Review response: Crystal-Wolf-Guardian967: Thank you.

Sakura's POV

We rode fast to get the palace and I was glad I was needed for a mission for the first time in a while.

As we neared the palace a voice startled me.

"Uh, Sakura, can you smooth out the ride a little bit? I think I'm getting horse sick." Shukaku groans with an ill face.

"Shukaku, what are you doing here?" I was happy to see him.

"Hey, whither thou go, I goeth, girl." He tells me in his normal joyous tone. "Remember, teamwork isn't about ego. It's about "we go."" A sudden squeak alerted me to another companion with us. "Crikee!" Shukaku shouts. "What are you doing here?!" he asks and I laugh at them and he chirps and squeaks at Shukaku. "Protect Sakura from me? I'm her guardian!"

Crikee gives another squeak and I check to make sure Sasuke wasn't too far ahead of me. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're her lucky Cricket." He mocks "You're lucky I don't break out the bug spray." He says and I roll my eyes as I close the distance between us as we rise over the hill to the sight of the Hokage's beautiful home and the town around it came into view.

"It's been awhile since I've been here and it is still breathtakingly beautiful." I tell Sasuke and though he rarely smiles I can see it in his eyes as he looks at me.

"You're lucky, I see it far too often." He adds and speeds off.

The palace was tall and immaculate and it was still lovely to me as we made our way in and toward the throne room. At the base of the stairs leading up to where the Hokage sat, we knelt.

"Lord Hokage, what is the situation?" Sasuke asks and we both look up at him.

"Forces from Amegakure, Kusagakure and Takigakure have joined together and are moving closer to our border. The threat of attack is growing every day." He stood and walked down to us. "As it is, our army's hopelessly outnumbered."

We stand to meet him. "Lord Hokage," Sasuke begins to speak. "Let me lead my forces in a pre-emptive strike." Sasuke tells him "each of my warriors will fight like 10 of theirs."

"No, General. I plan to defeat this enemy without the use of force." He comes to a table set up on the middle platform and gestures to it. "Instead, you will form a union so strong; the enemy hordes won't dare attack."

We approach the table and look at the map laid out with little statues I believed to be the castles. "An alliance with the kingdom of Kusagakure." He points to the darker statue before reaching into his sleeve and settling another onto the map upon the border. "We will become united through marriage." I stare at it with shock.

"You will escort three princesses to Kusagakure. There, they will marry Lord Osamu's sons."

"What?" I blurt out but he continues on.

"And seal this critical alliance." He finishes and Sasuke bows.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." I look away as the thought of it unsettled me to the core and my heart ached for them.

"My advisors tell me the charts are clear." He turns and heads back up to his seat. "If this wedding does not take place in three days, the alliance will crumble, and the army approaching will destroy us." He looks at us with a serious face. "Mark my words, General – 3 days."

"Not a moment more, Lord Hokage." I look at Sasuke, hurt that he couldn't see how horrible this all sounded.

"I know that face, Haruno Sakura. What troubles you?" he asked like a concered father.

"My Lord, an arranged marriage? I ask and he waves me up to him so I approach.

"Rest assured, child, my granddaughters know exactly what they're doing." He informs me.

"Your granddaughters?" I ask and he rests his hand upon my shoulder.

"They consider it an honor to marry in the cause of peace." I lower my head and step back.

"My Lord, I, Uh . . . I . . ." I look over at Sasuke who had approached me.

"Apology accepted." Lord Hokage says as he sits upon his throne.

"General, how many troops do you estimate you will need to accomplish this mission?"

"Four." He says and we share a look, finally a smile returning to my face.

"Four companies." The Hokage says.

"Four men." Sasuke corrects and earns a shocked look from the Hokage.

"You surprise me, General. These are my grandchildren.

"This mission doesn't call for force, but finesse." He explains. "We must become one with the countryside."

"As Hokage, I trust you. As a father and a grandfather, I implore you to choose your four soldiers wisely." He was truly concerned.

"I know just the men." Sasuke glances at me.

"Fearless,"

"Loyal."

"And disciplined."

