Chapter 12

"What's wrong, little one?" Itachi cooed to the solemn looking submissive.

Naruto was laid out over the satin sheets of Itachi's bed. Despite the slight chill in the night air he hadn't gotten under the covers yet. The pretty blond submissive had dressed into a sleeping robe and was now balled up in the corner of the large bed. His hair was fanned across the shiny black fabric of the pillow and his arms were wrapped around his protruding stomach. That's how Itachi had found Naruto when he had entered the room. He had boasted to Sasuke that he'd "have" Naruto but the blond had been contained in his own little bubble since the moment itachi had stepped into the room. It was clear that Naruto wouldn't be putting out unless forced or coaxed. Itachi hadn't accounted for this turn of events. He had really thought that once he used his mangekyo on Naruto everything would revert back to how it was before he fell into a coma. Of course not, you crazy fool! The rational part of his mind yelled out but Itachi was too intrigued by Naruto's solemn state to actually notice or pay the voice any mind.

Itachi sat on the other corner of the spacious bed, he positioned his body so that he was openly facing Naruto in a welcoming gesture but the blond didn't budge. He kept to himself in that little bubble of space he had made between his self and Itachi, it was as if Itachi wasn't even there. Itachi bit back a growl. His newly fractured sanity was hanging by a thin thread and an unresponsive submissve wasn't helping it out in the least. It'd be so easy to invade Naruto's bubble and forcibly make the blond address his presence but the little rational Itachi had left wouldn't allow him to do that. Naruto was precious and even in his crazed state he knew better than to lay a hand on a pregnant submissive.

"Come, tell me what's wrong? Are you worrying about what just happened with Sasuke? My brother just had too much to drink so don't let those lies and nonsense he spouted bother you."

"It's not that." Naruto mumbled then hunched his shoulders even more forward, making himself into a complete ball.

"Are you cold? Are you hot? Do you want to take a bath? I don't know what to do if you don't speak to me." Itachi scooted closer to the strangely quiet submissive but as soon as he did he noticed that Naruto had subconsciously moved his body away. It stung his ego. He had never been rejected so openly by a submissive before. His crazed mind immediately wanted to hurt Naruto for the rejection, to burn the blonds soft skin until he learned how to behave but again the rational Itachi knew better than to actually do that.

"Sorry, Itachi." Naruto murmured apologetically. His eyebrows drew together making him look sympathetic. "I don't know what's wrong I just don't feel...right." Naruto bit his lip, these words had been dancing on the tip of his tongue for a while now, "I sound crazy don't I?" Naruto rapidly shook his head as if he could get rid of his foolish feelings with the erratic action.

"You don't sound crazy," Itachi came closer to Naruto, the small omega allowed it but the hesitant expression on his face remained. He wanted to move away and it was obvious, his body language spoke volumes. The way his body was angled away from Itachi and the way his hand was protectively over his pregnant stomach were all signs of an uncomfortable submissive. "I won't think you're crazy if you just tell me what's wrong." Itachi took an even breath, the urge to forcibly pull Naruto closer was tingling underneath his skin. He could imagine it so clearly, pulling Naruto so hard that he left a bruise behind.

Naruto let out a big sigh, he looked down and rubbed his hand over his mating mark, "I-I don't feel right," Naruto admitted in a small voice, so low that itachi had to strain his ear to hear it, "I feel like I'm missing something but I don't know what, even lying in this bed feels...wrong." Naruto began to cry, the salty smell of tears swirled through the air, "I feel horrible saying this because I know Itachi is my mate and has given me so much including my baby but I still feel incomplete...I'm so sorry for thinking that but i really feel incomplete!"

"Hush," Itachi whispered heatedly into Naruto's ear, his restraint snapped momentarily as he wrapped his arms around Naruto and crushed him against him self. He had hugged Naruto a bit harder than he had expected, he could hear the boys back bones crack underneath him. It was his inner beast coming out. A natural ignited response to his submissive telling him something so insulting.

"Oww, you're hurting me!" Naruto cried out as he pushed itachi off of him. Naruto's eyes widened when he realized he had just physically repelled itachi, even though itachi had hurt him pushing away your alpha so rudely was just something submissives weren't supposed to do. In Whirlpool it wasn't a serious issue but he knew that Fire Countries rules for omegas were far stricter than in his home country. "Sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, Naruto." Itachi said through gritted teeth, "I'm the one who's sorry." Itachi apologized not sounding sorry in the slightest. Unbeknownst to Naruto Itachi was trying to reign in his own emotions. Naruto physically pushing him away had awoken an old emotion inside him that had been buried under the weight of the betrayal but he quickly repressed it back down. He refused to feel guilty, the only one who should feel guilty was his foolish little brother. "What do you mean something feels like it's missing?"itachi asked the obvious question, of course he knew what Naruto was talking about. It pissed him off. If Naruto was supposed to be his betrothed then why was it taking so long for Naruto to forget about the bond he had made with Sasuke! Surely Naruto couldn't have been completely serious when he had said that 'Sasuke was the only alpha he wanted as a mate.' He had assumed that was just Naruto's hormones speaking, it was expected that Naruto would say that since Sasuke was the father of his child. Every submissive grows excessively attached to the dominant who impregnates them so naturally itachi had assumed that was why Naruto had said that but as time was ticking by he was learning that maybe there was some rational truth behind Naruto's confession. It felt as if Naruto had actually fallen in love with his brother.

Naruto buried his face in his hands, he didn't like that he had angered his alpha but he couldn't help it. There was something wrong and he just knew it. It is a known fact that once an omega finds a mate and they mark each other the mark forms a bond. This bond allows them to connect emotionally on a deeper level than with anyone else. But as Naruto lay there he could feel nothing for his 'mate'. He could feel absolutely nothing and that was terrifying him. Their bond was missing, that primal and instinctual connection had vanished and the even scarier part was that he couldn't recall how it even felt like. It was as if the connection had never existed in the first place, but that didn't make any sense! Naruto mentally berated himself, that couldn't be possible because he had Itachi's mating mark on his neck! He could vividly remember itachi giving it to him...so why couldn't he feel their bond?

"I feel like our mating mark connection is disappearing...it's so weak it's scaring me." Naruto finally admitted the source of his withdrawn state out loud.

A relieved smirk slithered its way onto Itachi's face, he had thought the blond had found a new way to restore his old memories, it would've been much harder to deal with that compared to a weak bond. A bond that the blond wasn't even aware didn't exist. Itachi would quickly remedy that. "A weakening bond is easy to fix, little one," really, he had to give credit to his little brother. For Naruto to realize something was off after so many bouts of using the mangekyo to erase his memories meant that the mating mark Sasuke had given Naruto was rather strong. He hadn't accounted on this possible problem, mainly because he didn't know the strength of mating marks, they weren't a norm in Fire Country. Thankfully he had read a brief scroll of the inner workings on mating bonds ever since he learned his betrothed was from Wind Country when he was younger, "I'll just bed you and then the connection should come right back. It's that easy." Itachi chose to omit the part about how he was going to have to create an entirely new mating mark over the one Sasuke had made but he'd get to that when the time came.

Naruto gave a hesitant nod. He said yes but the reluctance was obvious in his troubled blue eyes. Itachi ignored it, he'd make Naruto forget all about his old life. Both mentally and physically he'd make Naruto his.

Itachi combed Naruto's hair behind his ear, exposing the blonds marked neck. He ran his lips along the mark, he opened his mouth wide. His lips formed a suction cup around the scarred skin, he unhinged his jaw and before he could sink his teeth in he was pushed away.

"Sorry!" Naruto blushed in embarrassment.

Itachi tsked but didn't let the rebuttal distract him from what he wanted. He'd just have to approach it a different way. He'd have to get rough.

Before the blond could protest itachi hiked up Naruto's robe and wedged himself between Naruto's legs. Naruto let out a surprised scream and reflexively attempted to clamp his legs closed.

"Calm down." Itachi ordered the uncomfortable looking submissive. His anger mixed with his arousal. Angry because Naruto had tried to refuse him again but aroused because Naruto looked so lovely with his legs spread beneath him. He had never seen such a pretty sight. All those years of lusting while waiting for Naruto to come of age had allowed him to daydream of this exact scenario numerous times before but he had never imagined Naruto would look this lovely. Submissives really were such pleasing things to look at. "Have you calmed down? I'm your dominant you have nothing to fear."

