Title: Curtain call (the final act)

Author: paws-bells

Beta-ed by: FallenTenshi, ItachixSakura Forever, MelissaRose85

Characters/Pairing: Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Itachi

Type: Continuous (InComplete)

Genre: Romance/Angst

Word Count: 6441

Theme: LJ Community, 50-shinobi theme #49, Curtain call (the final act)

Rating: M (Contains content suitable for mature teens and older)

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto-san.

Summary: Sequel to heart strings. It should be obvious by now that they were never meant to be together. Fate was doing everything possible to tear them apart, but one thing binds them closer together than never before. As long as hope never dies, life would continue to blossom.

Chapter Last Revised on: 07/05/08

Chapter 11

Reminiscing over the past was abruptly shoved to the backseat in order to ensure that Naruto did not die from his internal injuries. The team was immediately ushered into the tiny cottage, and Kakashi was promptly guided to put Naruto onto the makeshift bed that Sakura always used for her patients.

While the kunoichi started working on her fox brother, extreme worry shook her hands badly before she steadied them by sheer force of will. Green healing chakra flared into her hands as she started to examine him for the true extent of his condition. A fair distance away, Kakashi and Sasuke watched.

They had eliminated Konan in Kiri half a day ago, but Naruto had taken the full brunt of her deadly last attack before anyone could stop it, Kakashi had explained earlier as he laid the blonde down for Sakura to treat. Between the combined forces of Leaf and Sand, Amegakure had already been invaded and its opposing forces thoroughly suppressed nearly three months ago. The main members of the Akatsuki had escaped unscathed of course, but they no longer had a headquarters. It was a small victory for Suna and Konoha, for the sealed bijuu were nowhere to be found anywhere within the extensive underground caverns of the Akatsuki.

It was by sheer stupid chance that they had ran across the only female member of the terrorist organization, and although Konan had withdrew immediately, Team Seven had chosen to give chase, hunting her down and corralling her to where they wanted her to be. Kiri. They had the geographical advantage; paper jutsu and water did not go well together, after all, and if all else failed, they had a fire specialist with them. Sasuke.

The result of the fierce battle was apparent from the beginning, but the dangerous blue-haired female had put up quite a fight, despite the odds against her. In the end, she had been badly injured and dying, but still not willing to give up. Naruto had stepped up then with his Rasengan, planning to finish it once and for all, but Konan had one last surprise hidden up her sleeve.

That last jutsu that she had unleashed upon Naruto was like nothing they had ever seen before, and it was so fast and swift and desperate and it tore through the blonde as if he was made of paper. But Naruto's momentum could not be stopped. The Rasengan slammed into the female Akatsuki in an unavoidable collision course, and her death was instantaneous.

Naruto himself should not have survived by all means and purpose, but the parasite living within him proved everyone wrong. Even now, he was healing slowly, just enough to prevent him from dying outright, his blood cell production rate skyrocketing to a level never before seen in a human being. It was at moments like these that Sakura was completely thankful for the Kyuubi within her fox brother. She focused on repairing his damaged internal organs, speeding up the healing process that the Nine Tails had already began.

As Sakura immersed herself in the energy exhausting and time consuming process of high level healing, Sasuke's eyes darkened as he stared hard at the now twenty-three year old female. It was obvious Kakashi had known that she had not died in childbirth, but he doubted that it was the same case for Naruto. The blonde's grief had been too real to be faked, and the spiky-haired Uchiha wondered just why such an elaborate lie had been placed over all of them to have them believe that Sakura had died. And why—

Almost as if on cue, the Uchiha detected a small movement by the hallway leading to the bedrooms, at the corner of his eyes. He reacted immediately. Hand in shuriken pouch, his muscles tensed as he prepared to act.

Then he saw that Kakashi did no such thing, only turning his attention slightly to the archway.

A small figure toddled out unsteadily, a tiny fist rubbing an eye as he ventured out to investigate what was making all the noise this early in the morning. A messy nest of raven black hair sat on the little one's head, and when he lowered his hand and blinked sleepily around, Kakashi's eye crinkled slightly.

Sasuke stiffened. Those onyx eyes…

"Hello, Kusabana-kun." The silver-haired Jounin called out gently to the little boy.

