"If we pair them up then the teams will be unbalanced," Naruto protested.
"Like Team Seven was?" Sakura said smiling at Naruto and Sasuke. Team Seven and Shikamaru were sitting in Naruto's office discussing the new genin squads. Normally this was something that the Hokage did alone but Naruto was, unsurprisingly, a team-oriented worker.
"There's no way you all knew how awesome I was," Naruto said teasingly. He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, grinning.
"Are you sure we didn't know?" Sasuke said. "You shouted it every chance you got."
Sakura rolled her eyes and said, "how were we supposed to believe him when he came last in everything?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Naruto frowned.
"In any case," Sakura continued, "Lord Third knew what Naruto was capable of. Our team was no accident."
Sasuke frowned and Naruto nodded thoughtfully.
"Even if the teams are unbalanced Naruto," Shikamaru continued, "you can't deny their compatibility. Those three would grow much-"
Sasuke stiffened and Shikamaru cut himself off, glancing at the Uchiha. Sasuke was looking at his wife who was in turn looking at the ceiling with an interesting expression on her face. She looked as if the roof over their heads was telling her something very significant.
Sakura turned to them and quickly said, "I have to go." Then she was enveloped by a pillar of smoke and when it cleared she was gone.
Despite the suddenness of Sakura's departure her companions did not look concerned. They had been through this before and so had she. Sasuke still remembered when his sensei's second child was born. Sakura disappeared out of their bed in the dead of night. Sasuke had been asleep when Sakura grabbed his arm to warn him she was leaving. He was halfway through a full search of the house before he'd woken up enough to realize that she hadn't been kidnapped.
Naruto stood up. Shikamaru and Sasuke followed his lead. Then, without saying anything to each other, the three men began pacing around the office. After only a few steps, Naruto stopped, remembering something, and signaled one of his ANBU. The masked ninja on duty appeared immediately. The men stopped pacing.
"Inform Captain Yamato that it's time, he should head out immediately," Naruto said.
The ANBU nodded in response and disappeared without a word.
"Yamato volunteered to babysit again?" Shikamaru asked, arms crossed.
Naruto smiled, "he takes any chance he can get to be a bad influence on his senpai's kids. Besides, I think it comforts him, seeing the new generation growing up."
"Not to mention," Sasuke chimed in from the opposite end of the office, "that he can make improvements on the house when Kakashi and Mei are relatively distracted."
Shikamaru shook his head, "as if the last few models weren't perfect."
The three men fell silent and began to pace again.
In a beautifully crafted house seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Sakura appeared over a scroll in a column of smoke. She waved the smoke away impatiently.
Kakashi stood before her in black pants and shirt. Sakura briefly considered why, no matter how many times she saw her sensei without it, it always confused her when Kakashi wasn't wearing his flak jacket. She'd held a mental image of him, for years, as always being battle ready even when it made absolutely no sense. She realized now that he was a regular person and did regular things when he went home. He made meals, watered his plants, but she always imagined him doing such things with his flak jacket on. As if he needed his ninja tools handy to do the dishes. A mental image of Kakashi attacking a dirty dish with a kunai swam into her mind.
She mentally shrugged, it wasn't like Kakashi had ever given their team a reason to think that he wouldn't always be ready at a moment's notice. He wasn't in the practice of letting them down or even looking flustered. If anything should have broken the illusion of her calm and collected sensei it should have been delivering his children. The man was always a wreck. As she looked him over now, he had a bit of a wild look in his eye that was part nerves and part joy.
"I'm so glad you're here," Kakashi burst out when the smoke cleared.
Nothing ever made him so up front about his feelings as having children either. "Everything's going to be fine sensei, where is she?" Sakura always had to ask because whenever they needed their house rebuilt Captain Yamato liked to alter the floor plan.
Kakashi's eyes grew even wider as if he'd forgotten something vital. "This way," he gestured but then couldn't decide if he should lead or let Sakura go first. Sakura put a hand on his shoulder to put him ahead of her and guided him through the door he'd gestured at. "It's almost the same set up as before. The house I mean," Kakashi babbled.
"Sensei, you've had two children now. I would think that you'd be a little more relaxed," Sakura chided as they walked up the stairs.
"Well, I know, but you said we'd be having twins and Mei and I aren't as young as we used to be. I mean we're not old by any standards."
"No, you're not," Sakura agreed as they made the landing.
"I'm worried about her," Kakashi said. His face clouded over, "but she won't talk to me about it anymore. She says I'm overreacting, that she's fine. And what if something happens to the babies? What if-"
"Sensei," Sakura said, she grabbed his shoulders and squared them so he was facing her. "Everything is going to be fine. I know you know that worrying won't get you anywhere and at this point you're overanalyzing it. From now on I'm not telling you Mei is pregnant until she can't hide it anymore. Nine months is far too much time for you to strategize."
Kakashi looked down and, was that shame Sakura saw on his face? She smiled.
"It was different before," Sakura continued, "because Roka was too young to remember. But this time your actions are going to make your boys anxious. So please, for their sake, calm down."
