This is my first fanfiction in years, and nervous doesn't quite cover how I feel-excited too. Strange, fuzzy feelings lol. This story has an element of mythology to it, but due to the numerous outcomes of many of these tales, I won't be following any of them religiously. Names, places, and facts will be familiar to those versed in such fables, but I'm taking liberty with their meanings, just as bards and story weavers have always done. Mmmm… boring? I'll stop talking now. (:

In the Shadow of Wolves
Chapter One: The Sweetest Sin

Everyone in the five kingdoms knew the history of the Uchiha clan. The royal family of the land of fire was well known, revered, and coveted by both enemy and friend. Once upon a time, they had been nothing more than a small clan, and living on mountain tops and in mud huts and caves. But their bloodthirsty nature could never be satiated by such monotony-their desire for power saw them warring with other nations, and even other clans within their own country. Eventually, their numbers began to dwindle due to inbreeding and their constant warfare. This was why Uchiha Izuna, brother to the now infamous Uchiha Madara, attempted to sue for peace.

It would save their clan, he'd said, bring them back from the brink of extinction, and show the world they were after all, better than their enemy.

And while there were those who did not want to give up their warring ways, the motion took hold with strength and in the months that followed, Izuna was made clan leader and he became the first king of fire. But that insatiable lust for power, the will to dominate all things, could not be so easily tempered. Hidden within centuries old writings and cave paintings, the true history of the Uchiha-the facts that have been carefully guarded by the mighty clan-written in fable form and prophecy, were about to come true. The Uchiha were after blood: they knew themselves after all, to be more animal than human.

Their ancestors sought to increase their own power through a pact with the spirit of a wolf god, and drew the blood of an innocent to seal their thirst for power. It made them strong, formidable in battle, and brought their enemies swiftly to their knees. But now they had embraced peace, and their numbers were too low to return to their warring ways; cursed by that pact, they were forever in the shadow of those wolves, like a slave answering the call of its master. And the gods would not release them from their bonds.

Looking to free themselves of this blood curse, the Uchiha made alliances with tribes with soothsayers and discovered a prophecy told long before their ancestors had left their muddy huts for the battleground.

The society so strongly driven by men would be saved by consuming the society populated solely by women.

The Uchiha had always been primarily a male dominant clan, the empire amongst primitives they'd created reflected that, and the society the prophecy spoke of could only be that of the warriors of Valhalla.

This was the reason they coveted them now. The Valkyrie were known far and wide as extraordinary warriors and seducers of men, but more than that, they were feared and hated. In a world controlled so by men, the idea of a society flourishing with a queen and no king was insulting. Located in the forbidden Valley of Valhalla, the home of the Valkyrie was populated only by women.

But as much as they were hated, their power was as coveted as the infamous Sharingan of the Uchiha. No-one outside the valley knew the true extent of Valkyrie power, but the instances in which there were survivors from those who had ventured there, its power was quite literally, indescribable. There was nothing like it in the five kingdoms.

And it was apparently, the answer to the end of the god's hold on the Uchiha.

But the daughters of Ashanti-said to be the first Valkyrie and god borne-were not so easily consumed as the Uchiha would believe. In order to defeat your enemy, you must know them inside and out, and Valhalla was a place no mortal man could understand, let alone escape from.

This was why he was here. For the last four years, Uchiha Sasuke had researched them, on parchment and stone, as well as through interrogations of those claiming to have seen them. Upon his father's insistence, he was to discover their resting place in the forbidden valley and report back to their general before the invasion. The Uchiha may not have the numbers for an army, but alliances with nations holding no love for the warrior women had been made and the bluff of their own strength aside, the Uchiha were more than capable of taking down the segregated society-or so Uchiha Fugaku supposedly believed.

The fighters in the trees held their ground, waiting for the battle several feet beneath them to rage into its final moments before striking.

Skirting Valkyrie territory, the cavalcade of Prince Uchiha Sasuke, and his best friend Uzumaki Naruto were not meant to engage the enemy; it seemed the warriors of Valhalla had been waiting for them. This ambush killed half of their knights in the first few minutes, but Sasuke had not chosen his men randomly. They quickly compensated for the abrupt intrusion, holding their ground.

