Chapter Sixteen: Overwhelmed by Lovers

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Sasuke walked towards Sakura, his long-legged strides crossed the distance in only a moment and then he pulled Sakura into a tight one-armed hug. "This is foolish," he whispered in her ear, the feel of his warm breath tickled across her skin. They'd only been close like this once before — and that had led to her conceiving. "You've risked too much for me." He pulled back, meeting her stunned gaze, but kept his arm around her. "I should have written. I was on my way home to you— to you and Naruto. You two are family enough for me!"

"Sorry, Sasuke-kun." Sakura placed one hand on his chest, noting he was more muscular than when they'd last seen each other. "But, we're not enough. We tried to be. If we'd been enough, you never would have left Konoha. You never would have become a missing-Nin." She reached for his face and looked into his eyes, realizing it was the same shade as Itachi's— they were Itachi's eyes after all. "We should have all grown up together. Your mother makes the best cinnamon rolls! And Itachi is the most thoughtful and deliberate person I've ever met. You deserve to grow up knowing your brother loves you."

Sasuke listened silently, his eyes never wavering from her face. Then, he pulled her close again, whispered in her ear once more. "I know about the baby. I'm so sorry you went through that alone. I should have been there with you."

Once, not too long ago, this connection with Sasuke would have been enough for Sakura. "Even if the baby had survived, you would have resented me."

"Never," Sasuke protested. "I could never resent you, Sakura."

"Well, I started to resent you, Sasuke-kun." Sakura hugged him once, then stepped out of the comfort of his embrace.

"I saw some of Kakashi's memories —I tried to unlock them before we came, but I was unsuccessful." Sasuke's arm fell to his side, his lips pressed together in a frown. "I understand your feelings are complicated right now. I'm here to support you on this fool-hardy mission. What's the plan, Sakura?"

"It's actually really good you're here, Sasuke. I want you to talk to Itachi. All I've accomplished so far is saved Shisui from certain death. He's the best, by the way! I absolutely love Shisui! We have thirty names of Uchiha clan members that do not wish to participate in the coup — out of a hundred and fifty. I intend to hide them here in this cave, but I think for your Sharingan to activate, you — child you—would need to see the carnage. I'm not sure what do about that — it's up to you."

Sasuke nodded. His face was neutral once more— a perfect marble statue. All trace of the emotions he'd shared moments ago gone. "We'll figure it out. It doesn't happen until after my birthday— we've got a few days to sort that out." He rubbed his eyes absently. "Go talk to Kakashi. Then we'll try and figure out what we're going to do."

Sakura met Ino's gaze but she angled her chin towards Kakashi. She couldn't avoid him. She didn't want to avoid him. Part of her wanted to run to him and leap into his arms. Part of her feared he was disgusted with her behavior. She hadn't meant to fall head-over-heels for his younger self. She was a sucker for emotionally devastated, lonely, gorgeous warriors.

Kakashi waited near the cave entrance. His posture was deceptively relaxed, his hands stuck casually in his pants pockets, and he wore a familiar green flak jacket. He attentively watched outside in the direction his younger self ran off. When Sakura approached, he didn't even look when he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him outside. His grip was unrelenting, his fingers long and strong. He hadn't said a word. Sakura recognized this mood, but had never been on the receiving end of Kakashi's menacing anger.

The sheer magnitude of knowing the Sixth Hokage came himself floored Sakura. The council would be pissed. The Daimyo would be pissed. Who did he leave in charge? "Who is covering for you?" Sakura asked quietly as they crossed over tide pools full of helmet crabs and started for the denser flora farther from the cave.

Kakashi glared at her over his shoulder. He was so very mad. "Lady Tsunade. She came across a book — The Gutsy Kunoichi by Jiraiya. It was an unpublished novel in his personal affects."

"Oh, yeah, that was bad. Do you remember?" Sakura grimaced. She would prefer to never think about that experience ever again.

"No." Kakashi drew to a stop and the anger faded as his visible face softened into concern. "Did something happen with Jiraiya?"

"It was a very uncomfortable interrogation," Sakura murmured, unable to repress her shiver.

Kakashi stared at her few more moments before he continued to drag her deeper into the forested area. He stopped near a hidden waterfall and the crashing water into the pool below creating a soothing background— it also prevented eavesdropping. He must have known the area. He pulled her close until her body crashed into his.

