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Shinobi lived and died for their village; their entire existence was for the village they served. The village could take what it wanted, make any demand and their shinobi were expected to obey and never waver. For years Kakashi had understood and respected this demand. He had never wavered, whether it be on a mission or at home, he served loyally. Now, he found himself wavering for the first time. With the tensions between Konohagakure and the Uchiha clan at an all time high, sacrifices had to be made in order to ensure a peaceful resolution. The village could not afford to have a civil war and the clan could not risk total ruin. The resolution they had come up with had been both appalling and fitting.
When the council and Hokage had pulled him into the meeting, Kakashi had not been expecting what they would be telling him. Fugaku had been there, it would seem a slap to the face to not allow the father of Kakashi’s future spouse to not be in attendance. He was grim faced, but didn’t appear as dejected as Kakashi had anticipated. Then he remembered that the clan had already disowned Itachi in favor of his brother. For them, this was an easy way of cleaning their hands of trash. Itachi had been too difficult, too outspoken in his opinions. Now, he was no longer their problem. “It’s because I have the sharingan?” Kakashi had asked, feeling all eyes fixed on him. Hiruzen nodded gravely, sitting at Danzo’s side. “Then take it,” Kakashi offered. “If the eye is the only reason for all of this, then have it.” Anything to get out of this arrangement, anything to avoid having to do this. Danzo had raised an eyebrow at him but Hiruzen shook his head at Kakashi, looking grave.
“It will work as a bridge between the clan and the village,” he explained gently. “The sharingan is only part of the reason you were chosen.” It felt wrong, twisted. Kakashi felt wrong.
"The clan yields to our authority and Itachi's marriage to you will ensure that loyalty." Danzo was watching Kakashi closely, his visible eye narrowed. Fugaku said nothing, a statue of flesh and bone. "Naturally the wedding won't be for a few years. Itachi is a child and some people might find discomfort in the idea of a child bride of sorts. We see it as a marriage of convenience." Kakashi had noticed that Danzo and the elders had been using feminine pronouns with Itachi, as if to really show Fugaku that Itachi was no longer his, was no longer his own person.
Had Itachi ever been?
The last several months had been straining. ANBU had been closely monitoring the clan and Itachi had been promoted and given his own team, almost like they were trying to isolate him. Shisui Uchiha was dead and all fingers pointed to Itachi. The clan believed the note Shisui left was forged and that Itachi had murdered him in cold blood. Personally, Kakashi didn’t believe the rumors for a second. Itachi wasn’t that sort of person; he could never have killed Shisui. Now, with the arranged marriage in place, it seemed that both sides were at a shaky truce, for the time being at least.
Both Itachi and Kakashi had been informed of the demands. Kakashi didn’t know how Itachi had reacted to it. The boy seemed to avoid him at all costs. Kakashi hadn’t taken things well. Yes, when informed he was professional as ever, but once in the privacy of his own home, he had allowed his anger to fester. Of all the demands Konoha could make of him, there had been one freedom that Kakashi had always felt assured of. He belonged to no clan, so he had no expectation to be married off against his will. He had the freedom to meet someone and fall in love with them, or decide to remain single and live his life as a bachelor. It was all his choice, and the freedom of that had been reassuring. That had been his right for years, and now, that right was being stripped from him, leaving him as nothing but the village’s tool. From his moment of birth until his death, Kakashi belonged to Konoha and with that meant his few freedoms could be snatched away.
The Hokage had instructed Kakashi to meet him so they could discuss preparations. Itachi would be moved from the compound into the village, almost like a dangling fruit for Fugaku to be unable to chase. Itachi and Kakashi were expected to act as the bridge between the feuding factions. They were being given their own home and everything. It was almost like an experiment, as if Ororochimaru was playing one of his games. Things had become progressively worse from there. Apparently, the consummation needed to have an audience.
"Why would witnesses be necessary?" Kakashi snapped. "It's not like this is a match to produce an heir." A bunch of old men watching as he fucked a-Kakashi closed his eyes, disgusted. He heard the Hokage let out a weary sigh.
