An Unexpected Match

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope you all enjoy the grand finale of An Unexpected Match because this story was short, but sweet by my standards. Happy reading and please do feel free to check out my other stories, if you're interested.

Chapter Notation: This chapter takes place two years after the previous one.

Chapter 13

Haru smiles as he walks across a stage with his classmates. Today was the big day. He was finally starting his official career as a ninja at the Academy today!

"Haru Uchiha!" His instructor calls out.

He was an official ninja now. Just like his mother and father. His little sister and brother were in the audience as well. Everyone was so happy today.

Oh and he should probably get moving! "Coming!" There were some quiet laughs and chuckles from the audience as he sprints towards Iruka Sensei.

"Here you go." The now middle aged teacher smiles at him as he gives Haru his textbook. "You've more than earned this."

Indeed. He had. He was also the last child to get it due to obvious reasons. U's generally ended up towards the end of any alphabetical lineup anyway, he thinks to himself.

So everyone was extremely pleased to see him get called up. It had been a pretty big class this year and the July Sun was beating down on everyone.

"Thank you." He smiles at Iruka Sensei as he scurries over towards his family.

Iruka was going to be his first instructor. After all, there was more than one teacher at the Academy and his father said that he preferred to start him on a level playing field with the other students. By the time, Haru had proven himself...well, he'd be bumped up to Sasuke's classes along with the rest of his classmates.

Anyway, Haru's mother was standing next to his father. Sasuke wasn't going to let Hinata out of his sight anytime soon and they all knew why with her already rounded belly.

"I think it's going to be a girl." Haru smiles at them.

That would even the numbers again. Father would likely insist on a tiebreaker at some point, but they all knew the truth. Sasuke Uchiha just wanted a very big family and that was that.

Hinata laughs and smiles. "Mmm." She kisses Haru's forehead affectionately, causing him to blush. "We'll see."

There was a regal chuckling as Hiashi strides over to them. "Indeed." He was carrying something that had been wrapped in elegant wrapping paper in his hands. "Haru, you've made us all so proud on this day." The Hyuga patriarch slips it into his hands. "So we got this for you."

Of course, Haru couldn't wait to see what was in it. So he quickly unwraps it and squeals in delight.

"A new kunai sight!" He beams at them. "Thank you!" Yes, it was a very good day.

Sasuke shakes his head in amusement. "He adores it." For once, grandfather and father were getting along pretty well. "Thank you." To which Hiashi nods as he embraces all of them and makes a graceful departure. Hiashi Hyuga wasn't a man who did long farewells.

A short while later, Itachi chuckles as he watches his foolish little brother's family come filing in. Three children and a fourth on the way. It was impressive, really.

"Just don't get caught." Aoda peeks his head in through the window. "It's one thing for children to see you, but I'm not sure how Master Sasuke and Mistress Hinata would react."

That was a very good point. It didn't matter though. How could he miss his nephew's first day at the Academy?

After all, wasn't he the one who had taken Sasuke to his all those years ago? Of course, he had been. It was a family tradition. Caution could be damned for one day.

"Of course." He nods at the massive serpent.

He didn't want Aoda to worry for nothing. Besides, Itachi could be careful. He wasn't Sasuke.

"Tell us the story!" Arashi laughs as he walks in with his family. "Or I spark sparks!"

That was right, Arashi was gifted with lightning in the same way that Sasuke was. At only two, he could already make a primitive form of the Chidori. It was exceptional.

Sasuke snorts in amusement. "Very well." Itachi highly doubted that Arashi's threat was inspiring the kind of terror that the youngest male Uchiha had hoped for, but still his foolish little brother was indulging him.

"Let's just get dinner set up first." Hinata smiles at them. "Then we can tell you all about the wedding while we eat." Fortunately for their sakes, the children didn't protest that suggestion.

Uchiha temper tantrums were legendary. Quite honestly, it was a miracle that the Leaf Village was still in one piece. The Terrible Twos combined with their family's fiery temper were quite infamous around these parts.

At dinner, Sasuke knew that he wasn't getting out of this one so easily. The time had come to tell their children all about the wedding.

"It was quite the lavish affair." Sasuke chuckles as he sees three pairs of eyes stare at him expectantly and one set of amused one.

Their children were positively enthralled, but Hinata thought this was going to be delightfully entertaining. Of course, she did. Women and weddings. It was a thing.

"Lavish means fancy right?" Haru smiles at Sasuke, who nods in response.

Yes, that was one way to put. Ah. He still could remember it all so clearly. It was almost like it had happened yesterday.

He still didn't have any idea what he had done to deserve this. Well, Sasuke supposed that technically he had helped to save the world. Still, it was partially his fault things had spiraled out of control during the war in the first place.

