Chapter Forty-Nine: Promotion to Jonin

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Sakura

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The shinobi ensemble warped back through time to return back to the land of Fire in the fourth year of the Godaime's reign, Kakashi's solid presence grounded her to the new reality. She felt his sigh of relief as he released his hold around her waist. She recognized the area as a place a few hours north of Konoha.

She couldn't quite wrap her mind around things. It was May and she'd been traipsing through time for the past eighteen months— she missed her own seventeenth and eighteenth birthdays. Oh man — so did that make her a cradle robber? That meant she'd been kissing fourteen year old Kakashi when she was seventeen, almost eighteen!

According to Sasuke, Sarada who was now twenty-six months old was walking and talking —- her baby was walking and talking! Yet, standing before her, that same daughter was also a couple of years older than herself and was currently time-traveling and looking at her with concern in those dark eyes that were identical to her father's. And then there was her son— Takashi. She couldn't even fathom how he existed! She and Kakashi— because he was certainly a blend of the two of them with Kakashi's silver gravity defying hair with pink highlights. His eyes were beautiful— a mix of both his father's charcoal grey with her jade borders. His personality was adorable — he was a nerd through and through and yet so cute and excitable and strong.

"I know we can't stay long, Mom. And you're likely going to scold me as soon as I go back home, but you're just so adorable! You're so young!" Takashi gushed, hugging Sakura and lifting her off her feet, pulling her away from Kakashi's side.

She looked past his shoulder into Kakashi's bewildered mis-matched eyes. What kind of place does their village become that the son of two of the strongest shinobi to come out of the Leaf is such a cheerful individual? "Do I really look so old in your time?" Sakura asked frowning. She had the same Yin seal as her Master Tsunade. With the mitotic regeneration technique, visible aging was completely optional at the sacrifice of longevity.

"Well, of course not," Takashi said, setting her feet on the ground and smoothing her hair back with an affectionate smile. "Your hair is always so pretty when its long!" He cleared his throat. "It's just, you're the same age as me! And you're so adorable! No wonder Dad was head over heels for you!" He glanced between Kakashi and then Sasuke and frowned. "Ah, though I guess this is probably an awkward time." He laughed nervously and cleared his throat. "The twins aren't going to believe me when I tell them I met a teenaged version of you. I mean, I met twenty-year old you before, but she was so confident and mature." He leaned close, his hand cupped over his mouth to her ears. "Pretty bossy too."

"Stop. Just stop," Sarada hissed, striding over and elbowing Takashi in the ribs. She turned towards Sakura with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about him. Just, I need to give you a few rules, okay? Then Takashi and I have to fix a few things and we won't meet again until — our timelines are all caught up, okay?"

"Um, okay," Sakura said, shifting her gaze between her grown children. They were both taller than her. She frowned slightly. "I hate being the shortest person."

Takashi laughed and then slung his arm around her shoulders again. "Well both your husbands are over one-hundred and eighty-two centimeters! What did you expect!?"

"Stop confusing her!" Sarada warned, slapping her hand over Takashi's mouth to keep him from talking. "Look, Mom, this time, don't go back. After your twentieth birthday, stay put, otherwise you'll created a loop paradox that will trap you forever and you'll go insane. If you stay put, you're going to fall into a coma, it's totally to be expected. Uncle Shisui and Uncle Itachi have already been warned. Papa and Papa Kashi will have something similar happen to them, same with Uncle Naruto, Auntie Ino, and Uncle Sai." She released her hand over Takashi's lower face.

"But how will you be born?" Kakashi asked, his voice a little hoarse with emotion.

Takashi laughed. "Seriously? Well you see, Dad, when a man and a woman sincerely love one another and sometimes when they're just drunk and don't use protection…."

Sarada elbowed him, causing him to cringe. "Don't be an ass, Takashi." She focused her attention on Sakura. "Takashi is still going to be created one way or another. Even in the original timeline, before other you traveled back he was well on his way to being made." She gestured towards herself. "I, however, wouldn't have existed. It's best you don't know the particulars. Your memories are going to merge from this timeline to the other one because a version of you traveled between them. No one else aside from the six of you will have the double memories. Got it?"

Sakura felt the presence of Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto all behind her. She could feel the warmth from their closeness. Naruto slipped his arm around her waist this time, pulling her towards him. "Let me take you to visit your daughter, okay, Sakura-chan. You and I need to talk anyway." He shot a look at Sasuke and Kakashi. "You two take care of the prisoner."

"I've already taken care of it," Shisui said. He held Obito's unconscious form within the skeletal fist of a green susanoo. He gestured towards the rest of them. "Go ahead, sort yourselves out."

"I'm not going anywhere without Sakura," Kakashi stated.

