Written, read through, posted - Unedited. Apologies for any mistakes. They will be fixed once the story is complete. Proof readers are welcome to apply.

Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto

A PUNCH TO THE FACE – REALISATIONS

Last Time -

"Come on. We don't want to be late. Fugaku Otou-san wants to talk to you about the councils decision tonight Itachi, did he remind you?" Shisui begins to walk again at a steady pace. He seems so relaxed slung all over Sakura and his cousin.

"Hn." Itachi replies, causing Shisui to snicker. "Man, you and Sasuke-chan really need to lighten up. What do you say Sakura-chan? They are big grouches, ne?" The oldest smirks at Itachi's miffed expression and gives Sakura a proud look. "That's what we are here for hey, to make those fuddy duddy Uchiha's smile."

Sakura cannot help but laugh at the comical expression covering this new persons face. She does not know Shisui, but it is obvious that the Sakura that grew up with him does. For a fleeting moment, the girl wishes to have memories of this man and his cheerful smile.

"Come on you two. Let's go to the compound."

xxx

The streets of Konoha are busier than Sakura can remember them ever being. Village inhabitants seem to have doubled in quantity, as the three shinobi continue to bump into person after person. Itachi's cousin knows everyone that talks to him and many know Sakura as well. Though, most avoid Itachi's blank gaze, it is obvious they recall him also. Plastering her 'patient face' on, the pinkette is able to get through each encounter just fine…Without the help of her very silent covert friend. Smiles cover the Villager's faces, as they chatter amongst themselves, going about their every day lives. Upon first look, everything seems perfect for the Leaf. The Village aesthetic is exactly the same as before, and the lay out hasn't changed. Only now, it is more like a city. The colours of the buildings seem more vibrant than ever, and for some strange reason, everything seems…Cleaner? From what the pink haired medic can see, Minato is a wonderful Hokage that is very adept at keeping up morale. This new time line certainly seems lively, and despite not knowing much about it, the woman thinks that it is probably for the better. Nothing seems to be too overtly different about the place, or herself for that matter. From the sounds of it she is still friends with Sasuke, so hopefully, Naruto will pop his head out soon enough.

Shisui chatters on endlessly about a mission that he has just gotten back from and how he can't wait to relax and revive. This new woman he is with sounds like a spit fire, and the pinkette can't help but wonder if she knows the lucky lady. If all people in this new life are like Shisui, then Sakura will definitely be able to deal with it. Not that there is a way to reverse their decision.

Glancing over at Itachi, the pinkette wonders how well she knows him in this time. Shouldn't they be given a manual or something upon entering new terrain? It seems strange that she can't remember anything about these people and the events Shisui was talking about. Does Itachi remember?

Placing one foot in front of the other, the kunoichi tries her best to keep a smile upon her face and her ears open. The man casually striding along beside her, hands pocketed in true Uchiha fashion, may give away some useful Intel. Even if he doesn't, Sakura would not mind talking to him anyway.

As the three pass Konoha's central area, the people begin to disperse. The sun setting over the horizon could also have something to do with it. The golden pink hue that pokes just out of sight suggests that tomorrow will be a cold morning. Birds fly lazily throughout the sky, shadowed by the growing twilight. The area is full of suburban houses now, with quaint little gardens out the front. They are less like the apartments the girl is used to seeing, and more like lovely little cottages. The gates of the Uchiha Compound are visible from their stance, with two guards sitting at the entrance way.

"I can't believe I have been searching for you two for over an hour. Look at how late we are!" Shisui exclaims, though he makes no move to walk faster.

"I'm sorry Shisui, we didn't know." Sakura pipes up, hoping it is the right thing to say.

The man merely shrugs his shoulders and makes a non committal sound. "What are you going to do? It's okay, I should be used to you two being anti social together. I agree with Naruto, the two of you can be book worms while we become awesome hero's." A smirk covers his pale face and the woman can't help but smile.

"Is that so?" Her voice sounds wry, in a bid to coax more information from the older man. His words really are comical though. Who would have thought that she would spend time with Uchiha Itachi, missing nin and S Class criminal…Wait…In this new time line Itachi hasn't been forced to do anything, he is just a regular shinobi. That sounds too weird.

Before Shisui can reply, Itachi finally speaks up. The gates are now a couple of feet away and it seems that he has a secret game plan. "Cousin." The stoic man begins blandly. "Who will be attending tonight?" His voice does not give anything away and despite being the one to ask the question, he sounds rather disinterested.

