Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto

Warning Contains: spoilers, suggestive themes, violence, language, and blood

My Dearest Readers,

The end has come at last! This is it. This is the last chapter to Kunoichi's Burden: Village First. It's been a long and winding journey in which we learned and grew together. I want to take the time to thank you all from the very bottom of my heart. Thank you. It is because of your support that this grew to what it is. And I mean every word.

Thank you for allowing me to entertain your time and imagination with my crazy fragments about the world in my head. Thank you for supporting me through the rough patches and there were quite a few of them. Thank you all for blowing my expectations clean out of the water. I could never repay your kindness. Your honesty is something that I truly appreciate and admire.

So that being said, this is a bittersweet moment for me. It's unbelievable sweet because I'm proud of what this grew to. It started off as a eight thousand word story into something bigger, richer, and more thoughtful. I truly think that I stayed true to what I wanted to do. I could not be happier with how this is ending. And hopefully you all share my sentiments.

I know that I probably sound like a broken record and this is probably annoying to read yet again but I still cant wrap my head around the fact that so many of you have taken the time to write to me your thoughts, suggestions, criticisms, and opinions. It's incredible. You're all incredible. :)

But like I said this is bittersweet. I'm sad that this is it. This story will no longer act as my way of escaping the stresses of my day to day. And I'm really going to miss hearing from you all. I'm going to really miss this story, these characters and this plot line.

But I want to end on a good note. So please, one last time, tell me what you're thinking! It would really make my day, week, month.

So goodbye for now, Village Faithful. Hopefully we will all be reunited not too long from now!

~L.H.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Something Old, Something New

Nostalgia.

It had been several years since Sakura had been brought back to the past, to her time, to her home. The years had moved slowly while she lived in them, taking them day to day, but as she reflected back it was almost as if she blinked and it was all different. Time was a strange thing. Even when man claimed to have a grasp of it, an understanding, man was still unable to control it. Time was fluid. It moved faster than anyone could even imagine.

She was thirty. She was thirty, it was a monumental achievement. She had reached an age that many in her profession never came close to. There was a moment, a lifetime ago, that she thought she would never see the other side of twenty-two but here she was. She was thirty and that meant something. It meant that she was good at her job, her role, she was good at survival. She was still alive and she saw no reason not to continue living.

She was thirty. She spent the last nine years in a foreign land, a land so painfully like home that at one point it tormented her. But now, on the other side of her journey, this land was her home. What she had left behind was nothing more a dream, a memory. But she knew better. That Konoha was coming. Change was all about her. Gone was the old it was replaced by the new.

It was hard to wrap her mind around it. What was new for Konoha was old news for her. It was stranger. The older she got the more her home resembled her childhood. Was change supposed to work retroactively? Was this really how things worked? Was her future really her past?

She tried not to think about the circle that seemed to be her life for obvious reasons. She rather would prefer to remain sane to be able to witness the village grow to what she knew it could be. Nine years. She was nine years older and there were days that she felt every bit of her added age.

Nine years. She outlived what her supposed demise by nine years. In the past she never held much significance in birthdays. In the past, they were just days that came and went. Now, now they meant something. A birthday represented another year, another day, another minute that she was alive. She was alive nine years after the fact. Nine years, one year for each of kyuubi's tails.

The number six also held significance to her. She had been married to the Konoha's beloved Yondaime for six years. It was startling to her that time was moving so quickly. It was head scratching especially considering how during the Fourth War there were days where it felt like time just stood still. She was someone's wife for six years. When did that happen? How did that happen?

She was happy. It scared her how happy she was. A part of her was still looking for it all to crumble but she kept that part of herself locked away deep, deep inside of her. It was her own personal demon that she housed. Doubt that was her new enemy that she had to face on a semi-regular basis, it was her new nightmare. But she was not alone. And most days it did not even cross her mind. She was happy.

She was thankful that she found happiness in this time. It dawned on her – and not for the first time- that this was what Akemi had meant when she told Sakura that she should not be afraid to fall. She allowed herself to fall for this Konoha, her friends, and most importantly Minato. She allowed herself to be selfish and she had never been happier.

If she was offered to go back to her life, before the war started, she would turn the opportunity down. She realized that she belonged here because her heart was here. Her life before her twenty-second birthday seemed more like a dream. This was her world. These were her people. This was her Konoha. It was different but it was hers.

Her past was not completely forgotten. She would occasionally wake up in a cold sweat remembering the events of her childhood, genin days, and the war. But all she had to do was look to her left and she knew that all that was part of the past. Her past did not haunt her it did not define her. Her past gave her perspective a sneak preview of what was to come. Her past was her best foresight into what was just around the bend. Her past was their future. It was his future.

His arms reassured her that she was not going to melt away into thin air. His even breathing next to her, night in and night out, promised Sakura that she would not simply disappear. His chest moving up and down steadily beside her constantly reminded her that she would be missed, if she were to go missing, if she did melt, if she did vanish she would be missed. And he would come looking for her. He would always come looking for her and she knew that well enough now that he did not even have to say it anymore. She was loved. She was happy.

She had been given a second chance and she liked to think that she made the best of it. She had healed. She was someone that she was proud of. She had the life that she never thought was possible. For all his loudness, obnoxiousness, and his almost borderline annoying faith in humanity, he was right. Naruto was right. He was always right. She found someone to be with that made it possible, that made her life possible.

So many wise souls had offered her invaluable advice that she probably should have heeded to sooner than she did. Tsuande was always telling her to not give up because giving up- even when things looked bleak- was the biggest sin she could commit against the mission, against herself. Because the moment she gave up there was no more hope. And humans needed hope. She needed hope. Having hope was the only thing that helped Sakura pick herself up from bed every morning, especially when she was feeling what seemed like endless, mind numbing, perpetual sadness when both Minato and Kushina had stopped interacting with her. For the longest time hope was her only friend. And it had been kind to her.

Jiraiya had taught her that it was okay to have moments, no matter how brief, of doubt when faced with an impossible decision. He had killed the man he considered his best friend, his brother. She could only imagine what must have been running through his head when he finally completed the mission that put before him. But she liked to believe that in the whole process, Jiraiya did not lose what made him who he was. He kept his humanity. Even when he said goodbye to her many years ago, he still made sure that someone would look after his godson. He was Jiraiya even when he was facing certain death. He stayed true to himself and she could only hope that she would be able to same.

Her three little munchkins – who were not so little anymore- taught her so much in their own right. They taught her that some bonds ran deeper than what they all started with. The family people were born to was important but they showed her that the family that they all picked up along the way was equally important. Whenever she looked at them she was reassured that they would be okay. They would make it. The next generation had turned out beautiful in spite of all the chaos that they grew up in. They were the family that chose her and she could never thank them enough for accepting her, flaws and all.

Kushina pulled the blinders from her eyes. She showed Sakura that she really was not an only child anymore. She was her sister. What they had transcended beyond blood and genetics. They shared hardships, they shared similar situations, they shared their secrets, their fears, their dreams, and at one point they even shared the same roof. Kushina was her person, she was her family, and she was her sister. And she was her sister in every sense of the word.

