Story: Lady Luck

Chapter: 8 - Conversations

Author: Ari

Beta: Proclaimed Penguin Princess

Pairing: Uchiha Itachi & Haruno Sakura

Updated: December 2018

Warnings: Citris-y situations

Disclaimers: See first chapter for full disclaimer, but basically I do not own anything Naruto related

Enjoy ^-^


-xXx-

Previously.

He smiled gracefully and took his arm. She knew Itachi would be mad at her for this but she was not going to disrespect her teammate in front her his clan. Not when he had stood up for her many times previously.

Before Sasuke went to move, he turned back to the elder. "Sakura-chan is a valuable medic-nin, her skills rivaling Hokage-sama. We, together with Naruto, are part of the best team in Konoha. Konoha is lucky to have her. The clan is lucky to have her."

Itachi did not disagree but his brother was making a foolish move. Would he ever learn?

Arm in arm, Sakura lead Sasuke away from the head table, towards the deserts. She did not need him starting a fight.

When she knew they were out of earshot she smiled and made a show of admiring the table. "I thought you were mad at me."

'I am." Sasuke did not deny it. He was annoyed too that she continued the act. "I just can't bare ignorant elders making assumptions when they don't know anything. Their heads too far up their own asses."

Sakura was damn sure there was very little they did not know, but she did not want to fight with him here. "Regardless, thank you."

"Hn," he grunted reaching the table. "I was not going to leave to you endure that when Itachi stood by and did nothing."

"That was not half as bad as last night. Itachi does know how to navigate these events. Better than you and me combined."

"Whatever," Sasuke said doubtfully. He could only imagine what his parents talked about with her last night and he did not want details.

The two fell silent as they reached the table. Sakura consumed the lemon cakes greedily, as her plate of food was back at the head table probably cold.

"Do you really think I am the best part of Team 7?" Sakura asked with a knowing smile.

"Hn," Sasuke averted his eyes as he finished chewing some salty treat. He was never a big sweets eater.

Sakura took that as a yes. As she finished another lemon cake she asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," he said curtly. He was not ready to face the reality. He needed to work everything out himself.

"You should talk to Itac-."

"No."

"Why?"

"As I am sure you have noticed, he's not really that talkative." Sasuke deadpanned.

Sakura knew what Sasuke was saying, but she was beginning to realize Itachi's stoic moments were more about reading beneath what was being said. "Then Shisui. He is rather talkative."

"That is as equally not pleasing."

"Sometimes we do things that we do not think are desirable, and it turns out to be something beneficial."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "Like marrying your teammate's older brother, and a clan heir with whom you had no previous relationship, for absolutely no reason. Oh and that is after you ran off to Suna to try and marry the Kazekage?"

His word stung. They were meant to sting. Sakura knew Sasuke was hurting and did not understand. They had not really had the time to talk, and he was almost actively avoiding her. Sakura had to bite her tongue. The last thing she wanted to do was start a fight with him in the middle of her engagement party.

"No its-" Sakura tried.

"Really now, because that is what it seems like. It's like you're no better than the fangirls, chasing after powerful shinobi."

Now Sakura was furious at him. How dare he?! Her best friend, her family, how dare he start this! Tonight of all nights!

"Here comes your intended." Sasuke left her by the table alone when they saw Itachi approaching.

His long fingers entwined in hers, as he pulled her close. "You two certainly know how to cause a scene."

Sakura laughed as she stared up into Itachi's deep, beautiful eyes. "I thought you said today was going to be easier."

Itachi froze for a moment, before saying, "I made a miscalculation. You handled yourself well."

Thanks. She popped a piece of dango into her mouth.

She had only spent a few days integrating herself into the clan but she could see how utterly messed up things were. Itachi was at least trying to change that and she was trying to help him do that. For Sasuke! So what if she had to get close with Itachi. Was that really such a horrible thing? She was going to stand by her decision to remain with Itachi. She had given her word. But after Sasuke's painful wounds, she knew that two could drop to that level of petty.

What she had resolved to do was not for the best reasons. Looking back she was not proud of her decision but she did not know what else to do in the moment. She wanted to hurt Sasuke; hurt him like he knew he just hurt her. So she did the only thing she knew she could.

Itachi studied her for a moment. "What did he say to you?"

"Like you did not hear."

"I will talk to him."

Sasuke did not let go of his hand. "No," she pleaded with her eyes.

Itachi hesitated then nodded his head. He did hear what he said, and Sasuke should not have expressed himself as such.

"Tonight is our engagement party." Sakura took a breath and she stepped closer to Itachi. She took his hand and placed it on her cheek. "You and me." She reminded him.

Itachi fanned his fingers on her cheek, feeling the smooth, soft skin beneath.

A moment of unspoken desire passed between the two of them, and Sakura had already made up her mind. "Kiss me." she whispered so softly it was almost inaudible. She knew he would hear it.

Those long fingers entangled themselves in soft locks at the back of her hair as Itachi's lips met her own with the fire of his passion. His kiss was sweet yet strong and commanding. His arm, still holding her hand, encircled her back, pulling her form to his.

He did not care his whole clan was watching. He did not care that she was only consenting because she was hurting. He would make sure nobody ever hurt her again. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth against his own again.

He wanted to make her forget everything else in the world but him.

She lost track of time as the kiss went on, much like the day he had come to her in the training grounds. She forgot herself then.

Sakura wanted to lose herself in Uchiha Itachi now.

-xXx-


-xXx-

Six Months Before The Wedding - Outside the Village.

Naruto had been going stir crazy, complaining that he had nothing to do so Tsunade sent Team 7 to deal with a small missing nin gone bandits problem in a civilian town a couple of days outside of the village. Their goal was to eliminate the harassing party, retrieve any relevant information from them, and assist with any immediate needs to the village.

Sakura was thankful as well. To the approval of Fugaku, Tsunade had placed Sakura on a reserved listing but after the engagement dinner. There was a shortage of field medics until the new ones were fully trained. Sakura was needed more in the village. As a result, she was happy to take some time to go with her team. They all needed it.

Although, a part of her would miss him. She had grown attached to Itachi.

Now that all of the formalities and talk of Uchiha babies was, mostly finished they spent a little more time together. He had gone on a few missions, 2 or 3 day trips, or he made them so just to be back for their dinners. And damn if he did not take every moment he could to steal a kiss from her. She thought his gaze was intense enough, he seemed studied every single part of her. The feeling was, interesting to say the least.

She felt it was invasive at first but then Itachi began to anticipate her own needs. He would bring her lunch from some of her favorite restaurants while she was in the hospital. He would pin her to her balcony door as he claimed her kiss for himself again. They could talk about various topics and never be wanting in conversation, or they could be in comfortable silence. He learned exactly how to make her favorite cup of tea. He massaged her feet at the end of a long shift.

The thought him made her blush and her heart race. She had to admit it, she was attracted to him. It could be just the neverending attention, but she definitely liked the man she was seeing and she wanted to know more of him.

The mission itself was easy so their travel was unimpeded. The missing ninjas were no problem for the four of them. They spent another three days in the town rebuilding and attending to anyone who needed medical attention then returned back to Konoha.

On their way back, Naruto purposed some deviant behavior. "Come on guys! Baa-chan is not expecting us back for another few days! Let's take a vacation or something. Take our time."

"No dobe," Sasuke simply said, setting the pace and leading the group back.

"What do we have to get back to? Not like Sakura is in any hurry to see Itachi."

"Bet she is."Sasuke said sarcastically.

"There's no way teme!" Naruto countered.

"Considering how often they suck face, I bet she can't wait." Sasuke remarked sarcastically.

It was enough to halt the entire company and make her heart drop and the anger rise up inside of her. Why the hell would he do that? It was enough to cause Naruto to yell out.

"WHAT?!" He had stopped moving, staring in disbelief at her. "You were sucking face with teme's brother?!"

She glared at Sasuke who merely shrugged and leaned against a tree. Sai jumped next to him.

"A kiss, Naruto nothing more."

"You let that stupid…" the blonde struggled to find the words, "Uchiha kiss you!"

Sasuke snapped, "Dobe that's my clan!"

Naruto made a face of indifference. Sakura continued feeling the need to defend herself. "It was our engagement dinner what else was I supposed to do?" Her angry tone rising in volume to match her brother.

Still Naruto went even louder. "Stay as far away from him as possible! Put a bag over your head or something!"

She felt a pulse of anger in her temple, towards more than one person. "I am not going to do that." She responded. She wouldn't do that.

"And why the hell not?" Naruto demanded.

