Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Obviously.

Authoress' Note: After writing "Needs" I had the urge to try and write something more in the same story setting. So I decided to write a prequel and a sequel. Reading "Needs" isn't necessary to reading the prequel, but I would recommend reading it afterwards.

I'm also taking some liberties with possible events after Scarlet Spring; I'd like to think that after being brought to the orphanage the Shin Uchiha clones were given the chance to grow their own personalities to go along with their names.

Wants

Chapter 1: First Step

"You've GOT to be fucking kidding me."

Sakura Uchiha was pissed. Today was supposed to be her day off, a day she was going to take to spend some quality time with her daughter, but instead she was summoned to the Hokage's office in order to obtain an emergency mission. Or at least, that was what she was lead to believe: the way the orderly was out of breath searching for her, she had to assume it was something imporant.

A check-up on the clones at the Konoha Orphanage was NOT something she thought was important.

"Sorry, but I just got the noticed from Kabuto. He said that there is a few too many for him to handle right now with his brother away currently, and it's time for them to get their check-ups," Naruto explained, "I figured they'd be better off being examined by someone they're familiar with than a random nurse from the hospital."

Sakura clicked her tongue, "Yeah... but you also know that I have no interest in doing anything in favor to that traitor either. You and Sasuke-kun may have forgiven him, but I hadn't and I don't have plans to do so either."

The Hokage sighed; he knew that his friend would react this way. Although he has hoped in the years since Kabuto Yakushi came back to the village and had humbly asked to return and run the orphanage that he had grown up in – alongside his adopted brother Urushi – that Sakura would eventually come to accept him trying to make atonement for his past sins. However, unlike with Sasuke whom also committed sins against her and the village, she had shown no signs on ever accepting the former spy as a member of Konoha again.

"Sakura-chan, I wouldn't be asking you if it wasn't for the fact that they're familiar with you," he said firmly, "I know you hate him, but can you please put aside your animosity for one mission? I'll even make sure you get an extra day off in return."

The rosette growled, then sighed and relented. "Even if I wanted to reject, I can't because it's coming from you," she said, earning a chuckle from her former teammate, "Fine, I'll get to it. Damn you, Naruto. You really know how to tick me off sometimes."

"Yeah, I know. Thank you, Sakura-chan."

"I'm sorry I dragged you out here too, Sarada. I was really hoping we could have our mother-daughter picnic like we planned, but I still wanted to spend some time with you today."

"I don't mind, Mama. I understand that Hokage-sama wanted you to work. I'm glad I can help you."

Sakura smiled down at her beloved daughter, gently patting her head much to the younger Uchiha's chagrin, then adjusting the large bag of medical notes and supplies on her shoulder. While she was angry with the fact that her day off was ruined, the rosette was very happy with the idea that she could still have time to spend with Sarada. It was very rare for the two of them to have days off together: Sakura usually at the hospital and Sarada on training missions with her team. It was nice to have a little bit of family time. Although, much to their agreed sadness, it wasn't much "family time" with Sasuke out on yet another mission.

The two ladies approached the clearing leading up to the lake and orphanage, and they could see the building coming into view. From the outside, the orphanage looked a bit old and ran down, but there were definite signs of improvement from previous years that Sakura had seen it. She couldn't imagine that Kabuto had anything to do with it, though; as far as she had known him, his hands were used for nothing but evil... a part of Sakura's mind chided her for that. While she hated him for what he had done, she couldn't deny that on some levels he had a good part of him... it didn't provide her the urge to forgive him, but at least she could acknowledge that.

"Mama, are those two of the clones?" Sarada asked, pointing to two figures playing with a ball next to the gateway into the yard, "They look so different!"

She was right, Sakura noted; they did look completely different. Their faces still looked the same, but something about them definitely changed. They each wore different colored clothing – one was wearing a red long-sleeved shirt and white shorts while the other was wearing a green tank top with white arm warmers and black pants – but they were smiling and laughing as they threw their ball back and forth. They definitely weren't the same emotionless clones that were brought there months ago.

