Due to demand and the excellent traffic i received i decided to give you all the second chapter now as a treat :) Thank you to my four reviewers! and thanks to everyone who added alerts or just read for general pleasure you make me smile! Now on with the chapter.
Sakura managed a slow walk into her office at the hospital and stopped dead when she spotted a visitor standing near the wall looking at various pictures. He was tall, dark, and handsome with long and shiny raven hair tied in a knot at the base of his neck. Would she ever admit out that he was gorgeous, oh no that admission is taboo, but she couldn't help but admire a beautiful man when she saw one. His hands were behind his back and his face relatively blank as he stared at a picture Team 7 had taken after completing their Jounin exams.
"How can I help you Uchiha-san?" she asked continuing her slow walk to her desk.
Itachi turned to face her and notice her exhaustion immediately. In her hands she carried a stack of files that probably dealt with the new poison she was investigating and any patients that she had to attend to. He reached her in record time when she stumble slightly over her own feet and steadied her before helping her to sit down at her desk.
"Thanks but you didn't need to," she apologized as she set down her load on her already cramped desk.
"Yes I did, you're dead on your feet and it wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to let a lady fall when I'm perfectly capable of helping her," he answered in a soft velvet voice.
She sighed in relief for being off her feet, "Well getting back on topic, how can I help you?"
She changed the subject quickly from his subtle attempt at flirting. They had been through this before and she was not going to do it again.
"I came to see if you would like to accompany me to dinner tomorrow evening," he asked leaning against her desk arms folded.
She sighed again only this time for an entirely different reason, this was exactly what she didn't want to talk about or deal with.
"Itachi…I can't…" she started lamely.
"Oh?"
"I just…I have too much going on…" her hand ran over her face as she reclined in her chair.
Itachi took the opportunity to admire her fine figure. She wore lose dark tight shorts and a her typical red sleeveless shirt that zipped in the front. Her feet were clad in her typical shinobi footwear with a slight heel and her doctor's coat hung to her hips. Her medic apron was tied in the front except with her increasing responsibilities Sakura invested in a larger version of her old pink apron. This new addition was stark white and fell down just above her ankles but it was also designed to wear out in the field if need be. The strong fabric didn't extend all the way to her front leaving her shorts and legs entirely exposed. Pockets were sewn into the inside of the fabric and were filled with a variety of necessities she would surely need throughout any typical day. All in all Itachi admired her chosen style and body very much. Sakura immediately noticed her position and jerked upright with a blush creeping up on her face.
"I apologize…that was quite unprofessional," she quickly stammered out.
He smirked at her, "I didn't mind."
She glared at him, "Of course you didn't."
"So tomorrow then?" he asked again.
"No, I just can't…for a lot of reasons…thank you for giving me my space during the war and also for your input with my ideas but I just…can't…" no matter how much I want to, she continued on in her head. Her inner groaned with her sighing at the loss of such a fine male specimen who actively wants to date her.
PLEEEEEAAAAAASE, her inner begged.
You know why…as much as I want to say yes you know why I can't! she argued back.
Itachi watched her inner turmoil figuring out exactly what she was thinking. She sighed quietly as she rubbed her temples, a habit he noticed she picked up recently after the war ended.
Just then another person entered the room.
"Sakura-chan!" a high sing song voice belonging to a beautiful strawberry blonde woman strolled in carrying a large basket full of strawberries. The woman stopped dead when her eyes fell on Itachi leaning comfortably against her desk, "Oh I've interrupted something…" she smiled mischievously at her daughter.
Sakura groaned, "You didn't interrupt anything mother."
Itachi's eye quirked ever so slightly, Her mother?
"But my darling it's not every day you see such a fine young man in your office. And it seems he's not here for medical reasons," she walked over and dropped the basket of strawberries right in front of Sakura, "Eat up they are fresh from Mrs. Tsu's garden."
Sakura's eyes lit up, "She let you pick some?"
"Mmmm hmmm," her mother nodded picking up a large strawberry and eating it.
Sakura quickly followed suit and her eyes rolled to the back of her head when she bit into the soft fruit. Mrs. Tsu's strawberries were legendary to anyone who knew a good strawberry.