"Hn." Sasuke echoed his similar sentiment from his current tree.

She caught her words in her throat, they had cornered her. She had not wanted them to find out like this. "I made a promise. I gave my word."

"That doesn't mean you have to go around kissing Uchihas!"

"Dobe!"

That is what it meant and what she wanted, she honestly enjoyed being physical with him. "I am engaged to Itachi, Naruto. We agreed to try."

"Try what? Try to suck face with each other? He's an Uchiha, Sakura!"

A kunai flew by Naruto's head. "I'm an Uchiha too dobe. Are you missing some brain cells or something?"

"You don't count." Naruto waved him off.

Sasuke's Sharingan spiraled, "You want to repeat that dobe?"

"You want to go teme?!"

Sakura yelled at both."Stop it both of you. I get it Sasuke, you are pissed at me but you have no right to consistently hurt me with your snarky comments for having a relationship with your brother!" She had to pause for a breath, but she wasn't done, "And you! Naruto, I get that you want to be all big brother protective but for once can any of you actually asked me what I want? Or just trust me with my own romantic engagements?"

Sasuke scoffed but did not say anything more.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" the fox boy demanded to know.

She did not have an answer. She meant to tell there just wasn't a good time to talk about it.

"I didn't tell anyone! I just didn't find the time to tell you about it." Sakura attempted to defend herself. "We got back from Suna, I was swamped with work then boom engagement dinners."

Naruto was going to accept that answer. But that was before Sai had to open his mouth. "Didn't you tell Ino?"

Sakura threw him a fiery look that dissolved into curiosity. For an instance, she thought she heard him go to say '-chan' at the end of Ino's name but stopped. Why out of all of the times that Sai decides to speak did he say that? How would he even know that? Calm down Sakura, Sai is not out to get you. It was just an educated guess.

Cautiously she moved the conversation forward,"Yes, I told Ino, because I needed her help with girly things. Things none of you guys ever seem to care about."

"Why did you think we wouldn't have helped you? I know I'm not good at girly stuff but if you needed something, why wouldn't I want to know?" Those crystalline eyes of his housed the painful look of disappointment. She had disappointed her team, she had let them down.

Shrinking into herself, unsure of what to do she wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't know Naruto, you ran of with Hinata or something, like you always do lately. I don't want to interrupt that and Sasuke is already pissed at me. Sai, it's not like you're the best to ask about this stuff."

Naruto shrank back in the guilt of his own. He had been spending a lot of time with Hinata lately. It was a weak excuse and all of them new it. None of them knew what to say, they never had to battle an enemy that was destroying them from the inside.

Sasuke's annoyed, disgruntled voice broke the silence. "Can we just keep moving? If we push we can reach Konoha by nightfall."

They did not rest that night, nor did they really speak the rest of the way to Konoha.

-xXx-


-xXx-

A Monday - At Team Seven's Preferred Training Grounds.

His previous conversation with Jiraiya had carried with him throughout his years as a sensei.

The toad master slug an arm around Kakashi as the two left the room. While surprised by the older man's proximity and familiarity, Kakashi made no effort to shy away.

"Pay the old bat no mind son," the playfulness gone from his voice. "She won't admit it but you have done well with them. Minato would be proud."

Kakashi remained silent.

"You took three vastly different children and fused them together. Asuma got it easy with the InoShikaCho trio. They all grew up together, even before the academy. Nah you got the hard job."

"He looks just like him." Kakashi's voice trailed off thinking of another blonde ninja.

Jiraiya nodded, "Yes, but with his mother's fire. The Uchiha boy will be a good balance for him. If he can get his head out of his ass, his clan will try to sink their claws into him and drag him back in after this."

"I know."

"You seeded the bonds that will keep them strong. It is those bonds that tie us all together. You, Kakashi, will have to keep those bonds strong. They will need you when their training comes to an end. To remind them of their bonds, to protect their bond, and then encourage them to find new bonds to welcome into their lives. Your role is not over Kakashi."

They were words Kakashi held to as he watched others train his 3 genin. He pushed them; true. They faced tough situations together and go through them, but it was painful knowing that he could not stop in and weight in to advocate for them. He was restrained to only being their emotional support.

He had little time to strengthen their bonds as they returned from their training, but still they performed flawlessly during their second chunin exams. Kakashi still laughed at the image of Sakura telling the Suna exam instructors to shove it when they told her to leave the field as she attended to Sasuke's badly bruised body. She hovered over her teammates, assessing them in seconds, and treated her fallen Uchiha teammate while ordering about other medic nin who treated her other Uzumaki teammate. He swelled with pride in her that moment. Her team, her bonds, her family mattered more than becoming a chunin in that moment.

And that was the greatest lesson he could have taught them.

Still all 3 were awarded the rank. Kakashi never had any doubt, all of them were well above genin level. Considering their skill, they could have easily went straight to the jounin level, but they needed more field experience first.

Jiraiya was also correct when he said he needed to encourage his little team to find new bonds. They welcomed both Yamato and Sai into their ranks with more than a little reluctance. Sai's ties to Danzo's Root division made them wary but their kindness, challenges and teamwork surprised the Root Shinobi and slowly, Sai's heart changed as well. Good thing too, Sai's insight on the program and Danzo were invaluable to the team.

As he watched the four of them train together, Sai and Naruto vs Sasuke and Sakura, his mind yet again drifted back to what Jiraiya had told him.

"You seeded the bonds that will keep them strong. It is those bonds that tie us all together. You, Kakashi, will have to keep those bonds strong. They will need you when their training comes to an end. To remind them of their bonds, to protect their bond, and then encourage them to find new bonds to welcome into their lives. Your role is not over Kakashi."

The silver haired sensei wished his role would eventually be over. This, was something with which he did not wish to deal.

But he was going to be the one who had to do it.

He did not need his Sharingan to know how sloppy their training was, Sakura was misreading body language and missing punches, Naruto was expending too much chakra, Sasuke was not anticipating his teammate's movements, and failed to recognize a genjutsu, Sai waiting to long before engaging to protect his teammate.

They were relying too much on themselves and not enough on their partner. Their teamwork was off. Why?

There was tension in the ranks and while tension had been building a while, the catalyst was named Uchiha Itachi.

Professionally, Kakashi had a lot of respect for the talented ANBU captain. Itachi purposefully put himself on the most dangerous missions so others did not have to, he seemed to believe in peace and the good for all. Personally, Kakashi felt agitated by the Uchiha prodigy. Itachi was making careless decisions that were affecting his team. The man kept too many plans from both his younger brother and his intended. Certainly a… moving conversation with the Uchiha heir was to be in order. A moving conversation that would begin with Kakashi, but would end with several others who cared (or were apart of) Team 7.

Kakashi also suspected that Itachi was up to a lot more than he let on. Because Itachi was playing a long game. It had been almost 4 year since Sakura blew a hole in the wall at the Suna chunin exams. If Kakashi suspected correctly, that was when Itachi really first started to take interest in her.

But whatever discussions he hopefully would encourage Itachi to have would not change how the team was acting towards one another.

Something was off about them, their behavior distrusting of one another.

They were keeping secrets from one another.

Fuck.

"Enough." Kakashi called out to them. He was not going to watch this fruitless exercise.

"Eh, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto's voice called out. "We were just getting started. Why are we stopping?"

Kakashi did not give Naruto the answer he was looking for. "Report back here at sunrise tomorrow."

Then he disappeared.

-xXx-


-xXx-

Night had fallen by the time Sakura heard the familiar tapping of knuckles against her apartment door. The cadence and rhythm was very specific, brief, and did not repeat. Itachi was waiting to pick her up for her first family dinner since her return.

Yippy, she could not help but sarcastically think.

She would make him wait, she needed a moment to herself. They were in no rush, this was not some fancy party like before.

She stared at herself in the full length mirror. There were no fancy clothes this time. She was too tired and the strain of an already busy day was wearing on her. She did not wear it well.

If Fugaku had a problem with her usual clothes then he could shove it.

She was unsure if she could take his constant scrutiny about herself, her team, her mentor and everything tonight. On a good night it took everything she had to keep it all together and today was not a good day. And now, Kakashi had demanded they end training early just to show up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.

She could feel the carefully assembled pieces of her life beginning to crack. The isolation of her situation was beginning to set in. As intoxicating as her new relationship with Itachi was, she felt guilty of the growing divide between herself and her team. She just did not know how to breach the subject without causing more of a rift. She wanted to tell them everything, wanted to tell them about the day she walked with him by the river, and how he excited her heart.

