Secrets of the Heart

Silver's Author's Note: This is a female Sasuke x Shisui story and a collaboration effort between myself and celestia193. In this story Sasuke was born female and her name is Suki. The basic idea for this story and pairing was inspired by a request from a guest reviewer, but Celestia and I have put our own spin on it. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, we hope you enjoy this tale and reviews are always appreciated.

Disclaimer: We don't own Naruto or make any profit off of our fanfics.

Chapter 1

There was chaos in the streets as the young man ran with a heavy burden in his arms. The bundle itself was as light as a feather, but its importance soared without measure. It was one of two things in this world that he could and would save. Even if he hadn't been able to save his king and queen from the wrath of the people.

Shisui darts into an alley as a mob approaches, squeezing the bundle tight to his chest as he hides behind a number of fallen barrels. The capitol was under siege, the noble houses were falling to the sword, and in Shisui's heart there burned a flame of hatred for only one person.

Danzo.

That snake had betrayed his monarchs and set the populace into a frenzy, blaming the royal family for the war that had drained their people of much of their wealth. As if personal wealth was more important than keeping out the armies that would otherwise have razed the kingdom to the ground, and all of its people along with it.

But that didn't matter now, what mattered was seeing to it that the bundle in his arms was taken from the city and sent away where it would be safe. Where she would be safe.

Once the coast is clear, Shisui pulls his hood back over his head and conceals his features from sight as he strides quickly down the street running red with blood. The blood of his family, no doubt. His father had been in the palace when it was attacked, and getting Shisui out had been difficult enough. He knew that it was only a matter of time before his father's head fell, after he saw the lovely queen marched to the block.

Waiting for him at the end of the street with a farmer's cart and a pair of cleverly disguised royal horses, was Kakashi, their childhood sword-master and the master of the stables. Just as his best friend had said.

Shisui jogs to a stop, checking once more on the bundle in his arms before approaching his old sparring partner. He nods slowly, finding a single dark eye trained on him. "Wolf."

"Hawk." Kakashi's eyes travel over the youth holding the precious bundle to his chest. "You have her."

Nodding tiredly, Shisui carefully uncovers a head of short, hastily cropped spiky hair. He'd been sure to keep her head covered, lest she be recognized as an Uchiha, or worse, as the fleeing princess. That much had to be prevented at all costs.

Suki's lower lip had turned red from biting it so much, but she knew it was better than the alternative. Screaming or weeping would have attracted too much attention. So she had kept quiet the best way she knew how.

As long as she was with Shisui, she was safe. He was her brother's best friend. At least that's what she told herself as she tried not to cry during all the chaos. She was young, but Suki knew what an execution was. She had seen them marching her mother towards one and it had taken all Shisui's strength to hold back the sielntly screaming princess. The desire to save her had been strong, but Shisui's arms even at the still somewhat tender age of sixteen had been stronger.

Still, some things were just too powerful to quell and curiosity was one of them. "Why are you calling him a wolf? He's a person." She feels silent tears slide down her cheeks as she hiccups quietly.

Shisui glances down at the little girl in his arms and smiles painfully. "I know, but it's better not to say names out loud here. Names are dangerous. Think of it as…a nickname, a name that you give to a friend. He's got hair silver like a wolf, so I call him Wolf. I have eyes like a hawk, so he calls me Hawk."

"Does that mean you have pretty feathers and can fly like a hawk too?" Suki tilts her head as though she expected him to sprout wings. "Like an angel? Is that why Itachi likes you so much? Or perhaps Wolf could turn into a wolf and take care of the bad people." Yes, those sounded like excellent ideas to her!

A sharp pang strikes Shisui's heart. "…No, I'm not like an angel. But I promise that when you're safe, I will fly back to Itachi and make sure that he's safe too. Okay?" He pats her head and ruffles the spiky locks. "And Wolf is here to run away with you. He's going to take you somewhere where the bad people won't be able to find you."

