"What the fuck, Sakura." Says Sasuke as he sits at her table.

"Hey, 'Tachi," Says Shisui. "Let's go do something else for a little while."

But Itachi shakes his head and stays rooted to the spot in the chair next to the Godaime's apprentice.

"I apologize," Says Sakura. "He had a bad reaction to our outing earlier in the day, so I let him go."

"Unattended? In Konoha?"

"It's the first time it's happened--"

"But it isn't," Says Sasuke. "You let him wander around naked--"

"That's a natural state for omega--"

"In heat, Sakura. In heat."

The pink haired woman takes a deep breath. "You're right, Sasuke. I did do that. But nothing happened and he is still safe."

"But what if something did? You would still be sitting on ass, waiting for him to come back and he would be gone." Says the raven haired man. "Honestly, Sakura, I think he's more than you can handle."

Stifling the urge to beat the shit out of her fellow alpha, Sakura says. "I know you are upset. But I think you're saying things you don't mean."

"No," Says Sasuke. "I've thought these things ever since the first fiasco. Okaa-san told me it would be fine."

"And Mikoto-sama was right," Says Sakura. "He is safe in my care."

"But he isn't," Argues the younger Uchiha. "And this is the final straw."

"Sasuke," Says Shisui, "Have you ever cared for an omega?"

The question seems to befuddle him. "I haven't. I prefer other alphas."

"I have cared for them," Says Shisui, "But I have never actually been responsible for one. I assure you that it's a whole different playing field."

"Don't side with Sakura," Says the raven haired man. "I'm your blood."

"You are," He agrees. "But I'm telling you that you can't expect to treat an omega the same way you treat an alpha. You will -- eventually -- have problems."

Sasuke stands. "Whatever." He makes his way to the door with Itachi close behind.

"He's going to ask them to transfer Itachi." Says Shisui. "Should we be worried?"

"They would be wrong to do it." Says Sakura. "It would require him to bond with someone else. The psychological issues caused by breaking two bonds in a month wouldn't be worth the risk, either."

"But many of us Uchiha have never really spent time with an omega. So we, as a Clan, are likely unaware of the challenges this would present."

Sakura chews her lip. "They'd have to go through Tsunade-sama and she'll explain it to them."

They listen to the door shut, Itachi pads back and sits under the table. Sakura slides the top of her foot up and down his side.

"It helps that I'm working gratis."

"Wait, wait," Says Shisui. "You aren't getting paid to do this?"

"I'm paid by Tsunade-sama." Sakura says. "But the Uchiha aren't paying a dime because we're trying to make up for alienating you."

"Oh," He says. "That's kinda nice."

"It's the least we can do," She says. "Omega are really that rare in your clan?"

"Omega have a weakness that's too easy to exploit. We have literal match makers that go back over our lineage to make sure the chance of an omega being born is extremely low."

"Holy shit," Says Sakura.

Shisui nods. "They apparently missed something in Mikoto's line. Which is how Itachi ended up an omega."

They jump at the sound of banging on Sakura's door. She's not pleased when she stomps over to see who it is.

"What, Mizuki?" She asks when she opens it.

"I just saw an omega bring an alpha back to your house, stay for thirty minutes, then leave."

"Yeah," Says Sakura. "That's my omega's brother. Kinda weird that you know what dynamics are hanging around my house."

"I'm tired of seeing people constantly coming and going at all hours. You know this is a beta neighborhood, right?"

Sakura looks back at Shisui as he stands in the foyer. "That's exactly why I moved here. No one is coming and going. And even if they did, it's during the day. Which is when all the other beta are minding their own damn business."

"This is a pleasure house, isn't it?

"Oh my God," Says Sakura with an eye roll. "Is this about the barbeque last year? Because it's not personal. I'm just always worki-"

"I'm calling the cops." He says. "And telling them that you're running a brothel."

This brings a cackle from Sakura. "Please do. By all means." And with that, she slams the door in his face. "Beta are such giant fucking assholes."

"Then why'd you move to a beta area?" Asks Shisui.

"Because I didn't know they'd be assholes at the time and I don't want to live next to other alpha who would be deadset on breeding my omega."

"Are beta not into omega?"

Sakura pauses and he shrugs. "All alpha."

"When you see an omega in distress," Starts Sakura, "What do you do?"

There's a long hesitance before Shisui finally says, "Make an attempt to fix it."

"Why'd you take so long to reply?" Asks Sakura with a laugh.

"Just slow, today, I guess." He says.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"And when an alpha is in distress?" She asks.

