One Saturday morning when his only niece pestered him to wake up at six so that they could take their time fishing in the nearby river. It had become a habit, Itachi thought, for Sarada to force him into submission. Whatever she wanted to do on a weekend, Itachi blindly complies.
His 5-year old niece could really be scary sometimes. Itachi guessed she got it from both of her parents. Sakura could be really nice, but scary when she got mad. And his little brother, well, he was always scaring people away. With his brooding personality and eyes fixed on a glare, people would certainly be afraid of the Uchiha heir. But this is not the case for Itachi, Sasuke is still a baby brother needed to be pampered.
"Look, Uncle! I caught one!" The excited giggling of his niece brought him back to Sarada. He accompanied her in one of the eco-parks near the Uchiha mansion.
"Yes, you did." Itachi immediately helped the girl to pull back her fishing rod. Sarada's eyes widened in excitement as she saw a tiny milkfish wiggling its tail from her fishing rod.
After a few more hours, Sarada demanded them to take a break and eat in their tent. The tent was spacious enough that it could fit at least five people. She was a big girl- she insists all the time. She did not want any help eating anymore. She was contented eating from her bento box her Grandma Mikoto prepared when Itachi noticed the frown on his niece's face.
And before he could open his mouth to ask her what's wrong, Sarada had beaten him up for it.
"Uncle Itachi, why is it that Mama and Papa don't live together?" She inclined her head, waiting for her Uncle's response. "Metal and Sumire and Chocho, they all live with a Mama and a Papa. So why can't I?" She even elaborated.
During the weekends, Sarada got to spend the night with them, while during the weekdays, she has to stay with her Mama. It seemed just like yesterday when Sarada was born. How and why? Itachi still had no idea. He could only guess that his little brother's relationship with Sakura had always been completely vague and unclear.
Sasuke and Sakura, along with Naruto, had always been together when they were still young. They were classmates from elementary until high school. Itachi was certain that Sakura had always had a thing for his little brother. Sasuke, however, cared deeply for the pink-haired girl, but there's that.
Moreover, Sakura was the only girl Sasuke allowed into his personal space.
Itachi was able to watch them all grow up, with the only girl in the group trying to make her name. After all, she had been the only one in the group without a famous surname to back her up. With the Uchihas and Uzumakis dominating the business world, she must had felt out of place all the time.
Itachi could remember all those years ago when Sakura excitedly announced to Sasuke how she got a scholarship for her pre-med. She even went to their house in the middle of the night to tell Sasuke the good news. However, when Itachi noticed the somehow sad expression his younger brother wore once the girl left, he was sure something was not right.
A week exactly after that, Sakura left the country to pursue her dreams, leaving his brother sulking in his room. Itachi, being the big brother he is, tried to talk him out of it. "Sakura is pursuing her dreams; you should be the first one to support her. The least you could do is send her off." He remembered scolding him.
"I know. That's why I never did what you just told me. I don't want to be the reason she would discard her dreams away."
Judging from the answer he got, Itachi was more than sure-his brother fell for his childhood friend.
What the older Uchiha still could not fathom was what happened to the two of them. They were still both in college when Sarada happened. And not to mention, a million miles away from each other. Of course, he questioned Sasuke about it, and yet, his brother had always remained silent.
Sakura went back to Japan to have Sarada. She took a year off before going back to school. Sakura's parents also left with her to help with the baby. During those times, Itachi would always hear Sasuke talking to Sakura through the phone. And almost all the time, it would end up with Sasuke throwing his phone across the room.
And despite all of those, they somehow maintained to have a civil relationship on behalf of their daughter. Now, Sakura had become one of the most talented doctors in the country, while Sasuke is making his name in the corporate world, being one of the youngest CEOs ever been.
Sarada grew up to be a genius. She aced all her tests. Her teachers have always regarded her highly. And even though the whole world doesn't have a clue that the young CEO of the Uchiha Enterprises already has a daughter, it is with no doubt, Sasuke would throw everything away for Sarada.
"Sara-chan.." Itachi tapped a space beside him, indicating for Sarada to get closer. The little girl stood up, clutching her bento box, and plopping quite messily beside her uncle. "You see.. your Mama and Papa are not ordinary people. They are like superheroes. Your Mama saves lives; she needs to live near the hospital so that she can continue to be a superhero. Your Papa as well. You saw that tall building where Papa goes every day, right?"
Sarada nodded once; Itachi smiled as he continued. "Papa needs to live with Grandpa and Grandma, as well, as Uncle Itachi because we need him with us. And also the people in that tall building."
However, Sarada seemed to be not contented with the answer. "I know Mama and Papa are superheroes. But I also need them. Uncle Kakashi said that they don't live together because Papa is scared of Mama."
