Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Summary: This takes place somewhere long into the story "The sun starts from the east". It does contain a female Sasuke and this is a side story so if it doesn't make any sense maybe you should go back and ready the other story it is based on.
The Broken Cradle
She woke up to an empty bed, its former occupant long vacant. Only the phantom warmth of her beloved still lingers within the sheets. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the memory of their short repose in each other's arms. She longed dearly for this fantasy to linger, but alas reality required her. Casting aside her woolen bedcovers, she dressed quickly in her modest Prussian blue kimono and made her way down the long hallway. No more time for the ghosts of past memories, her children need awakening.
Entering softly into her children's room, she leaned softly down to her firstborn. "Awake little one. Its time for school," she whispered and gently shook the diminutive sleeping form wrapped so tenderly in the large blanket. A small hand rubbed against his eye, still unable to dispel the Sandman's spell. Finally after much coaxing those beautiful eyes opened to regard his mother, revealing the deepest azure.
"Mama!" hemurmured and a smile graced the lips of his mother.
Gently she helped him find his way to the bathroom and went to wake her second child. Ruffling his mop of unruly golden hair, she noticed a small peek glance at her briefly before feigning sleep once again. She smirked; her second was always the spirited little munchkin. She decided the best course of action was to tickle him awake. The fair-haired child bit his lips and scrunched up his little face trying to control himself before finally bursting out in a full giggle fit.
"Morning…Mama!" he grunted in between his giggles. She laughed as he tried to escape to the bathroom, sending him off with a playful smack to the rear.
Finally the last one, the last gift he ever gave to her. Already wide awake, the adorable little girl gave her mother the most endearing smile and promptly gave a big hug.
"Momma!" she greeted gleefully, before running off to join her brothers in the bathroom.
Watching her offspring was always bittersweet. They looked so much like their father, in their own special way. "How can I forget you, when I see you everyday?" she whispered to herself.
After her children had polished off breakfast and left for the Academy, she too prepared for work at the Konoha Police Headquarters. Tying on the customary forehead protector, she made her way to the centre and focus of the entire Uchiha clan, greeting her subordinates as she trekked to her office. To her surprise however, her office already had an occupant. It was Neji, the Hokage's aide.
"Uchiha-sama, the fifth Hokage requests your presence immediately," he reported and in a few hand gestures exited with a simple teleportation jutsu.
She sighed, ever since the fifth Hokage sent him on that mission, she never found it pleasant to visit the old mainstay of Konoha. However duty requires a progress report of the Konoha Police Force, so however reluctant she still made her way to the Hokage Tower.
"Hokage-sama," she winced at the term, it should have belonged to him. "Uchiha Sasuke reporting, you sent for me?"
"Ah Sasuke! Is your monthly report ready?"
"Yes, the new branch ofthe Internal Investigations Bureauis ready for duty and the recently trained recruits are ready to take up their posts. The written report will be on your desk by tomorrow."
"Good work, however I called you here for more erm…personal issues," the fifth Hokage responds in a concerned tone. "It's been over two years since he…he was declared missing in action." Tsunade checked Sasuke's countenance hoping for some kind of reaction, she was however disappointed to see none.
"Maybe it is time you settled down again. You know start dating, maybe you'll meet someone who you like and…"
At that comment, the infamous Mangekyou Sharingan spinned to life and stunned the Hokage into silence.
"No! I will not remarry!"Uchiha spat venomously.
"Sasuke please listen to me. The children need a father and you did say you want to revive the Uchiha clan, do you honestly think that three children is enough to do that?"
"I only love him, I will marry no other and I will bear no one else's children."
"Sasuke! Memories cannot love you and ghosts will not give you the comfort you desire!"
Sasuke snapped at that harsh retaliation and tried to slam a chidori into the Hokage's chest, fortunately Neji intervened as the assassination attempt was inches from the Hokage's face.
Uchiha Sasuke thankfully knew her limits and backed off.
"Give me more time Hokage-sama. The Konoha Police Force still needs my hands-on expertise, there is no time for socializing."
"Sasuke as the Chief of Police, you know better then I do that Konoha is at its peak in military strength and the police network is already ready to handle cross border investigations."
"I need time, its too soon."
"Its been two years too soon! How long will you mourn!" Tsunade snapped in frustration at Uchiha's circular reasoning.
"I need more time."
"Fine Sasuke," she shook her head in surrender and motioned for Uchiha to leave. "You are excused."
Sasuke promptly left the Hokage compound and returned to the office, where she devotes her life to besides her family. Only then did the repetitious nature of the day set in. Work until six in the evening, then leave for the academy to pick up the children. Dinner at seven, family time until nine before tucking the little ones on for bed.
As here little angels slumbered, she went back to her bedroom and pulled out a small chest from under the bed. Lifting up the cover she removed a battered forehead protector and dog-tags. Cradling the relics gently to her breast, and there her iron resolution broke under the strain of loneliness. Softly in the stillness of the night, she wept for the love she lost.
"Naruto, I miss you. I still love you."
End
A/N: yeah its short, the story, "the sun starts from the east"didn't quite take off so I've decided to devote my time to other stuff and maybe other stories. Please don't be upset with me, please review and tell me what you all look for in a story.
However I do like this little side story, twas the correct tone that I wanted to achieve in the main story but never quite got there.