"Itachi you are twenty six years old and the council are pushing for your marriage and I can no longer deny their request." The uninterested expression on his eldest sons face only frustrated Fugaku. He slammed his fist onto the table that separated them. "You cannot ignore this son!"
"I see no reason for any kind of union father." Itachi turned his gaze to the older Uchiha. "I can rule our people without the need of a woman."
"Be as that may, the title of crowned princess and future queen is not an empty role Itachi. Your claim on the throne is weakened and I will not accept my brothers insane son as the future king of the land."
Itachi held back a smile at the mention of his 'insane' cousin. Shisui hated the idea of being in charge of anything so much, he acted as the fool so no one in their right minds would offer him any position of power.
He said nothing to his father though, but he also knew there was no other choice in the matter. His mother had convinced his father that marriage was not necessary for the past five years, so he could no longer rely on his mother. Oh well, perhaps he could delay the process for as long as possible.
He nodded at Fugaku. "If that is what the council demands then I accept father."
Fugaku stared at him, wondering for a second if he had heard wrong. Did his son just say yes? He was expecting this to continue for a good hour or so before his eldest gave in.
"I'm sure you and mother have a list of eligible women you wish to introduce me to." Fugaku nodded, of course they did. Mikoto had started compiling a list about three years ago. "Then tomorrow we can begin."
One Month Later
"This is ridiculous." Sasuke growled as he watched Itachi dance with girl after girl, sporting the same sickening smile for the past hour.
"Oh calm down Sasuke," Sakura rolled her eyes at him as she watched Naruto scarf down the mountain of food he had brought over from the refreshments table. She knew that Lady Tsunade was going to kill her if the stupid blond ruined his clothes before the sun even set. "If you spill any of that on your clothes Naruto I swear to the gods that you will never be able to sit down normal again." The blond hesitated for a second before slowing down a bit.
"Why are you even here you idiot." Sasuke glared at Naruto.
"I don't appreciate you both teaming up on me like this." Naruto snapped at them, "I'm here because your crazy mother wanted the old lady here."
Sakura slapped the blonde behind the head, "It's Lady Tsunade, have some respect."
"Why aren't you out there dancing?" Sasuke asked Sakura, "I'm assuming you're not married."
Sakura glared at him, "Oh you noticed."
"I'm not surprised, no one has the courage to get tied down to someone with your-"
"Are you trying to start a fight Sasuke?" Sakura interrupted him, "Are you jealous that Itachi is having all the girls pay attention to him or rather," She crossed her arms over her chest, a knowing grin spreading across her lips, "you're jealous that you're gonna have to share your big brothers atten-"
Sasuke stepped forward and covered her mouth with his hand, glaring down at her in a way that would've sent weaker men running, but she was not a weaker man. She was Sakura Haruno, the esteemed student of the greatest healer in the world. Instead she met his gaze, amusement shining in her green eyes.
"Sasuke!" The three friends flinched at the scolding tone Queen Mikoto's voice had. "That is no way to treat a lady."
Sasuke let go of Sakura refusing to look at his mother as he tried to hide a pout, "Sakura is hardly a lady."
Sakura jabbed the arrogant prince in the side at the comment. "No wonder you don't have any female suitors." Sakura and Naruto failed to hide their snickers. "Sakura why are you not engaging in the activities?"
Schooling her expression Sakura met the queen's gaze head on. "I do not think the council will approve of one such as myself for the crowned princes bride so I-"
"That's nonsense." Mikoto interrupted her, "Give me a moment." With that the queen disappeared into the crowds leaving behind the three confused friends.
"What does she mean…" Sakura and Sasuke quickly put together what the queen might've left to do and both of them went pale. "Oh no."
Naruto looked at the two of them confused, "What is it?"
Sakura turned panicked green eyes at the taller Uchiha, "Do something."
"This is your fault!" Sasuke snapped at her, "Why did you come if you knew this was going to happen!"
"I didn't know this was going to happen Sasuke. I did not come here with the intention of catching your brothers eyes so I could marry him and be your sister in law!"
