Spark

A/N: Turns out this isn't the long awaited chapter I've been waiting to write. ...Maybe next time?

The stillness of the night is captured by two foreheads touching, and tips of noses nestled against each other. Hands are interlocked whilst an air of love clouds them, so much so that it even radiates from the neighbouring room where a child sleeps soundlessly. Hearts are connected, and so are dreams. In one, a child sits in the lap of her father whilst her mother watches, her smile gleaming down on them like the sun. In another, a wife waters tomato plants whilst her husband smiles fondly at her, their daughter sitting on his lap. Lastly, a husband tells stories of his wife to their daughter, as she holds a cherry blossom; he can feel his wife's smile blessing them with her presence. Dawn breaks out into the sky, and the earth is glittered with tints of pink and orange. The blue sky is grateful for being painted in such bright colours, even if it can only meet the other colours with the flow of time, as short as it may allow. A choir of birds tweet their good mornings to the tranquil world, and a woman lazily stirs as her beloved kisses her lips.

"Are you going tonight?" The woman asks with a yawn, as her hand unclasps from her husband's and begins it's ritual stretch.

"No. Not tonight. I heard a ferocious woman took care of the area I was manning," the smirk was evident in his voice.

"Hmm. I wish I could meet that woman and thank her for allowing me to spend some precious time with my husband," she responds.

A soft chuckle can be heard from the right side of the bed.

There is movement under the blankets, and it can only be presumed that one leg bends over another, if nothing else. Satisfied sighs and moans can be heard if you listened closely, otherwise, the only sound that is clearly evident is made by the shuffling of sheets.

A few more moments pass before the man sits up and stares down lovingly at the woman lying beside him. "Today my duties will be to my wife and daughter," he announces with conviction.

"And tomorrow?" comes the response.

"Tomorrow..." His voice falters.

The woman sits up and stares at her husband, her hand caresses his perfectly chiselled face. "You'll have to leave again won't you?"

He struggles to meet the green pool that lays before him, his eyes instead averting towards her other slender hands resting against the blanket.

"It's okay, Sasuke-kun," she assures him, voice soft as her skin. "As long as you come back to us. It's okay."

And that is enough for him to take the hand that holds him and kiss into it, whilst matching her glance. She is always enough.

He regains his duties as a house-husband, if only for a day. He accompanies his wife to cook up breakfast, and then takes on the responsibility to do the laundry when she swats him away. His new name is heard from upstairs, and he follows the cries to find his daughter standing up in her cot, her raven mane spiked up at the back.

"Papa is here, Sarada," he soothes his daughter. "Let's get you washed."

Freshly bathed and newly clothed, he holds smaller hands as he brings his offspring down the stairs to eat with her mother.

"Mama?," their daughter asks, avoiding the spoonful of food her Papa is holding out to her. "Are you going doctors?"

"Oh, no, honey," the mother responds. "I won't be at the hospital today. Lady Tsunade insisted I take the rest of the week off. So I can be home with you and Papa today. Is there anything you'd like to do?"

"Yes!" the child shrieked in excitement. "I want..." She pushed her father's hands out of her line of sight as she thought deeply about what she desired. "I want a baby!"

A metal spoon clanks onto the table as the father is left stunned. Her mother freezes in place, stammering, "W-What did you say, dear?"

"A baby!" Sarada repeated with more enthusiasm. "Boruto said his Mama is having baby. I want my Mama to have a baby. Plea-ea-ea-se?"

Sasuke blinks a few times, coming back to his senses. He decides to stop attempting at feeding his child and instead opts to take a few gulps of water.

Sakura looks dazed for a moment, before she composes herself and takes charge of the situation, realising that her husband is as stunned as she was. "Well... you see, Sarada. That's quite... complicated."

"But why, Mama?"

Sakura looks around the room before making eye contact with her child again. "To me and your Papa, you are our baby. So there's no reason to have another one."

Sarada considered this for a moment, a finger under her chin as her lips twisted together.

