Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. I DO own Kendi, Lin and Youshi Garukin (Yes, he's back! It's the prequel silly.) Ai Mizuri (now known as Kaori) is owned by xEMOtIoNaLLyCOnSTipaTEDx-

Chapter Eleven - Kaisuke's Secret

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Kaisuke! Happy Birthday to you!"

Five year old Kaisuke squealed happily as he blew out the candles, his pink tinged hair glowing in the tiny flames. Remembering his Uncle Naruto's words, Kaisuke kept his wish secret.

I wish my Mommy was happy!

If anyone had heard the wish, their heart would have shattered. How could it not, when a five year olds greatest wish was not toys, or his very own kunai pouch, but simply happiness for his mother.

Sakura sat next to Kaisuke at the head of the table. Youshi was nowhere to be seen, having been too busy with his patrols to attend his own sons birthday party. Strangely enough, the alone time Sakura got with Kaisuke was when she was at her happiest.

Having thrown herself into her son and her work for the last five years, Sakura was not surprised to find that the marriage, she never wanted, was beginning to suffer.

Sasuke's name and face were banned from the Garukin household, but, before every mission, Sakura would sneak in to the Uchiha compound and visit Sasuke's old bedroom. She would do the same when returning, her way of letting him know that she had made it back home safely.

***

It had been a week since Kaisuke's birthday. Sakura sluggishly made her way home after giving her mission report to Tsunade. Ino trudged along beside her, exhausted but eager to get back to Sai and three year old Lin.

"I can't wait to be home." announced Ino as they neared the corner of her street.

"I know what you mean." agreed Sakura as her hand, in her pocket, lovingly fingered the little wooden kunai she had made for Kaisuke. It was an old habit but one that she refused to release.

"I'll give you a call tomorrow." stated Ino as the two friends parted. "If it's a nice enough day, we could take the kids to the cove."

"That would be good. Kaisuke's getting really good at his swimming." Sakura smiled as she waved her farewell. "We should give Hinata a call too. I'm sure Kendo would want to join in."

***

Sakura was exhausted as she climbed on to her bed. It had taken her the last hour to convince Kaisuke that there was no monster in his closet and now, all she wanted was sleep.

"There you are!"

Sakura fought to open her eyes. Youshi was just entering the bedroom, a small flask in his hand. Sakura knew, without even having to look, that he had been drinking again.

"I want another child."

That caught Sakura's attention. Even though she was exhausted, she was still able to sit up and face Youshi. She hated it when he started this conversation. Sakura had long since become convinced that Youshi was an idiot, surely no man could misinterpret the word NO this many times.

"Youshi, we've been over this." she started. "I do…"

"I wasn't asking." Youshi cut her off. "You are my wife. I want another child."

Sakura sighed. Yup, Youshi was definitely drunk. The truth usually sobered him up, sent him back to whatever room he had been drinking in until he passed out.

"Youshi," she soothed. "Another child won't solve the problems we have. You drink too much, ignore Kaisuke completely and I'm just not in love with you. I can't have a child with a man I don't love."

"You already had Kaisuke!" snapped Youshi, staggering closer.

The implication behind Youshi words stung. Fighting back tears, and trying to control her temper, Sakura replied. "You know why I had Kaisuke!"

Youshi snaps again and, this time, he strikes Sakura, sending her flying from the bed and scurrying across the room. Her eyes were wide with shock as she tried to stay away from her suddenly furious husband.

"He might not be Sasuke's!"

Hurt beyond belief, Sakura shot to her feet and shouted. "He might not be yours!"

Youshi lost control of his temper and lunged at Sakura. Due to her exhausted state, he was able to quickly overpower her. He drags her, by her hair, to the chair in the corner of the room and ties her to it with chakra binds.

Sakura feels her lips split at the force of Youshi's hand colliding with her face. She cried out for him to stop, but he seemed too far gone, too consumed by his anger, to hear her.

The blows rained down on Sakura's helpless body. All she could do was scream out as the pain surged through her, frying her nerves as it went.

Youshi tore her top off, ripping her bra as it went, and leaned down. His teeth sank in to Sakura's breast, drawing even more blood from her already injured body. Sakura knew what he was doing, that he was trying to mark her, claim her as his. That was something she had never allowed him to do. It had always infuriated him to see Sasuke's mark every time he saw her naked body, which was rarely, and not be allowed to override it with his own. He was her husband damn it!

Sakura sent some of the tiny amount of chakra she had left, in to the bite mark. She couldn't heal it completely but at least it wouldn't scar now, wouldn't replace Sasuke's claim. Sakura knew that, in a way, she was being completely unfair to Youshi. By refusing to let go of another mans claim over her body and accept her husband, she was acting more than a little cruel.

