I highly recommend that you reread Chapter 18 before starting this.

on to the story!

Kenji came back with dead eyes and a heavy heart. When she was informed that the mizukage was now dead, Sakura couldn't contain her scream of anguish, and Sasuke had to hold her for hours to calm her down.

Sakura travelled to go see her friend one last time. The funeral had been grim yet beautiful. Even in death, the mizukage was gorgeous, and she had held her previous teammate, Sai's hand all the way through it. Kenji stood by Saobi, who had forgone the wheelchair for the event.

Sakura returned home to Sasuke with her son, escorted by the depressed Saobi. He left, trying to console Kenji with a pat to the head, but was clearly too heartbroken to even heal himself. Kenji went straight up to his room and shut the door.

Sasuke stroked her forehead tenderly. "I'll make you some tea." Sakura nodded and just sat at the table.

The days passed by in a blur. She was never sure if she had eaten or not, if she had bathed or not. She couldn't even think. She was behaving like a robot, her actions mechanical and forced.

One day, while she was cleaning Kenji's room while he took a shower, she gathered his bag in her hands and was surprised when a letter addressed to her fell out. She knew that handwriting anywhere.

"Jin," she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. Slowly, she unfolded the letter inside the envelope and began to read.

Dear Sakura,

I don't even know where to begin this letter. There has been so much that has gone on, and there is way too much shit to tell you. Well, I'll start with the positives.

I'm pregnant. 5 months. I haven't even begun to show yet, but I'm honestly really excited. Saobi's the father, and I haven't told him yet. I can't wait to see the dopey look on his face! God, I love that idiot. At first, because of my past, I was afraid that I couldn't raise a child, or that I couldn't even love. These past few days with Kenji have really opened my eyes, though. I can be a mom. I love Kenji so much, as if he were my own. I would do anything to protect him.

Sakura laughed bitterly. This was true, and Jin hadn't even known that she'd have to. The next things she read made her blood run cold.

And on that note…something happened to Kenji in Orochimaru's lair. You should talk to him about it.

Also, what the fuck are you thinking, letting Sasuke into your house like that? Have you gone insane? Sakura, people can't just make a 180 like that. He tried to kill you, and more importantly, he tried to kill Kenji. What the fuck is wrong with you?

Sakura, I love you, I really do, but get your shit together. You aren't a twelve year old anymore. You have more important things to worry about.

I really hope you take care and that Kenji won't forget to get this letter to you (he probably will).

All my love,

Jin.

P.S…

Sakura didn't look at the P.S. Sakura looked to Kenji who was standing in the doorway. "I forgot to give that to you," he said quietly.

"Did you know that your aunt was-"

"Going to have a baby? Yeah."

Kenji had been creeping on Sai and Jin's conversation for long enough. He had heard enough lies about Naruto and decided to leave. However, curiosity got the better of him, and he promised he'd listen for just a minute more.

"Bye, Sai." Jin said. Then she shook her head and abruptly grabbed Sai's wrist.

She put her hand on her bare belly, and Kenji saw the biggest smile erupt on her face. Sai's eyes widened with surprise.

"You're pregnant!" he gasped.

"I'm only three weeks along, but yes," Jin confided in her former teammate. "You're the first person I've told."

Sai smile genuinely and hugged his captain. "Congratulations, taichou. You'll be a questionable mother figure."

Jin whacked him across the head. "Shut the fuck up. Go eat dinner."

"You didn't say anything," Sakura mumbled. "Why didn't you say anything."

Kenji's eyes were cast downward. "I tried to tell myself it didn't matter."

Sakura eye's were cold and hard. "Of course it mattered, Kenji! Why didn't you tell me?" she spat, banging her fist on the ground.

Kenji's eyes welled up with tears. "Mommy…"

"Stop crying! You're the reason she's dead!" Sakura screamed.

Her world stopped. What had she just said? She turned toward her son. "Kenji," she whispered, reaching out to him. Her son took a step back, tear freely streaming down his face. "Kenji, come here!" she snapped. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth.

Kenji dashed down the stairs. Sakura broke out of her stupor and got up. "Kenji, mommy didn't mean it!" she cried out, a sob escaping her throat. "Kenji!" Kenji ran down the road, trying to escape his mother and his memories. His memories of Orochimaru, his memories of Sasuke, and more importantly, the memories he had of Jin.

Sakura sunk to her knees. "Oh god. Who am I?"

Naruto was in his office with Hinata when a teary Kenji bust in. Hinata was startled, but she tried to calm the boy as best as she could, stroking his back and speaking to him in a soothing voice, but it was no use.

"Hinata, I'll take care of this. You can go home," Naruto said. Hinata didn't dare argue and quickly said goodbye, grabbing her coat. "Kenji, what is it?"

