Reviewers;

Czar Joseph: I am relieved to hear that you liked my design for the Isles. Originally, I had planned for it to be in a still active volcano with magic keeping it back, but then my story completely changed and I had to add more of a safe harbor to help it stick to the plot line.

St3rfire: Will they, indeed? After all, why would they help someone as wicked as a Witch? And the two grow closer and closer together.

AN: Hey everyone, so I mention earlier that I'm coming out with a new story soon after I am finished with this one, and wanted to know who wanted me to PM them once it starts. Don't be shy and just post in the review section, so that when I post it, you'll be the first to know! Okay? Okay, let the story continue.

Fire & Ice

Arc 3:Trust

Chapter 42: A New Alliance

As the council room doors closed and the two knights who stayed on the outside stood before the doors, Sakura and Naruto stayed where they were on the stone bench, waiting as the minutes ticked by as the sun moved high above the castle, shedding its fullest light upon the city below. As Sakura closed her eyes and rested on Naruto's shoulder, the blond looked at her worriedly and wondered how she was really doing in all of this.

This had to be hard for her. Sakura had never truly left Port Haruno, and even after the start of this war, she had created her own safe refuge, where she didn't need to worry about anything or anybody. If she had just left Sasuke to his own ideals of conquering the world, she could have been at peace with herself. But no, instead, she fought for who she could by keeping Sasuke back, and these people nor did he even know it.

Naruto looked closely at Sakura and saw the rough edges that were just there on her body, made from years of battle and wear, before her eyes opened and she stared away at nothing in particular, and her eyes were firm and decisive where they used to be soft and warm. Sakura had been forced to change by what she had seen and lost, and Naruto hated himself for it. He should have been there, at her side, and now she was at his. He wouldn't let her go anymore, and as long as he held onto her, she would not push him away. She never really had, and their love had matured into something timeless…and Naruto smiled. Sakura's magic was timeless, so their love only helped with putting that picture in mind.

Sakura's boots began to tap hurriedly against the stone floor, and Naruto felt the shivers coming down Sakura's arm that wrapped in a loop around his. He smiled at that; Sakura had never been a girl for patience, and always one who grew nervous for a test and occasions as time went on. Her time with Kakashi had been proof of that when her expert sword skills became erratic and worrisome when he tested her on the techniques in her childhood.

Sakura bit her lower lip in nervousness, staring at the doors, waiting for them to simply open already. She just wanted to walk in, give her case, and then have them tell her right away yes or no. She didn't want time to debate and discuss and all of this was pointless! She just wanted to beat Sasuke and Akhlys, and go back to being in a castle with Naruto in a secret room, Alone!

Sakura shivered involuntarily as a finger traced along the inside of her arm, tickling her flesh as it slid smoothly above the inside of her elbow. Sakura's body shook as she looked over to see Naruto staring at her. Geez, she must be making him worried for him to start caressing her in this kind of situation. No words needed to be said from the two as they were closer and their small actions meant everything, but still…words were sometimes the best medicine to situations like these.

"You always know how to calm me." Sakura whispered, her voice like that of a tired angel, bringing somber news to Naruto's ears. Naruto quirked his smile at her words and nodded.

"How else do I serve my Queen?"

"Don't say that...You never took the fealty and the oath for that service. I always liked being your Hime."

"As did I."

"Naruto, I still feel guilty about my past life…"

"I know…"

"What if they don't go along with my plan?"

"Then we'll do what we have to do to win."

"How?"

"Sakura, I'm not leaving your side, and for that, think of it as you and me facing Sasuke."

"But…he can see you coming."

"But can he hit me?" Naruto smirked and Sakura smiled a little.

"You always make me smile."

"As do you. After all, Saku, we do hold the other's heart. But Sakura, we need to be ready for what comes after this."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you've thought about us…and our children," Naruto spoke as Sakura nodded and he reached out to turn her head towards his, his fingers gripping her chin lightly to do so. "I want to return to Port Haruno as do your people. Will you do that for me?"

"Y-You want me to rule over them?"

"No. Rule For Them. You will be a just Queen, all that is needed is that of you being able to live with that responsibility."

"…You know, when I died and was reborn, I thought that life was over. But then I got Layla and Miki, and Suki, and all the others who I take care of. Perhaps I am meant to be a guide for others."

"Then you will come back to Port Haruno?"

"As long as you are there, then I will remain at your side." Sakura sniffled and Naruto held her cheek adoringly.

"Then let's convince them that your cause is right." And with that, Naruto leaned in and kissed Sakura tenderly, as she smiled and pressed her lips upon her lovers, as their lips opened up, and tongues intertwined.

Another few minutes passed them by, and the two separated their two wet slippery muscles from the other's mouth as the doors opened and as Kakashi walked out and nodded to the two of them. Naruto stood up before offering his hand for Sakura to take and as they did so, Kakashi smiled and hoped that they could do these small acts for the far off and foreseeable future, but then again, with this war looming, that future seemed so far away, hidden behind the times of falling ash and chilling ice.

