Warnings: Angst, possible OOC, language, violence, minor character death, angst

Disclaimer: Anything remotely recognizable probably doesn't belong to me~

NOTE: It's been pointed out that when it comes to who Naoyuki and Itaru are referring to it can get confusing. So I hope this clarifies things a little better.

Naoyuki: Father = Sasuke Dad = Naruto
Itaru: Dad = Sasuke Daddy = Naruto

Epilogue

Naruto sat at his desk in the Hokage tower much like he normally did. There was very little to do outside the ever mounting paperwork that the entire department seemed to love landing him with. After about five years of doing the same damn thing day in and out, it was mind numbingly boring. It definitely wasn't about the glory anymore, he had changed from that 12 year old, and that was fine. He didn't really like his 12 year old self any more than anyone he knew. They were in a time of peace, and there was much that Naruto did to keep it that way. There were hiccups every now and then from independent organizations, but they were few and far between.

There were small things that kept it interesting outside of the times he actually got out of his office to do more than negotiate. For instance, the shadow hiding in the corner was rather interesting. A small smirk formed on his face. "I can hear you breathing," Naruto murmured. It wasn't often that he was alone in his room, just because he had sent Konohamaru on top secret official ramen gathering duties, didn't mean he ever got a moment of peace. This was one of the disruptions he loved though.

"I've been here for a long time," came a quiet voice as Itaru stepped out from behind one of the book cases and ran to the edge of the desk. Naruto knew he had been there for about 10 minutes.

"Your brother teaching you how to keep hidden?" Naruto asked as he looked over his scheduling and the input for new missions.

"No, I sneak into his room for practice. He doesn't like it," he said as he slowly inched around the table until he was standing right beside Naruto. "What is that?"

"Those are the missions Daddy has to hand out to people," Naruto said as he reached to brush his fingers through the blonde locks on the child's head.

"Ooooh…" he said as he leaned against the table, calm as he ever was. Naruto imagined it had something to do with the fact that Naruto spent all day in the Hokage tower while Sasuke took care of most of the home life.

"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked with a grin as Itaru patiently observed everything on the desk before he reached for one of the drawers.

"They're fight'n," He mumbled, "They're loud so I came here," His head tipped.

Naruto frowned, Naoyuki and Sasuke seemed to be getting into more and more fights since Naoyuki had become a genin. "What about?"

"Runn'n away," Itaru shrugged. "I don't get it, why they always gotta fight. It's like they're kids…"

"Did Naoyuki go somewhere?" Naruto asked concerned, unsure of whether he should leave to see what was up.

"Nu-uh," he shook his head. "That's Papa," Naoyuki said, pointing at Kakashi's name on one of the documents.

"Yeah, he just got home," Naruto said before he turned in his chair to face the boy. "Tell me, what were they saying?"

Itaru turned his soft blue eyes up to him, they were wide, but still disinterested. "This man," His hands made a gesture that the man was tall, "called dad a tat'r."

"A…tater…Do you mean Traitor?"

"Oooooh, that makes more sense," He frowned before he reached into the drawer and Naruto had to guide his hand out of it before he reached anything sharp.

"You said they were yelling?"

"Mhmm," Itaru said before he looked to the door and sank down onto the ground.

"They gave you an extra bowl," Konohamaru said as he walked in the door. Naruto looked down at Itaru who was crouching low with his finger pressed against his lips telling Naruto to be quiet.

"That's…good," Naruto said with a frown. It wasn't uncommon behaviour, Itaru had always been a little shy outside of their house.

"Something wrong, boss?" Konohamaru asked, he had a hard time breaking the younger man out of the nickname.

"Just thinking about my boys," Naruto said with a frown and Konohamaru's eyes showed realization.

"Here's your lunch," The other man said with a grin as he set it down. "I'll push back the briefing a bit to give you time to eat," he said before he backed out of the room and Naruto nodded in thanks.

"He's gone," Naruto said as he looked under the desk, but Itaru wasn't there anymore. The boy popped up on the other side of the desk and Naruto wasn't sure when he had managed to get there.

"You got ramen?" His head was tipped so that his long blonde hair was falling to the side. His hair was straight, just like Sasuke's and was thick like his, but tamer than both.

"Y'hmm, it's Miso, do you want some?" Sasuke would kill him, but he didn't have to face his wrath for half the day still. "Come sit with me," Naruto tipped his head and Itaru disappeared again.

"'kay," he crawled underneath the desk to get to him, honestly, Naruto had no idea there was enough room to do that. Itaru was seated on his knee in no time and Naruto began the process of feeding them both, since there was only one set of utensils.

"You know you're not supposed to run out without telling your dad, right?" Naruto asked as he picked up a slice of egg and Itaru promptly pointed at himself, wanting the last one.

"They were too busy yell'n at each other," Itaru said as he gladly took the last bite of egg before leaning back against Naruto's torso with a sigh and a hand over his stomach.

"That's still wrong though," Naruto said looking down at the boy.

"My big brother Yuki does bad things too. He yells at dad aaaall the time," He said.

"And I'll talk to him about it, but it's still wrong," Naruto tried again.

"But I wanna see you…"

"I'll be home for dinner, promise," he said as he pressed a kiss into the boy's hair. "Need me to fix your hair again, baby boy?"

"I'm not a baby," Itaru rolled his eyes before he turned and held up the hair tie.

"Okay," Naruto said with a smile as he began to gather the boy's hair up until he could tie it back. Aside from his hair, the boy didn't really look a thing like Itachi. Not even in the childhood pictures he had seen of him, which weren't very numerous. No, the boy's features looked remarkably like Sasuke other than his lips and the colour of his hair and eyes. "Do you think we should cut it soon?"

Itaru gasped and he reached back to clutch at his hair, "No!" said and Naruto let out a laugh.

"Okay, okay, we'll keep it," He said before he heard a noise outside the window. "Come to pick up your brother?"

"Yeah," Naoyuki said as he climbed through the window. "You heard me, huh?"

Naruto grinned, "You'll get there," Naruto said as he let Itaru slip down to the floor again.

"You're in trouble," Itaru said, looking up at Naoyuki.

"Yeah?" The boy frowned as he crouched to meet his brother at the same eyelevel. "Who says you aren't in trouble?"

"Dad bought me lunch!" Itaru said with a big smile on his face before he began to climb on Naoyuki.

"Ramen isn't much of a lunch…" Naoyuki said, giving Naruto a few cautionary glances.

"It was so good. Hey, Yuki? You think maybe we can go swimm'n?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," Naruto was looking down at his paperwork as he began to plan who he needed in the village, and who was to go out. He knew exactly what Naoyuki was doing. "I was going to go out to eat with the team…"

"Does that team include Shikamaru?" Naruto asked quietly. Shikamaru had been chosen for Naoyuki and his two other teammates by those in the academy. It was ironic, but five or so years in the aftermath of Sasuke's return, they had all made peace with one another, and Naruto was convinced there was no other person more prefect. Shikamaru could reason with Naoyuki when Naruto and Sasuke's words didn't reach him.

"Yeah, it does," Naoyuki said as he shifted his brother on his back. Itaru was just resting his head on Naoyuki's shoulder.

"You're lying," Itaru said with a frown. "I can tell," he mumbled.

Naruto smirked quietly as he scribbled something down, "Before you ask, yes, you are in trouble. Take your brother swimming, and we'll talk when I get home," Naruto said. "Make sure your dad knows you have your brother," Naruto said just as Naoyuki was opening the door to leave.

"…Okay," He said with a heavy sigh and Naoyuki began to babble in his ear.

Naruto shook his head. Naoyuki was still a good boy for the most part, he behaved, but he was testing their boundaries more and more lately. Sasuke's limits were very small.

"Are you ready for the briefing, boss?" Konohamaru said as he stepped in.

Naruto let out a breath and he nodded, "More or less."

"Everything alright?"

"Brats, that's about it," Naruto said with a grin as he sat back and waited for the rest of his boring day to be over.

"Daddy!" Itaru came running around the corner just as Naruto stepped in the door. He sighed softly as the boy barrelled into him, much like Naoyuki used to do. Naoyuki was still enthusiastic, but it was rarer, and sometimes in a different way.

"Hey there kiddo," Naruto said, his fingers brushing through Itaru's thick blonde hair. "I'm home!" he called out, and heard a brief echo of 'welcome home' by a voice that was becoming harder to distinguish from Sasuke's.

"Yuki's going to be mak'n dinner," He said with a smile, the boy was clearly far more at ease when in the comfort of their home than he was when he was out in public.

"What's he going to make?"

