*Nightingale*

In this story, be prepared to have your first impression twisted to the point where you have no idea what to expect from these characters. This story is based off of the song Nightingale by Demi Lovato (Check it out! I love this song!). Enjoy!

Normal POV

The walk to the Uchiha compound was fairly quiet. Literally. As the two ANBU members walked down the street with the four royal family members with each of their four guards wearing foreign clothing everyone they passed went silent gawking at the strangers. It wasn't until after they passed them did the bystanders start spreading gossip like wildfire about the possible reason for the strange newcomers.

"Who are those people?"

"What are they doing with those ANBU members?"

"Is that girl supposed to be marring one of the clan heirs?"

"I hope she's not marring the Uchiha heir!"

"Is that her natural hair color?"

"That man with the red hair is pretty hot!" and on and on the gossip went.

In all honesty Itachi found himself getting annoyed by the annoying whispers of the villagers as he passed them by. If he could he would have turned around and scared the shit out of all of them and forced them to shut up. Sadly, he can't do that in front of his charges. So he had to suck it up and wait till after he delivered them to the compound. After that he could do as he pleased.

"Mr. Itachi?" at the sound of his name Itachi turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder at the young princess who called for him. He slightly raised a confused eyebrow from behind his mask at the lost look in the girl's eyes as she observed her surroundings.

"What is it Hime?" She glanced at him before staring at a small café with a few people sitting outside at a table drinking coffee and staring 'discreetly' as they passed.

"Are we in the market district of your nation?" She asked with her voice laced in curiosity.

"Yes, but there are many shops scattered around the village." Itachi answered watching as she nodded her head slowly as she continued to look around observing the actions of the villagers. It was like seeing other people was a foreign thing for her. Was she more shelter than he thought?

"My sister has not been around other people for a long while for safety reasons." Prince Cyan explained smoothly. Itachi glanced once more at the pink haired beauty before turning his gaze forward.

Within five minutes they reached the Uchiha compound. As expected, all of the occupants of the compound stared at the new comers with unwelcoming gleams in their eyes. However, the royal family members didn't seem to pay them any mind as their guardians gripped their weapons a little tighter scanning the residence for any signs of threatening movements. Itachi sent a glare towards a group of clansmen scrutinizing Sakura with hatred in their eyes before turning his head slightly to look at the royal family.

"We must speak with my father about your living arrangements in the compound." Itachi informed before focusing on the path towards the main house.

"Your father is the king of your people?" Sakura asked increasing her speed to walk next to the ANBU captain. Itachi didn't even glance at her curious face opting to watch his home come closer in front of them.

"My father is not a king. He is just the leader of our clan." Itachi explained monotone. Sakura scrunched her brows in thought as she watched his emotionless face.

"So… this place is filled with your people? Are the people we saw coming here not a part of your 'clan'?" Itachi didn't respond at all feeling a ping of annoyance at her ridiculous questions. Does this girl know anything?

"These lands have different customs than ours, my child." King Hishimo explained through a small smile on his face. The young princess turned her head slightly to look at her father in confusion only causing his smile to increase. "In this land every citizen is a part of a nation, however the nation is split into smaller districts called villages. Each village has its own leader that reports to the king of the nation like our generals do in our country. Clans act in the same way only they are made up of family members instead of the entire population. You can think of our family as a clan for an example." The girl's eyes nodded in understanding at her father's explanation before she slowed her pace to retake her place in-between her brothers with her head bowed slightly.

"Please excuse me, Mr. Itachi, if I burdened you with my foolish questioning." She apologizes steadily in a tone that would seem indifferent to anyone who wasn't paying much attention.

Unfortunately, the ANBU captain was indeed paying attention and could easily detect the dejected tone hidden just underneath. To his utter annoyance, he felt the smallest miniscule of guilt tug at him for the briefest of moments looking into those sad emerald depths that resembled that of an abandoned puppy before he forced himself to look ahead of him again.

"Hn." He mumbled under his breath as there group came to a standstill in front of the Uchiha main household. The guards took this moment to disappear from his sight, but he had a feeling they were still watching the family.

Repressing a sigh, the Uchiha heir slide open the front door and removed his shoes along with his elder cousin. When he stepped into the house he turned to the royal family who in turned looked at him blankly. Itachi inwardly sighed prepared to explain another simple thing these foreigners did not know, but his cousin bet him to the punch.

"My auntie has a policy were you must remove your shoes before entering the house. She'd be rather cross if you all tracked mud and dirt on her clean floor." Shisui mocked scolded them. Itachi swore the man was grinning underneath his porcelain bear mask.

