Chapter Twenty-Four: Planning

When next I woke up I woke up feeling better than ever. Sure there was nausea but that was normal in a pregnancy, what woman wouldn't feel morning sickness. Thankfully though, when next I woke up I also woke up to the sight of my discharging papers and a change of cloths. Happily I jumped in the shower, all the while letting Hikari get some sleep. It had been a long past couple of days for her, healing and fighting; she needed the break. Sighing, and upon stepping out of the bath, I walked over to her and smiled.

"You really are incredible." I whispered as she opened an eye.

"Thank you, are you ready to leave?"

"Hai but you don't have to follow. I'm home, in Konoha and you need your rest." I assured her with a smile before frowning. "We won't be able to see each other for a while but I promise, as soon as I'm able I'll summon you back to let you know I'm alright." I could hear the sadness in my tone of voice, could hear how much I'd long to see their faces.

"Hai, you do well to take care of yourself mistress." Hikari said with a tired tone of voice. Smiling I nodded before bending down and hugging the large tiger. From the moment that I'd met them, all of them, they weren't just summoning animals I could relay on or tools to be used. They were a part of me, of my family, and just as important as Naruto and Sasuke were to me.

"Hai." I whispered before she disappeared. Before I could stop it tears were streaming down my face, I knew that it was irrational, that there was no point in crying because in a matter of months we'd be able to see each other, to catch up, and to practice with one another; but still my tears fell.

Shishou and Itachi were the one's who found me in my sorrowful state and as soon as they'd seen the water works Itachi was at my side and shishou was checking for anything that could have possibly gone wrong. Of course she was also checking to make sure that I was truly well. Shaking my head and through my heart felt sobs I explained to them my reason for crying and after a couple of minutes managed to get myself under control.

"Really Sakura, you need to get a hold of yourself." shishou had muttered as she signed off on my release form before handing me a bottle of pills.

"Those are for you and the baby. It seems to aid mortals through their pregnancy so it should do wonders for you." she said before turning to face Itachi with serious eyes. She was like a mother to me and though I knew that she would never tell me not to see Itachi anymore, not to marry him and join the Uchiha clan, I knew that she was capable of warning him of harming me.

"She needs constant rest and she will need to be tended to whenever her cravings start. Are you going to stay on active duty or are you..."

"I will remain by Sakura's side. I have already informed my team of my future absence form the ANBU tower and my inactive status." he said before shisou could imply anything. Smiling, and shaking my head form side to side, I slipped my shinobi sandals into place and stood.

"So can I go? I'm hungry and no offense shishou but the hospital food isn't really all that satisfying. In fact I'm craving some of Kakashi-sensei's cooking." I said and realized just how true that was. Especially upon thinking back to how good I thought the food had been while we were still at the hide out.

Of course it was for that very reason that I myself wasn't all that surprised to find that Itachi's and shishous eyes were wide as could be. In fact anyone who were to hear me at that very moment would think I'd lost my mind. It was a well known fact that Kakashi Hatake of the hidden leaf village was not a cook. He was a shinobi and he should stay that way unless accompanied into the kitchen.

"You can't be serious." muttered shishou.

"Actually I am, so can I go now? I have a silver haired ANBU member to track down and force to cook for me." I said with the widest grin possible. Itachi in turn seemed to calm down as he took my hand in his and held it.

'He is so going to over react.'my inner muttered and I knew she was right. Of course Itachi was going to blow things out of proportion, of course he was going to look at me as some sort of fragile doll that needed tending to; but I was not going to let him take all of my freedoms away. Shishou had already explained to me that so long as I kept from using chakra I'd be able to do some sort of light training.

"Hai, oh and Sakura?"

"Hai shishou?"

"I expect you in my office once a week for routine check ups. Either myself, Shizune or Ino would do really but I will be expecting you." she said, her tone of voice more serious than what I had been expecting it to be.

At first I wasn't sure how to react, how to take shishou's warning and reactions but after a couple of minutes I knew that it was for my well being, that she was just acting the way any mother would upon finding out that their daughter was pregnant and that they were going to be a grandmother. Somehow though it wasn't as amusing as I had once thought it would be.

