Chapter 23 (Final Chapter)

I just want to say THANK YOU ALL for reading and supporting this story. Now, this may be a bittersweet ending for people. I was for me when I was writing this. After all, this story went through hell and a half to be made. Having to re-uploaded and stuff. Well, I'm glad it's finally at a decent ending.

For anyone wondering, no I will NOT make a sequel for this. My other stories need tending too soon enough and I wanna finish off those stories before summer of 2018.

I don't own Naruto, just OCs

Naruto's Baby Chapter 23 (Final Chapter)

Naruto and Hinata walked into the classroom. Sadoru smiled at the two parents and welcomed them to sit down. "Thank you both for coming in today," the sensei spoke politely, though she wished it was under better circumstance. Naruto closed the door behind him and they walked in, sitting in front of the teacher with the two open seats. "How has Ai been doing in class?" Hinata asked.

Sadoru's polite smiled turned into a worried frown, "I'm afraid you were here under better circumstances," she said and pulled out Ai's student file. "This year alone has been difficult for her. She Averages out in most of her subjects, but she's doing very poorly in teamwork." Sadoru said, "most of the student who have to work with her don't get along with her and while it affects their overall scores, the students get along with everyone else, just…"

Hinata and Naruto both hung their heads low. "I should have noticed Ai didn't have friends. She always came home from classes," Naruto spoke and then asked, "is there anyone who she gets along with her?"

"Zuko does still, but it's more of a civil kindness," she said. "I remember back when they were extremely close. It seems Ai has closed herself off from relationships, but," the sensei took a breather, "I'm not surprised."

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked.

"You see, Ai is…well, she's always being picked on," Sadoru said. Naruto gritted his teeth a bit, and visibly tensed up. "Why would they be picking on her?" Naruto asked. Sadoru didn't know the answer that exactly. It just suddenly happened as long as she could remember. "Ai used to be a happy girl," she commented. "I remember when she first came to my class and gave me that smile. I don't think anyone's seen that smile of hers in a long time."

Sadoru saw how depressed the parents got and said. She knew how hard it must be to hear that your own child was being bullied and disliked by the other students. "Hinata-san, am I to understand that you act as one of Senji's guardians as well?" She suddenly asked.

"Yes. I am when my father or sister cannot. Has he been getting picked on as well?" Hinata asked.

"No. He's the one who started the bullying," Sadoru said and also had Senji's file with her. "Senji used to be a good kid as well, but his behavior turned when…well, whenever Ai's bullying began," Sadoru said. "I've had to break a few fights between the two of them. They're like cats and dogs." Sadoru said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask this, but do Ai and Senji get along while at home?"

"Well, Senji lives with my father and my sister at the Hyuga Estate so they don't see each other much. Like Naruto said, Ai stays in her room all day," Hinata answered.

"Now hold on," Naruto stood up. "We were talking about Ai, not Senji. Senji can wait," Naruto said with a building anger. "My daughter has been bullied and you have done anything about it?"

"I assure you Uzumaki-san, we do not condone bullying but this is also an institution in which we encourage students to sort their own problems," Sadoru spoke. That didn't make Naruto happy, "my daughter is getting hurt. It's not training hurt but she's dealing with peers. People who she was told to never fight against! Are you telling me that my daughter can't even defend herself?" He asked.

"Naruto," Hinata whispered, knowing how much he was hurting. She looked at Sadoru, "we've tried getting Ai to open up to us. She refuses."

"I think Ai's doing more than ignoring people as well," Sadoru said as she revealed a box, opening it up. It was full of bloody gauzes and seeing it made Naruto and Hinata gasp. "Ai's been getting hurt and she has to hide this much?" Hinata asked in fear.

"No. When students tend to do this, it means they're usually harming themselves," Sadoru mentioned. "I found this in her locker. I guess she thought if she threw them away, some would find them and report her."

Naruto felt so angry, but he didn't know if it was at himself for being a bad dad, or at the kids who pushed his little girl to harm herself. She was eleven years old! She shouldn't even be thinking about that! It was so wrong. Was his baby suicidal?! "Where is she right now?" Naruto asked.

"It's lunch, which means she's probably with Iruka-sensei," Sadoru said.

"Why would she be with him?" Naruto asked with a fear in his voice.

"He talks to her and they get along. Naruto-san, I assure you, it's not bad. She's actually been doing better since talking with him. I noticed her mood has picked up a lot." Sadoru spoke. "He was your sensei when you were a student, right Naruto? Do you not trust him?"

