Disclaimer: I've botched the ages...what do you think!

Chapter 20: Odd Surprises

Sakura fell asleep the moment she laid down, even though the sun was still up. She dreamt:

It was sunny out; Sakura looked around and found that she was in Konoha. It was midday, and the people of Konoha were busy as always. Her dream-self took her to the Hokage's tower. She just passed through the door as if it wasn't there and continued to the Hokage's room.

As she neared the door she heard Tsunade's voice clearly, "You failed!?!" That was followed by a loud explosion. Sakura passed through that door too and saw that Tsunade was standing by her desk or…what was left of her desk. Tsunade's fist was shaking, as she yelled, "How could you fail?!"

Sakura looked at who Tsunade was yelling at and recognized Kakashi, Naruto, Jiraiya, and Sai. None of them looked happy, and not just because Tsunade was yelling at them. Jiraiya spoke for them, "Calm down, Tsunade. You knew this mission only had a fifty-percent chance of success."

Tsunade uncurled her fist, but she was still shaking as she asked, almost desperately, "Did you find anything?"

Jiraiya spoke again, "There wasn't much to find. We did our best, but…" he trailed off as he took a small scroll out of his pocket and handed it to Tsunade. "This was the only thing we could find."

Sakura wanted to see what was on the scroll, but as always, she couldn't move. She had to settle for watching Tsunade's face as she opened the scroll. Tsunade looked down at the scroll held in her shaking hands. For a second she went dead white, then her normal coloring (for being in black and white of course) returned. She shakily asked, "Where did you find this?"

Jiraiya answered, "About a day's journey from here." Sakura watched as Tsunade let herself fall down onto her chair. Her face was a mix of relief and worry. Jiraiya had noticed as well, because he said, "So it is connected. We thought it might be." He paused, then asked, "So…what does it mean?"

Tsunade sighed, laying her head back against the chair and said tiredly, "It means we have to wait. That's all we can do." She looked back at the scroll, then added, "You all have a new mission. You will check the area where you found this once a week and report what you find…or don't find…to me. That is all…you are dismissed."

Naruto, Sai, and Kakashi left without a word. Jiraiya however, went to the door, looked back at Tsunade, then said before he left, "Don't worry too much…" Then he was gone, closing the door behind him.

Sakura heard Tsunade say to the door, "How can I not worry? The fact that you found this…" She looked down at the scroll whose contents Sakura still couldn't see, "It's enough of an omen for me to know…"

Sakura wanted to know what the omen was, and what was on the scroll, but just then, the repeat button was hit, and Sakura began back in front of the tower. Sakura sighed…she knew from experience, she would not be finding out what either of those things was.

Then something hit Sakura…this was the first time she'd ever understood what was being said. It was still in black and white, and it was still blurry, but she could understand what was being said!

She paid more attention the second time through the dream, listening carefully to what was being said. To her displeasure, the third time the dream repeated, the words began to become garbled. By the fourth time, she couldn't understand a word. It didn't matter, she had already memorized what they said, but it bothered her. Why could she understand them at first, but then not later? What had changed?

She watched the dream many more times, trying to figure out why she had, even for a short time, been able to understand what was being said. But she couldn't think of anything. She thought, and thought, and thought…

She woke up. The sun wasn't up, but that was normal. She sighed and sat up in bed. She asked herself quietly, "What was with that dream? That's the first one in a while that wasn't horrid…but this one was confusing…What is with these dreams?"

Sakura got out of bed and got ready for the day, but she never stopped thinking about her dream.

Training that morning was very quiet. Both Sakura and Itachi were lost in thought. Sakura was absorbed by her dream, and Itachi was lost in his own mind, trying to understand what he was feeling.

Training was abnormally quiet until Sasuke came out. Then Sakura forced herself to stop thinking about her dream and help Sasuke. Itachi watched more than anything, and what he was watching, was Sakura. As he watched her, he hated to admit it, but he knew his cousin was right.

He was in love with her. Every smile, every glance, every gesture, they all meant so much to him…and now he knew why. His heart was beating wildly, but he didn't let it show on his face. He now knew that he liked her…no, he knew that he loved her…but he wasn't sure if she felt the same.

