“I offer my warmest congratulations, your Highness. I am sure that Konoha will thrive well under your ruling.” A young man in his early twenties offered, dressed in an impeccable dark navy suit that matches his silky midnight blue hair and eyes dark as the night. The man adorned a charming smirk on his lips, and face painted in amusement in contrast to the weight of his words. He was teasing the newly crowned King.
The other man subtly rolled his eyes, barest hint of a scowl on his face as he replied, “Stop with your mockery, little brother. Although I know that you’re happy for me, it doesn’t mean I have to like the way you offered your admiration.”
“Who said I admire you?” The youngest of the two retorted back, crossing his arms in an act of defiance as he lifted his chin just barely.
“Whatever floats your boat, Sasuke.”
“You’re such an asshole, Itachi.”
They stared at each other for a few moments before smiling, “I’m sure that Father and Mother will be proud of you.”
“I sure hope so, little brother.”
They stood side by side by the next hour, pleasantly greeting all the guests that bothered to attend such an important event. Politely declining all the marriages offered, and with a hint of annoyance on Sasuke’s part, ignoring all the wooing of fragile maidens that made their interest basically screaming at their faces. Such is the woe of the Uchiha bloodline where attractive appearance is their most distinguishable trait.
“Sasuke!” A high-pitched voice called, arms waving wildly as a blue-eyed blonde haired beauty made her way through the crowd. Sasuke eyed the newcomer, noting how the always unkempt hair of the brazen woman was styled neatly, and her normally street-style clothes were replaced with a high-end ballroom dress. If only she would not open her mouth, Sasuke would actually call her a noble woman.
“Sorry I’m late!” The blonde exclaimed, stopping a meter away from the brothers as she caught her breath. “Mom needed something from me before I got here.” Turning her attention to the amused older man, “Congratulations on your coronation, Itachi!” Smiling so brightly that made Sasuke’s throat constrict due to emotions he doesn’t want to acknowledge right at the moment.
“Thank you, Naruto.” Itachi said, offering the woman he knew since babbling days a soft smile, lips turning amused at the scowl printed on his only family’s face.
“Quit yapping in our ears, idiot. You’re attracting unnecessary attention due to your stupidity.” Sasuke glared, lightly kicking on the blonde’s covered leg for good measure.
“God, quit nagging me! You’re such a jerk, ya know? I don’t even know how Itachi put up with you!” Naruto glared back.
“As opposed to how I suffer from your idiocy all these years?” Sasuke retorted with a hint of accomplishment as the woman’s face turned into various shades of red from anger. The ever pacifist Itachi decided to enter the conversation lest the verbal argument turns into a brawl that would amuse him, no doubt, but wouldn’t look good in the eyes of the public. But really, it was just him exiting the premise and staying away from the duo in a ten meter radius.
“Be nice, you two. I have to greet officials from other Kingdom, and I expect that you’ll be in your utmost behavior.” He warned, turning his heel on the carpeted floor before running away with elegant grace everyone would reckon from someone with class. Sasuke and Naruto stared at the back of retreating King before sharing a questioning glance. This will be a long night.
.
The quiet elegance of the event was broken with a shrill and boisterous laughter, followed by a quiet frustrated yelling that came from the most eligible bachelor and bachelorette of the whole kingdom. Despite Sasuke’s cold and unassuming attitude, women from different nations would flock together to gush about the icy Uchiha Prince, not discouraged by the fact that the man never once looked their way, always occupied with an argument with his childhood friend, Naruto. On the other hand, young men stumble upon their feet to have the chance of holding a simple conversation with the maiden, not dettered over the fact that she doesn’t act as elegant and girly as others, proving to be one of her charming points that bewitched males into her mercy. Alas, despite the certitude that they could choose from many of their suitors, both never showed interest. Until the night of Itachi’s coronation.
Sasuke stopped scowling the moment a shade of pink assaulted his stormy eyes. Emerald green met black, and both instantly felt the connection. Never once shying away from the gaze, Sasuke approached the pink-haired woman in an elegant light green dress.
“Good evening, my lady. May I have this dance?” Sasuke invited, making Naruto snort behind him as the woman in question erupted in a lovely shade of pink before accepting his hand. Naruto turned her face away to control her laughter because one, there’s no music, and two, her childhood friend looks constipated.
“My name’s Uchiha Sasuke, lovely maiden. May I ask yours?”
“Haruno Sakura, my prince.”
Sasuke smiled, making all girls swoon, including the one in front of him. Gently nudging the woman he just met, they stirred their feet over the busy King.
“Itachi! I’d like you to meet someone!” Sasuke called, grabbing the attention of the reserved ruler. “This is Sakura, she’s going to be my wife!” He pronounced, making the woman beside him giddy while the other drowned in jealousy and sorrow. Naruto just looked at her friend with wide eyes and jaw dropped.
“Pardon?” Itachi questioned, because surely he heard his little brother wrong. The new King shifted his attention from the officials to his crazy little brother.
“We’re getting married!” The younger man exclaimed, eyes alight with happiness along with something the bystander couldn’t decipher as he turned his gaze to the pink-haired woman. “You’re okay with getting married, right?”
“Yes!” Sakura shouted in glee, mildly forgetting where they were. For a brief moment, Naruto could have sworn that Sasuke’s newly announced fiance turned to her with a mocking smile and a sadistic glare before it vanished as she blinked. What was that?
Itachi pinched his nose in aggravation, head throbbing from migraine that just got worse as he heard his brother’s exclamation.
