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Leader	By : mannahpierce Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 2163 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This story has some of Masashi Kishimoto's characters from Naruto in a universe of my own devising. I do not own Naruto. I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to unneeded, disembodiedvoiceofthedying (for five chapters, thank you), Midnight Essence, angelj232000, Dawn, Kyle, Hollow, SidonieStarr, sadie237, melissen, lonelylulaby and GreenEyedCat for reviewing after chapter 10 was posted. Readers’ feedback, support and comments mean a great deal to me. Feedback keeps me writing.

Leader
Part 1: The pod
11: Izuna-sama

Sasuke knew it was pointless putting it off any longer. Both Rin and Shikamaru had confirmed Shizune’s conclusion. It was time to tell the crew.

He started with a vid for the crew in Tarrasade. Reviewing his first attempt he could see that it was inadequate. He looked and sounded too unsure.

The problem was that he did not know how he felt. One moment he was thrilled at the thought of Izuna-sama recovering and the next the same thought filled him with churning unease.

He discarded the vid and went to find Kakashi.

He was with Five and Ran. After one glance at Sasuke, he wound up what he was saying and sent them off to use the simulators.

“Uchiha-san is Izuna Uchiha,” Sasuke told him.

Kakashi waited.

He struggled to put his concerns into words. “He was Uchiha-sama.”

“Not anymore,” Kakashi reminded him. “That’s the code. Once someone is declared dead they are dead. I know you will give him a home and a place but that is because you are generous, not because he has any right to them.”

Sasuke knew that; it was the way spacers dealt with exactly this scenario. After a decade, lost became dead. But this was not just anyone. “He is Izuna Uchiha,” Sasuke repeated.

“Who, even if he recovers, is almost a thousand standards out of date,” Kakashi insisted. “This is your Uchiha, not his. We follow you, not him.” There was a pause and Sasuke knew Kakashi was studying him. “The stories tell of a man of honour. A man who, in this situation, would only think of supporting you.”

That struck a chord. “I would like to talk to him about what those early days were like,” Sasuke admitted.

Kakashi laid a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s hope he recovers enough to hold a conversation.” He smiled. “What you need is a spar.”

Completing the vid for the crew in Tarrasade was a lot easier after Kakashi had kicked his butt and they had wound down in the steam room.

Next he used the intercom to request that all crew members and the older children attend the meal that evening.

He waited until everyone was seated at the table and looking at him expectantly. He took a deep breath, hopefully without appearing to do so. It was important that he strike the same tone as he had in the vid.

“You all are aware of our guest from the past,” he began. “His genetic profile is that of a full blood Uchiha. The evidence confirms that he had been in stasis for close to a thousand standards. We now have compared his genetic profile to samples held in the tissue bank in Tarrasade. The man in the pod is Izuna Uchiha.”

He paused. No one was shocked, which was not surprising as speculation had been rife. His children were wide-eyed but that was probably because he had overdone the Izuna Uchiha stories when they were younger.

“Izuna-sama is still suffering side-effects from his time in stasis,” he continued. “Discussing his future is inappropriate until a time when he is further recovered. I thank Dan-san, Haku-san and everyone else involved in his care.

“That is all I have to say for now. Eat.”

He and Naruto left the table with the big litter as soon as the meal was over. They had picked up on his warning. He could see them trying to think of questions that were not ‘speculating about Izuna-sama’s future’.

“Will we be able to visit Izuna-sama?” Yuki asked. “Maybe we could cheer him up.”

Sasuke had to smile. “Not yet, Yuki-chan. Off you go. Your To-chan and I will be around to check that you are all in your rooms later.”

He felt good. Telling everyone, getting it out into the open, had helped. Now he could turn to the other matter, the foetuses. If they were going to recruit hybrids to look after them, as well as the twins, he would need to broach the subject with Kiba.
That meant talking about it to Naruto first.

At times like these he wished they had a private sitting room; with their large bathroom and all the rooms for the children it seemed greedy to ask Iruka for more space.
“I need to talk to you about something,” he admitted as he closed the door between their bedroom and the triplets’ nursery.
Naruto studied him. “Other than Izuna Uchiha,” he checked.
Sasuke noticed that he did not say Izuna-sama; he would follow that up at another time. “Yes.”
They sat cross-legged on their bed, facing each other, as they had since their days on the Silver Leaf.

