Chapter 3

Papa and Mama's childhood

…

Sarada grabbed onto Mikoto and in an instant she felt like her whole body was being ripped away with great force. She had to bite her lips to keep from vomiting, all the while holding onto Mikoto.

Sarada turned her head as best she could while still feeling like a force was dragging her through what she could only describe as a colorful vortex of sorts. Different colors surrounded them and spun in all different directions. Sarada found it difficult to hold back her motion sickness. Mokoto merely chuckled and whispered that they'd be there soon. Wherever "there" was.

Sarada felt incredibly cautious. She felt maybe she rushed into going with someone she never met. But she wanted to know about her father so badly. Her mother simply wouldn't tell her anything. She felt betrayed.

There was something the entire village seemed to be hiding from her and she was desperate to know the truth. Hindsight, she really should've thought twice before going with this woman. Sarada was regretting it more and more as her anxiety kicked in. Never had she done anything this adventurous before, let alone with a stranger. Although, she did feel a surprising connection to this woman and she couldn't place why.

"We're getting ready to land, keep in mind that this won't be easy for you to see. They won't be able to see us but you must be prepared to face whatever you see. There's a reason your mother didn't want to share this side of things with you, Sarada. But I feel like it's necessary in order to learn about why your father isn't around." Mikoto shared, a slight sad smile plastered across her face.

Sarada felt confused once more. She was now more curious than ever to learn about her father and the secrets that her life always held.

"I understand. And I'm prepared for this. I need to know more about my dad, his life and the reasons behind everything. I'm tired of everything being this intense mystery."

Mikoto didn't say anything to that. Only raised her eyebrows and snapped her fingers. While Mikoto landed gracefully on her feet, Sarada was thrown to the ground with force.

Rubbing her head, she looked around her with confusion. They were in the hidden leaf.

"Why did we have to go through all of that if we're home?" Sarada inquired.

But upon further inspection, Sarada realized this was not her hidden leaf village. It was different from the village she grew up in. Her eyes widened with the realization that they must have traveled to a different time period.

That's what Mokoto was trying to show her. Who was this woman? Sarada wondered.

But it didn't matter anyway. She was grateful she would get the answers she desperately craved. Looking over, Sarada all but forgot Mikoto was standing next to her, looking at her with what seemed like curiosity.

"Now Sarada," Mikoto began, "It's very important that you remember that this is not the current world we live in. You must try and be calm with whatever you see. I understand it will be overwhelming at times and you may have the urge to ask many questions. I will be showing you a series of different events in your parents young lives, namely your fathers young life. I want you to keep an open mind and be forgiving."

If Sarada wasn't already confused, she was now.

"Be forgiving? What do you mean?" She inquired.

"I mean, you're going to witness parts of history that are being hidden from you for a reason. I know your mama wanted to keep this a secret from you in part, she wants you to hold good memories of your father, she wants you to love him and have no ill feelings towards him. Some of what you may see, may very well change that. It may confuse you."

Sarada couldn't imagine what she would witness that would ever make her hate her father. Another thought pressed her mind. Just who was this woman and how did she know so much about her family?

Her cheeks reddened as she thought about many possibilities. She suddenly felt scared and maybe she wasn't prepared after all.

She suddenly felt a warm feeling pass over her.

"There," Mikoto said, "I've placed a sort of calming effect over you. Don't be scared. I'm here with you and I promise, you are going to not only see the past but hopefully understand your father a bit more."

Sarada looked up gratefully at the beautiful woman who remained a complete mystery. She glanced around again and was more determined and calm now.

"Okay Mikoto, where are we headed to first?"

Mikoto's lips turned upward into a smile. "This is a time period when your parents were just twelve years old and their academy years. I will bring you to a select few events in each period of time."

Sarada smirked and felt eager now to see what her mother and father were like. Excited at the prospect of seeing them together and in love from the time they were kids. Her mother always told her how she had been in love with her father since they were kids.

