Disclaimer: As said in chapter one. Nothing has changed since than.

AN: This is just a little side note: Writing this story is so fun. I enjoy it and I really hope that everyone enjoys reading it. Yes, I know, third name change. This time, it will stick. That's a promise! -thumbs-up; teeth: Ping!- The story can only get better from here on out...And look! Cute little chapter titles now! Oh, how I feed off of clichés...

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The Power of Youth
By SapphireWhiteTigress

Chapter IV – My Parents

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Two days later, Sakura was pacing in front of the mirror in her room, occasionally glancing over at it and taking in her reflection. She sighed and sat on her bed restlessly. "Mom.. Dad... I have something to tell you..." she started again, "I..." Sakura sighed and stopped, burying her face in her hands "How do I tell them.." she said softly. She had no idea how to tell her parents that she was pregnant, she wasn't even sure how to broach the subject.

Sakura sighed again. She suddenly turned, her attention driven to a tapping on her window. "Stupid branch..." she said, walking over to clear the wayward branch from her window. As she opened the window she blinked in surprise, because there below her window was Lee. Sakura ducked, dodging the rock that Lee was using to rap on her window with. "Lee-kun?" she asked in confusion,

Lee smiled up at her, his round eyes filled with compassion, "Sakura-chan! Do you mind if I come up?"

Sakura blinked, smoothing her wrinkled shirt with her hands, "Um.. okay..." Before she could leave her room to open the front door, Lee was already there. He had just jumped through the window...the second floor window. Sakura blinked. "Okay, that's good too..."

Lee smiled at her sheepishly. "I was worried and I wanted to see you. You did not answer your phone when I had called."

Sakura glanced over to her phone and sighed. She forgot to give it a new battery. "Sorry, Lee-kun..." She took a seat on her bed while Lee stood in front of her. "I've been doing some thinking," she started.

Lee gulped, a little concerned. "Thinking, Sakura-chan?"

She nodded. "I can't keep this a secret from my parents forever, but I have no idea how I should tell them." She fell back on her bed, her arms stretched out. Lee took a seat next to her, the bed shifting under his weight and the teddy bear he's gotten her rested against him. "I'm afraid, Lee-kun. What if they hate me or worst! What if they disown me as their daughter?" She sat up and faced Lee, her eyes shimmering with tears.

Lee immediately took her in his strong arms and held her to him, soothing her with his gentle and kind words. "Do not worry, Sakura-chan. Your parents would never abandon you. They love you too much to do that. And whatever happens, I will always be here for you." He pulled her away to look into her watery green eyes. "Would you like me to tell them for you?" He offered, after all, this was entirely his fault. If he hadn't been so careless she wouldn't have to go through this pain. He hated himself for what he did to her and he would die a thousand times if he could take that pain away.

Sakura looked at him with wide frightened eyes. She couldn't let Lee do that! Her father would surely kill him! She frantically shook her head. "No Lee-kun, you don't have to do that. My father-"

Lee raised a hand to cut her off politely. "Sakura-chan, as it is my responsibility," he said sternly, "I would like to discuss it with your parents for you. It is my duty to protect you Sakura-chan and I will protect you from everything...including the wrath of your parents." As Lee said that, a mentor imagine formed in his head and it made him shudder. Was he really too young to die?

"Lee-kun...you shouldn't..." Sakura began.

Lee shook his head firmly. "I will not allow you to endure anymore pain and suffering, even if they are your parents. I will simply explain to them that I love you and that I will do everything to the best of my ability to support you and our child."

Sakura was speechless. Was Lee willing to do that for her? She knew how her father could be. He wasn't exactly the type to just let it go because they were in love. He was extremely scary when he was angry and seeing that anger was rare to her. He was never abusive and would never lay a finger on her, but he could be verbally destructive and that alone scared her.

Lee gave her a thumbs-up to bring her mind out of the slums. "No need to worry, Sakura-chan, everything will be alright! I promise you!"

Sakura was still apprehensive, but went along with it. "O-Okay...I, when should we...?" She let the question hang in the air between them.

Lee nervously smiled. "Whenever you are ready, Sakura-chan, I will be there."

She nodded and turned to her closed door. "I don't know, I want to just get this over with. How should we tell them...?"

Lee thought for a moment. "Leave that up to me." He started towards her bedroom door, Sakura following slowly behind him. He paused with his hand only inches away from the doorknob and turned his eyes to her. "Are you ready, Sakura-chan?"

She nodded, although she wasn't entirely sure if she could go through this. "I...guess so..."

He gave a curt nod before turning the knob and walked out into the hall. Sakura pointed down the stairs to tell him that was where her parents were. As quietly as they could, they made their way down there, their hearts threatening to escape the safety of their ribcage.

They found her parents in the kitchen, her mother happily humming a tune while cooking dinner as her father sat at the table reading The Konoha Times. They took a deep breath, grabbed tightly onto each other's hand and prepared for the worst as they walked into the quiet room. It was the calm before the storm.

