Anything...?
Sasuke never had a tendency to show much emotion, sometimes none at all. He had gotten very good at hiding his true feelings for whatever the occasion requires. So, when Sasuke's parents and the Clan Elders 'requested' (demanded) to 'meet' (interrogate) his third team mate, he was able to reply with a simple, respectful, expected answer.
"Of course." Even though, on the inside, part of his soul secretly died and went to Hell.
Which is probably where this 'dinner' (Torture-session) would soon follow.
At the Hokage's library, Haruno Sakura was currently scribbling notes into her medical journal (one of many, as Sasuke knew) as she kept an injured koi-fish suspended in mid-air, encased with green swirling chakra inside a ball of water with her other hand. An advanced version of her very first task as a training medical ninja.
Things were going rather smoothly, she only dropped the fish once –It was okay!- And she had successfully healed the fish's mangled body to perfection. Sakura smiled to herself, proud, and slowly eased the multicolored fish back into its tank before recording the last of her notes.
There was a knock at the door, one she was very familiar with.
"Come in, Sasuke!" She called over her shoulder. The door opened and then shut once more. "What brings you here?" She wondered, scanning the shelves for a certain medical text.
"I need a favor." He got to the point.
"Sure, anything." She replied, a smile still present on her face.
"The Clan Elders and my parents have requested to meet you. They want to have a dinner with us and Naruto tomorrow night."
Sakura stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
"You don't have a choice."
"I refuse."
"You said 'anything'." Sasuke pointed out.
"Yea, well, that was before I knew the favor was an evening with your crazy ass family," Sakura replied, finding the large book she needed. "Besides, I don't really have time tomorrow; Tsunade has me working all day." She lied smoothly, her back towards him.
"Liar. I checked your schedule, you have the day off." Sakura scowled.
"What I meant was I have a lot of work to catch up on." She amended, hoping, praying that he would buy it and leave her the hell alone.
"Sakura, even if I did believe you, you should know that it doesn't matter when your schedule is open, the Clan Elders will open a day for you. There is no getting out of this." Sakura groaned.
"But why do I have to go?" She whined.
"My family doesn't know you." Sasuke said.
"I can just see this ending horribly."
"You aren't the only one, Sakura."
Fancy.
He said to dress fancy.
What the fuck does that even mean?
Sakura stood, hand resting on her chin, as she regarded the contents of her closet.
Kimono-fancy, or like, formal dinner-fancy?
She pulled out a Kimono, green with pink cherry blossoms spiraling through the fabric. She sighed, maybe not.
Should she go find him and ask for specifics?
But, wait, why does she even care, again? Hasn't she been dreading, avoiding really, this day at all costs since day one? Well, yes, but, now that it's here, shouldn't she at least try to make a good impression?
.
.
.
What would one wear in order to impress their best friend's parents, anyway?
Ugh. Fuck it. Plan B.
Call Ino.
Sasuke was freaking out. Yes, the Uchiha Sasuke was freaking.Out.
What if she did something wrong, like put her elbows on the table?
What is the Clan Elders decided they didn't like her and demanded that she be taken off Team 7?
What if Naruto goes all 'Dobe' on them and makes Sakura punch his face in, what would the elders think of that? Would they be impressed, or shake their heads in that annoying way old, senile, people do?
What if Itachi does something stupid?
What if his father doesn't approve of Sakura? What if he doesn't care that she's the world's best medical ninja, that she's absolutely beautiful, the smartest ninja he knows right next to Shikamaru. Doesn't he know that she's the reason they make it out of most of their missions?
Holy crap, what if she wears the wrong thing. He did tell her casual, right?
That would be so bad if she—
Oh mother of baby Jesus.
What if she calls Ino?
Okay, it wasn't often that he admitted this, but, Naruto was scared.
Yea. That's right. Scared.
Sasuke was freaking out (Come on, when the hell does that ever happen?) Sakura was all nervous and crap, Kakashi wasn't much help and everyone seemed to be dreading the evening.
Dreading.
And poor little Naruto was somehow sucked in and roped into attending this 'torture-session' as Sasuke so lovingly calls it.
When did life get so fucking complicated?
"Teme, there is nothing to be worried about." Naruto said for the umpteenth time. "It's just a stupid dinner so the stupid elders can see that Sakura-chan isn't stupid. Calm down." Sasuke groaned, slamming his head on the table in his kitchen.
"Dobe, you don't understand!" He persisted. "If the Elders don't like Sakura, they'll take her off team 7…"
Naruto blanched. "The hell? Those old bags can't do that! I'm the freaking Hokage—"
"-In training…"
"—And I demand Justice! Justice I tell you! Sakura-chan's the reason we ever come back alive on most of those missions, they can't take her away, Teme, they just can't, we would, like, die. DIE. I don't want to die Sasuke, I really don't! I have so much to live for~!" Sasuke sighed, rubbing his temples as the blonde blubbered on. Soon, Itachi came into the kitchen.
"Why is Naruto crying?" He wondered, stepping over him on his way to the fridge.