Sakura reflectively grabbed the front of his flak jacket. She craned her neck back and was met by familiar smokey eyes dark with emotion.

"I don't know if I should kiss you? Hug you? Or shake you." Kakashi sighed, the tension coiled in his muscles deceptively relaxed. "I didn't know if we'd be able to find you. What if you got yourself killed here in the past? I've lost so many people that I care for, Sakura. How dare you endanger yourself like this! I'm the Hokage, Sakura. You should have run this by me before you threw caution to the wind! As a shinobi of the Leaf you're obligated to run this by me!"

He hugged her, so tight it was a little difficult to breath. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I'm sorry for running off on my own." For the first time in two weeks, Sakura felt completely safe. Tears welled up in her eyes, relief that Kaka-sensei was there and all would be perfectly fine. "I'm sorry for disrupting your life in this time. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm so glad you're here though. I never thought you would follow me personally. You're too important!"

His masked lips pressed against her temple. "Sasuke was only able to unlock a few memories. I thought past me would kill you. Though with that first sparring session if you'd been anyone else, you would have died. I stabbed you in the kidney and then practically ripped off your arm!" The corded muscles of his arms flexed as he held her. "The training sessions—-all that sex. Shit, Sakura. You with this blond hair? Do you know who you look like? The heroine in the Make Out Paradise Tactics book!"

"It was no hardship with you, Kakashi sensei," Sakura said with an embarrassed chuckle. "You finally found a subject you liked to teach me." She stared at the pocket of his flak jacket, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm so sorry I couldn't go back in time earlier — you've been through so much." The tears began to fall and she couldn't stop them. Her hands fisted in his jacket. "You're all alone here! And your face — you're even more handsome than I imagined. But, because of your beauty you were used in terrible ways, Kakashi. The things you've endured."

Kakashi sighed. "Ninjas aren't meant to have peaceful, loving lives, Sakura. Historically, we're weapons to those in power." He leaned his forehead against hers. "But my father, he knew better. He knew our lives and those of our comrades were precious too. I wasn't forced into those missions— I volunteered."

"Always saving everyone, but yourself," Sakura murmured.

Kakashi groaned. "I guess we're more alike than I even realized. Now that I'm Hokage, I can change those policies. Lady Tsunade already did so much and you can bet that Naruto will do ever more. It's sweet that you are trying to help your team, but you cannot right all the wrongs. Our past is what defines us. How we persevere beyond our hardships defines us. Sakura, I need to speak with you on another serious matters that involves your parents but, first, I want to kiss you."

"Only without the mask," Sakura said.

"Fine. You can pull it down," Kakashi agreed.

"Are you wearing another mask under it?" Sakura smiled faintly at the memory as she met his gaze.

Mirth danced in Kakashi's smokey eyes. "Only one way to find out."

Sakura reached up her right hand and gently tugged down Kakashi's mask, revealing the familiar face underneath. The scar on his left cheek had faded with time. She traced the scar — maybe he used one of the medicinal salves to soften the scar after all. "I'd like to be kissed by you."

Kakashi was hesitant at first, obviously unused to his bare face exposed. Then he tasted her lips — a soft brush of his lips against hers, then his tongue traced across. She opened her mouth and the kiss deepened almost desperately. They kissed until they were both breathless.

"Why wasn't Sasuke able to unlock your memories?" Sakura asked, her lips felt swollen and bruised. It was a glorious feeling. "Since you're here, I was hoping you have some suggestions about our next move."

"One, he wanted to kill me when he learned we were having sex. And two, we were distracted by other news regarding your parents," Kakashi explained. "That's what I need to talk to you about. I won't hide things from you— I promise."

"Are they okay?" Sakura worried. She reached up and secured his mask over his lower face. She could only take him in small doses.

Kakashi looked at her strangely. "They're fine. Sakura, your mother has been abusing you for years — did you not even realize it? I had no idea, Sakura. I'm sorry for not being aware of it sooner."

"She means well," Sakura murmured. "Look, I don't want to talk about my parents." He'd said Sasuke unlocked some of his memories. Sakura took a deep breath and looked up into Kakashi's eyes. "I'm sorry about the training sessions. I took advantage."