"It is simply a control tactic," Hiruzen stated solemnly. "They want to be sure the marriage is finalized." He seemed as displeased by the marriage as Kakashi was, likely he had been backed into a corner by Danzo and hadn't had the backbone to push back. Kakashi wanted to throw it back in his face, tell him how weak he really was. Instead he nodded, numb to it all. This wasn’t about control, not really. It was about humiliation.
Missions with Itachi were now tense and awkward. Word had gotten out about the arranged marriage and most were wise enough to not comment on it. Still, Kakashi could feel the eyes on him. The pity or amusement that those gazes held. Gai had been visibly disturbed by the news and had gone to Kakashi, demanding to know if it was true. "They cannot possibly force you to do this!" He cried passionately, staring at Kakashi as if his very heart was breaking. "How could they demand this of you?" Kakashi found that he had no answer and the thought of looking his closest friend and perhaps more in the eye was now painful. It felt like betrayal. Gai seemed to have taken the loss of Kakashi’s freedom the hardest, as if this was a great loss. Perhaps it was, maybe Kakashi had just become accustomed to having things snatched away. He knew Gai had been in love with him, had wanted nothing but happiness for him and now he was going to have to watch while Kakashi married another. When he and Itachi found themselves alone after a mission, there had been a heavy tension in the air. So heavy that their teammates had been quick to make themselves scarce and leave the two alone.
Kakashi had his face buried in his locker, stewing and angry. It was childish to claim that it was unfair. Life was unfair; Kakashi should have been used to that by now. With his father and his team and everything he loved being taken until only he remained. He didn’t want to be angry at Itachi, knowing that it wasn’t his fault, but who else could Kakashi turn his frustrations to? No one else could possibly understand.
"You realize this won't be a love match," Kakashi didn't look at him as he continued sorting out his supplies, placing the medical tape and antiseptic in their own pouch and setting it aside. "This is just another duty for the village that we're expected to complete. The elders demand that the consummation be witnessed, but after that, you don't have to worry about me touching you." There was a moment of heavy silence that Kakashi wondered if Itachi had snuck out. Then he heard Itachi quietly close his locker.
"Because I'm not Obito Uchiha?" Itachi replied blandly, causing Kakashi to turn on him, prepared to spit venom, but Itachi didn't even look at him, eyes fixed pointedly at a crack in the wall. “I suppose this puts quite the damper on your big goals in life.” It was the closest that Itachi Uchiha had ever come to disrespecting him, and it was jarring to witness. Kakashi knew this wasn’t Itachi’s fault, that he was as much of a pawn as Kakashi was, but all Kakashi had was his anger and Itachi was an easy target.
“It puts a damper on a lot of things, wouldn't you agree?” Kakashi hummed in a bored tone, simply watching Itachi in cold detachment. “I’m sure being a child bride was never an ambition of yours.” Marrying a child bride certainly hasn’t been Kakashi’s plan. Marrying at all hadn’t been on Kakashi’s agenda, but nobody cared about that. Itachi pressed his hand against his closed locker, fingers spanning the cool wood.
"You don't have to worry Kakashi-san, this wasn’t my choice. I didn't want you either." His eyes flickered briefly to look at Kakashi before turning and stalking out of the room, the back of his ears tinged red. Of course he didn’t want Kakashi. The only person he had loved was dead and he stood accused of the crime. His heart had died with Shisui Uchiha, as Kakashi’s had died with every loss he had be dealt.
"You were our one option," Hiruzen informed him during one of their meetings. "You and one other. There really was not much choice in the matter. Of the two, you were the kinder option." Kakashi hesitated at this, uncomfortable with the thought that he could be a better option.
"Who else could it have been?" He managed to find his voice and Hiruzen’s already weathered face seemed to age even more at the question.
"If not you, it would have been Danzo." Hiruzen replied placatingly. “Out of all the options, you were the best.”
Danzo. The leader of Root married to- Kakashi jerked his head in response. That was why Fugaku hadn’t been as upset by the decision as he could have been. He knew the alternative would be far worse. In this, at least his son would be spared from Danzo’s hateful clutches. “Why did it even have to come to that? Why was Itachi even considered for marriage?” He knew why. The clan and village needed a scapegoat. Itachi’s relationship with his own clan had soured enough that few would miss him. This marriage would unite Kakashi with the clan as well as tether Itachi to it indefinitely. The village was like a giant beast, consuming all that it laid eyes on, leaving nothing but bone and ash behind.
