Chapter 4 - Reason

"Don't be crazy, Sasuke." Naruto pleaded. "You're not allowed there."

"There's no one else that could find her, except for me." Sasuke replied. "She called me, Naruto."

"But Teme, I've sent some men already, they could be watching out for you there."

"I'll be back with her." Sasuke passed beside him, out of the Konoha gates.

Naruto sighed, he has a high probabilty on the one responsible for this. He had opened it to Shikamaru, so he'll know what to do. He can't stop worrying, though.


Sarada opened her eyes and felt cold air seep into her skin, her body felt weak and her head felt like it was bashed multiple times. How long has it been, five days?

She stood up, dusting her skirt. However she stumbled again when she felt that there is something hurting in her leg. She still brought herself to her feet and caresses her leg then walked slowly.

"Mama..." she sobbed. She stopped beside a tree and cried, she's considered to be independent but whatever reason they say, it will always be a fact that her mom left her prematurely.

She felt sick all of a sudden. She placed the back of her hand on the side of her neck and felt it to be warmer than usual. She laid down again looking up. Letting the sun lit up her face. That's when she noticed, she's not wearing her glasses.

She must've been really stressed to notice and besides she won't know unless she was reading. She felt hungry, feverish and because of that sleepy, so she once again let sleep consume her.

Meanwhile...

"I never thought you'll want to see me again." That creepy sound still creeps Sasuke, not that he would admit that.

"Orochimaru." He states his name like acid on his tongue, if asked, he won't request anything to him however he's still the founder of Sound, so he'll know sneaky ways inside, he heard Sakura's body was found in the forest, so he asked for a guide. He had written in advance, since he can't practically go there personally and let his snake send it to him.

"I read the letter." He hissed, afterwards he gave a scroll to Sasuke. Upon opening it, a map was revealed. "The red lines are the one that shows where the forest is."

"Hn." He surveyed it for a moment.

"It seems that you need to hurry? I would be glad to chat with you, if you're not." He teased making Sasuke glare at him.

"I am in a hurry." He replies sternly.

"Too bad... I would've prepared tea for you. Well, just drop by with your little minx, if you ever get out there safely."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'll leave you to it then." Orochimaru disappeared out of plain sight, Sasuke gave thought of what he said, but he was really in a hurry to care.


"I'm back to confirm your suspicion." Shikamaru entered Naruto's office. "There's no Uchiha body to recover, so they will be chasing after Sasuke and his daughter."

"Why can't we get them!?" Naruto exclaimed

"They're still under Sound's tutelage. Besides even if we knew, they will always be proven innocent."

"I hope Teme gets her soon."

"No you can't go inside..." they heard a muffled voice of Konohamaru outside. "Oi."

"I think I know who this is." Shikamaru said. "I will leave first."

"Sure." Naruto answered and as soon as the door was opened. Bolt came rushing, followed by Konohamaru.

"Dad! Is Sarada found?" He asked, his question surprised his father.

"Oi... go home, your dad's busy." Konohamaru chastised.

"Its fine... you can leave us, Konohamaru."

Konohamaru nods, "I'll be waiting for you outside." He eyed Bolt and left them inside.

"Dad. I heard Sarada's dad went away to find her." He asked again. "Himawari's worried, so I went here instead."

That's a lie... Naruto knew, he used to harbour feelings for Sakura for a long time, he knows young love when it's there. "Don't worry, they'll be back together"

"I see." he said, though he looked unconvinced, he went out of the office. Naruto actually thought that his son and Sakura's daughter could be perfect for each other, He actually talked with Sakura about it before, but of course, they are young, anything can still happen.

"Oii Sakura-chan!" Naruto called as soon as she saw his pink haired friend.

"Hokage-sama?" She asks. It was the end of her shift. Her husband and Sarada are waiting for her in the guest room.

"Ah well..." Naruto scratched the back of his neck and showed his son who was hiding behind his leg. "This kid doesn't want to take the flu shots if I'm not the one who takes him and he doesn't want any doctor rather than you... so?"

"Ok." Sakura bends down her hands on her hips. "Stubborn but cute little boy. I'll do it."

