Full Summary: Lord Jiraiya has died, pushing his adoptive son, Naruto Uzumaki into role as Lord of Konoha. Will the still young Naruto be able to keep his kingdom together, avoid war, and provide for his people the way his father did? Sakura Haruno was appointed to be Naruto's white knight, to stay by his side at all times to protect him by any means. Will she be able to keep her oath to the kingdom that raised her when the village the bore her becomes a great foe? Can she withstand the pressure that comes with her new title? Can she resist the lord?
A/N: Got the idea from the song "The Voice" by Celtic Woman. I originally planned it in my head as a fem/fem thin but I decided to make it a fan fiction and changed the roles around. Naruto is about 17, and Sakura is about the same. Hope you like it, guys!
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White Knight
Chapter One: Wild Flowers
A grey horse began to come over the hill, the sun just beginning to set behind him. A young blonde boy stood beside a deep grave, eyes fixed forward staring intently at the horse coming over the hill. People began to weep as the large coffin being pulled rolled over the hill. Naruto averted his gaze from the coffin quickly and stared at his feet where wild flowers still set with drops of water from that afternoon's rain.
When the horse had stopped just beyond the grave; the coffin parallel to the hole, it was only then that Naruto lifted his head bearing the bravest face he could muster.
As the knights began to lower the coffin into the ground, a young woman, TenTen, began to sing a sad song, her voice shaky as she tried to hold back her own tears. Naruto bent down and picked one of the flowers growing by the cross and looked down into the hole. Once TenTen had finished her ballad, Naruto looked out at the crowd of mourners and cleared his throat.
"My people, my father, he had once told me that he did not wish anyone to mourn his death but to rejoice as he has begun his blissful retreat to the afterlife and that we, as a whole can overcome anything that may come as a result of his death. We are a strong kingdom, and I believe his words whole-heartedly. Jiraiya was a great man.
"So tonight, my subjects, my people, my friends... we will all feast like kings!" Naruto declared. The crowd began to clap, unable to cheer over the loss of their lord but found comfort in his son's words.
Naruto turned to the grave and knelt down, bowing his head deeply. After a small prayer for the deceased, Naruto took the flower he'd been holding and placed it on top of the grave. When he stood again, shoulders squared he looked back at the crowd, all still kneeling. A shadow of a smile passed over his lips seeing how loyal his people were to his father.
The knights who'd lowered the coffin bean to fill the grave with soil, they themselves trying to keep their tears back. Once the grave was filled in and properly pact down, the crowd began to silently disperse. Naruto remained standing over the grave as children placed their flowers in the soil. He offered each of them a smile as they didn't seem to know exactly what had occurred.
The crowd slowly disappeared, leaving Naruto alone in the twilight. He continued to stare at the cross at the top of the grave intently. A white haired man came back over the hill, Kakashi Hatake; giving the blonde a sympathetic look as he walked around to Naruto's side.
Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "You were strong today," said Kakashi.
"Thank you." Naruto replied to his teacher quietly.
Kakashi sighed slightly, "Naruto, I'm proud of you for being strong – for your people but... it's okay for a knight to cry."
Naruto was silent for a moment as he took what Kakashi had said in. "I'm not a knight, Kakashi. I am the Lord now... the King of Konoha..."
"Even King's cry," Kakashi replied wisely, "I know Lord Jiraiya did."
"My father cried?" Naruto asked, wanting clarification.
"Of course he did, it's a human reaction to—" Kakashi was unable to finish his well-planned speech as Naruto crumbled to his knees and began to sob. Kakashi smiled to himself beneath his mask and knelt down, placing a hand on Naruto's back.
"It's going to be alright, my lord..."
* * *
Naruto awoke the next morning in a slight haze, possibly from all the wine he'd consumed. Recalling yesterday's unfortunate events, Naruto sighed and buried his face in his pillow. Perhaps he could remain in bed for the rest of... forever.
