The prolouge is messing up my chapter numbers...I uploaded the right chapter, but named it the wrong thing. So now it should make sense! Sorry about that...

III

"That was the longest, most pointless mission ever." Sakura mumbled as she stretched, as she and Kakashi walked the last two miles to the village. She looked over to Kakashi, whose hands were in his pockets, shoulders hunched. He looked over to her, eyes creasing widely, before draping an arm over her. "It wasn't too bad."

Sakura snorted. A disease was spreading through a small village right outside Mist and their mission was to isolate and contain it while finding a cure and heal those infected. But when they got there, it seemed that the dire need of a top medic nin was highly exaggerated. It wasn't more than an epidemic of the same degree as the common cold and the only thing dead due to it was a few acres of unattended crops. Sakura and Kakashi had spent the last two months farming rather than healing.

"If I have to pick one more weed-"

He kissed the top of her head, making her stop her rant. "Your poor house plants." She laughed, leaning into him. "It wasn't all a waste." He murmured.

She nodded, closing her eyes, listening to the birds chirping and the gentle breeze sweep through the forest. Sakura remembered the late nights and early mornings together, a rarity back home with their conflicting schedules. As much as Sakura is glad to be coming home, she will miss waking up in the morning to warm, strong arms wrapped around her waist, and his smell enveloping her. She inhaled deeply before looking up to him, smiling softly before kissing his clothed neck. She frowned slightly when he didn't respond, but looking into his eyes, she saw they were narrowed slightly. He took a step ahead of her, breaking free, leaving Sakura slightly cold. Sakura then sensed it. Someone was coming towards them. As Sakura watch Kakashi, pull out a kunai, spreading his feet, making his stance low to the ground, she felt butterflies and warmth spread through her chest. She felt herself shaking slightly, eyes wide and stomach churning, almost making her nauseous. What the hell? Kakashi-

Kakashi stiffened as a form came dashing out from the trees. "Stop!" Sakura yelled before Kakashi could pounce, grabbing his arm, ignoring the spark that ignited there. "It's Ino."

She felt Kakashi's arm slacken as they watched Sakura's lifelong friend stand doubled over, face red, eyes blood shot and hair disheveled. "Ino, what's wrong? You look like hell." Sakura said softly, letting her fingers run along Kakashi's arm before moving to hold her friend in her arms.

"Are you being chased?" Kakashi murmured, scanning the tree tops, readjusting his grip on the weapon.

Ino shook her head. "Tsunade-sama said you'd be coming home today. I-I came to meet you." She almost sobbed, she was trembling under Sakura's arms. Sakura moved her hand in a wide circle on the other girls back. "Ino, what's wrong?" Sakura cooed.

Ino jerked, grabbing Sakura by the arm. "You have to come with me now! It's terrible!"

"But-what's terrible! Ino!" Ino wrenched herself out of her grip, grabbing Sakura's wrist and pulling her hard in the direction from wince she came.

"It's the village elders! And Sasuke! They've-They-he!"

"Ino calm down!" Sakura said, trying not to slip and fall while being dragged the mile back to the village.

Ino shook her head, "You have to see!"

The rest of the journey was in tensed silence, Sakura running through her head all the possibilities it could be. Could they have decided to kill Sasuke? Was he already dead? Were they waiting to kill him when she got back? Or just…waiting?

But Ino wouldn't be this upset. She wasn't sure when Ino had stopped talking about Sasuke when they would go out, but it was probably around the same time Sakura realized how petty it was to hold onto a little crush like that. They had both moved on, Ino flirting it up with any man under the age of 35 and Sakura had Kakashi. Whatever that is.

As much as Sakura thought about her and Kakashi, she never really thought about what they were. They had started so suddenly, from training together, to getting the casual lunch to him kissing her passionately outside her apartment, to taking her to his. They never put a label on it, and that was fine with both of them, at least it was until Sasuke came back.

But now, as she and Ino dashed through the gates, she turned to see that Kakashi wasn't anywhere in sight. What are we?

"Come on! This way!" Ino tugged Sakura towards the Hokage tower. As they got closer, Ino slowed down, now almost walking slower than normal.

"Ino-pig! What is the matter!"

"The notice. It was posted a few days after you and Kakashi-sempai left." Ino looked down at the ground, eyes glossy.

Sakura raised a brow, "What is the matter?! What notice?" Sakura stalked towards the tower, seeing a large notice on the side, right outside the entrance. As Sakura scanned the notice, she felt her hands, heart and soul numb, a large lump stick to the back of her throat. Her eyes burn and blurred. She felt strong arms encircle her as Ino leaned her head on her shoulder.

"What are we going to do Sakura?" Ino's voice seemed lost as Sakura felt her shoulder dampen, and the girl next to her convulse, finally releasing.

"I-I don't know." Sakura choked, grabbing onto Ino as tight as she could. "I don't know."

III

Kakashi waved casually to the guards as he walked leisurely into the village, orange book in hand, heading off in the direction of Sakura's chakra signal. When Ino showed up, dragging Sakura away, Kakashi rolled his eyes, figuring it was some 'girl talk' that was an absolute must to talk about.

But as much as Kakashi wanted to brush it off, he couldn't stop the feeling that it was something more. Tsunade's words rang in his ear as he walked calmly to the Hokage tower. His heart quickened as he saw two girls, sitting on the ground outside the tower, one pink and one blond, with the Hokage standing behind them a hand on each of their shoulders. Kakashi walked up, raising a brow. The Hokage nodded curtly, making his eyes follow to a large notice on the door. As he scanned the paper, he had to stop and reread each word as he would on his favorite novel. His eye widened as his breath came out shaky, heart pounding deeply in his chest, his book falling gracelessly to the ground.