"Of course." and with that I walked out of my room and down the hall. As we walked down the halls of the hospital I was greeted and congratulated by nurses and staff. They were happy, some resentful, and a few were jealous that my relationship with Itachi wasn't just a show but rather that we truly loved each other. How they had even doubted me from the beginning was beyond me but hey that wasn't my problem. It was theirs'.

It wasn't until we walked out of the hospital and were a couple of blocks away from the market place that we met up with Naruto, Sai, Sasuke, and Kakashi. Itachi's body tensed while I couldn't help but to smile brightly. They were my brothers, my family, and they were waiting for me. Of course they would be, but it was even more uplifting to watch as they finally met my eyes. When I'd told them all I was pregnant Naruto and Sasuke had avoided my eyes as if I were no longer the same woman, the same person they'd known and cherished.

True that they'd left the room so that things between Fugaku and myself were settle but that hadn't meant that they hadn't visited me and wished me sweet dreams. Of course they would. What was more was that now that they knew I knew that just like Itachi I would be seen as some sort of fragile doll to be looked after and kept.

"Isn't this a surprise, and here I thought I'd have to knock some sense into you all before I got you to finally look at me in the eye again." I taunted. Kakashi smiled with his eyes, Naruto smiled that awkward smile I loved to see on him so much and all the while Sai and Sasuke just watched. It was the look in their eyes that tipped me off.

Stopping in place I kept Itachi's hand in mine and forced him to stop, to stay at my side as I looked over Sai's and Sasuke's tensed bodies. There was something off, something wrong and something that they were clearly not telling me. Then, as soon as I saw Sasuke's eyes flash sharingan bright and lock with Itachi's I knew what this was. I knew it but I didn't like it one bit.

"What the hell do you all think you're doing?" I growled, silently reminding myself not to reach for my chakra. From that day on until I gave birth it was off limits for it was no longer just my own to use, it was the life force my child needed until he or she began to produce his or her own.

"Sakura, we just want to see if he really can..."

"Don't you dare finish that sentence Naruto. Itachi or no Itachi, I don't need protection from anyone. You hear me? Anyone!" I exclaimed while releasing Itachi's hand and punching the tree beside me so as to split it in half. I hadn't used chakra, not a single drop of it and they knew it, they felt it and they had seen it with their own eyes.

"Don't forget that I don't need chakra to break bones."

"It's not that we don't trust him." quickly spoke Kakashi as he stepped forward and as always tried to be the peace keeper. "It's just that we want to make sure that he can stand up to all of us, that he's willing to fight for you." he said. As soon as those words left his lips my eyes narrowed and I balled both hands into fists.

Had Kakashi really just said that? Did they really think that Itachi was not capable of fighting for me? If so then what the hell did they think him going against his own father was? A family dispute? Give me a god damned break! Itachi loved me, that was clear to even shishou so why couldn't my stubborn, knuckle headed, idiot brothers see that it was real?

"Sakura, it is fine." Itachi called from behind me before looking me in the eyes. "I had known things would end this way. It will not take long." he assured me but how could I let this happen? Why should I?

"Kakashi stays with me." I growled out. As soon as Naruto's and Sasuke's eyes widened I shook my head before they could say anything.

"I want some of your cooking, apparently my kid here is the only one on earth who has a taste for it." I explained and instantly there was laughter in the air. That soothed me, but it didn't completely comfort me. How could it when I knew that the love of my life, and future husband, was about to fight against all of my brothers at the same time.

"Hai hai, come on then. Why don't we let your brother get this out of their system while I go cook us up some lunch." Kakashi said. As soon as he agreed a smile spread across my face, a sort of peace took over me and I thought, finally. Finally I'd be able to find some sort of peace, I'd be left to do as I pleased and to live how I wanted without having to worry about missions and what not. It was strange really, for once in my life I was thankful for not having to worry about any and all shinobi/medic duties.

"Sakura Haruno! Don't you dare move a god damned muscle!" suddenly came Ino's screeching voice.

'Damn.' my inner muttered as I sighed.

"Why are you so mad and so early in the morning Ino?" I asked as she got closer.

"Because you left the hospital before I could get there that's why." she growled. Now that was confusing. Hadn't shishou told me it was fine to go?

"Shishou...'

