I was really worried I wouldn't get this posted in time as I was scheduled to leave for a work trip today. Our trip ended up getting delayed so I had the time to post Chapter 6. I'd also like to thank justanotherpipedream for her excellent work in helping improve Chapter 6 and you should definitely check out her work if you're in the Marvel fandom!
Originally posted on AO3 in December 2017.
After her meeting with Kiba, Sakura lost herself in paperwork. The table in front of her was littered with documents. It seemed that everyone from the lowest civilian to the Fourth Emperor wanted a piece of her time. As expected, the Heads of the Fifteen Clans were the most demanding.
There were countless requests and invitations from each clan, but Sakura knew the true meaning behind the pretty words on paper. They wanted to know how she'd rule. They wanted to buy her favour and approval. They wanted her to marry their sons, and honour their daughters.
Letting her eyes take a rest from the small print Sakura focused her gaze on the Imperial Monument, which loomed over the capital city. Even the grandiose Imperial Palace was small in its wake.
The layout of the capital of Konohagakure was centred on the Imperial Palace. The Palace mimicked the effect of the rising sun and gleamed a burnished gold no matter the time of day. Konoha was designed in concentric semi-circles composed of a variety of districts. Closest to the Palace was the Clan District, hosting each of the Fifteen Clans in their own walled compound. The Compound was built to accommodate all Clan members while they were in the capital.
All of these various districts remained under the benevolent view of the Imperial Monument. The Monument with the stern faces of the Emperors had witnessed the creation and growth of the Empire they had placed their hopes and dreams upon.
The creation of Konohagakure had been remarkable at the time. The Head of the Senju Clan had managed to persuade clans that were locked into fierce rivalries and wars to unite and form one Empire. The wealth and power of Fifteen Clans had made Konohagakure the strongest nation at the time, and they had been widely feared.
Those days were gone. War had taken the First and Second Emperors and decimated the population. The Fifteen Clans that had once flourished with hundreds of members had now dwindled into barely a dozen. Some clans had dwindled down to a single member. The hallways of the Imperial Palace that had once been thriving with clan members were now filled only with the echoes of footsteps.
The monument was a testament to the enduring strength of the Empire and displayed the history of their beloved Empire. All of their Emperors were showcased, from their beloved First Emperor Senju Hashirama who had created peace and united the Fifteen Clans to the Fourth Emperor Regent who would restore Senju rule to the Imperial Throne.
Sakura sighed as she averted her gaze from the Imperial Monument. Soon enough her face would be added to it. She wondered how the previous Emperors had felt about their likeness carved into the mountain overlooking Konohagakure. Personally, she felt the stone replicas failed to capture the essence of life present in each Emperor. The stone made them seem stern and lifeless, washed out by the grey stone.
Once more Sakura grudgingly reached for the next sheaf of paperwork and began to tackle issues within Konohagakure. It seemed there was no end to requests demanding her time, her energy and her sympathy.
Sakura had been anticipating dinner with the Imperial Family of Suna all day. She had not yet had a chance to greet them as she had been occupied with tasks all day in preparation for her upcoming coronation. She was eager to see her friends again.
"Sabaku-koutei[1]!" Sakura curtseyed to the Emperor of Sunagakure. Gaara had grown taller in the four years since they had last seen each other. The title seemed less a burden now than it had been at the time of his coronation.
"Sakura-sama, there is no need for such formality among friends." Gaara's face remained impassive but his kind words were like a smile.
"Kankurou-denka[2], Temari-denka!" Sakura exchanged hugs with the Imperial siblings.
"Did you experience the same formality bug as Naruto?" Temari inquired her face twisted into a smirk. "No titles for us."
Kankurou recounted Naruto's attempt at formality from earlier that afternoon to the great amusement of Sasuke.
Dinner was a strange blend of formal and informal. By virtue of their rank, neither Sakura nor Gaara could completely drop the formality required by their stations. On the other hand, the very presence of Temari, Kankurou, Sasuke, and Naruto saw put to any efforts to be formal.
Had it been any other Imperial visitors, the dinner would have gone quite differently. It was not just the alliance between the two Empires that brought them all to the evening meal, but actual friendship.