Naruto screamed out in fury; cousins to the Senju and affiliated with the wolves of the Uchiha, the Uzumaki clan was depicted by many as foxes (though no bargain had been struck with their spirits). Naruto fought like a fox-streamline, focused attacks that somehow still betrayed his pleasant nature. Revered and loved by his people, Naruto had earned the title of Jinchuriki-human sacrifice. In most clans, that would be a bad thing, but in his, it was an honour, and a tribute to his power.

Sasuke tore his eyes away from his best friend and scanned the hoard of half-naked women before him. The Valkyrie were like amazons in the fact that they did not weigh themselves down with garments as the women in the rest of the known world did. This left their bodies covered only necessarily, with long legs, midriffs and arms exposed; they only took pains to cover their breasts, groin, feet, and face. But as physically appealing as they were, he searched their numbers for the one he'd really come to learn more about.

He recognised her mask immediately. The young prince had scrounged together every record concerning the Valkyrie and hastening to comply with his father's wishes to discover their locations, Sasuke had finally found what he was looking for. There were numerous Valkyrie known for their skill, but only one with that distinctive pink hair; due to the scant, brazen attire of the Valkyrie, her skin was as enticing and noticeable as he'd imagined it would be. She was finely cut, as though from diamonds, the way of the warrior evident with every inch of her body-toned by not muscle bound, she moved with the elegance of a feline more than the humans she was related to by blood.

While the Uchiha were descendant of blood kin to wolves, the royal family of the Valkyrie were said to have a similar accord with the feline goddess Bast-whether or not this was true remained to be seen.

Sasuke allowed himself a moment to take in her slight but powerful form before finally jumping into the fight. He would discover the location of the Valkyrie city, and this woman, the one known in the ancient tongue as Leaves of Cherry Blossom would be his victory spoils. He felt his heart accelerate hearing about her exploits, the fact that those who had seen her and survived had only glimpsed this beauty from afar. Now his heart raced at the thought of fighting her, lying with her, and claiming her as his own.

As an Uchiha, he was much more aware of his own physical presence-a victim to his hormones more than other men his age. He was barely out of his teens, but as horny as he had been the day he'd discovered he had hormones. According to his father, that would ebb once he found a perpetual mate and be forever bound to her. Not that he hadn't bedded enough women in his time-when he found "the one", all others were supposed to pale by comparison. His ancestors called it the soul mate principle.

His raging hormones however, were closer to animalistic instinct than human.

Watching the pink haired warrior move and intercepting her when she made to land a killing blow on one of his knights, Sasuke could see she'd earned her reputation as a great fighter. She turned to face him but seemed to hesitate as he raised his own weapon. Sasuke's eyes shone, glowing distinctively red before he lashed out, forcing the woman to defend herself against his attacks.

But the Valkyrie had planned well, and this ambush was on their terrain. They quickly turned the tide of battle from any advantage the Uchiha and his companions had managed to gain, and before Sasuke knew it, he was blacking out. Falling through crimson visions of hatred and boiling blood, the Uchiha prince closed his eyes to the darkness pervading his mind.

The city lay bare before her, she took in the sight of the buildings, the sharp edges that adorned the structures, and the way the sunlight streamed over the rooves like they were flickering treetops. This city was well hidden, in the forbidden valley, and no man had ever traversed the surrounding wilderness only to live to tell the tale. Bricks, mortar, and clay would not seem like much compared to whatever raw material was used to construct the Uchiha Citadel, but those who were brought here against their will would always take a moment to admire the architecture and beauty of it all.

Watching and waiting for her queen's decision regarding their newest prisoners, the Leaves of Cherry Blossom of the Valkyrie enjoyed the feel of the cool afternoon air as she bathed in the warmth of the summer sun. She had been on a hunting trip for the past few days and stumbled upon the party of men skirting their borders. Curious about them, she waited to see if they would violate their territory, and decided to ambush them if they did.

