But Sakura is not the one to give up easily.
So, she returned time and time again. But Kakashi did not open the door for her again. She spent countless hours outside, but he never budged. He doesn't even look at the window to check who was waiting for him.
Until a month had passed.
Two months.
She never saw her daughter again.
She left the village once more. Determined to never return.
She wandered alone, determined not to be tied down in just one place. She travelled the different nations, but always hidden in shadows. She meet different people, but never formed any connections with others.
Another ten years had passed before she found herself at Konoha gates. But no one recognized her, she concealed her form under a henge. No one is to know that she's there. She just wants to see a glimpse of the people she left behind.
As Sakura moved through the shadows, her gaze landed on the Hokage Monument. The faces of past Hokages stared down at her, their expressions frozen in time. Her eyes lingered on the masked face of Kakashi. A face from a distant past.
As the day turned to night, Sakura found herself near Kakashi's old residence. The memories of their tumultuous reunion and the subsequent rejection haunted her. She stood in the shadows, hidden yet unable to tear her eyes away from the place that held fragments of her past.
She turned her head to the right when she heard laughter. She saw a tall silver-haired, grey-eyed woman walking with an older Kakashi. Her eyes trailed at the flak vest that Yumi was wearing, so she was made jonin.
She really grew to be like her father. A jonin at twenty or maybe even when she was younger. Her heart swelled with pride; her daughter had already surpassed her.
Sakura's heart clenched at the sight of Yumi, now grown and walking alongside Kakashi. A surge of conflicting emotions swept over her—joy at seeing Yumi thriving, and pain at being an invisible observer of the life she had hoped to share with them.
But what can she do? The first time she left, it was because the elders drove her away. The second time was because Kakashi despised her. She smiled at the irony of things. After twenty-one years of being separated from the man, her heart still beats for him. She still loves hum. And if Kakashi demands that she take her own life just for him to be rid of her, she will gladly do it. But she's not staying long, so maybe Kakashi didn't even have to demand that.
The emotions swirling within Sakura were a tempest, and she knew she couldn't linger in the shadows forever. As Yumi and Kakashi continued their laughter, a sense of finality settled upon her. She made a silent promise to herself—she would let them live their lives, find happiness together, and she would no longer intrude.
Yumi spoke animatedly, her laughter echoing in the quiet night. Kakashi, although older, seemed more at ease than the last time Sakura saw him. It was a bittersweet moment, witnessing the life she had once dreamed of, now unfolding without her.
As Yumi and Kakashi approached the entrance of Kakashi's house, Sakura debated whether to leave already or continue to observe in silence. The years of separation weighed heavily on her, and the fear of facing rejection again lingered in her heart.
Before she could make a decision, a voice called out from the darkness. "Mama, I know you're out there. Why not show yourself?"
Sakura's heart skipped a beat as Yumi's voice reached her ears. She hadn't expected to be noticed, especially after all these years of keeping her distance. Slowly, she stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself to her daughter.
Yumi's eyes widened in delight, and Kakashi's gaze sharpened as he turned to face the unexpected presence. Sakura offered a small, tentative smile, unsure of how they would react to her sudden appearance.
Yumi's eyes shone when her gaze landed on her, and she turned to Kakashi with a smile. "Papa, look! It's Mama!"
Kakashi's eyes met Sakura's, and for a moment, the weight of the years and unspoken words hung in the air. Yumi, however, was quick to bridge the gap, rushing towards Sakura and embracing her in a tight hug.
"Mama, where have you been? I missed you," Yumi exclaimed, her grey eyes reflecting a mixture of joy and curiosity.
Sakura, overwhelmed by the unexpected reunion, hugged Yumi tightly. "I missed you too, sweetheart. I've been... around. I don't intend to show myself to you. I just want to see how you're going."
Yumi pulled away when her words registered, her eyes searching Sakura's face. "You're not staying?"
"If you're not staying why did you come here?" Kakashi's cold voice cut through the air. "What do you want Yumi to get her hopes up and then leave her? Like you did to me?" he asked, but there was no real bite in his tone as he accused her of leaving him.
Sakura took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Kakashi's gaze with a mixture of sadness and determination. "I didn't come here to disrupt your lives, Kakashi. I just wanted to see how you both were doing, from a distance. I never intended to stay or disrupt Yumi's life." Sakura looked at her and her gaze flickered to Kakashi, she could see the mask of indifference. Then back at her only daughter. "No. I'm supposed to leave after I see you." She brushed Yumi's silver hair like she used to do. "Good bye, sweetheart."
She turned to left when a voice stopped her. "Why not stay for dinner?" Kakashi asked in a soft voice. "You should try what Yumi is preparing. And it would be in my conscience if you drop somewhere because I let you go without eating."
Sakura hesitated, torn between the desire to stay and the fear of facing the complexities that lingered between her and Kakashi. She looked at Yumi, who was eagerly awaiting her response.
"I... I appreciate the offer, Kakashi, but I can't stay," Sakura replied, her voice tinged with a mix of longing and regret. The last argument that they had is still fresh in her mind. "I just wanted to see how you both are doing."
Yumi's expression faltered for a moment, disappointment evident in her eyes. Kakashi, however, maintained his stoic demeanor, his gaze unreadable.
"I understand," Kakashi said, his tone neutral. "If you ever change your mind, you're welcome to join us."
Sakura nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "Thank you, Kakashi. Take care, both of you."
As she turned to leave, Yumi clutched her hand. "Don't go, Mama. Please stay."
Sakura's heart ached at Yumi's plea, but she gently freed her hand. "I have to go, Yumi. But I promise, I'll always be watching over you. Take care of Kakashi for me, okay?" she whispered to her before she pressed a kiss in her daughter's temple.
With a heavy heart, Sakura left, disappearing into the shadows once again. As she walked away from Kakashi's home, she couldn't shake the conflicting emotions that swirled within her. The reunion with Yumi had brought both joy and pain, and the unresolved tension with Kakashi lingered in the air.