I chose the kid's name as Hayato because: 隼(haya) meaning "falcon" and 人(to) meaning "person". Though I'm not sure if its canon, but Madara has always been associated with falcons… or was it hawks? Correct me if I'm wrong.

WARNING: Mother and son moment (NOT INCEST!), Fluff, Drama, Mystery, Time Travel AU.

As the fire that sizzled grass and leaves burnt out into plumes of dark smoke, and ashes fell over soot covered land, Haruno Hayato decided to call it a day. Besides, anymore training would result another notice sent to his mother saying that a training ground has been deemed unusable again.

After he gathered his tools that littered the grounds amongst the charred remains of sawed trunks, he fished out his most trusted piece of modern technology and stuck the buds in his ears. Hayato walked away from the training grounds with one hand in his pocket while the other idly sifted through the songs in his playlist. He wasn't really a fan of the handheld games the current Hokage's son and his friends were crazy about. Honestly he's not much of a fan of modern technology. He preferred books and traditional training instead, but he'd be lying if he said that this piece of device wasn't useful.

It was the perfect tool for him. Like a mask, he can give off the façade that he's preoccupied with thumbing around with his device so no one can bother him, and drown out their noises with music. Since his mother gave it to him as a gift for his tenth birthday, he has never went anywhere without it.

[~There are plenty of things I don't even remember. Everyone, even he has a silhouette~]

The only problem was, he couldn't completely drown out the world around him. As he rounded the corner to the market district, already he could sense the lingering looks people gave him. He didn't need to look. By now they knew better than to talk, but that didn't stop them from whispering behind his back. He's always had an innate ability to be extra perceptive of even the smallest detail even before he started studying at the academy. So it goes without saying that he's heard enough about what the villagers were saying, both shinobi and civilians alike, about him to last him a lifetime.

"Look at him…"

"Ughh why is he here?"

"He looks too much like him…"

"…bastard."

"Poor Sakura-sama…"

Those were just examples, but it was still enough to make him tick and grit his teeth. He's got his temper from his mother in that sense.

He decided that his first stop was at the Yamanaka flower shop. Since today was technically a special day, it was no surprise that the shop was a bit crowded. Mostly with husbands and their children ordering flowers for their loved ones. In this shop though, Hayato was free to exploit a certain power he had over the other customers.

"Hello Uncle Sai," he greeted the pale man as he rounded the register towards the back room where the rest of the employees worked in arranging flowers.

"Ah Hayato-kun," he smiled, "I was wondering when you'd arrive. Wait here."

Hayato dutifully nodded and waited by the door while Aunt Ino's husband sifted through the rows of finished bouquets ready to be claimed by their customers He considered plugging in his earphones again but unfortunately that didn't come as an option as three small bodies crashed into him that nearly toppled him off balance. He already knew who they were even before they got their arms around him. He felt it from the chakra alone.

"HAYATO-NII!" they cried out to him. His onyx eyes greeted the three pairs of wide, twinkling eyes as he awkwardly acknowledged them with a pat on their heads.

"Hey guys."

What followed after was a rush of excited squeals and loud stories about things he couldn't make out of. Seven-year olds Inojin, Boruto, and his five-year old sister- Himawari, jumped and babbled around him as they tried to get his attention for themselves. He knew them because their parents were friends of his mom, and sometimes they would invite them over for dinner at their houses. Both the Uzumaki and Yamanaka were kind enough at least, and for some reason, Inojin and Boruto looked up to him. Probably because he was ahead of them in the academy. It only got worse when he got sorted into a team though- which was no more than a month ago.

Hayato liked them at least. Auntie Hinata always gave him her special pies, and Aunt Ino would spoil him to some degree- much to his mother's annoyance. However Uncle Sai had learned his lesson not to cross him again after a certain incident. His mother once told him about the pale man's struggles with expressing his emotions before but he was too young to understand that the names Sai called his mother- such as hag, and ugly, had long since been a staple in Team Seven's dynamics. He didn't know that, and six-year old Haruno Hayato surprised the entirety of Team Seven with a demonstration of taijutsu basics. Poor Yamanaka Sai never saw it coming. He only realized how much damage he'd done after overhearing his aunt telling his mom that Uncle Sai couldn't walk straight for days and bruises littered his pale body like paint over white canvas for an entire week. Oh his mother scolded him alright, but he didn't think it counted because of the big proud smile she had on her face.

"Come on kids, reel it in. You're gonna squeeze the air out of him."

Groans and grumbles responded Boruto's father over pouted faces but otherwise, they listened and let go of him.

"Thanks, Uncle Naruto," he dipped his head at the seventh Hokage cordially.

"No prob," his face split into one of his infamous grins, "You getting something for your mom?"

Hayato merely nodded and right on cue, his pale uncle came back with a specially wrapped bouquet of assorted colored cosmos- his mom's favorite. Aunty Ino always had his order pre-arranged the night before, and she always made sure to make it extra special knowing the recipient was her best friend.

He didn't stay back to make idle chatter though, so he bid his uncles and the kids a goodbye as casual as he could. As nice as the rest of their family were, he just can't shake off the feeling that the newly-appointed Hokage was wary of him a bit more than usual more often than not. The only reason he never voiced it out, was out of respect for his mother's friend and former teammate. Also, he just didn't want to cause any trouble for her. It's bad enough that people were secretly calling him names behind his back.

