Chapter Thirty-Nine

"You wished to see me, Lord Hokage?" Naruto's deference reminded Kushina of being sent to the headmaster's office at the Academy on many occasions as a child. He, too, had been sent to the office more than a few times in his first year; although, that had been under malicious circumstances. I still can't believe someone would try provoking a child jinchuriki at the risk to an entire academy class.

"Son, there is no need for formality," she gestured to an empty chair before the desk. Kakashi sat in a chair to Naruto's right, Itachi to his left, and to Itachi's left sat Konohamaru.

"All right," Naruto took a seat, "What's going on, Mom?"

"We have some housekeeping issues in the wake of your last mission," she answered.

"Housekeeping?"

"Naruto," Kakashi spoke up, "this Jigen character," Naruto went rigid at the mention of the man's name, "he was behind much of the Kara Corporation. Now that it has gone up in smoke, we're trying to figure our next course of action."

"I assume we still have agents searching?" Naruto asked.

"The questions isn't if we can find him but what to do when we find him," Kushina answered. "Naruto, he is extremely power, is he not?"

A somber, almost defeated look came across his face, "Yes, he is. I have no idea why he has been holding back."

"You mentioned something about him being aware of the change in timeline," Itachi spoke up, "and your report indicated he vented some frustration toward you and Sasuke."

"He asked if we were ever going to die, or something like that."

"That might be a clue in its own right," Itachi continued.

Everyone paused and looked at Itachi, "Go on," Kushina gently prodded.

"Assuming this Jigen character is another Ōtsutsuki, and assuming what you heard about him being aware of the timeline being altered; he might not be in the same position he was hoping to be in."

"What do you mean?" Kakashi now asked.

"Well, if you two crossed paths in your future daughter's timeline, the circumstances now are drastically different from what they would have been," Itachi stared at Kushina, as if sharing a private thought.

"In the future Himawari came from, Minato and I died young, at Naruto's birth!"

Itachi turned to Naruto, "Would Jiraiya have known how to train you in Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"Among other things Dad taught me that Grandpa didn't," Naruto spoke with his blue eyes open wide in realization. "I would never have this Byakugan, either."

"Perhaps we are lot more dangerous than what he was expecting," Kakashi rubbed his chin through his mask.

"In any case, we have a few assignments for you," Kushina resumed. "Firstly, I want you and Hinata to study the archives of the Uzumaki Clan that we rescued from the Land of the Waves. There may be additional clues as to who Jigen is and what his plan is." Naruto nodded.

"In addition," Kakashi cleared his throat, "we have a situation we need an objective opinion on."

"What's that?" Naruto asked.

"Big brother, I want to go up for ANBU/KIB selection," Konohamaru answered. And here is where the argument starts. Naruto had been reluctant in letting Konohamaru participate in ANBU/KIB functions up until the Moon Incident. After the incident, Naruto hadn't even humored letting Konohamaru observe the recent mission to eliminate Kara.

"Konohamaru, you're still recovering from your injuries; you've only been without crutches for a month and a half! Do you have any idea how grueling that training is?" Naruto asked

"You went through it," Konohamaru retorted, defiant stare in his eyes. Kushina recognized the determined stare from Asuma, and ironically, Asuma's father – Lord Third.

Naruto locked eyes with his brother, then briefly stared at Itachi, Kakashi, and finally Kushina, "Mom, what is this about? You're the Hokage. All he had to do was ask you."

"ANBU agents still tend to select candidates based on internal discussion so as not to be influenced by politics," Kushina answered. "Also, your new job dictates that we place some responsibility on your shoulders."

"New job?" Naruto wrinkled his forehead.

"You're being reassigned to the office of the Hokage as a special assistant," Kakashi answered.

"That's your job," Naruto replied.

"Currently, yes," Kakashi said, "Consider it being trained as my replacement."

"Replacement?"

"Your Mom is still stepping down next year," Kakashi answered, "She and I agree that you should start being prepared to take on more a leadership role in day-to-day operations."

