"How do you wrangle such a giant fucking omega?" She asks as she looks at the lithe alpha in the hospital bed before her.

He laces his fingers together and looks pointedly at the Uchiha standing beside her. "If you have to physically subdue them, you're doing it wrong."

Sakura's pride is stung just a touch. "How did Juugo become your omega?"

"My master instructed that I bond him during a heat."

"Is that the same with all of the omegas in the kennel?"

"I don't see why you can't just ask the muzzled one. Does he refuse to speak to you?"

"I'm not going to make him relive it," She says.

His snow white hair falls in his face when his head tilts forward in disdain. "And yet, you come to me."

"Okay," Says Sakura. "Fine." She strides out. Itachi drifts after her as if dazed and her fingers tangle with his in effort to keep him grounded in the moment.

She cracks open the door of the next alpha and Itachi pauses, backing up a step.

The Godaime's apprentice looks at him in confusion but he shakes his head, sitting against the wall beside the door. Sakura strokes his hair before stepping inside.

This alpha looks tired. Drawn. His meal is hardly touched on the tray in his lap while he'd been staring out the window. "Can I help you?"

"Your fellow alpha, Kimimaro, isn't all that forthcoming. I was hoping you could help me out instead."

"What do you want to know?"

xXx

"It's so weird," Says Sakura. "It's like they've bonded with the beta."

"You said the guy was weird. Maybe he figured a way around it." Says Ino.

Sakura leans back on the sofa. "And why was only one actually bonded with the omega? Most of them were just mating with them through their heats with no real intent."

"Isn't there a limit to how many omega an alpha can bond to? Maybe they were rotated out."

"Maybe."

Kin flops down beside Itachi, offering him the toy in her hands but he shakes his head.

She pulls it closer, rubbing her face against it.

"Isn't she just the cutest?" Says Ino. "With her baby and everything~"

When it becomes evident that Sakura and Ino are distracted with a new conversation, Kin whispers. "I don't know why they love that baby shit."

Startled, Itachi looks fully at her.

"They're obsessed with seeing us cuddle our toys like we're dogs and can't tell the difference."

He can tell his eyes are wide because she smirks at him. "You should try it sometime. They'll be over the goddamn moon. Pretend to be a mindless breeding bitch and they get so excited."

Itachi has many questions but the muzzle keeps him quiet.

"Watch," She says. She picks the toy up, carries it to the alpha pair and offers it to Ino -- Who promptly holds it like an infant and cooes to Kin about what a good mommy she is before the toy is handed back. Both alpha start praising the female omega.

Sai sits beside him and they watch the brunette bask in the attention of the pair.

"I didn't believe it, either." He says. "It's depressing that people underestimate our dynamic."

Itachi glances at him but has nothing to contribute. Kin comes back on all fours with the toy in her mouth, smug as can be. She sits, completing the triangle. "God, I love doing that."

He looks up at Sakura and she smiles at him. The whole thing is downright uncomfortable.

"Do you think they'll realize you're playing them?" Asks Sai.

"No alpha I've ever done this with has. Just play as dumb as possible."

"That could be the reason you haven't been paired yet," Says Sai. "They tend to lean towards omega who have minimal intelligence. You sound like you're aiming for Sea Sponge."

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Itachi realizes he's incredibly lucky to have a pair of alpha who actually want him as he is. He couldn't imitate a sea sponge even if he wanted to.

"Are we ready to go?" Asks Sakura as she stands.

The omega stand as Ino does and they chatter as they put their shoes and coats on.

Hinata and Neji are waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

The male Hyuuga nods in greeting to the other three. He opts to walk abreast of Itachi as the alpha talk about the newest drama going on in their clique. Sai and Kin are casually discussing the last alpha she met and didn't like.

Upon closer glance, Neji looks unenthused to even be alive. The Uchiha supposes he can't blame him, being muzzled keeps him from actively participating in either conversation being had and possibly encourages the isolation he might feel.

The festival is already in full swing when they meet up with the Uchiha Clan. Naruto is pleasantly walking along with them. Izumi and Itachi lock eyes but she quickly looks away.

Shisui offers his arm for the omega to take. "Don't encourage her to compete with me. I still have to battle Sakura."

"You wouldn't stand a chance if I was actually trying," Sakura tells him as she hands him and Itachi sticks of dango. Shisui unclips the muzzle and Sakura says, "Don't make me regret this."

"There's supposed to be a movie tonight, too," Says Hinata. Timidly, she unclips Neji's muzzle.

"Helloo~" Calls Tenten as she approaches the group. "Y'all started without me."

"Sorry." Says Hinata. "Neji started to get antsy."

"Ah damn," Says Shisui. "There's a ferris wheel."

"Shisui, don't be gay," Says Sakura.

"That's fine," He says. "Itachi and I can have a little us time on it."

