29. Long Distance Love

Rating: T

Verse: Omake to Dreamt (prior knowledge of Dreamt is necessary for understanding of this omake)

Inspiration/Idea: me

Sakura put the end of the pen into her mouth. Phrasing the letter to Madara was a real challenge when she knew that it would be read at minimum by Tsunade and Kakashi. And at max - read aloud in front of the entire council. Sakura cringed at the thought. On top of it all, she didn't still have a great feel about how Madara saw the husband-wife interactions, especially in public. She should try to keep it formal.

My husband,

I am happy to inform you that I've arrived safely to Konoha. I received a warm welcome and I wanted to thank you once again for your commitment to rebuilding the relations with Konoha for my sake. I cannot even express how happy I was to see the faces of my family and friends.

Hokage and the Council agreed to commence the negotiations, and we had the first meeting yesterday. I presented your positions according to what we've previously discussed. There was no time for anything else, because, together with the questions and my clarifications (The Council was not aware of the nature of Black Zetsu nor of anything that had transpired between you two) it took entire day.

The next meeting is scheduled in two days, and I will inform you about all the proceedings as soon as they take place.

This letter and all the following ones will be read and accepted for sending by both the and future Hokages.

Your wife,

Sakura

Sakura,

I am very relieved to hear that you are alright. Please do mention how are you feeling in your next letter.

Opening of the negotiations was the only logical step Konoha could take, I am nevertheless glad that they realized it so soon. I wasn't expecting that level of correct judgment from them. Let us hope that this is an indicator of swift and reasonable negotiations.

Forgive the brevity of my letter, but since no Konoha's position has been presented yet, I have nothing to comment on.

Take good care of yourself.

Yours,

Madara

My beloved husband,

I have to admit that today's meeting was difficult.

Sakura put the pen down. It was downward horrid actually. She sat there like an accused on one side of the table, while the entire Council – Tsunade-shishou, Kakashi-sensei, the councilors plus heads of all the clans sat on the other. Good that they didn't make her stand. But it didn't make the accusations that they threw at her any easier to bear. On some level she knew that they weren't directed at her personally. The real recipients were Madara and Obito. But still, the hatred and aggression poured on her head, bathed her whole, because she was the one present. She also had an impression that some (many? how many?) people saw her marriage to Madara as an act of treason.

Sakura took a deep breath. It was all so sad. But she knew it would be difficult when she proposed negotiating Madara's return to Konoha. He, himself would have never attempted it – it was her project, and it was all for her own sake.

… Konoha expresses its strongest possible contempt towards Obito's actions and demands the rightful punishment. The charges include desertion, orchestrating the Kyūbi attack that caused 238 dead, circa 1300 wounded, and the material damage of 50 million ryo (which I think is exaggerated), as well as leading an international terrorist organization, starting the war and releasing of Jūbi.

I pointed out that no amount of punishment would do justice to Obito's past crimes, but I argued against including the consequences of the 4th War, as the Jūbi had been withdrawn voluntary and hostilities ended from our side.

Nevertheless, the prevailing sentiment in Konoha is a desire to have Obito dead.

Your involvement in the war was touched only superficially, but the focus was put on you being the mastermind behind Mugen Tsukuyomi Plan. Here I argued again, that the Plan has been stopped at your own accord, and at the point of time when you had a clear upper hand.

Even though this letter is open to the eyes of others, I would like to assure you of my feelings towards you.

Yours,

Sakura

PS. I am doing really well, the morning sickness didn't trouble me at all the last days. Tsunade-sama examined me yesterday, and both the children and me are perfectly fine.

Sakura,

I am sorry to hear that the meeting was straining for you. I wish you all the patience and self-control when dealing with the council. Please have always your health on your mind, and don't let the ordeal push you out of equilibrium.

Please remind the esteemed Council, that the reason they are able to sit in their chairs is because I ended the war. And in case this argument is not persuasive enough, please mention the number of tailed beasts that I am currently holding.

I apologize for the above. I believe that direct threats won't be the most efficient method. I am sure you will find a better and more political way to bring these points to their attention.

As for Obito, I think it is worth emphasizing that the valuable Uchiha gene pool is alive in very few people at this point of time, and that Konoha would benefit from him being alive, and living as a citizen of the village.

Yours,

Madara

Sakura tapped against the tabletop with her pen. Fuck the council. Fuck the formalities. She missed him and she wanted to tell him that. And she wasn't ashamed of loving her husband!

My love,

I know that I should write about the negotiations, and that this is what you are probably most eager to hear, but I just wanted to tell you that I love you. And I wish so much that you were here.

Today's meeting wasn't too bad. It seems that some people got certain things out of their systems and felt better afterwards.

I did raise the point of the tailed beasts, and since I knew that I have quite some room for negotiations there, I let them chew on the possibilities and break their heads over the consequences. It lasted the whole day, but in the end the Council believes they won a major battle when I agreed on letting the beasts go. They didn't know of course, that it was your intention all along. I was able to negotiate your recognition as the Head of restored Uchiha Clan, return of clan's rights and property for that.

Forever yours,

Sakura

Sakura,

I am sure you have these negotiations firmly in grip. I am happy that you bargained so much for the beasts. Letting them go in these circumstances will be even more satisfying. Not only I will finally correct Hashirama's fatal mistake of sealing them in the first place, but also win benefits from the village.

How are the things looking for Obito? He agrees on every kind of detainment and restrictions of his liberties. It seems that he doesn't care what will happen with him, which makes this point significantly less complicated.

Your loving husband,

Madara

Sakura put the letter down because she needed a moment to simply grin. She wrote a paragraph of love confessions to which he didn't refer to in any way. Except that his closing phrase was for the first time different.

My love,

Today the first version of the agreement has been formulated. You cannot imagine how happy I was to see it finally on paper, after all these weeks. I feel that it brings us so much closer to our goal.

I attach the copy of the draft. I believe the most of the conditions are more than acceptable for us, but please pay attention to the financial aspects of restoration of Uchiha compound. I might have missed something there, as I've seen in inhabited only as a child. Maybe Obito can be of help in this matter?

From the side of the Council I can foresee some serious qualms coming only from the side of the Hyūga clan. And of course, from the elders, but that was only to be expected. And ignored.

I am optimistic about our progress and it makes me feel so very happy.

Yours,

Sakura

PS. Hi Uchiha-san! How are you? Don't worry about Sakura-chan, she is doing great here! Getting really round around her waist, as well! And Tsunade-o-baachan got some grey hair because of Sakura-chan's mad negotiation skills! Oops I shouldn't be telling you this, right? I hope they won't read my ramblings… Anyways! Me and Sasuke-teme are still kind of mad at you that you stole Sakura-chan from us, but you better hurry up and don't be too hard with those negotiations and just come here already because she is missing you like hell! And, gee Uchiha-san, I almost forgot – Kurama and me want to tell you: THANK YOU for the beasts! Cheers from Uzumaki Naruto!

PS2. Madara, I'm so sorry! Naruto wrote this bullshit above when I was in the toilet! And now I don't have time to re-write the letter because the meeting is in 5 minutes! I'm sorry, just ignore him.

PS3. But I do miss you.

PS4. I just got the message that the Hyūga accepted!

Sakura,

Please find attached the signed agreement. I will be coming the day after tomorrow.

Yours,

Madara

PS. I cannot wait.

AN: So... long time no see... A tiny return of Dreamt! Please tell me what do you think about it.