Then again, how fair could a woman be to the man who took advantage of her when she was drunkenly grieving. To the man who encouraged a forced marriage upon her. To the man who rushed her fragile being through a hurried wedding ceremony just to make sure her actual love, who he had convinced her was dead, couldn't get back in time to stop it.

How could any woman be fair to a man like that?!

Youshi was still raining blows down on her, but Sakura's nerves had shut down, cutting off all sensations of pain. Seeing that his punches were no longer having the desired effect, Youshi grabbed Sakura by the hair and, while keeping her bound to the chair, dragged her across the room, towards the bed.

"Time to make that new baby, wife!" he sneered.

Seeing the look of horrified terror in Sakura's gleaming eyes gave Youshi an overwhelming sense of power. He loved it. He finally had some kind of control over her. He loosened the bindings around her body. He didn't take them completely off, just enough so that he could move her, have his way with her.

***

"You leave my mommy alone!"

Youshi froze.

The door flew off its hinges and skidded across the floor. A being with midnight coloured hair and blazing Sharingan eyes burst in to the room. The chakra coming off was so powerful, it terrified Youshi.

"Sas… Sasuke?!"

Sakura's eyes widened as they took in the scene before her. Her binds were loose enough for her to get free now, and, thanks to the sudden interruption, she was now out of the binds and shakily getting to her feet. Her eyes narrowed slightly as the form of her saviour finally came in to focus.

It was Kaisuke!

Kaisuke rushed from his place at the doorway, over to his mothers side. His tiny hands gripping her arms tenderly, trying to help her to her feet. Kaisuke was muttering furiously under his breath. Sakura couldn't make out a single word of what was being said but, from the tone, gathered that Kaisuke was trying to calm himself down. He wasn't doing a very good job though, as each word seemed angrier than the last.

Glancing over at Youshi, Sakura realised, with horror, that he too seemed to figured out who it truly was. She saw him tense, but was unable to move fast enough to stop him before he leapt at Kaisuke.

Realising that Kaisuke was, in fact, an Uchiha, Youshi's temper blew.

He had deliberately slept with Sakura after she had passed out from too much alcohol, with the exact intention of getting her pregnant. He had 'accidentally' let the information leak out about said pregnancy to force her into marriage. He thought he had won, believed he had finally beaten the Uchiha. He was furious to find out, now of all times, that he had won nothing!

Sakura had already been pregnant by the time he got back from the Itachi battle, she had been nothing more than a shell when she married him. In all the time they had been married, he had managed to sleep with her twice, and she had insisted on using protection. Not once had she ever told him that she loved him, yet, she would be close to tears whenever Sasuke was mentioned. She would take Kaisuke out for the entire day on Sasuke's birthday but barely seemed able to even remember Youshi's.

Youshi lunged at Kaisuke. He'd had enough of Uchiha interference in his marriage. Now was his chance to change that. He would teach them both not to disobey him. Perhaps, he thought, by beating them both, Sakura and Kaisuke would finally obey him, the way they were suppose to. He grinned evilly as his fist descended toward Kaisuke's unguarded back. He would hospitalise the little bastard if he had to.

***

Kaisuke felt his anger spiking. Try as he might, he just couldn't get control of it. It felt like a hundred voices were whispering to him, guiding him, warning him.

As he was trying to help his mother back to her feet, the whispers turned to screams. He was in danger. One whisper above all, told him to relax and let it flow. Kaisuke, not knowing why, trusted the female voice and stopped fighting against the rage within him.

An overwhelmingly powerful heat surged through him, coursing it way all around his body, almost like armour.

***

Youshi's blow never connected.

Just as he was about to strike the boy, full force, in the back, he heard Kaisuke sigh, sounding almost relaxed. The sigh threw Youshi for a moment. It was the briefest moment in the history of moments as, not even a second after the sigh, an enormous flash, like lightning exploded from all over the boys body. The sound of a thousand birds filling the air as the shock wave collided with Youshi's attack.

Youshi was catapulted across the room, slamming almost through the wall and sent spiralling in to darkness.

***

Naruto was running late. The meeting at the Hokage's tower had gone on for much longer than he had anticipated. He had promised Kendo that he would read him his bedtime story tonight. Hinata, being seven months pregnant, would not take kindly to Naruto breaking a promise to their son. He only hoped that her hormones would stay out of any discussion they had about it.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

The scream echoed through the streets and chilled Naruto to the bone. Whoever had done that was in agony. He was about to brush it off as someone watching a scary movie when a second scream, a more serious scream, chased him down the street, causing him to instantly turn and race, determinedly, to its source

"NO!!! YOUSHI STOP!"

Naruto almost destroyed to front door of the Garukin house, he kicked it that hard. Scream after terrified scream had been ringing out the whole time he was rushing to the rescue. At one point, just as he was dashing through the garden, he had been convinced that he had heard Kaisuke shouting.

