Chapter Forty-Four: Sweetheart

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Sakura

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The walk back to her Suna apartment was awkward to say the least, but at least baby Sarada was sleeping snug against Sakura's chest in the baby carrier. At least her shirt wasn't damp anymore, thanks to the arid desert climate.

Izumi had completely failed at pretending that Sarada was her child, but hopefully that was just because it was Kakashi — and who wants to lie to the village hero? It should go easier back home so long as no one asks and people just make assumptions. Though, Sakura needed to give her friend some slack — she was eight weeks pregnant herself and she remembered how tired she'd been during that time. Their expected return with one baby in tow and with Izumi expecting would certainly help sell their story. Everyone will simply assume that Itachi and Izumi can't keep their hands off each other.

Sakura had forgotten just how much gravitas Kakashi's presence imposed and wasn't surprised Izumi folded so quickly. Sakura didn't exactly last longer in the cover story and she was okay omitting details, but she wasn't capable of lying to this man. She respected and cared about Kakashi too much for that. He was definitely in his serious, protective mode. Once they reached her apartment, Izumi retreated across the hall. They were on the top floor of the three-story private complex, no other neighbors on their floor. The floor below them belonged to Lady Chiyo and her brother Ebizo. The first floor belonged to Ebizo's granddaughter Lyna and also had Sasori's private apartment, though it was mostly storage for his puppetry since he lived in the Kazekage Tower.

The majority of the top floor of the complex was Chiyo and Sasori's private laboratory. Sakura rarely needed to leave the building — except for her daily morning runs, afternoon strolls with Izumi and Sarada and occasional sparring sessions with Itachi or Shisui — depending on which one was in the village. It would have been nice to spar with Sasuke, but it was nice to have some breathing room considering how cramped their apartment could get. Sarada was always in the company of Sakura, Sasuke, Izumi, or Itachi.

Kakashi had stepped inside her small living quarters. The tension in his shoulders eased the slightest bit. The sight of his familiar silver hair, jonin blues, green flak jacket, and masked face sent a sharp surge of homesickness straight to Sakura's gut. It took more will power than she was willing to admit to resist hugging him. Kakashi's visible thunderstorm grey eye focused on Sasuke's gear in the corner.

"Cozy," Kakashi murmured, leaning against the wall by the door, his thumbs hooked into his front pockets, giving her space and yet she felt his presence acutely. For a ninja famous for hiding in the shadows, Sakura was acutely aware of him.

"Sasuke wanted to be close to the baby," Sakura answered, keeping her voice low, but not whispering. Sarada did better with low voices than whispers. She unhooked the baby carrier and shifted her daughter into her arms. "He slept on the floor until she was born. Now she sleeps between us on the bed, or he sleeps in the rocking chair. She gestured towards the cushioned rocker in the corner. "The rocking chair was a gift from Sasori and Lady Chiyo." She settled Sarada into the cradle and gently rocked it a few times, helping her daughter drift deeper into sleep. "And Sasori made the cradle too. He's a really talented craftsman."

"Hm," Kakashi hummed. He pushed away from the wall and lounged in the empty rocking chair. He sighed, his mask's thin material ruffling slightly from his exhaled breath. "So—- you left a few things out in your letters." He waved his hand vaguely in the baby's direction. "Care to elaborate? You were pregnant when we were on our mission. That's why you were so tired and nauseated."

Sakura rubbed her forehead and sat on the edge of her bed, her legs crossed lotus-style and braced her forearms across her knees. She leaned forward towards Kakashi. The position helped ease some of the ache from her low back after carrying her six month old daughter through the village. "You're right. And I have to say, I was pretty terrified when I realized what was wrong. I was so close to telling you, but I didn't want you to be weird and we were just really starting to truly become friends. I didn't want to risk you putting up another wall. Ino and Sai definitely would have been weird. I had to tell Sasuke first and then — his mother. I haven't even been allowed to tell my own mother. Master Tsunade forbad it. Even Lord Fugaku doesn't know. He thinks Sarada is the child of Itachi and Izumi." She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, purposely relaxing the tension in her low back one muscle fiber at a time.

