96At three years of age there were a few things that Sasuke Uchiha was certain of. First, there was absolutely nothing his big brother Itachi could not do. Second, he was positive that the stray black cat that roams the gardens in the palace is the most evil thing alive and must be vanquished at all costs. Then third, he hated traveling in a hot stuffy carriage on these long journeys.
Queen Mikoto Uchiha looked over to her right to see her youngest son squirming in his seat and peer out the carriage window. They had begun their journey early that morning and were expected to arrive to their destination, the Haruno Manor, by nightfall but she knew that even a day's journey was too much for her youngest son to sit patiently through. She then proceeded to stifle a laugh as he got up from his seat to move to the one directly in front of him and peer out the window on that side. "Sasuke dear, calm down. We won't arrive until later on tonight."
Sasuke looked over to his mother and whined, "Why couldn't I travel outside with father, Itachi and their group?" Mikoto couldn't help but laugh at the pout Sasuke had on his face. At her reaction Sasuke could only proceed to pout harder which in result made her laugh even more.
Finally composing herself she began to chide her youngest. " Sasuke, you know you're still much too young to be traveling on foot with your father and the other ninja's."
"Once you've graduated the academy I'll let you travel with them, but until then I'm afraid you're just going to have to keep me company in this carriage." Sasuke knew there was no arguing with his mother but he still couldn't help but feel irritated. He still had another two years before he was able to enter the academy. Even then there was no guarantee that he would graduate as fast as Itachi, who was able to graduate after only 2 years.
A voice interrupted his thoughts, "Your Majesty, we're about to stop for a rest and a quick lunch." Sasuke immediately perked up upon hearing this. He's been sitting in this carriage with his mother for what seems like forever in his mind and he was eager to be able to run and stretch his legs. He was also excited about the prospect of being able to see and play with Itachi. As soon as he felt the carriage stop he didn't even wait for one of the servants to fully open the door, once he saw an opening he bolted.
Stepping out of the carriage he took in his surroundings and noticed they had stopped in clearing that had a small creak running through it. The servants that were accompanying them were already beginning to pass out food. He frantically tried to look for his older brother amid all the servants, ninja and horses. He spotted him not too far over to the right with a group of ninja he recognized as some of his father's personal guards. Right when he was about to run over to him he felt someone pull him by the back of his collar.
"Sasuke!" his mother called, "Come wash up before lunch."
"But—"
"No buts, you can play with Itachi after you've eaten your lunch."
As much as he wished to go and play with his older brother Sasuke knew better than to disobey his mother, so he begrudgingly took a seat next to her.
.
.
.
By the time the party had arrived to their destination Sasuke was fast asleep. Mikoto smiled softly at her little boy. As she exited she saw some of the manor's servants helping unload their luggage. She then saw Itachi leaving the courtyard along with some of the other ninja that had escorted them from the corner of her eye. She knew Itachi was wise enough to know what he was doing but she still had to resist the urge to call him back.
It's been hard on her lately. She's always known Itachi was mature for his age. Since he was young he's been hailed a genius, and if graduating the academy last year at the tender age of seven doesn't prove that she doesn't know what does. But at the end of the day Itachi was still her child, and she still couldn't stop that maternal instinct of wanting to protect him.
She decided to distract herself by searching for who husband, Fugaku, whom she found already greeting the Lord and Lady of the Manor.
"Your Majesty" greeted Kazashi Haruno as he and Mebuki each bowed respectfully towards her. She in turn bowed respectfully in return.
"Lord Kazashi, Mebuki, it has been much too long."
"We do hope that journey here wasn't too tedious," replied Kazashi.
"It went well," answered Fugaku "though I will never understand your reasoning for leaving the city and moving so far out here in the country.
"We just feel it's a much better environment to raise—"
"Mother!" Sasuke's voice cut through their conversation.
Sasuke had woken up and noticed his mother was missing from the carriage. Panicked he exited it only find night had fallen and he was in the courtyard of an unfamiliar place. He tried to look for a familiar face but all he saw was what looked like servants unloading their things, but none of them looked like the ones from the palace. Worried he had called out for his mother.
"Over here Sasuke!"
He quickly scurried over to where she and his father were located. It was once he reached them that he noticed there were two other figures with them, a man and a woman. Sasuke could not help but be awestruck by the man's hair, which was shaped in the figure of a star. He was snapped out of his reserve once he heard the man speak.
