The Vow of Flowers

by Annick La

To fulfill her duty, to complete the mission and please the Elders, Sakura invokes an Uchiha tradition older than the village itself. The bonds that bind them can never be broken.

8. Line 7: A Means of Esacpe

Line 7: A Means of Escape

"And whatever a sun will always sing is you"

I Carry Your Heart

Line 7, Stanza 3

-EE Cummings

---

What little free time Sakura has, suddenly evaporates when Ino returns. While she would love to further investigate the little bits Honoka sneaks her here and there, priority is the priority. The Flower Shop takes precedence over research. Since the other villages approve of her friend's suggestions for flower arrangements, their focus is on Konoha. Meeting after meeting with other villages keeps Sakura busy enough to not notice her furlough ending in a couple of days. The Peace Gardens take shape on paper while more work needs to be done at the location. What she knows paints a picture of a beautiful and tranquil place that resembles its namesake.

It is while she's musing over sketches of this haven, does a genin comes into the Flower Shop looking for her.

"Me?" Sakura questions, pulling away from the counter confused.

He nods once. "Lord Hokage said he wants you specifically."

Kakashi?

Sakura loosens the apron around her waist, "Okay. Let me just tell the other workers I have to leave for...a bit."

The young man gives her a jerky nod with a face too serious for its youthful roundness. Why Kakashi would want to see her now of all times is highly suspect. Sakura keeps her guards up the entire trip and doubles them when she sees Itachi looming near the windowsill, arms folded; eyes closed.

Exasperation makes her sigh. The last time these two were waiting in an office for her, Kakashi dropped a bombshell.

I swear if he says something even remotely as outrageous, I'm taking out a wall without a second thought.

"Sakura!" The Hokage's cheerful manner helps nothing.

"Do I even want to know?" she asks wearily, staying next to the door just in case she needs to make a swift exit.

Kakashi pushes off the desk he's been leaning on and slumps. "A simple hello would have sufficed."

"I think my suspicions are justified..." Sakura states, easing closer. "You have a bad track record of calling me away from work for other work."

"It's not terrible," her former sensei quickly defends, "But it does require clearance from Itachi's guardian and medic."

Clearance?

Green eyes switch focus, noting the trace of irritation, pinched brows, and pronounced frown. He's doing his best statue impression, which puts her a little more at ease.

I'm not the only one Kakashi is torturing today.

The meeting seems less threatening, but Itachi's stiff demeanor indicates her life possibly becoming harder.

"What is it?" she asks.

The Hokage juts his chin in Itachi's direction before explaining. "Itachi wants his Sharingan back a year early."

Itachi shoots him a pointed look. "Do you always have to work with ambiguities? Give her the full explanation."

"Alright," Kakashi drawls. "Itachi asked for his chakra restrictions to be lifted so he can access his Sharingan a year early."

Itachi's answering glare is enough to make Sakura chuckle and raise her brows. "May I ask why?"

Her partner pushes off the window, cutting across Kakashi's attempt at an answer. "The Uchiha Compound holds sensitive information that I want to commit to memory. It would be much easier to catalog with my Sharingan."

"That's it? Seems like a fair deal…" Sakura hesitates, looking to Kakashi. "So what's the problem?"

"He's still on probation," Kakashi says easily.

"Lord Hokage will not make an exception without your approval." Itachi finishes.

Sakura blinks slowly, processing, before wrinkling her nose in confusion. "Wait. Haven't you already started the clean-up process?"

"My thoughts exactly, Sakura." Kakashi chimes in.

Itachi manages a straight face while looking at her. "We've started in buildings of no consequence. Buildings such as our Meeting Hall and my old home contain things that should not be seen by outsiders. Lord Hokage is well-aware of this."

Kakashi rolls his eyes to the ceiling. "There's no threat."

"You cannot guarantee that." Itachi's tone clearly conveys his annoyance. "You commissioned genin to assist in the cleaning efforts. A risk exists, no matter how minor. It is my duty to ensure the Uchiha Clan is safe."

"Alright, alright," she says, looking between the two men. Kakashi is positively preening, whilst Itachi's stoic expression says he's not enjoying their exchange so much. I wonder if they talked about other things.

Putting her curiosity aside, Sakura mentally switches into medic mode. Drawing nearer, she turns to Itachi. "How much chakra are we talking about?"

The Hokage's eyes crinkle. "That is the question, isn't it?"

"Enough to maintain the lowest level Sharingan off and on for at least six hours," her partner supplies.

"Six hours?" Sakura questions. "What about when the workday is over? Do I get to seal you up again?"

He nods. "If you wish it, I will oblige."

"Are you going to do that every day, Sakura?" Kakashi questions. "For an entire year?"

Itachi snorts and Kakashi turns a cool gaze on him. "It is a valid question; you have to admit."

"Sakura is more than capable of upholding all stipulations."

As the two go back and forth, Sakura watches the exchange with a mixture of confusion and awkwardness. She's known Kakashi almost all of her life and has gotten used to him toying with people in his own way. Underneath his light exterior is usually some real concern meant to be deciphered by the listener. She understands him...to a point at least.

Maybe that's why it's hard for her to remember that Itachi's known him longer. For most of her life, Itachi was only what Sasuke made him out to be. Rarely did it dawn on her that he lived before the Massacre. Or that Kakashi was a key part of it.

This is weird. She thinks with a slight cringe. Not really but they are bickering like old enemies who were once even older friends. Which is true but still. It's weird.

Her partner's pinched brow reminds her of Sasuke. She is sure that he is one step away from calling her former sensei annoying. Kakashi just smiles with his eyes in a way that is far too innocent to truly be innocent.

"Ahem." Sakura clears her throat, crossing her arms and commanding attention. "What is happening right now?"

Itachi speaks first, turning his face away and gesturing dismissively at Kakashi. "He is making something where there is nothing."

"I'd like to say I'm doing my due diligence." Kakashi retorts.

"Didn't you say it was my choice?" Sakura interjects. "As for you, Itachi, I'm glad you're comfortable enough to stand up for what you want now. I could make the argument that if you took this attitude when he told us about that mission, we probably wouldn't have it."

Itachi huffs.

The Copy Ninja jumps on the chance. "Is that your way of saying you accept?" His tone softens to exaggerated gratitude. "Sakura, I never thought you'd concede so quickly."

"Don't even," Sakura counters. "This is not the meeting for that. Stay focused. I don't mind loosening some of Itachi's chakra restrictions if it's to keep his family secrets safe."

"Only some?" Grey brows raise. "How many?"

Sakura bites her lip. "We'll do one at a time until his Sharingan is activated. Before any of that though, we're going to have to do surgery on his eyes to undo some of the blocks I put in years ago. Who knows, that may be the only thing needed."

Itachi closes the distance between them and settles dark eyes on her. "How long will that take?

His gaze is so intense she almost hesitates. "Erm...the surgery will be an hour at the most. Recovery may take a day or two. Your eyes will be sensitive afterward. No direct sunlight or bright lights for the first few days."

"That is acceptable," her partner says, then slants his gaze towards Kakashi. "Unless you still have objections?"

Kakashi sighs. "I guess I've been outmatched."

Sakura's mouth gapes slightly as she watches him sulk towards the desk. "You said it was my choice!"

"True. I also thought you would take my side. I guess your bonds have grown...stronger over the course of your furlough."

It's her turn to glare but Itachi injects before she can go off on him. "Are we finished here, Hokage-sama?"

The Copy Ninja waves his hand. "Yes. Sure. Your medic approved it. I will make arrangements from my end."

"Hold on a minute!" Sakura tries to get her bearings but feels wholly out of place. "Does that mean my furlough ends early?"

"Ahhh." Kakashi laces his fingers and rests his chin on them. "That could be a problem."

"Are you purposefully being difficult?" Itachi demands with narrowed eyes.

"I suppose I could make a temporary amendment," Kakashi says elusively "Or Tsunade could do it."

The pinkette speaks up. "Or, you could end my vacation early. Come on. I could do this for Itachi at home, no problem. There's no need to get Tsunade-sama involved. And if you think that I'll do more, just send Honoka. She is his primary care physician anyway."

Itachi's brow raises as he regards her. "Could you do that tonight?"

"If Kakashi says yes…"

Both turn to the Hokage, waiting. Kakashi blinks, staring back as if he doesn't understand what just transpired. Seconds go by before he finally leans back in his chair.

"Alright."

"Alright?" Sakura asks, on edge at the thought of being able to go back to work.

Kakashi nods. "I'll let you perform the surgery if you can give me an update on your consideration for the mission."

Her mouth gapes. "That's bribery!"

"It's a condition." Kakashi corrects lightly.

Sakura snarls but Itachi's answering huff makes her glance his way. "We are working through solutions," he says. "Tell him of your latest discovery, Sakura."

