Desclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 2
"Do you see any man of black eyes and black hair? Katana user, clad in black? Pale skin, almost 17 years old boy?"
"Ah it's you Sakura! You were asking for me, no wonder..."
"Sasuke..."
"No more Sasuke-kun?"
"I was seeking other male of my team"
"My replacement?"
"My fiancé"
Pale skin turned bluish, his lips into purple, tomoes were spinning in his red orbs.
"How dare you betrayed me?"
"NO.. SASUKE..."
Her eyes were flutter opened, she saw her surrounding. She was in her room, booby traps were intact, so no any intruder was here for her or her kids.
She was safe, at least for now.
She wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her right hand. Her heart was beating aloud, her tongue was tied and her throat was dried enough that she felt thorn in it.
She took her bathrobe, then hurriedly exit her room. Her throat was sore like hell but her kids were her first priority. She climbed stairs, she opened room of Natsu which was first room on second floor. Her younger son was sound asleep. She sighed with relief but suddenly she stopped at the door of Daisuke's room. His room's light was on.
She opened his room, and exhaled the breath to see the scene inside his room but she felt surprise too. Daisuke's was reading manga which was gifted by his grandfather.
"Oh Kaa -san!" He embarrassedly tried to hide manga behind him. She smiled on his antic.
"I didn't feel sleepy, so I thought to check both of you, if any of you awake to accompany me" she reasoned her late-night sneaking in his room.
"Nightmare?" It wasn't question, she knew, but she nodded then sat beside with him, on his blue covered bed.
"In which chapter are you?" She asked with interest but more she just wanted to change topic.
As an elder son, Daisuke's was witnessed her every damnation, every accusation, nightmares and every difficulties, she faced during propagating both of them, which made him more mature than his age. So, after watching him, doing something normal which kids do of his age usually do, she felt relief washed over her.
"Seven" he answered curtly, he was fast learner and inherited her intelligence.
"I was just curious" he put aside the manga and tried to make an excuse of his 'Childish behaviour '
She smiled sadly, then embraced him, "It's okay Daisuke! We all have curiosity, desires and hobbies. Don't push yourself so hard, you don't need to prove yourself to anyone, you're perfect for those who loved you. Don't surpass your wishes, just do what do you wanna do" she was stroking his black spikes during her short lecture.
"But I want to protect you and Natsu" he disentangled his arms from her mother.
"I understand, but enjoy your life like a normal kids of your age" her smile faltered at his serious tone.
"And how did I do this? When I don't have any friend of my age" he spat, she startled at his bitter tone, he was very polite kid with proper manners and antics. She was raising him as a real gentleman but hatred of villagers, was disoriented his mannerism.
She sighed "You don't need them, we all here for you and Mirai also there, I thought she likes you" at the end her tone was teasing his boy.
His face turned red, she saw him with interest. This was not common spectacle to see Uchiha blushing.
"Oh! I understand, why don't you invite her for dinner or I'll talk with Kuranai sensei that might be our kids would wanna go for dat.."
"KAA-SAN..." He protested while his face was red as his favourite tomato.
"Fine... I'll not interfere your love-life" she raised her hands in defeat.
"There's nothing like that" he said embarrassedly.
Sakura burst out laughter to see his pouted-red face.
Daisuke tried to protest again but stop suddenly to see his mother laughing with carefree manner. It was not common view to evident such beautiful scene. She wiped tear from corner of her eye, then tapped his shoulder.
"Ok I understand darling, I also fell in love with your father..." Suddenly she stopped to recall that Casanova who firstly broke her heart then shredded her soul but she didn'tspoil image of him in the eyes of their kids, so she gulped and completed her sentence. "..when I was six, so it's ok, if you.."
She couldn't complete her sentence, because Daisuke cut her sentence. "Why Kaa-san?"
"Huh?" She didn't understand his question.
"Why are you so loyal to him? Why don't you date any other man, you're perfect, I don't see any reason for you to wait for him"
She startled with his question, she knew that inwardly Daisuke didn't like his father but she tried very hard to make good or just reasonable image of Sasuke in the eyes of her sons.
"I don't understand why are you saying this? We love each others. You know he's on the mission, so he'll come one day then we would live like happy family Daisuke, he gave me two sons and I trust him. So I don't understand why are you asking this? Never think like that again please Daisuke" she touched his face, she didn't know when her emerald orbs filled with tears, Daisuke wiped her tears. She felt overwhelmed to see his care and hugged him.
