Kunoichi's Burden II: A Mother's Sacrifice

by lilac haze

AU. Sequel to Kunoichi's Burden: Village First. She was happy. They were happy. So much was different that what she remembered. There was so much she did not recognize about her world. She was heavily invested. She had more to lose now. So much was different but would it stay that way? It felt like the happier they were the quicker everything around them started to fall apart.

57. Chapter 57: Price of a Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter 57: At The Price Of A Soul

She was absolutely beside herself. She did not peg her to be a fool. She had been wrong. She had been very wrong. Her eyes honed in on her. She was not going to mess this up. She all but tore out of Kushina's grip. It did not take much. The woman's arms had gone slack from the surprise.

Sakura stormed up to Sarina with a glower on her face. She came to stand toe to toe with her as she glared up at the taller woman. Enraged emerald stared down a brazen blue.

"Give me a reason," her hands curled into fists.

"I'm not letting you cast the jutsu, Hokage-sama." Sarina ignored Sakura completely and spoke directly to Minato who had come to stand behind the pinkette protectively. His eyes had practically darkened to a navy hue.

Sarina took two steps back and put her hands up. "I'm not here to fight."

"Spider." His eyes narrowed as he placed the voice to the face.

"This is Spider?!" Kushina asked, completely flabbergasted. "She looks like Sakura-chan, dattebane!" Her violet eyes darted between the women. She could not help but notice the similarities.

"She's my half-sister," Sakura said flatly. Her agitation was a new high at being dismissed so blatantly by the woman with the dark pink hair. "Sarina, we don't have time for whatever this is. Remember our deal."

"What deal?" Minato looked at Sakura in surprise.

"I told her I would let her go and not look for her if she never came back," Sakura said quickly. There was no later where she could explain this all to him.

"You can't be serious," Kushina narrowed her eyes while she crossed her arms. She did not know all the details but Spider was not someone she was fond of at all. She could not be trusted. That was what her gut was telling her, what it had been telling her.

"She saved my life and Manato's too," Sakura glossed over quickly. She could always explain everything and apologize profusely to Kushina later.

The Kyuubi blinked. Minato worked quickly to catch up. Kushina looked at the women and Minato with a stupefied expression.

"I'm casting the jutsu," Sarina said firmly. Her eyes darted to Sakura's forehead; it looked so different without the green seals, naked almost. She found herself missing them.

"Why?" Sakura asked her suspiciously.

Minato readjusted Naruto on his shoulder. He was not too comfortable with the idea of Sarina being so close to Sakura, especially since Sakura did not take the antidote. It did not put his mind at ease that Sakura seemed unconcerned with the prospect.

"I made a vow to protect the Hokage when I joined ANBU." Sarina looked him in the eye. She ignored Sakura's and Kushina's synchronized scoffs.

"Sarina," Sakura said in warning.

Sarina brought her blue eyes onto Sakura's. "And because I want to take accountability. I want to do this."

The Kyuubi exhaled through his nose forcibly.

"I'm not going to talk you out of it if that is what you're angling for." Sakura stared at her with an empty expression.

"I'm not. I need to do this." Her eyes darted to the sleeping boy on Minato's shoulder before they landed back on Sakura's face. "I have to do this."

"Okay," Sakura agreed. She turned her head to look at Minato. "She can do it."

"Sakura, it could be a trick." She did not fault him for being hesitant and reluctant to take up the offer. Spider - Sarina - had spent the better part of seven months trying to ruin their lives. In fact, it was the sane thing to have reservations given the body of proof.

"No, Minato." The heartbreak in her eyes softened a little as she addressed him. "She has nothing to gain by being here." By being here, she could only lose. Sakura had already given Sarina the best possible outcome. Sakura could not help but think how familiar the ANBU's eyes were.

"Do you know the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?" She asked in a level voice.

Sarina shook her head. "Walk me through the seals?"

Sakura's eyes darted to Minato as Sarina asked the question.

Minato nodded. He pinned Naruto against his shoulder with his head as he moved his hands through the seals slow enough for her to differentiate one from the next.

"Snake, boar, ram, rabbit, dog, rat, bird horse, snake, and finally," he clapped his hands. "Did you get all that?"

Sarina's head dipped down in the smallest of nods.

Kushina watched wordlessly. All three of them had a different take on a rigid stance. She was missing a lot of details. She had so many questions swimming in her head. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she continued to look on closely.

"You will not survive this, do you understand that?" Sakura studied Sarina's face closely, her expression did not change.

"I understand," Sarina said firmly.

"If you start to feel overwhelmed it means you're running out of chakra," Minato recalled what he had read from scrolls in Tsunade's private library.

"I can give you more," Sakura added. "You need to seal all of it inside Naruto." Her eyes became strained as she added that little detail.

The grim mask of purpose slipped from her face momentarily. Sakura saw the vulnerability in her features.

"I need something from you." She did not recognize the tone of voice that Sarina used. The closest thing she could use to describe it was tenderness. It was so raw.

"Name it," Sakura said without hesitation. She put a hand on Minato's shoulder to quiet his protests before he could verbalize them. They did not have time to debate it. The Kyuubi's breathing was starting to change and not for their benefit.

Emerald clashed with cobalt. She held her breath. He nodded his head. She exhaled before she turned her attention back to her half-sister.

"Sakura," Sarina's eyes bore into hers.

Sakura gave her a long hard look. She sucked in her teeth. "You have my word. I'll take care of everything."

Kushina's violet eyes bounced from face to face with clear confusion as the two pink-haired women held each other's gazes. The air was so thick she could almost taste it. She tore her eyes from the scene in front of her as a low rumble. Dread started to build up in her again.

The Kyuubi shook his head. His eyes were beginning to clear up. He would be on his feet soon.

Sarina took in a deep breath as she turned to face the orange fox. She squared her shoulders and widened her stance.

"Here goes," Sarina began forming the string of seals. Minato watched her hands closely, ready to intercept at even the hint of deviation. He finally relaxed as he put Naruto down gently when she clapped her hands together, ending the sequence.

She felt her whole body jerk the second she brought her fingers together. The initial drain of chakra was jarring, to put it mildly. She nearly fell forward. She could suddenly see her breath in front of her. A chill went down her spine as the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Her heartbeat accelerated as she saw a ghoulish face. She could not help but swallow audibly as she saw into the depths of its eyes. They were empty, endless, and completely lifeless. There was no soul behind them. It did not spare her another glance; it floated forward right over the slumbering Naruto towards the fox.

She shuddered. Her blue eyes widened as she felt chains, cold chains, wrap around her wrists. Her arms were pulled apart as far as they would go. She felt immense pressure against her back. Goosebumps broke out throughout her skin.

She stared mutely as the reaper speared the Kyuubi directly in the chest. They all could see it now. They looked on as it started to pull the Kyuubi into its void. Sarina's legs were unsteady. She swallowed the vomit in her throat.

Sakura saw the panicked look on her face. She moved to slide behind Sarina. She grabbed a hold of her forearms in her hands. She kept Sarina's shaking arms steady as she rested her chin on Sarina's shoulder.

Sarina closed her eyes. Sarina took a couple of calming breaths. She looked through the Kyuubi. Her mind had traveled hundreds of miles. She pictured the face of her daughter, her sleeping five-year-old. She had last visited in the dead of the night to see her, not even two weeks ago. She had promised her sleeping form that she would be with her soon. Yet another broken promise. It was a long list. A tear traced down the side of her face as her teeth chattered.

The Kyuubi resisted but it was futile. The pull was too great. The funnel of wind grew as more and more of the Kyuubi's life force was sealed away. Minato was crouched down in front of Naruto. His blue eyes never stopped moving as they scanned for any debris that may come the boy's way.

"He only wanted to talk about you," Sarina began in a low tone. "No matter how hard I tried. He just talked about you."

"You came woefully unprepared, Sarina." Sakura donned a wry smile.

Sarina scoffed. "No, I just didn't understand." Her eyes darted to the back of his head. It was on a swivel the way he monitored the fox, the boy, and the pinkette. She would not be in this position if she understood then. She would have focused her time and efforts elsewhere in the plan. "But I get it now."

Sakura's eyes softened as she briefly locked eyes with Minato.

"I'm really lucky." She said it loud enough so that he knew it was okay to react to it. She greatly appreciated the illusion of privacy that he was providing them. She offered him a warm smile.

"You are," Sarina said in agreement. Sakura noticed the distinct lack of bitter undertones to Sarina's uttered statement.

