In the Land of Snow

By 004

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.

Warning: This is a yaoi fic; hailing the pairing of ItaNaru. There will also be Mpreg here. Slight Sasuke-bashing may be observed but will gradually simmer down as the story progresses.

Chapter 1

He was in the city market doing errands for his mom when a stranger suddenly called out to him out of nowhere.

"Hey kid."

Kyousuke turned to the sound of the voice, careful not to drop any of the fruits and vegetables he had in his arms.

"Yes?" despite the rebellious light in his bright blue eyes, the young nine year old minded his manners; the memory of his father lecturing him on the importance of manners still fresh in his mind.

The small, dark-haired boy looked up to see a man with almost the same dark spiky hair as him— but clearly this man's was spikier. He even had duck-butt spikes on the back of his head for God's sake! There was a faint resemblance that he could see on the stranger's face but Kyousuke dismissed the thought. He might just be imagining things.

"I've heard that there is an Uchiha family living here in Snow Country," duck-butt dude's voice was clipped and stoic, much like the voice his dad would use while talking about a serious mission. "Would you mind confirming if these rumors are true?"

Kyousuke's eyes narrowed and he subtly adjusted the produce he was carrying in his hands to get better access to the ninja weapons he had hidden under his thick winter coat. "What's it to you? What do you want with the Uchihas, you bastard?" This time, Kyousuke just disregarded proper conduct.

"My, my… you seem to have quite the sharp tongue. Didn't your mother ever teach you it's wrong to badmouth your elders?" a man that Kyousuke never noticed standing beside the duck-butt dude said. This other stranger had silver hair, standing up on end and his whole face was hidden except for his one eye. Kyousuke knew immediately that it was wrong to trust in this man.

"Supposing that you are my elders I'll keep in mind to watch my words, old man," the young nine year old smirked at the silver-haired man who just twitched at the age jab. But he seemed to be a good sport because the silver-haired man gave him an eye-smile in return.

Duck-butt dude though, didn't seem to be as friendly as the silver-haired guy; because as soon as Kyousuke said that, he gave the brat an irritated glare that should've pissed the pants of any normal nine year old.

But Kyousuke was not a normal nine year old.

He glared back at the duck-butt dude with almost the same intensity that duck-butt dude looked surprised for a moment. It almost seemed as if they were about to go on forever just glaring at each other but the silver-haired dude coughed.

"As exciting as it is to watch the two of you glare at each other… look kid, we just want to ask if there really are people with the name Uchiha living here in your area."

Kyousuke broke eye contact with duck-butt dude and regarded the silver-haired man for a moment before replying, "And I'm asking why you want to know."

"You see—"

"Kakashi-sensei! Sasuke-kun! Anything yet?"

Turning his head, Kyousuke saw a woman wearing the same brown thermal ninja coats Kakashi-san and Sasuke-san seemed to have. She had shocking bubblegum-pink hair that almost boggled his eyes out of its sockets.

"We asked this kid about the Uchiha-issue but we haven't got any answers so far," the man named Kakashi-sensei said.

"Hn." Ooh! Mr. Sasuke-Duck-Butt seemed to be an Emo King as well.

The pink-haired woman turned to Kyousuke and asked in a soft voice, "Could you please just answer if there are Uchihas here in the Snow Country that you know of?"

"Like what I keep telling your team mates, I won't answer until I know what you're up to. I don't want to be blamed for what will happen to the Uchihas and if you would even think of that motive, I'll make sure that my dad will kill you where you stand, shinobi!" the nine year old replied with the sternest face he could muster, hoping that he seemed a bit intimidating enough.

The three ninjas made eye contact for a while like they were having a little silent conversation before the pink-haired woman turned back to him and said, "We won't harm the Uchihas, kid. You have my word. We just wanted to know if it's true that there is another Uchiha family growing here outside of our village. You see, the first Uchihas came from Konoha, you know?"

"Konoha?"

Pink-hair seemed to brighten when Kyousuke recognized her home village. "Yes, Konohagakure of Hi no Kuni. You recognize it?"

But young Kyousuke just looked at all three of them with unreadable eyes. He looked like a certain missing nin at the moment and even the three elite ninjas with all their experience would freely admit to underestimating a child.

What they didn't expect from the boy though was when his wide blue eyes bled red and a black wheel with three tomoe appeared.

His soft whisper was the last the three Konoha ninja heard before they blacked out.

"Tsukiyomi."

Sasuke was the first to regain consciousness.

