I can only say to my precious readers that I am terribly sorry for the delay! There is no excuse. I am now determined to write for you a story with excellence. I'm sorry the past few chapters haven't been very detailed or long, but that is long in our past now.
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Chapter 4: Nanami

The mission with Itachi to the Suna was a long and tiresome one. Sasuke had often lost his focus when his mind would wander back to Konoha without him, and at one point he nearly compromised the entire mission with an act of ignorance in the midst of complete and utter distraction. His mistake did not go unseen by the other members of the team, though Sasuke did not know their true identities. Itachi had given him a harsh and stern talking-to the following evening.

Away from the camp, the younger of the two Uchiha brothers lay on his back with his arms tucked beneath his head upon a lush patch of grass. He could see a few stars poking out of the midnight sky barely visible through the thick canopy of the trees above. He let out a worried sigh as he thought about the sweet face of his beloved back home. Tenten. He thought to himself, closing his eyes and remembering every detail about her. It had only been a little over a week but he missed the girl terribly. His heart sank with guilt for being away so long in such a trying time for her. He knew that she most likely had already given birth to their child while he was away, which was why he had pushed hard through the mission, carelessly and recklessly without thought. To others observing the relationship from the outside, Sasuke knew that he looked like a selfish asshole who abandoned his pregnant girlfriend right around the same time their child was due in order to go on a mission. But the mission was important, and could not commence without him.

Yanking one of his arms free from underneath his head, he grabbed hold of the porcelain Anbu mask that concealed his identity and removed it from his face completely. He wiped his face free of sweat and humidity with his sleeve and let out another sigh as he thought about his current state. It was almost alarming and comforting at the same time how much he had softened since meeting and falling in love with the weapons mistress. At times things between them could be relatively heated because of their equally strong and stubborn personalities. That trait was one of the things he loved and hated about her. He knew full well she could and would say the exact same about him. It didn't matter how many scuffles they got into, it always dissolved in a matter of minutes. One look into her big, chocolate colored orbs and he was a big pile of mush. How pathetic. He smirked as he recollected. If anyone could make him soft and bring out kindness and love from within his blackened soul it was her, and she was the only one who was allowed to do it.

How long have I laid like this? He wondered. Minutes, hours? Grumbling, he shifted to his side, eyes widening with surprise when he noticed two sandals walking toward him silently. He recognized the feet, relaxing and setting his Anbu mask he had frantically reached for, back down on the blades of grass beneath him.

"Sasuke." Itachi spoke in a low tone as to conceal their presence from the rest of the group.

"Hm" Replied his brother as he looked him up and down. Itachi's posture at the time was relatively hard to read. From what Sasuke could tell, he seemed a bit off.

"I've received word about Tenten." Said Itachi, slowly crouching down into a sitting position. He locked eyes with Sasuke, and he noted how alarmed his brother had become.

Sasuke quickly sat up in the grass, his heart was pounding hard in his chest, as he nervously waited the news of his loved one. "What is it?" Is she hurt, or in danger? He wondered in a panic.

"She's had the baby."

"I-is she okay?" Sasuke managed to whisper. His heart fell into the pit of his stomach as he grew more aware of the reality that surrounded him. He began to grow pale and he felt nauseated just thinking about the pain that she must have endured without him. Aside from that, Sasuke was frantic and petrified to know that he really was a father. Even at such a young age.

"From what the Hokage explained in the report, yes. But I think you should head back with the messenger immediately in order to be by her side. She needs you, Sasuke." Itachi assured as he placed a firm hand upon his younger brother's shoulder. He gave a small smile as he watched Sasuke's expressions change multiple times. It was evident Sasuke himself didn't know what he was feeling. Itachi was unsure if Sasuke was even fit to travel such a distance with only one other nin alongside him.

"I'll go right away then. Thank you for releasing me...captain." He stated, the last part a little reluctantly. Although things were relatively mended between the two, it didn't mean it was easy for Sasuke to submit to Itachi's authority. But he was admittedly often times more thankful for it than resentful.

Standing to his feet, Sasuke brushed off his clothing and reapplied his mask. "Thanks again." He muttered before leaping high into the air and landing precisely onto a tree branch above. He then began to dart toward Konoha at breakneck speed before loosing his footing and tumbling downward, hitting multiple branches along the way.