"He won't tell me," Itaru frowned, "Dad says something like fish though," Itaru hummed as he tipped his head.

Naruto knelt down after he took his shoes off, "How are they?" Naruto asked.

"Mn, Well, they're being really quiet," Itaru said as he walked back in the house. Naruto walked around the corner to find Naoyuki tidying up the living area.

"Where's your dad?"

"Don't know," Naoyuki said in a way that stated he didn't care. Naruto frowned and he looked into the kitchen as if he'd find the other man.

"He's lying…Dad said he's gunna bring home some food," Itaru said.

Naoyuki let out a breath, "I guess I didn't hear him, brat," there was a smile on the older boy's face this time.

"Is your room clean?" Naruto asked Itaru and the boy took a moment to think about it before he quietly shook his head, his dreamy eyes unfocused. "Better get to it," He said urging Itaru off to the bedroom to tidy his room.

"'Kay," The boy said as he headed towards the room, not running like Naoyuki might have at that age.

"Hands off the wall," Naruto griped and Itaru let the hand he was running along the wall fall to his side and begin swinging.

"What?" Naoyuki asked quietly. His height was much more like Sasuke's at that age. He supposed it didn't matter too much, since they were both the same height.

"You need to stop fighting in front of your brother," Naruto said.

"He's a smart kid, I doubt it matters," Naoyuki huffed.

"He doesn't come running to my office because he likes it Naoyuki," Naruto said and the boy looked at him.

"I'm home," Came a quiet voice from the front. Naoyuki looked like he might have said something, but he had ducked into the kitchen as soon as Sasuke spoke.

"Welcome home," Naruto called over his shoulder. He took the bag from Sasuke and leaned forward to place a peck on his lips with a grin before they moved into simple chatter.

-::0::-

"So, you're fighting with your father?" Naruto said as he began to absent mindedly set up a tea pot and clean the dishes as Naoyuki wiped the table tops after they had dinner.

"We fight all the time," He shrugged.

"Why is that?"

"Because he's a jerk."

"Watch your mouth," Naruto said with a frown.

"You say it all the time," Naoyuki whined.

"I never mean it the way you do. Now, watch your mouth," Naruto huffed.

Naoyuki rolled his eyes and he let out a heavy sigh. "He's being difficult, like he doesn't want me to know him," he shrugged.

"He's very honest with you," Naruto said, knowing that for sure.

"Like he doesn't want me to know who he was," he clarified.

Naruto sighed in realization and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Naoyuki…I know you have a lot of questions, but you have to respect his boundaries. He doesn't even willingly talk about that sort of thing with me," Naruto knew that when Sasuke felt threatened, he tended to become volatile. In the past five years, he had become increasingly better and regarded his past without it weighing him down, but there was only so much Naruto could expect from him.

"But you grew up with him, so you already knew," he mumbled.

"You might be ready to talk about this Naoyuki, but your father isn't, and you have to respect that," Naruto said and the boy sighed.

"Figures you'd take his side," Naoyuki mumbled.

"When your teammates ask you why you don't sleep sometimes on extended missions, what do you tell them?" Naruto asked.

"I…" Naoyuki trailed off.

"I'm ready for bed Daddy!" Itaru walked inside the kitchen before he leaned against Naoyuki's leg with a genuine smile on his face.

"Time for a story?" Naruto asked with a grin.

"I want Yuki to read to me!" Itaru said.

"I don't really have time—"

Naruto reached forward and with a hand on Naoyuki's chin, he gently urged the boy to look at him. "There's always time for your brother," Naruto said firmly.

Naoyuki looked at Naruto, his eyes wide. It was how Naoyuki demanded to be raised. If Naruto was having trouble, it all came second to Naoyuki. No matter what the problem was, Naruto had always left himself completely available, and he expected nothing less for Itaru. "R-right…" Naoyuki said in recognition.

"Go get ready, your brother will be there in a moment," Naruto said with a smile as he ruffled the boy's long, unbound hair.

"'Kay!" Itaru said as he disappeared around the corner.

Naruto looked at Naoyuki for a moment and wondered briefly what had happened to him. "Here," Naruto said as he poured a small cup of tea and handed it over. "It'll be cooled down enough by the time you're done with your brother," Naruto smiled before he leaned down and pressed his lips to Naoyuki's forehead.

Naoyuki bit his inner lip and he nodded, "Night dad…" his voice was small, and Naruto figured he would need the gentle blend of tea to help him fall asleep tonight.

Naruto smiled and he nodded as Naoyuki made his way down the hallway. Sasuke was standing in the living room with Itaru in his arms. The blonde was clinging to Sasuke like a lifeline before he squirmed away and took off toward the bedroom. It was a good night hug, like normal. Then, there was a silent exchange between Naoyuki and Sasuke. A simple hand on the boy's shoulder before Naoyuki prepared both himself and his brother for bed. "That was sweet," Naruto murmured as he headed for the couch and Sasuke looked at him with half lidded eyes.

"Hn," The man said as he moved to grab a book before sitting beside him.

"How you holding up?" Naruto asked and Sasuke didn't even look up from his book.

"I don't know what you're talking about," He said calmly, like they hadn't had this same conversation applied to a thousand other situations.

"You're going to have to tell him sometime," Naruto said quietly.

"Not today," Sasuke muttered.

"You know…he's not going to look at you any different for it," Naruto said quietly. "He loves you."

Sasuke placed his thumb where he had stopped reading and looked at Naruto for a long moment. "There's more to his questions than he's letting on, I can feel it," Sasuke said.

"Yeah…I'm not sure what's up either," Naruto confessed, noticing the change in the boy.

"I'm not going to give him tips on how to leave," Sasuke muttered.

"If he was thinking of leaving, Sasuke, he would have tried by now," Naruto said. Naoyuki was very predictable in that way. The arguments with Sasuke had been going on long enough that they could most likely rule that issue out.

"I don't like it," Sasuke said as he began reading.

"Yeah…Sometimes I forget how young he really is…then he pulls attitude like he did today," Naruto didn't like it either. He leaned back on the couch and his eyes for a long while, just relaxing before a grin spread across his face.

"Don't," Sasuke muttered.

"I didn't do anything…" Naruto frowned.

"You're thinking about it," He muttered as he thumbed through whatever book he was on now.

"Che, yeah, right," He muttered before he leaned over. He pressed his lips against the side of Sasuke's neck gently before he blew into the skin, letting out a high pitched noise against the pale column that sounded through the house.

"Get off!" Sasuke said throwing his arm up, the book dropping down to the floor and was forgotten quickly as Naruto laughed. "You're such a child, sometimes I forget how old you are."

"Aw, I'm younger than you," He said, though he never quite felt like the 29 that he was.

"Hn."

"You looked so serious Sasuke," He said with a grin as he rested a good deal of weight on Sasuke's side, nipping at his neck very gently.

"You interrupted my reading, "Sasuke said, but he could hear the hesitation in his voice.

"Good thing…you can try again tomorrow," Naruto murmured as he continued to tease at Sasuke's neck before gently prodding at his sides. The reaction he got was just what he expected, a firm hand to his face until he was pushed onto his back.

"Cut it out," Sasuke rarely lost that seriousness in his voice, but Naruto could hear the lightheartedness in it. He had found out years ago how ticklish Sasuke really was.

"Can't help it, you're adorable," Naruto said as laughter built up in his throat. The gentle rumble was disrupted when Sasuke began to tickle at his sides and he let out an awkward squawking noise before he began to squirm. "Stoooop!" He whined between laughter as they began to stretch out on the couch as Naruto tried to get away.

"Can't help it," Sasuke said, a smirk on his face.

"I don't care what you guys are doing, but you need to stop!" Naoyuki yelled down the hall.

"Loudmouth, you're waking the children," Sasuke said, his hand moving over Naruto's mouth as the blonde continued to squirm, reaching his hands to try and stop Sasuke.

"What are they doing?" Itaru's voice was harder to hear over the struggle.

"Being dumb…" it was the last he heard of them before Sasuke's hands got the better of him.

"I yield!" Naruto said as he pushed at Sasuke's hands, a stupid grin on his face when Sasuke actually stilled.

"Suggesting you were ever in control to begin with," Sasuke said as he simply rested his weight down until they were both sprawled on the couch, Sasuke's head firmly rested on Naruto's rib cage.

"Che, not my fault I'm more ticklish," Naruto muttered as he caught his breath before he heard a mumbled good night from Itaru's room before Naoyuki began to get ready for bed.

"Certainly works to my advantage," Sasuke mumbled.

