Keep the reviews coming, and i'll keep more chapters more coming! :D - AUTHOR SHINJUCHI
Sakura took a deep breath before entering Sasuke's apartment. When they entered, she noticed the simplicity yet it still has a feeling of being at home. She blushed as she realizes that they are all at less than one roof. Since she bought something at the market as well, she placed her own stuff down as she watched the younger children run around the room, they were both so hyper. She then watched as Junnosuke approached the kitchen area, 'I wonder if he needs help?' She thought as he put on an apron. Sasuke was also at the kitchen area, putting down the stuff they bought as he watched closely at Sakura as she approached the eldest child. With a smile on her face, "Do you need help, Junnosuke-kun?" she asked. Junnosuke's face brightens, "That'll be great mother! After all, your cooking is much better than mine." He said happily and Sakura laughed. Sasuke decided to leave the two alone.
As Sakura and Junnosuke were cooking, the younger kids were at the living room area with Sasuke. Sasuke was sitting at the couch while the kids run around playing tag. They both stopped, silence was there and they both looked at each other. They exchanged expressions but Junnosuke already knew that they will annoy Sasuke so he made sure to give his siblings a word, "Keisuke! Shinju! Behave and don't disturb father okay?" he shouted at the kitchen area and sighed. Sakura laughed softly, "You are such a reliable big brother Junnosuke-kun." She said.
"Well, aren't all big brothers like that? It's our duty to protect our younger siblings after all." He said with a smile on his face as he continued chopping some spices. Sakura watched him proudly, she feels like she's talking to someone older with his maturity. So with a smile she said, "Un! That's right." She continued what she was doing as well.
Keisuke and Shinju ran towards Sasuke and jumped at him, Sasuke grunted as they both hit him, "What do you want?" he asked. They both widely smiled at him and started jumping up and down the couch. "Father, I want crayons and a paper!" Shinju said excitedly while Keisuke shook his head, grabbing Sasuke's shirt, "I want Father to teach me that technique now!" He said, with a looking forward face. "That technique? What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked curiously. This kid can't be asking for a dangerous technique right? But thinking back, he used to ask his brother to teach him all sorts of ninja moves.
Keisuke nodded excitedly, "The Goukakyuu no Jutsu! You told me that grandfather used to teach you that technique." He said as Sasuke's brow twitched in surprise. Sasuke remembered how he would beg his father to train him just like how he trained Itachi, but his father always favored Itachi. He was always proud of his eldest child, bragging about him to their other clan members. He remembered how jealous he was because he wanted his father to look at him just like how he looked at Itachi. He watched Keisuke who looks so excited and pumped up. He reminded him of himself in the past. He wondered if he looked just like him, he used to desperately want to be recognized.
Keisuke waited for Sasuke to reply and he started grabbing his shirt again, "Father? Come on! Teach me!" he said, pouting. He watched the young child's facial expression suddenly change. Keisuke gave Sasuke a sad face, "But you taught nii-chan that technique when he was about my age too. You're unfair father." Keisuke's words shocked Sasuke. Junnosuke heard everything from the kitchen and suddenly stopped chopping his spices. He knew how Keisuke feels every time he asked their father to teach him something. It's not like their father didn't want to teach him, it's just that every time he asked him, he was either so busy or so tired from work. Sakura noticed the young boy's sudden stop. She also heard the conversation between Keisuke and Sasuke. Sakura wanted to talk to Junnosuke but she doesn't know what to say.
"A-ah, Junnosuke-kun! Y-you see…the way you chopped the spices here are not the same." Sakura said, trying to break the awkward atmosphere. Junnosuke laughed a little and rubbed the back of his head, "Ah! I'm sorry mother. I didn't notice that. I'll pay attention next time." He said and continued his chopping. Sakura smiled at him, a little bit worried, she peeked at the living room. She saw how Sasuke had a hard time answering the little boy. Keisuke was sitting at the couch, looking down while still firmly holding Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke still looking at the little boy with a shocked mixed with worried expression and Shinju watching the both with a curious look. Sasuke looked around and pretends to cough, "Learning the Goukakyuu no Jutsu requires a lot of chakra." Sasuke said and Keisuke lift his head, looking at Sasuke who looked back at the little boy, "I'm strong enough to learn it! I promise! Didn't you know that Naruto-ojisan started teaching Hitomi the Kage Bunshin! Can you believe that? And she's a girl too! Why can she learn things and I can't?" he replied with a sad face.
At the kitchen, Junnosuke released a soft laugh, "So, he's jealous of Hitomi?" he said, smiling. Sakura became curious and asked, "Who is Hitomi?" Junnosuke looked at Sakura, "Ah… she's Keisuke's playmate. She's Naruto-ojisan and Hinata-obasan's daughter. She's also 8." He answered her, giving Sakura more surprises. 'Eeeeeh! Naruto and Hinata too!?' she thought. Sakura laughed, knowing things from the future is really amazing but at the same time, it's scary.
