Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Imperial Wars of Love and Passion

Chapter One: Boisterous Beginnings

"Naruto! Get your lazy ass out of bed!"

As soon as this was said, a sleepy voice came back with the same loud, maybe an even louder, retort. "Go away you old hag!"

No later then a second after he said this, his wooden paper doors came colliding onto the floor and the blond was held up by his pajama collar by a lighter blonde haired woman.

"I said get up..." She said in her menacing tone with the evil look in her otherwise pretty face.

"Ma... A-alright Tsunade-baa-chan..." Naruto answered back nervously, afraid of his 'mothers' wrath.

After more rude awakenings from Tsunade, Naruto, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, who happened to be the other person being awoken by the blonde female, were finally assembled at the breakfast table.

Jiraiya sipped his morning tea carefully before looking at Naruto curiously. "Have you checked the results for the Imperial Scholar Examination yet?" Before the white haired man had even finished, Naruto had cursed loudly and rushed out the door with a steamed bun in his mouth.

Jiraiya and Tsunade both sighed in resignation at the boy they bad picked up all those years ago, but the smiles that arose on their faces couldn't have been more proud.

Kakashi was a bit afraid of going towards the Emperor at the moment. Rumor had it that he had just found out three of his concubines were pregnant, all at the same time. Personally, he thought this was a joyous occasion, as the Emperor's advisor and before that when he was a prince, his teacher; he couldn't help but be happy for the other. However, the look on the other's face made him want to think otherwise.

But, however much he did not want to disturb the man at this moment, he would have to.

"Emperor..." He said softly and was met with an ice cold glare. Having already gotten used to them, Kakashi only lowered his head and spoke once more. "Emperor… You have to choose the three new officials from the results of the Imperial Scholar Examination."

Faintly he heard the other give a grunt before he answered with his deep, rich voice. "Then give me the scrolls." Kakashi swiftly placed the scrolls on the table stepped down off the steps.

Slowly the Emperor examined each scroll carefully, searching for the things he looked for in officials. That was until he came across one scroll that made his black eyes widen a fraction.

"Emperor?" Kakashi questioned. "Emperor?" He asked once more before heading towards the other and tapping him lightly on the shoulder, calling him by his name for the first time in a long while. "Sasuke?"

Remember this name… Sasuke.

Sasuke finally shook out of his daze and gazed thoughtfully at the scroll before him. He hadn't heard the name in a long time.

But as he remembered the incident of how they met he grasped Kakashi's sleeve. "Wasn't there a body check before the examination? How did a female get to take it?"

The advisor looked confused and stared at his lord inquisitively. "Beg your pardon Emperor… but there was in fact a body check before any of them took the exam, and all of the examinees were very much male."

Male.

That word resonated in Sasuke's mind for a long moment before he looked back at the scroll that lay before him. Quickly he wrote down the names of the other two that he had seen before that held promise in his mind and looked back at Kakashi sharply.

"I have chosen my three. Post the results up all over the city." After he said this he threw his robes back and walked out of his study.

Kakashi peered over the list curiously. "Uzumaki Naruto… Who are you I wonder…"

All the citizens were lined up watching as the carriages traveled past the streets towards the palace.

Inside was one Uzumaki Naruto, staring blankly at the pendant in his hands as the carriage rocked with each horse's step. His mind was a mess, thinking about how in the world he had actually become the top scorer on this test, and if it was alright for him, with his looks, to be able to serve as an official under the emperor himself.

As he started to doubt himself, the old hag's words came back to him… from all those years ago.

Naruto stared at the kids playing outside the house, very much wanting to join them… but they would probably ignore him because of his hair. He was a freak and he knew it.

Just then, Tsunade came out and saw him. Smiling, she walked up behind him and whispered, "Why don't you go and greet them?"

However Naruto just shook his head and turned, about to head back in the house before Tsunade caught him by his arm and pet him softly. "What's wrong Naruto?"

Tears streamed down the petite boys' face as he started to blabber out a response. "I'm scared they'll dislike me because of…" Even though he didn't say the rest, Tsunade seemed to understand.

"Don't worry about that Naruto… I used to be scared too." He looked up at his new caretaker and wiped his tears a bit. "Really?" She nodded and hugged him close to her.

"But I've learned that people who only judge based on appearance don't matter, and associating with them would only make me sick. They are just a bunch of idiots who can't accept others and will only end up beneath me in life. So don't be scared Naruto, if they make fun of you just give them a good punch and smile that wonderful smile I know you have." She knocked him lightly on his jaw and he smiled back at her before nodding in agreement.

The blond smiled at the memory. Tsunade and Jiraiya had really saved him… if they hadn't found him, he'd probably be dead in a ditch somewhere, alone, no one to give a damn about him. He owed them more than anything, and once he could, he would make sure they had a better life.

He held the jade pendant in his hand and smiled as he thought of the name that came with it.

"The honorable Emperor Sasuke has arrived." Came the call from a eunuch as the emperor sat down at his throne that overlooked his royal court.

"Long live the emperor!" They all shouted at once before Sasuke lifted his hand and they rose.

Kakashi stepped forward and called out towards the giant open entranceway. "Bring in the new officials!" As soon as the words left his mouth, three figures filed into the chamber.

"Presenting Aburame Shino, Nara Shikamaru, and Uzumaki Naruto." The eunuch called out once more. The three of them slowly bowed in respect and shouted 'long live the emperor' once more.

Sasuke stared intently at the three… or more correctly, at Naruto. "Please… Rise."

When Naruto's eyes made contact with Sasuke's, time seemed to stop. Recognition went through Naruto's mind and he almost couldn't breathe.

The emperor was… The emperor was Sasuke… The same Sasuke he had dreamed about seeing again since he had first met him. The same Sasuke who had stolen his first kiss and proclaimed him to be his future bride. The same Sasuke whose pendant he held firmly in his sleeves at this very moment.

"Congratulations to the three of you for passing the examinations. You will be rewarded greatly and be trained by Hatake Kakashi-dono until you are fit to be in the court." Sasuke's voice did not waver as his gaze at Naruto continued.

Naruto, on the other hand, diverted his head down and tried to hide the red tint that appeared on his face.

Why the hell did this have to happen to him?

Well… there you have it. First chapter up and running. I personally thought this was a very good chapter even if it was a bit confusing. Have questions? Ask me in a review!

Also a very much needed thanks to Chibi-Flamesi for being the beta and my very best friend. Love ya.

Til next time.