"Thanks auntie." He said and Sakura pinched his cheeks.

"Just go to the guest room, I'll give the injections there. Sasuke and Sarada's there, wait for me, I'll just get the materials."

Naruto walked with Bolt towards the guest room and he peeks to see what Teme is doing. He was playing with Sarada. Naruto snickered at the sight actually.

Sarada was sitting in his lap laughing, while he was trying to humour his baby girl. Naruto entered surprising the father and daughter.

"What a sight to behold teme." He laughs his son following him inside.

"Tch. Dobe."

"Ch...Do...be.." Sarada mimics her father after all she's still a 12 month old baby, learning her words. This made Sasuke laugh and she did too.

"Oi oii! What the hell are you teaching her? Sarada dear...you should say Hokage-sama or uncle Hokage." Naruto chastised. His two year old son looked at his father delightfully when he heard 'Hokage-sama'.

"Ho...Dobe." she repeated.

"Sarada? Oi teme! You should correct her, you know... I'm still the strongest ninja here."

"I believe, we ended up in a draw." Sasuke answered petting his daughter in the head. "So we're basically equal in strength, you're just higher in status."

"Why you..."

"What's happening here?" Sakura came in with a warding box*. Her daughter came giggling and she flung her hands in the air as if motioning for her to get her.

"Auntie." Bolt called as he sat on the stool, like a good boy ready for injection.

"Geez... you never get that reaction from him when Ino's on duty." Naruto said, Sarada squirmed at Sasuke's hold and baby walked to Sakura, she must've been jealous. Sasuke then held her hand so that she could balance.

"Wow... you have amazing charisma with children." Naruto comments seeing as how Sarada clutched her mom's skirt.

"Wait baby." She cooed as she bent down tickling her chin. "I really don't know why, it must've been because of my hair color." She said as she prepared the shot.

Bolt was actually scared, he wants his dad to accompany him so that he will see how brave he is, and he wants aunt Sakura because she's good at doctor stuffs. She ties a tourniquet on his shoulder. Suddenly he got nervous.

"Bolt?" Sakura asked seeing his reaction.

"Hey kid... are you sure you're alright?" His dad asked. Sarada, was just looking at them however she just surprised everyone when she walked towards Bolt and held his hand.

Bolt opened his eyes and stopped shivering when he saw the baby girl holding his hand. "I'm fine." He said.

"Awww..." Sakura thinks it cute, but Sasuke thinks otherwise. After the shot, Bolt didn't cry or what but he pinched Sarada's cheek and the little girl laughed.

"So are we talking arrangements here?" Naruto asked and Sakura smacked him in the arm while laughing.

"I hope you haven't forgotten I'm here." Sasuke cleared his throat and carried his daughter who happily played with his hair. "They're toddlers, a year old girl and a two year old boy. Can you please enlighten me with those arrangements?"

"Geez Teme... be a sport. Don't be too strict or else, she's going to hate you." Sakura laughed at Naruto's comment, that day though, Bolt looked like he had a baby crush.


Sasuke has reached the forest and is now searching every nook and cranny of the place, he's not the type to announce the name of the person he's looking for so he used his Sharingan to catch some of her Chakra.

He stepped on something though, and when he checks on it, he saw the red rimmed glasses his daughter always wear. He picks it up then examines it. Figuring he's close to where she is, he ran fast.

Sasuke was now able to catch some of her weak chakra, like she's losing her life also, it was so weak that he sometimes loses its connection, but he didn't lose track of it. He followed and it was like heaven answered all his prayers in one time.

She was hidden near a small tree, probably asleep, wounded and hungry. He spent no time gawking at his discovery. He rushed to his daughter's aid. He instantly lifted her up using her back, gives her the jar of water he brings and lets her drink on it. A few seconds later, she coughed and her eyes slowly opened.

"Sarada?" She slowly looked up and rubbed her eyes. The figure blurry but afterwards it revealed her father.

"Dad?" She mumbles and he nods. Her first reaction was; Jump and hug her father around the neck while crying. Sasuke embraced her too, feeling relieved, that he finally found her. "Dad...mom..is..."

