A Cherry Blossom's Life:
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 2: Arrival, Rejection... Shopping?
~Akatsuki Headquarter~Dawn~
It was an early morning when an orange headed man entered the base. As soon as the members felt the chakra barrier shift, they all appeared in front of him, ready to attack him. It was a this moment that the leader remembered that his chakra was still fully masked, therefore he let it seep partially, to make his presence known inside the base. All of them abided by this rule. As the standing men put away their weapons, the blue skinned man asked the question that was plaguing everyone's mind.
"So, did the old man take her without troubles?"
"Yes, he seemed to take a liking to Sakura." With those last words, he started searching for his partner.
"Of course, he'd love her, who wouldn't love a pink haired brat with green eyes?" Hidan commented as soon as the leader left them. What Hidan didn't realize was that he had just confessed that he too liked little Sakura, however one of the members said anything about his statement. Because it was what happened to all of them.
While the rest of the members slowly dispersed, the leader of the organization had arrived to where he felt her chakra, inside Sakura's bedroom. He sighed tiredly. He had been running during the whole day and all he wanted was a warm bed where he could rest for a few hours. Entering the pink bedroom, he saw his partner sitting in the armchair that was always next to the baby's crib. Konan was sleeping there with their daughter's clothes folded on her knees. All her toys were thrown at her feet, forming a sort of protecting circle around the blue haired woman. He walked silently toward her, then put a hand on her shoulder immediately startling her awake. She looked at him with bleary eyes that slowly focused on his face. As soon as she seemed to recognize him she broke down in soundless sobs. He hugged her to his chest and started stroking her head while shushing her. After a few minutes, she seemed to have regained a semblance to control over her emotions as she asked him about their daughter.
"She's fine. She didn't cry too much during travel, in fact she seemed to quite enjoy the cool winds. When we arrived and I woke her up she didn't cry and the third Hokage had taken an instant liking to our daughter. I'm sure she'll be safe in Konoha. Besides, there she can meet other children her age. It's better than growing with those morons that will only make her stupid with everything they say. I'm sure that the Third will protect her from Danzou's clutches. See, she'll be happy. Now our mission is to work and prepare this organization until the time is right to tell her everything, okay?"
He felt her nod slowly against his chest. He let out a tired sigh. "Come on, we must return to Amegakure and seal this room. Just go to your bedroom for now and take a bath. I'll seal it then I'll call a meeting to announce the missions and our return to the principal base." She nodded again, albeit a little jerkily before she stood up on shaky legs and started walking toward her bedroom.
The orange haired man looked over the pink bedroom for one last time. He walked toward the crib and ran along a finger. Looking over the twenty or so beheaded dolls, he let out a dry chuckle. His daughter was one of a kind. He only hoped that she'll remain so and not try to change who she was. Walking toward her the thrown toys, the geisha Sasori made for her, the bear Kisame bought her, the necklace Hidan made, the story Zetsu wrote and the filled purse Kakuzu brought for her, he started putting them all in a special shelves that he put a protecting seal over it. He knew that they were precious for the members and his daughter, and once she returns she'll want to see everything. It was the main reason why he didn't destroy this room and simply sealed its acces.
After tidying the room and putting all the thrown clothes in their places, he looked over the now empty and clean room. Giving a long sigh, he walked out of the bedroom and started a complex seal that will protect the room and let him know if someone tried to enter it. As soon as he finished, he called the members present in the base, except Konan, to the meeting room. He'll assign the missions then head toward Amegakure where he'll start doing the paperwork that he knew had engulfed his office. Yes, it was an ordinary day and nothing will change him from achieving his life goal, world peace.
~Konohagakure~Nighttime~
"Honey, look what I have here!" Came an old man's voice as soon as he entered his house.
His wife, a woman in her sixties looked over to where her husband's voice was coming. She almost dropped the tea cup she had in her hands upon seeing what he was carrying, a baby in a pram. The woman had never seeing such a weird combination, bubblegum hair and emerald green eyes. She was very pale, clearly she wasn't from the Land of Fire nor from the Wind. She silently wondered how her parents looked like for her to have such extravagant colors. However it fit her perfectly. The woman couldn't have imagined another hair color, or eyes color for that matter, that would have suited the child better. She looked like a princess from the fairy tales read for the children. Her cheeks were stained with trails of tears. Clearly she had been crying, although she seemed to be calm now.
