Hey guys, sorry for the long wait! I was so busy now that I hardly got time to write. Also, I was feeling quite insecure about my writing skills that I decided to have a break writing and just read existing ffs. I am actually Indonesian (klo lu org indo dan lgi baca tolong pm gue ya!), so English isn't my first language but I don't want to use that as an excuse. I must improve.

Currently, I'm reading Shadenight123's The Boy in the Team. It got a nice flow and amusing dialogues, which I don't have. Go read it if you want, but I can't guarantee that it would have a nice ending because I just finished reading half. Hopefully I learn something from it.

Anyway, enjoy this chapter!


Itachi and Sasuke was walking at a slower-than-usual pace as the older noticed that Sasuke had a slight problem with his right foot, although he didn't complain at all. For a few minutes since leaving the Hokage's office, Sasuke said nothing, lost in his own thoughts. He was just mindlessly following where Itachi was going. The older brother felt it was kind of awkward and he didn't know where to start talking.

"Ambushed?" he enquired.

"No, explosion." the younger answered without even looking at him. Itachi sighed inwardly, then remembered that he promised to brief him on the way. So, he started by telling Sasuke whatever he knew about his sister-in-law, including today's procedure. Almost everything were second-hand information from Izumi, who had been staying with Sakura most of the time.

"Thank you, Itachi." Sasuke mumbled and turned to him at the end of his brother's narration. Seeing his aniki's raised eyebrows, he elaborated, "For being there for them, when I could not."

"It's...it is fine." he casted a small smile to his stoic brother. "I've promised to you years ago, Sasuke, to take care of them when you are away."

At this, Sasuke just stared at his older brother. He never told anybody except Sakura that he was always amazed at his older brother's thoughtfulness and sincerity. When many siblings were fighting for family inheritance, or simply being distant as they were busy with each other's jobs and families, Itachi was always caring, not just to him but to Sakura and Sarada too, and never demanded anything in return. If anything, he was only accommodating. He felt bad as his brother's family had done so much to take care of his ailing wife, to the extent that Izumi had to spend the last ten nights taking care of what should have been Sasuke's job. All for the sake of his love, a promise that Sasuke himself never asked from his brother.

"It's okay, we are brothers. If you were me, I know you would do the same." Itachi emphasized. Sasuke himself was not sure at this. He was never as sensitive, self-sacrificing as his brother ever since they were young. If at five Itachi was thinking how to stop shinobi from killing each other, then Sasuke at seven was so obsessed in getting his father to acknowledge him, to see his progress and say "As expected of my son". Things changed now, since it was revealed that he was the reincarnation of Indra, and he received the Rinnegan. Power-wise, he was much superior to Itachi now more than ever.

"Would you rather have your wound looked at first?" Itachi offered when they were at the hospital reception, interrupting his train of thoughts.

"No, it's nothing. I'm seeing them first."

They continued to walk and finally arrived at the hall leading to Sakura's room. Suddenly, Itachi stopped, "That's her room. If you see Izumi inside, tell her I'm waiting here."

Saying nothing, Sasuke just proceeded into her room


Sarada almost couldn't sleep the whole night; she was worried for her Mama but more than that, so filled with disappointment and resentment until she grew restless. It was the end of Sarada's patience. Today marked the tenth day of Mama's hospitalization and Papa did not show up at all. How long would they had to wait longingly for him? And why do they keep expecting him, when in reality, his absence was what causes all of these in the first place?

Mama who should have been resting before her bone marrow biopsy in the morning, also couldn't help but notice how her only child was tossing and turning on the sofa.

"Sarada, don't worry about me.." Mama turned to her on her bed, in the middle of the night. She was still pale with dark rings under her eyes; her condition did not improve that much on the last few days. She had an oxygen tube on her nostrils in case she had breathing difficulty while sleeping. In fear of her relapsing further down, Shizune decided to just do the biopsy as soon as possible.

"Mama.." Sarada mumbled. Although Sakura's point entirely missed her cause, Sarada didn't dare point it up.

"I am going to be fine. Look, do you want to sleep here with me?" the pink-haired mom offered.

At the incredulous offer, Sarada sat straight. "But Mama, the bed is too small, it's not going to be enough. I will also disturb your IV."

