Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

the streets outside were quiet, dust curling in the windless air. cicadas buzzed relentlessly from the trees, creating a deafening wall of sound in the blazing dry heat.

it was a midsummer afternoon and the day was dragging on. her legs swung lazily in the air while her cheek rested on the bar's cool surface.

"can we go home yet?" she mumbled, her voice muffled. "who's gonna buy dango in this heat anyway?"

papa hummed as he wiped down the already spotless counter. "ah, but that's when it tastes the best! a little sweetness to chase the heat away."

he flashed her a bright grin, cheerful despite the sweat gathered on his temple. the heat didn't seem to bother him, it never did.

"besides, saa-chan, someone is bound to wander in. perhaps a traveler! or a sugar starved shinobi! or maybe a fearless hero who saves princesses and slays dragons!" he gestured toward the door waving his hands theatrically, as if expecting one to burst in on cue.

sakura groaned and sank further across the counter. "unless the hero's made of ice, i doubt it."

the hours crawled by.

the sunlight had turned a warm amber slanting in through the paper windows, casting long shadows across the empty floor. the cicadas had fallen silent and sakura huffed.

she swept the floor twice, restocked the napkins, straightened the jars of sweet sauce, and shifted some of the decor that looked a little crooked.

not a single customer all day.

but papa remained unbothered, whistling an old tune as he folded paper fans to set near the window "for ambiance", he said with a wink.

she leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching the sun set behind the thickets.

"may the heat kill me," she muttered to herself, dragging her finger along the bar through a speck of dust that wasn't there.

then, the soft jingle of the door chime broke the sweaty stillness. her head snapped up and she pushed herself off the counter, a subtle warm breeze rolling in as two familiar figures approach.

"mikoto-san, welcome welcome!"

the woman full of poise and grace smiled warmly. "i hope we're not too late." sakura scans the two unhappy knowing good and well that they should already be closed.

"not at all! in fact, just in time." papa said beaming, and then he looked down to the boy at the woman's side. "oh my, itachi-kun, you've gotten so tall! at this rate, you'll be towering over the village the next time i see you!"

itachi stood politely, his face calm and stoic as usual. "i'm afraid you're right. he's growing far too quickly," she pinches his cheek. "he just graduated from the academy," she gleamed in pride.

papa whistles, "that so? well then, i'd say that calls for a sweet celebration." he reached behind the counter and grabbed a fresh pink box and handed it to the man of the hour. "on the house. congratulations, itachi-kun!"

the boys cheeks warmed as he accepts the box. he bows, "thank you, haruno-san."

sakura doesn't say a word. her eyes flicker between the three of them, watching as papa just casually hands over a full box of dango like they aren't already struggling to stay open in the dead heat of the summer. she counted the skewers in her head and bit the inside of her cheek resisting the urge to sigh.

first customer of the day and he gives it away.

she rested her elbow on the counter, chin in her hand, and stared blankly at the boy. she'd seen him in here before, that lady too—uchiha. there's something about them that's strange though. she squints keeping her stare steady, but why?

his eyes meet hers, but she doesn't care. she'll stare at anyone no matter what mama says about it. he looks kind, she thought, but tired.

"good evening, sakura-chan." the woman's warm voice made the shop seem even hotter. "are you enjoying your summer so far?"

she licked her dry lips, absolutely not. it's hot, i smell like syrup, i'm kept here against my will, and you're mooching our only sale of the day.

"yes, thank you, uchiha-san." her smile tight. the woman has always been nice to her and papa, so she feels kinda guilty feeling this way. "that's good to hear," she said offering another motherly smile.

itachi kept his gaze on her, quiet as ever, holding the box in hands awkwardly. his expression is always so expressionless, it unnerved her.

"well, then, we won't keep you," mikoto said turning back to papa. "thank you again, haruno-san. itachi just loves your dango."

"anytime!" he said, waving them off like old friends.

the bell jingled for the last time of the night and sakura slumped forward across the counter again.