Naruto's fists tighten. He was conflicted. He still respected Iruka and they were on better terms. Sure, he didn't spend a lot of time with him because of what happened, but that man was the closest thing to a father he had…and apparently he was beng a better father-figure to Ai then he was being. Naruto calmed down and asked, "we were told that our daughter failed the genin exams? Why?"

"Well, it was the mock exams," Sadoru pointed out, "but she didn't fail because she did poorly on the exams. In fact, if she hadn't been caught, she would have passed with flying colors," Sadoru mentioned. The two parents gave questionable expressions until Sadoru said, "she cheated."

"Cheated?! My daughter is no cheater!" Naruto exclaimed. Hinata couldn't agree more. "Are you sure this isn't some mistake? Ai's a good child."

"I'm afraid we monitor these exams vigilantly, even if it is a mock exam," she revealed a photo of Ai looking forward and writing at the same time. "She's lucky she didn't get expelled."

Naruto took a closer look at the photo and looked back at the teacher, "Sadoru-sensei, what is your classroom's policy of kekkei genkais?" He asked.

"What?" She looked at the photo. "That's considered cheating! Is a student is caught using their kekkei genkais during exams, they're in trouble."

"Ai didn't know she had one. I haven't explained it to her yet," Naruto mentioned. Sadoru looked surprised, "she has the Byakugan?"

"No…a different one," Naruto said with a grimace. "I need to have a talk with her about it. I doubt she even realized she had it…would you give her another exam and let her retake the mock-exam?" Naruto asked. Sadoru looked uneasy and then nodded, "yes. She and Senji will need to retake it."

"Senji? Was he cheating as well?" Hinata asked.

"No. He failed his," she said, "I'm afraid he didn't get a single answer correct."

Naruto crossed his arms, "serves him right for being mean to my daughter."

"Naruto!" Hinata reprimanded him. She then turned to Sadoru, "and how is Senji throughout class?"

Sadoru laughed a bit, "well, he's certainly the lady's man. Our female students fond of him greatly. I think he tells the girls to pick on Ai as well, which isn't good. I don't know why he despises Ai so much, but if this keeps up, I'll transfer him to another class…and if his grades do not improve, then he'll be held back a year."

Hinata nodded. "We'll be sure to talk to them. They're family now. They shouldn't hate each other like this."

"I agree with you Hinata," Sadoru nodded. "I think if Ai just got a bit more attention, she'll thrive. I understand that parents are often very busy but I think a little effort could go a long way."

Naruto nodded, along with Hinata. "Thank you for telling us this," Naruto said and the two exited the classroom. Naruto sighed and told Hinata, "I'll go grab Ai and we can pick up the babies from your sister. We can have dinner out tonight." He said and with a smile. Hinata nodded, "how about you two spend some time together before dinner? I have to talk to my father and take Senji home."

"Okay," Naruto nodded and went looking for Ai and Iruka.

Naruto walked around the academy and when he couldn't find Iruka in his office, he looked out the window. Outside, he saw Iruka and Ai. Ai was practicing jutsus because Naruto could see her failed attempts as the clone jutsu. Naruto smiled to himself. Yep. That was his side showing through her.

He walked down and watched for a moment as his daughter did another clone jutsu, but when she actually was getting a hang of it, she smiled and jumped up. "I did it! I did it!"

"Don't get too excited Ai. You're still behind your peers in this jutsu!" Iruka lightly scolded. Ai pouted a bit, but Iruka went over and patted her head, "you're doing better and that's a good thing. Keep it up!" Ai looked up and smiled at Iruka. Another thing she had was the Uzumaki grin. Naruto hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time.

"Iruka-sensei! Thank you for all of your help!" Ai said and hugged him. Iruka smiled sadly at her, "it wasn't a problem. I'm happy to help." Iruka wanted to embrace her like before when she was his daughter. When she was Umino Ai. However, that would only open old wounds. Iruka looked over and saw Naruto, watching them. Iruka looked away and said, "Ai, your father is here to pick you up."

Ai let go of Iruka and saw Naruto. Her smile vanished and she looked uneasy. Naruto smiled and walked over, "it's been a while, huh Iruka-sensei?"

"It has," Iruka nodded along, making polite conversation. "I was just working with your daughter on some basics." He said.

