Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 25

Naruto, Sasuke: 20

Shisui: 29

Kakashi: 34

"Wait…you gave Itachi advice on how to be a good partner?"

"Well yeah! I know the deal now!" Naruto replied on the phone. I rubbed the bridge of my nose as Haku brought a new batch of papers. I shot him a pleading look and he shrugged, dropping them on my desk.

"We've been in a relationship for three years and a half almost, I think he knows more than you how to be a good partner. It includes the bedroom."

"I don't want to hear about that!"

"You are twenty Naru, get used to adult subjects."

"I don't want to."

"Anyway, did you receive news from your teammates?"

"Not really. They left a while ago. I'm used to Sasuke not being around, but it's weird to not have Sakura-chan as well. Team meetings with Kakashi-sensei and Sai, and Captain Yamato are weird now."

"I'm sure. How's Hinata?"

"Getting along with Aunty. She's fine. I keep telling her that she doesn't have to pressure herself to be a 'wife'. I just want her to be her." I smiled softly. "Aunty seems fine now she lives alone."

"Really? I asked her and she said she was, but I didn't know if I should believe her."

"I try to visit her as much as possible, Hinata and Itachi too and she almost forbad me to go home because Hinata and I were newlywed, and we should enjoy it. I mean, she's always here to shop for baby stuff." Yeah, Hinata was expecting. It was November now, a year had passed since the Sarumu business, two since the end of the war. There were chances that Sakura and Sasuke were getting ready to become parents as well then.

"Look, it's not I'm not enjoying this conversation, but I have works, Haku just gave me a huge pile of papers to look over. We'll talk later."

"Okay. And nee-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"Really, I'm still traumatized by Aunty's talk about the birds and the bees, and I don't want to hear you talk about sex. I already pretend you don't do it with Itachi, please don't throw it in my face."I chuckled.

"We'll see about that. Bye"." I hung up and took the letter with Konoha emblem on it. It was official.

I opened it and laughed when I read the letter.

Itachi had given Shisui a genin team shortly after Naruto's wedding. He didn't seem to know what to do at first, kind of like Kakashi, but he got attached to his team. I had to admit though that I was not very much in contact with Shisui anymore. I was busy, he was as well and we'd send each other letters but since I had become the Mizukage, it was sparse and even when I was in Konoha, he wasn't always available. Ever since the war ended, I had seen him when I became the Mizukage and then Naruto's wedding.

In his letter, Itachi was saying Shisui and his team would come to Kiri to collect Hyo. Since he got married, Naruto became the head clan of the Uzumaki clan in Konoha. Well, it was more of a title than an actual job. Masashi wanted the future head of clan to be married and in Konoha. Me being his direct heiress…he didn't care. I didn't want this position anyway but…he totally discarded me.

Anyway, Hyo would move to Konoha for good and stop having a foot in Kiri and Konoha, and Shisui and his team would escort him.

Itachi also wrote that I had to pretend I didn't know who Shisui was because he wanted to show off to his genin. I didn't know if this was something between them, but I never said 'no' to messing with a friend of mine.

It was going to be fun.

A few days later, Haku told me Shisui was there with his team and would stay for a few days. I decided to go meet them directly to give them a proper welcome. They were at the Academy right now, Choujurou with them. I cleared my throat when I was behind them and Shisui glanced above his shoulder. A grin split his face and one of his boys, he had two and one girl, elbowed the other boy to show I was there.

"Akane! How's it been!?" Shisui asked me, walking toward me. He put his arm on my shoulders and looked at his genin. "You'll see! I'm right when I say we've known each other for years!"

"Uchiha-san, what are you doing?" I questioned him, eyeing his arm weirdly. He blinked and furrowed his brows at me.

"It's not funny. Did Itachi put you up to this?" I raised a brow and one of the boys scoffed.

"I knew it! Sensei you're just trying to brag! The Hokage was enough!"