"I see... But Boruto said his Papa stay hom buh-cos new baby coming. If I am baby, why Papa leave me?"

Sasuke felt as if his heart constricted. Everything went blank except for his daughter's words ringing in his ear. It was like the toll of a bell that wouldn't stop. If I am baby, why Papa leave me? Why Papa leave me? Why Papa... Papa leave me? Papa leave... Leave me? As if far off into the distance, he thought he heard his wife yelp. He was able to see colour again when he heard his wife address him, "Sasuke-kun, you love our Sarada, don't you?" He blinked again and could see pastel coloured hair mixed with black as his wife had embraced Sarada into a hug.

His lips still felt dry despite the amount of water he had drank. He licked his lips again. "Ah," he managed. "Yes." He closed his eyes and then closed the distance. He brought his chair closer to his daughter's and wrapped his arm around his wife and daughter. He murmured into soft pink and black locks, "I had to leave to keep you safe, Sarada. I'm sorry." He was unsure if she understood or even heard, but he pulled away when he heard. "Papa, Mama. You're squishing me."

Sakura apologised and returned to her seat opposite the table.

Sasuke picked up the metal spoon he had dropped and brought it to his child's mouth. Once she had swallowed, he reminded her, "Sarada, Sakura asked you if you wanted to do anything today. Tell me and we'll do it."

She looked at her father's onyx eye, and then reached out and parted his hair, cooing at his purple eye. She said in a hushed whisper, as if a secret between the two, "I want Mama and Papa to show me jusu."

Sasuke looked at his wife, and she nodded. "Sure, Sarada. We can show you some of our jutsus,"Sakura approved. "But we don't want you trying to copy us, okay? Can you promise us that?"

"Yes, Mama."

His daughter had made her wish known, and as her father, he would grant it.

The rest of the morning consisted of playing board games, drawing and reading books. It was after lunch that the Uchiha family finally made their way towards the training ground that held precious memories. Sasuke displayed a small ember of a fire ball jutsu, and Sakura demonstrated how to heal people. Sarada watched her parents in awe. Sakura then transformed into a Sasuke who shone a dashing smile, earning fits of giggles from Sarada. Sarada then pestered both of her parents to transform into different people from the village from 'Hokage Kashi' to 'Uncle Naruto' and even 'Auntie Temari'. Her laughter tired herself out until she found herself dozing off into Papa's lap.

Sasuke stroked his daughters hair, and looked at the mother of his child. Her smile was as bright as the sun, and it warmed every inch of him. He would do anything to ensure that smile stayed plastered onto her face.

"Sakura," he uttered, the syllables rolling of his tongue like a lost lullaby. "I was thinking... I want to learn to heal." It took every bit of him to muster the courage to admit that: that he needed her expansive knowledge.

"Oh, I was actually thinking the same thing," Sakura admitted. "I think it would be good for you to learn some more basics as I won't always be there to help you on your missions. Especially if you'll be gone for months at a time. That way you also don't have to worry about finding a local hospital or using your remaining chakra to teleport back to me with your rinn-"

"No," Sasuke interrupted before she could go on. "I want you to teach me in case something ever happens to you. Or to Sarada, and you're not available."

Sakura flushed a deep red. "Th-that - I-I don't think it'll ever come to that," she stammered out.

"Still. You're always saying how I should be more careful. This is me being careful," Sasuke explained.

"Okay, if you insist...But in return, I want you to teach me something," Sakura bargained.

Sasuke perked up a brow. "What... do you want me to teach you?" he asked slowly.

"Hmm, how about the fire style jutsu? I think it'll be good practice for when you have to teach Sarada in the future, don't you think?" Her words sent him into a daydream. He thought about an older Sarada. She may have awakened the sharingan by then, or not, if fate had been kind to her. She would probably resemble more of himself, but he imagined she would carry herself like her mother, and probably wear Sakura's genin clothes if not something similar. He imagined teaching an 8-year old Sarada fire style jutsu like his own father had once, albeit being more compassionate with her.

"Well?" Sakura pressed.

"Sure," Sasuke agreed.

