Chapter Text
“I’ll do it,” Asaya proclaimed. “I’ll marry him.”
“Wonderful. You were the Uchiha’s first choice. They will be very happy you’ve accepted,” said Sanmyaku Isamu, the Tsuchikage’s second son and left-hand man.
A surreal felling, something akin to exhilaration and bravery, settled over Asaya after she’d said it. Like she’d finally done something brave for the first time.
“What are you thinking, rushing into a decision like this. We haven’t had any time to think it over,” said Madame Fukurou, Asaya’s mentor and legal custodian.
Isamu raised a curious brow at Fukurou.
“Well,” Asaya said slowly while formulating an answer, “The Uchiha seem like an excellent family. And if it’s for Iwa, I’m happy to do it.” Then after an extra beat she added, “And you’ve been saying that I should start considering marriage.”
Madame Fukurou was unpleasantly taken aback by her apprentice’s words. Specificly by repeating her own words back to her. “Yes, I said you should consider marriage. Not take the first offer that you receive. I know you are getting a little old to be unwed, but you shouldn’t be desperate. It’s unbecoming of you.”
Silence.
“The Uchiha are a well-respected clan with a long history in the shinobi world, Fukurou,” Isamu cut in. “You know that. And Uchiha Itachi is both clan heir and a shinobi of exceptional skill. Any family should be honored to receive such a proposal. Or similar such unit, in this case.” Asaya was not Fukurou’s granddaughter by blood, but as a family-less conscriptee and her apprentice, Fukurou had the same legal authority over Asaya as any head of clan in Iwa would have over their descendants. On Asaya’s registry documents, she was functionally the same as if she had been adopted into Fukurou’s family ever since her apprenticeship formally began.
“That may be, but I’ll still need to give it more thought before giving it my approval. We have to ensure this is mutually beneficial, after all.” Fukurou turned to Asaya. “Besides, however will you manage on your own? Without me to watch over you? What if you fail to meet expectations and they send you back disgraced?”
It was fortunate that Isamu had a lifetime of practice suppressing the instinct to roll his eyes at the old woman. “Asaya,” he addressed her directly, “it is true that this is a lifelong commitment and will require a great deal of fortitude and sacrifice in a way you might not be used to as a kunoichi, so I will give you until the end of the week to reconsider. However,” he had to sneak a glance at Fukurou as he said, “due to the diplomatic nature of this marriage and Iwa’s direct involvement in arranging it, final approval rests with the village, not the head of family or clan as is the norm.”
Which meant, without him needing to say it, that final approval rested with him, Iwa’s Executive Official, not Madame Fukurou.
“I understand, Isamu, sir. This isn’t a decision I take lightly,” Asaya said with a particular light in her eye.
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One month ago…
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Mikoto had narrowed her choices down to three women. After many weeks of secret discussion between Konoha and Iwa, an agreement had been reached to arrange a marriage between both villages. It was meant as an act of post-war diplomacy to foster lasting peace and promote goodwill between both nations where historically there hadn’t been. When she and Fugaku had been informed that the Uchiha had been selected, she thought the practice a tad dated, but Iwa was known for clinging to its historical customs and practices.
At first, she assumed that she and Fugaku would identify and propose a few eligible and willing bachelors from the Uchiha clan for Iwa to choose from, but no. It had been pre-sanctioned by the Hokage that Iwa could choose whomever they deemed most suitable. Of course, it was her unmarried eldest. It was flattering that her son was their first choice, but it was also another example of how she almost wished her son was not as exceptional as he was. Itachi was not going to like this when he finally learned.
The tradeoff, however, was that the Uchiha could choose the woman he was to marry. After initially reviewing the profiles of all the women Iwa had proposed, Fugaku gave her the final decision of the women he deemed eligible.
Fugaku had quite high standards and specific criteria for his son’s bride-to-be. He wouldn’t admit it, but physical appearance had factored into his decision making. Make of it what one might, but he wanted his son to at least have someone pretty if he couldn’t choose for himself. But the other factors were more pragmatic. He did not want anyone of particularly high or low social standing. He wanted someone who would compliment the Uchiha family without bringing in any of their own influence, which meant this woman couldn’t be a nobody, but neither could she be from a large, powerful, and particularly influential family. The Sanmyaku of the Tsuchikage’s family had suggested one of his granddaughters but Fugaku immediately refused. In a respectful way, of course.
