This Side of Paradise

Summary: Because they're just barely thirteen, they're still so innocent, and they're still figuring things out. –SasuSaku, NaruHina, ItaOC—

Note: No Uchiha massacre, no Obito death, no Kurama rampaging. No Orochimaru crap. Uchiha clan is alive, as are Naruto's parents. Sasuke accepts his bonds with Naruto and Sakura. Naruto is not hated by the village. Sasuke is acknowledged by and spends time with Fugaku. Naruto and Sasuke are both figuring out their feelings for their respective ladies. Sakura… well, you'll see! :)

Note 2: I HAD to start writing this after reading what happened in the most recent Naruto episode, and I got so pissed off at what they did.

Chapter 1

When they notice how anxious Sakura is during their team meeting and missions that day, Naruto and Sasuke exchange a glance. Something has obviously happened that is causing Sakura to act strange, what it is, they don't know, but she's been anxious for weeks now. When their missions end, Sakura is first to be gone, barely waiting for Kakashi to finish telling them they were done, and she runs right home.

Naruto thinks it's strange, but Sasuke knows there's got to be something going on.

He just hopes it's nothing bad, or anything that's hurting Sakura.

Sasuke knows her parents love her very much, she was their only child and daughter, and he was absolutely sure they would never abuse or hurt her.

Would they?

After Sakura runs home once they've finished their missions for the day, Naruto suggests to Sasuke that they follow her to see what's going on, and Sasuke actually agrees with Naruto for once.

They're quiet as could be as they secretly follow Sakura to her home, hiding when they think she's heard them, and watching as she runs inside, calling for her mother.

"Mom! Mom, are you home?!"

"Yes, Sakura. I'm here."

From the window they're looking in, all they can see is her mother's back while she sits at the kotatsu, and Sakura is in front of her in an instant.

"Are you feeling ok today? Do you need me to get you anything?"

Mebuki laughs, shaking her head.

"No, I'm fine, Sakura! Don't worry and fret so much. My gosh. You act just like your father."

"But, mama, I just want to make sure you're ok!"

"I am, Sakura! I'm just pregnant, sweetheart!"

Sakura frowns a bit, but nods, then smiles and sets her hand on her mother's stomach, grinning when she feels a kick at her hand.

"Hey little sister~ How are you today?"

Mebuki laughs when the baby kicks again, telling Sakura "You don't know that you're getting a little sister. How do you know it's not a boy?"

Shrugging, Sakura grins and settles beside Mebuki. "I don't know. I just hope I get a little sister. You know I always wanted one when I was younger."

Naruto and Sasuke duck down when Sakura lifts her head towards the window, hoping she hasn't seen them before they sneak away, leaving the small family alone for some private time.

+!+

"So. Sakura-chan's going to be a big sister then."

"Aa…"

"That must be why she's been so anxious the last few months."

"Yeah."

Despite Sasuke's silence, Naruto grins, arms behind his head and he says "She'll be an awesome big sister. Why do you think she didn't tell us?"

Sasuke shrugs. "Maybe they didn't want the information out there yet. Her mother is over forty, after all."

"Yeah… I guess."

Naruto and Sasuke are quiet as they continue walking, before splitting up to head to their respective homes. They're both still surprised that Sakura's going to have a newborn sibling soon, but they're also very happy for her.

Still, they can't help but wonder why Sakura didn't tell them when she found out, especially since it appeared her mother was well along in her pregnancy.

+!+

Once he's home that night, Sasuke is quiet as he waits for Itachi to come home. He talks to Fugaku and Mikoto about his day, listening to them as they relay their days to him, before they both turn in for the night.

Instead of going to bed himself, Sasuke stays under the kotatsu with a book while he waits for Itachi. It's well past midnight when Itachi returns home, quietly entering the house so he didn't wake anyone that was sleeping.

"What are you doing up?"

Looking at his older brother, Sasuke simply says "Waiting for you. I wanted to ask you something."

Itachi nods, removing his bag and sitting beside Sasuke. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

"Not… wrong, per say."

"What does that mean?"

"I found out today that Sakura is going to be a big sister."

Itachi is quiet for a moment before he smiles and nods. "I see. She must be excited."

"Yeah… but she didn't tell us."

"Then how do you know? You didn't stalk her home, did you?"

"….."

"Sasuke?"

"It's not stalking."

Laughing, Itachi shakes his head and pokes Sasuke in the middle of his forehead. "You are a strange kid. So, what are you so worried about? The fact she didn't tell you guys?"

Sasuke nods, looking down. "Yeah. Naruto and I were surprised to see that her mother's pregnant, and to know she didn't tell us. We'd seen that she's been anxious lately, and we were wondering why."

"Really now?"

"I was worried she was being abused or something…"

Sasuke's confession just makes Itachi smile. His little brother had always, even when they were small, been protective of Sakura (they had been friends almost as long as Naruto and Sasuke had been), so it's no wonder he'd be so worried she was being treated wrongly.