"Okay." She brushes the tears away from her face and tries to act brave. Like Itachi told her to in front of big crowds. Only this time, it wasn't a crowd. It was Shisui. "You've never lied to me before. You'll find him?" Her lower lip quivers again as she bites back a sniffle. "You p-promise?"

"I promise." Shisui just hoped that he could keep that promise. "Now, I need you to promise me something too." He lifts her up a little higher and pulls the blanket back over her head like a hood. "Kakashi needs to hide you, so you need to promise to do exactly as I say, alright?"

She nods her head quickly. "I promise." Shisui was going to find Itachi for her. She could mind her manners at the very least. Someday, her brother would be king and then everything would be better!

"Good." Shisui hated what he was about to do, but for her sake, he had to. "Your name isn't going to be Suki anymore. It's Sasuke. And from now on, you're going to pretend that you're a boy." After all, anyone who was looking for the missing princess would be looking for a girl, not a boy.

"..." Suki looks at Shisui as if he'd grown another head.

"They're going to be looking for a little girl who looks like you. But if everyone thinks you're a boy, then you'll be safe." Shisui grimaces slightly, but knew that she'd at least be interested in the perks. "And boys get to learn how to use swords, too."

She had never expected Shisui to be so...sneaky. Making her promise like that and then asking her to pretend to be a boy. "You're trying to bribe me, but a promise is a promise." She sulks. "No one is going to believe I"m a boy though." No one was that stupid. Anyone who looked at her could tell she was a girl.

"They will if you make them believe it." Shisui tugs on a short lock of hair. "That's why Itachi cut your hair before we left. You're very pretty, but as long as you act and dress like a boy, people will believe it. You just have to convince them." And he could let Kakashi explain to her later the other measures she would have to go to to hide her gender. But it would work, especially once she was in another kingdom.

She smacks his hand away. "I look ugly!" Suki had worn her hair long like most girls. Everyone always said she had her mother's hair and the queen was the most beautiful woman that Suki had ever seen. Mikoto had spent many hours brushing it for Suki and that was how they would bond. "Don't remind me! I p-promised I would do what you said." Had it been anyone else, but Itachi, Suki wasn't sure she would have let them cut off most of her tresses. Even now, she felt disrobed with such short hair. Maybe she should just wear the stupid cloak until Shisui got back with Itachi.

"Wolf, let's go." There was nothing that could be done about it now though. Eventually, her hair would grow back and Suki would feel like herself again. She knew that, but she also wanted to get away. Away from it all. From her now stupidly short hair, away from the screaming, away from the blood, away from the fact her parents were dead. She wanted things to go back to the way they were! "Shisui needs to get my big brother. Itachi needs help." Running was the only way Itachi would ever be king.

Shisui sighs and presses a kiss to Suki's forehead. "Yes, I do. And I know that a promise is a promise. But you're still the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen." He smiles sadly and pulls hi own cloak well over his head. "Now, be on your best behavior for Wolf. And remember that no one can know that you're a girl." Not until the fighting was long over, and it was finally safe to go home. If it was ever safe to go home.

"I promised that I would do what you said." Suki pulls her hood tighter around herself as Shisui steps back. "So I will. Just bring my big brother back. He's the only one who can fix this."

"I'll miss you, Little Raven. I hope that we meet again someday." Shisui nods sharply to Kakashi. "Go. I'll send word if I can."

"Right." Kakashi cracks the reins and the horses take off, trundling down the hard dirt road leading away from the city. Away from the young man watching them leave, who turns his back and disappears back into the chaos of the kingdom's falling capitol.

Suki sits alone in the back of the cart, surrounded by vegetables and grain, nothing at all suspicious. She knew that screaming wouldn't help, no matter how badly she wanted to. She couldn't cry either. Not even to mourn her parents. She needed to keep quiet. Besides, Wolf would get her to safety and Suki would...become Sasuke. At least until Itachi returned.

