Well I've waited for a century to write this...

dedicated to @nini2106

ONCE UPON A TIME SEASON 4 EP 1 IS OUT GO WATCH IT THE TOWN OF STORYBROOKE HAS FROZEEEEEN

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QOTC       

You see brother, we never left.

- Itachi

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A few weeks later....

2 hours before the wedding:

The long wait has finally come into an end.

Three of the men who suited up early were sitting at the bench, a champagne glass on one hand. They were wearing black suits--a handpicked cherry blossom on their breastpocket and a class A necktie. They were hanging low just behind the Konohagakure church with equal stolid look on their faces.

"You cannot believe how this thing is happening," said the boy with waist-length hair.

"What thing?" the boy with painted red cheeks asked. He was resting both of his arms at the top of the chair while he was staring up to the sky.

Sai tilted his head and smiled. "Sometimes marriage is not about love; it's about commitment."

Neji tsked. "What do you suppose love is for, if not to be with the person you wanted to be with in an eternity. I wouldn't think it is what the bride wants."

"But you're marrying your best friend. There's always a reason behind that." Kiba blurted out.

"Says the boy who slept with my sister."

"She is your cousin!!"

Sai just brought out his sketchpad and began to look at the pages. There was a rumor a prophecy was made that he could paint the future, while Ino could envision them in her sleep.

He sighed looking straightforwardly at the colors. Now that they've ended up things with each other, they somehow broke a connection and immediately he stopped drawing meaningless nameless pictures.

There were images of Konoha set in peril, a horde of deadly Akatsuki members in red and black cloaks as well as pairs of lovely, beautiful couples. He painted these last year, and he was wondering what kind of invention would Sakura would have loved as a wedding present. Neji and TenTen holding lanterns, Shikamaru and Temari who were cloudgazing, Sasuke holding Sakura's hand among the constellated skies--Naruto waiting for Hinata at the balcony.

"It was an accident, what part of that statement couldn't you possibly get, Hiashi??"

"I will repeat this again: I am not like my uncle."

"Well you sort of look like him and he's dead so either way you're getting there if you don't stop mentioning your sister's name in front of me." He said crossing his arms. "Cousin." He corrected himself. "Kami, why do I have to say that?"

"Sai," said Kakashi who appeared out of the nowhere, "the bride wishes to see you."

Neji and Kiba have opened their mouths to detest, only when they have looked at each other and ressumed bickering. Sai stood up and closed his art book. Later he opened the door to see Sakura turning around, all stunning and beautiful, eyes filled with optimism and consternation.

                ♡ ｔｈｅ ｔｈｉｒｄ ｕｃｈｉｈａ ♡

                            "LOVE SUCKS"

"How do I look?" Sakura asked hopefully.

Sai fakesmiled. "As usual you look ugly as ever." He saw the look on Sakura and and said, "diabolically speaking, I meant the opposite actually."

"I can't do this," Sakura said hurriedly as she picked the edge of her gown. "I can't marry Naruto. I'm not marrying anyone today. Do you now how to get down this window?"

Sai gave her a blasphemic look. "Sakura, you are NOT leaving this wedding."

Sakura looked at the window by her side and millions of thoughts popped inside her head. She may not be good at this but she knew it was the only way. "I still have time. Can I borrow your bird?" She asked equisitely. She was fanning herself, and the way she said it was as if she's about to get a heart attack. "I'm marrying Naruto," she said as she paced in her sparkling white heels, "I'm marrying Naruto!" Then it hit him; those were the same words she said when she had her first kiss.

Sakura sat at the bed, frowning. She put down her boquet of freshly picked Sakuras so she could think clearly. She never asked any of this, which is why she thought of how unfair the odds have been to her. Let's face it; she may have wanted Naruto the other night but maybe some things were never meant to last permanently. She still wanted to achieve many things before the day she'd get married. "I feel so terrified, Sai." She said exasperatedly. "I just get the feeling that he's somewhere out there... And maybe he's just waiting for me to run off."

