A/N: Hope you enjoy chapter 4! This'll be a PoV chapter. These are generally going to be short chapters. I intend to sprinkle these throughout the story. These will be here to show certain areas in Uturai. The Northern Provinces and the war going on there is one example.

Chapter 4: Qora I

Qora, the dark-skinned woman, let out a breath that was visible by the cold. She had never been in the North despite being born on the border. Qora let out another breath while rubbing her sides with her hands. She was going to beat Naruto senseless for giving her command of the war while he handled whatever it was Kara needed him in the capital for.

The legions were currently camped on the south side of the river that separated Varnby City and the south of the North. A long haired blond man invaded her vision, a smile plastered on his face. The man drank heavily from a leather drinking pouch.

"Still not use to the cold?" Qora asked.

Daven frowned, "Wine here is keeping me warm," he replied taping the pouch with his finger. Qora looked at the man with a disapproving look. "If your drunk if we get attacked…so help me-"

Daven cut the dark-skinned woman off, "Me? Drunk? That'll be the day."

Qora shook her head with a smile. The bronze-skinned woman shivered slightly. Although she was born on the Empire side of the border with the Northern Provinces, she herself had grown accustomed to the temperate climate of the south. She hadn't been back in her Homeland for several years, having already forgotten how the winters of these lands felt.

Off in the distance, Qora saw Varnby City. Although from this distance it looked like a small speck she could still make out the light that radiated from the city. She had only been in that city when she was a small girl, her father taking her on a trip for supplies that would help them survive the upcoming Winter. As a little girl, she was in awe of the size of the city and all the citizens that were going about with their daily lives. Now, a decade and a half later, she was going to conquer the city on behalf of her Emperor.

Daven saw the pained expression that adorned the face of the woman, "What's wrong?"

"These are my countrymen…" Qora responded painfully, "I was born on the border but I still interacted with these people."

Daven looked away from the woman. Although he understood the dilemma that plagued her, he himself had never been thrust into that situation. "A part of me feels like a traitor," Qora whispered. Daven shook his head, "They resisted the Emperor's offer. We gave them a chance."

"Still. I can't squash that part of me that feels like that. And in some sense it's true. I am a traitor to these people."

Daven replied with silence, not knowing how to respond.

"I'll be in my tent. Don't disturb me unless it's something important."

"Of course," Daven replied. He spotted the misty eyes of Qora before the woman turned and quickly left the man to his own thoughts. Daven sighed. He knew of the allegiance of some of the soldiers. Some were attacking their homelands and conquering their people. The villages on the border of the Empire and the Northern Provinces were part of the North in all but name, most of those villages relied on the North for trade and food.

Daven sighed again and took a gulp from with pouch and looked out to the wilderness, Varnby City off in the distance. Soon that city will be under siege and the Legions will run through the North for the Empire.

Flashback - 15 Years ago – Northern Border

An eight-year-old Qora looked at her father who was guiding the horse through the reigns. The main trading city that they always visited before every winter, Varnby City, off in the distance. Qora's eyes sparkled with fascination everytime she laid her eyes on the huge city. Robert turned his head and gazed at his daughter, smiling at the giddy nature she was displaying.

"Excited?"

Qora nodded rapidly which made Robert chuckle.

"What are we going to get this time, papa?" Qora asked.

Robert scratched his beard, thinking. "Some of the same supplies like last time. Your mother has been hounding me to try and get some farming tools."

Qora's face flushed with embarrassment. She was the one that damaged the farming tools in an accident. Robert seeing this gently place his right hand on his daughter's head and ruffled her hair. "No need to be embarrassed dear, it's okay," Robert reassured his daughter. Qora slowly nodded not entirely convinced.

"Why isn't Shinji coming with us?" Qora asked wondering about her brother.

Robert looked away with a pained expression. He and his wife hadn't told Qora of Shinji's condition to spare her from pain no eight-year-old should experience. Shinji was bedridden and the village doctor informed the parents that there was nothing he could do for the boy.

"He's sick, Qora."

"Okay, I hope he gets better!" Qora replied with a smile aimed at her father. Robert nodded guiltily. The rest of the ride was filled with silence with the occasional outburst of excitement from the small girl. Robert guided his carriage slowly towards the main bridge that gave passage to the city.

Two guards lifted their hands signaling to the bearded father to stop. Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out a few pieces of parchment in preparation.

"Halt!" One of the guards yelled. The other rounded to the end of the carriage, his hand ready to draw his sword if anything popped out. Robert looked at the two in confusion. "What's the matter?"

The guard next to Robert replied, "We've suffered some attacks from bandits…we were ordered to inspect anything passing through. Papers?"