Kusabana stared at the odd man with one eye and then looked to the male beside him, currently staring at him with such intensity that the little boy felt a little afraid. They were both so tall!!

And they had such strange auras, like he had never felt in the villagers before. It was something like the aura that Kaa-san had, but different. Kusabana felt strangely shy. With a small squeak he turned around and scampered back into his room as quickly as his little legs could take him. Wait till he woke Kuro!!

"Maa maa, I think we scared him." Kakashi sounded almost cheerful, and Sasuke turned to regard the older male with dark, accusing eyes.

The boy was clearly an Uchiha.

His brother's son.

"Kakashi," Sasuke's voice was hoarse with disbelief and growing anger. His eyes pierced into his sensei's, hard and demanding. "What is going on here?"

Why did they want everyone to think that Sakura and her offspring were dead?

Were they hiding Itachi too?

Kakashi must have seen the growing doubt and paranoia in the younger male's eyes.

"It's not what you think." His voice was now serious but calm. "Sakura and her sons are being protected from the Akatsuki."

Sasuke's mind stumbled to an abrupt halt.

Sons?

He had only heard that Sakura had not survived childbirth, and afterwards had not been interested enough to learn more.

Sons.

The shock was apparent on the Uchiha's face, but before he could demand for more answers the sound of little feet pitter pattering across the floor resounded once more. Both Jounin turned to the noise. It was the same little boy, and this time he came nearer to them, his dark eyes alit with innocent curiosity, and belatedly, Sasuke could not help but notice that the child was still dressed in his pajamas.

At the far end of the room, working hard on Naruto and cordoned off by curtains, Sakura was blissfully unaware that her son was looking at his uncle in the flesh—and for the first time ever.

Kakashi crouched down so as to appear less intimidating to Sakura's youngest. The one and a half year old baby wandered nearer, his eyes darting from the silver-haired Jounin back to the expressionless Uchiha by his side.

All Sasuke could think at the moment was how much the boy resembled Itachi. His fists clenched unconsciously and his eyes turned cold—

But then the baby smiled

It was a shy little smile, and it revealed his upper front teeth. All four of them.

His uncle stilled.

Itachi had never smiled like that before. Not when he was an infant. Certainly not when he was still a Leaf nin.

The baby crept nearer, and then, with a small gurgled laugh, approached both nin at a faster pace, completely fascinated by the power thrumming around the two men.

A tiny index finger curled out from his little fist, and he reached out towards Kakashi. He poked at the silver-haired male's metallic forehead protector once, completely fascinated by the shiny texture and then poked it again, giggling with glee the entire while.

Kakashi smiled wryly.

Sasuke could only stare at the happy baby as he interacted with a slightly nonplussed Kakashi, and reluctantly he came to the inevitable conclusion.

This was Itachi's son, but he was not Itachi.

His fists relaxed themselves eventually.

Then there was another movement at the archway.

It was Kusabana's elder sibling. Sasuke started to tense again.

Kakashi noticed, but he kept his observations to himself.

The older boy took more after his father in terms of personality, hanging back and subtly sizing up the two strangers with alert, wary eyes.

Eyes that were a brilliant emerald green on the left, and a dark, suspicious onyx on the right.

Another blatant reminder that he was not his father, and should not be treated as a hated substitute for the elder Uchiha.

"Aa, here comes Kurohyou-kun."

Both boys lifted their heads at Kakashi's voice. It was apparent that they were too young to remember their earlier encounters with the silver-haired nin when they were but two months old, but the fact that he knew their names relaxed the older baby somewhat.

Kusabana clearly recognized his brother's name. The younger Uchiha twisted around and cried out to his elder sibling.

"Kuro!!"

Still a little cautious, the older boy approached, only to stop beside Kusa.

Sasuke could only stare from one child to the other.

They were completely identical in appearance, save for the slight difference in eye color and temperament. Healthy, peachy skin inherited from their mother, cheeks still round with baby fat, pink cherub's mouths, the small straight, patriotic nose that marked them as Uchiha, and their eyes—

They had Mikoto's eyes.

Large, dark eyes alit with innocence and in Kusabana's case, a hint of mischief, and it was a sight that Sasuke had never thought he would see again. But here they were, and there were two little boys with his mother's eyes.

But they were his brother's sons.

