Rated M for language and later content

GLORY

V. Burgeoning

Double ruby reds cracked open, judging that the over-flooded brightness of sunshine outside the window meant noontime, perhaps just beyond lunch.

The sheets beside her felt too light and airy, and the mattress, cold and empty. Untouched.

So he never got to bed.

It was with a sigh that she drew herself up into sitting position, shaking firestorm hair loose from their low-pinned bun from sleep. It tumbled down a waterfall of red, and feeling for her regular wire-framed glasses, her clear gaze settled upon the little, bagged offering on the nightstand.

It's with a weary smile does she read the brief message: "Enjoy yourself in town. I will be in a meeting with the others," penned with a serpentine, cursive 'S' at the bottom. Weighing the thing between both hands, she judged the number of golden ryo coins, thinking in sardonic notes, how sweet.

It really was a shame—but the pinprick of guilt disappeared as quickly as it'd come in favor of professionalism.

Flipping aside the bedsheets, she glanced backwards out the window again, spotting the distant gates still open and people still crossing.

Well hell, had she not insisted on a specific point of rendezvous, she'd have one annoying time locating "minion-number-one's" whereabouts.

Let's hope he's still lurking around here.

She suspected it wouldn't be long before Sasuke'd send her back to the castle anyways, as much as it displeased her to be leaving him anywhere near the pink-haired troglodyte he called ex-wife. But he'd think his mistress would be safer there than here, and that bloomed a smile upon her sultry visage.

Undeniably, his heart belonged to the color red, always. It made things easier, and rather pleasurable along the way.

He'd always been oh-so predictable.

Though the creation of their alliance was completed, a formal Declaration of War was still in the works.

Meanwhile, the five kings were allowed to remain within Senju castle even after the Great Walls drew to a close and life resumed without bright fireworks and dancers and entertainment in the village.

Mistress Karin departed three days after the written alliance was signed, traveling alongside Advisor Baki who split off at the border and made his way back to Suna to inform Lord Gaara's siblings of the current situation and arrangement of crown (Temari was a suitable queen for ruling in his stead at the moment). Meanwhile, Her Mistress Uchiha would fare safest in her kingdom where the clan Council and infantry would provide strong protection against most coming in.

One royal courier was sent to Lady Hinata, another to track down traveler Jiraiya in the hopes that he'd linger especially close around Namikaze in case anyone swooped in to snatch the throne.

On the fifth day of their stay, Lady Haruno asked for the presence of Lord Hyuuga and Advisor Shikamaru, much to Sasuke's displeasure and Kakashi's amusement.

"This is my brother we're plotting against," he'd snarled angrily, irritated that even though there seemed to be progress on his and her's distance (at least for the sake of something greater than their broken marriage), she still cast him away.

"For you. For the rest of us, this is about Lord Pein, you know." Sasuke withered, feeling faintly scolded, like a child being corrected. "Shikamaru is going to get things done," Kakashi placated reasonably. "It's best we let them convene first."

"But th—"

"No dude." Naruto stopped him sagely, pausing his shared drinks with the Sabaku crown over a small table and a game of chess (of which the blonde was losing, might I add). "You're too hotheaded about this shit right now. Let the calm people talk first."

"It'd be wisest," Gaara conceded, snatching yet another pawn off the board much to Naruto's indignant flailing.

Sasuke spent the evening seething at a fireplace, lips kissing the rim of a whisky cup like a lover.

Advisor Shikamaru let a document fall open, parchments laid upon the table in the Senju war conference room. As he set the manila aside, Sakura shuffled between the papers, leafing through the multiple profiles as quickly as her fingers and eyes would let her.

The first of these were the reports on each of Lord Pein's experts in his infantry—nine in total aside from the Ame King, himself. Each were in charge of various sectors or positions of his court with their own set of high-class skills, own grades of lethality, own six to seven-digit bounties.

Every single damn one of them had a hefty price on their heads, constantly building the more they became of the unkillable kind.

They were beasts on a chain to the Ame King.

"So your previous plan of poking around the army," Shikamaru nudged on in referral to their last conversation, thumbing the corner of the documents that discussed the format and divisions of the infantry. "Elaborate, milady."

