The blueprint laid across the desk is giving Sakura a headache. "You're kidding."

"I'm not," Says Tsunade. "And your rehabilitated omega would be perfect guides for those who are new and incoming."

"Ugh," Says Sakura as she rubs her temples. "This looks like a prison."

"What would you prefer?"

"I'll get back to you," She says. "But I don't like this at all."

"It's because you don't want to do it."

"It's because the way we're doing things is working just fine. The alpha-omega ratio is balanced -- for the most part."

"What about Yamato? Are his hands not totally full? Is he not completely overwhelmed?"

"That's why I said, for the most part," Says Sakura. "But it would only take an alpha or two to balance his work load."

Tsunade seems unconvinced. "Please think about it."

"I will. But I'm telling you this is unnecessary."

xXx

Her omega are standing at the door when she returns, anxious and covered in blood. Sakura immediately grabs Itachi's arm to examine him. "What happened?!"

"It's not ours!"

She pushes past the two frantic omega. "How long have they been here?"

"Thirty minutes," Says Itachi. "We didn't want to leave them in case whoever they were facing found them."

There's a trail of blood on the carpet and Sakura follows it down the hall and to her room, discovering Shisui in her bed and coating it with his essence.

"Goddamn it," She says. "Shisui, these are my favorite sheets."

She gasps in surprise when Izumi sits up beside him, teeth bared.

"It's me, idiot," Says Sakura as she dodges the other woman's strikes. The brunette is also soaked in what the Godaime's apprentice thinks is her own life force, trailing claret and making the mess worse.

Sakura dodges her fist, grabs her by the wrist, and flips her over a narrow shoulder.

It stuns her and her eyes are clear for a minute. "Forehead."

"What happened?" She asks, but the Uchiha's eyes close.

It's a race to stabilize them. Izumi had been raggedly cut open, intestines starting to topple from her abdomen.

Twice, she pulls Shisui from cardiac arrest.

She removes the senbon from his neck and it almost takes her too long to figure out what kind of poison it'd been dipped in. The bleeding artery in his shoulder, she knits back together.

Deidara and Itachi assist however directed.

She's nauseated when a further examination of the damage reveals Shisui's right eye has been just about ripped from its socket.

The medic decides wrapping gauze over both to be the best course of action. While the dark haired omega hovers in her line of vision, the stress in his expression speaks volumes. Sakura hopes she's able to find the right words to soothe him. "He still has both."

"And Izumi?"

"It looks like she took a little less damage," Says Sakura. "Her eyes are untouched."

She puts on a pot of coffee and takes a break. She isn't going to worry about the blood tonight as she'd expended just about all of her chakra patching them up.

The omega come back to her clean and sit at the table with her.

"What do we do now, un?"

She runs a sticky hand through her hair. "We wait."

Eventually, Deidara starts falling asleep sitting up. Itachi pulls the futon from under Sakura's bed, setting it beside the one in front of the couch that he doesn't use anymore and they both lightly doze.

Sakura stays awake and sends an email to Tsunade that her omega have nasty colds and she isn't coming in to work for the next few days.

She paces the floors, drinks the entire pot of coffee and checks on the physical states of the Uchiha as much as she can without giving any more of her chakra.

The sun finally comes up and there's no ANBU to be found. But Sakura knows it isn't over.

"Holy shit, Sakura." Says Ino as she steps into the house. "What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know," She admits, "but I really need to sleep."

"Uh?" Says Ino.

"Just watch for ANBU and wake me up if you have any problems, okay?"

"I guess," Says the blonde.

xXx

She thinks it must have been a day or two when she wakes because Itachi has brought her breakfast. "I'm glad you're awake."

"And the other two?" She asks.

"They woke up a little before you."

She nods, sets her breakfast aside and goes to check on them, opening her Byakugou just a crack to relieve the chakra exhaustion she's still feeling.

Shisui is sitting up, his fingers smooth over the gauze as if in contemplation. "How long have we been here?"

"Two days," She says. "And you bloodied my sheets."

He mumbles what Sakura thinks is an apology.

"Does he still have his eyes?" Asks Izumi.

"He does. But the right one was severely injured. I went ahead and covered them both because they likely need rest."

He nods, hands dropping into his lap. The light catches the metal band on his finger and Sakura reminds herself to breathe deep.

"What happened?" She asks.

"Danzou attacked him," Izumi says. "I happened to be in the area and could feel his chakra so I went to back him up."

"Sakura," Says Shisui. It's almost as if he can actually see her when his head turns in her direction. "Danzou has a collection of Sharingan."

