As it turns out, Ainu was more than alright. She was happily playing with Karin and Suigetsu as Jūgo watched from the corner of the room.
When Miyako and Itachi walked in – both with a worried look on their face – the trio that made up Team Hebi knew something was up. That something was seriously wrong.
"What happened? Where's Sasuke-sama?" Jūgo questioned, tilting his head to the side as he watched Miyako pick up her daughter off the ground and start cooing at the little girl that – not even two days ago – had been in mortal danger. She was still in mortal danger.
"He's gone to his room," Miyako replied, answering Jūgo's questioned as she turned to face him. "As for what happened..." she trailed off, looking over to Itachi with a shrug.
"She riled Madara up, and he threatened Ainu," Itachi explained blandly, shooting a glare to his girlfriend. The latter looked sheepish at the not-so-subtle reprimanded. Karin and Suigetsu stared at the purple-haired girl in disbelief.
"Why would you do that?" Karin questioned, not sure if she actually wanted the answer to her question.
"Miyako prevented Sasuke from going against Konohagakure. His new goal is to seek out the Council and kill them off. One by one," Itachi stated before adding on in afterthought, "also, he has five children."
Karin blanched at his final words. "When in the name of the Gods did he have sex?" Karin shrieked as Suigetsu snickered.
"I honestly thought he was either gay or asexual," Suigetsu added, and Karin shot him a glare.
"I was kidnapped almost a year ago," Miyako replied, turning their attention to her. "Itachi got Orochimaru to gather Sasuke's sperms and got the Fifth Hokage to gather the ovaries of my cousin, Sakura. With that, Madara and Ookami fertilised the eggs and artificially inseminated them into some women. Only five survive up to this point."
"Oh? So Sasuke's skill a virgin?" Suigetsu questioned with a smirk.
Karin rolled her red eyes. "And you're not?" she sneered in retaliation.
Suigetsu went to retort, but Miyako just shook her head at him and walked back to Itachi. Itachi held out his hands, and Miyako handed his daughter to him. Ainu cooed at the man, and Miyako looked at Team Hebi.
"I'm going to go and rest in my room with Itachi," Miyako stated, and the group nodded, watching as the lovers left the room.
The family made their way a short distance from the rooms for Team Hebi, opening a door that revealed a room that held a double bed, a closet, a desk, and a bookshelf. To both Miyako's and Itachi's surprise, there was also a cot set up for Ainu to sleep in.
Miyako sat down on the bed as Itachi shut the door, stripping her top off and allowing Ainu to latch onto her breast for her dinner for the night. Miyako watched as Itachi looked out the window in the room, a frown on his face as he appeared to be deep in thought. Of what, she didn't know, though if she really wanted to, she could easily find out. That being said, she loved him too much to invade his mind like that.
"Ryo for your thought?" Miyako questioned Itachi, who frowned.
"Thing would've been simpler if we hadn't gotten together. You know that, right? We're weaknesses for each other," Itachi stated.
Miyako frowned, glaring at the man. "So? We also happen to share at least two weaknesses. Sasuke and Ainu. That is, assuming you care for both still."
Itachi shot a glare at Miyako. The fact that she questioned his love for his younger brother and daughter almost angered him.
"Don't look at me like that, Itachi-kun. You know I wasn't questioning your feelings for your brother and daughter," Miyako stated as Ainu unlatched. Miyako put her down, allowing the baby to crawl around the floor as she stood up and walked over to her lover.
Itachi sighed before nodding. "Sorry. I'm just…"
"Tense? Upset? Worried?"
Itachi nodded. "Are you reading my mind?"
Miyako let out a bitter laugh. "No. I don't like being in peoples minds, no matter what people think."
Itachi let out a sigh. "Do you know who the man behind Tobi's mask is?"
Miyako frowned, shaking her head. "All I know about him is that he seems to have it out for Konohagakure, especially Kakashi-san. Why? I'm not sure."
"So, do you believe he is really Uchiha Madara?"
"No. I believe it's another alias. I also believe that even Hisoka is unsure of who Tobi is exactly. I got from Hisoka's mind that he knows Tobi isn't Madara, but he doesn't know who is."
Itachi frowned but said nothing as Miyako wrapped her arms around his abdomen, leaning her head on the back of his shoulders as she couldn't reach the top of them. He leant into her hug, closing his eyes as she looked out the window at the rain that just started to fall.
"Should I inform Tsunade-sama of the situation?" Miyako whispered, not wanting to break the peace that had started to fill the room.
"Do you think Tobi would let you?"
Miyako frowned. "Probably not. He's probably got someone watching us right now."
Itachi nodded in agreement and they lapsed back into a relaxed silence. That is until Ainu crawled up to them and latched onto her father's legs, wobbling up onto her two feet.
Itachi looked down in surprise, looking at his daughter in amazement at the fact that she was giving him attention. Miyako smiled and stepped back, letting Itachi pick Ainu up who let out a big grin at him.
"Da!" Ainu announced proudly and Miyako's heart swelled.
She knew, right then, that whatever happens from this point on, things would turn out alright in the end. She'd make sure of it.
(Sorry for how long it took to update this chapter. As well as sorry for how short it is. I wanted a chapter that would be a bit fluffier than others as shit is about to the fan in the Naruto universe and I wanted a somewhat peaceful chapter before it starts. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless and I'll try to update sooner (but due certain circumstances in my life I'm not going to make any promises).
Also, if you were wondering, I've reached 157 pages in a word document for this story, sitting at approx. 70373 word. That's more than I've ever written.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and would love to hear from you on what you want for future chapters. Just send me a message on ideas because (if I'm going to be honest) I've sort of run out of ideas on how to get to the end of the story. (Just so you know, I know how the story ends, I'm just not sure what to do in-between now and the ending.))