"Is that what you think about our training sessions?" Kakashi asked. "It was hardly a hardship and I hate to break it to you, Sakura, but twenty-year old me wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to have sex with someone he actually liked and is as beautiful and impressive as you. I did gleam from the memories that I had fallen in love with you. My whole pack of Ninken had fallen in love with you. I remember catching Shisui as he fell off the cliff and helping you treat him. Coming to this cave and finding this waterfall." He held Sakura against him, rested his chin on top of her head. "Impatient woman. I was figuring out my feelings for you when you ran away. If you'd given me more time…I'm pretty sure I'd have come to the same conclusion — unequivocally in love with you."

"I'm sorry, Kakashi. When I ran across that journal and then found the artifact — it felt like I was fated to do this. And you're so damn sad! I had no idea! And Itachi — he's such a sweet guy! And I couldn't let Shisui die! He's so funny! And Sasuke— he's such a tender-hearted child and Naruto was so lonely."

"I take it you've been doing more than just working to save the Uchiha clan," Kakashi murmured. "You were too young to know, but the hatred within the Uchiha clan had been building for generations, Sakura. You saw how powerful Itachi and Sasuke were and Madara and Obito led the Akatsuki. Can you imagine an entire clan of power-hungry, angry shinobi? There's a reason Itachi did what he did."

"But he didn't have to annihilate everyone — that was Danzo that forced his hand and he did it so he could awaken countless Sharingan during the slaughter and harvest them for himself. I read through the report. One of the victims— a mother and her three month old baby." Sakura grew quiet and Kakashi hugged her against him. "Why should Sasuke's mother die? Why should Izumi? Why should the baker husband and wife? I understand not everyone can be turned from their path of destruction. But that's why I'm here and that's why Shisui and Itachi agreed to work with me." She poked his chest. "You agreed too."

"Look, Sakura, I don't know what happens —probably because it hasn't happened here yet— but you are not infiltrating Root. It's too dangerous."

"What about Shisui's eye?"

"I do fine with one Sharingan," Kakashi pointed out. "Besides, Shisui is alive. He can just tell the Hokage what happened and let him deal with getting the eye back. Let the politics work for you, don't circumvent them."

"You hate politics," Sakura pointed out.

"I've been Hokage for a little while now, I'm starting to understand how the system works." He held her at arm's length. "I just — I don't know if I should kiss you again or shake some sense into you."

"If it makes you feel better, I realized I was in love with you the moment you shouted my name and the turtle brought me here— but now, I've fallen in love with younger you and I'm very confused," Sakura confessed. "You're you either way. I only just figured that part out myself."

"I guess the real question — are you changing our reality or causing a branch on the timeline and creating a parallel universe?" Kakashi raised his hand to Sakura's cheek and she turned into his palm. "Part of the reason I came, is we theorized that our memories would be altered with the new events when we returned, and only those that literally traveled through time would remember both timelines. When we return, I want you to move in with me — the towers if I'm still Hokage. The Hatake Estates if I'm not."

"That would be a big step," Sakura worried.

"Sakura, I'm only interested in big steps with you." Kakashi ruffled her blond hair. "So weird seeing you as a blond."

Sakura caught his hand and threaded her fingers with his. "What do you think would happen if Sasuke never defected? Would he have learned to become strong enough without Orochimaru?"

Kakashi lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I think he would have been stronger. He burned through the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan — his eyes lost their sight at a rapid pace. Itachi had his vision for at least seven years after using his M.S. and I never lost my sight, thought I only used the ocular power on rare occasion. He could have been trained to help Naruto control the Nine-tails. That was the original plan. I would still need Jiraiya's help with Naruto and I'd have liked teaching Sasuke swordsmanship. I should have arranged for you to train your genjutsu — someone like Kurenai. I could have spent more time teaching you the basics. And I should have suggested medical ninjutsu with your chakra control, but I never gave you enough attention. I'm sorry, Sakura." He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "I really was a bad sensei. You had to seek out Lady Tsunade yourself. I abandoned you as much as Sasuke did."

"You could have done better," Sakura agreed. "But, Kakashi, you're human. And you did the best you could. I didn't need to be coddled. I needed to find my own motivation to become a strong kunoichi. And while you weren't a great teacher — you are the best captain seriously in the shinobi world. It was always an honor to fight alongside you."

