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moorPart One - The Senju and the Uchiha
Part Two - The Battle [first battle]
Part Three - The Battle [continued]
Part Four - The Secret [first secret]
Part Five - The Secret [continued]
Part Six - The Secret [continued]
Part Seven - The Secret [continued]
The Secret [continued]:
At Sakura’s small abode, Yu fussed loudly, kicking off his blankets again. It was the middle of the night and he had yet to fully fall asleep. Sakura was at her wit’s end.
“You slept so well, last night,” mumbled Sakura, rubbing at her face. “You finally slept through the night…”
Wrapped up in her pyjamas and sleeping robe to ward off the chill, she picked Yu up from the drawer he slept in and settled him over her shoulder. “You’re not wet,” she said, rubbing his back and sniffing. “You ate well. What’s the matter, bug?”
In her arms, he settled slightly but continued his restless kicking, whimpering every few seconds, too.
“Is it gas?” asked Sakura, exhausted. She sat down on the side of her bed and rocked, cradling Yu close to her.
There was a faint knock at her door, and Sakura sighed.
“Come in,” she called.
A silver-tufted head poked his head in. It surprised her to see that Kakashi still wore his headband over his eye at night. He wore a loose shirt and pants, though no socks on his slippered feet.
When Tsunade suggested Kakashi or Naruto stay with Sakura at her new home, she’d thought it an exaggeration. As long as she kept her head down, no one in Court or in the Underground need know she was back in Konoha. They had proved welcome company, however; and having an extra set of hands to help with Yu had saved her sanity. They weren’t there for ‘company’, of course; they were there to protect her. But they were growing on her.
“Everything okay?” Kakashi asked, his voice gravelly from sleep. “You were pacing.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake anyone up,” yawned Sakura. The restlessness had a hold of her, too, that night. And the loneliness, yearning and longing were worse than they had been in some time. She hoped she wasn’t on her way to a heat. Yu was still so young, she wasn’t ready for another one. “Yu’s having a rough night.”
“Want me to build up the fire?”
Sakura nodded and yawned again, making Kakashi chuckle.
“Please,” said Sakura. “And thank you.”
It was close to 2 in the morning before Yu calmed, and Sakura tucked him into her bed with her arm around him to keep him close. Cuddling him helped relieve some of her anxiety, too.
“I’ll send a note out that you’re busy first thing in the morning, but will take requests after lunch,” said Kakashi as Sakura’s eyes drifted shut.
She tried to mumble her thanks, but she was already halfway dreaming when Kakashi shook his head and closed the door behind him when he left.
***
The next morning, Sakura woke from a sound sleep only to find her bed empty and her chest aching.
“Come on,” she muttered, as the front of her pyjama top began to leak through.
Quickly wrapping herself in her sleeping robe, she made her way downstairs to find Kakashi in the kitchen. Yu was gurgling up at Kakashi from the sling slung around Kakashi’s chest, and Kakashi was lipping at Yu’s fingers as they reached for his mask. He was leaning back in a kitchen chair, swaying a little here and there as he sipped a cup of tea.
“Did you sleep well?” asked Kakashi as Sakura entered the kitchen.
“Yes, thank you. Apart from waking up and finding my son gone.”
Kakashi gave her an eye crease grin.
“He was up bright and early. I figured you could use another hour or so.”
“You… did you feed him?” asked Sakura, uncertain.
“No, he just gummed my fingers. I washed my hands first,” assured Kakashi when he saw Sakura’s face darken and her shoulders rise. “He much prefers mommy but mommy needed a break.”
Her anger calming, Sakura nodded. “Thank you. I did.”
With a nod, Kakashi handed Yu over for a feed.
“Naruto and Jiraiya are going to come over this afternoon. They need a hand,” said Kakashi
“What kind of hand?” asked Sakura, adjusting Yu in her arms. Her milk had begun to let down and she opened her pyjama top so Yu could feed. She arranged her robe over herself for privacy. She couldn’t help her light flinch as Yu latched on and drank greedily.