"Tsunade-sama let you go because she knew how much you dread the idea of shopping with me. Now come on, leave Itachi with the boys. You're coming with Mikoto-san and me." she ordered; and I say ordered because the tone of voice she was using really was the type that left no room for argument.

"Itachi?" I called but I knew he couldn't help. How could he when clearly Naruto, Sai and Sasuke were all about to jump him.

"Fine." I said out of no where, gaining everyone's attention. "You guys win. Sai, Naruto, Sasuke; Kakashi." I called, pausing before adding Kakashi's name. He I knew was the one who wouldn't take things too far, but sadly it was his food that was giving me these ridiculously weird cravings.

"You guys can have your spar but if he comes back to me with a fractured anything or a broken something, I swear I'll get shishou to pay you guys back for me. Got it?" I growled. Silently they nodded.

"Itachi?"

"Hn?"

"Please, please end things quickly and come find me." I said sweetly and lovingly before turning to face Ino with a scrawl on my face. "Lets go, you win Ino-pig." I growled. Instantly there was a wide grin across her face and before I knew it she was dragging me off toward the shopping district, all the while telling me about the plans that she and Mikoto-san had come up with so far.

~POV change~

When Mikoto Uchiha first heard that she was going to be a grandmother, that Sasuke was pregnant and that her eldest son (the coldest, "most emotionless" shinobi of Konoha) was not only getting married but having a child as well; well to say that she was happy was an understatement. She couldn't believe her ears let alone the reality of what was being said. Finally, after so many years she would have someone to look after, another child that would depend on her, and something to do, to nurture and care for.

Of course, being who she was and having been married to the man that she was married to, Mikoto-san wasn't so surprised when Fugaku Uchiha reacted the way that he had. What was more shocking was suddenly challenging it, challenging the knowledge, and a medic's checking, of Sakura's pregnancy. Then there was the suggestion of the pregnancy being false and faked. Mikoto at the time had been furious up until he spoke, tried to convince the hokage that the pregnancy was faked and that she not be allowed to keep her status as an ANBU captain. To Mikoto Uchiha that had been a joke. A humorless one but one none the less.

"Enough Fugaku." Mikoto-san called to Fugaku the instant she knew he'd crossed the line. She loved him, he was a fool, a good leader, but a fool and as his wife she would not allow himself to force his children's hand.

"Mikoto, this..." His tone was harsh but restraint, Mikoto knew this but still she did not falter. How could she with her child's, both her children's, future was being questioned. What was more was that now the future of her grandchild was being put at risk.

"This nothing. They are getting married, they are giving me grand children, and Itachi is free to choose who he spends the rest of his life with just like you did." As soon as the words left her lips Mikoto noticed the sudden interest in her children's eyes, knew that now, upon hearing her words, they were curious as to the kind of upbringing and relationship he had had with his own father; their grandfather. However Mikoto also knew that said story was one that was left to be told by their father and not herself.

"Miko..."

"I'm not done speaking Fugaku. Listen, I love you but damn it you're being an ass. You fought like hell to have your father approve of me, even then you still resent him for not consenting. Do you want to do that to your son?" as Mikoto spoke her mind, as she retold him his story, she watched as Itachi tensed, watched as her son's eyes widened, and realize what she had understood from the moment Itachi was born. Mikoto could see understanding in Itachi's eyes, one that she had never seen being addressed at his father, and so was then that much more determined to do what she could for their benefit and for the future of her grandchild.

"I apologize for my husbands stubbornness hokage-sama, he will not trouble you on my son's and Haruno-sans relationship any further." Mikoto said when Fugaku had no words left to say. Mikoto knew that this apology was one her husband should have spoken himself but she also knew that as the wife to the leader of the Uchiha clan she needed to aid her husband when he needed it; whether he liked it or not.

"Well then if my presence is no longer needed I'm leaving. There's a bottle of sake in my office and it had my name written all over it." the hokage spoke, turning so as to leave the room and the tension in it. She had had enough of tense moments, of worry and anxiety; now all the hokage to Konoha wanted was a bottle of sake and some peace and quiet. She wanted to relax and thank whatever god she needed to thank in private. Thank the god because not only had they stopped Danzo but they had done so without any casualties.

"Shishou?"