"You can lay on my left side. Come on." Sakura scooted to give her room and beckoned. The girl followed her mother's wish and placed her glasses on Mama's nightstand. It turned out the bed was not that small, there's still enough space for her small body.

Sarada buried her face on Mama's chest, noting the distinct vanilla among the strong antiseptic smell on her body. It felt like those days she was younger and sleep together in Mama's room. She circled her arm on her mother's midsection, noting how prominent the bones felt on her palm. Gone was the little 'belly fat Mama complains about'. Her diaphragm rose and lowered with each of her breathing.

What if it lowers and never rises again? Please, whoever listens to my prayer, don't take Mama away from me…She is the only one I have.

"Mama, will you be hurt tomorrow?" she whispered.

"Hmm? Of course no, I'm most likely be asleep during that and they would numb the pain on my lower part."

"Okay.."

"Don't worry dear, now go to sleep, you'll have a long day tomorrow."

In the morning, Sarada finally resumed her training partly because Mama practically kicked her out of the hospital, saying "It's just a small procedure. Now go, don't make your teammates wait."

It was also unfair to Boruto and Mitsuki if she prolonged her absence, as it hindered their training too. Thus, she appeared on the training ground at eight sharp, and Konohamaru-sensei drilled taijutsu attack and defense movements all day long until she felt so tired as if her limbs were going to come off. At 4PM when they finished for the day, she hurried back to the hospital.

When Sarada finally arrived to Mama's room, there was Shizune, Izumi and Sakura herself. Izumi obaa-san was sitting on the edge of Mama's bed while Shizune was standing facing away from the door, holding her clipboard. Mama was sitting on her bed with her head part being angled, still looking a little bit sleepy. They were discussing something and by their forlorn expressionals, it was not something pleasant. Sarada's stomach lurched nauseatingly, Is Mama's biopsy result out yet?

"Hey Sarada, come in." it was Izumi obaa-san who called to her. At her invitation, the other two women looked at her expectantly and stopped whatever conversation they had.

Sarada fixed her glasses nervously. She felt like interrupting a very important discussion, but she had to know too...

"Umm Shizune-sama, have you known what happened to Mama already?" she braced herself and asked.

At this, the black-haired doctor turned to Sakura as if asking permission on what to tell to Sarada. The girl didn't like this. She was a big girl, why did everyone had to keep secrets regarding Mama from her? She's her Mama.

"Sarada." Mama called her attention. She put up a sad smile, "I'll tell you, but go clean yourself first."

Sarada's heart beat faster, feeling like it probably wasn't going to be a good news. If so, they would tell her right away, right? Right?

Realizing how dirty and probably sweaty she looked like, Sarada quickly acquiesced and took the most anxious-feeling bath she ever took. She rushed through it, pouring so much soap so she didn't have to scrub for too long. When she came out, it was just Mama there.

"Come sit here, Sarada." her Mama was a bit sluggish, probably due to the painkiller. Sarada helped her shift away and sat on her bed edge.

"Dear, listen. I am going to live." her mother started. At this, the girl perked up and beamed, as if half of her burden has been lifted off. However, seeing that he mother was not entirely enthusiastic, she realized immediately Mama was not finished.

With soft touch, she brushed Sarada's ebony bangs. "The result of today's test is blood cancer, but fortunately, it is still not yet into an advanced stage...so I'm still curable. However, the treatment is going to be...horr-...no, taxing for my body."

At this, the girl's eyes widened. She just knew Mama was trying to simplify all the terms and blunt the extremities of all that was going to happen to her. Taxing? As in what? How taxing?

"Will you survive the treatment?" she asked innocently.

"Oh, of course, dear. Many people survived, I just need to be strong for it." at her child's silence, she continued, "It's called chemotherapy. They would inject drugs on my body to kill the cancer cells. However, it killed my healthy ones too. My hair will fall off and I would not be feeling well all the time." she explained in a non-technical way. Of course her mother knew so much about the treatment, she was a doctor and she often prescribed such medication to her own patient. Sarada wondered how did it feel when you had to undergo yourself what your patient did.

"Yes, Mama." she answered numbly.

