Sakura's eyes watered as she groaned. The pain in her lower abdomen was too intense for this kunoichi to handle as she gripped Sasuke's arm.
Another contraction caused Sakura to scream in pain. Sasuke cringed with guilt as he held Sakura in his lap and his arms.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shrieked. "It hurts!"
"It'll be over soon." Sasuke cooed as he brushed a few strands of hair from Sakura's sweaty forehead.
Sakura whimpered as her body continued to convulse with pain. Sasuke had to bite his own tongue to keep from whimpering along with Sakura. Seeing her in this kind of pain was overwelming to him.
After much suffering and tears, the cry of a child could be heard ringing through the cave Sasuke and Sakura were occupying.
"My baby." Sakura said weakly, but happily.
"Our baby." Sasuke corrected gently.
Sasuke could faintly see the smile playing on Sakura's lips as she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, cradling thier newborn in her arms.
- - - - -
Ukinari slept peacefully in the sling hung from his pink haired mother as his father led his small family accross the desert under the soft light of the moon.
Flashback
"Before I can go on happily with my life, Itachi must be slain. I cannot live with the fear of him murdering my family."
"Of course." Sakura agreed. "It will be best for our son." she paused before continueing on..."How will we find him?"
"I plan to go stay with Naruto. Itachi will go for him sooner or later wanting the Kyuubi. Hopefully, we won't be too late."
End Flashback
So thus began Sasuke and Sakura's journey back to Konoha with thier newborn son, Ukinari. It was easiest for the young parents to by night when thier son did not need constant assistance or attention.
The trip took total of four days. The two shinobi arrived in Konoha early on the fourth morning. The night guards were still on post and stood in Sasuke's way as he tried to enter the village.
Sakura jumped into action and said, "I am Sakura Uchiha." she smiled softly at the sound of her new name. " I have returned to Konoha. Please escort me to Tsunade-sama. I am her pupil."
"How are we to be sure of that?" one of the gaurds asked suspicious of Sasuke.
Sakura sighed as a grin spread accross her lips. Sasuke smirked as he saw what was coming.
Sakura raised her fist and brought it down with a force so strong, the path was left as nothing but rubble.
"Tsunade-sama's strength!" the second guard gasped.
"You may enter." The first guard said appologetically. "Please forgive me for the misconception."
"It's alright." Sakura smiled as she led the way into the village.
Tsunade's snores could be heard from withing her bedchambers as Sakura raised her hand to knock.
"Wait!" Shizune called out to Sakura as she hurried up the stairs. "Don't wake Tsunade-sama."
"Why not?" Sakura asked after Shizune came to a halt in from of the small family of three.
"It is my duty, and you should not have to do this task." Shizune smiled.
"Of course." Sakura said, a smile skipping on her lips playfully.
Shizune opened the door to reveal Tsunade fast asleep on her bed with a silver trail of slober dribbling out of the side of her mouth. It took everything Sakura had, not to laugh her head off.
"Tsunade-sama." Shizune cooed happily. "Guess who arrived in the village a few moments ago?"
"This had better be important." Tsunade growled as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes.
"Sakura-san is here, Tsunade sama!" Shizune giggled. She couldn't have held in the surprise a bit longer, and if she had, I think she would have popped.
"S-S-SAKURA?!"Tsunade studdered, dumbfounded. She turned to look in the doorway to see if this phenomenon was true. And wha la, there was Sakura in the flesh and blood.
Tsunade smirked and said, "It's nice to see that you are back. You doing okay?"
"Of course, Tsunade-sama." Sakura replied calmly with only a hint of laughter in her voice. "I have come back for business. I need to know where Naruto is." Sakura said, her tone becoming very serious.
"I see." Tsunade said, becoming serious as well. "I guess you hadn't heard."
"Heard what?" Sasuke said nervously, making his presence known.
"Oh. Your here too?" Tsunade said quizzically. "Were you Sakura's rescuer?"
"I was." Sasuke replied simply, with a slight smirk.
