Author's Note: WOW. I'm pretty shocked. I posted this at like, 4 in the morning, and when I woke up there was 100 hits! I'm glad people are reading this! Please review and let me know your feedback, I'd appreciate that a lot! :)

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Chapter Two

I Will Follow You into the Dark


Naruto sipped a beer, sitting at the bar. His eyes were still glazed over as he stared zombie-like at the table, hand gripping his hair near his forehead. Pregnant, wow. He definitely hoped this was some kind of joke.

"I need a shot, stat," Shikamaru burst into the dark pub, hurrying to the counter. Nara's eyes were bugging as he took the shot, and then passed the glass for another. "Oh, God, fuck my life."

The blonde boy glanced at him, cobalt eyes narrowed. "You think you have it so bad, Nara?"

Shikamaru turned towards him, and to be honest, his facade looked a little frightened. "You don't even know half of it..."

To Naruto's dismay, Shikamaru headed over to his table; that was the last thing he wanted, to listen to someone else's whiny problem. Choking back, a loud sigh, Naruto looked at him as he sat down.

"You can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you," Shikamaru stared hard into Naruto's eyes. "I don't even know why I'm telling you... I guess I just need to talk about it, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Naruto tried to reassure, though his tone wasn't exactly convincing.

"I'm such a fool," It almost looked like tears were welling up in his eyes. "Ugh... Ino... She's uh, pregnant..."

Naruto set down the half-empty beer bottle he was playing with, and then gawked at Shikamaru, whose face was burning red. "No..."

"Yes, yes. Oh, God," Shikamaru flung his hand up for another shot. In moments, a waitress delivered him one, and it was gone in a second. "Aggh. I don't know what to do, Naruto, I can't be a father now. I had dreams, you know, to do something great; this is going to cripple me! Oh, it's not worth it, it really isn't!"

"I know exactly how you feel," Naruto shuttered and then looked away as he sipped his beer. When he glanced back to Shikamaru, his mouth had dropped.

"Sakura...?" Naruto didn't even have to nod to Shikamaru's inquiry. "Holy shit."

"Can one really be Hokage when they have a child beforehand? I mean, I wanted to have a life with Sakura just like this, but not now," He admitted, blushing slightly, but that could have been from the fourth beer he was on. "How can I feel confident to leave for life threatening missions to protect Konoha when I have a girl and a baby at home waiting for me? I can't just abandon them. Fuck..."

"Yeah, yeah," He nodded, and then put his hand on his chin as he thought. "I don't even love Ino, though. I didn't think anything would come of this, but she wants to get married, now; doesn't want a bastard child. I understand why, it's frowned upon around here, but can I really marry someone I don't love?" Naruto shrugged. "I wanted to be with Temari, you know, but that's not going to happen now."

"Well, you never know, but I can't really give advice about that to you."

"Yeah," Shikamaru nodded slowly, then sighed. "It'll work out for the best; we'll see where it goes." He raised his arm and signalled a 'two,' and the waitress came with two beers. "It's on me, cheers too fatherhood." And he handed Naruto a drink.

It was the next day, and Naruto was struggling to get out of bed. His head was pounding from all the drinks the night before (ten, in total) and the sun wouldn't stop creeping into the smallest crevices of his eyes...

"Naruto, wake up! School today!"

That shrill, shrill voice made Naruto want to stab something. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Hey, I'm doing you a favour, man," Konohamaru snorted, but didn't take the hint and waited. A few minutes later, "So are you coming?"

Naruto got up, threw a shirt on and shorts, and then sprayed himself with a boatload of men's spray. "Yeah, I'm coming, hold on." He was outside with the kid in a matter of moments, an apple in hand.

"So, what happened yesterday?" Konohamaru grinned and elbowed the blonde-haired young man. "Huh, huh?"

"I'm hungover, so piss off," He took a bite of the apple and kept walking.

