azreal-x: Dilemmas, dilemmas...They seem to stalk Sakura.
xXSasuxSakuXx: I like the ending too...makes me chuckle.
TheBLOFSH: I'm afraid not...I don't plan on making her go through that trauma...she's had enough trauma already!
HikariZaichuYami: I think the three lines you put up are my favorites...I can't help but laugh uncontrollably at them.
Mistyfire: Uhm...so it wasn't supposed to be this long...it just kinda became this long. We are over halfway...so I'm thinking 45-50 chapters...it's possible (but I doubt it will happen) that I'll reach 55...and I really don't think I'll make it to 60....I'm shooting for 45 mostly. Give or take a chapter or two...It's crazy writing this! It just keeps coming!
Alayneni: I think your the only one that connected those two together...and yes, PRECISELY!
Empty-spaces: You're not doing bad on the comments, I'm just very...insecure, about my work...So I read into things that are not necessarily there. It's just me, I worry about ruining the characters by turning them into something they are not...so I'm worry and stress and read into things...Sorry...I'm pathetic at times I know.
Animaeartist17: I'm sorry!!!! I am!!! I couldn't think of a more...less crude, way of putting her thoughts than what I wrote! I can't talk about their marriage and how they are changing characterally, towards each other, and how they deal with situations, without bringing it up. I'll never go into detail I promise that! But they are married, and his goal is to revive the clan...But I promise, my intention has nothing to do with being crude, just a comically awkward marriage. Sorry if I ever offend! That's about the deepest into pg-13 that I'll get.
KurenaiBara-chan: Trust me, Sasuke singing saprano and how that comes about with an angry Sakura...It gives me none stop hours of hysterical giggling. And yes, Sakura over thinks everything, and this only made it better!
Tiger Priestess: -__- If he doesn't know about the birds and the bees....I'll personally write him walking into a wall with his eyes open and fully awake. Orochimaru as the teacher x_x *Dies a thousand deaths of Horror* And Naruto? O_O *Punches Naruto into next year* "Just you TRY that again Naruto...there's more where that came from!" "Now Sasuke and Itachi...Behave or I'll let an angry Sakura loose on you!" *High Fives Tiger*
To Everyone: I'M SOOOO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!! I know it's late! But I had to wait until know after vacation and such! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!!! So uhm...Please forgive me and ENJOY!!!
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Pulling herself into a sitting position Sakura leaned her head back. The door opening and closing had Sakura's head back up, looking in the direction of the hallway. It wasn't the kids, she knew that much, they would have been loud and stampeding even before they made it to the door. Which meant that Sasuke must be home, and she suddenly reach to cover her red face. He had better have had that talk already!
As sound of a pack dropping came to her, she could only think 'so much for not thinking about that subject ever again!' Sasuke stepped into the room moments later, his face blank, but his eyes flashed. He leaned against the doorway, holding a hand to his left shoulder. When Sakura saw the blood on his shoulder and the wince his eyes failed to hide, she stood and went to him.
Forgetting everything she had been thinking just moments before and moving his hand, Sakura frowned, a deep gash over his shoulder still oozed blood under a clumsy bandage. Why hadn't he gone to the hospital? Why didn't he have a medic look at this? Without treatment it could get infected, and then it would really get ugly!
Almost glaring at his shoulder, then up at him, Sakura did nothing to hide her displeasure. Only this Baka would forget about a wound and come home without getting help! Only thisBaka could make her this angry at his stupidity without any words. He had only to walk into a room with a wound like this and she was furious, so much so that she wasn't seeing straight.
Did he want to die or something? "Why didn't you go to the hospital?" Sasuke only shrugged his one good shoulder. Typical Uchiha! "I didn't want to, I just wanted to come home after reporting. You can fix me up anyways." Rolling her eyes at him Sakura held back the scolding that she wanted to attack him with. So what if his wife was a medic? What if she had been sent on an unexpected mission?
Thinking that he needed a good smack upside the head, Sakura huffed in exasperation. Pulling him over to the couch Sakura made him lay down, she would verbally beat him later. Getting on her knees to be more at his level Sakura shook her head. What was she going to do with him? Placing her chakra covered hands over his shoulders Sakura concentrated.
