Starlight

A/N: Another long chapter. I really wanted to write about cute domestic SasuSakuSara life before Sasuke departs for his long-term missions. Feel free to skip to when Sarada becomes 24 months if it's too long... enjoy!

Two years had drifted away and Sasuke looked up at a starless sky, his head resting on his lone hand as his onyx eye searched for a glimmer of hope in the darkness. His body was bruised and bloodied beneath his tattered shirt as he lay in a foreign land. The bed of grass below him attempted to calm his anxieties, but failed, as Sasuke reminisced about the past two years...

His thoughts trickled down his perfectly arched face, freeing itself from his cold skin as it landed on the carpet of grass beneath him. Every droplet was another memory that wrenched his heart into turmoil. Every thought of laughter and smiles from his loved ones was another curse. The feel of lips against lips sent electricity up his spine. Tiny hands clasping his was death itself taunting him. The first of his thoughts clouded his mind:

It was the night of their reunion with their old classmates, and Sakura had been updating her anti-social husband on the gossip and discussions she had had with her friends. She had learnt which of their friends had gifted them what, such as how it was Sai who had painted the Uchiha crest, and how Naruto had bragged how he paid for most of the new furniture, but it was Hinata who had confessed that he had used Sasuke's inheritance to pay for most of it. Sakura was also slightly disappointed to learn that Tsunade was on vacation and no one knew when she was expected to return.

Sakura continued to meet up with her friends, trading parenting tips and whispering marital confessions that made her and her female friends blush and giggle. Sasuke would at first drag himself and Sarada along the first few times for Sakura's sake, but eventually he would huff at her requests and treasure his time with Sarada alone.

Drop.

She was eight days short of four months old. It was a hot day in July when he was awaken by his wife. Their child was sprawled against his own body, his arm guarding her tiny frame, vowing to keep her safe. He pried his onyx eye open to look at his wife who was hovering over him, her lips a bright cherry-red.

"Ah, sorry, Sasuke-kun. I didn't mean for your lips to..."

"What's wrong with my lips?" He mumbled, still worn out from the multiple times he awoke at night to soothe Sarada.

Sakura brought her thumb down to Sasuke's lips and dragged it along the corners of his mouth. When she finally broke contact he could see the bright red plastered over her thumb. His eyes refused to cooperate and he found himself dozing off again.

"Darling," he heard, her silky voice ringing in his ear. "Sasuke-kun. I'll take Sarada from you." He felt her arms unclasp his own from Sarada's hips, and suddenly a small weight was lifted from his torso.

When he was finally wide awake, feeling revitalised, he stepped out of the shower with only a towel covering his modesty. He rummaged through their wardrobe, but suspiciously found all his tops missing. Frustrated, he cloaked his lower body in the first boxers and trousers he could find.

"Sakura," he called with slight urgency, as he padded down the stairs, clad in only black trousers. With every step he took, the smell of cooking wafted towards him. He opened the door to the dining room, casting a glance at Sarada who was chewing the ear of a green teddy he had gifted her. His mismatched eyes found Sakura in the adjoining kitchen, head bent over the counter. He paced forward and asked, "Sakura, have you seen my tops?"

Her head jerked up at his voice. She turned around to meet his gaze, as she smiled at him with sweat dripping down her glistening forehead. "Oh, darling. I didn't expect you to be up already," she chuckled nervously.

"Sakura," he tried again. "My clothes."

She turned back towards the counter. "I didn't even finish the cake yet. I was trying out this new recipe I learnt from Choji's wife, Karui. She makes it for Choji without him knowing so he doesn't put on more weight than necessary. No sugar, so it shouldn't be sweet, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow and looked at all the dishes that were placed in the middle of the table behind him. He didn't fail to notice that they were all his favourites and more: beef stir-fried sukiyaki with added tomatoes, vegetable stew, tomato salad and hard-boiled eggs. In the middle of the table was placed a glass vase holding white camellias complimented with red roses; the colours of the Uchiha crest, he noted.

He walked towards his wife, and towered over her. His heart thumping close to her ears, as he wrapped his arm around her waist. But alas, his presence still did not grant him her full attention. He was growing impatient, and he growled her name again, but all she gave him was a lecture about how he should be resting. He had had enough. He grasped onto her pink apron and tugged it off, causing the strings to snap. At this, she finally turned to face him properly.

