At a glance

I am a peasant, I do not own Naruto...

NOTES REGARDING THE STORY (do not have to read) CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER

Chapter 1.

The coronation

It was the fourth week in a row that I threw myself onto my bed and looked aimlessly into nothing. The feeling of doubt shook me to my core, and I couldn't help but think that our leader, Lady Tsunade was risking too much by trusting the sand devil himself.

For over three thousand years now, the five demon realms of fire, wind, water, lightening and earth had turned and twisted against each other within the everlasting internal conflict; wars that never seemed to cease for anything more than moments before giving birth to the next bloodbath. Whilst the tyrant, Akio Kanmuri (throne), supreme lord and overseer of the five realms sneered from the shadows in bliss as he worshiped the screams and suffering of 'his people', refusing to lift a finger to end the wars. His only contribution to it all was his refusal for alliances between the five nations, fearing the joined power that could threaten his supreme power and control over the kingdom and end the corrupted Kanmuri line.

We, the demons of the five nations, where nothing but his entertainment and source of power. We were pieces on his chess board that he would control and turn against one another. He was a leader without love, without dignity, without loyalty.

Without a soul.

A devil of purest blood.

We that lived and died under his thumb and nail had suffered long enough, and leaders of the five smaller thrones searched desperately for answers to undo Kanmuri's rule of blood and terror.

I sighed and closed my eyes against my thoughts.

It didn't matter what I thought about Tsunade's decisions, she was the throne barer of the flame, leader of the fire realm and lady of the leaf. My own father, Adare' (a-dah-ray), is the second in command to the flame, and sat by Tsunade's father as he ruled before her. Since his leave 13 years ago when Lord Kanmuri ordered representatives of each realm to join the demonical council, I had taken over his role at Tsunade's side.

But despite my seat in politics, my opinion had very little sway.

For in two moons time, our Queen would leave the sanction of her nation and cross the border. She, and my own pack would attend the Coronation, where Gaara Sabaku, would be named the leader of the wind and sand throne, and wear the crown of his father. A crown cast from the sands of Sunagakure, mixed with the blood of my ancestors and friends that died in the great fire and wind wars.

The bile rose to my throat at the thought of being their allies, and being cast into the insanity of the sand. Surely this 'rebellion' couldn't be the answer to the end of all wars.

One Moon earlier

Naruto, Sasuke and I all stumbled down the stairs tiredly on the way to the dining room, lured out only from the smell of eggs, bacon, and what seemed to be roasted tomatoes.

"Uhghhhh, the sun isn't even up yet", Naruto groaned wearily.

"mmmhmm", Sasuke groaned back. None of us were morning people. Naruto would sleep all day if he got the chance, Sasuke would still get up early and train his guts out, but would glare down anyone that dare tried to converse with him before 10am. I on the other hand, had a tendency to kick people rather hard if they tried to wake me up, or so I've heard from my friends-gone-victims. Kakashi and Shizune quickly learned that the best way to pry us out of bed was not by our feet and dragging as tail first down the stairs.

I slid the screen door open and saw Kakashi and Shizune sitting together chatting about something, but mostly my attention went to the mountains of food on the table. Growing demons had to eat you know.

Shizune sent us all a bright smile and kakashi's eye crinkled at us, "Morning"

We all mumbled half greetings back and fell to our seats. I poured all of us glasses of tea and Naruto and Sasuke passed lager of food plates between us, taking portions and placing them on each other's plates. Even at breakfast we were an assembled team.

"You get any sleep last night Sakura?" Shizune asked me, concerned and looking at the dark marks forming under my eyes. She had been my older sister since Tsunade adopted us both.

"Mm, a little." I shrugged; "It will get me through today." I smiled at her, she worried for my health. As a half demon, my body's sleeping and eating patterns were different to a full demons, like Naruto and Sasuke. Demons only needed a few nights sleep out of the week to keep them awake to anywhere between a fought night and a month. My body needed more sleep, but I constantly struggled to get enough because my routine was in sync with my pack's.

"Well, I'll be crossing the river to Amegakure, I'll pick up a few more dozes of passion flower and valerinana root and make you another tea. I'll make a stronger batch this time, once the herbs build up in your system it should help you get a normal sleeping pattern again" Shizune said, smiling and running a hand through my hair. The boys and Kakashi were talking about something next to us and didn't hear what she said. Shizune knew I didn't like to bring a lot of attention to my weaknesses as a half demon around them.

"But patrol is so boring!" Naruto whined and shoved his food around with chopsticks. Sasuke grimaced and nodded in agreement. I shrugged. "Someone's got to do it, the day that patrol goes down no doubt will be when the rouges break through the gate and start killing people." I poked Naruto with my chopsticks, "Besides, Rouge action has been rising today, there's a good chance of ambush"

Kakashi nodded, "Sakura's right. And when they do attack, it's not going to be in packs of four like us. There's been word of waves in twenties and thirties. Patrol is a dry task but it can quickly spiral out of control."

