Sasuke lay next to his sleeping wife, the buzz of the words a very drunk Ino had said the night before still nagging him. Had he really put his family through so much suffering caused by his long absence. Unable to handle these thoughts any longer Sasuke quietly got up and dressed quickly, careful not to wake Sakura or Sarada.

Sasuke walked slowly through the streets of Konoha, it was early but there were already quite of few people starting their day, restaurants were opening, market stands and stores already bustling with people shopping.

Sasuke decided to grab a few things to help Sakura with Breakfast. He walked to his preferred market, he grabbed some salmon and a bag of rice. Sasuke began to go pay when he spotted a display of fresh tomatoes, he slowly walked over and started imspecting them.

"Isnt that Sasuke Uchiha", whispered a woman with light brown hair pulled in a ponytail. "Yeah it is, did you hear what happened with him and his wife last night" whispered another woman with short dark brown hair with her hand covering one side of her mouth. " Yeah apparently Ino Yamanaka gave that Uchiha a piece of her mind, honestly i have to agree with her, I mean poor miss Sakura having to raise a child all on her own so he can wander around the world and play hero".

"Tsk, I know, if you ask me thats such a pathetic excuse. What good did his so called travelling do for us weeks ago when the Otsusuki attacked, the village got destroyed and Hokage sama was kidnapped", the ponytailed girl scoffed.

"He should just stay in the village, imagine if he hadnt been here last time, who knows what would've happened".

" Kyaoko, Kimiko... you two arent being very fair, i h-heard he's always away on missions from the Hokage himself, and if the H-Hokage sent him im sure its important".. piped in a shy darked haired woman.

" Oh come on, Mako just think about it one, he didnt even come home once in awhile, two were in a time of peace and three what mission could possibly take ten years, especially for a Shinobi of his caliber", Kyaoko sneered.

Sasuke stood silently listening to their harsh whispers.

"W-well I-I mean, he did have a rough childhood, he hasnt had a family in a long time it must've been hard, and now maybe he's just doesnt know how to be around a family anymore", Mako said quietly.

"Hmph, I just feel sorry for Miss Sakura and her daughter, she is such a sweetheart, saving lives all the time, saving the villiage when needed and she raised a nice respectful child all on her own, she definitely deserves better than a wandering husband with emotional problems, who doesnt give a damn about his current living family" , Kimiko spat in a hushed tone.

Unable to control his anger Sasuke stormed out of the store and dropped everything he intended to buy.

Sasuke made a dash to one of the training grounds fury burning bright in his chest.

It was late in the afternoon and Sasuke looked around at the poor shape the training ground was in, he knew he was gonna hear an earful from Naruto about the destruction, but at the current moment he could care less. After awhile longer of sulking Sasuke decided it was time to head home.

Sasuke stepped through the door without announcing his presence, when he noticed another pair of shoes that didnt belong to the other people living in this house.

He moved through the house when a blur of pink ran up to him gave him a crushing hug.

"Sasuke-kun your home", she said this as her face was buried in his chest, but even though her voice was muffled he could clearly hear the crack in it. He furrowed his brow in confusion.

" Ah.. where else would I b-

Sasuke stopped in his tracks when it finally hit him, he had been gone since early morning and it was nearing sundown, he had also failed to leave a note and to top it off he took his bag along with him. She had thought he left again. Without a goodbye.

Sasuke felt his chest tighten, maybe he was a terrible husband and father. He looked down at the top of his wife's head to see her still embracing him. I just feel sorry for miss Sakura and her daughter.Sakura looked up with a bright smile and said " I-I just missed you i-is all..

Sasuke always knew when Sakura was lying, she was a terrible liar. She definitely deserves better than a wandering husband with emotional problems who doest give a damn about his current living family.Is that the way people really see him with his family.

Now usually Sasuke could care less about what people thought but he hated the pity everyone seemed to throw at his wife and daughter, and to be honest it irked him that anyone would question his love for Sakura and their daughter, they had no idea what they had gone through to get where they are now. Everything he does is to keep them safe.

"Sakura"

Sasuke's head snapped up at the familiar voice coming from the kitchen. Sakura stopped a moving Sasuke and whispered "Calm down she's here to apologize". Sasuke scowled but followed Sakura to the kitchen.

Once he entered the kitchen he saw the blonde with a sad apologetic look on her face. "Sasuke-kun I-

Sasuke shot her a deadly glare that made her clamp her jaw shut immediately. "Anata please hear her out", Sakura said with pleading eyes, She's been here almost all day groveling for my forgiveness". Sasuke grew smug at the thought of the loud mouthed blonde groveling.