"Just one more thing," Sarada continued. "I've seen other timelines and this is by far the one with the best solutions. However, you guys are not quite out of the woods just yet. Zetsu is still wandering around — he's the left over cosmic entity from when Queen Kaguya tried to turn all living creatures on this planet into fuel for some god-tree so she could be all powerful by eating the chakra of everyone and everything that even lived on the planet. It would have turned this world to a lifeless wasteland. That's why Papa and Naruto were given their powers by Lord Hagaromo. You'll still need to eradicate black and white zetsu so it doesn't continue to poison the minds of the descendants of Hagaromo. Both Indra and Madara were poisoned by black zetsu." She gestured towards Shisui and where he held the prisoner in the green susanoo. "Uncle Obito too.

"Oh!" Takashi cried out. "Another thing, Dad. I have to show you the Purple Lightning. We don't have to go far, just a short distance, you'll still be able to see Mom. Purple Lightning can replace your chidori and is good at both distanced up to ten meters and close quarters attacks. You'll need it once you lose the Sharingan."

"Why would I lose the Sharingan?" Kakashi asked, raising his hand and touching his fingertips to the Hitai-ate covering Obito's eye.

"Oh, because," Takashi started to explain, but Sarada covered his mouth again.

"Enough, fine. Show him the jutsu. Since he won't be fighting Madara this time around to see it. You'll save him some trial and error," Sarada hissed. "Then we have to leave!"

"Madara?" Sakura asked quietly. She'd hoped to have left him in the past. Surely, he couldn't co-exist with Sasuke, considering he was the reincarnation. He was very strong, yet sane. It would be difficult to face against someone like that. She looked anxiously towards Sasuke, his left eye the same lavender color as Madara's and Obito's eyes had been.

"Purple lightning does sound pretty great," Sasuke said, moving next to Kakashi. "May I observe?"

"Of course, Papa Sasuke!" Takashi leaned forward and kissed Sakura's cheek before yanking both Sasuke and Kakashi's wrists towards him and dragging them away. "I can't believe I get to train my Dads!" He skipped — literally skipped. "This is awesome!"

Sarada rolled her eyes and smiled apologetically to Sakura. "Sorry, he gets excited about everything. Takashi has zero chill."

"It's cute," Sakura murmured, feeling dazed as she apparently watched her beautiful son drag off the two fathers of her children. They didn't go too far and she watched as her future son created purple lighting to cover his hand, Kakashi and Sasuke both observing with their Sharingan. Kakashi met Sakura's eyes briefly before studying the jutsu.

"Uncle Itachi warned me not to talk to you too much, so I'm going to discuss a few things with Shisui, alright?" Sarada asked.

"Of course, no problem," Sakura said flashing her a forced smile. Her mind was still swimming with all the people and travel and magical Sharingan eyes. She glanced behind to see Naruto shifting his weight anxiously. "Did you want to talk while we wait? It will probably take them a while."

Naruto nodded eagerly, holding out his hand. "Can we go for a walk?"

"Maybe a short distance, as long as we're still visible. I don't want to worry Kakashi or Sasuke." Sakura took Naruto's hand. She let him lead her a small distance away towards a small meadow of knee-high wildflowers. "Keep an eye open for snakes," she warned, crouching and picking up a tiny ladybug with the tip of her finger. She smiled as the small creature spread its wings and flew off.

"So, things are different with me and Sasuke. I mean, not totally different, we haven't really done anything, but we definitely aren't like siblings. I mean, we never really were — not really. He's my best friend, but then so are you, Sakura-chan," Naruto continued nervously. "And while I know you and Sasuke have a special bond, I have a special one with him too. We're like the chosen ones of our generation, did you know?" He raised his right hand, showing off the symbol of the sun on his palm. "We have god-level powers bestowed upon us to save the world and everything."

"Okay," Sakura said, feeling only a tad bit jealous that the god of shinobi just gave them ultimate powers while she'd been stuck traveling through time with a murderous lunatic while her infant daughter grew up without her. "Sasuke has expressed his desire to co-parent without being romantically involved with me, though I suppose he's had to do it all while I was gone." She shrugged. It hurt to be told your former lover was no longer interested in you, but she was feeling much more enamored with a certain silver haired jonin, and meeting their son had certainly given her an optimistic outlook on the possibility.

"Maybe, we can, I don't know….like all marry each other?" Naruto scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "It doesn't have to be legally officially, but like in our hearts official? One big family?"

Sakura buried her face in her hands. "Naruto, I love you. I do. But, I don't want to start planning my entire life right now. Let's just let things happen organically, okay? Why don't you and Sasuke go on a few dates? I'd like to actually go on a date with Kakashi. I'd like to kiss a version of him that isn't fourteen year old."

Naruto frowned. "You kissed a fourteen year old Kakashi?"

"Yes, and that's besides the point," Sakura murmured, feeling flustered. Kid Kakashi had been adorable, but it would definitely be a different experience to kiss grown man Kakashi. Her cheeks heated, remembering the sound of him in the alleyway that one night. Just the memory made her stomach twist in anticipation.

