Naruto was hyperventilating inside, but he was honestly proud of himself for not displaying it. He was the Hyuugas' guide around the palace, and he had no idea that Neji's cousin was that beautiful. He had decided to take a leaf out of Sasuke's book and act composed to not make a fool out of himself, but now that he was just a few feet from her, he found that rather difficult.

To him, she was the embodiment of purity. Her long midnight blue hair contrasted her milky white skin, straight bangs framed her delicate, feminine features and full lips rosy. Her lavender eyes identical to Neji's, yet hers holding softness and kindness, her silk dresses hugging her curvaceous figure.

But no. What really made his heart race was the fact that she was a good listener. When he went on about some insignificant matter, she would nod and even laugh at the right places. He was sure the other Princes would have tuned him out the moment he started, so it was a refreshing sensation to have someone react to him.

He had to thank General Hiashi, really. They had travelled a long way and the General had to attend the small meeting between all the families' leaders. His daughters were then left in the care of the Sixth Prince, but the younger one decided to retire to their quarters first. Of course, not without departing the blond man with a glare and gruff threat first.

"This is where the hot springs and bathhouses are," he introduced the large, extensive building a distance away from the main grounds of the palace.

So far, he had spent the evening showing her around the East and West side of the palace grounds. He had showed places like where they studied when they were children, the hidden garden near Sasuke's quarters, the pavilion in the middle of the river or the hall he and Kiba once almost destroyed.

He told her stories associated with the places, and she had found him the most amusing. He had realised that she had shyly stuttered a lot when they first conversed, but as they grew comfortable with each other, her speech became more natural.

He couldn't help but feel disappointed at the notion that he wouldn't be able to see her tomorrow until the banquet, as he was scheduled to show his own family around the next day.

Hinata Hyuuga stared at the building in awe, amazed at the beautiful and detailed architecture of it. "Did you get lost when you first arrived here?" she whispered absentmindedly. She suddenly blushed and hid her face with her hair when she realised she had said it out loud.

Naruto laughed heartily. "I did, actually!" he looked sheepish. "There were a few times in the beginning where I couldn't find my way back to my quarters, and ended up spending the night at the bastard's."

"I-I see. You and Prince Sasuke must be close." Hinata commented softly, a gentle smile on her lips.

"We argue all the time, but I think that's just how we work," he shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his tone. "Personally, I think I'm irresistible."

The dark-haired heiress giggled. "I'm sure Prince Sasuke treasures you greatly."

"I think so too!" Naruto nodded. "Anyway, the lobby in there has a lot of herbs. They took down the everyone's preferences upon arrival. I'm sure you'll enjoy the personalised baths very much!"

Hinata's lips parted slightly. "I wasn't informed of that...?" she muttered, surprised.

"What, but-" he frowned and paled. Quickly, he reached into his robes and groaned when he fished out two sheets of crumpled papers. "I'm sorry, it seems to be a blunder on my part! Shit, I knew I forgot something! It's too late to ask you both to fill this now, isn't it? My apologies, I'll get it sorted and-"

"It's alright, Your Highness," she soothed his rambling, amusement glinting in her lavender eyes. "Can I go inform them now?"

Naruto nodded, apology still on his lips, mentioning to her that he would be waiting for her outside. He watched her enter and leaned against the bannisters beside the marble steps leading into the building. The clear weather and quiet sounds of nature made him feel sleepy, and he almost dozed off on the steps if not for the sudden blur of crimson that he caught in the corner of his eyes.

Immediately, he was alert and angled his head sideways to see his cousin strutting his way, her chin high and expression cold as always. It was part of her education, Karin Uzumaki never displayed emotions. It was a weakness, she had been told, and the last thing she wanted to be labelled for was 'weak' just because she was born a woman.

"Karin," Naruto greeted upon catching her eye.

"Your Highness," she responded with a thin smile. "If you'll excuse me."

He nodded as she walked up the stairs, the heels of her shoes clacking against the polished steps. Sometimes, he forgot how intimidating his cousin was. Nagato Uzumaki had truly trained his daughter well.

All hints of sleepiness had disappeared as he was currently paying attention to the sounds from the lobby. His cousin was not known for her friendliness or tolerance. An uneasy feeling settled in him when he realised the probability of Karin getting involved in some argument with Hinata or the maids. After much deliberation, Naruto decided to make his way up the steps. He hoped that she hadn't gotten herself in another argument with- "Damn," he whispered when upon the sight that welcomed him.

