[Naruto AU, comfort, angst]

The kitchen was quiet the next morning. Karin leaned against the counter as Sarada slowly rotated a spoon in her empty bowl.

"Did you get enough to eat?"

"Yes."

Silence.

Sarada finally muttered to herself, loud enough for Karin to hear, "why did this have to happen?"

Karin pursed her lips and leaned her head back, "things happen, Kiddo. And in living the life of a ninja, you have to make some sacrifices. Sakura did what she had to, there was no avoiding it."

"I wish it didn't have to be her, though..." Sarada gritted her teeth, "my Mama didn't have to be a legendary Kunoichi if it meant she could stay alive and stay with me and Papa forever..."

Karin chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm trying..." Karin started, "to imagine what your parents would be like if they weren't the ninja they are today. Your Mama came from an ordinary clan, the Haruno clan. They had no specialty or ability. Your Papa had been through a lot, being part of the Uchiha clan and all. If he had continued on his path he was on, he may be dead today."

Sarada's body temperature dropped at that image.

"If they were like that now..." Karin tapped her chin, "I don't think I would've been here, either. Without Sakura, Sasuke would've killed me and I wouldn't be here today."

"Papa... He tried to kill you?!"

"Well, he tried to kill everyone. Me, Kakashi-Sensei, Lord Seventh, and even your Mama..." Karin sighed, "he was on a road to darkness. If anything, he was already trapped in it. He was brought back by Naruto and Sakura, and because of them, he learned what it meant to be happy. Sakura was more to me than just a friend. She's like a sister to me, and being entrusted with her own daughter was more than an honor to me. I felt horrible in doing it, but I did as her dying wish." She walked over to sit next to Sarada at the table, "you should be thankful that your Mama did what she did and became who she is today, because if not, you may not even be here today."

Sarada gazed into the empty bowl, "what will happen to Papa when Mama..."

Karin pursed her lips and adjusted her glasses, "I... Don't want to think about it..."

They sat in excruciating silence before Sarada stood up, "I need to go to them."

"What?"

"Mom..." Sarada grabbed Karin's wrist, "we need to go back to Mama and Papa. I have something I want to ask her."

"Then..." Karin stood up, "you should probably go." she turned at the knock on the front door and quickly opened it, "Hm? Oh, it's you."

"Karin." Naruto quickly stepped into the house, looking around frantically, "where's Sarada? Is she here?"

Sarada ran to Karin's side, "I'm here."

Naruto grabbed her wrist, "you need to come with me right now. You too, Karin. Kakashi-Sensei's meeting us there, but I came to pick you guys up."

Karin's voice trembled, "what's going on? Is everything okay?"

The Hokage didn't answer. He only turned on his heel and started off, "let's go. Now."

_________________________

The moment I walked into that dimly-lit room, it was as if the atmosphere had completely changed since the last time I came to visit. Mama always had a semblance of cheerfulness on the outside even though, on the inside, she was in excruciating pain, according to Mom. You can pierce a sword through my chest, you can beat me with a club, you can even drop me in a vat of acid, but nothing hurt more than the scene that unfolded in front of me.There she was, lying, weak and fragile, Sakura Uchiha during her last few moments on her deathbed. Next to her, squeezing her hand to his lips, was Papa, tears stained his face.

"Sasuke..." Karin's voice was muffled, "I-is she..."

"Sakura!" Naruto ran past them all, including Kakashi, who stood behind Sasuke, "Sakura! It's me! Can you hear me? Wake up!"

It took all of Sakura's remaining energy to open her eyes,"N-Naru... Naruto... Loud as ever..."

Naruto laughed as tears of joy and sorrow escaped his eyes, "always has been, always will be..."

Sakura slowly smiled at him, then to Sasuke, who didn't let go of her hand. She turned slowly to the door, "don't be strangers... You can come in, you know."

Sarada took a few cautious steps forward after glancing at her mom and her papa for instruction. She walked up to Sakura, her hands resting on the sheets.

"S-Sarada..." Sakura brought her hand up to Sarada's face, running her fingers through her hair, "I really wish... I could've spent more time with you..."

