A/N: I do not own Naruto, but I own Sayuri, Reizo, Ryota, and Yasuko.

Chapter 4: Uchihas Always Cause Problems, No Matter How Small

The months passed, and Sayuri had begun to finally accept her tasks without complaint — most of the time. She proved she was hard working and obedient (as much as her hot-tempered red-headed self would allow, anyways), and eventually, after nearly a year of working for him, Pein gave Sayuri an Akatsuki ring.

"But you'll only be working part-time," he told her. "I still expect you to cook and clean."

"Whatever." Being a maid didn't bother her so much — and she was able to earn a bit of money. And better yet — she had finally managed to become an Akatsuki member!

Meanwhile, the new of Sakura's pregnancy eventually broke out as her stomach grew. Sayuri found it quite amusing how Itachi had become very protective over the former Leaf kunoichi, often insisting that she rest in bed; he had more or less insisted to become her personal servant. But although she found it humorous that the great Itachi Uchiha was reduced to such a level, Sayuri told the other members to shut up when they laughed at him behind his back.

"What're you gonna do?" jeered Kisame when she rebuked him. "Hit me with your feather duster?"

"You better not," grumbled Kakuzu. "That was expensive."

"Kisame…" Sayuri growled angrily, "if you value your dick and everything that goes with it…you'll shut the fuck up. NOW. Or else I'll take your Samehada and shave your dick off — if you've got anything there!"

Kisame lept to his feet and cried, "You think I've got nothing there? I'll show you —"

He pulled down his pants, and Sayuri hurriedly looked away. Just then, Pein walked in.

"I don't want to know what you're doing," he said.

"I just insulted his manhood," Sayuri explained to him, and left the room only to be nearly run over by a frantic Itachi.

"Sayuri — come quickly."

"Wow, Itachi, you look terrible." There were more lines on his face, and his eyes looked red-rimmed and bloodshot; he probably had not slept well for a long time. His dark hair was disheveled, and he had a stubbly beard growing.

[A/N: Itachi with a beard? Also, a point to ponder: How to these ninjas stay clean-shaven on missions that last for several days? Just putting that out there.]

"Sakura's having the baby."

"Shit."

Sayuri ran to the makeshift infirmary, where she had woken up once inside the Akatsuki base. Sakura was lying in one of the beds, sweating. Konan was speaking softly to her.

"Sakura, Konan…are you ready?" Sayuri asked quietly.

"Sakura's green eyes met Sayuri's, tears spilling.

"Sayuri…I'm scared," the pregnant woman whispered.

The newest Akatsuki member squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Sakura, it'll be okay, trust me. You want us to numb you?"

"I already did," Konan told her.

Sayuri smiled. "Great."

But it was not so when the baby started coming. The anesthetic was not strong enough, and Sakura was screaming and crying in pain.

And she refused to push.

"Sakura, you have to push the baby out," Konan told her.

"It hurts!" Sakura sobbed. "I can't do this!"

Sayuri's mind was frantic. "Itachi, do something!" she cried to the Uchiha, who was watching the scene painfully.

Wordlessly, he strode over to his wife and wiped sweat from her forehead. "Sakura…" he called quietly.

"Itachi…help me," she gasped.

"I'm going to give you some of my chakra…but you have to push."

She bit her lip, but nodded.

Several stressful hours later, the baby was born. Sayuri and Konan were sweating as much as Sakura, and Itachi, who was drenched in sweat as well, though not as much as the women, looked about to pass out from exhaustion.

Konan cut the cord and Sayuri took the screaming, dark-haired Uchiha baby boy to bathe him.

"Oh God, I'm a mother," Sakura muttered to herself.

"Eventually you'll say it was all worth it," Konan told her as Sayuri handed the now clean boy, wrapped in a blue blanket, back to Sakura to feed. Konan already had two children of her own: Pein and Konan's son, Ryota, was born after Sakura had arrived at the Akatuski base, and their daughter, Yasuko, was born a few days after Sayuri's arrival.

"Itachi, you should seriously get some sleep," the redhead told the new father. "I swear Konan and I will take care of her, don't worry."

He nodded, but turned to Sakura. "What will we call him?"

Sakura pulled out a piece of paper from her bedside table, which Sayuri realized was a list of names.

"Reizo," said Itachi, scanning it.

"I was thinking of that one…hmm, Reizo Uchiha. I kinda like it."

Itachi gave a half-smile, kissed both Sakura and the baby, Reizo, and then stumbled out.

