Ino woke up, and smiled as she felt her husband next to her, breath tickling her neck. Then she remembered where and when she was.

"Sai wake up. My father will come in soon. It's still the 'my daughter will not have a boyfriend' phase.

Sai groaned and opened his eyes. Then he shot up and out the window whispering a quick, 'bye!' over his shoulder. Ino sighed as her father rushed in.

"I thought I heard something." he said, scanning the room. He knew someone had been there, and in his daughter's bed, and based off of chakra residue it was male, but nothing went on. He didn't say anything, just giving her the 'look', before walking out. His little girl was growing up.

Ino got ready for the day, and went to meet her team. She knew Asuma-sensei would be alive, but it didn't sink in until she saw him, leaning against a tree and smoking his signature cigarettes. The Akatsuki mission would come up soon, just after Sai's Orochimaru mission. She needed to stop Asuma from dying and Shikamaru from adopting those bad habits. She would need to subtly nudge him in the right direction of killing Hidan. And maybe that would help in the prevention of the fourth shinobi war.

She sighed as training commenced. She needed to whip her boys into shape.

Sai walked through the Ne headquarters, on his way to report to Danzo. He would be giving mostly false information, only giving up a little of the truth. His face was stony, and he bowed before the elder.

He knew the old man still had his guard up, and that he would need a well thought and smoothed over plan before he could kill him.

"The jinchuriki shows no special skills, and his teammates are weak. The Kazekage was recovered and is alive, through a life transfer technique performed by elder Chiyo. One Yamanaka Ino was included on the mission, and together we brought down Aka Suna no Sasori, though Chiyo and I were the ones who defeated him. Afterwards we collected pay and returned home."

Danzo nodded. "Continue observing Team 7. Dismissed."

Sai disappeared, reappearing on the hokage monument. He kneeled atop where his hokages head would be placed, hoping to be heard.

"I apologise, Hokage-sama ...there were difficulties with the mission. It was a simple D-rank, but I failed so that I could try to save my Beautiful. I hope you understand. We are in the past now... and we will try and stop the war from happening, but I fear-"

"That we will succeed too well, and it will be too easy."

Sai smiled slightly at the newcomer. "Beautiful." he said, kissing her. She smiled before pushing him back, teasingly.

"I am sorry Hokage-sama. I underestimated my opponent, got overconfident. I will not allow that to happen again, I promise you that." she kneeled, fist touching the ground where Naruto's face would one day reside.

They stand and make their way down from the Hokage monument, talking about their day so far. Sai told her his plan for the Orochimaru mission as they ate some Yakiniku Q.

>-<

Naruto looked up from atop his own head, a smile gracing his features. "It's okay Ino. and Sai, it was just a D-rank filing mission. I had Kakashi grab it. It's good to know you are okay... and Ino. I got the results from Baa-chan. You were positive, and may still be so take it easy."

He turned and looked back over his village, which he fought ruthlessly to protect. Here was home, and the past was something he never dwelled on. He saw no reason to, not after all the pain of his youth. But then again, that pain made him who he was today.

He felt an immense feeling of happiness overcome him, and could almost see the happy tears streaming down her face. "Thank you Naruto, thank you." she said.

As Ino dreamt that night, she saw her Hokage on his head. He was speaking to her, and Sai. she listened, knowing this was more vision than dream. She felt tears stream down her face as she heard the news. She might still..... She thanked him, feeling happier than ever, only having once been this happy. And that was when Sai proposed.

Sai could feel tears on his neck, where Ino had nuzzled into. He looked, and saw a smile on her face as she cried. She wasn't saying anything, just smiling and crying. Her arms around him tightened just a little, and he did the same, drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

The week passed uneventfully, sans Ino, who went to get a test done, to see if she was positive. When she found out she was, she was beside herself with joy. She wanted to wait until after Sai's infiltration mission to tell him. She was a bit nervous on how he would take it, and worried over it briefly before pushing it aside. He would be happy, she knew he would.

And when Sai returned, exhausted and covered in dirt and blood, she ran up to him, not caring about the looks she attracted from Sakura and Kakashi, though Kakashi seemed lost in memory for a moment. She hugged him, and whispered in his ear.

His eyes widened comically, before he leaned down and captured her lips in his. He picked her up and spun her around, he drew back, a slightly dazed, yet happy shine in his eyes. Ino giggled. He was happy, and she was too. They just stared at one another, conversing without words.