They seemed to sense the Uchihas approach them, as they stopped and turned towards their presence. The smiles that were there faded into a small frown, and Sakura seemed apprehensive about coming any closer. "Hello," she greeted, "We're not here to harm you... we were sent by Hokage-sama at the request of your father."

"...Father asked you to come?" the red-shirted clone said apprehensively, shifting his eyes towards his brother as he clutched the ball a little tighter in his arms.

"Yes he did... do you remember us?" Sarada asked calmly.

They remained quiet, then the green-shirted clone made steps towards the two ladies. He eyed them over with his ringed orbs, the sight making Sakura shake inwardly for a moment, but then he smiled and turned back towards his brother. "It's okay, Ura! They're good!" he said, "I remember them now!"

Ura's face seemed to have lightened up, but he didn't approach, "I don't know... I remember them too, Ryo, but..."

"We aren't going to harm you," Sakura reassured, "We're only hear to check up on everyone. Your father had asked us to help because he was having troubles doing everything alone."

Ura pouted, "They aren't good, Ryo! I don't want a check-up!"

Ryo laughed, "Don't be silly Ura! If Father said it's time, then we're going to listen. Don't make Father angry!"

"Ughhh... I don't want to!"

The green-shirted clone continued to laugh, "Please don't mind my brother. He doesn't like check-ups. He said it's weird, but I guess you might know why... right?"

Sakura smiled, a bit of sadness behind it, "Yeah, I know... I'm sorry that you still feel that pain, but I promise to make it as easy as possible... do you think you two can take us to your father now?"

"Yeah, we will. Come on Ura! Let's take them to Father!" Ryo yelled, receiving a groan and nod from Ura, and the two of them went towards the gate, the Uchiha ladies following close behind.

Sakura watched as the skiddish clone kept eyeing them over his shoulder, then back at his brother. She felt sympathy for him; she knew that with their creator – the original Shin Uchiha – anything related to medical likely meant that they were to be used as the creator's new body parts. Now that they finally had a chance to taste freedom and individuality, they refuse to experience anything like that again. Sakura sighed; she was sure that many of the other clones felt this same way and she knew that easing their fears was likely going to be the hardest part of the day.

"Mama, are you alright? You look sad," Sarada whispered, grabbing at her mother's hand with a look of concern in her onyx orbs.

"Oh!" Sakura exclaimed, looking down at her child with a smile, "I'm alright, dear. I don't mean to look sad, but I do feel bad for all of them. I can understand why they might be afraid."

"Not all of us are afraid!" Ryo exclaimed, "Some of us understand that it's a part of life. Father told us that when we're getting a check-up it's not to harm us, but to make sure we're healthy. He says that one day we'll be grown and can be whomever it is we want to be, but we need to be healthy to do that. I'm sure once you and Father get things started and see how we handle it, everyone else will follow suit."

Sakura chuckled, "You're so wise, Ryo."

A small tinge of blush formed on the clone's face as he sheepishly laughed. Ura's face scrunched up into a pout, "I'm wise too! And I can be brave too! Ryo, you're such a show-off!"

Sarada laughed loudly, and Ura began to blush the same as his brother. "They remind me a bit of Mitsuki and Boruto," the young Uchiha said, "It's really funny."

"Mitsuki-aniki? You know him?" Ura asked, receiving a nod in response.

"Yes. He's one of my teammates. You call him your brother?"

The two clones nodded. "He's our older brother. Well, at least we call him our older brother," Ura explained, "He helps out Father and Uncle, and plays with us a lot when he's not out on missions. We didn't know you were his teammate."

"I see," Sarada said, "I guess Mitsuki doesn't talk much about his team?"

"He does, but we didn't know who they were. He just says Sarada and Boruto."

"Ah... well, I'm Sarada. I guess it's a good thing to be formally introduced then."

"Yeah, I guess so..." Ryo said, "Father should be right down this hall. Usually about now he's out in the courtyard reading to our brothers... yep, he is! Father! The ninja you asked for are here!"

Sakura couldn't really see his face at first, but surrounded by twelve or so Shin clones was Kabuto. He was dressed in a long, black robe, sitting on a stool with a book in his hands. She stepped a bit closer and then could see more of his features; his skin was pale in the sunlight, almost radiating him like a ghost, but she could still see the cracks and scars upon his face. What surprised her the most was that she could see a serene smile upon his lips, something that she couldn't recall ever seeing with him. It actually angered her a bit: after what he had done towards them, why does he get the right to smile like that?

