-xxx-
"Careful, little flower. For your secrets are safe from no one. Not even yourself."
-xxx-
Ch.6 Weeds Amongst the Sand
The crude Jashinist had proved more useful than Sakura originally intended he could be. The friend of a high ranking spy master was a piece she intended to keep around for later purposes. She was sure if she doused his system with enough alcohol and his senses with enough of her skin, he could be advantageous once again. Unfortunately, her trip to the brothel to meet the heathen had a price as well. The arrogant celebrant has left his fair share of lust marks across the fair skin of her neck and shoulder. She would not call them love marks, for what he felt for her was on the dangerous cliff of desperate hunger.
As she removed herself from the seedy location, she allowed one of her hands to pull the delicate pins in her hair free. The soft pink tresses tumbled over her shoulders in waves due to their previous compression. She swept the hair over the blemishes that now marred her skin thanks to the silver haired devil. A simple cover, but the fact she even had to partake in it annoyed her. Though she was starting to better comprehend the religious lecher, she knew he still held his own dangers. Thinking back to the information he had provided, she knew it would do no favors to the use of her time to go looking for the man named Zetsu. Once his unobtrusive informants had notified him of her inquiry, she knew he'd seek her out. Until then, she would make better uses of her time.
She found that her feet were carrying her towards the practice field of the King's guard as they previously had on her first day in the capital. She noted that once again, guards were practicing in the small barricaded courtyard the training grounds provided. Their swings were still hectic and overcompensated for the weapons they had chosen to wield. It was almost embarrassing. Their air of cockiness was overshadowing their real potential for skill. If the men had been of her own kin, she would have stepped in to work with them. But seeing as they belonged to the King, and were not necessary pawns she needed to improve to win this game. She would take whatever advantage she could if it meant victory.
She noted, that on a practice field slightly farther away, two warriors were sparing in a match that looked strangely familiar in her eyes. As she took the steps required to receive a closer look, she noted with slight astonishment that it had been Suigetsu and Itachi's younger brother that had been going at it in a spar. Their moves were each as precise and dangerous as when they first battles, but the mood was not one of death. Just the same as their tourney match.
They each seemed to notice that they now had an audience and stopped their practice to give her their attention. "My lady," Suigetsu greeted as he panted a few breaths, presumably from the rigorous practice he had been taking part of previously. "Glad to bask in your radiance once more. It seems so long since I've last seen you."
Amusement touched her lips as she playfully rolled her eyes at the assistant captain of the King's guard. "You saw me yesterday at the tourney, Suigetsu," the lady replied, her amusement towards the lavender eyed man still palpable. She turned her eyes to glance at the young Uchiha now sizing her up in the shared moment before turning back to the talkative man. "Have the two of you decided to try for a rematch? I must admit, your battle was breathtaking to watch. You both battle so gallantly against one another."
"And what would you know of battle?" the young Uchiha questioned, though there was no playful banter in his tone as he spoke. She assumed that this was the unenjoyable quality Itachi had mentioned at the tourney when mention of his brother came up.
"More than I'd like to, Lord Sasuke. Though I may not be a decorated war general, such as yourself, my battle experience is evident none the less."
"You would equate your battle understanding to my own? How naive of you," the young Uchiha shot back with a scoff as he turned away to distance himself.
"Careful, young Uchiha. An unwise assessment in battle could lead to an embarrassing underestimation on your part," the pink haired princess tested with amusement still dancing at her lips.
"Stupid woman," he spat as his eyes shot back to meet her own. She noted that his charcoal colored eyes seemed to have a red hue as his anger towards her increased. "I suggest you stick to the things you know, such as remaining silent and fucking the king at his beck and call."
"Lord Sasuke!" Suigetsu protested as his lavender eyes widened.
"No harm done, Suigetsu," Sakura retorted sending him a sweet smile as the wind ruffled through her long tresses. "It seems I hit a tender nerve within Lord Sasuke and his response was use his blatant ignorance to shoot back a comment of idiocy in return. He's turned to spewing nasty rumors as if he were a noble woman obsessed with petty gossip. I find the situation more comical than anything else."