The baby girl was looking at her with curious eyes. She wasn't afraid from strangers, which could be a good and a bad thing. While it's true that she should be wary from strangers, she can't make friends if she's too afraid to even talk with anyone. Looking up at her husband's smiling face, she approached the carriage after she had put her cup on the table. She had wanted little children for so long and her kids who are still single or too young. Kids these days! They don't think about settling down and starting a little family. Oh no! They want to do great things at first before they think about marriage. Shaking her head, the woman took the pink haired baby in her hands and smiled softly at her. She was awarded with the little girl's own brilliant smile.
"What's your name little one?" Turning her head toward her husband, "where did you find her?"
"Her name's Sakura and she was born the 28th of March. I found her in the forest with this." He showed her the small piece of tissu where her name and birthday, they guessed, were sewn, and below was burnt in chakra, the word protect. Clearly this little child was important, however it didn't explain why she was left in the forest on her own.
"I already told Minato to send Anbu in the forest to search for any trace of ninja. Also I didn't find any blood or signs of a previous combat." He answered her questioning look.
"Why did they leave you alone in the forest of Konoha with the only message to protect you, little one?" Sarutobi asked Sakura who looked at him with the same curious eyes.
"Sarutobi-sama!" The voice of Minato ripped through the silence that had followed the ex-Hokage's question.
"Ah, Minato-kun! How is the search going? Did you find anything?" The old man asked as he took the blonde man to the leaving room
"Good evening Lord Sarutobi, Lady Sarutobi. Unfortunately the search parties came back empty handed." The young Hokage sighed dejectedly. "It was as if the girl appeared on her own there. Not a single trace of chakra could be found. Though there are still two teams of Anbu that are searching outside of Konoha." He said.
"Here, hold Hiruzen-kun Sakura-chan, I'm going to prepare tea." Biwako said as she handed the surprisingly still awake child to her husband.
As the ex-Hokage took the pink haired girl in his arms, a jingle was heard, immediately snapping the attention of the three persons present in the room. Pulling a little her dress, Hiruzen found a necklace around her neck. Taking it off, he showed the ornaments to the others. They all looked at the three precious stones, a red ruby, a sappire and a pink ruby shaped into a cloud, a rose and a cherry bloom respectively. They knew that the pink cherry blossom symbolized the little child in their hands, then it only meant that the other ornaments were for her parents. The blue rose stood most likely for her mother while the red cloud for her father. As the two men and woman looked at the necklace, the front door opened suddenly, startling everyone. The fourth Hokage immediately tensed as the sound of a cane hitting the wooden floor was heard. Shimura Danzou appeared in the leaving room with a from settled on his face.
"What's the meaning of this? Hiruzen! I demand explanations!" He said angrily before pausing momentarily looking at the necklace. "What's this in your hand?"
"Danzou, my friend take a seat then we can talk." The ex-Hokage told him kindly but with enough authority to make him sit.
"Now, this is Sakura." He showed him the child. "I found her in the forest with this necklace and this piece of cloth." A silence engulfed the room as the newcomer looked at the objects.
The fourth noticed how he quickly dismissed the tissu but took interest in the ornaments, especially the red ruby. He looked as if he recognized it, which didn't sit well with the fourth Hokage's conscience. He knew the amn to be dangerous, also he knew that wanted to be named Third Hokage in his stead. Furthermore, he knew of his secret organization that was supposedly disbanded with the end of the Third Shinobi World War, however Jiraya's intelligence told him otherwise. However with no official proof nor any knowledge of its location, the young blond haired man couldn't act against him. Though he was trying to get rid of the rotten Konoha Coucil, without any success.
"Shimura-san," Minato didn't respect him enough to address him with 'sama', "you seem to have recognized the red cloud. Perhaps you could enlighten us a little bit?"
"I'm afraid that the only thing I can say about these ornaments that they symbolize the brat's family. Otherwise I'm sure that I don't know no more than you do, Minato-san." He said in a tone faussly polite and regrettable. "However I'm sure that if I take her under my wing, I may make her one of Konoha's most powerful and faithful Kunoichi. I'm sure you know we can't interrogate her at this age, nor can we ask the help of Yamanaka Inoichi for the known reason that mental strain put on her may damage her brain permanently."
