Kei-Kei Yuki: Okay so while watching some historical c-dramas, this idea suddenly came to me. This story will have an ancient chine storyline vibe as I just love c-dramas. For their beautiful costumes, lavish setting, and even the drama that happen in the palace, especially in the harem. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy my new story! :)

A/N: Naruko won't be the only genderbend character in this story. There will at least be two or three more. Should I keep it rated T or move it up to rated M?

Beta By: Ana-DaughterofHades

Chapter One

"The Sun"

The Mangekyō Empire was a massive country known throughout the world for its richness, military strength, and extraordinary leadership. Its streets were lively as children ran and played, parents watching fondly over them. Young maidens, both of non-noble lineage and those of noble birth, could be seen buying beauty products; meanwhile, young men could be seen doing a variety of things from trying to impress whatever girl that caught their attention, to arm wrestling and even gambling.

Adult men were chatting loudly and laughing as they drowned themselves in expensive wine and booze. Mothers were seen in close-knitted groups, gossiping about the latest news, which came from the palace. This specific piece of news told of how Prince Sasuke's eighteenth birthday would be approaching soon, meaning many wealthy and noble girls would be escorted to the palace with their relatives in hopes of catching the prince's attention.

"I've heard at the age of sixteen that the prince gained total control of the army, a feat that none other has ever accomplished. Many remarks about his graceful yet merciless battle technique. And many have marveled at how his looks have made foreign princesses from all around the world fall at his feet and beg for his hand in marriage," gossipped one of the ladies, ignoring the food that was brought to the table by a short blonde girl.

"What I'd give if my daughter could catch such a man's attention. She would be rich, pampered, and married to a beautifully handsome man. Something which every mother hopes for their daughter!" wistfully sighed another woman, not even paying attention when the blonde waitress sat down a cup of tea in front of her.

The blonde, after hearing that last remark, inwardly snorted. 'Not all mothers are as single-minded as you are.' She kept her words to herself, making her way back to the kitchen.

"Hey, Ayame-nee, is the next order ready?" the blonde asked the brown-haired chef, whose father owned the restaurant, Ichiraku. It wasn't as popular as some of the more upscale and expensive restaurants that only catered to the rich, seeing as how Ichiraku served customers of all backgrounds.

"It's right there on the table, Naru-chan! Give me about twenty minutes and the next order should be ready!" Beads of sweat could be seen on the female's forehead, standing in the hot kitchen in front of a hot stove, constantly cooking up food to serve.

"After this next order, I'll take over cooking, and you can do the serving." After seeing how tired the woman was, Naruko offered to take her place in the kitchen which the brunette was happy to receive such help. Especially, since all of the duties of the restaurant had temporarily fallen onto her shoulders, until her father overcame his sickness and returned to duty.

Turning back, Naruko stared at a group of giggling rich girls, wearing expensive dresses and accessories, discussing Prince Sasuke, such as the rumors about his breathtaking looks, his fearless and merciless strength, and of how they wished to catch his attention at his upcoming eighteenth birthday party. Naruko had a hard time believing, that once upon a time, she was a girl who had the same status as these spoiled princesses who probably never worked for anything in their lives.

Naruko's mother came from a noble clan, though after a great war, many died and the clan later lost power, only left with a noble title. Sometime later in life, her mother met and married her father, who served in the imperial army, a man who was recognized for his intelligence and strength. This allowed him to be appointed to a powerful rank and become known as the army's tactician, which without his guidance would've lost some of the battles they had engaged in, in the past.

For a short amount of time, the family of three enjoyed a life of wealth, happiness, and fame; there was not one person in the kingdom who didn't know of her father's name and achievements. Though, Naruko didn't care much for the wealth and fame, only for the happy times she spent with her father. Naruko even once heard from her mother that when she was a child, she spent some time in the palace, though the blonde remembered none of this and could only vaguely recall a raven-haired boy holding a bright red ball.

Even though she could barely recall that little boy, she could vividly remember the memories of her father. His bright smile, his kindness, and his words of wisdom, never forgetting the hugs he used to give her and how his large hands used to ruffle the blonde locks that she inherited from him, the same went for her blue eyes.

Naruko would never forget the day when both she and her mother found out that during the Sound Country's attempted invasion of the Mangekyō Empire, her father somehow lost his life during the battle. Naruko would never forget the tears her mother shed, fainting soon after as she had to be taken away. At the age of five, a little girl had to find out that the father she loved wouldn't be coming home again and cried at the unfairness of the world.

Since then her mother took up the mantle of providing for both of them. Currently, she worked as a seamstress, where she had to dye and embroider designs on the delicate pieces of fabric most of the day, only to come home tired and exhausted. Seeing her mother in such a state prompted Naruko to go out and look for a job in order to help lessen the burden on her mother.

