Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Disclaimer: Me: Ahem, I don't own Naruto but I am holding Hidan hostage because he still hasn't apologized to me. X Cries X

Hidan: Ahhh! Get me out of here! Now damnit! X Is clinging to a rope in the middle of a room X

Me: I'll let those rabid fan-girls have you if you don't apologize!

(Continue)

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The training field wouldn't be used again, the poor thing would be put into an early retirement after the battle was over that day. Currently the Konoha nins weren't doing too good, they were surprised when, instead of the weak, exhausted chakra they felt, the chakra of the Akastuki were powerful and unexhausted. They were panting on one side of the clearing while the Akastuki were leering at them from the other. Shikamaru dropped down to his knees and put his hands in the thinking pose he does when he's trying to strategize an outcome to something. A few moments later he stood back up and they huddled. They nodded once to each other and Naruto made a few shadow clones, he spoke to them and they nodded at him. The clones turned and went up to the others, pairing themselves up with them, they then attacked the Akastuki and started another all-out brawl. While the Akastuki were successfully distracted Naruto snuck around to the base where the door was cracked open, if only just a little bit. He smirked and looked around carefully. Yep, still distracted, he crept inside and heard talking. He went past the doors and came to a large opening, it was the archway to the living-room. He peered inside and saw Sakura and Ino talking and holding a baby, in Sakura's case, he quickly went in and was noticed by the females. "Naruto! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked, Ino looked up and waved, "Oh, hey Naruto!" she greeted.

He could only stare at them and when Sakura cleared her throat he asked, "What are you guys doing! Being all happy and stuff, you guys were captured by the Akastuki!" They nodded and Sakura said, "You are quite right, but I have been having fun. Torturing the Akastuki is the highlight of my day now." Ino giggled, "She's right, I saw it first hand. Sakura is awesome! But as for your question… I don't know.." she trailed off, unsure. Naruto rolled his eyes, "Well come on, we came to rescue you!" he exclaimed, only to receive a punch on the head, "Shut up, Shinobu's sleeping!" Ino hissed.

He looked down at the baby in Sakura's arms, "Oh." He said. He then stood up and they looked at him, "Hurry, I don't know how long the clones and others can keep the Akastuki occupied." He explained. They then made the usual 'oh' face and stood up too. They made their way to the door and Sakura looked out, "Okay, they're still distracted." She said, then Naruto sneaked out and held the door open for the girls, unfortunately he was noticed and the Akastuki immediately made for Naruto and the open door. Naruto noticed the quickly approaching nin and pulled Ino out, however, he was not fast enough to pull out Sakura so he retreated and made his way over to the rest where Ino proceeded to hug Shikamaru and cry. Sakura, however, was surrounded by the members of Akastuki. The others watched as the silver-haired one, Hidan they thought his name was, escorted her back inside with the baby. They saw her look up at him and say something, they went inside and he didn't come back out. Sasuke stepped forward, he glared at Itachi and pulled out his sword. Itachi mirrored his movements and waited for Sasuke to make the first move, he didn't disappoint his older brother, lunging at him Sasuke felt the swords meet and stepped back. The battle ensued and the Akastuki and Konoha-nin watched from the sidelines, waiting to see the outcome before doing anything. Naruto turned to the others, "Ino, how was it while you were with Sakura-chan in the base? Did they do anything to you guys?" he asked, Ino shook her head, "No, Sakura had it covered, she was like, ruling those Akastuki guys! She told me some of the things she did to them and I had to convince myself that these guys were actually the Akastuki and not whiny twelve year olds." She said. They continued to talk and strategize while keeping an eye on the fight between Sasuke and Itachi, both had very large wounds by now and were losing a lot of blood. Meanwhile inside of the base Sakura was making onigiri for herself and Hidan, who she had threatened that if he woke up Shinobu her punishment would be worse than castration, she hummed a tune as she set out the necessary utensils for eating and called out to Hidan to get his ugly mug in there. She got Shinobu and headed to the kitchen, she sat down to eat with Hidan when the base was rocked with an explosion, she looked up briefly before returning to her food. She had set Shinobu on a tiny pallet on the floor so she could eat, they continued to eat and talk until one of the chakra's outside dropped dramatically.

