Summary: Naruto had found himself in an inescapable dance with what his people thought of as the devil. However, he had found that what his God had brought him to was very much an angel in the form of porcelain skin and pearl eyes. In order to keep peace between the people of his country, he had agreed to a union which no one, not even Hinata could refuse. And slowly but surely both realized they did not want to escape this dangerous but beautiful harmony.

Rating: K+

Pairing: Naruhina

Info: Inspired by the beautiful Bollywood movie Jodhaa Akbar - thus copy right of the idea is to them and of course the characters are from Naruto. I highly recommend it. I also want to say Naruto and Hinata may be a bit OOC this chapter but due to discomfort in one another's presence. Their original personalities will progress as we further along. Italics mean it's in Naruto's sort of view as well as sometimes flashbacks - but I promise to make this difference obvious! There will probably be 2 or 3 chapters.

Disclaimer: Inspired by Jodhaa Akbar the beautiful Bollywood film. So thus Copyright goes to the directors and producers of that movie and credit goes to them.

Chapter 1: The Arrangement

"I love my country, but foremost, I love peace and unity as I know you take greatly to heart," Hiashi, the leader of Kanto said, and Naruto could not help but hear the underlying sorrow in his voice as he spoke his words which were both bold and true, "But the violence between our lands has grown far too much. Fathers, mothers, daughters, brothers and children are dying at our hands, their blood spilling over what we once called great nations. But how great can we be for allowing such torture to happen? I know that this violence will not end unless I join your treaty, but out of both honour and love, I cannot allow it for you understand the greatest thing a leader fears is a lack of control,"

Naruto, the Emperor of Konoha, had never before seen such eyes. It was the first thing to strike him as Hiashi approached him for a discussion, one of which he had asked to discuss privately. The cold look in his white pupils took him greatly by surprise for the seas of blue and green he had once seen could not compare in uniqueness. They made him feel uneasy for some reason, but the determination this man held was one Naruto came to quickly admire and so granted his wish of speaking alone with only his prime minister and the man's bodyguard in the room.

"I have a proposal for you, your Highness, one that will unite both our people in a bond that cannot be broken by weapons and blood," his eyes were fixated on Naruto's, and though the man's voice was shaking slightly Naruto did not take advantage of it.

The Emperor had truly been one of great cultural understanding, and as a Kami follower, he always believed that he should love all the people his lord created, whether they be Kami followers like himself, or the Byakugan worshippers like the man in front of him – people of which Kamis did not take kindly to. This division of religion and culture had provided great wars and sacrifices in the past, including the life of his own father and uncle. So Naruto had always had the greatest ideals in creating peace. And knowing that this man shared his ideals and truths was of great comfort to him, despite the ones of his own blood questioning him. However, despite this, the words the man uttered next were ones Naruto could only gape at, and his blood grew extremely warm.

"Take my daughter's hand in marriage,"

She stood tall and proud despite the heaviness of what felt like the entire world leaning onto her shoulders. She was told this was a great honour by some, and for others a huge traitorous act. This is not what she wanted. She was meant to marry the Prince of the land of the Mist. Her father knew this, but the way he had so pleadingly asked her, even bowing to touch her feet as a sign of begging showed her how much this meant to him. Some would even say such an act was woeful. She could hardly look into the man's eyes after the actions, feeling herself break piece by piece.

She remembered looking outside the window while he pleaded with her, watching as the free, colourful birds painted with red and green twirled with the path of the wind. Freedom. That's what she wanted, what she craved. All she wanted in life was to love her cousin, her family both alive and dead and above all her Lord.

Instead, she was here at a Kami temple, her hands within his as she granted herself over to him and his religion. His own God. She inwardly growled, upset by what she had become - a tool in a political alliance that was never meant to have occurred. She hated her father for this. She hated this Emperor for allowing it. Though his hands were callous yet warm, she could not help but want to push him away with a cold, sinister vibe running through her veins. They walked around the bronze pot with petals of white and red scattering the floor and a long red cloth material tied at both their waists, a symbol that they were their souls were now tied together. She glanced up slightly; ignoring the priest's words to try and study the man's expression only to find the red veil that had been placed over her face obscured her soon to be husband.