She knew deep down that her team, her boys, her best friends were not afraid to do feminine things with her as some might think. Sasuke had an eye for clothing and style. Sai preferred to do her makeup, she was a living canvas. Naruto was one hell of a dancer. Yes all of her boys had a feminine side. Or at least they could when they wanted to or when she begged them. And by beg she meant threaten.

However, with her team, the topic of her love life usually started with, Nobody will ever be good enough for you Sakura-chan. Any guy she started to talk to or hand any interest in was tormented by no less than 2, and as many as 5 team members. So any romantic endeavor ended before she even got to know them. Which left her with the classic, Sakura you better hurry, or you will end up with whoever was left.

Some would say that 'other' was going to be Sasuke. As attractive as he was, and as much as the fangirls chased him, he had no interests in forming attachments beyond their team. It was hard for him to form attachments. He did not need anymore than he already had.

All of this changed when Itachi showed up and was all like, 'Hey we are going to get married.' Which threw all of the previous cycle through a loop. This happened so suddenly that it was hard for them all to process what had happened.

It had taken her over a month to accept and admit that she was even interested in Itachi. But she was, especially after their conversations together. She liked the private version of Itachi. The one that would kiss her stupid, the one who would look at her from across a dinner table with a silent approval and pride.

He seemed to truly appreciate her for her.

All of that was besides the point, Itachi was not the problem at the moment. She had to talk to her team. She just did not know how to verbalize how she was feeling.

But how does one say, Yea I'm going to continue through with the marriage that one of my best friend's brother forced me into, because he showed me a softer side and I want to give him a chance to see if he is going to overthrow the entire clan, and after all of that if I don't like him in two years then I can walk away no string attached?

Yea, real conversation starter right there.

She let out a sigh, longing for the simpler days when they did delay from returning home to the village to lounge by the river and spend some quality time together.

It's not like she and Itachi have actually talked about this unspoken suggestions between them. He had confirmed nothing to her but the theory she had in her head. If Sasuke could not see it by now than she doubted anything she could say would convince him the perception he has had all his life.

And Naruto, first she kept Gaara from him and now he looked at her with pain in his eyes as he knew they were keeping secrets from her.

Then what was going on with Sai?

Her nerves immediately stood on end as she heard the sliding door onto her balcony open. Grabbing the kunai she kept in her boot and gathering chakra in her hand she ran out to meet the intruder head first to meet:

Crimson eyes and raven hair.

"What the hell Itachi?!" She cried out.

In a flash, he crossed the room to her. He had not seen his pink haired beauty in a few days. His hand brushed her check as he entangled it at the base of her uniquely shaded hair. With gentle encouragement he wrapped another arm around her waist to pull her her closer. Meeting her mouth his with own. He thought it would take longer for her to consent to such intimate connections but he would gladly capture her delightfully full and sweet mouth now.

Itachi's attentions were like fire dancing across her skin. Sparks shooting from nerves across her body. The kiss was sudden, but she did not push him away. She didn't want to, but would never admit that aloud to him. His mouth firm, urgent, communicating his own desire.

The kiss ended, and left her wanting but Itachi did not release her. Instead he pressed his own forehead to hers, staring at her intently with crimson eyes. A gesture that felt more intimate than the physicality of the kiss. She felt like he was looking into her, not just at her. That he was reading every single line in her soul, especially when he activated his Sharingan.

"Your apartment is not sufficiently trapped." He said, his smooth tenor voice a soft whisper. Sakura had never invited him inside before but she was usually punctual to his knocking on her door. Her delay concerned him.

"Itachi-" she tried but the words were only stifled by another kiss. This one slower, gentle, that built pressure over time. His mouth taking her lip into his own.

Sakura's arms wound around his neck this time. Nobody had ever made her feel like this, the way he looked at her was sensual and unnerving all at the same time. He was a hunter, inviting prey into a trap but also complete freedom at the same time. He wanted every inch of her to himself. He wanted to protect every part of her essence and being from harm.

She wondered if he felt the same about her, then quickly decided not to think about it. It was better that way. She learned to handle, even enjoyed kissing the Uchiha heir, but things would be more complicated if they engaged in other activities.

It was only then that he released her. It was entirely too easy to enter her house. "You will set proper defenses, or I will."

As Itachi walked away, turning his back to her, a deep breath returned to her body. Her body lamenting the withdrawal of his warmth, she was still stunned by his kiss.

Not knowing what else to say she picked up her kunai knife. It apparently she had dropped it when Itachi drugged her with his kiss. "You can't just barge into someone's house." She threw the kunai knife at him knowing he would deflect it easily.

"Obviously, I can." He smirked arms out to his side in presentation.

He assessed her living quarters, overall her decore was minimal, understandably. While she dwelled here she did not spend most of her time here. She picked out colorful pieces to accent the pale white walls of the apartment. Long heavy drapes were meant to give height to the room and block out the sun if she had visitors. Dishes in the sink, take out containers in her overflowing trash. There seemed to be a thin layer of dust clinging to most of the solid, unattended surfaces. Clothing choices for the night tossed throughout the single hallway leading back to the bathroom and bedroom.

Itachi felt himself slightly off put by the mess. Considering his own mother kept the main house in almost perfect condition but Sakura was not Mikoto. Her apartment was not meant to impress anyone but provide a sense of comfort and familiarity.

"That doesn't make it right!" She raised her voice. "You can't just-"

"You did not come to the door in a timely manner. I perceived your chakra fluctuating and decided to investigate. It is obvious that you are in distress."

What? She was not in trouble "As you can see I am perfectly fine."

"Do not lie to me hime." Itachi's tone changed. His normal melodic tenor cut short as crimson met emerald.

There was ice in his voice, along with a challenge on his face as his Sharingan began to spin. She did not say anything. Just looked over his lean muscular form. She could almost forget how lethal Uchiha Itachi could be. He was a warrior, trained for years to become one of the best in the village. There was a reason he made the rank of ANBU so quickly.

Sakura was slowly beginning to understand the subtle differences in Itachi's facial expressions. And this particular one was calling bullshit. He could see right through her lies, and half-truths. How could she let him read her so easily?

After long moments of silence, the two standing off, facing one another, Itachi finally said, "If something is bothering you, I wish to know."

"It has nothing to do with you, don't worry." Sakura muttered under her breath. His curiosity in her personal life was off putting.

"It is my-"

She tried to deflect again, cutting him off. "We are going to be late." She menuvared away from him, trying to clean up her apartment. It was not suited to have over guests.

"We are already late." He stated the obvious.

"Your mother will-"

"I highly doubt Mikoto will care if we are late because of... particular activities." Itachi took a moment to flick his eyes over her body, the Sharingan still activated.

She shivered and smiled inwardly.

He was flirting with her, in her home. This is not how it is supposed to be?! She thought. Kissing me in my home. What was the point? We are not in public. Not around his family or anyone in the village. There was no one to impress here, just the two...of us. Her thoughts began to slow down.

He enjoyed watching her think, how she lit up like a spark whenever she came to a conclusion. "You are purposefully not answering my question, why?"

Itachi was pushing her into a corner. Not literally but he did not seem to get the hint. "I don't want to talk about it now." She deflected, eyes cast aside.

Reluctantly, he did seem to accept that answer, and nodded briefly. "Later then."

Relieved he dropped the issue Sakura waved her hand, "Yea, sure later. Let me finish getting ready."

"Hold," That commanding, silky voice of his halted her movements down the hall.

The warmth that both calmed and excited her returned as an arm snaked around her from behind. Long fingers caressed up the skin of her neck brushing away hair from the point where her neck met her shoulder. Shudders went up her body as gentle lips made contact with the spot. Deciding to enjoy the attention instead of being annoyed Sakura closed her eyes and focused on the wave of pleasure. She braced herself against his body, placing a hand on the forearm wrapped around her with her other hand was more daring.

Slowly she reached up and dared to find the long, raven hair secured at the base of his neck. Fingers found silky threads and wove them them through and between several digits.

Gentle attentions turned rough when she felt his mouth focus on one spot in particular, sucking and nipping until-

"What the hell?!" Forcing her one elbow back into his muscular form, she shoved him away grasping her neck. She had meant to do damage to him but he must have sensed her chakra gathering and moved before she shoved.

Sakura did not look at him. She rushed into the bedroom, to the full length mirror. Sure enough, right at the very same spot, a black and blue mark was beginning to form.

"What. The actual fuck Itachi?!" He left a hickey. He purposely gave her a hickey. "Are you like 13 or something again?"

"I suggest you don't heal it." He said, leaning against the doorframe to her bedroom. She caught a hint of amusement on his words.

