The last chapter of 'Life Giving Rain' is here and we can finally welcome my precious SasuNaru baby! Read on to get the details but I won't say anything here to give it away. I figured since I've been on hiatus for so long you guys deserve at least one complete story that isn't a one-shot. Sadly 'Who Are You?' is going to take a little longer but I'm posted the rest of the chapters all at once so that you guys don't have to wait any longer than you have to. Now I will be posting this chapter and the one before this to Deviantart tomorrow along with Sasuke's birthday fic.
DISCLAIMER - I own nothing but the plot and the baby. Everything else belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and other such people who legally own Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. As for the details of the birth and pregnancy, I don't want to hear that it's not possible because I know it's not but this is fanfiction and thus not real. So let me live in my favorite fantasy, haters and go read something you enjoy if you hate what I write. I delete your reviews anyway, stalker-hater.
July 7th – One week past due date
If anybody would bother to ask how Naruto was feeling at this point in his life, he would say uncomfortable would be an understatement, but he wouldn't trade it. He was growing a little worried that his baby hadn't been brought into the world yet, but Kurama constantly reassured him that everything was well and that it just wasn't time yet. Sasuke's fussing was the problem right now. Since the blonde was past his due date, his husband had only been asking two questions as of late. The first was, 'how are you feeling right now?' and the second was 'is it time?' and Naruto was getting sick of both. He was only one week past due; that was pretty normal from what Tsunade had told them!
He couldn't deny that he was sick of being pregnant himself but there wasn't really anything he could do to make his baby ready to be born. The only things that could be done were to make sure all of the supplies they needed for the birth were ready. Naruto and Sasuke discussed at length a water birth and both decided that while the hospital would be safer in the event that anything happened, they wanted to give birth at home. Sakura had nearly pounded both of them into the ground when they told her that but she was forced to restrain herself on account of Naruto's status and Sasuke's most terrifying glare yet. In her words they were 'abandoning years of advanced medical practices just to revert to caveman ways of living' and they were none too happy with her for a while.
So right now their bathroom was set up to imitate a hospital room – complete with an IV set, oxygen tank and other equipment Tsunade thought they would need to use IF something went wrong. Luckily the space was big enough to fit all of it and she was very skilled at performing in the field or emergency situations.
Sasuke walked into the bedroom where Naruto was currently trying to take a nap, and failing, holding a small plate with crackers and soup for his love. Upon smelling the food and now being hungry since he couldn't sleep, the blonde tried to sit up as best he could on his own. The raven Uchiha only smirked as his spouse failed and instead gave a rather amusing impression of a turtle, but once the Hokage glared at him he moved to help him up.
"I know you're sick of me asking but how are you feeling?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm sick of pregnancy, the baby is using my organs as soccer balls, I can hardly eat because I can't keep most foods down anymore and I can't sleep since I find everything so damn loud. Otherwise I'm fine – no contractions or chakra surges. And believe me, from what Kurama has said you'll feel it as soon as I do."
"Well if it will make you feel any better you can look outside. It's starting to shower a little bit so you might have a storm to help you sleep later tonight."
"You think I can't smell it? I know it's coming; I've known for about an hour now," the blonde growled in frustration. He loved his storms; but the smell was making him so antsy and hyper now that it was preventing him from his sleep. It was the total opposite effect that it normally had over the blonde and it made Sasuke question to himself if the baby was just torturing Naruto.
Sasuke gave him a confused look but didn't question the growl. Naruto's mood was normally sour if he couldn't get to sleep nowadays so he thought it was better to just shut up. "Okay then, I brought you some chicken soup and crackers for lunch. I hope it's okay but if you want something else I'll need to go to the market. We're running pretty low on groceries."
"Don't you dare leave me here by myself! I can't make clones since my chakra is restricted and if I go into labor and you're gone I can tell you right now that you'll be in for a universe of pain!" Sasuke shrank back as Naruto's red eyes fixed on him and he continued to yell.