Outside Sasuke had dealt Itachi with an especially powerful chidori when the door to the base was ripped open and a cry reached the ears of all the shinobi around, "Itachi!!" Sakura cried as she saw him fall to the ground. Sasuke stepped back and watched as she ran up to his brother who was bleeding from a hole in his chest it was too near his heart so the trauma of it slowed it drastically. Sakura collapsed near Itachi, she heard his breath coming more slowly and erratically. She cried silently as she readied her healing chakra, only to be stopped by his hand, she raised her eyes to his and he said painfully, "Stop, it is of no use. I was always meant to die this way Sakura," he took a deep breath before speaking again, "Do not heal me, I wish to die and sleep peacefully as I have never done before." Tears were marking their way down Sakura's cheeks as she laid her head on his, "I love you Itachi-kun, and I will tell our daughter that her father is a great shinobi. I will miss you forever Itachi-kun, you will forever be in my heart." She sobbed and wailed from her soul as she kissed him and stroked his cheek before seeing him smile and turn his eyes to the heavens above. He took one more breath before he closed his eyes and making his journey to the underworld. Sakura shed one more tear before she allowed herself to be moved back into the base. The others watched as their friend was steered into the base before shifting their gaze to the ones across the field. Kisame went forward and picked up Itachi's body before moving it to the safe side where it wouldn't be any more damaged. Then they turned to Pein, looking to him before doing anything to the nins who had killed one of their own. Pein shifted his glance to each of the Konoha nin before he started speaking, "You will leave this place and never come back, the nin known as Haruno Sakura will stay with the Akastuki for the rest of her days." He glared at the Kyuubi who looked like he was about ready to interrupt his words, "If you comply with my laws we will stop our hunt of the Kyuubi for now."

Everybody watched with baited breath as the Konoha nins conversed with each other on the outcomes of the proposition. Then, finally they let Shikamaru step forward and tell the Akastuki their plan, "We will give up trying to get Sakura back for now… but if the opportunity should arise to get her back again we will not hesitate to take it." He stated, the Akastuki nodded accordingly and the Konoha nin backed out of the clearing.

The Akastuki sighed and turned to where Itachi laid, "Where shall we bury him?" Kisame asked as they looked down at the body, "Nowhere, we will burn his body." A voice came from behind them, turning they saw Sakura with Shinobu and Hidan beside her. She had tears glistening in her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall, she had to be strong for Shinobu. She instructed them to back away and when they did she handed Shinobu to Hidan and performed the necessary hand seals, she put her hand to her mouth and blew, flames shot out of her mouth and covered Itachi's body, his clothes burning away with his body. She had his cloak in her arms so she could keep it with her and hopefully give it to Shinobu when the time came. When she was done a strong wind came and blew away the ashes to faraway places. Sakura watched and smiled tearfully before turning to the rest of the gang, "Well, are we going to just stand here? I have to take care of my daughter." She strolled over to where Hidan was holding her daughter and picked her up, "Thanks." She muttered and went over to the door with the others following.

XX Weeks later XX

Sakura combed Shinobu's baby hair with a small brush, her hair had come past her ears and was long enough to put into a little hair-clip. It was fascinating to look at because her hair was black with pink streaks in it, and her eyes were gold with black flecks in them. Sakura sighed before looking at the picture of her and Itachi, it had a forest background and Itachi was holding onto her waist with a possessive pride that only she could see. He had gotten a little more gentle with her in his final days. She immediately stopped her train of thought before she became sad, Shinobu would get upset too, the girl was always more sensitive to chakra fluctuations than anything these days. She looked at her and thought, 'You would love to see your daughter now Itachi, she is like you.' She then continued to brush her hair and put her in her latest ensemble, Kisame had gotten this one for her and Sakura almost laughed at how the man had given them to her.

XX Flashback XX

Sakura was walking towards the kitchen to cook dinner for the guys and herself when she spotted Kisame coming towards her holding something wrapped up. She paused and watched as he came closer, she could see that he was sweating profusely and a light blush adorned his face, or what she could see of it, and he stopped in front of her, "Here." He said gruffly before she took it and he poofed off in embarrassment to go find something manly to do, like beat up Deidara! She opened the package to find a small baby suit with little fishies swimming around on it. She laughed silently at the thought of Kisame going anywhere and stealing this, he must have received some funny looks when he went to the baby part of the store.