"Hence," Kushina added, "pushing the decision to you."

"Itachi," Naruto stared at the other man, "Do you have any reason you would not want Konohamaru as an operative?"

"He's a bit impulsive," Itachi shrugged with the slightest grin, "but I'm confident I can grind it out of him when I run his ass until midnight." Itachi stared wickedly amused at Konohamaru, "That's right. Seven, twenty-three hour days full of fun and adventure! I will make you strong!"

Naruto stared long and hard at his younger brother, probing him. "What is this about? It can't just be restlessness or youthful exuberance."

"Big brother, someday, you're going to be in Mom's chair," Konohamaru looked toward the Hokage's desk, then back to Naruto, "And you will be responsible to protect all of the village. You're going to need someone to look after Hinata when she becomes the first lady. Someone is going to have to watch after Hima and Boruto when they're born – especially if this Jigen freak is targeting them!" He heaved several moments, "Brother, I want be ready to be a protector when that happens, not a meat-shield in a desperate delaying action like I was with Toneri!"

Kushina chewed her bottom lip as Naruto was doing the same. Naruto's decision could go either way, and she wouldn't blame him either way. The whole family wrung their hands in horror at what Toneri had done to Konohamaru, they had held their breath as they tried an unproven treatment, and they had watched with cautious optimism as Konohamaru learned to walk again. Naruto's tense shoulders relaxed, "I understand, brother," he said in almost a whisper. "I've always worried about protecting you, but now you're right. At some point I may not be able to protect Hinata or our children and the village at the same time." Naruto nodded and turned his gaze to Kushina, "I grant my endorsement."

Kushina let out a sigh of relief she'd been holding the whole time, glad this didn't turn into an argument. "Konohamaru," she said, "with his approval comes major new responsibilities."

"I accept them," he bowed his head slightly, not even a hint of celebration.

"With that in mind, that moves us to our next order of business," Kushina spoke.

"Which is?" Naruto asked.

"The Uchiha Clan has requested an officiant for Sasuke and Sakura's pending marriage next week."

"And this affects me how? I'm already a guest."

"Your Mom and I have business to attend to in the Hidden Sands Village prior to the Kazekage's wedding a few days later," Kakashi answered for her. "Given that conflict and your close relationship with the couple, we feel that this would be a good first assignment to give you based on your promotion." Kakashi smirked behind his mask.

"You want me to officiate?"

"Think of it as practice for your own wedding," Kushina smiled.


"Lady Hyūga, there must be some kind of mistake," Shikamaru shook his head as Akemi expected he would at the revelation. "We conceived naturally, albeit, unexpectedly!"

The shrine to Inari Akami was private without being sterile like her office at the hospital. Even still, it seemed to do little for poor Shikamaru. Most men are in denial about health issues, especially reproductive health issues, and it's even worse when you're young as he is. Take it slow. "Shikamaru, it's entirely possible to be sub-fertile and not infertile, and that works to our advantage."

"You said the normal range was fifteen million, and I'm sitting around one million," he gestured to the lab results on the table between them. It was seemingly blind luck that he and Temari had conceived the first time with a count so low.

"That is correct, not ideal, but still better than not producing at all."

"Akemi," Temari took her husband's hand in an attempt at comfort, "This doesn't mean we can't have a baby, right?"

"No, it doesn't," she reassured. "It does make things a bit more complicated."

"Define complicated," Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

"Shikamaru, have you noticed yourself feeling slow to recover from physical activity, feeling tired, unmotivated, or…" she hesitated to ask, "having no drive for sex?"

Shikamaru's eyes opened wide as if he'd seen a ghost. "How did…"

"Shikamaru, we did a blood draw as well when we tested you. One of the panels I ran was testosterone test, and yours was low for someone your age," she ticked off on her hand, "less testosterone, less sperm production, less likelihood of naturally conceiving."

"Akemi, does that affect the Spring of Fertility Ritual?" Temari asked.

"Indirectly, yes," Akemi explained, "You would be hyper-fertile, but if we can't enough sperm from point A to point B, our chances of success drop off significantly."

