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: 28

Naruto, Sasuke: 22 - 23

Shisui: 31 - 32

Kakashi: 36 - 37

I couldn't sleep. Itachi fell asleep quickly after we were done making love, his arm on my waist. Yet, I couldn't do the same. I was so happy about telling him I had resigned and would come back here but now…my brain wouldn't stop seeing the cons to it.

I would do the same about living in Kiri when I was there and now…

"What has you so worked up?" Itachi asked me in my ear, pressing me against him.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"I was. I think I can sense you overthinking even in my sleep now." I sighed. "What is going on in that mind of yours Akane?"

"My brain doesn't want me to be happy and keeps finding things to worry about?" I took his hand and tightened his arm around me. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing if there is a chance of you resenting me one day." I raised my brows and straightened up on my forearms, looking down at him. Even in the dark, the moon light barely slipping through the blinds, I could distinguish the concerned look on his face.

"What are you talking about?"

"Since we both became Kages…each time I'd see you, a part of me felt guilty of taking you away from your life and your village." He sighed. "It didn't help to hear kids saying they wanted to follow your example."

"Where?"

"Here, in Konoha. I'm scared one day you're going to realize you missed on things in Kiri because of me." I leaned toward him and kissed his face a little bit everywhere.

"You're a big reason why I want to move back here, but not the only one Uchiha." I lay back down in bed. "I feel bad about leaving Fubuki and Kagura when they're eight and five. I try to spend as much time as possible with them and I don't want them to think Aunty Akane is leaving them." He slipped his hand on the back of my head.

"I doubt their mothers would let them think that, or their uncles." I tucked my head under his chin. "And they can come and visit. I'd love that."

"…we need to talk about decorating the house by the way, it is depressing."

"I know, I'm not good at these kinds of things so I was waiting for you." I was relieved.

"Thank god you don't want to keep it that way."

"Give me some credit Uzumaki," he retorted, pinching my hip.

"You know, if I were to change my last name, you wouldn't be able to call me that anymore and I'm sure you'd be destroyed."

"I want you to keep your last name to be honest." I blinked. "I don't know, I've known you with two different names already, I don't want to add a third one. There are also the reasons I mentioned years ago but…Uzumaki Akane sounds better than Uchiha Akane I think."

"And I don't want to wear your last name after…everything, to be honest." He kissed my temple.

"I can't blame you for that. I don't even want you to wear the clan's symbol either, it would look wrong to me."

"Dumb traditions," I muttered to myself. He heard me, let go of me and turned on his other side, his back facing me. "Really?" I hugged him tightly from behind. "Itachi…" No response. I leaned over his to look at his face. "Wait, are you really…" In the blink of an eye, he turned on his back, got me in a slack chokehold and started ruffling my hair. "No! Not fair, you tricked me!" I was moving my legs around, the sheets now half on the floor.

"Don't drop your guard then."

"We're in bed!" He shrugged with a smirk. "Jerk." He chuckled.

"Was there anything else on your mind?"

"No, just that I have brought shit already I need to unpack and don't want to drown in boxes in Kiri." He swapped our position, his hand crawling up on the back of my thigh, fondling my butt and settling on the small of my back. I raised a brow at him. "You are very forward for someone who needs to get up early tomorrow." A beam of the moonlight lit up his smirking face.

"I have the day off tomorrow." His hands went to my stomach, going up underneath my, well his, shirt, circling my nipple before going down to cup my crotch. I bit my bottom lip. "And if you couldn't find sleep easily then I didn't do my job properly." He lowered his mouth toward my ear. "And to be fair, I didn't hear you moaning my name enough either sweetheart."

"Smooth talk…" He swallowed the rest of my word as I let him have his way with me.

I tore the last page of my diary off and put it in the envelop. I left it on my desk for the Seventh Mizukage. Choujurou was glad Haku was the one taking the hat. He told me that he was aware he could have been, but the circumstances were different, and he was glad he had his job at the Academy, directly in contact with the youth.

Everything was ready. Like it was the case for me, we would go to Kiribukai during the night then in the morning, I'd introduce Haku as my successor to the villagers.

From Konoha, only Naruto came as only him, Itachi, Sasuke and Kakashi were there. Then it was me and Karin. It was a quick ordeal where he got a pale blue haori. I said my part to the Daimyo, then Haku took over and we went back to Kiri.

The moment I put the hat that had been mine for the past four years and a half on his head, I bit the inside of my cheek. Sure, I wasn't a big fan of the job and what it meant for my personal life, but I knew what it meant and what I accomplished while wearing it. The hospital and its system were overall better. Civilian kids had a school and a curriculum just for them. Kiri had a great connection to the rest of the country by the harbor, but also to the continent and now had a sea resort to grow the economy. Overall modernity took over the village like it did the capital as they were the two most modern and populated places in the country.

