Kaerizaki
By The Ambitious Blank

Disclaimer- Naruto doesn't belong to me. I wish it did, though...
Comments- Okay, this is an idea that's been floating around in my head for a while. It's yet another angsty fic, but it's gonna be fluffy and sweet for a while, too. n.n The title means "second blooming", or "reflowering". I don't know much Japanese yet, so I really don't know if it's an appropriate title.. if not, someone please correct me.

It takes place several years later. Sasuke's curse seal has been eliminated, because Orochimaru was killed. (I hate that bastard.) Itachi still lives, but no one knows his whereabouts. Naruto's seal has unravelled, and the fox is rampaging again. Sasuke, Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, and Lee are all Jounin.. all of the others (at least in Konoha) are Chuunin. Sasuke and Naruto are 20. Warnings are for angst, cursing, spoilers, some violence.. yeah, same old, same old.

---Chapter 1- Regret! Things Left Unsaid!

"Sasuke, we need assistance!" The radio crackled at the Uchiha, who groaned.. as if the situation wasn't desperate enough as it is.

"Give me a sec, Neji, I'm busy right now!" He answered, dashing through the trees. As he jumped into the clearing where the distress signal had come from, he saw the problem immediately. The fox was rampaging in their direction, and Shikamaru had been injured, his leg crushed beneath a falling tree trunk. The Uchiha dove down, breaking apart the tree trunk with a few well-placed punches, scooping Shikamaru up in his arms. Lee exploded from the forest in front of him.

"I'll take him, Sasuke-kun. Neji still needs help back there, some of the Chuunin got themselves into trouble." He said, taking Shikamaru. Shikamaru groaned.

"Of all times for that tree to fall.." He muttered as Lee made to head off, back in the direction of the village.

"I'm on it. Thanks, Lee." Sasuke took off again, darting through the trees, listening to the screams of the Kyuubi in the distance.

Dammit, Naruto...

----

It had all started three days ago. Sakura had been the first to notice it, as Naruto led the small group of Chuunins on a mission.. the Uzumaki was irritable to the extreme, and had almost picked a fight with Chouji, which had surprised her. Naruto, Chouji, and Shikamaru were all pretty good friends with each other. She'd reported it to Sasuke, who had promised to take a look.

Sasuke had noticed it too.. when he went to fufill that promise to Sakura, he'd seen Naruto eating alone at a small cafe. He'd placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, and the Uzumaki had whirled around and tackled him to the ground, pointing a kunai at his throat. Sasuke's Sharingans had immediately shown themselves, more out of habit than anything, widened as he realized Naruto had also switched to his "fox form".. the form where his eyes went blood red, his whiskers blurred, and his fingernails and toenails became claws. The Jounin had quickly gotten up and apologized, though rather.. hesitantly. When Sasuke asked if anything was wrong, he furiously denied it.

Jiraiya was the next to investigate. Even despite his age, he still felt like a sort of father-like figure to Naruto, and had gone to check it out. Tsunade had gone with him and they'd performed a sort of check up on him. Tsunade later called Sasuke to her office, and told him that the seal was unravelling. There was nothing they could do to re-seal it until it broke completely, and she immediately prepared the Jounins and Chuunins for battle.

The next day, Naruto had gotten even worse. He attacked a few people around the town, remaining in his fox form.. Kakashi and Sasuke had captured him and taken him several miles out into the forest, caging him. He'd fought them the entire way with tooth and claw,
The seal shattered the next day.

It happened early in the morning, while half the Jounins were on the watch, Kakashi and Sasuke among them. There was a huge explosion in the direction of the forest.. all eyes had immediately snapped to it. The villagers had been evacuated to the safety bunkers. Kakashi had made a comment on how this was just like the wars a few years ago as they rushed into the fray to keep the Kyuubi from destroying the village.

The other half of the Jounins emerged from their homes, rushing after the first wave. The fox roared, it's voice sending waves out over the forest, bending the trees. The Jounin shielded their faces and pushed onward, the Chuunin chasing after behind them. Voices crackled continuously over the radios.. stealth wasn't the biggest issue in this mission.. it was strength and skill they needed.

Tsunade's voice came through the radio. All the shinobi paused to listen to her orders.

"Your mission is to find some way to restrain that fox until we can find a way to seal it back within Naruto. Sasuke, Sakura.. I know it sounds impossible, but I want you.. especially you, Sasuke.. to try and talk to him. Try and bring him back to his senses. The seal hasn't completely broken yet, so the fox isn't at full strength, but it will be if we wait too much longer. I'm counting on all of you, try to not get yourselves killed, okay? I'll join the fight in a bit, as soon as I make sure the villagers are safe. Tsunade, out!"