"Hungover why? Oh man, you guys banged, didn't you? Got drunk and banged!" The fourteen year old laughed, and then was struck swiftly in the face by Naruto. He kept walking. "Whoa, don't have to get all defensive, I'm not going to tell anyone. That's pretty hot though. Haha, how was she, huh?"

"Wow, you really don't know when to quit!" Naruto stopped, looked at the half-apple he had left, and then turned and whipped it at Konohamaru. He then continued on his way.

Naruto arrived in the classroom just in time. All the other people his age were seated in the desks, chattering loudly away. He picked a seat at the top near the back and set his head down.

"Hey, everyone," Kakashi-sensei walked into the room and gave a wave to the class. No one really took notice. The silver haired man set down his book, and then made a small fire-explosion at the front of the classroom. Everyone looked forward, shocked and silent. "I knew that would work. Everyone here?" He glanced around the room, person to person, from Kiba on the far left to Rock Lee on the right.

Head on desk, Naruto's eyes slowly dragged across the room, when he noticed Sakura wasn't here. He then sat up and had a more careful look; nope, no Sakura. That wasn't good. It wasn't like her to miss class, and missing Kakashi`s class wasn`t acceptable.

"Sakura's missing?" Kakashi noticed with shock, and then said even louder, "Does anyone know where Sakura is?"

Shinobi around the room glanced to each other, looking around with surprise. "Sakura's missing? ... Isn't she always here early? ... Sakura never misses class, not since kindergarten, I would know ..."

Naruto felt his heart thumping inside his chest, and his stomach felt a little sick. Was she okay, was something wrong? He wanted nothing more desperately than to leave and go see her...

"Hmm," Kakashi's eye narrowed, and then with a shrug, he started off with this lesson for the day.

As soon as Kakashi dismissed class about three hours later, Naruto woke from his half-slumber and bolted out from his desk to the door. That was when someone grabbed the neckline of his shirt from the back. After choking for a few seconds, he turned around, ready to strike someone's face.

To his surprise, it was Sasuke holding the back of his shirt. Sasuke shoved Naruto out the door, and then pulled him into a side hallway.

"Okay, idiot, what the fuck did you do now?" Sasuke glared at Naruto, letting him go.

"What makes you think I did anything, huh?" Naruto growled, fixing is shirt.

"I'm not a retard like you," Sasuke said coolly, but with a bite. "Sakura never misses school, and I know you guys are good friends, so fess up; what did you do, or what's wrong with her?"

"That's a very good question," A voice came from behind them both, and it was Kakashi. "What is wrong with Sakura-chan, Naruto?"

"Uh, it's nothing. I don't know why she isn't here today. Honestly, I don't," His cheeks blushed slightly as he escaped their judgemental eyes and began to walk away. "I would never hurt Sakura-chan, not now and not ever." He disappeared from their sight as he turned a hallway, leaving the building.

This made Kakashi and Sasuke rather unsatisfied. Exchanging glances, they both decided to follow him to see where their curiosity would lead them.


As it turns out, their curiosity led them straight to Sakura's house. Naruto was looking pretty nervous, fiddling with his hitai-ate and cracking his knuckles. When he knocked at the door, there wasn't a response, but an on-going fan buzzing upstairs as well as a light told otherwise.

"Sakura, please let me in, we need to talk." Naruto stared hopefully up at her window on the second story. He saw the top of her rose hair. "I can see you, you know." He smiled a bit as she poked her head up.

"Go away."

"Well, I could, but I don't want to. All of this isn't just going to be finished because we don't want to confront the problem," He looked nervously around and made sure he was being discrete. Luckily, he didn't notice Sasuke and Kakashi just around the corner of her house. "It's going to be here for the rest of our lives."

Sakura looked down at him, and he could tell by the cute little wrinkle between her eyebrows that she was thinking. Brushing her new bangs from her eyes, she disappeared from her window, and was at the door in a matter of moments.