Naruto nodded sheepishly. Itachi was right. Why was he feeling so nervous? It wasn't like this was the first time itachi had bedded him. He was having his baby for Kaguya's sake! If he wanted their bond to be repaired then he'd have to allow this to happen. But even as he tried to mentally calm himself down he couldn't because he couldn't feel any connection. It was still missing. How could Itachi fix a connection that didn't feel like it was even there?

"Don't panic, I haven't touched you yet." Itachi leaned down and placed a kiss on Naruto's pouting lips. He let his lips linger on the soft puckered skin, enjoying the sweet milk smell Naruto's hormones produced due to his pregnancy.

Naruto nodded, willfully ignoring the fact that Itachi's kiss felt foreign.

Itachi raised back up. He placed his palm flat against Naruto's thighs, caressing the soft skin and feeling it tremble underneath his calloused fingers. He drew his hands higher and then to the center, drawing little shapes on the inside of Naruto's shaking thighs. He inched closer, closer, so close that his hands were almost on top of Naruto's most intimate area.

"Stop!" Naruto's panicked scream sliced through the air. He sat up and shut his legs. "I-I-" Naruto had no words. What he had just done basically went against the instincts omegas were supposed to have for their mated alphas. An omega was naturally supposed to crave to satisfy their alphas physical needs, it was instinctual for an omega to want to alleviate their mates pent up desires. Naruto was ashamed about what he had just done but he couldn't control his body. A tiny, more dominant instinct was screaming at him to not let Itachi touch him and his body had obeyed it.

"What do you mean wait?" Itachi growled. The rebuff this time hadn't been so subtle and couldn't be ignored.

"I-I feel sick. I don't want to do that tonight." Naruto said quickly. He was breathing hard, his eyes blown and his bottom lip trembling.

"Sick?" Itachi repeated, skepticism coloring his tone, "Is it the baby?" Itachi ventured his hand out and put it over Naruto's belly, as soon as his hand came in contact with Naruto's stomach he recoiled away. An unfamiliar purple chakra had begun to form over Naruto's belly. The chakra had actually burnt him.

"Why did you do that?" Itachi hissed as he cradled his sizzling hand to his chest. The chakra had burnt the skin clean off his palm.

"I don't know? I didn't mean to!" Naruto cried, he touched his belly and the bubbling purple chakra didn't burn him. It had never burned anyone, he didn't even know it could do that! And it had definitely never been purple!

Itachi quickly activated his sharingan and scanned Naruto's stomach. He was stunned speechless. The fetus had ignited the bubbling red chakra on its own it had also infused its own chakra with Naruto's which had turned the chakra purple. He didn't even know what to say, in all his years he had never seen anything like this. A fetus unknowingly emitting chakra through its mother was unheard of. Itachi sat up, intrigued but also in deep pain.

"I'm sorry, itachi. I don't know what's happening but I promise you I didn't intentionally try to hurt you!"

Itachi forced a smile, both to calm down Naruto and to also calm himself down. He was feeling the loose grasp he had on his sanity slipping away as the pain ate away at his hand. "Don't fret, little one. I believe you. Our son is just...extra protective of you is all."

"Our son?" Naruto caressed his glowing stomach, shocked by the mention of his child. "He's doing this, why?!"

"Who knows, maybe he doesn't want daddy to play inside mommy tonight." itachi caressed Naruto's cheek, the submissive was carrying an extraordinary child and he didn't even know it. Itachi cursed. The child should've been his...his brother had taken so much from him he could feel the anger of the betrayal taking over again. He was definitely going to lose it. His hand was trembling, the throbbing of his hand aligned with the rhythmic thumping of his booming heart.

"What should I do?" Naruto asked nervously. Itachi was definitely mad, his eyes were full of fire.

"We'll try to strengthen our bond after he calms down a little, he's only a fetus so he can't maintain that chakra hold for long." Itachi gritted. He stood up. "Naruto, I'll be right back. I need to..." take my anger out on someone who isn't you "get some air, I don't think I can be around you right now without forcing myself on you. Don't wait up, get some sleep. I'll be back late."

"Oh-okay..." Naruto felt a knot twist in his stomach. He should've been happy, his baby was healthy and his alpha desired him greatly and even respected him after how rude he had denied him but Naruto felt anything but happy. He still felt empty, a bond was missing and he knew that it wasn't his bond with itachi but something else...but what other bond could there be? He forlornly watched itachi leave the room. Once he was alone he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his still glowing belly. The swell of his son growing soothed him a little.

After he fell deep into sleep he heard a beautiful voice full of sorrow yearning him to remember something but when he awoke that morning he had completely forgotten what the tortured voice had begged him to remember. The only words he could remember the beautiful stranger saying was

my love.

Deidara woke up to the sound of nails scratching glass. The screech wasn't as unpleasant as the voice that followed.

"Wake up." The deep voice was beautiful, the baritone of it was pleasing to the ears. Deidara hated it. Such a beautiful voice was wasted on such a detestable man.

He knew it was itachi, he didn't need to hear his voice, Itachi's scent gave him away. He smelled of the many flowers that were always present in his room. He couldn't forget the smell because he had snuck many times into Itachi's room while he was in a coma. He used to just watch Itachi's serene face and count the times Itachi's chest would rise up each time he took a breath. He had loved the smell. Now he hated it.

"Get up."

Deidara's body ached. He had never been put under a genjutsu before. It was such a gruesome experience. He had lived through a never ending nightmare for what felt like an entire lifetime. He had always doubted the Uchiha clans strength. He had thought their powers had been exaggerated. But no, they were just as strong as the rumors foretold. Uchihas must've been descended from demons to posses such an evil jutsu. And itachi was the most vile of them all, he truly befitted the title of the king of the demons.

"I said get up," Itachi's melodic voice commanded again. "I need you to go attend to Naruto. If he wakes up and a handmaid isn't there to attend to him he'll get suspicious."

Deidara couldn't move even if he wanted to. Which he did, not for the demon Uchihas sake but for his cousins. He was dying to know how Naruto was. Had itachi hurt him? He better not have touched a single hair on Naruto's head! Deidara swore on Kaguya that once he regained the ability to move he was going to destroy itachi. He'd start small by shoving two clay bombs up Itachi's nose then end big by forcing a bomb straight down Itachi's throat. He'd make sure itachi suffered as he had. He couldn't believe he had been so infatuated with him!

"I know you're awake. Now quit wasting my time and get up."

Deidara fluttered his eyes open. That's all he could do. He glared at itachi. He knew he risked the chance of being put under a genjutsu by staring straight at the demon but he was too brave to feel fear. He was the strongest omega in Wind Country for a reason. Intimidation tactics didn't work on him.

"Good, you're awake. Now go."

Deidara didn't budge. He poured as much hatred as he could into his stare.

"Deidara, was it?" Itachi chuckled, "you're a brave submissive to stare at me like that. You were brave yesterday too, trying to protect your cousin with those strange clay bombs. You're lucky I'm not in the mood to kill right now. Get up or I'll get in the mood."

Deidara's glare didn't waver. He wanted to stuff the demon to the brim with bombs but if he died right now he'd never get the chance. He'd have to cooperate if he was going to get what he wanted.

"I can't move." Deidara admitted. His voice was hoarse. The genjutsu had been so realistic that he had screamed in real life too.

"You're paralyzed aren't you? How silly of me. A side effect of the mangekyo is temporary paralysis, I forgot that-" Itachi suddenly stopped talking. His eyes doubled and seemed to clear. A look of sincerity that Deidara hadn't seen before bloomed in Itachi's black eyes, "I'm so sorry, please tell my brother that I'm-"Itachi's eye twitched as if he were trying to stop himself from saying something, the sinister look came back fiercer than before. "as I was saying I forgot you're paralyzed." Itachi activated his mangekyo and performed a quick genjutsu on Deidara, "there, you should be able to get up. Now stop lying around and go attend to my submissive before I paralyze you again or maybe I'll erase all of your memories just like I did to Naruto. He's in my room, he shouldn't be awake yet. He had a restless night. I had to erase his memories twice last night so be careful with what you say. If you should let anything slip I'll cut your tongue out."