Her hand remained in her hair as the wind continued to assemble her locks in an effortless dance. Her emerald eyes sharpened as her pressing smirk remained when she turned back to the young Uchiha once more. "After all, we all know that Lord Sasuke is simply jealous that attention has not been properly gifted after his miraculous tourney win. Instead, the King and his court have averted their attention elsewhere. It is a wound to his pride as a decorated war general."
Sasuke was seething by this point in the conversation. She certainly had given no mercy when she spoke, but neither did he. If he wanted her to prove she was above a simple giggling noble woman, she was sure she did just that. "I believe I've overstayed my welcome, Suigetsu. Perhaps we can spend more time together on another occasion," Sakura told the man wielding the large sword as he gave her an amused smirk as the situation sunk in.
"I look forward to that, my lady."
Sakura had begun to make her way towards the exit of the guard compounds when she heard Sasuke's voice call out to her. "Spar with me."
A short laugh escaped her lips as she glanced at the young lord over her shoulder. "If you can persuade the king to allow a weapon in my possession, I would gladly blow your arrogance to the ground with it."
She couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw the edge of Sasuke's lips turn up into a challenging smirk. "You say that as if you could land a single hit."
Another laugh passed her lips as she returned to her venture from the grounds, giving the men a small wave as she left. "Do not forget what I previously mentioned about underestimation, my lord. I am sure your brother could attest to this fact if you only ask."
Without another word toward the duo, the woman left them to their own practice, hoping that in some small victory, Sasuke could convince a weapon into her possession. Surely whomever he chose to appeal to would assume he was able to handle her no matter what situation was presented. Though she wasn't sure how well she would face against the young Uchiha lord, she knew an attest to her skills could only pull more attention, and potential game pieces, into her grasp. She would use whatever tools necessary in order to outmatch the King at his own game.
As she lost herself in her own musing departing the training grounds, she failed to notice the looming shadow that hide from view outside the gates. "You have a debt to be paid, little princess."
The voice startled her as she turned to meet the sound. Though she had not heard the voice before, she knew to be wary of its holder. No good could come from a voice that sounded like the grinding of bones. As her form had shifted to take in the new interference, though she could not see his entire appearance, the overpowering smell of something metallic filled her senses. She would recognize the smell anywhere.
Blood.
"Zabuza Momochi. I was not aware we struck a bargain that I had become indebted to pay." The tone in which she spoke was not approachable like the one she would usually use with those she made a first acquaintance with. At the current point in their brief passing, abhorrence was heavily weaved into her bias. This man had attempted to kill her friend, and almost succeeded. He had slaughtered many other innocents up to this point and now had the tainted bravado to confront her in the open. His audacity rivaled her own, but it was misplaced.
"You owe the blood you deprived me from," he demanded as he stepped from the shadows, overtaking her form with his massive stature. Now that he only stood mere feet away from her form, she could now see the terrifying sight that most of the dead innocents killed by his hand had seen just before death stole them from the world. He was the devil reincarnated. His eyes the cold color of merciless death while the hue of his skin mirrors the tarnished ground your body would soon be buried under once he was through with you. His face was void of the white bandages he once covered his appearance with and now showed the sharp teeth that lined his mouth. No, not the devil. A demon. His name suited much more than his cruelty. "My victory was hollow without death. You stole that from me. And now, you owe me the debt to be paid."
Though the man was taking menacing steps towards her, she would not show fear. She sneered at the man as her eyes narrowed. "I owe you nothing, Momochi," she spat back as she squared her stance against him even as he cornered her near the stone wall outside of the guard compound. "You're a monster who should have been eliminated from this world the moment you were brought into it. You disgust me. You think you are owed more blood after the thousands of lives you have already stolen from this world. The only thing you are owed is a painful death. A death that forces the pain of each life you took. Even then, your own debt would not be fulfilled in this life or the next. "
His face spun from dark amusement to pure animalistic delight. His strides had forced him so close to her own form that she was backed against the rough stone wall behind her with the mist demon's body close enough to press dangerously against her. His large hands shot out quickly to grasp either side of throat in a tight grip. Panic brimmed her eyes as her intake of air was now controlled by the demonic man invading her presence. "Oh, little princess," his throaty whisper hissed through his teeth, as he now pressed his large body more prominently against her own, allowing the sandstone behind her to bite into any exposed skin it came in contact with. "If all you wanted was a monster, I would be delighted to show you one."