"Sakura, Sasuke-kun is not coming back."

"I shouldn't be marrying Naruto. I should be marrying Sasuke."

"Sakura..."

"I'm heading to Hoshi with him." The pinkette started pulling the tabledressers, raided every possible objects from drawers that would come in handy. "We could build a life there and start our family. It's the perfect place I could ever think of."

Sai could just stare at her tearing every wonderful measure of her life in pieces. This woman has loved Uchiha Sasuke more than he could have ever imagined. "Sakura, you are not going anywhere. I'll fight you even if I have to."

"Really? You'd do that for me?" She asked sarcastically as she grabbed the duffel bags. "I don't think you even have the guts to hurt me."

"I don't have to. I'll just have to call Ino and the others."

"I mean I'm tired of making myself dependable to everyone! I'm tired of being a burden, I'm tired of having other people pay for my mistakes and I'm definitely sick and tired of lying to Naruto that I love him." Now Sakura was screaming, yelling at Sai in an unbearable hatred. "And when the baby comes out, I don't think he'll ever look at me the way he looks at Hinata... Because, I lied to him. I lied to him about everything."

I hate people who lie to themselves!!

Even someone like me knows--that Naruto is in love with you.

Sakura fell down at the bed again, sitting. Sweat was really sticking at her everywhere and so she took off the clip in her pink hair as the bun fell down in curly strands. "I'm just making all this stuff, aren't I?" She said to Sai, gesturing over the clothings she'd packed which would never be enough. Sakura grabbed the tissue and wiped her face. She wasn't crying but she was dripping from all the temperature. Even if it was going to be the worst day of her life, she needed to be ready.

Sai sat next to her and smiled. "You wanna talk about this?"

....

"The best man is in here," Kiba said, stepping alongside Neji and the others. The Inuzuka boy had just gone from having one of the most exaggerated and confusing conversation of his life, battling with Neji the Mr. Know-it-all when they could have spent the darn time helping their little friend out.

Clothes and some foundation make-up were scattered around the room. There was a picture of the Fourth Hokage inside a package, probably Naruto's belongings in case if he'll be moving in. Ino, Lee, TenTen were also there, dressed up in white and pink.

"Good. You guys are here. I need you to pick which one of these should I wear," Naruto said as he held a cornflowered printed and a plan silver tie in his hands. "These clothes are making me feel sick!"

"I agree with Naruto," Lee chimed in. Unfortunately he and Gai weren't permitted to wear spandex during their wedding.

"What day is it again?" Ino asked boredly. "March 28th." Somebody said. "Oh," Ino realized, crossing her legs. "No wonder forehead's really freaking out last night."

"Has anyone seen Hinata?" TenTen asked.

"I'll go look for him," but at that moment Neji had his hand gripped on the mutt's shoulder. "You. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere."

"Well what are we supposed to do here? Dress Naruto up like a barbie doll??"

"No orange????" Naruto exclaimed inconclusively, yelling at no one in particular. "No orange is probably the worst statement ever!! Can't I just wear my jumpsuit? It's my wedding, anyway."

"Right," Ino chuckled. She was the bridesmaid, meaning she gets to wear a different dress. "like if Sakura wore a nightgown, what would you think of that?"

"Who cares?? I've seen her tons of times like that."

"Where is everybody, anyway?" TenTen asked. "Choji's probably with Shika, Shika's somewhere having conversations with the guests, Shino's with Hana, Sai's at Sakura's room, and God knows where Hinata is." On behalf of this, she realized what this meant. "No offense, really." She was at her normal twin buns and she was caught hiding a bunch of tiny razor weapons inside her boot.

Neji watched Naruto shift. He already mastered what kind of atittude would Naruto react to this, but the blonde just stared at himself at the mirror and pretended not to hear anything. He was having trouble adjusting the necktie so he asked Ino to help him out. A few minutes later it had been a whole lot of silence, before someone would either crack a joke or say something stupid. None of them decided to go out to check in the visitors. They've just stayed there as a group, their thoughts sprinting everywhere.