Deidara was confused. What was that just now? It was like another person had momentarily possessed itachi? Had he imagined it? No matter- Deidara wasn't going to miss this chance. He opened his palm and tried to form a bomb but it wouldn't form. He tried again and managed to make a small butterfly bomb but when he tried to throw it it wouldn't detonate.

"Pathetic." Itachi scoffed. He grabbed Deidara's jaw and applied pressure until Deidara's lips jutted together. "I advise you to stop before my patience runs out."

"I won't stop until I blow you to bits!" Deidara smacked Itachi's arm away and spit. It landed right on Itachi's cheek.

Itachi wiped the saliva off. He stared at it. His lips pressed together.

"You should've listened to me now I'm going to kill you." Itachi activated his mangekyo but before he could use it it disappeared turning Itachi's eyes back to black. The calm look of sincerity returned. "Run! I don't want to kill you!" Was all itachi said before the crazed look came back.

Deidara scrambled off the bed and ran as fast as he could. He was freaking out. What in Kaguya's name was happening? There really was another person inside itachi!

Deidara ran until he was at Itachi's room door, he went in without knocking and then slammed the door shut. He locked it then collapsed onto the floor. His heart was beating so hard.

"Dei-nii, what are you doing here?" Naruto's sweet voice interrupted deidaras mini breakdown. He looked up and saw Naruto sitting up in bed. He was dwarfed in the mountain of covers so that only his head poked out.

Deidara let out a relieved cry. "Naruto, you're alright!" He ran to Naruto and enveloped him in a tight embrace. He kissed his cousins perfect scarred cheeks, "I thought that demon had done something to you! I was so worried, everything happened so fast! I tried to save you but I couldn't do anything against those demonic powers!" Deidara explained between kisses."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto blinked owlishly, "are you okay Dei-nii?"

In that moment Deidara remembered something Itachi had said. He had wiped Naruto's memories clean! So that meant that Naruto didn't remember anything, no wonder he was snuggled up in Itachi's bed as if itachi were his alpha. Deidara was conflicted. On one hand he wanted to tell Naruto about what had happened but on the other he wasn't sure if it was wise to do so. He wasn't sure what to do.

"Why did you come visit me? You don't look so good, did you sleep last night?" Naruto asked concerned.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Let's worry about you. I'm here to dress you you need to be bathed and changed." Deidara plastered a fake smile on his face. He had decided to lie. A gut instinct was telling him to keep quiet. He didn't think Naruto would believe him, no, someone else needed to be the one to tell Naruto the truth and that someone was Sasuke. He'd tell Sasuke as soon as he had the chance in the meanwhile he'd keep Naruto away from the demon alpha for as long as he could. Yes he'd keep Naruto in the dark about the truth but he wasn't cruel enough to allow his cousin to be with another alpha who wasn't his mate.

"You're going to help me bathe? But that's Konan's job?" Naruto asked, confusion knitted his blond brows together.

"Not today, I'm going to help you instead. Is that okay?" Deidara bit his lip. It was better to not tell Naruto the truth of Konan either. It would only hurt him all over again.

"Of course it is." Naruto smiled.

"Good, I'll go fill the tub then."

Deidara quickly filled the tub in the adjacent washroom with warm water. He came back to the main room a few minutes later. When he entered the room he was taken aback to see Naruto sitting on the bed with the most dazed look on his face. He looked deep in thought.

Deidara cleared his throat. "The bath is ready."

Naruto came back to. He smiled apologetically to Deidara. "What did you say?"

"The baths ready." Deidara repeated. He was concerned, Naruto didn't seem all there. It was as if the memories itachi had erased had somehow changed Naruto. He had done it too much or something. If you keep erasing then eventually nothing remains. Or maybe Deidara was just reading to much into things and Naruto was just sleepy.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Naruto wobbled off the bed and trudged to the washroom. Once inside Deidara helped to undress his cousin then guided him into the warm tub.

"You're getting so big." Deidara commented to stifle the odd tension. "You're even bigger than Hidan-kun was when he was nine months and you're not even there yet!"

The playful taunt seemed to pull Naruto out of the odd stupor he had been under. He laughed loudly and agreed with Deidara's spot on observation. "Yeah, I am pretty big, huh." Naruto grinned as he rubbed his half submerged belly with his wet hand. "Itachi's baby is certainly healthy to be this big inside me at only six months."

A pang of guilt overcame Deidara. It dawned on him that what he was doing-knowingly withholding the truth from Naruto was awful. He alleviated his guilt by reminding himself that he would be telling Sasuke later. As horrible as the jutsu itachi had performed was he had to admit it was an impressive jutsu to be able to make a mated omega completely forget their alpha. That was something people in Wind Country thought was an impossibility. A mated alpha and omega are one being, they can't live with out each other and the more love they share the stronger their bond is. Sasuke wasn't his most favorite person in the world but Deidara knew his cousin was in love with him. It really did amaze him that itachi was able to make Naruto forget that.

"Do you really not remember anything?" Deidara accidentally voiced his thoughts out loud.

"Remember what?" Naruto hummed.

"Never mind." Deidara bit his tongue from spilling his guilty thoughts. "Hey, let's get you out of this tub. You have to make it down for breakfast still."

"Oh right! I forgot itachi told me there was going to be a celebration at breakfast today. Let's hurry or else we'll miss it!"

"A celebration? For what?"

"For Itachi's return of course!" Naruto beamed.

"Itachi's return?" Deidara repeated incredulously. Did Naruto not hear what he had just said. How could he say that when his memories were supposed to be "erased"? Did that mean Naruto remembered! "Did you remember the truth?!" Deidara asked excitedly.

"The truth?" Naruto cocked his head. "What do you mean the truth? You know Dei-nii you're acting strange today, sleep is important so you really shouldn't stay up all night!"

Deidara was flabbergasted. How did Naruto not see the gap in his thoughts?! "Do you seriously not remember what itachi did to you?!"

Naruto blanked. He looked down and when he looked back up it was as if Deidara hadn't asked anything at all. "Did you say something, Dei-nii?"

"No, no I didn't." Deidara's heart clenched. His early observation had been right, Naruto's mind was all mixed up. He was going to have to find Sasuke as soon as possible but how could he when itachi was out there rampaging?

Sasuke was wound up tighter than he had ever been in his entire life. He hadn't slept at all the previous night. He had stood in the hall of Itachi's room, ready to barge in if he heard anything suspicious. At one point his brother had actually come out the room, which led to a heated exchange. Itachi had wanted him to leave but Sasuke refused. It ended with Itachi incinerating half the hallway including an unlucky maid who thankfully escaped with only a burnt yukata.

Sasuke was exhausted. One night without Naruto by his side had made his inner beast insanely anxious. It needed Naruto constantly, especially right now since Naruto was pregnant. His inner beast wouldn't be satisfied until his submissive was back in his arms where he belonged.

Sasuke briefly wondered if this was karma for how he had ignored Naruto during the time he was trying to get over the whole Neji thing. He was sure it was because this was absolute torture. He hadn't known that Kaguya could be this cruel. He would've never imagined that she'd take away both his pregnant submissive away and also his loving and kind brother at the same time.

His parents were having a special breakfast to celebrate Itachi's awakening and later on in the week they planned to have a huge feast where all of Fire Country except for the Hyūga's were invited to celebrate the fallen heirs return.

Sasuke had decided to skip breakfast. He honestly didn't think he could stomach eating with Naruto and Itachi together. Besides it wasn't lucrative, he had to find a way to stop this whole mess with Itachi as fast as he could, he was going insane! His parents didn't seem to notice the change in Naruto yet but when they did he was nervous how'd they react. Yesterday he believed that his parents would take his side and see the absolute lunacy of what Itachi had done but today he wasn't so sure of that now. The way his mother and father had been acting was leading him to believe they'd always see things Itachi's way. Deep down he was scared that his parents would allow itachi to keep Naruto and then make itachi king as he was always supposed to be. It was a completely rational fear, itachi had always been the favorite and the crown did actually belong to itachi first. Sasuke didn't want to see his inner fears come to fruition so he'd have to end all of this before they could. All he had to do was kiss Naruto but that was much harder than it sounded.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun!" A familiar nauseating voice called out.

Sasuke turned in the other direction, he already knew who that annoying voice belonged to and he wasn't in the mood to indulge its owner.