Again, she frowned at this word. Husband. She had sworn to herself, as soon as her father had uttered out the words of marriage, they she would always belong to one thing only. And no one could stray her, not matter how handsome the man in front of her was – she would always belong to her lord.

"The Princess wishes to see you, oh great one,"

He never enjoyed being called 'oh great one'. It had been something he had strongly opposed. He was no greater to his fellow politicians. He had noted he was only in his enticing position (to the public anyway) due to blood and ensured to do his best to make his subjects happy, no matter their backgrounds.

"Yes, Shikamaru?" he looked to his friend who had just entered his tent, which was decorated with reds, pinks, oranges and yellows hanging from the top of the tents and on the cushions he had placed himself on. Not only this, but the head of Kanto had insisted on treating him with gifts, which were littered in baskets on the ground in front of him, much like at the vidhi* of their Byakugan religion he had noted.

"The Princess wishes to speak to you," Shikamaru sighed, his hand behind his head as he rubbed his black hair, "She wants to ask something of you,"

Naruto frowned at this. Unimpressed by the constant games he constantly found himself in, with the head being its orchestrator no doubt, he shot up from his seat and strolled towards the entrance of his high top tent to be greeted with another one surrounded by the female subjects and the head of the Kanto region. Marching towards the entrance, he looking disdainfully at the man with white eyes who winced at his presence as though he was sliced with a knife on his pale skin.

"What is it?" Naruto spat, agitated at the man's flinching above else. He thought the clan was to show no fear?

"I am sorry, but the Princess will not tell me,"

He furiously marched into the tent, and briefly admired the way the somewhat see-through white material of unworn saris, which were stitched together cascaded down to the floor from the ceiling, shielding the individual behind who was not to be viewed before the wedding. Looking past the white material, he saw the shape of the woman, who had noticed his presence before he had even noticed hers. Blue eyes trailed along the edges of the being in front of him, noting how she was wearing a green sari and a veil as well as pearls around her neck. He growled as he could not even see the sight of her eyes, and his impatience started to break through. But, before he could speak of his disgust, soft words enticing his senses silenced his fiery soul.

"I welcome you, your grace," her smooth, velvet voice wrapped itself within his thoughts, sweeping him off his feet and his heart felt light at her gentleness, "Words cannot express how thankful I am that you visited me to hear my thoughts,"

The fists he did not realize he was holding relaxed, and he put his hands behind his back, a softer expression illuminating his eyes, "I-I have two conditions I d-desperately wish to discuss with you. If they are agreed upon, I-I will marry you without hesitation," he could sense her voice shaking slightly, whether it was from fear or nervousness he did not know.

"And what are they?" he said, spurring her to continue, feeling his heart racing as the woman, still behind the white curtain, stepped forward with her hands moving in front of her to grip onto one another, almost as if in prayer as her head bowed down.

"My first condition is that I must be allowed to keep my religion…my faith to the lord without being coerced into any other one,"

Though not surprised, he found himself unknowingly attracted towards her bold statement, one of which many would frown upon. He was impressed by her dedication, and her faith to the Lord he did not know. However he did not wish to show this, and kept his straight expression, "Go on?"

"I-I…" he could hear the shifting of her beads, seeing as she fidgeted with them in her fingers, "…I will be allowed to b-bring an idol of my choosing and a s-small temple must be built for Him,"

This woman knew how damaging these words could be, for herself and to him. His facial expression did not change and he took in her unwavering resolve. And with that, he turned on his heels and walked outside of the tent, being greeted with confused and curious subjects.

Unknown to him, the woman's heart was beating just as fast as his. And she begged for him to be less resilient towards her conditions. Unfortunately for her, Naruto was not one to break his promises, and just like the followers of the Byakugan he too held vigour and boldness – but after all, he was born on the same soil as his bride.

He would have her by his side, even if he had to take on the world.