When he woke up he noticed that they were placed in a white room, very similar to a hospital's. The Uchiha sat up and looked around. He saw Kakashi and Sakura sleeping on two other beds and it seemed as if it would take a while for them to wake up.

He stood up on shaky legs and tried to come to terms with what happened to him—to his teammates. Sasuke gritted his teeth in anger and frustration and his hands clenched, small streaks of lightning dancing across his knuckles. His onyx eyes quickly turned into the Sharingan in his rage and the three tomoe in his eyes spun wildly.

'There's no mistaking that technique… That brat used the Tsukiyomi!'

He was too busy glowering to himself that he failed to notice someone enter the room. If Sasuke had been in the right mind, he would've reprimanded himself for his slip in concentration.

"Ahem," came the sound from the doorway.

Sasuke snapped his eyes to the sound and saw Princess Kazahana Koyuki of Snow Country accompanied by a handful of her attendants and a few from the medical staff, standing at the threshold of the parted shoji doors. He remembered meeting the princess when he was younger, during one of their missions when Sasuke was still part of Team Seven. She had been a famous movie star living the life of her alter ego, Yukie Fujikaze.

"Uchiha Sasuke-san… was it?" Princess Koyuki said in the cold, stoic voice she used back in her days of denial. The entourage she had with her flinched at the princess's tone. They had hoped never to hear it again after so long.

"Princess ," he replied in simple acknowledgement. The Konoha nin tried his best to hide the after effects of the Tsukiyomi. The only reason why he had been able to wake up earlier than the other two was because he had the Mangekyou Sharingan and that the brat had only used an underdeveloped version of the technique. If the Tsukiyomi had been the same as his… brother's, then it would have taken the assistance of the Godaime again to cure him and his teammates.

"I was surprised to hear that the village that saved my country, sent ninjas to my territory without informing me," she continued. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this sudden visit?"

Even though Sasuke could care less about politics and proper decorum, he had enough sense to realize that he and his teammates were treading on thin ice. Any wrong move and insensitive remark would have his team kicked out of the country and across the frozen sea by order of the princess.

"Our team had been sent on a mission just at the borders of your country, hime-sama. And in the duration of our time spent there, we heard rumors of a family also bearing the name Uchiha, thriving in your Hidden Village of the Snow." He kept his head bowed and his tone neutral, hoping it would appease the Princess's anger somewhat; though Sasuke didn't know why she was angry in the first place. "Our team decided that given the circumstances, we should take advantage of the situation and check to see if what those men had said were true or false."

Princess Koyuki narrowed her eyes and proceeded to step into the room and started pacing around the Uchiha. For some reason, their conversation was slowly turning into an interrogation. "And you just decided to come to my country uninvited. Besides… why is it your concern if another branch of the Uchihas are beginning to grow in Snow? Shouldn't you be happy that someone in your scarce family has started to bring back the clan?"

"All the more reason why I wish to confirm if those words are truth. As the head of the Uchiha clan, I am expected to watch over the well-being of my clansmen and bring them back to their homeland, back to Konoha—"

"We will never return to Konoha! My father and mother will never allow it!"

Everybody turned to the little boy that decided to make an entrance. The nine year old's dark-hair was standing in spikes and his blue eyes bright with anger and glowed against his naturally pale skin. Sasuke recognized him as the same boy that used the Tsukiyomi on them.

"You!" he snarled at the boy, charging forward to catch him but a masked ninja stood in his path before he could even move from his spot and grabbed his wrist that held the Chidori.

"Need I remind you Uchiha Sasuke-san, that while under the roof of my palace home, you are at my mercy; your life is forfeit. If you attack the child of one of my precious people, I would not hesitate to order your death," Princess Koyuki warned him. Her chilling dark eyes glared at him. The make-up applied on her face was supposed to make her look pretty but managed to look like a sort of war paint on her angered visage.

Sasuke could only huff in frustration as he cancelled his jutsu but the man that held his wrist still didn't let go. The Konoha nin turned his glare to the masked man and sneered at him. He was about to threaten the Snow nin to release his limb but his eyes widened in surprise and disbelief when he recognized the masked ninja's chakra signature.

"Can't be…" he breathed out, the realization dawning into his eyes. Sasuke's eyes flickered to the man before him and the little boy standing to the side.

"It's been a long time," the masked nin spoke in the voice Sasuke knew all too well. He would never forget the scathing words he spoke; the voice that echoed in his nightmares every night.

