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White Elephant


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1. SIX


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They called her a peace offering.

At six years old, I didn't understand. A pointless offering—the palace was always peaceful. Too peaceful. So peaceful that every day was boring. But Mother woke me early that morning, dressed me in my finest robes, and warned me not to scowl. So I didn't understand, but I knew she was important.

And I knew she was my brother's.

The Elders all said he was receiving the greatest honor another clan could bestow upon him. A bride. One with good lineage, and powerful abilities, and ties that would strengthen the Uchiha clan. A girl whose presence here could stop a war before it even began.

Someone worthy of the next Clan Head. Someone Itachi was supposed to be proud of.

So my confusion grew when Mother escorted me into Father's Throne Room and Itachi stood to Father's right, clearly irritated and sad. I took my place beside him, training my face into the empty expression Father and all the Elders always wore within these walls. Happy that I was doing it better than Itachi for once.

The Elders and the other important clan members filed in slowly. Mother and Father were whispering to one another. Mother sounded displeased. Father sounded defensive. Itachi fidgeted with his sleeves and glared at the table of Elders. I was annoyed from standing for half an hour doing nothing, for an offering that was pointless and not mine to receive.

This was the scene the first time I saw her:

Her twelve-man envoy arrived on the longest day of winter. I didn't understand a thing. My family was a mix of behavior they rarely displayed.

And she looked like the first day of spring standing before Father's throne.

I'd never seen anyone like her in all my six years of life. None in the main clan had green eyes or pink hair. No one in the palace, the main house, or anyone I'd passed in the city did either. I was sure girls didn't look like that in the Uchiha territory.

Mother leaned back and pinched me for the way I stared.

"Welcome to the Uchiha clan. I'm glad the Senju envoy arrived safely. My name is Fugaku Uchiha, head of the Uchiha clan for those I've yet to meet. I hope your travels were smooth?"

"Thank you for such a grand welcome, Fugaku. We found good weather and safe roads on our way here." A tall, blond woman beside the girl bowed. "And if it's fine with you, let's dispense with the formalities. We're to be family, after all."

"That we are. Very well, then. So is this the child, Tsunade?"

"Yes. This is my grandniece." The woman touched the girl's shoulder. "Sakura Haruno. Say hello, Sakura."

She bowed low, as etiquette required. "H-Hello..."

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It was Wednesday, and he was late. But after an hour of searching the main house and then the palace, I finally found Itachi exiting one of the meeting halls.

"Brother!"

He turned like he was surprised. "Sasuke?"

"What were you doing?" I peeked into the room behind him. A few Elders sat around the table with people I didn't recognize. "Who's in there?"

Itachi closed the door. "Some of the Senju delegation. They're returning to their territory at the end of the week."

"Good! Finally!"

"Be careful what you say in the palace halls, little brother. Did you need something? Did Mother send you?"

What did he mean, did I need something? "It's Wednesday. You said you'd practice with me every Wednesday while you were here… Remember?"

"Oh. Yes, I remember, but we'll have to skip this week. Right now, I need to go help the Senju Clan Head settle some matters regarding the agreement with her grandniece, and then I need to…have tea with her."

Itachi frowned. He was doing that a lot lately. I didn't like seeing him frown, but I didn't like him breaking his promise even more.

"But you skipped last week. You said last week we could definitely practice this week…"

"You're right. I'm sorry." He poked my forehead. I rubbed it, looking down at his feet. Whenever he did that, it meant he wasn't going to give me what I wanted. "When the Senju leave, things will settle back down and we can hang out like we used to. Alright?"

"Alright… Then, can I come with you for tea?"

I hadn't seen the girl since the Throne Room almost three weeks ago. After introductions, Mother had dragged me out of the palace and back to the main house. Mother said the girl would move into the main house once the delegation left, but that she'd stay in the palace with the Senju Clan Head until then.

I rarely went to the palace. That's where all the adults talked about things that made them leave looking angry. It didn't seem like any fun. And whenever I was forced to go there, it was usually boring.

So I hadn't seen her—but I wanted to. I'd never seen anyone like her before.

"Not today, little brother."

"Why not? Am I not allowed?" Even though palace things were no fun, I still didn't want to be told I couldn't do them.

"Hmm. It's not that you aren't allowed. I'll be Clan Head one day, so these are responsibilities I can't avoid. I don't want you…" Itach frowned again. "I would rather you go enjoy your day than spend it cooped up inside drinking tea I know you won't enjoy."

"What kind of tea is it?" I asked.