Hayato walked on another few ways down the street to his next destination. With a turn of his heel, he went inside the best dango shop in the entire village, but this time, like the model citizen he presented himself to be, he waited in line. Just because people talked smack about him doesn't mean he has to live with their expectations. Honestly, he couldn't give a damn if they started calling him a monster.

That doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt though…

"Welco- oh my! If it isn't Hayato-kun! How are you dear?"

Hayato took off the buds in his ears momentarily and gave the old woman behind the counter a polite smile. Well, not all of the villagers talked behind his back. There were still others who never once bothered about who his sire.

He casually shrugged, "Still the same old Hayato, Himiko-baa-chan. You look great, by the way. How's your back?"

"Much better now thanks to your mother, thank you for asking. Though she said that I should take things easy from now on. I'm afraid these old bones can't hold out much longer."

"You're not that old, baa-chan. I mean, you don't look a day over fifty!"

The old woman guffawed and reached out her arm to ruffle his thick, black locks to which he purposely leaned in to her wrinkled hand. His mother often took him here after her shifts in the hospital and bought him syrup-coated dango while she ordered anmitsu for herself. She never hired anyone to babysit him even when he was a toddler. Most of the time he stayed at her office or at Aunt Ino's in the psychology building while she's doing her rounds at the hospital. His mother said that it was because she wanted to spend a lot of time with him. Though what she said was true, he knew that it was only half true.

No one would take the job even if his mom dished out a pay equivalent to an A-rank mission.

He also knew that she didn't want to risk people hurting him.

"You little rascal," Himiko chuckled as she continued to ruffle his messy hair, "you know just the right words to make this old bag of bones happy. So, I take it you want your usual?"

She retracted her hand, and this time Hayato split his smile into a wide grin, "Yes please!"

It didn't take long for the old woman to come back with his order. All the while Hayato ignored the looks shot in his direction. He's used to it by now.

"Here you are, dear. Send my regards to your mother."

He gingerly accepted the little box printed with the shop's name and logo while the bouquet was securely tucked in one arm. Even through the package, he could feel the coolness of its contents. He also estimated that if he took to the roofs, he'd reach home without the ice cream melting inside.

"I will. Thanks, baa-chan," he bid farewell after paying for his purchase. Of course, he didn't forget to include a nice tip. People who were kind to him deserved his kindness back. An eye for an eye, per se.

Hayato snapped the buds back in place before he jumped to the nearest roof without preamble. Over roof tiles and electric poles, he followed the shortest way back to the home he shared with his pink-haired mother. They lived in one of the large units of an apartment complex in the shinobi district. Though they have more than enough money to buy a property and house from his mother's name, fame, and position in the Hokage's inner circle since the Godaime alone, his mother opted for a nice, simple apartment unit for a home instead. Not that he minded. The unit was spacious enough and he has his own room. Plus it was nearest to the hospital, the Hokage Residence, and the academy. Furthermore, it was not difficult to clean. So it's definitely a win-win.

Thanks to his inherited chakra control from his mother, Hayato scaled up the walls of the building with little to no effort. Though he doesn't have enough mastery to qualify him to be an excellent medic like his mother, he still had the capability to do it since he was only five. So it goes without saying that his jounin sensei- Sarutobi Mirai, had exempted him from water-walking and tree-climbing. Hence he opted to train alone. Not that he minded. His sensei has had enough in her hands to train his other two teammates and he preferred to be alone anyway. He gets to train and work on his jutsus without causing a scene.

He jumped off the railing to stand right in front of the door, and for a moment, he would've reached into his vest for the key, but the lights that shone from behind the windows was a clear indication that someone was home.

"I'm back," he announced and true enough, his pink-haired mother was already at home. She was standing behind the stove equipped with her favorite cat-paw printed apron in the kitchen connected with the living room and foyer.

"Welcome home, sweetie!" Sakura peeked from over her shoulder to her son with a big smile on her face.

"Mom!" he startled. Hayato was sincerely hoping that no one would answer when he announced his return. Damn, now his surprise was ruined. With a pout on his face, he held his gifts with one arm while the other reached down to untie his sandals. He made sure to tuck them on their place neatly by the shoe rack in place of his house slippers.

"Come on over and set the plates for me, dear. Dinner's almost ready," Sakura said without looking up from the dish she's cooking.

"You're early," he commented instead as he approached her with her gifts hidden behind his back. A pout still lingered on his face.

The pinkette swiveled her head around and looked down teasingly at her son, "What's this? Does my son not want to spend more time with me? I got off work early just so I could see my baby boy, you know."

He flushed, onyx eyed widened exponentially, "N-No! That's not it! It's just… I mean… now the surprise is ruined…"

He muttered before he turned his arms and finally presented his gifts. With his head turned to the side, he only saw his mother turn the stove off through the corner of his eye, drop down on her knees, and then wrap arm arms around him in a warm hug that seeped through his skin.

"You didn't have to bring me presents, you know."

He could feel her smile beside his head.

"I wanted to. It's a special day for you too, isn't it?"

She giggled, "What are the odds of me having such a sweet and thoughtful son?"