She raised her jade orbs to the crimson ones of Kurama. She understood the emotions in them well. He was angry, scared, jaded, and devastated - not that he would ever admit to it. His desire for sovereignty was Sisyphean. He could never have what he wanted. Or what he thought he wanted.

She had faith in her - their - son, Naruto, to eventually show him there was another way. They would figure it out once again. Just this time it would be without Naruto's tragic backstory. Gaining Kurama's trust could not come at the expense of everything else. That was the line she would hold down. She did not care who she had to fight to maintain it.

They could be friends again. They could both be happy one day. Just not today.

Sarina's eyes began to droop, her eyelids were suddenly very heavy as if they were made of curtains of lead. She leaned back stiffly against Sakura. She was not quite dead weight yet but they were getting there.

"Sakura," Minato alerted her.

Sakura dug in her heels and held her up unyieldingly as the seal on her forehead broke. The black markings of her Yin Seal moved down her arms. Sarina looked through half-open eyes as the ribbons of black covered the bare skin of her arms. She felt a tightness not unlike being embraced. They stretched quickly to envelop her whole person.

Sarina felt the heat of Sakura's chakra keeping her body temperature up. It was pleasant, the sensation of Sakura's chakra. It reminded Sarina of Sakura herself. It was warm, excessive, protective, overbearing, and compassionate. It felt like an unexpected shower of warm rain on a cold day. She no longer felt the dull pain from the leg injury Wolf had dealt her earlier nor the ache on her face from Sakura's blow. A small smile tugged at Sarina's lips at the implication of Sakura's act.

Sarina was starting to feel like herself again. It only lasted a few seconds. It was starting to be siphoned off again. It was strange. On one hand, she was being replenished and revitalized and on the other, she was being drained dry. She was a mere conduit for Sakura's chakra to the jutsu.

The world was not fading away as rapidly. Her deterioration was being slowed down. She watched as the connection with the reaper jolted as if it was jump-started. The fox was being pulled into the void even faster now.

"I don't hate you," Sarina whispered hoarsely. "Not really anyway. Not after I made contact with you." She admitted for the very first time both out loud and to herself. Sakura had shown her kindness. Naruto and Sakura had welcomed her into the fold as Spider. How could she hate Sakura if she claimed to care about Naruto? There was so much of her in him.

Sakura squeezed her arms. "I don't hate you either, not really. I hate what you did and why you did it. I may never forgive you. And I will never forget." Sakura admitted just loud enough for Sarina to hear.

"I understand," Sarina said with a forlorn look on her face.

There was less and less of the Kyuubi. Sakura looked at Naruto's sleeping form. She trusted Akemi with keeping the Kyuubi from ever gaining control. It was that trust that put her in this position and not where Naruto was. Akemi sacrificed her life for the second time for Sakura. The first time nearly ten years ago she lost her freedom and physical form. Now she lost even more. She was nothing more than pure energy. Naruto would not hear her voice. He would not recognize her presence. She had merged with the fox. Become a part of him. Akemi as she remembered her was gone forever. And she had chosen that willingly. Sakura mourned the loss for what was.

"I'm sorry," Sarina leaned her head against Sakura's.

"I'm sorry we didn't get a real chance." Sakura felt a tear sliding down her face. She pumped more of her chakra into Sarina, feeding the reaper. He was almost done. He would be collecting his final payment soon. Sakura cried for the loss of what could have been.

"Me too," Sarina cleared her throat.

"Why, Sarina?" She could not help but ask. "Why did you come back?" She spoke barely above a whisper. Her voice would break if she went any louder.

"My daughter is used to being without a mother." Tears spilled out of her red-rimmed ocean eyes. Her vision was starting to go in and out once again. She held onto consciousness. "I didn't want Naruto to have to get used to being without a father. I didn't want Manato to know what it's like." The cold was bone-deep now. Sakura's chakra could only do so much.

"Naruto is a good kid. A really good kid." She felt so guilty as she looked at her slumbering nephew. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to feeling too often. Maybe it was fitting that she only felt that way with respect to the choices she made with her daughter and now her nephew. She had meant it when she said they were similar.

Sakura sucked in her teeth as she took a deep sigh. She wondered just how much more anguish her heart could take before it gave out completely.

"I'm sorry it came to this. I'm sorry that I couldn't - didn't - stop you." Her words were filled to the brim with remorse.

Sarina moved her head from side to side against Sakura's shoulder. "You don't owe me anything, Sakura." They may be blood but Minato was her family.

"Don't trust Koharu," Sarina added, suddenly remembering. All her life's decisions were flashing before her eyes. "She's the one that hired the bounty hunter."

Sakura's eyes darted to Minato. She could only hope that he did not overhear. She could only hope that he had lost interest and was not paying attention. Sarina all but confirmed a theory Sakura had yet to decide how to best bring up. Minato did not react visibly. She held out hope.

"Take the dress you bought for her when you go to meet her for the first time. It's in my quarters. On my bed. Still in the box." Spider's voice was starting to fade.

"You lied about giving it to her?" Sakura was caught off guard. She had no right to be. Spider/Sarina lying to her was the cornerstone of their relationship. She supposed the inverse was true as well.

"I couldn't risk you using the courier to track her." There was no remorse in her tone. "You tried didn't you?" A small smirk formed on her lips. They were starting to lose color.

Sakura let out a humorless sound. "I did. It didn't work." That was why she had to get Joben involved, he had been her backup option. Sarina did not leave a paper trail. All ANBU received their paychecks in person just like the rest of them. Sakura was not sorry for what she did. She was desperate. She had to exhaust every option.

"I had to protect her." Sarina let out a slow breath. "Don't worry. I know she'll love it. She likes red. She loves sweets. She cries really easily. She'll be shy at first. Be patient. Once she opens up to someone, she cares about them with all her heart."

Sakura nodded numbly. "I'm sorry you won't get to see her grow up." They did not have much time left.

"It's what is best for her. I'm doing this for her." She offered her tainted soul to keep her daughter's soul unblemished. It was a no-brainer. Little Sakura could have everything. Sakura and Minato were her best chance. "She'll be fine. You're a good mom." Sarina's velvet voice said with a great sense of calm.

Sakura laughed. It came out sounding broken. "Yeah right, as I help my deranged sister seal a demon in my five-year-old son." Her voice dripped with sarcasm and hints of heartbreak. For Sarina and for Little Sakura. For Naruto too.

Sarina watched as the last of the tails slowly disappeared.

"You're the kind of mom I wish I had when I was growing up." She closed her eyes. She sighed in contentment as her legs gave way. She was limp in Sakura's arms.

Sakura gently lowered them both to the ground.

"Thank you, Sarina," Sakura whispered into her hair. She gently rocked back and forth. Sakura held Sarina as her body went cold.

The reaper was gone and the air was still.

Minato was the first to move from his spot. He checked on Naruto. He was breathing evenly. His eyes zeroed in on the whiskers that appeared on his cheeks. A permanent reminder of what this day cost. His fingertips became coated in a faint blue light as he lifted Naruto's dirty t-shirt and touched his stomach. He studied the lines of the seal. It was perfect.

"How is he?" Sakura asked Minato sadly.

"He's fine," Minato assured her. He looked as Kushina came to check his claim.

"I'm so sorry, Naruto," Kushina whispered brokenly.

"He'll be okay, Kushina-chan," Sakura told her firmly. Kushina looked down into her eyes. "It doesn't define him any more than it had defined you."

Kushina shook her head. "He has such a tough road ahead. I never used the damned chakra and I don't know how to help him."

"We'll figure it out," Minato told her gently. He lifted Naruto to his shoulder.

"We will," Sakura nodded in agreement. Sakura looked at her sister in her arms. She gently flattened Sarina on the ground. Sakura sat back on her heels as she reached over to cross Sarina's arms over her chest, over her father's necklace. With the faintest of touches, she brushed the pink hair from her face.

Minato's eyes softened. "We'll give you a minute." He said in a gentle tone.

Sakura nodded, not looking away from the unmoving body before her. Kushina spared a small smile in her direction before giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze as she passed by. She was vaguely aware that they had moved a few yards away. She continued to study the face of her sister. It reminded her so much of her father's that it was painful.

"He would have found a way, Sarina." She said in a heavy-hearted tone. She had no doubts in her mind. He would have loved her. He would have moved heaven and earth to make her happy if he just had the chance.

She deserved better than what she had. No child should ever feel unwanted. Sakura's hands out of habit went to her chest reaching for a necklace that was no longer there. It was in its rightful place. Around the neck of the firstborn. Sakura lowered her arms to her sides slowly.

