This is my second Naruto fic and one of my few multi-chapter stories. It also has romance in it (like that's a big deal, just about all my fics have romance) but this time I'm going to try something a little harder. The main romance interests are going to be with original characters. I have generally avoided doing this out of fear of creating a Mary Sue but I've decided to finally try my hand at it. Please, if anything isn't written well or I go overboard with my characters (there will be two girls) than feel free to let me know. I'll even accept flames as long as there are real complaints and not just the usual "You, your fanfiction, your friends, your family, your favorite game/anime, your pets, and all your houseplants SUCK!" Please people; you all have so much more talent than that.

This is set in the future, after Naruto 2. You know, with the whole Sasuke leaving thing, but he did come back for my fic, although I don't know how it really ends in the anime/manga. Heh, haven't gotten that far sadly. Naruto and everyone his age are now 19. If you really want to know the ages of the other characters than you can do the math yourself, I can't say I care enough.

Okay, that only leaves the disclaimer. I don't own Naruto, some hotshots in Japan do and I'm not one of them. I have no way to prove that since the Internet is anonymous but it's best if you don't pay me, just incase. I do own Zenkon Mori and Gisei Setsuna (family name's first), and the Daimyou of the Land of the Meadows. There are a couple other original characters but they don't show up in this chapter so I won't mention them right now. I don't think anyone will want to (I've never seen anyone ask for this) but if you want to use any of my OC than please ask first. I'll probably say yes but I just want to know if it's happening.

Chapter 1: The Proposal

The skies in Konohagakure were a clear blue. Not a bird or cloud graced it, making it look like a sea in the sky to anyone that looked upon it. Sakura was strolling idly around, enjoying the nice afternoon during her lunch break from the classes she taught when she heard a strange rumbling. She turned with curiosity and saw a carriage pass by. It was a pretty one, made out of polished beech with gold trimming on the roof. She just barely saw the face of an elder man through the sheen red curtains before it completely got ahead of her. Crossing her arms, she wondered who that could have been. Carriages like that were expensive. Maybe some Lord was seeking bodyguards or something? It had been heading to the Ninja Academy.

The watch she suddenly glanced at showed her that her class had started a few minutes ago. With a small scream she ran towards where the carriage had just been heading to.

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Tsunade looked over the letter she had received several weeks ago. Today was the day of arrival, however she had kept that fact secret as she had been requested. They were supposed to be arriving shortly. Leaning back in her desk, she let her back pop from sitting in one place for so long. She'd never had been one for deskwork but ever since the death of the Third she seemed to be swamped with it. A knock erupted her thoughts and she gave an "Enter," in reply.

Aburame Shino opened the door and stepped in. He gave a respectful nod of the head to Tsunade, who returned it. He wore the same outfit he had owned since his years as a Chonin and the jacket that covered his head, making his face almost unseeable. She wondered briefly why he hid it to begin with. Did he have something he didn't want people to see, or was it simply to make people wonder, like what Kakashi enjoyed doing? Somehow, neither explanation seemed to fit.

"You called?" Shino asked. His sentences were short and concise, as if his time were too valuable to waste, even on a Hokage. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

"We have some visitors coming soon. The Daimyou of the Land of the Meadows. The country has expressed interest in starting a ninja village and has requested our assistance. Sending Chunin to be teachers for a few years and so forth. However, the Daimyou has requested to see our own Village first before any decisions. I need someone to attend to him and his companions for the week of their stay," she explained.

"Companions?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"His daughter and apparently a personal bodyguard. There is going to be an arranged marriage, so it'll be a joining of two countries as well as a new Hidden Village. I'm extending you because since you're a highly skilled Jonin and well… let's just say your better for a diplomatic mission like this than some of the others." She closed her eyes and mentally grimaced as she imagined Naruto showing them around. Though a brand new Jonin, the man still acted like a boy. "You should be able to show them just what we have to offer skill wise and answer any questions about the Village itself."

Shino nodded. "When will they arrive?"

"The Daimyou actually wanted to keep it under confidence about their visit until they got here. They should be here anytime now."

As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door again. Iruka poked his head inside.

"Tsunade-san, the are some visitors to see you. They-"

"I know Iruka. Send them in," she answered.