"Me too." Sarada grabbed Sakura's hand and held it tight as tears ran down her cheeks, "M-Mama..."

"Shh... Don't cry. You're going to make me cry." Sakura shut her eyes and smiled as tears continued down her face, "but there's no reason for you to cry, you have Karin."

"But..." Sarada pursed her lips, "I'd just met you, and I still have so many questions for you, and--"

"Karin and your Papa can answer them, I'm sure. They're fairly smart people." Sakura grinned at Karin, who smiled back.

Sasuke murmured, "Sakura, you had something for Sarada?"

"Oh, yes, here." Sakura weakly pulled out a scroll, "I made this after you were born with the hopes that if I ever saw you, I could get it to you... Or even if not, I would get it to you somehow..."

"This is..." Karin read the scroll over Sarada's shoulder.

"Yep." Sakura grinned.

"I can't take this..."

"But how's my legacy going to get passed on if everything I learned just disappears along with me? Besides, you're my daughter. I think you deserve to learn this, anyway."

Sarada wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and grinned, "this is... The training method that Lady Hokage taught you, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. I want you to learn that, and alongside your Sharingan, if you awaken the Hundred Healings Jutsu, you could very well be the greatest Kunoichi after me." Sakura smiled, "carry on my legacy, okay?"

Sarada smiled, "uh-huh."

Sakura let out a long, heavy sigh as she leaned further back onto her pillow, "I don't want anyone crying, okay? Just go on and pretend nothing had happened, okay, Naruto?"

The Uzumaki shook his head and wiped his eyes, "how can we pretend like we didn't lose someone we love? Sakura, there's nothing you can do about it..."

"I just..." Sakura pursed her lips, "smile a little bit, for goodness' sake. I won't be gone forever. I'll be back, just watch."

Sasuke climbed onto the bed and hugged her and Sarada, "yeah, you will."

"Mama..." Sarada wiped her eyes, "promise us..."

Sakura looked at her and smiled, tears still falling from her eyes, "I'm sorry, Sarada. I can't make promises I can't keep..."

Sasuke shut his eyes and hid his face in her hair as his shoulders shook with sobs.

"P-Papa..."

"I didn't know you were one to cry, Sasuke." Sakura chuckled as she stroked his hair with one hand and hugged Sarada tighter with the other, "don't be so weak..."

"You're..." Sasuke's voice cracked, "you're still annoying."

"I know." Sakura grinned, "don't let Sarada or Karin down, you hear?"

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Of course not." Sakura cried as she turned his head and kissed him, then looked back at Sarada, "you listen to your Papa... And Mom, you hear?"

"I know...." Sarada wiped her eyes and only cried even more, "Shanaroo..."

"Heh." Sakura chuckled weakly as her grip on them started to weaken as well.

Sarada felt this and grabbed Sakura's arm, "no, Mama!"

"Give it up, Sarada." Sakura sighed, "I feel so weak... Shanaroo..."

"Sakura!" Naruto ran to the edge of her bed, "S-Sakura, no!"

"Please, stay a little longer, Sakura!" Karin ran to their side.

"No, no..." Sakura shut her eyes, "it's fine. I'll be back... Before you know it..."

Sasuke held her tighter, "S-Sa..."

She turned to look at him, her hand shook as she took the last of her strength to bring it up to his face, "I love you..."

He cried even more as he watched her use the last of her energy to kiss Sarada's forehead just before her arms fell from him and from their daughter, and her eyes shut but never opened again. 

---

Written by xX_Fang_Xx

https://youtu.be/5Xy5Ea5iKvE

BUT WAIT!!! Turns out it's NOT over!

I thought I could fit two parts into one, turns out I can't. There's more to the story, just wait! Sorry for the long wait for the ending to this story. But hey, these need to be well-thought-out only for your sakes!

Anyways, thanks for all your support, and thanks for helping out with that survey! That really does help us all out so much, you have no idea how grateful we are! 

Thanks again! 

xX_Fang_Xx , on behalf of the entire OneShot Writer Squad