Grey eyes affixed to her with curiosity and Sakura, suddenly thrust to the forefront, tries to summon eloquent words. "We can't even get close to considering children while Itachi is still chronically ill. If I could access my lab, I could find a cure for him quickly, and then we can get around to talking about procreating."

"My illness has been the biggest obstacle when the conversation is brought up," Itachi adds and she nods.

She follows his lead as if they aren't just pulling this out of their behinds. Kind of. It is true. His sickness really did need to be taken care of first. But her coming to that conclusion was through research she most definitely was not supposed to be doing.

Gray brows raise in shock. "You talk about it?" Kakashi asks skeptically.

"Regularly," her partner says smoothly as if it were a commonplace thing.

I don't know why he's taking my side, but I won't stop him.

She moves a few inches closer to Itachi to solidify their united front. "Sometimes over dinner. Sometimes when Itachi plays shogi. You did basically dare us to come up with a solution and this is the first step to that. Satisfied?"

"Very, actually." Kakashi smiles. "Fair is fair, I guess. Sakura, the restrictions on your medical usage with regards to Itachi has been lifted. As for you, Itachi, once the surgery is finished, I think two chakra seals should do the trick. I look forward to what you two come up with."

With that, he dismisses them both. Itachi lets her lead while he holds the door.

Once they were both outside of the office and the Hokage Tower, Sakura turns to him. "What was that about?"

He huffs and frowns. "The Hokage is fond of games."

"Very true. You're not impressed?"

His eyes slide to her and then away. "Not when it comes to serious matters."

Sakura makes a face, feeling annoyance bristle, recalling a time when she had had a serious matter and he hadn't been nearly as proactive. "This is a serious matter? This?"

Itachi keeps his gaze steady and narrowed. Several seconds go by before he offers her a low response. "Serious for me."

It would have been so easy to poke holes in his theory and tease. But Itachi's suddenly grave expression only evokes concern. He's been working at the Uchiha Compound for nearly two weeks. Every day he seems a bit quieter. Whatever happened with Kakashi only increased his detached attitude. A cursory look at him reveals things she missed.

He looks so tense. She muses, scanning his form. It is hard to see beneath his cloak and with only the upper part of his face visible, images of the past were difficult to dismiss. But it's the permanent crinkle on his brow that makes Sakura look away in contemplation.

I thought he was nailing the stone-man statue earlier; he's a brick wall now. While Sakura can't boast of knowing all of the little nuances that make up Uchiha Itachi, she is a good reader of facial expressions.

Definitely has a lot on his mind. If he won't share, I won't ask.

They walk in silence until their individual tasks force them apart. Sakura goes back to the shop to finish assisting. She stays for the next few hours until Ino sends her home.

It's just as well that she beats Itachi there, setting up for the surgery and having a messenger send for Honoka to make a house call. When her former resident arrives, they make the necessary provisions to make her home conducive for the task. It's nowhere near a hospital but she's worked in worse conditions than her living room.

When Itachi does arrive, later than his usual time, Honoka greets him at the door with a wide smile.

"Hey, Itachi-san!" she says. Sakura keeps her distance, watching their exchange by the futon they've set up for him.

Her partner slips out of his shoes and cloak, greeting their houseguest with a soft smile that hides the tension from earlier. They exchange pleasantries and Honoka follows him to the kitchen where he places, what she assumes is groceries, on the counter.

She stands to greet them as they return, still near the futon on the floor.

Itachi makes eye contact and holds it, walking to her and placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Sakura," he mutters a greeting.

She doesn't move away, knowing their actions from here on out are mainly for Honoka's sake. She scans his face when he pulls back, not buying his eerie calm.

"It's a bit late," Sakura hedges. "Were you at the Compound the entire time?"

A curt nod. "Things took longer than expected. I went to Minami's afterward to pick up my food order. I suppose it is too late for cooking?"

She waves a dismissive hand, taking a step back so he could get the full view of their setup. "Don't worry about it. This is more important."

Itachi eyes the futon and medical equipment set up on a silver tray. "Should I shower first?"

"That would help. Your eyes will be swollen afterward, and your vision might be impaired."

"Hmm. I will be back." He turns and leaves the two in the living.

Sakura watches him go with furrowed brows. Something is definitely up. I wonder if…

Itachi rarely speaks about his family apart from Sasuke. Even then, she is sure she frequents his grave much more than Itachi does. Perhaps being in the place of such tragedy caused by his hands is taking a toll on him.

She bites her cheek and shakes away thoughts. If he is keeping it to himself, there must be a reason. So, she let it go, taking a breath and turning towards the kitchen to sterilize her hands. Honoka follows and makes herself comfortable against the doorframe, gazing into the living room.

With her hands under hot water, Sakura turns to her comrade. "Thanks again for coming. This is really important to him and I know he appreciates it."

Honoka's answering smile is enough to make Sakura forget her concern over her partner. "You don't have to thank me, Sakura-san. I don't mind helping out."

"I know but still, thank you."

The brunette nods and stretches her arms above her head. "Besides, if this will help us in any way understand what's going on with Itachi-san and Kai-kun, I'm all over it."

I wish I could be as positive as you, Sakura says mentally. "True. Is he still in the hospital?"

Honoka nods and crosses her arms. "Tsunade-sama wants to keep him one more night. She says the medicine you made keeps him stable, but his last flare-up made her cautious. That poor kid. He's fighting so hard. We're all fighting, honestly, but he's shouldering through every new symptom."

Sakura hums, raising her hands and using her elbows to turn off the water. Honoka pushes off the doorframe to get the sterilized towels, opening the package and getting Sakura to pull the towel from the clear wrapping herself.

"My furlough is ending soon and I can get back in the lab," the medic says. "With the stuff you gave me, I already have ideas on what I want to modify with the injections."

"You found something?" Honoka asks.

"I have a theory. I need to look at the sample I gave you the other day, then take a new sample from Itachi sometime this week. I'll get samples of Kai's blood as well and see if my suspicions are correct." She sighs, moving to sit in front of the futon while Honoka takes a seat at the head of it. "Honestly if this doesn't work, I'm at a complete loss."

Leaning forward, Honoka asks, "What are you thinking?"

"Immune system?" Sakura says with a trace of skepticism at her own hypothesis. "You know how the body reacts to a certain stimulus and that's what causes allergies?"

'Yeah…"

"I'm thinking it's something similar because there is nothing else left."

"Then, what's the stimulus?"

The pinkette looks towards the stairs at the sound of movement. "I don't know. Itachi is a hard study. He does the same things and there isn't always rhyme or reason to his flare-ups. If I can find a variation in white blood cell count, maybe that'll lead me somewhere."

"Sounds like an autoimmune issue," Honoka ponders and Sakura nods.

"Yeah. That's the direction I'm leaning towards."

Seconds after she speaks, Itachi comes into view, dressed in his traditional dark shorts and high-collared shirt, complete with a small clan symbol embossed on the left shoulder.

"You can lay here," Sakura instructs. Honoka makes room, shifting so that he can lay down. "Honoka, do you want to explain the tools while I get the anesthetic ready?"

"Anesthetic?" Itachi questions as he eases down.

"Yeah," Honoka interjects. "See those?" She points.

Dark eyes follow her fingers to the tray closes to Sakura's legs. "Yes," Itachi says.

"Those are ophthalmic forceps. They are going to help us keep your eyes open like this." Honoka holds her gloved hands close to her eyes, widening them but not touching them. "Normally these are hooked to the examination table or another head support that keeps them clamped down. Since we're at your house, I'm going to serve as the head support and keep them open while Sakura-san works."

"I understand," he confirms. "And the anesthesia?"

"To knock you out," the young woman says. "Eye surgery is very delicate and since we're messing with your chakra points here, we can't have you accidentally moving or trying to blink. One false move and you'll be blind. So, to make sure your head stays still, you'll need to move it here." Honoka points down and Itachi has to get up on his elbows to see where she is directing him to move.

"Her lap," Sakura supplies. "It's easier for her to hold the clamps and keep you from shifting around while you're under."

"Hnn." Itachi obeys, shifting back some so that his head nestles in Honoka's lap.

Sakura hands the needle to Honoka who injects the anesthesia into a prominent artery in his neck.

"Don't close your eyes." Sakura quickly says, stopping him before he can complete the act. "Just keep them on the ceiling until you lose consciousness. It's easier to stop eyes from closing than to pry them open."

Itachi nods, doing as she asks. Sakura hands Honoka several tools to unpack to keep the young woman busy. Sakura really is asking a lot and having her 'husband's head in another woman's lap can't be comfortable. But Honoka is a trooper, glancing down ever so often to check on Itachi while remaining completely professional.

