Month Seven

Mirai walked down the streets of Konoha; she watched the villagers mingle. Many of them greeted her with a smile or a nod. Ever since she had married Sakumo, she had also become well known, but only as his wife.

Sakumo was away on another mission and he wouldn't be back for a month, or so. Mirai sighed at the thought of Sakumo being away for so long. She was feeling more sluggish now that she was carrying around more weight. The baby was growing fast, and to Mirai, it felt like he was running out of room.

'I can't believe I still have two more months of this. I feel like my stomach can't grow anymore. How is little Kakashi going to grow anymore?' She thought to herself rubbing her rounded stomach.

Mirai had gone to her monthly appointment a couple of days ago. Baby Kakashi was healthy and growing at a steady rate. She smiled thinking about how relieved she was to hear that her baby was healthy as can be; she was always worried that something would be wrong. She tried not to think like that, but with Sakumo gone, there was no one to comfort her worried mind.

There was a summer festival coming up. The village was preparing for it, so many of the villagers were bustling around making preparations along the streets. She smiled and rubbed her stomach when she felt little Kakashi kick.

Mirai hadn't paid any attention to where her feet were taking her while she thought. Feeling the baby kick had taken her out of her reverie. She looked at her surroundings and found herself at the gates to the academy. She noticed that a couple of the classes were training with kunai and shuriken outside at the moment. She was surprised at the amount of children that were already quite skilled with the projectile weapons.

Mirai stood at the wire fence and watched the children train, a small smile on her face. She recognized one of the children; he expertly threw shuriken and kunai, hitting every target dead on. Jiraiya went on about him all the time. H is name was Namikaze Minato.

Mirai had overheard a conversation between Jiraiya and Sakumo. Jiraiya was going on about a child who should be graduation from the academy this year; he had already requested that the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi-sensei to Jiraiya, place the boy on his squad. According to Jiraiya, the boy could already use a couple of water based jutsu in battle, and had intellect on par with a chunnin. After watching him practice for a while, Mirai noted that the boy was very good.

Mirai rubbed her stomach, feeling baby Kakashi move within her.

"Are you going to become a ninja, too, my little one?" She asked looking down at her belly.

"I'm sure he'll be very skilled if he does." She heard someone say behind her.

Mirai turned around and saw Jiraiya standing a few meters behind her. He smiled lightly at her before approaching and standing next to her at the fence.

"Hello, Jiraiya." She greeted.

"When's the baby due?" Jiraiya asked looking pointedly at her engorged stomach.

Mirai giggled, "In about two months."

"Boy or girl?" Jiraiya asked.

"Boy. Sakumo and I have decided to name him Kakashi." She answered looking up at the Toad-Sage.

Jiraiya smirked. "Sakumo was quite excited when he told me you were having a baby."

"He gets so excitable sometimes, but I can't blame him." Mirai said smiling. She turned to look at the practicing students again. "When did you get back?"

"I arrived in the village yesterday." Jiraiya answered watching the students, also.

"I've been watching him, the student you go on about all the time. He's the one with the spiky blond hair, correct?" Mirai told him.

"Yes, that's him." Jiraiya turned to look at Mirai.

"You're right, he's very skilled. He'll make a fine shinobi." Mirai told him a smile on her face. "He'll progress fast with you as his teacher, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya looked at her shocked. It took a few moments for him to take in the compliment. Just as he comprehended what she said, Jiraiya noticed Mirai was walking away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Jiraiya called.

"I have things to do, Jiraiya. Stay out of trouble." She said raising her hand in farewell.

Mirai continued walking until she reached the bridge over the lazy river that cur through the village. She leaned against the railing and thought about all the preparations she still needed to make in order to welcome the baby. She had all the furniture in place, but she had barely any clothing for little Kakashi. She sighed; not to mention they were running low on money without her income. It's true Sakumo was taking more missions, but they were lower ranking and had a lesser pay.

Mirai looked down at her reflection in the river. She noticed that she looked tired. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She flinched when she felt an unknown pair of hands on her stomach. She opened her eyes, but didn't see anyone. She looked down and saw a very small child with both hands on her stomach.

"Genma, no!" A woman scolded before pulling the little boy away from Mirai.

"Kaasan!" The little boy yelled wiggling to get out of his mother's arms.

"I'm so sorry." The woman apologized.

"No, don't worry about it. I just wasn't expecting that is all." Mirai smiled and waved her hands about.

"Oh, you're Sakumo-san's wife, right?" The woman asked in recognition.

And in a matter of seconds, Mirai was irritated. "Yes, I am. My name is Mirai."

"Oh. My name is Shiranui Kasumi." The woman answered.

"Kaasan!" The child yelled again.

"And this is Genma." Kasumi said looking down at her son.

"Hello Genma." Mirai greeted.

The little boy stopped wiggling and smiled at Mirai with a devilish smile. His hand stretched out reaching for her rounded stomach again.

"Genma, stop it." Kasumi scolded adjusting Genma in her arms.

"Baby!" Genma yelled pointing to Mirai's stomach while looking at his mother.

Mirai was shocked by the little boy's comprehension of a baby being inside of her. She looked at Kasumi confusion written on her face.

"A friend of mine is pregnant, and she lets him touch her stomach. Now he thinks it's okay to go up to anyone." Kasumi explained.

"I bet that causes problems." Mirai commented.

"Yes! Especially the woman at the market who wasn't actually pregnant." She gave a disapproving look at her son.

"Kaasan!" Little Genma yelled again.

