Chapter Text
“Congratulations- I’m proud of you, Sarada”
Sarada was confused, what did she do?
Congratulations?
She looked towards her mother who let out a small gasp before rushing towards her room. When she came back, she was holding a mirror. Sakura turned the mirror around, so its reflective side was facing the floor and handed it to Sarada with an assuring smile on her face. Sarada tilted the mirror around to look at her face, only to see her Sharingan advanced to 2 tomes. Sarada’s happiness was evident her face.
She jumped and hugged her uncle again, this time tighter. Itachi happily returned the hug.
<><><>
After their small union, Sakura sat Sarada down to explain their situation. The circumstances of this situation only made Sarada happier. First her father was coming home soon which meant she will get to meet him again and hopefully spend time with him. Her uncle and her past papa will stay at their house till her father comes home which means they will be here for a while. Third this was her first S-rank mission as a Genin.
As a Genin.
When Sakura told her this was her first S-rank mission, she unconsciously blurted out, “Take that, Boruto”, which made Itachi raise an eyebrow while playfully smirking at her to later find that he was the son of Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyūga themselves, and a very ‘annoying’ teammate of hers.
Once all the rules were set around the house, Sakura excused herself to Sasuke's room, telling Sarada to take care of Itachi.
<><><>
Once the pinkette entered the room, she saw a young teen lying in bed with a calm expression on his face. She sighed, happy that the nightmare was over. Sasuke should’ve been able to break free from the genjutsu easily. It was either the jutsu was very strong which is expected from Itachi, or it was a terrible nightmare paralyzing him to do any good. Looking at his face, it was innocent, calm maybe it was not a complete nightmare maybe it shifted into a relaxing dream. She put her hand on top of his head and sending chakra to his nerves to help them relax, she let out another sigh.
<><><>
Sasuke opened his eyes. His forehead covered in cold sweat. He was wearing the same clothes that he was wearing yesterday.
Yesterday, he could not recall anything expect the fact that he met Sakura, at night had dinner and then what? He sat up from his bed. 12:45. It was noon.
He stood up to his feet. His head felt dizzy, he grabbed the side of the bed and supporting himself up straight. He held on the wall and slowly made his way to the bathroom. His head hurting with every step. Once done with the bathroom, again he held to the walls but once he exited the bathroom, he was blinded by bright sunlight coming from his windows. He took a minute to adjust to the light.
Upon opening his eyes, his gaze met up with Sakura’s welcoming smile who just brought him breakfast. Sasuke sat on his bed and looked down at his hands, chakra cuffs? Sakura told Sasuke that from now on until his future-self came he was to wear chakra cuffs only allowing a few chakras to be released. He ate his Breakfast in silence occasionally looking towards Sakura who was humming while doing housework. Sasuke wanted to lend a hand, but his headache won’t allow him. He tried to ask Sakura what happened, but she would say that it was better to finish his breakfast first.
Once he was done, he set the plates aside and sat on the side of the bed and was later joined by his future former teammate. She brought the chair from study and sat opposite to Sasuke. Leaning back on her chair, Sakura let out a sigh, “I received a letter from future Sasuke”.
He looked up at Sakura, waiting for her to continue, “He now knew you are here, kind of”, Sasuke raised a brow at her,
“Kind of?” Sasuke asked her,
“I cannot give him details for safety measurements” She informed as she looked at Sasuke, “When he will arrive is still unknown” which meant it is still unknown when he will be able to go home. Sakura looked at Sasuke this time with a concerned look on her face,
“Sasuke-Kun” she started “There is another thing you should know” Sasuke looked at her, emotionless. “Team Taka isn’t the only one from the past that’s here” Sasuke looked at her, eyebrows frowned,
“Itachi’s here too”
<><><>
“Itachi’s here too” his emotionless straight face filled with rage.
Itachi was here. He stood up from his position only to fall at Sakura’s feet. She let out a sigh. She knew Sasuke too well, maybe too well. She had expected that reaction. She knew he would chase him alone and won’t give up until he’s found him. But thankfully she took care of it. Putting a slow poison in Sasuke’s food which would stiff his muscles to a point where he couldn’t move. She took out the bottle and put it aside where Sasuke could not reach it with his current state.