"Sasuke!" She snapped. There were something about her anger that aroused Sasuke. He smirked at her. "My apron..."she pouted.

"I'll buy you a new one," he said, and her pout still lingered, but her emerald eyes gave away her delight. "You've been ignoring me," he stated, factually.

She sighed heavily, exasperated. "It's this stupid cake. I can't seem to make it right. I just wanted everything to be perfect, Sasuke-kun. How am I supposed to know if you'll like it, if I don't like it myself?" He looked at the cake batter dripping from her fingers. He stole away her index finger, and sucked onto it, earning himself a bright red blush to form on his wife's cheeks. "It's good," he said simply. "Not sweet." He enjoyed watching her become all flustered, smirking down at her before he remembered why he sought her out. "Sakura. Clothes?"

Her eyes widened, and then a smirk formed on her own lips. She turned to wash her hands, and then painted his naked torso in wet finger marks. "But I like seeing you naked," she teased, seductively.

He rolled his eyes at her and pulled her hands away. He was all too aware of their child's presence only metres away. "Stop. Also, why all the food? Are we celebrating something?"

She gasped. "I knew it!" She dragged his lone arm and pushed him into a wooden seat at the dining table so that he was staring the aromatic feast right in the face. "You really haven't celebrated this day in a long time, have you?" He was perplexed at what she was talking about. Sakura brought out a plastic bag from behind the door and gifted it to him. He raised a sceptic brow at her, but she insisted he open it. Inside were all his tops and some new, all with Uchiha crests emblazoned on the back.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke-kun."

Drop.

Six months old, and Sasuke had kept his promise. He was always the first to wake to still her cries at night, just like how Sakura would soothe him after a series of whimpering her name at night when he had returned from his journey of redemption. Sasuke would hum a lullaby, rocking his angel, before kissing her forehead and placing her back onto the bed and equipping her with a bottle of milk. Every moment with his child was a moment of bliss and serenity. In the stillness of the night, behind his wife's resting body, he would measure his daughter's hands with his own, comparing the small pudginess as it tried to grasp his own rough, large hands. Everything about her was a miracle to him. Just her soft breaths that she took captivated him, the gurgles and the toothless smiles breathed into him, her soft snores and her farts never failed to make the corners of his lips curl upwards. She was a miracle. When he was sure that Sakura was sound asleep, or when she was off doing errands or catching a break from motherhood with her female friends, Sasuke would whisper to his daughter what he loved about her mother. Sasuke would whisper promises that he would keep his daughter safe no matter at what cost. He would whisper to her - and she would grin back up at him, a tiny flash of white spying at him hidden in the folds of pink gums.

It was during the daytime that Sakura would spend most of her time with Sarada, as Sasuke did the household chores. He would come from a journey to the shops to hear his wife coo to their daughter, "Your Papa is such a gentle man. Yes he is. Yes he is, Sara-chan. And when your Papa comes home, Papa will fix your Mama a big meal. And when you grow up, Papa will make YOU a meal." He would often hear her refer to themselves as Papa and Mama to Sarada, so it was no wonder when Sarada started gurgling sounds such as "pah" and "mah".

Papa. He was a Papa.

Drop.

Seven months old and should would hoist herself up. She would grab onto her Papa's cloak and attempt to match his strides as he paced around the house, folding the laundry. She would often trip, and land with a thud as the rest of her small body met the floor. But her Papa would always be there to pick her up, and run his thumbs along her tears, and whisper to her words of comfort, just how Sakura once did to him. He would kiss her forehead, and then allow her to sit in his lone arm as she straddled his neck with her pudgy arms, forcing him to abandon whatever chore he was engaged in.

Drop.

"Papa."

Tears brimmed in his eyes, and he kissed her nose. It was thanks to his wife that he had been their child's first word. Just like he was Sakura's first love.

That evening, when Sarada was in a deep slumber, they stole away to the spare bedroom to remind each other what they meant to the other, slipping off the barriers of fabric that separated them. Whispering their lover's name. Tugging at long locks. Coiled in love.

Eight months.

Drop.

March 31st.

