Chapter two I do not own Naruto
*Thank you to those who have reviewed my first chapter! I was scared that you wouldn't like it.
So anyway, here's the next chapter! Italics is flashback, bold is thought. Changed from last time. *
―――
Earlier that day
"Itachi, why would you run away from Akatsuki?"
"I don't know."
"Okaaay. Why did you kill your family?"
"Because."
"That is NOT an answer!"
"I don't feel like talking with them listening."
"Oh… Then we'll speed up, and then they won't be able to hear us. Okay? Then will you talk?"
"Hm." Itachi said, nodding his head. Speeding up the S-ranked criminal, and the Hokage walked up ahead of their elderly companions.
"You asked why I left Akatsuki. Well, I was tired."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, not that I was opposed to the activities of Akatsuki, but I was tired in partaking in them. The only reason I joined them in the first place was because I was hoping for somewhere to call home."
"But that was your own fault. You're the one that killed your family."
"Yes, but that I did for a reason."
"What reason could possibly merit the killing of your family!?"
"No, you misunderstand. To me, they were not my family, they were my keepers."
"What the heck are you talking about, Itachi."
Itachi took a deep breath. "My 'family', as you call it, never loved me. They only wanted to use me, because I had been born with power. They only people who loved me were my mother and brother. And if you recall, I left my brother alive. But my mother, she had chosen to die with my father. Out of everyone it was my father who wanted to use me the most."
"Is that why you left Sasuke alive, because he had loved you? But then why did you leave him the way you did?"
"Because. I had killed our mother. He shouldn't forgive me, even if I HAD left her alive. That's why. I had hoped that Sasuke would one day come to kill me, as punishment."
"You know your brother left the village in order to train with Orochimaru, right?"
"Yes. Now that he has done that, there is no hope for him."
"What do you mean? We will find him and bring him back!"
"Even so, because he does not rely on himself and has turned to the darkest and most twisted person alive, he can never defeat me…"
It was at this moment that the travelers reached the village of Konoha, and the Hokage led Itachi inside, under the cover of night, to a hidden jail cell behind her office.
―――
"What the hell do you mean?!" Tsunade growled, looking up at the Elder Council. "Are you all FREAKIN' crazy?!"
"Tsunade, please calm yourself."
"Alright, alright, *sigh*, now tell me, how can you justify the deaths of the entire Uchiha clan with Itachi saving only 3 people?"
"We will not argue the decision. Nor do we want to hear of you doing anything that will hinder it. Now we will move to the matter of the marriage. Tsunade, make a list of those kunoichi that would be suitable."
Tsunade crossed her arms, "I will not cooperate. You made this decision, while I have to follow it and cannot stop you, I can refuse to help you."
"Fine…" He turned to the woman sitting next to him. "Get me the list, immediately please."
The woman slowly got up, and walked out of the room, flashing Tsunade a look of remorse as she passed. Within ten minutes the woman returned to the Council's room to find the Hokage and the Head Elder locked in a vicious staring contest. The slamming of the door after the woman jarred the Head Elder's focus, causing Tsunade to release a contemptuous 'humph'. The woman handed him the list and he read aloud:
"'The current available Kunoichi are as follows:' why are there only ten?"
"Because, they are the only kunoichi close to Itachi's age."
"Oh, anyways…" He skims the paper. He mumbles to himself as Tsunade waits with her arms crossed. "No, no, too old, too old, engaged. Aghh, here we are. Team Guy: TenTen, 17 years old." His face dropped, "currently in a relationship with Rock Lee. Next is…Hyuga Hinata, 16 years old, currently in a relationship with…Uzumaki Naruto. (whispers) Damn Kyubi. Yamanaka Ino, 16 years old, no."
"Hold up," Tsunade said. "Why is Ino a 'no'?"
"Because, I have heard certain rumors and…" he trailed off. "Anyways, there is one left on the list that is not in relationship and has no filth attached to her name."
Still wanting an answer to her question Tsunade lifted her blonde head to hear.
"The girl we choose shall be from Team Kakashi, 16 years old, Haruno Sakura."
For the second time in half an hour, Tsunade's jaw dropped. "NO! NO! NO! There is no way I'm gonna let you marry off the best kunoichi in Konoha to that bastard! What is this some secret vendetta you have against me? You can't do this!"
―――
Sakura tore herself away from her window to answer the knock she heard at her door. She murmured a 'coming' as she crossed the space between her bedroom and her living room. Opening the door, she found her mentor, Tsunade, to be angry and somewhat drunk.
"Hello Sakura. Can I come in?"
"Of course, what can I help you with Shishou? Did you have a successful trip?" Sakura closely scrutinized the older woman. "What happened? Why are you drunk?"
"Please, I'm not drunk. Just because a person has a little sake after a trip, does not make them drunk."
"OK, then will you tell me what's up?"
"Sakura…on the way back to the village, we were attacked." Sakura stood as if to say something, but Tsunade stopped her. "While I could have taken them out myself, we were saved: By Uchiha Itachi."
Sakura jumped up from the chair she was in, "WHAT?!"
"That's not the worst of it. Please let me finish before you begin to speak." Sakura reluctantly sat again. "Not only did he save us, but he stopped a potential invasion by taking out the enemy ninja. Against all of my better judgment, my companions choose to escort him back to the village, and he came without a fight. On the way he conveyed to me that, of all things, he was regretful of some of the things he had done. He is now locked in a cell, awaiting the decision of the council. WHICH I can NOT change!"
Taking this as her cue to talk, Sakura said, "So what did the council decide?"
Tsunade took a deep breath.
"They have decided to grant him amnesty for all of his crimes, that he should live in the village…an-"
"WHAT?! After what he did to his family, to Sasuke?!"
Tsunade turned away from her student.
"That's not all. There was one more thing they have decreed." Tsunade chuckled sadly. "They have said that if I try and stop it in anyway, I'll be fired…"
Sakura's anger turned into confusion. "If you try to stop his living in the village?"
"No, I'll be fired if I try to stop him from marrying you."
Sakura tried to wrap her mind around what Tsunade was saying.
"What?" she said in a barely audible whisper.
"The second decree of the council was that you are to marry Uchiha Itachi. By the week's end."
Sakura lowered her head so that her face was covered by her hair. "Why me?" she whispered.
"Because, you were the only one who wasn't too old or in a relationship."
Sakura tried to fight back tears. "But I love Sasuke…"
Tsunade turned to face her. "I know…But since Sasuke abandoned the village, the council does not care if you love him or not. I'll get fired and kicked out of the village if I do anything to help you. Sakura, I'm sorry."
Sakura eyes over flowed with tears as she met Tsunade's eyes. "I'll do it."