Okay guys. Last chapter before the prologue. It gets a little spotty at times, but overall, I'm satisfied with it. I hope you guys enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto looked over his shoulder and smiled, pleased to see his old friends. "Sakura, Sai! It's great to see you." He took a sip of sake at his desk and sighed. "Now, if only Jin was still here, this would feel right."

Sakura felt her heart shatter into pieces, and she knew instantly that Naruto wouldn't be confessing to his sins so easily. Though the room smelled foul, she knew part of it had to do with the lies. She sent out a pulse of her chakra that ignited an explosive, signaling her friends. Naruto gasped as chakra wires surrounded his body and trapped him in place.

"What's the meaning of this?" he shouted, struggling to get free. Sai slapped a seal on Naruto's forehead.

"Now he can't access his chakra for now. It won't hold for long," Sai muttered. Sakura nodded.

"We need to talk, Naruto," Sakura stated firmly.

"What's going on?" he spat, straining against his bonds.

"We know what you've been doing, Naruto." Sakura said. "It's time to tell us the truth."

Naruto broke into a cold sweat. "What are you talking about? You two are sick."

Sai shook his head. "I found the explosives, Naruto. In the monument and on the border. We also know you sent that assassin to kill Jin. Don't pretend to be innocent." Sai's voice came out more bitter and spiteful than intended, but even though he wasn't sure how to show it, he was deeply saddened by the death of his friend and former captain.

Naruto swallowed hard and stiffened. "I never meant it to turn out like this." He started muttering under his breath. "It just lost all control, and it was difficult to get it back on track. I promise you everything's fine now."

"What's fine?" Sakura shouted. "My friend is dead!"

Naruto looked her dead in the eye. "I'm getting Konoha to be a major power again. I'm getting us back to where we should be: at the very top."

"That's how wars are started," Sai said, his voice heated.

"How can we be at war if we are all united?" Naruto said quizzically. "Both those nations are in desperate need of leadership, and I'm stepping up."

"You created that vacancy," Sakura said, oddly quiet. "What do you know about Tobi or Madara or whatever his name is? Saobi told me some, but please, Naruto, please. I need to know the story. Please let me know you're not a monster." Sai nodded in agreement.

Naruto sighed and began. "My plans began roughly two years ago."

Tsunade sighed as she sipped her sake. "What's this about, Naruto? I don't have much time; I've got to get back to the hospital."

Naruto huffed. "Granny, I just want to catch some dinner with you, is that so much to ask?"

"Aren't you still going out with Sakura or something?"

Naruto winced. "No. She broke up with me."

"Unfortunate. She could always do better, though. She should have married that chick she was living with." Her words stung, but he kept his mouth shut. "You probably have questions about the new and upcoming kages, eh?"

Naruto perked up. "Who?"

"Well, Orochimaru has taken his position again, and a newcomer, Torino, has come and taken control of the land of water. She's been doing well, but many of us were nervous about such stability next to such horror. Torino's got a heart of gold. It'll get her killed one day."

Naruto was shot down by the council. "Uniting all the nations? That's crazy talk."

"We don't trust any of them, how could we even form an alliance with them?"

All the negativity, all the rejection…

He would find another way.

"Hello?" he called out, looking around the forest. He didn't detect a single chakra signature. "I've been waiting for an hour!"

"I know."

The voice came right from behind him. Naruto jumped and threw a punch in surprise. It connected with nothing.

"You're a little eager." From above. Naruto craned his head, and he came face to face with a man in an orang mask. "I hear you're looking to gain control of Mist and Sound. I think I can help as long as we have a little arrangement?"

Naruto could hear the evil smile behind the mask but decided to listen to what the masked man had to say regardless.

"I have one of my subordinates in Orochimaru's ranks…You leave the fall of Sound to me. We'll work on Mist after.

Then, we rule."

Sakura was shaking. "Did you tell him about me and my son leaving town?"

"It's possible-"

"You're the one who put us in danger!" she screeched, breaking out into a sob. "You are the one who almost got my little boy killed. You killed my friend!" She fell to the floor, screaming in anger while tears burned trails down her cheeks.

