Hi guys! I'm a prick, we all know it and I'm not gonna make excuses. All I can promise is that I'll try to finish this as quickly as possible. Thanks for all your support and it gives me such joy that you all enjoy my fic. I'll try get back to all of you with any questions you may have sent me.

Naruto

If anything, the time between Naruto's decision to fight had both raced by and lasted a lifetime. He felt more like himself than he had in so long, staring Pein down on that battlefield; conviction, confidence and a sense of peacefulness stemming from his very core. He smiled. This was who he was supposed to be. This is what felt right.

It was as if his past, negative self had never existed – a bad dream that barely leaves emotions in its wake as it ends. He could remember the things that had happened as clear as day, but he no longer felt the sadness he once had. And, yet, if anyone had told him he would feel this way, facing down such a strong adversary, he would have laughed at their insanity.

Especially as he was losing.

Even though he had mastered seals to an extent that he could summon himself halfway across the land of toads, in his need to be quicker because of his current, hindered state. Even though he had recruited and sworn into secrecy an unwilling Ino as his training partner. Her mastery at chakra control really helped with him learning to mix his and Kyuubi's chakra, in the likeness it needed to be throughout his pregnancy.

Once again he used his summoning seal to transport his body from the lethal blow of one of the paths of Pein. Unfortunately they were catching on quick to his little trick. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up, with his kunai carrying the seals allowing him this feat, being destroyed.

Itachi hadn't been pleased by his coming here, he knew. Sometimes things – feelings – flashed through his eyes before he could supress them. Naruto really didn't think that was healthy. He knew what could happen when you supressed things deep down for too long.

You lost yourself.

He knew where the older man would be right now. With the forgetful grand toad; demanding to be sent back to the Shinobi land. If only to kill Naruto, himself. The thought made Naruto chuckle, slowly becoming breathless, with a slash across his arm and a bruise sure to come.

"Why are you laughing?" Curiosity, Naruto knew from too much time with Itachi, was the cause of the question. "You are losing this battle."

Naruto smiled, once again in such a long time having control over his own life. No, really, he always had control. He just didn't believe he did.

"It doesn't matter if I'm losing now. I'll beat you for one reason: that there's no other option! I have to defeat you hear. For my village, for my friends…and for my family!"

"Oh? Big words, boy. To what family are you referring? The family growing inside of you or the family I have annihilated in this war? War leads to hate, hate leads to revenge, revenge leads to an endless slaughter, because the hate is never forgotten."

"I don't believe that. I believe people can forgive each other as long as they understand each other."

"So you do not hate me for mercilessly killing your beloved Sensei as he begged for his life?"

Naruto's knuckles stood proudly on his clenched fists as his face twisted. "Ero-Senin would never beg for his life to the likes of you."

"Yet even as you deny it, your eyes clearly show me hate, now. Would it anger you more to hear your beloved Sensei was once my beloved Sensei, until he, himself, turned to the hate of our nations and abandoned us in our time of need?"

"Wha-? No…it doesn't matter. I don't know what Ero-Senin's reasons for leaving you were, but I know who he is now. I know the great things he's done. I know these things because I share his ideals and his views, and believe one day we can all live peacefully together. He entrusted that to me by becoming my Sensei. And it doesn't matter what you say or do, that isn't going to change!"

With that statement, Naruto threw a kunai at his emotionless opponent, before summoning himself to another kunai and doing the same; dodging attacks and expanding this battlefield. The only problem was that he was fast funning out of kunai and the only advantage, the three second window coming up. He had been doing this dance long enough to notice that. And fortunately, Ino had been watching long enough, too.

So when the time came and Ino darted out to attack the man with the ultimate defence, Naruto was ready. Although, Ino missed. The kunai in her hand dropped to the floor as her arm was twisted along with her body and she was kicked violently across the battlefield. And Naruto was too late with his odema resengan; the time almost up and he too far away. Except he disappeared before Pein's eyes, which confused the master, because no kunai had landed near him; he'd made sure of that…

Except!

Pein was too late as he started to look back toward the kunai the blond girl had dropped, as Naruto had summoned himself behind him. His eyes widened as the ball came toward him, only for him to not be destroyed. The greatest thing about multiple bodies was that one could sacrifice itself for the other. Though now, there were only three bodies of Pein left. And one of them was losing to the youngest Uchiha.

"Shit." Naruto murmured, before quickly summoning himself over to the other blonde. "Are you okay, Ino?"

"Naruto, what shall we do now, it didn't work!" The girl panicked, in a defensive position and determination in her eyes, even though, she knew she had no chance against this opponent.

"We go to plan 'B'. It's time to go get Shikamaru, Ino."

