*Gaiden: Hidden Nine*

Part III of V

by: WhiteGloves

I'll go ahead before the final chapter comes out!

I hope you enjoy!


Sakura's crushing blow sent the enemy's body hurtling backwards to the trees with a loud crash, causing turbulence in the wind that circled around her, making Naruto whistle and Sasuke to have a what-do-you-expect-from-her smirk.

"Come!" she yelled with eyes of daggers, making her companions glance forward where their enemies stood still.

"Tse, you're the only one who can really handle her, Sasuke." The blonde ninja gave as a compliment, preparing for his own attack. He gazed at the group and let not his excitement get the best of him. There's no point in recklessness, he reminded himself even with much strength.

"You've notice that too, Sasuke?"he then asked after a second of observing the people around them.

"Yeah." The dark haired man replied, his dark eyes lingering at the five black clothed figures.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "These guys... they... don't have presence."

Sasuke gave a silent agreement, his eyes suddenly turning the shade of red and turn into his Rinnegan with six tomoe around the eye—a full power. He scanned the group and had to pause for what he saw made him stand rigid.

"There's nothing to detect them..." he informed his friend with his jaws tightening, "these guys..."

"Now that's troublesome." Naruto turned his attention back to the opponents, "So that's how they get by without getting detected... but enemies with no presence let alone chakra? That's kind of interesting in its own respect. But where do they get the power to attack, eh?"

"You're wrong." Sakura's voice came from their back as she stood her ground, her eyes showing understanding of the situation, "They're not really fighting...just... it's like—"

"Spying." Sasuke finished her words for her.

"That makes sense." Naruto said, "As to why they're not confronting you head on or else..."

"Hmph."

"Then again," Naruto stepped forward in front of Sasuke who raised an eye at him, "Why don't you leave things here to me, eh? I'm sure I can take care of them even with their reinforcement coming around." He looked at Sasuke sideways and gave him a smirk, "You gotta take her back in the village. It's obvious who their target is."

"No." Sasuke took a step beside him with eyes on the enemies, "I have something to settle with them."

"Eh? You're saying settling things with them is more important than Sakura-chan's safety?"

It was Sasuke's turn to smirk at him.

"My wife ain't so weak. I thought you knew?"

"Heh..." Naruto looked ahead too, "I hear you."

"Are you both just going to stand there?" her raging voice was full of contempt—

And like a meteorite landing on the ground from the sky with a crushing sound— Uchiha Sakura started the battle with a ground breaking attack—sending their enemies flying—with Naruto and Sasuke at the rear—like where she wanted them to be.

"Take it easy, Sakura-chan!" Naruto bolted away from the ground he was standing on as it started to crumble and jumped with Sasuke behind him, "Geez, she's the one who said we can't underestimate enemies!"

Sasuke was fast on the other black hooded monk figures retreating in the trees—

"Don't let anyone of them out of sight!" He reminded the two and disregarded his Rinnegan and used Mangekyō Sharingan to ablaze one in black flames— after finishing it he went after two more who were circling Sakura while Naruto held two with his own strength—

Within minutes all the black figures were nearly burnt— it was almost over in a second.

"Hey! I thought we're gonna keep em' for questioning!" the blonde shouted as Sasuke went after the remaining black figure, "Sasuke!"

The dark haired Uchiha clan leader had the last enemy at arm's length, his hand clutching it by the apparent neck and not letting it escape. He narrowed his eyes on the figure that only got half his body left with dark flames slowly eating him away from the bottom. Sasuke watched it silently, taking note of the fact that none of the enemies gave even a tiny shriek of pain as he burned them all.

"Speak before my fire consumes you. "the Uchiha went on without blinking, his Mangekyō Sharingan intimidating, "Why are you after my wife?"

But there was no response as Sakura landed beside her husband.

The Uchiha leader pressed on, his black fire not slowing down.

"Who sent you?"

"Dear... I think it's useless..." the pink haired ninja went near him and held his arm with a frown on her face, "They have bodies without chakras and still can move about... like puppets. Somebody's behind them we just need to—"

Whatever she wanted to suggest, they did not hear it. For then Sakura had went rigid as she held her breath with her eyes wide open, her expression face and frozen— a hand sticking into her stomach, wounding her—it was the hand of the black creature Sasuke was slowly burning.

"SAKURA-CHAN!"

"Tsk!"

Naruto caught her fast as she fell on the ground, same time as Sasuke burned the enemy fast and disposed of him— whirling around he found his wife on Naruto's arms, blood seeping on her middle—the blood of their about to be child— but if nothing was done—he could also lose his wife

And Sasuke knelt fast beside her, took her from Naruto fast and was by all means about to teleport with all his might back to the village when he felt Sakura's hand pressing on his arm.

