A/N: WHOAAAA welcome back to me! I haven't written in this fandom in... years. Almost ten. So. Here goes.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or plot line of Naruto

She was seven years old when she met the boy she was going to marry. No, not in a cliché childhood dream way, she was literally going to marry him the day he turned eighteen –his birthday was in July and hers in March. She found it interesting that her family, a basic and ordinary family, had managed to seal her fate to a boy that came from such power. See the boy she was destined to marry was Sasuke Uchiha and everybody knew about the Uchiha's. They provided their city of Konoha with some of the best soldiers, their family dated back centuries to the very beginning of the city.

"You must learn to act like a proper lady, the Uchiha name is an honorable one to be receiving." Her mother scolded her one night at dinner. "I'll not have you embarrass this family by acting like an animal. Do you understand me Sakura?"

Sakura was a lanky child with a forehead that just stuck out, her mother hoped she'd grow into it. She was a unique girl, she had eyes the brightest of green and hair the softest shade of pink. This was not normal, many children liked to point that out, but that was what made her so special. The Haruno's were an average family, although their history can date back just as far as the Uchiha's, they had contributed business and agriculture to their city. Her abnormal genes had presented her with a unique marking of the Haruno's from way back in the history book, that was what sparked the interest of Fugaku Uchiha –the head of the clan at the time.

"The Haruno clan built this city from the inside, their capability of hard work made our crops flourish, they're well known in our history." Fugaku spoke firmly the night he had requested a meeting with not just Sakura's parents but their leader. "It would be a shame to let such a vital piece of history dwindle off."

"Fugaku, you and I both know you've never been interested in history…" their leader, who they called Hokage (specifically the Third Hokage) replied. "… your request is far behind the times of today."

"That may be, but she has the markings of a Haruno, a true Haruno."

Sakura's father, Kizashi, had responded. "Pardon my insolence towards your statement, however there is no true Haruno marking. We work business and run farmland, what my ancestors looked like and what my daughter looks like has nothing to do with that."

The Third Hokage, or as some of the villagers knew him before his title liked to call him Hiruzen-san, made the connection. It wasn't a name that Fugaku was after, it wasn't a unique gene that controlled hair color, it was the title of what the Haruno's had. Separate, the Uchiha and the Haruno clan had benefited from nothing of each other, together the Uchiha clan had part ownership of the farmlands and businesses set up from years past. It was a good business move from the prestige clan, but it was worrisome to Hiruzen. With that much power and control to one family it left the city in an extreme disadvantage in the event of revolt.

"You'd use a little girl as a business deal Fugaku?" the three other adults looked over at the elder leader. "I'm impressed, although only mildly. What you gain is truly an asset to your clan, but if I am to grant this an asset must be returned."

Mebuki Haruno, who had remained silent up until this point had finally spoken up. "We will agree to this arrangement without any asset being returned."

The three gentlemen in the room turned towards her, two of which with shock evident across their faces, one who remained stoic and calm. "The arrangement will be enough to warrant her protection throughout the years and once she takes your name she'll be protected for life."

"That is correct, although safety is an interesting concern."

"It's every mothers concern." Mebuki was quick to rebut to Fugaku's statement. "I assume that when the time comes for your youngest son to receive his assets they'd have to apply to my daughter as well."

Fugaku eyed Mebuki curiously; "Yes they would. Our women are treated equally with our men."

Mebuki turned towards her Hokage. "With your permission I'd like to proceed with this arrangement."

Hiruzen looked towards Kizashi, the man looked paler than earlier and nervous. "I will give this issue twenty-four hours to sit, in that time you will discuss between yourselves the arrangement and what it entails. The papers will be drawn up and delivered to your homes separately at exactly six in the evening. Both parties will have six hours to respond, after six hours this issue will be dropped entirely."

"Thank you Hokage-sama."

In the end Mebuki got her way, the papers were signed, and their daughter was betrothed to Fugaku's youngest son. There was much excitement after that moment, Mebuki could walk around the city with her head held higher, women talked and gossiped and for once Mebuki was the envy. The plain and ordinary woman that married into a plan and ordinary mans family had gained the envy of many other mothers.

Sakura didn't like how her mother started to act after the arrangement. She became pushy and mean, insulting how Sakura spoke or sat. She had expected more of Sakura around the house and some nights would even supervise while Sakura made dinner. Sakura's young mind couldn't grasp the importance of her mother's lessons, not until the night before she was supposed to be meeting the mystery boy she'd been set to marry.

"The Uchiha women are obedient and firm Sakura. If I let you run around like a wild child you'll never be prepared for life with them."

"Why will I have a life with them Mother?" Mebuki had demanded that Sakura stop calling her 'Mommy' at the tender age of six, it had hurt Sakura's feelings, but it had been another lesson.

