Chapter 45
Sakura looked up when Sasuke came to the room with two sleeping toddlers.
"How is she?" Sasuke asked when he walked into the room, Hinata was holding her daughter and Naruto was sitting beside her.
"Mother and child are well," Sakura informed him with a smile as she took Boruto from him. Sarada was using Sasuke's head as her pillow.
"She drools," he grumbled, she chuckled as she walked to Naruto.
"Hey, Sasuke, get over here and meet your goddaughter!" Naruto ordered.
"Hn?" her husband looked confused.
"Just get over here Sasuke," Sakura ordered. She watched as he reluctantly came over to them. Sarada never woke as she hugged his head, and Sakura smiled at his uncertainty.
"Sasuke, meet Himawari," Hinata said softly. Sakura smiled as he looked down at the newest Uzumaki. Himawari was a cute baby, she had her mama's looks with her mama's black hair. However, she had her papa's blue eyes; examination later would reveal if the girl did or did not have the Byakugan; her brother didn't but it could manifest later.
"Well, thankfully she does not look like the dobe," he said blandly.
"Sasuke!" she whacked his shoulder then.
"What!?" he demanded. She shook her head.
"Hopeless," she sighed. Naruto looked somewhere between relieved and offended at the statement. Kakashi appeared then.
"How's the new mother doing?" he asked as he walked in. Hinata blushed then.
"F-f-fine," she squeaked. The Hokage looked down at the newest Uzamaki then.
"Well, at least she doesn't look like Naruto," Kakashi sighed.
"HEY!" Naruto shouted. Himawari cried then, Sakura smiled, Sasuke smirked, Sarada grumbled and everyone else chuckled.
"Sasuke,," Kakashi said.
"I know," her husband nodded, Sakura stiffened then, her heart clenched then.
"Oh, it's that time already," Naruto grumbled, his teeth clenched and his hands fisted. Sakura looked down, her husband did not react to this as Kakashi confirmed in a nod what time it was. Sakura stepped nearer to him, he didn't shake her off when she hesitantly grabbed his hand, he entwined their fingers and she bit her bottom lip.
"Take care, Sasuke," Hinata said sadly.
"Hn," he nodded.
"I'll walk you to the gates," Naruto said sadly.
"Stay with your family," Sasuke said. Naruto's head snapped up, as did hers' as she gaped at him, he smirked then. "They need you," he stated.
"But!"
"Naruto, stay with them," Sasuke repeated. "See you soon."
"You… be safe Sasuke," Naruto sighed in defeat as Sasuke pulled her from the room with him. She followed him, taking their daughter off his head Sarada never roused or moved to wake. She leaned on him as they walked from the hospital, she was tired after the ordeal of helping Hinata give birth was very painful for everyone involved. That Byakugan made her strikes precise.
"So, you're leaving," she whispered while they moved through the village, the glares she received her annoying to her because her husband had done nothing wrong, lately. He did have a reputation, it was something he continuously pointed out to her since they had returned to the village.
"Hn," he answered.
"You're going to come home again, right?" she murmured as she looked up to him.
"Aa," he nodded.
"Sasuke, we'll be here when you return," she murmured while they walked.
"I know," he answered as his hand tightened it's hold on hers. She smiled then and rested her head on his shoulder.
"When you get back, we'll have to celebrate," she hinted with a blush dancing across her cheeks. He smirked as he suddenly pulled her in to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. He leaned over her ear, she felt herself turning redder and redder as she felt his breath on her earlobe.
"And when I return, you had better be ready," he murmured and she felt herself trembling with anticipation. They hadn't tried anything since her miscarriage beyond mutual pleasure, he was careful with her too when they would try something. But the lecture which Tsunade had given them both for sex had had her turning red as a tomato, and Sasuke just looking… embarrassed; if that were possible. So, no sex for them these past months while she had been healing.
"Um… Sasuke," she mumbled. She could feel him smirking against her ear.
"I'll be waiting for you, until then," he murmured as he pressed his lips to her temple. She smiled, but she felt herself turning really, really, really red. It didn't help everyone was staring at them now and their daughter was sleeping on her other shoulder. Peeking at her husband she saw his devious smirk and tried to frown but found she couldn't, her smile only broadened.
"I think you're the one who's going to have to be ready for when I get my hands on you again," she chuckled and he tightened his hold on her again. It wasn't perfect, but this relationship she had with him, it was hers and it was as close to perfect as it was ever going to get. She was content with it.
"We'll see," he mused.
"Uh-huh, we shall see. Oh! Do you have enough clothes pack? How about food? Do you have the a proper medical kit? Oh, and you cannot forget to write me!" she stated, his arm slid from her shoulders to her hand again, she entwined their fingers.
"Sakura," he growled out.
"I'm allowed to worry!" she snapped. "I spent years worrying about you, I'm allowed to worry for you!"
"Hn," he shook his head and she smiled a bit as she leaned against him again. She closed her eyes and savored one of their last moments for a long while, she would accept this. And until they met again she'd be content with memories and knowing he cared for her and their daughter.
"Uchiha!" the elders snapped, her head snapped to them then. She felt him tighten his grip on her hand as he pulled her somewhat behind him then.
"What?" he snapped.
Sasuke just held his clearly very angry wife behind him before she could do something rash like pummel them; then Sarada would alone here, that was the last fucking thing he wanted. The seal she wore would not hide her eyes for forever, and should they discover his daughter's eyes, he didn't want to know what they'd do to her. Sasuke hated the mere thought of what they'd do, mostly because of what he had seen on Danzo's body.
