Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

"GOD DAMN IT! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS NOW?" Kenji was absolutely livid. Having been chosen as the next Tsuchikage 3 months before had been a great honour, and the new alliance with Konoha had been the icing on the cake, but no one said anything about getting married! He was only 19!

"Kenji-sama, please calm down. You realize we made this decision because it was the only way we could think of to seal this alliance permanently," Sano, the chief elder stated. He rose from his seat at the council table and proceeded to pick up a history scroll from a nearby shelf. He unfurled it before continuing, "If you can recall your academy history lessons, you will realize that the Amaraterasu Wars were started as the result of 2 villages not holding true to the political and military alliances that had been formed only months previous to the first battles. This way we can ensure that there will be peace among our lands for many years to come."

Fuzen, a wizened old man spoke up next, "The council approved this decision unanimously, and that is why we saw no need to notify you or the village until 2 weeks prior to their arrive-"

"WHAT THE FUCK? THEY"RE GOING TO BE HERE IN TWO FRICKN WEEKS! Didn't you even bother to consider the fact that maybe I don't want to get married? Did you even bother to consider the fact that you, you not me, are ruining four lives? Did you even notice that may-"

"Gomen nasai for interrupting you Kenji-sama, but four people's lives being ruined by this marriage?" Once again, it was Sano who spoke, "Don't you think that many people will be benefiting from this? And if any lives are ruined…" he coughed into his hand as he said this, "wouldn't it be your own and your potential wife's? Who are the other two people?"

Kenji blushed a deep shade of crimson. "Wha-a-at? Ooohhh, d-did I s-say f-four people? Ha, well I really meant three! 'If Konoha really is sending potential wives for me, they would only be sending their best and brightest, so they probably have the boys of their village fawning over them. Or perhaps they have a boyfriend who they had to break up with to come here and marry me! HOW FRICK'N STUPID COULD YOU PEOPLE BE! THIS IS THE MOST LAME-BRAINED IDEA YOU HAVE EVER COME UP WITH!" Almost as an afterthought he mumbled how his sister could have come up with a better plan even though she was only ten.

Ikasu, the eldest female elder spoke up at the lapse in Kenji's steady stream of curses. "Kenji-sama, we have prepared different ways for you to evaluate the girls they send to ensure compatibility and her strength as a kunoichi. Firstly, we propose that you take them out on dates, individually of course, in order to eliminate two of them as prospects for your wife. The remaining two will then endure a test that will show their strength as shinobi. They will fight each other and the winner of this fight will become your wife. After the welcoming party, which is in exactly two weeks, if you take each one of them out on consecutive nights, then the wedding shall take place in exactly three weeks!" While she spoke she used animated hand gestures and poorly drawn diagrams of a stick-like Kenji and four females participating in various stages of 'The Master Plan'.

The entire council of elders sweat dropped at her apparent happiness in a very disheartening situation.

"It appears that I really don't have a choice in this matter." Kenji sighed and stared into his hands before continuing. "If it is this council's, and this country's wish that I participate in this endeavor, then I will try my best. I agree to your proposal." Even though I had no choice! But…how am I going to tell Ayame about this?"

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Tenten stared lifelessly at the walls of the tent she shared with Ino. They were 2 weeks away from the Earth Country, 2 weeks into their journey, and things were not looking so great. After the previous night's events, Sasuke had refused to look at, or even speak to Sakura or Naruto. But, could you really call it speaking? The longer she thought about it she realized that he never spoke unless absolutely necessary. All other circumstances only merited the occasional 'Hn' or 'Aa' from him.

