He doesn't bother waiting for Mikoto to come to the door. It stays unlatched during the day so the Clan Heads can be easily approached.

It had made the elders lose their shit when they found out. They'd said it only made assassination easier.

Still, Fugaku persisted. Shisui hefts the cooler against his hip as he props open the door and awkwardly works his way inside.

The older man is intent on a book, sparing the curly haired alpha only a glance before returning to the pages.

It's a request for Shisui to come back another day.

But he will not be deterred.

He sets the cooler down heavily and sits seiza. Digs through his bag as Fugaku puts a mark in his book and sets it aside with a noisy sigh.

The younger man tosses the reports onto the table, turning them so Fugaku can read them and spreading them along the polished wood. "Give me what I want."

He watches the Clan Head use Sharingan to quickly scan over them. "I can talk to the elders."

But this is not enough anymore. "No," Insists Shisui. "Give it to me."

Mikoto has finally crept into the room. "Watch your tongue before I remove it."

"I have done all you requested. I held off the attack -- And I'll have you know that the entire Clan would be murdered if it weren't for me."

"Don't oversell yourself," Says Fugaku. "But you're right. You've done more than your share."

Mikoto peers into the cooler, shying away with a gasp. "You retrieved them."

"Lady Tsunade retrieved them. I'm just delivering them."

"Why prison?" Asks the older man as he pauses over a report left of center. "Why not kill him?"

"She said killing him is too great a kindness and she wants him to wallow in shame."

"What an interesting Senju."

"Now," Says Shisui as he redirects the conversation. "Give me--"

"Fine, Shisui." Says Fugaku. "Fine. Just get out of my office. Bring Haruno-san to me tomorrow morning. Until then, I don't even want to sense you in the compound."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

xXx

Sakura is a little hesitant as she and Shisui enter into the Main House.

He'd battled his way into her dwelling and shook her awake. She was extremely pissed because she'd worked a long shift the day before and just about socked him when he pulled out one of her nicer kimono, telling her to put it on. However, as she comes in to Fugaku's study, she can plainly see why.

Everyone's dressed like it's a formal occasion. Even Sasuke and Izumi who kneel side by side to the right of the low table. There's another pair that sits to the left.

It's the heads of her own Clan.

All three wives of the current and future Clan Heads make Sakura feel a little out of place. Their hair is full of decorative pins. It looks like it took hours to achieve.

Sakura is overjoyed that she and Sasuke never had any sort of romantic feelings between them.

Izumi looks like she'd rather be anywhere but here.

Fugaku waves them closer, a closing of fingers over an open palm.

Shisui sits parallel to Mikoto, leaving Sakura to face Fugaku.

He pushes a sheet of paper closer, the pen settled on top rolls towards her. "This," He says, "Is a courtship contract."

Sakura glances to Shisui but he doesn't look at her.

"Would you be so kind as to explain why I'm required to sign this?" She says. "Shisui isn't Main Branch."

"There will be paperwork in the future regarding my son," He assures her. "This is a promise of alpha exclusivity. An official recognition of engagement. Once this is signed, you have until the week of matrimony to reconsider."

"So I can change my mind at any time?" She asks.

Fugaku nods. "But only you. Shisui has made enough trouble that if he's unhappy with his decision, it's tough titties."

The Haruno Clan Heads make an uncomfortable noise at his vulgarity. He makes no indication he heard them. "This," He continues, "is a request your Clan made as part and parcel of the new partnership. Symbolic, if you will."

"But I am not Main Branch," Argues Sakura.

"You and Shisui are very prominent members of your families," Fugaku says. "A union of your stature is influential."

"And how will this impact Itachi-sama?" She says, tacking on the sama because she's a little unsure of where she falls in the hierarchy.

"You're bonded, are you not?" Asks the Haruno Clan Head. "There will be an acknowledgement of your connection and he will, essentially be taken as a Haruno."

"And as for me?" She asks. "Where do I stand in all of this? Will I be a Haruno or an Uchiha with this trade off?"

"I suppose," Says Fugaku. "That decision is yours. You are welcome here and your family -- I'm sure -- will always be glad to have you."

Shisui refuses to look at her. She can't catch his eye.

"You don't have to sign it," Says Sasuke. "Old people just like to have shit in writing."

Both pairs of Clan Heads take in a long, slow breath.

"And when is the matrimony date set?" She asks.

"Two years from today," Says Mikoto. "To give you enough time to decide."

They're absolutely pissed with Shisui, Sakura realizes. She looks to Fugaku again as her fingertips grasp the pen. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"There isn't," He says.

She glances over the contract. Skims it to make sure the crafty man before her is sincere.

Then signs her name and the date at the bottom.

She watches from the corner of her eye as Shisui takes a breath. He'd been holding it the entire time and she'd had no idea.

"Good," Says Mikoto, expression shifting from dead serious to friendly. It makes Sakura feel like she's just crossed into an alternate timeline. "I guess that's that."