Shisui's face changes for a second and he looks a bit confused, then his eyes narrow. "I swear Itachi-chan. Do you listen to anything that is said at breakfast or are you too busy thinking about work?" His tone is not angered but it is obvious that this is not something new. Without waiting for an answer, (Probably because he knows he won't get one.), the older Uchiha continues on, "You know that our dinner guests have not changed since Sasuke was a Genin. Fugaku Otou-san, Mikoto-baa, Team Seven and us you knuckle head. Who else would be there?"

Unable to help herself Sakura adds, "Perhaps, he made a friend." Where did that come from?

Itachi shoots Sakura a look that resembles a glare as Shisui pats her on the back heartily, laughing good naturedly. "Ahh Sakura-chan. That was a good one. How do you always do that?" Thankfully, the questions directed at Itachi are quelled and a relaxed aura surrounds the small group.

"It's a gift I suppose." Sakura replies.

"Aa." Itachi says, stopping in front of a very large house, in the center of the compound main street. So this is it…

The building is very traditional looking, with lovely reds and blacks adorning the wall surrounding the Clan Main House. The Uchiwa fan is emblazoned upon two posts that guard the entrance way as Itachi and Shisui walk up the wooden steps before her. As Itachi reaches for the door knob, the wood is ripped open by a very excited face.

"SAKURA-CHAN YOU'RE HERE!" Naruto yells in that exuberant way of his. He almost bowls over the two Uchiha's to get to his pink haired friend. "I have been waiting for ages." The Hokage's son admits easily.

"I'm sorry Naruto-kun, now we can all eat, ne?" Sakura says, hoping that food is still the blondes weak spot.

As expected the teens azure eyes brighten up like it is Christmas day. Though, it dies down as a small smirk covers his face. Nothing like the Uchiha's. It's an expression that is so innately…Naruto. "Nothing is as good as your cooking Sakura-chan." His voice is lowered however, telling the pinkette that he does not want Sasuke's mother to hear. God forbid if dinner is withheld from him!

"You always know how to make a girl blush." Sakura replies easily, unfazed by his comment. Slipping off her shoes, the woman accepts the house slippers that Shisui hands her. They are just the right size for her and she is quite thankful.

"I'm starving." A familiar voice sounds from upwards. Gazing to the stairs foot-steps grow closer as Sasuke comes into view. Sakura swears that her heart almost stops beating.

The man standing before her is certainly not the person they left back in the cave. Granted, Sasuke looks exactly the same physically, as does Naruto. It is the glint in his eye that has changed and perhaps the smirk on his face. It is softer, less callous.

"Dobe, stop dancing around Sakura like a baby. She is not your mother." The youngest Uchiha turns his obsidian gaze onto Naruto, tone suddenly a lot harsher. The pinkette is certain she hears Naruto mumble an 'I wish', but disregards it as a woman with lovely flowing black hair enters the living area.

"Ah, I was wondering when you three would show up. I'm glad to see you aren't all muddied up from the training grounds. Naruto-kun was telling me that a water user flooded your field." The lady of the house is dressed in a simple yukata with dark hair tied high above her head, cascading down to her cinched waist. Uchiha Mikoto is certainly very beautiful.

"Haha-ue." Itachi greets easily. If seeing the woman he killed in their previous time line upsets him, he does not show it.

Mikoto smiles brightly at her eldest son as she disappears back into the next room, beckoning them all to follow.

"I know that you like to wash up first Sakura-chan, but I think Naruto-kun is about to burst." Sakura isn't quite sure how to react to this new woman who seems to know her so well. Plastering a smile on her face, the pinkette says that it is fine, and that Naruto is always at threat of bursting over something. Sasuke makes a, 'Hn' noise that sounds like amusement. For some reason this all feels very familiar. Perhaps, it is because Itachi and herself aren't the same as before. Upon first glance everything felt normal, but Sakura is starting to wonder…

Watching everyone take a seat in their chosen spots, the medic almost turns beat red when Mikoto says, "Itachi-chan aren't you going to hold Sakura's chair for her?" The Uchiha heir merely glances her way before acquiescing to his mothers request, despite the strangeness of it all.

"Fugaku will not be attending dinner Itachi. You know that he expects you to meet him for supper, will you be ready?" The woman in light pink asks, as she pulls out her chop sticks.

"Itadakimasu." Choruses around the table as everyone takes helpings of the variety of dishes upon the table. Mikoto really went all out.