"We'll make room," she smiled softly. She had faith that Minato would come around. She knew deep down they would be okay. It might just take some time and work to get there. She was willing to do whatever it took to get back there.

"I'll make room."Her heart was stronger than she gave it credit for. It was still beating in her chest after the day she had. It was like she told Naruto: there was always space.

Sakura slowly pushed up to her feet. Her hands froze just before she formed the last of the seals.

"Goodbye, Oneesan." Sakura wove her chakra into the final seal. The earth opened up. Sarina lowered into it. The earth came back together, perfectly. It was as if it was never split in the first place.

---

She was anxiety personified. That was what the past hours had reduced her down to. She was a mess. She did not know what to think or what to feel. She had an overwhelming urge to find shelter and just curl up and cry until there was nothing left.

None of it felt real - aside from the beginning. The excruciating pain could not be anything other than real. The deep exhaustion and dull aches and pains she felt now, that was a little easier to pretend it was not real.

Her heart was heavy. She was worried about him. Even though she had agreed, she could not help but feel a sense of apprehension about returning to the village.

Kushina kicked a small pebble.

She was worried about Naruto and what kind of reception he would receive for being the new container. Unlike her physical manifestation of the Kyuubi's presence, Naruto's was more unmistakable and undeniable. He wore his mark on his face. It was front right and center. Undeniable in every way.

No one would dare say anything now when they would walk through the gates with him in his father's arms. No one would dream of letting their faces or posture betray how they felt.

But she would know. She always knew. She could find the subtle clues on even the best poker face. The strain in the eyes, the slightly pinched lips, the tightness in the shoulders, the darting gaze. They were all things she had experienced for years. The way the lightness was sucked out of any room she entered. She never had to worry about finding an open seat at the bar during happy hour or getting a training dummy during peak hours. It was subtle and indirect but it still hurt nonetheless. It still contributed to the loneliness.

When she came to Konoha she had no family and she had no friends. Everyone knew why she was brought here. She did not have anything to lose. People treated her how they were going to treat her. They were outright with it. It was different for him. He was friends with everyone. He was friendly with everyone. He was beloved. Naruto gave out love like he received it, by the bucketloads.

She was not prepared to deal with the heartbreak of watching him wonder why certain people did not treat him the same as they had before. He was only four - no, five - he was only five. He was too young for what lay ahead of him.

It was bad enough before that he was dragged into everything just for being associated with her, things were about to go to a completely different level. He would have to shoulder the brunt of the hatred and fear people had for the Kyuubi, especially after today. They had been proven right. The beast was capable of pure and utter destruction. They feared him and for good reason. All of that would be directed at Naruto. She did not trust herself in the event she encountered one such person in the future. She would kill them with her bare hands. She was sure of it.

On some level, she knew this day would come. She could not live forever. She just thought it would not come for another fifty years at least. Mito was partially dust before her time came. Kushina always thought it would be the same for her. She did not take many risks when it came to missions, not since she started her work at the orphanage, not since her accident. She thought she would be old and wiser when the time came for the next jinchuriki. She had even planned on mentoring them as a way of easing them into the idea and the prospect. She had notions of giving some kind of moving speech before the day came. She had been counting on tears, not the sad kind but the kinds that motivated. Perhaps she should have specified. Because there was no shortage of tears.

What she had pictured in her head and what came to be could not be more different. The day had come and she was not ready. It was Naruto. She would have to live with the fact for the rest of her life. The guilt was eating away at her from the inside out. And that was not the only thing that was fueling it.

Her mind was everywhere.

She had promised the girls the fox would never get out. She had lied to them. She had no idea what was awaiting her when she got back. Would they be happy? Would they be angry? Would they be scared? Was she just another adult who had failed them?

She was terrified of what they thought of her. They had been doing so well too. The damn Kyuubi sank his claws into everything that brought her any modicum of joy in the past. So it was only fitting that he affected and altered the best thing that ever happened to her. The girls - Kami - she did not know what faces they would stand in front of her with. She would never recover if they looked at her any differently. She would die right then and there if she saw even traces of fear. She was sure of it.

That was not the only thing the fox cost her. A handsome face with dark eyes, dark stubble, dimpled cheeks, and chin-length dark straight hair burned a hole in her heart. man saved her life and it could very much come at the expense of his own. She was forever in his debit. She was in a place she never wanted to be. Her stubbornness nearly cost that man his life. It still could have. He could be dead for all she knew.

It was too much. She brought her hands to the sides of her face. She moved them up and down as she tried to calm herself. The song, her mother's song, played in her head. She wished she could raise the volume louder. She needed it to drown out the volatile thoughts that were screaming in her head. She kicked the pebble a little further. It hit something with a soft thud, it changed direction before eventually rolling to a stop. She looked up from the sole of the standard blue sandals to meet the face of the person the pebble had come into contact with.

"Kushina," Minato looked up at her. "Thank you for not leaving." He looked exhausted. She focused on the sound of his voice.

"You mean for not listening?" She corrected dryly.

The corner of his lip twitched upward for a fraction of a second to form a ghost of a smile. "Yes, for not listening."

"Anytime," she deadpanned.

"You saved my life," the honesty in his cobalt eyes made her thoughts pause for a second.

"You saved mine first." She shot back without thinking about it much.

"It's not a contest," he sighed. "Thanks all the same."

Kushina stared at him with pursed lips. He looked terrible.

"Never leave a comrade behind right?" She clasped her hands behind her back. "You would have done the same for me." She looked up at the deep blue sky. "I was just looking out for Sakura and Naruto and the new baby. Just like you were looking out for my girls. Don't let it go to your head. It won't happen again."

Minato chuckled. "Absolutely." His expression was painted in compassion. "I am happy for you, Kushina. You're happy." It took way too long but late was better than never, he supposed.

Kushina blinked at him in confusion. "I was happy. I had it good. I don't know what is waiting for me."

"Joben is tough. I'm not too worried about him," Minato leaned his head back.

"How can you say that?" She was left confused by the conviction he displayed. To her it was unwarranted. They all saw what the Kyuubi did to him.

"Just a hunch. He still has a lot he wants to do with his life. He won't let a little scratch keep him down long." Minato smiled at her in a way that implied he knew something she did not. And she did not like it one bit.

"Namikaze Minato, if you have something to say, come out and just say it. No one has time for one of your long-winded, indirect spiels." She fisted her hands on her hips and glowered at him.

"You must have me confused with someone else," he could not help but counter.

"Believe me, I don't. Spit it out." She crossed her arms in agitation.

"I've already said too much," Minato grinned.

Kushina shook her head. It was not worth it. Not right now. "I'm glad you're okay." She muttered under her breath.

"I'm glad you're okay too," Minato said without missing a beat.

She smiled despite herself. She looked down at Naruto's sleeping face. His world had been rocked but it was still more or less spinning. Both his parents were okay. Maybe they were right, maybe he would be okay.

Kushina and Minato looked up as the pinkette walked towards them.

---

She was starting to feel it now, the effects the day had on her person. She was dragging her feet, it was too much work to lift them off the ground for each step. Her arms ached, they felt so empty. There was a pressure buildup in her chest that had nothing to do with what just happened with the Kyuubi and everything to do with what happened before.

Sakura did not fight it when Kushina pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Sakura did not even complain. She let Kushina have her fill.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Sakura muttered as she squeezed Kushina with equal vigor. She gave as well as she got.

"You already said that," Kushina told her with a huff. "Did you hit your head or something?"

Sakura smiled against her shoulder. "No. I'm just relieved." She closed her eyes shut tight.

"I am too," Kushina said tightly. She tried to pull back but Sakura held firm.

"A little longer," the pinkette said in a whisper.

Kushina wrapped her arms around Sakura once more. Kushina's own violet eyes fluttered closed. Kushina's eyes were swimming with tears when they finally did pull away several moments later.

"It was horrible."

"It's over now," Sakura told her reassuringly as she took both of her hands in hers. Their hands were coated in a soft green as she healed Kushina's injuries. "We'll be okay." Sakura smiled at her gently. The glow moved to her cheek. The lacerations and burns from being dragged against the ground vanished without a trace.

Kushina's violet eyes glazed over slightly as she turned her hands as she studied them. Her nails were still broken but she no longer felt any pain. It was something so minor and small that she never would have even considered it before. She brought her hand to her cheek. The skin was smooth once again.

"We need to talk," Kushina looked at her with absolute seriousness.

