A/N The end of this chapter begins the major *content warning.* see endnotes for detailed trigger warnings.

Also, so many of you commented about the cousins scenting the pregnancy on whatever Sakura sent him. I'll be honest, I did not think of that and while it's cute af, it would not make sense here. Also, he isn't exactly sharing his Sakura nighty around lol I imagine he might pull it out at night when they're asleep? Idk lol If this was a different story, I would run with that idea.

Chapter 30

Treason and Tragedy

There were privacy seals set up around Sakumo's tent, and yet Kakashi still felt a lingering anxiety that it wasn't enough. What they were discussing was open treason. Uchiha Fugaku, who had arrived within the last hour, sat beside him, legs crossed and hands folded around one knee. He, Kakashi knew, held no love for Hiruzen or Danzō and had been easy to convince.

"I have had confirmation from Konoha. None of our confiscated prisoners are being held with the others. They seem to have disappeared. Ordinarily, I would be extremely skeptical of the Raikage and Tsuchikage's declarations of innocence, but now…" He shook his head. "Looking back over the last two years, there are a handful of times I recall foreign shinobi either committing suicide to avoid capture, or similarly disappearing. I hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now?"

Sakumo frowned down at his desk. "I can recall the same. Each time within our borders, attacking infrastructure or villages."

"So what now? The suspicions of a handful of shinobi won't be enough to overthrow the Hokage, and the endorsement of two enemy Kage will only confuse the truth."

Fugaku was right. But: "There may already be lingering doubt after what he tried to do to Sakumo. How much anger was there when he was to blame for this war? No one wanted to fight. Hiruzen has already admitted to attempting to frame him. Doubt may linger, resentment for the war itself definitely does."

Sakumo pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes. But, they don't know what we do. The three of us won't be enough to spread that information, if we would even be believed. I am still potentially untrustworthy, he is an Uchiha, and you are from an enemy nation." He stared helplessly up at the ceiling. "When I first uncovered this information, I had not anticipated that it would take this turn. Are we really discussing a coup?"

Kakashi glanced at Mebae and Raiu, standing unobtrusively in the corner, staring at the ground. "Sakumo," his father tore his eyes away from the ceiling of the tent to look at him, the weight of their entire nation in his eyes. "We only have two choices. Forget we know anything, cease conversations with the Raikage and Tsuchikage and allow this war to play out as it will, or…" He waved a hand in a lazy gesture around the tent. "We continue down this path."

Beside him, Fugaku nodded, his voice resigned. "You're rotating home in two weeks, Karasu. I will send my summons to my council. Expect a visit. I will instruct them to listen to you and take what you have to say to the other major clans. Most of the heads remained in Konoha, but those that did not can be reached by their councils. It will be impossible to meet openly in the village, but perhaps by the time your weeks of leave are up, we will be able to gather at one of the fronts."

"Can they all be trusted?"

He pursed his lips. "War always devastates the clans more than anyone else. Most are still recovering from the last. You need look no further than your own for proof of this."

Kakashi held back an eye-roll. Drafted civilians were always slaughtered, and civilian-born shinobi died at even higher rates to those from clans. It was self important and prejudiced, but the sentiment was shared around the other clans.

"Some may be loyal to Hiruzen. He is the student of the Nidaime and head of his own clan. But as bloodthirsty as some shinobi can be, I can think of few that would not be outraged by this information. Slaughtering our own people, civilians, women and children… None would have wanted another fight so badly as that. Whatever reservations you have, Sakumo, if this is true, Hiruzen and anyone else responsible must be held to account."

"Fine." Sakumo sighed, resting his hands on his desk. "Karasu will do as you suggest. Until then, keep your eyes out for any more potential evidence."

Fugaku nodded curtly and stood, his clone disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Mebae, having been silent the entire time Fugaku was there, sighed in frustration and spoke up. "I don't understand why we have to continue on with this farce. My people, Iwa nin, your own shinobi are dying every day. Bring this treachery out in the open now, summon your Hokage here and I will bring mine. The Tsuchikage would come easily too. We could have done with this as soon as they could all be gathered."

Kakashi shook his head. "It isn't that easy, Mebae-san. Hiruzen would never admit the truth. As of now, we're the only ones that even know. And as Sakumo pointed out, we are not exactly good witnesses. There would be no majority rebellion against the Hokage. We would be arrested immediately for treason and the war would likely end up far worse than it already will be."

