For Sarada it was a different type of feeling.
Despite the emotional scene in front of her that was bursting with tears, smiles, and love…
All she could feel was anger.
Pure, hot, sizzling anger that burned like red, glowing embers.
It fueled her hatred for her mom even more.
It burned with such deep passion that it took every last drop of her will power to push down the urge to slap the woman across the cheek.
Mom?
Mom?!
MOM?!
WHAT THE FUCK DID HE JUST SAY?!
Wrath swirled around from within causing trembles to vibrate throughout her body as she glared at the two people in front of her.
Her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles gradually turning white as her midnight colored eyes drilled holes into the back of Shina's skull.
She should've known…
She should've realized this a long time ago.
A boy with the exact same grass dyed eyes along with an abnormally large forehead…
She should've known that this brat was related to her mother by freakin blood.
No,
No, she must've known this deep down.
Deep down in her heart she knew that this boy was part of her family.
That this boy was related to Sarada and Sakura Uchiha in some way.
In some outrageous, horrifying way…
This boy was a part of her family tree.
But Sarada Uchiha was not stupid.
In fact she was quite smart for a girl her age.
She knew that this golden haired boy had the same mother but…
But,
He had a different father.
It was clear as day.
Her father had hair that seemed to match the feathers of a crow, with moon like eyes that could probably pierce through metal.
Her father seemed cold and distant even in pictures.
He seemed dark with no life burning in those shallow eyes of his.
But this boy was completely different.
His smile alone could light up the world, his shimmering emerald green eyes that clashed with this golden locks emitted so much warmth and life that it could probably bring back the dead.
He was not like her father at all.
This boy did not even have a shred of similarity to Sasuke Uchiha.
This boy was like a radiant flower.
This boy was the damn sun.
So, if Sasuke Uchiha was not his father then…
Who was?
She knew the answer to this question too.
Sarada slowly, very slowly, turned her head to face the hokage.
He didn't seem to notice the small reunion of mother and son at the far end of the crowd, but that didn't matter.
Ah yes.
Shina's mother was Sakura Haruno and his father?
His father was Naruto Uzumaki…
The seventh hokage, the hero of the entire ninja world, the man who achieved everything.
A man who already had a family of his own.
A family he had started with a woman.
A woman who was not Sakura Haruno.
Everything made sense now.
Everything finally clicked.
All of the questions that Sarada had suppressed throughout her entire life was answered in just that one moment.
In that one brief moment all of her doubts, confusion, and curiosity vanished.
In fact…
That was also when she realized that her mother had been lying to her all these years.
"Mom, why does the hokage keep coming to our house?"
"Ah, don't worry. He's just checking up on us. We've been good friends a long time ago, Sarada. We still are."
"Oh…"
Liar.
"Mom, the hokage came again today."
"Did he? What an idiot. I told him I wouldn't be home today."
"Why does he keep coming here, mom?"
"I told you, Sarada." Pause and then, "We're just really good friends."
Liar.
"Mom, he's here again. Can I tell him to screw off?"
"Sarada, no! Watch your mouth and mind your manners! He's the hokage!"
"He's annoying."
"He's my friend. Treat him with respect!"
Liar.
"Ah, Sarada, your mom isn't here today either? What a bummer."
"Seventh, why do you keep coming here? It's annoying."
"Ha?! How rude!" a pause and then, "W-Well, it's because I'm worried and w-we're just really good friends!"
Liar.
"Hey, Sarada! Wanna go eat ramen with me?"
"No. I don't like ramen."
"Eh?! B-But ramen is delicious! You have to try it! Come on, I know the perfect place!"
"I don't want to."
"It's my treat!"
Silence.
"Fine."
"Yes!" he laughed, walking out the door and motioning the girl to follow him.
"Ichiraku ramen?"
"Yep! It has the best ramen in all of Konoha-no, in all the world!"
The girl remained silent before sitting down on the stool, avoiding eye contact with the man.
"It's been a while, seventh." Another voice smiled.
"Ah, Ayame!" he chuckled. "Yeah, I'm always busy with paperwork."
"Are you Sarada?"
"Yes."
"Welcome to Ichiraku ramen!"
"Thanks."
A bowl of noodles was placed in front of her but all she did was watch the steam swirl and flicker with the gentle breeze.
The man next to her on the other hand was slurping away happily before requesting for another bowl.
"Sarada, I wanted to talk to you for a while." He said.
She remained silent.
"It's about Sakura-chan-" he stopped before smiling weakly. "I-I mean Sakura,"
Chan?
She raised an eyebrow.
"She hasn't been looking so well lately…" he continued. "Is she okay?"
The girl shrugged in response.
"Oh…"
Silence.
Only the rustling of leaves sliced through the air as they both stared at their food.
Sarada's bowl remained untouched as the man opened his mouth to speak once more.
"Can you keep promises, Sarada?" he asked.
"Sometimes." She replied. "I try though."
"That's good!" he grinned, glancing down at the expressionless girl. "Keeping your promises is good…" he trailed off, his sky blue eyes suddenly finding interest in his chopsticks. "Then, can you make a promise with me?"
She shrugged as he got off his chair and knelt down so he could be on eye level with the girl.
"Can you promise me to take good care of your mom?"
Sarada simply stared at him before blinking.
"No."
"Huh?! Why not?"
"Because that's dad's job."
Another moment of silence but this time it was a very horrible silence.
An eerie type of silence.
The type that clenched at your heart as you struggled to breathe.
The type that crawled up your throat, strangling you slowly and you could do nothing but scream a soundless scream.
"He's not home yet but he should be." She continued, her raven like eyes blank and lifeless.
"A-Ah…"
"Where is he?" she asked. "Where is my dad?"
"H-He's at work-"
"He's been at work for years." She cut in, her eyes refusing to show even a hint of emotion. "Why isn't he back?"
"I-I've been trying to bring him back but-"
"But what? Aren't you the seventh hokage? Can't you just bring him back?"
"It's complicated, Sarada. You wouldn't understand."
"No," she said softly, her eyes finally tearing themselves away from the man's face. "It's you who doesn't understand."
"N-No, I understand! I really do, Sarada!"
The girl said nothing as she got up from her stool before turning to walk home.
What a liar.
There was more than that…
He said something after that but she couldn't remember what.
What did he say?
She frowned, digging back into the deepest depths of her memories trying to find a hint.
The hokage said something to her after that conversation.
A very important sentence, she knew that much but what was it?
Yes, she did meet the hokage when she was little.
As a matter of fact she met him nearly every day.
Not just once or twice, not once every few weeks, not just once in a while.
No, she met him every single day for three whole months.
She even went to Ichiraku to eat some of that disgusting ramen with the hokage himself.
That was when the speech finally ended resulting in the cheers of the people around her.
The pinkette was still clinging onto Shina as the crowd roared and applauded as if god himself blessed them with his words.
How annoying.
Once the laughter and positive comments died down, the hokage said his goodbyes and with a swish of his coat, he walked off.
Oh, right.
There was another line that he said to her a few years back.
It wasn't as important as the one she couldn't remember but it still had a meaning.
"I also keep my promises, Sarada."
Despite the stupid scene that was still playing out in front of her, a smirk began to make its way up to her face.
A mocking kind of smile as the crowed swirled away, ignoring the obviously insane woman that was still hugging the blonde boy.
Ha,
The so called hero, the so called hokage…
Was such a liar.