Fugaku also required the woman to be a kunoichi of high achievement and skill, particularly with chakra control. Itachi was an extraordinary shinobi, so it would be a detriment to the clan’s future if an under performing woman caused him to produce under performing children. Likewise, he did not want a kunoichi with a kekkei genkai or any family history thereof. Fugaku could not risk any genetic factor that would prevent Itachi’s children from inheriting the Sharingan.
The rest, however, was up to Mikoto to play matchmaker. Which was why their family was here at an international celebration of the 1st anniversary of the end of the 4th Great War: to secretly interview each woman, all of whom were extended an invitation they could not have refused if they wanted.
The first woman was absolutely beautiful and impeccably dressed. She was well mannered, congenial, and had an impressive resume as a medical specialist. But Mikoto did not like her. Not for Itachi. She was particularly extroverted and talked almost continuously with an excited affect about completely casual and even superficial subjects. Itachi was not extroverted. Or talkative. He preferred having space to himself, meaningful conversation, and comfortable silence. He needed someone who would welcome him back from long, taxing missions with warmth and comfort and quiet understanding. Not whatever the most recent drama was. This woman would have given him a lifetime of perpetual frustration.
The second woman was very kindhearted, Mikoto could tell, and they had only spoken for a brief exchange so she would have to revisit her sometime this evening since first impressions weren’t completely fair to judge someone by, and she had planned to conduct multiple interviews anyway, but… Mikoto was not impressed. There wasn’t anything obviously wrong with her, but there wasn’t anything particularly interesting, either. Or interesting at all. She seemed too agreeable, passive. Itachi would be uninterested in someone who did not have sophisticated, thoughtful opinions of their own. He needed someone who could intellectually challenge him. Maybe she was just shy, so it was worth giving her a second chance, but Mikoto did not want to tie her son to someone he wouldn’t have any interest in spending time with, even if they weren’t otherwise bothersome.
Ideally, Mikoto wanted to find someone Itachi would look forward to spending quality time with. Some level of compatibility, at least. Which was difficult because her son was himself, but still. There had to be a natural companion for him somewhere in the universe.
Which brought her the third and final woman. Her name was Asaya, she had been told after mistakenly pronouncing it as “Tomoyo.” Isamu had made a subtle but peculiar expression when they had handed him her profile as one of their choices but she wasn’t sure what to make of it. Searching the venue, Mikoto found her sitting alone at a table quietly watching the festivities. Clearly a wallflower.
“Would you mind if I sit?” Mikoto asked, nodding to the chair across from her.
Asaya seemed a bit surprised that a stranger would ask to sit with her, but she said, “No, not at all.”
“It’s been quite the evening, hasn’t it? I’m tired myself,” Mikoto casually offered.
There seemed to be another moment where she did not know what to make of Mikoto striking up a conversation, but she gracefully said, “It has, yes. But I’m enjoying the venue. It’s lovely, don’t you think?”
“Yes, it’s magnificent,” Mikoto agreed. And it was. This was an outdoor event hosted in the historic gardens of Earth Country’s former capitol and Imperial Palace of the previous Saito dynasty, Mikoto had learned during the opening ceremonies. “The wisteria are beautiful.”
“You must have liked the canopied archway by the pond, then. You’ll have to see it again after sundown. It’s lit up in a way that’s meant to recreate the oil lamps used during the Saito Dynasty. The historic conservators did an amazing job. It’s absolutely romantic to walk through.”
Mikoto smiled. “I’ll make sure to see it before I leave, then. Thank you for the recommendation. My name is Uchiha Mikoto, by the way. It’s nice to meet you.”
Asaya blinked like a thought occurred to her, “My name is Kagami Asaya-” although Mikoto already knew- “It’s nice to meet you, too. You must be from Konoha.”
The Uchiha name was nearly synonymous with Konoha and its history. “Yes, I am. And you must be from Iwa,” Mikoto said and quickly added, “Since you know so much about this place’s history.”
“Correct, I am. But I only know that because I read a brochure when I walked through the other day,” she said with a humble tone, “The wisteria were originally imported from Fire Country, actually. They aren’t native to the region,” Asaya said. “They were quite famous at the time as one of the Saito Emperor’s favourite places to entertain guests. He liked to show them off.”
“Fascinating,” Mikoto remarked, “Tell me…”
They conversed casually for a while until interrupted.
