Ignite

A/N: This was originally going to be the final chapter, however, as I kept on writing it soon came to be 16,000+ words and I still hadn't finished. So in the end I decided that in order to make the reader's experience better, I would split what I had written into two separate chapters. Note: The next chapter will very likely be the final chapter.

This chapter is heavily based upon the Boruto anime, however, if you are unfamiliar with the anime then I still hope this flows well.

Kishimoto-style: flashback jutsu! Enjoy reading!

As calmly as the foam of the sea reaches the grains of land and kisses them with all its fervor, Sakura gave all she had in everything she did for the man she loved, and Sasuke inhaled all of Sakura's love and Sarada's affections with lidded eyes before embarking on his quest. As he came upon clear streams that rippled with the serenity that nostalgia and memories brought, he was faced with his own reflection causing him to reflect on his last departing. Sakura had brought his lunch enveloped in warmth and endearment, and had passed it along to him, one arm hid behind her back. Sarada stood between them, dressed in a white shirt and red skirt, eerily similar to how she used to dress as a young child. Sarada's grin had widened with every passing second as she noticed the subtle hints of Sasuke's adoration for Sakura, with his hidden smiles and his soft "Thanks. I'll see you both soon." It was a good thing that Sasuke had left when he did, for he did not think he would be able to handle being teased by his pre-teen daughter, or worse, being demanded another kiss from his wife in public. The soft weeds on the riverbed that brushed his ankles reminded him of Sakura's loving touch as their fingers brushed as he took the packed lunch from her, wanting forever to be the time period for their touch to last, to hold each other, and to speak their hearts. Like the oxygen that passed through to his lungs, it was inevitable that it was her comfort that he sought whilst on the road, hoping to make it back home with the words that she had whispered to him whilst he feigned sleep in her arms: "Come back to me safe and sound, Sasuke-kun", imprinting her words on him with a kiss on his forehead. Safe and sound.

Sasuke would continue to send updates to the Leaf via his hawks, but time to time, he would make it a point to physically return, despite that meaning that it would set his self-appointed missions back. His heart longed for his family, and there was also the foreboding darkness that he was aware of... the darkness that lurked inside Boruto, that no-one else was yet aware of. And so Sasuke would spend his days in Konoha, true to his promise to himself, with his boisterous student, before departing again. And as patiently as the night waits for the moon's many faces, as melodically as the sun paints the sky with all its talents, he knew his lover would too, be waiting for him to grace her nights and for her to bless his days. They would stand side by side, atop rooftops, watching their daughter forge strong bonds with her comrades as they once did, and they would watch with pride filling their hearts. The few times that they would stand or sit together in public, Sasuke always made sure to place some gap between him and his wife, for he strongly believed that his love for her was meant to be witnessed only by nature itself, and no one else was privy to their most intimate moments. And so a gap would be placed between them, waiting for their daughter to take her place to fill that spot whenever she was free. The common folk of the village would murmur about their distance in public, but Sasuke was sure to keep any worries of Sakura's at bay by immediately closing that gap when they were alone. Whether it was a mere touch, or a confession of his devotion to her through a look, words, or through the act of love-making, he was sure to shower her in it all. As much as he denied it, he was enraptured by her flirtations, which was clear enough when he would trap her between his solid body and a wall.

But his daughter was another matter... the thought of her resentment towards him growing gnawed away at him, causing him to second-guess his actions, however, there was an Otsutsuki waiting, residing on some ends of the earth, waiting for the right time to strike. It seemed that it was never the right moment for Sasuke to sweep back home with apologies gifted to his daughter, for the world awaited him and all its secrets that it harboured in the depths of its murky waters, where all the demons reside.