"Of course, however I'd prefer to keep the child with me if Minato-kun agrees." Interjected Sarutobi Hiruzen with a smile to his equally smiling wife.
"But of course Sarutobi-sama!" The young man couldn't be happier to agree.
The newcomer left as quickly as he arrived with a muttered 'goodnight'. As the door was shut, the younger man's shoulders dropped as he sighed. This little girl was turning out to be quite the mystery, if she managed to catch the attention of Danzou. He'll have to ask Jiraya to search for someone with a red cloud. If Danzou wanted to train her then she must come from some string clan or something similar. And to be able to face him, he must have more information on the young mystery that appeared in Konoha's forest.
"How is Kushina, Minato-kun?" The voice of Biwako snapped him from his musings.
"Ah! She's fine. She's on her eight month." He said happily. "She told me that Mikoto-san had already given birth to a second son, and that she's actually mad at me for not making her pregnant before her friend." He said with s crimson red face,which earned him the laughter of the elder couple.
"I see. Well, you better be off now before she gets angry at you for being too late." The old man advised him good naturally which resulted in the comical widening of the blond man's eyes and swift paleness.
"Goodnight." He bowed before disappearing using one of his special kunais. The couple laughed again before sobering with the whimpering of the young child.
"Now, now. Why is the little princess crying, hm? Are you hungry?" The man asked her as his wife looked in the carriage to find a small pack.
"Dear, look at this." She said showing him the three bottles, one was still filled with milk unlike the other two. Letting her husband bottle feed the pink haired baby, Biwako took out firstly the thick cover that had been covering Sakura when she found her, and another lighter one. She also found four dresses and four changes of diapers. Putting everything on the table, she looked over the dresses. They were all finely made. It was clear that her parents were quite rich.
The old lady looked over her husband holding the small girl. She had always wanted a girl. Alas, she had only two sons. Though she did love them and would do anything for them, she wanted a girl to spoil, buy the fluffy pink dresses and all the dolls. Besides, now that her two sons were old enough to take care of themselves, she wouldn't have to divide her attention over three children, just Sakura. She looked over her husband with the already asleep baby, she was just too cute. They'll need to buy her a bed and clothes and everything. Ad if Sakura chose to be a ninja, she'll have so many friends with whom she could play. There were many clans who had already given birth to an heir or are still pregnant. Clans such as the Uchiha, the Hyuuga, the Nara, the Aburame. Also the young Minato was expecting a child.
Biwako Sarutobi could already see little Sakura playing freely with the other children. They would run around the village planning mischief and hiding from the teacher. But her little Sakura would be such a bright child. She'll be considered a genius if she put her whole in her work. And she'll be such beautiful lady when she grows up. She'll be attracting so much attention from the other sex that her teammates would have problems dealing with all the fanboys and the suitors. The woman let out a low chuckle at the thought of the angry teammates chasing after the suitors. Her poor baby will have to deal with eccentric teammates. But with a little bit of luck, maybe she won't have to deal with it, after all not all teammates are overprotective.
She took the carriage to their bedroom, and was soon followed by the heavy footsteps of her husband. He put little Sakura in the pram that was next to their shared bed. After they were both ready for bed, they laid next to each other in a comfortable silence. They were both immersed in thoughts. Thoughts that revolved around the pink sleeping baby. They knew they could take care of her for as long as they lived. And they both hoped they would live long enough to see her all grown up and to be the bet kunoichi to be. While Hiruzen was thinking about the child's strange appearance, his wife was reviewing the best shops where she could go tomorrow. Maybe she'll meet Kushina or Mikoto, they were such lovely women. Biwako could still remember how the two first met. They were Chunin when they had their first ever mission together and since then, they hit it off as if they were childhood friends.
Looking toward her husband, Biwako couldn't help but think about her sons' reaction toward their newest addition. She was worried that they wouldn't accept her or think of her as a stranger, or worst a parasite. And what if they thought that she'll take their place and that Hiruzen or her will replace them and love her more than them. Without saying anything, her husband knew that she was worried about their sons' reaction toward the little addition.
