You'll Be Great

"I can't do this."

"Yes, you can! You're Uchiha Sasuke! How could you possibly not do anything without succeeding?"

"What do I need to do?"

She smiled, "For now..."

Said man listened intently for her answer.

"...wait."

Several months later, Sasuke was training when he remembered he had to go to the market for groceries. Picking up large amounts of tomatoes, carrots, and some other food items (mostly fruits), he wanted to get through this quickly so he could go home.

"Loading up the fridge so you don't have to come back?" said a voice ahead of him.

"Hn."

"You're so anti-social!" exclaimed Kiba throwing up his hands and walked away as Akamaru followed in agreement.

"All of these?"

"The kitchen is always empty!" she explained as he finished scrolling down the list.

"I never had a problem with that."

"I'm starting to wonder whether you ate at all when you were a genin."

"Hn."

"Don't worry! It's not that bad. You just need to learn to adjust, that's all."

Shortly when he arrived home, it was minutes to dusk when he decided to sit on the wooden porch to relax. The cool, refreshing air around him deeply contrasted the dry heat that lingered all day. He saw her approaching from the distance before she gave him a smile and took a seat next to him.

He observed her light summer dress. Was that thin fabric enough to tolerate the sun's rays earlier?

"Time goes by fast, doesn't it?"

He didn't respond but mentally agreed with her words.

"Aren't you excited yet?"

He opened his mouth, undecided, "I'm still not sure."

She pouted, "You're going to do great!"

He looked unsurely at her. In response, she gave him a sincere smile of comfort. She turned to the sky; little insects were flying around the grass and kept him occupied with thoughts.

"Just a little while longer and you'll see."

Confidence and trust could be interpreted from that simple sentence. He followed her gaze hoping she was right.

That memory stuck with him weeks later when he staring at the headstones in the cemetery where the Uchiha Family was buried. He spent the last hour staring at his parents' graves, thinking about one too many things.

"Uchiha Sasuke," said a jounin that arrived, most likely sent by the Godaime, "It's time."

His head finally turned to the jounin's direction. Without a word, he followed and applied chakra to his legs. There wasn't a moment to waste.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit nervous.

The time was finally here.

"Sasuke...Sasuke! ...TEME!"

He was bolted out of his thoughts by the screeching yell in his ear.

"Stop with the gloomy face already! You're scaring people away!"

As if to see whether the dobe was right or simply exaggerating, Sasuke took a look around and saw people flinch at the sight of him.

"Gloomy?" he repeated, not really asking but saying it to himself as he gathered his thoughts again.

"Yep! Though right now it looks more like a 'HUH'?" Naruto's face dramatically changed to demonstrate but ended up being hit on the head.

"Shut up, dobe."

"You don't have to be mean! I'm being the nice friend and all by giving you some company and you don't appreciate it at all. What kind of friend are you?"

"One thing," she said stopping on the way to Ichiraku.

He stopped as well.

"Naruto should be there too."

"Why?"

She was smiling, obviously teasing.

"Just because."

"Are you even listening to me?"

Sasuke focused on Naruto. He did stay with him all morning and most of the afternoon. And he knew that it was difficult for Naruto to sit still for anything.

"Yeah."

"It doesn't look like it!"

"Naruto, maybe it's best that you quiet down for a while."

Sasuke was confused for a fraction of a second before remembering that there was someone else waiting with him.

"Kakashi-sempai would want to be there too."

"He too?"

"It's like one big family! Tsunade-shishou will already be there and I think it would be good that he comes!"

"But he won't be doing anything."

"The fact that he will be there means a lot to me."

"All right, Kakashi-sensei. But it's so boring waiting here for hours!" complained Naruto, crossing his arms and made a face.

The older man chuckled, "I don't think it would be much longer."

"Uchiha Sasuke, please follow me."

He got up and followed, ignoring the remarks from the two as they stayed behind.

Nearer and nearer, the white door came into view.

"Come on! I know that you doubt yourself but can you at least help me with this?"

"I'm not good with these things," he answered, removing his eyes from the book.

"All you have to do is read them and then pick one you like."

"What if I choose the wrong one?"

"Sasuke-kun," she sighed, "Sometimes I question your intelligence."

"She has been asking for you," the woman replied cheerfully, "I think it was a wise decision for you to wait outside. She definitely has a tight grip!"

She opened the door and stepped aside so he could enter.

"Sasuke-kun."

No words could form in his mouth as he looked at the tired Sakura in bed. Anxiousness swirled in the pit of his stomach.

It was finally the time that they were waiting for.

She gave a light laugh, despite her exhaustion, "Don't just stand there. Come closer."

He obeyed hesitantly and reached her side.

Smiling and shaking her head slightly, she pointed to the other side, "Over there."

"Isn't this cute, Sasuke-kun?"

She raised the item to show it to him.

He took a good look at it but gave a shrug.

"How about this one?"

Another shrug.

"No, this one is perfect! Right?"

Halfway shrug, no, he nodded his approval.

"I love all of this! Can't we take them all?"

He guessed so as he nodded once again. She began giving him things to carry; a million things, no, a billion things! Good thing he had money.

He made an attempt to move to the other side but she quickly took his hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"Don't be afraid."

He wanted to reply that he wasn't but the words died in his throat as she let go, urging him to go closer.

"What do I do now?" he finally summoned as he stared down.

"Very carefully, put your hand under her head while you do the same with the other but under her back."

He followed her direction and his hands lifted a tiny body.

She laughed, "You look like you're offering her as a sacrifice or something. Hold her closer to you."

He did and that's when he caught sight of pale pink strands and beryl eyes.

His heart skipped a beat.

"So?" she asked as she was lying comfortably on the couch.

"So what?"

"What do you want it to be?"

He was silent, thinking over it.

"A girl."

Sakura looked a bit taken aback, "You mean, you don't want a boy so he could be a male heir?"

"No. A girl."

The newborn sleepily cracked her eyes open before slowly closing them again. He couldn't explain what he was feeling at that instant. It was truly unbelievable how small and light a human being can be.

Sakura was watching them with sleepy eyes as well but with the smile still on her face. She expected him to be acting this way. He was unprepared and at loss with what to do in situations like this. But she was sure he would learn.

"Sasuke-kun, I have to tell you something."

He looked at her, giving his full attention.

She blushed, "Well, you see, I'm… we're having a baby."

No movement.

"Is something wrong?"

"This isn't the right time."

"Sakura."

"What do you mean? I thought you wanted to start a family as soon as possible."

"I do. I just don't think I can…" he trailed off which caused pure confusion on her features.

He never left a sentence unfinished; but that's when it dawned on her on what he was trying to tell her.

"Sasuke-kun, there's nothing to worry about. I'll be there to help you. We both can do this."

"Hai?" she stifled through a yawn.

"She puked on me. What now?"

"I know you'll be a great father. That I'm a hundred percent sure of."

"Oh, Sasuke."

—–

Once you learn,

You discover.

—–