A familiar throat cleared. "Well, this is awkward," younger Kakashi said, stepping out of the forest. "Former teacher and student, huh, Sakura? You are a naughty girl. And you, Kakashi, you're not wasting any opportunity to be alone with Sakura. I take it you received my message?" His visible eye met older Kakashi's gaze.

"Yes. I did," older Kakashi answered. "She's not infiltrating Root."

"We had a deal," younger Kakashi argued.

"I'm breaking that deal." Older Kakashi shook his head. "I can't believe I'm arguing with myself."

Sakura distanced herself from older Kakashi and brushed off her pants. She gestured between the two Kakashis with an attempt of a teasing smile. "This is either a dream come true, or a nightmare."

Both Kakashis chuckled softly and then glared at each other.

"You no longer have the Sharingan," younger Kakashi noted.

Older Kakashi shook his head. "I do not." He could have elaborated about the increase in his chakra reserves and that he'd actually grown more powerful without Obito's eye. Though, the thousand jutsus he'd learned over his career and the Susanoo he'd created in the last war were vital in their success.

"Shisui is starting to wake up." Younger Kakashi's fingers flexed at his sides. "We should return and strategize now that you're all here. We're going to need some babysitters." He looked back at Sakura. "And we'll need to head back to the village soon. We're supposed to meet Itachi tomorrow afternoon."

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They trudged back to the cave — two Kakashis and a Sakura. Sai and Ino stood outside the entrance waiting for them. Sasuke and Naruto sat on either side of Shisui. He'd started to wake up.

"I could label you a missing-Nin, Sakura," older Kakashi warned when they returned to the cave. "We can just tie you up and wait for the artifact to activate and take you home. Stop interfering now. Let whatever happens next happen."

"Technically, she's still in Konoha," Naruto pointed out. "She didn't leave per-say."

"And she did have permission on this trip— from the Hospital Director position," Ino added. "Medicinal purposes, to try and stop the epidemic of mental illness. It was a pretty clever use of the loop hole."

Younger Kakashi laughed. "Sounds like they're ganging up on you." He crouched by Shisui and tapped his shoulder. "You can stop pretending to be asleep."

"Hm, but it's so interesting to meet Sakura-chan's friends!" Shisui opened his eye and groaned pitifully. "I feel like I've been run over by a boulder."

"Something like that," Sakura agreed. She stepped past older Kakashi's side and kneeled next to his younger self.

Older Kakashi watched them, intrigued by how easy it looked between them without the age difference. Watching from the outside looking in— he and Sakura made a nice looking couple. There was no complication of being her former teacher. He remembered this time of his life as being particularly dark, but he'd had a couple of friends — Tenzo and Itachi particularly. But, after the massacre, he'd sunk back into a deep hole of misery that he wouldn't crawl out of until Lord Third forced him to take a trio of genin. He'd failed all the prospective students before them — quite happily. It had brought him a modicum of joy failing them. But in this cave — his family waited.

"So you're baby Sasuke?" Shisui's dark eye fell on Sasuke. "You got big— and menacing." He blinked. "You've got the Rinnegan? Whaaaaaat?" He struggled to sit up and younger Kakashi helped him up with a strong-arm braced behind his back. "You know, you've got one determined friend in Sakura." He gestured towards Sasuke and Naruto both. "You remember a little fairy come to visit you, Naruto?"

The blond blinked as if a fog was clearing from his mind. His gaze swept across the room towards Sakura. "I thought you were a dream!"

Sasuke looked across at Sakura, meeting her eyes with a look of awe. "We trained after school for the skills test in our second year at the Academy. We didn't do that before — but I remember it now. And we actually shared our lunches together—the three of us." He gestured between himself, Sakura, and Naruto. "We are actually forming new memories. I still remember the original way but also this other way."

Shisui grinned. "Yeah, me and Itachi may have taken a bit of an interest in the chibi versions of you three." He raised his hand to his empty eye socket and sighed, his shoulders slumped. "Guess I wasn't fast enough yesterday."

"We'll get it back," the Kakashis said in unison. They glared at each other.

"Sakura and I will get it from Danzo," younger Kakashi promised.

