The Pact

Flashback:

Sasuke held her face in his hand and studying her silently while her mind and heart raced in panic. He studied her face silently and Sakura dared not flinch away, not knowing what he saw on her face but well aware of what she saw on his.

Anarchy.

Everything that she had worked on was going to fall to ruin. People were going to die and Sasuke would make it so. The questions were how many would he kill and why?

"I'm going to give you two options." Sakura cautiously pulled away from Sasuke surprised that he allowed it. Her gaze took in her surroundings not knowing exactly where Sasuke had taken her but knew it was somewhere private where no one would overhear their conversation. If she had to guess she'd say they were in some sort of cave. It was dark inside, but there was enough light illuminating from the outside so that she could still see him.

He had taken her where no one could guess what he was planning to do and try to stop him. No one but her which is exactly how he wanted it.

And she knew that despite the fact that he said she had two options. There would be only one. They would do things his way. He would cave to her whims no longer.

Sakura sat before the Uchiha at the Clan Meeting. Itachi sat on her right-hand side and Sasuke at her left. At Sasuke's side was Tsunade who remained quiet and allowed Sakura to lead the conversation.

"We asked that you all be here today so that you can note the changes that have taken place in the village and what the Uchiha will do to continue to thrive."

Sakura was very careful not to use words like 'should' or 'I think'. The Uchiha needed someone before that was willing to lead them, someone who was confident, and she had to be that person.

"You can stay in this village and you can have your heart torn in two with love for two men. You can watch the world around you crumble as you try to give half a heart to one of them."

"I wouldn't give Itachi anything less than my all. I love him and you know that!" Sakura hissed. Sasuke chuckled and it was reminiscent of a dark sound that she heard once in the past. "I know what you want Sasuke and I'll have no part of it. We'll do this the way that works. The Uchiha will be safe, you'll be happy. I'll be happy and-"

"No, Sakura. We'll do this the way that is efficient. As long as Danzo lives with his unholy obsession with the Sharingan there is no chance of the Uchiha being safe. The peace of the Uchiha will be fleeting and we both know that I won't allow that to happen." Sasuke scoffed. "And this happiness you speak of is a fairytale, a pipe dream if we don't act. I won't be happy. You won't be happy because somehow in all this mess my happiness has become tied to yours and vice versa."

Kakashi was there as well, she could sense his presence but she couldn't see him. Oddly enough that soothed her more than she could ever admit.

"The Uchiha will no longer be led by Fugaku." Sakura heard murmurs of approval and she knew that was because they assumed that Itachi was stepping into the role that was meant for him. Sakura glanced at Sasuke but he wouldn't look at her and she knew he expected her to forge ahead.

"The world we are now living in has been merged with that of another, a world in which there was what was called the Uchiha Massacre." Sakura heard gasps of horror and outrage and she felt Itachi take her hand in his. He squeezed her hand and Sakura clutched his desperately. "There were only three Uchiha who survived this Massacre. One of those people is Sasuke Uchiha who sits with me, the other is Itachi Uchiha. The man I intend to marry."

Sakura fell silent at Sasuke's words not expecting them. Why did he think that his happiness was tied to hers? They were friends and nothing more.

Her confusion must have been evident as he said, "Sakura, stay silent and listen. I don't have time to argue with you." Sakura felt her lips snap shut and her brow twitch in suppressed anger. "Your choices are you can stay here and watch your life fall apart or you can come work with me, come with me trusting me to fix it all."

And there it was. She knew it. Tsunade was right. He was going to try and take her away from Kakashi and Itachi.

"What are you a seer? You don't know that my life will fall apart."

Sasuke raised a brow.

"There is only one person among the Uchiha who has a firsthand accounting of everything that led to the demise of the Uchiha-and that person did what he could to save you."

Sakura felt Sasuke turn his sharp gaze on her just as she knew he would. She wasn't supposed to mention that. She knew it, but she felt that it needed to be known. Without Sasuke, the Uchiha wouldn't be here. Without him, their enemies would continue to hunt them. She believed that.

"And that person trusted me to ensure that the Uchiha continue to thrive. Therefore, I'm announcing to you today that the Uchiha Clan will as of now be Matriarchal. The Uchiha belong to me."

The answering roar was deafening.

"You know something I don't," Sakura whispered.

"I know how to make you happy. I know how to stop making things difficult for you. I figured it out, Sakura. I mastered it."

"Mastered what? Sasuke whatever you're planning just tell me." But Sasuke shook his head.

"No. That's not on my agenda. So choose now. Either stay here or come with me. Only if you decide to come with me will I give you more details."

Sakura felt a spike of fear. Something told her Sasuke was stepping into an unknown dangerous territory. Something told her that he was about to do something reckless, foolish, and insane. Sakura closed her eyes and thought about Itachi and Kakashi. She thought about leaving them both behind and felt her heart lurch in an agony so wretched that she wanted to fall into despair right then.

And then she thought about the mayhem that Sasuke could get into when he was left on his own. The man could start a ninja war all on his own with very little effort.

And then Sakura looked up and into Sasuke's eyes. His tone was cold, but his eyes weren't. They were warm and encouraging. They were asking her to trust him and it was something that he had never asked of her before that she could recall. Sakura took a deep breath and asked a single question.

"Why is your happiness tied to mine?"

Sasuke explained and seconds after he did Sakura made a decision.

"I'll come with you." Sasuke nodded his head curtly not expecting anything less than her complete and utter trust and surrender to his will. And since she had agreed to come with him and didn't make him have to drag her out of the Leaf by her hair he made her a promise that he knew she didn't believe he would keep and then he moved on.

"We'll set a few things in place, kill Danzo, and then we'll leave. But before all that, I need to know that you trust me Sakura."

Sakura remained silent, but met Sasuke's eyes and it was enough.