"One in a million, mom, but always a hundred percent." This time, he grinned toothily as he pulled back and presented his gifts to her once more, "Happy Mother's Day, mom! I love you! E-Eh?! Mom! Come on, don't cry! There's no need to be emotional!"

They enjoyed a dinner over inarizushi his mother, Haruno Sakura, made just for him, and a round of sweet desserts with a bouquet of cosmos nestled in a vase over their table top. Despite the things he's heard, or the names people threw his way, all of those pale in comparison to these halcyon days with his mother- the only person who cared for and genuinely loved him for all he's worth and more.

Even though he had so many questions, specifically about who his father was and what the people accused him to be; he had this feeling that once he knew the truth, these happy and peaceful days he had with his mother would cease to exist. He would never take that risk. He'd rather feign ignorance all his life if it meant that he would always be together with his only family.

Little did Hayato know, that those days would come to an end sooner than he thought.

"Did you bring an extra canteen with you?"

"Yes mom."

"How about extra weapons?"

"Of course I did."

"A change of underwear?"

"MOM! We're going on a mission! Not a field trip!" Hayato cried with his skin flushed from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears.

Sakura held up her hands and sighed dejectedly at her son, "I know, I know. It's just that it's your first mission outside the village walls. I can't help but worry."

"It's just a C-rank courier mission to the Land of Tea, mom. I doubt we'll be seeing much action there," he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "So just relax, okay mom? I'll be back before you know it."

With a sigh, she knelt down and hugged him back for a proper farewell, "Oh alright. Be sure to get back before sundown, okay? I'll be making your favorite inarizushi for dinner. How does that sound?"

Hayato's face beamed brightly despite his distinct dark hair and eyes, "Awesome! Okay! I promise!"

"Good luck, sweetie. Be safe," she pressed a kiss on his forehead.

"I promise I'll be back soon."

Hayato jumped on the rails of their apartment floor, adjusted his pack and looked back at his mother to give her a wave goodbye, before he jumped off to the gates where he's supposed to meet with his teammates.

.

Team Mirai took to the trees the second they left the gates with their jounin sensei at the lead while Hayato took over the rear. It was an unspoken agreement that Hayato was far superior both in skill and intellect compared to his other teammates. Much to the digression of his co-male teammate. Mirai-sensei stationed him at the rear so he could watch over the other two just in case. They've just learned how to tree-walk after all, and they still needed a few more practice sessions with water walking. Not that his sensei has been totally neglecting him just because of his earlier independence. Mirai-sensei has been nothing but just in her teachings and how she treated her students. Often times she'd have Hayato demonstrate to her the new skills he learned and she would advise him how to further improve his jutsu. Sometimes, she'd even teach him a fire-release jutsu of her own too.

One of the techniques he learned from her was the Ash Pile Burning jutsu. Much to her surprise, she made him promise to never show this technique to anyone else unless absolutely necessary because it might cause him… complications. He later learned that specific technique was used by her late father, and out of respect, Hayato learned to master it but has never used it.

They managed to get to their destination earlier than they estimated, much to the client's pleasure. So Mirai-sensei decided to use that time to continue training his teammates on chakra control. Yokoda Ritsu and Kasanagi Mako, his two teammates, well they've had a rocky start to say the least. Hayato remembered that they were in his class and for the first few missions, their wariness of him was so clear he could see it even with his eyes closed.

To be honest, he'd be fine without teammates, but his mother lectured how important they were so he at least made an effort to connect with them. He never asked why they avoided him, but he could guess. So far, with the help of Mirai-sensei, he was able to get them to trust him enough to seek him out for extra training and they invited him out to eat with them two times already. So that counted, right?

But then something happened.

Labored breaths left slightly opened mouths as he kept up with his defensive stance. His back pressed tight with his comrades in a defensive circle but at this rate, he doubts that their situation would improve anytime soon. To his left, Mirai-sensei seemed calm and collected but her eyes showed that she was nearing her limit. At his right, Ritsu was breathing heavier than he was. While Mako was practically shaking all over behind him despite her fierce scowl.

How did it come to this?

They were halfway back to Konoha in seemingly peaceful and record time, but then he felt something dark and foreboding looming over him like a shadow and before he knew it, they were ambushed. After the war, he's heard that rogue ninja, bandits, and mercenaries, have come out of hiding to exploit their chances against the tired shinobi of the Alliance. And he's overheard of underground groups being formed that followed the principle of the greatest enemy known to mankind.

This C-rank mission of theirs only had a probability of less than 10% chance of combat involvement, and even then a fully-fledged jounin and three newly appointed genin would've been enough to take on any unlikely adversary. But what the hell is with this turn of events?! Being outnumbered was putting it lightly. They were completely surrounded. More than twenty enemies had them back into a corner. Mirai-sensei had managed to take down a few of her own, and Hayato had struck down two for his own, but their situation has been nothing but unfair.

Forget being outnumbered, their enemies have skill and are stronger than any regular grunt.

Hayato saw the first move from the corner of his eye. One of their enemies lunged at them and his sensei took him on with her chakra blades. Then one by one they came at them to the point that their sensei was struggling fending off three enemies of her own to keep her students safe.

Even with his mind racing, his heart pounding, and blood, chakra, and adrenaline pumped all over his entire body, Hayato threw all inhibitions out the window to protect his teammates. It was difficult and for the first time, he went all out with all the skills and hard work he's done over the past few years.