"Don't worry about anything. I'm sure that they will love her. And maybe Asuma would stop his rebellious tendencies." With his simple words, all her worries disappeared. And with a tired smile directed toward him, Biwako fell asleep.
As Hiruzen listened to his wife's regulated breath, he started thinking about the mysterious appearance of the young child. He remembered how it was a night like others where he'd take a stroll around the village and finish with a small ramble in the forest next to Konoha's Monument. It was no coincidence that the child appeared there when he was in the forest. However he didn't understand why she wasn't crying when he arrived. Perhaps the person who left her was there a few moments ago? But he didn't feel any presence. Perhaps the child was used to the forest? But her skin's color said otherwise. Perhaps she appeared on her own there? But he didn't feel any shift in the air nor did the girl have developed chakra coils.
The ex-Hokage was perturbed by the mysterious circumstances in which the kid appeared. He closed his eyes in concentration. He was walking the same road he usually took. He remembered that it was a queer night. He was surprised by the silence that reigned there. Ordinarily, Konoha's forests were buzzing with life, whether be it the animals or simply the leaves movements. However, this night was particularly silent. There must have been something, or someone, that had caused the animals' fright. Someone powerful enough to hide his complete presence from him and the Anbu trackers. Hiruzen gave a long sigh, the girl seemed to get more and more interesting.
Then, there was the necklace and the tissu. Whoever brought the little girl wanted her to at least keep her personality. They wanted her to remain Sakura, born on the 28th March. Also, the child was obviously someone important, the burned message was proof enough of it. It was obvious that the word was added at the last minute. The person who put her in the forest wanted her to be protected at all cost. The three ornaments symbolized three persons or groups of persons. If he took the pink ruby representing the little baby, especially since it was shaped as her namesake, then the only explanation that would naturally come for the other ornaments was that they symbolized her parents. A much too obvious and down-to-Earth explanation, true, but the only one that Hiruzen could come up with.
He let another sigh escape his lips. A shameful thing to happen for the so called 'God of Shinobi' if you asked him. Minato was right. He'll just have to ask Jiraya to look around, after all that little misfit was Konoha's number one source of informations. Ah! They all grew so much. They all took different paths that led them away from each others. Compared to his teammates, Jiraya was the only one who still served Konoha even after all these years. The ex-Hokage couldn't stop thinking that he was becoming too old for this. Maybe after a good night sleep, he'll come up with other explanations for Sakura's mysterious appearance. But no matter the cause, he was all too happy that he was the one to find her. Both Biwako and him needed another young presence in the house. Ever since Asuma and his brother's leave from the house, it has been all too silent for his likings. So he was really thankful that he was the one to find the little pink haired girl. And if it was protection that she needed, then it was protection that she'll receive.
Lying back on the bed, Hiruzen let himself fall asleep. If he wanted to be able to face everyone tomorrow, he needed to rest and stop over-thinking everything at such a late time. A long day awaited him and he wanted to be able to think properly the next day. However, Sakura had other plans. As soon as the old man felt himself start relaxing she let out a piercing cry that not only awoke him, but also his already deep sleeping wife who only nudged him, mumbling something in the pillow that eerily resembled to 'your turn get up lazy ass'. Letting out yet another sigh, the retired Shinobi started walking toward the crying baby. Taking her in his hands, he began rocking her until her cries transformed to sobs and finally died down into whimpers. As he felt her fall asleep once again, he continued cradling her for a few more moments, just to make sure that she was truly asleep. Putting her in the carriage, he kissed her forehead before he went back to his bed. Now he can finally sleep.
(I was planning on ending this chapter here but I wasn't satisfied with its length so here is the continuation :P)
The next morning came far too quickly for Hiruzn Sarutobi's liking. In fact, he wished he was a child again just to be able to beg of his mother to let him slee for another five minutes. Getting up form the bed, he found that neither his wife nor the mystery child were present in the room. After a quick scan of the house, he felt Biwako's chakra in the kitchen. He went to the adjoint bathroom where he did his morning ritual. As he opened the door that led to the hallways, he was swept by the sent of the coffee that only Biwako knew how to prepare. He walked in a daze to the kitchen to be greeted with the sight of Biwako and the little Sakura already drinking her milk. After he kissed bothe women's foreheads, he looked at the already prepared breakfast. Smiling slightly, he sat in front of his wife and started eating. It wasn't until he drank his coffee that he remembered that Sakura didn't have left any milk filled bottle.