"If you remember what Shizune brought to us from a courier this afternoon, then we know there's been an increase in outlaw activity in Waterfall state, right above Uchiha land," she recounted, eyeing the paper Lord Neji was reading on the lower mercenaries rumored to be hired under Ame's arm. "I have my suspicions."

At her word, attention shifted and focused upon solely the Queen.

Shikamaru stared attentively, brow quirking. "On?"

"Why they're so close to the border of the last place on earth they should be at. Why they're moving eastward. Why there's so many."

Neji gazed, a little incredulous at the path her train of thought seemed to be taking.

Could it be?

She hummed in confirmation, and the advisor's eyes flickered from his Lordship, over to the reigning queen, making connections himself.

It clicked.

"There's very little doubt in my mind that even without a war decree, Lord Pein's been sending people out to camp nearby the Fire borders for invasion on a moment's notice. It's how a man like him functions."

There, she said it.

Both men fell into deep thought at that, yet she continued on with a suggestion of, "How about pressing the numbers a bit?"

The Nara's brows hit his hairline, a little befuddled at the sharp turn. "You want to launch attacks on Waterfall under mercenary suspicion? Your Highness, I don't thi—"

"No." She shook her head. "I want to launch attacks, but not in Waterfall. In our own territory."

"...For what purpose?"

"Statement. Protection. Rebellion against the rebellion."

Ah.

It dawned on the men.

Of course.

"I smite thee, for you smite me."

Where Pein might think he had the up on them, he'd be direly proven wrong if the Four Seasons picked out a waiting invasion with their own sneak attack. They'd be dancing around each other, weaving in and out of reach until it came time for the true fight between crowns.

Aside from a battle of swords, it'd come to be a battle of wits, too—the minefield of tactical strategy (especially combating an intelligent man such as the Lord of Ame) would prove itself invaluable.

Just as now.

Incredulously, Shikamaru muttered, "You want to start a war with a battlecry."

She smiled at their swiftness. "Exactly."

Her hands drifted across the cherry oak wood.

"How much they think they have the up on us, how skilled and unskilled—we test it, carve into the start of their militias and make a statement, poke openings in their fronts. Tell them that we know about their plays and we'll meet every single one, that if they ask for a war, they will have it."

And all this from outlaw overactivity and the wish to one-up the enemy.

Smart.

Sakura nodded down to the profiles on the table. "Their specialists are one thing, but I doubt that bunch is readily mobilized this early in conflict, so we take advantage of it and hit their silent brigade, show them that surprise is an element we are also well-versed in."

It was made clear to the advisor why she insisted on only him and his lord to be present; Sasuke wouldn't've seen the beauty of tactical silence and careful warfare. Most of the national conferences they attended for safety and militarial security often included him making plans filled with straight brunt and brawn. Kakashi was his better voice of reason.

Comparatively, the Hyuuga Kingdom knew when to wait and when to strike. Patience and mediation had always been their way.

Shikamaru inclined his head in understanding, and Neji made a noise of approval next to her, two pairs of eyes looking at the reigning Queen with renewed pride.

This was the brain of Her Ladyship, the once-upon-a-time esteemed "O Merciful."

How wrong such a name could be in the face of war.

"Then the battleplan?"

She smiled then, showing off perfect rows of pearly whites through petal pink lips, but the lit flame of impassioned victory ruled hot in her eyes. It was something that struck Shikamaru in slight awe, and when he glanced at Neji, the gaze was knowing and mildly secretive.

The lord pretended not to notice.

"Two points of attack," she began. With a sweep of her arm, she pushed aside documents to reveal the world map anchored behind a glass top on the conference table.

One finger lied on the upper east region beyond Namikaze borders, then another down, below the Southern Hyuuga Kingdom's land.

"My land on the western front has walls and stationed knights—since I'm technically the closest to Ame territory, they can't be stupid enough to try to hit me yet. Same with Uchiha—for the most part. It would make sense they'd go for who they haven't touched yet and cover the back end to corner us—hence, Hyuuga and Namikaze land."

And then her forefinger traced the perimeter of Fire Kingdom.

"Between the day Itachi defected and now, troop mobilization theoretically is possibly, especially if they're just outside our borders where we don't necessarily see them right away and they're not formal soldiers to stay off the radar. We have half the country on the coast—barricading the waters is a quick way of cutting war resources if we formally declare now."

