
"Hey, it's Naruto!" the voice suddenly softened. "Do you hear that? Stand down!"
Another moment, and the shinobi descended to the ground. Two men. Sasuke didn't recognize them. Or maybe... he vaguely remembered them? There was something familiar about their faces, but he'd left Konoha so long ago that his memories of its inhabitants had long since faded.
But Naruto, of course, recognized both of them immediately.
"Hello, Kotetsu, Izumo!" he visibly relaxed.
"This is crazy! We were afraid you'd vanished completely," one of the men stepped closer, and the two alphas shook hands, after which the man looked around at everyone present. "Kakashi-san, are you here too? And Sakura-chan... your parents are absolutely terrified!"
Then he peered over Naruto's shoulder and fell right into Sasuke's bright red eyes. The Omega frowned, and the shinobi jerked back, raising his hand to his waist. His casualness was as bold as a hand.
"Y-you guys... caught the Uchiha?" he gulped, nodding to his comrade, who instantly disappeared into the forest.
"Well... something like that," Uzumaki muttered, shielding Sasuke with his body just in case. "We're going back to Konoha."
"And you didn't tie him up?" Kotetsu worried, glancing warily at the omega, searching for chains on his legs. "Do you need a rope or something..."
"No need to tie anyone up!" the alpha grinned. "I told you, we're going back!"
The shinobi paused, processing the information that had befallen him. His hand, already in his belt pocket, slowly dropped to his side and clenched into a fist.
"I don't understand anything…" the man muttered, looking the omega up and down again and finally noticing the obvious. "Is that a child?!"
Sasuke suddenly spoke up.
- How stupid you are.
Boldly stepping out from behind Naruto, he adjusted his slumping daughter's weight, circled around the shinobi, and continued on his way. Natsume, hugging his neck, caught the stranger's eye briefly and let out a soft squeak.
"W-wait!" Kotetsu was confused, seeing the wanted criminal calmly moving towards the village. "Stop!"
The omega paused for a second and glanced over his shoulder at him.
— What's the matter? I don't need a special escort to get home.
Naruto froze, sidled past Kotetsu, caught up with the omega, and they walked side by side. His hand hovered in the air, lightly touching Sasuke's waist, but seemingly hesitant to rest it. Sasuke watched them go, confused, unsure what to do. On the one hand, the Uchiha was the village's number one threat, given what his brother had recently done. On the other...none of the three acted as if they'd brought a fugitive into the country.
"It's okay, Kotetsu," Kakashi said calmly, stepping closer. "Sasuke is not dangerous."
"Honestly, I'm confused..." the shinobi muttered, and they slowly followed the two. "You knew his brother killed Danzo, right? Sasuke could be his accomplice. They say they also wiped out the Uchiha clan together..."
"That's nonsense," Sakura said bluntly. "Sasuke-kun didn't do anything like that. It's simply outrageous that they attributed something like that to him!"
- But…
"Who do you trust more?" Kakashi interrupted. "Us or the papers on the fence?"
Kotetsu chewed his lips, gazing distrustfully at the backs of the couple walking a little further away. Since the last time he'd seen the young Uchiha, he'd grown taller, more mature, and more stern. The piercing gaze of his scarlet eyes alone filled the alpha with cold terror… but he was baffled by the tiny, chubby-cheeked baby clinging to the omega's neck, drooling profusely.
"And the child?" he spread his hands, begging for some explanation. "Where the hell did he even come from?"
A long sigh escaped Kakashi.
"It's a very long story... and it's not for me to tell it," the topic was closed with these words. "Where did Izumo run? To report our arrival?"
"Sorry, but it has to be this way. We were warned that Sasuke might come for his brother, but I didn't expect it to be like this. Konoha's been in a terrible mess lately. One disaster after another..."
— Did Danzo's death really disappoint anyone?
"To hell with Danzo. It was precisely because of him that all this hell was happening. In just three months, Konoha was overrun with so many shinobi that it was starting to feel like martial law here..."
"And where did these shinobi come from?" Kakashi asked. "They don't just appear out of thin air."
"They're mercenaries," Kotetsu waved his hand dismissively. "You understand? A hidden ninja village hiring some outsiders! That old man's completely obsessed with military might."
"So no one's mourning him?" Sakura chuckled.
"I repeat, screw Danzo. We were much more worried about Naruto's disappearance... we were told he'd been sent to look for Sasuke, but there were suspicions Danzo had done something bad to him. What a joy to see you all..."
