Chapter 15: CELEBRATIONS
AN: Another day another chapter! I don't have much to say to you all, but thank you for your kind and strict reviews (telling me what's wrong and what needs to be fixed will help me very much)
Kakashi slouched back to his usual pose, more weight on his right foot, his hands in his pockets. He was smiling proudly at Sasuke, the way a father would at his son. Kakashi felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. "Very well done Kakashi," Tsunade smiled, "Congratulations."
"Ah-ha ha ha," Kakashi. Buckled rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, "Thank you Tsunade-sama."
Itachi who was standing a few steps away from Sasuke beckoned him over. Shrugging Sakura off, Sasuke went to Itachi. Itachi poked Sasuke's forehead with his index and middle finger, "Well done Sasuke."
Sasuke lifted a raven brow and smirked at Itachi, who raised his hand in order to ruffle Sasuke's hair and smirk proudly at him.
Sasuke had thought that he'd contained his hate for Itachi merely because he felt pity for him, and he was in a hurry to get back to the twins. In truth, Sasuke really missed his brother and wished to be able to be a family again, especially since no matter how strong was or had been, there was no way he would manage to kill the entire Uchiha clan by himself. Also, he knew deep down that Itachi had been lying about pretending to be a good older brother. There was so much about Itachi he didn't know, and so much he wished to learn. But he wasn't about to admit that, he had (waaaaay) too much pride for that.
"Hey!" Naruto called, "How about you guys all come over to my place for dinner tonight?"
"Naruto, you do know that dinner is in approximately two hours right?" Sakura asked.
"Plenty of time! How about you two go and freshen up, and Sakura-chan you should tell your parents that you're coming to have dinner at my place."
"Should I come and help Hinata out?"
"Nah, it's okay, I'll help her out," Naruto waved her away.
"Are you su-" Sakura started.
"OI!" A voice called from the entrance of the arena. "Forehead! I need your help with something!"
"What is it Ino?" Sakura called back exasperated.
"I can't find lazyass!" Ino whined. "Somebody told me to give him an urgent message, so I reeeeally need to find him!"
"Lazyass?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"She means Shikamaru, I don't think you know him though," Sakura elaborated.
"Hn."
"Go help her, Shizune and I'll tend to these two's injuries," Tsunade nodded Sakura away.
"Oh, okay." Sakura let herself be dragged away by Ino, who had conveniently hopped to Sakura and started dragging her long before her agreement to help.
Sasuke let out a sound that sounded a lot like, "Tch," causing Tsunade to chuckle and look at him, an amused look in her eyes.
"Are you unhappy that I'll be the one healing you Uchiha?" Tsunade laughed. "Mind you-you couldn't even wake up before I healed you once."
"Oh I remember that time!" Naruto exclaimed.
"It's alright Tsunade-nee-sama," Itachi continued to mock, "Sasuke's just a little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to have the woman he loves roam her hands all over his body, my poor foolish little brother."
Kakashi looked at Sasuke shock written all over his face, before he went and whispered in Tsunade's ear, "I'm not sure this is Sasuke!"
"Why not?" Tsunade had a confused look on her face.
"Sasuke hated physical contact."
"You do know he is a grown man now," Tsunade asked, "Not a little boy going through puberty."
Naruto happened to be listening very intently and had heard the whole conversation, well that and Kakashi was much louder than he thought he was, burst out laughing. Itachi didn't waste much time in joining Naruto, except he was chuckling very subtly. Sasuke just stood there and scowled. "Poor teme!" Naruto wailed mockingly. "He wanted to have Sakura all to himself so that he could enjoy her company, and sexually harass her for healing him, and now," Naruto threw the back of his hand over his eyes dramatically, "He can't! Oh the misery!"
Tsunade may be Hokage and Kakashi might be an elite jounin and Itachi might be an Uchiha, but that was just too funny! And so, everyone, other than Sasuke and Itachi (who chose to chuckle) burst out laughing.
"Na-ru-to," Sasuke growled murderously.
"Aww come on teme, we all know that was true," Naruto pointed, "Anyway, see you later guys! I need to go tell Hinata that you guys are coming."
Just like that Naruto jumped away; and just like that he dodged a shuriken. Sasuke glared at the group of laughing ninja, "So are you gonna heal me or not?" Sasuke growled at Tsunade.
"Once we get to the hospital, that way I can heal you and Shizune can heal Kakashi at the same time," Tsunade said matching out of the stadium with pride, and the others following suit.
~x~x~
"Oi! Shika!" The familiar soft and feminine voice reached the ears of a man who was laying on the roof of a building with his hands behind his head.