Sakura looked to her eight guards and nodded to them as they relaxed themselves in the hallway as the couple allowed Kakashi to lead them inside the room. It was first a very ornate hallway of gold of the highest quality coated over the wood of the walls, while underneath their feet, huge blocks of marble served as a pathway forward into the main room. Sakura's eyes scanned the grand circular room with a dome high above them, and the room was surreal and almost religiously placed just behind the throne room of the castle itself.

In the center of said room was a carved out circular table, cut into four sheets of a quarter portion of a circle, with enough room in between them to allow speakers to move into the center, where a small wooden podium stood proudly, its wooden railings encompassing the one who was to speak. Sakura noticed how the tables each had three seats behind it, to serve as the formation of the initial alliances of the grand Alliance.

The Alliance had come together through a treaty between four smaller treaties linking three nations to each other, and as time went on, this Unity circle kept those allies close to their original treaty, while still holding the circle together. And then at the far end of the circle was a smaller table made to house a single nation, and behind it was the Haruno white circle, her family's chair.

Sakura looked around the room, noticing on her closest right the chairs of the Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara, from their longstanding alliance of almost three hundred years. To her far left was the table with the Inuzuka, Hyuuga and Aburame from the more northern cities. To Sakura's near left were the cities of close friends, from the Sabaku and Terumi clans, having Gaara and Mei here as their ambassadors, as well as the Higarashi assassin villages in attendance. Finally, on Sakura's far right was the Shade and Ruuko clans, allies of Port Haruno for the past hundred years. On the lead of the council's table was Tsunade herself, but it was the last seat to the far right that caught Sakura off guard.

"Lord Itachi!" Sakura exclaimed, as Itachi stood proudly from behind his table and made his way to his figurative sister and held her warmly, as she hugged him deeply. Itachi backed off and Sakura was astounded at his presence. "I thought you were dead. I heard that Sasuke attacked your stronghold two winters ago."

"Yes, he did, but by the time he arrived, I was long gone. I did however lose a lot of men who died defending me and the common people of the Uchiha Plains."

"I see." Sakura sounded relived, before Itachi's eyes glimpse the lack of chains upon her wrists, though the golden band did look rather impressive upon her skin.

"I assume you are not bound for a reason, Sakura."

"I came willingly."

"I see."

A cough erupted from the Sabaku ambassador. "Can we get started?"

"Of course. I hope to speak with you later, Sakura."

"Of course, Lord Itachi." Sakura smiled as she whispered back. Itachi walked back around the table, and moved past the Shade delegate before sitting down once again. As soon as he did, the temperature in the room cooled, and Naruto rubbed Sakura's arm, knowing that the more confident she was, the warmer it would be. How do you think he was able to sleep next to her? He made sure that every night, she was happy and content, and as of the last week, what the seal did was help Sakura see the happy things of the day.

"Now that we have everyone present," Tsunade began to speak, looking around the room as she did so. "Let us, the council of the Allied Cities, commence our debate of how to deal with these new threats and how we can go about them. As we discussed last month, Kakashi has now gone to the land of Port Haruno to bring us Sakura Haruno, formerly of Port Haruno. Kakashi, please step forward and recount your story."

Kakashi walked up and bowed low to the council. "My council, I am honored to be in your presence."

"And we thank you Kakashi. Now, please recount your journey."

"Of course. First, I was of course issued my orders by Lord Itachi himself, and I knew that having Naruto Namikaze with my battalion would increase our odds to find the Ice Witch. After I was helped by your daughter, Lord Inoichi," Kakashi recounted, and Inoichi smiled at the mention of his daughter, "Naruto came with us under the assumption that Sakura would not be harmed. We soon arrived inside Port Haruno itself, and began to make our way to Sakura's ice fortress." Kakashi moved on to describe the magnificence of Sakura's city and then the battle that occurred, though he mentioned how he lost no men on the way to the castle or against Sakura. "It was after Naruto had sealed Sakura's powers that we finally relaxed."

"So, Lady Haruno cannot use her powers?" A council member spoke out, but Kakashi shook his head before magic fizzled out of Sakura's hand and a small bluebird came to life and flew around the room, before moving up to the dome and exited out one of the open windows. The council looked at Sakura and her eyes grew worried. She hadn't meant to create a bird, just a spark of magic.

"No, she agreed to come willingly with us and so we began our trek back. It was on this way back though that we were attacked."

"Did her mercenaries attack you?"

"No. Her mercenaries proved to be her own creations, my council." Kakashi corrected and their eyes widened at the thought that the witch before them could make an army all on her own. "However, that is why she is here today. We were attack by evil creatures made of fire. We soon found out that our weapons proved mostly ineffective and we lost many men in the process. However, they came from Lord Sasuke."

"Sasuke?" Itachi spoke, and the Lords and ladies sighed at Itachi's look of betrayal. "What has he done?"

