The Dark Ages
Chapter 2
"I've send five assassins to scout the area. And I have all my men waiting for a command at any given moment." Sasuke explained to his father who was nodding approvingly.
"Good. We need to be ready if anything unexpected happens. Did you sent anyone to go to the Archyl?" Fugaku asked with a lowered gaze as he took in the map in front of him.
"Yes, father. I send Yamanaka Sai there. He should be returning in few days to tell everything he knows."
"Duke Nara, I want you to help my son to create new protective plans for out village. I don't want anyone to get hurt if the enemy decides to attack us." Fugaku continued with a stern voice as he glanced at the dark-haired man on the other side of the table.
Shikaku Nara was known for his superior intelligence when it came to planning. He was the king's right-hand-man with knowledge not many people possessed.
"Of course, My Lord." The scar face man replied with a nod of his head. "But we've already discussed it with the prince and have come up with new plans for the guards patrolling the walls. All we need is to come up with a better safety plan if and when the attack happens."
Fugaku's eyes flashed to his son, "You've been busy, I see."
"I don't want to risk an attack against our people." Sasuke answered.
"All in all, it's very unusual for someone to attack the elves. They are a peaceful group of creatures. They adore their deities and gods, protect nature and what not." Shikaku explained. "They would be the last one's I would plan an attacking against. They don't even have many trained soldiers among them. However-"
"Their healing abilities." Fugaku ended Shikaku's words.
"Who wouldn't want that for themselves?" Shikaku added with a pointed look.
"Elves are invaluable. They guard their villages well with spells and wards." Minato joined in as he stepped into the room with a bunch of other men following him.
"Spells and wards?" Kiba laughed from behind Minato as he easily strolled across the floor and found his place behind Sasuke. "You make those nature-lovers sound magical."
"They are." Shikaku laughed back, "And it would be foolish to not take that seriously."
"No one has seen an elf on these lands in decades, maybe even in centuries. If a place is so well guarded with wards and spells than how did someone attack it? And everyone here knows that elves don't systematically train warriors." Kiba explained as if he knew everything.
"I think the best plan of action is not to do any hasty decisions. We don't know the full story until the girl wakes up and tells us what she knows. Who knows, maybe she was riding outside their lands and was caught in a bad situation." Shikaku said and looked over at his king, "Just like we planned on doing."
"What did you plan on doing?" Minato asked while sitting down on his seat.
"I've send a group of men scouting our lands and looking for those men. Also Yamanaka Sai is heading towards Archyl to see what's going on there." Sasuke explained again.
"How do you know it's Archyl?" A chubby man asked while leaning against his chair. Lord Akimichi Chōza was a big man. He had the ability to fight men on combat battles, but often his weight hindered him.
"Maybe the girl is from Nichral." Chōza offered with a huff.
"Archyl is much closer to us and it's only logical for us to go there first." Fugaku said back with a stern voice.
"Nichral, Archyl, Corchyl~" Chōza sang with humor, "whatever it is. Why are we even concerning ourselves with the elves? We haven't been in any kind of contact with them in years. I think we should just throw the girl to those people, who want her and that would be fine. I'm sure us keeping her here causes us a lot more trouble than it's worth."
"Chōza you're talking about a human being." Shikaku scolded his friend.
"It's not a human. It's an elf." Chōza said back.
Sasuke rubbed his temple in frustration. The bickering continued among the table with some being against helping the girl and others wanting to help her.
"Quiet!" Fugaku's low tone echoed in the room. "We've already began actions against the people who were after the girl, and I won't be going back on them. Our spy, Sai, is almost at Archyl and pulling him back would be ridiculous."
"My lord," Chōza started, "this is bullshit! We're setting our own people in danger by doing this!"
"Lord Chōza, are you doubting your king's actions?" Fugaku asked with a raised brow.
The burly man swallowed hard under the intense glare of the king.
"O-of course not, your highness."