Sakura nodded her head. She did not have it in her to do a play-by-play of what just happened. And judging by the exhaustion held deep in Kushina's eyes, she was in no better of a condition.

"Later," Kushina directed. "With booze. Lots of booze."

"You're going to have to wait a while for that," Sakura sighed. It was a shame she could not drink, still. If there was ever a time to blackout it was now.

Kushina snorted. "I can still drink. I plan on getting drunk."

"Fair point." Sakura rubbed the back of her head.

"How are you feeling?" Kushina asked her.

"I don't know," the tightening of her throat caught her off guard.

Kushina made a sympathetic sound. "I'm the same." She preemptively answered Sakura's question before she could even ask it. Her violet eyes regarded Sakura head to toe before they came to momentarily rest on Sakura's considerably smaller stomach. "How's the baby?" She asked in a gentle tone.

"Okay, I think." Sakura scratched her head. "I didn't get much time with him." She was anxious to get back to him. He needed to be fed soon.

"How sure are you about the name?" Kushina made a face that left nothing up to the imagination.

"I'm sure," Sakura could not help but smile. She had deja vu. Kushina was not a fan of Naruto's name either in the beginning. She would come around. "He's so precious, Kushina."

"I can't wait to meet him," Kushina said with genuine excitement and warmth. "He really had us going there for a while." She sighed dramatically. "Does he have pink hair at least?"

Sakura shook her head. "Sorry. It's not orange either."

"Another Minato clone?" Kushina asked her in a jaded fashion.

Kushina was trying so hard to appear unphased and unbothered by the thoughts that plagued her. But she knew better. She leaned into the act.

"You used to not mind the way his face looked," Sakura teased.

"Temporary insanity," Kushina rolled her eyes good-naturedly. The forced lightheartedness in her face was gone as quickly as it had come. Her violet eyes locked on Sakura's short locks. She grabbed the kunoichi by the hand and pulled her to the side. "Let me fix that for you." She touched one haphazardly cut section of hair that was two inches longer than the rest.

"It can wait," Sakura looked over Kushina's shoulder at Minato and Naruto. Minato was sitting under the shade of a tree. She wanted to check on them. She needed to verify with her own eyes and hands.

Sakura's attention was pulled back rather abruptly and rudely to Kushina courtesy of a flick to the forehead. She rubbed the spot.

"Trust me on this. You're not going to want everyone to see you looking like you just broke out of an insane asylum." Kushina said matter-of-factly.

She pushed Sakura's shoulder down. Sakura grunted as she lowered back down onto her knees. The gravel pricked her skin. Her chin curled down into her chest. She breathed in deep slow breaths. Kushina could not have known how her simple act could cause such an instant flood of emotion inside of her.

'You're okay.' She reminded herself.

Kushina regarded the uneven cut of hair. "This is some real shoddy work, Sakura-chan." She said in a voice laced with disapproval. "Next time you're in the mood for a change, come to me." She sighed. "At least you didn't give yourself bangs. That would have been a real disaster."

Sakura felt her hair being pulled as Kushina's damp fingers ran through it. Her jutsu was making quick work of wetting her locks.

Swish.

The kunai moved through her hair with a measured and careful hand. Sakura closed her eyes. It took all her self-control to not sway slightly. She did not trust her voice to speak as Kushina continued to give her a hard time with her light chiding and occasional tutting.

More pink dusted the brown ground around her.

Kushina gathered more of her choppy pink locks in her fingers. She worked in sections. With each new cut, the ends of her pink locks turned white instantly and without fail. It was always the bottom quarter of an inch or so. She should have been more weirded out as to why her hair was doing that but she has surpassed her bullshit quota for the day. She would have to move things off her queue before she could add more.

She decided instead to focus on the task at hand. Sharp metal cut the uneven pink strands into a more flattering shape. The repetitive act brought her some comfort. She just had to be careful she did not get too carried away and end up giving Sakura a buzzcut of sorts. She did not have the head shape to pull off being bald, or close to it. Kushina snickered a little to herself as she pictured it. She started to hum softly.

"Thank you for keeping him alive." Emotion welled up in Sakura as she spoke. The tears were ready to drop at any given point. "Thank you for not dying."

"Don't mention it. I couldn't let Naruto's dad, your husband, and my friend die. What kind of person would I be if I did?" Kushina mused in a light tone. "Also, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm getting real tired of telling you that, dattebane."

"Sorry," Sakura smiled as she wiped her tears. She cleared her throat. "I have a thick head."

Kushina snort-laughed. "Tell me about it." She sighed deeply. "Itachi was here too. He really saved the day."

Sakura furrowed her brow. More pink strands littered the ground around her as Kushina continued to make something out of the mess.

"How?" Sakura asked, already dreading the answer.

"I don't know, he was able to keep the Kyuubi still for a while. It was a genjutsu, I think." Kushina shrugged dismissively.

Sakura's eyes closed. 'Oh, Itachi,' her heart went out to him. She had no idea who he lost to awaken the eyes strong enough to do that. She had hoped that neither brother would unlock those dreaded eyes. It had been wishful thinking. Maybe like everything else, some things could not be undone. Fear held a firm grip on her heart. She refused to even think of the faces of his family.

Kushina lowered her arms. She decided it was better to quit while she was ahead. Also, it was not a good idea to have a sharp instrument in her hands when broaching an emotional topic. Kushina's disposition was too unpredictable for that. She moved through the seals necessary, the extra moisture wicked away from Sakura's hair. Kushina cleared her throat.

"Joben was hurt really bad," her voice was barely holding itself together. "Rin-chan was doing her best…" Kushina could not bring herself to finish. She bit her lip. She gripped Sakura's shoulder tightly.

Sakura covered Kushina's hand with her own. "Rin's best is really, really good, Kushina." She said with conviction. "He made it back to Konoha. I'm sure he is fine." They had the best healers. They could perform miracles.

"I -" Kushina shook her head. Sakura stood up and turned around. She held Kushina as she cried. "He can't die, not because of me." She sobbed into Sakura's shoulder.

Sakura rubbed Kushina's back. There were no words. She learned that the hard way. All she could do was be there for her. Like she had been there for her.

Sakura held her tightly. With each broken sound that left Kushina's throat, her own insides shook. She did not fight the tears.

---

Minato closed his eyes. The sound of Naruto's breathing was drowned out by Kushina's cries. He had no doubt about the reason for them. Joben was more or less cut into two. He had a massive hole in him. Kushina has shown unworldly restraint and strength in keeping herself together long enough for them to deal with the Kyuubi. But he was gone now. There was no longer an imminent threat to their lives. There was no reason to hold back anymore. His little pep talk was not enough to put her fears to rest.

He himself only had blind faith to hold onto. He believed in his student. He believed in his friend. Rin was incredibly capable and Joben was strong. He liked their chances of pulling it off. Joben would be fine. Joben had to be fine. Not only for Kushina but for himself. If anything happened to Joben, he knew where he would be putting the blame.

So much had happened in just a few hours. He had gone through the gauntlet of emotions. He felt the full range of the spectrum. He said goodbye to his wife not just once but twice. He learned he had another son. He thought he would never get to lay eyes on him, much less hold him. He condemned his oldest son to a horrible fate. He fought against the strongest foe he had ever encountered. He had made peace with dying. Then he made peace with letting someone else die in his place. There was so much to wade through and process.

And that was only half of it. The failed coup. It had been nearly a lifetime since he heard Inoichi's voice giving him updates in his head. He reminded himself that Inoichi's silence was not a reason for panic or concern. No news could be good news. Silence was not always bad. That was what he was telling himself. In the heat of the fight, he had not even realized it. It was now when he was sitting with his son in his arms and his village in his purview that the thoughts even occurred to him.

It was not over. It was far from over. He had given his other line, Katsuyu to Joben. So he could not ask her. He was in the dark with respect to the state of things. All he knew was the village was still standing more or less. He could just make out the roofs of the structures. He saw both charred and unblemished in the same field of view.

The dichotomy was fitting. What it meant to be a Konoha citizen, not even shinobi, was a different experience depending on hair and eye color. He was so profoundly disappointed that things got to this point. In everyone. No one was completely blameless. He was at the top of the list. He should have done more. This senseless bloodshed could have been avoided. It should never have happened. Killing Danzo did not fix anything. Not completely anyway. The roots ran too deep, almost as deep as the village itself. It felt like they were teetering on the edge of destruction.

