Based upon The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Things to know for this chapter:

Suma no Umi Hotels: Also known as the Sea of Sand hotels, this chain is widely spread throughout the Eastern Hemisphere. They are a five-star company owned by a man known simply as the Kazekage. His wife had died many years prior, leaving him to support his three children alone. Together, as a family, they run his business.

Yamanaka Regaria Zōen: A landscaping company owned and founded by the Yamanaka family. They specialize in creating exotic gardens and Eden-like surroundings for their commissioners. They are rather famous in the majority of Japan, and have gone as far as America to decorate yards. They're top rate and rather expensive, catering only to those of higher status, thus making their work highly sought after.

I apologize that the characters seem out of character. I promise, I'll try hard not for it to happen again, but a little is required for the story.

Borderlines – Chapter 2
Year 1997; Tokyo, Japan

"Well, this is it!"

The Land Rover driven by Akarui pulled up to a large gate entryway. The road to get to this gate was a private one, having been rather long and windy, and shrouded by dense forest on one side, while bordering a cliff that overlooked the ocean on the other. The estate was definitely more out of the way, which was what the Haruno's had desired. There was simply nothing worse than waking up one morning to find paparazzi looking into your bedroom window.

Sakura glanced out the side window with wide eyes as they stopped before the large, steel gates. Presumably they had just been put in, for each rod had intricate carvings that were easily seen from the vehicle, and each side of the large entryway had half of the Haruno's clan symbol. When both sides closed together, the symbol halves formed the full sphere, indicating that it was, in fact, owned by the Haruno Clan.

The window to the driver's side was rolled down then, and a man at the security gate greeted Akarui pleasantly.

"Finally arrived, sir."

Akarui nodded. "We got a little sidetracked on the way here."

"Ah. Checking out the neighbourhood?" The security officer chuckled then as he turned to a control desk of his booth. Small televisions were aligned side-by-side, one for each security camera in the immediate premises and driveway. The pictures were all in black and white.

The officer then pressed a few buttons and pulled a switch on the electrical panel, and the gate doors creaked as they began to open. "The movers have just left, and everything's put in their proper placement. Tsunade had a hell of a time instructing them where to put everything."

Akarui laughed a little. "I'm sure she did."

"Head on inside. I'll let everyone know you are arriving."

Akarui nodded, rolling up the window as he began through the opened gateway.

The driveway was almost as long as the private road itself, at least to one particular Haruno anyway. Sakura felt as if they had been driving for eternity, but in all reality, it had only taken fifteen minutes to get from the park to their new home.

The woods soon ebbed, leaving a magnificent building standing in its wake. The driveway came right up to the front door, though not before creating a perfect sphere around a splendorous fountain which seemed to constantly flow with sparkling water.

Akarui stopped the car at the very pinnacle of the sphere, cutting the engine and stepping out to greet the Butler whom was already proceeding to where they stood. A few black-suited guards stood around the area just in case anything should go awry, but here, there was nothing to be afraid of.

"I hear poor Tsunade-sama has been given a hard time," Akarui called as the butler approached. He was a tall man with short brown hair, acorn-shaped eyes of dark colours, and a hard to read expression painted across his pale skin at all times.

"Aah, the movers were stubborn, but she was even more so," the man replied with a small smile. He wasn't one to usually show emotion.

"Where is she now, Yamato?"

Yamato side-stepped as Akarui began walking toward the building. "In the lounge with some sake."

Akarui chuckled. "Of course she is. But was it really that terrible?"

"Apparently so, sir."

"Well, who are we to deny her then." The red-haired man smirked a bit.

"Akarui, wait a moment."

The two men paused to glance back at the vehicle, where Rakuna was just helping Sakura from the back seat. When the child with cotton candy hair exited the Land Rover, she adjusted her clothing a moment before darting off to join her father. Akarui held out his hand, and Sakura took it readily. Rakuna joined them soon thereafter.

"How would you like to see your new house now, Sakura-hime?" Akarui inquired with a light smile. The afternoon's events were presently forgotten.

Sakura nodded her head, though her eyes never found her father's face. She was studying the external structure of the building. She felt like she truly was a princess now, as the building was much larger than their prior home. It was at least six stories, if not seven, and appeared to have a basement below the main floor as well. The exterior was entirely made from a rosy cream coloured stone, with massive pillars stretching up from the front porch to the third story where a deck-like structure was placed directly above. The architecture was simply stunning, the mouldings and statues giving off an old-aged appeal.

The house stretched on for what seemed like several hundred meters, and in both directions as well. Sakura had no idea what they were ever going to use so many rooms for, but she figured knowing her parents, they'd come up with a use for it.

"Where is Ebisu?" Akarui asked Yamato suddenly, breaking Sakura from her reverie.

Yamato had entered the house once more, and simply shrugged his shoulders. "I believe he is in the office upstairs, but I can't be sure."

Akarui followed the man inside, and once they had all entered, the front doors had closed.

The main hall was far beyond what Sakura had expected it to be. The room was large, almost the size of the ballroom at one of the Suma no Umi hotels, with an incredible chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. The floor was easily guessed to be marble, and a sweeping staircase led up each side of the room to a balcony surrounding the upper tier with doors leading away into rooms at each side. There was a hall that extended from the top of the staircases (which joined in the center) that obviously led to various other rooms and hallways.

The main floor, however, had just one hall that was directly adjacent to the front entryway, albeit it was a good fifty or so feet from the doors.

"What do you think?"

Sakura glanced up at her father, smiling a little. "I guess it's okay."

Akarui chuckled. "Do you want to see the rest of the house?"

The pink-haired girl thought a moment before nodding her small head. "Yes please."

Just then, the door opened behind them, and Genma and Kakashi came around casually.