"why did you give that away?"

papa hums, gearing up to close the shop. "to build loyalty, saa-chan." sakura's eyebrow quirks. "mikoto-san and itachi-kun are one of our best customers and i want to keep it that way. they've been very good to us."

she walked towards the door glossing over his words. "that's how we stay broke, papa."

he smiled as he locked the door. "you'll understand one day, saa-chan." she doubts it. her eyes drift to the twilit sky, where lavender and orange bled into the night. she wondered if tomorrow will be just as a long and boring.

Chapter Text

sakura yawned into her bowl of cold rice, poking it with her chopsticks. from across the room, mama's voice rang out, far too energized.

"sakura, get dressed! you've got a playdate today."

sakura blinked, groggy. "huh?"

mebuki leaned in view, a damp cloth in her hand. "i ran into mikoto-san at the market earlier and she invited us over. she thought it'd be nice for you and sasuke-kun to spend some time together."

sakura grumbled, dropping her forehead on the table. "ugh, i don't want to. and i thought his name was itachi." she muttered into the wood.

"she has two sons, sakura. and that's just the point." mebuki replied unbothered, wiping down the cabinets. "you'll get to know him. besides, mikoto-san is lovely and she'll have tea and sweets for you two."

sakura rolled her eyes. "we have those here too. i'd rather stay and do chores."

mama smirked. "oh, you'll be doing those when you get back. don't worry."

"ugh." she rolled her head across the table.

"dress nicely," mama called out as she disappeared back into the living room. "you're representing this family."

cold rice left forgotten, sakura dragged her feet to her room and saw the outfit already laid out on her bed. she sighed and flopped onto her mattress.

this is not how she wanted to spend her day.

✿ ✿ ✿

they stood awkwardly in the courtyard, shadows covering them from the tall trees lined up surrounding the compound. neither of them spoke.

sakura shifted her weight and sasuke crossed his arms. her eyes drifted to the uchiwa fan painted on the fence, a foreign feeling twisting inside her.

"you wanna play a game?" she asked finally, breaking the silence.

sasuke tilted his head slightly interested. "what game?"

sakura glanced around, no playground, no toys, not even a ball in sight. "uh.." just dirt, grass, and more trees.

"tag?"

sasuke scoffed. "you couldn't keep up with me."

her face scrunched. "oh yeah?" lips curling into a smirk. "let's put it to a test. i'll be it."

and without missing a beat—

"run!"

sasuke blinked, then bolted.

sakura shot off right after him, dirt kicking up behind her sandals. sasuke glanced over his shoulder, surprised by how close she was. he pushed off the ground harder, using little bursts of chakra in his steps to speed up.

but she didn't fall behind.

no matter, he thought grinning. she'll wear herself out eventually.

but sakura ran every day, delivering dango all across the village. her endurance is earned and she knew with satisfaction that he didn't stand a chance against her.

she was mere feet behind him, arms pumping, breath steady, determination clear on her face.

boy or not, she was going to win

sasuke grit his teeth. he wasn't about to lose to some nobody with pink hair. much less, lose in front of his mother.

sasuke's breathing turned edged and a sheen of sweat clung to his forehead. irritated at her tenacity, he decided to end this.

and that's when something in the air shifted.

she felt it. a sudden pressure filled air, like the second before a lighting strike. her step faltered and her eyes widened.

sasuke inhaled sharply, skidding to a stop mid-turn.

"sasuke!"

from the porch, mikoto stood abruptly and in one swift moment, she pulled sakura out of the way. a small burst of flames shot out of sasuke's mouth, hot and quickly extinguished into smoke.

"sasuke!" mikoto snapped, her voice tearing through the air. "you do not use jutsu on your friends. especially not that one."

his chest heaved. he was drenched in sweat, but his eyes, so much like his father's, burned with silent defiance.

"she's not my friend," he muttered. "and i would have won if you haven't moved her." mikoto narrowed her eyes, scanning sakura for injuries. finding none, she exhaled.

