Chapter Text
"Dear passengers, we will be reaching Konoha shortly, please make sure you take all your personal belongings..."
The boy with dark brown hair and green eyes had his gaze subjected on the distant horizon, as the train weaves its way through the woods, it caused the leaves to dance vigorously, where a mix of daisy yellow, grasshopper green, and flame red were flapped and some of them blown away because of the force. Within his sight, he could see strands of fixed-shaped smoke drifting from the engine and into the blue sky.
"Shinki, we're almost there, are you excited?" the redhead seating aside enclosed his notebook and tilted his head to him.
He drew his attention to the man and answered, "Father, it's not like I've never been there before." And the man returned him a smile.
Years has passed, Shinki was now a pre-teen. He happened to grow up happily and got flourished into one fine child, sprinkled by the love of his adoptive father and his partner in parenting, Sakura.
He outstood every Suna kid in school. At a very young age, he started running errands for the Kazekage and the village. With his gifted powers, low-ranked missions were a piece of cake that he’d even ask for something more challenging. He was kind of a lone wolf. After graduating from the academy with flying colors, he believed in his capability of working solo than joining a three-man team with other genins. Although it took Gaara some time to convince his son of the importance of teamwork, the kids eventually blended in their own way.
Quite a lot of things have changed, one of them is that Shinki gets to see his mother more frequently, not only once in a year or two. Ever since the invention of the thunder train, the number of accompanying his father to business trips had increased. Traveling hasn’t been much of a problem when it comes to technology, at least, they don't have to worry about getting robbed during the journey anymore. Hence, dropping by the capital of the land of fire formed Shinki a habit. The place that has four seasons, colorful buildings, and loud people was no longer strange to a foreigner like him.
Stepping out of the Konoha Shinshigai station, the father and son breathed in some fresh air.
"I’ll see you later," said Gaara, giving him a wave and headed to the red-bricked Hokage tower.
“Yes, father.” The genin watched his leave and soon directed himself to the broad and fiery streets.
The streets was crowded with people, many of them were outsiders, according to the headband they wore. Lately, the Hokage has lowered restrictions of the land borders to attract tourists, they were working hard on enhancing the development of their village. Although in his father's words, by being loose could easily pave ways for those who holds a grudge with the village. But Konoha was a place filled with strong shinobis after all, and the five great nations has entered an era of alliance. Beyond that, Konohagakure and Sunagakure have established the closest and strongest association among all.
Another matter of fact is, Sasuke and Sakura was divorced.
Why? A whole lot of reasons. Sasuke was a supporting Kage, most of the time he has to keep his trails in secret to keep the shinobi world safe, the only person he would report to was Naruto. Sarada, his daughter, however, was growing up fast. The longer his absent was, the deeper she needs him. But he could not see the end of his mission, and instead, it'd become crucial then ever.
So he made a decision of sacrificing his family. He thought it'd be better his wife and daughter not to suffer due to him, if they pretend he was dead as he abandoned them. He conveyed his ideas in handwriting, trusted in his messenger hawk to deliver it to Sakura. And of course, he madden her. The pinkette was confused, she hadn't anticipate a little demand of asking her husband to come home could lead them to divorce. She shoved her work and broke into the Hokage's office to find out her lost husband’s location, even though she had to crack some tables and for answers. She had every right to be really, really angry.
She thought she had done much for him, much for him to stay. Hadn't she waited long enough for him? She waited since she was a girl and even raised his child without any support, and also pay for the loan of their house. How could he be this cruel to her? She thought their hearts could link to each other's despite being apart. Saying goodbye and ending things one-sided, was a typical behavior of Sasuke Uchiha, which she hated majorly in him.
She set off to search for him, annoyed. Thousands of questions and rage to vent bottled up to its maximum, requiring for air.
She wanted to lose control in front of him, she wanted to yell at him, she wanted to tell him she disagrees his suggestion....but when she was met with his repeated apologizes and the miserable that couldn't be wiped off his face, she had forgotten what she had in mind.
He was the man she cherished all her life. She could understand him well.
