Chapter Twenty-Five

Undercurrents

Sakura sat staring at Uchiha Mikoto incredulously. Surely it was all just a big misunderstanding and the long ass list of names she was holding in her hands wasn't people she was expected to invite to her wedding. She did not recognize one name on the list. Where were Ino or Shikamaru's names? Not even Naruto's name was on the list!

"I'm sorry, but could you repeat that for me?"

"These are a list of the names of the people who I expect to be attending the wedding. They're listed in order of importance. The first ten people on the list are all the Uchiha council. They should receive an invitation to the wedding almost directly after you and Itachi set the date-which should be soon. There's no need for dilly-dallying. The next ten people…"

Sakura turned her head and looked at Itachi, who happened to be going over some sort of paperwork the Hokage gave him. In all honesty, Sakura thought it was a farce so that he wouldn't have to help her plan the wedding. She had expected this type of behavior but it didn't mean that she wasn't going to kill him.

"Do you honestly expect me to invite all these people to our wedding?"

"Of course." Mikoto immediately replied. "These are important members of the Uchiha clan. There is no possible way that we can snub them by not inviting them to the Clan Heir's wedding."

The Clan Heir! Sakura didn't give a damn one way or the other who came to the wedding so long as it occurred. She knew truly that her Sasuke loved and missed his family, but there were some advantages to being the only one left. How often was she going to have to deal with these little nuances from the Uchiha clan? What the heck would Saku do in this situation?

"Itachi?" Sakura asked through clenched teeth. The kunoichi turned her head over her shoulder to glance at Itachi where he was sitting quietly. She could hear the light scribble of his pen as it went over some paper that he was now writing on. He took a moment to finish what he was doing before raising his head slowly. His eyes met Sakura's emerald orbs that stared at him expectantly.

He had been working on the paperwork assigned to him by the Hokage but he had been mainly listening to the exchange between Sakura and his mother. Sakura would have been right in assuming that this was his way of weaseling out of wedding prep. He'd rather face a thousand enemy ninja with no weapons than attempt to have anything to do with the wedding. But, Sakura was angry and Itachi knew it was time to play mediator.

"Yes, Sakura?"

"Do you remember the conversation we had before about the wedding?"

"Mmm."

"Is that a yes or a no?"

Itachi's lips quirked upward at her belligerent tone. "Yes, Sakura."

"Do you remember what you told me?"

"Yes, Sakura."

"Do you stand by that?"

Itachi hesitated a moment, unsure of where she was headed with this line of questioning but because he was curious enough to go along with it he replied, "Yes, Sakura."

"Good." Sakura turned her head and faced Mikoto once more. "Forgive me Uchiha-san, but I am not inviting four hundred people that I do not know to my wedding."

"You don't have a choice in the matter. These are important people to the Uchiha Clan and as the future bride of the clan heir you have responsibilities as well as an image to uphold-"

"Do you know what my dear, sweet fiancé told me not too long ago?" Itachi had to work hard to keep a smile off his face. She had never once called him 'dear' or 'sweet' while they were in private. The words coming out of her mouth were pure sarcasm and he loved every bit of it. The woman was insane. He was learning that quickly. Her temper was easily riled and it was so much fun watching her get worked up. He knew that life with her would never be dull, and he was excited to get started.

Mikoto didn't reply to Sakura's question, only stared daggers at they younger woman who dared to defy her. And she thought that she actually liked this girl.

"Since you won't guess, I'll just tell you. He said that weddings are for women. In other words, this wedding is for me. It's about what I want. Not about clan tradition or any other such thing. I will speak with Itachi and he will tell me who exactly he wants invited to the wedding and he will tell me a reasonable number." Itachi did chuckle that time. He knew a threat when he heard one. "And then I will decide who I want to come to this wedding and when I'm done there will not be anywhere near four hundred people there. I'm having a wedding-not some sort of political party. It's about me spending the rest of my life with your son and only people that we are close to will be there."

Itachi frowned; "Sakura-" Sakura whirled around to face him, her hair spinning wildly with her.

"Don't you dare even think of contradicting me Uchiha Itachi."