He was numb. He wanted to curl up into a ball and just sleep until he felt decidedly more human but he could not do that. He had to continue to bear the brunt of everything. That was what he signed up for. He was to represent the pinnacle of strength for the village both mentally and physically. He could not waver.

His blue eyes fluttered open. They softened at the sight before them. "Sakura," he said her name like it was his salvation.

She smiled at him, it filled him with tranquility. "Kushina wanted to be alone for a bit," Sakura explained sadly.

Minato looked off several yards. The redhead was staring off into nothing. Her arms were wrapped around herself. His heart went out to her. He knew that waiting and not knowing was torture. It was easier to stomach the thought of dying yourself than the idea of someone you loved doing the same.

"Do you want to be alone too?" She asked him timidly. He had been lost deep in his thoughts before she approached him.

"No," he countered with conviction. She came to sit next to him. Sakura leaned her head against his shoulder.

Her hand cupped the crown of Naruto's head. "He's still under?" She asked for the sake of it. She could very well see.

"He is," Minato answered. "He'll wake up on his own." He needed the sleep he was getting.

Minato's eyes took in her new hair. It was sleek, about an inch past her chin. "Nice hair," he said in a light conversational tone.

"You don't hate it?" Sakura asked him almost self-consciously. He had never seen it so short in the entirety of the time he knew her. She wasted no time in easing his aches and pains with her healing touch.

"No," Minato answered. He found it was easier to breathe. "It looks nice."

"Thank you," her cheeks were dusted with red and her eyes lit up at his simple compliment. It made him a little sad that something so small produced such a strong reaction out of her. She really had been attention and touch starved.

His cobalt orbs took her in. They locked on the dried brown blood patches on her dress. "We have a lot to talk about."

"We do," Sakura nodded in agreement. She caressed the new lines along Naruto's skin. She kissed each cheek before she removed the bandage from his knee. They both saw the unblemished skin. Sakura ran her thumb along his kneecap. He'll be okay," she said tightly as they shared a look.

"He will be. He will learn. He will have help." Minato's arms tightened around him.

The very air around them shifted. It lightened as a slow smile broke across her face. It pushed aside all his apprehensions and inhibitions. He could not believe the thought of her being toxic had ever crossed his mind, even if it was fleeting. She was the sun. The warmth and kindness she radiated purified the darkest parts of their world. He had been in the dark and disoriented for too long. He focused on her. In all these years, he had still not figured it out. He could not decide what was more beautiful: her face or her heart.

"He is going to be so surprised when he wakes up," the excitement she held inside of her was coming across clearly in her words. It was amazing how quickly things changed. She felt incomplete without Manato there. The moment felt incomplete.

"He's going to be so happy." Minato looked at the sleeping boy. "I am so happy." He looked at his wife. Sakura kissed his shoulder and looked up at him with so much devotion in her bright verdant eyes. He pressed his lips against her forehead whilst his heart stammered in his chest. "Thank you, Sakura."

She closed her eyes. The smile on her face grew in size.

---

Tsunade looked at Shizune through narrowed slits. Her hands were firmly planted on her hips. "Do you have any idea how stupid and reckless that stunt you pulled was?" Her amber eyes blazed with indignant fury.

"I'm sorry, Tsunade-sama." Shizune hung her head. She clenched and unclenched her hands. They were so clammy. Tsunade had that effect on her. She supposed she was not alone. The woman was a terror.

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. She needed a drink, a stiff one. But that like other things would have to wait.

She looked down at the unconscious patient. He was wrapped from head to toe in bandages. She could only trust Shizune's word that it was Ibiki, nothing else gave that indication.

"Just so we are perfectly clear, you understand that performing surgery of this magnitude by yourself while pregnant is a terrible, awful, horrible idea?"

Shizune winced at the clipping tone. "I understand." She said woefully. She was thoroughly admonished.

Tsunade took in her hunched frame. Her expression softened. She put her hand on Shizune's head. The girl flinched.

"I'm proud of you, Shizune. You kept order, you saved lives and you performed your first major extensive surgery and it was all by yourself. You had an incredible day."

Shizune looked up with wide eyes. "Tsunade-sama?"

Tsunade smiled at her. There was pride in her eyes. "Go home Shizune. Get some rest. You've earned it. I expect you to report for your shift tomorrow."

Shizune felt her heart soar. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama!"

Tsunade grumbled half-heartedly as she found herself wrapped around the middle. Sakura had set a horrible precedent. No one was scared of her anymore.

"Go," Tsunade said with a chuckle.

Shizune practically skipped out of the room. She was riding a high like no other. She came to a stop. She peered into the glass window. She pressed her palm to the surface. Her face broke out into a large grin as her eyes spotted a familiar head of brown hair. Shizune rounded the corner.

"Rin-chan!" She said in a quiet voice as she came to hug her friend from behind.

"Shizune-chan," Rin turned her head to spare Shizune a smile before she turned her attention back to the baby in the clear plastic bin in front of her.

"Is that him?" Shizune asked in a low tone full of excitement.

"It is, Shizune, meet Namikaze Manato." Rin smiled gently.

"He's adorable," Shizune gushed. She stepped to the side to get a better look at him. "Another blond huh?" She was secretly hoping for pink hair.

"Another boy," Rin said with a sigh.

"Any word?" Shizune's expression suddenly became solemn.

"Not yet," Rin said sadly. "No one has heard from or seen Sakura-sensei since an ANBU ran into her." She bit her lip. "And Kami knows what happened with Minato-sensei." She blinked back the tears that welled in her eyes.

"Rin-chan," Shizune said softly. Both women continued to stare at the sleeping newborn. Her expression became determined. "Let's go wait for them," Shizune looked at Rin with urgency.

Rin blinked in surprise. "Okay," she said once she recovered.

Shizune grabbed her by the hand. "Let's go!"

Rin spared one last look at the baby before she ran behind Shizune.

---

Tsunade pressed the clipboard to her side. She tilted her head as she regarded her teammate. He looked so out of place and awkward in the hallway. She supposed he really did not know what to do with himself.

Clearly, he did not heed her advice about staying in bed. Not that she expected him to. He was fine, just sore. It was advisable that he go without molding chakra for a week or so, to allow his body to heal naturally and strength come back. But that was it. He was out of the woods. He did not need to be in the hospital. It was probably better if he went home, it meant an open bed for someone else. It was clear to her that he had no intention of doing just that.

She looked over her shoulder. Nothing was on fire at this very moment. She walked to him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. She did not dignify his disgruntled grunts of surprise as she dragged him into Sakura's office.

She shoved him none too gently onto the couch. Jiraiya put his hands up out of pure survival instincts. Tsunade crossed her arms.

"I will go with you." She said tersely without even looking at him.

"What?" Jiraiya blinked at her in confusion. "Go with me where?"

"Don't play games Jiraiya. I'm really not in the mood." She tapped her foot impatiently on the ground. She was seriously regretting her decision to do this. She knew she would lose her nerve if she waited.

"I was hit really hard in the head by the Kyuubi, Tsunade." He reminded her with a furrowed brow and a frown. "You're going to have to slow down for me to catch up here." He added honestly. He frowned. "What happened there?" He pointed to the very missing armrest of the couch.

Tsunade eyes darted upwards. They made their way back down to his dark orbs. She set her jaw. She believed him.

"Sakura happened," Tsunade said dismissively. "I will go with you on your next trip." She said in one breath.

Jiraiya stared at her with stunned muteness. "What?" He sputtered before he could stop himself.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and curled her lip. "Forget it!" She turned on her heel.

Jiraiya caught her wrist. Tsunade stopped dead in her tracks. She glared stubbornly at the door.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." His tone was serious. She fought back the urge to flinch. She held her ground.

Tsunade did not react as his hand moved to her shoulder. She did not resist when he gently turned her so that they were facing each other. Her breath however did hitch at the look in his eye. She felt heat rise to her cheeks, a sensation she was only familiar with in the context of drinking. She was burning up.

"Well okay then," he said as he held her gaze.

Her skin under his fingertips burned. She was painfully aware of just how close he was. "I need some time. A year," she began.

He let go of her as if she were an open flame. The vulnerability in his eyes became blanketed with guardedness. His whole face changed. A smirk pulled at his lip. Her heart beat painfully.

"Shizune is expecting. I can't leave her. It wouldn't be fair. I stayed for Sakura." Tsunade explained before he completely closed off. "Just this once."

"There will always be something," he said bitterly. He scratched his head. "I don't know if I can wait forever." He did not know if he could be put up with the back and forth forever. He did not want history to repeat itself. He had his fill after today.