His fingers dug into her throat violently procuring her hands to claw at the offending limbs. Her nails bit into his skin as he pressed against her neck further, only seeming to derive pleasure from her fight. "It has been a while since I've consumed the blood of a noble, a beautiful noble lady no less," he hummed into the shell of her ear before his sharped teeth nipped painfully at her earlobe, causing Sakura to flinch at the added pain. "I am certain yours shall be absolutely divine. Perhaps the King would even enjoy a taste as well."
A haze swept over her vision as the need to fight back more forcefully kicked into her sense. Her legs had swept out with surprising speed to counteract his sense of balance, and it may have done the trick. Or it may have been the equally as large form belonging to the capital of the King's guard that had swept the offending man away with his enormous sword. His normally carefree expression was now clouded with evident anger as the mist demon jumped away from Sakura to avoid the sword's blow.
Air swept desperately back into her lungs as she braced a hand on the wall now proving to be supporting more of her weight than she would have enjoyed to admit. Her other hand flew to her throat to console the pain that still ebbed under her skin from Zabuza's assault. She knew the man's mental stability was questionable, but she had not expected him to choke her out a few hundred feet from the majority of the King's personal guard.
Her emerald eyes floated from Kisame to Zabuza who were in a defensive standoff. Zabuza's expression was one of dark amusement, but Kisame's expression was unreadable as he stood directly in front of her. The intention to keep the mist native from her was more than clear.
"How far you've fallen, Momochi," Kisame tisked as he glared at the demon squared off before him. "Your insolence will have you killed."
The mist demon scoffed at the comment. "You insinuate that I can be killed."
"You're made of flesh and bones just as the rest of us. Don't insinuate that you can't be."
"Why protect the little princess, Kisame?" Zabuza's voice was rough like the stone against her back when he spoke again, sparing a daring glance her way. "Why not let me spill her blood? What holds you back? You used to be like me once."
Inwardly, she had hoped for an answer with a bit more feeling within its depths. But instead, his answer was simply, "I protect her by order of the King." He only protected her because the King would be displeased if his latest toy had been destroyed before the climax of its enjoyment. Her jaw tightened in aggravation. Or was it disappointment?
And what did the demon mean when he said that Kisame had been like him once?
"I would share with the King, if that is what he desired. Don't you want to see the color of her blood contrasting against her porcelain skin? The thought alone makes my own blood boil inside my veins with anticipation."
"You've overstayed your welcome in the capital, Momochi." Kisame's tone was of the utmost severity as he spoke. No waiver or wit detected. "Leave of your own volition or I will force you from Suna's walls."
Zabuza's smile turned feral at Kisame's threat. His dark eyes flickered to catch Sakura's gaze. "Do not fret, little princess. We will meet again and then, I shall taste the metallic wine you withhold from me in your veins."
Her throat clenched in anticipation. For she knew he would hold true on that promise. One way or another. She watched as the mist demon stalked away and felt a sigh of relief escape her throat. Kisame finally turned his attention to the pink haired noble behind him as he restrapped his monstrous weapon to his broad back. "Are you alright, my lady?"
She could not find the desire to meet his eyes as he watched her, undoubtedly showing some concern towards her disheveled appearance. The entirety of the situation did not sit well with her in Kisame's light. True, he had saved her. But she still felt a small sliver of bitterness towards his actions at the tourney. Now, she felt, the two instances balanced each other out. But as to where her opinion of him lied now, she was unsure.