It was difficult for Sasuke to get past that damning fact, and he was struggling internally to come to terms with his discovery.

And it was then that Sakura heard the voices of her sons, and a little hassled by the bloody mess that was currently Naruto, she failed to make the connection between the children and Sasuke immediately.

But it wasn't long before she did.

Sasuke…and her sons… Oh god.

Eyes wide with panic, the kunoichi snatched aside the curtains with blood slicked hands from Naruto's newly repaired liver. She was greeted by the sight of Kakashi, who was still crouched down, patiently listening to Kusabana as he babbled unrelated baby sense to the elite Jounin. Stuck close to his animated brother was Kurohyou, and the older boy was still not done staring at his true uncle, who was staring back just as intensely.

Sakura froze.

"Kuro, Kusa!" She called out in swift reflex, her instincts and near deadly last experience with Sasuke kicking her fear into high gear. The anxiety in her voice was immediately detected by her babies as well as her teammates.

It did not take the two nin long to understand the reason behind Sakura's panic, and though her sons had no idea what was going on they were also beginning to react to their mother's fear. Kusabana appeared confused by the conflicting emotions between the adults whereas his older brother frowned, not liking the sudden tension in the room.

"Sakura." It was Kakashi. He had turned around upon hearing her voice, and was now regarding her calmly. "We were just interacting with your children. We are harmless."

Sakura wasn't very convinced. After all, Kakashi wasn't the one whom she was worried about, and so far, Sasuke had remained eerily silent.

But not for long.

The Uchiha lifted his flat gaze to his female teammate. Onyx clashed with blue, and the Uchiha was inwardly stunned by the fierce maternal protectiveness that he saw in her eyes. It told him, without words, that this was one female who would risk anything to protect her children, and for the briefest of moments, something unexpected flashed across his entire being, worsening his already upset sense of emotions.

Regret.

Once upon a time, this fiery, beautiful woman standing before him would have done anything for him. Now, she was the mother of his brother's sons. Looking at the rigid countenance of the female before him, Uchiha Sasuke could no longer repress the sense of regret that he had felt the moment he saw her when she had opened the door to let them in.

She would have made a good mother—just as she was right now, ever ready to defend her children if need be. But it was his own rash fury that had driven her away and to be so wary of him right now, and it was his own arrogance that had allowed his older brother to take advantage and move in on her, Konoha's sweetheart.

But now was a chance.

His blanked eyes revealed none of his thoughts.

"I don't harm children, Sakura." He spoke at last. When she did not relax immediately, he frowned and narrowed his eyes with mild annoyance. "You have my word. I will not harm my nephews."

The fact that Sasuke had openly acknowledged the twins stunned Sakura and it clearly showed. Then, because she knew just how important Sasuke regarded his family ties, she was promptly reassured that he would keep his word. At last, she nodded, her eyes filled with something that could almost pass as silent gratitude.

"Saa," Kakashi broke the silence, pleased that he did not have to intervene between his two conflicted students. "Are you confident enough to return to healing Naruto now, Sakura?"

The kunoichi nodded, and then wordlessly retreated behind the curtains, resuming her healing of her blonde friend.

When he opened his eyes and saw Sakura, Naruto thought that he had died and gone straight to heaven.

Literally.

Despite the fact that she had brunette hair and blue eyes, Naruto recognized his heart's sister straight away. The blonde had no doubt that even if she was to be reduced to ash, he would have recognized her all the same. Despite the overwhelming sadness that he was now dead and could no longer become Hokage and do his friends and father proud, Naruto felt intense joy at seeing Sakura again. He missed her so much, and the past year and a half without her reassuring presence had ripped away a part of him that could smile and laugh and be the moron that he once was.

The blonde tried to move, but stopped abruptly when pain exploded across his senses. Was there supposed to be such torturous agony in the realms of heaven? He groaned aloud.

"Naruto!" Sakura had finally noticed that he was awake. "Don't move, baka!"

"Sakura-chan." The blonde croaked in a most undignified manner. Despite himself, he could feel tears gathering in his blue eyes. "I missed your scolding."

For a second, Sakura's own blue eyes dampened, but then she blinked them resolutely away and mock glared at her fox brother. "Shut up, Naruto. And stay still, damn it. Or you are going to get more than just scolding from me."