"But, Naruto, I can't leave you here alone. Hokage-sama would never forgive me!"

"Tsunade's got her own problems, Ino. Can you not feel all the faint chakra signatures that are starting to disappear? Ebizu-sensei for one. You need to go help Shikamaru and-"

"She left you here under my care, Naruto! I can't leave you!"

"How quaint." Came the voice of Pein behind them. "Do you mind if I interrupt?"

Pein struck out, back-handing Ino, who flew, spiralling across the destroyed wasteland of their fighting. Shouting out her name, Naruto summoned himself to the kunai near that area and rushed to catch the stricken girl. He had barely touched her before he had to push her to the side and jump back himself, narrowly avoiding being pierced. Ino back flipped off to the side, but Naruto was pursued by Pein, barely six foot away and caught by a black pole piercing his shoulder and slamming him into the ground, pinned and in pain.

"Agh!" Naruto screamed out as Pein drove the rod in deeper, his whole being rattling with someone else's chakra.

"Naruto!" Ino shouted, quickly forming her hands in a quadrangle on the stationary enemy as he lifted another black rod. "Shintenshin no Jutsu!"

Immediately, Ino felt tenfold of what Naruto was, the fight for this body was between her and someone far away. She could feel him crawling under this corpse's skin. She could sense his chakra, striving for control, his voice shouting in her head. The body they were both sharing shook as their chakra battled, losing its control with functionality, dropping to its knee as one hand flew up to its head. Ino was sure she told Naruto to hurry, but she wasn't sure if she made the corpse's lips move or Pein did.

As soon as Naruto could open his eyes through the pain, he noticed the Pain above him was acting unusual. A glance to the side gave him the view of Ino's unconscious body. With more effort than it should have taken, he started to pull at the pole in him. The chakra receiver was messing with his careful chakra control. He started to panic, pulling furiously at the offending object, yanking it out of his chest with ferocity.

"Hu-ur N-to."

Naruto rolled to his knees, struggling to get up through the pain and extra weight, just as the corpse beside him collapsed to one knee.

"Fuck, Ino, get out of there." Naruto yelled, stumbling up and holding his shoulder, his breath coming in gasps. "Shit."

Naruto jogged over to Ino's body, lifting it up, somehow knowing what was going to be coming - possibly because he would do the same. As Ino's mind and chakra were pushed from the corpse, so was the repelling jutsu. At the last moment, he summoned the both of them further across the wasteland, though they weren't far enough to avoid all of the technique. As they both rolled roughly across the ground, Naruto was stopped with a foot to his back, just over his wound. He hissed at the contact.

"And what do we have here?" Came the sadistic voice above him as the foot pressed harshly into his flesh. "Have you missed me, Naruto?"

Sasuke was having so much fun with this pawn of an enemy. He was weak; such a good toy to tease. He had already disposed of that useless pawn that was killing people for their secrets. Not before it had done him the pleasure of killing Kakashi. He smiled when that had happened. That annoying Shinobi knew something about Naruto and he wasn't sharing. That pawn and this one were together. This one had done such a good job of absorbing Kakashi's Chidori, Sasuke had almost laughed.

Initially, Sasuke thought following the path that killed for secrets was ingenious. He could find out where Naruto was and get there before these half-witted pawns. But he had gotten so very short tempered and couldn't help slicing the useless corpse into tiny insignificant pieces. Which is why he was toying with this one. He ended it so quickly with the other one, once he was bored; he didn't have time to enjoy the kill.

With a mad smile, he left a cut across the corpse's cheek with his katana, enjoying not being able to use anything but his fine swordsmanship. Slowly he lifted up the blade, watching the blood disintegrate with the heat of the electric he sent running through it, and let the shining metal mirror his gleeful image. The only thing that would make this more enjoyable was if this corpse could feel emotion and pain so he could terrify and torture it. Instead, he just settled for pissing the controller off.

However, he did have more pressing issues to attend to. Karin had let him know, oh so loudly, that his dear Jinnchuriki had returned. And that meant he got to teach the Dobe a lesson in manners. He'd missed his favourite toy since he'd been gone. He always got such a good reaction! Those wonderful, responsive and broken eyes…

With his speed and sharp blade, devoid of chakra for the monster corpse to devour, the enemy's head was soon rolling along the floor and crushed under his foot. The body, with blood spurting out and pooling around it, had fallen limply to the ground. He looked at his blade and made a mental note to get it sharpened. Bone sure could blunt a katana without the aid of his magnificent chakra.

"Karin, take care of the body."

"H-Hai, Sasuke-sama."

With that, he left the red head and the body, heading toward his Dobe. Oh, the joys he was having today would only get better.

