Itachi was stood in his room, staring at his reflection. Dressed in a black suit perfectly tailored to him, a white button-down shirt and paired with a light grey tie. His long hair tied back at the nape while a few strands framed his face. From his chest of drawers, he picked up his watch and put it on, his eyes falling on the time, 17:45. Shoes on, he made his way to the living room, pocketing his phone, cards and grabbed his car and house keys.
When he opened the front door, he found Kisame leaning against the wall. The large man was dressed similarly to him, except he adorned a navy tie and a light blue shirt. "What are you doing here?" Itachi shut the door behind him, locked it and made his way to his car.
"Came to keep you company," Kisame kicked away from the wall and walked after him, opening the passenger door and sliding into the low sports car.
"Why?" Itachi shut his door and buckled himself in and pressed the start button, the low rumble of the engine filling the space between them.
"I know how much you love these events and decided to go with you, seeing as I am free this evening." Kisame grinned at him.
Itachi nodded once and drove to the hotel. As they pulled into the carpark, Itachi watched as several people walked into the hotel, people he was sure were not part of either the Uchiha or Haruno companies. He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You sure this is just something between the companies?" Kisame asked, voicing Itachi's thoughts.
Itachi inclined his chin slightly, the only give that the large man had voiced his own thoughts. He opened his door and got out, he buttoned up his jacket and watched as more people walked into the hotel, all dressed in their finest clothes.
Kisame lent against the car, "well, seems like old Sarutobi is throwing a party," he looked over at Itachi and smirked, "and when there is a party, there is always alcohol flowing and beautiful women walking around."
Itachi ignored the large man's words and walked into the hotel, finding the lobby filled with dresses in every colour and suits varying in blacks, greys, and navies. His eyes swept through the sea of people, falling on his father who was stood with several of the board members, a few clients, and other people he was not sure about. As he walked towards them, a flash of pink caught his eye. He raised his head and looked over to see the back of a woman walking away from them, her pink hair up in a messy bun, followed by another woman with long blonde hair.
He turned his gaze back to his father and carried on walking, Kisame at his back, people moved out of their way, like fish swimming away from sharks.
"Father," Itachi inclined his head slightly towards his father, before nodding his head at the members that surrounded his father, all vying for his attention.
"Itachi," Fugaku nodded, "nice of you to show up."
"Not that I had a choice in the matter," Itachi spoke low, his eyes boring into his father's.
Fugaku clenched his jaw tightly at Itachi's words, he narrowed his eyes at his son, speaking to him silently, warning him to watch his tone and words.
For the next several minutes, Itachi listened to the old men around him drone on and on about business deals, contracts, mergers, and other nonsense that he barely paid attention to. His eyes scanned the crowds, watching as more people walked into the building, several making their way to the bar at the end of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen," a woman spoke, causing the chatter to slowly die down. The only sounds of shoes shuffling, suits rubbing, heels clicking and dresses rustling filled the now silent room. "Please follow me to the dining room, your food will be served soon," she wore a polite smile, turned, and walked in the direction of the large room.
Slowly, everyone followed the woman into the large room filled with circular tables adorned with a white linen table cloth and centrepieces each holding a different exotic flower. The tables at the front were reserved for the main families, the Uchiha's and Haruno's. Each table siting eight people.
As Itachi walked towards one of the tables, his father stopped him, "you will be sitting with the family," he spoke low.
Itachi clenched his jaw, as much as he wanted to ignore his father's words, he listened and walked to the table where is mother and brother were sat. Next to them Shisui, one of Itachi's closest and oldest friends, a few of the main board members. He pulled out a chair and sat down, followed by his father, filling the table. Pink hair caught his eye once more as the woman from earlier walked past his table with her friend, he caught a few words of their conversation.
"Did you ever find out what tonight is all about?" the blonde asked.
"No idea, I've tried to talk to dad but he has been busy…" the pink haired woman said, the rest of the conversation lost on him as they moved away and sat down at their tables, their heads close together as they carried on speaking.
Sakura's parents walked towards the table. Kizashi was dressed in a grey fitted suit, a light pink button-down shirt, paired with a deep pink tie, her. "Sakura," he smiled at her as she stood up and pulled her into a hug, "you look beautiful."
Sakura returned the hug, "you brought the dress," she smiled up at him, "you never did tell me what this event is for."
Kizashi's smile fell slightly from his lips, "you will find out soon enough. They are about to serve dinner, come sit," he pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit, before tucking it in. "Ino, it is lovely to see you again," he smiled at the blonde across him.