Kakashi took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling. Then he let it out slowly. "I can't lose her," Kakashi said quietly.
Sakura's heart clenched with sympathy. It made her content to see their team so blissfully settled and she knew how happy Kakashi and Mei were together. The love she felt for them whipped her resolve into action. "And you won't, not if I have anything to say about it," Sakura said, her voice solid.
Kakashi reacted to her response, the battle-calm look that she knew so well settled into his eyes. "This way," Kakashi said and they walked down a short hall and into Kakashi and Mei's room.
Mei was lying on the bed and was, to put it bluntly, as big as a house. Still she seemed cheerful and smiled as the two came in. However, as Sakura had come to expect from Mei, she was also impatient.
"Can we get started Sakura?" Mei asked. "I think my husband's about to have kittens." She grinned at Kakashi.
"Are you sure you're not the one having kittens? Your belly is huge," Kakashi responded winking at her.
Mei's eyes widened in surprise at his candor and she smiled even more, relieved that he was calming down now that something was happening.
The boys were playing on the other side of the room. Roka had volunteered to be an errand boy for his mother but frequently forgot his duties in favor of playing with his brother. When Kakashi and Sakura entered the room the Kakashi miniatures ran over to see the newcomer. Sakura greeted the young boys quickly and just as quickly dismissed them. Kakashi had already told them what was going to happen so they weren't surprised. With a promise to play with them later, Sakura watched them retreat and she approached Mei.
Sakura and Mei quickly entered into conversation about how things were progressing. This being Mei's third pregnancy, she knew what was important and what wasn't. Meanwhile Sakura, with hands glowing green, inspected every inch of her patient.
When the pink-haired kunoichi finished she shared a smile with Mei. Sakura turned to Kakashi and almost burst out laughing. Her sensei's anxious look had returned.
Sakura schooled her expression and tried to look stern, "sensei, I thought I told you to calm down."
"I'm calm," Kakashi responded, schooling his expression in turn. "I just thought that you'd taken longer than usual and I was wor- wondering if something was wrong?"
Sakura briefly considered torturing her sensei a bit with vague statements but brushed the thought aside. No need to torment the man. "Two babies remember? Of course it took me longer. Everything's fine. When Mei's ready we'll begin."
"I'm ready now," Mei said and then she grimaced as another contraction rolled through. Kakashi moved to her left side and took her hand. Mei tried to smile at him but the grimace remained in place. Sakura marveled at Kakashi's resolve.
Sakura sighed and said, "I mean when your body is ready." I could speed it up, Sakura thought, but I've never found that to be overly helpful for the mothers or babies.
Kakashi turned to his sons and said, "boys? Why don't you go play in your room now that Aunt Sakura is here? We'll come get you when you can meet your new siblings."
Roka and Kasumi nodded. Roka gathered up their toys and both boys departed.
So they waited in relative silence. The only thing that broke it was Mei's grunts of pain as contractions came and went. When Sakura nodded in satisfaction, the contractions were close enough, she placed a glowing hand on Mei's belly and gave Mei a nod to push with the next round.
When Sakura had been further along in her apprenticeship Tsunade had taken her to a civilian birth. The Fifth Hokage had said it was important to know how else it could be done since, although it hurt just as much, a medical ninja's assistance in childbirth made it an entirely different experience. About halfway through the procedure Tsunade had to reassure Sakura that everything was going well and that they did not need her assistance. To a ninja, the civilian way of birthing babies seemed clunky in comparison to the expeditious way in which Sakura had delivered babies at the ninja hospital.
With the next contraction Mei cried out as she pushed and Sakura's chakra surged into the womb. Sakura winced as she heard a bone crack in Kakashi's hand.
"Sorry," Mei gasped out, closing her eyes. Her face was covered in sweat but her eyes were fierce when she opened them for the next contraction.
"And there's one," Sakura said cheerfully as she caught the baby in a towel. Sakura began to methodically wash the squishy pink girl. With the rigorous rubbing the little girl opened her mouth and began to cry. "That's the way darling," Sakura said, "show your nervous Dad what big strong lungs you have. It'll make him feel better." Sakura looked up to smile at her teacher. He was looking at Mei however and saying something to her. Mei smiled and Kakashi looked up to see his daughter again.
The Copy Ninja did indeed look relieved until Mei had another contraction. Sakura heard two more cracks and Kakashi's face froze into a smiling mask.
Sakura looked down and said, "ready to come out already?" She was perfectly calm and turned to her teacher, "Kakashi-sensei, I need you to finish washing your daughter. Her sibling seems to be a bit impatient."
Kakashi patted Mei's hand with his left hand and she released his right. Then he moved over next to Sakura, cradling his right hand against his body. "Sensei, your daughter." Sakura presented, placing the wrapped up baby into his arms. Kakashi adjusted his little girl so that she was cradled in his right arm and he could wash her with his good hand.