"They're the ones lying, not me!" I watched them bickering for a few seconds, Shisui losing all of his credibility until I started snickering. "Don't laugh!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry but you want their approval so much it reminds me of when you'd try to get the same reaction from Sasuke!"

"Akane shut up!"

"Wait a minute." The other boy said, his eyes wide opened behind his glasses. "You…you really know each other?" I leaned my elbow on Shisui's shoulder, who was crossing his arms and nodded.

"Since childhood even. Much like the Hokage who apparently, gave a whole other story."

"He said he knew me because we were from the same clan and that's it," he muttered.

"Huh, kind of typical of him knowing him." I inched closer to the three kids. "So, who are the poor souls who are lucky enough to be your students Shisui?" None of them replied, staring at us both without a sound.

"What, cat got your tongue now?" Shisui teased them with a grin. "This is Ryujji, Haru and Kimi." Ryuji, glasses, short ginger hair and green eyes. He was taller than Haru, who had a black bun at the bad of his head, the white of the Byakugan making his stupor even more visible. Then, the girl, Kimi, had short brown hair in two low pigtails and black eyes.

"Nice to meet you Ryuji, Haru and Kimi. I'm Uzumaki Akane. Before having this obnoxious hat on my head, I was his friend for years so good luck with him. He's a great and reliable shinobi though, so you're in safe hands." They didn't say a word until Ryuji cleared his throat.

"You…you really know Shisui-sensei?" I nodded with a smile. "And you're friends with him Mizukage-sama?" I nodded. "Why?"

"Hey!" Shisui replied, offended and I chuckled.

"Sometimes I'm not sure myself."

"Hey!" he reiterated, but to me this time.

Then, in a second, I had three tweens asking me questions about Shisui, most of them being about whether or not his feats were real.

Huh, someone had been bragging to kids.

I showed them around and once they were all in their hotel room, I went to have a drink with Shisui. As in, I invited him in the Mizukage's quarters as his genins were sleeping there as well. He drank his first glass of sea whiskey in one go.

"I swear, when we got our first mission and I called him 'Itachi', he went 'You may refer to me as Hokage-sama here, we do not know each other like this'. Can you believe it!? Don't answer, I know you do."

"And they're not letting you live it down?" He shook his head. "And other than that?"

"I like being their sensei. They grew on me. I mean at first I wasn't…the most comfortable with it. I have their lives and future on my shoulders after all. It's the nice thing too though. I can show them how to be a good shinobi I think and not let them go out of the right path."

"It's the only thing that truly matter as a sensei," I agreed. "And other than that? How are you? We don't really talk much these days."

"I know, but we're both busy. It's…" He pursed his lips, his eyes taking a harsher glint to a second. "It was weird at first when Itachi became the clan leader and the Hokage, the shift in power was sudden for everyone. I tried to help him as much as possible of course."

"Thank you for that," I whispered, turning my glass between my hands. He shook his head.

"It's normal. But let me tell you, during this time he was hitting a lot harder in training than usual. God was he pissed at Sasuke for leaving the village. Thank God they talked when he came back last Christmas."

"They're both unable to communicate with each other properly when they're in a tough time. Itachi will try to be the big brother who knows best, and Sasuke is the little brother who wants to be seen as his own-grown self who knows what's best for him."

"Yeah. And of course, it was weird to watch Itachi settle in his new job but…he seems fine with it now." He looked up briefly. "I'm grateful to him for my team to be honest."

"Really?" He nodded.

"It filled a hole I didn't know how to fill. I tried to fill it with you for way too long, and then with different girlfriends…I just wanted someone, something to cherish and feel like I was needed. Maybe it's selfish, I don't know, but when they look at me seriously with their cutes faces it makes me really happy."

"There really is no jumping into another love relationship?"

"I learned to stop doing that, I can assure you," he replied firmly. I chuckled. "But…damn, Naruto is about to be a dad. Isn't that weird to think about?"

"It sure is weirder than the first time." I sighed and leaned my chin in the palm of my hand. "I watched him grow here, even from far away and now he is going to be responsible for a living, breathing human being."

