The Newest Uzumaki

Shikamaru shifted in his seat, trying and failing to find a comfortable spot. It was futile. Almost seven months pregnant, his big belly was making it damned near impossible for him to sit anywhere without suffering shooting pain from his back. Not that standing made a difference since then his feet suffered.

He was one of the few ninja sitting and the only one under fifty. Tsunade had called a gathering of ninja and elders to discuss Akatsuki, the group of S-ranked missing nin that were targeting the jinjuriki and through them their villages. Now that Deidara, Sasori, and Kakuzu were dead, Leaf was hoping to take out the remaining members in short order.

All the members of the Rookie Nine, but Narutos' team, Genma Shiranui, Shibi Abarame, Chozo Akimichi, Inoishi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuuga, and his father were some of the people he recognized. Kakashi's team was out on a B-rank mission.

Gods, he couldn't wait until this kid was out. Everyday was such a troublesome affair, he barely made it out of bed. Even sleeping was had to do with the big brat in his belly. He wouldn't even be here if the topic weren't so damned important. The sooner they killed the Akatsuki, the fewer missions Naruto would be on, and more importantly, the less danger his blond would be in.

"Shikamaru, are you okay?"

He turned slightly and regarded his jounin team leader. Frown on his face, Asuma watched him with naked fear. He'd been doing that a lot lately. Apparently, the elite jounin wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea of pregnancy. Shikamaru didn't take it personally. He knew Asuma was just wasn't very comfortable with kids. Their team was one of the few that never took any of the D-rank babysitting jobs. "I'm fine."

Asuma didn't look convinced.

"Really, I'm fine. Just tired," he lied.

Asuma nodded once in understanding before turning back to the discussion.

"I think we should focus on the two members that we are most knowledgeable about," Hiashi said.

"What do you mean by that?" Chozo asked.

"Troublesome. Itachi and Orochimaru," his father supplied.

Tsunade leaned forward and clasped her hands together. "I suppose that makes sense. We would be correcting our mistakes. All three of them."

A collective gasp swept through the group.

"I was under the impression we were attempting to bring young Sasuke back into the fold," Abarame murmured.

Tsunade snorted. "I've never been a fan of that idea, and it's been three years. Plenty of time for the boy to come to his senses. No, he's not a member of Leaf any more and the longer we wait, the more damage he can do to our reputation."

"But –" Ino started.

"Troublesome. If the boy attacks another village under Orochimaru's orders, we will look like instigators. We will be partially to blame," his father cut in.

"He's the last Uchiha!" someone yelled.

It was like a kunai was dropped. All the jounin started arguing with each other and the elders and Hokage. Shikamaru had never seen such disorder among grown shinobi before. He shot Choji a glance and the bigger brunet just shrugged his shoulders. Shikamaru slumped in his seat, trying to see if that would ease the pressure on his back a little and then gasped as shooting pain pulsed through his abdomen.

"Shikamaru?"

He started to waive off his sensei when the pain escalated. He drew in and a deep breathe and then released it through clenched teeth.

"I'm fine," he murmured as he sat up. The pain had been blinding but it was gone. He figured he'd just moved wrong or the brat had kicked extra hard. He'd been doing that a lot lately. No doubt this child was an Uzumaki.

"Shikamaru," Choji called.

"I'm fine. Really." He attempted to get out of his seat, an epic feat. Sure hands helped him up and he smiled at his best friend. "Just needed to stand."

Concern clear in his gaze, Choji said, "Shikamaru, you don't look so good."

"Troublesome," he muttered a moment before he couldn't hear the jounin arguing. He turned to find the room watching him. "I'm fi…" He couldn't finish the word as blinding, sharp pain sent him straight to his knees. He would have hit the floor if not for Choji.

"Shizune!" Madame Hokage yelled.

Then he was swept into strong arms and lifted. It took him a moment to realize the Hokage was carrying him like a baby. If he weren't in so much pain, he'd die of embarrassment.

He opened his eyes when he felt himself being placed on a mattress. They were in the clinical room Madame Hokage kept on the same floor of her office. He shook his head. "No. It's too soon."

And it was. Shikamaru wasn't due for another three weeks. Twenty-one days his baby needed to get bigger and stronger.

"Well, the brat disagrees. Strongly."

He shook his head. "Naruto. He's not here. Madame Tsunade. He needs to be here."

A cool hand swept over his forehead. "I know you want him here, kid, but you're in labor. Your child will come when he's ready and not a moment later." Then she stood back and her fingers flipped through the signs for a jutsu. A moment later Shikamaru felt the steady calm of a medical technique over his belly.

"You're in labor, but the baby hasn't moved down."

He opened his eyes. "It's not time yet. He has time." Shikamaru didn't care how much it hurt, he was going to keep his baby inside him as long as possible. Naruto needed to be there for this. He couldn't birth to their son without Naruto.

The blond had lost too much as it was.

He refused to allow this to be another family memory Naruto didn't have. He'd give anything, suffer any pain, to make sure that Naruto was there to see his first child being born. The idiot was supposed to be home three days ago from their mission, but the targets had traveled further than expected and they'd had to hunt down the group. Even with the change in mission, Team Kakashi should have been home yesterday.

Shikamaru hadn't worried because once Naruto returned from this mission, he was going to be off the rooster for four months, long enough for him to give birth and for them to get accustomed to the baby. Then Shikamaru would stay home with the kid while Naruto a couple short missions each month.

They had a plan worked out and it was only possible because of the blond's connection with the Hokage. Another shinobi wouldn't have been so lucky but Naruto had given everything to the village and he'd earned some favors.

"Sure, kid. He's a few days late so he could arrive any moment now," she said kindly.

Shikamaru knew she was just placating him, but he needed it.