As he continued on his journey, that at times seemed endless, the speckles of white dust that permeated off the snowy mountains settled on his black roots until he was cloaked in a cold touch of purity. A cold touch that reminded him of white buildings in the day where he had tied his life full of vows to the woman of his dreams... but at night, the fear that he had been harnessing would break out and encircle his windpipe with terrors that were decades old:

A sparked charge of lightning intended for a pink-haired medic-nin who had her own sights on taking away his life. Her hesitation at following his demands of killing his female subordinate irked him - it was the sign that she was not willing to comply, not truly. His suspicions had been heightened; the pink blur was not an ally, but an enemy, just like the dark roots of Konoha - that was all she were - a bud that had bloomed in the blood of his clansmen, cut by his older brother, who had been shackled to the Konoha's warped systems and ideals. Enrage engulfed him and he sought a fiery revenge: blood for blood. Chidori striking through soft flesh, warm blood running atop skin until it turns cold; love brandishing into hate; emerald widened eyes forever burning into him, until her deaths replays in his mind for evermore.

He would wake up, panting, gasping, some sign that the dream was all just that, and not harsh reality. Ragged breaths would fester, haggardly, and swollen eyes would take in the surroundings until it would land on the physical sign that he was not a cold-blooded killer, at least not in this moment in time: the remnants of his left arm would still be a reminder to him of his misdeed all these years. But as the daylight would seep in through the cracks of the trees surrounding his bed rest, he would also be reminded of how his friend had gone through hell to bring him to the heaven he knew so well - and then his mind would flicker back to the photograph planted on the shelf back home. A photograph of him with his family ignited happiness within him, swelling him with pride: him and his wife, with their daughter standing ahead of them. The thought of them warmed him, and he knew he could brave the cold - and the night terrors - for days and weeks at a time, knowing he had a family to come home to.

With each new land he ventured into, he would be reminded of his adventures with Sakura during her pregnancy, checking on the ball of chakra that was growing inside her with his sharingan, keeping her fears at bay. As he stumbled upon a grove that was filtered with growing cherubs and other flowers framing his path, he was reminded of a particular moment when he had passed this path once before with his loving wife. He remembers vividly that she had been 9 weeks pregnant, as she had constantly been comparing the size of the fetus to different fruits.

Sakura was reaching up high on a log as her fingers brushed the fruits of the trees she was trying so hard to get her hands upon. She was defiant in allowing Sasuke to help her, and insisted she does some tasks dependently whilst she still could. He was watching her whilst he leaned against another tree, his eyes resting on the flicker in her womb, ensuring that the chakra of their unborn baby would not deplete before it had breathed life.

"A peanut," Sasuke had said, unaware his thoughts had been voiced aloud.

He watched as Sakura stumbled and fell at his sudden outburst, and he flickered to her side, holding her before she could reach the floor.

"Wh-what? Why did you say that?" Both Sakura and Sasuke instantly ducked their heads as a reflex as a group of fruits fell around them, some even splattering onto their heads.

"Sorry about that," Sasuke apologised, gesturing towards the red juice running down her face with his chin. He used his sleeve to wipe off the red drips off her face, before tending to his own.

"Hey, you're not off the hook that easily! Answer me, Sasuke Uchiha!" Sakura demanded, a pout forming on her lips.

"I was talking about this," he explained as his hand went to caress her clothed stomach. "It should be the size of a peanut by now, right? "

"Oh!" Sakura chuckled. "Well, yes, you're right. Although... I was thinking more of a strawberry... or..." Sakura picked up a fruit from the floor and poured some of her bottled water onto it before offering it to Sasuke. "A cherry!" She grinned, blushes framing her smile which was so captivating and contagious all at once that he couldn't help but smile back.

But despite what Sakura had said, the word 'peanut' had stuck in his mind never to be spoken again, even when the unborn child was the size of a watermelon.

It was with this memory lingering in his mind that he had eventually found himself back in Konoha after his intel had taken him from the grove to the wilderness just outside of Konoha where he had helped Sarada train a few weeks prior. With her in mind, he had decided to seek her out in Konoha, but what caught his attention was the number of families huddled together on every street and corner of the village. He had learned from Boruto that a new holiday had been marked on the calendar, and it was said holiday that these families were celebrating: 'Parent and Child Day'. Thanks to Boruto, he had learnt what the celebration involved, from festivities to different food stalls placed around the village, but most importantly, where his beloved daughter was.