I managed to get the different islands still relatively independent to join the country politically speaking so they had a treaty with the Daimyo. The country was at peace and while a very small minority of people still remembered the Bloody Mist, whether they missed it or were bitter about it, the rest moved on.

I was proud of my accomplishments and as Haku turned toward the crowd, the white and blue hat on his head, I knew he would too. I led him to his new office and stopped in front of the door, hugging my cousin tightly.

"Are you leaving today?"

"Tomorrow morning, but yes. The guys will help me pack." It was not as if I had anything left at the apartment. Karin and Haku had been living together for a couple of years now, Karin having proposed to him last month. I'd sell him my portion of the apartment for almost nothing as part of their wedding gift, even if it was making me a little sad to say goodbye to it.

I loved my apartment in Kiri, even if I had been living in the Mizukage quarters for a while now. I was sad to think I would permanently move out. I had had a foot in Konoha and one in Kiri for so long now that…it was hard to think I wouldn't need to think about when I needed to leave anymore.

"Don't hesitate if you have any question, okay? I'm a phone call away."

"I know, but I think I'll ask Mei-san first as she's closer." I pursed my lips, my chin on his shoulder.

"Sure. But if you want like…someone to give a special class at the Academy, or a representant on the continent or…"

"Uzu-nee, we'll figure it out later. I need to get used to the job and you…" He pulled me back and put his finger on the engagement ring hidden beneath my shirt. "You have an invitation to send me soon."

"How long have you known for?"

"A while. Just…focus on what you couldn't do Uzu-nee, we have things covered here." I smiled faintly at him.

"I know, it doesn't mean I don't feel a little bit guilty about leaving." I pursed my lips. "And don't forget people are attached to their traditions. Don't go too fast in progress if they're not on board." He nodded firmly.

I hugged him once more and went home to finish packing. The next day I said my goodbyes at the harbor, the ship ready to sail behind us.

"Don't be a stranger, alright?" sensei whispered in my ear as we were hugging. I nodded like I could.

I waved at them once on the ship and didn't move from the deck, watching my village slowly becoming a dot in the distance. The guys had left me alone, Naru stating he would treat me to ramen first thing when we were home.

My mood was down for the entire trip as I kept staring at the sea, wondering when I would smell its salty air next time. Even good changes could be sad and complicated sometimes.

I didn't speak much until we were in Konoha. Even then, I went to my study and unpacked some of my things, trying to visualize how I'd organize the room.

"Smells like food…" I muttered under my breath. I shot the clock on the wall a quick look, seeing it was almost seven already.

I went to the kitchen but stopped in the dining-room as the table was dressed already and Itachi was filling our plates. I smiled softly and hugged him.

"Buri no Teriyaki? Love it already," I whispered, gazing at the table.

"I hope so." He left a chaste kiss on my lips. "Are you feeling a little better?" I shrugged, nuzzling in his comforting warmth.

"I need to find my footing and adapt. I'll get there, I always do. It's just…" He raised a brow. "I'm jobless."

"I'm the Hokage, I think I can get you something."

"Well…I'm not sure if I want to do something shinobi-related or…"

"Hey, let's get you settle and then we'll talk about what you are going to do sweetheart." He removed the engagement ring around my neck to put it on my ring finger. "You getting a job is not the only thing on the table, is it?" I smiled softly.

"It's not." My stomach made itself known and he chuckled in my hair. "Damn it."

"Let's eat."

"Oh, and by the way," I said as Itachi and I were about to leave my mother's place. It was Sunday, so she had us over for lunch, as well as Mikoto-san, Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata and the kids. "We're engaged. Bye!" I grabbed Itachi by the hand and ran off.

"You're not so confident now, are you?" he asked me sternly.

"Do you want to be a widower before we're married!?" I asked back. I locked all doors when we were home. "That was close."

"You don't know my mother," Itachi sighed. "We're both dead."

"And happy sixth anniversary to us I guess?" It made him smile.

"It has been six years, hasn't it?"

"We're closer to thirty than twenty."

"You don't look like it."

"I know, I stopped ageing at twenty-five." I was not bragging or anything, they were just facts. Mom was fifty-four and looked forty. Although, Mikoto-san was fifty this year and had no white hair yet and very small crow feet around her eyes.

I had been in Konoha for a little over three weeks. Itachi had turned twenty-eight and Naru would come over a lot with Boruto so we could bond more. I was fine with that as, so far, I didn't have much to do of my days.