Kakashi’s eyes widened as he leapt nimbly to his feet, catching Sakura as she swayed.
“Everything okay?” he asked, holding her shoulders to steady her.
“Yeah, he’s just hungry this morning. It’s like he’s drinking my life, sometimes,” joked Sakura. “You said Naruto and Jiraiya?” she asked, changing the topic.
Eyeing Sakura attentively, Kakashi nodded, casually pulling a chair out for Sakura to sit. She smiled at him gratefully when he added a stool beneath her feet and a cushion from the next room. Kakashi was a very quick learner, Sakura found.
“Hmmm,” murmured Sakura, looking down at Yu. “Maybe I shouldn’t bring Yu, if they’re both coming along.”
“It may be for the best,” agreed Kakashi.
Sakura looked at him, arching a brow.
“You’ll be okay with him for an hour or two?”
“Of course! I’m a perfect uncle,” said Kakashi, grinning at her again.
Furrowing her brow and pursing her lips, Sakura nodded slowly. She waited a half-beat before adding,
“No using him to score dates again.”
Above his mask, Kakashi’s cheeks warmed as he rubbed at the back of his head. “... ah, so you found out about that…”
***
A little bit after Sakura left—with Kakashi waving Yu’s hand at her to say goodbye—Obito, Kakashi’s closest friend from their shared time in the King’s Guard, arrived.
“This is much nicer than your usual lodgings,” remarked Obito as he left his shoes at the front door. “Who are you sleeping w—”
Obito’s words died on his lips as he saw Kakashi waving a baby’s hand at him from inside a sling.
“Congratulations,” said Obito, deadpan. “How much did she drink before she could look at you?”
“That’s no way to talk to my son, Obito.”
“That isn’t your son. Did you steal it?”
“I’m offended. You’re off the godfather list.”
Obito gave him an unimpressed look before handing over a basket of warm treats from the bakery he passed on his way over. Kakashi followed him in, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
“Is he on solids yet?” asked Obito, making himself at home. He filled the kettle and set it on the stove to boil, pulling down a fresh cup for himself from the meagre stores in the cupboards. He frowned slightly at how bare they were.
“No. Still too small for that. He’s only slept through the night once so far,” said Kakashi, resting a hand on Yu’s back.
Feigning casualness, Obito nodded, poking around for the tea.
“How did you get roped into babysitting?”
“Ah, well, a friend of a friend called in a friend’s favour, and that favour was impossible, so another trade was made, then another favour from another friend—”
Obito lifted a hand, his eyes narrowing as a headache began to grow.
“Never mind.”
Kakashi chuckled.
“Anything new at the castle these days?” inquired Kakashi as Obito poured hot water over his tea.
“This and that. Your old colleague Karin’s moved on to another cousin. I think it was Sasuke,” said Obito.
“I’m sure Auntie Mikoto is just thrilled about that,” said Kakashi.
Obito opened the basket of fresh rolls and offered one to Kakashi.
“Don’t get crumbs on the baby,” said Obito sternly.
“I know! It’s like you don’t trust me around children. I’m hurt,” said Kakashi.
Obito gave him a look, and Kakashi ate more carefully.
“She’s aware but leaving it to play out. She has other things to focus on,” said Obito, pulling out a roll for himself. “As she always does.”
Kakashi nodded. To his surprise, Obito continued unprompted for once.
“She finished a large project last night. It was gone when I woke up this morning,” said Obito thoughtfully.
Tearing off a small piece of bread to eat (so no crumbs would fall on Yu), Kakashi looked at his friend curiously.
“A sale?” he asked, keeping his questions vague. He and Obito had been everything from blood-brother allies to enemies and were happy to trade intel and talk shop, but their personal affairs were still quite secret. In their positions, it risked too much otherwise.
“She had been working on this one for a long, long time. It was the most beautiful quilt I’ve ever seen. It was fit for… Well, she hadn’t mentioned who it was for. But she must have stayed up very late to finish it.”
“A quilt?” asked Kakashi.
