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"Have a seat, Itachi," the Uchiha clan head broke the silence after taking a seat in his office.
Fugaku's office was as simple as it was impeccable. Other than seat cushions around a tea table and a few soft lights on the walls, the office was bare and pristine. To some, it would seem like a sign of a pragmatic or unsentimental personality. The reality, however, was that as Head of the clan, Fugaku had to assume many interests, perspectives, and voices to represent his people appropriately. Any personal trinkets from his family or gifts from the occasional grateful clan member moved to generosity could be perceived as a weakness at its worst and favoritism at its best.
Additionally, the room's emptiness served to draw all attention to the clan head seated at the center of the room. The set up gave an ambiance of seriousness that unnerved or intimidated many.
Used to the unintentional but ever-present theatrics of the room, Itachi calmly settled on the floor directly across from his father.
They sat in neither comfortable nor uncomfortable silence as the Uchiha head contemplated which approach to take for the conversation they were about to have.
"You look well," Fugaku began, "considering the ruckus you and your team made at the hospital upon returning. Your left arm took quite a beating."
Silence ensued as the two Uchiha assessed each other, one looking for hidden meanings and the other for veiled disclosures.
It was in these moments that Itachi realized just how much he took after his father.
Fugaku's approach to difficult conversations, while once fiery and direct like the element he wielded, had been tempered over time by his role in mediating many Uchiha clan meetings. Itachi had not had any need to use anything more convoluted than a direct approach. It was not that the Uchiha heir did not know how to weave his short replies into carefully worded, passive-aggressive, teeter-tottering words.
Itachi simply refused to waste time on such decorum.
His words, the Uchiha heir found, were one of the few things in which he could harmlessly but firmly defy his clan's ways. From Itachi and Shisui's point of view, there were too many hidden intents, agendas, and objectives that more often than not led to needless disagreements and misunderstandings. The Uchiha head would ultimately bear the burden of such conflicts. Therefore, whenever possible, Itachi resolved to save his father the time and energy by beating him to the punch.
Understanding his father's tactic, Itachi took a more direct approach to his father's.
"You know," Itachi plainly stated.
"About Sakura and her prodigy-like medical chakra?" Fugaku eased further onto his lower legs as he decided to follow his son's approach. "Yes."
"How?"
"A nurse from the day shift caught Sakura during a healing session. Word reached the clan elders by dinner time."
Itachi's eyes briefly squinted in confusion before casting his father a skeptical gaze. "Was this the rumor that kept you busy the last few days?" Itachi asked in equal parts confusion and disbelief, not understanding why a civilian related business would capture his clan's attention so fiercely.
"It was indeed," Fugaku returned, mild irritation seeping into his words.
"Why?" Itachi asked, the corner of his eyes tightening as he failed to connect the dots.
"Seeing as the clan itself was divided on the matter," Fugaku offered, a huff of amusement escaping his lips, "that is an excellent question."
"And what matter might that be?"
Fugaku heaved a heavy sigh. "A no-clan child turned medical prodigy who so happened to be strongly affiliated with the Uchiha clan heir."
Itachi's eyebrows furrowed in apprehension. There were only so many ways this conversation could go, and the Uchiha heir did not like any of those possibilities.
"As you well know, there are few medical ninjas who are skilled enough to deal with advanced doujutsu like the Sharingan or the Byakugan," Fugaku further expanded in a detached voice that one expected when relaying an uneventful mission report. The matter was not inconsequential, which led Itachi to believe that his father's tone had more to do with his weariness in dealing with the issue. "None of which are fully trusted by the Uchiha clan."
Itachi's face hardened in concentration as the dots connected. "The clan wants to secure a medical prodigy that would be loyal to the Uchiha clan."
"That would be the ideal outcome, yes," Fugaku confirmed. Itachi knew there was more to the story when his father's eyes fluttered shut, a familiar expression of exasperation. "Rather, that was one part of the discussion."
"And the other parts?" Itachi asked, his eyes locked onto his father's expression.
Fugaku's eyes opened once again, and his jaw clenched before responding. "The other half want to restrict Haruno's access to the compound."