"It's good Hinata is here as well." I nodded quickly. "Any news from Sasuke and Sakura?"

"I received a letter a month ago to tell me where they were and that they were okay. Sasuke's letters usually are short anyway, so as long as they're like that I know everything's good." I looked at him from the corner of my eyes. "Have you met Min by the way?" His glass stopped between the table and his mouth. He slowly put it back down.

"I have. Although, I can't say I have talked to her a lot."

"Isn't she Itachi's and Sasuke's sister now?"

"Yes, but I avoid her. I know, I shouldn't but…I know what my brother did to her, and I can't…the rare times we saw each other, I couldn't handle her gaze."

"I don't think she's going to blame you for Taiga's doing." I didn't push the issue further. He clearly didn't want to talk about it.

As I was taking Shisui to his room, I noticed one of the staff members staring at us. I narrowed my eyes at her, and she almost ran away.

"Akane?"

"It's nothing. Good night!" Once he was in his room, my grin fell off my lips.

Them not liking my relationship with Itachi was one thing. Monitoring the people in my personal life was another. Once I was in my quarters, I slouched in my couch, an arm on my face.

No matter how much I refused to acknowledge it, I couldn't keep avoiding the growing anti-Uchiha sentiment in Kiri and the xenophobia it was slowly creating.

"Uzu-nee."

"Yeah?"

"We have unexpected guests."

"Huh?" I looked at the calendar on my laptop. February 12th. I'd be twenty-six in April, so no birthday…Valentine's Day? No, Itachi had told me he had some projects that required all of his time because not everything was going according to plan. "Who?"

"They're waiting in the Mizukage's quarters. I had them escorted there."

"Okay?" I stood up and followed him.

"You may be surprised though, so just…ready yourself."

"Alright…you're scaring me a little." He shrugged and put his hand on the doorknob once we were on my floor.

My quarters were really the apartment I had on the fourth floor of the tower that every Kage in function had. It was also where Itachi now stayed when he'd come. Going to my apartment, thus being seen by villagers sadly no longer was an option, so he'd stay here and not go out much. I didn't like it, I hated it, but he accepted it without protest as it meant he could come as much as before, even if he didn't come much because of his schedule. Neither did I after all.

Haku opened the door, and I entered the living-room. Suigetsu was there, talking with Sasuke who was sitting in the couch. I recognized Sakura's pink hair next to him without issue.

"Hey guys…" I greeted them, stopping in my steps when I faced them. I immediately noticed Sakura's huge belly and the exhaustion on her face. I pointed at Haku without glancing at him. "Okay, I get it know. Go get me Dai or Karin." He did.

"I am fine," Sakura said in a tired voice. "I'm just tired from the trip."

"Sure, but as a medic, you'll understand that it's normal to give a heavily pregnant woman a full checkup after she has been on the road for months." Sasuke shot her a pointed look as she threw her head back, a hand on her stomach.

"I don't want to hear it," she told the Uchiha.

"Thank you," Sasuke thanked me, still looking at her.

"I'm going to take a wild guess. You guys got married without telling anyone and got pregnant, but now the pregnancy is close to its end, you thought staying somewhere for a while would be safer." Sasuke nodded, finally looking at me. "Now were you in the area or do you want to have your child here before getting in the drama of explaining this?" They nodded sheepishly.

"We got married before we…" Sakura tried to say. However, as I raised a single brow at her, my fists on my hips, she stopped talking. "Never mind."

"You eloped and none of your families know about it?" Suigetsu asked them. Sasuke sighed. "Dude, you're gonna die the moment you set foot in the village!" Sasuke's eyes went to me. I took a step back and shook my head.

"Nope, not telling them in your place."

"Not now, obviously. Just in two months." I gaped a little.

"So you want me to tell Mikoto-san she's a grandmother when the baby is here!?" He nodded. "You want me to lie to your brother for two months about something this big!"