"I know." Sasuke answered and Sarada loosened her hug. "Your mother's body was found a week ago, where were you?"

"I don't know..." Sarada said between sobs. "I think I just woke up a while ago."

"Must've been your Sharingan." Sasuke said but explaining can wait later, he just found his daughter, he knows only he could find her and he did. "We should go."

Sarada stood up but she stumbled as she remembered the pain in her leg. "Oww." She muttered, as she tries to stand again.

"Here." Sasuke bent down motioning his back. "I'll carry you."

"Okay..." she snakes her arms on his neck while he hoist her up in his back. "I think I've gotten heavier."

"It's okay." He said without his usual tone, it actually sounded soothing in her ears, she rests her head on the nook of his neck.

"I'm sorry dad...I can't protect mom." She mumbled.

"I should be sorry, Sarada. I'm the one who should protect the two of you."

"Dad... Mom said you'll find me so I should wait for you. She also told me not to hate you...whatever happens."

"Your mom's an amazing woman." He said, no matter how heartbroken he is, he must stay strong for her. Sasuke walked carefully so that Sarada won't be shaken much by the rough road, he noticed somewhere along the way that his daughter seemed weightless and weak however a few minutes later, he felt something tremble at his back and he stopped walking. "What is that?"

"Uh...Dad." she kind of felt embarrassed when her stomach rumbled again. Sasuke looked at her and she nodded. "I'm hungry."


Sasuke had deduced that the reason his daughter wasn't found is because she was either kidnapped or was sent by her feet on the deepest part of the forest, so he actually thought he'll last for a week or a month wandering in the forest, that's why he brought a month -long food supply or he could compromise or such if there is an extension.

However, his daughter was actually found within a day. He knew she must've activated her sharingan unconsciously making a barrier, hiding herself from enemies even to the search and rescue team Naruto had sent. It was probably the reason why she lost tremendous amount of chakra.

He is now staring at her as she eats the said month-long food he brought this day that she was found. "Are you okay?" He asked; somehow, his concern lies with indigestion.

"Thanks dad." She said wiping her mouth after eating her Dad's packed food.

"I think we'll rest here...after eating that much I guess you'll feel really sleepy." He said blowing up a fire using his well known technique.

"Okay." She said suddenly she scooted closer to her dad and curled up next to him. He removed his coat and covered it to her. "I've been sleeping a lot, so I don't know if I could still sleep."

Sasuke lied down beside her using his arm as a pillow. "Are you scared?"

"Nope." She lied, but deep in her heart, she knew her dad's right. "If we get back to Konoha...Are you leaving again?"

"No...I'm not leaving you again." He answered looking at her. "Not there and especially not here."

"Promise?" She scooted closer again hugging him. "Promise, Dad?"

"I promise." He moved to his side to embrace his daughter. "I love you, Sarada."

"I love you too, Dad." She cried but buried her head into his chest. It has been a long time, since he hugged her like this, that was the time her mom was called for an overtime shift. She was seven and scared of lightning, so she went to their room secretly, but of course it wasn't a secret for him.

He held her just like that, and its like he silenced the lightning himself, it felt good knowing he's there for her.

His steady heartbeat and the warmth he radiates to her, lulls her to sleep, she felt content, knowing that tomorrow, someone will be there for her, her Dad will protect her and that thought makes all her fears subside, a few minutes later, when Sasuke wipes a loose strand of her hair in her forehead, she was already asleep with a smile on her face.


*Warding Box - my sis just ask that so its like a medical kit (for phlebotomy, with syringes, needles and such)

A/N: Orochimaru has a great part, I guess... I read in Narutopedia that he's still alive but like AWOL, so I kind of made a connection with him to Sasuke, since he's still his former teacher, hehe...I also made a FF enemy (OC) hahaha... I hope I made Sasuke a bit favorable here ^_^

tell me what you think :)... I decided to make the search for Sarada short, so that they will grow up already plus! I made it look like she made a barrier and such using sharingan, so she'll be hidden to anyone (I made that up...pretty much)

R/R and thanks for reading :) ~ISHILEIS