"That sounds like a very difficult secret to keep," Kakashi acknowledged, his tone kind and sympathetic. "You must have felt pretty lonely."

Sakura opened her eyes and looked across at him. He was studying her with that observant yet kind eye of his. "I keep busy. Sasori and Lady Chiyo have been constantly challenging me and keeping me intellectually stimulated. And the letters I've been exchanging with you have helped a lot." She laughed in self-depreciation. "Sometimes, your letters were the only thing keeping me sane. The Kazekage and Lady Chiyo are rather intense."

"You're really making connections being on a first name basis with the Kazekage," Kakashi chuckled. His expression grew somber. "Sometimes, Gai and I meet up with Asuma and Kurenai. They have a daughter. Asuma hasn't changed much, except occasionally taking their girl to the park. Kurenai retired from active duty. She's very quiet now," Kakashi explained. "Even amongst friends, I can recognize that she's lonely." He leaned forward, his hands gripping the armrests of the rocking chair. "I've noticed this and I'm not even really friends with Kurenai. It's been fourteen months since I last saw you and I can recognize your loneliness, Sakura."

"Is it really that obvious?" Sakura worried.

Kakashi shook his head. "Only to the people that know you best."

Sakura felt her face flush at Kakashi's earnest expression. This man was very precious to her— not as a former jonin instructor to a trio of hapless genin, but as a teammate and close friend.

"The baby is all Sasuke talks to me about," Sakura sighed. "It was so very nice to exchange letters with you as Sakura, not as a mama." Sakura looked away and bit her lip feeling both shy and self conscious complaining to a man who knew more tragedy than anyone else she knew and yet here she was lamenting about feeling neglected. "Sasori and Lady Chiyo do a good job of not harping on my status as a mother. But it's all Sasuke, Izumi, and Itachi talk about. Shisui was good about treating me like a whole person before he left. It's been hard without him, dealing with Itachi can be difficult. And Sasuke is either hot or cold. Izumi is a little overwhelmed herself." She gestured towards Kakashi. "I heard you caught Shimura." She struggled with the appropriate response. "Congratulations, I guess?."

Kakashi snorted. "Yeah, good riddance to that scumbag." His eyes darkened in anger. "He ruined a lot of lives and messed up a lot of kids." He looked down at Sarada briefly and then back at Sakura, his anger fading and a softness in his worried gaze. "Are you planning to marry Sasuke then?"

Sakura laid back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "He asked when we first found out we were expecting, but we weren't old enough by village laws. Women need to be sixteen — which I am now. Men have to be eighteen. His mother wouldn't give him permission and my parents are in Tea. I don't think they would have consented either, Mama really hates the Uchiha clan." She smiled bittersweet as she glanced at her sleeping child. "Now her granddaughter is half Uchiha." Sakura laughed ruefully, eyes shifted towards Sasuke's gear in the corner. "I don't even know if Sasuke and I are a couple anymore. We're co-parents, but…he doesn't touch me aside from some awkward side-hugs or a kiss to my forehead." She groaned and covered her face with her hands. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this. Maybe I'll just start wearing a mask and hide my face in a book whenever I'm in public."

She ran her fingers down her belly, the stretch marks had faded — her chakra manipulation had helped her recover from pregnancy, but her pathways had been somewhat erratic starting the third trimester and even now. She'd lost almost all the pregnancy weight. Maybe her belly wasn't as perfectly toned, her hips were a little wider, and her breasts were fuller, changing her center of balance. Her hair had been thinning, but that was only because it was so much thicker during pregnancy. And sometimes, she leaked mother's milk. She couldn't help that. Logically, she knew she didn't look that much different, but she had to wonder if she'd suddenly grown repulsive. Feeling stupid, she felt tears spring up in her eyes and she rolled onto her side to face the wall, her back towards Kakashi and buried her face in her pillow.