Naruto hung his head. "I didn't mean for it to turn out like this. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

Sai was silent. "Naruto, tell us what we can do to stop it." He looked up, his eyes sullen.

"Nothing."

Chojuro didn't know what to do.

"The people are rioting. There's no food, no clean water." He ran his hands through his hair. "This is all gone to shit. God, I don't know what to do."

An advisor abruptly entered office. "Chojuro, they're storming the building. We need to leave."

Chojuro looked to the window. "Gather all the employees. Barricade the doors. Don't let anyone in here." For once in his life, he prayed. "Jin, please help me."

The streets were filled with blood. Children were screaming, and fathers and mothers were scrambling for their offspring, to no avail. There was blood, so much blood!

Tobi ripped off his last head and smiled. That would have to do for now. It had been so long since he could stage a massacre. Now, to start a war.

"Nothing. There can't be nothing," Sai said. "There must be something we can do."

"Unless you can defeat Tobi, there really is nothing."

Sakura sniffled. "That's all we have to do then. Just defeat Tobi."

Naruto scoffed. "Are you crazy? I can't spare that type of man power."

Sakura shook her head. "We can use the two people you hate the most, the two people you think are expendable."

Sai looked at her. "Who?"

"Sasuke and Itachi."

Sasuke returned home, and Itachi welcomed him warmly. "How did your little crusade of apologies go?"

"Haruna accepted it. Kind of. I never got to Kenji." The way he heard Kenji talk about him was painful. He still had to face the truth however. This was going to be a difficult and excruciating journey.

Itachi's smile disappeared. "Well, that will have to wait. We've been called to the Hokage's office. We're going on a mission. Get your gear ready."

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, but he decided against it. He just nodded and went to fetch his weapons.

Sasuke and Itachi ran into the Hokage's office, only to find him bound by chakra wire and trapped in place, held by Sakura and her teammate. Sasuke felt his stomach twist at the sight of Sakura, but she completely ignored him.

"Sakura?" Itachi questioned. "What happened? Why are you restraining Naruto?"

Sakura pulled at the strings. Naruto grunted in discomfort. "Tell them." His mouth remained shut. She tugged at them again, more violently this time. "Tell them!"

He did. And Itachi's face contorted with fury. He marched forward and grabbed Naruto by the nape of his neck, and the hokage yelped in pain. "You've put at least three countries in danger. And for what?"

Sasuke…could see Naruto's point.

"I think we should let it happen," he said.

Sai and Sakura glared at him, and Itachi stared at him in shock. Sasuke shrugged. "The idiot has a point. The two countries need it, regardless of who caused it." He turned to Sakura. "Listen, I'm trying to make things right between us, but I really do think he's right."

"By causing a war?" she shrilled. "You. You think of our son. If we get attacked, what's going to happen to him? If we die, he'll be left an orphan. Worse, either he'll be forced to fight or he will get killed!" She pursed her lips. "If you really want to make things right between us, make everything right."

Itachi turned towards Naruto. "What do we need to do?" he asked, tightening his grip onto Naruto's hair. Naruto swallowed. "You'll need to kill Tobi."

"Where is he?" Itachi muttered dangerously.

"Otogakure," the hokage responded.

Itachi nudged his head toward his brother. "Let's go, Sasuke." Seeing his brother's hesitance, he intensified his stare. "Now."

Sasuke glanced at Sakura one last time before exiting the room, and her eyes held no trace of love, but only hope and a request.

Stop the violence.

Sasuke requested for half an hour before leaving, and it was given to him. Itachi stayed in the hokage's office with Sakura and Sai, his hand gripping Naruto's shoulder painfully.

"You should go as well," Naruto mumbled.

Itachi looked down upon the man, knowing he could truly escape his bonds if he wished to. "Why?" he asked roughly, not removing his hand.

Naruto sighed. "Who knows how long you'll be gone? Who knows if you'll come back? You should say goodbye to your wife and daughter."

Itachi's face paled, and he excused himself. Sakura felt bile come up her throat, and she nearly gagged. Sakura swallowed hard. She knew that look. She tried to push it out of her mind and turned her attention back to Naruto. "You're not off the hook, you know. You will pay for your crimes."

Naruto nodded. "I know," he said solemnly.