Sakura brought out a blanket and pillow from Sarada's baby bag she carried around with her, and wrapped Sarada in it as both parents spent the rest of the afternoon teaching each other the basics of their dexterity. Sasuke took it upon himself to heal the burn marks that were etched around Sakura's lips. He was drawn to her lips as he focused his chakra onto her, fingers almost grazing them as he did. He knew she could feel the intensity of his stare as a rose tint formed on her cheeks.

"That's enough, Sasuke-kun," she whispered to him. "You've really got the hang of this."

"Are you sure?" he asked, as the green glow of chakra started to fade away from his fingertips. He allowed one finger to gently brush her lips.

"Y-yes," she squeaked, flustered.

"So it'll be okay if I do this?" He held her face and leaned in and checked for bruising and burns with his own lips. He heard a small whimper escape her rosy lips. He felt one of her hands snake around his head until it tugged at the ends of his hair, and the other draw circles around his stump just above his sleeve. He was drawn to her like opposing magnets that attract only each other; like a freezing man starved of warmth who finally finds a burning fire. If he had meant to be the healer, why did it still feel like it was her who was doing the healing? Their tongues tangled together in a passionate dance of dominance which he was clearly winning. His hand snaked up towards the back of her own head, and he pulled her deeper into the kiss. He had almost lost all of his other senses. Almost.

His ears twitched at the slight sound of blankets ruffling against grass and a tiny yawn erupt, and he immediately jumped away and landed far away from Sakura as possible, whilst still being in the line of sight of his daughter who was rubbing her eyes. Sakura stood where she was dazed, trying to comprehend what had just taken place. When she spied Sarada stumbling to her feet, realisation dawned and she picked up Sarada.

"Sasuke-kun, can you please pack up Sarada's things?" she asked, all the while giggling to herself.

He obeyed her requests wordlessly.

"Mama, why laughing?" Sarada asked inquisitively.

"Oh, it's nothing," Sakura replied, trying but failing to stifle her giggles. "It's just your Papa is a funny man."

Sasuke felt the weight of his daughter's eyes on him as she measured his worth as a 'funny man'. Sarada scrunched up her face as she said, "Papa is funny? I not believe it."

This only made Sakura burst out laughing even more. Sasuke grumbled a "Shut up" to his wife as he brushed passed them and led them back home.

The day settled into darkness as the family bonded some more over photo albums, choosing a new bed for Sarada whilst flicking through Konoha's catalogue, and dinner. The day ended with Sarada asleep between her parents in the middle of their bed. As the child slept, the parents spoke in a whisper, both of them with an elbow resting on a pillow.

"Sakura, I've been thinking about everything that happened the last few days, and I... I've realised... When I'm away from both of you..." he struggled to vocalise his thoughts. "I find it difficult," he finished.

Sakura pieced together what he was trying to say, and advised her husband, "Sasuke, I know it can be hard for you. I can only barely imagine how it must feel to love so fiercely after so many long years of loneliness and hardship..." He was amazed at how she could read him so openly. "...But, I think you should use that love you have for us and instead of allowing it to cloud your mind whilst you're on missions, use it focus yourself. Use it to remind yourself why you can't be with us. And Sasuke, we'll always be here waiting for you." She touched his arm and smiled at him affectionately.

A flurry of emotions overwhelmed him, and he blinked back tears. "Thank you... Sakura."

He watched her as her hand linked with his own that was supporting his head up, and as her face inched closer... he leaned back just in time to dodge her insultingly tempting lips.

"Eh?! How come-" She looked at his face that was tinted with embarrassment. "Oh! Is this about earlier?" She giggled.

"Don't laugh at me, Sakura," he pouted.

"I'm sorry, but you're just so cute," she laughed. "You were actually serious about not kissing in front of our daughter!"

He huffed. The taint on his cheeks faded away as he diverted the subject. "Sakura," he said, his voice growing serious. Her face contorted as it matched his tone, and she stole her hand away from him, and let it fall on the bed before her. "If anything happens to Sarada, or even you, I want you to tell me. I'm her father and your husband and I need to know. I need you to be honest with me."