"-How dare you?" Karin was asking coldly, ruby eyes narrowed.

"How dare I? You were the one who strutted in here and began claiming nonsense!" Ino retorted hotly. "And do you seriously think we must grant you excess?"

"Ino, please-" Sakura pleaded, tugging on her friend's arm, trying to avoid causing a larger scene. She could see the other maids huddling behind the small openings of the carved lobby walls, sneaking a peak at the commotion.

"No! It's not even your fault!"

Karin crossed her arms angrily. "How was it fair that she-" a well-manicured red nail pointed to Hinata. "-got to enter the storage and make her choice while all I got was a checklist to tick from?"

"Lady Uzumaki-" Hinata attempted to intervene.

"I understand your concerns, my Lady," Sakura interrupted. "But Lady Hyuuga wasn't given the checklist and-"

"That's not a valid reason," Karin snapped, irritated at the mere sight of the rosette. "Do you know who I am? I'll have you know that-"

"That what? You belong to the Uzumaki clan?" Ino rolled her icy blue eyes, and inched closer to Karin. "The rules of the Imperial palace are above you, my Lady."

"Ino. Karin." Naruto said firmly, intervening the argument before it got out of hand.

He could see his cousin's clenched jaw, and knew that she was on the brink of losing her temper. It wouldn't do their reputation good to be involved in such arguments upon their arrival.

"Your Highness," Karin regarded him at once. "Talk some sense into them. This is unreasonable." She eyed Ino who had become silent in her blonde cousin's presence and smiled smugly. "Even a dog knows how to stop barking in front of authority, I see. Typical."

Ino's expression hardened as she was about to snarl at the redhead, but was quickly stopped by Sakura.

"Karin. Just leave, please," Naruto sighed. He knew his cousin was snarky and bad-tempered, has been since she was a child. "I… I'll handle here. I have to show Hinata around, so just go for now."

Karin glared at the blonde woman, looked blankly at the rosette and lastly nodding curtly towards Hinata. "Then, excuse me," she schooled her expression into an impassive mask as she walked out of the building gracefully, her pressed lips the only indication of her irritation.

Sakura immediately bowed. "I'm sorry Your Highness and Hi- Lady Hyuuga had to witness that," she winced. "It's my fault for not making the procedures clear to Lady Uzumaki."

"That's quite alright," Hinata said softly. "I understand."

The blond prince raised a brow at how Hinata's given name almost slipped past Sakura's lips, but didn't comment. "It's nice to see you again, Sakura," he smiled at her and turned to her companion. "Ino."

"Yes, Your Highness," the rosette grinned.

"Your Highness," Ino sighed, before asking worriedly, "Do you think Lady Uzumaki will find a way to punish us?"

"It doesn't matter, Ino, I'll just take the blame. I'm sure Lady Uzumaki isn't so unreasonable. She had a good reason, to be honest." Sakura shook her head. She addressed Hinata and Naruto, "If there is anything else I may of assistance?"

"You're too kind. You really don't belong in the palace, you know." Ino muttered under her breath.

"I'll make sure there's no punishment involved for this," Naruto gave them a smile. "And thank you, I think that's all we need for now. I'll see you all soon. I've got to finish our tour before dinner time."

The two young women bowed. "Be safe on your way, Your Highness. Hinata." Sakura bowed.

"Have fun on your walk!" Ino wiggled her eyebrows, earning her a blush from Hinata and an oblivious Naruto looking at her in question.

.

For the first time since she entered the palace, Sakura really detested the job as a maid. She had never been one to take orders obediently, what with her short temper and whatnot. Even back in the Dragon House, Anko had joked that Sakura acted like her boss instead of it being the other way around. Remembering the purple-haired woman fondly, she made a mental note to visit her as her hands busied with the boiling tea for the guests.

"Sakura! Hurry!" the Head Maid ordered, rushing into the kitchen.

Perhaps she was lucky that she was Sasuke's personal maid on normal days, meaning all her tasks involved only catering to him and thus never much to do except provide him with company.

