Arrangements

2

When Itachi had maneuvered himself into this arrangement, he had anticipated several things. The easiest, was his father's reluctance to solidifying the Uchiha-Haruno alliance by marrying off his prodigy son. A less significant loss, and truly more logical if one considered the age of the Haruno heiress, would have been Sasuke. However, Sasuke would never be the head of the Uchiha clan, and it had been easy to manipulate his power-hungry clan into seeing the benefits of absorbing the power and influence of the Harunos by securing the heirs. This way, Itachi stood to inherit two clans: the Uchiha, with a diminished influence in Konoha, and the Haruno, a flourishing power outside of the Leaf village and with significant ties to many notable families in the Land of Fire and beyond. His own motives remained undiscovered, as he wished. The Uchiha coup foiled, what little freedom his clan had had been diminished. With the Hokage's help, and his father's unexpected return of common sense, Itachi was bent on reestablishing his clan and make it into something worthy being proud of. This, he realized, he couldn't do alone.

For too long, the Uchihas have isolated themselves from the world around them. So much so, that the world started ostracizing the clan. This have led to a clan blinded by their own self-importance, arrogance and illusion of power. A pacifist at heart, Itachi has strived to find a solution to a problem he felt would lead to a future soaked with blood should he not interfere. The Haruno alliance was a small step in the right direction: with the Hokage backing him, and his father slowly coming to his senses, the task no longer seemed impossible.

Here, and now, the many plans he has laid out over the years finally start to come to fruition. Itachi finds himself seated at the dinner table of the head family of the Harunos, curiously eying his pink-haired fiancée while their parents made polite, but engaging, small-talk. There seemed to have been a silent agreement between the adults to allow their children to take charge of their own interactions, something he suspects his mother and Lady Mebuki orchestrated.

"So," Sakura begins, catching his attention. Her eyes are a fascinating color, he muses. "What do you like to do? The only things I know about you are the official ones. I'd like to get to know you better."

For a nine-year old, the girl child is well-spoken. There is an intelligent look to her peculiar eyes, something he had expected. He is well aware of what she has been up to in her short nine years of life, after all. Homeschooled, she is being tutored by highly proficient ninja specialising in different subjects and skills. She is also fortunate to be surrounded by ninja growing up, never being short of a helping hand in her education. If his clan was not as self-absorbed, selfish and condescending as is, he is sure Sasuke would have benefitted from the same experience. She would make a good Leaf ninja, he thinks. With her perfect chakra control and natural aptness for genjutsu, he is sure she will become powerful in her own right. All in all, a good ally to have by his side when the time is right. For now, he reminds himself that she is nine and still a little girl, though intelligent and capable. He will have to treat her accordingly.

"Of course," he says in response to her statement, nodding to show his agreement to her sentiment. "I like to read, especially about the world. History books, travel journals, biographies...though I occasionally enjoy fiction, nothing gory. And you, Sakura? What do you do in your free time?"

Seemingly very pleased to have gotten a substantial answer, the girl flashed him a bright smile and seemed to vibrate with excitement where she sat opposite him. "Oh! I like to read too! Mostly textbooks now, since there is so much to learn and I still know so little! But sometimes, I read adventure stories. I like going on my own adventures too, but," she pauses, looking up at him bashfully, "they're not very exciting. Just sneaking into town, or trying to sneak up on mother."

Reluctantly charmed by this tiny human being, Itachi allows himself a small smile. The girl looks at him in fascination, her face open and easy to read. Perhaps not ideal qualities for a ninja, or even as an heiress to a prominent clan, but being surrounded by manipulating, power-hungry liars has made him appreciate the natural honesty some people displayed.