Their conversation was interrupted by a child's squeal. Uchiha slowed, adjusting the blanket on the baby, while Uzumaki leaned over him solicitously, cooing softly. Looking at the three of them, a certain image formed in Kotetsu's mind, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to be right. Perhaps his vision was failing him in the dark, because he thought he saw familiar stripes on the baby's cheeks.
"So, Danzo died, and you decided it was a good time to return?" Kotetsu asked, and Kakashi nodded. "You'll probably be asked to take over as Hokage in Tsunade-sama's place."
"How is she doing?" Beta interjected, hearing the teacher's name.
"Same as always. She's asleep," Kotetsu caught the girl's sad gaze and sighed. "But at least she's alive. If only there weren't personal guards posted at her bedside..."
Meanwhile, Natsume was actively fussing in Sasuke's arms, cooing incessantly and grabbing her father's hair. The omega was tired of trying to save his hair from his daughter, so he silently endured while she twisted the black strands around her fist and tried to pull them into her mouth. Naruto, walking beside her, glanced back at Kotetsu several times.
"You probably don't remember. He and Izumo are always hanging around at the gates... I told you, not all Konoha residents are your enemies."
Sasuke also looked back. The man was walking next to Kakashi, his gaze never leaving the omega.
"He didn't attack me just because you said so," he muttered incredulously, correcting Natsume again.
The baby hung on him for two days, and despite the support bandage, Sasuke's arms were literally falling off. He hadn't previously realized how plump his daughter had become recently. From a small, wrinkled kitten, she had imperceptibly grown into a plump toddler. It was a joy to behold, but how hard it had been to hold her up for two whole days!
It wasn't long before they emerged onto a wide road, and ten minutes later, massive gates appeared over the horizon. Both their hearts sank. Naruto's was at the long-awaited return home. Sasuke's heart sank with fear. Now he was in the very center of the country hunting him. In the enemy's lair. Surrounded, lured out of hiding...
Two dark, motionless silhouettes awaited them in front of the gate. Omega licked his dry lips.
— They are meeting us.
The moon brightly illuminated the white, faceless masks. The omega's feet stumbled, and he slowed.
The same moonlight. The same masks. The sole of a boot hitting his nose. Cruel hands ripping a screaming infant from their embrace, indifferent to their pleas for mercy. Sasuke's heart began to pound, and he squeezed Natsume so hard she even squealed in surprise.
No. They won't take her away again. This time, his alpha is by his side.
"Welcome back, Uchiha-san," one of the men greeted him curtly as they approached the gates. "The elders are waiting. Follow me."
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other warily.
"We're tired from the journey," Uzumaki said. "Can't we postpone everything until the morning?"
They hadn't slept a single thing in two days, so they were practically exhausted. Of the five of them, only Natsume had gotten any sleep—what difference did it make whether it was morning or night when she could snooze peacefully in her father's arms?
"Then you'll have to spend the night at the gate," came from under the mask. "You're not allowed to stay in Konoha without the elders' permission, and you won't get it until you visit them."
Uzumaki looked back: Kakashi, Sakura, and Kotetsu were just appearing on the horizon. They could have entered the village by force (into their ancestral home! What a shame!), but no one wanted that turn of events, I guess.
"I'll go," the omega quietly agreed. "I'll just leave the baby here."
"The child must be present," the man said implicitly. "But the jinchūriki can come with you."
Sasuke paused, then nodded hesitantly, and Naruto glanced at him suspiciously. Perhaps he was imagining things, but the omega was barely able to keep from shaking like a leaf. Inquisitive, Natsume stared at the men, then smiled innocently, greeting them with a series of endearing sounds, to which they remained unmoved.
The shinobi led them down the sleeping street. In the moonlight, the walls of the houses appeared blue, as if built of ice. Destroyed to the ground and rebuilt anew, Konoha seemed alien and uninhabitable to Sasuke. Nothing he had grown accustomed to was in its place now. Not a single familiar corner, not a single fence... Natsume's groaning broke the silence of the night, and the omega felt as if invisible spectators were watching them from every window.
As they approached the main building, the omega's scent rapidly oxidized, suffocating Naruto's lungs. "I'm sorry, Sasuke," the alpha felt the urge to apologize for some reason, seeing his face turn white. "I'm sorry for all this..."