Meanwhile in the hallway Karin, Suigetsu, Jugo, Sakura and Sai were all eavesdropping on the couple. Karin, being appointed godmother, had been given the 'Naruto Puppy Eyes Stare' until she caved into Naruto's demand to stay with the Uchiha family until the baby had been delivered. She was also there for medical purposes, as 'asked' by Sasuke, since she could heal Naruto rather quickly with her chakra. Sakura was put on stand-by for Naruto's delivery by Tsunade since the blonde woman still had Hokage business to take care of and probably couldn't be at his side right away when it was time. Suigetsu was still trying to film everything he could but it was proving to be a bit difficult the longer the pregnancy lasted; he had already been through three cameras and he wasn't sure if he could afford a fourth, but Sai and Jugo were on duty courtesy of Sasuke. The man had wanted more people to stay and protect Naruto should an enemy get a smart but stupid idea of attacking Naruto while he was vulnerable. Jugo volunteered for the job and Sai was already on his ANBU shift when Sasuke presented the idea.
"Sasuke-kun sure is getting yelled at a lot. Poor guy," Karin said. Her brow creased in worry as she peeked through the door to see Sasuke getting smacked.
"Sasuke-kun can handle himself; it's Naruto I'm worried about. If he goes two more days without his chakra surge we might have to induce labor for the sake of the baby," the pink medic ninja blurted out.
Sai felt a shift in the air and calmly addressed his wife, "Sakura, not to alarm you but Naruto might have heard you."
The girl turned to look at her husband but then glanced back towards Sasuke and Naruto's bedroom only to be frozen by the piercing glare Naruto was directing her way. She felt a shiver go down her back as she met the blonde's eyes. Sasuke stepped in front of his wife and did something to calm him down that the onlookers couldn't see. They didn't have to wait too long since the two Uchihas came out of the room a few minutes later. Naruto looked at Sakura and his glare returned.
"Sakura-chan…pray tell me how exactly you're going to have to 'induce' labor if you don't know how my labor works?"
"One of you, go get the bathtub filled so that if he goes today we'll at least be ready with the water. Karin I need you to go to the market and get some things for him since he doesn't want me to leave. Jugo, I want you to take Naruto outside and let him sit with his koi fish for a while while I have a word with Haruno here," Sasuke ordered the people standing around gawking.
"What do you want to talk to me about Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked as sweetly as she could. Naruto left his husband and ventured down the stairs with Jugo. Sasuke simply watched until they were both out of sight and turned towards the medic.
He sent a glare at her, "You're only here because Tsunade-sama couldn't be here right now. You don't understand how this pregnancy works since Naruto's is obviously different. If you make him upset any more than you already have then I don't care if you have 'proper' training for this, you will be kicked out of here."
"Yes Sasuke-kun," she said back meekly. Sai could only sigh and shake his head. His friend's mood was souring more and more each day that his child wasn't brought into the world. He couldn't blame him but Sai didn't think that he had to take his anger out on his wife.
Satisfied with her answer Sasuke nodded and left to follow Naruto into the garden but he was stopped when he felt a small spark of Naruto's chakra. The Uchiha's eyes widened and he sprinted down the stairs, nearly tripping over himself in his haste, and towards the garden. The sight that greeted him was, albeit terrifying, exactly what he had been waiting for since their last appointment at the hospital. Naruto was hunched over a bit clutching his stomach and his face was scrunched up in pain. Jugo was hovering over him but it appeared that he was about to panic and throw a fit if nobody told him what to do soon. Naruto looked up and saw Sasuke standing on the patio and smiled.
"You had better tell me that the water is ready because if it's not then whoever failed to fill the tub will be fed to angry chinchillas while I watch and laugh at them, as you hold our son or daughter."
Sasuke smiled wide and made is way quickly over to his wife and kneeled down beside him, putting his hands on his stomach. "I only felt a little of your chakra, are you sure it's time?" he asked.
"The big surge is coming but I'm feeling him or her moving more than usual right now. Once the last one hits, I think it may mean I'm ready to push," Naruto struggled to explain.
"Okay. Jugo I need you to go and alert Tsunade-sama that Naruto is in labor. I'm going to take him inside and get him ready so when you come back just come upstairs and let the medics to their thing."
Naruto was picked up and carried back into the house and taken up to the bathroom. Suigetsu and Sakura were still filling the tub when they looked back and saw a mildly uncomfortable blonde and a happy-but-almost-panicking raven. The pink-haired medic went to ask what was wrong but Naruto spoke first.
"Water's not ready bastard, so I guess Suigetsu and Sakura-chan are going to meet some angry chinchillas when this is over."
"They're almost done with it so just do your breathing," Sasuke responded.