Thanks to his idiot best friend, his wife's birthday had been overshadowed by Naruto and Hinata's wedding anniversary combined with their son's first birthday party. The party, three days prior, had mainly consisted of adults supervising infants at a play date. Sasuke didn't bother himself with memorising the names of the new generation - he could barely remember Naruto's son's name. He just knew it rhymed with 'Naruto'. Sakura, on the other hand, knew each and every one of the new babes, and took it upon herself to take as many pictures of the infants as she could.

It was during this party that someone had brought up the discussion of honeymoons, and Sasuke found himself bombarded with questions of how he spent his honeymoon with Sakura. Sasuke's only response was a narrow glare, demanding privacy of his sacred relationship with his wife.

It was March 31st when he surprised his wife a few hours after sunrise by lunging a packed rucksack at her sleeping form. They journeyed to a nearby town they had briefly visited when Sarada was still a newborn. The next three days consisted of cruising on ships whilst watching the river gleam beneath them during the midday sun; showing Sarada the different animals at the zoo; and watching the fireworks together at night on a bench, distancing themselves from the crowds. It was on the third night that Sakura probed him, "You really went all out for our birthday, what brought this all along, hmm?"

He couldn't seem to meet her pacifying stare, and looked up at the bursts of colours that lit up the dark sky. "I.. I'm sorry," he managed weakly.

He wasn't sure, but he imagined her face contorted from amusement into bewilderment as she said, "Huh? What are you talking about?"

He burrowed himself into Sarada's fine hair who was resting within his embrace. He murmured into black silk, "We never got to have a honeymoon... So I'm sorry. I hope this trip can make up for it."

He instinctively lifted his head up to meet the burst of laughter that bubbled up from Sakura. Streaks of red tainted his cheeks. "What's so funny?" He asked, his eyes narrow, suspicious of being the subject of her laughter.

She muffled her laughter by resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh, Sasuke-kun," she purred. "Our travels together was like one long honeymoon, don't you think?"

The flush on his cheeks only deepened. "Is that really enough for you?" He questioned. She curled her arms around the remnants of his left arm and kissed his black kimono that concealed his stump. She lifted her head to meet his onyx eye that looked down at her, his brows furrowed. She used one hand to gently part away the long black bangs that covered his purple ripples that captivated her more than his sharingan.

"I've told you before, Sasuke. You've always been enough." She smiled sweetly up at him, and he felt his insides flutter in response. She took Sarada from his arm, and squeezed their daughter into an embrace. "More than enough."

He understood the language of her gestures, and he could only agree with her. The fruition of their child is what had brought them together, entwining his fate with hers, making their bond official. Their travels together whilst Sakura's stomach bloomed in pregnancy made their journey together all the more heavenly, despite the different tasks they were still occupied with at the time. Everything had fallen into place once they had legitimised their relationship, and it was only due to the news of a small bud - a flicker - that had made him come to his senses. Even under a starless sky, Sarada was the starlight that would always guide him home to Sakura.

Sakura had noticed the intensity in the way he was looking down at her and Sarada. She knew full well he didn't like public displays of affection, but she wondered if in this moment he desired a more physical way of displaying his emotions. The thought made her blush, but she attempted to seize the opportunity anyway. She tilted her face up towards him, closing her eyes as she leaned in close.

"What are you doing?" He hissed.

She looked at him through half-lidded jade eyes and whispered, "Kiss me, Sasuke." She slightly puckered her lips, her right hand buried in the black hair of their daughter who was staring up at her mother in wonder. Sasuke watched his wife lean towards him with a coolness in his eyes. He observed how the bursts of purple and green in the sky brightened her face in the dark. He leaned down, and went lower still, until his lips brushed his daughter's forehead. Sakura pried her eyes open at the touch of hair tickling her cheeks. She looked at him expectantly. He lifted his head and smirked, before poking her forehead. She pouted and touched where his fingers had lingered just seconds before.

"You're such a tease, Sasuke-kun."

Drop.

Fourteen months.

That's how old she was when her Mama's maternity leave had ended. Mama was cooped up in the hospital for most days, and when she was home she was either busy reading through scrolls or books borrowed from the library, or she would be fast asleep. Papa took on most of the duties in the household, as well as raising Sarada. He was still fascinated by everything she did. He knew what each of her cries meant, had memorised the meaning behind each of her gestures, and had managed to decipher each of her gurgles. He would give in to some of her demands, and at other times he would adopt a more firmer parental role, such as refusing her crying demands to play with her noisy toys whilst Mama was resting.