He remembered lying on her bed in his palace on the evening of their wedding day. The hot summer had brought with it beautiful warm nights with the chirping of crickets lying in the background. He watched as she fidgeted her fingers, a trait he had noticed since he first saw her. Smiling at her awkwardness, he leaned in closer, hoping to see the eyes of the one he had married, only for her to look away.

Getting up onto his knees, he reached his hand forward and brushed his fingertips against the veil that she had covered her face with. It was light and smooth, almost as if he were touching nothing at all. She turned her face slightly to his, and without a second thought he gently pulled the material off of her face and laid it upon her head, where he could finally see the colour of her midnight blue hair.

He remembered that it was a moment he would behold for the rest of his life. The memory would always be fresh in his mind as he gazed into white eyes, which were tinted with lavender. Unlike her fathers, they were kind and tender, enfolding him in a warmth he had never felt before. He looked at her plump, small lips, so pink and soft. He watched her nimble fingers move away the veil from her hair, revealing her long, dark hair cascading down her back in a plait. Her face was slightly rounded, but her nose was like a button and she had the most delicate features. Her eyes were surrounded by long eyelashes, which framed them like they were a work of art. And at the thought, he realized she truly was a masterpiece, painted and perfected as if by the hands of God himself.

Oh Kami, she was breathtaking.

Yet, now those eyes haunted him, like little shimmering moons which followed and judged his every movement. He could not focus on political matters knowing that she would be there to welcome him home, and her song of bravery and love of her god wrapping his senses slowly, and echoing through the corridors of his Palace. Even the smell of her incenses she lit and the sweet humming of her voice during her prayers were thoroughly missed when he was away – and to be greeted with such a wondrous and spirited being truly made him feel at home. Yes, it like a blissful dream. After four months of marriage, he realized that he relied on her, even if she was hesitant towards his presence. The way his name would fall from her lips, and the flutter of her eyes and the blush across her cheeks whenever he returned was something that he was coming to crave. Not that he minded.

Though she did not make it obvious, she too had been staring at him, her eyes following him, unwavering from the Emperor as he walked through the open, outdoor corridors of the palace, his being oozing of charm and intellect. She would not admit that she too had remembered that night, where her eyes could finally lay upon the man's face. When Hinata had first looked, she saw dark blue orbs gazing into her soul, almost studying her and as time passed, she saw them change into a soft, cerulean blue; so full of brilliance, wonder and life. It made her speechless, and she could feel her cheeks adorning a pink colour as she continued to analyze the sharp features of his face, where his blonde unruly hair complemented his tanned skin and the whisker marks on his cheeks were rather…adorable. The smile that graced his lips was soft and she almost melted in his presence.

She had heard the tales of the man's beauty, with women all over the country trying to catch a glimpse of him, even daring to try brush their skin against his. The next day when she had caught his practicing his stances shirtless was the first time she understood their urge to touch him, with the sunlight making the drops of sweat on his toned body glisten and his face and eyes catching the rays in the most beautiful way possible. He simply glowed. It was almost un-human how he shone so brightly, rivalling that of the sun itself as he basked gloriously in it, swiftly moving with his sword from one stance to the other.

It was not just his looks either, but his unwavering belief and bravery that took her breath away. He was so kind to all around him, never once allowing such harsh treatment of his servants and would furiously roar at any who would disrespect those he loved the most. As she watched him from behind closed curtains, she could only bask in such a powerful being's presence yet also find herself falling for his kind touch and tender gazes whenever he so much as looked at her. The fact that such an influential man with a fierce spirit could also be such a gentle, passionate being was so bewildering to her. It made her look past that of a King, and rather into a man. A blonde, head-strong, kind-hearted, and sometimes humorous man.

The feeling of warmth started to engulf her whenever he was near, and would soon disappear whenever he was away, leaving a cold and hollow space within her. She even ached when he told her he would be leaving for a while, and she could not help but question why. Even when she slept beside him, she felt the impulse to brush her hand against his cheek, and the thought of waking up to an empty space one day made her unbelievably frightened. He was becoming a part of her – one she felt she could not live without, much to her dismay.

