Hello all, thanks for checking out my story. Honestly, I haven't gotten around to editing or polishing this story, so it might not be all that good. It was truly just free write, but at least I tried, right?

I hope you enjoy!

"Aw, Itachi, you're so cute!"

"Kushina, I rather like my child alive, so please don't smother him,"

Kushina pouted up at her friend, "Mikoto, why must you always think the worst of me,"

Itachi, usually stoic, smiled slightly, "Yeah, mum, Aunt Kushina isn't going to kill me. She's not strong enough,"

It took only a moment of silence for Kushina to truly process the words, "WHAT DID YOU SAY, BRAT?"

Itachi bit back a chuckle, not wanting to further anger the pregnant Red-hot Habenero. Mikoto was on the scene immediately, "Oh, calm down Kushina. Itachi, stop grinning, do you want to make her madder?"

Itachi, the five year old genius Uchiha, started laughing regardless. Kushina calmed down, grinning, only having heard the stoic boy laugh on a handful on occasions. Mikoto smiled at the two, rolling her eyes slightly at her friend's almost bipolar actions.

"Honestly," Mikoto murmured. Then, raising her voice so that the laughing child could hear, said, "Itachi, don't you think it's time for bed?"

Itachi almost pouted. Almost. He stopped midway, though, and smiled at him mother, "Alright, good night mum, good night Aunt Kushina,"

Kushina grinned, "'Night, brat,"

After Itachi had left for bed, Mikoto turned to Kushina, "How are you holding up?"

"Better than expected, dattebane,"

After a long time, Kushina turned sad, "They say that my Jinchuuriki seal might weaken during birth,"

"Is it something to worry about?"

"Hopefully not, but," Kushina bit her lips, "If something happens to me, you will protect Naruto, won't you?"

"Nothing's going to happen," Mikoto assured, uncertain herself, "But if it does, you know you can count on me. I promise,"

Kushina immediately perked up, "Of course I can! I'm not worried or anything, dattebane, I'm just saying,"

Mikoto grinned, "Of course,"

Kushina glared, "Don't say 'of course' like that. It's like you're teasing me,"

"Of course,"

"Mikoto!"

Mikoto stared silently at the little boy through the hospital window.

"Mum, where's Aunt Kushina?" Itachi asked.

Mikoto bit her lips, knowing Itachi was mature enough to handle the truth, "She's gone, Itachi, and she's not coming back,"

Itachi followed his mother's line of sight, "Who is that boy?"

"Kushina's legacy,"

"We will look after him, won't we?"

Mikoto stated, "We will try,"

She closed her eyes, aware something was changing.

Mikoto was startled awake from her dream, feeling the body of a small someone jumping on top of her.

"Mum, mum! Get up, get up, it's the first day of Academy,"

Mikoto rubbed some sleep from her eyes, trying not to think of the terrifying dream she just had about her promise to Kushina, "Sasuke, is the sun even up yet?"

"No,"

"What time is it?"

"Four in the morning," Sasuke had the decency to look a little sheepish.

Mikoto smiled, glancing at the empty space next to her. Fugaku was on a mission for the Clan. Mikoto frowned slightly. The least the man could do was be there for his son on the first day of school! He wasn't even present when Sasuke started school a year ago.

"I daresay, are you excited to return to boring old school?" Mikoto asked playfully, remembering Sasuke's exact words.

"N-no," Sasuke denied defiantly, "No way!"

"Mmm?" Mikoto said in disbelief, sitting up on bed, "Then perhaps a special girl? I heard quite a few of them have been following you around,"

"Mu-um!" Sasuke whined in an adorable fashion, "All those girls are completely annoying!"

Mikoto laughed, "You know, you could be annoying you're brother right now,"

Sasuke pouted and Mikoto thought she was going to burst at the cuteness, "Itachi sent me to annoy you,"

Mikoto smirked, "He did, did he? I think I deserve some payback,"

The seven year old grinned and Mikoto smiled back, getting out of bed to Itachi's room. She put her finger on her lips and winked at Sasuke, before pretending to sneak in into her eldest child's room. She knew quite well that she could not sneak up on an ANBU, but she hoped Itachi would play along nonetheless.

Itachi had his face turned towards the window, his shoulders slumped slightly. He was deep in thought, Mikoto could tell.

"Nii-san!" Sasuke screeched, jumping onto Itachi's back.

Itachi smiled the tiniest smile in human history, but it was a smile either way, for which Mikoto was glad. She could tell her son – and possibly Shisui – was having a hard time. Itachi more so being the connection between the Uchiha and the village in the upcoming coup d'état.

"Sasuke, I thought I told you to go annoy – oh, hey mum!"