"Are you okay?" Naruto pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. "You seem a little warm. We should definitely have Granny Tsunade check you out, make sure you didn't get sick from your time traveling." He gestured a few meters away where Shisui and Sarada stood over Obito's unconscious form.

"No, I'm fine," Sakura said, sitting amongst the flowers, tucking her legs under her. She watched while Takashi trained Kakashi and Sasuke with the purple lightning technique. She caught Shisui's eye, he'd also been observing the move. He winked at her and she felt automatically better.

Everything was going to be okay.

A couple of minutes later, Shisui with Obito over his shoulder and Sarada at his side, joined Sakura and Naruto amongst the flowers. Shisui dumped Obito's unconscious body on the ground and glowered at Naruto. "Move, shrimp."

"You're not that much bigger than me," Naruto protested, but scooted back none the less.

Shisui took his spot next to Sakura and smiled at her, his arm draped casually over her shoulder. "Hey, sis. I'm glad to finally have you back. You gave me plenty of restless nights. Try to be a little less adventurous, maybe?"

"I'd love that," Sakura said with a laugh, bumping her shoulder against his. She nodded her head towards Kakashi. "He seems more upset than I thought he would be."

"Ah, well, he regained his memories from the time other you traveled back, worked with him, and saved my life and my clan". Shisui ran his fingers through his dark curls. "The two of you were romantically involved. I sealed his memories so he wouldn't go mad with grief."

Sakura frowned. "That me wasn't me."

"You had different life experiences — that you didn't have me to look out for her," Shisui pointed out. "But considering I worked closely with the other you and know you better than anyone else, you're you either way." He pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You're my precious little sister, but also the woman that saved my life and my first crush." He gestured towards Kakashi. "Regardless of the timeline, the two of you always gravitate towards each other."

"Hm," Sakura hummed, raising her knees to her chin and hugging her legs. "I saw him, right after Rin died. He's been through a lot."

"Yeah, just, be patient with him," Shisui asked. "He's doing the best he can. He's made mistakes. But he tries. Don't tell him I told you, but he paid for the hotel suite during the chunin exams for you and the boys."

"What?" Sakura asked turning towards him. Ino still gave her grief about her choosing to share a suite with her original teammates and not with the other kunoichi during that exam.

"I was supposed to keep that a secret." He smirked at her and then turned attention back to the purple lightning training. He elbowed her ribs teasingly. "I'm also engaged."

"What? To who?" Sakura asked grabbing Shisui's hands. "Congratulations!"

"Kazekage Sasori's cousin. We ended up working together a few times. We'll spend most of our time here in Konoha, but I will travel to Suna a few months out of the year," Shisui explained. "At least until I take over the role of Anbu Commander. Dad is planning to retire in a year or two."

Sakura smiled at her surrogate brother. "You're sounding more and more respectable. You'll be serving as a bridge between Konoha and Suna, that's huge especially for an Uchiha!"

"Well, ever since a motley crew saved my clan from self-destruction, the clan elders and particularly the new clan leader — Itachi — are open to marriages outside of the clan." Shisui leaned his cheek on top of Sakura's head. "I hope our kids are good friends."

"They will be," Sakura assured him. She stared at Obito's unconscious form. "What's going to happen to him?"

"He'll be imprisoned in Anbu's holding facility. Sarada said that you and Ino succeed in rehabilitating him and healing his fractured mind," Shisui explained. "Oh, it looks like they're heading back." He rose to his feet and offered his hand to Sakura to help her stand.

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OoO

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Kakashi

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The Purple Lightning was beautiful and quiet. It didn't scream like a thousand birds like the chidori, but it was strong and it didn't require the Sharingan. Sasuke channeled it through his sword and Kakashi created a blade of lightning that reminded him so much of the white chakra sword he'd used in his youth.

He noticed that Takashi had a smilier tanto blade strapped to his mid-back. It was so strange to have this well-adjusted, skilled, and happy teenager enthusiastically training both him and Sasuke. Takashi was the same age as Sasuke and spoke to them with such familiarity it was actually quite soothing. The kid could compete with Naruto in the Talk-no-jutsu technique.

"It's just so much more effective," Takashi continued. "When you first created this jutsu it was after you saw a revived Madara Uchiha use it in battle and then you worked with the Science Research team to perfect it. I'm pretty sure if you hadn't lost your team as a kid or the Yondaime, you'd have come up with this on your own ages ago. Because of the Sharingan, you weren't forced to perfect your own techniques. Instead, you became the Copy Ninja." He poked Kakashi's shoulder. "The Sharingan made you lazy, Dad. You told me so many times."

"How do you know all this?" Sasuke asked sheathing his sword.