"Rude," Naruto mumbled as he rested one arm across his forehead and his free hand moved to run through Sasuke's hair gently.

"Mmmnn…" Sasuke trailed off as Naruto repeated the soothing movement in time with their breathing.

"He'll come around," Naruto murmured softly.

"Hn…" Sasuke didn't leave arguments, nor did he walk away when upset any longer. Instead, he attempted to lock himself away in his books, Naruto wasn't about to let that happen.

"He's just gotta figure out who he is…" Naruto said.

Sasuke's eyes remained closed, and Naruto was sure he was just going to ignore him until he spoke several minutes later. "So long as he finds himself here," Sasuke said. The man was terrified, Naoyuki was near that age where things went wrong. Where emotions got the better of the Uchiha, and Sasuke was terrified it would ruin them right when they had figured things out.

"They'll be fine," He murmured softly. Naoyuki was still that soft hearted child at heart. Whatever things weathered his spirit through his life, Naruto was sure it wouldn't break him.

Sasuke was quiet after that. They just lay there relaxed as they allowed themselves to think of something other than their problems, and fell asleep.

-::0::-

"They're asleep on the couch Yuki," Itaru said as he walked around the corner into the living room. His hair was in disarray from a full night sleep.

"Che, figures," Naoyuki muttered. He had woken when the sun hit his bed, which usually meant he had an hour before people started moving around. When he had gotten dressed he knocked over one of his books and woke his little brother. He stared at his parents on the couch, sprawled over one another.

"Dad's Snor'n," Itaru said and he felt his brother's hand grip into his clothing.

"He never gets to sleep this long," Naoyuki said quietly with a sigh as he moved toward the kitchen. "Want something to eat, brat?"

"Pancakes?" Itaru said as he followed Naoyuki inside and climbed up on one of the stools to look up onto the counter.

"Always pancakes," Naoyuki mumbled.

"Yeah, you make them better than Dad does," He said as he leaned over until one of his pudgy cheeks rested on the table, his large deep blue eyes staring up at Naoyuki.

"That's because he doesn't want to learn," Naoyuki mumbled, remembering how Sasuke had made a mess in the kitchen that day and vowed never to make them again.

"You gotta do missions today?" Itaru asked.

"Small ones, dad still won't give us anything big," Naoyuki muttered. If he could just get out of Konoha, even for a little bit, then he wouldn't have to put up with the chaos that went on while Dad was off being responsible.

"I'd give you a good mission, Yuki," Itaru said with a smile before he sat up and began asking to help.

"Thanks brat," trying not to outwardly cringe at the nickname his little brother had given him. "Go wake our parents up, dad's gotta get ready anyway," he said nodding toward the living area.

"'kay," Itaru said as he crawled off the chair and his heavy footsteps trailed over to the couch. "Dad, daddy! Sun's up!" He said and there were collective groans in the other room.

"I feel like I've been practicing the Rasengan for an entire week," of course his dad would start the day off complaining. "Sasuke, you're heavy!"

"Quit whining," it was obviously their father.

The moment that his father had dressed he walked into the kitchen were Naoyuki was just finishing up making breakfast for everyone. All they did was stare at one another , completely quiet just like his father always had been so long as his dad wasn't around. They didn't say anything, he just grabbed the plates and began to help plate everything for everyone after a brief nod.

-::0::-

"We're done for the day," Shikamaru said as he witnessed his team finish clearing off the trash they had been assigned to. If there was one thing he was grateful for, it was that he wasn't obligated to help and he was able to stay within the walls. "We'll reconvene tomorrow at noon for training exercises," he instructed. Another great thing about being the one in charge was that he got to decide that he was going to sleep in. A lot of people mentioned how he would have excelled at becoming Hokage, but the fact of the matter was that he had very little motivation.

"You think we'll get a good mission soon?" Naoyuki mumbled as he fell into step with the older Shikamaru as the other two made off on their way home.

"Perhaps, things are slow when the weather gets this warm," he said with a shrug.

"That's too bad," Naoyuki mumbled as he scuffed his feet lightly on the dirted path.

"What's bothering you?" Shikamaru asked, he could see it in the way the boy moved. Regardless of what transpired between Naruto and himself all those years ago, Naoyuki and the blonde had always managed to worm their way into his life again. He wasn't complaining, he and Naruto had been friends and before that, unlike the other students he had never harboured any ill will toward the other man. He had gone through a rough time after they separated, but as things stood now he had Naoyuki always stepping into his life.

"Nothing," He shrugged, it was clearly a lie.

"I'm sure it's nothing. It seems to me you want to get away. It's seemed that way for a while now," Shikamaru said.

"I guess," Naoyuki said as he looked toward Hokage mountain where Naruto's face had been carved. "My father…is just acting like himself," He sighed.

"Fancy a Shogi match?" Shikamaru asked since Neji was off on a mission. It gave enough time for Naoyuki to think of what he wanted to say.

"Sure," He mumbled .

Once they had been set up and began playing, Shikamaru began to question him, just as if they were having a friendly game. "How's your father been acting?" He asked as he moved a piece.

"Like my father," Naoyuki said.

"I didn't realize this was a game of words," Shikamaru said, knowing that Naoyuki was on to his tactics.

Naoyuki looked down at the board and he made his move, and for a few moments all that could be heard were clicks of the tiles. "I want to know why he left…Nobody will tell me, they say that it's his job. If I leave it up to him, I'm never going to know."

Shikamaru paused as he looked at the boy. He was staring hard down at the tiles and Shikamaru let out a breath as he thought over his options. In Shikamaru's eyes, Sasuke didn't have very many redeeming qualities. It wasn't that he spent much time thinking about it, he didn't hold grudges that he wouldn't eventually settle, so when the man showed signs of treating Naruto and Naoyuki well, he had let everything go in as realistic of a timeline as he possibly could. At the same time, he could very well understand why the man wouldn't feel free to speak on such a subject. "Your parents have been through a lot, Naoyuki," He said calmly.

"I'm the same age! I'm the exact same age he was when he ran off and left everyone he cared about…Was it so he could protect people, or was it because he hated it here, or that he hated everyone here…that he never wanted to come back? I don't know. How can I be his son when I don't even know who he is…or who I might grow up to be like?" It was an outburst that Shikamaru had seen very little of since the boy had turned 10.

His jaw shifted as he looked at the board, unable to make another move, but it didn't seem that Naoyuki had noticed his mistake just yet. "Sasuke is your father, Naoyuki. There is no way on this planet that, that fact will ever change. Regardless of the truth, you aren't your father. It doesn't matter what he's done in his life, you are the one making the choices, not him."

"It's not fair. I know he likes to keep secrets…he doesn't trust me, and I hate that," He mumbled.

"With the life you've chosen, I think you should know by now that life isn't fair," Shikamaru said. Naoyuki knew very much how terrible life could be, Shikamaru had seen it firsthand how the boy's face had been mutilated beyond recognition, how the fifth had to fight to keep the boy alive…and how Naoyuki had to fight for weeks to heal physically, and fight for continuous years to heal in every other way. The boy was still trying, and it might be important for him to know Sasuke's life because there were vague parallels that could offer guidance in moving on, but it wasn't Shikamaru's job.

"No, I get it…maybe we've lost too much time together. Itaru's more like his son anyway," He mumbled as he dragged his knee to his chest.

"The only one who thinks that, is yourself. Naoyuki, your parents have been through plenty in their lives. They've had to work through the majority of their formative years completely alone to finally work out how to be enough to form a family. You might not think it is fair, but your father will tell you when he's ready," he saw a roll of blue eyes.

"Bu—"

"—No. I don't know the details of your home life Naoyuki, not explicitly. One thing I do know is that your father would give up everything in his life both you and your younger brother, maybe you should think of giving something back to him, like your patience. If you're going to argue over such a sensitive matter, it's clear that maybe it isn't your father that's not ready to tell, but you're not ready to listen."

Naoyuki was quiet for a while before he let out a heavy breath and he looked down to the game. The silence dragged on as the boy examined the table, but Shikamaru knew that the boy had come to the right realization with one quick glance at the board and saw his illegal move, "I lost…"

A few weeks passed before he and Naoyuki began to fight again. It was getting increasingly trying to function. "Naoyuki, I'm not going to tell youagain. I have to go gather your brother," Sasuke said.

"Look at you, you're running away. Is that what you did back then?" Naoyuki said as he tailed him and Sasuke growled, his fists clenching until he was sure they bled from the force.

"I hardly think anyone would have called it running away," Sasuke muttered as he slid his shoe on over his heel.