As a practice she did not try to heal every single bump and bruise. Pain needed to be felt and endured to make a shinobi stronger. Still angry emerald eyes flashed at him. Why wouldn't she heal it? It was embarrassing.

With an exacerbated laugh, she asked, "And why not?"

He smirked. "Ka-san will want a reason for our tardiness." They both knew, nothing seemed to make his parents happier than the thought of them ontop of each other.

As all other things seemed to be with Itachi, she both loved and hated that smirk.

Sakura shivered. Fine. "Leave." She ordered.

Respecting her wishes, Itachi held his hands up, leaving the threshold of her bedroom to let her to continue to get ready.

-xXx-

Itachi was right. Mikoto forgot her annoyance at their tardiness the moment her eyes flicked to the mark on Sakura's neck.

Sasuke was not present at the dinner. She did not expect him to be. He was not there for the last few as well. It would have been nice but she understood. After the kiss she shared with Itachi at their engagement dinner Sasuke's eyes burned with such hate. Sasuke avoided her. He did not ask to spar with her either. He had not spoken to her unless he needed to on missions.

Hurt goes two ways though, she missed him. In some ways they were closer than her and Naruto. Naruto supported her unconditionally, believed in her when she did not even believe in herself. She and Sasuke went through the mud together when Naruto was gone. He had seen her at her worst and vice versa.

Her heart ached but if he would not talk to her, then she couldn't do anything.

Fugaku was at dinner and yet he regarded her with the same dismissive indifference he had beforehand.

The dinner was honestly boring, especially compared to the conversations they had on their first night. Mikoto guided the family conversation asking everyone in turn how their days had been. Fugaku gave a report about the Konoha police force and some general ramblings about village business. Comparatively Itachi said very little. He mentioned how he was assisting Shisui with the basic training of the academy aged kids.

Their mother seemed to approve of that and, surprisingly, so did Sakura. She did not know Itachi had a soft spot for children or at least anyone other than his brother.

When Sakura was called upon, she explained how she too volunteered at the academy to give students a guest lecture on chakra control and the importance of basic medicinal plants. Following that she began to explain how she was training with her normal team when… it had ended shortly.

The pause and careful word choice caught Itachi's attention. With Sasuke's absence, it was not hard to conclude there was a rift in her team. The distance created with those with whom she has formed close bonds.

He made a note of the information and their meal continued.

Towards the end of the meal another piece of curious information was revealed. For once, I did not involve Sakura.

"When is your next mission Itachi?" Fugaku asked.

"I am on standby, my team is ready when Tsunade-sama gives us the order."

While Fugaku just nodded and grunted his approval. "How long will you be gone?" Mikoto asked?

"I cannot say Ka-san." Itachi responded. It was unclear whether his intention was to communicate he was not sure of the amount of time, or that he was unable to tell her.

"ANBU then," Fugaku assessed. "Good."

This news shocked Sakura. She knew that an ANBU team was scheduled to leave shortly to investigate news surrounding Ame. But she did not know that Itachi would be on that mission.

Why would she? ANBU operatives were supposed to be nameless. Agents protecting the interest of the village.

But why did Itachi not tell her?

Regardless, Mikoto did not seem to care. "Sakura you are still welcome to come over. We will have to begin planning here shortly."

Sakura only nodded and offered a weak smile. As if Mikoto was not already planning.

As Itachi escorted her back home, he noticed an increase in stares from fangirls. Sakura did not, or at least she did not care if she did. All of her thoughts faded from the fractures in her team and surrounded this particularly troubling issue. Itachi gave her so much strength through these family interactions. What was she supposed to do when he was gone? He could be gone for months on end.

These dinners were less formal than her others had been, however, that did not mean she was prepared to face his family without him. Maybe she could bring Ino. Sakura was sure that both Ino and Mikoto would eventually be okay.

-xXx-

Like usual, their walk back to her apartment was conducted in relative silence. When they got to the door to her apartment Itachi would normally wait for Sakura to uselessly unlock the door, which he was convinced would not deter intruders, before she turned to thank him. Normally he would take her hand in his own, raising it to his lips so he could stare into her captivating eyes as he bid her farewell. She would then enter the house, and shut the door promptly before he pretended to leave, make a loop around the rooftops and end up outside her balcony to spend a little bit of extra time, just appreciating her.

But this time was different. When Sakura opened the door to her apartment Itachi activated his Sharingan and flickered inside her apartment.

Sakura turned to shut the door before she felt his chakra reappear. She was definitely not in
the mood for this and she had an early morning with her team.

"Not funny." She opened the door once again, holding it ajar for him to exit her apartment.

"Humor is not my intention." He said walking across the room, reaching above her head to shut the door. The world did not need to see or hear this conversation.

"What do you think you are doing exactly then?" Sakura asked, arms crossed.

"You said you wanted to talk later. It is later." Itachi stated as he paced in her living room, assessing it for threats, or determining the best place to sit. Sakura could not tell between the two just yet.

To her surprise, he seated himself on her couch before saying gesturing for her to join him. The 'we need to talk' part hung in the air. The rosette stared at her raven-haired partner. While she could no longer deny her physical attraction to the man before her, his deadly pull between comfort and danger, he was absolutely infuriating at the same time. His seemingly omniscient and overly confident attitude were beginning to get to her.

"This is not what I meant by later." Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose.

Itachi stared at her, assessing what his best course of action would be at this point. On one hand he wanted to respect her wishes, at the same time, he knew he would never be able to learn her trust or respect if they continued their affections only in public. He needed her to accept him into this domesticated part of their life now.

Itachi suspected the rosette did feel his support and comfort in clan matters. He had to admit that Sakura was a better player at this game than he had anticipated. Her training with the Hokage, and involvement in diplomatic matters must have helped with that. Her hesitation to show him appropriate affection was minimal now. She had a good eye for timing, and picked up on his cues easily. She was beginning to read him. It unnerved him at first but he knew this was the goal.

Thankfully, this is one area he did not want her to have to wear a mask. Their trust, respect, and honesty needed to be established now if they were going to survive after the next two years. If he was going to be able to keep her afterwards.

"Sakura," Itachi started slowly. "I vowed to you that I would strive to make you happy."

"It would make me happy if you would leave." She quipped back at him, still standing, but now leaning against the wall behind her door while looking at him, arms crossed.

"I cannot make you happy if you consistently shut me out." Itachi highlighted.

"You cannot make me happy if you don't tell me when you are leaving for ANBU missions ither!" Sakura threw her hands up in frustration.

"I leave for my mission tomorrow." Itachi interrupted.

"Tomorrow…" Her voice trailed off as her emerald eyes starred into his with disbelief. Slowly she wrapped her arms around herself, a pitiful attempt at comforting herself. "So much for us against the world."

She had not meant for him to hear her words but knew that he did as his body stiffened slightly. While he did not display any other outward signs, she knew the intent behind her words would hurt him in some way. Moments of uncomfortable silence passed between them. Itachi sat unmoving on the couch, just looking at her, Sakura looking at him, arms folded around her person.

After an uncomfortable about of time. "Sakura, if we do not talk now, there might not be a later."

Her brow furrowed at his suggestion. Sakura had been in the hospital or Hokage's office too long to forget what can happen to shinobi who risk their lives on ANBU missions. Her stomach fluttered with the thought of Konoha losing Itachi.

He was right.

Not knowing what else to do, she crossed her apartment to the small kitchen, retrieving two water glasses. She filled each glass separately then moved once again to hand one to Itachi. He eyed the glass cautiously before he took it nodding his head in thanks.

The invitation to sit in the vacant area across from him on the couch hung in the air.

"We are not each other's enemy." Itachi said plainly. It was not an accusation but an acknowledgement that they both needed to do better. "I offer my apologies Sakura, my intention was not to hurt or deceive you. I had assumed you knew of my mission because of your position with the Hokage. Obviously, that was a miscalculation."

"I appreciate your apology, and I now understand why you insisted on talking tonight." Sakura said. Itachi again confirmed with a single nod of his head. "But you are wrong in assuming I am privy to information because I am the Hokage's assistant and apprentice."

Itachi nodded once. "It will not happen again."

"Why did you not tell your parents when your mission was?" Her voice trailed off. Does he really lie to his parents about his missions? Such a rebel
son.

Itachi looked away, taking a drink of water before he answered. "Believe it or not, my father
can be just as nosey as my mother."

Sakura laughed a little under her breath. Fugaku was trying to keep tabs on his eldest son.