No such luck as a sharp rap came at his door before the morning callers let themselves in. Naruto looked over despite his better judgement to pretend his was still asleep. A familiar abnormally large-chested woman stood by the foot of his bed with her hands planted on her hips.
"Rise and shine, princess," Tsunade said loudly before grabbing the blankets covering Naruto and tore them off, throwing them to the ground. Naruto yelped and grabbed a pillow to cover his shame.
"L-Lady Tsunade!" Naruto stammered, "What the hell are you doing!?"
"Wake up call. You have business to get done today." Tsunade said, "Now get dressed fast, people are waiting."
Naruto pulled himself off the bed, still clutching the pillow that was keeping him decent. "I have business the day after my father's funeral!? That's unheard of!"
"Is not." Tsunade countered.
"What? Yes, it is!"
"Even if it is, I don't give a rat's ass. Get your clothes on; we have to have a knighting ceremony." Tsunade said bluntly before leaving the room, slamming the door behind her. Naruto huffed to himself and put the pillow back on his bed, walking begrudgingly to his wardrobe.
After getting dressed and washed, he gave his bed a final fond glance and left the room with a sigh. He was immediately taken by the arm and yanked down the hall by the infamous blonde woman.
"Lady Tsunade! Unhand me!" Naruto exclaimed, trying to free himself of the woman's grasp.
"No! We're late as it is! Get your ass in gear, blondie!" Tsunade growled, yanking Naruto down two flights of stairs and into the ceremonial hall. A crowd of people had gathered into the hall, and they all bowed the moment he entered.
Taken aback a bit by the goings-on, Naruto found himself in a rare predicament. He was speechless. Tsunade pushed him forward to the platform at the front of the room and then hauled Naruto onto said platform. "My people, I give you Lord Naruto Uzumaki!" Tsunade declared grandly as the room erupted with applause.
Two knights came forward holding different tools, the first was Shikamaru Nara, who bowed to Naruto and handed him a long sword. Naruto took the weapon, recognizing it as Jiraiya's. The second came forward, Rock Lee, and he handed him an elegant set of royal attire for him to now wear to events.
Naruto took the sword and gingerly replaced his old sword with it in his holster, then handed the clothes to one of his chamber-maids. Naruto was still speechless as he looked down to Tsunade for guidance as to what he should do. Tsunade rolled her eyes and stepped up to the platform next to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I will now introduce to you the lord's white knight!" Tsunade declared. On cue, a knight bearing stark white armour entered the room — helmet on. Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he remembered Jiraiya's white knight, a large, amazingly strong man that had always looked out for Jiraiya, and had in face died defending him. Naruto was shocked that he'd be allowed one.
The knight came forward and knelt before him, hand placed against his breastplate. Naruto blinked and Tsunade nudged him, he glanced at her and she quickly mimed knighting someone.
Naruto nodded quickly and drew out him sword, he held it up and Tsunade began mouthing the words he was to say. "I dub thee, white knight of Konoha to myself, Lord Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto said, touching both the knight's shoulders with his sword. "You may rise and remove your helmet, good sir knight."
The knight got to his feet, standing perfectly erect and raised his hands to his helmet. After two minutes of Naruto building the man up in his mind, his mind was set on how he'd look. The knight finally was able unhitch his helmet and lifted it, revealing not a beard, nor a moustache, nor a thick manly unibrow...
Pink hair fell down, framing the knight's delicate face; bright green eyes settling on Naruto's face and a smiled spread across the knight's face, "My lord. I am no sir, I am Dame Sakura Haruno, at your service." She bowed once again.
Naruto's eyes were as wide as dinner-plates as his mind began to race. "W-w-w-wait just a s-second here... I can't... you're a... but his... and you... but you..." Naruto couldn't seem to get out anything his mind was screaming.
Sakura rose her head again, "Pardon me, my lord?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"But you're a woman!"
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A/N: If there's ever something you shouldn't say to a female knight... that'd be it. Hope you like the first chapter! R&R please! 3