The friendship between the two Empires had, ultimately, started with Naruto. By defeating Gaara in the Chuunin Exams Naruto had won his respect and his interest. For days after the Exams, Gaara had followed Naruto, determined to learn the secret to his strength. The secret it had turned out was simply determination and good friends.
Gaara's coronation four years later had only compounded that friendship that started from the Chuunin Exams. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had been sent as part of an envoy to witness the coronation of the Fifth Emperor of Sunagakure. During that time, Sasuke and Sakura had developed unbreakable friendships with the Imperial Family of Sunagakure.
Unbreakable friendship earned through Sakura performing a life-saving operation on Kankurou after a poisoning attempt. Not only had it earned Sakura the respect of Sunagakure, it had brought her international fame as a poison expert and a supremely talented medical-nin.
Talk naturally drifted to the impending coronation once the guests had caught up on events over the past four years. "How do the coronation robes of Konoha differ from Suna?" Gaara queried.
"As the first Empress Regnant there are no set coronation robes and as such, I shall be wearing a juunihitoe[3]."
"A juunihitoe?" Temari was intrigued. "What pattern have you chosen?"
"Mastu-zakura[4]." While it is the incorrect season for that pattern the symbolism of picking a Sakura inspired juunihitoe could not be ignored."
"A very unusual but fitting choice," Temari mused. "Sakura, may I be permitted to dress you on the day of your coronation?"
The act of dressing the future Empress would clearly display the strength of the friendship and alliance between Konoha and Suna. Such an intimate action would reveal that both empires trusted and valued each other. For Temari to offer was unexpected, but clearly showed how much Suna wanted Sakura to succeed.
"It would greatly please me, Sakura-sama, if you would permit my sister to aid you." Gaara offered his input.
"Then I will accept your gracious offer, Temari." It would be rude to refuse, and it could only serve to strengthen her power as Empress. Maintaining such good relations with other empires was notoriously difficult. Sunagakure's support to her claim could only benefit her.
The meal drew to a close and while they lingered over their plates, eventually they had to admit that it was growing late and other things needed their attention. With a bittersweet smile, Sakura wished her foreign guests a good evening as they retired to their rooms.
Sakura had until now, avoided entering the hall where she would be crowned. Five years ago she sat here with Sasuke and Naruto and watched as Kushina-sama and Hiruzen-sama crowned Minato the Fourth Emperor of Konoha. She hadn't taken the time to admire it then, but now every detail of the Hall seemed to strike her.
Senju's Hall was an elaborate hall with high vaulted ceilings. Along the sides of the hall hung fourteen tapestries, one to represent each of the Clans. At the front of the hall now hung the Senju kamon[5] where before the Namikaze flame had rested. It was a significant touch that said she would be reigning as a Senju and not as a Haruno despite her lineage.
On either side of the Senju tapestry, there were large stained glass windows that displayed the elaborate history of Konohagakure. Several times a year the sun would hit them at just the right angle and the brilliant patterned art would be directed to the Coronation Throne.
Auspiciously, the date of Sakura's coronation was just one of those days. The ceremony was planned and timed so as she stood to give the blessing the sun would shine through the heavily decorated windows directly on her.
The faint smell of polished wood hung in the air. Senju's Hall had been thoroughly cleaned for the upcoming coronation. At the centre of the room, incense burned in its holders and filled the air with the cleansing scent of sandalwood.
"Are you prepared?" the voice surprised Sakura, who had not realised the Imperial couple had arrived.
Kushina was dressed formally in a cream kimono patterned with camellia. Her hair was tied up in a topknot held in place by several golden pins. In contrast, Minato was dressed casually in his training gear. The flame-patterned coat he usually wore added a touch of formality to the shinobi gear.
"I will do my best to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors," Sakura responded.
Kushina smiled warmly as if to soothe her. "I thought so." She reached out to take Sakura's hand, a small measure of motherly comfort.
The coronation ceremony had changed very little since the coronation of the First Emperor. Once everyone was seated the Emperor or Empress entered the Hall to take a seat on the Coronation Throne. The previous Emperor and the Head of the Uzumaki Clan would lead the ceremony.
First would be the speech commemorating the momentous occasion, which would be followed by Sakura's oaths. Then, the Three Sacred Treasures of Konohagakure would be presented as reminders of the virtues needed to rule well and the power the title wielded.
