SHINASUI'S POINT OF VIEW

After a long and tedious (and cold) journey to the Land of Samurai, we finally made it to the front gates to the main city of Tenzin. The area was covered in a thick layer of pure sparkling snow. The gates were wooden with metal bars for extra protection against god knows what. The guards at the front bowed at the presence of their prince, the man himself looking quite pleased.

"Is it always snowy here?" I asked him quietly. Takeda smirked down at me.

"Why? Not a fan of the cold?" I shivered a little when a breeze went through my coat.

"You could say that." His electric green eyes looked down at me for a moment before he wrapped an arm around my small frame. I wanted to push him away but I guess it would look bad considering we were to be married soon.

"We do have long winters and long summers...transition seasons never last long. We should have two more months of this weather. So not to worry darling, we will wed in the short spring." Suddenly the uneasy feeling I had multiplied ten-fold when he said that. That means I have just four months maximum before I was to be married off...possibly never seeing the Hidden Leaf again...

I miss my Dad...my Mom...

"Get ready Princess, we are about to meet my father. Remember your place here. Women may be allowed much more freedom in the Leaf, but here...here you are obedient. Understood?" Takeda whispered in my ear as we got ready to enter the village. I grit my teeth at what Takeda said but nodded with a clenched jaw anyway. 

I'll show you what obedience looks like...asshole.

"Ahh welcome back Lord Takeda!"

"Lord Takeda!! We missed you so much!"

"Oh my Lord we are so happy to see your safe return!" I looked around at the civilians that lined the streets, greeting the royalty (including me) that walked the street towards the main building. There were samurai guards that lined the streets, only letting the wealthy, the powerful, or the beautiful to reveal themselves. I noticed that far in the back of the crowds, the poor were watching warily. I narrowed my eyes at that. My mother always took care of those who were poor. She often visited the orphanages and homeless shelters, doing her best to give families new homes. She had one of Dad's friends build a bunch of wooden houses for the poor on the outskirts of the village and everything. She never let wealth determine your value as a human...yet, in this village, it seemed that superficial things ruled. I felt myself chew my cheek yet again. If I had any power by marrying Takeda, hopefully I will be able to help these people.

Takeda meanwhile was laughing and smiling at the girls who greeted him. It was like he had his own selection of fangirls that followed him around. He looked down at me to see if I was at all jealous, only to recognize I wasn't even thinking about him at all. He furrowed his eyebrows in irritation before flirting with the women further.

"Oh Miyomi my love! Your eyes look like shimmering diamonds in the sunlight." The girl had heart eyes and nearly fainted. I was indifferent, watching the people in the village look at me with curiosity, suspicion, and fear.

"Sasu! Your hair is the most beautiful shade of vermilion! So amazing...like silk!" I noticed a little boy get pushed towards the front, he had ragged clothing and dirt on his face...clearly poor. Suddenly the boy was shoved on the ground, falling face first and had a hard time getting up. I broke away from Takeda to run to the boy.

"Oh Nao your beauty transcends-...Shinasui! What are you doing!?" Takeda yelled. The parade had stopped, the village was silent as I helped up the little boy. I lifted him as well I could until he stood on his own, tears threatening to pool out of his brown eyes. I smiled gently at him while wiping away the dirt and water that streaked down his face. 

"Are you all right?" He looked at me with wide eyes, terrified. I felt horrible that this little kid was so scared of someone related to nobility...what was this village like to these people?

"Y-y-yes...t-thank...y-you.." He struggled to get out. I gave him a closed eye smile, my starlight hair falling a bit over my shoulders.

"My name is Shinasui. I'm new around here. Where are your parents?" I asked. The little boy pointed to a hagged woman that was way behind the crowd. I picked up the boy and braved the crowd, everyone separating and watching me as I went. I placed the child down in front of the mother, the little boy running into her arms.

"Th-thank you Princess...t-thank you for ensuring the safety of my little Pazu." I smiled at her. 