As he waited by the stream at the training grounds for where his daughter was expected to be, Sasuke reflected back on his relationship with his own father - he had tried so desperately hard to please him and gain recognition, which had mostly gained him some bitter resentment towards his father, and some jealousy towards his elder brother for a period of time. He wanted nothing more than to not repeat that cycle of fatherhood, and so attempted to build bridges in whatever way he could - even remembering that her favourite colour was red:

"Wed. I love colour wed." The memory of a younger Sarada screaming at his face about her love for the colour spiralled in his mind, and so he felt at a loss when the current Sarada clarified that despite her wearing the colour, she was not exactly enamoured nor defined by it. The realisation that this 12 year-old girl standing beside him was not the same three year old he remembered swung back at him in full force, leaving him feeling deflated - a feeling he barely gets when in battle.

And no thanks to Kakashi, who decided it would be a good idea to use the graphic 'Icha Icha' books as advice, Sasuke had made things even more awkward between him and his daughter. Due to the the brilliance of the Sixth Hokage, Sasuke had greeted his child with the word that had been plaguing him since the memory had returned to him.

"Peanut," he had said, earning Sarada to be even more startled than when Sakura had the pleasure of experiencing Sasuke voice his thoughts. "You're my cute little peanut," he had clarified. But the clarification did nothing to straighten the foils of their relationship. Humiliation after humiliation, he was left overlooking the river at Senju bridge when the devil himself emerged beside him, urging him to spill what had transpired between himself and his peanu- Sarada. Sasuke found himself sulking to the Sixth about how the act of draping his cloak around her shoulders did not work as expected, and how she had even spat out the word that had haunted him for years: "annoying".

Just after he had threatened to throw Kakashi into the river, the silver-haired retired ninja had pointed out that someone more qualified to understand the twelve year old's heart was approaching them. Stunned, Sasuke turned to see who he was referring to, to only come into contact with the twilight sky acting as a backdrop for the ethereal beauty who graced his presence. His eyes scanned her from toe-up, the cascades of gold and orange-red hues fell around her, framing her body as she put all the stars to shame as she glistened, her skin the perfect glow of pink as she stumbled over his name.

"S-S-Sa-Sasuke-kun!"

"Sakura!" he had returned in mild surprise.

*...I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you...*

*...I could never look away...*

Sakura's presence captivated him. For once during this torturous day, Kakashi had been right, Sakura was the most qualified person to turn to in this regard. Sasuke had been so caught up in his own turmoil, he had forgone the thought of turning to the mother of his child - someone who he would turn to for almost anything else. As he looked upon their family portrait, he shared his concerns with her, and in turn, she reminded him of his own past he had shared with her early in their relationship. How he had sought attention and recognition from his father and brother. How he had wanted to be acknowledged. Over the years, he realised that she had understood his yearning so well because that had been what she had wanted from him. So as she made her way from the dining table and trimmed his hair, he considered her words and held them close.

*...I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you...*

*...Things will never be the same...*

With Sakura's words in mind, he had managed to finally get through to Sarada. They had come to a new understanding of each other by spending quality time with each other at the training grounds. They had both thrown away any walls built, and had instead exposed their hearts and minds to each other. With dusk settling around them, father and daughter looked into their horizon: the current Shadow Hokage and the future Hokage.

Sarada Uchiha, the Eighth Hokage.

The title had a nice ring to it, Sasuke had to admit. And in order to earn that title, Sasuke had vowed to do whatever he could to support her, through the blissful days and the more tenuous nights. It occurred to Sasuke that what Aburame Shino had informed him earlier as he was thanking Sarada's former Academy teacher, was that he too was aware of the path Sarada had embarked on. He was glad that she was surrounded by people that loved and took care of her whilst he was away, and once again, he found himself thanking Naruto for making it all possible.

The day had ended with Sarada thanking Boruto for whatever advice he had given her, and she gave her some of her own advice to him. Sasuke smiled as he looked at the two interact. They both already had a healthy friendship, unlike the relationship he had had with his own teammates, and so with Sarada's foundations secure, he only had to ensure her future was too. And so father and daughter walked home in the afterglow, serenity blanketing them just as it had been with Sakura when he had walked home with her, confiding in her about his predicament with the twilight sky raining down on them.