"Did you kill her?" Kenji asked.

Naruto cocked his head to the side. "What are you saying?"

"Did you kill Auntie Jin?"

Naruto sharply inhaled. Yes, he said on the inside, but instead, he lied. "I would never do anything like that." He never imagined this. Tears. Blood. He had never considered the consequences. He had never imagined he would make this little boy cry. "Kenji, it's all right." He felt Kenji lean into his shoulder, his tiny body shaking. He tentatively put his arms around the boy and rubbed his head. "It's okay."

Kenji broke out of Naruto's hold and ran.

Naruto had not done anything wrong. Casualties and hurt feelings were to be expected.

He had done nothing wrong.

Sakura sat on the staircase, reading the letter again and again. Jin's words struck something deep within her. Sakura knew that Jin was right. People had been saying that to her ever since she had come back. She was just sad that it was a dead person who could finally convince her.

Sasuke sat next to Sakura on the stairs and rubbed her shoulder. "Everything okay?" he asked, kissing her on the neck. Sakura nodded and folded the letter up, tucking it inside her shirt. Sasuke smiled every so slightly and kissed Sakura on the lips. Sakura turned her head.

"I'm not in the mood."

Sasuke kissed her neck sweetly and insistently, and Sakura shoved him away. "Get off."

"What the fuck?" Sasuke cursed, wiping his mouth. He stood over her, and Sakura finally remembered. She remembered everything.

"Sasuke, I'm not in the mood. I'm not having sex with you."

Sasuke's lips turned into a cruel sneer. He felt himself getting angry, but he couldn't stop himself. "I have waited for a week. I have been so good to you! And this is the thanks I get?"

Sakura's eyes turned hard and unwavering. "You think you deserve thanks for that? You were being a decent person; you don't deserve thanks for that!" Sasuke slammed his fist on the wall, and Sakura's fists clenched as she stood up. "You know what Sasuke? Haruna was right about you. Everyone was right about you. You're sick, and you need help. I need help, too."

Sasuke approached her dangerously, but Sakura was steadfast in her stance. "You tried to kill me and my son. Our son." She gripped her hair. "Damn it, how could I have been so blind? I've ignored Kenji in favor of you. What is wrong with me?"

"Sakura, you're annoying and stupid. I'm the best thing to ever happen to you," Sasuke growled, but Sakura was firm.

"No, Kenji was the best thing to ever happen to me." Sakura smiled as she thought about the birth of her son and holding him in her arms for the first time. Her lips turned downward. "Get out."

Sasuke stiffened. "What?"

"Get out," Sakura repeated.

"Sakura, you're not thinking straight. Please don't do this-"

"Get out!" Sakura yelled, stomping her foot down.

Sasuke's hurt expression was the last thing she saw before she pushed him out.

Kenji came back late in the night, and he was afraid of the consequences that were to come. Sakura was quietly sitting by the door. Kenji looked around the room. "Where is he?"

"He's gone," Sakura said simply.

Kenji's eyes brightened. "Gone?" Sakura nodded, and Kenji let out a sob of relief. "Why?"

"I'm not ready, and more importantly neither are you." She made no mention of the violence that almost ensued. "I'm so sorry, Kenji. I've been a terrible mother and person lately. But I'm going to make it up to you." She smiled at him tearfully. "I promise."

Kenji had tears streaming down his face, and his hiccups did not go unnoticed. "Mommy," he wailed, and Sakura kneeled down to hold him. "Mommy, it's my fault."

"No, baby. It's not," Sakura cooed. "Nothing's your fault."

Sakura decided to hand deliver the letter to Saobi. He was staying at a raggedy old motel, ridden with fleas. She knocked on the door, and the man slowly came to answer it, stubble already spreading on his face like mold.

"Sakura," he said flatly. "What is it?"

She retrieved the letter from her sleeve and handed it to him. "I'd really like you to read this." Saobi almost slammed the door on her, but Sakura was fast and caught it. "Please. It's important," she emphasized. Saobi sighed before snatching the letter up and allowing Sakura through.

Sakura sat next to Saobi on the bed as he began to read. She gauged his reactions and knew precisely where he was in the letter when he choked on a mixture of grief and love and silently wept into his hand.

He looked up once he was finished, and he wiped away any evidence of sorrow. "Thank you, Sakura," he said sincerely, graciously even. Sakura was even more surprised when he pulled her into a tight hug, but she welcomed it regardless.

"Have you read the P.S. yet?" Saobi asked. Sakura shook her head no. Saobi's eyes suddenly turned serious and hard. "You should. Right away." Sakura rolled her eyes, but Saobi put his hand on her shoulder, grip just tight enough to startle her. "Now," he implored, and Sakura acquiesced. He held it over for her to read, and they looked at it together.