"That's it," Naruto said, wanting to accomplish something productive. "I'm doing it."

"What is?"

"I'm writing my vows."

"What are vows?" TenTen asked, "aren't they the ones you repeat in front of the altar?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure as hell I'm making one." He grabbed a bunch of blank sheets and a pen. "Vow number one, I vow not to touch Sakura-chan unless if she asks me to."

Kiba rolled his eyes at the blonde jinchuuriki's stupidity. He, unlike the rest have had these "experiences" among women which is why he calls himself a complete master when it comes to seducing girls. "Naruto, you're a man. She's not gonna blink her eyes like this and say--he blinked his eyes beautifully staring upwards--"kiss me, Naruto." NO! You're not gonna wait for her to make the first move! Unless if you're willing to wait until your hair grows white." He said as he drank his champagne.

"Last time I did that, it didn't end up pretty well."

"That's because you didn't use protection!"

Neji was rubbing his face over his hands. "Jesus, is it naturally necessary for you imbeciles to talk about this in front of an unmarried couple?"

.....

1 hour before the Wedding

"Get up," Wakana said as she poured cold water on the Raven's face. "You have work to do."

Sasuke grouched as he buried his face under the pillow. It's the pinkette's wedding and he had nothing planned except to sleep it off. Sasuke tried to open his eyes just to get a glimpse of the clock, but even his lashes wouldn't budge. When you're a criminal, sleep is recherché.

There were others who have risen from their coffin, he thought, due to the abdominable noise around him. Taka was always up as usual, guarding him in his most vulnerable state. Kabuto was doing his thing, Wakana's worried, and this must be Obito's best day. Watching his own nephew suffer was enough to keep him living.

Karin, on the other hand, has been helping him throughout his days. She would help him get to bed, and if she wasn't able to get him to stop drinking, she'd fill him more sake so he could just doze. But of course he would have done nothing but to kick her away.

The red-headed Uzumaki sighed. She already prepared his black suit next to the table but it seemed another effort of her would rest in peace.

"YOU. ARE. GOING. TO. TAKE. A. BATH." Hotaru said, this time she was done wiping sweat on his face. "I'll even place a manipulating spell on you if I have to."

Sasuke didn't say anything. He had recently got back from Iwagakure and he was feeling sick and narcolestic.

Hotaru drags him to the bathroom and throws him at the shower. The Raven barely got into his feet to move out after ten minutes of shower, that Suigetsu and Karin had to assist him all the way. Sasuke grunted as he slammed the door. He laid in bed some time before staring at the suit he was supposed to wear.

It was a glossy black tailor--the kind of clothing he would have worn if he were Itachi. Sasuke blinked his eyes in disconsolateness, his hand gripping over the soft fabric.

Obito had already told him, if not by the end of March, Sakura would be handed over towards his best friend Naruto. That wasn't bad news--he couldn't have entrusted anyone his precious cherry blossom rather than the knucklehead, who, not once but twice, had recovered her more times he could count.

Other than that, there was no other living person whom he would delegate his child with. Which made his eyes fissure unexpectedly and madly--you can take any priced possession from a man, but never would he trade the universe for his child. Naruto has had more experiences in his past three years of training and helped many people, while he, on the other hand, was kept in the dark. He has an ambition--a dream and a fulfillment to consummate... Wouldn't that what any fathers would have wanted for their children? Something to gain purpose of life for it to make any sense?

Because up until now, he still hasn't figured out what that purpose was. And he didn't want neither of his kids to inherit that part of him--to eventually percieving the life of an outlaw and a rapist.

He needed something that would make them believe; he needed something to turn all their resentment into benevolence. And the only way to do that was to not teach his child a thing, nor even know that such hopeless humanbeing like him even exists.

Sasuke aimed for his Chidori at the dummy he had displayed in his bedroom. It hit the bullseye but he supposed he wasn't feeling contented until he could have seen all that blood getting sucked away from a human flesh.

