"Are you ready to go now?"
"Yes. Thank you for your help, Sakura."
Sakura stepped away from [Name] as she finished adjusting the Kouhage's hair, placing her black comb kanzashi in before letting Sasuke get a look at his wife's final appearance.
For Tajima's birthday celebration, [Name] had opted to wear one of her more colourful tomesode kimono, which was a pale salmon pink colour with all of the design splashed across the bottom. The Uchiha clan crest was located on either side of her chest, behind both of her sleeves, and in the center of her back, just above her matching pale gold fukuro obi. Her long, [h/c] hair had been meticulously tied into a low bun, accentuated with her comb kanzashi and only just giving the slightest peek at the back of her dainty neck.
Sasuke continued staring at [Name], unable to express his thoughts. It had been a while since he had last seen her so dressed up, and he had forgotten just how beautiful she could be. Sure, she was beautiful in any form, but seeing her dressed so nicely and formally made a pleasant change; it invoked memories of her style when the pair had first met.
"You two have fun," said Sakura kindly, bending down to pick up Sarada, who had been crawling all over the room while her mother helped do [Name]'s hair. "Shall I prepare dinner for your return?"
"There shouldn't be a need," said [Name], shaking her head as she stood up. "Just make something for yourself. And Sarada."
"Understood. Have a good time."
"Thanks again, Sakura."
[Name] rose to her feet and quietly headed towards the front door, slipping on her wooden geta before stepping out of the house. Sasuke himself was dressed formally, but the dark colours of his outfit stood out greatly against his wife's. As they walked along the dusty footpath towards the location of Tajima's birthday celebration, Sasuke couldn't help but voice his fondness of [Name]'s appearance.
"The tomesode looks good on you," he chuckled, earning a small laugh from [Name].
"I miss my furisode!" whined the Kouhage, swinging her arms back and forth. "I used to love the way the sleeves moved when my arms did!"
"Nonetheless, you look really beautiful, [Name]." The Uchiha's voice softened as he complimented his wife, earning a suspicious look from her.
"What did you do?" she asked slowly, wary of his sudden out of character words. "Is there something I need to know?"
"What? Am I not even allowed to compliment my own wife without it being deemed suspicious?"
"No, wait, I get it. There's something you want me to do, isn't there?"
"Well, even if there was... would you do it?"
"Sasuke."
***
Upon arriving at Tajima's home, where he would be hosting a majority of the clan's upper class members in celebrating his special day, Sasuke and [Name] were greeted at the gates by none other than Izuna, dressed in a dark blue hakama with a black haori to match, which had the family crest on both sides of his chest and in the middle of his upper back.
Unlike several of the other homes [Name] had seen around the compound, that of Tajima and his sons was a grand house that was sealed off from the rest of the clan by gates and fences similar to that of [Name]'s family's, and was a sight that gave her slight comfort through its nostalgic likeness to her home.
"It hasn't started yet?" asked Sasuke as Izuna allowed him and [Name] through the gate, revealing the family garden within.
"No, you're early," chuckled Izuna, indicating for the couple to walk up the footpath towards the house. "You know where the banquet room is, don't you?"
"Of course. [Name], come on."
Bowing to their host as she entered, [Name] looked around the garden as she walked in with Sasuke, curious as to what sort of lifestyle the clan's ruling family was living. So far, she had deduced that their property was far larger than the one she and Sasuke were living on, and the same could be said for the house.
"Isn't there only three of them living here?" whispered [Name] incredulously as they walked up the front steps leading towards the front door. She couldn't fathom why three men would need such a lavish and large house to live in, especially since the two younger ones didn't even have families of their own to worry about.
"Tajima had a bigger family back then," replied Sasuke in a low murmur, careful to keep his voice down as they entered the house. "He had three other sons, and his wife."
"Oh."
Without another word, [Name] put her head down as she followed Sasuke through the corridors of the head family's house, which seemed to wind on and on without any end. However, when Sasuke came to a stop, so did she.
"Ah, [Name], Sasuke. How lovely of you to join us."
[Name] subconsciously reached for Sasuke's arm and clutched onto him as they were greeted at the door to the banquet room by Madara, who was dressed in similar clothing to his brother, with the exception that his complete attire was in black.
Upon seeing [Name]'s elegant ensemble, the elder Uchiha smiled, delighted by her appearance.
"If I do say so myself, you two look magnificent tonight," said Madara, looking away from [Name] to meet Sasuke's cold glare. "Why the sour look, dear nephew? I would've hoped that at least tonight you would be able to enjoy our company."
"Forgive him, he isn't feeling well," stepped in [Name], glancing anxiously at her now tense husband. "My apologies, Madara-sama."
Chuckling at how quickly the Kouhage stepped in to defend her husband, Madara crossed his arms and stepped aside, beckoning for the couple to walk in.
"Please," he said with a friendly smile. "Do come in. Your parents are already seated, as are Itachi and his family. Speaking of which, you didn't bring Sarada? I would've quite enjoyed being able to see both her and Kazuki today, and I'm sure the same could be said for Fugaku and Mikoto."
"Ah, she wasn't feeling so well either, so Sakura stayed at home to look after her," said [Name] hurriedly, reading the annoyed expression on her husband's face and seeing early warning signs.
"Goodness gracious. Poor thing."
Knowing that he was aggravating his nephew's temper, Madara smiled at the sight of him refraining from lashing out, and continued baiting him further.
"Sasuke, how are things with Sakura?" asked Madara smoothly, causing [Name] to glance cautiously at her husband. "I take it child number two will be making an appearance soon?"
Taking a deep breath, Sasuke closed his eyes and released it with a sigh, sensitive to the fact that [Name] was gripping onto his arm as if to say: don't do it.
"... possibly. But not from Sakura, if you know what I mean."
[Name] held her breath as Sasuke looked up at his uncle with a victorious smirk on his face, not allowing Madara the benefit of seeing him mad because of his words. Madara merely chuckled at his nephew's cheeky reply, finding it amusing how he was starting to play games of his own.
"Now, now, we know [Name] won't be having her first child for a while," smirked the Uchiha, glancing at the Kouhage with a broad smile. However, there was a look in his eye that unnerved her so greatly, she ended up hiding half of her face behind Sasuke's shoulder. It was a foreboding look, one that she had only seen glimmers of before, when he would make inappropriate jokes to her. But now that she could see it in its full force, she was scared. Why for, she didn't know. She couldn't even describe the look, so why did she fear it?
Sensing [Name]'s discomfort, Sasuke made it a point to end the conversation with his uncle so that they could join the others, not wanting her to feel distressed any longer.
"Come on, [Name]," said the raven softly, gently prying her hand off of him and nudging her past Madara. "I'm sure my mother would like to see you."
"Y-Yes, of course."
"I hope you two have a lovely time," said Madara, nodding his head ever so slightly at [Name] as Sasuke urged her in first. He soon followed suit, but before he headed after his wife, he stopped beside his uncle without glancing at him once.
"Stay away from her," murmured Sasuke under his breath, loud enough so that only Madara could hear him. "Otherwise I'll end you myself."
"Such presumptuous words, my dear nephew. Let's not forget who put you into this marriage, Sasuke. Because I can just as easily take you out."
Paying no heed to Madara's words, Sasuke merely scowled before he walked off after [Name], thinking little of the clan leader's threat. It meant nothing to him, and it would certainly mean nothing to [Name], either. As long as they were vigilant, nothing Madara did could separate them.
He wasn't going to let his empty threat ruin their night.