"Oh?" Sasuke turned his attention to the little mershark.

"What is it?"

"It's really late, Mama might get worried." She hadn't realised how much time she spent with Mr Sasuke. It was weird Sarada had felt a connection. Maybe it was because she had never met a shark like her nor had a father figure.

Probably a mixture of both, but still Sarada had so many questions she wanted to ask. Including his opinion on why he thinks her Mama never took her here.

That is if he'll allow it.

Her Mama did say to not speak to strangers but Mr Sasuke seemed nice.

"Can I see you again?" She asked eyes pleading, she always got what she wanted with her mother and the puppy-eyed look. Maybe it'll work on him?

"Is that wise? Your Mama might not want that."

"She doesn't have to know." It wasn't like she was going to go back and tell Mama about this to begin with. Sarada wanted answers, and who knows. She might find her own Papa if she can convince Mr Sasuke to introduce her to other sharks.

He was hesitant at first, Sakura didn't tell him about Sarada for a reason. Not that he blames her, he was the one who ended things and never wanted to see her again.

How was she supposed to tell him about Sarada?

How would she have even faced him?

He should tell her to go home and forget that they even met but knowing what Sakura was like Sasuke had no doubt their daughter was a curious little shark. If he did send her away she might come back and wouldn't be so lucky the second time. What if she bumped into one of his family members?

Sharklings were easy prey, it was best to keep an eye on her for now.

"Okay, but you mustn't let other sharks see you. Do you understand? It's dangerous out here."

And anyway he had no doubt it wouldn't take long for Sakura to catch on.

"Yes sir!" She was just happy that he agreed.

Few things Sarada had learnt, yes sharklings did get eaten by other sharks. It was a tough world out there, yet Sarada didn't think that was the only reason her mother warned her off. It was most likely due to her father but she'll find him.

She can feel it.

Excitedly Sarada swam straight home until she came across their coral cave and tried to creep in without being noticed. That wasn't going to happen though as she saw her mother furious with her arms crossed and tail swishing from side to side.

She was pissed alright.

"Mama-"

"Sarada! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I even went to your hideout. Where were you?" Quick, think of something.

"I went up to the surface." She braced herself for what was about to come.

"You did what? Sarada! What if the humans saw you, they would have killed you on sight."

"I know, but I'm fine." She gave a small smile. "There weren't any humans. I was curious, I promise not to go up there again." Sakura let out a sigh feeling frustrated, she would have to keep a closer eye on Sarada otherwise she may not be so lucky.

"Sarada, you know I love you but please you need to be careful. Your young, you shouldn't even be out all the way there. I trust you so please, do not make the same mistake. Stay away from the surface and away from the deep sea." Sakura cupped her daughter's cheeks lovingly. She knew Sarada was curious and had every right to ask of her father.

She just didn't know how to tell her he wanted nothing to do with them.

"Okay, mommy."

"And as much as I love you I'm still going to have to punish you. Tomorrow I need to come back by dinner. If not I'll send out a search party, understand?"

"Yes, Mama." Unfortunately, Sarada was smarter than that and decided to meet Sasuke a few weeks later. So that her mother would be put off the scent for now.

"You saw another shark?" Chocho couldn't believe it, since when was Sarada one to break the rules?

"Yeah, and I plan to see him again."

"Does your Mama know about this?" Chocho asked, she along with Inojin and Shikadai were the few friends Sarada had. All their parents were so they grew up together.

"No, and it's a secret so you mustn't tell anyone."

"Then why tell us?" Inojin swam up above avoiding the fishes.

"Because your my friends and I trust you. I have to find my Papa, maybe he could help. And I want to know more about being a shark."

"Say Sarada, have you thought that he might be your Papa?" Sarada stopped swimming and gave Chocho a look.

Sasuke, her father?

"No, I mean that would be too easy… right?"

"You mentioned he looked like you, so he could be." Shikadai shrugged.

