..Chapter Three..

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Shizune stood in front of the door, feelings cornered as the three Jounin before her bore down on her with persistent eyes. "I'm sorry," she say saying as she wrung her hands, "I can't let you in yet. Tsunade had to go take care of something. She'll be back shortly and then you can go in Hyuuga-samas, Neji."

Naruto sighed as he stood in front of them all. He barely understood why people did that. Granted he was married to the Head and got the same respect and attention as Hinata on almost a regular basis. Especially by the Hyuuga clan members themselves. But it was almost unnerving to hear people call him that. He hadn't taken her last name nor she him for obvious reasons. And yet people still felt it was needed to give him that respect. It was a weird change from 'you moron drop out' or 'demon fox'. He still wasn't sure if he liked it though.

"Let us pass, Shizune. Tsunade said it was urgent. I'm not waiting on the Grandma, so, step aside." He reached for her shoulder, pushing her away from the door.

Neji suppressed a smile. Naruto could be so impatient.

She began to stutter and tried to keep him from going, but to no avail. He opened the door and all three members of the group walked in. Hinata ran into his back though, muttering as she rubbed her nose. She tried to peak around him to no avail.

"Naruto... What are you... "

Neji spoke up. "Naruto, you're blocking us all out."

Suddenly he wasn't anymore though. Suddenly he was running across the room and reaching for someone, grabbing them and shaking them as he yelled, holding them over the table. No one could see anything.

"You bastard!" He held the man in front of him so no one could see.

And then a grunt was heard as Naruto bent over slightly. Hinata's eyes widened a bit and she got ready to step in. But, the she noticed Naruto had a hold of the hand that she had thought hit him. Roughly, he was tossed back. Naruto didn't go far though, he was reaching fist drawn and ready to hit. But, then it didn't. It all happened so fast no one seemed to know what was happening.

Neji idly muttered, "So much for keeping this quiet."

Hinata gasped, "Sasuke-kun!" Sakura-chan!"

Shizune quickly shut the door just before Hinata cried this out. She sighed as she rested against the door, slumping slightly. Tsunade was going to kill her.

Sakura held his fist with her own, Chakra coming off their joined hands in waves. Her Chakra. Her lips were a cold flat line. She reached back and punched him with her free hand before he had time to formulate words. Too stunned at the sight of her. He went flying back and hit the floor with his back hard.

"Damn it..." he muttered, eyes shut tight in pain as he tried to get his bearings.

"Hn..." She looked down at him, eyes cold. She glanced back at Sasuke. Her voice was equally cool as she spoke to him. "Are you alright?"

He dusted himself off and looked at her with an expressionless face. "I had it under control."

Sakura looked at him for a long while and then turned back to Naruto. She moved forward towards him, looking intent to continue what they had stared. But, someone stepped in font of her. Cool ivory depths narrowed on Sakura as Hinata reached up with both hands. She pulled something out of a pouch on her back, under the mesh shirt. Fingerless gloves that only buttoned just before her wrists were slid and snapped on. She looked intent as seconds seemed to pass. She formed fists with her hands to test the tightness of her gloves. They had odd metal wiring embedded in the leather. All of it ran about and coiled into a metal discs in her palms. Her eyes seemed to flash a strength Sakura wanted to laugh at. What was this girl about? Really? She thought she could take her on? She? Sakura? The only woman who was a match for Sasuke? Idiot. She didn't even come here with the intent to hurt anyone. But, if they wanted to start something, so be it.

Hinata took a fighting stance, but not one Sakura had ever seen before. She bent over slightly, as if in a bow, her palms flat facing to the walls on either side of her. One leg was drawn forward, the other behind her, weight on the front ball of her foot. The one in front of her was pointed, her foot arching slightly as she pressed the tip of it to the floor. Her eyes, they remained on Sakura, as if waiting.

And then she smirked slightly. "What are you, his guardian?"

"No," Hinata said with a deadly calm, her eyes narrowing once more. "I'm his wife."

Sakura blanched. And then got mad at herself for doing so. She never faltered in front of others. Rarely Sasuke. And once in a while with Itachi. But, certainly not with this... Hyuuga. This high and mighty girl who'd had everything handed to her.

Very well. she came at her then. She barely heard the voice, Hinata's voice whisper as she aimed to hit her with a Chakra inflamed fist.

"Dance of The Eternal Crane," and then her eyes changed, invoking Byakugan. She came at her then, open palmed, Chakra pulsing through the gloves and glowing into the metal plate in her palm. She hit her in the chest and Sakura coughed. But she kept going, despite the pain and reached out to hit Hinata. Hinata's free hand wove up. "Blessing of the Crane.." She whispered and she easily grabbed her wrist, blocking the attack.

Sakura cried out, not expecting the same slice of pain to run up her arm. She glared down at her, her teeth clenched and her eyes heated.

Hinata stared at her impassively. "I'm sure you've noticed by now. These gloves... aren't just regular gloves. They are made of a natural metal that heightens, raises, my chakra and focuses it on one point more accurately if I choose. If you'd like, I can removed that hand from your arm. I can also continue to give you more of that pain. Or... you can stop this now and leave Naruto alone. Alone as you left him six years ago."

