CHAPTER 8

Sasuke sat at the large mahogany desk in his private office, the morning light filtering through the expansive windows behind him. His schedule, as usual, was packed. Stacks of documents sat neatly organized in front of him, detailing everything from international trade negotiations to internal policy reforms. His day-to-day as the king of Nippon Koku required a level of precision, focus, and control that he had had to master in a very short period of time, and today, his mind kept drifting elsewhere.

He was reviewing the latest economic reports, signed off on a proposal to restructure a portion of the military budget, and prepared notes for a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to solidify new diplomatic ties. But amidst the weighty matters of governance, a new thought kept interrupting his flow.

The queen.

Sakura. The woman he had chosen, not because of her lineage or aristocratic background, but because she represented a departure from tradition. She was the first step in the direction he envisioned for Nippon Koku—one of progress, one where the monarchy was not just a symbol of the elite but connected to the people. His selection of her was his first victory against the traditionalists, who had long held sway over the kingdom's decisions. Her candidacy had been a strategic move, but it wasn't all politics.

Sasuke's heart softened momentarily as he recalled their brief but meaningful interactions. The way she had tearfully met Itachi, her admiration for his brother so evident, had struck a chord within him. She's kind, he had thought, and that's something this palace needs. In a world of cunning and strategy, kindness was often overlooked, but Sasuke knew that it would be essential to balance the tactics he needed to employ to navigate the complexities of his reign.

Still, his mind drifted to practical matters. What will our relationship be like? The thought of being married—married—to someone he barely knew was unsettling. He was used to control, to keeping people at arm's length, but a queen was different. She would be by his side, a part of his life. Could they build an emotional connection? And in the long term, he knew what this meant: producing an heir. His jaw tightened at the thought. That responsibility weighed heavily on him. It wasn't something he could avoid or delay forever, but how would that work? Would it be just another duty, another thing to check off on his list of obligations?

He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the future. Sakura seemed capable—intelligent and grounded—but was he capable of being a good husband? He had little faith in himself when it came to matters of the heart. He wasn't emotionally available, and he knew it. But he could be strategic, and that might have to be enough.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Tenten entered, holding a tablet with his updated schedule for the week. She was his logistics coordinator, ensuring every second of his day was accounted for and executed with precision.

"Your Majesty," she said, bowing slightly as she approached, "I've updated your schedule. You have the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs at noon, and the Economic Council at three."

Sasuke nodded. "Good," he said in his usual curt tone. His mind, though, was still on Sakura. After a moment of silence, he glanced at Tenten again. "Schedule a biweekly meeting with Sakura. Starting next week. She's… new to all of this, and I need to make sure she's handling it."

Tenten raised an eyebrow, though her professionalism didn't allow her to pry. "Of course, Your Majesty. I'll have it placed in both of your diaries."

Sasuke's heart eased slightly. It wasn't much, but biweekly meetings would give him a chance to assess how Sakura was adapting. She had to be feeling overwhelmed by the transition—anyone would be. He wasn't particularly good with words or emotions, but he could offer her structure, and maybe that was a start.

Just as Tenten left, Suigetsu, one of Sasuke's security detail, casually strolled into the room, followed by Juugo and Karin. Suigetsu flashed a wide grin, looking as though he had something up his sleeve. "So, how's the wedding planning going, Your Majesty?" he teased, drawing out the title with a playful lilt.

Sasuke shot him a cold glare. "What do you want, Suigetsu?"

"Oh, nothing," Suigetsu said, leaning against the wall with mock innocence. "Just curious about how our fearless king plans to navigate marriage. I mean, it's not exactly paperwork or trade negotiations, you know?" His grin widened. "How are you planning to… produce an heir?" Strike. As if he's just read Sasuke's mind.

Suigetsi was then promptly taken by the hair and yanked out the room by Karin, who 's, "Sorry about that," faded as Juugo closed the door behind them. He could hear muffled arguing from behind the door and was pretty sure Karin was ripping Sui a new one for breaking protocol.

Sasuke sighed, exasperated but used to this dynamic by now. His security team had always been a bit unconventional, especially Suigetsu. They liked to push his buttons, and he, in turn, either ignored them or delivered icy retorts. But he tolerated it because, deep down, he appreciated the lightheartedness they brought into his otherwise rigid life.

His primary security detail—comprised of Suigetsu, Karin, and Juugo—had been with him for years. They were a mix of competence and chaos, their playful banter often a source of mild irritation but also, strangely enough, comfort. They teased him relentlessly, as they had just done about his upcoming marriage, but Sasuke valued them. They kept him grounded in a world where everyone else treated him with either cold reverence or cautious deference.

However, when Suigetsu, Karin, and Juugo weren't available, Sasuke had another team he relied on—Tayuya, Kidoumaru, and Jiroubu. They were just as competent, though their personalities were more rigid, more serious compared to the almost familial bond he had with his main detail.

All of them reported to Kimimaru, the head of his security operations. Kimimaru had an aura of calm control about him—efficient, tactical, and quiet, he made sure everything ran smoothly. He had recently been assigned as the head of Sakura's security detail, a decision Sasuke had made personally. Given how overwhelmed she was likely feeling, Sasuke trusted Kimimaru to protect her without adding to her anxieties. Kimimaru's calm and composed presence would balance the unpredictability of her new world, just as he had done for Sasuke all these years.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, briefly considering Kimimaru's role in all of this. He trusted his head of security implicitly, and Sakura would need that kind of unwavering protection and guidance during her transition. She wouldn't just be adjusting to life in the palace—she'd be navigating the eyes of the public, the whispers of the nobility, and the delicate politics of court. Kimimaru would make sure nothing disturbed that process.

His gaze drifted back to the papers on his desk, but his mind kept circling back to her. She was stepping into a world far more complex than she could have imagined, and now they were both inextricably tied to one another. Whether they could navigate that connection—both personally and politically—remained to be seen.

He leaned back in his chair, his thoughts once again turning to the future. Marriage, producing an heir, ruling a kingdom—all of it was intertwined now, and it all hinged on the choices they made together.

But, if nothing else, Sasuke was confident in his ability to lead. And, perhaps, with time, they could forge something more than just a political partnership. After all, he'd chosen her for a reason.

And in his world, every choice was part of a larger plan.

tbc

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