"Omega try to help. They look for approval and affection from alpha."

"Because we're programmed that way. Beta aren't."

"Ah?" He says.

"They have no smell and no drive one way or another. They will walk past you if you're injured and ignore a crying omega."

"That's a little unnerving."

"It can be. Luckily for me, it means no one is investigating my omega when they're in heat and yowling."

"Huh," Says Shisui. "I guess while we're talking about it, could you explain the Doll Test to me? I hear all of you reference it but I'm not sure why it's significant."

"Alpha are pretty standard, right?" She says. "If we get knocked up it's no big deal and we either bear it or abort it."

"Easily enough."

"But," Says Sakura. "Omega don't have the same rights alpha do. Which we're working on changing, but it's slow. If an omega is impregnated, it tends to be up to the alpha they're bonded to."

"Christ," Says Shisui.

"The Doll Test is a way for us to get a feel for how interested they actually are in having children -- and their aptitude for it so we can pair them accordingly."

"So it isn't really an way to make an omega feel better about an empty womb?"

"It isn't a test at that point. It's just an aide."

xXx

Sakura unclips the leash as they enter Ino's second floor apartment. "I hate these damn things."

"I agree," Says Ino. "If you have to put an omega on a leash, you haven't worked with them enough for them to be out of the house."

Itachi pulls his last article of clothing off as Sai comes into the room.

"Where's Kin?" Asks Sakura.

"I had to put her on the breeding bench. She started her heat a day early."

"We can come back another day," Says Sakura. "Itachi and I don't mind."

"No, no." Says the blonde alpha. "She's fine. I was going to have to do that anyway because I have work and she's grinding on anything and everything. Sai included."

Their voices fade as Itachi and Sai go back to the pale omega's room.

The Uchiha pauses by Kin's room when he hears her gasping and whimpering.

"She's fine," Says the other omega.

Sai, too, is rehabilitated. Itachi doesn't know what exact circumstance he needed healing from. He merely knows that the pale omega also has a hard time being in crowded places.

He pushes Ino's bedroom door open and Sai watches him, disconcerted. His eyes land on a hair pin and he's quick to walk across the room to grab it.

The Yamanaka seemed nice. But Itachi can't ignore the noises. He has to be sure.

It takes him only seconds to work the lock and the door pops open. Sai tries to stop him but he pushes past.

It definitely doesn't look like a bench to Itachi. A contraption with a long piece of metal and four square legs for equal balance. Kin is leisurely resting, hanging in the fabric that keeps her securely in place against the top piece. Only the balls of her feet touch the tile floor. She makes no effort to hold her head up and lets her long hair make patterns on the floor as she's rocked by machine penetrating her.

She looks up at him. "Oh! It's--" She gasps. "You."

She's fine, He tells himself. She's fine. She's fine. She's-

He jumps back when small, cold fingers wrap around his arm. He struggles against the alpha who's trying to drag him from the room. He's muzzled and lightheaded so he makes the calculated decision to just Dead Weight it. They swear as they struggle to move him and he closes his eyes.

"Fucking omega," Says the voice. It's familiar but Itachi can't place it. "Sorry Ino."

"Do you want help?"

"No. I'm just trying not to embarrass him by carrying him bridal style." The grip on him releases and he can tell they've walked away for a minute. "I think I have an idea."

Itachi takes this opportunity to overwhelm the chakra lock on the muzzle. Debates on whether or not he has time to free the omega crying out two yards from him. He moves to his feet and decides to go for it when the alpha returns.

He knocks the sweets from her hand and slides the dango from the skewer.

"Don't you dare," Says the alpha but he's already in motion.

She grabs his wrist as he brings the sharp end of the stick down. Her palm moves to strike his solar plexus and he deflects. Presses his weight down and watches her teeth bare.

"I don't want to hurt you," She says. "You're my omega and you're safe."

He lands a kick to her stomach and she lets go of his wrist. She missteps and falls, moves a hair's breadth out of the way of the wood when he brings it down on her again. A second alpha appears in the doorway.

"Everything is fine," Says the alpha he's on top of. Her head is turned towards the one lingering a just outside the room, exposing her neck. A mistake on her part.

Her forearm jams into his mouth at the last second, pressing hard enough that he can't bite down. She shifts their positions and straddles him, this time twice as strong as before. There's screaming as she struggles to subdue him. He isn't sure when she flips him onto his stomach, gripping his wrists with bruising force to keep them against the small of his back.

He realizes he was the one screaming.

