"Nothing."

"Liar!" Sakura snarls pulling Sarada behind her.

"What did you tell her?"

"I haven't told her anything, I promise." He can't blame her for the way she's acting, he almost did let it slip out that he was her father so maybe it was a good thing Sakura arrived when she did.

"Except a few things about sharks." The young sharkling wouldn't leave him alone until she knew everything about Mersharks. Sarada peered from behind Sakura completely dumbfounded as to why her mother was acting this way.

"Mama, what's going on?" Why did it look like she wanted to kill Mr Sasuke? What was Mama doing here anyway? Sarada was sure she had remained unsuspicious. Moreover, weren't sharks meant to be the ones to do the killing anyway?

"Mr Sasuke is really nice, he told me a bunch of stuff about sharks. He never tried to eat me, I promise." Perhaps she was concerned for her safety. Then why did it seem like these two knew each other, he even called her Sakura.

"Sarada…" Her mother let out a frustrated sigh still glaring at Sasuke, and then she turned to her daughter.

"I've told you to never swim in the deep sea, that it was dangerous."

"But I haven't, I was at my hideout and met Mr Sasuke from above." At this Sakura turned back to Sasuke eyebrow raised.

"Since when do you swim above water?"

"It's getting too crowded down below, each year more sharks are being born so they want us to take the top part as well."

"Of course, they do," great. Now that would mean even Sarada's hideout wasn't a safe place. Who knows how long it'll be before the rest of the reef panic as well. Granted they were still from separate areas, it would take time to adjust.

"Sarada I don't want you anywhere near them."

"Why? I'm a shark too just like them, what's wrong with me learning about myself?"

"Sarada, please I'm-"

"No!" Sarada shook her head furiously moving back. "You never tell me anything! You only think about yourself and don't care about my feelings!"

"Don't talk to your mother that way." That was the first she heard Mr Sasuke raise his voice.

"Why? Why do you care, you're not my dad and she hates you. Why are you defending her? I hate both of you!" And she swam away with tears in her eyes, Sarada thought she could trust Mr Sasuke but he was like every other adult in thinking 'he knew best' when all she wanted was the truth.

"Sarada wait! Now look what you did, are you happy?" Sakura was furious, what was Sarada even doing with him in the first place? Why was he spending time with Sarada when he coldly told her all those years ago that there wasn't anything special between them. How he hated her and even when she chose not to believe it, give him the benefit of the doubt, she had seen him with other sharks.

Sakura swam back that night crying her heart out.

She was about to follow after their daughter until Sasuke tugged on her wrist.

"I'll go."

"You? Why do you get to go?"

"This is my mess, I should take responsibility shouldn't I?"

"Since when did you care? You're the one who wanted nothing to do with me… with us." The mermaid looked down feeling hurt, all the emotions from back then were swelling up inside her. As if they were still fresh.

"I know… and I'll make it right." Sakura scoffed at that.

"Why… so you can take Sarada away from me. This is why I didn't tell her anything, you'll only do more harm than good." She knew what he was doing, to take her precious baby away to spite her more. Maybe live with another mershark so they can pretend to be a happy family.

Break both their hearts and afterwards… afterwards… Sakura bit her lip at the look Sasuke was giving.

No, he wasn't like that. He wouldn't hurt Sarada, she can see it plastered all over his face. With the way, they locked eyes. He was hurt and tired so so tired like she was.

"Are you going to tell her?"

"She should know… it's because of all these secrets that she's been hurting."

Why did he always have to be right? Sakura can still remember Sarada's sad expression every time she tried to change or remained silent about the subject. It was only natural for the sharkling to ask, especially when all who she was surrounded by were mermaids and mermen. How different they were and in comparison to the young ones Sarada was bigger, had grey scales, gill slits across her neck and a dorsal fin on her back.

She even looked different from her own mother.

Bringing up the past wasn't easy, let alone having to explain it. Sakura had always planned to explain everything when Sarada was older. So that she would understand and it would be easier, but who was she kidding? It would have been impossible to keep it a secret for so long.

"Fine, just… promise me you won't hurt her. Not like with me, she deserves to have you in her life it's all she's ever wanted and be… happy."

