SUMMARY: An arranged marriage, a cheating Shinnō, a corrupted Kōshitsu Household, a secretive undying love between his Kōtaishihi and her royal Shogan~

A/N:

HYUGA'S: RULER OF ALL UNTIL HIASHI PASSED

NAMIKAZE'S: SECOND RULER AFTER THRONE WAS PASS DOWN

UCHIHA'S: SHOGUN (SUPREME MILITARY)

HARUNO'S: ROYAL SERVANTS

AKATSUKI'S: DAIMYO (WARLORD)

CHRYSANTHEMUM THRONE

皇位

Chapter 1 Prologue

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The hallway was carved in fine arts. It has to be a skilled carpenter who was able to curve a beautiful flawless masterpiece. With each passing days her gentle fingers will trace the outline of a chrysanthemum flower incised onto the walls. Her existent adherent the golden flower and people admired her like one. But as the flower slowly wilt, so does Hinata's existence that also vanish.

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The Kōshitsu Household was beautifully flourish, but lack colors. Gold's rich gleam was the primary color and only a scarce of the color red and green was apparent on the corner ceilings and on nicely thread silk curtains. Half of the greens were primarily living plants, chrysanthemum leaves. The Kōshitsu Household was a home for many and it was filled with angry strain voices that quietly echo through the walls this particular morning. It was uncommon; but the fact that it was nearly five in the morning was enough to arouse the curiosity of the entire household. Sets of steps flutter through the busy hallways as they passby assigned maids who were polishing marble tables set a yard in-between a similar table with a different display on the counter. The household isn't like civilian's home made of wall paper, but instead was built from the ground up with thick protective lumber.

A pledged servent musn't raise their head to look at their surrounding and due to this Kurenai never notice the beauty of the house. Her footsteps flit through the halls like a ghost as she led a group in a 'V' formation through the corridor's labyrinth. Years of practice at a young age didn't flitter any of the servants posture especially for the Haruno Family who served Royalty since the creation. Bystanders stepped aside for the incoming group, feared to be in the wrath of Kurenai until said woman stopped maneuvering altogether. Her sudden halt stilled the servants that pursued behind her.

The distraction that impede the group was a beautiful melody produced by the koto. It filled the air with its soothing harmony, as it invade Kurenai's ears. And shortly after, a soft beautiful hum despite the fact it hide an emotional suffering filter the air. Kurenai continued to listen with her eyes close. It took her a few minutes to retract and continue forward towards her majesty's chamber. Each maid wore well-stitch, but plain sapphire kimonos except Kurenai who wore a rich crimson kimono to define her title as head of the maids.

Kurenai knowingly wait for the formal servant sitting in front of the door to carry out her job. Haruno Sakura bowed and shifted her hands mechanically latching onto the door. The children born within the Kōshitsu Household has no given rights as their fate immediately commit to the Royal family. For Konoha, Kōshitsu births can not escape their given duty and destiny. Sakura, a Kōshitsu birth knew that in her blood she can not escape her fate because of her surname's rightful servant position. Over the decade of her duties she learned to hold a grudge upon the Royal family due to the unpleasant service she offered. But Sakura's main grudge was held deeply for the Hyuga Hime. She was jealous of the Kōtaishihi who dwell around the Kōshitsu Household doing zilch cleaning, just there to look pretty in her fine silk kimono and decorations on her hair. All Sakura wanted was to be like her, dress in beautiful kimonos and drink tea with some of the handsomest prince, but Sakura was unlucky. She was born a Haruno instead and she couldn't do anything about it in her vulnerable position.

Kurenai'swatchful eyes shift from the servant to the sliding door and her eyes thread to the gap. The shadow that lingered behind the thin paper door became known and everyone notice the koto melody has stop. Kurenai stood under the door frame when vines of indigo hair was in view as it spread and slither off her Kōtaishihi's back. The window advertised the horizon lined across an array of mountains to the east, landfill green forest stretch to the sun raise west and the beautiful crystal gleam of ocean reached north. A window provided for the Kōtaishihi's vast dream of freedom; imaging how the grass from below would feel on her bare feet.