They're both breathing hard while he tries to reevaluate the situation.

The fingers of her free hand are like ice when she rubs the back of his neck. "Calm down," She whispers. "Calm down."

He jerks to test her grip and the hand on his neck pauses. He manages to gain enough traction to roll but the alpha holds him tighter, legs wrapping around his waist.

"Why the hell are you so heavy?" She asks. "Someone must be feeding you appropriately." Her arm goes around his neck. "Oh wait, that's me. I fucking feed you." He writhes as her arm constricts and his vision blurs.

"I'm sorry, Itachi," She says against his ear.

xXx

"But why do we need Rain and Lightning?" Asks Sakura. Her fingers are sliding through his hair and his head is in her lap. "On opposite sides of Fire? That makes no damn sense."

"Yesss," Agrees Ino. "And what the hell kind of name is Land Of Hot Water? Shit's ridiculous."

Slowly, he sits up. His throat hurts. His wrists complain with any and every movement. He's clothed, collar and muzzle back into place.

"Have a good nap?" Sakura asks. "It's late so we need to head home."

Sai sees them out and Itachi is confused. He wishes he wasn't muzzled because it keeps him from doing little more than shifting his jaw.

She unclips him when they get in the door and he notes her gnarled, bruised fingers. Her arm has a string of bitemarks and there's a long spot along her collarbone that's beginning to bloom purple and blue.

He starts to the hallway but Sakura grabs his arm. "Go sit in the living room."

Her tone leaves him no room to argue.

She sits in front of him. "What happened?"

He shakes his head.

"Itachi, we can't keep doing this. Either you tell me what the hell happened or I tell the Uchiha that there's no helping you."

The standoff begins but Sakura has no patience. "Your choice."

"The," He swallows. Shivers. "The breeding bench."

"Sai told you that there was no need to intervene."

"I needed to know."

"To know what?" She asks. "That she was okay? You think I'd associate with someone who would hurt their omega, Itachi?"

He stares at her. Runs his tongue along his bottom lip. "It's always those you never expect."

Her brows draw up and together. Green eyes grow wet as she looks at him. "What about the bench freaked you out?"

"You have one, don't you?"

Sakura sucks in a breath. "I do. It's for-"

"I don't care." He says. "Get rid of it."

Her expression shifts from soft empathy to perplexed. "Can we agree that I will never use it on you?"

"You can't use it on me if you don't have it."

She rubs her temples. "Itachi."

"If I am your omega, my well-being is your priority. Get rid of it."

"If used correctly--" Starts Sakura but she cuts herself off, rolls her eyes before closing them and breathing deep. "I'm going to guess it wasn't."

Itachi stares at his hands as the pink haired alpha looks at him. "Yes, I will remove it from my household."

"It was a beta," He says.

Sakura leans forward slightly, turns her head almost enough side eye him. "What?"

"The one who..." He can't look at her. "He was a beta. Everyone thinks it was an alpha."

"And this is why we haven't found him." Says Sakura. "I'll get with my boss in the morning and get that started."

The door opens and Sakura's eyes widen as she stares at Shisui. "How the fuck?"

"I had a spare made," He says. "You and me. We gotta talk right now."

"Okay?" Says Sakura.

"No, like. Alpha only."

Itachi glares but Sakura shooes him away into the bedroom and steps outside with Shisui.

xXx

The dark haired alpha hands her a set of photos. Sakura starts to feel nauseated as she flips through them. "Where did you get these?"

"They were mailed to the Uchiha Clan."

"Does Fugaku-sama know you have them?"

"I'm going to bring them back before anyone notices," He says. "Honestly, everyone's shaken."

"As they should be," She says. "He said it was a beta who did this." She hands him the photos. "I can't look at these anymore."

"Do you think whoever sent these knows you have Itachi?"

Sakura shakes her head. "Or they would have been sent to me. This is about reliving a moment of powerlessness and forcing your family to participate."

Shisui tucks them into his jacket. "What should we do?"

"Turn them in to Tsunade-sama," Says Sakura. "She's the best person to handle this."

Shisui nods and they step inside. "There's a festival coming in to town next week. Do you and 'Tachi want to check it out?"

"We can try it. He's been having flashbacks with increasing frequency so we'll have to take it slow."

"Sounds like a plan. I think Izumi is going too."

"Sasuke?"

"Probably," He says. "Although he's getting on my damn nerves."

"That happens," Says Sakura as they settle themselves on either side of the omega who's pretending to sleep. "Let's just hope everything goes smoothly."