"Sarada and I have traveled to a couple of timelines as observers back when she was first learning her ability," Takashi explained. He shrugged. "It's a bit confusing, but after a while it makes sense." He grinned between Kakashi and Sasuke. "Besides, I grew up in the household with the three smartest and four strongest adults in the entire village — naturally I've developed some of that brilliant brain power."

Sasuke rubbed at his forehead and shot Kakashi a bewildered look. All this talk about being parents together was confusing. Just what sort of arrangement did their blended family have?

A short while later, they returned to the rest of the group. Shisui had secured a seal over Obito's eyes — his Sharingan and the 'borrowed' Rinnegan. Kakashi helped Sakura rise back to her feet and hovered at her side. He wasn't going to lose her again. He wanted to talk to her about the day Rin died and his memory of her presence. He wanted to kiss her again— compare their experiences when he was a young teen and then twenty-year old Kakashi to his thirty-one year old self.

It was strange, knowing the end game — Sakura would be his wife one day and they would have children. And yet, here they were, still waiting to go on their first date.

Then, when Sakura stepped into his arms and pressed her cheek against his chest, Kakashi hugged her tight. Maybe, if he held her strongly enough, he wouldn't lose her again. He'd already lost her so many times — when he was twelve, fourteen, twenty, when she hid away in Suna and then this past year and a half. Though, unlike the other loved ones he'd lost over the years, she kept coming back.

"It's so good to have you here," Kakashi whispered.

"I'm so relieved to be here with you," Sakura agreed.

Then a pair of strong, thin arms wound around the two of them and Takashi stuck his head between them. "Let's get you two home so you can get to work making sure I exist, yeah?"

Sarada yanked the younger man away with a scowl identical to her father's on her face. "That's enough, Takashi."

"You're not going to make them walk are you?" Takashi glowered at her. "They've been through a lot!"

"I'll use the Rinnegan to return us to the village gates," Sasuke volunteered. He shared a solemn look with Sarada. "Take care."

"Of course, Papa," Sarada agreed. She latched onto Takashi and the two of them vanished before their eyes, leaving behind the smell of ozone in their wake.

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OoO

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Sakura

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The return trip to Konoha was over in a flash— one moment they were several hours travel away. The next, they'd teleported using Sasuke's new power. Good thing the god of Shinobi decided to give this power to Sasuke and not to Madara. Just outside the gates of Konoha, Sakura eagerly awaited her reunion with her baby Sarada.

"Welcome home, Sakura," Kakashi said quietly, his arm had slipped around her waist at some point over the last few minutes. She hadn't even realized that he was supporting most of her weight. The relief seemed to sap the strength from her legs. "I've got you." His arm tensed around her. "I'm here now. It will get better."

Sakura smiled weakly at him. Just the day before she'd practically said the same thing to him when she'd comforted him after Rin's death. Did he remember? Did he remember their kiss? Something about the way he was looking at her told her, he did.

Part of her wanted to take Kakashi up on his offer to stay with him. Did he still have those adorable dimples? Were his lips still soft?

"You kept your promise," Kakashi said quietly. "You came back to me."

She'd also told him that she loved him, but he didn't repeat that. Maybe he assumed she meant it platonically. And she had, right? Except, her feelings for him went beyond mere friendship.

The guards on duty outside of the gate approached and escorted the group within the village. Without thinking much of it, Sakura reached for Kakashi's hand and felt the smooth leather of his gloves flat against her palm. Her own leather gloves had been left behind. His strong, long fingers entwined with Sakura's own and Kakashi walked with her hand-in-hand through the gates.

Their party was immediately escorted to the Hokage's office with the Godaime, her assistant Shizune, Anbu Commander, Jonin Commander, Head of the Uchiha clan and the Head of the Interrogation department. Obito remained unconscious and was secured under the watch of Anbu until he could be properly rehabilitated. No one would have been able to resist the coercing force of the fuinjutsu seal that had been placed over Obito's heart by Madara Uchiha.

Sakura submitted to allow Inoichi Yamanaka — to root around her brain and make sure she wasn't a danger to herself or others or a sleep agent. Once she was cleared, Tsunade called her into her office privately. While Itachi had ordered Sasuke and Naruto to return home, Shisui had accompanied his father to the Anbu headquarters with their charge, Kakashi had refused to leave. He waited in the hallway outside.

"It's good to have you back, Sakura," Tsunade said, a faint smile on her brightly painted lips. "You had us all worried. We barely get you back in the village and then snap, you're abducted by a threat I wasn't even aware of and the Head of the Uchiha clan is dead." She shook her head. "Time travel shenanigans," she muttered, rubbing her forehead. "I met another version of you — years ago — time travel then too. Her grit was part of the reason I decided to come back to Konoha and train you eventually."

"It's good to be back," Sakura said with a wan smile of her own. "I'd really like to see my daughter, if that's okay."