Sakura took her lower lip in between her teeth and chewed on it.

"Sakura!" He spoke her name with such force it made her bite down hard onto her lip, and she mewled in pain.

For a split second he thought about healing it better with his lips again before casting that thought away. He was losing it.

"Are you sure, Sasuke-kun?"

"I know you're just trying to protect me. But trust me, it's better if I know. Not knowing won't make me worry any less. At least then I'll know that when you say you're both fine, you mean it."

"...Okay fine, Sasuke-kun. Just... don't do anything reckless."

"Know that I'll be thinking of you if I do," he teased, with a smirk threatening to form.

She lightly punched him just above his stump. "Remember you're trying to control your emotions!"

He chuckled softly, "I know."

She rested her head on the pillow and looked up at the ceiling. "Will you still be here when I awake?"

He bent over and lightly tapped her forehead, causing her to close her eyes. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Maybe next time. He kissed his sleeping daughter's nose, and let his own head fall and rest, allowing slumber to overtake him. He left at the first spark of sunrise.

Over a month had passed and in her letters he had learnt about every moment Sarada had cried for her Papa and every time Sarada had grazed her knee or earned a cut. He is overwhelmed with emotion each time as he feels his breathing hitch and his pulse quicken, however, he has also managed to suppress his emotions in the face of a battle and has relearned how to keep his composure. No one is able to scar him, instead, Sasuke leaves his opponents bloodied and crisped with a mix of black and red flames and only extinguishes them when they agree to cooperate and change their ways - whether that is under the shadow of a demonic susano or within the confinements of a prison cell.

At an inn, Sasuke sits at the hearth as the last letter from Sakura warms him:

My dear Sasuke-kun,

I'm glad to hear that you are doing well. I have attached a small scroll that has medicinal herbs with instructions on how to use in case your left arm starts to swell again.

You'll be happy to know that Sarada has started to add Itachi-san to her drawings. I showed her some of your old family photos, I hope you don't mind. She can't stop drawing red blotches now - I've figured they're supposed to be the red clouds on yours and Itachi-san's cloaks.

Since I last wrote to you, Sarada fell off a swing and grazed her knee. It's nothing to be concerned about of course, but I was still surprised how she didn't cry at all as she did swing up to about five feet into the air. Although she awoke at night crying for you again, I think the nightmares may be becoming worse.

I've negotiated with Hokage-sama and I've now become part-time at the hospital, so I can look after Sarada more now that you won't be home often.

If you can, please come back on July 23rd. I can't wait to see you.

I love you.

Forever yours,

Sakura U.

He traces every word with his thumb and commits to memory each stroke of her pen. July 23rd has come and gone and it was now the first week of August. Sasuke took one last look at the letter with his crimson eye, before throwing it into the fire. He hadn't had the time to respond, but he would now respond with a bouquet of apologies, personally.

He couldn't decide whether he should pick them fresh from a field or whether to buy a bouquet, in the end he bought a batch of red roses and decorated it with a personal touch of freshly picked flowers. A purple eye flashed causing a black spiral to swallow a man whole, transporting him to the front yard of a brown bricked house.

He heard two female voices coming from within the bottom left window; Sasuke leaned against the trunk of a tree, under the shade of a hundred leaves as his ears twitched at the sound of his name escape two pairs of lips.

"Oh Sakura, I don't know how you do it. I don't think I'd be able to stand my own husband missing our wedding anniversary. You really don't know when Sasuke will be back?" Sasuke spied a flash of blonde hair sway as he saw the other woman's hands take hold of his wife's.

He heard Sakura sigh. "Sasuke is a really busy man. And of course I miss him... but I also understand. He has too much responsibilities on his shoulders, as he has duties to the world that only he can perform. I just wish I could be more of help to him, you know?" He heard her sigh again. "I was hoping he'd come back on his birthday... I asked him to in my letter."

"Oh so you've been speaking to him? Did he say why he couldn't come back?"

