Chapter 4: A hidden heart

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It was raining quite hard outside and Sarada was afraid to ask Mikoto anymore questions. Gone was her playful mood and curiosity about the past. Gone was her desire to learn more because in this moment, Sarada was afraid. Mikoto didn't seem worried, which calmed her a bit. But Mikoto apparently knew everything that was going on here.

Sarada tentatively peered at the woman standing beside her. She noted that Mikoto seemed sad but detached of the situation. Sarada shuffled forward a bit, holding her breath and wondering what their next move was. She had so many questions and she was very confused but went with it anyway. She did want to learn more, she thought. She asked for this, she thought.

"Are we just waiting outside?" Sarada queried.

"For now, we are." Mikoto curtly replied.

Odd, Mikoto hasn't been that way since they met each other. It's a side Sarada has yet to experience from her. She was about to ask Mikoto what was wrong when she heard a commotion in the woods nearby the Uchiha hideout.

Sarada immediately got a bad feeling in her stomach. She knew whatever was coming out was the reason for them being there. Her thoughts went to her mother and wondered what time period they were currently in and what her mother was doing. She hoped she was okay at least. But knowing her mother, she definitely wasn't okay right now.

"Mama is gonna be so mad when I get home," Sarada nervously mumbled.

Mikoto only smiled. "It'll be alright, sweetie. I don't think you give her enough credit. She may be upset at first but if you talk to her and explain why you felt like you had to do this, I'm sure she'll understand."

"You don't know mom, and she'll freak out. Especially given the fact at I've been missing now for-"

Their conversation interrupted by four ninja coming out of the forest. Her father among them and looking entirely different than the last time she saw him.

"How many years did we jump in the future?" She asked Mikoto.

"About two to three years."

Sarada was shocked at how different her father looked. He looked much more unhappy than she'd ever seen him, his eyes piercing with a hatred she also had never seen. He commanded the group of people who were with him to stay in the forest while he 'took care of it himself.' Her father had an aura that was so dark that she didn't feel safe in his presence at all. She had never felt unsafe in his presence. Not until now.

Sarada suddenly pulled her left hand to her face and pinched herself just to check that she wasn't dreaming. This was really what she was witnessing. She couldn't believe it. She looked to Mikoto who didn't seem surprised at all. Just sad.

"That's dad? I can't believe that. What's he doing here? Why does he seem so angry and forceful? Who are those people he was with?" Sarada asked Mikoto but Mikoto didn't give an answer. Instead, she asked her to follow her into the building to watch the events unfold.

"Something you should understand, Sarada. Your dad in this time period has whats called, The Curse Mark."

"The Curse Mark?" Sarada hesitantly questioned.

"Yes. He was bitten by Lord Orochimaru in the forrest of death during their Chunin exams. Your father has always had a thirst and quest for revenge and power but this curse mark..."

Mikoto trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Her eyes suddenly becoming sad again. Sarada reached up and put her own hand on Mikoto's back for comfort. She wondered if Mikoto was her fathers guardian angel. She seemed very attached and invested in her fathers life. She did wonder why. She was about to ask her but decided against it.

Who knows how she'd react to the question. Sarada didn't want to intrude on her private thoughts. She'd tell her when she was ready.

She truly didn't like seeing this kind of behavior from her father at all, it was disturbing and made her feel very uneasy. She already felt like her whole life had been a lie. Her mom not telling her the truth however, it was starting to make perfect sense. I do wonder how mom is. Sarada thought longingly. She knew she'd be angry with her once she realized she was gone. But she knew her mother cared about her and worried about her wellbeing.

…

It's getting late. Where the hell could she be? Sakura paced back and forth worriedly and wondered where her daughter had gone. She felt terrible after their argument and realized she needed to be more open with Sarada if she expected understanding from her. She couldn't just expect her to swallow whatever Sakura told her. She isn't a child anymore.

But Sakura desperately wanted to shield Sarada from the truth of her father, her clan and the history of both. She didn't think Sarada would trust the leaf or her father for that matter, if she knew the truth. But that clearly didn't matter.

She paced back and forth throughout their little home, feeling anxiety and worry she hadn't felt in years. Of course, having children will definitely do that to you. Sakura thought wearily. She felt as if having Sarada had aged her about ten years. And not having Sasuke there to co parent her made it even harder. She was basically doing this alone.

