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

"Who's the pretty girl? It's Sara-chan!" I said in a silly voice to Sarada, holding her in my arms. She just stared at me with her big, black eyes and I pursed my lips. "I swear I'm going to be a fun aunt, at least funnier than your uncle."

"It's not very complicated." I deadpanned at Sasuke. Sakura and him went to the hospital because he was worried about Sakura, who was experiencing post-partum. She told him she was fine, that she was a doctor, but he wanted a second opinion. They left me with Sarada in their temporary apartment.

"No wonder the twins loved Naru more." His smirk disappeared as Sakura chuckled, walking toward me. I gave her Sarada gently. "She ate, tummy time and a big yawn when I started to complain about work. It was a little bit rude."

"She is her father's daughter," Sakura told me. Sasuke cleared his throat.

"So you're leaving tomorrow." I nodded.

"I'll give the pictures to Mikoto-san and your parents, as well as your letter. I should be back in two weeks." I leaned toward Sarada and shook her chubby foot. "I'm going to meet another baby, do not be mad at me." I looked up at her parents. "If Itachi were to say something like…coming here for his birthday, will it be okay?" They shared a look and Sakura nodded.

"Yes, yes it will be." There was something weird in Sasuke's eyes, but Sakura frowned slightly, which made it disappear.

Two days later, I was home in Konoha, Sushi purring in my arms. Itachi was surprised to see me.

"Keep looking at me like an alien and I'm leaving," I teased him with a small smile. He shook his head and walked up to me.

"I thought you'd come for your birthday." I frowned.

"It's in two days." He gazed blankly at me.

"What?" I squinted at the dark circles under his eyes.

"You've overworked and lost track of time?" He rubbed his eyes.

"I guess." He embraced me, Sushi still in my arms and kissed me softly on the lips. "Welcome home."

"I'm home." I cupped his cheek. "Did you even have lunch?" He looked guilty and I shook my head. "Don't drown in your workload Itachi." I gave him Sushi and went to the kitchen.

"Wait Akan…" I stared at the various homemade dishes in the fridge and on the counter, then raised confused eyes to him. He sighed. "It's not what it looks like."

"I'm not sure what it looks like. Did you make all of these to just look at them?"

"No I…I didn't make them…" I was so confused. "They're from the new secretary who works for me." I shut the door of the fridge, now all ears.

"Isn't that interesting?" He groaned and went to the couch, falling in it. I joined him quietly. "She has a crush on you I guess." He scoffed.

"More than that."

"Alright, can I have the story from the beginning?"

"Six months ago, Min came to me saying she had a friend who was looking for a job. I said I'd accept to give her an interview because from what Min was saying. She was praising her. Shikamaru conducted the interview and he said she would be a great addition as my secretary for civilian-related issues. She was great…at first, then it got weird." I furrowed my brows. "She started to try to organize my personal life as well…it started with trying to make time for Uchiha business alongside my schedule, then she started to talk about my mother…She talked to my mother when she came to see me. Mom came with a purpose, and she'd try to…look good to her…then came the bento for lunch because I would get something quick to eat…then meals for dinner because there's no housewife expecting me at home at the end of the day…and since last week she's been delivering them here and offering to give me company in the evening."

I was torn between anger that some random girl was trying to become my boyfriend's girlfriend…and shock because it was creepy behavior.

"So you've been keeping a week-worth of food in the fridge?" He made a face.

"I don't know what she put in it." I straddled his lap, and he secured his arms around my waist.

"And how about firing her?"

"I doubt it will make her stop." He buried his face in my chest. "Sorry I didn't tell you, but I thought I would have dealt with her the moment you'd come."

"Is it what you actually were working on today?" He nodded sheepishly.

"I stopped going to the office in the afternoon." I kissed the crown of his head.

"Poor thing." Itachi's crazy stalker was an issue though. "Did you tell Min her friend was crazy?"

"She struggled to adapt at first, I don't want to tell her her friend is crazy. She very well may have used her to get to me."

"I wouldn't be surprised." I got off his lap. "And if I'm the one cooking, will you eat?" He nodded. "Okay, then I'm getting to work." He decided to help me though.