Sasuke dashed across the rooftops and landed at Sakura's parents house. His billowing cloak caught Kenji's attention, and Sasuke immediately caught the displeasure in Kenji's eyes. He decided to be selfish this once, and he leapt down.

"Where are your grandparents?" he asked the boy.

"Inside. What do you want?"

Sasuke breathed out, full. He was nervous. "Listen, Kenji. I know I will never really be a true father to you. And that's okay." He clenched his fists. "I know the way I've treated you has been so, so wrong. I know. I'm sick, but I'm trying to make that right."

Kenji's eyes were sad. "I know."

Sasuke continued, feeling his stomach twist painfully. "I won't ask for your forgiveness, but could you, my son, please give me a hug?"

Kenji looked at him like he was crazy. "What?" he screeched.

Sasuke held out a hand. "Let me explain. I have to go on a mission, and I don't know if I'm going to return." Kenji's face fell, and his lip quivered. "Before that, I just want to hug you. Once. Then I'll never ask anything of you again."

Kenji was silent, looking at his feet. He seemed to be in deep contemplation, and Sasuke decided to just leave it at that. He turned his back, but just as he was about to leave, he heard a soft, "okay."

Sasuke's heart jumped in his chest, and he awkwardly outstretched his arms, falling to one knee. Kenji slowly walked toward him and wrapped his arms around Sasuke's waist. Sasuke hesitantly laid a hand on his son's back, and he felt something swell up in him, and he felt like he was choking. Kenji yelped when Sasuke pulled him closer and rested his head upon the boy's shoulder. He had never been so confused in his life. Sasuke inhaled deeply and squeezed his eyes shut. If there was ever a reason to come back, this was it: this feeling.

Sasuke pulled himself away, and he nodded. "Thank you, Kenji." He stood up, trying to ignore the stares that Kenji was giving him. "Um. How do I say this," he mumbled to himself. No, he couldn't say it. Not right now. "Nevermind. Goodbye Kenji." He started making his way back to the Hokage's office.

Kenji stood in the yard gaping until he heard his grandmother yell, "Dinnertime!"

"Coming!" he replied, running inside the house.

Haruna answered the door. "Stop your fucking knocking, I haven't been able to sleep in days-" She backed away. "Itachi."

"Haruna, you were right. You were right, and I was wrong."

"Itachi, what are you doing here?"

Itachi looked down. "I've been assigned to a mission, and I don't know if I'll be coming back." Haruna's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. "Can I please see Takara before I go? Please, Haruna."

Haruna nodded dumbly, and Itachi marched into the apartment to Takara's crib. Takara squealed with delight as she saw him, and Itachi's eyes softened. "Hi, sweetie!" he whispered, picking her up. He pressed a kiss to the crown of Takara's head. "Daddy loves you, you know that?" Itachi held her close and sighed. "Okay, babe. Time to go back in." Takara immediately started fussing as Itachi lay her down, and Haruna could see the pain in Itachi's eyes. He turned to her. "I'll go now."

"Wait!" she blurted out, and Itachi froze in his tracks. She ran to him and kissed him deeply, Itachi responding with equal fervor. "Please come back to me," she begged, her voice breaking.

Itachi buried his face in her neck. "I'm going to try."

Sasuke and Itachi met at the gates. "You do what you need to do?" Itachi asked, and Sasuke nodded.

"Did you?" the younger shot back, and Itachi laughed mirthlessly to himself.

"Yes, little brother. I did." He redid his ponytail and double-checked their supplies. "You are aware that if we do make it, we won't be back for a while, correct?" Sasuke confirmed that he did. "You're prepared?"

"Yes, Itachi." Sasuke brought his cloak over his shoulder and fastened it. "Let's go, aniki."

Naruto was finally released from the chakra wires, but he was being watched very carefully by Tsunade and Kakashi. Sakura and Sai were discussing some plans to strengthen the two countries.

Naruto was too ashamed to look at either Tsunade and Kakashi.

"Why do almost all my students turn out bad?" Kakashi said, shaking his head.

Tsunade was barely containing her anger, and her face was set in a snarl. "Your ninja way was a load of crap," she spat, and Naruto's neck vein popped out.

