Sunlight trickled in through the window. Slowly, Sakura stirred awake, her eyes fluttering before finally opening. She stretched, though carefully considering the child clinging to her stomach in her sleep.

Once she settled back down, Sakura stared down at Sarada affectionately as she carefully ran her fingers through her black tresses. The surrealness caused her heart to flutter and she relaxed, intent on skipping work to spend time with Sarada when her eyes caught sight of the dresser. More specifically, the flower that lay upon it.

A Calla Lily.

Confusion shone in her eyes as she reached for it and brought it to her face. As she studied it, she finally came to a conclusion.

Sasuke's home.

Her face lit up as she slowly eased herself out of bed, leaving Sarada curled up under the covers.

Slowly, she walked out to the main room, looking for any trace of the Uchiha patriarch but found nothing. She frowned and looked back down at the flower.

"Why didn't he wake me?" She wondered.

Sighing, she walked to the kitchen and decided to cook breakfast for herself and Sarada.

Sarada sat back, stuffed.

"Are you going to work today, kaa-san?" She asked, looking up at Sakura who sat beside her.

Sakura smiled down at her and shook her head.

"No, it's just going to be you and I for the day. I just need to see Naruto first before he heads for his office so if you start getting ready, you can see Bolt while I talk to his father, okay?"

Sarada nodded and stood from the table, taking both of their empty plates and started doing the dishes after moving her stepping stool to the counter so that she could see what she was doing. Sakura stared at Sarada's back in surprise.

"What are you doing, Sara-chan?"

"I'm helping around the house," she replied, not bothering to turn around.

"You don't need to-"

"Just let me take care of you, kaa-san."

Sakura felt any further protests die on her lips as her eyes softened. Standing, she moved to stand beside her and started drying the dishes and putting them away.

"Thank you, Sara-chan.

There was a peaceful silence between the two for a while before Sarada spoke up.

"Kaa-san?"

"Yes?"

"Can you...do me a favour?"

Sakura turned curious eyes down at the small child as she slowed in drying the plate in her hand.

"Sure, honey."

"When you go see Naruto-oji, can you ask him to spend more time with Bolt?"

Sakura stopped wiping down the dish and instead placed it down. By now, Sarada had stopped washing and instead was staring at her reflection in the soapy water, fingers playing with one of the spoons.

"Bolt's tried to ask but Naruto-oji keeps saying he's everyone's father now, not just Bolt and Himawari's."

"That's true, Sara-chan. As the Hokage, the village is like his child now."

"But with such a big village, Naruto-oji forgets about his actual children and it upsets Bolt."

Sakura could only stare at Sarada as she glared into the water.

"I know tou-san needs to leave so that he can be better, but Naruto-oji's here and yet, he's just as ascent as tou-san."

"'Absent'."

"Yeah, that."

Sakura sighed. She could see how much it affected Sarada, so she could only imagine how Bolt was feeling.

Feeling something touch her head, she looked up. Sakura smiled down at Sarada as she patted her head.

"You're a very sweet girl, Sara-chan," Sakura admitted.

Sarada smiled at the praise.

"I'll have a little chat with Naruto-baka, okay?"

Sarada's smile widened as she spun around and hugged her waist, splattering water and soap suds on her.

"Thank you, kaa-san!"

"Ah! Sara-chan, the bubbles!"

Both stood outside the Hyuga compound, waiting for permission to enter.

"Our manor is just as big as theirs," Sarada pouted. "Stupid Hyuga."

Sakura let out an amused laugh while ruffling Sarada's hair.

"You're definitely an Uchiha alright," she laughed.

"And a Haruno, kaa-san. I'm more Haruno then I am Uchiha. I'm a girl."

Sakura shook her head, still smiling.

"That's not how it works, Sara-chan. I'd say you have more Uchiha then Haruno genes within you. You do look a lot like your father."

"But I wanna be a Haruno."

Sakura giggled at her daughter's pleading look.

"You will always be a Haruno, sweetheart."

"Good," she huffed.

Finally, a Hyuga approached with a positive answer and they were led in.

"When Bolt and I came here, I didn't need to wait to be let in," Sarada states as they followed the Hyuga.

"That's because Bolt is part of the Hyuga clan. We only had to wait because we were not with one of their clansmen. If I were to come with Naruto or Hinata, no one would stop me. Technically, I could enter whenever without an escort, being Naruto's teammate and Hinata's friend, but I show respect by following their custom. That means less grumpy Hyuga's," Sakura teased, winking down at her.

