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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.

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Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to maliya, eunmook, satterb, SunaoTsuji, Slynx, sadie237, LovelyBirdCherry and melissen for reviewing after chapter 81 was posted.
Also thanks to Rebelghost85 for posting reviews for ‘In cold of space you find the heat of suns’, ‘Iteration’ and ‘Tales of Tarrasade’.
Readers’ feedback, support and comments mean a great deal to me. Feedback keeps me writing.
Hits are nice. Ratings are welcome. Reviews encourage and inspire.

Leader
Part 9: Family
82: Interviews 42-54

Kakashi [part 1]
It was the fifth time Kakashi had to dodge; this time Sasuke’s foot brushed his hair. Kakashi danced away to a safe distance.
“Impressive commitment, Sasuke-sama, but I think we shall call it a day.”
Sasuke did not comment; trying to kick Kakashi in the head had been surprisingly satisfying.
“Have I annoyed you, Sasuke-sama?” Kakashi asked as they sat together in the steam room.
“Next time one of my sons asks for advice about fucking, please refer him to Iruka or Naruto or, if you feel it necessary, to me.”
“Ah, Hikaru-kun,” Kakashi acknowledged.
“Yes, Hikaru-kun.”
“I did refer him to you,” Kakashi pointed out.
“Only after you told him that I had received intimacy training.”
Kakashi had the grace to look embarrassed. “I confess I am not used to his style of persistent questioning. Ran is not like that. Neither were you.”
“Naruto was pretty persistent,” Sasuke pointed out. “And what about Shikamaru?”
“I did not feel the same compulsion to answer them,” Kakashi admitted. “Hikaru reminds me a little of your father.”
He did not know what to say to that.
“I do not know why he came to me,” Kakashi complained.
Sasuke had his suspicions. When Haru had hacked into Rin’s files he would have found out that a fifth of Hikaru’s chromosomes had come from Kakashi; he must have told Hikaru.
He did not want to tell Kakashi that; he had asked not to be told if they used his chromosomes. “Naruto thinks he is bisexual. Maybe, out of the male bisexual members of the crew, he felt most comfortable speaking to you.”
Kakashi looked unconvinced. “You’d have thought he would have gone to Inari,” he pointed out. He thought about it a bit longer. “How does he even know I find females attractive?”
Sasuke settled for a shrug.
“Are you going to arrange for him to see someone?”
“No,” Sasuke replied.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
“Not at this time. He is too young. I was too young. We may decide to look for another courtesan but not as an urgent priority.”
“He’s an adolescent male. I doubt if he is good at waiting,” Kakashi pointed out.
“Naruto is going to ask Shikamaru.”
Both of Kakashi’s eyebrows shot up. “I agree that Shikamaru is flexible but...”
“No!” The mere thought of Hikaru with Shikamaru was horrendous on so many levels. “For something virtual, maybe using a simulator.”
Kakashi considered. “It may work,” he agreed. “I suggest you don’t allow Shikamaru to work on it without someone to make sure it remains appropriate.”
“I was going to ask Iruka.”
“Good choice,” Kakashi confirmed.
They sat in silence for a while. It was nice. Finally Kakashi shifted slightly, warning Sasuke that he was about to speak.
“I am concerned about Shikamaru. Something is worrying him.”
Sasuke decided to confide. “He’s latched onto what Orochimaru said about extending canine-human hybrids’ lifespans.”
“And?”
“He started to work on it without telling me. With Haru. They were halfway through some research before I caught on.” He sighed. “I said they could complete what they had planned. Haru does not think they will find anything, but I have decided that not allowing Shikamaru try is a mistake.”
“Also pointless,” Kakashi observed. “He’ll do it anyway and forbidding Haru will put him in an impossible situation between the two of you. Who knows what they are doing?”
“Just you. I would like it to stay that way unless they find something.”
Kakashi looked concerned. “Don’t get your hopes up, Sasu-kun.”
“I won’t,” Sasuke promised.