A few moments later, there was a shift on the bed as Kakashi sat next to her. Wordlessly, he lifted her up and drew her into his arms. And as if she weighed nothing more than a small child herself— though she was practically a woman grown at this point — he held her cradled against him. His gloved hand ran soothingly up and down her upper back and Sakura buried her face against his neck. She let her tears fall unabashed then, soaking into his dark shirt.

"You're a beautiful, kind, intelligent woman, Sakura," Kakashi murmured his voice muffled by her hair. "I'm not mad at you, just surprised to see this development. I don't have many friends, but I consider you one of my most precious." He pressed a kiss against the top of her head with his masked covered lips. "It's all going to work out, Sweetheart."

Sakura's floodgates opened at his gentle support and she clutched onto his shirtfront while his arms banded around her, strong and secure. "Kakashi," she murmured.

"I've got you, Sweetheart," Kakashi whispered. "Just let it all out. I've got you, Sakura."

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OoO

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Kakashi

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He wasn't sure how long he held Sakura in his arms. It felt right to comfort her and honestly, he was still reeling from finally ridding the world of the monster from his childhood. Sakura's warm body pressed against his, settled in his lap, comforted the turmoil raging within his own heart. He imagined this was how family felt— hugging each other when the world was a little too rough and life was a little too cruel.

He was also angry at Sasuke. He had a woman like Sakura at his fingertips and he was blowing it. Though, did he expect a sixteen year old boy to know any better? At least Sasuke didn't have the blood of his friends on his hands at sixteen like Kakashi had.

"Have you ever been in love, Kakashi?" Sakura's soft voice jarred his thoughts.

Kakashi inhaled sharply, his nose still pressed against Sakura's pale pink hair, enjoying the clean scent of her shampoo. It was a strange question. "I think so — once. But, I can't remember much. There is a period of time where my memory has large missing chunks, but there are context clues. It's like a phantom limb. I know it was there."

"How come you can't remember?" Sakura asked. She leaned back and looked up at him. Those jade eyes imploring. How did her parents ever deny her anything with eyes that wide and bright?

Kakashi traced his thumb over her cheek, wiping away the streaks from her tears gently. "Standard procedure with certain missions, I'm afraid. The Yamanaka can repress memories. The Third really enjoyed utilizing that particular jutsu. I've probably had more memories stolen away than I even know. I still hope one day to remember. There are flowers on my parents' graves that she planted. Sometimes, that's the only proof I have that she was real."

"Do you think it's possible to fall in love more than once?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi clucked his tongue. He wasn't the best person to ask these questions — most of the time his romantic interests were limited to his imagination and the Icha Icha series. He was just glad Sakura wasn't going to ask about that tumultuous time where he slept with anyone with two legs— that had been a very dark period. When one was forced at a young age to use their body as a weapon, it was difficult to have normal relationships. "I would like to think so. I had a crush once too — when I was about twelve. A friend of Obito's that somehow interrupted Master Minato's Bell test." He twirled a lock of Sakura's pink hair around his finger. "She actually had pink hair too. You reminded me a lot of her when you were first assigned to be my genin. It was a little jarring."

"I reminded you of your childhood crush?" Sakura smiled shyly at him, her pale eyes shimmered again with amused tears this time. "Sorry, I keep crying. My hormones are just all over the place."

"It's fine. I'm honored you can let your guard down enough to do this," Kakashi mused. Having heart-to-hearts wasn't something he made a habit of doing and yet, it felt natural with Sakura. It had been over a year since he last saw her, regardless of their letter exchanges, yet it was easy to fall back into the habit of pouring his heart out. "Yes, Shisui's spit-fire adopted little sister was almost the spitting image of my childhood crush. She returned home shortly after we met and I never saw her again." He sighed. "Though, I wondered if maybe she was the same person whom's memory I can't quite tap into."

"Can you ask Ino's dad to return your memories?" Sakura asked. "I'm sure Master Tsunade would allow it."

"Maybe," Kakashi said. He brushed his thumb over her cheek, though it was now dry of tears. "Or I could stop looking for ghosts and maybe see someone who's right in front of me." He leaned his forehead against hers, right over her purple diamond seal and drew his mouth close to hers. "What do you think about that, Sakura?"

