Mikoto was sitting at her desk signing a document when a sudden knock at her door made her take pause. She looked up. "Yes?"

"Message, ma'am," a voice answered from behind the door. "Permission to enter?"

She glanced at the pile of documents and heaved a quiet sigh. They would have to wait. "Sure, come in."

The door opened and a young man entered, carrying a letter in one hand. He bowed to her momentarily before approaching her desk, holding out the crisp envelope.

"It's just come in from Captain Yamato's troop," he said as she took it from his hand.

He waited while she took a letter opener and sliced it open. Pulling out a folded paper, she unfolded it and skimmed quickly through it, her expression darkening with every tense second that passed.

By the time she got through it, she set it down, staring at the desk with an ominous darkness to her face. The young soldier shivered as she glanced up at him for a second, her eyes flickering to red as she pulled out a fresh piece of paper, scribbling a message on it.

Once she was done, she inspected her work before looking up at him again, this time with a saccharine smile on her face that belied most of the simmering rage he could feel underneath.

"Would you be a dear and give this to my son?" She asked, her voice syrupy.

He shakily nodded, and she shooed him off with a wave of her hand.

The soldier couldn't exit the room fast enough, bowing deeply to her before turning and nearly tripping over his own two feet as he hurried out.


Sasuke was reading through an old tome in his room when a knock made him look up. "What is it?"

"It's me," Naruto answered as he walked in. "I've got an urgent letter from your mom."

He sat up straighter in his chair as Naruto unfolded the note. Clearing his throat, he began to read.

"Dear Sasuke-kun, it has come to your father's and my attention that a little group of rebels still exists - well, no duh - and is actively plotting to dethrone the Uchiha family forever. - Again, no duh."

"Stop stalling and read," Sasuke snapped.

"Alright, alright, geez!" Naruto groaned. "Anyway, - we have come across some startling news from one of our spies that the handmaiden Karin still lives - and that your bride is among them, healthy and alive."

Sasuke's breath hitched.

"Furthermore," Naruto continued to read, "It seems that your great-grandfather's rival's granddaughter, Senju Tsunade, is still alive and is actively spearheading this rebel group. You will hereby be dismissed from your training and will be a part of leading our armies in the act of destroying that organization once and for all by being crowned king next month. Tomorrow morning you are to report to your father and receive your new instructions. For now, I urge you to get a good night's rest. Love, your mother."

Naruto pulled back from the letter and whistled. "Damn, sounds like you're gonna have your hands full from here on out! And what is this? 'Great-grandfather's rival's-' geez, sounds like some kinda convoluted movie plot parodying a well-known and well-loved science-fiction series involving twin siblings and their evil dad!"

Sasuke let out a shaky sigh, his heart pounding in his chest. "But is it true, though? Hinata is alive?"

"I guess it seems so," Naruto shrugged. "But if she ever came back, do you really think that her family would allow her to marry you? I mean, faking your death is considered treason, or so I recall."

"But what if she didn't know?" Sasuke persisted, shaking his head. "The blast was specifically targeting her chambers. Had she known of it, she would have evacuated to a safe spot and we would've known before it happened. Those rumors can't be baseless."

Naruto shrugged. "I mean it'd be pretty hard to give any other explanation and have it make sense. So what now? I mean you can't just marry Hanabi, she's too young. Not to mention her dad kinda hates us now."

"Do you take me for a common fool?" The prince snapped in frustration. He covered his face with his hands, leaning against the wall. "But if I don't end up marrying a Hyuuga, I have literally no one left. She was my last shot, since literally every other noble family either, A, has a daughter that's totally obsessed with me and the throne, B, has only sons, or C, has daughters that are too young to marry. Exhibit A, the Hyuuga family's main branch."

"Aw, c'mon, Sasuke," Naruto sighed. "There's gotta be someone out there. There's gotta be someone you haven't considered yet. Hell, would your father accept an arranged marriage between you and a commoner?"

"No, absolutely not," the prince was quick to refute. "He's obsessed with keeping our line 'clean', or so he likes to claim. If I came forward with just any common girl, he would rage at me for 'muddying the bloodline', or whatever. They at least have to be able to fight. No common family would dare let their daughters become kunoichi if they wanted them married off."

Naruto watched as his shoulders heaved, anger radiating off of him. "Do you need some alone time?"

"Yes, I very much would," the crown prince practically seethed. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them. "Please leave before I say or do something that I'll regret."

The blond nodded, patting him on the shoulder before he left, leaving the letter on the table.

This can't be happening.

Sasuke couldn't even look at it. He crumpled it into a tight ball and threw it at the trash can, ignoring that it bounced off of the rim as he collapsed onto his bed.

He slammed his face onto his pillow and screeched out of pure rage into it, his hands clenching into fists as he rose up and grabbed it, throwing it at the wall.

It exploded into a shower of white feathers and the pillowcase fell to the ground, and for a moment he felt guilt as he stared at the mess.

Tears pricked his eyes as he rose from his bed, grabbing the cloak hanging beside his bed and throwing it on. He grabbed the tome and put on his shoes, intent on escaping to the forest to blow off some steam.


A/N: Please tell me what you thought!