Naruto has spent her entire life knowing Konoha comes first. She knows her dad loves her, of course he does, but he's so often busy with treaties and working with diplomats and running a city. It hurts sometimes, hurts to know that whether he realizes it or not, he's always made the village more of a priority than his daughter.

But she's used to that, has been since she was little. She's used to spending her time with others, to Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-nii spending most of their time with her. No, the worst part of being the Hokage's daughter is having obligations.

The Hokage's daughter isn't supposed to be loud, isn't supposed to skip diplomatic meetings to train, isn't supposed to punch nobles that don't get that she's not interested.

The Hokage's daughter is expected to put the village first, even if it goes against everything she wants.

Naruto knows that, has known that since her first etiquette lesson, but that still doesn't prepare her for what her father tells her one summer day.

"What?" she finally manages, staring at Minato as though he's lost his mind.

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Her father tells her, looking pained. "But Suna is dangerously close to declaring war, it's a stroke of luck that the Kazekage even proposed this at all-"

"Luck?" Naruto demands with fury in her voice. "It's lucky that you're forcing me into an arranged marriage with some moron I've never met before?"

"The Kazekage has assured me Kankuro is very considerate, and by all accounts the boy is quite a talented ninja. Besides, the Kazekage should be coming within a few weeks, so you can get to know the boy."

"I don't want someone talented! I want someone I like!"

They stare at each other for a moment, Minato despairing and Naruto glaring, before she throws up her hands in disgust and turns towards the door.

"Naruto-" he calls out, stopping when she raises a hand.

"No," she says bitterly, "I get it. The village comes first, right? The village always comes first. Just so you know," she adds, turning to face her father, "I hope you know mom would hate this."

With that parting shot Naruto is out the door, blinking back angry tears and ignoring the curious stares of the shinobi milling around the door.

She is the daughter of the Hokage, and that means she isn't allowed to show weakness.


Sakura's in the middle of her shift at the hospital, Naruto knows. She should let the girl, you know, actually do her job saving people. She should, but it's not like she can talk to anyone else about this.

"Sakura?" she asks, turning to her friend and former teammate with worried eyes.

"Naruto, you know I'm busy-" Sakura starts before actually looking at her friend. Naruto knows the other girl can see how she's blinking back tears, can see how her hands are shaking in barely repressed rage. She knows she's being weak right now, but she finds it hard to care.

"Aki!" Sakura calls, smiling when the other medic turns, "I need you to cover me for a bit, alright?"

"Of course, Haruno-San," the medic agrees, smiling at the darling of the Medical Corps.

Naruto feels herself blink back tears at that again. She doesn't want to live in Suna, she doesn't want to leave Sakura and Ino and all her friends behind, she doesn't want to leave Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-nii and even her father.

"What is it?" the other girl asks once they've found a secluded corner, concern clear on her face.

"Tou-san's agreed to an arranged marriage between me and the Kazekage's eldest son."

"He's what?" Sakura demands.

"I know!" Naruto practically wails, giving to the urge to drape herself over Sakura. "And I know the village comes first but I don't want to do this! I don't want to leave you and everyone behind, even Sasuke, even though he's an ass. I don't want to go. The Kazekage and this Kankuro guy are coming by in a few weeks and I don't know what to do."

Sakura is quiet, rubbing circles along Naruto's back, before she finally speaks.

"I think you should meet him."

"What?" Naruto demands, untangling herself from the other girl's grip to look up at Sakura.

"I know you, Naruto, I know you're not really happy here. I know you don't like being the Hokage's daughter…being the jinchuuriki everyone's afraid of. I know you'd have left if it didn't mean becoming a missing-nin."

Naruto wants to deny it but Sakura's right, like she always is.

"Suna is the chance for a fresh start. I think you should meet him, and if you like him that's great. If you don't, you know we'll all be happy to provide an alibi."

The girl has a point, a rumbling voice adds, and Naruto resists the urge to roll her eyes.

Finally decided to join us? She questions the fox.

You don't like it here, Kurama fires back, and she just knows he's rolling his eyes. Besides, if I have to deal with your emotions, I should get a chance to deal with them somewhere new.

How generous of you, Naruto responds sarcastically before stopping and taking a moment to think.

"Okay," she finally decides. "I'll at least see what he's like."

"Alright," Sakura responds before a wicked grin curves across her face. "Besides, if he's really awful, we all know how to hide a body."

Naruto laughs, aiming a beaming smile at her best friend before waving goodbye and leaping out the window and landing feet first on the street below.


When Naruto enters the Hokage's office, it's to the sight of her father staring contemplatively at an unopened bottle of sake.

She snorts at the sight, causing him to look up.

"I'm not going to apologize for what I said, and I do think mom would kill you," she begins, looking into her father's eyes. "But I'm willing to meet him."

At that, tou-san lets out a shuddering sigh, leaning back in his chair. She knows that's far more of a concession than he expected.

She also knows he can read in between the lines, knows he's noticed how she's only agreed to meet the boy. Naruto watches him for a moment, watches as he considers her words before he nods. After all, that's the best he'll get from her.

"Naruto," Minato says, "I truly am sorry."

The smile she sends his way is bitter. "It's for the village," Naruto repeats, "I understand."