6

There was a knock on his bedroom door. He looked up from his half-full pack, mentally checking off what had been done and what he still needed.

"Come in," he said. The door opened and a little white figure slid into his room. He blinked and it became his son. "Haku," he stood up, "what's the matter? Can't you sleep?" The boy shook his head. Sasuke felt torn inside; he had to finish packing for the mission, but his son standing there in his pajamas, looking so pitiful, made him want to pick up the boy and hold him until he fell asleep. That tugging—that was slowly getting more and more familiar—came at his heart and head again. He went over to the boy and placed a large hand on his feathering of soft, straight hair. "What's on your mind?"

"I heard Uncle Naruto and Iruka-sensei talking in the hall today," he said softly. "They said that the Kazekage of the Sand Country is in trouble. Is that true?"

Sasuke shook his head. "Not really, no. We're just trying to be careful, that's all."

"The Kazekage, he's Uncle Naruto's friend, right?"

"Right. They became friends when they were around twelve or thirteen."

"So they've been friends for a long time, right?"

"Right."

Haku nodded, becoming quiet. Sasuke was going to tell him he had to finish packing, but he didn't have the heart. Instead, he knelt and placed both hands on the boy's thin shoulders (He's so skinny… Sasuke thought). "What's bothering you about this?" he asked. "Will you tell me?"

"I just…" the boy's face scrunched up like he was going to cry, but he rubbed his fist over his eyes and shook his head firmly, composing himself. "Uncle Naruto really cares about the Kazekage, doesn't he?"

"Well, yes…" Sasuke felt that unfamiliar prick of moodiness in his brain. For some reason, whenever he thought of Naruto and Gaara together, it made him antsy.

"And he's sending you to go over and help his friend, am I right?"

"Yes, you're right." He marveled at how fast the boy could pick up certain things. I take back what I told Naruto before, he mused. This kid is way smarter than his mother or me.

"He must really like you and trust you, then," Haku nodded.

"Why do you say that?" Sasuke asked him.

"Because if something were to happen and I couldn't be there for Hana, I'd only send someone I completely liked and trusted to help her in my place," Haku explained. "I know you're the best ninja in the village and I know that I'm your son and I should live up to your name and be just like you, the way Hana is. She's so good at fighting, just like you, and she has your eyes, and I'm just worried that something will happen to you…Daddy."

Sasuke's heart throbbed. He slid his arms to the boy's back and held him tight. His heart overfilled with the emotion and the words came spilling out of him before he could fully comprehend what he was saying, but he knew it was a good thing, from the way Haku clung back.

"I love you, you're such a good boy. You're such a good person; you're so kind, so sweet, so caring. I love you so much. I love you more than anything in this world, I would never leave you or your sister alone. I love you so much, so very much."

I love you, I love you, forever, I will love you. No matter what.

"Now, on page thirty-four you'll see this diagram," Iruka pointed back over his shoulder at the blackboard. "It represents the—" The classroom door opened. Heads perked up and swiveled. Any and all distractions were welcomed during lectures. An Anbu came walking into the classroom, pack on his back and cloak wrapped tight around his shoulders. The class broke out into a buzz of hushed whispers. The Anbu reached up and removed the raven-stylized mask from his face.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun," Iruka blinked and straightened up to receive the strange visitor. "What brings you here?"

"I need my children for a moment, Iruka-sensei," he spoke loudly enough for said children to hear. He could see them from the corner of his eye, sitting next to each other with identical stares of surprise. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Not at all!" the older man waved it off. "Will they be back today, or…?"

He glanced at his kids. He could see the look in Hana's eyes and hid the grin on his lips with a shake of his head. "No, I'll need them for the afternoon, please."

"Hana! Haku!" Iruka called out. The children instantly sprung up from their seats and rushed down the steps to the classroom floor. Iruka handed them two sheets each. "Homework, due Friday," he explained. "If you have any questions about it, please come see me after school or during lunch."

"Yes, sir," they chimed in unison. Hana stuffed hers quickly into her bag and ran to her father's side, while Haku opened his pack, took out a folder, placed the homework inside, put everything away, and bowed to his teacher.

"Thank you, Iruka-sensei," he said softly and went over to his father as well. Sasuke nodded at his former teacher and guided the children out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Hana sprang into action.

"Thanks for springing us, Daddy!" she tried to climb onto his back. He lifted her into the crook of one arm and reached down, searching for Haku's hand. Tiny fingers slid into his grip and he squeezed them gently, reassuringly.

"You still have to do your homework when you get home, even if I'm not there," he told her.

"Aww, man!" she pouted.

Sasuke led his children out of the academy and onto the streets. He put Hana down as they began to wander through the market and she ran ahead of them, looking at all the shops and exclaiming how cute everything was. Haku stayed quietly by his father's side. Eventually they found an ice cream vendor and Sasuke bought them each something: chocolate ice cream with sprinkles for his daughter, and a cherry pop for his son. They found a nearby bench and sat down beneath the shade of a large tree, which gave them a view of the park, the Hokage Tower, and the large open area just before the city gates, which were propped wide open. A trickle of people streamed in and out, lingering in that huge square, talking, laughing, and looking around. The three were silent as the children enjoyed their ice cream.

