Another scream... more panting... a tearful cry echoed through the cave that held Ayame as she gave birth to her first and only child... and with that final cry, silence descended upon the twenty year-old woman and her newborn baby.

"Ayame! It's a boy! He's beautiful!" There was a voice speaking, but Ayame could no longer hear or recognize it's possessor. Her mind was drifting slowly, as were the rest of her senses.. though she really wished she could have seen the baby, had her vision been less blurry.
Her heart skipped a couple of beats and crystal beads formed around the corners of her tired eyes as she pulled her courage and slowly but steadily propped herself on her elbows. It took a lot of self-control to muster the power from her tired limbs in order to have a better view of her child... but she had to, she really had to see him - their beautiful baby boy - born with the last rumble of thunder that shook the grounds where the Fourth Great Shinobi World War had just ended.
Though the sounds of men dying and beasts roaring just ended, the baby's fearsome cry of life could be heard loud and it was beautiful and powerful and, in many people's hopes, a sign of future peace and prosperity. After all, there isn't always a child born right at the end of a War.. and this was no ordinary child either. Because it was his child.
Ayame held the little bundle of beautiful pale white skin with a smock of raven black hair at the top of his head, watching in awe as the baby calmed his crying when he was held by her, quieting himself down and moreover, making an attempt at opening his tiny little ebony orbs to catch a glimpse of his beautiful mother.

"Ayame!" Another voice, this one she knew and respected alike, as well as loved, enjoyed hearing and sometimes was annoyed by it. This voice belonged to Haruno Sakura, who had been defending and healing the entire Alliance during the war, as well as providing shelter and shield for the currently vulnerable Ayame.

"Sakura-chan.." she smiled weakly and tried to move only to be stopped by the pink-haired kunoichi.

"Don't move Ayame-san." She ordered and the older woman complied as Sakura's tired but skillful eyes scanned the mother and the child for any types of injuries or bruising or anything that she might have perceived as a threat to their health. There was nothing dangerous to either life and so, Sakura's eyes closed for a second, reopening at the sight of the small little Uchiha in Ayame's arms. "What will you name him?" Sakura asked, genuine curiosity in her voice as she carefully watched the baby boy sleeping peacefully in his mother's gentle embrace.

"I was thinking... 'Yuuki'. What do you say?" Ayame said, tearing her eyes off of her son to gaze at Sakura's silent form. Even though she was her senior, Ayame held a profound respect for the disciple of the fifth Hokage, and that was because when she had hit the lows of life, Sakura had been there to help her get back on her feet and carry on for one reason or another. And now, it was very important for her that this cherry-blossom-haired medic would agree to the name, because even if she was aware of it or not, she had been informally named God-Mother to the boy.

"A courageous name for the son of a courageous man... Yes.. 'Yuuki' is perfect." Sakura smiled fondly as she softly spoke these words, not looking away from the boy's sleeping form for one second. Ayame smiled a weak yet heartfelt smile, joy and sorrow alike overflowing in her core. "I wish Itachi would be here to see him... " Ayame said in a raspy, hoarse, near-crying voice as she held Yuuki closer. It was true that Itachi had died too soon and Ayame was left so suddenly all on her own, though she knew the time would come, she had always known his plan and his intention to die for the sake of his little brother... yet, she couldn't help but want to be selfish, even if in the end she hadn't been.

"What... ?" a soft, whisper-like voice was heard and it made Ayame's head shoot above Sakura's shoulder, only to find another pair of pitch-black eyes staring into her own obsidian pools. Of course she would recognize him immediately, not only by the duck-behind aspect of his hairdo, but by the color of his eyes and hair, and by the paleness of his skin and contour of his features. There was no doubt that the young man that now stood right behind Sakura, gently crouching over her shoulder to stare in awe at the new-born Yuuki, was none other than Sasuke Uchiha. "Is he really Itachi's..?" the young man asked unsure as his chest pressed ever so slightly into Sakura's back.

