Hello! Thank you for giving this story a chance!
I don't own anything but the plot..
Rated M for mature
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Sakura has grown up under the control of Madara, acting as his ward until she turns 20. After learning Madara plans on selling her to the highest bidder, she soon finds herself caught in a situation she never thought she'd see herself in.
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"Now we've been over this, Sakura. Many times actually. If I have to-"
"I know. I know. It's just a stupid dream, I won't bring it up again."
"Good. Now I have matters of my own to attend to. I expect you to be well behaved for my dinner I'm hosting tonight. Not a thing out of place or.. Well I'm sure you know my threats by now." This dark haired man says as he looks down his nose at me. I fidget slightly in the chair in front of his desk before nodding silently and removing myself from this dark room.
Once my feet hit the long hallway and the door shuts behind me, I basically run towards my room. Through the disgustingly lavish corridors and dim light that finds a way through the slits of the shutters.
Finally arriving outside of the carved door that constantly acts as my barrier from everything going on outside, I sigh heavily before turning the handle and stepping inside of the light room. The warm lights on each wall definitely give an alternate feeling to the dark that surrounds this place.
I glance around before turning the lock on my door, gritting my teeth and sliding down the cold dark wood.
This is dumb. This whole place. This whole situation.
"Ugh!" I yell out loudly to no one listening. My frustration and anger bubbling under my skin as my eyes look out of the windows on the far wall.
The same dim sunlight trying to force its way through the cracks, causing this room to look like a prison.
I grumble out obscenities that I've learned from obviously spending too much time with the housekeeper before tying my long hair back into a loose bun as I go to stand.
I move silently to my window and throw the curtains back, letting the sunlight break through the bars that are kept over the outside of the glass.
The light cascading on my face alleviates some of the anger, but opening my eyes to see bars only ignites it again.
"Stupid. This is all stupid!" I scream out before punching the wall next to the glass. I hear a noise to my right causing me to jump slightly as my lady's maid enters slowly, eying the spot I just cracked.
"Miss-"
"Sorry, Hinata. I didn't mean to be so loud." I say as the dark haired woman walks in from the side door of my room. Her lavender eyes won't exactly meet mine as she stands in front of me, her dress slightly dirty at the bottom causing my eyebrow to raise. She only ever goes to town if He has her get something for me personally.
I roll my eyes before following a beam of light cascading through the dust floating through the air, the sun warms my skin but only makes me curse internally at my position.
"Where did he have you go today?" I ask nonchalantly as I glance once more at the countryside just beckoning me to run through it and escape. To get away from this place and that man.
"Oh.. Uhm.. He had me go to town to fetch your dress for tonight. Is everything alright?" She asks, her quiet voice pulling me away from the sun as I go to sit on my trunk in front of my bed.
I don't answer immediately, knowing how my temper is and not wanting to make her day any harder.
"I'm just so tired of this. I'm 20 for gods sake! I don't need a guardian, and he's not even my uncle! I just want to travel and go where I want." I say, playing with the hem of my light blue dress. The white threads starting to come undone under my fingertips as my nails pull at the loose strings.
"But lord Madara is only looking for your best interest. Should I draw a bath? Some fruit?" Hinata asks as she stops about a foot away from me, waiting for an order that just won't come.
"I-.. I think I just need some fresh air. Would you accompany me outside? So his royal highness doesn't throw a tantrum." I grumble out, slipping on my flats and moving towards the locked door to my room. Hinata nods quietly and follows me through the halls until we reach the glass doors that lead to the garden behind this monstrous building.
"What I wouldn't give just to go outside those walls on my own. Just for an hour." I mumble, turning the handle and smiling as the sun hits my skin. No bars blocking the light and no shutters to keep me trapped.
"I.. yes ma'am." The dark haired woman says, folding her hands in front of her as we walk out onto the bright green grass. I shake my head slightly at her bland response, but I also know she doesn't want to get into trouble for pushing me on to escape.
It's not that I'm ungrateful for my situation, I'm not foolish enough to believe I have it worse than most. It's just.. spending all 20 years inside the same walls only seeing the same few people every day just tends to wear you out. No love interest, no parties outside the walls, no walks through the town. Only Madara and the people he hired to watch over us and serve us.