"Well, I missed your thumping too." The blonde smiled sadly, and Sakura's heart ached. It was obvious that Naruto had suffered, and it was all because of her.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," the kunoichi spoke wearily at last. "I wanted to tell you but shishou said that it would be better if you thought that I was dead."

Shocked pause.

For a moment, Naruto could not believe his ears.

What Sakura meant…

"W-wait!" He stammered. "So I'm not dead? This is not heaven?"

Sakura stared at the blonde as if he was crazy.

"You are not dead, moron," the female snapped irritably, slightly angered that he could think of his own death so easily. "You nearly lost your liver and got your intestines pulled out through your nose by Konan, but you survived. Kakashi-sensei brought you to me to heal because I was nearer than Konoha."

Then the most important fact hit Naruto smack on the face and it hit hard.

The poor blonde appeared stunned.

"You didn't die?"

The hoarse disbelief in Naruto's voice made Sakura flinch with guilt. She looked away from her fox brother's gaze, and nodded curtly.

Naruto was going to be so angry that he had been tricked, and Sakura knew that she would not blame him. She would have been furious herself if she was in his place and all Sakura could worry about was how this was going to ruin their friendship—

A wet, distinctly unmanly sob distracted her from her thoughts. Thinking that Naruto was hurt somewhere else she hadn't detected earlier, she lifted her head sharply, ready to heal in an instant only to realize a stunning sight.

Naruto was crying.

"Naruto-!!"

It was obvious that the blonde could hardly move, but still he forced himself to lift his hand towards her. Sakura grabbed onto him immediately, and he clenched his fingers tightly around hers.

"I'm just glad." The sight of his wet, joyful eyes was something that Sakura would never forget for as long as she lived. The kunoichi felt herself become a little teary as well, wondering how on earth she was so lucky enough to have such a friend. She clutched his hand tightly.

"I'm glad too."

Little Kusabana and Kurohyou really had no idea what to make of the odd, golden-haired man.

He was all wrapped up in the white strips of cloth that Kaa-san sometimes uses on the villagers that came around, he never moved out of bed ever since he had been brought in by the other two men two days ago, and he was loud.

Kurohyou had his misgivings towards this man who kept shamelessly hogging their mother's attention, but as usual, Kusabana was the first to scamper up to thoroughly investigate the blonde.

Sasuke and Kakashi had headed out at the crack of dawn to do a spot of training as well as scout around the area, and so Naruto had been happily talking to Sakura when her youngest toddled up to stare at him with huge dark eyes, pressing close to his mama almost shyly as he continued looking at the blonde. Kurohyou followed reluctantly, leaning against the other side of his mother's seated form.

Naruto's blue eyes softened when he got his first thorough look at the babies. He hid it quickly enough, of course.

"Heh…so who are these brats?"

He was promptly clipped on the head by his female teammate.

"Don't call my children that, you brat," the kunoichi snapped in swift reflex. Then her irritation melted away as she ran her fingers through Kurohyou's silky, raven hair.

"This is my firstborn," Sakura introduced, her eyes aglow with maternal pride as she nudged her eldest towards Naruto. "His name is Kurohyou."

Wary eyes stared at Naruto as he grinned reassuringly at the little one. The mismatched emerald/onyx eyes did not seem to stump the blonde, though he did lift a brow at the mention of the boy's name.

"You named him like his father, huh?"

Sakura nodded, and when a hint of a frown appeared on her fox brother's face at the mention of Itachi, she sighed inwardly.

"Would you rather I named my son after a ramen topping instead? Or a sushi roll?"

"Hey!! That was uncalled for!" The blonde mock scowled and a small smile appeared on Sakura's lips. Then he recovered and at last gestured vaguely to the other child. "What about the other rugrat?"

This time it was the kunoichi who frowned with exasperation. "My youngest is named Kusabana. Aren't you, my Kusa-kun?" She cooed softly to her baby, who was still raptly staring at Naruto as if he was the weirdest thing he had ever seen. Sakura looked at her best friend since her Genin years, her eyes shining with sincerity. "And I want you to be their godparent, Naruto."

Poor Naruto was so stunned by the honor bestowed upon him that, for a long moment, he simply could not react.