Fearing for his best friend's, and nephews, safety, Naruto took the stairs in two bounds and almost collided with the wall as he raced around the corner.

Naruto had to shield his eyes as he neared Sakura's bedroom doorway. One minute all had been in darkness, the next, an almost blinding flash of light and the sound of birds had engulfed the entire top floor of the house.

Fighting through the force of the blast, Naruto finally reached the bedroom. His eyes widened in shock and his mouth dropped open in horror.

Youshi was crumpled against the far wall, a large dent just above him screamed out that he had just been thrown in to said wall. Sakura was a bloodied mess, sobbing uncontrollably while holding a small boy, who was currently unconscious, with black blue hair that was slowly changing to a dark brown.

Sakura looked up at Naruto, tears streaming down her face. "He won't wake up." she cried out again as she hugged the boy, frantically trying to wake him. "Kaisuke! Wake up, Kaisuke! PLEASE!"

Naruto had to do a double take. The boy, now with fully dark brown hair, was obviously Kaisuke. However, when Naruto had first entered the room and spotted Sakura holding him, he had looked exactly like…

Naruto's mind froze as the thought dawned on him. His memories replayed the last image he had of Sasuke and Sakura. How they had been entangled together in Sasuke's bed as he and Youshi arrived with news of Itachi.

Naruto scooped up Sakura and Kaisuke and fled from the house with them. He refused to allow Youshi the chance to harm them further. Especially not now. Not now that he knew the truth.

Naruto took Sakura and Kaisuke to the one place he knew they would be safe. The only place in all of Konoha that Youshi was afraid to venture.

He watched on from the doorway as Sakura placed Kaisuke in to Sasuke's old bed. He had already sent a shadow clone to tell Hinata what had happened and where he would be. Said clone was also stronger than the average shadow clone, it wouldn't disappear at the first impact. It's job was to keep Hinata and Kendo safe, should Youshi come calling.

Narrowing his eyes, Naruto's gaze had locked on to something that should not have been in that room. He was sure that Sasuke would have taken that particular book with him. It was his favourite after all. Then again, Naruto reminded himself, it had been bought for him by Sakura, perhaps it was too painful for Sasuke to keep.

Picking up the book, Naruto gasped slightly when a small white envelope fell from between the pages. He placed the book on top of the side table and picked up the envelope, turning it around in his hand and humming in thought when he spotted the Uchiha clan symbol on the back.

Sakura looked at him strangely when she heard him hum, only to gasp at the sight of the Uchiha clan symbol in Naruto's hand. Naruto quickly handed over the envelope before saying that he was going to double check the house. Sakura was grateful to Naruto for leaving. She knew that the house was already secure, that Naruto was just giving her alone time with whatever Sasuke had left behind and for that simple act of kindness, Sakura was eternally grateful.

***

Sakura Haruno,

I've tried a thousand times to forget what happened. I've tried everything I can think of and more, but nothing is working!

My ears still long for your silken voice. My skin still craves your touch. My mind refuses to forget and replays what we did every time I sleep.

I feel like I am going insane! The only time my world seemed right was when you were in my arms.

I have said a million prayers that some how, some way, there is a life for me without you. However, I fear my prayers may be in vain.

Too late, I came to realise just what you meant to me, what we could have had, could have been. Too late, for I had already cast you aside for my bitter quest. My revenge that seemed all consuming has left me hollow, now that it is completed.

I returned home with a heavy heart, that shattered upon seeing you.

You have moved beyond me, out of my reach forever, in to the arms of another man. Now I pray that he will not make the same mistake I did.

Walking away from you will haunt me for the rest of my life. However, I will not burden you with my heartache. I have caused you too much pain already. Nor will I send you this letter. I surrendered my right to affect your emotions the second I turned away from you.

No, I simply write this as a way to clear my inner turmoil. That, and the image I keep of you in my heart and mind. By confessing my sins on paper, perhaps that image, I hold so dear, will once again smile.

Forgive me, my love, for I knew not what I did.

I place my heart, forever, within your hands. Without you, I have no need of it.

I will be leaving Konoha. I am no longer worthy to be where your light shines. I refuse to become a shadow across your future as I was your past.

Goodbye, my love.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Sakura felt her heart stutter and ache, before shattering in to a thousand tiny shards, each piercing through her like a katana blow. Her tears fell, unbinding, splashing off the table but she was careful to avoid staining the precious letter. The words on the paper stung her eyes and broke her heart.

With a trembling hand, she reached over and, tenderly fingering them first, picked up a pen and piece of paper. She had to physically grip her wrist to stop her hand from shaking as she wrote the first words down.

Sasuke,

Forgive me! I have made a most terrible mistake! Many mistakes in fact.

The first was ever letting you go but the current matter is threatening more than just my heart.