"That's nice that you were so worried about her, but I'm sure Sakura-san is strong enough to take care of herself if something like that ever happened."

While Itachi gets up to leave, Sasuke just smiles to himself.

"Yeah… she is."

+!+

"And then, Sasuke and I followed Sakura-chan home—"

"You did WHAT?!"

"And we found out her mom is pregnant!"

Kushina just sighs and shakes her head, unable to believe her son followed poor Sakura home, while Minato laughs nervously for him.

Naruto was really wired and energetic that night, more so than usual, and Kushina was confused about why, so she questioned him and got the full story, which culminated with the revelation of Mebuki's pregnancy.

"Naruto! You do not follow people home like that!"

Naruto grins, nodding. "I know, mom! But… Sasuke and I were worried about Sakura. We've never seen her so anxious before. We needed to know what was going on."

"Couldn't you have just asked her?!"

"I don't think she would have told us! Sasuke said they were probably keeping the pregnancy a secret."

Kushina nods, sitting back down. She, actually, had known about Mebuki's pregnancy, as had Mikoto. They had been asked to keep it a secret, since Mebuki was terrified of having a miscarriage (once again, Kushina reminds herself) and she wanted to be absolutely sure this new little Haruno child would make it.

"Now, Naruto, don't—"

"I know. Don't let Sakura know that I know. Sasuke already told me that."

+!+

Sakura's evening is quiet. She spends it with Mebuki, talking to her and feeling her unborn sibling kick her hand every once in a while, grinning and listening to her mother chuckle when she does so.

Sakura knows how loved she and her little sibling are. Mebuki and Kizashi'd had so much trouble trying to have a child when they were first married, going through many false positives and several miscarriages, before Sakura was finally born, healthy and happy. They had felt so blessed to have her, and were ecstatic to be able to raise a beautiful girl as their daughter at last, exactly what they had wanted.

Now, Sakura was going to be a big sister, which was a great surprised considering Mebuki was already forty-two. Sakura had been so shocked when she came home from her missions one day, just four months ago, and her parents told her she was going to be a big sister.

She actually started crying because she was so happy. Sakura had desperately wanted a little sister when she was younger, and it upset her greatly when Mebuki told her it wasn't going to happen, but now it was, so much later than any of them ever expected.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Sakura?"

"When will we know whether the baby's a boy or girl?"

Mebuki smiles, patting Sakura on the head and letting her daughter hug her tightly. Sakura was already thirteen, but she still acted as though she were a small child sometimes, especially at moments like this.

"I'm going for an ultrasound next week. Your dad and I will decide then if we want to know. But, I'm thinking about leaving it a surprise, like we did with you."

Sakura nods, cuddling against Mebuki and closing her eyes, listening to her unborn sibling's kicks while Mebuki strokes her hair.

"So, what if you get a brother instead of a sister, Sakura?"

"I'll still love them, just because I'll have a little sibling."

Mebuki smiles and hugs Sakura closer, kissing the top of her head.

"That's good."

+!+

The next day, the Genin of Team Seven are quiet. Sakura is all smiles, while Naruto and Sasuke are just watching her. Neither of them is saying anything about knowing that Sakura's going to be a big sister, but they keep looking at each other, waiting for Sakura to say something.

Kakashi shows up before she can. He gives them the mission for the day, which, surprisingly, is to help Sakura's mother around the house.

Sakura is excited to hear that, and she tells them "Follow me!"

The boys nod, following behind Sakura as she runs home. Kakashi just laughs and watches them run ahead of him, coming along slowly.

When they get to her house, Sakura smiles and says "I have really great news that I've been dying to share with you guys, but haven't been able to until today!"

Sasuke and Naruto nod, and Sakura lets them into her house.

"Mom! We're here for our mission!"

Sakura is gone from their sight as soon as she's taken her shoes off. They slowly follow suit, removing their shoes and following Sakura into the living room, seeing her on the floor in front of Mebuki, hand on her stomach again.

"Hey little one! I have some friends you need to meet!"

Sakura turns around and waves the boys over. They're both quiet as could be as they walk in and sit next to Sakura on the floor, while she looks back to Mebuki and smiles before talking to her unborn sibling.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto. I found out a few months about that I'm going to be a big sister! I'm really sorry I kept it from you two… but we were trying to make sure the baby was going to be ok."

They both nod after a moment, finally understanding that her family was afraid of a miscarriage, and that was why it had been such a secret for so long.

Seeing how excited Sakura was made them happy for her, and they didn't mind taking over the chores that day. They had told Sakura to stay with Mebuki and help her with anything she needed, even though she tried to protest.

Sasuke, eventually, shook his head when Sakura told them to let her help.

"No, Sakura. Just stay with your mom. Naruto and I will take care of things."

Instead of saying another word, Sakura smiles and quickly kisses his cheek.

"Thank you so much."

Sasuke's face is bright red for the rest of the day, and he doesn't even fight Naruto when the blond mocks him.