So, I have posted the first chapter of the revised version of Inoue Shiori on AO3 (I plan to upload a chapter every week). That doesn't change anything for the original story I will still continue to update this story until the revised version has caught up with the current chapters and only then I will decide if I delete the original or keep it.

Chapter 74

Sakura Interlude

Sakura stretched her arms above her head and sighed in utter contentment when she heard a creaking sound and felt her muscles give. She had spent the last four hours reading up on Elemental theory and Fuinjutsu standard patterns. Her current chakra capacity would only allow her to use certain low level Fuinjutsus for quite some time but even the most basic seals were already proving to be worth all the hours she spent memorizing them. Especially the storage seal and the explosion seal would come in handy in future missions and fights.

"Finished?"

Sakura looked up and found Haku standing in the door of the library room.

"Yes. You too?"

The Yuki nodded and held up several scrolls that he would take home with him. Medical techniques if Sakura had read correctly, probably a good idea. Inwardly she sighed; there was so much she still had to learn, things that would make her useful to her Team. Sometimes the gap between the boys and her seemed to be insurmountable. Sasuke had always been a good ninja but Naruto was also turning out to be a quick learner and more importantly his large chakra reserves would make him a perfect heavy hitter within a couple of years if he continued to learn at this pace. It was a bit frightening to see the speed at which the two were developing. There were times Sakura felt like she was drowning under the expectation to somehow keep up with those two before her own stubbornness set in and she called herself an idiot for thinking like that. Sakura refused to give into her self-doubt, these were her teammates, there was a reason why she had been placed with them and so what if Naruto and Sasuke had the potential to go down in the history books, she would be right beside them and her name would NOT be an absentminded footnote.

And now Kakashi-sensei had even nominated them for the Chunin Exams along with Anko-sensei's team. Both of their teachers saw this round of the exams more of an opportunity for trial run and training. Anko's team was too new, they didn't have enough teamwork yet to function as a cell and Team 7 had still some work to do on basic skills and deciphering hidden meanings. Being a Chunin was more than just being good at this or that technique, you had to be able to lead a team and Kakashi-sensei was probably right that they weren't ready for that kind promotion. With Konoha as host though there was a certain safety in nominating them and while Sakura had to admit that she was a bit worried about what kind of tests they would be expected to pass, she didn't want to humiliate herself, she was starting to look forward to be able to test her skills. And she really couldn't let Sasuke and Naruto down.

So the young kunoichi forcefully suppressed her self-doubt and smiled at Haku, the older boy had been an immense help in the last few days. Not only had he shown her how to improve her senbon throwing but he was also a great study partner for all that medical knowledge they had been scrounging together.

And it didn't hurt that he was pretty to look at either.

Shiori Interlude

Shiori realized how close the Chunin exams and the subsequently invasion were the day the registration forms for the exams sat on the dining room table right beside the last minute order forms Shiori had sent out to various merchants around Fire Country. She had been negotiating and setting up collaborations with several other restaurants that were close to the stadium to be able to manage the masses that were expected for the final matches in a month. Already the first merchants from in and outside Fire Country were arriving, the Chunin exams were after all not only an opportunity to sell wares but also a good opportunity to expand their business relationships.

The additional work, her worries about Team 7 and now this new pregnancy didn't particularly improve Shiori's mood. Her patience was accordingly short and more than once she caught herself snapping at a person that really didn't deserve it, notably Kakashi. Her husband had at first been somewhat baffled by her behavior but soon learned to just take it or redirect it. More often than not he simply started to kiss her until her bad mood had flown out of the window and she didn't even know anymore why she had been angry or annoyed.

XXXXXXX

On a Thursday, several days before the start of the first exam Mariko's teahouse first implemented the delivery service and it was understandably chaotic. Shiori had chosen that day to serve as a test run with about half of the amount of orders she expected to have on their busiest days. Like this they not only could get the Genin teams used to the process but also optimize their routines before the real influx of orders overwhelmed them. It was a good idea that. There was more than one switched order because the Genin didn't read the instructions carefully enough and in one case a whole load of bentos was destroyed when one of them lost his chakra control on a roof and lost his balance. Much to the chagrin of the people below who were showered in hot food.

Shiori suppressed the urge to sigh when their resigned Jounin-sensei brought her the bad news and just had some additional bentos made and delivered. All in all, it could have been worse, that could have all happened on their first official day as delivery service.

XXXXXXXXX

That evening Shiori was practically bowled over by an overexcited and definitely over caffeinated Anko who looked close to tears.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have no idea what it means to NOT have to stress about getting food in the short breaks that we have." The snake summoner said while she squeezed her harder.