"So, what the hell do we do!" Shikamaru huffed in frustration.

"First, we acknowledge this is a thing and we don't go flying off the handle. We have options."

"Like?" he asked, still clearly upset.

"For one, there is a medication we can try. It normally is used to induce ovulation in women, but it affects the same pathway that causes the male body to produce testosterone."

"Why not supplement with testosterone?" Temari asked.

"Supplementing with testosterone straight up would ironically make the problem worse; his body would start producing less of its own and gradually worsening the fertility issues."

"And if this doesn't work?" Shikamaru asked.

"We have more invasive options we can fall back on," Akemi assured him. "However, I'd like to try and do things with as minimal intervention as necessary."

"Is there anything else we can do to help things along?" Temari asked.

"For one, I see you've given up smoking again," Akemi noted the clear patch on his arm.

"I only started for the mission," he protested.

"Regardless, stay quit, and try to get off nicotine replacement as soon as you are able," she said, "Smoking can have a serious impact on fertility among other things." She began writing out a prescription, "Also, lay off the booze and try to stay in shape best as you can," she tore off the prescription, "And take this religiously as instructed. It may take a few months for it to have a noticeable effect."

"Akemi, what about the Spring of Fertility?" Temari asked.

Akemi consulted her calendar, made a few calculations, and spoke: "Temari, you should discontinue birth control immediately, and we should begin training on the ritual as soon as we get back from the Hidden Sands Village."

"We?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.

"Gaara invited Lady Hyūga as a special guest to his wedding," Temari explained. "From what I understand, it was on account of some assistance with fertility issues.

"Privacy conventions prevent me from speaking of another patient's health without their permission." Akemi changed the subject, "By my calculations, we'll be ready to do the ritual on or around New Year's Day."


Sakura's hands were like ice as Ino, Hinata, and Tenten touched up her hair and makeup for the millionth time. The knots twisting her stomach only tightened as the reflection in the vanity mirror turned from a medical-nin to a bride in a white and pink floral kimono adorned in back with the Uchiha Clan symbol. "Guys," she shivered as she took in full view of herself, soon to be Mrs. Sakura Uchiha, "I'm nervous!"

"It's totally normal," Tenten offered, "Trust me, I was ready to throw up the whole time the Hokage was officiating, and then we had to explain to my parents that Neji and I were already married!"

"Naruto and I have been legally married for close to a year now; I still get butterflies at the thought of our wedding this coming March!"

"My questions is," Ino broke in, "just how festive are you planning on being for the wedding night?"

"INO!" Sakura joined Hinata and Tenten in chiding their friend.

"Well, what?" Ino shrugged, pretending to be innocent, "You mean to tell me the ensemble under the dress doesn't correspond to what you have planned?"

Sakura did turn pink at Ino's implication. Her choice of undergarments had been a confusing affair. She'd always fantasized of being a sultry witch with Sasuke under her spell on her wedding night. However, her fantasy was now tempered by their loss and now the uncertainty of how to move forward. "What if I'm moving too fast?!" her breathing turned into short gasps.

"Sakura, we've been through this," Hinata took Sakura's hands in hers. "You've wanted to get married long before today; this isn't an impulsive decision driven by loss or near loss!"

"What if I'm not really ready?" Sakura felt hot tears in her eyes.

"Sakura, this may sound cruel," Ino spoke, "but you already nearly lost him a few times. You know better than most of us that putting things off is no safeguard against bad things happening."

"Sakura," Tenten added her hands to Sakura's shoulders, massaging small circles into her upper traps, "my father threatened to disown me if I didn't call things off with Neji and give up my baby. I wasn't ready to face getting married, much less becoming a mom!" Tenten let passionate tears fly, "But I knew if I took the safe route and done as my father asked, I could never forgive myself."

"All valid lessons to take," a familiar, stern voice came from the doorway.

"Sensei," Sakura bowed as Tsunade entered the room.