Still, she didn't want to let the clones know her discomfort, so she kept her emotions in check. She watched as Ryo and Ura run towards him and with the turn of his head Sakura could see the violet rings around his eyes and the golden color to the orbs sparkle from the sunlight. There was a small glint of light reflecting off of his thin frames, but it didn't seem to affect his view. He lifted his head and their eyes met. Sakura could feel her anger rising upon seeing those once-traitorous eyes, but noted how tired and soft they seemed. Kabuto turned back towards the clones, excusing himself as he stood from his seat and placing the book upon it, then walking back with Ura towards their guests.

"Please forgive me for not meeting you at the gate. I wasn't sure who or when anyone would be coming, so I took liberties with the time," Kabuto explained, "Mitsuki-san should be back soon with the other children; they had gone out to gather some herbs and mushrooms for tonight's meal."

Sakura chuckled, "Should've known Naruto would forget to send out a notice."

"It's alright. He is the Hokage; I'm sure he's busy with other requests. Ura, why don't you take Sarada-san out to the garden and tell Mitsuki-san that it's time to bring everyone in," the silver hair male asked, receiving a nod in return, then he turned towards the clones watching from the courtyard, "Children, please go to the gathering room and wait for us there. You all know that today is check-up day; I promise we'll make sure it'll go as smoothly as we can, alright?"

There was a unison "Yes, Father" echoing in response as they all stood up and made their way. Ura turned towards Sarada and grabbed at her arm, "This way, Sarada-san! Mitsuki-aniki will be over this way."

Sarada let out a small, surprised squeal as Ura began to run with her in tow, leaving Sakura and Kabuto standing next to each other alone. Sakura scoffed gently, but smiled all of the same, "It's not often she allows herself to be dragged. It's actually a bit funny to see it in reverse."

"I'm sure it is," Kabuto added, "She's very much like you, but she looks too much like Sasuke."

The mood began to change, and Sakura could feel anger welling up inside of her again. She clenched her fists together, something Kabuto was quick to notice but he didn't comment. He looked towards the floor, a sad grin on his face. "It's been a very long time since we last met, Sakura-san," he said quietly, "Not since I came back to Konoha."

"Yeah," the rosette said, "About six years ago or so. I couldn't believe it when I saw you in the Hokage's office. Naruto and Sasuke-kun had to hold me back from pummeling you into the ground."

"Seems like you're still holding back," Kabuto noted, eyeing her fists then up to her fiery emerald eyes, "I can't say I don't deserve it, even after all of this time."

"Oh, you definitely do. As far as I'm concerned, nothing you can do with clear you of the crimes you've done to my village, to my friends and family," Sakura bit back, gritting her teeth, "Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm the only other medic-nin the clones were familiar with, I wouldn't be here at all. I could go the rest of my life without seeing your face again."

Kabuto didn't reply; just continued to sadly smile at her. It made Sakura even angrier. "What? Don't have anything to say to that?" she asked harshly.

"Thank you for coming, for them."

She was a little surprised at the answer. Not at the words that were said, but at the tone he said it with. It was soft and she could feel no hints of malice or sarcasm. There was weight behind those words, a strong and powerful meaning with no lies or distrust within in them. Suddenly, the rosette felt a bit wrong for her anger, relaxing her fists and looking away from his steady gaze. "Y-yeah... can you just lead me to wherever we're doing the exams at?" she asked sheepishly, "I want to get this done... today was supposed to be my day off."

Kabuto chuckled to himself, "I understand. Please, follow me this way."

The gathering room was huge, something Sakura was grateful for considering the amount of people she had to help examine. They had set up a make-shift privacy area in two sections, splitting the clones into two lines. Sarada and Mitsuki kept order while Kabuto and Sakura did the examinations, recording everything for hospital records to be filed later. For the most part, things were going smoothly; any time someone started to get out of line, Sarada or Mitsuki calmed things back down, allowing the medic-nin to work without interruption.

