Dreams of the Past

False Peace

A/N SO, I had originally intended to take a break from writing for a while after this. I tend to get hyper focused on things and it causes me to slack off in other areas of my life. I have a patient and hobby supportive husband, but I need to expend more energy on school and kids and remembering to find time to do my PT so my back doesn't give out before I hit 35. BUT I got a whole ass idea for another fic, same age au, arranged marriage, memory loss lots of drama, maybe Akatsuki Kaksaku, idk yet. I already have like, 2k for the first chapter. I think I will be able to pin it for later though. AND the start on a long one-shot for Dead dove January. IDK if ill actually post that. I am super uncomfortable posting things that are too smutty or suggestive. This will be at the least, very suggestive. I like the story though and have tapped out at least the first 1/3. I won't decide if it will ever see the light of day until I finish it. Anyway, all of this to say, I have finished chapter 35 for this. I think there will be one or two more chapters, then a long ep for one ending, another chapter or two and and EP for the other. 35 actually tied up a lot more than I thought it would. There will also be maybe one or two more drabbles. I might post a teaser for the new long fic idea to my tumblr later this week, I'm badadder1 there. AND Thursday's chapter will be moved to tomorrow because of the holiday, and I might post an extra chapter Friday. I am antsy to post more. ANYWHO please enjoy this chapter, and let me know what you think! 

Chapter 22

False Peace

Though the atmosphere in the village was strained—everyone tense as if waiting to be attacked in their homes—life changed very little. Sakura woke almost every morning to a hungry little boy gently patting her face until she opened her eyes. For now, Kakashi was there too. Sometimes she would roll over and kiss him awake, only to plop their son on his chest and dash across the hall to get ready for the day in peace. Other times, he woke first, flopping over on top of them, peppering both of them with kisses and affectionate nuzzles and discrete squeezes of her ass.

People still needed their homes repaired and handcrafted wood furniture, so he worked with her father at least three days a week. Every other day, he trained: alone, with her—both of them pushing each other hard—with his ninken. If he was going to be sent to war again, he would be in peak form, and if he was leaving her alone, so was she.

He also spent quite a bit of time with Kakashi-kun. They ran through complex katas and sparred. He made sure to drill him in kenjutsu. Minato was a true fūinjutsu master, but he had taught Kakashi quite a bit before he'd died. In her time, Kakashi had been one of a very few that had any real mastery of the art. They spent almost every evening reading the scroll Ume had given him, Kakashi answering any questions and helping him with basic seals.

Between everything Kakashi was doing with him, and the medical ninjutsu training she was doing with him thanks to Tsunade's scrolls, Kakashi-kun's progress was impressive.

One cool November evening, she sat beside Kakashi on the engawa watching the boys in the garden. Kakashi-kun was slowly going through a basic kata for Tenzō. The younger boy was crawling along beside him every time he moved, waving his arms around in babyish approximations of what Kakashi-kun was doing. Occasionally, he would crouch to correct Tenzō's arm posture.

"He could pass the Chunin exams tomorrow."

Sakura tore her eyes away from the boys to look at him. "Do you think he's ready?"

He shook his head. "No. Emotionally, mentally, he isn't prepared for what that would mean. He isn't ready to fight enemies, to kill. I... this isn't for children, Sakura. I don't understand how we ever got here. This isn't what Hashirama wanted when he founded Konoha."