"Please, spare me the formality, kiddo," Tsunade shook her head as she walked up to the group and put her hands on Sakura's shoulders. "You've come a long way from that girl that had a crush on a boy and nearly threw away her career for it!"

Sakura's mind rewound back to being a preteen, in love with Sasuke for the first time. She'd irresponsibly played fast and loose with Naruto and Hinata's heart to make Sasuke jealous, nearly ending everything. She remembered the first night he'd made love to her, heedless of the potential trouble it could have landed her in. Don't forget you chose to follow him as a fugitive for several months, essentially ending your career. "Lady Tsunade…" the words still clung to her throat.

"You've wanted this, and he's wanted it. Life can be cruelly short," Tsunade encouraged. "Now, Ino," she turned to the other woman, "let's get her makeup touched up, you're about to line up!"


Sasuke leaned against the bar set up in the groomsmen's room. Multiple bottles of whiskey and other spirits lined the bar, as did a few choice mixers. He'd never been a drinker at any point, and he was debating the merits at the moment. "Try some, your family put out the good stuff," Kiba said, already on his second.

"Kiba, might I remind you we are groomsmen, and being drunk before a wedding is in poor taste," Shino cautioned. Both men wore formal black robes, much as Sasuke was.

"Indeed," Itachi skillfully snatched the still half-filled tumbler of fine whiskey from Kiba's hand.

"Big brother, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"You're our clan leader," Sasuke reminded him, "Traditionally, the clan leader officiates weddings in our clan."

"Yes, and traditionally a Hokage or a representative officiates the wedding in all other clans; this frees me up to be your best man."

"It just seems a strange break in tradition," Sasuke replied, "we Uchiha tend to walk a step out of line."

"Brother," Itachi set the tumbler of whiskey on the bar, "some traditions should not be kept. Lord Madara walked out of line for over a hundred years, clinging to an idea that was flawed, and nearly destroying the world because of it." Itachi stared thoughtfully, "If the clan was allowed to cling blindly to its beliefs, we'd be presiding over your execution right now instead of your wedding."

"Way to put things in perspective," Sasuke took the tumbler of whiskey, eyed it, and poured it out into the sink on the opposite side of the bar.

"I see you've matured," a solid female voice called from the room's entrance.

Everyone turned to see Kurenai, dressed smartly in a deep maroon pantsuit. "Sensei," Sasuke spoke in disbelief. Unlike Naruto and the others, Sasuke was never close with his Jonin-Sensei. Team Eight had gone its separate ways, and the nightmare of the past several years had opened a severe gap between Sasuke and the team – a gap only recently parted by Itachi suggesting inviting them to the wedding. Shino and Kiba showing up was one thing, but Kurenai showing up was totally unexpected.

"You never called me that in youth," she reminded.

"I had my head up my ass most of my youth," he stared down, lamenting how his irresponsible lifestyle had negatively impacted his adult life now.

"All young men have their heads up their asses, even my Asuma," she winked. "It only becomes a problem when they refuse to remove it when they grow up!" She laughed.

"Sensei," Shino spoke up, "what brings you here to this motley lot?"

"Oh, just to let you all know it's time to line up; the bride is waiting."


"Dearly beloved, we gather here today to celebrate the union of Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno," Naruto's voice shook as he stood before the couple that now knelt in front of him. Invocation notes, ceremonial sake and nuptial cups– you didn't forget a thing! Nevertheless, his heart raced and his palms became moist as he spoke. The last few weeks he'd been practicing this process religiously, and his mind was struggling to retain any of it.

"Sakura, Sasuke," he paused. Sakura was dolled up in a pink, silk floral kimono and Sasuke wore his traditional black robes – albeit much more formal than his street clothes. "You've been my friends since I can remember. You both have endured together through trials and tribulations that even long-married couples wouldn't dream of." Naruto paused, staring out into the crowd for a moment, seeing Hinata. She offered a concerned smile. Your turn is coming soon; don't flub your lines! "Now it is time to take the next great challenge. In each of you, your will of fire burns bright. It gives me the greatest of pleasure to see the fire you each carry become one larger flame, and I hope that we will see that flame passed on when you two are ready."

