Chapter 2:
When the heiress heard his name, she poorly masked her shock. It was clear that although no one from this story book of a place knew what he actually looked like but have at least heard of him. 'How idiotic' he thought to himself. Every shinobi is in the bingo books, picture and all. Even for a clan of healers it would be most wise to study the book to know if a potential threat walks through their doors. He had to admit, his chest swelled with selfdom as he watched the adorably annoying pink haired princess bow and sputter out a string of apologies, pulling her robe to herself tightly as she did so.
"Are you sure you are not here to try and seduce me?" He asked, eyeing and gesturing to her interesting choice of clothing. He could tell this girl was too innocent for her own good, but watching her squirm around like worm on a hook pleased him.
The pinkette quickly glared up at him and tucked her arms around her chest. "Excuse me?! No!"
She began to walk back towards the front sliding doors. "I just wanted to see what all the commotion was about but clearly I made a mistake in coming here. I'll be going now." She shot him another look and was just about to leave before she felt a calloused hand grab her wrist.
"-Wait! I wish to ask you a question before you go." Izuna had finally deactivated his Sharingan again to try and seem less threatening so that she may hear him out. 'I've got to get her on our side. For the clan..'
There was a slight blush on her cheeks and she mindlessly noted that, although rough his hands were very warm. She glanced down at his large hand over her smaller one and couldn't help but frown slightly at all the scars that sprinkled the back of his hands and fingers, some deeper and larger than others.
'They clearly have shit healers.' Inner Sakura piped up from the back of her mind and silently Sakura agreed. Scars were unheard of in her clan because they could heal wounds so perfectly.
She turned her head towards the door to think about if she should hear him out, taking a few moments before turning to him fully.
"Alright, you got three minutes before the guards do their rounds and find out I'm here."
Izuna nodded to her once in appreciation, but for some reason he forgot to let go of her wrist. She found herself not minding, but the intimacy made her slightly uneasy.
He took a shallow breath before he began to explain, "My clan requires your families allegiance. We do not ask that you fight but we ask for your aid in healing and in resources. In return, once we defeat the Senju your clan will be given land, and you will forever have the great Uchiha clan as allies and protectors."
Sakura scoffed "Yeah, as long as we keep healing you. Do you know what destruction your war has brought? Not just to yourselves and the Senju, but to the innocent civilians? The children!? Every day, Izuna-san. I walk down this mountain and I have to undo what your selfishness and pride have done!" She was furious! Had he not seen the clinics on his way here? The devastation this war has manifested? There are sons and daughters without mothers and fathers. Homes lost to fires and raids, complete farmlands and towns turned battlegrounds. She hated it. And it was all for what, a blood feud?
Sakura ripped her hand from his grasp. She had enough.
"You're wasting your time here. Good night, Izuna-san." and with that she hurried out the door and disappeared into the night before he could protest.
The next morning, Sakura was up early. She summoned two branch members to assist in dressing her into a traditional kimono that matched the color of her eyes. She hated these infernal things, they were so limiting, but once she had turned the age of twenty it was required of her to start acting her part as heiress.
Sakura was a brilliant young woman, who had surpassed her mentors in medical ninjutsu at the age of fifteen, earning her right to be bestowed the Yin seal like the women before her. Although, she was not allowed to use the seal unless in dire need. The Yin seal, although powerful, puts tremendous strain on her body, and if she overexerts herself the results are… least desirable.
"Would you like us to leave your hair down, Sakura-sama?" Yuki asked softly, breaking her out of her train of thought. The girl knew that Sakura didn't like to have her hair fashioned in tight, fancy braids. She felt most comfortable wearing it down, because it reminded her of an old friend she had as a kid.
"Yes," Sakura gave herself a once over and turned to face the girl. "Thank you, Yuki-san." She gave her a small smile and headed out to find her father and Izuna.
When she stepped into the great dining hall, she was not surprised to see the long table covered in a variety of beautifully cooked foods on shimmering silver platters. The room smelled like heaven, and she couldn't help but smile. The cooks are always so excited to have guests and show off.
There at the head of the table sat her father, grinning wide upon setting eyes on her. Sitting to his right, was her mother, deeply engorged in the cakes that were meant for after their main meal. Across from her sat Izuna, who side-eyed her with disinterest before continuing to talk to her father.
She made her way to the table and decided to take the seat next to her mother.
"Mother, Father." She greeted with a slight bow of her head in their direction. Then she shot the man across from her a sassy glare, upturning her nose to show him she thought lowly of him.
"Izuna-san."
Her mother stopped eating, then stared at Izuna wide eyed. "Uchiha Izuna?" She muttered under her breath then glanced at her husband who had bellowed out a hearty laugh.
"So the cat's out of the bag!" Kizashi chuckled. He wiped his mouth with the napkin from his lap.
"I knew who you were since the moment you walked up this mountain, boy. Don't look so upset with my daughter." Kizashi then looked to his daughter with a knowing look that made her slump down into her chair a bit. Did he know about her little visit last night?
"As I was saying, Izuna-san. You may let your father know that we will not be assisting anyone in this war." Kizashi eyed the man seriously, placing his elbows on the table and leaning in. "I will not put this clan in harm's way, and we will not be bullied into allegiance."
Sakura grinned wildly, unable to contain her joy as she heard those words from her father. Izuna shot her another look for the upteenth time that day.
"That would be unwise. My father would be most displeased with your decision. How unfortunate, on my way here I overheard civilians talking about the Uzumaki army moving rather close to your borders."
Mebuki snorted. "Preposterous. The Uzumaki have no reason to invade us. They have their own healers, and their heir used to play with Sakura when they were toddlers. They would not sever ties with us."