It was the night of the banquet to welcome the families, and with the amount of people they had to feed, the kitchen had no choice but to request the Princes for their personal maids as well. It was much more tolerable than when she was requested to help the other palace maids the previous day, her task consisting of running around the entire palace grounds and encountering snooty noblewomen.

As it was a request, she was entitled to reject; Sasuke even gave her the choice. When Sakura agreed, he even tried to talk her out of it. To no avail, of course. She told him firmly that she wanted to help, that she felt bad for the Head Maid, who had pleaded her personally.

"Probably should've listened to him," she grumbled inwardly, albeit not fully meaning it. Her mother had always told her to keep that kind heart of hers. Her sister used to echo their mother's words when the older woman wasn't around to say it, 'A rarity like you is much needed in this cold world.'

"Sakura!" the Head Maid screeched again, causing the rosette to wince. So quickly how people changed their attitudes whenever they no longer needed something.

"It's done," Sakura sighed, putting the fan away. She took the hot kettle of chrysanthemum tea and placed it carefully on the first tray alongside many others. "Be careful."

"I'm late, thanks to you! What would they say… Oh, they'll have my head…" the older woman threw a dirty glare at the rosette and rushed out of the kitchen.

"Is she always like that?" Sakura muttered absentmindedly to the other maids around her. Their gazes shifted to her momentarily as a response, but that was it.

Sakura felt out of place, they all had been treating her as if she wasn't there and had even gossiped about her rather rudely. It had been like that since Sasuke took her in; no maids and servants talked to her unless necessary. She had thought that it was because they were intimidated in the beginning, but she grew to learn how wrong she was.

"Look at her thinking she's all that," she heard a whisper from behind her back. It hurt, to know that the people hated her for no apparent reason, solely because they think Prince Sasuke was too good for her to serve.

"She thinks she's too good for this, huh?" another said haughtily.

"Bet you being who she was, that's the reason why he took her in!" Most of the maids who heard the jab snickered not so subtly in response.

Harlot, courtesan, escort, succubus, prostitute, whore.Just another one in the pile. Ignoring the obvious insults thrown at her, she went back to boiling the tea for the feast.

After all, mother always said to be kind.

.

The second largest hall in the whole palace grounds had been set up for the families to have their meals in, sitting along both sides of the carpeted walkway. The Emperor and Empress sat right in front of them, overlooking them from their platform. Servants stood on standby near every families' tables, waiting to serve the nobles whenever required.

The noisy chatter of the families echoed loudly around the hall, the alcohol they downed bringing out their boisterous characters. They were toasting each other, all hostility from the day before had disappeared. The only few sober ones left were General Hiashi and his daughters, Lady Karin and her father Nagato Uzumaki, Danzo, the Aburame Head and a few members of the other clans. Even the Empress Tsunade was nodding off the Emperor's shoulder, a red blush dusting her cheeks.

The servants were busy rushing to clear the empty cups and plates, also bringing refills at top speed. The drunk nobles were impatient people, shouting and slurring for their refills and some even cussing the help for being tardy.

It was needless to say that the servants were having quite the hard time scurrying about, keeping the steady stream of food and alcohol without rest.

Lady Karin watched on in boredom as the men made a fool out of themselves, stringing incoherent sentences. All the Princes were present and they were making small talk with their own clansmen. Some like Kiba and her own cousin, Naruto were sprawled out on the polished marble floor. A full attendance, except for the Prince whose seat was prepared beside hers.

The area, unlike the rest, was empty. Her crimson eyes darted to the entrance every few minutes, waiting for the arrival of that someone she hadn't seen since noon. Her father noticed, and he gave her a strange look. She merely nodded her head and gave him a sweet smile – they didn't have to communicate with words to know what each other were thinking. She schooled her expression back to her usual regal mask as she picked at her food and observed the entrance.

As the doors opened to reveal the very person she had been waiting for, she brightened up quickly, a grin on her lips.

Prince Sasuke trudged his way in, stiffly apologising to a crowd who had already lost their rationality to listen to his reason for his tardiness. He moved to his vacant seat next to the Uzumakis, and sat down on the silk cushion. The servant quickly laid the dishes in front of him and poured a cup of tea when he shook his head to refuse the alcohol.

Karin's eyes had been trained on him ever since he set foot in. In fact, she had been waiting for his arrival all evening. She decided to move herself to sit by him, earning herself a questioning glance from the raven-haired man.

