"Wake up Sakura! it's almost time!"
she lazily opened the left eye to see her Godmother curiously staring at her.
"What time is it ?" she sat on her bed, yawned and stretched her hands up.
"It's almost 5:00 of the morning." Tsunade yawned herself.
"No wonder, there's no sunlight, why so early?"
"The mother Empress is going to give her blessings to the brides and have morning tea with you girls."
Sakura sighed and fell back on the bed.
"Don't want to see her! don't want to be a bride or marry that monster!"
she hid her face in the blanket
"Hush child!" Tsunade scolded young princess.
"If someone hears you, you'll be sentenced to death!"
no answer.
Tsunade began to walk back and forth
"Sakura, remember this is no joke, if you become the new Empress our country will have enormous aid, your father would approve of this."
"Yeah if he was alive" Princess rolled her eyes.
"Yet, godmother you are wrong! he wouldn't wish me to marry someone who I don't love."
"Give it a try! and give it time."
Sakura sighed and rose up from the bed without a word.
"Besides" Tsunade kept going on.
"Yesterday I heard servant girls talking, that the young Emperor is attractive."
"Don't care." Sakura emitted herself from the closet holding two kimonos.
"Wear the soft emerald one, throw that hideous brown away." Tsunade r pointed her finger.
"Shizune, tie upper half of her hair up and straighten the lower part, leave the bangs, though."
"Yes, M'lady" Shizune began to brush soft pink strands.
"Now listen to my words Child!" She sat in front of her little goddaughter.
"As I've heard mother Empress is alarming, you have to watch what you say in front of her, are you listening to me?!"
"Aa" She nodded.
"She wants Emperor to marry his cousin Hinata the Hyuga heiress; you have to be outstanding in every way, to catch Emperor's eye!"
Sakura once again rolled her eyes, while Shizune put soft emerald kimono on her.
"Which hairpin?" She looked at her Godmother for advice.
"The one with golden flowers of course."
Shizune placed beautiful hairpin on her bun.
"Dazzling!" Tsunade couldn't keep herself from smiling; she always thought that her goddaughter was breathtaking.
"Shizune will represent you when asked, Now go!"
Sakura bowed slightly and left her quarters, with Shizune and three servant girls following her behind.
It was early spring morning, the month of April. Little cloudy and chilly.
Sakura entered the hall; Other girls were standing there, almost 20.
She looked around; everyone was pretty and alluring, wearing the most beautiful kimonos and jewelry, All of them were befitting to become the Empress.
"Line up." male servant shouted.
"And enter Mother Empress's vestibule."
the room was colossal, decorated with blue porcelain wares, rare artwork on the walls, Ceramic statues, vases full of freshly picked chrysanthemums.
The Empress was sitting on an elegant throne, decorated with different gorgeous jewels and stones. She was looking at everyone from above.
"Welcome to the imperial palace," She said finally.
"Today we will start the trials to find a befitting wife to our Holy Emperor."
Mother Empress's eunuch began calling names; each girl would walk to Empress and bow down, while personal representatives described and praised them for their achievements.
Yamanaka Ino! Called out one of the eunuchs.
Ino walked forward graciously; she was wearing baby blue silk kimono, her hair tied up in a high ponytail.
She smiled and bowed down; Sakura thought Ino was very charming.
Her representative began to talk.
Yamanaka Ino, daughter of chairman Inoichi Yamanaka from the land of earth.
She is fluent in three different languages, Caligraphy, Talented dancer and entertainer.
Her knowledge of herbal greens is compatible.
Empress nodded, Ino walked away; the line went through.
Ten-Ten got represented as well.
Finally, Sakura's turn came she walked confidently to the throne. Smiled and bowed her head down elegantly.
Shizune began to talk in high pitched tone.
Sakura Haruno, daughter of Kizashi Haruno former king of the land of Earth.
Bored mother Empress finally looked at her interested.
She speaks in five foreign languages; her calligraphy is work of art, her medical skills are formidable,
"Enough," Said the Empress
"I'm sure she is as talented as she is beautiful, we'll see if that will be enough to become Empress."
Sakura stood up and bowed.
Finally, the introductions were over,
"Ladies who receive a scroll from mother Empress will stay to have breakfast with her; others must leave immediately."
from 20 candidates, only 7 remained in the room, holding scrolls with red velvet covers.
Sakura looked around, Ino and Ten-Ten came to stand with her.
