CHAPTER 30: Don't Judge Me

Four months later Ino is in Labour. She was in her makeshift home when her water broke. She has been afraid of this day for the past nine months, but knew that it would have to come. Thankfully, the two best medics in the world were at her bedside. Naruto himself was in a panic, what if something goes wrong? He couldn't handle losing either Ino or the baby.

Four months ago, on their honeymoon, Naruto and Ino made a promise. They wouldn't learn what their baby looked like until it was born, that way they would be even happier when it was born.

Three months ago, in the third trimester Ino started to develop back problems. "This baby is huge!" she said aloud, "I don't know how women can have these things! Look how much it's making me bend!"

The next month was when the baby first kicked. Ino and Naruto were worried that it hadn't kicked yet and were overjoyed when it finally did. It was one of the best things either one had felt.

One month before the birth was when the nerves began to get their weirdest. One minute Ino was excited to give birth, "I bet it will be the greatest thing I've ever done! I can't wait to see my baby!". The next, she would be worried sick; "What if something goes wrong, oh God the baby! What if something happens to the baby?"

While Ino was going through the sways of pregnancy, Naruto and everyone else was beginning to execute their plan. Sakura would sneak into the village and find people still loyal to Tsunade. Roughly half of the villagers were loyal, even some Sunagakure citizens sided with Tsunade. None of them could stomach how strict Danzo's rule was. All political enemies were disposed of by Root itself. Root became Danzo's own private police.

Sasuke spent his time training his sharingan. Though he didn't have the Mangekyou, he still was massively improving in Genjutsu. Itachi spent his time trying to make amends for what he's done. He could never fix what he'd done, but he could still help those in need; and the toads always needed help with something. Mikoto lived her life for her boys, she was always doting over them. She tried to make up for her years of absence.

Tsunade trained much more now. Ever since Jiraiya died, the only family she had left was Naruto and through marriage, Ino. She wouldn't let anything happen to them or her new adopted family on Mount Myoboku.

Naruto himself trained by day and by night helped his wife with her pregnancy. Over the past four months he shaped himself into a wonderful provider, even if the toads were the ones who fed and sheltered everyone. Naruto knew that once this Danzo situation was resolved that he would be able to live a wonderful life with Ino and their new child.

No one could have ever thought that on the night Ino would give birth, Mount Myoboku, the secluded mountain, would be invaded. Hundreds of root shinobi flooded past the gates and began to slaughter every sign of life. Toads littered the floor when they first saw her. The woman ran, but could not escape. Root had mortally wounded Mikoto, just as Itachi first saw them.

Brutally, he began his slaughter of fellow Konoha-nin. Blood splattered all over his face when he was done with the first group, but the enemy shinobi kept coming. Wave after wave lay dead at Itachi's feet. Black flames began to envelop the new platoons. Slowly the stream of shinobi dried up as Sasuke began to push his way into the room. He fought his way in while Itachi pushed root out. Eventually, the pair met in the middle. It wasn't long until the realization set in on both their faces, their mother was dying. Itachi ran out to find Tsunade, unaware that the doctor was preoccupied. Sasuke was left in the room with his mother. "Cough, come here baby, cough," said a dying Mikoto.

"It's ok, Itachi will be back with Tsunade soon."

"No, it's my time."

"He will be back, Itachi will be back!"

"Medicine can't do any-cough-thing. I've felt this before."

"Don't go! MOM!"

Root shinobi flooded the room again as Sasuke was enveloped by rage. His new eyes would make short work of Root.

Outside of the medical tent, Naruto waited impatiently. Though he'd insisted on being present for the birth, there wasn't enough room in the tent so he settled for being right outside it. He was pacing impatiently, when he saw the first Root member cross the horizon. Suddenly behind the Shinobi, hundreds of his brethren followed behind him. Naruto began to fight, pushing the men away from the tent. He was losing ground until he saw Itachi jump over the platoon. Itachi skipped over much of Root, until he reached the medical tent. "Where is Tsunade?" demanded the Uchiha. "She's in there, but don't take her. Ino is giving birth," answered Naruto. "Itachi pushed his way into the tent, demanding Tsunade come out. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" questioned a pissed off Tsunade. "I wouldn't bother you, but my mother is critically injured." "Alright," reasoned Tsunade, "I'm sorry Sakura but you're gonna be helping Ino solo." "Right."

Tsunade left the tent, only to be surprise attacked by a root shinobi. Tsunade punched the ninja off her and began to work her way toward Mikoto. Itachi stayed back to help Naruto. The pair were unaware of what was happening in the tent.

"Just one more push"

"ARGH"

"It's a boy!"

Sakura gave the newborn boy to his mother. "He's beautiful!" said a joyful Ino. Both Ino and Sakura had bright grins on their faces. Sakura eyed the monitor, something was wrong. Ino's heart rate was far too fast. 150, 160, 170! Sakura rushed to find the problem, only to find a massive pool of blood around Ino. Postpartum Hemorrhage. Sakura tried, but couldn't stop the bleeding with the minimal materials available. "Naruto!" she yelled out, trying to get the husband's attention. "Sorry Itachi, but I have to go." "Right." Naruto ran into the tent worried about what was wrong, only to find out in horror that his wife was running short on time.

"Hey, Naruto" whispered Ino.

"Hey, Ino" said Naruto, trying to keep himself calm. "Did you see him?" asked Ino, "He's beautiful." "Please don't go!" Naruto cried, "I, sob, can't lose you yet. Not, sob, like this, sob." "Please, Naruto. Don't cry. There's something waiting for me on the other side. I'll wait for you there." "Sakura," tried Naruto, "surely there's something. Let me trade, let me go." Sakura put on a strong face, "I'm sorry!" The beep of the heart monitor filled the small structure. "Please don't judge me, Sakura. But I have something to do at this moment. Please watch over my son." Naruto left the tent and took out his frustration on the Root shinobi who seemingly never ran out.