“A blanket. I don’t know anything about them, but it looked like a masterpiece painting,” admitted Obito. “And she didn’t say a word about it when it was gone this morning.”
“A gift?” asked Kakashi. He looked down at Yu then, and smiled at him, tickling his tummy. “Perhaps it was part of an exchange?”
“Hn,” mused Obito. “Itachi wasn’t around this morning, so maybe she sent it out with him to be delivered somewhere. He always knows what his mother’s up to.”
“He knows what everyone’s up to,” corrected Kakashi, his tone light yet serious. “He knows he would have been in Izuna’s shoes if his mother had been queen instead of his uncle taking the throne. Nothing gets past him. Information is how he works.”
“I don’t think he wants any part of the throne,” said Obito. “Itachi would rather serve than lead. He’s thrown himself into the Birth Registry business, with Shisui.”
“How are they doing with it?” chuckled Kakashi, shifting Yu to bounce him a bit.
“Well, the women love coming to see Itachi, and they fall all over themselves with Shisui charming them. With all the gossip happening during the ‘baby wellbeing’ visits, it’s a wonder the spies have anything useful at all left to share,” said Obito with a half-smile. “If collecting information is what Madara was aiming for, he set up his own master network with the baby-mother group.”
“Does he still attend the visits?” asked Kakashi, making faces at Yu.
“I think this is the most expressive I’ve ever seen you in your life, and it’s with a 2-month old,” remarked Obito suddenly.
“He’ll never remember,” assured Kakashi. “Oh, careful, that’s your hat,” he said to Yu as Yu’s head wrap began to slip. Kakashi righted it for him to keep him warm. “There you go.”
“I’m afraid to tell Rin you’re like this with babies,” said Obito.
Kakashi chuckled. “She’s still working on you?”
Obito grunted, though not too darkly.
“So Madara likes the babies, too. I hadn’t pegged him for a father figure,” remarked Kakashi. “But you Uchihas are big on family.”
At that, Obito went noticeably quiet. Kakashi gave him a moment before looking over at him. He and Obito had shared much, but their families were another matter.
“You already know, but he and Hashirama have not reconciled yet. They’re not making a public announcement of it, but they don’t visit each other socially anymore. Only for business,” said Obito. “And… Izuna’s been much more involved in the kingdom’s daily running, over the past year.”
Still bouncing Yu, Kakashi listened to his friend’s concerns.
Obito shook his head, as if trying to figure something out.
“The night of the Battle, something changed,” said Obito, half to himself. He looked up at Kakashi then, holding his gaze. “I know you were up to something, just afterwards.”
“Everyone was,” admitted Kakashi. “The rebuilding was a difficult time. You know some of the Senju’s best medics were killed or left after.”
“No. You were involved in something big. I’ve never asked what,” stated Obito. “But it was at the same time Mikoto started her quilt.”
“... I admit it, I smuggled in her black market corduroy.”
To Kakashi’s surprise, Obito’s face hardened at his quip. His hand on the table fisted tightly, and dark energy swirled around Obito’s body.
“You poke fun to distract me,” said Obito quietly.
Slowing his bouncing of Yu on his knee, Kakashi looked up at Obito, more serious.
“You want to know what I was doing,” said Kakashi.
The air had chilled between the men, and Obito held Kakashi’s stare heavily.
Looking away, Kakashi sighed.
“Between us,” said Kakashi quietly. “A woman was… attacked by a high-ranked Uchiha after the battle.”
Obito’s glare hardened.
“Lies,” snapped Obito. “No one in our clan would do such a thing. Madara would never allow it, and if he didn’t hear about it and handle it, Mikoto would have. Itachi would have heard about it and would never hide something like that. He’s probably the one Mikoto would have sent after them. But still, impossible.”
His shoulders slumping, Kakashi shook his head slowly.
“During the battle?” insisted Obito, leaning forward with both hands clenched atop the table. “In the heat of the moment…”
Kakashi shook his head again.
“After,” repeated Kakashi quietly. “Because of their rank, and the young woman not remembering everything, she felt very scared they would try to go after her again.”