Iruka
Sasuke was determined not to tell Iruka about Shikamaru and Haru’s research; it was not fair to raise his hopes when success was so unlikely. To avoid talking about what was bothering Shikamaru, Sasuke steered the conversation to Hikaru’s request.
“You would have happily sent him to C-san,” Iruka pointed out.
It was true; Sasuke would have trusted C-san.
“We should look for someone,” Iruka suggested.
“I shall ask Haku and Itachi to do some research,” Sasuke promised. “Meanwhile, I am would like us to investigate an education programme, perhaps using simulators.”
Iruka’s eyes widened.
“Within strict limits and defined parameters,” Sasuke added quickly.
“I am unconvinced,” Iruka admitted. “It is not about mechanics, it is about intimacy.” He sighed. “I concede it could be worth investigating provided they understand that it is no more than augmented masturbation. However I wish to make it clear, Sasuke-sama, that I see it as a stop-gap until a more suitable solution can be found.”
“I understand, Iruka-sensei,” Sasuke assured him. “Now back to you, are you sure there is nothing you need that I can arrange or provide?”

Moegi
“I apologise that you had to suffer through Izuna-sama’s attitude toward you and towards Udon-san,” Sasuke admitted.
“It was unpleasant,” Moegi admitted. “However now he has gone. It is good to have everyone together again.
“I am honoured each time Udon-san chooses to visit my household or to eat at my table,” Sasuke assured her.
She coloured a little and smiled. “Thank you, Sasuke-sama.” Then her smile vanished and she bit her lip. “Udon says that there are a lot of hybrid bodies coming down the disposal chutes into Scavenger territory. Far more than there used to be.”
Sasuke did not like the sound of that.
“I know Kimimaro is in Tarrasade. Also that woman.”
“Kurotsuchi,” Sasuke supplied.
“Yes, her. I wondered if their people are attacking hybrids. Udon says the people they are killing are mostly old, well past their peak. He wonders if the HDF should go to the Scavengers and say that they’ll pay double the going rate for the bodies. That way they can monitor what is happening.”
It was an excellent idea. “Thank you, Moegi-san, and please thank Udon-san for the information. I shall also thank him personally next time I see him.”

Kamatari
“And you are sure you are content, Kamatari-san?”
“It is good that Kono-san is back,” he admitted. “Working with Gai-san and Itachi-san was not the same. Also I would like to visit Skyburrow sometime and see the toad hybrids’ planet.”
Sasuke made a note. “And in yourself, Kamatari-san?”
Kamatari twitched his nose and gave a cheeky grin. “Is that your way of asking about my sex life, Sasuke-sama?”
He opened his mouth to object, even though, in essence Kamatari was correct.
“I can assure you that it is fine. There are always female members of the crew who appreciate a male with skills.”
Sasuke gawped at the thought of it. Then he pulled himself together. “That is good, Kamatari-san.”
“Indeed it is, Sasuke-sama. Indeed it is.”

Konohamaru
“I confess I feel torn,” Konohamaru admitted. “For me, working with the Gama and the other toad hybrid tribes is more challenging, but my knowledge and connections make me more useful here.”
Sasuke sat up. Konohamaru was not asking him for his opinion, he was telling him. “Kono-kun?”
“I have had my ear to the floor since we arrived and I have visited Grandfather twice. Izuna-sama is up to all manner of things. He is making deals; chunks of future preferential treatment from Uchiha in return for support now. He knows that having the three grated strings of systems means that Uchiha will be fabulously wealthy, even if credit flow is an issue at the moment.”
Sasuke swallowed.
“The problem is that he does have a claim to the leadership. He is Izuna Uchiha. He was never declared dead. People can feel justified in supporting him.”
“You have seen what he is like, Kono-kun. I cannot hand Uchiha over to him.”
“You could,” Konohamaru suggested. “Then Kuuya could challenge. He would be dead and Kuuya would be Uchiha-sama.”
It was an option no one else had suggested.
“It is a game we may be able to control,” Konohamaru suggested. “You should consider it. The longer you leave it, the more time he has to build his new power base.”