When her mother found out what she had done, the woman was clearly not happy with her daughter. "Naru-chan, it is a parent's duty to provide a stable life for their children. I want you to enjoy being a child while you still can, because someday I won't be there to watch over you and scold you," she said to her, but like mother like daughter, Naruko was stubborn and somehow talked her mother into letting her keep the job she got, working as a part-time chef and server at Ichiraku restaurant.

By the time Naruko got off work, the sun was still high in the sky; the streets were as lively as ever. Though, as she was making her way home, she caught sight of a rich, arrogant jerk forcing themselves on a girl who looked around her age. Without hesitation, the blonde rolled up the sleeves of her plain colored gown and marched her way over to the two.

"Stop playing so hard to get. I'm just trying to ask you out for drinks." The boy was quite attractive, though his pushiness and arrogant attitude ruined his looks as he gripped the pinkette's wrist forcefully. Placing his head a little too close to hers, just when the pinkette began to struggle, she found that hand wrenched away from her wrist. Emerald eyes widened as short strands of bright blonde hair blew in the wind, concerned blue eyes looking back at her.

"Are you okay?" Naruko's eyes met with a pretty girl, who was about inch taller than her; long soft pink tresses ran down her back. Her large eyes sparked like emerald jewels, and the gown she wore was pure like snow only to fade into a soft shade of pink, long wide sleeves touching the ground, as well as wearing stylish accessories in her hair. In her hand, she held a white paper bamboo umbrella that depicted sakura petals, shielding her delicate peach skin from the sun. One glance at the girl told Naruko that she came from a wealthy background, reminding the blonde of a cherry blossom princess.

"I'm okay. It's this guy here who can't seem to take no for an answer." The pinkette sounded annoyed, and honestly, Naruko couldn't blame her. Turning back to the boy who was glaring at her, she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oi, if a girl says beat it than scram. Don't try to force yourself onto an innocent girl." Hearing such a low-born and commoner girl reprimand him in public, the boy grew angry.

"Commoners should learn to mind their own business! No one asked you to interfere! So scram, fox-face," sneered the boy. When Naruko was a child, she used to feel saddened and self-conscious whenever people teased her about the whisker birthmarks she had on her cheeks. But after some time she just learned to deal with the taunts and teasing, not letting them get to her.

"Is that the best you can come up with, you arrogant prick!? Shamelessly hitting on one girl and saying insults to another. Just what kind of man are you?" By now a small gathering of people had begun to surround the group of three, something which the young noble lord paid attention to.

"I am a noble, son of a duke! Who are you to get in my way?! If you know better, you'll scram this instant or face punishment from me." This rich arrogant asshole really started to get on Naruko's nerves, so when she saw that the prick had raised his hand, ready to slap her, she kneed him in the groin and slapped his face, leaving a bright red bruise behind.

"Man, you're annoying." Naruko dusted off her hands while the young lord sat on the ground, knees drawn up, a handprint on his face as the people who witnessed the spectacle pointed and laughed at him. Seeing that her job was finished, Naruko grinned, giving herself a mental pat on the back, and began to leave when she heard the girl she rescued called out to her.

"Wait just a second. I must say thank-you for your help. Can I get my savior's name?" the pinkette asked Naruko, who grinned, telling the girl her name.

"It's Naruko! Yours...?"

The pinkette maiden smiled. "It's Sakura. It was nice meeting you, Naruko." It was at that moment that emerald green locked with sapphire blue. The sun shined at its brightest, pink sakura petals dancing in the wind, almost as if it was a sign that these two girls were destined to meet.

After they parted ways, Naruko made her way home. The once rich and beautiful Namikaze mansion was now only a hollow form of its original beauty. The walls were fading, peeling, and cracking, and the floors needed repairing. Naruko, who used to adore and spend most of her time in the tranquil and rich greenery of their family garden, could only barely maintain it. When her father died so did their financial situation.

"Naruko, you're home?" Hearing the voice of her mother, Naruko raced inside the house, where she saw her mother drinking tea.

"Mom!" The blonde engulfed a woman of fair skin and long crimson locks in a tight hug. Kushina was sitting at their small family table where they usually had dinner and was happy to see her little girl had returned home safe and sound.

"Keiko-san let me off earlier today. It seems everyone is talking about Prince Sasuke's eighteenth birthday. Maa, I can't believe little Sasu-chan is already eighteen now. I still remember the times when he was nothing more than a little boy who you used to play with all the time." The red-head began recalling memories that Naruko had long forgotten.

"Sasu-chan? I used to play with the prince?" This piece of news caught Naruko by surprise.

"Yep! You two were inseparable. It was so cute how Sasuke used to hold your hand, never wanting to share you with anyone. He really did inherit that certain possessive trait seen only in Uchiha men; only, he developed it at an earlier age. I wonder if he still remembers you?" pondered Kushina, pouring some tea into a cup and slid it over to Naruko.