"No... I haven't heard back from him... I guess it's too much to hope he'd come back today. Three years of marriage... I don't think he even knows it's our anniversary. He forgot the last two years."

"WHAT?! Seriously Sakura! How can you- UGH! I'd kick Sai's ass if he forgot! And for three years straight as well! But, are you sure he doesn't remember you anniversary?"

"Huh? Why do you ask that?"

"Uh... Erm..."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as the voices dwindled to a whisper. He jumped onto the roof of his house in hopes of hearing the rest of the conversation. He needed to know how Sakura felt, the words she couldn't say to his face but instead turned to her female friends for. He wanted to read her heart as easily as she could read his. All of a sudden, the top left window flew open and a blonde woman lifted her head up and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"I KNEW IT!" Ino cried out. "Don't underestimate the Yamanaka clan's technique! I knew that was your chakra signature!"

Sasuke had been caught red handed. Literally.

"Oh my god!" Ino gasped. "Sakura... Your husband's arrived with a confession of love and apologies!" He heard a shuffle and a few grunts, and soon enough Ino was gripping Sakura by her collar and forcing her to look up. "Look at the flowers! I take back what I said earlier, you're such a lucky woman, Sakura. I really am going to beat Sai's ass now. See ya forehead! Oh and don't forget to pick up Sarada from Hinata's! I think I'll pick up Inojin before I whoop Sai. Anyway, I expect to hear you scream Sasuke's name from my house." She winked at Sakura and jumped out of the window and hopped over rooftops.

Mismatched eyes met emerald, and he found himself staring into a forest full of the most enchanting mystical creatures. He was bathing under a sun as he dipped his feet into a lake where it was rumoured that all the greatest poets went to die. Beams of sunlight rippled across the heavenly water where a mermaid with pastel coloured hair swam at the bottom and whispered "Sasuke-kun...", luring him into the depths of dark blue where no other soul has come back from.

He blinked, and the mermaid lost her fins and tail and was suddenly clothed in red. He jumped down into their bedroom and closed the window behind them, locking it. "Sakura, I... I'm home."

She flung her arms around his neck and teared into the crook of his neck, as she stood on her tallest tiptoes. "Welcome home, darling," he heard as she softly whimpered into him.

From that point on, he decided he wanted all her 'Welcome homes' and to forever gift her with his own 'I'm homes'.

"I... I'm sorry I'm late, Sakura. I'm sorry I didn't write back. I'm sorry to have left you for so long. I'm sorry I keep forgetting our anniversary. I'm sorry you had to look after Sarada by yourself. I'm sorr-"

"Ssh", she hushed. She slid his arms from around him and took the bouquet of red roses and white orchids from his hand and pressed them towards her nose. "They're beautiful, Sasuke-kun. Thank you."

He stood awkwardly next to her, not knowing what to say. He watched as she looked over the flowers, a smile gracing her sultry lips as she presumably counted the flowers in her head. He waited for her to finish until she met his gaze. She brought a hand to his face and traced his jawline. "I've missed you, Sasuke. So much," she whispered. "Thank you for coming back to me."

When he didn't respond, she continued to trace his face with her fingers, her thumb brushing over his lips. "Sasuke, you're alone with me now. You don't have to be shy. You can stop frowning."

He hadn't even realised he was making any sort of expression. He twisted his lips until he formed a straight line, so his face was as vacant as the Hokage stone faces. He watched as her eyes crease with amusement, and as her hand slipped down to meet his.

"Come," she said. "Let's find a vase for these."

He followed her down the hall and then down the stairs as she filled the silence, "...and then Ino came over after we dropped the kids off for their play date at Naruto's, and oh my god, we were talking about our weddings, and I almost forgot how much Shikamaru and Choji cried at Ino's wedding! They were bawling like babies! I wonder if Naruto would have cried if he was present at our wedding. I remember Iruka Sensei dissolved into a puddle at his, you should have seen it!"

