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Chapter 1: No Other Choice
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A light breeze picked up outside as 17 year old Haruno Sakura ley on the soft grass. A sigh escaped her rose coloured lips as she continued to watch the white clouds float by. She was suppose to meet the hokage in her office for an urgent favour.
Sakura shifted her body on the rather uncomfortable grass. The sky was a light blue and the sun shone brightly, she placed her hands on her stomach as she let her emerald orbs close. The rose haired woman hadn't gotten much sleep lately due to all the patients arriving at the hospital.
A war was breaking out between Konohagakure and Sunagakure. That was why she had revived and operated on so many jounin and anbu. Many of them died and some were just able to manage to pull through.
Naruto had been one of the lucky ones and was brought to the hospital just in time. He made it out with a few broken bones and bruises covering his body and now resided at his house. The shy Hyuga made sure to bring him homemade ramen and look after him.
Soon after both started going out...
Another sigh escaped her lips. Everyone but her seemed to be finding love...
Ino and Shikamaru.
Naruto and Hinata.
Neji and Tenten.
Uchiha Sasuke was still searching for a woman to bare Uchiha heirs and one day restore his clan. Sakura let a sad smile grace her lips. She had no one... she was alone and unloved... The kunoichi sat up and started towards the hokage tower.
Tsunade always lectured her on keeping her waiting if she was ever late. Picking up speed and running to the tower, Sakura managed to make it their in record time. Catching her breath before opening the front doors, Sakura walked inside the hokage tower.
Knocking once on the wooden door to Tsunade's office, Sakura waited for a response.
''Come in...''
Doing as she was told, the kunoichi pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside the flourished office. There sitting behind her large desk, was Tsunade looking over and signing many paper work. ''You wanted to see me Tsunade-sama?'' She spoke.
Pointing towards the empty seat in front of her desk, Tsunade instructed her to sit. Quickly taking her seat, Sakura placed both hands on her lap and waited patiently for the older blonde woman to speak first.
The hokage didn't seem to be reading over the piles of paper work and was still holding the same slip of paper she recieved thirty minutes ago. She seemed to be deep in thought and was recollecting her thoughts.
Finally, after feeling like she was sitting for an eternity the hokage spoke.
''I don't know how to say this Sakura...''
Taking time and carefully thinking over what she was saying.
''You know that Suna and Konoha are at war once again...''
''Hai...'' Sakura replied.
''Well... Konoha needs allies just incase the Sound country decide to attack...''
''And to tell you the truth we wouldn't stand a fighting chance...''
Letting out a deep breath and speaking once again...
''In order to accomplish this... I need to strengthen the bonds between Suna and Konoha...''
''And the only is to marry off two people from each village...''
Giving her apprentice a serious look she continued.
''Sakura you must marry the new kazekage to be...''
Slamming her hands against the wooden desk, Sakura began shouting at the older woman.
''Tsunade-sama! please! Isn't there another way!?!''
The godaime shook her head in a no.
''I'm sorry Sakura.. but this is how it has to be done... there is no other way...''
''Suna and Konoha have already made arrangements...''
''WHAT!?!'' Sakura shouted.
''You mean you already arranged everything before you told me!''
Sighing Tsunade clasped her hands together and propped her elbows on the desk.
''We have been arranging this for some time now...'' She said truthfuly.
''You are to live with soon to be kazekage starting by the end of this week...''
''You are dismissed...''
Wiping fallen tears off of her pale cheeks, Sakura ran out of the hokages office went straight home. 'end of this week!' It was already Friday... which meant she only had another two days with her friends and then she would move in with the new kazekage.
Life was cruel...
Falling back on her soft bed, Sakura recalled all of the good memories she had in Konohagakure and with all of her beloved friends. The pink haired woman hated the entire village for deciding her future for her just to stop some war!
Why did it have to be her! out of all the single and pretty women in the village. She was the lucky one... not! She didn't even know who the new kazekage was, let alone having to marry him for her village's sake!
Burying her face in the pillow. Sakura let all of her emotions freely flow out of her. Tears formed at the rim of her emerald eyes and she didn't hesitate to let them fall. The hot tears soaked her pillow and stained her beautiful pale face.
Why? why did bad things always happen to her?