"Then why did you come!"
"I came to make sure Naruto didn't make a mess of himself!"
"Naruto why do you have to be such an idiot!" Sasuke snapped at him.
"Why can't you just act like a normal prince for once in your life!" Sakura grumbled, her eyes looking over the blond's rumpled form.
"Why is this suddenly my fault!" Naruto asked, though the sauce on his face didn't help his case.
"He's going to come over here and ask you to dance Sakura." Sasuke whispered, leaning closer to his pink haired friend. "My brother likes women who are the opposite of you, so just be yourself and I'm sure he'll lose interest."
Sakura felt her eye twitch, Sasuke definitely had a way with words and she would get him back for this later.
"He's coming…" Naruto warned just a second before the crowned prince arrived before Sasuke and his two friends.
"Sasuke." Itachi offered his younger brother a small smile before turning his eyes to Sakura. "It has been a while Sakura."
"Likewise." She smiled back.
"Would you like to accompany me for a dance." He asked, gracefully holding out a hand.
Sasuke nudged her a bit as he moved to sit next to Naruto and she knew he wanted her to start now. Gathering her courage she offered him a pleasant, but obviously fake smile. "I would like to say no but since you've already done the motion and your mother specifically asked you to dance with me I don't think I have a choice."
Itachi watched her with a raised brow before a similar smile spread across his lips, "Then we shouldn't disappoint."
"Sakura can't dance for shit brother, take it from me." Sasuke spoke up, "Protect yourself."
Sakura glared back at the younger Uchiha as she placed her hand in Itachi's.
"I'm sure I can lead her better than you little brother." Itachi didn't bother looking at his brother's expression as he brought Sakura to the dance floor.
Sakura was nervous, she knew her palms were sweaty and hoped that Itachi wouldn't notice, or maybe if he did he would decide he didn't like girls with sweaty hands. That would be great, right?
"It's been four years since you and Naruto were last in the Uchiha lands if I recall correctly." Itachi said, "I have heard of your achievements from my brother."
"Lady Tsunade is a great teacher when she is motivated." Sakura smiled, "With Naruto almost ready to take over she wanted to train me so that she could step down as both the healer and ruler at the same time."
"You have come far in four years and I believe with continuing training you might even surpass your master, if the rumors are to be believed." He watched with interest as color blossomed on her cheeks.
"Well people might exaggerate." She laughed nervously, not used to being praised by someone as powerful as the crowned prince.
"What do you enjoy doing during your free time Sakura?" He asked as the tempo of the song mellowed out a bit more.
"Ah, Naruto and I spare often to keep up with our training and we go hunting sometimes. I'm also studying ways to make new medicine and new surgical procedures." She hoped that sounded boring enough, though he definitely didn't give anything away thats for sure.
"Interesting." Again it was difficult for Sakura to figure out if he actually found it interesting or if he was just being polite. She was used to reading between the lines for Sasuke, but his brother was a completely different person.
"Recently we discovered a new kind of herb in the mountains to the south and they seem to add a high regeneration rate to…" She continued describing to him the benefits of a plant they had come across during one of their missions for the remainder of the song while he quietly listened. She had a feeling he didn't understand or care for a word of what she was saying but he kept a pleasant, tight lipped smile on his face the entire time.
When the song finally ended he escorted her back to where he had got her before drifting back into the crowd. No doubt to dance with his countless other suitors.
"Well how did it go?" Sasuke asked once Sakura had settled down next to him.
"I talked about the restorative properties of the-"
"Good." The Uchiha slumped in relief, "That kind of talk could bring anyone out of the mood."
"You're really trying to start a fight aren't you Sasuke." Sakura growled.
"What did you think?" Mikoto asked as her eldest son reached her side.
"You are never wrong mother." He said, before bowing his head in greeting to the smirking slug princess. "Sakura is definitely worth noting."
"Damn right." Tsunade said as she shot back another glass of the Uchiha's finest Fire Whisky.
I know what you're thinking, another story without even finishing the old ones...well isn't that what this website is for?