A/N I really like this chapter. I have been struggling to read a fic that's a ShikaSaku and while I like the pairing, it made me realize that I am maybe making Kakashi's emotional state too easy and the shit he deals with in ANBU lighter than what it should be. But I realized I don't give a crap. It is so hard to slog through so much angst and drama and I just am not that writer. Not really that reader either. If you think that I made it too easy for him to be a functioning human, sorry. This is not a deep dark introspective piece about the nature of the soul when exposed to horror on a daily basis. lol Anyway, felt the need to say that after what I have been reading. I am so glad a few of you are still here loving this baby with me!

Chapter 21

Sakura

Six-hundred and sixty-five days into the past

There was a crisp chill in the late winter air. Sakura walked through the market, enjoying Kakashi's warmth beside her, fingers laced through his where his hand draped over her shoulder. Her free hand rubbed absently at her belly, his other carrying their dinner.

Sakura wasn't thinking about the future. She wasn't thinking about her increased chakra drain and what it might mean. She wasn't thinking about how she had only three months left with her husband.

Sakura had banished those thoughts from her mind for the day. It was a nice evening and they were together and all was right in her world.

"Oh look, Kakashi!" A small shop that specialized in baby things caught her eye. In particular, a sleeper covered in little shuriken hanging in the display on the street.

He laughed under his breath and followed her to the shop. It was even more adorable up close. "Okay, that's cute." Picking it up, Kakashi looked down at her, his eye crinkled with a smile. "He definitely needs this one."

Sakura grinned, looking through the others. "It matches the baby blanket Aiko and Genma gave us." Their friends had excitedly presented them with the ninja tool covered blanket a few days before, along with a set of wooden kunai. "Definitely this one too." She held up another, this time sporting several different kinds of puppies.

He snorted, taking it from her. "What else do we need?" Tossing the sleepers over his shoulder, he picked up a package depicting a slender plastic cylinder with a long plastic tube attaching what looked like a mouth piece. "What is this thing for?"

"Hmm" She read the description and made a face. "It's for uh, snot."

"Snot?" He turned it over to read the package himself. "Gross."

Someone laughed behind them. "Trust me, it definitely is." They turned around to see Mebuki, and a small, shyly smiling Sakura standing behind them. "But you'll definitely need one of those for when they get a cold. They can't blow their own noses."

Staring down at her younger self, Sakura forced a smile on her face as her mother introduced them. "Sakura-chan, this is your father's cousin, Hatake Hana, and her husband Hatake Kakashi. This is our daughter, Sakura. She has the day off from school today. Say hello, sweetheart."

The pink haired little girl beamed up at her older counterpart. "Hi!"

Sakura swallowed her nerves—this was fine, it happened before, she remembered this—and greeted her. "Hello, Sakura-chan. Nice to meet you."

"Your hair is so long and pretty! And pink like mine!"

Older Sakura chuckled as her younger self unabashedly reached for it, admiring up close. "Family trait, I guess. Yours is lovely too, Sakura."

She giggled. "I hope it looks as pretty as yours someday." Her wide green eyes drifted down from her hair to her swollen belly, drawing another excited gasp. "You're going to have a baby!"

"I am!" Right as she said so, Kazuki started kicking and rolling. "Oh, do you want to feel him move?" Her younger self eagerly reached forward, letting her guide her hand to her side. "Did you feel that? He kicked you!"

Younger Sakura giggled with delight as she followed the kicks and flutters across her belly. "He's kicking so much! Are you both shinobi, Hana-san?"

"We are, yes."

She straightened proudly. "I'm going to the Shinobi Academy so I can be a kunoichi too. Maybe someday he'll be a shinobi." He gave a particularly hard kick eliciting another giggle. "I bet he's going to be good at taijutsu."

"Well." Sakura glanced at Kakashi. "His Daddy is very good at taijutsu and I'm pretty good myself—" Kakashi snorted. "—so I bet you're right."