"Iie. You're staying over night and that's the end of it." the hokage spoke, instantly understanding what it was her apprentice wanted from her. Mikoto noticed, noted how the hokage acted as some sort of surrogate mother to the young kunoichi and smiled mentally. She understood, perhaps more than they thought, why it was the kunoichi acted the manner in she did and why she was so protective of those she called her family.

"What about our agreement? Will you back..." Fugaku started and thus angering Mikoto again. Truly he was stubborn, she had known this but she did not like it when in times like these.

"No. I'll fight you whenever you wish." Sakura answered Fugaku's unfinished question and instantly Mikoto watched as Itachi's face drained of color, as true fear shown in his eyes. It had been years, too many long years since Mikoto had last seen that fear but nothing had changed. Upon seeing it she still felt compelled to rid him of his fear and as his mother she was damned if she failed him.

"Sakura..." Itachi warned.

"No. You're opponent will be me." Mikoto suddenly spoke and effectively cutting in before Sakura herself assured Itachi, as well as the others, that she would be perfectly capable of fighting in her state.

In truth Mikoto did not doubt the young kunoichi, in fact she was sure that had it not been for the pregnancy or the lack of chakra, Sakura would prove to be more than an equal for Fugaku in a spare. However the facts were simple and plain. She was low on chakra and she was in fact pregnant. It was for those very reasons that Mikoto had had no problem with taking Sakura's position, with, for the first time in years, that she was willing to face her husband in a spar for the rights to decide what was going to happen and the manner in which they was going to happen in.

"Oh don't give me those eyes Itachi. It may be a while since I last spared but you're father has never been able to best me in a spar." Mikoto-san warned Itachi. It was clear that he would argue it, that Itachi was prepared to advise his mother against her actions however when Sakura lay back down so as to rest his attention was claimed.

"Let's go Fugaku." Mikoto said with an annoyed sort of tone; and as they walked out of the room, the last words she heard were that of her son's, gently cooing voice telling the woman who had claimed his heart that he loved her.

It was no surprise that when Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha got home their youngest son was no where to be found and that Fugaku himself stormed off into the study and proceeded to lock himself within it. Mikoto had seen his reaction coming, had known what he was going to do before he had decided it and had known that this was not the end of their so called conversation. Therefore she left him alone, she made dinner, left a plate outside the study's door for him and then went off to bed herself.

Once morning came Mikoto-san was up and about with cleaning, cooking and preparing. She would not allow for her husband to back out of what she had said, out of the spar he was to have with Sakura which was now against herself. How could she allow for him to ignore her, to act as if he'd never heard anything and continue to target their son and the woman that was to be his wife.

"He's not going to let anything go, much less give in so easily." Sasuke noted as he walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. He knew better than Itachi, he wasn't going to try to stop his mother because he knew that once she had set her mind to something there was no changing it and that no matter what she was going to spar against his father.

"It doesn't matter if he wants to or not, when I win this spar he will act accordingly and he will approve of your brothers, and sisters, choice." Mikoto said, a smile on her face when Sasuke widened his eyes at the realization of what she had just called Sakura. Of how she was being acknowledged by his mother.

"Aniki, he will be leaving soon." Sasuke went on, picking up a piece of fruit from the table and ignoring the meal that Mikoto had prepared an hour before. It wasn't that he didn't want his mothers cooking, or that he didn't like it. Rather instead it was that he knew better and as such he did not want to be anywhere near the area in which Mikoto and Fugaku were to spar.

"He will do what he needs to protect himself, his future wife and his unborn child. As a mother I will not resent him." Mikoto said with a light tone of voice before suddenly narrowing her eyes and turning to face none other than Fugaku Uchiha with serious eyes. She knew that he had heard, that he'd been listening to everything she'd been telling Sasuke and how she supported her eldest son.

"That woman will not live on the compound grounds. She..."

"Before you begin with your orders Fugaku, you might want to wait until you win." Mikoto taunted as she twirled a kunai in her hand and then within the blink of an eye slipped it into its holster on her thigh. All the while all Sasuke could do was sigh and take in a deep breath so as to keep himself calm before he shook his head and took his leave. After all he had an appointment with his teammates and a fight to get started for himself. There was no time to waste for worrying on his father's condition and the out come of the spar that was about to take place. Especially when he already knew what said outcome was going to be.