"Right, they said you were a traitor, didn't they?" He said as his fist slammed against the wall.

"Naoyuki, you continue down this path and you will have your rights to go out at all completely revoked. I'm going to get your brother, now decide what you're going to do," Sasuke said, his voice was loud and firm as he walked out of the door fuming. He was only vaguely pleased when he didn't hear Naoyuki following after him.

Only four hours later, it was only four hours before they were at it again, and Sasuke's will was growing woefully thin.

"I was the exact same age as you were when you left! What if it was me? What if I were going to decide to do the same thing?" He asked angrily.

"Is that a confession?" He didn't know where this was going, but hearing that made Sasuke's stomach drop.

"Is that the start of your confession?" Naoyuki asked as he stepped up to Sasuke. It wasn't nearly as intimidating as the boy probably expected it to be, being that his height only reached his collar bone.

"Naoyuki, you're going to stop what you're doing right this moment," it was Naruto's voice from behind Sasuke.

Naoyuki looked over at Naruto for one moment of defeat before he looked straight at Sasuke who was beginning to form a headache. "I don't know who you are Sasuke, and I don't think I ever will," He mumbled. He hadn't called him by his name since shortly after his younger brother was born.

"Enough," Naruto said again. "Go check on your brother, he's being much too quiet," He muttered before he walked over to Sasuke as Naoyuki stomped off.

"Am I being ridiculous about this?" Sasuke asked as he looked at Naruto.

"You? Not so much, Naoyuki on the other hand? I'm not sure," Naruto said and he stepped forward and slipped his arms around Sasuke's ribs. It was a very practiced stillness, just staying where he was and allowing the comfort before his arms rested on Naruto's shoulders and he just breathed out.

"Am I doing the wrong thing by keeping silent?" It wasn't a question he would have asked a year ago. It wasn't something that he enjoyed reliving regardless of the fact that there were people in this village that seemed to enjoy forcing him to.

"You'll say something when you think it's right," Naruto said calmly. "He's just going to have to accept that."

Sasuke rested his chin on Naruto's shoulder for a moment of rare vulnerability and closed his eyes as he heard Naoyuki walk through to the back yard. "Itaru's fine," was all he said and Naruto didn't move.

"I don't know what's going on in his head," Naruto murmured softly.

"I don't think I have ever known," Sasuke mumbled as he took a step back and let his eyes sweep over Naruto's face. His features had become mature in the past few years, to the point where a stranger could believe the man was an elegant being…until he opened his mouth. Naruto stayed himself, and regardless of the increased maturity of his character, he was still a moron. Naruto never kept anything from Naoyuki if he could help it.

"I'm starting to know less and less," Naruto admitted quietly as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose.

Sasuke continued to observe the man in front of him, the one who had slight bags under his eyes due to working all day, every day to make sure this village ran with the integrity that it should have since its creation. "Maybe I will tell him…" Sasuke said quietly.

"Don't let him pressure you into it Sasuke," Naruto said and he felt their fingertips brush against one another.

"It's been long enough…he's right, if I was old enough to leave why isn't he old enough to know?" Sasuke asked.

"He's not going to hate you either way…he's angry, but that will never happen," Naruto said calmly.

"I'm going to tell him," Sasuke said as he pulled back a moment and Naruto held his hand up.

"Fine, I trust your judgement, but here," he said as he moved toward the fridge and came back a moment later with a blue popsicle in his hand. "Share this with him," Naruto said.

"I don't like sweets," Sasuke muttered, but he took it.

"Just trust me on this," Naruto said as he stepped back and nodded his head.

Sasuke looked down to the ice cream in his hand and he let out a sigh before he moved toward the back yard where Naoyuki was sitting in the garden just looking down at his knees. He walked up until he was standing in front of his son with the treat hanging from his fingers at his side, Naoyuki didn't even look up. "What, dad doesn't want to lecture me?" Naoyuki muttered.

"You're being unusually disrespectful lately," Sasuke said.

"Yeah, well, I'm not perfect," Naoyuki said and Sasuke vaguely remembered this conversation being had before.

"No one is."

"You sure walk around like you think you are," Naoyuki said with a sigh.

Sasuke watched Naoyuki before he glanced up at the sky where the stars and his lip quirked upward. Oh how he had changed in the last five years. A response like this likely would have been met by pure anger, because he knew that it was true. He did carry himself as if he were perfection, but even Sasuke knew that he was anything but, there were no illusions. "Well, not even I would believe that thought."

"Could have fooled me," Naoyuki muttered.

Sasuke sucked in a deep breath before he held out the ice cream and Naoyuki's eyes widened. "You're right, I was the same age as you when I left Konoha," Sasuke said. It was only when he started his story that Naoyuki reached up and grabbing the second stick, broke the ice cream in half.

"I know," Naoyuki said quietly.

"When I was a child, there wasn't much more I wanted than to make my father proud, to make my family proud," Sasuke started quietly as Naoyuki sat there and listened quietly. He listened to everything Sasuke knew how to say, the quiet disregard his father seemed to have for him, his brother that excelled at everything and left him behind in the darkness of the massacre. He told him about the years that followed, how he slowly began to rebuild everything he had. Friends, some bare scraps of something he could call a family…how he threw everything away, how he threw everything away not only when he was 13, but when he was 16, and 17.

"So…you loved dad, but you left him anyway," Naoyuki said with a frown on his face as if he were trying to make sense of everything.

Sasuke swallowed and stared down at the stick in his hand. It was the only remainder of the ice cream Naruto had forced him to bring. "I'm not entirely sure I understand my actions as well as I used to," Sasuke admitted as he leaned back on the bench and looked back up at the sky. "I told myself I was doing the right thing, that if I stayed here I might do something terrible because the hatred inside of me was still scalding. It wouldn't have been fair to force him to leave everything he loved."

"I don't think I could do that…" Naoyuki's fingers were beginning to play with the hems of his shirt. It was rare that he succumbed to the nervous habit, Sasuke wondered if just once it was okay to allow him. "Would you have stayed if you knew about me?"

"I would have…" Sasuke said. He knew that much was true, from the day he found out about Naoyuki he knew it would have been true. There wasn't anything that Naruto could have said or done that would have kept him from his son. He imagined if he had shown interest in staying, Naruto would have caved quickly and let him. "I would have stayed, and remained angry, and who knows if I would have ever learned to do anything else…Naoyuki, I don't think you would have liked me while you were growing up," Sasuke said quietly.

"That's not true…"

"No…it wouldn't have been as it is now. I wouldn't have been able to be what your dad needed. We fight, but those arguments are rarely real, they would have been then. You would have grown up between two people fighting to make sense of a world that wasn't as black and white as they thought it was…and you would have suffered for it."

"I've suffered anyway!" Naoyuki said as he stood from his seat and it was only moments before the boy was facing him, angry. "So why does it matter? I'm more screwed up without you than I ever would have been with you!" He couldn't sleep…he felt safer, but he still didn't feel entirely safe. Sasuke wondered if Naoyuki thought he could have protected him from his kidnappers. He likely would have, Naruto had been countries away, but chances were he'd be on the same mission.

"We all suffer regardless of how fortunate our circumstances are, but I don't think you understand Naoyuki. I wouldn't have been able to think of anything other than myself. I never had to think of anything but myself, and when you were born I would have stayed for you, but I wouldn't have seen you," he was shaking. He stared up at the stars and saw one streak across the sky as his fists continued to tremble. "I'm sorry that it had to be this way, and I'm sorry that you've suffered for it. You say that you couldn't abandon those you loved like I did, but if I stayed you might not be saying that. You're perfect," Sasuke was finally looking at the boy, and his hands came to rest on his shoulders. "Regardless of the circumstances of your life, you can look past them unlike I did. Your dad was ready to give everything up for you, and am I upset that I missed getting to know you for so long? Yes, but your dad was the best thing for you, because I wouldn't have been even remotely close to a father."

"It isn't fair…" Naoyuki said quietly.

"I know it isn't, bu—"

"—One of these days…" Naoyuki's arms were around his neck, holding him so tightly that they shook. "One of these days you're going to forgive yourself…" he whispered.

Sasuke's eyes were wide as he heard those words and an eternity passed before his arms settled on the boy's back. Naoyuki's grip on him was so much tighter than when he was 7, but it was every bit as comforting. "Naoyuki…"

"I love you dad," The emotion was sounding in his voice.

Sasuke's eyes closed and he relaxed into the embrace as he felt the emotion take over him. "I love you too," he whispered.

-::0::-

"Itaru told me you want him to join the academy," Naruto said quietly from where they lay in bed.

