PHASE TWO

So, it turns out, papa is on his way. From the letter sent back, which was given by, from what mama pointed out to be, papa's messenger bird, it explained some details about papa's whereabouts and that he will be at the gates approximately the early afternoon. Near lunchtime.

Even miles away cannot do justice with papa's skills. Noting his speed, no wonder he will be back before anyone of us knows about it.

Well, anyway, at least I can begin with the commencement of my mission. I must be keen on this.

"Sarada, are you certain that there would be no trouble if you skip at school today?" Mama asks me, while we settle at the couch, watching one of seventh hokage-sama's interviews in the television. It's a clone though, Boruto always says.

Of course there are risks, but I'm sure my teammates got it covered for me.

I descend in wiping my glasses' lenses, and with extreme caution of my tone and gestures, replies, " Not that I know of, mama. We just had our exams. "

" Okay, then. . . There is a minor problem though."

I face my mom's troubled look. What might it be now?

" The hospital. . . it's requesting my presence at lunch time. The shinobi team sent by the elders weeks ago came back with some tangled complications from their investigation and I got to study some of their reports."

The scowl on my face can't be unnoticed. Seriously? Why must it be now? My frown lengthens when mom gazes at me and looks for justifiable reason.

" Oh come on, Sarada. I told you before that you are a splitting image of your father when it comes to facial expressions! And mama cannot possibly resist that!" She exclaims, approaching further to reciprocate my defeated face. What can I do, really? It is for the sake of the people, and my mom is one of the lead doctors of the main hospital so it is expectable that she's the first one to be briefed about it.

But still, why now? When papa's on his way home. Geez, this twist is killing me.

Now I just have to greet papa on my own, and have fun while mama does her work. I hope she goes back early though.

"Alright, fine, mama."

" Thank you, Sarada. I promise I will be back before dinner! Will you kiss your papa for me when you see him?"

" Mamaaa."

" I'm kidding, you Uchiha child. "

Well, that's it. Bummer.

Wait.

Kiss papa? Kiss? Have they ever done that? As far as I can recall, they never initiated any of sorts, whenever we welcome papa's arrival at the big gates. I do hug papa all the time, but mama stays rooted on her spot as always and only welcomes papa with a smile. That's it. No hugs, holding hands, and definitely no kisses.

This- is getting confusing. I mean, why would mama suggest that idea if she hasn't even done that her life.

Or. . . has she?

" Sarada-san!"

My thoughts were halted by someone calling my name. Turns out, it's the men guarding the gates. Ah right, I arrived at the gates, I have not noticed with all my moody ministrations. " Hello!" I greet them earnestly.

" Your father's arriving today?"

" Yes, papa told mama that he will be back probably around this time, but mama has work to do, so I will be accompanying him alone for a while."

" Really? That's great then. Just in time for the festival huh."

I nod. I forgot to tell you about the festival. It's an event officially entitled by Boruto and Himawari-chan's father, the seventh hokage, in celebration of the fourth shinobi war's end. He was the hero of the war, alongside my mother, father, and the sixth hokage. I never really got over of my mother's stories about it when I was a kid. They were truly legendary as the people always tell us about, and that alone stands for Boruto and I's position in this village.

While waiting, I rustle with my foot of some small rocks rolling with the wind. Then all of a sudden, I feel that imminent, intimidating, yet familiar chakra. It is that big of a threat that it can be easily felt, but can provide a promise of pain. The familiar aura turned bluish and less threatening as it becomes nearer and stronger in presence.

In a flash, my father welcomes my vision. His posture, obviously coming from a jump, the air splitting to its surroundings, with one leg acting as ledge. After recovering from the calm wind slashing towards me, I run to his awake. " Papa! " I jump, and expectedly, papa's firm arm catches me. " Welcome back! I miss you!"

"Sarada." He acknowledges. Everyone should know by now that my dad is a man of fewer words, but surprisingly, I find it more calming. Maybe it runs in the blood. But he is very expressive, some will not even notice. For example will be his stare that is currently observing me, and his arms that are indeed very welcoming, but the firmness of his hold tells me that he is not yet finish accessing me.
That is what mama explains of papa's protectiveness. No one gets away with his silent interrogation.

I wonder if papa identifies my secret mission now, the way he observes me so lenient.

Finally, he brings me down and walks hand to hand, briefly nodding with the uncle guards at the post. This is what always happens in papa's arrivals. I would hold each of mama and papa's hand.

" Where is your mother?" Papa asks. Good.

" Oh, uhm, mama has a work in the hospital. The elders needed her for some reports. " I silently lift my eyes to observe his response, and yep, there is that cringe. Well, that is a positive sign I guess.

" I have to send my report to your uncle Naruto first. You know how grumpy he gets if I don't visit him the moment I come back."

I nod. One time hokage-sama did put up a little fuse when papa sent his migratory bird to deliver his filed report instead of his presence. That cannot be helped, really, it was uncle Itachi's birthday.

" Come?" Papa asks, with his one-word replies. Good thing I am pretty good with distinguishing them.

" Of course, papa!" Visiting hokage-sama? Tsk. Papa doesn't need to ask. Of course, I'm going.

" You're smiling. "

Gah! Was I that obvious?! Papa's black orbs interrogate me further, while I'm stuck fumbling like a fangirl. The sudden crease on his forehead lets me know he's done and I'm in trouble.