Izumi sniffs, rubbing her palms over her own eyes. "It was so fucking horrible."

"It caught us off guard," He says. "I never expected that."

The brunette is full on sobbing now. "Wh-what the actual fuck?!" Sakura thinks the feelings from the battle are only finally catching up with her. "Who else did h-he murder like that?"

"Maybe he scavenged them off the dead during the war," Says Shisui.

"I'm going to be sick," Says Izumi as she stands on shakey legs. Sakura escorts her to the bathroom and offers to hold her hair, but she's waved off.

Returning to her bedroom and trying to ignore the sound of the female Uchiha retching, she sits on the bed beside Shisui.

"Shut the door, please?" He says. "I'm an empathetic puker."

She laughs and rises to softly click it shut.

There's silence as he worries his lip. Sakura decides to just go for it. "Why did you come to me?"

"I didn't," He says. "Izumi must have. I'm a little surprised to be honest."

With a feather light touch, Sakura traces a scar along his left shoulder. His right hand gently grabs hers and he laces their fingers.

"I know this is a bad time but I--" He cuts himself off. "Can I--" His head tilts this way and that before wetting his lips and giving a nervous smile. "Can I kiss you?"

She smiles and brushes her mouth against his. It's innocent after all. Nothing could come of it.

"Where's mine?" Says Itachi as he comes in. His tone is a little irked.

Shisui nips at her lip as he pulls away, already aroused. The omega straddles his lap and puts his hands on the bigger alpha's shoulders for stability while kissing him.

Itachi gets a little greedy, tongue pushing into Shisui's mouth and he groans, allowing the younger man to explore with the slick muscle.

His arms go around the younger man's waist in order to pull off his wedding band and set it on the bedside table he knows is there. Then, his hands cup the omega's bottom.

Sakura knows she should stop it. She should break them apart and yell at Shisui.

Itachi's hips rock against the curly haired alpha, mouth suckling and leaving wet kisses over the bigger man's neck.

Shisui's fingers are hesitant when they brush Sakura's arm. Timid when they ease under her shirt to curl against the dip of her waist and rest there. "Come here," He whispers. "One more time."

She shivers. "Shisui, I don't think--"

"Just this once?" He says. His lips are almost red from how hard Itachi had been kissing him.

"You're injured."

"I'm out of the woods," He says. "And if I tear something open, you can patch me up. I don't mind."

She hesitates. He pushes the omega against him, holding him still for a moment. "Sakura," He whispers again. "Please make love to me."

"You're ma--"

"I know," He says. "But I'm also currently missing and I have a day or two more before anyone worries that Pear and I are gone."

Itachi stands, strips and comes back to sit in Shisui's lap. Deft fingers are persistent when they tug at the clothes of the bigger man. "Off. Take it off."

"Don't be so demanding, omega," He says but there's no warning, just wry amusement.

He pulls his shirt off. Softly tracing his fingers over the body of the younger man while Itachi rubs his cheek against Shisui's. "We've missed you so much."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"You've really bulked up," Shisui says. It sounds like he's talking more to himself than the man trying to catch his mouth again.

He pouts when the curly haired alpha's head turns to Sakura. Self-consciously, she undresses. It isn't as though he can see her but she still feels like he's got lazer eyes.

She approaches and his lips quirk. He palm rests against her neck, thumb in front of her ear, fingers following the curve of her neck to her spine. Their mouths meet and this time, it knocks the breath from her.

xXx

"Hey Sakura," Says Ino. "There's a whole ass flock of birds outside and they're dive-bombing passing beta."

"Ah shit." She'd just finished setting up her workspace and settled down to start a report and gather evidence of Danzou's scheme while Shisui and Izumi are resting.

"I've got it," Says Itachi. Sakura joins him out of curiosity.

He steps out to the porch and the birds crowd around, loudly chattering and squawking.

"Wow," He says. "Even the Jackdaws came."

"Jackdaws?" Asks Sakura.

"Aa." He says. "They always seemed to indifferent to Shisui before. I guess it was a façade."

The noise is starting to be too much for Sakura. Beta are looking out their windows to figure out what the commotion is.

"Excuse me." Says Itachi. They go silent as they look to him. "I don't speak Corvid very fluently. Is there anyone who speaks human?"

"Oh!" Cries a crow. "I do! I do!" Her voice sounds like the high pitch simpering tone Sakura's heard used in retail settings.

"Excellent!" Says Itachi. "What's your name?"

"Amaterasu!" She chirps. "I like long migrations, berries, and Shisui."

"We have so much in common," Says Itachi. "You're welcome to perch on my shoulder if you'd like."