They waited four years. Itachi was not yet seventeen, but that hardly mattered. Age meant nothing to the belly of the beast. It wasn’t like Kakashi was repulsed by Itachi or anything. Itachi was extremely attractive with his long eyelashes and delicate features. He had taken after his mother in many ways, except for that severity that he had inherited from his father. He would grow to be a gorgeous man. Not that it mattered to Kakashi. Kakashi had known him since he was a child, and had been his captain in ANBU. Now he was expected to marry him. In that time Kakashi had left ANBU and Hiruzen had him placed as a sensei for graduating academy students. None of them impressed him. Then, he was given Team 7. He was soon staring at the face of his dead sensei, echoed in the eyes of his son. Along with Naruto was a girl from the civilian sector, who Kakashi found little promise in, and the brother of his fiance.
Sasuke did not know. It seemed the clan had managed to keep him in the dark, but it wouldn’t last. Sasuke didn’t have the safety of the academy walls to keep him ignorant. It seemed to be a running theme in regards to Sasuke. His family tried their hardest to shield them from a world he was eventually going to have to join. Their failings with Itachi only solidified this fact. When Sasuke did eventually find out, Kakashi had been forced to request some personal time off, knowing that the boy’s anger would be directed at him and that anger would be consuming. He wondered why he had been given the team he had been, and he wondered if it was someone’s idea of a cruel joke. He wouldn’t put it past the elders, especially Danzo who had never forgiven him for his refusal to join his ranks. Kakashi had seen the damage it had done to Tenzo and he wanted to avoid that fate.
The ceremony was lovely; they had it at the Uchiha compound, behind closed doors.
Hiruzen had taken pity on the couple and had allowed them a small, private ceremony away from prying eyes. Itachi’s parents were in attendance, as was the council. There were some binding contracts made, ensuring the village’s investment in the marriage. Part of Kakashi wished he could have Tenzo and Gai there for support, but a bigger part of him appreciated the lack of witnesses. Itachi came to him wearing a kimono of the purest white. His dark eyes had seemed to be the only thing of color on him. They told Kakashi nothing, fear or anger. The elders had stripped him of his name and clan. Where once, he would have worn a haori with his family crest, he now wore a white shiromuku, his hair pulled back and tucked under a hooded tsunokakushi. He performed his part beautifully, his hand had been cold in Kakashi’s own. Kakashi could feel Mikoto Uchiha’s eyes burning a hole in the back of his head, as if daring him to misstep and harm her child. It was a little late for that sort of worry now, but Kakashi knew better than to say anything. They drank from the nuptial cups three times and recited their prayers, all while under the close eye of the elders and Hokage.
Despite the earlier plan of witnesses to the consummation, it seemed Hiruzen had gained enough spine to deny the elders that request. “They have already given up a very personal freedom for the village’s sake, I will not have their privacy disrespected as well.” They had been left to their own devices once all the documentation was completed. The pair had gone to their new shared home, neither speaking as they walked down the quiet street, Itachi didn’t ask for help moving in his wedding attire and Kakashi didn’t offer him any. It seemed both had communication issues that would need to eventually be worked on. Upon arriving at their shared home, Itachi had made himself scarce, looking ready to remove his head piece.
The home was a small minka style house with a small enclosed garden. There were two bedrooms and a small kitchen that overlooked the communal area. Certainly a bit dated looking, but it was certainly nicer than the tiny apartment Kakashi had been living in, and likely looked similar to Itachi’s home with his family, if not smaller. Kakashi’s summons would likely enjoy the space and it would be nice to sit outside on the small porch and enjoy the privacy. He noticed a couple gift boxes on the counter and approached them, scanning one of the notes. It seemed Asuma had a sense of humor, with the bottle of sake he had left and a note that hinted he should enjoy it. Kakashi snorted, and picked up the card that Gai had left, chest aching at the heartfelt letter. All gifts were from Kakashi’s friends, it seemed no one had bothered to reach out to Itachi. It bothered him more than he had expected it to.