In a matter of minutes, Itachi's eyelids droop, his muscles relaxing. The brunette keeps his head secure. A long cushion supports his neck while a round pillow keeps the part of his head that rests on Honoka's leg stable.

Quickly Sakura takes hold of his eyelids, pushing them as wide as they could go while Honoka adjusts the forceps around four different points, two at the top and two at the bottom of each eye. The contraption joins together into two handles that Honoka pulls up near his hairline and holds with one hand while the other hand holds his jaw.

"Are you comfortable?" Sakura asks her.

Honoka nods and wiggles a bit so her back rests against the wall. "Yes. Ready."

Green shimmers between them as medical chakra emits from Sakura's hands. The procedure demands the utmost concentration as Sakura molds and shapes her chakra into fine points. Anything dealing with the eyes is a delicate matter. There were so many nerves and sensors to navigate through and the slightest deviation could leave her partner permanently blind.

Although she can't technically see what's going on inside his eyes, she can feel every twitch and shudder. It is a matter of weaving her chakra through and around the bits, she doesn't need until she found the tangled bonds around his chakra points.

"Drops," she calls, holding still while Honoka eases her hands from Itachi's jaw to reach for the medical drops on the silver tray. With great care, she administers the liquid in each eye before going back to keeping Itachi's head steady.

Sakura resumes her work, meticulously undoing the folds she made years ago. Every once in a while she calls for eye drops to ensure no bacteria lingers inside while they are working and to keep his eyes moist.

Undoing the chakra restrictions in his eyes takes one hour. Sakura removes one seal inside his eye and the other at the base of his neck. The entire procedure takes about two hours. By the time they are done, the redness around Itachi's eyes indicates probable swelling. Honoka makes quick work of bandaging the area then uses a cold compress in the shape of an eye mask to place over his face.

With great care, Honoka helps her get her sleeping partner on her back to carry him upstairs to their bedroom.

Two hours of chakra use is hardly a strain, but Sakura takes no chances with herself or her assistant. Time is no factor when using chakra correctly and as precisely as she has to. As soon as Itachi is under covers, she finds a blanket and pillow for Honoka to use and helps the young woman settle on their extra futon for the night

Their work is only half done and as the night drags on into the morning, Sakura stays awake, idly reading medical texts while Itachi doses in a medically induced sleep. Periodically she checks his bandages, chilling the compress only to retrieve it again a few hours later.

It's nearly sunrise when she finally allows sleep to claim her but Itachi survives his surgery and that is all that matters.

She doesn't feel when he wakes. Itachi focuses on the darkness and a heaviness in his lids that didn't come from sleeping.

It is late.

It feels late and warm and crowded. Not only physically but also something else – something intangible. He shifts, trying to locate this new thing. Or is it old? It feels very familiar.

And it tingles.

Hm?

He's felt this energy in intimate ways, skirting along his skin and deep within himself. Itachi moves stiff limbs, reaching up to touch his face and incites a groggy sigh from his bed partner.

Sakura.

The sheets pull, moving off him and towards the sound of sleepy mumbles. The tingles stir as she awakens, spiking and settling in the dark.

"Mm-Itachi?"

Sakura's voice is laced with sleep and far closer than he remembers. Sheets rustle and he realizes all at once that the tingles he feels are her. Or more precisely, her chakra. He recognizes it because it has always been there, just outside of his reach.

I can sense it again.

Yet..something is off.

Itachi's training has taught him many things, sensing chakra included. Everyone's chakra signature is unique to them, almost like a person's body odor. There is no mistaking it. He knows that and knows his partner's chakra signature from years spent nearby. But Sakura feels close-too close.

What is this?

The concentration of it still sizzling near his eyes. Then flares seconds before he hears her voice.

"Don't touch that." she chastens and he feels her hand enclosing around his, forcing his arms to his side.

There's a stirring deep within himself when their hands come in contact, a spark that follows through his veins.

What is this?

Sensing someone's chakra is one thing but there are nuances here that he doesn't remember occurring before. Her signature is definitely her. There is no mistaking who's chakra is turning his world on its head. The problem is that it changes and for perhaps the first time since meeting her, he can tell.

Is she aware?

"Sakura…" he hesitates, frowning a bit as words abandon him. What can he say? There is no real way to describe it. Chakra signatures shouldn't change. But hers is like a living breathing force, moving around him.

"Yeah?" she calls.

There it is again. He notes, mystified at this new development.

Seconds go by before he realizes that he has not said a word.

"I cannot see," Itachi finally utters, waiting to see what happens.

The bed dips and he turns his head in the direction of her movements. The tingles dance then settle into a warming feeling, almost comforting. "I told you that would be the case. No direct light, remember? You'll be wearing this eye mask all day and part of tomorrow."

She heaves a sigh. "What time is it?"

Itachi follows her movements with covered eyes and traces her steps from the bed, padding across the room. With his sight current indisposed, he sharpens his focus. There has to be a pattern to this, a reason for these little nuances. It doesn't take long for his patience to reward him.

When she sighs her chakra hums. Then flutters between cycles of rises and falls, cold to warmth, settling into what he can only describe as contentment.

I can feel her. He marvels, shifting when she does, following her every action as if he could see. I can sense her.

And not just her chakra signature. But her.

It doesn't need to be said because he already knows the answer but Itachi voices his question, anyway, seeking confirmation.

"The seals?" he asks, digging his palms into the bed to sit up.

"Huh?"

"The seals? Did you remove them?"

"Only two," Sakura says. "Just like Kakashi said." Then she leaves the room.

His chakra is no longer a murmured hum in his soul. He feels it now. Itachi hadn't realized how its absence left him wanting until now. I have been without it for so long. To feel it coursing through my body feels like a revival.

Itachi considers his limbs, moving and flexing fingers. It is odd in a way. He'd grown used to the thin trace awarded him due to his probation. While he is nowhere near his normal amount, even this much is enough. Itachi recognizes the pool of chakra swelling behind them, the Sharignang humming just below the surface. He is anxious to try but is reminded of the last time he woke after Sakura's surgeries and attempted to test the limits of his strengths.

Flexing his fingers, he recalls hand signs. Four years of nothing yet his muscles remember the actions. Itachi doesn't complete them, knowing that setting their room on fire is probably not the wisest thing to do.

However, a rush of possibilities makes him swing his legs off the bed. Whatever this new connection to his partner is, he wants to test it.

Perhaps my unique situation awards me a unique perspective.

There is only one way to find out. Instincts guide him and he follows the pull down the stairs to where Sakura's chakra pulses the deepest.

"Sakura?" he calls and sure enough her voice reaches him from what he presumes is the living room.

The tingles turn slightly sizzling, if he could have, Itachi would have narrowed his eyes.

"Did you walk down the stairs blindfolded?" she questions but he cuts across it with a statement of his own.

"Spar with me."

"Excuse me?"

"Spar with me," Itachi repeats. "I wish to test my memory."

The change comes hard and fast. Itachi realizes with slight awe that he knows the feeling of her irritation and disapproval, the twists and bends of her chakra could only be described as such, ringing out a warning to him.

"I doubt your skills have changed just because you haven't used them in a while."

Is it her feelings I feel?

That's the only thing that comes to mind. Her flat tone tells of the same thing her chakra warns. She is not happy with his question at all.

I could never feel Sasuke or my mother this way. Why her? How is her chakra so volatile?

Regardless of his doubts, the evidence presents itself in the way her chakra..pulls on him.

She is waiting for me...

The Uchiha nods slowly and slightly distracted, following the trail to wherever it goes. "Even so, I wish to spar."

Sakura moves around the room and he turns with every step she takes. "Don't get rash because you have more chakra now. It's not nearly enough for a full-on battle and nowhere near your full reserves."

A flare. A sizzle.

"I am in control of myself," Itachi assures.

Fluctuation. Hesitation.

"Someone sounds cocky."

Itachi's claims are without boast. He has always been sure of his abilities. Sakura has only seen his fighting skills a handful of times and even without his chakra, she knew he was more than capable.

Perhaps reassure will persuade her.

"I can see you," he states.

The bends in her chakra sharpen do dangerous edges. "You better not have your Sharingan active under there."

He shakes his head in the negative. "I have no desire to undo what you have worked tirelessly to fix. I only wish to test the limits of my ninjutsu skills. But I can sense you and... Honoka's lingering presence…" He walks, brushing his fingers along the back of the sofa. "Here."

Sakura stays quiet for a long time. Itachi waits for her to give him an answer. But her hesitation makes him offer an alternative. "If not with you, then Naruto. I am familiar with both of your chakra signatures. It will be less strenuous than if I have to feel someone else out."

And I can see if this new development only applies to you.

