"Do we have to?" asked Sasuke as Sakura led him to the Hyuuga compound one foggy evening. "We've seen them a million times already."
"I promised Hinata that we'd drop by tonight," insisted Sakura.
"You just want to see the babies; it isn't about Hinata or Naruto at all," noted Sasuke.
Sakura stopped walking and turned to face her fiancé. "Sasuke Uchiha, I don't pressure you at all. I don't ask you about when we're getting married or when we're having kids. The least you could do is let me see their babies since we aren't even close to having any of our own!"
"But - ," said Sasuke. But right then, they got to the front door and it opened without them even having to knock.
"Sakura, Sasuke, please come in!" said a very pleasant Hinata in hostess mode.
"Thank you," said Sakura, taking a step into the house and giving Sasuke one last look.
Sasuke just rolled his eyes as his fiancée's overly mannerly greeting to a woman who had been her friend since their academy days.
Hinata giggled. "Hello to you, too, Sasuke."
He followed Sakura inside and sat down so that he could take off his shoes.
"How are the babies," Sakura asked Hinata. "Did Aiko's fever last much longer?" Sakura was referring to the last time she saw Aiko at the hospital due to a prolonged fever.
"No, not really. That powder you gave me really did the trick. By the next morning, the fever had broken," said Hinata.
"That's good to hear," said Sakura.
"I'm going to find Naruto," said Sasuke, no longer wanting to sit there and listen to idle chat about the babies.
"Oh, um, he should be in the living room," said Hinata. "Though Sasuke, please be quiet...the babies are probably asleep."
"Thanks," said Sasuke before walking to where he figured Naruto would be.
Sasuke headed towards the living room. He found Naruto sitting in his favorite chair, feet raised, reading from a pile of papers.
"Dobe," Sasuke greeted.
"Oh hey! Sasuke, you guys are here," said Naruto.
"Don't tell me you are seriously working. The work day is long gone and tomorrow's the weekend," noted Sasuke.
"Well, you know," said Naruto. "We all can't be regular shinobi like you, Teme. I have my - "
"Yes, yes, your responsibilities," said Sasuke waving his hand at his friend. "Must be hard being the Hokage-to-be."
Naruto knew Sasuke was just teasing him so he didn't take anything he said seriously.
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Hinata brought Sakura to the kitchen where they could talk. Sakura loved to discuss how the twins were doing and what milestones they were reaching. She was interested as the medical shinobi who delivered them as well as being a good friend. Even though she only saw them every once in a while, she still felt very connected to them..like they were somehow her responsibility.
Just the same, Hinata loved to talk about her children to anyone who would listen. The two of them paired up made for a long night of endless talking with babies being the main topic of the conversation.
"What have they done lately?" Sakura asked.
"Kiro loves his feet and he grabs them and sticks his toes into his mouth…and Aiko just recently found herself in the mirror. It's so cute!" proclaimed Hinata.
Sakura sighed, but looked a little melancholy.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" asked Hinata.
"Oh, it's nothing," said Sakura.
"I have a nice shoulder here for you to cry on if you ever need it," prodded Hinata.
Sakura paused, then smiled. "No, it's fine. I'm just a little jealous, that's all."
"I thought as much. But you already know you can drop by here whenever you want, even if it is just to see the twins and not Naruto or me," said Hinata.
"Thanks, Hinata. I already feel like I'm in your lives enough as it is. But even so, I'm not sure it's enough for me," explained Sakura.
"What do you mean?" asked Hinata.
"Here you and Naruto are, happily married and two kids in your home already. I'm not even married yet. And kids? Who knows when that will happen?" explained Sakura.
Hinata giggled.
"What's so funny?" Sakura asked.
"Just the irony of the situation," she answered. "Isn't Sasuke the one who needs to repopulate a clan? And here you are his soon-to-be wife pining for the kids to come sooner rather than later."
Sakura giggled as well. "I guess you're right. I never thought of that."
"But seriously Sakura, if you want it that much, why don't you push him a little harder? You know how stubborn he is. Sometimes you have to practically knock him upside the head with something before he sees what is so clear to the rest of us," said Hinata.
"Don't I know it," said Sakura. "There's just one thing that is holding me back from saying anything."
"That is…?" asked Hinata.
"I just have this feeling down in my gut that my life is really going to change once Sasuke and I get married and have kids. And I don't mean in a bad way necessarily. I'm just not sure if I'm prepared to make those kinds of changes just yet. I'm sure he'd marry me in an instant if I asked. I'm sure he's sensing my hesitation though."
"Sounds to me like you have cold feet," said Hinata. "If you are waiting for the perfect time, or a signal from God, you might be waiting a little while. There is never a perfect time, Sakura."
Hinata turned her head, hearing a cry coming from the babies' room. She rose to see who it was and Sakura followed.
Following Hinata to the babies' room, Sakura continued to think about the situation, thinking carefully about what Hinata just said. Sure, she enjoyed her shinobi life - danger, missions, freedom and the thrill of it all - but something was pulling her towards becoming a mother and leaving her current life behind, even if just temporarily. She was envious in a way of her friend and the progress she and Naruto had made in making their family. Was now the time to say something to Sasuke? Should she open that can of worms just yet?