XX End flashback XX

She stood and picked up Shinobu and went to the living-room to watch TV, she was slowly weaning Shinobu from her breast and onto warm mash because she didn't want her to become too dependant on her for food, she'd seen that happen to a villager who had a one-year-old still latched tightly to her. Shuddering she sat on the couch and flipped channels. She watched TV for an hour before going to the kitchen to make mash for Shinobu, upon entering she saw the guys immersed in a poker game, rolling her eyes she made the mash and sat down next to Hidan. She smirked and concentrated. She felt her 'third eye' open and look around the table, everybody had bad hands, snorting she dispersed the eye and silently thanked Gaara for teaching her that move before she was kidnapped. She sighed and looked at Hidan's hand, frowning she looked at the table's pot, 200,000 yen?! She heard Inner curse loudly before wondering where the guys got all this money from. Finally all the guys showed hands and Hidan started to curse like he never had before, hmm, seems he lost. Sakura laid a chakra filled punch to his head before looking down at his new swirly eyed figure, "Don't curse in front of my daughter." She said. He winced as he sat up, hmm might have broken a rib there. She healed the rib she broke, on purpose, and he sat back down at the table. She smirked as she fed Shinobu and went back to her room, she still had it. Frightening the Akastuki was difficult but she pulled it off nicely.

XX Konoha XX

Everybody still mourned over the loss of their favorite medic-nin, Ino was never the same when she came back from the mission without her best friend, she was stuck in her and Shikamaru's bedroom for days only coming out to eat or drink. She had a hard time, but so did everybody else, but they all had somebody to comfort them: Hinata with Naruto, Tenten with Neji, Sasuke with Orochi's picture and his hand, and Gaara with his siblings (NO not like that, sibling love is a very good support system.). They were slowly healing their wounds on their hearts. Tsunade was very sad to hear that they could not get Sakura back but that was lessened by the fact that they would still try any way possible to get her back in the future, she had to heal Sasuke after his encounter with Itachi. She was currently drinking away her sake supply and having her clones do the paperwork. Meanwhile the others were silently making a party for Ino who turned out to be pregnant, it seems that emotional trauma is her turn on, she just about raped poor Shikamaru when he came in from a mission one day. They hoped it was a girl but nobody would tell the other that. They got a signal from Naruto that Shikamaru was bringing Ino to the party and quickly hid. "Man Shika-kun, there's nobody here." They heard Ino complaining and jumped out, "SURPRISE!!" They yelled, "Congratulations on your new baby!" Ino screamed and fell to the floor, then she started laughing, "Thanks you guys." She said then the same thought ran through every-bodies heads, 'If only Sakura was here…' They continued on with the party and Ino opened her gifts, baby clothes and all other sorts of things. But what surprised her was the present Naruto got her, or more like presents, he wheeled out a big cart and tearfully said, "Sakura said, before we left for here, that if any of you guys get pregnant that I should get the presents we gave her and give them to whoever it is, so, here Ino-chan." He pulled off the cover and there, in all its glory, sat Sakura's baby gifts. Ino broke down, crying.

XX Base XX

Sakura had the feeling that something important was happening in Konoha so she sat the sleeping Shinobu on her bed and sat down at her desk to write a letter.

"Hi Naruto, how are you? I've been doing fine, ever since… well, you know. I still miss him, But I forgive Sasuke for doing what he did, it would have ended with the death of one of them anyway ne? So how is everything in Konoha nowadays? Shinobu is doing fine, she's the image of Itachi but her hair is black with pink streaks in it, and her eyes are green! She's so adorable, I'll send a picture of her with this letter so you can see her for yourself. I miss you all, write me a letter back and send it the way it came okay? Well, that's all I've got to say for now so I better finish up.

Ja-ne

Your Sakura-chan"

She rolled the letter up and sealed it with wax before making her way to Deidara's room.