She glanced nervously at her parents, who haven't noticed her yet, and to Lee who squeezed her hand in encouragement. She turned her head back to her parents and cleared her throat. "Um, Mom...Dad..." She said to get their attention.

Almost simultaneously, both parents were staring directly at her and her father's eyebrows immediately shot up at the sight of the familiar boy that stood next to his daughter.

Sakura felt like shrinking and hiding behind Lee, but she forced herself to maintain her composure in the presence of her parents. This is something she must do and cowering behind Lee wasn't going to prove or solve anything. Before she could say anything, however, Lee beat her to the punch.

"Um...Mr. and Mrs. Haruno...there is something...we would like to...tell you..." Lee began, trying not to fidget. The glare Sakura's father was shooting at him made his blood run cold. Were they really doing the right thing by telling her parents this? Of course they are, he berated himself. If her parents didn't know until after the baby was born, then surely they'll be a devastating price to pay.

"...How'd the hell you get in here?" He growled, looking from the boy to his daughter. He doesn't remember hearing the front door opening or anyone knocking on it for that matter.

Sakura's mother, on the other hand only smiled sweetly at the two. "Oh, hello Sakura dear, hello Lee sweetie. What brings you here?"

Both Lee and Sakura were glad that Sakura's mother brought her husband away from the topic of how Lee actually came into their home.

Lee took a deep breath, not sure of what might happen if they were to tell them the news. He already held some fear for Sakura's father. He wasn't exactly a force to be reckon with, especially being a man of 6'3 with piecing brown eyes and a temper that would rival a dangerously active volcano and he does not want to be on the receiving end of that. But, whatever happens, he deserves it for he's the one to have brought such a faith on the both of them and Sakura did not deserve it.

"Mr. and Mrs. Haruno, I really love your daughter and I would do everything in my power to protect her from any and everything. I would never hurt her..." He took a deep breath, shifting his eyes to the girl he loves and back to her parents once more. This is it...there's no turning back...now how was he going to break it to them again? This is bad. This is really bad. He wasn't going to live through this. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was Sakura's turn to beat him.

"Mom, Dad..." She started hesitantly, her hand clasped tightly within Lee's. "I'm..." Her voice faltered. "I'm..." She stalled again.

Her father grew frustrated and placed the newspaper that he was reading on the table. "What is it, Sakura?"

Her mother silently gasped and quickly stirred the pot that was over the fire. "Oh no, I might've just ruined dinner..." She murmured to herself while turning the fire off. Sighing, she turned her attention back to her daughter and her future son-in-law (in her mind; she loves Lee so much, he's just so sweet).

Sakura rolled her eyes at her mother's antics and tried again. There was no other way but to be blunt with it. "I'm pregnant." She finally said it. It took all of her willpower not to run into Lee's arms so that he could protect her from the storm that was sure to come.

An unnerving silence filled the small kitchen and after a few awkward moments, Sakura's father stood up from his seat so fast that the chair he was sitting in clattered to the floor, scaring the two teenagers from their thoughts. The expression on his face gave them even more of a fright and they started to wonder if it was possible to take back the words that they had just uttered.

His eyes were cold and dark as the blackest stone, glaring at them as if daring them to breathe. And he probably was daring them. "Explain," He said in a clipped tone, his voice as emotionless as his face, "now."

Both Sakura and Lee tried not to cower under his terrifying gaze. Sakura's father wasn't a man to talk to while angry. How were they going to explain this exactly? Why, oh why, did she decided it was best to tell her parents about her pregnancy? Sakura glanced at her still shock mother, her eyes as wide as a vibrant green sea, filled to the brim with bright tears. A trembling hand was held in front of her equally trembling lips. She couldn't comprehend what she had just heard. Her baby girl was no longer a baby. She was becoming a woman...

Lee gulped and found himself explaining quickly, his voice slightly high-pitched from the speed he was talking. He explained everything, how much he loved Sakura, his devotion, how it was all his fault, and how he would never ever hurt her. Once he was finished, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the outburst that would follow.

Sakura stared at him in amazement as he finished his deep and heartfelt speech. His eyes were clenched tightly as he braced himself for whatever it was that he father was going to say or do. She apprehensively turned her green eyes on him and he stared at them both with a blank expression.

His mind was working in overdrive. He had half the mind to kill the guy for ever considering putting his hands on his daughter. He wanted to strangle him right where he stood, but in doing so would hurt his little girl. His little sixteen year old daughter. His little girl that just couldn't be pregnant. He turned on his heels, grabbed a jacket, and stormed out of the house.

Sakura and Lee stared at his retreating back and flinched as the door slammed shut. Well, that went considerably better than how they thought it would. At least nobody died. Yet. Sakura slowly approached her mother.

"Mom...?" She said cautiously.

Her mother snapped out of her thoughts as her soft eyes found those of her daughters. The shock of the announcement still fresh in her mind. She looked her daughter up and down. She couldn't believe that her daughter was pregnant. Not her baby girl. Was this just some bad dream? Would she wake up and laugh at this later?

She suddenly fainted.