"I highly doubt it, seeing how I don't remember him. Besides he's a prince who has girls all over the empire lusting after him. He probably forgot about me a long time ago." Naruko sipped her tea, staring out the open window she sat next to.

"The reason you probably forgot about him is most likely due to that head injury you received when you were younger. The doctor I brought over to the house, to check on you, did say some of your memories would be lost. Maybe you did just forget about him; the last time you saw each other was when you were five." That was the same age when her father died, Naruko noted. The mournful eyes of her mother made Naruko's heart ache, quickly changing the subject.

"So today I kneed some arrogant rich prick in his crown jewels." The blonde brought up today's incident; her mother almost spat out the tea she was drinking.

"Naruko, what have I told you about using violence?!" Kushina quickly scolded her daughter.

"To only use it when it's needed. But this jerk was forcing himself onto a very pretty girl, who obviously needed help. So I did the right thing by rescuing her. Plus that bastard called me fox-face." Remembering the taunting word he threw in her face brought a frown to the blonde's face.

"Then you did the right thing," Kushina said without hesitation, proud of her daughter for helping those in need as the protective mother didn't take too kindly to others teasing or bullying her cute daughter.

"Oh, bringing back the subject of Sasuke's eighteenth birthday, a letter of invitation was brought to the house today." Kushina set the invitation out on the table which Naruko picked up and began to read over.

"What? Why would we be invited to such a royal event?" suspiciously inquired Naruko.

"Though your father is now gone, I still come from a noble clan, and though my clan long ago lost its power and numbers, we are still considered to be nobles. So as nobles, we must still attend. Besides, maybe Sasu-chan still remembers you and will be happy to see you again. Now come here, I have something to show you." Naruko found herself dragged into her room where there laid out on her bed was a beautiful gown, dyed in vibrant shades of orange and red.

The colors reminded Naruko of the dawning sun; golden embroidered needlework was sewn onto the expensive fabric. Picking up a layer of the gown, Naruko softly gasped at how the soft the material felt against her fingers. In awe, she ran her hand over the majestic embroidered artwork of a nine-tailed fox howling at the moon that was located on the back. A light colored orange scarf went along with the attire. "It's beautiful, but how did you get your hands on this?" Naruko could tell from the needlework, fabric, and the bright dyed color that such a gown must've cost a fortune.

"I did most of the needlework, and after striking a deal with Keiko-san, she allowed me to borrow one for you and for myself for the party. When you're invited to events like this, you have to look the part. Oh, I still have some old hair accessories that I think will look good on you!" excitedly announced Kushina.

"Why even dig them up? If you haven't noticed, my hair is short now." Naruko ran her fingers through her short, unruly blonde locks that barely came to her shoulders.

"I'm still angry at you for cutting your hair," Kushina said, pulling out a jewelry box that only held five pieces of jewelry inside; the rest had been sold away in order to earn money. Naruko saw her mother search for something, in particular, that would go with her attire.

"I had to! It kept getting in the way whenever I had to work, besides its just hair. It can grow back, though... I really like my short hair!" grinned Naruko, paying no mind to the glare her mother threw her way.

"You always act first without thinking of the consequences! Your long hair was so beautiful; many girls would've died to have hair like yours, and there you go cutting it off!" scolded Kushina, before a smile broke out on her face once she found what she was looking for. "Here it is! This will go excellently with your clothes!" Turning her daughter towards the mirror in her room, she held up a blooming orange flower hair clip next to her hair. Dangling from it was a small shiny sun pendant and white beads

"You were four when your father bought this," Kushina suddenly revealed. "At the time you were too young for jewelry such as this, so I promised him that I'd keep it safe and wait until you become older to wear it. A lot has happened since then and our baby girl has grown into a fine young lady." Naruko saw a touch of nostalgia wash over her mother; violet eyes were brimmed with tears that she quickly wiped away, forcing a smile on her face.

"You are our sun, and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful baby girl." Hearing such heartfelt words come from her mother's mouth, Naruko spun around and hugged the strong, beautiful woman who after the death of her father had taken on so much responsibility, yet despite the tough times, remained so strong. In Naruko's eyes, all women should be like her mother, a woman who stood firm and strong, so full of life and love, allowing nothing to stand in her way. Her mother sacrificed so much to provide a stable life for her that Naruko sometimes felt as if she was selfish for being unable to sacrifice something in return.

"Thank you for being the best mother ever. I love you, mom!" Both mother and daughter shared a touching hug, unaware of what fate had in store for one of them.

End of Chapter One

Thank-you giving this story a chance, please review, follow, or favorite! Curious on what kind of clothing Sakura and Naruko are wearing, just look up Daxiushan or look up hanfu styles.