"Don't panic," she whispered, almost smiling in spite her situation, "it'll be okay..."

Sasuke didn't say a word but watched like in slow motion as she set her right hand down to her wounded stomach, took a deep breath and started healing it. Green release of chakra encircled her middle and gradually, the bleeding started to wane, till there was no drop at all.

She managed to sit down with her husband gently assisting her with still no words coming out of his mouth.

"Sakura-chan..." Naruto beckoned on her with a worried look, the fresh blood on her dress and the empty hole on it leaving a mark on his expression, "h-how do you feel?"

The question nearly made the pink haired ninja chuckle.

"I'm a medic ninja..." she breathed more than say, "I'm the last person in battle you should worry..."

"T-that's not what I meant..." he was still looking at her stomach and Sakura understood.

"Are you okay?"

The voice of her husband made Sakura look up at him, to find his dark eyes boring on her face. There was a visible crease on his eyebrow and a sweat drop at the side of his face that even though his face looked calm, Sakura knew just how worried he was.

"Don't worry," she smiled up at him weakly, her hand resting protectively on her middle, "our child is safe. The moment I knew we were in battle I put an extra protection around here... making sure our child is alright... his hand never even reached... my top priority is to protect this child after all..."

Sasuke didn't need any further explanation, but it was to Naruto and Sakura's surprise when he stood up with his wife on his arms—lifting her up, sweeping her off her feet—with that expression so cold and indifferent.

Yet he was so warm.

"D-dear!" Sakura called out but Sasuke ignored her as he turned his face to Naruto.

"I'll leave things to you here."

Naruto blinked for a second, and then gave him a grin.

"That's what I've been telling you all this time!" he said and watched as the Uchihas disappear from plain sight. The blonde ninja too, stood up to take a better view of things around him. Then putting hands on his waist, he shook his head at the crumbled ground and destroyed vicinity.

"Geez, Sakura-chan can really unearth too much eh?" he looked around and saw tiny fragments of black clothes—what was left of their enemy. That was when he remembered something that made him look around the rubbles but was unable to find it. "Hey... what the...?"


"Are you sure it's okay?" came Ino's anxious voice as she hovered around her pink haired friend inside one of the quarters of the Hokage's main building. Sakura was on the bed wearing a white gown as she tries to heal the remaining bruise in her stomach. Ino watched the progress with a deep frown and concerned expression. "Are you really sure it's okay?"

"Don't worry," she assured her with a light touch on her middle and looking up at her with a smile, "it's fine. My baby is safe." She looked down her stomach and gave a slight frown at the tiny dark spot on it, but then had to pull the hem of her shirt down as there was a knock on the door and came in the men.

Her husband came in, followed by Naruto, Shikamaru, Kakashi and this time, even Yamato.

Their faces all looked grim. The women noticed it immediately.

"What happened?" Ino voiced out as Sakura kept her eyes to her husband who was also looking at her.

He didn't seem pleased.

Naruto glanced at the dark haired man before turning to the others.

"The eh... most of the enemies were burned by Sasuke except one... the one that attacked you before hand, Sakura-chan but I didn't find its body. It escaped."

"Or somebody took it without your notice." Shikamaru's frown was not so consoling.

Both and Ino and Sakura had the same expression of surprise, but it was the blonde ninja lady who spoke next—

"What does that mean?"

"It means we can't stay here." Sasuke's words were straight and plain and he addressed them clearly to his wife. Sakura stared at him as he went on in the quietest manner, "They'll know about you soon... and your condition, given that he heard everything that has been said. We cannot stay here."

"B-but you're much safer in this village!" Ino countered looking unconvinced, "Naruto's here! And you'll be too, Sasuke-kun! With the Sixth and Shikamaru spearheading her protection—there's no safer place in the world for Sakura and her baby than this place!"

But none of the other ninjas seconded her answer which was truly shocking for both the ladies.

"No way..." Ino whispered, "are you telling me the enemies are that powerful?"

"Though it's true we can provide as much protection that is needed," the Sixth went on, his eyes averting to the Uchiha clan leader, "and that keeping Sakura and her baby at bay of battle is possible, keeping her here would only get her in more danger. It's like displaying her as an open target to all."

"Being in this village would only invite more attack," Sasuke took over, his face calm, "whoever the enemy is, they are not the type to be stopped by mere presence of powerful opponents. Their attempt just now is already a suggestion of their resolve."

