I Do Not Own Naruto
Chapter 6
Hatake Kakashi, formerly of the Sharingan, famed Copy Ninja, Friend Killer, Cold Blooded, Hero of the Sharingan, and the Sixth Hokage, son of The White Fang of the Konoha, Hatake Sakumo, leader of Team 7, and war hero in the Third and Fourth Great Shinobi Wars was not a man who took to being trifled with. And he was being trifled with.
Kakashi understood the importance of many of the marriage alliances, giving fresh blood to the villages, and Clans which inhabited them, it was also cementing the peace to last; perhaps for longer than a single generation. He was a practical man and knew that it would not prevent future conflicts between the many shinobi nations, though there was hopes that it could slow down the conflict. He just wanted to be in his grave before the Fifth Great Shinobi War happened. Two wars was two too many for one life time.
He loved his Team, dearly, loved them like they were his own family.
Naruto was his constant orange shadow these past two and a half years, and it had been an enlightening learning experience truly; for both him and Naruto. The requirements for his job was immense, and he had a feeling that when Naruto would be Hokage they would be even greater.
Kakashi felt closest to Sasuke though he and Sasuke rarely corresponded; he understood that child the best. Cold, indifferent, scarred Sasuke was the child he understood the best for it was like looking in a distorted mirror at times. He was very proud of Sasuke though for learning to release his hatred, for learning to find peace, and for becoming a better man than Kakashi had hoped he could be.
Sakura was the daughter Kakashi had never had, he would admit it, he adored her. He felt the most pride where she was concerned. She was temperamental, strong, stubborn, expressive, innocent in many ways that the war had not destroy, and still believed in love. He found her to be the student he was proudest of, not because of her ability to be hard but rather the softness in her the war had not been able to destroy. But he also felt an overwhelming fear since Shikamaru had proposed the political marriages between villages and prominent shinobi Clans for her.
Konoha did not have to worry about Naruto being married outside their village, the Hyƫga heiress had managed to ensnare him and marry him.
But the high demands for Uchiha Sasuke's marriage; by both the Council and the Shinobi Union was unnerving. None of the marriage proposals were good for Sasuke, as a person, not that anyone cared about that. No, both the Shinobi Union and Council were looking at candidates they controlled and who had the best genetic compatibility with the Sharingan. Hishiro Manami was their prime candidate, someone who would likely irritate Sasuke. The other trade off, the one that Kakashi was fearing, was the Shinobi Union; specifically the Raikage, was taking this as an opportunity to try to gain leverage over Sasuke by taking control of Sakura.
Not that it was likely to work, at least from Sasuke's point of view; Kakashi was not so much a fool as to think his former student was in love with his teammate, but there was little doubt in Kakashi's mind that Sasuke did hold Sakura in a place of deep respect and friendship at this point. Love it may not be, but there was something profound between the two. The Raikage's desire to control Sasuke covertly through Sakura was not a good plan. Kakashi could see it as plain as day, and he was unimpressed; no doubt when Sasuke saw Sakura's match, he too, would see the attempt at controlling him.
Which is why Kakashi was working with Tsunade to get Sakura out of the arranged marriages.
Arguments of her not being from a prominent Shinobi Clan were valid as her parents, and ancestors were all civilians and bakers that could be traced back to before the Senju alliance. The other arguments of her not being a prominent shinobi; having no kekkei genkai or unique abilities had been presented; which Tsunade dismissed out of hand on principle of Sakura being the only one to obtain that seal on her brow. Her title as 'Greatest Medic' was also detrimental to getting her out of arranged marriages as many nations would happily sacrifice an entire Clan to have a kunoichi of her caliber.
And the look Sasuke was giving him now confirmed that Sasuke was aware of the Council's attempt to control him, but the exhausted, exacerbated look he had was for the idea of someone else attempting to exert the control through Sakura. It gave Kakashi hope that he could sway his pupil into doing something drastic; if only to save Sakura.
Her already arranged marriage to the Raikage's apprentice, Darui, was one bought and paid for between their villages; and it disgusted Kakashi because he had only found out about it recently; the Council had accepted the payments, and they had hidden their actions away as best they could by presenting the money as Hishiro's dowry to marry Sasuke.
"They intend to use her as leverage, on me?" Sasuke asked coldly.
"Yes," Kakashi answered. "Do not look so surprised," he ordered. "Every shinobi with their grain of salt knows that she's in love with you and will do anything for you. The hope is for you to reciprocate this," Kakashi stated.
"I don't."
"I know. But that is not the point, you would help her in anyway you could; you owe her. You stated as much to the Shinobi Allied Forces at your trial before it was the Shinobi Union. The hope is in possessing her, it would be an exert of control over you and your actions."
Sasuke said nothing as his eyes narrowed.