Hours after Sarada had retreated to the bedroom for the night, Sasuke found Sakura lounging on the couch after he had cleared up their family dinner. Aware that Sarada was most likely in a peaceful slumber, Sasuke continued to bring his walls down and lay his vulnerable state in Sakura's lap as she hummed whilst threading her fingers through his recently trimmed hair.

"So it seems you two worked out everything in the end, hmm?" Sakura asked. "She seemed really delighted to have you home tonight."

Sasuke grunted as confirmation, before reaching out to find her other hand and pulling it to his lips. It was thanks to you.

An air of contentment blew threw Sakura's nose and warmed Sasuke's face. He shifted his position in her lap and drew his hand from her, only to look up and cradle her face, his purple mesmerising eye in full view as it drank her in. The look that they shared was a look where memories passed, history was transfixed into their gaze as they took in each other's profile, reading each other's love for the other until both were overwhelmed with the romantic state they were transfixed in that there was no other course of action, but for Sakura's lips to pull over Sasuke's and take what was hers. Their lips moved slowly against the other as Sasuke tasted her sweetness and Sakura tasted his passion. As they parted from each other's warmth, a sigh of merriment escaped his wife and he knew she felt the same thing too: love. Peace. Contentment. He knew her for all she was, and he embraced every inch of her, to her very core. He continued to study her with a tender gaze until a giggle escaped her lips, and when she couldn't contain herself anymore, she threw back her head with laughter causing Sasuke to raise a brow.

"What's so funny?" he asked. He waited for her to regain her composure before she smiled sweetly at him and gave him her answer.

"It's what Sarada said at dinner... You told me you took Kakashi's advice and the distance between you and Sarada grew... but you didn't tell me what you did! You called her a-"

"Stop, Sakura," Sasuke urged, realising where this was headed - it would be another ammunition Sakura could use to tease him.

She drew a sharp breath, before laughing out, "-a peanut!"

"Shut up," Sasuke demanded.

"Wait 'til I tell Naruto!" Sakura wheezed, clutching the side of her stomach.

"Fuck off," Sasuke muttered before rolling off Sakura's lap and throwing daggers with his eyes at anything but Sakura.

He felt another body drape over his before he heard a whisper on the side of his jaw. "You know I'm just messing with you... but you really are so cute!" Sakura cooed whilst pinching his cheek. "But not as cute as your little peanut, eh, Sasuke?" At this, Sasuke pushed her off leaving a laughing Sakura on the couch as he announced, "I'm heading to bed."

Sasuke chases shadows and stories of a floating being with byakugan popping up in several places as he feels the particles of sand that sweeps across his feet amidst the Suna desert, and it is then that Sasuke recalls the words shared between pillows and blankets:

"If you're here to make fun of me, then just don't. Go to sleep, Sakura," Sasuke brooded as he felt the space beside him lower as it welcomed a new weight.

"Don't worry, Sasuke-kun. I wouldn't want to wake up your cute little peanut," he hears Sakura giggle.

Sasuke glares at the wall, refusing to turn around to greet his wife properly to bed. A few more moments pass before he feels a hand on his shoulder, and then a loving squeeze to emanate from her to him. He refuses to give in to her, a childish game he starts, testing how long either of them will hold out. A soft brush of lips are landed delicately between his shoulder blades, and Sasuke smirks in satisfaction as he knows he's won this teasing game of theirs.

"Sasuke..." he hears her purrs, a slight urgency in her call for him. Her hand begins its administrations along his arm as she feels his muscles that hide beneath his night clothes. Her hand continues to lower until she finds his hand, and he gives in, allowing her to interlink their fingers together. Their legs are next, and he feels that he enjoys being cocooned by her warmth, by her loving embrace. His eyes fall languidly as sleep catches up with him, but as his breathing occupy a steady rhythm, he hears a plead, "Sasuke, don't go to sleep yet."