"Oh sweetheart," her mother pet her hair, "…one day you'll be married to an Uchiha and you'll thank me for these lessons."

Sakura let it go, but she held onto the fact that her mother was still petting her hair. It wasn't that her mother was cold or unaffectionate, Sakura can remember many nights where her mother hugged her tight or played with her. She can remember being called sweetheart and darling, and kisses on the forehead were almost daily. It was that Sakura could tell this issue worried her mother and if she could do everything her mother asked without messing it up then maybe she could get her mother to laugh and smile again.

The next night the three of them had arrived at the Uchiha estate exactly five minutes early, Mebuki and Kizashi in traditional formal attire of their village and Sakura in a red kimono cut dress, on the back she had the white open circle that represented her clan, her mother even put a bow in her hair! She was nervous and excited when a man came out to greet them. He wasn't terribly old, his hair was on the longer side, but he wore a standard military uniform, and his smile was contagious. "You must be the Haruno's, allow me to introduce myself, I am Figaku and Mikoto's eldest son Itachi."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Itachi-san." Sakura followed her mother's lead and bowed her head, she noticed that her father had stood firm. She was pleased when Itachia extended his hand and was even more pleased to see how her mother smiled softly when her father accepted the greeting.

"If you'll follow me, my father should be arriving momentarily, he had gotten caught up with the Hokage." Itachi led them through the estate, Sakura stared wide eyed and mesmerized. People came up or shouted out to Itachi, men and women and children. It was a community that Sakura had not anticipated. "So, you must be Sakura-chan."

Sakura blinked in surprise up at the man, she had remained silent like her mother told her. Only speak if spoken to. "Y-Yes sir I am."

The older man just chuckled and ruffled her hair fondly; "My brother has always been fond of our cherry blossom trees."

She wasn't sure what to say to that so she just smiled politely and nodded. His hand remained on her shoulder for the rest of their journey to the main house. She couldn't believe it, how grand it was. Wide and open, so many windows she'd bet you could get the sun anywhere in the house, but what caught her attention the most was standing at the top of the stairs. He was in regular clothes, a tee shirt and shorts. He had scuffed up knees and his hair was messy and disheveled.

"Sasuke-kun go and tell Mother our guests have arrived." The younger boy nodded and ran into the doors and into the house. "My brother is a little rough around the edges."

"He seems charming." Mebuki replied, Sakura had assumed it was to cover her daughter from another stutter or awkward silence, but she couldn't be sure.

By time they had reached the door a beautiful woman with dark hair and enchantingly dark eyes had appeared. She smiled sweetly and brightly and introduced herself; "Hello! It's so good to finally meet you, I'm Mikoto."

Mikoto had pulled Mebuki into a hug –not something Mebuki had expected, and she had shaken Kizashi's hand just as firmly as her oldest son had. Then she turned towards Sakura, who had stood with her hands resting together behind her. Mikoto noticed how the girl stood proud and tall and smiled fondly before she had gotten eye level with her; "And you must be Sakura-chan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am."

Mikoto smiled wider and ruffled Sakura's hair, it must be a thing they do there Sakura thought to herself. "You have beautiful eyes Sakura-chan, has anyone ever told you that?"

Sakura didn't get the chance to answer, her mother did. "She has been told, but she's always been very humble about her appearance."

Mikoto, still squatting on Sakura's level merely looked up and smirked. She had straightened herself and led them inside. Sakura immediately noticed how clean and brisk everything appeared in their living room. Family photos above the fire place, one or two lamp fixtures and a couple pieces of furniture to sit on. She noticed that to her right there was a deep hallway, she'd imagine that led to the bedrooms and to her left there was an archway to a much brighter room. She also noticed that straight ahead through the big open room was a door that led to a back porch that led to a marvelous looking back yard.

"Sakura-chan, why don't you go join my boys out back while I finish dinner and get to know your parents." Sakura liked how Mikoto smiled at her, she smiled back and looked at her mother eagerly.

"Don't get your dress dirty dear."

Sakura didn't wait a second longer before she made her way outside. She instantly found Itachi, who was no longer in his full uniform. Instead she noticed he had on his black under shirt that was tucked into his black pants with a utility built going around. His pockets appeared empty but Sakura couldn't tell. His boots were still laced and his pants were still tucked into them but he seemed much more at ease without his top shirt.

She noticed that the boy from earlier was trying to charge at Itachi, he seemed rather furious, but Itachi dodged. "You have to be quick and steady, hand to hand combat is all about your ability to take out your opponent up close. If you give them the upper hand you risk injury."

Sakura didn't hear what Sasuke grunted, she heard Itachi demand they try one more time and then heard him say softer that he'd get it. Sakura was fascinated, she'd never seen a man in uniform before and she'd never realized how young they started training. Or perhaps this was personal, Sasuke was her age of course, she had received that much information, could he really be training so soon for a life as a soldier?