He threw an explosive tag right at a burly man's face that was about to axe Mako. The small explosion was a one-shot kill that had him toppling down in a big thud. Hayato had to keep from showing any expression on his face but it was proving to be quite difficult due to the heady scent of burning flesh and blood wafting in his nose.

Suddenly, chains shot at him from behind but he was too busy fending off another enemy to dodge. His heart made a hard thud in his chest as he fell face first on the hard soil and burnt grass.

'Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!'

"I'm surprised you held out longer than the rest of your team. Consider me impressed, kid," said the voice above him. For the first time he let his mask slip and threw the square-faced man a glare that resembled too much of his mother's. The man snorted and poised his sword above him. As panic started to take over Hayato, he failed to notice the sudden widening of his enemy's eyes. How shock took over his smug face as he stared intently down at him.

"The hell are you waiting for? Finish the kid off already! Damn brat broke my shoulder!" another voice hissed.

"Wait, come over here," said the man to the other before he grabbed Hayato by the neck and hoisted him up for everyone to see, "Take a good look at him boys! Doesn't he remind you of someone?!"

It's as if his comrades took that announcement as a cue, and Hayato could only growl and struggle helplessly as they immobilized his sensei and teammates to the ground with no effort at all. Hayato felt awkward and something bubbled within him like molten lava as his enemies crowded around him.

"Holy shit!"

"Fucking hell?!"

"How is that even possible?!"

"Damn brat looks just like him!"

"The hell is Leaf doing keeping this fucking monster?"

"He's just a kid but fuck! I recognize that face from anywhere!"

"He looks just like Uchiha Madara."

That made Hayato stop squirming as his brows furrowed at their blatant accussations. He's always known that people often mistook him for someone. He's always known that this person was either so great or so terrible that it was almost taboo to even speak his name. Uchiha Madara was a name only mentioned in history books and during classes back at the academy. He's always known that his mother received her own repercusions because of him.

But this is the first time someone actually linked him with a historical figure.

If what these people say was true, then it answered one question but raised a dozen more.

Suddenly, the man shoved his face near him. So much so that he could smell the trace of hard liquor in his breath.

The man sneered at him, his lips pulled back to show sharpened teeth as he said, "Either another sick bastard's playing with life and death, or he's the devil's spawn doesn't matter. Your head would be worth ten times more than these stolen village scrolls could ever give us."

At that moment it's as if time slowed down exponentially around him. For the first time in his life, fear gripped Hayato's heart that it crushed him like a vice. His wide, onyx eyes could only look on as the sword came falling down on him that would surely end his life. He could hear the distinct yells of his name from his sensei and teammates, but his entire body felt too numb to even twitch a finger.

'I'm going to die.'

The words echoed in his mind like a broken record player. There was a word that described this feeling of dread- a dread so great it made anyone feel weak and helpless. What was it again? Oh yeah.

Despair.

'I'm going to die.'

His eyes became blurry.

'I'm going to die.'

There was ringing in his ears.

'I'm going to die.'

He felt like something was stuck in his throat.

"Be sure to get back before sundown, okay? I'll be making your favorite inarizushi for dinner. How does that sound?"

'M-Mom?' In his mind's eye, he saw the face of his beautiful, pink-haired mother. Her smile was so gentle and proud while her twinkling green eyes reflected all the love of a mother to her child. Then there were flashes of his memories that showed him all the times he had with his mother. Memories that brough tears to his eyes.

Like the time he fell and scraped his knee, his mother dropped the newly washed laundry just to tend to him.

On his first day at the academy, his mother made him the biggest breakfast he had, walked him to school, and picked him up right afterwards.

He remembered all those gifts she gave him on his birthday, a pair of gloves, a set of kunai and shuriken, his music device, toys and books he couldn't count, and many more.

That time when he was only six and they were in the market, some random shinobi pushed him aside and called him names. Haruno Sakura was so furious she punched that guy in the face and sent him through over ten stalls.

Lastly, he remembered the time when he was sick and he'd woke up with her holding his hand as she slept by the side of his bed.

"I promise I'll be back soon."

He promised.

He promised.

That's right. He made a promise. He can't die here. There was so much he wanted to do, and places he wanted to explore. It was too soon for those halcyon days to end.

With that sudden conviction and desire, Hayato felt his chakra surge into a blazing inferno unlike anything he ever felt before. He remembered screaming at the top of his lungs as hot searing pain overwhelmed his eyes, but after that everything became a blur and he was knocked unconscious after he saw a ringed purple eye.

He could hear distinct voices at his periphery. But moving felt like a great struggle as each movement felt like glass embedding on his skin. Yet those few short struggles didn't last long and he opened his eyes to meet the familiar ceiling of the hospital.

It was dark, and there were no lights except for the lamp beside his bed. He soon realized that his clothes were changed in that of a patient's, and a needle was stuck to his hand from an IV. He had a whole room to himself. To his right, the full moon was high above a cloudless sky yet there were no stars in sight. While on his left, the door was slightly ajar that showed light coming from the hall.

