Author's Note: I love how you guys reacted to this. I hope I didn't disappoint. There is still one more chapter left so stick with me.

Chapter

Kiba was falling behind and though it made Sakura worry, Sasuke suppressed his smirk, saying nothing as he kept his eyes ahead. There was something so satisfying about shoving it in his face that Sasuke took joy out of. He wasn't a man that openly displayed physical affection, but if there was an extra award for it, like the disgust in his diamond eyes, then he would make more of an effort to do so. Don't get him wrong, touching Sakura at any moment brought delight but, this was an added bonus he couldn't pass up.

They stopped for a drink beside a river and Sasuke took the 'opportunity' as Kiba had called them, to approach his wife. He grabbed her hand, moving her behind a tree if only to make out with her. He had made sure Kiba was in hearing distance as she giggled while leaning into his touch. "Stop it. This isn't our honeymoon." He let her slip out after he made his point. His eyes meeting the dog owner intentionally.

Kiba barred a fang before stomping off.

"Kiba?" Sakura called after him, she hurried to find him.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Well, that backfired.

He aggravatedly joined Naruto who sat by the water. He kicked him in the leg, noticing the awkwardness of his depression, "What's with you?"

Naruto threw a rock in the river. "I screwed up."

Sasuke took a seat. "So undo it."

"How?"

He wondered about that. "What was your advice to me...Apologize. Buy her flowers. Clean the dishes. I don't know….something like that, I think."

Naruto smiled, his depression falling away as his light blues flipped back to him. He shook his head, "You're a shitty best friend."

"Yet I'm the best you can do."

"Naruto!" Hinata cried as she ran up to him, panting. Her byakugan was activated and she was pointing, "I found them. They're trapped."

The boys stood, eagerly feeling for their chakra signatures but the kids were either too far away or too weak to be felt. "How far?"

"Eighty miles to the southeast. They were heading home."

Sasuke expanded his Susanoo and soon everyone arrived at the river. He gathered them up and the giant protector's wings flapped once and brought them into the air. It would still take several minutes to travel that length of distance.

"What's happened?" Sakura questioned, looking between Sasuke and Naruto.

Naruto ignited his beast layer form. Now with their powers to the full extent, they could feel their children's chakra and they turned to meet each other's eye. How could they answer her, knowing that their selfishness and their foolishness had led them to ignore the needs of their children?

Naruto shot out, doubling his speed.

"Is Sarada okay?"

Hinata shook her head. Her eyes watching the distance of several miles but seeing the beating of their little hearts so close as if she could touch it. Everything was slowing down. The beat of their hearts, the flow of their blood, the wave of their chakra...It was becoming obvious. They were dying. Her knees gave out and Sakura grabbed ahold of her, fear brilliantly shining in her face. "HInata. Please, please tell me is she okay?" Sakura looked to her husband, "Sasuke?"

How could he answer her as he observed his daughter's lifeforce diminish? They were still two minutes away. He could do nothing. He could only move through space if he could see in front of him. Naruto was the only one that would be able to help them now.

Naruto dropped down on a dirt road, witnessing a square prison were the children were currently kept. A man had his hand through the metal rod bars with his hands upon them. Black lines of a curse seal waved over his skin, swimming around, soaking into both Sarada and Boruto before returning to its original owner. Naruto shoved himself forward only to be knocked to the ground by a powerful electrical shock that sent him flying on his back.

The stranger took his hands away and he stood, greeting Naruto with a pleasant smile.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Kagari, Naruto-san." He pointed to the jail cell behind. "Don't worry about your children, they are alright."

He looked toward them. Boruto and Sarada could barely open their eyes as they laid on the ground, breathing erratically. They were moving however, their hands reaching for one another in comfort.

"What did you do?" Naruto growled.

He grinned. "Do you know Chakra also stores memory? It's like a little story book of time."

Naruto went to attack again but Kurma barked at him, reminding him of the shield that protected his opponent. He searched for a way to break it.

"Let's wait, Naruto-san for Sasuke-san to join us."

Naruto eyed him, finally noticing the Konoha insignia on his thigh. "Do I know you?"

The man didn't respond quickly. "That hurt, Naruto-san"

Sasuke's big Susanoo whipped out his sword and with all his weight dropped on the shield. Electricity bathed the wall and sent a series of jolts but as Sasuke was a weider of Lightning, he deflected it before it could hurt anyone. They dropped outside the wall and he released everyone. Sakura and HInata ran blindly toward the children but Susanoo draped a giant arm across the ground, denying them.

