Child Bride

This had to be a dream.

Sakura wriggled in her wedding gown and pinched herself again to make sure she was really awake. Stop doing that! Of course this is real! If you mark yourself up on our wedding day, I’m going to kill you! screamed Inner Sakura.

Something crashed against the window and Sakura gave a superior pout. Of course, it was more jealous fangirls vandalizing her house. Well, they would have to get over it. Hokage-sama had chosen her to help Sasuke rebuild the Uchiha clan, and after today there would be nothing anyone could do about it.

Her parents, of course, had been opposed to the idea. Having their daughter marry at thirteen to a surly orphan who needed heirs immediately was hardly in their plans. However, they had eventually caved in to the pressure from their village. The Uchihas were needed, and with Sound and Cloud both preparing to move against Konoha, the Hokage-sama had to ensure that the bloodline would be preserved.

Choosing a new matriarch for the Uchiha clan had been quite a production. All the girls around Sasuke-kun’s age had been screened extensively. With her low chakra reserves, Sakura had been sure she would never be chosen. However, her perfect chakra control, intelligence, and talent for genjutsu had won her the most coveted prize in the village: Sasuke-kun!

The moments leading up to the wedding went by in a happy blur. All Sakura, inner and otherwise, could think of was the kiss. He’s going to kiss me. He’s really going to kiss me!

They finally came around to the wedding vows. Sasuke mumbled his with his usual entrancing broodiness, while she declared hers proudly. She may have given Ino a smug look. Well, she was still only thirteen, what could be expected?

Sakura tried not to squirm with excitement as her groom leaned in close. It’s really happening! The kiss he gave her was soft, gentle – and tingled with genjutsu!
“Sasuke-kun?” she squeaked uncertainly. “What’s going on?”

The genjutsu suddenly released and she found herself staring up at a tall young man with long black hair and Sharingan eyes. Gasps, murmurs, and even shrieks circulated around the audience. “It’s Itachi!” And she felt another genjutsu fall, but Inner Sakura did something and she found herself facing this Itachi in the midst of a hypnotized crowd.

Sakura just stared, a part of her brain working on the mechanism by which she was the only one capable of responding to the intruder just now, while the rest tackled who that intruder was. Itachi. The rogue ninja who had murdered Sasuke-kun’s entire family. Sasuke-kun’s brother. Sasuke-kun’s insane brother. “What did you do to Sasuke-kun?” she demanded.

One dark eyebrow rose. “A bold question, little girl. Shouldn’t you be more concerned about what I’ll have to do to you, since you have some resistance to the Sharingan?”

Sakura defiantly drew a kunai. “Tell me where he is!” she screamed, in that peculiarly high pitched voice that always made her teammates wince. She liked to pretend it was fear that made them cringe, but knew in her heart that it was more like annoyance.

Not the time! Inner Sakura interrupted. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re staring at an S-class missing nin!

Said S-class missing nin proceeded to do the last thing Sakura expected. He laughed. Well, to be more accurate, he chuckled softly, but she got the feeling that was his version of a full laugh. “You’ve got an overdeveloped attachment to my little brother, don’t you? I see I will have to make a change of plans.”

“What are you planning?” she asked, still threatening him with the kunai.

In one fluid motion, Itachi twisted the kunai free of her hand, pinned her arms behind her back, and pressed the kunai against her throat. “I would not advise threatening me,” he said calmly, as if she were a child about to eat dirt. “Although I admit, your nerve gives you… potential.”

Sakura tried to twist around to glare at him. “Where. Is. Sasuke-kun?”

“Sleeping, safely and peacefully, back at the Uchiha compound.”

“Why should I believe you?” she spat.

“If you’re not going to believe me, why ask a question?” he countered. “Come along now.”
“What?” Sakura and her inner both screamed. Creepy rapist missing-nin alert!

Itachi snorted almost inaudibly. “If I leave you here, they will simply attempt this again. I need to make slightly more of a statement than this. Making off with the bride should deliver my message.”

“W-what message?” Damn her voice for shaking!

Itachi’s voice grew frigid. “They cannot use my little brother as a stud animal.”

o-o-o-o

As it turned out, Itachi had to knock the little girl unconscious before he could walk away with her. After releasing the genjutsu he had cast on the village, he had set fire to the trappings of festivity so as to leave no doubt regarding his opinion of them. Foolish.

Itachi’s gaze shifted to the child bride he was carrying over his shoulder. He supposed he ought to dispose of her. She was weak, and, with her small reserves, would likely remain so. She could be a liability. And yet, having technically married her, he was responsible for the girl. Besides… she had resisted his Sharingan. That should not be possible. He must research this extensively.