Reizo. That meant cool, calm, or well-groomed [A/N: That's according to . Please correct me if it's wrong, as I am rather ignorant when it comes to the Japanese language]. Sayuri smiled. What a fitting name for the newest Uchiha.

The next few days were a blur to Sayuri and Konan. They operated in shifts: while one took care of Sakura and Reizo, the other had a few blessed hours of sleep.

The two makeshift-nurses were glad when Sakura recovered sufficiently and did not need their help anymore.

Pein entered the infirmary as Konan was about to leave. He was holding a sleeping red-headed baby girl in one arm, and the other was holding the hand of a blue-haired toddler, a boy, who had his other thumb in his mouth.

"Mama!" cried the boy, holding his hands up.

Konan laughed and picked him up. "I'll see you later, Sayuri. Get some sleep."

"Yeah, you too, Konan."

The blue-haired mother and son left.

"Thank you, Sayuri," said Pein quietly.

Sayuri blinked. "For what?"

"Helping ensure that hell did not break loose with the birth of the Uchiha."

Sayuri tried to smile, but was too tired.

"Go sleep," the orange-haired man ordered.

All went black, but Sayuri could have sworn she heard voices:

"Deidara, get her to her room."

"Is she okay, Leader-sama, yeah?"

"She is just exhausted."

The voices faded, as did Sayuri's consciousness.

Sayuri opened her startlingly bright, lime-green eyes, and immediately caught sight of him. He had taken to visiting her room whenever he could; despite the birth of the Uchiha baby as well as Leader-sama's kids (who could be quite a handful) staying at the base, things were quieter and less lively without Sayuri.

"Deidara?" She sounded tired and half-conscious when she said his name, but it made him blush all the same.

"Yeah…un?"

Deidara pulled up a chair and sat next to her bed.

"How long've I been out?"

"Three days, yeah."

"WHAT?"

Sayuri sat up abruptly, almost smashing her head into Deidara's in the process, but stopped quickly, holding her head.

Deidara laid a hand lightly on her shoulder. "You okay…Sayuri…un?"

"Just got dizzy, that's all. Um, hey, Deidara?"

"Yeah?"

"Why exactly are you in my room?"

Deidara blushed. "I…uh…I wanted to make sure you were okay, un," he muttered, casting his blue eyes down.

But instead of laughing at him, as he expected her to (like every other girl he'd tried to confess his feelings to), she smiled and wrapped her arms around him.

Her hair, which had come out of its usual updo, was about the same length as his, falling just past her shoulders in spiky layers. Aside from her bangs, which reached about eye-level, she also had a few strands that almost reached her shoulders. Deidara moved his head and inhaled; her hair smelled like strawberries.

"Sayuri, hm?"

She dropped her arms from around him. "Yeah?"

"Can I…sit with you on your bed, un?" He tried to smirk but was blushing too hard.

"Sure…but if you're thinking of sex, I'm not interested," she told him with raised eyebrows.

Deidara climbed on her bed and sat across her. She's really cute, he thought. And looked damn hot in that maid outfit…

He bent forward and ran his fingers through her soft hair. He held her head with one hand and pressed his lips to hers.

Shit, what am I doing?! He thought frantically, and moved back, ending the kiss.

"I'm sorry, Sayuri, un. I didn't mean to, yeah —"

He was cut off by Sayuri pulling him back to her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

Well…if she wants me to go on…

Deidara kissed her so hard, he actually ended up pushing her onto her back, as he leaned over her, He started making moves on her, and felt her respond, to his pleasure and arousal.

He then moved down to her neck and bit her.

He must have startled her, because she nearly kicked him between the legs.

Deidara glanced at her; she blushed and gave him an apologetic look.

"My bad…sorry…"

"It's probably lunch now, hm," he told her, getting up.

Sayuri nodded, eyes cast down.

Crap, now she's all embarrassed…

"I — I should probably get my cloak on…" she muttered, standing up as well.

Deidara quickly slipped an arm around her waist. "Forget about that, yeah…hey, you wanna go out later?"

She looked up, bright green eyes wide. "You mean like a date?"

He nodded, mentally crossing his fingers in hope that she would accept.

"Sure."

Deidara grinned and hugged her tightly.

Sayuri rested her orange-haired head against his chest. "Dei-kun?"

"Yeah, Sayuri-chan, un?"

"You were always my favorite Akatsuki member."

One point for Deidara…HELL YEAH!