He's a lot like Neji. They both have the broody, mysterious, yet oh-so-hot aura going on for them. Neji's way better though 'cuz he would never betray me, or Lee, or even Gai-sensei. She shuddered involuntarily at the thought of Gai-sensei. Live well and have many children? Jeez, what the hell does he want me to do? Go marry this loser and have a brood full of little ninjas? She was getting angrier. The nerve of that guy! You'd think after 6 years of having us on his team he'd know me just a little bit better! She grabbed her kunai out of pure reflex and started clenching it, like a stress ball. I mean you'd think he'd stop giving all of us spandex suits for our birthdays even though we never, ever, wear them! He must be on speed or crack or something that fries your brain. But, does he actually want me to go?I bet if it was his precious Lee going off to marry a stranger he'd come running with half the country's resources, saying we had a crisis of youth. She started laughing out loud picturing Gai leading some very disgruntled jounin and ANBU to interrupt a wedding ceremony. Her expression suddenly became very neutral as the traces of mirth faded off of her face. I wonder if I'll get to find out who they were…

"Hey, Tennie, mutant-forehead girl, blabbering idiot, and lazy jackass! Its supper time!" called Ino from the fire in front of the tents, where she had been 'slaving' over a pot of stew since they had set up camp for the night.

Figures, only Ino could yell like that and not get pummeled…..

"Mutant-forehead girl? Says the girl with the bitchy attitude! You wanna say that to my face?"

By everyone except for Sakura that is. She laughed to herself. She really has gotten monstrously strong since she became Tsunade-sama's apprentice. Come to think of it, she's the only female currently in ANBU, who's under 20 besides me! Heck yes, go me! Argh, crap Ino's gonna kill me if I don't hurry up.

"Coming Ino!" Tenten stepped out of the tent and walked up to the camp where everyone else sat waiting for her before they began their meal.

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Ino was wiping tears from her eyes. Naruto had all of them (minus Neji and Sasuke who just smirked) rolling on the ground from telling Jiraiya's latest attempts to spy on the women's bathhouses. Apparently he'd used genjutsu to disguise himself as a woman, but while he was relaxing he forgot to keep up the illusion, resulting in mass panic, screaming, cursing, and a very beaten Jiraiya being thrown out of the bathhouse. No wonder Naruto calls him the super pervert……what a dirty old man.

"That reminds me of something Okaa-san was telling me a little while ago. She said that she met Obaa-san because of Jiraiya-sama and his perverted-ness. She was walking down the road, buying groceries when the old man came onto her. Obaa-san, who had apparently like her for years but didn't have the guts to say anything, punched him into a wall! I mean how romantic is that! She said that he proposed to her on their second date and…-"

"Shut up Ino-pig! Why do you keep talking about things that nobody cares about, huh?" Tears started running down Sakura's face before she continued, "I-I'm sssory Ino. I just………..sorry." She threw her empty bowl onto the ground and turned to run into the forest.

Naruto jumped to his feet and started running after Sakura, yelling "MATTE SAKURA-CHAN! WHERE ARE YOU GOI-"

Ino punched him into the nearest tree and hissed into his ear, "Urusai baka! That was stupid of me to say that, but right now she needs to be alone so just be quiet!"

She pulled him to his feet and they walked back to the fire together to meet five questioning faces.

"I-Ino-ssan, dddidd Ssakura-chan r-run off because of ww-what happened to h-her pparents tw-two years ago?" asked Hinata quietly, her eyes downcast. During the Sound's second attack on Konoha, Sakura's parents had been killed. The details were only known by Tsunade, Kakashi, Sakura, and Ino because of how gory they were. It was no secret that they were attempting to cover up the real reasons for their deaths by saying that they were civilians killed trying to protect their village, but Sakura never told anyone but Ino what happened that day.