In a flutter of wings, she's propelled to the shoulder of the omega.

"Now, Princess Amaterasu," He begins. "What is the most pressing question we should answer first?"

The chatter begins again, but this time, Sakura finds it a little more orderly.

The crow turns to him. "Is our Shisui okay?"

"He is," Says Itachi. "Thanks to our friend, Sakura." He gestures to the medic with an open palm. The chattering gets more intense, wings flutter.

"How long until he's fully recovered?"

"A few days," Says Sakura. "You lot should go home and rest in the meantime."

"One last question," Says Amaterasu. "Who did this and where can we find them?"

"If I tell you," Says the Uchiha, "I'll need you to do some thing for me."

"Done," She says. "No one messes with our flock and gets away with it."

There's a ruckus and Sakura thinks it's in agreement.

xXx

The tea is warm on her hands as she sits on the back porch and listens to the birds. Many of them have left, a few hang around and twitter to themselves in the trees. Shisui comes and sits beside her. His eyes are still wrapped but he's looking better.

A raven drops onto his head, making itself comfortable in his hair, and starts chattering.

"Oh?" He asks idly, whistles. The bird shifts to get more comfortable, preening his hair. Every now and again, the raven twitters or caws and Shisui replies as if he knows exactly what was said.

"Bird whisperer," Sakura teases.

"I wish they'd whisper." Says Shisui. "These guys, the ravens in particular, are loud as fuck."

The raven perched in his hair begins bill snapping. The curly haired alpha smirks, Sakura can practically hear the eye roll. "Calm down." His finger strokes the bird's neck and chest and it settles.

Izumi is unnervingly placid when she steps outside with them. The raven calls to her in what Sakura thinks is a greeting.

The brunette gestures to the black bird and it stands, waddling in a circle before leaping to her fingers. She watches it hop up her arm and to her shoulder. The crow chatters to her and she attempts a mimicry that's not quite on the spot.

"You've been practicing," Says Shisui. "Still sounds like shit though."

"Sui, if you can perfectly mimic birdcalls without Sharingan, you're spending too much time alone."

"Maybe," He says in reply.

"Has he recovered?" Asks Izumi.

"For the most part," Says Sakura.

"Cool," She says. His head snaps to the side and the birds suddenly drop into deafening silence. The crow on Izumi's shoulder darts away with frantic wingbeats. Sakura is stunned.

His lips part in surprise, tongue flicking along the fresh blood now coating his split flesh. "Okay," He says. "I deserved that."

"You were going to stand by and let him tear us to pieces for the bloodline."

"Technically," He says. "Not to piece-" This strike knocks him back against the chair. The flock starts making angry noises but they don't approach.

"I don't give a shit about technicalities!" Screams Izumi. Sakura thinks there's actually spittle that comes from her mouth. Maybe she imagined it.

The brunette is breathing hard, hands fisted.

"I was wrong," He says as he puts his hands on the arms of the chair. She thinks he misjudged how far Izumi is from him when his face comes inches from hers. "I'm sorry."

She pulls back, pacing to the end of the porch and he wipes his chin with his wrist. It leaves a bright red streak across the back of his arm.

The birds crowd around the very edge, angrily screeching at Izumi but she ignores them. Other than her heavy breathing, she stands statue still.

"Izumi," He says. "I know you heard me."

She whips around. Sakura's instincts start screaming but Izumi is already storming back to him, vermillion eyes bright. Sparks dance along her lips and Shisui rises to meet her. The smell of ozone washes over Sakura.

"You think a simple fucking apology is going to change anything?!"

"It isn't as though I'm capable of time travel, Izumi!' He snaps. "Your dad would still be alive otherwise!"

This offsets her and she staggers to a halt.

"Wait," He says. "I--"

"Fine, Shisui," She says. "It's fine." The door rattles on its hinges when she stomps back inside.

He carefully eases back into the chair with searching fingers then rubs his forehead and temples with a sigh.

"Point of contention?" Sakura asks.

"Not normally," He says. "I shouldn't have brought it up. It was an event that started her ideation of suicide."

"How?" She asks.

"Kyuubi," He says. "Like mine."

"That must have been another loss for the two of you to bond over," She says.

He pushes the knuckles of his left hand against the palm of his right. The air releases and creates a pop, pop, pop, pop. "If I'm honest, I envy her a little that her mother lived. But loss is loss no matter which way the blade falls."

"What do you think she means when she says she wants more than an apology?"

He leans back. "I just don't know," He says. "Does she want me to fix the past? I don't have that capability. I can start working towards a better future but I don't know if that would make it right in her mind."