"Hey!" Sakura cried out.

"Your last name is bigger than you are right now." She opened her mouth but nodded. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "God, Sasuke, Sakura, you are married and about to be parents, so the least you can do is call your parents to tell them. And when I say this, I really mean you Sasuke." He frowned. "Sakura is growing a child inside of her, stress isn't good for that."

"Neither is a deceased father." I stared back at him for a second. "Please nee-san, just let us stay for a couple of months."

"Come on, when did I say I wouldn't let you stay? I mean, you maybe, but I'm not letting Sakura leave Kiri until she's recovered from childbirth." Sakura snickered briefly. "However, I think you should contact your families about this. Tell them not to come until the baby is born if you want but let them know. Of course, you should settle properly before that." They both looked so lost at what they should do. "You are both clueless about how to proceed, aren't you?"

"It's something we pushed back to the end my pregnancy," Sakura admitted quietly. "Now it's here it is…" I sighed and crouched next to Sakura.

"It's going to be fine though. I mean, Kiri is not Konoha or anything, but I'll do everything I can to make your stay here the most comfortable possible." She was now on the verge of tears. I shot Suigetsu a quick look. "Suigetsu, please go to sensei to ask her if she knows about a one-bedroom apartment available close to the hospital."

"On it." He jumped off the window. I noticed the question in Sasuke's gaze but shook my head briefly, telling him to drop whatever he was thinking right now.

"You're going to stay here until you have a place."

Dai came and gave Sakura a quick check-up, demanding she came the next day after a good night sleep. After three days, they were in a fully furnished apartment two streets from the hospital. Sensei was very involved in how people in their everyday lives had what they needed, so be it a place, food, clothes, healthcare, education, she knew how to help you get what you wanted.

Now, Sasuke was sitting in front of me in my living-room, behind the coffee table. I was sitting in my couch, my legs and arms crossed, staring pointedly at him.

The phone remained untouched between us.

"Sasuke, it's you brother."

"I know."

"He'll know at some point." He pursed his lips. I rolled my eyes. "Damn, you're impossible." I dialed my apartment's number in Konoha and put it on speaker. At that time, Itachi should be home. On Sundays he would try to take some time off.

"Hello sweetheart." Sasuke perked up at that and I narrowed my eyes at him, killing any comment he wanted to make.

"Hey, how are you?" There was a small pause.

"Are you going to give me some bad news?"

"News yes, bad…Depends on you. Go get a chair and sit."

"That much?" I glared a little.

"That much nii-san." There was a deep sigh and we heard him getting a chair and coming back with it.

"What did you do this time?" Itachi sounded so done with his brother and I could picture him rubbing the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"It's not…" I cleared my throat. "We're brothers, you'd help me if I needed, right?"

"Sure," he replied without missing a beat. "What do you need my help for?"

"To be a good uncle to my child?" It was dead silent.

"Did you elope?"

"Yeah, that too." Itachi sighed again.

"Sakura is alright?"

"Yes, everything is fine with her and the baby. Nee-san accepted to let us stay for a few months so that Sakura can finish her pregnancy peacefully and wait a little bit before going back to Konoha with the baby."

"Akane, make his rent incredibly high." I snickered and Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Have you told Mom yet? And Sakura's parents?"

"About that…"

"You want me to tell them," he figured out quickly.

"What kind of help did you think he'd want?" I asked him.

"I don't know, finding a place to live?"

"Oh right," I mumbled under my breath as Sasuke ran a hand on his face.

"And Min lives at home too now, it's…" he was muttering to himself.

"Sasuke, don't stress about it. In the worst-case scenario, you could go to my Mom's, she has two empty bedrooms now."

"Yes, but imposing like this is not something that should be really considered though," Itachi retorted. "I think you should tell Mom, it's your news."

"I know. It's just…" I handed him the phone once I turned off the speaker.