"What do you think is happening?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he whispered to Kakashi. Naruto entered the house quickly.

"They're lovers," Kakashi said simply, flipping a page in his book. Glancing at a scowling Sasuke, he closed the book and set it in his belt. "Yes, I was watching."

"Let's get a closer look." Sasuke stood and then swiftly vanished to the rooftops. Kakashi followed.

"...Do you even know anything about babies? Know how to hold one, feed one?" Their argument continued up the stairs to her bedroom, which was the window the Uchiha and Hatake were eavesdropping on.

"I can learn, Sakura," Naruto pleaded. "I'm sorry I walked out on you, there was a lot on my mind. But when I got to think about it, we can make it work. You can move in with me, I have so much room and I live alone. We're graduating to Jounin right away, you can just teach instead of going on missions. I... Sakura, I..."

She sat on her bed and hugged a pillow close to her. Sakura was wearing her pajamas again, and looked more like she slept in the entire day and was not expecting visitors. Naruto approached her, face burning scarlet as he grabbed her hands and gulped a lump down his throat.

"I love you, Sakura, I have for a long time," He felt as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Kakashi and Sasuke outside both had a shocked facade as they leaned in closer, listening closely for her reaction. "This is all so perfect, being with you and having a baby, but it's just too soon for me. But since I love you, and I will love this little baby, I can grow up and make this work. We can make this work."

"Naruto..." Sakura's voice was just above a whisper as her eyes welled up in tears. With guts, Naruto sat beside her and moved his hand to her belly, right above where their infant was growing; She smiled at him through misty eyes, and then threw herself into his arms and cried.

"What in the fuck?!" Sasuke could hardly believe his ears, and with his angrily red face, Kakashi assumed it was from jealousy. It was a rare sight to see the Uchiha burst out his calm and collective state. "Sakura, and Naruto, having a -a baby?! I didn't even know they were, you know, making a baby!"

Kakashi's eye was widened as he continued to try and listen, but it was just muffled sobs from Sakura. "I never would have guessed. I thought she was infatuated with you."

"So did I," Sasuke muttered to himself, but it was barely audible. His fist clenched and then he stood to take off, but his feet were a bit too loud on the ceiling and the window beside them flung open.

"Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei?!" Sakura shrieked, rubbing tears from her eyes as fast as she could. "How long were you out here?!" Their stunned expressions spoke more than their silence. "Oh, God, you know everything!"

"It's okay, Sakura, a lot of kunoichis get pregnant at your age," Kakashi leaned into her window and stared into her room. Naruto was sitting on the bed, eyes bulging once he saw his sensei's head poke through the window. "Graduation is just in a few weeks, so you'll be fine, just don't miss another one of my classes. I'll talk to people and help land you a job teaching with Shikamaru."

"Oh, err," Sakura was at a loss for words, both mortified and shaken, as she gawked at the two men. All she could do was nod slowly. Kakashi gave her an accepting look and then disappeared from her rooftop. Sasuke stared at her, black eyes glazed, and then disappeared himself.

"That was, uhh," Naruto made a face at Sakura as she joined him to sit down on the bed. She couldn't help but to stare into nowhere, trying to comprehend that the boy she had been crushing on forever and her sensei had just overheard her and Naruto's private conversation. "Oh, Sakura-chan."

"I wanted to tell them myself, you know, when the time was right." She turned to Naruto. He nodded, and then took another risk and pulled her close to him. Her body, slightly limp, followed accordingly.

She rested her head on his shoulder, and he took her hand as they lay down. "Sakura, I want you to marry me after the baby is born. Then we can be a family." His words were fast and sudden; he thought that since secrets were being shared around here, he might as well drop another bomb.

"M-m-m...Marriage?" Naruto could feel Sakura's beating heard against his chest until she pulled away, her expression wary. "You want to be a family with me?"

"Like I said, this is all I ever wanted, just too soon... But we might as well do it all now. I think this just might be our time."

