I'm ignoring canon for one piece. Tell me what you think.

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Sakura crushed the skull of the rogue ninja, his body limped at her feet. She dodged the rain of kunai from behind, back flipping to the side. She locked eyes with the kunoichi that was attacking her, seeing the anger from her partner's death. Sakura steeled her heart from the site, waving in and out of the shuriken and kunais, getting closer in her range.

Her anger was making her sloppy. Once Sakura got close after dodging another kunai, she grabbed the kunoichi wrist and crushed it merciless.

She cried out in pain and tried to break away by kicking at the cherry blossom's side.

But Sakura saw it and moved to the left, missing her kick by inches; she still had the kunoichi wrist in her in her hold and she was not letting up the pressure. With her other hand, she charged up chakra into her fist and crushed the missing nin's face in, making her death instant just like her partner.

She let go of the female ninja's wrist, the body slumping to the ground and jumped back. The medic nin spread out her senses, making sure there will be no surprises waiting for her. Normally rogue ninja wasn't this close to the village, but there was a first time for everything as she glance at the bodies. Even with the war over and peace was slowly but surely coming, there was still people would never agree to that change.

It was a sad thought, but that was the way of their world.

She sensed a small charka force, it wasn't too far where she was. It couldn't be human, it was too small, maybe an animal? She shrugged internally. She wasn't going to investigate; making it home was her goal. She wanted to finish up this mission quickly so she could take a bath and sleep for a month.

As she made to depart from the field of battle, a cry pierce the silence before cutting off suddenly. It came in the direction where she sensed the charka force, it was fluctuating. The cry sounded like the person was in pain, agonizing pain. It could be a trap. She wavered, looking back towards the way home before sighing. Her doctor side won. No matter if the person was an enemy, she would treat them.

The cherry blossom took to the trees, hurrying before it was too late. She arrived into a shaded area of the forest, it was a little dark but her eyes adjusted quickly and the first thing she noticed was the color red. It wasn't just a normal red, it was a certain shade that just so unique and eye popping. Sakura was so captivated by it that she almost didn't notice the panting coming from the red… hair?

Then she noticed the woman leaning heavily against a tree with her legs slight spread open. Her stomach was budging out and she was sweating with her hair sticking to her forehead. But her eyes, a deep ocean blue, was staring at her with her mouth firmly closed.

Sakura stared back at her evenly. 'She's in labor and she's not making a sound.' She thought in surprise. The cherry blossom hesitated for a moment, debating if it was a trap or not. Well if someone came up with the idea of a pregnant woman giving birth in the middle of the forest and Sakura was going to help her, deserve a gold star.

She jumped down and made her way over slowly.

The woman looked at her warily, but she wasn't scared.

"I'm a doctor." Simple words.

The woman stared at pinkette before nodding. An acceptance for help.

"How far along are your contractions?" the medic nin asked as she took out her tools from her trusty gray back pack.

"5 minutes." The red head answered, her voice despite the hoarseness, had a bell like voice.

'Those are close.' Sakura thought as she placed a cool compression on the pregnant woman's forehead.

She sighed from the coolness.

"How long have you've been in labor?"

"Two… days." The red head panted out as she went through another contraction. She barely made a sound.

Sakura was impressed though a little creeped out. The woman must have a high pain tolerance. "Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be home with your husband?"

A sad smile crossed the woman's face. "I was trying to make my way home."

Sakura noticed she didn't mention a husband or what led her to be out her in the first place. That was fine. It wasn't her business anyway. "After the birth, I'll escort you home." Though she said that, she was worried about the red head's low chakra. The medic nin wasn't sure if she was going to make it…. She shook that thought from her head, she was going to try her best.

"Thank you. You're a very sweet and decent person."

Sakura tried to brush off the praise, cheeks warming. "Anybody would've done the same."

A dark expression came across the red head's face, before she masked it. Sakura wondered about that. Another contraction hit. Sakura bended down to her spread legs. She hasn't dilated enough. The cherry blossom gave the pregnant woman a sip of water from her canteen and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"You're doing great. Is this your second child?" The medic nin decided that talking is a great way to distract oneself from the pain.

"No… my first." She answered.

"You must be excited?"

The woman chuckled weakly. "I am. I've been waiting for him for 13 months."

Sakura almost dropped the water she was poring over the compression. "You're pulling my leg." She deadpanned. But the pregnant woman was dead serious, the pinkette saw the truth in her eyes as she gave a tiny smile. "… wow." Was all Sakura could say. '13 months! That's crazy, but it's probably why her chakra levels are so low.' "You are amazing."

The darkness was back on the red head's face. "You have to do what you have to do to survive."

Sakura agreed with that, thinking about when she cut her hair in the chunin exam to save her teammates or when she suffered Tsunade-shishou's training to stand by Naruto and Sasuke. She shook those thoughts away and bended down between her spread legs again, noting that she was close to dilating perfectly. "Tell me about your home."

The woman's face lit up from the suggestion. "It's a beautiful place. So peaceful there. The people are friendly and warm. The food was amazing. There was this little ramen shop I used to go there every day with my friends."

Sakura felt like she was talking to Naruto, well a gentler, smarter Naruto. "That sounds like my home." The cherry blossom said as she laid out a blanket between the woman's legs.

