Straight after that bath Obito had fucked Kakashi slowly and gently, taking him apart bit by bit, and had made sure to worship the Omega's entire body. Kakashi had eagerly returned his touches, moaning and crying eagerly, all while he ruined whatever pitiful amount of self-control Obito had left. Now Kakashi was curled up in his arms in bed, fast asleep, with Obito gently rubbing his thumb over Kakashi's stomach.
It was softer than before, and the thought made Obito shiver. His Alpha purred contently, all while Obito's thoughts raced. Kakashi was pregnant with his baby. He could barely register the thought. He and Kakashi were having a baby in this nightmare of a world.
Obito kissed Kakashi's hair, breathing in his scent.
He'd never let their child suffer the way they did. He'd never let them die like Rin did. He'd protect them from this terrible world. Obito would protect them both. First he needed somewhere safe that he could take them to. Aina had said he could bring Kakashi to the Mist, but the Mist wasn't ready yet. Obito was still moulding it to his liking. No, he hadn't finished destroying the old, pitiful nation that murdered Rin.
That would still take time.
But as the Daimyo's new 'personal advisor', Obito had been given power over the entire Land of Water, not just the Village Hidden in the Mist, and he intended to use that newfound power to achieve his goals.
"Thinking big thoughts?" Kakashi drawled sleepily against him. He remained snuggled in against him, even as he blinked heavily, his grey eye slowly trying to open up.
Obito smiled. "Morning, Kashi."
"Morning, Mr. Kidnapper," Kakashi yawned, burying his head back into the crook of his neck. "What time is it?"
It was dark from what Obito could see through the curtains, only a hint of colour within the sky.
"Still early," Obito soothed, running his hand through Kakashi's hair. "Go back to sleep."
Kakashi studied him for a moment, but it seemed the sleepiness and content won him over, because Kakashi slumped in lazily against his side, eye sliding shut once more. Obito nuzzled him once his breathing evened out, his mate asleep once more.
He felt a flicker of familiar energy and swiftly smothered it with his own. Kakashi stirred, but settled sleepily back in against him the moment Zetsu's chakra was smothered. White Zetsu peered from the wall, a little above Obito, and he studied Kakashi closely. Obito had already made sure to cover Kakashi's face, or at least the lower half at any rate.
"He has a lot of grey hair," White Zetsu commented. "Is he an old man? He doesn't look very old."
"It's a clan trait of his. They have silver hair," Obito replied, a tad bit defensively. "What do you want?"
"You don't seem to be lost in a rut, nor he in a heat."
"There have been some complications," Obito said. "But nothing I can't handle."
Hopefully.
"Why are you here?" he asked coldly.
"I wanted to see Stupid Kakashi." White Zetsu tilted his head. "I'm also bored. The blood has been implanted into the Demonic Statue, but the wait is taking too long."
Obito raised a brow. "And how is that my problem? Go pester someone else before you wake Kakashi up."
"You still seem moody. I thought having sex with your mate was supposed to help-" White Zetsu complained.
"Go."
"Alphas like dominating their mates. Maybe you should hold him down next time-"
Obito twitched. "Go."
"Okay, okay. You're still moody then." White Zetsu swiftly retreated.
Obito rolled his eyes. Of course he would be moody when he was disturbed, especially for something as pitiful as 'boredom'. He was with his Omega, he had no time to entertain Zetsu's nonsense. Obito settled back down and breathed in Kakashi's scent. It was so soothing, Kakashi was calm and relaxed in his arms, surprisingly peaceful, and all Obito wanted to do was bask in the tender moment.
Enjoy the moment as he planned what to do with Kakashi and the baby.
.::.
"I-Izumi?"
Izumi startled out of her thoughts. She had been admiring the sun rising, but it seemed like someone had discovered her. Hinata Hyuga slowed down her run, stopping just before her. The girl was shaking all over, gasping for breath.
"Hey, Hinata," Izumi greeted with a nod.
She had ran into the kid a few times when admiring the sun rise. Hinata was out training all the time, constantly pushing herself, but the poor pup never seemed to recognise any of that. She never seemed to see how good she was doing.
"I... Um..." Hinata fidgeted.
Ah, the nerves. Izumi smiled reassuringly, or as reassuring as she got these days. "What's up?"
"Y-You're a strong and capable kunoichi," Hinata said, pressing her fingers together, tapping them anxiously. "I'm trying to train up, but I'm not... I'm not any good... I want to be good like Naruto, but-"
"Like Naruto?" Izumi mused. "Huh, finally found a girl who isn't obsessed over Sasuke. Thank fuck for that. It's bloody creepy."
Hinata flushed. "H-He never gives up, despite the fact that everybody was horrible to him he never lost faith in himself. I-I want to be like that..."
Izumi paused. "Hinata, are you and Naruto mates?"
Better to check now than find out later on down the line. That way Sasuke and Hinata could learn to share the same Alpha, if they both felt the same way about Naruto. And Naruto about them.
Hinata shook her head. "No. I... My mate is Kiba, my team mate-"
"Hana's little brother. Yeah, I know him." Izumi nodded. "He's your mate?"