Tsunade nodded. "She's still recognized as Itachi and Izumi's child. The truth of her parentage will be revealed after you and her father as both eighteen. I've gotten rid of most of the old codgers on the council, but there are a few left." She leaned forward, forearms braced on her desk. "Though, now that you're officially a jonin, I don't suppose it really matters."

"A jonin?" Sakura asked.

Tsunade laughed. "Damn straight. You survived a kidnapping by an S-class rogue ninja, returned him back home, kept him from mucking up the timeline too much." Tsunade scratched the side of her nose. "At least I think you did, I suppose I wouldn't know if it changed or not, would I?" She shook her head, blond ponytails framing her face and making her look younger in spite of the fatigue around her eyes.

Sakura bowed deep in respect. "I am truly honored, Master Tsunade."

"Yeah you are," Tsunade snapped. She swirled her chair to the side and studied the portrait of the Yondaime. "I didn't really know Minato much, you know? He was Jiraiya's student. Your mom was his cousin and the reason you grew up here. I asked her to work with Shizune and I on a few projects — she's pretty knowledgeable in apothecary. We were able to add more information into that massive tome you created."

"Okay," Sakura said, unsure of where the conversation was going, but she was glad that her mother was back in the village and that she and Tsunade had gotten to know one another. Her circles were colliding.

"Amegakure has sent a request that you deliver the eye Obito stole from their leader and surgically xenotransplant it," Tsunade explained. "You'll leave tomorrow."

"I just got home," Sakura whispered, feeling her knees grow weak at the thought of leaving already.

"You're a jonin and my apprentice and our alliance with Rain is still tentative at best. Hatake will accompany you," Tsunade said gesturing towards the closed doors. "As if I would be able to convince him otherwise."

"We — I mean — I —I owe him a date," Sakura explained, feeling her cheeks heat up at the admission.

Tsunade arched an eyebrow. "You'll have plenty of time on your mission, now won't you? It takes a week to travel between here and Rain and there are plenty of inns you can stay at along the way." She waved at the door. "You're dismissed. Go see your daughter, but meet me at the hospital in the morning. Shizune and I will surgically extract the stolen eye and you and Hatake will make the delivery."

"Just the two of us?" Sakura clarified.

"You're both elite jonin shinobi, two will suffice. It's just an A-ranked mission with a very precarious ally that will involve a delicate surgery of a precious, irreplaceable eye." Tsunade pulled open her desk drawer and yanked out the bottle of sake she kept there. She poured herself a cup and drained it in quick order. "And once you're back, I'll give you a few days with your kid, but then your Team Seven is reuniting with the mission to track down this Zetsu creature and eliminate it."

Sakura's mouth slackened at the mission details. "Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto are all Anbu operatives," she pointed out.

"And you're a medic. And while you're capable of Anbu, it's a poor use of your talents. Hell, if Danzo had been Hokage, you know what he would have done with all the pretty kunoichi?"

Sakura shook her head. She didn't know the man well, but what she knew of him, he was a terrifying man whom ripped out whatever empathy he'd been born with and destroyed the lives of countless people all in the name of power. "What would he have done, Master Tsunade?"

"He's have sent them on seduction missions to acquire precious bloodlines," Tsunade explained. She poured a second cup of second. "Thank, Kami, he's dead and ash on the wind. The Tsuchikage is still like that, so I try to keep my less disciplined shinobi away from that part of the land."

Sakura swallowed thickly. She had a daughter and she loved her. How would she have felt if she'd had a child born out of duty rather than love? And would the village have treated the child as a resource rather than a person?

"Yes, it's as terrible as you think it would be," Tsunade said, interrupting her thoughts. "Now get out of here, I can practically feel the fumes coming off Hatake."

Sakura hastily bowed and hurried out of Tsunade's office. She learned how to read the Godaime's temperament well over the years and even though she'd been gone for a year and a half kidnapped and nearly that long training in Suna, she knew how to read Tsunade Senju.

"Ready?" Kakashi asked, straightening immediately when she exited the office. He'd been leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest, staring at the door.

"Yes," Sakura agreed with a nod. "Um, apparently, you and I leave on a mission tomorrow." She started down the hall, ready to see her baby.

"Okay." Kakashi fell into step along with her. "I'll take you to the district to see Sarada. Your parents are there too."

Sakura wrung her hands together, feeling nervous. Would her daughter even remembered her? And Fugaku Uchiha — the stoic, soft-spoken, and her kind of father-in-law was dead. How was she going to feel seeing Sasuke and Naruto together now? Or knowing Sasuke, anything that might have happened between the two would be behind closed doors — he preferred privacy.

"Who else is on the mission with us?" Kakashi asked, once the gate to the Uchiha district came into view.

"Oh," Sakura turned towards him and jumped. He was right beside her. She hadn't realized how close he'd become. "Just the two of us to Amegakure. We have to return something Obito borrowed."

