Chapter 21

Hell came in the form of a normal day; for himself and Sakura both.

But as most people approaching hell can tell you, you never saw hell until it was upon you and he was no different in this matter as he left his wife and daughter behind him again. It was nothing new to them as he raced out to continue the trail Sakura and he had found the last time they were out. Still, he couldn't help but feel as if something were off as his wife and daughter waved him off and he left without looking behind him, he never looked back because it would fuck with his head; thinking of what he had left behind him.

Running he opened a dimension as he raced through it and disappeared on the hunt of the false Uchiha. His already tattered family name was not going to be destroyed by some random imposter who's fair features were a clear indicator he was not an Uchiha. With this in mind he wondered why this felt wrong. Ignoring these sensations he ran as he wondered where to go hunting next or if he should speak to Sakura about them coordinating a trap.

It wouldn't be that hard to lure the false Uchiha after them and capture him, drag him back to the village to face his crims and then for them to leave. He kind of wanted a quiet life, but still they would be Shinobi and he knew no matter what Sakura wouldn't give up being a Shinobi for anything. She had actually worked hard to become a Shinobi and he knew it, as did she. Sakura had earned her rank of Shinobi, it had never been a done deal for her and he didn't want to deprive her of the life of a Shinobi. Still, he didn't know if he could continue doing this, continue fighting, continue searching for a redemption he knew he'd never be able to obtain because it wasn't possible for him to have.

Perhaps in accepting this he could accept himself as the horrid monster he really was. Sasuke didn't want to accept the monster he was though, because he didn't think he was one. So he'd probably never stop fighting, even when it drained him and exhausted him, and damn near killed him; he'd keep fighting, keep searching, and keep trying to redeem himself. If only for the woman he'd always done wrong by, and the daughter who would grow up in his blood bathed shadow. And by being his daughter he knew no one in the village would ever fully trust her.

Sasuke shook it off though as he focused on doing the one thing he was very good at. Hunting and killing the other monsters who threatened his family and village, and his own reputation. If you wanted to attack a monster then be prepared for the retaliation of the monster when they came after you; that's what Orochimaru had taught him, and he believed it as he believed in breathing and living.

So he was going to kill a false Uchiha, the thought alone had his mind sharpening and blocking out distraction as he leapt through the portal where he had been two weeks ago to continue his hunt. Which had lead him to be just outside of the village.

Hinata was smiling happily that day as she watched Boruto wobble about the grassy courtyard of the Hyuga compound enjoying the day. It was a strange relationship she had with her father but having a rambunctious grandchild made him… human and a better father. True they'd never be able to be close but at least now she could be near him and not feel as if she was letting him down. And on this beautiful day, as Boruto exhausted Hanabi she was going to tell them all her wonderful news. It was the day to tell her family something happy and good; because on this day that was what Neji would want.

Neji would not want them to be saddened today just because of his sacrifice; though she knew Tenten was at Neji's grave and spending the day with her dead friend. Everyone in the village knew that Neji and Tenten would've been more; with time, but that time had been cut short with the War and the sacrifice and loss. What could have been would never be known or acknowledged. And no one of the Hyuga family dared to stop Tenten from visiting Neji if that was what she wanted to do. She had more than earned the right to be here to more. But today Hinata would make her family happy. Well, as happy as a Hyuga would express.

She smiled when Hanabi stumbled her way and collapse beside her.

"He's so… energetic, are toddlers supposed to be that energetic?" Hanabi asked her.

"He's his father's son," Hinata admitted with a wiry smile on her lips as they sat there watching the toddler play some more before bursting into a fit of laughter in the grass. Now would be as good of time as any to tell her younger sister her news. But she held her tongue still as she leaned back in the sun.

"He is that. Now Hinata, is there something you want to tell us?" Hanabi asked her looking mischeivious and Hinata felt herself turn red, in spite of her intentions as she furiously stuttered and shook her head.

"Oh really, that's not what Naruto is saying!" Hanabi poked her side and Hinata giggled as she nodded.

It was a good day, a normal day, and it was wonderful until there was something akin to a clap of thunder right behind her, which had her looking over her shoulder as her toddler then tackled her while trembling. What they saw, it was something like one of Sasuke's portals, and out he came out of it and those red eyes locked onto her then.

"What the…" Hanabi gasped and Hinata prepared for a fight as she fell into her fighting stance.

The three tomoe Sharingan locked onto her as the blonde came at her.

