Sasuke slowly opened his eyes as he felt a pressure on his lap. He'd been taking a nap in the throne room after a long day, when he was woken up by something being placed on his lap. When he saw a flash of bright pink, Sasuke instantly became alert.

"Sakura? What are you doing?" His sleepy gruff intoned.

Sakura giggled and pressed her lips to his neck in a random pattern. "I am 'wooing' you Sasuke-kun." Her tongue darted out to taste the flesh of his throat teasingly.

Sasuke groaned as his hands gripped her hips. "Don't start something you don't intend to finish Sakura."

Sakura smiled brightly at him before leaning forward and pressing her lips to his gently. It wasn't long before Sasuke was licking her lips and begging her to open her mouth up to him. When she did Sasuke took full advantage of the situation and took all that she gave. His hands ran to the middle of her back and pressed her body closer to his. He could feel her every breath and heartbeat, he could feel the heat of her body, he wanted so much more.

Sasuke pulled away from her mouth and let his lips run up and down her neck, reveling in every moan the princess let out. He opened his mouth and sucked on the skin gently before letting his lips travel down to the top of her breasts. Sasuke pulled back from Sakura and looked at the beautiful woman before him. She was in a short silk kimono, the sleeve falling sensually off of her shoulder. It was then that he'd realized something. It was a dream.

Fuck.

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.

Sasuke groaned as he jolted awake. He was still in the war-room waiting for Sakura to come down from her room. Sasuke sighed as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Thank God he hadn't been left with a noticeable 'problem' in his pants this time. Normally when his dreams of Sakura took a turn for the steamy, he'd be left to tear down the tent in his pants. He needed some fresh air. Sasuke stood and walked over to the deck of the war room, looking out as the trees swayed in the afternoon breeze. He took a deep breath of the fresh air, tasting the sun rays on his lips.

Until, unexpectedly smooth skin and long pink hair invaded his vision. She was running through the trees in front of him, her hair back down to her waist like when she was younger. But this time, instead of the princess tiara she normally wore, upon her head was the crown of Otogakure. Sasuke smirked and watched the beautiful woman prancing through the trees ahead of him. She was so beautiful, she was everything he'd ever wanted.

So why couldn't he just tell her? Why couldn't he just say that he loved her? Soon the vision before him disappeared and Sasuke scowled in frustration. Why couldn't he just tell her? They could unite Konoha and Oto together, and form the most powerful alliance in the world. But he just couldn't tell the beautiful woman that he was desperately in love with her.

"Sasuke?" Sakura's beautiful voice called to the king.

Sasuke turned to face her and was riddled with all of the reasons why he couldn't. She had a kingdom to rule, she had her people to save. And if he knew Sakura, he knew her love for him could get in the way of ruling the kingdom, of saving her people. True she had grown, and her priorities were more reasonable, he still could not risk Sakura getting in her own way. It was his duty as her knight, as the man who loved her, to make sure that she accomplished all of her goals. And he would do that before he accomplished his own.

"Sasuke, we should get started." Sakura called as she sat in the chair across from Sasuke's. Sasuke turned to face the enchanting princess and nodded in her direction.

"Nara and Kakashi are heading Naruto's rescue mission. They will be leaving in a few days to infiltrate Konoha while Danzou is out attempting to overthrow Suna." Sasuke traces the paths on the map with his finger as he speaks.

Sakura nods and follows his finger with her eyes. "And how will they infiltrate?"

Sasuke shrugs. "I leave it up to Shikamaru and Kakashi to decide how, I just tell them what."

Sakura nods. "When will they have the plan ready for you to review?"

"Tomorrow." Sasuke finishes. "You and I need to work on your ascension to the throne."

Sakura shook her head and turned to face the forest outside. "I will not be ascending the throne Sasuke."

Sasuke finally sat down in his chair. "And why is that Sakura?"

Sakura took a deep breath and turned to face the king. "Naruto is a better king than I am. He is personable and charismatic, and he will give the people what he need. He is stronger than I am as well." Sakura sighed and glanced longing at Konoha's castle on the map. "I am easily swayed, I may not stand by my beliefs." Sakura took another deep breath. "I am scared to rule, and Naruto is not."

Sasuke shook his head and reached out to grab the princess's hand. "Knowing your weaknesses is exactly why you would make a perfect queen Sakura."

Sakura smiled softly at the king before her. "I am not ready to rule by myself. I am still very sore from my father's death not being resolved." She squeezed Sasuke's the hand that was in hers. "I can't do it by myself Sasuke."

Before he knew it the words were spewing out of his mouth. "What if I was there with you?" His hand tightened around hers.

Sakura's eyes widened in confusion. "How could you do that Sasuke? You have a kingdom to rule now."

Sasuke closed his eyes and let go of Sakura's hand. "You're right." He turned away from her. "So you're saying you could never be Queen."