Sakura walked to Tsunade. "Shishou, I don't think we want to upset him anymore than we already have. It's just not safe." Tsunade nodded in agreement, but her golden eyes were still trained on him with fury.

Sakura felt her stomach grumble in disagreement, but she passed it off as nothing. However, as Tsunade and Kakashi kept discussing their disappointment, she felt her stomach cramp harder and harder. Her eyes widened in realization as she excused herself, clutching her abdomen. She rushed to the bathroom and vomited chunks into the toilet, retching violently due to pain and shock.

"Oh god, no." She wiped her mouth and settled herself on the floor of the bathroom. She felt tears come to her eyes, and she had to restrain herself from sobbing, covering her mouth with her hand. "No," she moaned, unable to hold back her tears. "No," she wept, holding her stomach with both hands. Yet again, she had made the same mistake of no protection, and yet again, the result was the same; she knew it was. She didn't even have to take the test.

She was pregnant.

Tsunade was shocked. "No protection. Again?"

Sakura nodded, her hands cradling her belly. "I'm so stupid," she cried. "I'm so fucking stupid."

Tsunade scoffed. "Okay, yes, but let's look at this a different way." She rubbed Sakura' shoulders and smiled. "You're going to have a baby!" she whispered excitedly.

Sakura blinked her tears away. "Should I? Does my son really need a sibling?"

Tsunade shrugged. "Do you want to give the fetus up?"

Sakura shook her head, wiping her eyes. She looked down. "I'm going to have a baby," she giggled. "A baby."

Tsunade beamed. "Yes. Life's too short to be sad over these mistakes. Learn from them, make up for them, and move on. And you've already got the mom part down."

Sakura nodded, a smile forming on her face. "Kind of. I haven't been the best lately."

"Like I said. Learn from your mistakes, make up for your mistakes, and move on."

Sakura asked if she could leave, and Tsunade let her. Both Tsunade and Kakashi would be working as acting hokages until the council could figure out what to do.

Sakura walked to her parent's house, and she was received with a warm welcome. "Mom, Dad, could I talk to you privately for a second?"

Her mother shrugged. "Sure. Keep eating, Kenji. We'll be back soon."

Sakura brought them out to the yard. "I'm just going to come out and say it. I'm pregnant."

Her mom raised a brow at her. "Again?"

Sakura blushed. "Mom!" She slowly turned to her dad, suddenly bashful. He hadn't been happy about her first pregnancy so it was his reaction she was most concerned about.

Her father rubbed his face. He went over and patted his daughter's shoulder. "We all know that babies are cuter," was all he said, and Sakura laughed, tears of relief leaking from her eyes. The three of them shared a hug, and then she went to Kenji. She asked her parents for support, and they were all too happy to give it.

Kenji was eating at the kitchen table, and the three adults came back in. Sakura pulled up a chair by Kenji. "Hey, Kenji?"

"Yes, mommy?" His eyes were so large and innocent. These few days at his grandparents' house had been good for him."

Sakura swallowed audibly. "Kenji, I'm going to have a baby."

Kenji stopped eating, and he gently placed his chopsticks on the table. "Really?" he said softly, his voice full of wonder.

Sakura felt relief warm her body. "Yes," she laughed. "You're going to have a little sister."

Sakura's mom coughed. "How do you already know?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I just do, okay?"

"A little sister?" Kenji said with a grin, standing up. "I'm going to have a little sister!" Sakura lifted him and spun him around.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

One week later…

The reason the people in the land of water had been starving was because their crops had been tampered with. Many of their homes had also been set on fire, so Sasuke and Itachi helped Chojuro come up with a plan while they searched for clues.

So far, nothing pointed to where Tobi was. Sasuke and Itachi were just a little bit frustrated, but they knew that it was going to get much, much worse.

Things were much calmer here than they were in Oto.

Kenji had told her everything that happened in Orochimaru's lair. Sakura had cried in private when she realized what had happened to him, but she pulled herself together. She immediately searched for a therapist and had gotten Kenji to talk about his feelings and his fears.

She would never let Kenji suffer alone like that again.

Six weeks later…

Itachi and Sasuke had received word that Naruto was placed on house arrest indefinitely. Itachi was all too happy about it.

