Back at it again with another chapter! Hope you enjoy. I do not own Naruto.

Somewhere outside the Konoha Castle

Four young men sit around a campfire deep in the woods outside the castle. "It's been a while since Tenten went into the castle. I wonder what's taking her so long." Rock Lee says as he stares at the fire. "Nah it hasn't been that long." Kiba drawls as he writes a letter.

Suigetsu's eyebrow twitches and he exclaims, "IT'S BEEN A WHOLE DAY! I MEAN HOW LONG DOES IT ACTUALLY TAKE TO GO TO THE DUNGEONS?" He turns to Naruto, who furrows his brows deep in thought. "Well? Mr. Leader? Do you have any idea?"

Naruto doesn't answer right away as he fiddled with a dry twig. Suigetsu continues to get impatient. But right before another outburst from him, Naruto speaks. "You're right. It shouldn't take that long."

All eyes focus on him in shock. Rock Lee is the first to speak. "What could possibly be holding her back?" The four young men look at the fire. "Clearly there was some kind of complication." Naruto continues.

"Maybe she was caught?" Rock Lee asks. Suigetsu clenches his fists. "Nah Tenten wouldn't get caught." Kiba says lazily. Suigetsu's face gets redder in fury and turns to Kiba, "BUT WHAT IF SHE DID?" Kiba looks at him in shock but he continues.

"Why did we even come up with this stupid plan anyways? Now we lost two companions!" He punches the ground in anger. "Woah man, relax. We can talk about this." Kiba says fearfully. Suigetsu tackles him to the ground. Rock Lee and Naruto rush to pull him off of him. "Hey, fighting will not get them back. Let's figure out a way to save them. Okay buddy?" Naruto looks him in the eyes and lets go of him. Suigetsu's shoulders sag and he nods. They all know how protective he gets of Tenten.

Sitting back down, Naruto speaks again. "Now if we are to save Sakura and Tenten, we will need to infiltrate the castle."

"But isn't that how Tenten got caught?" Suigetsu asks.

Naruto nods and says, "Back in town, I overheard a couple talking about an engagement party being hosted today. I propose we slip in as party guests."

Karin's Quarters, Konoha Castle

The red-headed princess stands in front of a mirror as her maid brushes her hair.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

She turns to her maid, Tamaki, and says "Could you get that for me?" Tamaki nods and answers the door. Following behind her was the Queen of Sound herself, Mikoto Uchiha. "That's alright Tamaki-dear. I will take over." She says as she grabs the brush from her. Tamaki leaves.

Mikoto walks over to Karin, who stands in front of the mirror. Karin turns but Mikoto silences her before she can speak. "Don't worry a thing in your pretty head dear, today is your day." She says as she brushes the long crimson locks.

Karin scoffs, "I know that." But Mikoto observes her eyes darken through the mirror as she says it.

"But. Did you ever feel unsure?" Karin asks. Mikoto smiles and says gleefully. "I was marrying the man I loved, I felt blessed." Karin's eyes are downcast but do not go unnoticed by the older woman.

Karin shakes her head and smiles joyfully. "I do feel blessed." Mikoto claps her hands and says. "I am so glad. Now let's find you a perfect dress." She walks over to the armoire and skims through the dresses. She pulls out a floor-length gown that was the color of midnight with red ties along the bust. She hands it to Karin, and bids her to put it on.

Karin hesitates. "Umm, could you turn around?" She says, not wanting her mother-in-law to find out her secret. Mikoto agrees, but is a bit unnerved by her hesitation.

Mikoto turns around as Karin undresses, but notices a metallic plate lying haphazardly against the armoire. Karin's reflection prominent in it and Mikoto wants to shift her eyes away but something catches it.

Her eyes widen in realization and she turns around and grabs Karin's hand. "My Dear! What is that on your leg?" She asks worriedly.

Karin fumbles to cover her legs and mumbles a "Nothing."

"Nothing? I clearly saw something!" She says as she lifts the dress. Karin quickly covers it.