"You got this just because you are a former princess; you know royalty and all."
Ino pointed her hand on Sakura's scroll.
Sakura didn't pay attention instead she quietly asked.
"Who is that girl in a lavender kimono? She didn't get introduced to the Empress, yet she got the scroll."
"No introductions needed, it's Hinata Hyuga, heiress of the Hyuga clan" Ten-Ten whispered.
"And apparently she is mother Empress's favorite" Ino crossed her arms.
Sakura took another glance on a beautiful girl; she had a petite body, porcelain white skin, soft silver-grey eyes, her hair was long and silky.
No wonder mother Empress wanted her for her son.
"Well well well" Girl with long red hair approached them.
"Huh, three little piglets from the muddy land got the scrolls ?"
"You bet we did" Ten-Ten rose an eyebrow.
"Who the hell are you" Ino got tempered with her.
"Oh me?" She fixed her glasses "I am an adoptive daughter of the richest person Lord Orochimaru his influence is significant on fire nation, You may address me, as Lady Karin. I know the Emperor personally, and we were playmates in childhood, I know everything about him. And let me tell you, he will not be interested in the likes of you."
"Somebody likes to talk big" Sakura smirked and walked away from her.
"We'll see about the Emperor" Ino winked and followed Sakura.
Ten-Ten raised her shoulders and went along with the other two.
Despite the chilly weather, Emperor was having his breakfast in the garden, with his older brother and captain Naruto accompanying them.
"My sources told me that the mother Empress picked 7 girls for trials, Lady Hinata, lady Karin and three ladies from the land of the earth will also take part in it."
Sasuke sipped his tea.
"Aren't you a bit curious little brother?" Itachi chuckled.
Sasuke sighed "We have a conflict with Mizugakure, Empress trial is the last thing I want to think about, spend your time more productively Naruto."
Naruto pouted, and Itachi laughed.
"But little brother, we are all tampered to know. Who will steal your heart?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Wonder how Lady Yugito will react about this" Naruto asked curiously.
"She is my concubine, nothing more."
"Mother will insist on Hinata, what do you think of that?"
"Brother I figured you knew, that I have no interest in Lady Hinata; she won't become the Empress, be sure of that."
Naruto tried to hide his smile.
"Whatsoever, to hold ties with Hyuga I will command Hyugas to arrange her marriage with Naruto instead, Is that clear dobe?"
"Your wish is my command" Naruto bowed his head.
"You two haven't grown out of your childish behavior a bit" Itachi shook his head and smiled.
After the breakfast, Brides left mother Empress's quarters; they were led out by the Eunuchs when one of them shouted.
"Make the way, for his Holy Highness the Emperor Sasuke Uchiha."
Other Eunuch turned to girls.
"Quick! bow down; the Emperor is coming this way, don't even dare to look up if not asked!"
everyone bowed down;
Naruto whispered to Sasuke.
"Oooh, here they are."
While passing by Sasuke looked on them, Noticed Karin's red hair, and Hinata's long Black hair with blue hue in it.
Then he noticed rare pink hair and automatically stopped in front of her, yet he couldn't see new girl's face.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat when black leather shoes stopped in front of her.
She was uncomfortable, but she felt relief when after a few seconds he walked away fast.
When Emperor left, Servant shouted.
"You may now continue your way."
Everybody looked behind; Sakura took a glimpse of the tall man with charcoal black hair walking away, wearing dark purple haori; she then noticed spiky blond hair.
"Naruto" She smiled.
"Did you see Hinata-san?" Naruto crossed his hands behind his head.
"Aa" Sasuke nodded.
"And my relative Karin was there too, Sasuke she is freaky!"
"Ugh," Emperor rolled his eyes.
"Princess Sakura was there too! you see mother Empress must have liked her."
"The pink hair?"
"Yeah, it was her."
"Couldn't see her face."
"If you want, I can arrange, and she will be brought to you anytime" Naruto smiled with an innocent expression.
"No, I don't have time for that, but let Lady Yugito know that I'll be waiting for her tonight."
"Yessir," Naruto bowed.
Taaa Daaa the third chapter!
Hope you guys enjoyed reading it ^_^
next chapter will be interesting :3 I won't give you spoilers, though! :)
P.s Lady Yugito is the character from Naruto (Two tails Jinchuriki that got killed by Hidan and Kakuzu, remember?)
Please write reviews :)