"Yeah, dad! He showed me how to control my chakra better and I can even do the clone jutsu finally!" Ai chimed. The girl had no idea of the conflict that was between the two adults. Naruto nodded a bit, "really? That's cool of him considering he's the principal after all," Naruto said. "Hey, why don't I show you some jutsus sometime? I can show you the shadow clone jutsu or anything you want to know about," Naruto winked playfully at her. Ai smiled, "really?! That would be great!"

Naruto smiled at his daughter, "great! Now come on, why don't you show me some of your moves?" Naruto suggested. There was suddenly a fit of laughter, but it wasn't from his Ai. Naruto looked over and saw a bunch of young female students and saw Senji with them, "Hey loser! Why don't you go to your real parents and stop mooching off the Hero of Konoha!" One girl shouted.

"Yeah! I bet he's just taking mercy on you!"

Ai's mood soured even more and she just stood there. Naruto looked at his depressed daughter and saw her grip on her wrist. He glared at the kids, but was ashamed of Senji. "Naruto-san! Why don't you adopt me! I'll be the perfect daughter unlike Ai!"

Naruto gritted his teeth and stood before his daughter, "you kids are awful!" He said. Ai looked up, her long bangs now covering most of her eyes. "How dare you pick on my daughter. You don't deserve her as your friend," Naruto said. Iruka tried to stop Naruto, taking note of the all of the kids who were taunting Ai. "Naruto! Why are you taking pity on her! She sucks!"

"Are you just taking pity on her because you have to?!"

"You deserve better Naruto-san!"

"SHUT UP!" Ai screamed loudly. Everyone looked at the girl and began laughing. "Aww! Did we upset you!?" The head mean-girl asked. "Get over yourself Ai!"

Before anyone could stop her or wanted her to, Ai punched her fists together and rushed in. She jumped up and threw a punch at the queen of mean herself, a girl named Sora. It didn't stop, as punched flashed left and right from Ai. All Sora could do was try to block her face, but that seemed to be where Ai was aiming for. Naruto was more surprised by the fact that Ai had completely gone off like that. Iruka was as well.

The kids surrounded them and while some girls tried to get Ai off their friend, she was fighting tooth-and-nail to stay latched onto Sora. Naruto went over in a moment and grabbed Ai. "It's okay Ai! It's okay!" He said as Ai was kicking and screaming as she was still in a blind rage. Naruto pinned her, putting her in a hold that would render her motionless and all she could do was cry out her emotions. Naruto sighed and turned Ai to face him, "it's okay Ai, calm down," he said but froze as he saw Ai's awaken sharingan with one tear drop in her eyes with tears flowing down her face.

Ai soon buried her head in Naruto's chest, continuing to cry. Naruto only wrapped his arms around his daughter, hushing her and rubbing her back softly. Sometimes all a parent can do is be there for their child.

And Naruto would always be there for Ai in one way or another.

"Am I really expelled?" Ai asked after. It had been a few days since she had defended herself and attacked Sora, and now it was just her and Naruto, sitting on a hill that overlooked Konoha. "No. Just suspended," Naruto assured. He had a long talk with Iruka and Sora's parents after they reported their daughter's injuries, though it was unnecessary since Ai had attacked her in front of the principal and other kids. Ai looked at Naruto, "I'm not sorry. She deserved that and much more."

Naruto looked at Ai and sighed, "you truly are your father's daughter."

"Are you referring to yourself?" Ai asked.

"No…your father Sasuke."

Ai's eyes widen and straighten up a bit. "I thought you said Orochimaru was lying about that…. you never wanted to talk about that. Why not?"

Naruto turned to his daughter, "sometimes when you love someone, you want to deny a bunch of things. Deny all the wrong things that is."

"Did you love him?" Ai asked.

Naruto sighed, "...he did some bad things, and even more bad things, all I wanted to do was save him from himself. I was too late in that regard. I couldn't save him from himself and I couldn't save myself from him." Naruto admitted.

"Why not?" Ai asked. Naruto gave her a somber expression with pain in his eyes, "because then you wouldn't have been born." Ai felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "He hurt you?" Naruto nodded. Ai looked at Naruto with empathic eyes. She still had the same onyx color of eyes but Naruto saw passed that. He only saw his baby from many years ago. Ai crawled closer to him, and laid her head in his lap, "papa…I'm sorry for everything."

"What? Ai, you have nothing to be sorry for," Naruto said.

"I'm sorry he hurt you," Ai said, "if I'm really his daughter as well, then I should be able to apologize on his behalf right? I'm sorry he hurt you." Naruto sighed sadly, but smiled, running his hand through Ai's brown locks, "I forgave him many years ago. You don't even bare his cross or mine for that matter. You should bare your own."