It's only my guardian and myself that live here, with thirteen dark rooms and 66 acres behind stone walls. I've walked every inch of every foot of this whole property with no hope of ever seeing beyond. The only interaction being with the maids and few butlers that I'm allowed to talk to.
The sky is a bright blue with random clouds moving slowly, there's a slight breeze moving the trees and the fresh air fills my lungs. I walk ahead some before throwing myself down onto the grass. I breathe in, almost greedy for the freshness of it all, glancing briefly at Hinata as she keeps her head down next to me.
"You know you don't have to act that way around me. He can't hear us and I doubt he's looking out his window." I say, causing her to look at me and behind us before following suit and sitting down next to me, smiling slightly at the sun on her face.
"I just forget most of the time. Being here so long really narrows your mindset after a while. What did you ask him anyways?" She asks, glancing at me as I lay back onto the ground. Her changed demeanor definitely making it easier to talk about everything.
"I wanted to go into town. I'm getting restless, Hinata. I'm getting older and soon I'll be too old to find someone to love. I feel my life slipping through my hands every day.
Every day doing the same things. I don't meet anyone outside of the staff, and his dinners rarely have anyone but his business partners." I finish as my eyes focus on some sort of bug flying above us, not a butterfly but..
"It's a dragon fly! It's a sign!" I almost yell out as I quickly stand and watch the thing dip in the air, it's beautiful blues and greens reflecting the sunlight. It hovers for a minute before flying higher and zipping away.
"I feel I should tell you.." Hinata says next to me, having gotten to her feet as well. I look over curiously as she won't meet my eyes.
"Am I missing something?" I ask, my green eyes flicking back to the dragon fly as it flies around us silently.
"The dinner being held tonight... It's for.. Well it's for Lord Madara to find a.. Business partner.." She stutters and mumbles, causing me to roll my eyes.
"What is it, Hinata? I won't tell." I say, looking back at the windows behind us cautiously. It's not like Madara would do anything to her, but I'd rather not have Hinata fired from her position for telling me things I'm not supposed to know.
"He's holding a dinner to see who will offer the most for.. Well for you." She says, looking up briefly at me as my breath catches in my throat. My sea foam eyes meeting her pale almost lilac ones, the air around us slowly going thick.
"Excuse me?" I say, only feeling shock rush through me at the thought of basically being sold like cattle.
"Lord Madara, he's invited many of the sons of other lords in the different nearby towns. He's trying to make a deal with another lord and.. He thinks you're old enough to safely sell off. I was told I'd be going with you to whichever man offered the most.. I'm sorry.." She finishes quietly, lowering her head as my blood starts to boil yet again.
"Selling me off? Seriously? No! I'm not a piece of property!" I start loudly, causing the dragon fly to zip away from us as I keep my eyes on the dark haired woman.
"Hinata, was he even going to tell me before hand? Or just throw me to the wolves over a dinner?" I ask, lowering my voice some as realization starts setting in. If that is what he's planning, there's not much I can do about it.
"I... I don't know. He didn't say. He just said I needed to make sure you were presentable." She says, keeping her head low as I go quiet. What can I even do in a situation that I have no control over? Even if I walk in screaming it's not going to change anything.
I sigh loudly and rub my hands over my face as I glare at the ground. Not even the warmth of the sun can lighten this feeling coursing through me.
"Miss... I'm sorry. We should probably head back so I can start getting you ready." Hinata says, lightly setting her hand on my arm covering my face. I nod numbly before turning and heading back towards the doors, we walk silently back to my room as my head starts swimming with different ideas to counter this whole situation.
My only option at the moment is to go along with it and be sold off or try to fight him and mysteriously go missing.
"I can't do this. I can't be sold off to whoever has the most to bid. I.." I start as my door slowly shuts, I glance to my right at the writing desk near my door and the scissors that are splayed out over a book. I can feel my adrenaline pick up slightly as I walk over silently and grab the scissors, I quickly untie my hair and grab a handful before bringing the scissors and-
"My lady-!" Hinata starts as she sees my intention of cutting my waist length hair off at my shoulders. Times are changing but women are supposed to be pretty and nice to look at, at least if I cut it off there's more of a-
"Ah. I wouldn't do that." I suddenly hear next to my ear as a large hand engulfs mine, successfully halting my movement.
