Chapter 3

It happened on May 29th, a Thursday, a few days after the presumed due date. Sakura had convince Naruto to go to work that day. He had been at her side for the past week waiting for anything to happen. However, after plenty of assurance that she was fine, and the consultation that Ino would be with her all day, he finally gave in.

It wasn't like he was able to work that day, not with his mind racing of all the possibilities; all of the things that could go wrong. He wanted to be by Sakura's side through all of it. Naruto's biggest concern would be what would happen if the baby looked more like Kabuto than Sakura. It would be so much more harder to cover it up. The people who were close to them already knew the situation they were in. Kakashi, Ino, Chouji and Lee all knew. And Naruto didn't mind it if other people he knew, that Sakura knew found out as well. But, if people of the village saw that this child was clearly not Naruto's what would the say? What would they think of Sakura? The thought irked Naruto to no end.

He hadn't been at the office long. Perhaps two hours when the door swung open. One of the chuunin medics from the hospital. "Hokage-sama Saku—" The poor girl didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. Naruto already knew. Of course she would end up having the baby on the one day that he went to work! The young Hokage was at his feet, and gave quick instructions to one of his guards to contact Chouji to take his place the day. Then, he was out the door and rushing to the hospital room with all of his might.

"OH MY GOD!" Was what Naruto first heard when the doors to the hospital opened for him. He immediately recognized it as Sakura's voice. Where? Where was she?

"Naruto!"

The blonde spun around at the voice and saw Ino coming from the elevator.

"It's about damn time," she snapped, reaching over and grabbing his wrist. "C'mon let's go." She pulled the young man into the elevator with her.

"Ino, how is she?"

"Better once she gets an epidural," Ino replied. "But so far everything is going fine. She just wants you."

Naruto felt his heart skip a beat hearing that. Knowing that Sakura wanted him, that she needed him never made him happier in his entire life. Hopefully, he'll be able to hand going through the birth. He started to notice his palms were getting sweaty, and his hands slightly trembled.

Ino glanced down when she notice the trembling. She then looked back at him, into his eyes, and smiled. "Naruto, don't worry. Everything is going to fine."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. Ino was right. Everything was going to be fine. Nothing was going to go wrong. Nothing to worry about.

The elevator dinged when they reached the floor and the doors opened. Naruto rushed out from them and started down the hall. "Wait, Naruto that's not the right way!"

"Oh, right!" He turned heel and started the other way. "Which room?"

"Five twenty-three," Ino replied. "On the right."

Naruto continued down the hall. Anticipation crawled around in the depth of his gut. He found that each couple of steps was a little faster than the next until he was in a fast jog. He almost passed up the room. He reached to open the door before a nurse walked out and stopped him. "Hold up, Hokage-sama," she said. "You need to put these on first." She handed him the cap and gown to put over his clothing. Naruto quickly as he could dressed in them and then shoved past the nurse.

"Might take a couple more hours at this rate," on medic said as he approached the bed where Sakura laid, panting hard. "Oh, Hokage-sama, good you're here."

"About damn time," Sakura breathed out.

Naruto was at the side and clung to the bed railing. "How do you feel?" he questioned, a bit of a stammer in his voice.

"How do you think I feel?" she shot back. "Give me your damn hand already." Naruto smiled and gave her his hand to clutch onto. His free one caressed her forehead to offer some other comfort.

"I knew I should've stayed home today," he said.

"Well, you're here now," she insisted.

Another two hours went by and ten minutes after noon the time had come. Sakura clutched to Naruto's hand tightly as she gave in to all the strength she had left from the day and pushed. Moments later a sound caught their ears.

"It's a boy."

Sakura collapsed and let out hard breaths. Never in her life had she gone through such a task. She was so glad it would be her only time. "You hear that Sakura," she heard Naruto say to her. "It's a boy." There was a long pause as Naruto peered over to see the doctors cleaning him. "Pink hair."

Sakura opened her eyes and turned to look at her husbands face. Never had she seen such relief on his expression in their entire lives. She saw his eyes widened as the nurse approached with the bundle in her arms. He had to push back some so that she could hand the baby to Sakura. Sakura cradled her son affectionately in her arms. A smiled crossed her lips. His head of pink hair was still slightly damp and he squinted his eyes from the new evil know as light.

"Wow. . ." Naruto was just awe struck at the sight. "Look how little he is…"

Sakura gave a week chuckled and coaxed the infant's forehead. "He is a baby, Naruto."

Naruto reached out and touched the baby's tiny hand. Instantly the little fingers wrapped around his and Naruto found himself already starting to tear up. There really was nothing to worry about.

"Uzumaki Shiro."

- - - - - - - - - - -

Shiro turned in his crib in the nursery. Around him other babies cried and whimpered. He didn't though. He just laid their silently not making too much of a fuss. Only if he was in need of a change or became hunger he would start to squirm and whimper. However, for the two days he's been in this world, he's never cried.

Shizune told Naruto it was normal. It was just early signs of his temperament. Naruto was glad. He didn't want anything to be wrong with his son. If Shiro was like this through most of his infancy that just meant Naruto and Sakura could sleep peacefully at night. In their separate beds.

It ached Naruto's heart that it had to be like that. However, he knew it would ache him even more if he had to watch Sakura and Shiro live their lives alone. This way he could protect them. Both of them. He was grateful to have been so blessed even if he couldn't hold her like he wanted to.

"How you doing, Dad?"

Shizune's voice caught Naruto's attention and he turned from looking into the window of the nursery to the older woman. "Heh, tired," he replied. "Not as tired as Sakura though."

"Well she is the one who gave birth," Shizune chuckled. "But I can understand why you're tired too." She walked to his side. "Do you want to hold him?"

Naruto perked up and nodded his head furiously. "Yes, yes!"

She laughed and led him into the nursery. First, she took the infant into her arms and led Naruto to a rocking chair on the other end of the room. He did as he was instructed and sat in the rocker. Once positions correctly Shizune placed the infant in his arms. Shiro was very much awake. His green eyes were wide open and searched his father's face with curiosity.

"Hey," Naruto told him, smiling. "You're so quiet I didn't here you wake up. You'll make quite a ninja some day!" Even a two day old baby could recognize the silliness of Naruto's expression as he said this, and Shiro already started to smile slightly and giggle. "Ah, ah! See I made him laugh!"

"Not so loud, Naruto," Shizune teased. "Shiro may be a nice quiet baby, but the rest of the nursery isn't."

"Ooops," Naruto cringed. "Sorry." He waved his fingers in front of Shiro's face and the infant attempted to make a grab for his fingers. Naruto let him have them. All the while a gently smile and expression of happy content spread across his face. Right now his entire world was in his arms.

The sight wanted to bring tears to Sakura eyes. She had awoken and was standing outside the nursery window where she could see them. Being too dazed on drugs, she hadn't had much time to spend with her baby and Naruto. She didn't want to interrupt anything at the moment though, not until they noticed her. It amazed her how natural Naruto looked sitting there in the rocking chair and holding her. . their son. Sakura knew that Naruto would make a good father. She always knew that. However, this was amazing. She could tell he wasn't a good father. Naruto, as time progressed would be a great father.

There was a touch of sadness in her heart. He really was too good for someone like her. Naruto deserved so much more. He deserved to be happy. Sakura couldn't give him the happiness he desired. . . she could. . .

"Sakura-Chyan!" Naruto waved from inside the nursery. His voice ended up waking up the infants. Shizune was sure to give him a good whack on his head. Sakura couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before her. Perhaps, she thought. Perhaps if things keep on as they are, I might find myself falling in love with him and not realizing it.