Naruto could feel himself grinning like a fool as he walked after Kakashi; learning the ropes of being the Hokage because one day this would all be his. However, his own happiness was distracting to him as he couldn't focus on anything because of the news Hinata had told him last week and three nights ago. He was so ridiculously happy that it wasn't obvious, it was unavoidable.

"Naruto, are you paying attention?" Kakashi asked him rousing him from his thoughts.

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei," he lied happily.

"Uh-huh, and what did I just say?" Kakashi asked him and he stuttered for a moment before sighing in defeat as he slumped a bit in his chair thinking about it. He needed to focus, today was no exception. So why couldn't he focus? He had been able to think past his happiness when she Hinata had been pregnant with Boruto so why he couldn't think now was beyond him. Then again Sasuke would say it was because he was a dobe, and Sakura would just hit him upside the head.

Thinking about them made him sad and he decided to think about that so he could focus past his happiness of being a father again.

There was something like thunder booming through the village which had him and Kakashi looking out the window. There was smoke at the Hyuga compound which had his eyes widening in shock and fear as he didn't think and bolted out of the office. That was where Hinata was! And something dangerous was going on here now! Kurama could feel how wrong everything was as well as his power leaked through and combined with Naruto's again.

"Hinata!" he screamed as he leapt over the wall and saw his wife and Hanabi strewn about in the grass while Boruto screaming and a fair colored man approaching him.

"Get Away From My Son!" Naruto shouted as he released the kunai he hadn't even remembered grabbing and now was forming his ultimate attack. The man leapt away from his son as Naruto landing in front of Hinata and Boruto, and what he was looking at had his breath hitching and him hesitating for a second, just a second.

The ruby Sharingan eyes looked back at him as they whirled dangerously and glared at him.

"Not Uchiha, not traitor," the blonde hissed.

"You attacked my family! You're going to die!" he hissed dangerously as he lunged for the man. There was another clap of thunder though and black lurched forward slamming into the fair colored man as a silver blace was produced and black stood before him while the dust settled.

Naruto's eyes widened even further at the new comer then.

"Take them and leave," was all Sasuke said as he stood there between him and the attacker.

"Sasuke," Naruto managed. Boruto's scream yanked him back to reality and out of his daze as he grabbed Hinata, Hanabi and Boruto and did as he was told. The Hyuga were appearing then and he turned back to see his friend standing there.

Sakura was humming happily to herself as she gardened a few herbs in her garden and Sarada was silently studying the flowers with her and grinning happily. It was a beautiful day to be alive and out in her garden, she was enjoying it.

And since her fight with Sasuke had been resolved she was feeling even happier about being here with her daughter. It was a good day, it was nice to think of her future and what it would hold with Sasuke in her life. Sarada stood up and wobbled over to her with a large flower in her hands and a happy smile, and Sakura smiled with joy at the sight of her happy daughter.

"What have you got there?" Sakura asked her baby, Sarada had yet to speak but considering the fact her father rarely spoke she wasn't too worried about her daughter's lack of talking. There was nothing for her to worry about. Sarada would speak when she was ready too.

The young growing toddler shoved the flower in her face with a happy grin.

"It's very beautiful," Sakura mused as she took the offered flower between her fingers and twirled it between them before tucking it behind Sarada's ear. The bright pink stood out against her daughter's midnight colored hair. "And you're just as beautiful." Her baby giggled as she then ran around the yard acting like she could fly, Sakura leaned back and smiled at the sight of her daughter laughing and giggling until a different sound reached her ears.

Standing slowly she looked up as her hearing strained past the near sounds of her tranquil home.

Sarada collapsed in the grass silently now and Sakura's head snapped to where her daughter was sitting. Then those sounds hit her as the smells assaulted her senses as well. Snatching up her daughter Sakura ran. She didn't run for the sounds, she ran for her house just as the screams got louder. Running through her house she snatched up her go bag as she reached the front door. Looking down the road towards the town she gasped, the medic and Shinobi in her want to run towards the smoke, the flames and the screams for she could help.

But the mother in her demanded she guard her daughter.

Then she saw them coming towards her. The red was gleaming as three of them came at her and their words hit her ears.

"The Sharingan, the true Sharingan, it is ours! We've found it!" the boys said deliriously and she ran with Sarada tightly wrapped up in her arms. She ran for the forest, for a place to hide her daughter and for a good ambush spot. There was a reason only fools messed with mothers and their children, and should Sasuke be here it'd be worse. But right now, Sakura just focused on protecting her daughter as she leapt, twisted her body as she grabbed a kunai and slashed through the coming projectiles. Hitting the ground she rolled to her feet as she continued running.