"You are upset?" Itachi asked, even though he already knew the answer. He had assumed that Sakura learned he was going on a mission from

"I'm not happy. I wish for you to be more honest with me in the future." She asked. "I understand the reality that is your job as ANBU, and as your life as a shinobi. You could get called away at any time. Just as I could."

He was glad she understood. He was had a purpose to fill for this village. To protect it. To protect his precious people. Shisui, his brother, her. And he would not trust that job to anyone else, would not subject anyone else to it.

"Tea?" Sakura asked.

"Yes."

Sakura crossed back to her small kitchen, feeling the weight of Itachi's gaze. She filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. Next, she retrieved the two, final, mismatching, clean mugs she had left. Checking her tea "Chamomile?"

"If that is what you desire."

She desired to go to sleep in her big comfortable bed after a long day. But that obviously was not happening. The kettle began to steam; Sakura removed the kettle from the heat, added the tea to the pot, and she slowly began to pour the water over the leaves. After letting the tea steap, she poured herself and Itachi a cup.

"Careful, it is still hot."

That playful smirk appeared at the corner of Itachi's mouth as he said, "I am accustomed to heat Sakura."

Oh right, fireball jutsus- she thought to herself.

Pursing her lips, she sat down opposite of him again. "Are you actually going to talk or just look at me?" She took a drink of tea.

"There is more which upsets you." Itachi stated.

"No sh-" she paused, knowing sarcasm was not going to be productive in this conversation. She opted for a difference response. "Yes."

"There is a rift in your team." He stated.

Sakura eyed him. She was not surprised that he had caught her slip earlier that day, but she was still uncomfortable talking about these issues with him. And he most certainly had no right to bring it up. It was not his problem.

"With all respect Itachi, what do you care about my team? Especially when you will be out of the village for who knows how long? Its something for me to deal with. Just like planning our wedding and dealing with whatever other clan issues will come up." Just as before, she did not mean for her words to be laced with so much sarcasm and pain. The venom should be directed towards someone else. But at the root cause, she knew the reason for the rift was partially Itachi's fault.

Itachi took a sip of his tea, "Sakura, you don't have to tell me, but I cannot help if I don't know what is going on."

"Its my team, how could you even help?"

Itachi gave her a cold glance. A small blush began to rise in her cheek. "Oh," she said softly, taking another drink. He was less concerned about them, and more concerned about how he could be there to support her.

She didn't want to tell him, nervous to confess something so personal to him. But she knew that if she kept silent nothing would change. There was something about the way he was looking at her. Something about the way he patiently waited, still holding the cup of tea she had given him, that told her he really did want to listen. That he was there for her, that he wasn't going anywhere until she got it off her chest.

"I have not told my team a lot about what is going on with us." Sakura began slowly. "I've never really felt I could talk to them about my personal relationships with men. They've always been so protective; overprotective to the point of driving any potential men away. That's part of the reason I did not tell them about…"

Her sentence trailed off. They had never talked about her exertion with the Gaara, or what her feelings were towards him. Itachi was too polite to ask. If he was affected, he did not show it. He only continued to watch her intently, this honesty thing was more difficult than she thought. Mostly because she had never verbalized these feelings before.

"Now? Things between you and I are more complicated that I can keep up with. How do I tell my best friends, my teammates, that I've agreed to marry the man who forced me into a courtship that I never asked for in the first place? How can I tell them that I agreed to try to work things out with you just because of a conversation we had in the woods? And that those things are going well, and that I…" Sakura's voice trailed off again. The heat rising in her cheeks.

She wanted to end the conversation there. While she knew she was already engaged to Itachi, and that he wasn't going to get rid of her anytime soon, she was still nervous to confess her growing feelings to him.

Unfortunately, Itachi was able to Itachi's smirk disappeared, but Sakura could see the intensity behind his eyes. She would not be surprised if he switched on his Sharingan. "What are your feelings towards our engagement now?"

"That day, when we agreed to try again." Sakura began, Itachi nodding, indicating he was following along. "I was having lunch with Kakashi-sensei. I had not talked to him since you first announced our engagement and I wanted his perspective. I was furious with him for a moment. Looking back, I understand."

"What did he tell you?"

Sakura smiled to herself taking a sip of tea. "What he always does. Look underneath the underneath."

Itachi knew the saying all too well.

Sakura continued. "He told me to give you a chance. That, while he cannot excuse your methods. He believes that you could make me happy, and support me, in a world where those things are hard to come by for shinobi." She felt the rush of heat to her face and found she could not look at him. Instead she traced a finger around her mug.

Itachi was inwardly thrilled. If Sakura had all but admitted that Kakashi was right, that she felt she could find the happiness and support she deserved with Itachi. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his lap and kiss her breathless. Although he knew it was not the appropriate time to celebrate. "What do you want in marriage?"

Was love too corny of an answer? "When I was a child, I wanted to be with a strong shinobi who was brave and handsome. As I grew up I began to hope for simpler things. To be with a partnership who understands and accepts me unconditionally, as I would for him. We would build a life together of unconditional understanding and support."

"You see this with me?"

"I am still trying to figure out what that will look like with you Itachi. But at best case scenario, I guess, we create a life for ourselves of our own design. You and me." She wanted to say 'and they lived happily ever after' but she had grown out of that fantasy a while ago.

Sakura swore she saw his mouth twitch very so briefly into a smile but alas his face remained unchanged.

Yet, there was another truth hanging on her heart, "I fear… your clan will stand in the way of us truly being happy together"

The pain of her words weighed on him. Yet she was speaking her truth and he was appreciative of that. "Sakura, you are more talented than you realize in matters concerning the clan. But you should not be worried about them."

Sakura took a breath, knowing they were breaching that subject that they did not really talk about, but really needed to talk about. "While ultimately this is our relationship- any connection I have to the Uchiha clan will be through you. I don't know what you are planning, I know it is something big though, Itachi. I'm trying to trust you, but we don't know what will happen in two years. Whatever...plan you have is yours. You are leading a team with me on it. I'm following your orders."

Itachi knew Sakura was clever. She had picked up on his intention to make some changes within the clan, but also had enough wisdom to not breach the subject just yet. However, he could tell that her conjectures were on her mind, and she had nobody with whom she could discuss them.

She felt alone in this battle. Itachi shook his head. Shisui was right. He was an idiot. "Your team," He returned to the original conversation. "You trust them?"

Sakura nodded, "With my life." Even with cracks, she knew she could trust them unconditionally. "You've seen how far we would go to fight for Sasuke alone. Despite him being an ass."

He allowed his facial expressions to soften, so she could see the wheels turning in her head. "What you experience here," he placed a hand on heart. "Should be shared with your precious people. All of it. In the same words you used here with me."

The smile she returned to him was infectious. "Itachi-" she placed her hand around his on her chest. "Thank you."

Shifting his weight and steadying her with a hand at the base of her neck, Itachi pulled his rosette beauty in for kiss that ended entirely too early for either of their liking. "You don't put up much of an objection to this now." Itachi teased.

Sakura only shrugged with her own smirk on her face.

"Ah Haruno Sakura harbors secret feelings for her fiancé?"

"Maybe?" She laughed leaning back. She liked flirty Itachi. She felt like they never really got to this part of their relationship. Where dating was just fun and flirty.

"Indulge me. What do you feel for me now?"

Sakura's face was pink before, but it turned bright red. She never thought she would be answering that question after he had asked it. Maybe Ino, or Naruto, or Kakashi but not Itachi himself.

"I cannot deny an... attraction between us. Physicalities aside, I still feel like I don't know you. I've seen so many sides to you and I don't know which one, if any, or all, is actually the real Itachi. It is a strange occurrence, discovering you little by little as we wait out this engagement period." She confessed. "But, I'm enjoying it," she added with a sheepish smile. "I think I would enjoy more times like this. Just us. Away from work, your the expectations of your clan."

He noted how she purposefully left out his surname. She saw him for more than just his clan. Her insight and compassion never ceased to amaze him, she wanted to know him for him.

She then returned the question, "And what do you feel for me?"

"I cannot put what I feel for you in conventional words." Itachi said with no hesitation. While his phrasing confused her, she did not press. Itachi was not a man to express what he felt or wanted often. He might not have the ability to do so, which is why his actions speak so much louder than words.

"I liken my feelings for you to a release from a genjutsu. A return. Clarity amongst fog." He was obviously struggling, but he was so poetic at the same time. "The moments I have with you are few, fleeting and are never enough."

A pale hand found its way to his, their eyes locked and she nodded, giving him a grateful smile that he tried. Non-conventional was right.

"So," She continued, "We establish that we have enough of a connection to want to get to know more."