"Yes Okaa-san." Itachi replies gazing down at his plate. Perhaps, he is more affected than Sakura originally thought.

The table grows silent for a short while as everyone tucks into their delicious plates. Naruto is of course the first to speak up. Though, for once his mouth is not full of food as he chatters away.

"Sakura-chan you should have seen Teme in training today. I kicked his butt!" The blonde informs excitedly, shoving another onigiri into his awaiting mouth.

"Hn. You cheated, we agreed no special abilities and then you use the demon." Sasuke surprisingly speaks more than two words and Sakura isn't sure how to deal with it. Is Sasuke social now? No…That can't be.

"I said I was sorry Teme!" Both boys ignore the subtle 'Language boys', in the background. "Otou-san is still teaching me to control the yang Kyuubi. It's harder than it looks, not letting him out. I don't know how Okaa-san does it." Wait…What?

"That's because your mother isn't incompetent like you." The raven haired teen does not look up from his plate, but the smirk upon his pointed face suggests he knows exactly what he is saying.

As Naruto stands slapping his hand against the table, Sakura cannot help but get involved. Who knows if she would normally…

"Naruto!" Her voice is firm like always. "He is trying to make you angry, sit down or I will make you." Sakura orders him around like it is a daily thing, and in her world it is.

"Aw, Sasuke you got me in trouble again." Naruto says, sitting back down with a slump. The snicker coming from Shisui echoes over the table in a surprisingly familiar way.

"Sasuke-chan." Mikoto's cheery voice cuts in, "Before we forget why we are all here, we are all very proud of you." His mother tells him warmly. "Your Otou-san apologises for not being able to attend. The council will be finished in time for him to see you take rest." The ebony haired woman relays with a bright smile. She looks so much like Sasuke that it is almost unsettling. Though, Sakura could not imagine her stoic team mate smiling that way.

"Yeah Sasuke good job with getting into ANBU. We knew you could do it." Shisui pipes up, spooning himself some more vegetables.

"Now Kakashi-sensei, Sai and me can have our fourth!" Naruto hollars.

"Kakashi-sensei and I, Naruto." Sakura corrects upon habit.

"Dobe, you don't have to call him that any more we haven't been his students for years." Sasuke interjects, but there is a distinct lift of his lips. He is obviously excited about the new changes.

"Sakura." Shisui directs his attention upon her, placing his drink down on the table. "Is Genma recovering fine after that last mission? Thank Kami you were able to extract that poison." He resumes to pick at his food with his chop sticks.

Without a beat Sakura manages to reply, "He is doing fine, but you know how Genma is…" Hopefully the senbon wielder is just as lecherous as before. The pink haired medic finds him to be such a handful when he comes to hospital, because half the nurses fall for his ridiculous charm. How it is possible, she will never know.

"How many proposals has he made this time?" The eldest male grins knowingly, taking a mouthful of his dinner

As Sakura opens her mouth to speak, Naruto's loud voice cuts through her thought pattern like a kunai.

"It sucks that we have to share you, Sakura-chan. Why can't we have you all to ourselves like the old days?" Instead of looking at the pink haired kunoichi, the blonde turns his blue gaze onto Itachi, fixing him with his most fearsome glare. The man in question does not even blink.

Shisui's face breaks into a gigantic smile that resembles Naruto's weirdly enough. "Sakura is the best medic in Konoha, Naruto. Don't you think the best ANBU team should get her?"

"Yeah and that would be us!" Steam almost comes out of Naruto's ears and Mikoto laughs lightly at the boys antics.

As Shisui and her best friend bicker over who has the best team, the Uchiha Matriarch turns her attention onto Sakura. "Boys will be boys. Hey, Sakura-chan?" A wry smile covers her lips as she picks her tea up daintily. "How is everything going Musume?" Itachi's ears pick up at this, but he does not look her way. Does Sakura really know the family enough to earn such a title. Chan is certainly okay, but daughter?

"Hai, everything is going well. Dinner is amazing Mikoto-san." The pinkette replies, hoping that her answer is sufficient enough.

"Now, Sakura-chan. None of that, I thought we threw that away long ago." Mikoto reaches over and re-fills the girls tea gracefully.

"Of course." Sakura says, covering her face in a smile. If there has been a weapon that is used in social situations, it is her gigantic toothy grin.

"I have much to speak to you about, but we will wait until there aren't so many boys around, ne?" The older woman all but whispers as she leans closer from her spot at the head of the table. No one seems to notice as they chatter amongst themselves.

