Rule Breaker

Several Uchiha had joined Sasuke and Sakura when they learned they were digging graves. Sakura, as the future Matriarch of the Clan was surprisingly able to take over while Fugaku stayed at his wife's side throughout the night. The Uchiha…listened to her. It was a surprising and a heady thing, especially given the way Mikoto and Fugaku treated her. Maybe it was because she was taking a strong stance for the Uchiha. Maybe it was just because she was doing the right thing. Regardless, she wouldn't make them regret the trust they placed in her.

She sent several Uchiha out to determine the names of every Uchiha that had passed away. When they came back with the names she gave them to other Uchiha who set out on making tombstones for them. The heavy weight of mourning settled over them all, but Sakura couldn't allow herself the opportunity to cry. Not when there was so much to be done. But she wanted to. She wanted to break down in the worst way so when she saw Kakashi and Itachi emerge from the shadows and walking towards her she almost sobbed and ran to them.

The only reason why she didn't was because she felt Sasuke put a firm hand on her shoulder. So instead of doing as she wished she straightened her spine, threw her shoulders back, and waited for them to reach her. When they did, she felt Sasuke's presence vanish behind her. She was tempted to turn and search the darkness for his form, but knew she couldn't. Not when Kakashi and Itachi were approaching her.

"You called for me." Kakashi's voice was flat and Sakura knew that he was hiding everything he was feeling from her. He knew, then, that she had chosen. Sakura glanced at Itachi and smiled gratefully at him. He nodded his head slightly and joined the other Uchiha without making her ask for a few seconds of privacy.

"I did. It's time to put our endgame in place."

Kakashi looked shocked for a moment and then slowly shook his head. "What do you plan on doing first?"

"Getting the Uchiha on our side."

"And what is our side?" Kakashi studied her face closely for her answer, unsure of where she stood in all this given the merging of the two worlds changing the majority of them into different people.

"Our side…is Naruto's side. We both know he will never let anything happen to the Uchiha. Not when he knows the alternative. He'll fight to save them. But we can't talk about this here. There are too many ears."

"What would you have me do then?"

"Go talk to Tsunade. Find out where she stands, but don't let her know of our intention. Then get Naruto. Have him meet me at Itachi's in two hours, find Sasuke as well, we'll all meet there."

"And what about us?"

Sakura slowly shook her head. "Now, isn't the time Kakashi."

"Itachi told me you were marrying him."

"Kakashi, please. I'm asking that we don't do this here or now. There are things more important than us. Don't you agree with that?"

He did. But just because he agreed didn't mean he liked it.

"I'll do as you ask, but before this night is over, we will talk." Sakura nodded and wasn't surprised when Kakashi disappeared.

:::

Two hours later and the Uchiha were still working. Dawn was still a few hours away and Sakura knew she needed to get a couple of hours of sleep before then, but she still had things to do before that. Sakura and Itachi went home. Neither spoke, but they held hands as they moved along. Itachi pulled Sakura along behind him and she allowed it not certain she would have been able to find home without his guidance as she was so tired.

As soon as they stepped inside Sakura sensed the presence of the others. She turned to Itachi then and raised her head and looked into his beautiful, dark eyes. "My team is here—most of it anyway. Sai can't be involved."

"Sai?"

"Yes, he is, was Sasuke's replacement in the other world."

"I see." But Sakura was certain he really didn't, but that was okay. She'd have plenty of time to explain it all to him.

"Come, let's go talk to the others. You need to know what's going on."

Itachi nodded and followed Sakura to the others. Naruto was sprawled out on their couch and a big grin stretched across his lips when he saw her. "Sakura-chan!" He yelled and rose to his feet. He immediately wrapped her in his arms and held her close. Sakura noted that Itachi stiffened, but she chose to ignore it. He had to get used to how close she was with the old team 7. If she had any say in it, they would remain a major part of her life.

Sakura held Naruto tightly and then released him moving to sit beside Sasuke on the couch. Itachi sat beside her while Kakashi and Naruto we across from her.