Sakura shook her head and stood to walk over to Sasuke's chair. She wrapped her hand around his jaw and turned him to face her. "Sasuke-kun listen to me. I'm saying I cannot be Queen of Konoha by myself, right now." She sighed and let her hand drop from his face. "Why do you want me to be Queen so badly?"

Sasuke was quiet for a moment before he finally spoke. "I want you to accomplish your goals Sakura, I want you to have no regrets."

Sakura smiled at the man below her and sank to her knees before his chair. "I have none Sasuke. Even with Danzou taking over, with Naruto being imprisoned." Sakura took his hands in hers. "I know what I am doing."

"But if you had stayed Queen, Danzou would not have been able to overthrow the throne." Sasuke rebutted quickly.

Sakura shrugged and rubbed her thumbs over the back of his hand. "He would have found a way Sasuke. It was just a matter of time." Sakura chuckled lightly. "Maybe he would have tried to marry me or something."

Sasuke's eyes widened and he stood up abruptly. "That's why you are to be enslaved if you step foot in Konoha." Sasuke growled lowly. "He thinks you are in Suna, that's why he's taking an army there."

Sakura looked at Sasuke confused, and frustrated that he had ruined her moment. "Sasuke what are you talking about?"

Sasuke turned to glare at her. "If Danzou were to marry you, then the people could not overthrow him as King. He would be a part of the Haruno family. He would be connected to the throne by blood."

Sakura shrugged and turned to look back at the map. "It's a good thing I am here in Oto, and he doesn't know." She turned to smile at him shyly. "It's a good thing you are here to protect me."

Sasuke scowled and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her closer to him. "And If I can't protect you?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. "Then I will protect myself." She stare him down vehemently as he glared at her armor-clad form.

Sasuke leaned his forehead against hers. "And if neither of us can, if you are forced to marry Danzou?"

Sakura shook her head and blinked up at him. "Have confidence in us Sasuke. We can do anything." She smiled brightly.

"In us?" Sasuke echoed quietly.

Sakura smiled and leaned forward slightly to press her lips to his cheek. "Yes Sasuke-kun. In us."

Sasuke smirked and took her face in his hands. "You missed." The king pressed his lips to the princess's feverishly before she could question anything else.

He would have confidence in them. He would have confidence in his love for Sakura.

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"Sasuke, this is your Princess, Sakura-chan." The Queen smiled softly at the young knight, as she pushed a shy pink-haired toddler in front of him.

Sasuke bowed gently before the tiny pink-haired princess. "It is my pleasure to serve you Princess."

The toddler smiled and grabbed onto Sasuke's shirt excitedly. "Play! Play!" She screamed, bouncing up and down.

Sasuke sighed and looked up at the Queen, as she ushered him to go and play with the tiny princess. Needless to say the young knight followed the tiny princess to her play room at waddling pace, with the Queen quietly following behind them.

Two hours, and a hair full of toddler slobber later, it was time for the princess's nap. "Bye bye Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiled brightly and placed a slobbery kiss on the knight's face.

Sasuke scowled and angrily wiped the spit off of his visage as he watched the Queen take her daughter away.

"Thank you for being so patient Sasuke." The powerful voice of the King sounded as he placed a hand on the young knight's shoulder. "It is your duty to protect my daughter. And I know you will protect her with everything you have."

Sasuke smiled at the King's approval and nodded his head. "I will protect her with my life."

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Sakura pulled away from Sasuke's kiss breathless and rested her hands on his chest. "Sasuke-kun?" She asked quietly.

Sasuke smirked and pressed his face into the crook of her neck. "Hm?"

"What was that for?" Sakura ran her fingers through his hair.

Sasuke leaned up and pressed another sweet kiss to her lips, before he opened his mouth to answer her question. "I-"

"Sasuke-san, we have a bit of a problem." Kiba said breathless as he burst into the war room. When he noticed the position his King was in, Kiba stopped in his tracks. "Oh, uh sorry man."

Sasuke pulled away from Sakura and kissed her forehead once. "What is your reason for coming here?" The king asked, finally turning to face the intruder.

Kiba rubbed the back of his head nervously. "There was an infiltration on the wall. The guards are checking to see where they messed up, but there was no trace of a break-in."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the noble as he pulled his arms completely away from the princess. "Then how do you know that there was an infiltration?"

Kiba held up a scroll and handed it to the king. "This was found at headquarters."

Sasuke took the scroll and quickly opened it, then reading its contents. "Go take your clan and search the borders. Keep the guards alert by refreshing units more often. I want to know how this got in." Kiba nodded and quickly left the room.

Sakura walked up to Sasuke and took the scroll from his hands before reading the contents, and dropping the scroll to the ground.

Blood is red,

Cherry Blossoms are pink,

You thought I was dead,

But I'm much closer than you think.

-Orochimaru-Sensei