Chapter 17 : Damaged Woman
Konoha. Right after Sarada met Naruto in his office.
The road was wet, it was raining outside. The young girl was walking under the rain, wet and sobbing.
"Sarada," A woman with violet eyes, a black cape and an umbrella showed up in front of her. She quickly walked to Sarada and covered her with the umbrella so she didn't have to feel the rain anymore.
"Let's go to the nearest inn," Yukie accompanied the girl, holding her hand and walked to the inn near the Hokage Office.
Yukie knew that Sarada was rejected. She rubbed the girl's back and accompanied her to the latest inn. The quickly checked inside the bedroom.
Sarada took off her wet outfits and walked inside the bathroom to clean herself. Yukie could hear the young girl weeping inside the bathroom.
"Sarada, are you okay?" Yukie knocked the bathroom's door. The girl kept on weeping. It was few minutes until she came out with swollen eyes and her body with big belly covered in towel dress. What surprised Yukie was at how short her hair became.
"You cut your hair," Yukie was surprised. Her hair was as short as it was when she was a preteen girl.
Sarada sat beside Yukie and grabbed her hands. "Yukie-san, do you mind to help me?" Sarada's gaze was intense. Yukie had never seen the girl looking at her that way.
"Anything for you, Sarada," Yukie replied with a gentle smile.
Gonchato Temple. 9 AM.
Men and women were gathering inside the temple, all of them were priests and priestesses of Gonchato and all of them were wearing white robes. There was a dark haired girl kneeling inside the circle. She was wearing a white kimono.
The priest dipped his hands in the water and splashed the water to the young girl while praying in an old language. Beside the priest, there were priestesses with bells. They were playing them harmoniously, while there were young women singing Gonchato worship song.
Blessed those who worship the mighty white dragon
Blessed those who worship the mighty white dragon
Blessed those who worship the mighty white dragon
They will inherit the earth
They will be rich
They will be strong
They will be joyous
The mighty white dragon will fulfill all of their needs
They were chanting the lyrics over and over and over.
"I, Sarada Uchiha believed that The White Dragon is the one and only living God in this world and i am devoting myself to the teaching of Gonchato," The young girl announced her belief in front of those people.
The chanting stopped. The young girl then opened her kimono, she turned back and exposed her back to the priest. The young girl then was given a cloth to be bit by her. She then bit the white cloth.
The priest then took a metal with a shape of the Gonchato dragon. He then put the metal in the flame. The flame was really hot, the color of the metal changed into the color of the flame. Then, the priest pushed the metal into her skin.
The heat caused the young girl to bit the cloth harder. Everyone could hear hear whimpering because of the pain.
"Welcome to Gonchato, Sarada Uchiha" The priest pulled of the metal and smiled to the whimpering young girl.
It took a while for Sarada to be one of the Gonchatos. The public would've been forgiven her when she's one of them and they would most likely believe if she said that Naruto had raped her. He's an old man and she's just a pretty teenager, people would suck it up.
*
Sarada was so good in hiding. She always was. Nobody could find her. Not even her parents. Even with huge pregnancy the girl still managed to perform transformation jutsu and clone jutsu.
She already had a plan herself and that moment, she chose to execute her plan. Her first step was speaking in public, create a statement from her, that slut of konoha, that homewrecker Sarada Uchiha.
That was a very sunny day, Sarada agreed upon coming up on television, to speak with a popular tv host. A woman named Hideko. A long legged tv-host with porcelain skin and hair as dark as coal.
It was just a small room with a set of sofa and a table in front of it. Sarada who was wearing an outfit that didn't cover up her pregnancy. She was wearing a long-sleeve creme colored blouse with matching pants that covered her ankle. Her baby bump was showing perfectly. She wanted to tell the world that she was pregnant.
"Live from K-Studio, we are welcoming our special guest tonight, Sarada Uchiha!" Hideko said to the camera while the audience were clapping their hands to the sight of a very pregnant young woman in a very demure outfit walked slowly to wave her hand to the audience before sitting on the sofa.
