Sorry for the long wait! Here you go!

Disclaimer: Read the previous chapters ^.^

Note: Choukichi is now about 6-7 months old, so his vocabulary is a bit bigger now.

Isano clutched Choukichi close to her body, tears running down her face as she stood in between Sasuke and Naruto. It was the mass memorial service for all those who died during Oto and Suna's attack. The Sandaime gave his life along with Ino's mother for the village. Choukichi stared up at his aunt and touched her face.

"Isa... Isa... no cry..."

Isano took Choukichi's hand and kissed it.

"It's alright, Choukichi-kun. I'm just a little sad, but that's alright. Everyone gets sad sometimes..." she whispered. Sasuke glanced at her. He placed a gentle hand on her back. She looked up at Sasuke, wanting to tell him so many things, and he looked at her, knowing she wanted to talk.

It was time for Isano to place a flower down for the dead. When she went up to the altar, she gently placed the flower down.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama, for giving Choukichi and I a chance. Yamanaka-san," she whispered, "thank you for trying to protect Choukichi. You had always been so good to us and," she broke down, "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I should have stayed with Choukichi so you wouldn't have had to die."

She felt a soft hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Sasuke. He pulled her in for a hug.

"Isano... there was nothing you could have done... You could have died as well and where would that have left Choukichi?" he whispered. Isano leaned on his chest.

"I need to go, Sasuke-kun..."

Sasuke placed his flower down and took Isano home.

When they got home, Isano put Choukichi down for his nap. She left the room and found Sasuke sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea. She sat down next to him and leaned on his shoulder. Sasuke looked down on her, surprised at her close proximity, but kept his mouth shut due to the tears running down her face.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke placed his cup down and wrapped his arm around Isano's shoulder.

"Isano... what happend when you were looking for Choukichi?"

Isano bit her lip.

"I found Choukichi with someone from Iga..."

Sasuke looked at her shocked.

"Another Iga shinobi?"

Isano nodded.

"Kimura Koichi... A friend of my brother's... Yukito... his partner was threatening to smask Choukichi into a tree... to kill him... and he killed the man. I was shocked, especially when he gave Choukichi back to me. It was his last act of love towards me..."

Sasuke studied her.

"Was he a boyfriend of yours?"

Isano looked at him.

"We don't marry out of love, Sasuke-kun. Love can grow out of the union, but a marriage is decided by the families and leader. Koichi... we were engaged... and he certainly loved me... but I didn't love him. He was always kind, but I could never bring myself to love him more than a friend. But that's not the point, Sasuke-kun! Yamanaka-san didn't have to die if I was with Choukichi! Koichi would have left us alone..."

Sasuke sent her an angry look. Isano looked at him filled with fear. Why was he so angry? His eyes softened when he noticed her anxiety.

"So you think this Koichi will protect you in the future?"

"No... we both said we serve someone new now and I told him... I had fe... I never had feelings beyond friendship for him. He said next time, he could not be kind to me."

"He doesn't truly love you then, Isano."

"What would it matter? He's gone... Sasuke-kun... I was worried about you as well... when I was told of the casualties..."

"You thought one was me?"

"I had hoped not."

Choukichi began crying. Isano went to get up to get him, but Sasuke pulled her back down into a hug.

"Isano... I promise I will be strong and protect you and Choukichi. I never want you to live in fear like that again. I won't let you."

Isano blinked and then leaned against him.

"Thank you... Sasuke-kun."