Itachi had shouted out to him after he leapt into the air, trying to get him to wait for Yamato who would be escorting him back home, but upon seeing his brother's elegant fall, he knew Sasuke would be needing multiple escorts.

Tenten opened her weary eyes and blinked a few times as her vision cleared. Soon she remembered the events of the day before after assessing her surroundings. Looking to her right she saw a small rise with a clear cradle where her small child lay contently, kicking her tiny legs. She managed to smile joyfully as she gazed at the beautiful creature that resembled Sasuke so much.

Tenten dug her palms into the bed and raised herself up, cringing with the motion. Her body was still experiencing a tremendous amount of pain. It forced her back down upon the bed with an ungraceful fall and she let out an exasperated cry.

"Don't push yourself, Tenten." Said a firm and familiar voice.

"Tsunade." Tenten responded as she tossed her head in the direction of the doorway.

"I've got some news for you." Tsunade stated as she came around to Tenten and stood at her bedside. "Sasuke has returned to Konoha."

"He has?!" Tenten exclaimed, finding the strength to sit up in her bed.

"Easy, easy." Tsunade warned as she gently pushed Tenten back down. "Yes he's back. He's in the room next to yours."

"H-he was injured?" She whispered quietly as she raised a hand to her mouth in disbelief.

"Well, yes. But not by an enemy. Apparently he got so worked up after hearing about you and the baby, he fell out of a damn treelike a clutz." Tsunade said as she rolled her honey colored eyes in annoyance and disbelief herself.

Tenten's fret turned into a light giggle as she closed her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, Sasuke. Ahaha..ow..." She paused, gathering herself. "He's okay, right?"

"Just fine, only a minor concussion." Tsunade said with a warm smile. "And how are you feeling today? Still in a lot of pain?"

"I'd like to see Sasuke. "

Tsunade pushed Tenten and their new born child inba wheelchair into the room across the hall from her own where she saw the familiar dark haired man laying in the hospital bed. He appeared to be just waking up. He turned his head to spot her as she entered the room.

"Tenten." He said with a weak smile. He then noticed the small baby wrapped in a peach colored blanket in a white colored toboggan. His eyes widened and watered up a bit as he looked upon them. He could see the weariness in her sunken face. Her brown locks were down and out of place and the dark circles under her eyes indicated to him that the labor must've been hard. A lot more painful than the throbbing in his head.

Quickly he sat up tossed his cold compress to the side. He leapt out of the bed and knelt down to her disregarding the fact that he was only wearing his briefs. "Sasuke!" Tsunade scolded.

"I'm fine granny, cool your jets. I wanna see them." Sasuke barked as he glared intense daggers at the Hokage. Tsunade simply shook her head, trying not to be annoyed with him. She knew she shouldn't cause a commotion with the baby around, so she shook it off and let the two alone for a moment.

Once Tsunade had exited, Sasuke on bended knee, looked down at the tiny Uchiha in Tenten's arms. "It's a girl." Tenten noted in a warm whisper. Sasuke smiled up at her and gently, stroking her cheek with the back of his index finger. His eyes trailed down to the baby once more, and he studied her every tiny detail. She had quite a lot of hair for a baby, it was thick and black with a hint of blue like Sasuke from what he could tell under her small hat. Her face was rounded like her mother's, but her nose was hard to tell. The baby soon opened her eyes and let out a small coo as she tried to focus on the figure above her staring down. Sasuke looked at her little eyes closely, both were a deep shades of blue, but one was distinctly darker than the other. A deep navy shade. This lead Sasuke to believe his child had the Sharingan, but only in one eye. He knew that he'd have to wait a few months before her true eye color actually appeared, not wanting to petrify her with his own Sharingan.

Sasuke stroked the small baby's head, unable to conceal the smile that crept onto his face. We did this. He thought as he remembered back to the times he and Tenten had first been intimate with each other. He was amazed at the miracle they had created through their own passion and love.

Tenten saw a drastic softening to Sasuke's features, by the looks of it, their newborn daughter had melted his heart. She couldn't help but smile, and she noticed a few tears streaming down her cheeks.

Sasuke noticed these tears immediately, and looked up with concern as he cupped her cheek with his hand. "Are you okay, Tenten?" He asked quietly.

"I'm fine." She nodded, adding a smile. "We've got to name her, Sasuke."

Sasuke withdrew his hand from Tenten's cheek and placed it on his chin as he thought, but it didn't take him long to decide. "Nanami." He stated as he looked back down at the child.