She shook her head, frustrated, angry. "I don't want to fight anymore now, knowing what I do. I don't want to spend the next months, longer, attacking Konoha shinobi when they were lied into this, watching my comrades die. I want to be able to show my face in your village when this is over. And I don't want to continue to risk my own life, my brother's, or either of yours."

Sakumo held up a hand, placatingly. "We will be saving countless lives if we are successful. And I will always welcome you and your brother in my home, Mebae-san. For now, go back to the Tsuchikage and tell him what we have decided. When Karasu rotates home, head back to Kumo."

Clearly unsatisfied but knowing there were no other real options, Mebae relented. "Yes, Sakumo-sama."

It was strange to Kakashi, having not grown up with his clan, how she and her brother both deferred to Sakumo. They were from a separate branch of the family, and yet for some reason, they seemed to have immediately accepted his authority. When he asked her about it, she had given him a strange look before remembering his upbringing. 'The head of our half of the clan was my uncle, I wasn't raised to lead. Even if I had been, our half of the family was a lesser branch. The head of the Konoha Hatake's has always been our ultimate clan authority.'

Not for the first time, Kakashi felt like he had been denied so much more than just his father when he'd killed himself.

Sakura slid quietly into the room. It was dark, the only light pouring in from the moon through an open curtain. "Obasan?"

Ume looked up from where she sat rocking with Tenzō. He was sound asleep in her arms, one hand tangled in her thick braid. She yawned, but smiled up at Sakura as she crept around a sleeping Kakashi-kun to kneel beside the rocking chair. "Hello dear. Did everything go alright?"

Sakura nodded and whispered back. "Yes, it was a young Chunin. He'll make a full recovery." She yawned too, reaching for her son, laying her hand on his back. "I'm sorry it was so late. Thank you for watching them."

Ume patted her hand on Tenzō's back. "It's no trouble."

"Did he cry much?"

She shook her head. "Oh no. Only for a few minutes when you left. But Kakashi-kun was here, and Kusa." Sakura peaked around her grandmother to see the large sleeping dog on the other side of the rocking chair. "He slept fine most of the night. Woke up a little bit ago looking for you, so we rocked until he fell asleep. I was just about to lay him back down with Kakashi-kun."

Sakura yawned again. "I've missed my mother so much." She rubbed Tenzō's back. He looked so peaceful when he slept. "But having you here, Obasan, has made it so much easier."

Her grandmother reached out and patted her head. "I miss my sister, I have for years. Having you here, getting to know you, and helping you care for your family has filled the place she left in my heart."

Sakura knew they were talking about different people, but her grandmother's words were comforting all the same. Blinking back tears—she was crying annoyingly often lately—she let herself relax fully, her head on Ume's knee. "I'm going to be okay, we're going to be okay."

"Of course you are, dear."

"Me-chan!"

Sakura looked up from her surgery notes when Kakashi joined her outside. He had spent most of the afternoon with Obito at Rin's house.

"Hey, Kakashi-kun. You're back just in time to help with dinner."

He sat beside her, one hand glowing and reaching for her stomach. Sakura laughed. "Hey, Me-chan." He leaned closer, talking to her stomach. "Hello baby-chan. Hm… your heartbeat is so fast today! Did Me-chan eat a spicy lunch again?" He grinned up at her. "Obito said his grandmother is going to get an Omamori for you and the baby. She apparently knows a monk at some temple in Ōujisama City and says that his are the best."

Sakura hummed. "Oh yeah?"

He nodded, his feet swinging over the edge of the engawa. "Yeah." He looked out at Tenzō and Kusa digging in the dirt. "Me-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think they work?"

She frowned, giving him her full attention. "Omamori? Um… I don't know. Maybe? Why?"

His face twisted in a frown, his lips pursed. "Hm. I wonder if my mother didn't have one. Maybe that's why she died when I was born."

Sakura's heart lurched. Oh, Tsunade. "Kakashi-kun…"

"Nevermind. That's stupid." He grinned up at her but she could tell it wasn't really genuine. "I love you, Me-chan."

"Oh." She pulled him in for a hug. "I love you too, Kakashi-kun."

His shoulders heaved with an especially big sigh before he pulled away and stood up. "I'll watch Tenzō so you can make dinner, Me-chan."

That made her laugh. "Gee, thanks."

Three Ninken snored softly in the corner. Tenzō and Kakashi-kun were both sound asleep, curled up together. It was cute.