"I may not be myself all the time. I would be in a lot of pain, especially in one-two days after each shot, and may need help to do even the simplest things. I may be depressed, emotionally wrecked...but before I become such a monster, Sarada, you had to know that I always love you, and always wanted the best for you." Mama paused. Sarada felt her eyes started to go wet. It was….not as horrible as the prospect of her mother's death anytime soon...but...

Seeing this, Sakura caressed her daughter's cheek. Her own expression was that of calm acceptance and a hint of regret. She did not shed any tears, probably because she knew she had to be strong for Sarada. "Before all of those happened, I wanted to apologize. For whatever bad things I might say or do. You know I never meant to hurt you. I wish I wouldn't be a burden for you."

That's it. Mama's explanation was vague but Sarada was a smart girl, she knew how horrible it might be, relating to the girl on the swing two days ago. The Uchiha girl couldn't stop her onslaught of tears anymore, which the prompted Sakura to engulf her body in an embrace, sobbing in her mother's arms

"Are you okay with that, Sarada? I'm so sorry, I wish-"

"Mama...don't worry about me. A-as long as y-you survive, I am okay." she sobbed, "I will take care of you until you got healthy."

At the small promise, Sakura smiled. Her girl was…better than any daughter she ever dreamt to have. She's still young but already mature, independent and caring. Sakura really wished things would turn out differently for her. It was simply not fair.

Sakura never remembered Sarada cried as hard as that evening before. Sarada was crying at the relief that Mama is not going to die, crying because she had to suffer during the treatment, crying because throughout everything, Papa is not here, and probably never gonna be here until he felt like to. Mama and her are all on this alone.

At the end, she cried herself to sleep in Mama's side. Sarada was physically tired after the taijutsu training, and emotionally worn out after realizing what her mother was going to experience. It was a difficult time for the small family.

She woke up to hear hushed conversation between Mama and Izumi obaa-san. When she looked towards outside the window, it was already dark. Her body was a bit stiff from sleeping in the same position for a long time.

"Sarada?" Her mother who slept next to her seemed to notice that she was awake.

"Hmm..Mama? Obaa-san?" she mumbled and blinked. She groped for her glasses on the nightstand and stood up, stretching. Izumi obaa-san was on the chair next to Mama's bed.

"Oh hi, Sarada. I bet you are hungry now. You haven't had dinner yet, have you?" Izumi obaa-san offered.

"Uhm...yeah.." she came here at five-ish, it wasn't yet time for dinner. "What time is it now?"

"It's nine in the night." Mama answered.

"I'll go buy some dinner for Sarada, then." Izumi stood up. "It shouldn't be that long but….Sarada, would you be able to help her to walk if she needed to go to the toilet? Sakura's lower body was still a bit numb from the anesthesia."

Sarada nodded, but tried to prevent her aunt from leaving, "Obaa-san, thank you but no need. I'll-"

"It's fine. I wanted to buy tea too." She flashed her a small smile, took her purse and went out of the room.

Sarada sighed and excused herself to wash her face in the bathroom. red-rimmed and puffy eyes were staring back at her from the bathroom mirror, which looked kinda weird and embarrassing. She ran some cold water on her eyelids for a few minutes to reduce the swelling. When she was toweling her face, someone was knocking on the hospital room door.

Who comes so late at night? It must be a guest. A nurse or Izumi obaa-san would just knock and come in, she thought

The person didn't seem like opening the door themselves, so Sarada did it for whoever that guest.

Behind the door, a tall man in dark cape appeared on her sight. He looked downwards to her with his emotionless black eyes and for a moment, Sarada froze. She could not turn her eyes away nor stop her lips from gaping slightly.

Papa….he came back..what..how..

"Who is it, dear?" Mama enquired, intrigued by Sarada's unusual act. As the door had not fully opened yet, she couldn't see who was coming. Sarada's heart beat faster, she felt a rush of emotion and everything was a blur. Suddenly her floodgate of emotions bursts open and all hell broke loose.

All of sudden, Sarada's sharingan activated, displaying one tomoe in each red pupils. "Where the hell have you been?! Why did you only show up now?!" she shouted at his face and pushed his sturdy chest forcefully, as she couldn't reach any higher part of him. Of course, Sasuke still stand up straight despite the inertia. He was shocked to see how his daughter is reacting towards his homecoming. It was...unexpected.

"Sarada-" he put his palm on her shoulder but she brushed it off rudely. The girl was so heated up at seeing the man...her father who should have been here but was always missing when they were at their lowest point, when they need him the most. She started to cry but she just didn't care anymore. She hated him so much!

"You got the message nine days ago and you only dare to show up now?! What do you say for yourself? You didn't care, do you? Itachi ojii-san is a better father for me than you! Get out of here!" she shouted all those hurting words that caused Sasuke to freeze as well. At her father's moment of shock, she grabbed the handle's door, trying to shut her father out.

Of course Sasuke didn't just let her shut it, he pushed back on the door. Sarada knew between his strength and hers, he was overwhelmingly above her, but he was suspiciously being careful not to hurt his only girl. However, the thought just passed through her mind and she paid no heed to it.

"Sarada, it's me. What do you think you are doing?" her father tried to reason with Sarada. Everyone could see that he didn't expect her to act this way upon seeing him, but neither did Sarada. It was a moment of blown up steam. She saw how Sasuke, too, activated his sharingan and scanned her chakra flow to see if she was under genjutsu, but no, she was on her own conscious self. He turned it off immediately.

"Sarada, stop it!" Sakura's voice seemed to be lost on her, as Sarada was focusing so much on closing the door and shouting "Get out of here!" or "We don't need you!" or even daring to threaten him by saying, "I'll call the security!"

Suddenly, a loud sound of metal clinking and body hitting the floor reverberated in that small room. Sarada froze and gasped. She rushed to Sakura and forgot about the door fighting all of sudden, "Mama!"

Sakura was sprawled on the floor, her IV pole fell down on the ground as well. Izumi obaa-san's words suddenly rushed back to her; Mama's lower body was still numb and she couldn't walk. She was pitifully trying to approach her quarreling husband and daughter by dragging her lower body with her forearms, ignoring the plucked out IV needle on the back of her hand that was dripping blood on the floor.

Quarreling thoughts forgotten, Sarada let go of the door and turned back to her mother. Sasuke finally had the chance to swing open the door and rushed in. He quickly crouched in front of Sakura, finally seeing his wife. If he noticed how she had turned from that healthy, pretty woman that parted at the village gate a few months ago, into someone thin, gaunt and pale, he masked it really well.

"Anata, you..come back." words couldn't describe how happy Sakura was, to see him coming back here again. She smiled and shed tears at the same time. Sarada looked as if she couldn't get her Mama. Here was the man who neglected her for years and was never there when they needed him the most, but when he came back after so long, she was….so happy? What's going on here? But looking at her mom's pitiful state on the floor, she realized it was her fault here. Mama just got hurt because she just picked a fight with her father.

Oh no, what did I do to Mama?

Her father carefully maneuvered her mother's prone body with just one arm so she could lean on his shoulder. After several failed attempts to hold her steadily, it dawned on her that he definitely needed help. He just had one arm, he wouldn't be able to carry her!

Swallowing her pride, she wordlessly appeared on Papa's side, earning herself a questioning glance from her father which she ignored. Sarada supported her mother's legs so they could raise her back to the bed. She even fixed Mama's fallen IV pole.

"Sarada, what do you think you are doing?!" this time it was Mama's turn to get angry. Sarada flinched at Mama's labored breathing and sharp tone. "Papa is finally back, but you wanted to chase him away? Why did you do that?"

Sarada never expected that her mother was going to get mad at her. Sarada felt like she had to defend herself, "But Mama! He - he didn't care about you, or about us! He didn't even come immediately after he knew you got sick and...and it was nine days ago!" she pointed her index finger to her father who stood on her mother's other side. The couple noticed how she didn't even refer her father as 'Papa' anymore.

"His irresponsibility forced you to work hard and you had to neglect yourself for it. You have to take care of me alone because he was not helping you! You were sick because-"

"Sarada, stop it!" Sakura cradled her head as if Sarada's words were making her dizzy. When she looked back at her, tears were streaming down her cheeks. The Uchiha daughter was quite shocked to see Mama crying. In all her life, she had never seen her strong mother cry. Not that she remembered. What she did must be so severe. She felt a sharp knife of guilt struck her heart. I just hurt Mama...awfully.