It takes them a good five minutes to convince Itachi to get on the giant death trap. The omega looks out over Konohagakure as they sit at the top. Shisui is all smiles as the wind tangles through his dark, curly hair.

Sakura is subtly hanging on to the seat like her life depends on it.

So he stands, moving to switch benches as the wheel starts turning again and it knocks him right into her lap. Their platform violently rocks and it makes the pink haired alpha hold him tighter. "It's fine. Everything's fine."

Suspended in the air, wrapped in Sakura's arms and under Shisui's gaze, Itachi feels safe for a minute.

Shisui laughs. "Sakura's scaredy."

"Fuck you," She says back.

"Oh~" He replies. "It's fear that gets your libido going. Too bad your dick is at home with your dildos."

Once they're on the ground again, they're going for the games. The competition between the three of them is friendly, but Itachi's reflexes surprise them both. He's smug when he hands them the stuffed animals.

Shisui pouts. "I shouldn't have gone easy on you."

He turns his head to his pink haired alpha and her lips are soft as they meld against his. The fingers of his right hand stay tangled with Shisui's while his left arm wraps around her waist.

Her fingers are feather light when she touches his neck and he's adrift in the cool summer night, starting to feel hazy as her body pushes him against Shisui. The older Uchiha's hand releases Itachi's fingers to rest on his waist. His scent is musky, mixing with Sakura's scent of summer rain and cherry blossoms in a way that makes him feel almost inebriated.

Sakura's mouth breaks away to suck at his neck and his free hand reaches behind him, cupping the back of Shisui's neck the best he can to pull him down. Tongues twist and Itachi lets a moan slip.

One hand of the dark haired alpha twitches on his hip before beginning an achingly slow descent. He rips away with a gasp when another hand slips under his shirt. He can't help but watch with parted lips as Shisui's long, strong fingers guide Sakura up for a kiss.

Her expression is one of warning when she jerks back. "Wanna lose your nuts?"

"You are the only girl who's impervious to me."

"It's because I'm a woman. Not a girl."

Itachi sighs, pulling the wandering hands from under his shirt and out of his waistband. He hadn't even realized he was being full-scale palmed under the deepest darkest part of the ferris wheel's shadow.

They follow him back to the fairway, still bickering.

"There you guys are," Says Ino. Kin giggles as she adjusts Itachi's jacket to better cover the marks on his neck.

They stride back to the projection screen just as the movie starts.

Next to the screen, stands the omega from the fountain. It makes the hair on the back of Itachi's neck stand up.

They smile at him as the crying in surround sound starts.

"Holy shit," Says Shisui.

"Shisui, get it!" Says Sakura. "Itachi!" She says as she makes a grab for him. "Itachi don't--"

He can't move as he watches his own body writhe on the massive screen. He feels the shock of the electric collar like it's still on his flesh.

The screen goes dark. There's a sea of voices. The omega is still standing there.

Watching him.

So he, too stands. The omega's smile grows wider -- like a character from a folkstory told to him as a child.

"Itachi?" Asks Sakura. "Itachi, where are you going?"

He doesn't pause as he walks past someone asking if that was supposed to be the actual movie and slides their katana from its sheath.

"Hey!"

The omega inches back, almost beckoning Itachi closer. "How does it feel to be a movie star?" They whisper. "Do you like it?"

He swipes the blade and the omega catches it. He pushes his weight down. Their giggle is starting to drive Itachi mad.

"Itachi!" Says Sakura as she wraps an arm around his waist and pulls him away.

Itachi glances over his shoulder at her then returns his gaze to the omega who is now crying and holding their bleeding hand.

Sakura steps around him to grab the omega's wrist. "That's really deep."

Their tongue shoots out to wrap around Sakura's neck.

"Stop!" Says Itachi. "Stop!"

The omega's eyes grow wide as metal crests from their chest. Shisui's hand grips the appendage holding Sakura and squeezes. "Let go, bitch."

There's a puff of smoke and Sakura drops to her knees. Shisui is pushed back a few feet.

Itachi scrambles to Sakura. He moves to touch her but recoils in fear. He tries to meet her gaze but she lightly pushes him away. "Give me a minute."

"I'm going to kill that bastard," Says Shisui as he moves to stand near them like a protective summon preparing to fend off another attack. "Gonna hang his goddamn skin up to dry and make a nice pair of motherfucking boots."

"You just killed that omega," Says Sakura.

"I didn't kill him. And he's not a fuckin omega."

"How?" Asks Sakura. "How did you do that?"

"You really think it's the first time I've killed the weaker dynamic?" He asks. "During the war, they'd come up to us with paper bombs or try to seduce us so we'd get in stabbing range."

Sakura looks up at him. "You're desensitized."

"You asked why I hesitated that day? That's why."

Jade meets vermillion. Then they turn to Itachi.

"Are you okay?" She asks softly.

But Itachi has already begun to dissociate