"Ah Ino?" The person being called asked.
"I've been looking all over for you! Where the heck have you been?" Ino exclaimed. "Anyway, Naruto has invited you over for dinner okay?" Ino winked.
"Oh I see, cool," Shikamaru nodded, "by the way Ino, I need to speak to you in private later."
"Oh-Kay?" Ino agreed confused.
"Oi PIGGY! Where the heck did you go!" Sakura sighed exasperated. "First she asks me for help then she leaves me behind! How the heck can I help if she's not letting me?"
"I'm up here forehead!" Ino waved to Sakura from a distant building.
"I'm going over to Naruto's okay?" Sakura called.
"W-wait!" Ino called back, before running to where Sakura stood at full speed.
"What do you want now Ino?" Sakura out her hands on her hips.
"Don't you want to take the twins with you?" Ino asked, "And go in something fancy why don't you?"
"Fine! I'll go get changed!" Sakura threw her hands up in exasperation. "But Sasuke-kun will have to take the twins there. I have no right to take them without his permission."
Ino raised a delicate blonde brow before she slung her arm over the pinkette's shoulder. "Listen honey, were those two little cuties in his stomach or yours?" Ino asked.
"They were in mine," Sakura replied.
"Okay, who had to go through the initial shock, the morning sicknesses, lack of energy, and tiresome pregnancy?"
"M-me."
"Alright now, who had to go through giving birth to two babies one instantly after the other?" Ino asked before Sakura had the chance to ask Ino what the point if this interrogation was.
"Me."
"Now finally, whose the one who had to lose their memories?" Ino looked Sakura in the eyes. "You or him?"
"Me, Ino why are yo-"
"Who had to endure more pain? You or him?"
"I don't know."
"You did of course!" Ino said bewildered that Sakura could actually think that Sasuke had endured more pain than she had.
"You don't know that!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Believe me if I asked him he would say you suffered more than he did," Ino gave Sakura a stern look, "And he's seen you suffer and he knows how much he's suffered."
Sakura remained silent. "I need to go get ready for dinner," she finally said.
"Y-yeah," Ino said, "but all those things I asked you just now are just to prove that you have just as much right over the children as their father does, okay?"
"Okay," Sakura gave Ino a sad smile before they shared a hug and went their own separate ways.
~x~x~
"Okay go on now," A male voice was heard.
"But Papa, I'm scawed," A young whine was heard.
"It's okay, don't you want to play with the pretty girl you always see?"
"H-hai."
"Go on now, Mama and I will be coming soon okay?"
"Okay Papa!" The young child jumped into her father's arms.
"Now when Mama and I come, don't yell Mama or Papa."
"Hai. I call you by your names, right?"
"That's right," The man pat the child's head, "now go and make some friends."
~x~x~
"Wow! Emi-chan looks so cute in her kimono right?" Hikaru whispered.
"Yeah like an angel," Minato nodded.
"So cute!" The two little boys blushed.
"E-to, Auntie, why did you make us wear our kimonos?" Sora tugged at his aunt's apron.
"Because Sora, Tou-San should be coming soon, and you guys are attending a dinner party," Akemi looked down at Sora.
"Then how come Minato and Hikaru haven't put their kimono's on yet?" Sora asked.
"Ask Hinata-chan that," Akemi said placing something in the oven before throwing a stick of butter into a bowl and throwing a load of sugar on top of it and mixing, "I'm currently responsible for you, and I want you guys to be ready before Tou-San appears okay? Now get out of the kitchen before your kimono gets dirty!"
"Hai!" Sora left the kitchen.
"Can I leave the rest to you guys?" Hinata asked the three other females in her kitchen. "I need to get Minato and Hikaru ready."
"Sure thing, just leave it to us," Kurenai replied.
"Thank you!" Hinata said throwing her apron of and running out of the kitchen.
"Hikaru! Minato! Come on you boys need to take a bath and get ready for the party!" Hinata called
"HAI!" They called running up the stairs.
"Oi! Emiii! Are you there?" Sora called as he was walking past the stairs.
The last thing he expected to see was Hana walking down the stairs in her light lavender kimono and an elaborate flower hair ornament. Sora couldn't help but admit, Hana looked really cute. Even when she accidentally stepped on the hem of her kimono and almost tripped down the remaining stairs had he not attempted to catch her and landed on his back with her on top of him. "S-sorry S-Sora-kun!" Hana said quickly scrambling off of him.
"N-no!" Sora said getting up. "I-it's my fault!"
"Hana-chan!" Emi called walking out of the living room. "You look so cute!"