In a low, pitiful voice that Sarada had never associated her mother with, she spoke, "Where did all of this come from, Sarada? When did you start thinking like this? I thought everything is fine..Sasuke finally came back, why can't we be a family again?"

And Sakura sobbed for a while, leaning on her husband's chest although he did not made any move to cradle her. Sasuke allowed himself to be the strong fort for her, stoically standing on her bedside. He looked alternatively between his wife and daughter, here and there at Sarada when he thought she wasn't looking. The Uchiha girl remained silent, saying nothing as she was confused about Mama's behavior and realized how extreme her behavior is.

"Sarada, you must apologize to Papa. Now!"

The girl flinched, I would apologize to Mama thousand times over, if needed. But to an irresponsible man like him? Why should I? Why didn't Mama see that I am doing it for her?

Sarada scrunched up her eyebrows and breathed heavily. She batted her hand to emphasize her point, "What for? It was clear he-"

"Both of you, stop." Sasuke commanded in a stern voice. "It's late, and we're in a hospital. You are disturbing the other patients. We'll talk about this in the morning."

Sarada gritted her teeth, fist clenched so hard as she was trying so hard not to snap again. Okay. Truce for now but I couldn't stand staying here with him!

Wordlessly, the girl approached the door and opened its handle.

"Where are you going, Sarada?! It's late." Sakura reached up to her, but as she was immobile on the bed, she couldn't go after her. Sasuke made no attempt to prevent her leaving.

Sarada only looked at the couple sadly, sharingan still activated, tear tracks on her cheeks but said nothing. She closed the door softly and footsteps echoed on the hallways.


Sasuke had been dreading this moment of meeting his family for months, especially after that message. It took every willpower of him to just go directly to the hospital, but he knew it would he had a responsibility to report first. It was so considerate of Naruto that he let him off to see his family quickly. The walk with Itachi felt like ages; but he bore patiently because he knew how important Itachi's information are, and there is no use being in a rush; it would agitate people too.

Then came the part where he was at the other end of his daughter's outburst. At first he thought she was under genjutsu because her extremely negative reaction was the last thing he expected in his mind.

Sasuke knew as a parent, he needed to reprimand such insolent behavior but deep inside, he knew was not blameless. He knew his absence was the trigger of her behavior. Every words she shot towards him had a grain of truth inside it. No, it was probably the truth, he thought grimly. Who are you to say when you are never there in her life?

"Anata, I'm worried about her. Why did she act like that?" Sakura's question took him out of his self-blaming musings. Looking up to her, he could see how her furrowed brows and downcasted eyes spoke volume of her uncertainty. All of sudden, Sasuke reminded himself that his wife needed him now that their daughter was gone.

Sasuke didn't really want to voice out the answer to her question. To be honest, he knew it was his fault to leave them for so long. It was like a timebomb exploded at the direst of time and all these time, their marriage was sustained by a thin thread of Sakura's undying faithfulness in him.

Sakura grabbed his hand when she thought he wasn't listening. Sasuke looked back to her. "Where is she going? Is she going to be safe?"

Sasuke nodded numbly. "Itachi is outside."


It turned out Izumi was coming from the cafeteria instead. In her hand, she had a plastic bag containing takeout dinner for Sarada. She found her husband sitting on a bench, a few metres away from Sakura's room. His face was quite serious and she wondered why. Was it a problem at work?

The white, quiet hall was being filled with muffled shouting and the voice of someone fighting. Although somewhat unclear, it was Sarada's voice. "What is that?" Izumi scrunched her forehead, pointing to Sakura's room. Itachi frowned a little at his seat, trying to listen the detail of the argument that had been going on for some time. Feeling ignored, she continued to approach the room, but Itachi's quick hand grabbed hers.

"Don't. Sasuke is in there." he answered curtly, still trying to listen. Izumi gaped slightly, face incredulous and rooted to her position.