He waits for her to make her move - whatever that may be. Perhaps she wants to take the reigns and demonstrate her dominance, or maybe she'd rather he... But instead she surprises him by saying, "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" he asks, noticing the slight hesitation in her voice poorly covered with her conviction to tell him anything and everything. When she struggles to find the strings of words to start what is hounding on her, he urges her on with, "Something's bothering you. So tell me."

He feels her forehead rest against his back before she whispers, "That's not exactly the case... What I'm going to tell you... It's been resolved, but... But you can't get mad," she finishes, her hand tightening against his.

Sasuke lets out an exasperated breath, almost a grumble, as he prepares for whatever she's about to tell him.

"It's about Sarada..." she starts. "I'm guessing she didn't tell you, because I'm sure you would have discussed it with me if she did but, it wasn't so long ago that she left the village with her teammates... without Naruto's authorisation."

At this, Sasuke whips around and faces Sakura, "WHAT?!" Sasuke starts to untangle himself from Sakura, and go speak to his daughter about how irresponsible her actions were, the importance of following the most basic village code: don't desert the village.

But Sakura uses her strength and pulls him back down against her, and uses her hands to stroke his face and chest until he listens to her words as that is what she demands with her coos, "Listen. Sasuke, listen. Don't get mad at her, you've just built a relationship with her. Please listen." He blinks back any rage and frustration and listens to the wisdom of his wife. He learns that his child was stripped off being a ninja along with the rest of her team, and that she was supporting Boruto in their quest to uncover their other teammate's secrets and reasons for desertion. But in the end, the Tsuchikage had requested all genin involved should be pardoned , and Sakura begs Sasuke to understand, to pardon her too, for she has done no wrong, not really.

"But Sakura-"

"Trust me, I know how you feel. You think she's going to follow a dark path that you once walked. But it's different! The whole situation is different. She was looking out for her comrades, don't you see, Sasuke? She made the right choice. It's a choice that Naruto and I made hundreds of times to search for you, back then."

Sasuke looked at her, her words sinking in as he sinks into the green depths of her eyes.

"But you and Naruto always had the Hokage's consent," he disputes.

Sakura shakes her head as if he's wrong. "If Lady Tsunade wasn't the Hokage, and it was someone else, like Danzo or those two old crones, then believe me, me and Naruto would have taken things into our own hands and searched for you. We would have fought for you if circumstances had been different..." And as she continues to explain her reasons for why he should not be mad at Sarada or Boruto, he realises he is falling hopelessly in love with her all over again, and that was why he accepted her reasonings and her rationality, and basked in her sunlight which glowed even in the late hours of the moon's survey around the earth. But despite all that, a part of him still thought Sarada's actions were unacceptable and so he deliberated his concerns with the Hokage and his adviser when they were about to decide on their single candidate for chunin.

Sasuke continued on his pursuit of the Otsutsuki, trailing his leads wherever it took him. It had been a few weeks since he had last visited home, and he wondered how Sarada was fairing well without him. Although they had had some moments together, cherishing whatever they could, Sasuke was well aware that the distance placed between them could only further dampen the relationship, and so it was a current that would continuously work against him. However, even the shortest amount of times spent with his daughter were far greater than the years that he had missed without her, and he could only hope that she felt the same...

A week later when he returns to Konoha, once again his time is invested into meetings with Naruto and Shikamaru, and when he has a time to spare he finds himself in the training grounds, building up his body to become accustomed to using the rinnengan and mangekyo sharingan simultaneouslyall the while maintaining his stamina. 'Home' is a paradox of sorts for Sasuke - the house where his family reside is a place he finds it hard to find his way to. For all his years away, Sasuke finds it difficult to accept that he is welcome there, for there is still a slight rift between himself and his daughter... and although his relationship with Sakura is stable, Sasuke finds himself subconsciously growing distant from her. His nights are less frequent there, perhaps there is a small part of him, the wanderer that longs for the strenuous roads ahead, that makes the idea of being kept at home feel foreign. The hero that keeps peace through the shadows is constantly on edge, waiting for bad news to strike at any moment. However, when he does go home, being in the mere presence of his wife, smelling her scent, hearing her light hums that travel through the walls, it is as if he has an epiphany. And Sasuke finds himself again. With Sakura, he finds his rhythm with her, and he knows he belongs there. By her side. The halo of her hair tracing stories on his sculpted body as he lays beneath, her fingers tracing his scars as they listen to the whispers of their breathing, waiting for their connecting heartbeats to lull them to sleep is what begs his soul to stay... But it is in the morning when he awakes, and he stirs, that he hears the question on her lips.

