Yes another chapter! Actually I think it's really time for me to finish this story and to continue the ones I've begun. I don't know how much chapter left. Maybe three or four, maybe more.
Chapter 29
The new Uchiha member
Sasuke woke up to find an empty space next to him. Of course Sakura was up. Today was Sunday and it was somewhat one of the most important day in their life. He decided to get up as well. After a quick passage to the bathroom, he went to the main room to find Sakura cleaning. He looked at the clock that read seven o'clock and sighed. She was nervous.
"Sakura, don't you think it's a little bit early to clean?"
She didn't turn her head as she answered him.
"I needed something to keep me busy."
He approached her and took the mop she had in her hands, ignoring the protest from his wife.
"Sakura, calm down, will you." He forced her down on a chair. "I'll make you some breakfast."
She twisted her hands, obviously not relaxing before speaking.
"What if the child we adopt doesn't love us? What if he or she would have preferred others parents?"
So that's what was eating her. Sasuke sighed before going to the young woman. He kneeled before her and took her hands in his.
"Sakura, I'm sure you'll be a wonderful mother. And I don't say that to cheer you up, I honestly think it. I wouldn't have chosen you if I wasn't persuaded of that."
"That's what you think, but what if the child is unhappy with us?"
"Why would you want him or her to be unhappy? We'll love this child like our own, it will be our own."
Sakura sighed. He was right. She was really emotional lately because of this entire adoption thing. She had to calm down. Sasuke saw that his words had goaled and got up, kissed the top of her head and proceeded with making breakfast.
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Mrs Kuroshima was waiting for them at the entrance of the orphanage with a smile on her face. Although she loved all those children put in her care, she was quite happy when one was adopted into a nice family. She had a good feeling about this couple and she hoped she wasn't wrong.
"Good morning."
"Hello, Mrs Kuroshima."
"Well if you would follow me, I'll lead you to the nursery."
They followed the woman through the orphanage until they arrived to a courtyard where children of all ages were playing. A soon as they spotted the couple they rushed to them. They knew what it meant when they saw a couple enter here. It meant that one of them would be taken away. One of them would finally have a nice family. The children quickly circled Sakura and Sasuke.
"Please adopt me! I'm Taro, I'm eight." Cried a little boy.
"No me! My name is Yuki."
"Let them be, would you." Interfered Mrs Kuronuma. "Please excuse them. They are so eager to be adopted.
Sakura didn't know how to react to that. She turned to Sasuke who seemed as lost as she was. She then noticed a little boy who hadn't move from his spot. He seemed to be four or so and looked around him with angry, piercing eyes. She was cut off from her observation by their guide who continued toward their destination.
"There you are." She said as they entered a small room where a dozen of cribs were lined up in two rows.
Sakura started walking around the cribs watching each baby intently, smiling to every one of them. Sasuke followed her silently. He had decided that he would trust her mother's instinct. He suddenly noticed her watching outside and frowned. He followed her gaze to see what was captivating her so much. She was looking at the little boy they saw earlier, the one alone. He smiled. Sakura couldn't resist taking care of the left aside ones. She had taken care of Naruto and him in so many ways, it was only logical that she was concerned by this young boy. Sasuke grabbed her hand, pulling her off of her contemplation.
"Do you want to go talk to him?"
She looked at him apologetically.
"Yes." It was not more than a whisper.
"Ok, let's go."
Mrs Kuronuma was taken aback by this sudden change but decided to watch silently.
Sakura approached the little boy carefully and sat on the floor next to him. She studied him for a few seconds. He had messy brown hair and big blue eyes, similar to Naruto's.
"Hi, my name is Sakura and here is my husband Sasuke. Would you mind telling me your name?"
Sasuke couldn't help but think that if someone had spoken to him the way she did when he was younger maybe he wouldn't have chosen the path of revenge.
The boy looked at Sakura closely and carefully before judging it was safe to tell her his name.
"My name is Kenji."
"Nice to meet you, Kenji. How old are you?"
The little boy held four fingers in front of him. Sakura smiled only a woman toward a child could smile and saw the fierceness disappear from the child's eyes. Could this woman be more perfect? She kept talking with the little boy for a while before looking up at her husband with pleading eyes. She had made her choice. He smiled at her.
"If that's what you want, I'll trust you."
She smiled broadly and if they weren't surrounded by children, she would have jumped in his arms to kiss him.
Sasuke turned to Mrs Kuronuma.
"I think we've made our choice."
Mrs Kuronuma seemed surprised.
"OK let's go to my office and get the paper ready. Kana." She called for one of the women taking care of the children. "Please, get Kenji's belongings ready."
The young woman looked from Kenji to the couple shocked before taking the little boy's hand to get him ready.
Once in Mrs Kuronuma's office, Sasuke couldn't help but ask.
"Why do you seem to be surprised about our choice?"
"Well, I have to admit that since he arrived at the orphanage Kenji wasn't given a second glance by parents. He usually keeps everyone away with his angry gaze. We thought, he would stay with us until his majority."
"Could you tell us what happened to his parents?" asked Sakura who wanted to know about his history.
"His father was a ninja. He died during a mission. His mother didn't support and committed suicide. The mother's parents didn't want to hear anything about the child."
Sakura watched in disbelief the woman.
"How could a woman abandon her child in such a way?"
"It happens more often than you think."
"Does he know how his parents died?"
"Yes. He may be only four but he is a very clever child. The reason I didn't prevent you for talking to him is because I know you'll be able to stimulate him intellectually. The Uchiha's are known to have a good mind. As for you Mrs Uchiha, I believe Lady Tsunade wouldn't have taken you as a disciple if you were incapable to keep up with her. We're seeing a lot of adoptive parents giving up with children because the child didn't respond to their expectation. But when you adopt a child, it's for life. That's why we're very selective and try to guide parents to certain children."
A knock was heard on the door and Kana entered with Kenji. The little boy looked at the couple not completely trusting them yet.
"Kenji, here are your new parents." Said Mrs Kuronuma.
Sakura saw the frown on the little boy's forehead and thought that it was a strange way to tell him that he was being adopted. She got up and kneeled in front of him to be eye-levelled with him.
"If that's ok with you, we would like to take you to our home and to try to be a family. Would you like that?"
The little boy nodded thinking that this woman was the nicest woman he had ever met. Mrs Kuronuma smiled too. She had a feeling this boy would be very happy from now on.
They filled in some papers and half an hour later they were leaving the orphanage, Sakura and Sasuke each holding one of their little boy's hand.
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So what do you think? I don't know a thing about adoption so forgive me if it feels strange. I'll probably update by the end of the week, I've got two more chapters ready.
Thanks for reading so far!