Iruka left and three people stepped inside. One was an elder gentleman, age somewhere around fifty Tsunade would have guessed from the graying hair that still covered his head, dressed in purple kimono robes that held the finest tastes. The price for it could have easily paid for every piece of furniture in her office. There were also two young women, one dressed in a deep red and pink kimono with just as fine silk as the gentleman's and a sheen red material fan hiding the lower part of her face, and seemed to offset her burgundy eyes well. Jewelry was scarce on her but her brown bunned hair was held in place by golden chopsticks with tiny rubies dangling from the ends. The other was not as nearly finely dressed. Black pants and a white tunic were just barely visible underneath a black trench coat that must have had at least thirty buttons closing the coat from the chest to the ankles. A sword hung at her side and her spiky black hair was tied in a short haphazard ponytail that rested on the hood of her coat. A white kanji meaning 'banished' was sewn into her back.

"Daimyou of the Land of the Meadows, I presume?" she asked as she stood.

"Correct. Thank you for hosting us in your wonderful country. This is my daughter, Zenkon Mori."

The young woman in the kimono bowed deeply. "It is an honor to see your village. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this opportunity."

"Yes, of course, it is quite a request. We are more than happy to oblige, and while you stay, I have chosen a Jonin to show you around the Village." She indicated to Shino who gave a bow to the three. His eyes narrowed as the bodyguard silently snorted. "This is Shino of the Aburame clan. Please, if you need anything, let us know."

"I actually have business to discuss with you. Perhaps the young man would show around my daughter while we talk?" The Daimyou proposed.

"Of course, " Shino replied and turned to the two women. "What is it you wish to see?"

The princess averted her gaze. "May I see the training grounds?" she asked.

"If you wish," he answered. He led the two outside and a fist caught his sleeve after the door had closed. He turned to see the princess giving him a strange look.

"Would you mind horribly if I change my clothing? My father wished to make a good impression but I don't want to wear this while walking around if I don't have to," she explained to him.

"Alright," he said with a nod.

"Thank you," she replied. "Stay here Setsuna, I'll be back."

The other woman looked as if she would have liked to argue the point but Mori was already running off. Instead she crossed her arms and settled against a wall. Shino could tell that she was not happy to be there. From the look of her katana, she was a samurai. Her displeasure was understandable. Samurai and ninja didn't like each other much. She was no doubt uncomfortable to be in ninja territory, even as a guest.

He made no attempt at conversation, not really interested enough to try. After a while the princess ran up to them, excitement on her face. Her hair now hung loose to the small of her back and her fancy kimono had been replaced with a simple sky blue one with a yellow sash and butterflies decorating the material. The dark makeup had been washed from her face and Shino would not have guessed she was a Princess from her present appearance. Now that he could see her face it was rather plain, though it held a nice smile.

"Thank you for waiting," she said as she gave a quick bow. "Shall we go?"

Shino nodded, leading the girls outside. It only took a few minuets to reach an outdoor class where young students were practicing the Replacement Technique. Mori watched in awe from an upper story balcony as they dodged shuriken and kunai knives.

"Such skill," she breathed. "I had no idea that you ninja were so talented. And these are only students?"

"Correct," he replied.

"Hey, Shino!" The three turned around to see a man their age running up to them, a huge dog following behind him. "What are you doing here?" he asked when he reached them. He gave Shino a grin. "Babysitting? Not much of a mission is it?"

Shino ahemed. "Kiba, this is Zenkon Mori, Princess of the Land of the Meadows and her bodyguard, Gisei Setuna. I'll be showing them around the village for about a week."

"Princess?" he asked as he looked at Mori. "Really?"

"You have no right to look down on Lady Zenkon!" Setsuna suddenly snapped. Shino sighed. He knew it was going to happen eventually, the tension around her was tighter than a bow.

"Who the hell do you think you are to order me around like that?" Kiba snapped back at her.

"We're guests in your disgraceful village! It's bad enough that I have to stomach being here in the first place but the fact that you can't even show a paying costumer, and a Princess no less, any respect only shows what talentless miscreants you people really are!" Her gray eyes glared daggers.