"What?" She asked losing her patience.

Tears were forming in the corners of the little boy's eyes. "I wanna feel baby." He said quietly his bottom lip quivering.

"You know, it's not that big of a deal. It's all right, I don't mind." Mirai told Kasumi.

"Are you sure?" Kasumi asked hesitantly.

"Really, it's all right." Mirai encouraged seeing the little boy was one 'no' away from having a tantrum.

Kasumi released the little boy. He instantly ran up to Mirai and placed his tiny hands on her bulging stomach. Mirai felt little Kakashi kick. She knew Genma had felt it because he gasped and looked up at Mirai grinning.

"Did you feel him?" Mirai asked the little boy.

Genma nodded vigorously moving his hands on her stomach. Mirai smiled sweetly at the little boy who was so enthralled by a little baby.

"How old is Genma?" Mirai asked looking up at Kasumi.

"He turned three last week." Kasumi said keeping an eye on her son.

Genma looked up at Mirai feeling little Kakashi move again.

"Three? Wow! That's exciting, right Genma?" Mirai said in an exaggerated voice. The little boy grinned again and giggled.

"Come on, Genma." Kasumi smiled calling to her son.

Genma looked at her and pouted. Instead of pulling away and running to his mother, the little boy wrapped his arms around Mirai's belly and put his head on her stomach. Mirai put her hand on Genma's head and sighed.

"Genma." Kasumi said in a warning voice.

Mirai squatted down and faced Genma. He looked at her with sad eyes.

"Tell you what, if we see each other again, you can come feel my stomach again, okay?" Mirai asked in a quiet voice.

Genma nodded, "Okay."

The little boy smiled and ran to his mother. Kasumi mouthed a 'thank you' before taking Genma's hand and walking across the bridge.

"It was very nice to meet you, Mirai-san." Kasumi said in passing.

"It was nice to meet you as well, Kasumi." Mirai answered back. "Bye, Genma."

Genma grinned and waved, "Bye!"

Mirai smiled watching the mother and child walk away from her. She felt baby Kakashi kick again and rubbed her stomach feeling more connected to her child than every before. She noticed that the sun was setting and decided that she should probably head home before it got too dark.

She walked the streets of Konoha content in watching the people pass her by on her way home. She felt someone very familiar fall into step beside her. She looked to her side to see Sandaime Hokage walking next to her.

"H-Hokage-sama." She said startled.

"Mirai-san, how are you?" He greeted with a smile.

"I'm fine. And yourself?" She asked.

"Exhausted. I now have a five year old and a nine month old at home. They drain me of whatever energy I have left when I arrive at home." He laughed. "I saw you and Kasumi-san speaking a little while ago. Her son definitely likes to get into trouble."

Mirai laughed, "He was determined to feel the baby move."

Mirai felt a sharp pain in her lower stomach; she stopped suddenly and held her stomach to let the pain pass. The hokage stopped as well watching her with concerned eyes.

"Is everything all right, Mirai?" He asked concerned.

She let out a slow, deep breath. "Yes, I'm fine now."

The hokage looked at her as if he didn't believe her.

"Really, I'm all right." Mirai said taking a few steps forward.

The hokage fell into step beside her again, but watched her with careful eyes.

"I hear that Sakumo is quite excited for the child to be born." He commented.

"He is; he's always fussing over me though, and really I'm fine." Mirai told him. "Although, I'm very excited as well; I've always wanted children."

Mirai was feeling very tired; she had cleaned the house most of the morning and then traveled around the village the rest of the day. She moved to the side of the street where a stone bench was sitting. Sarutobi followed her and helped her sit before sitting beside her.

"I ran into Jiraiya earlier." Mirai commented looking at the man.

Sarutobi smiled thinking of his former student. "He's been away quite a while. It's good to have him back in the village."

"I hear he's already requested a young academy student to be placed under his tutelage." Mirai said.

"He has; Namikaze Minato." Sarutobi answered.

"I was watching the classes practice at the academy earlier, and the boy was among them. He is very skilled. I believe he will hone his skills even further while learning from Jiraiya." Mirai said in a soft voice.

"I would have to agree with you." Sarutobi said looking at the young woman.

Mirai looked up at the darkening sky. She smiled thinking of how calm and protected she felt in the village with the Sandaime Hokage watching out for her.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." She said quietly.

He looked at her about to ask why she was thanking him, but she spoke first.

"For looking out for me. I appreciate it. I worry too much when Sakumo is away on missions." She told him with a smile.

"I care for everyone in the village. They are precious to me." Sarutobi answered.

"It's getting dark; I should be on my way." Mirai said standing up.

"Would you allow me to walk you home?" Sarutobi asked.

Mirai smirked, "Are you really that determined to stay away from your children?"

The hokage became flustered.

"It's all right. I'd appreciate the company." Mirai chuckled watching the hokage fall into step beside her once again.

They walked in comfortable silence until they reached Mirai and Sakumo's home. Mirai turned around at the door to thank the hokage for walking her home.

"Thank you, Sarutobi-sama." She said opening the door.

"Mirai-san, when would you like to be placed on active duty again? I know it's a sudden question." Sarutobi asked.

"Preferably, six months after the baby is born. I would very much like to spend some time with my son before jumping back into the life of a ninja." Mirai answered.

"Of course, I'll write it in my notes." Sarutobi smiled. "Goodnight." He began to walk away from the house.

"Goodnight, Hokage-sama." Mirai called just before closing the door.