“That bottle contains the antidote to your current situation” Sakura told him while looking down at her feet where Sasuke had landed.
“You poisoned it” Sasuke managed to say as he tried to ignore the pain.
“I had no other choice” Sakura said as she lifted her gaze up from Sasuke.
“You're teaming with him” Sasuke growled at her, he let his guard down, he was venerable, now he couldn’t move.
“I am only doing what is best for now”, He was gritting his teeth.
“Teaming up with that bastard is the best thing now!” He shouted at her.
Suddenly his thoughts were erupted when an image of a young girl flashed in his mind,
“Sarada”
Her name came as a merely audible, but Sakura heard it. She smiled at Sasuke before helping him up. She made him sat up on his bed, and she returned to her chair again,
“Please Sasuke-Kun, just listen to me” His body was sore, he couldn’t move, his throat dried, and eyes heavy, He looked at Sakura from the corner of his eyes.
“It’s great of you to put the burden of avenging your clan on your shoulder at a young age” she said as she leaned back on her chair, arms crossed beneath her chest,
“I am doing all this for Sarada” she said as she looked at Sasuke with a pleading look,
“If only you could get rid of your hatred, only for Sarada” Her voice was breaking at this point, she couldn’t imagine her daughter being victim of something Sasuke was right now.
Sasuke looked at her. It was the same pleading look as the one that........
If you go, I’ll scream and-
Sakura, Thank you for everything.
Sasuke avoided that look once. But he isn’t sure if he can ignore the hurt again.
He thought of Sarada.
She didn’t know any of this. She was living a good life but only for 4 years then his future-self left. He knew what it felt like to grow up alone, though there was Sakura to take care of her, but he knew even she couldn’t fill the hole in her heart which Sasuke had left.
For 8 years Sarada had longed for a complete family and now that she was getting it, he was going to ruin it all?
Again?
But at the same time, he just can’t forgive Itachi, he killed his clan, he shamelessly killed his parents, He left him on cold land to face that nightmare alone. He just can’t allow himself to forgive Itachi.
Sakura opened her mouth again, with a softer tone, “She gained her second tome”
Sasuke looked at Sakura, who was smiling proudly, Sasuke’s skin too stiff to react, but Sakura knew he was shocked, she continued, “Don’t worry” her lips formed an assuring smile,
“It advanced because she was happy not because she was hurt” She closed her eyes, “She was happy to meet Itachi”,
Sasuke could not believe it, when he heard she advanced first thought that came to mind was Itachi hurt her, but she was happy? It was understandable under the conditions she didn’t know about the past of her clan.
Sakura stood up and lifted Sasuke's head and made him drink the antidote placed far away from his reach. “Your body will return to your normal state soon” with that she turned on her heel and made her way out “make your decision wisely” with that she closed the door while Sasuke stared at the ceiling of the room.
<><><>
Sakura stepped out of the room closing the door behind her. She saw Itachi leaning next to the door which Sakura guessed that he was listening to their conversation. He nodded at Sakura who smiled in return. She then made her way to the kitchen while Itachi left for his room.
Once she entered the kitchen and saw Sarada looking at her reflection on the microwave door, sharingan activated. Sakura let out a small chuckle which alarmed her daughter who quickly changed her position.
Sakura opened the fridge and saw it almost empty, with all the guests she’ll need twice as much food. She released a sigh and told her daughter she’ll be out for groceries. Sakura knew Itachi won’t hurt Sarada and Sasuke will be in bed for a while. With that thought she put on her heels and took her wallet and made her way out securing the house with multiple layers of genjutsu.
A few minutes after, Itachi heard the door open and close. He made his way to the kitchen for a glass of water only to find his little niece holding a piece of paper. Once he entered the kitchen, Sarada turned her head towards Itachi. He saw the biggest smile he’s yet seen on her face.
She skipped her way towards Itachi. Once she was close enough, she held out a paper neatly folded in her hand, gesturing Itachi to read. Itachi raised an eyebrow at Sarada while taking the note and unfolding it to reveal the content present inside.