If we formally declare now.

Declaring war would make things definitive, including all overseas connections, enemies, and everything in between. It'd solidify their intentions for battle, which meant anything was game, especially blocking the shores on account of cutting war supplies.

But without the declaration, there was still no such thing and the trade system and ocean routes were still free-reign. A blockade without reason was one thing; attacking various hidden posted enemy soldiers, however...

"This is, of course, pure assumption. We can still send out scouts from either kingdoms and have a courier confirm things, but the risks of getting caught can be compromising," she disclaimed. "I'm hoping their element of surprise can be one-upped by ours."

"I don't think that's necessary," Neji allowed. "Every one of our able-bodied fighters need to be prepared for stationing anyways; sending off soldiers won't be detrimental if no enemies are where we think they are. It's either this red card or the declaration." He shook his head. "It doesn't matter what comes first; there is war either way."

"Agreed." She smiled.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru whistled lowly at the unfolding plan, most possible scenarios coming up positive in his head. Assumptions or not, minor kinks aside, this was one hell of a start.

O Merciful, huh?

"Milord," he addressed, and amused liquid mercury glanced his way, trains of thought parallel. "I have to say—the decision to come here was the best one made in a long time across these lands."

He chuckled, not at all missing the way Sakura looked at him. "I'll say."

"Well then, before we go any further, I think the rest of them should be here for this," the royal Hyuuga advisor decided.

He began slightly re-sorting the pages upon pages of information, sectioning off the experts, the infantry, the land layout, the mercenaries, the king. Nodding in direction of the door, the man drew his shoulders together and gave half a bow.

"If you will excuse me, Your Highnesses."

A tilting of the head from Lord Hyuuga was sent his way, and with that, he swiftly turned on heel and departed.

As the great gilded doors of the war conference room drew shut, Neji's stare averted from there, to here.

From war, to woman.

Lady Haruno stood hunched over the stack that discussed the infantry and the land layout, referring to it when her eyes weren't on the map. He took the extra time to let quicksilver roam upon her, the silence bearing witness to his (admittedly shameless) attentions.

The beautiful, rolling waterfall of amanthe—gentle and sweet and for once out of its kempt updos and braids—hung down her back, tied off low in similar fashion to his own, tickling her elbows, her waist—very much places he dimly wished his hands could be.

No longer garbed in expensive ballgown silk, she wore a floor-length daywear dress in a shade of palest lilac, mostly hidden by a long Victorian overcoat colored in creams and golds. Despite the lack of bodice-wear, it clung to the gentle, sloping curves that evidently showed him her femininity.

The sweet incline of shoulder to neck was a clear, peach-colored path that he distinctly remembered trailing tongue and fingers along, and vaguely, he wondered on the feel of it again. Was it just as soft? As smooth? Did it still taste especially musky and heavy when she sweat? Labored? Passioned?

Did she know what she did to him?

It'd taken too much to refrain from pondering and yearning and reflecting in all this time closest to her, forefront of head flooded by the dreams—the memories—that plagued him in his sleepless hours, and it proved only true that despite their parting, he was still every bit Temptation's slave.

He reached out, heading towards the outer curve of her elbow. When it was suddenly clear what his stupidity was making him do, he dodged and plucked the paper closest to her hip.

It was like the action abruptly reminded the lady of her company and she stepped left, letting him flank her. A distinct heat bloomed at her collarbones.

They were alone and it wouldn't take much to make his resolve snap.

"This is a good plan," he started slowly, carefully.

Smooth was his voice, like sweet cream, unbothered and untouched by their predicament. If ever he wondered on her with thoughts on their history, he showed none of it.

Yet they both knew better.

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, feeling his particular presence unfathomably close to her arm.

"Your tactical mind never fails to impress me, Milady."

At the gentle lilt of teasing, she fought to banish the quirk of her lip.

It failed as she claimed, "I strive to please."

And of course, just like that, awkwardness collapsed in on them, and she was quick to curse herself mentally.

Well hell—

"Is that so?"

She swallowed thickly.

Someone up there seriously hates me.

"That is—" He let go of the paper and she feared looking at him, knowing where his eyes were, "—so…"

There was a low rumble in his chest, then in his throat, and the ghostly feeling on the back of her upper arm was, in fact, his touch and not a trick of the mind.