As a commitment to duty and the Will of Fire, Sakura would then present a small piece of paper with her thoughts and desires to the Will of Fire. If it judged her worthy she would officially be declared Empress of Konohagakure and the Imperial Crown would be placed on her head.
"We're aware that it is customary for the next ruler to be crowned with the Imperial Crown, but there has never been a reigning Empress before. Instead, we decided to use this." Minato revealed a hokan[6] rather than the Imperial Crown. This was a break from tradition, as the Imperial Crown had crowned each of the four previous Emperors.
"A benkan[7] is not suitable for an Empress. Instead, we commissioned this hokan, and each Empress that follows suit will wear this Imperial Crown in remembrance of you," Kushina explained.
Examining the hokan in comparison to the benkan, Sakura could note the similarities. The benkan was a small box-like hat that featured a thin golden spoke topped with the Senju symbol. The benkan was highly decorated with strands of precious and semi-precious jewels.
The hokan mirrored this, in that the Senju symbol was extended from the top of the hokan to bear the Senju symbol. The hokan was composed of eight golden spokes, angled slightly and six charming golden bells whose tinny sound would emerge with the slightest movement decorated the end of the golden poles. Held in place by the golden spokes, a crescent curved downwards. Rare jewels decorated the golden crescent, and in the centre of the crescent rose the spoke that bore the Senju symbol.
"This is remarkable," Sakura commented, suddenly overwhelmed. "I never expected anything so beautiful."
"It's a tad more difficult to wear, but I think it's well worth it," Kushina agreed.
Minato cleared his voice and brought the two women back to the event. "Once the crowning is complete, each Head of Clan will swear allegiance to you and to Konoha. You will leave, followed by the Fifteen Clans and then you may begin to prepare for the reception. Do you understand?"
Sakura nodded her agreement. "It's hard to believe that tomorrow I'll be the Empress."
"On the eve of my coronation," Minato confessed, "I found myself thinking the same thing."
The day before her coronation, Sakura was to spend the day in meditation. Two older women would be present to supervise and guide her self-reflection. It was hardly any surprise that Kushina volunteered for the position immediately. More noteworthy was that Empress Sarutobi Biwako had broken her self-imposed isolation to serve as one of Sakura's guides.
Originally, Sakura had been less than pleased with the forced meditation. The period for self-reflection was apparently a tradition coming from the time of the First Emperor. The conservative bloc insisted on upholding this tradition, however only telling her of this requirement the day before. It was just like them to inform her at the last minute, providing her with a useless task for the sake of "tradition."
As Sakura and Kushina arrived at the Meditation Room, they found they were not the first to arrive. The Third Empress Consort was already awaiting their arrival.
The Third Empress Consort Sarutobi Biwako was old, very old and it showed on her face. Crows feet at the corner of her eyes made her face look harsh, and her grey hair was pulled back severely into a high ponytail. Wrinkled hands were clenched together, though Biwako showed a calm face. She was dressed well in a fine purple kimono, although it was in the ancient style.
She was a woman with grace and dignity. When her husband had abdicated and his title officially changed from the First Emperor Sarutobi to the Third Emperor Regent, she bore the change to her title and loss of position well. She supported her husband in his abdication and cared little that she was no longer the First Empress Sarutobi, the mother of a dynasty, but instead the Third Empress Consort only the wife of an Emperor Regent.
The two younger women entered the room slowly, though Biwako knew they had been rushing here given the faint flush on their cheeks. "Biwako-sama," Kushina bowed to the older woman. "It is my honour to present to you, Senju Haruno Sakura. I don't believe you two have met."
"We haven't met formally," Biwako replied. "But I've been interested in you for quite some time. It is nice to finally meet you Sakura-sama." Biwako bowed slightly.
"The honour is mine, Sarutobi-sama," Sakura bowed in return. "I hope we did not keep you waiting long?"
"At my age, one acquires a certain kind of patience." It was hard to tell if Biwako was making a joke or if it was a piece of elderly wisdom, perhaps it was both. "It was no great hardship to wait."
Kushina entered the meditation chamber first but as Sakura made to follow her Empress Consort Sarutobi grabbed her sleeve. The elderly Empress was quite strong for her age.
"Sakura-sama, you must put your own desires to the side for duty calls. I have seen Konohagakure dwindle as three Emperors, great Emperors nonetheless, failed to consider the future of the Imperial Throne as part of their duty. You must not allow yourself to make the same mistakes."
