Greetings,

Okay... I have to tell you all this. I received a very discriminating review about Karin and Sasuke's children. People, just because all of us have a grudge against Sasuke for not only killing off Itachi in the canon, but our Deidara too does not mean his children carry their parent's sins. Karin is pretty in her own right, and before Deidara even existed, there was only Sasuke who looked pretty... maybe Naruto is you like the blonde (I do). Itachi and Sasuke are brothers. That pretty gene they have is hereditary.

I would just like to say thank you to the people who took the time to review! I really do appreciate your reviews and do know that I have read most of your fan fictions, those of you who signed, and if not, I usually end up checking to see if you have stories that I will like.

But until next opening notes, that is all the answering time I have. But do know that I am taking your comments into consideration when I read them.

That is all my notes for now. I will write some end notes, but until then...

From Leaf to Flower

ARC 1

Chapter 3

If It's not One Blonde, It's Another

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or this would be where the story line would progress. I also didn't think up Ino's witty nickname for pregnant Sakura. I don't know who, but it wasn't my original idea.

"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts- such is the duty of the artist." -Schumann

Naruto had put off going back for one more day. He had decided to stick around for one last activity before he deemed his travels here over.

And that was Sakura's ultrasound.

The hospital was finished and Ino had been dying to get a hold of one of the ultrasound machines the entire time, even though she had tried once with a stethoscope to at least hear the heartbeat, but Sakura had already been agitated that day. So that went up in ruin the moment she had seen it.

But today, Sakura dreaded, there was no way of getting out of this. She was going to have to lay there with all those people looking on to see her baby like she was some kind of science project or something. It was bad enough that Ino constantly was taking all sorts of pictures, especially now that the house was finished.

She had never in her whole life had been the attention of that many photographs. She was a little nerved-wracked at what the blonde would do with all those blasted pictures.

But the ultrasound was worse. She had decided that this pregnancy would be a surprise. If it was a boy, it was a boy; if it was a girl, it was a girl. She would find out after she gave birth to the little gaki.

Speaking of the gaki, it was kicking rather hard today. That was what woke her on this all special of occasional day. Sakura jumped awake to a particularly hard kick, grumbling as she slowing rolled over that she preferred the morning sickness to internal beatings from the child, but it couldn't be helped.

She rubbed her ever-growing belly gently as if the calm the baby's squirming. She felt the baby's foot against her hand and couldn't help but smile. It knew how to get brownie points with mommy and it wasn't even born yet.

"Sakura," Ino yelled through the door, pulling her from her musings, "I know the bed is comfortable, heck, I almost didn't get out of mine, but you can't avoid today! I'll be back in a couple minutes and you better be up and out of bed, or I'll get you out of bed."

"I'm awake," Sakura yelled back, "No need for shouting. What are you my mother?"

"Better, I'm the godmother of your baby," Ino said as she laughed maliciously.

"Oh great," Sakura sighed loud enough to be heard through the door, "I have an evil godmother on my hands."

It was then that Ino came in, carrying clothes for her to wear today, ones that were easy to pull away from her belly to perform the ultrasound. Sakura was still slowly getting out of bed. It was becoming harder and harder for her to do, but she still preferred to do it herself.

"Someone's getting fat," Ino stated in a sing-song voice.

"Shut it pig," Sakura said as she managed to get off the bed successfully, "I'm in a foul mood as it is, don't be ruining my already bad mood."

"Mmmhmmm," Ino said in a unbelieving tone, "You're just upset because we are finally going to have a look at that cutesy little baby your cooking in there."

"I am no oven Ino," Sakura warned.

"Of course," Ino said, pulling out a bra for Sakura to change into, "If you were an oven, then your product wouldn't be filling you out up there, now would it?"

Sakura didn't bother answering as she put on the bra. Her cup sized had increased, so her chest was more plump and curvier.

"Hate to tell you this, but motherhood looks wonderful on you," Ino said as she helped her get dressed.

"I can't wait till I see my feet again." Sakura said as she tried to look over her swollen stomach.

"Well, not today your not," Ino said, helping her out of her pj bottoms and into her pants, "Today your going to see the baby. Then we'll finally know what gender it is."

"I want it to be a surprise, I'll look, but I don't want to know the gender, alright Ino?"

"But forehead…"

"Pig," Sakura drawled testily, "I want it to be a surprise."