And the Hime's similar dream like Haruno Sakura. She was locked away. She couldn't escape to the grand outside, captivated within four walls but the window remained open so she can gaze upon the grass she'd never feel, the flowers she'd never pick, and the people she'd never met. Hinata Kōtaishihi Denka was sitting up on the floor with the curtain sheets blowing alongside her long silky hair. Her hands were placed on the strings of the koto instrument with the view of snowy mountains behind her. The snow that balance greatly with her luminescent pearl eyes. Her peach kimono of cranes spread open on the bottom portion and the aid from the sun's ray made her fare skin shimmer. There was only one way to describe the beautiful Kōtaishihi—ethereal. Hinata turn to Kurenai and slowly her lips offer a tired smile with deject eyes.

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A pair of onyx eyes scanned the surrounding for any type of threat amongst the servants. The palace's landscape had a beautiful acre. The distance from the main gates to the actual Kōshitsu Household held a large gap and that was where his eyes linger. The servants were nurturing the field utterly filled with chrysanthemum flowers. One of the general's finest tracking samurai constantly made steady rotations to scrutinize any sign of danger on the other end of the barrier.

To monitor the safety of the Royal family was a daily exercise for the warriors especially for the general. It became a norm for Uchiha Sasuke for he had lost tillycount of this daily exercise. From his daily observation over the household, he knew every escape route and hidden underground chambers. If blind folded, Sasuke would probably find his way through the household without any problem. He erudite the palace rather fast during his youth and now as an adult, he already has several defense plan if an attack suddenly occur.

The sun was bright and it was a beautiful breezy day but Sasuke's frustrated sigh said otherwise. Every samurai on duty was all clad in armor for this particular day unlike other days where they're in comfortable clothing that was easier to maneuver in. And it really pissed Sasuke when he received the Tennō's request to wear his suffocating armor. Why couldn't he and the rest of his warriors wear the armor later during the ceremony? Sasuke seriously wanted to punch the Tennō, but knew better. Sighing for the thousandth time, Sasuke's fingers smooth above his katana handle to tame his inner demon. Truthfully, he thought the daily exercise was useless and preferred to be on the battle ground with his katana, but today was a very important day. Soon the servants will clear the area and the ensemble will start. The large red gates will open and the citizens will come to give their blessings.

For decades, the Uchiha clan have served the Hyuga as their Shogan because of an egocentric promise their clan leader, Uchiha Madara made to the Royal family. Madara convinced the royal family's safety was better off in the hands of the Uchiha clan. Madara's assertion was approved by the Hyuga Tennō because of his mythical sharingan eyes said to be given to him by the sun goddess Amaterasu herself.

A myth passed down generation after generation of a wise warrior who was born during the first Great War. He held possession of the sharingan—a pair of burning maroon eyes, the only eyes that could bring peace. When the legendary warrior passed, the calm only lasted for two years and a half before another Great War occurred. And then Uchiha Madara was born with the legacy, equivalent to the first legendary warrior. He also furnished another calm. It was like the heroes were only born to bring peace. Every great war after another a hero was born and vanish along with the war with the exception of the last hero. It was foreign to see a hero born in time of peace, a calm...

An Uchiha family gave birth to a child that held the legendary sharingan eyes of Uchiha Madara and the hero before him. The boy grew regularly. He obtained a rigid body that protected him, govern him safety if a katana pierce him. Broad shoulders and most definitely the sharingan to help fight against the harsh torture if ever capture by bandits. But as his mentor watch him grow into a powerful young adult, a drastic change took custody of the young hero. The boy who was born to bring peace became selfish, tired of his duties and desired power only for himself—he turned against the Hyuga Tennō and broke his bonds. He became a warlord and endowed suffering and killing instead of furnishing peace.

Before the omen of the warlord, the same Uchiha family gave birth to their second child—only that he carried the same onyx eyes like every Uchiha with no area of expertise. As he grew, he too became strong and built a strong body differently from other normal Uchiha warriors—his was like his aniki's.

With the occurrence of his warlord aniki, the younger son unpredictably developed the sharingan eyes on his own. And it was said from the prophecy that this specific era will occur. Where two brothers will duel and one will stand and hold the true power of the eternal mangekyo sharingan eyes.