Entering the building and climbing a couple of floors, they walked through empty corridors, the only sound coming from their own footsteps. A turn, another turn, and suddenly an unremarkable door appeared before them.
- Alpha stays here.
"What?" Naruto was taken aback. "No, that's not what we agreed on!"
— The elders will speak with the Uchiha in private.
— What are you doing there, completely...
"Naruto," the omega quietly reprimanded him. "Just wait for me, okay?"
He cast a worried glance at the boy and took a step through the half-open door. He was both afraid and eager to escape... but he told himself he wouldn't enter this room as a trembling creature. He'd already tried to plead with these people, and now he'd come to lay down his conditions.
Truth be told, Sasuke had no recollection of what the Konoha elders looked like. As a child, he'd heard about them more often than seen them, so in his mind, they remained faceless old men. And now, facing them face to face, the omega realized that's exactly what they were.
They sat on soft zabutons, dressed from head to toe. Sasuke wondered if they'd been sitting in those clothes all night or if they'd been rushed to meet him like this. Their eyes were barely visible beneath skin sagging with age, scattered with dirty pigment spots. Pathetic, decrepit creatures. How could such people as them be trusted with the fate of the village?
The future always belonged to people like Naruto. And these two needed to be scrapped.
"Sasuke-kun," the old woman greeted him with a weak bow, then immediately locked eyes with Natsume's black eyes. "So the rumors were true—your clan really has a new addition. There are now three Uchiha living in the world."
She got straight to the point. So they weren't wasting their time on pleasantries. Sasuke was only too happy. He didn't want to hear the flattering "Welcome," knowing full well that no one in this room was happy to see him.
— Three. If, of course, Itachi is still alive.
"Your brother is currently in custody," the old man said. "He defeated Danzo, but he still hasn't regained consciousness."
"Itachi is so close..." Sasuke thought fleetingly, and for a moment he felt a surge of excitement... He wanted this meeting as much as he dreaded it. And yet, his brother wasn't his priority.
"I didn't come for Itachi," the omega said, looking from one to the other. "But because you and your worthless mercenaries don't give me a single day of peace."
He nodded towards the masked shinobi, who stood like statues.
"Hunting you was Danzo's decision, Sasuke-kun. We were simply presented with a fait accompli."
"And they shoved their tongues up their asses," the omega frowned, feeling the blood rise in his neck, making the air in his lungs boil. "My daughter was just a day old when she was ripped from my arms. Just a day old when she almost lost her father. My child's life could have been ruined forever, while you old bastards should have just told Danzo 'no.'"
Finally getting the chance to speak out to the bastards' faces, Sasuke realized he was going too far. Indifference was a crime too. And the elders had been indifferent to what had been done to his clan. To the rise of Shimura Danzō. To what this Danzō subsequently wanted to do to his child.
"I dreamed of killing that one-eyed bastard. Him and you," he muttered through clenched teeth, his Sharingan flashing. "Believe me, I dreamed of it. For you all to scream the way I screamed that night..."
The elders' backs tensed, and so did the Root shinobi. Natsume fidgeted in the omega's arms. Unfazed by everything, she tried to catch a long strand of her father's hair to put it in her mouth. Looking down at the little girl, Sasuke softened slightly.
"However, Naruto insists that you and I can coexist within Konoha," he sighed, imagining his alpha's sunny smile. "So I've come to you, open and unarmed, to ask one thing: leave my daughter alone. Just let us live like normal people. Don't come near her, don't touch her, don't even talk to her!"
He finished, exhaling hot air through his nose like an enraged bull. For a few seconds, an agonizing silence filled the room. The wall clock ticked. The old men exchanged glances and nodded, reaching a silent agreement.
"There's nothing more natural for an omega than to worry about the well-being of her child," the old woman said, folding her thin, dry hands in her lap. "We respect your feelings, Sasuke-kun."
Omega blinked, at first thinking he'd misheard. What? Just like that?
- …Truth?
"Danzo was eager to settle any issue with blood, but we are always ready to compromise. Therefore, Sasuke-kun, we will guarantee the lives of you and your child if certain conditions are met."
"Conditions," Uchiha thought discontentedly. "Of course, where would we be without them."
"We'll present you with several options, and you have the right to choose any of them," the old man continued. "So, option number one: you'll stand trial and go to prison."
Sasuke flinched.
