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The lights are soft and the room is filled with smoke. A dark crimson rug covers the wooden floor, some floral paintings hanging on the creamy walls welcome him. Tsunade is sitting behind an old desk, holding a cigarrette and reading some scrolls. He lingers a little watching the room. It looks that everything in there is too worn out, too ancient. But then she suddenly moves her eyes to him, and he can't help smirking at her scowling features.
"Tsunade-san." Madara bows his head slightly, not losing eyecontact with the blonde lady. "You are as beautiful as ever."
"Save your sweet words for someone else, Madara." Her voice is vicious, like everything in her. "I know what you are here for."
"Oh, is that so? You even forgot the formalities." Madara sighs dramatically. "Do you like my name that much?"
"Don't test my patientce." She spats and switches all her attention to the Uchiha. "Now tell me. What interest could the Uchiha's youngest heir have on my geisha?"
Madara laughs softly and takes a second to appreciate the woman he has infront of him. The mighty Tsunade. Nobody knows where she comes from or what clan she was born in, but she couldn't be any more interesting. Tsunade has never revealed her age, and Madara has always imagined grazing her velvety skin or her childlike blonde pigtails. She often tricks people with her stunning beauty, but Madara has also seen her destroy a small house with a single punch.
"Well, as you see, Sasuke is an eighteen year old boy. And, as you can also see, young boys like young girls. I think it is pretty simple for you to understand." Madara takes a few steps until he is right infront of Tsunade's desk.
"Do not even try to disrespect me in my own office, Madara." Tsunade growls, a dangerous look in her hazelnut brown eyes.
"I just came here for the agreement with Sakura's beloved Okaa-san. Or perhaps... would you like to deny your little girl to a rich powerful heir?" Madara laughs sarcastically and speaks before Tsunade opens her mouth to growl at him. "We both know that your okiya it is not that... wealthy. All I am asking for is a profitable contract for both of us. Let my nephew have the girl, and you will receive plenty of money to continue this... business."
"You think you can fool me, but you cannot hide your plans from me." Tsunade sighs deeply. "I will let Sasuke have Sakura, but anything more." The Okaa-san scowls at him. "And if I notice anything -whatever it might be- that could harm Sakura, I will come after you."
"Sounds fine to me." Madara smirks and picks a thin brush. "Where do I have to sign?"
One hour later, Uchiha Madara is returning to his family compound. His lips are curving into a winning, vicious smile. Wasting a little bit of money is nothing compared to the satisfaction he's feeling right now.
He could not care less about Sasuke's feelings, or that girl's situation. Why did his nephew want to be her danna? That's none of his business -right now, at least.
His mind is full of thoughts about killing Senju Hashirama's grand-daughter, the once known as the most powerful kunoichi. Madara will start taking her life piece by piece. First her apprentice, then the okiya, then her life. And the Senju clan will finally disappear.
But for now, he will just play his own game. "It is going to be fun."
Blood, so much blood.
All she can see is red. Red stains on the girl's green kimono. Red streams running down her arms, her legs, her forehead.
It was an accident, she hears a woman say. Where is Tsunade-san? I need Tsunade-san.
The early moning light breaks through the curtains that cover the small windows in the little clinic next to Sakura's okiya. Tsunade is the one that is usually there, taking care of some patients that need help. But today she's busy, so busy that Sakura is the one trying to channel her chakra before the girl runs out of the red liquid that keeps her alive.
With the help of a sharp kunai, the young medic geisha cuts open the simple kimono. The girl in her hards is a plain civilian, some unfortunate children who made a single mistake. She was hired by a noble in Suna to bring some groceries there, and now she is dying on the improvised operating table.
"Pinky-chan." The girl's mother can't stop sobbing. "My baby... My baby only had to do her job..."
Sakura breaths deeply and tries to smile comfortably to the woman.
"I will do all I can."
Her hands tremble when she channels the chakra blades. Her green glow can't reach the most damaged parts. Now she will have to open her stomach, and find the problem. Her injuries are bad. They beat her pretty hard. Those soldiers, what the hell were they thinking? She is only a little girl...
"Please, okaa-san. I need you to get out of here. You cannot see this."
The sun is falling down when she is finally sitting on a wooden bench. It's late summer and the breeze is still warm. Her hair falls down her back, and there is not a better feeling when she finally lets her toes graze the garden's grass. A lazy cicada sings hidden into the bushes filled with red roses, a little frog rests on the water lilies that adorn the little lake.
"This must be what Sarutobi-san calls 'the paradise for the soul'".
"Sakura! Here you are!" Ino's obnoxious voice wakes her up from her dream.
Sakura inwardly blames the careless maiko for letting Ino in her private garden. Her blonde friend and former geisha sits down next to Sakura and lets her feet free from her geta.
"Ahhh!" Ino lays down on the grass. "We finally have some time to relax."
Sakura remains silent but her peace has now been disturbed. She sighs. "Can't I enjoy some free time on my own?"
"Okaa-san told me about Tsunade-sama's deal with Uchiha Madara-san." Ino says, closing her eyes to avoid the morning bright light. "How are you feeling about it?"
"I guess it is my duty." Sakura smiles sadly. "Having a danna, taking care of him at the events... He looks like he is not rude. Maybe we will get along well."
"You should not fall in love with him."
It hits Sakura like a stab on her heart. She tries to laugh softly, and she lays down on the grass just like Ino. The sun baths her delicate legs and she enjoys the warm feeling.
"I know, don't worry. Konan-san taught me well."
"I somewhat envied you when my Okaa-san told me. An Uchiha danna, woah. That's some serious talk right here. But then... I don't know. I mean, it is great for the okiya -and for you too- because they are disgustingly rich but... You will give him everything, and he will just literally own you, but he will probably marry a rich girl and then he will have kids and... They are Uchiha's after all. I only know Shisui, but they are odd. They are kind of... dangerous" Ino sighs. "I'm sorry if I sound harsh but... I'm just worried about you."
"Ino, I already told you. It is my job." Sakura laughs lightly, trying to lighten up the mood. "It will not be anything personal. Trust me. I'm the famous Nightingale after all, aren't I?"
They remain silent for a while, just listening to the cicada and their own breathing sounds. Ino suddenly gets up and smiles awkwardly at Sakura.
"I have a meeting tonight. Some Konoha military forces hired me for a special event. A man named Sai -I think- is returning from a dangerous mission, and they want to celebrate his comeback."
"Have fun, then." Sakura smiles softly at her and waves a goodbye to her friend.
Only when she hears the bamboo door slide close, she lets the tears fall down her cheeks. Her body, her heart, her soul. Everything will be his. And what will she get in return? Golden coins and sadness.
Will she end up dying like the girl she tried to save this morning? Will she end up covered in blood just because she had to do her job? All she can pray to Kami-sama is a quick end if things end up bad.
Tsunade-san made it clear a few hours ago. Sakura is a geisha, and a medic kunoichi, and also a spy.
Remember it, my apprentice. You will go with the boy, listen to everything those bloody Uchihas say and then you will tell me all of it. You will not use your strenght, nor risk your life. I need you here to save whoever needs us at the clinic.
But everytime she tries to get some confidence on her task, some dark eyes and a sweet, childlike voice come to her mind again. Why did you choose me, Sasuke? What are you thinking?
"Your name is Sakura, and I will remember you every spring."