Many thought he was a fool, and a traitor to his nation for allowing this union to a woman of such low status – to which he would silence them in more ways than one, and would continue to do so until all accepted their Empress of Konoha. He remembered accidently watching her change through the curtains that separated them as they altered their clothing, and captured her lustrous body as it caught the moonlight that shone through their windows. He trailed his eyes down the curves of her body, not missing a single line as he followed her hourglass shape from her legs to her bosom and then to her face. He had gasped in awe at the sight of her – and it was the first time he had felt the desire to touch her in such…crude ways.

He was questioned plenty of times during his meetings, especially by his finance minister on the woman's influence over his political decisions.

"Is it you that has decided this? Or the Empress herself?" The man with the grey, rugged beard asked, stepping forward as he did so, speaking on behalf of all his subordinates.

"What is that meant to mean?" Naruto questioned, his eyebrow coaxing upwards as he gave his papers to Shikamaru, his advisor. They had just been through a hefty debate on the abolishment of pilgrim taxes of the Byakugan worshippers, one of which Naruto proved more persuasive over.

Naruto had never liked the grey haired man's attitude to today's politics. He was rather old fashioned in his way of thinking and did not like to be reminded that the world he once knew is also changing. For the better, the Emperor would add. The bigoted state of mind during his grandfather's reign had started to dwindle when his father had taken the throne, and Naruto hoped within his that he could finish what his father had started. He kept the finance minister out of respect, rather than wanting. However, his offside comments and sneers were starting to ride his patience, especially when it came to the matters of his wife. Their Empress.

"We have all seen a change in your persona my lord, do not think of it as a personal vendetta against yourself or the Empress," he asked, "but you cannot allow yourself to be influenced by such a person,"

"And by such a person, you mean?" Naruto once again pressed, his hands behind his back as he walked to the man his grandfather once called a friend.

"A Byakugan girl," the finance minister answered simply, and Naruto halted in front of the man,

"A Byakugan girl?" Naruto repeated, eyes furrowing at the man's bigoted perception of the world. Naruto could have laughed at the man's ignorance, he truly was in a warped world where only the Kami gods and followers ruled, where only they could pray to their gods without being taxed. Well, in Naruto's world that would just not work.

As Naruto waited in front of the man, he stood firm and a foot taller, his heavy dark eyes patronizing the finance ministers cause. The Emperor put his thumb up, "First of all, the Byakugan user is not just my wife but your Empress. Any ill mannered words of her will not be tolerated," Naruto stepped forward, holding a second finger up to indicate that he was not done, "Second of all, all people of my country should be able to pray to their Gods without having to pay. To measure the Gods worth in coins is an insult. No matter if they are Kami ones or the single Byakugan Lord," his middle finger went up, "And lastly, my country is full of all religions, and I have always sought for them to live in harmony just as my father did before. So if I am to be influenced by my wife, one who has great cultural appreciation and knowledge, then so be it. And if you have an issue with this, then you can bloody well get out of my court!"

He watched as she stroked the parrots he had placed near her bedroom quarters, hoping that their vibrant colours and cleverness would ease her into the settings of a new home. Though at that moment he had sharply inhaled his breath as she released the birds into the clear blue skies, and he smiled as they twirled so peacefully into a free world. The servants had gasped at her actions, with one quickly voicing her concern over what 'The Emperor' would do – only to be hushed by the pearl-eyed wonder.

"Why would you do such a thing, Empress?" Karin, her personal maid had asked,

She greeted her with a genuine smile, one full of such happiness and bliss, "Because, their freedom is much more important than mine,"

Breaking from his thoughts, he walked to the destination he was supposed to be in, where he would meet his Prime Minister, Jiraya for some late business. However, what Naruto did not realize at the time was that it would be one of his last discussions with his beloved father-figure before his premature demise at the hands of his own soldier. After such an event shattered his very core, it was from then on, he realised, that he needed her presence not just for his comfort, but just to learn how to breathe.

*vidhi - an event that occurs the day before a Hindi wedding in which the couple seek the blessing of the Gods (Mother Earth in particular).