Lee and Sakura blinked at each other in mild surprise. "Maybe it was too much for her?" Lee asked as he knelt down next to Sakura's mother and carefully picked her up to take her to the couch in the living room. Sakura followed behind with a sigh.

"I guess so...maybe we shouldn't have told them..." She said, looking away from her sleeping mother.

Lee shook his head and took her hands in his. "What we did was the right thing, Sakura-chan. It would have been wrong to keep it a secret from them." Sakura nodded, sadly looking at her mother then towards the closed door her father stormed out of. Lee noticed her distress look and smiled. "Do not worry, Sakura-chan! Your father will be fine."

She shrugged. "I hope he doesn't decide to kill somebody."

Lee's smile slightly faltered at that, but he manage to maintain it. He just hope her father didn't decide to come back and take his anger out one him. But if he did, he'll take it like the ninja that he is. He wouldn't fight Sakura's father, though. Whatever happens, he deserves it.

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Sakura's father, Haruno Matsou, angrily walked down the streets of Konoha, lost in his own thoughts. People who knew the man quickly dodged his path and people who didn't were briskly shoved out of his way. He had a lot to think about and a few drinks to buy. He walked into one of the rare bars Konoha has and slumped down on a barstool, waving his hand carelessly to the bartender to signal that he wanted to order.

The bartender walked over to him and poured the man some sakè. Matsou quickly downed it in one gulped and quickly ordered another. After about three shots, he started to get a little tipsy. As he was about to order a fourth, a slightly familiar and unfamiliar voice entered the range of his hearing.

"Ah-ha! Matsou, is that you, my friend?" Matsou turned around to see the trainer of that boy. The boy who got his daughter pregnant. He wasn't really familiar with the guy, except for the fact he has met him once since that boy started dating his daughter.

"Whaddaya want?" Matsou drawn out and turned back around to the counter.

Gai, with the brightest grin on his face, took a seat next to him. "How are you this fine day, Matsou? Allow me to buy you another drink!" Gai mentioned to the bartender and ordered two bottles of sakè. The bartender placed the bottles in front of them. "Drink up, my friend!" He shouted as he brought his own bottle to his lips and drunk.

Matsou stared at the bottle of sakè that Gai has just brought him, not exactly seeing it but looking right through it. He grumbled under his breath about something that Gai was blissfully unaware of. He lifted it slowly to his lips and grimaced as the burning liquid slid down his throat.

After drinking a bit, Gai asked, "So, how is your daughter Matsou? Is my Lee treating her well?" Unfortunately for Gai, that was the wrong thing to say.

Matsou stood up so fast that he spilled his bottle of sakè all across the counter top and knocked over the barstool he was sitting on. He glared dangerously at Gai who stared up at him. "You...you..."

Gai blinked. "Matsou? Are you feeling alright, my old friend?"

Just then, Matsou fist lashed out and struck Gai's jaw, bruising his knuckles and slightly reddening the other man's cheek. Gai, being the strong ninja that he is and has been through far worst treatment, knew how to take a punch and only stumbled back a bit in shock.

Gai rubbed the sore spot on his cheek. "That was very unyouthful!Why did you hit me?"

Matsou growled in annoyance at not hurting the man like he had intended to do. "Your...stupid kid got my baby...pregnant!" He roared infuriated.

"What!" Gai shouted incredulous as he looked at the man who tried to punch him again. He grabbed his fist before it made contact with his face. "Impossible! My Lee would never do such a thing in his prime of youth!"

Matsou growled and almost fell into Gai. "When I get my hands on him..." He trailed off as he snatched his fist from Gai's hand and left the bar in a huff. Gai was stunned in silence.

Kakashi, who was sitting at the back of the bar, calmly put his book away and walked over to Gai. He just heard everything that was exchanged between the two men. As he approached Gai, he drew his fist back lazily and punched Gai square in the face. Gai flew into a wall.

Gai shakily stood up and rubbed his now aching head. "Everyone is so unyouthful today..." he muttered as Kakashi walked away without so much of a word. Needless to say, he wasn't sure what he had done wrong...maybe a good youthful talking to Lee would clear things up. Gai suddenly froze and stood up as he watched Kakashi leave the bar. "Does this mean the score is now 68-68!" He yelled. Kakashi didn't even spare him a glance.

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AN: Oh, gee, everyone's slowly finding out. Soon, the whole of Konoha will know about Sakura and Lee's condition. Will they be against them or will they help support them? Will Lee and Sakura survive the outcome? And what will Sakura's father do to them when he gets back! All this and more may not be answered next chapter, but still stay tune! Reviews help build my confidence and I need a lot of confidence to continue. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. This story would not be here if it weren't for you guys.

Special Thanks to EnduranceInTribulation for beta-ing and putting up with me when I was stuck. Kami-sama only knows how often that happened.

Next Chapter Teaser: She gently brushed a hand against his cheek and leaned in closer to his face, their lips only a breath apart. She held so much love in her gaze that Lee was momentarily taken aback. Her eyes lowered down to his lips before rising back to meet his soft black eyes. "...If I don't...?"