Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto.

OMG! You guys are going to hate me for the cliff hanger at then end. Well, I hope you don't hate me! I'm so glad I hae this pre-written! You have no idea! AP Government is INSANE! I've literally been working on it all day and it's like 11pm not and I'm still doing it. Although I've had a shitty day as it is. I couldn't hardly get any studying done cause my dad's friend who's staying with us has two children middle elementary school age (worst age EVER. They get into EVERYTHING!). If I wasn't stopping them from getting into my personal belongings or messing with my 1981 Alvarez guitar that's my pride and joy, they were bombarding me with incessant questions that kept me from reading my textbook at all. The thing that probably bothered me the most is the fact that they thought I was 12? Wtf? I'm almost 18! Jebus! Anyways, I look 15 at the lowest, so I was just completely insulted .

Either way, This is probably one of my favorite chapters. It conveys a lot of emotion, but not character breaking emotion. Sasuke finally uses the real purpose of the ring?! What shall become of everyone! READ AND REVIEW THIS SHIT! ^(^0^)^

Sakura woke up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. She didn't know what was wrong with her but she at least wanted to get the nasty sweat off of her so she could feel clean. She was becoming more of a clean freak than she usually was. It even crossed over into her personal hygiene. Sasuke wouldn't have minded as long as it didn't give her weird tendencies to do laundry at two in the morning and be reckless by showering half asleep. Sasuke awoke to the shower running and threw the covers off and trudged into the bathroom. The other condition due to her late 3rd trimester progress was that all doors were to remain unlocked just to make it easier to get to Sakura if she suddenly had something happen. Sasuke was less than happy when he walked up to the shower and swooped the curtains to the side with his glare dead set on the pinkette.

"You don't seriously expect me to sleep all nasty do you?" She asked sheepishly.

Sasuke just crossed his arms not caring about the stray droplets landing on himself muttering, "I don't expect you to sleep at all, honestly. But A little forewarning that you're getting in the shower would be nice."

"Why do I have to tell you my business?" She asked scowling back at him.

"Because you're vulnerable. You are my business. Just tell me next time. I don't care if you wake me up."

Sakura just scowled and closed the curtains in his face, "A little privacy please."

"Grow up…" Sasuke grumbled as he walked back into the room and flung himself back onto the bed.

The past month was the most tiring part of the pregnancy he'd ever experienced. Sakura was usually low maintenance, but lately she had been demanding of all his attention. Not directly, of course, but still she had to be watched constantly and that wore Sasuke out. He too sometimes wished that it could be a common pregnancy with no strings attached besides the usual risks. He could only imagine how Sakura felt constantly under the falcon's watch of her friends and her foes. It was probably twice as tiring.

"You want lunch?" Sasuke asked from the stairway walking into the kitchen.

He was watching Sakura at the table hard at work on medical papers she'd brought with her and was taking care of via messenger hawk seeing that no one back home whom she worked with knew where she was. She was also going over some last second details with Ino about the severing of the umbilical chord and delivering the placenta and making sure no other tissues were left behind in the process. Sakura was lucky to have another medical-nin with her because it made things a lot easier. Chakra had given the grace of healing that none other could. She was sure her vaginal walls would be torn as well as some stray tissues in her uterus, among other difficulties. It was much easier for a medical-nin to take care of these things than a traditional nurse, midwife, or doctor. Sakura would've only gone to give birth in a regular hospital on the island for the sake of comfort because she'd rather give birth in a bed than on a rock, but that wasn't a luxury she could afford.

Sakura and the blond looked up at him with quizzical glance, but Sakura answered first, "I'm starving!"

Ino chimed in with, "Just some tea and a few crackers with peanut butter for me please."

Sakura had been noticing lately how much she'd been eating but she was determined to train it off post childbirth if she could help it. She didn't want to loose control of her body. Having a fit physique was absolutely necessary for a kunoichi.

Sasuke set to work making something for lunch. He served Ino first since her order was the simplest. Then he went and made Sakura a turkey and lettuce sandwich with some chips, which she completely devoured in under a minute. She was still hungry so Sasuke threw her a few tomatoes.

