Paranoia did strike at him, unto the same rationality he had always sanctioned it; to be bribed, conned, were normalcy for one of his particular popularity. To face assassination only came forth as the second attempt made. In fortune, Kakashi had questioned the knowledge his former students would-be assassin would harbour, and tracked his company to an origan point.

As it were, Naruto was walking among his friend, Shikamaru had taken himself away from his chunin duties to follow his pregnant friend around, as an escort of sorts. Naruto could not be certain as to the cause, but it gave a flicker of warmth to blossom in his smile, as did his bump unexpectedly shifted, having him grunt in protest for the strength she gave. It earned him a glance from the Nara beside, curious but refrained; and Naruto took his hand and put it just where she was making another attempt. It was comedic to see his normally lazed eye grow so widened at her simple greeting, the smile that came to his bored visage changed into something slight more lightened- like the flake of new falling snow. It was a small detail, but he had found that sharing the magic of his baby's movements would brighten the expressions of those around him once they felt it. He was flashed a smile, before Shikamaru sighed loudly, his hand going to his forehead instead, and Naruto watched all in confusion for the change in demeanour.

Before he could ask, she gave another kick one that made him flinch a little. His company noticed, and helped him to a bench for a much needed rest, a loud laugh rang out of Naruto then; to think he had once been called 'Konoha's Most Energetic Ninja,' at one point and was now sitting for his child's hyperactivity, and she wasn't even born as of yet. It made him giggle at the thought, Shikamaru snorted beside him, but his visage was compassioned. "I really didn't think you'd be the first of us graduates to have a baby Naruto." A fact that in its entirety the blond agreed upon, he had seen it as his primary goal to gain Hokage rank or at least Jounin before ever going to pregnancy- however, it was not an impossible attainment even now and he still was eager to do so. Again, Shikamaru sighed, and not unto the restrained laugh he let lose for the comment. "I should probably tell you, a plan has been made, to track Sasuke down."

It peeked his interest, he stared unto the man, his own understanding slowly coming through; that he would not be able to join the team in capturing him, he still had four months left, and Konoha would not wait four months on vital information. It made him want to shout for a delay, but that would do for nothing, so he looked to his friend, "then can you just use what you have to gather information instead?" It was all he could consider that might buy time, for in knowing the mindset Sasuke had set for himself, the Hokage would much rather kill Sasuke as a rogue, traitor, then keep him alive. In turn brown eyebrows raised and lips twisted in contemplation.

"I'll talk to Tsunade-sama about it." Naruto nodded, for all he could do was hope.

"Kakashi told me about the attempt, it looks as if Sakura could somehow be involved." That garnered his attention, for he would expect it to remain secret, then again the man was high ranking in basic intelligence- it had probably only been implicated and Shikamaru had understood the simple facts. For a rare change, Naruto watched as the man scowled in an irritation outside of his lazyman demeanour. "I took a look into it, out of orders," brown eyes drifted towards the council building. "It's a bit of a speculation on my part. But the man who was hired to kill you came from an old mercenary company called the 'Miran,' the council has old ties with them, and worked with them during the Third War for extra shinobi." He paused there, and took a look at him as if to be certain he was paying attention, Naruto felt his throat clamp up, already awaiting a full explanation with rapt-attention. "Sakura's father was once in the Miran company, it is possible that loyalties remain." He sighed rather loudly, but his voice came out in a quiet tone as he leaned closer to the blond's ear. "Naruto, I need to know for your own sake; Jiraiya is the father isn't he?" Though his shock at the question probably showcased all he needed to know, Naruto stiffened his posture and feigned ignorance.

"Why is that information important?" He earned a skeptic glance, for his blatant mask of feignment.

Still, he gained the explanation he wanted for the caution displayed. "Because; even if the council is in the dark of who the father is, the Miran company have been tracking Jiraiya-sanin for years; they despise him, Naruto. They'd know if he had a mate, and to be frank; if Sakura had spread the rumour of your pregnancy, they would figure out pretty quickly its his." He shuddered upon the thought, but still his denial of the facts was creeping in upon him.