Itachi smirked again as he watched sheer happiness spread over Sakura's features as she bit into the red fruit. Some juice began to drip down her chin that she didn't even bother to wipe off and he had to restrain himself for assisting her with her delectable problem, preferably before it stained her shirt.
Sakura's mom watched the ANBU Captain with a hint of glee. Itachi instantly felt her quizzical gaze and looked up from her daughter and met her eyes…eyes that were the exact carbon copy of the younger version. He took in the rest of her features in an instant; short strawberry blonde curls that hung around her chin, pale lips, high cheekbones giving her an elfin appearance overall. Typical build for the female working civilian, she was blessed in both her chest and her hips both attributes that her daughter did not inherit.
"So, can I get you name?" Sakura's mother asked rather unconventional, her gaze never leaving Itachi's.
His eyes softened from the critical and appraising look he was giving her, "Uchiha Itachi," he answered mildly.
Her eyes widened, "Uchiha Itachi…well it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my name is Haruno Kya. May I ask what your interest is in my daughter?"
"Mother!" Sakura hissed spitting strawberry juice out of her mouth, "This is not what it looks like!"
Itachi smirked at Sakura, "I had come to ask your daughter to accompany me to dinner tomorrow night but she has refused."
"Itachi! You are not helping!" she turned her glare on the insanely handsome and smirking Uchiha. I'm so screwed…
Yes you are! Mama to the rescue I could kiss her right now!
"Sakura, don't you know it's rude to turn down the invitation of such a handsome young man requesting for your presence for dinner," Kya tsked but entirely pleased that her daughter caught someone of his social standing's eye.
"Moooooom…" she moaned dropping her head down onto her desk and began rubbing her temples again.
Kya turned and rubbed her daughter's back instantly soothing Sakura's stressed body. Her gaze sharpened at her daughter's action, she hadn't seen those signs since before her husband died. Itachi took notice.
"My little flower, we both know you need a night off. You over worked yourself before the war and now…my darling it's too much. Please as a favor to your mother take some nights off for yourself and your general sanity," Kya continued rubbing her daughters back slowly causing Sakura's arms to support her head and stabilize her movements.
"…Fine, I'll take tomorrow night off…Moegi will be so mad," Sakura caved then received a light smack on her back from her mother.
"Excellent, Itachi-san my daughter is free tomorrow night you can pick her up at 6pm at our home," Kya winked at her daughter's new date before grabbing the basket of strawberries preparing to make her leave.
"Oh no you don't woman!" Sakura's hand shot out and grabbed onto the basket, "You just coerced me into a date, those strawberries are staying here."
Kya eyed her daughter, "Not a chance, give me a bowl and I'll leave some with you."
Sakura opened the drawers in her desk not finding a bowl then jumped up and walked over to some medical equipment on the other side. She bent down and grabbed three large beakers and walked back with a smirk setting them on her desk.
"Fill all three up," Sakura ordered.
Kya scoffed amused, "Is that any way to talk to you mother after she brought you strawberries and got you a date with an incredibly handsome young man," Kya grabbed a handful and set the fruit in one of the beakers.
"Handsome, I don't see anything special about him except that he's like a shadow always around but nothing I really take notice of," Sakura replied grabbing her own handful and putting more into another beaker.
Kya chuckled then, "That I seriously doubt Sakura darling, we're too similar, and it's not like you not to notice one fine male specimen in your presence, mmmmmmm. How do you think I won over your father; by standing around?"
Sakura scoffed, "Forgive me for having a career that takes up all of my time."
"Only because you let it. Haven't you thought about your dear old mother at all? I do want grand babies to spoil before I kick the can and honestly, the two of you will have beautiful children," Kya's eyes widened in amusement as Sakura turned a dark red.
"MO-MOTHER! Completely uncalled for! We're not even together!" Sakura defended with a slight stutter.
Kya laughed then walking around her daughter who was frozen in shock, "Not yet you're not. Itachi-san if that blush is anything to go by just be patient, you'll win her over if you're persistent. See you later my little flower."
The door closed and Itachi couldn't help but allow a small smile grace his face. Letting a small amused chuckle escape his mouth drew Sakura's attention to him instead of fuming at the wall.
"YOU!" she yelled and pointed a finger, "You are in so much deep sh-…trouble! Don't think for one second that you can just do whatever you want now that my mother has meddled in my life!"