"Konoha's most honorable ad noble soldiers." We share a grin and prepare to kind these men.

Normal POV

"And stay out!" a familiar voice bellows as three men fly through the doors of the establishment. "I've found wives for hundreds of men, but the Golden Dragon of Unity himself couldn't make love matches for you three!" the match maker shouts at the three men he threw out. "Come back when you get personalities!"

The three men looked at the man as he starts closing the doors to his establishment.

"Well, that's a fine way to treat China's Greatest – Oh!" Naruto was cut off as a pot hit his face "Heroes." He finishes as the all stand and dust of their clothes.

"What's his problem?" Kiba bellows and leaning against the wall having witnessed the whole thing Gaara shook his head at them.

"Perhaps you asked for too much?" he offers and Kiba rolls his eyes.

"All I asked for was a girl who would worship the dirt I walk on." Kiba explains.

"I simply asked for someone who would cook for me morning, noon, and night." Choji adds.

"I just wanted a girl who likes to laugh," he tells him and then scratched the back of his head. "And thinks I'm a god."

"I understand why the matchmaker was so harsh on you guys." Gaara says.

"Perhaps we weren't specific enough." Choji tells the guys.

"Oh, forget that old pervert." He turns to him comrades. "T he only ones who can find girls worthy of us . . . is us"

"Don't." Gaara orders as Naruto throws his arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah." Kiba agrees and Gaara groans.

"Well, I need him to be all smug and snooty." The trio sticks their tongues out in the matchmaker's direction.

"I got a plaque right here that says I kicked Oto booty." Kiba joins in.

"We have everything we dreamed we'd find when we came back from war." Choji adds as he looks at the statues erected in their honor.

"Yeah, Everything but a girl worth fighting for." The three stop and look at a beautiful girl walk past and Gaara tries prying loose from Naruto's grasp.

Kiba elbows Choji. "Suck in your gut, there's a girl worth fighting for." They look at the girl minding a tea stand.

"And I think she wants us to come over." Naruto adds and drags Gaara along. "My girl will laugh at all my jokes, but tell it to me straight." He tells them.

"She'll rub my head when I get sick." Kiba adds.

"And let me pick off of her plate." Choji concludes. "If Naruto can find a girl who likes his chopstick nose trick." Choji says to the others as Naruto demonstrates it to the girl at the tea stand.

'ooh, he really better just propose quick." Kiba states as she hits Naruto for using her chopsticks.

Naruto saunters into a shop nearby. "Well, I have to say based on today I'm cranky."

"I'll just spend my life with you three." CHoji tells them.

"Pass the hanky." Kiba says as Gaara hands him his spare.

"And there's no one there to steal my chair." Naruto takes a random chair to sit in and causes someone to fall on the floor.

"And twirl around the floor." Kiba sighs as Naruto ducks and the man punches Kiba instead. "Wish that I had a girl worth fighting for." They sing in unison as a brawl breaks out.

"I would be true," Naruto states

"I'd make fondue," Choji claims

"I'd even kiss you," Kiba winks at Gaara who slugs him one.

"For a girl worth fighting for." They end up outside due to Gaara dragging them from the fight.

He stops and looks at the two people in his way and his glare softens as he seen the pink haired girl they had befriended.

"Sakura." He says and the other three fly to their feet.

"SAKURA! GENERAL SASUKE!" they shout in joy and stand at attention.

"If you're done disturbing the peace, I need you to join Sakura and me on a mission." He discloses.

"To save Konoha?" Naruto cheers as he throws his arms around our shoulders.

"Naturally." She confirm and they all looked psyched. "Oh, and welcome back to Konohagakure, Gaara." The red haired male looks shocked but nods.

"I am glad to be back." He responds. "Even more glad to be of help once more." Kiba makes an exaggerated movement drawing eyes to him.

"I'll be leaving behind a few broken hearts, but count me in!" Kiba looks smug.

"Sign me up!" Naruto adds.

"When do we start, General?" Choji inquires.

"Tonight."

Sakura's POV

Night creeps over us and with it we creep into the palace and make sure no one spots us. We wait outside the back of the palace and double check the supplies before I head in and signal that we are ready.