He watched her with Sasuke, and noticed how gentle she was with him. He'd seen it before. When she was with children, her face got an odd look on it…not bad or unhappy…just odd. To him, his brother was annoying at times, especially when he interrupted their training. But if Sasuke annoyed Sakura, she never showed it.

After breakfast, a messenger came and handed Sakura a scroll, then left. Itachi walked over to her and asked as she read, "Is it another mission?"

He watched as she shook her head no and closed the scroll. She turned her beautiful green eyes to his face and said, "It's a note from Hanako. She's asked for me to come see her. She also said that you can come if you want."

Itachi nodded and said, "I don't have anything else to do, so I'll come with you." Sakura smiled up at him, effectively making his stomach do more somersaults.

As they walked to the Hyuuga compound, Sakura sighed. Itachi looked sidelong at her as she said, "I hope Hanako's ok. I healed her cold, but what if I didn't heal her enough? What if it's turned bad? What if--"

Itachi had to stop her from worrying herself to death, "Stop worrying. If she is sick again, it's probably not the same thing…Did the note even say that she was sick?"

"Well, no…but-"

"Then stop worrying." Itachi ordered, "There's no use worrying about something that may not even be the case." He looked at her, making sure that she didn't take offense to his words.

She hadn't, instead she said, "You're right." She then turned her gaze up to his, and said while smiling, "Thanks, Itachi." Sakura then continued to watch the road, unaware that Itachi's heart was beating much faster than it should have been. Itachi knew his face didn't show it, but mentally he was blushing.

As they neared the Hyuuga's compound, they saw Inuka walking inside. Sakura shouted, "Hey, Inuka, wait up!"

Inuka stood in the middle of the doorway until they reached her, then they all walked in. The door closed behind them as Sakura asked, "Did Hanako ask you to come here too?"

"Yeah." Inuka answered, "I don't know why though…do you?"

"Nope." Sakura answered, then said, "The message I got just said that she wanted me to come…oh, and she said that if Itachi wanted to come, he could." Inuka looked at Itachi, then back at Sakura, and smiled, but she didn't say anything.

Itachi had a bad felling that she somehow knew. As long as she didn't say anything, he wouldn't worry. But if she tried to tell Sakura, he would make her not…even if he did have to go as far as to use his Sharingan. But she didn't even try to say anything, so nothing happened.

As they walked they heard feet quietly running towards them. But Sakura knew who it was, and in a way, she kind of expected him. When he came into view she asked with a smile, "Hello Neji, how are you today?"

Itachi expected Neji to not answer, that was how he acted most of the time, but Neji surprised him (not that he showed it), "I'm fine. Are you here to see my aunt?"

"Your aunt?" Sakura asked, confused.

Itachi was the one who answered her, "Hanako is Neji's aunt."

Sakura looked surprised, she then asked Neji, "…how many aunts do you have?" The others thought it was an odd question, but Sakura needed to know.

Neji answered her again, "I only have one direct aunt, my uncle's wife…Hanako." Sakura felt like her world was spinning, but she hid it well as Neji continued, "She asked me to come get you."

Sakura forced herself to smile and say, "Then lead the way." And he did. As they walked, Sakura couldn't help but wonder…did this mean that she had become friends with…

She didn't get to finish that thought, because they were there. Neji let them in, and then closed the door behind them after saying he had to go somewhere.

Hanako smiled weakly as she welcomed them. Sakura knew something was wrong and immediately hurried over to her and asked, "Did the cold return?"

Hanako shook her head no, saying, "I don't think so…I haven't been coughing, but I do think I'm sick again. I can't keep anything down, and I…" She shrugged her shoulders, and added, "That's why I wanted you to come, Sakura. Noya's busy and I don't trust any of those other brainless medics." She shook her head, then asked, "Can you try and tell me what's wrong?"

Sakura nodded her head, and said, "I'm sure I can." Sakura's hand was already glowing green. She laid her hand on Hanako's shoulder and closed her eyes, concentrating on finding what was affecting Hanako.

When she found what it was, she let go of Hanako in surprise, and nearly yelled, "Hanako! You…You…" Sakura tried to lower her voice and to calm down. When she was sure she could speak quietly, she accused, "You knew…didn't you?"

Hanako shrugged and said, "I didn't know…but I had an idea as to what it was…I just wasn't sure if I was right."

