Konohagakure is one of four great kingdoms located in a temperate forest, and boasts not only the largest army and most successful clans, but plentiful resources.
Because of this, there are constant attempts to get within the Hokage's favor, from gifts to favors and more.
Their Sandaime only had sons, both of whom were married with children of their own, and all hopes of getting in through a daughter died with his wife…
Until she came along.
A young girl, the sole survivor of the decimated Southern Water Tribe, that had escaped and was taken in by the kind Hokage.
It was the opening the nobles had been waiting for.
At the tender age of six, still healing from her ordeal, marriage proposals poured in and royals visited, bringing along their young children in the hopes of winning her affections.
But she was a smart child, clearheaded in a way most adults could not manage, and politely refused each one.
The Hokage, baffled by this startling maturity, had asked her why.
"I'll know who I'm going to marry when I see them." The girl answered simply, slowly going through kata under the watchful eyes of her adopted father.
"How will you know?" He asked, intrigued.
"I'll feel it." She assured, giving him a sweet smile. "I'll just know, and then we'll live happily ever after!"
She said it with such certainty, like she was telling someone the sky was blue and water was wet; a fact of life that could not be argued with.
For a moment, he wished that life was so simple.
Dawn broke over Konohagakure in a flood of golden light, painting the sky warm colors as a breeze danced through the trees.
Sitting on the Hokage Monument, Kumiko smiled at the beautiful sight.
Flowers of various colors were braided into her long waterfall of hair, splashes of color against the white canvas, and she looked down at the red bloom tying up the end.
Brushing her fingertips over the velvety petals, the seventeen-year-old turned at the heavy footfalls behind her.
Tail wagging, the Polar Bear Dog trotted up to her owner, nuzzling Kumiko's chest with a warm growl.
"Hey, girl." She cooed, throwing an arm around the thick, furry neck. "Did otousan send you?"
Bobbing her head in a nod, Fubuki huffed slightly when Kumiko used her as leverage to stand.
"Well, come on." The girl coaxed, pressing a kiss to her pet's forehead in a sign of affection. "Let's go see what he needs."
Straightening up, the Polar Bear Dog shook out her fur before offering a broad shoulder for Kumiko to swing herself up by.
Once in place, the canine took off towards the village at a brisk pace as the people below began their day.
[Kumiko]: Little town, it's a quiet village
Everyday, like the one before
Little town, full of little people, waking up to say…
[Villagers 1-4]: Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour, Bonjour, Bonjour!
[Kumiko]: There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Every morning just the same since the morning that we came
To this bustling little town
Fubuki slowed once reaching the streets, weaving through the crowd of people setting up the market with practiced ease.
People cast glances, but not because of the Polar Bear Dog.
[Female Villagers]: Look, there she goes, that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
[Female Villager]: Never part of any crowd
[Male Villager]: Because her head's up on some cloud
[Villagers]: No denying, she's a funny girl, that Kumiko
Perfectly balanced behind the strong shoulders and forelegs, Kumiko looked around at the stands that would be open in an hour, admiring the craftsmanship of some pieces as she passed.
Feeling the stares, she let out a defeated breath.
[Kumiko]: There must be more than this boring life…
The Hokage Tower was clearly visible over the rooftops, but her gaze was torn away by a friendly shout of her name.
"Mimi-chan!"
Twisting around, Kumiko smiled.
"Sakura-chan!"
Haruno Sakura, a fellow kunoichi and apprentice to Tsunade, smiled as she jogged up to the now-stationary Polar Bear Dog.
"Where are you headed?"
"Otousan wants to see me." The smaller girl admitted. "Did you need something, Sakura-chan?"
"Oh no, nothing like that." The pink-haired teenager assured, rooting through her bag. "But I remember you saying how much myths and such about Sunagakure interested you, so I found this!"
She proudly held up a thick tome, slightly worn with age but in rather good condition, and Kumiko's eyes lit up.
"Sakura-chan…"
"It's for you!" Sakura assured, handing it over carefully. "From all us girls. We were out on missions for your seventeenth, but we wanted to get you something anyway."
Overwhelmed, Kumiko leaned down and pulled her friend into a hug, the book pressed against her heart like a precious treasure.
"Thank you so much. It's the best gift I've ever received."
Blushing at the praise, Sakura waved her off.
"It's the least we could do. Now go on, before you're late!"
A sheepish smile crossed her face at the reminder.
"Hai! See you later, Sakura-chan!"
The pink-haired kunoichi waved as her friend was carried away, sending an irritable glare at the civilians who were whispering nearby.