They had followed Tobi's trail to the village of tea, but he had escaped before they could even confront him. The trail had gone dry yet again. The brothers opted to separate for now. Itachi would handle diplomatic matters in Oto while Sasuke continued to search for Tobi.

Sasuke agreed, knowing he had to do this to redeem himself.

"Mommy, how was the doctor's visit?"

Sakura grinned. "Great. The fetus is healthy and growing properly."

Kenji's eyes were shining. "Is she kicking yet?"

Sakura laughed and ruffled Kenji's hair. "Not yet, baby. But she will soon."

"What does Sasuke think?" Kenji asked, and Sakura chuckled, unsure.

"We'll see."

Three months later…

Sasuke couldn't even fathom how intense his anger was when he saw Tobi slit the throat of a child. It was so cruel. He imagined seeing Kenji choke on his own blood, and the need to kill Tobi grew tenfold.

The man in the orange mask taunted him, holding the boy by the arm and shaking his lifeless body. Sasuke lunged at him, but Tobi warped out of his reach.

Yet again he was so close.

Itachi had finished his proposal to the kages to secure leadership in Oto. They would be meeting up in a week, gathering supplies and searching for new clues.

Sasuke wiped the blood off his face, and he walked to the boy. He deserved a proper burial.

Sakura's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

Tsunaded nodded. "This is actually the perfect solution. We think that Naruto's ambition was what got to him. Konoha was already in a very good place, but Oto? A mess, always has been. Naruto, with his experience and desire to better things, will be the best leader they could ever ask for."

Kakashi sighed. "I will then be filling in the position of hokage."

Sakura covered her mouth. "Wow, congratulations!" Kakashi smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "Is there anything I can do?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Just keep working your rounds at the hospital and stay healthy."

Five months later…

Sasuke guarded the door as Itachi slept. Tobi had stabbed Itachi, and although Itachi would live, he needed some rest before they could begin traveling again.

Sasuke had written a letter to Sakura, informing her of his progress. He didn't expect any response, and it was hardly practical to get one. He asked her how she was, how their son was, and what the situation was like in Konoha. He went a step further, telling her he missed her. It took all of his strength to write that, and he almost wanted to call his hawk back when he sent it.

However, he did receive a response. All it said was:

"Everything's good.

…miss you too."

He was going to hold on to this feeling. There was nothing more he wanted than going home.

Naruto was released.

"I'm still going to be a kage?" he asked incredulously, and Tsunade confirmed it.

"You will get control over Otogakure. You will be closely watched, and if you slip up…well, just don't slip up," Kakashi said casually.

Naruto couldn't believe his ears. "I'm getting a second chance?"

Tsunade smiled. "As mad as I was before, I'm glad you are, and guess what? It comes with your very own personal assistant."

Hinata entered the room and bowed.

Naruto turned to her. "Hinata, no. I couldn't make you-"

Hinata shook her head. "Naruto-kun, no one's making me do this. Not you, not the village. I'm doing this because I want to."

For the first time in his life, Naruto understood the look in Hinata's eyes, and he blushed in shame and embarrassment.

Tsunade patted his back. "You leave in a week, kiddo. Get ready."

Six months later…

Tobi was hacking up blood, reaching for his weapon. Itachi stomped on his hand, breaking a few fingers in the process. Tobi cursed, coughing wildly. "Damn you," he hissed. "I was so close to having my power, the power I deserve." He groaned in pain. "You stole it from me! If not for you, I would be where I earned to be."

Sasuke kicked away Tobi's sword, and he bent over. "We both know, you and I, that good things must be earned, yes. However, we can't determine what it is. What's right and wrong is often blurred, and we all want to think that we are the good guys." He turned Tobi onto his back, the man gargling on his blood while a glare was still present on his face. "I know what it's like. I'm still struggling. I wish I could give you a second chance, but you've put my son in danger. I can't allow that."

"Go fuck yourself," Tobi spat, and Sasuke sighed. He quickly grabbed his sword and dragged it across Tobi's neck, severing the head from the body.

Itachi put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Are you ready to go home?"

Sasuke rested his head upon Itachi's shoulder."Yes."

Sakura was lying in bed, balancing a bowl of ice cream on her swollen belly. She yelped as she felt the fetus move. "Kenji, come over here!" she called, sitting up excitedly.