Kakashi arched his visible silver eyebrow. "I can't believe — he's been alive all this time and you.." He shook his head. "It's good to have you back, Sakura."

Sakura bumped her shoulder against his. "He's still there — sometimes. And maybe you — his friend — will be able to reach him."

"I don't know. I'm not ready to be around him. I have a lot of anger about him endangering you," Kakashi said quietly.

"And he's still very bitter about Rin," Sakura added. "He blames you, though I think Shisui might be able to get through to him." She reached for Kakashi's hand briefly and turned to face him. "Though, we both know Rin wasn't your fault. I was there." She brought her hand to cup the side of his face.

"I know," Kakashi said quietly, leaning into her touch. He took a deep breath, ruffling his mask in the process. "I remember. And thank you, for the comfort you offered that day."

Sakura smiled, her cheeks heating up again. "You were really adorable at that age."

"Oh?" Kakashi teased, leaning close, his masked lips brushing against her ear. "What about now?"

"Now you're just fishing for compliments," Sakura sniffed, shoving him away gently. "I expect you to keep your promise."

"Oh?" Kakashi asked.

"You still owe me a date," Sakura reminded him. "That's two birthday presents you owe me."

"Well, it sounds like it will have to wait until after our next mission," Kakashi pointed out. "Though, let me be the first to say congratulations on your promotion, Jonin Sakura."

She poked his sternum with her index finger. "We're equals now."

Kakashi smiled, this time his visible eye crinkled. "Yes, we are." He cleared his throat. "Besides, you also owe me a birthday present."

They walked the rest of the way in quiet companionship. In the backyard to Mikoto's home, Sarada was sitting on Kizashi Haruno's knee playing horsey when Sakura arrived. Her mother and Mikoto were amiably chatting about the art works Sarada had created with her fingerprints that were currently scattered all over the large picnic blanket on the ground. Sasuke, Naruto, Izumi, and Itachi were also there.

"Mama!" Sarada shouted, squirming off Kizashi's knee and racing towards Sakura.

Shocked and over-joyed that her daughter remembered her, Sakura fell to her knees and welcome her daughter with open arms. Her little girl smelled like the lavender shampoo and body wash that Sakura preferred for her and when she smiled up at her, eyes dark like her fathers, wide-spaced baby teeth and a joyful smile Sakura beamed back at her. "Mama missed you, sweetie!"

"Sarada missed Mama!" The toddler cooed. Her dark eyes flickered past Sakura towards Sasuke, whom kneeled next to them. "Papa tells me so many stories about you! We look at pictures every night me and Papa or me and Grammy." Sarada tugged on a lock of Sakura's pastel pink hair. "Mama's hair is magic like a fairy!" She turned towards Sasuke and frowned. "Mama is much prettier than picture, Papa!"

"Yes, she is," Sasuke agreed, reaching over and tapping the tip of his middle finger on Sarada's forehead.

How was her daughter able to talk so much? She was just barely two! "How is it she can say so much?" Sakura murmured, dumfounded and looked at Sasuke over her shoulder.

"She has two geniuses for parents," Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Sakura," Mebuki said, smiling down at Sakura with an uncertain expression in her dark green eyes. "It's very good to see you."

Sakura stood up, with Sarada balanced on her hip and hugged her mother. She was only slightly confused to realize that she was now taller than her mother. Mebuki sobbed in relief and hugged both her daughter and granddaughter tight.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura. I just want you to be happy." Mebuki leaned back and tears glistened in her eyes. Kizashi then joined them, his arms around his wife's shoulders and he looked across at Sakura. "We both just want for your happiness and we're both so proud of you and all that you've accomplished, but even if you hadn't done anything spectacular, we would love you just because you're our daughter!"

"But you have done spectacular work time and time again," Kizashi added. He began to pull Mebuki away. "You're welcome to come back home with us, but we understand if you'd rather stay here at the compound."

"I leave for a mission tomorrow," Sakura started, to which both her parents gasped. Before they could protest, she continued. "I need to stay tonight with Sarada. I've been given a few options on where to live," Sakura hedged, her eyes darted towards Kakashi briefly. Mikoto had offered her a place at the main house, she still had her room at Shisui's house that she'd barely stayed in before her kidnapping, Ino invited her over, her parents welcomed her, and Sasuke had made it clear she was welcome with him too. Itachi and Izumi had moved into the main house with Mikoto during Sakura's sojourn. Izumi had a baby of her own cradled in her arms. Mikoto was now twice blessed with grandchildren and the village had been even more sold on the idea that Itachi and his wife were in the family way.

With all the options of respite, only one truly made her feel she'd be comfortable. Somehow, Kakashi Hatake had become her best friend and confidant in a way that eclipsed her bonds with Sasuke, Naruto, Ino and Shisui. No matter where in the time-stream, they collided. He was the flame and she was the moth finding him time and time again.

