Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Mother's Son ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 7 )

Trekking through dense forest was easier when you didn't loathe the person accompanying you. Naruto took the lead, pushing through the undergrowth towards their destination. Sasuke followed him closely, giving directions, even though he knew that Naruto didn't need them.

“Would you just shut up?” Naruto finally demanded, making Sasuke smirk in delight. Naruto sighed in satisfaction when Sasuke said nothing, climbing out from the bush he was entangled in. “I think we're close.” He told his impromptu partner.

“Yea, except for the cliff.” Sasuke said cynically.

“Cliff? What cliff? I don't remember there ever being a cliff!” Naruto cried, tugging at his hair. Such an obstacle would certainly slow them down, and give them a greater chance of being overhead, or seen.

“That's because we always came from the top.” Sasuke said, his voice showing his boredom. “Now are we gonna get started?”

Naruto growled his frustration, pushing out of the clump of trees directly ahead of him. As Sasuke had predicted, a step cliff face stared back at him. “I hate the god damn Uchiha!” Naruto grabbed as high as he could, pulling his body up the first step in the cliff. He grumbled as he climbed, throwing threats and insults in Sasuke's direction. “Bunch of god damn terrorists, with their god damn sweaters and their stupid god damn hair…”

Sasuke climbed after him, keeping pace easily. He either did not hear the insults directed his way, or chose to ignore them. Instead, he concentrated on the thought of his son.

It had been electric, when he had first seen the boy. Sitting on Sakura's hip, the chubby cheeked child had stared at him, eyes wide with wonder. His jet black hair, sticking out in all directions, was frighteningly familiar. When Naruto had first opened the door to Sakura's house, Sasuke had had some doubts about everything, but seeing Daisuke had brought everything back to earth.

“Hurry the fuck up, or we'll never get up this god damn cliff and you can be the one to explain to Sakura and Kakashi why Itachi still has my god damn son…”

Sasuke shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He pushed on, climbing quickly to catch up with Naruto. They were nowhere near halfway, with an hour more of climbing to go before reaching the first ledge.

“If you'd move your ass a bit faster, I wouldn't need to lag behind.” Sasuke retorted, grinning as Naruto sped up without replying.

“My flower, my love…” Sakura could hear the voice wisp through her dream, and she opened her eyes. Instantly, she knew she wasn't at home. She lay on a hard bed while stark white walls glared at her. She relaxed a bit, seeing Naruto standing over her. She tried to talk, but was seized by a crippling pain in her abdomen.

“Naruto!” she screamed, clutching at the bulge in her stomach. The contraction held her body in a vice-like grip while Naruto watched on in horror. A nurse bustled in, patting his arm.

“It's alright dear, it'll be over soon. What's that one, just five minutes past? Now that they're regular, I'll be callin' the midwife in.” The woman smiled at him again before sweeping out. Naruto watched as Sakura unfolded her body, laying back. Her face shone with sweat, while her eyebrows were furrowed in pain.

“I don't think I can do this,” she whispered. Naruto shook his head, wrapping his hand around hers. He knelt on the ground, bringing his face close to hers.

“I know you can,” he whispered back, kissing her cheek. “You're the strongest person I've ever known. There's no way you can't do this.” He smiled at her, and was rewarded by a small smile from Sakura.

“I know that these things don't always go right.” Sakura whispered, clenching her fist as she felt the beginning of another contraction. Naruto knew where she was going, and tried to hush her.

“Sakura, trust me…everything's gonna be fine.” He told her, but she shook her head.

“Let me finish!” she gasped, trying to breathe calmly. “I do trust you. You're the only one I trust. Okay? That's why I need you to be the one who takes care of my baby, if something happens. This is my child, Naruto…our child. Okay? Please…just…promise me?”

Naruto smiled weakly, kissing Sakura's forehead gently. “Of course.” He whispered. “Anything, for you. Anything.”

Sakura relaxed, her hand still gripping Naruto's. “Thank you.” She whispered, before another contraction hit her, sending her into a wave of screams.

The midwife, along with the nurse, came in. “She's got some lungs on her, yea?” the nurse commented. Naruto couldn't understand how they could be so calm, while Sakura was howling in pain.

“Alright honey, you're doing great.” The midwife crooned to Sakura, while helping the nurse restrain her flailing arms. “All I need you to do is push the next time you feel the contraction. Can you do that for me, honey?”

“I can't! It hurts! I can't!” Sakura wailed, gripping Naruto's hand so hard that he was sure the bones would snap.