Sakura took a deep breath and decided to be blunt. Sugar coating things wasn't going to make the situation any easier. "First things first. Itachi, you should know that the likelihood of you becoming Kage is nil."

"The Clan—"

"Is going to go nuts when they find out." Sakura finished. "I know. But now that the worlds have merged people will have memories of what the other part of you did. Their trust in you will be at an all time low."

"I'm not him."

"I know that. In the other world the plan was for Naruto to become Hokage." Itachi paused and stared at Naruto for a second. Naruto held his gaze steadily knowing that Itachi seemed to be searching for something. "That is still the plan. Do we all still agree upon that?" Sasuke didn't disagree so Sakura took that for agreement and Kakashi nodded his head slightly. Naruto merely looked down at the ground and Sakura knew the whole conversation was embarrassing him, but it had to be stated plainly.

"And if I disagree?"

"Do you?" Sakura asked quietly. "Disagree?"

"That depends on what you're planning. I won't agree to any plans that will harm the village, that will harm the Clan."

Sasuke chose that moment to speak. "I trust Sakura."

Sakura felt her heart lurch. She was certain that Sasuke had no idea what those words meant to her. Apparently they meant something to Itachi as well.

"Continue Sakura. I will listen."

"Our original plan was to usurp the council and put a new one in place as they were the ones who were responsible for the Uchiha Massacre."

"Danzo—" Itachi began.

"We know he gave the order."

"That's why we want him dead." Sasuke said gleefully, causing everyone besides Itachi to shake their head. Itachi just looked at his brother as if he was a stranger because truthfully he was. The more time Sakura spent with Sasuke the more he seemed like a warped version of both worlds. It was odd, but she wasn't completely unsettled by it.

"But we can't just kill him," Sakura said and gave Sasuke a meaningful look. "Because we don't want to take the chance of the Uchiha taking the blame."

"Then what is it that you intend Sakura?"

"Tsunade is ready to step down." Sakura turned her head and looked at Kakashi for confirmation. He nodded his head. "She wants Naruto to be her successor."

"She never wanted me." Itachi murmured.

"She wanted peace." Sakura corrected. "A peace that Naruto can and will ensure."

"You have faith in him."

Sakura smiled at Itachi's words and then looked at Naruto. "I do."

"Aw, Sakura-chan!" Sakura rolled her eyes and held back a giggle at Naruto's behavior because it would only encourage him. In those moments she realized she felt completely comfortable as if this was the way her life was supposed to be. Surrounded by the men she loved. Naruto, Sasuke, Itachi, and Kakashi. Pain gripped her heart when she realized that this moment was temporary and fleeting.

"So what are we going to do?" Kakashi asked, trying to get to the heart of the matter.

"The plan is still to put a new council in place. However, with the Uchiha Clan being alive we must expose them so that no future plans to kill the Uchiha are made. Then we will form a new council—one that has a member of the Uchiha on it."

They all fell silent staring at Sakura wondering what Uchiha would be suitable to fill that place. "Itachi, it has to be you."

One look at Itachi's face and Sakura could tell he didn't like that idea. Although, she didn't understand why. Being the Hokage seemed like it would be more of a hassle. She was giving him an alternative.

"I'm not politically savvy, Sakura. It's more of a requirement if I am to be a part of a Council."

"Maybe you're not, Itachi, but you are a peacekeeper. And I think that quality is a necessary element for the wellbeing of this village."

Itachi fell silent. Sakura wanted to press, but knew nothing good would come of such actions so she turned to Sasuke. "Did you get your father to agree to call the Clan together?"

"I did."

Sakura paused somewhat surprised. She hadn't thought Fugaku would do anything she asked of him. She expected a fight of epic proportions which was one of the reasons she had Kakashi fetch Naruto so soon. Naruto and his golden tongue would have been certain to pave the way so that she got what she wanted.

However, after staring at Sasuke and realizing exactly who she was currently talking to (one of the most deceptive ninja in Konoha) she knew one thing for certain.

"You didn't tell him I wanted to speak to the Clan, did you?"

