So, I've begun writing this chapter and deleted it so many times that it's unbelievable. I also lost the paper draft, though it is in a book somewhere… All I can do is apologise for my terrible behaviour of not updating. For some reason, I completely got out of writing this, and I don't quite know why. Just, for some reason, I got stuck on this chapter. Thank you for all your reviews and sorry for not replying to any of them, if you've asked me a question. I have, however, sorted out my life some, and think that I am now stable enough to finish this. ^^' I will try to answer any questions you have from this point onward.

Naruto

Kakashi moved with haste, Shino beside him. The bug user had approached him, having the forethought to plan a female khaki bug on Naruto, distrusting Naruto's male company, just as much as he had. A way of tracking Naruto; the real Naruto. Shino thought they'd need a few more people, but Kakashi was too desperate, too reckless, so they sped off alone.

xxxxxx

Naruto was not as foolish as people believed him to be. He could sense Kakashi outside the door; could practically feel Shino's bugs crawling his skin. His senses were somehow hyper-alert in the aftermath of having sex with Itachi. Perhaps it's because of the rush of it, or simply because he was over thinking, now, on the enormity of their decision. They'd both rushed into sex as a way to escape; a way they weren't yet ready to deal with.

"Itachi…"

"I know. Kakashi-sempai is here; earlier than I would have imagined." Itachi breathed out, fingers idly running through the young Jinchuriki's hair, slightly matted with drying sweat, but still soft and golden. He was in such an intimate position, with a potential hostile situation fast approaching, and he couldn't find himself caring with a single fibre of his being. Nothing was on his mind. He was oddly at peace, even though the teen laying on him was so troubled.

"Sempai? Since when have you been so respective to your elders?" Naruto snorted. "Formal, yeah, respective-ow!" Naruto yelped as his hair was pulled. "What was that for, Bastard?"

"Tch. Serves you right." Itachi mumbled, moving the bundle off of him and pulling on some clothing. "You might want to dress, unless you want your Sensei to see you naked."

"Eh!" Naruto squeaked, barely pulling his underwear on before the tell-tale 'poof' was heard and red crept up his neck to rest on his cheeks. "Kakashi-sensei!"

The silver-haired Jounin's eye twitched as he looked upon the franticly dressing, embarrassed blond and calm nuke-nin fixing the last strap of his footwear. "Naruto…Please tell me you didn't actually sleep with an S-class missing-nin."

"He is my fiancé, Kakashi-sempai." Itachi stated simply, causing Naruto to splutter and Kakashi to radiate with killing intent. "We have every right to lay together."

"What? Itachi! What are you still spouting that lie for! They know now, damn it!"

"I'll kill you." Came the dead calm of Kakashi's voice, as well as a kunai, that was easily caught by Itachi's nimble fingers.

Instantly, Kakashi was upon the younger man, who was forced to defend himself with the silver-haired Shinobi's kunai. The metal clink and grating sounded in Naruto's ears as Kakashi loomed over the nuke-nin. Suddenly, Itachi's leg came up and kicked the Jounin off of him. Kakashi flipped back onto his feet and charged to the dark-haired man, still crouched with his back to him.

"Kakashi-sensei, stop it!" Naruto cried, halting the Jounin by standing in front of his recent tenant, who promptly turned around and held a kunai at his neck.

"Damn it, Itachi, what the Hell are you doing?"

"Gomen, Naruto-kun, but you being my hostage means the Aburame here won't consume my chakra for the cost of your safety."

"Don't take me so lightly, Uchiha. I have better control than to mistakenly absorb Naruto-kun's chakra." Shino narrowed his eyes. "And I somehow doubt you'd kill Naruto-kun in retaliation."

Itachi chuckled. "Very observant, Aburame-kun. You're right, I wouldn't harm my dear Naru-kun-"

"Itachi! Stop giving me nicknames, damn i-"

"But, I would take his sensei to the world of Tsukyomi. So I propose we sit and talk this out like adults."

"Tch. You can't go wanting to talk things out whenever you please. Especially when you've taken advantage of Naruto and been spying on Konoha for the past however long. Do you really think your actions deserve leniency or give you the right to demand anything?"

Itachi immediately spun the unsuspecting blond around and melded him to himself, kissing him with all the determination and passion he could muster. Naruto, in turn, responded eagerly, tasting all that Itachi was, to the shocked bemusement of his sensei. Kakashi, in his calm frustration, threw two kunai at his foe, regretting it only a moment later as Naruto took the hit by the will of Itachi. Kakashi's eyes widened; the boy's name on the tip of his tongue. That was until Naruto and Itachi's bodies turned into crows.