"I bought it this morning." She answered his silent inquiry with a smile and received a nod from her counterpart.
They continued eating breakfast in a calm silent. They both knew that this day was going as exhausting as it ever was going to be, thus they would enjoy this few moment of calm before the storm. Thankfully, they had time to eat, clean the kitchen and prepare the room that would be for Sakura. They sat discussing where they would buy the required equipment for the baby's room when they heard knocking. It was their sons. They didn't seem to be angry which was a good thing, though they shouldn't relax so early. The day has only started. They both entered the room that their parents and the little baby were occupying. After a polite 'good morning', the two boys sat in front of the couple.
"Chichi-ue, haha-ue, there have been rumors that you've adopted a baby." Started the elder of the two newcomers in a calm voice.
"Yes, it's true. Though it is not yet official." Explained the father.
"Aa. Can we see who it is though?" Asked Asuma in a tone he wanted to be indifferent.
"Oh yes! Here she is. Isn't she just the cutest thing to ever be?" Gushed the mother of the two sons.
Said sons both locked eyes for a few minutes, before looking curiously at where their mother was pointing. After talking off the veil, the boys were surprised to see a pink haired child with green eyes. She had pale skin, which only meant that either she never went out or that she isn't from here. The latter seemed to be righter. The child was looking at them other curious eyes. Eyes that didn't show any emotion other than simple and utter curiosity. She was staring at them and they at her. It lasted for a few moments, before the elder of the two boys lept at the baby and started hugging her in a death grip, immediately startling not only the old couple but also the younger child, Asuma.
Asuma Sarutobi, for most was a troublemaker who had a tendency to disrespect everyone and everything but the rules and live in a sort of detached way. However as he saw the poor child been slowly killed by his crazy brother, Asuma couldn't help it but to jump in and try to save her. After more struggling on both parts, the parents took sleathily Sakura from their grip and slapped the two fighting boys on the head, which resulted in their long whines and fake tears. The two brothers stopped after hearing the little girl's joyous laughter. They were absolutely transfixed by the melodious sound that left the little girl's lips.
"Welcome Sakura to the family!" Asuma said with a big smile that was soon replaced by a scowl upon receiving a kick to the shin from his older brother.
"Shaddup! I was the one supposed to say it." He glared at him then turned to the pink haired child with a bright smile. "Welcome Saku-chan to the family! Now you're my little imouto and I promise to protect you."
Asuma snorted loudly at his brother's words. "Yeah right! I'm gonna be the one to protect her!"
And so another fight started that was soon taken out to the garden. The couple laughed at their sons antics but they were soon interrupted by a knock on the front door. Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto entered with their two sons, accompanied by the Minato and a pregnant Kushina. The Uchiha matriarch had her younger son in her hands and was talking happily with Namikaze Kushina. The two men were discussing inconspicuously a few paces behind them while the clan heir was walking silently next to his father, a passive expression marring his face that the old couple didn't like at all. After greeting them and settling down, the Uchiha patriarch started talking with the ex-Hokage in his strong voice.
"Sir, is it true that you're adopting this child?"
"Yes of course, Fugaku-san." The older man answered with a smile.
"May I ask for what reason?"
"Yes," he paused for a few moments before continuing, all trace of laughter left his face. "The way I found this child was no coincidence. Whoever put her in the forest knew that I usually take my strolls at that time, which could only mean that a spy did enter Konoha without our notice enough times to learn my routine." His statement left most of the room's occupants openly gaping. "Besides, Biwako-chan and I both wanted a little girl."
Although he finished with a lighthearted smile, the persons sitting in the living room didn't feel as slaphappy as the smile was intended. In fact, everything that the old man said, most of it at least, left them worried and careworn. The only ones who seemed to be unaffected by the tense atmosphere were the babies. Even little Itachi, who was no more than three years old, looked warily at his parents and their friends. It was a known fact that he was the Uchiha clan's genius, one that had the potential to surpass the other genius of another generation, Hatake Kakashi.