Itachi's smile faded into the typical Uchiha smirk, "You really find me attractive Sakura-chan?"
She fought an embarrassed blush which was quickly turning into anger, "I. Do. Not. Now I'm going to ask you to leave, I need to go let off some steam."
"Naruto and Sasuke are at Ichiraku's," Itachi told her before exiting her office.
"Itachi!" Said man turned around to see his younger brother who yelled at him and blonde teammate striding towards him. "What the hell?"
Itachi quirked a brow.
"We just finished with a training session with Sakura-chan and all she would tell us about her bad mood is 'ask Sasuke's stupid brother.' So here we are asking, what the hell?" Naruto folded his arms in front of him staring daggers at the older Uchiha. Prodigy or not nobody messes with his kunoichi and gets away with it.
Sasuke kept glaring at his brother, "Well?" he prompted.
"I asked her out to dinner and she accepted," he replied calmly keeping his face blank.
Both pairs of eyes widened.
"Sakura-chan agreed to a date…with you?" Naruto asked a little skeptical.
Itachi nodded.
"Impossible, you don't even know her," Sasuke defended.
"On the contrary, he knows her better than you think he does," another voice entered the conversation.
"And how would you know that Shisui?" Sasuke asked turning his glare on him instead of his brother.
"The nice thing about being his best friend is that he tells me stuff that he doesn't tell others," Shisui answered walking up with his little sister Reiko.
"Itachi-kun, are you interested in my shishou?" Reiko asked trying not to sound excited.
Itachi nodded once making the girl squeal in delight.
"No! No way! I'm not letting you date her!" Sasuke turned his angry eyes back to his brother.
"Why not?" Itachi asked still keeping his expression blank.
"Because it would be weird and she doesn't have time for you anyway she's too busy," Naruto answered folding his arms.
"Besides we don't want you getting her hopes up over something you may not be able to promise to her," Sasuke told him deadly serious.
Itachi shared a glance with Shisui who was trying to calm his sister.
"They are both aware of some clan politics," Sasuke answered giving his brother a poignant look, "Just leave her alone..."
"Or we will have to beat your ass," Naruto finished.
Shisui burst in laughter, "Is this your way of taking up the over protective brother roll?"
"This is serious Shisui!" Sasuke growled at him.
"You're right it is serious," Itachi answered, "And I wouldn't have tried to pursue if I didn't think she would be able to benefit from my attention."
"'Benefit from your attention', what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Naruto demanded.
Itachi just spared him a glance before Reiko interrupted them.
"Sasuke-kun do you know what time it is nee-san won't tell me," she folded her arms glaring at her brother who smirked at her.
"It's 3pm, why?" he answered.
Reiko's eyes widened in horror, "I'm late!" she yelled and took off.
"Late for what?" Naruto asked to the thin air left in her wake.
"Her training with her shishou," Shisui answered watching his sister high tail it out of the compound.
"Shit…we better go supervise," Naruto groaned rubbing his hands over his face.
"Why would you need to do that?" Shisui asked.
"Because my aniki," Sasuke growled, "Put her in a bad mood and we had to help relieve her of some of her anger."
"And she didn't expel all of her energy because she said she had training with one of her students today. We don't want her to lose it out there and injure someone who isn't responsible," Naruto said, "Come on Sasuke."
Sasuke turned with his teammate and left towards the training grounds.
"Please tell me your mother is still backing you on this?" Shisui asked his best friend.
He nodded, "It was she who asked me when I would begin my pursuit again. It seems she's become actively engaged in my dating life since the war ended."
Shisui smirked, "Have you told your father yet?"
He shook his head, "Let's follow them to the training grounds and supervise."
"Again!" Sakura shouted her arms folded off to the side of Team Seven's training ground.
Reiko lit her hands up with green chakra and charged at an upright tree trunk Sakura had shoved into the ground earlier. Her sharingan glowed bright as she focused on her chakra scalpel. With a grunt she sped forward and sliced her hands perpendicular to the trunk slicing it clean in half. Her senses went on high alert as she jumped out of the way to avoid Sakura chakra empowered punch. She was light on her feet dodging expertly through the debris flying around her thin body. Next thing she noticed…there were two Sakura's charging at her from opposite directions head on. She paused glancing back and forth between the two when one disappeared only to reappear right behind her.
