Five Months Later

Many things changed over those short months. The Inuzuka family welcomed a healthy baby girl that they named Kaoru a month ago. She was born with a head full of brown locks and screaming her heart out. And as it would turn out Kaoru was just as adventurous as her older siblings. Kanna declared she was done having kids, while Kiba objected; three was an odd number and that just wouldn't do.

Ino was now almost eight months along and was in the hospital on bed rest, much to her annoyance. The doctors were afraid she was going to go into labor early, so she had been checked in almost a month ago. Let's just say no one ever volunteered to be on one of her rounds. Sakura was pretty much stuck with her.

Temari had gone back to her troublesome ways after their talk. Shikamaru didn't mention it again. He knew it would only make her feel more uncomfortable. She was now six months pregnant with a boy. Shikamaru had already named him; Asuma. Temari hadn't objected.

Saki's sword training had been going smooth and quickly. She seemed determined to do every move preciously, moving every part of her body just so. She worked slow but efficiently. Like a true Samurai, her Papa would always say. She had already started learning the first of her sets. Kaemon breaking each set into smaller, easier sections. No matter how good her memory was a whole set was just too much for a three year old. It was still all unknown to her parents. She was unwavering when it came to fully surprising her father with her sword skills. Of course that wasn't the only she had been working on. Her Papa had been adamant about her studying form some of the scrolls she had seen in the room. She did it mostly on breaks but found them very interesting.

Sakura and Sasuke had talked long and hard about what to do with Takuya. They both weren't fond of the idea. They knew that Takuya was strong and smart but that wasn't the point. Sasuke was worried about him becoming power hungry and history repeating itself. While Sakura was more afraid of the emotional effect being with people so much older than him would cause. In the end they had asked Takuya what he wanted to do. It was soon decided that he would advanced but he would be watched more carefully by his new Sensei. If things became too hard on him he would just repeat the grade. But that wasn't the end of it. Shortly after that Takuya's old Sensei had asked for Ryu to be put in his class, a year ahead of where he was. They knew they had no choice but to agree. After letting Takuya advance, it wouldn't be fair not to.

Sakura finally managed to find three students to teach. Ren was the only boy in the group. His chakra control was incredible followed closely by his thirst for knowledge. Eri a young girl, who was previously in ANBU who, after all the horrors she had seen, wanted to heal instead of kill. Her last was Juri the injured girl in all black who had interrupted her test. She wasn't even a one of her choices, which Sakura tried to explain. The young girl was unyielding though. She wanted to be able to help her team. Her stubbornness reminded her of another certain blonde Hokage. Only Juri's was a quiet stubbornness while Naruto's had always been in-your-face-loud. She had reluctantly agreed.

Tenten took Hinata advice and tried talking to Neji. It had been an awkward talk that Neji seemed to have no desire to participate in. He tried to get out of it and delay but Tenten refused to let him. Luck wasn't on her side thought. Halfway through their conversation an ANBU appeared telling Neji Hokage-sama wanted to see him immediately. Tenten had almost thrown the glass of tea she was holding at him. Neji had been pretty distant since then and Tenten never tried finishing their talk.

Uchiha House

"Can I come too?" Saki asked looking up at her father, her onyx eyes hopeful. Sasuke looked down at his daughter.

"Not this time Saki. I'm going to be teaching the boys basics of a technique that involves kunai. And I can't be worrying about you while I'm trying to teach them." The boys pulled on their sandals and Saki looked down so he couldn't see her eyes go glassy. Sasuke sighed at the sight of her dejected stature. So much like her mother. "Maybe next time."

"Ok," She murmured, looking up to watch them leave. She turned to head back to her room when her mother called out to her.

"Saki, do you want to help me make dinner?" Sakura had seen the exchange and noticed her daughter was unusually upset. Saki had been acting strange for some time now. Her energy level had seemed to drop, thankfully. The girl could be quite rambunctious. Her vocabulary had gotten larger and her question more complicated. She seemed to get upset when Sasuke had started taking more interest in Takuya and Ryu's training as well.

"No, I'm gonna got to my room for awhile, If that's okay?" The young girl said from her place halfway up the stairs.

"Ok, but if you change your mind…" Saki nodded before heading up the stairs heading for her room. She closed her door firmly behind her, leaning her weight against the door and only then did she let the first tear roll down her pale cheek followed closely by another.

Was that what he thinks? Saki wondered sliding down the base of the door. That she was nothing more than a worry? Was she really that much of a nuisance? She pulled her legs to her chest wrapping her arms around them resting her chin on her knees. Takuya and Ryu are so strong for their age. It's no wonder why daddy wants to teach them. Their so much strong them me, I don't know why I even bother trying. She leaned hunched over her knees. No. Papa says that I am improving. I'll just have to get stronger. Then when daddy sees, he'll want to train me too! She rubbed the palms against wet eyes. She pushed herself up rushing to her closet, spirit renewed.

Tap, tap, tap, slide, pause, tap, tap, tap, tap. Pause. Slide. Tap. Repeat.

Sakura looked at the ceiling above her. What on earth is that girl doing up there?

She dried her hands on a towel before heading upstairs. She walked to Saki room. Her door was closed. Sakura silently reached forward and opened the door just enough for her to see in. She silently gasped at what she saw, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. Saki was holding a broom like a sword, moving gracefully around the room performing a set that Sakura hadn't seen in years. Her daughter missed a step and almost fell flat on her face, as Sakura held back the instinct to run over to her, but Saki managed to catch herself and land on all fours, panting.

Sakura knew she should run in and demand to know what was going on. Why her father had been teaching her such things? But she couldn't. She couldn't seem to make herself move from the spot it was in. She was frozen. But what she heard next made her heart stop.

