Authors note: This is eight years after the flashback last chapter. (Thats why it was in italics, it was a flashback when Sasuke came back. So thats why I skipped time. So TECHNICALLY this is where the sequel "begins") So that means Sasuke and Sakura have been together for almost nine years. Sakura and Sasuke are both 25 years old, and Akiyo is 10 years old. Sakura and Sasuke had another child, a daughter, named Akira, who is 7 years old. So...yeah. Decided id fill you in. Lol. Review.


I opened my eyes to see the moon outside my window. It was like a big ball of light as it just lay there in the sky, totally still, watching me. I sighed a tired sigh as I glanced my eyes down at my chest, seeing my hand moving up and down with my steady breathing. I felt a feeling of comfort and happiness as I saw the other pale hand that was linked in mine, finger through finger. The diamond ring on her ring finger shining in the moonlit room and her calm, steady breathing blowing on my bare chest.

I looked at Sakura's pink hair, spilt over her face and my chest. Her head was rested comfortably on my biceps and her breathing touched my chest every time exhaled. I took my thumb and rubbed mine on her thumb gently, watching her natural reaction to nudge just a little. I smiled as I buried my face into her forest of pink hair and kissed her scalp. She moved a little, but did not awake.

I moved my hand up and down her back gently, to comfort her but not awake her. I smirked to myself as I thought of her being my wife. Never in this world would I have ever expected to marry Sakura, I had planned on killing Itachi and giving my body up willingly to Orochimaru. But seeing as that was impossible, they were both dead, I could finally do with my life what I wanted to do. Restore my clan.

Of course, that wasnt the only reason I married Sakura. I did truly love her, she made me happy. I always remembered when I would have nothing to do with her, but that was because I was so focused on killing Itachi. When he died, I could truly pay attention to her. I don't know what it was that triggered the feelings first. When I found out Itachi had raped her, I just...well, they just kind of came. Like I HAD to do something, like I HAD to help her. I felt it was my responsibility, although it clearly wasn't. I wasn't sure what had happened, all I knew was, that I truly fell in love with her.

She moaned next to me, causing me to look at her face. She was so beautiful in the moonlight, and so peaceful. I smiled when I looked past her and at her enlarged stomach that held my son. She was nine months pregnant, and he would be ready to come out anytime now. We were going to name him, Onari. I sighed a quiet sigh as I thought about how we were going to have three kids, one of which wasn't even technically my son. But Akiyo didn't know that, he had always looked at me and called me father. He knew nothing of Itachi, and we planned to keep it that way. It would just be better if he never knew about him at all, Sakura and I agreed on that together.

Still, Akiyo resembled Itachi in every way. He looked like him, he acted like him, and he even possessed the same skill as Itachi. He is only ten years old, and he already knows how to use his sharingan. I didn't know how to use mine until I was thirteen. Itachi learned his at eight. Akiyo was truly a genius, just like Itachi. And thats what scared me.

The way Akiyo was excelling, how strong he was getting just as a mere child, scared the hell out of me. When I looked at him, it took me a minute to remind myself that he wasn't Itachi. That's how much he resembled him. It was a scary thing.

Then there was Akira. My daughter. She was seven years old, and such a sweetheart. Akira was unique though, she looked just like Sakura, except with darker pink for her hair. She had very dark green eyes and her skin was a little darker than Akiyos. Having all of the characteristics as Sakura, she was always wanting to be with me. She was definitely a daddy's girl.

Thinking about the two children, I suddenly wanted to see them. At first, I tried to get the thought out of my head, not wanting to wake Sakura up in the process of moving. But I just couldn't shake it.

Carefully, I unhooked my hand from Sakuras and wrapped my right arm around her shoulders. I held her as I slowly moved my chest out from under her head, placing her head carefully on my pillow. I threw my legs over the side of the bed carefully, trying not to make much movement. Sakura moaned again, but didn't wake up. I slipped on the house shoes that were by my night stand and carefully stood up. I looked back at Sakura, biting my lip just a little. She was laying diagonal, comfortably, clutching onto my pillow tight. I could hardly see her face through the forest of pink that draped over her pale face, but I didn't have too. She was beautiful just as she lay.

I smiled as I turned around. I walked slowly and quietly, the floor creaking quietly underneath me. I placed my hand on the knob and turned it, giving me access to the hallway. I stepped out into the dark hallway, closing the door gently behind me. I sighed as I activated the sharingan, it always helped me a little to see in the dark.

I slowly walked throughout the medium sized house, until I reached the staircase. The stairs led to Akiras room, since she wouldn't shut up until we finally gave in and gave her the top. It was the only room up there, the stairs led right to the door. It was almost like an attic, but it wasn't. Sakura already said there was no way she was putting her daughter in an attic filled with, quote "yucky spiders and cobwebs" unquote. I didn't get it. Why were women so scared of bugs? All you had to do was step on them. I would worry more about Shino getting onto you about bugs than the actual bug itself. But then again, I guess thats why im not a girl.