Sakura's hands slid to loop around his neck, fingers locking at his nape as she bit her bottom lip as it quivered almost imperceptibly. "Kakashi?"

He wasn't sure what he was doing, but he didn't want to think too hard. She was so vulnerable and adorable and she needed to know how beautiful she was. "Sakura, you're beautiful inside and out. Sasuke is an idiot. But then, so am I." He closed his eyes and trying not to second-guess himself, kissed her softly, his mask-covered lips over hers. Even with the thin, silky material between them, her lips were soft and pliant. Maybe he should have taken off his mask, but really, there was a baby sleeping in a cradle a meter to his left. The mask would stay in place — for now.

Sakura pulled back and looked up at him with her brow furrowed in confusion— the purple yin seal of hers glaring up at him accusingly. "Really, Kakashi? You kiss me with your mask on?"

Kakashi leaned back, glad to see the annoyed look in her eyes instead of a sad one. He hummed and smiled his eye-crinkle smile at her. "Sure. We're friends, right? The mask comes down for more-than-friends." He tapped the tip of her nose and chuckled.

"What if I want to be more than friends?" Sakura asked quietly.

He kissed her forehead. "Maybe if you still feel that way after your next birthday. And after you and Sasuke sort out your feelings."

Sakura's eye twitched. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly serious, Sweetheart," Kakashi released her and set her back on her bed and rose fluidly to return back to the far side of the room. "Why don't you rest? I'll keep an eye on you." He eye-smiled again, feeling smug as Sakura continued to blink owlishly at him. She was extra cute when she was annoyed and those pale cheeks of hers were pink in a blush and her green eyes flashed with ire. "Kissing you was unprofessional of me, Sakura. Maybe when we get home, I can ask you on a date?"

"You— want to date me?" Sakura squeaked.

Kakashi shrugged. "Assuming you and Sasuke aren't an exclusive couple. I suggest you have a frank discussion with him. Let me know what you want to do when we get home." He leaned his head back on the rocking chair. "And after your next birthday."

He sensed the pillow she lopped in his direction and caught it with his eyes still closed. He settled it behind his head to get even more comfortable. "You're so thoughtful, Sakura-chan."

Across the room she harrumphed and Kakashi smiled, feeling more lighthearted and at ease than he had in years.

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Sakura

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She slept soundly until Sarada began to stir, but before she could crawl out of bed to help her daughter, Kakashi had already snatched the baby up. Sakura watched in awe as her captain charmed her baby and then went about changing her diaper. It wasn't even the disposable kind of diapers, but the more complicated re-usable cloth ones, but Kakashi did it exactly right.

Sensing her attention, he glanced over at Sakura and smiled his eye-crinkle smile. "I may have watched how to change a baby with my Sharingan a time or two when I'd been on guard duty for Master Minato and Kushina. I accompanied her to classes on how to care for a newborn." His smile faded. "I suspect Master Minato had wanted to use me for babysitting Naruto, but…." He trailed off. They both knew how that worked out.

"I'm impressed," Sakura admitted. She watched as Kakashi laid Sarada over his shoulder and rubbed her back. The baby snuggled comfortably against his chest. "She's absolutely charmed by you."

Kakashi smiled again. "I do have that affect on ladies," he teased.

Before Sakura could respond, she sensed Sasuke just outside the door. A moment later, he'd let himself in, pausing briefly at the threshold observing Sakura, Sarada, and Kakashi. He closed the door behind them and turned towards Sakura silently.

"He knows," Sakura admitted.

Sasuke arched his eyebrow. "I see." He closed the distance towards Kakashi and took Sarada from him, holding her in the crook of his arm. "I trust you will keep this information to yourself. Otherwise, you risk ruining Sakura's future." He narrowed his dark eyes. "And earning my unforgiving wrath."

"Of course," Kakashi agreed. He turned back towards Sakura. "I'll see you later. We head back to Konoha in a few days— at the discretion of the Kazekage. Would it be okay if I join you for your morning runs?"