"No, I am Sakura's commanding officer — she will do no such thing. We will involve the Third Hokage. He will have the eye returned," older Kakashi answered.

"Danzo would destroy it rather than admit he took it," Shisui worried.

"I wouldn't mind killing Danzo again," Sasuke volunteered.

"You're not killing Danzo," older Kakashi said.

"I'm happy to volunteer as well," Sai said. "At least, let me send some ink mice to scout out the Root facilities. I should be able to find the missing eye — if he hasn't already transplanted it."

"We'll figure that out later," older Kakashi said with a sigh. "Whether or not he transplanted it probably has more to do with where Orochimaru is at this point in time. Sakura, you have been working with Itachi and Shisui to get the names of those that want protection before the attack?"

"Izumi has the list," Shisui said. "We'll need to escort them here until it's over. Though, their absence will probably trigger Uncle Fugaku to want to move sooner. I can't show up until after Itachi does whatever he needs to do."

"It would be better if he thinks you're dead," Sasuke murmured. "He can find out later. Itachi's initiation into the Akatsuki was slaying the clan."

Sakura's hands glowed a faint green as she ran her mystical palm over Shisui's system. "Good news, I managed to remove all the poison and there won't be any permanent vascular or neurological damage. You still need to take it easy for a few days. This cave is your new home until it's over."

"I thought I might transport the Uchiha seeking safety in the dimension connected to my eye," young Kakashi said. "But Sakura thinks it's too much of a chakra drain."

"They would be in the same dimension with enemies you've vanquished and weapons you've caught. It's not a benign, safe holding space," older Kakashi protested.

"I can use my Rinnegan," Sasuke offered. "I'll wrap the people up in my Susanoo and transport them here. No trace of them through the forest, no clues for the Uchiha Police to track."

"You can transport thirty people?" Sakura pulled her hands away from Shisui and braced them on her thighs as she rocked back on her heels to meet Sasuke's confident gaze.

"Up to fifty since we're staying in the same dimension. It's not that far of a distance compared to what I'm used to," Sasuke admitted. "And they're my family. I need to do this."

"Okay, you're our official transport," younger Kakashi agreed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not going to complain about having someone share the load. You should come with Sakura and me to meet Itachi. We're meeting outside the village gates, so it won't raise any alarms." He turned towards Sai. "Can you explain to me how your ink mice jutsu work?"

"While you guys talk amongst yourselves, I'm going back to that waterfall for a good soak," Sakura announced. "There is way too much testosterone in this cave." She stood and walked towards Ino, offered her hand. "Will you join me?"

Naruto performed his sexy-no-jutsu and stood before them as a sexy blond. "Let's us blond girls go!"

"What the fuck?" Shisui raised his hand to stem his nosebleed.

"Exactly what I was thinking," young Kakashi murmured, rubbing his forehead and looking pointedly away from Naruto.

Older Kakashi sighed at the younger shinobi's antics. He'd ordered Naruto and Sasuke that one of the three of them would be with Sakura at all times during this mission. He didn't want to distrust her, but she'd proven herself reckless. He still had nightmares about the time Sakura knocked out her tracker team to confront a psychotic Sasuke alone. If he and Naruto hadn't showed up— she'd have died.

"Cut it out, Naruto!" Sakura warned. "You can guard the perimeter, just don't get too close."

Naruto dropped his henge and smiled cheekily. "No worries, Sakura-chan! I'm not interested in sneaking a peak on either of you anymore. I've got Hinata for that. And no offense." He gestured with his hands over his chest. "You don't have to worry about your modesty with me."

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The water in the pool was cool and clean. It invigorated Sakura more so than relaxed. A nice hot springs would have helped the tension in her muscles, but this bath by the water fall was to wipe away the grime of the forest and the dried blood from Shisui's injuries. The revelation about her mother being a Namikaze still didn't quite feel real.

"I can't believe I'm related to Naruto," Sakura murmured. She submerged her whole body beneath the water's surface and then rose so that only her head was above the water — it didn't feel as cold that way. "There were plenty of opportunities for my parents to invite him to the house for dinner. Why did they never suggest it?"

"Your mom was keeping a low-profile," Ino said. "Or at least, she tried to. I don't think she anticipated just how famous you would become. She resented you for it."