Mebuki laughed softly. "So I take it, you think it's a boy?"

Biting her lip and leaning into Kakashi, Sakura ran her hand over her stomach. How many times had she wished she could talk to her mother since she'd discovered she was pregnant? "I'm pretty sure it's a boy, yeah."

Her mother smiled warmly. "Oh, that's lovely. When I was pregnant I just knew I was having a girl. Funny how you just know sometimes. Have you got everything you need?"

Her shoulders sagged. "Honestly? I'm not sure." She didn't have her mother or anyone else to ask. She'd thumbed through a few books and had a general idea, but they'd been difficult to stomach, knowing she wouldn't be there.

"Well…" Mebuki eyed the takeout Kakashi was still holding and the snot sucker in his other hand. "You'll definitely need one of those. If you'd like, we could meet up sometime and do some shopping?"

She would not cry, she would not. "I'd like that."

"Excellent. Well, I'm free most days. Just pop over any old time. We can get lunch too." Corralling her daughter, Mebuki turned to go. "It was lovely to see you both. Kizashi is terribly excited to meet the baby, more family, you know. Enjoy your dinner!"

They watched them leave, Sakura sagging against Kakashi once they were out of sight. "Are you okay, Sakura?"

She sniffled. "Yeah… I guess." Wiping her eyes, she tried to smile up at him. "This is just one of those times I really miss her, and she hardly knows me. I'm really glad we ran into her here, though. It will be nice to spend an afternoon with her, talking about baby things."

He tucked the snot sucker under his arm so he could brush her hair behind her ear. "Yeah. I'm glad too. So… are we buying this snot thing?"

Sakura huffed a watery laugh. "I guess so."

"Hmm." He eyed the package again as they headed inside the shop to pay. "Babies are gross."

KSK

Six-hundred and Seventy-six days into the past

"Hana-san."

She turned from the paperwork she was filling out to see her superior coming down the hall. "Yes, Asamida-sama?"

The old woman looked her up and down. "How have you been feeling, Hana-san?"

Sakura sighed, nodding. "I am alright today, Asamida-sama. I am just finishing up here and then I'll be headed home."

She nodded, hiding her concern with a tight smile. "Alright. You let me know if this drain continues to get worse."

"Yes, Asamida-sama."

The older woman nodded and eyed her closely. "Do you think you'd be up to visiting the Hokage for me again this month?"

"For his physical?"

Asamida nodded. "Yes, and I have the reports for him, here." Her expression turned stern. "Can I trust you not to run off this time?" When Sakura flushed with shame and nodded, she handed her the storage scroll. "Is your husband home tonight?"

"Um.." Sakura tucked the scroll inside a pocket and shook her head. "I'm not sure. He might be back tonight or in the morning."

"Hmm. Well, I'm giving you early leave. This is your last week teaching. I don't want you expending all your energy here. The last two months are the longest." She chuckled like a woman who had experience. "And take your time coming back too. Those first few months are important."

Sakura's smile felt brittle as she watched her go. She wasn't going to get that. Those precious first few months, bonding with her baby… they would be stolen from her by whatever cruel twist of fate that had sent her back in time in the first place.

Feeling her eyes burn again, Sakura finished what she was working on and headed out. It was thankfully a short walk from the hospital to the Hokage tower. The weather was nice and the sun shone, but all Sakura could think about was her son.

She tried to remember her first memories of him. He had been so small, his pink hair soft and feathery. And her husband, Kakashi had seemed—now thinking back—so exhausted and sad. It hadn't really registered when she was eight, but he was barely holding it together. The first time he had brought Kazuki over for lunch at her mother's invitation, he had handed over the baby and almost immediately passed out on their couch. Her mother had ordered her out of the room so he could rest, and they had spent the afternoon in the yard entertaining Kazuki.

At the time, Sakura had relished playing with the cute infant. Looking back, her heart ached for her exhausted, heartbroken husband.