Nagato had advised her to not let her anger cloud her, consume her, swallow her whole. He was an example of where those kinds of destructive thoughts could lead. His life was a lesson. He had let his anger, his hatred turn him into something that he was not. It had taken nearly killing a whole village for him to realize his mistake. He had taught her that the price of revenge was the not worth losing herself.

Even Danzo, in his twisted and misdirected ways, taught her something that she would never forget. He taught her that maintaining perspective was something very essential in life. He lost sight of what was really, truly important. He let himself get so caught up in his ultimate goal that he failed to realize that he had lost perspective. He was no longer thinking what was best for the village. He was too engrossed in trying to right all the wrongs that he perceived happened to him. It became about one upping his rival and less about what the village needed. He taught her that taking a step back and reevaluating if what she was doing really lined up with her intentions and if it really was for the greater good. The ends did not justify the means and he was the prime example of that lesson.

Yoshino, Yoshino turned out to be just a vault of good advice and necessary life lessons. And as good as she was that was how equally insane Tsume was. But the two of them did show her one thing, intentions were important. They showed her that making an effort was all that was needed most of the time. They were her support system and half the time they did not even know what to say to comfort her but all that really mattered to Sakura was the fact that they were there. They were making an effort. After the life she had lived in her late teens and early twenties it was nice just to have someone sit up with Sakura and listen to her complain about the most mundane things of everyday life.

Mikoto and Fugaku taught her and kindness can be found in the most strangest of places. They were living proof that two people who loved each other can demand the best from their significant other. She brought out the best of him and he did the same with her. For the longest time they were her sign. They reminded her that it was possible to put your happiness in someone else's hands. They were far from perfect but that was precisely what made them perfect for Sakura. They were a team and back when she was by herself of even with Masaki they were a beacon of hope. What they had was something that she strove for and still strives for.

Even the Hyuga brothers had advice to offer her, patience and forgiveness. They were working on their issues and she was sure that they would continue to do so. But they were trying and that was all that she could ever realistically ask for. They were attempting to mend their strained relationship and she found that more admirable than any top rank ninjutsu. They had eyes that saw almost three hundred and sixty degrees but they still did not see eye to eye but she believed in them. If anyone could find a compromise it would be them.

Sarutobi's advice was the biggest wakeup call of her life. Sarutobi had told her that the future she was from was now her past and she wholeheartedly believed him. This was her present. She belonged where she felt safe and loved and that was next to her Hokage.

And Minato, he probably taught her the most difficult lesson of them all. He taught her it was okay to open herself up to someone. He proved to her that she was not too damaged to love, that she still had something to offer to another. He made her realize that her heart was not as broken as she thought it was. He showed her that the words 'I love you' were not taboo. He let her know that trusting someone enough to let them in and show all her vulnerabilities to was not something that should cause her an anxiety attack. He taught her to be happy.

He taught her to fight for her happiness, to fight for him, to fight for them.

"So you see, it is extremely important for medical nin to remain alive. The mission's success depends on them." Sakura smiled at the wide eyed students at the academy. She was planting seeds of interest in the minds of future medics. "If a medic were to die then who will heal the team?"

She let her rhetorical question hang heavily in the air. She had meant ever word about the importance of having medical shinobi on a squad. That was why she always looked forward to help develop the next generation of med-nin.

She would do anything if it meant fewer deaths because everyone in this room was someone's child. They belonged to someone. They had families. And even if they did not, they were still a part of Konoha and that meant that they had Minato they had her. They were children, babies even, and she would do her part to make sure that most of them stayed alive to have families of their own one day.

She was not naïve. She knew that some of them would die. But she slept better a night with the knowledge that she was doing her part to cut down on casualties. She was doing all that she could to keep as many of them breathing as possible. And if that meant bi-weekly lectures on the basics of medical ninjustu then she was more than happy to oblige.

"Thank you Haruno-sama. Now kids, do any of you have any questions?" A baby faced Iruka asked his class. Sakura smiled at the nervousness that he displayed around her. He could not maintain eye contact with her for more than a few seconds at a time. He had just passed the chunnin exams. He was still young but teaching was his calling. Some things were just meant to be. And she had a feeling that a certain blonde would be more than ecstatic with the arrangements when the time came for him to enter the academy.

Immediately hands shot up. Their faces held the 'pick me', looks on them. Their enthusiasm never failed to put a smile on her face. It also provided her with a much needed distraction from her aching back. When did standing for a few hours become such a chore?

Sakura was used to the kid's curiosity and she was more than happy to humor them. "Is your hair really pink?" A bold dark haired boy shouted at her. Iruka began to sputter at the question. It was as plain as day that the man was horrified. His face was turning an unnatural shade of red. She laughed off his apologies and smiled kindly at the boy.

"It is really pink," Sakura ignored the mutters of the words "weird" and "bizarre". She chose to overlook the skeptical looks she was receiving from the peanut gallery. She had said her piece and if they wanted to not believe her that was on her. She really did not have the time or energy to get into an argument with a six year old. Also, she figured that it would reflect badly on the Hokage.

"What's that on your forehead?" Another blurry faced boy said with gusto. He even felt the need to lean forward across his desk and point. 'Did his mom not teach him that pointing was rude?' She could hear the sound of Akemi's laughter in her head. Sakura's smile was bit strained but she kept her composure. She would not lose to the likes of a snotty ten year old who did not know better than to not run his mouth.

"I was not blessed with large chakra reserves so I learned Tsunade-sama's seal and that allows me to store as much chakra as I want." Sakura watched pleased as the kids around her looked at her in awe. 'That's more like it.'

"Is it true that you killed an Akatsuki?" Murmurs erupted the class as they waited for the medic to answer. Even Iruka looked at her interest. She fought down the need to fidget on her feet. Her back was really starting to bother her. Sakura wanted nothing more than to sit down and not get up for a few hours.

Sakura nodded her head slowly. She could almost pinpoint where her headache was staring to formulate. "I did. I managed to take down two." There were excited gasps in the crowd. She could not help herself, she grinned widely. It was nice to have to work appreciated and admired. Even if that said work was years ago. She had not been on many missions lately. But she refused to think that her best action-packed days were behind her.

"Our Hokage only took down one! Why aren't you Hokage?" The same dark haired boy had shouted this question. She should have been more surprised than she was but she had been doing this for quite a while. She had long learned to expect just about anything. Kids really did say the darndest things.

"Hiro-kun!" Iruka got to his feet and was about to admonish the boy. Sakura placed a calming hand on the teen's shoulder. He halted his movements immediately. She spared the chunnin a reassuring smile. She was pleased that some of his color had returned to his face.

"It's true that I've killed more Akatsuki than our Hokage. But I would not make a very good leader. Do you know why?" Sakura asked the class and she watched as many students looked at her with surprise. They were young so she could not expect them to know the answer to her question. She was sure that some jonin might not even know how to answer it correctly. Her little trouble makers would know but that was beside the point.

