She had really done it now. It wasn't until she had left the council room that she realized what kind of mission she was taking on. Madara had given her all the information they possessed on the situation, and it did not look to be in the Uchiha's favor, or at least in wasn't until her meeting with her team had concluded.

After they had left, she grabbed her younger brother, Hisen, and took him to an afternoon lunch at her home. It had been a long time since they had spent quality time together, and by a long time, it had only been a little over a week. However, since Anju had moved out of her father's prestigious compound, they had seen each other less and less. Of course she felt guilty for it. She spent more time with Izuna than her own brother, not that she didn't regret it. Izuna just…

"I know that look."

A thin, well-groomed brow raised in confusion at Hisen's statement. "What are you talking about what? What look?"

Hisen laughed his boyish laugh, one that was so carefree. He may be younger than her by three years, but that didn't mean he knew less than she. In fact, he was positive he knew more than her in many areas. Who she was thinking about was one of them. "You're thinking about Izuna."

As soon as the words left his mouth, his older sister slapped the back of his head, sending him stumbling forward. Instead of complaining, he laughed and rubbed the bump, a lively and mischievous look in his eyes. He loved to cause trouble, especially if it involved Anju and Izuna.

"I am not! How would you even guess that?" A glare rested on her face rather than an embarrassed blush.

Chuckling, Hisen threw an arm around her shoulders and brought her into a headlock as they continued to walk. "First off, you have that small dumb smile on your face like a love struck dove." he felt her struggling and began rubbing her head rather hard. He laughed. "Second, you get that twinkle in your eyes, and third, your face shines like you've just had sex… which brings us to the question," he finally let her go, dodging her fist as she went to punch him. This led to a series of punches, kicks, and dodges, until Anju held him on the ground with her arm around his neck.

"I dare you to say it." Hisen smiled like a loon as she held him do tightly. He loved pissing her off. Absolutely loved it. And, he wasn't going to back down from it. For years he had been trying to get her face to turn red with embarrassment, but never once had she. One could say it was his ultimate goal in life – embarrass his sister to the point of developing a face redder than the sharingan. Or at least a shade of pink.

So, he said it, or rather a couple things. "Tell me, do you always lay with Izuna every morning?" The grip around his neck tightened, but her face stayed a glare and did not turn red. He laughed a little, but only because she was getting so angry over something they both knew not to be true. He supposed that was because of her feelings towards the young man he spoke of. It made it all the better. "I've heard rumors he makes his women glow like such, yet you haven't lain with him. Imagine what you'll look like when you do!"

She let him go, but only to draw her sword on him. "You are so childish!" Instead of being angry, she laughed, though he could see in her eyes she was still quite furious with him. "You're going to pay for your lies, Otōto."

They mostly stuck with hand-to-hand, to which Anju found he had new tricks up his sleeve, and it pleased her greatly. It was simple, with sword fighting and hand-to-hand, and nothing like the battle she had waged with Izuna earlier this morning. It had taken awhile, as they were both so engrossed in their match, but Anju noticed Izuna before Hisen had. Her eyes landed back on Hisen just as his fist came towards her face, and she dropped before he could hit her, landing on her right hand.

It sent a shock wave through her arm and as she fell she kicked Hisen's feet from underneath him, and they both went down. Even though she knew he was watching them intently, she laughed. "You bastard."

Hisen lay on the ground and laughed. "Maybe you should pay attention to me and not your boyfriend, Onēsan." In turn, she glared at the looming gray and white clouds. It was as if the sky could not decide if it should be angry or if it should be serene. "If I paid more attention to you than my boyfriend, I would be insane."

Izuna jumped down and landed next to Hisen, and helped him up with a kind hand. "A bit longer and you'll be the one standing on top of your sister." Hisen smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. He was not usually comfortable with receiving compliments.

The older Uchiha held his hand out to Anju with a smile. "You alright, Anju?"

