Ino's long ponytail swifts over her back. They walk through corridor after corridor and Itachi fixes his gaze on her blond hair. He can feel the looks from the people they pass, and the whispers they share after they think Itachi and Ino have gone far enough.

They never are really far enough. Though he doesn't know if that's their fault.

There's a small commotion through the garden they are moving and the noise catches Itachi's attention.

It's Lady Hinata. Kiba at her side. It seems the servants are trying to keep her from moving too much. He catches her profile, her hands raised in surrender, her belly in plain view. Heavy and soon to deliver, it seems.

Itachi forces himself to look at Ino's back again. Time is running out, then. Everyone can see that Lord Naruto has gone far and beyond to keep his wife safe, which in turn means that to hit where it hurts…

Madara is surely keeping tabs on her. To find her at her most vulnerable.

Very few instances are as vulnerable as having a child.

One certain hit and Madara could have the Nine-Tails out and about, and then a little bit of his technique and the Beast would be his. Easy.

Ino stands next to a door and opens for him to enter. A little pat on his arm, "Don't worry, Lord Naruto won't ask for the impossible."

She doesn't look him in the eyes. Very few do, and when it happens is because she's there next to him. Alert. But she is gracious and polite with him and at this point in time, where he has gone so long without an ounce of respect shown his way, "Thank you, Ino."

Another honest pat on his arm.

And then Lord Naruto's eyes on him. Eye to eye. Like he has done a couple of times already. Ino's presence strong behind his back, the door closing behind him. But even he can see that they trust him more. Or at least try to do so. Shikamaru is nowhere to be seen, Kiba is with Lady Hinata, Sai and Kakashi he saw doing rounds around the compound.

Trust or a test. He doesn't know. It doesn't really matter.

His eyes don't turn red, and although he doesn't avoid Lord Naruto's gaze, he brings his eyes down after a while out of respect.

All his chips are on this. And if he needs to beg and prostrate himself in order to get what he wants. So be it.

But they don't ask more that what he can give. They never have.

So when Lord Naruto sits him down and asks him for his help to get information on the Uchiha's movements. When he clarifies that this is a mission for him alone -his eyes intent on his-, and when he asks him if he is up for the task. Itachi accepts.

Lord Naruto doesn't bring up Sasuke nor any other type of information. And Itachi is grateful. Until Lord Naruto asks him if he wants to see his brother before leaving, and Itachi is the one to refuse.

"I shall see him when I return," his forehead glued to the floor, "if that could be possible."

Lord Naruto's eyes shine. He nods once. "Of course."

•·································•·································•

Naruto reads and rereads the document in his hand. Everything is all right. Sakura is making sure everything goes right with Hinata's pregnancy. His father is already stationed with them at the Hyuga compound, ready to use his technique and change places with Naruto when the need arises.

His anxiety has never left him since his wife rode off into the distance, but at least he can breathe easier when he receives these documents.

Then his feelings rile up again as he is unable to keep his promise of visiting, until the next report comes and Hinata adds a handwritten note at the end. Asking for him to take care and not force himself too much.

It makes his heart ache.

Neji rustles on his bed and his face grimaces as he awakes. His eyes find Naruto's almost immediately after. "My lord," he groans.

Naruto keeps him on his bed, one hand over his chest. And he can start feeling Neji's confusion, and then his subsequent worry. "Hinata is fine," he assures, and Neji relaxes the moment he hears his words.

"Everything's fine," for now. Everything goes by the second these days. "But I'll probably have a hard time coming here further down the road."

Neji focuses on him, "Soon?"

"It's hard to tell," Naruto shrugs, "Sakura did say her due date was in two weeks, but yeah, he could come earlier. Anyway, I meant it because I'm gonna bury my head in preparation." Neji keeps his mouth shut and doesn't prod at his lord's haggard appearance.

"I wanted to bring you our latest report. From here on out you won't receive them," only Naruto is sanctioned for the documents and Neji can only nod in understanding. "If you don't hear from me, assume everything's going as planned."

Naruto's voice drifts off at every sentence. His eyes blink with force and his shoulders sag every so slightly.

All of this for a couple of weeks in their favor. All of this to protect Lady Hinata and the young lord. "My lord," Neji starts and Naruto only hums to signal attention. "When you need me…" Lady Hinata made him promise he wouldn't put himself in danger, so he lets the words hang. Surely, Lord Naruto would-

His eyes are closed and his head hangs slightly backwards. "Hinata asked me to keep you out of harm's way," he shares.

"My lord…"

"But I'll accept your help anyways."

Lord Naruto lets out a heavy sigh, his face scrunched all over. "I hope you can forgive me." His eyes are clear and hard and-

"It would be my honor to protect Lady Hinata."

Naruto scoffs. Gratitude seeping through. Again, he wants to say, but he keeps it to himself. Neji looks ready to lay his life right here and now if asked and Naruto wants to respect his attitude at least. "Thank you," is all he whispers. And Neji's curt nod tells him that that's enough.