When someone rang the bell at seven sharp, Itachi tensed. I stood up and went to open the door. In front of me was a girl around Sakura's age, with a short orange bob and blue eyes, holding a meal in her hands. She froze at my sight.

"Hi, are you my boyfriend's thoughtful secretary?"

"I am Sakaya Hiromi," she replied mechanically.

"Then I strongly advise you to stay in your lane and remain professional Sakaya," I said coldly, narrowing my eyes at her. She took a deep breath and puffed her chest.

"Only Itachi-sama can tell me what to do, you can't." I raised an amused brow and crossed my arms, leaning on the doorframe.

"Oh really now?"

"Yes…Itachi-sama!" I glanced above my shoulders, seeing Itachi coming.

"Sakaya-san, she is right. Nothing will happen between us; I am in a happy relationship." She scoffed.

"It's a ghost of a relationship." She shook her head. "You need…"

"What do you know about what he needs kid?" I interrupted bitterly, Itachi slipping his arm around my waist.

"He needs someone who is here to take care of him!"

"I can take care of myself," he replied in a neutral tone. "And I can assure you I already have found someone to love." She pursed her lips, obviously wanted to throw something back at us but she chose to leave instead.

"So, you tell her off when I get involved?"

"I heard the way she was talking to you and I was here before I could think of it." He closed the door, and I shook my head.

"You should have told her that right when you noticed her behavior. Unless you enjoyed the attention?" He looked down harshly.

"I didn't, I really was worried about Min." I sighed.

"Of course, I forgot that part. She pissed me off." I went to my bag in the bedroom and got Sarada's picture out of it. I went back to Itachi in the living-room and gave him the picture. "I completely forgot to show it to you earlier. It's your niece." He accepted the picture and looked at it intensively. A smile quickly appeared on his lips.

"She's adorable." I nodded and he looked up at me with sparkling eyes. "You really were in the delivery room?" I raised a finger at him.

"It's the kind of closeness I never thought I'd have with Sakura, and neither did I want it but yes." I shot the clock a look. "I'll go visit both our mothers and Sakura's parents tomorrow, hopefully I'll be able to see Boruto as well."

"It is weird." I blinked at him. "To see Naruto, and Sasuke, becoming parents. It's…weird."

"It is, but they'll always be whiny kids to us deep down." He smirked at poked me in the forehead.

"True."

"Which reminds me I need to see Kakashi as well to remind him I exist." He shook his head.

"We're going to see houses as well now I can take you." I opened my mouth, but he beat me to it. "My schedule can be flexible if I need it to be."

"Fine, I'll follow you then." We looked at each other for a few seconds and a sly smile slowly made its way on his face as he looked at me up and down. He took my hand and pulled me toward him, cupping the back of my neck to kiss me.

He didn't stop kissing me, and neither did I, for a few minutes. Only when I felt his hand going down to my butt and under my sweater did I stop him.

"Sorry but no," I whispered against his lips. He furrowed his brows before sighing.

"You're on your periods, aren't you?"

"Yup." He put his forehead against mine. "I can do stuff to you though."

"Hum…I don't feel like it if you don't want me to return it. How long?"

"It started yesterday, so the next six days maximum." I would get really horny during this time of the month though.

"I know I've said it already, but I've seen blood before, or smelled it so I'm okay with it." I made a disgusted face.

"Maybe one day, but…not now, I'm sorry." He kissed my cheek.

"Don't be, if one of us is not comfortable then it is a 'no'." I hugged him tightly.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too," he said, returning my hug. I just hugged him tighter. "Is everything alright?" I nodded.

"I just really missed you, Itachi." He didn't ask any further question.

The next day, I went to the Harunos' residence to deliver Sakura's letter and the picture of the new family. They both thanked me and asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I politely declined, saying I had to give the other picture to the other grandmother. Sakura's dad humor also…threw me off, and his wife seemed to have sensed it because she glanced at me knowingly, nodding sternly as I left. I returned it.

Brave woman she was this Mebuki.

