Tainted Hearts

Chapter One

"Hana-chan!"

The six-year-old Kagehana could not help but sigh as soon as she heard the voice of her childhood friend bounce off the walls off their library. She closed the book she was reading before turning to the direction of the voice. The five-year-old Sasuke is running towards her with his eyes sparkling with unabashed excitement.

It has been a year since both of them met.

The youngest Uchiha was the one who first approached her by giving her a small bouquet of cherry blossoms he had picked outside their garden while their parents were busy discussing the joint mission that led them here. She remembered how his older brother, Itachi, was a few distance away to act as a support for his younger brother.

Although it was not the first time she had received such a gift, the princess of Kurogakure treasured the small bouquet even until now because she saw the marks on the boy's arms and legs that he got from climbing the cherry blossom tree. Besides, he was far too adorable for his own good that he was able to break down a little bit of her walls.

"Sasuke-kun, you shouldn't run and shout inside the library." She gently chastised the boy, taking out a clean handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Sasuke, as usual, blushed at their close proximity and he was momentarily rendered speechless because of her gentle and caring nature. Her presence is so warm and comforting that he often wished to be beside her at all times if only his parents had allowed him to live in the same village as her. Alas, the youngest Uchiha had to wait for weekends to come just to visit her.

"How are you?" The princess asked once she was done. "I thought you won't be visiting again this time. I heard you began your Fire jutsu training. How was it?"

The young boy's gleeful expression faltered at the mention of the Fire jutsu. It has been a few weeks since Fugaku decided to teach him the family's revered technique but Sasuke has repeatedly failed, which caused his father to be greatly disappointed in him but he refuses to give up.

He wanted to get the hang of it so he could prove himself worthy of his father's recognition and...of the young princess' affection.

Kagehana tilted her head, seeing the shift in his expression. Her eyes crinkled as she gave him a gentle smile in an attempt to ease the shadow of sadness that loomed over his adorable face.

Sasuke always loved it when his Hana-chan smiles at him. It gave him so much warmth, something that has been lacking in his life these days but his most favorite is the way she affectionately caresses the top of his head as a way of comforting him. The young boy's heart could not help but flutter every time she showered him with her gentle affections.

"Don't be sad, Sasuke-kun. You'll get the hang of it soon enough." The princess said. "I believe in you. If you need more time to train, it's okay if you won't visit me for a while."

The princess tried to encourage the dark-haired boy but frowned when she realized something. She doesn't think she'll be able to endure another week without seeing him. Although she would deeply understand it, Kagehana has to admit that she'll miss his presence beside her.

Over the months, the two of them have formed quite a special bond.

It did not matter if they lived relatively far from each other because the two of them will find a way to meet each other every week. Sasuke mostly travels to Kurogakure but the princess makes sure he'll arrive in the village safely by assigning some guards who will escort him to and fro.

At first, the set up used to irk the boy.

He did not want to be protected by the princess because he wanted to be the one to protect her but after a little bit of coaxing, he let the princess have her way. To compensate, he made sure to train extra hard so that he won't need the guards in the future. His goal was to become strong that the princess can rely on him at all times but for now, he'll have to endure.

"Hm. I can't go another week without seeing you." Sasuke complained before grinning boyishly at her. "I...uhm...I asked father to let me stay here for a few weeks. I told him I wanted to train with you."

Both of them stared at each other in earnest despite feeling the blood rushed to their faces.

It was no secret to everyone that the two of them held mutual affections for each other - one that only grows deeper each time they spent together. While their families reacted to it positively, they do wonder how it will turn out in the future.

"But...my mentors cannot teach you your family's techniques." Kagehana pointed out with a sad tone.

Sasuke looked down at the ground and shyly grasped the hands of the princess. His young heart began to beat wildly in his chest seeing the care in her face.

"Father told Uncle about it. They will send someone from my clan that would train me here." Sasuke muttered and looked up to see her expression.

The princess blinked. Twice.

The next thing he knew is that her arms were already wrapped around his waist as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Sasuke's jaw dropped. He didn't know what to do so his arms remained stiff at his sides but when the shock died down, he did not waste any second and touched the back of her head to pull her closer.

He closed his eyes and nuzzled the girl's hair wishing for the time to stop so he could frame this moment forever. If this was love, then he could not be any happier to have found it as early as he did and with the most amazing person to ever exist in his life.

"Does that mean we'll be together for a long time this time?" His Hana-chan asked with a hopeful look on her face.

The dark-haired boy gave her a bright smile before nodding and the two could not contain their happiness that they stayed enveloped in each other's arms for a long, long time even when they'd switch places or positions. The two could not seem to let go of each other even when her father, the Shogun, entered the library.

Yugūre Noboyuki had just finished his work and he came to check on the princess to see her progress. Based on her schedule, she should be in the confines of the library to study politics but it has come to his attention that her mentor had not shown up for today's session due to the mission he has given him three days ago.

He was not that concerned since the princess can hold her own for a few days but it does not mean he won't check whether she was able to grasp everything she has read.

As smart as she was, politics is a complex subject so he wanted to enrich her self-study session by giving some guidance. However, the scene before him almost made him back out.

His dearest daughter was wrapped in the youngest Uchiha's embrace. Her whole body was leaning on his side as she slept comfortably beside him. She had her head placed on the crook of his neck and the dark-haired boy gently caressed her two-toned hair. His eyes were solely focused on her frame as if she was the only thing that mattered in this world.

As her father, he did not like the fact that her dearest daughter's heart was already owned by someone but he felt a sense of relief seeing the object of her affection stare at her with galaxies in his eyes. He knew right there and then that she was with the right person. It's just really going to take some time to fully accept that his only child is growing up.

"Uncle." Sasuke greeted him the moment he noticed his presence but he immediately returned his gaze towards the sleeping princess in his arms. "Hana-chan had just finished reading the last book you told her to study. She did really well and even created a summary for each book."

The Shogun almost bellowed out a laugh. It seemed like the boy did not want to get his love in trouble by proving that the princess has truly done what she was told to do. He sighed before squatting down across him. The young Uchiha took his gaze away from his daughter to see what he is up to.

"Uncle?" He asked confused. "What are you doing?"

The Shogun smiled softly at him.

"Tell me something, Uchiha Sasuke. How do you feel about my daughter?"