"that's not how we treat people, sasuke. we'll discuss this later."

turning to mebuki, she bowed slightly. "please forgive my son, mebuki-san. he still has much to learn."

mama stepped forward, eyeing her daughter, then lowering a polite smile. "oh, it's alright. kids will be kids.

the two mothers resumed speaking in hushed apologetic tones, but sakura barely heard a word. her heart thudded in her chest in awe.

was that a fireball? a real fireball?! coming out of his mouth?!

he breathed fire.

his he part dragon?

"sakura-chan?" mikoto's voice softened. "are you alright?"

sakura blinked up at her still entranced. "i'm okay" she murmured.

she turned back to sasuke and tapped his shoulder, smirking.

"i win."

he scowled. "that doesn't count!"

"sure it does." she said, already walking away.

✿ ✿ ✿

simmering broth filled the kitchen air blending with the soft sizzling of the grill. mikoto moved with practiced ease dicing daikons, slicing scallions, and folding tamagoyaki.

her sleeves were pinned up neatly and her dark hair was tied back. the soft clatter of pots and pans spoke more than the boy sitting in shame at the table avoiding all eye contact.

"you must learn control, sasuke."

she stirred the vegetables while his cheeks puffed, but her mind was far from the stove.

his lack of manners aside, she kept replaying back to that single moment, the exact second before sasuke released his jutsu. sakura had hesitated, just barely. she recognized the danger, not because she saw his hand signs.

she felt it.

the small ripple of chakra through the air, subtle and invisible to most, yet, she responded to it like instinct.

to her knowledge, sakura is an untrained civilian child with civilian parents. it's doubtful she's been trained. not to mention, chakra sensing cannot be taught easily.

mikoto turned off the stove and prepared a bowl for sasuke and itachi. she set the bowls on the table, sasuke didn't meet her eyes, but murmured a grudging, "thank you."

a moment later, the door slid open. "welcome home, itachi."

he entered the room, quiet and composed. he gave her an acknowledged nod and took a set next to sasuke.

mikoto turned her back on them while she cleaned up and her mind buzzed. a child with untrained chakra sensitivity, natural and unnoticed. potential hidden in plain sight.

she wiped down the pan and looked back at her boys thoughtfully.

"we'll be hosting the haruno family for dinner next week," she said calm as ever.

sasuke groaned. "why?"

"because it's the right thing to do," she replied searing herself. "we owe them an apology."

itachi said nothing, but mikoto didn't miss the slight rise of his brows. she said nothing more and began filling her own bowl.

because some truths are better left unspoken. 

Chapter Text

the uchiha compound was quiet.

sakura walked between her parents, each step echoing faintly on the smooth stone paths. the sun was starting to dip behind the walls, casting long shadows that stretched across the courtyard like fingers. the houses were clean with dark wood each identical to the next. everything looked tidy and uniform, she frowned, very boring.

and everyone was staring.

she tried not to look, but she could feel it. quiet glances from the street and whispers on the porches. eyes that followed them everywhere as they progressed on. even the uchiha people looked the same. dark colors, dull faces.

and then there was her.

her pink yukata felt too loud. the plum blossoms sewed on the hems now seemed silly. stupid. she'd picked it because it made her feel pretty and she liked how soft it was, but now she wished she didn't.

she tugged at her sleeve self-consciously, cheeks warm.

do they always stare like this?

her mother walked with grace, her posture strong and smile unwavering. papa waved at some with a carefree grin like they weren't being scrutinized by every glance. sakura wondered how they didn't feel it too, the weight in the air.

two girls her age passed them in silence, eyes on her, and lips frowning. do they ever smile here?

everything felt so orderly. even the breeze felt rehearsed, like the wind wasn't allowed to blow out of place here either.

she caught a glimpse of their reflection from a polished food cart—they looked loud. like they were disturbing their peace. a mess among their pristine walls.

she kept her eyes down and counted her steps.

the further they walked, the more everything blurred together. the same doors, the same trees, the same people.

her fingers tightened into the fabric of her sleeve as they finally approached a large wooden gate. a warm glow from the lamplight along the cedar posts.

waiting underneath was mikoto uchiha.

she stood ever poised and serene. her expression warm and welcoming in a way that she's never seen in any other uchiha. what makes mikoto-san so different from the others?

sakura lifted her chin, drawing in a quiet breath as they approached her.

"welcome, haruno-san." her voice gentle and even.

the haruno's bowed and mebuki rested her hand on sakura's tensed shoulder. "thank you for the invitation, mikoto-san. your home is beautiful."

sakura felt the hem of her yukata brush against her ankles and mikoto's warm eyes fell onto her. "sakura-chan," she said softly. "you look beautiful."

"thank you, uchiha-san." she replied, her voice small.

"please," mikoto gestured gracefully. "come in."

✿ ✿ ✿

the house was just as warm as they stepped inside, only the soft padding of their feet breaking the silence. the floors were polished, without a speck of dust, and not a creak to be heard.

sakura kept close to her mother, her eyes darting from one room to the next. scrolls lined the walls in perfect symmetry, their brushwork elegant and minimal. a small altar sat perfectly centered in the entry hall, the incense burned out.

and then he appeared.

a tall, broad man stepped into the corridor just ahead of them. his eyes were dark, weathered, and assessing. his hair was tied up in a tight crisp, and he wore the dark blues and grays of an uchiha, down to the fold of his sleeves.

"this is my husband, fugaku," mikoto gestured to the man. "fugaku, the haruno family."

sakura stiffened under his gaze.

he regarded them each with a single sharp acknowledgment and nothing more.

"welcome," he said with a short bow. his voice deeper than any she's heard.

mama bowed again, keeping her tone polite. "thank you for having us."

"we're honored," kizashi added quickly.

sakura bowed again, not sure what else to do. fugaku moved ahead of them in silence and she let out a shaky breath. why is this place so scary? 

they were led to a low table already set for dinner. cushions were neatly arranged, chopsticks perfectly aligned, and soft steam rose from the covered dishes. everything looked too perfect to even touch.

"please, sit," mikoto said, smoothing her sleeves as she lowered herself along with her husband.

mebuki and kizashi settled in, murmuring a quiet thanks. sakura took the seat next to mama, folding her hands quietly in her lap.

the house was painfully still. her eyes darted around, it was beautiful, yes, but everything felt strange. pressured and tight.

from the corner of her eye, she saw two familiar figures step quietly into the room.

itachi entered politely and calm, like he always is. and sasuke followed him, less respectfully. his eyes flickered to her for a brief moment before he sat down, arms crossed like he was already annoyed.

sakura swallowed uncomfortably.

papa reached eagerly for the teapot. "this smells incredible, mikoto-san!"

"it's an old family recipe," she said with a smile.

as the adults began to talk, exchanging pleasantries and village news, sakura sat stiffly between her mama and sasuke, painfully aware of her every movement.

the dishes were uncovered one by one. simmered vegetables in a delicate broth, grilled river fish drizzled in soy and ginger, pickled radish cut into flower petals, and bowls of steaming rice.

but papa dug in like he hadn't eaten in a week.

"everything is delicious!" kizashi said with a mouthful of rice. "you're a wonder, mikoto-san."

sakura found herself cringing at her papa's table manners. she's never cared about that before, but something about the uchiha air made everything seem so serious. why is he acting like everything is normal?

fugaku didn't say much. he ate slowly and quietly. every lift of his chopsticks was measured. his face gave nothing away—not enjoyment, not distaste. just silence.

fugaku didn't say much. he ate slowly and quietly, every movement he made measured. his face remained dull and neutral.

she tried not to stare, but it was hard not to. everything about him was intimidating and strange.

itachi, on the other hand, seemed nearly invisible. his voice and demeanor were calm and precise. he only spoke when spoken to, otherwise listening.

sasuke sat two cushions down from her, chewing with a scowl like he hated every bite, even though he clearly didn't. he didn't speak, didn't look at her, didn't even look at the food. his eyes flicked occasionally toward his father, like he was waiting for something.

but fugaku never looked at him.

she watched in silence her rice barely touched. so this is what it's like to be an uchiha, huh? she bit her lip and poked the fish in her bowl.

at her house, papa would be hollering loudly by now, already pouring a second cup of tea and retelling stories that she's already heard many times. mama would roll her eyes, but pass him another dish and they'd all laugh even if the food wasn't hot anymore.

here, laughter felt like it might crack the walls.

"sakura-chan," mikoto's gentle voice broke through her thoughts. "you've hardly touched your food."

sakura straightened immediately. "i'm sorry, mikoto-san. it's really good. i was just... thinking."

"that's alright," mikoto said, pouring her some more tea. "you're our guest. no need to rush."

sasuke scoffed faintly under his breath and sakura flicked a glance at him. her eyes narrowed. he's annoying.

mama touched her back and leaned in close to her. "eat this wonderful meal, sakura. don't be rude."

sakura nodded and readily ate, no longer distracted by the new environment.

but not too long later, mid-bite, she paused. her eyes flickered to the closed sliding door across the room.

a pulse.

she blinked. a familiar feeling overcoming her as she felt another pulse. her lips part staring wide eyed at the still door.

what was that?

she couldn't name it, but her breath held for just a second too long. mama side eyed her and pinched her.

her brows scrunched and continued to eat, eyes straying from the door. that is, until another burst of pressure shocked through her. her attention darted to the large fern against the wall.

her jaw tightened and shoulders stiffened waiting for another, but it never came. she set her chopsticks down and placed her hands in her lap.

she didn't understand what just happened and no one else seemed to be feeling it either.

✿ ✿ ✿

the plates were cleared, the tea had long cooled, and the adults still sat at the table, speaking in measured tones.

sakura didn't follow much of it. she was too focused on the feeling of the compound around her. the whole area felt off.

later, mikoto offered to walk the haruno's out. her words were kind, smooth as warm silk, but her eyes flicked toward sakura for just a moment longer than they should have.

outside, the fireflies blinked lazily near the koi pond and the ground was bathed in a pale silver light. sakura held onto mama's hand tighter than normal. she kept her gaze away from the uchiha matriarch and tried to focus on the mountains silhouettes.

as they approach the gate, mikoto gently tapped her shoulder. sakura hesitantly looked at her. "thank you for coming, sakura-chan. we'll see each other again soon."

mikoto-san was kind. she's the only thing in this compound that made any sense to her. she was warm and a lot nicer than any other uchiha she’s had the displeasure of meeting.

as she walked home, she felt exhausted. her mind replayed the dinner over and over again, but it just made her even more tired.

she's ready for this weird day to be over.

✿ ✿ ✿

mikoto stood at the sink, rinsing off the last lacquered bowl. the water ran warm along her fingers and she hummed softly to herself. the household returned to its orderly fashion.

she dried the bowl with a linen cloth and placed it back where it belongs. the click of the wooden cabinet rang loudly in the still room and she stood for a moment, her hands resting on the countertop.

then, she stepped softly to the backyard door. she opened it and peeled the chakra paper from its hidden seam, folding it in half.

she turned and walked slowly across the room, to the corner where the potted fern stood against the wall. her hand reached behind it, pulling free another paper pressed flat against the ceramic pot.

this one too, she folded and tucked away into her sleeve.

her expression remained silent but her eyes lingered where sakura had sat earlier that evening.

then she turned and walked out, the soft rustle of her sleeve following her.

Chapter Text

the streets buzzed with life by the chatter from passing villagers, the occasional bark of a dog, and the clatter of cart wheels over uneven stone. the air carried the mingled scents of sugar, soy sauce, and jasmine, thick in the heat of late summer.

inside the quaint little dango shop was a whirl of colorful chaos. the walls, once vibrant, now faded in stripes of pink, white, and green dotted with cherry blossoms scattered across them. behind the counter hung proudly their weathered sign:

haruno dango — sweetness served warm! ✿⁠

papa stood at the prep counter, focused on a tray of steaming dango. he brushed each round ball with a glossy layer of sweet soy glaze. the rich smell of caramelized sugar sauce drifted through the room, warm and sticky.

and near the door, sakura knelt on the floorboard with a damp cloth, scrubbing at a stubborn stain. her brows furrowed, tongue peeking out the corner of her mouth.

"got it!" she beamed, wiping the last smudge away with triumph.

papa looked up, his eyes crinkling with pride. "good job, saa-chan!" he said. "you've just saved shop floor's reputation."

sakura grinned, brushing her bangs from her eyes.

summer is ending soon. that means things are gonna change around here. the shop would close for a few weeks while papa traveled to restock before the harsh winter settled in. and even worse than that, school was starting again.

sakura washed her hands at the basin, chewing over the thought. she liked school for the most part. she liked learning new things and playing with everyone, though sometimes they could be mean.

what she hated the more than school was saying goodbye to papa. every year, like clockwork, he left mid september to travel across the border to purchase supplies. she understood why, but still.

as she dried her hands, papa called out from the counter, stacking dice pink boxes with a practiced rhythm. "i've got a delivery for you," he said cheery. "these are going to the shinobi cemetery. they're having a celebration."

sakura wrinkled her nose, sliding the boxes toward her. "who eats dango at a funeral?"

papa chuckled and shook his head. "sugar makes everything better." he reached across the counter to pinch her cheek. "be kind, little petal. they're mourning."

she frowned, but gave him a curt nod. she'd never been to the shinobi cemetery before. she glanced at the road map of the village on the wall.

"and don't linger," papa added as she turned to leave. "just drop them off and come straight back. that cemetery's too close to the forest of death for my liking."

she gulped. "the what?" forest of death?

papa casually wiped his hands. "yep! stay out of it."

that didn't sound like the kind of place to wander around in.

the path was dusty and worn, but she didn't run off like she usually did. her arms were full, and her mind felt even heavier with all the questions and unease whirling through her mind.

she reached the main intersection where the village's districts split in opposite directions. last time she'd come this way, she turned right, to the uchiha compound.

this time, she turned left.

the uchiha were weird people. standoffish and cold. they aren't like anyone else she's ever met.

not mikoto -san  though.

eventually, a clearing opened in the path lined with giant trees. in the distance, a large stone monument stood at the center with fresh flowers blanketing its base.

sakura paused, shifting the boxes in her arms. she hadn't known what to expect, but it certainly wasn't this.

uniformed shinobi were everywhere.

some stood in groups speaking in hushed voices, while others sat beneath and above the branches, silent. their jackets and forehead protectors glinted under the summer sun. the sheer number of them made her uneasy. she's never seen so many shinobi so close before.

then someone spotted her.

"the dango's here!" a cheerful voice called.

a tall man approached, a stick lazily hanging between his lips. his shoulder-length brown hair framed a tanned, sharp face. he looked too pretty to be that casual.

sakura's cheeks burned. she gave a deep bow and held out the boxes, careful not to drop them. "i-i'm sorry for your loss," she stammered.

the man smirked faintly. "thanks kid. been thinking about these all day." he took the boxes from her hands with ease, grabbing a few for himself. he passed a a few boxes around and a woman came around grabbing a skewer.

"oh my, look how cute you are!" she cooed.

a voice called out from behind her. "did the dango turn her pink?"

"will the dango turn my hair pink?!"

the pretty man snickered. "pink would look lovely on you, raido."

laughter rippled around the area and sakura's cheeks flushed even pinker. "i promise it won't," she muttered, unsure if they were teasing her or not.

the man looked back at her again, his smile softening. "you did good, kid," he said. he ruffled her hair lightly. "thanks for bringing them."

she smiled feeling better, and nodded. "thank you, shinobi-san."

she ran the whole way back to the shop, cheeks flushed and chest tight. she had hoped the running would burn the feelings away, but the more she thought about it, the more exacerbated she felt.

papa was waiting at the counter when she returned. "how'd it go?"

"good," she panted, cheeks still pink.

her mind was a storm. the shinobi, the strange energy, the uchiha compound— this whole
summer had opened doors she hadn't even known existed.

and now that she'd stepped through them, she couldn't unsee what was on the other side.

in the past, papa had explained shinobi's to her in simple terms. they're people who fight and protect the village. she's seen a few of them in the shop before, wearing the same jackets and forehead protectors.

but it felt different.

"what's on your mind, saa-chan?" papa asked scrubbing a pot.

she shook her, hesitating. "thinking about school," she said finally.

papa sighed. "don't worry about school, my little genius. always remember that they tease you because your intelligence scares them."

she rolled her eyes. yeah, papa. the pink-haired menace. truly terrifying.

even the shinobi's in the cemetery had commented on her hair.

she laughed it off, but her fingers trembled as she wiped off the counter. she hated pink. hated how it clung to her like a disease. it was everywhere— in her room, her clothes, the stupid shop walls. like it was mocking her everywhere she went.

maybe that's why the uchiha compound felt so off. not a drop of pink in sight. in fact, it lacked any color at all. it was so cold and dull, monotoned and controlled. completely opposite of her.

her world was too colorful, and theirs was void of it. and somehow, neither felt right.

some kids at school called her a freak. papa always tried to make her feel better in his own strange way. "you're just unique, saa-chan. you're a beautiful bright cherry blossom of sweetness and sunshine in a field of evergreens."

but she didn't feel like a blossom. she felt like a mistake.

every year, the cherry blossom festival came around, and every year she begged him to ignore it.

that ugly tree mocks her, just like that stupid rice ball.

sakura swept the floor idly.

the world around her was changing quickly and she felt overwhelmed. like she's behind and couldn't catch up.

"here saa-chan," he handed her a piece of candy.

and oddly enough, sugar really did make everything better.

✿ ✿ ✿

outside the sliding doors, the wind rustled softly through the compound, stirring the leaves along the stone pathways. the lanterns had burned out hours ago, leaving only the pale blue wash of moonlight cascading across the wooden floor.

inside, the head house was peaceful in its stillness.

fugaku sat at the low table, the soft crackle of parchment under his fingers as he read through a scroll. beside him, mikoto moved with a quiet rhythm, stitching a tear in one of sasuke's shirts.

for a time, only the sound of domestic life filled the space— the gentle scratch of brush against paper, the soft whisper of thread through cotton, breath shared in silence.

mikoto's gentle voice carried softly into the hushed room. "do you remember sakura-chan?" she asked, smoothing the repaired sleeve. "from the dinner last week."

fugaku hummed examining another scroll. "i do."

mikoto folded the good as new shirt besides her. "i'd like to invite her to the spar this weekend," she said. "if you don't mind."

his eyes shifted to her, his expression unreadable. "what is your interest in that girl?"

she didn't answer right away. her fingers ran across the tear on a shirt belonging to itachi. "i think she's special."

a beat passed. "special?" he repeated skeptically.

"her sensing ability is unusually sharp for a girl her age," mikoto said. and a girl of her lineage, but that went unsaid.

fugaku's jaw shifted ever so slightly. "you don't suspect any training?" he asked.

"no." she stitched the tear replaying sakura's reaction. suspicion was a shinobi's nature, and special in their world meant dangerous. paranoia kept them alive more times than not, but mikoto is certain sakura isn't trained. she's too open, too unguarded.

"she's a bright young girl." sakura reminded her of itachi when he was younger before expectations and exploitive hands hardened his sweet eyes.

fugaku set aside the scroll. mikoto rarely made these kind of suggestions without good reason.

"you think she's worth investing in?"

the needle in her steady hand gleamed in the flicker of the candlelight. "i'd like to keep her close," mikoto said, her voice calm and certain. "for now."

before someone else will.

fugaku's gaze held hers in a long silence. heartbeats pass and finally he spoke.

"invite her."