"Tsk tsk tsk," said an oddly familiar voice. "Foolish little brother. If only I'd known I wouldn't have murdered mother and father for the sake of watching you grow into a diabolical mess."

"Go away, Itachi." Sasuke said, mentally speaking to himself.

"Oh come on, Sasuke, let's not be rude. Still clinging to the words I've said to you that night?"

"Get out of my head."

"But you say the opposite, don't you? Sometimes we see the fantasy in the things unreal."

"Don't play with me. You're dead. You're supposed to be dead. I killed you."

Itachi shifted into the chair he sat not far behind Sasuke. He chuckled in amusement. He was still wearing the Akatsuki cloak he'd worn even when he battled him, only difference is the ring was missing. "Fair enough, but that doesn't stop me from coming back."he said with a smirk. He must have found out about the ring. "You see brother, we never left."

"And we are only seen by those people who are in truly need of us." he smiled. "And you, Sasuke, you're gonna need me."

"I don't need your help."

"It's Sakura's wedding day." Itachi said, folding his hands as if he had gone back from time. "You're doing desperate and foolish things. Not to mention I've seen your artwork back at Kiri. Do that again and no one will save you."

Sasuke growled. The word 'Sakura' brought hell in his ears. He let out a loud yell, a ferocious inner part of him that would have triggered the curse mark if it was still there, and watched every bit of his arm run through a corner of the wall. It cracked, and his knuckles bled too.

Itachi bowed his head and smiled. Watching your brother evolve everything in chaos could be a dangerous thing, but not when you're in love.

Itachi had seen his eyes: they were the same that night his clan had all been buried. He waited for a few minutes before saying, "it's funny, how I left my raven when I expect you to take it as your guide. But I never expected you to use it to watch over Sakura's safety."

Sasuke panted over the corner. He needed to charge. Even though he had no intentions of hearing what Itachi had to say that part of him which cried when he went to his grave was still there. He had opened his ears to him as he switched off the Lightning Blade in his palm.

"Now, if the only woman I ever loved is about to be handed over the man whom I consider to be my best friend, and, by any chances, my mortal rival--I would want revenge--but if it's for the best, I know what I have to do." He thought of a fairy-nin whose name started with a letter 'H' wearing a white dress and a veil--her hand reaching out to Shisui. "But, if I found out she was pregnant, I'd stop running away from people and do whatever it takes to get her back."

Sasuke stared at his reflection at the Kusanagi. He was looking in a way he was sad... Itachi just sounded so real.

"Rule of the living: when you love someone, it's gonna take more than time for you to prove yourself, a story, a way to make them see things right--he thought of the massacre and the day he died--but if you keep on running away from your responsiblity and from the people that needed you, how will you become an avenger? If you keep on living into the past and lie, how will you restore our reputation? There is a reason why Madara has revolted. The people have looked down to us now as an extinct clan who'd done nothing but to corrupt this world, but you need to prove them wrong brother. No other clan treasured love as much as the Uchiha. The Doppelganger Prophecy has been destroyed. You have a clan to redeem." Itachi said. "And the question ends here: do you love Sakura and how far are you willing to go?"

Sasuke chuckled harshly. "I love her, Itachi." He said without a blink; "And I don't care if I have to get there and rip their heads off." Wrong; while he was busy proving himself to Itachi, his mind was drifting restlessly. Letting go of Sakura could be the best option he has for her. 

"Well said, brother." Itachi said with a wide grin. In that moment Sasuke observed him. This might as well the last time he'd ever seen him. His eyes, the scar in his face, his pointed nose, his facial expression. "I'll make this easy for you--you will go in there, get the girl and steal her wedding," he said, "or you could stand in front of the church and be there. The choice is yours."

...

46 minutes before the wedding:

"Nervous?" Sai chuckled, "why would Naruto be nervous?"