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Instead of a white kimono Hinata settle for black thinking it will match the theme of the place she was attending. The sun shone beautifully above the Kōshitsu Household, but in her current location, the disarray gray clouds offered a light shower making the day gloomier for her. Hinata didn't lie when she asked Kurenai to dress her all in black; black wardrobe, black zori with a thong between her toes socks covered with magnificent brocade, black accessories, everything black except the bright bouquet of chrysanthemums and her woven basket she carried. The duo was behind schedule caused by Hinata's late request for the florist to make a chrysanthemum bouquet the night before since the hectic shop was arranging flowers for her own weddings.

"We're here…" Hinata announced, staring at the steel gate that held the iron gates together. How long has it been since her last visit to this isolated place? Years? Maybe even a decade as she tried to remember the age she last saw the initial H on the steel arch. Kurenai couldn't keep them waiting for today as time wasn't on their side and without hesitation, she explained, "Kōtaishihi…we only have a few minutes to spare."

"Hai!" Hinata smiled and step into the Hyuga cemetery, Kurenai in tow. Both females stared at each tomb stone as they pass by watching grimes of sand scatter across the names imprint onto the tombstones. The train of Hinata's black cardigan lined behind her making the dried posy stems on the ground look rather lively like the posy she carried. As the duo move farther into the heart of the cemetery, they felt rather cold and neither said anything as they made their way to her parent's gravestone.

"Otou-sama, okaa-sama," Hinata whispered, bending down to brush the dust and grime off the gravestone that belonged to the people she address. "Today is the day."

Hinata dust off the sand on her palm and settle her basket onto the ground except the posy. She carefully divided the chrysanthemums and placed two equal quantities of flowers above her parent's gravestone. Kurenai stood a few feet behind Hinata in silence, watching the Kōtaishihi unpack its contents from the basket.

"Gomenasai," Hinata apologized whilst bowing. "How long has it been, ne?"

Kurenai couldn't help herself but smile at Hinata's chosen words.

"Gomen, it took me so long to come give my blessings again…but it has been hard to keep up with the throne and maybe I finally understood why otou-sama barely had time for me…" Hinata offered a soft smile, "But today that hardship will be fixed! Okaa-sama, do you remember the story you use to tell me…? Although we can't see it, everyone has a red thread tied to their little finger and the other end of the thread is tied to the person who has the conjugal tie. Well, today, I hold the red thread and will stand in front of my conjugal tie."

There was a pause, a silent heartbeat. "I'm getting married."

Hinata never in her whole life packed so much, most times she pack enough just for her. She stared at the food warily before shoving them onto the gravestone with a sheer smile. Hinata was actually glad she brought enough to spare some for her and Kurenai. Her attention was gathered on the food presented to her parents, the hiyayakko tofu, umeboshi sour pickles, sushi, and the main dash, udon soup with original shincha matcha tea. All the food was cooked by Kurenai but Hinata was happy enough to brew the tea with a motherly figure, Uchiha Mikoto.

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It was early and Hinata tried her hardest to endure the cold temperature with the layer of kimonos she wore. Hinata stopped all her activities after Kurenai's morning visi and she decided to visit the compound off the border of the palace. She was determined to reach her destination without any accompany so she refuse and excuse any offer. Making her way down the lonely, misty road, Hinata stared to the hills that border the outer of her village and was sure she saw a clear figure standing, gazing with security at her parish.

Guard…?

Hinata shrugged it off and focus on the road, but what she didn't catch was the pair of eyes that stared into her parish with protection, has shift to look intently at her.

Am I early again…?

Hinata's head lift upward when she heard noises come from the house and her lips pull into a warm smile when the Uchiha matriarch open the doors to her lovely home. She was a beautiful figure just like Hinata's own okaa-san and she still look wonderful with her hair and cream embroiled flowers apron on her waist. Her sudden appearance startled Hinata since it was usually the head household Uchiha who open the doors for her. "O-ohayo Uchiha-san," Hinata stammered, embarrassed for surprising the woman.

The Uchiha matriarch perch her head against the door frame and smile warmly at Hinata, "Ohayo Hinata Kōtaishihi Denka, looking for Fugaku-san?"

"A-ano…well, not really…actually," Hinata beam. "I'm here to brew tea. If Mikoto-san is unavailable, it's fine."