Even with all the pain, he caused her, if it would make Sarada happy. If he could be a good father, be there for her and part of their daughter's life.

That would be enough.

Sasuke thanked Sarada and awkwardly swam past to find their daughter, he meant every word he said in making it up to them.

The two of them.

It didn't take long for Sasuke to catch up to Sarada or find her. Especially when they had their own little secret hideout, it was further down but no one disturbed him here given his reputation which is why it was a safe option for them to meet. It was also where he and Sakura had their 'meetings.'

"Go away!" Sarada huffed sitting further in the cave. It was big enough to fit a mermaid and sharkling in but too small for a mershark like him.

"Not until you talk to me." Sasuke sat outside on a rock in front of the cave.

"I already did now go away!" He huffed amused. Talk about deja vu.

"You are just like your mother, she used to mope in the caves too whenever we got into an argument." Knowing full well he couldn't fit in the cave and would make him converse with her outside.

It was… something to say the least.

"This is unfair."

"Not my problem!"

"Your being childish, how am I supposed to talk to you properly when I can't even see you."

"You're the one who called me fat! Now go away, I don't even want to look at you." Her voice echoed inside.

"You are aware this is shark territory right? And that wasn't what I meant, I was trying… to...to give you a compliment…" And look how that backfired, he should have never taken such advice from his brother… not that Itachi really knew he was seeing a mermaid. Perhaps that's why calling her plumpy wasn't the best compliment. Sakura was still sulking inside the cave.

"I find that hard to believe. And for this being a shark territory why do you have such small caves?" Why indeed… to protect the sharklings maybe? Or most likely it was because they scared away whoever was living here first.

Either way, Sasuke hated it.

"You know my Mama?" Sarada's little head peeked out curious. Did this mean he would tell her more about them? Sasuke smiled softly patting the spot next to him, which she eagerly accepted and sat down curious. Her eyes were slightly puffy from the crying earlier.

Of course, she wanted to know.

"Ah, I did. We were… friends." They had never established an actual relationship and the term friends with benefits didn't exactly sit right knowing she would ask him or someone else what that meant.

"You were friends with my Mama? Even though you're a shark?" Sarada was starting to put all the little pieces in place. Her expression frowned in concentration on what that would mean, Sasuke decided to spare her little brain and tell her.

If she hated him, he wouldn't blame her. He would too.

"Ah, I'm your… your… your father…" He waited for the explosion, for her to hit and hate him and say that she didn't want anything to do with him again. After everything he did, he deserved to be. Sarada's eyes widened and she turned to look at him.

"Father? So your my… my real Papa… like for real real?" Her eyes brightened with glee and joy.

"I wouldn't joke about such matters Sarada. I know I abandoned and left your mother and you but-" She stopped him mid-sentence by swimming in front of him and hugging her Papa, she really was tiny in comparison to him. And to forgive him so easily? It was almost scary. Sarada looked up at him beaming.

"Finally I always wanted to meet you." Sarada did have her suspicions deep down, they looked way too much alike for it to just be the fact they were both mersharks. However, with everything Inojin mentioned, the young sharkling tried to deny it, not wanting to get her hopes up. She wished for it to be true, yes but didn't expect it to be a reality.

Sarada then pulled away from him suddenly looking hurt and sad.

"But why did you hurt Mama all those years ago? Mama is really nice and friendly, she doesn't deserve that. Do you really hate her?" There would be a lot of questions, Sasuke should have expected it.

"Sarada…" How was he supposed to answer that?

"You remember me telling you about mersharks and mermaids right, how he… I should have eaten your mother. We're two different species. I'm the predator and she's my prey."

"But… you didn't. And you must have loved Mama right? You two had me!"

"Pardon?" How did she… she was far too young to know about mating.

"My friend Inojin said his Mama said that we're here because when a mermaid and merman love each other very much their love is so big and then poof! They have an egg." Sarada smiled brightly as if that explained everything.

"Unless it's different for sharks?"

So that's how.

"Ah…no… your right…"

Yeah, it was best to leave it as that. She'll know the truth someday.

"I do love her."