Ino sighed unhappily, but nodded, "Fine, but I'm looking. I want to get the wardrobe prepared for the little one so he or she can look cute!"

"Fine," Sakura relented with a roll of her eyes, "But I don't want to be told and you better hide those outfits well."

"You won't see them till the baby's here!" Ino promised as she finished tying the black ribbon that was where her chest just ended and down half an inch in a neat bow.

She scooted Sakura along who was now beginning to waddle slowly.

"Hurry up and eat breakfast! I want to get there soon."

"Calm down Ino, I'll get there when I get there, the baby isn't going anywhere." Sakura snapped as she kept walking.

After a couple more minutes, Sakura found herself in a wheelchair with Ino pushing her quickly down the hall, to the stairs, stopping so the pregnant woman could get down those.

"I could have walked here you know," Sakura snapped as she tried to get up, Ino helping her impatiently.

"You waddle to slow. It's very soon, you know, when we cut you off from any laborious work."

"Shut up," Sakura grumbled as she made her way down, "I am not going to need that. I can lift a whole freaking tree ten times my weight thank-you-very-much."

The two of them continued to argue as she made her way towards the kitchen, which was closer to the stairs then her bedroom. Sakura had tried to cook herself something, but Ino wouldn't have it and eventually won that battle.

Sakura sat grumpily with her arms on the table and her head rest on them as Ino cooked. Naruto showed up around then, since he was staying here as a political guest and family member, and groaned at the scene.

"Sakura, no being grumpy!" He ordered with a whiny tone, "You get to see your little baby and there is no way that you can be grumpy today! Dattebayo."

"Say another word and I'll punch you through the wall," Sakura hissed from her position.

"Sakurazilla is back," Ino whispered over to Naruto with a grin on her face.

Sakura just grumbled unhappily as she sulked. Soon, Ino had brought out breakfast and everyone there was eating. Sai, Tenten, Neji, and Hanabi showed up as well and just added to the normalcy that had become breakfast, though having Sai and Naruto with them added a little difference.

But all too soon for Sakura, Ino was pushing her to the door.

"Can't be late for your appointment!" Ino cheered happily as she kept pushing the angry mother-to-be.

"Will you quit pushing me! I can walk just fine!" Sakura hissed as she tried to stop.

"Nooo! I want to see the baby!"

Naruto sighed as he caught up with the two, shaking his head slowly before lifting Sakura up into his hold.

"How about I just carry her." Naruto said as he started to head to the hospital.

"I can walk, darn it! Let me down!" Sakura yelled as she began to hit his chest.

"You really are a Sakurazilla," Sai said as he too began to follow.

"How many of you are coming?" Sakura asked as she pointed to him.

"Just us," Sai said motioning to Neji, Tenten, Hanabi, Naruto, Ino, and even Tenzou who had shown up last minute.

"Why this many people?" Sakura whined as she fidgeted, Naruto still walking to the hospital.

"Well, Tenzou and I are leaving later today so, we want to see your baby before we leave. Plus, I have to get a copy of the picture for Tsunade, Shizune, Hinata, and everyone else to see him too."

"How do you know it's a boy?" Ino asked, "What if it's a pretty little girl?"

"I just know there's a boy in there, 'tebayo."

"That's not a good answer! I bet there's a little girl in there with her mommy's eyes." Ino said as she stuck out her tongue him.

"Oh, you want to place bets now do you?" Naruto asked challengingly.

"Yeah!"

"No bets!" Sakura yelled as she squirmed again, "I'm not the lottery!!!"

The arguing continued till they entered the hospital doors. One of the staff members came up to them and bowed respectfully at her superiors.

"Sakura-dono, Ino-sama, Naruto-dono, it is an honor for you to be here." She said with a polite bow.

"Hey Mizu-san," Ino said with a wave, "We are here for Sakura's ultrasound. What room would that be in?"

"Follow me, I will show you." Mizu said as she led them all down a hallway, "Who is giving the ultrasound to Sakura-dono?"

"I am," Ino said as she patted Sakura's belly, "I don't trust anyone else to do it other then miss obstinate here."

"Go screw yourself," Sakura whispered at her with an angry look.

"Aw, Sakura, you know it takes two to tango. Your big belly tells it all," Ino whispered back, making sure the nurse could not hear.

Sakura couldn't make a comeback with the nurse around. So she was forced to let it slide for once.

Mizu led them to a empty hallway, into an empty room that had the device in it. Naruto shifted her to bridal style and laid her down on the nice examination chair.