"The Elders have requested a dinner with Sakura. Naruto thinks everything will undeniably fail and the Elders will have Sakura removed from our team and, according to Naruto, we will die."
"…Isn't that a bit extreme, little Brother? I highly doubt the Elders would ever-"
"Really Itachi? Do you really doubt it?" Naruto challenge, grabbing onto the elder Uchiha's legs like a little child. "I don't think you do, Itachi, no one understands, Sakura-chan can't leave us!" Itachi rolled his eyes.
"You two are imbeciles. No matter what the Elders say, Tsunade-sama would never take Haruno-san off Team 7." Itachi carefully stepped out of Naruto's grip, opening the refrigerator and searching the racks.
Naruto stopped crying, his mood suddenly brightening. "Really Bigger Teme? Do you really think so?" He was almost bursting with contained joy.
"Yes Naruto. Really. You have no reason to worry." It wasn't until much later that Itachi realized just how wrong that statement was.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
She was late.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Dinner was supposed to start five minutes ago. And she still isn't here.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The Elders were not impressed.
"So far, Sasuke-kun, your third teammate is proving to be a disappointment." Itachi smoothly swept in, saving his dear little brother from an explanation.
"I'm sure Haruno-san has a very good reason for being late." He said simply.
Mikoto put on a smile. "I'm sure she was busy with the hospital today, right, Sasuke-chan?"
"Haruno-san had the day off today," One of the Elders said. "This is unacceptable, I will not wait another—" There was a light rap at the door, Sasuke knew it well, sighing with relief as he and Naruto hurriedly jumped, scrambling over each other to answer.
"Where have you…been?" Sasuke trailed off, taking in his teammate's usual ninja garb, her fingers stained pink, short hair pulled into a pony-tail. "What the hell happened to you?"
"You owe me so big for this." She answered, brushing past him and to her death, slapping on a smile.
"Hello, so sorry I'm late, emergency at the hospital." She sat in the only free seat, in between Naruto and Sasuke and across from Sasuke's father.
Yep, that was her soul that just died.
"What kind of emergency?" Fugaku inquired.
Sakura gave a warm, ever so fake smile. "The kind when an ANBU team of six come back early from their mission dying at my feet. I'm sure I don't need to get into the details, Uchiha-san." Mikoto smirked.
"Well, it's very nice to finally meet you, Sakura." The woman said. Food was passed around the table, genuine small talk was uttered and then, just when Sakura was starting to think she was home free, the Elders fuck it up.
"Haruno-san, you have trained with Lady-Tsunade, correct?" She nodded, finishing the last bit of food on her plate.
"Trained with and surpassed."
"That's very impressive, Sakura, it must have been hard work."
"More than anyone could even comprehend." She answered, sipping her drink.
"Sakura, have you ever thought of marrying into the Uchiha family?" Sakura chocked, her eyes widening to the point where she feared they would pop out of her skull.
"Excuse me?" She sputtered, Sasuke equally mortified, Naruto withholding the obvious urge to yell and scream and Itachi, looking positively amused beyond belief.
"Well, you are a beautiful woman, very successful, very known, very powerful. I believe I recall Tsunade-sama recounting the many incidents that you've defeated hundreds of men singlehandedly. And, of course, your medical skills are beyond compare, even to your mentor." Sakura almost blushed at the complements. Almost.
"Uhm, I don't mean to spoil anything but, Sasuke-kun and I-"
"Oh, you wouldn't marry Sasuke."
"What?" Naruto fell out of his chair.
"I'm sorry?" Itachi's smirk fell.
"No, no, Itachi-kun is the Uchiha heir, and that insufferable boy needs to find a wife."
"So…"
"Sakura-san would marry into the clan, by Itachi-kun." Sasuke blanched, Itachi was struck speechless, Mikoto fidgeted nervously in her seat, Fugaku remained impassive, and Naruto had passed out sometime ago.
Team 7 quickly stood, each having their own reasons as to why Sakura should most certainly not marry into the Uchiha clan, talking over each other, overpowering the other. Suddenly, their arguments died to silence as the eldest Uchiha councilmen started to chuckle.
"Now, now children," He stood, patting Sakura's should, even in his ancient age standing a good few inches taller than the pink-haired medic. "We mustn't fight over such trivial matters, Itachi-kun has more than enough time to find a wife that can keep his interest. Sakura-chan is young, still a little girl," He gave her a small, wise smile.
"Such things like marriage should not be talked of, not yet any how," The old man winked at Sakura. "Now, I'm sure Sakura-chan is tired, the girl works to hard, she should go home and get some rest. Thank you for joining us this evening Sakura-chan, I will be seeing you soon." Sakura nodded, still unable to speak correctly as Sakura and Naruto followed her out the door.
Once outside and a safe distance away, she punched them both, pink tinting her cheeks.
"I am never having dinner with your 'family' again!"
A/N: Yea, this has been in the works for a while, I'm still not happy with it, seems kind of choppy. Ah, oh well, hope you enjoyed this little crack! ^.^