"Y-you do too Emi-chan!" Hana replied.
"Really?" Emi asked getting excited until a very familiar and chocolaty scent reached her nose. "Double fudge brownies!"
Emi skipped to the kitchen gleefully. "Auntiiiie!" She called.
"They're not done yet, sorry Emi," Akemi smiled ruefully.
"Aww man!"
"Hey mom, I'm gonna go home, I'm not feeling so well," Kurenai's daughter said throwing her apron off.
"Oh. Oh okay," Kurenai said a worried expression taking her features.
"We're all done anyway Kurenai-sensei, how about you Go home too? And you guys can come back later?" Akemi suggested taking over doing the dishes.
"Are you sure you can handle all of this on your own?" Kurenai asked.
"Yeah, nothing a few clones can't do," Akemi smiled.
"Then tell Hinata we said bye," Kurenai said leaving the kitchen with her daughter.
"BROWNIES!" The wind carried the exclamation of the two twins that has just finished bathing.
About five minutes later the sound of two pairs of feet running became audible as the Uzumaki twins ran to the kitchen.
"Auntie! Did you really make..." Hikaru started.
"Your delicious..." Minato continued.
"FUDGE BROWNIES?!" The twins yelled in union.
"Yes, they'll be done in ten minutes," Akemi groaned.
"Yosha!" the twins jumped up at the exact same time.
Emi began to laugh at their ability to speak as one.
"What's so funny Emi-chan?" They asked.
"You guys!" Emi said dropping to the floor and clutching her stomach. "You guys are so funny."
"We are?" The twins asked confused.
Emi could only nod before struggling to catch her breath. "You guys are so loud!" Sora said walking in with Hana.
"Eh?" The twins and Emi exclaimed.
The Uzumaki brothers noticed that Sora had walked in with Hana and remembered how their father had told them to always protect their little sister and were alert at once. Although they were friends with Sora, they liked to pull his leg, and when given the opportunity they planned on taking it. "Just what were you..." Minato started.
"Doing with our innocent..." Hikaru continued.
"Little..."
"Hana-chan?" They asked together.
"Nothing," Sora said, he didn't feel obliged to tell them he'd saved her from falling, since that was none of their business after all.
"Oh Really?"
"Really."
"Hmmmm," the Uzumaki twins stared at Sora intently.
DING!
"The brownies!" Minato chirped.
"Are..." Hikaru jumped.
"Done!" Emi said along with the brothers.
"Sorry guys but these are for the party, so you'll have to wait 'till then before you can have some," Akemi pulled the tray out of the oven.
"Awwwww!"
Just then Hinata walked down the stairs. "Akemi you should go get ready for the party too!" Hinata took over doing the dishes. "I'll put on my kimono as soon as I'm done, but you need to go back to your home and all! So hurry up! If you won't be able to see the expression on Sasuke-san's face!"
"O-okay..." Akemi said astonished at the fact that Hinata had just spoken two sentences without stuttering once.
Hinata's stuttering had decreased ever since she and Naruto had gotten married, but it hadn't disappeared completely. Akemi threw off her apron and ran out the door, but not before running last a cute little girl about two years of age with her long black hair in two ponytails and bright sky blue eyes. 'Who's kid is that?' Akemi wondered as she ran past the girl.
~x~x~
'Papa told me to introduce myself, I'm going to do it! The girl had thought as a weird lady had ran past her.
She raised her tiny first and knocked on the wooden surface before her three times. Loud calls of "Who is it?" came from the other side of the door.
"I-It's Hitomi!" The cute little blue haired girl stammered.
"Hi-to-mi?" The door opened to reveal a little black haired boy.
"H-hai!" Hitomi nodded a bright red and embarrassed blush dusting her plump cheeks.
"Well, come in," the boy said opening the door revealing his blonde twin.
Hitomi walked in, her head down. She was really embarrassed. "Who is it Hikaru?" Hitmomi saw a pretty lavender eyed lady poke her head from behind a wall.
"Hitomi-chan," Hikaru shrugged.
Upon hearing a female name, Emi and Hana scrambled to introduce themselves to this new girl. "H-hello Hitomi-chan!" Emi smiled. "My name is Emi! Uchiha, Emi!"
"I-I'm Uzumaki, Hana," Hana played with her index fingers, "it's nice to meet you," Hana bowed.
"I-I'm Hitomi," Hitomi bowed back, "i-it's nice to meet you too."
"Do you wanna dance with us?" Emi was bursting with excitement.
"Y-yes! I really want to!" Hitomi answered.