"That doesn't mean Sakura-chan is involved!" It almost came out as a shout unto her defense, and his arm was gripped with a quick 'shush,' from his company.

"She might not be Naruto, she could be caught in the middle and forced to spread information, she could be doing it willingly, or completely oblivious and not involved at all." It was evident there was no particular answer, and he forced himself to calm away from his instinctive urge to protect his teammate from scorn. If she were involved by intention, he could not point to answer as to what his own response would be, an end to his and the pinkette's friendship for certainty at the least. "If she'd mentioned it at all to her father or even her mother, then the news could have spread to the company, and if she is the one responsible for the rumour spreading then, it is possible she was forced to do so, or even that she did it intentionally so that they found out- I cannot say, for now just stay away from her. The information about the Miran being involved will be made public so no one will make deals with them without being penalized through the government."

Naruto snorted unto himself for the statement, one point not difficult considering her harsh request. His want to believe that Sakura was entirely unaware was worn to a thin veil upon his denial, still he nodded in appeasement and agreed for his own precaution. His hand automatically rested in comfort against his protrusion, before Shikamaru leaned up and stood- giving a casual farewell to him and the baby as he left, a sympathetic smile carved upon the brunet's face.

.o0o.

Breakfast was in preparation when all discretion broke, the thread of secrecy and purposeful ignorance was snapped. Naruto had started himself on a peeled, fresh apples, milk and cheese at his new table- when a resonating bang came suddenly upon his front door, the obvious collision of a fist into wood. For a moment he had twitched to preparation for battle, his kunai already at his side, but then Kamaji-chan's voice had yelled through the wall, and he hurried to open it for fright of the brash action. He waddled to the lock of course, but she burst in with a fright he could not recognize upon the strong woman, her face was easily panicked and her eyes roamed over him in an unexpected evaluation.

Her words came out jumbled, in a mass from her lips, hardly comprehensible, her eyes wore red rims of obvious tears, and she was panting from having run to him. "Naruto-kun, I'm so sorry- I was just having a conversation with my father and, oh kami I was just-" He placed his hands on her shoulders for calm after having shut and locked the door, directing her to the table were his snack was, trying to ease her mind by having her sit down. Seconds passed before her breathing slowed and she seemed capable of talk once more. In waiting, he turned to the kitchen and made her a warm cup of mint tea, then sat down in the chair across from her where his plate was already awaiting. "I told him about you, that we were friends," she looked down upon the liquid in her cup, anxiety clouding her solemn expression, twisting it into something pinched and guilt-ridden. "I- I entirely forgot he was old friends with Haruno Kizashi-" A gasp escaped her as tears began, and she cupped her mouth to stop from spitting out her tea in choked remorse. He stood and crouched near her, patting the teens back for comfort, understanding her guilt for what it were; however, his own -commonly- barriered, rationality crept up upon him in that moment as an earth jutsu might beneath one's feet:

"Kamaji-kun, its not your fault- you heard the rumour before we met didn't you?" Hazel shimmering eyes stared up at him, tears rimming her eyes, her expression so obviously devastated, that when he smiled at her for all the comfort he could, her own in return- shook for emotion. "Sakura and Kakashi were the only ones in the meeting who could have spread the news, the only ones who knew; and Sakura is the only one who would have told anyone of my pregnancy. Your father knowing hers was just a coincidence, him being a part of the Miran was just icing on the cake." Indeed, he figured Kamaji-chan must have told her father and in turn he would have told his friend- who already knew through his daughter; because in truth there was only one way which the rumour could have started before him and the red-head met, and that was through the pinkette. It made him frown to think, still he offered his plate of apple slices to his friend as she sniffled back yet another sob for her mistake.