"Can you tell us about your relationship with our Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki?" Hideko started to answer the question.
"Nanadaime forced me into the relationship ... he told me that if i didn't agree ... i would never get any recommendation and i would get banned from being a ninja of Konoha," Sarada looked like as if she wanted to cry. The audience was shook and Hideko was also shocked.
"What kind of things did you do for him?" Hideko asked the young girl. Sarada inhaled and swallowed saliva with teary eyes.
"Perverted things," Sarada paused. She spoke slower and as if she was out of breath. "He forced me to perform sexual acts for him," she wept.
"He ...," she paused again. Her breath was raspier.
"Nanadaime...," Hideko was listening to the young girl. "He raped me," Sarada added, almost inaudibly. Her statement, combined with the expression she was showing to the audience shocked everyone. Everyone could see that Sarada's pregnant. Her belly was huge, her due date could be anytime. One of staffs jumped to the stage to give Sarada a glass of water, which later then followed by her drinking from it.
"And your pregnancy ... is the father ...?" Before Hidako asked the question, Sarada had already nodded "Yes, Naruto Uzumaki is the father."
At the same time, her water broke. It wet the sofa on the studio. The girl was quickly rushed to the hospital.
The rating of the show sky-rocketed that day.
Uzumaki Residence. 11 AM.
The TV showed Sarada having her water broke. Naruto immediately felt anxious, his hands felt clammy and he wanted to immediately rush to the hospital but Hinata stopped him.
"Naruto-kun, you're not going to the hospital," Hinata sternly said to him.
She grabbed her arm even before he could move. Hinata could see his face, he certainly looked worried.
"Hinata, it's my child!" Naruto pulled his arm off of Hinata's arm. It surprised Hinata. She felt like she wanted to cry. He chose Sarada and her child over her.
"If you go to the hospital that means you chose that crazy bitch over me and that also means that i'll leave this house forever," Tears started to well on the back of her eyes. She threatened him that she would leave him forever if he chose to visit Sarada.
"Hinata ... if you don't trust me then let's go together to the hospital! I promise you i am leaving Sarada, i am just there for the baby!" Naruto gently grabbed Hinata's hands.
"But, if you're seen, what are you going to do? Does that mean you're admitting to the public that you're having an affair with Sarada?" Hinata grabbed him back.
"Hinata, i am not letting an innocent child to be a victim of my sin," Naruto replied. "Naruto, i know you love that baby so much, but please ... at least consult to Shikamaru first," Hinata grabbed his hands tighter. Her lavender eyes were gazing right into his blue ones. "Hinata, that child is mine, sooner or later, people will find the truth about whose child it is ...," Naruto released hands from Hinata's and moved to tap her shoulder. "But, we have to make Sarada to cancel her statement about the rape," Hinata looked really worried. "Hinata, i'm still going to the hospital," Naruto let go of Hinata's shoulder. He pulled his orange jacket out of the cupboard. "Naruto!" Hinata surprised her husband. His eyes came back to face hers.
"What if the baby and the placenta can be taken away from Sarada? She will have no proof of you having sexual contact with her!" Naruto never thought Hinata would have such idea. A mean one. To take a baby away from its mother.
"Hinata, it's impossible, if the public sees me as a rapist, not only that i will no longer be a Hokage, i'll be completely hated by everyone!" Naruto replied his wife.
He knew that his career as Hokage was done unless they found a way for Sarada to cancel her accusation and let her make a statement about how they were all lies.
"If only you actually agreed for Sarada to be my second wife, she would have never thought of accusing me of rape," Naruto's words torn Hinata's heart. She suddenly felt suffocating feeling inside her chest. After all these times, Naruto still managed to blame her for the situation he had created in the first place. Hinata walked faster and slapped Naruto.
"How could you say that to me after all the things that i've done for you," Her expression changed. The air in the room changed. She was crying again. His cheek was deep red. "Hinata, i love you, i always do, but it was the most logical choice to save us all," He said. "Naruto, right now, i don't even know who you are anymore," She quickly walked upstair with tears rolling out of her eyes.