She lured air between her teeth, painfully registering the turn of his body, the maneuver in physical language. Faint but vivid, a charge began sparking between he and her, and it'd been so fucking long since—

"Sakura."

Low—lower and deeper than even the sea—was his voice, tongue rolling across the letters of her name sinuously.

No.

Think war.

Think tactics. Think strategy.

Think, think, thi—

He nudged aside the hair curling over her shoulder, exposing clearly the skin there. Goosebumps rose at his beck-and-call, and it's with running desire and low approval does he sigh at the reaction, pleased out of his mind like he'd been so long ago.

Lips lingered there, not kissing but nuzzling, and with lidded eyes and slowed gestures does she turn to address him and his affections, gazing into the melted mercury that his eyes created.

Her breath hitched under the gentle flex of his hand on her arm, stare heated, toe-curling and awe-invoking, and...

So fucking familiar.

Flashes of him above her, rolling in tempo with her every cry and whimper—of him below her, teeth gritted and eyes hot in concentration as if committing it all to memory—of him in her sheets, in her bath, between her hands and her legs and against her chest and whispering to her lips, her heart, all the empty promises, the fulfilling nights, the- the—

Think Uchiha.

It was like being straight electrocuted by the gods themselves, for she stopped, wide-eyed. Her breath caught, blood rushing cold to combat the liquid fire that swam in her veins.

They'd gotten so incredibly fucking close—so much that the press of muscle against curve felt so- so comfortable—that her need to get away came in the act of wrenching her arm back.

Hurt flickered in his dazed, glassy eyes, before realization, recognition, self-deprecation, and resignation. All five happened within a second, and then he was adjusting himself, straightening, turning away.

It was in time, too, for the gilded doors were knocked upon, then aside, the very first face to appear being Lord Uchiha's.

Depthless black narrowed slightly, painstakingly aware of… of something in the room, but unable to fully ponder on it, for the head of pink quickly stole away his attentions.

He zeroed in upon her expression, a convoluted mix of sudden surprise and indecipherable haze. Stalking into the room to make way for the others trailing behind him, he strode to the seat opposite of hers, standing and watching.

Advisor Shikamaru came around her, immediately engaging his Lord. With short reluctance, the moon-eyed man turned away to exchange brief whispers, missed by Sasuke's gauging stare.

"Sakura!"

Lord Uchiha glared at the bumbling ball of orange.

Naruto cared little about the daggers being tossed his way and concentrated more closely on the reigning queen, reaching over, out, snatching her in a bear hug.

Eyes snapped his way, and perhaps it would've been threatening had he not started clutching tighter, animatedly talking about how good the breakfast at the castle was.

Tension melting away, she awkwardly laughed as he gushed, "Your chef should meet mine! Chouji would love some serious mano a mano bonding between cooks!"

"I think that'd be fun. Maybe banquet style?"

He nodded furiously. "Hell yes. That's how we'll celebrate!"

"Well to get there, we'll have to—I don't know—start, perhaps?" Kakashi inquired, bopping Naruto on the top of the head with a rolled parchment. Gaara came through, chuckling as the blonde squawked fiercely about "grey old men" and "bastard, you better fuckin' punish your entourage."

"I suggest you keep quiet now," the redhead offered, lips quirking. As Naruto huffed, crossing his arms, the Suna King glanced on to the Lady, giving her a gentle nod of the head. She returned it in kind, smile on her lips.

"Well if people weren't being such assholes—"

"If anything, you provoke them," Shikamaru swiftly interrupted, thereafter adding, "Milord," in a half-mocking manner. The blonde spluttered, indignant finger nearly slapping away the papers now in Neji's hands to point accusingly.

Ignoring the Hyuuga's withered look, he screeched, "Why is no one disciplining them!?"

"They're only stating facts, moron." Seething blue turned to smirking black. "As if you could get it through your skull."

"Nothing can get over that thick-head," Neji sighed longingly, "barely even his own shirts."

"Shame that he has to get necklines tailored for him."

"Y'know," Kakashi added easily, "maybe we should really give it up for Queen Kushina. Must've been hard pushing a large head like that out."

"Really? As if Queen Mikoto had it any easier, isn't that right, Sir Ego?" Neji taunted, smirk gleaming at the thoroughly ruffled Uchiha across the way.