“Mother,” her eldest son called her.
“Itachi,” Mikoto was surprised to see her son since Fugaku and she had intentionally planned for him to be occupied the entire evening, but this presented an interesting opportunity. “I’ve been having a wonderful conversation with…” but her voice trailed off when Itachi’s gaze shifted to Asaya. He looked at her like he recognized her. They looked at each other like they did.
“It’s nice to see you again, Asaya,” Itachi said.
“It’s nice to meet you again, too, Itachi,” Asaya replied tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Oh, Mikoto thought, her eyes darted between the two, whose own were still locked. She had to will her mouth from falling open. “You know each other?”
“Yes, we met during the war,” Itachi explained.
“What a coincidence,” Mikoto smiled again. “You’ll have to join us, we’re having a conversation about Saito Dynasty history.” She didn’t miss the way Asaya’s breath caught for just a second.
“I would, but father is asking for you,” Itachi said. “He sent me to retrieve you.”
“I see,” her voice fell.
“Don’t worry, nothing’s wrong, but he does need to speak with you,” he assured his mother, mistakenly interpreting her tone as concerned instead of disappointed.
Mikoto stood up. “It’s been nice talking to you, but I have to go.”
“Thank you for entertaining my mother,” Itachi said to Asaya.
“It’s been my pleasure,” she said as a small goodbye.
After they had walked out of audible range, Mikoto asked her son, “So, how did you know her again?”
“We were assigned to the same squad during the war. She’s a fuinjutsu specialist. Extraordinarily skilled.”
Mikoto already knew that, but Itachi didn’t know she did. “How unique. You never told me about this before. Did you like working with her?” She couldn’t quite keep her lips from turning up.
Itachi gave his mother a knowing look. “It was a highly classified mission, but yes. She’s a remarkably intelligent woman. Iwa is lucky to have her,” he said pointedly.
“Iwa certainly is,” Mikoto agreed with her son.
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Present...
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Asaya sat in Isamu’s office waiting for him to arrive with the paperwork for them to sign, fiddling with her jitsuin seal stamp, it somehow becoming heavier the more she played with it. It would be a lie to say her heart wasn’t racing, that she hadn’t stayed up all night thinking about this. The entire night she vacillated endlessly between being ecstatic about the future and terrified that she was making the worst decision of her life.
Isamu came in through the office door with a folder in hand and sat down at his desk in front of her. “How are you feeling?” He didn’t actually need to ask.
“Excited. And nervous.”
He chuckled. “That’s to be expected. The Uchiha family sends their regards, by the way. Uchiha Mikoto especially. It’s good to be liked by your future mother-in-law.”
“I’m very fortunate, then.” Mikoto seemed like such a kind woman when they’d spoken at the commemoration party a little over a month ago. It was clear she loved her family very much. Even though they had only met once, Mikoto had left an overwhelmingly positive impression on her.
The rest of the family she wasn’t confident about. Typically, they would have had another formal meeting of some kind to further evaluate if they approved of her and if she and Itachi made a compatible match, but considering the distance they’d have to travel, Mikoto’s favorable impression of Asaya, and Itachi and she already having known each other from the war, they decided it wasn’t necessary. And Itachi had unfortunately been called away for an extended mission so she wouldn’t have been able to meet with him again anyway, but it still would have been nice to have done in hindsight.
The father she knew next to nothing about other than that he was the Uchiha clan head and Konoha’s Chief of Police. Going on assumption alone, he was probably a firm man, if not strict. And she recalled Itachi mentioning a younger brother when they’d served together during the war, one he seemed to care for a great deal, but didn’t mention anything about his personality. And that’s not to mention what the entirety of the rest of the Uchiha clan was like- what they’d think of her, would she fit in, what if…
Asaya inhaled deep.
“I would like to thank you on behalf of Iwa for what you are about to do for your village,” Isamu told her. “I know you’ve given this a great deal of thought, but I also know it will still be challenging for you in unexpected ways. That being said, I have every confidence you will succeed.”
It was funny to Asaya how Isamu was unable to discuss anything outside of the terms of shinobi operations, how he talked like this were a mission. Which it wasn’t and Asaya didn’t like thinking of it that way, but she appreciated his sentiment nonetheless. “Thank you, sir.”