"Why?" Sakura asked annoyed.

Sasuke looked over his shoulder while cleaning up some plates and said, "It promotes good eyesight for both of you. Just eat it."

Sakura scowled but she was so hungry that the sour taste she'd always hated about tomatoes didn't bother her much. It was amazing how hungry one and half individuals could be. Sakura eventually finished her paper work and Ino had gone back home with a few medical books Sakura loaned her, and the pinkette just fell over asleep. Of course as soon as she hit the ground the Uchiha instantly appeared form upstairs and right in front of her sleeping form. He shook her awake, not knowing if she was sleeping or passed out, but he soon realized she had collapsed from fatigue. Sasuke went to get some cold water from the kitchen sink and gently sprinkled some on her face.

Sakura squirmed and slowly opened her eyes to realize her head was resting in Sasuke's lap, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"You blacked out."

Sakura rubbed her eyes and the water off her face and sat up grumbling, "I don't know what happened."

"I think you should take it easy for the next few days. You've been spending most of your time poured over those papers."

Sakura nodded and the Uchiha carried the girl upstairs into their room. He laid her in the bed and realized that the sun had already begun to set.

Sasuke awoke in the middle of the night to an empty spot on the bed next to him.

"Is she taking a shower again?..." he thought to himself, but soon realized there was no water running in the house.

There was only complete silence. Too much silence to be real. Sasuke sat up and looked around the room and jumped out of his skin when Itachi's face appeared in the window. Sasuke reached for his Kusanagi despite only having his pants on and nothing else to hold it in. He was about to lunge through the window if it weren't for the sound of broken glass downstairs. Dreading the outcome Sasuke fled down the stairs to find Sakura dropped on the floor and a shattered glass with a puddle of water next to her. Just to make sure he wasn't mistaken he looked around to see if any of the windows were broken, but he didn't see any damage to the house.

Sakura suddenly cried out in pain, "It hurts! Sasuke! It's happening!"

Sasuke was a little taken aback by the situation. It was suddenly becoming all too real for him. He tucked the kusanagi behind him with a leather strap and reached down the pick Sakura up completely ignoring the broken glass. He slipped his shoes on by the door instantly but suddenly he was overcome with dread.

"Itachi's just on the other side of this door…" he growled mentally as he gritted his teeth.

Sasuke decided if he was leaving his house he'd make a grand exit, and alert all those in the house and his group that it was an emergency. Sasuke wove the hand-signs for fireball jutsu and blasted the front off of his house, completely off. His suspicions were right as he felt himself being pursued by Itachi. He did have time though to reach in his pouch and throw a kunai through Shikamaru's window, which was sure to wake him and a few neighbors. Sasuke fled into the woods towards the mountain praying he would reach the barrier in time. However he encountered a pleasant surprise as Kakashi suddenly appeared in a cloud of smoke beside him.

"Yo"

Sasuke scowled then sneered, "Is that really the time and place for that? I'm glad you showed up, but cut the crap. We have a problem."

"I know."

"What should we do?"

Kakashi scowled ahead and he said, "You focus on Sakura. Help her breathe properly until we reach there and minimalize her pain, I'll keep focus for Itachi. Sai and Naruto are already trying to slow him down in order for the others to get there. Ino and Shikamaru and probably passing them and are on their way to us right now."

Sasuke nodded. Things were actually going a little bit better than what was planned.

By the time they reached the barrier everyone had slipped through but Itachi had disappeared. Sasuke set Sakura down on the rock slate inside the cavern after laying down Naruto's jacket Kakashi had a shirt to put down as bedding as well. Sasuke also gave up his own shirt as a blanket. Hoping that Itachi had no intention of returning Sasuke focused solely on Sakura. Ino was there in a matter of minutes afterwards with Shikamaru in toll.

Ino set the giant medical pack down the grabbed Sakura's hand, "Everything's going to be okay sweetie."

