Chapter Text
"Almost one hundred years ago, two major kingdoms found the start of their reign in the Land of Fire, the Senju and the Uchiha, with their respective leaders, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, believed to be close friends."
"Friends? Then why did Sir Madara start the war?"
"As their kingdoms started flourishing, both kingdoms became increasingly suspicious of the other. The man of the Uchiha were power-hungry and greedy until one day, King Madara sent his younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, on a mission to infiltrate the Senju Walls as an assistant to Hashirama, leader of Senju."
"What happened after?"
"When Izuna was supposed to come back to meet Madara to exchange information, he was deemed missing when he didn't return, only for Madara to found out his brother had been brutally murdered by Hashirama Senju. Madara loved his brother Izuna dearly, he was prepared to do anything to avenge his brother if anything happened to him. His love and anger paved the way for where the Uchiha and Senju are now. Madara Uchiha waged war on the Senju, causing a relentless battle between the leaders and their men, where blood, sweat and tears was soaked into the battle-field. In the end, Hashirama victoried over Madara, killing the man who he once thought was his best friend.
That's when the age of rivarly became of the two as their kingdoms grew further apart, developing on their own."
"What about now?"
"That's where you come in, you are believed to be the reincarnation of Madara Uchiha. When you come of age, you will be the one to seek vengeance and victor over the Senju, achieving what Madara had not. You are the pride and the saviour of the Uchiha's downfall, Sasuke."
He didn't know how many days he had been waiting for a message from a hawk or a crow. Just waiting for any information about the enemy kingdom. He sat in his training room, pacing about on what he was going to do to end the Senju reign.
It had almost been a few years since he became an adult. Sasuke Uchiha, freshly 21 and the second son of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, the King and Queen of the Uchiha Kingdom. From an early age, ever since he learnt about the ancient history between Uchiha and Senju, he had been trained tirelessly into becoming the full-fledged assassin he was now. He became the kingdom's strongest assassin and soldier since his teen years, often being sent to complete deadly missions outside the kingdom walls, the ones that pose a threat to the Uchiha.
Sasuke was never meant to be the King, that was for his older brother, Itachi Uchiha who had recently found a bride capable of being the Uchiha's next queen, Izumi Uchiha. Their marriage was arranged to be a few months from now, and Sasuke would be happy for his older brother, only if he wasn't so worried about his faithful mission partner having not getting back to Sasuke in time.
Naruto Uzumaki, was sent on a top-secret mission by the King, to uncover the hidden secrets of the Senju by posing as one of them and currently living inside their walls, completing the mission with discretion. Sasuke had offered to go in his steed, but because of his important role here in the kingdom, and the fact that the mission will take years undercover, he couldn't go because the Senju would recognise him too quickly. Although the Uzumaki's were a smaller clan, they had ended up splitting up, some allies with the Senju, and some with the Uchiha.
Sasuke was in charge of sending and receiving information from the Uzumaki spy, as well as the one giving him orders on what to do next. There were always weekly updates sent, but this week's letter seemed to be missing. It nagged Sasuke every passing hour, worried they had been figured out, worried for Naruto's punishment.
Naruto was possibly one of the only people he would call his friend, his closest one at that. They had been together since childhood, often battling it out to prove who was stronger and one time, Sasuke even had to comfort Naruto when it was the anniversary of his parent's death, who died before Naruto got to know them. They were sent on missions together frequently, one could argue this mission was them working together as well, just in different places. Wherever the idiot was and whatever he was doing, Sasuke secretly hoped he was safe, although he wouldn't admit to anyone.
He sighed as he began collecting the letters Naruto had been sending him for about a year, when the situation called for a more thorough talk or exchange of information, they would meet up at a cottage far outside the Senju walls, but much closer to the ones of the Uchiha. They had went to the cottage often when they were kids, to train with their Sensei, Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi was one of the Uchiha's most finest assassins in the kingdom, so it was only fit for him to train the son of the King, and his best friend Naruto Uzumaki. Sometimes, when Sasuke would get horridly sick of his family, he'd go out and escape to the cottage where Kakashi normally was, and he wasn't going to lie, the view was simply amazing from where it was. Sasuke remembered a lake with a wooden boardwalk he'd often sit on to clear his mind. He trained there for days and days, mastering swordsman technques and many styles of martial arts to impress his father, though he was too much occupied on the heir of the throne, Itachi, his older brother.