Sakura played with the tassel that adorned the front of her outfit. The fleece of her garments was odourless-perfect for hunting prey with a heightened sense of smell. The coverings barely concealing her body were decorated however, and she wore the talismans of her goddess, as well as those that depicted her royal lineage within the Valkyrie. She had removed her mask, the feel of the sun dancing along her skin bringing a smile to her face.

Her attention refocused however, as the group bringing their new prisoners out of the hold they'd been in for the past hour, past her line of sight. Sakura quickly replaced her mask and took her place by her queen's side.

They stood in an outdoor version of the throne room, with only a canopy strung up on wooden poles keeping them out of the soon to be setting sun. Along the path before them, guards flanked the arrival of the men who'd survived their ambush, and crowds of her fellow Valkyrie swarmed behind them, curious as they ever were, on who they had captured this time.

Valhalla was a place for the dead, where women warriors went when their time on earth was over. This forbidden valley was so named in reverence because it was where all Valkyrie desired to go once they were done on this plane. Their spiritual connections to both places were in abundance.

Sakura was no different, standing next to her queen-who was dressed much as her sister was, but with a more impressive headdress-and the other flank taken by the pinkette's other blood sister, Hinata. The queen was blonde, as were all queens the goddess chose for the Valkyrie, and chaste. Sakura and Hinata also, had never lain with a man, though taken enough of their lives, but after tonight, all that would change.

Only the queen would remain virtuous, in accordance with their laws.

Sakura's eyes fell on the men being brought toward them, now only twelve feet away.

"They did not travel alone my queen," Hinata was saying in hushed whispers, but loud enough for Sakura also to hear. "There were fifteen soldiers alive once we had captured the noblemen."

"Are any of them of strong stock?"

"It is the knighthood of Saint Izuna that followed them into this valley," Sakura answered. "Each man hails from either a noble family or one affiliated by blood or treaty."

Uchiha Izuna was one of those rare historical figures that was highly revered, regardless of where he'd come from-even those holding grudges against his clan could not doubt the importance of his mere existence in history books. The Sainthood of the country of fire revolved around the lore and examples he had set. He had also founded the knighthood shortly after his brother was killed trying to usurp him of his throne.

They fell silent as the men were dumped at their feet.

Sakura licked her lips, grateful for her mask, as her emerald eyes swept over the form of the young prince. He looked groggy still, but was slowly coming to his senses. She ignored the blonde next to him, unable to look away from the beautiful man who'd taken her interest-in battle he fought like an animal, and as agile and form fitting in that armour as she'd heard he was. The youngest son to the Uchiha leader was god-like in his appearance, demeanour, and fighting form. And yet his legend hardly did him justice.

And oh yes, she wanted him... badly. But she remained quiet as her queen addressed the now alert men in front of her.

"You have come here to learn my secrets," the queen said. "To find for yourself how to wield my power."

The punishment for men trespassing on Valkyrie lands was always death, the rumours and legends of the female driven society suggested as much, but the queen refrained from allowing these men the dignity of knowing their fate. They had done more than trespass-they were here to steal her power. She was a virtuous queen; in order to retain her title, she would remain chaste and pure. But simply to kill these men would be a waste of effort; her warriors had done well to bring them here on such short notice. No, she would have these men repay her.

The blonde of the nobles in front of her gave his companion a quick, questioning look, as though sizing him up and it occurred to the queen that he hadn't known that the youngest son to his reigning king had come here to either kill her or take her virtue. The queen of the Valkyrie was not so easy, in either sense. She was chosen by the goddess for a very good reason.

"I am here against my will, I assure you your majesty," Sasuke said respectfully. He had after all, not been given permission by his father to engage their warriors. But he could understand that the queen thought him a petty thief: there was no nation in the known world that did not covet her power.

