Hello!! hides I'm sorry, I've been visiting family and friends on Long Island so I haven't been getting much written. I feel like this chapter is kinda short but I don't wanna make you wait any more. Thank you for all the reviews and for adding me to your favorites and etc. I'm so happy you guys like this! Anyway, you don't need to hear me ramble anymore.

Small notes:

Minato, that's the 4th hokage's name.

Ne, is kinda like saying huh or right.

Aa, is inda like saying yes, or yeah.

A henge is a transformation, more literally to shape shift.

This is all just in case you aren't already familiar with these terms, cuz I know there are times I'm reading and I don't know a word or phrase and no definitions are given so I end up having to look them up. My bad for not mentioning them earlier... :(

Recap:

"To answer your question, I think if Rin were still around, I may have married her, and perhaps become a father. I guess it's true what you've been saying about fate… how cruel it is," Kakashi replied, bitterly at the end. He felt a pang of guilt as his thought of Itachi and Sasuke. It seemed every Uchiha he worked with was left him with this feeling…

Obito had died because of his arrogance, because he didn't see him as an equal. He outcast Obito and made himself out to be so much more superior. If he had gone with Obito when he'd first gone after Rin, he might still have lived, and Kakashi might still have his eye. But as tragic as their relationship was, he could look back and remember so many good things. It was Obito who had broken him from the detrimental conceptions his father's death had left him with. He had taught him that friendship is the most important thing there is, and it was why he had specific standards for his team to pass their first test. If they weren't all working together, it was likely the situation he faced could occur again, and that was not acceptable.

Then there was Itachi… Of course his skills were all anyone talked about. Some people were even reminded of Madara, and whispered about it in secret. That is why while so revered he was also feared. Madara was a genius in his own right, all the elders knew this, but he also lusted for power. To have another born with that kind of power could be very dangerous to them, and they let him know it. He wasn't sure how much Itachi actually knew about Madara, but it was safe to assume as astute as he was, he'd found out one way or another.

He was not like every other ninja either. He didn't accept praise, didn't gloat, nor was he arrogant. Kakashi had felt they were very similar when they worked in ANBU. Itachi had the mindset Kakashi had had before he really befriended Obito, the only exception being Sasuke. He knew that while they rarely spoke, often sitting in comfortable silences on missions, they both strongly admired each other. Itachi was not a bad person… and in fact he remembered the first and only time he'd seen Itachi smile was when he mentioned Sasuke becoming a genin. He remembered hearing about Sasuke's graduation, and how Itachi was going to abandon his ANBU mission to go see him since their father insisted the mission was more important. Kakashi felt bad for Sasuke, vying for their father's attention and affection while Itachi had it all. But Sasuke had never been jealous of him, and they had cared deeply for each other as far as he could tell.

That's why what he was doing now made no sense. At first it seemed as though he had done all this for the power Akatsuki promised to give him, but knowing he had no real allegiance to them… Everything about what he'd done was centered around Sasuke and for the life of him, he just couldn't figure out how he'd gone from so loving of his aniki to having such a desire to torture him. Everyone else may have speculated that Itachi was putting on an act the whole time to keep them from being too suspicious of him, but Kakashi knew him better than that. They never needed to speak, and for the most part they didn't, but to have seen him smile talking so fondly of Sasuke, that was no act…

He noticed Itachi had become a lot more withdrawn after joining ANBU. He'd been sent out on a mission alone and he had come back different. It was not soon after that he had massacred his clan and left Sasuke an orphan. He couldn't understand why Itachi was encouraging this hatred between him and the only person who had given him a flicker of emotion. Sometimes Kakashi felt if he had reached out to Itachi, he could've prevented the deaths of all those people… maybe if he'd just had someone to confide in… There were so many demands on him, so much pressure to be perfect… And then having Shisui tail him… And after all this to… to rape Sakura? He just couldn't believe this was the same boy he knew. What were his true intentions?

And this brought him to think about Sasuke. Sasuke was the Uchiha that plagued him the most. Sasuke he could have saved. If he had shared his story more intimately with him before the Sound Nin came, instead of being so vague... He hadn't wanted to preach to the boy, because that wouldn't have done any good. But he could've at least told him his own story… If he'd devoted more time to him… not given him so much time to suffer with his pain… He knew there was something he could've done to keep him in Konoha. He knew he would never be able to change Sasuke's mind about taking his revenge, but at least he wouldn't be in Orochimaru's hands.