"Mikoto, I will not..."

"We had an arrangement and seeing as how Sakura did not argue this, this spar will be valid." she declared before slyly smiling as Sasuke left. "Unless you're forfeiting and thus making it our win by default."

"Enough, we will fight but Mikoto. If I win, you will no longer fight me on the matter and things will be as I say." Fugaku said, a sort of sadness to his tone. However he was not sad that he would not regret his actions, his plans or give in to his son; not when he was the current leader of the Uchiha clan. Rather he was sad because he knew that upon winning the spar and demanding that Itachi had nothing to do with the kunoichi she would be angry, sad, and upset.

"Whatever you say, Fugaku-san." Mikoto said sarcastically as she walked out of the kitchen and headed straight for the back door. From the day that they had gotten married until a couple of weeks ago, Mikoto had always made it a point to keep her own abilities and shinobi training as up to date as possible. Especially so when Itachi and Sasuke had been born because staying at home and watching them grow up, tending to their needs, and so on, didn't just include the basics. It also included on fighting for her children in the event that there was ever an attack on either Konoha or their clan compound.

Once outside she began to stretch, all the while expanding her senses and staying as alert as possible. It had been established, even before she and Fugaku got married, that whenever the two were to spar there were no rules in play pertaining as to when it started and how. While stretching, Mikoto also began to clear her mind, to keep the excitement she felt at being a grandmother soon from showing in her eyes or face. She needed to focus, to keep in mind her goal and no matter what fight. She was about to call to her lover when suddenly she sensed a kunai flying straight at her from the back.

With a smile Mikoto dodged and effortlessly blocked the kick that she knew she would meet upon dodging. She'd sensed the instant that he had created his clones, knew his patterns, his movements, and more than anything Mikoto knew him. It wasn't about figuring out his strategy, figuring out where he was going to move and when, or what he was thinking of doing next. It was simply, and though she knew that Fugaku, sincerely thought he was going to win, that he was going to get what he wanted and "do right" by his son.

"You're faster than before." he noted as the real Fugaku finished the hand seals and then send a large fire ball in the direction of Mikoto. Fugaku was not hesitant the way most men would be, he did not worry about hurting his wife and the love of his life. Instead he knew, they'd made it clear, that when in a spar or while on the field their relationship had no value. The world of the shinobi was rough, it required that one keep their emotions under control at all costs and as such restrain from showing their weaknesses so easily.

"So are you." was Mikoto's only comment before she slipped into a crouching position and then, with a spiraling motion, threw several kunai at not only Fugaku but all of his clones as well. Once she felt that all the clones had been taken care of she quickly went through a set of hand seals and then send a large earth quake like attack toward Fugaku.

While it was true that most Uchiha, if not all, were better with fire styled jutsu's Mikoto was different. Sure she was talented with the ability to perform high level fire jutsu's, however she was also able to perform high level earth techniques and as such preferred to fight with them rather than what all Uchiha fought with. Many, when they'd discovered Mikoto's ability, taunted her and criticized her for her choice but Mikoto had never paid any attention to them. She saw her uniqueness as a strength, and most of all as a sort of secrete weapon when needed.

"You're betraying me for her. For some kunoichi with no family or power." growled Fugaku as he dodged several of her attacks only to slip and manage to get cut his arm. The attack itself hadn't been too dangerous or too deadly, but it had been one that had he allowed for the attack to make contact he would have lost the spar right then and there.

"Of course not. How could I when we're so intricately bound to one another?" Mikoto said as she jumped away from the next series of fie ball jutsus and twisted around so as to block the taijutsu sets Fugaku had had ready for her. It was his routine, had been for a while, and as such Mikoto knew that slowly Fugaku was allowing himself to vent out his anger.

"Lies!" roared Fugaku as he released his chakra and for the first time in years used a high ranking genjutsu on Mikoto. Mentally she was shocked and impressed at his resolved for doing the "right" thing for his sons but as she continued to spar against the love of her life she kept her face blank and her eyes blazing with the sharingan that was her own.