The three girls exit first, then the Hokage who addresses them one last time before I lead the handmaiden beside me out and we approach the family. The young girl beside me had sand blond hair and indigo eyes which she kept down cast as we wait beside the Hokage.

The Princesses descend the stairs with fans blocking their faces. The first was pale with block hair pulled up elegantly and lilac eyes, the second was darker in complexion with red hair and amber eyes, and the last was tan with light brown hair and matching eyes.

Sasuke opens the door to the carriage and they load in. I observe the last princess turn back for the slipper that had fallen from her foot and to the ground, but hesitate as Kiba held up a hand and quickly grabbed it before looking up at her and I swore he froze as he held it out for her and she slips it on before disappearing within.

He walked back like he was floating on air to where Naruto and Choji stood. I place my hand upon the handmaiden's shoulder and she walks foreword to join the girls and trips on the hem of her cloak where Gaara's arm shoots out and he stops her plummet.

I was two steps behind and watch her eyes go wide with wonder before her skin turned red like his hair.

"Forgive me." She whispers before rushing to the carriage and joins the girls.

I tap Gaara's shoulder and he calmly joins the others as I approach Sasuke who was talking to the Princesses. I catch the end of what he says to them.

"You have my word we will arrive swiftly and safely." He informs them.

"My cousins and I thank you, General Uchiha." I grab some blankets and enter view.

"Permit me to introduce Haruno Sakura." He says and I feel proud as he says my name.

"It is a privilege to meet the hero of Konoha." The red haired princess says before Sasuek and I share a look.

"I leave you in her capable hands." He turns to the men. "Stand ready!" and leaves us alone.

"You might need these. It's a little chilly." I inform them and hand them the blankets.

"Thank you, Haruno Sakura." The black haired princess thanks me.

"You can call me Sakura." I tell them with a smile "and you're welcome, your highness." I prop myself up on the landing and look at them all. "So . . . You're getting married." I say but truthfully I am probing for information.

"Oh, yes." The brown haired princess says.

"To princes in Kusagakure."

"That is right." Black hair says so I probe further.

"Well, they must be handsome." I look to them and with almost lifeless eyes the red head tells me what I fear.

"We don't know. We've never met them." The tightening of my chest returns so I ignore it as I continue.

"Really? So you have no idea what they're like . . . At all?" I felt the concern upon my face and they all look to me.

"It's all right, Haru- uh- Sakura." She recalled my allowance to address me informally. "It is our honor to serve the Hokage." Black hair says.

"And the Middle Kingdom." Brown hair adds.

"The whole thing is so exciting." The red hair states and yet she doesn't sound so sure of herself and all the responses seem rehearsed. "We're very happy . . . Really." Once more that tightening in my chest.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. I'm not sure I could go through with some-"

"Sakura!" Sasuke calls cutting me off mid sentence. Oops.

"Um, time to get going." I inform them and I believe I heard them sigh. This had to be hard for them.

"Move out!" Sasuke calls and we begin to move. I look back only once to see the Hokage stare after them with tear filled eyes and I knew it was hard for the whole family to watch this happen.

I clear my mind and look at Sasuke. "If we get to the pass by midday tomorrow . . ." I start.

"We'll have just enough time to make it to Kusagakure." He finishes and I smile at him.

Normal POV

As Sakura talked to Sasuke Shukaku pokes his head out at them with a sly smile. "Yeah, just enough time to stop Sakura from making the biggest mistake of MY – I-I mean, uh, HER life."

The sun rose as they made good time to the pass and the scenery was nice as well, but Sakura's heart was heavy as she kept thinking back to the princesses' predicament. She sighs so often Sasuke finally decided to question her.

"What's with the face?" he leans over to study her and she turns away from him.

"What face?"

"That face." He gestures and she faces him.

"There's no face. This is my face, that's all." She lies and that rare smile almost touches his lips.

"You know I know you better than that, Sakura. What's wrong?" he inquires and she sighs again.

"I realize our duty is to the mission . . ."

"But?"