"It won't be forever." She said definitively. "I want it."

"Want what?" He asked with a tight frame.

Tsunade grabbed him by the collar again and yanked him down roughly. His wide eyes stared at her closed eyelids. The kiss - if it could even be called that - was over before he even had a chance to respond. She pulled away. Her face was flushed but there was a look of satisfaction in her amber orbs.

"It will be worth it." She said in a low voice. She licked her bottom lip slowly, tormenting him.

He fought back the desire to grunt 'No fair'. She would just call him a child and mock him endlessly. He feigned mulling her request over.

"I suppose leaving the village like this would be detrimental to Minato…" he grinned. "I'll stay for him. And my godsons." Minato did not ask him officially but he knew it was all but a lock. Sakura may pretend to drag her feet or disagree but that was just to keep things interesting.

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she grabbed his wrist and turned on her heel. She dragged him behind her. "Let's go see the kids."

The smug smile did not leave his face.

---

Kakashi stuffed his hands into his pocket. His eye was trained on the open doors of the gate. The Kyuubi was gone. They had all noticed the actual second that happened. His sensei did it. He knew it could only mean one thing. He was gone.

Naruto was not in the compound. The Uchiha matriarch had told them that his sensei had taken him with him. Kakashi did not know all the details. He did not know all the factors or pieces. But it did not take a genius to put what he did know together. Naruto had to be the new jinchuriki. There was no other reason for the boy to be put in harm's way like that. Or maybe that was the plan and reality was something else.

They had all seen a beast bomb go back in the direction it came from and that could only mean one thing: his other sensei was there. He wanted to be there to greet her. Today was quite a day for her, maybe even more than for the others. She welcomed a new addition while losing a member of her family. He vowed to himself that he would do anything and everything to help her. She was going to be a single mom now. She would need all the help she could get.

He could hear Obito pacing not too far from him. The man was a bundle of nervous energy. He had to be restrained and talked down from the notion of running at full speed in the direction where the fox was last witnessed. Kakashi wondered if the points that got him to remain in the village really had that much merit. He wanted to race there himself but he supposed the reason he did not was true for everyone else that was standing around waiting. It was an impromptu get-together around the gates.

They all wanted to go to them but it was more logical to let them come here. His eye did not leave the singular path to and from the village. He willed them to come sooner. He was dangerously close to giving in to the thoughts of his mind. That was one hole he did not think he was capable of climbing out of.

"They'll be here soon," Shizune said as she came to stand next to him. He wished he had a fraction of her conviction. The fingers of his hand twitched. She slipped her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Just wait, Kakashi. They'll be here."

The murmurs and sounds behind him grew. He did not need to turn his head to know that more people had joined the crowd. He spotted the Naras standing with Tukiko and Karin to his far right. The girl's red hair was impossible to miss as was the stench that was coming off from that direction.

His ears picked up on a single deep bark out of Kuromaru. His heart nearly beat out of his chest at the sound. Kakashi turned his head to look at the ninken and his handler. Kuromaru was standing on all fours, his tail was wagging so much it was almost making a full circle.

Tsume's face broke out in a giant grin. "Look alive, everyone. They're a couple of minutes out."

His mouth went dry. Before he could ask her who exactly she meant by 'they', he saw Obito break out into a full sprint towards the gate. He was probably moving even faster than Guy's top speed.

Shizune laughed into her hand. "That Obito-kun certainly knows how to keep things interesting," she mused.

"That he does," Rin said with a sigh as she came to stand on the other side of Shizune. She was shaking her head but there was a large smile on her face. Her large brown eyes were focused on the gate just like the rest of them were. They waited with their hearts in their throats.

---

She was feeling very nervous. She was not sure what awaited them, what kind of numbers they were looking at. She did not know what state the hospital was in. There was so much she did not know.

She did know that with each step they took they were getting closer and closer to the reality and devastation of Konoha. She could only for a fact say that she knew Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune, Itachi, Rin, Ban, and Joben were alive. That was it. She lost all her sensory abilities along with Akemi. She had to wait just like the rest of them.

Her pace was slowing down the closer she got to the gates. She was not sure if she wanted to know. Sakura bit her lip. Minato was three steps ahead of them. He looked back at her over his shoulder, Naruto was still fast asleep.

"It's going to be okay, Sakura." He assured her.

Kushina squeezed her hand. Sakura smiled at her apologetically. She knew Kushina was anxious to see the girls before she inquired about Joben. The pinkette forced her feet to move.

Miraculously the front gates had survived. They stood there grand and unaffected by what went on inside their walls. She could just make them out. The breeze moved through her hair. She was still not used to how light her head felt.

Sakura studied Kushina's muted expression. The redhead was off in her own world and there was little Sakura could do to help her. Sakura lengthed her strides. She walked past Kushina and Minato. The sooner she got to Konoha the sooner she could be of use. She had chakra - lots of it - still left over. She needed to pull her weight. She was so focused on thinking through her game plan that she did not see him coming.

All she felt was the wind being knocked out of her as she was leveled. Her head hit the ground painfully. Her ears rang and she had a head-splitting headache. She was seeing stars. Sakura blinked several times in order to recognize the situation she was in.

She felt constricted. There was dampness on her front. She saw a mass of black in her vision. She could hear sobbing and an angry shout.

"Obi-kun," she said, dazed as she brought a hand to the back of his head. "I'm okay," she told him calmly.

"I'm so glad, Sakura-sensei," he stammered out.

"You could have killed her, dattebane!" Kushina shouted over them.

"Obito," Minato's voice sounded annoyed to her ears. "Get off of her."

Obito hastily got up. He pulled Sakura up onto her feet. She grabbed her head as she stumbled. Obito grabbed her elbow to steady her.

"Are you okay, Sakura-sensei?" He asked her with ample concern.

"She was," Kushina snapped before Sakura could get a word in.

"I think I have a concussion." She stated in a confused tone. She rubbed her forehead.

"Did you black out?" Minato was peering at her closely.

"I'm so sorry!" Obito's voice could only be described as ear-splitting at that particular octave.

"It's okay, Obi-kun." Sakura said with a sigh. She brought a finger to her temple. She fought back nausea and pumped chakra into her head just enough to make everything stop being so spinny and loud.

"You're not a kid anymore." Kushina shoved him in the shoulder. "You need to be more careful."

Obito's face fell. "I was so worried - we all were. I just saw sensei and I couldn't help it." He sounded very much like a hurt kid.

Sakura's heart panged. She had gotten soft there was no doubt about it. She took a couple of steps. She was pleased that it no longer felt like her torso was floating in the air.

"I'm fine," she patted him on the shoulder. "See?" her smile was uneven.

Obito looked even less convinced now. "I'm sorry," he apologized again remorsefully. He looked at Minato. "You did it sensei! You're the greatest Hokage that ever lived." He beamed at the blond.

Minato sighed. He had a feeling he was going to be getting a lot more of that. "Let's keep moving." He looked over at the gate before looking at Sakura. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she tried not to let frustration color her words. She might as well get used to being asked that question.

"I'll walk with her," Kushina assigned herself the task. She looped her arm in Sakura's. "Come along now, Sakura-chan. We really should look into wrapping you in bubble wrap now that you don't have your get-out-of-death-free card anymore." Kushina said in an overly cheery voice.

"Sakura-sensei!" Obito gasped loudly. "What happened to your hair?" He sounded shocked.

Sakura did not look back. There was a lot more different about her than just her hair. If she waited around for Obito to notice all the differences, she would make it home around nightfall.

Sakura stopped just outside the gate. Kushina looked at her confused. Sakura shook her head. She turned her head and watched as Minato and Naruto were the first to cross the threshold. She looked on as Kakashi and Rin rushed to greet them. Obito was quick to join.

Sakura's face broke out into a smile as Minato and Naruto received the hero's welcome they so rightfully deserved. She knew Minato would hate every minute of it but she could not be more proud.

Kushina's eyes went from Sakura to a pair of faces waiting for her. "Go," Sakura smiled at her encouragingly. The pinkette watched as Kushina ran through the gates. The girls jumped up in her arms. Sakura's heart was overflowing for Kushina. She just knew everything would be fine for her friend. She had a feeling.

"Rin-chan," Sakura wrapped her arms around the brunette that had come to her.

"Sensei," Rin turned her head to hide her tears. "I'm so happy that you're okay."

"I'm so proud of you," Sakura hugged her tight. "You did so good."

Rin smiled against her shoulder. "You did good to sensei. Manato is so beautiful."