"Sasuke-kun wait up! I have something important to tell you!" Sakura quickened her step and stopped right in front of Sasuke, completely blocking his path. "I swear Sasuke-kun what I have to tell you is really important." Sakura clasped her fingers together and looked up at Sasuke pleadingly. It was all an act, a ploy of innocence that Sasuke detested about Sakura. He always had and always would.

"I don't care about anything you have to say, move before I burn that fake look off your face."

Sakura stood planted, unmoved by Sasuke's rebuff. Sasuke had to admit, she was a brave submissive to do such a bold thing.

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. He knew Sakura well enough to know that she wasn't going to stop.

"Fine, what is it that you have to tell me?"

Sakura's jade green eyes sparkled, "I just saw something that I don't think Sasuke-kun will like very much." Sakura's innocent expression dropped and she adopted a smug look, "I was walking down the hall minding my own business and then I heard Itachi-san and Naruto's voice coming from Naruto's powder room. I peeked in out of pure curiosity and I saw Itachi-san pleasuring Naruto with his mouth-"

"He what?!" Sasuke banged his fist on the nearest surface, which just so happened to be the wall. The wall cracked, making a sizable hole.

"Itachi-san was tasting Naruto down there between his legs," Sakura continued, not even startled by the Uchiha kings killing aura, "I was so shocked I didn't know what else to do but to go find you so I could tell you."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He was going to have to act faster than he had planned. He wanted to cut his brothers tongue out for even touching Naruto's skin. The jealousy was hindering his ability to think rationally or focus on anything but pulverizing his brother's face. He didn't even notice when Sakura had wrapped her arms around his neck. He only realized it when he smelled her scent invade his senses.

"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura licked her pink lips; she let out a breathy moan right into the shell of Sasuke's ear. "I always knew that Naruto would betray you, he's always belonged to Itachi-san so there's no way he could ever truly give you all of his heart. Let me love you the way he never did." Sakura pressed her lips to the side of Sasuke's mouth, leaving a pink kiss print behind. "I know you better than he ever could."

Sasuke didn't even take a moment to piece together what Sakura was saying. The second he felt her lips touch his skin his reaction was reflexive; he wrapped his hands around Sakura's thin throat. He hoisted her up, her small geta clad feet dangled in the air precariously. She brought her hands up and scratched at Sasuke's hands around her neck. Her pretty green eyes watered, her skin was turning blue from the lack of oxygen.

"I'm going to kill you." Sasuke said evenly. He tightened his grip as he brought Sakura up higher against the wall. "I'm going to make it so that I don't ever have to see that fake smile on your face again or see the gross obsession in your eyes when you look at me."

"S-sas-uke-kun, pl-ease-" Sakura gurgled.

"Please, what? Stop?" Sasuke scoffed, "why should I? All you've ever done is make my life miserable. I've given you plenty chances to leave already and you refuse to. It's like you get off on my hatred for you. I've had enough."

Sakura squeezed her eyes, her face was pass blue and was now a deadly shade of pale white. Her hands had gone limp at her sides, they hung there like two dead weights. "I-love-y-you."

Sasuke laughed. A genuine laugh, amused by the pink haired submissive's words, "you don't love me, you're obsessed with me. You're a lunatic who doesn't understand rejection."

"N-no. I love y-you." Sakura sputtered.

Sasuke was about to answer but the sound of geta clacking on the floor caught his attention. He let his hold on Sakura go when he saw a head of familiar blonde hair bobbing down the hallway. Naruto was walking right in their direction. Two masked men were flanked on Naruto's sides, no doubt they were guards ordered by Itachi to protect Naruto just in case Sasuke tried anything. He didn't expect anything less from his brother. However, he was surprised to see Deidara beside Naruto.

Sasuke quickly let Sakura go. She collapsed to the ground and sucked in a giant gulp of air, the color steadily returned to her cheeks.

Sasuke only let her go because he wouldn't traumatize Naruto by killing Sakura in front of him. As far as Naruto's brainwashed mind could remember he and Sakura were friends and Sakura was his...loving wife.

"Get up!" Sasuke quietly hissed at Sakura. He grabbed her by the arms and forcibly pulled her to stand behind him.

"Why did you choke me?" Sakura hacked out a haggard dry cough. She brought her hand up to her neck and touched the bruising skin.

"Shut up and act normal." Sasuke smiled as Naruto finally arrived in front of them. The two guards stood a whole foot behind; they had their hands on their kunai, ready to strike if Sasuke got too close to Naruto. Sasuke could smell fear on them, they were scared because he was a king and by following his brother's orders they were directly going against their kings command. If Sasuke chose to attack and won they'd be executed. Sasuke decided to not try anything…he'd kill the guards with his own hands later when Naruto wasn't around to see him murder two men in cold blood. He was desperate to get Naruto back but he wouldn't allow his impatience to lead to Naruto becoming traumatized.

"Good morning, Sasuke-san!" Naruto greeted cheerfully. He was wearing a black kimono that had dazzling stitched red flowers on the hanging sleeves, his hair was done up and there were strings of black orchids hanging from it. It reminded Sasuke of the past, when Naruto was still a child and had dressed all in black just because he had been told that black was Itachi's favorite color. It was like a visual reminder that at the moment Naruto belonged to his brother.

"Morning." Sasuke replied in a cool and collected tone. Well, he hoped it sounded cool and collected because internally he was losing it. He had missed Naruto so much and all he wanted to do at the moment was scoop his submissive up into his arms and pepper his face with kisses. But that wasn't possible right now, the closet thing to it that would calm his urges down was to scent Naruto. He leaned forward and sniffed Naruto's neck. Scenting a submissive was just something all dominants did to submissive's they liked, it was common especially if that submissive was their spouse. It was a way to check who their submisisves had been around, Sasuke could only smell faint traces of Itachi on Naruto which meant that Sakura had either lied or had exaggerated what she had seen happening between Naruto and his brother. Naruto realized Sasuke was scenting him. He blushed and took a step back; it was the non-verbal way submissives rejected a dominants interest in them.

Deidara cleared his throat. Naruto had begun to space out again. He tugged on the hem of Naruto's sleeve. Naruto instantaneously snapped out of his daze.

"Sorry, what were we talking about?"

Sasuke raised his brow. He looked to Deidara for clarification. Naruto was behaving strange. Even if his memories had been erased he shouldn't be so forgetful.

Deidara gave Sasuke a pointed look. The promise to explain later resided in his eyes.

"We only exchanged pleasantries, Naruto. Are you not feeling well?" Sasuke almost reached out to touch Naruto's forehead to see if he had a fever. He stopped himself, if Naruto wouldn't even let him scent him then there was no way he'd let him touch him.

"I'm feeling fine. It's so unlike you to worry about me, Sasuke-san." Naruto brought his hand up to cover his mouth to laugh. "Maybe I should be the one asking if you're feeling well?"

I've been worrying about you all night! Sasuke internally screamed.

"I assure you I'm well. I just worry because I haven't seen you all morning."

"You would've seen me earlier if you joined in breakfast this morning. Why didn't you attend breakfast? Itachi really wanted you to be there. It was extra delicious and the cooks even made Itachi a welcome back cherry cake with pretty sugar flowers on it. He wanted you to be the one to cut it." Naruto pouted.

Did Naruto even know what they were actually celebrating? Sasuke doubted it, itachi wouldn't tell Naruto he had been in a coma. So how did Naruto know? There seemed to be an inconsistency in what Naruto remembered. He had gaps in certain memories. "Forgive me, I had a prior engagement that I couldn't miss. I'm sure my brother will understand."

"I'm glad you're back to normal," Naruto suddenly admitted as he self consciously rubbed his hand over his stomach, a pretty red hue tinted his cheeks, "after what happened yesterday night I was scared that Sasuke-san was angry with me. I didn't mean to threaten you like that, I just got territorial. I was feeling...weird yesterday so please don't think to much on what I said or how I acted."

"It's fine. I'm sorry for provoking you." Sasuke had to literally bite the inside of his cheek. He was going crazy. Of-fucking-course Naruto was feeling weird yesterday since he was brainwashed! "Do you feel better now?"

"I suppose so, yes." Naruto made a face as if he didn't even believe the words that had just come out of his mouth. "I don't know why but my hormones feel calmer around you Sasuke-san. They've been driving me crazy all night and morning but now it's like their hardly there, strange isn't it?"

