Days turned into weeks, the news of Sakura's departure spread throughout the village. Itachi was often seen under the cherry blossom tree. And the villagers noticed that he is still wearing his wedding ring, and a necklace was added to his usual attire. Nobody knew that his necklace holds the rings Sakura returned.
The days felt like an endless cycle of waiting for Itachi. He continued his duties as a teacher, as per Tsunade's decision, but his heart wasn't fully in it. The absence of Sakura, both physically and emotionally, left a void that seemed impossible to fill.
Itachi visited the Hokage Tower regularly, seeking updates on any information about Sakura's whereabouts. Tsunade, understanding the depth of their connection, provided him with the little information she could gather. However, Sakura seemed to had vanished without a trace, leaving no clues to her destination.
The Uchiha clan, too, faced the consequences of Sakura's departure. The elders, who were already critical of Itachi's choices, used this as an opportunity to question his capabilities as a leader. Fugaku continued to defend his son, but the internal strife within the clan deepened.
Itachi no longer care. He is done being the perfect heir for them. The night that the elders drove his wife away is the night that he stopped caring about them. But the elders are adamant to trap Itachi in a role that they set for him.
One night, the clan elders waited for Itachi's return from training his team. They wanted to make sure that he is still aware of his responsibility as heir. They want him to pledge his allegiance and loyalty to the clan. They also wanted to get Itachi in a more accepted and respectable marriage.
"Uchiha Itachi" Itsuki called him as soon as his foot touched the grass of their home.
Itachi stopped and face the elders.
"You have been neglecting your role." Itsuki accused.
"Didn't you already stripped me of my birthright when you deemed it necessary to drive my wife away?" Itachi answered coldly.
Itsuki's expression hardened. "Your duty to the clan is not contingent upon personal matters. We expect you to fulfill your responsibilities as the heir to the Uchiha clan."
Itachi's eyes flashed with a mixture of defiance and resentment. "Responsibilities? What responsibilities do I have left when you've already taken away the one person I chose to share my life with?"
The other elders murmured among themselves, disapproving of Itachi's tone. Hikari, the most vocal among them, stepped forward. "Itachi, your marriage to that outsider has caused enough trouble. It's time for you to make amends. Marry someone from the clan, someone worthy of the Uchiha name."
Itachi's grip on the necklace tightened, the rings within almost digging into his palm. "I won't let you dictate my life any longer. I won't marry for the sake of appearances. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? It's only been a month since my wife left, and I am still looking for her, and here you are plotting my marriage to another? My choices are mine to make." Itachi's eyes bore into the elders. "I will not sacrifice my happiness for the sake of a title. If the clan cannot accept the choices I've made, then so be it."
The tension in the air was palpable, the struggle between tradition and Itachi's determination evident. The elders were unyielding in their expectations, while Itachi remained resolute in his refusal to conform.
Itachi turned away. Away from the place he once called home, leaving the elders to contemplate the ramifications of their decisions. The weight of responsibility and the clash between tradition and individual choice cast a long shadow over the Uchiha compound.
As Itachi walked away from the elders, he felt a mix of liberation and sorrow. The ties that bound him to the expectations of the clan were strained, if not broken. However, the cost of that freedom was the absence of his wife.
The moon hung high in the night sky as Itachi walked through the empty streets of the village, the cool breeze rustling the leaves. His steps were heavy with the weight of both freedom and loss. The villagers who passed by cast curious glances at the Uchiha heir, sensing the turmoil within him.
The news of Itachi's confrontation with the elders spread like wildfire. Whispers echoed through the village, reaching even the most remote corners. The tale of a man who dared to challenge the traditions of the prestigious Uchiha clan captured the imagination of many.
In the following days, the atmosphere within the Uchiha compound remained tense. Fugaku, torn between his loyalty to the clan and his love for his son, found himself in a precarious position. The elders, however, were not ready to relent. They convened to discuss the "problem" of Itachi and how to restore the Uchiha name to its former glory.
Itachi, on the other hand, threw himself into his duties as a teacher and a protector of the village. The absence of Sakura lingered in every aspect of his life, but his resolve remained unbroken. He continued the search for his wife, following every lead and exhausting every resource.
Tsunade, watching from afar, understood the delicate balance between tradition and individual happiness. She respected Itachi's choices but also foresaw the challenges that lay ahead for him. The village, often resistant to change, was now witnessing a shift in the dynamics of power and tradition.
As the weeks passed, Itachi's defiance inspired a silent rebellion among the younger generation of Uchiha. They questioned the rigid norms that had governed their lives for so long. Whispers of dissent grew louder, and the elders found themselves facing not just one rebellious heir but a generation ready to challenge the established order.
One evening, as Itachi stood under the cherry blossom tree where he had once promised Sakura a lifetime of happiness, he felt a presence behind him. Fugaku approached, a mixture of concern and understanding in his eyes.
"Son," Fugaku began, choosing his words carefully, "I may not understand the reasons why you chose Sakura as your wife. I judged her once and I lost my grandchild. You challenge our long-established traditions, you challenge the elders and I'm afraid that we might lose you, too.
Itachi turned to his father, the moonlight casting shadows on his face. "I lived my whole life trying to please the elders. I joined the ANBU to make them proud. This is the only choice that I made myself. She's the one that I choose to be with, and no one is going to change that. I will fight everyone that tries to take her away."
Fugaku sighed, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "I understand more than you think, Itachi. I, too, made choices that went against tradition, against the expectations of the clan. But you must be prepared for the consequences of your actions, for the path you've chosen."
Itachi's eyes softened, a flicker of gratitude in his expression. "I know, Father. I am prepared for whatever comes my way. I won't let them control my life any longer."
Fugaku placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. "Your mother and I, we care for you, Itachi. No matter what choices you make, no matter where this path takes you, know that you have our support."
In the days that followed, the tension within the Uchiha compound remained, but a subtle shift occurred. Some members of the clan began to question the rigid traditions that had governed their lives, inspired by Itachi's defiance. The elders, however, were not ready to concede, and the struggle for control continued.
Itachi's search for Sakura intensified, fueled by both love and a determination to reunite with the woman he chose to be his partner. The village, too, watched with bated breath as the Uchiha clan grappled with internal strife and the winds of change.
Meanwhile, whispers of dissent grew louder among the younger Uchiha members. Itachi had become a symbol of rebellion, a figure who dared to challenge the status quo. The once unassailable authority of the elders began to waver as the younger generation questioned the necessity of sacrificing personal happiness for the sake of tradition.
Underneath the cherry blossom tree, where promises were made and shattered, Itachi found solace in the memories of Sakura. The necklace with the rings, a constant reminder of his commitment, hung close to his heart. The moon continued to witness the unfolding drama, casting its silver glow over a village in the midst of change.