Title: Girl Talk

Prompt: Sarada's crying, and she only wants to talk to Sakura. Sasuke's standing there, not knowing what to do.

Genre: Family/humor

Rating: K

Beta read by: Sakura's Unicorn

A/N: Sarada's around 15-years-old here. You'll see some BoruSara here, too! :)

Sasuke found himself at a crossroad. Well, a metaphorical one, at least. He was standing outside his daughter's bedroom door, hand poised to knock, but debating whether he should. Sarada had been crying for ten straight minutes, and Sasuke's heart could not take it anymore. He needed to know what was wrong so he could make things right for her again.

He knocked. "Sarada."

"Go away, Papa!" she cried.

He felt like a kunai stabbed his heart. Sarada had never turned him away like this before.

He decided to try again. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk to you, Papa! I want Mama!"

That kunai stab to the heart? Make it a tanto.

Sasuke grimaced and trudged downstairs to the kitchen. He picked up the phone and dialed his wife's office number.

"Hello?"

"Sarada's crying." Sasuke cut straight to the point.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "What's wrong?"

Sasuke grit his teeth. "She won't tell me. She wants you."

There was silence on the other line for a few seconds. And then, with a teasing tone, Sakura said, "Got rejected, did ya, Sasuke-kun?"

His grip on the plastic phone tightened, nearly breaking the casing. It was one thing to be rejected by his daughter, but now his wife was teasing him, too. His pride could only handle so much.

Sakura laughed. "I'm ending my shift early. I'll be right there," she said and then hung up.

Sasuke practically slammed the phone down on the receiver. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He was still upset that he couldn't find a way to placate his daughter on his own. Releasing a heavy exhale, he decided to make some black tea.

Sakura came home with a bag of dango. She spotted her husband in the kitchen, preparing a tray of tea. Kissing his cheek, she asked, "Is this for Sarada?" When Sasuke nodded, she smiled and added the dango on the tray. "You have no idea what she could be crying about?"

Her husband shook his head. "I would say it's Idiot Junior, but I don't think he could make her this upset."

Sakura hummed, and a devilish glint flared in her green eyes. "Is that so?"

Sasuke quirked up his eyebrow, beckoning her to explain further, but she did not. Instead, she whirled around and made her way up the stairs.

Sasuke trailed close behind, gripping the tea tray like a shield.

Both parents stood outside Sarada's door. It was quiet inside, but Sasuke could still hear a sniffle every now and then. Sakura knocked twice.

"I said I wanted Mama, not you, Papa!"

Sasuke grimaced as if he had been struck with a Chidori.

"Sweetheart," Sakura said while she leaned on the door lightly. "It's me."

There was silence, and then quick footsteps. The door flew open and Sarada looked at her mother through tear-filled eyes.

Sasuke felt his heart cracking at the sight of his daughter's puffy, red-rimmed eyes.

"M-Mamaaaa!" Sarada threw herself into her mother's arms.

"There, there," Sakura cooed, rubbing her back in a comforting up and down motion. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sarada nodded her head, never releasing her grip on her mother's stomach.

When Sakura ushered her daughter back inside her room, Sasuke tried to follow, but she stopped him with a glance. "It's all right, Sasuke-kun," she smiled. "You can leave the tray on the floor. I'll take it from here."

He did as he was told, but did not leave the room. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Why do I need to leave?"

Sarada sat on her bed and watched her parents stare each other down.

"This is a girl talk," she replied.

Forget the Chidori—Sasuke felt like his wife sucker-punched him into the next dimension. What was it with today and people hurting his feelings? But Sasuke, being Sasuke, stood his ground and glared. "I have a right to know what happened."

With a flex of her chakra, Sakura herded him into the hall. "You're not helping, darling. Go find Naruto or something!"

"Tch." Sasuke grit his teeth. "Will you tell me after?"

Sakura looked back at Sarada, who shook her head fiercely. "Sorry, Sasuke-kun. That's a no," Sakura said sweetly before slamming the door on her husband's face.

Sasuke pressed his ear to the door, trying to hear what his wife and daughter were talking about. Their voices were muffled, but he could still make out most of it.

"Sweetheart, is this…" Sakura started.

Sasuke closed his eyes, concentrating to hear more.

"Yes, it is, Mama," Sarada's voice quivered. "I-I don't under..stand." She started crying again.

Hearing his daughter this forlorn was breaking Sasuke's heart. What's going on? What happened? Who did this?

"Tell me from the beginning, love." Sakura's voice was gentle.

Sarada sniffled. "Well, it started when Boruto–"

Sasuke's dark eyes widened. So, it was Idiot Junior.

"And he–"

The moment Sasuke heard what Boruto did, his Sharingan activated, his killing intent flaring.

Sakura darted to Sarada's bedroom window. She spotted her husband dragging his sword, Chidori activated, running toward town.

"Good grief," Sakura muttered. "He didn't even stay to hear all of it."

A/N: Protective Papasuke is the best Sasuke. This story was particularly fun for me to conceptualize and write. What do you think Boruto did? Let me know when you leave me a review? :)

~Kairi