𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 | sasuke uchiha

71

"We meet again, princess!"

Sasuke scowled as an all too familiar, arrogant voice called out to him, and swiftly turned on his heel to see none other than Naruto standing behind him with a broad smile on his face.

"I'm flattered! You took the time to find me!" spat Sasuke, turning on the Uzumaki with his katana at the ready. Naruto grinned and winked at the Uchiha, irking him even more than he had been before.

"Believe it, Uchiha!"

This time, the pair would finally be able to engage in battle, unhindered and uninterrupted by others.

***

"[Name]...?"

Sakura and [Name] laughed as Sarada curiously crawled towards the heavily pregnant [Name], her eyes wide as she ogled the Kouhage's ripe belly.

"Yes, Sarada?" asked [Name], pleased at the young Uchiha's development in speech.

"Kaa-chan... [Name] is fat!"

[Name] roared in laughter as Sakura's face went pink in embarrassment, and she reached out for her daughter with a wary look on her face.

"Sarada, don't say that!" scolded Sakura as Sarada lay her hands on [Name]'s belly.

"Yes, Sarada. I'm fat," chortled [Name], rubbing the top of Sarada's head as she gently began patting her belly. "But do you know what's in there?"

"A baby!"

"That's right. A little baby, who'll be coming out any time soon."

Sakura looked at [Name] with a sad smile, all the while Sarada remained in awe at the fact that her beloved [Name] was carrying a baby.

"How did the baby get in there?"

"It's a long story," sighed [Name], earning another discouraged look from Sakura.

"Hey, [Name]-chan, do you think one of the servants could... play with Sarada?" she asked coyly. [Name] nodded and called out for Akari. the servant girl promptly made her presence known at the door, bowed deeply to her mistress.

"Akari, do you think you could take Sarada for a walk?" asked [Name], reaching for her sagemono around her waist and pulling out a couple of coins. "Here. Buy yourselves something while you're out."

"Yes, [Name]-sama."

Akari duly accepted her mistress' money, and beckoned for Sarada to join her.

"Sarada, go with the nice lady to buy a treat," said Sakura, nodding for Sarada to go to Akari. Although with a pout, Sarada walked towards Akari and held her hand out, demanding the money.

"Let me buy it."

[Name] and Sakura snorted as Akari handed Sarada the money, who immediately puffed out her chest and began leading the way out. With a small smile on her lips, Akari bowed once more to [Name] and Sakura before backing out of the room, closing the door tight behind herself. As soon as she did, the Haruno let out a breath she had been holding in and looked towards [Name] with pure concern written all over her face.

"How have you been?" she asked in a hushed voice, for fear of any of the servants outside eavesdropping on their conversation. "You look healthy and well, but it's terribly obvious you're sad. Is Madara not good to you?"

"Well... he's not... bad," said [Name] evasively, not persuading Sakura one bit.

"But?"

"But nothing. He does everything he needs to do. I just don't... like him, so much."