When Kakashi returned from his mission, he did not expect Yamanaka Ino to run up to the boy, Sai, and hug him. Yet, the way she threw herself at him was familiar.

... He watched from a nearby tree outside the window, as his sensei's wife leapt at him, elation on her face.

"Mina-kun!" her red hair was silky, and covered her like a blanket as it settled from the brief flight.

His sensei wrapped his arms around her, a bemused look on his face. "Yes, Kushina-chan?"

She pulled back and beamed at him. "I'm pregnant Dattebane!"

He remembered how his sensei had frozen, eyes wide, before picking her up and twirling her around, laughing joyously. He remembered how they had kissed, before it truly sunk in and his sensei passed out in a dead faint...

Now he found himself looking at a similar scene, yet Sai didn't pass out, just stared lovingly at the blond, hands on her petite waist. But Ino couldn't be..... He shrugged it off.

Sakura was staring between the two of them, shock on her face, before shaking her head and walking off. Naruto gave Sai the 'look'. It was sly, and basically said, good catch.

Sai felt a little irritation at that, as his wife was not a possession, but a gift with freedom to leave should she ever choose. He glared at the Uzumaki.

Suddenly horror dawned on his already pale face, which somehow paled more. "Inoichi-sama."

Ino whirled around to see her father, standing arms crossed. "Ah, dad. Um, I can explain? Sai is my-"

"Yes Ino, your boyfriend can come over for dinner. But I want to talk to him. Alone."

Sai gulped silently. He was ready though. Nothing was going to keep him from his beautiful. He walked next to Inoichi while Ino went back to her team.

A tense silence ensued as the two walked. Sai watched the passive faced Yamanaka warily, wondering what he was going to say. Inoichi suddenly sighed, startling Sai from his thoughts.

"I think she is a bit young to be dating. I wanted to wait until she was older, and was fully aware of the risks. I want her to be with a man who respects her and will treat her like she is their world. I don't know what she told you, but it's obvious you two are happy. For now, I'll let it be. But I warn you, if you ever hurt her, I will castrate you with a rusty kunai before dumping your body on the border of Iwa."

Sai nodded seriously. He would never mistreat his Beautiful. He would rather die. They continued walking, to where Sai was unsure. They soon arrive in an empty training ground, which set off alarms in the ravens head. He tensed, but not in time for the wave of chakra that hit him, knocking him out.

Inoichi sighed sadly. He hadn't wanted to do that, but he needed to know this teens intentions for his daughter. He entered the boys mind, and was surprised at what he saw. The boy was kneeled over something, in a gorge, crying. The male Yamanaka watched horrified as the boy, whose hair seemed longer, lifted a tanto and pierced his own chest.

He walked closer and gasped at a vision of his daughter's head lying on the ground in a growing pool of blood. Sai was sobbing, pain etched across his features as he died. The Yamanaka knew he was crying too, and turned away from the memory, just to see another.

Sai was on one knee, atop the Hokage monument, on a head Inoichi didn't recognize, and Ino was staring shocked. Suddenly she burst into tears, kissing Sai. No words were exchanged, but a click sounded through the memory, a familiar one, that Inoichi had only experienced once, when he swore his devotion to his wife. A mental bond.

He turned once more and saw the older Sai standing by Ino, who collapsed by a grave. One, that had his name on it.

"I'm sorry beautiful. He and Shikaku-sama were great people."

"Sai, I know you are trying to help but please...I want to be alone right now."

Sai just looked at her helplessly. He didn't know what to do, was still learning and he was trying because he felt some sort of pull towards her and felt pain when she cried. So he decided to leave, and hoped it was the right choice.

"Okay Beautiful. I'll go. But... if you need anything, I'm here."

Inoichi turned, expecting another memory, only to find a pale blue wall. He saw a form, like a shadow, on the wall, and his daughter appeared, holding Sai's hand. She stopped in front of him, a frown marring her face.

"Tou-san, I am not your little girl anymore. I am a woman, and a Kunoichi. Now, how much did you see?"

Inoichi fumbled for an answer. Finally, he just hung his head. "I died. Sai proposed. You died and Sai killed himself-"

"What!" Ino exclaimed turning on Sai. "Why!" she demanded.