'Two can play this game.' Mikoto thought as she added power to her eyes and allowed for her sharingan's specialty to appear. It was similar it that of her nephews in the sense that she could sense another's mind. However her own ability was twice as deadly simply because rather than keeping track of and suggesting certain actions to her opponents Mikoto had the ability to completely take over and/or shut down her opponents mind.

"I love you but please don't forget that the only thing that could ever come between a woman and her lover is her children." Mikoto cooed as she dodge the next series of attacks before releasing three large fire ball jutsu's and a rock slide.

The area in which they were fighting was several miles just outside the compound and in a clearing where they had first met. In fact Mikoto had always found it ironic how they had first met and the manner in which they had confronted one another. It had taken her a couple of years to beat him in a spar but during said years she had slowly fallen for him, had learned to understand him and to love him. It was for that reason, for her love for the man she had chosen as her husband, that Mikoto refused to allow this; to watch as she made the same mistake his father had once made.

"He will not wed, she will not..." but before Fugaku could finish Mikoto was standing in front of him, her sharingan eyes burning with a fierce sort of chakra and locked with his own.

In that instant Fugaku remembered it all, in the matter of seconds relived his youth, remembered the anger and pain that had come with his fathers rejections and realized that Mikoto had been speaking nothing but the truth when she warned him his own resentment. Though it was all true Fugaku also couldn't help but suddenly feel as if though had could finally understand his father's reasoning, could understand why he had acted the manner in which he had and could forgive him.

"Mikoto." Fugaku whispered as he lowered his fists and stopped mid track from completely a high level fire technique. Itachi was a man, he was no longer a child that needed taken care of or guidance; Fugaku could see that now. However it did not change the fact that for some reason he continued to dislike the kunoichi whom he had chosen as his bride. There was simply something about her.

"It's alright Fugaku, I know." Mikoto assured him as she relaxed her stance and gave her husband the time that he needed. He may have not seen it at first, more than likely had chosen not to see it, but Mikoto knew that the only reason why he was so hesitant about calling that child his daughter-in-law, why he refused to allow for her blood to join the Uchiha was because she shared the same blood as the man whom he had been rivals with all of his life.

"She is his daughter." Fugaku finally whispered, causing Mikoto to sigh and to laugh. A part of her was relieved, felt happy that he'd finally figured it out while another part of her wasn't so sure if about allowing for his mind to make the connections.

"Hai." was all Mikoto said as she stretched, allowed for her sharingan to fade and then walked toward the edge of the clearing.

"I'll be at the market in Konoha getting what is needed for the ceremony. Itachi should be with Sasuke so you will need to cook your own dinner tonight."

"Hn."

"Oh and Fugaku?"

"Hn."

"It's about time you go visit their grave." Mikoto said before suddenly disappearing in a cloud of smoke with a smile on her face.

Meanwhile all Fugaku could do was sit, sit and think back to the last time he had seen the Haruno leader, the last time they had spoken with one another, had taunted each other but more than anything the last time they had fought along side one another. His movements were fluid, more so than any other shinobi he had ever encountered before. He had had deep emerald eyes and light colored hair.

"The eyes, of course the eyes." Fugaku muttered to himself as he sighed and turned to the sky. "Only you would continue to mess with me until the after life." he said before laughing and shaking his head.

"None the less, that girl of yours has work to do if I'm ever yo approve of her." were his only words before Fugaku Uchiha teleported himself back into the Uchiha compound. It was still early, but not too early enough as to where he'd have to wait to gather the council so as to inform them of Itachi's new status and the heir that he had produced.

The thought, that one thought of the Uchiha clan having a new heir stopped Fugaku in his tracks and for the first time for what felt like an eternity Fugaku Uchiha broke into a laughing fit. He was going to be a grandfather, Itachi would soon take charge of the clan, and then he would be able to spend the rest of his days along side his wife and his grandchild.

A/N: I know, I know, totally OOC moment but hey, I didn't want it to end on such a bad note. This is technically the last chapter but there is an epilogue (three guess what that's going to be about) so please keep and eye out for another, final update (if you want) and please, please don't forget to review. Also, I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but I'm thinking about turning this series into a trilogy so if you have any ideas for a sequel to Being Bound I will gladly take any and all suggestions. Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed the chapter. :D