When both Sakura and Sasuke were free from other duties, they would sit on either sides of the dining room, and call out to Sarada who would pad towards them, one wobbly foot after the other. It was often that she would find herself waddling up to her Papa who would envelop her in his safe arm and kiss her forehead. If she ever toppled over, Sarada would squirm out a "shano-no", earning a fit of giggles from Mama.

Drop.

July 23rd.

Sarada sat on Papa's shoulders as he strolled across Senju park. It was on the bridge that he passed the Uzumaki family.

"Oi! Idiot!", the loser called in a familiar manner. The blonde dork stepped away from his family and bounded towards him. "Ahh, Sarada-chan. For your Papa's birthday you should teach him how to smile."

Sasuke scowled.

"Uncle Narto," Sarada replied with a big grin, her tiny fists scrunching up her Papa's hair, giddy with excitement as she greeted her favourite uncle. "Papa 'appy."

Naruto reached his hand to ruffle Sarada's coal hair. "It can be quite hard to tell," Naruto chuckled.

Sasuke ignored Naruto's remark and pushed past him, intending to continue their stroll: a way to treasure the bond between father and daughter. He nodded towards Hinata, who greeted him back meekly as she held her son's hand. He stepped off the bridge, ready to make their way home when he was again halted by an outburst by Naruto. "Make sure you thank Sakura-chan the usual way, 'Sasuke-kuuun'!" Naruto taunted.

Sasuke's feet came to a stop, and he turned his head slightly so that his purple ripples were fixated onto the future Hokage, his eye narrowed. "What does that mean?" He scrutinised, but Naruto's attention had already been diverted back to his wife and kid.

The twilight sky stole away the vibrant greens surrounding them, and the deep blue of the streams, leaving only in their wake, a hue of purple and orange to dance along the cobblestones. Sasuke's feet found its way home, and he was greeted by his darling wife, "Welcome home, Sasuke!" Her rosy hair fell flat on her forehead, the tips dripping onto her white bathrobe, signalling that she had just showered.

She reached over his head and unclasped Sarada from his arm that was holding her right foot, securing her behind his neck. The scent of lavender left soft kisses on his nose. A new perfume? Once Sarada's feet landed onto the flooring, Sakura led her into the dining room, and beckoned her husband over. "Dinner's all ready," she chimed.

She adorned her apron Sasuke had bought for her, a light pink printed with cherry blossoms, as they helped each other with the dishes.

She couldn't help but notice he had worn a scowl all evening, even when Sarada had sputtered, "Papa, 'appy bthday". He was drying down a plate when she purposefully snuck behind him, warming his body up with her own. She purred into his ear, "Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. Your gift is waiting for you upstairs." Even then she barely received a reaction out of him.

Sakura held Sarada's hand as they led Sasuke up the the stairs. They stopped outside the spare bedroom, causing a brow to lift on the sharingan wielder's face. "Open the door," she urged with a smile. "Your gift is inside."

Perplexed, Sasuke slowly opened the door to find a wooden cot on the left side of the room, complete with a mobile hanging down and Sarada's favourite green teddy that was bigger than her pushed to a side. Pink and red cushions had been plumped up and were crowded into one corner of the cot. Beside the cot sat a mossy green armchair, a refreshing contrast to the deep purple of the walls and the lilac carpeting. The rest of Sarada's toys sat in a box, and her clothes were hung within the oak cupboard, a white sleeve slipping out.

Sasuke's eyes glazed over the room, until it fell back down onto Sakura.

"You like it?" She prodded.

"I see that you've been busy, but... what does this have to do with me?" He questioned.

Sakura hoisted Sarada into her arms and sat on the armchair, and parted her bathrobe open to reveal her breasts. "Go make yourself comfy, darling. I'll join you once she's asleep."

It was another hour before Sakura found Sasuke resting on their bed, his back leaning against the headboard. She draped herself over her husband, and traced random patterns on his clothed chest. Not only was he still fully clothed, to her dismay, but he was also still wearing a scowl that could kill. She attempted to quell his frustrations by finding his collarbone with her lips, planting soft kisses, before moving to his Adam's apple which was bobbing up and down.

He grimaced and shoved her head off from him and grunted, "Enough."