Itachi raised a brow at her tone. It was one thing for her to speak like that to him when they were alone. It was another thing all together when they were in the presence of other people. It wouldn't do. Itachi turned his head and looked at his mother. With a slight movement of his head he indicated that she should leave, but his mother stared at him mutinously. Itachi frowned thinking that much of his future would probably be tied to these strong willed women.

"Perhaps, you should remember who it is that you are speaking to."

Sakura paled momentarily and Itachi knew immediately that she had misconstrued his words. It was clear by the fear on her face that his words reminded her of the Itachi from her world. He wondered at the change in her; the color fled from her face and her fists tightened. They would need to work on this, but he pushed those thoughts aside.

"I'm not him, Sakura." Itachi could tell his mother was trying to figure out what was going on, and he knew she would question him relentlessly as soon as the opportunity arose.

"I know that," Sakura said, but looked away from him.

Itachi reached out a hand to her, "Then come." Sakura didn't immediately move but Itachi's arm never dropped, never wavered. He did not have the dead eyes of the monster of a man in her world. This Itachi had a warmth meant only for her, and as Sakura placed her hand in his, those fingers that could kill with just a flick closed gently around her own. He bent down and kissed her hand, his lips soft and wicked against her skin. Sakura felt a smile form on her lips that faded away when she heard Itachi's mother say, "I'm leaving." The words held a tinge of disgust at the display of affection and it made Sakura blush furiously. She made an attempt to pull her hand away, but Itachi's hand tightened on hers.

"Sakura, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"You didn't," Sakura said, contradicting him. Itachi's eyes narrowed knowing that she was lying through her teeth.

"Fine," He replied dismissingly. "However, I have to ask that in the future should you find yourself displeased with me that you speak with me in private-not in the presence of others. What we do, what we argue about, is not the business of anyone but you and me."

Sakura frowned. It was a concept that she wasn't quite used to. Her team-with the exception of Sasuke rarely kept anything away from each other. She supposed this was different, though. Itachi wasn't a teammate. He was going to be her husband. She didn't think it was too much to ask-but it didn't mean it wouldn't be difficult. When she was angry she let out her frustrations immediately. She wasn't used to holding back nor was she used to moderating who she was in front of other people. It was something that she didn't think she'd like too much.

"You're frowning," Itachi remarked idly.

"You're asking me to be something that I'm not."

"I'm not asking you to change who you are, Sakura. Just to be mindful of other people who will talk about what they see and hear."

"She was just your mother."

"She's not just my mother. She's the wife of the current Head of the Clan."

Sakura frowned, suddenly realizing the enormity of the situation that she had gotten herself into. She suddenly thought of Hinata and all the trouble she went through with her clan. "I don't want to be a part of a clan."

Itachi lips quirked upward. "Sometimes, I don't either."

A knock on the door brought a halt to the conversation. Sakura glanced at Itachi. "I'll get it." Itachi nodded his head and looked back down at the work that lay forgotten.

Sakura opened the door to see the pale eyes of Hyuuga Neji looking back at her. Sakura frowned inwardly, not really knowing how to address her visitor. At home they had not been particularly close and yet he was still one of the Konoha twelve which afforded them some closeness. Neji solved the problem for her by inclining his head respectfully as she was accustomed to and Sakura smiled back at him.

"The Hokage wishes to see you and the Uchiha in her office immediately." Sakura nodded and Neji left before she could say anything at all.

Sakura made her way back to Itachi wondering if Tsunade wanted to see them to see how the wedding plans were progressing. If that was the case Itachi's presence was hardly necessary.

"Itachi?" Sakura asked, causing him to look up as she approached his desk. "The Hokage wants to see us."

Itachi rose to his feet with grace befitting a Uchiha. "Shall we go then?"

:::

Tsunade drummed her fingers on her desk looking back and forth between Itachi and Sakura. Sakura worried that some other issue had come up since the woman didn't immediately begin asking questions about the progression of the wedding plans. Itachi, on the other hand, stared at the woman mildly curious as to what she was in a snit about this time.

"Itachi, have you thought about what we spoke of?"

