Title: The Secret Kingdom

Summary: AU Sakura wants answers. Naruto wants to be recognized by his people. Sasuke wants...something. Will they get all that they want and more in a magical kingdom torn by war?

Pairings: SakuraxSasuke, slight NarutoxSakura

Disclaimer: I agreed not to buy Naruto this week because I saw Kishimoto-san's Name and I saw it was really good. But if there's no SasuSaku interaction soon, I'm going to try to buy it again.

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Chapter 10: The Line That Slowly Disappears

From the center of the Osume lands, the scenery gradually changes from the barren dusty rocky soils to some semblance of greenery. Everyday, Osume and Ilasu would go out the break of dawn and begin their labor of growing food demands of the city's inhabitants. Everyday, wagons would arrive and take the produce and return to the city.

This day, however, something new surprised the farmers as they saw something different entered their area. A carriage was traveling down the dusty path, and unlike the carriages in the human world, it was drawn by magic. The villagers recognized the emblem on the carriage as they paused from their work and gaped at the novelty.

Inside the carriage, someone else was as mesmerized at the new scenery.

"Are you well?" Ino smiled at the pink-haired girl who looks almost dazed as she peered through the curtains.

Sakura nodded, breathing in deeply. She could feel the plants around her, and it felt as if she was becoming full after a long time without meals.

"Satisfied?" She heard Sasuke asked impatiently beside her.

Shaking her head, she opened her eyes and stared outside again. "I want to stop here."

"It's dangerous." He muttered in reply, but Sakura glared at him. "Fine. Stop!"

When the carriage stopped, Sakura jumped out and was surprised at the crowd that has gathered around them.

"Hi." She greeted sheepishly.

The Osume and Ilasu just stared at her curiously, but as Sasuke stepped down of the carriage, they suddenly bowed, noses almost touching the ground.

"You may stand." Sasuke said nonchalantly, and they all smiled.

An old Osume stepped forward, and gave another bow. "Welcome, Your Highness. To what pleasure do we owe your visit?"

Sasuke placed his hand on the nervous Sakura's head. "She wants to see the lands."

The villagers looked at her in surprise and started whispering excitedly. A little Ilasu child approached them and shyly handed Sakura an apple.

In surprise, Sakura knelt and accepted the gift with a smile. "Thank you."

The child grinned and ran to a woman who should be his mother, and the crowds faces looked happy.

"Looks like they approve of the Prince's fiancée." Ino whispered.

Sakura blushed furiously. "I haven't said I fine with that." She muttered.

"Yeah, right!" Ino laughed.

Sakura looked at Sasuke who was flanked by villagers who greeted him with enthusiasm. She could see a contented smile in his face. "The people here really like him." Sakura felt her heart thumping and looked around. "The homes here look much more beautiful than most of the houses in the city."

"It was Prince Sasuke's idea." Choji spoke between munches. "He passed a law to give higher incomes and benefits to the farmers."

"He did?" Sakura's gaze didn't leave the prince. "I never thought that he was a good leader."

Shikamaru shrugged. "His Highness gave importance to the farmers, he calls them the saviors of Oto. In a way, they are. He doesn't show it much, but he is really good person. Even though he is a royal pure blood Osume, he hardly uses Vocal Authority. He is a firm believer of free will. It's a good thing he is, can you imagine how troublesome it would be if he controls everything?"

"Satisfied?" Sasuke asked her.

Nodding shyly, she accepted his hand as he helped her back, her cheeks red.

"Let her go!" A voice had them looking back.

Sakura's heart gave a leap. "Naruto!"

Naruto and the rest of the team stood behind him.

"So much for sneaking in." Jiraiya muttered, sarcastically.

"Teme! Let Sakura-chan go!"

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura stammered as he pushed her behind him.

"She is safer here, go home, Dobe." The prince glared back.

Naruto clenched his fists. "I'm not leaving without, Sakura." He quickly launched forward, but before Sasuke could move, several spells stopped the blond.