I cleared my throat as I began walking up the creaky, wooden stairs. I still didnt trust these things. I wanted to rebuild them, but Sakura wasn't having it. "Your not gonna go and ruin those stairs!" I rolled my eyes. The old Sasuke would have done it just to make her mad.

But then again, the old Sasuke didn't have two kids and another one on the way.

I turned the knob and opened it gently when I reached the top of the stairs. Of course I was greeted by pink painted walls and stuffed horses everywhere. Typical girl thing, I guess. I walked in the room quietly, leaving the door open since I would be leaving in a moment anyway.

I walked over to the tiny bed that I could never fit on, even if I wanted to. Akira was curled up on her sides with both hands in between her knees. Her magenta hair was sprawled out all over the white fluffy pillow that was underneath her small head. She was wearing a pink gown that reached knee length, and wore little rubber bracelets around her tiny wrists. They were black and I assumed Sakura had given them to her. I snorted as I noticed the stuffed frog Naruto had given to her when she was just born. I couldn't believe she still had the thing, but then again Akiyo still had his too. And Onari would have one as well as soon as he was born. I guess it was a Naruto thing.

Akira sighed a deep sigh and rolled over to her side. Her fists were balled up as she held the frog under her arm. She quietly shifted to a new position, and a tiny dribble of drool ran down her mouth. I almost wanted to laugh at the cute sight, but I didn't want to wake her up.

"Mmm..." Akira moaned in her sleep. "Akiyo, quit it...quit tickling me..." she said almost smiling.

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing at her. It was cute - yes I actually think something is 'cute' - I got myself together, and leaned down to kiss her tiny forehead. She flinched and cracked her eyes open. I looked at her, frozen, hoping she wouldn't wake up.

She looked at me with half opened eyes, and five seconds later, they slowly closed. I sighed a relived sigh as I began to turn around. I creeped myself to the door, taking one last glance at Akira before I slowly stepped out. I smiled, closing the door gently behind me.

I slowly walked down the stairs, and sighed. Then I looked ahead to see Akiyos room, just down the hallway. It was to the right of what was going to be Onari's room. I walked down the long, dark hallway with my sharingan still activated. When I got to Akiyos door, I slowly opened it. The door creaked, which made me stop immediately before it could disturb Akiyo.

I sighed a sigh of relief when I saw he was still asleep. His room was, of course, different from Akiras. It was plain blue and black, with plaid bed sheets. He had a small desk to the left of his room that held a couple books and note books. The academy has gotten harder since Sakura and I were there, so Akiyo studied a lot. Still, as expected, he got all A's. He was a ten year old genius.

I walked over to the bed where he was laying. His shoulder length, light black hair was sprawled on his pillow under him as he lay on his back. His covers were around his waist, so I gradually pulled them back up to his neck. He didn't move at all.

His breathing was calm and collected. I swallowed as I continued to look at him. I remembered how when I was little, I would always sneak into Itachis room when he slept. This was when I was probably four or five years old. But I remembered always tapping Itachi's shoulder, and he would wake up instantly.

"Sasuke? What is it?"

"Big brother...im scared. Can I sleep with you?"

"No."

"But why?!"

"Because you need to grow up, Sasuke. Your not a baby anymore, its time to start acting like a big boy."

"But...Itachi..."

Then I'd begin to cry.

"Ugh. Fine, but only for tonight. You hear me?"

"Yes! Thank you so much big brother!"

"Yeah, yeah, just don't take all of the covers like you always try to do...."

I sighed and closed my eyes. Those were the good old days, before the tragedy with the clan. The more I thought about Itachi, the more I hated him for killing them. It was still hard for me to understand why he killed them. He used to be the big brother I looked up to, and just randomly one day he turned into the person I hated most in the world. It didn't make sense to me, and it never would.

I opened my eyes to look at Akiyo. I felt my body tense up as Itachi's son lay in front of me. I remembered when I had first come back to the village, to be with Sakura, when I was around Akiyo alone most of the time when Sakura was doing errands for Lady Tsunade. I remembered the more I was around him, the more I hated him. He looked just like Itachi, and it made me angry. When I looked at Akiyo, I looked at Itachi. Sometimes I still felt that way. When I held him that first day he was born, I didn't feel hatred. I felt like I could possibly love my nephew. But the more his face began to shape and look like Itachi's, the more I couldn't stand to be around him. Of course I never told Sakura, she would think I had issues. Which I probably did, but that didn't matter.

I clenched my fists as I looked at Akiyo. I was supposed to love him like my own son, this is what I promised Sakura, but how could I love someone who looked exactly like my brother? Sometimes, it got to the point where it took everything in me not to strangle the child. I could easily kill him, it wouldn't be hard. But as I hesitated, a new feeling came over me. Sympathy. It was not Akiyo's fault his father was Itachi. How could I blame him for looking like him? It was in his genes.

