Deny

by Kakasmai King

Pairing: Sasuke x Naruto . . . eventually. Sakura x ?

Rating: R-ish, but close to NC-17 I believe

Warnings: Yaoi/slash, Lemon-ish, Language, OOCness (they are older and act how I would imagine they would at that age) AU (mostly because I haven't read all of Naruto and this is in the future)

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Naruto', nor am I making any money. This is simply for my enjoyment and hopefully, other's enjoyment as well.

Summary: All Naruto does is deny himself -- happiness, dreams and even love. But Sasuke has had enough of that.

Author's Notes: This story is near its completeness and I swear that I will update this once a week. It is a shorter story and my first 'Naruto' fanfiction, so please enjoy. Don't forget to leave me a little note of your opinion of the story. We starving writers need a bone once in awhile. LOL. >P!

o0KK0o

"I'm sorry, Naruto."

No reply was offered by the young man that was looking out at the small window of the Godaime's office. The only movement he made was the slight frowning of his brow as his eyes seemed to continue to stare out listlessly.

Tsunade sighed as she continued to observe her silent guest. She knew the news hurt him, but he kept it inside and left his face impassive - a talent he learned at a young age. There was a time he would have ranted and raved, his voice bellowing and breaking tender ear drums, but he had long since matured . . . mostly.

Though, physically he was a boy no longer. Now at the age of 23, Naruto had grown into a fine young nin - an ANBU, but not quite a leader because the council and many villagers and nins were afraid of giving him too much power in position. Naruto was still short at his height of 5'10'', but in place of his height he was sturdy and quite muscular. Naruto had long lost all the baby fat of youth and in place was a smooth, angled, sculpted - admittedly scarred - body of a skilled nin.

The sky blue eyes were replaced with the deepest of indigo and long lines that imitated whiskers licked at his cheekbones. His eyes were the combined colours of his own at birth and the blood crimson just as the whisker lines had became longer and thicker over the years all because of his shared body with the nine-tailed fox demon, Kyuubi.

The use of the Kyuubi's chakra over the years had slowly, but surely impacted on the young man's appearance. There were times that it would seem Naruto's pupils were slitted, or his fangs almost feral which caused the village to whisper in fear. Though nothing was like his feline movements that were almost non-human.

Though that was why they were here today.

"Naruto." Tsunade called gently, to stir him from his own musings as she came from her own. Naruto turned to face her, his face slicked of all emotion. "I am sorry. It wasn't my wish. The council . . . they felt you being Hokage would be . . . dangerous." She frowned at her own words, her mouth twisting at the distaste of the words.

"Heh." Naruto sneered, shaking his head as he moved from the window. He rolled his shoulders in a stretch causing the fitted orange T-shirt to pull gently across his chest before relaxing again. "You think after all these years of devoted service would account for something." Naruto muttered, stretching his jean clad legs.

"I know exactly what you are thinking - they chose a man who did betray the village once long ago." Tsunade arched a eyebrow as Naruto smirked, shaking his head.

"Honesty, I'm not surprised. As I grew up, I knew I would never become Hokage. It would turn out exactly how it began - a dream." Naruto sighed, sounding defeated and Tsunade's heart went out to the young man she had felt instantly drawn to at the first meeting.

"Just because you aren't the Hokage doesn't mean you failed, Naruto. It doesn't make you any less of a nin. You are undoubtably one of the strongest ninjas in existence - with or without Kyuubi. And I hope you will continue to protect Konoha." Tsunade said, reaching out to place a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"Pfft. You think just because a bunch of assholes that think they are to high and mighty to get their hands dirty are gonna stop me? Baka!" Naruto snorted, crossing his arms as he glared at Tsunade. She just smirked and smacked the back of his head.

"Can it, brat."

"Ow!"

"You shouldn't call the council that, nor should you call the current Hokage an idiot." Tsunade as she moved to sit back at her desk.

"Oh and you haven't called them worse?" Naruto demanded, rubbing the back of his head causing his unruly blond locks that hung around his cheekbone to become more tussled. He had long moved his hitai-ate to his upper left arm because he had found it distracting during fights when it slipped down from sweat and just various movements that jarred it. Thus now his hair hung fairly loosely and unheeded around his face.

Tsunade didn't bother answering and ruffled through some papers as if she had busy and had better things to do.

"Tsunade . . . when is he going to be told?" Naruto voice was hushed and his face taught in a scowl. Tsunade sighed as she looked up.

"When he returns from his latest mission which should be in the next few days." Tsunade said as gently as possible. She truly grieved for him. She thought when she was to finally give up her place as Hokage, it would be to the man across from her.

Yet fate was seemed to remain cruel for him.

"I . . . I may tell him before he comes to you." Naruto murmured, looking out the window again.

"I figured you might. I think he'll feel better hearing it from you. If I was to tell him, he probably wouldn't accept." She muttered, shaking her head.

"What makes you think that he will at all?" Naruto smirked, his eyes narrowed.

"Because I know that if you couldn't be Hokage, you would wish it to be Sasuke." Tsunade said, voicing what they both knew. Naruto sighed and scratched absently at the old scar that ran down the left side of his face onto his cheek making it appear that on one side of his face

he had another colourless whisker.

"Yeah . . . it's just . . ." Naruto trailed off, not bothering to finish. He and Tsunade both knew it that it was hard for him. He had longed for the recognition, acceptance as a child and later when he had learned his parentage, to fill the footsteps of his father. He had the power and strength to receive the recognition, but instead of being accepted for his loyalty, it had increased the fear with elders and villagers that didn't know his true character. He was accepted by his equals, but not by the village.