A struggle, it sure was. Yet Hayato managed to stand from his bed and drag the IV stand along with him silently through the door. The hall was empty, but enraged shouts bounced off the walls that it was almost deafening. But he still pushed on to the source which was around the corner of the hall. For amidst the shouts, he heard his mother's voice among them.

"…that boy is a menace!"

Hayato stopped short as he heard the distinct voice of Ritsu's mother.

"You know nothing about him!" he heard his mother shout back.

"He almost got my daughter killed!" This time it was Mako's father.

"NO ONE would've known that they were going to be ambushed! You should be thankful that they even made it back alive!"

"That may be so. But if it weren't for that damn son of yours, none of this would've happened!"

"Don't you dare talk about my son like that! I know this is a great misfortune, but how could you blame my boy for all this?!"

"He's brought bad luck with him and now look what he's done! Our children have fallen under a genjutsu-induced coma! What if they never wake up?!"

"They will wake up once Kakashi arrives and breaks them out of it!"

"I should've expected nothing more from a traitor like you. It's a wonder you're even still in the village."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Drop the act! Everyone knows that you sold your body to that demon during the war just to save yourself! And now you've unleashed the devil's spawn into this world! It won't be long now till he starts follows in his footsteps!"

"I ought to pluck that bastard's eyes out so he wouldn't-!" there was a crash and it wasn't hard to guess that his mother lunged at him.

"Call me a bitch, a slut, a whore, fuck! Call me a traitor! I don't give a damn what you call me or what you think I am! But you have no right to call my son anything like that! I fucking dare you to touch a strand of hair on his head and I will show you just how I survived that war!"

What followed after was a mad scramble of bodies and more shouting, and he managed to pick out the Nanadaime, his assistant, and Hatake Kakashi's voices amidst the onslaught. But honestly… his heart felt too heavy after everything he's heard.

It was just too much.

Hayato walked away before he even realized what he was doing and for the first time, he couldn't find it in himself to look at his mother.

.

It's as if the world stopped into a standstill in sympathy of his revelation. The streets were covered in darkness, not even the street lamps were lit in the lateness of the night. His only guide in the darkness was the light from the moon that casted a shadow too great even for him. He wasn't particularly sure where he's going. All that he knew that he certainly can't go back to the hospital nor back home. He walked silently with his head hung low in depression while a streak of dried blood stained his left hand from where the needle once were.

He wasn't sure if he'd find all his answers there, but it's a start, right?

"You won't find what you're looking for in the library," said a voice that made him stop in his tracks. Hayato lifted his dull dark eyes to the man who stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. As far as he could remember, he's only ever encountered the infamous avenger- Uchiha Sasuke. He would only look at him and then turn to talk to either his mother or to the Hokage. This was the first time he ever talked to one another, "Most of the documents about Madara have been destroyed, and the history books that talked too much about him have been pulled out of the shelves after the war."

Hayato blinked. He didn't think Sasuke would have the capability to talk more than a few words.

"Were you the one who saved us?" he asked he stared at his purple eye.

"No." he answered.

Hayato frowned, "Then, were you the one who brought us back?"

"Yes."

"Am I an Uchiha?"

"Yes."

He bit his lip. He always had the lingering suspicion of that. He overhead too many people associate him with the dead clan more times than he could count. If so, then does that mean…

"Did I… awaken my sharingan?"

"Yes."

"Do you know Madara?"

"Yes."

"Is he really-" he stopped and shook his head. Both of them would agree that he shouldn't ask that question to him. So instead he asked, "Can you tell me more about him?"

"No." Hayato gritted his teeth and fisted his hands, "But I can show you. Follow me."

He didn't look back to see whether or not he followed, but Hayato hurriedly caught up in his heels. Sasuke led him through unfamiliar roads until he recognized that he took him at one corner of the village. Hayato stared at the walls with crusted paint of the red and white fan that once symbolized one of the strongest shinobi clan in existence. It was common knowledge that this area was strictly off limits to everyone. No one can enter the abandoned compound without permission by the Hokage.

Yet Sasuke and Hayato strolled along. Quiet as a wraith. Past through broken buildings and old houses. It was the perfect setting for a horror movie. Especially with the dark history that surrounded it almost three decades ago. Aside from the two of them, there were no other signs of life. In fact, Hayato felt his skin crawl one too many times from a sudden shiver down his back.

Eventually they came across a clearing where broken bits of what used to be a shrine littered the whole area. A broken sign on the side scarcely etched the words Naka Shrine as they passed by. Sasuke stopped momentarily in front of a stone marked with the seal of what looked like the sharingan. He formed a hand sign, and the stone lifted to reveal a staircase that led further down.

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder at him and said, "You'll find your answers down there."

Hayato passed him a look as he took his offer and walked down the steps. Sasuke followed right behind him. The stone over the entrance fell shut in its place once again when they were a few steps down, and Hayato had to touch the cold concrete wall at his side to help himself. For some reason, the cold darkness and total emptiness didn't scare him. In fact he felt some sort of draw. Almost as if he instinctively knew where he was going. Eventually the staircase ended, and his bare feet met solid floor. Yet he continued to walk further until he felt the need to stop.

As if on cue, Sasuke casted a weak katon jutsu and the torches around the room became alit with life. His obsidian eyes grew wide at the staggering towers of old documents, scrolls, journals, and books that littered the wide, circular room. In front of them, was a thick slab of stone broken into pieces.