"A Hidden Leaf shinobi always protects their friends." My brother came into mind...he believed in that so much...hopefully he can understand that me leaving home was so I can do just that. The crowd began mumbling at the thought of me being a shinobi...from the Hidden Leaf at that.

"Princess, is your little stunt over yet? Father is waiting for us." Takeda grumbled from the main road. I sighed before winking at my new little friend.

"Be safe Pazu!" I smiled while heading back to Takeda. Even if he reprimanded me for muddling with the poor, I'm happy I helped someone today. After all, I left the entire village speechless. They were in awe that not every 'royal member' was above treating the poor like they're human.

~~

"Ahh so you are Princess Shinasui Hatake from the Leaf that I have heard so much about. Come, stand before me." I walked forward and knelt on the ground in respect before Takeda's father, a world class samurai. He sat on his throne with a devilish smirk. He looked old and wise...not exactly the friendly type.

"Yes sir." 

"Tell me, daughter of Kakashi of the Sharingan and Konoha's Red Flash, do you know who I am?" I glanced at the man as I stood to greet him front and center, Takeda standing behind me.

"You are Hattori Miyamoto. Takeda's father and a world class samurai. I am honored to be in your presence sir." His smirk transformed into a sideways grin.

"Hmm...so you are smarter than you look. Princess, there is much to discuss. I hear you and my son are to be married?" I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. They seem to be forgetting the other half of the bargain.

"With all do respect Lord Hattori, I came to an agreement with your son that I would give him my hand in marriage if the Land of Samurai released every Konoha prisoner here. I will not wed until those civilians are home safe." Hattori narrowed his eyes at me as we had a stare down, electricity in the air. Takeda warned me how women were regarded as less than their male counter parts but that doesn't mean I will change how I act. Mama didn't raise me to do a man's bidding.

"I see. Takeda." 

"Sir?" Takeda stepped forward shyly. It was obvious he was a little fearful of his father.

"Why don't you bring up the Konoha prisoners from the dungeon. We shall send them on their way back to the Hidden Leaf, with supplies and all. Will that please you Princess?" I looked at Hattori confused. Why was he acting so generous? Did he really want me to marry his son so bad?

"Yes." Takeda left to go into a hidden door next to his father's throne. Hattori and I spent the next few minutes in silence until I heard the door open once more, men coming back through. All of them were dirty, wearing tattered clothing, and looked tired. I noticed how every single one of them were men, and well fed at that too. Most even had muscle.

"As you can see Princess, we never mistreated those who broke our laws, despite them acting so disgracefully towards us. Go. You are all hereby released thanks to the Princess of Konoha." Hattori said. I watched as Takeda removed the chains from their hands and feet, the prisoners rubbing their aching arms. Not a single one addressed me as they ran out of the building, most likely seeking supplies. This didn't feel right. My mother mentioned a genin team that was captured/disappeared somewhere in this Land and yet...not a single prisoner was young enough to be considered a genin. They all looked so well treated...not a single scratch on any of them...but what stuck out to me most was the fact that on the list of missing shinobi from the Leaf...

...over half of them were women.

~~

Takeda showed me around the palace in which I would now lived. I learned where the servants quarters, kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms all were. However he seemed irritated. His mood was off. I know I must have irritated him earlier by ignoring his flirtatious behavior...but I couldn't help it. I didn't love him and I never will. 

I sat down on my new bed...opening the bag one of the servants put in here for me. I opened it up to see Kono's blue scarf sitting on top. I slowly dragged it out, feeling the warm cotton against my face. I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling relief for the first time since before the whole Takeda thing came into my life.

It still smells like him...

I wanted to cry...I wanted to scream...to run...but I know I couldn't. I made a deal for the sake of the Leaf...and a shinobi never goes back on their word. That's what Naruto always taught me. I dug deeper in the bag to see my hitai-ate, the symbol of Konoha proudly engraved. I normally wore it like my mother and Sasuke's wife Sakura (a hairband)...but it was time I wore it proudly like my brother...like Neji...like Konohamaru... showing where my heart truly belongs. 

