Cherry Blossoms

🎂Another Happy Birthday🎁

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Mhm. She is."

"Just be careful what you two do from here on out, yeesh... if I hear you're pregnant again, I swear..."

"Haha, don't worry, Karin-San, We'll be headed straight to the village from here."

"Well, you're not going anywhere until you've fully recovered your energy and strength. Going into labor takes a lot of chakra, you know. Even for a strong Kunoichi like you." The red-headed Uzumaki adjusted her glasses.

"She's right." Sasuke Uchiha agreed, "we need to stay until you've fully recovered. Then we'll head back."

His overly-excited wife grinned, "you have a point. Alright."

Karin Uzumaki watched as Sakura Uchiha rocked the small baby girl in her arms, then passed her to the baby's father, "so... Do you have a name for her?"

"Oh, right." Sakura chuckled, then glanced to her husband.

Sasuke grinned and looked down at his daughter's sleeping face, "her name is Sarada Uchiha."

"Sarada? You know what that translates to, don't you, Sasuke-kun?" Karin peered at him.

"Hn. I put more thought into that name than you think." Sasuke smirked, "the first character of her name is from both Sakura's and my name. The second character is specifically from Sakura's name, and the last character..."

Karin rose a brow, "mhm?"

"Is in memory of Itachi." Sasuke smiled to himself, "the last character of her name and the second character of Itachi's name are practically the same."

"I guess it all just happened to mean 'salad'..." Sakura chuckled as she took Sarada back and held her.

"Wow..." Karin smiled, "Sarada Uchiha. I like it."

"Yeah..." Sasuke chuckled as he squeezed Sakura's hand, "me too."

_________________________

"Is Papa coming home today?"

Sakura smiled at her now four year-old daughter, "I'm sorry, Sweetie. I don't think he's coming home yet."

"Then when?"

"Soon."

"Does he know what today is?"

Sakura smiled sadly, "I'm sure he does, but he's very busy. He could never forget about us."

Sarada looked at the ground, "but... It's..."

Sakura looked at her and grinned, "Sarada, come here."

Sarada glanced up at her mother, and walked up to her.

"Your papa loves you very much, I'll tell you that much. But he's also working hard to protect the village, too." Sakura smiled, "so don't worry. He'll be back soon." With that, she poked Sarada's forehead, "I promise."

"Will he?" Sarada grinned as she rubbed her forehead.

"Mhm." Sakura smiled.

___________________________

"Happy birthday, Sarada-San!" Boruto Uzumaki cheered.

"Happy birthday." Mitsuki smiled.

"Thanks Boruto, Mitsuki." Sarada rolled her eyes.

"So, you're fourteen, now. What are you going to do for your birthday today?" Konohamaru Sarutobi asked.

"I think I might just celebrate with Mama at home." Sarada replied.