"Would you two give Sakura a tour of the place?" asked Akarui then as the two men came into sight. "Rakuna and I have a bit of work to do before supper. Just have to take a trip to the office."

Genma fiddled with the senbon in his mouth for but a moment before cracking a usual, cheesy grin. "Of course we will."

Kakashi nodded in agreement as he flipped the page in the ever familiar orange jacket of Icha Icha Paradise, which was either always in his hands, or on his person somewhere.

"Hatake, please," Rakuna said then, and the silver-haired man lifted his gaze.

A sigh left his lips and he closed the book, having made sure to mark his place before slipping it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. "No one approves of culture nowadays. What is this world coming to."

Akarui smirked. "Culture? It's inappropriate reading."

"And yet you read it as well, sir," Kakashi responded casually as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

Akarui frowned but said nothing more on the subject.

Rakuna cleared her throat, prying Sakura's small hand from her father's. "Darling, go with Kakashi and Genma. They'll show you your new room, and your play room."

"And the yard too?" asked the pink-haired girl with green eyes shining with excitement.

Rakuna laughed. "Yes, Sakura."

"Whoo!" Sakura immediately darted to Kakashi's side, grabbing his hand and tugging gently on his long fingers. "Come on, Kakashi-sensei! Show me my palace!"

The three bid farewell to the adults as they proceeded toward the main hall, Kakashi leading with Sakura at his side.

Genma matched their pace swiftly, frowning a little as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "How come you get to be the sensei? I'm older!"

Kakashi chuckled, his voice smooth and soft. He didn't answer, however, and instead veered down a separate hall to start at the beginning with the tour.

Genma followed with a scowl. "Well? What's your answer to that, sensei?"

(x)

"And this..." Kakashi pushed open the door, watching as Sakura's jaw dropped upon seeing what lay behind it. "...is you room."

Sakura squealed with delight as the princess pink walls were revealed, and she almost immediately bolted inside.

It was literally, a room fit for a princess. The bed was a large, king-sized piece with an ornate canopy bed frame draped with fine silks and satins, velvet and sheer curtains. The sheer material was a snowy white and glittered in the sun rays as they flooded through the large bay window on the eastern wall. The material hung from the ceiling to cascade over the top of the frame, and Sakura assumed that at night, it would become reminiscent of a perfect night sky.

A large bureau and mirror were set in the corner next to a door that presumably led to a full, walk-in closet, and a large chest full of Sakura's dress-up clothes sat in the opposite corner. A grand array of stuffed animals sat on the bed, and tapestries eliciting ancient battles between samurai and invader spread across the walls. There was a portrait of the family directly above her bed, and a few other family photos on other walls as well.

Kakashi and Genma followed the girl into the room, watching her run from one place to another, disappear inside the closet and then reappear moments later, only to vanish inside the en-suite bathroom before coming out with a new ribbon in her hair.

Finally, after about half an hour of gallivanting around the large space, Sakura came to collapse on her large bed, relishing the softness and comfort of her cherry blossom print duvet.

"What do you think, Sakura-chan?" Genma inquired as he twirled the senbon with his tongue. He and Kakashi stood at the end of the bed now.

Sakura giggled wildly as she looked at them, the excitement easily seen glimmering in her eyes. "I love my new room!"

"Still upset about leaving your old house behind?" Kakashi asked curiously.

Sakura shook her head a little. "Mm-mm."

"Good, because your okaa-san would be CRUSHED if she found out you still wanted to go back." Genma smirked.

Sakura sat up then, pushing her pink hair from her face with splayed hands. "Okaa-san wouldn't be crushed. She would understand."

Genma shrugged, but it was short-lived as he turned to face the exit once more. "Come on; you have yet to see your playroom."

Sakura grinned and made a 'hee' sound as she pushed her tiny form off the bed, darting over to the officers with intrigue. She held up her arms as she had done the majority of her life, and Genma lifted her to fit nicely against his side. Despite being seven, she still was treated, and looked, like she was four or five.

"Onward!" Sakura ordered then, pointing toward the door.

Genma flashed Kakashi a triumphant grin at the heiress having chosen him over his partner, and proceeded toward the hall.

Kakashi just shook his head, pulling out his book so he could read along the way.

It didn't take long before they had reached the large chamber which was only a hall away from Sakura's bedroom. The door was large and made of cherry wood, a rich maroon in colouration. Decorations adorned the surfaces, resembling a cherry tree in shape and form.

"This is it," Genma spoke as he turned the handle. He cracked the door open a little, but just as he was about to enter, a loud bell ringing echoed throughout the house.

Sakura gave him a quizzical look.

"The doorbell," Kakashi told her with a smile.

Sakura blinked with surprise. "We're having company?"

The silver-haired man nodded, turning on his heel, and starting down the hall.

Genma scowled, closing the door and starting after him, though after a little while, Sakura wriggled out of his grasp and took the chance to race down the hall, following Kakashi's movements as he rounded corners and moved down staircases. Evidently, the Haruno rooms were on the top level.

It wasn't long before they came across the main hall once again, and Sakura squealed with delight, just as she had done when she had seen her new room. A tall man with unruly blonde hair stood talking with Akarui, while his son – whom looked identical to him – peered around the new entrance with fascination. His bright blue eyes then focused on Sakura, and a wide grin spread across his lips.

"Sakura-chan!"

The adults conversation immediately broke, and Akarui and the man speaking with him both chuckled. They watched as Genma and Kakashi paused just at the point where the hall and foyer meshed, and Sakura stopped just a little ways from them.

"Otou-san, can I go play with Sakura-chan now?" the blonde boy begged. "Please?"

"Alright Naruto, just please try and stay out of trouble this time."

Naruto laughed wildly as he darted over to the pink-haired girl, nearly bowling her over as he pulled her into a tight hug. He was eight, only a year older than she was, but to her, he was already a giant.