Anju took Izuna's hand and he pulled her up, causing her to fall into him. She smiled as she looked up at him – not today Hisen. Not today. "Hai, I'm alright Izuna." He chuckled, vibrating them both, "Better watch yourself. Hisen isn't a little kid anymore." He let her go and she looked over at Hisen, a small glare on her face. Izuna better not have heard them or Hisen was dead.

"I can leave if you'd like?" The look Hisen sent her made her glare at him. "You're a–"

Izuna put his hand over her mouth, "Language." Hisen nodded with a smirk and started to walk away. "I'll see you later, Onēsan!"

With Hisen gone, Anju chuckled as Izuna let her go, and was immediately faced with his sword. Anju's back was to Izuna but her body was turned towards him to block his blow. The glint in Izuna's eyes excited her. The man was on a mission. And he was. He was determined to have this woman. He would have this woman, and he would not let anyone else take her. They would have to defeat him if they wanted her. The only question was – did she feel the same?

"We didn't talk much earlier," he pushed her back, "so how's life?"

The two clashed again, this time both parties putting all their strength into the blow, causing a small crater to be made in the ground. "Well, I'm set to be married by the end of the year," Anju kicked Izuna away, "so just lovely."

Izuna used his sword and swung himself back around. End of the year? That was rather quick. Anju's birthday was in just a couple weeks. She would be turning twenty-one and finally be as old as him again. Even though it was still early in the year, to be set to be married by the end…

Blocking another attack from Anju, first with his sword and then grabbing her foot with the other hand as it came at him. "Have anyone in mind?" Although he knew the answer to that, he didn't want to just come out and say it. He wanted to have a little sun with it first.

"Well, not really. There is one I get along with and I actually find appealing, but I have him at the bottom of my list, as I'm not sure how he feels about it." Izuna spun her leg, intending to slam her against the ground, but she summersaulted as she hit the ground, rolling away from him.

Saddened and now slightly angry, Izuna glared in his mind. Anju actually had someone in mind? Now what was he going to do? He could get rid of the competition, and that was saying it lightly.

The two went back for each other, dancing with each other and their swords. "What about you? Is there a set date?"

"No, but my Otōsan has a few women lined up for me to meet," Izuna hopped away and spun his sword in his hand, "one of them will become my wife."

"Who are they?" Anju stabbed her sword into the ground and hopped on top of it, skillfully balancing herself on one foot. Izuna did the same and started listing off the women with his fingers, watching her face as he did so. And he was not disappointed. "There's Izumi."

Anju rolled her eyes. "She's very pretty, strong, but not very bright. You have a hard time holding a conversation with her as it is."

"Hai, I know. Then there's Yuki." Izuna shuttered at the thought, as did Anju. "She's way too bubbly and hyper for you. A fighter yes, but not very good. I've saved her countless of times."

"As have I. She is definitely off the list. The last of them are Natsuki, Rei, and Akane."

With a shrug of her shoulders, Anju crouched down. "Akane is a good sparring partner, bright, and full of talent. She'd make a good mother as well. Rei is very young…about seventeen I believe, and still has a lot to learn. She lacks discipline and is not the feisty women you want. Natsuki would be an alright choice, since she matches your intelligence and is feisty, but she lacks the looks."

Izuna could not agree more with her. None of those women met what he wanted, all except the one standing before him. It was a ludicrous thought, as well as a proposal, but it would save them both the humility and suffering of marrying someone they would not love. He already loved Anju, and she already loved him, and he knew it. All he had to do was ask her.

Now was his chance to get her back for this suitor, and ask her as well, before she was taken. "I have another, but you have to beat me in order to know who it is. No swords, no ninjutsu, no sharingan – just hands."

Intrigued, Anju got off her sword and stood a two feet away from Izuna. They bowed to each other, and then began. There was a lot of twisting and sliding on the ground, but it was still lovely to watch. They held beautiful balance and posture, moving elegantly together even though they were fighting each other. It was a dance and they were perfect partners.