[Male Villagers]: Look, there she goes, that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
[Female Villagers]: With a dreamy far-off look
[Male Villagers]: And her nose stuck in a book
[Villagers]: What a puzzle to the rest of us, she is
[Kumiko]: Oh! Isn't this amazing? It's my favorite because you'll see…
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him, till Chapter Three
Carefully placing her new gift in the satchel flung over her shoulder, mindful of the flowers she had gathered earlier, Kumiko sighed, leaning forward against Fubuki's neck.
[Female Villager]: Now, it's no wonder that her name means 'beauty'
Her looks have got no parallel
[Male Villager]: But behind that fair façade, I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very different from the rest of us
[Villagers]: She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, different from the rest of us is Kumiko
Dismounting gracefully at the front door, Kumiko signaled for her loyal steed to stay put as she entered.
The halls were bustling with secretaries and aids, carrying papers and coffees to the many offices within.
Slipping through the frazzled men and women, she made her way to the often-unused staircase and made her way up to the top floor.
Most of Konoha's shinobi preferred entering by window or shunshin, leaving the hallways open for the civilian workers and visitors, but Kumiko was required to enter places by the front door as a personal security measure.
Jogging up quite a few flights of stairs, barely winded thanks to years of practice, she slowed in the massive hallway outside of her father's office.
Asuma, one of her older brothers, was leaning against the opposite wall and glaring at the heavy double doors like they were taunting him.
"Oniisan?"
Startled from his most likely violent thoughts, the Jonin turned to his adopted sibling with a strained smile.
"Ohayo, imouto!" He greeted with false cheerfulness, pulling her into a one-armed hug.
"Is something wrong?" Kumiko worried, eyes darkening slightly in concern.
"No, nothing's wrong!" Asuma assured hastily, not the least bit convincing. "Just a chat!"
Sensing that she did not believe him, the smoking shinobi sighed, crouching down to her level with a saddened expression.
"Just…Just follow your heart, imouto. Don't let anyone convince you to do otherwise."
Rather troubled by the cryptic advice, the girl nodded, allowing him to usher her towards the door despite her conflicting emotions.
The moment she stepped inside, Kumiko realized why Asuma had been so upset.
Uchiha Fugaku turned to her with a rather grizzled expression, Sasuke smirking at his side.
Darn.
[Sasuke]: Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous, and I fell…
Here in town, there is only she, who is as beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry her
[Sasuke Fangirls]: Look, there he goes, isn't he dreamy?
Monsieur Sasuke, oh he's so cute!
Be still, my heart, I'm hardly breathing!
He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute!
Beating down the instinctual need to get the heck out of there, she avoided their eyes and looked to Hiruzen for help.
He could only offer an apologetic smile in greeting, motioning towards the empty seat sitting across from the Uchiha patriarch and his youngest son.
"Have a seat, musume. Uchiha-san has a…proposition that he insists you be a part of."
Wary, Kumiko slid into the chair, eyes jumping between the three males before her.
"What sort of proposition?"
Fugaku pinned the teenager with an intense stare, as if picking out her flaws and analyzing them, before speaking.
"I am offering my youngest son, Sasuke, as a suitor."
Kumiko felt her stomach drop like a heavy stone.
Though he had obviously inherited the good genes common among the Uchiha, Sasuke was a moody, childish, arrogant boy that had flocks of girls tripping over each other to get so much as a glance.
Sakura and Ino had been smitten at first, and would have lost their friendship over it if Kumiko had not intervened, though they eventually learned their lesson.
Honestly, he was the last person Kumiko wanted as a suitor.
"Though my eldest will likely inherit my title, Sasuke is a strong shinobi. We have high hopes for any children you two would create."
Oh spirits, stop talking! Kumiko fretted internally, skin crawling at the look Sasuke was giving her at the implication.
"Though you would no longer be an active kunoichi, you will be given the full force of the Uchiha clan and all our resources."
She felt her entire world grind to a halt.
Though you would no longer be an active kunoichi…
Kumiko had never been so furious.
Biting down on the caustic words that wanted to spring free, the girl calmed herself enough to speak at an appropriate volume.
"I'm…flattered that you would consider including me in your family, Uchiha-san, but I'm not interested in marriage at the moment. Perhaps at another time? I believe otousan said I would be going on a mission soon."
The Sandaime nodded in agreement, mentally going through all of the available missions and who was free to go with her.
"Yes, there is an escort mission out to Iwagakure that will last three weeks, and she is leaving tomorrow morning. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until then to discuss this further."
Fugaku nodded, accepting the circumstances, but there was clear upset in Sasuke's coal-dark eyes that was unsettling.
But Kumiko was a kunoichi, a master Waterbender, and refused to cower beneath his glare as the pair left.
Still, she let out a relieved breath once they were gone.
[Kumiko]: There must be more than this life…
[Sasuke]: Just watch, I'm going to make Kumiko my wife!
[Villagers]: Look, there she goes!
That girl is strange, but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle!
It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty, but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Kumiko!
