Wildflower | Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter29: Finding Footing

After making sure the girls were doing well, Tama had another issue to deal with. During the prelims, Orochimaru had made himself comfortable and decided that he wanted her brother. Apparently the had been sealed with a curse mark of sorts, and the snake sage had left him with the promise of great power.

Tama stared at the mark on Sasuke's chest with much deliberation. If this was how she would lose him then there was little she could do. Curse marks were ultimately irreversible, and if they were then it was only possible through the person who was seal. In order to do that, he would need Orochimaru. Now this was stumbling block indeed.

"What do you plan to do?", Tama asked. She was referring to Orochimaru's offer. The boy remained silent, not sure how to respond. There was a lump in his throat.

"I'll give you some time to think about this. Think long and hard, okay?", Tama said gently. Sasuke nodded, he definitely would think about it, he just hoped he would make the right decision. He stood up from his place on his futon, and walked to his wardrobe that stood against the far wall. Her brought out something, a small box, and walked back to Tama.

"I...", he began, his breath hitching in his throat. Tama seemed surprised as the boy knelt down before her, bowing his head slightly. "I want to thank you, nee-san, for being there for me for as long as you have. With all the times I've been a nuisance, I thought you would give up on me. When the massacre happened, I thought I'd be alone forever. I lost touch with myself in a way that I forgot how to feel. I thought I'd never have a family again, but when since you came back home I finally felt something again."

"Sasu-tan...", Tama whispered, tears fogging her sight, she pulled the boy into a tight embrace.

"You make me happy to still be alive, you make me want to continue living. I want to fight by your side for as long as I'm alive. Nee-san, thank you for your love and care. No amount of words can describe the way I feel.", he whispered into her shoulder. Tama's tear fell in silence, and she wiped at the frivolously. Her face was flushed a beautiful pink, from surprise and a bit of embarrassment.

Sasuke pulled away gently, and finally handed the box to her, a bright smile on his face.

"I don't know what to say..."

"Then don't say anything, just accepting this gift is enough for me.", Sasuke assured her beamishly. She slowly opened the box, and couldn't help but gasp at the sight before her. Two golden hairpins glimmered at her, sporting deep red rubie stones, and strings of pearls.

"Sasu-tan...", she whispered, looking up at him. She was more surprised by him gifting her than anything, but those hairpins looked really expensive. If they weren't a gift then she would've told him to return them and get his money back. "You sweet little dumpling!", she beamed, taking hold of him once again. The boy blushed, relishing the pleasure of being in his sister's arms. It was something that seldom happened and, he quite liked the feeling.

"I have to go now."

"I know, just five more minutes.", Tama breathed. Sasuke couldn't help but cackle, earning him a light slap on the arm.

For the next four weeks he and his team would undergo  extensive training with Kakashi. During that time he was barely home, so he didn't get the chance to familiarise himself with the new girls that Tama had adopted. They seemed unremarkable, but he wasn't so rude as to point it out.

...

"I've adopted two little girls.", Tama said as she and Shisui trained. He was getting much better, and was just about ready for her to manipulate his chakra and induce self healing.

"Aren't you a child yourself?", the older male asked, somewhat mockingly. Tama smiled a sardonic kind of smile that lacked any semblance of humour.

"I am, but I'm not one to sit back while others suffer. Not when I can do something about it.", she responded serously. She landed a kick on the male's torso. He groaned, laughed, and grimaced, all at the same time. She couldn't help but wonder just what was going through his mind.