"The most effective way of getting what you want," Sasuke replied, "is subterfuge." Sakura rolled her eyes.

:::

No one went home that night. They all stayed at her and Itachi's home waiting for the next day's events. Sakura fell asleep on Sasuke's shoulder with her feet in Itachi's lap. When she awakened the next morning she couldn't believe it happened. She didn't have time to dwell on it, though, as when she focused her eyes it was to see that Kakashi was awake and looking straight at her.

Sakura bit her bottom lip knowing immediately that he wanted to talk to her and he wasn't going to wait a second longer. Sakura nodded her head and eased from between the two men in a sad attempt not to wake them.

She led Kakashi into her bedroom and immediately put up seals so that should Itachi and the others try to eavesdrop they wouldn't be able to.

"You love me. Your soul is whole now and while there may be some things that are shaky you know one thing definitely. Our friendship, our bond is unlike anything in the world." Kakashi said without preamble and Sakura didn't bother to deny it. He'd see through any lie she spoke or any tale she spun. "Why are you marrying him when we both know that your heart has chosen me?"

She hadn't really thought about what her heart had chosen. She had been ignoring it because listening to it would be selfish.

"I love Itachi—" Sakura began but Kakashi grabbed her arms firmly and corrected her.

"You love me."

Sakura broke out of his grasp. "Don't pretend you don't know why I'm doing this Kakashi. You know. You know me better than anyone."

"I know I get sick and tired of you sacrificing yourself for us! Can't you just for once in your life be selfish? Can't you be happy with me?"

Sakura felt tears flood her eyes. "And if I did that Kakashi? If I chose you how would I be able to live with myself? If I chose you the Uchiha will never trust anyone in this village. To them, it will look like I've thrown in my lot with the Senju just like everyone else always has and always will. And we both know where that line of thinking will lead them."

"You're placing too much importance on yourself Sakura. You're just one person and whether or not they support this village is their choice."

Sakura flinched. She was aware that her words, her thought process sounded very self-centered, but her decision wasn't based upon an over inflated sense of importance. They were based on fact and everything that she knew that happened in both worlds. Damage control was essential and marrying Itachi, which is what Tsunade wanted in the first place would keep that in place. They were currently walking precariously along a slippery slope. Why couldn't he see that?

"Be honest Kakashi. You know me, but I know you too. If I'm being self-centered then you're being selfish. You want me to be with you not because it will make me happy. It's because that's what will make you happy. For a little while anyway. Because if it all plays out the way we know it will if I choose you then in the end you'd be ashamed of me. And like you said the Uchiha have to make a choice and no matter what they do their will be consequences they'll have to face. Well, the same is true for me. Marrying Itachi is my choice-"

"Sakura—"

"And I'll have to face the consequences of those actions whether they be good or bad-"

"Sakura-"

"And I'm prepared for that. Because I know I can be happy with Itachi."

"You don't love him—"

"Don't tell me how I feel! It doesn't matter how well you know me. I know me too! And I know that what I'm doing is right. I have to do the right thing Kakashi." Kakashi fell silent and Sakura paused taking a few deep breaths because she knew she was close to breaking down completely. When she felt some semblance of control she began again.

"Sasuke needs us to sacrifice us. He'll go insane if we don't. He's barely hanging on as it is."

"You don't know that."

"I do. Just like you know me. I know Sasuke. That's the way it's always been."

"And in the end it always comes down to an Uchiha, doesn't it?"

"Don't be that way Kakashi. We aren't children. We both know that life doesn't always turn out the way we want it to."

Kakashi's lone eye narrowed on Sakura's small frame. He stepped closer to her, not in an effort to be intimidating, but because he needed to be close to her. "I need to hear you say it. Just this one time if it's really true. If I'm wrong and it's not then let me know now."

Sakura sighed and thought briefly about lying, but couldn't find it in herself to do so. So Sakura let loose the emotion that she was feeling within herself that threatened to take over everything and told the truth.

"I love you, Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded knowing all along that was the truth. "So now that I know for certain, Sakura, I'm telling you I'm not playing by your rules. I'm not going to lose you twice."