It had now been about 6 hours and Sarada still hadn't come home. This was very unlike her. No matter how upset or frustrated Sarada has ever been, she's never just not come home before. Sakura was about to call Naruto to send for a search party when there was a light knock at her front door. Perplexed, she tentatively made her way to the door. No one usually comes here this late at night and if it were Sarada, she definitely wouldn't knock.

Suddenly, she got a terrible thought that maybe her daughter was hurt somewhere and this someone informing her.

When Sakura opened the door, her fear turned to confusion. The local librarian was at the door and she had a look on her face that Sakura couldn't describe.

"Oh, hello Misaki. What brings you here tonight?"

"Mrs. Uchiha," Misaki started in a monotone voice, "I felt I had to inform you of recent events that took place at my library this afternoon involving your daughter, Sarada."

Sakura felt a pit in her stomach. She wished the librarian hadn't given her this news at all, but she was relieved to know that someone seemed to be aware of what happened to Sarada. Sakura jutted her lips and held the door open just enough so that Misaki could enter the house.

"Have a seat," Sakura eyed the librarian and frantically began putting the kettle on to prepare tea for her guest, as was custom to all who entered her house.

"Thank you, Mrs. Uchiha."

"Please, call me Sakura. Now, please explain to me what you saw. I've been so worried now and haven't heard a thing from Sarada, is she hurt? Where is she?"

The librarian sighed heavily before continuing. "Your daughter came in to our library today asking for books and information during the dark days. She was trying to learn more about the Uchiha and particularly, Sasuke," she sighed again.

Upon hearing this, Sakura collapsed on the couch, averting her eyes from the burning judgmental gaze of the woman sitting across from her. Of course, she knew she was a terrible mother. Anyone with eyes could see that. But Sakura tried her best, she did what she thought was right in protecting her daughter and her husband. If Sarada knew Sasuke was a restricted and extremely dangerous shinobi of the leaf, it would devastate her. She loved both her husband and daughter too much to have her daughter resent Sasuke.

Lost in deep thought, Sakura almost forgot Misaki was sitting across from her. Crossed legged and eyes burning with a kind of disdain she hadn't ever seen in someone who didn't really know her.

"Well," Sakura started again but her voice trembled as she felt like she was on fire, "Where is my daughter now, Misaki?"

Tears began to form on her face and just as soon as they did, she willed herself not to cry. There was no way she was going to let this judgmental bitch of a woman see her cry.

"That's the other part... she left with someone. A woman I didn't recognize. I ran outside to ask what was going on, but by the time I arrived, they had disappeared."

Sakura nearly ripped the woman apart. "Kids don't just disappear, you must have seen something!" Sakura was standing up now, hands beginning to ball into fists.

"I know that. But I'm not her mother, you are." The woman said condescendingly and with scorn.

Trying to remain calm, Sakura took a few deep breaths before speaking again. Losing her temper wouldn't do her any good and it wasn't going to bring Sarada to her.

"Let me ask you something, Misaki," Sakura began calmly, "Do you have a child?"

Misaki began to feel an aching in her chest when she thought of her own daughter. "Yes, Mrs. Uchiha. I do. Please explain how that has any relevancy to your daughter?"

Sakura began to feel something stirring inside her. Anger? Sadness? She didn't know. But she was very much on the verge of losing her temper here. Who the hell was this woman to come into her house and judge her and how she's raised her daughter? Sakura was silently fuming, waiting for her brain to come up with an answer. It was extremely difficult to think when she was this angry.

The librarian looked extremely uncomfortable and was eyeing the door constantly.

"Well, I'll tell you. Have you ever had the extreme need and desire to protect your child and their innocence?"

"Yes, I suppose I have, but that isn't-"

"And when you feel like you're doing the best you can, but even that isn't enough, do you feel like you're a failure as a mother? Because I do, Misaki. In fact, I don't think you can judge me more harshly than I've already been judging myself throughout all of this. I stay awake late at night and wonder about the day I'm going to have to tell my 12 year old daughter that her father was a murderer and enemy of our village. The love of my life tried to kill me, my daughters father tried to end her mothers life. Do you think that's easy to tell your child? Tell me, if this was your situation and your daughter, would it be easy for you to share these things?"