"The Uchiha are known for hatred and love, both of those emotions are known to run deep in your Clan along with duty and honor."
Sasuke loathed to admit it to himself but the idea of Sakura being the Raikage's hostage, or anyone's for that matter, to gain leverage over him was unsettling. She might be indestructible, she might be capable of destroying entire nations with a single punch, but if she were a hostage for another village then he would likely lose access to his friend. And lose access to Team 7, which had become the core of keeping him sane. Naruto was already busy, and Kakashi was Hokage. Though he and Sakura had not corresponded frequently while he was on his journeys did not mean that he was entirely out of touch with her. He had occasionally written her, like the letter for her birthday, or the other letters from his travels about places he was and rare herbs she might be interested in growing for her hospital.
They were friends.
"But I do not love her."
"That is not what the Shinobi Union thinks; but they have based all this speculation on your plea at your trial and her known love of you."
"I had originally come to speak to you about the fact I do not love her," Sasuke muttered as he now looked Kakashi in the eye. "I was coming to ask you for your blessing to marry her, despite the fact I do not love her."
Kakashi blinked.
"I do not wish to marry the Council's selection for me, she might be genetically compatible, but I do not trust the Council's lap dog. I do not mind working for the Shinobi Union or being an agent for the Shinobi Union, but I will not tolerate Konoha's attempt at controlling me, again."
"And if you don't love her, why would you ask when you know I'd say no?" Kakashi asked.
"I ask because I trust her, she is my friend, and I ask because she loves me, I would like a chance to repay her for everything." Kakashi seemed to mull this over in his mind. Sasuke sighed as he continued. "I owe her much, much more than anyone can understand."
"I will not say that her marrying you is ideal, Sasuke. But you are the lesser of the evils, and I know that you'll take care of her."
"Aa," he nodded.
"But if you harm her I will end you," Kakashi warned.
"Aa," he nodded.
"If you get her to agree I will have all the documents ready and officiate the marriage, no matter what it'll have to be fast before the council catches onto what we are doing. They've already taken payment from the Raikage for Sakura's hand."
He nodded.
"Do not force her though, Sasuke," Kakashi warned.
"I don't think anyone can force her to do anything," he muttered as he got up to hunt her down. They would have to sort this out sooner rather than later, he knew that now. There was an urgency to break Sakura out of this match, and himself out his match.
Sakura was informed that her match results would be announced at the end of the week, which was fine by her. Walking through Konoha she pondered if she should buy anything else for Sasuke but reasoned that she didn't need to.
"Ugly!" a voice had her turning just in time for Sai.
"You do know I could knock you to Suna for that nickname, right?" she asked.
"I have not seen you," he said.
"I've been busy and you and Ino are supposed to be on your honeymoon," she point out as they started walking together.
"Ino and I are most happy, we just returned," he supplied.
"You did?" she mused.
"Yes, it was a wonderful place, I think we should go there sometime."
"Sai, I don't think your wife would appreciate you asking out other girls," she mused.
"Ino and you are friends though, correct?"
"The best of friends," she admitted.
"Then she will not mind if I invite my sister with me somewhere," he decided.
"Not quite how that works, but how about lunch instead of a trip to the hot springs?" she offered.
"We should get Ino," he said.
"You do that, I'll meet your guys at my parents' bakery," she chuckled as he walked off. For the odd pair that was Sai and Ino she was really happy for her friends. They were cute and surprisingly very happy. Ino and Sai were a very good match, and the best part was Ino wasn't put off by any of Sai's stranger habits or questions while Sai wasn't phased by anything Ino did in return.
Her best friend had married a man who was pretty much her brother, Sakura thought that was immense irony in the cosmic balance.
Walking into the bakery she sighed as she took a corner seat; her parents had recently started expanding it to have a restaurant; her mom had always wanted one of those. She just watched the city as it bustled with life, and happiness; three years had changed a lot of things.
But it hadn't changed her. Never her.
She looked up when Sai and Ino came in and smiled seeing their happiness; as they seemed completely enamoured with one another. Envy struck her as she watched them; why couldn't she have that?
"Sakura!" Ino smiled broadly.
"How was the honeymoon!?" she asked giddily.
"It was amazing, Sai said that he invited you to the hotspirngs, and I agree, we should all go there; have a self love month," Ino decided.
"I am not traveling with a newly married couple! I have enough issues with Naruto and Hinata not being able to contain themselves!"
"Well, this is me and Sai."
"Sai's like my brother, and I've seen a bit too much of my other brother's ass to want to start traveling with this one," Sakura pointed out.
"You hold a fair point," Ino conceded.
"Talk to me when you two have a kid, then I'll be cool Aunt Sakura and take the kid to the hot springs!" she decided smugly.