"She's beautiful, Master Sasuke." Aoda swished in the back. "I can see her. She's getting ready to come down the aisle."

Sasuke nodded as Naruto patted him on the back. The blond had reassured him all day that despite the fact that Sasuke was a bastard, Hinata was still crazy about him. So it would all be okay.

"Garuda is quite impressive." Kakashi chuckled as he looked up at the sky. "Whoever heard of a hawk being a ring bearer?"

That was true, but this wasn't a normal wedding. Sasuke thought to himself smugly as the regal bird of prey flew down towards him and deposited the rings in his hand.

"I did." Sasuke snorted at his teacher as he looked over the beautiful rings in his hands.

Ancient music was playing. Both Uchiha and Hyuga Clan Music. It was a strangely pleasing mix of classical elegance and blood pumping music that was clearly designed to conjure images of battle and more…forbidden ones.

Hanabi giggled as she raced down the red carpet with a large basket of flowers in her hands. "Everyone, my big sister is coming." The Hyuga Heiress liberally coats as many people as she could reach with multicolored rose petals.

Sasuke could smell the delicious food everywhere. From appetizers to dinner to deserts and everything else, the Hyugas had been thorough. Not that he had expected any less. They would likely always flaunt their wealth.

"Yes, she is." Hiashi laughed as he escorted Hinata down the aisle.

The sky was blue. The birds were chirping. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and everywhere Sasuke looked he was surrounded by elegant, but all of that was nothing compared to the sight of Hinata in that kimono.

The white was purer than any actual snow and the silk flowed around her feminine form in a way that took Sasuke's breath away. So did the joy dancing in those lavender orbs of hers. It was like something straight out of a fairytale.

"Ah" Kakahsi smiled at Hinata as she made her way to the golden alter. "There you are." Sasuke could distinctly remember feeling like asking the silver haired man to be their officiator was a mistake. "It's a good thing that you didn't keep him waiting too long, Hinata. Uchihas don't get cold feet, they get fire breath, if one makes them too twitchy."

Laughter. There was so much laughter at those words. Perhaps, Sasuke had finally been accepted back into the Leaf's ranks or they just figured that it was safe to laugh. It was his wedding day, after all.

Hinata laughed as she took Sasuke's hands in her own. "I would never keep him waiting." That was good to know, particularly as it pertained to their Honeymoon.

"Good." Kakashi smiled. "Everyone, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Hyuga." He paused for a moment. "If anyone has any reason why they should not be wed, speak now and be Chidoried."

Sasuke scowled at Kakashi. The only thing that saved his life that was the fact that he had a Honeymoon to look forward to. So he was in an exceptional mood.

Fortunately, no one objected. "Wonderful." Kakashi chuckled once more and looked at Sasuke. "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love, honor, and cherish her for all your days? Do you pledge to stand by her side in good times and in bad for as long as you both shall live?"

Sasuke had never been more sure of anything in his life as he was at that moment. "I do." It was as if perfect clarity had washed over him or something of that nature. Truly, a gift from the Heavens'

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love, honor, and cherish him for all your days?" Kakashi certainly wasted no time in turning to Hinata. "Do you pledge to stand by his side in good times and in bad for as long as you both shall live?" Which was fine by Sasuke. Again, they had a Honeymoon to get too.

Hinata smiled at him as if she knew exactly what was on his mind. She probably did. It didn't exactly take a genius to realize what he was thinking at the moment and the love of his life was a highly intelligent woman.

"I do." She smiled at him again. "For always and forever."

Kakashi nodded approvingly. "Then by the power vested in me by the Leaf Village and the Fire Nation, I pronounce thee man and wife." He smirked at Sasuke. "You may kiss the bride and begin working on Clan Restoration efforts later tonight."

Sasuke would have Chidoried him, but Hinata was faster. Much faster. She kissed him and suddenly everything was forgiven.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. The roses and garter belt went flying. In the end, Suigetsu and Karin had caught those. Served the bastard right for being such an idiot about Hinata's 'rack' really.

There was also cake and dancing. Well wishes and everything else, but Sasuke couldn't lie even now. He was relieved when they flew off on Garuda's back towards their Honeymoon destination.

"Romantic!" Mikoto smiles at them.

Hinata laughs and nods in agreement. "Yes, very romantic." She smiles. "Though you should all get some rest."

The Sun had somehow set on them without the family realizing it. Hinata had a point about the whole resting thing. After some pouting, the proud Uchiha parents manage to coral their children and get into their room.

Hinata shakes her head in amusement. "Another throne of pillows." Sasuke would always be Sasuke, it seemed.

"Well, of course." He smiles and kisses her forehead. "You are my queen and you are pregnant."