She looked up at him apologetically, but it was clear from the way she had hurriedly crawled off him that she was mostly hurt. She sat beside him on her knees, attempting to control the waver in her voice as she asked, "Is something wrong, S-Sasuke-kun? You've been acting strange ever since you got home. Maybe I should have ex-explained instead of assuming you would understand, but I fixed up the spare b-bedroom for Sarada so that we could have more time to ourselves. At least now we can finally make use of the bed when we-"

"Sakura," he said. His brows had angled towards the centre as he glared at her. "Have you been talking about... us? About what we get up to... when we're alone?"

He had his answer when her cream complexion transitioned into a deep red. She waved her hands in front of her. "H-how do you know th-that?" She squirmed.

He sighed, breaking the almost permanent scowl that had been etched onto his face for the last few hours. "It was something Naruto said."

"NARUTO?! I never told him anything! But then again... Hinata did mention that Naruto has his ways of getting her to confess secrets... But I never would have imagined that they would be MY secrets! When I get my hands on that jerk, he'll wish he never met me!"

Sasuke masked his smirk by looking away, noting how Sakura had altogether skipped over and forgiven Hinata in an instant and had instead resorted to blaming Naruto. "Sakura," he groaned. "You know I don't like people knowing about my business. Please..."

The unspoken words hang in the air for some time, before Sakura cupped his face and turned it towards her. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. So what will be my punishment?" She had a sultry look about her that danced in the green glimmers of her veridian eyes as she batted her eyelashes at him. He was entranced. She took her lower lip between the grips of her teeth and it stirred a wave of guilt flooded with arousal. He laced his fingers with hers as he apologised for his behaviour and actions with whispers and heartfelt kisses on her forehead and nose, before giving into what she desired most: her punishment.

Drop.

She won't tell him when their wedding anniversary is. He believes it's some time in August, as a result he brings her a new flower each day of the month. Each flower is adorned with tears of love, gratitude, and regret. If she doesn't understand his gestures, he makes it known to her in other ways whenever they are alone; a touch of an I love you, a kiss of a Thank you, and a whisper of "I'm sorry".

It is on the last day of August that he sinks to his knees and begs for forgiveness. He promises to be a better husband and father. She just laughs and strokes his raven hair that sits on her lap. Sarada sits behind her parents on the bed and investigates her 31 new toys with her mouth.

Seventeen months.

Drop.

24 months.

A week ago he had threatened Naruto, demanding he celebrate his wedding anniversary with his growing family in private.

The Uchiha patriarch took his wife and daughter for another three day vacation, starting from March 28th - Sakura's birthday, to a cottage that sat beside a beach. The waves would lap up to them, causing delighted screams from a toddler as her father sunbathed and her mother swam a few metres away, enjoying the strokes of salty water crash onto her skin. The heat of the grainy sand beneath the soles of their feet smoothed away any calluses, as if the crashes of waves was finally cleansing sea shells of any grimes, freeing them from the taint of sins, and allowing them to twinkle like starlight. Ears rang of shrieks of laughter and heightened voices of excitement; where Sasuke should have felt at peace, he was only tormented with the fears growing in his ever-aching heart, riddled with anxieties...

It was the evening of March 31st when they returned home. Sarada had passed out in Sakura's arms on the journey home, resulting in Sasuke having to carry most of the bags full of clothes and prizes Sakura had won for Sarada at the fair in his lone arm. Exhausted, they slumped onto the grassy field in front of their house and looked up at the full moon. Sakura leaned against the remnants of Sasuke's arm, with Sarada asleep between them; her silky raven locks splayed across his kimono, as the rest of her body slumped in her mother's. There was a calmness about her as she slept, Sasuke observed, the faint breathing that escaped her nose contrasted with his own erratic beats of his pulse.

The sky was glittered with a thousand stars. Sasuke activated his sharingan in order to capture this moment; in the near future when he would find no hand to hold in the darkness, no stray hairs to tuck, he would count how many stars lay within his vision, he vowed.

"The moon looks beautiful tonight," his wife whispered, as her face glistened under the moonlight. Her words sang into Sasuke's ears, reminding him of the many times he had whispered that very line he had memorised from a love sonnet, as he felt his fingers tingle over skin, tracing the swelling of her stomach as they had lain together naked under the light of the moon during their travels.