Sakura looked past her father and caught Kakashi's eye. He was standing next to Itachi a short distance away talking quietly. His mis-matched gaze — his charcoal eye next to Obito's crimson and black Sharingan. She'd been charmed by the boy and was eager to know the man. By the intensity of his gaze, the feelings were mutual and with their upcoming mission, they would have time to explore those confusing and intense feelings.

After Kakashi left to escort her parents, Naruto joined Sakura to help ready Sarada for bedtime. During Sakura's absence, her friends had stepped up to make sure Sarada didn't want for love and affection.

An hour later, Sarada was freshly bathed and was sitting in Sakura's lap while she brushed her hair and Naruto read a book to her.

"He's a really good dad," Naruto said quietly. "He's so doting and he even learned how to braid her hair."

Sakura brushed Sarada's fine, dark locks and sang a few lullabies — thankfully Mikoto continued to sing the same songs that Sakura favored, so Sarada was still used to the melody and lyrics. After laying Sarada back into her crib, she stretched out on the bed in the nursery. Kakashi's ninken Bull, Shiba and Biscuit scattered around the room. Naruto stretched out beside her on the bed. Once he learned that she and Kakashi would leave on a mission the next day, he declared he was spending the night with Sakura-chan.

"I was so worried she wouldn't remember me," Sakura confessed, her voice barely a whisper.

Naruto nodded. "Sasuke and Mama Mikoto used genjutsu on her sometimes. They made sure she didn't forget her mama."

"That was thoughtful," Sakura mused. She snuggled against Naruto, breathing in his familiar scent — sunshine and fresh air. "So, you and Sasuke? What happened with Hinata?"

"Uh," Naruto groaned, wrapping his arm around Sakura and pulling her close. "She's got a girlfriend now — her name is Karin. Though, it's um, complicated. Karin is an Uzumaki. And she and Hinata were wanting to have a kid together and they asked me to donate sperm to them since I'm an Uzumaki."

"Your old crush wants you to father her child?" Sakura asked skeptically.

"I kinda want a kid though, but just, not necessarily with like Hinata. I don't know. Living with the Uchiha you come to appreciate bloodline and a kid with Hyuga and Uzumak traits would be pretty powerful," Naruto whispered. "And I'm friends with them both."

"You're friends with everyone," Sakura protested. She thought about the person Obito stole his Rinnegan from, the person she'd be returning and re-implanting that eye. It was Pain, but it wasn't Pain. His bright red hair and emaciated form and the Rinnegan ability made her realize that Pain was a vessel. "I know another Uzumaki male. I can ask if he would be willing to donate."

"Eh? How? Who?" Naruto asked.

"The person Kakashi and I are going to meet on our mission," Sakura explained. "He's in Rain. He might be willing. I studied IVF and, well, it's an option."

Naruto brushed his lips over the top of her head. "What was it like? Being pregnant?"

"It was exciting and scary and uncomfortable at times," Sakura confessed. "But then I'd feel Sarada flutter about and kick and it was so exciting knowing that a life was being nurtured within me."

"If I could hold the female form longer, I'd like to try to be pregnant," Naruto admitted. "Karin was the surrogate for Orochimaru, so she had a little boy, Mitsuki."

"Let me think about it, but I might have an option for you," Sakura whispered. She knew that they were all part of some complicated blended family. Maybe if Naruto could be in female form long enough, produce an egg, she could fertilize it with his partner's sperm and then she might volunteer to be a surrogate for them, or maybe this Karin would volunteer since she'd done it before. But that's assuming that Naruto and Sasuke ended up together and that Sasuke wanted another kid.

"The thing is, I learned about a Boruto and Himawari from Takashi," Naruto whispered. "So I know they will exist, but I don't know how exactly. Apparently, Takashi and Himawari are sweet on each other."

"My future son is such a gossip," Sakura said with a giggle.

"He sort of reminds me of me," Naruto whispered.

"You must have played an influence," Sakura agreed. The silver dog, Shiba jumped onto the bed and settled between Sakura and Naruto's feet over the covers.

"Everything's going to be okay now that you're back," Naruto said with a sigh. Then he closed his eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Sakura smiled, staring up at the nursery ceiling. She could hear Sarada snoring softly a few feet away. Her legs were warm from Shiba's small body and she was being held by one of her best friends. Maybe Naruto was on to something. What if they did just form some big massive family? There was no one else she'd rather come home to than them.

It was a perfect first night back in the village. She missed both of her daughter's first two birthdays, but the love between mother and daughter was strong. She realized that regardless of the obstacles that might come between them, their bonds were strong and unbreakable.

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OoO

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Kakashi

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Before he left the Uchiha residence to escort the Harunos to their home in the civilian sector, Kakashi had summoned Shiba, Biscuit and Bull to stay with Sakura and Sarada for the night. Bull had stayed over most nights with Sarada during the past year and a half, while Kakashi desperately tried to find her mother. The dark-haired toddler and Bull adored one another.