Sasuke almost lost his composure-almost. Of course Naruto felt calmer around him, both their son and Naruto's body knew who his real father was! Oh, how Sasuke just wanted to end this mad charade! He eyed the guards and contemplated if killing them and traumatizing Naruto would be worth it. Deidara gave him another pointed look, it was as if he were telling him telepathically not to do it.

"I really like you Sasuke-san so I'm glad you didn't stay mad at me."

"Of course he didn't you slut." Sakura muttered underneath her breath.

"is that you Sakura-chan?" Naruto's eyes widened, finally taking note that Sakura was standing behind Sasuke. He hadn't heard her. "I didn't notice you since you cut off all of your hair. I really like it." Naruto beamed.

Sakura blinked rapidly, confusion written all over her face. Why in hells name was Naruto talking to her and suddenly adding 'chan' to her name and complimenting her? And what was up this whole conversation...something was going on.

Sakura winced when she felt a pinch to her side. She looked down thinking that a bug had bitten her but it turned out to be Sasuke's fingers pinching her.

She looked at Sasuke questioning the reason for his action.

"Naruto is talking to you answer him."

"Who else would it be?" Sakura growled at Naruto. "You know perfectly well that I'm the only submissive in this palace with short hair."

"Oh, I actually didn't know that. The last time I saw you you had long hair, maybe I really am going crazy." Naruto admitted apologetically.

Sakura gaped. What the fuck was going on?

Sasuke turned his head and glared at her, silently telling Sakura to not voice her very obvious confusion out loud.

When Sasuke turned his head back around he was taken aback by the odd look on Naruto's face. He thought Naruto had spaced out again but then he noticed Naruto's wide blue eyes were staring straight at his cheek. Sasuke rubbed it to see if there was anything on it, when he pulled his hand back he saw the pink paint that Sakura's kiss had left behind.

Naruto stared at Sasuke's cheek for a prolonged second. His eyes twitched and then completely closed. The metallic smell of anger had begun to twine with Naruto's scent. Naruto's shoulders trembled; he looked like he was battling with himself internally.

"What is that?" The blonde omega frowned slightly, his blue eyes practically devoured the sight of the little pink lipstick smudge on Sasuke's cheek."tell me, Sasuke-san." Naruto demanded with the coldness of a possessive omega.

"It's nothing important." Sasuke answered carefully.

"That isn't what I asked," Naruto said frigidly, sparks of fire ignited in his eyes. "I asked what that disgusting smudge on your face is?"

"Naruto-nii, don't get angry about such an insignificant thing." Deidara cautioned from the side. It wasn't good for Naruto to get riled up.

"No, it's not insignificant at all. I want to know what that thing is!" Naruto grabbed Sasuke's face and jerked it closer. "Who kissed you and left that ugly smudge behind!" Naruto abruptly paused. His hand went limp. He closed his eyes and took a step back, after a second his eyes fluttered open.

"Sorry, what just happened? For some reason I felt like hurting someone." Naruto shook his head.

Sasuke raised his brow. What the fuck was that?

"I should be getting back to Itachi, I'm sure he's wondering where I've taken his son off to." Naruto suddenly announced.

"His son?" Sakura exclaimed, completely flabbergasted by the entire situation now. Hearing Naruto say that was just too much. Like the cherry on top of this whole deranged conversation.

"Yes, he's been acting weird all morning. He practically won't let me out of his sight, I told him I was going to the garden and he only allowed me to go after I agreed to take two guards with me so I probably should leave now. He's far too protective, it must be how all alphas are when their omegas are pregnant, huh Sakura-chan?" Naruto chirped.

Sakura walked out from behind Sasuke so that she could be in Naruto's line of vision, the moment Sakura was in full view Naruto let out a horrified scream.

"Your baby! What happened!?" He caressed Sakura's flat stomach. The pink haired omega was fuming, her green eyes stared at Naruto with pure hatred.

"what happened to your baby!?" Naruto was bawling his eyes out now. Tiny sobs ripped out of his throat.

"What the fuck?" Sakura shrieked. "How dare you even pretend about this!"

"Sakura!" Sasuke warned but his warning fell of deaf ears. Sakura had already grabbed Naruto by his hair and had a kunai to his throat.

"I've wanted to slit your throat ever since you became Sasuke's betrothed! You stupid slut!"

"Get away from him!" Deidara was still too weak to produce any bombs but he'd die before he let anyone hurt his cousin. He took out a kunai and lunged at Sakura.

"Dei-nii, don't hurt her! She's not herself right now!" Naruto put his hand up so Deidara wouldn't take another step closer.

"Sakura-chan what is this about? I'm sorry I just wanted to know what happened to your baby." Naruto spoke calmly. "I didn't intend to offend you."

"Drop the kunai, Sakura!" Sasuke ordered. The sight of his pregnant submissive being threatened with a kunai to his throat infuriated him. Especially since the one threatening Naruto was a Sakura.

"No Sasuke-kun, he betrayed you and he insulted me. He deserves to die!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth. Even though he didn't want to while in front of Naruto he was going have to kill Sakura. He grabbed the back of Sakura's head and pulled until she was forced away from Naruto. As Sasuke pulled Sakura's kunai had dragged along Naruto's neck, leaving behind a small, slightly bloody, straight cut.

"You've gone too far this time!" Sasuke thundered when he saw the fresh cut on Naruto's neck. Sasuke ignited his hand into a flame.

"What is this?" Itachi's smooth voice sliced through the chaotic commotion. He walked up to Naruto and ran his finger across the bleeding cut on his neck, "Did Sakura do this to you?"

"She did, but she didn't mean it!" Naruto came to Sakura's defense despite just being attacked by her, "It doesn't even hurt, Itachi don't hurt her!"

"You need to learn how to control your submissive, little brother. If your wife attacks Naruto again I'll have no choice but to punish her." Itachi glanced down at Sakura, he looked at her as if she were a piece of dust floating around in the corner of his eye. She was nothing. Just an insignificant thing taking up space.

"And you," itachi pinned Sakura with an even stare, which immediately made the pink haired submissive nervous, "since you're my brothers submissive I won't kill you but if you ever lay a hand on my submissive again I'll have you executed."

Sakura nodded quickly. Itachi's overpowering killing aura made her quiver with fear. It was a feeling she detested.

"Good. Now Naruto let me have a proper look at what she did to you."

Naruto obeyed and lifted his head, exposing his neck for Itachi. The action was far too intimate for Sasuke, Naruto only did that for him whenever he wanted him to kiss or bite his mating mark.

Sasuke growled.

The territorial growl drew Naruto's eyes to Sasuke. With out realizing it he found himself wanting to go comfort the growling alpha. The odd urge baffled Naruto. Why did he want to comfort an alpha that didn't even belong to him?

Itachi tsked his tongue, a warning. "Calm yourself, little brother." He then went back to observing the bloody cut on Naruto's neck. "does it hurt, little one?"

Naruto shook his head but winced as the process of moving his head caused his cut to sting. His eyes lingered on Sasuke. He really wanted to go comfort him.

"Don't lie to me, it's a deep cut. I can tell my pretty submissive is going to have an unsightly scar here." Itachi fretted.

Sasuke growled at the words of ownership.

"Easy, brother." Itachi warned again.

"Don't call me brother. You don't have the right when you're not even the real itachi." Sasuke hissed lowly.

Itachi ignored Sasuke and instead focused on Naruto. "Tell me honestly Naruto, does it hurt?"

Naruto frowned, he was feeling weird again. Confused about why he felt so detached from his alpha."Fine, it does hurt."

"So stubborn, just like my baby brother." Itachi sighed, "Here, let me see,"Itachi bent down and lapped up the blood on the small cut.

Naruto shrieked. His face turned bright red, on reflex he pulled his hand back and slapped itachi right in the face. The sharp slap resounded through the spacious hallway. It echoed off the high ceiling, reverberating for all to hear. The gathered group froze in silence. No one could actually believe what had just happened. Not even Sakura could fathom the bizarre sight she had witnessed. Uchiha itachi was untouchable, no one, especially a submissive, ever dared to even think of raising a hand to him. He was a royal dominant whom every person in Fire Country knew to respect.