"Hi Naruto! I didn't know you were coming over!" Sakura exclaimed as she returned the embrace.

"Otou-san said we were invited for dinner, so we showed up extra early," Naruto replied, winking. "Now come on; show me your new house! I want to see everything!"

Sakura laughed, nodding as she slipped from Naruto's arms, took his hand, and started up the stairs. Genma and Kakashi followed, but remained a few feet away from the mischievous children.

They came to the playroom once more, and Naruto was first to open it after Sakura instructed where it was. He stepped inside, followed by the Haruno heiress, and in the next moment, they were both standing there, mouths agape, staring at the decor.

It was a round room that rivalled the main hall in size, the walls being a blue in color that was easily the same hue as Naruto's eyes. A large array of props, costumes, toys, and other things were strewn about the room, followed by separate areas designated for certain themed play. There was a small princess tower, and just near there, a small nook decorated like a forest hideaway.

"Wow..." Naruto breathed.

Sakura nodded. "You can say that again."

The two then exchanged a glance before simultaneous smiles spread across their faces, and they both took off into the main of the room.

Kakashi and Genma entered, standing in the doorway while watching the two squeal and shout to the other as they explored the new things before them. They silently wondered how long it would take for them to realize that they could actually play a decent game in this place.

It took half an hour before Naruto collapsed on a bed of pillows, and Sakura leaned against the small opening – serving as a window – in the princess tower. They both were panting heavily, having completely exhausted their energy supplies.

"What...now?" Naruto asked as he stared at the ceiling. It was painted like a sky.

Sakura shrugged. "I don't know."

"We could play a game?"

"Okay!"

"What about..."

Sakura leaned on her hands as she pondered what they could do.

Naruto suddenly sat upright, grinning from ear-to-ear, once more. "Let's play damsel in distress! You can be the damsel, and I'll be the valiant prince coming to rescue you!"

Sakura giggled a bit, but nodded with agreement. "Okay! But who will play the bad guy?"

Naruto pouted, folding his arms across his chest, crossing his legs, and hunching over thoughtfully. "Hm...I don't know."

Sakura pursed her lips as she surveyed the room, suddenly smiling when her gaze fell upon the two men chatting lazily at the door. "Hey, what about Kakashi-sensei, and Genma-san?"

At the mention of their names, the two guards glanced over, both with intrigue and surprise.

Naruto tilted his head as he looked each man up and down. "Well...maybe..."

"They could...um..." Sakura's face contorted as she attempted to think of what they could be.

"I know!" Naruto announced as he leapt to his feet. "Kakashi-sensei can be the big bad leader, and Genma-san can be the one who does all his dirty work. They lead legions of ramen, and after discovering the princess that they captured is in danger of being rescued – "

Sakura giggled. "In danger of being rescued? Don't you mean that there would be the risk that the princess could be rescued?"

Naruto stared at her a moment as if she'd gone crazy before giving his head a firm shake. He decided then to ignore what she said. "After they discover that the princess is in DANGER of being rescued," he grinned triumphantly at her scowl, "they send their ramen armies to come after me because they don't want me getting to you!"

"Ramen armies?" Genma asked with a quirked eyebrow. "How could we command armies of food, Naruto?"

Naruto shrugged. "I don't know. You're the crazy ones, not me."

Genma glanced at Kakashi, who seemed too enthralled by his book to even have been listening.

Sakura shook her head. "Whatever. Let's play! Kakashi-sensei, Genma-san, will you do it? Please?"

Kakashi chuckled as he pocketed his book once more. "Genma, I sense the damsel is in danger of being rescued. Go take our ramen armies and make sure that doesn't happen."

Genma stared at him, jaw having dropped almost all the way to the floor. "You can't be serious."

Kakashi's visible eye suddenly glinted dangerously. "You dare defy me? The Ramen Legion King?"

The brunette closed his mouth, exhaling as he started over to the younger two. Naruto had already gathered up a toy sword and shield, while Sakura still sat at the tower's window, yawning a little.

"Oh, woe is me. I am but a fair damsel, stuck in a tower with no one to save me," Sakura stated dramatically. "I have not eaten in days, my water is dirty and filled with bugs, and my clothes are all torn. My hair is uncontrollable now too, and I feel so alone!"

Naruto suddenly leapt from behind a pile of pillows – which he had constructed during this monologue of hers – staring determinedly at the tower, where Sakura now hung halfway out the window. "Don't worry fair princess, I will rescue you!"

Kakashi folded his arms, exhaling as he leaned against the alcove near the door. "Genma," he warned.

Genma exhaled once more before assuming a mad-scientist demeanour. He bent his arms at his elbows, splaying his fingers but bending them tensely at each knuckle, and immediately maniacal laughter exited his mouth. "You won't even get as close as to touch her, you little knight weakling! Ramen armies! Attack!" He then promptly picked up a pillow and threw it in Naruto's direction. It hit him in the side, causing him to stumble into the wall.

"Aaahh!" Naruto exclaimed as he bruised his arm. But, the blonde was all but indestructible, so it did little to affect him. "Don't worry princess, I'm still coming!"

"Hurry," Sakura spoke then. "I fear I may die of monotony if you don't come soon!"

Naruto frowned, not actually sure what monotony meant, but pushed it away as Genma fired another pillow in his direction.

"You will never reach her in time," Genma cackled, grabbing a feather boa which was promptly thrown at Naruto.

"The ramen armies!" Naruto exclaimed with wide eyes, narrowly avoiding being smothered by the feathery accessory. "Ha! You missed!"

That earned him a pillow to the face, which promptly knocked him over with an 'oof!' Genma laughed boisterously as he watched the blonde push the cushion aside, glowering in his direction.

"That was a cheap shot!"

"You honestly think a commander of an army would care about whether his shot was cheap or not?" Genma inquired with a wicked grin. "Now get up before I come after you with a throw pillow!"