And with that the girls went off to their own little corner (wherever that may be) and began to practice a dance, leaving a very confused Hinata staring at them. Wondering just whose daughter Hitomi was.
~x~x~
Sakura had gone home and was headed to her room when her father caught her. "Sakura," he called in a stern voice.
"Yes Otou-san?" Sakura walked towards her father.
"I really did not appreciate your childish behavior today," He looked at her over the top of his glasses, "You have yet to even give the poor man a chance."
"Well, if I was at least interested in getting to know him, then I wouldn't have reacted so harshly," Sakura shrugged, "but I'm not interested and I never will be."
"Sakura! Enough of this childish behavior!" Katsuki was angry now. "I thought we raised you differently!"
Sakura was enjoying pissing her father off and decided she felt like continuing. "Hmmmm. Do you mean like," Sakura asked innocently her eyes wide, "you raised me to obey every last one of your words while ignoring my morals, ambitions, goals, and desires?"
"I knew it!" Katsuki bit out. "That stupid Uchiha boy is a bad influence on you!"
It was Sakura's turn to get angry, but she couldn't help but admit that she was rather depressed too. Depressed that… "Well, it's very nice to know that you believe in me Otou-san," Sakura gave a bitter smile, "and he's a man now, much more mature than twelve years ago."
Katsuki was boiling, very angry at the way his daughter, his own flesh and blood dared to speak back to him. It was the stupid Uchiha brat's fault. "Why do you insist on defending him?" Katsuki asked. "Why is it that you feel offended whenever one points out his flaws?"
Sakura's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to ask that. Her father didn't really know that she was really, truly, deeply in love with Sasuke, he just though she harbored romantic feelings for him. "Because he is my teammate," Sakura answered confidently, "a man I owe my life to, because back when I was a helpless little girl he saved my life numerous times."
Katsuki rose a brow. "Is that so?"
"Yes."
"I sense that there is a much deeper reason," Katsuki eyed Sakura like a hawk eyes a mouse, "and for some reason you do not wish to share it with me. I can only wonder what it could be."
Sakura sighed, heaving her shoulders up and down, "I came home to tell you that Naruto invited me and Kakashi-sensei, oh yeah and Tsunade-shishou over for dinner, so I need to get dressed and ready if you don't mind."
"By all means go ahead, you're 24 now, if anything, you should be living in your own apartment," Katsuki sighed, sliding back to being the easy going father Sakura saw most of the time.
"Do you really wanna get rid of me that bad?" Sakura joked.
"Of course not!" Katsuki hugged Sakura. "What kind of father would want to see his daughter leave his home?"
"Good question," Sakura said walking up the stairs and to her room.
~x~x~
At last, Sasuke was ready. He had been healed, bathed, and had gotten dressed in a formal black kimono that had originally belonged to his great grandfather. It had the Uchiha fan stitched into the center or the back. Fancy, ornate swirls seemed to surround the fan as though leading all eyes to it. Sasuke looked good and he knew it; you could tell he knew it from the smirk plastered to his face as he imagined Sakura's expression. He absolutely couldn't wait to surprise her. But then again…
He couldn't go about giving any hints…
Well that sucks…
~x~x~
"Shhhh! Be quiet everyone!"
"He's almost here!"
"Ow! MINATO THAT WAS MY TOE!"
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU HAVE SUCH BIG FEET!"
"SHHHHH!"
"I DO NOT HAVE BIG FEET!"
"Be quiet boys!"
"DO TO!"
"Hush!"
"DO NOT!"
"MY GOD JUST SHUT UP!"
"Be quiet he's here!"
~x~x~
Sasuke's brow twitched. Did that dobe give him the wrong address? Well that was impossible, after all, it looked like the same place. Was he trying to pull a prank? They were 24 for goodness sake! You'd think he'd grown out of it. Still Sasuke decided to knock on the already slightly open door and walk inside.
"SURPRISE!"
That was the first thing that hit the Uchiha's ears as the lights went on and he saw the kids (whether they were Uchiha or Uzumaki) jumping up in excitement. "Congrats Sasuke!"
Had Sasuke not been who he was, his eyes probably would have widened a noticeable fraction. Everyone was there. The Hyuuga, the Hyuuga's female teammate, Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, pineapple head, Ino, doggy boy, Akemi, Kakashi, that female team leader, some girl teenager who looked sick, Tsunade, even Itachi was there. Then there were the kids, Emi, Sora, Minato, Hikaru, Hana… some black haired girl he'd never seen before. Sasuke had never, never felt so appreciated. Everyone had dressed their best for this occasion there was no doubt about that. Even Hyuuga's teammate, she had fancy chopsticks and hair ornaments and what not.
