So it's been a while since I updated this story and to be honest I kinda got stuck and got distracted by other ideas. But I'm back… kinda. It's going to be slow updating this story but I'll try my best to finish it. Thanks for the reviews, favs, and follow. I hope the characters aren't too oc. I tried to proof read but I'm sure I missed some mistakes.
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A loud wailing pierce the early morning. Sakura's eyes snapped open as she sat up from bed. Her eyes went to the crib where the noise was coming from. Sighing wearily, she got up from her warm bed and paddled over to look down at the baby screaming his lungs out. He was fusing, his little chubby legs and arms waving every which way as he cried for attention.
"Shush. I'm here." She picked him up and carried him to the kitchen. He settled down when he felt her body, adjusting to get closer to her warmth. She took the bottle out of the bottle warmer, it was a good thing she already prepared the formula, and sat down at her mini beat up dinner table and feed him.
He hungrily sucked the formula, his mini hands gripping the bottle more towards him.
She chuckled. "Calm down Luffy. It's not going anywhere."
He grunted, like he was disagreeing with her.
She stared down at him, amazed that she was holding him. Even after a 4 month, her being a mother took some getting used to. Luffy made not be hers in blood, but damn it he was hers and everything else. It was going to be hard giving him up to his grandfather. Sometimes she thinks of keeping him, selfish girl that she was but she made a promise to Atsuko-san. She wasn't going to betray her dying request.
Yawning, she took the empty bottle away from him and sat him on her shoulder so she could burp him. Couple seconds later a loud burp came from him as well as a fart.
"Argh! You got me." Her face was bunched up from the smell.
He made a happy baby sound, pleased with himself. She rolled her eyes, getting up and going back into her bedroom. She changed his diaper, by than he was making his way to dreamland. The cherry blossom started humming a low key melody that she remember her father used to hum to her when she was young.
He knocked out from her gentle humming and hands. She smiled down at him; he was just so cute! Giving him a soft kiss, she went back to bed. She had a couple of more hours before she was due at the hospital.
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"I can't thank you enough Hinata-chan." Sakura said, clasping the Hyuga heritress hands in hers.
A small delighted blush made its way to Hinata's cheeks. "It's no problem. I love looking after Luffy-kun."
The cherry blossom smiled warmly at her. "I know." Her smiled turned teasing. "It's great practice when you and Naruto have one."
Hinata's face turned completely red.
Sakura chuckled loudly as she finished putting on her shoes before opening her front door. It was just too easy to tease her friend sometimes. "I'll be back at 5. Take care." She called before leaving, shutting the door behind her.
She made her way towards the hospital, taking her time to enjoy Kohana morning life since she wasn't due for another 30 minute. Some villagers called out to her in greeting. She really did love her home. Peaceful now more than ever. Soon she'll have to leave this life to find a man she knows nothing about.
"Good morning Sakura-chan!"
The loud greeting cut off her train of thought as she looked over towards the voice, a weary smile coming on her lips. "Good morning Lee."
He jogged over on his hands to her. "You're looking youthful this morning. How is the little one?"
Lee was very sweet, always asking about Luffy. "He's fine." She said with a proud smile.
He beamed at her. "That's great to hear! Well let me go back to my jogging. Have a wonderful day my blooming cherry blossom."
Sakura cringed as the Taijustsu master finished his morning training. Lee still had the corniest lines ever. Shaking her head, she continued on her way to the hospital.
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It was close to lunch time when Naruto barged his way into Sakura's home, take out boxes of Ichikaku's ramen in his hands. "Hinata I bought lunch!" he called out as he took of his shoes and came further into the house.
His wife came from the living room, Luffy in her arms as she fed him. His heart warmed at the site.
"Naruto-kun." She greeted, smiling warmly at him. "I'm glad I didn't start lunch yet." She came to him and gave him a peck on the lips.
They made a trade, her the food and him the baby. Naruto handed Luffy like a pro as he adjusted the baby in arms. Honestly, Hinata was surprised how well the blond took care of Luffy. She was kinda expecting him to be a little nervous or clumsy with Luffy. But no. He was way better at her and Sakura.
It was unfair, really.
She set up the food on the table as the blond sat down, taking the empty bottle away from Luffy.
The baby grunted, trying to get the bottle back.
"You're so greedy." Naruto said, holding the baby out in his arms as he smiled at him.
Luffy gave him a toothless smile. The blond sat him on his lap with one hand as he picked up his chopsticks with his other and started eating.
Hinata looked at her husband with envy before eating.
As they ate, they talked about any and everything. Whenever Hinata babysit Luffy, Naruto would come over for lunch and sometimes keep her company until Sakura gets home, but mostly he'll leave to do his Hokage in training duties. It was sweet that he came to see her, even when he was so busy.
Luffy started moving, trying to get out of Naruto's life. His goal was the bowl of ramen. His chubby hands were outstretched as he made cooing noises.
"So you recognize that ramen is the best food in the world huh?" Naruto grinned.
"Please don't feed him that." Hinata pleaded.
Her husband's love of ramen sometimes blinded him to real life.
"It'll be fine." He said dismissing her concern as he gave Luffy some of the broth. He wasn't going to feed him the noodles; he wasn't that stupid.