Ino saw Sasuke through her blurry vision as she re-entered her body and started to re-integrate. She saw him lift up Naruto's head and smile at him sadistically. She saw how he held onto the blonde's hair as he wielded his sword against the Pein that had somehow become so close. She saw how Naruto winced and grabbed hold of the offending hand. And, of course, she clearly heard how the young Jinckuriki responded.

"Sasuke! Get the fuck offa me!"

"Oh? Is this how you repay the man who is saving your pathetic life?"

"Like hell you are! I'm fine without you here!"

"It seems to me that you were losing. Just like you always – what the?"

Sasuke felt his body become foreign to him as it sped across the wasteland with Naruto in tow, out of his control and toward the enemy. His sword was left trailing behind him as he was unable to bring it forwards. The corpse before them had another black spear, heading straight for Sasuke's throat. A beat of sweat ran down his forehead, although he would never admit it. Was this the end?

He stared wide eyes at his approaching fate, when he suddenly no longer was. He was falling on the floor several yards away. Still clutching a writhing Naruto, who yanked himself out of his grasp. Sasuke blinked. Naruto had…saved him? Had it been Naruto? He looked at Naruto and his heart felt light, before crashing back down with hate and envy. How dare this Dobe know something he didn't!

"Dobe! What the hell did you do?!" He yelled, grabbing the front of his jacket and dragging him up to face him. "Tell me or I'll kill you!"

But Ino saw the pain in Naruto as he'd gone toward Pein. Saw the struggle he had in taking his hands into the seals to summon them elsewhere. She saw him clutch at the swell of his belly and she noticed the signs and the risk. Naruto was losing control of himself. She had seen him enough to know when he was struggling to mix his and Kyuubi's potent chakra together correctly - had had to help on many occasions during their training.

"Naruto!" She yelled, running to his side, knowing and needing to help him.

"Stay away, wench!" Sasuke called out, spinning to her with fury in his eyes and uncontrollable rage on his fingertips.

Yes, Ino saw a lot of things, including the katana that sliced its way inside of her. And as she felt herself fading away, she could have sworn she saw shock on Sasuke's face.

If Sasuke was honest, he hadn't quite meant to do that, but he didn't make mistakes, so growling, he wrenched his blade from the half dead girl and turned his face once again upon the pathetic excuse for a Shinobi below him.

"The same will happen to you if you don't answer my question, fat ass. You made me dirty my blade, which you will be paying for."

But Naruto didn't hear him, all he was paying attention to was the burning inside of him and the face of his friend, with blood splattered on her cheek and making her blonde hair go such an unnatural colour. Was that her blood? Her blood spilling out? Her blood he could feel rolling across his skin and turning his own cold? Was that her face with such a concerned look frozen in time upon it? For him? Because of him? No, because of Sasuke?

"I-Ino?" Was that his voice? "Ino?" Sounding so desperate? "Ino!" So upset? "Innoooo!" So…angry? "Aaghhhh!"

He felt his blood boil and his chakra run wild. This was his friend. His friend who shouldn't have been here because he'd sent her away. His friend that was trying to help him, even though he told her not to. His friend that was now lying dead, just like his other friends. All because of him. Because of him and Kyuubi. As rage spread through him, so did that volatile chakra, but it was already too late, because his mind had gone blank and white hot rage was all he could see.

Naruto

I know it's short and I apologise. I'm writing the next chapter now though. I just wana give ya'll lot something.

TIMELINE

October - (Late) SasuNaru begins.

November - (Early) Pregnant, (Around 10th) Party, (Mid) Day mission, SasuIno (Late) Mission starts.

December - (Early) Mission ends, Sakura Pregnant, (Week later) SasuSaku marriage told, Naruto moves teams, (Late) Failed visits, Observe NejiHina, KakaNaru talk.

January - (Early) Kakashi makes a lie, NejiHina told to be false. (Mid) Sakura tries visiting. (Week later) last failed visit.

February - (Early) Questions of father stop, (Mid) Sakura's baby's sex, Sasu rapes Naru, Naru moves. (Late) Meets Sakura, Stops training.

March - (Mid) Finds Itachi, Saves Itachi, finds Itachi's curse seal, InoSaku talk, Stag do (interrogation), SasuSaku wedding, ItaNaru consummated, Naruto taken out of Konoha, the aftermath (Late) In world of summons

April - (Mid) Found answer to Kyuubi's seal

May - (Early-Mid) Shizune, Tsunade and Ino in the world of summons. (Mid) NejiHina

June - (Early) Attack on Konoha.

July -

August - (Early) Naru's due date.

September - (Early) Sakura's due date.

In order of occurrences (bold is this chapter), tell me if I've missed anything and I'll add more as it's revealed.