Not much time had passed before the shoulder was healed, letting her move around over his torso, looking for anything else. After a time Sakura pronounced him healed and ready to go. Not that it mattered, he was too tired to notice, and was not drifting off to sleep. But inside she screamed and ranted that he was a Baka, and to that she stubbornly stuck to, even as her older thoughts came back.
Standing, Sakura left him half asleep on the couch and headed to the kitchen, the children would come running in a little while. As she worked Sakura kept an ear open, listening for any movement from Sasuke. The medic in her was doing the routine 'keep an eye on the patient,' sometimes an injury like a pulled muscle would be overlooked. And if he so much as grunted in pain she would know. Besides, it distracted her from the thoughts that taunted her.
Putting food on plates, Sakura smiled, the sound of small feet running and children laughing and shouting was quickly coming towards their door. The slamming of the door had Sakura laughing quietly, Sasuke had been jolted awake and grunted at the disturbance. Placing the many plates on the table Sakura watched the children pile in and head to the table where the steaming food waited.
Kanae was the only one who ignored the food and ran to Sakura. Wrapping her small arms around Sakura's hips, Kanae smiled up at Sakura as if she hadn't just been training with her all morning. Patting her head, Sakura smiled down at her student. Kanae had rapidly improved after gaining her Sharingan. At the moment Sakura was teaching all three of her students some basic healing things.
She had so wanted Kanae to pick it up and become her apprentice in that area, but it didn't look like it was going to happen. Kanae was better with her Sharingan and was even learning the clans fire Jutsus with the rest of the children in the clan. Yukoto was also very talented, learning some of the abilities that Iruka had, such as the sealed bomb square release and he was skilled with weapons much like TenTen was.
Isoko was proving to be the one that was the best medic in the team. She had taken after Genma only slightly, but she was very good with evading and her chakra control was good. Sakura acknowledge that Isoko didn't have the control that Tsunade and Sakura had, no one had the control Sakura had. But Isoko had good enough control to make a good medic, which was what Sakura was training her to be for the team.
Before he had left Sasuke had commented on Hisae and how she had been more talented in the Genjutsu and tracking skills, such as the ones that her aunt Kurenai had. Sakura had smiled when she thought of Asumanai, he was showing talent with the fire and wind elements like his father. What Sakura hadn't thought was that Tomo, Asuma's relative, was proving to have a hard time with wind and fire, but he showed promise in other areas.
Sakura didn't think that was bad, with Fusao as a fire user she was sure their team was okay with one fire user. Tomo was become relatively good with medical things, giving Sasuke's team a medic, and he was showing surprising skill with Taijutsu. As she worked with her team, Sakura gave Sasuke pointers to help teach Tomo more medical Jutsus. In return Sasuke gave pointers to help Kanae with her fire and Sharingan skills.
For Isoko she had only to talk to Genma, who's style Isoko took after. With Yokuto Sakura simply went to Iruka, who had already been a great help to her. All was going well with them, and Sakura was well pleased with her team. Giving all the children a soft motherly smile, Sakura set her plate down and took her place next to Sasuke as the meal started.
The small reclining baby chair help Tatsu, who Sakura carefully fed with baby bottle and small soft bits of real food. At almost a year, baby Tatsu was growing quickly, his onyx eyes watching Sakura as she moved around as if her face were his whole world. Sasuke would have said that she wouldn't know how to do all this, but Sakura sat in quiet confidence feeding herself, the baby, and keeping the rowdy boys from getting too riled up.
At one point after taking a bite, holding Tatsu at her shoulder to burp him, and picking up a glass of water before Hisako could knock it over while telling a story, she beckoned Fusaoto her side. He gave her a disgruntled look as he stood to walk to her. He moved with his arm held close to his body
From her sitting position Sakura set the glass down and placed a hand on Fusao's chest. Her chakra began to seep into his body, healing the bruises and scrapes. Focusing on his arm, Sakura healed the wrapped gash and hairline fracture. Thinking that he couldn'tbe more like Sasuke, Sakura patted his arm.
After she was done Sakura sent him back to his food, placed the glass back in front of Hisako and finished burping the baby. Setting Tatsu back in his chair Sakura finished eating. When everyone was done, Sakura got up and gathered plates to begin washing. Chatter still filled the room, and Sakura smiled. It was about time that the sound of talking and laughter was heard in these walls again.
