Rokudaime

Chapter Eight

I'll make you a promise

The room was filled with the early rising sun light of a soft baby blue. The early sun rays shone on the two shinobi in bed, both wide awake and dreading the next few minutes. Sakura stared out the window, watching as the sky became lighter and lighter. Morning was approaching and that meant Neji had to leave soon.

She sighed and felt his arm tighten around her waist, bringing her closer to his chest and nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck. He stuck out his tongue and passed it along her pulse. The action made her giggle before she broke into a wide smile that lit up her emerald eyes. "Neeeji stop!" She exclaimed in laughter. The Hyuuga narrowed his eyes at the command and brought his tongue up to the shell of her ear.

A shiver coursed through her body and he smirked smugly at the affect he had of her body. He only had half an hour at most before he had to leave and return to the compound. The young Hyuuga inwardly frowned. He wanted to stay with Sakura after the sun rose, if only once, but Faith wasn't so generous to him. He would always leave before the sun rose when he spent the nights with the pink haired beauty and it greatly irritated both of them.

"Neji…" Sakura moaned out suddenly. Neji's smirk only widen into a full blown grin as he began to kiss her neck and collar bone. The medic's hands immediately went to his long hair and gripped it securely as she squirmed lightly at his ministrations. Soon after she brought his face to her own and kissed him with passion. The familiar throbbing between her thighs caused the medic to swiftly spread her legs while Neji mounted on top of her and placed himself at her entrance. In one fluid movement he entered her and both were in a world that consisted of only each other.

No clans…

No traditions…

No worries…

Just the two of them and the love they shared for one another.

Sakura's mewls filled the room along with Neji's throaty grunts as he thrusts into her with vigor. He soon had her crying out his name as she reached her peak and soon after he followed, his release filling her fully. The room was getting brighter by the second and his time with Sakura was become scarce. "I have to go," He murmured into her neck before placing a kiss on her pulse. Sakura let out a small smile at him, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know even though I hate it." She confessed to him openly with slightly narrowed eyes. "I wish it wasn't so hard…" She started with a small light appearing behind her eyes. "Have you spoken to Hiashi about the arrange marriage? Is there any way to annul it?" She asked and prompted herself up with her elbows as soon as he climbed off of her.

The Hyuuga sat on the edge of the bed with a strain expression on his handsome face. His Uncle wanted to discuss their conversation from last night later on today. He wanted to be with Sakura, but when his Uncle has suspected her of being the woman he was in love with that night he sounded furious at the possibility.

He found himself wishing once again if only Sakura had been born into a clan of nobility then there wouldn't be any problems. His Uncle would have given them their blessings to court and then to marry.

But that was not case.

Sakura came from a family of civilians.

There was only so much he can do to try to annul the contract his Uncle had signed between the Ama clan. Turning around to look over his shoulder at Sakura, Neji let out an inaudible sigh. "My Uncle and I were discussing it last night, but he has signed a contract that cannot be undone." He revealed to her softly and as his words left his lips so did the light behind her eyes.

Sakura's heart stopped as well as her breathing.

A contract that cannot be undone!

Then….then that meant Ten-Ten would marry Neji and he couldn't do anything about it. His Uncle wouldn't allow him to do anything about it. "No," She whispered out in disbelief. Without her doing so images of the younger Uchiha flashed through her mind as he walked out through the gates of Konoha. Now in his place was Neji, but this time he was turning his back on her to go to Ten-Ten, both dressed up in the traditional garbs of a bride and groom.

She felt her heart constrict painfully and her eyes widen in sudden fear at the familiar pain. A pain she hasn't felt since that night Sasuke left the village, leaving her all alone and unconscious. Her heart was breaking all over again. Was she doomed to not have love in her life time?

Suddenly warm arms held her tightly against a broad chest. She nuzzled her face against the crook of his neck and let her tears fall. "P-please, Neji, you have to do s-something." She cried brokenly into his neck in between sobs. "You don't even love her…" She mumbled out as she pulled herself back to look up to his face. "I may not come from a noble clan, b-but isn't it enough that I have surpassed my Shishou?" She asked her eyes reflecting the anger she felt at being judge because of her background and lack of nobility.

His brows were deeply furrowed and his lips were set in a deep frown. Everything she said was the truth, but it all came down to traditions, customs and most importantly his Uncle. Even though Ten-Ten came from a respectable clan she was not as strong as Sakura.