Sasuke's eyes opened. Though he had been attempting to sleep, he wasn't expecting it to be that easy especially since they still hadn't spoken about his chat with Naoyuki. "Naoyuki was younger when he joined," Sasuke said.

"It's what he wanted," Naruto said quietly. Sasuke had heard the story of why. He heard how Naoyuki only agreed to join following the attack on his eyes.

Sasuke's eyes took in Naruto's features. His eyes were half lidded, but focused and his peachy lips were parted just the slightest. He could see how tired the blonde was, and it was likely after a long day of nothing but paperwork, he was impressed at how dedicated he had become. "I'm not forcing it on him," Sasuke said, his lip twitching."

"Okay, good," Naruto said and his fingers began to draw small patterns on the back of Sasuke's hand. The sensation tickled just a bit, but it was mostly relaxing. "I imagine he wants to be just like Nao," Naruto said with a hum.

"It's quite possible," Sasuke agreed.

"He idolizes him so much…I'll go through the paperwork when I've got a moment, the transfer should go smoothly," Naruto said.

"Naoyuki's been showing him some things, like helping him with his coordination," Sasuke said. He saw the idolization, and he saw Naoyuki attempting to pull away, but Naruto wasn't having any of it. Sasuke was thankful for that, and thankful for the fact that the boy expressed desire to join the academy rather than the simple school he was in now. The boy would certainly awaken the Sharingan in time, and knowledge was a powerful tool in keeping their family safe.

Naruto grinned as he rolled onto his back and chuckled, "I'm glad he has someone to show him all that sort of stuff. It can be really tricky trying to do it on your own," the blonde said, sounding genuinely happy, he recalled Iruka telling him how Naruto had cried in happiness the first time Naoyuki willingly hugged him as a child. Sasuke could only imagine that the bond they shared was all Naruto ever wanted for them.

"They'll be fine," Sasuke said quietly. He believed it this time.

"You two worked things out," Naruto said, it wasn't a question.

Sasuke breathed in deeply before he shifted his weight and nodded regardless of the fact that Naruto was looking at the ceiling. "He's…he's something else," Sasuke said. Naoyuki was really more than he deserved.

"I told you he'd accept you Sasuke," Naruto said quietly. "He loves you."

"I know," Sasuke was aware that his voice was growing quieter, but he couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Itaru loves you too…" Naruto said before he felt Naruto's weight as he rolled again until he was hovering just above Sasuke. "I love you too," He said with a dumb grin before he pressed his lips to Sasuke's forehead.

"You're a moron," he hummed.

"I know," Naruto said as his grin only grew wider before he flopped down beside him. "Bed now," He mumbled. It was unearthly how quick Sasuke was left as the only conscious person in the house.

A month had passed since the incident with Sasuke and Naoyuki and things at home seemed to be going rather smoothly. Naoyuki showed occasional outbursts of frustration, but there was a calm that had come to him with the knowledge of his father and his ancestors. Naruto was rather happy in the recent development. Sasuke seemed to be acting with more fluidity as well.

"Hokage!" A single person burst into his office and Konohamaru was sitting there effectively restraining him against the wall.

"What's the meaning of this?" Naruto said with a frown as he stood and leaned his weight on the hands he had firmly on his desk.

"Sorry boss, he was through the doors before I knew what was going on!" Konohmaru said as he pushed the man's head against the wall.

"It's an emergency!" The man said.

"Let him up," Naruto said, suddenly concerned.

"Hokage, sir! There has been a breakout at the prison, there are several inmates unaccounted for!"

"When did this happen?" Naruto said, his stomach dropping as he heard the news. There had been no explosion, no ruckus outside.

"Less than a half hour ago, the guard has been rounding inmates back in but they're outnumbered, we need backup," the man was standing straight and Naruto nodded as he grasped the schedule he kept on the desk.

"Konohmaru, I need you to find someone to inform any able bodied Jounin to spread out and capture any criminal they can find, the names of those in the city are here," he handed a small book over, "After that I need you to round up our best trackers including Karin. You," Naruto pointed to the man standing before his desk, "I need a list of those who are missing as soon as you're able," he said as he performed the necessary seal and the room was filled with his clones that dispersed once he relayed his own instructions.

"Yes sir!" The two said as they left the office and Naruto summoned ANBU to send them out as well.

Naruto looked to three clones that remained behind. He looked at himself and nodded, "You're to stay here, if there's trouble or news I need to know, dispel," He said leaving multiple clones in the case that information came in at different times. He then headed out the window to find Sasuke and he hoped that the boys were safe at home.

-::0::-

"Naruto, did you leave a clone at the tower so you could slack off?" Sasuke said when he looked up from where he was cleaning and Naruto shook his head.

"Where are the boys?"

"Naoyuki took Itaru to the training grounds," Sasuke said finally alert.

"There's been a massive break out at the prison," He said as he quickly drew on Kurama's power in hopes that he could sense their Chakra. "Fuck," He growled when he felt nothing.

"You can't sense them," Sasuke said as he was already tying his hitai-ate onto his head as they stepped outside. Naruto jumped and landed on the roof of their house and he looked around trying to focus all his energy as Sasuke followed him.

"I can sense people in all directions, but none of them belong to Naoyuki or Itaru…" His voice was breathy. "Masuda can hide chakra signatures, not just his own," Naruto said quietly.

"He what?" Sasuke growled as he followed after Naruto a she began moving in the direction of a few escaped prisoners. Masuda had been the man who kidnapped Naoyuki and made a second attempt. His life had been spared because of Naoyuki's request and Naruto feared he was going to regret allowing Nao talk him into it.

"Of course he can! Why else do you think I couldn't find him the last time?" Naruto growled as they prepared themselves for battle just as one of his clones dispelled at Hokage tower giving him a list of prisoners that had yet to be collected, Masuda's name was among them.

"I can't do this!" Itaru cried out as he threw a cardboard star toward the tree in front of them where Naoyuki had carved targets, he had missed by an entire foot.

"You can, you just have to concentrate and keep practicing," Naoyuki said as he rested his hands on his little brother's shoulders with a smile.

"I'm not going to ever be as good as you, Yuki," Itaru frowned.

"Just try one more time, for me okay?" He said as he crouched down and pointed toward the target. "Just relax and breathe," he began to walk Itaru through the steps once again.

"Okay…" He said softly as he took his stance and he began to follow through with everything Naoyuki had told him before he threw the cardboard and it struck. "I did it!" Itaru's arms shot in the air just missing Naoyuki's face before he began to jump up and down. "Yuki, did you see? Did you see it? I hit it just like you," He turned as he bounced before he launched himself into Naoyuki's arms and held him tight around the neck.

Naoyuki let out a laugh, "You did it, Itaru!" He said as his arms secured themselves around his little brother and he hugged him tight. "Your so cute Itaru," He said as he sat the boy down, amazed at how he was a few months shy of his sixth birthday. "I'm lucky that I got you as a little brother rather than anybody else," He said as he put him down.

"I'm not cute, but let's do it again! Oh…I'm lucky to have you as a big brother too," He said with a grin that showed off all his teeth. He was only ever like this at home or when it was just the two of them.

"Big brother? That's an interesting development," a voice sounded behind him and Naoyuki's heart dropped. He would have recognized that voice anywhere.

He turned around and quickly pushed Itaru behind him as he reached for one of his shuriken. "What do you want?" He growled out as he came face to face with the large, dark, and menacing eyes of his once kidnapper.

"I imagined it would be obvious. I came to pay the boy who ruined my life a visit, and here I find that his abominable parents have bred once more," there was a smirk on his face as he took a step closer and Naoyuki stepped away in step with him.

"Naoyuki, I'm scared…" it was rare that Itaru called him by his full name.

"I've got you," Naoyuki breathed out as he kept his arm in front of the boy, "We're in this together okay? You and me," he said trying to calm him down and noted that the grip on his shorts loosened just the slightest.

"How sweet," the man said with a low laugh in his throat. "I suppose if you're in this together, you can die together," He said.

"I won't let him hurt you Itaru, I promise," He said before he activated his Sharingan.

"You sure you can keep that promise boy? No one's going to be able to find you."

He could see it with his eyes, it was like he had no Chakra like he was dead or something. "What are you doing?"

"I remember those eyes…I'm sure they'd consider me a citizen once more if I brought them back home on a silver platter. Perhaps they'd consider me a hero if I brought back two sets?"

"You're not going to touch him!" Naoyuki growled out as he lunged forward and with the aid of his eyes he was able to dodge a counter attack.

"Naoyuki!"

