Disclaimer: this is for the whole story, I don't own Naruto.
Warning: Naruto is a female in this story called Naruko and characters will be OOC.
This is my first fanfiction, please take care of me.
Title: Love Story
Chapter One: Ruthless Reality
This story sets in the old times in the country of Konoha. The country of Konoha was a prosperous one of anarchy where the king and his noble subjects are situated in the centre of the country, known as the Konoha Kingdom with a wall surrounding it. Beyond this wall was the common folk of Konoha and protecting the common folk from the outside the country is a grand wall-like gate and this grand gate marked the territory of Konoha's territory.
At the moment Konoha is at its fourth king, King Minato Uzumaki; also referred to as Hokage Minato or Yondaime. At the start, King Minato ruled the country with his Queen Sadako Haruno but as a year passed ex-Queen Tsunade gave permission for King Minato to take in concubines because Queen Haruno failed to give birth. Immediately, King Minato had taken Lady Kushina as a concubine and the next year both women happened to fall pregnant.
Following months, two beautiful girls were born. Sakura Uzumaki, daughter of Queen Haruno was born on the 28th of March and Naruko Uzumaki, daughter of Lady Kushina was born on October the tenth. Although, they were not male heirs, Tsunade was satisfied and Minato gave declaration that Queen Haruno and Lady Kushina were to be in charge of the domains of the kingdom. However, that didn't stop Tsunade from bestowing concubines upon King Minato, in hopes of a male heir.
Unbeknownst to all was what fate had installed for the two infants.
Eight years later
"Naruko, look at my dress! Isn't it just dazzling?" cried the eight year old child as she turned a full circle in front of the mirror. "It's the most perfect dress! I'm going to wear it when we meet Sasuke!"
At this Naruko looked down at her comfortably plain dress. "It really does suit your pink hair, Sakura-chan." Naruko admired and smiled, "But you do realize that we'll be meeting Uchiha-san tomorrow, right?"
"Of course! But haven't you heard the girls talk? Apparently, he is so cool, everyone wants a piece of him! Being a princess is so inconvenient sometimes! I mean, just because they're not princesses but noble ladies they get more freedom then us!" Sakura huffed in front of her mirror.
"That, I have to agree with you. I wish we could be free from this golden cage." Naruko said softly as she looked out the window.
"Keep that wish to yourself! I want to be a princess; I just don't see why I have to miss out on fun because of it!"
Naruko smiled, "Speaking of fun, I better get going. Iruka is probably looking for me, so he can dress me up. He's probably heading over here as we speak. Do me a favour and tell him, I'm playing with Kyuubi at the northern gardens."
"You're going to be at the western gardens, aren't you?"
At this, Naruko left but not before sticking her tongue out and winking at her childhood close friend, Sakura.
Naruko wandered off to one of the northern gardens. She didn't intentionally mislead Sakura but due to incidents in the past, Naruko had come to realize that what Sakura didn't know wouldn't hurt her and waved off the feeling of guiltiness. Naruko really didn't want to play dress up with Iruka, as much as she adored the man.
That then brought her to the thoughts of 'Sasuke Uchiha'. From the rumours of her friends, Naruko was impressed because the boy showed great talents and skills at such a young age. However, the boy also showed great coldness and arrogance to others, at least that was what she gathered. The other girls thought that it was charming and made it seem as though he was all-mighty. But Naruko thought this was a good example of there being two sides to every story; and Naruko saw a totally different story than the other girls.
As Naruko kept walking deeper into the gardens, she failed to keep track and as a girl of her size, she came to realize that the garden was big and was easy to get lost in. Standing still, Naruko wondered if she should yell for help but being the stubborn girl she was, she didn't want to appear to be stupid much less hopeless. So she walked towards a tree, looked around and decided to stay put until she thought of a plan.
The tree!
Naruko looked up and smiled a big smile as she found that the branches, barks, stumps of that particular tree made it possible to climb up! Pushing her sleeves up, Naruko took a hold of the branch and gave it a good pull.
Good, it's stable.