I didn't have a job yet. If anything, Itachi and I talked about our future together. He had a more traditional picture of it than me, that was for sure, and I was not surprised knowing how he grew up. The point was, we would have a small wedding before the end of the year, probably during the fall. We didn't really have to worry about money, but when I brought up I didn't want to merge of all our finances together, he agreed, saying the money I earned was mine and the money he earned was his and none of us was entitled to it.

However, I had to admit there was one subject that made us fight shortly after I moved back here. Kids. I mean, we both agreed we wanted a family, and I wanted a baby for sure. He wanted two but said it was better to wait and see how I was living one pregnancy first. I was more than fine by it, but it was when it started to go sour.

I said I wanted a baby soon. Immediately, I saw he wasn't thrilled about this and said it would be better to wait for a year or two. I kind of stared at him, stunned because he was the first one who wanted children and now, he wanted to wait. He noticed I wasn't pleased by it and sighed, saying that the only way he saw this working was if I was a stay-at-home mom.

Shit hit the fan real quick when he said that, and he let me rant and vent to my heart's content without a word, his face unreadable. I stormed off the room and slept in another room that night. I apologized the next day because I knew he hated when we were sleeping apart. He didn't say much, only that we could postpone this topic for after the wedding.

I didn't want that at all. It was a subject that we needed to sort out before we were wed but ever since, we had not talked about it. It was two weeks ago and there was not one mention of kids, although he did love talking about it.

"At any moment, my mother will be knocking at the door." He shook his head as he fell in the couch, his hands behind his head as my thoughts had killed my smile and good mood. "You're dealing with he…"

"I won't be happy as a stay-at-home mom," I blurted out. He was dead silent as he sat up, his eyes staring at the wall in front of him. "You know that."

"I don't think it's the righ…"

"You know like me it's not a topic we can keep for once we're married Itachi, it's too big of a deal."

"I don't want to fight."

"Neither do I!" He sighed.

"Will you let me speak then?" I blinked and bit the inside of my cheek.

I couldn't deny that I had blown on him last time and had not let him talk. He noticed how quiet I had gotten and stretched out his hand to me. I timidly joined him, taking his hand.

"I know we need to talk about this before we get married, I just…I'm afraid you'll think I don't put ourselves first while you did what you could to come here earlier. It's…I guess in a way it would have been easier if you had not resigned now." Now I was confused. "Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to have you home, trust me I am but…" He was struggling to get it out.

"Like a band-aid 'tachi, spit it out," I encouraged him, more curious than upset right now.

"I want to be here for our baby Akane." I raised a brow. "As in, really here. I don't want to do what my father did by just coming home once the day was over and leave everything to my mother. I don't want our child to resent me like Sasuke resented Father. I always thought I'd start planning my own resignation once you'd do yours or shortly after you'd come here."

"Are you sure you want to quit though?" He nodded without an ounce of hesitation.

"Being the clan head and the Hokage was fine when I'd come home to an empty house, not when I finally have something to look out for at home." He kissed my knuckles. "Your sudden resignation threw me off because Naruto and Hinata are expecting again." Things suddenly became clearer.

"Naruto is your successor." He nodded. "But you don't want to take him away from his family with a newborn."

"Precisely. I thought you coming next year would give him time to settle properly before we start the succession."

"But I came earlier," I finished more quietly.

"I know you wouldn't be happy as a stay-at-home mom; I know you. The thing is, if you really want a baby soon, then I won't be here and I hate that and it's the only thing I see working, but you also talk about jobs and…" He sighed. I hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek.

"Sorry I didn't let you talk last time, it was shitty on my part," I whispered in his ear. "I just…I got really scared now I was here you were expecting me to take care of the house and kids while you'd come home to eat dinner." He chuckled.

"You'd last a week." I rolled my eyes. "Even if I have to admit it is nice to come home to a nice house and fully ready dinner. However, I would feel like a kid at some point when I'm not." I sat back down on the couch, now between his legs. "In my mind, it would be for a couple of years only. Once I only have the clan to take care of, I would be more than happy to make dinner and take care of our kids while you do your own thing."

"You should have told me."

"Sweetheart, when you're angry it's very hard to say anything." I blushed a little and looked down.

"Sorry."

"Apology accepted." He pulled me back in his arms. "You can have a temper, I've accepted it. I wouldn't have proposed to you several times if I wasn't ready to be on its receiving end for the rest of our lives." I sighed in relief in his arms. "But there's something else."

"What is it?" He blushed a little.

"I want to enjoy our married life first before having a child. I want to keep my wife to myself a little bit. The moment you're pregnant, the baby will be the priority and will change our life so…I want to keep you to myself."