I went to Mom's, but there was no one. I went to Mikoto-san's next and was glad when I sensed not only my mother and Ganbaru, but Min, Naruto, Hinata and the small chakra that was Boruto. It was funny to think that this was the Uchiha family home, yet there were mainly Uzumakis and a Hyuuga, now Uzumaki, in it.

"I'm back!" I stated as I opened the door. Indeed, there were several pairs of shoes at the entrance and mine joined them.

"Oh Akane!" I looked up at Min. She had cut her hair short, just above her shoulders and it was wavier than before. She looked more and more like a grown woman though, now she was eighteen, nineteen in September. "Itachi-nii didn't say you'd come."

"I got here yesterday and didn't tell him either." I shot her a pointed look. "I had the pleasure of meeting your secretary friend though." She looked embarrassed for a second, showing me she knew Sakaya was a problem.

"I see. Everyone's in the living-room." I followed her to find four adults marveling around a baby on his stomach. "Akane's here."

"Hello honey," Mom told me without looking up from the blond baby. Mikoto-san got up and embraced me.

"Thank you, Mikoto-san, I appreciate it while the woman who birthed ignores me," I stated loudly, embracing her back.

"Do you have a picture?" she asked me excitedly as she broke our embrace.

"And now I feel used." She kept staring. "Yes, I do, here." I handed it to her, and Mom was next to her in a second, now both of them gushing over the picture of Sarada with her parents.

I hugged Naru and then Hinata before sitting down in front of my cousin, looking at Boruto. I poked his chubby cheek as he turned over on his back, trying to chew on his foot.

"He's so cute as well."

"More than Sasuke's kid?" I looked up at Naru, who was clearly expecting a positive answer. "Right, nee-chan?"

"Sure?" I cleared my throat. "I mean yeah, Boruto sure is…cuter." They were both equally cute but let's play Naruto's game for now.

I spent the afternoon there, Itachi joining us during the afternoon. He was tired and Min and him were awkward with each other. I tried to make Itachi understand he should talk to her, but he ignored me. Mikoto-san sighed at this.

At least, this allowed me to see her relationship with Min. It was not exactly a mother-daughter relationship, if anything it was similar to Naru's and Mom's. What mattered was that they had each other though.

Three days later, after taking me to the restaurant on my birthday, Itachi took me visiting the houses he had found. I couldn't deny Itachi knew me well because I liked them all but fell in love with the fourth and last one. The living-room bathed in the light of the sunset got me hooked and I told Itachi I wanted this one. It happened to be a ten-minute walk from Naru's place and a fifteen-minute one from my Mom's, so I loved it even more. Yet, the feeling I felt when Sarada was born wouldn't leave since I had seen Naru, or when I had tea with Temari who told me she was expecting as well.

Itachi used his position in the village to make an offer and we signed the papers as co-owners in the following days.

"You're bothered by something," Itachi suddenly said as we were toasting to buying a house together, the smile he had been sporting all afternoon now gone.

"It's fine 'tachi." He raised a brow at me. "Look, I don't even know what I'm bothered by, so don't…worry. It's probably just some episode where my mood is down and nothing more." I knew he wanted to make me talk about it, but he didn't.

I didn't know why I was feeling like this.

Mikoto-san insisted on having us for lunch before I left for Kiri and we went a couple of days before my departure. Of course, Min was there, and I elbowed Itachi in the ribs so that he'd talk to her. His secretary would not come at our place, but he still had his doubts about firing her.

He elbowed me back, harder and I stood up.

"Don't, Min and I will clear the table," I told Mikoto-san as I stood up. Min was taken back but followed me. Once the dishes washed, I turned to her but she was already toward me.

"I know she's crazy!" I blinked. "Sakaya, I know she's…crazy and creepy about Itachi-nii."

"Then why didn't you talk to him about it?" She was embarrassed from the blush on her pale cheeks.

"I like it here," she whispered. "I'm scared that if I tell him, he'll think I'm trouble and kick me out." I was honestly surprised.

"He won't, I can assure you that Min."

