Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!

Prologue

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya stared at the child sleeping in her arms, a tired yet warm smile on her face. Even though her body yearned for rest, she continued to watch the child sleep silently, relishing in the very sensation of carrying her child.

Her smile widened.

Her child.

Oh, she couldn't contain the joy that bubbled up inside her at those words. Each time she laid her eyes on him, her heart leapt with a pleasant tingle. It was so strange, so very strange that mere hours ago she had been wishing for him to not be conceived. Looking back, it was almost like seeing someone else put words and actions in her head.

She had requested privacy for the remainder of the night, allowing her subjects to retire and rest. She recalled the bright glints in their eyes as they left, no doubt excited by her son and itching to spread the news to others. Normally she would've made them swear to keep quiet, at least for a few days, but she no longer cared.

Her eyes were drawn to her son's form, just content to forever capture his sleeping visage. Even though they were closed, she could easily recall the stunning blue eyes that made her heart melt further. It had surprised her for a moment, since she had believed that most characteristics he would develop would be from her, but it didn't diminish her love for him.

Still, thoughts of that nature led to thoughts of her son's father, and such thoughts led her to sigh heavily. Honestly speaking, the fact that she had been blessed with a child shouldn't excuse the fact that Amos had essentially used her. The man had been a very charming person, able to set her heart thundering with a few words, and had managed to worm his way through her barriers and into her heart.

One night, one she remembered with a frustrating mix of regret, anger and longing, she had allowed herself to take their relationship to a more intimate level. It had been a fairly normal day, with her wasting time away in his presence, which eventually culminated in a night of passion. Even as a smoldering of anger and pain bubbled at the memory, she couldn't deny that Amos had driven her to entirely new plateaus of pleasure.

The following morning, she had woken to find him gone. She had searched frantically, scouring the lands with her all-seeing eyes…but Amos was nowhere to be found. That day, the heavens joined her as she wept.

As her heart throbbed painfully, she wrenched herself from the memories and firmly cradled her newborn. She refused to let those thoughts of Amos resurface again, placing a gentle kiss on the sleeping babe's brow.

So what if he had broken her heart? So what if he had seduced her, plundered her and left when he was satisfied? Amos was gone, and she couldn't give a damn about him. Not when she had a child to care for. Not when her son needed her.

Of course, that wasn't to say that she would let the bastard go without some form of payback. However, since she now had a son to take care of, she doubted that she'd be able to search him out.

However…she didn't want her son to grow up without experiencing a father's love. As she felt the weight of her son, her mind went to her father.

Ah well…she'd cross that bridge when she got there. Smiling happily, she closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of her child.

As she carried little Naruto around their new home, taking in the beautiful sights of the land, Kaguya felt like humming a tune for no particular reason. Sure, Naruto demanded quite a bit of attention that she may have underestimated, but taking care of her child was rapidly eclipsing her personal favorite thing to do and she wouldn't have it any other way.

A week had passed since she had given birth, and many of her subjects had noticed certain fundamental changes to her. The cold, blank face she usually had was slowly defrosting to reveal a warmth that took everyone by surprise. She was a bit more lenient as well, though that could be because she was keeping a close eye on Naruto most of the time.

Her son was a very energetic baby; he slept a lot, like most newborns, but whenever he was awake he would always move about and interact with his strange environment. Kaguya could clearly remember how nervous she had been as she literally hovered over him as he played with the huge number of stuffed animals and toys she had made for him. He

Now, wearing a plain sleeveless dress and walking barefoot, she carried Naruto about the little home she had constructed. It was a simple two-story building, made from the natural materials in the area and brought to life by her own power.

With her son being now the highest priority on her list, she had opted to relocate from the kingdom to a quiet place near the forest of the Shinju. Even with the peaceful times they lived in, she was adept enough at sensing emotions to pick out a number of…unhealthy thoughts some of her subjects were developing towards her son.

Honestly, it was as if they had all forgotten that she was the Rabbit Goddess. She wasn't sure if she should be amused or not at that.

Feeling his tiny hands grab her hair, she laughed to herself as she pried her hair from them before he got the idea to try munching on it. "Sorry Naruto," she giggled when he reached out for the shiny strange stuff, distracting him with her fingers, "but you can't eat Kaa-san's hair."

Her smile widened when her son immediately set about munching on her finger. He just looked so adorable trying to eat her finger, his toothless mouth trying to gnaw even though he clearly couldn't. Gathering a trickle of chakra, she breathed life into the image she held and materialized a baby pacifier from nothingness. Holding it out to her son, who immediately stopped trying to bite her as soon as he caught sight of her Ying-Yang Release, she dangled it teasingly before him. "Come on, Naru-chan. Why don't you try those gums of yours on this?"

Naruto apparently decided that the new thing in front of him was more interesting, and reached out for the pacifier. Sliding the tool into his mouth, Kaguya placed another kiss on Naruto's cheek. It was something she had found herself doing, giving him several kisses everyday with no particular reasoning. Kanna, one of her handmaidens, had said that it was natural for most new mothers and she could certainly see why.

Naruto gurgled in what she assumed to be happiness, suckling on the pacifier contently. A nearby butterfly caught his attention, and he swiveled his head about to keep it in his sight.

Kaguya chuckled.

"Listen to me!"

Kaguya scowled harshly, glaring down at Aphrodite. "For the last time, I refuse!"

The shouts had been echoing throughout the room for the past fifteen minutes, though Kaguya had made sure to move their 'discussion' to one of the empty rooms to avoid disturbing Naruto's long nap. To make certain, she had made sure to have one Zetsu stationed in her room to keep an eye on him.

Aphrodite took several steps forward, her beautiful features twisted into a scowl. "Kaguya, just listen to what I have to say! The Prophecy speaks of our son, and I-"

"My son. Not "ours"." Kaguya's words were positively frosty, her eyes glaring with hate.

"LISTEN TO ME!" Aphrodite refused to back down, glaring just as heatedly at Kaguya. "Even if you run, sooner or later Zeus will find you and he'll bring the might of Olympus to bear! Please, just let me help you!"

For a tense moment there was silence. The two women stared at one another, anger, doubt and worry evident in their eyes.

"…Get out."

Give him strength.

Give him power.

Give him wisdom.

Give him control.

Give him speed.

Give him skill.

I entrust everything to him.

My people,

My memories,

My love.

Protect him. Nurture him. Make him a man of legend.

I entrust him to you, Black Zetsu.

And finally,

My dear, sweet son,

Forgive me.

There won't be a next time…

A/N: No, I'm not done with my papers yet. I'll be done on 10th June, so you'll just have to wait.

The numerous time skips will be explained in due time, as will everything else.