The woman winked at her. "That's because it is. You're from Konoha. I noticed the headband."

Sakura stared back at the woman evenly. She was sharp, the medic nin had to give her that.

Another contraction hit, making her gasp out in pain.

"Take deep breath, you're doing great. Almost there."

The pregnant woman grabbed Sakura's hand in a surprising strong grip. "I'm… from Konoha as well." She panted.

Sakura figured as much with the way she describe her home. But that leads to the question of how come Sakura never noticed her. That shade of red is unique. Granted she could henge around the village, but why go through all of that work?

"I… haven't been back for a long time. I'm… from the… Uzumaki clan. Atsuko Uzumaki."

The cherry blossom felt like a bomb was dropped on top of her head. 'An Uzumaki?! I there was only two left in the world. Well technical Tsunade-shishou is an Uzumaki.' It was a discovery of a life time. None of her thoughts shown on her face. "I'm Sakura Haruno. Nice to meet you Atsuko-san." At this point of time, the cherry blossom felt like they were on first name basis. Not to sound perverted, but within the time she meet the red head she was already between her legs.

"S…sakura-san… it fits you." The grip on Sakura tighten as another contraction hit Atsuko like a train.

The contractions were coming faster now. But throughout all the pain the Uzumaki barely made a sound. Sakura was worried. Her charka levels were getting lower by the minute. If Sakura didn't deliver this baby soon both of them could die. The medic tried to get her hand back, but Atsuko didn't let go.

"Wait."

Sakura looked into her eyes, noticing that she was pleading with the cherry blossom.

"I'm not long for this world, so I ask you for a favor." Atsuko said, her voice steady.

Sakura opened her mouth to protest, but she cut her off.

"You know deep in your heart that I am right."

The medic nin bit her lip, as she looked down, knowing she was right, but she's been denying it.

"But it's okay. I already accepted this. The only regret is I won't be able to watch him grown into a man."

Sakura felt her heart clinched. The sadness in her voice made tears come to her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Atsuko-san wasn't crying and she wasn't going to either.

"I was worried that I wouldn't make it home. But then you came along, the one who reminded me of home. So I ask you, Sakura-san can you deliver my baby to his grandfather, Monkey D. Garp in Foosha Village, to take care of him until he is in his grandfather's hands."

The cherry blossom widened her eyes, in shock or surprised she didn't know. Truthfully, she didn't know if she could say yes or no. To become responsible for another human being. That was a big step. She was an active ninja, leading doctor in the hospital. She could die on the battle field ay any time. Granted she wanted to be a mother, but not now. As she looked into Atsuko's pleading eyes, she put herself in the red head shoes.

Sakura returned the pressure on her hand. "Yes, I'll do it." She vowed softly.

Relief passed across Atsuko's face as she smiled. "Thank you-"

Another contraction hit her, cutting her off. This time she let go of Sakura's hand and clutched onto her stomach.

Sakura washed her hands with her water supply. She then position Atsuko a little more comfortable on the blanket. "Alright Atsuko-san, push." She demanded.

The Uzumaki gripped the ground as she pushed.

"Stop! Take some quick breaths."

Atsuko panted like a dog.

"You're doing great. Now push again."

She pushed again as Sakura looked with a clinical eye, noticing the head was coming out. It was a full head of black hair. She hated to cause more pain, but Atsuko-san was losing charka faster since she started pushing and the baby wasn't coming fast enough. The red head was dying and there was nothing Sakura could do about it. The medic nin bottled up her emotions and pressed on. "Stop, take a deep breath. You're doing great. I can see his head."

Atsuko's face lit up in hopeful determination, her hair sticking to her face from sweat. "Really?" she breathe.

"Yes. Now push so we can greet him." Sakura encouraged.

The Uzumaki gave one last push as the cherry blossom inserter her hands into the vagina and pulled the baby shoulders. Atsuko open her mouth into a silent scream. Sakura winched internally, but she ignored the red head's pain as she kept pulling until the baby popped out.

For a moment it was silent before a loud wailing pierce the forest silence.

'He's got a pair of lungs.' Sakura thought in relief as she cut the umbilical cord and cleaned out his nose.

"Let me… see him…" Atsuko's voice was faint.

Silently, the pinkette placed the baby in the mother's shaky arms, helping her hold the baby.

"He's so beautiful." She whispered as she looked down at her son. He was perfect and had nothing of her facial features. Tears finally flowed down her face as a huge smile made its way to her lips. "I love you so much." She cried.

Sakura felt like an intruder on such a precious moment. But if she had a choice she would do it again. "What are you going to name him?" she asked softly.

"Luffy. Monkey D. Luffy. But don't register him under his real name."

The ninja arched an eyebrow. "Why?" Was she finally going to talk about the baby's father?

"His father is wanted." Atsuko said softly. That was all she said.

Well Sakura wasn't surprised. It was either that or the husband was abusive.

Atsuko placed her hand on the cherry blossom's hand.

The medic nin looked into Atsuko's eyes and knew it was time. The fire and determination that was in the red head eyes were gone. There were emotions flashing in her blue eyes, the main one happiness and regret, but all she said was, "Thank you for everything."

Tears flowed down from Sakura's eyes. "You're welcome Atsuko-san." The cherry blossom didn't think she heard her.

Atsuko Uzumaki was dead.

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