Journey of Discovery

Chapter 4 - Confrontation

She avoided her parent's when she came home. She didn't even bother to eat dinner. She just went to her room and laid there, too upset and confused about today. How could she face them after everything she had seen?

Every time she closed her eyes she saw flashes of all the terrible things she witnessed today. She was having a hard time accepting all the pain and anguish her father suffered through. To make it worse she knew there was even more that she hadn't seen yet.

Sarada knew nothing of her clan, or her father for that matter, and it bothered her. She knew she had to finish what she started and see everything she needed to. They were the last two Uchiha and she refused to be in the dark about their history.

Once she was sure that her parents were sleeping she sat up on her bed and weaved her hand signs.

"Show me Papa after he unlocks his Mangekyo."

• • • • •

The sky was orange and red, bright from the setting sun. Water crashed against the rocks before receding from the shore line. Sasuke was looking out over the water, unmoving.

His face was twisted in anguish and regret. He fell to his knees and sobbed. Sarada had never seen her father show emotion before, at least on this level. He seemed so vulnerable and broken.

He angrily wiped at his face and when he opened his eyes Sarada could see the new design of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

'Why would Papa be sad? Uncle Itachi killed our clan. Papa seemed so determined that he wanted to do this but now...'

She instantly regretted how she acted that morning at the training grounds. Her parents were right in their reactions to her questioning of the Mangekyo. She weaved her hand signs and was back in her room.

Pulling the blankets up to her chin, she curled up and went to sleep.

• • • • •

The next morning she was woken up by her bed shifting, someone sat on the edge by her back. She was awake but didn't open her eyes, she wasn't sure if she was up to conversation right now.

"She still asleep?" Her mother whispered from the doorway. Sasuke must've nodded in response because he didn't speak. He grabbed the edge of her blanket and pulled it up over her shoulders before resting his hand gently on her head. He held it there for a moment before standing and leaving the room.

Once she heard the door click shut she opened her eyes. Maybe she should talk to her parents but how could she explain how she knew all of those things about her father? He would kill Orochimaru in a heart beat had he knew he taught his daughter a forbidden jutsu.

She decided she couldn't lay there any longer. The house had gone quiet and she was secretly hoping both of her parents were gone. Once she was dressed she slowly descended the stairs and went into the kitchen.

"Sarada."

She jumped, not expecting her father to be home. He was seated in the kitchen, patiently waiting for her it seemed.

"Hi Papa" she responded quietly. He waved her over and pointed at the seat across from him. She obeyed, slumping down into the chair and avoiding eye contact.

"Sarada" he waited for her to look at him before he spoke again. "I'm sorry for yesterday at the training grounds."

She looked away from him again, "It's okay." She said as she fidgeted with her fingers in her lap.

He sighed, "Sarada. I can see there's more bothering you than what happened yesterday. You can talk to me."

Tears started to fill her eyes, threatening to spill over. She just shook her head. He stood from his seat and walked over to sit on his heels right beside her. He held both of her hands in his one.

"Sarada. I know your mother and I might seem like we are being harsh sometimes, but we love you very much and are doing our best to guide you."

She nodded her head. "Use your words Sarada. You can talk to me, I promise." He gave her hands a light squeeze, hoping to encourage her to open up to him.

"Why won't you talk to me Papa? About the clan or the Sharingan?" She asked meekly.

He sighed, "It- it's- it's hard to explain Sarada."

"But everyone seems to know but me, and I'm part of the clan and I possess the Sharingan. It's not fair." She didn't pull the not fair card often but it was the truth.

"Sarada. I went through a lot because of the clan and the sharingan. I don't want you to have to go through what I did."

She understood what he went through more than he truly realized. "But you can tell me. How am I supposed to know what not to go through if I don't know what that is to avoid."

"Sarada it's not-"

"It is that simple Papa." She could see he was visibly starting to get upset but so was she.

"We can talk about this another-"

"I know what Uncle Itachi did!"

He was silent, mouth slightly agape in shock. He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Sarada, what do you mean?"

She grabbed and held his hand tightly, looking at them when she spoke. The emotion creeped into her voice, "I know that Uncle Itachi killed the clan, that he put you under Genjutsu to unlock your Sharingan."

"How do you know this?" He asked her quietly.

"I know more than just that" she admitted. She was laying everything on the line now. She continued, "I know about your curse mark, how you left Mama behind and deserted the village, I know that you killed Uncle Itachi..."

She heard his sharp intake of breath. It was a lot for him to wrap his head around, knowing that his daughter somehow knew those terrible things.

"How do you know this?" He repeated again.

"I used a Forbidden Jutsu. It let me see all of those things."

"Orochimaru" he said angrily and activated his Sharingan. He stood abruptly and walked away to gather his cloak and sword.

"Papa wait!" He wasn't listening. Once he had what he needed he walked out the door, Sarada chasing behind him.