— Conclusion?! I didn't…
"You fled the village, and defection is illegal, Sasuke-kun. If you're a conscientious person and sincerely regret your actions, you must take responsibility for them. You'll spend the same number of years in prison as you did on the run, after which you can return to a normal life with your child."
Omega looked at Natsume again—having finally reached his hair, she was tugging at it so hard she was on the verge of tearing it out by the roots, trying to catch a strand in her mouth. Sasuke's chest went cold at the mere thought of disappearing from her life for five long years. How would she cope? And how would he cope? To be imprisoned, unable to see Natsume take the first step. To not hear her first word…
"Option number two," the old woman spoke again, clearly seeing the omega's face twist. "I think this option will suit us all. You won't have to go to jail, and your daughter will remain with you. All you need to do is sign a prenuptial agreement."
"Marry?" Sasuke was even more confused. "To... Naruto?"
"You'll marry, you'll join Naruto-kun's family, and you'll do what befits an omega—raise your children and bring comfort to your home... and leave the shinobi work to your husband. We'll make sure you can't dabble in techniques. The Uchiha name will fade into oblivion, and, as an Uzumaki, you'll finally start your life with a clean slate."
And for some reason… this option frightened Sasuke far more than the previous one. His father's stern face flashed through his mind, muttering something about an omega needing to be able to smooth things over in conflicts. Something about how someday an alpha would appear who would take him into their family…
His hands—how would they cope without a katana in their grasp? Who was he without his techniques, honed over years of training? Would he even be himself if he abandoned the path of the shinobi?
" Never ," the omega exhaled, taking a step back.
"Why not?" the elder raised an eyebrow. "You and Naruto-kun already have a child together. Why not see it through and become a proper family?"
"If Naruto-kun doesn't suit you, we can find another alpha," the second one chimed in. "By the way, the Hyuga clan has a candidate just your age. His family is stricter, but at least they have status."
That was even worse. Sasuke couldn't imagine burying the great Uchiha name by taking the name of some shitty alpha.
"I won't marry," he squeezed out, moving even further away. "Not to anyone. Never."
Even for Naruto. Sorry, Naruto.
"Well, we're offering option number three out of desperation," the old man sighed. "You'll be free and independent, but you'll leave Konoha and never return." As soon as the omega opened his mouth, he forestalled the question. "Leaving the child with Naruto-kun."
Silence fell again. Omega stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly from one to the other. His ears began to ring. Losing interest in his father's hair, Natsume's fists began to tug at the fabric of his shirt, demanding milk.
These people… these people… Sasuke was speechless.
Although no, there were several.
"You old sick bastards," the omega whispered, backing towards the exit. "Go to hell."
He kicked the door open and rushed out into the hallway, quickly heading toward the stairs. Naruto, standing guard, followed anxiously behind him. Natsume began to whimper softly, startled by the sudden movement, but the omega only quickened his pace. If it weren't for the child in his arms, he would have built a bonfire here—a farewell, so to speak.
"Sasuke, wait..." the alpha called out from behind him. "Where are you going?!"
"I'll never set foot here again!" Uchiha hissed, not slowing down. "I knew it would happen. I knew it! Why did I ever believe you?!"
How could he be so stupid? So stupid... no, blinded by his faith in Naruto's words!
— They didn't allow you to stay?
"Oh, no, they offered me three options," the omega turned and walked purposefully toward the staircase. "How generous!"
- And you rejected them all?
Sasuke burst onto the stairs and rushed down them, taking them one at a time. Their voices echoed loudly off the walls.
— Because these are shitty options... no, they're not even options in principle!
"And you decided to hysterically stamp your foot and leave?" Uzumaki shouted after him. "Five minutes were enough for you to give up!"
"'Surrender'?!" The omega spun on his heel, glaring at Naruto from the bottom step. "What an interesting rhetoric you've chosen! So, I only have two options: live here like a powerless beast, or 'surrender'? Do you know what choice they gave me, Naruto? Go to jail, get married, or get the hell out! Anything to shut me up or separate me from Natsu!"
Naruto was at a loss, his mouth flapping silently like a fish. He glanced up, checking to see if anyone was following them. How could the omega have been allowed to just up and leave the room like that? Something was definitely wrong here. Entering Konoha had been easy enough, but getting out was like stepping into a trap.
"Do you think they'll let you go that easily?" he tried to reason with the Uchiha. "Won't they follow you? Do you think you can leave the country unnoticed?"