Uncertainly, Sakura continued to speak. "Since Sasuke is their uncle and Kakashi is like their god uncle already, not to mention that shishou already treats them like her grandchildren, and Jiraiya is like this perverted granduncle that nobody likes but is kind of useful having around…"

Sakura quickly realized that she was babbling. Naruto was her surrogate brother after all, and if he refused her Sakura really didn't know how she would react.

"Most importantly, if something were to happen to me, you are the one I would trust most to look after my sons."

Naruto started to look as if he might start crying anytime soon again.

Sakura tried to smile.

"What? Are you going to start weeping with horror now?"

Naruto sputtered, and then promptly recovered himself.

"Of course not!" He protested immediately. "I was about to say how your brats were probably going to grow up as stuck up as teme—" Sakura tensed and started to scowl, and Naruto managed a wobbly grin which stabilized quickly as he absently beckoned a curious Kusabana nearer. "But since they are my godchildren now, I will never let that happen."

Naruto's grin widened, eyes growing alit with possibilities.

"I will teach them to become Konoha's next best pranksters!!" With a gleeful laugh, he gave Sakura the thumbs up sign that was completely reminiscent of the Green Beasts of Konoha, and the kunoichi winced inwardly.

A completely frightening image of her darling sons dressed up like the two Taijutsu specialists with the most god awful fashion sense popped into mind, and Sakura's wince became a purely physical act.

If Naruto allowed that to happen, Sakura had no doubt that even Itachi would come after the blonde to gut him for messing with their children's minds like that. And she, too, would emerge from whatever hell or heavenly realms to haunt the blonde till kingdom come if need be.

And she told him so too, much to the blonde's chagrin.

"But Sakura-chan…!!"

"What?"

Naruto appeared completely serious now, but the glint of mischief in his sapphire blue eyes belied his faked behavior.

"Why did you give such a lousy name to Kusabana here? He's a bleedin' boy and he's definitely going to get laughed at when he grows up! What kinda stupid name is Kusabana anyways? That's just so girly and you might as well name him Ikebana and be done with!!"

By now, the little rugrat in question had already warmed up completely to Naruto and had even allowed him self to be carried up to sit on the bed beside the blonde. Even his brother had relaxed, if the way he kept glancing around for the other two nin and the fact that Naruto no longer reserved his whole interest was of any indication. Kusabana did not seem to realize that the interesting man with that clump of shiny hair that he was trying to reach for was doing something that he did best.

Making his mama very angry, that is.

As if on cue, the kunoichi twitched.

"NARUTO!"

The next few days proved to be extremely interesting for both the men and the babies.

Despite the aid of the Kyuubi within him, Naruto was still recovering quite slowly from his internal injuries. Sakura suspected that it was due to the extensive scope of his injuries that he was now healing at only a little above normal rate, as well as the fact that his body had exhausted itself working overtime to prevent him from dying those crucial first few hours before they got him to her and was just not replenished enough to accelerate healing.

And since there was no way Naruto could have anything more substantial than broth at the moment (much to the blonde's dismay), more often than not Sakura had to spend most of her waking hours tending to her weakened friend—

Which left the wellbeing of her two precious sons in the hands of the remaining members of Team Seven.

Sakura hadn't really been comfortable surrendering the care of her babies to her tardy, porn reading sensei and their broody uncle who happened to hate the twins' father to the very core. But then the loud yowls coming from behind her quickly reminded the female that there was a bigger, more troublesome baby to look after, and unlike her sons (most of the time), this one wouldn't stay put docilely and kept insisting on ripping off her bandages every time he thought she wasn't looking.

And so the harried female had all but shoved her children at her two healthy teammates, calling over her back all the instructions for looking after the twins before hurrying over and smacking the whining blonde over the head like a bad puppy. Naruto shut up quickly enough, slightly dazed from seeing stars and sighing to herself Sakura fired up her healing chakra again, determined to do her utmost in healing Naruto quickly so that he could return to the battle at hand bearing no form of handicap whatsoever.

Sasuke could only freeze in place when it finally occurred to him that he had to take care of his nephews. That was a big mistake.

Kakashi had no such problem. The silver-haired Jounin recovered quickly enough and before anyone could blink laid dibs on Kusabana—the least troublesome of the two.

Before Sasuke could even summon a proper scowl or comment about how underhanded he was acting, their squirrelly sensei had scooped up a cheerful Kusa-kun and started off towards the kitchen.