Naruto didn't need any further encouragement, having stood immediately after his comment, and let out a battle cry as he charged the brunette.

From there, the game commenced with battles of epic proportions.

=(x)=

The drive back to the compound was less than comfortable. Neither Mikoto, or Itachi, or Orochimaru said a word, while Karin filled the silence enough for all of them, going on and on about why she now had a bruise on her arm. Sasuke stopped listening after she mentioned the pink-haired girl whom she dubbed 'Bubblegum,' his mind wandering on its own to the Haruno heiress whom he had met. He knew their families had a lengthy rivalry, but was it really so bad to just...be around them?

Their Range Rover of navy blue entered the front gates, coming up and around until they were stopped in front of the main entrance. Orochimaru – who was driving – was the first to step out, walking around the vehicle to open Mikoto's door, and when she had exited the car, he opened the back door for the other three.

Itachi led the way after his mother, Sasuke following with Karin clinging to his arm. Orochimaru closed the vehicle then, locking the doors and setting the alarm before pursuing the Uchiha family.

When they were all situated in the front hall removing shoes and coats alike, Mikoto turned to the younger of the group. "Sasuke, take Karin and go play, alright? I need to have a chat with your brother."

Sasuke glanced at Itachi curiously, but the older Uchiha simply shrugged his shoulders. With a sigh, Sasuke entered a hall directly to the right, bringing Karin along with him. She could be heard begging him to play games with her, while he readily declined, even as they progressed further down the hall.

When they had gone, Mikoto nodded to Orochimaru, whom vacated the room as well. This left Itachi and herself, and she was more than eager to get down to business.

"Why weren't you watching him, Itachi!"

Itachi shrugged once more. "I'm not his keeper, Okaa-san."

"Perhaps you don't think so, but when I tell you to watch him, I'm not just offering a suggestion," Mikoto replied sharply.

"He was bored, so I told him to go play." Itachi shook his head. "I was paying attention, whereas he wasn't."

"Well, he should be paying attention," Mikoto snapped. "He's to run the company when I can no longer manage, and if he doesn't start learning now, it will never stick!"

Itachi rolled his eyes. "I'm older, I'm stronger...why am I not the heir, Okaa-san? Before Otou-san was killed-"

Mikoto rounded on him, back-handing him across the face. "Before Fugaku was murdered, you were the chosen one, yes, I remember! But you proved to me of your weakness once he passed, and so I can no longer fit you for the task, Itachi! Sasuke is perfect for the position of CEO, even now when he's inexperienced. So stop trying to change my mind! It will never happen!"

As she turned on her heel and walked away, Itachi glared after her, rubbing his cheek at where she had slapped him. His eyes once black, became a bleeding red for but a moment; an ability he had inherited from his father, and had not yet told anyone about. "Sasuke is no chosen one. He will never be the chosen one. I am the rightful heir."

With that said, he spun in the opposite direction and stormed from the house.

(x)

"Sasuke-kun, please!" Karin begged for the umpteenth time since they had returned home. "We haven't played it in ages!"

Sasuke shot her a glare. He really didn't want to tell her, yet again, to be quiet. He had heard the loud smack of his mother's hand greeting Itachi's face, but only bits and pieces of the conversation would filter through the air to where he and Karin resided.

Karin harrumphed as she folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I bet if Bubblegum was here you'd play!"

"Karin, please, stop talking," Sasuke demanded with a light growl.

Karin shook her head. "What are you even doing?"

"Trying to listen."

"To what?"

Sasuke didn't answer, and it was evident that whatever he was listening to, had finished giving off any audible sound waves. The eleven-year-old scowled, slumping down in the chair that he had been leaning against. His family was ridiculous.

"Fine, if you won't play the game with me, then maybe you'll want to spar instead!" Karin pushed her red hair over her shoulder flirtatiously. "I'll let you pin me down."

Sasuke gave her an uninterested look. "You know I don't like you. Don't pretend your girl tricks will work on me."

Karin rolled her eyes as she flopped down on a sofa across from where he sat. "If Bubblegum were here, I'm sure you'd want to spar. She could be our target; bet she doesn't know anything about fighting!" She snorted at her own thoughts.

Sasuke pretended he didn't hear her. After all, he knew she was speaking of Haruno Sakura, and he hated to admit it, but it bothered him. He didn't know how or why, but it made him angry that Karin had teased her. If his mother knew that, oh boy he'd be in deep shit.

"Are you even listening?"

Sasuke cast her another momentary glance, his stoic demeanour ever in place. "To your rambling? No."

Karin scowled. "You Uchihas are so difficult!"

"Do I care? No, not really."

Karin growled as she stood up once more, brushing past Sasuke purposefully as she left the room.

The raven-haired boy was glad she was gone. She could really speak an earful if she wanted to, and he hated every moment he was stuck with her. Of course, he was sure things would get worse as time went on, especially now that he had Sakura running through his mind. But, he was sure it was just a chance meeting. There was little probability that they'd meet again unless at conventions later on in life.

With a light sigh, he closed his eyes, only then realizing how tired he had become in the past few hours.

=(x)=

"Oof!"

Genma laughed as Naruto fell to the ground once more. "Give up already!"

"Yeah Naruto," Sakura agreed, watching the blonde remove the pillow from his person. "This is getting boring."

Naruto groaned as he pushed himself up. "Sorry, Sakura-chan, but I have to beat him!"

"Tch, like you can," Genma sneered, though it was simply in jest.

"Don't underestimate him," Kakashi called from the alcove, still watching monotonously. It was a rare sight that he'd be completely bored out of his head without pulling out his favourite graphic novel.

Genma glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Don't underestimate Naruto? Are you kidding?" He shook his head, only to duck moments later when a pillow was thrown in his direction. He blinked with surprise, staring at his partner with a look of equal astonishment. "What the hell was that for?"

