A/N: Don't own, so don't do the lawyer thing. You won't get too much from me besides a cheap car and bills/student loans.
Also, I am getting back into my writing mood. About damn time in my opinion. I have much more of this story written than I have typed. Starting with this chapter (Chapter 13), I hope to publish once a week, either on Saturday or Sunday. Right now, I am suffering from a major road block in how I want this story to progress. I hope that I am past that roadblock once I get around to posting those chapters.
If I estimated correctly, I am around the halfway mark with this story, maybe shortly before the halfway mark. I may be ending this story around Chapter 30, give or take a few chapters. Then again, it may be past that mark too. Just bear with me, I am also a teacher, so that usually comes first attention wise. Thanks and much love to my fans!
Chapter 13
Sakura could not believe what she had heard.
Naruto and Sasuke were both in Suna, she thought, but how?
"Thank you, Jiraiya," replied Kakashi.
"No problem really, Kakashi. I thought you needed to know, sensei to sensei," Jiraiya said. Sakura stood up.
"Going so soon, you two?" asked the Frog Sannin.
"We are meeting with the rest of our group before going to Suna," the Sharingan user replied.
"Okay, good luck then. I will see you in Konoha at a later time, I presume."
Kakashi and Sakura said goodbye to Jiraiya and left the tavern.
"We will find an inn on our way out of Kumo," said Kakashi, "I have never cared too much for the area.
"That bad, Kakashi?" Sakura asked.
"We have only been on halfway good terms with Kumogakure since the Fifth Hokage took over," Kakashi spoke, "Not good enough to be allies as of yet, but still decent."
Kakashi and Sakura continued to walk until they reached the gate. Kakashi stopped, grabbing Sakura's arm.
"We can stop over somewhere unless you think you are capable of travelling straight through to the border. I rather find somewhere to stay in our country."
Sakura smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm capable, Kakashi," replied the kunoichi, "Did you forget who trained me the last few years?"
Both shinobi collapsed to the ground next to one another, breathing heavily.
"I'm impressed, idiot," Sasuke said, "You've improved dramatically."
"I still have a way to go, but thanks."
Sasuke sat up and looked at Naruto.
"I have noticed something," said Sasuke, "Your control over the fox has drastically improved too."
"You think so?" Naruto asked, sitting up. Sasuke nodded.
"When I left, you barely had control over it. Now, you can control it at another level."
"Pervy Sage showed me when he trained me. Well, the beginning techniques anyway," Naruto replied, "I've worked very hard on it."
Sasuke got up and held out his hand. Naruto took it and with Sasuke's help, he got up.
"Are you hungry?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm starving!" smiled Naruto. Sasuke noticed that he still had hold of Naruto's hand and quickly let go, turning slightly red and hoping that the blond shinobi didn't notice. Naruto took Sasuke's hand back in silent protest. Sasuke leaned into the other shinobi.
"What if someone sees us, Naruto?" the Uchiha whispered.
"Then let them, Sasuke," replied Naruto, "I don't care what they think."
The Jinchuuriki stole a kiss from Sasuke. Sasuke allowed himself to linger, his free hand finding its way to Naruto's waist. Naruto let go of Sasuke's hand and placed his arms around the Uchiha's neck, deepening the kiss in the process.
"I never thought I would ever find myself in a situation like this," breathed Sasuke. Naruto smirked.
"Me neither, you cold, conniving bastard," whispered Naruto, "Imagine all your fangirls' reactions when they hear that I kissed you."
"Meh, like I care," replied Sasuke, shrugging. The Uchiha leaned in and kissed Naruto once more before they let go of one another and left the training grounds, hand in hand.
Kakashi and Sakura arrived two days later at the border separating the Land of Fire from the Land of Wind. The couple met up with Iruka at the gate.
"Where are Neji and Hinata?" asked Kakashi.
"They are still at the inn," Iruka replied, "Hinata has been feeling ill since our arrival. Neji has been waiting on Sakura to check her out."
Iruka led Kakashi and Sakura to the inn where he and the two Hyuuga shinobi were staying. Iruka led them into the inn and up the staircase to the room where Neji and Hinata were sharing. Sakura knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" yelled a male voice in a calm manner from inside the room.