With that, Naruko decided to climb the tree in hopes of finding her way out of the gardens. However, Naruko should have known just how dangerous the feat was for an eight year old child. Hence, on the third branch up, the branch Naruko happened to be standing upon and deciding on whether she should grab a hold of the fourth, snapped! Naruko made a yelp before she made a grab for the fourth branch which she luckily made and clenched her eyes.
The branch feel but apart from that nothing else could be heard and Naruko slowly opened her eyes. She clenched her hands onto the branch and the branch moved lower, Naruko clenched her eyes, scared the branch would break.
And finally, Naruko cried, hopelessly and helplessly.
Fortunately, like a miracle, footsteps could be heard from below and Naruko's cried quieted down.
"Is someone there? I thought I heard someone crying…" a young boy cried out.
"I wasn't crying!" Naruko yelled back and yelped, as she realized her yelling made the branch shake. "I'm over here! Please, help me!"
The young boy walked towards the tree where the cries came from and looked upwards. "What the…?"
"Don't look up! You pervert!"
"What? I can't help it! And it wasn't like I saw anything!" The young boy shouted back towards the girl.
"Liar!" Naruko shouted back.
And with that the branch broke and sent Naruko sailing down towards mother earth with her eyes closed bracing for the impact that never came.
The young boy broke her fall by attempting to catch her but such a feat was impossible for a boy of his age and both children were lying on the ground, the girl sprawled on top of the boy.
"Shiiit."
"Ow…."
"Man, you must weigh a lot…" the young boy said to cover how much pain he was in.
Naruko sent a quick glare to the boy but didn't say anything, as the boy did save her life but as she tried to remover herself off the boy, she made a loud cry.
"Ouch!" Naruko made a grab for her ankle and found she had twisted her ankle. Wanting to cry but forcing herself not to, she held back her sobs and moved off the boy. "Thank you for saving me."
The young boy attempted to get up and muttered. "Not like I had a choice in the matter."
Sending another glare to the boy, Naruko slumped her shoulders and held back her sobs. How am I supposed to get back now? This boy doesn't even want to help me, I can tell he wants to get away from me as soon as possible.
"Thanks anyways. I really do owe you one but you can leave if you want to, I'm just going to stay here…" Naruko attempted to smile a reassuring smile. And do what?
The boy was surprised to hear that. He was sure the girl would make him stay or escort her back or anything to make him stay with her but not this.
Naruko looked at the boy as the boy stared back. Wasn't her reassuring smile, reassuring enough? But Naruko looked on but at the very last minute she felt a blush coming onto her face and her gaze dropped to the grass whilst her hands started to pull grass out from the grounds near her ankles so she could discreetly cover her ankles from the boy.
He's pretty handsome.
The young boy smirked at the girl's antics following towards her hands where she was pulling grass out near her feet. Her ankle…
"Shouldn't you be leaving?" Naruko questioned, impatiently.
But instead, the young boy reached towards the girl's ankle.
In reflex, the girl moved her leg the one with the sprained ankle and gave a loud cry.
"Ow! What are you doing?"
"Your ankle... it's broken and you can't put weight onto it, right?" the boy questioned, even though he knew the answer.
Looking away from the boy's gaze, Naruko replied, "No, it isn't!"
"Really?" the boy asked, raising an eyebrow.
Naruko pouted and turned her gaze upon the boy, "It doesn't matter! It's got nothing to do with you! Just go!" I know you want to.
Naruko turned her gaze back upon her stupid ankle and held back her sobs. Whilst mentally yelling at herself for being so stubborn and screaming at her one chance of getting out of this garden/predicament.
Sigh.
"I'm only giving you one chance, hop on." And the boy crouched in the position of a person ready to give another a piggy-back ride.
Naruko was in shock, she honestly thought the boy would leave her behind. With a big relief smile, she nodded. Not daring to upset the child, knowing that the child was really going out of his way to help her. however, she couldn't help but mumble a "Thank you."
"Hn."
The young boy carried the girl out of the northern gardens and towards a bench and sat her down softly. "I'll go eat a maid for a first aid kit."
