Friends and Further
Drabble Nine: A Woman's Perspective
by thatreevesgirl/Lemon Drops
Naruto's adopted daughter might not have been blonde, and Sakura's daughter wasn't blessed with pink locks, but watching the spat between the two children was like taking a trip straight down memory lane. It was so much like watching a flashback between Ino and herself that Sakura had to try hard not to laugh. Kari was two years older than Mikoto, but Mikoto had inherited Sasuke's irritableness and Sakura's temper. Those two things were a lethal combination, something Sakura had discovered rather quickly about her obstinate child. Kari was like a mini-Naruto, and her warpath intersected right with the visiting leaf child who had apparently gotten under Kari's skin for trying to steal her boyfriend. Naruto had warned Sakura that Kari thought the whole world was out to steal her boyfriend, a boy who happened to not even know that Kari existed. Poor girl, Sakura could identify with that.
Sakura's thoughts were interrupted by the low growl emanating from the dressing room and a string of whiny complaints. Naruto was sure having fun in there with three store clerks and about 5 formal kimono. He had made his objections very clear, trying on kimono was the very last thing in the world he wanted to do. She hadn't seen Naruto in at least six months, but that whining of his was driving her up a wall. She remembered when she could handle it much more in stride. Damn Sasuke, he was rubbing off on her again.
Gaara had already made his selection and was standing chatting idly with Sasuke about politics. The Kazekage was so smooth with his words that even Sakura's husband didn't realize Gaara was only gathering the gossip from an ally ninja village. Sasuke prattled on (yes, he had become a chatty one, Sakura had rubbed off on him as well) about some recent changes which irritated him, but really, was there really ever a time when he wasn't annoyed by something?
"Mom! Make her shut up!" a childish screech rang throughout the shop, forcing Sakura away from her thoughts long enough to shush her daughter and apologize profusely to the shop owner who was glaring at the two prepubescent girls.
Mikoto folded her arms defiantly, her dark eyes a deeper shade of brooding than even Sasuke could manage. Kari's light auburn hair shifted around her face as she drooped her head in shame. Sakura didn't know why until she saw an annoyed looking Naruto staring her down. He'd stomped out of the dressing room to give her a good lecture about being polite, but he played the angry parent so poorly. It was obvious the parent that normally reprimanded Kari was Gaara, but the Kazekage was still too engrossed in his engaging conversation with Sasuke to worry about the ruckus his daughter was causing.
Naruto hovered over his daughter and glared menacingly at her. Sakura smirked. Damn that Naruto, he looked utterly gorgeous in the current kimono he was wearing, even with a grimace on his face. Sakura wondered if she could convince Gaara to make that his official Suna uniform. A slight tinge of embarrassment rose up Sakura's face as she glanced over to her husband, making her feel guilty that she'd was oggling their former teammate when Sasuke was in the room. Ten years with Sasuke ... she should get an award for not killing him during that time, so letting her eyes peruse Naruto (who was in a serious relationship himself) was just a short mental reprieve from life with Mr. Sarcasm.
Naruto was getting married in less than a week. The Suna council finally okayed Gaara's request to allow him to marry Naruto. Sakura sighed, she found their struggle to be terribly romantic. Sakura's daydreams about romance were cut short when Kari and Mikoto started fighting again. Sasuke and Naruto were now both lecturing the girls, not that it stopped the arguing, it was just a great big gripe-fest now. Gaara's eyes caught Sakura's and the Kazekage shrugged very slightly. The leaf kunoichi pondered how handsome Gaara had become since he began approaching thirty. Sakura shook her head, trying to pry loose the thoughts that were running rampant through her brain.
Kakashi would be proud, because Sakura realized that she was quickly becoming a dirty old woman. Allowing her one last, perverted thought, Sakura pondered how drunk she'd have to get Sasuke, Gaara, and Naruto to have them make out at the bachelor party. Curse Konahamaru and his damn sexy no jutsu, and while the fates were at it, curse Kakashi and his damn pervertedness, it was obviously a contagious disease.