"I would appreciate that you listen to me Kakashi-sempai. We have much to discuss." Itachi's voice floated through the atmosphere. "And although I hate admitting that I need an ally, my plans are not currently falling into place. I feel my predecessor may be besting me once again."

"I've told you once, Itachi, do not demand an audience with me!" Kakashi growled out, dispelling the simple genjutsu and starting the symbols for a water dragon, intent on flooding the apartment and separating the two junior Shinobi before him.

That was until he found himself frozen from moving, shadows bound tightly around his arms.

"Nani? Shikamaru, what are you doing?"

"Naruto asked me a strange question a while ago. He said; what if Itachi was innocent? And as troublesome as it was to think about, I ended up doing it anyway. Clearly some things just don't add up…How did one ANBU captain kill the entire police force of Konoha? Why did no other ANBU member detect the killing intent whilst on guard duty? Why was it only the Uchiha who were culled…? Of course, the biggest question of all is, why someone would own up to something so terrible if they were innocent? They wouldn't of course, unless they were somehow involved or threatened. Which would still beg the question of who helped and why?"

"There was an investigation. Are you trying to prove your predecessors incompetent?" Itachi asked.

"Why are you defending them?" Shikamaru smirked.

"Although you may have a point Shikamaru, how does that justify keeping him unharmed?" Shino queried.

"Itachi joined Akatsuki strait from abandoning the village, therefore he had to have known about it before. The only logical conclusion is that someone in Akatsuki was involved. Moreover, capturing the Bijuu at that time was not in the plans, otherwise they could have taken Naruto then, when he was unable to fight back."

"These are all questions the man standing in front of us can answer." Kakashi growled.

"And if I refuse…?"

"We'll force it from your mind, anyway." Shikamaru stated with a shrug, making the mistake of looking in Itachi's direction and getting caught in a simple genjutsu.

"There's an old Uchiha hideout to the east of Konoha, the location of which is documented in the Uchiha library. The only way to enter without extensive seal breakdowns is with the blood of an Uchiha."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because this goes far beyond your comprehension. Tomorrow at dawn, Kakashi will come to this place alone. If I sense any other, I will escape with Naruto and you shall never see him again."

Tch! The terms are unacceptable."

"They are my terms. And you'll try to come up with another plan, I'm sure, but there is no other way. Not in such a short time. Remember my words, Nara."

The next thing Shikamaru knew, he was being thrown back into reality and the deadly black fumes of Ameretsu.

"Shit, he's blocked the exits!" Kakashi yelled, digging out a scroll and sealing the flames away as fast as he could.. "Shino, which way did they go?"

"I don't know, my female bug is no longer on Naruto."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Kakashi growled, summoning his army of dogs. "Pakkun, find Naruto!"

"Kakashi," Shikamaru finally addressed "I know where they're going…"

xxxxxx

The Uchiha library was cold and dusty. Being in an unkempt district, the elements and wildlife had begun to interfere with the structures, but inside it was still untouched and empty. The books and scrolls were listed alphabetically, with nothing on hidden locations that could be seen. There was a 'secret' room behind one of the shelves. Inside were many of the clan's secrets. Documented history that people rarely spoke of. What other secrets did the Uchiha keep? Shikamaru wondered. And where were those documents kept?

xxxxxx

Kakashi showed up at the barran ruins in the forrest east of Konoha. He was alone, as he had to be. And he had to keep this from Iruka. Last night he'd held the man as he'd cried. He'd lied to him; unable to give him false hope. He couldn't say he knew where Naruto was, because Iruka would be the first out of the door, screaming at Kakashi to go now, and if he couldn't bring him back, Iruka would be heartbroken. Even this morning, he'd left without facing the man. If someone called him a coward because of it, he'd probably agree with them.

Shikamaru was located a mile behind him with a handful of impatient Shinobi, Naruto's friends. The Hokage, fiercely holding a cup full of tea and looking out over the village, a far away look in her eyes, longing to leave the safety of her tower and fight for the captured and confused Jinchuriki that she cared so much for. So much that she was spending the day sober and alert.

The Hokage had not told the council, just as Kakashi had not told Iruka. Don't get her wrong, they were there at the Uchiha wedding, they know about Itachi, they knew Naruto was gone, and they definitely were not pleased. But, by God, she was not telling them about this delicate little number. They were both cowards in their own way, but they both believed in the young man gone from their grasp. Both cared for him as part of their family. Both scared to death of him dying and leaving them behind, again, like so many others.