Sakura yelled out as she shoved her with her foot. She placed it right in the Hyuuga woman's chest and shoved her hard. Hinata, no longer a free hand available, took the strike and braced herself as she was forced back. She released Sakura as she did, her feet dragging against the floor until she stopped. After a moment she took the same stance in front of Naruto once again.

Sakura glared at her, her face still as cold and hard as ever. So, Hinata had grown up too. She, like Sakura, was no longer the sniveling little brat she had once been. And apparently she'd been spending her time wisely if that stance and attack were any indication. She would easily be a match for her. But, if she let her grab her again, she might loose an arm the next time. Those gloves were most likely far more easier to cut flesh with than Kabuto had ever dreamed his Chakra scalpel would ever be.

"What is going on here?! Shizune! Get off the floor this instance! I told you to keep guard at the door till I got back." Tsunade glared down at the floor at Naruto. "Get up, brat." She looked over at Hinata and Sakura. "Both of you! I expected better from you. I thought perhaps the boys were in here fighting when I heard all that racket. What do I find? Two young women ready to go at it." She made a couple of noises as Hinata stood up and turned to face her. "and you both think you're so grown up. Sasuke!"

He looked at Tsunade with cool eyes, his voice even. "What?"

A nerve above her eye seemed to twitch as her jaw set. "Get off my desk. Now."

And he did, with nothing more than another look.

She moved to sit down behind the desk with a sigh. "You come here asking for help and then I find you in a fight with Hinata."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "Naruto started this by attacking Sasuke. I was merely protecting what was mine."

Hinata came up next to her, also appealing to Tsunade. "As was I."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "What is this? Fight night for chicks and their husbands or... boyfriends? Shut up, both of you. It's late. I'm tired and I have no patience." She looked over at Naruto. "Come here. All four of you. Neji, you are more than welcome to stay, if you like, but it really has nothing to do with you."

He nodded. "Naruto may fill me in later." He turned to leave.

"I assume I don't have to tell you not to repeat tonight's events to anyone?"

He smiled slightly. "What events?" And then he was gone, shutting the door silently behind him.

She sighed and rubbed the front of her face down with her hands. "Shizune!"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama?" She came up next to her in a hurry.

"I want tea. A large pot of it and five glasses."

"I don't--" Sasuke started to say.

Tsunade glared at him and interrupted him. "I don't care what you want. I'm going to have some tea. If you'd like, you can have some as well. This is going to take a while. Now, all of you, grab a chair from the corner of the room and sit." When they didn't move she spoke again. "Now! This is going to take a while and I don't want to crane my neck up to stare at you for next hour or so."

They all did as she said and took their seats, none of them too happy.

Tsunade let out a long sigh and took her glass from Shizune when she returned. "Anyone else? No? Alright. Set it over there, Shizune. Thank you." She took a long sip and let out another long sigh when she was done. "Now," She finally addressed them. "you both came here for Konoha's assistance. My assistance. And the assistance of an old friend." She looked over at Naruto with some softness in her eyes. "Why you were fighting is beyond me. But then, I suppose old wounds take time to heal... At any rate... I was surprised. I thought when you two left it would take Naruto and Hinata dragging you back to get you home. When I was told I was needed in my office by Shizune at three in the morning well... I expected maybe an ANBU. Not you two. And certainly not what you brought with you. Though, I must admit, if there was any a reason for you to come back, to make this change, it might as well have been something as urgent as that."

She took another sip from her glass. "Now, I know from what you have explained that you've gotten in contact with Itachi. I understand the explanation. I suppose my question is, after you take care of Orochimaru... what are you, he, going to do about the Akatsuki?" At Naruto's confused looked she realized she had yet to update either of them.

"Damn it, I really am tired." She sighed and started to explain but was interrupted by Sasuke."

"I'll explain it."

Sakura blinked over at him. She watched him with soft eyes and then reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his own.

"It happened about nine months ago. We decided to leave Orochimaru for a while. Itachi came to see us when Sakura sent a request for the Akatsuki. She was hoping they might help us off Orochimaru as we could not do it by ourselves. I wasn't happy about it. But... Sakura found out the death of my clan wasn't his fault entirely by sending people to dig up information in Konoha. He was ordered by the Third to kill them. They had been planning a coup de ta against the village for a long time. They had ordered him to watch Konoha. And for a while, he'd been working as a double agent."

He gazed out towards the window, his face still unfeeling. "He couldn't bring himself to kill me, however, and left. He made me think he did it all to test his eyes, when in reality he did it out of loyalty to the village. He wanted me to use my hatred of him to bring the clan back, to kill him and be named a hero." Another pause. "But, after learning this we've all come to and agreement." He looked back at the group. "Itachi will use the Akatsuki to destroy Orochimaru. I'll be feeding him information. Once that is complete we're hoping we're powerful enough to take out the Akatsuki as well."

Naruto blinked, utterly flabbergasted. But, he soon found his resolve. "But, that doesn't explain why you came back. Why are you here? Why tell us?"

Sakura looked over at Tsunade and she nodded back at the pink haired medical nin.

"Shizune."