"Then why did you hurt her? Why lie, lying is really bad Papa."

Papa… that was going to take a while to get used to.

"Weren't you also lying Sarada?" He teased poking her forehead. Sarada pouted rubbing the spot.

"My lie is different! No one was telling me anything." She huffed crossing her claws, there was a lot of Sakura within her.

"Once you get older… you'll understand."

"I don't see why mermaids and sharks can't be together. I'm friends with them." Sasuke wasn't sure if her naïvety was a good thing or not.

"Even if that wasn't the only thing stopping us, I've hurt your mother too much. It's up to her if she wants to forgive me or not." Although that wouldn't stop him from trying, Sarada looked a little deflated but tried to stay positive.

"You still looooove her though."

"I think right now, you should go back and apologise to your mother. You have no idea how worried she's been." Hmm maybe her Papa did have a point but she was happy seeing the slight blush on his cheeks.

"Okay." She'll prove it to them.

"Hmm, I know I dropped it around here somewhere…" Tenten looked around, it was too dangerous to be here. She knew that sharks could be anywhere but she had to find her bracelet, it was all that her mother had left her.

Besides, if Sakura could come and go as she please (even if it was because of Sasuke) then hopefully that meant she could too.

"Ah look what we got here." Tenten froze on the spot as not one nor two but five sharks surrounded her. Great, why did this have to happen to her? The mermaid tried to look for a way out.

"Such a pretty red tail you have, what a waste." They all laughed until a larger figure appeared behind them.

"Enough, don't you know whose territory you are under?"

"Ah, Mr Hyuga sir I'm so sorry. This would never happen again." The sharks were a blubbering mess but he just tsked.

"Make sure it doesn't." And they all scampered away, heh what cowards. That is until Tenten got a good look at him.

Holy shit he's huge.

He had a long large silvery tail and his hair was longer and prettier than hers. How unfair! Perhaps it was a mershark thing. Yet somehow she wasn't frightened like the other sharks. Instead, she was more bewitched, with the silver tail and eyes she guessed he must be a Hyuga.

Well, that was what they said.

Was he really planning to eat her instead?

"I believe you're looking for this." And in his claw was her yellow beaded bracelet.

How did he find it?

"Uh… yeah um thank you?"

"Don't overthink it."

Never mind, why did the assholes always have to be the good-looking ones.

"You're a friend of pinky's correct?"

Pinky?

"I believe you mean Sakura?"

"Whatever, there's a deal we've made with the Uchiha." Uchiha? Was he talking about Sasuke?

"Under no circumstance must she or any of her friends be harmed, even if YOU were the ones who come across our paths."

What?

"Why's that?"

"He's powerful, and a hassle to deal with. He won't make things difficult for us if we follow his request. That is the only reason you are alive remember that."

Ouch, rude much.

But he hated her, didn't he? Betrayed her trust.

Perhaps there was more to the story than meets the eye. Maybe she could find out more?

"Can you-"

"Uncle Neji, there you are! We've been looking all over for you!" Boruto and Mitsuki swam over to him in a hurry. The young sharkling then looked over at Tenten, he'd never seen her before.

"Uncle Neji, who's she? Is she your girlfriend?" Boruto looked at the mermaid, she looked really pretty but he couldn't understand why he would have never met her.

Oh how cutely naive young sharklings were.

"Don't be ridiculous Boruto." Neji coughed shooing him. "Shouldn't you be bothering your father?"

"Yeah, but I want to play with you today and so does Mitsuki."

"You know Boruto a shark and mermaid can't be together." Mitsuki pointed out.

"Eh? Why?" The young shark asked confused.

I should really get out of here. TenTen took the opportunity to swim away. She didn't need any more hassle. Perhaps she could go back later and find out more about what Sasuke was up to.

For Sakura's sake at least, but getting a Hyuga to talk would be tricky.

Still, at least she knew she was safe with him.

Hehe, NejiTen? NejiTen. Am I going to include some Mershark Neji and Mermaid Tenten? Yes! But as SasuSaku is the only couple to have such a 'relationship' they won't be getting together until after the whole mess, doesn't mean they can't flirt or have banter though ;)