Hiya! So, I've been in a funk, but now this popped into my head when I was finding a whole lot of pictures on Pinterest. :)

Disclaimer that I don't own Naruto.

Saigo Ni Kidzuita

She was just another orphaned servant in the Shogunate's household.

Each day was the same. Get up, eat quickly, clean, clean, clean, get yelled at by the cranky old woman who oversaw things, clean some more, then eat once more before going to sleep to begin the cycle the following day. Once in awhile, she even got to bathe. Of course, those were the days she worked in the kitchen, and anyone who worked in the kitchens was required to bathe beforehand.

Sighing, the pink haired girl whose name no one cared about these days looked around her. Eleven years she'd been working in the palace now. Sakura had turned sixteen a few months ago, not that anyone here cared enough to celebrate it. But she supposed that was a good thing. Sixteen was an age that generally saw young girls moved up to the courtesan's quarters, if they were pretty enough.

Sakura had no idea if she fit the bill, but dredging up the vague memories of her mother… If she was anything to go by, then perhaps with a good scrubbing, Sakura would clean up quite nicely. All the more reason, of course, to cling to the filthy, bedraggled image she held.

Today there was a special feast being held, so Sakura had actually been forced to bathe. The Shogun's top generals had arrived late the previous night, and all day they'd been preparing for a major celebration. Oxen had been slaughtered, and were already roasting on spits. The scent of spiced breads wafted through the corridors, causing many an empty stomach to grumble. Sweets were being prepared, the most perfect selection of fruits were set on platters, and several squid and other seafood were being held on standby, ready to cook at a moments notice.

All in all, it was shaping up to be a decadent feast.

People were filing into the great hall, dressed in their exquisite kimono, hakama and haori. Sakura was in a simple yukata that bore the crest of the Shogun on it, proclaiming that she was his property. On her feet were tabi socks, and simple waraji, and her hair was pinned up in a simple fashion. Unlike the geisha here tonight for the entertainment, her face was bare of decoration.

Sakura carried a large platter of food in that was bound straight for the main table. Three others were ahead of her, and she followed them as they made their way to the assigned place. She'd been in this role many times before, always keeping her eyes lowered as to avoid eye contact. Avoiding attention was the most important thing, because she'd seen what catching the attention of a nobleman resulted in for a girl of her standing.

The room was noisy with laughter and music, and as Sakura placed her platter on the main table, she couldn't help but glance along the table to where the Shogun sat. As soon as she did so, she spotted the man next to him, the strongest of all the Shogun's generals. She knew his name, even if she did not know him personally, thank kami for that.

Uchiha Madara. That was his name. Here was a man feared in all of Japan's provinces. His bloody reputation preceded him, even in the scullery of the Shogunate palace. Yet even in that glance, she noted that he was a handsome man, though not someone that she would ever set herself with. Cursing her weakness for glancing up, Sakura quickly made sure that she'd performed her duties correctly, then left as quickly as she could without rousing attention to herself.

As she headed out of the room, she missed the Uchiha general raising a brow at her retreating form, how he spoke in low tones with the Shogun. She was already out the door and headed back to the kitchens when one of her more immediate superiors was called over and asked about the pink haired servant. Who was she? Was she of age? Could they have her ready for when the general retired for the night?

No instead, Sakura simply headed back to her duties, unaware that later that night, her life would change in a way she had been desperately hoping that it never would.

So what did you think? Review please. :)

Saigo Ni Kidzuita: Finally noticed, Google translation.