"Setsuna, stop it." Though quiet, Mori's voice whipped Setsuna's head around as quickly as if she had slapped her samurai bodyguard. "As you said, we are guests here, just as they are our hosts. I'm ashamed that you can't even show them the common courtesy to be polite to them. Now please apologize."

Setsuna closed her eyes and turned to Kiba. "I beg your forgiveness. Your skills have nothing to do with how you just acted and I had no right to insult it."

Kiba smirked. "No problem…little girl."

"Perhaps we should head back to our room. No doubt Father is done talking with the Hokage," Mori said to Setsuna, who showed no indication other than a clenched fist that she head heard him. "Thank you for showing me the grounds, but from now on stay with my Father. I don't think I'll need your assistance from now on."

Though more politely phrased, she was obviously angry with her servant being insulted like that. Shino didn't bother saying goodbye as she stalked off, Setsuna in tow. He did however give Kiba a look that could have cut through steel.

"What?" he asked as Akamaru barked softly.

Shino shook his head. "Clueless."

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"I'm sorry," Mori said as they walked back to the rooms they had been provided in the Ninja Academy for travelers. "I shouldn't have asked you to come here with us. You were uncomfortable with this idea to begin with."

"It is my duty to accompany you wherever you go Lady Zenknon. Please don't concern yourself with trivial matters such as my personal views," Setsuna replied. "If the Daimyou wishes a ninja military than I have no right to try and interfere."

"But he-"

"Is an honorless ninja. Do not worry. I was not insulted by his comment about me. It was only when he disrespected you did I feel angered."

Mori smiled. "If you say so."

"Lady Zenkon," Setsuna asked as she suddenly stopped. "Are you happy with this situation? I know it's not my place but I can't help but feel as if I should ask."

"If it means my people's happiness than my life doesn't matter, does it?" Mori answered. "So yes, I'm fine with it."

"Then why is your smile so hollow?" she asked as the princess walked away.

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Mori sat in front of her mirror as she waited for Setsuna to come for her. It wouldn't be much longer before the orientation ceremony were she would be introduced to the Village hidden in the Leafs as the possible bride-to-be that would merge the Land of the Fire to the Land of the Meadows. She had been able to beg her father from having to appear before them in anything too fancy so she was still in her blue kimono. Though she did want to look perfect for this event, she just felt more at ease in the simpler clothing. She knew that she would make a better impression if she were comfortable, instead of beautiful.

A knock sounded on the wooden door and she leapt up to answer it.

"Is Father ready?" she asked before she saw that it was Shino, not Setsuna, who was at the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Accept my apologies about earlier. My friend Kiba was out of line. I came to collect you instead of Setsuna because it was requested of me by the Daimyou," he explained to her.

"I see." She avoided his gaze. She should have expected her father to do something like this. He wanted to show how much faith he was putting in these ninjas that he wasn't even going to let her bodyguard do her job. "Thank you for escorting me than. Shall we go?"

He nodded and she fell into step with him. Night had fallen several hours ago so the main source of light was the electric ones overhead but she could see the stars and waxing moon from the large windows as well. Turning her attention to the man with her, she noticed that he was several inches taller than she was. There wasn't much else she could tell from him because of his jacket, not even his face was well visible.

"Shino," she asked. "May I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?" he responded, not glancing over at her.

"I was told that you're a Jonin, an elite ninja, but I don't know much about them, so I'm not really sure what that means. Someday during my visit, would you mind showing me some techniques?"

He shook his head. "You wouldn't like what you saw."

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Okay, there's my first chapter. Hope it was okay. And yeah, if it wasn't obvious enough, the coupling will be between Shino and Mori. I haven't decided on Setsuna/Kiba yet. She came out more anti-social than what I had intended. Can't stand those characters that develop a mind of their own.

Please let me know if the characterization was good or not. I'll admit that since this was a future fic that I put Tsunade in it without even knowing her well aside from what I've seen on the internet about her. Also I tried to keep the basic personality of all the characters who had been kids and simply mature them slightly so they'd seem more adult. Don't know if that worked or not. You see how I need those reviews? I second-guess myself on everything.

Thanks to Nando for betaing this for me. For those of you who are also FF7 fans, you should read his stuff 'cause it's pretty good.