However, Kakashi was sorely tempted to return to the district, find a good tree, and watch over Sakura through the night. He needed sleep though. Sakura was home and under the watchful eyes of the Uchiha clan and three of this ninken. He needed to rest before their mission. He could wait a few more hours. Besides, he'd have her all to himself tomorrow and for the duration of their upcoming mission.

The moment he'd left the Harunos' house, Tenzo, Genma and Guy Might were all waiting for him. He hadn't seen much of any of his three old friends. The last year and a half he'd barely been in the village more than a day or two at a time. He'd been devoted entirely to finding any little clue about Sakura and Obito's whereabouts. They must have been keeping tabs on him. They were all elite jonin and his friends.

"Shizune wanted me to give this to you," Genma said, holding out a small zippered pouch. "She's home, she's safe. And we heard about your upcoming mission. So, you just have to wait a few more hours, Hatake."

Kakashi took the small package and looked inside. It was a fairly potent tranquilizer used to sedate soldiers after particularly traumatic experiences —it offered dreamless sleep. "This isn't necessary."

"You're fatigued and barely passed your check up when your search party returned," Genma argued. He gestured between himself, Tenzo and Guy. "We've been assigned to watch over you tonight.

Resigned to his fate, Kakashi had allowed his three friends to accompany him to his family's ancestral home. His mind drifted towards the safe where his mother's silver bangles were stored. He smiled, thinking about the jewelry and how they would look on Sakura's wrists.

He stared at the tranquilizer. There was no need to hesitate. Sakura was home and she was safe under the watchful eyes of Sasuke, Naruto, Mikoto, Itachi, Shisui, Izumi, Shiba, Biscuit and Bull. Obito was secured. Danzo was dead. Orochimaru was brainwashed - in a good way. The Akatsuki was basically defunct. The leaders of Suna and Kiri were actually and truly allies of Konoha. Rain requested his and Sakura's assistance, so that was another ally.

It was relatively safe.

Kakashi also had the knowledge that his and Sakura's son Takashi was destined to exist. His son was an intelligent, enthusiastic, sweet and bad ass kid combined in one. Basically, Takashi was everything Kakashi could have ever hoped for in a kid.

So, Kakashi knew it was important that he take the time to get a good night's sleep and let his body recover from all the stress. He wanted to be alert and well-rested for what he had in mind for his much anticipated date with Sakura Haruno, though that would have to wait until after their mission. Though, that didn't mean they couldn't reconnect during their travels.

Tenzo and Guy staked out the outside of his house and Genma followed him inside. "So, she's her — isn't she?"

"She's who?" Kakashi asked.

Genma rolled his eyes. "Come on. I'm the Hokage's elite bodyguard. I hear things. Time travel, huh? The girl — the one that stole your heart and then vanished and you had Shisui wipe your memories — it was Sakura, wasn't it? I mean, aside from the hair she looks just like her. How many people have eyes like that?" Genma tapped his forehead. "And the diamond seal? I mean, it's so obvious now."

"That was a version of Sakura, but this Sakura didn't know me then," Kakashi explained. Though she did know him from the field in outside of Kiri where Rin had died by his hand. "But you're right. It's complicated and it's new and I don't want to fuck it up."

"You won't. I mean, with the ass you've been and she's still giving you a chance, she must have a heart of gold." Genma smirked, toying with the senbon between his teeth absently. "She sure knows how to pick them, eh? I guess her type is asshole Uchiha or asshole Hatake." He laughed at his own joke.

"Whatever." Kakashi brushed past him in the hallway, purposely knocking his shoulder into Genma making the other man grunt in pain, as he slammed the door in his face while escaping to the bathroom.

As Kakashi stood in front of the vanity and brushed his teeth, his eyes started to droop with fatigue and he hadn't even used the tranquilizer yet. He could probably sleep without out, but there would be the chance for nightmares and he didn't want to risk any visits from those old friends.

His gaze flickered to the bright splash of pink tattooed across his left pectoral over his heart. He'd gotten the tattoo on Sakura's last birthday and was eager for Sakura to discover the memento Sai had inked onto his flesh.

Kakashi had two tattoos — the Anbu symbol over his biceps and the cherry blossom branch over his heart.

There were many times over the past few months that the glimpse of pink he saw in the mirror on his chest helped him muster the will to continue. He needed a reminder of just who he was looking for — he would not give up the search.

After tapping his toothbrush on the edge of his sink, Kakashi finished washing off his face and strode towards his bedroom. With a deep, steadying breath, he injected his thigh with the tranquilizer. He slipped into bed under the covers. Pakkun was already asleep at the foot of the bed. The pug shifted slightly, but otherwise didn't budge.

As the tranquilizer flooded Kakashi's bloodstream, his mind calmed and he fell into a blissful, dreamless sleep.

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