As she washed Sakura hummed, the children were moving out by the large lake with Sasuke, practicing their fire Jutsus. Tatsu was still with Sakura, set up near her as she washed and hummed. Her humming sent Tatsu to sleep as she finished putting everything away, giving her a quiet baby to pick up and cradle as she moved to the hill in the garden to watch the children practice.
From her spot on the wooden bench below one of the weeping willows of the expansive garden, Sakurasent a happy wave to the group as they finished practicing and headed up the hill towards her. Gently rocking Tatsu, Sakura gave Kanae a soft smile when the girl sat beside her, looking at her little brother with a small giggle at his furrowed brows. All the boys stood in a semi circle around the bench, with Sasuke standing just behind Sakura, leaning against the tree.
What she saw as a perfect moment was soon destroyed by Isao, Kazue and Hisoka. The three boys had decided that Kanae hadn't been picked on in a while and that it was time to remedy that. She supposed it started at the mention of Kanae's birthday, which was coming up soon and Sakura was working on planning a party. Kanae had mentioned wanting the teams to come, which Sakura saw no problem with, but it seemed the boys did.
They laughed and called her too girly to be a proper ninja, too sentimental and soft hearted to accomplish the tasks demanded of the job. Kanae had glared, but when they commented on none of the boys having parties because it was nonsense she had wilted under their smirks. Sakura watched in astonishment. They were actually making fun of her for something like this?
Glancing at Kanae's older brother Hiro, then to Fusao, Sakura felt her temper rising. They did not join in the mocking, yet they stood looking bored, not bothering to defend her either. What kind of brother, and what kind of clan did this to one another? Holding her temper in and determining that she would talk to them all later about this, one last comment from Hisako did her in.
"Your just a pampered princess of the clan, too weak to fight properly, and too much of a baby to be a ninja. We protected you too much, we should have let you get hurt more, let you grow a back bone. She wants a birthday party! What kind of thing is that, wanting everyone to give all their attention to you when they have so many more important things to do!" His scorning tone, and the rolling of his eyes had Kanae's eye filling with moisture.
And in that moment, Sakura's temper exploded into a cold fury. Standing with one swift motion Sakura handed baby Tatsu to Sasuke, who held the baby slightly away from himself with a panicked look. He had said nothing either! She would deal with him later! Turning towards the boys Sakura sauntered over to Hiro and Fusao. Leaning at the hips to look at them on their own level she spoke.
"Why are you letting them say things like that to her?" At her question Fusao shrugged and looked away. He was clearly convinced that it was not worth his time or effort to either defend Kanae or answer Sakura's question. Upon a closer look Sakura could see that Hiro was concerned, his gaze shifted from Kanae, to the three boys, to Sasuke. From the way he looked at Sasuke she knew he was waiting for some kind of guidance, as if he would be scolded for saying something without permission.
Noting that, Sakura tucked that away in her mind, she was going to have a long talk with Sasuke on this issue, eventually she would have all the boys in accordance with her views. They were to defend one another regardless of gender, they would not scorn one another regardless of any idea or want of one of the children, they would learn to respect everyone, and so help her they would learn that the clan people were not people they should bicker with.
She'd had enough of their picking on Kanae and one another, they would learn to help one another or they would end up in the hospital! With eyes blazing green fire, Sakura turned to the other boys and walked to stand in front of them. Hands on hips she glared at them, watching them shrink away with wide eyes.
"And what makes you think she will be a bad ninja? What makes wanting a party to celebrate a birthday and get to know your friends better so bad? What makes her being pampered bad? What makes your protecting her too much so bad? What makes you think she doesn't have a back bone? And just what do you think makes it alright for you to pick on her, one another, or anyoneelse?" Watching with her mouth in a thin stern line, Sakura decided that she was turning into Tsunade.
Oh, but how she wanted to crush a desk or toss one out a window! "Well, we just. Hm, you see. So it's really not fair that. I don't know!" And Hisoka's failed attempt to explain things, Sakura narrowed her eyes at the three boys. Their eyes widened when she pointed to the bench with a harsh, "sit!" Kanae moved away, trying to make herself be absorbed by Sasuke's leg.