Naruto was the first to break the silence with an apology. "I'm sorry! I-I don't know why I..." Naruto stared down at his hand, which was now tinged red. He couldn't actually understand what he had just done or why. He had just felt this urgent internal lull to reject itachi any way he could.

Sakura erupted into a fit of giggles. Her green eyes screwed together as delighted laughs spewed from her pink lips. "He-he really slapped Itachi-san!" Sakura gasped in a gulp of air as the shock subsided and continued to laugh. Finally Naruto was going to be punished for his disgusting behavior. He was going to get what he deserved. She was jittery just thinking about it. What would itachi do to him? She cackled harder as she began to imagine the blond being delivered an array of extreme punishments.

Itachi and Sasuke remained still staring each other down until Sasuke moved and grabbed Naruto's hand. He pulled him away from Itachi's side. That instantly broke itachi from his frozen stupor.

"Give me back my submissive, little brother. I have to punish him for what he just did." Itachi hissed out. His left eye was twitching. Sasuke could tell that itachi had reverted back into the deep pit of insanity he had been in yesterday. The extra tinge of craziness in his eyes gave it away. It was like looking at a snake that was ready to strike.

"No, you're not going to lay a hand on him." Sasuke said pointedly.

"Give me my fucking submissive, Sasuke before I take him by force!" Itachi screamed. "He has to learn that he can't do things like that!"

"You're insane if you think I'll let you lay a hand on Naruto." Sasuke tightened his hold on his submissive. This wasn't the same itachi from yesterday, the itachi from yesterday had said he wouldn't lay a hand on Naruto since dominants who hurt submissive weren't worthy of being called dominants. This itachi had devolved into an even lower rung of insanity in just one day.

In a blink of an eye itachi activated his mangekyo. Not to be outdone Sasuke quickly activated his sharingan.

"I'll teach you to stop interfering!" Itachi bellowed. He opened his palm and a blue ball of fire appeared out of thin air.

"Enough! I'm going to beat the crazy right out of you!" Sasuke activated two red fire balls in both hands.

The brothers were a terrifying sight. Two powerful alphas at full power prepared to fight. Sakura wasn't dumb, she ran down the hall where she could hide and watch the upcoming fight from a safe distance. Deidara took a few steps back as well, Naruto however didn't move an inch. His blue eyes were transfixed on Sasuke's burning fire orbs. They were bringing forth an unpleasant fuzzy memory of something unclear.

"Come stand over here with me, Naruto-nii!" Deidara waved Naruto over but Naruto ignored him.

"Go, Naruto. I don't want you to get caught up in this." Sasuke ordered as he stared itachi down.

"I-I-" Naruto's feet didn't budge. He couldn't move. The sight of Sasuke in a fighting stance bothered him. He didn't like it. He was mortified to admit it but he was more concerned about Sasuke than he was about itachi.

"Sasuke-san..." Naruto whispered. "I-I can't explain it but I have this feeling deep inside telling me to protect you, please don't fight."

Itachi growled. "Stop affecting my submissive! Your bond should be nonexistent after what i did to him! Why can't he forget you? None of this would have happened if you just left my submissive alone in the first place!" Itachi threw a fire ball. He produced three more and threw them in succession straight at Sasuke's face.

"Naruto, go!" Sasuke urged as he dodged Itachi's attacks and retaliated with one of his own.

"Don't fight, please!" Naruto pleaded.

"Go!" Sasuke ordered again. His voice was laced with desperation as he narrowly escaped one of Itachi's fire balls. Naruto was too close, he could easily get hit by a stray fire attack.

"I can't," Naruto shook his head, watching Sasuke fight was torture. He didn't want Sasuke to get hurt. He wanted Sasuke to win. he should've been rooting for his alpha to be victorious but once again Naruto found himself choosing Sasuke. Why! Why did he feel this way!

Naruto's support for Sasuke had driven itachi deeper into despair. His hands were fueled with two grand blazing blue flames that reached up to the high ceiling. They dwarfed Sasuke's smaller flames.

If itachi landed just one hit he'd win.

Naruto wouldn't let that happen.

"Itachi stop this fight immediately!" Naruto was but an omega but he spoke with the conviction of an alpha. Crying wouldn't solve anything. He felt more comfortable demanding what he wanted, like that was the true him.

Itachi paused, distracted for a second by Naruto's brazenness. "What did you just say to me?"

"I said to stop this fight!"

Itachi's eyes twitched. "Why? Because you don't want me to hurt Sasuke? Maybe I should just kill him so you can stop fucking thinking about him!" With the quickness only a skilled fighter could command he threw a fireball directly at Sasuke. Before it could land Naruto had done the unthinkable. He formed a rasengan and threw it at Itachi's fireball. The wind-based jutsu completely diffused the fire.

Naruto panted. The energy to produce the rasengan had come from pure adrenaline or at least he had thought that until he saw that his hand was outlined with a thin film of bubbly purple chakra. His baby had lent him chakra again!? How!

"Naruto, what is that?" Sasuke asked in awe.

"It's my son, brother. He's learned to lend out chakra without any training. Amazing isn't he? He takes after me." Itachi boasted.

"Shut up!" Sasuke roared. He tackled Itachi to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face. "Snap out of it! Stop behaving like a psychopath!"

"I'm trying to!" Itachi yelled. "I've been trying this whole time!"

Sasuke was stunned. Itachi had actually looked like Itachi when he had said that. There was no crazy look in his eyes. Was that just hopeful thinking? He stopped his assault.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I'm trying-" Itachi's eye twitched and his face darkened. "I said get the fuck off of me!" Itachi threw Sasuke off. "You're lucky you caught me off guard, I won't let that happen again." Itachi sneered as he wiped the blood off his split lip.

"Sasuke-sama, I've been looking all over for you. It's Danzo-san, he has completed what you've ordered. He wishes to see you to show you the prize he collected!" A man dressed in plain messenger attire announced as he flitted hurriedly down the hall. In his haste he neglected to realize that he had just walked into a fight. And not just any fight but a fight between royalty.

"Oh, I can see it's a bad time." The messenger backed away. If he interfered he feared he'd be hanged.

"No it's a perfect time. My submissive and I were just leaving." Itachi roughly grabbed Naruto's hand and pulled him to his side.

"No! I want to stay and-"

"Naruto, I advise you to stay quiet. You've already disrespected me today let's not make it twice." Itachi said in a strained voice.

"Yes, Itachi." Naruto folded his hands together and looked down obediently.

Sasuke could do nothing but watch as his brother took his submissive. He wanted to fight but what could he do? He needed to find the perfect time.

"Deidara, make sure my brother doesn't hurt Naruto. If he does anything send a messenger for me. I'll be back tonight."

Deidara nodded. He bowed and sped up to catch up with Naruto.

"Sasuke-sama, I hate to rush you but Danzo-san is very anxiously awaiting you."

"I heard you the first time!" Sasuke hissed.

As Sasuke walked away with the nervous messenger he sent Sakura a glare. It was a silent message that he knew she'd understand. He'd be taking care of her later. He had a bigger problem to deal with at the moment. Itachi. He had a plan to deal with his brother, it had come to him spontaneously but he was sure if all went well it'd work.

"Lord Uchiha, as I promised my best man has retrieved the eyes of the Hyūga princess." Danzo snapped his wrinkly fingers and out came a masked man. He set a silver box on the table between the Uchiha king and Danzo. The man bowed, "I guarantee that these are Hinata Hyuga's eyes. I plucked them from her head myself."

Danzo made an annoyed sound then shooed the man away. The man bowed again and exited the room. They were in Danzo's quarters. It smelled of a mixture of death and cleaning supplies as if someone had desperately tried to rid the home of the acrid smell but no matter how hard they scrubbed and mopped the stagnant stench still lingered.

"I looked them over myself, Sasuke-san." Danzo boasted proudly, "they are authentic."

Sasuke nodded. He believed the old fool. But just in case he took a peek into the box. There nestled on a satin white pillow were two pearl white eyes. Blood still clung to the nerves. It was a grim sight but it was an equally pleasing one. They were the eyes of a cheater. A submissive that acted innocent but played dirty when no one was looking.

"As I promised, they belong to you now." Sasuke sat back.

Danzo smirked, "I am pleased to hear you say that." A silence ensued, Sasuke could tell the old man wanted to say something else but was holding back.