“No.” He denied, staring down his brother and godforsaken, fiance.
“No?” Sasuke whispered in confusion, not understanding why his brother would deny him this. Shouldn't he be happy that his little brother is finally open to the prospect of marriage and settling down?
“No.” Itachi repeated, “I’m not a fan of your decision to get married.” He reasoned. Is he happy that Sasuke found interest in someone? Sure. Will he be able to give him his blessing someday? Perhaps, but it’s certainly not the appropriate time and place to indulge whatever insane idea his brother got in mind. Besides, distrust is still a factor when it comes to meeting new people. He was slightly disappointed that his brother listened to his hormones rather than his common sense.
Also, he was not ready to be an uncle. Yet.
“Why?” Sasuke asked in silent rage, balls fisted on both sides of his thigh. Sakura looked at him in concern while Naruto silently shooed away those that decided that gossiping on family matters is a good hobby.
“Should I really spell this thing out for you?” Itachi replied in mock exasperation. “Sasuke, you can’t marry someone you just met.”
“Why not?!” Sasuke yelled in his brother’s face, eliciting an ugly frown from his friend.
“Sasuke–,” Naruto started, mind decided to reprimand her easily agitated friend.
“It’s common sense, little brother.” Itachi responded, cutting whatever inspirational dialogue Naruto has in mind.
“You just don’t want me to be happy!” Sasuke retorted back, startling Itachi while the others gasped in shock. “Ever since we were kids, you have to get everything while I collect your scraps. You enjoy watching me suffer!” He yelled, uncaring of everything around him. His angry eyes almost bled red but an angry shove of his blonde childhood friend brought him back to reality.
“Bastard, that’s going too far! Apologize to your brother, right now!” Naruto exclaimed, appearing to be Itachi’s knight in shining armor as she faced the enraged Prince. “Itachi wants the best for you, ya know?!” She reasoned, glare so dark that someone from the crowd whimpered in fright. “Also, he’s right! What were you thinking, wanting to marry someone you just met?! You’re insane!”
Before Sasuke could think of a reply, an unexpected exclamation from someone made him stop.
“You degraded bitch!” Sakura’s unforseen meddling made the crowd gasp in astonishment, never imagining that the sweet looking maiden has unspoken hatred towards the blonde as she pointed at her with hurtful words.
“Wha–”
“What right do you have to feed off words towards the situation? You’re just Sasuke-kun’s childhood friend, and will be nothing more than that! You always work that title to an angle, and I just wish you vanish from our sight!”
“Saku–” Naruto whispered in stupefaction, but clearly the ranting woman was not yet done.
“You do nothing but hang around him all day! Well, you need a reality check you stupid clown. Sasuke-kun’s marrying me! Not you! He loves me! Not you! So kindly get out of our lives or die in a ditch somewh–”
“ENOUGH!” Sasuke just couldn’t take it anymore.
“Sasuke-ku–”
“Just shut up! How dare you?”
“What?” Sakura stood in shock as Sasuke looked at her with the darkest glare he could muster.
Taking a deep breath and a step forward, effectively hiding the horrified blonde from the pink-haired woman, he started, “I won’t take this nonsense of yours. First of all, Naruto’s not a bitch, that was you calling yourself.”
Ignoring the tears threatening to fall from green orbs he continued, “Secondly, Naruto’s someone that will always be more than what you could be to me. She’s more than just a friend to me. She’s my best friend, my confidant, my rock, and my light. That is something that you will never be. Lastly, exclaiming the thought of marrying you was just part of my ploy to make Naruto jealous.”
Even with a sob, Sakura dared ask why.
“Why?” He mused, “That’s because I’ve been in love with her since we were kids.” Ignoring the spluttering of the blonde behind him he finished with, “I love Uzumaki Naruto, and she’s going to be my wife.”
A single clap resonated through the hall, followed by multiple dozens, until the room erupted with cheers and people were standing from their seats to give their holler of satisfaction of the play. The audience yelled their excitement, the loudest being a red-haired woman together with a male version of a red-faced Naruto. “That’s my baby!” they yelled in unison.
Someone from the side of the curtained stage sighed in settlement, “What a drag. It’s about time.”
Sasuke watched the audience with a hint of proudness before getting slapped in the back by the woman of his dreams. Why Naruto? He doesn't know either but wouldn’t have it any other way.
“WHAT THE?! THAT WAS NOT IN THE SCRIPT!”
.
Omake
Itachi and Shisui leisurely took their time walking out of the campus, watching the newly formed couple as they argued about the events of today then quickly shifting to what they should eat for dinner.
Shisui nudged his cousin, snorting as he saw Naruto slap the back of his younger cousin’s head for his earlier stunt. He sure felt proud that not only the object of his obsession knew about his feelings, but also the entire student community. That was definitely one way of claiming the blonde. “So, what’s the original plot of the play? I heard Naru-chan shouting profanities about how the confession wasn’t part of the script.”
Itachi looked away from the couple when Sasuke decided that the best way to make Naruto shut up was to kiss her, shifting his attention to his cousin as he answered. “It was supposed to end with Sasuke and Sakura getting married in the end, after all.” He gestured to the young couple, a smirking Sasuke and a blushing Naruto, “I suppose this ending is the best outcome for all.”
“Amen to that,” Shisui seconded.
.
“You can’t just kiss me all of a sudden!”
“Why not? You’re my girlfriend. Of course, I will kiss you.”
“You’re insufferable!”
Shisui smiled at the arguing couple, ah young love.
-END-