Kakashi poured himself a glass of sake, draining it quickly and enjoying the burn that followed. He looked out the darkened window, seeing the shadow of Hokage mountain in the distance. He would have to thank Asuma for the drink later, maybe invite him and Kurenai over some evening. “Kakashi-san,” Itachi’s voice spoke up behind him, soft and almost subdued sounding. Kakashi set his glass down and let out a breath before he turned to face Itachi, keeping his expression placid.
Itachi stood at the door, his hair taken out of the formal style and now in waves around his shoulders. Kakashi had never seen his hair down before. It made him look softer. Younger .
He had removed the kimono and now wore a lighter robe that he had tightly wrapped around himself. A shield against what was expected to come. “Hey," Kakashi greeted, tone forcefully light. He was going to have to learn to be more comfortable around Itachi now; this was his husband. “I see you finally got that monstrosity off.”
Itachi’s lips twitched and he looked down. “It was heavier than I had expected,” he admitted readily. Kakashi hummed in sympathy. It had certainly looked awkward to wear but Itachi had done it well.
“Can’t imagine you could see much wearing it,” he poured Itachi a glass and offered it to him. Was he technically old enough to drink? Did it matter? Itachi stepped forward and hesitated for a moment before taking it, thanking Kakashi quietly.
“No, it certainly made for an interesting evening every time someone directly addressed me,” he cradled the glass in his hands, standing very still. Kakashi settled down into one of the chairs and after a moment Itachi took the seat across from him, shoulders tense and lips pulled into a thin line. Kakashi watched as he stared down at his sake, not drinking.
“Have you eaten anything?” He suddenly asked. “Kurenai left us some food if you’re hungry.” He nodded to the box sitting on the counter and Itachi smiled, shaking his head.
“I’m fine, thank you.” Itachi’s voice was soft, barely audible even in the quiet room. Kakashi didn’t push it, simply nodding and leaning back in his chair.
“Do you know which room you want?” He asked, inspecting his glass. “The one on the left faces the sunrise.” He figured Itachi might like the view and appreciate it more than Kakashi.
“We’re not sharing a room?” Itachi frowned at him and Kakashi raised an eyebrow, head tilting as he looked at the Uchiha.
“I wasn’t expecting to...do you want to share a room?” Itachi’s face suddenly flushed and he looked away.
“No, I just expected….now that we’re...married,” he had likely been dreading the initial plan to witness the consummation. He must have been mortified at the idea of witnesses. Kakashi shook his head, wanting him to have no doubts.
“We did what we were ordered to do. Now, we just move forward.”
“You...you’re not expecting anything else?” Itachi asked softly, for a moment looking his age and so unsure. It broke Kakashi’s heart to see that look. Had he been terrified of what came after the ceremony? Had he spent the entire evening dreading that walk home?
“Itachi, I’m not expecting anything,” he told him plainly. “If we remain awkward quasi friends, then great. I’m not going to force you into anything you’re not comfortable with.” He truly wasn’t expecting anything from Itachi. Not sex, not commitment, if Itachi slept in the other room, then that was fine with Kakashi. The council could force them to marry, but they couldn’t force anything beyond that. Itachi nodded at this, still looking uncertain. “I haven’t been very fair to you have I?” Kakashi murmured and Itachi looked up, frowning at his former captain.
“Fair?” He repeated and Kakashi found himself suddenly unable to meet Itachi’s gaze, looking at his now empty glass instead.
“You didn’t want this anymore than I did. It wasn’t fair of me to speak to you the way I did in the locker room,” it genuinely shamed him to think about it now. He had been so angry, and was still angry about what he had been forced to do, but taking it out on Itachi had been cruel of him. Itachi finally drank from his glass, eyes averted.
“No,” he agreed softly. “But it wasn’t right for you to be forced into this arrangement in the first place.”
“Looks like we both got the short end of the stick here.” Kakashi murmured softly. “Did they even give you any warning ahead of time?” It would seem unfair to throw all of this at Itachi and expect him to immediately comply.