"Don't take long," Sasuke said from behind him.

"Why are you helping me?"

It took him a long time to answer, and for a minute Hayato thought that he was not getting anything out of the mismatched-eyed Uchiha until he finally answered, "The feeling that the truth is right in front of you but can't see it because no one will help you, I know well. Whatever you find in this place, whatever conclusions you make, whatever path you decided to take after this, it's up to you. Your mother… Sakura loves you very much."

Something felt heavy in his throat after hearing his words, and his heart thumped wildly in his chest. That last sentence regarding his mother, there was a bit of bitterness in it.

"Wait! Can you tell my mom-!" he called after him and Sasuke stopped in his tracks but otherwise kept his back to him, "Can you tell her that I'll be home late? I also want to be alone for a while."

He didn't answer. Not even a noncommittal grunt or a shrug. Yet Hayato felt that Sasuke would do what he said even as he left him to his devices.

Hayato spun on his heel and stared at the towering knowledge that will break the history he grew up with. It will be a long night, but he's determined to learn as much as he can about the man people claimed to be his father. So he reached for the nearest book, and read the contents in search about his father.

'The worst traitor in all of history, The destroyer of homes and reaper of lives, The man who wanted everything but had nothing, The man who played god, The demon on earth, Worse than the wrath of the tailed beasts, The one who almost conquered the world- his name was Uchiha Madara.'

The weather was unforgiving for the village hidden in the leaves today. Hayato didn't know how long he was in there, but he's read more than enough about his acclaimed father that he could write his own book about him. By the time he came out, Sasuke was there to reopen the stone and let him go.

The pitter-patter of thick raindrops over roofs was deafening but he continued to walk under the pouring rain all the way back home. Even if the cold bit at his flesh and his limbs grew pale and numb, he traversed the streets barefooted while other families remained cozy and warm in their homes. Safe from the storm.

He was dripping wet and shivering by the time he arrived at the apartment. For some reason the door looked bigger, imposing even. That he couldn't find it in himself to open it. Then again, he didn't have to, when the door suddenly pulled open. Hayato quickly turned his eyes down and stared at his dirty, wet feet.

"I-I'm back-" he was suddenly cut short as a pair of arms wrapped around him in a tight hug.

"Welcome home, Hayato."

He heard her soft sniffles by his ear, and even though he desperately wanted to, he couldn't find it in himself to hug the woman he called as his mother for the last twelve years.

"Oh honey, you're soaking wet," Sakura gasped as he pulled him inside their home, uncaring that his wet form soaked her sleeveless qipao dress. "You must be starving. Why don't you go and wash up and I'll prepare you something, alright?"

Hayato nodded numbly.

.

With the last mouthful of inarizushi down his esophagus, Hayato clapped his hands together and thanked for the meal. The storm continued to rage outside, now accompanied by strong winds, flashes of lightning, and roars of thunder.

Eating never felt so difficult until now. His favorite meal that his mother made for him, it tugged hard on his heartstrings at the fact that it was reheated. Which only meant that she had prepared them early on, which then meant that his mother had been waiting for his return. And judging by her reddened eyes and small bags under her eyes, it told him that she had been crying and hadn't slept after his escapade from the hospital.

His mother… waited for him. Yet despite that she continued to smile cheerfully at him as she attended to his needs. She didn't even question why he opted to wear another set of his shinobi attire. He wasn't sure either. Just that he felt that he needed it.

Even while he ate, his mother continued to smile lovingly at him. Hayato ate a hearty meal while his mother only drank tea. Yet she only asked him if the meal was good. He would answer with a nod of his head, and her smile would widen and say that she's glad.

And how does he repay her? With dumb silence.

"Mom?" he finally said something to her after a long while.

"Yes, dear?" she looked at him straight in the eye. Even though the sadness in her eyes made his heart feel heavy in his chest.

"Are you really my mother?"

She surprised him though, when she suddenly stood from her seat and walk away from him. Hayato expected her to sad, to be speechless, heck even get angry. But what he didn't expect was for her to walk away from him.

Fortunately, that was not the case, as she instructed him to wait b the couch and she went inside her room. As he dutifully did what he was told, Sakura came back moments later carrying a small package in her arms. This box he recognized as the one his mother kept in the secret compartment of her closet. He tried to steal it a few times when he was younger but eventually gave up on it because of his many failed attempts and out of respect to his mother.

The pink-haired kunoichi settled the box in front of him on the coffee table, while she sat herself one seat part from him on the couch. Hayato swallowed the want to peek inside the wooden, intricately sculpted box, but he didn't do so out of respect.

He heard his mother take a deep breath and he turned to look at her as she fixed her eyes out to the storm outside the window.

"I always knew this day would come," she began. There was a sad smile on her face, "I just… didn't think that it would come so soon. It's so unfair. Last time we talked, we- we had an early breakfast together and I saw you off to go on your mission. How could things escalate so quickly like this?"

Hayato had to bite his lower lip. He wanted to comfort her, say that he was sorry that he couldn't keep his promise. That he wasn't strong enough to come back home early; but he also wanted to learn the whole truth.

"It was also under a stormy weather… when I first found you."

The raven-haired Haruno had to rear his head back at that. She… found him?