Giving out a muffled cry, the kunoichi soon found her eyes heavy. Closing them, she felt darkness creep around her until she was enveloped in it. The darkness felt somehow comforting... like the unfortunate events of the day were all just a bad dream and she would wake up at any minute. The sun pouring into her window and waking her up. Doing another days work at the hospital and using up alot of her chakra to save the life of a patient...
This time she was the one who needed saving...
The following day, Sakura had spent it locked up in her room for most of the morning until she recieved a call from Naruto. He had asked her if she would like to have lunch at Ichiraku with him and Hyuga Hinata.
Now she sat across from the happy couple, eating a bowl of miso ramen and listening to their days spent together. Sakura hadn't smiled once since yesterday when Tsunade told she would be married off to the new to be kazekage...
''Sakura-chan whats wrong?'' The blonde haired shinobi asked, concern filled his words.
''Nothing Naruto...'' She lied.
''C'mon Sakura-chan you can't get anything passed me...'' Said the kyubbi holder.
''Now tell me whats wrong? you haven't smiled all day...''
''My life is a nightmare...'' Sakura said quietly.
''Sa... Sakura-san... please tell us whats b... bothering you...'' The shy Hyuga stuttered.
Naruto eyed the pink haired kunoichi as she swallowed the ramen that she was currently chewing.
''I'm getting married...'' She replied casually.
''Thats all...''
''Wait.. say WHAT!?!'' Naruto shouted.
''Tsunade-sama said that the only way to bring Suna and Konoha at peace was if the new kazekage and I were to marry...'' The rose haired woman said.
''Its already been arranged and I will be departing from Konoha by Monday...''
Naruto stared wide eyed at Sakura as the Hyuga came to her side and wrapped her in a comforting hug. Also going to his friends side, Naruto patted her back and reasured her that everything would be okay. When the truth was... that it wasn't okay and it never will be okay... ever!
Leaving Ichiraku and heading to her favourite spot. Sakura sat under a single cherry blossom tree and watched as the pink petals floated down to the grass covered ground. Catching a falling cherry blossom and examining it in the palm of her hand Sakura let a lone tear escape her eye.
The rosette haired woman had refused the offer to go over to Naruto's house with Hinata and watch a couple of movies. She just wanted to be alone right now. So that she could clear her head and collect her thoughts on the situation.
Upon feeling a very familiar chakra nearing her, Sakura turned her head to the side and caught sight of the stoic Uchiha heading her way. He had his hands shoved in his pant pockets as usual and the same grim line was spread across his lips.
She watched as he sat down beside her and stared blankly at the fallen charry blossoms. What was Sasuke doing here? He wouldn't just come along and sit beside her... Sasuke was the type of guy who tends to be by himself then be around people and socialize.
''What do you want Sasuke-kun...'' The kunoichi said, trying her best to not sound depressed about the marriage issue.
''hn...''
Rolling her eyes and knowing that she wasn't going to get anything out of him. Sakura stood up and was about to leave when she suddenly heard the Uchiha's deep voice which made her stop dead in her tracks.
''Heard about your arranged marriage...''
''I don't want to talk about it...'' Sakura retorted.
She turned her back on him and began to slowly walk away. Once again she heard his voice.
''I know your not okay with it...''
Feeling like a huge weight was placed upon her small shoulders, Sakura turned on her heel and let a few tears slip from her emerald orbs. When she spoke, her voice no longer held any sweetness and help dispare and sorrow.
''I don't want to go through with it Sasuke-kun...''
''You don't have to...'' He said calmly.
''I will come and get you and we can run away... be the woman to revive me clan... to make an Uchiha heir...''
Eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Sakura didn't just hear what she thought she heard? Did she... Did the Uchiha just ask her to bear his child? to start a family with him... To be the woman who would do so...
''Y.. yes Sasuke-kun... I will do it...''
He nodded and from his spot on the ground he was gone. The rosette haired woman started to feel slightly better about the situation she was in. Sasuke had said that he would come and get her so that they could run away... together...
Suddenly things were starting to become brighter...
Sakura walked home alone and recollected the days events. Sasuke had asked her to bear his child... But what if he forgot.. or found some other woman to bear his child? Exactly how long was he going to take for him to retrieve her?
Would he change his mind in the future? All these questions swirled around in Sakura's head as she ley in bed. Eyes feeling like a ton of bricks, the rose haired woman felt herself drifting off into a pleasant sleep and only one question really bugged her...
'Would Sasuke love her?'