Itachi's torso stiffened as his back muscles tightened with tension at his father's words. Before Itachi could voice his disapproval at the notion, his father continued. "They believe there's a potential that Sakura and her family are serving as spies for the Village."
Itachi's mouth tightened as he pressed his lips together in annoyance. "It would have been too much of a risk on Konoha's behalf to hire a civilian family to keep tabs on a shinobi clan."
For such a mission to be possible, the village would have employed the Haruno clan before Sakura was even born. His mother, Mebuki-san and Kushina-sama, had started their friendship years before Itachi himself had been born. At which point, there was no reason to suspect that a civilian family would produce a child with excellent chakra control. No one in her family had ever shown any interest in anything shinobi related.
On top of that, the Haruno family was a known and established civilian entity in Konoha. If the Haruno's had been a true 'no-name civilian clan,' with no known background or history, then the suspicion for such a set up might have been more credible. As it stood, however, there had never been any reason in the past, nor in the present, to suspect foul play from the Haruno's.
"I agree, it makes no sense, but it is also not completely out of the question. The clan elders claim that Sakura was contracted to keep tabs on the Kyuubi and us after her prodigal skills were uncovered."
Itachi should not have been surprised by the degree of detail that conspiracy theories dreamed up by his clan possessed. Still, Itachi found it challenging to relax his tense facial features even as his father gave him more details he was eager to have.
"I dismissed that notion after disclosing to the clan that you had brought to my attention Sakura's affinity for chakra control only a year or two ago. I also shared with the clan that I had tasked you with keeping tabs on her development." Itachi mentally grimaced at the distrust that such words regarding his rose-haired friend could imply.
"Given that there were no significant updates from you, I assume her skills also took you by surprise as well." Fugaku trusted his son's observations and intuition.
He had no doubt Itachi would have brought to his attention any significant developments in Sakura's training, especially if he foresaw any possible danger to his friend.
Itachi nodded in assent. "Hai, Tou-san. She has excelled in all the chakra control exercises I've put her, Sasuke, and Naruto through. However, she never gave me any reason to believe that her medical skills were beyond theory. Even with minor scrapes and bruises on Naruto and Sasuke, she would dress with traditional first aid tools."
Fugaku brought an arm across his chest to support the hand cradling his chin. "I'm curious to know: if Sakura was not flaunting her medical chakra by healing her closest people from simple injuries, how do you suppose she advanced her healing chakra?"
"I've been wondering about that myself, Tou-san," Itachi answered honestly. "I planned on asking her that question before I left for my next mission."
"Make sure that you do." Itachi recognized, by his father's tone, that the matter was settled until further notice.
However, his father's still pensive expression kept Itachi on his guard.
"Regarding the clan's suspicion of espionage on behalf of the village through the Haruno's, I agree with you that the 'when' of that scenario holds no substance." Fugaku's gaze intensified as he lowered it to the ground beside the tea-table. "The 'how,' on the other hand, does."
Itachi stilled his features as he waited for his father's explanation. Regardless of whatever tact his father was hoping to summon before speaking, Itachi knew he would not like what came next.
"The clan claims that the village is keeping tabs on the Uchiha clan through you."
"Through me?" Itachi couldn't help the brief puckering of his eyebrows at his father's statement.
"Hai. The village has noticed that..." Fugaku briefly paused to consider the appropriate terms. "You keep a rather tight-knit group of acquaintances and friends. One of which just so happens to be Haruno Sakura."
A neat brow arches in question at his father's words. "I was not aware that my social life was such a riveting topic of discussion amongst the villagers."
Fugaku huffs out in amusement before adding to his cryptic words. "I do not blame you. When you were pushed to the rank of genin ahead of schedule, you were also displaced from your cohort. Then you survived the Chunin exams with a group you barely knew."
The Uchiha head leveled his son with a steady gaze, hoping to catch a glimpse of the wheels turning in Itachi's head. Neither obsidian eye before him betrayed its owner's thoughts.
"No," came Itachi's firm but straightforward reply.
Fugaku studied his son's expression in silence for a few beats more. Realizing Itachi had no intention of elaborating, Fugaku simply asked, "What exactly are you saying 'no' to?"
Indeed, what was Itachi saying 'no' to?
Itachi thought for a while before voicing his answer.