"Ah, look who has decided to join us, Sasuke-kun don't you want to meet our guest?"

Sasuke just rolled his eyes and slumped over, he didn't seem as nervous as Sakura did, nor as excited. "Yeah I guess."

"Right, well Sasuke-kun meet Sakura-chan, you two will be spending a lot of time together."

Sasuke looked Sakura up and down, she wondered if her bow was straight and if her dress had any wrinkles, but it didn't seem to matter much to him. "Is your hair always that color?"

Taken aback Sakura stuttered for a moment while she watched Itachi cough into his elbow, she assumed he was covering a laugh. "Yes? I mean, I've always had this hair color, I don't think it'll change."

"Weird…" She heard Itachi grumble something and watched as Sasuke immediately looked remorseful; "I didn't mean it like that!"

"It's okay," Sakura said as she extended her hand shyly, "People ask me that all the time, is your hair always so messy?"

Sasuke glared at her and patted his hair down but he noticed how she held her hand out to him. He didn't look at his brother, he knew what he was supposed to do, but in that moment he decided against denying her. He shook her hand but almost immediately let it go, he wasn't happy with their situation.

He had been told the night his parents signed the papers, he could still remember the argument his parents had.

"He's a child Fugaku and a child shouldn't have this responsibility thrust upon them like this."

"He's an Uchiha, and Uchiha men always secure their future." Fugaku grumbled back against his visibly upset wife.

"So I was a security to your future, is that what you're saying?" She didn't let him finish. "That poor girl is never going to get the opportunity to fall in and out of love, our son is never going to get the chance to experience what we have, is that really what you want?"

"Love is a foolish emotion Mikoto, with the changes coming to the city its best we prepare our son now for the world to come."

Mikoto looked at her husband skeptically; "What changes Fugaku?"

"None that I can discuss openly."

Mikoto gripped the table as she leaned towards her husband. "Damnit, you tell me right now! Are we going to war? Is that it? Is that why you've been meeting with the Hokage so much?"

"Mikoto-"

"No!" Mikoto stepped back and started to pace; "Don't tell me to stay out of it Fugaku, that is our son you've been training, that's our son you'd be sending to fight some man's war! Doesn't that mean anything to you? Doesn't any of this mean anything to you at all?"

Fugaku, for his cold and stoic mannerism had always had a soft spot for Mikoto. When they were children they became friends, as they grew older and Fugaku's father had expected more Mikoto became more. She became his wall when his failed, she became his light when he seemed to be in an endless darkness, she eventually became his wife and he vowed that nothing would harm her. He softened his gaze upon seeing her wipe angrily at her face, she was just as proud and strong as he was.

"I cannot control what Lord Hokage orders, I can only hope that our training and weaponry is enough."

"There are pleny of other soldiers in this city."

Fugaku sighed heavily; "Yes, there are, and we've trained with them for centuries. However, we are the elite, we make up most of our special forces and I cannot disobey orders. I want our sons happiness as much as you do, but I want a future for them more."

Mikoto let out a watery sigh, she closed her eyes tightly and sat back down at her kitchen table. She had exactly three more minutes before their time limit hit. "My condition is they can break the contract when they are of age if they wish, I won't have my son marry for duty."

"So be it, we'll talk to Sasuke when I return."

Mikoto shook her head; "I should tell him, a mother's words are sometimes less cold than a father's." She smirked and let out a tiny chuckle. "No offense."

Fugaku merely rolled his eyes and departed. Sasuke had been sitting at his open door listening, Fugaku may not have known that, but Mikoto did. Mikoto knew because it was exactly as she would have done. "You can come out now…"

A few seconds later she heard his feet pad against their floor, when he made his entrance into their kitchen he had instantly went for a glass of water. "I'm not out here because I was listening, I just want water."

"Oh really now?" Mikoto laughed whole heartedly when her son nodded eagerly. "Regardless I need to tell you something very important."

"Should I sit down?"

Mikoto exaggerated her thinking about it. "I suppose you should, it's pretty big news."

Once Sasuke was seated he had his full attention on his mother. Mikoto smiled and ruffled his hair, he whined of course and she just shrugged. "Sasuke, one day you're going to have to decide something pretty huge, and you can choose not to, do you understand?"

"Yeah, I guess, what is it I have to choose?"

He looked so much like his father, Mikoto thought warmly to herself as she watched him gulp down a large amount of water. "There's a little girl out there who was made just for you, and you and her are going to know each other a long, long time."

Sasuke looked contemplative; "Do I have to like her?"

"It would help, but no. Sweetie, when you get to be your brothers age you and this girl are going to have to choose to marry or not." Sasuke looked at his mother funny. "Your father wishes for you to marry her, right now it's the best decision to make, but I think that when you're old enough you'll know what's really right."