"I guess that I shouldn't tell you but I feel like I have to because of Sakura." Ino began, keeping her eyes glued on some distant tree. "Two years ago, when the Sound attacked our village again and Sakura was captured and being interrogated by Orochimaru, things were done to her that no one should ever have to go through." She shuddered and she started crying when Shikamaru grasped her hands and squeezed them tightly. She glanced at him in surprise but smiled and kept going, "Since Tsunade was the only one with the ability to heal his arms, he assumed that she would have taught Sakura the technique. After being interrogated and beaten for five hours he decided to switch tactics. He found out, through Kabuto, that Sakura had family, so he sent a platoon of Sound shinobi to capture them and bring them in." Her shoulders started shaking. "That, that bastard! He tied Sakura to a chair and used ninjutsu to seal her eyes open. Then, then he tortured her mother and father in front of her! He beat them, cut them, slashed them, and he used one of the other bastards to rape her mother. Finally, after all that Sakura agreed to heal his arms if he would let her heal her parents first, he agreed but killed them before she was untied. But, the rest you already know….she went over the edge and her and Orochimaru fought until we found them and he escaped! That, that, scum! He took away everything from her and-"

The entire group sat in a stunned silence, only permeated occasionally by Ino's and Hinata's crying.

"Ssshh, Ino, it's okay." Shikamaru slowly put his arms around the shaking girl. "You were right to tell us about Sakura. It's okay now, just relax…..how about I take you to your tent so you can sleep?"

Ino just nodded and Shikamaru picked her up, bridal style, and carried her to the nearby tent. He opened the flap, gently laid Ino on a sleeping bag, and then covered her with nearby blankets. He then got up and left the tent.

"Thank-you…………………….Shika-kun," Ino mumbled softly before drifting off to a dreamless sleep.

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"Should we send someone out to find Sakura?" asked Tenten after Shikamaru came back. "I mean, we can't just let her stay out there all night!"

""Yeah, great idea Tenten. Yo, Sasuke-teme, we're her teammates so we should…………….Sasuke-teme?" Naruto turned his head side-to-side trying to find the missing Uchiha. "Sasuke-teme? Where the hell did he go now? What is this, team 7 disappears day? What next? Should I run off to the Lightning country now?" Naruto huffed and crossed his arms while sitting down.

Hinata laughed softly at Naruto's antics. Even after everything that he's gone through he's still so strong. He's matured a lot these years hasn't he? He still had his cerulean blue eyes, and shock of unruly blond hair, but his body was much more muscular and lean. Hinata blushed just thinking about it.

Naruto glanced over at Hinata at this moment. "Is something wrong Hina-chan? Your all red, do you think you're sick?" He reached over and put his hand on her forehead. "You're not sweating and you don't feel hot, are you sure you're ok?" Hinata wanted to laugh at him but instead she only blushed a deeper shade of crimson.

"Baka, she's not sick she's just blushing. No wonder Sasuke call's you dobe….Tch how troublesome." Muttered Shikamaru under his breath.

"BAKA, WHO'S CALLING WHO BAKA? DON'T THINK NONE OF US NOTICED HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT INO! You like her don't you?" A fox-like grin appeared on Naruto's face as he said this.

"Why would I like a troublesome girl like her? You really are brain dead Naruto." Shikamaru muttered again but a faint blush had appeared on his cheeks.

"Aaawww, just admit it Shikamaru! She's asleep anyways!" chimed in Tenten, also sporting a devious smile. "SAY IT!"

"No, it's too troublesome."

"Well fine then!" huffed Tenten while crossing her arms, "But, what if the Tsuchikage picks her as his wife? What are you going to do then Mr. The Whole Frickn World is So Troublesome That I'm Just Going To Sit On My Ass All Day?"

"Thank Kami for his good fortune to me." Muttered Shikamaru. Jeez, how troublesome.

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Sakura sat at the edge of the river bank, sobbing quietly into her hands. I know that she didn't mean to but damn it! I didn't think it was still going to hurt so much to talk about family….I guess I finally understand why Sasuke-kun called me useless and annoying all those years. I had no idea how hard it was for him. I'M SO USELESS! She started crying loudly at this, her whole body racked with sobs. I wasn't strong enough to save them, I couldn't do anything but sit and watch them die!

Flashback……

A woman's scream penetrated the eerie silence that reigned over Orochimaru's make shift base.

"MATTE! Please, please stop! Please……" She screamed again, her ten fingers having been dislocated at each joint then painfully severed, one by one.