Sasuke looked through the last letter he got from Naruto, analysing the message to see if there was any hidden code in between the lines, maybe it could provide an explanation to why there was no letter coming in this week. He read the letter again and again, still he found nothing. Sasuke groaned and slouched in his seat. That idiot, he thought. The last interaction he had with Naruto was a bit more than a week ago, at the cottage, when Naruto had sent a letter the week prior explaining he had urgent information. But what Naruto wanted to talk about, was not what Sasuke was expecting at all
"Hey teme! Long time no see!" Naruto announced as he walked into the cottage doors that Kakashi no longer lived in.
"Idiot, quiet down." Sasuke said, annoyed at his loud aura. Although this place was hidden from the public view, Sasuke still did a thorough search everytime they met here for anyone listening in or watching them. This mission was top-secret after all. Sasuke leaned on the kitchen bench table as Naruto took a seat.
"What's the news? Did you find out what Senju is-"
"I think I've fallen in love." Naruto blurted out, his head resting on his arm on the bench, facing away from Sasuke.
Love?! That wasn't possible. "With who? Wait, nevermind." He corrected himself, knowing that it didn't matter who at all, assassin like the both of them shouldn't have any emotional connections with anyone, they could get in the way of the mission.
"There's this girl, Lady Hinata's her name. I just call her Hinata though." Naruto mumbled into the sleeve of his jacket, sounding like he was defeated.
"Lady Hinata?" Sasuke questioned. "Of the Hyuga clan?" Naruto meekly nodded his head at the inquiry.
"Naruto! You can't be serious." Number one rule of being an assassin, no attachments whatsoever, especially not with the enemy. "You're not supposed to be in love."
"I know." Naruto's demeanour changed almost immediately as the topic began to get serious. "I just, love her so much, you know? You have to see her teme, she's got the most beautiful light purple eyes and her hair is a silky dark blue. She feels like home, its honestly amazing, I guess I couldn't help it." He sounded breathless, taken away from the Hyuga's beauty he went against his nature as an assassin. Sasuke stared the dobe, not knowing what to say and honestly shocked the dobe managed to fall in love.
"You know you're not supposed to get attached. If anyone hears of this, she could be hurt." Naruto sighed again into his arm. "Look, you can't be with her. You're apart of the enemy, she's on the side of the Senju, the whole clan and kingdom is." Sasuke looked at the dobe again. He himself never believed in anything about love and quite frankly, he didn't care. Although he couldn't see his face, Sasuke knew Naruto was probably holding in his tears.
It must hurt.
"It sucks. This stupid conflict between the Uchiha and Senju, and neither me or Hinata are apart of those clans!" Sasuke wanted to understand where the idiot was coming from, but he just couldn't. His whole life he had been burdened with leading the fate for the Uchiha, one of greatness, one of power. He had to seek revenge even if he didn't want to. Avenge his kingdom for Madara Uchiha, the one who started it all.
"Don't get yourself even more attached." Sasuke said as he crossed his arms, still clueless on what advice he could give Naruto without being too straight-forward.
"That's easy for you to say. You don't even know what its like to fall in love, or even have any emotions other than vengeance. I can't just unlove her, it doesn't work like that, you know?" Sasuke was taken back by this, the dobe seemed to have fallen deeply in love.. No matter how hard Naruto would try, Sasuke wouldn't be able to understand how loving someone can affect your rational thinking, sometimes even making someone so selfish to sacrifice everything they have for the person they love. He didn't want something like that, he wanted revenge, he wanted the people who have wronged his family to live in a cruel world, they didn't even deserve to die. Loving someone, would only get in the way of those ideas of vengeance and besides, even if he did manage to fall for someone, he wouldn't risk the possible chance of them being hurt because he is an assassin. Someone like him isn't cut out for love, and he was completely fine with it.
"As an assassin, its the only emotion you're allowed to feel. Love is a wasted thought."
"Yeah yeah teme. I'd be giving you the same advice when you fall in love." Naruto hummed to himself, thinking of all the ways he would tease Sasuke when he managed to get himself to love someone. But, his humming stopped, realising that probably will never happen. "Well, one day."