To most, Naruto was still the evil vessel that carried the nine-tailed demon, instead of the strong, worthy nin that he had become.

Which of course, meant he would never take his father's place.

"Ah well. The family man can finally stay home and Sakura won't have to worry about her hubby going off to save the world. Besides, Yuki needs more training." Naruto said, shrugging as if he was to brush it off.

Tsunade smirked, thinking of the young 7 year old Uchiha prodigy. Yuki was more of a mixture of Sasuke and Naruto then Sasuke and Sakura. He was wildly opinionated and loud like Naruto at his age, yet he was determined and focussed like his father.

However, Yuki did share the emerald green eyes of his mother. His eyes were warm, but Tsunade had been often at the receiving end of a stern, focussed look that had eerily reminded her of his father. Yet, other then the eyes, the rest was definitely the Uchiha blood. His long black hair that was cut short so he couldn't even be tucked behind the ears while his body was wry and lithe - slick and swift like a katana.

Yuki definitely shared his father's deadly speed.

"I'm not sure if Sasuke being home is much of a dilemma to Sakura as it once was." Tsunade muttered, shaking her head as she stared at the papers.

She received no immediate response from Naruto, but she could feel the tension start to rise within him.

It was no secret that the marriage between the Uchiha prodigy and his pink-haired stalker wasn't for love. Admittedly, at the time there was love, but it was puppy love on her part and Sasuke was simply looking for someone to accept him - he was badly scarred after Orochimaru episode. And at the time, Naruto wasn't sure what to make of the changes in his rival and neither did Sasuke.

Their bond had been strained to say the least.

Anyway, protection wasn't used and within a few months it was discovered that Sakura was pregnant. Of course, Sasuke did the right thing - with Naruto behind him, prodding and poking at the appropriate times - and married Sakura.

They were 17, young, immature and had no idea what life had in store for them. They were happy at first, but slowly they began to realize the error of their ways.

Of course, Naruto tried - and mostly prevailed - to be oblivious. When Sakura and Sasuke had gotten together, he fell into a depression. His crush was with his rival and he was having trouble being left out. Yet he kept this from them and pushed for them to be together. Naruto ignored his own feelings and needs for them.

He wanted them to be happy.

Of which was obvious that they weren't after about a year or so. Sasuke would spend as much time out of the house - mostly with Naruto - as possible and take any mission he could. Sakura on the other hand threw her life into her son and then becoming a teacher at the academy once Yuki was old enough for her to take him with her.

Tsunade knew at first that Naruto felt like the jaded lover the lost his only love and also felt betrayed by the only boy he consider a friend and an equal. She also knew that Sasuke was unwilling to marry her, knowing Naruto's feelings which Tsunade found strange being that Sasuke had already slept with her. However, it just proved he didn't consider it permeant, let alone anything of significance.

It was like once he was done, Naruto could have her back.

Or by having her, he could have Naruto back.

Of course, being the selfless creature that he is, Naruto put on his mask and played his part of indifference of his past and nonexisting crush while pushing Sasuke to bend his knee so he could continue the bloodline and make a honest woman out of Sakura.

The idea had merit.

For the first year of their marriage, Naruto proved to be hardly around, taking mission left, right and centre. And then he proceeded to date the shy Hinata for the barest of months before just giving up on trying to replace the gapping hole where Sakura and Sasuke once were held.

Naruto returned and found himself a godfather, thus he threw himself into Yuki and Sasuke's life for the most part. Sasuke and Naruto had finally found a common ground between friendship and rivalry, and together they trained and taught Yuki.

"Sasuke and Sakura are fools." Was all Naruto said, shaking his head sadly while scowling.

"How is Gaara?" Tsunade asked, looking to change the subject. She didn't like the dark look on Naruto's face. It wasn't one of anger, but one of disappointment. Disappointment in himself, like he blamed himself for pushing them into a loveless marriage.

"No idea. Haven't talked to him in awhile, but no news means good news with him." Naruto replied simply. Tsunade just smirked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Pervert. Jiraiya is rubbing off on you. You know that Gaara and I broke up a year ago on mutual terms." Naruto muttered, rolling his eyes.

For about a year or so before, Naruto and Gaara occasionally dated, seeing each other when they had the chance. It was speculated that something firmer would become of it since Naruto's mood was much better for the time they were together.

Of course, Sasuke's was worse, but that is neither here nor there.

"Hmmm." Tsunade hummed as if all knowing. Naruto snorted, rolling his eyes once again.

"Look, I'm going to head out. Got to do the laundry and shit before guard duty." Naruto waved as he made his way to the door.

"Alright, but you be good. And try not to make too much trouble . . ." Tsunade wavered off in an attempt at a warning. She also tried glaring but Naruto simply shrugged, not at all fazed by her attempt at a death glare.

"Since when have I ever been trouble?" Naruto smiled, trying his best to look innocent. "I mean, it could be anyone who eggs and toilet papers the council office, right?" Naruto scratched his chin, looking up but a sly fox-grin splitting his face.

"Naruto . . ." Tsunade tapered off in warning.

"The office is just right out in the open. It's just asking for trouble."

"Naruto!"

"What? I mean, it's not my fault it just spontaneously combusts, right?"

"NARUTO!"

o0KK0o

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