Sakura… well Sakura looked downright stunning in her bright red kimono light elaborate green, pink, white, and maroon flower petal designs on it. He hoped she would do her hair in a similar way when they got married. Her hair was in a lovely bun with two chopsticks that had little flower jingles, and that flower in her hair near her bangs. He had gone hoping to shock her and had gotten shocked instead.
~x~x~
"AND NOW!" Minato yelled while Sasuke was still being mesmerised by Sakura's beauty.
"IT'S TIME FOR!" Hikaru continued equally as loudly.
"EMI AND HANA'S SPECIAL JAPANESE DANCE PERFORMANCE!" The two finished together.
"We will also be featuring a special guest known as Hitomi," Sora added.
Everyone clapped as Emi and Hana along with Hitomi stepped into the middle of the living room floor and bowed. Hikaru pressed play on the CD player and "Sakura" began to play. Although the young girls version of the dance was much simpler than the actual version of the dance and they weren't entirely harmonious, they still did great for their age. Five minutes later when they had finally finished their dance everyone began to clap.
Ino took the chance to take a glance at her pineapple headed teammate and saw exactly what she knew she would see. Shika was staring at Emi carefully scrutinizing her as though he had already figured out who her biological mother was.
"T-thank you v-very m-much," Hitomi stuttered.
"I-it is now time for," Hana started.
"The Amazing," Emi chimed in.
"Uzumaki," Hana spoke.
"Uchiha," Emi added.
"TAIJUTSU PERFORMANCE!" The three boys jumped into the center their kimonos discarded showing off their traditional karate outfits.
And with that the boys began to fight and at one point it went a bit too far because all three were way too competitive for their own good and their fathers had to break it up because everyone was too busy laughing at how much it looked like a mini Sasuke and mini Narutos fighting. The boys soon joined in on the laughter.
When the Uzumaki boys stomachs began to growl, Hinata took it as a sign to tell everyone to help their selves to the food.
~x~x~
The kids were all stuffed and sound asleep including Hitomi. Hinata sighed as she joined the circle of the guests that had remained. Tsunade had to return to the office, Itachi had to go with Tsunade, Kurenai's daughter felt ridiculously sick again and Kurenai took her home again scolding her for lying to her about "being fine". Now, everyone was sitting around a bonfire built in the center of a special room under the house Naruto had designed especially for cold harsh winters. Hinata took a seat next to her husband and leaned against him as he wrapped his arm around her.
Hinata noticed that everyone seemed to be seated in teams. Sakura next to Sasuke, Ino next to Shikamaru, Neji next to Tenten, and finally her and Naruto along with Akemi and Kiba broke the team pairs. Naruto happened to be eating one of Akemi's cinnamon rolls, and he was feeling nice right now so he decided to compliment her. "Dang, Akemi, I don't know who it is your marrying, but I gotta say, he is one lucky guy," Naruto took another bite out of his cinnamon roll, "but not as lucky as me."
"Akemi's engaged?" Ino asked wide-eyed.
"To who?" Tenten asked.
"No clue," Naruto took another bite out of the cinnamon roll, "and she refuses to tell anyone."
"W-well, I-I have something important to tell ev-everyone!" Hinata suddenly cut in.
Everyone looked at Hinata curious. Hinata rarely spoke, and that was precisely what made everyone so curious. Just what did Hinata have to say? Hinata looked at Naruto for support and he gave her a loving smile, urging her to go on, or that he would tell everyone instead. Hinata, blushed and Naruto's arms encircled Hinata's waist, and he pulled her to sit in his lap. Had Naruto known that Sasuke was seething with envy wishing he could do that with Sakura, he probably would have kissed Hinata's cheek too, but he didn't so… Sasuke would be able to suffer in peace. If that makes any sense.
Hinata's blush deepened as she announced, "Naruto and I are expecting our fourth child."
Neji who happened to be drinking water at that very moment, choked and began coughing as Hinata earned loads of congrats from everyone. When Neji could finally speak he did, "Y-you," Neji coughed again, Tenten patting his back gently, "H-have you no….no…self-control?" Neji burst out into a coughing fit again, still choking.
"Breathe in through your nose, that'll stop the coughing," Sakura told Neji.
Neji would have obeyed, but he had one last thing to say, "Y-your stu-stu," insert coughing fit here, "stupid plan to have a child with Hinata in order to ma-marry… H-Hi-Hinata… wasn't th-that enough for you?"
"A-Actually that was m-my plan," All heads snapped towards Hinata who was enjoying sitting in her husband's lap.
"WHAT?"