Kakashi chuckled. "I am your superior, remember ramen colonel?"

Genma was about to retort when the door opened. A mousy looking girl of her late teens, with glasses almost too large for her face and hair pulled back in a thick, frizzy braid, announced then that it was dinner. After bowing lightly at the waist, she turned and left to take care of her other duties; she was a servant, after all.

"You heard her," Kakashi announced then as he pushed away from the wall he was leaning against. One hand held the door open before it could close once again, and the other gestured the others out.

Sakura leapt off her perch at the tower, starting over to Kakashi while pushing her pink hair from her face. "I like her."

Kakashi chuckled but said nothing as Naruto followed her, and soon the entourage was heading down the hall, toward the dining room.

When they arrived, Akarui stood, smiling as they each took their respective seats. Sakura was placed between her mother and father, and Naruto beside his father. Kakashi and Genma left for the time being, going off to take care of some other things, but Ebisu joined them at the dinner table.

As the food was placed before them, Rakuna turned to her daughter with a light smile. "How do you like the house, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura beamed as she watched the dishes of pork, steamed vegetables, and rice set before her. "I love my room! And my playroom!"

"Yeah, Sakura-chan has a nice playroom," Naruto agreed from across the table. He was eying the food as if he hadn't eaten in ages.

His father laughed a little. "You have a room like that too, Naruto."

"Yeah, but it's not like Sakura-chan's! Hers has a tower, and toy swords!"

"You have kunai, real kunai," his father reminded.

Naruto shrugged, grabbing his chopsticks and licking his lips. "Mmmm. This food looks yummy!"

Sakura giggled. "Watch it, Naruto. If you eat too much, you're going to get fat like Choji."

"Sakura," Akarui warned, giving her a look that reminded her to keep her mouth shut when she came up with things like that. He sipped at his beverage before turning to face Naruto's father. "Now that we are away from the business end of things, I would like your opinion, Minato."

The blond haired man glanced over with an inquisitive expression. "Alright, go ahead."

Akarui cleared his throat before he began. "This afternoon at the park, Sakura came across the Uchiha heir. According to him, he had saved her from falling out of a tree, and-"

"He did save me, Otou-san!" Sakura interrupted.

"Sakura-chan, silence now while your father's speaking with another important man," Rakuna reprimanded softly.

Sakura frowned. "But he did! I was trying to climb a tree to see where I was and I fell! He caught me before I hit the ground!"

Rakuna sighed, glancing at her husband apologetically.

Minato nodded to Akarui. "Go on."

"You of all people know full well of the rivalry between my family and the Uchiha, but what happened this afternoon seemed a little out of place. Uchiha Sasuke is the heir to the Uchiwa Company, so it would only make sense that he would be trained to be hostile to a Haruno, not civil. Mikoto displayed the sort of temperament that I should've expected from him," Akarui explained.

Minato rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And what is it you're asking my opinion on...?"

"Am I overreacting by thinking something drastic is going to happen now due to that confrontation?" Akarui asked finally.

Minato thought on this a moment, before offering a shrug. "Well, it's difficult to say. Personally, I believe you might be. But, keep up your guard just in case."

Akarui nodded. "Arigatou. I appreciate it."

"Anytime," replied the blonde with a smile similar to Naruto's.

Silence overcame the dining room then, and by the time the meal had been finished, Naruto was visibly squirming in his seat.

"What's wrong, Naruto?" Sakura asked quietly as the dishes were cleared.

"All this not talking makes me uncomfortable," Naruto replied with a pout.

"Well we're done eating. Wanna play?" Sakura smiled.

Naruto was just about to answer before he was interrupted by his father.

"Unfortunately we need to get going, Sakura-chan." Minato had already risen from his seat, and Naruto stood shortly thereafter.

Naruto scowled. "Aw, Otou-san, can't we stay a teensy bit longer? Please?"

Minato glanced at his son, hesitating a moment before turning to Akarui. "Well...alright. It'll give us time to finish what we were discussing before.

Sakura squealed with delight, immediately having leapt down from her chair. "Come on, Naruto! Let's go!"

The blonde boy took chase, and within moments, the two were starting for the upper levels of the house once more.

The parents were left behind as Sakura took the lead, climbing up the multitude of stairs until they were upon the playroom, once more. Both she and Naruto bowled into the room, and the pink-haired girl immediately sought out the nook that was decorated like a tree sanctuary. Naruto came to sit beside her, and for a few moments, they just sat there, allowing their breathing to level out.

"That was fun!" Naruto exclaimed with a grin. "What do you want to do now, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura pushed some hair from her face, shrugging. "I don't know. What do you want to do?"

"We can play ramen attack again?" Naruto suggested. "That was fun too!"

Sakura shook her head. "You left me waiting a long time. I would've died if that was real."

The blonde pouted. "You would not!"

"Would too!"

"I bet that-"

"Are you two bickering again?"

The two heirs turned to see Genma and Kakashi enter the room. Kakashi took his prior residence in the alcove near the door, while Genma simply stood next to him.

"No, we're not," Naruto insisted. "Why are you here again? We're fine on our own!"

Sakura giggled. "Naruto, if someone broke into the room, we would both be either taken or killed."

"No, cause I would protect you!"

"You can't even take care of your goldfish from the Lunar Festival."

"Okay, that's different!" Naruto replied quickly. "I didn't know it had to eat every day!"

"Pets normally have to eat every day," Sakura quipped, still grinning.

Naruto shook his head. "Whatever! It wasn't my fault!"

"Just keep telling yourself that, kid," Genma said then.

Naruto scowled, turning his back on the older man. "Anyway, are you going to come to Hinata-chan's party?"

Sakura tilted her head. "Hinata's having a party?"

Naruto nodded. "It's her birthday coming up!"