The elderly woman's face was serious, settled into a deep frown. She had lived through the all four Emperors' reigns and as the Empress Consort of Emperor Sarutobi, she had been a personal witness to his abdication. This child-Empress and her vow against marriage were absurd. Duty comes before all else. No longer would she merely be Haruno Sakura, for now, she would be Fifth Empress Senju Haruno Sakura, the Empress of Konohagakure.
Biwako continued, "As the Empress, you will marry if it benefits Konoha. You will serve as it benefits Konoha. Balance for Konohagakure and the Fifteen Clans lies on you and your heir. Your duty to the Throne must win. Must always win."
Sakura nodded solemnly at the elderly Empress's advice. The words echoed uncomfortably in her head. What else would she sacrifice for the Empire? Now it seemed she would sacrifice her very self for the great and consuming notion of the Imperial Throne.
After they entered the Mediation Room, Sakura felt the chakra pushed into the special lock on the door. Now it would remain locked until tomorrow morning, for nothing could break the chakra lock. The room held only pillows and incense, no food was permitted.
Once the ladies had settled into their chosen spots the room seemed to be overwhelmed with silence. Kushina had relaxed into a meditative state almost immediately on the other side of the room Sakura struggled to determine if Biwako was meditating or napping.
Struggling with boredom, Sakura turned her attention inwards to reflect on this journey she was embarking on. Soon she would be Empress, the physical representation of Konohagakure in all its power. She was the very last of the Imperial line save for the Princess Senju.
Reflecting on the Princess Tsunade reminded her of the day she'd informed her mentor about their relationship and Sakura's claim to the Imperial Throne.
Princess Senju Tsunade was in her rooms in the Imperial Palace recovering from a particularly nasty hangover. She knew that letting Jiraiya goad her into a drinking contest wasn't a smart idea, but at the time she hadn't seen the harm. At least not until she'd had enough to drink fifty jounin and Jiraiya under the table. It was a grim consolation that around the Imperial Palace fifty-one men would be waking up with a hangover even worse than hers.
After a cup of coffee and some hangover remedy, Tsunade was starting to feel human, until her door slammed open and closed with enough force to knock all her shelves off the wall in yet another deafening crash. With a fierce growl, Tsunade turned to look at her intruder. "SAKU—ra," she finished weakly, taking in the appearance of her pink haired student.
Sakura was deathly pale; her green eyes wide with shock and Tsunade thought she saw tear streaks smeared on her student's face. "I've just met with the Emperor," Sakura began. "Shishou apparently I'm the descendant of the First Emperor's illegitimate son."
Tsunade reflected on the news. For some time she'd wondered if they were related; Sakura picked up every technique, every jutsu like a fish taking to water. Tsunade had been meaning to dig deeper into Sakura's family history but it had fallen by the wayside after years on the road away from Konoha. Well, this certainly explained Sakura's ability to master Senju techniques.
Sakura still seemed as if she had more to say, her mouth opened and closed several times as if thinking of how to word her next sentence. After a moment's hesitation, she merely blurted it out. "I've been offered the Imperial Throne."
"Well better you than me," Tsunade laughed grimly, reminded of the incident nearly four years ago when everyone had expected her to take the Imperial Throne as the First Emperor's only living descendant.
"Tsunade!" Sakura forgetting the title that depicted her love and respect for her mentor was so out of character that Tsunade spared her student another glance. "I don't want to be Empress! I was never trained for this! I didn't even know I was connected to the Imperial Family until a half hour ago!"
For a minute Tsunade flashed back to the time when the Heads of the Fifteen Clans had practically demanded she take the Imperial Throne. It was her duty to the Empire and to her family to become Empress. Anger burst within her.
"I don't care what you feel Sakura. I will never sit upon that Throne! I have given and sacrificed everything for this Empire. I will sacrifice no more." With a trace of guilt, Tsunade realised that in her anger she had clenched the table in her fists. Unable to bear the pressure of her super strength it had snapped and splintered. Her ceramic mug from the coffee was in pieces on the floor.
"Shishou! I didn't mean to imply…" Sakura tried to explain to her mentor, appalled that she had upset her master so.
