Haha, new story!! This will be a prologue of sorts. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Summary: Four young princesses are forced to be married to princes from an enemy village to form a peace treaty. Will the princes be prince charmings, or will the whole thing end up an utter disaster?
A pink haired maiden slowly walked down a path in a dark forest. She was wearing a long emerald dress that had elegant jewels on it. Sighing slightly, the pink haired girl dropped to her knees as she saw a beautiful flower.
"What a beautiful color," the girl said to herself as she looked at the pure white flower before her. Using a hand, she traced over the five petals of the flower, and then stood up abruptly. "Mother would not approve of me sitting in the forest talking to myself."
The pink haired girl laughed lightly; she was still indeed talking to herself.
"Sakura!" The pinkette turned her head towards the path she was on and noticed a blonde haired girl waving at her. "Mother is going to be so angry if you don't hurry up!"
Sakura, the pink haired girl, laughed. "I'm sorry Ino," Sakura said while walking up to the other. "I hope Mother won't punish you three because I went out to explore."
Ino laughed. She was wearing a crystal blue elegant dress that matched her eyes. "I'm sure we won't get in trouble for this, Forehead," the blonde said. "But you on the other hand... well you just might."
Ino laughed as she ran up the rest of the path toward their home; the only castle located in Konoha. Sakura chased after her, smiling as she kept gaining on the blonde. "Pig!" Sakura laughed hard as she jumped on her older sister's back.
Ino turned her head around and smiled at Sakura. The two walked home together in silence until they reached the gates.
"Oh Ino! Sakura!" A raven haired girl ran up to the duo, and hugged them tightly. She wore a light purple dress that seemed to match her eyes perfectly. "I didn't know when you were going to come back! I was so worried!"
"Hinata-Chan," Sakura said with a smile. "We're both fine. I just wanted to go out exploring; I'm sorry I didn't tell you big sister."
Hinata let out a sigh, and grabbed both Ino and Sakura by their hands. "Yeah Hinata," Ino spoke dryly. "I thought I was supposed to be the older scolding sister..."
Sakura giggled as she allowed Hinata to lead her and Ino into their meeting room. "Ha ha, Ino-Chan," a dirty blonde haired girl said from inside the room. She stood before them in a light creme colored dress with a few clear colored jewels. Her hair was held up in four bun pony tails that looked elegant yet still playful. "You all know that I am the oldest sister which means I should be the one scolding all of you!"
Ino snorted as Sakura began to giggle even harder. Hinata blushed a light red, and the, now four of them, left the meeting room to enter a long hallway.
"Sakura-Chan, you know Mother hates when you go out alone," Temari scolded as she stood next to the youngest of the four girls. She wrapped an arm around Sakura's shoulders and hugged her tightly. "We wouldn't want any thing to happen to you."
Ino and Hinata nodded their heads as the quad of girls continued walking. "Are we going to see Mother?" Sakura asked quietly. Ino turned a sad eye to Sakura, but begrudgingly nodded her head.
"Yeah," Ino said while still allowing Hinata to hold her hand. "Mother said she has something to tell us... I'm worried... It does not sound good at all."
Temari nodded her head. "I fear because Father has not returned from the Village of Sand she will send us away..."
Hinata's hand tightened her grip on Sakura's hand. "I wouldn't worry though... Father would never allow that to happen."
"Father isn't here right now Hinata," Ino spoke harshly. "Mother can do whatever she wants."
"This is not good," Sakura muttered under her breath as the four girls entered the throne room.
"My daughters," a eerie voice spoke out from one of the thrones. "Come forward; we have much to discuss."
The girls all walked forward. Temari stepped up first and bowed, then followed by Ino, Hinata, and then finally Sakura. Sakura stared up into her mother's yellow green eyes and repressed a shudder. Her mother glared down on her. "Why is your dress completely messy Sakura?" Her mother asked with a voice of barely hidden disgust.
"I apologize Mother," Sakura said with a bow. "I went out into the forests, and played."
The queen gasped. "How dare you go out of the castle without permission!" She yelled. "Once we are finished with this conversation you are going up to your room for the rest of the night!"
"Yes, Mother," Sakura said with another bow. Her pink hair slightly fell off her shoulders as she bowed, and the girl had to push it back behind her ears again.
"Now," their mother spoke in a dark tone. "Do you know why your father has left for the Sand Village?"
Temari spoke up. "He was trying to make a peace treaty with the Sand Village, Mother," Temari's voice oozed confidence. Her mother nodded toward her oldest daughter with a small smile.
"Yes Temari, you are correct," she said. "But in light of the peace agreement; the King from the Sand Village has made request."
"What is the request, Mother?" Hinata asked. The queen turned her head towards Hinata and smiled at her.
"He said that Leaf and Sand will form an alliance as long as his four sons will be able to marry you four," the queen's voice said with indifference. "I do not find this that disheartening. You will be helping your village."
"We will be force into an arranged marriage?" Sakura asked; her eyes wide with unshed tears.
Her mother turned a glare Sakura's way. "Yes," the queen's voice was as cold as ice. "This will be for the village; you will be doing this for your people. There is no other way; this must be done."
Hinata grabbed Sakura's arm lightly when tears started to fall from her eyes. "Stop crying Sakura," her mother ordered. "It is unfitting of a woman of your age to cry."
"Sorry Mother," Sakura said while she lightly wiped away the tears.
"When will we meet our betrothed, Mother?" Ino asked after glancing at her youngest sister with a small frown.
"In two days time," her mother's voice was less harsh. "We will be throwing a ball to announce the wonderful news."
"May we know the names of our betrothed?" Hinata's small voice asked.
"I do not know," their mother responded. "But you three, Hinata, Ino, and Temari wash up for dinner. Sakura, go to your room."
The four girls bowed in unison, and left the room through the same exit.
Tears fell endlessly down Sakura's face once the door was closed behind them. Hinata and Ino immediately rushed in to hug her, and Temari just patted her head. "You are only thirteen, Sakura," Ino cooed in her ear. "You are still allowed to cry."
Sakura smiled numbly as she let go of her sisters. "You guys should get going to dinner," Sakura said with a little brighter smile. "I'm going to my room so I can read."
"Sakura you're so weird," Ino muttered as the three older siblings watched the youngest run up the stairs. Ino frowned when she was out of view. "This is unfair."
Temari nodded. "Father would have never done that to us, even if it would be better for our country," Temari said.
Hinata just gazed out the window sadly. "It had to be Mother then... she really was trying to get rid of us, and now she has found the perfect way to do that... 'for the sake of the village'." Hinata spoke quietly as the three walked toward the dinning room.
"I wonder if Father knows," Temari mused as she and the two other girls sat down. "I doubt he does."
"Well I wonder what our betrothed are like... people from the Village of Sand aren't know for being the kindest..." Ino spoke while taking a sip of water.
"I agree," Hinata said while fidgeting with her napkin. "Do you think they will split us up by age? I mean their oldest with Temari, and so on?"
"That makes the most logical sense," Temari said with a sigh. "I'm just really worried about Sakura. Don't you all think she's a bit too young for this?"
"I mean I am only two years older than her, but I know I am more prepared then she," Hinata said. "She's just so fragile and innocent; I am quite worried."