"I'm sorry Kaa-san, just please don't cry" he said slowly near her collarbone. He knew very well, his mother made lame excuses for his father, he abandoned them and never come there and he wasn't on a mission, he defected his village long ago. He knew everything but he didn't say any word to decline the claims of her mother because he never wanted to upset her. But he saw how Lee was still waiting for his mother. He was four when he started training under his wings, after Kakashi he was really father-like figure for him. He remembered how Lee put him on his back, how he treated him on his favourite restaurant after training. Even he played with him when he was child. On his graduation day, he was there for him. He unintentionally fulfilled the duty of father for him and he found his intention completely unadulterated.
Sakura kissed his forehead "Now, you should sleep, you've to leave tomorrow early morning for your mission"
"Hn.." He nodded then suddenly he reminded something. "Kaa-san! Who will be my sword's art tutor?"
Sakura boggled to listen his question. He showed his interest in sword fighting in the age of six after he saw photo of Sasuke with Kusanagi. But she thought it was too early to handle this weapon for him, so she promised, she will gift him on his eighth birthday but she didn't know any person who could teach him. It wasn't very hard to find tutor for him but she was extra cautious about her kids, so she didn't want to hire any irrelevant person who target him, his hatred because he was an Uchiha's blood.
"Actually I didn't decide yet, but I will consult with Iruka sensei, maybe he will recommend someone, now just sleep. Goodnight"
She stood from her place, then laid him on his bed.
"Goodnight"
She switched off the light then came out from his room.
'Why are you so loyal to him? Why don't you date any other man, you're perfect, I don't see any reason for you to wait for him'
Daisuke's words echoed in her mind.
"You don't understand honey! I can't...because I'm cursed" She rubbed her collarbone where Sasuke's name written in the kanji like cursed marks of Sasuke Uchiha.
Naruto always thought one day everyone would accept him because of his pure heart and good nature but with the passage of time, he realized very badly that we couldn't change people's true perception towards them. So, that time he decided, he had enough with that pathetic village and his innocent way to conquer their heart. And when he became friend of Kyubi, when he tasted the first bite of power, when his heart started to desire of bloodlust, that time he got known that there were other ways to get approval from people. One of them was show his power.
Now he had approval of everyone, people frightened from him, bowed down to him and tried their best to make him happy. He loved this power. He loved this influence over people that if sun was shining with its full capacity on sky and he said his subordinates that it was moon, then they would accept his statement that it was moon without any word of argument or protest. And it was because two people in his life. His two closet friends and his demon Kyubi.
He remembered the time when he defeated Pain ten years ago, then instead of showing gratefulness towards him, villagers started to fear from him because they witnessed him using Kyubi's chakra during his battle.
That time, it was Sakura who was like solace for him.
She started to invite him on dinner on herhome. He remembered his family was really nice, specially his father had the same nature as Naruto, loud and enthusiastic. He really enjoyed his company. Many times Sakura was sleep in his apartment because of his worst nightmares. People was starting thinking that they were dating but they knew the reality. Both loved different persons, they were just sharing bonds and same pain for their third teammate.
Sakura often adviced him to ask Hinata for date but he knew very well that her father was not like him, second he wanted to step in relationship after getting Jounin vest. Thirdly, he was afraid because of his 'demon' status and he wasn't spoil her status after dating her.
So, reluctantly but he was happy with Sakura and her family who welcomed him with open arms and their few remaining friends.
But inside, seed of hatred started to seep in his heart towards people who hated him without his fault. After villagers decline his service as teacher in academy, he became aloof that he nearly forgot that he had any friend. It was Sakura who visited him regularly.
It was last stroke of hatred towards people when Sakura told him, great secret of his life.
"Hey Naruto! Where are you nowadays?"
He was doing laundry in his small apartment when Sakura came inside. She had duplicate key of his apartment.
"Nowhere Sakura-Chan"
"Tou-san was missing you, and I have big news to tell you, so you're coming for dinner tonight and you'll spend night with me"
Many people took misconception from Sakura's words but he knew, she only meant to sleep while hugging when he dreamed about his worst nightmare and she needed to get away the memory of Sasuke. Nothing more, nothing less. He knew, her parents trusted them but gossip-mongers were neither knew, nor trusted them and they thought that he was manipulating her through his bad influence.
