Wow folks look! Longest chapter ever! So amazing! (1429 words!) marvels at the fic Oops sorry got carried away gawking at the length of this chapter. I am sorry about the long hiatus, I had exams and erm… I updated the main fic "the sun starts from the east" so please don't chuck stones at me! runs and hides. This story may be ending soon, depending on the number of reviews I receive. So please enjoy and leave something like a comment behind.

A/N: reedited I forgot to add some stuff .

Thank you reviewers who have so wonderfully encouraged me with your kind words and questions: Naaja, liankitty, Kaiyo No Hime, SSJ4 Sailor Menz, El Gaara, NarutoFangirl4991, Generally Maz, Anna Belle and Queen of Spain

El Gaara: Sasuke is a woman because… you have to read the main fic "the sun starts from the east" to find out. Cannot divulge spoilers sorry. :D

And just for you people who were waiting for this fic, this is another little incentive not to kill the author! FANART! Erm…by me at:

www. deviantart. com/ deviation /25806358/ (remove the spaces in between)

Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto and his pretty wife but I do own his Kids! evil cackle

Chapter 4

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" the figure uttered as his body blurred and split into several dozen copies.

Sasuke immediately activated her Sharingan in order to track the original down. The clones however noticed her strategy and rushed ahead to distract her. She polished off two without much difficulty using basic kunai throwing moves. Unfortunately the rest of the clones weren't as easy.

Immediately after she had dealt with the first two, the rest of the clones seemed to have learned from the experience of the first to perish and became faster, stronger and harder to kill.

"This is bad," Sasuke thought to herself as she retreated into the familiar camouflage of the Konoha foliage. Strategy? If there is one, it's of no use now. This target is becoming a greater pain then expected.

A sudden whiz alerted her to the approach of air projectile weaponry. She dodged the first two kunais that attacked her flank only to realize that there were three approaching her current position. It was only her greatly polished combat instinct and high levels of agility that allowed her to barely sidestep the other three.

"He's giving me no time to think!" Sasuke thought as she tried hard to figure out the direction the projectiles were coming from. This wasn't to be a straightforward battle.

Quickly switching her position in an attempt to hide her position, she noticed that there was a suppression of chakra within the immediate area. Sasuke focused her attention onto the area her eyes picking up unnatural wavelengths of chakra. "Genjutsu?"

Sasuke activated her Mangekyou Sharingan to investigate the anomaly further. Indeed despite all the chakra it took to create all the shadow clones, the target had enough energy to keep him shrouded within an illusionary barrier. This nin had to be a chakra powerhouse.

She hit the ground behind the low chakra anomaly and canceled the barrier with a Chidori stab. The hooded figure began taijutsu moves trying to knock Sasuke out. She matched his strength and speed in every single punch and kick, even the hooded figure seemed surprise at her skill. However she was slightly faster and her Chidori had wounded him a little, she sidestepped his roundhouse kick and delivered a sharp chop to the back of his head and a dose of Tsukiyomi for good measure rendering him unconscious.

Sasuke know had the mysterious ninja under her control. She desperately needed to know if this is her husband. She threw back the hood and gazed upon the ninja's countenance. Her eyes tracing the long marks on his cheeks and honey coloured hair.

Her fingers stilled as her arms dropped to her side. She stood transfixed on the spot where she stood.
"Sasuke-sama!" Konohamaru's voice echoed through the woods, calling aloud to his Chief as he dashed to her side.

"Sasuke-sama?" he called softly again in deep concern, staring at the unconscious figure lying on the ground.

"Its….its not him." Sasuke murmured quietly, her eyes downcast.

Konohamaru didn't comment. He too had hoped that his leader would return. This was a hard blow for him and he knew an even harder blow for his Chief. Hoisting up the unconscious form of the rogue nin, he bowed in respect to his superior before heading back to Konoha to turn the criminal in to the Hokage. He reckoned Sasuke would want some time alone at this very moment.

Sasuke made her way back to the Uchiha Manor in the late evening in a slow and laborious fashion. She knew her children would be home by now and she did not want them to starve on her account. She opened the front door and called, "I'm home!"

"Welcome home, Mama!" echoed the little children as they rushed to help their mother into the house.

"Mama! Daikichi was being a total jerk today so I pushed him into the river but then he got out and pushed me in too so we both smell like fishes today!" Kyoichi announced proudly.

"Mama, Kyoichi skipped class again." Daikichi reported like a miniature policeman.