"And you too," Ino returned the smile. She looked around the table, watching as several people took their seats, "I should move, let someone else have this seat."
"Nonsense Ino," Kizashi said, "you are a part of our family, you will sit with us."
"Thank you," Ino beamed at him.
Sakura looked over at her mother and found her sitting uncomfortably straight, wearing a tight smile that barely reached her eyes, and noticed how every few seconds her gaze would fall on her dad, a gaze that was not filled with love, but another emotion that Sakura could not decipher in time.
The room was called to order, "your food will be served now," the young woman from earlier told the room. Waiters walked out holding trays laden with filled plates, they placed them down and walked off silently.
The room was filled with quite chatter and silverware scraping lightly against the plates. Sakura tucked into the dish and looked between her mother and father. She noticed how her mother batted her father's hand away, sat rigidly straight and kept her gaze on her plate. Sakura frowned at the sight; she had never seen her mother act so cold towards her father ever.
With her plate empty, Sakura lent towards her mother, "mum…" she waited for her to look at her, "is everything okay…?"
Mebuki smiled at Sakura, "of course my darling, why would anything be wrong?"
Sakura furrowed her brow slightly, "you seem off, has something happened between you and dad?" she asked quietly.
Mebuki's smile fell slightly, she wanted to tell Sakura to leave, to run, but she knew she could not risk making her husband look like a fool in front of everyone, as much as he had acted like one. "Everything is fine my darling. Oh look, they are bringing out the dessert," she said quickly, changing the subject.
Sakura looked over and watched as a waiter placed down a plate in front of her with a slice of cheesecake, with fruit compote, three mini macaroons. She turned to face her mother, to find her engaged in a conversation with someone who worked with her father. She looked around her, at all the people in attendance and felt that something was wrong and it had something to do with her family.
"You okay Sakura?" Ino asked from beside her.
"I don't know," Sakura replied honestly, "something does not feel right." She picked up her spoon and tucked into the cheesecake, barely tasting it, her eyes constantly falling on her parents.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your host for tonight, Mister Hiruzen Sarutobi," the young woman announced to the room. A few people clapped, while others watched with revered gazes for the man.
Sakura watched as he walked over, how he commanded the room into silence. He looked like an old frail man, but he was anything but that. He had a reputation for holding his own in any situation, and many people in the room had approached him for his wisdom.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight," he started, his voice strong and sure carried throughout the room, a small smile gracing his thin lips. "Tonight is a special night, a night where bridges are built, hatchets are buried and we look towards a brighter and hopeful future." He looked over at the tables, his steely gaze falling first on the Haruno table, followed by the Uchiha's. "Tonight, we celebrate the union between two of Konoha's families, a union which will bring with it prosperity for both, a chance to move on from their tumultuous past, an opportunity to move forwards together.
"It is no secret that the Uchiha's and Haruno's have been against one another for a long time, long enough," Hiruzen smiled softly, "it is my pleasure to announce that the two families have come to an agreement, a way to move forwards together, to become stronger as a team." His eyes fell onto Sakura and Itachi, Sakura's face showed her puzzlement, while Itachi's showed nothing. "Can the families please join me?"
"You will be joining us Sakura," Kizashi told Sakura as he smiled at her and stood up.
"Why?" Sakura asked, staying sat down, "what is going on dad?" She swallowed hard, her gaze jumping from her parents to Hiruzen, worry etched across her face.
"You'll find out soon enough," he forced the smile to stay on his lips as he looked over at Fugaku and watched as the man smirked at him egotistically. "Now, come," he ordered as he held out his hand and waited for Sakura to place her hand in his.
Sakura clenched her jaw at her father's tone, he had never spoken to her like that, never ordered her to do anything. She reluctantly stood up and followed her parents over to Hiruzen. She looked over and watched as the raven-haired family joined them from the opposite side. Both families came to stop on either side of Hiruzen.
Hiruzen smiled at both families, "Sakura and Itachi, please can you come forwards," Hiruzen spoke softly, but his tone was sharp and left no room for arguments.
Sakura looked over at her father, her eyes questioning him, he gave a small smile and ushered her forwards. She stumbled slightly as she walked towards the old man and faced the raven-haired man, whose dark eyes bore into hers, chilling her. His jaw clenched tightly, his posture stiff.
Several photographers approached the stage and snapped photographs, each calling out to the families to look over at them.
