Naruto; Emperor

Aftermath

Sakura wakes up to see Naruto sitting by her bed, reading a scroll. It shook her enough that she wakes up instantly, "Naru-!" She winces from the pain wrecking her body as she falls back onto her pillow. Naruto looks at her and she found his eyes dim with guilt.

He stands up and shockingly bows his head towards her, "I apologize for putting you in such a spot. I would like to clarify that neither Kakashi or Sasuke agrees but I pressured them into agreeing,"

Sakura frowns, "W-what do you mean?"

Naruto straightens, "I had purposefully allow you to be captured by the Shishio's men in the guard's platoon to cement the illusion of his winning. He was gloating about capturing my 'weasel' in the castle and how he framed you for the death of the Daimyo. He planned to release the story on how I had planned the Daimyo's death using you,"

Sakura stares at him and her eyes burns with tears that floods her vision. Naruto pulls out a tissue and gathers her falling tears and Sakura cries, "I was so scared! I was so scared that he would...he would!" She might have felt relieved when he claimed that he has no interest in her childish body, the one time she is actually happy that she is flat chested despite her age, but it didn't change the fact that she had seen the way his lower body grew more and more excited the more he hurt her. Except that every time he seemed like he will do more, something or someone will call him away from her.

Naruto nods, "I know of the bastard's reputation. That is why I had Kakashi poison his food and drinks with drugs that cause impotency. But just to be on the safe side, I had Sasuke cause problems so that he will be called away from you once he deems it too dangerous," He smiles, "You are a true Kunoichi,"

So, this whole time, she could have been rescued but they had left her in the prison just to keep up the illusion? Sakura wants to feel betrayed but...

"So...I d-didn't fail the mission? But, Lord Akamichi..."

Naruto explains, "I had someone in the Oniwaban put them in a state of temporary death. Just long enough to make Shishio believe that they are dead. We then rescued them before they could finish their funeral. In fact, I had them appear just as Shishio was about to take the Daimyo's seat," He adds, "Once you are well enough, Lord Akamichi would like to meet you. He wants to thank you for your help when he is most helpless,"

He bows his head to her once more, "Thank you...for your service,"

After he left, Sakura takes the time to go over her latest experience.

It was scary, true. She had wanted to fight back and run so many times. But she knew that if she had done so, she would compromise everyone else involved; like Sukea. For moment, she frets over the mysterious Oniwaban playing her cousin. Then she remembers, that she heard the guards arguing about Sukea escaping through the haze of pain. She looks at her mangled fingers, remembering how they pushed needles between her nails to try and force her to talk about Sukea. It had taken everything in her to keep him hidden. Yet at that moment, all she could think was Jounin Morino Ibiki and his horrendous scarring. Taking his survival as motivation, she bit her tongue against speaking.

It will be a while before she can have nice nails again...

While Sakura goes over her experience, Naruto is down in the training room with seals glowing and straining against his might. He had always known that it isn't easy being the one to decide on things. Who lives and who dies; these are the hardest part about being the Emperor. He's not some unfeeling monster. These are kids that he once grew up with. He once held a form of affection for Sakura. However, everyone else were busy investigating the rot in Kaze's court that Shishio had started. He had to use every hands and minds available without bias. Not to mention, Sakura has the look of someone naive. A wide eyed village girl that anyone would overlook. No one would question her identity. Add to the fact that she truly knew nothing, her 'act' were sold.