Happy, mischievous babies were a lot easier to look after and entertain than broody, distrustful ones. But maybe Sasuke wouldn't have that much trouble looking after the elder baby. He had lots of experience—in being broody, that is—though Kakashi wasn't sure if Sakura would be pleased if her eldest had learned how to scowl from his grumpy uncle.

Saa, the silver-haired Jounin managed a mental shrug, that was not his problem.

Besides, it was how Uchiha bond, and Kakashi sensed that both Sasuke and serious little man Kurohyou were going to need it.

Things would turn out well in the end, and if not—

Well, he won't be the one to have to face down an angry mama, that's for sure.

All's well that ends well.

If only that was easier said than done.

As Kakashi cheerfully made his way to the kitchen area with a chirping Kusabana, Sasuke was left in the living room with his eldest nephew.

They stared at each other, subtly sizing each other up.

Then Sasuke abruptly realized his next problem.

He had no idea how to handle the baby, nor had he had the chance to carry one before. Belatedly the frowning Uchiha wondered if transporting dogs and cats from one point to another by the scruff of their necks counted, and promptly decided against it. He was trying to patch things up with Sakura after all; somehow he just didn't see that handling her son like he would an animal would soften her wariness towards him.

In the end, Kurohyou solved the problem himself.

The baby toddled around the inwardly nonplussed Uchiha and headed straight for the kitchen, hot on the heels of his younger sibling and that tall odd man whom he didn't quite know. In the end, Sasuke had to trail behind the little baby as he made a surprisingly swift beeline for the small kitchenette, where they saw Kusabana propped dangerously on a table by himself whilst Kakashi had easily located the cooling porridge and was doling it out onto two separate bowls.

Then, as casual as you please, the silver-haired Jounin started to feed the curious baby under his charge. Kakashi was so slick about it too; as if it was a completely normal occurrence for the Copy nin to act like an idiot (although he sometimes does give that impression) he would do or make some funny noises that would in turn make Kusabana laugh—

Then as swiftly as only he could manage it, the Jounin would jam the spoon of porridge into the baby's mouth, unload the nutritional contents and then be out of there faster than a bat from hell.

Poor Kusabana didn't even know what hit him, and had been completely bewildered by this new feeding style the first time Kakashi did it to him.

Then the youngest Uchiha accepted and adapted quickly to the change; after all, he was hungry and that shiny plate on this man's forehead fascinated him. Maybe he could get closer later to have another go at trying to dent it with his little fingers.

Sasuke stared at Kakashi for a good long while. Was there anything he wasn't good at?

As if on cue, the silver-haired nin glanced over to look at uncle and nephew. Kurohyou was standing right by Sasuke, and having both Uchiha frowning subtly at him made a pretty…familial sight.

Kakashi gestured with his spoon.

"Don't just stand there and gawk. It's your duty to feed Kurohyou."

Sasuke's scowl worsened, but the raven-haired Jounin strode up to collect the tableware and porridge all the same. "Just when did you become such an expert in childrearing, anyway?" He mumbled as he turned around to look for his charge.

For a brief moment, there was no reply save for the loud thumping sounds that the enthusiastic Kusabana was making with his back of heels against the table. Sasuke motioned awkwardly for Kurohyou to come over but the boy remained where he was, his mismatched eyes filled with obvious reluctance. The oldest Uchiha in the room could only stare with disbelief as it became apparent to him that he had just been disobeyed, but before Sasuke could properly react, Kakashi spoke easily.

"I'm thirty-six years old, Sasuke, and a Jounin to boot. If I can't complete a task even a Genin could do I might as well kill myself." He popped another spoon of porridge into Kusabana's eager mouth. The youngest baby seemed to love porridge, judging by the way he devoured the food like a hungry baby bird. Kakashi's eye crinkled as he smiled at the sunny child. "And you are a hungry little man, aren't you?"

Sasuke twitched at the barely veiled jab at him, who couldn't even convince Kurohyou to come to him, let alone proceed to feed his nephew. Annoyed, he went to the baby instead. The spiky-haired Uchiha scooped up a small spoon of porridge and brought it before the child, and for a long moment Kurohyou just stared at him.