"Strength isn't measure by how many enemies you kill. It's not even measure by how many powerful jutsu you have. Real strength is measured by how many people you protect and our Hokage is the best at keeping his precious people safe. All of you, everyone in this village is Minato's precious person and he would gladly give his life in exchange for yours."

Silence fell the class as they absorbed her words. Iruka looked at her in admiration. The boy who had asked her the question's face dropped. "If you want to be truly strong find something to fight for. Fight for your village and everyone in it and then you will know the meaning of true strength." Deafening applause greeted her on her way out.

"Thank you for looking after him. I know he can be quite a handful," Sakura smiled at tired looking jonin in front of her. Rin smiled back at her while Obito just scowled. She had long learned not to take anything personally. "Something wrong Obi-kun?" She adjusted her grip on the squirming child who was refusing to stand still. He was hellbent on escaping. If he was doing anything else she would have been worried. Sakura spared him a sharp look but that only stilled him for a few moments before he was at it again. It was amazing how over the years she had learned to simply talk over his whining.

"Don't mind him shishou, he's just sore that he lost to Kakashi-kun again." Rin explained with a bright smile on her face. . The nineteen year old medic had come a long way but still insisted on calling Sakura shishou. She still had much to learn, after all. Rin bent down to ruffle the tot's blonde hair. He pouted at her in a moody fashion. Sakura secretly wished she had a camera. He was making Minato's face.

"Oh, what was it this time?" Sakura asked in amusement as Obito's mood darkened. Their bouts were well known. They usually served to brighten her spirits. She missed being out and sparing with them. What she did not miss was setting their broken bones and giving them a piece of her mind. Rin did both jobs very well.

"They had a bet on who would last longer against sensei in a spar." Rin failed to notice the sudden dip in Sakura's demeanor. Even the boy in her hand had enough sense to end his struggle for freedom. It was simply not happening today. 'So my dear husband has been neglecting his duties as Hokage while I've been talking him up to the academy kids.'

'Go easy on him, flower-chan,' Sakura ignored the voice in her head and smiled at the two again. Kakashi was nowhere to be seen but that was expected. He was Minato's personal ANBU after all. He went where the Hokage went. The arrangement reminded her of puppy following behind its owner. Not that she would ever dare tell Kakashi that. She did not want to hurt his self esteem too much. "Well better luck next time Obito." She pushed herself up on her toes to pinch his cheek. Obito had grown like a weed. He was a head taller than her now. He was catching up to Minato.

His mood seemed to lift somewhat at the affectionate gesture. His eyes softened. "See you around Sakura-sensei." The man turned to wave at her. Sakura found herself smiling at Obito's and Rin's interlaced fingers.

A sudden, sharp pain altered her to the fact that someone was not happy with her. "Let go of my hair, Naruto." She gently pried her braid from the blonde's tight fist. He had inherited his father's obsession with her hair.

"Momma, I wanna play. No sleeping today!" He buried his face against her thighs. It was close to nap time which also meant it was time for Naruto to be impossibly cranky and fight her every step of the way. He was surprisingly good at stalling or even getting out of taking a nap all together. She blamed Minato for that. Naruto had the Hokage's number. It would be adorable if it was not so pathetic on her husband's end. The great Yondaime let his four year old son manipulate his way out of taking naps.

"Fine, if you don't want to take a nap that's fine by me." She sighed tiredly. Naruto looked at her with hopeful eyes. The smile on his little chubby face almost made her feel guilty. "No nap, no ramen. How's that sound?" She asked him with a smirk on her face. She had more experience dealing with the knucklehead. She would rather eat a fistful of dirt than let him get the better of her.

"No! I'll take nappy, promise. Can I please have ramen?" His bottom lip jutted out just the right amount. His wide blue looked so sad that her smirk fell off her face. Sakura rolled her eyes at her kid's behavior. He really had a thing for the dramatics. "Please?" He tugged the hem of her shirt.

"Deal," she bent down to scoop him into her arms. She was not proud of it but parenting was hard. No one had it down to a perfect science. And she was tired so she did not care who judged her. Besides she still adhered to the "Naruto can only have Ramen once a week rule." But she was well aware her little spitfire ate it more than once. She was certain Kushina treated him out to the high sodium meal at least once a week and she bet her weight in salt that Minato gave in at let the blonde have it whenever he asked really nicely.

But on a more important note, she found herself with a sudden craving for ramen. It was killing two birds with one stones and Sakura was nothing if not efficient. "Deal!" The blonde cheered as she attacked his face with butterfly kisses. His blue eyes regarded her with mirth as she began to bounce him on her hip. He let out a surprised squeak when she lifted him above her head. His sounds of his giggles caused the smile on her face to grow considerably in size.

"After we get our ramen, I'm going to kill your daddy." She said with way more cheerfulness than necessary.

She stared at the slowly moving ceiling fan. It was strangely hypnotic. It calmed her nerves with each full cycle. She was a light sleeper but rotating blades were not keeping her up. Sakura had something weighing on her mind for the past few weeks and she figured now was a time as well as any to have everything out in the open.

Sakura turned head. His back was to her. She blew a wayward strand from her face. Minato was even worse than her. Even the slightest of movements usually woke him. It was just the type of person he was. It was hard for him to let his guard down when he knew that the safety of the slumbering village rested on his shoulders. The Haruno was certain that he could feel her eyes on him.

"Minato," Sakura reached over nudged man with her soft tap of her hand. The gesture was completely unnecessary. She could tell by his breathing patterns that he had been up for quite some time. It was just an excuse to touch him, not that she really needed any. But the brief contact brought her slightly elevated heart rate down.

"Sakura," his voice was flat and it let her know that he was still irritated with her. He still refused to face her. It probably had to do with the black eye he was supporting. As part of his punishment for recklessly "endangering" himself and irresponsibility leaving his post, she refused to heal it for him.

"When did you place the Hiraishin seal on me?" The question had been bothering her for years and she had just now gathered the courage to voice it. She saw Minato's back stiffen. His muscles coiled like a tightly wound spring. He too caught the significance of her inquiry. Her casual tone did not mislead him for one second.

She waited patiently as he turned to look her. As a peace offering she reached out with two fingers and healed the puffiness around his eye. She let her hand trail down his cheek and finally along his jaw line. His eyes never left hers. "It's not important." The strain in his voice did not soothe knot in her stomach.

"Please," she fixed him with her best pleading look. This look had gotten her out of trouble many times before. It was the same look that Minato claimed Naruto inherited from her. She did not see it but she let him have it.

Minato sighed so deeply that she felt herself move up and down with his chest. He was so close that her arm was resting against his. "You remember the day I first complimented your hair?" The look of in his eyes was smothering.

Before she comprehended what was happening, his arms were encircling her. She let her head rest against his chest. Sakura nodded carefully against him. Her eyes were bright and alert as were his. "I remember," she felt his arms tighten around her.