"Ma'am!" The ninjas saluted and then continued on towards the rampaging fox. Sasuke moved forward, snapping out orders as they got closer. The Kyuubi's tails swirled around them. A shout came from behind, over the radio.

"G.. GYAH!"

"Kiba!!" Sakura's cry came next. Sasuke moved the microphone to his mouth, turning on the radio again.

"Sakura, tend to Kiba! The rest of you Chuunin, be careful, or you'll get yourselves killed! Jounin, move forward, make sure the Chuunin don't get themselves hurt! Shikamaru, Neji, you guys head to the left! Lee, come with me, we'll take the right side! You Chuunin split into two groups and follow the Jounin!" Sasuke barked out his orders quickly and efficiently.. normally, he, Naruto, and Shikamaru would be working on a plan together, but they didn't have time to stop and think.. they had to circle around and attack from all sides. There wasn't any other choice.

"Sir!" The ninjas shouted in unison, and began splitting off into their seperate groups. Kakashi led the second wave of Jounins, and his orders could be heard faintly over the comm link. The forest flew past, each step bringing them closer and closer to death.

-----

Sasuke tended to the wounded Chuunin. The fox's tails were just as dangerous as the rest of the demon. One of them had caught the small group of Chuunin by surprise, and they'd all been knocked back. One of them was Sakura. Sasuke grimaced as he tied off the bandages for her wounds.

"Sakura, I'm going to go forward and keep trying to fufill Tsunade's orders." He said, grimly. Sakura gasped and reached out to clutch his hand as he turned to go.

"Sasuke-kun, you can't! He'll kill you!!"

"Sakura, if you'll be so kind as to remember, we're shinobi. Risking our lives for this kind of thing is our job." He pried his hand away from her grasp and took off, continuing on towards the Kyuubi, ignoring her pleas for him not to go that echoed through the trees after him.

-----

"Sasuke.. it looks like there's only a few of us left. We'll do our best to restrain the fox, but try to work fast, if you can." Kakashi's voice came sternly over the comm link.

"I know, I know." Sasuke said, mouth set in a grim line. "Hold him as long as you can." He began dashing for the Kyuubi's face. Huge chains made of chakra-absorbing materials flew through the air, wrapping around the fox's nine tails, it's legs, and it's neck. It gave a loud roar, struggling, unable to move very far. The Jounin's grunts of effort could be heard through the radio. Sasuke leapt up to the tallest tree he could find, staring down at the fox, who gave a mighty snarl and tried to snap at him, but couldn't reach.

"You.. it was YOU who did this to me!! YOUR FAULT!!" It roared at him. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Listen to yourself, dobe.. you aren't making any sense at all."

"I'LL KILL ALL YOU FILTHY HUMANS!!"

"..but you are a human yourself, Naruto." Sasuke said, staring at it in the face. It's red eyes narrowed at him as it strained even harder against the chains. It's struggles became weaker and weaker each time as the chains absorbed it's chakra. Sasuke stood firm.

"Come on, Naruto.. stop being a dumbass."

"SHUT UP!" The creature roared, and suddenly, with a mighy lunge, it's tails pulled free of the chains. The Kyuubi gave a snarl, the nine tails lashing about. Cries could be heard as the Jounin were thrown off their feet, and soon it was completely free.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, get the hell out of there!!" Kakashi's voice shouted over the comm. Sasuke shook his head.

"Not yet, Kakashi-sensei! Get the wounded to safety.. I'm going to finish this mission."

"DON'T BE AN IDIOT!! GET OUT OF THERE!!"

Sasuke hadn't ever heard Kakashi raise his voice like that before. He'd never really seen Kakashi nervous like he sounded. But it didn't matter. The fox raised a mighty paw and swatted him. He shouted, flying from the top of the tree, slamming into the ground and sliding several yards into another tree's trunk.

"A.. augh.." He barely managed to struggle to his feet.. his radio was damaged and crackled with outcries from the other Jounin. Barely standing and bleeding from a few places, he staggered back towards the fox, who turned to stare at him.

"You're still alive? Hmph.. no matter, you are but a measly little fly to me.." He raised his paw to swat at Sasuke again, knocking the Uchiha across the clearing he was standing in. Sasuke again staggered back to his feet.

"Dammit, Naruto.. I won't.. let you be this stupid.." He muttered, and the fox hesitated. "..I owe you a lot.. for saving me so many times.. so this time, I'll save you." He moved forward, toward the Kyuubi again, who stared at him.