"Hm." Sakura had mixed feelings about her mother and father.

"Sakura, I need to tell you something about your mother and your baby," Ino said desperately.

"Ino, stop." Sakura wadded towards her friend and took hold of her bare shoulders. "Do you think anything positive will come of you confirming for me what I already suspect?"

"What do you mean?" Ino worried.

Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Three weeks ago marked the one year anniversary of when I visited my parents and two days later I miscarried in the second trimester? I was forced to deliver my stillborn daughter who had absolutely no birth defects."

"You knew?" Ino whispered, tears spilling from her pale blue eyes.

Sakura had no more tears to cry. "Let's talk about you— you and Sai. You've been married for six months now. Is the honeymoon over?" Sakura smiled at her friend, expecting to see a blush, but she only saw pale cheeks and long blond hair.

Ino hugged her hard. "I'm so sorry, Sakura. I should have known you were still in pain."

"Why should you focus on my sorrow when you should be enjoying the happiness you're entitled to, Ino-chan?" Sakura ran her hand down Ino's back soothingly.

"It's so weird seeing you with blond hair," Ino said, pulling her hair out of her eyes. She forced a smile. "Sai is eager to learn new things, so the honeymoon is far from over." She grabbed Sakura's wrists. "Tell me about Kakashi! When did you start seeing him this way?"

"I mean, I had a crush on him for the last year, but I didn't think there was ever a chance he'd see me as anyone other than a former student, or Sasuke's old stalker. When he gave me those bracelets, that opened my mind to the possibility he might consider me someone special." Sakura shook Ino's hands off her wrists. "When he called my name before I time traveled, the anguish on his face — I'll still see the expression until my dying day, Ino."

"You never slept with our Kakashi. I want to know about this Kakashi! How the hell did that happen?" Ino demanded. "Tell me everything!"

Sakura snorted. "I cannot even begin to put it in words. He's charming, dangerous, handsome, and basically managed to convince me that us having sex was a matter of life or death." She rubbed her hands over her eyes. "He didn't have to work hard to convince me. Once he slipped down that mask, I was a goner."

"That good?"

"He's not as traditionally handsome as Sasuke, but he's good looking and charismatic. I just want to follow him to the ends of earth and back," Sakura explained. She focused on treading water in a deeper section of the pool. "I am worried about losing this connection when we return to our time, but I talked to our Kakashi and the connection is still there— it's even stronger with all our shared history."

"And now you're re-writing history." Ino shook her head. "You always liked challenges."

There was a loud splash. And Naruto joined them in the pool. "Sorry to interrupt, but I called and you two didn't answer." He was no longer wearing his Sexy-no-jutsu, but was just as naked as the two kunoichi. "I cannot believe we traveled into the past!"

Sakura chuckled as she shifted her wet bangs from her face. Naruto's mini-tsunami had completely soaked the parts of her that were exposed above the water's surface. "I didn't remember seeing the Uchiha police much as a kid. One of the officers tried to give me and Shisui a ticket for dropping food on the sidewalk. The streets are extremely clean."

"I guess that's why I was able to get away with so much vandalism when I was a kid. There was literally no one to stop me," Naruto mused. He leapt towards Sakura, intending to dunk her under the water's surface, but he ended up flashing her an eyeful.

"Naruto!" Sakura jerked away to avoid having her best guy friend rub his privates against her inadvertently and he slammed into her shoulder. They both went under and came sputtering for air together. She started laughing when Naruto shook his head like a dog and his hair sent water flying every direction.

Her foot slipped on a smooth rock under the pool's surface and she went under again. She twisted at a weird angle and Naruto grabbed her arm to help her back up. Once she was standing he swam a few feet away to give her room, but a concerned look spread across his whiskered face. Sakura felt an uncomfortable sensation in her lower region.

"Are you okay, Sakura-chan? I'm sorry I got so rowdy. I've just been really stressed worrying about you," Naruto admitted. "And I'm so excited to be related! You know I've always wanted family and I'm so glad it's you!"

"I'm okay, Naruto. Really." Sakura checked herself manually in her private area where the discomfort originated and when she raised her hand found a tiny T-shaped sliver of copper metal.

