Diclaimer: I don't own Naruto blah blah blah
Ok the thing you really want to read
Chapter 2: crowned heads here I come
The rice fields shimmered golden brown. Twilight was getting closer as well as the chilly night breeze. Sakura shifted for a more comfortable position in the horse driven carriage. The ride seemed to take ages. Normally a trip to the rice county would take a normal shinobi 4 hours, but she was not a ninja on this mission. She was a princess.
According to the file Tsunade had given them, Iyami (the real princess) was the remaining one of her family. Apparently she woke up one morning to find her parents murdered. Sakura couldn't help but think about Sasuke. Except one thing differed Iyami was an only child. The folder also stated that there was a distant cousin who left the rice field country when she was only three. This was where Sakura came in. She was to play the role of this so-called relative.
The Kunoichi kept biting her lower lip. There were too many holes and a mission with holes led to failure or worse death.
"Sakura-chan…" Sakura looked up and met Naruto's blue eyes, which had transformed into the colour turquoise from the orange glow of the sun, " everything will turn out all right." He gave her a grin.
"Mmm," she replied with a nod and smiled.
The coach rode on a paved road through houses of a medium sized village. The sun had already set and was now replaced with a sprinkle of stars across an armada sky.
Kiichi loved nighttime; it was peaceful especially in his home village.
He felt self-importance swell up inside of him when he made a left turn towards the castle. The brown-haired man was the first to see Princess Iyami's cousin. Although it was a pity that she could not have met her relative personally, because Iyami had left to who knows where when he had departed for Konoha. He wondered how Sakura would handle her cousin's absence. Talk about throwing some one into the shark tank.
" We're almost there," he smiled at the boy who was sitting beside him. It faded though when he got a brusque nod for a reply.
"Wow! Sakura-chan, we're here! The castle's huge!" as always Naruto ruined a perfectly serene atmosphere with his loudness. His head stuck out of the window preventing Sakura from seeing the view.
"Naruto," she hissed, struggling to keep her patients at a normal level, " calm down."
" That's strange, we're going around it."
"Huh? Let me see," she gave the blonde a little push to the side allowing her to see what was going on. Her Kimono was puffy, which made it almost impossible to share the coach's window with her teammate.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. This citadel was massive!
If one saw it from a far they would think it as a normal Japanese palace, but this building's structure was different. It had western windows. The front entrance was stylistic, however when they rounded a corner it seemed like the setting was an illusion, seeing that they were now riding along a dreary, stone castle wall.
" I recommend you get back to your seat… your majesty," Sasuke's voice startled Sakura that she yelped and fell backwards. Naruto scrunched his face in misunderstanding. Oh yes Sakura was now the rice Princess. Before he returned to his seat, he gave Sasuke the usual glare.
They stopped just outside a stilted door. Kiichi jumped down from his driver seat to help the new princess get out. As he turned toward the carriage door he stopped suddenly, amazed at what he was seeing.
The dark-haired boy had already set down the coach's built in steps and the blonde was helping Sakura down. However Kiichi had no time to ogle at the teamwork the two had just displayed. The Princess was due for a meeting with the palace staff.
The door creaked slowly open and a couple of men in formal wear appeared. They bowed and ushered them inside.
Sakura was awestruck; the rusty entrance gave a hell of a bad first impression, but the moment they stepped inside she had changed her mind.
Although a hallway, it could easily have fit at least fifty people. The walls were a white, smooth, marble. Everything looked clean and warm which was bizarre because everything was made out of cold stone. It was probably the lighting; Sakura decided while gazing up at the ceiling.
Sasuke and Naruto followed closely behind Sakura, who was trailing behind the group of men.
At the end of the hall was a double glass door; as soon as they were a metre away from it, it opened revealing an elegant ballroom with a unique skylight. A row of females stood to their left. Opposite them were the same but only males. All of their heads were facing down.
The group that escorted them here joined the row of gentlemen. Sasuke straightened his posture and nudged Naruto to do the same. Sakura's stomach leapt from nervousness. It took a while before her heart slowed it's beat.
She couldn't believe her eyes when she caught a figure standing in between the two rows. The man looked like an older version of Sasuke. Except he had his dark hair gelled back and he was smiling. Definitely not Sasuke-like. Sakura gulped when he started striding to her. His smile grew and in one movement he stooped down and kissed Sakura's hand.
Naruto nearly fell over. The blonde was imagining things. How could this guy just kiss her hand like that! If it weren't for the fact that they were on a mission, Naruto would have certainly beaten this guy to a pulp. Stay calm he repeated to himself this is only a mission. He watched as Sakura gave a curtsy and noticed Sasuke roll his eyes. Must be bored, his teammate thought.
" My name is Misiyo Ujani," he beamed. So this was the infamous Ujani Sakura contemplated. He looks a bit young for a position in the court. The pink-haired girl before him put on her most bedazzling smile, Sasuke could tell it was one of her forged ones.
" Good evening Ujani-san."
"There is no need for formality Sakura-hime," he took her hand with both of his, " you may call me whatever you like." That said Ujani gave her a wink.
"You and your companions must be tired after that long journey… from Konoha?"
"Yes" she answered, a little flushed.
" Would you mind if I showed you, your chambers personally?" Sakura was trapped, what was she going to say now. She heard someone cough and looked behind. Sasuke stepped forward.
"Pardon the intrusion, I don't think it is a good idea for her highness to have company when she is so exhausted," the Uchiha's voice was clear and almost commanding.
"Of course," Ujani paused looking Sasuke straight in the eyes, " I'll have Tentakai take you to your rooms." He called for the woman closest to him. She immediately scurried past them mumbling " this way."
"Until tomorrow, Princess." Sakura redid her curtsy and hurried to catch up to Tentakai, Naruto and Sasuke.
Misiyo Ujani shook his head and chuckled. This was going to be easier that he had thought. He wheeled around and dismissed the staff.
After many flights of stairs and passages, Tentakai stopped in front of yet another double door.
"This is your bedroom, Sakura-sama," she smiled and turned her attention to Naruto and Sasuke, " Your bedrooms are the last two doors down the hall, everything is made and ready, if you have any trouble then feel free to call me or anyone else." She curtsied slightly before leaving.
"Well goodnight Sakura-chan," Naruto was eager to choose the bigger room. Sasuke started for his room, but stopped when he felt somebody grab his upper arm. Sakura took note of what she had done and let go.
"Um, thank you Sasuke-kun," she opened her room's double doors and left.
Ok second chapter complete, sorry it took so late, I was working on a group story with my friends. It'll be posted soon. Masqueradeis it'sname if your interested. Until next chapter :)