That was another thing that struck him as odd; Itachi knew Sasuke was with Orochimaru… Itachi knew Sasuke was no longer in Konoha but still he took Sakura. Inside the deepest recesses of his mind he knew Sakura was hiding something about that night. Something that would answer all the questions, but who knew what it was? He deemed it unwise to pry, as she had respected him by not prying about Rin.

"Do you know I wasn't assigned to team 7?" he said to break the tension in the air. She released Kakashi and took a seat beside him.

"Oh?"

"I requested team 7. I wanted to be Sasuke and Naruto's teacher. I felt close to Obito through Sasuke, and close to Minato through Naruto. And as I got to know you I started feeling close to Rin. In a way it was like I was back on my old team. Yondaime, he asked the village to treat Naruto as a hero and they shunned him completely… I was bitter about it for a long time. However, I knew one day he'd become a Genin and eventually he would come under my care, and I could help him become great like Minato wanted for him. I wanted to help Sasuke so he would not end up like Itachi who suddenly craved such power that he turned cold and dark inside.

It seems it was Jiraya's destiny to make Naruto great; after all he was Minato's teacher so he knew him much better. And as you can see I failed Sasuke. For a long time I felt all I'd taught you three was to value and lookout for each other as friends. And again I failed, you this time, because I wasn't there when you needed me either. I don't want you to feel as though I only offered you a place in my home as redemption for myself-"

"Don't speak such nonsense. I know that above everything else, you care deeply for me. You would have done the same for Naruto or Sasuke if they truly needed it as well. I know you said everyone important to you has died, but it's a lie. We're the ones important to you now, ne?" Sakura said, tilting her head with a smile. He smirked and ruffled her hair.

"When did you become so wise beyond your years Sakura?" he asked. Sakura had no siblings nor had she been close to her parents. With Kakashi, he made her feel like part of a family. She was glad to hear he thought of team 7 the same way. If only Sasuke could've opened his heart a bit more… or if Itachi had come after Naruto just a little later, he might still be here with them.

"That's why… I wanted to ask you this Kakashi. Mitsuki is due in July… And seeing as how I don't have her father to join me for her birth, I was hoping I could count on you to help me through it…" Sakura said. The thought wasn't completely foreign to him. In truth he wondered when she was going to ask. He figured it would be him or Naruto she'd ask.

"I'm here to help you in any way I can. I'll do my best, but I'm not very experienced with this kind of thing. You'll have to bear with me. I'll talk to Tsunade tomorrow and make sure I have off all of July to be with you," Kakashi agreed. He wasn't sure he could be much more than moral support, but maybe that's all she needed.

"Thank you."

"Just to remind you, I'm going on a mission tomorrow and I won't be home for a few days. You can have Naruto stay here, or you can stay at Tsunade's if you don't want to be alone. I won't be here for your party… so happy birthday. I haven't gotten you a present yet, but I have an early present for Mitsuki," he said. She followed him into his room and he took something out of his drawer.

"What's this?" she asked as he placed some seeds in her hand.

"Sakura tree seeds; I figured that you could plant them outside the house if you like, or anywhere really," Kakashi answered.

"It's a wonderful gift. Thank you," she smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She wrapped the seeds in a cloth and put them in her pocket. "I'll plant them tomorrow."

Even though Sakura asked the situation to be kept quiet, it wasn't as simple as that. As far as Konoha was concerned, it was an unspoken secret. Tsunade had to report it to the elders however. They then added it to Itachi's list of offenses in the Bingo Book and it was discreetly forwarded across the country. Only ANBU was made aware, but these precautions didn't stop the information from reaching Kabuto.

"I have come across something quite interesting," Kabuto said to his master. "It's about Uchiha Itachi…" Orochimaru ceased his activities to listen.

"How interesting?" the snake asked with a sadistic smile. Kabuto looked out in the hall to make sure they were alone. It wasn't something he wanted Sasuke to hear.

"When we left Naruto and Sakura in Grass and brought Sasuke to this hideout a few months ago there was another explosion. He took Sasuke's form and abducted and seduced Sakura. She's 5 months pregnant by Itachi's hand," Kabuto revealed.

"What reason could he have?" Orochimaru asked suspiciously.

"There were only 2 things disclosed in his updated ANBU report. Though he is working for Akatsuki, they do not have his loyalty, proven when he didn't use Sakura as bait to capture Naruto. This is also proven through his telling Sakura he didn't share their intentions and wasn't interested in Naruto. The second is the most interesting," Kabuto revealed. Orochimaru waited to hear the reason with the same sick smile on. Sasuke waited in suspense as well in the hall. He'd hidden in the shadows and masked his chakra after he'd heard mention of his brother.