Itachi narrowed his eyes. What they spoke of? His mind briefly flickered through subjects they had spoken of concerning him and Sakura then froze. Surely, she didn't mean…

"I sincerely hope that you do not mean that farce of an arrangement that you meant to fix my world as well as Sakura's." His words held a hard edge to them that caused Tsunade to glare at the Uchiha.

Sakura looked back and forth between Itachi and Tsunade, thoroughly confused. The mounting tension was starting to annoy her. Every time she walked into this office she felt like she was walking around blindfolded.

"What are you talking about?"

"I made a proposal some time ago to Itachi on how to keep my world and yours from crashing down around us. I'm wondering if he has considered it."

"Isn't that a moot point?" Sakura questioned. "Saku already went back in my place and thus far things have been fine."

"They have." Tsunade agreed. "The last I spoke to my counterpart things were going smoothly. However," Tsunade paused for dramatically. "This different solution would be more of a benefit to your world. Would you like to hear it?"

Sakura glanced at Itachi whose form was stiff. Waves of anger flowed through the room, making the air heavy and stifling. It was obviously something that made Itachi unhappy and yet…the Hokage implied that this solution would be better for her world, for her boys. How could she not listen? Sakura closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said.

"Yes, I would."

:::

They stood outside the Hokage tower whispering back and forth furiously. They received odd looks from ninja who came in to do this and that but neither paid any attention to them.

"Itachi, her plan is logical and the best possible solution for-"

"I will tell you what I have told the Hokage. I will not." Itachi shrugged off the hand that gripped his shirt tightly to keep him from disappearing on her. Not that he would leave her behind. He honestly wouldn't but he suspected that she didn't know that.

"And she may accept that decision but I will not. Can't we at least-"

"Sakura, I have said that I will not."

"Why are you being so closed-minded about this? I can appreciate your concern, but-"

"Can you? Do you really see what she's trying to do? Can't you see that she called you into that office to manipulate you into swaying me on my decision?"

"It's a good decision! Had I thought of it first I would have suggested it."

"And my decision would have been the same."

"Itachi, it's not your choice to make."

"It is my choice."

"Itachi…please. Please. You don't know just how much this will help-"

"I do. I do understand and yet what I'm being asked is too much of a sacrifice-even for Konoha."

Itachi then put an end to Sakura's words by grabbing her elbow and pulling her closer to him and started their journey home. Sakura initial thought had been to pull away, but she thought better of it. Perhaps it was a lot to ask, but her heart told her she still had to try.

:::

A lone figure strode into the Hokage's office and sat in the chair. The figure looked at the Hokage's face and knew immediately how the meeting with Itachi had gone.

"I take it that it went as well as it did the first time." Tsunade's lips quirked upward as she pulled out some sake, pouring her companion a drink first before getting one for herself.

"Sakura will ensure that he caves."

"If she doesn't then I will." The visitor reassured.

"Really? I thought you said it would be best if he came to the decision on his own with a little persuasion from Sakura."

"I did, but he's stubborn. It will be no easy feat for Sakura to win him over. We should at least have a backup plan."

"You're right. If we didn't have back up plans things could be a lot worse than they are now."

"Yeah, we could all be dead." Tsunade's companion said chuckling softly. Tsunade nodded her head quietly agreeing. The Hokage raised her glass saluting her cohort who automatically raised his glass with her.

"To a new future."

The occupants drank the sake quickly sitting their empty glasses down on the desk.

"Do you trust me?" Tsunade's partner in crime asked her.

"There are only two people that I trust as much as I do you." Tsunade replied. "One is Saku and the other is Naruto. You won't disappoint me."

"You're right. I won't."

A/N: My thanks to BlueArcticWolf for looking over this for me.

So, um, it wasn't really my intention to post this chapter today. It was my intention to get together several chapters of this but well; things don't always go as planned. I was working on another story when I realized that I was almost done with it. What I want to do is finish that other story first so I will be working solely on it. So here it is and I hope you enjoyed it. I don't think the wait for the next will be any longer than usual…considering how long it takes me to finish a chapter nowadays anyway. So thanks for your patience. It's appreciated. Really, it is. -J