A/N: Another thing brought to you by the Alpha being like: do it, man.

Write the story. You think it should end? You have no ideas? No, no. Here's an idea. Did you write it? What, you wrote half of it? Whatever, now post it.

He doesn't actually sound like that, but that's basically it.

Chapter 6

A lot of things happened. Some Uchiha things, mostly. Some drama with Sarada-chan, the usual with Sasuke-teme. And come to think of it, Sakura-chan's drama also counts now.

Lots and lots of Uchiha drama.

But the important thing is that Sarada got to reconcile with her dad. They understood that they're a family. They should be together in their newly rebuilt house right now. Well, they're probably super awkward since they're all Uchiha. But it'll work out in time.

And then there are those other Uchiha-like guys. I personally find it hard to say what to do with them, but I couldn't turn them away. I made my decision to take them in quickly, and it seems rash to everyone else. They definitely let me know that when all levels of organization complained to me.

But I had this kind of scenario thought out a long time ago. Konoha has to stand for the future. If we can take risks on ourselves for the next generation, then that's the Will of Fire. That's the slogan of my administration.

But whether they're Uchiha or Uchiha-like, and how to handle them, I have to talk to Sasuke later.

I have to talk to him about a ton of things. I've been storing them up.

Maybe… in the morning. He's only been back two days. I'm sure that it can wait.

For now I….

...what?

Someone's…. one of my seals?

What the…. Sarada-chan?

The Uchiha drama. That's right, it never ends.

I briefly forgot.

Ok, let's do this in pajamas.

I teleport over in a flash, but when I had given Sarada an emergency call seal, I really hadn't expected this kind of emergency.

But it was serious. A little pajama girl with her knees pulled up was serious. A teary glasses girl was serious.

All together, it was a catastrophe.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a panic.

"Uncle… It's my fault… I did it again."

I don't understand. "It's alright." I said despite that. "Don't worry about it. So… what did you do?"

She sniffled a little, and I decided to put my hand on her shoulder in reassurance, but she still had an aura where she was downcast and guilty. "I acted like everything was alright." She said.

She actually said that.

...

Fuck.

"Where's Sasuke?" I asked.

"He left first thing this morning. He didn't say goodbye to you?"

"Hell no he didn't!" I said angrily. "That bastard snuck off again!"

"No. It's… it's ok. I didn't ask him to stay, so it's my -"

"It's not the damn kid's fault!" I roared. I didn't mean to.

I was pissed.

"...Sorry." I said.

And I disappeared in a flash.

I reappeared again, with my wife in her pajamas. She was busting out all over, and her hair was a sleepy mess.

Amidst yawns, she asked me: "Naruto-kun? What's going on?"

"Sorry." I said. "It's a girl-type emergency. I'm entrusting it to you."

"Eh? Ah… I got it. Yes, leave it to me."

"You're the best." I said in relief. It's a great help that she's so on the ball with this kind of thing. "Love you, babe."

I kissed her on the cheek.

She whispered back: "Good luck, dear."

"Wait!" Sarada-chan said. "Don't do anything crazy, uncle. I still have mom, and you, and friends. I didn't call you to… to fight with dad or anything. I was just lonely, that's all!"

That's the damn problem. There's no -just- about it.

"So you don't have to do anything!" Sarada exclaimed.

"I know I don't have to. But does some part of me look," I said firmly, "like a Hokage that does the bare minimum?"

I stormed out of the room. I marched over, and banged on Sakura-chan's door.

It slowly opened. She didn't seem too surprised.

"...You showed up." She whispered.

"Don't you have something to say to me?" I asked of my teammate.

"...Don't say anything rash." She said quietly. She was more timid than the usual Sakura-chan. "Don't make any crazy promises this time."

"That's not what you should be saying." I warned.

She fidgeted in place

"Naruto… We're not kids anymore." She said. "We have to be responsible. We have to endure things, for the sake of the world. His mission, it's really important you know? Like… world crisis level important. I'm… I'm really proud. And I can't keep him from it. And I can't keep relying on you either, Naruto! I can take care of myself now! I'm… I'm… an adult..."

I grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look me in the eyes. Her gaze had been wavering around, and it was just absurd.

"You're my best friend." I said. "Can you stop the emo bullshit?"

She choked out a laugh. It was that kind of part laugh, mostly sob, kind of sound. And she had hot tears as she looked back at me in the eyes, at last.

"Y-You're my best friend too. I'm… sorry it's sudden. Can you… can you do me a favor?"

"Your daughter's crying in her room with Hinata-chan. I'll bring him back before sunrise. It's a promise." I said.

"Naru-"

I didn't hear the rest of it. I was gone.

I was on a timer.

Sasuke, you bastard.

I know there's a reason for it. I know I agreed to let you leave the first time, all those years ago.

But things change.

People change.

They get lonely. They get hurt.

They start to miss you.

I won't say you have to stay in the village forever, but you're not leaving like this!

Kaguya or whatever, world crisis or whatever, I don't care!