Itachi nodded, "Here, or anywhere else you want." Not at his family home. He wanted more time with her in a setting away from everything else.

"I think I would be okay with that." She smiled, still keeping her own hand in his tanned one.

"I have a request then." Sakura smiled her own devilish smile. She shifted the tone.

Itachi raised an eyebrow.

"Let down your hair."

If she had ever seen fear in this particular Uchiha's face. It was the moment she had finished her request. "What? Is Uchiha Itachi scared to have other people touch his hair?"

Other people yes but for her, he slowly reached to the base of his neck and undid the tie, allowing his raven locks to flow free around him.

Amazed she actually got him to do it, she slowly leaned forward, shifting her weight slowly so she hovered over his folded legs on the couch. Understanding her intent he pulled her smaller muscular form into his lap. Hands resting at her hips. Putting on a brave face, she leaned in forward, hands outstretched on either side of Itachi's head. Gently, using her nails to part the hair over the scalp for her fingers she ran her hands through his hair and stopped at the back of his neck.

She had always wanted to run her fingers through his hair. Sasuke had told her before that he never let anyone touch it. Not even their mother. Wait until I tell Ino!

Itachi's body involuntarily shuddered. She looked at him with a smile on her face, Itachi liked head scratches.

He leaned in to her, her mouth eagerly awaited his own. He was pleased that she finally returned his physical displays of affections. But just as he went to deepen the kiss, she pulled away from the kiss. Not from him as he braced the back of her head and looked at her, sharply, questioning the action.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

He did not change the expression on his face. She realized her question was too broad. "Why do you kiss me like this? Leave me breathless."

He smirked and her heart leaped. "I could do so many other things to leave you breathless hime."

Her breath caught.

Woah. She thought. He just raised the bar.

His voice sounded right next to her ear as his hands caressed the length of her spine. "What I would do for your consent to let me ravish you. To explore every inch of you. To make you roll in pleasure."

Ravish. Now there was a vocabulary word that made her heat build inside her as she recalled his hands racing over her body.

It was a dare. He was challenging her because he knew how she would rise to the challenge. Fuck he knew her too well even after just two months.

Even objectively speaking, no man on earth should be as good looking as Uchiha Itachi. The slender form, sharp angles, steady alluring gaze. Even the stress lines on his face were beautiful. The dark and brooding side coupled with his cool indifference he was a walking chick magnet.

And he was here with her, holding her to his body. He was confiding and trusting in her, he wanted to ravish her.

She knew she was not ready for that implication. With a smile she shook her head, no.

In understanding he nodded, not expecting her to consent just yet. It mattered not, she would be worth the wait. Still he reaffirmed, "I will have no other woman but you Sakura." he said forcing raw emotion into every word, onyx eyes lightening to a soft charcoal.

His eyes conveyed the promise, I'll prove it to you.

Itachi returned to his detailed attentions, his mouth pressing to hers in a long passion kiss. He did not stop there, beginning a line of kisses along her jaw, down her neck, across her shoulders own her arm, forearm and stopped, nipping at sensitive skin.

"Stop it," She pushed him away playfully. Whatever ministrations he was doing, just then felt different. It was like, he was gathering chakra in his mouth and transferred it to her wrist, maybe? The rosette was not sure but the medic nin in her was curious. She never engaged in sexual activities using her chakra. Although she knew it was possible. Tsunade would know, or maybe Shizune. Shizune might be better to ask. Either way, she would have to remember to heal it in the morning.

"Just making sure you have something to remember me by." He smirked again.

As if she could forget now.

He pulled her to him, laying down flat with the couch and her on top of him to continue where he left off. He did not know how long he would be away for and he wanted to make sure he remembered her and she would not forget him.

Long after the affection stopped. She laid her head on his chest, pink hair flared across a black shirt which smelled of smoke and salt. Long fingers once again ran the length of her spine as another hand entwined with her own.

"It's not fair." She whispered into his chest.

He stilled his caresses, waiting for her to continue.

"It's like you're too perfect."

Because that is what he felt like, here and now. When he was not an Uchiha. When he was just Itachi. Her Itachi. Someone who forced her to face her fears and challenges. Someone who supported her. Someone who wanted to spend the night before he left on a mission with her.

Uchiha Itachi would be hers, her husband.

For the first time she let the thought excite her.

"I am only human." He reminded her.

She playfully slapped his chest. "Uchiha Itachi, you are the furthest thing from 'only
human'."

After a pause she continued. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Later."

Before sleep claimed her she felt strong arms encircled her own frame and lips pressed to a
singular spot on her wrist.

-xXx-


-xXx-

The Next Morning.

The sun was not even up when Sakura rose. Today was one of her new days off, courtesy of Fugaku and the counsel. She had not anticipated actually enjoying her new schedule. True she worked longer shifts but she had at least one more day off to herself.

Her muscles froze, she was not in her bedroom. This was her living room and she had fallen
asleep on her couch.

No, correction; she had fallen asleep on Uchiha Itachi who had also fallen asleep under her on her couch.

Holy shit. Sakura thought, nervous energy racing through her. I just slept with Uchiha Itachi. Well, I guess slept on would be more appropriate.

Slowly she began to shift her weight to remove herself from his also sleeping form. Two arms quickly tightened around her and moved her body to a sitting position. The sudden movement caused her to cling to him, as he held her protectively against him. He was wide awake, Sharingan activated and spinning. His body tense, muscles hardened all the way down his back, chest and core.

Sakura was not sure whether she should be concerned or she should be turned on.

"I need a shower."

"Hn." Itachi said. Not releasing her.

"You can let me go now."

Crimson met emerald as he spoke, "Never."

Well that's certainly a way to wake up, she thought to herself.

"You should head home." She said casually.

"Why?"

That stupid smirk, Sakura thought. He's too attractive for his own good.

"Mikoto does not deserve your suggestive abuses!"

Lethal muscles just shrugged.

Sakura feigned a horrified and offended look. She gasped and flug a pillow at him. "Uchiha Itachi, how dare you!"

Predatory eyes met hers as he moved with a speed beyond her own capabilities and pinned her hands against the couch. He loomed over her, easily a head taller and inches away from her face.

Lips captured her own.

"I leave today." He said after he pulled away.

Sakura nodded. She knew, he had told her last night. Still, she was glad to have this tender moment with him before he left. "You will come back to me Captain."

Itachi nodded, pressing his lips to hers once again. A silent promise that he would do what was in his power and responsibility to get back to her.

There were never any promises as a shinobi though.

"I will talk to Sasuke when I get back."

"You want to tell him what you are planning?" Sakura ventured a guess. "I would hope that conversation includes me as well."

"Everything I do, I do with you in mind." Itachi's crimson Sharingan swirled. He was memorizing the way she looked in the moment.

Not another word was spoken on the subject.

He gave one swift nod, and gave her one brief kiss before resting his forehead on hers. Sakura closed her eyes, memorizing this feeling. When she opened them again, he was gone.

With a single black feather left in his place.

She missed him already, but this was the life of shinobi. She would need to get used to this. Especially since her husband would be one of the best ANBU operatives Konoha had. She did not think he would slow down his own mission quota after they're married. Not when there are still threats to the village.

Sakura continued along her normal morning routine. Rinsing off her body she dried off and began to dress herself for another training session with team seven. She was not sure what had Kakashi-sensei on edge. He had ended their last sparring session entirely too early. They were just really getting warmed up yesterday when he had called their session quits.

She had a feeling this was going to be an intense training session. Sakura took her time preparing, made sure her bindings were facend tight before pulling on her shorts and shirt. Her boots came on next. Finally she wrapped her hands before sliding on her gloves. On her way out, she made sure the seal was set on her apartment. She made a mental note to reseal and set new traps when she got back.

On her way, she saw two ravens flying overhead towards the main gate. Be safe, she thought to both Itachi and Shisui.

Surprisingly, she was not the first one at the field. Naruto and Sai were both there already relaxing on the ground before their

"Heya Sakura-chan!"

"Hi Naruto! How was your date with Hinata-chan?" Sakura asked.

Naruto's foxy grin reached both side of his ears. "It was great! She is so wonderful."

Sakura could only smile warmly at her friends happiness.

"Dobe is in so deep it's almost sickening." A fourth voice grumbled approaching them.

Jumping up in anger Naruto pointed and yelled, "You're just jealous teme!"

Sakura rolled her eyes and moved to help Sai up from his seated position.

Sasuke approached the group slowly. Not in any hurry to get to the angry blonde man in front of them. However, the moment when they were all close enough to enter within a radius of one another a complex seal appeared in the grass below them.