*ON THE OTHER ROOM*

Kiba, Ino, TenTen and Neji were struggling to tame the blonde jinchuuriki. "I still have an orange necktie!! My apartment is just a few blocks away!!"

"Why do you think you'll make the worst bride??"

Sakura stood up. "Because I'm not the one he's supposed to marry either! I'm a bad person Sai, I stole Naruto from Hinata and now she hates me." There were a few creases in her eyes; and it didn't look like tears because her mascara was already spreading. "I've done every bit of a mad person could ever."

Sai frowned in the dumps. There was no persuading a woman when it comes to embracing the truth from herself.

"I know it's impossible, but I know Sasuke's coming. He's coming to get me."

"Sakura..."

Sakura had kicked him in his internal organ using a knee. Sai groaned, a shocked expression coming from his painted face. "Gomen Sai, but I'm not getting married today."

She raised her gown and the tips of her wedding dress as she went downstairs.

The church wasn't much of a popular area. A few people were only loaded in the main hall, or so Sakura thought, since she used the stairs as her passageway towards the exit. Whenever she'd make a meter she would look often look back, not wondering what she was even thinking--and in the end she just recently bumped into something tall. And hard.

"Vow number seven, I promise to make you breakfast every Sunday Morning," TenTen said reading the strangely folded paper. "Aww Naruto, that's so sweet. I wish Neji here could be a little fancier."

"Does it even matter?" Naruto said, ignoring Neji's look of fury to his future wife. "I need a break. I'll go search for her."

"Hey--Naruto!!!"

"Here's your book sir," Sakura said, after getting bewitched by the sight. "Oh, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi turned around slowly as he observed the pink bride from head to toe. "Now let me think of it clearly. If I were sprinting in a church wearing a wedding dress... Mmm, should I read a book or something?"

Sakura gave him a naughty look.

"Fine." Kakashi sighed. "I know I'm just a Godfather of this wedding, but piece of advice, Sakura, just take three deep breaths. Sometimes even three deep breaths can change everything." 

He left Sakura be. 

Sakura just turned around and sighed. Things just couldn't get any worse, could they? She closed her eyes and began to shut the world in front of her and tried to imagine herself in that front porch... Where everything that lies beneathe miles from the house was the ocean--the only place she could ever think of. It was her inestimable stroke, and without it the pinkette couldn't imagine a world without any waters at all. 

Sakura deepened her perceptibility and breathed. 

Sometimes three breathes could change everything.

One, Two, Three. 

Naruto stumbled clumsily upon seeing her wife. He tried to go back a few steps but it appears Sakura has already seen him and his stupidity. "N-naruto-kun?" 

Naruto glanced back. "I was just turning around when--he sighed--fine." No more lies. Because how are husband-and-wife supposed to cling with each other if one of them doesn't know the first rule of marriage? "I've been looking everywhere for you. You okay?"

"Uh, yeah--I was just talking to sensei about things and that stuff, what are those?" 

"My vows. I know it's bad luck to see the bride, but I realized something."

Sakura blinked her eyes.

"Neji and TenTen haven't written their vows, but they're still the best couple I ever knew. Maybe it was just that Neji was being overprotective over her." He scratched his hair ignorning the thought that Sakura was holding her pair of shoes. "So, screw this. I can only make one vow to you, one that really matters."

Sakura gazed at her childhood friend. He's not going to say what she always wanted anyone to say to him.

"I love you Sakura-chan, and it's the only promise I swear to keep. Believe it." 

I promise to bring Sasuke back!

"I'll see you up there," Naruto said.

"Naruto," Suddenly she felt her heart ache.

She remembered a moment when she'd watched Naruto depart from the Leaf and travel along with Master Jiraiya as his companion. It was like letting go of a balloon and she hated the feeling. The Cherry Blossom walked to him and gave him a kiss in the lips. He wasn't being immature--he had already placed his hands in her waist, and after a while, moved his lips to her cheek to give her a peck and squeezed her in a romantic hug. He let part of his face be buried into her neck while Sakura braced him, hard, with both of their eyes closed. 