"I don't need a bride." Sasuke grunted in annoyance.
"Are you kidding? Love is sooo much more than just getting a bride for a queen or something! What I feel for Hinata is so much more than that! It's like she just gets me, you know? And she understands me completely. I can tell her everything." Sasuke shot Naruto a glare after hearing him talk about how hopelessly in love he was.
"I didn't tell her anything about the mission! I swear! Just stuff about, my feelings and stuff." Naruto recalled every moment he talked to Hinata, which at the start wasn't often because she wasn't apart of what the mission was focused on. But, he remembered every time she supported him, or every time she would compliment him and shy away with a furious blush on her face Naruto found was just so cute. There's no way he wouldn't fall for her, but he knew of the consequences. He knew one day he'll have to leave her, and come back as an enemy, or revealing himself as who he truly was. There's no saying what she would do if she learned this.
"Hn." He replied with his famous one liner. "Anymore news on the assistant?"
"Oi, Sasuke!" There was a loud banging on the door and Sasuke grimaced, annoyed at the loud sound. He opened up the large door to see Shisui, his cousin, standing outside waiting for him.
"What is it now Shisui?" Sasuke rubbed his temple with his two fingers, already annoyed with his cousin's presence.
"Your father's calling you from the throne room. He asked me to go get you." Shisui had a small smile on his face as he gestured for his younger cousin to walk out the door, shutting it behind them.
It wasn't like Sasuke didn't like Shisui. In fact, he absolutely adored both Shisui and his older brother Itachi when he was a child, and apart of him now still looks up to them, whether he would like to admit it or not. Shisui was one of the strongest assassins in the kingdom, much like himself and his brother. Renowned for his super speed, Shisui was often in charge of the missions further away from the kingdom that required a longer time to complete. When they were younger, he sometimes used to be annoyed at Shisui for always stealing his older brother away from him for training, leaving him alone with Naruto sometimes. Other times, when Naruto was out with Kakashi, the three of them would go around the village eating dango, which was one of Itachi's favourite foods. Sasuke didn't have much of a sweet tooth himself, but he enjoyed the snack enough.
From time to time, Sasuke would ask Shisui for training tips sometimes, although he already was one of the strongest, he still felt the need to become stronger than he already was. Itachi had always been the prodigy of the Uchiha, having the natural talent to already be one of the strongest at the ripe age of just 8 years old. Mainly also because he was the future king and leader of the Uchiha, Fugaku's parenting seemed to be more focused on his first-born son, not Sasuke. Sasuke responded to this by working hard, training with Kakashi and sometimes Shisui everyday to atone his skills, wanting his father to also be proud of him as well. It had been a while since he cared about something like that.
"Father?" He called as he entered the throne room. "Did you need me for something?" His father, the King, sat on the royal throne in the middle of the room, a slightly smaller throne to where his mother was seated.
"Ah yes, Sasuke have you heard from Naruto yet?" The question that had been occupying his mind for the past couple of days, that same question that made him so annoyed at that point he didn't care what happened to the dobe.
"No, not yet." Sasuke replied with a formal tone, it was always the way he would speak to his parents, except sometimes when he was alone with his mother, whom he loved dearly.
"I see."
"I checked the recent letters, no sign of any hint towards a message not being sent this week." Sasuke explained before his father could ask anymore unwanted questions.
"Do you know what that means?" Though it was the King's idea in the first place to have Naruto go undercover, Sasuke was actually the one organising and giving orders on the mission as Naruto played his role out perfectly. Sasuke almost scoffed when his father started acting like he was in charge of the whole thing.
"Either he's in a position where he can't openly or discretely send a message, or he's been figured out."
"What would you assume happened?" Sasuke was certain his eye twitched in frustration. Why was his father acting like he was testing him? Did he suspect Sasuke of lying? The whole thing annoyed him even more as he fought the urge to ball his hand up into a fist.
"Naruto is capable of handling himself. If I were to guess, I'd say he's playing his cards safe so he won't be discovered by the Senju." Sasuke felt more than uncomfortable when his father began staring him down, almost like he was eyeing Sasuke for any signs of faltering. This sick bastard. He doesn't even trust me. He's always had a questionable relationship with his father, more like a master and soldier type of relationship. He was more of a King to Sasuke than a father.