"Hey! You tattle-tale!" Kyoichi screeched in indignation before pouncing onto his older brother for an all out brawl, which Sasuke found too hilarious to stop.

"Mama, a frogie followed me home today can I keep Gamagunta!" the little Natsuko asked as she showed her little frog friend to her mother.

Sasuke watched her little family and their undying affection for her; suddenly she didn't feel so bad anymore. Reaching out to pat Natsuko on her head, she offered a little smile to her daughter. "You may keep him but you must promise me to look after him yourself or I will put him in the pond."

The little girl's eyes gleamed and she gave the brightest smile and with a loud thank you, raced to her room to put Gamagunta into his little box next to her bed.

Sasuke grabbed both of her little boys by the scruff of their shirts and yanked them apart.
"FIGHT AFTER DINNER and outside the house so I can monitor your progress without worrying about the house."

"YES MAMA!" both boys saluted in respect before rushing to the dinner table to await their food.

After Sasuke had tucked her little angels into bed, she went up to the attic to think. Her hands chanced upon a badly battered and age-worn chest. She opened the chest slowly to reveal the treasures of her soul. An old kimono(1), a battered hitai-ate with a slash across the Konoha leaf emblem, broken dog tags that once belonged to Naruto and a picture of the whole Uchiha-Uzumaki family together for a traditional family picture.

She gingerly raised the photo towards her as she carefully wiped away the dust that has accumulated on its frame. Drops of tears fell upon the frame creating in its wake spots of clarity that the dirt and dust had long robbed from the picture.

"Naruto, why is it my heart keeps telling me you are alive when my mind knows you are dead?"

"Am I insane for believing that you are alive?"

She waited for the answer that will never come. Eyes closed in deep contemplation as she clung to what little hope she had. She could remember the day Naruto dragged Sasuke back from Orochimaru. Badly beaten, bruised and bleeding, yet the idiot won't give up. "Sasuke-teme, I won't let you go!" Naruto's bold words echoed within her heart.

"Naruto, I won't let you go too…"

"Maybe its time I throw sanity to the wind." she whispered hugging the photo close to her heart.

"Sasuke, what is this?" the aged Hokage asked waving a white envelope in her hand.

"Its my resignation letter Hokage-sama."

"Resignation? Pray tell what for?"

"I'm going on extended leave to hunt down my husband's whereabouts. It is better if I vacate my post as the Chief of Police."

"Are you crazy Uchiha! You're husband is DEAD!"

"Exactly. That's why I am going."

"For what reason, you flipping nut-case?"

"If my husband is dead I intend to bring his remains back. If my husband is alive …if my husband is alive I want to find him."

"Sasuke! Think about your children. Who will look after them?"

"If they want to come with me I'll bring them along. If they don't I will leave them in someone else's care. It's entirely up to them."

"You want to orphan your children for a stupid DREAM!"

"All due respects Hokage-sama, if I stay here any longer denying myself I will go insane. At least give me half a year, let me journey selfishly for half a year. If I still cannot find him I will return. But mark my words I won't give up. I will look for him year after year, half a year at a time, until I find a lead."

The Hokage sighed aloud, she shook her head and dropped her shoulders into a slouch in a sign of exasperation and surrender. "Sasuke…sasuke, why do you insist on chasing shadows?"

"Because I love him." Sasuke stated without a hint of hesitation.

"WHAT IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE FOUND!" Tsunade bellowed in frustration.

"What do you mean doesn't want to be found?"

The Hokage rocked back on her chair and motioned for Sasuke to close the door. Dropping her voice to a more somber tone, the Hokage spoke as a person who has seen too much. "I give up. I really wanted to save you the pain Uchiha. I wanted to protect you from the torment of reality. I didn't want you to go through what I've gone through and am going through now," the Hokage was now openly weeping at her exclamation. "But you, fool of a woman, kept chasing pain and anguish!"

"Pain and torment from the truth is less painful then blind ignorance of the fate of your beloved."

"You're right, I cannot make the decision for you. Since you cannot give up, I'll give in," Tsunade propped herself up on the table and covered her face with her hands in anguish, "I know where Naruto is, but I doubt you'd like what you see…"

End of Chapter.

(1) Yup people its the same kimono as the one mentioned in "the sun starts from the east".

Hey all since this side fic is drawing to a close let's play a little game. Let's see who can guess the ending of this fic. Come on its real fun! Winner gets Gamagunta plushies! For those who want the real Gamagunta, give me your address and some shipping money and I'll send a frog over.