"Oh Sakura-Chan.. Umm.. Tonight? Tonight I'm little bit busy" he scratched his back, it wasn't easy to tell a lie to his best friend.
She started to helping him.
"I don't wanna listen any excuse, you'll come and that's final" she commanded in the tone which left no room for argument.
"Ah Sakura-Chan..umm fine"
"Good" she threw her black and orange shirt on him and left his room.
"Not fair Sakura-Chan! I thought you were helping me" he protested but Sakura already left.
Dinner was as usual enough to make his rotten mood, happy again. After dinner, Sakura dragged him to her room.
"Come on Naruto, I've a surprise for you"
She closed door behind them.
"Oh Sakura-Chan! You know I like you but don't you think we should go slowly, if you like I've no object, but you know I'm also virgi.." Before he could complete his sentence, Sakura smacked his head again.
He knew that she didn't mean that but he loved to tease her and he loved to get hit by her.
"Now come here" Sakura invited her on her bed with some documents in her hand.
"Look Sakura-Chan! You're inviting me on your bed"
"NARUTO.." She protested. He raised his hands and chuckled on her mannerism.
When he sat beside her, she started. "Listen Naruto! This is very great secret of your life, so I advice you to listen to me carefully" Naruto came out from his humour's mood after sensing seriousness in her tone.
"Ok now listen.." She took long breath before proceed her words. "Two days before, I was searching a file for Tsunade-sama in her office then I got a scroll" she paused.
"Which scroll?" Naruto asked.
"Marriage certificate of forth Hokage" she answered calmly.
"So?" He didn't understand what the connection between him and marriage of fourth Hokage.
"He married a girl Kushina Uzamaki, a girl with same whisk masks as yours"
Now it got Naruto's attention "You mean?"
"Yes! I also thought resemblance of yours and forth Hokage, then I filtered the files of children who born 10 October and I got it" she showed him file.
Naruto opened file with shaky hands.
Child name: Naruto Namikaze
Father name: Minato Namikaze
Mother name: Kushina Uzamaki.
"Sakura..." He didn't know when his eyes started to flow.
"Oh Naruto.." She hugged him tight until he flowed every tear on her shoulder.
"Let's sleep Sakura-Chan" he didn't want to discuss this matter with her now, he needed time and Sakura understood this. So she just proceed sleeping in his arms, she was stroking his hairs until she fell in sleep.
Now what brat? Kyubi asked.
Naruto didn't reply.
Don't you think, it's time to proceed our deal now?
During the battle with Pain, Naruto made deal with Kyubi to quench his bloodlust in the stake of unleash his power to defeat Pain.
'Hmm'
I consider it yes.
'But you will not harm my friends'
I'll not take your body and overcome your senses till you honestly carry our deal.
'Hn' he slowly disentangled his arm from Sakura's and proceed his plan.
He left from window of Sakura's room, if he waited for few more minutes, he got know that she was having nightmare where Sasuke was left her on cold bench.
"Sakura-Chan! What are you doing here? Go to home and sleep" he looked at girl who was sitting on the cold beach.
"I knew you'll take this path to leave village" she said slowly which he barely listen.
"Sakura! go home" he forgot 'chan'
"So, you're also leaving me Naruto" her voice was replete with tears and sadness.
Something broke within Naruto's heart but he remained emotionless.
"Sasuke chose his path, now its my turn. Don't stop me please Sakura"
Sakura composed herself then stepped towards him.
She hugged him "I know Naruto, I know..." She tried to prevent the tears which stuck in her throat. "I only wish that you live there with me"
"To tolerate hatred of villagers" he spat.
"I'm sorry Naruto" she left his embrace. "Just take care of yourself and try to write me ok?" She touched his cheek.
Naruto took her hand and kissed on her palm. "I'll try, don't peruse both of us Sakura, Sasuke will never come and I don't know about myself. Just choose your own path" his voice had concern for her but his face was still emotionless.
Sakura tried to stop her tears. "Yes! I'll try.." She tried to smile but her tears didn't allow her.
He left her hand then proceeded towards gate of Konoha. But suddenly he stooped and turned to her, she looked at him with hope but after a moment a strong sense of déjà vu washed over her when he proceeded his words.
"Sakura.. Thank you"
He left without watching a girl who broke down once again because of losing her precious person once again with same words and on same cold bench.
"Goodbye Naruto"