“But that’s… if she knows who did it…”
“She only knows that it was someone in the castle, not who,” said Kakashi. He sighed. “The Senju were in an uproar.”
Falling back in his seat, Obito stared at Kakashi.
“So that’s why Madara and Hashirama are no longer speaking,” muttered Obito.
“Probably,” said Kakashi. “But what do I know?”
Obito glared at him.
“You’ve known all that for a year and never said a word to me?”
“It wasn’t my story to tell. It was gossip, mostly. No one needed to know other than the individuals involved. It was personal. It would have created a bigger fracture between the Uchiha and Senju, and neither wanted that so soon after the Battle,” said Kakashi.
Shaking his head, Obito pressed his lips together.
“It was almost a year ago,” said Kakashi, back to gently rocking Yu. In his arms, Yu’s vibrant dark eyes began to close, a little at a time. He was accustomed to Kakashi. “That’s about it, from the Senju side. The young woman left Konoha, afraid for her life.”
“You helped her leave,” realized Obito.
After a moment, Kakashi nodded.
“She didn’t deserve to be stuck here where she felt in danger,” he said. “And her case being brought up with the Uchiha would have put her clan in jeopardy.”
With a rough sigh, Obito nodded, frowning.
“That’s why you were gone.”
Kakashi nodded.
“This would have caused a huge stir within the Uchiha,” admitted Obito. He propped his head upon his hand, his elbow on the table. “Mikoto would have had kittens.”
Kakashi shrugged, careful not to jostle Yu as he drifted to sleep in the sling.
“It sounds like she took her frustration out on that quilt,” said Kakashi off-hand.
Obito blinked.
“And now the quilt is gone,” said Obito, thinking aloud.
Confused at where Obito was going with his thinking, Kakashi tilted his head to the side.
“And Itachi was gone this morning,” said Obito, looking down at the table as he straightened up.
Putting the clues together, Kakashi and Obito looked at each other.
“Mikoto knows,” said Obito with certainty.
“And she sent Itachi out to deal with it,” reminded Kakashi, his brows drawing together.
Clenching his teeth together for a moment, Kakashi forced himself to remain calm.
“Well, if it’s Mikoto and Itachi, we know they’re going to be careful and discreet at least,” he said, trying to make light of the situation and distract Obito. “Could you imagine if she sent Sasuke out?” Kakashi shook his head dramatically. “That would be a public relations disaster for the Uchiha,” he said, chuckling.
Obito shook his head.
“I don’t like the idea of this, any of this,” said Obito. “Something isn’t right. There’s been no peep of this anywhere else.”
“Mah,” said Kakashi, waving at Obito. “Leave it to them. It could be something else entirely.”
“Maybe,” said Obito, though he sounded unconvinced.
“Uh oh, smells like someone needs a change,” said Kakashi, wafting his hand in front of his face.
“Hn? I don’t smell anything,” said Obito.
“Our little boy has a sneak attack. It’s terrible,” said Kakashi, standing and collecting some fresh baby clothes and diaper cloths. “Would you mind checking to see if the water in the kettle is still warm?”
Wrinkling his nose, Obito pulled away from the table.
“You aren’t changing him here, are you?” he asked, aghast.
“Of course! It’s a nice stable surface,” insisted Kakashi, thumping all the supplies down on the table. “Oh, careful, you may want to move that breadbasket—”
“I need to get back to work anyway,” said Obito, standing and leaning away from Kakashi and Yu.
“So soon? Oh, okay,” said Kakashi, feigning sadness. “I’ll keep an ear out and let you know if I hear anything about Itachi.”
“No need,” said Obito, already putting his boots on at the door. “I’ll see you.”
“Bye bye!” called Kakashi, wiggling his fingers at Obito as he heard the door close behind him.
From his position on the table, a sleepy-eyed Yu looked up at Kakashi in confusion.
Kakashi grinned at him.
“Nice job,” he said, giving Yu a little high five on his feet. “Are you ready for your nap?”
Yu scrunched up his face.