"I see." said Uchiha Fugaku breaking the tense moment. "Some of the Uchiha Police Force will be sent to see around the forest, though I'm sure that they wouldn't find anything right now." He sighed deeply. "This child seem to be more troubles than I see her worth to be."
"Oh just forget about it!" Kushina exclaimed when yet another silent moment started. "All I see is a beautiful pink haired child who was brought here to Sandaime Hokage-sama to be protected."
"Ah! You're quite right Kushina-chan! Besides I think that she'll be great with an Uchiha, and Itachi is the perfect person for her! Just look at her intelligent eyes! She seems to be already storing informations with those curious eyes of her, don't you think so Kushina-chan!"
"Ah yes! I believe that she'll do great with our son! And they're actually the same age, don't you think Minato-kun that they'll make the perfect couple, with Sakura's bright pink hair and your golden one and Sakura-chan's green eyes and your eyes or mine? They'll make the cutest couple to be!" The redhead sent her husband a kind smile that only scared him. Minato started chuckling lightly, afraid of what she might do to him.
"But they'll be too bright! Saku-chan will need someone with dark hair to balance her exotic complexions. Someone like an Uchiha, Ita-kun or Sasu-chan!"
As the two best friends started fighting like they were rivals, Sarutobi Biwako interfered to stop yet another legendary dispute. It was true that Namikaze Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto were the best of friends, however they shared a strange bond. They're always too close for their husband's preference, but once they fight, it was like they were the biggest rivals or that they hated each other's guts. A strange relationship, true but one of the strongest.
"Ladies, ladies, because my husband just brought little Saku-chan, we didn't have the time to prepare her chamber nor buy her clothes, which is why I'm asking you now if you want to accompany me to shop her things." As soon as her words left her lips, the two women started squealing like teenage girls so much they were happy. The old lady smiled at their antics. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Ita-kun, will you come with us and help me with little Sasu-chan?" The Uchiha matriarch asked her firstborn sweetly.
The little boy who could never refuse his mother anything nodded before hopping to his feet and bowing in respect to the sitting men. Before her husband could say something, Mikoto glared at him harshly which made him snap his mouth rapidly to the amusement of the other room's occupants. While the ladies, the child me two babies left the house, the three men looked at them with a slightly worried look. As the door shut behind the leaving women, the sitting men shook their heads lightly as if snapping from a daydream. They looked at each others before sitting more comfortably, preparing to start one meeting they knew would tax them all their mental strength.
"Now, Figaku-san, I must show you what we found with little Sakura." The old man took out the necklace and the tissu and gave the two items to the black haired man.
He started looking at them thoughtfully. He paid more attention to the chakra burnt word than to the other informations sewn. Sending a little bit of his chakra, he couldn't feel any presence to the chakra already present in the tissu. A fact that left him bewildered. It was a knowledge everyone worked with, that chakra characterized living beings and differentiated them. However, the chakra used in this tissu surprisingly didn't have an entity. If Fugaku was to give the chakra a color, it would be grey. It was like feeling a rock or a metal, something deadweight it existence. Looking at the awaiting men, he told them of what he found. They both looked at him startled, they hadn't thought of searching for a chakra signature in the tissu.
"Impossible! If it's a human being, or even a plant or animal, it must have a special signature that differentiates it from others!" Cried out the Yondaime Hokage.
"Don't tell me something I already know." Snapped at him the Uchiha patriarch.
"Don't worry about that. I know that you studied the Academy curriculum. But how did he manage it? Even if his chakra was hidden and masked, he can't use chakra without leaving some sort of trace." Replied the blond haired man.
"Which is why I find this most intriguing." Told them the Sandaime Hokage. "There's an unknown person with this much power, who could enter Konoha and control their chakra so much that we can't find any trace of it."
"We need to increase the patrol. If someone could enter Konoha without triggering any alarm, then there's a possibility that someone else may infiltrate Konoha, or even worse there might be a mole amongst us." The older man sighed deeply before lighting his pipe before looking at the Uchiha clan head
"True. Now, that's aside, what can you tell me about the necklace Fugaku?" He looked at it for a long moment without a word before he gave it back to the older man.
