Chapter 1 | The Crown in Crisis
(A/N: Despite researching nobility ranks, for this story's purposes we are using Emperor to allude to ruling over Konoha plus the other villages and Princess to convey ruling purely over Konoha. Picture art credit to ooODark-ButterflyooO on deviantArt! )
Every soul awoke in a cold sweat that night. The dim moon hung eerily in the sky behind clouds as if it too wish not to bear light on the Konoha Empire. Behind closed doors and within private quarters the three elites of the sacred clans met in secrecy accompanied only by the Emperor's own trusted advisor. They watched in worry as the Empress buckled and wheezed in agony, her entire body burning to the touch. Finally, she awoke with her white eyes completely drained of their usual tender lavender.
The medic was the first to take action, but instead of performing any means of a check for the Empress' vitals she delicately took hold of her hand.
"Please, Empress Hinata," The medic whispered softly, "What did you see?"
"In blood we are all born," The Empress rasped, "In the absence of light we are all consumed". Her vacant eyes receded slowly back into her pale eyelids and at once the practitioner placed her hand on the royal's forehead. A slight emerald glow confirmed what everybody had witnessed.
"She's slipped back into her coma," The medic announced to the small throng of elites around her, "There's no telling when she'll wake up again." There was a shared moment of respectful silence before the physician spoke again:
"Ino, could you connect to the Emperor at all?"
"No," The platinum blonde telepath answered solemnly, "This is the second week now."
The two women then turned to the third person in the room, the Emperor's trusted Advisor. He sighed before speaking:
"I'll say what we're all thinking. Nobody has heard from or been able to reach the Emperor for some time now and his wife's condition hasn't gotten any better. Hinata's visions of blood symbolize the color red as her visions of darkness convey the color black. With that information, there is only one thing we know for certain." He paused, only to sigh under his breath once more.
"The Akatsuki are returning." He concluded.
"Kakashi-san, I feel a unified disturbance throughout the Empire. There are people already making their way to the palace to question the sensation we all felt when the Empress was in distress. This assumption can cause an uproar if leaked to the public." Ino sharply observed.
"Prepare a message to everybody immediately and assure them the tremble they all felt was a sudden fever the Empress has adopted and nothing more. Do not mention our inability to communicate with Naruto and instead inform them he will be returning in the coming weeks.
"Also prepare a separate speech for our Anbu. Alert them to keep careful lookout for any suspicious newcomers entering Konoha's gates." Kakashi commanded.
Ino nodded and pardoned herself from the room. The advisor then shifted his focus onto the medical ninja who still held Hinata's hand in hers.
"As for you, Sakura, you know what this means. It's time. You can't put it off any longer." He sternly asserted.
"I understand," Sakura breathed as she carefully released hold of Hinata's hand.
"The Emperor trusts no one else to lead the people of Konoha. Not even me apparently." Kakashi lightly joked. "We'll have the coronation tomorrow afternoon so you have time to prepare."
Sakura's silence prompted the royal advisor to query her of her thoughts, to which she responded with great hesitance: "Forgive me if this brings about ill memories, but if I am not mistaken the colors red and black can possibly equate to a second forthcoming."
"That prestige has been lost many years ago," Kakashi replied, "You and I are both aware there were no survivors. I'm sorry to say but that possibility simply cannot be."
Sakura reluctantly agreed as her fingers found their way to the surface of her small obsidian necklace hidden underneath her robes. "Yes, I suppose so. I bid you a restful night, Kakashi-sensei."
"I'm your advisor now, Princess Haruno." Kakashi light heartedly corrected.
Far from the Land of Fire hid a dark cavern dimly illuminated by nothing more than moonlight seeping from ceiling cracks. A cluster of thieves, crooks, and expelled ninjas gathered around two men in the center, both sitting cross legged from each other.
"You felt it, didn't you Sasuke?" One man grinned at the other. "The Empress' sight has reached even here."
The one named Sasuke only stared back in callous silence.
"Her husband draws nearer to our location. It seems he's cut all mental communication from his messenger in an effort to protect them. How sweet." The talkative man mocked as his surrounding men joined in with heavy chuckles. Still Sasuke bared no reaction.
"My son you were always painfully quiet. Even when you came into this Earth you didn't make one little peep. The doctor thought there must be something medically wrong with your lungs but really you save your words and your cries for the moments that matter. Moments such as when we finally seize the throne." The sickly grey skinned man licked his lips in desire.
The crowd chimed with cheers echoing with approval. A slight rise of the hand by Sasuke's father silenced them once more.
"Now, Sasuke, I want you to use those words of yours. Recite to everybody how we're going to capture the crown again?" The man ordered.
"With the Emperor and Empress away Konoha must now appoint a new leader. By thorough research it is confirmed the leader will be a young female friend close to the royalty but due to the nature of the politics within the Five Great Shinobi Countries her power will be greatly limited if she does not choose a ruling partner.
"One of our own will assume position of this ruling partner by tricking the new Princess. Once in power we will kill her and the other elites from the inside out and become the new line of prestige." Sasuke detailed. The audience once again applauded but was quickly hushed.
"That's right, my boy. You make me so proud to be your dad, you know that?" The man inspirited. "And that's exactly why you're going to be our crown prince."
The atmosphere shifted as Sasuke stared at his father in disbelief as everybody remained expressionless. "What?" He sharply inquired, "You've trained me brutally for years, only to become somebody's escort?"
"Nonsense," His father's tone seared with a similar bitterness, "I trained you to be a great conqueror. Once you obtain title as King and kill off all the others, the title will be transferred to me as your father. Then after my death you will become King and your son after you will become King after your death. The Princess falling for you is crucial to our plans in order to allow this plan to come into fruition. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Sasuke disdainfully obeyed.
"Besides! You're so damn good looking, my boy! Did you really think these other guys could pull it off with their ugly mugs?" The man boomed with laughter and the crowd of spectators soon followed.
"The Princess will only be given three days to choose a partner," The man continued, "So we must move now while the village sleeps. Me and the pack will stay some distance behind to go undetected so you'll be completely alone in Konoha, but I'm sure you've taken a liking to being alone. This role was made for you son." The father assured, placing his hands on Sasuke's shoulders.
"Remember, we're not the bad guys here. The Akatsuki aim to make the world a better place for all! Never lose sight of your family- all of you!" He announced in conclusion. The group agreed in unison, slowly exited the cavern, and moved forward into the new world.