Suddenly the variances in her chakra disappear as if sucked through a vacuum. Her chakra is there but a much more boring version of itself, tame and restrained. Itachi wants to get the other version back, the one that keeps him guessing. But Sakura is all tight coils and if he had to guess, her body language expresses the same.

She does not want me so close, it would seem.

Sakura steps closer. He feels her hands against his temples. "Have you always been able to sense chakra so clearly?"

Itachi's eyes close automatically when the eye mask comes off. "No. It is a learned skill that took many years. I am not a sensory type."

"Hmm," she hums, distracted. Sakura slowly unwinds the bandages from his face. Itachi keeps his eyes shut against every instinct screaming to see.

"They are very swollen. But everything else looks good. Hold still, please."

He obliges and the tingles from earlier start again, prickling and cracking behind his eyes.

"Your chakra tingles," Itachi states, trying something new this time.

Sakura's actions falter as does her guard and he can feel her confusion. "What?"

Ah.

He searches for words. "At times it is sharp, pointed, and precise. It sizzles."

"That's...comforting," she grumbles, chakra dancing once again.

"Lively." he corrects. "The tingles are warm and prickling but, in time, soothes to something...pleasant. Like a balm."

His partner stops completely and Itachi marvels at the sensations that follow. He's always known Sakura to be emotionally complex – more so than most. When she revived him, there were several clues but no time for analysis. Years and years of sharing a home and he's grown accustomed to the unseen force. Now that his chakra is active again, Itachi can truly feel her emotion through the chakra in his eyes, on her hands, and all around him.

I wonder if she is even aware that her feelings translate this way.

While he can't say exactly what she feels, whatever it is goes through several cycles ranging from cold to warm, from sharp to gentle, and everything in between. Finally, Sakura pulls back; her chakra still a raging display.

"It makes sense. I am a medic. I guess medical chakra would feel like a balm." Sakura pulls the mask back over his eyes and takes several steps away from him. "But I'm vetoing your request only because your eyes are still swollen. If you start fighting, that'll only increase the blood flow and inflammation, slowing the healing. Maybe a less active task? We could go for a walk?"

"Hnn," Itachi concedes. He'd only wanted to train to see if what he thought was true. And now that he has a basis, there is no need.

"Then you can walk around and sense whatever you like," she placates. "Ha, I guess that puts me on food duty for the next few days."

"If you wish."

"I don't," Sakura stresses. "But I'm hungry. So, Tamago Gohan?"

Itachi nods and lets Sakura do as she pleases, leaving to get himself ready. Careful of his eyes, the Uchiha cleans himself before changing. Then ventures downstairs and outside the backdoor to his garden.

The day is surprisingly warm despite winter just coming to an end. He feels the sun on his skin whilst the cold air around him still carries a bite. He smells the crispness of that junction between seasons. A stillness settles and Itachi relishes the calm. It is a nice turn of events compared to his past few days, plagued with memories and phantoms and whispers and scents. He has always known that going back to the Uchiha Compound would incite some of these but never so heavily.

Today is calmer. He muses and stares blindly ahead until he hears the panel slides open.

"Eating outside or inside?" Sakura asks.

Itachi turns away, stalking towards the door as an answer and following the scent of food.

Tamago Gohan is a hard breakfast to mess up. There is only rice and raw eggs. Thus, most of her cooking time involved putting rice in a rice cooker. The rest was setting the table.

Itachi thanks her, knowing that even rice is a feat for her. When breakfast is done, he half expects her to dress and leave. But Sakura surprises him and stays.

The day passes with no consequence. Itachi opts to stay home, meditating and feeling the world around him while listening to Sakura flutter about their home doing menial tasks. Her chakra as telling as it is cryptic. Her irritation he's categorized. Confusion feels confused. But Sakura is full of so many nuances that it would take days-no months for him to correctly decipher them all.

The next day, Sakura removes his bindings and they stroll through the village. His vision is blurred but he can make out blobs of objects.

"What's that?" Sakura asks him.

He turns his head, refusing to squint to focus. "A tree."

"And that?"

Itachi quietly snorts. "Another tree."

Sakura's light laugh is always surprising. Rarely did she laugh with him. Her chakra becomes just as light and it...shimmers. "Okay, what's this?"

The Uchiha follows the length of her arm towards a squarish blob. The vivid colors and smells give it away.

"We are nearing the bazaar," he states.

"Awww. I thought it would be harder," she whines.

"There is food here, Sakura." Itachi indicates.

"Oh. Right. You can smell it."

"Itachi-san! Sakura-san!" Minami's voice carries over the crowd. "I rarely see you two together at the market." He makes out her silhouette against the backdrop of stalls lined with different foodstuffs.

"I'm his seeing-eye human for the day," Sakura says.

"I can see just fine," he retorts.

"You're half-blind!" she shoots back. "At least until tomorrow. So, we're getting snacks then off to the teahouse."

"A normal day then?" Minami laughs. "Come on. I have some fresh herbs as well. Maybe you'd like to try?"

Sakura goes ahead, talking to Minami about rosemary and parsley. He's made the shopping list and trusts Sakura with getting everything on it. Minami will direct her to the produce. He lets the women take the lead, choosing instead to test his theory. There are shinobi around, that much is clear. Unfamiliar chakra signatures lurk in shadows and on the roofs.

Would it be different if I know them?

The Uchiha stretches his awareness but not far enough to raise alarm. He doesn't want to be seen by just anyone. More often than not, Itachi keeps his chakra under tight guard, pulled close to make his presence as non-existent as possible. But this time he wants to get someone's attention. Someone that isn't Sakura but close enough that they respond. It only takes a few minutes before he finds something.

Temari is moving around, close. He narrows his focus, looking through the crowd for blonde hair. Her chakra is as unruly as the wind she tames, wild and blazing but not alive. It is just the way Temari's chakra reads. She isn't trying to hide.

Will she sense me now?

Itachi tries, closing his eyes to focus. Chakra is nothing but energy and energy can be harnessed or given. Turning towards his target, he wades through the clatter, hopefully tugging at the energy she gives off. A second passes and then another and another.

Temari's chakra heightens to defensive and he knows he's captured her attention. His friend is facing his way now.

Itachi opens his eyes to Sakura's alertness. "Itachi are you okay?"

"Hnn," he answers, distractedly.

He can't quite see Temari but feels her coming, stalking, as any kunoichi would. It's only then that he notices the other signature with her, smaller and equally as untamed.

Shikadai.

Her predatory nature makes sense and he recognizes it, reconciling it with a memory from his past.

Mother.

He frowns, sorely disappointed. Her chakra is no more extraordinary than any other kunoichi.

Blonde hair comes into view, slow and cautious. Itachi stands and waits. Temari slides between people before coming face to face with him. "Itachi-san?" her voice betrays her uncertainty.

"Hi, Temari!" Sakura greets.

Temari's smile is a fuzzy picture but Itachi can just make out the change in facial expression. "Hello, Sakura. How are you?"

"Fine thanks. Oh! Hello, Shikadai!" the young boy comes from around his mother's leg. Sakura drops to his height and Itachi takes the opportunity to test his theory

"Your skills are sharp," he grants.

Temari's chakra remains the same but he picks up her questioning tone. "Did you…?"

"Hnn."

The Suna kunoichi snorts and haughtily crosses her arms. "Were you trying to get yourself hurt?"

"I was testing," Itachi answers honestly, tilting his head. "Did you recognize me?"

"Not immediately, no," she admits. "Your chakra is usually pretty subdued. You were practically waving a 'look at me' flag a moment ago."

Itachi allows himself a small victory smirk. At the very least his chakra is enough to get the attention of those within a few feet of him. "I cannot see you."

"Huh?" the blonde asks. Then hums an affirmative and grins. "Lord Hokage approved your request?"

Itachi tuts and looks in Sakura's general direction. "Shikamaru told you?"

"I'm his wife." Temari quips. "He doesn't have a choice but to tell me stuff."

"What stuff?" Sakura asks as she stands.

Temari nods in his direction. "Your husband over here had a death wish a moment ago."

"You would strike an ally?" Itachi raises a brow.

"There's no time for questions when my son is with me."

"Is that why your chakra was flaring like crazy?" his partner accuses. "Itachi, I told you, you need to take it easy!"

He huffs. "I am fine."

"Yeah, well, when you pass out on the side of the road, I'm not picking you up."

Temari laughs, shaking her head at them both. "Would you two like to come by for dinner? Shikamaru is taking Naruto on an ambassador's trip tonight and I wouldn't mind the company."

"Sakura is averse to spice," Itachi supplies.

Temari snorts. "I have a plethora of recipes in my arsenal. Plus, now that your eyes aren't working, your nose will be twice as sensitive. I want to try something new."

