Winds of Change

"What about Sasuke?"

The question echoed in Sakura's mind as she made her way back to the Uchiha District. Two images flitted across her mind of the man in question. One angry. One happy. Both demanding in their own way.

Sakura found her thoughts a jumbled mess.

Sasuke? Where had that come from? Why had her master asked her that question? Why had she said those things?

"He loves you Sakura. If I had to guess I'd say he's loved you longer and harder than both Itachi and Kakashi combined."

Sakura shook her head. Her mind focused on Sasuke and the memories of him from both worlds. Thoughts of him swirled around of him as everything he had been in her life, a friend, lover, confidant, and enemy. Sasuke was so much to her. But he wasn't her forever. That just wasn't possible.

"This is just my opinion, but it doesn't matter if you choose Kakashi or Itachi. I'm going just from what I remember of both worlds. The conclusion that I've come to is that Sasuke will take you from them. And he'll do it effortlessly."

Sasuke didn't want her-at least not in the physical sense. He wanted what she could do for him. What she willingly did to ensure his happiness.

"Doubt me if you will, but I wanted to speak to you because you're going to need a solution for when it happens. You've going to need to plan this very carefully."

Sakura began to tremble slightly as she remembered her Kage's answer. Her shaking only increased as he emerged from the shadows. He wore a dark blue shirt similar to the one he wore when they were children. His eyes smoldered as they drank her in. Sakura felt her pulse jump the closer Sasuke came. Sakura didn't know why she was surprised to see him. It seemed to her that Sasuke and Tsunade had been in cahoots for some time. The Hokage probably told him that she would be out alone without Itachi or Kakashi and to find her.

He stalked closer to her moving as majestically as a panther. But then, that was Sasuke for you. Dangerous in all ways.

"It's time Sakura."

His words set her heart to racing. She took her bottom lip between her teeth and gnawed on it worriedly.

"Time for what?"

His words were decisive and succinct to ensure that she didn't misunderstand him in the slightest.

"Your complete and utter surrender."

Sakura slowly and cautiously took a few steps back, but he wouldn't allow her retreat. "What do you mean?" Sasuke approached her until there was very little space between them. He didn't touch her. The way he was holding himself made it unnecessary. Something in him had changed and it happened very recently. Before Mikoto's death, she hadn't seen such a look. And she didn't understand it and there was very little about Sasuke that she didn't understand. She could honestly say that she was the one person on the planet that knew him better than anyone and if she didn't know something then it was probably very dangerous.

He didn't look away from her and Sakura found that she couldn't turn away. She wanted to know what he was thinking, what he was going to do. Tsunade said he loved her, but Sakura didn't think that was right in the slightest. Maybe he wanted to possess her. That was more accurate for Sasuke. Or maybe her brain was still slightly addled. It also could be that she didn't want to see the truth that was staring her straight in the face.

"The numbers of the Uchiha have severely declined. Before the merging, in the world without the Uchiha, crime within Konoha had arisen to rates that we were unaccustomed to. As it stands with the worlds merged people now know just how much they can get away with. ANBU cannot handle everything. Chaos will ensue and that is something that I will not allow to happen. So the numbers of the Uchiha must be replenished."

"Why are you telling me this?" Sakura whispered. Sasuke had not moved away and Sakura began to internally panic because it wasn't appropriate for him to be this close to her.

And yet, not too long ago she remembered falling asleep against his shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It hadn't felt inappropriate then even though it possibly had been.

"Because when you go to that meeting tomorrow as the future Matriarch of the clan of the Uchiha-" His words were said softly, so softly that she had to strain her ears to hear them. She didn't know if it was because he didn't want to be overheard or he wanted to watch her struggle. "You will announce to the Uchiha the necessity of the dawning of a new age. A clan led by its Matriarch."

Sakura's breath caught in her throat before she shook her head. "Fugaku will never stand for that."

"He will not have a choice if his heir and spare are united on this."

"And you think that Itachi will just hand over the Clan to me? He'll never be Hokage. Not now with Naruto the front runner in that spectrum and so, I'm supposed to take the position of Clan Head away from him too? The Uchiha will revolt!"

"You don't trust me." Sasuke murmured.

"Sasuke we have a plan-a solid one and deviating from it puts everything and everyone at risk." Sasuke reached out for a strand of her hair and rolled it around his finger.

"Sakura." Her name rolled off his tongue like honey. It made Sakura try to escape once more but that was something Sasuke wouldn't allow. "You love Kakashi, don't you?" Sakura didn't bother to answer that question. "What are you willing to risk to have him?"

Sakura's brain didn't follow the jump in the conversation. Sasuke wasn't making any sense and a glance around told her she was all alone. This alarmed Sakura more than she was willing to admit.

"I'm willing to risk a lot for you, Sakura. But you know that don't you?"

Sasuke reached out and raised her chin slightly, but Sakura jerked away. "Sasuke," she began trying to reason with him.

"I won't say a word if you choose to be with Itachi." Sakura blinked. That wasn't where she thought this conversation was going. "I have no complaint if you desire to be with Kakashi."

"Sasuke, I don't understand."

Sasuke's lips curled into a sexy smirk.

"Think about it Sakura. Think about everything that has happened so far and tell me you don't understand what I want from you."

Sakura's heart found residence in her throat because she was having a surreal experience. She wasn't wrong in admitting that she knew Sasuke better than anyone. It sometimes took her a little longer than normal to connect the dots, but the picture she was seeing in her mind tore a moan from her throat. And suddenly she was in Sasuke's arms and his hot voice whispered against her ear, "Yes."

And together they disappeared off the streets of Konoha.