"Damnit Kaka-sensei!" Naruto yelled. "This is no fun!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, bent down and began to examine the seal. It had been a while since Kakashi had forced them into the seal. There was an elaborate script layered with an elaborate set of jutsus. Even if they were able to lift the first seal, more would generate more layers which would become increasingly more painful and smaller so they could not move.

"This is easy," Naruto laughed and ran head first.

"Don't!" Sakura yelled, hoping she was in time.

But she wasn't, Naruto ran headfirst into the barrier of the seal with a rasengan in hand.

"Get down!" She yelled

The power from his jutsu reflected on the seal and ripped through the confined area. As the jutsu's energy dissipated the four of them rose to look at one another, assessing to see if everyone was alright. They then looked at their beloved sensei, standing with Yamato on the other side of the barrier.

"You have forgotten the first rule I had ever taught you as your sensei. You are not working as a team. As your sensei, I will not stand for this type of reckless behavior. If you choose to act as children I will treat you as children and put you in time out until each one of you have aired what you need to."

Sakura closed her eyes. She did not want to do this. Not like this.

"Kakashi-sensei, what are you talking about, we're fine!"

"You are keeping secrets from one another. Your forms and teamwork are flawed. I expected better of you when you were genin and I will not tolerate it now." He said flatly. They were on the path of being the best four man team Konoha could ever see, if they could get their childish petiness out of their systems.

Their reality sank in slowly, the space they were in was no more than 30 feet in diameter. Enough room to be comfortable but it could easily become a tight space.

"Nothing can pass through this can it?" Sai asked examining the seals. "Each time it changes and get smaller until we are right on top of one another."

Sakura nodded. "That was my assessment as well."

Sai agreed and began to settle down in a spot on the ground. "Might as well get comfortable if we are going to be here a while."

Sakura shrugged and sat down as well, Naruto followed suit.

Sasuke scoffed. "This is stupid."

"Teme what did you do?!" Naruto popped back up immediately pointing his finger at his best friend.

"Who says I did anything dobe!"

"You're always the one refusing to talk!"

"You prattle on and on, how about you start!" Sasuke said.

His comment was meant sarcastically but of course Naruto did not take it that way. He began to ramble on about what he did last night.

"Naruto," Sakura voiced. "I am very glad to hear all of that but I have a feeling Kakashi does not mean that we need to tell one another if we made our beds in the morning. I think we are supposed to talk about deeper things."

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

Sakura continued. "Is there something that you have been thinking about a lot lately? In terms of being a shinobi, or maybe your relationship with Hinata?"

Naruto's 'thinking' face dominated his expression. After a long while he said, "I think I am happy where I am at the moment. I mean I am going to become Hokage someday so that dream has not changed. I am getting a little stir crazy, and wish we could go on more missions!"

His tone changed as he continued, "As for Hinata; I mean she's great. It's just, things are getting really bad for her. I'm thinking about asking her to move in but I know her father won't like that even more. I just can't stand the way he treats her!"

"We are stuck in this circle because you have not told us you are thinking about moving in with your girlfriend?" Sasuke asked obviously bored.

Sakura stared at her friend. He was nervous. Not excited about the prospect. "Hiyashi won't let her go unless you do right by her."

Naruto nodded, eyes filled of understanding.

"Oh Naruto." Sakura's heart swelled with emotion and pride.

It did not take many steps for her to cross the space allowed by the seal to wrap her arms around him. He was thinking of proposing to Hinata. Her knucklehead, troublesome best friend was going to propose to the woman he loved.

"I'm so happy for you Naruto!" She pulled away to look, albeit through teary eyes of her own, into his own crystal blues.

"Hn."

She enjoyed the tender moment with her friend before she rounded at Sasuke, "You idiot!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck Sakura?"

"Naruto wants to propose to Hinata so she can come live with him without being shamed by her father."

Sasuke's eyes went wide with the realization.

And as he always did, Sai spoke at the inopportune time. "Won't the engagement of Hinata and dickless compete with your engagement Ugly."

"Most likely." Sasuke said.

Sakura countered, "Neji and Tenten's wedding will come first. Even if you were to propose to Hinata now, Hiyashi probably will not announce the engagement until afterwards. Right now Mikoto and Fugaku are only concerned about showing up the grandeur of Neji's wedding. If they were to hear that Hinata was to be wed…"

Sakura shuddered at the implicants of the lavishness. From the guest list Mikoto had already drawn up, Sakura knew the wedding was going to be bigger than anything she could have ever expected. "Yes, they will probably feel the need to put on a more lavish wedding. But, at the same time that means Naruto will be engaged to the woman he loves."

"Bet you are going to love that." Sasuke sneared.

Sakura stood before him, arms crossed, not letting him back down. They were going to hash this out, Sakura was not going to spend all day stuck in a seal because he refused to talk.

"Well since your sarcasm won't settle itself, how about you air your shit out next."

"Hn?"

"Get it out." She stared at Sasuke. "Go ahead, I'll wait."

"Whatever."

"No Sasuke, you can't 'hn' and 'whatever' your way out of that one. Say what you need to Sasuke. Tell me how you think I'm a slut. How I'm ruining my life. How I am a horrible person for agreeing to marry your brother because my happiness has to come second to yours. Go ahead!" She stomped her foot a little too hard, breaking the ground in front of her.

It caused the seal to shrink their space again. It knocked the group into yet a tighter space. Two people would be comfortable. Four was definitely a crowd.

All reservation snapped, Sasuke rounded. "How could you Sakura. Its Itachi. You're just biding by his side to become the next head of my clan."

"It's more-"

"No, you wanted me to speak? Then shut up and listen. I've lived my entire life as part of this clan and…" The anger was boiling inside of him, it was obvious. He could not form a complete sentences. "After years of living in his shadow… and you, of all people...I wanted… I thought we..."

With pain, Sakura swallowed the tears building behind her eyes.

"But what would you know? Any of you?" The anger in his voice rising, moving his accusatory gaze between his teammates.

"Sasuke we know. We understand. Because we were right there with you." Naruto attempted to remind him of all the times she and the team were right there by his side.

"I'm not the one sucking face with their beloved heir just to make them happy." While he was addressing Naruto, all of his venom towards his female teammate.

Sakura knew she hurt Sasuke when she asked Itachi to kiss her during her engagement dinner. That was why she did it. He had hurt her with his words, so she hurt him with her actions.

"I am engaged to Itachi, Sasuke. Yes I kissed him." Sakura stated. She looked at Kakashi, questioning the conditions of the area. She did not know how much more Sasuke could take, he did not do 'emotions' very well. "And yes I did it because it was expected at our engagement celebration in your clan. Yes, I did it exactly after your words wounded me. For that I am sorry, it was wrong and selfish." She tried to force as much earnest emotion into her words to make Sasuke believe her but she was not done.

"However, I will not apologize for kissing Itachi. I did what I thought was needed in the situation. Just like I've kissed you, or Sai, or Yamato before on missions. Like I've given mouth to mouth to Naruto or Kakashi-sensei to keep them alive."

"Looks like you did more than just kiss," His eyes shot to her neck, pointing out the bruise. Her hands flew to the spot. Shit. She had forgot to heal it, distracted by another Uchiha this morning.

No use hiding it now.

"You are choosing to be with him." Sasuke's accused her. His comment was slightly off topic but it was the tailed beast in the room.

"Yes, I am." Sakura said. Surprised she could say the words aloud but still she said them with confidence. She had made the choice and so far, she did not regret it.

She could do without the whole 'Uchiha babies as soon as possible' thing.

"Why?" He demanded.

Sakura had given a lot of time to think about how to answer that question. "I am attracted to Itachi Sasuke. Yes there are times when we have to put on a show, but I also want to get to know him more."

Sasuke's fists clenched in anger. She knew he wanted to punch something, but knew better than to punch the walls of the seals. His Sharingan activated.

"How did this happen Sakura?! How can you go for wanting to deconstruct his face to being okay with marrying him. You have no idea what type of life you are signing up for!"

"Gaara refused me." It was the first time she had confirmed verbally what the rest of them already knew. "He said that I would rot away in the very same life in Suna away from you and all I loved. He did not want that for me. When we returned, Itachi sought me out. We had an honest conversation about where we stood and what we wanted. Yes, he knows I'm not happy with his decision. But either way I cannot change it. So I can either fight him the entire way to the altar and make a fool of myself or we can actually get to know one another. Which is exactly what Itachi and I have decided to do. And yes, we are enjoying getting to know one another.