Itachi
Sasuke was still thinking about what Konohamaru had said when Itachi arrived. He made himself put it aside; while he wanted to discuss it with Itachi, it should be at a strategy meeting, not now.
“Thank you for managing the Izuna-sama situation for so long,” he began. “I am extremely grateful.”
Itachi gave a small nod of acknowledgement. “That side of things was not difficult. Being Uchiha’s representative in Tarrasade was more challenging. It was difficult to get people to focus on Gai-san instead of coming directly to me.”
Sasuke could imagine. Whatever the reality, many people still thought of Itachi as Uchiha. “Perhaps some time away?” he suggested.
“Izuna-sama is still a threat,” Itachi replied. “I believe that Haku-san and I know him best. He is also frightened of Kisame in a way that he is not frightened of Naruto or even Sumaru.”
That was useful to know. “Is there anything I can do for you, Itachi-san?” Even asking the question hurt. Itachi was still his beloved brother. Itachi was still the man who had murdered his mother.
“No, Sasuke-sama. All I wish is to do my duty and for Kisame to be happy. Living with Haku and the children makes Kisame very happy.”
Sasuke knew that was only half of it; being Itachi’s lover made Kisame happy and that was only possible with Haku to bridge the gap between them. “You would come to me if there was anything you needed?”
Itachi finally looked at him properly. “Yes, Sasuke-sama.”

Kisame
“May I speak to you as if I were sworn to your personally, Sasuke-sama?” Kisame asked.
“I consider you so to be, Kisame-san,” Sasuke assured him.
“You are honourable because you believe it in your heart. Izuna-sama is honourable because it is expected of him. It conforms to it but he does not live it. This is not the Izuna Uchiha of legend.” Kisame smiled. “Whoever wrote his biography did an effective sanitising job. It makes you wonder if his brother was all bad.”
It was an interesting thought. Maybe all the bad stuff had been assigned to Madara and all the good stuff to Izuna. After all, Madara had died without offspring and it had been Izuna’s sons and grandsons controlling what was written.
“I know the situation is not resolved, Kisame-san,” Sasuke admitted.
“It won’t be until Izuna Uchiha is finally dead,” Kisame pointed out.
“I know that, Kisame-san.” Sasuke was thinking about Konohamaru’s suggestion. He pulled his attention back to the present. “Is there anything I can do for you or that you wish to discuss with me, Kisame-san?”
Kisame did not even pause. “I have everything I have ever wanted and more, Sasuke-sama. Thank you.”

Haku
Sasuke had set extra time aside for Haku. They may not need it but there was no way Sasuke was going to cut Haku off in mid flow.
He had chosen smarter clothes than usual and brought one of the best tea sets out of storage. He decided to set the display frame to a beautiful painting.
Sure enough, when Haku arrived he was wearing one of his better kimonos.
They talked for far longer than twenty minutes. Every so often Haku would admit to something he would like changed or provided and Sasuke would make a mental note.
He knew how much he owed Haku. It was as he had whispered in Haku’s ear all those standards ago; Iruka might be the head of his household, but Haku was queen of his crew.

Neji
Neji held up the teacup and admired the pattern in the translucent ceramic. “I am guessing that Haku-san was before me,” he observed with a slight smile.
Sasuke nodded.
“Good,” Neji acknowledged. “If you were getting the best crockery out for me I would be anxious that something was amiss.”
It was true. For Neji, Sasuke would usually pick the simpler of his two usual tea services. “How are you, Neji-san?” he asked as he poured.
“Well,” Neji assured him. “I believe that I can now say that I am stronger, maybe even happier, than I was before Hinata.”
It was a large step forward from their last in-depth conversation. Sasuke indicated that he should continue.
“I thought I was committed to Uchiha before but, in retrospect, I was always holding a little back,” Neji admitted. “Now I have no such reserve. Hinata is a kind and good person but to fulfil her obligations to Hyuga she felt compelled to be deceitful and cruel. I used to insist I was not Hyuga. Now I am not. There is no trace of even nostalgia.”
Sasuke understood. It was not about loyalty; it was about ties and Neji’s had finally been broken. “Uchiha is your home,” he insisted.
“Uchiha is my home,” Neji echoed. “And, perhaps, what I have with Shika is also better. It is more honest. It no longer teeters on the edge of trying to be something it is not.”
Did he discuss Shika with Neji? Sasuke decided that he would, but not now. Perhaps at one of the meetings that would follow this series of interviews.