Sasuke just stared at his mother. "I don't like this."

"Sometimes doing the things we don't like are the things we have to do, you know that." Sasuke nodded sullenly and stood up. He placed his empty cup in the sink and walked over to his mother he kissed her cheek and said goodnight and she did the same. She watched him walk away and when he was safely in the hall she let another tear trail down her cheek. It appeared that suddenly both her baby boys had become men and it wasn't fair.

Indeed it wasn't, Mikoto repeated to herself as she continued to stir the pot. Mebuki had offered her assistance in the kitchen and while Mikoto didn't really need it she accepted the company. That was a mistake. It seemed that Mebuki had stiff posture and only spoke when Mikoto asked a direct question. She wondered if this was all the women outside of the Uchiha clan did, or if it was only because she was in the head of the clan's kitchen.

"Sakura is a beautiful child."

"Thank you." Mebuki wasn't sure where else to go with that. So far she had answered all of Mikoto's questions. She had made polite small talk, and she had made her assistance noticeable in the kitchen. There wasn't much else she could do. "Your boys look identical."

Mikoto let out a chuckle; "Yes, they do. I'm lucky they're so far apart, otherwise I'd be in trouble."

"With two boys I'd imagine you'd have your hands full." Mebuki watched Mikoto look over her shoulder, she wondered if she had crossed a line and had started to form and apology when Mikoto smiled and agreed.

Mikoto had started to prepare the food to be brought out; nothing too grand she wasn't sure what the Haruno's liked, but a standard chicken dish with vegetables and noodles. "Sakura seems so quiet, is she always like that or just shy?"

"Well, I couldn't really tell you." Mikoto looked at Mebuki in question. "Sakura hasn't been around many strangers, maybe we have sheltered her too much."

"I think she's quiet because she's observing."

Mikoto didn't seem shocked to have her oldest son pop out of nowhere; "Here take this out to the table please." She handed him a dish and he went, then she turned towards Mebuki. "Itachi has this way of gaging someone's character, your daughter must have done something to impress him."

When the women enter the dining room the men are laughing at something, Itachi has placed what he had to on the table and is retrieving drinks, and Sasuke and Sakura are shrieking with laughter just outside the back door. It's almost surreal to Mebuki and Mikoto, although neither of the women realize the other has the same exact thoughts. Dinner was uneventful and afterwards they discuss some other things in their lives, their children's schooling being one of them.

"I think it would be wonderful to send Sakura to the academy." Mikoto gushed, "her and Sasuke would be in the same class, it would be a wonderful opportunity for her to grow."

Kizashi nodded along with Mikoto; "I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for Sakura, however I'd prefer she continue with her civilian education."

"Of course, it just seems that the civilian school on the far side of the city is so much smaller."

"Smaller may be better." Kizashi argued back instantly, he watched Fugaku to gage a reaction, he didn't want to step over any boundaries but this decision was his and Mebuki's to make, not the Uchiha's. "Sakura hasn't spent a lot of time surrounded by people, whether her own age or not, putting her in a classroom with a large amount of children may be detrimental to her capability."

Fugaku nodded and sipped from his drink, he watched Sasuke and Sakura through the window. His boy had decided to show Sakura some technique that he had recently learned and she took to it instantly. Impressed Fugaku leaned forward and cleared his throat; "While I agree with you Kizasahi I must insist you consider the academy. Sakura is very bright, she is well mannered and about as obedient as they can come-"

"She's also just a child and children need other children to grow with, I'm sure she can get that at the civilian school but as a future Uchiha she'd benefit much more from the academy."

Mebuki let out a sigh; "We will think about it, there's still time, it's only May after all. I'm assuming Sasuke is looking forward to it?"

"He's as excited as he can be." Fugaku responded, still sneaking glances out the window to watch his son and betrothed. Mikoto was right, they were just children, but Fugaku could see the success in their future. He could see Sasuke surpassing his instructors and even his elders and Sakura… well Sakura could become just as unstoppable with the right guidance. "I don't take future investments lightly Kizashi and that's exactly what this arrangement is, an investment. Sakura has the ability of becoming something much greater than what you have planned, however the academy has a hefty price, I understand your hesitance."

Mebuki and Mikoto made eye contact, it was almost like the women knew; "We could fund Sakura, for her schooling, and as long as she maintains her grades and attendance she can attend the academy with Sasuke. It's really for the best, we can try it for a year and if after a year you still feel so adamantly about this then you can pull her from the academy."

Sakura was seven when she met the boy she was destined to marry. She was seven when her loving and doting mother turned into a cold figure and a teacher. Sakura Haruno was just seven years old and had no idea at just how much her life was about to change.

A/N: So what did you think!?