Mikoto grabbed Sarada's hand and began walking through the leaf village of the past.

"They can't see us, right?" Sarada questioned.

"No, we're essentially invisible to anyone from this time, it's better that way. If we weren't, things would be a lot more complicated." Mikoto clarified.

Good. Sarada thought. She didn't need anything else to complicate what was already destined for complications when she did return to her own time period. Her mother would be furious.

Still lost in thought, Mikoto stopped walking suddenly, causing Sarada to look around.

They were now at the academy. They walked further inside and reached a classroom.

"Why are we here, Mikoto?" Sarada wondered. She pushed her glasses up and looked up at the woman who was staring into the room through a window.

"Just look," Mikoto simply stated.

Sarada glanced up and immediately felt giddy. There they were. Her parents. Her father, her mother and Lord Seventh. She almost burst out laughing. They were scrawny, small and cute! She had seen pictures of them but seeing them up close and in person was a different experience. One she wasn't prepared for.

She quietly observed her parents. Her mother, a small girl with long pink hair, stood with her hands on her hips, scolding Lord Seventh. While her father had a scowl on his face and sat dejectedly at his desk, not bothering to look at the interaction below. Lord Seventh was playing some sort of prank on Lord Sixth and acting in a way she had never associated with Lord Seventh.

Sarada watched with amusement as the group of kids interacted with each other. She suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to go and talk to them.

Interrupting her thoughts, Mikoto started, "this is when your parents first became a team. This is where it all began. And as soon as she stated that, Sarada was being ripped away as quickly as when they first arrived in the old leaf of the past.

"Wait Mikoto," Sarada began frantically, "I'd like to stay and watch a while longer!"

She just barely got to see her parents, why were we leaving so quickly? Sarada wondered.

Looking around, the playful feeling Sarada felt moments ago vanished. Mikoto hadn't answered her questions and remained silent. It was now dark in the village and they were in an alleyway. Wondering why they were there so late, she was about to ask Mikoto but then she was being answered by her young father.

The young Uchiha was walking toward them with his hands in his pockets, scowling and carrying a simple backpack with him. She began panicking that he would see them until she remembered they were invisible. Sarada visibly relaxed and heard Mikoto's light chuckle.

And just as Sasuke was coming up the alleyway, who else but her mother began making her way toward him. Her mother, who moments ago in the last memory, had long hair. Her appearance now resembled that of a very scared and emotional girl with now chopped short hair. It was so unlike the mother she had known her whole life. This version of her mother was alien to her.

Sarada held her breath as she waited to see what this interaction would be like. Excited to see the love between them that her mother always said was there. She watched as her mother almost made her way to where her father was.

But Sarada noticed her mother looked very sad and on the verge of tears. Shocked even. The smile Sarada had on her face began to falter, her excitement going along with it. This didn't seem like the love story she was picturing. If anything, she began feeling nervous for some reason, wondering why her mother seemed so upset and her father had a look of discontentment, unbothered, uncaring.

"It's the middle of the night, what are you hanging around here for?" Her father asked her mother with a tone he hadn't heard from him when speaking with her mother before.

Sarada and Mikoto continued watching the interaction in complete silence.

"This is the only road out of the village." Sakura replied in a sad tone.

"You should go to bed." Sasuke replied curtly and began walking around her. Never once glancing in her direction.

Sarada began to feel overcome with emotions at seeing her parents like this, but also realizing that the love her mother spoke about was very one sided. She continued watching but hated seeing her mother this way.

Tears began to run freely down Sakura's face and in turn, Sarada's face as well. Seeing her strong willed mother in tears was disheartening. She had always been a pillar of strength for Sarada. Sure they had their differences, but even she could admit her mother was a force.

"Why Sasuke, why won't you ever tell me anything?" Sakura cried, "Why is it always silence with you, you've never shared a single thing with me-"

"Why should I have to tell you anything?" Sasuke spat out.