I could control myself, and I would. He was my...son. And I had to love him. I did love him, although at times I might have to convince myself.

Akiyo groaned as he flipped over to his stomach, grasping the pillow tight under his head. I sighed a tired sigh. It was time for me to return to bed with Sakura before she woke up.

I turned on my heels towards the door and walked quietly. As I was walking, I noticed a whole bookshelf filled with kunai and shuriken. Akiyo was determined to be a good fighter, and I had to give him props for that. He was a lot like Naruto, he always pushed himself. But then again, he was always around Naruto when Naruto wasn't with Hinata. Naruto had been around Hinata a lot lately since she is pregnant with their first child.

They had gotten together three years ago after dating for so long. I remember the look on Narutos face when Hinata finally told him she liked him. I couldnt believe it took so long, I mean any smart person would have guessed that Hinata liked him. But then again, Naruto doesn't really fall under the "bright" category. I was surprised it took them so long to finally decide on having a baby. I rolled my eyes. Great, another Naruto running around here. He was surely to have ADD.

Naruto was sure to have a busy life after it was born though. Taking care of a child, PLUS being the hokage would be a BIG job. He was already complaining about how much paperwork he had to do as the hokage, Lady Tsunade just laughed at him and said "its your problem now, HOKAGE." I had to admit, it was pretty funny seeing Narutos face everyday he walked into the office to see a stack of papers.

I reached Akiyos door and opened it so I could slide myself out. Of course, it would creak as the door opened. When I was able to slide myself out, I sighed a sigh of relife, hoping that I didnt wake Akiyo. I looked back in his room, only to be shot down.

He was looking at the door, sat up in his bed. He rubbed his eyes. "Dad?" he asked peering out of his tired eyes.

I sighed as I opened the creaky door. I would remind myself to fix it later. "Hey, son." I said walking into the room.

Akiyo yawned. "Something wrong?" he asked simply, sounding like Itachi when he said the words. A feeling went through my body, although I don't know what feeling you'd call it.

"No," I said calmly and quietly. "I couldn't sleep, so I just wanted to check on you and Akira."

Akiyo sighed and rubbed his right eye. "Oh." he said quietly.

"Yeah," I said smiling. "Go back to sleep, I didnt meant to wake you up." I said turning to go outside of the door.

"Dad?" Akiyo asked from behind me. I turned to look at him, my hand on the knob.

"Yes?"

"Can we talk for a minute?" he asked, his eyes wide open now. He still had my eyes, even after all this time.

"Uh, sure." I said turning back around. "About what?"

"The genin exams." Akiyo said as if he were nervous. "I wanted to talk to you about them."

"Cant we talk tomorrow?"

"I'd really rather we talk now...please." Akiyo said yawing. He looked up at me with wide eyes. I smiled the realist smile I could and walked to him. I sat on the bed next to him, he folded his legs to make room for me.

"What's got you troubled?" I asked. "We cant talk long, you have school tomorrow."

"Yeah," Akiyo agreed. "Well, I was wondering if they were hard."

"Hard? As in difficulty?"

"Yeah."

"Oh." I said scratching a place on my chin. "No, not really. You just have to know the jutsu that they require you to know to graduate. You know all the jutsu they talk about in class, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then you'll be fine." I said patting Akiyos leg. "When are those exams anyway?"

"Next week." Akiyo said sighing. "I just want to pass."

"Don't worry, buddy. Im sure you will." I said yawning a yawn of my own. I would have to return to my own bed soon, I had a mission to go on tomorrow...

"Are you going to come watch me?" Akiyo said with a bit of hopefulness in his tone.

"Im sure we will," I said standing up off of Akiyos bed. "If im not busy, ill be there. I know your mother is going to go. And Akira may be there."

"I want you to be there..." Akiyo said quietly, almost in a mutter.

"Me? Why do you want me to be there so bad?" I asked. Akiyo looked at me with hope in his eyes.

"I want you to be proud of me." he said. "Thats why I practice so hard. Mom always tells me I'm a genius...I've never heard it from you...." Akiyo said, his tone sad.

My eyes widened. He was acting like me as a child. About how my father would always favor Itachi, and say 'thats my boy.'. I so BADLY wanted father to say that to me. It was like that all over again, except Akiyo didn't have to compete with an older brother.

I smiled and ruffled his hair. "I am proud of you, Akiyo." I said. Akiyo smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes. But remember to train hard so you won't let me down. Can you do that?"

"Yeah!" Akiyo said excitedly. I was surprised at his enthusiasm. He was usually quite and collected, but he was awfully excited now. I liked it though.

"Good boy." I said. "Now I have to get to bed. I have a mission to go on, and you have school." I said walking towards the door. "I know you'll make me proud at the exams."

"I'll try." Akiyo said.

"You'll make it." I said stepping in the hallway. "Now go to sleep so you can do good in school tomorrow."

"Okay." Akiyo said laying back down in his bed, he pulled the covers to his chin. "Night dad."

I smiled. "Night, Son."