"Well then, I would have to say that a few thanks are in need. I will have my counsel pay you a good sum." Tsunade then turned to Sakura. "As I was saying, have you heard about what has happened to Naruto?"
"No." Sakura said in a deep, breathy voice. "Is he still in the village? Is he okay?"
"He is still in the village, but I don't know about okay." Tsunade said, her voice grim. "He was attacked by Itachi and Kisame some days ago. The village shinobi were able to get Naruto back, but I don't know if he will be okay or not. He got pretty beat up."
"Will Itachi come back for him?" Sasuke asked, standing on edge. "Did he say so or not?"
"He said he will strike next when Naruto is least expecting it." Tsunade said. "And that does not give us much to go on."
"I see." Sakura said to herself. She turned out of her thoughts and asked, "May we go see Naruto?"
"Of course." Tsunade said. She turned to Shizune. "I would appreciate it if you would take these two to Naruto."
"Three." Sakura corrected, and then blushed.
"Three?" Tsunade asked, confused, but was enlightened when Sakura turned around and showed her the young child slung in a cloth over Sakura's shoulder.
"Who's child is that?" Tsunade asked, wide eyed, even though she already knew the answer to come.
"Mine." Sakura said, her cheeks becoming very hot.
"and mine." Sasuke said with a smirk.
Tsunade was speechless for a few moments before she cleared her throat and motioned for Shizune to take Sakura and Sasuke to Naruto.
"This way, Sakura-chan." Shizune called as she led the way to Naruto's chamber.
Naruto lay there with his eyes closed as Sakura rushed to his side. "Naruto?" she asked gently. "Naruto, are you awake?"
The blond haired shinobi grinned, but his body became contorted with pain as he did so.
"Naruto!" Sakura pleaded. "Don't strain yourself."
"Heh." Naruto chuckled, barely audible. "This is nothing."
Naruto's body convulsed again and Sakura jumped up and began to heal Naruto's wounds. As she did so, Sakura gasped. The more she tried to heal Naruto, the wounds only got worse.
"Don't worry, Sakua-chan." Naruto whispered. Sakura flinched at the sound of pain in Naruto's voice. "I'll be okay."
"Naruto-kun." Sakura pleaded, barely audible.
Sasuke wrapped his arms around Sakura as she began to cry. Sasuke felt helpless as he held onto Sakura, who was sobbing for her friend.
"Sakura-chan." Shizune asked.
"Hnmm?" Sakura answered as she sniffled.
"Tsunade is the best medic I know. She has no idea what is wrong with Naruto. I think it has something to do with Itachi."
Sakura jumped and lifted her head up as if she had seen God. "I know what to do." She said turning to Sasuke. "I know what is wrong with Naruto."
"What is it?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
"We have to kill Itachi." Sakura said, shivering. "These wounds aren't the after-effects of battle. These wounds are the battle. This is a ninjutsu!"
With that, Sakura jumped up and rushed to the window. She opened it and jumped out.
"Are you crazy?" Shizune yelled at Sakura. "If that was it, then Tsunade would have thought of it."
"Are you so sure about that?" Sakura asked before taking off.
Sasuke followed Sakura out the window, and up the wall to the roof.
Sasuke froze when Sakura jumped up to fight thier foe.
"Itachi." Sasuke spat.
"So, how did you find me, my brother?" Itachi asked, bored. "Was it this girl?"
"Leave her out of this." Sasuke growled. "Your mine."
"What technique did you use on Naruto?" Sakura shrieked in her fear. "If Naruto dies, then I too, will kill you."
"It took you long enough to figure out what I did." Itachi smirked. "I never thought you'd figure it out."
"Itachi," Sasuke screamed. "Get ready to die!"
- - - - - --
What ha! end of chapter. So, I have to appologize for such a long update period. Since school started, I have been a crazily busy maniac! I have the school play, choir, and now a haunted house to do. I will try not to wait another two months before i update again...heheh...
so, I like review...so yeah.