Understanding looks washed over all four of their faces as the removed their white skinned boots and sat them neatly in a row before stepping in the house. Curiously, Sakura took a few extra seconds to gently remove the ankle bracelet with tiny bells attached to it from her right boot to clasp it gently on her bare right ankle. Itachi raised an eyebrow when her hands lingered momentarily over one of the tiny bells making it chime the smallest of sounds before standing in between her brothers in front of him.

"Ita-chan?" A sweet voice rang through the living room as his mother stepped out of the kitchen clad in a slightly messy apron rubbing her hands on a white towel. When her eyes landed on the four foreigners her lips stretched into a warm smile. "Ita-chan, Shu-chan, who are our guest?" After the words left her mouth she seemed to just then remember what she was wearing as a mortified look took over her beautiful aristocratic features. "Oh please excuse my attire. I was just in the middle of making dango for Ita-chan." She explained quickly reaching behind her back to untie the apron, but Hishimo's raised hand stopped her in her tracks. An amused smile was spread widely across his slightly aged face.

"Do not worry yourself over your attire, madam. It is I who should be asking for your forgiveness for intruding into your home unannounced. Please, allow me to introduce myself and my family." He said charmingly.

Just as he was about to say his name, a stern man came down the stairs gracefully. When his eyes meet the sight of the four strangers in his home, a dark gleam filled his eyes as his jaw tightened slightly. His eyes snapped to his son and nephew then straight to his wife.

"Mikoto, who are these people?" He demanded in a clipped nonsense tone. The beautiful creature named Mikoto smiled at her husband.

"Fugaku dear, you've arrived just in time. This gentleman was just about to introduce himself and his family to us." She explained calmly turning her attention back to the middle aged man in front of her. He nodded kindly to her before gesturing to himself.

"My name is Hishimo Haruno. I am the king of a Spirit Nation, a nation far from here. This young man standing next to me is my eldest son Prince Cyan. The other young man is my youngest son Prince Kotetsu, and the young lady in between them is my youngest daughter Princess Sakura. She is the heir to the throne and the reason the Lady Hokage has sent us to your home for." He explained smoothly.

To say Itachi was shocked to see, not only his mother's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but also his father's would be an understatement. His mother quickly ushered the royal family to the couch to sit while periodically smoothing out her apron. King Hishimo smiled amusedly at the woman gratefully taking a seat in the armchair she offered him while the three siblings to seats on the long couch next to it. Fugaku and Mikoto followed by the two ANBU took seats on the long couch opposite them before Mikoto scolded the boys for wearing their ANBU mask in the house.

Once everyone was settled, Hishimo relayed all of the information he told the Hokage to the Uchiha heads even including the legend of the cursed child. Although Fugaku stayed impassive throughout the entire story, a flash of sadness crossed over Mikoto's features as she looked at the pink haired princess sitting opposite from her. All of her motherly instincts wanted nothing more than to embrace the girl promising to let nothing harm her. She couldn't even imagine what she'd do if it was one of her boys. She'd probably raise all hell to anyone who would dare bat an unkind eyelash their way.

"I am curious," Mikoto started looking between the king and his eldest son. "You do not look nearly old enough to have a son his age. Do the people in your country age slower?" To the four Uchiha's shock, the king let out a hearty laugh at her question. Even the three siblings seemed to be stifling giggles and whatnots.

"My apologies madam that was very inappropriate of me." The king apologized once he calmed down enough to speak. "No, madam, the people in my country do not age slower. If you can believe it, I am 55 years old. Cyan is 35 years old while Kotetsu is 19 years old and my darling baby girl is 17. I am no young man anymore, madam." He explained with a playful grin on his face. Mikoto blinked in surprise as she took a closer look at the man.

He did, indeed, have a few wrinkles around his eyes but that was the only hint the man that showed he was older. Hell, she could have sworn the man was at least 34 much less 55.

"Well," She smiled slightly embarrassed, "You look very good for your age. I bet the queen feel the same way." If none of them were paying attention, they would have missed the flash of pure sorrow and raw despair cross his eyes before he closed them briefly.

"Our mother is not with us anymore." Cyan spoke hesitantly with a blank expression on his face. Mikoto's eyes saddened as her heart lurched to huge the saddened siblings across from her.

"I am so sorry to hear that. I offer my sincere apologies." She offered sadly. Kotetsu met her gaze before turning them to look at his father who nodded his head stiffly. He glanced at his sister who held her head down in shame before turning his eyes the uncomfortable Uchiha's across from him.

"Our mother is not dead; she was exiled from our lands when Sakura was 3." All four Uchiha's froze in shock at his words.

"If you don't mind me asking, why was she banished?" Shisui asked after a long moment of silence. Kotetsu met his gaze head on, and without batting an eyelash, he said the one sentence that left the four Uchiha utterly speechless.

"She tried to strangle Sakura in her crib."

And that's the end of this chapter! Tell me if you like it! I hope you enjoyed!