"Of course I can't," Sasuke snapped, seething with anger. "But aren't you here to protect me, huh?!"
The Alpha spread his hands in confusion. The conflict had flared up so quickly that before he could even react, he and Sasuke were yelling at each other. The Omega was terrified, and Naruto was no less terrified, and so they hissed at each other, ignoring Natsume's whining.
"You want me to help you escape Konoha again?" the alpha frowned. "On the same day you finally returned here after all these years? Are you crazy?!"
"So you only agree to protect me when I do what you want? How convenient! A real, damn alpha!"
He was so wound up he couldn't choose his words, so Naruto shouldn't take them seriously, but the alpha felt tears welling up in his eyes. Sasuke was wrong! He would always protect the omega, no matter the cost... but if he didn't come to his senses and acted impulsively, if he ran away a second time, Konoha's gates would never open to the Uchiha again. They would be scattered across different worlds.
- If you leave, the bridges will be completely burned!
"Liar!" the omega grimaced. "You said the bridge between us would never burn."
— Everyone will burn, but ours will survive!
Sasuke's mouth twisted, and he rose a step to get closer to the alpha's face, scorching it with his hot breath. Bright red eyes glowed, a deadly flame sparkling somewhere in their depths.
- Then come with me.
Naruto flinched.
— Go where?..
"I don't know, anywhere! Let's escape this hellhole together. We'll find a new home where we won't be looked at as outcasts, where Natsume will be safe. We'll build a family... a wonderful family, Naruto."
The alpha bit his lip, studying the eyes opposite him. The anger in the omega's gaze faded, giving way to a plea: "Choose me. Follow me. Be with me ." But abandoning Konoha... abandoning the place he'd fought tooth and nail for? The place where he'd found so many precious people?
"Sasuke…" He wet his dry throat. "I…"
After waiting a little longer, the omega retreated resignedly.
"Apparently, it's vitally important to you that I'm always by your side. That's the only reason you've been chasing me all these years. And here's what I don't understand, Naruto: do you want me to be happy, or do you want me to make you happy?"
Natsume, pressed against his chest, cried bitterly, displeased by her parents' cries. "Sasuke wants to take her away from me... " the dark part within the alpha thought, only adding to the horror. " Take her to who knows where! And if I let them go, I might never see them again... "
"I want us both to be happy!" he cried, swallowing back the tears that had lodged in his throat. "Both! At the same time! Do you understand?!"
Omega shook his head in dismay, and such hopelessness flashed across his face that it became truly frightening.
- Are you sure this is even possible?..
Naruto didn't know what to say. Until that moment, he'd considered himself superhuman. For some reason, he'd thought that if he could convince the omega to come back, everything would gradually work out on its own. But nothing was working. Why? What did he need to do to make his omega happy? To make them happy together…
Is it the elders' fault?
Maybe he really should kill them? Kill anyone who comes between them. Anything. Anyone. As long as nothing ever separates him and Sasuke again.
Naruto was so stunned by these thoughts that he didn't even notice the movement behind the omega. And when he did, he yelled:
- Sasuke, behind you!
The Uchiha spun around with a jerk. His Sharingan scanned every fraction of a second, so Sasuke saw what happened next in minute detail.
A Root shinobi appeared out of nowhere, aiming straight for his head. A massive bolt of chakra, capable of tearing apart an entire house, flew at him with lightning speed, heating up the air around it. Sasuke saw it clearly, knowing he wouldn't have time to dodge it. He wanted to defend himself with Susanoo, but he remembered just in time that his hands were currently occupied with Natsume.
As if in slow motion, the omega saw Naruto pulling him by the sleeve towards himself, throwing his other hand between Sasuke's face and the technique.
And then—a flash, a booming roar, the air filling with concrete dust. Omega is thrown by the impact, his foot misses the step, and he falls somewhere down, only managing to turn around to avoid falling on his daughter, curling into a ball around her.
The next second, he's already counting the steps with his vertebrae, his head hits something hard, his skull crunching. His vision doubles, the back of his neck instantly becomes hot and wet, and his ears burst from his daughter's piercing shriek.
His vision returns after a few seconds, but Sasuke still can't see anything—the air is murky, like fog. Concrete settles on his tongue. Someone is hysterically calling his name, but the omega can't make out who it is until Naruto appears out of the darkness.
The last thing he notices before blacking out is the alpha's severed arm, hanging by a mere scrap of skin.