"Good." Fugaku turned his attention back to his youngest son, "I want you to be in-charge of this situation and report to me directly."
"Yes, father." Sasuke lowered his head.
Then the king's eyes scanned the room and his brows furrowed, "Where's Prince Itachi? Has anyone seen him?"
Men around the room shook their head. A brown-haired man with a tobacco between his lips stepped forward from behind the group of men still standing, "I saw His Highness heading towards the library a while ago."
The king nodded in response with now a passive face, "You're all dismissed." he waved his hand and everyone got up and bowed.
Fugaku's eyes landed on his youngest son, who didn't miss the look and remained seated in his chair. A loud clatter echoed in the hallways as the large group of men left the room.
"Sasuke, is there something wrong with Itachi?" He didn't waste any time asking the question.
"What do you mean?" This topic was very much unfamiliar to the prince. Itachi was the crown jewel of the Uchiha family since he was the heir to the throne.
"He's been missing last few meetings. It's not like him to act this way."
"I haven't had the time to talk to him lately." Sasuke answered truthfully. Being busy with training his men and planning new strategies has taken most of his time. Since returning from his travels with his teacher and mentor Hatake Kakashi, Sasuke hasn't had any time for his older brother.
"Of course," Fugaku nodded in understanding, "you only just returned few months ago." He grabbed a stack of papers and stacked them neatly in front of him.
"How have you been settling in then?" This question completely caught Sasuke off guard. Ever since he came back Fugaku hasn't shown any interest to what had happened during those few years traveling around the world. He acted as if Sasuke had never left and even if he was appointed as the new general, it did nothing to cause any kind of interest in Fugaku's eyes. This was a whole new thing for Sasuke.
"Fine. Nothing's changed much."
Fugaku only nodded and go up himself. Sasuke followed him up quickly before bowing and taking his leave from the room.
Sasuke made his way down the hallways and towards the sleeping quarters of the palace. The healer of their village, Senju Tsunade, thought it to be a better idea to take the elf there instead of leaving her to the infirmary. Since no elves resided in these areas, she was bound to attract attention to her if left in places where many people spend their times at.
Madam Tsunade's assistant, Miss Shizune was standing outside the door with papers in front of her as she wrote down something.
"Miss Shizune?" Sasuke caught her attention.
The petite brunette whipped around and at the same time curtsied.
"Your highness, what are you doing here?" She asked politely and held the papers against her chest.
"I came to check on the girl. Has she woken up yet?"
"No, not yet. And actually~" Shizune bit down on her lip, "we don't think she's just a girl."
"Wh-" Sasuke started but was cut off by a yell.
"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice traveled across the halls followed by his loud footsteps. "There you are! I was looking for you!"
Just then Naruto took notice of Shizune standing few feet away from them and he gave a small bow.
"Evening." He muttered awkwardly. Naruto wasn't the type of person to use respect other people by the book.
"Lord Naruto, it's been a while. You haven't been around the infirmary much lately." Shizune joked easily making Naruto blush sheepishly.
"That's because I've gotten a lot better at sparring!" He explained enthusiastically. "I just kicked Kiba's ass two days ago!"
"Naruto." Sasuke said with annoyance.
"Oh! Sorry!" Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Sorry for cussing, Miss Shizune."
"It's okay, Naruto. I've already gotten used to it."
Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes. Naruto could be so obnoxious that it was to whole another level.
"The girl?" Sasuke finally said wanting to continue their original conversation.
"Yes, of course!" Shizune's face lit up, "We don't think she's just an elf. Madam Tsunade has spent few years among the elves studying their medicine and healing abilities during her time at Nichral. The markings she has indicate she's of a noble bloodline."
"Madam Tsunade knows how to read Archen?" Naruto blurted out.
"Technically yes, but still no. She knows what kind of markings separate the noble and the common people among them. It's difficult to detect and learning Archen language is not something taught to foreigners. The elves rather keep their own language and ways of communicating to themselves, but after spending so much time among the elves, madam Tsunade picked a thing or two."