"I said it's nothing! Now please leave. I can dress myself." Karin angrily retorts.

For the first time ever, Mikoto truly looks at her soon-to-be daughter-in-law for who she is, and not who she appears to be. She knows very well what is on her legs. She has seen it before.

Standing in front of her is a young girl who is confused and scared.

Mikoto puts a hand on Karin's shoulder and looks her deeply in the eyes. "I see your pain."

Karin's eyes widen and she tries shakes her off but it's no use. "You don't understand." She grits out with tears forming in her eyes. "You're right." Mikoto replies.

"How long has this been going on?" She asks.

Karin hesitates to answer, but Mikoto holds her gaze. "I was thirteen when I first started. It was the day I found out I was the next heir."

"But don't you want to rule Fire?" Mikoto asks.

Karin lets go of a breath she didn't know she was holding, and says. "I don't know what I want."

Karin breaks down crying, and Mikoto pulls her into a hug. She rubs her back soothingly, and whispers to her. "I hope one day you find what you truly want."

Konoha Castle

The castle was in full party prep mode for the engagement soon to start. Maids bustled around hurriedly with baskets of linen for the guest rooms while cooks prepared meals fit for kings. The dining hall was decked out with the fanciest silver-ware, and the silkiest table cloth. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, sporting gold and gemstones.

Guests were already mingling in the ballroom, each holding goblets of ale and wine. Kings mingled with other kings and queens. Kings mingled with common people. Common people mingled with kings. As they did with common people. Courtesans were hooked on the arms of queen-less kings. Courtesy of the Fire kingdom. Take the King of Wind, Gaara, who was conversing with Shikamaru, the advisor of Fire, and Temari, the advisor's wife and his older sister. A pretty brunette courtesan hooked on his arm, occasionally jibbed which made the king chuckle.

The four outcasts walked in, dressed in fancy garb. "Let's split up to look for her. And remember, act cool." Naruto says to his companions. They go off in different directions. Naruto walks up to a group and joins the conversation. He chuckles when the others chuckle, and becomes more confident to crack his own jokes.

Kiba finds the nearest exit to begin looking for the dungeons, because he thinks that may be where his companions are. He turns into a dark corner of a corridor and someone puts a hand over his eyes and says sweetly, "Guess who?"

Kiba's cheeks warm as he recognizes the voice. "My darling?" He says.

The voice giggles, and he turns around. "Tamaki. I have missed you!" He says as he embraces her.

"I have missed you too, Kiba." She says and kisses him senseless.

Kiba is dazed afterward, and doesn't remember why he's in the castle.

Tamaki smirks at Kiba devilishly. "It has been too long since we have been together. Let's make up for lost time." She grabs his hand, and pulls him with her.

Oh boy, does he know what that means. "I agree Tamaki, it has been too long." He smirks as she pulls in into a random room. The sounds of a door shutting and locking are swallowed by the sounds of the party.

Down the hall, a pale king wanders away from the party. He does not do well in social gatherings, because he does not understand them. This king never learned social cues when he grew up isolated in his castle.

Sai looks at the walls and thinks, 'These walls are bare, with no paintings.' He turns a corner and is greeted by bright sunshine flooding in from an open door. He steps outside and see's fields of flowers of all kinds.

His mouth opens and closes, and then opens again. "Breath-taking. So these are flowers…" He says to himself. He steps forward and walks through the fields, careful not to step on any.

He squats down and puts the petals of a flower between his fingers. 'So soft.' He muses. He leans over to smell it and enjoys the floral scent. 'Maybe I should get back to the party before the engagement starts.' He thinks as he stands.

Back in the ballroom, Suigetsu converses with a common couple as he holds a goblet of ale in his hand. Laughing at a joke, he holds his stomach with his other hand.

Just before he is about to retort, a hush falls over the crowd in the ballroom and everyone directs their attention to the top of the stairs. He looks over as a beautiful woman descends the stairs in a midnight blue gown. Her crimson hair flowing behind her. He hears whispers of "Princess Karin." And "That's Princess Karin." But he thinks nothing of it.