He then shakes the papers on his hand, "It seems Lord Hiashi has been trying to reconnect with his daughter."

Neji's response is immediate. Worry filling his eyes, so Naruto puts his hands forward. "Hanabi's been there every time." He shrugs, and although he doesn't particularly care about the man himself, he is his wife's father at the end of the day. "It really seems he just wants to be able to have a conversation with Hinata."

Neji snorts and even Naruto can't keep his face from showing surprise at his response.

"I would say he's a little late on this whole-" He cuts himself as he realizes with a slight pang of shame that he, too, was a little late on this.

Naruto hands him the report. "Yeah, well, it's good to know that he's trying to be nice to her at least. I'm not gonna lie, I was a little worried." He falls back on his chair, rolling his shoulders and neck. "And you know, family is always hard."

Neji looks at the papers in front of him and says nothing. Lord Naruto is right.

•·································•·································•

Sakura enters his room the same way she always does. Hurried and checkin things on her clipboard. She greets him and saunters off to the table at the far end of his room.

She lets herself stand there a couple of seconds before pushing herself off the table and turning to him. She doesn't smile towards him, she never has. But she does always give him a tight sort of facial expression. She then goes to work. She avoids his eyes, as always, and although he knows he could force her to do so, he doesn't.

She always carries herself with the confidence to end him if he ever were to try something. He's too weak to even try to do so. He's sure she also adds something to his IV to mess with his chakra control. His body feels sluggish even though by now his wounds ought to be only physical.

She does make small talk. Uninteresting enough for him to let it flow as background sound. She doesn't expect nor want replies. The very few times he has answered she has nodded and added nothing. She doesn't want a conversation, she only wants information.

And he would be a fucking failure of a ninja if he fell into her trap like that.

She checks vitals, touches his body and checks the machines around him. She then writes and ticks things on her clipboard.

She leaves after saying her goodbyes.

Sasuke had a nagging suspicion before, but as he sees her walk away he knows. He doesn't even need to activate his sharingan. Though that would be the final test to confirm it.

He can guess what her absence means. And although he wonders how he could take this information outside, he rests assured.

Madara for sure has eyes on the Uzumaki clan. Sasuke or no Sasuke on his team, the man will step up to the challenge.

He shall come for Sasuke in time. Now, he is more helpful to the cause by staying put and healing himself. If Sakura's absence means what he thinks, then it's only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose in here again.

Nobody can see him, so Sasuke lets himself revel in this piece of information. A small smile on his face.

•·································•·································•

Sakura's hand shines green with her chakra and HInata shivers slightly at the feeling of her energy probing inside her body. "Uncomfortable?" she smiles.

Hinata shakes her head slightly, "I'm f-fine." It's just that she can never get used to the prickling feeling that always follows.

Sai stands outside the room, his body as always ready for action. He stares out into the hallways.

This has been routine for as long as they've been in the Hyuga compound. Lady Hanabi will come then to have her meals with Lady HInata, if not her Lord Minato will take her place. Lord Hiashi tries to be present but he's almost always too busy to do so.

If Lord Hiashi is not present, Lord Minato takes his time to check the perimeter. He's all smiles and soft words when in front of Lady Hinata. But his thorough and usual scans tell a different story.

They still have a couple of days left for Lady HInata's delivery date. Which only makes everyone more nervous. If everything goes without a hitch, they will have the young lord born safe and sound. And enough days for Lady Hinata to somewhat recover from labor, before having to turn tail and hide again.

So this is routine and Sai only has to make sure to keep her lady safe from all and all dangers until she delivers the young lo-

"Ah."

Sakura's hand stops moving immediately after. "Yes?"

"Ah," Hinata groans again, this time pressing her hand to the floor, her whole body tensing.

"Is it-? Are you all right?" Sakura asks, her hands now soothing Lady Hinata.

"Y-yes. It's just… like c-cramps?"

Sakura nods. "Okay, good. Like the ones you've experienced before?"

Hinata nods, though her body is still tense. "I th-think."

Lady Hinata breathes out through her nose and then in. She calms herself and only after she sits comfortably again does she realize the way her hand grabbed Sakura's arm.

Sakura's eyes are intent on hers. Looking at her as if expecting something.

Hinata locks eyes with her as she relaxes her muscles, her breathing the only sound between them.

Then another cramp hits her down in her abdomen and she has to grab Sakura's arm with strength again.

It's not horrible. It's just like a bad period cramp. It goes away after a short while. But she knows.

If this keeps up it's likely she's started labor.

So it seems reading does help me write faster, huh, who would've thunk lol

Ramona you keep on making me blush huh (❤´艸｀❤) Thanks for the kind words.
We'll have to wait and see what this whole thing with Hiashi is about, huh, maybe after baby Boruto comes to the world? Maybe before? As he's coming? lol
I'll keep you all guessing

Have a good one! Stay safe!