Sakura grinned. She looked the brunette in the eyes. "He is, isn't he?"

Rin made a face. "He betrayed us but I'll let it go since he's so damn cute." Rin rested her arm against Sakura's hip as they fell in step toward the gates. "He's got your eyes." She noted.

Sakura squeezed her shoulders. "He's got my mother's eyes." She sighed deeply as they crossed the threshold.

It was a blur. The faces she greeted, the hugs and words of welcome and congratulations. Tsume had nearly ripped her face off. Her long claw-like nails had almost drawn blood as she held her face hostage so that her brown eyes could inspect her. She had been so worried when word got out of the dead ANBU. They all had been.

Kuromaru was much gentler in his greeting. The whole left side of her face was covered in dog saliva from his display of affection. He was as tall as her when he stood up on his hind legs to give her kisses. A fact that Tsume would never let her live down.

Yoshino's greeting, while gentler on her face, was an assault on her nostrils. The same was true for the Yamanaka and the Akimichi that were with her. The women had taken turns transferring their stench onto her. Yoshino claimed she had showered three times. It was still enough to make her eyes water. Sakura supposed she did not exactly smell like flowers either. Sakura dared not breathe a word of complaint. Yoshino had a look in her eyes that even Sakura did not want to push.

She had lost Kushina in the crowd somehow. Her red hair was nowhere to be found. She did not get more than a couple of seconds to dwell on that fact. She was being pulled into so many different directions. She ought to have been more annoyed especially given how roughly her limbs were being yanked and contorted. She could feel herself starting to bruise.

Her body had been through hell and back today. Healing her injuries did nothing for the fatigue. It certainly did not change the feelings backed by a plethora of hormones raging inside of her for supremacy. She had been cut open like an animal. But she supposed she could hold what they did not know against them. She was alive. Each greeting, hug, and kiss on the cheek, she received was confirmation that they were alive. And that was something not to be taken for granted today.

Her cheeks stung from smiling. Her stomach ached from laughing at jokes that were not funny. Right now, she was giddy. The sheer relief and gratitude surrounding her was a kind of high. She was lightheaded and slightly dizzy. Maybe she had Obito to thank for that. Or maybe she was just delirious.

Her eyes locked onto one particular face, standing there in the back with a distant look on his face. He was her goal. She needed to talk to him. But each time she tried to get closer someone else appeared before her. The whole thing was starting to test her patience. But she kept up the smile even though she was overwhelmed and exhausted. Finally, the sea of faces parted. She stared at him.

"Kaka-kun," she breathed his name in pure relief. She took in his painfully familiar face - down to the covered left eye. Her stomach dropped. "You're okay," she pulled him into a hug. She did not give him a choice in the matter.

"You're okay too," he hugged her back.

"I'm so relieved," she closed her eyes. She would never pay back her debts to this man, not even in this life where she was supposed to look after him. He kept looking out for her. He never stopped looking out for her.

"Thank you for keeping him safe," the words would never come close to conveying the deep gratitude she felt for him.

"It wasn't me, sensei," Kakashi said tightly. She felt him stiffen. "It was Shisui and Itachi. They kept him safe." She heard the guilt in his tone.

Sakura shook her head as she pulled back so she could look him in the eye. "You kept him alive too." She did not know the whole story but she knew in her bones that Kakashi did what he had to. "You did it." She assured him firmly as she wiped away the lone tear that left his visible eye with her thumb.

"Kakashi?"

He looked at her. "Sensei?"

Sakura smiled with all her heart. "Congratulations," it was early but she wanted to be the first one to do it. "I'm so happy for the both of you."

Kakashi's eye crinkled.

---

Minato weaved through the crowd. He muttered apologies and excuse mes as he did so. It was times like this that Minato was thankful that Jiraiya was the way he was. He was towering over everyone else.

"Sensei," he smiled as he came to stand in front of the toad Sannin. "You seem better," he said with sincerity.

Jiraiya scoffed. The smile in his eyes undermined his projected attitude. "I was just going to say the same to you."

"Still, should you be walking around, sensei?" His own body was aching and groaning and he had not sustained a fraction of the damage Jiraiya had.

Jiraiya pounded his fist to his chest once. "I'm as healthy as an ox. Solid. It's going to take more than a little tap to bring me down." His face did not betray the pain that shot through him from his little action.

Minato's eyes caught the bandages poking out of the collar of his shirt. His best guess was that they wrapped the entirety of his torso.

Jiraiya followed his gaze. He clapped Minato on his free shoulder, to stop any follow-up questions at the root. Minato's whole body shook but Naruto remained slumbering soundly.

"Well done, kid." Jiraiya's voice and eyes held copious amounts of pride.

Warmth swirled within him. It mixed in with the relief he was already feeling. "Not good enough," Minato said with a grin.

Jiraiya did not have a chance to ask him what he meant by that. Jiraiya found himself at the receiving end of a one-armed embrace. He awkwardly patted Minto on the back when he recovered from his shock.

"I'm glad you're not dead." Minato looked him straight in the eye when he said the words.

Jiraiya held his gaze. "I'm glad you're not dead too, Minato." He let the relief he felt color his tone. "You did it. You saved the village."

"I had a lot of help," Minato smiled in gratitude. "Thank you for your help, sensei. I could not have done it without you." His smile slipped from his face. "Thank you for everything, sensei." His face was grave.

Jiraiya nodded his head. Minato did not need to remind him. He knew how differently things could have turned out. Jiraiya's eyes locked on a pink head of hair. He noticed the lack of green on her forehead.

"So it's done? The Kyuubi has a new jinchuriki?"

Minato's expression darkened considerably. He nodded his head curtly. He pressed his face against Naruto's head.

Jiraiya's eyes widened as he noticed the whiskers lining Naruto's cheeks. "Minato?" He asked in a mix of shock and dread.

"Naruto is the new jinchuriki," Minato said tightly.

Jiraiya schooled his expression. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes and he bowed his head forward.

"I see," he said in a level tone. So things were not that much different.

"He's going to need your help sensei when the time comes." Minato looked at the Sannin with imploring cobalt orbs.

Jiraiya nodded his head. "I will be here. For all of you." Whenever and whatever they needed, he completed the sentiment in his head.

Minato felt some of the tension building up in him ease away. "Thank you, sensei." He looked at the village in front of him. "How bad is it?" His cobalt gaze focused on Jiraiya's stony face.

"Nothing that can't wait a couple of hours." Jiraiya gave him a hard look.

"Right," Minato agreed with him without protest. His eyes found Sakura. She was hugging Itachi not too far from them.

"Minato?" Jiraiya called out for his attention.

"Sensei?" Minato looked at Jiraiya.

"Congratulations," the white-haired man's lips stretched into a genuine smile.

Minato smiled back in return.

---

"I'm so sorry, Itachi-kun," she said as she held him close. "I'm so sorry." She muttered.

Itachi did not say anything. He stood still in her arms. His arms only moved to hug her back when he felt her start to pull away.

Sakura looked straight ahead at the faces of Mikoto, Fugaku, and Sasuke who were all standing several yards away. They were all watching the two of them. Sakura smiled sadly at Mikoto. The woman returned the gesture. Understanding glistened in her dark eyes.

"Thank you for saving Naruto. I'll never be able to repay you." Sakura said with a tinge of regret. She did not want to put that on him. She did not want to put that on Kakashi. It was her responsibility along with Minato's. She was choosing to focus on being eternally grateful.

"You would have done the same for Sasuke," he pulled back. His eyes were red but dry.

Her shoulders slumped. "Are you sure I can't talk you into staying longer? We'll miss you so much."

Itachi shook his head. "It's time to go home." Home was more of a concept than an actual place at the moment. "I'll come by later for my things."

Sakura nodded. "You're welcome anytime. The door's always open."

"Thank you, Sakura-san." Itachi gave her a small smile. "For everything."

She had to fight the initial reaction her body had to his words. They dragged up memories she wanted to keep buried. Especially with all the things from her past, that she thought they had avoided, but had come to pass.

"You're welcome, Itachi-kun." She said with more calm than she felt. "Whenever you're ready."

"I know," he assured her that he remembered. "I may need another favor." He said almost indecisively.

"Anytime." She said without hesitation.

She watched with her hand pressed to her heart as he joined his family. She caught Fugaku's eyes. His head dipped in the faintest of nods. It was so subtle that she would have missed it if she had not been giving him her undivided attention. She returned the gesture. An unspoken understanding between the two of them. She watched them until she could no longer make out their outlines. It was bittersweet, all of it.