Sakura hums to herself softly as she thinks about the riddle that is Izumi. "I've got it. Don't worry."

Returning to the house, she reaches out with her chakra, listening for any movement that would help her pinpoint where the other woman has gone.

Itachi's energy flares in response and she follows his signature to the room set aside for him.

Izumi's fingers are twisted into his hair when Sakura finds her. "Where'd you learn French braiding?"

A glance to Itachi's profile reveals a red face and shy eyes. The brunette's gaze is intent on her own dextrous fingers as they twist and plait. "My mother. Isn't that where you learned your femininity?"

"I picked mine up from my best friend," Admits Sakura as she sits beside Izumi on the bed. Itachi is sitting in front of her, on the floor. "My mother tried but we didn't really see things from the same point of view."

"Shame," She says, but there's no real inflection in her voice.

"So listen," Starts Sakura. "I know the burden to make things right is on Shisui."

"Don't interfere--"

"But my Shishou is literally the Hokage and I think if I told her what happened and presented the evidence, something would be done."

Her fingers tighten. The omega starts to grow tense and Sakura watches pain register across his face. The urge to smack those hands away from him is strong but she holds back until they come to a verdict.

"Tsunade is Senju. You really fucking think she's going to give a shit?"

Digging through what she can remember of history, she says. "Hashirama did."

"Hashirama is dead."

"So did Yondaime. His wife was best friends with Mikoto-sama. I bet that was a hard loss for her."

"And then they gave that assmonkey, Hiruzen the title again."

Sakura tilts her head. "The Sandaime?"

"Who else?" Izumi spits. "Danzou tried to kill him but he just got a pat on the head and a, Don't do that. Orochimaru was torturing and killing innocents and Sarutobi let him go! Why are we the ones perceived as a threat?"

"Things are different now," Says Sakura. "My Master wants to make things right and create peace with you but she can't fix it if you don't work with her."

Izumi's fingers go back to their work. Itachi's shoulders relax.

"Please cooperate with me," She says. "Let me help you."

Itachi's hand is hesitant when it covers the brunette's. "Please, Izumi. Sakura isn't going to fuck this up."

Her eyes dart between the omega and Sakura at least four times before she says, "Fine. But don't make me regret it."

xXx

Their eyes are intense on her, but no one dares to stop her as she walks through the Uchiha district and taps on the door of the Main House.

She's met with an icy, Sharingan stare. "You aren't welcome here."

"Koto-chan?" Calls Fugaku. "Who is it?"

"The Senju affiliate."

"Please speak with me," Says Sakura as she pitches her voice loud enough for both of Itachi's parents to hear. "It's very important."

Mikoto tries to shove the door shut but Sakura's fingers and toes get in the way.

They struggle and Sakura pushes her chakra into her hands to give her a boost. The door snaps open and the Lady Uchiha hisses.

"Let her in, Mikoto. She's abided by our restraining order, did not involve herself during his time of matrimony," Says Fugaku, "and even sent in Itachi's reports via third person. It looks like he's doing rather well in her care."

The raven haired woman growls but steps aside.

"You know what sounds absolutely amazing right now?" Asks Fugaku.

She side-eyes him, storming to the kitchen. There's an almost electrical hum that follows her.

"Come this way," Says Fugaku. Sakura trails after him as he leads her into his study, mirroring him as he kneels seiza at the low table.

"How are you feeling?" She asks. "It's been hinted at that you haven't felt well since your battle with Orochimaru."

His head turns slightly, eyes narrowing as his lips bow into the slightest of frowns. "I'm not sure what's bigger. Izumi's mouth or her ass."

"In any case," Says Sakura. "I'm happy to tend to you, if you'll allow it. I know there's some hesitation as I'm apparently Senju Affiliated."

He makes the same damn pensive face as her omega and it creeps her out just a bit. "I'll consider it. Thank you."

Mikoto comes in with a tea tray, then sets out and fills their cups. Fugaku's lips quirk at her just enough that his Resting Bitch Face isn't as intense. Turning back to Sakura, he says. "I don't imagine that to be the important business you wanted to discuss?"

Sakura takes a breath. "I'm going to start by apologizing for breaking the restraining order."

The Uchiha look to each other. Mikoto's expression is dangerous but the pink haired alpha refuses to be deterred.

"Shisui and Izumi came to me a few days ago. Izumi nearly lost her organs to a sword wound. Shisui's heart almost stopped permanently from not only blood loss, but a poison senbon."

"I suppose that isn't much a breach then, is it?" Says Fugaku.