He cupped her cheek and watched as the anger in her eyes dull down slightly. "Our only chance is if I can convince Ten-Ten to annul the contract," He began with a convinced tone.

"…but if not…" He drawled out slowly, his eyes solely focused on her reaction to his following words, "then we will marry and in doing so forcibly annul the contract all in once." He told her seriously, causing Sakura's eyes to widen in surprise before they shone brightly at the prospect of them marrying.

A soft smile formed on her lips before she threw herself at him and kissed him madly.

Hyuuga Compound

Hiashi pondered inwardly at his eldest daughter's behavior this morning. She barely ate her food and instead sought to push the warm meal around with her chop sticks. He furrowed his brows at the action before scowling lightly at her, "Hinata, stop playing with your food." He chastised sternly before going back to his cup of tea. "Father, you know Hinata only plays with her food when she has something on her mind." Hanabi butted in with a mischievous smirk on her thin lips.

The older Hyuuga heiress' face heat up greatly at the comment of her younger sister and swallowed to wet her suddenly dried throat. Hinata averted her gaze from the younger Hyuuga as well as her father's and promptly shoved a piece of egg into her mouth to prolong the inevitable.

Hiashi considered Hanabi's words before bringing his gaze back to Hinata. "Hanabi is right, what is on your mind Hinata?" He asked with a raised brow. It seemed Neji wasn't the only one whose thoughts were preoccupied. Speaking of his nephew, where was he?

"Where is Neji?" He asked suddenly to the occupants of the breakfast room. Hanabi shrugged her shoulders while Hinata stiffened. He narrowed his eyes before interrogating his eldest daughter further. Maybe that was the cause of her lack of appetite this morning. "Hinata, do you know why Neji isn't here yet?" He asked with a suspicious tone to his voice. He knew Neji had an emergency mission earlier this morning, but surely his nephew was still not asleep. It was nearing eight and he has yet to show up for breakfast.

Hinata's pulse raced beneath her flesh, causing her face to turn even redder. Yesterday night when she had gone to check on Neji she had overheard him talking to himself, about Sakura not giving up on them. She had been shocked and would have never guessed those two were seeing each other or were so emotionally attached considering the way Neji's voice had been almost desperate and pleading.

Neji was in a bad position considering that he was engaged to Ten-Ten now. She wondered how Sakura was taking this and if her heart was breaking all over again. "Well, Hinata?" She winced at the sharp tone and had inwardly cursed herself for taking so long to answer his question.

"I-I don't k-know." She stuttered suddenly and she frowned when she did. She had been able to control her stuttering over the past few years and only ever stuttered when she was as nervous as she was at the moment, which was rare nowadays. She knew her answer will be unacceptable and she only prayed that wherever Neji was that he would get here soon.

She had gone to speak with early him this morning only to find his bedroom empty. She had assumed that he went to see Sakura after his mission and slept over. She blushed lightly at the thought. "Hinata," Hiashi grounded out displeased with her response, but before he could reprimand her the shoji doors to the room opened and Neji appeared with wet brown locks.

He bowed before his Uncle and cousins before taking a seat at the table, the maids placing his food and tea before him swiftly. Hiashi tore his gaze from Hinata and brought them down onto Neji. He didn't like the air surrounding his nephew or his daughter. Was there something Hinata knew about Neji? And the air surrounding the young Hyuuga was smug in a way as well as…relieved?

Yes, he did not look as stressed and strained like last night.

"Nephew what took you so long this morning?" He asked with narrowed eyes as memories of last night's conversation entered his mind. There was a woman Neji was in love with, but he did not know who she was. His suspicions were that it was Hurano Sakura, but his nephew didn't even use her name when referring to her. He had referred to her as the Hokage's apprentice.

"I went to the woods to train earlier than usual, so that I will be able to spend some time with Ten-Ten this morning." He replied swiftly as he took a sip from his tea. His free hand was shielded by the table as it suddenly tightened into a fist. He was going to speak to Ten-Ten about annulling the contract and if she did not agree to do it then he will take Sakura and marry her just like he promised.

Hiashi's eyes brightened at the idea and smiled slightly. He was overly pleased with this new change of heart. "Well done nephew and you will see in a few years time you will grow to love Ten-Ten as your wife." He told him with a slight approving nod before returning to his breakfast. Neji averted his eyes to his food and narrowed them slightly. 'I will do no such thing.' He thought while he took a bite from his toast bread.