But before the boy could leave, Naruko's hand quickly grabbed a hold of the boy's sleeve.
I knew it! She is like every other girl, why do girls have to be so clingly?
"Urm…I know, I'm already pushing my limits but can you make sure to just grab the first aid kit and that no one else will come? I already learnt first aid, I can do it myself. Please!"
The young boy stared at the girl again, as she unknowingly proved him wrong again and nodded.
Seeing the boy agree, the girl smiled her first honest smile towards the boy and made a small bow, in thanks.
Before the girl could catch the faint blush on the boy's cheeks, the young boy quickly ran off to get the first aid kit.
Not before long, the boy came back with the first aid kit but instead of leaving; the boy got down to his knees and began doing the first aid treatment required for Naruko's ankle.
Naruko's eyes widen, "You really don't have to! I can do it! I possibly can't.." and she made a move to move her ankle. "Ouch!"
"Stop moving!" the young boy ordered, keeping his gaze upon the swollen ankle.
Naruko was attempted to shout at the boy but bit her lip. "Thanks."
Soon the boy was able to bandage the girl's ankle and started to put away the first aid kit.
"Wow… you did a really good job on the bandages! If it was me, it'll be a mess." Naruko gushed, admiring the handiwork.
"Yeah, I kind of figured." The boy smirked.
"Man, can't you just take the compliment and leave it at that?" Naruko exasperated.
"It's who I am." The boy replied.
"And it's so very charming!" Naruko replied sarcastically which made the boy smirked, as he took a seat besides the girl on the bench.
"So, what were you doing in that tree?"
"Me?" Naruko questioned, blushing from embarrassment.
"I don't know or see anyone else who was just in a tree."
Another glare from Naruko.
"Well, I'm not going to tell you!"
"Don't you think I deserve to know?"
Another glare.
"You promise not to laugh?" Naruko looked at the boy.
The boy smirked. "Sure, why not?" The boy didn't laugh much anyways and he didn't remember a time where a girl managed to make him laugh, not including his mother of course. He never truly laughed at a girl before because most of the time, the girl was just stupid.
"Well…" He did promise, so I guess I have to tell. "…."
"Well? What were you doing in the tree?"
"Uh…" He is so going to laugh! "Oh, you k-know, h-hanging about?" Naruko spluttered cheeks red. It was better than because I got lost! Wasn't it?
The boy choked, at the pun and half chuckles could be heard.
"Hey! You promised you wouldn't laugh!"
The boy continued before he took a breath to calm himself down. "Yeah, I promised. But what you said is a joke, hence, I laughed." The young boy replied, not mentioning that this was the first time he laughed at a joke told by a girl. "The truth, please."
Naruko glared at the boy again and knew there was no way around it. "Ikindagotlost."
"What?"
"I don't like repeating myself."
"You kind of got lost? Are you serious?"
"I didn't say that!" Naruko retaliated.
"….."
"…."
And this time more chuckles could be heard again but less restrained.
"You promised, you wouldn't laugh! Teme!"
"Hahahahaha, what a dobe to get lost and in a garden!"
"Teme!" Naruko yelled and playfully slapped the young boy in the arm.
"Ouch! What the hell? Did you just hit me?" The young boy looked incredulously at the girl.
"I can do it again!" Naruko said, as she raised her hand.
The young boy was taught a billion times to never hit a girl. "Fine, fine! I'll stop laughing! Just don't hit me again!"
"Hpmh!" and Naruko smiled triumphantly.
"Dobe." The young boy muttered under his breath.
Whack!
"What the hell! Stop that!" the boy cried.
"Like you can make me!" Naruko cried and stuck her tongue out.
"How old are you?"
"Like you can count." Naruko countered.
"Why you…!"
"What? Are you going to hit me?"
"What? I'm not going to hit a girl!"
"You sexist!"
"You want me to hit you?"
"Uh, no… not really…" Naruko shook her head sheepishly.
And both children found themselves laughing, enjoying each other's company very much.
It wasn't until the bell chimed, notifying the children of the time and they both realized it was getting late.