"Hyo said the same thing because he settled in Konoha easily but…the Uchihas here are different from what I know and…"

"I won't kick you out." We both looked at Itachi, who had glasses in his hands. "I apologize, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but you forgot the glasses in your race to talk." I rolled my eyes as he put them in the sink. I kept him from washing them to do it, turning him toward his now sister instead.

"You won't?"

"Of course not." He told me she had said to Mikoto-san she had nothing keeping her to her homeland after all and wanted a new life away from her past traumas. "If anything, I was hesitating firing her because I thought you were friends." She put her hands on her face.

"Oh no, fire her immediately Itachi-nii, she knows way too many things about you, down to how you like some food to be made because she stalked you in restaurants when you'd get take out." Wow. I patted Itachi's shoulder sympathetically.

"Firing her is not enough, she's obsessed," I pipped in, wiping my hands on a towel.

"You're right," he admitted. "Are you sure Min?"

"Yes. She doesn't care about me, at all. She just saw a way to get to you." He nodded slowly.

"It is decided then."

Two days later, I was at the gates. I said goodbye to everyone and then hugged Itachi tightly.

"Akane."

"Yes?"

"Day and night." I blinked at him. He cupped my cheeks, so I'd look at him in the eyes. "If there is something on your mind, I'm here day and night, in person or on the phone." I smiled faintly at pecked his lips.

"I know my love," I whispered to him.

Two months later, Itachi came to Kiri with Mikoto-san to finally meet their new relative. Sasuke and Sakura would go back to Konoha during August anyway. Currently, I was watching Itachi carrying his niece, a soft and gentle smile on his face as she had his finger in her chubby hands. Mikoto-san was scolding her other son in the kitchen and congratulating her new daughter-in-law.

"Mom said that we couldn't elope," Itachi suddenly told me, his eyes still on the baby in his arms. "One son who did it is the most she can handle."

"Your brother screwed us over." He smirked at that, and I stood up, which made him look at me. "I have to go."

"You really can't stay for a few more minutes?" I shook my head.

"I have a meeting with the old geezers." I picked up my burgundy haori and put it on. "They're annoying enough as they are, I can't be late." He wanted to add something but kept his mouth close.

"Will I see you for dinner tonight?" I shrugged, walking away.

"I'll try."

Of course, I loathed the lingering tension in the room as the meeting went on. After half an hour, the Elders and other important people in the village exchanged looks and I knew, I knew it was about Sasuke being here.

"Mizukage-sama, we have to talk about the elephant in the room," one of them said. I looked at my nails.

"Do we now? Are you tired of talking behind my back?"

"It's…it's not…" I raised a brow at him. "You are biased regarding the Uchihas!"

"Huh huh. You're xenophobic."

"The Uchihas have wounded our village to its core for decades!"

"People who happened to have this last name. And don't play that game by the way. I was Yagura's apprentice, I know what people got out of his regime, and who." Some of them shrunk in their seat. "Now I'm going to make something very clear. The way Kiri was in your youth is over, alright? Because it is this way that caused its downfall, its secrecy and fear of the other. You keep doing that and I will pull Kiri out of the Shinobi Union as you hate foreigners so much." It struck a chord and one of them jumped on his feet.

"It would be the village's downfall!"

"It would be a village that represents your interests," I retorted coldly. "Talking about interests, my personal life is none of your business, the moment I choose to resign and what I do after that, and with whom is not…"

"You cannot leave the village Mizukage-sama!"

"Why not? I'm half a foreigner after all." I looked at all of them. "Most people in this very room signed and agreed on killing my clan after all, so why would I stay here? Most of you signed to slaughter the clan I am from in this very village. You signed my grandfather's execution after, haven't you? Or have you forgotten? Many of you turned a blind eye on the fact I have roots in a foreign country and was taken here by force once I had beaten Yagura. I was brought here by force, do not forget this." I breathed out slowly, trying to keep my anger down. "You made it very clear I never was considered as a full-native from Kiri, so you should really stop trying to keep foreigners away from here or I'll cut all ties with Kiri." Genji-sama raised his hand.

"There is no need to go that far, Rokudaime," he stated slowly, getting everyone's attention.

He was the oldest of the Elders in Kiri, being born shortly after the foundation of Kiri. His words were very important and almost law.