While the clones seemed to pay no mind to it, the two young ninja could tell there was some sort of tension between the two adults. "What do you think is going on between my mom and Yakushi-san? I mean, he seems alright, but Mama is pretty tense... And I don't think it's because of the work," Sarada asked curiously.

Mitsuki shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps it's because of their history?"

"History?"

"Yes... I had heard from both Father and Kabuto-san that he has a lot of history with the shinobi of Konoha... I'm guessing not great history, but it's there. I suppose that could be the tension?"

"Hmm... Mama never told me that she knew Yakushi-san," the bespectacled Uchiha murmured, her mind wandering as to what that history could be.

"No! I don't want to do the exam anymore! I've changed my mind! I want to go to my room!"

"Ura, calm down, please. It's not going to hurt and we'll be as quick as-"

"No! No, no, no! I hate exams! I don't want to do this!"

Sarada walked over to Kabuto's side of the room, where he was trying to calm down a very upset Ura. "What's wrong, Ura? I thought you said you were brave," she said calmly, bending down slightly to meet him eye-to-eye.

"I am brave! But... but I don't like exams," Ura said, looking away from the kunoichi, "They make me feel really weird..."

"Ura, remember what I've told you? This is a part of life. We need to make sure you are all growing up healthy so you can be a happy and healthy adult one day too," Kabuto explained, hoping his tone and smile will help calm down his frazzled child, but all he received was a furious "No!" in return.

Kabuto sighed in aspiration, a sad smile stretched across his features. Sarada noticed how tired the man looked, but yet it also didn't seem like he allowed it to affect him. She watched as he gently tried to persuade Ura to do the exam with no luck. An idea popped into her head and she turned back towards the scared clone.

"How about I hold your hand while you're being examined?" she offered, "If you get nervous, you can squeeze my hand, and if things get too scary I'll try to comfort you. Will that be okay?"

Ura stared at her for a moment, then looked away and nodded his head. "Thank you, Sarada-san. I appreciate the help," Kabuto said with a smile, "Alright, come right behind the curtain, please."

Sakura watched as Sarada took Ura's hand and stepped behind the examinating area. She was pleased with her daughter's offer to help, something she expected of her child to do, but she was even more surprised with how calm and kind Kabuto was being. She knew how cruelly he had treated "patients" in the past; it was beyond surprising to see how much care he was placing into each clone, treating them each like human beings and not like test subjects.

'Perhaps he really has changed...'

"Yakushi-san?"

"You can call me Kabuto, Sarada-san. I don't mind it."

"Oh... okay, Kabuto-san," the young Uchiha corrected, "Um... what's the history between you and my mother? I can tell there was something between you two, but I don't really know what it is... Mitsuki had said that you two know each other."

Kabuto chuckled slightly, not looking up from his clipboard of notes, "You're very observant. Much like your father."

He sighed, motioning for Ura to turn around. "We used to be enemies," he said bluntly.

"Enemies?" Sarada asked, receiving a nod in return, "... From the war?"

"Even before the war. I was a spy for Orochimaru... he had wanted me to infiltrate the Chunin exams... the first year that your mother and her team entered," he said, jotting down a few more notes, "Alright Ura, sit down on the stool please."

Sarada knew who Orochimaru was, but was surprised to hear that this man had a connection with him too. She moved to stand next to Ura, still holding his hand, as Kabuto continued to do the exam and his story.

"I wasn't always a good man. I was evil. I committed a lot of sins against the villages... Back then, being evil was part of who I was. That was my identity," he said, his voice growing quieter as he went on, "I even changed my entire being in pursuit of my identity. There was a point where I was as pale as you were, if you choose to believe it... I was cocky, violent... I hurt a lot of people, including your mother. But..."

"But?" Sarada asked.

"Okay, Ura... deep breaths for me," Kabuto instructed, placing a stethoscope to his chest.

Sarada felt her hand being squeezed, "It's alright, Ura... I'm right here."

Ura nodded as he did as told, relieved when Kabuto removed the device from his chest, and went back to his notes. Sarada repeated her inquiry, "But...?"