"Don't worry. They are safe with me. It was ill-advised of you to let them out on their own. Who knows what foul beasts are out here, huh, Sasuke-san?"

Hinata yelled up, "What did you do to Boruto?"

"Nothing serious. I simply took some information. They're fine." He kicked the bars, "Tell them you're fine."

Boruto helped Sarada get to her knees. They waved tiredly to their parents, relieved to see them and horrified at the same time. What trouble did they want to face? This weird guy or the wrath of their parents?

"Why do I listen to you?" Sarada whispered, resting against his side.

Boruto's cheeks were red. They were close again. Like how Kiba and Sakura had been close. Did she realize that? Did it make her belly feel funny like his belly? "Because it's always an adventure." He smiled, catching her black eyes.

She laughed. "I'm blaming all this on you."

He didn't mind, as long as they could sit here like this for a little while longer.

Shino called over, "Boruto. How did you get captured? How many times have I taught you. Do you even listen anymore?"

Boruto rolled his eyes, "Ah, Shino-sensei. He said he knew our parents. I didn't think-"

"That's right. You do not think. The world is not your-."

Sasuke interrupted, "How do we know you?"

"You too, Sasuke-san? Has it really been so long?"

"His name is Kagari." Sarada shouted, "He said he fought you in the chunin exams."

"Chunin?" Naruto looked over with a baffled face. "We fought in the chunin exams?"

"Yes!" Sakura bit. "That's when Gaara came."

"Ah, Gaara." Naruto smiled, "That was an awesome fight."

"And Orochimaru." Sasuke added.

"Oh yeah. He was dressed as a girl. That was a crazy fight. And you got your curse."

They nodded.

"I broke a dude's arms. Was that you?"

"No!"

Naruto and Sasuke both glanced at Sakura. She scoffed, "I don't know. Don't look at me."

"I'm from Rain. I wore a mask to breath underwater. I tricked you guys for a long time in a genjutsu. It was my best trick ever."

"I think I remember." Sakura whispered. "There were three of you. All in like a yellow jumpsuit?"

He points to her with a smile, "Yes, yes. You remember now?"

Naruto and Sasuke both shook their heads.

His curse became agitated. "Well, you are going to remember me from now on."

Hinata leaned up and whispered in Naruto's ear. "There are three hundred poles in the ground. They will react to his chakra. It is what's keeping this shield up. We need to stop his chakra flow to end the shield."

"How do we get in?"

She had no answer and backed away.

Naruto relayed the message to Sasuke behind a hand.

"What are you whispering about?" Kagari took a step forward, "You can't get in here, so don't try anything or I will hurt your kids."

Sasuke didn't like him threatening Sarada. "How are we supposed to fight you if you don't come out of your shell?"

"What makes you think I want to fight?" He took another step closer. "Revenge comes in many different forms. You shamed me out of my village. My parents disowned me. One of my brothers drank himself to death. The other changed his name and I haven't found him again. So what's a proper pay back? I know I can't defeat you. I've heard rumors of what you've done. Despite how powerful I've become, I can't defeat the three Sannin by myself. So what else is there?"

Sakura's heart was beginning to thump, "Sasuke." She whispered. "He's going to hurt them."

"But then the Konoha Council comes up to me…"

Sasuke's brows knit.

"Giving me a payload to kill your kids."

Naruto screamed, "What are you talking about? Konoha wouldn't do that."

Kagari's eyes landed on Sasuke. "You don't seem so sure, Sasuke-san."

Naruto turned to him, "Sasuke. You can't listen to this guy. He's lying."

"Why would I lie about something like that? Why would I tell you?" He smiled wide. "That look on your face, Naruto-san. It doesn't feel good being betrayed by your village, does it?"

A tail whipped out, flinging against the shield. "Shut up!"

"Relax, Naruto-san. They couldn't have asked a better person. I'm no kid-killer. I took this job, if only to help. You were lucky. But I still had to find a way to get back at you. And I think I found it." He stopped walking when he was only ten feet away. "See, your kids gave me something that brought me exactly what I wanted to get my revenge."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto barked.

"This."

Two metal bars shot out of the ground in front of Kagari and a hologram began to play. It was the memory of Boruto as he had stood in the doorway, peeking around the bend. He watched Shino and his mother sitting on the couch. They were talking quietly until Shino grabbed her hand. She didn't pull away. She shook her head and gave a soft smile, keeping her eyes to the floor. But even so, Shino placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head. Her eyes were squeezed shut. And with one more whisper, he moved in and kissed her.

