Thirteen years later...
"I hate you!" Sakumo screamed as he stomped his way out of their home.
Sakura stood frozen in the middle of the room as she felt Sakumo's anger directed at her.
Kakashi, who had been reading a book nearby, looked up with concern. "Sakura, what happened?"
Sakura took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, but she cannot stop her tears from falling. "I asked him play with his sister for a bit before going out. And he was just so angry at me." She looked at Kakashi. "He said he hates me."
Kakashi closed his book and stood up, walking over to Sakura. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Teenagers can be difficult, Sakura. It's a phase, and emotions run high. He doesn't really hate you."
"But Sakumo is a gentle child. He won't be screaming that if he doesn't mean it." Sakura reasoned out. "My own son hates me." she whispered before she broke down crying.
When Aya - Kakashi and Sakura's eight-year-old daughter - saw her mother crying she run forward and wrapped her arms around her mother's midsection. "Mama?"
Sakura looked at her little girl and hugged her daughter back.
"It's okay, Mama. I love you." Aya said.
Kakashi watched the scene unfold, his heart heavy with concern for both Sakura and Sakumo. He joined them, wrapping his arms around both Sakura and Aya.
"Sakura, it's tough, but he's going through a challenging age," Kakashi whispered, offering words of comfort. "He doesn't really hate you. Teenagers struggle with their emotions, and sometimes they say things they don't mean."
Sakura nodded, trying to steady her emotions. "I know, Kakashi. It's just hard to hear those words from our own son."
Aya looked up at her parents with wide, innocent eyes. "Big brother will be okay, right?"
Kakashi smiled down at Aya. "Yes, sweetheart. Sakumo will be okay. Do you want Papa to get your brother?"
Aya nodded, her eyes still filled with concern. "Yes, please, Papa. I don't want big brother to hate Mama."
Kakashi gave Aya a reassuring squeeze before gently detaching himself from the embrace. He ruffled Aya's hair and gave Sakura a supportive look. After that he pulled up his mask to his nose before heading out to find Sakumo.
Kakashi found Sakumo sitting on a bench in a nearby park, his expression a mix of anger and frustration. The teenage years had brought forth a storm of emotions, and Sakumo was navigating through the turbulence.
Kakashi approached him, taking a seat beside his son. They just sat in silence, Kakashi wants him to speak first. He will not force his son to say something until he is ready to talk.
Sakumo, a literal mini Kakashi, looked at him. "Is Mama angry with me?" he asked in a small voice.
Kakashi sighed, understanding the complexity of the situation. "No, she's not angry. She's just worried about you, and she loves you a lot. What happened back there?"
Sakumo looked away, his frustration evident. "She's always asking me to do things. I just wanted to go out with my friends, and she doesn't understand. It's like she's always on my case, breathing down my neck."
Kakashi nodded, recognizing the typical challenges of adolescence. "Sakumo, your mother cares about you. She wants to make sure you're safe and responsible. It's not easy for her either, you know."
Sakumo scuffed his shoe on the ground. "I know, but it's annoying. I can take care of myself. Why can't she trust me?"
Kakashi sighed. "You're a chuunin now, right?" he asked him.
Sakumo nodded. "Yeah, but it's not like I'm on some dangerous mission. I just wanted to hang out with my friends."
Kakashi placed a hand on Sakumo's shoulder. "I understand. Do you know why Mama can't feel anything in her body?"
Sakumo looked at his father, a bit surprised by the sudden change in topic. "No. Grandma Tsunade won't tell me anything."
Kakashi sighed. "It's because of a mission she took on after we broke up before. The enemies injected her with a poison that targeted her nerves. We thought it was flushed out of her system, but it wasn't. The thing is, she's trying to protect you. She's trying to make you form a bond with your sister. All of us have something she doesn't have, and she wants us to use it to form bonds with our family." He turned to look at him.
Sakumo hung his head in shame. Kakashi pulled him to his side. "I'm not saying these to hurt you, Sakumo, but words and emotions are the only things that your Mama has. And you hurt her. She thinks you really hate her."
Sakumo's expression softened as he listened to his father's words. The weight of his actions began to sink in, and he felt a pang of guilt for hurting his mother.
"I didn't mean to hurt Mama," Sakumo admitted, his voice filled with remorse. "I was just frustrated, and I didn't know how to handle it."
Kakashi gave his son a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, Sakumo. We all make mistakes, especially during these teenage years. What's important is that you talk to Mama and let her know how you feel. She loves you, and she wants to understand you."
Sakumo nodded, realizing the need for open communication. "I'll talk to her, Pa. I didn't mean what I said."
Kakashi ruffled Sakumo's hair with a small smile. "That's a good start. And remember, Mama is always there for you, even when it seems like she's being tough. She just wants the best for you."
Back at home, Sakura had composed herself with Aya's help. When Kakashi and Sakumo returned, Sakura looked up, her eyes still reflecting the hurt from earlier.
Sakumo took a deep breath and approached his mother. "Mama, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I was just frustrated, and I didn't know how to handle it. I don't hate you."
Sakura looked at him, a mix of emotions crossing her face. She nodded, trying to hold back tears. "I appreciate your honesty, Sakumo. It's okay to feel frustrated, but let's find a way to communicate better, okay?"
Sakumo nodded, his eyes filled with sincerity. "Yeah, let's talk more. I don't want to hurt you, Mama." He hugged Sakura and looked up at her. "I love you, Mama. I'm really sorry."
Sakura embraced Sakumo, holding him tightly. "I love you too, Sakumo. And I forgive you. I can't be angry with you, son. You're a part of me and Kakashi, and I can never hate something so beautiful in my life."
And just then, Sakumo realized just how much his mother loves him, and he hugged her tighter, even though he knows that his mother will not notice the difference. "Love you, Mama." he mumbled.
Kakashi smiled at the scene. He chuckled silently as he felt his daughter jumped and latched into his back. "Thank you, Papa." Aya thanked him.
Kakashi looked back at Aya with a soft smile beneath the mask. "You're welcome, sweetheart. Family is there for each other, always."
His daughter beamed and pulled at his hair. "Let's join them, Papa!"
Kakashi chuckled and nodded, allowing Aya to lead him back to where Sakura and Sakumo were. The family reunited, huddled together, finding strength in their love for each other.
Sakura looked up, her eyes now reflecting gratitude and warmth. "Thank you, Kakashi, for talking to him."
Kakashi nodded, his gaze softening. "We're a team, Sakura. Always."
Sakumo, still in his mother's embrace, spoke up. "I promise, Mama, I'll try to communicate better. I don't want to hurt you or make you feel like I hate you."
Sakura smiled, cupping Sakumo's face. "I appreciate that, Sakumo. We'll navigate through these challenging times together, as a family."
Aya, still clinging to Kakashi, looked up at her parents with wide eyes. "Family is important, right?"
Kakashi ruffled Aya's hair. "Absolutely, sweetheart. Family is everything."
As the evening unfolded, the family spent time together, sharing laughter, stories, and the unspoken bond that held them together. The challenges of the past, the difficulties Sakura faced during her pregnancy, and the struggles they overcame only strengthened their connection.