"Yes?"

"Bring her in." She nodded and dashed out of the room.

"Who?" Hinata asked, a bit surprised, but no one said anything.

After a moment or two the door opened again. Shizune came towards the group, towards Sakura.

Sakura waved her hand. "Give her to Naruto. Please." Her voice seemed to soft, so broken up at the sigh of the bundle. But, she held it in, gripping Sasuke's hand tightly.

Shizune did. She handed to the bundle to a very confused and very unsure Naruto. He had no idea where to place his hands, how to hold her. What was he suppose to do with this? Then he felt Sakura reach over. His eyes met hers a moment and she only smiled down at the child. It was the first time since that night he'd seen her do it.

"Like this. Hold her head. Ok, good. You've got her." And then she was leaning back, Sasuke looking over her shoulder at the bundle, his eyes soft as well. But, his face revealed nothing.

Naruto didn't notice, he was too busy staring down at the black haired tiny body in his arms. She was so small. Everything on her was so small. Her fingers seemed to reach out to his as she yawned, making a soft noise. And then her eyes opened. They were a soft blue... they seemed to draw him in in a way he didn't understand. And then she laughed up at him reaching.

He looked up at Sasuke as he spoke. "Her name is Kei... I want you to take care of her for me, Naruto."

He blinked, confused. "Me? You.. what?" He looked back down at the baby and then at Sakura and Sasuke. Sakura spoke this time. She seemed so much... kinder than she had been before when fighting Hinata. So much more like her old self.

"She's our only child. Mine and Sasuke's. She means more to us than you can ever imagine... We want you to take care of her for us while we fight this battle with Orochimaru and then against the Akatsuki. No one can know she's ours."

Tsunade spoke up. "When they told me about the child and pleaded with me to take care of her, I realized people might question where she came from. I would rather not take of her myself because... well, I'm too busy for one and for two, I'm not really suited for motherhood. Instead, I suggested you, Naruto and Hinata. You're both married so no one would question it. And you could easily pull the child off as being yours because of the eyes and hair. No one would think twice about."

Hinata stared down at the small baby and found herself smiling as the little girl looked at her with an awed expression.

"But... but..." Naruto started. "Why can't anyone know it's yours?"

Sasuke shook his head as if irritated. "You know how bad Orochimaru is. If he were to find out about this child he could use it against me. Sakura can take of herself... but a baby? It's too much of a risk. And when he finds out I've turned against him? She'll be even more in danger." He shook his head, his eyes closing. "I won't loose another family member to... to... the way of the shinobi ever again. Not like that." He looked over at Naruto.

"I'm asking you, as a friend, as a boy who was once my best friend and in many ways still is. Will you take care of my daughter? Will you give her your name and take care of her for me until all of this is over?" His face was still impassive, but his eyes spoke volumes.

Hinata looked at Naruto and he glanced back at her. She smiled at him and he returned it. How could he say no? He'd hurt him badly by leaving all those years ago, but he was still his friend. It's why he wanted to save him so badly. Well, he hadn't saved him, Sasuke had come back on his own, because of a child. But, it was enough.

He stood up and faced the man he called friend once many years ago. "It's still not settled between us."

"I know, dropout."

His eyes narrowed. "I'll do it. But I expect you to come back eventually. We will settle it."

He nodded and stood as well. Both parents got one final look at their daughter. One final hug and one final kiss. As she was walking towards the door, Sakura turned back to look at Naruto, her eyes looking ready to cry as Sasuke placed a hand on her shoulder. Her voice was full of unchecked emotions. But, how could it not be? She was letting go of her only child. She was saying goodbye on the off chance that she might not come back.

"Naruto..." She held a fist to her chest as she bit her lip and took a deep breath in as she met his eyes. "I'm sorry we hurt you. If we had known... well..." she laughed a bit, "I guess it's the past. But... I love her and I... I can't see leaving her with anyone else. She means the world to me... promise me... promise me if we don't come back... promise me you'll tell her who her parents were." She felt Sasuke's hands grip her shoulders tighter.

"Sakura..." Naruto whispered.

"Promise me! You and I both know it's a possibility. ..." Her voice grew softer. "Please."

He took a deep breath. "Of course. I promise."

She nodded and walked out, no longer able to contain herself. Sasuke looked over at him. "We'll come back. And when we do, be ready for me." He shut the door behind him, leaving two happy and yet sad parents behind.

"Hmm..." Tsunade said and both of them turned back to look at her questionably. "I need to tell you two a bit more about what's going on. I was going to explain it while they were here... but, I know they needed to go soon. Their suppose to meet back with Orochimaru in three days." She sighed. "In a few weeks Itachi should be contacting me. He'll be the go between for Sasuke and Sakura. It's much easier for him to move around than them without his intentions being known. When he does come around I need you two to keep him in the compound, hidden. That's a controlled environment and he's less likely to be found out. Until this whole thing is over with and Akatsuki are taken out, he's still in the bingo book. I can't change that."

They both nodded and looked down at the child. Everything had just gotten harder for them, but, they were prepared for it. All that mattered was Sasuke and Sakura were ok. They were ok and were going to come home soon.