“I’m coming home, Tsuma”
Itachi raised his head to look towards her.
“It’s a note from papa to mama” she informed Itachi.
“He’s coming home” Sarada cheered. “He only left a few weeks ago, and he’s coming back already”
“He promised this time he will teach me the clan’s signature technique” She further continued as she skipped her way back to put the note back in her mother’s apron.
“You don’t know how to?” Itachi inquired as it seemed odd. “How long has he been gone for?”
Itachi noticed how her expression turned into a grim one. “You know........It depends” Sarada gave an unsatisfying answer.
Itachi didn’t like the idea of Sarada not knowing the clan’s special jutsu After all it was thought to clan children when they have turned 7. Sarada was 12.
‘How long are you gone, Sasuke?’
Itachi was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t notice Sarada had already walked near him. “Hey Uncle ’tachi! Why don’t you teach it to me! Then you know? We can surprise Papa together!”
‘I think me being here will already be a big surprise for your father’ Itachi thought but choose to not voice his thought
Itachi looked towards Sarada as she spoke. It’s been long since he trained with someone or even hung out with them. It felt wrong being so comfortable in his brother’s house. A brother whose life was spent in pain n misery because of him. But he did not care. Maybe he wanted to be selfish even if it was for a little while.
She held his hand and started to drag him towards what he guessed was the backyard. ‘She sure has a lot of strength for her age’
Once they made their way towards the backyard, to his left, he noticed a few targets attached to the trunk of the trees. Once looked closely you could notice the holes in the target to his pride most of them were in the middle.
And to his right was a very familiar dock. Sarada, too much to his dismay, guided him to the dock. In front of them a beautiful scenery of a clear lake with its other side meeting with green plains with Sakura trees scattered around.
Itachi looked at Sarada who looked at him, urging him to teach her. Chakra cuffs only allow a little chakra to pass through, so he wouldn’t be surprised if his fireball will be small. Releasing a sigh,
Horse. Serpent. Ram. Monkey. Boar. Horse. Tiger
After forming the hand signs, he took in a deep breath letting his lungs expand and letting the little chakra he had to form fire. One, Two, Three.
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu
Itachi had accepted his fireball to be small, but it was of the right size. He glanced at Sarada from the corner of his eyes. Sarada had her sharingan activated, recording every move.
Inhaling and exhaling, she carefully formed the hand signs.
Horse. Serpent. Ram. Monkey. Boar. Horse. Tiger
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu
Her fireball was small. Smaller than his but bigger than off a beginner.
She tried again. The result was the same.
“Damn It!”
Itachi saw her huff as she pouted, Disappointed by her attempt. Itachi let out a small chuckle watching his niece. If looks could kill than, Itachi would’ve been six feet in ground because her glare was anything but playful. Itachi moved closer to Sarada.
Sifting her into proper position. “Put your right foot at front”
— “Relax your body”
Then he moved to guide her further as she followed his instructions.
— “Form the hand signs slowly. You don’t achieve everything on the first try”
Horse. Serpent. Ram. Monkey. Boar. Horse. Tiger
— “Take a deep breath. Loosen your chest. Clear your mind. Let your chakra transform into fire”
— “One” “Two” “Three”
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu
It was bigger. Bigger than her first attempt. Almost as big as Itachi.
“Yosh!” Sarada cheered as she lifted her fist in air and went ahead to grab her uncle in a hug. Before she could ask for anything more, they heard a quiet. “I’m home”
Sarada rushed towards the door and helped her mother with the grocery bags. Itachi was following after Sarada when his eyes landed on the stack of papers in her hand. Before he could open his mouth — “I dropped by hospital earlier, decided to grab some papers to sign”
Those some papers were actually a ‘very’ long stack of papers
He just smiled in return, not being sure how to answer. Women were not allowed to work in the Uchiha clan. Earning money was something only men were to do while women were in home taking care of chores, kids etc. He was proud that Sasuke didn’t apply those rules made by clan elders to his wife.
“Where’s Mini-Papa?”
“Oh! I forgot about him. Thanks for reminding me” Sakura replied before placing the grocery on the table.