"You seem lonely and my clansmen are drunk," she answered his unvoiced question with a smile. "No one can provide me with an intelligible conversation except you."

"Hn." He begun eating his food in small bites as Karin sat with him in silence, drinking her tea.

"It's been a long time since we sat down and talked properly, haven't we?" she murmured, voice soft and coated in nostalgia.

"Hn."

"You're still the same," she shoved his arm lightly as she always did when they were children, and heard a metallic clang against the marble floor. "What's this?" she asked curiously, picking up the object that had dropped out of Sasuke's sleeve.

Karin was a fan of beautiful jewels and she with her wealth as the daughter of the Uzumaki household, she had a lavish collection of them. The hairpin she held in her hand was gorgeous and if she could, she would add it to her extensive pile. Pink jewels were a rarity that she had seen only once, and owning an accessory with that sort of rare gem would make the other women green with envy.

"This is beautiful, Sasuke," she gasped, ruby eyes admiring the object in awe. "Where did you get this?"

"Found it," he muttered. He didn't know why he hadn't returned it to Sakura yet and kept it on him all that time. Probably just slipped his mind again. Always did.

Karin smiled at him teasingly. "Is this for a special lady?" she asked.

"Maybe," the raven-haired prince smirked back.

Karin's heart jumped in excitement and passed it back to him, who enclosed the hairpin in his palm tenderly and tucked it back into his sleeve. He noted mentally that he should find somewhere else to keep it. The hairpin had dropped out of his sleeve more times than he could count, all very convenient timings too.

"Remember how back when we were kids?" she reminisced, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "We even made a promise of how we would get married when we were older," she said quietly, fidgeting uncharacteristically. "That may have been silly to you, but to me, it meant the world."

He looked slightly taken aback, blinking as he recalled the memory. "It was a childish promise," he muttered. "We thought the world was simple back then."

"If you'll fulfil it then I obviously will too, you know." Karin blurted and quickly turned her head away, covering her reddening face with her long sleeve. "Why don't you enjoy your meal first, before it gets cold."

"… Ah." Sasuke gave his typical mono-syllable response and went on eating without a word, the redheaded woman sitting next to him in a quiet companionship.

As he ate his meal with the rowdy crowd of nobles around him and the redheaded Uzumaki lady beside him, he couldn't help but feel like something was very out of place. Perhaps it was the fact that he was having a meal with so many strangers at once in a dining hall. Or perhaps it was the fact that the shade of red beside him was a tad too dark and conversation a bit too formal then he preferred.

Perhaps.

Upon finishing the last few dishes of his bowl, Karin gathered the courage to bring up the topic once more. "Do you think... Do you think we can go somewhere to talk? Without anybody else?"

Sasuke regarded her coolly for a moment before letting his gaze sweep across the hall before sighing. "We can go to my quarters."

.

The table was easily prepared with snacks and desserts after a simple word from the Fourth Prince to the kitchen. The pair sat in the hall of Sasuke's vast quarters, settling comfortably. Their conversation started out slightly awkward, with Sasuke unsure on how to react and Karin alternating between formal and informal mannerisms.

But before they knew it, they easily slipped into their old childhood routine of her telling her elaborate stories and him giving her his reactions and inputs. Karin smiled wistfully at their familiar and comfortable camaraderie, saddened at how their status had changed so much. Once upon a time it was him pining after her, and now it was her who would have to wait for him to look her way.

"Why don't we have some tea?" Karin suggested upon noticing they had unknowingly emptied the plates sitting in between them.

"Ah," Sasuke responded. He called for a maid, and the Head Maid made her appearance. "Could you get us some tea? White jasmine for her, and the usual for me."

"You remember," the Uzumaki heiress grinned breathlessly, her heart beating wildly in her chest. It touched her that he remembered all these small quirks, be it on purpose or not.

"Hn. You were very vocal about it when we were younger." He reminisced fondly, making her laugh.

After a while though, her expression sobered as crimson clashed with onyx seriously. "I wasn't just saying it for fun just now, you know," she muttered. "I meant it. If you are willing to go through it, so am I."

Sasuke raised a brow. "Why?"

"I've always been by your side, and you know it," she said shyly, a small smile on her painted coral lips. "If we were to get married, you can get the Uzumaki to fully support you too. You can be the Emperor, Sasuke. You've always strived for the best, and I believe you can win this too."

