This chapter is a continuation of the scene in Chapter 8. Decided to expand on the Uchiha family conflict as it's important to the overall plot. The next chapter will be more SasuHina focused.

Sakura jostles the door handle barring her entry into the teen's bedroom, "Sarada, open the door."

A muffled "leave me alone" is heard in response.

Sakura huffs out, trying her best to ignore the urge to break down the plywood door. It will only further complicate the unwelcomed situation her daughter has initiated. She regrets overreacting a few minutes ago. She should have been able to control that nasty temper of hers.

"Sarada!" Taking in another breath to calm her nerves, Sakura lowers her voice, "Please open the door, honey. I just want to talk."

Shuffling is heard behind the wooden barrier. The door creaks open slightly. Draped in a blanket, the young girl hurries back to the comfort of her warm bed. Sakura follows her daughter, quietly closing the door behind.

Taking a seat on her daughter's bed, Sakura asks, "What's bothering you?"

Sarada rests her chin atop gangly knees. She shakes her head, "You don't listen to me, Mama."

"I'm listening now. Tell me why you're acting like this." Sakura moves closer to her daughter, gently brushing her daughter's tear soaked bangs out of her face. With the soft pads of her thumb, she brushes away the tears leaking out of her daughter's beautiful, ebony eyes.

"Mama, why did you marry him?" In-between sobs, Sarada adds, "You're so kind, and he's so – well, the opposite of you."

Gritting her teeth, Sakura refuses to succumb to another emotional outburst, "Because I am in love with your father and you're wrong. He is a kind person, more so than me at times."

Ignoring these compliments, Sarada continues, "Inojin-kun told me Lord Seventh was once in love with you." Sarada looks to her mother for confirmation.

Sakura smiles at the memory of an annoying, blonde brat desperately seeking her attention, and also wonders what information her best friend has divulged to her daughter's peer. "That was a long time ago. It was a crush and we were just kids."

"Why didn't you marry him? He's handsome, strong and kind. So much better than-"

"Sarada," Sakura's tone beings to lose its warmth, "Your highly esteemed Hokaga is a married man. He's happily married, just as I am."

Sarada shakes her head, "Don't lie to yourself, Mama. You're not happy. You pretend to be. When he's not here, you long for his return and when he returns, he's never around."

To drive her point home, Sakura speaks slowly, "I am the wife of one of the most powerful Shinobi. It's natural for him to be away from home. It's a sacrifice I am willing to make for the sake of the village and you, my angry little peanut." Sakura affectionally squeezes her daughter's button nose.

Sakura winces as smaller hands push hers away. "Don't speak to me as if I am an ignorant child. I am fully aware of the sacrifices Shinobi make. But my friends' parents are also poweful shinobi and they still find time to spend with their family. Even without my glasses I can see that he simply refuses to be with us. You're just blinded by what you think is love. It's like you're obsessed with-"

Sakura grabs onto her daughter's chin, pulling the girl's face towards hers, "There are reasons for your father's actions. He's had a tough life-"

"The tough life that you refuse to tell me about. If you want me to understand him, why don't you tell me about his past. About my ancestry."

"It's not my place to say, Sarada." Sakura releases her hold, allowing Sarada to revert her gaze in the direction of the pale moonlight trickling through the sheer curtain.

"It's not fair. But I will find out one day." Sarada tucks her knees into her chest, "I've heard rumours. Talk about papa."

Sakura grits her teeth, astounded that there is still idle chatter about the Shadow Hokage. "Sarada, people tend to talk about those in power. They may not understand him because he is not as cheerful as Naruto, and may even make things up about him. It's just idle gossip. Nothing to concern yourself about-"

"It's not true that he was once a traitor of Konoha? Or that the Uchihas are inherently wicked and one day I might end up hurting the village-" Sarada's words are punctuated by small sobs. She pauses trying to even her breathing, "or someone I care about because I'm an Uchiha?"