Sakura stared in horror at her mother's face, now contorted with pain. She tried to reach her but Orochimaru's techniques had effectively rooted her to the floor, immobile. So, she did the one thing she could, she screamed.

"URUSAI YOU LITTLE BRAT!" He chucked evilly before continuing, "He'll pay for that…" He walked over to the limp form of a man, bent over her mother, desperately trying to comfort her. He kicked him hard. First, in the face, smashing the cartilage in his nose. Then in the stomach, harder each time, until he passed out from the excruciating pain.

"This is all your fault, my little flower. All you had to do was one simple technique to save them from this." He laughed again then walked over to her and hissed in her ear "All your fault. Just look at them, they hate you, they blame you, you did this to them." With that he turned to leave the room, pausing in the doorway. He called back to her. "I'll give you three hours to decide. You can either heal me and save them, or all of you can die together." He sardonic laughter floated down the hallway and back to her ears.

End Flashback

They said they didn't blame me, that in no way what happened to them was my fault but I should have been able to save them! She cried even louder than before. Kakashi-sensei said that I should do my best to honour their memory. Become a good ninja, become a better person, and they'd be proud of me. I'm trying, really I am but I want them to be here to help me……why can't they be there?

In her distress she didn't hear the approach of a familiar figure. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Sakura," said Sasuke, his dark eyes showing his rarely seen softer side. He knelt down to her level before speaking again, "I'm sorry that I never understood and I didn't get there in time to save them for you. I resented you all those years for having the things that I had lost, the things that I wanted so desperately. I called you weak for having them but you were stronger than me because you realized that they were what gave you strength." He paused as he glanced at Sakura's face, still tear ridden. He sighed before wrapping her protectively in his arms. "Don't take this the wrong way Sakura. Ino, told us what that bastard did to your parents. I wanted you to know that I-"

"I know Sasuke-kun" Sakura said softly, she lifted her head and continued, "You don't have to say anything about it………..it's ok." She smiled brightly before getting up.

Sasuke grabbed her arm and held it before she could leave. He stood up to his full height, nearly two heads taller than her's, and looked her squarely in the eyes. "No Sakura, it's not okay. It will never be okay…….you'll never be able to forget them or what happened to them. But, you cannot let it consume you. I learnt that the hard way," he let out a self deprecating laugh, "We should get back before the others send out the dobe to look for us."

"Wait, Sasuke-kun," Sakura smiled up at him, a smaller smile but a true one, "You're right because it wasn't okay and it still hurt, but you made that stop…….arigato." She wrapped her arms around him quickly before jerking them away, "Ah, gomen Sasuke-kun! Let's get back now!" She grabbed his hand as they started walking back.

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Author's note: So, how was it? It's twice as long as the other chapters and I feel happier with this one. I hope you feel the same way! I'm so sorry for the late update! We just moved so we didn't have internet, or a computer for that matter, for such a long time. So, I spent a lot, and I mean a lot, of time thinking about where I wanted this story to go, who the Tsuchikage would chose, how the plot would unfold for the greater good, etc. I've decided who the kage's going to choose and how he's gonna do it and who the final two are gonna be, so bear with me!

I've decided that since we don't really know anything about Tenten I could have some fun with her past in this fiction. Don't worry though, it will all be revealed in later chapters. Also, this fiction will be written mostly from the girls' side of things. Also if you check the meanings of one of the elders names MAJOR HINT you can find out what it means (no duh!) and it might also give you a clue as to what's gonna happen! So please review and thanks so much for reading!. If you have any questions feel free to ask, and I'll try to answer them.

As for the astounding lack of dialogue from Neji cough not that he says anything cough there will be a Neji/Tenten scene in the next chapter. I've been reading lots of fics on those two for inspiration so I hope I get it right!

Also, this fiction is going to get a bit darker, as things like rape and abuse will be brought into play. It won't be anything that can change the rating but just so ya know! The next update will be faster, I promise!