"We-ell, Na-ru-to didn't have to go…go with it, and to think I respected you," Neji bit out, his coughing reducing due to him breathing from his nose.
"Na-Naruto was completely against it actually," Hinata looked up at Naruto's whiskered face, "we all know how st-stubborn he is, he absolutely refused to agree, which made is much harder f-for me."
Everyone looked at Hinata confused. "If you don't mind Naruto I would like to share the story," Hinata asked.
"Since you want to, then who am I to stop you, you're even more stubborn than I am you know," Naruto raised his eyebrows.
Hinata smiled at him. "Anyway… When Otou-sama first rejected Naruto for the sole purpose of him being the Kyuubi vessel, Naruto insisted that he prove himself to my father, and then coming back and asking him to let him marry me again," Hinata started, "don't get me wrong, Otou-sama respected Naruto, he liked him too, it was just that he thought Naruto would put me in danger, Otou-sama always was a caring father," a smile graced Hinata's lips, "Naruto insisted that he would show Otou-sama that he had nothing to worry about, I knew it would take much too long before Otou-sama approved of Naruto, and came up with the plan of me getting pregnant, when I first told Naruto, I still remember his exact words, 'Absolutely not! I love you Hinata, I really do, and that's why I refuse to do such a thing to you, nothing you do will make me change my mind! I don't want society or your father to look down on you because of me, I'll prove myself to your old man in no time, just trust me!'" Hinata smiled at Naruto's now red face, her hand caressing it, "I was happy yet sad, happy that he loved me to that extent but sad that he was willing to wait to get married," Hinata sighed, "I tried numerous methods to try to get him to agree with me, and annoyingly enough even after putting myself in such embarrassing situations he had way more self-control, and was much more stubborn than I thought him to be."
"I told you nothing you did would change my mind," Naruto smiled down at her, "it was something your father did that forced me to agree to your plan."
"The arranged marriage?" Neji asked.
"Yup."
"Well, in the beginning, he said that there was still enough time for him to prove himself, but then when Otou-sama moved the date up, I begged Naruto," Hinata looked down and the ground.
Naruto looked at the ground too tightening his embrace around his precious wife, "It was awful, Hinata, you were so sad."
"Awww!" The girls purred. "She loved you so much she couldn't stand the idea of being with another guy."
The two turned a bright red at that. "Still Naruto you did not remain true to your word," Neji noted.
"Oh shut up you!" Ino snapped. "Don't you have a woman you love? I mean Hinata broke down into tears! How would you feel if you say the woman you love break down into tears in front of you?"
Neji remained silent. Ino:1 Neji: 0
"Yeah, umm, anyway," Naruto rubbed the back of his sheepishly, "Hinata and I were thinking of naming the new baby Neji, if he turns out to be a boy, since your know, Hiashi-san likes the name, and well, we wanted him to be named after this totally kickass ninja."
Neji's head snapped in Naruto's direction. "I do regret that I have put the blame on you all these years, but that's only because I heard the truth now, then again you wanted to be the one looking guilty right?" Neji lifted a brow.
"Yeah…"
Neji gave a smirk, "Please forgive my horrid behavior towards you and your family."
"Sure, Minato and Hikaru always wanted Neji-ojii-san to like them, that's the main reason why they train so hard, you know, wanting you to acknowledge them, they really love you man," Naruto smiled.
"Well since we're all sharing, I guess I'll throw in my own little confession," Tenten stole the spotlight, "Neji and I, well we…uh umm, well uh… In fact we've decided to… uh…Neji."
"I proposed to Tenten," Neji said.
Naruto choked on his spit and all the girls inhaled sharply. "CONGRATULATIONS TENNIE!" Ino was the first work her way out of the shock.
"I wish you the best," Hinata smiled.
"Did you guys even date?" Sakura asked still shocked.
"You're going to die Tenten-san," that statement earned Akemi annoyed looks.
"Well, Neji does have fangirls equally as rabid as Sasuke-teme's."
"HOLD IT!" Tenten raised a hand. "Did you just call Sasuke, Sasuke-teme Ino?"
"Yeah," Ino answered unfazed.
"Gimme five!" Naruto and Ino slapped palms. "My little girl has finally grown up!"
"You do realize that I am older than you right Naruto?" Ino raised her eyebrows.
"Oh whatever!" Naruto threw his hands up, causing those around him to laugh.
"Back to the case of Tenten," Sakura said, "I'm pretty sure the only time Neji's fangirls would dare to think about attacking Tennie is in her sleep. Meaning she needs a bodyguard. I nominate Sasuke-kun!"
