The next day found the pair at school. They walked down the halls side by side looking strait ahead not acknowledging anyone. They sat down in seats next to each other in their class. While they waited for their teacher Sakura leaned her head on Sasuke's shoulder. Their fingers were intertwined. Everyone stopped and stared at the pair as they came in. Gaara just glared at Sasuke before sitting down beside him. Sakura moved away from Sasuke as the teacher came in. She smiled softly knowing exactly who this teacher was to her now and figured out the strange looks he used to give her. It was their old sensei Iruka. Sai, Sasori, and Naruto sat closer to the pair as if they expected an attack at any minute. Their sensei couldn't help but have a big smile on the inside. They were finally working together and taking care of each other.

"All right class take your seats."

Just as Iruka was about to start the lesson Rock Lee burst into the room and mad a dash for Sakura. Most people gawked at this but those who knew the eccentric person knew that he was being stupid. He had always been after Sakura but she refused him and once he couldn't take the hint Gaara stepped up to protect her from the unwanted attention.

"Sakura-chan!" Rock Lee said in a loud way.

Before he could even get to her Sasori and Sai stood up to block his path. Sasuke growled as did Gaara both rose too. Sasuke stood there ready to fight and the others were just as determined to protect Sakura as well. They'd protect her even if some were reluctant to. Sasori knew the legends and prophecies surrounding the girl and he would only protect her when her true comrades weren't capable. All the Akatsuki agreed to those terms even Itachi had. All of them had learned of what Alexial had gone through while they were dead and it was a bit unnerving to say the least. He looked over to see Sakura moving towards Sasuke and taking his sleeve in her hands. All of the students in the room held their breaths waiting for something to happen.

"Guys don't fight," Sakura said as she tugged on Sasuke's shirt sleeve.

"I've warned him Sakura," Gaara growled.

Sasori and Sai stood up and motioned for Sakura to back away from the Uchiha. They stood in a diagonal line with Sasori in front, Sakura in the middle, and Sai behind her. Sasuke and Gaara moved forward. Naruto looked on the battle that was about to erupt with interest. Never had the blonde seen his best friend so protective over Sakura even when they were a three man team. And there was a huge change in Gaara as well. Maybe this life would turn out better than the last one but it was only a hopeful dream, a dream where a little boy didn't have to grow up without his parents. His ears perked as he heard Iruka-sensei speak.

"Mr. Sabaku, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Uchiha you have detention for attempts to start a fight in the classroom."

Sakura and Naruto frowned as they looked at each other.

"They didn't even throw a punch Iruka-sensei," Naruto stated matter-of-factly.

Sasuke smirked and decked Rock for even thinking about going near his Sakura. Naruto groaned in annoyance. That was just like Sasuke to get his vengeance without thought about those around him. Closing his eyes Naruto laid his head down on his desk. The class sat down and Lee sat as far as he could from the group surrounding Sakura. The only thought Naruto had towards this was the fact that they were working together to help Sakura. There had been so many people devastated by the loss of the pink haired girl back then, and he hoped that he and they wouldn't have to endure it a second time. Naruto remembered that Sasuke's death hadn't that big of a blow to the village. The only ones that cried were his fangirls and himself. Everyone had been whispering that he got what he deserved and dragged Sakura down with him.

Sasuke looked at Sakura worriedly. He would be leaving her alone for however long Iruka-sensei kept them behind and that worried him. It wasn't that he didn't think that Sakura couldn't take care of herself it was the fact that somewhere out there was Orochimaru waiting for the right time to strike at them, and Sasuke would die before allowing someone to take her away from him again. His hands flexed at his sides. A gentle hand on his arm made him look up. The concern in her eyes was endearing.

"I'll be all right Sasuke," she said softly as if guessing why he was edgy. "They're close but my friends and loved ones are closer."

That didn't comfort him in the least. He knew exactly what Orochimaru and Kabuto together were capable of.

"Be careful Sakura."

His affections were a bit unnerving considering this wasn't the Sasuke she knew. The one she knew had been a bitter person after the death of his family. He was wild and dangerous, calm and reserved and that was what she loved about him. This Sasuke was too good to be true not that she minded his affections it was just that it seemed odd to her. Before they knew it the class had ended.

"You three remember to come see me after school."

Sasuke sighed softly. He looked over his shoulder and Sakura was already gone. Getting up in a rush gathering his books he headed out into the hall. He was greeted by a crowd in the hall. Sasuke fought through the crowd to try to find his Sakura. A flash of pink drew his attention to the middle of the ring of students. What he saw made his blood boil and his Sharingan blaze to life. A hand on his shoulder stopped him. His red eyes blazed as he met a cool sea foam color.

"Let her take care of this Uchiha this idiot can't take the hint. Let her set this guy strait. If you keep protecting her you're going to undermine her in her abilities to protect herself."

Sasuke tried to wrench himself from Gaara's grip but the guy's grip tightened. "Don't do it Uchiha. She can protect herself against civilians."

"He's not a civilian," Sasuke growled. "He was a Sound Ninja."

"Even so you undermine her now and you've crippled her. Just watch…"

Sasuke turned as the guy took a swing at her. She caught his wrist and he swung his other arm at her and she caught that too. With both his hands in her grasp she brought her knee up in the dude's groin. The man crumbled with a groan. Leaning down to whisper in his ear;

"Touch me again and I'll make sure to make you a female. As for my boyfriend there won't be anything left for him to take care of."