He breathed her in. "That was the day." Sakura looked at him with disbelieving eyes. Her blank face transformed into a mask of confusion. She furrowed her brows as she studied his face. He was not messing with her. He was being honest but something still did not sit right with her.

"You told me you marked me because I was your precious person! How could I have possibly been so important to you back then? We had just met." She struggled to keep her voice down. Waking up Naruto would not lead to good things. The anger in her eyes was more than enough to convey her displeasure.

Minato spared her a thoughtful look before he turned to glare at the ceiling. He brought one hand to rest against the back of his head. Somehow he still managed to keep Sakura anchored to him. "I meant what I said. I've never lied to you and I don't plan on it either." He said with finality.

Sakura tried to push herself up but his arm kept her flush against him. She pushed down her rising frustration in favor of indulging her curiosity. "We had just met," Sakura began in a calmer tone. She half turned so that she was slightly elevated. Her right hand was propped on his pectoral muscle keeping her steady.

"But that did not change the fact that I fell for you." The look he gave her quieted all her protest. His eyes said it all. Her arm went slack. She lowered herself against him again. Her eyes trained on the spinning fan blades. With each turn it all started to become clearer and clearer for her.

"You complemented my hair," Sakura noted that her voice came out breathless. Her heart was beating in her ears as she pieced together everything. He had that effect on her. She always found it impossibly hard to breathe whenever she was alone with him. "You complemented my hair. Oh Kami, you complimented my hair." Sakura rubbed her face with a groan. If she had realized the significance of it sooner she could have spared herself a lot of heartache and doubt.

How could she have been so stupid? Naruto all but spelled it out for her, why did she not see what was right in front of her this whole time? Minato grinned at her. He kissed the tip of her nose. She scowled at him. "I've been yours since then."

Sakura rolled her eyes at his easy going smile but even she could not deny the sudden flushing of her cheeks. If they got any hotter she would have to fan herself and that would only stroke his ego even more. "So you've known since then?" She was finding it hard to believe that he had planned this all out from the beginning. Not even Minato was that meticulous. Or was he?

Minato shrugged and Sakura felt herself being raised and lowered with the gesture. "At that point all I knew was that you were interesting because I couldn't figure you out. I marked you because I knew that I wanted to get to know you better. I didn't figure out that I loved you until way later."

"Way later?" She asked him dryly. That come mean anywhere from their second interaction to the first time he had told her that he loved her. He was going to make her work for it but she was willing to do that. This was the furthest that this conversation ever went. It was real progress.

"Mmm I would say I figured it all out the day of the Pein invasion that I've loved you ever since you nearly got yourself killed fighting Danzo and his nin." He looked down at her and Sakura offered him a small smile. She did not squirm away as he kissed her neck. He needed to shave. His stubble was starting to tickle her skin.

"That long, huh?" Her voice had taken a faraway tone to it. She absentmindedly brought a hand to rest on her stomach. He was getting restless but she was too deep in her own head to pay it much mind.

"Yeah, I just didn't know what to label it until later." He kissed the top of her head. Sakura made a face at him before turning her eyes back to the ceiling. The fan was still moving impossibly slowly. "Eventually even your forehead grew on me."

Sakura could not find it in her to get mad at him teasing remarks. "I never stood a chance, did I?" She peeked through her lashes at him. Her question was just something to fill the air but she knew that he would answer it anyway because Minato was that kind of guy. He would spend the whole night answering her pointless questions if it made her happy and he would go to work the next day and not even complain about being tired. He was that guy. He was her guy.

"'Fraid not," he patted her on the head in a consoling manner. It was so ridiculous that she nearly broke out into a fit of giggles. She bit her tongue instead. "Once I set my eyes on something or someone it's as good as mine." He grinned when she stuck her tongue out at him.

"You are so full of it." She pinched his bicep playfully before she settled the back of her head against his shoulder. He really did make a good pillow. The bastard, he changed her. He made it so that she could never go to bed alone. It was all probably part of his master plan.

"I became Hokage and got you, didn't I?"She could hear the smug smirk in his words. She chose not to dignify his comment with a response. Instead she looked him dead in the eye. He was looking at her. It was the same look that set her insides on fire.

It was so intense that she had to look away. The constant motion of the fan allowed her head to clear. "Did the Daimyo's son finally leave?" Sakura asked in a carefree tone but she knew her innocent question would anger her husband. And she also hoped it would take his mind off whatever thoughts he was thinking. She did not like the mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Not a moment too soon," Minato muttered under his breath. Sakura silently noted that his arm tightened around her subconsciously. He buried his face into the crook of her neck. She tried to make as face.

"He was really sweet," a yawn left her lips. Sakura made herself more comfortable against his chest. Her fingers roamed the skin of his forearm almost absentmindedly. She really did have a thing for men with nice arms and she had yet to find someone with better arms than Minato. But what did she know? She was biased through and through.

Minato snorted and turned his head to glare at her. Her shoulders shook from the effort it took not to laugh. She bit her bottom lip as it pulled into a grin. "Figures you would think that," his curt tone did not affect her teasing mood. His eyes darkened at the memory from a week ago.

Flashback:

"This is our famed hospital, Eiji-sam." Minato's voice was purely polite and smooth but a seasoned nin could tell the man was bored out of his mind. He had to be nice. He had to make nice. He was the son of the man who ultimately approved Sarutobi's recommendation that he be the Yondaime. And that was the real reason that he was on his best behavior. That and the very real threat of bodily harm curtsy of his tiny wife if he offended Eiji-sama.

'I didn't become Hokage so I could babysit the Daimyo's son,' he thought grimly to himself. The man was only a year younger than him, but they were worlds apart in terms of maturity. Even his old students were leaps and bounds ahead of this guy in that department. He was emotionally stunted but of course he could never say such a thing.

He had to treat the man as if he was the most interesting thing that ever happened to Konoha but if he was completely honest with himself, Sakura won that category. She was definitely the most interesting thing to happen in the history of Konoha. But he was biased.

The man in front of him seemed to straighten at the words. He coughed pointedly into his fist. Minato raised a brow at the man's sudden attentiveness. "So this is where the great Haruno-sama works, eh?" Minato felt the hair on the back on his neck stand on end and from years of experience he knew that was a bad omen.

Minato made a noncommittal noise. Sakura was pretty. She was pretty enough that he, himself, had noticed so that could only means other men, who had more time and were less ambitious than he would have noticed it too. It was times like these that he cursed her unique and frankly quite unforgettable appearance. "How about we visit the academy next?" He kept the hope out of his voice. His feet were already pointing in the direction of the nin school.

The raven haired man turned to look up at Minato. The sly smile on his face made Minato's stomach drop. "I would like very much to thank Haruno-sama for all her help during the war." The Hokage did his best to appear nonplussed and judging from Eiji's expression he had succeeded.

"Haruno-san is a very busy woman." Minato began with a slight amount of ice in his eyes. Maybe he was brighter than he looked. Maybe he would pick up on the subtle hints Minato was offering. "And hospitals are full of sick people. Surely you would not want to catch anything?" He added as a last ditch effort to deter the man.