"We cannot go back to our past mistakes. We need to move forward and accept that the world, and the village, have evolved. None of us can live in the past." I knew I was included in his last sentence.

Bringing up how I became a kunoichi was proof I was not entirely over it yet I guess.

The meeting slowly came to an end, the awkwardness and tension in the room palpable. I was the last one to leave, knowing they'd talk about me again. However, I was surprised to see Genji-sama waiting for me. He gestured me to follow him.

I took a deep breath once I was outside.

"I understand you can find the situation suffocating regarding your personal life being somewhere else Rokudaime." I followed him to the railing on top of the Mizukage Tower and looked over the village. "But your actions have consequences for many, many people." I looked at him. "Loyalty is something we rekindled with only a few years back and you have played a part with it. You became the head of the village. To the new generation and our youths, your actions will speak louder than your words. Loyalty is hard to earn and easy to lose. Do not forget this."

"Should I just sign my life away to this place then?"

"No. Too many did, your grandfather being one of a long list." He looked at me. "But be cautious of how you proceed. Harsh actions have never led to peaceful conclusions." He showed me the village. "This place is still fragile and recovering, the traumas beneath the surface will heal slower than the buildings and scenery. Act with cautious, do not forget that people look up to you. Kiri took your clans from you, both of them, but the Yuki clan was part of Kiri nonetheless and Eito loved this place. If you use his weapon, then keep his love for this place in mind Rokudaime." He bowed a little and left.

I was thoughtful for a while. I knew what he was implying, I knew loyalty toward Kiri was still fragile after so long spent in civil wars…I just turned a blind eye on what impact my actions would have I guess, despite being the Mizukage. It also opened my eyes on what I was feeling regarding Boruto and Sarada being born.

I was jealous and envious. The advisors wanting to keep me in Kiri and away from Itachi were obstacles between me and focusing on my private life and what made me happy. Then Sakura gave birth, as well as Hinata and suddenly the kids I watched grew up were adults with family while I felt stuck away from mine.

It made me realize I wanted a baby too. I went to my bathroom and turned to the side, putting a hand on my flat stomach. I did not have a good pregnancy the first time around and a part of me was scared of going through one again but…I wanted a baby with Itachi, I wanted him to carry and look at our baby like he did with Sarada earlier, and I wanted to marry him. Did I think marriage was necessary? No. Did it seem like the obvious thing to do with him though? Yes, yes it did.

The second I admitted this to myself, guilt appeared as well. I didn't want to give the message to the new generation I didn't care or that they should prioritize their personal lives in every situation because I did not do it. What would I even do once in Konoha? Be a housewife? I didn't want that, I needed something outside of the family sphere.

I punched the mirror of my bathroom, glass flying everywhere and cutting me on the cheek. My right fist was bleeding and I opened it shakily, glass stuck in my skin. I was bleeding too, red staining the sink.

"Sweetheart?" I froze at Itachi's voice through the door. These were the Mizukage's quarters and all, but he was staying here so he could come and go but…I didn't expect him now. "Akane, I heard glass breaking, is everything okay?" I didn't reply and opened the door instead. He immediately spotted my bleeding hand and the broken mirror behind me.

He didn't comment, sitting me on the toilets to take care of my hand. Once the shards of glass removed, he used chakra to heal me, then kissed my knuckles when my skin was good as new.

"Did your meeting not go well?" I looked at him and his concerned eyes brought tears to mine. I stood up and left the room, Itachi following me closely. "Akane? What's going on?" I didn't reply so he grabbed my arm and spun me back, now frowning. "Just tell me sweetheart, you've been weird for the past couple of months now."

"I just…it's a lot of…" I stuttered, trying not to cry because I had no reason to, had I? Itachi gently cupped my face to make me look at him. "Marry me?" He blinked, so did I, then he slowly frowned, moving back.

"No." I felt like I had just been slapped.

"Oh. It doesn't feel good." He raised a brow, basically telling me 'right?' and I looked down.

"I've asked you three times; you don't get to ask and get a 'yes' from me." He put a lock of my hair behind my ear. "What is going on sweetheart?"

