Hi again! Sorry for such a long chapter, enjoy! (:
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The closer she got to her home, the colder it got. Along the way, she bought an overly large jacket. Aiko sighed in happiness. It felt good to feel cold, it reminded her of her home. As she arrived, she saw the familiar tea shop and burst into a run.
"Granny! Granny! I'm home!" Aiko shouted, running in. It was warm, cozy, and familiar. The old woman came out from the back, startled and happy at the same time. She embraced Aiko tightly.
"You're back child!" she said happily.
"I'm home," Aiko smiled into Granny's shoulder.
"What happened? You didn't like it there?" the old woman asked. They sat at one of the tables, drinking tea. Aiko bit a piece of dango.
"I liked it but…it didn't feel like home," Aiko said slowly. Granny listened patiently.
"…so that's how it is…maybe your cousin just feels jealous because of how much interest her father shows in you? As for the other thing, people are wicked and they are always ready to spit on you, you shouldn't worry about that woman's remark. Your father sounds like an incredible man," Granny praised. Aiko smiled at her.
"Would you like to see him?" Aiko asked. Granny smiled as Aiko pulled out the picture from her pocket. She handed it to her.
"My, my! What a looker! No wonder you're so beautiful Aiko!" Granny laughed. Aiko laughed with her. She smiled at Granny and sighed peacefully. It was good to be home.
…
"What about the mission? You know as well as we do how important it is. If we don't learn more about this new danger, we won't be ready to counter it when it arrives," Shikamaru warned. Naruto sat there silently. Sasuke looked at both of them, lips pursed together.
"I understand, but Aiko is more important to me right now," Sasuke said. Both men were shocked. Never had they heard Sasuke say something like that, at least not out loud.
"You really care for her, don't you?" Naruto asked quietly, smiling down at his desk.
"Yes," Sasuke replied.
"What should we do?" Naruto asked aloud.
"Just continue your mission, you can go after Aiko afterward," Shikamaru offered. Sarada was listening behind the door, fists clenched in anger. Her father had never ever said no to a mission for her or her mother. She had been very sick and still he did not show. Why would he be so adamant about seeing Aiko and not his real family? Sarada cursed and ran away. The men inside heard the footsteps running away.
"I think it wise you speak with Sarada-chan first. She seems upset about all this…as for Aiko, I'll go talk with her myself," Naruto offered. They all stayed quiet a moment and then Sasuke nodded.
"Alright, Naruto. I trust you," Sasuke said before leaving. He had to talk to Sarada.
"I'll leave a clone here, I'll be back soon," Naruto told Shikamaru. A clone of him popped out of a cloud of dust. He turned and disappeared.
…
"Sarada," Sasuke called. She was in her room, upset.
"She ran in crying. I tried to call her out of her room but she's just too upset. What happened?" Sakura asked him.
"I think she's jealous of Aiko," Sasuke said softly. Sakura understood then.
"Maybe it'll help if she understands. I know you have to leave on a mission today but you cannot just leave without explaining things this time," Sakura said. Sasuke nodded.
"Aiko, I'm coming in," Sasuke said. He opened her door to find her lying face down, crying into her pillow. He walked up to her and sat down beside her.
"Just leave already," Sarada said between sobs. Sasuke pat her head.
"Do you think that Aiko is replacing you, Sarada?" Sasuke asked. Sakura, listening outside the door, almost fell. He was so blunt. Sarada looked up at him.
"Isn't she?" Sarada asked. Sasuke smiled lovingly at her.
"Sarada, no one will ever replace you. You're my child. I am taking care of Aiko because she is my older brother's only child. I need to take care of his child, I owe him that much," Sasuke explained. Sarada sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Why do you owe him, papa?" Sarada asked, curious. Sasuke sighed.
"Because I killed him. For that, I owe him and I owe Aiko. I took a father from her," Sasuke said.
"Papa, how could you…" Sarada said, trying to find a reasonable explanation.
"It's a long story. I'll tell it to you the next time I'm home…Sarada, forgive Aiko. It's not her fault that I was paying a lot of attention to her. I'm sorry I made you feel like she was replacing you," Sasuke said. Sarada smiled up at him.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry, papa. I should have known better," Sarada said.
"You're just like me," Sasuke mused with a smile. He stood up and pricked her forehead with his fingers.
"I'll be back soon," Sasuke said. He walked out of her room to find Sakura listening in on them in the hallway.
"You're such a good papa," Sarada said, blushing. Embarrassed, Sasuke prodded her forehead and left.
…
"It sure is cold here," Naruto said. He was sitting down at the tea shop. Granny came from out back and her jaw nearly fell.
"Oh my! H-hello there! My, it's such an honor to have the Hokage visit us," Granny exclaimed. Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a silly grin.
"I actually came to check up on Aiko-chan," Naruto said.
"She's hurt you know," Granny said with a frown. Naruto stared down seriously at the table.
"I would like to talk with her," Naruto said. Granny looked at him and smiled.
"It's nice to see that you care so much about her," Granny smiled. Naruto smiled back at her.
"It's only natural. She is part of the village and that means she is my family," Naruto explained. Granny had heart shaped eyes.
"Well isn't that just lovely, don't you think so, Aiko?" Granny asked. Aiko walked up to them from the back.
"Hokage-sama, you think I'm your family?" Aiko asked slowly. Naruto grinned at her.
"I know you're my family, Aiko-chan," Naruto smiled.
"I'll leave you two to chat," Granny said, walking to the back. Aiko sat down across from Naruto.
"You know, Aiko-chan, I know it's a hard topic but you cannot let things people say get to you. There will always be mean people out there but it's up to us to be stronger than their cruel words and to keep moving forward," Naruto said. Aiko listened carefully.
"But, not even Sarada-chan likes me…it feels like I don't have a family," Aiko said sadly. Naruto smiled sadly at her.
"Family isn't just blood, Aiko-chan. It is the bonds we make with people," Naruto said gently. Aiko looked up at him with a large smile on her face.
"Like you and Konohamaru-sensei and Granny?" Aiko asked. Naruto pat her head with a chuckle.
"Of course," Naruto grinned. Aiko stood up abruptly and hugged him, crying. Naruto pushed her back gently by her shoulders so she could look at him.
"The Leaf Village will always be your home, Aiko-chan. Whether you decide to go back or not is up to you, the doors to the village will always be open to you," Naruto smiled.
"I want to go back, I miss everyone, but, Granny needs me right now," Aiko explained. Naruto nodded.
"I understand. When you're ready to come back, we'll be waiting to greet you with open arms," Naruto said. Aiko started crying again. It felt good to be loved.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Aiko said, wiping her tears. Naruto stood up just as Granny came out with tea.
"I'm sorry but I have to get back, thank you. Granny, take care of Aiko-chan. She's very precious to us," Naruto smiled. He pat Aiko's head and disappeared.
"What a handsome Hokage," Granny said. Aiko shook her head, laughing.
…
Sasuke was wandering around when he saw a familiar messenger hawk approach him. He lifted his arm and the hawk landed. He pulled out the note it was carrying and read it.
"Aiko-chan is safe. She is going to be taking care of Granny. She's going to come back to the village when she's ready. You don't need to worry, she's happy," Sasuke read to himself. He folded up the paper and put it in his cloak. He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. He let out a long sigh.
"Onee-san, she's happy. As a father, the happiness of my child is very important to me so I know that you're happy with this," Sasuke whispered.
…
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading! (: