Chapter Text
A stranger wouldn’t have been able to discern the changes on the last Uchiha’s face. It had its usual marbled features, but with a particularly exaggerated straight line on his lips. Sasuke's chiseled jaw fraught with tension and perilous eyes narrowed a fraction of a degree.
All caused by his lover’s choice of outfit.
His eyebrow twitched.
His lover. Round with their unborn child and with dazzling pink hair that now reached the small of her back. A purple diamond recognized by everyone as a symbol of her strength, slightly protruded from her forehead. Rough and gentle hands that could both break and mend according to her will. A beauty that equalized both greater and lesser men, tantalizing with a grace he felt would humble even the greatest deity.
This great woman who had decided to love and forgive him was putting all that they had in peril by wearing a variation of her childhood red qipao.
A long dress shirt, modest for pregnancy, and loose sleeves that reached her elbows, but revealed her shoulders as if to accentuate her femininity. A white undershirt protruded, which went up to her neck. Underneath she wore black capris, loose enough for comfort and style.
Few would find fault with it. Sasuke wouldn’t either if it wasn’t for the insignia on her back. And wristbands. And a tote bag. Other references included her collar, earrings, shoes. And Sasuke swore he even spotted them in the beds of her nails.
The Haruno symbol.
This was a declaration of war.
----------------------------------------------*
The issue had come up a few days ago, as they settled into an inn.
Ever since Sakura had joined him on his redemption, life seemed brighter. And since becoming pregnant, he outright refused to have the mother of his child sleeping outside. After the first trimester, they also opted to become less nomadic, staying in villages for a week or two to alleviate any travel burdens. Two months from their due date, they enjoyed a slow track towards Konoha.
As they lay side by side for the night, the couple had finally started to come up with names. Sakura had already confirmed she was carrying a girl, so it became easier.
“What about Sara?”
“That’s a strange name, Sasuke-kun”
“Some places name their children after their parents. In this case Sa is for both our names, and Ra is for you.”
She giggled.
“Someday I might let slip to Naruto how much of a romantic you are.”
He smirked.
“And risk not having me all to yourself?”
“Just for his teasing alone, it might be. But me twice?”
“I want her to be like you”
“And I want her to be like you.”
“You shouldn’t.” A serious note washed over his features.
Sakura reached out as comfortably as she could manage and stroked his cheek. He knew her opinion on these torturous thoughts and there was no point in addressing them now. She'd let it go at the moment.
“Sara Uchiha. It has a nice ring to it.” She felt his muscles tense under her thumb, heart rate quickening from her knuckles on his neck. “What's wrong?”
“Uchiha.”
“Yes?”
“I thought we’d name her a Haruno.”
Sakura's mind whirled. Such implications struck deep. A wave of fury that was both hormonal and justified altered her senses.
“Did you also find a village in your wanderings in which children carried the mother’s maiden name?”
“No.”
“Did you lose a bet with my father?”
“No.”
“Shisho?”
“Impossible.”
“Then?”
“I do not want her to carry this burden.”
“So what? You want her to grow up an outsider in her own household? Alienated? With two parents with different last names than her?” She was met with bitter silence. “Sasuke-kun?” She could feel him pulling away from her, both physically and mentally. “Both her parents will be Uchihas, right?”
It was amazing how a man could communicate so much without words. Maybe Sakura just knew him that well.
She quickly attempted to rise from the bed, her belly throwing her off balance. It took her a few attempts, in which she rejected her teammate's attempted assistance, before she made her way towards the door. Sasuke turned to her, sitting up straighter, but wary as to not spark her fury.
“Every time I think you finally want me, us, I find you pushing me away.”
“Sakura,” he made to stand.
“Sit.” And he was down again. Though he couldn’t see her face, the white of her knuckles on the door frame was telling enough. “I need to cool my head. Do not follow me.”
And she was gone. Sasuke planted himself back on the bed.
----------------------------------------------*
His lover returned hours later.
Sasuke was nervous about her safety, but knew that even at 7 months, she could still fight. Regardless, he lay in bed until the rustle of the doorknob let him know of Sakura’s return. With a heavy sigh, she let her mass fall on the bed and fell asleep. And so did he.
The following days, almost no words were spoken. Sakura spent her time in the local medic’s hut, healing an entire province's worth of patients, while the father of her child helped with whatever small jobs the village needed. And moped. And pouted.
She always made him feel the need to justify his actions. Not even Orochimaru had managed to get him to open up. Yet, ever since genin, Sasuke tended to share crumbs about himself with Sakura. So he was paralyzed with the need to explain his reasoning, but feared that this would be an unnecessary stress during the pregnancy.
After a week of this mental struggle, Sasuke was on the verge of asking Naruto for help (Kami, the horrors that message would bring), when Sakura announced during dinner that there was a fair at the next village over. They would be going. Then she got up and prepared for bed.
He went to bed that night giddy with excitement. A date! The obvious solution to this ridiculous tension. The fair was the perfect place to show his devotion. They could spend time together, leisurely stroll, see the sights, and maybe even gasp hold hands in public.
The Uchiha decided that he was going to spoil her; make sure she would never question his devotion again.
He got up early, made sure to clean up and shave first so Sakura could take her time in case there was any morning sickness, then stepped out to get them a quick breakfast. A pregnant woman had to eat, and he was making damn sure she could eat any cravings throughout the day. This was just to get them there. Sasuke already knew how to predict which morning cravings could hit. He also made a stop to gain a ride to and from the fair with a local farmer, so that she wouldn’t tire and could enjoy the date to the fullest. He came back just in time to see her step out of the bathroom.
In which she was sporting a new outfit.
A very, very provocative outfit, one which alluded to their disagreement like a smack to the face.
“Ready to go?”
Here we return to our present.
Haruno
Haruno
Haruno
It seemed to scream. To mock. To bamboozle. Sakura wasn’t planning on letting the argument go. Ever the strategist, she had set the arena, chosen her weapon, and was launching the attack. A sneaky one, reminding him that, even if she was accustomed to the front line, ninjas were sneaky. And damn if Sakura wasn’t an overachiever.
“Something wrong, Sasuke-kun?”
Her innocent expression paid contrast to her deliciously vicious eyes. Ones that offered taunts and torture, with the promise of welcoming his redemption at any time.
The Uchiha grit his teeth. He’d play along.
“Nothing, let's go.”