Sasuke glanced at the girl, while still trying to find a way to hold the sleeping baby. Sakura knew that he liked the girl, she had reminded him of his mother from pictures of his mothers childhood. Her hair and eyes were the same, like all the Uchiha's. But Kanae, like his mother, had a certain way of smiling. A tender, loving smile that she gave to everyone, she loved people and she loved her clan.
He had taken to helping her with her Jutsus just as he had with the boys, he didn't seem to mind that she was a girl, although he did show her more kindness when putting on the healing balm when she managed to burn her hands during practice. She had always managed to offer him a smile, even through the tears and pain.
It was a memory of his mother bandaging him up when he was the hurt child that had him so gentle with the girl. His mother had smiled at him the way Kanae smiled at her clan, one of pride and love. Ever since the first day of practice, when she had smiled at him, Sasuke had become something of a father to her, as he had with the boys. He had wanted to be that to the small clan, Sakura could see it in his eyes.
He made sure they were all bandaged and healing, but Kanae always got a pat on the head as he stood from bandaging her up. Sakura had thought that the boys might be jealous, but she noticed that they all did the same thing. They made sure she was okay. And that was what confused Sakrua the most.
Why take extra pains to make sure Kanae was okay, to keep her close and protected in a crowd, and then turn on her as if she were a thorn in their sides because a birthday party was mentioned? It made no sense at all to her, something had to be bothering them other than this, the party couldn't be it!
Then it hit her, theywanted parties too, but didn't know how to ask for it without sounding childish, so they took it out on her! Deciding that after she taught them their lessons, because her anger was still raging, and they needed to understand some things, Sakura would take each aside and ask what they wanted to do for their birthdays. She had planned on throwing them each parties as soon as the issue was brought up with Kanae, but she had never said anything.
"There is nothing wrong with her! She is already improving! She kind and gentle, happy and smart, as well as she is cheerful and optimistic! Which, I might add, are always good things, for a ninja or not! She's already becoming very good at discerning emotions in those around her, which is invaluable in a team. If someone is depressed or upset, sick or angry, it can hinder a mission, and she has already shown how she can help!" Having to hold herself back from screeching at them, Sakura took another breath.
"So she's the only girl! Yes, she should be pampered and defended! What would you do if something happened to her? If she were hurt and no one noticed? You're her clan! Do you know how important that is? I never knew I had a clan, it was something I wanted badly. A family, people to watch over and care for me when my parents died. It's not something that you should be making fun of her for!" Pointing at Kanae who shivered against Sasuke, Sakura continued.
"She is not weak, she is not a baby, and she isn't even really a pampered princess. She's trying to live up to the standards you have all set, and you're not helping her reach it! You're dragging her down! What if she decided that she wasn't meant to be a ninja while on a mission? Confidence is key! She could be hurt, or worse killed, because she was stuck thinking that you three are right, that she isn't supposed to be a ninja, that she is too weak!" Sakura noticed Fusao tense while the other flinched at her proposed scenario of Kanae giving up in a battle and dying.
Kanae simply looked to the ground, trying to burry herself further into Sasuke's leg. Sakuramoved to pull the girl into a protective embrace. Taking the baby from Sasuke, Sakura handed Tatsu to Kanae. With a gentle word to meet Sakura in the large bedroom, Kanae shuffled away with her head down, whispering soft word to the baby. Even as hidden tears muffled her voice, she still spoke to the baby who had started to awaken at the movement of being transferred from person to person.
"You see how she is with the baby? She will be a great mother, and a great ninja. Compassion is rarely found in a ninja these days, yet it can be the greatest quality in one. Her judgments are clearer, not as given to violence or merciless deeds as most are these days. She is a treasure, meant to be cherished and cared for! How dareyou treat her as if she were nothing but a useless infant!" Realizing that her glaring had even Fusao and Hiro shuffling a few inches away Sakura decided it was time to wrap this up.
Touching a glowing hand to each of the boy's foreheads Sakura motioned for Fusao and Hiro to stay. Giving Sasuke a hard look she ordered him into the house to check on Kanae. The affronted look Sasuke gave her said that he didn't like being ordered around. But at her lifted brow he walked to the house with a grunt, and she knew that he would check on Kanae, to make sure she was okay.
Looking at the boys, who could not have moved even if they wanted to because of the induced paralysis that she had caused, Sakura spoke in a clam voice. "I don't know what has gotten into you. You're supposed to protect her! She is the lastUchiha born female, you should be pampering her! You're clan is very important, your name recognized as powerful, every member. Protect one another, stand up for each other, and do not drag them down."