Sakura furrowed her brow. "No it isn't! Her birthday is near Christmas, remember?"

The blonde boy blinked a few times. "It is?"

"Mhm," Sakura replied with a nod.

"Then why would she be having a party...?"

Sakura shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe..."

There was another knock on the door, and the same servant girl from before arrived in the room with a tray. There were two bowls on top, both heaped with two or three scoops of each child's favourite ice cream.

"I have brought you some dessert by request of Mrs. Haruno," the girl told them.

Naruto grinned and leapt up, darting over to take the ice cream from her. "Arigatou Siisa-chan!"

The girl's cheeks flushed a little, and she responded accordingly. When Naruto vanished inside the nook once more, she turned to leave, though Kakashi and Genma followed her out. It was apparent they wanted a word with her.

When the door clicked closed, Sakura glanced out the small window provided in the tiny settlement. "Hey, they're gone!"

Naruto swallowed a large gulp of his cold dessert before following her gaze. "They are...?" When he too noticed that the guards had left their post, he grinned something wide. "They are! We should play a trick on them!"

Sakura glanced at him inquisitively. "Like what?"

Naruto thought a moment. "We could..." his grin returned. "Disappear!"

Sakura frowned. "How, Naruto? There's no other way out of this room!"

The blonde laughed maniacally. "That's what you think!" He shimmied out of the little area, bowl of ice cream in hand as he began searching the wall nearby frantically. Sakura followed his movements with genuine curiosity, and within about two minutes of his searching, Naruto finally found the seam of the hidden exit. He laughed to himself as he pried it open, slipping through without hesitation.

Sakura glanced around briefly, before following quietly as well. She closed the door behind them, and the two took off down the hidden corridor to see where it led, ice cream still in their possession.

(x)

It didn't take long before the main entrance opened once again, and the two men re-entered the room.

"Come on, Kakashi. She'd be good for you!" Genma announced. Kakashi just shook his head.

Only once they had regained their prior positions did they realize that silence had come over the entire premises. The two exchanged a glance before moving toward the nook.

"Sakura? Naruto?" Genma called. He got nothing in response.

A look of alarm crossed his handsome features, and he turned to Kakashi, who looked around with an unreadable expression.

When silence had once more fallen over the room, Kakashi lifted his head to watch the ceiling. From somewhere above, quick footsteps could be heard, evidently child's steps. There was laughing, and then a loud thump, followed by a peel of laughter that unmistakeably belonged to Naruto.

"Sakura-chan, you look like you were splattered with paint!"

A grunt. "Naruto! You got ice cream all over me!" The young Haruno sounded distressed.

"It's just ice cream, Sakura-chan! Otou-san said it will wash out."

Another sound followed, almost giving one the impression that Sakura was getting up. "I'm going to make you pay for this!"

The footsteps sounded again, much faster and rushed than before. Naruto could be heard laughing wildly once more, and Sakura was calling after him in annoyance, repeating over and over that she would get him back for it.

Genma and Kakashi looked at each other for a long time after the sounds ceased entirely. Kakashi then offered a sigh, turning once more to leave the room. Genma followed, and the two started for the upper level with utmost haste.

(x)

"Naruto! Get back here!"

"No!" The blonde skirted around a corner, all but flying down another set of stairs. They had gone from the attic to the third floor in less than ten minutes, Naruto calling all the shots by the course he had chosen.

Sakura followed as quickly as her little legs could go, but being smaller than her friend, it was difficult to keep up. "Stop running! It'll only make things worse!"

"You can't catch me, Sakura-chan!" Naruto announced once more, darting down a variety of hallways before coming to yet another staircase. He ran down them as well, now starting for the balcony.

"Namikaze Naruto, we're leaving!"

Naruto frowned when he heard Minato call, but knew if he disobeyed, he'd be in a heap of trouble. So, he continued on the descent, finally coming across the stairs that bordered the foyer. He leapt onto the banister of one, sliding down with practiced ease. When he landed at the bottom, he darted for cover behind his tall father.

Minato gave his son a quizzical look. Akarui and Rakuna looked equally bemused.

"NARUTO!"

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to see the long pink tresses of the Haruno heiress flying madly about her head as she stumbled to the balcony edge. Her now exhausted limbs took her down the stairway, and straight for where Naruto hid.

"Eep! Save me, Otou-san!" Naruto whispered, clutching his father's cloak with a hint of fear.

"From what?" Minato inquired.

Sakura broke past two guards who were standing side-by-side, keeping watch of the situation, before starting for the final barricade which was, in all actuality, her parents. "Naruto! You owe me! This is my favourite shirt!"

When she brushed past her family members, Akarui grabbed her from the ground with incredibly reflexes, watching with amusement as her legs kept pumping furiously.

"Put me down! I need to clobber Naruto! He spilled ice cream on me!"

"Sakura-hime, stop struggling. I'm sure it was an accident," Akarui told her quietly.

Sakura glanced at him, shaking her head. "No! He did it on purpose because I was being too slow!"

Minato frowned at the mention of this, looking once more at his son. "Naruto, is that true?"

Naruto hesitated before nodding. "Sakura-chan wasn't running fast enough. We were trying to get away from the Ramen King!"

The adults exchanged a glance.

"There you are!"

Kakashi and Genma entered the foyer then, Genma shaking his head with disbelief.

"You munchkins are fast."

Sakura scowled. She hated when they called them that.

Akarui couldn't help but smile then. "You found the secret door."

Genma blinked. "Secret door? There's a secret door?" He glanced at Kakashi, who merely shrugged which meant he had no idea either.

Sakura nodded. "Well, Naruto did, actually."

"I knew one of you would."

"Well, we'll get going then," Minato announced suddenly, motioning to the door. "It was good to speak with you, Akarui. We'll discuss things further as time progresses, ne?"