He explained about the foetuses Shika had found on Pein’s ship and the decisions he had made over the last six standards. Naruto listened carefully and did not interrupt.
“You are sure they were not damaged by time that they were gestated in the sensory deprivation environment?” he asked when Sasuke had finished.
Trust Naruto to be focused on the children’s welfare. “Yes. Some of the other forty-two for are over two standards. By all measures they are normal.”
“And the eighteen we are keeping will have choices? To swear or not to swear? To host the symbiote or not?”
“Yes.”
“It was sensible to wait until we knew that the babies had not been damaged,” Naruto observed. “I do not think purebreds of lesser potential would be happy within Uchiha.”
Sasuke decided not to point out that it had been procrastination rather than a decision taken for the good of the children. “Only purebreds?” he asked.
Naruto considered. “Yes. Most hybrids are interested in what they can do rather than what they cannot.” He thought again. “I could be wrong. It is only my opinion. So how are we going to raise eighteen more children?”

Sasuke settled to the task of persuading Naruto that Kiba and a team of hybrids carers were the best people to raise the children, rather than them.
It proved surprisingly easy. Naruto was on his feet as soon as the words had left his lips.
“It’s a great solution,” he declared. He was already on the other side of the room opening the door to the shared area. “Let’s discuss it with Kiba now. He can start thinking about which of the hybrids who sent vids would be suitable. Did Shi-chan run background checks on the category threes? I hope so.”
Sasuke trailed behind him; Naruto would never cease to amaze him.

Haru slipped into his place next to Hoshi and put in his earpiece. Shi-chan, Kakashi-san, Iruka-sensei and Papa were monitoring the interviews from the Oak and Shi-chan had suggested that it would be good experience for the big litter to observe.
Even Iruka-sensei had been surprised when Papa had agreed.
The interviews were on the Sakura, which was on the surface. To-chan, Kiba-san and Gaara-san were asking the questions with Neji-san and Ran as observers.
It was the first time Ran had been asked to try using his empathy to judge strangers and Haru knew that he was worried.

By the end of the first batch of six, Haru felt as if he had been dowsed in cold water and wrung out.
These people had been exploited, abused, mistreated or abandoned by the purebreds they had served. They now had a safe place and a future. Despite that, each one of them wanted to give up what they had in Sanctuary to look after purebred children. It was amazing.
Haru wasn’t sure if it was amazingly stupid or amazingly wonderful. Knowing Hana-san, Kiba-san and To-chan predisposed him towards the latter.

He hoped Ran was coping. Haru had occasionally caught a glimpse of him at the edge of the camera’s field of view or heard him contribute to the discussion that followed each interview.
“Haru-chan?” Papa queried.
Haru pulled himself back to the present. “Yes Papa?”
“You may leave now if you wish. Kazuki, Yoshimi and Yasushi have decided to do so.”
Haru shook his head. He wanted to know what Ran had seen and heard. “No, Papa, I would like to stay.”

He was the only one there by the end: Kuuya and Keizo’s capacity for sitting still had run out; Yuki had become too upset; Hoshi had gone with Yuki; Hikaru had realised that Ryuu had had enough but would not go without him.
Papa put a hand on his shoulder. “Well done, Haru-chan, but you will have to go now. We are moving on to the sensitive part of the discussion.”
Haru wondered if Ran had been part of that.

He hadn’t. Once all the information and opinions were collected, the final decisions were taken by Papa, To-chan, Gaara-san, Kiba-san and Iruka-sensei.
They offered contracts to ten of the candidates. Haru was surprised. Surely even the twins didn’t need ten people to look after them?

The Sakura returned the next day, bringing the recruited hybrids with them. Haru knew that it would take time for Ran to finish helping settle them into the accommodation that had been prepared on one of the other levels.
Even so, he couldn’t stop himself watching the doorways, hoping that Ran would walk through one of them.

It finally happened when everyone was milling about the shared area, about to sit down for the evemeal. Ran arrived with Five. As they walked in, Five said something and Ran laughed.
Haru felt as if he had been punched in the gut. Ran almost never laughed; even his smiles were precious gifts. Haru mumbled some excuse and fled.
He did not stop until he was locked in the head off his and Kazuki’s room.