"I am fine," she answered back quietly as she pushed herself off the wall of sandstone, giving him a small bow in thanks. "Thank you for your assistance, Kisame. If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
The captain did not stop her as she retreated from him. Her discomfort with his current presence was evident to his dark eyes. He only wished he knew the thoughts were swarming in her sharp mind at this very moment.
-xxx-
Zabuza Momochi was dangerous, and someone she would have to do her best to avoid at all costs. He had bluntly stated that he wanted her dead, and at his own hands. He would prove to be a threat she would have to always be aware of in the back of her mind. With his presence still in the city, she thought it best to make her way back to where it was the safest for her.
As the Konoha native made her begrudged return to the castle she considered a prison, she felt that even as people swarmed the streets around her, she was being particularly watched. The unnerving sensation traveled from the nerves behind her ears to the end of her spine. Her mind suddenly reeled to the only possible explanation.
He had sought her out.
Knowing that a spy master's greatest weapon was secrecy, she made a slow path for a nearby alley in the market district. The building walls on either side blocked the sun's heavy rays creating a blanket of cool shadows around her. The relief from the sun was welcome, but it put her out of sight to those around. For a master of the shadows, it was more than ideal. For a foreign noble with a vendetta against the king, it would not provide the same comfort. She waited a few moments before the shrouded form of a dark figure stepped into the opposite end of the alley. Even from far off, she could tell this man had the height to rival Kisame and Kakuzu. His cloak was as dark as the shadows around him, leaving nothing that the trained eye could make out.
"An interesting whisper that a noble lady of Konoha would be inquiring of the lowly likes of a secret keeper," his voice had an airy quality to it, but his tone was still definingly masculine. He took a few steps closer to her form and she could now notice that his head was shrouded in a dark hood, coving the facial features she wished to gaze upon. "A very dangerous inquiry."
His tone had dramatically changed to something more sinister as his last words were uttered. It was almost as if two opposite people had been speaking to her in the time frame. "Even more dangerous for a loyal servant of the king to associate with someone of my status, but we are not meeting to discuss the dangerous of our predicament," she spoke back lowly. The bustling of the marketplace and the seclusion of the alleyway hide her tone well, but she was sure the spymaster could hear her as clear as a crystal.
"Indeed, Lady Haruno," the airy voice returned briefly with a simple reply before the baleful voice spoke her name, holding true that he was informed of her identity. "What is it that were are here to discuss?"
The pink haired noble needed to be sure her intentions were clear, but also nonthreatening towards the crown. If this man saw through her initial intentions, he would undoubtabley report back to the king, who in turn would quite likely collect her head on a spike for her treason. The scorpion was not known to be magnanimous when it came to acts of betrayal.
"My own sources advert me to your interest in my movements in the capital." Her voice was leveled, like she had desired it to be as it passed her pastel pink lips. "What I'd like to know, is why my movements hold any significance to you? Surely you have many other inquiries to worry over in such a vast city, full of so many less than savory characters who require more attention than myself."
"You consider that foul little Jashinist as a source?" his voice tested as he questioned her previous statement. "You should really find yourself some better company, Lady Haruno. Celebrants who spend their time spilling blood and fucking whores are less than desirable company for a lady such as yourself."
She hummed in retaliation to his comment as his snide voice made a reappearance. "Careful, Zetsu," she dared to comment back, using his name to further her own standing in the conversation. "Though you have sought to track my every move, you still know nothing about me to be making such accusations towards whom I choose to spend my time with. It's moot point though. Tracking down that foul little Jashinist led you right to me. I cannot deny that it was not a total waste of time and shattered wine glasses."
The little light that had gathered in the alleyway seemed to reflect off of the spymaster's dangerous smile in that instance, still shrouding the rest of his features in shadow. "Your inquiry alone leads to suspicion, my lady. Surely you understand that much." His voice was so light and careless that it almost seemed as if he was teasing her. She noted that he relieved the topic of the foul mouthed devil to comment on other points she inferred upon. And though his current point was valid, she could counteract it with further information of her own that would with any luck lead to questions still left unanswered.