I picked up the black cloth, tying it around my forehead. I went to the mirror in the room and stared at my reflection, seeing my mother...my aunt...my grandfather's eyes look back at me. The history of the Uzumaki clan swirled within my eyes and heart, the strength and love that flourished within me. I looked at my hair, a blinding silvery white...just like my father and grandfather before him. Dad is the proud son of the White Fang, and I his daughter...A Hatake never leaves their comrades to die. If I left now and went home...I would be happy. I would see Naruto, Hima, Boruto...my mother and father...I would live a life like I always had. But doing so meant I would abandon my comrades that were counting on me for making this choice...the prisoners held captive here for who knows how long. It means that I have abandoned the people of this village that need my influence and help. My father and Uncle Obito always taught me that abandoning my comrades would make me worse than scum...

So I must endure. For the sake of the Hidden Leaf Village...for the protection of my friends...

...even if it means selling my life and body away to a stranger.

I am a Hidden Leaf shinobi. I am proud of my choice...my choice to protect the Hidden Leaf, my friends...my comrades...my family. Even if I never get to see them again. At least I know, I did what I could with the options given to protect my village and everyone in it.

Mom...Dad...I hope you're proud of me.

~~

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

"She's going to be a lot to handle...isn't she Takeda? You sure do know how to pick them. Your lust is getting out of control...although with her title and power, she will be a useful edition to the blood line. Shinobi blood with the training of a samurai...your heirs would be quite powerful indeed." Hattori smirked as he peered down at his son. Takeda's bright green eyes connected with his father's black. It was like it was an empty abyss without a heart or soul anywhere to be found.

"She is quite bright for a woman. Did you see how she was studying the prisoners? It's like she almost knew..." Takeda cut himself off mid-sentence. He sighed before looking back up at his father.

"Tomorrow I want to give her the ring. That way her chakra will slowly fade until part two of our project is complete, leaving her useless when she realizes what's going on. She'll be easily overpowered then." Takeda's father narrowed his eyes at his son.

"But isn't there a down side to the curse placed on the rings we made?" Hattori asked. Takeda replied.

"Yes. A kiss from the barer's true love will break it. It has to be a joining of a bond stronger than the curse itself. I have no doubt that the Fifth Hokage will soon be awake considering she's married...but Shinasui has me and only me now." Hattori nodded.

"I see. And what about you? What if you are her true love?" Takeda laughed bitterly, his eyes casted a shadow that loomed over him.

"She told me herself that she would never love me. She will never be able to resist me once that ring sucks up every last drop of her chakra."

~~

Back in the Hidden Leaf...

Itachi, Sasuke, and Naruto all stood in the Hokage mansion discussing what the next possible move will be for the Hidden Leaf.

"I haven't received word from Shinasui yet about Minako's weakened state. I fear that the Samurai may be hiding that information from her. I don't know why but I am quite suspicious of the events that had happened since Lord Takeda's entry into the village. Shinasui has left and then Minako was poisoned...and besides that, Takeda had lied while speaking with Minako." Naruto narrowed his bright blue eyes.

"What do you mean Itachi Sensei?" 

"Itachi and I used our sharingans for brief moments at a time. With our heightened vision, we were able to detect all of the nervous twitches Takeda had while speaking. We both ended up noticing him lying when discussing the prisoners. Your sister wanted so desperately to be a hero like you and your mother, Naruto, that she quickly sacrificed herself without knowing the truth." Naruto casted his eyes downwards. He never thought that his sister felt so underneath him that she would go this far just for his approval. He wanted nothing more than to hug her in that moment and tell her how much he appreciated her.

"So what are you saying Sasuke? Itachi Sensei? Are you saying you think Shina is in trouble?" 

"Either that...or the Hidden Leaf itself Naruto."