Sarada's eyes were wide with amazement and interest. Sakura smiled. It really was amazing to her how they came so far in life without him. Even though Sarada didn't know Sasuke, a part of him is in her. The soft looked reserved for Sakura shined through their daughter's eyes.

"I guess you can say, it was a love-hate relationship from the moment Sasuke and your mother attacked each other. Beautiful neh?" Ino smirked and Sakura rolled her eyes.

"You make me sound bad when you put it like that Ino…" She replied but Sarada shook her head vigorously.

"You're just tough momma." The little girl exclaimed and her mother grinned.

"Why thank you. Alright it's almost 6:30. I'll tell you a little more." Sakura tapped her daughter's nose when a pout appeared on her little face.

The afternoon went quickly and eventually everyone started going home. Naruto stood at his front door waving to the boys and hugging the girls. Ino punched him in the arm and grinned.

"Great party loser," she remarked, "and you weren't so bad either."

Before Naruto could reply the blonde jogged cheerfully down the paved driveway, laughing. Sakura waved to her best friend shouting that they would see each other later. She glanced back at Naruto, his blonde hair glittering from the sunset hitting the droplets of water. He of course was occupied speaking to Neji and Hinata. The purple-haired girl was as red as a tomato and Sakura shook her head, smiling. She hoped that the fool would notice the beautiful girl with the crush the size of the moon on him and not her. Once again she looked down at herself. Plain Jane. That's all. Somewhere perfection lies but it's not in her. Shaking her head of the negativity, her eyes were pulled to the scuffling of wet shoes. Slowly she looked up and Sasuke Uchiha was making his way towards the front door. A lump of something caught in her throat. He talked slowly to Shikamaru who was walking lazily beside him. There was perfection. Pale skin, dark eyes and black hair. Toned muscles and beautiful teeth. He was just perfect. Sasuke Uchiha was perfect. She swallowed and looked away, knowing she had been staring too long.

"Hey Uchiha! I hope you had a good 'welcome to the neighborhood' time."

Naruto's cerulean eyes lit up with excitement. Sakura knew that look. He gave her that look; the 'best friend' look. Her first reaction was jealousy but that simmered down when she remembered, Naruto had friends but she was his only best friend. Maybe he needed a bro to hang out with every once in a while and not a flat-chest tomboy who stares at the television screen too long while playing XBOX live with the boys of the neighborhood. She sighed heavily, really disliking everything about herself. She wanted to change, she read all the girlie magazines but nothing could really convince her not to be herself.

"Sakura Haruno." That angelic voice rang through her ears for years on after that but at the moment she felt her breath slip away for the first time. Slowly looking up she felt those dark eyes staring at her intently and her fingers twiddled with her bathing suit cover timidly.

"You aren't so annoying." He flicked her nose with a huge smirk on his face. He was aware what he could do to girls; make them melt to their knees and snatch their heart in a second. Sakura grinned and grabbed his finger swiftly. She twisted it slowly and her shy grin turned into a smirk as well.

"You aren't too bad yourself Sasuke Uchiha." She remarked, dropped his hand and made her way out the door. Walking down the drive took forever due to feeling the eyes of her best friend and the Uchiha on her. She laughed loudly, feeling her bathing suit cover get caught in the wind, twirling viciously around her. Sakura did what all girls do, no matter how tomboyish. She showed off while she walked away from the boy that made her knees tremble slightly and heart race.

Spinning in small circles down the sidewalk, she felt blissful. She craved his eyes. Sure enough when she turned to Naruto's door way, many feet from her, there he was still watching. Naruto had gone back inside, leaving Sasuke on the porch with a borrowed outfit and towel. Onyx and emerald clashed in a beautiful yet chaotic way. Sakura pushed herself along around the corner and out of Sasuke's sight. Breathing in deeply, she smiled. She was going to make Sasuke Uchiha fall in love with her. It was her goal and Sakura Haruno will not quit. That hot boy everyone in school will be talking about will only be focused on her and no other girl around.

"But first let me beat Halo 3." She stated out loud to her determined inner self and climbed the stairs to her home, laughing cheerfully.

Sarada stared at her mother with eyes of bewilderment.

"You were ridiculous." Ino stated, standing up and heading to the kitchen to start dinner. Sarada nodded in agreement.

"Whatever Auntie said. Mom you were weird." Her daughter stated and Sakura just giggled.

"No, I just didn't realize I was crazy in love with Sasuke Uchiha. It took me a while. But you'll hear that later." She remarked and pointed to the bathroom.

"Go wash your hands now, dinner will be done shortly." Sarada pouted.

"Why aren't you cool anymore?" She scoffed and Ino sputtered laughter at the snide comment.

"March young lady!" Sakura emphasized as her daughter hopped off her lap. Sarada stuck her tongue out and ran around the corner to escape Sakura's wiggling fingers, preparing to tickle.

"You are just too cute. Sasuke would be calling you annoying right now…" Ino mumbled to Sakura, as Sakura passed the salt and pepper down from the cabinet to awaiting hands. The women sighed in sadness.

"I wish I could hear his voice again Pig-chan." Sakura frowned, the nickname from childhood echoing thoughts of remembrance.

"I know Forehead, I wish you could too. But you have Sarada, he's somewhere within her, just like you are. Be happy he left something for you to hold on to." Her best friend reminded her, wrapping secure arms around Sakura's shoulders.

"Sarada may not have known her father but that's why you are here Sakura. To tell her exactly who she would've met when she was born." Ino smiled brightly and Sakura wiped her eyes of tears long shed.

"Yeah you're right. Sasuke would laugh at how silly I'm being right now." Sakura's words jumbled and she wiped continuously at her emerald eyes.

"He always told me I was annoying or silly, but I never changed despite how old I've gotten." She laughed, tears flowing steadily down her face while she was remembering his face buried in her chest the day before he left her.

"You're still the same girl I fell in love with long ago so don't change annoying Sakura. I'll be back soon. So don't worry, like you always do. " Ino quoted Sasuke's farewell for her friend and Sakura's jerking motions became limp. Ino took a step back from her friend and checked the green beans that were heating on the stove. The cool whispers of dead words comforted Sakura. She could feel the presence of Sasuke's arms around her, making the teardrops stop.

"You never left Sasuke…" She mumbled to herself as she pretended to care for the burning chicken in the skillet.