Hiruzen held out his hand and his assistant, who placed a square box into his open hand. He smiled his thanks and faced Sakura and Itachi, "it is my pleasure to announce the engagement between Itachi Uchiha, the oldest son of Fugaku Uchiha to Sakura Haruno, the daughter of Kizashi Haruno." He opened the box, revealing a gold band that housed a large clear diamond, encased around smaller diamonds.
"I am sorry, what?" Sakura asked, a laugh bubbling in her throat. She looked at Hiruzen, who looked back at her, no smile gracing his thin lips, his expression giving nothing away. She turned to face her parents, her father gave her a small smile, his eyes never meeting hers, while her mother stood statue still, her expression filled with anger and her eyes narrowed at her husband. Slowly, she turned to face the man she was supposedly meant to be engaged to, a tall man, with raven hair, onyx eyes that gave nothing of his emotions away, he stood still, his hands balled at his sides.
Hiruzen held out the box towards Itachi, waiting for him to take the ring, but when he did not move, Fugaku stepped closer to him and whispered low in his ear.
"Boy, you will pick up that ring and place it on the girl's finger, you will do so with a smile and you will not make me look like a fool in front of the old man and Haruno."
Itachi clenched his jaw tighter, his teeth grinding hard against one another painfully. He wanted to turn around and tell his father to place the ring on the woman's finger himself, that he was no pawn in his games. Instead, he swallowed his words down bitterly, grabbed the box and removed the ring. He stepped closer to the pinkette, grabbed her left hand, and slipped the finger on her finger. He was not entirely surprised to find that the ring was a perfect fit.
Sakura snatched her hand away and wanted to take the ring off and throw it onto the floor, but the cameras were flashing, people were shouting her name and Itachi's, asking them to stand together. She forced herself to smile as the pictures were taken, she had a feeling that the photographers were hired for this reason, to stop her from lashing out.
There were a few claps from the attendees, some shouting congratulations, while others spoke in low murmurs. Sakura looked over to the table she was sat at, finding Ino staring at her with large shocked eyes.
"I am sure you would all like a chance to congratulate the couple on their engagement," Hiruzen said, causing the murmurs to die down, "I am sure the families would love the chance to speak amongst themselves, to celebrate this joyous occasion. I would also like to add that their wedding will be held here in four days' time and I will be looking forward to seeing all of you here to celebrate with the families." He smiled at everyone before turning to the families, "my assistant will lead you to the empty office, give you a chance to speak to one another." He said softly before walking off.
"Please follow me," the woman said quietly, she turned and walked off. The Uchiha's and the Haruno's followed her. She led them into the room, smiled at them and walked away, giving them their privacy.
The room was silent but the tension was palpable, no one dared to speak first. Kizashi and Fugaku stared at one another, assessing one another, daring the other to break the silence.
Sakura stood to one side, her anger bubbling, burning her from the inside. She looked at her father, seeing red. "What is going on?" She finally demanded angrily, her words slicing through the silence.
Fugaku smirked at Kizashi, "did you forget to tell your princess what you had agreed to?"
"You can't exactly say anything," Itachi said coldly, "you seem to have forgotten to mention it to your own son that he was getting engaged and married within a week."
Fugaku looked over to where Itachi was stood in the corner, his eyes burning with fury, "you seem to have forgotten who you're talking to boy," he said through clenched teeth.
"Sakura, we will speak when we get home," Kizashi placated as he turned to Sakura and gave her a small smile.
"I don't think so," Sakura shot back furiously, "you need to tell me what is going on."
Kizashi took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, "it was an agreement between me, Uchiha and Sarutobi. It was the only way our business-
"Our business?" Sakura interrupted angrily, "I have nothing to do with your business, I made that clear from day one that I was not interested in joining the business. So why am I being pulled into your mess?"
"Sakura," Kizashi warned, he narrowed his gaze at her, "we will discuss this at home."
Sakura was taken aback by his tone, he had never spoken to her like that, never made her feel like her words, her choices or opinions did not matter. She bit back the retort that sat on the tip of her tongue and looked away from him, her eyes filling with angry tears that she would not let fall.
Kizashi turned to face Fugaku, "we will see you and your family in four days." He turned to Mebuki and Sakura, "let us go home." He did not wait to hear what Fugaku had to say, or to see if his wife and daughter followed his out.
Sakura looked over at the raven-haired family, the older gentleman stayed rooted in his place, staring after her father, while the man she was engaged to stood in the corner, his calm demeanour cracking slightly, she saw the anger behind his dark eyes. She watched as the woman she assumed to be his mother fought with herself on who to console.
"Sakura, let's go," Mebuki said softly, she placed a gentle hand on her back, ushering her out of the room.