Some years ago, my life was turned upside down for what I hoped would be the last time.

I was forced to marry Garukin Youshi after our families found out I was pregnant.

However, Youshi and I, shared a secret.

Five years and seven days have passed since my son, Kaisuke, was born.

Tonight, my world changed again!

Sakura's hands shook violently as she tried to gather the courage to write the next words down. Even though she knew Sasuke wasn't there, and couldn't read what she was writing, she was still nervous about telling him what had happened to her. She decided to keep it as short as possible.

Youshi demanded another child. When I told him I wasn't sure, he tied me up and beat me. I got loose and was trying to get up when Kaisuke burst through the door. He was furious and shouted at Youshi to leave his mommy alone.

The secret came crashing down around me.

Normally, Kaisuke has dark green eyes and brown hair. However, when he burst in to the room, he was so angry, he changed in to his father's double.

Black-blue hair and Sharingan eyes!

Remind you of anyone?

The secret was that Kaisuke's father was one of two men!

Tonight, I finally found out the truth!

Kaisuke is the son of Uchiha Sasuke!

YOU ARE HIS FATHER!

Youshi tried to attack him but Chidori exploded from all over Kaisuke's body and knocked Youshi out.

Naruto had been passing and heard Kaisuke shouting. He got to the bedroom just as the Chidori was fading. He saw Kaisuke and instantly knew the truth.

He got us out of there and now we are hiding in you old mansion to stay safe from Youshi.

Sakura's expression softened as she looked over at her son, who had curled up in Sasuke's old bed and was now fast asleep, hugging one of the pillows.

It seems so strange to see Kaisuke sleeping in your old bed, knowing that he was created there.

Naruto found your letter. Only I have read it!

I feel you deserve a reply. I really wish you had given me that letter. If you had, we'd be wherever you are right now.

I still love you, Sasuke!

Always have, always will!

I don't need to place my heart in your hands, it's always been there!

You and Kaisuke are everything to me!

I would send this letter to you, if only I knew where you are. Instead, I will place my letter with your own and pray you one day come back and find it.

Your family needs you, Sasuke! We're waiting for you. Please come and claim us!

All my love, forever,

Sakura

XXX

Sakura wiped away the tears that had started to fall again. Sasuke had still loved her when he left. He had left for her, to give her the chance at a normal, happy life. He loved her so much, he had sacrificed his own feelings for her well being.

As Sakura gently placed the book, now containing both letters, back in to its place on the bookshelf, she couldn't help but wonder… Did Sasuke still feel that way for her? It had been almost six years that he had been gone. Had he moved on as Youshi had so often suggested?

Sakura gazed on at her son, Sasuke's son, as the boy slept peacefully on the bed. Images flashed through her mind, almost mocking her, with the similarities between father and son.

"I got mato!" he announced proudly.

The old woman laughed slightly. "So you have, Kaisuke. So you have." she beamed as he picked it up again after she had rung it through the till. "Would Kaisuke like a lolly pop to go with his mato?"

Kaisuke instantly cringed away from the offered lolly, his face scrunched up in disgust. "Yucky!" he stated boldly as he held the tomato closer. "I got mato not yucky lolly!" and with that, he followed his mother from the market.

At the time, Sakura had thought nothing of that encounter but now, she scolded herself for it. Kaisuke had loved that tomato, so much that she had been sneaking him some ever since that day. Not once had he ever enjoyed sweets. Whenever Youshi had given him some, he had merely pretended to eat it while using the first possible chance to drop it, or throw it away. Or, when he had been forced to eat one, his face had cringed with every bite.

The boy was an exceptionally fast leaner too. He had been walking before his first birthday, talking by eighteen months and was already advanced enough to be a Genin, even though Youshi had refused to let him join the academy yet. That, of course, had not stopped several of her friends, namely Naruto, Kakashi and Neji, from teaching him the odd jutsu or ninja skill.

As Naruto returned from his double checking his gaze locked on to Sakura's red and puffy eyes. Her chakra had returned enough for her to heal her injuries and she was half way through doing just that. She brushed off Naruto's request to leave them, to show them to Tsunade. She told him that Youshi had been drunk when he did them but that she would, providing Naruto and Hinata watched Kaisuke, talk it over with her husband the following day.

Naruto had protested once again, that Sakura's idea was too dangerous. Sakura, of course, had reminded Naruto that she had been drained of chakra when Youshi had gotten the better of her and that when she talked to him this time, she would be at full strength. Naruto demanded that should Youshi so much as step too close, Sakura should just kill him and be done with it.

Sakura and Naruto got comfy close to Kaisuke's slumbering form and allowed sleep to claim them.

Both were completely unaware that, just over one hundred miles north, a certain Uchiha had been woken from his restless sleep by unequalled rage and was currently tearing several trees out of the ground.

To be continued…