"Happy Birthday Sakura."

Sai ran to stop the pinkette, but even before he was about to launch his ink jutsu--he saw Sakura in Naruto's arms, all stored and cherished inside his heart. He left quietly trying not to get noticed.  

 ...

* P L A Y   S O N G *

Sasuke was reading Itachi's letter outside when he heard the bell toll. It was quite a blithe sunny day as he sat against the Hawk with the spell of invisibility.  

There were more visitors than he'd imagined. Earlier, when he watched the love of his life twirl his wedding dress, he stood in front of the church as much as he knew the rookies were all staring at him. He came here with Hayato, the bird whom Sakura named herself, without putting on a suit. With a steady swift of his Sharingan, he saw and sensed heavy amount of Chakras coming. He knew he had to get away, and so he went out for a bit and lingered at the open field. 

Rin tried to accompany him as much as she can but left him alone soon as she had seen the look in his eyes. Sakura has been good to her, found her and brought her home yet there was nothing she could repay in return. She left the wedding with tears in her eyes and threw the flowercrown in the ground. 

Millions of thoughts occured in the raven's head as he teleported inside, masked his chakra, and snuck in invisible. 

Naruto was already stating his vows in front of the altar. In front of them stood the Mighty Tsunade, because Kages are the only ones who hold the power to marriage and love. Sakura was standing next to him, her hair scooped in a messy bun. It was clipped on a veil, and the wedding dress she wore was two inches below her feet and sequins glittered whenenever she moved. 

Kakashi had been the one who walked her in the red capet. She had her arm clung to him, tight, and there were a bunch of unreadable emotions in her sensei's face upon releasing her. 

She was crying. Sakura was crying.

What's even her parents doing?? What are Tsunade and the others doing?? Shouldn't they be telling her to stop?

Sasuke frowned pensively. It's her wedding day and she was weeping while repeating the words Tsunade says. And this was the first thing that came into Sasuke's head--he was sorry, that he never had the guts to show up into her door and take her to Hoshi, that he never meant to fall in love with her in the first place, that he never got to leave saying a proper good bye and let his own child fall into the hands of the man he'd befriended, trusted, hated. 

This was her wedding day. She was supposed to be--happy. 

Tsunade had finished announcing them husband-and-wife. They faced each other respectively while Sakura wiped the tears in her eyes before it gets worsened. He watched Naruto uncover the veil. He had grown inches tall so he had to cup the cherry blossom's face as he kisses her lips tenderly. The kiss didn't last that long--despite the crowd's appraisal, Naruto broke quickly as Sakura buried herself into him, his chin resting above her head. Sakura cried even more further holding the boquet on one hand. But Naruto just wrapped his arms into her as he kisses her forehead.

"You know," said White Zetsu, who was standing halfway the cement next to Obito, "I was suprised you had no intentions of ruining the medic's big day."

Obito just stood where he was with a look of supreme satisfaction. 

"Congratulations, Obito. You just reunited the two fated doppelgangers of the Universe." 

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9.29.14 

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY SHIKA  (9.22.14) + QUEEN INO (9.23.14) !! 

so did your parents have talked it out to have s*x the same day after, or what? (lol) 

TRIVIA

- The wedding was inspired by a story from @CharmaineUchiha when Sasuke was getting married to another girl.

- The song Wedding Dress truly inspired me to write the sequel. I always picture Sakura getting married with this song with all the lyrics

- KibaHina continues next chappy

- reference from How I Met Your Mother, Barney + Robin's Wedding

- Itachi made his last appearance in  TNU 1.9: To the Stars as a ghost/conscience, apparently.

some of the memorable lyrics

But if you believe that you belong with him
Promise me, you wont let anyone hurt you
Remember, I will always be here for you
Even if it kills me to see you

In that wedding dress, dress
Oh see you in that wedding dress, dress
See you in that wedding dress, dress
Oh see you in that wedding dress, oh no