Ino immediately spread a quilt over Sakura's lower half and removed her clothing then spread her legs and asked all other men besides Sasuke to leave. Everyone abided except for a last minute plea by the girl.

"No…" she whispered, "I want Naruto and Kakashi to stay too…."

Sasuke didn't really have any objections with that. They were two of the closest people in her life. He couldn't imagine her making them leave anyway. Sasuke nodded at the two stragglers signaling his acceptance of Sakura's request. Ino set to work while everyone else was on guard outside.

"If you guys are going to stay in here then help me" Ino barked at them with desperation as she tried to get everything ready.

Everyone nodded as Ino started a general examination then concluded, "She's 9 inches dilated already. One more and she'll start to deliver. Sasuke make this container of water hot, Kakashi help sterilize these tools, Naruto hold Sakura's hand and let her squeeze the shit out of you."

Naruto gulped in somewhat terror Sakura wasn't like an ordinary woman in strength, she had such strength that she could grind his hand into a fine powder, but he figured if he infused his hand with some extra chakra to combat her strength then he could take one for the team. Kakashi was about to lay the sterilized tools out on the cloth when he heard an explosion. Both him and Sasuke ran outside to see Itachi and Madara standing at the edge of the barely in tact barrier.

"How much longer do we have?" Sasuke asked grimly.

"I wouldn't give that barrier another 30 seconds."

And sure enough just moments later it fell and dispersed leaving everyone open to attack.

"I told you not to underestimate me, Sasuke" Madara malevolently growled, "Consider my generous gesture of waiting until your wife gives birth my gift to you."

Sasuke almost went wild with rage if weren't for Kakashi's hand on his shoulder, "Stay calm, he's trying to throw you off. Don't make the first move."

Sasuke took a deep breath then activated his mangekyou sharingan and drew his kusanagi. He solidified his stance then said, "You have to kill me first."

Madara laughed as he suddenly disappeared soon enough he heard screaming in the cavern behind him. Sasuke instantly ran towards Sakura's painful screams and Ino's screams of terror as Itachi appeared in the entrance of the cave. Naruto was the first to respond by a shadow clone coming up out of the ground and knocking him back.

"Set up a new barrier!" Ino screeched, "Before I completely lose it!"

Sakura had tears streaming down her cheeks as she cried out in pain. Sasuke couldn't stand there long, but he saw the finger lines in the rock, he had to protect her from pain that wasn't necessary.

"Deliver that baby as if your life depends on it" Sasuke grunted at Ino before he shot off towards the battle with Itachi.

"No!" Neji reprimanded Sasuke, "You've fought your brother once before already, you're fight is with Madara. We'll restrain him and deal with him later."

Sasuke nodded and shot off to the top of the mountain where he knew his ultimate test awaited him. Little did he know Naruto was right behind him.

"So I see you've accepted your fate" Madara grinned sinisterly.

"Your fate's about to end right here!" A voice mocked Madara from behind Sasuke.

The boy didn't have to turn around to know Naruto was standing behind him. The two boys engaged in the fight together soon found out the hard way that Madara only solidified his form to plant an attack. Naruto cleverly planted shadow clones behind Madara and baited him to attack. As soon as he did Naruto's clones restrained him and he was unable to render himself transient again. Sasuke then used his Chidori stream to strike right though Madara's chest. Sasuke heard gurgling sounds but Madara still didn't fall to the ground or die.

"Are you immortal or something?" Naruto asked angrily.

Madara chuckled as he said, "There is a power only graspable by the Uchiha, young Uzumaki, and you stand no chance."

Sasuke then tensed as he realized the situation and yelled, "Naruto go back! This is no longer your fight. You'll die if you stay here."

"Why!" The blond shouted as he activated his sage mode.

"He's using a forbidden technique called Izanagi. It's the same thing Danzou used, but in Madara's hands this could render him invincible."

Naruto gulped and felt obligated to stay with his friend until the end, but it would be easier to take care of Itachi first, so Naruto did what his friend wished him and returned to the others.

"Fool, you can't take me alone."

"I can sure as hell try" came Sasuke's bitter reply.