"Doesn't your research into my movements' leave you open to suspicion as well, Zetsu?" Her vermillion eyes had glanced up at him through her thick lashes, challenging him to test her own point of validity. "I hardly believe that you are trailing after me due to suspicion alone. You don't strike me as one to meddle without purpose. I am also hard pressed that you would believe you are the only one currently keeping tabs on myself and my actions."
The vibrations of his deep amusement chorused through the tight air in the Suna alleyway. The sound was caressing her ears as much as it was restricting each breath she took. This man was precarious, and he knew it as much as she did. "Though this city may belong to the King in formal title, these streets and their secrets belong to me. What I choose to do with them, Lady Haruno, is decided upon through my own volitions."
If one had not been searching for the underlying message in his words, they would not have given it a second thought. But as the Konoha noble attended to his words, she could attest to the parts he judiciously chose to leave to her own inferences. It was as her father had taught her so many years ago; always look underneath the underneath.
"Suppose that I would infer that you choose not to share a portion of your whispers to the King," the inference was purely hypothetically, of course. But depending upon the man's answer, she could predict his importance as a piece in her game. "Could my inference ever prove to be possible?"
"Oh, Lady Haruno," Zetsu shot back as his tone was dark, yet playful in one instance. She observed as the little light left in the alley showed the animalistic expression the lower portion of his face was portraying. "You have a death wish; that I am sure of. Your inference alone could have you killed where you stand."
The essence of fear had rapidly pooled in the depth of her abdomen. She was sure that this man would, could, kill her if had the desire to do so. Treading cautiously now proved to be more vital than ever.
"But you have an audacity I am hard pressed to find in humans these days. That much I can accurately appreciate. It should retain your life if you can use it to your benefit in the days to come." His comment had somewhat shocked her from her previous thoughts as her eyes slightly widened in his direction. This man was full of surprises.
"And what of the King?"
The smirk remained across the shadowed features that she had still yet to lay eyes on. She supposed he would keep it that way. It would allow him with an advantage in the little game they were currently partaking in. "If you continue with the amusement you provide in court, your position will remain."
"And if I don't?"
His smirk widened. "The King is not a man who has need for impractical lives in his presence."
The implication was death. She did not need to inquire underneath the underneath to know as much. Her immediate choices were limited. Either play the game against the sadistic ruler, or die trying. "I appreciate your time, Zetsu. I am certain this shall not be the last time we meet."
"Indeed, Lady Haruno." The airiness in his tone had returned as the immediate threat of his presence had retreated from her bones. "If I may inquire; where did those bruises around your neck come from? They seem to be darkening by the minute."
The thought had not truly occurred to the young noble that Zabuza's attack would leave trace so soon, but it could not be helped. Glancing at the spymaster blankly, she procured an inquisitive brow. "As if your little birds have not already gifted you with that bit of information."
She heard him hum knowingly, assuming that he was indeed, well aware, of her earlier predicament. "I prefer to refer to them as my little weeds."
"Why weeds?"
"A bird can be killed easily. Weeds are stubborn and will always grow back," he told her as his posture changed with his intent to leave. "But before we depart, there is a piece of information that I would like to leave you with."
A delicate pink brow rose in his direction as he was once again gifted with her full attention. Her curiosity was successfully acquired. "Think of it as a reward for capturing my attention," he told her as she quietly began to retreat into the shadows he appeared from.
"Your knight have not yet left the city."
A short breath escaped from her parted lips as she watched him retreat. "Where are they?"
"The west entrance of the city. But hurry, for they shall not be there much longer."
Without another word towards the spymaster, Sakura let her feet carry her to the west side of the city. Zetsu watched as she left in a hurry. He could not help the smirk that pulled at the corner of his mouth. The noble woman surely had unfavorable amount of challenges stacked against her, but she did not seem to be the type to lie down and take it like an obedient slave. She had a fire set deeply in her veins that she would use to burn the city to the ground. And he would be more than happy to watch her set the world on fire.