"Will you stay for breakfast?" she asks, hopeful, her green eyes looking up at him expectantly.

A request so simple, but it shatters him, although he knows that she will understand. But their daughter is an ocean of water that still needs to be tamed and conquered, the tides of her feelings towards her father are a game of push and pull, and although he has pulled her towards the shore a few times... Sometimes it feels that she is too far out, unable to grasp her and get her to understand.

"I have some business at the Hokage's Office," he responds, his fingers tracing out an apology as he strokes her back, his hand brushing against her feathery hair as he does so. He hears a breath pass from her, and he hears her unspoken words that falter from her - she wishes it could be different, that he could spend more time with them. But she is too understanding and too devoted to him to voice her words.

"I'll see you soon," he promises, gently placing her down on the mattress. As he takes his leave he looks past his shoulder to see that she has curled into the indentation he has left on the bed, and he too wishes for more time. Sasuke makes certain that the breakfast for his family are ready, and it consoles him that indirectly, he can still share moments with his family.

With theories and battle plans laid onto the table, Sasuke leaves the Hokage to his other duties and continues on to the training grounds, where memories await him. The start to Team 7 greets him in floods as each hand sign his hand forms reminds him when the very same hand offered the blonde-headed fool some food, breaking the rules laid out by their sensei. As Sasuke moves away from the three stumps as the evening light falls upon him between the shrouded trees, his student rushes towards him, a desperate plea for any information on his father's master: Jiraiya.

Boruto ends his rounds on questions with a message. "Oh yeah! Sarada asked if you could go home early. Apparently Auntie Sakura is making something special for dinner or whatever. If you see my dad before that then tell him to not to stay at the office too late," Boruto relayed, before jumping off the tree and heading home.

Sakura had been spending a lot of time at home recently, from what he had figured. Where Sakura could be flexible with her work from time to time, having underlings who can cover her shifts, Sasuke did not have the luxury to do that. In all the Five Great Nations, there was no soul in existence who could occupy Sasuke's job, and it was with that in mind that he continued building up his body in preparation for the worst possible outcome.

The night had blanketed the sky by the time he had arrived home. No sound was spoken as he padded into the open dining room, spying a folded note left next to a series of dishes of food. Curious, as he and Sakura had not found the need to write letters to each in a while, he gingerly peeled the paper open to find a neatly written letter, akin but not the same to Sakura's handwriting:

Welcome home, Papa Sasuke!

Thanks for all your hard work. I know you're busy, but are you eating properly? It's so rare that you're home... Mama Sakura said that she wanted us to eat together once in a while.

Oh, and Boruto wanted to ask if you could borrow 'Icha Icha Tactics' from Kakashi Sensei. So could you?

Love, Sarada

Sasuke pocketed the note in amusement, before taking his food on a tray into his bedroom. He found Sakura lying on the bed, a medical scroll nestled next to her when she looked up in surprise. "Oh, Sasuke-kun! Welcome home!" she greeted. Sakura sat up and pat the space next to her which he took as he placed the tray of food on his lap.

"How has your day been?" Sakura asked, making conversation.

"Taxing. I've been with Naruto for most of it," he replied. "But Boruto came to find me a little while ago. He was asking about Jiraiya."

"Oh, that's one of the legendary Sanin! Tsunade-sama's teammate!"

"Hn. And known pervert. Boruto asked me to get Kakashi's copy of the 'Icha Icha' books, of all things," Sasuke scowled.

Sakura snorted at Sasuke's expression, an astonishing reaction as she was known for detesting perverts. "I'm worried Sarada might also be interested..." Sasuke grimaced.