They had probably spent a few hours on that bench chatting.
"I really have to get going. Iruka is probably mad at me." Naruko said and slowly tried to get up only to lose her balance and nearly fall over.
And only to have the boy catch her.
"Man, you're really hopeless."
This then provoked Naruko to poke the boy in the sides. "I'm fine. My quarters aren't far from here and I know where I am now. So I can go back myself."
The boy knowing well enough now, how stubborn the girl was and seeing that the girl was telling the truth, nodded. "I too, should be going. I had some errands to run but I had to play hero saving a monkey from a tree."
"I'm not a monkey!"
"Didn't say you were one." The young boy teased.
Knowing when she lost, Naruko smiled. "Thank you for everything." Naruko said and bowed, reluctantly taking her leave.
Keeping his gaze on the retreating back of the girl, the boy bid farewell. "Bye."
Naruko turned around and smiled, "See you."
"I can't believe you sent me on a goose chase! Sakura-hime said, you were in the western gardens, so I knew not to look there. But then again, maybe you knew, I wasn't going to look there, so you were there! ARGH!" Iruka blabbered whilst combing Naruko's hair.
"That is for me to know and for you to find out." Naruko smiled sympathetically to Iruka.
"You know, I'm only 18 and the other day I found a white hair amongst my hair."
"I heard that that shows wisdom!"
Iruka laughed, "What am I going to do with you?"
Unlike all the other princesses, Naruko-hime was sly, sneaky, cunning and charming. But also unlike all the other princesses, Naruko-hime was also kind, understanding and selfless.
Iruka adored the princess and he vowed to serve no other.
Naruko too, adored Iruka because all her previous caretakers were always unhappy with her behaviour but Iruka accepted her. The previous caretakers wanted her to look out for her own interest which also meant looking after theirs. There was an unwritten rule that before you punish one's servant you must look at who the master is. However, Naruko didn't and didn't want to think that way. Therefore when the caretakers took advantage that they were Naruko-hime's servants or Naruko-hime's title, Naruko would dismiss them.
At first, Iruka had scolded her and worked hard into making Naruko into one of the princesses/noble ladies but he never crossed the line like the others, so Naruko put up with it.
It was only until one day that Iruka caught sight of Naruko practicing her calligraphy and the piece of paper was filled with the character of loneliness. Even at such a small age, Naruko's calligraphy was beautiful and one wouldn't notice the contrast between the word lonely being written so beautifully and perfect. But if one were to look at the child, you wouldn't miss the loneliness in the scene surrounding the princess.
Having a king for a father, having a father with 16 offspring, seven of those 16 offspring were below the age of three; and a second-in-queen as a mother who's duty is to be at the king's or the queen's side at all times; leaves their child lonely.
Iruka saw the kindness and beauty of the princess but knew Naruko wouldn't survive against the future conniving princesses/ladies to come and Naruko wouldn't be able seduce a prince or a worthy man with her morales. Hence, Iruka worked hard to change Naruko but now…
Iruka recognized that expression anywhere, the expression he used to wear all the time when he lost his parents and was forced to work for the kingdom. But unlike him, Naruko worked towards building herself a character whilst Iruka pretended to be happy, a prankster etc to attract attention; it wasn't him.
From that day on, Iruka reverted to back to what he was comfortable of being, a mother hen and it happened to brightened Naruko-hime's days by a lot. Naruko-hime stopped treating Iruka as a caretaker and treated him as friend, as an elder to respect which was all unheard of but as much as Iruka protested, Naruko-hime would have it no other way.
"Iruka-sensei…" Naruko struggled to start the conversation.
"Naruko-hime, you know you can tell me anything."
Naruko blushed. "I know this may sound silly but I think I might h-have a cc-crush…"
"WHAT A CRUSH?" Iruka's eyes nearly fell.
Naruko nodded.
"Tell me who and I'll have him poisoned!" Iruka replied straightforwardly.
"If that's the case, why would I tell you?"
"You MUST tell me!" Iruka went on his knees and looked up at the princess.
Naruko opened her mouth. "…"
Iruka urged the princess impatiently.