The Uchiha matriarch nod once and stalk back into her home but turned back to Hinata. "Irasshaimase." She smiled.

"Ojamashimasu." Hinata comb a strand of hair behind the shell of her ear then followed her in.

There was a counter at the other end of the kitchen, running from one length to the other with a pair of white bleeding heart flowers hanging upside down from above the ceiling.

"Fugaku is in the study hall reading over some scrolls," Hinata listen to Mikoto explain while the Uchiha matriarch led them to her station. "And Sasuke-kun left to scrutinize the area," she turned and smile at Hinata. "Did you see him on the way here? He left just a few minutes ago before your visit."

I did see someone on the hills… Hinata thought.

"I thought Sasuke-kun forgot something and return to fetch it, but when I opened the door, Hinata Kōtaishihi Denka…you gave me a surpise!" She laughed at her own statement; Hinata soon joined the light environment and laughed.

"So what will it be today Hinata Kōtaishihi Denka?"

"Shincha matcha tea please!"

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For a moment she rested inside herself, and found a determination beyond any that she had before, a will and purpose. "I will be a great Hyuga Naishinnō, okaa-san and I will enhance the monarchy, purify it with beauty!"

It was the first Kurenai ever heard Hinata say so many words in one sentence. It was like a speech, or more like a commitment? But Kurenai was proud of Hinata's new fortitude and knew her words were true from the look in her eyes. Suddenly Hinata turned to Kurenai and waved her over. Shaking her hand, Kurenai kindly reject Hinata's offer but was cut off guard when Hinata held her hand and tug her forward. "I can't be the only one to speak, ne Kurenai. We did come a long way and the request for an approval was hard…"

With a gentle push given by Hinata, Kurenai cleared her throat and spoke, "H-Hello, Tennō and Kōgō."

Hinata's smile widened at hearing a new voice instead of her own. The silence in the Kōshitsu Household was enough for Hinata. She will go on for days listening to her own conscience, her own whispering voice and the slightest of sound from another presense was like music in her ears. A single word was better than her own, and the silence. "She was so loving, Yuhi-san. I want to be just like her."

Kurenai bow whilst dusting off the last remain of grimes off the tombs. She kneeled in front of the food and begin to serve the unseenable, listening to Hinata. "Okaa-san, Yuhi-san has been nice to me since the day you assign her to me…" Hinata included, "She's been protecting me and she has become a very good friend."

"Arigato Tennō and Kōgō…for blessing me with Hinata." Kurenai didn't have to turn back and witness to prove her assumption was correct, she could sense the tears Hinata was holding back. "I am very thankful of her…and you may entrust the throne to her."

Kurenai turned in time to be engulfed by Hinata which shocked her to see the Kōtaishihi out of character and more like a child. "Arigato, Yuhi-san!"

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The hill was slightly steep but the duo continued forward. The forest was stunning with its forest pine trees. But the downfall was the snow. It slow down the duo with each passing steps, deepening their feet into the snow since neither wore snow shoes. The duo wore a cape but it was also used as a blanket to keep their body warm with an attach hood that covered a share of their face. The bizarre increase frequently while the two tighten the cape onto their body.

"Hey!" The elder male a few yards behind yelled through the storm, "We should find camp ay! We just pass a cave awhile ago!"

But he didn't listen and quickly disappear behind a haze of pouring rain. The older male couldn't object but to chase after him. But really he wanted to toss the arrogant male over his shoulder and throw him into the cave but—they—NO, only the younger male have to survive. But maybe in second thought, he turned back to the direction of the cave.

The previous Tennō will definitely be displeased if I leave the boy… He pondered.

With a quick weary sigh and a scratch behind the head, the mentor disappeared through the chaotic storm as he dash in search of the young adult. The vicious rain above his head made it hard to run in a straight line. Several times he ran alongside soft melting snow like an experience skier, flipping and bursting through a torrent of snows.

Through the haze, he quickly spotted him not too far away, the massive swell of snow making it just as difficult for him to see. But right before he can yank the male, the ground started to shake and tremble.

SPLINTER… BREAK… CRACK!

The duo watched the ground fall apart as trees suddenly sink into earth. The land fracture and separate into two with whatever planted in between falling and collapsing. They watched the rushing snow at the forefront promptly rushing towards them—avalanche!