"She must've gotten advice from your mother after pushing you out," Sasuke sneered back, snickers coloring the room.

Sakura hid behind her hand, snorting with barely concealed laughter. Naruto roared to life in thunderous guffaws beside her, all at each other's expense. Even Kakashi deliberately chuckled behind that rolled parchment of his.

So it's then that the pink-haired ruler put her palms out to stop the onslaught of banter and bickering, despite grins and smirks still at home on faces.

Smiling nonetheless, she motioned for the newcomers to finally settle and take places around the conference table, gesturing to the papers peppering its surface.

"Now gentlemen," she started, mischief in deep streaks along her tone. "How do you feel about a borderside sneak attack?"

It's approximately three and a half weeks later that the two organized attacks were fully carried out.

Confirmation of suspicious activity along the coastlines came in the form of messenger horsemen convening by the Konoha Capitol.

At Namikaze's borders, Jiraiya was given the slip on the plan and organized with him a mild number of Uchiha's infantry. Mobilizing eastward, they met up with the nomadic sage and headed into Namikaze's territory.

The first order of business was alerting their harvesters, who would need to begin provision work in order to aid the oncoming battles. That included rounding up the winter-grown vegetables before the muggy summer and hot humidity wrecked their yield.

Secondly came the warning of villagers, who would no doubt begin to panic seeing smoke in the horizon. They were ushered inland, closer to the left edge of the town just in case problems arose. About half a dozen soldiers remained stationed near the civilians to provide protection furthermore, enough to aid in any evacuation, but not so much to cause a large scene. Suna would've done better, but transferring in the brigade past the borders would alert Ame.

Hyperaware of the various routes into and around Namikaze land due to traveling, Sage Jiraiya led the minor infantry upwards into the Whirlpool Mountains, betting on the idea that Ame would be on the other side, fully intent on using the cave systems to launch a surprise invasion at a moment's notice.

They never saw them coming, especially from the sky.

A torrent of experts in armor proudly carrying the Uchiha fan let chaos rain and a clash of metal upon metal ensued. It was pure luck that this camp-out wasn't too high in numbers nor abilities, and with glory and cunning did the skillful infantry annihilate this borderside's enemy count; no survivors.

A billowing great-flag emblazoned with the curling symbol of Capitol Konoha was embedded into the ground amongst the carnage—a clear red card in challenge against 'God Among Kings' Lord Pein.

Jiraiya gazed on after weaving through enemy lines as they fell like trees in a forest, heartily laughing at the clumsiness. Opportunity truly waited for no one, especially the unprepared.

This attack was deemed a success.

The second happened within approximately the same time frame, right around when Jiraiya arrived in Namikaze.

Shikamaru was sent to carry out the Southern Hyuuga Border attack, which not only allowed him to pass through the North where Lady Hinata would be (to give information on any of their current and incoming plans), but to also alert both castles on beginning the preparation of the specialist divisions. The Hyuuga were notorious for their vastly traditional yet powerful ways, and it'd surely come in handy in the frontlines.

Taking with him a similar amount of infantry as Sir Jiraiya had, he encountered first his old mentor, Asuma Sarutobi, who offered to aid him in the sneak attack.

"Surely you'd need a little strength in numbers," the older man asked, sharing with his former student a tin of cigarettes hours before his departure. "I could come."

Shikamaru shook his head, flicking ash from the end of his roll. "This isn't meant to be a full-scale attack, Asuma. You stay here." Billowing smoke, he followed it with a, "You could call it 'poking a sleeping bear.'"

"You'll get bitten if you aren't careful." Sir Sarutobi put out his spent blunt, hunching over to stare at the clouds rolling beyond the coast. "A seaside attack?"

"Genius, isn't it?" The Nara slouched, following his former teacher's example. "Lady Haruno came up with it."

"Lady Haruno? Lord Uchiha's ex-wife?"

"That's the one." The younger man chuckled. "A head on her shoulders, she has. I have the sneaking suspicion that the delay in the formal Declaration of War might've been her doing."

Asuma whistled lowly. "Does it have to do with overseas trade?"

"The routes have no choice but to stay open," Shikamaru allowed. "It's not wartime, therefore the shores technically can't be blockaded."