The raven haired prince respectfully gave the queen his attention, but his eyes darted periodically to the masked, pink haired, masked warrior on her left (they were all masked though). Valkyrie did not have family names, like the Uchiha or the Uzumaki, but he was sure that the surname of whatever noble had sired her would be known to her. She was the Leaves of Cherry Blossom, just as the tales depicted. Though he couldn't see her face, he hoped she was as beautiful as her legends claimed.

Sasuke's attention might have been too distracted if he were some lovelorn fool, but he heard the warning the Valkyrie queen now gave his blonde friend.

"And you," she said. "Why have you come-out of loyalty to the Uchiha, or insipid curiosity?"

"Loyalty is important to my clan," Naruto said. "I follow my prince; but…"

"We did not come to enter your domain," Sasuke interrupted, knowing his friend was about to say something he would regret-he knew him too well.

"Oh?"

"We came to learn about your people," the raven haired man said, his eyes darting again to the seemingly impassive warrior to the queen's left-said queen noticed the looks he was giving her sister, but said nothing. Her smile however, hinted at her interest, behind her mask of course.

"And what would you wish to know?" She asked, humouring him. "Would you ask me how great our army is, or perhaps the key to infiltrating this city unseen?"

The crowd laughed and Sakura shifted uncomfortably. Hinata let out a small giggle. "Oh, I think they would hide their true purpose behind beautiful words and promises," she said.

Sakura twisted her head slightly, taking in her sisters. Why did her words feel so… wrong? She turned back to the Uchiha, only to find darkened orbs staring at her unabashedly. She fought the tremble that threatened to ripple through her body, as she'd done during their fight. She didn't take in her queen's words as she passed sentence on their "guests". They would be seduced, and then killed by the warrior chosen for them to impregnate.

Sakura's queen did not say it in these words exactly, instead giving the men hope that they would enjoy their stay in this city. But the pinkette's eyes were on the prince's, and she saw the understanding in those deep pools of his. He knew this was his last night left on this earth. But there was no sadness in his eyes, on his face, or otherwise hinted in his demeanour. He only had eyes for her.

In a swift move by nearby guards, the men were knocked unconscious. Hinata stepped forward, given the blonde, and she looked far more excited than she had a moment before; after removing her mask, Sakura continued to gaze at the raven haired boy. "May he be mine?"

The queen gave her a reproachful look. "It is unlike you to request anything of me Saku."

Sakura bowed. "I know, my queen."

"I suppose it would be rude of me not to allow this one request of my sister. He is yours."

Sakura smiled, licking her lips as she attempted to calm the racing of her heart. It would be her first seduction, and she was understandably excited-her intended was god-like himself. His beauty would be fleeting however, since he would not live long enough to lose it through age. That thought left a sudden pang in her heart; it was indeed a waste. But for this night at least, she would have her god in human form.

"And I will have fun with him," she added cheekily.

The queen nodded lightly, a smile gracing her features. "I am sure you will."

Having bathed in scented oils, Sakura leisurely made her way back into her chambers. Her body was draped by a simple, delicate light coloured fabric and tight sash; it did not hide her body to the eyes of the prince now watching her entrance with rapt eyes. He could make out the contours of her figure, from the supple shape of her breasts to the apex of her thighs, and just the sight of her had him groaning in undertones, the beast within struggling to break free of its bonds and take her against the wall.

Bound by ropes and shackled to the floor, he shifted uncomfortably; his binds allowed him a seated position on the floor. A hearth rug kept him somewhat comfortable however, and a mere fur loincloth protected his lower body from her stare.

"My Princess," he said huskily, surprising her.

"My Prince," she replied softly.

"You are here to rape me of my honour," Sasuke said. "Please do me the honour of not pretending to care for such pleasantries."

Sakura took the dagger that lay on her bedside table and stood in front of the prince, watching the way his eyes roamed her body, taking in the beauty of her face that he'd so desired to see and finally resting on the weapon in her hand.

"I promise you'll enjoy it," she said. "There will be no need to force you."

"A seduction then?"

