Author: Comethedawn

Pairing:?

Rating: T

Genre: Romance/Friendship/Time Travel

Age: 13

Sakura sat across the table from Itachi Uchiha more than a little frustrated. All her efforts to end their engagement had been fruitless. She was losing hope. She clung to the fact that she truly didn't think anyone would force her to marry Itachi, but she couldn't dismiss the fact that it was a possibility.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you going to tie yourself to someone who has no desire to be with you?"

Itachi stared at her for so long that Sakura began to become uncomfortable. She was seconds away from shifting in her chair when he said, "My first loyalty is to Konoha. Who is your first loyalty to?"

The answer came immediately to Sakura's mind. She was well aware that her answer should have matched his, but it didn't. Sakura didn't reply and opted to stare at him stonily.

"That is why I chose to marry you Sakura Haruno. You are a danger to Konoha, to my brother, and I will not let you walk about unchecked."

"You don't know anything." Sakura hissed.

"I know enough. If you will excuse me." Itachi rose to his feet and left the table leaving Sakura alone to think on his words.

When Sakura approached him again, it was with less anger than before. Because she was starting to realize that she was irrational about her reaction to Itachi. If she didn't know anything else about Itachi Uchiha, she knew he was loyal to Konoha.

It was an admirable trait as well as a dangerous one, but it wasn't something that she couldn't work with. She would answer his question and maybe he'd have an inkling of who he was dealing with, and he'd let her go.

"How long do you plan on following me around Sakura Haruno?"

Sakura sighed and revealed her presence to the elite ninja. "My first loyalty is to Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi. I'd follow them to hell and back if they asked me because that's what their friendship means to me. That's something you may not agree with, and that's fine. I need you to keep in mind that Konoha is nothing without its people and my boys definitely an important part of Konoha. That being said, I don't feel like I should be forced to marry you because of it, because of Fugaku's goals and your paranoia. I fight for Konoha. I'll do whatever it takes to keep it safe. I don't care what you think you know about me and my plans for the future, but-"

Sakura's words were cut off when Itachi placed a single finger on her lips cutting off her words.

"Loyalties are a funny thing Sakura Haruno. You say your loyalty is to Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi but what if a day comes and you have to choose between the three of them. You can only save one. Who will you pick?"

Sakura shook her head. "You don't understand, and nothing I say will help you get it. So ask Sasuke. Ask your brother that question and maybe once and for all you'll get it because I can guarantee that whatever his answer is my answer is the same."

Itachi found his brother quietly meditating at home. He sat down at his side and closed his own eyes waiting for Sasuke to acknowledge his presence. It didn't take long. Sasuke had never been able to ignore him. He was curious to a fault with all things that had to do with him...and Sakura Haruno.

"Did you need me?"

"Mmm." Sasuke waited patiently. "You are close to those three, aren't you?"

Sasuke knew immediately of who he spoke and nodded his head slowly wondering where Itachi was going with this. "If you were in a life and death situation and in the end you could only save one of them who would you save?"

Sasuke blinked and then chuckled and then outright laughed. Itachi could count on one hand the number of times Sasuke had full blown laughed at something Itachi said—and he had made no attempt to be amusing. Itachi raised a brow.

"That's an easy one. I'd save none of them. We'd all go down together, or we'd all come out on top. There is no other option."

Itachi frowned. "And if the mission-"

"Fuck the mission Itachi. You don't abandon your teammates. Even if some of them are assholes." Itachi could tell he was referencing the Uzumaki and possibly Hatake.

After a while, Itachi nodded his head and stood and went to find his future wife.

She was sitting in a tree, and when he beckoned her down, she gazed down at him lazily and told him to come up. With a short sigh, he did her bidding and joined her.

He didn't want to think about the fact that they were sitting in a tree. It brought somewhat uncomfortable thoughts to mind.

"I take it Sasuke gave you my answer." Itachi opened his mouth, but before he could say anything further, she interrupted him. "Now go ask Naruto and Kakashi the same question. Their answer will be the same as mine and Sasuke's."

Naruto Uzumaki initially wouldn't say anything other than, 'I'd save them all.' Itachi wondered vaguely how it was that he managed to stay alive so many years with his annoying personality.

"But if you couldn't."

"I could." He said with said with such certainty that Itachi almost believed him. It didn't change the fact that the fine line of Itachi's patience was being danced upon.

"I'm sure in an actual situation you could save them." Itachi said, trying again. "But in a make believe situation who would you choose."

Finally Naruto shrugged. "None of them. You either save them all or you save none. You don't abandon your teammates."

Lastly, Itachi went to Kakashi Hatake who was not the easiest man to find—especially if he didn't want to be found. Before Itachi could open his mouth Kakashi said, "Those who break the rules are trash. Those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."

Itachi was silent a moment before he said, "They told you."

"No. They didn't. I watch over them because left to their own devices they are hellions who I suspect could conquer the world if that was their inclination." Kakashi chuckled. "And Sakura would be their ringleader—although I suspect she would make Naruto the figurehead."

"So then you realize that there is something odd about your student. She's not exactly trustworthy."

"I disagree. I would trust Sakura with my life. In fact, by allowing her to stay on this team, I am."

Itachi fell silent at that.

"I don't trust her. I would do anything to protect Sasuke and I don't—"

"See that right there. That's what you have in common with her. She would do anything to protect Sasuke and I suspect that she already has. You need to get to know her without being so biased. She's a remarkable young woman and loyal to a fault. She will never do anything to betray this team or this village unless the village betrays her first. And if the village betrays her first then would she truly be at fault?"

Itachi returned to Sakura to find her exactly where he left her. He climbed the tree and the two of them sat silently the rustle of the wind mixing with their quiet breathing. Sakura eyed him speculatively wondering what the Uchiha could possibly be thinking now that she had sent him on her errand and he hand the answers he sought. Eventually, Itachi extended his hand and said, "My name is Itachi Uchiha. I'd like to be your future husband."

Sakura stared at Itachi a long time before she slowly reached out and clasped his hand. "My name is Sakura Haruno and I don't think I can let you."

"Then give me the chance to prove myself."

"My loyal—"

"This isn't about your loyalty to the village or your team anymore. Give me the chance to get to know you as you are. Give me the chance to show you who I am and if you still object to a marriage between the two of us then I will ensure that you won't be forcibly tied to me."

"Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Someone told me that we have something very much in common-our love for Sasuke." Sakura's eyes narrowed but Itachi continued on. "I swear on Sasuke's life, on my honor, on anything that you want me to that I will not betray you in this unless you betray me first."

So, um, lots of things. I've been gone for a while. But this has been sitting on my computer mostly finished for some time. So I worked on it a little today finished it up and decided there's no point in not posting it because people can be very encouraging. I've read your reviews. I read every one even if I don't respond. So thank you to those of you who have been supportive. I appreciate it. I think I'll just leave it at that even as there are a lot of other things I want to say besides,

Thank You