"I knew Uchiha were big headed but I didn't think they were liars." Sakura said as the corner of her mouth twitched. She was being petty, her emotions once again getting the best of her but she couldn't help it, Izuna infuriated her.
At that Izuna had lost his cool. He slammed his fist down on the table, causing everyone to jump and stare at him startled. "I've had enough of your disrespect, girl."
"Now see here, Izuna-san. You are under MY-"
"Yes, Kizashi-san I am under your roof. But I am an Uchiha and I will not be disrespected. The Uzumaki plan to break treaty, and your precious civilians are the ones that have been selling you out. You have grown weak, Kizashi-san. You have forgotten battle and war, and it will cost you. We are giving you a means for protection and all we ask for is help in return."
The room grew still. Kizashi had grabbed the hand of his wife, looking to her for council but she did not speak, just stare at their joined hands and squeezed tight. Sakura searched Izuna's face for the smallest of hints that he was still lying but found nothing.
"What reason would the Uzumaki go back on their treaty?" Sakura whispered. She didn't understand. The Uzumaki were a small clan but they kept to themselves.
"The Uzumaki are distant relatives of the Senju." Izuna said, as if that completely answered her question.
His face softened a bit and waited for Sakura to meet his eyes again before he continued.
"Sakura-san, this is war that has extended past blood feud. It's about money, power, resources… The Haruno clan is infamous for its medical ninjutsu and wealth. When word gets out about you turning of age- which I'm sure it already has- they will be after you as well."
"Her fertility, her status, and her Yin seal.." Mebuki gasped, horrified at the realization. "Oh, gods…"
Sakura felt faint as her skin paled. Her fertility… Why didn't she even think of that? When she had first turned twenty, she felt the change in her body almost instantly, although her mother says it is a gradual change that one would not notice. In what would take any normal female years of maturing it felt like Sakura underwent in just a few weeks. Her breasts had become larger, her hips wider. Her lips became more alluring and plump, cheeks higher and defined. She had completely matured into a woman that could have been easily mistaken as a nymph or a fairy. She was beautiful before, but after she turned twenty she became radiant. Her chakra had changed as well, taking on a lighter shade of sea foam green and smelled like flowers that grew on the mountain. The calming effect that it had, could put patients to sleep in seconds if she willed it. But it also had a strange effect on men that seemed to draw them in to her. Her mother had told her that each female born in the Haruno clan had the chance to be blessed with enhanced fertility. It was truly a blessing and a curse. Although it ensured perfect health and strength for her future children, it put a target on her back for power hungry clans. Because of her fertility, she could enhance a clan's Kekki Genkai and create the perfect shinobi child.
The protection being offered wasn't mainly for her clan, she realized. It was for her. And who better to protect her than the Uchihas? But what if this was all a trick in its own, what if they were trying to lure her out and take her for themselves? Sakura's hands began to sweat as she quickly tried to figure out a plan. If her family were to still decline, it wouldn't be only herself in danger, it would be her whole clan. If she were to… If she were to go. And stay at the Uchiha compound, heal their wounded and play her role, her clan would be safe and she would be able to ensure that.
There was truly only one option, and that damned Uchiha knew it all along.
"I'll go." Sakura finally said.
"No, Sakura you ca-"
"I'm the best at medical ninjutsu besides you and father, mother. And we can't afford to have either of you leave. My brothers are still away for training and we need as many clan members here as we can if we are to truly be betrayed by the Uzumaki."
"But we can't just let you go by yourself, Sakura dear." Mebuki gave her a worried look, she hated this.
"No, she won't be alone." Kizashi finally spoke up. "She has her summons, they'll help her if she needs aid and alert us if anything goes wrong. Izuna-san, did you bring with you the agreements?"
"Of course." Izuna pulled out a scroll from his pack that was placed to the side of his chair and handed it it to Kizashi.
"Shouldn't we talk about this more?" Mebuki stressed. She didn't want her baby girl to go. She didn't trust the Uchihas.
"Yes," Kizashi opened the scroll and began scanning through it, making sure to read all the fine prints and terms. "But I'm trusting Sakura to take care of this for us while she is at the Uchiha compound."
Mebuki furrowed her brows and stood from her seat. She couldn't believe what was happening. "You must be out of your mind!" She shouted at him as she stepped around her chair and moved directly to his side, placing a hand on his arm "She isn't ready! She' still a child."
"No, I am not."
With that, Sakura stood as well. She reached over the table and plucked a peach from the bowl of fruits in the center of the table. "I'll go with Izuna-san, and make sure that they send a troop to aid us. Should they keep their end of the deal, you can send some of the men back with the necessary resources they require. I can help heal those in need at the Uchiha compound. That will buy us more than enough time to figure out our next move." She took a bite from the peach, trying to mask her nervousness and seem collected.
Izuna looked mildly impressed, but said nothing.
Kizashi nodded and smiled at his daughter. "That's my girl." He mumbled as he cut his finger with the knife on his plate and signed the scroll in blood, then handed it to Izuna. The scroll already had the blood signature of Tajima Uchiha, who had been anticipating this outcome.
Izuna took the scroll and placed it back into his pack, then got up from his seat and swung it over his shoulder lazily. "We leave at once. Ready your horses." Izuna did not spare her a glance as he began to head back to the guest house to gather his things for departure.
"I can travel by foot. I'm still a shinobi." she grumbled out, taking another bite of her peach.
"But you are an Heiress first and so you must act like one."
Gods, he pissed her off.
A/N:
I'm trying okay! But the next chapter is going to be awesome. Finally our Sakura gets put to the test as she enters the Uchiha compound. Will it be what she expects? Who knows..
Please review if you have the time. It helps me get through the times where I feel like I should give up on this story! 3