And so, their evening became spoken for. Itachi has no objections and Sakura delights in doing something other than what she always does. As with the day before, he is grateful for the time away. No ghost come to him last night or when he woke. Even as they eat and talk at the Nara residence, Itachi remains very much in reality. A luxury he cannot say he's had recently.

By the time they make it home again, Sakura's cheeks are tinted pink from sake.

Once they are both in bed, he waits silently until Sakura is completely still, and her breathing slows to a constant sigh, before turning over to watch. She is sound asleep in seconds, a much quieter version of herself from hours go. But their time with Temari gave him a glimpse of what her happiness feels like.

She enjoyed herself for once.

Itachi sits up a bit to adjust the sheets haphazardly situated over her shoulders. Sakura mumbles and curls up into the new warmth. Stress-free and peaceful with a healthy flush that tells of the night's endeavors, her image is much different than during the day. He doesn't know what to call that yet. Her chakra just...tingles. Whatever that feeling is, she wears it all the time but it slipped over dinner. Itachi realizes what he has already known. But to feel her happiness versus whatever she carries every day is altogether different.

Yet she endures for Konoha's sake. For my sake.

"Thank you, Sakura," he whispers, adding another notch to the debt he owes her with every passing year. He watches her sleep with slightly straining eyes for another heartbeat before turning back over.

Itachi isn't surprised when he wakes before her. He blinks at the ceiling several times before things come into focus.

I can see.

The haze in his eyes is mostly gone, only feeling a bit tight. Sakura told him two days and she was correct. Though she told him the healing would take about a week. Feeling refreshed and ready, Itachi rolls from bed.

Quietly he goes to find what will surely be needed. After splashing his face with icy water, Itachi makes sure two white pills sit next to Sakura's nightstand as well as a glass of water to wash it down. Then he goes downstairs to test the range of his recovering eyes.

This morning is much better, warmer, and more favorable for digging through the dirt. Sliding the door open to the pre-dawn air, Itachi momentarily marvels at the canvas sky. An array of colors merge and weave across nature's ceiling. A deep inhale again confirms the changing of seasons. And a downward glance solidifies his claims.

"Hello there," he mumbles serenely, stepping out fully onto the porch before crouching down near its edge. Delicate light purple buds teeter to one side in the otherwise barren flower beds. Carefully he reaches over and brushes his thumb across feather-light petals.

When Itachi purchased the seeds months ago, Ino told him they were good luck charms and reminders that things were destined to change. He smirked at her for reasons all his own and bought a lot of the resilient little plants. Now, at the junction between winter and spring, the crocus flowers defiantly flutter to life despite the cold.

You keep promises as well? Mother would have been impressed; Father intrigued. I am both.

The crocus flower is small but perfect for his current intentions.

The action comes naturally. Itachi feels the stirring than the shift as the world comes into sharper focus. There's no pain only a pull that he blinks away in the time it takes his eyes to adjust to this new, sharper, more vivid world. Itachi takes his time with analyzing the buds, his new eyes more than capable of visual appreciation. He marvels at the structure until a sound from the living area pulls him away from his musings. Itachi straightens as Sakura's disheveled form peeks out of the door.

"Good morning," he greets.

Her nose wrinkles and she shakes her head. "It's too cold for the door to be open." Sakura laments and rubs her eyes. "What are you doing out here?"

"Checking the garden." Itachi looks out at nature and then turns to show her what he's done. "How is your head?"

She blinks slowly, rolls her eyes, and crosses her arms. "You just couldn't wait a few more days, could you?"

"The moment felt right," he confesses then repeats. "How is your head?

"Medical powers, remember?" A light blush colors her cheeks and she steps a little closer to the door. "Are there flowers growing already? Spring isn't even here yet."

"These flowers grow at the in-between," Itachi explains. "Yamanaka-san said they are symbols of unspoken promises and change. I am inclined to believe her."

"You know she says a lot of things to sell her products, right?" his wife remarks dryly.

"Hnn."

Sakura takes a step backward, probably retreating from the cold. "Are you going out today?"

Itachi lingers silently a moment, listening to what she isn't saying. Oddly enough, her chakra doesn't change. "I wish to test my Sharingan more."

"Why am I not surprised?" Sakura gripes but ends her protests there.

A black brow slowly raises. "You have no intent to stop me?"

"Could I?"

Itachi considers her tone. "I will stay if you ask me."

"No. No." Sakura waves a dismissive hand. "Just keep your Sharingan use to a minimal, please. Only half an hour or so at a time. Plus, I need to meet with Ino today, so I guess I'll be doing real work now."

A thought occurs to him and Itachi wonders if Sakura has been informed of their overlapping duties and tests the waters just in case. "I will be meeting with Yamanaka-san soon as well."

"Why?"

Ah. She is unaware.

Itachi tuts aloud, walking around the flower beds in mild disappointment. Is there a reason for all the secrecy? He can't fathom anything that would warrant keeping her in the dark. The feeling of games being played can't be overlooked.

Is Kakashi trying to incite anger or facilitate a friendship?

Whichever it is, he has no intention of playing the game. Let Kakashi take the brunt of that disagreement.

"The village wants to create a Peace Garden in the new Uchiha District. Have you heard of it?"

Something like recognition lights up her eyes. Sakura shifts her weight and replies. "Yeah. Ino and I have been working on presentations for the other villages. That's where she's been this entire time. I knew we were gonna get one, but I thought the spot hadn't been decided."

"It is a matter up for discussion," he informs. "To my understanding, Kakashi is determined to have it in my old home."

"Are you against it?" she asks him.

Itachi crouches towards the dirt. "Not at all."

His partner goes silent. He leaves the conversation for her to decide upon, while he tends the tender leaves of winter plants.

"I'm gonna get ready now. Mind if I close the door?"

Itachi shakes his head. "Do as you please."

The door slides closed after that, leaving the Uchiha to mend his flowerbeds in peace for a short time before he sets on preparing breakfast soup for them. He makes a mental note to see Minami after working whilst setting the table. He places their bowls on either side, along with rice and tea.

Itachi doesn't wait for Sakura before starting. He needs to leave before she does and finishes his food just as she comes down, fully dressed and ready for the day.

Sakura does a quick scan of his person and eyes. She checks for inflammation and flare-ups, which were severely reduced from the day before and she instructs him to skip the morning dose.

"You're like a clean slate right now," she says, writing his current condition down in her journal. "If anything goes on today, I'll have more clues as to what's going on with you."

Itachi does not argue that, walking to the genkan to put on his shoes. "Do you have a preference for dinner?" he asks while securing his cloak.

"Surprise me," Sakura says. "Just hold the spice please."

He smirks at her request, remembering her aversion to Temari's cuisine. With her request noted, he leaves her for the rest of her day.

The journey to his old home brings long-forgotten memories. Itachi takes to the rooftop, pooling chakra into his feet, jumping from one spot to another. He takes a long way, enjoying the early morning hours with his newly restored chakra. Quiet and undisturbed, Konoha opens for him. He takes a small detour towards the Hokage Momenumt and pushes the extend of his chakra to increase speed. The morning bird's song vanishes as the wind rushes past his ears. The smell of morning air coating his face. Itachi closes his eyes and lets his senses guide him over treetops and businesses. By shinobi standards, he's moving quite slow. But after five years of living life as a civilian, this feels like flying.

Senses high, he dodges obstacles with ease. The muscles in his body coil and uncoil with every leap and step, supporting the weight of his movements. Itachi comes to a stop on a roof just shy of the Monument. Despite being winded, he stands and activates his doujustu to see the world around him clearer.

Amazing.

Itachi watches until the sun starts to crest the sky. He's the first to the Compound. Understandable since he and Kakashi are the only two currently with keys to the gate. The village planner informed him that they'd already set up the dumpsters at the newly designated spots. He walks into massive metal containers near the entrance of the gate. As it closes behind him, a familiar presence invades Itachi's solitude. He stills, turning towards where Weasel's chakra suddenly appears.

Kakashi must be being cautious.

He holds no qualms with the Hokage's choice. Itachi will even venture to see he has some respect for him. Even this morning, his escort waits until Itachi is inside the Uchiha Compound to make his presence known. Weasel loiters near a tree close to the gate, staring ahead while the mask obscures his main object of scrutiny. He could have chased Itachi through the Village but chose to give him space.

Itachi acknowledges his arrival with a nod and a silent thank you for understanding.

Seconds later, a similar gesture is returned, indicating Weasel is watching him. The man disappears after that brief exchange, perhaps to a higher vantage point where he could keep a steady gaze on everything happening.

Itachi continues towards the small shops near the gate. Of all the buildings, he deems these of little consequence with regards to sensitive information. At his initial inspection, the only thing he observed was rusting equipment and spider webs. Besides that, the place is in surprisingly good condition. Itachi suspects some mold or other things growing, especially in one of the bakeries, however, he was informed that Sasuke lived here alone even after the Massacre. It very well could have been him who started the cleaning efforts. There isn't a trace of food in any of the places they look.