Sasuke sighed and put his chopsticks next to his plate. "Only two more days and Nejis pack changes shift with us anyway." We stood up and collected our plates and put them in the sink in the kitchen next door.

"Thanks for the food again Shizune, good luck with your mission" I said, She pulled me into a quick hug.

"You and Kakashi have to meet Lady Tsunade in the tower after patrol today." Was all she said before waving goodbye to us and leaving.

Kakashi rose from his seat and turned to us, "All right, you have 15 minutes to get dressed and meet me at the gate, Ja Ne." He gave us another 'smile', waved and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Yay" I said, my tone dry, "another exciting day on the wall."

Naruto chuckled, Sasuke smirked.

The three of us shimmered (transportation spell) in front of the west door of the white wall before Kakashi. The white wall ran throughout the entire fire realm and protected the boarder. The west door protected the city of Konohagakure which housed the majority of the nation's upper level demons and high demon houses. Protecting the city was an important part of being a demon guardian, but holy fuck was patrolling boring.

Wall uniform was black and grey for everyone, for females there was a black hooded cloak, black turtle neck and pants with light grey vest and grey and silver boots. The male's uniform was the same, but their cloaks weren't black, but a dark grey and instead of a hood had a high collar (like the Akatsuki cloak) and their boots were black metal.

Sasuke's sword was strapped to his back, Naruto's scrolls were strapped to his lower back and my medical supplies sat to the left and right to my hips.

"Alright then, Sasuke and I will pace the left side of the bell and you two the right." Kakashi directed us to our sections of the wall. Naruto was a wind demon whilst I used fire, so our spells combined well, whilst Kakashi and Sasuke both used lightening.

Over the course of six hours, the wall was approached by nine lower level demons and six rouges. Lower level demons were to be killed if they appeared to have lost control over their powers or driven insane, if not they were to be ushered back into the forest. All nine were killed.

The rouges were a pack of demons ranging in power, all water based, which of course, was an advantage to us as fire was useful against water, whilst wind enabled Naruto to take control over their spells and throw them back. Naruto fought on the ground with this cyclone armour, a spell that activated itself if an enemy comes within five meters of Naruto and hurls twisting voids of winds at the on comers. Fire demons on the other hand, never fight close contact with water demons, it was suicide, but my flame arrows worked well from the wall.

"It's done" Naruto called, 6 hours later, 15 meters below me on the ground. I flagged Kakashi who was a few meters away and he nodded back, he and Sasuke were finishing off the last wave on their end. I raised my right hand above my head and dropped it to my side, signalling Naruto to return to the wall. As he leapt into the air, I jumped off of the wall and into the patch of corpses below.

The bodies at my feet were warped and disfigured, but I could still make out some bone structure. I reached out with my gloved hands and grabbed the horns protruding from one of the demons skull. Water horns made powerful medicines. I held my breath against the smell and with a quick twist snapped it off. It was about the size of my arm, it belonged to the pack leader no doubt. Tsunade would be pleased.

The earth-breaking chimes of the wall bell rang through and I looked up. Kakashi, Sasuke and Naruto looked like black forms above me, their narrowed glowing eyes and claws protruding from their cloaks made them even more menacing.

They all raised their right arm. Patrol was over for the day.

Kakashi opened the large red door to Tsunades office, where she sat shifting piles of scrolls into a box.

She looked up and smiled from underneath her blond hair, "Get anything for me today Sakura? I heard there was a few out there"

I smiled back and lifted the large bag at my side. "One large water horn, three smaller horns, six fangs and seven sets of seaclaws." Collecting bones and parts from demons was a disgusting job, but they embodied important properties for healing potion.

"Brilliant harvest. Just put the bag on that table to the left of you Sakura, I'll send it to the hospital later. What about you Kakashi, how's Sasuke going with his new Shadow storm blade?" She seated herself behind her desk and folded her hands in front of her face. Her long red claws shines against her pale skin, whilst her gold eyes starred behind long lashes. She was wearing a dark green robe and underneath a white kimono.

"He's learning to control it rather quickly; Itachi chose a good sword for him. As for the patrol, there was only two attacks, both lower level and rouge demons. All unmanageable, all executed. Nine lower level and six rouges killed by Sakura and Naruto. 15 lower level demons taken out by Sasuke and myself, as well as 3 rouges." He reported other details such as behaviours, techniques and how the packs were assembled.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed at the news and she tsked under her breath. "That's more in one day than the last two moons. And latest news says the waves grow stronger."