He felt her hand, and it felt rough, no longer the smooth skin he had once known. Was she taking care of herself? Was she eating well? Did she get enough sleep? Or was it all too much?

They approached the foot of the stairs and he suddenly felt his fingers holding onto air as Sakura balanced the bouquet under her arm and she bent down to floor level. He attempted to step back as he realised what she was doing.

"Sakura, you don't have to-"

"Please, let me," she insisted, not meeting his gaze. "After so long, I want to simply take my husband's shoes off. Is that such a bad thing?"

He relented, and let her do as she bid. After she had freed his toes and it touched the wooden surface below him, she straightened her back and smiled up at him sweetly. She then moved her hands to his collar and worked to unclasp his cloak.

He brought his hand to a wrist, and felt the cold touch of her silver bracelet. He tried to pull her hand away, but arms were unrelenting. "Please..." he protested.

She pulled away at his cloak and carried it in her arms, before hanging it on the coat hook in the hallway. She gestured him to follow her into the living room and she placed the roses of love and orchids of sincere apology into the vacant glass vase that sat on the middle of the dining table.

"There," she said with satisfaction. "Sasuke, sit down." She pulled a seat open for him and he awkwardly obeyed his wife's request. She walked over towards the new showcase and brought out a comb. The next thing he knew she was brushing his hair, and pulling away at the knots.

"Mmm, you've got such beautiful hair like Sarada," she hummed. "So silky, even when you've been out on the road for so long." She stood behind him, and he could smell her floral scent embrace him.

"Sakura, I want to see my wife's face."

"Oh? Should I go find her for you?" She teased.

"Sakura...", he said, elongating each vowel as he tasted her name once more on the tip of her tongue.

She giggled and she stood before him, the sunlight framing her slender figure. She placed the comb onto the table and shone her wide viridian eyes at him. Her long hair fell almost to her waist as she brushed it with her fingers. She nibbled on her lip as she watched him drink her all in. In one swift motion he reached out to her, and she suddenly found herself sitting on his lap, facing him, a pretty blush spreading across her face that put her hair to shame.

He brought his hand to her silky hair and let it slip through his fingers. "I'm sorry, Sakura-"

"Stop," she rebuked softly.

"I've missed you, Sakura..." His heart did cartwheels as he closed the gap between them. She tasted sweeter than he remembered. Minutes ticked by until she broke it off. She slid herself off his lap and he missed her presence immediately. "Where are you going?" He rasped.

"Oh, darling. I just remembered. Your birthday gift." She disappeared behind the dining room door until she appeared with a gift bag. "You wrote that when you're not wearing your cloak you're easily identified because of your Uchiha crest, so I just bought a few waistcoats for you. I know they're all the same colour... but I thought they would go well with your clothes since you only seem to wear dark grey nowadays. I hope you like it."

He felt the waistcoat in his hand, and looked at the colour. They were all a light grey, almost blue, and he thought his wife did a great job at matching his outfit for him. The light grey waistcoat would go well with his dark grey shirts, he thought. "Ah," he said, gratitude spilling from his monosyllabic response.

She then turned away from him once more and cantered off towards the connecting kitchen. She opened the oven and pointed towards the prize inside. "I didn't know if you'd be coming back today, so I only baked your favourite cake. I know it's not much... I thought we could share it with Sarada when we pick her up later today. We had your cake on your birthday, and surprisingly, she liked it. Which is odd since she doesn't like much of anything you like," she giggled.

He stood up from where he was seated and strode over towards her, closing the oven door as he did. He trapped her between himself and the kitchen counter as he pressed his body towards hers. "Okay," was all he said.

He found her quickening pulse at her throat and felt it thud against his fingertips, until he was satisfied that she was indeed real. But just to be sure, he checked with his mouth. He heard a gasp, but that only encouraged him further. He didn't know what he was doing; his body was moving on its own. His hand then slid down her dress until it was unbuttoning the front of her dress. The next thing he knew, the dress in question was slightly torn and left slumped over the tiled floor. "But whilst it's just us two," he rasped out into her neck. "I'd like to have a bite of you."