-xxx-
Her breaths were rapidly escaping her lips as she finally entered the western approach of the city. Neither her dress nor shoe choice had been ideal for such a fast pace, but she could not find it in herself to care in the moment. Her eyes darted through the occupants of the streets as she made her arrival at the gate Zetsu had mentioned. As she searched, her normally composed state had flown from her grasp as desperation began to ebb its way into her consciousness. Had they already left? Would she ever get to see them again?
Her running at stopped as her doubts began to get the better of her optimism. Her chest felt tight as the rapid rise and fall of her trip over conveyed across her appearance. Her forehead glistened in the setting sun's rays as her waved locks clung to the perspiration at the column of her neck. She whispered a low curse as her eyes swept the grounds, finding no sight of either of her knights. She was aware that no amount of favors or pleading to the King would have allowed the remained presence of her friends. But just seeing them one last time before they departed, Sakura thought, would give her the strength she needed to overcome what perils that now desecrated her path.
"Damn it," she cursed as frustrated tears threatened to collect in the corners of her eyes. Her nails left deep crescent shaped indents in the skin of her palm as her eyes found more interest in the gravel below her feet. Once again, she was unable to protect those that were precious to her. Pein had told her that she had the importance of a queen, but how could she ever dream of meeting that expectation if she couldn't protect the most important people in her life. She knew then that the Ame leader's expectations for her progress in this game were unwarranted.
She spared a final glance towards the western gate of Suna and was surprised to see it beginning to open. Though she could not see whether or not it was an arrival or a departure, due to the amount of city guards blocking her view, she decided it required her investigation. Moving towards the crowd, she noticed a dark mahogany carriage pulling through the gates by two thoroughbred steeds mirroring the color of the midnight sky. Servants and guards entered around the carriage, some on horses and some on foot. Though the arrival of someone with high enough class to ride upon the capital in a carriage was unanticipated, what had shocked more was the family crest pressed upon the flags they carried through the streets.
"Uchiha," her small voice muttered under her breath as she watched the entourage pull further into the city, the carriage protectively placed in the middle. Noting the guard's obvious distraction with the arrival, the Konoha princess looked out past the gates that meant to hold her within the city walls as they closed behind the new arrivals. Off in the distance, on the path leading away from the King's city, she saw two forms trotting off on horseback. No matter how far away they were, their identities would always be familiar to her eyes.
Though the gates had closed her in, the thick rod iron bars they were made of gave her clear sight lines of their forms. "Naruto! Kakashi!" her desperate call rang through the air as she ran towards the gate, clasping onto the material keeping them apart. It proved to be enough to capture not only their attention, but the attention of the city guards that were unfortunately placed around the area. She watched her knights turn swiftly around on their steeds and gallop towards the gates, but she also heard the new commotion from the guards occupied behind her as they called out orders next to her name.
"Lady Haruno! Step away from the gates!"
The clinking of their armor rang behind her as they moved towards her, but her attention remained on the men who were now so close to the city gates. A few more strides on their horses and they would be with her. She could reach out and touch them. Soon. A few more strides. They were so close.
"Lady Haruno!" A firm grasp settled on the outer skin of one of her forearms. The cold leather was uncomfortable against her bare skin as the grip was not delicate. That was the man's first mistake.
In a flash, the opposite arm that was not in the man's grasp shot out to grip the top of his offending forearm. Twisting her grip, her own arm moved over her head so that she was now facing the encroaching man, whose look of shock was displayed across his tanned face. The man's second mistake was giving pause after she made her display of agility.
The man's third mistake, was not noticing the kick speeding towards his stomach with enough force to push him away from the young princess and onto the ground behind him. Taking the opportunity presented by the distraction, she returned to the barred gate where her two knights awaited her. Her arms slipped through the spaces between the cold iron prisons and placed a hand in each man's hair just behind their necks in a loving gesture.
"Words cannot begin to express how exultant that I am to see you before you left," she whispered lowly to them as she felt the tears of relief spring to her eyes. Her attention turned to her blonde friend as she noted the several bandages that wrapped parts of his form. "Naruto, I am so relieved that you are safe."