This situation was completely unbelievable. Here he was, about to coax his brother's son to eat dinner. It was as if they were one big happy family again.

Inwardly, Sasuke could picture himself swelling purple with rage just thinking of his despised brother. Outwardly, he willed himself not to scowl and scare the baby.

He locked his own pure onyx orbs with the baby's exotic emerald/obsidian eyes.

"Eat." The older Uchiha spoke gruffly, nudging the spoon against Kuro's mouth.

Surprisingly, the baby opened his mouth obediently and allowed himself to be fed. Sasuke tipped the porridge into Kuro's mouth and little boy chewed and swallowed dutifully, one eye still looking at his uncle. Thankfully, he continued to eat after that, voraciously inhaling the food just as quickly as his younger brother. Sasuke decided that his hunger must have overridden his natural instincts to be wary.

In the end, Kurohyou turned out to be a rather obedient child. Because his mother was busy and the twins had learned not to disturb her whenever she was behind those curtains, the older boy stuck close to his caretaker for the night, observing everything Sasuke did with the solemnity of an old man. Kusabana turned out to be a lot more hyperactive than his older brother, and in the end, Kakashi realized that he had gotten the wrong baby, much to the smug amusement of his Uchiha counterpart.

Sakura stretched leisurely and sighed with the satisfaction of a work well done as she stared at Naruto.

The blonde was currently out cold, in a deep healing sleep and she had already done all she could to help him along. His wounds were now recovering at his normal rate and if all went well he would be able to return to Konoha for orders in a couple of days. As much as the thought of her teammates leaving again saddened her, the kunoichi knew that now was a crucial time for all of them in Konoha. Sakura had no doubt that they would triumph over Akatsuki. The Leaf had stood tall for too long to be so easily brought down now.

Artificial blue eyes darkened.

There was only win or lose in a war, and if Konoha was destined to remain victorious then it meant that Akatsuki would fall in defeat. And Itachi—

Her self-imposed exile from Konoha had also meant that she had not seen her lover for more than a year and a half already, and although there were no news of skirmishes between him and Konoha Sakura could not help but worry sometimes.

How long more before it was his turn? The headquarters had been thoroughly destroyed. Zetsu was dead, and so was Konan. Sakura had tried not to think of it, but that left four more members to deal with, and how long more before his luck ran out?

Quietly worried, Sakura turned and crept out of the curtained area, not wanting to disturb Naruto's rest. Pulling the curtain shut behind her, she started to make her way towards her sons' room. It was nearly midnight already, and Kakashi had informed Sakura hours ago that both the babies had already been put to bed. The kunoichi assumed that both nin had already turned in for the night as well when she saw Sasuke sitting quietly in the darkened living area.

Sakura halted immediately.

Although she wasn't concerned that Sasuke would attack her again, her eyes still shone with mild apprehension as she stared at her children's uncle.

Blanked onyx met blue.

"How is Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"He should be fit for travel by tomorrow," Sakura answered.

The Uchiha nodded, and for a long moment neither spoke.

Thinking that was all, Sakura continued to walk towards the hallway

Then Sasuke broke the heavy silence once more.

"Did you really love my brother?"

He was never one to beat around the bush.

Sakura stopped in her tracks, and then turned to look at him once more.

His dark onyx gaze pierced into her emerald, refusing to let her go.

She nodded calmly.

His eyes narrowed.

"Then I suppose you would want to help him in this war."

Sakura knew what he was trying to say.

She shook her head once, the expression on her face oddly serene. Sasuke tensed.

"Itachi doesn't need my help."

The trust in her voice was not blatant, but quiet and confident. So was the look on her face. She believed in Itachi, and as furious as Sasuke was starting to get, there was something else that prevented him from completely losing grasp over his volatile temper.

A realization.

Suddenly it occurred to him in a most abrupt fashion that Sakura had changed.

Gone was the flighty, giggly little girl who had once mooned after him like a lovesick puppy and could not tell the difference between want and need. That little Genin female had been more hindrance than help, and on more than one occasion he had irritably snapped out the truth to her face too, wanting nothing better than for her to leave him the hell alone. But she never did give up no matter how harshly he tried to shove her away—until he finally defected from Konoha, of course.

