A/N: AH! Sorry the chapters took sooo long! I'm starting to run out of ideas! If anyone would like to pitch in some ideas for my stories that would e wonderful! And I just noticed I did some REALLY bad math percentages in my previous chapters… gotto go fix that sometime…

Chapter 5

Caged Birds

A week after she first moved in, Sakura had been visiting Neji everyday that she could. But it was pretty hard to find time off her schedule with her training and all the other princess stuff she has to do. Neji now gotten used to her visitings but he did not know who or why she came down to visit him of all people.

Sakura soon became busier and busier as all of princess duties piled up on her while trying to avoid Sasuke at the same time.

Ok, so one day, Sakura had spare time and was playing with her cat Shadow. She threw the bal across the garden and watched her cat run as fast so fast she really did look like an shadow. Sakura laughed as her cat pounced on her on the run back, with the ball in her mouth. She sat down and caressed the cat in her arms gently. She suddenly heard the most annoying voice calling her name. It was Sasuke.

"SAKURA!" He called strutting through the garden, "SAKURA! OH HONEY! WHERE ARE YOU!" Sakura stifled a gasp, stuffed her pet in her dress pocket and dashed behind a big bush. Sasuke walked on by cursing under his breathe. Sakura, wanting to see what this was all about followed him silently. She watched him as he walked back into the castle and into his bedroom with the odor left open a creak She peered inside as Sasuke started cursing everything in his bedroom. All of a sudden, a poof came up and a figure with snake like eyes, a pale face, and a slithery voice came in.

"Orochimaru…." Sasuke growled deeply. Orochimaru was Lord Uchiha's advisor and castle mage.

"What's wrong Sasuke? Everything not working as you planned?" Orochimaru said.

Sasuke growled and gave him an icy cold glare. Sakura was deeply frightened. She had never seen that look on Sasuke.

"If you wish to know, that annoying pink haired princess is getting on my last nerves!" Sasuke screeched.

Orochimaru chuckled. "Why don't you just get rid of her then. She is a useless pawn anyways."

"No, I need her. By marrying her, I will gain the power of the Haruno kingdom, making ME more powerful then Itachi! With her, I can control the people of her lands in the palm of my hand. THEN…. I will get rid of her."

Orochimaru chuckled. "I have taught you well, my pupil."

Sasuke smirked. "A few sacrifices are to be made in order to get the king. (Referring to chess.) Remember, you taught me that. But first, I have to fix that problem with her and the Hyuga brat. My guards have witnessed her down in the dungeons with a bento box and they claim that the Hyuga always seems to be well fed."

"Hm, that does seem to be a problem." Orochimaru said. "Lock her up in her room and if she wished to go out, make sure that a bodyguard is always with her. Inform them all that if Sakura is caught down in the dungeons again, everyone will be executed. And if that still doesn't work, don't worry, I can always convince the king to just kill the Hyuga." With that said, he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Sakura ran back to her room, slammed the door shut and locked it. Her back to the door, she slid down and sat. Then, she started crying.

A/N: Sorry that the chapters have been really short. I'll TRY to make it longer next time. I'm still up for ideas! PLZ!