"It was your uncle that helped me realize my mistakes and opened my mind to who I really was... that I had a mother that loved me, and a brother and home waiting for me here in Konoha. That my purpose was to be a father to the children that had none, just as my mother did for me," the male explained, "Alright, Ura. You can put your shirt back on and leave; you did really well with your check-up! So was that as bad as you thought?"

Ura shook his head, "No, it wasn't too bad... thank you Sarada-chan for being next to me!"

"Of course," Sarada said with a smile, taken aback by a sudden hug but returned it and laughed as he ran off, then turned back to Kabuto as he re-arranged his notes.

"I spent several years wandering the world after the war ended, until I finally came back here to Konoha six years ago... I realized my brother was still here, waiting for me to come back home, and with him by my side I went to the Sixth Hokage and asked if I could return," he explained, "Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun were there at the time as well... surprisingly, they took my side in convincing the Hokage to allow me to return... you see, during the war, once I realized how wrong I was, I joined in as an ally... when your father was heavily injured, I healed him... I wanted to do something for the brother of the man that opened my eyes."

"I see... Uncle Itachi really was a great man," Sarada whispered.

"I'm sure your father has plenty of stories about him that he'll share with you one day, but yes... he was," Kabuto agreed, "It was through your father and the current Hokage as to why I was able to take over this orphanage, but your mother... she had not forgiven me. When she entered the Hokage office and saw me, they had to hold her back from pummeling me into the ground."

"I see..."

Sarada looked over at her mother, watching as she looked over one of the clones with a gentle smile on her face. She had never known Sakura for holding grudges against people for so long; she even seemed to had given Orochimaru a chance! But perhaps her own perceptions were wrong...

"Please don't judge your mother harshly for this. I don't expect her forgiveness or acceptance, and I welcome the day where she does decide to beat me as my atonement for the sins I committed against her," he said softly, "I only wish to live peacefully and help my children grow and live a life that I never was able to. As long as I'm allowed that, I'm happy, no matter what must happen to allow me that."

He smiled at the kunoichi and settled himself back on his seat, "Can you send in the next child, please?"

It was sunset by the time all of the exams were done. Sakura and Sarada volunteered to help with making food – something Kabuto was grateful for, as he had told them that Urushi wasn't due back until the next day and usually cooking for this many mouths was a three-person task – and once everyone was happily fed the two kunoichi prepared themselves to leave back for home.

"I'll file everything in the morning; this is a little too much work to do tonight. I'll make sure a report gets sent out to you with all of the final results," Sakura confirmed, straightening the bag on her shoulder, "I'm sorry that we made a mess of the kitchen, however."

"It's alright. It's been a lot worse," Kabuto laughed, "Thank you very much for your assistance, Sakura-san. Yours as well, Sarada-san. Please come by and visit again; I'm sure the children would love to play with you, especially Ura. He seemed to had taken a shine to you."

"I'd like that," Sarada said with a smile.

"I hope your trip home is safe and uneventful. Until next we meet," Kabuto said, waving off the two visitors as they began to walk away, turning around to go back inside.

After a few steps, Sakura stopped walking. Sarada noticed and stopped herself, turning around and looking at her mother in confusion, "Mama? What's wrong?"

The rosette turned around, growling a bit to herself as she did, "Kabuto!"

The silver-haired male turned around sharply, surprised to hear Sakura call out to him. He watched as she stood rigidly, her hands balled into fists by her sides, but then watched as her hands relaxed and her body relaxed with a sigh, just as she had done earlier.

"Kabuto... I'm not ready to forgive you. But... but I'm willing to admit that I was wrong about you... you're proving yourself to be changed, and I can see that now. So..." Sakura said, trailing off for a moment as she looked at the ground, but then back up at him, "I can start trying to accept you."

Kabuto's eyes widened at her admission, much to her embarrassment for a strange reason, then he smiled and bowed to her. "Thank you, Sakura-san," he said, "Thank you."

Sakura nodded and turned around, waving him off and trying to ignore the blush that began to burn her face. Sarada chuckled and looked over to Kabuto, seeing him continued to smile as she walked away, waving back at him and took a few fast steps to catch up to her mother.

'This is a good first step... I hope it's the first of many to come.'