For a while, Sasuke didn't know how to react. But he soon got a hold of his wits and the other wrist that wasn't in the other man's grip quickly grabbed the hilt of his sword that was strapped across his back.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Again, another hand stopped his attack and Sasuke turned to Kakashi, who seemed unsteady on his feet, holding his hand just as the blade was about to leave its sheathe. "Sasuke, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kakashi's voice sounded ragged and labored, considering what he just woke up from.

Princess Koyuki and her entourage just watched everything from the sidelines, hoping that the conflict and drama would end soon. But from the angry snarl on the young Konoha nin's face, it seemed unlikely to happen unless the two older ninjas decided to intervene.

"Stand down, Sasuke," Kakashi ordered. "As the commander of this unit, I order you to lower your weapons and stand down."

When it seemed that Sasuke was more inclined to ignore him, the masked nin said, "I would hate for my nine year old to witness such a pathetic fight so I suggest you do what Kakashi-san is asking."

The silver-haired ninja's only visible eye flickered to the masked nin and held the same kind of realization Sasuke had in his eyes a while ago. But thankfully, he didn't choose to say anything.

"Uchiha Sasuke-san, if you do not follow my captain's orders I will be forced to use my authority to detain you in our prison cells for attempted murder of a legal citizen of Snow," Princess Koyuki added in.

"Legal citizen? This man is nowhere near legal. He's a fucking missing nin!" Sasuke shouted to no one and he had yet to ease his stance.

"Sasuke," the masked nin called his attention. The Uchiha did, and also sent a Death Glare in his way. "I would be happy to explain everything to you and your companions; as long as you swear not to harm my family in any way."

"Family? You expect me to believe that you have a family? After you fucking killed our whole clan?"

Sasuke noted with satisfaction as the little kid hiding behind the man seemed shocked. He turned to the boy and sneered, "What? You didn't know that your daddy was a murderer?"

Sasuke was so surprised by the sudden jab that he initially felt only a hint of pain when the masked nin's fist connected with a solid punch to his cheek. He was sent flying to one of the blinds standing in the corner of the room and was sour to say that no one seemed inclined to help him or even side with him, including Kakashi.

If the man wasn't wearing a mask, maybe everyone would have seen his normally passive face contort into pure hatred. Kyousuke, the little boy, stood at his father's legs and clutched his pants in his small fists. He was also looking at Sasuke with anger and shouted as loud as any nine year old could, "My father might have killed many people but he's no heartless murderer! If he killed, it would be for the people he loved!"

'Yeah, right…'

"As soon as our remaining teammate regains consciousness and recovers, we would immediately leave your country, hime-sama. The people of Konoha sincerely asks your forgiveness and understanding on this matter and we hope that this would not affect the ties we have with Snow," Kakashi cut in, hoping to dissolve some of the tension happening in the room. He bowed at the waist and continued asking for forgiveness and understanding from the Princess.

"Yes, I think that would be for the best," Princess Koyuki agreed. She directed an icy glare in Sasuke's direction and seemed to asses him. "But note this, the only reason why you are let off the hook is because you are one of the heroes that saved Snow Country and that one of those dearest to me would be disappointed if you were to be in danger. The next time you cross me or even the Uchihas of Snow, mark my words, your people will not be as lucky."

With the final assurances from Kakashi and lots of gratitude from his part, Princess left the room with her attendants, leaving only the medical staff, the masked man and his son, and the Konoha nins. The nurses and doctors immediately set to work, prodding the two weakened ninjas to head back to their beds so they could be better examined.

Kakashi followed without a fuss, seeing as he was bone-tired and needed to rest from the exhausting mind attack. Sasuke followed with less obedience but eventually gave himself to the care of the professionals.

At the corner of his eye, he could see the masked man and his son looking at him. For a while, they did nothing else. After a few minutes, the boy said something to his dad and the masked man picked the boy up and carried him in one arm—looking every bit the kind and loving father he was portraying to be.

The whole act seemed convincing for a moment…

…but Sasuke was not to be fooled.

…

…

…

A/N: Princess Kazahana Koyuki is a canon character from the first Naruto Movie: Ninja Clash in the Snow.

SPOILER: Team 7 (before Sasuke defected) helped the princess and her people reclaim Snow Country from the princess's evil uncle. To keep her safe, she hid behind a fake identity as a famous movie star. At first, Princess Koyuki resented any connection with her former country but throughout the movie, Naruto manages to convince her to go back to Snow Country and reclaim her rightful throne. I concluded that this resulted in the princess owing Naruto (personally- and not Team 7 or even Konoha) and is therefore loyal to out blonde hero.