"Are you okay?" She did not have to turn to know who it was. She would always recognize his voice and his presence; the way he made her feel.

"I'm okay." At a very high level, she was. She was breathing. She was alive. Nothing hurt. She was not dying slowly. Her children were safe. Her husband was safe. Her best friend was safe, Her village for the most part was safe. Sakura leaned back against him. His arm around her waist felt so right. She had missed this, the comfort and ease she felt just by standing next to him.

Minato looked down as Naruto stirred. The boy rubbed his eyes and yawned loudly. "Dada?" His voice was laced with sleep. "Did you get the monster?" He asked groggily.

"We did," Minato answered with a smile.

"I knew you would," Naruto grinned. His blue eyes were more alert. He suddenly got incredibly reserved and withdrawn as he locked eyes with a smiling Sakura. He turned his head away from her.

"Naruto?" Her voice was filled with worry. She reached out to comfort him.

"No!" He screamed as he slinked away from her touch. He made himself as small as he could on his father's shoulder.

Sakura's heart panged with pain caused by his very visceral reaction to her.

"He must still be disoriented from waking up," Minato's calm voice tried to put her at ease. He patted Naruto on the back in an effort to soothe him.

Sakura stopped herself from pointing out that Naruto had no issues with him. Minato was not the one he looked at with distrusting eyes. He had looked at her as if she were a stranger. She could not help but feel a sense of panicked paranoia.

"I want Mama," Naruto mumbled into Minato's shoulder.

"Baby, I'm here." Sakura tried again. She kept nervousness from her voice.

Naruto shook his head. "You're not Mama! You don't look like my mama!" He said adamantly as clung to his father.

Understanding hit Sakura like a brick wall. "I just got a haircut, your Obachan gave me one. It's still me, Naruto."

"It's your mama, Naruto. Listen to Mama's voice. It's the same." Minato coaxed him to come out from hiding from the world.

"Forehead!" Naruto squeezed his eyes tighter together and curled his hands into Minato's once-white cloak as he resisted their attempts. His knuckles were turning white due to his death grip on the fabric.

"It's like the special seal, Naruto. The green dots went away. But I'm still me. I'm still the same, I'm your mama." Sakura explained to him gently. She set out little streams of chakra from her fingertips. They caressed the back of his neck with the softest of touches, barely stronger than a light breeze.

Naruto did not react negatively to it which emboldened her further. She slowly and gently brought her hand to rest on his back.

"See? The same." She adjusted the placement of her head so that they would be at eye level when he inevitably turned to face her.

Naruto froze in Minato's arms. They waited for an eternity for him to turn and look at Sakura.

"Mama?" He asked her timidly.

Sakura held his hand. She showered it with kisses. He giggled.

"Hi Baby," she smiled at him, relief filled her eyes.

Naruto reached over and curled his fingers in her hair. "Short," he made his observation known. He held up the end to his face and inspected it closely. "White!" He exclaimed in surprise.

"Do you like it?" She could hear the smile that was on her face in her ears.

"You look pretty, Mama," Naruto grinned at her.

Sakura kissed the tip of his nose. "Thank you, Naruto." Her jade eyes studied his face closely. She kept her expression neutral. "How are you feeling?"

Minato and Sakura waited for Naruto to answer. Naruto's eyes looked up at the sky as he pounded the question.

"Hungry!" He answered with decisiveness.

Sakura and Minato exchanged a look before they started to laugh. Naruto was puzzled for a split second before he joined in.

That was how Tsuande found the three of them - laughing and holding on to each other. She could not help but smile at the picture.

"Is now a bad time?" She asked rhetorically. She almost felt bad for interrupting the moment. Almost. Naruto was not the only baby that needed to be fed.

"Tsunade-shishou," Sakura wiped away tears as she composed herself. "How are you?"

Tsunade eyed Sakura. She noted the differences from what she had seen not even an hour before.

"Obaachan!" Naruto greeted her eagerly.

"Hello to you too, Naruto." She ruffled his hair before she turned her attention back to Sakura.

"I'm fine. Now ask the question you really want to know the answer to." Tsunade frowned at the flustered look on Sakura's face. She did not look well.

"How is he?" Minato asked her almost frantically. It took her back six years to this day.

"Hi, Minato. He's fine. He's sleeping but he'll need to eat soon so I need to take Sakura back to the hospital with me." She said in a stern tone.

Sakura nodded. She and Minato took a step forward. Tsunade held up her hands to halt Minato in his tracks. Three pairs of eyes looked at her in various levels of surprise. Naruto was observing closely.

"You are filthy. You need to shower and a clean set of clothes. Naruto too." Tsunade's tone did not leave room for argument.

Naruto looked offended. "Who's sleeping?" He asked in a huff. He was young. He got a pass. Just this once.

"The baby, Naruto," Sakura answered quickly.

"The baby is here?!" Naruto asked incredulously. His eyes were almost as big as his head.

"He is, you're officially a big brother now," Minato said with a grin.

"When did he get here?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"When you were sleeping," Sakura answered with a smile.

"No way!" Naruto pouted. "I want to see him!"

"We have to go home and get cleaned up first, Naruto. And get you something to eat." Minato explained patiently.

"Let's go!" Naruto clapped his hands.

"Mama's going with Tsunade-sama," Sakura was careful not to use the title only Naruto could get away with right now. Tsunade was in a mood. "You and Dada will come by later okay?"

"How come you get to go with Obaachan, Mama?" Naruto asked her testily.

"Because I said so," Tsunade said in a tone that effectively ended the conversation.

"Come on, Naruto. Let's get you fed." Minato redirected Naruto's attention before the tiny blond had a chance to go off on the other blonde. Naruto, like Sakura, turned rather feral when hungry.

Sakura shot a look at Minato. Tsunade rolled her eyes. "He's not going anywhere, come on." She turned towards the hospital.

Sakura spared him one last look over her shoulder before she hurried after her.

"How is he, really?" Sakura asked Tsunade as they walked down the streets of Konoha. His arrival had been traumatic, to say the least. She was praying for no more drama.

"He is late preterm. You know that." Tsunade was pleased that Sakura was matching her brisk pace without much difficulty.

Sakura frowned. She did know that. He arrived three weeks before his due date. "I had to use the light release. I thought we would have died if I hadn't. By the time I sensed Minato being right there, it was already too late. I had already used it." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself she did not make a terrible mistake.

"Don't do that. You can't go back and change things." Tsunade looked at her from the corner of her eye. Sakura looked on the verge of tears. "We don't know if that induced you." Or if it caused any lasting problems. But she kept the second half of the thought to herself.

Sakura shook her head. "My water broke right after." It could not be a coincidence. "Akemi-hime said he would be fine." She chewed her lip in worry. "He was in breech. He didn't cry at all. It was about seventy seconds between when he was cut out of me and I saw him move."

Her thoughts were buzzing in her head frantically. "Sarina - Spider - performed CPR. His umbilical cord was around his neck." Her voice broke towards the end.

"Don't tell me because I don't want to know." Tsunade's eyes were hard. She was very aware of the punishment if anyone happened to be listening.

"I didn't use my or any forbidden jutsu."

Tsunade let out a breath she was holding.

Sakura's nails pricked her scalp. "What did his tests show?" Sakura asked her with equal parts desperation and dread.

Tsunade grabbed her by the shoulders. It took a lot of self-control to not shake her. Sakura blinked at her in surprise.

"Sakura as far as I know he's okay. He's fine. There's nothing wrong with his tests. I'm just being cautious. That's all." She mentally made notes of adding more tests to the docket for the newborn. She needed to check for any ill effects of oxygen deprivation and more specifically for both traces of poison and seals. There was no way that Sakura had been in her right state of mind to check for those things. No one would have been.

"Okay," she said numbly. She touched her temples. "I was so scared when I didn't hear him cry. "I haven't even heard him cry yet."

Neither had Tsunade. She pressed her lips together. She lowered her hand to Sakura's arm. Her fingers trapped her wrist.

"I want to look you over too, make sure you don't go septic and drop dead on us in a couple of days. And I want to hear everything. Everything, you hear me?" She said in a rough tone that masked her worry. She did not look back as she moved with purposeful steps, dragging the silent kunoichi behind her.

She did not complain that Tsunade was applying enough pressure to leave a bruise. Sakura followed and kept quiet. She was not capable of much else.

---

A/N: They did it! They made it home. Stay tuned for what is waiting for them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Until next time!