She took her knife to the sash her maid servant had wrapped around her waist, the satin fabric billowed, falling to the floor with nothing holding it up, and Sasuke inhaled sharply, biting his bottom lip in anticipation. As much as he dreaded what would come after this inevitable coupling, he could not help but wish to feel himself deep inside this exotic beauty. She was everything he'd heard about, regardless of the treatment he knew this would lead to. He would gladly die if doing so would mean he could have her, if only for one night.

But there was so much more at stake here than merely his own lust, or her desire to fall with child: his father's army would bear down on this valley, with or without his help-though without might prove a far more difficult task.

Sakura stood over her objective, parting her legs to give him ample view of her assets and knelt down, her knees hitting the rug underneath him; she straddled him, placing the knife out of his range before leaning forward to rob him of his loincloth.

Seeing her in all her naked glory had him excited already, and she smirked at the hardness of his member, wrapping her petite hand around it to encourage him further. Sasuke growled, and she wondered then if the rumours were true; that the Uchiha were kin to wolves. It certainly explained how he fought, how he responded to her naked body, and how eagerly his muscle was coming to life under her hands, despite his intelligence to know it would ultimately be his undoing.

She could not deny to herself that she liked it.

Having Uchiha blood in the royal family would be a godsend, and perhaps shape a new era in the forbidden valley. She was not so grandiose as to think it would not come without its own consequences, which was why she trusted that the queen had no intention of allowing the outside world know it was the Valkyrie that robbed the clan of their youngest son.

They had their heir, and did not need Uchiha Sasuke in order for their line to continue, after all.

"You are an amazing warrior," Sasuke said, licking his lips as she pressed her naked form to his. "I can only hope that you are an equally enticing lover."

"Such beautiful words from one so god-like in appearance," she whispered in his ear, eliciting a groan of approval from him; his member twitched under her ministrations, and against his will, his body responded enthusiastically to hers.

"You think me a god?" He asked, and kissed her neck as she murmured her assent. "Then you are my goddess, Leaves of Cherry Blossom, and I shall devour you upon my last night on this earth, if only to give you the satisfaction we both crave."

Sakura pulled away, and looking down into those obsidian orbs, she felt her training slipping away. Gone was the masterful seductress, virginal and yet so thoroughly prepared for this temptation. She ignored the small voice in the back of her head that told her to hold tightly to her purpose and stop conversing with her target. It was a weakness, to hesitate, to feel sympathy for the enemy, or to let them goad you into either. But his voice mesmerised her, his body enticed her, and she could no longer ignore the primal call of the beast beneath her.

Sasuke tugged on his bindings. "If you would let but one of my arms free I will indulge you. I am a dead man either way," he added, noting the shift in her expression, from anticipation to scepticism. "If I am to die by your hand come morn' then all I ask is the pleasure of holding you."

Her fingers twitched and he watched in awe as she retrieved the knife she'd placed just out of reach without moving from her position on top of him. She reached out without taking her eyes off of the prince and proceeded to cut the bindings on his right wrist. His hand came up immediately to encompass hers and they continued to stare at each other as he guided the knife back onto the floor.

Unable to wait any longer, she kissed him. His lips parted immediately and they lost themselves to the drowning, aching desire one seemingly simple kiss could afford them. His free hand roamed her body as she clutched frantically to his raven locks: starving and desperate for contact, their bodies grinded together of their own accord. The basic instinct to mate overpowered their sense and sensibilities.

Sakura lowered herself onto him, biting her lip as she braced herself to endure the coming pain. It wasn't as bad as she'd heard it would be. And within seconds, she was lost again-the sea of pleasure wracking through her body as Sasuke moved underneath her was stealing away her breath. She could not focus, could not think, and refused to care to do either as she rocked with him, holding tightly to her lover. She closed her eyes, screaming for all she was worth, never stopping, never hesitating, as the night wore on.

But once she eventually came down from her high, her ecstasy would be but a memory. Because, come morning, both of their lives would change, forever.

Sound familiar to anyone? There are tales of amazon women through history and their seduction of men, etc. I've read so much on it, both historical depictions and novelizations of such things as well. This, is my version. n_n So what do you think? Worth continuing? (;

TBC