She giggled and happily followed.

Soon, they reached the main household where Naruto stood.

"Sakura-chan," he greeted and pulled her into a hug.

Sakura didn't hesitate to hug back. Naruto ruffled Sarada's hair.

"Hey there, Sarada. Bolt's still in his room. Whatever you did to him yesterday had him sick all night."

Sarada's face paled before she ran into the house, Naruto's loud laughter following as he led Sakura into his home.

"Not that I don't like having you here, Sakura-chan, but what brings you to my house?" Naruto asked once they sat down.

"I have a couple reasons to see you. First of all, I need to talk to you about Bolt."

Naruto groaned. "What did he do now? Is this about him pulling Sarada around with him for pranks now?"

Sakura shook her head. "No, I don't mind. Sarada knows what's good fun and what's going too far. Besides, she's having more fun than I've ever seen her have."

Naruto eyed her suspiciously. "Then...what about Bolt?"

"Sarada asked me this morning to talk to you about him."

"Why? They're getting along better than ever these days."

"She's concerned about him. She asked me to talk to you about spending more time with Bolt."

Understanding suddenly dawned on him.

"Oh."

"Naruto," she scolded.

"Sakura, you know better than most how stressful being Hokage is. You were the Godaime's apprentice! You saw how much time and effort went into being Hokage."

"And yet, Tsunade-sama always made time for herself and her apprentices."

"Sakura-"

Sakura shook her head. "I know how hard you are trying to make Konoha the best that it can be, but how can you be a parent to the village if your own son feels fatherless?"

Naruto sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm not saying drop everything for your children, Naruto. Just, put some time aside to spend with Himawari and Bolt. I'm sure even just a little attention would improve Bolt's rebellious attitude."

"I know, Sakura-chan, you're right."

"Of course I am," Sakura smirked. "You have advisors. Delegate. The Hokage never runs the village alone. Shikamaru and Shizune will help you. Hell, we're all here to help. All you need to do is ask."

"You're right, Sakura-chan, I'm sorry. I just-"

Sakura shook her head. "You don't need to explain yourself to me, Naruto. I know you truly care for the village and it's people. But being Hokage is not your only responsibility."

"Thanks, Sakura-chan."

Sakura smiled before frowning. "Now for the other matter. Where is Sasuke?"

Naruto looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I know he's home, Naruto. Where is he?"

"I have no idea what you're on about, Sakura-chan," Naruto argued. "If he has returned, he hasn't come to me and we all know the moment he sets foot in the village, he's to report to me, no matter what time of the day."

Sakura stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of a lie.

"I swear to you, Sakura-chan. He's not here," he promised. "What made you think he was back?"

Her mind flashed to the flower and her brows drew in confusion.

"Then..."

'Who the hell was in my house?'

But then a chilling emotion -panic- set in when she realised it didn't matter who.

'A stranger was in my room with me and Sarada while we slept.'

Leaving Sarada with Hinata and a worried Naruto, she raced home via rooftops.

'Someone came into my bedroom last night while Sarada and I were asleep.'

The thought echoed over and over in her head until she was standing in her bedroom again. She searched the house and surrounding area for more clues but there were none.

She returned to the kitchen where her eyes darted for the vase sitting in the middle of the table where they had breakfast that morning.

There was nothing left behind.

Except the Calla Lily.

Snatching the flower from the vase, she inspected it. Water dripped from the stem that had only moments ago been soaking in water.

Nothing.

There was nothing strange or significant about the white flower aside from that fact that someone that was not her husband had left it there after breaking into her house and seeking out her room.

Knowing little about flowers, she made the obvious decision to find someone who did.

And who knew more about flowers than her best friend?

The bell above the door to the Yamanaka flower shop jingled as she entered, alerting her best friend to her arrival.

"Hey, Forehead," Ino greeted.

Inojin waved from his spot behind the counter, learning a new arrangement.

"Hey, Pig. I just stopped by to ask you, what does the Calla Lily mean?"

Ino turned to Sakura as she paused to think about it.

"The Calla Lily? It's a beautiful flower but toxic. If ingested, it could be fatal. Though, why someone would eat such a beautiful flower is beyond me."

"Ino," Sakura said sternly.

Ino looked at her, noticing the tenseness in her shoulders and the stiff way she held herself.

"Is something wro-"

"I need to know what it means, Ino."

Ino held her gaze, her own body tensing from the aura Sakura was giving off.

"Funerals. The Calla Lily is often present at funerals, given their floral meaning..."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat.

"Death."