“No, the council called my parents in for a meeting and told them...I suppose the alternative was worse,” Itachi drank again, seeming to take a huge gulp of the alcohol, but remaining stone faced.
“You heard about Danzo?” Kakashi glanced over at Itachi who smiled without humor, fingers absently tapping the glass.
“Hmm, yes. I believe he was hoping to have an Uchiha under his thumb, until the Hokage intervened.” Itachi pursed his lips for a moment, considering what could have been. “I wouldn’t have agreed I think….if it had been Danzo?”
“No?” The Copy nin watched him curiously and Itachi avoided his eyes. He looked tired, as if he had not had a good night’s rest in ages.
“I think I would have killed myself if they tried to force me,” Itachi’s voice trailed off at the end, seemingly ashamed. Kakashi’s mouth went dry at this; he didn’t know what he was supposed to say or do. Images of his father’s dead body flashed before him. Part of him wanted to rage at Itachi for even considering it, but how could he? Danzo was not a kind man, he would have worn Itachi down until there was nothing left of him. “But worse than that…” Itachi drank again, head ducked down as Kakashi watched him in tense silence. “The clan was not going to back down. They were planning to retaliate against the village. The elders were ready to strike back...they would have ordered me to do something terrible, and I still don’t know what I would have done.” He sounded faint, as if the words pained him to say. Kakashi found himself leaning closer, watching his spouse, fighting the urge to reach out and offer him comfort.
“What were they going to have you do?” He whispered, not knowing if he wanted to know the answer. Itachi seemed to struggle for a moment, as if not knowing if he should say anything. He looked at Kakashi, studying him.
“They were going to have me annihilate the clan,” he admitted in a hushed voice and Kakashi’s stomach dropped “All of them. Dead. I may not have wanted this, but compared to the alternative, I would gladly do it again.” Kakashi did reach out then, fingers brushing over Itachi’s bony knuckles. Itachi flinched, the sake in his other hand sloshing as he realized Kakashi had touched him. He turned his hand in order to grasp Kakashi’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. They were considering ordering Itachi to kill his family? How long had Itachi been living with this knowledge? It felt wrong, twisted and dark. Those people were still in power and Itachi was here thinking that he had avoided the worst of it. He never should have even worried about something so sinister.
“You didn’t kill Shisui Uchiha, did you?” He asked and Itachi smiled bitterly. In the dim lighting of the room, his dark eyes seemed to glow.
“No,” he replied softly. “How could I? He was the only friend I had in the world.” Kakashi thought of Obito and his heart ached. He had loved him, or at least he had feelings for him as a boy. The tone Itachi used to talk about Shisui was the tone of Kakashi’s innermost thoughts about first Obito and then Gai. He didn’t think he had room for anyone else.
It must have been lonely. Without Shisui, Itachi must have had no one to turn to. Kakashi didn't even want to think of what he would have done in his place. It must have been awful being blamed for a crime he didn’t commit against a person he had loved with his very being. Kakashi wondered if the marriage was a bit of a relief to Itachi. Sasuke had always been hush hush about his family, but some things had slipped out, including that he had noticed the way some clan members treated his brother and that he did not like it. Had it been going on for years now?
“Mahh, if you would like, I could be a friend?” Kakashi offered, fingers wrapping around Itachi’s, which slowly warmed under his touch.
“You're my husband.” Itachi replied, lips twitching in amusement at the term and Kakashi chuckled at this. It still felt weird to think about. Husband. Husbands .
“Well, we have to start somewhere don’t we?” He argued lightly. “We might be married, but I think it’s only fair we get to know each other a bit more, hmm? Not as teammates on the field, but as people.” He lifted Itachi’s hand and pressed his lips against his wrist, maintaining eye contact. Itachi’s face flushed and Kakashi wasn’t sure if it was from the kiss or from the sake he had downed. He smiled at him, shy and sweet.
“I’d like to be friends,” he admitted. “I have precious few.” He twined his fingers with Kakashi’s, looking more at ease than he had all evening. Kakashi found himself wanting desperately to make Itachi feel safe, to assure him that he was welcome. Whatever reservations Kakashi had before were nothing now. He wasn’t going to allow Itachi to remain this uncertain, not after his parents had sold him off and not after the elders had made their threats.