Kenji came in. "Yeah, mommy?"

Sakura smiled, beckoning Kenji to her. "The baby is kicking."

Kenji's eyes lit up, and he put his hand on Sakura's stomach. He jolted as the baby delivered quite the strong kick, and he looked absolutely petrified. "Can she kick through?"

Sakura laughed. "No, babe." She patted his back, and Kenji beamed at her.

"Will Sasuke be excited?" Kenji asked, and Sakura legitimately didn't know how to answer that question.

"I don't know, Kenji."

Kenji fiddled his thumbs. "Do you love him, Mom? Do you love Sasuke?"

Sakura pursed her lips, and she motioned for Kenji to sit next to her. She wrapped her arms around him. "I won't lie to you. I do, but I'm not going to give it another try until he changes for the better and you're comfortable with it. I'm not going to do anything you don't want."

Kenji laid his head on Sakura's chest. "Mommy, I want you to be happy."

Sakura's eyes softened. "I am happy, Kenji."

Kenji bit his lip. "I want my sister to have a daddy." Sakura felt her chest tighten. "C-Can we have dinner with him when he gets back?"

Sakura exhaled in relief. "Of course."

Seven months later…

Sasuke was nervous. He was standing in front of the gates, staring intently at them. Itachi slapped Sasuke's back. "You ready?" Sasuke shook his head. Itachi gave him a half smile. "Everything will be all right. I promise."

Sasuke nodded, took a deep breath, and entered the village.

The two of them went to the Hokage's office. They greeted Kakashi. "It's been done. Tobi is dead."

Kakashi stood up and put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Thank god. Thank you too."

Itachi raised a brow. "So you are the new hokage. How are you liking it?"

Kakashi gave him a look that could wither flowers. "I don't. But I don't really have a choice do I? You two are free to go." Itachi nodded, and he was off without a second thought. Sasuke shuffled around, and Kakashi chuckled. "Sakura has invited you to dinner, Sasuke. Behave yourself."

Sasuke gaped at his former teacher dumbly, and Kakashi exhaled. "Go to Sakura's house, Sasuke. You can stay at the Uchiha compound like you were before, but trust me, you need to see her."

Sasuke hesitantly hodded and made his way over to Sakura's place. He couldn't bring himself to knock the door. He nervously stood there, his head hung. How could he even show his face after what he had done? Still, he had to try. He knocked quietly and waited.

Kenji opened the door. "Hey, Sasuke," he greeted. "Dinner's ready. Mom's in the kitchen waiting for you." Sasuke looked down at Kenji.

"You've grown a little taller," he commented, and Kenji gave him a small smile.

"Just an inch." Sasuke ruffled Kenji's head affectionately, and Kenji felt his chest warm a bit.

Sasuke tossed off his shoes neatly, and he headed to the kitchen. Sakura was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea, but when she saw Sasuke, she stood up.

Revealing her very large stomach.

Sasuke froze in place. "Y-you are-" he stammered, and Sakura nodded.

She walked up to him, took his hand, and placed it on her stomach. "You're going to be a father. Again," she added with a coy smile.

Sasuke felt little feet kicking at his hand, and his stomach clenched with an unidentifiable emotion. "How far-"

"Thirty three weeks. Now, sit down. Let's have dinner."

Dinner passed by pleasantly. Sakura noticed that Sasuke was asking Kenji questions about the academy, and he was truly focused and interested. He would periodically look at her and wave a bit, and Sakura snorted. Something seemed different about him. Not his personality, he was still quiet. But something intrinsic. Maybe this was going to be okay.

Kenji saw Sasuke out. "Come visit Mom again, okay?" he instructed Sasuke.

"Of course."

"Bring me something nice from your next mission okay?"

Sasuke furrowed his brows. "Why?"

Kenji shrugged. "I like stuff. And I don't have much anymore."

Sasuke sighed. "Okay. I'll do that for you."

Kenji grinned. "Now get out," he said, slamming the door in Sasuke's face. There was still a lot Sasuke had to do.