Yuki
“This is very pretty, Papa,” Yuki observed, turning the teacup in his hand.
Sasuke had been thinking that Yuki looked lovely. He was wearing an exquisitely embroidered kimono-type tunic over pants. His long hair looked like spun gold; the front was twisted up and secured with decorative rods that Sasuke suspected could double as weapons. The blue sapphires in his ears were a perfect match for his eyes.
“You and I should have a walk around the storerooms, Yu-chan,” he suggested. “You could pick out a few things for when you entertain.”
“That would be awesome, Papa,” Yuki replied, his eyes shining at the mere thought of it.
“We will do that then,” Sasuke promised and then pretended to be stern. “I thought that we decided that you were too young to run a crew room, Yu-chan, yet I hear from Haku-san and Iruka-san that you are doing so.”
Yuki flushed. “I am only trying to help Haku-san.”
“Yes, well, Haku-san has decided that he needs to keep a closer eye on you, so we are going to give you your own office adjoining his.”
It took a moment for Yuki to catch on. “Papa!” he scolded. “I thought I was in trouble.”
“You will be if you do not work closely with Haku-san and Iruka-san, including going to them for advice,” Sasuke warned him. “I am very proud of you, Yuki, and I know that your oto-san is too.”

Hoshi
Unlike Yuki, who like the other kits and Ryuu were young adults, Hoshi was still a youngster; a girl. However, in contrast to Hikaru and Haru, she did not seem in any rush to grow up.
“There are so many things for me to learn, Papa,” she assured him. “Haku-san helps me take full advantage of the expertise of the crew and Iruka-sensei helps me with my study programme.” She smiled and, for a moment, reminded him of his mother. “Then there is my music. It is good to be having lessons with Daikoku-san again, even though I preferred being taught by you, Papa.”
Sasuke resolved to find time for them to play together.
“Daikoku-san asked me if it would be possible for me to go to concerts in the Arts Centre,” Hoshi hinted.
“We could arrange that,” Sasuke promised. There would be security issues but it would fit with their plan to have a higher profile in Tarrasade. Even if it had not, he wanted Hoshi to have the chance to listen to talented and skilled musicians.
Maybe they could go together. Or, if not, he could try to persuade some of the musicians to come to play in the household.

Kuuya
Sasuke had not expected seeing the heir’s ring on someone’s finger to bring back so many memories. He had discovered that he was grateful. It was the Itachi he wanted to remember; the big brother who had gone out of his way to make time for him.
Now the ring graced his son’s finger and Kuuya had risen wonderfully to the challenge.
He was so like Naruto and yet so different. He was much more confident than Naruto had been at that age. Not being bonded meant that he was devoted equally to all members of the pack rather putting a single person first.
In a few standards, when he reached maturity, he would be truly magnificent.
“I am so proud of you,” Sasuke told him.
Kuuya flushed. “Thank you, Papa.”
Sasuke was careful to work through all aspects of crew life: accommodation; present duties; future duties; training; plans for the future; concerns. Kuuya brought up a few minor points and made some useful suggestions.
As they talked, Konohamaru’s suggestion crept into Sasuke’s mind. If they went that way and it worked out, Kuuya would be Uchiha-sama and he would be merely Sasuke-san.
He could concentrate on Naruto and the triplets.
Whether they used Konohamaru’s suggestion or not, Kuuya was heir and, as such, had to be prepared. “From now on, Kuuya-kun, I want you to attend the strategy meetings.”
Kuuya’s eyes widened. “Yes, Papa. It will be an honour.”

