Alone (Sasunaru)

Chapter 4

The sound of running footsteps covered the silence between Naruko, Sarada and Chocho. Of course, Sarada and Chocho were nervous. That was the seventh Hokage, the leader of the village and the most powerful ninja of all time running in front of her. 

"Sarada's papa huh? This was supposed to be a journey to find my papa..what's your real papa like Sarada?" Chocho asked while munching on a meat bun. They were taking a break because Chocho needed to refill energy. 

"I don't know..I've never met him once...." Sarada said with a sad look on her face facing the grass below her. "I don't remember him.."

Naruko looked at Sarada for a few seconds and then looked up to the sky.

"That's right. He's been out travelling this whole time, hasn't he... If I were to describe him.." Naruko said. Sarada looked at Naruko nervously. She was about to hear about her dad who she had never met. 

"He was very popular in many ways..like me.." Naruko said with a smirk on her face. "He was quite good looking...like me. And always got top grades in ninjutsu...like me.."

"You're lying aren't you? Isn't there usually one top scorer?" Chocho asked. Naruko and Sarada laughed. By now Narukos worries had all vanished and her same old bubbly self was returning bit by bit...just like the old days. Naruko then frowned playfully.

"But he was surly, antisocial, arrogant AND rude! He even had this stupid duck-butt hairstyle! Totally NOT like me!" Saradas mood dropped along with her face. I mean, her idol just described her father as 'arrogant'. Pretty embarrassing. 

"IN other words.." Naruko said while interrupting Saradas thoughts. "he's my rival." Sarada looked at Naruko while she was speaking. Naruko then looked at Sarada. "And that bond stands even now after all these years. Sarada watching you earlier, reminded me so much of Sasuke and Sakura-chan from back then. No matter how far apart you are away from Sasuke, it doesn't change the fact that you're his daughter and that he will always love you."

At that moment Sarada saw a picture saw a picture of a smiling blonde girl in pigtails with whisker marks, just like Lord Seventh, smiling at her with her sparkling blue eyes, telling her to move forward. Saradas eyes sparkled and she smiled. Sarada felt happy. A feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. 

"Arigato.."

Naruko eyes opened wide. She then looked up at the sky. The sky, huh. It was so very blue... So pure. Naruko smiled. Sarada was easing up to her. Naruko then looked at Chocho.

"And Chocho, your face is like a mirror image of Karui back in the day, but your physique was just like Choji's back then.."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Makes me want to eat meat buns."

I wonder why...when I'm with Lord Seventh.. I feel so relaxed. Even though she hides her face, her words..give me strength. Her chakra is so...warm. I'm happy!

Naruko, Sarada and Chocho ran and ran until they've almost reached the tower. 

"It's coming into view! That tower is where I'm supposed to meet Sasuke." Naruko said while looking ahead at the rendezvous point where she was supposed to meet Sasuke. 

"I can't *pant* run.. *pant* any..*pant*more..." Chocho said wheezing and huffing. 

Naruko stopped and looked behind her to find a sweating and panting genin. Naruko chuckled and looked at Sarada. Sarada smiled signalling an OK.

"Can't be helped..but just only for a little bit ok?" Chocho sighed and sat on a rock nearby and started refilling her energy. 

"No way.. It's right in front of us as well.." Sarada then said "Um... I need to use the toilet.." Naruko looked at her looking away. She knew something was going on. "Don't stray too far ok?" Naruko said while walking away. "All right.," Sarada said with guilt in her words. 

In just a little bit. I get to finally meet dad. Dad..don't leave me again....wait for me...

In front of Sarada were the looming gates of the tower. The doors were old and the paint was falling off. The carvings on the door made it look so much scarier.

Sarada opened the door as it made a creaky sound. A black cloaked figures eyes opened and looked towards the door. Sarada stepped into the dark room with a few lit candles here and there and looked around then she was forcefully pushed towards a pillar with a sword slashed beside her head embedded into the pillar. 

"Who are you?" the deep voice said. 

Sarada was too scared to even speak. Tears just kept on flowing down the sides of her face. The figure stepped into the light. There right before her was a man with black hair covering one eye and another eye with the Sharingan. Now Sarada was sure that the man before her was the person she was looking for the whole time. The figures hand started to move towards her face.

Sarada then unconsciously yelled, "Papa!"

"Sarada?"