Sakura looked confused for a few seconds before realization dawned on her. "Put him down by the side of the tub for now Sasuke-kun, I've got to get him hooked up to his IV and the heart monitor."
Sasuke did as she instructed and another, stronger, surge of chakra came off of Naruto. Sakura quickly got what needed to be attached to Naruto hooked up and she fired off questions to the blonde.
"How far apart are the contractions? Well…chakra surges I should say."
"I don't know yet, I don't think I've had any contractions; just chakra surges. They're not particularly painful but it's not very comfortable right now if pain was the subject of your next question."
"How much is the baby moving? Can you feel where its head is?"
"He's kicking near my left hip, is that good?"
"He or she will turn on their own, but if we need to Tsunade-sama and I will have to move him or her into the right position to come out."
"Sakura remember what I told you about scaring him," Sasuke warned. She turned to him with professional eyes though and said, "I'm not saying any of this to scare him, Sasuke-kun; I'm informing him about what might need to happen to make sure that the baby comes out healthy and Naruto doesn't hurt himself."
Sasuke leaned over Naruto to hold him again as the medic continued what she was doing. Suigetsu meanwhile had left to get some towels and pillows in order to make Naruto more comfortable, all the while filming and giving commentary. Naruto transformed into his Sexy-Jutsu form and told the people in the room that Kurama had suggested it, since it could take a while for him to actually give birth. Twenty minutes later Tsunade, Jugo and Karin all came into the room to assess the situation. Sasuke was rubbing Naruto's back as the blonde groaned in discomfort and Sakura was efficiently doing what was needed of her. Suigetsu was still filming and the tub was ready to be used whenever it was needed.
"Alright brat let's see how far you're dilated. Sakura hand me a pair of gloves and everyone else leave the room. Sasuke use this time to get changed into swimming trunks so that you can get in the water with Naruto when it's time. Naruto sit up a little and spread your legs for me."
"That's Sasuke's line, baa-chan," he joked.
"Now's not the time for you to bring up what I ask you to do when we're alone; focus on the baby," Sasuke scolded as his cheeks turned a barely noticeable shade of pink. He left despite his slight embarrassment to do what Tsunade had told him to while everyone else did what they were told as well. Tsunade put her gloves on, told Naruto to let out a steady breath and checked him.
"You're only two centimeters dilated so we'll let things run their natural course. It might be uncomfortable for you but try walking around and let gravity do the work for you so the baby drops. If Kurama says anything to you about how things will proceed then I need to be told immediately – you can't keep it to yourself and expect me to just follow you along with whatever is happening. Your pregnancy may be special but I'm the medical professional here," she advised.
"What if I want something to eat or drink?"
"I can't give you anything to eat but you can chew on ice if you feel the need for it. We don't want you throwing up or if worse comes to worse and I have to give you a cesarean section I don't want to deal with the mess."
"Tsunade-sama that sounds a little insensitive when you say it like that," Sakura muttered.
"She's blunt because she cares, Sakura you know that." Sai put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. He could tell that his wife was worried about her blonde teammate.
"Did anything happen while I was gone?" Sasuke asked hurriedly. He was wearing a pair of black and red trunks and Karin and Sakura both stared at how much of his body was being shown off.
"Stop staring at me and help my wife like you're both supposed to. Tsunade-sama is he okay?"
"I know you're excited and don't want to miss anything Uchiha but this isn't a ten minute, in and out sort of thing. This could take all day and might go well into the night."
"I'm not trying to rush it, I just want to know what's going on with Naruto. Are you okay baby? How is the pain?"
"There is no pain right now teme but I really don't like how the baby is moving. He's not happy that it's almost time to come out and he seems to be using my ribs to take out his frustration," Naruto grumbled. Sasuke kissed his forehead unable to really help his spouse through the birth.
Tsunade smiled at the picture the couple painted together and cleared her throat. "He's only two centimeters along Sasuke so try walking him around the house to at least make Naruto more comfortable. He can lay down until it's time for me to check him again and I'll be downstairs if you need me. Sakura come with me and let the two have some peace. Things will progress on their own but like I said Naruto – if ANYTHING happens you tell me."
Naruto gave a weary smile and groaned again as another chakra surge hit him. "Will do baa-chan, trust me. I have no clue how I'm doing right now so I'll probably need you a lot."
"You're doing fine…for a man anyway," she teased.