Ai looked at Naruto and smiled, "papa, can I meet him?"

Naruto shook his head, "sure, I think it's about time," he said, "I know he's in town, but we have to go to a place before we go see him."

Naruto walked with Ai from the Yamanaka's flower shop and headed to a hidden location. Ai and Naruto both carried a bundled of bell-shaped yellow flowers with them, and while Ai didn't know what they mean, Naruto did and that was all that seemed to matter. Hyacinths, the flower of forgiveness. Ai was holding Naruto's hand, his left hand as they walked to the place.

Not too far from Konoha's memorial graves, a man stood in a black cloak. He was knelt down in front of the headstone but stood up seamlessly when he saw Naruto and Ai. Guilty was in his visible eye. Naruto was the stronger one but he wouldn't admit that he was having some flashes of memory, seeing Sasuke like this. His bangs covered his left eye, his purple rinnegan eye.

Ai looked up when she saw Naruto stop. She let go of his hand and walked up to the man. "Hello…are you Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked down at the girl. An image of the baby he first seen many years ago flashed in his head. Strangely enough, his newest daughter with Sakura, Sarada, resembled Ai greatly. And he knew why now. He nodded, "I am."

Ai presented him the Hyacinths to him, "these are for you," she said. Sasuke knelt down and accepted the flowers, a soft expression on his face. "Thank y-" he was suddenly cut off when she slapped him across the face. She hurried back to Naruto, hiding behind his leg, "that's for hurting my papa jerk!"

Naruto was stunned but he laughed heartily at his daughter's actions. "Good girl," Naruto said and patted her head. Sasuke was just shocked for a moment. The slap didn't hurt, but he wasn't expecting a hit like that. He only smiled, "she really is your daughter dobe."

"You'd be surprised how much she actually takes after you teme," Naruto remained grinning. He walked closer and placed his bouquet of flowers on Itachi's grave. Ai was still clinging onto Naruto and glaring at Sasuke. Naruto sighed, sitting down, "ya know, she activated her sharingan…I'm thinking about asking Kakashi-sensei to train her in controlling it," Naruto admitted.

"I can really study under Uncle-Kakashi?!" Ai asked excitedly.

"If he says yes," Naruto said.

"Awesome!" Ai jumped up.

"With all four of us training her, Ai here will be the most powerful ninja in her generation," Naruto joked. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "four?"

"You, me, Kakashi, and Sakura has apparently been showing Ai some taijutsu by the punches she gave a student," Naruto laughed. Ai looked at him quizzically, "she hasn't been training." Naruto froze and asked, "so how did you get super strong like that?"

"Mama's been showing me some ways to control charka in my palms," Ai said. Naruto was surprised, "Hinata has?" Ai nodded. "Yeah, mama," she smiled.

"Since when did you call her mama? I thought I was mama." Naruto asked.

"Just now. I have a mama, a papa, and a father," Ai said as she thought about her family. Sasuke knelt down, "you also have another sister. Her name is Sarada," Sasuke said, "will you be a big sister to her?"

Ai shrugged, "I don't know, I already have a sister…and I'm attached to her," she said playfully, but she would watch out for Sarada if she was able too. Naruto laughed with Ai and Sasuke smiled with them. Ai then asked Sasuke, "so how long are you staying in Konoha?"

"Actually for a bit, so if you want, I can train you in some things, like the Uchiha's fire jutsus," Sasuke offered. Ai nodded, "yes! I would like that very much! I wanna learn as much as I can!" Ai proclaimed. Naruto laughed a bit more, hugging her, "don't you dare try to out beat me young lady! Enjoy your youth while you can!"

"When I go back to school, I bet those mean girls won't do anything to me anymore before I'll show them that I'm done being messed around. I am Uzumaki Ai! Gotta love me!" She proclaimed.

Ai eventually passed the Chunin Exam and is on the same team as her old friend, Zuko, to whom she apologized too. With treatments and medicine, Ai's depression has since become manageable.

Zuko forgave Ai and the two were nearly inseparable as siblings. He also got some training from his mom in both the healing arts and strength…however, he has taken his father's side and now summons toads. He was trained by Naruto in this regard.

Senji was severely punished when Hinata told Hirashi about his attitude toward her daughter. Senji has since apologized for his behavior…Ai has yet to forgive him.

Naruto eventually becomes Hokage about ten years later…but Ai didn't show up for his inauguration…she had something more important to do…

…give birth to her son, Uzumaki Ren.