—And then let out an explosive poop.
Kakashi’s face fell.
“Maaah…”
***
It was much later than expected when Sakura returned home. Naruto ran alongside her as they hurried through the streets.
“He’ll be okay. Kakashi would have said something if he was worried,” assured Naruto.
“But he’ll be so hungry! What if he’s so upset he doesn’t eat?” worried Sakura. “And I meant to get groceries today, too, since we finally have money again. Dammit, the market’s going to close soon.”
“Uhhhh… Okay, how about I ask someone to get your groceries?” offered Naruto.
“Won’t that be expensive?”
“Hm, maybe, I don’t know,” said Naruto honestly.
Sakura made a frustrated noise in her throat, hurrying faster.
They were just passing the market, and Sakura looked over enviously at the other shoppers with their bags and baskets.
“Maybe if I just… Kakashi?” asked Sakura, coming to a dead halt.
Naruto careened wildly around Sakura, stopping just after her and grabbing her arm.
There, amidst a small crowd of smiling women, stood Kakashi, still wearing the baby sling with Yu inside.
Sakura’s eyebrow twitched.
“I warned him…” she muttered under her breath.
To her surprise, Kakashi loudly exclaimed his greeting when he saw her coming. He made a show of waving at her to get her attention. Around him, the women pouted and moved out of the way.
“Ah! My delightful wife!”
“Can it, Kakashi,” snapped Sakura, a hair’s breadth from tearing him apart. She grabbed his arm and began dragging him away, further into the market. “What are you doing?! Did you put Yu in his best baby jumper?”
“I wanted to surprise you with supper. I went to get groceries,” said Kakashi pleasantly. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’m so glad we get to do this together, as a family. Oh, hi Naruto, Sakura’s brother, how are you?”
Wondering if Kakashi had lost his final marble, Sakura looked up at him again. It was then that she noticed he was watching someone else out of the corner of his eye. A pair of someones, actually, if she was seeing the same thing he was.
Two dark-haired men were walking through the market, occasionally speaking to the vendors and some of the men and women still shopping. No, not the men, realized Sakura. They were focusing on the mothers with babies.
Strangely, they looked familiar to Sakura, though she couldn’t place them.
Sakura looked up and saw Kakashi watching her, and he nodded.
Naruto, though, was still giving Kakashi the side-eye.
“Uh, Kakashi, I think you’re taking things a bit too—”
Grabbing Naruto in a crushing hug, Sakura leaned in close to whisper in his ear.
“Play. Along.”
The edge of fear in her voice had Naruto straightening and returning her hug, even going so far as to rub her back before releasing her.
“So, let’s get some grub!” cheered Naruto. “Hi baby, are you happy to see your uncle Naruto?”
From inside his sling, Yu frowned, scrunching up his face.
“Keep moving,” said Sakura under her breath. “Honey, how about bok choy for supper? Maybe some mackerel?” called Sakura louder, looking over her shoulder to smile at Kakashi.
“Hmmm, how about sauri, too? I bought garlic and ginger, so we can add some tofu and make a nice braise sauce with some sugar and soy sauce,” suggested Kakashi, wrapping his arm around Sakura again. “We’re all relaxed,” he whispered, leaning in to her throat and nuzzling her. “Everything’s fine.”
Sakura didn’t feel fine. As soon as Kakashi leaned in, her instincts struck and she had to forcibly restrain herself from shoving him away from her.
It’s just the omega, it’s just the omega, he isn’t making a move, it’s just for show, Sakura reminded herself. Still, the panic made her breath catch and her legs tremble with adrenaline to run away from him, the market, and especially the two strangers.
They made it through the market unscathed and purchased their groceries, casually avoiding the men who were asking questions.
“Time for supper,” said Naruto, carrying some of the bags.
“Mmm,” agreed Sakura, relieved to be leaving. “I’ll put on some extra rice—”
“Excuse me,” interrupted a smooth, gentle male voice from behind them. “May we ask for a moment of your time?”
Sakura’s stomach fell right out of her.
“Can I help you?” asked Naruto, turning.