"Leave us, Hinata." Madara says, still close to my head as she nods and exits my room quickly. The only sound being the door locking behind me as he still has ahold of my wrist. I'm quickly turned with his face inches from mine as he almost glares at me.
"You should know by now to listen to what I say. This isn't up for discussion, and you will behave." He says before yanking me forward into his black button up shirt, the material soft against my cheek as my breath catches in my throat.
"You will do as I say, or you will stay here for the entirety of your short life. Do not test me or you will be signing marriage papers with my name on them." He says against the shell of my ear before snatching the scissors from me and exiting the room quickly.
My body is frozen in place as everything falls into place in my mind.
The only way out is through whoever has the most money to put up.
—
The sun is starting to set as people start arriving at the Uchiha mansion, lights adorning every inch with servers and other maids welcoming each guest as they enter the giant doorway. Many of the guests having to travel from outside countries, bringing their own staff to cater to them while staying this far out of town.
The housekeeper is watching every inch of the party, her dirty blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun as her honey eyes move freely to each corner of the room. Assessing each person wondering through the home, while also watching as a head of pink makes a beeline for the front causing her to scoff.
"Sakura." She hisses quietly as her hand catches the younger girl's wrist, her bright sea foam eyes glaring at her plan being dismantled before it even began.
"Lady Tsunade." She says as her eyes shift away, finally beginning to take in the different groups of men walking through the usually dormant house.
The pinkette's long maroon dress almost takes her breath away with how tightly it was laced, the front framing her bust with black lace in a sweetheart neckline and the skirt blooming out at her hips and fanning out around her heals. The almost velvet material causes her pale skin to have a glow to it in the different lighting all around her. Her face was left bare except for the winged eyeliner and mascara that Hinata had carefully applied to bring her eyes out.
"Don't run from this you foolish girl. You've always wanted opportunities like other ladies out there, well this is your chance. Go find a man you like and he will bid until you are his. Now shoo. And I better not catch you trying to run again." Tsunade whispers as she pulls the younger girl back inside and leads her towards the ballroom where music is bellowing out over the crowd of people.
Her feet stop quickly as her eyes take in everything around her, the sounds of multiple groups talking echoing through the large room.
There are men in different kinds of suits she's never seen, and few women in long extravagant dresses standing around older men. The chatter almost deafening as she takes a step into the warm lighted room.
'So much for escaping on my own..' She thinks as her eyes wash over the younger men who are talking with others as drinks are sipped on. She takes a few more steps through the crowd, thankfully being overlooked to her comfort. She breathes out once before turning quickly and trying to exit the large room, successfully bumping into a large figure standing in her pathway.
"I'm so sorry!" She says as her eyes fall onto a man with golden eyes, his red hair slightly messy on the top with shorter pieces around the sides.
"Now why would you be trying to run from a party like this, little girl." He almost purrs out, his expression resembling one of those pictures of cats from Egypt that she's read about. His height and structure make her pause for a second, her stomach flipping once before she composes herself and glances around. Her busy mind missing the last part of his sentence.
"Parties like this just seem unnecessary. How would a host ever be able to interact with every person?" She says as her eyes land back on his briefly as she steps back, almost wanting to make another beeline for the door.
The man makes a noise resembling a chuckle as he nods, seemingly in agreement as he looks around them.
"A very interesting thought, but I highly doubt the point of these parties is to actually interact with each person. I think there is a reason behind having so many from different walks of life." He says, watching the girl as she is staring hopelessly at the front door. He takes the brief silence and her aloofness as an opportunity to try and figure out who this strange girl is.
Her appearance is very different from women he had seen before, her light pink hair being the main difference. Her long hair is curled and hangs around her slim waist, part of it is pulled back with bangs framing her small face.
His eyes follow her tinted cheeks up to her pale green eyes, currently staring off into the outside world.
He hums almost silently at her strange beauty while noting her difference to the other women he's had to meet, most of them being a boring shell of a woman with no interesting factors to bring anyone in.