"Nonsense! I'm a healthy, young man. I'm certain that I'll be fine." Minato rubbed the back of his neck and popped a few joints as he did so. The raven haired man smiled at him in a disarming manner. Minato did not trust his act one bit.

"Surly she can spare a few minutes out of her day for the Daimyo's son, if the great Yondaime-sama can."Minato wanted to punch the smirk of the man's face but he settled for giving him a tight smile. He was a politician. He knew how to get what he wanted with his sweet talk and if that failed there was always his ability to bully people into complying. The man used his relationship with his father as a weapon to getting what he desired. In one sentence he managed to bring up his rank in comparison to Minato's. It was his effort to put the Hokage in his place and restore order.

The Namikaze led the man silently through the halls of the building. He tried to return the smiles of the nurses that he usually greeted regularly but his heart was not in it. He knew these corridors like the back of his hand so he purposely took the long way to Sakura's office. If he was lucky she would be busy with a patient.

But luck was not on his side today. The Gods were tormenting him it was probably their way at getting back at him for ever making her cry and he did his fair share of that back in the day. Minato wanted to run his hands through his hair in frustration when he sensed a familiar chakra on the other side of the door. The blonde could not refrain from rolling his eyes as he knocked softly before opening the door.

There she was in all her glory. Minato noted dryly that even her hair was conspiring against him. It framed her face in soft, inviting, pink waves. Her eyes were brighter than any of the leaves on any tree during spring on Konoha. She was breathtaking and that fact caused a frown to form on his lips. Was it really too much to ask for Sakura to just have one bad day? Just one day when she did not capture his- and more importantly other men's- complete and utter attention, was that too much to ask for? Was he being unreasonable?

He loved her with all his heart. So she always looked beautiful to him. Even when she was covered in dirt, sweat, and blood, she was eternally beautiful in his eyes. But at this moment he wanted nothing more for Sakura to have her hair tied back, maybe have a couple of bags under her eyes, and perhaps even a scowl on her face. But that was only a fantasy. She was perfect. Perfect in his eyes and any other man who has eyes. This day was just getting better and better for the wary Hokage.

Sakura looked up from her desk and when she saw the blonde she quickly rose to her feet. Minato followed Eiji's eyes as he stared at her pink marvel for hair. "Min-Hokage-sama?" She quickly corrected herself when she caught sight of the raven haired man accompanying the Namikaze. "Is everything alright?" Her thoughts immediately went to Naruto hurting himself at the look Minato had on his face.

"Everything is fine, Haruno-san." Sakura frowned at the formality of Minato's words but she chose not to call him out on it. Instead she followed his lead. He was thankful that he wife had enough foresight and sense for that.

Sakura smiled broadly at the men in front of her. Minato's frown deepened. She really was working against him without even knowing about it. She was painfully oblivious to way the man was ogling her. Sometimes he wondered what went on her head. "What can I do for you, Hokage-sama?" She unknowingly cocked her head to the side in what Minato noted irritably was a very cute manner. All that was missing was for her to bat her eyelashes.

"Haruno-san this is the Daimyo's son, Eiji-sama." Minato gestured casually to the man standing next to him. Sakura turned her gaze to the raven haired, brown eyed man. He reminded her a bit of an Uchiha in terms of appearance. That is if Uchiha's were less dignified and smiled every once awhile.

"It's an honor to meet you Eiji-sama." Sakura smiled at the man before bowing deeply. Minato watched with increasing annoyance as the man looked at Sakura as if she was an object that he had to have. His sharp eyes did not miss the way Eiji's eyes had roamed her body. The red wrap dress that she was wearing all but drew everyone's eyes in.

"The honor is all mine, Haruno-san," the man smiled easily back at the pinkette. He closed the distance between them by two thirds. "You've done many good things for our land during the war. I would like to humbly thank you on the behalf of the royal family." Minato fought back a snort as the man bowed lowly to his wife. "And I must say the rumors of your beauty fail to capture your essence. You're far more attractive than words could ever hope to be."

Sakura's cheeks had a pink tint to them from the praise. Even after all these years she was still uncomfortable with people praising her. Sakura hastily returned Eiji's bow. Her sheepish chuckles reached his ears and broke him from his thoughts. If they stayed any longer Minato was sure that Sakura would start rambling. She had a habit to do that when flustered. Minato crossed his arms over his chest.

"We should get going Eiji-sama, Haruno-san seems busy." The man half turned to glare at Minato. His eyes seemed to say 'why are you still here?' Minato relaxed his clenched jaw. He eased his hands out of the fists that they had become. He smiled easily at the duo in the room. Sakura recognized the strain in his posture. She schooled her expression before filling in the silence.

"It's quite alright Hokage-sama, it's been a quiet afternoon so I have all the time you need." Sakura looked at him with a smirk on her face. Minato narrowed his eyes at her. He tried to silently communicate his displeasure at her words but Sakura shrugged it off. She knew exactly what she was about to do.

She turned her attention back to the Daimyo's son. Minato inwardly groaned at the mischievous gleam in her eyes. She was defying him on purpose. She was getting him back for something. Minato was aware that his wife was especially apt at holding ridiculously long grudges. It could be anything from leaving the seat up to accidently forgetting Naruto at one place or another.

"I must say Haruno-san," the man began smoothly. He even went as far was run his hand through his sleeked back, choppy locks. His eyes glistened with confidence. Minato realized with a bit of disdain that the man was turning up his charming. Eiji was trying to woo his wife while he stood in the room.

"Please call me Sakura," Minato wanted to vomit at the fake cheeriness of her tone. She really was torturing him. Why did he fall in love with such a psycho?

Eiji gave her a crooked smile. She inwardly repressed the need to shudder. His grin reminded her of Kisame for some reason. "I must say again Sakura," Minato hated the way he rolled each syllable off his tongue. "You are very beautiful." He reached for Sakura's hand but Minato's words intercepted the man.

"She's also very married, Eiji-sama." His voice was the epitome of calm and politeness but only a fool would miss the murderous intent rolling off of him. Eiji looked at Minato with a look of rage but his face quickly fell once he caught Minato's eyes. His hand landed limply by his side. They were frigid, they froze his insides.

Sakura shot Minato a warning glance but the blonde ignored it. He knew the type of man Eiji was. Since he was the Daimyo's son he felt entitled to anything he wanted. And Sakura was in well over her head, her harmless smiles and giggles could land her in serious situation. He needed to make sure that the man before him would never think to look at Sakura that way. He would not have another man look at his wife sideways, not when he was standing five feet from it all.

"And from what I hear, he has a nasty temper and he's quite powerful when provoked. Even I won't be able to protect you from him." He offered the slightly shaking man an easy smile but his eyes did not match his gesture. 'Touch her. I dare you to touch her.' His eyes seemed to challenge.

Sakura bit her lip to keep her giggles from escaping. She was truly enjoying herself but she did feel a little guilty about the pained looked Eiji had on his face. But the man was a pig, he had this long coming. So she did not feel too bad.