"Uh…actually, I don't even know his name." Naruko said, relishing in the discovery herself.
"WHAT? Naruko! Did you just happen to see the boy? Which explains why you don't know his name?"
"Well, no actually…" Naruko sheepishly replied.
Naruko then relayed the story about having the young boy save her.
"Your ankle!" Iruka then dived to inspect the ankle.
"It only hurts when I put weight onto it, should be fine in two days." Naruko reassured. "So, what should I do? He was very handsome, although a bit of a teme but that made him more real. If you know what I mean." Naruko blushed and smiled to herself. "His hair was black and so were his eyes! His skin was pale but not the unwell kind!"
"Hime, what kind of clothes was he wearing?" Iruka asked like he was treading on thin ice.
"Nothing fancy actually. I think training clothes." Naruko replied good-naturally.
"And you said, he had to leave because he had errands to run?"
"Yeah. So?"
Iruka didn't want to break the news but knew he had to. "If my assumptions are correct, the boy is a servant boy."
Naruko deadpanned. "But..bbut, I think I really really really like him!" Naruko cupped her face wanting to hide her face.
"It doesn't matter. You are a princess and he is a mere servant; it's impossible. It's a good thing you just met him, don't ever see him again! It'll only make things worse, Naruko-hime." Iruka explained.
"Why…?" Naruko asked with trembling lips.
With that Naruko got up and headed towards her chambers, having all her energy drained from her within those minutes. With tears watering in her eyes, Naruko bidded Iruka, "I won't see him again. Sweet dreams, Iruka." And left.
As much as Naruko didn't want to be a princess, she had responsibilities and expectations to uphold; and Naruko saw that as the life of a princess.
Iruka comforted himself that this was for the best, even if this was Naruko's first love.
"Fuck!" Neji cried, as he once again dropped his sword. "What did you take? You haven't lost to me yet! Usually, I can win against you three out of seven rounds. It's like you're unstoppable today."
Sasuke smirked. "Hn."
"That's it. Time out." Neji said as he headed for the steps under the shade and took a seat.
Sasuke smirked, putting away his sword and following his sparring partner.
"Something must have happened which made you late. Something entertaining." Neji observed.
"Hn."
"Why don't you share? We may not be the closest of friends but we're all each other have."
The family circumstances behind Neji and Sasuke are quite familiar. Neji Hyuuga came from the Hyuuga family and they have a family tradition that those belonging to the second branch of the household are below the first branch. And fate just so decided for Neji to come from the second branch which resulted with him and his family of three to be discriminated against from the rest of the family. Whilst Sasuke Uchiha was the unnecessary second son of the Uchiha family. Sasuke's brother Itachi was perfection amongst perfection which left Sasuke in the shadows.
"I met a girl." Sasuke revealed.
At this Neji raised a fine eye-brow. "And here, I thought we were similar. All girls are the same! So conceited and annoying."
At this, Sasuke smiled.
And Neji's eyes widened, Sasuke rarely ever smiled. "Tell me more."
Sasuke smirked and relayed his encounter with the interesting girl, relishing in the recent memory.
"She's definitely an interesting one." Neji noted, after hearing the encounter.
"When she fell from the tree, I tried to catch her. She reminded me of a falling angel." Sasuke smiled. "Blonde sunshine hair and innocent sky-blue eyes."
"Sounds like a beauty. What's her name?" Neji commented.
"You wouldn't dare." Sasuke hissed. She's mine.
Sighs.
"Sasuke, think clearly. The girl was wearing a plain dress not fit for appearance, she was climbing a tree, she spoke back to you and she mentioned one of the heads of the servant departments." Neji stopped to let the facts sink into Sasuke. "She's a mere servant girl."
"Shit." Sasuke muttered, as the realization sunk. How could he miss that connection?
"Do you know her name?" Neji questioned again. Neji not being in the first branch of the family, from time to time had its perks.
"No, I don't. It doesn't matter anyway." Sasuke spat.
Sasuke would never risk damaging his family name, he can't afford any mistakes.
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