Naruto turned to Sasuke. The fingers of his friends left hand were rubbing against his thumb, suggesting he was just as nervous as Naruto. "Sasuke Uchiha, do you of your own free will and judgement declare that you love Sakura Haruno and offer yourself, all that you have, and all that you ever shall be freely to her?"

"I do," Sasuke's voice was steady, and Naruto caught a faint smile between Sasuke and his soon-to-be wife.

"Do you declare by your love that you would have Sakura as your lawfully wedded wife?" Do you declare that you will love her and honor the bonds of marriage in times of sickness and in health, in periods of tranquility and turmoil, in wealth or poverty, and forsaking all others for as long as you shall live?"

"I do," Sasuke answered with the faintest bit of a smile cracking at the corner of his lip.

Naruto now turned to Sakura. "Sakura Haruno, do you of your own free will and judgement declare that you love Sasuke Uchiha and offer yourself, all that you have, and all that you ever shall be to him?"

Sakura's mouth hung ajar, and her throat bobbed up and down like she was trying to make words. For a moment, panic began running through Naruto. Dammit, I was not prepared to marry anyone! I'm not prepare to have my first ceremony end like this! He prepared to speak, but Sakura blinked and shuddered slight, "Yes!..." she turned pink, "I mean, I do!" her words were punctuated by a slight laugh.

The tension in Naruto's ass release as he breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems we're all a little nervous today," Naruto laughed, eliciting laughter from the gathered crowd. "Do you declare by your love that you would have Sasuke as your lawfully wedded husband?" Do you declare that you will love him and honor the bonds of marriage in times of sickness and in health, in periods of tranquility and turmoil, in wealth or poverty, and forsaking all others for as long as you shall live?"

"I-I do!" Sakura whimpered slightly with tears of joy.

Naruto signaled, and Izumi sent her son, Sato, down the aisle, holding the pillow that bore the wedding rings. The boy set the pillow holding the rings between the couple and quickly scurried back up the aisle to his mom. "Sasuke, please place your ring and repeat after me," Naruto waited for him to place the wedding ring on Sakura's finger before continuing, "Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love; as this ring has no end, my love for you shall never end."

Sasuke's voice was near pleading, "Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love; as this ring has no end, my love for you shall never end." There were gentle tears in his obsidian eyes.

"Sakura," Naruto spoke, "please place your ring and repeat after me," Sakura placed the ring, "Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love; as this ring has no end, my love for you shall never end."

Sakura spoke, choked by tears, "Please accept this ring as a symbol of my love; as this ring has no end, my love for you shall never end!"

"By the power vested in me by the Hokage, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Sasuke, you may kiss your bride." Naruto smiled, tracing away a single tear as his friends traded their first kiss as a married couple.

Once they finished, Naruto knelt beside them and unboxed the ceremonial cups and sake. "As is tradition," he raised the first cup, uncapped the sake, and poured, "You each will take three sips from three different cups," he offered the first cup to Saskue, "To celebrate your family." Sasuke took three gentle sips, then handed the cup to Sakura who took her sips.

She handed the cup back to Naruto. He took the second cup, poured, and handed it to Sakura, "To celebrate your family." Sakura took her sips, a bit more rapidly than before, and offered Sasuke the cup. He took his sips slow, savoring before returning the cup to Naruto.

"And lastly," Naruto readied the third cup, "To celebrate the two of you, and all you have ahead of you!" He handed the cup to Sasuke. Sasuke made a gentle toasting motion to his wife and sipped. Sakura then accepted the cup and did likewise.

Soon the parents came up, each taking three sips from the three nuptial cups, symbolic of joining the two families. "Well," Naruto clapped his hands as everyone finished and the cups were returned, "I think that's it! Congratulations to you both!" Both sides of the aisle stood and began clapping. Naruto stored the cups and sake in their case and stood as Sakura and Sasuke stood. Naruto was happy to note the couple was holding hands and smiling at one another in a way he'd not seen them do since prior to the bombing at the Uchiha Compound.