How could she argue with logic like that? Speaking of queens though, they really should start trying to pick out names though.

"Mhm." She smiles and wraps her arms around Sasuke's neck. "So do you have any idea what we should name them?" Hinata glances down slyly at her ever expanding stomach.

"Sachi." Itachi smiles at them.

That's when Hinata hears something and looks around. "Oh Gods and Goddesses!" The bluenette stares in open shock as she points to him. "Sasuke, Sasuke! Look!"

The figure looks startled at her noticing him, but he doesn't bolt. Her husband looks just as shocked. Not that Hinata could blame either of them Itachi was supposed to be dead.

"Itachi?" Sasuke blinks.

The elder Uchiha shakes his head in amusement. "Well, I suppose that I can't say that Aoda didn't warn me that I wouldn't get caught." Sasuke's Summon had seen Itachi?! "Or that you're the only foolish member of our family anymore, brother." He smiles at Sasuke.

It was the strangest thing. Itachi was there, but Hinata could see straight through him. So could her husband for that matter.

Did that mean what she thought it meant? Was Itachi a ghost? Perhaps, it made sense in a strange way. If anyone had unfinished business, it was definitely him.

"H-How is this possible?" Sasuke voices the question on Hinata's mind.

Itachi smiles at them serenely. "I'm not allowed to say." He chuckles at them. "It certainly wasn't my intention to get caught, but to answer your adorable wife's question, I still recommend Sachi."

Right. A ghost was giving them advice on what to name their daughter. That was all perfectly normal.

"Sachi means happiness, I think." Sasuke nods slowly. "It makes sense. Itachi are you…h-happy?"

Itachi just chuckles at that question as he walks over to Sasuke and pokes his forehead affectionately. "Yes, I'm happy and so is the rest of our family." Uchihas and their forehead fetishes. "You don't need to worry about that, but I'm even more happy that you found your match."

Hinata blushes at that. She really shouldn't be blushing. He was a ghost. She should be panicking, but Itachi just seemed so… content right where he was.

"So am I." Sasuke chuckles.

Itachi smiles at Hinata. "It was a most unexpected match, but I am pleased to call you my Sister-In-Law." Well, that was sweet.

What could she really do or say in a situation like this? So she just nods and thanks him. Somehow. Hinata wasn't really sure how exactly.

"I'm also supremely pleased to call her my wife and the mother of our extremely inquisitive children." Sasuke shakes his head in disbelief as he kisses Hinata's forehead. "It's a damn miracle that we managed to tell that story without traumatizing them."

Indeed it was. Speaking of miracles, what about Itachi? How long could he stay here without getting in trouble.

"Can you stay?" She tilts her head.

Itachi smiles at her as if he had been expecting that question. "Some of the time, yes." He pauses for a moment as though realizing something else. "Oh and to answer your other question, I know that your fourth child shall be a girl because I know things. There are some benefits to being what I am."

Sasuke rolls his eyes at Itachi. For a moment, it was truly as if the other man had never died. That they were just two normal brothers.

"You know everything." Sasuke scoffs. "It's annoying sometimes."

Itachi laughs and shakes his head. "Indeed." He looks towards the door. "I'm afraid that I shall have to be going now, but I thought that it was best to warn you that another unexpected match is about to have their first child in approximately eight months."

Sasuke pales considerably at that. So does Hinata. They both knew exactly who Itachi was talking about.

"Karin is going to be a mother and Suigetsu is going to be a father." Sasuke groans as he holds onto Hinata. "Gods and Goddesses help us all."

Hinata nods in agreement. Well, one thing was for sure. The Leaf was experiencing something of a baby boom and things definitely wasn't going to be boring anytime soon.

Oh and maybe if they were extremely lucky, Jugo might be able to keep Karin from killing Suigetsu. Hinata certainly didn't envy the woman for having to put up with morning sickness and labor in addition to an extremely mischievous husband.

"Yes, indeed." Itachi smiles at them both. "I love you and our family is waiting for you on the other side, when the time comes. I'm afraid that I can't say much more at this time."

Sasuke nods shakily at that. "It's alright." He pokes Itachi's forehead. "I understand and you've had that coming for years." Itachi doesn't protest that, he just disappears leaving them alone to their thoughts.

Which was nice of him. They obviously had a lot of planning to do.

"Don't worry." Sasuke shakes his head in amusement as he kisses Hinata. "I'll make sure that our entire family has a very healthy supply of earplugs to endure Karin's pregnancy with."

Hinata laughs at that, after returning his kiss. "Mhm." She couldn't help, but smile at him slyly. "I knew that there was a reason that I married you besides your good looks and talented hands. You really are a genius." They were definitely going to need those earplugs.