Sakura rose a brow and consoled him. "Don't worry, no one is as irresponsible as to give those books to kids. They hold far too much adult content, as you would know, Sasuke-kun..." His name rolled off of her tongue like how the wind passes through bells, causing them to sing.

"Tch," Sasuke scoffed, rolling his eyes in protest. "Blame Kakashi. I don't know why I've ever trusted his advice." His mind flickered to the times when Kakashi would send him copies of pages of the Icha Icha books stapled onto mission requests, and again recently when Kakashi tried to be 'helpful' with Sasuke's family affairs.

Sasuke continued to eat his food in silence, feeling the loving gaze of his wife drape across him. It was another few minutes before he decided to address it.

"Stop looking at me," he ordered, noticing how she had a palm on a cheek as she ogled him with a smile gracing her luscious lips.

"You're getting shy on me now after this many years of marriage?" she asked, a chuckle threatening to break out. He felt her finger pick off a stray rice that had lost its way to his mouth and ended up on the side of his lips, before she offered her finger to him for him to lick it clean.

His eyes bore into her with a challenge, taking in her rose gold satin night gown and her creamy flesh that was exposed to him, with all her dips and curves. "You're the one that still faints when you see me," he chided. A blush worked its way up, getting her all flustered until she couldn't keep her eyes locked with Sasuke's anymore. "Now who's the shy one," he provoked with a slight smirk.

He proceeded to eat, and he still had a mouthful inside him when he felt the thump! of the pillow on the side of his head. He whipped his head round to face her and blinked at her, taking in her defensive form as she held the pillow in front of her, waiting for him to attack. He decided to ignore her... until minutes passed and she had lost interest, reading her scroll again. It was whilst she was preoccupied that he tackled her onto the bed, startling her as her head fell against the pillows.

"You might need to work on your ninja skills, wife," he sneered into her ear. He is lost in her giggles and she is lost in the smothering of his lips. He feels her hands claw against his clothes, as something innocent becomes more heated. As her ankles connect against the back of his waist, their attention is directed to the window, where a light pecking is heard.

Sasuke grumbles an apology as he scrambles off of her and heads to the window. He parts the curtains and lets in his hawk who holds a scroll clasped against its feet.

"It's Naruto. I have to go. I'm sorry, Sakura," he tells her as he turns back to her. He palms her cheek and leans down to leave a light kiss on her nose. She captures his palm in her own hands and nuzzled her head in his hand.

"I'll be okay, Sasuke... But-"

"I know. I got her letter," Sasuke smiled to himself, reflecting that no matter what happened, they would always be father and daughter. His musings however caused him to miss the creases on his wife's forehead as her brows furrowed together. "She's really cute."

"...Like a pea-?"

"Like her mother," Sasuke quickly said, hoping that'd shut her up. Sakura's eyes widened and her mouth fell agape as she realised what Sasuke had just said. Abruptly, she flung her arms around him, crashing him into a bone-crushing hug.

"Sa...ku...ra," he wheezed, causing Sakura to let go.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she apologised. "But you know I love it when you express yourself!" Sakura continued to squeal with her eyes shut. She really is cute.

Sasuke smiled and poked her forehead. "I really do have to go now. Naruto will be waiting," Sasuke informed her, before taking his hawk and heading out the window.

A series of events had occurred in only one night, enabling Sasuke to reflect on his past and what he had left behind so long ago... all that he had missed for the sake of power and revenge. Sasuke had come face to face with the pain that Naruto and Sakura had to endure for his sake, and even then, it was only a fraction of what they had gone through. Sasuke was truly blessed to have his loved ones around him, and that realisation was manifested even further as he entered his home to find his wife asleep at the dining table. A flurry of emotions passed over him as his face softened at her state. At the alert that Urushuki Otsutsuki was bordering the village, all shinobi had been on patrol, including medic-nins who had been called in to the hospital at the state of emergency. Knowing that his wife, Dr. Uchiha, had been in charge of overlooking any injuries for the last few hours or so, he knew how exhausted she must have been... and for her to still be waiting up for him...

He continued to take in her sleeping form as his presence filled the room, eventually stirring her awake.

"Oh... Welcome home," she greeted him with warmth in her voice and a smile on her face.