"Whatever it is spit it out."

Danzo grimaced, "Forgive me if this is out of line Lord Uchiha but I've heard a troubling rumor today."

"What is it?" Sasuke had a pretty good guess what that news was. The council was well aware of Itachi's return. It had been only a day and a night but the council had eyes in the palace. Of course they knew. It would've been surprising if they didn't.

"Itachi-san, he…he claims-"

"Don't worry about such rumors." Sasuke shut Danzo up with a single burning look, "I'll be taking care of everything concerning my brother. You should focus your worries on getting rid of the decaying smell in your house."

Danzo sputtered out a string of apologies, his jowls wobbled as he spouted out hollow words. The man continued all the way until Sasuke left and rode off in a carriage.

Sasuke rubbed his forehead, such an infuriating man. He'd have to deal with him eventually too.

"Sasuke-san, are you ready for your next meeting. We have to discuss the future proceedings of dealing with the Hyūga clan." Sasuke's assistant, a young boy named Inari asked in a gentle voice. He trusted the boy, he was loyal and wasn't easily swayed.

"No, I'm going to have my brother go in my place."

"Huh?" Inari blanked. Short circuiting at his masters words.

"I'll explain soon, we'll meet with Shisui first. We have to make sure he's at the meeting, he's essential to my plan."

Inari jotted down everything as Sasuke spoke. He didn't know what his master was planning but he was nervous, he hoped it worked.

The second night without Naruto proved even harder than the first. Sasuke knew it would be which was why he was grateful that he had set a plan in motion. Itachi wanted to be king of their clan, in his deluded mind he truly believed himself to be exactly that-a king. He had once been but now that position belonged to Sasuke. No matter what others thought that was the title he had inherited from Itachi when he fell in battle. So Sasuke hatched a scheme that would use this weakness. He had made Shisui- a man that he knew his brother explicitly trusted despite his mixed up mind- and had him bring news to itachi. News that itachi wouldn't be able to ignore. He had Shisui divulge what had happened to Hinata and the threat that Neji had sent. (The threat hadn't actually arrived yet but Sasuke expected one any day now so he had had Inari fabricate one.) He knew his brother wouldn't allow Neji, a man who he hated even in his previous sane state, to make any claims against naruto. His brother would call a council and want to discuss it. Sasuke had secretly allowed his loyal councilmen to meet with itachi behind his back. The ones he didn't trust would be fooled right along with itachi.

With his brother away that left Naruto all alone just as Sasuke had planned. He snuck out his room. A strange feeling it was to sneak about when he was a king and didn't ever need to ask permission or worry about his whereabouts. But not today. Today he wasn't acting as a king he was just a dominant trying to get back his submissve.

He knew the halls better than anyone else. He thought back to the time when he was a young nine year old boy and had looked for Naruto all over the palace in a bid to "expose" and "confront" naruto. Now here he was years later looking for Naruto in order to gain back his love. He traveled through the palace and stopped in front his brothers room. Two guards, the same guards he had seen at Naruto's side earlier that morning were standing at attention on either side of the door. One pulled out a kunai and the other pulled out a ball and chain.

Sasuke tsked, "I'm dissapointed. You're the best my brother could get to guard my submissive?"

"Naruto-san is Itachi-sama's submissive you have no business here. Leave before I kill you!" One of the guards seethed.

"The words of a traitor should be silenced, don't you agree?" Sasuke feigned a smiled at the guard who kept silent. In the same breath he ignited his hand with fire and thrusted it through the guards chest. He slid it out, blood coating his hand as the slain guard crumpled to the ground. His ball and chain he had so fearlessly wielded a second ago laid discarded at his side.

The other guard took a step back. His back against the wall. He quaked in his boots but he still kept a ferocious glare trained on Sasuke. "You were never our clans king! Itachi-sama still lives, even when he was in a coma he was the rightful ruler. The only traitor here is you!"

Sasuke waited for the man to finish ranting. A kindness he only bestowed upon him because he subconsciously wanted to hear out what his clansmen truly thought of him. Many accepted him but he knew there were still some loyal to his brother. He couldn't blame them, some of those men had lived there whole lives loyal to Itachi. He never punished them for being unloyal but if any of then stood in his way he'd strike them down.

"Have a good journey on your way up to Kaguya." Sasuke put his hand through the mans chest and stepped aside as the guard fell forward. He gurgled out a curse and then slumped into a heap on the floor.

Truly, they were not worthy to carry the name of the Uchiha clan.

Sasuke bent and wiped his hand on one of the guards. Cleansing himself from the bloody mess. He stood. He was suddenly nervous. Naruto was on the other side of that door. Was he alone? Would Itachi really leave Naruto with only two guards while he was away? If he did his brother was foolish. As if the universe had heard his doubts an array of guards came stampeding towards him from down the hall. There were about seven, all masked and carrying various weapons.

"That's more like it." Sasuke ignited both his hands and stood his ground. Adrenaline coursed through him. He was momentarily offended, was this really all the men itachi had assigned to protect Naruto? Naruto deserved more and much better. He threw fireballs into the incoming crowd. He managed to take out two men, the other five were smarter and dodged out of the way. He braced himself, he would win but it'd be a time consuming fight-time he didn't have. Out of nowhere he heard a bomb go off. It took out three men. They blew up right in front of his face. Their innards exploded all over the pristine walls and floor. He whipped his head around, where had that blast come from?

He saw the culprit sprinting down the hall right towards him behind the remaining men. Deidara. He was smiling wildly, and had two floating butterfly shaped bombs in his upturned palms.

"I'll take care of the rest of these assholes! Go to my cousin before that crazy demon comes back!" Deidara threw one of the butterflies blowing up one the traitorous guards legs. The man wailed in pain, he threw a kunai at Deidara which the submissive easily dodged and retaliated by throwing a bomb and blowing the mans arm off.

Sasuke smirked. So this was Deidara in action. He had been wrong to ever question if Deidara was a capable guard for Naruto. He was a killing machine. Any other day he would've stood and watched the submissive blow these men to smithereens but Naruto was waiting. He saluted Deidara and went into Itachi's sleeping chambers.

The room was dark except for a couple of candles that were littered randomly around the room. In the muted glow of the light Sasuke could make out Naruto's prone form on the large bed. He laid there, a translucent sleeping robe and a short white juban was all he wore. He was far too exposed for Sasuke's taste. Here in another dominants sleeping chambers Naruto should be covered. It irked it but that was the least of his worries. He walked in short quiet steps, alert and cautious just in case Itachi had another guard hiding somewhere in here. He didn't sense any other presence so he dropped his guard once he arrived at Naruto's side. His bent to his knees, overwhelmed to be at Naruto's side once again.

He paused and listened to the sounds of Naruto's breathing. Asleep like this he looked so serene. His pillowy lips slightly parted, and his scarred cheeks flushed as he took labored breaths. Of course it was hard for Naruto, he was heavily pregnant and unknowingly didn't have his dominant to calm him. His serene face was a facade to the turbulent storm brewing within him.

"Love," Sasuke called out in a quiet voice. He brought his hand up and placed it over Naruto's swollen stomach.

Naruto stirred. His eyes blinked the sleep away and locked onto Sasuke's black orbs. That voice was the same one calling for him in his dreams. That beautifully tortured voice...

"Sasuke-san?" Naruto's eyes strayed to Sasuke's hand. "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." Despite his words Naruto made no move to remove Sasuke's hand. In fact he seemed to be reveling in the feeling of Sasuke's hand on his stomach. This was the feeling of a bond Naruto thought passively. But why did he he feel it with Sasuke-san? He had felt it earlier too. But then Itachi had said something that made him feel dizzy and he had forgotten all about it. But the memories of that morning seemed to be coming back thanks to Sasuke's hand on him.

"Do you want me to go then?" Sasuke asked quietly. He shouldn't be wasting time like this, he knew it. Itachi could come at any moment and then all of this would've been for nothing but he couldn't force Naruto even if it was a brainwashed version of Naruto.

"No, I don't." Naruto revealed, he looked as confused as he sounded.

They locked their gazes. Naruto not moving and Sasuke obeying. They stayed that way for a minute. Their bond was strong enough for Naruto to feel it Sasuke knew it or else the submissive would've never allowed him to touch his pregnant belly.