'We're giving you something for the pain."

Shikamaru barely heard Shizune's words too focused on the agony emanating from his torso. Thankfully, it didn't take long for the pain medication to work.

He wasn't sure how long he lay there, but strongly suspected it was hours. Every so often Madame Tsunade or Shizune would enter and check his status. It seemed his kid was taking his time to make it south. Figured.

"Here, Shikamaru," his mother offered.

He lifted his head and accepted the ice chips she held out. They eased his parch tongue but didn't really quench his thirst.

"Uh, this is so troublesome."

"Only you, Shikamaru," his mother said with a watery chuckle. "You're going to be a parent. I'm going to be a grandmother soon."

"That's if that idiot gets here any time soon," he grumbled.

"We're not waiting for him, you fool," Lady Tsunade yelled as she strode into the room. Shizune followed behind her. She swept her hands over his belly and between his legs. He felt her telltale medical chakra. "It's time. Shizune."

"I'm ready, Lady Tsunade."

"No. No. No," he cried.

Gaze tight, she snarled, "Don't make me knock you out, brat."

He turned his head to the side and tears leaked from his eyes.

His mother's tender fingers ran through his hair. "It'll be alright, baby. I'm sure he'll be here soon, but we can't jeopardize you. Or your child."

He nodded once and Tsunade clucked her tongue. Shizune placed a sheet over his stomach and held up one end while his mother held the other. Then he felt a slight pinch and then the weirdest feeling of being cut but not feeling like he was being taken apart.

"I'm here. I'm here," a familiar voice yelled. Shikamaru's head snapped to the front of the hospital room. Naruto and his master stood in the doorway. The blond looked like hell. His outfit was torn and had several scorch marks. There were several dried splatters of blood that he hoped weren't his and worst of all the blond was leaning against the elder ninja.

Naruto sent Shikamaru a sweet smile. "Sorry, I'm late."

"Hurry up," his mother whispered harshly and then more politely, "Good afternoon Lord Jirayai."

Shikamaru almost wept with joy when Naruto finally arrived.

"Sorry. Sorry," the blond exclaimed and slipped past his mother to stand beside Shikamaru. He took his hand and intertwined their fingers.

"You look like hell," Shikamaru couldn't help saying.

Naruto laughed. "Should have seen me earlier. The furball came in hand during this mission, but we'll talk about that later. I'm so glad I didn't miss it."

"Here we go," Tsunade said and then he felt the uncomfortable sensation of hands inside his body for several uncomfortable minutes. Then the weight of the baby was gone. "It's a boy," she called right before the baby starting wailing at the top of his lungs.

"That's certainly an Uzumaki," his mother muttered. "We barely got you to cry. Had to smack your ass just to make sure you could cry."

Chuckling, Tsunade said, "Daddy would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"

Naruto nodded jerkily and stepped forward, only to realize he couldn't go too far while still holding Shikamaru's hand.

Reluctantly, Shikamaru released him and sent him a smile. "Go."

From where he sat, Shikamaru could easily watch Naruto's grinning face as the blond cut the cord and then the way his face brightened even further when he was handed his son. "He's beautiful," the blond whispered. Slowly, he carried the baby over to Shikamaru and placed him in his arms.

Shikamaru looked down at the red faced, squalling blond baby boy and wondered how Naruto could think the child was beautiful. Then again he'd never considered the blond a genius. But as he looked down at the child he'd created with his fiancée, he realized Naruto was right. Their kid was gorgeous even red faced and screaming at the top of his lungs. "He's gorgeous."

They sat together in silence, just taking in the small person they'd created. He glanced at Naruto. Silent tears ran down the blond's cheeks. "Naru?" he whispered.

The blond shook his head. "He's just so…" He brushed a gentle finger down one baby-soft cheek. "Perfect."

At his touch the baby turned his head and lifted his lashes. Dark eyes met his own. Their child had Naruto's hair and his eyes. A perfect combination. Shikamaru grinned. "Hi there."

"I think he's hungry."

Shizune handed Naruto a bottle and the blond looked at it in fear for a moment before holding it up to Shikamaru.

"We practiced this. Remember?"

Since finding out he was pregnant, Shikamaru had made it a point to drag the blond with him when he babysat some of his clan's younger members. The youngest had been a two-month-old infant so they weren't totally inexperienced.

"But…"

"You can do this," he murmured as he held up their son.

"Right." Naruto accepted the child and placed the nipple near his mouth. Nature took over and soon the child was suckling from the teat.

"Have you decided on a name?" Lady Tsunade gently asked.

Shikamaru turned to find the Hokage, Shizune, his parents, and Jirayai waiting for an answer. He glanced at Naruto.

Naruto looked back. "I'm fine with all of them"

Shikamaru glanced down at the baby Naruto held. "Kaimu. His name is Kaimu Uzumaki."

"Ocean dream. That's beautiful," his mother whispered as tears fall down her cheeks.

Naruto leaned forward and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. "Thank you. For everything. For loving me. For Kaimu. Just thank you."

Today you got a double post! Today it's Election Day in the US so I had the day off. (Yes, I did vote! I always do, have since I turned eighteen).

So, what do you think of the youngest Uzumaki's name? I love it myself. It ties into his conception - dream - and his heritage - Uzumaki and Whirlpool.

To all my readers - thank you so very much for taking time out of your day to read my story. This is the last chapter/scene of The Breeding Edict. Don't ask for a sequel. I won't be returning to this world/storyline. I want to finish up the stories I've started, including many not posted.

Warmth of a Cold Touch is next on my list. I started this process-routine where once I start a story I'm going to continue working on it every day until it's finished, even if it's only five minutes a day. Hopefully, this will actually become a daily routine, so I'll finish my projects - original and fan fiction - sooner.