Sorry guys, this isn't the longest chapter but it's a personal favorite of mine. There's a lot more intimate Sasusaku moments in this one and I wanted it to be special. Anyways, I appreciate the reviews left! Hope you like the developing story and please do leave feedback or constructive criticism if you feel it needs it! I've been posting a lot more, too! So a shorter chapter shouldn't be too much of a problem! Thanks again!

Chapter 5: What once was lost

Dad really does look different in this time period. Sarada thought. Mikoto was taking her to another time and as curious as Sarada was about that, she was even more perplexed at how two years has changed her father so much.

Sasuke was wearing a gray collared shirt, dark pants and a purple rope around him in this time period. He had a darker aura and his chakra was also much darker. Sarada couldn't help but wonder why none of the puzzle pieces were fitting yet. It seemed like everything was choppy and in bits and pieces.

Still, Mikoto said it would eventually make sense. And apparently wherever they were headed now was going to clear some important information up.

Still lost in thought, Sarada jumped when Mikoto gently grabbed her hand and tugged her forward.

"We're almost there," Mikoto smiled gently.

Sarada hadn't been paying much attention to her surroundings and realized she had completely spaced out. Now that she had gotten a chance to look around, she noticed they were immersed in a blue glowing light. They seemed to glide through wherever it was they were, on to the next time.

"Mikoto, you seem really nervous. Where are we going, exactly?" Sarada wondered and gave her a small sideways glance.

Mikoto let out a sigh and closed her eyes. She knew this was a conversation she needed to have with Sarada but she didn't want her to find out this soon. Sarada knowing that she was her grandmother, would open up a series of doors and questions. She had wanted to keep it as simple as possible. But the child naturally has questions, they need to be answered if things are to progress and she is to understand.

"Sarada, we're going to a time when your dad was very young, and your uncle Itachi as well," She whispered, "It's time you understand the beginning a bit better, but I warn you, you will have many questions."

Sarada stayed silent. She didn't know what to say. But she was definitely more curious now than before.

I do want to know why my dad has this secret past, why he hasn't been around my entire life and why my mom just keeps this all a secret. But even more so, I want to see how their relationship came to be. I want to understand why I'm here. Sarada was once again, deep in her pressing thoughts.

"Sarada," Mikoto let go of her hand and smiled. "We're here."

"So, we're back in the leaf village then?" Sarada chewed her lip. This time, things felt different. There was a dark feeling washing over her.

"We are." Was all Mikoto said, curtly.

They began walking down the same alley her parents were in a couple memories ago.

Sarada looked up at Mikoto who looked as if she was suppressing tears.

What was she thinking about? She wondered. Does she have some sort of connection with the leaf village, too?

The only light illuminating the dark night sky as they walked, was the moon.

A full moon. What bad luck. Sarada's thoughts roamed once again to her mother who was probably angry or worried or both. She shuddered at the thought of the consequences when she got home. But if she got to learn about her family, it was worth it.

xx

"Damn," Sakura shuddered out loud, knowing Sasuke was going to be furious. Not so much furious at anyone specifically, but more furious that he wasn't around enough to prevent this from happening.

It was a particularly chilly night tonight and waiting for whenever her husband would make it to their home, was agonizing. All Sakura kept thinking about was the last words she and Sarada spoke to each other.

Walking over to the window to see if she could see Sasuke's hawk in the sky or possibly even Sasuke himself, she sighed and paused before remembering it was way too dark outside to even check.

"Why wasn't I more open with her?" Sakura groaned. Tears brimming her eyes, she sat on the couch that faced the window, just in case she saw something.

She chuckled slightly, remembering when she was pregnant with Sarada and how scared she and Sasuke both were.

"Sasuke," Sakura squealed, a mischievous smile on her face. Her hands were behind her back while she walked slowly to Sasuke who was training in their garden.

"What is it?" He asked, suspicious of her sudden tone of voice. He put his sword in the holster and tentatively made his way to meet her.

"You're going to be a dad, clan officially in restoration mode," She joked, a playful smile on her face.