*
Delivery Room 101. 10 PM.
Sarada was feeling the pain, the contraction the baby but it didn't come out easily. She was there sweating on the bed with her legs spreading in front of the nurses and the male medic in front of her, who is her friend, Inojin Yamanaka. He put his fingers inside Sarada's vagina to do the measurement.
"Sarada, it's not going anywhere, if in an hour there's still no effacement or dilation whatsoever, we will have to slice you up," Inojin explained while pulling the gloves off of his hands and threw them to the bin.
"And we need your family to sign the informed consent paper before we can slice you up," Inojin added while sitting on the chair inside the delivery room, crossing his legs while gazing at the young girl in front of him.
"Is it a problem if i sign it myself?" Sarada asked his friend.
"No, you can't ... it's the protocol," Inojin scoffed.
"Please ...," Sarada begged.
Suddenly, the room's door was opened. A man in black cape entered the room. It was her father.
"I will be the one signing it," Sasuke said with his hand grabbing the blonde young medic's shoulder. Sarada was looking at her father in horror. She had expected him to come but after the baby came out but he came earlier.
"Alright, all set then," Inojin stood up from his chair and walked to the desk to take the informed consent paper.
Sasuke walked closer to his daughter. "You're crazy," he said to his daughter. "Do you really think by lying like this Naruto would marry you? Even if you end up marrying him, do you think a marriage that's happening by force will be a happy one?" Sasuke whispered to his daughter. Sarada's eyes were dilated.
"Mister Uchiha, could you please sign this form?" Inojin tapped Sasuke's shoulder and gave the form to him, with a pen.
Sasuke moved to the table and filled the form before signing it. His eyes kept on staring at his daughter, with sinister gaze. He was so angry at Sarada.
He never expected her to succumb so low. He was disappointed in her. She was this bright child Sarada. She was the promising one. The one with a bright future. First, she fucked a married man twice her age. Second, she planned on getting herself knocked up because she wanted him to marry her. Third, because he chose not to marry her, she lied to the public that he was raping her.
At that moment, he really wished that he could snatch his family away and led a new life in another land.
*
Operating room.
Sarada was already lying on the operating bed. She was shocked when she saw her mother's face. She wasn't shocked because she was there, she was shocked at how thin and tired her mother had become.
"Sarada, i'll be helping doctor Mitasuki for the surgery," Sakura was wearing her complete surgical set with the cap, the dress and the glove. She helped the nurses to prepare for Sarada's surgery. She even helped the anesthesiologist to anesthetize her daughter so she wouldn't feel anything on her belly(and lower) during the surgery.
Sarada couldn't peek because her front was covered with green cloth on a hanger. She could hear the machines beeping, the sound of the air conditioner, the coldness of the room temperature, the clashing voice of metals, the soft chattering voice, the voice of water splashing out of her belly, and the voice of a baby crying.
The operation went well. The baby was a boy, he has black hair and blue eyes, exactly the same with Naruto's eye color and with the same whisker on his cheeks. He looked exactly like The Hokage. Sakura sighed in relief that the baby was healthy. She was the one putting him on top of Sarada's chest. Sarada could see tears coming out of her mother's face.
Sarada couldn't help but to cry as well. "Mama, i'm sorry," She murmured. Sakura could hear it. She just smiled. "It's alright, as long both of you are healthy," she said with soft tune.
After the operation was completely over, Sarada was staying at the recovery room on the patient's bed. It was a white room with green vinyl floor. She could see her mother still with her pink scrub and her hair being put inside the surgical cap sitting on the chair, writing on the medical record on the table. Her mother looked very thin and frail. At that point, Sarada felt guilty. She must be so stressed because of me. Sarada thought.
Then her mother stood up and walked to the baby's box. It was a transparent box with heating technology so the newborn wouldn't feel cold. Sakura took a small telescope and listened to the baby's heartbeat. She smiled when she was listening to the baby's heartbeat.