"I should be back from my mission around the start of summer," he spoke up. They stopped eating and looked up at him, one child on each side. "You should be out of the academy for the summer by then, so we can spend a little more time together. Okay?"

Hana (who had a dab of chocolate ice cream on her nose and a sprinkle on her cheek) got onto her knees on the bench so she could become eye level with her father. "You know, when we were watching the shougi-guy the other day, his queen piece got eaten by a knight," she said. "He said it was because the queen could do everything except what the knight could do, so it became his advantage." A slightly troubled look crossed her face. "I don't want you to get eaten, Daddy. I don't want you to go."

He opened his mouth to say something when Haku actually spoke up (who wasn't any better than his sister and had cherry stains on his hands and around his mouth). "You're wrong, Hana," he shook his head. "Daddy won't get taken like that queen piece did."

"But Uncle Naruto said he was the queen piece!" she protested.

"But remember what else he said? Every piece was like a ninja. So if the queen ever got into trouble, other pieces would come to her rescue, right?" he smiled a little bit. "I'm sure if something were to ever happen to Daddy, every ninja in the village would rush to help him."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Haku…" Sasuke tried.

"Daddy doesn't need anyone's help!" Hana slammed her small fist against her thigh (dripping chocolate spattered onto her hair, but she didn't notice or care). "He's the queen! He can do anything and he can beat anyone! He's the strongest ninja in all of Konoha and I'm gonna be just like him when I grow up!" Her eyes burned with passion. "I'm gonna be the best! I'm gonna get picked to go on every big huge important mission, just like Daddy!"

"I'm sure you will," Sasuke nodded.

"But Hana…" Haku whined.

"Don't worry, Haku!" she looked around her father to him. "When I become the best ninja ever, you'll be the next Hokage because you want to be just like Uncle Naruto, right?"

Haku glanced sideways at his father, but gave a bashful nod. "Mm-hm."

"Don't worry about it so much, Haku," Sasuke grinned down at his son. "You're much smarter than your uncle, so you'll make a much better Hokage."

"I don't think so," he shook his head.

"Don't say that, Haku!" Hana pouted.

"Uncle Naruto is amazing," the boy looked up at Hokage Tower, unmindful of his melting cherry pop dripping onto his bag. "He's smart and funny, and he knows amazing techniques, and he's…" The blush came to his cheeks and he stopped talking, opting instead to shove the pop into his mouth.

"Your uncle, Naruto…" Sasuke looked up at the tower with him. "He's…a special person."

"He's not better than you, Daddy!" Hana argued.

He chuckled, placing a hand on her back. "We're better in our own ways. But Naruto, he loves this village." His eyes travelled down to the people in the streets. "Even though they hated him, he loved them with all of his heart. He fought to protect them, and to become recognized by him. Naruto is a very special person because he doesn't let anyone bring him down. He follows his heart, he fights for what he believes in. And I think that is truly strength." He looked down at his kids. "You can be the most elite in the village, Hana," he said, "but without people like Uncle Naruto and Haku," he looked over at his son, "our village would become dark, and hate-filled. I don't want to live in a village like that, do you?" Both of them shook their heads. "I'm fighting with Uncle Naruto to protect everyone, and the beautiful place we live in." He raised his eyes once again to the tower. "I'm fighting to protect the ones I love."

"Can I fight too? I can fight!" Hana jumped.

"When you've graduated from the academy and become a real ninja, then yes. Both you and Haku," he nodded. "Because you two have to look out for each other. Hana, you have to protect your brother because he gets hurt by others very easily. And Haku, you must protect your sister because when she fights there is nothing else for her, and that can be very dangerous. Do you both understand?"

They nodded. Hana got off the bench and went over to Haku, holding out her non-chocolate covered hand to him. He took it in his not-sticky hand and they both stood before their father. "We'll be together forever," she said. "Just like Daddy and Uncle Naruto have been. We'll help each other and take care of each other and love each other forever! Right, Haku?"

"Yes," he squeezed his sister's hand. "Forever, even if we lose our arms and legs, even if we can't see, can't stand, can't talk, can't feel or touch," he squeezed until his already-pale hand went white. "Even if we die, we'll be together forever."

"Come here," Sasuke held out his arms. The children fell into his embrace, chocolate-cherry stickyness and all. He hugged them to his chest and his heart overflowed again and the words came once more but he marked them, stored them, understood them. "I love you both, and I will never let anything happen to someone I love, as long as I live. I will protect you, I will protect your mother, I will protect your aunt and uncles, I will protect your friends and everyone else who lives here because that is my job. But you two," he lowered his lips to first Hana's forehead and then Haku's, placing gentle kisses on their brows. "I will protect you both with my life, because I love you so very much and I never want anything bad to happen to you. Do you understand? I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy," Hana clutched him tightly, sounding as if she were about to cry.

"I love you too, Daddy," Haku buried his face into Sasuke's chest and the three of them sat there until the sun began to hide itself behind the tower and the overhead lamps flickered on. Then he walked them home. And he kissed each of them once before turning around and leaving again.