Almost immediately there was a scratch at the door.
“Open the door,” Kazuki demanded. “I know you aren’t pooping. If you don’t come now, To-chan will turn up asking what is wrong.”
He stayed where he was, with the door locked.
“Haru, you have to stop this. It’s like I said to Sai. You are pushing Ran towards Five.”
He flinched. He wanted the old Ka-chan back, not this new version who could be too like To-chan. He wanted to turn back time to before Ran had taken the oath.
He wanted Five gone.
“Open the door or I shall go back down without you and you know what will happen then.”
Haru didn’t want To-chan asking him what was wrong. He opened the door.
Kazuki pulled him out and hugged him. “You’re being such an idiot.”
“I can’t help it,” Haru complained.
Ka-chan gave a small growl. “You’ll have to learn how. Jealousy is ugly to anyone, never mind someone like Ran who can feel it inside you.” He guided Haru out of their room. “Now let’s get down there.”
They were just in time; they met To-chan on his way out of the galley to look for them.

Haru made himself put the food into his mouth, chew and swallow. Had Ran seen him run from the shared area? Was he annoyed? Would he ask Haru to come to his room after the meal?
Had anything happened between him and Five on the Sakura?
Finally the meal was over. Crew members excused themselves. Children asked their parents if they could leave the table. Then Ran was beside him.
“Do you want to hang out?” he asked.
Relief washed over Haru. He could feel himself smiling.

Kazuki and Sai were there too, which was fine. They talked about what it was like to drop in the Sakura. Then they moved onto the interviews.
“Could you feel them?” Haru asked.
Ran shook his head. “I got a vague impression from about one in three. I would have had to touch them skin to skin. I need to be really familiar with a person to link without that type of contact.” He looked Haru directly in the eyes. “I have started to link to Five.”
“Like you do to me,” Kazuki suggested. “And other people,” he added.
“Yes,” Ran agreed.
The sensible side of Haru said that it was nothing out of the ordinary; that Ran would not even be telling him if he wasn’t being, as Ka-chan had said, such an idiot.
The other side imagined Ran cuddled up to Five on one of the Sakura’s bunks.
Ran looked so disappointed; his gaze was sliding away.
“Good,” Haru announced. “I know I am being pathetic about Five. I’m going to try harder to do better.”
Ran smiled. “I would like that very much.”
“I do not understand,” Sai complained. “In what way is Haru being pathetic? There are four different definitions for pathetic. One: deserving or inciting pity. Two: inspiring mixed contempt and pity. Three: inspiring scornful pity. Four: lacking in power or forcefulness.”
By the time they had finished discussing Haru’s patheticness it was time for Haru and Kazuki to go to their room.

Five appeared in the shared area as soon as they closed Ran’s door behind them. Haru glanced about; there was no one else present.
“Haru-chan,” Five stated.
“Five-kun,” Haru acknowledged.
Kazuki bristled.
Five ignored him and concentrated on Haru. “Ran-kun,” he began.
Haru swallowed.
“I recognise how close he is to you. I do not wish to take him from you.” Five smiled and Haru’s stomach did something strange. “On the contrary.” He reached a hand towards Haru’s cheek.
Kazuki growled. “No touching,” he warned.
Five spared him a glance and the hand stopped. “You and Ran-kun are both exceptional. I like exceptional.” He smiled again. “Also Ran-kun is very pretty while you, Haru-chan, are breathtakingly beautiful.”
Haru was frozen to the spot. His stomach was doing flip-flops. He could feel his whole body flushing. Was he getting a stiffy?
Kazuki’s top lip was curling up in a snarl and his growl was more intense.
“Relax, foxy,” Five advised. “I understand I have to wait. A standard for Ran-kun, longer for Haru-chan. I can do that. I am patient. Who knows? Maybe there could be room for a silver fox as well.”
“In your dreams, kitty-cat,” Kazuki growled but the snarl had gone.
As had Five; Haru watched the door of his room slide shut behind him.
Kazuki had hold of his arm. “Come on,” he urged.

Somehow Haru managed to get up the spiral staircase and into their room. He sat on his bunk.
“What happened?” he asked.
Kazuki shook his head. “Five just hit on you.” He smiled. “I admire his ambition. Imagine. Your own giant plushie to sleep with.”
“He said I was beautiful,” Haru realised.
“Breathtakingly beautiful,” Kazuki reminded him. “I suppose it’s natural for him to want a group relationship rather than being half of a couple.”
A threesome with Ran and Five; Haru’s imagination was working overtime. This time he definitely had a stiffy.
“You might like to see to that,” Kazuki suggested. “I find in the shower is best.”