Minato's and Sakura's relationship was the worst kept secret in Konoha but it was only that way in the village. Outside the village walls everyone was none the wiser about Konoha's two most talked about shinobi. As far as they were concerned Minato was very much single and this assumption lead to wealthy noble families to propose his marriage to their daughters. The marriages were always wrapped in a bow of peace treaties and unity of villages. But it was marriage nonetheless.

And even though Minato always politely declined and did not even spare the noble men's daughters more than a passing glance the whole process caused her insecurities to come out. The princesses were beautiful and the prettier they were the more they flittered with her husband the more jealous she became. Sakura was just having some fun with the fact it was Minato's turn to get jealous of the wealthy man flirting with her. She was tired of being the jealous one, all the time.

"Now shall we visit the academy?" Minato asked the man brightly. His demeanor was a complete change. Eiji visible paled at the thought of being alone with Minato a moment longer. Sakura was concerned that the man might pass out if he stayed within reaching distance of Minato any longer.

"I-I'm suddenly very tired, Hokage-sama. Perhaps we can go tomorrow?" The man managed to stammer out before he quickly took his leave. Minato watched the man scamper away with pride. All the color had completely vanished from Eiji's face.

"You know you could have just started a fiasco," Sakura chided softly as gathered the haphazardly thrown papers on her desk into neat stacks. She did not jump when Minato ensnared her with his arms. Sometimes she forgot just why they called him Konoha's Yellow Flash. 'He dosen't know,' she remaindered herself calmly.

"You worry too much. I have a feeling that he won't be telling anyone about this little incident." Sakura gave a defeated sigh before she allowed herself to lean back against his chest. She really was exhausted. She was always exhausted these days.

"I bet he'll be out of here by morning." She said tiredly. Sakura rubbed her forehead in soothing circles. She looked at the documents on her desk with a sad smile. She still had a lot of paperwork to do despite the slower than usual day.

"Mmm," he tightened his arms around her and took in the scent of her shampoo. His afternoon had just opened up. He no longer had to babysit a brat that was not his. Shikaku was not expecting him back in the tower until earlier evening. "I remember you saying that you have all the time I need?" His voice suddenly dropped a few octaves.

Sakura rolled her eyes and broke out of his arms. "It's up. But since you seem to be free for the rest of the day, why don't you pick up Naruto from Mikoto's? I'm sure Sasuke and Naruto are wreaking havoc on her house. Mikoto might have the patience of a saint but I'm sure that even she can't handle the two of them any longer." She patted his cheek as she ignored the dejected look on his face.

Minato sighed. His wife was too smart for her own good or maybe she was too smart for his own good. Minato watched silently as she settled herself in her desk and began working. Minato braced himself in the doorway. He took her in for a few more moments before she caught him staring. "You still here, porky?" She looked up at him with an exasperated expression. "I'm not changing my mind so don't hold your breath." She made a shooing motion with her hands and Minato found himself leaving her office with a sly smile on his face.

He would just have to try again later. After all, even Sakura could not argue with the fact that Naruto needed a sibling for much longer.

If he was anything it was persistent.

End of Flashback

A comfortable silence surrounded them as they stared at the ceiling. They were both lost in their own thoughts. "So I heard you were a hit at the academy." Minato began lazily as he traced the skin of her stomach. His face still ached from when Sakura had sucker punched him but he ignored it. He had a self appointed mission he needed to complete.

"Hmm, I defended your honor for you Hokage-sama." Sakura noted how the moon's light played with the shadows in their room. She batted away his roaming hand, halfheartedly. Honestly at this point she was too tired of fighting back his advances. He really was staring to wear her down.

"Oh? Then you have my sincerest thanks." The smile on his face was particularly wicked today. Sakura felt her toes curl in anticipation. She was too tired to fight him and as the old proverb says "if you can't beat them join them." She had every intention of doing so. After all, who was she to ignore the advice of the wise generations that came before her?

"Words are cheap," she feigned boredom and flopped onto her stomach. Her pink locks fluttered around her. She felt the goosebumps rise on her skin. She really was weak but she figured that reflected more on Minato than it did on her.

"I don't do empty promises, Sakura-sama." His husky voice was in her ear and it caused her flesh to rise in earnest now. She pushed her face further into her pillow for risk of saying something stupid or just uttering a string of incoherent sounds. She took a moment to regain her composure before speaking.

"Then what do you do, Minato-sama?" She felt him grab her hips and flip her over. She looked up at him, challenging. The emotions in his eyes were complex but the desire in them was unmistakable. He wanted and he wanted her bad. She taunted him further by tilting her head and exposing the fair skin of her neck. Minato watched her hair flutter in silence. Minato licked his bottom lip and watched smugly as Sakura's followed the movement hungrily.

He crashed his lips against hers. It was frantic, hungry, and passionate. It set her on fire. She was burning but it was a good kind of burning. Her back arched off the mattress as he pulled her closer to him. She tangled her fingers tangled themselves in his blonde locks.

One on his hands found its way through her hair. The other pressed up against the small of her back. His mouth moved down her neck leaving wet kisses in its wake. She mumbled his name under her breath. He growled against her skin.

She was drowning. The world around her was melting away. He was all that mattered at this moment of time. She was drowning and he was the reason why. He was pulling her in. Her face was hot, hotter than what could be humanly possible. She was drowning. But she did not care. She did not care as long as he was going to drown along with her.

She was drowning but in all the distortion there was a moment of clarity, or sanity. His lips stopped burning her. A sudden presence had them both freezing. "Hokage-sama we have trouble," the voice of the ANBU cut through the silence like a knife. Sakura watched in silence as Minato's eyes and demeanor went from hungry and lustful to hard and determined. He switched between his roles as a husband, to protector seamlessly.

His mask of professionalism slipped onto his face. Gone were any traces of the carefree man that was before her seconds ago. He was replaced by grim purpose. Minato pushed himself off of Sakura and turned to address the ANBU.

She brought her knees to her chest. Her stomach dropped. Sakura could not hear the hushed words they exchanged. Before she could even think to blink the ANBU had vanished and Minato had tugged a shirt over his head before he slipped on his Yondaime cloak. He was already in the process of fastening his weapons pouch on his hip. Sakura lifted herself onto her knees the bed dipped under her weight, and grabbed his arm as he passed by.

"Come back alive," the fear was clear in her eyes. Minato cupped her face and placed a light kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes out of habit. She wrapped her arms around his torso and pressed his face against his chest. She could hear his chest. His heart was beating the standard pace. "Please come back alive." She begged in a pleading tone.

He was something else. She borrowed some of his calm. Minato gently broke from her embrace. His eyes bore into hers and for that moment time stopped, but it was only for a moment. "I will. Keep yourself and Naruto safe." Sakura nodded, she did not trust her voice. She watched him leave with a heavy heart.