Sakura smiled faintly. She had mentioned in one of her letters than every morning she ran for about an hour around the village of Suna. She hadn't mentioned it was because Sasuke or Izumi cared for Sarada during that time to give her a small break. "Six sharp."

Kakashi held his hands up in surrender. "I can be on time when I really try."

She knew that was a fact. He'd never been late once they were on a mission. Honestly, if she thought about it, his tardiness seemed to be limited to the rule of the Third Hokage. Maybe it was his form of rebellion against authority that made questionable decisions?

Sasuke seemed to crowd Kakashi until he left their room. Then he secured the door shut and his tone was accusatory. "Why does he know? Did you tell him in your letters?"

"Of course not!" Sakura hissed. "He found Izumi and I on our walk, and she panicked and Sarada was upset, and I lactated through my shirt." She threw her hands up in exacerbation. "I couldn't exactly help it."

Sasuke gestured towards her chest. "You can't use your chakra to plug them up or something?" He shifted towards the rocker and sat with Sarada, playing with her tiny hands and feet, making her giggle.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. "It's a natural reaction. Chakra isn't the answer to everything. My daughter wanted milk, my body reacted."

"Do you want to be a mother or do you want to be a kunoichi?" Sasuke demanded.

Sakura sat on the edge of the bed, her hands balled into fists. "I am both."

"That's not how it works and you know it." Sasuke jerked his chin in the direction of the window, the blinds were closed, but even so the harsh rays of the Suna fall's sun trickled in. "The whole reason we're here — is to hide you away so you can keep pursing your shinobi career. Telling Kakashi seems counterintuitive, don't you think?"

"I trust Kakashi more than anyone. And you're here to spend time with your daughter. And I don't see you ignoring your shinobi career or your police training. In a few weeks, you'll be in Anbu too." Sakura pointed to the Yin seal on her forehead. "Even here, as I've been mother to our child I've achieved Master Tsunade's seal. I've made huge medical breakthroughs with the top medical shinobi in Suna."

"What do you want me to say, Sakura?" Sasuke demanded, his dark eyes flashing in frustration. Sarada protested and he focused on soothing her. "I'm trying to be supportive here."

Sakura ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She counted silently from ten. "You've been a great father, Sasuke. Truly." She gestured between the two of them. "Do you not want to be a couple anymore? We don't sleep together. You don't hold my hand, hold me, or kiss me."

"I kiss you," Sasuke snapped.

"On the forehead. Like a sister," Sakura scoffed.

"I do not think of you as a sister, Sakura. You're the mother of my child, and I—-obviously I love you," Sasuke argued. "I've loved you since we've been seven years old! Those kinds of feelings don't just go away because I'm not as loose with my affections! I let myself be ruled by my emotions and I got you pregnant, Sakura!" Sarada began to cry, upset by his harsh tone. He stood and began pacing, rubbing his hand up and down her frail back. "Obviously, I love you."

"And I love you too, Sasuke. But, are you in love with me? Because I'm not sure that I'm in love with you," Sakura explained. She thought about how she could talk to Kakashi about anything and how he held her when she'd been upset, like it was no big deal— like it had been the natural thing to do. "I want to be held. I want to hear sweet nothings whispered in my ear."

"Are you saying you want to take a break?" Sasuke asked quietly, once Sarada had fallen quiet once more. He reached into the refrigerator in their room and pulled out one of the bottles Sakura had let thaw over the last few hours. With a heating jutsu in his hand, he heated the milk and then offered it to their daughter. Sarada eagerly fed.

"Aren't we already on a break, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked quietly, sitting back on the edge of the bed, feeling exhausted. "You're right here, but I feel more alone than ever."

Sasuke sat next to her, probably the first time he'd done so in two months, the warmth of his arm pressed against hers. "I'm just overwhelmed Sakura. Mother was right — we're too young to marry. I just want to focus on our daughter and on our careers. There will be time for romance later. I need to make sure I can provide for our family. I don't want to be reliant on my parents or my brother."