"Yo," Kakashi said softly, his eyes shining. He sat down on the corner of the bed, face bent over the bundle in his arms. He slowly began to finish the washing and then quickened his pace, remembering that Mei was just as excited to greet their daughter.
Mei cried out as she pushed. Sakura had her hand on Mei's belly again when she froze. The pink-haired kunoichi looked at Kakashi, eyes wide with fear. "Sensei," she whispered, terrified. Sakura felt multiple chakra signatures closing in on the house. They were closing fast.
Kakashi looked up, tensing as well. Sakura was halfway into a standing position when a ninja in black teleported onto the spot in which Roka and Kasumi had recently been playing.
Sakura was adjusting her stance to defend the couple when Kakashi let out a brief chuckle. The kunoichi whipped her head around to look at her sensei who was once again contentedly cleaning his daughter. "You gave us a fright Sora. You're a little late aren't you?" He turned to his student, "Mist Black Ops Sakura, it's alright."
Sakura relaxed as she felt the other chakra signatures stationing themselves around the house and kneeled by Mei once more. Sora responded by standing down as well. "I'm sorry Lord Sixth but we-"
Mei cried out again and Sakura said, "almost there."
"That is um-" even with his mask, Sakura could easily imagine the blood draining from the young man's face. The medical kunoichi instantly forgave his imprudence. She often forgot that many of the ninja from the Mist, even the skilled captains, were young and inexperienced.
"Sora?" Kakashi said. "If the reason isn't a pressing matter you can tell us later. Our boys would probably appreciate an update though." Kakashi smiled reassuringly at him.
Sora bowed gratefully and departed without a word as Mei screamed again.
"And there's two," Sakura said just a cheerfully as she received another pink baby.
Kakashi had finally finished washing his first daughter and, wrapping her in a fresh towel, brought her over to her mother. Mei was sprawled flat out against her pillows and panting, eyes closed. Kakashi sidled up to her right side, kissed her forehead, and said, "Mei, meet our daughter." Mei's eyes instantly opened and she turned to accept the bundle.
"Hello my sweet," Mei whispered to the now sleeping baby. "She has my hair," Mei exclaimed in tired delight.
"Sensei," Sakura whispered, not wanting to intrude. She had their other daughter in her arms and held her out to him. Kakashi accepted her carefully, entranced, not even able to thank Sakura properly.
After a few minutes, seeing that she wasn't needed, Sakura slipped out to join Sora and the boys. Kakashi and Mei sat together on their bed, drinking in their daughters with their eyes.
"Girls," Mei said happily looking at her husband. "You finally get to name some of our children!"
Kakashi didn't say anything, he just stared at his sleeping daughters with shining eyes.
"You did have names picked out Kakashi?" Mei said. "You should be prepared."
This broke Kakashi out of his revere. "Of course," Kakashi responded, "they're just so perfect."
Mei smiled and said, "of course they are, they're my daughters."
Kakashi turned to his wife and kissed her. He pulled back and said, "like I said, perfect."
Mei rolled her eyes and laughed saying, "enough of the flattery, what do we call them?"
Kakashi looked at their first daughter whom Mei was holding, "Fujita." Then he looked down at the bundle in his own arms, "Hisano."
"And luckily for us," Mei said, "Fujita has a birthmark. No mix-ups here." The Fifth Mizukage yawned mightily. "Keep an eye out for awhile Kakashi? I think I'm about to fall asleep."
"Before our sons meet their sisters? Never," Kakashi said.
"Right right," Mei said opening her eyes. Just as quickly they started to slide closed again.
At Kakashi's signal, Sakura brought Roka and Kasumi in. Roka rushed over to the bed to examine first one sister, then the other. Kasumi couldn't quite keep up, much less see over the bed's edge, so Sakura held him up so he could see. The younger boy giggled in delight.
Eventually Sakura set Kasumi down on the bed and turned to Kakashi. "Let me see that hand sensei," she said quietly. Kakashi wordlessly held out his right hand to her, keeping Hisano cradled in his left arm.
The comment did not escape Mei's notice however, and her eyes flicked over to what Sakura was doing. "Oh Kakashi is it bad? Why didn't you say anything?"
"It's not as bad as it has been in the past," Kakashi said reassuringly.
Sakura already had his hand flooded in green chakra. It'd be kind of hard to top the previous births, Sakura reflected. She thought back to the dark purple contusions on Kakashi's forearms and shattered metacarpals and phalanges in his hands. Mei's labors had not been kind to her husband.
"I'm sorry," Mei said.
"Don't be," Kakashi said. "I should have known by now to make a clone and have you hold his hand."
Mei tried to smack him but he twisted away, grinning. Sakura grumbled at their antics while trying to hold onto Kakashi's hand so she could finish healing it.
Author's Note: In case anyone is interested, this was one of the first ideas I had for this story. I had the mental image of Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sasuke pacing around Naruto's office like worried uncles as Sakura takes off to deliver one of Kakashi's children. That mental image was inspired by a scene from the movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". Best movie ever, of all time. It's a musical, an oldie but a goodie. Go rent it or something.