Sakura looked like she had been stabbed by this. Mikoto looked down to see Sarada with tears in her eyes and looked very disenchanted with what she was seeing. Clearly, this wasn't what she was expecting to see.

"Just keep your nose out of my business, it's none of your concern." The Uchiha continued with anger.

"I know you hate me," Sakura began with a wobbly voice, "Even in the beginning I know you couldn't ever stand me. Remember, back when we made Genin and we were assigned to our three man squads? We were alone together for the first time. Right here on this very spot."

Sarada watched with bated breath, wondering if her father would turn around. But he continued staring in the opposite direction, not giving any indication he was even listening to her. This made Sarada angry. Here she was, watching as her young and emotional mother poured her little heart out to her father and he doesn't have the decency to turn around and face her? She began walking toward her father, knowing he couldn't and wouldn't be able to see her. What she saw surprised her.

Her father looked surprisingly conflicted. He had a scowl on his face but different than the one before. It looked like he was deep in thought and clearly, he was listening.

"You got so mad at me that day. That day that I had called Naruto a loser and bratty among other things, simply because he was alone. You even called me annoying. You told me I had no idea what it meant to be alone." Sakura continued.

After a few seconds of silence her father answered coldly, "I don't remember that."

But judging by his facial expressions, Sarada noted that he definitely did remember that. She felt almost sorry for him. He seemed to feel so alone.

This only made Sakura cry harder. Her face contorting into a confused look and considered what to say before continuing. Watching the interaction made Sarada feel like she was intruding on a very private moment, one she couldn't look away from.

"Well, I shouldn't have expected you to remember," She said sadly, "but still, it was the start of you and me. Everything changed for me that day."

Sarada could see the pain in her father and mothers eyes. She wondered why her mother loved him so much, even when he clearly hurt her back then. The hope that Sarada would see a better future was in her mind.

Sakura continued on a monologue about all of their experiences as team 7, the speech almost made Sarada cry. It was a strange thing to see her parents and finally see some of what they went through. But this was confusing to her as well. She looked at her father and noticed many conflicting emotions on his face. Almost as if he was remembering his past with her mother and team 7 as well.

"I know about your clan, Sasuke. I do. But seeking revenge, that won't bring anyone happiness," the pinkette continued.

At this, Sarada's ears perked up. Revenge? She wondered. What happened to her clan anyways? These are the questions she always wanted the answers to but was never told anything and somehow, she almost unprepared suddenly, to hear it.

Her father wanted revenge? Sarada uncomfortably kicked her shoe forward and stared into her fathers eyes. He looked even more upset now at the mention of his clan and revenge. Sarada didn't know her father left the village for revenge, as it seemed he was doing. The thought shocked Sarada. The way her mother spoke of him was that of a man who would do anything for his family and village. She never imagined he was like this. He doesn't even fit what was described.

After a long silence, her father finally spoke.

"I knew it. I'm not the same as you," Sasuke began coldly, "I'm traveling a path the rest of you can't follow. I know that the four of us have worked together, and for a while, I thought I could take that road instead. But in the end, I've decided on revenge."

Frozen, listening and watching, Sarada felt paralized with even more confusion than ever before. Revenge. Her father says it with such ease. And her mother, still sobbing, seems to have decided that she knew that's what he would say. Upset nonetheless.

"That's always been my reason for living," the Uchiha continued, more angrily now. "I'll never be like you and Naruto."

"Don't do this Sasuke, you don't have to be alone!" Sakura sobbed harder now. Clutching her hands to her chest and begging the Uchiha to see reason.

Sarada wished for nothing more than to be able to give her mother a hug and tell her what the future will be like. But even she doesn't really know, given that this is her first interaction with her family history. She can't possibly know the extent of the future and what really goes on. She knows only what she's been told, and that's very little.

Clutching her chest with her eyes shut, Sakura continued, "You told me that day what a painful thing solitude can be, I understand that pain now. I have a family and friends, but if you were gone Sasuke, it would be the same thing for me."