"Do you want to hold him?" Ayame asked suddenly, catching Sasuke off-guard, startling him with the sudden sureness in her voice. It was funny to watch him; and while Naruto and the rest of the Konoha 11 gathered behind him, followed by Gaara, Temari, Kankuro and many other shinobi as well as Kages and men and women all alike, the Uchiha Heir tried to settle his fast-beating heart; because even though Sasuke nodded in sign of agreement, he still didn't make a move to touch the little bundle of flesh and blood. It was as though he was afraid of him, afraid of hurting him, or maybe... he was actually so nervous because it was his nephew? His brother's biological legacy? However, he had no proof that the little baby was his brother's or even an Uchiha for that matter, and he knew that there was only one way of knowing for sure if that was his Itachi's child or not.

"Sakura-chan, will you give Yuuki-kun to Sasuke-kun?" Ayame asked, smiling weakly at the two figures in front of her. Sakura smiled softly as she extended her arms to receive the new-born, and as carefully as she had got him, she gently, slowly passed the little boy in Sasuke's own strong arms, holding onto the baby just long enough to be sure that her team-mate wouldn't accidentally drop him.
Sasuke was at a loss. As soon as he touched the boy he needed no more confirmation - this was definitely Uchiha Itachi's son - he could feel his brother's chakra signature without the need of activating his Sharingan, as well as distinguish some physical features that could have belonged only to Itachi - like his little nose, the shape of his eyes, the corners of his mouth - the only thing that differed was the color of his hair which was a lot like Ayame's - an almost ebony with reflections of red.

"He is.. so beautiful." Sasuke spoke with a velvety touch to his voice, showing a kindness he thought he no longer had. He was hypnotized by the boy, and he looked at Yuuki as Yuuki looked at him, cautious, curious, confused... pools of black were staring at one another, blinking and nothing more; and that was when something surprising had happened... Yuuki smiled. A goofy, minute, but all-together beautiful attempt of a smile that made Sasuke's eyes widen to the size of plates, and then he laughed - Sasuke Uchiha laughed. "Sakura! Did you see this? Naruto!" Sasuke laughed as he held the baby, and Sakura laughed with him, it was colorful and nostalgic and when Naruto joined in, it felt like they were genin again, before anything bad had happened. "Yuuki. Beautiful, brave Yuuki. I will protect you to the day of my death." Sasuke then vowed as he gently kissed the boy's forehead and the baby giggled.

"I'm happy..." Ayame spoke again as she softly breath out, "that you two are getting along.. so well." she continued just before she succumbed to darkness and sleep claimed her tired body. That moment was so amazing that there was nothing that could have possibly ruined it... With the child still in his arms, he looked at Sakura, and then at Naruto, and then he let his eyes roam every single person that had entered the cave, every last survivor of the Allied Army, and with a firm voice, he spoke mostly facing the Kages... "I have done many things to you all... I have made many mistakes and I have been foolish on many occasions..." he paused a bit, thinking, analyzing his words, choosing them carefully "I apologize for everything I have done. But.. I vow that from this day forth, I will work everyday to redeem each and every mistake. For the future of our nations and their children, I will work hard to protect everything that we have built and will build in the years to come, so long as you give me the chance..." He paused yet again, his gaze moving from one face to another, never losing composure, never showing fear.

His words touched nearly every person in that cave... and even though the path for forgiveness was long and brute, he was prepared to take every punishment headed his way. For the first time in his adolescent life, Sasuke Uchiha's heartbeat skipped, awaiting an answer from the allied shinobis. He was worried, yet ready; anxious, yet willing. Now he had something to protect, he had a dream for the future and a decision already made.

"Sasuke Uchiha," the Raikage spoke "you are to be judged - " the old man's words stopped in his throat as his younger brother, Bee intervened "Yo Motha Fucka! I don't have a problem with anythin' yo! So keep your promises and live fo' sho'! Yeah!" everyone turned to the hachibi's jinchuuriki, eyes wide. Then, as the other kages were prepared to argue, something weird yet exciting happened... The alliance started clapping, hushed at first, then louder and with each clap they chanted 'Sa-su-ke'. It was truly an awe-filled moment and Sasuke's features softened as his expression was met with warm yet determined smiles.

It was clear to everyone then, that this was the beginning of something.. hopefully bright and beautiful and without too many conflicts. The road was long and bumpy, and a little rough around the edges, but it would be made for the sake of the future, for the sake of the children and civilians and shinobis alike.

This was the beginning of a new era.