“You can share mine,” Kakashi offered lightly. “Isn’t that what marriage is all about?” He knew Gai would accept Itachi, despite his own feelings for Kakashi, he would never take it out on the Uchiha. Itachi smiled at him, his entire face seeming to light up and it made Kakashi feel warm. Sitting here with Itachi wasn’t the death sentence it had initially felt like. Maybe this arrangement had been beyond their control, maybe they weren’t in love, but Kakashi thought he could eventually be. Given time, maybe he and Itachi could wake one day and find their companionship had finally reached a different place. All it would take was time and the chance to get to know each other as people, not just as comrades.
Kakashi did end up being right. A little over two years into their marriage, Itachi had kissed him on a misty morning, the faint flow of the sun glowing in his dark hair. Itachi had looked perfect, ethereal as he had offered Kakashi a little smile that the Copy nin returned. His hair was still lessy from sleep and his eyes dark and beautiful. When did Itachi grow to be so gorgeous? Kakashi had reached out, taking Itachi’s arm and pulling him in for another kiss. It had gone from sweet to heated in a matter of seconds. Itachi was pushed back against the wall, smiling as he pulled Kakashi to him.
The council had gotten their way in the marriage arrangements, but Kakashi and Itachi were now thriving. Their marriage had been amicable, and they had found a companionship in each other that both seemed to enjoy. As Kakashi predicted, his friends had immediately accepted Itachi into the fold. Watching Itachi come out of his shell and smile genuinely had been one of the most rewarding moments of Kakashi’s life. Gai in particular had reached out to Itachi, offering him as steady of a friendship as he had Kakashi. Eventually, that wistfulness in his eyes when he looked at Kakashi had faded away, setting Kakashi free from the guilt that had lingered for so long. It had taken time for Sasuke to come around. He had seen the marriage as a slight against his brother and with all the passion and dramatics of his clan, Sasuke had allowed his resentment for Kakashi to come full force. He had assumed the worst would happen and it took Itachi time to convince him that he was not being hurt, that he was going to be okay. Kakashi doubted that Sasuke would ever truly approve of him, but his outward hostility had finally faded away, allowing Kakashi a moment to breathe.
“Is this okay?” Kakashi asked as he trailed kisses down Itachi’s neck, fingers digging into his waist as he dragged him closer. Itachi’s responding laugh was pure magic.
“Yes, this is okay,” his voice was shaky, excited. How long had he wanted to do this? Had it been a spur of the moment decision or something he had thought of for sometime? Kakashi had been thinking about it, wondering where their relationship would lead, and now it seemed they were on the same page.
Kakashi lifted Itachi up, carrying him towards his bedroom as the Uchiha had wrapped his legs around his hips, clinging to him and kissing him like his life depended on it. They fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, Kakashi pinning one of Itachi’s hands to the pillow above his head as he kissed him, his tongue slipping into Itachi’s mouth, wanting to consume him, take everything he had to offer. Itachi’s eyes fell shut, fingers grasping at the back of Kakashi’s neck, allowing Kakashi to take control of the kiss.
“We should probably end up sharing rooms if we continue this,” Kakashi breathed as he pulled away from Itachi’s mouth, eyes wandering over his kiss reddened lips.
“That would be the logical step,” Itachi agreed, his long dark hair fanned around his face. He smiled up at Kakashi, the very picture of temptation. Kakashi would only go as far as Itachi felt comfortable, and when the Uchiha had reached out to run his slender fingers from Kakashi’s chest and downwards, it became obvious what exactly he had in mind. Kakashi kissed him again, reaching towards the nightstand and wrapping his fingers around the small unused bottle of lube in the drawer.
This felt right, here in their little home, away from the politics and expectations of the village, they could have this small moment of freedom; a chance to let go of everything and just have each other. Itachi wasn’t Gai or Obito and Kakashi wasn’t Shisui, but that was okay. They could just be Itachi and just be Kakashi, and that would be enough.