As she climbed the stairs and walked the long halls to the Hokage's office, she was thankful for him. He had his faults and she didn't agree with many of his choices, but he did not fail Kakashi a second time. Kazuki had been nearly six months old before Kakashi had taken a mission. And from what she had heard her parents discuss, the Hokage never pushed him to take higher ranked, dangerous missions. He had eventually remembered who exactly he was and started taking them on his own—but it had taken him so long to feel confident he wouldn't orphan his son on his first S-rank, that even she remembered the change clearly.

Suddenly finding herself at the Hokage's office, Sakura took a moment to wipe her face and straighten her hair. Taking a cleansing breath, she knocked and entered when bid.

"Ah, Hana-san. How nice to see you. You are looking well."

She graced him with a small smile. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

"I assume you're here for my monthly physical." He sucked his teeth but came reluctantly from behind his desk. When she approached, he looked down at her round stomach and frowned. "How much longer, now?"

"Two months."

He nodded. "I've decided to pull Kakashi from the rotation early. It's not usually done—especially in ANBU—but with your eh… fragile health, I think you need him more than I do."

Sakura sighed as she opened her medical kit to begin his assessment. "Asamida-sama has been in your ear, I take it?"

"She has. She is worried about you. Apparently your chakra drain is not normal. She told me she'd have you on bed rest if she thought you'd listen." He paused to breathe as she listened to his heart. "I hope she doesn't feel too guilty when you disappear."

Pausing, her glowing hands inspecting an old injury, Sakura frowned. "I hadn't considered that. Perhaps you should tell her the truth. I still have no idea what will happen to me. What if my whole body gets yanked back to the future? She'll have questions if there isn't a body."

"You're probably right. I'll take care of it." He sighed. "I'm planning to let Kakashi decide when he is ready to come back on his own, just so you know. Though it won't be in ANBU. Honestly, I considered removing him from the black ops after the Uchiha massacre, but knowing what was coming, I decided to wait." His smile was sad as he stood and went back to sit at his desk when she'd finished. "He has enough change coming for him. I just hope I'll be able to support him properly, this time."

Packing up her med kit, Sakura tried to smile too but couldn't. She did manage to keep hold of her tears though. "From what I remember, you do."

He picked up his hat from the desk and slid it back onto his head. "Well… that's good to know."

They lapsed into silence for a few long moments—both lost in their own thoughts—until there was another knock at his office door. Clearly annoyed with the intrusion, the Hokage grumbled under his breath about busybodies and ordered whomever it was in.

When the recently disgraced council member slid into the room, a dark grin on his face when he saw her, every muscle in Sakura's body tensed. Danzo. Half his face hidden, but his grim amusement set off alarm bells.

"I came to speak to the Hokage, but imagine my surprise to find you here, too." His appreciative gaze lingered just a moment too long on her stomach. "I never imagined young Kakashi settling down, but from what I've heard about you, he has chosen well for himself. Tsunade come again, or so I'm told."

Sakura straightened, not hiding her disdain. "Kakashi didn't marry me because of my choice of mentor. Not everyone is so cold and calculated."

Danzo smirked. "Of course not. He has always been too sentimental. It's been his driving flaw for years. Still, in this case his heart led him in the right direction." He walked further into the room, taking a seat in front of the Hokage's desk. "My belated congratulations on your nuptials."

"Thank you." It was bitten out between clenched teeth, but Sakura knew it would be dangerous to provoke him. Until he turned to eye her stomach again, this time not at all hiding his interest.

"Do you know the history of the Hatake clan, Hana-san?"

Not trusting herself to speak, her hand clenching around the handle of her med kit, Sakura shook her head.

"They were a founding family of Konohagakure, but even before the creation of the shinobi villages, they were renowned for their exceptional skill on the battlefield. They have produced many famous shinobi, long before your husband and his father." He steepled his hands, his dark, greedy expression fixed on her. "Combined with your own exceptional, natural chakra control, I have no doubt you will continue the tradition of raising exceptional shinobi. Truly a boon for the village."