Sarada looked to her father and noticed how angry he was becoming. She couldn't believe he was angry and what her mother was saying. She was getting angry with her father for being so dismissive and cold. But she continued watching the interaction, at this point becoming confused as to how her mother and father fell in love.

"This is a new beginning, each of us has a new path lying before us."

"Sasuke, I'm so in love with you I can't even stand it!" Sakura was yelling now.

Sarada felt a deep sadness listening to her mother's confession, suddenly in that moment, she knew this wasn't going to end with her father telling her mother he loved her back. But she noticed his face soften a little, almost considering what she was saying.

"If you would only be with me, I promise, I'd never let you regret it. Everyday would be a joy! I can give you happiness, I'll do anything for you Sasuke!" Her mother cried harder and harder. Her father still says nothing.

Her heart aches for her mother. This little girl isn't remotely like the strong, independent mother she's used to. This is so foreign to Sarada. And seeing her father this way after only hearing stories about how great he is. Albeit, she knew there was always more behind the scenes but never this.

"So please, I'm begging you, don't walk away!" Sakura cried. "I'll even help get your revenge."

This surprised Sarada but she watched anyways, tears rolling heavily down her face.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen, I swear. So stay here… with.. me." Her mother whimpered.

She wondered what her father was about to say but she had a feeling it wasn't going to be good. Her glasses began fogging up. She was in a really melancholic mood now and began longing to have an embrace from her adult mother. This didn't feel like her mom. Her mom now would never beg. But she could see the intense love her her mothers eye for this boy. And this boy was her father, after all. And she knew there was a lot more to their story.

Silence followed her mothers words. Nothing but silence for a good 30 seconds.

When Sasuke suddenly turned around, he had a smirk on his face. "You haven't changed, you're still annoying."

Shocking both Sarada and her mother as well. This made her heart ache harder for the girl standing before her father, pouring her heart out.

And with that, he began to walk away.

"Don't leave me!" Sakura screamed and began running towards him. "If you go, I'll scream and-"

Sasuke quickly got behind her as fast as you could blink.

"Sakura," Sasuke's voice, now tender and calm. "Thank you for everything."

Sarada watched as her father put her mother in a genjutsu. And her mother collapsed. Her father lifted her up and carried her to a nearby bench. Briefly, he studied her face and ran his hand across her forehead to move the hair from her eyes. He was then gone as quickly as he came.

Sarada began sobbing harder than she had in a long while. Begging Mikoto to be able to talk to her mother, to wake her up or to get help. She wanted to go after her father and tell him what a big mistake he was making. But Mikoto only said, "you will begin seeing all of the puzzle pieces. It will fit together and eventually make sense to you. Unfortunately, we are unable to communicate with them now."

Sarada only sobbed harder. She hated this. She thought she was prepared to see what her parents were like but wasn't prepared for how cold and uncaring her own father was to her mother. She wasn't prepared to learn that he apparently deserted our village for a quest of revenge.

"What- what are we going to be seeing next?" Sarada hiccuped.

"I know this is hard, dear. But I promise, it has a good ending. But before we go further, are you sure you're ready for this? It doesn't get better for a long while and there are things that might disturb you." Mikoto warned.

Wiping the tears from her face, Sarada thought about her innocent mother, looking over she saw her lying unconscious on the bench. Renewing her determination to find out the rest of her fathers life and history. Even more so, wondering how her parents could come back from what she saw. It gets worse? Well, I'll be prepared for that this time.

With a smile, Sarada turned to Mikoto. "I'm ready alright. I'm done hiding in the shadows of secrets. What's next?"

And with that, Mikoto smiled once more and held her arm out. "Shall we?"

And they were off. This time, they arrived at the Uchiha hideout. Sarada immediately noticed how sad Mikoto looked.

"What's wrong, Mikoto? What are we doing here?"

"This is perhaps where part of my soul died. Be prepared, Sarada. For this memory is very dark and unlike the last."

Sarada gulped but knew she had to face it head on.