The thought had been wriggling about in Shikamaru’s mind for days. It had begun when he had seen the rings. First it had grown and now it wriggled, catching Shikamaru’s attention again and again.
In the end he gave in. He began digging through everything he had and everything he could find about Uchiha. In doing so he discovered some unsettling facts.

Sasuke had never been declared heir. When Fugaku Uchiha had died, Itachi had still been heir. Based on tradition, Itachi had remained Fugaku Uchiha’s heir until the moment he had renounced the Uchiha name.
Then there was the issue of whether Sasuke was Uchiha-sama. It had been impossible for him to go through the traditional ceremony because there were no adult full-blood Uchihas to hold it. On the other hand, Itachi had knelt to him and accepted his judgement.
And after Itachi renounced the Uchiha name there wasn’t anyone else.
Until now.

After Izuna Uchiha had been lost, Uchiha had clung to the hope that their beloved leader would return. His successor and his successor’s successor had refused to be called Uchiha-sama. They had even insisted that they would step aside if Izuna Uchiha was found.
His great-grandson had thought differently. He had accepted the title. The clan had finally moved on.
Unfortunately, he had omitted to declare Izuna Uchiha dead.
Shikamaru rested his forehead on his desk. That part of the code had been the same then as it was now. Once someone had been lost for a decade your heirs went through the process of declaring the person dead. Belongings and responsibilities were distributed according to the code. The will, if there was one, was enacted.
There had been the occasional cases where people had turned up alive after they had been declared dead. It didn’t make any difference. Legally they were dead and that was that.
But no one had ever declared Izuna Uchiha dead.

The thought stopped wriggling and sat there smugly; still and fat. Izuna Uchiha had a better claim on the title Uchiha-sama than Sasuke.

.

One morning it happened. He stopped being Uchiha-san and started being Izuna-sama.
It had taken much less time than he had feared. He had been prepared for divisions of anonymity.
Being called ‘sama’ so quickly was an unexpected bonus.

It was now both easier and harder. He had become more practiced at restricting his behaviour. Knowing they were watching him helped. Every few days he added an activity to those he permitted himself: dressing himself; brushing his own hair; using cutlery other than a spoon; performing simple kata.
Reducing the outbursts made it more difficult. The manic laughter, the dancing about, the peering through his fingers and the inappropriate displays of masturbation had been ways of venting his frustration before it could build into anger.
He could not afford anger. When he became angry he lost control.
The kata helped. Each day he allowed them to become more complex.

Today he had just started when Itachi appeared. He was wearing loose pants and his feet were bare. He bowed.
“May I join you, Izuna-sama?”
How should he accept without speaking? Would they interpret a bow as him understanding Itachi’s words? Was it too soon for that?
An additional room, appropriately floored and lacking in hazards, had appeared soon after he had started performing kata. He moved away from the centre of the floor, making room for Itachi to exercise beside him.

By the Lady the man could move. If he could fight even half as well he would be a formidable opponent.

Logic had identified Itachi as at least a weakness to be exploited, maybe even a potential ally. He had fallen so far. His brother had everything than should have been his. He should be a bitter, twisted maelstrom of fury.
He was not. He was calm. He appeared to be at peace. He had the respect of his crewmates. He still had the partner Orochimaru had mentioned, the sharkman, but he was also fucking the cross-dresser, Haku.
Any hope that it was a love triangle soon died; based on interactions observed and whispers overheard the three adults lived together raising two children.
No, Itachi was not the weak link. It was his brother.

Sasuke Uchiha was clan leader by default. He had not fought for it; he had never even had to prove himself worthy. He appeared to be entirely unsuitable for the role. He was, of all things, a musician.
He was obviously besotted with the fox hybrid, to the extent that it affected his judgement. Official records showed that he had even gone as far as granting Orochimaru’s little hybrids the same status as his full blood Uchiha offspring.
His weakness could be used against him. He had thirteen pre-adolescent children and a beloved life-partner who had a decade to live.
How difficult could it be to persuade him to share the burden of leadership?
Particularly when it was Izuna Uchiha who was offering to bear it.

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Leader