Chapter Text
Itachi watched as Naruto walked towards him, golden hair and bright blue eyes with the biggest smile known to humankind. Kami-sama, but he loved that man. The wedding kimono was a bright mixture of the younger shinobi’s signature colors that shouldn’t have worked but since it was Naruto…
Well, nobody could blame Itachi for the way he stared at his husband that day.
Naruto had cried when Itachi slipped the golden engagement band on his finger. The moment the ring had been placed on his finger, Naruto had lunged at his fiance thank you very much and pulled him into a kiss. There had been an awkward squawk from Iruka and a pained sigh from Sasuke but neither one cared as their lips met and all was right with the world.
A mere year later (Naruto had insisted on waiting because apparently he couldn’t overshadow Sakura’s wedding, no siree. He was not risking that beating), and Itachi was standing next to his love as their song rang so loudly in their minds.
Itachi wanted this moment to last forever, the world chiseled down to this single moment where he stood next to Naruto who smiled so brightly it almost hurt Itachi’s heart. This moment was something Itachi had dreamed of since the moment he had opened that hotel door and had looked into confused blue eyes that had widened in sudden realization. Itachi had yearned for this day and knew it would never happen, that they were a tragic pair fated for everything except this.
Yet, here they were and Naruto was just so beautiful .
A slight tug on Itachi’s sleeve brought him back to the moment and he turned towards his husband who was smirking slightly at him. He tilted his head slightly and Itachi realized the ceremony was over. They were married. They turned towards the crowd who were clapping and walked out of the shrine, together.
Pregnancy suited Sakura. She glowed and beamed as Naruto ran his hand around her swollen stomach, marvelling as he felt a fluttering movement pushing against him. Naruto had cried when she offered to be a surrogate for them. His longtime teammate had known for years that Naruto craved a family and they had been considering adoption when she approached them. Naruto had cried and Itachi had said thank you.
That night led to a long discussion.
“I want to adopt as well. If we do this it will be knowing that we are going to adopt at some point,” Naruto had told him. Itachi knew why it was important to him, knew why there was a hint of guilt at the corner of his blue eyes.
Itachi had agreed, but made the suggestion, “why don’t we adopt first? Adopt and then when we are ready for another child, then we take Sakura up on her offer.” Naruto had cried again, ugly gasping sobs escaping him in relief. There were conversations that Itachi had prepared himself to be difficult (talking about their pasts, talking about their song and the loneliness that came with their situation, even Sasuke could be a difficult subject to broach). But Itachi hadn’t truly prepared himself for comforting Naruto as he finally faced the grief that his childhood had embedded in him, the yearning to save someone from that same loneliness becoming more and more apparent.
So they adopted a one-year old little boy with black hair that refused to lay down. The social worker told them that he had been abandoned at the orphanage and they hadn’t truly named him, simply calling him Akachan , hoping that a forever home would come before the need for a real name arose. They had been right and Naruto had looked at the little boy with unruly hair and whispered, “hi Haku”.
It wasn’t until a few months into their adventure as parents that Sasuke, of all people, had explained the significance of Haku’s name. “He changed everything for us. He was our enemy, both him and Zabuza were. Yet, we don’t see them as such. They were the people who taught us how important keeping your loved ones safe was. Aniki, if it hadn’t been for Haku, Naruto and I wouldn’t have the bond we have”.
Itachi went home that day and gathered the toddler into his arms, smacking a loud kiss on his cheek that made his son squeal in delight. Naruto stood to the side watching with a smile on his face.
The decision to have a second child came with the biggest fight the couple had ever had.
“Haku has black hair, he has dark eyes. You have a child that resembles me. I want a child that resembles you, saiai”.
“Don’t ‘saiai’ me. This isn’t about what Haku does or doesn’t have! Don’t you want someone to pass on the jutsus that only an Uchiha can do? It’s not like Sasuke’s working on having kids anytime soon!”
No, Sasuke wasn’t. Itachi had a feeling that his little brother had a story about his romantic life that he kept locked up tight, not letting anyone see that particular pain, not even Naruto.
“I don’t have my family’s heritage, Itachi. That was lost to me the night I was born. I have scrounged everything I can from my father’s family. My mother’s abilities are outside of my own. I can teach Haku what I know. I can give him strength and my father’s jutsus, if he so desires. I want you to have that feeling as well. I want you to teach our child something that only you can teach. I want Sasuke to have the chance to pass on his knowledge as well!”
How could Itachi say no to that? How could he say no when Naruto’s eyes were filled with tears like he hadn’t seen since that day in the forest when Itachi had kissed him goodbye? He craved a child with Naruto’s smile and blonde hair. Haku, in a perfect example of nurture vs nature, a conglomeration of Itachi’s and Naruto’s personalities along with a part that was purely his own, a part that they loved fiercely and encouraged at every turn.
The fight ended in a stalemate. Itachi tucked in a three year old Haku and Naruto called out “I’m going to go visit the teme!” Naruto never left after they argued, which was honestly a rare occasion for them. They always talked it out until they reached an understanding. A harsh pain rang through Itachi before he answered with his acknowledgement and heard the door shut.
Sasuke found him two days later, “you two are the most annoying couple”.
“So he told you”.
“Of course he did. He came to my place wailing like someone had killed his pet dog and told me about how you two love each other so much you can’t decide who should sire a child. It’s insane that this is the worst fight the two of you have ever been, considering everything”.
Itachi has to agree.
Itachi has been rolling the idea in his head. He always thought he would only have two children, like his own parents. They had both assumed that Sakura’s offer was to have one child for them. But last night, as Naruto’s soft breathing next to him, Itachi let his mind wander to another idea. Naruto craved a child with Itachi’s coloring and dark eyes. Itachi yearned for bright hair and an even brighter smile. Why were they fighting about something when they could have both?
“Otouto, do you know where Sakura would be today?”
“Hn, finally.”
Sakura laughed at him, “I assumed that would be the situation! You two are absolutely ridiculous”.
Naruto cried again when he told him about his discussion with the medic-nin.
Itachi watched as the Hokage hat was placed on Naruto’s head, watching the nervous smile turn into a full blown grin. He held Aika in his arms, the three month old sleeping soundly. Haku stood next to him, a toothless smile on his face and holding Hibiki’s hand.
Kakashi looked relieved to be rid of the mantle and yet Itachi could tell he was bursting with pride at his most surprising student achieving the once seemingly impossible dream the blonde had screamed about numerous times in his youth.
Sasuke, Sakura and Sai stood not far from Itachi and the children. Iruka was on his other side, beaming and teary eyed. They all listened as Shikamaru announced Uzumaki Naruto as the Nanadaime Hokage. The roar that came from the gathered crowd startled Aika awake and Itachi smiled and pressed his face in her fluffy blonde hair.
Everything was perfect as their song soared through Itachi’s mind.