"I imagine Akatsuki will be rather displeased when they find out. But I know the reason he'll give to get out of it… It can easily be covered up and forgotten. What is the second disclosure?" Orochimaru asked. He had been part of Akatsuki once upon a time. One of them had told them that Kyuubi needed to be the last sealed into the King of Hell Statue lest the statue be destroyed by the fox's power.

"The reason is Sasuke," Kabuto revealed. Orochimaru furrowed his brows and looked at the young man before him with confusion.

"Can you elaborate?" he requested. Kabuto nodded his head.

"I have limited information but I'll tell you what was in the ANBU report. According to Kakashi, who took her statement unofficially while they were together in the hospital, Itachi told Sakura she was precious to Sasuke. She disagreed with him to which he smirked. He then told her Sasuke lacked hate, and she would be a vessel to further his hatred. Nothing else was included," Kabuto revealed.

"Why is it we haven't heard this sooner? Even all the way out here, I'd think it would be something your contacts would deem important for us to know," Orochimaru said in annoyance.

"It was absolute chance that I came across this information. My contact happened to overhear his captain telling another captain before a mission. I managed to get a little more information about the situation in Konoha however. As far as I can tell, the only ones that know are those she was on the mission with, Godaime, Kakashi, and Sakura's parents. As far as the latter are concerned she has shamed them and they have disowned her. She's currently staying with Kakashi, who willingly offered her a place to go," Kabuto reported.

"It would seem she's truly dedicated to my ward then, to be so easily seduced by a henge," Orochimaru hissed with a chuckle to himself.

"Well you know how skilled Itachi is. It would be difficult to detect one of his illusions, even if you were looking for it. She never stood a chance really," Kabuto said feeling just a little sorry for her.

"I suppose you're right. Is there something else you want to say Kabuto?" Orochimaru asked.

"I think it would be unwise to tell Sasuke," he said.

"Why is that? It could be beneficial to his progress."

"It may be… but it could also backfire on us… If he gains a great deal of power in a short time he may decide to…" but he couldn't finish.

"It is true… Itachi did cast me away quite easily when I attempted to take his body. Sasuke… he knows the only way to kill his brother is through me. He would not dare raise a hand against me. In any 

event, I would like more information about what Itachi said to Sakura," Orochimaru requested. "As for Sasuke… Don't tell him if you believe that's best. No sense in causing doubts about my power."

"Aa," came Kabuto's reply. He bowed and left his master to his thoughts. Sasuke was already gone. He ran outside, and once he got there he ran some more. Just ran and ran. And for the first time in almost 10 years he could feel tears stinging his eyes. It brought back the memories of what Itachi had forced him to watch. He tried to blink back the tears and force away the pain he felt crushing his heart. He had convinced himself these bonds Naruto and Sakura strived for were utter nonsense. But why then was it hard to breathe?

'Because I couldn't save my family, and I couldn't save her. I thought they'd be safe if I left them thinking I didn't care at all… I thought Orochimaru would give me all the power needed to kill Itachi. If he was so easily defeated then what can I hope to accomplish with him? And…why? Why did he do it? How could he have known I would find out?'

Sasuke couldn't get the thoughts out of his head. He slowed his pace and began to ponder something else. Where was he headed? Konoha? Why, and for what purpose? Just one tear fell. For a long time he let his thoughts dwell on the pink haired girl. She was not as naïve or powerless now as the girl he had left in Konoha years ago. She had trained, grown up, but still she remained just as dedicated to him as she had always been. She just didn't understand what he needed to do, her or Naruto. And now he had another reason to take his revenge; Sakura's honor…

All of the sudden something hit him that he had grossly overlooked… Itachi had gotten Sakura pregnant… This took his obligation to her to a new level. When he finally killed Itachi, he would need to return to her. He wondered if part of Itachi's plan was to use this child as a form of manipulation against him; to keep him from carrying out his revenge… There were too many things he could speculate without knowing what was actually said between his brother and Sakura…

'So I'm going to be an uncle… I'll need to go back to Konoha to be with what will be the last of my family. I just hope Sakura will be ok alone until then.' He sighed heavily. What made him think he would be allowed back in Konoha? He was in the Bingo Book and a target of assassination... He looked up in Konoha's direction. "Sakura…" he whispered, clenching his fists. 'Itachi… he will pay for your suffering!'