The two lunged at each other with swords drawn and metal clashing like lightning.

Itachi had easily been restrained since he was fighting the jutsu himself. He told them that he didn't want to come back to life with this inexplicably evil ability, he's just rather lie in the grave Sasuke put him in. Everyone pitched in in tying him down with immobilizing chakra ropes and binding him to Kakashi's dogs to take care of if he were to move and inch. By the time Naruto arrived Itachi scowled and gave him a vicious look.

"Why did you leave my brother?" he asked angrily.

Naruto crossed his arms and muttered, "Something about Izanagi and not standing a chance… he told me to leave him."

Kakashi started rushing up the rocks as soon as he heard the word "Izanagi." That jutsu was bad news and Sasuke was right in sending Naruto away. Only Sharingan users can combat the illusion Izanagi creates. By the time Kakashi had reached it up the mountainside Sasuke looked like he's been bloodied to a pulp, but was still standing. There were scorch marks all over the rocks from both regular chakra flame and amaterasu. Madara was lying in a pool of black flames and Kakashi assumed that the fight might have very well been over.

"Take me to her" Sasuke panted has he leaned his arms on his knees hunched over.

Kakashi looped Sasuke's arm over his shoulder and around his neck and helped him down the mountainside. By the time he reached the rock cavern the baby was wrapped in Naruto's jacket and Sakura was holding him, crying. Ino had already finished all post medical procedures and was standing outside to greet them.

Sasuke immediately went inside and collapsed next to the rock Sakura was laying on.

"I… I didn't know if you were coming back…" Sakura whispered as she sobbed.

Sasuke pulled himself up to the rock as Ino started healing some of the wounds on his back. He looked at their child's face. He had onyx hair and green eyes. Sasuke ran a hand over the side of the baby's face as he let a smile show on his face.

"I'm proud of you" he whispered in Sakura's ear as he let out a small grunt of pain as Ino healed his deeper wounds.

Only a few moments passed by before a figure appeared in the doorway, "Didn't I tell you not to underestimate me?"

Sasuke's eyes went wide along with everyone else as they spun around. Naruto was the first to lunge but missed as his transparent form came closer and closer to Sakura.

"Don't you touch her!" Sasuke growled clutching his sword, "I will destroy you!"

Madara laughed, "Just like you did a few minutes ago? Look how well that worked."

Everyone covered Sakura with their bodies and arms causing Madara to realize he wasn't going to take the baby this way.

He took a few steps outside then said, "Fine. Let's finish this then."

Sasuke got up and grabbed his side, but Sakura grabbed his arm pleading, "Please! You can't go!"

Sasuke gently peeled her fingers off of his wrist as he said, "I have to. Ino, get her out of here."

Sakura fought with Ino but eventually Sasuke said, "cooperate" and Sakura felt her body stiffen but she managed to eek out the words "You said you wouldn't do this anymore!"

Sasuke let one tear slide down the side of his face as he replied, "I got that ring for a very moment like this. I'll protect you even if it means forcefully imposing my will on you. I won't let you die if I lay down my own life to save yours. Take Kohaku and get out of here."

Sakura's eyes went wide, "You already named him?"

"Hn."

With that last word, Sasuke left a sobbing Sakura and went outside to settle the score. He couldn't let anyone else get hurt in the process, so he had everyone else back off to a distance. As soon as Ino and Sakura exited the cave however, he saw Madara lunge for them and the baby.

"Your fights with me!" Sasuke growled intimidatingly as he counter attacked Madara's ambush on the two girls with a clash of magnificent force.

Mmmhh! A man who grows a heart! Gimmie some of that! It really is an evolution through the story seeing Sasuke grow a pair. I hope you guys have enjoyed it thus far! One chappy left! Love you all! It's been fun! Feel free to read my other stories as well! I'd really like to see all of my works being acknowledged, however my older two 50,000 word stories are shit, sorry. I wrote them in middle school and I'm almost a Sr. in high school now, so you can imagine how drastically my vocabulary, writing skills, and logic in general has developed.

Ja ne!