<><><>
Sakura made her way towards Sasuke's room. After slowly knocking on the door, she let herself in. Seeing Sasuke sitting straight up on the edge of the bed, she let out a breath of relief. She made her way towards Sasuke standing behind him. “How are you Sasuke-Kun?” She said making sure her voice remained gentle.
He slightly turned his head and glared at her. Sakura’s gaze fell on the bottle he was holding. The antidote. “I see you’re okay. That’s a relief” — “You poisoned me!” — “I did what was necessary”.
“Tsk”
“Have you decided?” she asked. “Yes” It was a simple reply.
<><><>
Sasuke had nothing much to do. When he heard the door open and close. He figured it was either Sakura or Sarada who left.
He closed his eyes and let his memories come back to him. First thing that came back to him was blood. It didn’t take long for him to realize that these were from his nightmare.
Soon it all came back.
<><><>
He saw a katana. A katana covered in blood. In front of him the Uchiwa symbol in half. Beneath the symbol, Bodies of his parents collapsed on one another. Laying in their own blood. He wants to scream, but he can’t seem to find his voice.
He takes small steps forward. But he can’t reach his parents. His small steps turn into large ones. Soon he’s running. But he can’t reach them. He’s too weak
Then he hears it.
Crash.
He turns his head and it’s Sakura.
It’s Sakura. Not the Sakura of this present but his. He steps closer.
Thud.
Sakura falls on the ground. Her back meets with the pool of blood. There’s a hole in her chest. Much similar to the one formed by his Chidori.
His eyes widened, He looked ahead. He saw a mirror reflecting himself. He was red. Red from the blood splattered on him. His hands dripping.
“You did this” the reflection tells him.
He can feel his cheeks wet. He’s not sure if it’s tears or blood.
He can see another figure somewhere in the mirror. He turns his face.
It’s Sarada.
She points towards Sasuke. Her eyes red. “Why?”
He doesn’t know what’s happening. He’s too tired to think. The scene keeps repeating and again. He’s become accommodate with the scene. Now he’s too tired to react.
That is until it changes......
It’s Sarada instead of Sakura now. It’s her who's he going to kill now.
She has the same whole in her chest. But Sakura is not there.
Then he feels it.
He feels someone else's wait on him.
“Stop It, please”
He’s twelve again.
He can see it in his reflection.
He’s twelve and naïve again.
He’s naïve again, so he lets himself in the warmth of the person behind.
It’s nostalgic.
But he’s a kid right now, so he gives in.
‘A Kid’ deep down he knows this is an excuse. But he pushes all logic to an extreme end of his mind.
Right now, he just wants to find solace in the warmth. And he always does.
<><><>
Sakura had made her way towards the kitchen. Just as she stepped in the kitchen. Her nostrils smelled the scent of spices. As she looked up, it was Itachi cooking on the stove while Sarada eagerly helped him with all the ingredients he needed.
“Ara-Ara, it smells good” Sakura called out catching both of their attention.
“Mama!” Sarada called out. “Uncle Itachi insisted in making dinner today”
“Did he?” Sakura looked at Itachi with her one eyebrow raised
“It's the least I can do”
Sakura answered his statement with a smile and took her seat on the dining table. Soon the kitchen was filled with Sarada’s continuous chatter along with Sakura and Itachi’s remarks.
All while this was happening Itachi could not get one thought out of mind no matter how much he wished. It was dangerous to know about the future. He knows that if something he could do to change the future to the better, he’ll do it once he returns to his time. But right now, they were good without him.
He poured the content of the pan into a plate. Still to lost in his thoughts as he ignored the commotion happening in his surroundings.
Still knowing the consequences, he couldn’t get rid of memory of Sarada's grim expression from earlier.
“Uncle Itachi!” Sarada shouted snapping Itachi out of his chain of thoughts. “You zoned out”
Itachi looked at his niece's worried face. After assuring her that it was nothing, he sparred a glance towards Sakura who was looking at him with unsatisfying look clearly not believing him.
Turning his attention to the plate again. He spoke
-“Sakura-San”
-“Hm?”