" W-Why won't I be, papa? You're back. " I reason hastily, not the best one, but another second of silence might get me more in trouble. Especially with papa's observant eyes- no sharingan pun intended.

" Hn. " There goes papa's infamous smirk, or rather Uchiha's. Papa once told me, his clan was congested with prim and pride air, and arrogance of that kind. There was a title to uphold after all.

I request for another lift from my papa as we arrive inside the hokage's office. From the long distance from the stairs to the highest room of the officials, I inform my dad about some latest shuriken trainings and achievements I have done. They were small, I know at least, but dad's smile (no matter how small it is) makes it all worth it.

Papa stops in front of the door with 'Seventh Hokage- Naruto Uzumaki' scribbled at the wooden platform hanged on it. He takes a moment to adjust me on his arm, which gives him a clue that I'm not willing to walk just yet, and faces me. "Do not go screaming your confessions now."

WHA- " Papa! Shannarooo!" Geez, how many times must I clarify that I DO NOT have a crush on hokage-sama! I only idolize him, because we have the same ambition!

Papa only smirks at my tantrum. Mou!

Entering the door, I raise my arm, ready to greet the hokage and act like nothing was said from my dad just seconds ago.

" Maaaan, I was wondering why you were taking your sweet time strolling around the village, and here I realize you were bringing along your precious princess. " The hokage speaks, grinning towards papa's grim look at the term 'princess' pointed out to me.

"Hello, uncle hokage-sama!" I greet, clasping one arm around my papa's neck and waving the other.

Hokage-sama grins at me, and at the same time lifting his hand to catch the scroll unexpectedly thrown by papa in a speed of light. There is never a normal thing around them, is it? The respected leader of Konohagakure settles down the scroll received to his pile of reports, and distinctively exchanges glance with my papa.

" By the way, I will be needing Sakura-chan until the evening if you don't mind. I requested for her help on some of the researches, since it is her specialty. "

" Hn. Do I even have the chance to retort, idiot."

" Sorry, it was urgent. Can't control the elders. You know them. " Hokage-sama laughs it off, scratching his blonde hair.

" Heed my request then. No longer than the early dusk. A minute of absence, I'm taking my wife home myself. "

The hokage laughs at this,again. " Alright, fine. Fine. Early dusk it is. You can probably pay her a visit though. Do you want to see your mom, Sarada-chan? "

Normally I would let mom do her work without interruptions, but my mini-mission starts scratching behind my back, telling me to not allow any free chances to flee from my grasp. " I- yes, yes, can I, papa?" Smiling, I lean back a little to face my dad.

" . . . Sure."

Alright!

" Well, can't keep you waiting. Unfortunately, I'm stuck around these piles of shitty business, I can't go with you- or rather, Shikamaru is on guard, but your father knows the way, Sarada-chan."

Papa seems to contemplate on hokage-sama's vulgar language, and beams a direct glare at him, before turning his back and opening the door.

" Ah! T-Thank you, hokage-sama, and- and have a nice day!" I immediately relay and was able to catch a glimpse of him waving before the door closes. Papa and hokage-sama are really two contrasting person, in every way I could think of.

Well, it's no time to mull about it, cause right now I have to prioritize my mission.

" U-Uchiha Sasuke-san!"

The lady at the reception desk abruptly stands up at our presence- which reminds me that I am still clasped around papa's arm. " You're looking for Sakura-san, yes? I'm afraid she cannot attend to you at this moment. Sakura-san is currently on hold for a major run-through of the medical procedures discussed with the elders this early morning and might commence any minute. They requested her help to vary the chakra extent for this attempt, which only a disciple of the fifth hokage could muster. "

Honestly, my mind blanked at the run-through part, but papa is as calm and composed as usual, probably digesting all the information presented to us. Well, if you can call the beginning of another crease on his forehead normal, then yes, papa's irritated about something again, but he's as stoic as ever an Uchiha can be.

For another minute or so, I observe papa's expressions- or the lack thereof.

" I expect, she is given privilege and utmost care then? " Papa asks, his voice a little deeper than normal.

The lady's squeak can be heard from miles away, her face almost drowning into the cabinets like a barricade. "Y-Yes, of course, Uchiha-san!"

With a sigh, papa turns back. " Very well then. Tell my wife . . . hokage and I had an agreement. "

"Ah- y-yes, sir!" The lady squeaks again. What's wrong with her?

Papa's steps are disturbingly too calm, as he walks downstairs. " Lunch?"

I grin. " Great! Mama cooked before she left! Chicken donburi with fresh-"

" –Tomatoes. Our favourite, I know."

Teehee!

" Yup, papa! Our favourite!"

Can't wait to go home! With papa!

Phase two of my self-mission: Undecided. (We'll see!)

Hello again!
Phase two isn't finished yet. To be followed at the next chapter!

*Oyako-Donburi- a rice meal with seafoods, chicken and egg. Uchiha father and daughter's version has fresh tomatoes as side dish. :3

Note: I don't know if Sarada really likes tomato as Sasuke does, but I decided in this fanfiction otherwise.

Thank you for reading, see you at the next!

Reviews are very very appreciated~ 3

(Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone~!)