He catches himself staring at the curve of her chin, her mouth slightly off center as she chews the inside of her cheek. Her pale skin beautiful in contrast to the deep maroon dress clinging tightly to her figure, the front dipping pleasingly low. She seems very exotic for this part of the country, not the typical blonde or brunette that he usually happens across.
"Would you like to accompany me outside?" He says suddenly, his nonchalant tone bringing her beautiful bright eyes back to his briefly. She looks him over hesitantly, not exactly knowing how to respond to a stranger asking her to walk with him. Especially a stranger as handsome as this one, his whole being seeming to be out of place from the men who were crowding this room.
"I don't even know who you are, wouldn't that seem foolish of me to accompany a man I've never met away from the party?" She counters, her eyes watching his for a response.
He chuckles lightly as he nods once, looking around them before turning and putting his arm out for her to grab.
"Another very intriguing response, I am Sasori of Suna. Lord of the sand." He says causing her to pause before finally grabbing ahold of his arm and following his steps through the hoard of people surrounding them. His height makes her feel smaller than usual as they walk through the doors and towards the path that leads all the way around the building.
She allows her eyes to wash over his appearance briefly, his tall stature and lean build perfectly fitted into a dark red shirt covered with a black coat. His matching red hair is almost messy but doesn't seem to move from its position, honey eyes glance at her suddenly causing her to avert her eyes back to the path in front of them.
"So what brings you this far from Suna?" She asks as they continue a slow pace on the concrete, slowly hearing the music fade as they walk away from the front of the house.
"A business endeavor I was signed up for without my knowledge." He responds shortly as his eyes watch the woman next to him looking out over the hills behind the property. The moonlight illuminates her features beautifully as they walk slowly towards what he assumes is a garden.
It wasn't that he didn't want to leave Suna, it's just throwing a party to sell off a daughter seems quite... distasteful in his opinion. Especially a daughter no one has actually seen, there are rumors of what she looks like but they range from horribly disfigured to an angel descended from heaven itself. He only hopes for an easy night that he can just leave and return home without any issues, not necessarily in the mood for anything outrageous.
Her soft voice pulls him from his thoughts, his eyes back on her petit face.
"It seems we are here with the same reason then." She says sighing, causing him to pause briefly out of almost shock.
Would Lord Uchiha really reach out for ladies as well to marry his daughter? Not that he believed people shouldn't live how they like, but the older gentleman didn't exactly seem like the open minded type. But money is money in the end he supposed.
"Hm, where do you usually reside?" He asks as they continue their slow paced stroll through different flowers and bushes on either side of the concrete. His interest even more piqued at this woman walking with him.
"Oh.. Here and there." She responds quietly, causing his eyebrow to raise at the small woman. Her dress and jewelry not resembling that of the traveling ladies he's seen before, if he had to guess she was no more than 20 and with no man escorting her around that would leave her unmarried.
"Not exactly an answer if I do say so myself. Very cynical." He says as she glances to the side, something not seeming to add up about this beautiful girl.
"A lady never reveals all of her secretes, lord Sasori." She says coyly as her eyes dart to his, something akin to sarcasm sparkling in them.
How interesting, his mind mulls over her response as they slowly come to a stop by a concrete bench to their right.
"Quite the answer. Now what would a lady as intriguing as yourself have to hide?" He counters as he motions for her to sit, she follows the direction and sits with her posture not as uptight as most women he's encountered which only ebbs his curiosity further.
"Well I can tell you I am surely not as intriguing as you are led to believe." She says as she leans back on her hands on the large piece of stone, her eyes looking up at the moon above them.
She really was a kind of beauty he hasn't seen before, which is only intriguing him more.
"I would beg to differ, lady.." He starts before a young dark haired woman approaches them, her eyes stuck to the ground as she speaks.
"Miss Sakura, you are being summoned by Lord Uchiha." She says causing the pinkette to sigh loudly before getting up and glancing at the red headed man once more.
"It was lovely to meet you, perhaps I will run into you later." She says before nodding her head and walking away behind the maid.
Sakura..? Isn't that..
His stomach actually shifts at the realization at who this young woman was. His previous thoughts of indifference to the invitation to this gathering quickly changing.