Despite her joking attitude, Sasuke could see the emotion in her face. At one point in his life, he never would've thought he'd be deserving of this- his beautiful wife who, despite everything, forgave him and loved him for who he was. And now, a child. All of his hopes for the future were coming true.

No matter how Sasuke felt inside, he rarely, if ever showed any emotion. It just wasn't how he was built. But on the rare occasions that he did, it was special.

"That's," a lump catching in his throat, he couldn't finish his sentence.

Sakura gave a light laugh in return. "Are you happy, Sasuke? A hint of worry in her voice now.

Of course he was happy. God he loved her so much and now she's giving him what he's always wanted.

"I am, thank you for this Sakura," was all he managed but he had a smile on his usually glowering face.

"I want it to be a girl," she beamed, "a little girl I can dress up and match with!"

"It's going to be a boy, my mother had two boys," Sasuke couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled his wife into an embrace.

"Well I'm her mother and I already know she's a she," giving him a light kiss on his cheek as she spoke.

"I won't always be able to be there, Sakura," the conversation taking a serious turn. The mood now heavier than moments ago. He watched as her smile faltered.

"I know, Sasuke. And I've accepted that a long time ago,"

"This isn't easy for me either, this is what I've wanted. But I have duties to take care of," He started, "amends to make."

Grabbing his hand in hers, she pulled her husband close to her and for a moment, there was silence between them. A comfortable silence albeit filled with sadness now.

"I know," was all she murmured through her husband's cloak.

"Things will be hard and you'll have to answer a lot of her questions, I won't always be there to answer them."

Sakura drew in a deep breath, understanding everything he was saying but feeling pain nonetheless.

"I don't want her to know why you're specifically making amends, Sasuke. I don't want her to know you were an enemy of our village. If she's anything like me, it'll be hard to hear."

"It needs to be shared with her, Sakura. Trust me, she'll feel like she's been lied to. If she's anything like me, that'll be a recipe for disaster."

Heavy silence seeped through the air. The breeze blowing Sakura's hair in her face. It was a gorgeous day and although she was- is extremely happy about the news of her pregnancy, she now felt it was dampened.

Until a thought popped into her head. Grinning sheepishly at her husband who only looked confused in return, "You said she!" She grinned suddenly.

"What?" He asked, raising his eyebrows at the sudden change in topic.

"You referred to our baby as she," she reiterated happily, giggling now.

"Hn," He rolled his eyes, but had a playful smile on his face. "We'll see."

"I love you, Sasuke." She smiled.

He gave her a poke to her forehead and smiled at his wife. He knew he was incredibly lucky to have her as the mother of his child and his wife. He loved her too, god he loved her and their unborn child.

"I know," he said.

Recalling the memory as if it were yesterday, she hugged herself and smiled.

"I promise," she thought out loud, "I'll tell Sarada everything." Recalling what Sasuke said about not feeling lied to. Maybe she hadn't been as honest as she thought she was being with her, but she always wanted her to have a good impression of her father. She knew Sasuke wouldn't always be around and she didn't want her daughter to think badly of him.

She jumped and her mind along with it when she heard a soft knock at the door and knew it was him. She hadn't seen her husband in a while and despite the circumstances, she couldn't help but be a little excited.

He still made her heart race. She welcomed him inside and could tell he hadn't slept in days.

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by his husky voice.

"Let's go get our daughter."

xx

A pain in her heart caused her to clutch her chest. She could tell she was anxious.

"Are you going to be alright?" Mikoto asked gingerly, gently caressing Sarada's head.

"Yeah," Sarada lied, "I'm just suddenly worried about what we're about to see."

The atmosphere was thick and heavy. She didn't even know what exactly it was that they were about to see, but she knew it wasn't good if it made Mikoto act this weird.

"I understand, this is hard for me too. This won't be something you will be able to easily forget. So I must ask you, Sarada, are you sure you want to proceed?"

A heavy sigh escaped Sarada's lips and she fumbled with the hem of her skirt before deciding on what to say.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay," Mikoto began, "Then I should tell you it's graphic. It may cause you to be scared but don't fret too much, child. There's nothing that can be done about it now."

"Where are we going?"

"We're here."

Sarada looked around and realized where they were. They were at the Uchiha compound.