"Absolutely not! I got her into this mess, I'll watch over her while she sleeps," Neji's right eye twitched, he absolutely would not let the Uchiha near his beloved Tenten.
"Watch over her while she sleeps?" Ino laughed. "Oh I get it, you wanna check her out while she's wearing her pjs and has her hair down huh?" Ino elbowed Neji playfully.
"No, actually on second thought," Neji smirked, "the thing I love most about Tenten is that aside from the fact that she is intelligent and beautiful, is the fact that she is reliable. Meaning she doesn't need any protection, and that no matter how rabid those fan girls may be, they will shit their pants before they even consider picking a fight with the weapons mistress."
Tenten leaned her back onto Neji's hard chest giving him a big bright smile, amusement evident in her chocolate eyes. "Neji does have a point," Sakura said her voice taking a scared tone, "heck I would be afraid to go up against Tennie, she gets along well with sharp and dangerous objects."
"Tell me about it!" Ino agreed. "Tennie is a dangerous girl."
"Well then it's no wonder why Neji-nii-san like her huh?" Hinata added.
Everyone who actually knows how to laugh laughed.
"Hey guys, we kinda have a little secret we need to tell you."
All heads snapped towards Ino. "Don't tell me!" Sakura gasped and Ino held her breath, "You're the one who keeps on stealing my pudding!"
Ino's face contorted into something that read "What the Hell forehead?" "Duh! It took you long enough to figure that one out!" Ino said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "What did you think that they just magically disappeared?"
"No," Sakura looked away.
"Oh you so did!" Ino said pointing an accusing finger, and before Sakura could protest. "And, no that is not the secret that's to be revealed."
Hinata gasped all of a sudden. "What! What is it Hinata?" Naruto asked panic dripping off of his every word.
"I-it's nothing Naruto," Hinata told face, "and I was wondering why Hitomi-chan looked so familiar."
"Yeah she's ours," Shikamaru said placing his hands behind his head and leaning back against the wall behind him, as Ino came and snuggled up near him.
Naruto nearly choked on his spit again. All of the members of the group were shocked into silence. Well almost all…
"AND I WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU GOT ALL THOSE STUPID QUESTIONS FROM EARLIER FROM!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Nobody really knows about Hitomi-chan," Ino sighed, "I kept on using henge while I was pregnant with her, and well, we never let any of our parents know about her, that's why Shika moved into an apartment, and I started taking less missions," Ino exhaled loudly, "you guys are the only people aside from Tsunade-sama who know about Hitomi-chan, Nara, Hitomi-chan's true parentage."
"Why don't you two just get married so you can tell your parents about her?" It was the first contribution Sasuke had made to the conversation.
"Yeah we are planning to do that, very soon actually," Shikamaru yawned, "our wedding is in a month, you guys are invited."
"My little piggy! You've grown up to become a fine boar my dear!" Sakura's eyes were glassy.
Tears brimmed Ino's eyes when she saw Sakura get teary, "Oh come here my smart forehead girl," Ino embraced Sakura.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" Naruto and Kiba (who had been shocked into silence due to all of freakish revelations) yelled in union.
"Well, looks like everyone here who has secrets has confessed with the exception of our not-so-happy Team 7 couple," Shikamaru noted lazily.
Ino and Sakura broke apart. Sakura looked very confused.
"Look Sakura, I may seem lazy and totally careless, but I do remember my school days, and your bright pink hair and large forehead were something hard to miss or forget, which is why when I saw E-"
"Hey I'm gonna go get some more sweets anyone want any?" Naruto cut Shikamaru off.
"Shush Naruto! It's rude to cute people off!" Tenten scolded.
"As I was saying-"
"I want a brownie please!" Sakura said.
Shikamaru was starting to get annoyed. "Sora and Emi also have gree-"
"I want a cinnamon roll please Naruto-kun!" Akemi cut Shikamaru off.
"Oi! What's the big ide-"
"Oooh I'll have some more chocolate cake!" Ino said.
"MY GOD WON'T YOU GUYS JUST SHUT UP AND LET THE POOR GUY SPEAK!" Kiba, who was just as fed up as Shikamaru, finally exploded.
"Goodness, Kiba-kun, no need to be so loud," Akemi glared at Kiba, "you might wake the kids up."
"Well you guys should have been a bit more respectful to the poor guy," Kiba argued.
"Hey I was just answering Naruto-kun's question, I didn't want to pass the offer for sweets," Akemi shrugged.
"Yeah suure that's it," Kiba smirked.
"T-that is the-the r-reason why!" Akemi stammered completely flustered.