"I was on my way back home after a medical conglomeration in Iwagakure. Because of a sudden storm, I had no choice but to spend the night somewhere in a nearby cave but… even with all the thunder and loud rainfall, I heard something. Rather, I heard someone crying. So I followed the sound, relying on my instincts. Even though there was a big chance that it was a trap, I still went along with it. Truth is, I could've just continued traveling back home in the storm. Konoha was just a kilometer away after all, but I'm glad I didn't. I'm glad I followed my gut and looked for what was making that noise. Turns out that the cries came from a burning tree that was probably struck by lightning. I followed it and saw the hollowed part of its trunk," she then turned to him and locked her eyes with his, "And that's where I found you."

Hayato swallowed.

"You looked so frail back then. Cold, alone, confused. I didn't know who you were, or where you're from, or how you got there. You were so small, barely a day old. You wouldn't have lasted a day on your own. So I took you in, nursed you in a cave and kept you warm. You may say it's because I only felt sorry for you but… back then, when you first opened your eyes, the way so smiled and looked at me, I felt… a connection from you. I'm not really sure. Some say its maternal instincts, but whatever it was, I felt that if I didn't take you, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I feel light-hearted when I'm with you, like I've been missing you all these years. Like I never went to war.

"Needless to say everyone was shocked when I came back to Konoha with a baby in my arms. I'm going to be honest with you and say that the suggestion everybody told me about what to do with you, was that I should set you up for the orphanage. I don't know why but I felt so angry at that time, even though it was the most logical option. I'm sorry, Hayato, but I've never been a mother. I learned how to deliver babies but I never learned how to raise one. Especially when the war was over only recently and Konoha was still a bit sensitive. Yeah, it was the most logical reason, but I couldn't do it.

"I fought for your rights, I swore that I would take care of you, and with the Rokudaime's approval at that time, I able to adopt you. Though I have to admit that it was hard. You were such a rascal as a baby. You kept me awake almost every night," Sakura's smile was bright with nostalgia that he felt a smile tug at his lips too. She reached out and finally took off the lid of the box. There was an album there among other things, but she first took that out and settled it on the space between them.

Hayato scooched a bit closer as they looked at the pictures his mother took of him since he was a baby. There was a wide variety starting on the first month he was born, the day he first crawled, sat, stood, played with numerous toys, but most photos showed the two of them together. His mother either carried him or set him on her lap, while a beautiful backdrop view paled in comparison behind them. Even though there were some who made him blush in embarrassment, the way his mother laughed and smiled as she reminisced all those times since he was a baby, he couldn't find it in himself to stop her.

The latest picture was after he graduated from the academy and the day before he was sorted into a team. They were standing by the school gates with her right behind side him.

"S-So… what happened?" there was that lump in his throat again as he blinked back his tears.

Sakura took a deep breath, "You grew up. We first noticed it when you were six, but I never paid much attention. I guess I was too biased. But then you turned seven, then eight, and when you reached ten… even I couldn't deny anymore. Your aunts and uncles, they've been pushing me to do a test, but I refused until then."

Something heavy dropped inside him. That it made him sick to his stomach. The anticipation and anxiety couldn't get any worse when his mother took a piece of paper from the box and gave it to him. Inside was his official DNA Compatibility Test results. He couldn't understand most of them and his eyes just jumped to the names that determined his true parentage.

'Father: Uchiha Madara.

Mother: (Unknown) ~ nearest maternal allele match-up is from the (Haruno family: Haruno Sakura).'

Eyes widened as he read the printed words over and over again. When he looked up, his mother turned her head away from him as if in shame, and he scooted back to the other side of the couch. The paper wrinkled in his tight grip.

"With medical advancements after the war, you only need a sample of hair, blood, or even spit, to know your lineage. Konoha's genetic database has everyone's genetic make-up recorded as early as the Nidaime's time. Madara's DNA were… well, we got it after we discovered the location of his true body. This… the results, are exclusive only to the Hokage's inner circle. Not even the elders, the daimyo, or even the other kages know about… you. Rest assured that the rest of the village still based their accusations on speculation."

Hayato stood from his seat and started pacing the living room.

"I begged Naruto to consider it. There wasn't much option since my name was printed there. I couldn't let them touch you. I was afraid, I wouldn't know what they would do to you. So in exchange I… have to be questioned by the T&I a number of times…" she fell silence there. Truthfully, he didn't want nor does he have to know about how his mother was probed and tested on numerous times, how they have practically seen every single memory she had, how she was almost tortured and convicted for keeping valuable information. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"You should've left me in the orphanage."

She snapped her head at him in shock, "What?"

He whirled around, and through his overload of his emotions, his eyes flickered from black to red every now and then, "YOU SHOULD'VE JUST LET ME BE! You have no real obligations with me, right?! So what if your name is printed here?! It doesn't mean anything! It doesn't tell me for sure if you're my real mom!" By then his eyes have fully turned red. The single tomoe in his eye was just as menacing. Sakura opened her mouth to say something but he continued on with his rant, "Don't you have any idea what people have been saying to you behind your back?! I'm not stupid! I could hear all of them! They call you names! They are angry with you! They curse you! They talk shit about you all because of me! Because you took raised a devil's spawn!