Kakashi [part 2]
For Kakashi, Sasuke put the tea set away and prepared sake. He knew that Kakashi preferred whisky, but he was still smarting from Kakashi having told Hikaru about his intimacy training.
Kakashi stiffened as he saw Sasuke approaching with the tray bearing the tokkuri and the ochoko. “Do you know why we always choose whisky, Sasuke-sama?”
“No, Kakashi-san,” Sasuke admitted.
“Because your mother served us tea but we had to serve your father sake.”
Sasuke turned, intending to return the sake to the alcove in favour of whisky.
“No, bring it,” Kakashi insisted. “We do appreciate that you serve us sake and that you do it so perfectly. It reminds us both of your father and how unlike him you are.” For a moment Kakashi’s expression was far away. “He would have beaten me to within a hairsbreadth of death if I had told one of his sons a personal detail about him. Any other non-Uchiha he would have killed.”
Sasuke shuddered.
“You never ask about him,” Kakashi observed. “Even when you want to.”
“It is not fair to ask people to remember,” Sasuke replied.
He sat down and served the sake.
Kakashi sipped his and smiled. “This is good,” he acknowledged. “Sometime I feel sorry for Izuna-sama,”
“You do?” Sasuke queried.
“He would have seemed a pleasant alternative to your father and the clan leaders that preceded him.”
It was true but irrelevant. “He would have never made it out of the pod,” Sasuke pointed out.
Kakashi considered. “I do not know. Your father thought of himself as honourable.”
Talking about Izuna reminded Sasuke of what Konohamaru had said. “Konohamaru suggested that I give the leadership over to Izuna and sit by while Kuuya challenges.”
Kakashi stiffened. Sasuke could feel him forcing himself to relax. “How do you feel about that?” Kakashi asked.
Sasuke had been thinking about that on and off since speaking with Konohamaru. “It is a clever idea but it does not feel right. I don’t know if it is the thought of giving the leadership to Izuna, even for a moment, or giving it up or Kuuya becoming leader when he’s so young.” He thought about it a little longer. “It’s a way of killing Izuna without breaking the rules but it does not feel honourable. It is against the spirit of the clan. Not that Izuna understands the spirit of the clan, which is crazy because we always thought it came from Izuna Uchiha. Kisame says that his sons and grandsons must have written all the stories to put him in a good light. He even suggested that perhaps Madara was not such a bad person as the stories suggest.”
Kakashi scowled. “Kisame always was a bit of a scholar,” he admitted. “I also do not like Kono-kun’s idea, as clever as it is. It is honourable in function but not in intent. It says that you doubt your worth as clan leader. Also Kuuya is not ready to lead.”
Sasuke imagined what Naruto would say about him transferring his burden to Kuuya’s young shoulders. No; the suggestion was not even worth discussing.

Naruto [part 7]
Naruto arrived within seconds of Kakashi leaving, which was unexpected but welcome. Instead of perching on Sasuke’s desk as he usually did, he went and sat in the interviewee’s chair.
Sasuke got the message. Naruto had not been on his list; it had ended with Kakashi. He settled into the chair opposite.
“Is there anything you wish to discuss with me, Naruto-san?” he asked.
Naruto made a show of considering. Then, instead of making a joke or suggesting they fuck on the rug, he looked suddenly serious. “What are Shi-chan and Ha-chan up to?”
Sasuke did not hesitate for a moment. “What Orochimaru said about extending canine-human hybrids’ lifespans has got into Shika’s head. Haru has been trying to manage the situation and, now that I have found out, I am going to help him.”
Naruto scowled.
“You know what Shikamaru’s like. He won’t stop thinking about it, whatever we say to him. He recruited Haru without my knowledge or permission. Haru made him promise that he would give up after two divs. Now that I know what they are up to, I think the best way to handle it is to make sure Shika keeps that promise.”
“If there was something useful for him to find he would have found it standards ago,” Naruto complained.
Sasuke knew that was not necessarily true. The situation had changed. They had only acquired all of Orochimaru’s records after defeating him. The special code Shikamaru and Haru had designed could read databases that had previously been inaccessible. “Try to accept that he has to be satisfied,” he suggested. “At least Haru’s hopes have not been raised. He believes that there is nothing to find that you will or should agree to do.”
Naruto twitched his whiskers. “I should be cross with Shi-chan.”
“But you aren’t?” Sasuke suggested.
“Shi-chan is Shi-chan,” Naruto admitted. He suddenly gave a brilliant smile. “What about a quickie to celebrate the completing of the interviews?”
That, Sasuke decided, was an excellent plan.
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