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"Is it getting any better?" asked Sasuke, taking a seat on the sofa.
Naruto placed his papers aside. "No, not really," he answered. "The constant crying and diaper changing….Hinata is taking on most of it since she's not on active duty any longer, but still, it can be frustrating."
He looked at Sasuke.
"So when are you planning to go through all this? Don't you need to repopulate your clan?" Naruto asked. He meant it jokingly, but Sasuke wasn't really sure exactly how much was a joke with the serious undertone he sensed.
"I don't know, Dobe. You don't seem to be very happy…," Sasuke offered.
"What? Don't get me wrong, Sasuke. I never said I wasn't happy. It's just hard to get used to. It's the biggest change to my life that I've ever experienced. I thought getting married would be huge, but it is nothing like having a child," Naruto explained.
"Ah, I see," Sasuke replied, and didn't say anything else.
Naruto raised his eyebrows as if to prod his friend a little more.
"What?" asked Sasuke.
"So when are you going to get married and have kids?" Naruto re-asked the question that was never answered.
"Seriously," Sasuke facepalmed. "You are cornering me for an answer about that?"
Naruto nodded.
"To be honest, I'm sort of waiting for Sakura," Sasuke said.
"Sakura? But you are already engaged. She said she would marry you and that was a while ago," noted Naruto.
"Yeah, but I'm being extra-cautious. The whole 'repopulate the clan' business can get old at times and I don't' want her thinking that is my only expectation once we start having kids. She's a powerful kunoichi and a damn good medical shinobi. It needs to be her who decides when she is ready to make the next step. Didn't you just lament how big the changes are when the kids start coming?"
"Touché, Sasuke. I get it," said Naruto. He paused. "I'll just have to start bugging her then."
"Naruto, don't badger her!" said Sasuke.
"Ok, ok, I was just kidding," said Naruto.
"Next topic please," said Sasuke putting an end to that particular subject.
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Hinata and Sakura arrived in Kiro and Aiko's room which was situated directly next to the master bedroom in case any attention needed to be paid to the babies in the middle of the night. Feedings were still happening two times a night as it was and Hinata wanted to make the distance between herself and them as small as possible so as not to disturb Naruto who would need to get up in the morning.
Hinata reached into the crib and lifted Kiro, who was the one who had been obviously crying, into her arms. She walked over to the rocking chair and took a seat and started feeding him.
"So are you guys invited to Kiba's wedding?" asked Hinata as she gently rocked.
"Yeah, are you going?" asked Sakura.
"You know how Naruto is. He's not Hokage and who even knows when he'll become Hokage, but he still feels the need to attend everything he possibly can just to make the right impression," said Hinata.
"You sound like you don't want to go," said Sakura.
"I love Kiba. I mean, he's my teammate after all. And so is Shino and he is getting married in a few months as well, but I'm just a little uncomfortable with the whole clan thing," admitted Hinata.
"But Hinata, you live here with your clan as well," noted Sakura. "I would have thought if anyone understood clans and how they work it would have been you."
"Yeah, I guess that didn't make a lot of sense. Let me try to explain. The Inuzuka clan and the Aburame clan are really…strange. Possessive? Doubtful of outsiders? I don't know quite how to put it." Hinata tried to explain. "As close as the three of us got as teammates, there was still this uncrossable line between them and their clans. Now they are marrying within their clans as well, so it really is a clan event and I'm not sure how much the invitations were only sent for etiquette purposes vs. how much they really want us there."
"Hinata, I'm sure they want us there. We all practically grew up together, y'know?" Sakura tried to ease Hinata's doubts. "Either way, even if we are the outcasts and everyone else ignores us, at least we'll be there together and can still wish them well."
"I guess that's true," noted Hinata. "I just really wish I knew if they really wanted us there."
"I think you are being too sensitive on the matter," said Sakura. "Just trust me. They love you and want you there for their most precious day for sure."
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"Are you going to Shikamaru's farewell party?" asked Naruto.
Sasuke paused to think for a moment. "It's really a shame that he's actually leaving. When is the party?"
"Next Saturday," said Naruto. "The week before Kiba's wedding."
"Isn't he marrying some girl from his clan?" asked Sasuke diverting from the Shikamaru topic.
"Yeah, I think her name is Dakishi or something. She's not a shinobi," said Naruto.
"Shino just got engaged as well, didn't he? He just met his fiancé a few weeks ago," noted Sasuke.
"It was kind of an arranged thing. Shino and the Aburames aren't exactly the most emotional people. Can you even imagine Shino falling in love or chasing after a girl?" asked Naruto.
"Not really" quipped Sasuke. "And even if he did find someone, we probably wouldn't have a clue because he wouldn't change at all. He'd still be as grumpy as ever."
"Let me tell you, things within both those clans work a little differently. I've had to learn about all the clans who align themselves with Konoha as part of my leadership training. They are very big on keeping the bloodlines pure else the connection with their animals and insects won't be as strong."