Upon seeing Itachi, Haruna dropped everything and embraced him. He kissed her deeply, and she cried into his chest. "I missed you so much," she whispered, pecking him all over. "Don't you leave me like that again. Don't you dare ever leave me again."

"I won't, I promise," Itachi said. "Where's Takara?"

"She's sleeping." Haruna licked her lips. "Come to bed with me."

Itachi blushed. "Are you sure? I want to but you-"

"Shut the fuck up. We're going to fuck."

When Sasuke returned from another mission, he delivered a package of sweets to give to Kenji.

Kenji gobbled it all down as Sasuke drank some tea. "So…the academy?"

"It's okay." Kenji continued munching down and changed the channel.

Sasuke sighed. "Good talk."

"Mmhmm."

"Kenji, you be nice to Sasuke," Sakura chastised, but Sasuke waved it off.

"Let him enjoy his show," Sasuke commented, leaning back into the couch. Kenji was watching some cartoon with childish ninjas that powered up on the power of friendship. Sasuke snorted. Of course.

"I have to go to work," Sakura said, scrambling around and getting her things. "So Sasuke, can you show yourself out?"

Kenji looked up at Sakura. "He can stay."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged a glance. "You sure?" Sakura said.

"Yeah, mommy. It's fine, it's fine. Go to work."

"Okay, bye," Sakura said hesitantly. "I'm going now."

"Bye, mom!" After the door shut, Kenji went and fetched a DVD. "We're going to watch this. It's my favorite movie." It was called Day After Tomorrow, and it was some alternate universe spy movie. It was pretty bad, but Sasuke didn't have the heart to say that to Kenji.

He looked over at the end of the movie, and he smirked when he saw that Kenji had fallen asleep. His favorite movie and he couldn't even stay awake through the entirety of it.

Sasuke grabbed a blanket from Kenji's room and draped it over his son, sitting next to him once more. He slowly drifted off to sleep, listening to the end credits of Day After Tomorrow.

He was startled awake by Sakura tapping on his shoulder. "Hey, do you want a pillow or something?" Sasuke shook his head.

"I think I'll leave now."

Sakura bit her lip. "You don't have to. You can stay the night if you want."

Sasuke's smile was so small that almost nobody would have been able to see it. "You know it would not end chaste if I did."

Sakura shrugged. "You're probably right, but so what?"

Sasuke blinked a couple of times in confusion. "What?"

Sakura grinned. "This is the last baby I'm going to be having for a while. Might as well have sex with me while it lasts. I can't get pregnant with another baby, can I?"

Sasuke sighed. "You're making this very hard, Sakura."

Sakura took his hand. "Stop thinking so much. You've done a lot to make it up to me. I'm ready for a little fun." She paused. "Are you?"

Sasuke pursed his lips. "I don't know. It's tempting, I will admit, but I think I will wait for another day."

Sakura laughed. "Can I have one kiss then?"

Sasuke returned the laughter, albeit softly. "I think I can do that."

He pressed his lips to hers sweetly, the precious sugar from her lipgloss tainting his tongue. Her tooth snagged on his lower lip, and he slid his tongue on the seam of her lips. He nipped at her, and she deepened the kiss, clasping the back of his neck. He inhaled deeply, placing his hands on her waist and pulling her closer to him. They broke away, gasping for breath.

"That wasn't just one kiss," Sakura chastised.

"Sorry," Sasuke said, panting heavily. "I just…wow. Okay. I'm going to leave now." There was a blush on his face, and Sakura rolled her eyes as he jumped away.

"I am fucking crazy," she said to herself, scratching the back of her head.

Of course, later that week, they did have sex, but that was hardly important.

Kenji had invited Sasuke to have dinner with them, and he accepted. Sakura was already in the kitchen preparing dinner when he arrived. "I'll help," he said, and Sakura smiled at him.

"Ugh, I'm starting to get cramps," Sakura complained, and Sasuke rubbed her back before getting started.

Sasuke chopped onions with ease, and Kenji peered over at it. "How do you do it so fast?"

"Kunai and knives are not so different," Sasuke explained.

Kenji frowned. "That's not a good explanation."

"Well, that's the one you get," Sasuke said curtly, and Sakura chuckled.

"You're already acting like a parent," Sakura said, and Sasuke glanced over at her to shoot her a glare.