"I'm confused." Naruto murmured. He hesitantly put his hand over Sasuke's on his stomach, he closed his eyes and basked in the feeling. "When Itachi tried to touch me my son burned him with purple chakra. But with you...he's calm. Why does he behave like you're my alpha?"

"Because I am, love." Sasuke thumbed Naruto's mating mark, "I am yours and you are mine."

Naruto eyes fluttered open, this was so wrong but his body was agreeing with Sasuke's claim. Yes, this alpha was his and his body knew that he belonged to him. The inkling of a bond that he could feel buzzing just with Sasuke's proximity was stronger than the bond he had felt with Itachi ever. Naruto felt it earlier too when he had met Sasuke in the hall but now he knew he hadn't imagined a bond it was real and it was there no matter how faint."Kiss me, Sasuke-san."

Sasuke came undone at the request. His submissives approval was everything. He grabbed Naruto's face and gently pecked Naruto's pink lips. It was soft and built up gradually in seconds. Sasuke licked swaths along Naruto's bottom lip. He sucked it into his mouth and then kissed him softly again. Claiming the sweet lips as his. He opened his eyes and stared into Naruto's tear filled eyes. Sasuke pulled away, alarmed by the sight.

"You're crying? What's wrong, love?!"

"I missed you!" Naruto hugged his alpha tight against his chest as if it had been years that they'd seen each other. His memories had all come flooding back. Every single one. He littered Sasuke's face in kisses, not leaving a single spot untouched. Sasuke kissed naruto back just as fervently. They lost themselves, taking in each other's scent for a long awhile.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so ashamed I forgot you!" Naruto sobbed into Sasuke's chest, switching to his mother tongue with the surge of his emotions, "I'm mortified at some of the things I said!"

"Shh, it's okay. It wasn't you who said them. It was my brothers version of you." Sasuke rubbed circles into Naruto's back, using Naruto's language too.

Sasuke licked up the trail of Naruto's salty tears, letting the submissive cry his heart out.

After a few minutes Naruto sucked in a shaky breath, his tears had run dry. He laid back down and pulled Sasuke so that the alpha came down with him. Sasuke hovered so that his weight wasn't resting on Naruto nor his protruding stomach which housed their son.

"Make me yours, make love to me," Naruto kissed Sasuke's lips, languidly, no rush. Lips meshing together in familiarity. "I need to feel you." Naruto panted against Sasuke's mouth.

Sasuke nodded. There was no rush but at the same time there was. There was an urgency between them that was ringing in their ears. It was the need to claim each other all over again.

Sasuke rested onto his knees. He rolled Narutos short juban up around his chest then peeled off Naruto's underwear. Naruto's legs shook slightly as he did so. Anticipation dominated his very core. Sasuke bent and kissed Naruto's open lips then lifted Naruto's legs up so that he was as bent as he could be which wasn't a lot because Naruto's hanging stomach got in the way. He admired the pretty sight of Naruto's flowering opening, it was wet already. Inviting Sasuke to enter it. It was probably a whirlpool thing, naruto was the only male submissive that Sasuke knew who could self lubricate. He hadn't noticed it at first but over time he had realized it. He bent and kissed the wet bud. Naruto's stomach fluttered.

"I've missed you so much, my love." Sasuke kissed up Naruto's thighs, his round stomach, his rapidly rising chest, then his bonding mark. He licked the mark then bit down on it. Naruto keened, his alpha claiming him and biting his sensitive bonding mark made him want to cry. The love he felt for Sasuke was surreal.

Naruto trapped Sasuke against his body with his legs. A silent plea to enter him. Sasuke used the wetness seeping out of Naruto to coat his fingers then plunged two into him. He moved them in and out easily. Naruto hugged sasuke, quiet vows of love spilled pass his lips as Sasuke moved his fingers in and out.

"Inside, Sasuke." Naruto demanded breathlessly. Rocking his hips up desperately to get Sasuke's fingers deeper.

Sasuke withdrew his fingers, they were sticky, he mindlessly tasted them. Sweet-he refocused his attention back on Naruto when the submissive gave out a needy small whine.

"Please, Sasuke."

Sasuke rubbed Naruto's trembling thigh as he grabbed his dick and lined it against Naruto's hole. He slid inside in one easy thrust. He sighed as Naruto's heat cocooned him. It felt like coming home.

"I feel so full, so happy!" Naruto cried as he clung to Sasuke, "I love you, Sasuke. I love you so much I could never love another alpha the way I love you!"Naruto's lips, pink cheeks, belly and everything about him seemed swollen with readiness and Sasuke loved it.

Sasuke hummed in pleasure. Naruto's words were like a lullaby. Promises that soothed his inner beast to the point of submission. "I love you too, Naruto. I always have and I always will love only you." Naruto was like a beautiful shining light in his life without him everything was devoid of color. Sasuke had known this but he had never known just how dark it could get without Naruto there.

The light of his life, his beautiful sovereign.

"What are you going to do to them?" Deidara hissed from his tied up position on the floor.

He had been standing guard outside Itachi's room just in case more guards came. He'd risk his life and fight them all in order for his cousin to get his true alpha back. He needed it, what itachi had been doing to Naruto had left his mind loopy. It was messing his mind up. Sasuke was the only one who could fix him. Deidara was confident that he could stop every single guard that confronted him, they were weak, all of them were except for him...Itachi.

Deidara had put up a fight but the alpha was strong and cunning, he had easily outsmarted him, pinned him against the wall and tied his arms together so that he couldn't aim his bombs even if he made them.

Itachi closed the door. The sight of his brother making love with Naruto was imprinted in his mind. It wasn't necessarily the sex but the words that they had exchanged. He hadn't known that a bond could be so deep. It stirred something foreign inside of him. It reached far past the storm of betrayal that had clouded his mind and plunged it into darkness and pulled forth the remnants of his true self. His brother had told him, pleaded with him that he had never loved a submissive the way he did Naruto and Itachi had believed it too when hi brother had desperately told him that in a pleading tone. But seeing it was different than just hearing it.

No matter what he did Naruto would never be his. Naruto loved Sasuke more than anything. Probably even more than him self. Such selfless love which wasn't grounded in only lust or obsession was too pure to ever be swayed.

"I'm not going to do anything to them." Itachi sighed, his head was pounding. His head felt as if it had just underwent a grand metamorphosis. It had felt like two entities had been battling inside his mind ever since he had woken up from his coma. He had boughts when he felt truly himself but all that had happened during those moments were blurry. He could recall scattered images and snippets of conversations but they were all a jumbled mess in his mind.

"Huh!?" Deidara exclaimed.

"I'm not going to do anything to them," Itachi repeated, he went over and untied the submissive. Deidara eyed the alpha warily, Itachi didn't look insane anymore...he didn't sound crazy either. Was this the other Itachi that he had gotten a glimpse of when he had escaped from Itachi's wrath that morning? "There's nothing to do, Naruto's heart belongs solely to my brother. No jutsu in the world could ever erase that."

Itachi was saying what Deidara already knew. He rubbed his bruised wrist as he glared Itachi down. No matter the reason for Itachi's sudden bout of sanity he still was on alert. The last time he had been alone with Itachi he had almost been killed. If Deidara remembered correctly the "sane" Itachi only came out for a brief moment and then the crazy one would come back out.

"You don't have to be so guarded, I'm not going to attack you." Itachi couldn't really remember this submissive. He knew basics like that his name was Deidara and that he was related to Naruto. His only true memory of Deidara was staring into his watery blue eyes seconds before putting him under his mangekyo.

"How do I know that?" Deidara took a step back and produced a clay bomb. "You're not exactly trustworthy."

Itachi hung his head, "what I did to you, I'm sorry. I would never attack a submissive ...I can't remember it all but...I've done a lot that I can't ever take back and for that I am truly sorry."

Deidara gaped. He was about to say something but then itachi walked away. His head slightly bowed as he stalked down the hall.

Deidara hated him but in that moment as he watched Itachi's retreating back he couldn't help but feel a little bad for the alpha. He was such a lonely looking demon king.

He hated itachi, he truly did. But not for what he had done but for making him feel bad for him.

It was a startling feeling, to feel sympathy for a demon. An alpha who had tortured him and imprisoned his cousin.

He felt it though...

Only a little.