"Smart." And yet Asuma still shook his head. "But you still should be careful. As correct as you are, Lord Pein isn't necessarily going to be playing by those rules."

"As we suspected. That's why this attack scheduled against the shores will make quite the statement."

Shikamaru stretched his arms high, clambering onto his feet. His mentor once-upon-a-time did the same, and the two stood side by side, gazing at the clear blue waters shining grey with rainclouds.

"Any reports on the veteran division?"

"Gai, Hayate, and Genma are on standby here, and they're preparing the Hyuuga cavalry," Asuma replied. "Kurenai and Yugao are heading down from Lady Hinata's lands. Are there other specialists from anywhere else we should be aware of?"

"Uchiha Kingdom's Kakashi Hatake is certainly on our side, though he's on the part of advisor at the moment."

Asuma grumbled deep in his chest, remembering his old friend and the esteemed fighter. They'd been war veterans together all those years ago. To think they would witness another one in their lifetimes—it might've been considered hell on earth had the rush of battle not worn them warm with anticipation again.

"He mentioned some mercenaries. A Konoha-born duo that would aid us—for now we're still waiting to get in touch with them. Raido from Namikaze along with Inuzuka and Aburame scouts are being informed."

"What about Anko?"

"Anko Mitarashi?" Shikamaru paused, then shrugged. "Still AWOL."

Asuma hummed. And then he turned to his former student, hand on shoulder in a gesture most reminiscent of a father.

"Shikaku would have killed to be a part of this war council," he murmured fondly. "Rather than that sword, a heart attack would've sent him into the grave instead after learning his own son managed to pry apart Senju's walls. You know we always heralded it as a fortress?"

"That was when Lady Tsunade reigned," Shikamaru replied with a chuckle. "Father would've quite liked the new Queen."

"Do you?"

He didn't deign that with a reply.

That very same day, deep into the night when the coastal regions felt chilly with the sea breeze, Shikamaru launched his attack.

Gliding between the trees, dressed in garbs of beige and grey under Gaara's advice to match the white sands, they took to the shores. A moment of readying divided the time between arrival and commencement, used up by Shikamaru's steadily surveying eyes.

Empty did the beaches look, but observant and analytical was he, spotting the oddest little smudge in the horizonal distance. Was there an island out there?

But then the moment befell them and time was theirs and now, so he halted and filed away that thought, fist up to signal the beginning of their launch. A diversion tactic to get the spiders out of the woodworks was in order, and it's with a homemade prank bomb taught by Lord Naruto does the sneak attack erupt.

Unfortunately, later, it's with daunting realization that Shikamaru's prided critical eye belatedly notices the sheer numbers.

And it's with panic does he understand this might not work as intended.

They must've heard what's happening at Namikaze. That or they really wanted to start a fucking blockade. Where the hell did this come from—

Well, shit.

From the waters and from overturned boats painted deep blue on the bottom did a hidden army come forth, outnumbering his small Uchiha infantry by nearly four to one. As skilled as his men were, there was no way they'd come out unscathed.

Halting the brigade, he ordered for retreat over the howling shore winds, the twangs of metal loud and abrupt as the waterside watchers eased onto shore, battlecrying at the night sky.

As the Nara-led minor Uchiha infantry broke back into the trees by the coastline, him mounting his horse, a piercing pain bloomed deeply in his left shoulder. It's his sharp yelp paired with another flying arrow at the hind legs of his stead does he get thrown overhead, shucked hard into the trees and snapping twigs along the way.

Multiple men under his direction stopped, yelling and calling for him but he threw his spare arm viciously, urging them to go anyways.

"Twit!"

Galloping hooves circled his fallen form and it's with weary relief does Shikamaru look up and take the offered hand of his savior, who swung him harshly up and on his horse.

"I thought I—ugh—told you not to come," he struggled to get out, wincing.

Asuma shook his head. "You're an idiot if you think you don't need me."

And so, injured, the second attack was deemed a failure.

With Shikamaru at the Southern Hyuuga Castle, a royal courier brought a message to Senju Kingdom one week later. The convening Lords and Lady were alerted of both the win on the eastern front, and the loss on the southern. At Neji's insistence and under unanimous vote, they resolved to exit the walls and head down to the latter. Shikamaru needed them—him, especially—and they all had to reconvene.