"Thank you," Ino said with a nod, "That will be all for now. If you hear yelling, it's just us and one of Sakura's mood swings."

"Ino…" Sakura hissed dangerously from her spot on the chair.

"Yes, Ino-sama." Mizu said with a bow before closing the door and retreating.

Ino then turned around and smiled as she snapped on a pair of gloves she had grabbed when no one was looking.

"Finally, I've been waiting too long for this," Ino said as she snapped on the last one.

"Is it alright for us to be here Sakura-san?" Neji asked with a slight frown on his face, "If you want us to leave we ca-"

"No," Sakura sighed, "It's fine. Just enjoy the show."

"Ladies and gentleman," Ino said as she pulled out the necessary items, "Please stand back and enjoy the showing! I know I am!"

"We know you are Pig," Sakura hissed as Ino prepped the machine.

"So mean, Forehead," Ino said as she began to pull back the blouse and pants so that the whole swollen belly was exposed.

"Are you sure this is okay for us to watch?" Naruto asked, suddenly uncomfortable with the situation.

"YES" Both Ino and Sakura said exasperated.

"Sorry, just asking!" Naruto said as he put his hands in the air.

"It's okay Naruto," Tenten said gently as she patted the blonde on the back, "You need to get use to this if Hinata is going to be doing this soon."

"Shuush! No more talking! I'm starting!" Ino said as she began to put the cold gel on Sakura's stomach, making it slick and shiny.

"That's cold," Sakura said as she flinched back a bit.

"Get use to it," Ino said before placing the small device connected to the monitor and machine on her belly.

The image of the child popped up onto the monitor, the image moving to the beat of Sakura's heart and the baby's.

"There it is," Ino squealed as she pointed.

Sakura just stared at it for a moment. Not believing her eyes. There it was. Her baby. Even though the image was not clear as it should have been, she could see it; the cute little thing that was currently curled into a ball.

She couldn't help but fall instantly in love with the child.

Ino shifted it a bit, trying to look for the gender.

"My child…" Sakura said as she looked at the picture.

She had been afraid. She didn't want hundreds of people surrounding her as she looked at the baby for the first time. She was afraid that she wouldn't feel anything towards the baby. That she would grow to hate it instead.

But as she stared, she couldn't help but love the child. It was hers. And it was all the more real as she stared at the image of it in her womb.

"So, Sakura-chan," Naruto said as he looked at her, "What do you want to tell us about this little cutie."

He was equally amazed but couldn't resist a comment about her affection towards the baby. Perhaps seeing it, he had hoped, would make it better for her.

She stared at the picture a bit longer before looking back, "The baby's a hard kicker and wakes me up constantly during the night, but I love this child… so I guess I'll let it slide."

"Oh my goodness," Ino said as she shifted the picture enough for her to see something, Sakura looking away as Ino discovered the gender.

"What?" Naruto asked as he looked at the picture.

"Um…" Ino said, looking a little worried on what to say, before shaking her head, "It's nothing. I do, however, know what to get Sakura for the baby."

"So Sakura," Tenten asked as she looked at the mother-to-be, "any tips on this pregnancy thing?"

"Never do it out of wedlock."

Tenten laughed happily as she smiled, "Okay, I'll remember that."

"Does it hurt to have something growing in you?" Hanabi asked with a curious look.

"No, just annoying at times," Sakura said before Ino squealed again.

"What?" Sakura said as she looked at her blonde friend.

"Nothing," Ino said with a silly grin.

Sakura seemed to notice the same grin on Naruto's face. He was about to tell her, but she cut him off.

"Whatever it is, I don't want to know. I want this to be a surprise."

"Okay… if you say so Sakura-chan…" Naruto said with a unsure look on his face.

"Yes, I do say so."

The rest of the time, Ino spent printing out pictures, one that she wouldn't show Sakura because, as Sakura assumed, it showed the gender, and one that was just for Sakura. Naruto and Tenzou had said their goodbyes after they received a picture, but not before Sakura whispered a word of advice in Naruto's ear.

"When you get back and are titled Hokage, either give Tsunade the desk, or burn it. Do not keep it for heaven's sake or one day you will regret it."

He didn't seem to get it, but promised anyways. The others excused themselves to do their duties till only Ino and Sakura remained.

"So, let me clean you up a bit and give you a little exam to see how things are going, and then you'll be as good as a mother your size can be."