Sakura tried to swallow, but her mouth had turned to cotton. She recognized that accent. That was Uchiha nobility. Her hands began to shake, jostling the groceries.
“We’re looking for a young woman who is travelling with a young child. We’re concerned for her safety and are offering a reward to anyone who can help us find her. She isn’t in any trouble,” assured the man with the long, dark hair.
“Uh, how old is the kid?” asked Naruto, casually placing himself between the men and Kakashi and Sakura.
“He would be about two months old,” said the man. Behind him, another Uchiha, watched Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi closely.
“Hm, well, my sister had her baby about 3 or 4 months ago, and she’s with her husband, not alone, but I’ll keep an eye out,” offered Naruo cheerfully. “If I get any news, who should I send it to? And how big is that reward?”
The first Uchiha looked at the three of them carefully.
Sakura’s heartbeat ratcheted up in her chest, and she shifted her weight on her feet, preparing to run. Around her, Kakashi squeezed her with his casual embrace, keeping her still.
“Five years’ wages,” said the other Uchiha. “And we’ll be back in the area again soon.”
“Okay,” said Naruto seriously, his eyes widening genuinely in surprise. “That’s a lot. I hope she’s alright.”
“As do we,” said the first man. His eyes lit upon Sakura then and remained. “I wonder if I may bother you just a moment more,” he said.
“We need to get home to make supper soon,” said Kakashi, turning and angling himself so he stepped in front of Sakura. “I’m sure you understand.”
“I do,” said the Uchiha gently, his tone authentic and compassionate. From beneath his cloak, he withdrew a soft, rectangular, heavy sack and handed it to Kakashi. “To your beautiful wife and son, from the King...dom. He wishes all mothers success and happiness. Please accept this gift.”
Kakashi was still for a moment, then bowed appreciatively, one hand around Yu in his sling to keep him secure. The change in position disturbed the baby, however, and he began to fuss.
“May the King receive as many blessings in return,” said Kakashi dutifully.
When Kakashi straightened he nodded apologetically to Sakura and Naruto. “If I may return to my family, sirs, it is our mealtime and my son is hungry,” he said with a light chuckle.
To punctuate the reality, Yu began to sniffle and cry, and Sakura felt her milk begin to let down once more.
Not again, she thought, mentally exhausted. She was going to be stuck washing all her shirts that night. In her frustration, she pushed her headwrap back as she tucked an annoying lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Of course, I apologize for keeping you,” said the first Uchiha, shifting his suddenly intent focus from Sakura to Kakashi. “Congratulations on your beautiful family.”
“Thank you,” said Kakashi, turning back to Sakura and Naruto.
The three Senju walked away from the market at a leisurely pace, though Sakura noticed the way Kakashi kept his eyes sharp the entire time, Naruto doing the same.
“Naruto, when we get home, would you mind starting supper while I help get mommy and baby ready to feed? She looks ready to just drop,” said Kakashi as they rounded a corner.
“Absolutely. Why don’t I hurry ahead with the food?” offered Naruto.
“Perfect,” said Kakashi with an eye crease grin, taking in the streets behind them.
Sakura swallowed, knowing what was coming next. Well, Kakashi was carrying Yu, and Naruto took the extra groceries from her, so that would help.
“Oh honey, you look so tired, do you need to rest?” exclaimed Kakashi.
“Just for a minute,” said Sakura, playing along. “Could we stop in here for a second, please?”
“Of course,” said Kakashi.
Naruto, meanwhile, had disappeared down another alley.
“From here on, stay to the left,” whispered Kakashi as he and Sakura ducked into a shop. They walked all the way to the back, nodding at the proprietor who saw Kakashi and waved them through.
They hurried through to the rear storeroom and behind a pile of crates, and Kakashi kicked over a carpet and pointed at an eye ring in the floor. “Pull,” he said quickly, quietly.
With a nod, Sakura yanked on the trapdoor. They disappeared through it in a moment and heard someone replace the rug a second later. From the front of the store they heard the bell over the door ring again, and the Uchiha from before greeting the shopkeeper. Sakura’s hands shook as she tried to grip the rails that led down into the darkness below.
