"Ever since his family was torn from him, Sasuke wanted nothing more than the revival of his clan."
The last Uchiha had known, without saying, what her decision was when she showed up on his window sill at half past two in the morning. She had gone to a bar to drown her pain in sake. Years later, her mother's words were still a barbed wire wrapped tightly around lungs.
But Sakura held no regrets. She gave up on those when Sasuke first left the village and worked tirelessly to ensure she had the strength to never have another reason to regret.
Of course, the world had tested her resolve over the years. She grieved many a times as friends and family made their way to the Pure Lands. She had grieved for those she lost on her operating table. But she never let them weigh on her, instead using them to do better next time.
Losing Sasuke, so close to their sensei, had nearly torn her apart.
"You all know what became of Sasuke. Five months into my pregnancy he was sent on a mission from which he never returned. Eventually, he was assumed KIA. We always figured he had crossed swords with someone with a personal grudge, because no one ever came forward to take credit for his death.
"At that point, I hadn't thought about how his death would affect the child I carried. I understood going in that even though Rinyūaru was half mine that I would have no legal claim to him after he was born.
"However, my husband wasn't the only one of the legendary Team Seven known for his unpredictability. Sasuke had his moments. And this was one of them."
Sakura frowned at the chuunin in the doorway.
"Urgent summon from Hokage-sama. You're presence is needed for a will reading."
"Understood."
The chuunin flickered away, and Sakura allowed herself to scowl petulantly. This far along in her pregnancy, she wasn't permitted to use any quick displacement techniques. She heaved herself out of her chair, grateful that the hospital wasn't too far from the Hokage tower.
She was the last to arrive to Tsunade's office. Naruto, Sai, and Yamato were already present.
Sakura would later blame her pregnancy for her lack of critical thinking, for not immediately understanding the significance of those gathered. But honestly, her first thought was Kakashi-sensei was five years dead, so why were they just now reading his will?
When Tsunade announced that they could proceed with the Sasuke's will, the floor dropped out from beneath her feet.
She listened through a haze, taking in the bequeaths and bequests. He hadn't really known either Captain Yamato or Sai personally, but he asked that they continue to watch over his teammates. Never a sentimental person, Sasuke didn't have any personal effects to leave behind. Everything he owned had been practical in nature.
Except for his hitai-ate. The blond that was both his best rival and best friend cried as Tsunade held out a scratched headband.
The rest was to be held in trust for his child until he (Sakura had not known the gender of the baby she carried at that point. Sasuke had wanted to know, but she didn't. It would be too easy to become attached if she could start envisioning him or her, so they asked another medic to perform the scan and only Sasuke was informed.) became a gennin or turned sixteen.
Sakura's brain still wasn't working. She didn't understand why she was here if nothing had been left to her. Not that she felt he owed her anything thing.
Tsunade handed her a letter.
With trembling hands, Sakura unfolded it. It was short and to the point.
His name is Rinyūaru. Promise you'll take care of him. Naruto still loves you. I'm sorry.
Sakura believed there was a poetic irony in how her life saw a dramatic upheaval every time Sasuke said those two words.
"And so I suddenly found myself thrust into single motherhood when I previously believed that my part in Rinyūaru's life would end after nine months of incubation. Naruto and Sai tried to help, of course," she smiled, her words full of mirth, "but I've never seen two men so ill-equipped to deal with a baby."