Haruhi was in step with Yamato and had just turned along the gravel road when a distant rustling was heard in the bushed.

Yamato immediately brought up some foliage as cover for her and Kakashi while he zeroed in on one of the sources of the disturbance. The direction it was coming from was where the grass and sound ninja had retreated. It could even be a severely injured Orochimaru coming back to finish them off.

But no.

In a stark contrast to the green and brown surroundings, Sakura's and Karins pink and red heads came into view.

Her jaw dropped.

Yamato released his jutsu and stepped from the bushes.

"Girls?"

"Yamato-sensei, Haruhi-sensei?!"

Haruhi struggles up, light headed, and pulls both of the girls into a hug. They look like hell, especially Karin with healing bite marks on her body. Both of them are chakra exhausted and smell faintly of blood.

That doesn't matter to Haruhi as she clings to them and they cling back. Kakashi musters enough strength to pull himself from the ground and engulf them all into a hug.

"What happened, where did the two of you come from?"

"Grass! They kidnapped us, but we escaped. We should probably move."

"Right. We're almost back to Konoha-"

Sakura handed Yamato and then Kakashi chakra pills. Highgrade ones she wouldn't have had access too normally.

"I pilfered them from the Grass nin's supply carts when I was doing medical ninjutsu for them. I have plenty. "

Kakashi discretely cracked one even though he already had a pill before. He needed to be careful about that, but for now, he straightened, and ruffled Sakura's hair.

He turned to Haruhi, radiating warmth and resignation.

"I know you girls are exhausted, but we need to get back to Konoha as soon as possible. Can you run the rest of the way.

Karin adopted a fierce expression, and bit her own arm, and Haruhi could see the energy surge through her while Sakura popped another chakra pill, using her medical ninjutsu to get the best usage out of it as They took to the trees towards Konoha, Yamato bringing up the rear as Kakashi bridal carried Haruhi. She tucked her face under his chin and drifted.

Sakura glanced back at Kakashi, who was too focused on the sleeping Haruhi to notice her gaze. He always had eyes for her, but now it was like he was drinking up her image while he still could. Haruhi-sensei looked clammy, and tired. Sakura recalled the moments of weakness she had been experiencing over the past few days and felt very worried.

"Her chakra feels weak." Karin whispered, and Sakura then remembered Karin was an amazing sensor. The way she spoke was tentative as they were carefully around each other in the way new friends were, but she didn't mind. Soon enough things would be comfortable between them.

It better be!

They ran for a few more miles and gasped as the gates appeared into view. The smoldering wreck of the village was already healing, with the fires put out and the roads cleaned of debri and bodies.

Well, they did have a lot of practice with that.

"SAKURA!" Naruto bellowed, kicking up dust with Haku not far behind him. He collided with Sakura and engulfed her into a hug that had her feet lift from the ground, as Haku embraced Karin with Kakashi-sensei landing with Haruhi-sensei in his arms and Yamato-sensei running ahead to report into Tsunade.

"YAMATO-SENSEI, WAIT! TSUNADE ISN"T IN HER OFFICE!"

"Where is she then?"

"She's in the hospital!"

"She's hurt! How?!"

"NO! She's not hurt, she's helping Sakura's mom! Mrs Haruno went into labor!"

Sakura untangles herself and runs even with limbs feeling like lead, everyone else not far behind her as she sprints past the front desk and zeroes in on the maternity wards. She goes past a million rooms filled with the injured from the recent battle. A million thoughts zoom through her mind. It's too soon, was her mother hurt, where was her father, and most importantly, would the baby have inner too?

WE NEED TO GET THERE!

As of an angel, Ino swoops from behind the reference desk, face serious.

"Follow me!" She cries, grabbing Sakura's hand and running towards the end of the ward.

Sakura faintly heards groans of distress and her mentors calm strong voice giving instructions as Haruhi-sensei wakes and indicates for everyone to hang back during this private moments.