"Well this is new information." Came the familiar voice of the Crown Prince Itachi.
He was walking down the hallways lazily and stopped next to the group.
"Father was expecting you at the meeting." Sasuke said aloud right away.
Something flashed in Itachi's eyes until he looked at Sasuke, "I know, but unfortunately something unexpected came up."
Sasuke lifted his brow in question.
"It's not something for you to worry about." Itachi said instantly and placed his hand over Sasuke's shoulder in a calming manner.
Shizune had curtsied again and Itachi gave her a soft smile, "Miss Shizune, busy as always."
"Unfortunately, yes Your Highness."
"I find it quite intriguing that our very own healer has spent her younger years among the fair folk." Itachi commented with humor. "Although, what else would one expect from a woman such as Senju Tsunade."
Shizune smiled soft. She adored the Madam so much and tries to learn as much as she could. Tsunade was getting older, and they wouldn't be having her around for much longer. However, for a woman nearly in her sixties, she looked absolutely gorgeous for her age.
"Madam isn't entirely sure if the elf is from a noble family, but I'm sure we're going to be confirmed as she wakes up." Shizune explained to the men around her.
"This is certainly an interesting turn." Itachi commented.
"But also a dangerous one." Sasuke replied and received nods of agreement.
The door behind Shizune was pushed open revealing blond woman peeking from behind it.
"Shizune?" Tsunade's raspy voice called.
"Yes, Madam?"
"The girl is waking up! Bring something to drink!" The door was pulled closed even without a proper look of the healer.
"Doesn't she know that there are maids for that kind of jobs?" Naruto questioned with a tilt of his head.
"Apparently not." Shizune grumbled and with another curtsey she walked away from the men.
"I'll take my leave then too." Itachi sighed and with another to his brother and Naruto he left in to other direction.
Naruto and Sasuke stared at Itachi's retreating back until it disappeared behind a corner.
"Is it just me or does he look tired?" Naruto suddenly blurted and looked over at Sasuke.
Sasuke shook his head in agreement.
"I don't know what's going on with him, but according to father Itachi hasn't attended the last couple meetings they've been having." Sasuke said and crossed his arms over his chest.
"It's not like Itachi to skips those things." Naruto murmured. "Have you tried talking to him?"
Sasuke shook his head, "No."
"He's your brother."
"But that doesn't mean we tell each other everything." Sasuke snapped and went for the door separating him from Tsunade and the elf.
Naruto muttered something behind Sasuke as he knocked on the door gently. He didn't wait for any invite and instead walked right in Naruto following close by. Tsunade's figure appeared from behind the arch separating the room's lounge from the sleeping quarters. The sheer curtains were drawn close which was unusual, but Sasuke figured Tsunade wanted to preserve as much privacy as possible.
"Where's Shizune?" Her annoyed voice asked from the two men. She stood with hands on her hips glaring.
"Fetching the water." Naruto laughed and flopped down on one of the lounges in the room.
"You," she pointed both of them, "shouldn't be here."
"Has she said anything?" Sasuke decided to completely ignore the woman's scolding.
Tsunade's eyes squinted at his tone and way of ignoring her, "She just woke up. It's not like she's going to babble everything the moment she wakes up."
"The faster we get the information of what happened, the sooner we can plan our next actions."
"Spoken like a true general, I see." Sasuke didn't miss the slight proud tone in her words. "Always wanting to know what is going on. Unfortunately, she hasn't said anything yet."
Soft shuffling came from the bed chamber. Tsunade's body turned instantly and she ducked under the curtains. All the curtains were pulled in front of the windows on the other side, leaving the room almost completely dark.
Naruto had leaned on his seat to look inside the curtains waiting to see the girl.
Sasuke stood still on the marble floor waiting.
"Are you sure?" Tsunade whispered, but received nothing answered.