"I see. Makes sense," noted Sasuke. "It kind of sucks for them if they happen to fall in love outside of the clan then."
"It doesn't happen often," said Naruto. "On average, there is a non-clan wedding only about once a generation."
"I guess the Nara clan isn't quite as strict," said Sasuke turning the conversation back to Shikamaru. "He is leaving Konoha for love after all."
"Everyone's getting married," noted Naruto.
Sasuke flashed him another look to shut the hell up about him and Sakura and Naruto dutifully obeyed with a slight grin.
"Twenty is a good age to marry, especially as a shinobi. The average life span is a little shorter than your everyday Konoha citizen," said Sasuke.
"Sadly, that is the case. The data proves it. Though for the more powerful shinobi, I don't think it's a huge consideration. I'm not planning on dying young. I'm going to be as old as the Third when I go," said Naruto.
"Me, too," said Sasuke.
Just then the ladies entered the room. "…yes, and we're going Saturday night as well," said Sakura to Hinata.
"Saturday night? Shikamaru's farewell party?" asked Sasuke. "Did you get the invitation?"
"Yeah, a few days ago, didn't I tell you?" asked Sakura in return.
"No, Naruto just told me," said Sasuke. Sakura sat down on the sofa next to Sasuke and Hinata sat on the arm of Naruto's chair.
"I can't believe he's really going," said Hinata.
"You're telling me. Instead of being my closest advisor, now he will be Gaara's," said Naruto.
"Naruto, you don't know that. He's going to Sand to be with Temari, but nothing was ever said about him in Gaara's team of advisors."
Naruto smiled. "There is no way in hell that he'd go all the way there to sit back and be a house-husband. And Sand is our closest ally, too. Allowing him to serve on Gaara's panel is the most logical thing…," said Naruto.
"Doesn't the Hokage have to give him permission, at least if he wants to technically remain a Leaf shinobi and wear the headband?" asked Sasuke.
Naruto made a face and quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
"So you know about this already and weren't supposed to tell anyone, right?" asked Sakura.
Naruto freed his hand. "Kind of." His cheeks started to glow a slight pink. He had made a mistake - albeit a low-risk one - but he was embarrassed nonetheless.
"Don't worry, Naruto, we won't say anything," said Hinata.
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Sasuke and Sakura walked out of Naruto and Hinata's home and watched as their two friends waved good-bye from their doorway. Once they were a sufficient distance away, they started to talk.
"Do you think Juugo's home?" asked Sakura.
"I think he has a friend in town. He'll probably be out late," said Sasuke.
"Friend?" Sakura questioned.
"Yeah, now that he is caring for all the messenger birds for the Leaf, he's had a chance to connect with some of the shinobi in other villages who do the same thing," explained Sasuke.
A while ago, Juugo and a few others had been challenged to complete a course of sorts that would enable them to either leave the village peacefully (as Suigetsu did), become a Konoha shinobi (Karin opted for this), or become a non-shinobi citizen of the Leaf. He opted for the latter choice really having no home and no desire to fight anyone ever again. Because they were good friends and former teammates, Sasuke invited him to live in the recently rebuilt Uchiha compound with him and Sakura. At some point, Sasuke envisioned that the compound would be full of clan members once again; however, he knew that he probably wouldn't live to see that day. It would probably take quite a few generations after him for that to happen.
Juugo was asked to take on the task of caring for the messenger birds belonging to Konoha. He was optimal for that job and with him doing it, it freed up other well-trained shinobi from having to feed and clean the important birds. They would now be able to concentrate on other matters that the Leaf really needed them for.
"Juugo never said a friend was visiting," said Sakura.
"He told me he got some random message a few weeks back that had a green stamp on it," said Sasuke.
"Green stamp? So not confidential, open to all eyes?" asked Sakura.
A green-stamped message was the only kind Juugo was permitted to open on his own. It was the lowest priority, non-emergency message that could be sent.
"When he opened it, it turned out to be from a shinobi from Sand who was in the same position Juugo is in. He sent the message as mere exercise for a bird that hadn't been used in a while and told Juugo that he thought the various caretakers of the birds could get to know each other using this method. Since then, a network of sorts has started around this exercise program and many villages have opted to join in," explained Sasuke.
"So who is he with tonight?" asked Sakura.
"Some guy from Hidden Cloud happened to be in town on a low-level mission and they arranged to meet face-to-face," said Sasuke.
Sakura decided to grab Sasuke's hand as they walked. It wasn't normal for Sakura – or Sasuke for that matter – to show affection of any sort in public. However, it did happen from time-to-time, normally when one of them was feeling particularly romantic or emotional.
"Sasuke?" Sakura said to get his attention.
"Hmm?" he replied.
"I was thinking…," she started, but then paused.
He looked at her as she talked, waiting for her to complete her sentence.
"Are you…?" she continued. "Are you ready to get married? It's been a while since you asked, I mean, if you're not ready, then we can wait a while longer. I'm in no particular rush to…"
He stopped walking, faced her, and held up a finger to her lips. "I was ready the day I asked you to marry me. If you are ready, then so am I."
"I love you," she said.
They shared a kiss before continuing on their way.