The party of royalty and their remaining advisors prepared for the journey.

It's with startling clarity does Sakura realize the true weight of such an action, especially as she sat before her mother, lips twisted flatly and eyes blank, yet steadfast. She'd just told her of their new plan.

The only other true time Queen Haruno had left her walls was that faraway portion of her life, devoted to the Uchiha Kingdom those years ago. All her life had been solely for and within these walls.

Tsunade stared back, stunning liquid amber eyes resembling the famed honey wine of the Senju. She had a cup of such a drink in her hands, the glow of her study's fireplace bathing everything especially golden and bright.

"Sakura..." The pinkette withheld a wince, fully prepared to take whatever possible criticism coming her way.

This is for the good of the people, she resolutely believed. This is a battle we shouldn't run from.

"You're a ruler. Your word is law."

Yes, it—what—?

Lady Tsunade chuckled at her daughter's bewildered look, setting her half-finished cup down. "It's your decision, is what I'm saying." She nodded her head. "If you need to go and protect your—our—people, you go do it. Whether it's inside these walls or not, it's your decision."

"Mother, I..."

"Expected more of a fight?" The blonde woman sighed almost wistfully, gaze distant and given to the fireplace's embers. "My mistakes are your stepping stones, Sakura."

Mistakes?

The current reigning Lady shifted in her seat, honey wine untouched and fingers tight on the cup's rim.

"You remember the Third War, yes?"

It was the last, most recent one, several years following her birth but not clear enough to her young head and eyes; the very same series of battles that claimed her father's life, amongst many other reigning crowns at the time.

"Yes."

"I..." Tsunade's brow furrowed at the middle, almost self-deprecating and angry. "When the war was declared, I...—I shut the gates."

...What?

But why—

"It doesn't sound like a bad thing but, at the time? It was the worst decision to make." She frowned heavily. "Dan and I fought. I—I didn't want anything to do with that damned war. I wanted us to stay isolationist, stay out of the battle. It was how we lost Lord Tobirama—to a rampaging, belligerent fight. I couldn't stand the sight of blood again, Sakura."

The normally fierce, dutifully independent and femininely bright woman crumbled, wilting at the shoulders in self-defeat. Resisting the urge to embrace her mother, Sakura remained tactful and patiently listened instead.

"But Dan thought otherwise. He wanted to—to help—said that the others were counting on us, and my god, the pressure—"

Shakily, the woman put a hand to her head, tears forcefully withheld and blinked away. She inhaled deeply, expression pinching, swatting away the grief and sorrow.

"I let him go. I didn't... I could've provided back up. I had the medical knowledge and everything, I could've patched up that wound, but I wasn't there. I didn't. My husband—your father—he died bleeding out on that battlefield."

She shook her head then turned to her daughter, the look of sympathy and deep love just about bringing her heart to a burst.

Oh, my dear girl...

"Don't make my mistake. Don't let this war reach the world. End it here in Fire," she whispered softly, forlornly. "You shouldn't be afraid to do what you have to do, even if it takes you outside these walls."

Lady Tsunade reached on, undoing the pinkette's grip on her cup in favor of looping slim fingers with slim fingers. Shakily, yet tightly, sweetly, yet passionately, from mother to daughter was bone-deep, world-weary new love formed.

"You promise me one thing," she remarked, unfettered eyes making contact with jewel-toned emerald.

It wasn't to 'come back alive.' War and Death made no such promises. Instead—

"Take your father's broadsword."

I was drowsy off cough medicine writing this whole thing and trying to revamp an older story of mine. I'm certain when I go back and check on this, I'll be like, "What."

But still, oh hell yes, now we're entering the pre-war arc and I'm fucking living for it.

Just a heads up: I did toss in some romance here with NejiSaku, but bear in mind that this story is also heavily drama and adventure-based. I will, however, try to add more as we go so uh, y'know, look out for that. I'm also not a war/politics buff so er, good thing this is a fanfic AU and accuracy has leeway ahhh haahha—

Next chapter, I'm thinking we'll peek into the other sides of the conflict, maybe throw some cute MultiSaku. There're a lot of small secrets and twists I'm looking to add over the course of the story.

For those who care, BUTTERFLY will get updated sometime in the next week or two.

So until next time—

- burrblefish