Itachi inwardly cursed Kakashi for telling such things to a child. And considering Sarada is intelligent, it will not take long before she figures out the truth that her Mama and Papa are not a couple.
"And why is it that Papa and Mama don't ever kiss? Aunt Ino and Uncle Sai do it all the time." Sarada continued. "Uncle Itachi, why can't I spend time with both Mama and Papa during the family day?"
"Sarada… did you remember when I said that there are adult things?" The child once again nodded. "I get it that you are confused, but one day, when you get older, you will understand." Itachi calmly explained, hoping that his niece will be satisfied this time.
"I'm just a little sad because everyone in our class has a Papa and a Mama present for the family day next week." She pouted.
Itachi sighed. "But they don't have an Uncle Itachi, don't they?"
And before Itachi knew it, Sarada stood up, clutching both of her uncle's hands. "Really? Will you go, Uncle?" And when Itachi smiled and nodded, Sarada threw her arms around him, saying thank you over and over again.
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The maids were quick to assist Itachi when he and Sarada finally got to the Uchiha Mansion by the afternoon. He carried his sleeping niece into her own bedroom, not expecting Sasuke to be at home this early waiting for both of them.
Sasuke quietly tucked a blanket over his daughter's sleeping form before nodding at his older brother and carefully sitting up from the bed and quietly exiting the room.
Judging from Sasuke's suit and tie, Itachi guessed that his brother just got home as well. "Did Sarada give you a hard time?" Sasuke asked as they went down the stairs.
Itachi was going to say that everything went well when he remembered a certain conversation he had with Sarada. "She started asking me questions that I think you should be the one to answer."
They were now in the living room. Sasuke sat down to one of the empty chairs, and Itachi followed his brother soon after. "What kind of questions?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
"She asked me why is it that you and Sakura don't ever kiss." Itachi gave his brother a pointed look before continuing. "She's growing up; she ought to start asking some questions about your relationship with her mother."
Sasuke simply sighed before adjusting his tie. "And I assumed you handled her questions well."
"For now," Itachi said, standing up before clapping one of his brother's shoulders. "Your daughter is smart. You and Sakura should tell her the truth- the sooner the better. And avoiding the mother of your child will not solve any of your problems."
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"What are you thinking making promises to her you can't keep?" Sakura scowled at the older Uchiha as he handed Sarada's bag to her mother.
"I intend to keep my promise, Sakura. If Sasuke could not go to the family day, why can't I?" Itachi said, passing through Sakura and sitting in the living room of the small apartment Sakura currently renting.
Sakura exhaled heavily. "You know why! It is already dangerous enough that you pamper her going on a trip every weekend, but this is Family day! There will be a lot of people. They will speculate. They will see your resemblance to Sarada. And before we knew it, they have already connected the dots!" She said, closing the door and striding towards the living room.
"People will know eventually. Sarada is an Uchiha. It is actually a miracle that people didn't find out after all these years. She is suffering, Sakura. She asked me why can't she have both of you and Sasuke attend the family day. She's hurting. She is your daughter; you should understand." Itachi calmly explained.
"Don't you insinuate that I am a bad mother…Who in the first place suggested to hide Sarada from the rest of the world? You! Uchihas! She could have a normal childhood if not for the fact that the blood that is running through her veins is the same with all of you. I want her to know Sasuke; I want her to have a complete family, that's why I chose to stay. I could have brought her with me out of the country! I could be selfish not even telling her existence to your family, yet here she is! She's suffering not because of me but because she is a fucking Uchiha!"
Itachi blinked twice before standing up. "We were trying to protect Sarada. Back then it was too complicated to tell the whole world about her existence. I thought you understood. But now, the company is back in its original standing." Itachi looked at her with a solemn expression before continuing. "You're right; she should have a normal childhood. Thinking back, maybe it is best if both of you and Sasuke would be the one present at the event. It is a big deal to Sarada."
Exhaling, the older Uchiha could now understand why Sasuke and Sakura always fought during those days. Their tempers are really not a good combination, after all. They were both hot-headed. He could not imagine the sweet Sarada turning into someone like her mother.
After a few more minutes of silence, Sakura took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak. She instantly regretted the words she said, knowing that Itachi only wished for the best for her daughter. "I'll talk to Sasuke. I'm sorry, Itachi-san. I just.. well… I guess I am being overprotective when it comes to Sarada. I just don't want her getting hurt any further."
"I understand. Don't worry about Father. He loves Sarada. I am sure he will be very happy to announce that he has a granddaughter. Before, he was just mad at Sasuke. Now is a completely different situation, is it?" Itachi voiced out as he walked back in the front door, ready to leave. "Tell Sarada I will be waiting for her on Saturday."
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A/N: started another story that couldn't get out of my head for the past weeks
This is actually inspired by the song After All by Peter Cetera and Cher :)