His breathes were labored after all his shouting. It was the first time he ever raised his voice against his mother and part of him felt guilty for it. But what he said was true, right? If it weren't for him, if she didn't care for him, if she didn't raise him as her own, then Haruno Sakura would've had a better life. Her village would respect her more, she could go pursue relationships without the strain of a heavy baggage like him. She could've had a better life without him. A life without the son of the demon that almost succeeded in destroying the world.

The periphery of his vision began to blur but Hayato willed all his strength to push back the tears that threatened to come out. He's angry. He's supposed to be angry.

Angry at the village who whispered behind his back.

Angry at the people he thought he could trust.

Angry at his father for the monstrosity he's done.

Angry at himself for causing such pain to the woman he knew his whole life as his mother.

Angry at the situation he's unwillingly plunged into.

And… angry at his mother for still loving him and treating him like her own son despite everything.

Out of the blurriness of his eyes, he made out her silhouette rise from the couch to stop and kneel before him. Hayato kept his head bowed down as his whole body shook like a volcano ready to burst.

"Hayato," she called, "Do you know the best moment I ever had in my life?"

He shook his head. He flinched when he felt her warm hands over his shaking shoulders.

"The best moment I ever had in my life, was when you called me 'mama' for the first time," a lone tear escaped from the corner of his eyes at her confession. Hayato could barely hold himself together when the warmth moved to cup his cheeks, "At that moment I knew, that it didn't matter whether you're my real child or not. All I know is that I am your mother, and you are my son."

He choked, "B-But…"

"Remember this, Hayato. You are mine. Mine to me. Whoever your real parents are or whatever cruel joke fate is playing on us right now; to me, you are Haruno Hayato. My falcon in the spring fields. You are my baby boy. And no matter where you go or what they may call you," this time he willed to raise his head and blinked his tears away. The tears were already freely falling down his mother's face. Yet her eyes continued to stare back at him in warmth and love, "you will always be my son."

When he cried, he cried like he never cried before. At that moment, he forgot who he was, how old he was, what his shinobi rank was, or even in own name. In the arms who cared and loved him for the last twelve years, Hayato cried and apologized.

"Mama…"

Even with his eyes puffy from all the crying, Hayato peered over the remaining contents of the box. His mother set aside the papers scrawled with all his drawings he gave her, and took out a folded cloth and a round pendant with the uchiwa fan engraved over it.

His mother knelt in front of him again as she showed him the cloth first.

"This is what you were wrapped around with, the first time I saw you."

He spread it to reveal another staple of the Uchiha clan. No, not the common uchiwa fan, but the image of a gunbai- the family heirloom of the clan, stitched on the dark colored cloth.

"And this," she showed him the pendant next, "This was around your neck at that time."

It felt weightless in his hand as one finger traced the uchiwa fan engraved over the accessory. What does it mean though? Other than to further confirm that he's from the Uchiha clan, it meant nothing else.

"It's a locket, sweetie," she informed. "But it's enforced with a type of fuinjutsu that binds it only to the owner. Nobody can open it no matter how hard we tried."

"A locket?" he parroted dumbly. Through his periphery, his mother stood up to turn off the stove as a kettle's whistle pierced their ears. Hayato stared at the locket curiously.

He felt odd. Like he's seen it before.

Perhaps?

Before he knew it, he had already bit his thumb and smeared it across the locket. Instantly, tendrils of a sealing jutsu crawled all over the accessory. There was a snap, and the locket opened. What he saw next rocked him to his core.

Inside was an old picture. So old in fact that it had no color but the vintage yellow of old photos he's seen in the museum. But what was in the photo was what truly shocked him.

Uchiha Madara stood in the picture, smiling, with one hand over the shoulder of a woman that wore the signature high collared kimono of the Uchiha family stood beside him with a baby cradled in her arms. This woman looked just like his Haruno Sakura. Almost as if it really was her because the resemblance was too great to be a coincidence. There were two other children with them in the picture. The little boy behind his mother's look-alike was shorter than the other and looked at the camera shyly, but the second boy in the picture made his blood run cold.

A picture of Hayato stood there, in front of Madara, wearing traditional Uchiha yukata, with the man's hand settled over his shoulder. He was also smiling at camera. He didn't believe it then but now that he has proof, he believes it now.

He really does look like his father.

As cold shivers continue to run down his spine, Hayato's thumb brushed over the back of the locket's watch. He frowned as he read the words crudely etched there, almost as if a kunai was used instead.

"Don't Forget," he read, and like a spell, bright light engulfed him and he was gone.

If you guys want a continuation, the genres will change into: Romance/Family and more MadaSaku!

Apparently, there's a saying in the Philippines that goes "Magaan ang loob ko sayo", which meant like you feel light-hearted and fond of a person. It's used as a description for parents and children, mostly to those who are not sure if they are blood related, to explain the familial connection they have for one another.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYBODY!

Okay this fic didn't exactly end in a happy note but I really wanted to write something for mother's day and for some reason, while I was watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (of all things) this idea popped up and I just HAVE to write it down 'cause it's all I can think about.

Anyway, I just love MamaKura and I can imagine her being in mama bear mode when her children are in danger but she's really a sweet and gentle mother all in all.

TELL ME WHAT YOU GUYS THINK AND/OR IF I SHOULD CONTINUE!

STAY AWESOME!

Ciao~!