After half an hour, Sasuke called me as I was in my bedroom, saying Itachi wanted to talk to me. I bid the Uchiha goodbye once I was back in my living-room and on the phone.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"A little bit disappointed I couldn't be at my brother's wedding, but my mother's and Sakura's parents will make up for that." I chuckled. "Thanks for helping them out."

"Yeah well, you are doing that for Naruto and Hinata, it wouldn't be nice if I didn't for Sakura and the little shit that is your brother." I cracked my neck. "So, can I know what you talked about?"

"Their future living conditions. I told him I'd think of something, but I already have something in mind." I pinched the bridge of his nose.

The thing was…Itachi and I were planning on buying a house. We wouldn't get married now, or engaged, but I mentioned we could buy a place for us without being married and have it fifty fifty and he really liked that idea. No one could tell me what to do with my finance either.

We were going forward in a relationship, taking the next step and no one would know.

"I have seen two houses with you. I know you have seen more but…"

"I know sweetheart, I'm not going to pick one without your consent first. I have sent you photos though, you'll receive them in a few days. That being said, do you think you could come by soon?"

"Hinata is due soon, nobody can keep me from meeting my baby cousin, Kage or not. I'll try to be here in April."

"Then try to come on your birthday, I couldn't celebrate it with you last year."

"Neither did I with you," I said with a small smile. "I'll tell you when Sakura gives birth anyway, maybe they won't be against you visiting."

"It can accidentally be shortly after the baby is here," he suggested. I could almost see the smirk on his lips. "I did make a selection in the houses I have personally visited. I'd like to buy one before the end of the year and then…Sasuke and Sakura can move in our apartment if you are okay with it."

"Your place, not mine," I replied, knowing he didn't like it when I was saying this.

"I am the owner, but it is your home as much as it is mine."

"I know, I'm kidding. It's just…well, I know we're looking for a house to buy but…I'll be a little sad to move out of the apartment. I'm attached to it."

"Hn."

"Aren't you? There are a lot of memories there!"

"I know, but I also want to have a new chapter in our lives and leaving it would close the current one."

"Hum…sure." We talked for another hour and before I hung up, I told him I'd keep him updated about the future parents. He said he wasn't looking to announcing Mikoto-san the news.

February and March went by peacefully. Sakura was growing tired of being pregnant and I went baby shopping with her. I put Sasuke to work when his wife couldn't stand to see his face anymore.

On the 28th, I got a call from Mom, telling me Naruto and Hinata were the parents of a baby boy named Boruto, born on the 27th. Shocker. Sakura called Hinata and they talked briefly.

On the 31st, in the first hours of the day, I got a call from Sasuke, telling me Sakura's waters had broken. He was panicking a little. I asked him if Sakura was, and I instructed him to get their baby bag, Sakura's and go to the hospital. I contacted Dai immediately and left as well.

Sakura was taken to a room. Sasuke started to follow and stopped when he realized I stopped.

"What are you doing!?"

"What do you mea…" He took my wrist in his hand and dragged me behind him. "Wait Sasuke, what are you doing!?"

"Sakura wants you there, and so do I!"

"You didn't tell me!" I was given scrubs and suddenly, I was next to Sakura as she was already dilated.

"I'm sorry I just…" she started, trying to remain calm but the panic was evident in her eyes. "I wanted my mom here and she's not and…" I put my hand on her head, smiling at her.

"I see. It's going to be okay."

Her labor lasted for a couple of hours; she needed a lot of push. I did my best to coach her through it, keeping an eye on Sasuke who was having his hand broken by his wife.

It was silent when the baby gave their first cry.

"It's a girl," Karin told them. She had been the delivery girl.

As she was given to Sakura and the new family was huddled together, there was something heavy in my stomach at the sight. I chose to ignore it.

Sarada and Boruto were born, and it was one of the biggest reliefs I could have asked for in this life.

Hey! Thanks for reading and please leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Guest for the review! No need to go to war on Ao3 by the way, it is me, 'Plume' means 'Feather' in French, so it's basically the same name! But thanks for the warning still!

Bye!