She was not exaggerating when she had told the kids that Minato would lay down his life for the village in a heartbeat. His love for Konoha was unmatched by anyone- even hers. She forced her shaky legs to take her to Naruto's room. She knew that there were at least three ANBU watching over Naruto and her but she felt better having him in her arms.

He was her Naruto, after all. When she had told Jiraiya that she loved him she had meant it. She had a fierce need to protect him in the past and an even greater need now. She had loved him the way a mother loved her son.

She had given up hope of seeing Naruto again when Kushina had been injured. But Akemi had been right her friends did manage to find their way to her, they just took a different route. Even though the four year old toddler in her arms lacked the whiskers and the kyuubi she saw the presence of the blonde's boisterous personality.

She knew that he was her Naruto the moment Tsunade had put him in her arms. She knew he was her Naruto from the first moment that she laid eyes on him. She had cried for hours before and after going into labor and Minato had held her hand supportively through the whole ordeal. He did not even utter a word of protest when she had said "Naruto," after he had first opened his eyes. Minato knew how important he was to her and he was glad that she had finally been reunited with him.

Sakura realized that despite all her efforts that she would not be able to protect him from everything. She could already tell that he had his father's determination and drive in him. No doubt, one day he would want to be Hokage. And not just any Hokage, he would want to be the best of the best.

Madara's words still scared her. She knew there were people out there that wanted her dead, and that wanted Minato dead. But she was determined to give Naruto a better childhood. The boy in her arms deserved all the love he could get and Sakura and Minato were determined to give it to him. He deserved to be loved. And to love him they would.

He made a soft sound and Sakura looked down at him. He sleepily reached out for her so she pressed her lips against his spiky hair, his sweet scent flooded her nose and it eased some of her anxiety. She allowed his small fingers to curl around her index finger. The small content smile on his face warmed her heart. She knew that she could not protect him from his first skinned knee, botched mission, disappointment, and heartbreak but she could support him through it.

He was so small, so tiny, and so fragile. He needed her. He needed his mother and he needed his father and she would make sure that they were there for him. She had made her peace with the idea of dying over fifteen years ago- when she had started taking her profession as a ninja seriously- but now the idea repulsed her. She would stay alive for as long as Naruto needed her. She had failed him countless times in the past and she had broken his heart.

But she would be damned if she let that happened again. She was given a second chance. This was her opportunity to make things right, to do right by Naruto. She would stay alive for him and for Minato. She had too. Dying soon was no longer an option and Sakura was stubborn to a fault when she set her mind.

A blinding light broke her out of her thoughts. She watched out the window as telltale signs of a fire fight were happening outside. She clenched the sleeping Naruto in her arms protectively. She allowed a soft light to envelop the both of them. She monitored Minato's chakra signature in the back of her mind. He was alive. He was alive. She kept repeating that through her head.

"Sakura-sensei, you're needed at the hospital." Sakura turned to look at Kakashi's wolf mask. She let her light release seep back into her. She nodded her head before she carefully transferred her sleeping son into his waiting arms. She instantly missed his weight and warmth but she felt better with the knowledge that Kakashi would be watching over him. She trusted that man with her life and more importantly Naruto's life.

She wordlessly slipped her legs into a pair of jonin pants. Even after all these years she still could not shake her habit of sleeping in her underwear. She had long since given up on feeling embarrassed. Many a time had ANBU walked in on her and Minato. They knew what they were signing up for.

She pulled a black t-shirt over her tank top before taking to the roofs for the hospital. The soft howl of the wind was the only sound that greeted her ears. She was vaguely aware of the ANBU following her.

"Took you long enough to get here," Tsunade took in Sakura's disheveled hair with knowing eyes. She really was not in the mood to give Tsunade the reaction she was looking for. Her tolerance for dealing with the blonde's dirty innuendos had gotten better considerably. She was no longer rendered a red, babbling mass of nerves and embarrassment.

"How bad is it?" She looked at the lobby and found it to be eerily quiet. She followed the busty blonde to the operating rooms without another word. Sakura grabbed her hair and pinned it atop her head in a high pony tail. Both women wordlessly snapped on latex gloves. Sakura could not help but think that this was the calm before the storm.

Tsunade's lip twitched downward for a split second before she answered. "Nothing I can't handle but they were adamant to have you around." She ignored her former mentor's eye roll. She had a taste for the dramatic. It usually cheered her up but not tonight. Her stomach was twisting into a painful knot.

"They're just following protocol." She replied mechanically. It was protocol that she helped set in place in fact. "Do you have any idea what's happening out there?" She gestured to direction she had come from.

"Honestly, you probably know more than me. I haven't seen anyone heavily injured come through here yet." Her amber eyes darkened with worry. Sakura nodded her head distractedly.

The cots in the operating room just held a few shinobi with minor injuries. They had broken legs, arms, concussions but nothing that required serious, immediate attention. She did not know if that was a good or bad sign. "Minato's chakra signature was far from the village. My guess is he managed to lure the enemy away." Sakura's voice sounded far away even to her own ears.

"Hmm, sounds like him. Do you know how many there were?" Due to Tsunade's grandmother's raw chakra Sakura's sensing ability had well surpassed Tsunade's. It really did come in handy at times like these. It also helped that Akemi was sending waves of calming chakra to keep the adrenaline levels down.

"There were four of them and judging from the size of their chakra they are all high level jonin. But one of them is especially powerful, his chakra are almost on par with that of a lower tailed jinchuuriki." Sakura's brow furrowed in concern, her lilac seal folded as a result.

"He'll be fine." Tsunade said with more confidence than she felt. She pulsed more chakra into the unconscious nin in front of her. The work was a welcomed distraction from what was happening. The more she focused on setting bones and stitching together organs the less she worried about people she loved potentially dying. "Who's with him?"

"Fugaku, Jiraiya, and a Hyuga. Shikaku is not currently engaged in combat and my guess is that he's monitoring the situation. Iruka, Obito, and Rin are evacuating the civilians. The barrier corps managed to get the shield up in time, the village is safe for now." Tsunade felt herself relax a bit at each name. Sakura had come a long way since she first utilized the light chakra. She had near perfect control of it.

"Did you tell him yet?" Sakura too needed a distraction. Tsunade could see that the pinkette was about to stress herself into a fit of hyperventilation. The blonde sannin did not miss the way Sakura stiffened. Sakura hid her scowl with a dip of her head. The Haruno patched together broken skin on her patient. His tibia had broken and completely shredded the skin of his calf. Her next concern was to get the man on antibiotics in case of infection.

Her task also allowed Sakura more time to think about how to proceed with the sannin. How could Tsunade bring up such a personal, sensitive topic so casually? "There hasn't been the right time." Sakura turned her attention back to putting his lower leg into a splint. The man had already passed out from the pain.

Tsunade scoffed at the woman's sudden defensive behavior. It was very typical of Sakura. "Sakura, you've had eight weeks." Her lips formed a frown. "Okay so three weeks from when you found out." Her tone conveyed her displeasure. "You're still not feeling guilty are you?" Her voice had darkened at the question. She studied the pinkette critically. "You're not thinking of getting rid of it, are you?"