"Go find dad!" Naoyuki cried out as he began defending himself to someone who was much stronger than him, to someone who might have been held prisoner for five years, but still had years of experience beyond him. There was a firm crack across his face and Naoyuki tried to fend him off, but the man had weapons and with a brief clash of their Kunai all they were left with was a knick on the man's wrist and an angled wound across Naoyuki's cheek.

"I don't think so," The man growled out and he made a quick move for Itaru who had begun to run but Naoyuki intercepted by breathing fire just like their father had taught him…something he was determined to show his brother when he was old enough. They'd get out of this, they'd get out and he'd teach Itaru.

"Give up. I waited too long once, and miscalculated the help you'd get the second time. Not this time, I'm not wasting a single moment," He said before a few hand seals were performed and before Naoyuki could decipher what was going to happen his vision blurred and he fell limp with the sound of Itaru's screams echoing in his hears.

-::0::-

"It's such a shame we're going to have to carve up his face," Naoyuki didn't let out a sound, but he felt like he had cracked his head against something. The voice was female…which meant that the man wasn't alone.

"It's either that or live our life alone, hiding from one country to the next," that voice was familiar.

"Still, he's pretty cute…"

Naoyuki opened his eyes enough to look through his lashes as he saw a tall woman petting through Itaru's hair. It was his lack of awareness of their surroundings that. "Just don't hurt Yuki…You can have my eyes, just don't hurt him," he heard a small quiet voice. Itaru sounded like he had been crying, his voice was hoarse.

The man snorted and he shook his head. "You hear that boy, your brother is pleading for your life."

Naoyuki cursed and he opened his eyes with a groan and struggled to pick himself up. His lip was busted and he was sure he had extensive bruising around his eye as well as a clean slice across his cheek bone. "Let him go…" Naoyuki breathed out as he tried to get to his feet, but the jutsu was messing with his coordination. It wasn't enough to keeping him from noticing the bandages on the man's arms, he must have got caught in the flames Naoyuki had used.

"How sweet," the man had said it before. "All I wanted was my life back, and instead you're the reason I've been locked up in that prison for the past five years," he growled out.

"I begged for your life! I'm the reason you're still alive!"

"I guess that was a stupid move on your part," he said with a rumbling laugh. "When will the others be here?"

"They might have been recaptured, I was lucky to slip by," the woman said.

"You're going to let him do this to an innocent child?" he tried to appeal to the woman.

"He's an Uchiha, you think anyone believes you lot are innocent?" the man said.

"I want to go home…" Itaru's voice was small and the tears began to well in his eyes again.

"Just let him go!" Naoyuki said as he finally managed to sit up on his knees.

"I'd stay down if I were you. You've pissed me off more than any other person in this unearthly country," he said.

"You think I care? He didn't do anything, just let him go! I'll rip my eyes out myself if you just let him go!" Naoyuki was crouching and moving to stand.

The man stood above Naoyuki now and he grabbed at his jaw hard enough that he could feel the joint of his jaw rubbing together. "You think that's a good enough offer? They are pretty nice eyes," he said and the fear in Naoyuki was beginning to settle into complete rage.

"Let him go!" Itaru got up and went for him before the woman grasped his arm and locked it behind his back.

"Not so fast sweetie," She murmured in his ear.

"Don't touch him!" Naoyuki said as he grasped at the man's arm. This was different, this wasn't the same fear…this fear for his brother was so much worse than the one that kept him up night after night. He didn't care that he could still feel the man's fingers digging into his eye sockets much in the way it was digging into his jaw. "You touch him and I'll kill you!"

"You can barely stand without my help boy. I think I've wasted enough time, I waited the first time to take your eyes out. Hold the blonde brat down, he has something I want."

"Naoyuki!" there was a long cry from the boy as the woman pushed him to the ground and Naoyuki began to struggle and he weakly shoved his knee into the man's hip trying to regain himself and activate his Sharingan.

"I'm going to rip you both to pieces!" He cried out and he reached for one of his weapons, but they had stripped him of all his tools.

"I'm not stupid," He said as he shoved Naoyuki to the ground, leaving him to try and get to his feet. "You won't be able to move properly for a few good hours. By then, we'll have your brother's eyes and we can escort you back to our home town. I'm sure they'd love to extract your eyes themselves," he muttered.

"Why are you doing this to him?" Naoyuki growled out as Itaru continued to plead. Naoyuki tried to summon everything he had to clear whatever this was from his body, but it was proving to be no use and he was wishing his parents were here…he wasn't good enough, he couldn't do this. Who was he ever kidding?

"Because you're the reason my life nearly ended, and he seems important to you," he said as he reached down to Itaru's face to hold it still.

"Let him go!" Naoyuki grabbed a rock and threw it with everything he could muster, nailing the man right in the head.

The man's head fell forward and he growled before he stood and with the quick movements of his hand Itaru's eyes widened before his entire body went lax. Naoyuki couldn't feel him, nothing and with the brief activation of his Sharingan he couldn't see any form of life in his brother, not even the rise and fall of his chest. "NO!" He screamed out and he felt all the rage and hatred begin to boil within him. All he could feel was the absence of his brother, his failure, and sheer killer intent as he shot forward. His body was uncoordinated and he couldn't help the stumble of his feet, but it didn't stop him as he launched himself at the man as he formed a ball of Chakra in his hand.

-::0::-

Naruto's eyes widened and his head snapped to the south as he felt a tremendous amount of chakra spike in the air. Sasuke looked in the same direction and his eyes narrowed, his Sharingan was activated and wordlessly they both took off in the direction. Naruto could sense Naoyuki, whatever had set him off, he had found his way to fight his way through the man's cloaking abilities, and now Naruto knew exactly where he was. He just hoped that his boys were safe.

-::0::-

"What have you done?" the woman cried out as she dodged one of Naoyuki's attacks. He had found where they had placed his weapons and it was luck that kept the man from being struck with his shuriken.

"You're going to die!" He growled out as he stalked after the man. Whatever had just happened cleared the sensation of helplessness from his body and he pushed off in another attack.

"If we can't subdue a child, then we truly are pathetic," The man said as he dodged another attack.

Naoyuki lunged forward and his knuckle caught the man's cheekbone. He had enough time to twist his body and block the blow the woman was going to deal him. It was clear she was a weapons specialist. "Die!" he shook the woman off and forming another Rasengan he lunged forward and with all his outrage he allowed the chakra to rip through the man's body before he stumbled forward. He looked to Itaru who remained lifeless on the ground and with balled fists he began to pummel the man's face in.

"Naoyuki!" he couldn't recognize the voice as he continued his assault. He didn't recognize the fact that the woman had attempted to run, nor did he notice how his father had stopped her in her tracks and rather than show her mercy, her body was limp on the ground in seconds.

"Itaru!" it was his dad who was kneeling over his brother. This was his fault, this was his entire fault and there was nothing he could do that would make this okay…but he couldn't stop.

He felt a hand on his shoulder before they hooked under his arms hauling him back and just before he did, the man's body went up in black flames. "I've got you," It was his dad, his voice was shaking. "I've got you, just stop!"

"No!" He cried out, the sobs beginning to vibrate through his body. It took a moment before he grabbed onto his head and the cries tore through his body. Why weren't they doing anything? Why was everyone just standing there? "Take him to Nana, he needs help. Why are you still here?" He cried out. Maybe it wasn't too late.

"Naoyuki, calm down," his dad tried again.

"How can you be calm!?" he tried to pull away, he needed to see his baby brother, this was his fault. He needed to see him, he needed to hold him, this wasn't okay.

"Naoyuki, your brother's alive! Calm down…just breathe, you'll feel him," He whispered. "Just calm down," His dad's hands were gently brushing his hair back, and in a moment of clarity he could see just how much his dad wanted to be by his brother's side as well.

"What?" Naoyuki pulled back, fighting harder now his eyes wide as he looked at his brother. Itaru was curled in his father's arms, his hand was gently touching his face, checking for a temperature. "Itaru!" His voice rasped out and he squirmed out of his dad's clutches and he dragged himself over. "Itaru!" He called again before his father's hand stopped him.

"Calm down or stay back!" He growled out and their eyes met a brief moment before he breathed out and reached forward and his fingers grasped at his brother's…they were warm.

"Itaru!" He wept and hardly noticed how his father's eyes were on him the entire time.

"He's not hurt," Sasuke said quietly. "His life force was cloaked from you," he said but Naoyuki already knew he was alive, that's all that mattered.

"Yuki?" the voice was quiet as his brother's eyes opened and the hand in his returned his grip. "You safe?" He asked.