With a sigh Sakura looked off towards the sky. "I know you think that my life must be so great, but you need to understand things, I've not had it easy, not including the tragedy of my family. As you know, I was on Sasuke's team as children, before he left. He would constantly call me annoying, weak and useless. I was nothing but a burden to the team."
Looking back at them, Sakura let her eyes plead with them. "If Sasuke had stayed, I probably would have quite being a ninja. It wasn't worth it, why stay if I did nothing but burden them? They could get another team mate, someone worth having on the team. But he left, and I was determined to bring him home. Please, don't hurt Kanae enough for her to want to quite, she's becoming very good."
Their eyes were huge as they stared at her, they couldn't imagine her being weak or useless. Furthermore they couldn't fathom Sasuke calling her annoying or burdensome. She was her and he was him! But it was clear that they got what she was talking about. So with a nod to each other them, Sakura motioned Hiro and Fusao inside.
"What about us? Aren't you going to let us up so we can go inside?" Looking back at Hisako, Sakura shook her head. "You're staying here for a time. Think about what I've said and how you want to act from now on. I'll come back and get you in a little while." With that Sakura walked away and into the house, knowing full well that they tried to watch her the whole time.
Finding Kanae back to her usual cheerful self, showing Sasuke how to hold the baby correctly, Sakura smiled and moved on to her next goal. Talking to Hiro and Fusao one at a time she got a vague idea of what the boys would like for their birthday parties, and wrote down each birthday on the calendar in the kitchen. Kanae's birthday was only two weeks away.
After about twenty minutes Sakura went outside. Noting that it was starting to get cold she hurried to the boys, she didn't want them getting sick on her! As she walked up Sakura noticed Isao scrunching his nose in an odd way. A giggle almost escaped her when she realized he had an itch, an couldn't do a thing about it.
Not wanting to delay the torture Sakrua touched each of the boys quickly, starting with Isao. Her laugh rang out when Isao leapt from the bench and scratched furiously at his nose. As they walked in Sakura asked the boys what they might like for their birthday parties. When their eyes grew big and their jaws dropped Sakura wondered what was wrong, surely they didn't think she wouldn't throw a party for them?
"You mean we get our ownparties? Separately? We don't have share a party?" Looking at Kazue who had an awed expression she nodded. "Why would you have to share a birthday? Unless you have the same birthday, which I know you don't?" Kazue simply stared at her in wonder as he spoke.
"As orphans we didn't haveanyone to throw parties, the caretaker had to take care of it. And parties can be expensive, the caretaker didn't have a lot of money, so everyone had to share a birthday party. They just picked a date somewhere in the middle of all the dates." Getting on her knees and hugging the three boys to herself, Sakura smiled at them and explained that they would each get their very own parties, a party to themselves.
Preferences then came flying at her, each one so excited that they ran to tell the other three children in the clan. When Sakura finally reached the doorway she found the three apologizing to Kanae and sharing in her delight at having their own parties when the time came. Looking around the room Sakura smiled, now that was a clan.
Spotting Saskue, still sitting on their bed in the large bedroom, Sakura bit her lip to hold back a laugh. He was holding Tatsu as if he'd been holding babies all his life, and when his gaze on her pulled her gaze to his, Sakura smiled. She didn't even bother to hide the blush that crossed her face, she couldn't help it. Sasuke looked perfect with a passel of Uchiha children around him with a small child in his arms.
Then the blush intensified to another three never before seen shades of red. Surely he knew what to do, she wouldn't have to give him the talkwould she? She wouldn't do it, she just wouldn't! It was then that Kanae ran up to her, pulling her in and pushing her to sit besides Sasuke on the bed. Kanae wanted Sakura to check her hand, which had been burned. Once Sakura had healed the small burn, Sakura took care of the rest of the children.
Pride welled up in her, she would be the matriarch and their personal healer any day. These children had become precious to her, just as her heart had fallen back into love with one Uchiha Sasuke. Whether that was good or not, she wasn't sure, but when his arm snaked around her waist with Tatsu in his other arm, Sakura let a contents smile lift her lips. Today had been good, even if the memories of weddings and her friends love lives were so much better than hers had upset her earlier.