"First, her parents are rich, whether their money is legal or not. Or they made it themselves, which I doubt, judging from the fine material that the tissu is made of. Second, I think that everyone already guessed that the pink ruby represents the child." He received two nods. "I would say that the other flower, a rose I think it is, would represent the mother while the red cloud the father. Though that would be a very biased supposition."
"I see that we all came to the same conclusions." Started the blond haired man. "However I want to add that yesterday, when Shimura came, he looked closer at the red ornament. There must be something more that we don't know of. It's why I'm gonna ask of Jiraiya-sensei to look around about the significance of this symbol."
Once Minato finished talking, Fugaku and Hiruzen looked at him blankly. Both were immersed in their own thoughts. For the Uchiha patriarch, it meant that Shimura Danzou had planned to use the girl, although at this age, not even six months, he already wanted her and coveted her powers. A proof to show her strong heritage. He needed to keep an eye on the girl if he didn't want her to be snatched by that wicked man. Also, if the girl proved to be the genius she already showed signs of to be, then he'll need to help her get more powerful and find some ways to make her attached to the clan. If he empowered her too much then she might become too independent and forget about the Uchiha clan, which he couldn't let happen.
While the black haired man pondered over what was best for his clan, the Sandaime Hokage was thinking about his old friend who considered him a rival. He remembered as a genin and Chunin, how he would always want to challenge him, whether be it in genjutsu, taijutsu, ninjutsu or even fuinjutsu. However, ever since he began training with the First Hokage, Danzou wasn't able to win against him. Hiruzen knew that he held a grudge against him and that he wanted to be named Fourth Hokage. The main reason why he chose Minato, besides his strength and sense of justice, was due to his youth. And if Danzou knew of the girl's origins and hid his knowledge, then he would be classified as a traitor to Konohagakura. Something that pained him and didn't want t believe.
"Yes, Jiraiya is our best hope at the moment." said the Third Hokage. "Now, Minato-kun Fugaku-kun, we need to discuss how we'll protect Konohagakure. If we think of Danzou as a traitor, then we must be most inconspicuous about our moves."
While the three men started talking about the arrangements that will be made to defend Konoha against possible betrayal or invasion, the women and children were walking outside of house. Lady Sarutobi with the bright haired girl in her hands walked in the middle, with the redhead on her left and the dark haired woman with her newborn on her right. The three years old boy was walking a few paces in front of them, sometimes glancing at his mother or the pink haired child. The small group hadn't arrived yet to the more crowded avenues of Konohagakure, which explained the lack of whispers and interruptions.
"Kushina-chan and Odayaka-chan are the only ones who are still pregnant, right Mikoto-chan?" the older woman received giggles from her right and an unladylike snort from her left.
"Tch. Minato-Baka is an idiot." Was her only comment.
"Oh! I didn't know that it was Minato-san who was pregnant. If I did, maybe I would have helped him. But how would you explain this?" Mikoto pointed to her Kushina's stomach. "Have you gained this much weight?! Oh my, you should lay off all of the junk food you so much like to eat."
While Biwako started chuckling lightly, Kushina became beat red, so much that a scary aura surrounded her. Unfortunately for the redhead, Mikoto was used to her temperament, and so was unaffected.
"I didn't mean it like that! Hmph. Just that Minato was too afraid and...worried." While her blush remained, it became more out of embarrassment than anger.
As the two women continued their friendly banter, a small boy openly stared at the strange way his mother behaved. She usually was shy and timid. The only times she was this lively and slightly loud, though he'll never admit it, were when his father wanted to train him more so than usual. And even at those times, she wasn't this happy. The little child sometimes wondered if his mother was a princess married to his father without her consent or a lost fairy that was bound by his clan. He knew that it was impossible, because his mother was an Uchiha, however he couldn't help but dream of an explanation to his mother's subdued emotions.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of pink. Turning his head, he saw the baby still awake. He knew that it was an unusual behavior for such a small child not to sleep all day long. This child, Sakura, was always awake looking at everyone and everything with wide curious eyes. It salsas if she registered whatever that happened and already understood it. Besides her atypic behavior, her exotic hair was another characteristic that he knew belonged to only her. It seemed so unreal, as if it was dyed. The black haired boy already knew that it was an uncommon color hair, more so than blond or red hair. However, it may be explained by her unknown origins. The adults were right, they needed that Jiraiya person, whoever he was an informant judging their talks , to know more about this child.