Naruto tried to stand up on his own but ended up needing Sasuke's help. The raven walked with the blonde around the upstairs of their house so that they were close to the bathtub but also so that they didn't have to travel the stairs. Naruto though could hear the rain coming down and he became a little restless as it continued. After an hour Sasuke finally asked the female Hokage if it would be safe to take Naruto outside and let him watch the storm coming. She said it was fine and they made their way through the bedroom and onto the balcony while maneuvering the IV pole and bag that was still attached to him with little problems.
Sasuke settled Naruto onto the chair on the balcony with his IV pole and blanket to cover him up as he made sure the surges of blue chakra subsided. Once Naruto was comfortable, Sasuke too decided to sit and watch the rain. Maybe their relationship would be blessed by a storm again. This one would signify the coming of the fruit of their love for each other. The Uchiha leader could imagine holding a new son close to his chest as the babe looked at him with eyes mirroring his mother's. Or maybe he would rock a tiny girl to sleep as he stroked her precious blonde hair as she breathed easy in rest. It was a picture that would be reality in only a matter of hours at this point and Sasuke couldn't wait.
Naruto yawned as he gazed at the swaying branches of the trees in the wind and smelled the fresh scent of rain washing over him as it had done whien he was a child. The little one in his belly shifted one more time as thunder could be heard in the distance. In the still light sky he could almost see lightning and he smiled in happiness. His odd pregnancy symptoms were dissipating at long last and his body relaxed as the rain fell heavier. Another surge of chakra came but the pain subsided quickly. He turned to his husband and held his hand. Though he was in his female form and only covered by a thin robe and blanket, he still felt Sasuke's love for him as his hand was gripped tightly back.
"It's too late to back out now, teme. Ready or not this baby's almost here and you're almost a father," he said.
"I'm ready for it. You're going to do great."
Three hours passed and the storm approached quickly. Four more chakra surges happened in that span of time when all of a sudden Naruto stiffened and Sasuke gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "Is it the big one? Are we having a baby?" Sasuke asked with a slight twinge of anticipation in his voice.
Naruto nodded and stuttered, "G-get me to…to the tub. N-no-now!"
The raven wasted no time. Swiftly but safely he carried the blonde to the bathroom where Tsunade was waiting. Now dressed in her hospital scrubs she aided Sasuke and Naruto into the water and made sure that they were both positioned correctly for the delivery. Sakura and Karin came in with Iruka hot on their heels but Naruto was in too much pain to really notice anybody but Sasuke. He let out a scream and his eyes flashed red as the biggest blast of chakra left his womb and reentered his chakra network. He could feel Sasuke's chakra from his womb pulsing, trying to expel the baby from his body and he knew that he didn't have a lot of time. Sasuke held his hand and held in a scream of his own as his love nearly crushed the appendage in the vice-like grip while Tsunade checked him again.
"Time to push; you're ten centimeters brat. Just a little longer and you'll be a mommy-daddy."
"Just tell me when to start," the younger man whimpered. Sasuke got behind him and wrapped his arms around his upper body and whispered, "Push dobe."
Naruto sucked in a deep breath and started to bear down with all his strength. Tsunade counted and kept watch between Naruto's legs as Sakura hovered beside her with towels at the ready. Ten count ended and Naruto took several deep breaths and whined once more. Sasuke waited for Tsunade's nod and told him to push again. The process was repeated several more time before Naruto turned to face Sasuke. He braced his legs in a straddling pose, crossed his arms across Sasuke's lap and bent his head down and forward before he continued pushing. An hour later, Tsunade could finally feel the head from Naruto's opening.
Sasuke bent over and craned his neck to try and see between Naruto's legs. He smiled and bent down to kiss the top of his love's head affectionately. "You're almost there love, just a little longer. One more big push and we'll see the first part of our baby. You can do it baby, just one more; don't give up."
"No, no, no, no…no more. I can't do this – it's too much. Sasu, it hurts and I'm so tired, please let me rest," the blonde begged.
"You can't quit now Naruto, now push," Tsunade urged. She understood that it was tough, especially since her brat's pregnancy had been so difficult, but he wouldn't regret everything he went through once it was over and his baby was in his arms.