"You don't want to share me yet now I'm home?" He nodded in my hair, and I chuckled. I wasn't mad at that, at all. "Our sex life will suffer from it at first." He almost whined in my hair. "Hey, with a baby ruining your sleep, it might be the last thing on your mind."

"I know, Sasuke and I have had conversations I couldn't escape from." I snickered. "It's not that I doubt Naruto's and Sasuke's happiness in their marriages, but they went from dating to married to parents quickly. I want to enjoy each phase."

"So do I my love," I replied, kissing him lovingly on the lips. "And our relationship has never happened in the right order anyway."

"That's true, we did not wait for marriage to have sex."

"Do you regret it?" He glanced at me sternly, then up and down.

"No, it would have been hell to wait for so long." His hand slipped beneath my tank top on the small of my back. "I already went through being your roommate and not touching you for months…"

"Your idea."

"I know, I didn't think it would be this hard to keep my hands to myself after a while. Or keep the replies I had to myself."

"Like?"

"Like when Team Seven was over and on the couch and you'd ask where you were going to sit, and I wanted to say 'my face'." I blushed a bright red and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not really proud of it."

"You really were at your wits' end when we slept together."

"You don't want to know." I kissed his jawline. "Do you still want a baby soon?"

"Hum…yes. But I see your point of view and I want you to be involved as much as you want. I just…I need to have something, for myself, you know. I know it's not a good reason to want a baby but…"

"I know, the last thing I want is for you to have nothing now you're here. If you really want a baby now, then we can start trying."

"Hum."

"Akane?"

"Next year. If…if next year I let my contraceptive seal go, would it be okay?" I played with the hem of his shirt. "I want to enjoy married life before being pregnant, and there's no saying I'd get pregnant immediately anyway knowing…well, my condition." He pursed his lips. "I should go to the doctor to get everything checked."

"I'll do the same." I blinked at him, and he shrugged. "You never know. Maybe the medication I used to take did something. But are you sure about it?" I nodded.

"I guess I can be a stay-at-home mom until you quit. The pregnancy is nine-month long anyway. But I do want to start trying soon." He sighed, apparently relieved.

"I swear it would be temporary." I smiled as we hugged each other.

"You don't have to swear, I believe you 'tachi." He kissed my neck. "It…huh…"

"What?"

"Well, unless I'm seeing things, Sasuke and Mikoto-san are in the backyard." He let go of me and turned around as I stood up. I opened the bay window. "Hey! Boundaries guys!"

"Tell her that!" Mikoto-san glared briefly at her youngest son and sighed.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have come, I know but…you said you were engaged before running away!"

"Mom," Itachi said coldly, glaring at her. She looked ashamed of her behavior.

"You did run off without an explanation," Sasuke pointed out. "What, you've been engaged for a long time or something and decided to keep it to yourselves?" Itachi and I exchanged a look. "Wh…how long?"

"Almost two years now," his brother informed them. The two other Uchihas frowned. "There was no point in saying it when Akane was living in Kiri. It will be a small wedding in the fall." Mikoto-san's eyes went from her son to me, then back to her son.

"You won't elope, will you?" I shook my head.

"Why didn't you knock on the front door?"

"We did, for maybe ten minutes and then we came here," Sasuke replied. "You guys were like lost in each other's eyes or something."

"Maybe, but it doesn't excuse…"

"Itachi, you can't say you're engaged and leave as if you were scared," his mother interrupted him before looking at me. "None of you."

"Blame Sasuke, you were pissed when he said he had eloped." Sasuke widened his eyes.

"Sasuke and Sakura are a whole other story. It's…" She walked to me and took my hands in hers. "I'm sorry if I scared you off or if it brough back bad memories but I am not going to turn into one of these crazy mothers-in-law you read about in magazines." I sighed deeply.

"I hope so, these stories really are crazy." I pursed my lips. "Sorry for running away like this, I don't really know why I did it." She embraced me.

"It's alright. Your mother will scold you; she didn't appreciate it either."

"I'm sure she didn't. I just…don't want as many people involved as last time, telling me what to do."

"It's not going to be that I can promise you."

In hindsight, I had no idea why I decided to flee like that. Maybe I really had some trauma regarding my first failed wedding years ago to Sasuke. Maybe it was the reason he had decided to elope as well.

I would need to talk to him about it.

"Was that all?"

"Yeah, Naruto said you guys left because you didn't want to be yelled at like kids for hiding it," Sasuke answered. "Akiko-san scolded him for saying that." Yet, Naru was spot on.

In August, as we were in the middle of planning our wedding and honeymoon, Himawari decided to come out to be able to attend. She was cute as a button and this time, I was here to see Naru become a father for the second time.

We had the pleasure of hosting Boruto while Hinata was in labor after all.

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

Bye!