"I am leaving now, the birth of Uzumaki Himawari has been confirmed," he stated coldly as he pulled Sakura with him towards the gates.
"Haruno Sakura and Sarada stay here!" an elder snapped.
"Uchiha Sakura will be seeing her husband off on his mission!" Sakura shouted over her shoulder as she came after him. Sasuke didn't want to let go of her hand just yet, it felt small, warm and strong again, he liked it better when she was like this. Not weak or frail like it had been a few months ago.
"You would dare to claim his name!?" An elder screeched and her hand slipped from his as their daughter was shoved into his arm. He just sighed.
"Sakura, don't break them," he ordered, Sarada grumbled as she shifted in her sleep.
"I'm not going to!" she snapped at him as she stalked towards the elder who had said that. "I'm at a fraction of my chakra, I'm still healing, and I'm tired of this pompous attituce of yours!"
Sakura grabbed the elder by his collar as she hefted him up over her head, his feet dangling off the ground.
"Now you listen to me! My name is Uchiha Sakura, I married Uchiha Sasuke, my daughter's name is Uchiha Sarada, my brother-in-law; Uchiha Itachi, died for the peace this village now has, and because of your orders, do not ever speak down on my family name! I do not care what my husband has done in the past, for his most grievous crimes were against me, he tried to kill me, he destroyed my heart, he's maid me cry a river of tears, and he damn near broke me; but if I can forgive him then you had better get off your high horses and do the same, for he never came at you with chidori, or trapped you in genjutsu, or tried to strangle you; he has atoned for all his crimes and sins and then some. I earned some of it too, I tried to kill him in return too, but we've forgiven one another so why the hell can't you forgive him!?
"He has helped rebuild the world, and he has been the best father to his daughter. You will speak to him and me with proper respect! And do not think for one moment that I will not pound you to pieces should you again sully my family name. I am not Haruno Sakura.
"It's Uchiha and you had better get it right the next time I speak with you," she snarled and with that she dropped the elder on his ass as she spun on her heels and sauntered to him again. Her smile was deceptively cheery as she took their daughter from him again and took his hand.
"I think I understand why Naruto says to fear you," Sasuke chuckled.
"Oh, we've sparred so I get my temper out then on you," she chuckled, he smirked again. At least she wasn't going to be a push over for the elders just because it was demanded of her. Sasuke knew he could rely on her to keep their daughter safe.
"Good to know," he chuckled dryly.
"I love you, Sasuke, and I am really, really proud to be your wife," she murmured to him.
"Aa," he responded. She smiled bitterly then, he sighed as he kissed her lips in front of everyone then, partially to brand her and partially so she could know; he didn't have the words to say what she should hear. So he'd only have to hope she understood what he was trying to convey.
"Sasuke!" she blushed as she stepped back, he smirked and continued pulling her with him.
"So, I see you finally reacted to the council, that should shut them up for a bit," a lazy voice commented.
"Kakashi!" Sakura called out, he schooled his face back into his mask of indifference as he turned to look at his mentor. His wife was smiling a happy smile again, her blush was still there; that pleased him immensely and he felt she knew what he had meant.
"What are you doing here?" Sakura asked as they walked to him.
"I came to see you off again. I am Hokage after all," Kakashi answered.
"Hn," he grunted, his fingers entwining with Sakura's again.
"Shall we be off?" Kakashi asked as they all resumed their walking to the gate. He felt Sakura lean on him again and he reveled in the feeling for the last time for a while. He'd return, he would, but he knew as well as his wife that he'd be gone for a long while; it was why he was indulging them both at this moment as he held her hand. Sarada grumbled in her sleep as she shifted on her mother's shoulder.
The next twenty minutes were traveled in silence as he held her, and she leaned on him. They finally reached the gates, he hesitated for a moment as he looked to Kakashi.
"I'll keep her and Sarada both safe, and in return, you had better come back to them," Kakashi said as he held back. Sasuke nodded to Kakashi's words as he pulled Sakura and Sarada off with him a bit out of the village and from prying ears.
"I love you," she repeated to him when he pulled her close. He didn't respond as he looked to Sarada then, his daughter looked at him with bleary onyx eyes as she was half-awake at this moment.
"Until next time," he murmured to Sarada as he poked her brow, Sarada smiled as her eyes closed and she fell asleep again. He pulled her to him, his arm wrapped around her and his mouth was beside her ear.
"I'll say this once, Sakura," he murmed, he decided when the elders had verbally insulted her and she had been mad he'd have to say this. True or not, he didn't know, but he felt that if it was true for him with anyone it'd be her.
"Huh?" she questioned.
"I love you," he murmured. She gasped as she stiffened and stared at him when he pulled away from her, a smile spread on her lips as she beamed up at him.
"I'll see you soon," he assured her as he lifted his hand to that seal on her brow, poking it gently he pulled away from her.
"Thank you," he repeated to her because she had to know by now. And if she didn't know then he'd tell her when he returned. He could feel her smile on him as he walked away from them, and he could feel the pain of his leaving again and he shut his eyes as he darted off, before he could change his mind and stay with her.
Sakura watched him long after he was gone, her hair dancing on the wind as tears slipped from her lashes and a smile had yet to leave her lips with the blush on her cheeks.
"He loves me," she whispered happily. He'd be back, he wouldn't leave her all alone if he loved her, and with that she spun around walked to Kakashi and walked right back into the village. She'd be waiting for his return, and until then, she'd cherish being loved and love him from afar again.
"What is it Sakura?" Kakashi asked her as they walked, she smiled to her former mentor.
"He loves me!" she exclaimed happily.