"Sakura, why did you do this? You've condemned yourself to this prison for my sake. How stupid of you! We could have helped you!" Naruto tried to protest with her, but no matter what words were spoken, their fate now would not change.
"I would sacrifice my freedom for your life on any occasion, Naruto," she whispered as a tear escaped to run down her cheek. Her glazed eyes turned towards her silver haired knight and pulled a sweet smile form him as well. "I would sacrifice anything for either of you. So please," she paused as her griped tightened in their hair, "Please do not burden yourselves over this. I promise I will come home to you safely."
"Sakura," Naruto's voice trailed off hopelessly as his warm hand placed itself over the one caressing his hair. Kakashi looked equally as despondent as his thumb traced the pulse point against her wrist. He said nothing, but his actions spoke volumes to her. She had an innate power to always know what crossed his mind.
"I love you both so much," she voiced as her tone cracked while a few tears followed. A sad smile played at her lips as she tried to exude confidence back into their bones. "Do not forget that. Never stop fighting for Konoha. Or for me."
She heard the shouting of the guards behind her as she spared a glance to see them stepping closer to her form. "Go," she whispered to her knights as they looked up to a face of evident sadness but a smile that was so full of adoration it hurt. "Go now. I will be fine."
They knew the lie, but would not call her on it now. Staying near the gates and causing further commotion would only cause more problems for Konoha's princess. So, as much as it pained them, they made their way back onto their horses and rode away quickly, sparing a glance through the city gate as Sakura stood surrounded by armed city guards.
She felt the tight hold of two guards flanking on each side as their tight grip bruised right below her shoulders. "You've caused quite enough trouble for one day, Lady Haruno."
"I suggest you release me, unless you'd like to meet the same fate as your comrade back there," she dared as she eluded to the guard still clutching his abdomen from her harsh kick.
She heard some of the guards around her chuckle at her daring response before the one at her left replied. "A lucky shot, my lady. Rest assured you shall not catch us off guard again."
As her patience for this city and its inhabitants had worn thin, she decided to test that theory. Bristled amusement quirked at the corner of her mouth as surprise caught the guards once again. Bending her arms at her elbows, she pulled her arms to meet the height level of her shoulders before pushing her arms straight forward then harshly back again, allowing her quick elbows to force into the throats of the men on either side of her. They quickly released her to console the lack of air that now came to their lungs. She heard their haggard coughing as they dropped to their knees. She turned her form around to face the small party of guards that awaited behind her.
"Shall we test that theory of yours again, or shall I just tell the King how you were outmaneuvered by a woman?" she was dangerously baiting them, but she found that her anger was now getting the better of her by each passing second she was around the King's overconfident men. She noted that most of the men seemed to stand down, while others were angered by the audacity that flowed through her veins.
"Highborn lady or not, assault to a city official is a direct insult to the King," one of the heated guards said as he dared to take a few steps closer, drawing his sword from its sheath.
She was planning through her next course of action when a new face graced the crowd, their body moving to stand in front of her own. His stature was tall, and his build was muscled from what she could see from the expensive red and black tunic jacket he wore that nearly graced the level of his ankles. What initially caught her attention though was the lustrous black mane that swept down to his mid-back. She noted that black leather enforced be sheath that contained his own weapon, hanging from his waist. She deduced that not only was he a high ranking noble, but a capable fighter as well.
"Haven't you fools been humiliated enough? If watching her incapacitate three of your highly trained men wasn't sufficient, you now have the nerve to raise you sword at an unarmed woman? A noble one, at that?" His tone was deep and rich like dry red wine plucked from a robust grape vine in the middle of summer. It was unwavering as his questions drew direct insult to the guards, now standing terrified, before him. "You fools disgust me. Your incompetence will be reported to your superiors, as well as the King."
"L-lord Uchiha. We did not mean-"
"Your words are worthless. Remove yourselves from my sight before I do so for you myself."