"Sasuke!" He heard her cry out. "N-not in the kitchen..." As nimble as she is, she had ducked and slid between his legs and sprinted out of the dining room. But he was just as quick. He caught her and slammed her into the wall of the hallway.

"Where do you think you're going?" He growled at her. She melted into him, and soon enough her hands were all over his body, caressing him, massaging him, until his shirt peeled off and pooled around their naked feet. At some point, she had mumbled she was cold and he found his cloak and wrapped them both inside it, hiding every inch of them together. Hips thrust together until they found paradise and they drowned into each other. They were drunk on each other's love and the rest of the world zoned out until only the other existed. They were on an island together - or rather they were the island. He was the rough gritty sand, and she was the pure foamy sea. They met each other periodically. but simultaneously found it impossible to drift away from the other for too long. And between the two, treasure was buried deep inside that only these two had the access to. All other senses were gone. They could only see the other, feel each other's skin, and taste each other's lips. They could only hear their own names from their beloved, and smell both their scent mix together like two rich perfumes forming one. They were so engulfed in each other that they failed to hear the click of the door unlock and see two figures emerge...

"AH! WHAT THE F- SASUKE YOU IDIOT!"

"Ewww, Mama and Papa are being pervy!"

Both Uchiha's mouths fell open as they realised what had happened. As quick as a spark, Sasuke held onto his cloak that concealed their modesty and teleported him and his wife to their bedroom. They hurriedly put on new clothes, all the while Sakura cursed to herself in panic. Sasuke told his wife to stay in the room as he would handle it. He went downstairs to meet his worst nightmare.

He landed in the lower hallway to come face to face with a red-faced Naruto pacing up and down the landing rambling nonsense to Sarada.

Naruto stopped walking when he sensed Sasuke's presence. "OI! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU PLAYING AT!" He shrieked. "I don't know how much she saw, but you should be grateful I have ninja reflexes and I was able to cover her eyes before she saw too much!" He hissed.

Sasuke's brows furrowed, as he struggled to come up with a tactic in how to handle this situation. "How did you get in?" he asked.

"Uh, Sarada kept saying she had 'Papa's key' and she wanted to go back to Sakura-chan since all the other kids were picked up," Naruto explained, whilst scratching his chin.

Pink hair popped over the railing that spoke, "Oh! I was looking for Sasuke's key all afternoon! Sarada, you silly girl. You should have told me that you took it." Sasuke sharply turned his head towards her voice and glared at her, until he found that she was fully dressed.

Sarada tilted her head up to look towards her Mama and asked, "Mama, so you and Papa making baby?"

Sarada stood there confused waiting for a response as all the adults around her had their jaws dropped and eyes wide open.

Silence.

Sasuke took a few menacing steps forward and grabbed Naruto by the collar. "What have you been teaching my daughter?" He growled.

Naruto spread his arms up in defence. "Nothing! I swear, dattebayo! I don't know where she learnt that from!"

The tension was broken by the child in question. "Mama doctor book," she stated. Sasuke heard his wife inhale a sharp breath, and Sasuke's hand came slamming down onto his face. He grumbled into his hand, "Okay. Naruto you can go now."

Naruto chuckled nervously, leaving Sasuke's key in Sarada's hands as he slid out the door without another word.

Sasuke scooped Sarada up and carried her upstairs. As he passed Sakura he whispered to her, "Clean downstairs. I'll make her have a nap. We'll eat dinner and cake later."

Whilst Sakura was occupied downstairs piling up torn clothes, and doing the laundry, Sasuke settled Sarada down into her new bed.

"Welcome home, Papa!" Sarada finally exclaimed. "I mished you."

"Ah, I missed you too."

"Are you and Mama have baby?"

"No, Sarada. Like Sakura said, you are our baby."

Before she could pester him with any more questions, without thinking of the consequences, he activated his sharingan and erased the memories she had seen unfold earlier. As a result, she fell away into a deep sleep.

That was only the first time he used his sharingan on her.

A/N: Let me know your thoughts!