As if sending his stare, the pink haired baby turned her gaze from the surrounding buildings and different people to the third years old boy. She looked at him as if she was surprised then started giggling softly, before it was turned to a full blown laughter, much to the black haired child dismay. It was definite. He didn't understand children at all. And though he promised to protect Sasuke and only Sasuke ever since he was born, maybe another person to protect wouldn't be so bad. After all, they were only babies right now, they were still unaffected by the world's cruel and dark nature. Despite the fact that most adults would say that he was too still innocent, Itachi was already aware of the human nature, power greedy.
"Itachi-kun, what do you think of Saku-chan?" Asked him the old lady, immediately stopping the other two women's bickering.
Lady Sarutobi had seen the two children's exchange and heard of her daughter's laughter, for that was what she was. And unlike most popular belief, her perception didn't dull with her old age. Well, maybe it was a little over-exaggerated, but she didn't see, or hear for that matter, at all. And unlike her two friends, she didn't argue with best friend and rival and forget everything. After a full minute of silence, the small child finally deigned to answer the long-asked question.
"She's a person I must protect, a white sheet that could easily be tainted if taught improperly." Was his curt answer.
"True, true. But as Sakura, a pink haired child, what do you think of her?" She pressed him. He looked almost surprised at her.
"Her physical appearance or her behavior?"
"Both." Told him his mother impatiently. Itachi glanced at her before answering.
"I think that she's quite unique and that she's no normal child. She's always awake." He turned his gaze from the three women and started walking, lightly wondering when he stopped walking.
The three women shared a look, before the black haired woman squealed in delight. "They'll make such a beautiful couple!" She said before sighing.
"Maybe they won't be so bad." Said Kushina. And knowing how stubborn she was, it was like her saying that she absolutely loved and approved of their match.
"Now with that said, let's start walking ladies. We still has to buy everything that little Saku-chan is going to need." Biwako said, immediately snapping their attention back to the main reason why they left the house.
The three women spent the afternoon buying clothes and furniture for the new room. It was a common knowledge that the Uchiha matriarch wanted a little girl and that her newborn was her last hope. And though she was sad that she didn't have daughter, she completely loved her sons, more so than all mothers. Uchiha Mikoto was sure that she was the only one who really meant it. It was a pleasant afternoon, they met most of the clans' heads with their babies, sending the men to the Sarutobi house, where Biwako was sure that her husband was still discussing with the other men. And soon a small shopping day transformed into a meeting in a newly opened teahouse, where they talked about the last gossips.
Much to the ladies' dismay, the tea party ended too quickly. However, since all of their husbands were still at the Sarutobi house, they decided to continued their meeting at the house where they may put all their babies to play together and get to know each others. And so, all of the clans' matriarchs were seen walking together, something that surprised not only the civilians but also the ninjas. Once they arrived home, they let the children under the surveillance of their husbands and all went toward the kitchen to prepare a feast that only happened during special occasions. Rarely did all the clan heads reunite for no apparent reason.
Maybe Sakura's appearance wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Hey there!
I know that it'sa little bit too late (yeah right -_-) but it's due to a good reason. It's been quite the hectic week, I must say. Besides mom's late, very late Spring Cleaning, I had to prepare for a ten hours trip and results (thankfully I passed and I'm going to start my last year of high school) and yeah the time difference left me a little shaken. Although I was planning on typing this chapter and maybe another one during the flight, but it was impossible, believe me of you've ever traveled sitting between your younger brother and even younger sister, you'll know how I felt during these ten hours of pure torture. I know it's not a good enough excuse, but I wanted a longer chapter than intended and I wanted, no needed to put a little ItaSasku moment, though it's not much since well, they are kids.
Also, I'm not so sure when the next update is going to be posted, which is why I'm only going to say I hope you enjoyed this new installment, even if it was more of a filler chapter than anything else. And I must say that I'm not that proud of it. :P
Don't forget to review and constructive criticism is appreciated :)
sharkswillruledaWORLD is out ;)
P.S: Odayaka means gentle, I think.