Akarui just nodded. "That sounds good. Arigatou for stopping by."

"It was our pleasure," Minato responded with a smile. Yamato opened the door for the man and his son, and within moments, the Namikaze's were being driven out of the drive in their sleek black limousine. Yamato closed the doors then, going off to take care of other duties.

Rakuna sighed once they were alone, taking Sakura from her husband. "Be more careful next time, Sakura. This was one of the more expensive pieces we have bought you."

"I know," Sakura wailed then. "It's my favourite and he ruined it!"

Akarui chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Rakuna-kun, take her up to get changed. I'll come up and escort her to the gardens once you're done. There're a few things she and I need to speak about."

The woman with beautiful hair of auburn nodded with agreement before turning to take Sakura upstairs and get her cleaned up.

(x)

"They're very pretty," Sakura announced with a large smile, surveying the garden as they walked past two large cherry trees. It was a clear night, the moon shining silver rays upon the two as they meandered through the large yard. Foliage of all variety surrounded the dirt path on either side, some exotic and others a little less so. The landscapers did an excellent job, but was it any question that they would? Yamanaka Regaria Zōen was a popular and sensational company that only ever exceeded expectation, not to mention it was owned by a personal family friend.

"I agree. They are."

Sakura turned to look at her father. Her smile faltered at the look of contemplation on his face, and she nervously smoothed out the folds in the blue dress she had been given to wear for their evening stroll. "Otou-san...? Something wrong?"

Akarui sighed lightly, glancing in her direction. Their eyes met, and he nodded a little. "Sakura-hime, do you understand the importance of your position as heiress?"

Sakura tilted her head. "Hai, I do."

"And you understand that you need to do as you're told, correct?"

The small girl nodded. "Hai."

"Why is it then that you disobeyed us this afternoon? We asked you to stay at the park, but instead, you went running into the woods shortly after we left."

"But Otou-san, there were girls who were teasing me! They pushed me down the slide and into the sand!" Sakura protested desperately.

"I don't want to hear it, Sakura," Akarui responded firmly. "You should have moved off to another section of the playground then. You can't just go running when you're faced with someone who's putting you down. In the real world, the world where you will one day sit as CEO of Haruno Hogo, you will have to face your enemies head on. Running would make you out to be a coward, and then who would respect you after that?"

Sakura frowned, averting her gaze, and suddenly finding the dirt beneath their feet very interesting. "Nobody..."

"Exactly. Besides, anything could've been lurking in those woods. You could've been eaten, or killed by a wild animal, broken your neck by falling from that tree, gotten lost and died of starvation..."

Sakura sniffled, suddenly crying as he gave her the examples. "I know..."

Akarui stopped, turning to face her. "I'm only telling you this because I love you, and I don't want to lose you."

"I know."

"You are an important piece to the puzzle in this family. If something had happened to you...I don't know what your mother or I would've done." He crouched down, pulling her into an embrace. "We're all together on this, remember? We have to move on as one function, or everything around us will fall apart."

"I know otou-san," Sakura cried as she wrapped her small arms around him in return. She buried her face into his shoulder, the tears dappling his suit jacket.

"Tomorrow things will begin to get a bit busier, but the sooner it happens the better, okay Sakura-hime? It'll be beneficial for you. You'll go to a new school and make new friends, and then come home and carry on with your lessons. Naruto will come over once a week, but otherwise, you'll just have to go without seeing him."

"But, do I have to? Naruto's my best friend!"

Akarui gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. You'll thank me for it in the end."

Sakura let out a lengthy sigh which had been accompanied by a quiet whimper. Immediately trailing was a massive yawn that stretched her mouth to its limits.

Akarui chuckled as he lifted her from the ground. "Someone's tired. Come on, I'll get you inside and ready for bed."

And with that said, the Haruno patriarch carried his young daughter into the mansion and up to her room for bed.

=(x)=

"Uchiha Sasuke! Get your ass upstairs this instant before I send Zetsu to come get you!"

The small head of raven hair appeared moments later. Sasuke was dressed in his pajamas already, and looked quite unhappy with these arrangements. He fixed a glare on his mother, whom was sitting on the edge of his bed. "I can tuck myself in."

"Of course you can. Now get into bed!"

Sasuke let out a sigh as he ambled over to his bed, climbing into the large, king-sized piece of furniture before turning to his mother expectantly. "Well?"

Mikoto simply smiled. It was tight-lipped, and almost devious, but a smile nonetheless. "Sasuke, what could have possibly possessed you to play with the Haruno girl? Hm?"

"We weren't playing," Sasuke responded calmly. "She fell, I rescued her. That's it."

"But you were going to protect her if Orochimaru or I had been an enemy. Is that true?"

Sasuke clenched his teeth. Of course he would've done that. Whether she was their enemy or not, Haruno Sakura was still a young girl who had nearly been killed by falling out of a tree immediately beforehand, and so, being in shock, would've been unable to protect herself against anything wild. That's what he reasoned with himself anyway.

"Sasuke," Mikoto warned, her tone dropping to a deadly tone. "Answer me."

The boy clenched his teeth. "Yes. She was weak so of course I would've protected her."

Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "But she is our enemy. Without her, the Haruno line would have no heir, thus it would come to a very swift end."

Sasuke exhaled. "I know."

"Do you?" Mikoto's eyes gleamed with hatred. "Sasuke, I really don't think you do! I think, that you think, that you can just waltz up to whoever the hell you want and everything will be okay, just because you're Uchiha Sasuke!"

Sasuke hesitated a moment. "And can't I?"

Mikoto shook her head vigorously. "No! A Haruno is a Haruno! Do you forget who killed Fugaku?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "No."

"Haruno Akarui, Haruno Sakura's otou-san! Your own otou-san would still be alive if it weren't for that family!"