Sakura's head snapped up and she glared at Tsunade. The words that just left the blonde's mouth were preposterous at the highest level. "Of course not, Tsunade! I would never. I respect Minato too much to do something like that without asking for his input. It's just, I've been thinking that-"

"Stop thinking," Sakura's eyes widened at Tsunade's sharp words. They sounded so familiar, instantly she was twenty-two again and having an eerily similar conversation with a beady eyed old lady. "What happens next is going to happen regardless of what you do. You did your job and now it about time you stop worrying about your every action. It's over, Sakura. It's been over. Just let the chips fall where they may and live your life." Tsunade's tone softened as she stared at the woman she considered a daughter in so many ways.

Sakura took in her words slowly. Of course it was easy for a bystander to make that recommendation. But she was finally happy, her friends were finally alive again, and everything was going smoothly. Would the existence of someone new in Konoha somehow jeopardize everything she worked for? Was it possible that the child she was carrying in her stomach would cause all of this to unravel?

'Flower-chan, listen to Tsunade-hime,' Akemi's reassuring voice in her head relived the rapid beating of her heart. Surely she could trust the word of Mito's conscious? She was still terrified at the prospect of losing everything but a large part of her wanted to be happy for herself.

Whether the world was ready or not, she was going to have another baby and she knew it would bring immense happiness to both Naruto and Minato. Naruto had always told her that he wished he had a sibling, someone to share secrets, thoughts, and blood with. His lonely upbringing left him longing for a big family. He would want this she knew that much.

For those who survived beyond their time, one died before. For each prominent shinobi that outstayed their stay one had to go. For Rin to survive, Danzo died. Kushina and Minato's lives were in exchange for Orochimaru's and Kisame's. For Gaara's mother to survive Sasori had to die. Tukiko was brought into this world at the expense of Kohana's lover. Nagato died in order for the Uchiha Clan to live. The two root members that she killed were the price to keep Neji's father breathing. Two Akatsuki died and from that she was certain that two lives elsewhere were saved. There was a balance. Everything had a balance.

Her theory did not account for civilians or causalities of war. Her theory only accounted for the people that died when they should not have and those who survived when they should be dead. For every action there was a consequence. For every inaction there was a price to pay.

She already loved the being growing inside of her but she was still hesitant to tell Minato. In less than nine months she would be introducing and new life that never existed in her time. She had no idea how to deal with her current situation. Was it selfish of her to want to give Minato what he wanted at potentially the expense of the village? The thought that terrified her the most was if her baby was to be born who had to go? She knew from experience that everything must remain in balance. If a life was introduced another life must be taken.

Who would be taken?

Who would be taken from her?

Minato's face flashed before her eyes and it took her breath away. Surely he would be okay? She did not put him in danger, did she? Having this baby would not put his life in jeopardy, would it? She wanted someone to tell her that she was being ridiculous. She needed to hear it soon too, her legs felt as if they were about to give out from underneath her. She gripped the side of the cot for stability. Her head was spinning. She pressed the back of her hand on her sweaty forehead. Tsunade handed her a glass of water which she swallowed in three sips.

Sakura closed her eyes and let the water help regulate her temperature. She was close to her breaking point. She needed reassurance. She had to have reassurance. 'Believe me flower-chan, everything will work itself out. Think of this a Chiyo's gift for you.' Something clicked in Sakura. Chiyo had died well before her time during this lifetime. Her heart ached when she thought about the kind woman. She was killed off already and that allowed for Sakura to have another child without offsetting the balance of this world.

'For one to stay another must go,' Sakura thought sadly as she meet Tsunade's amber gaze. The spinning had already stopped. She wiped her pink strands from her clammy forehead. "You're right, shinshou. I'll let him know as soon as he gets back." She smiled warmly at the woman that had mentored her through the years. The sannin had helped her in more ways than one. With each passing minute she was feeling better and better about the situation.

"Good, he'll be really happy. The idiot's been asking me how to convince you to have another. He's been in the dark too long. He's still under the impression that you need more convincing." She winked scandalously at the pinkette. Sakura expression was purely horrified. Her eyes shot open as she pieced everything together. So maybe she was not nearly as okay with teasing as she had first assumed.

"So you were the one who gave him the whole 'Naruto needs a sibling' argument. You're the worst, shishou. He's been dropping that line for months!" She groaned into her hands. She was surrounded by crazy, nosey, manipulative people who took too much pleasure in her pain. Why they involved themselves in her life was a mystery to her but they meant well. Or at least that was what she repeatedly had to tell herself to keep from strangling them all to death. She rubbed her face tiredly before she finished healing her patient.

Tsunade's grin grew in size. Sakura's stomach flipped. "Of course, Minato's clever but he's not that good." She winked at Sakura again. "Now you better hope it's a girl or else he'll be asking you for another." She cackled at the terrified look on Sakura's face. It irked Sakura that her shishou referred to having another child as offhandedly as get another dog.

"But knowing your luck it'll be another boy who's a blonde knucklehead." She let out a deep laugh at her former student's expense. Sakura reluctantly found herself agreeing with Tsunade. If she closed her eyes she could almost see another mini-Naruto running around demanding ramen and to be trained. She sent out a silent prayer. She loved Naruto to death but if she had two of them, 'Kami give me the strength to deal with two blonde idiots.' She closed pinched the bridge of her nose. 'Actually Kami, give me the strength needed to deal with three blonde idiots.' Minato was not that much better.

She personally wanted a girl, especially after her experience with her loud mouthed son. But something told her that she would not so lucky. 'Girl or boy, it'll be the last one.' She was still mad at herself for letting him touch her again, especially after how difficult her pregnancy with Naruto was. But Minato could be so damn persuasive when he wanted to be. 'Damn him, damn you Namikaze Minato.'

"Please shishou, kill me now and save me the trouble." She did not care that her voice was mortified and shrill at the same time. It was times like these that she questioned her life decisions. But this teasing was serving to distract her form the thought of what Minato was going through right now. Since the barrier had been put in place so quickly the casualty rate would be low and she would be surprised if anyone other the people that she had named came through the doors.

"Cheer up, kiddo. There are worse things in life than making love to Namikaze Minato. He is a very well developed man." She winked at her, shamelessly. "I can testify to that fact." Sakura did not even want to think about what that could possibly mean.

"Tsunade!" Sakura barked at the blonde before looked around the room frantically and she was beyond relived that no one stirred. The blonde took pleasure at the redness of Sakura's face. She really had not changed all that much. It was really adorable really.

"But seriously Sakura, you should kill him if he doesn't come back alive." The light air was sucked out of the room at her words. Sakura felt her fear come back twice as strong. Her throat constricted painfully as she thought about what was happening outside these walls.

She cleared her throat before she met the slug princess's eyes. "He will. He'll come back to me," she said with firmness.

Because after all Minato does not make empty promises.

Well, that's all she wrote.

That's all I wrote.

So one last time, humor me and tell me what's running through those heads of yours!

Thanks a million for everything. :)