Sasuke's brows furrowed as more shuffling came from behind the curtains. It took a few minutes until Tsunade's shadow carefully lead another towards the lounge.
Naruto had sat straighter on the lounge as the girl came with Tsunade. She looked exactly like Sasuke remembered her from this morning. Her fair skin and unique pastel pink hair, but what surprised him this time were her eyes. Emerald green eyes watched carefully the two men in the room.
Under the massive cloak, she had on, the girl had looked much bigger and bulkier when in reality she was a petite girl about the height of Shizune. Compared to Tsunade, who had curves and a massive cleavage, the girl actually looked like one would imagine elves to be like. She was wrapped tightly under a silk dressing gown that was tightly tied around her waist.
"Whoa! You really look like an elf!" Naruto suddenly blurted out and Tsunade looked horrified.
"You little-" she started spitting and pointing at Naruto, but the girl caught her off.
"It is okay." Everyone's eyes landed right away on her.
Sasuke couldn't help but to think that her soft voice really suited her fairy like appearance.
"I know that we do not mingle among each other much, and seeing and elf for the first time can be quite a shock." She explained softly with a gentle smile directed at Naruto. For a moment, Naruto looked completely caught off-guard before he sprang from the lounge and bowed deeply.
His face was red as a tomato, "I-I apologize for my rudeness."
The girl had already forgotten the incident as he eyes shifted to Sasuke, "You must be Prince Sasuke the general of His Highness' knights? Youngest son of Uchiha Fugaku, the King of the Land of Fire?" She questioned him with a slightly raised brow.
Sasuke's answer was a soft nod.
"You know quite a lot for someone who hasn't been in contact with the outside world." Tsunade commented from the side. The older woman looked quite startled with the knowledge the girl has.
"We elves like to keep to ourselves most of the time. You humans tend to have habits that we do not approve of." She answered truthfully.
"Who are you exactly then?" Sasuke finally asked the question everyone wanted to know.
Her chin lifted a little as she faced the prince head on, "I am the Princess of Archyl, the Land of Waterfall."
"What do your people call you?" Tsunade questioned the girl. It was common knowledge that the elves didn't have last names. They mostly called themselves daughters or sons of their parents.
"Sakura."
"That really suits you!" Naruto exclaimed happily. "I've never seen a girl as pretty as you are!"
Tsunade's face once again looked livid. Naruto didn't seem to have any manners when it came to other people no matter how much you scolded him. He always blurted out something that would inevitably change people's attitudes towards him.
"I am not a girl." Sakura's answer was a stern one. "By your society's standards I would be a woman ready to be wedded."
Naruto's wide smile stopped the second her words left her mouth, "Then how old are you exactly?"
This time Sakura smiled sweetly at him, "That is for you to find out."
Naruto pouted and crossed his arms. He seemed to be really in thought as he scrutinized the elf.
"Are you twenty? Twenty-one?" Naruto started guessing, but Sakura shook her head.
"Why are women so insecure about their age? I'm thirty and I don't have a problem admitting it! And even everybody knows that Madam Tsunade is seventy-years-old!" Naruto explained with seriousness that wasn't expected from him. Unfortunately, his words didn't have a very good answer from Tsunade who took threatening steps towards the blond.
"Next time you open your mouth, I would be very careful about what I say." Tsunade hissed at him and Naruto took a step back with his arms in the air.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"Why were the men after you?" Sasuke asked the princess, who was watching the exchange of words in front of her.
"They were not men." Sakura's words made the two blonds stop their bickering.
Sasuke's brows furrowed in question, "What do you mean?"
"I do not know, but they were not ordinary men, nor were they elves. All I know is that they attacked my home, and I had to flee to get your help."
Thanks for reading chapter 2! And I really hope you guys are enjoying this story so far.
Thanks for reviewers:
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Next chapter will be posted in another week or two. I'm not sure if I can get Fated Encounter updated before that. But if I can do it in the next few days then chapter 3 will be up next weekend.
- Jakura