Hachi

Chapter One

Who would have thought that Naruto Uzumaki, a creature of pure impulsiveness and completely lacking in self-control, could have ever learned how to hold onto his anger? Yet he lasted the entire party, from the afternoon until late at night, and no-one save those who knew him best would have known that he was fuming. Yes, he'd learned how to act, at long last.

But Sasuke knew; and he knew that the moment they returned home, they were in for a fight. Oh, it had been brewing for months- almost a year, even, ever since Sakura had announced that little Sakumo was on his way. Today's party had been to celebrate the chubby baby boy's third month. All day the tension had been pushing past boiling-point. Sasuke could see it in the way Naruto held his shoulders, the stiffness in his back, the smile that was just a little too crooked.

And he'd avoided Sasuke the whole night, not even looking at him save for that one wistful, longing glance Naruto had sent in his direction, when Sasuke had been cradling Sakumo on the couch. Okay, Naruto, I get it, Sasuke thought to himself as they left Sakura's house and headed home.You've dropped enough hints. You want more.

It took precisely two minutes to walk from Sakura's house to their own through the trees. Sasuke held open the front door as Naruto stormed passed him and headed for their bedroom.

"Tea?" Sasuke called, ignoring the blonde's rapidly deteriorating mood as he himself moved towards the kitchen.

"Mm," Naruto mumbled back, flashing him a brief look before disappearing around the corner. That meant yes, so Sasuke placed two cups on the kitchen counter as he boiled a kettle of water.

By the time Naruto reappeared Sasuke was perched at the kitchen table with his hands wrapped around a warm cup of green tea, mentally preparing himself for the coming argument. They'd been together now for- eight years? Nine? After all this time Naruto had gotten so good at deciphering Sasuke's wants and wishes without the need for words, but apparently this was just too big of an issue for him to let go of.

Naruto took his own cup of tea from the counter and sat down at the opposite end of the long table. He didn't drink it; he just sat there glowering down at the table, his eyes hardening, his fingers curling into a fist.

"You might as well just say it," Sasuke spoke, his voice low and flat. He took another sip of tea. "Out with it, then."

"Don't see the point," Naruto muttered, glancing up only briefly. "You don't want a kid."

That wasn't entirely true; he just didn't want a kid any more. He had wanted one. He'd been so involved with Sakura and Kakashi's first baby, after all- often against his will. Being the Hokage's assistant meant diaper-changing and bottle-feeding, according to Kakashi's logic. Well, Sasuke had gotten used to baby Yuzu, and for a whole month- maybe two or four even- all he'd wanted was one of his own.

"You had your chance," Sasuke said across the table calmly.

Naruto exploded, slamming his hand down on the table. "That was five years ago, Sasuke! I'm allowed to change my mind!"

Sasuke exhaled softly, placing his cup down on the table. "We agreed. No children. End of story."

"Things change!" Naruto declared, "and you can't just decide something like that by yourself! You've been telling anyone who'll listen that we'renever having children, don't you know how hurtful that is?!"

He had to hold himself back from rolling his eyes. Oh, it really annoyed Naruto when he did that. "Anyone who'll listen? Honestly, Naruto, you make it sound like I'm going out of my way to do it," he growled.