I commend you, little brother. If not for your efforts, things would be quite different now.

One of the buildings that they've already gutted houses extra equipment and outwear for workers. Itachi goes through the stash, procuring gloves, a mask, and safety goggles. He takes his time with getting the temporary electricity working, turning on industrial lights, and hanging torches, either on the hooks that were put in or on the tall metal stands. The clean-up crew arrives as he rolls up his sleeves and secures his medical mask to prevent dust from getting in his sinuses.

That is not a conversation he wants to have with Sakura later.

One Shikamaru and the village planner arrive, the groups divide into three. Shikamaru takes the civilians to businesses while Itachi directs the genin to a residence. Now that he has his Sharingan, Itachi can see more and do more and move faster.

"We have four homes on the agenda," he hands over detailed information for each building, "Anything on this list stays. Everything else will be either donated or destroyed later."

The young man scans the list of items, adjusting his goggles in the process. "What happens when we finish?"

Itachi nods towards the gate, "We help at the shops over there. I imagine with our set of skills, we will be completed before them."

His Sharingan activates, and the chunin before him takes a small step back. Itachi pretends not to notice, opening the door to their first order of business. He pauses, looking over at the man who has yet to move and the awed faces of those unfamiliar with his familial inheritance.

"Are you coming?" he questions, waiting to see if he will raise any concern.

He doesn't. Clearing his throat he turns to his squad to give instructions. Itachi leaves him to it, tugging at his gloved has to get started without them.

Delegating, separating, and discarding various items, the day runs like a well-oiled machine. Anything that can't be salvaged is tossed in the dumpster. Things that are okay, are boxed and shifted in a corner to be moved for storage later. A small part of him wonders at the men's cooperation with him. The genin team offers the utmost respect. Their chunin guardians flow his every order. Itachi is beyond pleased with how responsive they were, regardless of their potential personal opinions. Outwardly, their behavior is nothing but respectful, joking occasionally, and having casual conversations.

He eases into their routine and gets his hands dirty right along with him. Occasionally he switches off his dojutsu for practical purposes. Sakura gave him a time limit and he intends to keep it. As expected, the genin teams finish first. Eager to impress, they clear the homes just before lunch and clean everything just a few hours after. They turn their attention to the shops where construction workers take apart unusable furniture.

Covered in dirt and grim, Itachi hauls parts of a rotting countertop towards the dumpster when one of the genins stops him at the entrance, waving a book in his hand.

"Uchiha-san!" he calls. "I found this inside one of the drawers. We thought it looked personal, so…" He trails off, extending the book to him.

Itachi nods towards the dumpster. "Walk with me a moment."

They go outside together, allowing Itachi to relieve himself of his burden.

"Thank you," he says, tugging down his mask to take the book.

The man offers a mock salute before jogging back inside. Itachi wipes sweat from his brow and clears his throat before stalking towards a temporary streetlight.

The book is quite thin – not the normal look of a journal he's seen. Itachi slides his hand out of a glove then unwinds the tattered cord keeping everything together. With great care, he opens to the first page, scanning over the owner's name before delving into its contents. There's a list of quantities and measurements at the top of each page and a number next to each along with names that indicate recipes. His initial thoughts seem correct as most of what he comes across are baking tips, recipes, and anecdotes of alternative ingredients. Itachi peruses the pages for his own curiosity. A bundt cake piques his interest. He scans over the instructions and folds the corner of the page to return to it later.

I wonder if Temari is partial to sweets. Perhaps I can initiate a recipe exchange.

An approving hum rumbles in his chest. Itachi vows to look at the book in depth later. With one final turn of a page, starting to close the book to return to work, he startles when a small note at the bottom of one recipe catches his eye.

Inquire with Fugaku-sama if lavender near the edge of the lake falls within Provision Protections territory or if they belong to a local farmer. Necessary to enhance bread flavors.

For a moment he stares at the rushed handwriting of a baker who had no clue how meaningful his words would come to be. Itachi rereads the line but pauses on the section that makes his fingers loosen. Dark eyes widen. The rush in blood pressure is so sudden that it would have overwhelmed him if he hadn't used the wall next to the dumpster as a lean post. His lips part, chest tightening to an almost difficult degree. Itachi keeps his face from berating his inner turmoil. Quickly looking around himself for witnesses, he closes the book then closes his eyes to calm himself down.

But his mind just keeping rehearsing the words, reminding him that he'd forgotten.

He'd forgotten all of these.

In the weeks since their mission assignment, he never considered looking into something so obvious. Before this moment, there was never a need to use them, or because he hadn't finished learning them that they didn't present themselves as an immediate solution. Itachi never planned to learn them either. His fate was sealed the moment he took up a sword against his father.

But that was then. This is now. He should know better.

He knew better.

If my father were... Itachi almost chokes at the thought. He tries to stop it but can't.

Memories flood like water. Of sessions and training and bonding and instruction. Of father and son. Of time spent pouring over scrolls under the lamplight in tatami rooms near the back garden.

Itachi frowns, fist gripping the leather book.

How could I have forgotten something so paramount?

Things that his mind keeps from him until this sudden jolt, crash through him. The fact that he'd left them dormant at all is concerning still. These were precious moments only he and his father shared. They summon grief so deep, Itachi doesn't dare move for a long moment, tuning out sight and sound to the beat of his own heart.

Taking the life of his parents had been the hardest task by far. But his father permitted him while also fighting for his life. And as the final blow was given, he'd expressed his pride at the path Itachi chose.

Father never despised my choice. He welcomed it. He prepared me to make such decisions.

Knowing that did very little for a child orphaned by his own hands. The pain of parricide is one not shared by many who hold no resentment towards those who gave them life. Itachi holds that pain close to his heart, buried and unspoken of. If he allowed himself to feel, to process, to fully understand, he might just break.

So he forces his pulse to slow down and use technics not employed since his time in the Akatsuki. He forces memories to recede to their safe place unto he can stand on his own.

Itachi opens his eyes again, bringing the book up to read once more.

Could they have remained? He wonders, eyes shifting from the pages towards his former home. I remember where.

The book slams closed. Determination spurs him to stalk towards the building. It takes all his strength not to run. Weasel is still watching, and he is not on the ground alone. His pace is no less hasty, wanting to get there and check as soon as possible.

Itachi gets to the largest home in seconds. Adjacent to the building is another smaller home a few feet away. He gives little thought to his surroundings, narrowing his focus on his father's meeting rooms. Itachi detours towards the smaller structure. Feet thrum against the veranda as he retraces childhood memories to the far corner of the house. Two tall wooden double doors loom before him. Itachi narrows his eyes and gathers his courage, opening it before stepping inside. On instinct, he moves towards the abstract statue in the far corner. Its unassuming nature is meant to be just that. Itachi rubs his finger over the old bronze before stopping near the arm.

Would the jutsu still be intact though father is dead?

His Sharingan blazes to life. Red and black eyes fervently scan for the symbols only certain Uchiha members were trained to see. Spotting the opening, he quickly weaves the signs, grabs the statue's arm, and pulls. It easily gives, revealing a hidden cellar below.

Itachi pushes the limits, forcing more chakra into his eyes to achieve the first stages of his Mangekou. The strain is obvious, and he sways. But he only needs it active long enough to see the second layer of seals on the door, weave the signs then pull the latch.

With a hefty tug, he manages to get the door to lift, opening to a set of stairs down below.

Sharp pain in his eyes indicates he's near his chakra limits. He stifles a groan, grabbing the wall with one hand and his throbbing eye with the other. He uses the wall for purchase and feels alongside to descend the stairs. Memory takes him down the dim dusk light hall. Not much light reaches into the depths of the cellar but it's enough to make out several small cupboards carved into the wall. Stuffed inside are several scrolls, carefully folded and covered in dust at their edges.

"The Clan Provision Protections," Itachi whispers.

A hushed reverence falls over him and he stares with one eye at them with mixed emotions. The last time he saw this place was more than a decade ago. The last time they'd need to be used as an equal amount of time ago.

He eases back until he sits on the last step.

I will not lose control; he demands it of himself. But there is no denying the way he feels. Itachi can't quite get the image of his father and mother kneeling before him out of his mind. The last shallow breath his mother took. The pool of his father's blood gathering at his feet.

Itachi grits his teeth and clenches his fits.

I will not lose control.

There is more at stake than forgotten memories. Because the Clan Provisions were more than just pieces of paper. They hold a power that could provide insight into his and Sakura's current dilemma. That is more important than his reminiscing.