She pauses.

I know you're scared but we need to be in there.

Sakura opens the door.

Her father is there, holding her mother's hand, whose face is screw up with determination, frustration, and concentration. Tsunade is monitoring the progress of the baby through the birth canal with a medical jutsu Sakura recognizes, placed over her mother's lower stomach.

"Sakura!" Her mother gasps, and the two others turn to her.

Their faces light up even in this tense situation at having Sakura back in one piece, although exhausted.

"Good, you're here. You can explain later, but right now, help me push the baby down with chakra on the next contraction. The excess energy from the baby means she's having trouble." Tsunade sounds serious, and with good reason. Mebuki is a month early.

Bewildered, Sakura rushed forward and brought up her medical jutsu and immediately saw what Tsunade was talking about. The baby's energy was preventing Mebuki's small chakra reserve from doing it's job during contractions. Sakura swallowed as she began to cry.

Her father's large free hand gently wiped away her tears.

"It's going to be okay Sakura. I have faith in both of you." His voice was warm, and so steady she calmed immediately, and began to help Tsunade move the babies energy down as Mebuki worked her way through another contraction.

They fell into this pattern for the next few minutes, the contractions coming harder and faster each time.

"It's crowning!" Sakura shouted, and Tsunade quickly got into position as the next contraction rolled over her mother.

Shit shit shit!

And then it was there.

The baby was pink, it's little chest struggling for breath in this new strange world as it's tiny hands wave about, as if saying hello. As her mother calmed and Tsunade quickly cleaned the baby, washing it with lukewarm water and getting the afterbirth off. Sakura was able to make out a puff of light brown hair with a pink undertone. It started crying, small cries that gradually grew louder and stronger with each brave breath and it was the most beautiful thing she ever heard.

"Oh." Mom breathed, and her dad sniffed in agreement.

"It's a girl. Small, but perfectly healthy, although not nearly enough chakra to grant those readings from earlier." Tsunade said warmly, swaddling the baby and handing it to Sakura. She blinks her eyes open for the first time, and Sakura can see the world in her turquoise irises.

"Sakura, you help with the placenta."

It was the hardest thing she ever did, but Sakura handed the baby to her Dad and got into position. She placed her hands on her mom's much flatter stomach and coaxed out the placenta, Tsunade in position to catch it.

Another baby appeared.

The room was frozen for a second and even inner was silent as the other young life made it's surprise appearance. A boy. He had pastel light pink hair, lighter than her fathers and even began to fuss as if to say 'hey! I'm here too! Can you clean me already?'

Tsunade jumped into action, following the same procedure even as she chuckled incredulously.

"I think this explains the heightened chakra reading from earlier."

Her father laughed, the normally booming chuckled softened and watery. Sakura felt her worry melt away as a smile spread across her face. Her siblings could still have the bloodline limit but it could be hidden now. They were safe.

" I think so too."

Tsunade swaddled the baby and handed him to her mom. Sakura peered over her shoulder and found herself falling in love again as evergreen eyes opened and peered blearily at her.

...If anything happens to these babies I will kill everyone in this room and then myself.

Sakura giggled, gently brushing her new little siblings faces as her parents conversed over names.

"What do you think is good?"

"I don't know, I didn't expect to need a name ready until next month, much less two."

"What do you think Sakura?"

"...I think we can wait a bit. They'll get their names, ones that suit them." Sakura heard her teammates and friends clustering outside and so did her mom, who was by now cleaned up by Tsunade.

"You're friends can come in briefly to visit."

Sakura nodded, her face made into a beaming grin as she began to usher in visitors.

Things have and will work out. She can feel.

Everyone loves babies ! Surprise!

Question of the chapter: What should their names be? Don't be shy, tell me what you think would be cool with a quick explanation, and I'll credit you in the next chapter!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! COVID SOME REAL SHIT!WASH YOUR HANDS AND WEAR A MASK, STAY HOME!