Saki pushed herself up, "I need to get stronger." Saki said fisting the carpet.

Sakura closed the door silently, pressing her back against the cool wood a muffled sob escaping her lips. She always knew out of everyone, despite what Sasuke said, Saki was the most like him. But was history really repeating itself? She felt her stomach turn as the worry boiled into anger in her stomach. What was her father thinking? Teaching her daughter to sword fight without her permission! He couldn't even bother to tell her what was going on?

When Sasuke and the boys came home almost an hour later, Sakura walked out the door, slamming it rather loudly, without a word. Sasuke, who was use to his wife's strange and violent behavior, just shrugged it off, pitying the idiot she was off to pummel, as he ushered the boys inside and told them to get washed up for dinner.

Sakura pounded on her father's door. It opened a few minutes later, he did not look happy. "Sakura? What in the world-!" Sakura pushed past her father into his house, pacing back and forth in front of him.

"I can't believe you taught Saki to sword fight! Without my permission-Hell without even telling me! Do you think that is Ok? I know that I was horrible at sword fighting and that disappointed you, but really dad? Convincing my daughter to train in the ways of the Samurai?" Sakura continued to rant throwing her arms around, her face flushed in anger.

Kaemon didn't say a word as his daughter continued to yell. He eased back into a chair, picking up his old sword to finish cleaning it. "Sakura," She instantly quieted. He looked up from the sword. "So, Saki finally told you."

"Dad," He raised his hand and she silenced.

"First off, I did not convince Saki of anything. She found my old stuff and asked me to teach her. She wanted to get stronger."

"And that's the problem dad, that hasn't exactly worked out well for the Uchihas'-"

"But she is also a Haruno." Kaemon sheathed his sword. "Do you know why she wanted to learn to sword fight?" Silence. "She said that she wanted her dad to be proud of her just like he was of Ryu and Takuya." She fell onto the couch. He let this information sink in. "I'll make us some tea."

XXX

"Sasuke," Sakura said softly. She knew this conversation was going to be hard and could end very badly, so she had to tread lightly. "We need to talk." Sasuke raised an eyebrow a smirk comes to his lips.

"Oh, is it about you leaving earlier?"

"Yes, No-Well a little," She stuttered nervously. Damn she hadn't been this nervous around him since the first month he had come back to Konoha. They were still in war at that time though so it made it a little- ok no it was still as awkward as hell.

"Sakura?" His voice low and serious.

"It's about Saki," Sasuke let out a sigh and pushed himself out of the chair turning to leave. "Sasuke!"

"Let's not get into this tonight Sakura." His voice was low and warning. He was not in the mood to have it out about not letting his daughter come on training session.

"Get into it? I haven't even started yet Sasuke! We need to talk about this!" Sasuke headed for the stairs, "Sasuke!" He paused on the sixth step before appearing in front of her in the time it took to blink.

"I know you're upset that I didn't take Saki along. I saw the death glare! But it was too dangerous. I not sure if you hadn't noticed but Ryu's aim isn't the best and Takuya's isn't much better."

"That's not what I want to talk about! Well- it sort of is." She let out a sigh as she ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "This isn't the first time you've done it either. Saki needs her dad to Sasuke, not just the boys." Sakura said her voice getting louder.

"That isn't fair!" Sasuke shouted back losing his temper, "It's not true either." He didn't play favorites with his kids, not like his dad. He'd never make one of his kids feel inferior to another.

"Oh really?" Sakura asked putting her hands on her hips, her face turning red with anger.

"Damn it Sakura!" He raked his hand through his hair, "Fine, I might have been spend a little more time with the boys but it's because there training right now." Sakura snorted,

"A little?" Sakura snorted.

"I just said you were right, Sakura! I'm agreeing with you! What more do you want?"

"I want you to fix it!" Sakura yelled, her voice echoing off the walls, chest heaving. And Sasuke couldn't help but be a little turned on at the site. If this had been a smaller matter, not about her accusing him of neglecting one of his children he would have thrown her over his shoulder and taken her to the bedroom and settled it like that.

"I don't know how! Saki is more like you-" Sakura laughed humorously. "What?"

"Sasuke, Saki is more like you than me. How can you not see that?" She asked astounded, throwing her hands up in defeat. She let a sigh escape her lips, "Feel free to sleep on the couch tonight." She walked past him up the stairs disappearing into their bedroom and closed the door quietly. Sasuke flipping the dining room table with so much that it somersaulted into the wall breaking into pieces. He sighed plopping onto the couch his hands covering his face. He just sat there trying to control his anger. Sasuke sighed pushing his hands upwards and through his hair, glancing at his bedroom then flickered to Saki's room. He got up walked to the stairs his eyes on his daughters door. He took the first step before closing his eyes turning and heading for the door.

Uzumaki House

Naruto opened the door clad in only his boxers. "Sasuke," Naruto seeing the state of the Uchiha moved to the side letting him pass into the house, closing the door behind him. Sasuke walked to living room, nodding to Hinata as he passed her in the hallway. She shot Naruto a question look, who merely shrugged in response a tired smile coming to his lips. He nodded back to the bedroom, telling he be there in a couple minutes. She hesitated before obliging.

Naruto walked to the living room where Sasuke was sitting. It wasn't the first time Sasuke had shown up at Naruto's house after having a fight with Sakura. They never talked about it. It was just a silent understanding between the two of them. Naruto pulled a blanket and pillow from the closet handing it. He started back to his bedroom.

XXX

A man smiled sickly to himself.

'Soon.' He thought wildly. Soon he would get what he wanted. 'Just a little bit longer.'