Hinata watched Neji from the corner of her eyes. They glistened with worry for her older cousin and wondered if Neji was really going to go through with the marriage with Ten-Ten, 'But what about Sakura-chan?' She questioned herself before turning her gaze back to her food.

She would have to talk to him in private.

Sakura was a goon kunoichi and medic as well as a kind person, more than suitable to be Neji's bride, but due to her lack of status in the ranks of the nobles she was out of his league.

It was a shame.

A terrible shame…

She wouldn't have mind one bit if Sakura was to become part of the family.

Hokage's office

"Hmm, let's see if you follow up with your words Raikage." Tsunade muttered out with narrowed eyes as she placed the letter he sent her in response to the one she had sent yesterday regarding his shinobi trespassing into her borders on top of her desk. She was still investigating on how Cloud knew about the medical scroll.

The only explanation was that there was a spy in Konoha. One that was able to get close to the Hokage Tower, one who had access to the main floor to be able to hear her give orders to her Anbu team.

Sighing out in frustration the Godaime leaned back into her chair and closed her eyes for a moment to relax. She ignored the light numbing of her left hand. It started this morning when she got up to go to her office. It had been extremely light, barely unnoticeable, but she knew better and no later than an hour it started to spread up to her wrists.

She could still move her hand, but it was stiff and slightly uncomfortable. A sudden knock to her door caused her eyes to open and reveal weary amber eyes that lost much of its bright luster. "Come in." She ordered lightly and in entered Shizune with a note pad in her arms. "Lady Tsunade it's almost time for the meeting with the Elders." She told the older woman, reminding her of the meeting that was set up yesterday by Koharu Utatane.

Tsunade sighed before standing up from her chair and grabbing her green jacket from behind it. Swinging it over her right shoulder, the busty blonde made her way towards Shizune with a scowl on her weary face. "I can't wait until Sakura takes over, luckily for her she's running late this morning or else it would have been her ass going to this meeting instead of me." She bit out as Shizune let out a small amused smile before closing the door.

"It won't be that bad and after this meeting you'll be on vacation…well sort of." Shizune suggested with a smile on. Tsunade glanced over to her assistance and nodded her head in agreement as they began their walk to the meeting room. "Yeah, you're right." She muttered out softly. "I've looked through the scroll earlier this morning after Sakura left home." She started out stirring Shizune's interest as her ears perked slightly. "Was there anything useful?" She asked with a hopeful tone.

Tsunade nodded lightly as they turned a corner and went to open her mouth when she felt the presence of a chakra following her from behind. It was hidden, but a sudden spark alerted her of its existence. She turned around sharply with narrowed eyes, searching the corners of the halls and the indents of doorways for the person spying on her. "They're gone, whoever they were." Shizune stated in a hushed whisper, her brows furrowed as well as she too scanned the halls with critical eyes.

"It must be the spy from Cloud, who else would spy on the Hokage." Tsunade replied with a deep frown marring her face. "Order a group of Anbu to survey the building's perimeter as well as the inside. I fear we have a rat amongst us in the Tower." With a sharp nod Shizune disappeared in a flash, leaving Tsunade to make her way to the meeting alone.

'It's only a matter of time before I find you and when I do you'll regret ever spying on me.' She thought darkly before opening the door to the meeting she was going to endure for the next few hours.

Hair, check

Outfit, check

Sweet smelling perfume, check

Betroth necklace, check

Finally she was going to see Neji this morning and that alone made her day. She had been surprised when he had sent word for her to meet him later on in a diner for breakfast. When the maid told her she had felt faint before quickly getting over it and getting ready.

Looking into the mirror one last time Ten-Ten left her room to greet her father in his study. She knocked before opening the door at the sound of his voice and smiled upon seeing him. "Hi dad, I'm going to meet Neji today for a late breakfast at the diner near the ramen stand." She informed him with shining bright eyes. The older man grinned, pleased with the Hyuuga Prodigy's efforts to openly court his beloved daughter.

He was afraid the young Hyuuga was beginning to oppose the marriage to his daughter. That would have caused a problem seeing as how he wanted his daughter to be filled with happiness and treated with the upmost respect as she was rightfully deserved of. If the Hyuuga had gone on ignoring and avoiding his daughter any longer he would have gone to Hiashi in a confrontation.