Sai stared sadly into her pale blue orbs, which were filled with worry, confusion, and slight anger. "I don't know. I had this feeling... and then my tanto was in my chest."

That didn't really answer Ino's question, so she reached into Sai's memories, and pulled out the one of Sai's final moments.

"Sai, I'm sorry. I guess....I won't be home in time to greet you."

Sai immediately dropped the folders in his hands, and ran. He ran towards the flickering chakra that was just outside the border of Fire country, even as it vanished, the only traces remaining in his mind. He collapsed right on the border, uncomprehensive. He stared down into the gorge, and jumped down without a thought. She was here, she had to be! He found signs of an explosion, and searched frantically. She would be injured, but alive. She had to be!

He screamed and kneeled over the head of his beautiful, sobbing as a pain worse than when he lost Shin flooded him. He felt like his chest was tearing, ripping apart. He felt his vision fade as a tanto pierced his chest, right where his heart was. He didn't want to feel the pain anymore. He collapsed, curling his body around Ino Yamanakas' head.

Ino had her hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Sai stepped forward, placing one hand on her stomach, and the other cupping her face. Inoichi just stood to the side, watching carefully.

Ino tilted her head, leaning into Sai's touch, as if to affirm that he was still alive. "Why?" she whispered, staring up at him.

"You are my beautiful. You were my main reason to feel. And when you were gone, it hurt. More than any wound, word or loss I had ever experienced. I didn't want to live without you."

Ino gave him a watery smile, and she lifted her hand, rubbing her thumb across his cheek. "Well, I don't plan on dying anytime soon so-"

"More like I won't let you die." Sai cut in, gently grasping her wrist. He turned to her father, who had been watching silently, and he bowed.

"I am sure you have deciphered the meaning behind our memories... and I hope you can let this remain between us, as a war is near and we wish to prevent as many deaths as possible. Also, I must formally Introduce myself. I am Sai Yamanaka, husband to Ino Yamanaka, former ROOT, and will protect Ino until my last breath,"

Inoichi still looked a bit shocked, and was slightly overwhelmed. He resignedly accepted the fact that his daughter was growing up, and had grown up. He was a bit surprised to hear that Sai took on the Yamanaka name, but went with the flow. He nodded wordlessly, and exited the ravens mind, straightening up from the slumped posture his body had taken.

He turned to the now conscious teen. "You are still coming over for dinner. We are having umeboshi." he said quietly as he turned away. When he was ten yards away, he turned and saw his daughter running to Sai, elation on her face. Sai caught her and they kissed, before vanishing.

Ino was surprised. Sai cared so much that he killed himself? That was concerning. He needed other bonds, like in the future. She turned to look at said raven and smiled. They were at Ichiraku Ramen, where a certain whiskered ninja was inhaling bowl after bowl.

"So." she began. Sai raised an eyebrow. "So?" he repeated.

"We need to think of names for..." she trailed off, placing her hand on her stomach. Sai jolted slightly. He hadn't even thought of names.

"Well," he started. "I noticed most Yamanaka have names with Ino somewhere in them, so I want ours to carry the tradition."

Ino hummed in agreement. "So for a girl how about... Kinori? Or Sarino? Maybe Minoko?"

Sai nodded. "Minoko. Kinori sounds boyish, and in case our girl is not a tomboy...anyways. Boy, how about... Minoru. Or Inoji. Or maybe Inojin?"

Ino nodded too, before lightly smacking Sai. "Minoru? Really? You got that from my Minoko!" she accused.

Sai chuckled. "Well, I was struggling. Cut me some slack."

Ino giggled, and turned back to her bowl. It was Miso Pork, while Sai had just stuck with a regular Miso. they ate in a comfortable silence, Ino enjoying it more, knowing she needed to keep away from too much unhealthy foods and drinks. Afterwards they went to training ground thirty eight, one that was out of the way.

They didn't hold back, trying to assess their levels. Ino began protecting her stomach more, even though Sai didn't try to hit there. By the time the sun began to set, they were tired and sweaty, but happy. They made their way to the Yamanaka shop, stomachs grumbling. Ino smiled to herself. Her mother was going to gush over her 'boyfriend.'

OMAKE

Sai stared glassy eyed as Ino's mother spoke to him a mile a minute with- are those stars in her eyes?

Ino just watched, giggling silently. Her mother could be so predictable.