Sakura couldn't sleep.

There was something… off.

Probably whatever I ate. Too much ramen. That can't be great for the baby.

After tossing and turning for a while, she sat up and pulled out Kakashi's latest letter. Bull had brought it the day before.

Sakura,

We're headed back to speak to the Tsuchikage again, to tell him what we've decided.

I have lived my entire life as an unquestionably loyal tool for the Hokage. Now, I find myself at the center of this mess. Somehow, us being here has become the second most insane thing to happen to me.

And yet, as dangerous as this is, I feel hopeful. So many injustices could be corrected. So many lives spared ruin and suffering.

I look forward to coming home in two weeks. I look forward to what our life can be, what the lives of our children might be.

Children. That's what you said in your last letter. Maybe this is a conversation we should have had in person, but… since reading that I can't stop thinking about it. Would you want more children? Before you, I knew my clan would die with me. But now, after watching you mother Kakashi-kun, especially after these few months with Tenzō, I find that I want to share more children with you, Sakura. I want to watch as your body changes and grows with my pups. I want to give you another son with my hair and your ferocious strength, a little girl with your beautiful, luminous green eyes and maybe my mole? I've always thought it would look better on a girl.

Hm. Maybe that's weird.

I know you're young, and there is so much more for you to accomplish, so much more that you can become… but, maybe when the war is over, if you might want that too, we could discuss what the next few years might be like?

I don't think I want to be a shinobi anymore. When the war is over, if things are stable, I think I'd like to retire. I can train our children and work with Kizashi. I've spent almost three decades doing this, killed countless enemies… I want the peace you bring me, Sakura. I want to spend my days near home, be there to help you raise our pups, and to go to bed beside you every night.

Sakumo has mentioned wanting to settle down and find a mate. Taga, apparently, frequently reminds him of his duty to our ancestors. He doesn't approve of the sort of casual sexual relationships that are so common among shinobi, and insists that Sakumo would be happier with a mate. I find that I wholeheartedly agree with Taga.

I love you.

I'll be home soon.

Kiss my son for me.

Yours, Kakashi

His words brought a smile to her face and a lightness to her heart despite her disquiet. It was probably manipulative and silly, but she had intentionally worded her last letter to insinuate more children. If he hadn't been receptive, she might have brushed it off as an inclusion of Kakashi-kun—and it was that too.

Instead, he had dispelled all of her fears. Now she knew that he would want their baby. More than that, he would be happy. She imagined telling him, imagined the way his dark eyes would light up, the way his lips would stretch into that perfect, almost boyish grin. Maybe he would kiss her, gather her into his arms and press his face against her neck. His hand would cover the still mostly flat plane of her stomach, his lips brushing the shell of her ear, 'our pup.'

She felt a little giddy.

She needed to sleep.

Tucking the letter back beneath her pillow, Sakura lay down, pulling both boys into her arms. Tenzō snuffled, flopping onto his back and throwing an arm across Kakashi-kun's face. She kissed his cheek, nuzzled into his hair and closed her eyes.

The ninken snored softly.

The house was still.

Kakashi-kun muttered in his sleep.

.

.

.

A sudden thrill shot down Sakura's spine.

The barrier was breached!

Multiple chakra signatures…

At least thirty, at several different points around the compound.

No escape.

Fuck!

She sat up, thinking through every option. "Kakashi-kun, Kusa, Pakkun, Shiba, wake up, now!"

"Ma?"

"What's wrong, Ma?"

Kakashi-kun blinked groggily, snapping fully awake when he saw her moving. "What's wrong, Me-chan?"

"I think we're being attacked. At least thirty people just crossed onto our property, maybe more. There are weapons in that cabinet, grab some. Pakkun—"

The little dog skittered to her side. "Yes, Ma?"

"Hide yourself and suppress your chakra. Do not let them find you, do you understand? If this goes badly, run to Karasu and Sakumo. Sakumo is at our camp in Grass, Karasu will be back by the time you get there."

He whimpered. "But, Ma, I want to fight—"

"No! I need you to do this, Pakkun. Now, hide."

Without any more arguing, he ran off to do as she ordered. Kusa and Shiba had backed themselves around a groggy, fussing Tenzō, both growling menacingly. "Who are they, Ma?"

"What's happening, Me-chan? Why are we being attacked in the village?"