The scene shows the stumble and tears as Boruto runs away, jumping over rooftops to get away.

Naruto doesn't move. His eyes fall to the floor. It almost felt like his body just emptied. Everything inside completely draining. He barely felt the hand upon his shoulder. "Naruto." Hinata whispered, full of fear. "It was only once."

The confirmation only made him clench every muscle in his body and he squeezed his eyes shut and his hands curled into fists.

"Pay attention, Sasuke-san."

Sasuke glanced at Sakura and her brows knit in confusion.

Sarada's memory was dark with only a stray street lamp to light the scene. Kiba and Sakura fell in the street. Though they could hear nothing, there was laughter on her face until their eyes met and desire drowned their features. Kiba's hand slipped into her hair and pulled her in, kissing her.

A ball like illness dropped into his stomach. Sasuke couldn't take his eyes off it as it replayed and replayed.

"That didn't happen." Sakura growled.

Sakura turned to Sasuke and could see the rage building in his black gaze. She reached for his hand but he shot out for her throat. "Do not touch me." His dull nails dug into her larynx as he lifted her high in the air. She struggled desperately, digging her nails into his skin and kicking the air. Naruto ran to him, talking into his ear but he heard nothing as he stared up at her with his Sharingan and Rinnegan.

Kagari was laughing, "Yes, yes, this is it!"

He tossed her against the shield and electricity engulfed her. She screamed violently as the ten thousand volts passed through her before it let her go and she fell to the floor. Kiba ran to her, but she was passed out.

"It didn't happen, Sasuke!" Kiba yelled.

But Sasuke was gone.

Kagari grinned, "Revenge is sweet."

"No." Sasuke informed him from behind. "It isn't." With his sword in hand, he shoved it through his shoulder and sent a wave off electricity.

Kagari fell to the ground shaking and convulsing. But it was only a small shock and Sasuke pulled his sword out quickly.

Kagari coughed, blood seeping through his lip as he rolled to hold his shoulder, "How? How did you get in?"

Sasuke shifted to expose his Rinnegan. "You are as weak as you are forgettable."

The shield dropped and the bars imprisoning the children fell and bounced all around them. Sarada and Boruto got up and ran to Sasuke who waited for them. "Did you have to throw mom?"

"We needed a distraction."

Sarada rolled her eyes. "You're gonna have to do a lot of apologizing." She hugged him and he put his hand upon her head. "I was good, though, right? I saw your signal. I threw the kunai right when you wanted me too."

"You did well, Sarada." He went about tying their captive up.

Boruto tentatively walked up to the three waiting for him. They were silent and embarrassed and ashamed, standing with their backs to each other. It was odd thing to see. His mother pushed forward and wrapped him up in a hug but her sadness was radiating. He didn't want to hurt her. This whole thing was about helping her.

"Let's go." Naruto turned, ready to leave.

"No." Boruto kept his foot glued to the floor.

"Boruto." Hinata whispered.

"I'm not going back until you talk to each other."

Naruto shook his head, keeping his back to his son. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Why not? I'm apart of this family and if you're getting a divorce I should have something to say!"

"A divorce?" Hinata whispered. She sat on her knees to look at her son. "Boruto. We are not getting a divorce."

"Maybe you should."

"What?"

"Mom, you're unhappy. I see it everyday. You deserve to always smile because you are one of the best people in the world. How can I hate Shino-sensei for seeing that? He makes you smile. When has dad?"

"Boruto," Shino began, "I didn't-"

Naruto latched onto his shirt, bringing him right to his face. His eyes bleeding red, "My family and I are talking." He shoved him back and he stumbled on his feet.

Shino collected what dignity he could and bowed deeply, "Yes, Hokage-sama." He jumped into the trees.

Hinata grabbed Boruto's hand, "Boruto, I love your father. I don't ever want to lose him."

"But you aren't happy."

"Honey, I'm happy. Your father and I fight but that doesn't make me unhappy. I have bad days just like everybody else. But at the very base of my Soul, I am the happiest I've ever been."

"So you're just going to cry alone in your room night after night? Is that marriage? I don't want that."

It was an eye opener, hearing such things from his own son. Boruto was home more than he was, he would know Hinata better in some ways. Did she cry at night? Was she so unhappy? Hinata was a peace keeper. SHe would pretend well enough but it was his job as her husband to make sure that she's taking care of herself and that also applies to her spirit. He can't crush her. He won't.