Sasuke felt his heart wrench. He'd harbored feelings for his teammate for a long time. Especially after Naruto had literally knocked sense into him when he started to go to Orochimaru. Sasuke hadn't killed Itachi yet, but from Naruto, he drew the courage and the determination to gain the strength to do it on his own. That's why he was a Jounin now.. he'd fought long and hard for several years, training, and fighting against Orochimaru. All thanks to Naruto.

It was that cliched story again.. two rivals falling in love. But to Sasuke, he'd always figured it would be one-sided. He figured that Naruto was just a good person, even if he was a little obnoxious, and knew that the boy had a huge sense of honor. A long time ago, Sasuke had convinced himself that Naruto would never feel for him that way.. the Uzumaki simply wasn't that kind of person. He'd probably just wanted to protect Sasuke's honor, and for that much, at least, Sasuke was thankful.

Still..

"Why do you keep standing?!" The Kyuubi demanded of him. "I can kill you easily! Why do you keep getting up again?!"

"I don't like to repeat myself." Sasuke muttered, clutching a heavily bleeding wound in his side. The ground swirled beneath him, and Sasuke fell back, lying still on the ground except for his labored breathing.

I.. I can't.. get up.. His dark eyes moved onto the Kyuubi's suddenly confused face. Just.. make it quick, Naruto. He closed his eyes and let unconsciousness take him.

---

The Kyuubi fell still, it's eyes staring at the tiny figure lying on the ground.

Kill..

He raised his paw to strike the fatal blow to the Uchiha, then hesitated again as another consciousness began to stir within him. Memories flooded into the Kyuubi's mind.

"Sasuke, you--"

The drip of blood upon a concrete bridge. A weak, but still arrogant smirk crossing over pale features, framed by dark hair, stained with blood.

"Why.. I didn't ask you to protect me!!"

A slow fall backwards. An outcry of anger and sorrow. A weak half-smile. A pale hand raising, touching his face, than falling limp.

"..I used to hate you, you know.."

A trembling, terrified voice suddenly echoed within the Kyuubi's consciousness.

..Sasuke?

The paw was lowered, and the Kyuubi gave one last cry before it began to shrink.. and soon, in its place, stood the young Jounin. His spiky blonde hair disheveled, bruises and cuts lined his body, his chakra almost completely gone from the chains that had bound him when he was the Kyuubi. He staggered forward, moving towards the prone figure on the ground. He dropped heavily to his knees next to it, drawing the almost completely still form into his arms.

"S.. Sasuke..?"

His voice and body were shaking uncontrollably. Mixed emotions swirled within him. He clutched the body tighter, hugging Sasuke to his chest.

"U.. uu.. UWAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

-----

"So.. you're saying there's.. absolutely nothing you can do for them..?" Sakura's voice shook as she peered in at the two boys lying in adjacent beds. Kakashi had gone back and found them both, unconscious from lack of energy and their respective wounds. Tsunade frowned, looking in over her shoulder.

"..nothing. Sasuke's wounds are too severe, and Naruto's chakra is drained entirely. They.. will die." She lowered her eyes. Sakura pressed her hand to the window, tears filling her eyes. Ino put a hand on her shoulder.

"There has to be something! We can't just stand here and watch them like this!! I'd give up my own life to save them, dammit! Sasuke-kun saved our village.. and Naruto.. Naruto doesn't deserve to die feeling so guilty! No one deserves that.." The Yamanaka girl stared at Tsunade. "Please! Try and think of something.. anything at all."

Tsunade studied her for a long time, and then her eyes widened. "Of course.. the forbidden scroll. Wait here, you two, and keep an eye on them. They have to stay alive for just a little while longer." The two nodded shakily, and she vanished in a puff of smoke. Sakura gave a soft sigh, pressing her hand to the window's glass again.

"We never had a chance with Sasuke-kun anyway, Ino." She said, quietly. "He liked Naruto.. a lot."

"Huh?" Ino blinked, staring at Sakura. "How do you know??"

"You couldn't tell?" The Haruno girl asked, smiling somewhat. "All those glances he sent at Naruto.. especially after Naruto went after him to keep him from going to Orochimaru.." She sighed, looking back in at Sasuke. Ino laughed softly.

"That's a wierd coincedence. Shikamaru told me one day that Naruto liked Sasuke a lot, too." She said, smiling. "He said Naruto told him one day when they were watching the clouds and talking. He also said that Naruto told him not to tell anyone, but he thought I should know that I have more competition. Should have known I couldn't compete with the likes of Naruto." The two girls giggled, desperate to forget the situation they were in. Tsunade reappeared, clutching a small, ancient-looking scroll.

