ItaSaku fic rec list
for @shyguywrites -- I didn't think I'd be able to fit a proper list of recs into the comment section, so I decided to make a whole post. This is not a comprehensive list, but these are a few of my favorites.
The Way of the Wind by just_enough -> completed fic, rated M, ~160k words, absolutely top-tier fic, one of my all time favs, non-massacre AU, Itachi is a little deranged/unhinged in this one but not evil, brilliantly well-written, I love their back-and-forth, push-and-pull dynamic here
never let 'em know your next move by MirrorImage003 -> oneshot, rated T, ~8k words, non-massacre AU wherein Sakura is a competent badass and Itachi is both sane and smitten, lots of cute interactions
Masked and other non-massacre au fics by smileysgoboing -> series, rated G, ~22k words, non-massacre AU every fic in this series is so wholesome and fluffy, just very soft and sweet, I love how accepted Sakura is by the Uchiha family
Epiphany by FM_White -> completed fic, rated G, ~6k words, non-massacre AU, cute with rom-com vibes a bit in the second chapter, Itachi is a disaster as he tries to figure out how to ask Sakura out and Shisui makes for a hilarious not-quite wingman
A Series of Sexy Occurrences With Which Sakura Makes the Most Of by Pleasedial123 -> series, rated M, ~59k words, follows many canon events, this one is a bit steamier but the plot is still really solid and despite the humor it takes itself seriously, the growth from just hooking up to actual feelings is nice and not dragged out too long, the series also includes Sakura x Kisame which I didn't really vibe with until this fic but honestly it works really well here
Sapling by B1uebeary -> WIP, rated M, ~37k words, you do have to be logged into Ao3 to read this one, featuring Sakura trying to better herself and get strong, missing-nin Itachi who is not awful but not a good person exactly either, deep dive into some of Konoha's social issues, less shippy and more focused on Sakura's character growth
There are so, so, so many more incredible fics out there, of course. Most of the longer ones I either haven't read yet or it's been so long that I don't really remember enough of them to really rec them--though I'll be doing some reading soon, and may have another rec list in the future.