Naruto stepped closer and rested a hand on Boruto's shoulder. "No, Boruto, it's not what marriage is. It's more complicated than that. I haven't been the best husband to HInata. In truth it's because I don't know how to be. Even after fourteen years, I'm still learning." Hinata stood up and Naruto turned to her, "I'm so afraid to lose you, I didn't realize I was already losing you." He smiled but it was sad and he lost it quickly.

Hinata touched his cheek. "I can't breathe without you."

He nodded, leaning against her hand. Naruto straightened his back, becoming the Hokage quickly, "Come to my office on Monday. I'll get you assigned."

Hinata smiled wide. She threw her arms around him and kissed him much to his surprise. Boruto slap a hand over his eyes.

Sasuke and Sarada approached the unconscious form of Sakura. Kiba cursed under his breath as he backed away. "You don't deserve her."

Sasuke paid no attention as he kneeled beside his wife. However, little baby snakes began to drip out of his cloak and slither upon the ground. Kiba jumped back as he saw them approaching and Akamaru began barking but the snakes were too quick and they were only getting bigger. They jumped and struck, wrapping around him and slipping into the trees, his fading screams the only sound.

Upon opening her eyes, she met his black gaze.

"Mama." Sarada cried wrapping her arms around her. Sakura kissed her, touching her hair and cheeks.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just weak, are you okay?"

Sakura nodded. But was taken aback when Sasuke held out his hand. Sakura smiled and took it. Rising to her feet, she held her head, a massive headache vibrating her senses. Sasuke kneeled and waited for her to get on his back.

Sakura rested her chin on his shoulder as they jumped through the trees. With her arms around his neck, she held him, whispering in his ear. "How did you know I was telling the truth?"

"I don't."

He didn't know for an absolutely, one hundred percent without a single doubt that it could never happen. But he trusted her. And if she said it didn't happen, then that was it. There was no more questioning it. He would not waste another moment in misery over wondering about the unknown. The hours spent mulling over the what ifs these past few days had been awful. He did not want to live like that. He spent too short of time with her to mistrust her. Their time was much better applied to other, 'trusting' forms of communication. And perhaps he loved her, or something...whatever...

When they got back to Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke kept moving till they made it to the Council Chambers. Their captive dragged behind, weakened by shock therapy and the injury to his shoulder. The Champers hadn't evolved over time, it still kept to its old and dreary conditions. Candles lit the corners and old rug-like drapes covered the windows keeping any daylight out. It was dark and gloomy as always.

Sasuke led the way and entered the room. They seemed to be expecting them. The ten of them sat in their perspective seats staring with unfriendly faces. In the fourteen years since Sasuke visited, new members had joined the ranks of the council. Kakashi and Tsunade were at the end of the line, slowly making their way up in position.

Naruto shoved their captive forward and he fell to his knees in front of them. "Explain."

"Explain what, Hokage-sama?"

"Why did this man say you sent him to kill our kids?"

"Men under duress say and do things that are untrue all the time. Perhaps he wanted to spare his life."

"He was winning."

They paused. "To upset you, surely. What desire would we have to kill your children, Hokage-sama?"

Naruto's eyes searched the floor.

Sasuke knew it. Naruto was already doubting it. This was why they would never understand each other. Naruto would ignore the issue until something actually happened. Sasuke already had something happened to him. He refused to let it happen again.

Sasuke pulled out his sword.

Naruto spun on him, "What are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago."

Naruto grabbed his arm.

"Uchiha." The council began. "We are glad you are here. We have reviewed your work and have deemed your mission complete."

Naruto looked back at them, "What mission?"

Sasuke hesitated. He looked to Tsunade and then to Kakashi. Their eyes were on him, waiting. "And my family?"

"Our bargain remains the same. So long as you remain cordial."

"What bargain?" Naruto growled.

His eyes lowered to the captive. They had already gone back on their word once. Would they do it again?

"We assure you, this man lied to you. We wish no harm to your children. Leave him with us. We will take care of him."

Naruto pressed, "He'll be imprisoned."

"Yes, of course, Hokage-sama."

Sasuke spun out of the room. Naruto ran to keep up, "Why are you in a hurry suddenly? What were they talking about? What mission?"

He turned to Naruto, "Watch them, Naruto. They are your enemy. But they aren't mine." He smirked. "Not anymore."

love or hate? One more chapter left- Sarada and Boruto may have escaped death but getting grounded just might be worse...And what will Sasuke decide to do with his newfound freedom? (This mission was extended from the prequel to this called Rather Be. Take a look. Otherwise, it will be explained in the next chapter) And what about Naruto and Shino? ;)