P.S. There's really dangerous stuff going on underground.

When I was younger, I was part of a mercenary group called Yagura's army. It was led by a man named Tobi. He had black hair and wore an orange mask, that's all I can tell you about him. There were others, but they're all dead now. You killed one, Rudy. Rudy killed the other remaining member. When I defected, Konoha was the only village that would let me in.

I have confirmed that Naruto has formed an alliance with him, and I think he's sending someone to kill me. Sai has given me lots of intel from the village; he's risked his life doing this. Naruto hasn't

I think Naruto's getting ready for a war. I don't know why, but please, try to stop him. For everyone's sake.

Sakura held the paper tightly. "Is this true?" she muttered darkly, feeling her world crumble. Everything she knew…was a lie?

Saobi looked away. "Yes. We never imagined the assassin would be Tobi himself. Or that he would have that little honor of trying to kill Kenji as well."

Sakura paled. "Naruto…" she whispered in horror, covering her mouth. It was no use. The bile came up, and she vomited into her hand. Saobi looked at her sympathetically, patting her back. She coughed a few times before wiping her mouth and muttering a quiet 'thanks'. "We need to find Sai," she said. "Figure out what's going on before it happens and diffuse the situation before we tell anyone else."

Saobi agreed. He had a renewed vigor in his eyes. "Let me shave. She never liked the facial hair, and she wouldn't want me moping around like this."

Sai met them at night by the library, his ink mouse leading the two of them to him. "You made it, I'm glad."

Sakura nodded. "You said you had something important to show us?"

"Yes, please follow me."

Saobi, Sakura, and Sai bounded from rooftop to rooftop until they reached the Hokage monuments. "What are we doing here?" Saobi whispered.

"This is usually where we evacuate all the civilians," Sakura mumbled. She gasped as she realized that there was a concealment jutsu placed on the monument. "The third's nose?"

Sai dispelled the illusion with a simple hand sign. There was a hole in the nostril of the third, and Sakura couldn't help but to snort. That was so Naruto.

They all climbed inside the tunnels, and Sakura realized this delved deeper than she could have imagined. They took a route that she did not recall existing, and Sai stopped them before continuing. "My mice will get rid of the traps first. Wait."

When his inky mates came back, Sai motioned for them to follow him. They took off into a sprint and took breaks periodically, checking with the map to ascertain their position. Within three hours, they came to a crossroads in the tunnels. There were hundreds of barrels of explosives lined up along the walls.

"Dear God," Saobi muttered, and Sakura realized where they were with horror.

"This is the border of oto and kiri!"

Sai affirmed the statement. "We have no idea why he has so many weapons here. I found them at the monuments as well."

"I think I do," Sakura said, her tone grim. "Both Oto and Kiri have suffered devastating losses to their leadership. In the event that a disaster occurs, someone will need to step up and take over handling the villages."

Both the men were shocked at the accuracy of the statement. They were so busy with everything they didn't realize…

"Naruto would take over, with approval from the other kages. And he could delegate his duties to someone else, such as Tobi." She paused. "In the case that his plan failed, he could blow up our own landmark and pin the blame on them, also causing the other kages to question the leadership." Sakura blanched.

"He's trying to take over the fucking world."

Itachi let Sasuke into the compound when his brother bumped into him on the street, bumbling drunk. He tucked Sasuke into his old bed and wondered what had happened to make his brother this way. He wondered how his wife and child were doing. Hours later, Itachi heard Sasuke groan and stir.

"…plan didn't work," Sasuke mumbled, and Itachi knew that was directed at him. "We fucked and got closer, but once that bitch died, everything got fucked."

Itachi pursed his lips. "I'm sorry, little brother."

"This whole time, I didn't realize how messed up I am." Sasuke paused. "I couldn't control my anger. I thought I had changed. I wanted to believe that, but I-" his voice stopped, and he went silent.

Itachi looked at his little brother. He felt an inexplicable sadness, and he grasped the other's hand tightly. "We all have some growing up to do," he said softly. "We can do it together."

Sasuke smiled, still drunk. "Cool."

Sakura watched as Saobi, somehow still wide-awake, tinkered with the remote detonator. Even Sai was getting tired.

"Please don't blow us up," Sai requested, and Saobi merely scoffed it off.

"Believe it or not," started Saobi, "When I was younger, I was terrible at everything except for traps, especially explosives." He winked. "I got this." Sakura fell asleep on Sai's shoulder, and both were awaken by a loud "AHA!" He shoved the detonator into their faces. "I disabled it."

Sakura beamed at him, truly impressed. "We should be heading back. I left Kenji at my parents so he's good for now, but we should get back before anyone suspects anything." Before Naruto suspects anything.

Tobi swaggered around Naruto's office. "So the deed has been done. Neither of these countries are in good hands now, I made sure of that."