As Anju swung her leg to hit Izuna, he crouched down and swung his leg to knock her off her feet, but she side flipped and twirled around in time to block him again. He ducked down in repetition to avoid her kicks, and on a tenth time, he grabbed her ankle. She dodged his punch and when he came back again, she caught his fist.

In a flurry of movements, Izuna caught Anju's fists in his hands, and knew he had her right where he wanted her. So, he spun her around, pulled a kunai, and held it to her neck. Both of them panted wildly, though Anju had to calm herself, as the sharp and cold blade of Izuna's kunai was pressing against her throat rather hard. Now, she would not know who Izuna's other women was, and she knew that woman was the one who would choose, given how hush-hush he was about it. But, Izuna had other plans.

Leaning down so his lips touched her ear, he sheathed the kunai pack in its pouch, and gathered up his courage. He wanted to ask her, but he was so nervous. "On the count of three, we both say who we have chosen, alright?"

She nodded and was able to turn around to face him. "One."

Izuna nodded nervously. "Two."

They held their hands up and held three fingers up each. They took deep breaths and opened their mouths to speak. It was a nerve-racking couple of seconds, with so many thoughts going through each of their heads.

"You."

"You."

They reeled back from each other's answers, not quite believing what the other had just said. "You want to court me?"

Izuna smiled nervously. "Hai. I've known you since we were kids, and I will admit – I have had this crush on you for a long time. If I was going to spend the rest of my life with someone, I'd want it to be you."

Deeply touched by Izuna's words, Anju hugged him and he hugged her. He wanted to marry her. The joy and love she felt emanating from his being was overwhelming "I know you may think me a liar, but I have had the same crush as well."

Izuna's chuckle rang in her ears. "I know one thing you do not do is lie."

Now, an unanswered question was left hanging in the air. It was a big step, agreeing to a courtship. It was also a big step for Izuna to ask. Anju knew that. The moment she agreed, their destinies were set. They would most likely be getting married in the months to come, and although she knew Izuna was perfect for her, she was not quite ready to confirm. Why? Her freedom would dwindle, even if he promised it wouldn't. She would become more centered in the village, and she feared the respect the council had for her would disappear. She didn't think she was ready, not yet.

Then, he spoke her mind. "I know how you are feeling, Anju, and I just want you to know that I am here for you. Take your time, but know I'm right here." She smiled and looked up at him. "And that is why I love you, Izuna."

A large grin spread across his face. "And here I thought you only loved me for my looks."

She giggled. "You really come up with everything, don't you?"

He chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. "It's all part of being a great warrior and battle planner." She shook her head. There really was no reason for her to say no, except for the fear of change. Change and hurt. Though she knew Izuna would never hurt her, there was a chance that they could hurt each other, and she did not want to lose him. So many things that scared her, and she knew they scared him to.

"Izuna," she felt him smirk into her hair and she rolled her eyes, "Words cannot do justice with how much I appreciate you."

"And I you, my little Anju. I will wait for your answer, even though it will kill me."

And she knew it to be true. As she looked into his eyes, with her forehead resting against his, her body glowed from the love he showed her and the love she felt for him. So much so she could kiss him right now...

Then, a horn blew, and they let go of each other. That meant there was to be a war meeting with the council, one neither could miss. They looked at each other and nodded. Izuna pulled both of their swords from the ground and sheathed his. He then gave Anju hers and she did the same. "Shall we, my lady?"

Unknown to them, they had been watched. A tree broke in half as an unknown rage and anger smashed its fist through its tough bark. Why the assailant was angry was beyond him. He should be happy for them, but he was not. His chest told him that something was wrong, but his mind told him that this was something to rejoice in. His brother had found a woman, and it was one whom he adored greatly. He could not understand for the love of his clan, why he held such anger towards Izuna and Anju's newly found courtship. Why would it bother him? All he wanted was for Izuna to be happy.

With a grunt, he jumped down from the tree and started walking towards the village. It would look bad if he did not show up, as he was to be the next clan leader. But he could not shake this anger, which grew with every passing second. He just wanted to know why he was so angry about this. What was wrong with him?