Sakura was unsure, he could tell, but she gave a nod anyways. "We can see where this goes." It was evident she didn't love Naruto, but maybe through this, she would learn to.

---

I kept the promise I made to Sakura-chan, that I would be with her and do my best to help her through this time. Over the months that passed, I was there for her every whim; late night cravings, a foot rub, massage. When she wanted to be left alone and when she needed someone to talk to, I was always around. Did I mention she moved in with me, like I suggested? Things couldn't be better. I hoped she would fall in love with me, because I was falling more and more for her. A family... It's all I ever really wanted, and I could see it with her. Her, the baby and I, living and growing in this house; maybe even a few more babies would join us. Who knows?

The Jounin exam had come, and with all the time Sakura was at home (exempt from classes, but not from study), she passed! Everyone else had passed, too. And then Sakura and Shikamaru became teachers at the Academy.

One student at the Academy that was already very close to Shikamaru was Ichigo, the only son of the late Asuma (along with the very alive Kurenai). He was then six, and was attending classes to become a Shinobi just like his parents. The boy, with strange eyes but dark skin looked like a perfect mix of both parents; perhaps his skills would be the same! But all this time with Ichigo helped reinforce Shikamaru with his skills of becoming a parent, in which the due date was nearing.

Both Sakura and Ino's bellies were huge. It looked as if they had a couple other little creatures in there, too. But the bigger baby, the healthier. I sure as hell wasn't complaining, just Sakura. And complaining, and complaining, and complaining...

---

"Naruto, Naruto!"

Konohamaru, alarmed and actually in Naruto's house, contemplated on whether to shake the dead-asleep young man or not. When Naruto didn't stir much from the yelling, he decided this was the type of situation he could do it.

"Naruto, wake the fuck up!" He violently shook him, and then took the opportunity to slap him across the face. Naruto awoke, shocked from the instant pain; and also for the fact someone was in his damn house!

"What in the mother fuck!" Naruto sat up abruptly, glaring from shock and anger at the teen. His face crinkled as he swung a fist into the boys cheek. "What in the hell are you doing in my fucking house?"

Konohamaru, who was knocked to the ground, slowly got to his knees. "It's an emergency, asswipe! Sakura is in labour!"

Naruto's eyes were now bugging out of his skull. "Her due date isn't for another 2 weeks, you're kidding!"

"I'd never kid about that, I'm in your house, for fuck's sake! Her water broke as she was teaching my class! You need to get down to the hospital right now!" He rubbed his cheek woefully. "Wow, that smarts..."

"Oh my G-- I'm about to be a father!" He leaped out his bed and grabbed the first shirt and shorts he could find, and then bolted down the stairs. Konohamaru followed after, but not quite as fast; Naruto slammed the front door right before the boy's face.

"Good luck!" Konohamaru opened the door and watched as Naruto took off down the main street. He couldn't help but grin.

"Sakura! Sakura-chan, where are you?" Naruto ripped open the front doors and then ran through the halls, looking into every room. After the first three hallways, a nurse stopped him.

"Excuse me, you can't just run through here yelling, we have a lot of severely ill and sleeping patients here," She glared at him, but he just shook it off. She stopped his attempt to leave. "What is it you're looking for, exactly?"

"My fiancé is having our baby," Naruto snorted, then took her hand off his chest.

"Well, you're nowhere near to where her room would be, then. Let me take you there." The nurse rolled her eyes and then firmly grabbed his wrist, pulling him along after her. He tore his wrist away, but followed her nonetheless.

"Sakura!" When his eyes saw her, he then looked her up and down. She was very pale and sweating profusely; since he had never seen a birth before, he shook it off. She still was absolutely stunning to him... "How is it going?" He took her open hand.

Sakura squeezed hard as she let out a scream. "Don't fucking talk." Naruto opened his mouth to protest sweetly, but with the deathly stare she was giving him, he said nothing.