Accepting a kunai from Kakashi-kun and forming a chakra scalpel with her other hand, she moved to stand back to back with him. Danzō. "I'm not sure. Listen, if you get an opening, I want you to take Tenzō-chan and run."

"What?" He looked up at her. "I can't leave you, Me-chan."

She groaned, terrified for all of them. Where would they even go? Would they be allowed to escape? "If you get the chance, you go."

There were footsteps racing across the roof, the ninken were snarling now, and Tenzō had fallen silent, his wide, terrified eyes staring up at her. Kakashi-kun looked close to tears. "Okay, Me-chan."

They were alone, and then masked shinobi were pouring into their home. The shōgi screens were torn open, Tenzō screamed. Sakura killed the first three enemies before she'd even had time to think.

"Mama!"

She made the mistake of looking at Tenzō. One of the masked shinobi—ANBU, ROOT—was struggling, stretched out over her hysterical son, pulled between Kusa and Shiba's fangs, blood dripping onto him.

While she was distracted, an arm wound around her neck.

"Me-chan!"

Summoning strength, she grabbed the arm and threw the shinobi that had dared touch her through the wall. Dammit. The new opening into the room only allowed more enemies to flood in at once, and they just kept coming.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Kakashi-kun. One, two, three fell beneath him, and her heart broke for his shattered innocence. But she felt fleeting pride too.

Another and another and another, with every blow, with each new enemy, she could feel herself tiring.

No! Not yet!

Her attention split between the flood of faceless monsters trying to hurt her children and those attacking her.

Tenzō was screeching—terrified, desperate screams that rang in her ears. Kusa and little Shiba could only handle so many at once, they were getting closer to her son, snatching and tearing his shirt.

"Mama! Mama, Mama, Mama!

Her head pounded. No, no no no!

The floor broke open beneath her fists, knocking down the growing number of enemies surrounding her son.

"Me-chan!"

A leg slammed into her stomach, throwing her back into another wall. She coughed up blood. Vision blurred, she staggered to her feet. Oh gods, the baby—She didn't have time to think about them. Tenzō was still wailing, Kakashi-kun was screaming, and the ninken barked and snarled and whined.

She threw a kunai. She swung her fist. A cramp seized her, nearly bringing her to her knees. Kakashi-kun was there beside her, slashing and kicking and doing his best to protect her.

No. I'm meant to protect you.

She rallied. Beneath her fist a mask shattered, caving into the face it covered. Something slashed her arm, her thigh. Pain shot down her spine and she cried out.

"Mama!"

"Me-chan!"

No, I can't, I can't die here. My babies! They need me to—

Kusa's massive hulking body was hoisted up between three men, a metal collar fastened around his thick neck despite his struggling. Shiba was similarly caught, struggling in vain.

"Shiba!"

"My Kusa! No! No touch me! Mama!"

Distracted, desperate to get to her son, another powerful hit to her stomach slipped between her guard and she collapsed to her knees. Tears blurred her eyes as she watched Tenzō finally snatched up too. He struggled, flailing until a green glow swiped just so and he went limp.

No!

Sakura screamed. She smashed her fists into the already wrecked floor and it groaned, the ground beneath rolling up, the whole house shaking. Kakashi-kun leapt off the bent up, destroyed floor, attacking the enemy carrying Tenzō.

"Let him go!"

He tried, he fought so hard.

So many enemies still stood, swamping her, weighing down her limbs and pulling her away from her babies. No. Kakashi-kun went limp the same way Tenzō had. No! No no no…

An arm wound around her neck, chakra strengthened and tight as steel. She clawed at it before each of her arms were yanked wrong up and behind her, dragging her off the floor.

No!

She threw out her legs, kicking, screaming. Her teeth found purchase on an arm or a hand and she bit down as hard as she could.

They were taking her babies away. They looked dead. No. Please…

Pain exploded from the back of her head. Her chakra burned as it drained out of her in a horrible rush before everything went black

Kakashi…

I'm sorry…

Forgive me…

A/N Some of you have guessed already, but this is your trigger warning for miscarriage. There are going to be a lot of very devastating scenes in the next few chapters that might be upsetting for anyone with pregnancy related triggers. I apologize this wasn't in the original tags, but as I mentioned, it wasn't in my original outline. I promise I didn't throw this in for kicks. It is not only important to the plot, but for me personally as well. I promise that I did my best with this subject, and that if you can stay with me, it will be worth the read in the end.