Sakura wanted to scream her frustration. Sasuke was the king of compartmentalizing and he had valid, logical arguments. Sakura on the other hand needed a supportive partner — one she could snuggle up with, have a deep intellectual conversation with, and train with and frankly — Sasuke hadn't given her any of that in months. Sometimes, she just wanted to make-out. "Maybe I don't want to wait until later," she said quietly.

"It was my unrestrained passion that got us pregnant, Sakura. I won't risk letting my emotions cloud my judgement," Sasuke retorted, keeping his tone even, but unable to hide his irritation. "Our futures depend on what we do right now. Don't you think you can reign in your libido long enough to focus on what's important?"

Sakura's well-being — including her need to be loved — was important. "So your chaste-behavior has nothing to do after your last mission with Naruto? We've not been intimate since you returned."

"It has nothing to do with Naruto," Sasuke said quietly. "I just, had time away. We went to this place called Lightning Island. You have to face a dark version of yourself and let's just say the version of me I saw that day — I don't want you to ever have to meet him. He was obsessed with power and vengeance. That version of me hurt you, Naruto, and even Kakashi countless times and — you're all important to me. I know Hatake is important to you. I'm not blind to the way he looks at you." He frowned. "It's the same way I see Naruto look at me sometimes."

They were silent for a while. The sound of the refrigerator humming in the background along with Sarada's quiet breaths. She thought maybe only she'd noticed those looks Kakashi had sent her before she left for Suna. And then today, when he held her, she couldn't help but acknowledge that her old crush was still going strong, except it felt more than a crush. She truly felt a connection with her captain. While he was certainly a good looking guy, the sincerity of his heart and brilliance of his mind were the qualities she admired most.

"What's the plan for when we return to Konoha?" Sakura asked, breaking the silence. "Obviously, we won't be able to share a little apartment the three of us. Is Sarada going to live with Itachi and Izumi?"

"Mother has converted mine and Naruto's old bedroom into a nursery— it's nice. I helped set it up last time I went back home. Also, Itachi's property is next door. Both houses have a guest room. You can move into the district as well — wherever you want — Shisui has a guest room too," Sasuke explained.

"So, I would be a guest," Sakura mumbled bitterly. If her parents were still in Konoha, would she have moved back with them and they'd be helping to raise their grandchild?

"Sarada is an Uchiha," Sasuke pointed out, unnecessarily. The fact that Sakura was not was left unspoken. "You basically are too, Sakura," he added belatedly.

Several minutes passed and Sasuke finished feeding Sarada and then burped her. He sat back with her in the rocking chair and started humming lullabies. He looked up and caught Sakura's eye. "I've got Sarada. Why don't you get out for a few hours? I can tell you're still pissed. Steam is practically coming out of your ears."

"I'm frustrated," Sakura hissed.

Sasuke nodded. "I know you, Sakura. Why don't you go visit the training fields and let out some of that frustration? Itachi will probably be there today. You'll sleep better. I understand you're disappointed in my answer, but I don't think this is the right time for me to be in a romantic relationship with anyone. Even if that that person is you — I wish I could feel different about this, but I have to do what's right for our family in the long-run, even if you're pissed at me now." He smirked at her faintly. "You're pretty sexy when you're pissed."

Sakura narrowed her eyes at that comment. He was lucky he was holding their daughter or else she'd have knocked him upside the head something fierce.

Sasuke's expression sobered, as if sensing her train of thought. "Give me a year or two, maybe I'll be ready then." He looked down at their child in his arms and then laid her in the cradle. "By then, I'll be old enough to not need parental consent."

Sakura snorted, amused in spite of herself. "It's unfair, really."

"What is exactly?" Sasuke asked, his dark eyebrows arched.

"That you're so pretty. It's hard to stay mad at you," Sakura teased. She started to change, stripping out of her milk-stained shirt and dusty pants into her more comfortable workout-clothing. She felt Sasuke's hungry eyes on her and she might have swaggered her hips a little more than necessary when she stepped into her pants. There was a small amount of satisfaction when she noticed him shifting uncomfortably in the rocking chair. Misery loves company and all. "I'll be back in a few hours."