A smile formed on Tenten's face again. She hadn't heard such a lovely name before. It was perfect for their most precious member. "I love it."

"Then Nanami it is."

"Okay loverboy, back into bed you go." Tsunade ordered as she entered back into the room.

Sasuke frowned deeply and looked at the Hokage, not wanting to leave her side. "Can't you put us in the same room?"

"You need to rest, and so does Tenten. Do I think you two would rest in a room together with a newborn child? No. You'll stay one more night, and then maybe tomorrow if all of her tests and blood work comeback positive, we will let you leave."

Sasuke quickly planted a kiss on Tenten's lips, and softly kissed the top of Nanami's head before crawling back into his bed.

Tenten looked back at him a little disappointed as Tsunade wheeled her back to her own room.

Tsunade coached Tenten on how to feed her child and once Nanami was asleep after being well fed, she was gently placed back in her cradle and Tenten lay back in the hospital bed and let out a sigh. It's a new chapter for all of us, isn't it? She thought to herself with a soft smile. She felt comfort and ease knowing Sasuke wasn't too far away from her and it made her more than elated to know that he rushed to Konoha as quickly as possible to get to them. She yawned drowsily, stretching and pressing the back of her head against the pillow. Tenten fell asleep in a matter of minutes.

In the Hokage's office

"Do you wish to tell me why on earth you revealed your identity there in the delivery room, Neji?" Tsunade asked her subordinate as she tapped her fingers on her desk. Neji made his way to the seat in front of her and sat, reluctantly.

"Miss Tsunade, I understand how foolish my actions were, however, Tenten is one of the most important people in the world to me. I couldn't support her artificially, as someone who didn't exist. She needed me, and I was willing to take any risks in order to be there for her." Neji explained as he looked at Tsunade firmly.

Shaking her head and rubbing her temples, she let out a heavy sigh. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to pull out the big guns but you left me no choice. I've got to meet with the council about it, but as I right now you may re-enter into Konoha as Neji Hyuga."

His eyes lit up and his posture straightened at the thought of returning to his family and friends as himself. "Thank you so much, my Lady. "

"Don't thank me yet. As punishment you'll be a substitute teacher at the academy for a year. You shouldn't have done something so drastic without consulting me first, Neji!"

If it was one thing that annoyed Neji more than insolent and inadequate Ninja, it was children, and now Neji would be dealing with both simultaneously. He hung his head in annoyance, weighing whether or nott helping Tenten out back then was worth it now. Soon he realized that it was well worth it, added with the fact that he was Neji again and permanently.

"You start on Monday morning. See you there, Neji Sensei." She said condescendingly with a smug look plastered on her face. "Dissmissed."

Neji stood from his place at the desk and gave her a small bow before heading out her door. It was habitual for him to change identities as he exited, so it was difficult to resist the urge to do so.

He walked down the hall, processing the information but was quickly ripped away from his thoughts when he noticed a certain blonde Konoichi walking in his direction carrying a file, he assumed she was delivering to Tsunade. She kept eye contact with him and walked forward and stopped in front of him.

"Neji." She said quietly.

"I-Ino." He said, a little unsure of himself.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

They walked toward the river bank and stopped beneath a large tree and seated themselves down on the cool grass. Neji was extremely nervous, as he cared for Ino a lot more than he would ever admit. It was difficult to give his heart away after yanking it from Tenten's hands, but it was accomplished. Now that it was, he was terrified that his mistake would have compromised his relationship with the blonde.

"I had my suspicions." Ino stated as she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees and looked over at Neji. The news was shocking, but working for Tsunade she knew full well that Tenten was an orphan with no family or siblings. Something about Juro, the mystery, his witty personality.

"You did?" He asked quietly.

"But I had no idea it was you." She said, letting out a small sigh.

"So this disappoints you?" He said, shamefully as his eyes became downcast.

Ino was silent for a moment as she thought about his statement. She was surprised, but she was far from disappointed. She was actually a little thrilled secretly. Slowly, she turned her head and faced Neji. "No." She said plainly. Although her voice was monotone and lacking energy, her soft pale cheeks were reddening significantly.

Neji's eyes shot up and he looked at her with excitement dancing in his orbs. He blushed a bit too as he leaned closer to her. Ino scooted her bottom toward him and planted a soft kiss on his lips.