The raven-haired prince was silent for a moment. Being Emperor was what he had come to the palace for, but his road hadn't been as easy as the others. With no last name supporting him, he had to overcome double, even triple, the struggles others did.

When he first entered the palace, he had a burning determination to win. For a child who had nothing, the throne was quite a big deal. Although over the years, he had never admitted it but he had felt his desire for the seat waning and that it didn't really matter if he got it or not. Ever since then, he treated the competition as a mere responsibility, it had after all always been his principle to work his hardest and be the best.

However, just recently, there had been a slight unnoticeable shift in his aspirations. He couldn't put a finger on what exactly he wanted yet, but he knew that the bland obligation had changed into something more.

"Aren't you on Naruto's side?" he crossed his arms, leaning back against his seat. "Uzumaki, and all."

Karin chuckled, shaking her head, her crimson red tresses tumbling past her shoulders in loose waves. "If Naruto were Emperor… I can't even begin to imagine. In the end though, I'm still just another noble woman." She said slowly, still meeting his eyes.

She had decided to lay her cards on the table. It was a bold but risky move, it would either get Sasuke to agree or disagree with her and based on her knowledge of Sasuke, she was betting on him agreeing. He was not an idealist; he played on possibilities and was always one to go for ambitions.

Simply put, she was telling him one thing: The Empress' seat was her goal.

"You're thinking quite far," he stated, smirking. He was being prideful now, she could feel it. Meanwhile, he, on the other hand, realised Karin hadn't changed much – she was still as ambitious as ever.

"What better person than the one who knows you best right?" she continued, placing her chin in her palm. Before Sasuke could continue, there was a slight knock and the door slid open to reveal his rose-haired maid.

"Tea is served," she bowed, placing the tray in front of them.

Karin noticed his jaw tense, his previous air of pride gone. While most people would not have noticed the little changes, she wasn't most people. She knew him very well, picking up on his habits ever since they were children. It wasn't hard for her to figure out that he was suddenly contemplating, and the reason most probably being the maid that was pouring their cups of tea.

"Is there anything else you need, Your Highness, Lady Uzumaki?" Sakura's soft voice asked, head still lowered and her pale pink hair covering her face.

"No," he murmured. "You are dismissed." She nodded and left the room.

Karin felt a discomfort settle in her stomach. She was a perfectionist; she didn't like the prospect of things failing before starting. She picked up her tea and downed it, pouring another cup and repeating. Her fists were clenched tightly, but she made sure to keep her composure and her neutral mask. It wouldn't do her good to throw a fit when everything was yet to be confirmed.

Finally, the raven-haired prince turned towards his companion. "I will consider your proposal, Karin."

"What?" she asked in disbelief at his sudden consideration.

"I'll have to say," he crossed his arms. "Your ideals are impressive, I'll give you that."

Karin grinned. "You'll take this throne competition seriously, won't you?"

"I don't do things halfway," he said arrogantly.

Her ruby eyes gleamed. "So you'll really consider a union between us?"

"Hn."

"That would be wonderful and I- guhh!"

Coughing and clutching her stomach, the Uzumaki heiress' expression suddenly contorted into one of pain. The tea cup slipped from her fingers and crashed as tea and glass littered the polished floor.

Her coughs turned into gurgles as she attempted to cry and she fell of the chair and crumpled onto the floor. Her long red hair was sprawled around her like a fan, her breath drawing out in long pants as cold sweat beaded her forehead.

Sasuke cussed under his breath, hurriedly scrambling to his feet. "Get someone in here!" he shouted towards the door.

"H-help me..." she spluttered, reaching a hand out towards Sasuke feebly.

"Karin!" he quickly rushed over to help her.

He held her in his arms as he shouted out for the servants again, the urgency in his tone clearer than before. As the doors burst open and the servants rushed to their side in panic, he looked down to see the crimson-haired woman's eyelids flutter shut, a stream of blood trickling from the corner of her pale lips, falling unconscious.

Author's Note:

In case the timeline seems to be confusing, allow me to clear it up. The drama in the beginning of this chapter happens on the first day, a continuous of Ino and Sakura meeting Hinata from the previous chapter. Everything else happens the next day.

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