“Quickly,” said Kakashi softly as they hurried down the stairs and into the tunnels. “Don’t trip, it’s okay.”
“Will he be punished?” whispered Sakura, thinking of the shopkeeper.
Kakashi shook his head. “No, Teuchi knows his stuff. He’s a good friend of Naruto’s.”
Sakura nodded, glancing down at Yu.
“He quieted down again when we went into the tunnels,” she said, surprised.
“Ah, he likes the darkness a bit better than the light when he’s hungry. He probably gets confused and thinks it’s naptime,” chuckled Kakashi as they turned left, then left again in the tunnels.
“Who were they?” asked Sakura a few minutes later.
Kakashi took a deep breath and shrugged, letting it out slowly.
“Uchiha, probably from the Army or Guard,” he said.
“They’re looking for me, aren’t they,” said Sakura.
“Who knows. I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Kakashi, as they walked on in the dark. Only a few lamps were lit in this section; it wasn’t used as often. A tunnel on their left had caved in; Kakashi paused for a moment before continuing on.
“They’re being cautious, same as we are. And hey, free stuff,” said Kakashi, lifting his hand with the sack in it. “I heard the king was handing out blankets and firewood at the health clinics. Looks like you got a freebie.”
Sakura forced a smile.
They were climbing the stairs to Sakura’s home a quarter-hour later, and found Naruto at the stove, already making supper. The scent of fresh fish and ginger wafted through her home, along with rice cooking on the stove.
Naruto grinned at her and lifted his knife; the bok choy was draining as he removed the ends.
“Thank you,” sighed Sakura, grateful. She peeled off her damp jacket and reached for Yu, gently untangling him from Kakashi’s sling. “It’s time for one little man’s supper right now,” she said as Yu began squirming in her hands. “Yes it is,” she said, pressing kisses to his round cheeks.
“No rush, we’ll handle the kitchen,” called Naruto as Sakura blew him a kiss.
“Thank you!” repeated Sakura, heading into the next room to nurse Yu.
When Sakura was tucked in with Yu, Kakashi and Naruto looked at each other.
“You lost the pretty one,” remarked Naruto.
Kakashi nodded. “The backup followed you?”
“For a bit. He gave up after I ducked into a different tunnel,” said Naruto. He chopped at the end of the bok choy, but then his hand stilled. “They were royal family Uchiha, Kakashi,” said Naruto quietly.
Kakashi nodded.
“How high up?” asked Naruto, careful to keep his voice from carrying.
“Those were Mikoto’s own sons, Itachi and Sasuke,” said Kakashi.
Naruto’s eyes widened as he set down the knife. His jaw tightened and he looked at the sack Kakashi had set on the kitchen table. He looked back up at Kakashi questioningly.
“They won’t have put anything dangerous in it. Mikoto and the boys don’t want the Crown,” said Kakashi.
“How can you be so sure?” asked Naruto, frowning at Kakashi.
“Because Mikoto is ruthless enough that she could have done it a dozen times over by now,” said Kakashi. “She only wants her family to succeed. Thankfully,” he said.
Naruto wiggled as a shiver went down his back.
“I didn’t expect Itachi to be so…”
“Gentlemanly?” teased Kakashi.
“Peaceful,” countered Naruto. “The other one, Sasuke. He looked ready to throw down.”
“Sasuke definitely has a shorter temper,” said Kakashi, thinking back to several of Obito’s stories. “Don’t underestimate Itachi,” added Kakashi more seriously after a moment of reflection. “He’s a master of control.”
Naruto snorted faintly. “He didn’t control us today.”
He forced us to split up and head underground, thought Kakashi. And all he did was say hello.
Shaking his silver head, they finished making their meal. Just as they set out the rice, Sakura arrived in a fresh shirt.
“Yu was zonked and went straight down for his nap,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for watching him today, Kakashi.”
“Anytime,” said Kakashi with a wave.