"Hm, I suppose so." This guy! Sasuke cursed at the King in his mind, furious at how judgmental his words were. Did he really not trust his own son? Who was literally in charge of the Uchiha's entire revenge plot? Sasuke scoffed. It's not like the king did any work in the kingdom too. Obito Uchiha, was head of the village, taking care of the civillians and services in the village. The King himself had many advisors and guards working for him, making decisions all on their own about how they could better the kingdom, the King only had final say. If he was being honest, Sasuke couldn't wait until his brother became King.
"You're too formal little brother." Speak of the devil. Sasuke muttered in his mind.
"Formal is much preferred in a matter like this." His father interrupted, which made Sasuke glare back at him.
"Ah, but is that really the way to act around family?" Itachi walked towards his younger brother who was almost growling with frustration with his father, evidently displayed on his face. "Come on Sasuke, let's head out." Itachi gave their father a small wave before taking Sasuke with him to walk away, which Sasuke was secretly grateful for. Even though they weren't as close as they were in there younger years, Sasuke still had a small sense of vulnerability around his big brother.
"I take it father hasn't changed." Itachi said as they began walking to the family library.
"Changed? He's complete narcissist at this point." Sasuke grumbled as he sat down at one of the tables with Itachi looking at him with questioning eyes. "While you were gone with your King training or whatever, every interaction I have with him is just him testing me almost, asking me stupid questions all of the time. It's exhausting, especially with the mission with that idiot, he's not even doing anything and he's the King!" Sasuke complained as Itachi flipped through some books, listening with full ears. Itachi was gone from the village for a while for what Sasuke likes the call "king training". He was helping out smaller villages to build a better reputation for the Uchiha name and to prepare for him one day becoming King with his Queen.
"I guess in some way he's always like that." Itachi gave Sasuke a small smile before continuing reading his book.
"The dobe's not making it any easier for me as well. He hasn't gotten back to me in days."
"So I've heard. You shouldn't stress too much, Naruto can handle it himself." Sasuke got up and walked towards the window, facing the front of the village where the entrance to the kingdom was. He sighed, knowing Itachi was right, he had said it himself anyways. "Are you thinking of going over there to check up on him?" Sasuke turned around to face his big brother. "It wouldn't be wise to." Itachi continued.
"I can't send a message to him because of the fact that he might be in a compromising position. But what if he did get caught? I'd like to go there just in case, big brother." Itachi stared at Sasuke who was still up at the window with a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Well, who am I to object?" Itachi went up to stand next to Sasuke. "You simply care about Naruto too much." Sasuke almost flinched when he felt two fingers come to poke his forehead. "Be safe, Sasuke." Itachi smiled before walking out. "Oh and, I think its best if Father didn't know."
Sasuke stared at the library door that had just been closed as he faintly touched his forehead. The poke was always a brotherly type of affection shown by Itachi, sometimes known as the ultimate sign of love. He had been doing it to Sasuke since they were kids, with him often apologising that he didn't have any time to train with Sasuke. He continued gazing at through the window in the direction where the Senju Kingdom with his eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed. That dobe better not be in trouble.
He settled for leaving when the sun was about to set, knowing it would take a few hours to get there and he wanted to in the dark, so hopefully no one from enemy territory would notice him. Though it was his first time being anywhere near the Senju Kingdom, Naruto drew him a little mind map of every single room in the castle building, including where Naruto was staying, which was sometimes an inconvenience for the mission. This time however, it would make things way easier for Sasuke to talk to Naruto. Sasuke looked through his wardrobe, trying to find something without the Uchiha crest embroidered on the back. He opted for his usual travel clothes with his signature black cloak on top as he didn't bother to notify anyone of his absence except Shisui and Itachi. He would be back before morning anyway.
As the sun began to fade, Sasuke fled through the window of his room, still hoping Naruto was alright.
"Naruto!!" She yelled through the halls of the castle after her meeting with Lady Tsunade. Recently, Naruto had put in a request to train as one of Tsunade's personal advisors and assistants, which she wasn't really fond of because that was her job after all. To her luck, Naruto came running on the opposite end of the hall, after making a harsh right.