He shut his eyes, allowing her confession of love to wash over him, only allowing himself to look at the moon again once he was sure the blood had rushed away from his face.

"Aah," he replied. "I know." I love you too.

His words had come out as a croak, his emotions had begun to overpower him. As he struggled to suppress the slight twitch of his fingers, Sakura reached over and held his hand, squeezing it. The soothing of her touch coursed throughout his body, engulfing him.

"You didn't marry a fool, you know," she whispered.

Her only reply was a chattering of the leaves that hung over them.

"You didn't need to lie to me," she tried again, knowing that would invoke a response.

"I've never lied to yo-"

"I know," she interrupted. "But you didn't need to hide anything from me. I know about your private meetings with Hokage-sama, Naruto and Shikamaru. You should have told me. I'm also a pillar of Konoha - I'm the head of the medical department. I'm also a member of Team 7, and most importantly, I'm your-"

"Wife. I know," he choked out. A single tear rolled down his face. Sakura turned to look at him, her face void of everything but contempt; nothing short of seriousness.

"When are you leaving?" she probed.

"...How did you find out?" He asked, guilt dripping from each word as he attempted to divert the conversation.

"Sasuke, I know the human body inside and out. I knew that something was wrong months ago, but I was waiting for you to tell me in your own time. But it was Hinata who confided in me, informing me about Naruto's suspisciously long 'journey to the stalls' at odd times of the day. Honestly, you should have told me. If there's something worrying you - whether it's Kaguya or something else - you can tell me." She squeezed his hand tighter and smiled. "You can count on me. Always."

He still struggled to meet her gaze, even when she planted a kiss on his cheek.

"So," she tried again. "When are you leaving?"

Silence. He gulped. He forced himself to look down on her and at least let her look onto his forlorn face as he gives her a sliver of the truth. He owed her that much.

"At sunrise," he said. He studied her as her eyes grew wide ever so slightly, and then fell, downcast. He felt her hand slip away from his, leaving only the chill air in place of the warmth that radiated off of her. He felt the weight from his lap become lighter as she scooped up their daughter into her arms and turned away from him. Before she could take another step, he found himself on one knee as he gripped a wrist.

"Wait!" Sasuke commanded.

"I'm going sleep. Goodnight, Sasuke." She attempted to tug away, but his hold on her was firm. He knew full well she would not infuse her chakra whilst holding Sarada.

"We should talk." He was now standing on both feet beside her, looking down.

"Talk? About what?" She scoffed. "There's clearly nothing to talk about if you were just going to leave without a word."

"I'm sorry, Sakura. This - this isn't how I wanted you to find out. I couldn't find it in myself to break it to you... I know that I've never had it in me to go with grace. But, this time... I... I don't want to leave. And especially not like this. Please, Sakura." His brows threaded together, his mismatches eyes pleading in desperation.

She sighed, and he knew he had been forgiven. He released his grip from her. She looked towards their daughter who resembled so much of her father. "When will you return?" She whispered, almost as if a prayer.

"It should only take three months. I'll return as soon as I can," he promised.

"Take us with you..."

"And what about Sarada? You know that's not safe. It wouldn't be fair on her to compromise her safety. This is... why I didn't want to tell you." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "This is where you're needed Sakura. With our daughter. I'll be fine."

She looked up at her husband in defeat, her lips quivering as she spoke. "You're right, I'm just being selfish," she admitted, sounding broken. "But please, Sasuke. Please come back to me," she pleaded. "Come back home."

He took a step forward, closing the distance. And kissed her on her brow. I will.

Drop.

The crescent moon hung low in the sky, reflecting the sun's light into a haze of silver that danced along every atom it touched. A silver finger of light touched the tears of a man's face, as he lay motionless on a bed of grass, staring into the starless sky. Two years of peace, laughter and happiness shone in his mismatched eyes - but the guilt of it all seeped out of him. Two years of living a life he never dared to dream of; two years without pain nor sorrow; two years of blocking out the rest of the shinobi world as it crumbled away into a dark abyss... Throughout the myriad of developing and cherishing his bonds with his loved ones, he had neglected his duties to the rest of the world, putting his daughter and wife first. But in the process, the rest of the world had gone to ruins. Despite the Five Great Nations still entangled with each other as allies, tiptoeoing around each other as they played a game of politics, smaller nations and villages had began to sprout an increasing number of threats: S-rank bandits and assassins, inconspicuous gangs and many more outlaws had started to lurk in the darkest corners of the earth, each with a different motive.