The baby smacked his lips and made a happy sound.
"See he likes it." The blond said with a wide smile for his wife.
She smiled softly back, though in the back of her mind she couldn't help but wonder what affect it'll have on Luffy.
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It was a week later when Sakura was relaxing in her living room with Luffy playing at her feet with his toys when her doorbell rang. Wondering who that was, she got up and answered the door.
"Hey forehead! Where's my cute nephew?" Ino greeted with a bag in her hands.
Sakura rolled her eyes as she stepped back to let her best friend in. They went to the living room and Ino exclaimed in delight as she spotted Luffy.
"OOO, look at you!" The blond picked him up and he made a happy sound as he cuddle against her chest. She kissed his forehead. "I got you a present."
He clapped his hands, like he was excited.
"You didn't have to do that." Sakura protest half-heartedly.
The blond waved her off.
They go through this every time Ino buys something for Luffy, which was like every other day. Sakura opened the bag that the blond sat down at the table and discovered a cute dog onsie. It even had a tail. "Aww! So cute!" the cherry blossom blushed.
"I know right. I just had to get it." The blond had great taste when buying baby clothes if she did say so herself.
Sakura took Luffy from Ino and went to go change him in her bedroom. Once she was done, she presented him to his Aunt. They cooed and aww over him. The rest of the day was spent like that, her friends coming over to visit her and Luffy. Even though Luffy wasn't staying, her friends couldn't resist getting attached. It was going to be a sad day when she had to give him up to his grandfather…
A month later she received a letter from Sasuke. It was the usual letter of him detailing his travels and asking about her. He wasn't much of a talker but he did try for her sake. She wrote him back, detailing how everyone else was doing. She didn't tell him about Luffy. Not yet… she didn't know why.
But she wasn't going to dwell on those thoughts as it was time for Luffy's annual checkup. The only person she'll trust to do it was her Master.
"I see he's still skinny but I bet he still have that bottom less pit stomach." Tsunade commented dryly as she checked his heartbeat.
"Pah!" He sounded offended.
Sakura chuckled.
"But other than that, he's a healthy baby. You're raising him well Sakura." The blond said as she put away her telescope.
The cherry blossom beamed proudly.
They were in Tsunade private office that she keeps in the hospital to only see private personal patients. Since she retired, she can have drink and gamble to her hearts content. Sometimes she'll take patients like her student's son.
"Thank you Master. I pray that he keeps getting stronger with each month." The pinkette said rubbing Luffy's head.
"Just keeping doing what you've been doing." The elder woman said as she filled out some paper work.
"… Master I'm a little nervous."
Tsunade looked sharply at her student. But her student wasn't looking at her, she was looking at her son that had fallen asleep.
"I don't know a thing about Luffy's grandfather. I don't know if it's safe to give him Luffy."
Silence.
"You made a promise." Tsunade reminded her softly.
"I know but…"
"You want to keep him."
Sakura nodded, her face miserable.
"There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you do. But at the same time, there must be a reason why she wanted you to deliver him to his grandfather."
The cherry blossom consider that. One of the first things she did in the first month of taking care of Luffy was to confirm Atsuko Uzumaki's identity. There was a file on her and she was also in the bingo books. But the pictures they had of her were from 20 years ago. She came to the Leaf Village when she was 8 and stayed to become an outstanding Shinobi for her second home.
By the time she was 15, she was already an ANBU Captain. When she was 18, she retired and became a regular ninja, taking long A and s-rank mission that no ninja that had a family wanted to take. At 20, she became in active and left the village. She hadn't come back since then.
But that was Atsuko's work ethic.
Sakura wanted to know more about Atsuko the person. So she asked around and found that Atsuko had a best friend who she thought was dead all this time. Riko Matsumoto broke down crying in front of her when she found out that Atsuko was alive all this time but died trying to make it back home. Sakura was envious of the civilian woman, she wished she could cry too.
Older ninjas remember Atsuko from their younger days. She was nicked named the red under taker because once you were in her sight, you were dead. She was a woman they respected and liked. She also admired Kunshina Uzumaki who was five years her senior. She was always following the older Uzumaki around.
"The best thing I can say Sakura is find out what kept Atsuko Uzumaki away from home and what drove her back. What kind of person is Monkey D. Garp? Maybe then you'll know what to do." Tsunade said, stacking up her papers.
"You're right Master. I owe Atsuko-san that much." Sakura stood, picking up Luffy so that they could go home.
"Just be careful Sakura when you leave."
The cherry blossom looked back at her Master and nodded. "I will. Bye." Mother and son left. They went home and spent the rest of the day with each other. Of course, Kakashi came by to hide from his Hokage duties.
"Kakashi-sensei I can't keep hiding you." Sakura said dryly as she made tea and crackers for them to snack on.
"But you're not hiding me. I'm just coming to visit my favorite student and her son." He said airily.
She glared at him, which made him smile that bastard. They had a late lunch before he was taken back to his office by the ANBU. It was quite amusing.
He got back at her for laughing at him by sending her on an annoying escort with this sleazy daimyo's son mission for two weeks. She was miffed….
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To be continued…
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