So much for peace. War or not death is at our door and it grows with each minute. Tsunade was still looking for a way to bring serenity to the nation, but finding the answer to peace was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands.

"Nevertheless" her words cut through my thoughts, "I have good news from Suna"

I resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. Kakashi was perfectly composed beside me, but I knew his mind was on the same road as mine. Good news? Suna? Those two don't go together. Sand had been blood enemies of the Flame since the beginning of days.

"The heir wrote to me himself. According to him, despite the chaos that followed his father's death the power struggle is over in the Wind Realm and he has been confirmed as the new ruler. He took out the opposing force himself, well he and his pack. Due to the violence subsiding following the purge, the people of wind have grown a new fondness for the Sand devil, and the realm has even been described as 'civil' under his control. All that aside" She paused and moved some hair out of her face. "Suna has offered to make an alliance with Konoha."

Kakashi shifted and moved his head to the side, confused, and I voiced his concerns. "But Alliances are illegal, M'lady..."

Tsunade sighed and nodded. "Yes, they most certainly are. It is of course a secret alliance, which will involve undercover military support and trade. But most importantly, Sabaku No Gaara wants to begin a rebellion against the Kanmuri and seeks to unite all five demonic nations."

I bit my lip and my mind screamed. This was rash. This was insane. It was naive to think it would work. We're going to die.

Tsunade smirked and nodded, knowing that I was dying to say something.

I sighed, "It's not that I doubt you Lady Tsunade, it's just that surely if it was that easy we would have done this before?"

Tsunade shrugged, "I didn't say it was going to be easy Sakura."

Well, great. That made me feel heaps better about making a pact with a bunch of back stabbing sand phycos.

All I could see in my mind for the month to follow were memories of those savage black ringed, sea foam eyes and red hair that flew across the battle field, cutting down my comrades faster than lightening. The sand devil, that caught my gaze once a long time ago on the battle field, locking my eyes into his dark stare and cutting a mark straight into my heart.

Tsunade could smell my fear and gave me a reassuring smile that honestly did nothing for me.

"Sakura, I need you to go visit Ino, shes recently returned from a journey and has some news for you that will regard you upcoming mission. Kakashi you are excused until further notice." She unfolded her hands and stood up from her desk and turned to look out of the window.

Kakashi and I both bowed despite her being unable to see and walked out of the building. I released a sigh and felt my shoulders drop. Kakashis hand was soon on my shoulder.

"Don't worry too much Sakura; I'm sure she has her reasons for trusting Gaara." I just nodded my head, but my heart wasn't in it.

By the time I had arrived at the Yamanaka household, I was drenched in rain and my mood was only fouler. All I wanted to do was go home, have a shower and sulk in my room, but no. There was work. Always.

Ino's mother swung the door open to reveal my miserable self, and within minutes she was dashing around me exclaiming how I was going to catch a cold, she had somehow gotten a towel out of nowhere and was dying my hair.

"I-"I tried to speak between having my head moved around, "I-I'm fine, really! I just-"she dyed my face, cutting off my voice, "I just need to see Ino", the towel was now around my shoulders and a cross looking woman scowled at me.

"Sakura you're doing anything before we find you a change of clothes." I bowed my head in defeat and was led to the upstairs bathroom. Everything was white, wood or purple in the bathroom and there was always a fresh arrangement of flowers next to the sink and another next to the bathtub. I sat on the side of the tub and waited for Inos mother to return, too afraid to defy her. I looked up as I heard the door opening.

And a confused Ino stumbled in.

"Sakura?"

"Yeah Ino?"

"Why are you in my bathroom?"

"You're mum."

"Oh, right. Catch you first did she?"

I nodded and she just laughed. "Ah well, she gone to get you clothes?" I nodded again, "Well, when you're dressed come to my room, I've got exciting news!"

"So I was told" I waved, "See you in a second.

I stared at the flower arrangements in the bathroom for another few minutes, lilies, orchids and daisies and other flowers I didn't recognise, before Inos mother came dashing back in.

"Sorry I took so long, you're so lean, I wanted to make sure I got something that fit." There were some soft black pants made out of a thin cotton, a dark blue long sleeved shirt and a white cardigan. They were warm, just come out of the drier.

"Thanks a lot, and sorry for the trouble Miss Yamanaka." I bowed and she just patted me on the head and left me to get dressed.

Once I was dressed I walked down to Ino's bedroom to see her dressed in her silk black pyjamas sprawled over her daybed reading what appeared to be letters with a dreamy smile on her face. Her pale yellow-near silver hair draped around her and her purple eyes glowed happily.

Ino was a demon as well, but her family specialty was mind control, making her a bad enemy, a good ally and an even better friend. Ino and I had been close ever since I arrived in Konoha.