"Yes. B-But I'm no good for him..." Hinata's shoulders slumped. "I'm my father's failure of a daughter. S-Someone like Kiba... I could never prove myself to him-"
Father's failure of a daughter? What the hell? If Izumi's dad heard that he'd slap Hinata's father into next year. If he had still been about of course... If he had, Itachi wouldn't be a problen, because he'd throttle him, genius or not.
"Being a mate isn't about proving yourself to them." Izumi frowned. "It's a bond of equals. But you really feel as if you aren't worthy of him?"
"Y-Yes."
What was Kurenai doing- No, that wasn't fair. Someone like Hinata, who had been shunned and hurt by her entire clan, needed someone to reach out with a gentle hand. Somebody to be her friend and someone to trust again.
Kurenai could be the emotional strength, and Izumi could do what she did best.
Fight back.
"Hinata, I'm not a gentle or kind teacher," Izumi said, turning to face the girl properly. "I've broken Sakura's arm, I've beaten Naruto bloody and I've had to send Sasuke to the hospital more times than I can remember. Whatever kindness or gentleness I had died when my clan did. If you want me to help you, if that's what your asking for, I will hurt you."
Hinata surprised her. The girl didn't cower away. No, the pup looked her in the eyes and nodded sharply.
Izumi grinned. "Then we'll begin tomorrow, but for now, how about we enjoy the sun rise together?"
Hinata smiled. "I-I would like that."
.::.
Shikamaru awoke to a rough poke against his side. He forced his eyes open reluctantly, trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes. Ino shoved the blankets aside and climbed into Shikamaru's bed, Choji right behind her.
"What?" Shikamaru complained sleepily.
"Mother said she had something important to discuss with your dad," Ino huffed. "She had me out at the crack of dawn. I still need my beauty sleep so we're sharing your nest."
"I was the same," Choji admitted. "Dad wanted to discuss something with Uncle Shikaku."
"Too early..." Shikamaru groaned.
"Go back to sleep," Ino ordered. "Jeez, you're already so fussy and you haven't even had your first heat. You're going to be such a nightmare."
Shikamaru debated telling Ino how much of a nightmare she was, and how she wasn't even an Omega, but he didn't want to face the Beta's wrath. Especially not this early. So he yawned and settled back in, curling up against his wall while Ino settled against his back.
"Choji," Ino said sharply.
"Oh, right!" Choji's arm quickly settled over them, pinning them in bed.
"Perfect," Ino purred. "Now we can sleep."
Shikamaru had no idea what their parents were up to. But right now more sleep with his pack sounded perfect.
.::.
Shikaku slipped away from the doorway. He couldn't help but smile though, because the pups altogether were just adorable. Shikamaru had dozed right back off, Ino snuggled between the boys, purring away contently.
The bossy princess. Inoichi had spoiled her rotten, that was for sure.
But the joy soured when he thought on the new Ino-Shika-Cho team, because now they had confirmation from Izumi that none of their contraception pills had ever worked. That their children were deliberately timed to be born all within the exact same year. The Hokage and council had made sure their kids would be on the same team.
Ino and Choji had been deliberate, but Shikamaru hadn't been planned. Shikaku hadn't really been keen on becoming pregnant, especially while working. He loved Shikamaru, of course he did, but he hadn't wanted a kid at the time.
He couldn't help but growl.
"Shikaku," Inoichi called softly. He was at the end of the hall, staring at him with sympathetic eyes.
Shikaku scowled. "What?"
"You already knew-"
"I had guessed they were messing up with our birth control when I fell pregnant with Shikamaru. However, having confirmation is different," Shikaku hissed, marching up to his old friend. "I trusted Lord Third. We all did, and we were all fools for it. They messed with Shikamaru's life- All our kids lives- from even before they was born, and do you know what?"
Inoichi tilted his head. "What?"
"They want to groom Shikamaru to become an ANBU guarding the Hokage or the Daiymo's elite guard-"
"Seriously? Why?"
"Asuma had Shikamaru take an I.Q test. Naturally, all the higher ups know the results of said test, and you know exactly what they saw."
Inoichi grimaced. "He's got an I.Q of over two hundred."
"Exactly. He's a pup and he's more intelligent than half our Jonin," Shikaku laughed bitterly. "So already they want him in a high position, except we all know where climbing the ranks too quickly got Itachi Uchiha and Kakashi. I'm not having my kid go through that. All the pressure eats at you, and Shikamaru... No, I won't let him put up with that."
"You moved up the time." Inoichi nodded.
"After the exams. Once all the guests are gone."
Inoichi smiled. "Alright. You know we have your back."
"The only problem is I don't know who will replace the Hokage."
"We'll figure it out. We always do," Inoichi reassured, patting his shoulder. "Now c'mon, before our wives and Choza fuss about us staying out of the meeting to look at our pups."
"Has anyone else showed up?" Shikaku asked, following Inoichi downstairs.
"Just Izumi. We didn't want to alert anyone to a gathering, and since she has that special ability-"
"Good. Did she say anything about Naruto's situation?"
"He's living with her and Sasuke now."
"Good. He'll be safer there. Let's begin."