A dangerous growl from Kakashi interrupted any reply Shiori could have given.

Anko froze and her eyes snapped over to the silver haired shinobi that had suddenly appeared right behind Shiori.

"Hands off." he rumbled, his eyes trained on where Anko was touching Shiori.

Anko complied, carefully controlled while she never let Kakashi out of her line of sight. Around them everyone was suddenly tense and Gai and Raido had abruptly stopped talking to watch what was happening and interfere if necessary.

Shiori suppressed the urge to bang her head against the closest wall and pulled Kakashi down for a quick soothing kiss and a gentle pat on his arms once Anko was out of close vicinity.

"Down, Growly-san. She has no idea." She said with a little smile while she allowed her whole body to lean against Kakashi.

Her husband actually huffed in her ear and very visibly offended in response to that nickname, "Are you comparing me to a character in Hina's children books?"

Shiori grinned at that but didn't say anything.

"You are." Now the big goofball was actually pouting at her.

Shiori rolled her eyes and then turned back to Anko, "Sorry about that, Anko. I fear this will be the norm for the next few months. I'm pregnant again and Kakashi is… overprotective."

Anko stared at her than her eyes wandered over to Kakashi, than she burst into laughter. On the couch Raido just sighed while he rubbed his temples and Gai's grin lit his whole face.

Anko was still snickering randomly minutes later but at least she was able to speak again, "Oh this is going to be good, I heard stories from Genma and Raido but to watch it firsthand will be glorious! Oh and of course congratulations Shi-chan!"

"Thank you." Shiori said over her shoulder, comfortable in her husband's arms, who was still pouting.

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Once Anko knew it didn't take long for their other friends and acquaintances to find out.

Shiori had the feeling that Kakashi couldn't decide between being happy about all the extra protection the adult shinobi that invaded his house now at all times during the day would mean or growl at them for being in the presence of his pregnant wife. There were some truly hilarious expressions on his face during the first few days. Especially that one time when he had found her sitting giggling in the middle of Anko, Kurenai and Yugao with baby catalogs strewn out around them and a giant bowl of cookies and other snacks around them. He had hovered on the edge of the kitchen area for a few minutes, clearly uncertain what to do until he had finally fled when Anko started to coo over a dragon themed onesie.

Their daughter watched all of these proceedings with puzzlement but in the end seemed to decide that the adults in her life were just being ridiculous and ignored their antics as much as possible.

Team 7 on the other hand met all those shinobi that they hadn't already met before with suspicious stares and glowers until Kakashi either introduced them or the person finally left the Hatake property. Kakashi and Shiori had snickered at each other long into the night that one time when Team 7 met Tenzo. Said ANBU operative had let himself into the house without checking for chakra signatures and had been confronted with Team 7 lounging in the living room after a hard day of training.

Tenzo had frozen like a deer in head lights.

He was so ridiculously bad with people outside his ANBU team, Kakashi's family and his long-time comrades and friends that it was nearly painful to watch him stumble through all those prodding questions he was pelted with, by three pint sized preteens. In the end Shiori had mercy on him, packed some food in a doggy bag and let him flee.

Kakashi also convinced Shiori to give her employees' heads up about her condition. Shiori was reluctant because when she had been pregnant with Hinako it had been pretty much an open secret and that had worked just fine. Outright telling her staff meant that she was inviting questions that she really didn't want to answer. In the end she gave into her husband's demand, he could be very persuasive when he wanted, and called a meeting.

"Is there something wrong with the preparations Shiori-san?" Emiko looked worried, the two of them had double and triple checked everything only two days ago after all.

"No, nothing about the teahouse per se. I… well there has been a development in my personal life and I… well I'm expecting my second child."

Shiori was surprised by the suddenly squeals and 'I KNEW it!' from all around her.

Sora cleared his throat, shot the more exuberant girls a baleful glare and then nodded in Shiori's direction, "Congratulations, Shiori-san. Can we expect a slow withdraw from the teahouse like last time?"

"Yes. Though not during the Chunin Exams. I will be present for that as much as possible, the only difference is that I won't work as much, my doctor told me to go easy on my body."

Sora nodded at that before he stepped back and waved Ai closer for a whispered discussion between themselves. Shiori was pretty sure that they were already conspiring to keep her off her feet as much as possible. She wouldn't be surprised if her paperwork suddenly doubled over night so that she would be bound to her office for most of her time in the teahouse. Shiori suppressed a shudder, no thanks. She was just about to interfere with her employees schemes when she was distracted by all the well wishes and questions around her.