"When I come back Sakura, you better be wide awake," Sasuke said as he left the room.
What was that supposed to mean? Be awake for what?
Sakura sighed as she stared out the window. She couldn't see much, but from what she could, it seemed Konoha was at peace. She wasn't sure what Sasuke had planned, but she could probably bet on it causing uproar.
With Naruto gone training, Sakura felt alone. She knew she couldn't handle Sasuke or change his mind at all. Naruto alone might be able to get through to him… all she could do was temporarily get him to calm down, and that was only a few times years ago. Sasuke seemed more distant than ever before now.
Killing his own brother who turned out to be the person who cared for him most… living a cursed life solely to see that Sasuke would be able to live his own… That was why Itachi was acting strange. Sasuke had to be stopped, she would do anything.
And what about Kaiya… She didn't want her to be left in danger if chaos was about to strike the village. Sasuke had to get her.
She was pulled from her thoughts when the door opened. It was Sasuke. It wasn't so dark in the room, and for the first time she could see him properly. His face… was so sad. Anyone else would probably think he was a sociopath, but the non expression on his face was that of pure pain. It had finally consumed him. His soul bled for what he lost and now he didn't even acknowledge any other kind of emotions.
"What, Sakura?" Sasuke asked, annoyed with her staring.
Sakura looked away quickly, "Nothing."
"Here," Sasuke said, tossing her something.
She glanced at the small box she caught.
"Put it on, now," Sasuke said, looking out the window.
Sakura opened the box and found a ring. Naturally, it looked extremely expensive, like a family heirloom. She did as he said and put it on. As she did
so, Sasuke turned back to face her and she was surprised to see that he was wearing a wedding band as well.
A low breeze blew through the open window, blowing his bangs across his forehead. Even if he never loved her, there was no way she would ever tire of his presence. In fact, she would put up with anything from him.
"Are you sure you can do this, Sakura? Just to be clear, things are going to be very different in Konoha. You will not have a choice in agreeing with me at all times. Sakura, you will be my wife before you will be yourself for the rest of your life. Do you understand that?"
Sakura stared at him, feeling more nerve wracked than ever before. The man she loved more than life itself was standing before her, in need of her for the first time in her life. There was never a question about if she would do this. It was would Sasuke want her.
"I do," Sakura said.
Sasuke closed his eyes, "humph."
Sakura was surprised when he formed several hand seals. She narrowed her eyes as several black, wispy tendrils of a smoke like substance rose from the rings and began to wrap themselves around her skin. Black markings stretched across her body, searing her skin and burning into it like tattoos. She glanced back at Sasuke and was surprised to see the same thing happening to him.
She cried out in pain as they markings continuously stretched across her body. By the time it was over, she was on her hands and knees, a thin layer of sweat on her face.
Pushing herself up to her knees, she looked at Sasuke questioningly.
Sasuke looked slightly unnerved himself as he examined Sakura.
"What?" she asked. She looked at her skin, Sasuke's markings had vanished, but hers were still black as night.
"Don't worry, they will go away," Sasuke said.
Sakura jumped up and ran to the mirror, pulling her shirt over her head. They covered her. And on her forehead… was the Uchiha crest encircled with the twisting black tendrils.
"What is this, Sasuke?" she asked.
Sasuke stared at her back, surprised at how immensely the markings covered her. He knew the more devoted the female was, the stronger the jutsu would bind her to him. But after all the weddings he had witnessed this jutsu at, never had he seen it like this. The extent of the jutsu normally just kept the male aware of what his wife was doing, to ensure she was not sleeping with another man as to not soil the bloodline, but when it was this strong... Sasuke wondered what would happen to Sakura with how strong his jutsu was on her…
"It's a jutsu that binds two people. The Uchiha clan has always used it in marriage. Neither one of us will be able to commit adultery to ensure the bloodline is not soiled or disrupted," Sasuke said.
He could tell Sakura was relieved. Already the markings were beginning to fade.
"So this is what you meant… that your will would make it so," Sakura said, turning to face him.
Sasuke noticed the fan on her forehead as it faded and was slightly shocked. He had definitely never seen that before. Sasuke's gaze lowered to meet Sakura's. He wasn't surprised she was willing to do this for him. He was just surprised how well she was handling it. Her eyes were forlorn, but not for herself. She was sad for him. It was like she could feel his pain and was the only one who saw through him. He had grown used to his team and their ignorance of his past, but Sakura could see right through him and it was unsettling to him.
"You shouldn't be so concerned about me. You have a lot more than that to be worried about," Sasuke said, breaking their intense gaze.
"What do you mean, Sasuke?"
"If I die, you will be left with my only child and the last of the Uchiha clan. I chose you also because I knew I could trust you with something so important," Sasuke said.
Sakura's lips parted as she realized how serious he was. "You're not going to die."
Sasuke looked at her slightly irritated. "Sakura, I will most likely not succeed in my plans. The odds are against me."
"If I understand what you are trying to do, Sasuke, then Naruto and I will help you. It's time this village acted on its principles and a revolution was won. Konoha should be in hands of those who carry out what it stands for… Then the Uchiha clan will be raised where it belongs. We will not leave Konoha, Sasuke. And you will not die."
Sasuke glared at her. So much for being an obedient wife.
"Where is Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"He is training. I don't know when he will be back and I have no way to contact him. Why?"
"I need to warn him… the Akatsuki leader is after him. I do not want the Akatsuki to have all of the demon spirits. I need Naruto for my plan to succeed. Only one other besides myself can control the Kyuubi and I cannot let him get control of it. If that happens… we are all dead.
"Sakura, you are to stay here no matter what. You can leave this room, but not the residence. It is your home now, after all," Sasuke said, about to leave her alone again.
"Sasuke… wait."
He stopped and waited. "What is it, Sakura?"
"There is something you should know… Itachi… has a daughter. She is on the fifth floor of the hospital in the nursery. I would get her before you do anything and bring her here. Her name is Kaiya… Itachi entrusted her to me and asked me not to tell you about her…. But I am guessing that was part of his plan that failed."
Sasuke stood unmoving. He had seen Asuka's grave… he had thought she had died before giving birth. This child… existed. That meant that he wasn't the last of his clan. Itachi didn't completely cease to exist… he had left a part of himself behind in the form of this child. And he had left her in the care of someone he was deeply connected to. Had he intended for him to ultimately care for her… If that was what Itachi wanted, he would do it. But that still didn't change his plans. He would still do this his way.