"I got this a long time ago, when I first left this village and started gambling. Some mysterious-looking guy gave it to me, and when I won it, and he told me what it was, I thought I'd been ripped off. But.. I think just about anything is worth a try at this point, right?" She began untying the red rope wrapped around it. Ino and Sakura stared.

"But.. what is it? Or what were you told it was?" Sakura asked, wiping at her eyes. Tsunade grimaced.

"Supposedly.. a scroll to save you from dying."

"W.. what?!" The two asked in unison.

"You have to use it when the person is on the brink of death. They will be reborn again, as children, and have another chance at life." Tsunade answered. "But, I need you two for.. birthing purposes, for lack of better term." She explained. Sakura and Ino blinked simultaneously.

"So.. we're going to be impregnated.. with them?" Ino asked. Tsunade nodded.

"Yes. I think that these two should deserve another chance. After all, they're both dying with a lot of tasks they never completed.. and a lot of regrets. Naruto wanted to be Hokage so badly.." She touched the place on her neck where her necklace used to hang. "..and Sasuke still wants his revenge." She glanced back into the hospital room. The two girls exchanged glances.

Not to mention they never got to confess how they felt to one another.

"We'll make sure to give them a good life, Hokage-sama." Ino reassured her. Tsunade nodded and moved into the room.

"Okay.. we need to strip them of their shirts.." She bit her thumb and drew blood. "I need to set this up."

Twenty minutes later, the pair's shirts had been removed cautiously, and Tsunade had drawn a series of kanji over their chests, and around on the floor. She'd marked Sakura and Ino's faces and stomachs, and had drawn symbols around them on the floor as well. Kakashi and Iruka had been called and stood in the room. Several others were watching from the hallway outside. Tsunade looked at the scroll, memorized the seal pattern, and then rolled it up, forming the hand seals quickly.

The symbols drawn on Naruto and Sasuke glowed a bright blue, then merged together into glowing orbs of the same bright blue. The symbols on Sakura and Ino swirled around to their abdomens, and the orbs flew forward, absorbing into their bodies. The symbols drawn on them vanished, and all three women collapsed to the ground, suddenly exhausted. Kakashi moved forward quickly and helped Tsunade up, while Iruka helped up the other two.

"I.. don't feel all that much different.." Ino said, patting her stomach. Sakura nodded in agreement, leaning against a wall.

"Same here, aside from the fact I'm dead tired." She said. Tsunade managed a weak smile.

"Oh, trust me.. you'll both be feeling it in a few months." She said. The two girls nodded. Kakashi spoke up.

"You two won't be getting any missions for a while.. this is sort of a mission in itself. It'll seem easy for a while, but it'll get a lot harder later, trust me." He said, solemnly. Iruka smirked.

"And what would you know about being pregnant, Kakashi?" He asked, smugly. He was pleased for the chance to tease Kakashi about something for once. Kakashi just rolled his eyes, silently promising revenge for that. Tsunade smiled.

"Now, now, you two. Considering the treaties we've made with the other countries, I think the number of missions will be down for a while, so we don't have to worry about you two being needed or anything. Also.." She turned to the group huddled together outside the room. "Tenten, I'd like you to help watch out for them, okay. And the rest of you.." She looked at the others. "I want you all to help them as much as you can. If they ask for help, don't gripe about it, otherwise I'll come deal with you myself." She smirked, and then let Kakashi help her out of the room.

"Well, this is troublesome." Shikamaru snorted. "So.. Sasuke and Naruto are gonna be little kids again?"

"That'll be really strange." Lee commented. "Sakura, please allow me the honor of assisting you back to your house!"

"Actually.. Sakura, we could just stay at my house. It's a little bigger, and we might wanna stay together for this, you know?" Ino said, turning to her friend. Sakura nodded.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. Lee-san, I'd appreciate the help." She smiled at him. He blushed and nodded, hurrying to offer his shoulder for her to lean on. Tenten took her other side. Shikamaru and Chouji moved into the room, both of them helping Ino out. The group of people outside moved out of the way quickly to let them pass.

"This.. is definitely going to turn out to be interesting." Jiraiya commented. Kurenai smiled, looking up at him.

"Think you'll be able to handle babysitting duty?"

---To Be Continued...

Whew, that was a pretty long chapter. Anyway, I hope I captured your interest, 'cause I'm hoping this is going to turn out as good as I imagined it. More to come soon.

--TAB