"He came back?! Really?" she beamed slightly. From her days talking with Sakura, she knew how her sister-in-law was really waiting, looking forward for Sasuke's homecoming. However, Itachi's troubled expression dimmed her enthusiasm. Upon listening further, she could identify two people talked.

"Is Sarada...is she talking like that to Sasuke?"

"Apparently."

Realizing Itachi was affected more than he was letting out, she frowned a little and decided to just stand there, outside of the room. When Izumi listened more carefully, she realized that Sakura was also in the heated argument.

"That's...weird. I always think she is going to be happy when her father comes back..Do you think I should have a word with Sarada?"

"No, don't. Let Sasuke handle this." he answered curtly, finally looking at her. Their hands were still intertwined

"Yes, yes." she mumbled.

"I'm serious. No hugging and comforting as well." he chided. His wife gave him a look of, 'What the hell was wrong with you?' but she refrained from saying anything.

Suddenly the girl in question stormed out of the room and closed the door softly, as if afraid she would disturb her mother. Upon seeing them, Sarada stiffened, as if she was not expecting someone was going to be outside, listening to them.

"Ojii-san, Obaa-san..." she managed to greet them, although somewhat ruefully. She didn't dare meeting their eyes for longer than two seconds, seemingly embarrassed with the fact that they were listening, all the while anticipated if both of them decided to give her an earful.

"Sarada." Itachi acknowledged. The girl bowed a little and walked past them. It was truly awkward, as Sarada never hesitated around her auntie and uncle before. The couple just looked at her retreating back.

"Sarada, where are you going?" Izumi reached her shoulder and stopped her. At her prompt, she turned back to them and shook her head, eyes still unable to meet theirs. "Anywhere. I just want to think and be away from here."

"But where? It is late." Itachi asked. Her surprised expression spoke loud that she was hadn't thought about it. Although Sarada was a conscientious young girl, but she was still a preteen. There were bound to be a limit how somebody could be rational all the time.

"That is right, Sarada." Izumi supplied softly, showing how concerned she was with her niece. "...promise me you'll come back here again tonight?"

Sarada looked like she couldn't make herself agree to that promise, but didn't dare lying to her auntie. She really didn't want to go back and start another argument so she just kept silent. Itachi stood next to his wife and towered over her.

"Obaa-san...Ojii-san.." she spoke lowly, a bit ashamed but finally able to meet their eyes. "Can I just stay at your place, please?"

They knew it was not the best course of action. Accepting her to their house would be accommodating her runaway attempt from her father, which was nothing they should have done. But obviously, they didn't have the heart to reject the poor niece. She looked so exhausted with puffy eyes, slightly disheveled hair and the tear-tracks on her cheeks.

"Fine. But just this time." Itachi relented.

When they arrived to Itachi's house, Itsuki was still awake, reading a military strategy book in his father's study. He seemed to have waited for his parents but was surprised when he saw Sarada was also tagging along. However, the boy was more surprised by Sarada's forlorn face and reddened eyes. Knowing his cousin might need some company, he quickly folded the corner of the book and put the book back to its shelf.

"Sarada, are you okay?" he instinctively asked. The parents were staying outside, eager not to meddle with the cousins' interaction, leaving them alone in the study.

"Itsuki…" she blinked a few times rapidly, looking at him desolately, "..I think I just did a terrible thing."

Itsuki's incredulous look told her how he didn't quite believe it, but he kept silent to urge his cousin to continue.

"For now I...I just want to think by myself. But, could you be with me tonight?" she requested."...you know I'd think things through by myrself, but being alone would cause me to overthink and in the end, be overly depressed…."

Itsuki was a perfect friend as he truly understood her and never probed when asked. However, when she wanted to tell her secret, he was also a great confidant because he would never spill out anything to anyone, even his parents.

Itsuki smoothed his own short tresses, an instinctive gesture when he was unsure. They stopped sleeping in the same room since they were ten, since his mother told them that they were now a big girl and a big boy. But considering it is a special situation, he agreed on her request.

"Fine."

And so, the long lonely night began.


So, how was the long and 'shocking' chapter? Actually one reviewer Foreshadow Of Darkness correctly guessed how Sarada's reaction is going to be. So, congrats!

Anyway, thanks for reading up to this far! Please review