She knocked and opened the door, "Deidara?" she said, he looked up from his painting, "I didn't do it, I swear!" he automatically said and jumped up, away from her, "There are other people in this base you know." He said. She smirked, "I just wanted you to make me a bird that can fly a long way and come back without exploding." She supplied, he visibly relaxed, "Oh." He sighed, he moved over to his clay pouch and dipped his hand in, taking a generous amount he started molding it and making a small, light-weight bird that could fly to somewhere in a few hours. When he finished she thanked him and went back to her room, the bird clinging to her shoulder. She opened her window and tied the letter to the birds leg, "Deliver this to Konoha, will you? Look for a blond, male, ninja with fox-like whisker markings on his face." She petted the bird for a minute before moving it onto her finger and setting it free. She watched it fly for a moment before walking to the bed and laying down beside her daughter and taking a nap.

She woke up a few hours later and picked Shinobu up, "Time for our bath!" she exclaimed. Shinobu's baby eyes widened dramatically before she started screeching and trying to pull away from her mother's grasp. Sakura chuckled evilly before she went to the bathroom and shut the door, locking it she set Shinobu on the floor and watched as she crawled over to the door and pounded on it with her baby fists. She turned and went to the tub, she started to fill it with water and soap, making bubbles.

She got through with taking the bath and was dressing when she heard something scittering around on the floor. Looking down she saw the biggest rat she had ever seen before, ever! Screaming she picked up Shinobu and started running to the door, sadly she didn't make it and the base was filled with soot and clay pieces before Kisame said to Deidara, "You're going to get it now man, you knew she had just taken a bath." And indeed he did get it, he wasn't able to walk properly for a few hours after what she did to him, but it was all worth it, to him, seeing her face and hearing her scream fill the base before that small explosion. He sighed as he sat on his bed and began falling asleep.

Sakura took another bath and was sneaking explosive clay into Deidara's room when she spotted Kisame and the others sitting on the couch watching her. She smiled sheepishly but didn't stop until the whole room was filled, she sighed and sat down on the couch between the guys and softly whispered, "Kai." Another explosion, louder this time, rocked the base before they heard the wailing of Deidara, it stopped for a moment before what sounded like a heartbreaking cry reached their ears, "MY HAIR!!" they cracked up and watched as a now green haired Deidara stormed out of his bedroom, "You!" he screeched, Sakura just smiled before jumping up and walking to her room, "That's what you get for messing with me. Just be glad I didn't shave you bald." Her words floated over to the guys and they laughed harder. She checked on Shinobu and found her still asleep (Man that girls a deep sleeper.).

XX Konoha XX

Naruto was walking down the road to the training grounds with Sasuke and all the other rookie nine when he heard a chirp, looking up he saw a small bird heading his way. "Hey, look guys." He said pointing, the bird landed on his outstretched finger and he pulled it towards him, "Hey, there's a scroll attached to it's leg." Ino said looking at it. Naruto took the scroll and the bird hopped to his shoulder, he looked at it for a moment more before he opened the scroll, he read it through one time before telling the others that it was from Sakura, "Well, then read it Naruto." Shikamaru said

Naruto nodded and opened his mouth, "'Hi Naruto, how are you? I've been doing fine, ever since… well, you know. I still miss him, But I forgive Sasuke for doing what he did, it would have ended with the death of one of them anyway ne? So how is everything in Konoha nowadays? Shinobu is doing fine, she's the image of Itachi but her hair is black with pink streaks in it, and her eyes are green! She's so adorable, I'll send a picture of her with this letter so you can see her for yourself. I miss you all, write me a letter back and send it the way it came okay? Well, that's all I've got to say for now so I better finish up.

Ja-ne

Your Sakura-chan'"

They all had tears in their eyes (Sasuke furiously told himself that they were not tears.) when he finished and they postponed their training so that they could write their own letters back to her. Naruto carried the scroll, and bird, back to his place and started on his letter.

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Please don't kill me!! I know all of you would love to by know but I really can't explain why I killed off my favorite character. I made this one extra long because of the wait so I hope you enjoyed. Please review, I haven't gotten that many (cries) Please!!

Ja-ne!

-Narutofang91