"Did my request get accepted?!" He yelled, waving almost violently at her.
"Hello to you too Naruto." She said sarcastically as he caught up to her.
"Huh? Oh yeah, hi Sakura!"
Sakura Haruno, aged 21, personal assistant and student of Tsunade Senju, Queen of the Senju Kingdom. Yeah, sometimes she liked to brag, especially to Naruto's face who kept wanting to steal her job. He newly moved to the Senju village a bit over a year ago and they had been close friends ever since. He was warmly welcomed by Tsunade who was pretty laid-back for a Queen. Sakura aspired to be just like her when she grew older.
Other than that, Sakura had a pretty standard life. She used to live with her two parents back in the village, but now she has her own separate room in the castle, which she always thought was such a luxury. Most of her friends were from the village, Ino Yamanaka, whose family owned their own flower shop in town and Tenten, who obsessed over fascinating weapons like kunai's or swords. Hinata Hyuga was the Princess of the Hyuga clan, which was also another large kingdom in the Land of Fire. She always invited Hinata over to the Senju Kingdom a lot more now, suspecting a growing romance between Naruto and Hinata. If only she knew..
Sakura had always been such a hopeless romantic, still going with the trope of waiting to find 'the one'. She had always tried to set her friends up with someone, once even succeeding a little with the surprise date with Tenten and Hinata's older cousin, Neji Hyuga, which honestly went really well. She was planning to set something up with Hinata and Naruto, but she had been so busy with all the paper-work Tsunade sometimes makes her do.
Sakura often found herself wondering at night, just thinking about when she was able to find the love of her life. She made up impossible scenarios of who the special man might look like, whether he was a brave soldier, or a kind-hearted village man. Whoever he was, she just hoped he would be located inside of the Senju walls. She fell in love with the fictional boys in the fairy-tales in books at the library, all of them displaying chivalrous behaviour, saving the damsel in distress and wooing them over like it was nothing. They were always strong and undeniably handsome, loving their partner with so much passion sometime she dreams about it happening to her one day. Though, every man she met couldn't live up to her near impossible standards. She's heard of a rumour that some people don't even find 'the one' in their life-time, and she worried that would be her too. Well, she hoped not.
"Hey Sakura?" Naruto called out as they were walking in whatever direction he was taking them. "I heard there's a new stocks of books coming in today. Wanna check them out?"
"Any new romance stories?"
"Nah, don't think so. I'm pretty sure you've read like every single one of them in this whole world!" Naruto teased as they began walking to the library.
"Come on! I'm not going to live off your unbegun romance with Hinata!" She complained, knowing Naruto wasn't able to make a move without suggesting they go on a ramen date and Hinata being to shy to cope with the situation. It honestly made Sakura furious.
"Hey! Don't say that!" Despite his happy aura, the instant he turned around she could see the obvious sadness plastered on his face and she instantly felt bad. Maybe he's worried he isn't good enough for her...
"Anyway, where the hell did you go two weeks ago? You keep leaving from time to time." Naruto looked at her with wide eyes, obviously not expecting her to ask that. There was a bit of hesitance she identified as he began to spoke.
"I was visiting family." Though a believable lie, there was still something suspicious about the way he was acting.
"Don't tell me, you're seeing someone!" She teased, laughing at the red started to fume on Naruto's face.
"H-Hey! You got it all wrong Sakura!" He yelled in the library.
"Oh quiet down Naruto."
Naruto had been away quite often over the past few months, and knowing that he didn't have any family in the village, she found it a believable excuse. She had no right to pry anyway.
"Tsunade said you'd have to train under me for a while before she decides. That sound okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine." Guess the missions going to take a little longer teme.. He thought to himself. "I'm going to work extra hard, you know!" He said with his usual cheery voice, hiding the disappointment that the mission was going to be delayed. Man, I'll be stuck here for years! What if teme gets a girlfriend before I come back?! Now that was something Naruto almost laughed at himself for thinking. Obviously not.
"Mm, good luck with that. I can be pretty ruthless sometimes." Sakura threatened, she would be pretty annoyed if Naruto had actually succeeded in stealing her job.
"We'll see about that! So when's out first training session?"
"Tonight!" She declared as Naruto looked at her with a shocked face. "We're going out camping!"