Mikoto shot him an unimpressed look, "Really?"

Itachi's small smile got wider, "Sorry, I guess?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes, "Now that you're all awake, perhaps after breakfast, we can head out early,"

Sasuke nodded vigorously, "Yeah, yeah,"

Mikoto smiled and ruffled Sasuke's unruly hair, patted Itachi's hand and headed towards the kitchen. After a small but filling breakfast, Mikoto took Sasuke by the hand and led him to the door.

Before they left, Mikoto turned to Itachi, "Will you be joining us?"

Itachi looked outside, noticing that the sun's rays was only just spilling over the horizon. It was only four thirty. There was still a long time before the ANBU had to report to their respective leaders.

"I have time," Itachi replied, following them out the door.

Mikoto smiled, walking along the empty streets with her sons, feeling purely content with her life. There was a lot of things wrong with it, of course, but her beautiful little boys made her day so much better. Just watching Sasuke run around with so much energy, and seeing the same look of content of Itachi's face, it all made her feel like she had succeeded in some part of her life. Nothing could go wrong. Absolutely nothing -

"Naruto! Hi!"

Mikoto's head snapped up, startled. Was Sasuke talking to the blond? The same blond that Mikoto had forced out of her mind when the Hokage refused her custody of him.

Mikoto faltered, watching as Sasuke ran up to Naruto, rambunctious as ever. Beside her, Itachi stared.

"Isn't that..."

Mikoto nodded. That was the Kyuubi holder. The same Kyuubi that people still had nightmares of. Mikoto could still remember the suffocating Chakra, the pure terror that had gripped her that day.

"Isn't that Aunt Kushina's son?"

Mikoto stared, not surprised that Itachi remembered Kushina, guilty that she hadn't thought of that right away. Of course, Itachi would, though. Itachi was a saint. He would have thought of Kushina before the Kyuubi easily. In her shame, Mikoto felt proud of her son.

"It is,"

Mikoto watched, frozen, as Sasuke and Naruto talked to each other like old friends. After a while, Itachi cleared his throat awkwardly. In that moment, Mikoto, full-fledged Kunoichi and mother, figured out multiple things.

The way Naruto held himself was defencive and ready. He would run if things went haywire, and he was ready to protect himself if he was caught. His eyes showed suspicion and stubbornness, not quite ready to trust the two older people, even if they were related to his friend.

Itachi knelt down to be at eye level with the boys, "Sasuke, who's this?"

Sasuke grinned, pulling Naruto forward, "This is Naruto,"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Itachi" Itachi smiled warmly, extending his hand and shaking with the seven year old.

Mikoto stood off the side, shifting awkwardly. It was an odd sight to see Itachi and Mikoto have their roles exchanged just because of a little boy that had Kushina's face!

"I'm, uh, Sasuke's mum," that part if obvious, Mikoto! Mikoto scolded herself, "Nice to meet you,"

Naruto's head swiveled between the two, confused by their kindness, before he grinned, "Sasuke, your family is awesome!" he lowered his voice, but Mikoto could still hear him, "though, your mum is weird,"

Sasuke was about to punch Naruto, but he ran, grinning. The two started chasing each other, leaving Mikoto stunned.

"You know, you are weird," Itachi commented, grinning.

Mikoto turned to Itachi, shocked. She had known Itachi and Kushina had been very close, but she hadn't realised how much seeing Naruto would affect him.

"He's as tactless as Kushina," was all Mikoto could say as she stared after Naruto.

Itachi hummed in agreement, "I need to go. ANBU calls,"

"Wait, Ita-"

But Itachi had already left.

In the end, Mikoto was just content watching Sasuke and Naruto chat animatedly on their way to school, vaguely reminded of her and Kushina. She could feel eyes everywhere, not just of the villagers, but also on the ANBU sent to guard Naruto.

"Mum, mum!" Sasuke shouted.

"Yes?"

"Can Naruto come over to our house today for lunch? Today, school is letting out early, remember?"

Mikoto closed her eyes in painful thought. The Hokage would hear of it, surely, especially when the council had banned any of the Clans in Konoha to interfere with the boy's life due to balance of power. Not to mention if the Uchiha's ever found out.

"No,"

Naruto's face fell and Mikoto was quite sure she could feel Kushina's rage. Not that she didn't deserve it.

Quickly, more out of guilt than anything, Mikoto said, "The Clan's holding a meeting, but how about we still have lunch together, just not at the house, not today at least,"

Naruto hesitantly grinned, "Okay, I guess,"

Sasuke nodded, "That's a great idea, mum!"

Nice save! Now all you have to deal with is the image of your dead friend!