"True," Yamato nodded as he stood by with arms crossed, "If Sasuke had been their target— knowing well enough how powerful he really is, they know they stood no chance. Now come his family—a wife and a child. That'll soon reach all the ears of everyone who's got matters against him. It's not just about revenge anymore. Even people who just want to destroy him may come. And knowing it is his child with a future of a sharingan... the more this place will be a battle arena. This place... I'm sorry, Sakura, but this village is like a red target for you. I do agree you must not stay here."

"How could you guys say that!?" Ino cried suddenly as she gestured her hand in the air in anger, her eyebrows contorted, "Isn't that just like abandoning them!? Sasuke and Sakura are ninja of the Leaf! What the hell are you guys thinking!?" she spat the question right at Naruto who determinedly looked back at her.

And then he smiled. "You really are a good friend, Ino."

"What?" she sounded incredulous and was about to demand an explanation when the Sixth spoke again—

"We're not abandoning them." They all looked at him. "It is simply a diversion."

Sasuke closed his eyes and turned them on his wife the moment he opened, "We're leaving behind the village... without anyone knowing except this group. We are going to disappear in the night, abandoning everything."

"No one will know of your whereabouts and the fact that you're not even here." Kakashi walked toward Sakura's bed and pat her blanket, "Rumors of your pregnancy may reach different ears and will come at Konohagakure but they'll never be able to confirm it even if they attack the village. And you don't have to worry about us. We will secure this area at the top of our abilities without holding back while knowing that you are safe and sound. That's why you must go, Sakura."

Sakura was speechless at the comforting words she heard that all she could do was to clutch the blanket covering her legs. She raised her head a little and looked at her husband, her expression seeking him.

"When are we leaving?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Tonight. I'll just have to rest my eyes since we're going to teleport a few leagues... I know a safe hideout where no one can find us... but it'll definitely be tonight."

Sakura didn't say anymore as she turned her head towards the small window at the far side of the room.

Sunset was upon them.


The night had fallen so quickly for Sakura's liking as she stood by the window where the shadow of the village had left her hanging. Her thoughts were full, yet the decision has already been made. She gave a final sigh, and then noticed Sasuke move toward her from the corner of her eyes.

She met his eyes as he walked near her.

"I'm almost ready." He started, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay..." she smiled at him and reached a hand on his, "No, actually... I am angry. I am angry because— how dare these people threaten our child... even threaten you... I can't keep it out of my head. I wanna pummel them one by one and get it over with."

"That's not for you to do." Sasuke answered as he reached a hand on her shoulder, "We'll be leaving the village in a matter of minutes. We'll be gone in a long while until everything is settled. I'm sorry you can't say goodbye to your parents."

"It's okay, they'll understand. I have my husband to take care of. " She winked at him and in that she slid her arms on his back and embraced him closer, her eyes meaningful. "Besides... my offer to you still stands. All this time this has been what I wanted... to join you outside the village."

It made the husband chuckle a little.

"You wanted to become a fugitive like me?"

"Yeah."

"Then we have different ideas." His voice had become serious and Sakura just knew how sincere he was, "All I wanted for you is to stay here in the village where it's safe. Seems like that just went down the drain... and I'm still the reason."

She knew he would have droned on and on... and there was only one way to make him stop—

She kissed him.

"Quiet." Sakura said after a moment, her eyes on him. "Just be quiet. Let's get through this together this time. Right?"

Sasuke had gotten a lot quieter that by the time Naruto and the others have returned, no further exchanged have happened between the couple.

"What's up?"Naruto blinked at the dark haired man, "Your face is all red?"

"Naruto!" Sakura called, throwing herself to her friend and embracing him tight, "Take care of Hinata and the others. And thank you for everything." She turned to Ino and the two exchanged tighter hugs and goodbyes.

Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other.

The blonde ninja hero smirked.

"It's your call to protect her. I'll leave her up to you." He held a hand forward which Sasuke took.

"I'll leave the village in your care."

"Ou!"

As Sasuke took hold of Sakura on his arms, and as he prepare to use his most powerful asset with the others watching them, the pink haired ninja glanced up at her husband one last time—

Before she could even say it, she noticed the change of the place—they were suddenly inside his dimension.

"Where exactly are we going?" she finally asked as he activated his eyes for another transport—

His eyes changed as he answered—

"To my other allies."

"Them?" A flash of the photo she was keeping came in her mind at once.

"Ah," Sasuke paused a little as the dimension kept changing and added as an after thought, "Oh and by the way... Karin is pregnant."


~TBC~

A/N: just a little tiny detail left at the end! :)

Final adjustment, I promise yah!

Thanks for reading!