"Sakura… if I thought I could rule Konoha well I'd have accepted the throne. The truth is that I'm too old and bitter to be a good Empress. I never expected to be Empress. I always assumed that N-Nawaki…" Tsunade stumbled over the name of the dead brother she'd loved so much. "That Nawaki would become Emperor, but then he died and then women were allowed to inherit…" Tsunade trailed off. "It wasn't for me."
"I understand, shishou," Sakura's face softened. "I just wish that there was someone else, anyone else."
There was a pause as Tsunade made another cup of coffee and took a deep drink. "Perhaps it's selfish of me to ask you to sacrifice what I wasn't willing to, but I think given the options," civil war, the fall of the Empire, "you don't have a choice."
"I think," Tsunade said slowly pausing carefully as she mulled over her words. "That you will be good for Konoha. There's just something about your face that gives me hope. My grandfather, your great-grandfather once told me that a good ruler is one who does his duty. For he understands that duty, no matter how beautiful or noble, always involves sacrifice. And he is willing to make that sacrifice."
Now on the day before her coronation, Sakura reflected on those words. In the few months since she'd accepted the Emperor's offer, Sakura had come to see the wisdom in Tsunade's words. Konoha needed her, and like any true devotee to the Will of Fire, she had answered the call.
Konohagakure was in shambles, most weren't willing to admit that their beloved Empire was slowly crumbling but Sakura saw clearly. Of the Fifteen Clans, more than a third of them had dwindled to barely a handful of members. Konoha's Clans maintained the strength of the Empire. Each Clan had its own strength and its own power, but it was the union of them, the creation of Konohagakure, that had made them stronger. Konohagakure was nothing without its Clans.
With the risk of Clans failing, the Imperial line among those Clans, it showed to all that Konoha's strength was failing. If the Clans were to become unbalanced it would likely spell the destruction of Konohagakure, as the other Clans scrambled for the extra seat of power.
Balance rested on Sakura and her ability to rule the Empire and her ability to provide an heir, the future generation of Konohagakure.
Reflecting on all of these worries, these fears and hopes for the future Sakura composed the letter she would offer to the embodiment of the Will of Fire. In tasting her words only then would her worthiness to be the Empress of Konohagakure be decided.
As the night wore on Sakura became aware of Kushina and Biwako's increasing movements. The soft rustles of clothes and pillows, the occasional sigh or grunt of pain as sleeping limbs were stretched.
Bored with her internal reflection Sakura turned her attention to the two Empresses of Konohagakure trapped with her. She could not speak to them but she could reflect on how they had helped rule Konohagakure.
Sakura mused on Kushina's favourite saying on how an Empress should behave. An Imperial Lady, she was fond of quoting, should be like a tessen[8], the epitome of elegance and femininity, but with a core of steel. This saying had been inherited from her aunt Empress Consort Uzumaki Senju Mito and only furthered the impact.
All Empresses of Konohagakure, future and past, Regnant or Consort had not been meek. Their power had been concealed by their beautiful and delicate exterior for men do not expect a woman to be powerful, but that is part of her strength.
Both women, both Empresses, had many different skills and strengths. Sakura decided to take them both to heart and make her own path. That night in the dimly lit room, in the soft silence of breaths by two formidable women on either side of her, Sakura made a vow to herself. She would give Konoha all her strength, all her power and all her love and she would bring Konoha to its former glory with the help of her friends.
[1] Koutei(皇帝): A title used for a foreign Emperor. The kanji mean Sovereign and Emperor.
[2] Denka(殿下): A title used for foreign princes and princesses. The kanji mean below or inferior Lord.
[3] Juunihitoe: A twelve-layer kimono commonly worn during the Heian period. Can weigh up to 40-50 pounds.
[4]Matsu-zakura: A style pattern of juunihitoe known as pine-cherry blossom. The colour scheme is red, black and green. Colour schemes in juunihitoe were of the utmost importance in the Heian period. Wearing the wrong shade of a certain colour could lead to social ostracization.
[5]Kamon: A Japanese heraldic symbol. Kamon specifically refers to an emblem that identifies a Clan or Family.
[6]Hokan: A style of crown worn only by an Empress.
[7]Benkan: A style of crown worn only by an Emperor. Typically box-shaped.
[8]Tessen: A Japanese war fan. Designed to look harmless but made from sharpened metal and silk.