"Keep your head in the game," Sakura warned in a growl kicking her student in the back and sending her flying to the ground.
Reiko broke her fall with a quick flip then started sprinting only to be cut off by another Sakura.
"Which one of us is real Reiko?" she asked forcing the girl into a taijutsu match.
Reiko's breathing was beginning to become labored. After the extensive chakra control training on the lake and then drilling the chakra scalpel with the log she was starting to wane. In an effort to break out of the taijutsu match she threw an explosive tag down between them and ignited it. Sakura's clone exploded from the force of the blast while Reiko watched from the air breathing hard. She barely sensed Sakura's presence under her when she landed and was pulled into the ground using the Donton: Head Hunter jutsu.
Sakura appeared before her student arms crossed, "Why are you reserves so low today?"
Reiko bowed her head as much as she could, "I was training with my nee-san earlier."
"Look at me," Sakura chided. She hated it when the girl wouldn't look her in the eye.
Reiko looked up at her.
"This has become a constant thing lately which it's a good thing your training but the purpose being a Medical Ninja in the academy at this point in time is to develop these skills first so that you may aide your Genin team when you are finished here," Sakura explained releasing her student from the ground.
Reiko nodded looking down at her feet, "I understand, I'll let him know."
Sakura paused taking in her student. There several reasons why she picked Reiko to become a member of her team. One reason was she was completely different from her own teammate Sasuke, she was soft spoken, humble, and eager to learn anything she could get her hands on. Another reason, she was smart and she remembered everything that she learned after one try. Her chakra control was impeccable for having such little training with it, but if there was one thing she disliked about her student it was that Sakura was worried that the girl was a lot like herself in her younger years, training for all the wrong reasons.
"Reiko, why do you want to be a ninja?" Sakura asked.
Reiko looked up with bright onyx eyes, "I want to be a great kunoichi and bring my clan honor."
Thought so… Sakura muttered to herself, Typical answer for any Genin with a large clan.
"Not good enough, why did you want to be a ninja?" She asked again in a much firmer tone of voice.
Reiko's face fell, "What do you mean…I told you my reason…"
Sakura shook her head, "And I told you it's not good enough. Why are you training? What purpose do all the injuries, exhaustion, and chakra depletion serve?"
She looked down again with her hands behind her back with a small smile, "Cousin Itachi is a great ninja, nee-san is also a great ninja, cousin Sasuke trained with a Sannin, so did you and Naruto-san. I want my clan to look at me with pride saying that I'm one of the best. I want to become like you, I want to be powerful and beat all of my enemies with a single strike…"
Her speech was interrupted by Sakura's foot making impact on her stomach. She crashed into the nearest tree making her gasp before she was pulled out of the indent and thrown onto the ground. Sakura stood over her, eye blazing, holding a kunai to her throat; her ki was rolling of her in waves.
"That's not good enough," she growled at the girl, "What is your Will of Fire?"
Reiko's eyes were wide as tears started to flow.
Sakura tsked and stood up abruptly turning her back to her, "We're finished for today. You are allowed to heal your internal injuries but external bruising and scratches are prohibited and you can only heal yourself. You will return here every day for training at the same time and I will ask you the same question every day. If I don't like your answer you will receive the same treatment until you find it."
With that Sakura left her student on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
Reiko, hearing her master's final words, did an instant body check. She had three broken ribs from the last kick Sakura inflicted on her and definitely some internal bruising from the same injury. Scratches and other bruises adorned her arms and legs from their taijutsu spar and her ankle was slightly swollen from her impact when Sakura threw her to the ground after her kick.
Will of Fire? I don't…I remember talking about it at the Academy but…I don't know what it is! How am I supposed to find the answer to something I don't know?
Tears began flowing freely as she rested her broken body and spirit lacking enough chakra to healing her own wounds.
"Enjoy the show?" Sakura asked in a slightly agitated tone of voice; before her stood Sasuke, Naruto, Sai, Itachi, and Shisui all watching her carefully. She had sensed them all show up during the chakra control training except for Sai, he stayed after she announced that she was training a student. Sai knew her well enough that in her bad moods if she wasn't training with her team someone would get seriously injured. When Naruto and Sasuke went to go locate the source of the problem Sai opted to stay and play look out.