She let him go and flicked her hair over her shoulder. Turning the smile on her face vanished as she saw Sasuke's Sharingan spinning wildly. Concern washed through her eyes as she moved forward and touched his face.

"Sasuke?" she asked softly.

He blinked and shook his head. His eyes met hers. A soft sigh escaped his throat as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her against him.

"You scared me there Sakura."

"I'm sorry."

"As long as you don't put me in his place liked that we'll be fine."

Sakura chuckled softly. Reaching up she ran her fingers through his spiky black locks. She felt a rush of air on her neck and she pushed back from Sasuke and turned around. The man's fangirl was rushing her. Sighing in annoyance Sakura watched her. She didn't want to fight anymore besides civilians would be a waste of her energy.

"Miss Haruno detention for fighting."

"But Iruka-sensei it was in self defense. He was sexually harassing me," Sakura started.

Of course if she did get detention then she'd be with Sasuke so he'd stop worrying so much.

"Sakura detention."

"Yes, sensei," she said softly.

She laced her fingers through Sasuke's and headed towards the next class. Suddenly Sakura felt dizzy. She stopped abruptly making Sasuke stop as well and look at her worriedly.

"Sakura?"

"Sasuke…"

Her world went dark.

Sakura looked up from the scroll she was reading. Naruto walked into the library and sat down in front of her. The look on his face told her that he was serious. She looked down at the scroll again continuing reading on the Uchiha fire style jutsus. Tsunade found them and thought that she'd like to read them. The blonde ran his fingers through his spiky locks, and they were damp.

"Raining outside Naruto?" she asked without looking up from the scroll.

"Yeah it is. Can you put down the scroll Sakura so we can talk."

She put the scroll down and he noticed the Uchiha clan symbol on the scroll. He frowned. Looking up at her he didn't know how to bring this up.

"Sakura, umm…"

"What is it Naruto?"

"Sasuke…"

"What about him?"

She knew what he was getting at. Sakura knew that it would be brought up eventually. Someone was bound to find out that every now and then she'd meet up with Sasuke. The last time they actually had time to spare for each other and they had gone a lot farther than she had liked but in the end it was worth it. Closing her eyes she thought about the child growing within her.

"Kyuubi tells me that something is off about your scent," Naruto stated. "He said he smelled Sasuke on you after you got back."

"I'm pregnant Naruto," she said softly.

Sakura had a little smile on her face. She would be the one to carry on the Uchiha line for Sasuke. She hoped they would make it through this and raise their son together. Reaching up she ran her fingers over her stomach. She was barely showing. Naruto gave her that kitsune grin.

"You're not mad?" she asked her friend, her teammate and brother.

"No, of course not Sakura. When did you find out?"

"This morning Tsunade was pissed."

"Don't mind her. So you and Sasuke huh?"

Sakura just nodded and smiled at him. Naruto's grin widened then it saddened again. "You going to tell the teme?"

"Its hard to find him Naruto. He comes to me. I've searched for him but he always has to come to me."

"Maybe he'll show up soon."

"I can only hope Naruto."

Naruto moved forward to hug the distressed girl.

Time Skip

Sai stood there before the group of rough ninjas. They had the two of them surrounded. Sakura was heavily pregnant and Sai wasn't going to risk the kid even if it was the Uchiha's brat. He had a scroll in his hand preparing to do one of his art jutsus to protect his pink haired teammate.

"Sai be careful."

"Take it easy Sakura I'll take care of these idiots."

The fight didn't last long before all the roughs were dead. Sai stood with his back to her. His hand came up and rested on his stomach. Sakura wobbled forward towards Sai.

"Sai are you all right?"

He sank to his knees. Sakura had a hard time getting down on her knees trying to get to her teammate. The black haired male was bleeding profusely. She was about ready to gather the chakra to save his life but his clammy hand on her wrist stopped her.

"Don't even think about it Sakura."

"But Sai…"

"Sakura I may not like the Uchiha for leaving you but I'm not going to make the kid and you pay for his stupidity."

Sakura held his hands as he died. Sai's grip on her hand and it relaxed after his life left his body.

"SAI!"

Sakura shot up screaming out Sai's name. Sasuke frowned at who's name she called out in her fear. He reached forward and held her. With soothing words he whispered in her ear she calmed down.

"Are you all right Sakura?"

"Yeah I'm okay Sasuke."

He breathed a sigh of relief as she called him Sasuke.

"Why did you call to Sai?"

"Sai died protecting me and our son. I dreamed about it again. He refused to let me heal him saying that he didn't want our son and myself to suffer for your stupidity."

"Is that right?" Sasuke asked in annoyance.

"Let it go Sasuke. It's in the past."

"Did you love Sai?"

Sakura rose up despite her spinning head. She steadied herself on the wall. She shoved his hands away as he tried to steady her. Without though she struggled past him and headed towards the door.

"If you have to ask me that then I'm not sticking around."

The pink haired girl moved out of the room. Sasuke didn't follow her. He sat there in utter confusion and hurt. Gaara watched Sakura struggle past him and went into the office. Shaking his head he looked in the direction she had come from and moved to set the Uchiha strait.