Sasuke clenched his hands around the comforter surrounding his body. "Gomen...I forgot."

"How could you forget?" Mikoto snapped. "That girl is the spawn of a murderer! I will not have you fraternizing with her any longer!"

"But she seemed like a..."

"A what?"

Sasuke fixed her with a level stare. "A regular person."

"That's what they want you to think, Sasuke! They want you to think that she'll become your friend, and then, when you least expect it, they'll throw you to the wolves!" Mikoto explained with elaborate hand gestures.

Sasuke's eyes widened fractionally, and a flicker of something passed through his obsidian orbs. "I..."

Mikoto halted his words with a flexed hand. Her own expression had altered significantly. No longer bearing something of hatred, her features held deep concentration and thought. The younger Uchiha could almost see the gears whirring inside her brain. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone and replaced with her usual demeanour of a life's worth of pain. She rose, smoothing out her dress of black, and nodded to her son.

"Good night."

"Good night," Sasuke replied, his voice carefully monotone. Being an Uchiha, he had learned to mask his emotions. Only he knew of his confusion presently.

Mikoto gave him a momentary smile then whirled around and left the room with quick steps. She closed her son's door, vanishing down the hall after muttering something regarding the intensification of his studies.

Sasuke watched the door with a brooding gaze. He didn't like the sound of that. With an exasperated sigh, he slipped beneath the covers fully, shifting onto his side and allowing his eyes to fall closed. Only time would tell how difficult things would become.

=(x)=

Year 2000; Tokyo, Japan

"The true meaning of life is..."

The wind rustled the grass in response, and the crickets chirped in a soothing chorus amongst the greenery. A crescent moon hung heavy in the night sky, which was a thick blanket of black bejewelled with glittering specks that could almost be mistaken for fireflies.

On this particular night, a white-haired man of around his fifties sat perched on a boulder, his garments resembling sage-wear surrounding his body, while his scrolls and other tools lay strewn about the small clearing of space before him. He was writing, and apparently, at a lack of inspiration.

"The true meaning of life is..."

Jiraiya, as so many called him, scratched his head with the end of his pen, studying his unfinished line with great aggravation. One sentence, that's all it took. And it was evading his mind like what he wrote was the plague. Well, it was bad enough, anyway.

With a sigh, he began to talk. Not just to himself, either. He spoke as if he were in the company of a friend; a friend who had long since passed; a friend who had spent many a good time with him, and helped with his writing on numerous occasions; the very friend who got Akarui into reading his work.

"You should see how your magomusume is growing, Akaroshi. Well, actually, I'm sure you're paying a great deal of attention. You have all the attention in the world." Jiraiya laughed to himself, glad that he was alone in this large field. "Which means I also won't have to tell you, how beautiful she's already becoming. Even though she's only ten years old, she's already becoming the blossom she is destined to be. Yes, I believe one day, she will be the envy of every girl on this planet."

He tapped the paper thoughtfully as another notion passed through his mind.

"The Uchiha are getting more hateful. Mikoto is training Sasuke to be the head of the company when she's ready to retire, and already I sense dark things taking place. He is a distant child now." Jiraiya glanced at the sky. "You knew that they had met, aa? Sasuke and Sakura? Three years ago they first came across each other. They would have made good friends too, if it weren't for their parents' interference. I fear there is no hope left for that now. They will be rivals, and the companies forever divided."

The wind picked up a great deal this time, tearing the sheet he was working on from his hands, and making it fly through the air. The white-haired man shot to his feet, all other supplies dropping around the boulder he had sat on, and immediately took off after it.

It took a great deal of time before it finally stopped, only after becoming lodged in the roots of a blooming cherry tree. When Jiraiya approached, he scowled deeply upon seeing a lengthy rip through the middle of the page. He began to grumble about impertinent weather, crouching to pick up the pieces to see if they were repairable. But as soon as the parchment had taken residence in his hands, he dropped it altogether.

Just below where the sheets had been placed, resided a full cherry bloom, resting beside a rock of black ore shaped perfectly like an uchiwa fan. They were together, side-by-side, touching at both edges. Jiraiya just stared for several minutes before realizing the significance behind what he was seeing.

"Uchiha...and...Haruno...together..." the man mumbled to himself, hesitantly shifting his gaze upward without moving his head. "Is that some kind of joke? Do you know how insane that is? Akaroshi, you have always been one for taboo, but this-"

He was cut off by a loud crack of thunder, which he was unsure of its origin due to the fact that the sky was completely clear. A scowl took place on his features then, and he lifted his hands in defeat. "Daijōbu, daijōbu. I don't think anything will become of anything between them. They are in two separate worlds. One filled with hate, and another filled with love and encouragement. There is no possibility that they would ever come across one another again, fall in love, and join the two companies. There is no possible way that it could happen!"

The paper tore from the ground beneath him then, flittering up and catching the wind to fly high up into the sky. Jiraiya stood and stared after the page incredulously, furrowing his brow as he began to realize what was being set before him.

"You want...me to encourage them...hai?"

Silence followed, which caused the older man to sigh.

"Well Akaroshi, I suppose I'll have to trust you on this one. I just hope that whatever it is you have planned, that it will pull through without chaos..." With those words spoken, Jiraiya ambled back to the rock where he had been placed, climbing to the top so he could begin his writing once more. Perhaps, if everything did turn out, he could use the experience he would gain through the youngsters for his latest novel? He smiled then. It was definitely a possibility.

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of either of these franchises.
Naruto © Misashi Kishimoto
The Lion King © Disney
Akarui, Rakuna, Akaroshi, Nadameru, and any other OC's © Me

A/N: I apologize for my late response. It's been a crazy week. I had my birthday on the 14th, and all before and after was spent in preparations for things. I also have a job for two weeks, but that shouldn't interfere too much with the updates. Anyway, please Review to let me know what you think!