"Sakura-chan weren't you a little rough on her, that last kick you put chakra behind it?" Naruto asked.
"I won't have you criticizing my teaching methods," she replied and began walking away.
She was stopped by Shisui's arm blocking her path, "Why didn't you heal her?" he asked his voice as agitated as hers.
Sakura looked him dead into his sharingan eyes uncaring and without fear, "She needed to learn a lesson. Be grateful I went easy on her, when I had this lesson with Tsunade-shishou I couldn't walk for a week."
Naruto choked on his breath, he remembered visiting Sakura in the hospital after that event. It was right before he left on his training trip with ero-sennin and it was Sakura's first day of combat training with Tsunade baa-chan.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked, "When did this happen? Where was I?"
"After you defected from Konoha to pursue Orochimaru and right before Naruto left to train with Jiraiya-sama. Tsunade-sama beat me within an inch of my life because she didn't like my answer. I didn't even get to say goodbye to Naruto because I was unconscious. You were dead to me Sasuke and Kakashi was given missions that took him outside the village for long periods of time. My mother was the only person who ever came to see me," she explained turning her head to look at Sasuke with a blank look.
"What about your father?" he asked eyes wide.
"Dead," she replied simply.
"Don't you remember that funeral teme?" Naruto bumped him with his elbow. Sasuke scrunched his brows together trying to remember.
"He wouldn't remember because he wasn't there. He was a self-absorbed ass back then Naruto don't you remember. May I take my leave now, I have important business to attend to at the hospital," she looked back a Shisui, "She's lucky to have you looking out for her…maybe you can help her answer my question." With that she picked up Shisui's hand and moved it out of her way before walking back to the village, her white medic apron flowing slightly in the soft breeze.
"She did all of this over a question?" Sai asked confused.
"Women…" Sasuke mumbled.
"Come on let's go find out what it is," Naruto said following Itachi and Shisui as they lead the way out onto the training grounds.
Shisui knelt next his little sister and wiped her tears, "Reiko, why are you crying?"
She looked up at his gentle voice and sniffed, "Sakura-shishou…she's really mad at me."
She looked up at another head and her eyes widened when she realized she was surrounded by people.
"Why is she mad at you?" her brother asked her again helping her sit up.
"I…I don't know…I did everything she asked of me but said that I was…I wasn't good enough. Nee-san I've been training a lot with you, why am I not good enough?" she asked curling into her brother's embrace.
"What did she ask you?" Itachi placed a comforting hand on her scraped knee; he also noticed her swollen ankle.
"She asked me why I wanted to be a ninja…what is my Will of Fire…"
"And what did you say?" Naruto asked with soft eyes.
"I said I wanted to be the best. I wanted to bring honor to my clan and my village. I wanted to be strong like her, and like you, and like cousin Sasuke and Itachi, and like my brother…" she sniffed again as more tears started to flow, "How was I wrong?"
"You missed her point," Sai stated bluntly. Naruto and Sasuke both sighed in understanding.
"What point?" Reiko asked confused, "She said I was smart and she's treating me like I'm an idiot because she's not explaining what she means!" Her voice got rough with anger.
"Whoa, calm down Reiko," Shisui cautioned.
"No! Why can't I be strong? Why can't that be the only reason I want to be a ninja? Sakura-shishou is strong! You're strong too! Why can't I just be recognized like all of you are? Isn't that why she picked me anyway to make me strong like her!" Reiko protested leaving her brother's embrace and stumbling to the ground as she tried to stand, "Stupid ankle…" she grumbled.
"Reiko…you did miss her point," Naruto told her.
"Then tell me! I want to know the answer!" she demanded, "I have to meet her here tomorrow and I'm not allowed to heal my external injuries. How am I supposed to even try to beat her if I'm too busy recovering the slow way?"
"You're not, that's her point," Sasuke told his little cousin understanding the situation.
"Tell me Sasuke, please," she begged, "I don't want to come tomorrow…I don't want her mad at me."