" Sasuke-kun im so sorry, i was so wrong for saying those things i know it wasnt fair to you and Sakura, i was speaking with drunkenness and old anger from when you first left Sakura i could see how much it hurt her and how much she missed you and how distressed Sarada would become when she'd see her friends with their fathers, and how heartbreaking it was for Sakura to answer her questions about your whereabouts without revealing any information about your mission. I know its not my family but i love Sakura and Sarada and hated seeing them as an incomplete family and missing you. I even stupidly took my anger out on my best friend and hurt her".

"Im not excusing my hurtful words but I guess after seeing you after years of being absent in your daughters and Sakura's lives it re triggered my anger".Sasuke sat quietly taking in her words.

" Your right its not your family to worry about, but i know you love Sakura and Sarada. So i want you to know that Everything ive done was necessary for everyones saftey.. your familys and every family in the village included, and because I love My family so much! I refused to take lightly any threat that could possibly be out there. I also will tell you that i missed them so much it crippled me inside..I thought about them every day and every night , and the reason that I didnt come back to visit was because I couldnt let up my search not for one minute if it meant keeping everything and everyone safe..and... I couldn't... I couldn't put myself and my family through the agony of being home for a few days a year and leaving for kami knows how long! You and everyone else have no idea how much I love my family I will do everything including giving my life to make sure they have a future! including me missing out on having a happy life with my family..the family ive yearned for since my first family was slaughtered in cold blood.. The lonliness i went through.. do you and everyone else think i really want to go through the agony of solitude again, when I finally have another family.. do you not understand the pain of loneliness!!! Everthing I do is so they can live a better life than I did as a child!! I..will...never..lose my family again not while im still breathing!! The..ONLY reason im explaining myself now,even though I dont need to, is because im tired of everyone thinking they know everything"!!

Ino stood wide eyed with tears streaming down her face. "I know Sasuke im so sorry for doubting you i shouldve known better..everyone should.. thank for listening to my apology", she said as she stood up, she bowed slightly and left.

After the door closed the house became deathly silent. Neither Sasuke or Sakura had moved and inch since Sasuke finished his outburst. Just as Sakura was about to speak to break the tension Sarada came through the door announcing she was home.

" Welcome home Sarada" came Sakura's kind voice. " Papa your home", Sarada said happily.

"Ah", was all Sasuke managed.

"Sarada would you mind helping me with dinner tonight" Sakura piped up smiling bright. "Sure thing Mama" Sarada said as she scampered to the refrigerator.

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged a look that silently said they'd talk later.

Sasuke sat on the bed he shared with Sakura and waited for her to finish her shower. She finally emerged a minute later with her hair freshly blow dried and clad in a silk seafoam green nightie that complimented her eyes.

Sasuke turned his gaze back to their bedrooms far wall, when he felt a soft but strong hand on his shoulder.

"Anata, Whats going on...that..that wasnt like you earlier". Sasuke looked up to see her worried eyes.

"Today i was at the market and these three women...they..what they were saying..

"I know Anata" Sakura said suddenly.

Sasuke's eyes widened as his head whipped to face his wife.

Sakura gave him a sad smile, " I've heard those nasty murmurs for years.. im sorry you had to hear them too, you do so much for everyone your the last person that needs to be criticized".

Sasuke rose to his feet and grabbed his wife and pulled her close, he lifted her chin so she would look at him, " No..your the last person that deserves that" he said seriously.

"Sasuke-kun you mustn't listen to them, as long as Sarada and I love you and we know you love us thats all that matters".

"Usually i wouldnt give a damn about what people say but..when they pity you and Sarada and doubt my love for you both..I just..

"Yeah, I know Anata", Sakura gently cupped his cheek with her hand. "Sakura I love you", Sasuke said softly.

Sakura looked up with tears in her eyes. " I love you too Sasuke no matter how far you go or how long your gone".

He captured her lips with his. She was right as long as they knew they loved one another that was all that mattered. Sasuke truly did love this woman, no matter if he was horrible at showing her his emotions, he loved her, and besides Sasuke Uchiha had always been a man of action, so tonight he was definitely gonna show her how much he loved her.

"Sasuke-kun what gotten into you", Sakura shrieked as Sasuke pulled her to the bed and straddled her. Sasuke smirked " You'll see".

THE END