"I cannot say, my Lord. We are here only because Lady Sakura led an attack on Sasuke's new ships which I have to say are heavily destructive as well. My men as well as myself owe her our lives." Kakashi spoke as he turned to bow to Sakura, whose eyes glistened. "I thank you, Lady Sakura, for you were once my pupil, but now you are the master."

Sakura nodded her head and as Kakashi left the podium, the council looked to her and she drew herself smaller and into Naruto's frame before Naruto kissed her forehead and Sakura breathed in and stepped forward. Sakura's footsteps were light and silent on the marble floor, but Sakura breathed deeply before she stepped up onto the small platform and looked around herself.

Sakura's hand gently caressed the soft wood, admiring it fondly. To think, the last time she had stepped onto a wooden platform in front of people, she had been prepared to sacrifice her life for others. And now, she was doing the exact same thing; trying to convince others that with her help, they could all live happily ever after. And while the first time didn't work out besides separating herself from Naruto, this plea would hopefully ensure that Sakura would stay at his side.

"What do you wish to speak of, Lady Sakura?"

"I wish to ask for your help in destroying Sasuke."

"You no longer belong here, and even further from asking for a favor of this magnitude before the council."

"Maybe I don't, but I am here nevertheless." Sakura retorted. "I was born with my magic, but Sasuke has obtained it by receiving it from another source."

"What source are you telling of?"

"A Goddess…" Sakura spoke up and the council quieted for a full minute.

"A Goddess you say?"

"Yes. The Goddess of Misery to be precise, and she gave herself to Sasuke in order to obtain the power to fight against me, and I cannot hope to beat him alone."

"You seem to be able to do well yourself."

"Sasuke has numbers on his side, while my creations are built in quality over the quantity. I cannot beat him, as he cannot hope to beat me."

"Then why don't we just destroy the both of you." A councilor asked, as his glare was shared among some of the other councilors.

"You don't get it!" Sakura seethed. "Have any of you even heard from the cities in the south across the ocean?" At the silence, Sakura smiled. "I see you haven't. My cold weather is something I know that you all hate, but it is better than the firestorms and deserts that Sasuke has turned them into.

"It is My Ice that is being torn apart by the Fire of Sasuke, and it is through the magic I placed into the oceans and glaciers that holds him back. His soldiers have turned into those creatures that Kakashi explained to you, and I can't hold him back forever. I know what I am asking, but you already want to end this war and so do I. The point is that if either of us attacks Sasuke, then neither of us can win, but your people will die in vain. Join me, and we stand a much greater chance at defeating him and the Goddess that supports him."

"And what are you willing to offer? Surely you don't expect us to bow to your frozen wastelands."

Sakura sighed and looked to Naruto, remembering his words to her over a year ago. "I am sorry to have done that to all of you. I…I thought that I could make this world better...but I was wrong...I made a mistake and it took my heart being crushed to do so." Sakura's eyes teared and some of the council bowed their heads in regret at their anger.

"I made that mistake and now I'm trying to correct it. Sasuke…he's on the same path that I am, and maybe there is a chance that I can save him as Naruto saved me. I know now that I need others at my side to change this world and I need you all to do that. My parents knew this and tried to teach me that, but I was so intent on doing things with just my own hands growing up that I failed to listen and heed their words.

"If you agree to support me, I-I will give it up. My magic; I will…"

"Sakura…" Naruto's voice traveled across the room and Sakura sighed, but stared forward.

"This was the only way. Join me in battle, and you won't have to attack me. This armband, made by Naruto as a seal master, has the ability to shut off my powers completely. I will always wear it, and never use my powers again. I will return the weather to the regular seasons, and will be at the beck and call of this council. You may lock me away in a dungeon far down in the Inuzuka mines, but I only ask that I am able to see Naruto once a year. Please?"

"What about your previous people, Lady Sakura?"

"They are already under Lady Ino's safety. She can lead them."

"Actually, she cannot." Shikaku Nara spoke up and Sakura looked confused. "She has become betrothed to Prince Shikamaru, as of last week."

"I…I see. Then…I wish for Naruto to lead them."

"Sakura?"

"Very well…"

All around Sakura, people nodded and shook their heads, before soft whispering erupted between the tables and then they all raised their hands, and Tsunade smiled down at Sakura. "Well, Lady Sakura, Witch of Port Haruno, the Alliance agrees with you and will support you in this war, and then you will submit to us your powers. Is that in agreement with you?"

Sakura bent her head and locked her eyes with Naruto, and thought about just seeing him even once a year. She was twenty years old, so hopefully she would be able to see Naruto for another twenty years, twenty times, and just the thought of seeing him for just one more day made it worth it.

"Yes...I agree to the terms."

"Then let us prepare ourselves and our armies. We attack in two months."

Sakura bowed to the council and walked off the podium, before she wrapped her arms around Naruto and they shared a kiss that would become frozen in the memory of time.