"I feel stuck," I admitted to him. "I just…Sarada and Boruto being born made me envious of the girls and reminded I was…here, like stuck and I can't focus on us and…it made me feel guilty regarding my village and duties and it's just…it's a lot and…"

"Akane?" I looked up at him. "What are you envious of?"

"I want a baby," I whispered, almost embarrassed. "I…I just…"

"You want a child with me?" I nodded. He immediately pulled a box from his pockets and got down on one knee. I bit my lip when he opened it, showing a simple yet beautiful engagement ring. "Then will you marry me?"

"Yes." He didn't move for a solid second then grinned, standing back up. He embraced me tightly, kissing me.

"Thank God, you finally said 'yes'," he said between two kisses. "You don't have to feel guilty about wanting a private life sweetheart."

"I know but…loyalty Itachi, loyalty." I looked down. "Fuck, I can't…we just got engaged and I'm not…what if me leaving breaks the loyalty people gained since the Bloody Mist? Young people can be influe…"

"Akane, do you have that little faith in your comrades?" I blinked. "They fought to get their village back. They never ceased to be loyal, they just were not sure who to be loyal to. You will pick your successor, they will be loyal to them like they are to you, and still are to the Godaime. If anything, it's better to know when to stop than to stay and resent them later on, don't you agree?"

"You're biased in this…"

"Yes, I am, but I also know what it feels like. You don't have to leave now anyway."

"But we're en…"

"You said five years, we agreed on that, and it's been two and a half. I can wait. I'll wait for you." I hugged him.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to admit to myself what I wanted."

"I was suspecting it to be honest." I blinked up at him. "That or a midlife crisis. This outcome was much better." I nodded and he put the ring around my neck. "Because I was suspecting it, I put it on a chain. You can wear it, but not on your finger yet."

"You thought about all of it."

"Of course, who do you think I am?" I looked up at him.

"My future husband?" He was taken back and chuckled. "It has a nice ring to it."

"A great one." He kissed me again.

"We're…engaged." I repeated quietly. Then the realization hit, and my tears started to fall. "I can't believe it!" He lifted me from the floor, and I put my arms around his neck, yelping in surprise.

"We'll start planning the second you move back permanently with me in our house." I kissed him. "Sasuke said he'd accept our apartment, so we need to move quick too. Next time you come…you need to come next month."

"Itachi, breathe." He did just that and I moved my feet around so that he'd put me back down. "They're going back in August; I'll try to come in July."

"Yes. July sounds good, it's soon."

"However, how about we keep the engagement to ourselves first?" He raised a brow. "We can't really do anything more right now anyway, and just imagine the shock and surprise when we tell them once I'm done being the Mizukage?" He shook his head with a sigh.

"My mom would kill me."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take." He pinched my hip. "More seriously, I don't want anyone to try to do anything regarding our engagement and future wedding when I'm still here."

"As you wish." He kissed my forehead. "But I'm saying it's your idea a hundred percent and was forced to go along with it."

"Deal."

I was emotional when Itachi and I removed our belongings from the apartment. It had years of memories after all. Itachi seemed fine, worrying over how Sushi would take the move as she was nervous and stressed.

"Are you coming?" He asked me as I was standing in the bare living-room. Some of the furniture were gone, only the essential still here so that Sakura and Sasuke had the time to buy their own.

"Yeah, I am." He rubbed my arms when he was behind me.

"I know you're sad, but it's also a way to put the war and the Akatsuki years behind us as well."

"Hum, you're not wrong." I crossed my arms, and he kissed my temple. "They're your tenants anyway, right?"

"Yes, I still own the place. It could be useful for our future child when they're grown up." I stepped back, nuzzling myself in his arms.

"It could yes."

The first few nights in our house were weird. Itachi slept fine but I was struggling, not comfortable between the boxes still packed and the rooms not fully finished. The homy feeling wasn't there and it made it hard for me to fall asleep.

Yet, in August, as I said goodbye to Sasuke and his cute little family, it felt right.

Hey! Thanks for reading and please leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Guest for the review!

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