“Come on sweetheart, just do this. I know you can.” the midwife replied, obviously trained enough to ignore Sakura's pleading.

Naruto held on to his love, trying to keep her grounded. He whispered things in her ear as she cried. He told her about how well she was doing, of how proud everyone was. Finally, with one last penetrating scream, the midwife appeared from in between Sakura's legs, a wrinkled baby in her hands.

The child was tiny, covered in blood, and screaming like a banshee. Naruto stared at in wonder. Even red, wrinkled and angry, the baby was the most beautiful he'd ever seen. “It's a boy.” The nurse pronounced, as she cleaned the boy gently, wiping fluid from his nose and face. “Do you have a name?”

Naruto looked down at Sakura, who looked up at him dizzily. Her expression was giddy. “His name is Daisuke.” She told Naruto, smiling widely. The nurse heard this and nodded.

“And the last name? I assume it's Haruno?” The nurse asked, while she wrapped Daisuke in a blanket.

“No.”

Naruto looked at Sakura in surprise. She smiled at him. “It's Uzumaki.” She corrected. The nurse nodded.

“I'll get the papers. Here is your boy. Congratulations.” She handed Daisuke to Naruto, who took him gingerly.

“Sakura…” he whispered. “Your son…he's beautiful.” He gave Sakura the baby, watching her eyes fill with tears.

“He's your son too, Naruto.”

Kakashi was sitting in the kitchen when he heard her. The resounding wail that pushed through the house knocked him from his chair in surprise. Regaining his bearings, he ran into Sakura's room, where she sat straight up, eyes wild. “Sakura!” he cried out, more in shock then anything else.

“Oh god…Dai!” Sakura moaned, pulling at the tubes in her arms. “Please! Let me help him! He's scared! My baby!”

Kakashi ran to Sakura's side, trying to keep her still. “Sakura, it was a dream, it's all right.” He knew this was a lie, but it was all he could think to say.

“No, you don't understand! Sensei! Please! Let me help my baby! He's hurt, so frightened!” Sakura did nothing to stem the flow of tears that tracked down her face. Instead, she fought to stand.

“How do you know that?” Kakashi asked, trying to be reasonable.

“I saw him! He's with…he's with…Sasuke's brother! And he's so afraid Sensei!” Sakura tugged the blankets off her legs. “Where's Naruto?” she asked, while Kakashi tried to keep her in the bed.

“Sakura, he's out, looking for Dai. He's gone to find Itachi.”

“Itachi.”

The one word was laced with rage, and Sakura immediately calmed. Venom overtook her eyes, and she calmly took Kakashi's hands from her shoulders. She steadied herself as she tried to stand. She wobbled precariously, but finally, remained stable and upright.

“I need to shower.”

He voice was empty, as if she had no emotion. Truth be told, Kakashi was frightened by this version of Sakura. She had one goal. To get out and find Dai, and punish every single person who had harmed him. Kakashi helped her towards the bathroom.

“Do you need Aniline?” he asked, but Sakura shook her head, telling her teacher that she could shower by herself. She closed the door with a resounding click. Kakashi stared at the door for a few moments, until he heard the water start. He marveled at Sakura's ability to just get up, out of a coma, and have a shower. It was almost unbelievable.

Inside the bathroom, Sakura stood under the spray of the streaming water, her hands braced against the warming tiles of the wall. She remembered her dream perfectly; could she call it a dream? Her vision?

It had been Daisuke, crying hard as Itachi ignored him, running ruthlessly through the wood. She could hear hounds barking, and people yelling. She could feel Daisuke's fear. It had been horrible enough to wake her from the coma that had trapped her in melancholy.

She washed her hair, scrubbing days of sweat from her body. It didn't take long for Sakura to itch to be on the move. She stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body as she walked out into the hall and into her bedroom.

She pushed her way through the clutter, searching for her uniform. Finally, she pulled out a pair of black pants, along with a dark sleeveless turtle neck.

She pulled the clothes on, strapping her belt firmly around her waist. She carefully withdrew the box holding her new set of daggers. As she lifted the box, her headband slipped from beneath it, falling to the floor.

Carefully, Sakura picked it up, fingering the cloth.

It's been so long. Sakura wrapped the headband around her head, pushing it to hold back her hair. Stepping from the room, she nodded to Kakashi before heading for the door.

“Wait! Are you just gonna leave?” he yelped, following her.

“I've got nothing else here.” Sakura responded. “My whole family is out in that forest.”