"What the hell?!" Naruto looked surprised as he saw the villagers glaring at him angrily.

"You will not harm His Highness!" One villager yelled and the rest nodded in agreement.

Jiraiya looked nervously at the crowd. "We better retreat, Naruto. We are outnumbered."

"We already know that!" Naruto yelled back. "But that doesn't mean we're giving up!"

"I agree with Naruto." Haku stepped forward. "We knew that this will not be easy. We are prepared to fight."

"I'm not giving up saving my cousin, either." Temari grinned, releasing the large fan from her back.

Sakura gasped. Did the woman just call her her cousin?

Naruto's team looked ready to attack, but so did the villagers.

Sakura grasped Sasuke's shirt tightly. "Please, don't fight!"

"Stand back!" Sasuke moved forward, parting from Sakura. "I will fight one of you alone, is I win, all of you will leave, If I lose, Sakura is free to choose to stay or go with you."

Naruto nodded despite protests from his companions, the two males moved to the middle.

Sakura looked at them with anxiety. This was her first friend and the person who kidnapped her who was fighting, it was obvious what side she should choose. But during her stay with Sasuke, she saw a good heart in him, and Sakura is no longer sure who to believe. Sasuke says that Konoha is dangerous, but is it really true?

Naruto summoned a clone and formed an energy sphere in his hand, Likewise, Sasuke released electricity from his palm.

As the spectators anxiously waited for the outcome of the battle, Sakura knew that she didn't want to see anyone get hurt. She ran forward.

"Stop!" As she yelled, Sakura felt a surge of power from her.

Naruto stopped midair, but the sphere in his hand was falling in the direction of the villagers. Likewise, Sasuke was coming closer, unable to stop his attack...

In a blink of a second, vines sprouted and were distinguished by Naruto's sphere while a silver haired man redirected the technique.

"Kakashi-san!" Sakura was relieved at the timely arrival of Sasuke's tutor. She placed her hand down, realizing that she asked the plants to shield the villagers. And she had also stopped Naruto with a command.

"What are you doing?!" Sasuke demanded.

"This is not the time for this." Kakashi replied calmly. "Orochimaru has taken the army to attack Konoha."

"What?!" Several voices joined Sasuke.

Seeing the look on Sasuke's face, Sakura asked him. "You don't want to attack Konoha?"

Sasuke shook his head. "I want to avoid a war."

Jiraiya looked confused, as well. "You did not authorize a war?"

Nodding, Sasuke clenched his fists. "That bastard, Orochimaru."

"Sasuke-kun. You can stop them."

"Sakura-chan, don't reason with that Teme!" Naruto told her. "He's an Osume."

Sakura shook her head. "I know you, Naruto and I know him, and all the other Osume, and they are not as bad as you say they are."

Looking at her, Sasuke nodded in determination. "I will go and stop them."

"No way are we relying on an Osume's help to save our village!" Kiba yelled.

"That's it!" Ino was restrained by her friends. "I have enough of your insults!"

Sakura looked at Naruto's group. "Naruto must have told you about me. Please, these are good people. I don't know much about Konoha yet. But I want to protect it too. To do that, everyone here must work together."

There was flinching at both sides.

"Please." Sakura repeated.

This is shorter than my usual chapters, it's because this was originally part of the previous chapter. And I'm just lacking inspiration today.

And, yes, I'm making this into a Sasusaku story, officially.

I thought I would be okay now that the bulk of my school projects is done. Instead, so many plot bunnies are invading my head, it's hard to concentrate my muses.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter too.

Thank you for the reviews!

Laliz, blooming flower08, Icecream Skittles Addict, sasusaku-fanXD, What-We-Call-A-TrAgEdY, pilpols and ari insane.

You guys inspire me to keep on going.

Thoughts to ponder:

Will there be an alliance between the Osume, Ilasu and Nobles?

What is Orochimaru planning?

What is the danger awaiting Sakura in Konoha?

Important note: I have a field trip next weekend, so I won't be updating until Saturday or Sunday.

Until next time,

Chantrea Moonbeam