"B-but, Lady H-haruno-"
"I will handle this situation myself. Leave us," the Uchiha before her demanded as the guards bowed lowly and scurried off. Once the scene was clear, the man who had come to her defense hand now turned around to face her. His face was more mature than most men she had seen, but she would not assume him to be too old. If the rumor was true, she heard that Uchiha's aged gracefully. Depending on how old this man really was, he could prove the rumor mill had some things right. He had natural Uchiha features; pale skin, chiseled jawline, defined cheekbones that could rival her own, and eyes as endless and rich as the black night. Like his relatives, his attractive nature could not be denied, for it frustratingly enough ran in the family.
His dark eyes were taking in her appearance. She felt them rest upon the rapid bruising that formed around her throat, the red marks left from the guard's tight grip on her upper arms, and even the subtle bite marks that had now been exposed across her neck and shoulder. She was sure she looked quite the disaster, but could not find it in herself to care with each moment that passed.
The older Uchiha before her gave her a slight bow before reaching for her hand and planting a small kiss along her pale knuckles. "Madara Uchiha. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Haruno."
"Ah, so you know me?" she questioned softly as she watched him rise to his full height once again. He gave a small smirk at her inquiry as he had yet to release her from his light hold.
"Pink hair is a rarity, my lady. But the audacity to stand up to armed men against all odd is even rarer. Yet each quality is distinctive to your person," Madara retorted as his rich tone danced around her ears. With all of the other distress of the day, she almost found the sound comforting. But knowing the man's lineage, he was as trustworthy as his young nephews currently occupying the King's castle.
"You speak as if you know me, Lord Uchiha, but I am sure this is the first we have met."
"Word travels, my lady," he answered with his smirk pulling tighter at the edge of his lips.
"Of that, I do not doubt."
"Allow me to offer you a ride to the castle, my lady," he suggested as his opposite hand directed towards the expensive mahogany carriage she had witnessed riding in to the city not too long ago.
"Though your offer is kind, Lord Uchiha, I will have to regretfully decline." What she really wanted to say was that she did not trust this man alone with her in a carriage and she would rather walk back to the King's castle than ride with him. But that would have been extremely impolite.
"I'm afraid I will have to insist, my lady," his deep tone retorted as amusement played in his charcoal eyes. His free hand moved towards her, and before she realized his intent, his fingers were delicately tracing the purple coloring that marred her neck. "For it seems you have caught yourself in enough trouble for one day. I'd detest to even consider you could get yourself into more if left unattended. Especially when I could be there to prevent it."
Oh, he was good. He was picking her apart and still being irritatingly polite about it all. "What would you know of my troubles and my ability to attract them, Lord Uchiha?"
"In relation to your troubles, I can take a few guesses. As to your ability to attract them, my lady, I intend to find out."
-xxx-
Author's Note: Wow, less than a week. I guess that's what happens when inspiration strikes. I literally just finished writing a large portion of this before I posted it. About half of it, actually.
There was quite a bit to mull over in this chapter. When you said you wanted more Uchiha, I gave you more Uchiha. You like? Sasuke is a dick. Plain and simple. But I like the idea of someone outright challenging our little heroine. Plus it's fun to put Sasuke in his place sometimes. His personality perfectly fits that of an arrogant little lord. Zabuza though. Were you expecting that? The intent for his character was to be dangerous enough that even Sakura felt fear. I feel slightly bad though because I don't see this as Zabuza's true character, but it fit very well into this alternate universe. You also got to meet Zetsu. Like I mentioned previously, his role in this world could not be a better fit. He will be important to Sakura's fight for survival. Whether he will be a positive or a negative benefit has yet to be determined.
For those of you asking for more Naruto, did you enjoy your treat? I realize it was short but it was certainly touching to write. The idea for that scene painted a beautiful picture in my mind and I had to write it. Hope you liked it. And finally, Madara. Were you expecting that one? Though his scene was short, look forward to much more from him in the next chapter. And expect him to be just as devious as the rest of them, if not more so.
So what did you think? What do you anticipate in the next chapter? Who would you like to see more from or who is a character that we have not yet met that you would like to see in upcoming chapters? Please share your thoughts. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll meet you in the next one!