"You're almost there, Sakura," Her doctor said. The female doctor looked to Naruto with a smile. "So this is the father?"

"Yes, but he's not staying," Sakura growled through excruciating pain. "Get out!" She ordered, and Naruto was confused.

"But... Why can't I stay? This is my baby, too!"

"Not until it's out of me! So get the fuck out!" He could tell she was ready to throw something from the nearest end table at him, so he set up camp right outside the door.

Naruto stared with boredom out the window to his right. Extremely dark clouds were accumulating, and the sound of rumbling thunder in the distance was audible; A storm coming on what should be such a beautiful day? Well, as long as it was Sakura, the baby and him, the storm wouldn't matter.

There was a beeping going off in Sakura's room, a really fast paced one. He seen a few nurses walk into the room, and with curiosity, he went to look into the door, but it slammed in his face. With a wrinkle in his nose, he assumed it was normal with childbirth.

Then, his heart stopped. In the room he heard a baby wail, soft at first, but it quickly became loud. A smile spread across his face and Naruto could feel his heart becoming larger. Standing up, he went to the door, but before he could open it a nurse poked her head out. "Oh, er... Sakura can see you now."

"Sakura!" He sprinted to the bed and stopped dead short, staring at her and the little bundle in her arms. The scene was quiet, and content. She handed him the baby, and his eyes set lovingly upon it. "Boy, or girl?"

"A girl," Sakura smiled, though her smile was forced. His eyes narrowed as he watched her.

"You're in pain, Sakura-chan..."

"I... I guess it just comes with the birth, you know," She coughed, and then he noticed a pool of blood reddening the sheets.

"Sakura, you're bleeding!" Naruto's eyes widened as he gripped her hand. The beeping had returned and nurses began flooding into the room. There was busyness all around, but at the moment, it just felt like it was the three of them; the baby, Sakura and Naruto.

Sakura's vision was turning blurry, and fear slowly crept on her. Tears streamed down her face as she gripped Naruto's hand. Naruto noticed her grip was weak.

"I'm so sorry," She sobbed, wiping her tears with a weak fist. "I guess I just wasn't strong enough, Naruto..."

"Don't say things like that!" Droplets spilled down his cheeks as well, some dripping on the sleeping baby in his arms. The child didn't stir in her unconsciousness. "Sakura, you're the strongest girl I know, that anyone knows, things are going to be fine!"

A nurse tried to push Naruto away, but he pushed his way back to Sakura, and their hands didn't part.

Her eyes were squinting as she made small noises from her pain. Naruto couldn't bear to watch, but he couldn't just abandon her, either.

"Just listen to me, don't speak," She squeezed his hands as she stared up at him, her hazel eyes turning dull. He could tell it was hard for her to say what she was about to. "I, I'm not going to be here for you, or for our daughter... I can tell you'll take great care of her by yourself; I know you're responsible, you proved that to me. She's going to be a strong, strong woman," Sakura started to cry louder, as did Naruto, who was shaking his head. "Let her know every day that her mother loves her, okay?"

"You can't leave me! You can't leave us!" He fell to his knees, and the baby awoke, but didn't cry. Still face to face with Sakura, she sobbed as she looked at both Naruto and their newborn child. "We need you, Haruno Sakura, I can't do this alone, I'm not ready for this..."

"Don't think that way, you're ready for anything; dattebayo, remember?" She smiled slightly as she squeezed his hand again. She then ran her fingers across their baby's face, gazing upon her beauty. "I don't have much time left, Naruto... A-aisheteru..." She held his hand again, and then her eyes closed, forever not opening.

Naruto could feel his heart ripping in two. Aisheteru; I love you. Finally, he had his baby, his fiancée... and she finally loved him!; and that was taken away. He gripped the baby in his arms and then held his head down and weeped. The sounds around him had become alive again, with the chattering of hospital workers and a ringing noise. He felt in the distance, alone in the darkness, him and his baby.