"Is that your IUD, Sakura?" Ino asked quietly. They exchanged fearful glances. "I mean, sometimes they fall out. You've only been here a few days. It's pretty hard to get pregnant. What are the chances?"

"It only took one time with Sasuke," Sakura whispered. She could feel the tears welling up. "This can't be happening again."

Naruto swam close to Sakura and snatched the T-shaped object from her hand before she could hide it. "Sakura-chan! Do you think you're pregnant? I heard sometimes these things fall out when then woman gets pregnant. Hinata and I were researching them and…Sakura-chan?"

She shook her head forcefully. "I wouldn't know, not this soon. It would certainly complicate things even further."

As if the ominous statement need punctuation, a rumble of thunder signaled the nearby storm. Naruto sniffed the air. "There's a storm heading this way. Time to get dressed and head back." He looked between the two women. "I will say nothing about this." He held the IUD between his fingers and then the device disintegrated under one of his many ninjutsus. "But, Sakura-chan, please try to not sleep with anyone else until we get back home?"

Sakura started to laugh and then cry as her two friends did a group hug in the middle of the pond. "Guys, this would be a lot less weird if we were dressed."

"Yeah, well, we're weird. It will okay, Forehead. Let's just try to not make things even more complicated," Ino suggested.

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Sakura was being a coward and she knew it. Sasuke obviously wanted to talk to her more — which was ironic given how tight-lipped he always was. There were two Kakashis — and she'd spent more nights than not during the past two weeks with the younger one and had confessed her feelings to the older one. Ino and Sai were sharing a sleeping bag — which made sense since they were married. Shisui and Naruto were the obvious safe choices.

She unrolled her sleeping bag next to Naruto, but close enough to Shisui that she could check on him if his health showed any evidence of decline. She could feel the dark eyes of the other men watching her from elsewhere in the cave. "So, I'm actually a Namikaze like you?" Sakura slipped inside her bedding and turned to face her loud-mouth best friend.

"Yeah! Turns out your mom and my dad are first cousins," Naruto explained. He snuggled into his own bedroll and inched closer to her. "I guess you're needing a little brother buffer between you and all your lovers." He chuckled softly. "Maaaaan, it's always the quiet ones. I had no idea you were a player, Sakura-chan! I'm going to have to work hard to keep you out of trouble."

"I am not a player!" Sakura hissed. "I'm going to sleep." She turned away from him in annoyance, only to see that Sasuke just unfurled his bedroll on her other side.

Sasuke slipped inside the sleeping bag and stared up at the ceiling. "Shut up, Naruto. We're all tired. The Kakashis are taking first watch." He looked over at Sakura and his expression softened. "Good night, Sakura."

"Good night, guys. I really appreciate you both being here," Sakura whispered.

"Tomorrow should be interesting," Sasuke murmured. "It's already been a very enlightening mission."

Sakura didn't think the next day would be interesting. It was going to be extremely awkward. She was going to be traveling with her current lover with her former lover to meet with the young teen who was fated to assassinate his clan. "I really hope you and Itachi can have a good conversation."

"Me too, Sakura. And, I hope this scheme of yours works out. It was a mistake leaving the village when I was a kid. I could have grown stronger here — I should have trusted our team." His onyx and lavender eyes stared at her unblinking, focused singularly on her. "But, I am glad that you didn't go with me. It would have ruined you. You've been through more than I realized. I only saw my own pain and my own burden. I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend to you when we were younger. I will dedicate myself to being the friend you need now — regardless of what may or may not happen between us."

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun," Sakura whispered.

A rare smile crossed Sasuke's lips.

With her back warm against Naruto's shoulder and facing Sasuke, Sakura fell asleep into a dreamless slumber. For the first time in a long time, she relaxed completely knowing she was safe at least for a little while. And she knew she was loved, by all the people that had followed her into this cave. And she knew her love life was complicated, but it was nice to actually have a love life after feeling alone for so long.

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A/N: This chapter was a bear to write — pacing has always been a struggle for me, but I'm fairly happy with the end result. I wrote a NaruSakuSasu story for my own entertainment a few weeks ago, so that last scene felt extra satisfactory since I won't be sharing that story publicly! This story has really evolved into a labor of love. I fully expect it to be my longest story yet — probably going to be close to 40 chapters when it's all said and done. Until next time!