"Then you better get used to being beaten half to death," Sai told her standing, "If you don't figure it out for yourself then she really will beat you within an inch of your life. I'm leaving seen as I'm of no further use here." He disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
Reiko grumbled crossing her arms, "What does he know…"
"Everything," Sasuke answered, "Sai is speaking from personal experience."
Reiko's eyes widened, "This happened to him too?"
Naruto nodded, "It's happened to all three of us, although I was lucky and got a far less serious beating because I had my answer."
"What was your answer?" she asked with wide eyes.
"I'll tell you mine when you figure out yours," He winked at her making her grumble again.
"Look at is this way, when you figure out your answer you will know ours as well," Sasuke told her with a small smile.
"But I don't know what she means," she whined dropping her head between her knees hissing in pain from her broken ribs.
"Reiko, what did you learn about it at the Academy?" Shisui asked.
"It is an ideal rooting from the belief of the Senju clan ancestor Senju Hashirama that love is the key to peace. It eventually became the philosophy that he lived by which has now been passed on to many ninja from Konoha as a part of their spiritual heritage. It states that every true Konoha shinobi must love, believe, cherish, and fight for the village's sake, as many previous generations had done before them," she told them.
"That's a perfect textbook answer and I wouldn't expect anything less from you," Shisui's eyes softened.
"Nee-san…I love my village, I love my clan, and I want to get strong enough to protect it like you do and Itachi-san and Sasuke-san. How is that a bad Will of Fire?" she looked up at her brother, her tears increasing again.
Shisui noticed the lost look in her eyes and his heart broke.
"Reiko," Itachi said in a soft comforting voice, "That is a good Will of Fire. But what you need to think about is this, is it a good enough Will of Fire or is there something better?"
Reiko's eyes turned from lost to shock and to deep thought in a matter of seconds. Shisui nodded at his sister's change in attitude.
"Come on little sister, let's get you home and into a bath so you can heal yourself. From your wincing I'd say Sakura broke a few ribs."
Reiko nodded, "Yeah I'm allowed to heal those but not my cuts and bruises."
Naruto hissed, "Lucky…Sakura-chan wouldn't heal anything for me."
Sasuke snorted, "That's because you heal yourself dobe. But Naruto's right, I had five broken ribs and a broken wrist for two days before Sakura healed me. She even told the hospital not to accept me."
Reiko's eyes widened in horror, "She did that to you…but-but you're her teammates!"
Naruto chuckled then, "Yup but that's how Sakura teaches, through her fists and I wouldn't have her any other way. Besides better for us to take the beating now than to have her chase us around and wail on us later."
Sasuke nodded in agreement, "Even Sai gets off easy now…"
"Reiko heal that ankle before we walk to far," Shusui said stopping their slow procession back to the compound.
She looked down, "I can't…I'm out of chakra…"
He nodded, "Then it's old school for you." He picked her up and carried her bridal style.
Reiko groaned, "Nee-san can you at least give me a piggy back?"
He chuckled, "No can do we need to keep that foot elevated in order to help it heal before you can heal it yourself. If you want I can carry you upside down."
"NO!" she squealed and adjusted so she could hang her foot over her older brother's shoulder.
The boys chuckled at her pouting expression.
"Where are you taking her tonight?" a middle aged dark haired beauty asked her oldest son.
"Kabuki," Itachi replied tying a knot on his pants.
"Good choice," Mikoto walked up to her son and smooth out his collar, "You look handsome."
"Thank you Kaa-san," he replied smiling softly at her.
"She's a good match for you. I don't know her well but from the interactions I've had with her and Sasuke and Naruto, she's a strong woman worthy of your attention. Fight for her Itachi, she's exactly what this clan needs," She kissed her son on the cheek when he took her hands in his.
"It means a lot to have your support in this," he told her with his eyes closed as he squeezed her hands.
"You will always have my support Itachi," she promised him, "I just wish I could have protected you better when you were a child. I didn't want you to grow up so fast."
He shook his head, "It's in the past and I don't hold it against anyone."
She smiled at him again, "You're a good boy and a fine young man; you never let the darkness of our clan creep into your heart and corrupt it. I was scared when I was told Sasuke defected…I thought I'd lost my baby and now he's back and you're in love with one of the people that set him straight again. If there is anyone in this village capable of changing our old fence sitter's ways, it's you and Sakura."