Luckily that was not going to be the case any longer seeing as how he was taking Ten-Ten to breakfast. "Alright darling," He told her with a smile on his face and watched as she left his study.

As Ten-Ten exited the compound and walked down the road towards the center of Konoha's markets and restaurants she feels a familiar chakra signature, one that she hasn't felt for a while now. Her back stiffens involuntarily and she inwardly berates herself for being tense around a fellow comrade.

After all it was only Sakura.

She was the same Sakura, who was apprentice to the Godaime herself, head medic to Konoha's Hospital staff and the very same kunoichi who was also Neji's sparring companion for the past few years now. The brunette couldn't help, but feel a burning sensation broiling in her chest at the thought of her being her fiancé's sparring buddy. The thought of hand to hand contact, meant the touching of skin and flesh.

She would have to do something about their sparring sessions. She knew Neji wouldn't mind if she replaced Sakura as her sparring companion, seeing as how she was his fiancé and needed to spend more time with him.

Ten-Ten felt her jaw tightened as her gaze locked with Sakura's. The other kunoichi's brightly colored eyes shimmered beautifully in the sunlight, her short pink locks swaying lightly as she walked.

Ten-Ten was feeling abnormally hostile towards the pink haired kunoichi as she stared at her while meeting her half way with a raise of her hand. She waved at her in friendly gesture. 'Maybe I am just a little jealous of her.' She thought inwardly as the medic approached her in a sedate pace up the road from her.

Sakura has always stood out from a crowd like a sore thumb, but in a good way that attracted attention. Her strange colorings were exotic among shinobi, making her memorable among their fellow comrades, that and her inhumane strength. Ten-Ten stopped short while plastering a smile on her face, "Hey, Sakura haven't seen you in awhile, how you been?" She asked lightly, but her attention was tore away from the medic's face to her neck.

There was a purplish bruise marring the flesh of her slender neck. It peaked out from beneath the confines of her collar shirt. It looked like….liked a hickey, one that she has seen several times on Ino's neck on more than a few occasions. Furrowing her brows she couldn't help, but voice out her thoughts. "Is that a hickey on your neck?" That question made the medic stiffen sharply before she pulled the collar up higher to hide the mark entirely.

Sakura made sure she hid the mark completely and found herself feeling thankful towards Ten-Ten for pointing that out to her. She felt the lightest wave of guilt fill her body, knowing that Neji had been the one to give her all the marks that adorned her body, but she reminded herself that Neji was hers.

She straightened her back and turned her chin up slightly while narrowing her eyes in the tiniest bit. "Today started off a bit later than usual for me." She revealed with a light smugness to her tone and air. She could not directly let Ten-Ten know Neji was hers, but she did intend to leave subtle hints that he belonged to her and only her.

The medic watched as the brunette blushed lightly at her comment with her brown eyes widening at the same time. The Ama heiress didn't say anything for a while. Sakura however had a lot on her mind. "I've heard about your engagement to Hyuuga-san, how do feel about that? I've heard it was an arrange marriage set up by the clan heads." She asked with a raised brow in mock interest.

Ten-Ten nodded her head before smiling prettily. "It was, but I don't mind one bit, my father was generous enough to indulge with my idea of combining both the Ama clan and the Hyuuga clan." She started off and couldn't help, but feel the air around Sakura grow heavy.

"Why of all the men from the Hyuuga clan did you choose Neji-san and not some other Hyuuga from the main branch?" The question startled her slightly as well as the edge that laced Sakura's words. The kunoichi was known for her outward displays of raw emotions and feared little of the consequence of her actions if she so chose to expressed them with her fists.

Ten-Ten's brows furrowed at the tone and frowned while her expression was one of confusion. Why was Sakura asking her such a question? It wasn't her business as to why she had chosen Neji. "I'm sorry Sakura, but that's none of your business." The brunette said strongly as she narrowed her eyes at the visibly upset medic.

Sakura scoffed at the brunette's words and intensified her glare. "I've been on more missions with Neji over the past few years to count, as well as trained with him on our free time, so I think I have the right to know what he's getting himself into." She fired back with fire burning in her emerald orbs.