"Listen to me Naruto; you're doing something everyone said was impossible for you. You're giving life and making a family that nobody can take away from you. One more push and we'll be holding the proof of their misguided jeers and thoughts and you can prove to them that you're really the miracle worker the world knows you are." Naruto gripped Sasuke's legs and groaned as his husband kept talking.
"I know you're tired, but your precious rain is here with you too. It's pouring outside, waiting, urging you to bring our baby into this world. Once they're here you can hold him or her in the rain Naru – all you have to do is push."
Naruto held his breath and began pushing again. He felt something shift and pop and could feel Tsunade pull and twist his baby's head. Naruto pushed again out of instinct and finally felt the pressure lift as the baby's shoulders and legs left him. Sasuke was breathless as the bathwater turned pink from the blood and his child was lifted from the water. Sakura dried it off and Tsunade cleared its nose and throat of any liquid. The infant cried and everything seemed to happen in slow motion for the new parents. Naruto collapsed in the water and turned towards the sound.
In Sakura's arms was a tiny pink being with thin reddish black hair similar to the way Sasuke's was. Tears came to Sasuke's eyes as he recognized his own cheeks and nose but saw it had inherited the shape of Naruto's eyes and mouth. Little arms flailed as the newborn sought out the warmth of its mother and it was handed to Naruto gently.
"It's a boy. Congratulations boys…you have a son."
A boy…a son. Warmth bloomed in both of their chests as their son quieted down and his eyes slipped open. Sasuke let out a happy, broken moan and cried as he caught a glimpse of dark blue eyes that he knew would lighten up over the next few weeks. He held thet baby's head close to Naruto's chest and he kissed his love in praise.
Sakura and Karin smiled as Iruka shed tears as well. "So what are you going to name him?" Karin asked quietly as she looked down at her new godson.
"Ashitaka. Ashitaka Uchiha," Naruto responded softly. Ashitaka made a small noise at his 'mother's' voice and Naruto brought him closer to his face. He planted a soft kiss on his baby's head before Tsunade took him again. She took him away to take his measurements and footprints as Sasuke got Naruto out of the tub and dried after he transformed back to his male form. He took the new 'mother' to the balcony again and waited for the blonde, former Hokage to return with their son. She came out with him wrapped in a swaddle but he was softly whimpering.
"He's healthy, fully developed, has a strong chakra that will develop into his own in a few months. Born on July seventh at nine thirty-two pm to Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha, Ashitaka is six pounds, ten ounces and seventeen and a half inches long. I'll be downstairs if you need me but take as much time as you want to be with him," she informed them softly with a motherly voice.
In a daze Sasuke nodded to her and she left. Naruto parted his robe and brought the baby to his nipple so he could eat. Ashitaka quickly attached his mouth to the nub and suckled eagerly.
"I thought you were going to be uncomfortable breast feeding?" the raven teasingly questioned.
"I can't help it…he's so beautiful. He's got your hair, teme," Naruto chuckled. Sasuke smirked. "And he has your eyes. He does have my black but the dark red must be from you," he answered curiously.
"From my mother actually; she had red hair that is a dead giveaway to the Uzumaki clan. It doesn't look like it will be an obvious red though, a lot like your blue."
"Either way he's here; the first of our Uzumaki-Uchiha children and the heir to our Uchiha clan. I never got to thank you before now," the raven said without looking away from his precious son. The light feeling spreading throughout his body made him feel so good and he couldn't help but smile widely.
"You don't have to – I wanted him just as much as you did and now he's here. We both have someone with our blood running through their veins now…we don't have to be the only ones of our families left now," Naruto said as tears streamed down his face in happiness. Sasuke couldn't agree more and they sat watching their first born eat and listen to the rain fall rhythmically. A few hours later Sasuke was rocking his son as he slept and Naruto was peacefully asleep in their bed after such an exhausting day.
They both knew that things wouldn't be easy from here on out but they also knew that more happiness would come to them. They would watch Ashitaka grow and change, and maybe in a couple of years more children would join their family. As Sasuke looked out the window into the night sky, now dark with rain clouds and the presence of the hidden moon, he couldn't help but say a quiet 'thank you' to the rain for bringing him and Naruto so much joy to their lives. It brought them their love, their happiness and now it had helped bring them a new life. Sasuke kissed his sleeping child and crossed the room to lie on the bed with his beloved. Once the baby was settled between them, safely tucked in his father's arms, Sasuke drifted off to sleep as well