Itachi was comforted by his mother's words and drew strength from her on a daily basis. Its true what she said about his childhood and how he conquered the power hungry greed that permeates through the clan every generation. When they first started plotting their coup de 'tat Itachi went to the Hokage for guidance. When diplomatic relations failed the council proposed the elimination of the clan in order to prevent a civil war. The Sandaime was against the idea and Itachi convinced him to try one more time except this time to visit the clan in person. The council agreed but only with a contingent of ANBU as escorts.
With the plan set Itachi set up the largest clan meeting with the Hokage and meeting commenced. Children and Genins were excluded from the meeting but every clan member Chunin and up were in attendance. The Hokage started out the meeting giving the pros and cons of their current standing which was taken in a negative light by the clan heads. They claimed their own leadership didn't trust the most respected force in the village since he had arrived with an ANBU contingent as protection. Accusations and arguments were passed around the table until Itachi put a stop to it. He had dressed for the occasion in his ANBU uniform and arrived with the Hokage as part of his ANBU guard. He commanded the room by his presence alone; the prodigy, the answer to their prayers, the one that will bring the clan honor. And it shocked them to the bone to hear Itachi's declaration, if they didn't cease their warmongering ways Itachi would slaughter them all.
The meeting was silent as they all processed his words. Some tried to call him on his bluff but he repeated it again, making some of the younger generation shudder in their seats. Here was their pride and joy and he was threatening them with death. Before any more protests could be voiced Shisui stood and backed Itachi's claim but adding that their crimes against the village would be made public knowledge thereby dishonoring and scourging the name of Uchiha for the entire world to know. Shisui's declaration spurned another round of younger fighters, Uchiha's who, like Itachi, grew up to fast for their age and wanted nothing more than to live and protect their village the way they had been raised.
The elders were stunned into silence as the mood of the meeting began to change from one of anger and contention to silent oppression. The ki that wafted around the room forced the leaders of the clan to reevaluate their current perspective. The Hokage, and Itachi for that matter, were appeased as the clan elders declared no unnecessary action would need to be taken and that their coup would not come to pass. The Hokage took it at face value but Itachi was still not convinced because he knew who was really behind the clan's thirst for power…Uchiha Madara. If Madara was still pulling strings with the elders then the clan and Konoha was not safe until he was dead.
With Itachi's nod the younger sons and daughters of the clan visibly relaxed and retook their seats earning curious glances from their respective heads of the family. They were already looking to Itachi as if he was the head of the clan and not his father Fugaku. This meeting not only brought about relative peace between the Hokage and the famed Uchiha clan, it also spurned new policies instituted as a compromise between the respective parties. The Uchiha clan would not be seen as at fault for the Kyuubi attack on Konoha leading to the death of the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato. In order to instill this new sense of trust the clan members would be given more frequent missions and their promotions would reopen since the Hokage and the Council halted their ability to receive higher than Chunin ranks for the past few years. Basically they wanted to become regular citizens again instead of the trash they felt they were being treated as by the higher ups on the food chain. The Police Force was back in full swing gaining re-access to records so that they could better perform their job of village security.
The Hokage, being made aware of Madara's presence by Itachi, placed the heir with the job of destroying any contact that the Uchiha clan has with their former founder and leader. Itachi accepted and enlisted Shisui's help so that when the infamous Uchiha reappeared to the clan heir in hopes of enticing him away to join his new organization, he would have back up. Madara knew he was at a severe disadvantage when Shisui appeared with Itachi at their designated meeting place and time. He normally would have killed Itachi for his refusal but having the body flicker user on hand reversed his decision. Itachi was wise to bring him along since he knew he wouldn't be able to defeat both of them in combat without raising the hackles on the elders of the clan. The coup was his idea of retaliation to Konoha for the despicable treatment being handed to them. First with the relocation then with their funds cut and promotions yanked from under their feet; Madara played his part well, feasting off their rage and building up that festering need for power leading the coup's first initiation.
But now with the Hokage's interference, Itachi convinced Madara that his plan to corrupt the clan and lead them to utter destruction was put to a stop. He informed him that his decision to be his disciple was contrary to with standards and that to kill two prominent clan members that would not so easily die by anyone's hand other than his, the clan would directly turn against him leading to his official death at the hands of the men and women he wanted to control. Madara was then faced with the only decision he could make…retreat.