Was Itachi merely saying 'no' to the possibility of one of his closest and dearest friends spying on him and his clan? If such a situation were true, Itachi and Sakura would ultimately serve the same cause: to protect Konoha. Therefore, was Itachi saying 'no' because even if the conspiracy theory were true, there would be no reason to consider it a betrayal? Or, was he saying 'no' because he could sense that the worst part of this conversation with his father had yet to happen?
The Uchiha heir, finally aware of the tightening in his belly, was willing to bet it was the latter of the options.
"Tou-san, as head of our clan, I understand that you represent not only yourself and our family but also the best interests of our clan."
"That is correct," Fugaku answered after a beat. It went without saying that the Uchiha clan head represented more than just himself. For that reason, Fugaku wondered if Itachi was sizing him up for another matter altogether.
"In this particular setting, am I to assume that the proposition you have in mind also comes from the collective 'we' you represent?"
"I have not yet voiced my proposition," Fugaku spoke after a few more seconds of contemplation.
"I am not naive enough to not know where this conversation is going," Itachi quickly returned. The Uchiha heir leveled his father with a steady gaze. "I am fully aware that I am near the age for the proposition of marriage contracts between clan members."
Fugaku's eyebrows arch in surprise at his son's deductions.
"However," Itachi continued, "I am certain that the Uchiha clan is nowhere near ready to accept the prospect of an 'outsider' becoming a part of the clan," Itachi emphasizes the word with the frustration he feels at even having such a term to describe people. "Especially not when the association comes through the presumed heir. Therefore, the 'association' you claim the clan wants between myself and Sakura to secure a loyal medic-nin would be one that is neither respectful to her nor my future wife."
Itachi kept himself out of the picture, knowing full well that if need be, his feelings and freedom would readily be sacrificed by the clan if they saw fit.
"Our clan would have much to gain," Fugaku cautiously countered, his expression devoid of emotion. "The last time anyone showed this level of skill in medical chakra at a young age was the legendary Slug Sannin herself."
"We would gain far more than we could ever offer her."
Such an arrangement would reduce Sakura to being a tool rather than a human being. Itachi cared for Sakura too much to let his clan reduce her to such things.
"The Uchiha name is not a hollow surname, Itachi," Fugaku sternly replied. "It would represent reputation, protection, and unrivaled monetary support."
It made Itachi sick to his stomach to think of his clan claiming Sakura as its own, under the guise of offering protection and support no less. "Adding the Uchiha name over her head will create a bigger target over her head."
"If the rumors of her medical skills spread through all of Konoha in a matter of hours, how much time do you think will pass before foreigners attempt to claim such a young, impressionable and vulnerable resource for themselves?"
A cold shiver runs through Itachi as he considers the danger Sakura could be in.
"Itachi, a strong clan association could mean the difference between life and death for Sakura."
Even if her life were at risk without his clan's backing, Itachi feared that it would be in greater danger with it.
"She would be placed under undue pressure." Itachi returned; he was unwilling to lose in this round of verbal chess his father was so inclined to have.
From Itachi's perspective, the difference between marriage and association was minor. Instead of tossing a cherry blossom straight into the fire through marriage, his clan proposed they merely place the flower beside the blazing fire. In either case, the flower would catch fire and be incinerated without a chance for survival. The only difference would be in the time it would take to get the same result.
"It would make up for the lack of a strong clan backing."
"It could hinder rather than help her development."
"Or it could help her become a formidable opponent in her own right."
Itachi's eyes narrowed dangerously. "If the Uchiha clan claims her, she would never have the chance to earn a name for herself."
He had to stand up for Sakura. Itachi knew full well that the clan would be just as eager to claim her successes as they were to discard her if she failed.
As strongly as Itachi felt about Sakura, about prioritizing her safety and well-being, he knew that she would meet him step for step. If she picked up on even the slightest possibility of her freedom unburdening Itachi's shoulders, she would take it.
Deep down, Itachi knew that Sakura would agree to such an unfair proposal in a heartbeat.
Nevermind that she was barely on the cusp of becoming a woman. Nevermind that her ninja career had yet to start officially. Nevermind that Itachi, himself, was not of age to agree to such contracts.