"Prince Sasuke," the man greeted as both he and the lady bowed to him.
"Sasuke this is Lord Kizashi Haruno and his wife Mebuki," introduced his father
Sasuke having been taught his manners bowed back in respect.
"Oh my!" exclaimed the Mebuki. "He's so big now! Last time I saw him he was just a baby!" By that Sasuke had deduced that these people have met him before long ago.
"Speaking of babies…" Mikoto voiced
"But of course! Follow me," said Mebuki
He followed his parents as they were led inside the Haruno Manor. While not as big as his palace the manor looked quite nice. They stepped inside a foyer, which had a large chandelier hanging from the top and a grand staircase that looked really fun to play on that led up to the second floor. To his right was what appeared like a sitting room while to his left was a hallway that he couldn't really see the end of.
There were servants running around bringing in all their luggage. He tried to see if he could catch a glimpse of Itachi but it was of no avail. He saw the adults going up the staircase and quickly trailed after them. Once at the top they took a left, then a right, and then a left again. Sasuke wondered were they were going but was snapped out of his thoughts when they stopped at a door at the end of the hallway.
"She should be asleep but I think it'll be okay if we take a peek at her," spoke Mebuki as she carefully opened the door as if trying not to make any noise.
At this Sasuke's curiosity sparked, so they were here to see someone. He followed the adults inside the room. Compared to the hallway the room was dimly lit, he couldn't help but to clutch onto his mother's dress. From his place behind his mother he could see that to his left was a large window and right in front of it was a rocking chair that was somewhat similar to the one he vaguely remembers having in his own room that his mother used to rock him to sleep in. Across the room a large wardrobe stood against the wall and not too far from it a dresser, which had a few stuffed animals atop it.
Mebuki lead them to the middle of the room where a crib was located. He knew that a crib is where babies slept for he had slept in one until recently when his cousin Shisui had come into his room and called him a baby for still sleeping in one. That night once his parents got home he refused to sleep in his crib any longer and demanded that he get a big kids bed. His parents complied. He came to the conclusion that they were here to see the baby inside the crib. The adults surrounded the crib at once and peered inside but Sasuke, try as he might, due to his height could not see the baby inside the crib.
"Oh isn't she the cutest thing ever!" his mother whisper squealed. "Oh Fugaku, don't you just want to at least try for a girl!?" his mother said as she touched his father's arm. His father just gave his mother a bewildered look. He couldn't help but giggle at it. As if suddenly remembering he was here his mother turned to him and picked him up so he could get a good view of the baby inside the crib.
"Pink" was his first thought when he peered into the crib. The baby had a tuft of what looked like the softest, brightest pink hair atop her head. Her skin was so creamy and pale that she looked just like one of his mom's porcelain dolls that he's not allowed to touch (not that he would want to of course).
The baby in the crib began to stir and as he's seen babies do before when they wake he expected her to start crying violently he quickly covered his ears and closed his eyes in preparation, but he heard nothing but silence. He lowered his hands and opened his eyes to look at the baby only to be meet with the brightest and prettiest green eyes he's ever seen.
"Sasuke," his mother spoke. "This is Sakura, you may not understand this now but one day when you both are old enough you two will be married and she will become your wife."
At this Sasuke could not help but gasp. Mother was father's wife. Mother was father's most important person in the world. So that only meant he concluded as he stared at Sakura, that if she was going to be his wife then she was his most important person in the world.
"Sakura" he said testing the name on his lips. Upon hearing her name Sakura turn to look at him and smiled. "Mother!" Sasuke exclaimed in glee. "She smiled at me!"
"Yes Sasuke, she smiled at you." His mother chuckled; she couldn't help doing so after seeing the look the complete amazement on Sasuke's face.
At three years of age there were a few things that Sasuke Uchiha was certain of. First, there was absolutely nothing his big brother Itachi could not do. Second, he was positive that the stray black cat that roams the gardens is the most evil thing alive and must be vanquished at all costs. Then third, he hated traveling in a hot stuffy carriage on these long journeys. And last that Sakura Haruno was his most important person in the world and that he has to love her with all his might just as his father loves his mother.
A/N: First story ever. Im shaking just thinking about publishing it. Constructive criticism appreciated. Please tell me what you think!