The immediate rage sparked by the insinuation that her family is wicked, is subdued by the internal battle her daughter is faced with. "Sarada, look at me." Sarada hides her face in between her knees as her lithe body is wracked by tremors. Sakura moves closer to her daughter, placing a hand over her shoulder to draw her into an embrace.

"Sarada, you'll never hurt me or anyone else. Being an Uchiha doesn't mean you'll turn out bad."

"So, it's not true what the villagers said about papa and our clan?" Big, dark eyes full of hope stare into green eyes, silently begging to dispute her concerns.

"No, baby. Those were just rumours. You have nothing to worry about." It's a blatant lie, but Sakura isn't prepared to broach this topic. She doesn't think she will ever really be prepared for it. For speaking about it, speaking about the travesties of her husband's youth may lead to the young girl resenting her father even more. Sakura promises herself that she will reveal the truth when the relationship between father and daughter is repaired.

Sakura eases Sarada under the blanket and rests her head on a soft pillow. Soothingly she strokes her daughter's hair and hums a childhood lullaby.

Voice fatigued from crying, Sarada calls out, "Mama?"

"I'm here." Sakura continues to run her fingers through dark hair.

The girl rolls toward the other side of the bed, clutching a pillow to her chest. "I think papa was hurting Hinata-sama."

The new accusation catches Sakura off-guard. There is no annoyance or anger in her voice, only genuine confusion, "What are you talking about?"

"Hinata-sama said they were sparring. But she didn't look right. Her clothes and hair were a mess and something seemed off."

Sakura smiles, happy that she can honestly quell this concern, "Baby, your father is strong and so is Hinata-sama. But maybe she wasn't prepared to spar with him. She is skilled at medical ninjutsu. I am sure she is fine."

Voice now laced with sleep, "it was more than a battle. I think he was-"

Sakura silences the remaining words with a kiss to her daughter's forehead.

Too exhausted to continue, Sarada mutters, "You never listen to me, Mama," before she drifts off to sleep.

Carefully Sakura removes Sarada's thick, red rimmed glasses and places them on the nightstand. Quietly she exits the bedroom. She finds Sasuke in the dining room, clearing out the last remnants of the broken, wooden table.

Sakura bends down to lift a cracked, table leg. Sasuke pries it from her arms, "I got it. Don't cut your palms on the splinters." She releases her hold, but follows him out to the backyard where he dumps the leg on a broken pile of wood that was once her costly, imported dining table.

"I've cleaned up some of the food on the floor, I'll finish the rest when I get back."

Sakura shakes her head, "I can clean up the kitchen. Where are you going?"

"Some of the wood is still good, I can probably use it for repairs at the compound." Using his teeth, Sasuke removes a splinter from his index finger.

"Will you be back tonight?" Sakura questions. She needs him here with her, to help formulate a strategy to address her daughter's concerns. "I think we need to speak about Sarada."

"Is she okay?" Sasuke faces his wife. Sakura can see a hint of concern under thick, black eyelashes. She shrugs her shoulders. "Not really. Villagers have been talking shit about you and the Uchihas. I really don't know who or where she heard it fro-"

Sasuke interrupts her, "Maybe it's time we tell her the truth."

"No! She's not ready." Sakura vehemently disagrees. "She's still a child."

"She's a young woman and a kunoichi. It's better she hears it from us than strangers." Sasuke brings his thumb under his chin, "That's what I would have preferred. If only Itachi-" He looks away from Sakura and back to the pile of wood.

Sakura nods her head in understanding, "Of course. But your circumstances were different. It was a different life back then. She doesn't know war or the threat of a real enemy."

"Okay, Sakura. Then don't tell her. It's your decision anyways." Sasuke replies irritably.

Sakura rushes to her husband's side, "No, it's our decision."

Sasuke strides forward, without looking back, "I'll see you later." A circular orb of darkness emerges and in an instant her husband disappears.

Internally, Sakura mentally screams. Just when she thought she was making progress with him, he disappears once again. As much as she loves the man, she couldn't help but to loathe his dismissive attitude of their family affairs.

As always, would love your thoughts and feedback.

Take care!