That childish perseverance had matured into something else, and it was only now that he realized it. The silly little girl from so many years ago had become a beautiful, accomplished kunoichi; no longer were there loud, often embarrassing proclamations of love and eternity, her emerald eyes were now quietly watchful like those of a mother lioness as she carefully guarded her cubs and patiently awaited for her mate's return with unwavering faith.

Itachi.

Onyx eyes darkened with resentment.

It wasn't fair.

Sasuke fought the urge to clench his fists. He stared hard at her.

"You have changed."

Sakura shook her head slightly.

"No. I grew up." Her voice was soft in the semi-darkness, but still he could easily detect her pity for him, this boy who was so caught up in his past that he had failed to notice that those around him had grown up, moved on without him.

For a long moment, Sasuke could not react at all. It was as if he had just been slapped awake by her, as if he was finally seeing just what he had let go those many years ago.

Quietly, Sakura started to move away again. Sasuke appeared to be off in his own little world and the kunoichi was anxious to look in on her babies.

"He will never care for you, you know."

His voice was tinted with growing anger—her pity had not sat well with him at all, and he was lashing out in retaliation.

She was not reacting to him though. The young mother knew the truth even if Sasuke didn't. Itachi would never 'care' in the conventional way, but by protecting her and their children he had showed that he wasn't as indifferent to their relationship as she had first thought. Sakura wasn't about to tell Sasuke that, though.

She did not turn back to look at her sullen teammate again. She already knew what she would see. Pale features twisted with fury, eyes dark and turbulent and filled with the intent to hurt.

"It doesn't matter." Her voice was composed. "I care for him, and that's enough for me."

"Then you are a fool."

Sakura was not willing to get into a fight with Sasuke over the one topic that he was clearly so unhealthily obsessed with. She chose to walk away instead.

"Good night, Sasuke."

"This doesn't change anything." The Uchiha's voice was purposely flat but despite his best efforts she could still detect the slight tremor. The anguish from so many years ago, the helpless rage and powerlessness. "The existence of your children does not change a thing…Itachi will still die by my hand."

Sakura closed her eyes momentarily. In a single night, Itachi had taken away Sasuke's clan, family, and everything that he had come to hold dear. And now, the younger Uchiha would do the same to her own children; nothing would appease him until he took away their father, and for the life of her, the kunoichi could not find it within her self to blame the spiky-haired male.

What goes around, comes around.

Sasuke would not rest until he had his revenge.

"I know."

:tsuzuku:

Questions That I Would Like To Answer Before You Ask:

Ah, I went back and fixed that little date error (4th June instead of 6th June) on my A/N on Chapter 10. That was my fault, obviously. Editing the chapter during 4 a.m. in the morning is not a very smart thing to do, I suppose, huh? Anyway, much thanks to Celira and Illicit Memory for alerting me to my mistake, and chapter 12 will be out during this weekend as well.

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I hope that Sasuke's interaction with his nephews were justifiable. He was stunned yes, and he was angry but he didn't blow up at the twins because he couldn't. They reminded him too much of his own mother. He hadn't seen Mikoto for so long, and evidently both Kurohyou and Kusabana had features that resembled their late grandmother. He still could not, would not, reconcile with the fact that Sakura had sons with his hated brother, but he couldn't seem to treat the toddlers with the same loathing that he reserved solely for Itachi, either.

Poor Sasuke. As you can see, he is in a bit of a pickle. Here were the newest members of his clan, but just looking at them hurt him.

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Sasuke is a fire specialist, even if his primary chakra nature is that of electricity. He is an Uchiha after all, and that clan is known for their extensive knowledge of fire jutsu. Talk about being full of hot air, eh?

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Naruto finally reunites with his Sakura-chan, and I figured that he would be the type to crack lame jokes to diffuse a potentially touching/mushy situation. He made fun of Kusabana's name, and probably paid dearly for that, thanks to one overprotective mama. For those who don't understand what was going on, Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, a graceful, elegant practice mostly learnt by women. So basically, Naruto is teasing Sakura for giving her son such a girly name.

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On a totally unrelated note, does anyone notice how the plot of Speed Racer suspiciously resembles that of Matthew Reilly's Hover Car Racer? Well, I don't even know if anyone of you here have heard of Matthew Reilly before, but still…

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Your reviews fuel my passion for writing. So please leave a comment if you like this fic, thank you.

--paws