In a far corner of the ballroom, Rock Lee looks at the Princess. Suddenly he feels a tug on his arm and turns around. 'That girl I met in town, Ami.' She smiles at him and hands him a goblet of wine. "I knew I would see you again." She says. Her eyes glistening, and Rock Lee smiles down at her.

He grabs her hand and kisses it. "It is my pleasure to see you again, Ami." She covers her blush with her hand.

-Back to Suigetsu-

When the crowd resumes their noise, Suigetsu continues to chat with the common couple. "Excuse me, I need a refill." He says to them before leaving them. He walks to a passing servant with a pitcher of ale and asks for a refill. The servant complies.

He turns around to go back to the couple but knocks into someone. This causes the person to drop their goblet, shattering it on the floor. Servants are quick to clean it. He looks up at the person to see the woman from the staircase. Her ruby eyes sparkling and he is at loss for words. Well, until she speaks.

"Be careful you fool! You could've spilled it all over my dress!" She says angrily. Suigetsu laughs, and she fumes. "My bad Princess, can I get you some wine?" He offers.

"I prefer ale." She retorts.

Suigetsu arches a brow, and looks at his goblet. He hands it to her and says, "I had just refilled this one. Please have mine."

She huffs and says, "I want a clean one!" A nearby servant hands her a goblet of ale in the nick of time. He notices her eyes wander across the room and stop. She narrows her eyes for a moment and turns back to him.

Suigetsu tries to think of something to say and says the first thing that pops in his head. "So, are you single?"

She huffs and storms off, leaving him confused. 'What's wrong with her?' He wonders.

Sasuke sees his betrothed storm towards him, and internally shudders. She latches onto his arm and proceeds to tell him about some buffoon who nearly ruined her dress. He rolls his eyes but sees his father glare at him from a nearby wall. Beside his father is his mother who mouths 'Be nice!'

Meanwhile, Naruto excuses himself from the group he was mingling with to go for a walk. He walks down a long hall at the back of the ballroom and finds a small staircase. He walks up the stairs until the third floor and passes each room with mild curiosity.

That is, until he stops at one room set with double doors. Written on it is 'King's Room.' He quickly looks around for anyone and peeks in. No one is there. Curiosity gets the best of him as he pushes his way into the room and shuts the door quietly.

He looks around the lavish room in awe. "This room is huge!" He says to himself. He snoops through the trunk at the foot of the bed. Gently tossing scrolls, and stuff aside until he stops at one item. A small square piece of fabric with an orange spiral on it. "It can't be." He says.

He pulls out his paper with the symbol on it to see if it's a match. His mouth drops. "They know my clan?" He whispers to himself. He traces the symbol with his fingers as tears well up in his eyes.

Back at the party, the announcement has finished and everyone is very drunk. Including Gaara, courtesy of his sister who thinks it is necessary for him to loosen up. Gaara stumbles but the courtesan holds him up.

He says to her, "You have been so good to me. How would you like to come back to my kingdom?"

She smiles and accepts his drunken offer.

He smiles back happily but then looks confused. "That's great but what's your name?" He slurs. She laughs.

In another part of the ballroom, Fugaku yawns and tells his wife he is going to bed. She kisses his cheek and lets him go. A bit drunk, he maintains his footing on his way to his room. He opens the door to the dark room and already he senses something off. He walks in to light a few candles but is stopped when he hears a chuckle.

Not just any chuckle. This one was deep baritone chuckle, one of which showed age that was beyond him. Fugaku pulls out his tanto that was hidden and shouts "Show yourself!" His eyes bleeding red of his bloodline.

The deep voice speaks again. "Well, well, well. Aren't we gonna have a little family feud?" Bleeding red eyes shine through the darkness as the figure steps toward him.

Okay! That was a lot.

A note: Sharingan exists in this AU.

Anyway. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will try to release another before Friday. Make sure to leave a review, I would love to hear your feedback.

Till then,

I'll see you guys later.