Chapter Text
"Absolutely not." Fugaku Uchiha's voice was sharp as a whip against air, his expression thunderous. This did little to affect the man sitting across from him, genially sipping his tea, expression placid. His office was tepid and dimly lit, casting grim shadows of Fugaku and Mikoto's faces as they regarded the man, not touching the tea sitting in front of them.
"I'm afraid you have little choice in the matter." He replied, setting the cup down. "The council is aware of your...indiscretions and they are prepared to retaliate." He let the threat hang for a moment, fingers idly gliding over the cup in front of him. Mikoto was a sheet of ice, expression indescribable and eyes remaining fixed on the elder. There was no reading her in comparison to her incensed husband. She offered Danzo no glance into what could be going on inside her head. A trait she had undoubtedly passed onto her eldest child.
"Think of your clan." Danzo turned his attention to her now. "Think of your livelihood, your youngest boy being able to walk down the street safely. Being able to grow up equal to the other children with no threat hanging over his head." He knew if he had her on board, Fugaku would follow. "He is too young to notice how differently he and his clan are treated by the village, but one day he will notice and he will wonder."
"You are suggesting I sell out one child for the sake of another." Mikoto coldly replied, not sparing her husband a glance as she held Danzo’s gaze. "By sacrificing one of my boys in order for the other to have a kinder future." Her finger twitched, the first sign of how upset she was. Danzo kept his expression thoughtful, not bothering to pretend to sympathize.
"Shisui Uchiha is dead," he drawled, watching Fugaku’s expression harden. "Many believe it to be by your son's hand. What life could he lead leading the clan with that dark shadow over his head." He looked between them solemnly. "The council is aware of your machinations and we are offering you this alternative to us having you executed for trea-"
"Executing the entire clan?!" Fugaku barked as Mikoto's eyes fell shut.
Danzo inclined his head. "We could not risk rebellion. Not so soon after a great war." He replied, dark eye fixed on the Uchiha head, almost daring him to argue. "We allow survivors and we risk them rising up in retaliation."
"So Itachi for the clan." Fugaku’s voice came out a dazed croak. "Sacrifice the one in order to protect the many." He seemed to slump against his chair, face ashen.
"In a manner of speaking...yes, but you behave as if Itachi is to be killed. I can assure you that he will not be harmed." Danzo replied, pouring himself more tea and allowing the scent of jasmine to filter through the small room. "This is a peaceful negotiation." He reminded them. Arranged marriages after all were usually used as a peacekeeping scenario.
He watched the war going inside Fugaku Uchiha's heart and the icy neutrality of Mikoto's. They had yet to touch the offered tea, tense and furious but trapped. They knew it too. There was no other option. The coup was failing before it could even begin. They were trapped in Danzo’s office, unable to warn their clan. Unable to do anything. Fugaku’s face twitched and Danzo fought down a pleased smile, the candlelight flickering.
"Very well." Mikoto, as anticipated, was the first to speak, dark eyes as cold as her husband's were heated. "We will offer you Itachi in return for our freedom, but you will restore to us all that was taken after the village was attacked." She didn't look at Fugaku who had closed his eyes in defeat. "Furthermore as this is an arranged marriage we will have certain expectations and contracts set for Itachi's best interest."
"Of course. We will ensure everything is properly managed for your peace of mind." Danzo assured her. "Itachi will live a life of comfort and influence." Removing Itachi from his place as heir to the clan head was no doubt a slap to the face, but that was why the second son was there. He would have to step up in place of his brother.
"And why you ." Mikoto continued on, not backing down in the slightest. "Why are you interested in my child." She made sure to emphasize Itachi's age. Emphasize how young her boy was. Danzo hummed thoughtfully. "I am an old man, too old for a young wife and children. Itachi will offer me companionship. At my side he could offer the village more than he could as clan head. His reach will be far greater." He needed to sell this. Allow Fugaku and Mikoto to know what an honor it was to be married to a village elder, not for anything sexual or deviant but merely to keep him away from the influence of the clan and to allow his opportunities in life to expand.
And of course, the most important part. To ensure that fool Hiruzen could not name Itachi as his successor. Prodigy or not, no Uchiha would wear that hat. No Uchiha would have their face etched on Hokage mountain. Danzo stood, offering his hand to Fugaku to shake.
"A wise choice. I will have all the proper documents prepared in anticipation. Your clan will prosper and thrive with this union."
"And Itachi?" Fugaku pressed as he reluctantly stood, Mikoto refusing to move. "He will be treated well?" There was something raw in his gaze, something that assured Danzo that this agreement had broken something in the proud man. By selling his eldest boy, he had effectively broken his own heart.
"He will never know anything but peace." Danzo assured him.
Fugaku took his hand, expression as tight as his grip as they finally shook.