Sakura glared at her, but it wasn't an angry glare, it was just an unhappy glare, "So you decided to test it with me? What, did you want to give me the surprise of my life or something?" They had lost Inuka and Itachi long ago.

Inuka asked both of them, "What is it?"

Sakura couldn't glare anymore, her happiness for Hanako was too powerful; she smiled. She hugged Hanako as she answered Inuka, "Hanako's not sick…" She let go of Hanako and faced Inuka and Itachi and finished, "…she's pregnant."

The room was silent for a moment, then Inuka shouted, "Yay! Second baby on the way!" Itachi didn't say anything, he just watched, but that was to be expected, he was a Uchiha.

Sakura sighed, ever since Neji had said that Hanako was his aunt, she had had an idea, and now she knew she was right. Hanako was Hinata's mom (explains why their hair styles were the same)…and this baby would be Hanabi.

Sakura had to ask (because she wasn't supposed to know), "You have a child already? How old?"

Hanako smiled and said, "Her name's Hinata, she's five."

Sakura smiled and nodded, then she thought of something and asked, "Wait, you're twenty-two. If she's five, then you must have had her when you were seventeen!"

Hanako smiled again and said, "Yes, I was. I married my husband when I was sixteen. It's common, especially in the Hyuuga clan, to marry as soon as you are of age. My marriage was arranged for me when I was about your age, so I had plenty of time to get to know my husband."

Sakura sighed, getting into medic mode, she said, "If you're feeling unwell, I can help some, but I can't stop everything." She paused and looked at Hanako, then said, "I'll make it so that you can at least stomach your food." Hanako nodded that it was ok with her, and Sakura put all her attention on her task.

Because she was concentrating deeply, she didn't hear Hanako say quietly to Itachi, "It's common to marry young in the Uchiha clan as well. But I'm sure that with you being the possible next head of the Uchiha clan, you already knew that." Itachi felt as if her eyes were seeing right through him. He could do nothing but nod. Hanako continued with a small smirk on her face, "I'm glad you know, because the Uchiha's, unlike us Hyuuga's, don't normally arrange marriages. You get to choose your bride." Itachi could have sworn that her smirk got even bigger as she added slyly, "Or have you already chosen?"

Itachi was saved the need to find an answer because just then Sakura removed her hand from Hanako's shoulder, saying, "That should do it."

Sakura looked around and noticed that Hanako was smirking, Inuka was trying to hold back laughter, and Itachi…didn't look very happy. She had to ask, "What'd I miss?"

This was all too much for Inuka: Hanako was pregnant again, Itachi was angry/surprised at what Hanako had hinted at, and Sakura was oblivious to all of it.

Inuka couldn't hold it back any longer, she burst out laughing.

I hope you like it. When Neji said Hanako was his only direct aunt he ment that she wasn't somthing like an aunt five times removed. After all, the Hyuuga's (and the Uchiha's) often marry within the family...so pretty much everyone's related.

Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome...Do I really need to tell you about flames? Now...dun dun duuuuun...the pretty list!

Thanks to: icegoddess52, Red Shagging Couch, SilverMononoke, chattrbox357, Crazy Neko Girl, Devil-Speaker, Shade, Krissechan, psalmorsummer, PhAnToM SpEaKeR, Dreamergirl92813, AnimeFanGirl4life (Shisui is a real Naruto charactor. If you want to know more, go to my reviews on chapter 16, and you'll see info on him.), Jester08, Ur-Bloody-Valentime, Gothic Saku-chan, xo Misunderstood kunoichi ox, C.T.H., bubbleyum, pip1309, sakura-angel113, Sachiko1991, demon-lulu, xnarutoxrocksx, dark Alley, SpeedDemon315, Rachel9493, NARUTARDMJR14, DragonXGirl, pinky101, meisi, Gblossom21, Ninja Princess Asuna, RoseMcGee (I'll read your first chap), TheFirstTime, Blood Blossom, yuki san1, blissfulrain (well, I'm glad to change your mind about Itachi/Sakura), Bishieluver01 (underlined is people who have signed in, not underlined is annon's), Aminess, b.bze, Tsubasa-Angel, Oo-Chica-chan-oO for reviewing!