"Don't all sharks look the same?"

"Actually," Inojin interjected. "There are different types of sharks, you have the Uchiha, Hyuga, Uzumaki, and Hozuki. There's a lot more too but each of the species look alike. If this Sasuke looks like you maybe he's related to your father."

"Oh?" This was easier than she thought.

"Or, he is her father." Chocho piped in once more, Inojin snorted.

"Oh please, what are the odds of that happening?"

"I'm just saying, don't rule it out."

"If that were the case then he would know, Haruno-san is the only Mermaid to have been with a shark. He would have given a reaction." Yeah, Inojin was right. There would have been something giving him away.

"I think I would know if he was my Papa." He would most definitely give a reaction, wouldn't he? "But I would love him to be." He seemed like a nice shark.

This was the sixth time she met up with Mr Sasuke. Sarada looked forward to their meetings, she was finally starting to learn more about herself. Right now the two were sitting on the rocks at Sarada's hideout which she proudly showed him.

"So sharks eat mermaids?" This wasn't the first she heard about it, Inojin had told her about this before and why everyone had seemed to stray away from her Mama. They looked down on her but hearing it from another shark and finding this to be true seemed… different.

If this was the case then how could she have them both for parents?

"Ah."

"But then how come I have a mermaid for a Mama and a shark for a Papa? Shouldn't Papa have eaten Mama?"

"Maybe they were close?" Sasuke awkwardly replied.

"So you can be friends?"

"It's not ideal, reality is your Papa should have eaten your Mama."

"Then why didn't he?" Why did she have to ask so many questions he didn't know how to answer. She was what five… six maybe? For someone who still struggled with pronouncing certain words, she was certainly smart… and nosey.

"I can't answer that." He really couldn't as he petted her head fondly and she pouted.

"I wish I could ask Mama, but she won't tell me anything." She probably wouldn't have an answer for that either.

"You shouldn't give your mother a tough time, she was probably hurt by him and wanted to protect you from getting hurt." It was the truth.

"What's with you and that mermaid?" Of course, Karin had to blab to Naruto about it, maybe she thought he was aware of the situation.

"What mermaid?"

"Don't play dumb! Karin could smell your scent all over her, you've mated with a mermaid? Why have I never known about this?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but we're sharks. It's not like I can parade my relationship with her."

"So you do have a relationship with her?"

"No!"

"But you want to?" He kept silent, it wasn't like they had planned this. Things had just… escalated and now here they were. Naruto gave out a sigh.

"Sasuke, I'm not against you or anything. I want to be on your side but you know as well as I do how risky this is. Are you willing to put her in danger?"

"Maybe…" Sarada never really considered that. She always thought it was unfair that she never knew her father and everyone else did but maybe they hated each other now. Did he hate her too?

"So, does that mean… he wouldn't like me?" Was she wasting her time? Did he not care about her or Mama? The little sharkling wanted to cry; perhaps her mother was right all along then. Especially if he hurt her in the past.

Sasuke froze up unsure how to answer, he wanted to reach out and comfort his daughter but what right did he have? He abandoned her -them- long ago. Even if it was for their or rather Sakura's protection at the time.

This wasn't going to be fixed overnight, but spending time with Sarada... he didn't want this to end.

"He does care."

"How can you be so sure?" Sarada sniffled looking up at him.

Because I-

"Sarada?" A familiar voice called, her voice and both sharks turned their heads to the mermaid.

Oh no, now she was in big trouble. Except she wasn't looking at her but Mr Sasuke who in turn was also looking at her.

It was almost like they were caught up in their own little world.

Did they know each other?

"Sakura-" She grabbed her arm pulling their daughter away from him.

"Sarada stay away from him."

"Mama?" Sarada looked over to Mr Sasuke and back at her Mama, there was definitely some tension with the way she glared at him. What was going on?

"I knew something was off."

"What have you told her?"

Dun dun duuuuun, drama haha