Naruto smirked. "Good, go cause a ruckus there. Start some riots, and then we will begin the final act…"

Kenji sat on his grandmother's lap. She was knitting, but she didn't mind having the little boy there. "Old man," she called out in her raspy voice. "Get me some iced tea." Her husband acknowledged her with a grunt but complied, making it just the way she liked it. "Thank you, dear." She heard the back gates opening, and she was ecstatic to see her daughter back so soon. "Sakura! Done catching up with your friends?" She added, "I'm sorry to hear about Jin. I know how much she meant to you."

Sakura shook her head. "It's okay, Mom. I'm glad that you're here for me." She looked to Kenji. "Could I get some alone time with my boy?"

"Sure, sure." She motioned for her husband to come with her.

"Mommy, what is it?" Kenji said softly.

Sakura sighed, disappointed and regretful. "You have to stay here for a little while, okay?" Kenji pouted. "I know I made some promises, and I'm going to keep them. However, there's something very important that I have to do right now." She stroked his cheek with her thumb. "I want you to tell me everything when I get back, okay? I will listen to it all." She pressed a kiss to the crown of his forehead and drew back.

Kenji nodded. "I will wait for you, Mommy."

To say that he was nervous was an understatement. Sasuke was quite terrified of this Haruna woman his brother had decided to marry. She was stern and cold, and he was almost sure she would slit his throat if he came too close. However, she had let him into her doorway, Kisame close to her at all times.

"What is it?" she asked sternly, not offering him anything. Sasuke wasn't used to humiliating himself, but this was the first step. Just do it, he told himself, grinding his teeth in frustration. He sank to his knees and bowed his head, prostrate on the ground before her.

"I am sorry."

Haruna did not let her shock appear on her face. "Sorry for what? Be specific."

"For threatening you, for threatening to kill your daughter, for trying to kill you. I am sorry for all of it." This was a new low for Sasuke. He would never be the same. How could he stoop to this level.

"Lift your head," she commanded, and he did so. Her face was free of bitterness and fear, and he saw sadness and anger instead. "I will never trust you."

"I understand," he replied.

"If you so much as look at me or my daughter wrong, I will fucking kill you, do you understand?"

"Yes." She was serious. He lowered his head.

"Now come inside." What was that? He looked at her, and Haruna had moved out of the way for him.

"What?"

"Come inside. Don't you want to meet your niece?" Sasuke nodded slowly, and Haruna guided him to the crib. "Don't touch her. She doesn't like strangers, and more importantly, I don't like you."

That stung, but he deserved it.

As his niece smiled at him, and Haruna cooed at her daughter's excitement, Sasuke realized he truly would never be the same.

And he was happier for it.

"Kenji, you met your dad right?" Grandpa Haruno asked him, and Kenji nodded. "What did you think?"

"…he's not really my dad." His grandfather was silent, feeling there was more to come. "I feel like Jin was…she was kinda my dad. Not like, a boy, but she was always there. And Sasuke can't replace her." He continued. "I'm a Haruno, not an Uchiha. I have two moms, but I don't really have a dad."

His grandfather was shocked at his grandson's wisdom. "Kenji, that was beautiful. Are you sure you're seven?"

Kenji giggled. "Grandpa, you're silly?"

Unbeknownst to him, Sasuke had heard it all. His son was the next person he would apologize to, and he still planned to, but he knew he would never truly be a father in his son's eyes. And that hurt. Still…

"I will protect you,"Sasuke whispered, clutching his chest.

The three had gathered a few forces of their friends to confront Naruto. Sakura still felt queasy at the thought of him, but she was getting better. She knew this had to be done, and more than that, she knew that Tobi had to be taken down. They would need Naruto's compliance for that. She refused to let anything happen to her village, especially when her son was there.

Ino, Shikamaru, and Neji had been scouting the perimeter of the Hokage's building. Shino, Kiba, and Chouji had also tagged along, viewing the building from the rooftops. TenTen and Lee agreed to walk around the building and make sure there were no surprise visitors. Saobi volunteered to guard the door while Sakura and Sai went in. If there was trouble, they were to signal the others with an explosive. They were all armed with threads of chakra.

"Good luck," he said, pulling Sakura into a hug and slapping Sai on the back.

"Sai?" Sakura said, and her teammate nodded. They walked into the room, prepared for the worst.

Words: 3675

Next update: shit man hopefully soon

so i think you can all tell this is coming to an end. There are effectively (as of right now) only 2 more chapters left of this. I really hope you have enjoyed it, and I would love to hear some feedback from you guys. This story has taken almost 5 years, but I'm actually very proud of my recent chapters. Please, don't be too harsh on me as I am only human, and as always, if you need anything clarified, ask me.