It was incredible to witness the young man practicing with a sword in the tiny courtyard. Kakashi couldn't be prouder of the boy if he tried. In less than a decade, he had mastered every form that Kakashi could teach to a student, and was more than a match for any of the knights' squires at court.

Despite his middling standing, the girl would look on with hearts in their eyes as he walked by, and the boys' gazes would fill with admiration and envy in equal measure. Truly, Sasuke was a sight to behold.

If only the court knew that the modestly sized and well-trained young man was actually a talented young lady who'd inherited her mother's height, now nearing her eighteenth birthday as the summer grew warm and the air filled with the scent of ripening fruit.

A carefully padded and snugly laced leather jerkin hid the exiled princess' soft womanly curves well, and he made sure that she never left their home without it. Only their maid Shizune was permitted to help the princess dress, and know the secret of Sasuke's true gender. Kakashi was grateful for her discretion and loyalty.

Kakashi leans against the door frame, looking out towards the courtyard. "Don't you think you've practiced enough for today, Sasuke? Your hands will grow rough if you keep pushing yourself like this."

"No, I don't think I have." Suki doesn't stop the motion of her sword for even a second as she answers her 'father.' "Besides, calloused hands would only serve to make my disguise even more convincing. Would they not?" They were alone. She only half bothers to hide the bitterness in her voice.

Were it not for the changing of the seasons and her birthdays, Suki probably wouldn't have marked the passage of time at all. It felt like she had been here for an eternity.

It wasn't all bad. She was rational enough to know that her life was exceptional by almost any peasant's and even some of the nobility's standards. Kakashi was an excellent father figure and had left her wanting for nothing. And despite her true gender, he had never hesitated to teach her everything she ever could have wished to know about using a sword.

The fact of the matter was she was living a lie. Even her name was a lie and every time she gripped a sword or anyone greeted her, that point was driven home. These people admired Sasuke. To them, Suki Uchiha was likely dead and if not, well she'd surely never show her face anywhere for fear of an instant death.

"It's been almost ten years. He's probably dead." She didn't bother to elaborate as she swings her sword again, this time even more fiercely. "At this point, I think we both know that I'm the only heir left and one day, I'm going to take my kingdom back at the point of a sword."

No, they didn't know that, but Kakashi wouldn't get her hopes up only for it to turn out that way. If Shisui had tried to send word, it never reached them. Of course, Kakashi could come up with a number of reasons why word wouldn't have come, but he knew that Suki wouldn't accept the logic. These days, she only ran on logic in public, not in private, where everything was merely a swirl of emotion. "That may be so, but taking back a kingdom will require power, allies, and a compelling cause to keep those working alongside you focused. And if you do succeed, who would you have as your husband?" It was the single most important alliance that a princess could make.

"I do have something of a plan for that." Not a specific person she would marry, but a way to get around her gender so to speak. "It's rather elaborate and I do believe the public would lap it up. They lapped up Danzo's lies. So why wouldn't they believe my carefully crafted fairy tale?"

"Oh? And what is this plan of yours? If there is a way I could assist you…" Kakashi leaves the suggestion hanging. After all, Suki did tend to let her emotions rule her, and her plan would no doubt need some refining if she was to act on it.

"I'm sure you could assist me. Your reputation is a powerful asset." She pauses for a moment. Her father would likely disapprove. "I'll merely have Sasuke be part of the military campaign. He'll fight bravely and help us win because he was in love with the long lost princess." Still, she was confident it was the best approach. "He'll 'die' in combat and the princess will grieve in private long enough for me to grow my hair out again and look the part."

This is where she couldn't help, but smirk. "What man of station wouldn't want to console a beautiful young princess who had just lost the love of her life and had a kingdom to offer? Finding a husband won't be an issue, but I'm sure that you'll help me choose a good one out of the lot."