"Shisui's right eye was nearly removed."

The Clan Head sets his cup down. He tries to hide the force with which it was placed but Sakura still sees it.

Mikoto's eyes bounce nonstop from left to right and back again as her gaze turns inwards.

"Do you know who perpetuated this attack?" He asks.

"I do," She says. "And I would like to take it to Tsunade-sama."

"No." Says Mikoto. "Do not take it to the Hokage."

The Clan Head settles his hand over his wife's. "You brought it to us first. Why?"

"I know about the coup d'etat," Says Sakura.

Their eyes widen just enough for the medic to detect it.

"And I know it's still going."

Mikoto makes a noise that sounds like the air has been knocked from her lungs. "I'm going to beat that girl."

"It wasn't them who told me." She fibs. "It was Itachi."

Fugaku and Mikoto look to each other. They shift gazes. Their lips twitch infinitesimally. Heads tilting incrementally. The raven haired woman's gaze returns to the table, boring holes into the elegant, shiny wood.

Fugaku's gaze is that of a man defeated. "What do you need from us?"

xXx

The house is dark when she returns, having been doing some snooping around to see what she can dig up on her own. Only the kitchen light is on.

Itachi sits at the table, idly stirring tea that smells strangely similar to what Mikoto had brewed earlier in the day. His head rests on the palm of his other hand, elbow propped on the table.

"Itachi?" She says.

He doesn't look up and appears to be mesmerized as the spoon swirls in the steaming beverage.

She keeps her steps even as she approaches. "Itachi."

He jumps, making a noise like he's just discovered he's able to breathe. "I'm sorry, what?"

"What are you thinking about out here?" She says. "You should rest."

"Ah," He says. "Why didn't I ever see another way out?"

"Out?" Sakura asks. "Out of what?"

"The coup d'état. There should have been another solution but I never saw it "

"Itachi..."

"The life of every one around me was on the line and I never--"

Her voice is stern when she says, "That's enough."

His expression is startled when he looks at her. Actually looks at her.

"How old were you?" She asks.

"I was eleven," He says. "But my intelligence-"

"Stop," Says Sakura. She sits at the table across from him and scoots his tea a little ways to his left. She wants all of his focus.

His gaze is curious.

"We're going to do an exercise," She says.

He cocks his head slightly to the right and quirks a brow.

"Did you think Sasuke was smart when he was small?"

Without skipping a beat, Itachi replies, "Top of his class."

"But he still did dumb things, right?"

She can see him slowly connecting the dots.

"Omega," She says, trying to be authoritative. "You were a child."

Every time he tries to argue, she makes a noise to cut him off. "You. Were. A. Child."

She says it again and again. Repeats it almost like a mantra until he finally sighs and says, "I was a child."

She nods, satisfied that she can move to the next point she's going to make. "The adults in your life fucking sucked, Itachi. Your parents were preoccupied, I don't know what the fuck your sensei was doing. And the Hokage showed his ass in the worst way."

"Showed his..?" Itachi pauses. "I don't..?"

"He fucked up," Says Sakura. "They left an eleven-year-old to figure a way out of a coup d'etat created by adults."

"Sakura," He says. "I'm not some pathetic--"

"You were eleven," She reminds him. "It wasn't your fault."

He takes a breath and Sakura again says, "It wasn't your fault."

She can tell he's frustrated but she isn't going to let him think this way anymore. "It wasn't your...?"

"Fault," He says. "It..." His cheeks start to become flush, eyes wet. It's tantamount to actually crying as far as the Uchiha is concerned. She knows that it's more than the coup d'etat. More than narrowly avoiding the massacre. It's also about what happened over the years he'd been taken. "Wasn't my fault."

She leans forward, hands taking his to urge him on.

With a shuddering breath, he says, "I was a child. It wasn't my fault."

"Good omega," She says. "You're a very strong person, Itachi. You don't deserve to take the blame for the adults in your life constantly fucking up."

She can see the fatigue in his face when he says, "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

She slides his tea to him. "I'm headed to bed. Don't stay up too late, okay?"

"Okay."

Deidara and Shisui are already deeply asleep in the middle of the bed. She debates which side she should choose, settles on spooning the other alpha and hoping he doesn't fight her.

"How'd it go?" He asks, voice like gravel due to still being half asleep.

"It went okay. I got their cooperation."

"Oh, good." He says, dropping back off.

It isn't long before Itachi is creeping in, lying down on the other side of Deidara and Shisui wraps his arm around them both.

Sakura can finally breathe easy now that everyone is safe and warm. It doesn't take long for sleep to greet her.