"You waited up for me?" he asked.

"I just got home a little while ago," she explained. "The alert on the village has been cancelled, right?"

"Yeah," he replied, unable to say anything more as he was enamoured by her beauty - not just her physical appearance, but her unyielding compassion that she dressed herself in, forever giving him more than he deserves.

"Sarada was up until just a bit ago," Sakura told him as she lifted herself up from her seat. She continued to walk towards him as she asked, "Are you hungry?" Sasuke found himself speechless at her thoughtful actions, unable to morph an answer together. But she took his silence as confirmation as she busied herself anyway. "Give me a minute. I'll make something."

"Sakura?" There was a slight urgency in the way he called her, but her name had left him without much of a thought. His emotions had engulfed him; he was shrouded by her love and he felt the need to express his gratitude. To tell her he was sorry for missing out so much. For having her to burden so much on her own. For having to pick up the pieces time and time again. There was so much he needed to relay to her, but no amount of words could speak his heart.

"What is it?" she asked, as she turned back towards him.

He looked into her green orbs, and felt absorbed into her kindness, the way she could easily forgive him for doing the most heinous acts. And suddenly, the words came to him - words he had said a hundred times before, because he knew she understood the feelings that spilled out with them.

"Thanks for everything."

"What are you saying?" she asked with hints of laughter framing her words. "We're fine. So please keep looking out for everyone, Sasuke-kun."

Her words bloomed an inexplicable feeling of happiness and love, one that could not be measured in words, as he took in her words, knowing that she knew the full knowledge behind the few words that masked a thousand emotions. "Ah..." he replied, a grin surfacing on his lips.

As he took a seat on the dining table and accepted the sushi and tea he was offered, Sarada's words from before her patrol of the night lingered in his ears:

"Don't just protect other people, cherish your own family once in a while, you know?"

"Hey, Sakura," he called, gesturing for her to take a seat next to him. "It's Sarada. Are you sure she's fine? She..."

He felt Sakura's hand clamp over his own and she shared her radiant smile with him. "Like I said, we're fine," Sakura repeated. "She also made a comment to me this morning, about how when you're home it's the same as when you're not-" Sasuke's brows creased at this, guilt overtaking him before Sakura washed it away with her next words, cleansing him of his sins. "-But just before she went to bed, we were talking. About you. Sarada understands now, why you have to be away. She just wishes it could be different, like the both of us. So you don't have to worry Sasuke, you do what you have to do, and we'll do what we can from here, ok?"

Sasuke allowed his thumb to brush across her knuckles in response, gratitude stroking her skin as he did so. He thought back to his conversation with Naruto earlier. Naruto, the ever loyal friend to his two wedded-best friends, had reminded that Sakura would be lonely again if Sasuke were to leave again. Sasuke had responded back with, "I intend to return to the village more often than before," as he recalled the selfless acts Sakura had done for him over the years, and the pain he had caused her in return.

Sakura stood up to leave, imprinting her love on his forehead as she slid out of her chair. But before she could take another step towards the bedroom, he held her wrist. "Sakura," he halted her. "I want you to know..." He looked into her moss green eyes and the history between the two flickered in his own reflection as he drowned in her irises. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I've always pushed you away, settling back into solitude when all you wanted was to help me. I lived like an island, and punished you into silence-"

"Sasuke," she soothed as she released her wrist from his grip and stroked his face. "You don't need to apologise for any of that anymore. Please don't hurt yourself by retreating back into those thoughts. Live with us in the moment, Sasuke-kun. That's all I want." She stole back her hand and hid both behind her back. "Don't stay up too late. I'll wait for you in bed."

And just like that, he had been silenced. So easily forgiven in the face of adversity, a cloak that Sasuke had presented himself far too many times to count. He could not understand why she would not listen to his apologies, maybe the act of forgiving had tired herself out, maybe the past, too, still haunted her. He hoped it wasn't so. But he was determined to get her to acknowledge his apologies. One day. But for now, he would sleep beside her, basking in the afterglow of everything up to now.

A/N: Please let me know your thoughts! I appreciate reviews!