BAM… SMACK… BOOM!

"RUN RIKU!?"

Riku turn swiftly and follow the direction of his mentor.

"CAVE!" The older man watch Riku nod in understanding and both dodge whatever came their way. Riku huff heavily while his body was in motion. Forearms constantly shift and legs were comparable to a cheetah. Dodging—skiing—and leaping develop into a routine during fleeing the avalanche. Riku slightly turn his attention towards his mentor and was astound.

Jiraiya-sensei may be old but he can run as if he was TWENTY! It was unbelievable but also understandable. Riku smirk and direct his attention back to his full front but widen his eyes at the sight. He will shortly encounter a huge semi-boulder! Riku quickly hold a hand up through the passing trees and quickly grasped a large tree branch and strongly motion his body to swing for a leap.

Jump over it, jump over it, jump over it! Riku chant in his mentality.

He held in his breath as his body became light equivalent to air. He watched threads of his rich long ash-brown hair fly across his face as he soar in thin air. His body arch and his legs were ahead of his figure. He abruptly positioned his hand for the finale of landing just when he saw he had leaped over the rock.

BOOM!

Riku land perfectly onto the snowy gound and took notice of the cave behind him. So what he leaped over was a lump of the cavern's top entrance. Riku watched Jiraiya ski abruptly his direction as the two quickly dashed into the cave.

BAM!

Huff-Huff… The duo watched the avalanche slowly cover the entrance of the cave like a gentle waterfall.

"So what do we do now?" Riku asked.

Jiraiya point the other direction and respond, "We find another way out."

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Hinata curl herself in a ball, sitting on the edge of the closed window staring into the ocean she may never encounter. She can only watch from afar, watch the currents push into the shore before it sail back into the sea and imagine, fill in the sound of the blue ocean that calm her completely from the event that will occur. If anyone was watching carefully, they can see her bare skin through the sheer robe she wore, her soft skin every male desire to touch. She was everything ranging from beauty to intelligent, exceeding everything in any way. Hinata who belonged to herself before is now offered and given to a complete stranger she met less then four encounters. They threw her away. No one asked for her opinion, what was announced, she followed through without judging and defending herself. She knew, everyone knew she was not diagnosed with silence, mute, but no one cared to ask her since she didn't bother to use the voice she had. So everyone mistook her silence for agreement.

Hinata slide off the support lumber and trail to stand in front of her elegant mirror. She eyed her loose robe, starting from her cleavage, down her curves and ended on her flat smooth stomach. Her toes could be seen down the line of her nose. Looking back up, her reflection stared in return as if mocking her, perhaps taunting her. "What?" she asked agitated at her own figure from across, trip in another dimension.

She received no response at the end except her own echoing voice. Tearing away after she learned she hate herself, Hinata's gentle fingers slowly stroke alongside her waist upward but immediately stop beneath her ear. Her skin was already a pale complexion and having to beautify herself will make her look like the first snow that fall three days ago. Pathetic… she thought whilst brushing her hand over the oak table letting her hand sense for the different size bowls. Uhm, powder… Her hand move to the next bowl to feel the texture, liquid? Ah, bintsuke-abura! Gathering a few of the moist material onto her fingers, she start to apply it onto her bare chest and work her way up to her face. After settling away the bintsuke-abura bowl, she carefully mixed a good amount of white powder with water until it turned into paste. Hinata settle her okaa-san's bamboo brush in her hand and drip the horse hair into the cool paste. She held an antique mirror behind her back and carefully traced an outline of a W with the brush making sure the interior W was exposed of her real skin color, the most supposedly erotic area. Every spot excluding the W on the nape was fully covered, even the earlobes where Hinata carefully powder with the remaining paste.

Perfection makes perfect with a well engrave W. And now with her face completely well cover in white paste, Hinata additionally put on a special foundation to remove access of moist. She stared at her ghostly reflection while her hands held a lit match over a candle to lite it. She didn't waste time to bring the charcoal pencil and let it burn in the flames of the candle. Swiftly she took the pencil out and blew off the remaining flames, conveying the hot tip to her face and applying the burning charcoal onto her arch eyebrows.