"Alright pig," Sakura sighed as she just laid there, "I'll be good."

Ino just smiled at the turn of Sakura's mood on the child. Before she would have fought, but now she was being well-behaved because of the babe.

Ino smile only grew wider as she thought of the surprise.

'Just you wait Sakura. You're going to be very surprise on your due date. I can't wait till then.'

'Dear Deidara

I know that this letter will never reach you, heck, I know it will never leave my diary, but I wanted to have a way to write my feelings to you without thinking myself crazy in the head.

Almost six months ago. That was when I had last seen that golden hair of yours and that smug smirk crossing your lips in that sexy way only you seem to able to do. Six. A lot has changed since then.

Now, I am roughly the size of a watermelon, carrying your child in my womb. I probably shouldn't be writing that somewhere that is can be found, but my dairy is safe. I always keep it in that seal under the crafted bird you made for me on my birthday. So, it's safe unless someone knows of it.

Yes. I am pregnant with your child. Can you believe it? You're going to be a father. I just had an ultrasound, it's a machine that uses sound waves to graph a picture on a screen (just because you probably don't know what an ultrasound is, you dummy). I don't know the gender, but your child is beautiful. So small and helpless, yet willing to grow stronger so that one day it will be born into this beautiful and deadly world.

I am worried about the child though, what if he or she isn't strong enough to live here in this world? I am now in a serious position that could threaten the child's life. What if I fail? I know these words are silly nonsense that I am writing, but I still fear for the child. I even fear you rejecting your own flesh and blood if you ever were to meet the child one day. Would you take responsibility and love the child? Or will you leave me because of the child?

I love you, but I also fell in love with this child.

Don't make me choose, my love…

I fear that you will lose by the next time we see each other.

Onto other matters. Because of the child, I was given a position to start a new village that is a branch of Konoha. I was able to name it and form it to my own dreams. It's called Hanagakure, and I am been named Hanakage –though I don't know how official that is, but even Naruto (who's actually becoming Hokage when he gets back) calls me it.

This place is to be an artist's paradise. Home to those who's abilities are their art form. We already have a genjutsu specialist. I know you hate genjutsu because Itachi uses it, but both you and I know it takes a talented artist to use it. I also have my friend Sai here. He's the painter I told you about. He lives here now and even designed my house! My house!

Well it's more like a mansion that currently only Ino and myself live in. I think she's thinking of hiring maids, but we don't have enough members of the village to do something like that.

The village has been completed. Naruto made sure of that before he left, but I still have all this paperwork and sorting to do. The academy will be the most different type of learning center there has ever been and the hospital and government is going to run differently too.

I wish you could see it, my love, but both of us know that it is impossible as long as you are my enemy.

Please choose me…

That is one of the many things I pray to Kami for. For you to choose me, your child, and a home with us.

I'm sure you'd be a great father.

I love you.

Sakura'

Sakura stopped writing and sealed it away. Getting up and heading for her bed, but not before looking out her balcony window to look at the sky. Sai had designed it so that it looked like two birds arching their wings to form the door.

After staring for just a moment, Sakura looked down at her stomach and began to rub lazy circles on it as she talked to her child.

"I love you, my flower, my soul… I just pray your daddy will love you too."

And with that she headed to bed to rest. Her stomach for once not being on constant attack.

That is the end. Of this chapter anyways.

I hope you liked where this is going. You seem to have gotten over the whole Deidara not being in ARC 1. Because you have accepted it and moved on, he appears breifly in the sixth chapter. Cruel, I know, that I am telling you on the third, but have hope! The sixth chapter is done! Now someone asked a very good question:

When is ARC 1 going to be done?

The answer?

Shortly after chapter 7, maybe 8 if I decide on it, then an interlede or two and then it will be ARC 2.

If I used words you didn't know, please mention it to me in the review.

By the way. I love reviews. But I usually take a long time writing one, so I don't do it often.

But for those who do want to review, please, could you add a bit of critique in it? I know people love the usual "I love it please update" but I ask of you to add just a little bit more. More means perhaps telling me your favorite part, telling me what you think might happen, pulling out something I wrote and adding to the idea.

Like I mentioned Sasuke. He's married to Karin. Is he going to have children too? Are Sakura's and his children going to be rivals or friends?

Things like that.

So please, critique me, it will not discourage me from writing. If I make grammar errors, please, point them out.

Thanks.

Unknown Artist of Hanagakure