"He's very healthy," she turned her head and told her daughter.
"Mama, i'm sorry, i'm really really sorry," Sarada cried. Sakura didn't say anything, instead she walked closer to Sarada. "Sarada, let's go somewhere, where all of us can start a new life," Sakura gazed at her daughter's dark eyes with her green eyes. She was dead serious when she said it.
Sarada knew how escaping Konoha would mean a fresh start for all of them. But, her anger prevented her from doing so. She didn't say anything to Sakura but she certainly chose to stay. She already had a plan in her mind.
*
Hokage's Office. 7 PM.
Two men were inside the office once again. Both of them were busy discussing about Gonchato. Both of them were standing near the Hokage's table.
"Naruto, those Gonchato numbers are really huge right now, the new generation mixed with the old generation Gonchato make up 66% of Konoha's population," Shikamaru sounded incredibly angry.
"All thanks to your free of speech free religion democracy policy!" Shikamaru added, smiling while scoffing the blond Hokage.
Naruto on the other hand, kept on looking at the tv inside his office. As if he didn't care about whatever Shika was saying.
The TV kept on replaying Sarada's confession and how she was rushed to the hospital.
"Have you visited the hospital?" Shikamaru asked. "I haven't," Naruto stretched his body.
"Good," Shikamaru said. "We shouldn't rush over things, currently, we have no choice but to tell the public the facts that your relationship with Sarada is based on mutual consent, not because you forced her to," Shikamaru added. He was expecting the worst case happening.
"Sakura and Sasuke were the witnesses of my proposal towards their daughter," Naruto immediately remembered that the only thing possible was asking Sarada's parents to speak up. But, would they be on his side? It was their daughter he's fighting against. Their own flesh and blood. Sarada would go to jail if they told the press that she was lying, that the relationship was based on mutual consent, that she was the one pleading to Sasuke so Naruto and her could marry.
"I doubt they'll choose me over their own daughter," Naruto sighed.
"So, you prefer approaching Sarada by yourself?" Shikamaru asked. He was also stressed. He knew he would never be accustomed to handling such drama like this.
"Do you think it's the best choice?" Naruto himself was confused. He never thought that Sarada would go that far.
"Honestly, i think you should meet with all of the Uchihas, strike a deal with them," he sighed.
"Hinata had done it with them and look what's happening now, Sarada's controlling her own life, no one can control her," Naruto huffed, he was massaging his own temple. He felt that his head was aching so badly.
"Shit," Shikamaru murmured.
"Is it still possible for me to stay as The Hokage?" Shikamaru could see deep sadness and guilt in Naruto's eyes. Shikamaru softened when he saw that look in Naruto's face.
"With this kind of social climate, unfortunately, it's just very hard ... let's say that it's proven that Sarada's lying about the rape accusation ... that baby is still your child and you can't avoid that fact ... and public would still see you as a cheating bastard, an immoral perv," Shikamaru folded his hand while gazing at Naruto.
"Should i just give up? Should i just give The Hokage title to Konohamaru or maybe give it back to Kakashi while he's still able to lead people?" Naruto's eyes were teary. He was ready to cry. He really couldn't let go of being Hokage in such manner. He never expected that to happen.
"Are you sure about it? I still think we should just speak with the Uchiha once more before deciding anything," Shikamaru couldn't help but to feel sad too. Shikamaru knew that Naruto was exactly at fault with the whole Sarada situation. But, it was also a fact that he had been a very good Hokage, especially before the whole affair.
Naruto didn't say a thing. He just nodded because at that point, he actually had no idea what kind of action that could be done to make it to control the damage.
*
Author's Note :
First, i'd like to apologize for the cringey Gonchato chants but it was necessary for the story.
Sarada certainly changed her religion to Gonchato so she could win the public's support.
Thank you for everyone who commented! I hope everyone is safe and healthy even during this coronavirus pandemic.
And please comment/review some more for they are the reason why i kept on writing!