"TEME!" Naruto yells as something offensive sets the blonde off.

This is going to be a long night.

xxx

Dinner rolls by rather quickly, despite sitting at the table for over an hour. The conversation is easy and Sakura manages to gather a few bits of information from the intimate celebration.

It surprises the woman greatly that she is in ANBU, but now that the thought is inside her head, Sakura does feel stronger. Perhaps, this was the change she felt before.

"Aa. Well I have a hot date, so I'm going to go and wash up. Congratulations again cousin." Shisui states suddenly. Thanking Mikoto for her stunning meal, the Uchiha turns to Sakura.

"Enjoy your week off Sakura-chan. Don't waste all your time with that sad sack, Team 7 misses you too." Shisui looks at Itachi then her two boys.

Nodding dumbly, the pink haired kunoichi watches him walk away with a confident stride. She misses Itachi narrowing his dark eyes.

"Don't sulk Aniki, you will be back at work in a week too. Everyone needs some time off." Sasuke draws Itachi's attention, as the younger Uchiha assumes his calculating look is because of a holiday. Though, looking at his Otouto it is clear that he is quite adept at reading him. Maybe work is the only pressing thing in his life at the moment. If so, what does his Otou-san want?

Turning his gaze on Sakura, Itachi ignores Sasuke's comment. His brother does not bother to continue, and he is glad that their dynamic has not changed much.

This girl that he met today seems to be doing a very good job at rolling with the punches. Does she feel the familiarity of this world too? Itachi finds himself wondering if Sakura has figured out a crucial point about this time line.

They have actually lived it and don't remember. Uchiha Itachi and Haruno Sakura are not the people from the previous time. They are people that grew up right here in Konoha with the people around this table. It seems that they are even close friends.
He must talk to her later.

Finishing his tea, Itachi says, "Okaa-san, may be excused to wash up?"

"Of course Itachi-chan. I will see you at supper." Mikoto replies softly, standing to gather the plates.

"Sakura-chan, can we have Ramen for lunch tomorrow?" Naruto gazes at the pink haired girl pleadingly.

Sakura smiles easily, "Of course Naruto, but you are buying." The blonde just nods excitedly.

"I thought we were getting Tempura." Sasuke interjects, sending a glare at Sakura.

…Whoops

"Are you going to pay for me?" She replies instead, a wicked smirk covering her features.

"If I don't have to eat Ramen again I will." The Uchiha says without a beat.

Now we have a real fight on our hands…

After a couple of moments, Sakura sighs to herself. Standing up, the woman prepares to ask if Mikoto would like some help, and then make her leave.

Noticing his team mate about to bolt, Sasuke mutters an, 'I don't care' to Naruto and grabs Sakura by the wrist. With speed only a shinobi can possess, the youngest Uchiha drags her upstairs like it is something he does every day.

A shoji door shuts abruptly behind them as a light is flicked on quickly.

"I have a bone to pick with you." Sasuke growls grumpily. He lets go of her wrist and she ignores the tingle where his skin touched.

"What did I do Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asks with wide emerald eyes.

"The council is pestering me about finding a suitable wife now that they have roped Itachi into marrying." So, what does that have to do with her?

"I'm sorry." The pinkette says, not knowing what else she can offer.

"Tch." A scowl covers his face and he says, "This is ridiculous!" With a slam of the door, Sakura is left inside the foreign room all alone.

Sighing heavily, the girl is about to leave, when something catches her attention from the corner of her eye - A little gold jewellery box.

Turning around to gaze at the room, Sakura almost has a heart attack.

Despite the area obviously being part of the Uchiha household, the unmistakable littering of her personal possessions suggests something that she can barely fathom.

This is her room…

The bed that sits in the center of the area, is bigger than her old one, and the cover is much more reserved. Nevertheless, her diary sits upon the counter, along with her medical texts and various other personal items. A robe is slung over a study chair with her name inscribed on the back.

"Oh Kami." The pinkette gasps, covering her mouth with her hands.

Then she feels it, the cool tingle against her lips that is not usually present. With a rip of her hand, Sakura is gazing at something even worse than living with the Uchiha's.

There is the most gigantic engagement ring sitting upon her weddding finger, covered in old expensive diamonds.

It hits her full force…

"Sweet Kami-sama…I'm Itachi's fiance." Sakura realises, as she sits down upon the bed with a heavy thud.

The next thing the kunoichi knows is darkness…

xxx