A sudden realization hit Ten-Ten that made sense as to Sakura's abrasive behavior. She was Neji's friend and only wanted the best for him, that and she could be afraid that after they were married she couldn't see him anymore. Ten-Ten let out a breath, "I know you've gotten close to Neji, but I promise you Sakura I'll take good care of him, I'll love him as any wife would to their husband. I already have the loving him part down." She told the medic and she suddenly felt the air around her grow cold.

What happened?

With startled eyes the weapon specialist watched Sakura with weary eyes. Sakura's long bangs overshadowed her eyes, making it hard for the brunette to decipher if she was okay or not. "S-Sakura, are you alright?" She asked in a light stutter, her eyes widening when Sakura suddenly walked passed her while brushing passed her shoulder roughly on the way.

"Ouch, hey that was uncalled for, Sakura!" Ten-Ten shouted angrily as she watched the medic continue on her way before breaking out into a run and disappearing. Ten-Ten's chocolate colored eyes were glistening in anger as she humph and continued on her way to meet Neji.

Her eyes widen.

She quickly glanced at her watch.

Shit, she was running late!

By a lake in Tea Country

The water was so calm and serene it made him wish his life was just like the water that made up the lake before him. It was a clear, fresh green that contained a variety of fish within it, a few of them passed by the shore line once or twice, but never daring to come any closer. With a sigh the young boy lazily tossed a smooth covered stone into the water, causing numerous ripples to be created and making the fish flee away, scared. The stone skidded three times before sinking into the bottom of the lake, forever lost in its depths.

It was a beautiful morning in Tea Country as it always is, but the young boy did not acknowledge the fact, instead lost within his thoughts of his parents and younger sibling. He had been orphaned two years ago, courtesy of a group of rouge shinobi. He had been the only survivor because of the thing inside him had protected him. Even as he stared at his reflection within the calm water, he could see the thing's markings on his boyish face.

Two jagged stripes adorned each one of his cheeks in an electric blue color, his canines abnormally longer than the other children's as well as his heightened abilities that made him an abnormal child of ten years old. He's been alone ever since and will always be alone because of what he was.

His own village had forbid him from entering in fear of the beast within him breaking loose and slaughtering innocents like it did ten years ago. With his father now gone there was no one around to keep the beast from being unleashed. The seal that adorned his abdomen was weakling and he had no clue on how to make it stronger and he doubted any shinobi was powerful enough to place a new seal on it or better yet relieve him of the beast that resided within him.

He wanted to be normal, to become a shinobi like his father and serve his Village the best he can.

"It's not going to happen…" He muttered out to himself as he drew his legs into his chest and rested his chin in between his knees. "And it's all because of you, I hate you." He seethed out angrily, feeling the beast chuckle at him seemingly amused.

"The feeling is mutual kid,"

Dark, black hair fell over his bright silvery blue eyes, blurring his vision of the world around him as he listened to the beast putting his input in. As he went to brush the hair out of his eyes, he heard the soft chime of bells ringing close by to him, maybe a few hundred yards away from his current location.

He turned his head towards the sound, his heightened sense of hearing giving him great advantage to the approaching, potential shinobi enemies. He lifted his head up to the air and inhaled swiftly and deeply. Once he did his eyes snapped opened and he stood up quickly from the shore line. He could smell the chakras radiating off the two shinobi and they were incredible as well as dangerous. He could sense rather than smell the killing intent coming from the two hidden within the trees. He felt his body tense his muscles and pump itself with adrenaline. He would need it if he hoped to escaped and live another day.

"Run kid, you don't want them catching you! Run now!"

He didn't know why his beast was so fearful of the two shinobi catching him, but he listened all the same. He learned one thing from the Wolf and that was to follow and trust his instincts no matter what. The moment he turned and made a run for it he caught a glimpse of their attire.

The cloak they wore was black and it was adorned with red colored clouds. They're heads were covered with rice hats that had a bell hanging from the sides along with paper charms. It was the strangest thing he has ever seen, but it terrified him to no end.

As he made a run for it with his incredible speed he ran directly towards the Fire Country, more specifically the direction that would lead him to Konoha.

A/N: I'm really sorry for the long update!!! I got caught up with my others stories and had pushed this one aside, but the reviews that I recently got from you guys made me want to continue it. Thank you all for the reviews and for adding this story onto your favorites and alerts! ;)

I hope to upload the next chapter within the next two weeks and I promise not to make you guys wait longer than that!

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Lady Manami