"Itachi?" Mikoto called out to her son.
He blinked a couple times, "Yes?"
She chuckled lightly at him, "Don't space out tonight like you just did. That would definitely put her off."
He let an amused smirk cross his features, "I won't Kaa-san."
She kissed his cheek again then ushered him out of the room, "Off you go. If you wait here any longer you will be late and you don't want that now do you?"
"No Kaa-san, sleep well," he told her as he descended the stairs.
"I'll be up and waiting to hear how it goes," she told him as she settled down in the study and pulled out a book.
The door closed softly behind him and he turned a faced his next obstacle.
"Don't break her heart," Sasuke told his brother in a tight voice, "I did that enough when we were younger and I won't forgive myself for being such an ass to her."
"Jealous?" Itachi asked joining his brother as they leaned against the porch rail.
"No…I'm just trying to save your ass from a beating I know will happen if you make her mad."
"Hn," was his only reply as Sasuke turned and scowled at him.
"I'm serious Itachi," he growled.
"I know you are otouto," he replied easily, "I promise you that breaking her heart is the furthest thing from my mind. If she doesn't want anything to do with me after a few dates then I will cease my attentions to her. But I will not give up if she's simply being resistant."
Sasuke sighed and ran his hands through his hair, "Resistant," he muttered, "Sakura is nothing if not resistant…"
Itachi breathed out a small laugh then, "I know."
Sasuke quickly glanced at his brother's peaceful face before Itachi schooled his expression.
"Don't hide from her," he told his brother, "Sakura likes people who are real with her. She hates bullshit, slander, half truths, and people trying to get into her good graces merely to just be associated with her. She's full of life, light, and love…I'm happy that I didn't take those attributes away from her when I left."
Itachi glanced at his brother's expression as it betrayed his feelings of lose and hurt, "I won't."
"I realize now what I had the potential to have but at the same time…I wouldn't have been able to give her what she wanted…what she really needed," he met his brother's eyes and was slightly shocked to see him displaying his real feelings on the matter, "I think you can aniki. You've always had something that I lack…something that makes you…I'm not sure but I know I'll probably never be able to have it," he smirked then at his brother, "I guess whatever it is you'll always have that one up on me huh?"
Itachi returned his younger brother's smirk, "When you figure out what you're missing come find me and maybe then we will be evenly matched."
Sasuke chuckled before standing straight and stretching, "Hurry up, if your late I'm not picking up your carcass when she leaves you broken on the street."
Itachi's smirk never left his face as he made his way out of the compound towards the home of a beautiful pink haired fireball.
Alright i'm addressing these concerns now so that everyone knows. Are my characters a little OOC...yes! Think about it Itachi and Sasuke had a great relationship in the manga until Itachi committed genocide. Well this fic doesn't have that so i'm retaining some of Sasuke's former attitude so he's not your typical brooding self, he has more life and spunk and is generally nicer. Yeah...we clear...i hope so :) That was intentional. More ItaSaku romance is on the way as well as more plot development! I just had to get some general stuff out of the way as you can see. if anything is confusing about the past or anything PM me and i'll explain!
For Reviewer LoremasterLia
Since you don't have an active FanFic account i couldn't just respond to your review like i usually do so here's your response.
Thank you for agreeing to that! I feel totally the exact same way. A lot of fics i read i feel like they don't really give Sakura the spunk or credit that she deserves. Yes there are some out there that portray her phenomenally and i love reading them over and over but some it's like...a little sad. So this is my way of giving Sakura's character the credit she deserves. There's a reason why the creator (i can't spell his name even if i try) had Sakura become Tsunade's apprentice DUH it's to make her the NEXT Tsunade. Not to say that Sasuke will stay evil like Orochimaru or Naruto will be pervy like Jiraiya BUT do you see what i mean? People down play her change in attitude still thinking she's stuck in that naive mentality of a 14 year old. Yeah she's still head over heels in love with Sasuke but you know she's not stupid about it anymore. The reason she knocked Kiba, Sai, and Lee out was so she could go KILL him...that's not naive that's taking responsibility. Anyways i just wanted to say thanks for feeling the same way i do about Sakura...i love her character :)