"I'm here Itaru…" He whispered. "I've got you," His voice was weak and there were short moments before he slipped out of consciousness.

Naruto was currently outside of Naoyuki's room pacing back and forth quietly. He had been checked over by the old woman and she simply told them to let him rest and he'd wake up soon. He couldn't describe the feelings he felt when he arrived on scene to see Itaru laying there as he was and Naoyuki sitting there in such fury. It had been a nightmare, out of everything he had seen in his life that was the very last scene he would have ever wanted for his family.

"He'll be fine," Sasuke said quietly as he stepped out of the room. Instead of agreeing with him or saying anything else he leaned forward quietly until his arms hooked around Sasuke's neck. It took seconds before the embrace was returned and he closed his eyes tightly.

"It's over…it has to be," he whispered softly. He had allowed his son's compassion to sway his decision once, he wasn't sure he'd ever allow it again if the outcome put their lives at risk.

"It's over," Sasuke agreed. "Itaru's watching over him," He said quietly.

"He's so brave," he murmured quietly. All Itaru had done since he woke up was ask if Naoyuki was okay, the minor bruises he had were paid no mind and had been healed.

"Naruto…" Sasuke said softly and he nodded in response. "I wasn't the one who set his body on fire..." Sasuke admitted.

Naruto froze a moment before the tension in his body faded, "I kind of thought so…" he whispered. He and Sasuke hadn't fought in a long time, but they had fought alongside one another and sparred together and Naruto knew Sasuke's fighting style.

"Do you know what this means?"

Naruto shook his head, "Not completely."

"It means that he has the Mangekyou Sharingan. He awoke it when he thought that Itaru…if he continues to use it, his vision will degenerate over time," he said.

"Are yours the same?" Naruto asked not pulling away from Sasuke, he was staying calm with the earthy scent of the man he loved.

"No…I have Itachi's eyes. The only way to reverse the effects is through the use of another's Mangekyou, normally a brother…" he trailed off.

Naruto paused and he thought a long moment. There wasn't a lot he knew about the Sharingan besides the things he needed to know until now. The outcome of the day was heartbreaking. "He's never to find out…neither of them," Naruto whispered.

"I wouldn't…I'll talk to Naoyuki and make sure he understands what he'll have to face," He murmured.

"Itaru?" Naoyuki's voice sounded.

"Naoyuki," Naruto pulled away and stepped into the room where Itaru was hugging Naoyuki tightly. "Itaru, let your brother rest," he said.

"S'okay dad…" He whispered and he noticed that Naoyuki's arms were wound tightly around his brother, his hand cupping the back of his head. "Glad you're safe, brat."

"It's my fault you're hurt," Itaru said, crying yet again and it broke Naruto's heart. He was about to open his mouth when Naoyuki beat him too it.

"Don't say that," Naoyuki's hand was on the back of Itaru's head and there was a stern frown on his face. "I don't ever want to hear you say that. It's my job to protect you," he said and a small tired smile tugged on his lips.

"Okay…" he whispered softly and began to sniffle in light of his tears.

"Itaru, what do you say? Should we go and make something for your brother to eat?" Naruto asked.

Itaru nodded clumsily as he dragged his forearm across his face to wipe at the tears. "Yeah…"

"Okay, come on and help me," He said as he urged Itaru out of your room. Once they were alone he looked to Naoyuki and grasped his hands. "You kept him safe Naoyuki, none of this was your fault," he said. He knew there had to be doubt in his son's mind, and he wasn't about to let him continue thinking that way.

"Yeah…" Naoyuki said looking up at the ceiling.

"It's true," Naruto leaned over and pressed his lips to Naoyuki's forehead. "I'm glad you're safe, Naoyuki…Your brother told us what happened, you behaved just as you should have," he said. Losing his head after what happened might not have been ideal, but Naruto couldn't sit there and pretend that he wouldn't have done the same thing.

"Thanks dad," he murmured quietly and Naruto smiled.

"We'll be back with something light to eat. Your father's going to come in to talk to you about what happened if you're up for it," he said.

"Yeah, that's okay," Naoyuki said, he wasn't showing any signs that he was nearly as frightened as he had been the last time he had encounters Masuda.

"Take it easy," He murmured as he stood and exited the room.

-::0::-

"How is he?" Sasuke asked with a frown.

"He's ready to talk to you," Naruto said. "Itaru and I will be busy in the kitchen."

"Good," Sasuke said with a bit of relief. Naruto knew what to do regardless of the fact that they hadn't discussed what was going to happen.

"Let him rest if he looks like he needs to, he probably won't tell you when he's too tired," Naruto said and Sasuke just nodded before he pushed the door open.

"Naoyuki," He said calmly as he moved to sit on the bed.

"He nearly beat me even though I used my Sharingan…" Naoyuki murmured.

"You're much younger than he was, you did exceptionally well," he said truthfully. "We need to discuss what happened regarding your final outburst," Sasuke said calmly.

"I lost control…"

"Your Sharingan, you can tell it's different, can't you?"

Naoyuki's fingers began to play with a seam on his quilt and Sasuke reached his hand out to grasp it in his, effectively ceasing the movement. "There are different kinds of Sharingan…you have a different one," Naoyuki said softly.

"That's true…Naoyuki, when you felt the emotion of losing your brother it awakened a stronger form of the blood limit. It seems it's not much different than my own," He had expected as much.

"What aren't you telling me?" Naoyuki said with a frown.

"Naoyuki…you will have to exercise caution while learning and drawing upon your newly acquired abilities. The Mangekyou Sharingan is a dual edged blade, it gives you power but it will also begin to affect your vision."

Naoyuki's eyes were wide and he was quiet for a long time, "I'm going to lose my sight?"

"Over time, Itachi was nearly completely blind before his death," Sasuke said.

Naoyuki stared up at the ceiling and he let out a breath, "I don't care…he's safe," He said quietly.

"You're more than your eyes, Naoyuki. Your skill is exceptional without it," Sasuke assured him.

Naoyuki nodded and his hands moved and brushed beneath his eyes were his dark circles were prevalent and hissed when he touched an angry bruise. "Is your sight going?" Naoyuki had a frown on his face.

Sasuke was quiet as he watched his son who was far too observant for his own good, though it was obvious his sight was fine. "Get some rest," He urged.

"Your sight is fine…so why am I going to go blind and why was my uncle Itachi blind?" Naoyuki sounded angry.

"Naoyuki, get some rest. We can talk about this another time," Sasuke said.

"No, we can talk about it now. I don't understand, how is it you're fine?"

"There's isn't anything that you can do Naoyuki."

"I deserve to know!" His voice had risen.

Sasuke looked at him and he let out a heavy breath. Naoyuki looked as if he were going to continue. He weighed his options, it was either tell him now or let the resentment build. "Your brother…the only chance at restoration is to implant another's Mangekyou user's eyes. Success is heavily influenced by the strength of your blood, and if successful the user will gain the Eternal Mangekyou," he hoped he wasn't making a mistake. His father had attempted to keep the same information from him as a child. His family didn't have a good track record of success.

"Itaru…" His brow furrowed and he rubbed at his eyes and shook his head. "That's never going to happen," Naoyuki said. "I'm never going to let that happen, I don't care about my eyes," He muttered, his voice was heavy with emotion.

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief before he looked toward the door where Naruto and Itaru could be heard making a mess. "There are ways to adapt, your uncle was one of the most exceptional beings with and without sight," he said.

Naoyuki frowned and he moved to sit up, but only managed to prop himself up when Sasuke placed an extra pillow behind him. "Explain something to me, Father…if restoration of sight depends on another's eyes, did you take Uncle Itachi's eyes?"

Sasuke frowned and stared at the boy calmly. He was sure not to show emotion on his face regardless of the storm that raged inside of him. He remembered his brother's sacrifice, everything he had done that had altered the course of Sasuke's life. He remembered how everything had been done with Sasuke in mind. "I have my brother's eyes Naoyuki. I fought my brother when I thought he had murdered our family without reason," they had discussed the massacre at length weeks prior. "Everything that I gained, my physical strength, my anger…my eyes, was orchestrated by Itachi. He planned for me to awaken the Mangekyou in order to face the horrors he saw building, and he always planned for me to take his eyes. It was never in my intention to use them, it took time after his death for me to accept them because there was larger evil at hand that I couldn't face without my brother's sacrifice."

Naoyuki watched him and Sasuke could feel the anger radiating within him. His tongue smoothed over his own lips as he thought and his fingers twitched against the covers. "I understand…"

"If you need to talk about these things, I'm here," Sasuke could sense the conflict, but pushing would result in a fight that Naoyuki didn't have the strength to have.