More like help her choose a compliant one. Kakashi doubted that she would settle for merely acting the part of a pretty queen sitting next to a king. No, after all that had happened, Kakashi knew that Suki would want to rule her parents' kingdom. "I see, that is quite the plan. If you would rather make it a little easier on yourself, it is traditional for a woman in grieving to wear a black veil over her hair. You would only need to grow it out for two, perhaps three months before you could simply hide it and reappear in public."

"Yes, that's true. The faster I can grow it, the better though." Suki had never bothered to protest after the first time she did with Shisui. Itachi had likely saved her life by cutting her hair short, but she hated it. Her short locks were a reminder of her family's tragic demise and the fall of a mighty monarchy.

She sighs trying to shove those thoughts to the side. Kakashi was right to speak of husbands. "It's a shame Jugo isn't of higher birth." He would have been an excellent match. He was loyal, strong, and for some reason...seemed perfectly to follow her despite the fact he was far larger than her. Usually, the larger ones needed beaten into submission before they recognized her leadership.

Honestly, Suki might even have taken Suigetsu. He was an amazing swordfighter and certainly not power hungry as far as politics went. It was merely a matter of making sure that he didn't say something to offend another monarch and accidentally trigger a war because he had no sense of etiquette. Wait, on second thought, Jugo was definitely the superior choice for that reason.

"I see that's an interesting preference. Were he appropriate to the station, I would have no protests." And Kakashi knew that if his princess married the young smith, she would certainly be able to retain her power. The young man was respectful and kind, and was a good friend to Suki, despite his low birth and not knowing of her true gender. Though sometimes, Kakashi did wonder whether those wise young eyes saw the deception or the truth. "Your friend Suigetsu has no mind for politics, but have you considered Lord Neji? He is the king's nephew and has a mind for politics and running a kingdom. It would also be a powerful alliance."

"I didn't mean to utter that out loud." Suki sighs. Oh well, the 'damage' was done. Her father would likely tease her about that comment for years to come. Good natured ribbing though.

As she was privately sulking over that fact, Suki almost didn't hear Kakashi's suggestion. "I honestly hadn't considered him, but those are all valid points." He was barely her senior, attractive, intelligent, and he had the royal pedigree necessary to be a 'suitable choice.' Though there was a reason she hadn't considered him. Neji was...aloof at best.

Still, maybe that didn't matter. Neji was a royal. He knew that heirs were a requirement and he'd make a good king. How much he'd listen to her advice was...debatable though. She honestly didn't know.

Kakashi's lips curve into a sly smile. "But I suppose that you would be irked to have a husband whose hair is so fine." She glared more than enough at the scissors whenever the time came every few months to trim that persistent mane of hers. And he'd seen her glare at the young lord's looks more than once. And with more than a hint of jealousy.

"Not really, mine is superior in its natural state and it's merely another way of ensuring an attractive line." Though hopefully, if they did wed, their children would be...warmer than their father. Perhaps it was merely a mask though. Some royals hid their true feelings behind polite facades. Neji's was just frostier than most.

"Mhm, if you say so." Kakashi chuckles at his young student. "Very well, I see some merit to your plan. Though you will need help if you plan to overthrow the emperor." It had taken a few years, but Danzo's revolutionary government had descended into chaos and the old viper had seized power, just as Kakashi expected he would. The man's ambitions knew no bounds.

"My plan is to make him die in agony, but I'm open to suggestions as to how to achieve that result." Suki doesn't bat an eyelash as she sheathes her sword.

Oh, the ways that one could make another die in agony. Kakashi was quite familiar with those. "A sword in the groin, a cup of poisoned wine, perhaps a public hanging or cutting the man's head off with a dull blade?"

"I'd already thought of those, I was speaking of the allies and getting close enough to do the deed more so than the method." Again, Suki was fortunate. Kakashi did make for a wonderful father figure. What other man would discuss such things with their 'daughter?'