As decreed by the Fifth Hokage, the Elders,Homura MitokadoandKoharu Utatane, and the Sixth Hokage elect, a required screening of all unmarried Kunoichi Genin to ANBU rank, until the age of 26 will take place for the courting of Uchiha Sasuke, the leader, and last member of the Uchiha Clan.

All women must undergo a medical examination, a psychiatric evaluation and an interview to see who is the most worthy of this prestigious honor of making history: reviving an almost lost clan.

Screening begin midsummer, and the candidate will be chosen before the first frost, with a two year courting before marriage and consummation.

There are no exceptions. All weddings accepted by the village between Kunoichi will be postponed or nullified until after the coronation of the new Uchiha matriarch.

Any who refuse will be exiled or sentence to death.

~Konoha Council

III

Tsunade reclined back in her chair, paperwork forgotten as she watched the three people in front of her. Ino, standing back towards the door, had her eyes down cast as she fidgeted, wringing and unwringing her hands. Kakashi stood with his shoulders back, breathing calmly. His visible eye looked calm and collected, but his hands were at his side, knuckles white.

Tsunade tried not to look at Sakura. She stood, body completely slack, her eyes dulled. She looked broken.

"It was decided by the elders, Tsunade-sama, and myself. We decided that this was the best idea for the problem." Tsunade sighed inwardly, thanking Naruto for breaking the silence. She peered over to where he stood leaning against the wall next to her desk. "We need someone that not only is compatible with Sasuke, but we want someone that will be able to handle him."

"Handle?" Ino's eyes widened.

She heard Naruto smile. "I don't mean physically, but mentally. He is Sasuke." She was quite impressed by his serious tone he'd developed over the last few months.

"What about the women?" Kakashi snapped, looking between Ino and Sakura, making Naruto frown. "This isn't fair to them."

Naruto scowled, "Neither Ino or Sakura have been chosen yet. Every woman will be looked over and they will pick the best woman."

"Which will be Sakura or Ino." Kakashi said.

"Except Hinata." Ino spat.

Tsunade's teeth gritted as she felt Naruto's kyuubi's chakra flare. "Naruto." She chided.

Naruto took a deep breath. "Ino, you know why Hinata isn't-"

"Because she's fucking the next Hokage?"

"Kakashi!" Tsunade was surprised when Sakura jumped to life, elbowing Kakashi hard in the chest.

"The Bakyugan and Sharigan would clash and it could cause serious problems with the baby." Naruto was quite, eyes narrowing. "I tried to save Sakura. You think I wouldn't try to save her from it! Sakura deserves to find her own husband."

"And what about the rest of us!?" Ino shouted.

"Enough!" Tsunade snapped. Everyone but Sakura stared at her. She sighed. "We are all jumping to conclusions. She looked over at Naruto before closing her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Tsuande-baachan…" Naruto's hand landed on her shoulder, making the weight double at the sound of concern in his voice.

This isn't fair…Not for anyone. She opened her eyes and looked to Sakura, smiling softly. "Sakura," she coasted, "Sakura!" she called lightly as Sakura blinked her way back to this world. "Sakura, go home. Nothing's going to happen today, or in the next few days. Take some time off, I'll see you at the hospital the first of the week." She looked to Naruto, "Make sure she gets home." When the boy nodded, she turned to Kakashi, "Since you're here, we'll do the report, Ino, leave."

As Naruto coaxed Sakura out of the office, Ino trailed after them. When the door closed with a small click Tsunade sighed. "You alright?" Kakashi didn't move, making Tsunade roll her eyes. "I told you they were up to something. You had-"

"You agreed to this?" Kakashi's voice was low, sharp.

Tsunade paused, carefully finding her words, "I didn't really have a choice." She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms under her chest. She stared into Kakashi's single eye, sighing, "It was this, or they wouldn't let Naruto become Hokage."

"So this is the cost-"

"It was the only choice." She said softly, but firmly. Her mind flashed to a small boy, screaming at her that he was going to be the next Hokage, but she pushed it to the back of her mind. "Naruto is the only person I trust to take over, you know he's the only person for the job." She continued when Kakashi didn't say anything. "I don't trust the council to come up with their own Hokage. Look at what happened with Danzo." She sighed, "Naruto deserves this. And I know that even if Sakura wasn't picked, I think she would do this, if it meant that Naruto could have his dream. That's who she is."

"She'd sacrifice herself…" Kakashi mumbled, nodding softly. "What are we suppose to do."

Tsunade frowned, "We wait and pray."

III

"You alright?" Naruto whispered, squeezing her hand, jolting her out of her thoughts. Ever since they entered the Hokage tower, Sakura felt like she wasn't there. All the voices were far off and she could almost not hear them. It wasn't until Naruto squeeze her hand and she took in a breath of fresh, familiar air, did the world set itself right. She nodded, squeezing his hand back. "Tsunade's right though, it's not absolutely certain you'll be picked. It could be Moegi." Naruto bumped against her lightly, making her smile, if only briefly.

"Then why do I feel like something terrible is going to happen?" She looked up to her friend, whose brow furrowed as they stopped and stared at each other.

Naruto finally smiled, pulling her into a light hug. "I'll always protect you Sakura. Even if I have to kill Sasuke."

Sakura felt her heart stop as her eyes widened. "You will?" she asked, not hiding the surprise in her voice. After all these years of blood and sweat searching for this man-?

He kissed her forehead, "I care more for you than Sasuke." He continued to lead her home, "It's still weird. He's been 'home' for the past four months but it's still hard to imagine…"

Sakura nodded.