Sakura was heaving with anger but wasn't finished yet. She needed to get this off her chest.

"And when you feel like your daughter could use the space after being lied to, time and time again, do you blame yourself when she doesn't come back? When you were doing what you thought would help your child cool off and get some space? Please enlighten me as to how you're a perfect mother with no flaws." Sakura nearly spat out.

The librarian was shocked. Never had she been spoken to this way in her entire life. She was speechless.

Sakura gave her no time to answer. "Get out then. I'll find her myself. And next time you want to call the kettle black, pot, make sure to remember that we're all humans, we're all mothers and we aren't perfect."

And with that and not another word said between them, Sakura walked over to the front door and indicated for Misaki to leave at once. Of course, Misaki had no clue what to say. She left without another word and didn't look back. Sakura slammed the door in her face and she left.

Sakura's hands were shaking and her mind was racing with different possibilities and outcomes of her daughters whereabouts. She was out of all other options. She knew what she needed to do. She needed to call on Sasuke to help her find their baby girl. She hated bothering him when he was out on missions, but she knew Sasuke would understand. And she would never forgive herself if something happened to Sarada.

She was going to make sure her daughter was safe and well. Sakura made a mental note to tell her everything she wanted to know once they reunited. And with that, Sakura set out to enlist her husbands help in finding Sarada.

…

"Just wait here. I need to do this alone." Sasuke coldly told the members of his group.

"But Sasuke, what if you need backup in there, we've been here every step of the way and all we-"

Sasuke wasn't in the mood for this today. This was the day. This was him fulfilling the destiny he always knew he needed to fulfill. To avenge his clans destruction at the hands of his brother. He's waited many years for this very moment. He's gotten stronger, trained harder than he's ever trained. He isn't about to anyone come between that.

"Shut up, Siugetsu," Sasuke spat, "I told you to stay here. You, Karin and Jugo stay where I tell you to, be the watch out and make sure no one else interferes. Got it?"

"Got it." Siugetsu grumbled. "Was just worried about you."

"It's not your place to worry about me, I don't need it or want it. Just stay out of my way."

Sasuke turned toward the Uchiha hideout, ready to face his older brother. Ready to complete his destiny. Looking back at his team, he involuntarily shook his head. It wasn't prudent to worry about what they were doing right now. He needed to trust that they would take care of what they needed to out here, while he took care of Itachi in there. Without turning back a second time, he walked in the direction of where his brother was surely awaiting.

…...

Sarada watched as her father commanded a group of shinobi that surrounded him. She heard him speak of destiny and revenge. She had gathered from the last memory she saw that her father was out for revenge, but she didn't realize it had gotten to this point. He was going to kill Itachi? He always spoke so highly of his brother, she never guessed that he was the reason for the older Uchiha's death. But why? Why would he want to murder his own brother?

Sarada had many questions still yet to be answered and she was getting a little impatient.

"Mikoto, I really don't understand why you've brought me to places in time that only tell me a part of the story. I don't understand half of what I'm seeing and why it connects together," Sarada was very confused.

"Child, don't you worry. All in good time. The puzzle pieces will fit, but you see, you have to see what makes the picture whole before you see the picture in its entirety, understand?" Mikoto soothed.

Sarada, exhausted emotionally and physically drained, pushed her glasses up once more and shook her head. For she really didn't understand. She was just twelve, after all. And sometimes Mikoto spoke to her as if she should already understand.

"Let's go then, I want to see what my dad is doing in there," As Sarada began to walk toward the hideout, she felt Mikoto grab her arm.

"Not yet, honey. Things are going to get very serious in there and you're still entirely too young to witness some of what happened that night. And I suppose, I ought to show you why Sasuke is on this current path. I hadn't wanted to show you before because you will learn something I didn't want you to learn just yet." Mikoto sighed and gingerly grabbed Sarada's hand and led her in the opposite direction of the Uchiha hideout.

"What didn't you want me to know? Where are we going now?" Sarada questioned hastily.

"We're going farther back in time, a time when your dad was very young and Itachi a mere child. This should explain much to you."

And they were off. Little did Sarada know, the events in this memory would change her life and how she saw her family, forever.