He stared at the blank ceiling unwilling to move lest his shell crack.

Sakura.

How could anyone with that much life be gone? He couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had dawned on him; that the little girl that he had harboured so much annoyance yet, protective concern for had grown into such a fierce and fiery woman. In hindsight, that hadn't even mattered because it wasn't her looks that had drawn him to start paying attention. It was a mixture of small moments leading up to the war, during the war and colliding after the war.

He had been the one to hold her when Naruto entrusted her with his final request. Him and Sasuke had fought after they had defeated Kaguya. In all his time as shinobi he had not seen anything quite like it. It was beyond shinobi it was a battle between Gods. It had unbalanced the entire natural order of things. It was then when Naruto wiser than his years had bore his eyes into Sakura; his words would be burned into their souls for eternity.

"This power is too great to leave unchecked… Sakura," Sakura had grown cold at his request. Naruto turned to Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, you know what we are asking." Kakashi understood remembering his efforts to seal the curse mark on Sasuke long ago. "Kakashi, you will seal us within Sakura. She would be a vessel and then when she passes from this world we too will pass with her."

His eyes had widened. "You want to make Sakura a Jinchuriki?" Naruto shook his head. "No, Sakura would merely hold us in a reserve. It would be separate, the reason a Jinchuriki dies when the beast is extracted is because their chakra and that of their beast is effectively intertwined. She wouldn't be able to access the power merely hold it. At least that is what the Sage of Six Paths said to us." Kakashi had looked to Sakura, unsure whether this would break her. Sasuke met his gaze, "You are needed to do this complex seal given to us so it can't be you. Her Hundred Healing Seal is much a like in a sense she would be holding us in separate reserve. It would require delicate chakra control. If anyone else were to do it they would die instantly with us, at least she has a chance of surviving this and it wouldn't cause an end of the world catalyst."

This was when Sakura had looked up solemnly, she had understood what they were asking. "You want to seal this power away so it can't be used to start more wars." She had whispered, she took in their missing arms. She had her team back and she was effectively going to lose them again in the same instant. It was cruel fate for her. Kakashi reached for her in his weakened state squeezing her shoulder. She turned to Kakashi, their time as the Fifth Company had brought them closer. She knew she could only bear this burden knowing he would be there.

Naruto gave his hundred watt smile, "Its ok, Sakura this is what Hokage do. They endure for others."

"Do it, Kakashi-sensei." She stated with a hard voice.

Kakashi looked at his hands. The same hands that had taken many lives of comrades and the same hands that had sealed his team mates within the purest soul. It was a secret they had sworn to take to their deathbeds. As far as the world was concerned the saviours of the world had killed each other in their final blows. He curled them into fists.

Sakura had a son. A single tear escaped as he considered the events leading up to this day. The shame of looking upon the boy.

Flashback

Sitting in Ichiraku Sakura swirled her noodles deep in thought. Kakashi had felt compelled to sit beside the pinkette lost in thought. "Yo." Sakura had turned to Kakashi, a genuine smile of warmth in her eyes. He hadn't seen that smile directed at anyone else. He sat on the chair next to her as she ordered his usual. He blushed, maybe he shouldn't be so predictable. She was making him blush a lot lately. She placed a hand on his thigh casually as if it was a normal thing between teammates. Who was he to say otherwise? I mean, it wasn't like he was the most socially adept. He was definitely reading far too much into the warmth, "I come here to remember Naruto, " she whispered, he stilled, she rarely initiated conversation about their teammates since that time.

The cold irony of the peace they had secured.

"Naruto believed that enduring pain was the key to being Hokage." She met his eye sadly, "I am not feeling very Hokage like." She whispered. Without thinking he touched her face, she blushed. "Pain can be shared with your comrades, Sakura-chan." She took his hand pulling him along with her.

They reached her apartment with the speed only a ninja possessed, stumbling as the fell into each other through the door, she reached up hesitating slightly at his mask, he nodded.

She curled the mask down, slowly. The pace was killing him. He stood before her hands stilled on her waist. His ultimate vulnerability exposed as she took in his face. He felt her sadness and her are for him. She met his lips, her fingers clasping his hair.

"Stay with me, Kakashi, I only trust you with my pain…"

He blanched at the memory. It was after all the first of many. He thought about the boy in the Hokage's office. How could he have been so close yet so far at the same time? When her three month mission had turned to years he had assumed it was something he had done. Or, the very least that she had found some happiness away from him, the last reminder of her pain.

Now, he realized the truth. Why hadn't she told him? Why hadn't she told him he had a son?

Ataru made his way through the quiet streets of his mother's homeland. It was on dusk and he imagined that everyone was at home eating. He was peckish and stumbled across a stand open for business, he looked and the sign and smirked. His mother had raved about this place often. He took a seat and ordered.

The Hokage was assigning him a jounin instructor to assess him for the upcoming exams. And, to ensure he was fit for missions. He shrugged at the formality; it would give him time to work out this place. He had met a few leaf shinobi in his time being the Raikage's apprentice, it would be interesting to see their responses. His mother had insisted that the Raikage protect his identity. From what, Ataru planned to find out.

'Welcome Home, Ataru'. He thought bitterly.