“Are you going to open your present?” asked Naruto.
Sakura looked at Kakashi for confirmation.
“It’s safe,” he promised.
So Sakura undid the ties that held the bundle together,
“This is a lot of fabric,” said Sakura, unrolling the sack that had been wrapped up around the gifts. “It looks like they’re… blankets?” she said questioningly.
Reaching her arms into the bags, she pulled out several blankets, folded and rolled up inside. The first two were thick, warm blankets, suitable for a small child. The next was bundled up so carefully that Sakura sat down to work out the intricate knots, shaking her head. After a minute or two, she undid them and rolled out the blanket; her lungs were emptied by her gasp.
“Holy shit,” said Naruto, turning around from the stove.
“It’s beautiful,” said Sakura, unfolding each section. “Is this what the kingdom’s been giving out to new mothers?”
Kakashi bit his tongue, hard, and swallowed, tasting blood.
“That’s a piece of art,” said Naruto, awed. “You could probably sell that for a lot of money.”
“That would be rude, Naruto,” chastised Sakura. Her fingers traced over the hundreds of thousands of individual stitches and designs, for wealth, health, prosperity and success. She huffed and tilted her head a bit at the Uchiha family crest around the edges, but admitted to herself it was a beautiful quilt. “They put a lot of work into making the families feel appreciated.”
“What about the last one?” asked Naruto, transferring the vegetables from the pan onto a plate for them to share.
Sakura looked down and found another blanket, still folded, had landed in her lap.
“This one is...,” she reached down and then stopped.
Heat rose to her eyes and her throat closed with emotion as her fingers closed around it.
The scent that arose from it, a touch musty, was achingly familiar.
Unable to speak, she lifted it up and unfolded it, a section at a time.
It was old, she could tell that much. One corner was quite worn, to the point of frayed. Pressing her lips together to keep from sobbing as longing and loneliness flooded her, Sakura’s fingertips traced the old stitches that held the frayed section together as best it could. There was a small burn mark in another corner, and yet the faded, colourful animals that had been stitched playfully around each edge were still recognizable and in good condition for the most part.
She knew whose blanket this had been.
The men in the market had not been there by accident.
These gifts had not come into her possession by chance.
Sniffling, Sakura choked out a sob, overwhelmed with emotion. He had sent her treasures. Heirlooms. His childhood blanket that had somehow, miraculously, survived war… it was in her hands, to be placed with her son.
Their son.
“Whoa, Sakura,” said Naruto, banging the pan back down on the stove and reaching to wrap his arms around her as she sobbed again, harder. “It’s okay, you’re safe here. Yu is safe. Everything is okay.”
It wasn’t.
It was a lie.
But it was all they had.
“Is this a warning?” wept Sakura, turning her wet eyes to Kakashi.
Remembering the message Hashirama had passed down through Tsunade, Jiraiya and then to him for Sakura, Kakashi shook his head.
“No,” he promised.
Wiping at her face, Sakura tried to collect her composure. She moved the blankets to the next room, then, slowly, took the used blanket upstairs to put in Yu’s crib with him.
His blue eyes sad, Naruto looked at Kakashi.
“You know something. Is she going to be okay?”
The silence stretched before Kakashi looked at Naruto and nodded.
“Don’t worry about Sakura. She’s strong. She just needs a bit of time,” he said.
Obito was correct about Mikoto’s quilt, thought Kakashi as he looked at it later that night after Sakura had gone to bed. It was a work of art.
It was also a claim.
While Sakura slept, Kakashi sent a message to Jiraiya to pass on to Tsunade.
The Uchiha had made contact with Sakura.
TBC
no subject
Date: 2021-11-10 05:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-12-22 03:41 am (UTC)So glad you're enjoying the story and different relationships! <3
Have a great week!
Love Love Love
Date: 2021-11-11 12:53 am (UTC)I am so happy you updated, Moor. Thank you so much for sharing! <3
Re: Love Love Love
Date: 2022-12-22 03:42 am (UTC)Thank you so much for reading, have a wonderful week!!