His head starts to hurt for more reasons than his overused Sharingan. Itachi forces himself to stand. He stumbles slightly towards the cupboards and takes every scroll insight. Carefully tucking them under his arms, he makes a mental note to tell Kakashi to add special protections to this place before ascending the stairs.

Itachi explains nothing when he steps into the night and Weasel stands near the door.

"They all left, Uchiha-san," The Anbu tells him, gesturing towards the gate. "They were looking for you."

How long had he loitered down there?

Itachi glances in the direction Weasel gestures than at the man himself.

"I needed to retrieve something," he offers, turning and walking towards the gate. He tries to keep his pace and breathing steady but the pull of chakra exhaustion drags his feet.

Weasel trails him like a silent shadow, no longer hiding in the trees. The man says nothing, much to the Uchiha's gratitude. They approach the first building together. Weasel stands guard while Itachi gathers his things.

Belatedly it occurs to him that dinner will have to be takeout again. It is far too late for Minami and her uncle to still be out.

Itachi places all seven scrolls in the satchel and secures the satchel under his cloak. Once everything is locked and secure, he and Weasel head towards his home in an unhurried manner.

Despite his physical state, a sense of anticipation keeps Itachi moving. What he expects, he isn't sure. He doesn't allow himself to think too much. Thinking right now would be very dangerous.

It isn't until he reaches his front door that his pulse jumps. Once inside, Itachi doesn't bother with his cloak, searching for the only person to who he wanted to speak. Sakura's noisy movements in the kitchen draw his feet near. He corners her by the sink.

"What?" Sakura asks, shaking soapy water from her hands.

Voice low, too rattled to feign composure, Itachi fights for words and settles on the only ones that matter. "I found something."

Sakura's green eyes scan his face rather than stare at the things he clutches to his chest.

"Alright," she says slowly, not pushing him away, much to Itachi's gratitude. "What is it?"

"Something my father taught me years ago."

She nods after a moment, opens her mouth then closes it. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No," Itachi says far harsher than he intends. He needs a moment to pull himself back together.

Taking a calculated step back, he undoes the clasps on his cloak. "Here." He drops the satchel on the kitchen table, turns, and walks out of the room to find a place of familiarity, of comfort.

Hardly in control.

He's been teetering off-balance lately, unable to focus on keeping his composure in the face of his revelations.

This District Project is already weighing on me and we have only begun. How many more ghosts will I have to encounter before this settles?

Itachi wanders towards the back door. Sliding it open, he takes his perch near the entrance of their screened porch. Still, in his cloak, he leans against the doorpost, gazes fixed on the stars, one leg bent while his arm drapes across it.

Seconds go by before he hears Sakura's slow approach, feels her caution. He doesn't acknowledge her but also doesn't dismiss her when she kneels across from him, sitting the scrolls down onto the floor.

"Which should I address first: your brooding or this stuff you gave me?"

He huffs softly, flicking his wrist. "Do as you please."

"You know... your brother used to call me annoying when I would notice that he was in a mood."

"I am not my brother," Itachi responds quietly.

Sakura hums. "Both of you get tight-lipped when something's bothering you. So, I'd say the apple doesn't fall far…"

Itachi says nothing, gives nothing, and does nothing. Sakura sighs, shifting in her spot. Dark eyes flicker in her direction, watching as she stands. A part of him wants her to stay but he can't bring himself to ask. Prepared to deal with his restlessness alone, Itachi braces for her to leave.

But Sakura has always surprised him. She grabs several cushions and brings them over to where he sits, settling down once more with a pillow under her and resting against the wall.

Sakura picks up the scroll closest to her, unfolding it across her lap. He swallows, looking away towards the sky once more. A cloud drifts past, a wispy grey shadow against a sea of stars.

"This is...a lot of stuff." Sakura is still processing. "Hm? It's talking about the Sharingan. Itachi, what exactly is this?"

"Uchiha clan provision protections," Itachi drawls.

"Uchiha clan provision protections?" Sakura whistles, "Sounds fancy."

"Hnn."

"Why are you giving them to me?"

Itachi wrestles with his thoughts, clenching the hand on the ground in sheer defiance of his emotional disposition. He inhales before letting his gaze slide to her. "They may help."

Sakura groans, sitting the scroll down and scooting closer. Her chakra draws his full gaze. Her glare holds his attention. When she crosses her arms, he raises a brow. "Let's start over. With a little more of an explanation, if you please. What are they?"

He holds his tongue a moment, trying to articulate their importance in the same way his father told him. "Clan provisions were special protections given to all prominent and reputable clans when the village was founded. They allow clans to hold certain traditions outside of the governmental system of the village."

"And secrets?" She guesses, pointing to a hand-painted image of their famous dojutsu.

He nods. "In many respects, yes. Others are simpler. The First Hokage was aware of the reservations that clans held with joining under one government. He reassured them by giving them a small level of autonomy. For some, there are provisions on certain jutsu. For others, provisions for a way of life."

"What about for Uchiha?"

Itachi stares blankly, turning inward. The conversation with Sakura allows him to touch fragile memories without breaking them. He sees his father standing over him, showing him the hand signs to enter one of the Uchiha hideouts.

"There are many," he murmurs. "My father taught me some of them. The rest I am unsure about."

"Your dad, huh?" Sakura softens her voice. "If that's the case, why do you think I need them?"

"These provisions lay outside of the Hokage's power. There may be something there you can leverage in your favor for the mission."

Sakura forces her breath through clenched teeth, claiming his attention. Her eyes. They were guarded and reserved. "These aren't mine," she insists.

With a lazy gesture of his hand, Itachi drew her attention to the scrolls between them. "By all accounts, you are an Uchiha as well. This is within your right. If you invoke any of these, by way of marriage, Kakashi cannot refuse you."

"What about you?" Sakura challenges.

He snorts. "I have not refused you anything."

"Not that!" Sakura rolls her eyes. "Aren't you going to study these too? I'm only a temporary Uchiha. You're going to be the head of a clan one day. You need to study this just as much as I do!"

There is no denying his need to know all of them. Years ago he was eager for the chance if only to make the changes he so desired. It's not that those desires aren't present now, somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind. Itachi just isn't ready to venture down that path right now.

Not yet.

Because his father is there and his mother is there. His gut clenches. Itachi ducks his head, letting charcoal hair obscure his face.

"Itachi?"

With those simple words, he feels his composure slip for a second. Her concern is evident and he is tempted to fall into it.

"Hnn?"

She rests a hand on his arm. Sympathy or pity soothes her tone. He can't tell which exactly. "This isn't easy for you is it?"

"It is not." There is no point in denying the obvious.

Sakura gives his arm a gentle pat. "Maybe go see your parents tomorrow?"

"No," Itachi says.

"Sasuke?"

He does not respond, and she sighs. "Okay, fine. What do you want to do now?"

Itachi only takes seconds to deliberate, embracing the feelings he'd raced home for. The tingles where her hand rests take on that warming quality-like a balm.

Not quite the soothing touch of his mother or the quiet reassurance of his father. But Sakura is here in her own right and he takes comfort in her wanting to comfort him.

"This." He tells her.

Her skepticism reverberates in her repetition of his answer. "This?"

"Hnn."

"Just sitting here?"

Itachi pulls his head up, wanting to catch her eye. He doesn't have to go far. Sakura is right there with furrowed brows and concern written so plainly across her face.

"Just this."

Sakura nods, scooting further towards her array of pillows. "Can I read these while we sit?"

Itachi nods, regarding the moon. Silence engulfs them for a few moments before he makes a request.

"Aloud, if you don't mind."

"Huh?" Sakura asks. "Aloud what?"

"Read aloud."

"Oh. Okay sure."

As she reads, he feels anxiety slip and melts into nothingness as he thinks of his father, his mother, his past, and the future.

---

When Itachi said that Uchiha had several clan provisions, he hadn't been kidding. Sakura has only gotten through two-thirds of the first one before Itachi's mood settled enough to declare sleep.

There are five of these scrolls. How am I supposed to get through all of these?

Unfurling the rest of the scroll, she shifts her weight to another foot. So far, she's come across some interesting things, nonsensical things, and practical things. Madara certainly had a long list of traditions he wanted to maintain. The age of some of these shines through. Things like housing shapes and clan colors. Other things like having the Uchiha hideouts and keeping the Sharingan's full power within the clan, transcends time. Three scrolls in and doubt at their usefulness starts bubbling.

"Are you still reading those?" Ino calls as she pulls open a door, Inojin marching in right behind her.

Sakura looks up and smiles a greeting at them. "I'm looking for something."

"Something you lost?" Inojin asks marching up to the counter and vanishing under its height.

The pinkette laughs and turns as he scurries around to see her again.

"No," she coos. "Something Itachi-san forgot about. I'm just getting up to speed."

"I can't believe he never told you about the Provisions." Ino chimes in, locking up the shop and turning off the open sign.