"But I have another duty . . ." She looks at her fiancé with sincerity. "To my heart."

Sasuke halts his horse. "Oh, Sakura, your only duty is to the Hokage." She stops as well her frustration rising at his lack of understanding.

"But, Sasuke, an arranged marriage?" She plead for him to understand.

"I know," he says as he rubs the nape of his neck and glances at her. "But not everyone can be as lucky as we are." The last part he said in almost a whisper, embarrassed by the honesty then more clearly tells her. "In an ideal world, everyone would marry for love." And as she looks down with sorrowful eyes he reaches forward and lifts her chin. "But the world isn't perfect." She smiles at him and in his eyes she reads the words left unsaid 'I'm just glad my world is.'

Those unspoken words comforted her as they began to move once again.

"I saw that," Shukaku grumbles as he watches them both. "'My world' - talk about selfish." He turns to Crikee and vents. "You know, you don't hear me bragging about how it's my world, even though it pretty much is." He grins and swishes his fluffy tale. "I'm telling you Crikee, the sooner I bust them apart, the better things will be for Sakura."

Shukaku returns to scheming inside the pouch he occupied.

Back at the carriage Kiba and Naruto sat at the reigns, Choji and Gaara on the side on horseback.

Naruto cracks a joke and is laughing as he looks to Kiba who sat dazed and smiling from ear to ear.

"Did you see the way she looked at me?" Kiba asks him and Naruto makes a face.

"You mean with disgust?" Naruto quips and he and Choji laugh before Kiba punches Naruto.

"NO! Our eyes met and we share a cosmic moment." He tells them.

"Oh, like when I get treated to an all you can eat barbeque." Choji half jokes and Naruto burst into laughter. In anger Kiba shoots up and shouts at them.

"It's love, I tell you!" Off to the side Gaara silently pitted the hot headed friend of theirs. "love . . ."

"Love, shmove – It doesn't matter." Naruto reasons with his buddy. "We're on a mission. No fraternizing with the Princesses." he chides him.

"Engaged-to-be-married princesses." Choji chimes in.

"Oh, yeah." The reminder made their love sick friend slouch in sorrow.

"Wow, Konoha is so big!" the middle princess says as she closes the curtains and looks to her cousins. "Isn't it beautiful, Tamaki?" Her cousin who was looking out of the small sliding window behind the soldiers didn't respond.

"Tamaki?" she calls and Tamaki's shoulder startling her back into reality.

"Oh? Oh, yes, Karui." She closes the small window. "Beautiful." The word was soft and her eyes sparkled as she confides with her cousins. "Did you see the way he looked at me?"

"The one who looked like an old dog?" her cousin asks and she looks shocked.

"An old dog? Hinata, no, he's more like a big, cuddly puppy." Tamaki says as she hugs a pillow. "Right, Hana?" her eyes went to the handmaiden who was looking out the window on her side.

"But you didn't even talk to him." Karui tells her cousin who was waiting for their handmaiden to respond.

"A true romantic can tell -" she gently touches the pillow in her lap. "He may be coarse on the outside but on the inside . . ."

"He's gross?" Karui says and Tamaki dead stares her cousin.

"I mean under that."

"He smells? Oh!" no sooner than Hinata spoke the soft pillow hit her.

"I can see past my nose." Tamaki tells them and Hana finally looks over at her only friends and smiled at them. "Deep, deep down, way down," Tamaki emphasizes. "There's something."

"Oh, Karui, I think she's in love." Hinata grabs her cousin in a hug and they both smile.

"Oh, no. There'll be none of that." Karui sternly reminds her cousins. "Remember, Tamaki, you are to be married in three days. You gave your solemn oath."

"You're right." Tamaki says and the two happy girls became sad. Hana felt sad for her friends and wanted to say something but the carriage came to a stop as the voice of General Uchiha called the horses to a halt.

To be continued.

A.N.: Long time no post. I've been swept away by my manic bosses hectic life that I was unable to type for a while. (She gave me more hours then normal, but c'est la vie.) Hope you like this and I'll try to work more on writing pt2 of this chapter. Be well and rock on goblins and ghouls.