"Akemi, we all know you're a horrible liar, so don't even try lying to me," Kiba smirked applying a teeny, tiny, nearly non-existent, hard to detect bit of emphasis onto the "me".
"Why are you guys all trying so hard to make sure I don't discuss the Uchiha twins?" Shikamaru asked more annoyed than curious.
"We're not," Sakura commented, "what makes you think we are?"
"Saki, you're a horrible liar too you know that?" Tenten asked.
"Anyway, did anyone notice that Emi's hair is a raspberry color?" Shikamaru asked before anyone could cut him off.
"Yes," Neji's smooth voice came.
"The kids have green eyes too!" Kiba barked.
"I can think of only one person with both pink hair and green eyes," Tenten said.
"I came to the conclusion that Konoha's Haruno, Sakura was taken advantage of when in a state of drunken weakness, and the results weren't so ugly," Shikamaru glared at Sasuke, before shifting his gaze to Sakura, "but the question is… how could someone who is so bad at lying hide such a thing from us for so long?"
"You make a very good point Shikamaru," Sakura said her eyes wide and innocent, "I'm a horrible liar, so since there is absolutely no way I could have deceived you guys for so long! Which means there is absolutely no way your theory is true."
"Oh come on, just admit it Sakura!" Shikamaru said, "I know you're the mother. I don't need to confirm it, I just need you to admit it."
"Well then you're going to have to explain how I managed to deceive you for so long with my lying skills," Sakura huffed.
Shikamaru shut up and thought for a while. Naruto came back and handed Sakura her brownie, Ino her cake, and Akemi her cinnamon roll. Wait a second Akemi. "I get it now," Shikamaru said eying Akemi.
"Uchiha, Sasuke and Haruno, Sakura had a chance meeting in a bar at the age of eighteen, and both being fairly tipsy ended up with a pregnant Sakura. Sakura's seven month coma was nothing more that Sakura hiding with Sasuke. Knowing that Sakura's reputation would be stained, Sasuke decided to call forth his cousin, Ake- where did she go?" Shikamaru looked left and right looking for Akemi.
"She's probably hiding behind Sasuke-teme," Ino said shoving a forkful of cake into her mouth.
True enough she was. "Anyway, Sasuke had Akemi wipe her memory clean probably convincing her it was the best thing to do, and then had to help raise the kids, therefor explaining her monthly vacations and long missions," Shikamaru went on.
"To think he put together all that based off of an assumption, Tsunade shoulda sent him on the mission not me," Naruto's eye twitched.
"So it's true huh?" Shikamaru asked. "I knew it."
"Ino-piggy…"
"I didn't tell him a thing, if you're jealous my hubby is smarter than yours well too bad," Ino stuck her tongue out at Sakura.
"You know what," Kiba stole the spot light wanting some attention, "since you guys have entrusted all of your secrets to me, I'll tell you one of my own," there was a short pause before, "I'm engaged too."
~x~x~
A pair silhouettes could be seen standing on a bridge. "How long has it been since he died?" The masked one of two asked.
"Too long, almost a decade now," a feminine voice was heard.
"Wow," a sigh could be heard, "Our students have really grown up since then huh?"
"Yeah."
~x~x~
"So," a gruff voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard began, "how is the plan proceeding?"
"Not too well on my end sir, one approves and the most important one disapproves," a male voice replied.
"Be patient, you will impress them in no time, the charmer you are," rough laughter like machine gun fire sounded.
Footsteps could be heard echoing on the tiled floor.
"Hello, there, how are your plans proceeding?" A new voice asked.
"It seems we will be requiring your services, we shall collaborate in order to secure our main target and after making then suffer mentally we shall happily hand them along with Sasuke-kun over to you," a cigar was lit.
"Okay, I like your terms," laughter was heard, "shall we shake on it?"
The man with the horrid voice chuckled again, puffing out a smoke ring he extended his hand and shook his "ally's" hand, "It's a pleasure doing business with you, we hope you'll keep up your end of the bargain."
IT'S FINALLY DONE! God I'm tired! Well I hope this chapter was worth your wait! Thanks again for all the reviews, favorites and follows! I love feedback, so feel free to leave a review and look forward to my next chapter! And Shika's a genius I always expected him to be able to put the most scattered pieces together, even if he has to get off his lazy bum and hunt for them! And Hinata is a married woman meaning she is has gotten over a lot of her stuttering issues!
Chapter 16: How we fell in love.
PS
Who guessed that it was Ino who said, "Well, Neji does have fangirls equally as rabid as Sasuke-teme's." back there.
Also… who figured out Hitomi was a ShikaIno child?