The bride and groom walked down the aisle, hand in hand, followed by the guests. As the guests filed out, one guest remained seated – Hinata. She remained sitting with a slight smile on her face. "I must say, that was an excellent job you did, Lord Naruto." She accented his name.

"Since when did I get the promotion?" he chuckled as he gathered the case with the cups and sake. He stood and walked toward her.

"Technically, the day after we got back from the moon," she explained, "we are legally married, and you are now part of the Hyūga Clan as well as the Uzumaki Clan."

"Heh," Naruto looked down, "it's still unreal to me."

She finally stood, taking his hand, "Soon," she stared with her beautiful amethyst eyes, "soon we will have our wedding and everything will be official." She smiled the smile that could bring him back from the brink of death.

"I can't wait for the day," he returned the smile, "now, let's see what the reception has to offer."


The reception had been filled with having to greet various members of the clan, her clan. After endless hours of meet and greet, photographs, and dinner, Sakura was ready to kick off her shoes and be done with the day. Mrs. Sakura Uchiha, I never thought I'd see the day!

Sasuke walked hand in hand with her to the family's apartments in the compound. Despite having lived together for years, Sakura couldn't help but feel just a bit naughty – she'd never actually been in his room. He slid open the door and paused, "Sakura…"

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"It is customary for the groom to carry the bride through the doorway of her new home," he explained.

"Oh?" she said in mild confusion, letting out a slight yelp as her husband effortlessly raised her into a cradle carry and carried her across the doorway into his room. Having entered the room, he let her down to her feet. The room was spare of personal belongings but was well furnished with bed, a settee, a writing desk, and several chests of drawers.

"Welcome home," he said, as he closed the door. "The bathroom is through the other door. It's… not much…"

"It's fine, Sasuke," she walked up to him and took his hand in hers, "although this does beg the question of if we keep the apartment now."

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I'm torn," she looked to her left, "until very recently, you were treated like an outsider, like me."

"You're part of this family now, Sakura," he took her chin in his hand and brought her gaze back to him. Sakura's heart began pumping at the gentle contact.

"I know," she replied, "and we don't need to keep a separate apartment, now. I just want to be sure you're okay with losing that bit of distance."

"Itachi keeps telling me I belong here," he smiled, "I want you to belong here, too."

"All right," she nodded. The continued contact of his hand on her chin made her heartbeat increased in tempo. Her voice creaked as she asked, "What is it?"

"You're so beautiful, Sakura," he gasped. Even if she wasn't a medical-nin, she could tell this was stressful for him. "I… I know you've been through so much the last few months…"

She cut off his words, bringing her lips to his. "It's all right," she said as she withdrew.

He brought his arms around her back and shoulders and kissed her again. He was passionate without being forceful. "Sakura, we don't have to if you're not ready."

"I don't know if I'll ever be ready," she whispered to his lips, "Let's just take it one step at a time and see where it goes."

"Okay," he kissed her lips again. Slowly he traveled from her mouth to her chin, sucking along to her neck.

"Ahh…." Sakura shuddered. Her legs were becoming weak, and her body was shivering despite burning up like a fever. He sucked up her neck to her left ear. Sakura closed her eyes and leaned her head back, surrendering to the moment, "AHH!" she screeched a brief moment as one of Sasuke's firm hands came across her ass and he squeezed.

Her knees gave out and there was a brief sensation of falling – only to be stopped by the soft cushioning of the bed. "Sakura," Sasuke's words burned along the skin of her neck as migrated to her collarbone. "If I don't stop right now, there won't be any stopping me!"

Like I actually want you to! Sakura squirmed. Her panties were becoming moist. "Sasuke… don't…" she gasped breathless. He must have initially thought it was her telling him to stop because he did stop, pulling back gently. "… stop… don't stop!" she moaned, remembering how good this felt, how good he could make her feel.