So this mission was for them, Tsunade and Kakashi. Perhaps even more so than for Naruto, because deep down all beings are selfish and do things that interest themselves above all others. So even though Naruto put all others above himself, they would believe in him; they would be selfish for him.

xxxxxx

As soon as Kakashi stepped into the deserted area, he felt the air shift. It wasn't enough to be noticeable, had he not been looking for it, expecting it, due to the seals and genjutsus in place. It was the same kind of chill in the air from just being in such a battle ruined place, like the lingering of souls or the innate sense of danger. He was only there for a moment before one of the rocks shifted and Itachi's voice to enter came from the ground beneath, followed by echoing, fading footsteps.

Calm, by all appearances, Kakashi followed the S-class nukenin down, below earth level, as the cold grey stone shifted back into place, as if sealing him inside a tomb. It was almost ironic, as Kakashi fully intended to leave Itachi's rotting corpse down here. Following the fire-lit hallway, the silver-haired Jounin came across a large room, mostly empty and giving off the same dead feeling the whole place did.

"Welcome, Kakashi-Sempai." Itachi was sitting, relaxed and slouched in a chair furthest from the door Kakashi had entered by.

"Where is Naruto?" The Jounin asked impatiently, angrily.

"He is asleep still. I don't think he's ready to know most of what we need to discuss."

"Don't play games Itachi, give me Naruto, now, and we might-"

"The Kyuubi seal is weakest during child-birth."

"Nani? What are you talking about?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed.

"Uzumaki Kushina, the previous host of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, had her seal broke during childbirth, thus leading up to the Demon's attack on Konoha. Sealing the Fox in a boy, the same fate should not have been bestowed upon him as his Mother, but once again, we as ninja underestimated the strength, malice and ability of the Kyuubi's chakra. Most likely, Kyuubi played a part so far back as Naruto's development in the womb, instigating his hermaphroditic qualities."

"You shouldn't know about Kushina."

"I shouldn't, and yet I do. Let us say, theoretically, that Uchiha Madara was to have found this out back then, and used his influence to terrorise Konoha. And let us also say that Uchiha Madara was also the one to help me on the night of the massacre, that it was Uchiha Madara who is controlling the Akatsuki and that it is Uchiha Madara that is now planning on using this same weakness in Naruto to once again obtain the Kyuubi."

"You are trying to tell me that Uchiha Madara is still alive?"

"Naruto would not leave the village if he knew it was going to be attacked. And it will be attacked, Kakashi, before Naruto is to give birth. The strongest of the Bijju hosts will be vulnerable and immobile, the seal weak enough to be broken without management-"

"Wait a minute! What you're telling me is an impossibility. Madara cannot be alive-"

"Just like a boy cannot get pregnant? It's time to wake up, Kakashi! We are on the brink of another war, and I remember the pain the last one left behind! I swore that I'd never let Sasuke witness the damage of war, but thinks have gotten too big for me to stop alone. I thought that being close to Madara, I could destroy his plans before he made them, but he'd closed himself off from me and deemed me untrustworthy, long before I'd realised it…

Good morning, Naruto-kun." Itachi suddenly announced, glancing behind him at the bleary eyes blond emerging from the hallway.

"Good morning, Itachi, I see you didn't wake me up, as usual." Naruto grumbled, annoyed. "Good morning, Kakashi-sensei!"

"Naruto." Kakashi acknowledged. "Forgive me if I can't take you at your word, Itachi."

"I thought you would say that, Sempai, so I thought I'd bring in a little encouragement." Itachi smirked. "Unfortunately it seems he's running a little late."

xxxxxx

Shikamaru stood, stunned beside the white-haired man beside him. He would have protested when he'd shown up, demanding that he follow, under orders from the Hokage, to a separate mission than saving his friend, except that his perception of honour and loyalty and duty differed from his friends. So as they'd protested for him, he'd silently put up his hand and said that it must be important for the legendary Sanin Jiraiya to come and get him.

What he did not expect was for the man to summon them to the site Kakashi had been not too long before and to open the seals without blood, as the Uchiha had suggested, and to enter after pushing Shikamaru forward. Honestly, even with his extensive IQ and superior strategy skills, he couldn't quite fathom how Jiraiya fit into any of this. The man had only just returned and had suggested that he'd known none of what was going off with Naruto. So why were they here?

xxxxxx

"Ero-Senin? What are you doing here?" Came Naruto's astonished voice, as Jiraiya entered with a confused looking Shikamaru.

"Jiraiya-sama, why did you bring the Nara?" Itachi's brow twitched, Naruto was sure of it.

"Why? Well, you see, I figured that it was strategically plausible! Hahaha." The Sanin laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Kakashi."

"Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi greeted. "If you don't mind my asking, how are you here, not that I'm complaining?"

"Itachi-chan hasn't told you yet? Well, I'm here to help, of course! I think it's about time that we get some things out in the air." Jiraiya turned on a more serious air, ignoring Naruto's crack and hysterics at 'Itachi-chan' and causing the young man to go quiet with his tone.

"Why are you here old man, what's going on?" The blond demanded.

"Itachi is my Akatsuki informant, and it seems his position had been compromised. I came back as soon as I received word, but was surprised to here that you had taken him in, Naruto."

"So all those times you wondered off-"

"Was to meet with Itachi, yes."

"Then why all the secrecy? Why couldn't you just tell me?"

"Because, Naruto, there are still too many players that wish to silence Itachi, and you, too for that matter. Danzou, for one. And unfortunately, they still hold a lot of pull over the way things are played. And unfortunately, the truth behind most secrets are dying out as we do. The truth is that the culling of the Uchiha was an assassination orchestrated by the elders and Danzou and that Itachi was the pawn they used to do it.

"Originally, he was going to remain in the village and it all be covered up, but it would look suspicious, the only two survivors being Sasuke and Itachi, so the council gave Itachi the suicide mission, alone, knowing that he would die in the process. However, faced with such an impossible task, he was approached by Madara, so he went to the Third for advice. From then on, Itachi was given the mission of being double agent, and I, his contact."

"So he is innocent?" Shikamaru asked, astonished.

"No, I murdered my kinsmen." Itachi deadpanned.

"On orders, though." Naruto mumbled. "Konoha's orders…How can I love a village that condones killing it's own citizens? I won't believe it!"

"They were planning a coup d'état. They were going to declare war on Konoha. Annihilating one side provided minimal loss of life and suffering." Itachi stated.

"Including the children? Innocent children? Damn it, Itachi!"

"They were going to kill my brother!" Itachi growled. "What would you have me do?"

"And this is our village? The village we fight for? I want nothing to do with it; I want nothing to do with it, Kakashi!" Naruto spat.

"It was a corrupt government, Naruto. The Sandaime wasn't strong enough to take them on, like the Yondaime was. The lapse in power made the village weak to sabotage and plots. A lot of good people were lost in the war and there were few people the Sandaime could count on. It's not like it is now, where Tsunade can lean on people to help stop these injustices. Sometimes, we get it wrong."

"They were innocent kids, Ero-Sennin!"

"And there's nothing we can do about it now, Naruto!" The Sannin snapped back. "Nothing but learn from our mistakes and make sure it never happens again. But in the meantime, we have more urgent problems, like Akatsuki! We need to get you to a safe place, Naruto. That is priority number one, because if Akatsuki get you before the babies are born, you're as good as dead, and then, so will be the rest of us."

"Jiraiya-sama, this is all getting a little too complicated. Why couldn't we just have sorted this all out in Konoha? And why does it feel like you're going to tell me Itachi's going with Naruto? Especially when nothing you tell me will make me trust him."

"Well, Kakashi, probably because I am. The less people that know about this operation, the better."

"And why would that be?"

"One of our members, Pein, has multiple forms. One of these can read your mind with such ease and speed, that nothing is left unknown. Everyone in this room has just been compromised. Everyone in your little rescue party leads back to you. You're now targets of the Akatsuki, as soon as anyone who knows you've come here gets killed."

Naruto

So, this was a long time coming and I'm going to post it now, before I read it and delete it again. ^^' And hopefully, I'll update it soon!

TIMELINE

October - (Late) SasuNaru begins.

November - (Early) Pregnant, (Around 10th) Party, (Mid) Day mission, SasuIno (Late) Mission starts.

December - (Early) Mission ends, Sakura Pregnant, (Week later) SasuSaku marriage told, Naruto moves teams, (Late) Failed visits, Observe NejiHina, KakaNaru talk.

January - (Early) Kakashi makes a lie, NejiHina told to be false. (Mid) Sakura tries visiting. (Week later) last failed visit.

February - (Early) Questions of father stop, (Mid) Sakura's baby's sex, Sasu rapes Naru, Naru moves. (Late) Meets Sakura, Stops training.

March - (Mid) Finds Itachi, Saves Itachi, finds Itachi's curse seal, InoSaku talk, Stag do (interrogation), SasuSaku wedding, ItaNaru consummated, Naruto taken out of Konoha

August - (Early) Naru's due date.

September - (Early) Sakura's due date.

In order of occurrences (bold is this chapter), tell me if I've missed anything and I'll add more as it's revealed.