Chapter 5

Sakura lay awake in the middle of the night. She couldn't believe it; she couldn't believe that her father had actually just arranged her marriage. She was only seventeen and Itachi was in his twenties. It was all so fast. It was just so soon. What made it even worse to her was that it was Sasuke's older brother, Itachi. Sakura could feel something in heart pull at the thought. She really started to like Sasuke, though she would never admit. Her father would probably kill her if she did. Sakura turned to lay on her side, she saw that it was four in the morning and she hadn't slept at all, she's just glad that she slept after the party, but now with fact of her engagement she couldn't sleep. She then looked at her photo of her mother.

"Mom… What am I suppose to do?" Sakura whispered to herself, sadly.

Sakura felt a tear leave her eye, and quickly turned to face the other way. No more crying, no matter the pain she will not cry. Though after saying this she still felt like crying. She knew she couldn't cry, her father always said how crying is just a waste of time. Sakura closed her eyes falling into a restless sleep.

…..

"Engaged?! To Itachi! You barely know him!" shrieked Ino in her rage.

"Yeah! I mean you only just turned seventeen! You still have like a whole year and a couple of months till you graduate!" joined Naruto, feeling the same as Ino.

"Please Naruto and Ino. I'm very glad to have such an opportunity such as this and those months before our graduation gives me plenty of time to get to know Itachi. So please, please can we talk of a different matter." Asked Sakura, quietly hinting them to drop it.

Ino and Naruto got the hint and dropped it, Naruto grumbling under his breath while Ino looked at her friend with sad eyes. It wasn't fair in any way for this to happen to Sakura, and besides Ino was going to play matchmaker with Sakura and Sasuke. Now with this whole engagement she can't, unless she wants Sakura dead. Ino, continued to look at her friend, she could see that Sakura didn't like it any better than they do by the way she was trying to still smile and tell them all that she was fine, but Ino knew better than that. Ino looked at Sasuke; he was even more distant than usual. Not looking at anyone, keeping to himself more, heck he wasn't even saying 'hn'.

"I better go; I need to stop at my locker to fetch my book." Stated Sakura getting up and waving goodbye to them all.

"I can't believe her father did that!" shouted Tenten, glaring at the ground. "To arrange your daughter's marriage. Who even does that anymore?"

"I fe-feel so-sorry for Sa-Sakura." Whispered Hinata staring, sadly, at the ground, Naruto looked to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"There's nothing we can do so why not just drop it." Said a bored voice. "She probably just asked her father for the engagement and asked it to be Itachi." It continued.

Everyone turned to see Sasuke getting up and grabbing his bag, looking completely void of emotion.

"How can you say that! Don't you care what happens to your friend?" asked Naruto, glaring at Sasuke.

"No." said Sasuke flatly, walking away.

Sasuke felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned to find Ino standing behind him, her mouth set in a straight line, but he couldn't see her eyes because of her hair. He turned to fully face her. The next thing he knew a hand connected with his right cheek, with unexpected force which made his face turn to the side, he heard the gasps of their friends. He brought his hand to his now red, cheek and stared at Ino.

"Don't you dare think for a second that Sakura had this planned out! Don't you dare imply that my best friend wanted to get engaged to your brother! And if you do …" Ino looked up at him, glaring daggers into his head he had never seen her so angry before, "I will make your life a living hell and throw into hell when you die." She stated so seriously and one could feel the anger come off her like waves.

"Hn." Was all he said, and walked off. Never admitting that he felt a bit scared at the way Ino looked at him.

…

He was in English now, they were busy analysing some poem. Sasuke though, wasn't listening; he kept thinking about what Ino had said. He could see Sakura out the corner of his eye writing diligently as ever, but he could see that something wasn't the same as before. Her usual bright emerald eyes seemed dull and so sad and the bags under her eyes those were never there before. Her smile that she had at break was so fake and unhappy, a image of when they were dancing flashed into his head, that smile she showed to him that night was so care free and happy that it makes him wonder if it was the same person, even so she still had that grace to her every move. She basically looked like someone had sucked the joy right out of her. He kept staring at her not realising how long he was staring her. He only snapped out of it when she turned her head to face him and that was when he realised that she didn't really want this engagement, that she didn't want this life that she was living. He realised this, all from the look in her eyes, it was like they were crying but he couldn't see any tears, they were so sad. They continued to stare at each other for while and only looked away when the bell rang, indicating that the lesson was over. He watched Sakura pack her things, while chatting with some of the girls in class he watched her put that fake smile on and pretend to be happy. He grabbed his bag and walked over to her.

Sakura waved to the girls she was talking to and stood from her desk. She then felt someone next to her and turned to find Sasuke standing there. He didn't say anything just stood there, she stared at him. She could feel her mood lighten a bit seeing him, standing next to him. She smiled, one with a bit more life to it and walked to class still at his side. They didn't speak, but having him there gave her a bit of reassurance that everything is going to work out in the end. Sakura could feel herself cheering up when she walked into her maths class.

…

"Orochimaru, do we have a plan for your revenge?" asked a white haired man, pushing his glasses up.

"Ah Kabuto. Tell me what's the best way to get your enemy's attention?" asked Orochimaru, while looking out the window.

"I don't know sir." Answered Kabuto looking at Orochimaru's pale face, in the window's reflection.

"You take something of great importance." Orochimaru stated.

Orochimaru looked at the photo of the young teenage girl, in the photograph that was in his hand. He smiled, evilly, at it and chuckled darkly.

"Bring me this girl." He said, not looking up from the photo. "Being me Sakura Haruno."