Itachi bent down to whisper in my ear. "Something the Senju brought with them. It's very sour…and they drink it cold."

"Cold?!"

He straightened and nodded. "Mhm. It doesn't sound very good, does it?"

I shook my head. "No… I don't want to try that… But you promise you'll train with me next week, after they leave, right?"

"Right. And I'm sure if you go find Shishui, he'll train with you today."

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"Why's that girl got that name?"

"Hmm?"

"That girl. How come her last name's not Senju?"

"That girl's name is Sakura, honey. And she'll be your sister-in-law, so please refer to her more nicely."

Mother's reprimands were never harsh, but they made me feel funny inside. I frowned as I watched that girl and Itachi talking about something through the kitchen windows, out by the pond in the backyard.

The pond where he usually took me. Instead, I was stuck at the dining table, watching Mother peel potatoes. Bored.

"Yes, Mother… Sorry."

I'd seen her enough times now that the unusualness had worn off. It was still startling to see pink in the hallways, but I was no longer interested in finding ways to see it. In fact, I was beginning to wish I saw it as little as possible.

Itachi still cancelled our training sessions most Wednesdays, even though the delegation had long left. Even today, he'd chosen to spend his free time with that girl.

"I know it's a hard adjustment, bringing someone new into the family so suddenly. But things will get easier, and she's a very nice girl. You two are the same age! I hope you can help her adjust to life in the main house when Itachi leaves for the Academy in March."

"Yes, Mother," I mumbled.

"As for her name—her mother married outside the Senju clan and chose to take her husband's family name. That's what happens when people get married. They become a new family, and one person will change their last name to match their partner's. It symbolizes the union."

"So when Itachi gets married, that girl will become an Uchiha?"

"Sakura will become an Uchiha, yes. But not for many years. Until she and Itachi officially wed, they'll both live in the main house, and she'll remain a Haruno." Mother glanced over her shoulder, raising her eyebrow in a way that meant she'd caught me scowling. "And do not refer to her as that girl again, Sasuke. I shouldn't have to tell you a third time."

"...Yes, Mother."

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Dinners were strange now that the girl was here. Everyone was very careful around her. Even Father spoke more calmly when she walked into the room and sat down.

It'd been a few months, and I still didn't understand. Father was so nice to her. Mother was always filling the girl's plate first. Itachi was always trying to include her in the conversation.

It didn't make sense.

She wasn't even real family yet. So why did it seem like everyone treated her better than they treated me? How come they fawned all over her when she didn't do anything to deserve it?

The girl wasn't confident or sure like Father. She wasn't warm or funny like Mother. Wasn't kind or smart like Itachi. She was just…there. What good was a girl who was just there? Why was my family treating her with such care?

It was annoying.

Itachi was set to return to the Academy next week and had barely spent any time with me over his break. Father said he was leaving for the border in a month but asked her more questions about her plans than he asked me about mine. Mother invited her into the kitchen to help prepare meals most days—time I used to have Mother to myself.

Everyone forgot I existed when she was around.

"I'm going into the city tomorrow, Sakura. You haven't gone yet, have you? Would you like to come and see it?" asked Itachi.

"But brother, you said—!"

"Sasuke, don't raise your voice at the dinner table!" Father chided, like his voice wasn't raised, too.

My head fell. I felt Itachi's hand pat the top of it, warm and familiar. The feeling made my eyes water as I stared at my half-eaten plate of food, ignoring how the girl studied my face from across the table.

She didn't even try to hide it. Didn't she know that staring was rude? She at least should have some manners, if nothing else...!

Going into the city was our trip. Itachi had asked me to go pick out new Academy supplies with him. This girl got to marry him in fourteen years. Then she could have Itachi. Couldn't I have him until then?

Everything had been fine before she came here, and now—

"You said I could go," I whispered, hoping it was quiet enough that Father couldn't hear it.

"Of course you're still coming with me, Sasuke. I'm sorry if how I said it made it sound like I didn't plan to take you. So? Would you like to come with the two of us, Sakura?"

After a few moments, the girl affirmed that she'd go.

I never looked up from the table. And as soon as I thought I could get away with it without being snapped at, I excused myself.

I hated her. I hated everything about her. Her hair was stupid, and her eyes were stupid, and the way she was just there was extra stupid. I wished she'd go back to where she came from and never involve herself with the Uchiha again.

This Senju peace offering had completely stolen my place in my own family.

And that was why, at six years old, I decided my life's goal was to end my brother's engagement with Sakura Haruno.


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hello there. don't worry...I'm still going to write Covenant...lol