Robert nodded and handed over the pieces of parchment.

"Anything back here I should be worried about?" The guard behind the carriage shouted at Robert. "No, sir. Just passing through for supplies for the upcoming winter." Robert said with his head turned at the guard. The raven-haired guard nodded while he looked inside the carriage.

"It seems everything is in order, you can pass through." The guard next to Robert stated. He handed over the papers to the bearded man and motion with his hand to go ahead. Robert gave the man a nodded and guided the horses forward.

"Are we in danger, papa?" Qora asked in a low voice. Robert shook his head and smiled, "No, dear. We came here alright didn't we?" Qora nodded with a hmph that made Robert chuckle. Robert passed the main gates and finally, the man and his daughter were in the city. Varnby was bustling with activity. Dwarves, Elves, Humans, Gnomes could all be seen walking around, going about their business.

"When we get off, stay close to me, Qora," Robert informed his bronze-skinned daughter.

"Yes, papa!" Qora replied, again furiously nodding her head not wanting to make her papa disappointed in her. Robert brought the horses to the main market making sure to not hit anyone on the way.

3 Hours Later

Qora stuck close to her father for most of the trip. Now they were leaving the city with a carriage full of supplies and new tools. Qora swung her small legs in a rhythm, she admired the scenery that she always loved every trip. The small girl heard a rustle but thought nothing of it, thinking maybe that it was a rabbit or another animal.

She heard more rustles and several men appeared in front of the carriage. Two of the men were aiming their bows at them while the others had their swords drawn. Qora heard more rustles, she turned her head and saw several more men behind the carriage.

"Whatever happens, stay down Qora," Robert informed her. Qora looked at her father in confusion, "What's happening, papa?"

"Do what I say, Qora. Please." Robert got out with a pained voice. Qora caught on and nodded. One of the men stepped up with a smug smile.

"It seems you weren't informed on the new ownership of these roads," The man said smugly. Robert looked at each men trying to think of a way out of the situation. "These roads are owned by Duchess Elsa are they not?" Robert asked, already knowing the answer.

The bandit frowned, "Not anymore. There's a new toll 'round this parts," The man replied, "you pay us and we take a share of your supplies. Compensation for us…protecting this road." The man said with a smile. Robert frowned.

"I have no money, sir," Robert said. This made the man frown again. The man stared at Robert for a few seconds before he turned his gaze to Qora, a smile slowly forming on his face. "How about you let your daughter here service us for a bit as payment?" The man asked although Robert knew it wasn't a question. The bearded father's eyes widened at what the man was saying, he saw several of the bandits leer at his daughter while Qora cowered under the stares. Robert stared at the man with rage.

"You will not touch my daughter!" The father yelled. The bandit again frowned and drew his sword.

"Shame. I'll enjoy fucking your daughter over your corpse."

Flashback End

Qora screamed out in a sweaty mess, swiftly rising from the bed trying to catch her breath. Her eyes wide at the memory she always tried to lock away. Qora swallowed a lump forming in her throat. She tried to keep the tears at bay but she couldn't. Tears streaming out the general's face. Qora gripped the bed sheets trying to stop herself from crying.

After a few minutes, Qora wiped her eyes and sighed. She had repressed that particular memory ever since it happened. She left the bed and swiftly got dressed in her leather and her armor.

Qora left her tent and saw several of the Legions mingling about. She spotted Daven chatting with one of the soldiers. She brought two fingers to her lips and whistled. Daven turned his head and spotted the bronze-skinned woman and nodded. Daven said goodbye to the soldier and walked towards the woman.

He spotted the woman's red-rimmed eyes and the slight flush that was on her face.

"You okay? Heard you scream…"

Qora grunted, "I'm fine, nothing to worry about."

Daven nodded skeptically. "Orders?"

"It's time to move the Legions for the siege."

Daven nodded while he gripped the handle of his sword. "At once," Daven replied and quickly left to inform the captains of the respective Legions. Qora looked off into the distance and spotted the small speck that was Varnby and her gaze hardened.

'I'm sorry…but my Emperor has ordered me to pacify you. I'm so sorry…I hope you don't look down on me with shame, papa.' Qora thought with a sad frown. She shook her head and followed Daven down the hill. The next few days will be an interesting few.

There we go. Really short but that's going to be the nature of this PoV chapters. They're meant to give some of the more neglected areas in Uturai some light. Hope you enjoyed it. We got to find out a bit of Qora's background. So...I have a new idea for a story. How would you guys feel of a space based Naruto AU? I started working on some parts of it a few days ago and I'm only growing a bit more excited as I work on it. Let me know what you guys think.