Sasuke, someone who was bad at expressing his feelings, chose to let her go because didn't want her to spend another couple of calendars for an unknown future. He did this for the sake of the three of them.
If she hadn't been so crazy in love until she can go along with the fact of letting him give up her and their daughter, she could've said no. Yet she didn't.
She sat there quietly, listening to him as he confesses his mistakes of not meeting the least of a husband and a father. Apart from being legally recognized, none footprint of his had his family felt secure. His life was always in danger, he couldn't even commit the safety of his wellbeing to them. At first, to not disappoint her he put a ring on her, even so, he still did.
It certainly wasn't fair to Sakura. There was no space left for her to outrage at him.
"Our marriage has not failed, it reached its limit, that’s all," she tried to keep it cool.
Clenching her teeth, she suppressed her sorrow and said before she turned away from him, "Keep it in mind that there’s a door in Konoha that will stay open for you. You’re still our family, the father of Sarada."
She managed to put their separation as decent as it could. But remained silence about the tears she shed.
The good news was that being a parent allows her to heal herself. Her kids finally met.
Calm Shinki and tantrum-throwing Sarada.
“Wuaaaahh……I want papa, not a niisan!!”
The Uchiha princess declined the other child unhesitatingly. She was born with slight arrogance. A sibling was the last thing she wanted, and they don’t look identical by any chance.
Her dream was full of her papa, just her papa.
She caused the pinkette a huge headache. Fortunately, Shinki had a talent for solving that issue. Again and again, genuinely reaching his hands to her, he managed to let her accept him and she started to be a little bit clingy afterwards. He became a brotherly figure to her, being one year older than her added a trait of protective to his character.
Such as the present day, the young Suna nin is in the kitchen of the Haruno household, preparing dinner.
“I’m home”, a familiar and nearly toneless feminine voice appeared at the porch.
Guess she wasn’t expecting anyone.
“Welcome home, Sarada”, the pre-teen lifted the stained apron over his head, giving the person a small smile.
Sarada’s fatigue melted away as she realized a pleasant visit. “Oniichan! You’re here!” She kicked away her shoes hastily and rapidly threw herself into the boy’s arms.
“I missed you so much!”
He patted her back gently and replied, “Great to see you too. Dinner’s ready for you and mother” he raised a finger and pointed at the dining area.
“Will you be staying with us tonight?”
“No, sorry. I’ll be at Aunt Temari’s.”
Her spirit dropped, apparently. Her lips changed from u to n.
“Hey, don’t make that face. We have plenty of time. Shall we go spar tomorrow?”
“Okay……if you ditch me, you’re a pig.”
“Alright”, he exited the residence with a pat on her noddle.
She cheered up and waved him a bye.
Nights were what Shinki enjoys, it helped the village retrieved its peace and order. Bustling folks returned to their shelters, only dim street lamps and occasional dog barking remained.
Temari’s cooking was as satisfying as usual, combining emotions in meals is one of her abilities, everyone could feel her joyfulness in having a Suna cuisine once in a while. Later on, Shinki lend a hand in cleaning up.
“Your dad’s kinda odd today, don’t you think?”
The boy raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think so, Aunt Temari.”
“I’m sure there’s something fishy going on. He has that look on his face.”
What look? He questioned himself.
Shikamaru joined the conversation though he was fixated on the television. “Ah, that look.”
“Are you talking to us, or are you talking to yourself?”, his sudden butting in bothered his wife.
He instantly switched off the TV and shifted his body towards those two individuals. Getting on Temari’s nerves is troublesome. Secondly, he has no desire to embarrass himself in front of his nephew-in-law.
“I saw him pulling a long face leaving the hospital.”
“Oh right, you two came home together.”
“The hospital?”, the statement confused the child.
His uncle and aunt shared a short mutual gaze, some sort of common reminder popped out of nowhere. Mischievous smirks came to view.
“His moods were different every time he stopped at the hospital.”
“I wonder what occurred? Or, who showed up?” Shinki could hear a sneer in between Temari’s questions, as if she was implying something.
Every time he stops?
What's 'what' and who's 'who'?
How come he hardly notice that?
Father had a secret that he had no idea?
He was about to find out...