The Hokage, sensing the tension, attempted to end the conversation. "I have no doubt Kakashi and Hana will raise their children well, Danzo. But—"

"You know, Sarutobi, considering how well Kakashi and many others of his generation have done, I think it's time we reconsider the age restrictions for Academy graduation and the Chunin exams. Kakashi himself passed at six. Surely his children with such an exceptional kunoichi would be just as competent so young."

Sakura felt her grip on her temper slipping. How dare he? She imagined her son, forced onto battlefields as young as his father. Kazuki had been only eight when the war against the Akatsuki happened. If Danzo had his way, he would be forced to participate in that war as a child soldier just like Kakashi and so many others.

"My son will not be another one of your child soldiers, Danzo." Her voice shook and it took everything she had not to punch his smug face with all of her considerable strength. "Kakashi was not fine. He has had to overcome the trauma of his childhood, in large part caused when old men like you turned a grieving child into a soldier to fight the war you caused. And I know about your little secret side project, Danzo. I know what you've done to countless vulnerable children. My son will not be part of any of it. I won't allow him to be abused by this village, and neither will his father."

By the time she was finished, the Hokage was standing and had come around his desk, nearly standing between them. It was good he was there. Danzo only glared darkly up at her, his final words only provoking her further. "We shall see, Mrs. Hatake. We shall see."

If not for the Hokage's hand on her shoulder and the look of understanding in his eyes, Sakura would have killed the other man. "Hokage-sama…" She drew the storage scroll from her pocket and handed it to him. "Hospital reports, from Asamida-sama. If you'll excuse me."

With a final, dangerous glare at the councilman, Sakura left. Her anger and fear for her son, despite knowing his future, only grew the longer her thoughts lingered on what Danzo had said. By the time she got home, she had worked herself up into a fury. Not wanting to damage their home, she pivoted at the door and headed for training ground three instead.

She only managed to knock over one tree before she'd exhausted herself. In her anger, she'd forgotten about her low chakra. Her inability to take out her frustration in her usual fashion only made her more upset. Worn out and low on chakra, Sakura gingerly sat beside her toppled tree and leaned against it.

That was where Kakashi found her two hours later. "Sakura." He crouched in front of her, observing her with his Sharingan before passing her a ration bar from his pack. "The Hokage told me what happened. I figured I'd find you here. Are you alright?"

She sighed, munching on the bland bar. "No. I wish I wasn't so damn tired. And this tree was a poor substitute for Danzo's stupid smirking face."

Kakashi sighed too, running a hand through his hair and sitting beside her. "Yeah… it sounds like he was trying to provoke you."

"You don't think he meant any of it? Did the Hokage tell you everything he said?"

Kakashi nodded. "He did. You know I won't let Danzo anywhere near our son, Sakura." He took her hand, lacing their fingers together on his lap. "I won't let them do to him what they did to me, I promise."

"I know." She took another bite and dropped her head to his shoulder. "He's just so… vile. I hate the idea that he already has plans for our son. You didn't see the way he looked at me." She wrapped her other arm protectively around her belly. "Like he'd rip him right out of me and turn him into another Tenzō if he could get away with it."

Kakashi's grip on her hand tightened. "He wouldn't, and he knows it. I'd kill him first."

She knew he meant it too. "I know. Give me a soldier pill and he'd look worse than this tree." He huffed a laugh, drawing a soft chuckle from her too. "I shouldn't have done this though." She gestured at the tree. "I'm exhausted, Kakashi."

His smile fell slightly. "Let's get you home then. I could use a nap too and then I'll get us something for dinner." Standing, he helped her to her feet. "Can you make it all the way home?"

Pursing her lips, Sakura shook her head. "I wasted too much chakra on the tree. I'm sorry, Kakashi."

"Don't apologize. You're growing my son and you're tired." He kissed her quickly before tugging his mask back up. "I'll carry you."