She looked up as the door close with a soft click behind me and she gave me an excited smile. "Did you miss me or what?"

I smirked, "Yes Ino, I missed you. What have you got there?" Nodding to the papers in her hand.

She gave out a happy sigh, "Letters from Kiba..." she said softly, fondling some of hair between her fingers.

I sat on the edge of her bed across from the daybed she was laying on. "Who's 'Kiba' and is he the exciting news?" Ino nodded enthusiastically.

"He's from the druid clan! He can shape shift, and commune with demonic animals and, and..." She grinned and blushed, "and he's handsome, like, flawless good looking."

I resisted the urge to laugh and smiled, "So those are love letters, is that who you went to see?" She nodded again and kicked her feet about happily, giggling.

"His sister is the leader of his clan, but Dad thought he was suitable match for me, even though he's only second in command. The Inuzuka clan and the Yamanaka clans have always had a good relationship and often married." I nodded and smiled.

"Congratulations! I'm guessing you asked Tsunade to let me be your escort to the Inuzuka grounds and she let your pack and mine do it because of the increases in rouge numbers?" I questioned, careful not to sound too worried.

Ino's face turned grave, "Yeah, I've been hearing some pretty bad stuff, from beyond the wall... You know Tenten's sister died a few days ago? Her pack was ambushed by a wave of 20 or more! Apparently... they only found scraps of their remains, there are even rumours that they were eaten."

I grimaced and my heart swelled with pity, "God, that's awful, poor Tenten."

Ino nodded, "Yeah, Tsunade might want to hurry up and do something about the rouges before they start a new war. Or the wall gets overcome..." We fell into silence. Savage attacks were not things brides usually had to worry about, but we lived in a dangerous world.

I took Ino's hand and gave her the same reassuring smile Tsunade had given me (and hoped it had more effect on her), "Don't worry Ino, Naruto and Sasuke are amazing guardians, and I'm not too bad either. We'll protect you, and you're wedding isn't going to get gate crashed by those lunatics."

She sighed and sat next to me, placing her head on my shoulder. "Yeah... I know" The words and her tone contradicted themselves. She was afraid that we'd all get killed and have our insides ripped out too.

"Sakura?"

"Yeah Ino?"

"Stay here and protect me tonight, okay?" She whispered

I smiled and put an arm around her shoulder, "Of course."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, because there's probably about 20-30 more to come!

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NOTES

Demonic nations: Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Lightening

Lord Akio Kanmuri: Ruler of all 5 demon realms

Sakura: half fire demon, mother was a priestess from the cloud nation. Bastard born. Only known heir to the Aomori clan (ruler of the human realms)

Sakura's mother: Haruka Aomori Ruler of the human realms

Fathers name: Adare' (A-DAH-RAY) Dainara Second in command to the leader of fire sits on the demonial council

Tsunade Senji: Ruler of the fire nation, in possession of the leaf throne.

Kakashi Hatake: Third in command, Commander General of the demon flame army

Sabaku no Gaara: Heir to the Sand throne, the wind realm, leader of the rebellion

Temari Sabaku: Second in line to the Sand throne

Kankuro Sabaku: Third in line to the Sand throne

History of the 5 demon realms (fire, wind, water, earth and lighting)

3 great wars between the 5 nations since the birth of the kingdom (3 thousand years ago)

Lord Akio Kanmuri secretly conducted the last war for his own entertainment, and did not interfere with the blood shred. Continues to deny new treaties to be formed and rules over each nation separately, whilst stirring and igniting hostiles between the nations themselves.

Lady Tsunade of the Fire nation and the new Lord Gaara devise a secret alliance and plot the revolution and death of the Kanmuri, to free the nations of the devils grasp and finally unite the 5 realms.

Naruto's pack (pack = team)

Naruto- upper level demon, second form (fox), wind demon,

-Abilities: wind blade, rasangan, hell hurricane, wind morph, cyclone armour, clones

Sasuke- Lightening demon- high level demon.

-Abilities: Sharingan, chidori, shadow storm, spark wave, static field, devils spear shield

Sakura- Half fire demon, half upper level demon

-Abilities: Fire morph, fire leopard summon, fire phoenix flower, fire arrow, hydra blaze, molten boulder, semi second form

Other terms

One moon: A measure of time, roughly one month

Upper level demon: Related to royal lines

High level demon: Well respected and powerful houses

Demon: Servants to rulers

Lower level demons: Stuck in animalistic forms and unable to control their abilities

Rouge: Demons that have strayed from their lands and abandoned their leaders, often dangerous and lost control over their powers.

'Second form' demons (think jinchuriki)- Rare trait in upper level demons that enable them to transform into a beast. Rumored to have two demon souls.

Half demon- Extremely rare. Only one known to be born alive and sane. Hybrid of a demon and another species