If they were to be husband and wife, or anything remotely close to that, it should be because of feelings that developed over time, and not because at one point in time, a rumor having nothing to do with love or devotion, cornered them into it.
He could not corner Sakura this way.
He had to find a way to free her.
Itachi would find a way to free her.
"Fugaku, dear," the Uchiha matriarch gently called, not stopping the movement of her fingers through her husband's hair as she sought to detangle it gently.
Her husband had been sitting in silence in front of Mikoto's vanity for their nightly routine.
A few months into their marriage, Mikoto had proposed the current set up as a way to pull her husband away from never-ending clan duties. As young newlyweds, Mikoto knew they both needed time to continue getting to know each other and a space in which they could leave behind the day's stress.
After a few questioning gazes from her husband, he had finally relented to her request to comb his hair before going to bed. It was a simple action that Fugaku reciprocated when he needed more time to chat in the safety of their bedroom or when Mikoto simply asked. It was an ordinary and straightforward task, yet through the years, it had served them greatly.
It was not rare for her husband to merely sit in silence while Mikoto smoothed out his hair from the day's frustrations. However, when untroubled, he usually closed his eyes and relaxed his facial features. It was a picture of peace that few ever got to see on her husband's face.
Today, however, like many times before, Fugaku's eyes were wide open as he stared off at the reflection of something in Mikoto's mirror.
There was worry, and stress etched onto his features that no amount of detangling or talking could ease tonight.
"How was the clan this morning? Any news about Sakura?" she gently prodded once more, knowing full well how stubborn her husband could be in letting others in.
At the mention of his eldest son's friend, Fugaku snapped back to the present and met his wife's gaze through the mirror.
After a deep and weary sigh, Fugaku relented. "Half of the clan is adamant that she be claimed as a no-name association to the clan. The other half is demanding she be restricted from the Uchiha compound altogether. They fear her capabilities as a spy for the village."
Mikoto couldn't help the amused scoff that escaped her lips. "A spy? How could our dear, beautiful, 'no-name-clan' girl, as the elders have so politely put it, be a spy?"
"It was not such an unbelievable notion all that long ago," Fugaku reminded her, referring to the last Ninja war.
"During war perhaps, but we are in a time of peace," Mikoto returned, infusing as much happiness and idealism in her tone as possible.
"To the rest of the village, it may seem so, but to the Uchiha, the fight to earn their place in this village has only just reached a peak." Fugaku's jaw tightens as the decade's old topic seeped into their nightly conversations once more. "Either ally or spy, the best course of action is to keep a closer eye on Sakura."
"Through one of our sons, I presume," Mikoto deduced, giving her husband a pointed look. "Sasuke is too young, and Itachi will never agree to it."
Fugaku's gaze became unfocused once again as he ran through the day's events. "Assassination was also considered."
A sharp gasp brought Fugaku's attention back towards the mirror, only to meet his wife's heated glare. "Fugaku, you had better tell me that you squashed that notion mid-thought."
Fugaku waves off her concern with an eye roll. "If we leave her unattached to a clan, she will be vulnerable to attacks and kidnap attempts seeking to secure a medical prodigy."
"But if she formally sides with the Uchiha, won't she be sought out all the more?" Fugaku feels de javu from his earlier conversation with Itachi. "Dear, we still don't know for ourselves that it was Sakura who healed Itachi—"
"Itachi confirmed it."
Mikoto pauses, attempting to change her strategy. "We still do not know the extent of her abilities nor the context surrounding them," Mikoto adds as she detangles hair near her husband's temple, a common location for knots after many attempts to self soothe by running a hand through one's hair.
With an elegant wave of her hand, Mikoto added, "Perhaps it was a one-time thing, or the nurse was sleep-deprived and merely imagined things."
"You know rumors such as these would not have spread so quickly if there was no grain of truth to them," Fugaku replies seriously. "Our choices are either to keep her away or keep an even closer eye on her."
"Fugaku, dear," she says once more, humor lacing her tone. "The only way we could keep a closer eye on her would be if she moved in with us. She and Naruto practically live here as it is!"
A lack of response from her husband pulls the Uchiha matriarch out of her cheer. It's the deep and solemn gaze from Fugaku that freezes her insides.
