"W-w-where d-ddid y-you h-hear t-t-that?" Sakura asked as she looked at Taro. Taro just looked at his mother full of anger and annoyance. Amarante on the other hand sat silently in her chair with her hands folded on her lap. Sakura's mother looked at her daughter with worry and reassurance.

"Do try to tell me that he isn't mom. He obviously is. We found out from piecing together information. We aren't stupid mom. We just want to know why you lied to us." Taro asked as he put his chopsticks down on his plate.

"I didn't lie." Sakura said as she stood up and looked outside her window. Her breathing had become shallow and she felt faint. "I just tried to keep the truth away from you." She confessed as tears started to cascade down her ivory face. "I did that to protect you. Now, since you already know, then I think you deserve to know the entire truth."

"When I was younger, I was in love with your father. I would do anything to make him notice me. He never did. He left me to seek vengeance on his brother and I thought I was never going to see him again. One night, I was on a mission. I was hoping to get it done as soon as possible but I was given a few days. On my way back, I found your father hurt. He was all by himself. Left alone. I healed him and we retreated to a cave because it was raining. I had all my ninja gear so we shared my blanket and tried to stay warm. One thing led to another and next thing I knew I was his." Sakura stopped to take a deep breath.

"Next morning, I wake up to find myself all alone. I looked around for him for a day and then I just walked home. Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. Tsuande-sama told me to wait, so I did. When your father came back to Konoha, the first thing I did was go to him. It was then I found out about that Sasuke had married. I told him about you two and he told me that I was a whore and that I was trying to get him back for marrying another. After that, I just stopped…telling him…that I loved…him." Sakura sat down on the floor. Immediately Amarante ran over to her mother and hugged her.

"We love you for that mom. You have been there for us whenever we needed help. We love you for being strong. We don't hate you for doing what you thought was best." Amarante spoke as she held onto her mother from behind.

"Amar is right mom. It is because of you that we are so strong. And also, you have me right? You have me, Amar, grams. You have everyone. Right?" Taro said as he kneeled in front of his mother. "Come on, let's finish dinner." Taro said as he helped his mother up from her bed. "Mom, let's go."

The following night, Sakura had invited Neji and Tenten over for dinner along with their son Taketo, and daughter Aiko. They smiled as they ate dinner as Taketo and Amarante slyly looked at each other. "Thank you so much for dinner Haruno-un-chan." Tenten and Neji had said to Sakura's mother as she smiled.

"I love to cook so it was no problem at all." She had said before deciding to turn in early. Sakura, Neji, and Tenten talked as Amarante, Taro, and Taketo listened.

"That mission was a suicide mission for them. It is a wonder they got out safe." Sakura talked to the Hyugas as she sipped her tea.

"I know, but you know Sai better than anyone Sakura, you know that suicide missions are nothing for him, asking a girl out though…now that is trouble for dear old Sai. He and Ino have been on and off since god knows when. Their daughter needs to be with both of them." Tenten spoke referring to Ino and Sai's illegitimate daughter they had named Naina.

Taro nodded his head at the mention of the girl. She too, like every other young girl in Konoha wanted him. I can't even eat peacefully around Naina. She tries to ask me out everyday. "Taketo, how do you like your team?" Amarante asked breaking Taro's streak of hateful thoughts.

"They're okay, we're a team. It's nice to have someone strong on the team to practice with but they're both pains in the asses." Taketo truthfully said as he looked at Amarante.

"I'm sure their fine." She mumbled as she blushed. Taketo smiled at her and then turned his attention back to his parents and Sakura.

"The Chunnins will be coming up soon. I'm trying to help Taketo as much as I can. I hear Kakashi is helping Taro here with the Sharingan. Naruto is training his son on the side as well. Are you going to be helping Amarante?" Neji asked.

"I haven't been able to but I talked to Tsunade-sama and she is giving me a few days off a week to help her. She hasn't formed the Sharingan because she never got the genes for it but Tsunade-sama says that she still may but it is unlikely." Sakura whispered.

"If she ever needs to train with someone she can always come to me." Tenten spoke as she watched her young daughter fall asleep on her lap. Suddenly, she felt a tingling in her head. "Did you just feel that?"

"Yes" Sakura and Neji said getting up. Sakura turned to the children. "Be good, we'll be right back." And soon the two jounin and one ANBU were out of the house.

"Wonder what that was all about." Taro said as he got up and sat in front of the TV. Amarante followed and sat next to her brother

"They'll tell us once they find out." Taketo stood and sat next to Amarante making her blush. "So, what are we watching?"

Back in the meeting place, all the chunnin, jounin, and ANBU stood in front of the Hokage. "There have been sightings of the Akatsuki with newer and deadlier members. We are not certain of who or what they are but they have a powers we have only heard of. Nevertheless, we must proceed with our lives. We will go on with the chunin exams with increased security. NOW LEAVE!

4 months later…

"MOM!!!!" Amarante came running into the house. "MOM! ME AND TARO ARE IN THE CHUNIN EXAMS!!!" Sakura turned around to see her daughter jumping, excitingly, and her son smirking.

"My children, I am so proud of you." Sakura exclaimed as she hugged them. "Taro, Kakashi-sensei will be coming over soon to help you train. Amar, I am off today so I want to see your progress understand? The exams are in three days. I have a mission the day of but when I come back, I want to see the chunnin vests…understand?"

"Hai."

"My children."