"Neji," said Sakura, "It's me, Sakura. I'm here with Iruka-sensei and Kakashi."
The medic heard the shuffle of feet from inside before the door opened. Neji looked tired to Sakura. The medic wondered if the Byakugan user had slept since he and the others arrived at the inn.
"I heard that Hinata was not feeling well," Sakura continued, "May I take a look at her?"
Neji moved aside to allow Sakura to enter the small room. Sakura looked back at Kakashi and Iruka.
"We will be in the room next door, Sakura," Iruka said, pointing to his right. When the two men walked away from the door, Neji closed the door behind him and Sakura. The medic saw Hinata sitting in the bed, looking out the window. Sakura knew that something seemed different about the Hyuuga woman. Sakura could not place it however.
The pink haired kunoichi walked over and sat at the edge of Hinata's bed.
"Sakura-chan," whispered Hinata, looking at Sakura.
"How are you feeling?" Sakura asked.
"Better than I was this morning," Hinata replied, "I have not been able to keep anything in my stomach since yesterday evening."
"Is it alright if I check you out, Hinata?" asked Sakura. Hinata flashed a worried look at Neji.
"Remember what I said, Hinata-sama."
Hinata looked at Sakura and sighed.
"Okay," the Hyuuga woman whispered.
"Sounds like we are back to square one," sighed Iruka. Kakashi had just finished explaining everything to Iruka, leaving out one critical part.
"With locating the Akatsuki, yes," Kakashi said, "but I did leave out one minor detail."
"Kakashi!" yelled Iruka, "You of all…"
"Jiraiya located Naruto and Sasuke," interrupted Kakashi. Iruka stared at the jounin.
"Are you pulling my chain, Kakashi?" asked Iruka.
"Ask Sakura if you don't believe me."
"Where are they?"
"Suna," replied Kakashi, "Both of them, together."
Sakura looked at Hinata with wide eyes. The Hyuuga girl lowered her head. Sakura had been checked Hinata's vitals using her chakra when she noticed something strange, the sound of another heartbeat inside Hinata's body. Sakura knew it was one thing and one thing only.
"How long have you known about this, Hinata?" Sakura asked.
"About two months," replied Neji, "One of the clan members from the medical corps confirmed it."
"Two months?" asked Sakura. Suddenly, the pieces were beginning to come together.
"You returned from the front lines two months ago, Neji," said Sakura, "This was the reason why you returned, was it not?"
Neji took a seat near Hinata's bed and nodded.
"Yes, it was, Sakura-san," Neji replied, "I was probably more surprised at the time than you are now."
"Who's the father?" asked Sakura, although she had a good feeling that she already knew the answer to her question, "The last time I understood, Hinata was not seeing anyone since Naruto left the village."
The two Hyuuga fell silent.
"Answer me!" Sakura exclaimed, "Who is the father of this child?"
"Me," Neji replied. Sakura stared at Neji. The Hyuuga man chuckled lightly.
"Hinata-sama is further along than you think, Sakura-san," continued Neji, "by six weeks. That night, I had delivered a scroll from the front lines to the Hokage. She allowed me to stay overnight in the village. I was greeted in my chambers by Hinata-sama and things happened."
Sakura looked to Hinata, then back to Neji.
"I don't think it is safe for Hinata to continue past here, Neji," said Sakura, "Hinata needs to return to the village for proper care. Judging from the time frame that you gave me, Hinata jas barely just started the second trimester."
Hinata gave Sakura a weak smile. Sakura gave the Hyuuga heiress a hug.
"Congratulations, Hinata," whispered Sakura.
A/N #2: So far, the pairings that we find in this story are Kakashi and Sakura as well as Sasuke and Naruto (the main pairings). We also have Shikamaru and Ino (who are married and divorcing and have a son, Asuma), Shikamaru and Temari (with their daughter, Saya), Chouji and Ino (Ino is pregnant, but we will not find out until later on), and Neji and Hinata (I don't think I need to refresh your memory on Hinata). Kinda weird, I know. I did begin this story in 2008, around the same time I got big into the fandom.