"They wouldn't…" Mikoto whispers in disbelief, the comb in her hair clattering to the ground.
"They want an association to secure a trustworthy and loyal medic-nin," Fugaku calmly explains.
"'Trustworthy' and 'loyal'?! Were these people proposing Sakura-chan is a spy in the same breath?" Mikoto's voice rises in volume and exasperation with each word.
"I agree," Fugaku replies in a quieter voice, reminding his wife that their voices could awaken their shinobi children. "It makes no sense."
Mikoto attempts to regain her composure as she bends to pick up her comb and resume her ministrations. "When a sweet-turned-prodigy child, who just so happens to be close to the clan heirs and the main family, suddenly piques the clan's interest, the best the clan elders can do is propose a marriage?
Fugaku's silence further worsens the horrible feeling in Mikoto's gut.
"The clan is not yet open to agreeing to the sort of formality needed to seal that alliance," the Uchiha head confirms.
"Nor would I want them to," Mikoto fiercely replies in anger for the rose haired girl. "You know as well as I that they hold strong feelings for each other. Sakura would agree to whatever ridiculous plan the clan suggests out of loyalty to Itachi. In turn, our son would decline to protect her independence."
Knowing that his wife is nowhere near done with her verbal disbelief, Fugaku wisely remains silent.
"Not even a marriage," Mikoto whispers in heated disappointment. "A loose liaison, then, that the clan would have the power to terminate at any given moment?" The Uchiha matriarch gently shakes her head to brush the thought away. "Regardless, that sort of pressure could irreversibly damage their relationship. If we take Sakura away from him, physically, emotionally, I don't know what will happen to our son, Fugaku."
She places her right hand over his shoulder.
She looks at him with serious and solemn eyes through the mirror. His wife had always had a profound and piercing gaze, courtesy of those Uchiha genes. But it was in moments like these, wherein her heart's emotions were painted across her face as clear as day, that Fugaku remembered why she stood out to him above all the rest.
"Fugaku," Mikoto starts softly, pleadingly. "I have never opposed the clan's suggestions to push Itachi through the ranks. I have supported you, even, in front of Konoha's council to give our boy a chance at Jonin at the age of twelve." The Uchiha matriarch bites her lower lip to keep her voice steady.
Fugaku raises his left hand to rest on his right shoulder, giving his wife's curled fist a gentle squeeze. He knows a disagreement is coming and that likely many more will follow it. Even when her words oppose his strategies, Mikoto has never led him astray. It is for this reason that he offers her assurance to voice her discontentment.
With his silent support registering in her mind, Mikoto finds the strength to continue. "I will not let the clan take one of Itachi's precious people away from him. You know that any such formal association, whether through marriage or other, would do just that to those adorable kids."
"I will not have baseless clan concerns ruin this for Itachi."
Fugaku lets silence settle over them as he weighs out his options.
"The clans' suggestions are my suggestions," Fugaku finally replies, his calm tone letting Mikoto know that while the words are valid, they do not hold the bite or indignation they otherwise would.
"The clan is not Itachi's father," Mikoto's tone is soft but firm. It was not a reprimand, nor an unnecessary reminder. Instead, it was a request to revisit the distinction between the two in such unexpected times.
"Mikoto, what would you have me do?"
"Fugaku, there is always a solution, none of which include breaking our son's heart." Mikoto's fist relaxes before turning over to grasp her husband's hand.
Mikoto's obsidian eyes plead, "For Itachi's sake, please, find another solution."
A/N: Another one down! I struggled so much with this chapter for some reason, but those super cute, funny, and beautiful reviews kept me pushing through. Y'all are AMAZING with that feedback and encouragement!
I'll wrap up this little sitch by the next chapter, promise! I know cliffs are super frustrating, and even more so with sporadic updates (from writers like me! .). I will try not to leave too many cliffs, but sometimes the inspiration bug drops by and takes you down an unexpected path.
This story WILL be finished. I've honestly written too much of the future chapters not to. My brain is just too scatterbrained to work on one chapter at a time... which also adds to the time between updates... oops.
I really liked the response to my request for feedback regarding a specific thing from the last chapter. May throw those in there every now and then (too tired for that right now), but always feel free to provide feedback and/or suggestions!
Stay safe out there!