Kenji's eyes widened. "Mom, did you just pee?"

Sasuke looked down to the floor and had to hold back a scream.

Sakura swore under her breath. "God, my water just broke." She held her belly and waddled to the front door. "I have to go."

Kenji turned red. "Mom, are you okay?"

Sakura grasped her stomach. "Yes, baby, I'm fine. I'm just going into labor. Can you go get my purse please?" Kenji nodded and ran off to get it. "Sasuke, god, please help me. The contractions are starting, fuck!"

Sasuke nodded, his face paling. He ran to her side and wrapped an arm around her. "Hold onto me," he said softly, and Sakura grunted in response.

"Mom, I got it!" Kenji called out.

"Great, let's go!" she shrilled.

"Mom, you're doing great!" Kenji encouraged.

"Keep pushing," Sasuke said, and Sakura's eyes shot daggers at him.

"I am pushing," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "God!" she cried out, her abdomen cramping. "I hate you for doing this to me!" she yelled at Sasuke. "I hate you for being my doctor again, too!" she swore at Ino. Ino rolled her eyes so hard Sasuke could have sworn that they went into the back of her head.

"How about me, mom?" Kenji asked, his eyes full of innocence.

"You're lovely, babe," Sakura responded, waving her hand at him. She screamed in pain again. She grabbed Sasuke's hand, and he didn't dare say anything as she surely broke some of his fingers. The pain she was in was greater than his anyways.

"I see the head!" Ino yelled, ready to catch the infant. "Come on, forehead, you can do this! Don't wussy out on me now!"

Sakura shrieked as her body constricted in pain, sweat pouring down her chest. "Fuck!" she screamed.

"Push," Sasuke said urgently. "She's almost here, Sakura. Come on. You can do it."

Sakura nodded and with one final push, she screamed, and Ino cheered. "Success!" The baby immediately started screaming, and Sakura's head lolled to one side. Ino patted the baby and tried to wipe off the blood. "The placenta will be coming soon, so your job isn't done yet. I'll be bringing her right back, Sakura. Let me check if she's healthy."

The afterbirth was considerably easier than delivering the baby, and Ino foisted the duty off to her terrified interns. Right in time, Ino came back with a clean baby.

"Would you like to hold her?" Ino said politely.

"Ino, give her to me," Sakura demanded impatiently, and Ino huffed.

"Sheesh, here she is."

Sakura reached out and took her into her arms. She just stared at the baby with wonderment in her eyes. Tears welled up, and she let out a sob. "She's so beautiful."

Kenji's nose crinkled. "What do you mean? She's all wrinkly."

"That's what they look like when they come out," Sasuke said. Sasuke was practically gawking at the baby now. "She's so little," he mumbled. Sakura leaned towards him. He knew it was stupid, but he was having a hard time believing that a human being could be so small. Sakura chuckled in exhaustion.

"She is, isn't she?" Sakura cooed. "God, a name. What's her name? Why don't I ever think of these things beforehand."

Kenji quietly piped up. "How about Jin?" Sakura looked at her little girl, and her stomach clenched.

Sasuke's eyes softened. "Jin sounds like a good name," he agreed.

"Jin," Sakura mumbled. "Our daughter, Jin." She smiled at Sasuke. "Do you want to hold her?"

Sasuke's breath got caught in his throat. "Really?"

Sakura motioned for him to come closer, and she placed Jin in his arms. "Support the head."

Sasuke's lip quivered indiscernibly as he looked at her. "Hi," he whispered simply, and the baby fussed in his arms. She started crying, and at that moment, Sasuke had never heard anything sweeter in the world. Kenji peeked over, and he smiled widely.

"I'm your big brother, nice to meet you!" he said excitedly. "I love you so much already, Jin!"

Sakura leaned her head on Sasuke's shoulder, and Kenji was climbing over the other one. With Sakura and Kenji resting on him and his newborn daughter in his arms, Sasuke did not ever want to let this feeling go.

Sorry this one was so long, but I'm okay with it surprisingly. I still might redo it, but I think this is the one I want to keep :)

The epilogue should be coming within the month, and I hope you guys enjoyed this. Please review! (good things, bad things, anything just please be polite.)