Isamu opened a small, gilded lacquer ware jar of vermilion seal ink paste and set it before her next to the document. “Once you stamp your seal here, it will be official.”
On the right-hand side of the document were the seals of both Itachi and his father. The left had two blank spots for herself and what would be her head of clan, but in this case Isamu’s in Iwa’s governing authority.
Asaya held her breath while she dipped her seal in the red ink, carefully centered and aligned it on the document, and pressed down.
A sudden lightness came over her as she pulled the stamp off the paper and saw her seal in vermilion ink on the document.
Isamu shuffled the document around and stamped his own seal. “Congratulations on your betrothal, Kagami Asaya. The Uchiha would like to know if you have any requests for your wedding. Or your honeymoon.”
“Oh, I- well…”
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Two weeks ago…
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This was a situation Itachi had been in countless times before during his entire life, as early as he can remember. Sitting on the tatami floor of the formal room in his family’s home in facing his father and mother. They had summoned him for something “important,” which meant that his father probably wanted an update on his work in ANBU so he could plan for how it would affect the clan long term. It was classified intel so he never told his father anything more than more than when he would be leaving for missions and approximately when he would be back. That or a vague, ‘It’s going well.’ But his father wanted him to be captain of the entire ANBU division one day and would periodically remind him of his expectations with family discussions like this.
“My son,” his farther addressed him with folded arms. “Your mother and I have something important to share with you.”
Perhaps it was some clan news instead. He had been away for a while and had only recently returned.
“For a while now, we’ve been in private discussion with the Hokage and the village counsel-”
This was either very good or very bad, Itachi sensed immediately.
“- and Iwa,” his father finished the sentence and let it hang for a moment.
Itachi was confused. He genuinely could not think of a reason why all three of those parties- The Hokage, the village council, and whatever diplomat or official from Iwa- would have business with the Uchiha.
Fugaku began again, “As you know, after the end of the Fourth Great War, our villages have made a concerted effort towards building a lasting peace between our nations.”
His father was clearly prefacing unpleasant news with a statement about peace, knowing how much Itachi hated war and bloodshed.
“Iwa is a nation of certain traditions. One of the agreements they have reached with Konoha has been to arrange a marriage between the shinobi of our villages.” His father’s words struck him like a lightning bolt of divine wrath.
“No…” Itachi exhaled.
Fugaku allowed a heavy pause to fill the air before saying, “This was a decision reached between the highest authorities of both Konoha and Iwa. I had no influence in it. I was only informed after it had already been made.” Another pause, then he continued, “I would have preferred you to have married a woman from within the clan.” Which was a true statement, but it was also a thinly veiled way to imply that it was somehow Itachi’s own fault for not doing what his father wanted by marrying an Uchiha woman sooner.
Itachi’s teeth ground while the gears in his mind clicked into motion to assess the situation. There had to be a way out of this. Maybe he could speak directly with the Hokage-
“We did have some choice, though, in selecting a bride for you,” came his mother’s calm voice.
Both Itachi and Fugaku gave her their full attention.
Then there was some choice in this, but he still wasn’t included in it. A choice that directly affected his entire life.
“I hope you will be happy to know that we’ve chosen Kagami Asaya.”
Itachi’s black eyes flashed wide. “That’s why you were talking to her at the anniversary celebration?” His tone came out much more accusatory than he wanted for words spoken towards his mother, but he couldn’t help it. That was nearly two months ago… how long had they been keeping this a secret from him?
“Yes, it was,” Mikoto admitted. “But she didn’t know either at the time, so please don’t let this affect your opinion of her.”
Never before had Itachi felt manipulated by his own mother, almost betrayed. He could no longer mask the anger on his face and he clenched one hand into a white-knuckled fist.
“Itachi, I understand this is difficult, but please know that I chose her because I believe you will be happy together,” his mother offered as words of consolation.
Itachi knew his mother loved him, that she was only doing the best she could for him, but it still left an acrid taste in his mouth.
“In any case,” Fugaku said sternly, “this arrangement has already been confirmed. We will be heading to the Hokage tower at the end of the week for the official paperwork.” Unspoken was the reminder that refusal would make an international disgrace of both Konoha and the Uchiha clan.
Itachi glared at Fugaku, feeling his lip begin to curl up like a wolf threatening to defend itself. He wanted to yell something, to shout angrily at his father for this, but it would only have been in vain. Instead, he could only walk silently out of the room.