Lastly she used a small brush and applied her lips with a bright rosy red color.

Done… her conscience said the dreadful word that made Hinata curl back into a ball on the ground. Her hair was in a mess with less decoration hanging in all direction. She was ashame and lonely, hiding her small face in her hands. I hate this, why can't I just die!

The pain was suffocating her, slowly killing her. It has been hard on Hinata who endure her surname. The memories of the Hyuga clan that float around every location in the Kōshitsu Household. Wherever she was at, she can see illusions of her family member attending to their whereabouts and these visions were certainly unhealthy. Hinata slide her hands to cover her trembling lips that threat to release her strangled cries. And one knocked from the door bolt Hinata out of her trance.

"I was asked to be summon…?" Is that Kurenai's voice? She was order to help dress Hinata in her shiromuku kimono.

"Hai!"

Kurenai enter the theatrical aura and immediately sense the emotions linking off of Hinata. Both just stared at eachother without word exchange knowing nothing need to be brought up. Kurenai smile to loosen the tense aura and quickly retrieve the shiromuku kimono hanging by the closet. She flared it open and signal Hinata to turn whilst having her arms slipped into the sleeve before she brought the layer over Hinata's shoulder. Hinata tug to straighten the kimono layer and suddenly stop alerting Kurenai who was flattering the bottom of the shiromuku. She watched the Kōtaishihi Denka draw circles on the shiromuku uraeri and finally spoke since her entrance, "What's bothering you, Kōtaishihi Denka…?"

"The arranged marriage."

Kurenai bellow a heavy sigh before placing her palms on each of Hinata's shoulders, "This is what your parents want."

"To marry me off to a stranger?"

"No," she tried to find the words that will be understanding. "To protect Royalty."

"B-But…"

Kurenai gave a reassuring smile, "Our Kōgō and Tennō, your okaa-san and otou-san was loved by the people…come on, let me finish."

Hinata stared at her reflection as she put on the last shiromuku layer. She hated herself for being born to be a Kōtaishihi. Raised to obey the Royal rules, raised to be a palace puppet, raised to be cast away from everybody, raised to be a woman in high-class—what Hinata really saw in her own reflection was a monster, a fake, a toy. This wasn't her, the real girl hid beneath the layers of kimono she wore, the real girl was behind the mask she had on.

Kurenai lastly settled the former Kōgō's tsuge gushi comb in Hinata's hair. And Hinata smiled to hide her hatred towards everything when Kurenai stared with her at their reflection.

"Ready?" Hinata made small nods and she was led out of the room to the ceremony. The drum's tempo in the same pace of Hinata's unsettled heart. There were several times she will open and shut her eyes praying for everything to go away. Indeed she was a puppet. Even the way she walked had to be right and perfect. Her hands were settled above her belly and hidden under the large sleeves.

Inhale… Exhale… Inhale…

The volume of the drums tempo louder the closer she was to her destination.

Bu-thump… Bu-thump… Bu-thump…

Now she can hear the cheering, the blessings from the people—her people inside the palace walls, the walls that captivate her.

She watch two servants open the door as light poured into the hallow halls. It was bright and blinding, hurting Hinata's eyes. It took her a few minutes to adjust her vision to actually see the many civilians cheer in hooray.

"AH," the tracking warrior pointed a finger at Hinata. "Here comes the Kōtaishihi Denka!"

Sasuke's eyes left Kiba and now locked on the Kōtaishihi.

His stoic expression was on even from seeing her fragile figure. She was beautiful and there wasn't any other word to describe her. Carefully walking to her groom with her pale skin practically glowing in the artificial light, face flushed and looking innocent was charismatic. There's nothing wrong about her except she was beautiful. But he wasn't interested because there is no way the Royal rules will allow a peasant to be loved by a Royal Naishinnō. And no doubt will she even pay him heed. Sasuke smirk and continue to scrutinize danger with his sharingan eyes. And as the ceremony continued, Sasuke watched his good friend, the Shinnō Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto accept the hands of his bride Kōtaishihi Hyuga Hinata, an arranged marriage between the Namikaze Uzumaki and Hyuga's last bloodline.

And this is just the beginning of the Prophecy~

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Inspired by Deviantart Artist: Warrior-of-Ruin