Her voice was stern and strong as she defended her feelings towards not just Sasuke, but all 5 of them in a way. She knew they were all listening. "I don't know if you will actually believe me. I hope you at least trust me to know myself and have agency over my heart. The simplest way I can put it is that I have seen a different side of Itachi. One that you probably have not seen. And Itachi is not the man you think he is, the brother he has been to you, isn't all of him."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow as his monosyllabic 'hn' sounded. "You will still rot away."

Sakura forced a smile. "Your brother does not want a woman who will just placate his, or the clan's every wish. He knows I'm defiant and non-complacent. He would never ask me to retire from my kunoichi life."

"The council might."

"Yes," Sakura agreed. "But he is not the council. I think," Sakura began to put her suspicions into words. "I think he is planning some big changes to the clan. He has not told me yet. But analyzing his actions, it makes me think he has something bigger planned."

Naruto finally chimed in. "What do you mean Sakura?"

"Hn," Sasuke turned away.

"Actually," it was Sai's voice to speak up. "I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, as we had come up with a plan to hide Emo's brother's body if needed." Sakura rolled her eyes, looking out at Yamato and Kakashi who both just shrugged.

Sai turned to Sasuke. "You describe your brother as an individual who only wants to please your clan. He does everything the clan wants, if that is so, why did he defy your father's wishes for so long just to marry someone outside of the clan? Curious isn't it?"

"Ignoring the hide the body comment," Sakura rolled her eyes. Internally, Sakura was pleased at least one of her teammates were able to look at the situation objectively. "That is what I was thinking too Sai. If Itachi solely wanted to please the clan he would have married someone long ago. Instead he waited. He defied your father for what purpose? Haven't you wondered? Why is he so intent on marrying outside of the clan?"

Naruto nodded. "If anyone has reasons to dislike your stupid clan, it's us."

"Right," Sakura nodded encouraging the train of thought.

"Teme's brother is no fool. He would know Sakura hates your clan. It seemed like he purposefully pissed you off."

Sakura made sure to make eye contact with Sasuke as she said, "He did apologize for-"

"Itachi does not apologize," Sasuke scoffed.

Sakura shot back. "He did to me. He apologized for his behavior. For not approaching me previously. He apologized to me because he was keeping secrets from me."

"But he still would not let you out of the engagement." Naruto clarified.

"He asked me to give him two years. Those two years would include the engagement, and marriage. But if I was not happy after two years, he would let me walk away."

Everyone stared at her blankly, "Itachi asked me to give him two years. If I was not happy after two years he will let me go." She kept the other parts to herself. They did not need to hear those details.

Interesting development, Kakashi mused to himself, listening in from afar.

Everything about this made Sasuke's skin crawl. Itachi did not apologize, and he did not let things go. Not things he seemed to wait so long to have anyway. It is obvious that Sakura is seeing a different Itachi.

"He will take control of the clan by that point. I'm not sure if he will let you go." Sasuke tried his best to be gentle and honest with her. "Or the clan will let him let you go."

"He does not plan to let me go." Words went to escape through her mouth, and she held them back. Their honesty warmed her, burned through her. Sent sensations through her body. In the spirit of honesty, knowing they would not like to hear it she quietly responded, "I am not sure if I will want to leave him."

Her implication hung in the air. It was a weight that lifted off of their own shoulders but rested on their team. From this point forward, Team 7 would never be exactly the same but she knew, she accepted that it was not a bad thing. Naturally people evolve with new experiences. Their team was not breaking up. Their bonds were not disappearing.

Naruto, Sasuke, even Sai all looked defeated before her.

"Like I said, Itachi is just a man Sasuke and I see a different man than you do. I want to get to know this man. The circumstances could be better but he's been nothing but supportive of me. Thank you for asking how I feel by the way, just so we are clear."

That must have been what Kakashi had seen in her. This was the underlying issue for Sakura. She was understanding and empathetic to a fault. Yes she got angry in the moment but right now, when she knew her friends needed empathy, there was a part of her that was raging on the inside. The part of her that was supposed to be their friend. And they had not been treating her as fairly as she had them. It was that Sakura that spoke next.

"Heaven forbid you, or you, or you" She turned pointing at Naruto, and Sai, "even let me enjoy have a relationship with a man. Every man I've dated, I've had to see in secret. I could not even tell you about them! My own team! My best friends! Not once since I got back did any of you ask if I was okay after Suna. Asked me if I was okay with this engagement or how things were going. Not. One. You just decided what was best for me without even consulting me as you always do!"

Sai, who rarely spoke in these situations spoke up."Naruto and Sasuke said it was what we did to protect our own. That nobody was good enough for you."

Sakura looked at Sai, processing and then to Naruto and Sasuke who both looked defeated. "Is that true?"

"Sakura-chan," her fox brother lifted his eyes to meet hers. "We did it for you. To protect you from getting hurt. What if you chose the wrong guy?"

"Naruto, Sai, Sasuke," Sakura made sure to make eye contact with each. "You need to let me make those choices."

"But what if he hurts you!" Naruto asked.

"Then you can wipe the floor with him after I beat him up."

"We cannot beat up Teme's stupid brother Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed. "He's one of the best in the village."

"Speak for yourself dobe," Sasuke mumbled under his breath.

Sakura had to agree. "Naruto, Team 7 is the best team in the whole village. While the only one who might be able to take Itachi one on one is Kakashi-sensei- chill Sasuke, you will be able to soon- but nobody can hold a candle to Team 7. And Team 7 does not back down from a challenge."

Then, it was Naruto who spoke. "Sakura-chan. Each one of us only has ever wanted the best for you. We wanted to protect you."

"I know Naruto-kun."

"Sakura," her best friend addressed her, "I'm sorry. It was unfair of me to bring up Gaara."

Sakura offered him a smile and a nod. "Thank you Sasuke but I never actually told you guys that story either and I need to apologize for that."

"It's okay Sakura-chan."

Naruto nodded and gave her his trademark smile. Sai attempted one as well, she knew Kakashi was listening and already supported her.

"If Itachi is who you want at the end of these two years, then we will stand behind you." It was Sasuke who spoke, his strong voice carried right to her heart.

The tears began to fall in gentle lines down her face. She knew they only wanted the best for her.

He continued. "He's a special kind of bastard but if anyone can hold him down it is you."

The silence that followed allowed each of them to decompress from the emotional filled moments they just endured. To come down from the high and ground themselves once again.

"Teme is there anything else you need to say?"

Sasuke took a moment. "I want to go for ANBU."

A moment of understanding passed between all of them. "Why? We've always said-"

"Yes I know. I want people to fear me, and the team. I just want to do it to prove that I can. That I'm just ask good as my cousins. I don't want to make it my career. Just get in, get the experience, and then get out."

Silent eye contact was made between the four of them. In ANBU, they did not get to choose to be on a team together. But even the ANBU captains could not doubt their teamwork. But while it was what Sasuke wants, Sakura knew it was not what she wanted. She had been on ANBU missions before, with ANBU Team Crow even. She knew she did not want to make a career out of ANBU.

They had aired what they needed to and would come out stronger because of it. Still, the seals remained.

"Okay Kaka-sensei we're done!" Naruto shouted with accomplishment. "You can let us go."

Kakashi sighed, "No, you are not."

Naruto's face fell in confusion, then all the faces turned to look at Sai.

"I am dating Ino-chan."

"What?!" the chores of three teammates rang.

"How long has this been going on?" Sakura was floored. Ino had not even told her! And Ino was getting on her case about not disclosing what had happened with Itachi and Gaara sooner?

"In truth it is more recent. Ino-chan wanted to take things slow. But we have been seeing each other for the last 6 months. I am to meet her family within the month."

Treading carefully, though still in disbelief she asks, "What is it about Ino-chan you admire?"

"It is hard to describe. I feel like she," he struggled to find the words. "She understands me. Ino understands what goes on in my head. And she is patient with me as I learn, as I come back from the dark places."

"Very good Sai." Kakashi smiled. Although secretly he was even a little shocked. "We will talk about her father and clan history a little more later okay?"

Sai nodded, appreciative of the gesture. He did not know much of Inochi, but knew enough to be more than a little nervous.

Only after that point were the seals released. Their bonds restored.

Their white-haired sensei, jumped down from the trees to land in front of them. "I told you once that teamwork, the bonds we share as shinobi are the most important. Today you learned that it is okay to have new and different bonds, as long as you don't forget about the bonds you have already have."

Four heads nodded in understanding.

"And if you ever make me do this again, it will be much worse than a seal."

Four sets of eyes widened in fear.

-xXx-


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-Ari