"He said he forgot. He never had a reason to use them." Sakura grimaces, recalling her partners' distress at his lapse in memory a few nights ago.

I should hurry back soon, to make sure he's doing better. A tug on her pants draws her attention to the little boy reaching to be picked up. Sakura obliges, scooping Inojin up in her arms.

"I mean, I can understand that," Ino concedes skeptically. "But even I knew our family's provisions before I was a teenager."

"Uchiha has a lot," Sakura stresses.

Ino raises a brow. "How many?"

"Five scrolls full."

The blonde whistles. "Why am I not surprised? The Uchiha were technically the first clans to join. I guess the First Hokage was feeling generous?"

"Did you forget that he and Madara were friends?" Sakura cocks a brow. "A lot of it is highly specific fine print. I think he wanted to make a point to Lord Hashirama and the Hokage allowed it."

"Specifications like what?" Ino asks.

Sakura thinks of something common and less serious consequence. This really isn't her history to tell. "No other clan can wear their colors."

Ino gasps in awe, leaning over the other side of the counter. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"I believe Madara called the color Uchiha blue."

Their laugh rings out in the close quarters of the flower shop. Inojin tugs at her silken pink hair, confused by what was so funny. It only makes Sakura laugh more.

"How is that even legal?" Ino asks between giggles. "I mean, a lot of my clan wears purple but he didn't name the damn color after us! Hell, even our actual provisions aren't so specific. We got our jutsu and a patch of land at the edge of the Nara forest."

"That's it?"

Ino moves towards the glass cupboard holding the last of their day-old arrangements. "Yeah, that's it. Shikamaru's family faired a bit better. They got the entire Nara forest to themselves. But the way my father explained it, we were a smaller clan then. Still are, actually. We just managed what we got because we were close allies of the Nara clan."

Sakura follows her friend to the back, scroll, and Inojin in tow. "What happened to Ino-Shika-Cho? Shouldn't the Akimichi clan be in there somewhere?"

Ino clips off the stems from flowers looking less than stellar. Inojin wiggles to be set down. Sakura places him on the long wooden table that sits in the middle of the room. The two-year-old automatically starts to pull apart the petals of old flowers that will soon be turned into potpourri.

"Choji and his clan came late but they were considered noble so still faired pretty well," Ino supplies. "I think clan provisions got smaller and smaller when the village started to take shape. The Second Hokage made a general provision for all clans and anything outside of that applied to specific jutsu. So, the Akimichi Clan has a hold on its soldier pill recipes. And Kiba and his clan keep their dog training skills a top-secret. Unless you are an Uchiha, Hyuga, Nara, Yamanaka, Uzumaki, Sarutobi, or Akimichi, clan provisions are restricted to jutsu only."

Sakura picks up a discarded carnation and delicately pulls at every petal. "That explains why I never even heard of them. And the Hokage can't go above them?"

Her best friend hums, gathering the stems and tossing them in a nearby bin. "Basically. Whatever is in the provision works outside of the village. So, like, if all of Konoha burns down and the Nara forest remains, the Village has to ask Shikamaru for permission to use it. It is clan property, not Village property."

"That puts the village at a serious disadvantage…" the pinkette muses. "Wasn't uniting clans the point of Konoha?"

"Everybody has their secrets, Sakura," Ino winks. "Itachi won't tell me how the Sharingan works anymore that I would tell him how to step inside your mind. But if the village is in need, we'll ensure its safety regardless of our secrets."

Ino walks away, gathering the equipment and flower extract necessary to dehydrate the petals she and Inojin so delicately separated. Sakura watches her friend's child tackle the last of them, her mind wandering to Itachi again. Today is her last day here and her excitement would be more apparent if not for the somber mood of her partner. Itachi seems so determined, almost hopeful, that she would find something that she loathes the thought of letting him down. Yet he refuses to look into it himself. The connection to his father seems to really throw him off-kilter. She needs to find something if only for that reason.

With all of the minute details, there is bound to be something about baby-making in there. Whether to stop me from having to or give Itachi a way around it.

She loses herself in thought as the three of them finish up last-minute things before closing the shop.

Sakura beats Itachi home this time. A short day of deliveries for her. All of their orders were filled and the only ones they had were new orders coming in.

She makes tea then gets comfortable on the sofa with the Clan Provisions around her. After separating them into piles of what she read and what she had left, Sakura grabs the kettle and a cup, bringing them to the table. She then gets herself a slice of cake leftover from their visit with Temari.

"Alright, Madara," Sakura demands, unrolling a new scroll to its full length and holding each end in place with a paperweight. "You thought of literally everything, surely there must be something in here I can use."

Green eyes scan the title and instantly her heart leaps, for this volume was markedly different from what she'd read before. Firstly, the title references clan dynamics, starting with the Clan head's roles and duties.

Cake and cup. Clause and subtext. Sakura takes her time combing through every little detail, hoping that it will yield something.

The first few clauses are pretty basic. It lists what the clan head is supposed to do and his role with the Uchiha Clan and Konoha. The remnants of the Warring States period are clear. She snorts at the turns of phrases, hums at things that she is sure Itachi would agree with, and nods in understanding when it talks of putting the Clan's safe first.

It's no wonder Itachi's dad was between a rock and a hard place. The Provisions allow the village to overrule certain things but also charged the Clan Head to protect the Uchiha at all cost. He must have been so torn...

Sakura pours herself another cup and settles in for another long read as she comes across the part about family. It seems odd for a moment but makes sense as it goes into succession. It seems Itachi and Sasuke come from a long line of Clan Heads and may be descendants of Madara himself. The duty of the one tasked to protect the secrets of the Uchiha are numerous. The rules surrounding the way their family should conduct themselves are equally so. Sakura braves Madara's mind, hoping for anything that will set them on the right path.

Minutes in and the front door opens to Itachi coming home. Sakura acknowledges him with a simple hummed greeting while keeping her eyes glued to the page. Because it seems the subject of children is not just something Kakashi and the elders care about. Lineage is important and Madara's decree on how one should protect it nearly makes the warm cup of tea slip through her fingers.

"Oh my God," she gasps.

Itachi crosses the room in an instant, without removing his cloak or shoes, kneeling next to her to see what she saw.

"I think I found our answer," she whispers, inhales then says it again with much more feeling. "I think I found it, Itachi!"

Her partner leans over the table, over the scrolls splayed out before them. "Where? Show me."

Setting her cup down, Sakura pushes to her knees and points. "Here. Read this."

He follows her finger to a subclause just under 'Clan Head Descendents'.

"The Head of Clan is to choose a wife of equal skill from within the Clan to…"

"Not that," Sakura fusses, skipping ahead to the part that matters. "Here."

Itachi heaves a sigh, leaning forward to get a better look. He reads where her finger directs.

"Should the Head of Clan perish in battle before bearing children, the Head of Clan's brother or next male kin to the third generation shall go in unto the Head of Clan's wife, marry her and raise a male seed in his stead. If the Head of Clan remains alive and his wife is unwilling or unable to bear a male heir, the Head of Clan shall take for himself a second wife to preserve and strengthen the Uchiha Clan."

Itachi straightens, expression unreadable, but Sakura cannot contain her excitement. "Do you know what this means?" She exclaims.

Itachi makes a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat. She grabs his shoulder and gives him a shake, squeezing it in under delight doing it.

"If we take the mission and I am unable to give you a child, you can marry someone else." Sakura declares.

"Hnn."

"That means we don't have to wait until this year ends!"

"Hnn."

"We can find you a wife now."

She waits for him to be equally as excited but his expression remains stoic and reserved. It's enough to make slightly kill her thrill.

The Uchiha stands in one fluid motion, taking several steps back before turning towards the door. Sakura is on her feet just as quickly.

"Itachi? Where are you going?" she questions.

Without a backward glance, Itachi's low voice halts Sakura in their living room.

"To see my mother."

---

A/N: I said it wouldn't take a month and technically speaking...it's 4 days shy of a month! So I'm all good here!

Anyways. We are finally FINALLY getting to the juicy part. Not what you expected, I presume? Don't worry...it only gets more interesting from here. I will say...one of my faithful readers picked up on one of my clues from previous chapters. Do you have any guesses?

A special thanks to those who've faved and followed this story! Really, guys, I'm writing to keep you guys coming back lol. Is that wrong? No? Yeah...I didn't think so either.

To those of you who are lurking...yeah I can see you...you've stuck around this long. Just fav this story already! Help make my dream of 100 faves come true! lol

Comment, fav, follow and I'll see you guys next time for Line 8: Traditional Ways.

-CeCe ^^

Word Count: 14,172

Musical Inspiration: "Open Wide" and "Dream"- Duendita "That's Why I Love You"- SiR,