"Yuki, we've got some food," Naoyuki pushed the door open and Naruto entered with a small tray of easily digestible food. "We're going to take care of you, okay?" Itaru managed a smile as he climbed right over Sasuke to sit on the side of the bed closest to the wall.

"Yeah, sounds good," Naoyuki managed a smile as he reached up a weak arm to ruffle Itaru's blonde hair.

Sasuke swallowed as he watched the exchange. There were striking parallels to the bond they shared, but regardless of Naoyuki's will to do anything for Itaru, and Itaru's devotion to Naoyuki, they were still very different than Itachi and himself. He hoped that Naoyuki would never have to make a decision similar to Itachi, perhaps the two would make it out alright.

-::0::-

"You did what?" Naruto sounded angry, Sasuke really hadn't expected much more.

"I believe you heard me," Sasuke said as he stepped to the railing on the back deck and looked up where the moon was.

"I just told you that we weren't going to tell him, and your first plan of action is to tell him?" Naruto hissed out.

"I'm not entirely sure it could have been avoided, stop acting like a child," Sasuke growled.

"No, this isn't about me or you Sasuke, this is about the risk of pitting our son's against one another," he said and Naruto's hand gripped at his arm and urged him to turn and look at him.

"It's not going to happen. Itaru's not going to know, and do you think for one moment that Naoyuki wouldn't notice that my eyes are entirely unaffected by degeneration? He asked questions, and there was no lie that would have satisfied him, furthermore, I'm not going to lie to him. My father kept secrets from me from the beginning for the same reasons you're upset, and look where that got us. If I didn't tell him, he would have found another way. He loves his brother too much to view him as a tool," his hands were on Naruto's shoulder.

"Sasuke…" Naruto's fingers moved to pinch the bridge of his nose and Sasuke could see him holding the emotion back.

"Shhh…" His left arm hooked around Naruto's shoulder and he pulled him to his chest before settling the blonde into his embrace.

"I trust you Sasuke, and I trust your judgement…" he said softly. "Naoyuki's not…I don't think he ever would put his brother in any sort of danger.

"I don't believe he would," Sasuke agreed quietly and he felt Naruto's arms rest on his back and Sasuke swayed just the slightest in a comforting action.

"I'm going to have to work late tomorrow to deal with the outbreak," He said softly. "There'll be an investigation I need to be part of. Once it's over I'm going to request a little time off to spend with the boys," He murmured.

"You did a good job today," Sasuke said softly. Naruto had done his job in protecting both the village and their family at the same time. He had been the right choice.

"I love you Sasuke," Naruto murmured.

Sasuke breathed in deeply and pressed his lips to Naruto's temple. "I know," he said. They both knew that Naruto was the only one outside of their sons that he could love as much as he did.

It took a few days before Naoyuki was able to move around like he normally was able to. He stood there with his arms folded on the railing of the back deck and Itaru was out in the garden running around and playing with one of his friends from his school. He had a lot of memories in this back yard, from when he was younger than his baby brother until now. Often after family dinners they would spend their nights out in the back, his dad and him would always be tending to the garden. He used to train with his dad in the back yard before their sparring grew too destructive for their garden.

"Itaru, try not to terrorize the fish!" Naoyuki called out when Itaru just barely avoided falling into the pond he had begged their parents to get as soon as Itaru knew how to swim.

"Kay!" Naoyuki's high childlike voice sounded as he continued to run around laughing with his friend.

He rested his cheek on his hand as he watched them, Itaru was only 6 and he had been forced into a situation similar to the one he had been in. He had seen and experienced less of it, but the reality of the situation was still terrifying. Itaru still acted like a kid, he was still care free and happy. Naoyuki wished he could go back to being like that some times. He knew already he was at that age where it all started to become trivial, especially in the life he had chosen, but he hadn't been that way in a long time. "How are you feeling?"

Naoyuki turned his head and saw his father there and he let out a heavy breath and he slouched against the railing. "I'm fine," He said softly. "Just taking in the garden while I still can," he mumbled. He was okay with the outcome, really.

"There's nothing out there that suggests it will happen right away," Sasuke said. His father was trying to remain stone faced, Naoyuki could hear the emotion though.

"Yeah, well…I have a lot of memories back here," he said with a breath. "I want to remember them all just as they looked…including ones that I'm going to make before it happens. Besides, it's good to see Itaru happy," He said with a smile.

"It is," his father agreed.

"I remember the first time we played Shogi out here," Naoyuki said with a small laugh. "You were so bad at it."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he grunted.

"You made an illegal move right at the beginning! It was over before I could even move," He said with laughter. It had been one of the moments that really felt like Sasuke being a father to him. He had done a lot, but it had been a struggle. He knew now that being asked to be a father to a six year old overnight had to have been impossible especially one as messed up as him, but Sasuke had managed somehow, even if he wasn't perfect.

"I had never played before," he snorted.

"Yeah…I guess not. I watched Shikamaru playing…or trying to play with dad for a really long time. It took me a lot less time to get good at it than it did for dad," he said with a grin.

"Not entirely surprising," Sasuke agreed.

Naoyuki looked out at his brother as he tripped and fell on his face. He frowned, but the blonde just stumbled back to his feet and continued to play with laughter in his throat. "You know…you asked me once what would happen if that man's life meant saving a friends life," he had thought about it so often over his years at the academy. He had played various scenarios in his head, and regardless of all of that he thought he might be able to do it, he might be able to take a life for another, but he didn't really know.

"I remember," his father said, but remained as quiet as he usually did.

"I knew I could do it…I've done it, I killed him. I might not have been thinking, but I know that this is the right path for me. I have to do this, I need to get better because I need to be there for him. I'm going to protect him dad, I'm going to get better, and I'm not going to let anything happen to him. That's why I'm doing this, because there are people I care about, and letting them get hurt if I have the ability to stop it isn't okay…I'm going to train, and become the best shinobi I can, because of him," he said. He meant it, it was all that kept him going. His parents were unstoppable, but they weren't always going to be there to catch him when he fell, they shouldn't have to always pick up the pieces. He needed to shoulder some of that burden. He was finally ready. He had been walking his life for years telling himself that he needed to become strong so he could be responsible, so maybe he could protect others while protecting himself. This was so much bigger than that, and it finally felt right. He was sleeping at night, because he was capable of protecting himself.

"It took me much longer to realize the same thing," His father said. "Your dad figured it out much sooner…right around your age in fact," Sasuke said as he placed a hand on Naoyuki's shoulder.

"Really?" Naoyuki knew his dad was like that, he was very proud to be his son and all these years later he was proud that he belonged to his father as well.

"I'm proud of you Naoyuki," his father said and he smiled.

Naoyuki let out a laugh as he ducked away from his father. He headed for the steps, but he turned around to look at Sasuke. "I like it when you smile," he said before he ducked down the steps to go see his brother.

-::0::-

"What was that about?" It was Naruto's voice as he joined Sasuke on the deck.

"Just a small chat," Sasuke said as he watched Itaru climb onto Naoyuki's back and he felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over him as they laughed and shouted as they played.

"About what?"

"You know, he's a lot like you Naruto," Sasuke said as he hooked his left arm around Naruto and drew him close.

"Really, because I'm positive that temper is from you," he joked with a small laugh.

Sasuke smiled and with a low voice he spoke into Naruto's ear, "He's going to be just fine," and he pressed a kiss there.

"I already know that," Naruto said with a dumb grin on his face and Sasuke felt happiness warm his chest at the sight.

"Did you leave a clone at the tower again?" Sasuke frowned.

"It's not like I won't know if something goes down," Naruto said and Sasuke simply followed him back inside with the sounds of his children laughing in the background.

It was going to be a good day.

End.

I can't believe it's over. I kind of don't want it to end, not really, but it does mean I will have time to continue with another story I've published and hopefully start work on a few other ideas. So while I'm marking this complete, I will let you know that there will be bonus chapters in the future. I don't know when they'll be written, or how many there will be, but they will be done!

I want to thank you all for your support. Those who've read and followed and favourite, I'm very glad that I could provide to you some form of entertainment. To those of you that have reviewed and done much of the same, I'm really glad to have your input, constructive or not, it all made me very happy. I'm glad to have talked to many of you!

Also, you may have noticed a new icon for this story. I have drawn both Naoyuki and Itaru grown up for the 'cover picture'. If it doesn't show, there's a link in my profile to see the full size picture, I hope you'll take a moment to look.

Please review and take care for now!

KoriC