He knew what he had to do now, and it had been gnawing away at him for the last year. His happiness would have to be sacrificed for the the sake of the shinobi world. For the peace of his village. For the safety of his family. The knowledge that his absence would contribute towards Sarada's safety conflicted him. He had already missed out on so much the past two and a half months. The last letter Sakura had written to him two weeks ago was left scrunched up in his bruised hand.

My beloved Sasuke,

Do not fret, for I look forward to each letter you write. Each word, as few as they are, are a testament of your love for us, I am sure. I like to believe I have learnt to read your unspoken methods of communication throughout the years, and your lack of words on paper are no different.

We are doing fine, my love. I have been inundated with night shifts, and it is those nights I seem to miss you the most. Do not fear for Sarada, for my parents are always delighted to have her, even for sleepovers. Tonight, however, I should be leaving her in the care of Hinata and Naruto. I only worry that she may pick up bad mannerisms from Naruto.

This week I found Sarada has been fond of the little black cats that sometimes loiter around our home. I heard her pick out names for them, calling them "Sask" and "Tachi". When they frighten her with a hiss she has been shrieking back at them, "Shannaro". She really is a perfect mix of both of us.

I look forward to your next letter, or if you should return to us before then, I look forward to see your perfect face once again.

Take care, my love.

Your wife, Sakura.

Sakura had been replying to each of Sasuke's letters he would have delivered to her weekly since he left that one fateful night. But it had been already two weeks since he had received and responded, with no reply back. Agony wrenched his heart, clasping it in its hands and crushing it. Different scenarios of why she had not responded had migrated into his mind, casting off any other thoughts, leaving him blind with anguish at his last enemy's attack. For all the time he had spent with his world-renowned medical ninja wife, and he had only learnt the basics of medical ninjutsu on how to neutralise the effects of simple poison formulas. He cursed himself for his own ego which had prevented him from asking his wife on more of basics. His accursed Uchiha ego and pride. That's what had led him to his downfall and unable to move a single muscle.

He closed his eyes, and accepted that he would have to wait out the rest of the night, allowing sleep to be his healer.

A child as young as summer grass ran home from the Academy - he had been training profusely, and night had already fallen. The full moon hung across the darkened sky, and he swore he saw a silhouette hunched over a pillar, spying down at him. Whatever he saw, it had vanished in a blink, causing him to doubt whether he had seen anything at all. The naive child ran along the cobblestones which always had welcomed him with such warmth; the cheery smiles of his uncles and aunts greeting him back home - but tonight was different. A chill ran along his spine, and goosebumps had sprouted out all over his arms. And that was when he saw it.

He had witnessed this scene a thousand times, memorising the cold blood that had painted the bricks on either side of the road. He knew how this played out. The child screamed in horror as he darted over corpses of his clansmen, rushing to his home, praying that his parents had not reached the same fate. The child cautiously creaked the door open, his heart in his throat, praying, wishing, hoping... but no prayers would be answered, as he knew full well.

His eyes fell across two figures slumped on the ground, a woman and her child. He barely had time to register that tonight, the ending of this horror that struck him had been altered. Blood leaked out of the two lifeless females, causing snakes of red to slither around the unlit room. All that the trembling child could make out was the pink hair tainted red. Looming over their corpses was an adult man staring at the child. Horrified onyx eyes found crimson red eyes that were patterned like venomous flowers. A spark of lightning still sparked in the man's left arm. Blink. And the helpless child fell to his knees, as the erratic pulsing of his heart was halted by lightning.

He escaped his nightmares, coming to his senses as he found a glowing green over his mismatched eyes. The green haze of chakra enveloped slender hands which seemed all too familiar.

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun."

The ring of her voice was barely audible, but only one face came to mind at whose it belonged to.

Maybe he was still trapped in a world of dreams.

A/N: If you've come this far, you deserve a medal. I'd be grateful if you could leave a review.

You can also find me on Wattpad where I sometimes edit and update previous chapters (something which I don't always do on or on the other platforms I've published this), and it also has links to my AMV/s which inspired me to write this fanfic.