"Well, that would depend entirely on your approach. Would you rather invade and wage war against the kingdom, or would you rather target him specifically as part of an armed infiltration? Either one could provide the battle you seek if your plan is to succeed." Kakashi knew for a fact that the kingdom was in no position to fight another war. Not now, after the first war had drained their wealth, and the revolution and civil unrest had taken many more lives. The army would take another two decades to fully recover.

"An infiltration would be ideal. I don't want to rule over a kingdom of ashes." Suki knew the state of the land of her birth. Realistically, she knew that it barely qualified as a shadow of its former glory, but it was her home and she was damned if she wasn't going to send Danzo straight to hell for what he had done. And then she would work to restore it.

"Then you'll need a small force of talented and trustworthy warriors." And Kakashi knew that when the time came, he would be one of them. "As well as a network of informants to keep you apprised of the situation."

"You're right and you'd best act like a normal father because I can hear footsteps. Loud ones. Suigetsu is coming. Likely with Jugo." Oddly enough, Jugo walked almost silently compared to Suigetsu despite being far larger. Not that Suigetsu was small, Jugo was just a giant of a man.

"Yes, I know." Kakashi chuckles and strides towards his 'son', ruffling the spiky locks affectionately. "You'd best go and see what they want, Sasuke. Though I imagine that I won't be seeing you for the rest of the day."

"Probably not. You know how Suigetsu gets." Suki smiles at Kakashi and saunters across the courtyard to meet her friends as her foster father retreats back into the house with his 'books'.

"Hey, Sasuke!" Suigetsu appears around the corner of the wall circling the courtyard, his face bedecked with a large grin. And behind him ambles Jugo, the gentle, quiet giant of a smith. "Did you hear the news!?"

"What news?" Suki tilts her head. She hadn't heard anything out of the ordinary. The servants and nobility were giggling and whispering no more so than usual. Then again, she'd been training all day. maybe they were.

"There's gonna be a tournament held for the king's nephew for his nineteenth birthday." And Suigetsu was looking forward to it, especially with the particular rules that had been arranged for it. "They've removed the restrictions and opened the contest to the public, not just the knights."

"That's surprising." Suki blinks as she processes it. "Well peasant or noble makes no difference to me. They'll lose just the same." She smirks at the thought.

"Yeah, it means that we can both compete." Suigetsu had fought in a few competitions, but always smaller, less restrictive ones. The contests of strength seen by the royal family were almost all limited to the nobility and to the knights. This time would be different. This time, he would fight in front of the royal family. Maybe he'd even earn himself a knighthood for his awesome skills.

Suki couldn't help, but smile at that. "Good. Once they see what you can do with a blade, they'll knight you... as long as you keep your mouth shut." It was hard not to giggle, but she manages.

"Totally. I'm sick of being a squire and having to lug all of that old geezer's armor around." Suigetsu wanted to wear his own armor, he wanted to carry his sword all the time like a knight could. He hated leaving it at home under his bed. "So are you gonna enter too, then?"

"Of course. My father would never let me live it down if I didn't." Suki smirks.

"Then good luck to ya. Maybe I'll see you in the final bout." Suigetsu grins at his giant friend. "How about you? Are you finally going to try and pick up a sword instead of forging one?"

"I might enter." Jugo smiles in a polite manner. "If only to show off the quality of my swords."

"Excellent, then we'll all try to fight our way to the end, and then…" Suigetsu puffs out his chest confidently. "I'll win the contest!"

"You're cute when you strut about like a peacock, Suigetsu." Suki shakes her head. "Though you'll never be a match for me, I'm sure you'll become a knight."

"You just watch, Sasuke. We may be mates, but I'm not gonna go easy on you." There was no way that Suigetsu would go easy on someone that good with a sword.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." That was a close one. It was a good thing that Suigetsu took cute as a mild goading.

It was Kakashi's fault in Suki's mind though. She never made slip ups like that, but they had never concretely discussed her future to that degree before either. Some days, it felt like she was destined to spend the rest of her life masquerading as a man.