"So they must be really close right? Keisuke and Hitomi?" She asked curiously as it made her perked up. Junnosuke stopped and looked at her, with a happy face he answered, "Yes! They have this weird relationship though, they are very close indeed but they have this strong rivalry between who's stronger. Keisuke would always ask me to teach him new moves, showing it to his friends, acting all strong and mighty but it's really funny because he still cries easily." Sakura laughed, "Well, isn't it always like that? Kids like to show off." She said while she continued stirring the soup. The young boy smiled and continued what he was doing, "Yes they do. I used to do that too. I would ask father to teach me anything just to show off to my friends." Junnosuke's reply made Sakura remember her childhood days. She used to be bullied because of her big forehead until she met Ino. She remembered how she and Ino fought for Sasuke. How silly they were that time. She smiled reminiscing those days.
Back at the living room, Shinju continued watching her father and brother. She was confused what they were talking about. She grabbed the other side of Sasuke's shirt. "Father" she said, looking at him. Sasuke turned to face her, "What?" he replied. "Can I have my crayons and my paper?" she asked. Sasuke remembered, 'ah, yeah she wanted those.' He thought.
"I don't have any of those." He answered, making Shinju sad. She hop off the couch and started stomping her little feet. Sasuke watched her with an amused look. Shinju, now with an angry look, "But! I want to draw now!" she said as she continued stomping her feet. Junnosuke heard his little sister's mini rampage and decided to take a look at it. He excused himself to Sakura, "Ah… okay go ahead." Sakura said, they just finished cooking though. Sakura transferred the foods into the plates and placed it on the dining table. Junnosuke took off his apron and walked towards them at the living room area.
Junnosuke clapped his hands, making them turn to look at his direction. "Come on Shinju-chan, don't be like that. We can buy those tomorrow. Look outside, it's getting darker right? If you want, I can tell you stories before we sleep tonight. How does that sound?" he said as he knelt down at Shinju's level, Shinju looked at him, still pouting. Sasuke watched Shinju as she was twirling her little foot; she looked at his brother's smiling face and nodded slowly. "Okay…" she replied. Sasuke gave off a soft laugh. Everyone looked at him. Sakura was carrying the soup, about to put it on the table but stop when she heard Sasuke's laugh. She blushed with her eyes slightly widen. 'Sasuke laughed?' she thought.
Sasuke stopped laughing; he smiled and noticed Sakura looking at him. He turned to look at Sakura, still smiling. "What?" he asked. Sakura shook her head, "N-nothing…A-ah! Dinner's ready!" she said, stuttering. She smiled as she placed the soup on the table. If other people saw them right now, they would definitely think of them as a family. Well, they are a family. Sasuke and the children walked towards the table and sat, ready to eat. Sakura walked back inside the kitchen area and took off her cooking mitts and apron. She paused and took a deep breath. 'Relax Sakura…relax.' She thought as she inhaled and exhaled. She slapped her face gently, trying to calm herself.
Junnosuke noticed how Sakura took it slow coming back to the dining table, "Eh? Mother… Are you alright?" he called out to her. Sasuke knew why she was not back yet. He knew how she might be nervous being around him and the kids. After all, even he himself found it weird to sit down there with his sudden family. Sasuke stood up, Junnosuke noticed him, "Hm?" he said as Sasuke walked towards the kitchen.
"Sakura." He called her name as he approached her. His deep voice made Sakura froze with eyes wide open and cheeks tinted in red. She slowly turned around, "Ah… I'm sorry that it took me long to get out. I was just thinking…" she explained, not looking at Sasuke. Sasuke nodded and leaned his body at the fridge, "I understand you Sakura." With just those words, Sakura's eyes widen. She realized that it's not only her who felt that way. She finally realized that even Sasuke was surprised of the sudden happening. She is still sixteen, the war just ended and Sasuke just came back home. It must've been hard for Sasuke too, after all those years being alone with anger, hate and loneliness. And now, with their future children's sudden appearance, it must be a shock for Sasuke too. "Sasuke-kun…"she said, smiling softly, still blushing red.
Junnosuke was curious so he stood up to look at what's up, the other two followed him. "Father… mother? What's wrong?" he asked, beside him are the younger siblings with their eyes full of curiosity. Sasuke and Sakura turned to look at them. Sakura laughed and shook her head, "Nothing. Come on, let's eat." She said smiling happily as she walked out passing Sasuke, she said softly, "thank you Sasuke-kun." Sasuke closed his eyes and slightly smirked, "Hn."
They all sat and started eating. Sasuke and Sakura ate while observing their 'kids' eat too. Shinju was having a hard time reaching the table since she's still a little too tiny so she was sitting the chair with a pillow. Junnosuke kept an eye on her too since she tends to play with her food. Keisuke was silently eating. Sasuke noticed him; maybe he still couldn't get the training thing out of his mind. Sasuke pretended to cough again, making everybody looked at him. He looked directly at Keisuke who is also looking at him, "Keisuke. Be sure to eat plenty. You need energy to learn it after all." He told the boy. Keisuke's face brightens, "Un!" he said happily and ate as much as he could. Sakura and Junnosuke laughed while Shinju just looked and ignored them.