-“How long is Sasuke usually gone? For his missions”
-“I told you it depends” Sarada turned away hiding her face as she spoke
-“Sarada’s right, Itachi-San, when Sasuke-kun returns depends on his mission”
-“Then how long are they?”
-“That’s classified information I’m afraid”
-“If you don’t mind me asking-
-“I mind”
"Sasuke" Itachi called out as a figure moved out of the corner.
Sasuke. His Sasuke, had his eyes narrowed. If he had access to enough chakra maybe he would have sharingan on right now. His face looked concerned and worried, but all covered by a mask of hatred towards Itachi.
After receiving no reply of acknowledgement from Sasuke, which was understandable on his part, but it left little Sarada confused, 'Did they fight?'
Sarada never had a sibling or someone with a sibling like relationship like of her father and boruto's. But from what she knows they can be pretty bad from all Boruto had told her. But she can't just ignore the tension between them like nothing. She's not a child.
She gives Sasuke a questioning look which her choses to ignore. Sasuke walks towards them fist hands formed into fists and jaw clenched indicating that he was gritting his teeth. He moves past itachi completely ignoring him, well mostly ignoring him. He 'accidentally’ bumped his shoulder while making his way to Sarada. Just as every action has a reaction, Itachi grabbed Sasuke shoulder with a firm hand.
Sasuke felt disgusted. He felt rage, his blood was boiling. 'Sarada is in front',
'Sarada is in front of you'
He repeated Sakura’s plea in his head repeatedly. his knuckles were white as he clenched his fists more tightly........the night of Massacre
"Foolish little brother... If you wish to kill me, curse me! Hate me! And survive your miserable life... Run away, run away... Cling to life"
Through gritted teeth he looked at Itachi, his eye's expressing pure Hate.
"Get your hands off" He hissed in a low voice.
Itachi realized what he has done and not wasted a second to remove his hand. 'Idiot' he told himself and averted his attention towards the food on the stove. Still. He could not ignore the dark aura he could feel from around Sasuke.
Sasuke moved forward to stand beside Sarada. Stopping for a second and giving a side glance to Sarada. eyeing for any injury. Choosing to not look in Sakura’s expression afraid to see her disappointed but too much to his relief Sakura’s sigh of relief was heard by his ears.
He soon made his way out only to stand in a corner outside. Far enough to not be seen but still be able to hear everything.
Sarada, however, after the recent act eyed Itachi weirdly. Wondering. "What is it?" Itachi asked, his hands cutting the vegetables.
-"Did something happen between you and........"
-"Just a little fight...nothing to worry about"
-"Was it ...."
-"He'll lighten up soon"
She wasn't convinced, Itachi knew it. She took in a sharp breath and continued to help Itachi. When she turned towards her mother. She saw her worried. She made herself think it was the papers she was signing not the recent events that took place.
Instead of voicing her thoughts she focused on her current task in complete silence only source of sound was being either the vegetables sizzling and her mother’s pen. Right now, she’ll let the problem stir inside her head as she observes and find wait for her questions to be answered.
Sasuke who’s listening to all this commotion outside only ‘tsked’ before making his way towards his room.
<><><>
Right now, Sasuke’s four days journey away from his home with new found information about his journey and some new facts about his rinnegan. Too important to be informed to the Hokage by hawk. He also can’t risk meeting him somewhere else to prevent the events of their last encounter.
He has just walked a couple of miles when he hears a hawk. Looking above he can see his hawk returned. Frowing, he lifted his good arm up for the hawk to land. He had expected it to take longer.
Once the hawk had landed, he quickly untied the message. Disappointed at the weight of the envelope he flew the hawk and ripped it open. Only to find a single sheet.
He had been expecting more especially now that Sarada knew of this too. He was hoping for some stories about her mission as the member of team 7 of the next generation. He unfolded the paper to see his wife’s hand writing.
Soon the note became victim of the black flames not before it was imprinted in his brain.
All this happened without his permission. Or to say, he did all this unconsciously as he let his emotions slip. He never imagined he’ll see his Sarada’s and............Itachi’s name together this soon.
-“Sasuke-Kun, It’s Itachi and your past. Sarada might find out”
Neatly written in Sakura’s writing.