He stared incredulous for a moment, then nodded. His lips returned to her neck and suckled along to her left collarbone. His lips varied from the softness of a butterfly landing on her skin to the intense suction of someone cupping her. Sakura moaned and made breathless pants as his lecherous mouth teased her. Her legs came apart and she felt the pressure of his pelvis grinding against hers through layers of silk and linen. "Sa-Sa-suke! Ah!" words failed to form as Sakura's body undulated under his pleasant advances.

"Say you love me!" fiery words erupted under her ear, causing her skin to go like ice.

"I… ah…ah… I… love!" Sakura clutched at her obi, loosening it with clumsy motion.

"Tell me you want me!" he teased with whispered laugh as he migrated under her chin.

Sakura's green eyes rolled back in her head and she moaned in a mild orgasm as he continued to toy with her. Waves of goosebumps crashed over her skin. Ahhh…" her hands now clawed at layers of silk, tearing her kimono askew. Sakura answered by arching her back, pulling open the now superfluous robes, and clamped Sasuke between her legs. Sakura's tight abdominal muscles, and the upper part of her body jerked upright. She got her hands on the collar of Sasuke's robes and tore through the silk as if it were paper. Sakura found his left collarbone and bit down with enough force to leave marks but not break skin.

"AHHHHH!" Sasuke yelped, and Sakura felt his dick twitch through the remaining layers of clothing. Fuck it! I'm over the foreplay! Sakura release him from her teeth, pulled her underrobe up and over her head, and lay back in the silk of her wedding dress with her red silk bra and panties trimmed with white lace on display.

Sasuke, already bare from the waist up, wasted no time in stripping off his remaining layers. Hands grasped at her panties, "You realize, the cleaning bill for the dress might be enormous if we fuck on top of it!"

Sakura responded by putting her hands over his and shoving her lingerie down her legs, "Ask me… if I care!" she panted as the garment flew away. His hands traced up from her hips, up her sides, and eventually under the material of her bra. "Sasuke," she choked as he finished exposing her, "my breasts… were never large. What did you see in me?"

His incubus grin from their first time making love returned, "There are greater things in life than a great set of tits, Sakura!" He thrust into her already soaked channel, filling the space between her legs with pleasure indescribable.

"AAAHHHHHH!" Sakura let out an unbridled scream as he moved deep into her. She didn't care if it woke the neighbors or not.

"I never…" he huffed, "get sick of that!" He moved back and forth again and again, driving her back to the edge, "Sakura…"

"Ahh… yes?!" she moaned.

"You're so beautiful!" he thrust back and forth within her walls, and she felt his length jumping as he came in her.

Sakura's insides twitched, swallowing up his warm seed, and blissed coated her head to toe. Sakura arched her head back taking deep sighs; tension she'd kept wound up inside for months let go. As she stared at the ceiling, there again came the sensation of Sasuke's lips on her neck, "Sa-Sasuke!" she giggled as overly sensitive skin began warming back up.

"Sakura," his words crawled along her skin, hanging in uncertainty.

"Yes?"

"I want… I want to try again," he said.

"Try again?" she asked, rolling to her side and pausing his kisses.

"Having a baby," he sighed.

"You want to make a baby?" she asked in confusion.

"When you feel ready, yes," he nodded with a slight dip of his head.

"Sasuke, are you sure about this?" her voice trembled. The disappointment of being an expectant mom only to lose the baby so late into pregnancy still tore at her.

"Sakura, I was… ready," his words were strained. "I've buried two of my children and I've never met either!"

Sakura placed her hand at his cheek, "Sasuke… I'm not ready just yet…"

"Take your time," he assured. "Take all the time you need… wife." He smiled faintly.

"Husband," she sighed and lay back again.


Author's notes: Hi everyone, apologies for this being about a week late. Between work and a lot of other issues, I've been struggling to find time to write. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the wedding among other things.

The next few chapters will include a few weddings as well as pregnancies. Needless to say, there shall be lemons. Things will start getting complicated after that, but I won't spoil what is about to happen.

Anyhow, thank you again for reading. Stay healthy, stay safe, and I'll see you next chapter!