"Take your time, Sakura." Sasuke cleared his throat. "We'll be here."

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Kakashi

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He'd met up with Itachi on one of the Suna training grounds. It had been a while since they'd sparred. They stuck with taijutsu only, matching each other's speed with the Sharingan. Halfway through the spar, Kakashi noticed something he'd never observed before on the Uchiha heir. At some point, his mesh armor undershirt became askew, revealing a dark gray rhomboid seal, very similar to Sakura's.

Eventually, Kakashi and Itachi ended with a kunai at each other's throat, matched evenly through the conclusion. They both sheathed their blades and stepped back. "You have a Yin seal," Kakashi pointed out, gesturing towards Itachi's neckline. "How long have you had it?"

Itachi straightened his shirt and frowned. "Not long," Itachi murmured.

"Did Sakura help you?" Kakashi asked.

A strange look passed over Itachi's pale features. "Something like that," he answered. "I have a lung condition. This seal keeps it in check."

"Ah." Kakashi straightened the edges of his gloves. "I hear congratulations are in order."

"Uh," Itachi's eyes widened. "Yes, Izumi and I are twice blessed." He sat on the ground and began to stretch out. "Tell me about Danzo. Shisui said his grandfather's eye had been implanted in the warmonger."

Kakashi nodded. "His right arm was also mutated with Hashirama cells and dozens of stolen Sharingan eyes. His crimes against your clan in particular were enough to warrant his death. The monstrous arm was a clear link between him and Orochimaru's experiments."

Itachi's expression grew grim and he met Kakashi's eyes. They both knew the more personal sins of the old warmonger and how Kakashi had saved Itachi from them years ago. "I'm glad he's gone. I'm glad you and Shisui were there to end the nightmare." A very faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "I hope you made him suffer."

"Vengeance never made anyone feel better. However, the world is a safer place without him. It's good that you were here — working to protect the future generation," Kakashi added, thinking of Sarada. "Are you ready to return home?"

"I'll be assuming the duties as the clan head when I return." Itachi spread his legs into a V and leaned forward to touch his toes, stretching his strong, lean back and his hamstrings simultaneously. "Sometimes, it's easy to take for granted the fact that I still have a clan." He straightened suddenly, his eyes unfocused and distant, seeing whatever it was his crow sentinels spied. "Sakura is on her way here."

"Oh?" Kakashi tried to sound indifferent.

A minute later, Sakura showed up on the training grounds with one of Itachi's crows sitting on her shoulder. "Itachi, I swear, if this carrion bird of your shits on me I'm going to strangle you."

Itachi chuckled, a faint smile on his lips. "It happened one time."

Sakura turned towards Kakashi, a sweet smile on her lips. "Long time, no see," she teased.

"Yo." Kakashi raised his hand in his usual greeting, fighting a smile under his mask. He noted the pinched look between her eyes and the tension in her shoulders. "You look angry."

"Another lover's spat?" Itachi asked mildly.

The glare Sakura shot Itachi would have melted a lesser man in its intensity. "Would either of you care to go another round? Or are you two old men too tired?"

"I am in my prime," Kakashi answered, his tone smooth and maybe a little more husky than he intended by the strange look Itachi sent him.

Sakura pulled out a pair of familiar, fingerless gloves. She stared at Itachi.

"Loser buys the winner dango," Itachi murmured, a faint sparkle of humor in his dark eyes.

"Don't you both have a sweet tooth?" Kakashi asked, frowning. He didn't like sweets particularly.

Sakura laughed, a carefree sound that made his stomach twist in a pleasant way. "That's why Itachi is my favorite sparring partner in Suna."

"Either way, we win," Itachi agreed.

"So what will you do when I win?" Kakashi asked.

"Keep dreaming," Sakura murmured, shifting into a fighting stance.

"Oh Sweetheart, I am," Kakashi said with a laugh.

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