A Soul's Salvation

A/N: Thanks so much, guys for the reviews. I love reading them and they make me very happy. Please keep reading and reviewing.

~!~

Sakura allowed the man beside her to guide her around the room. She felt empty, and wished now, more than ever, that she could simply leave and go home.

Lord Akio was everything a woman could want, in a man, in her opinion, he simply didn't match up to a certain loud-mouthed ninja. However, facts were facts, and he was now and forever out of her reach.

Masahara spoke of many things, mostly about how his village and the villages around it were prospering, but needed an alliance with other villages, mostly for trading. He also made several comments about how Konoha's ANBU were seen as the best, and he wanted the ninjas of his village to be trained in the same way.

Finally, he led her onto the dance floor, and pulled her against his body. She couldn't help it. Honestly, she couldn't. She stiffened at the initial contact, but managed to relax after a few moments. The man before her didn't say anything, if he noticed, but did gentle his hold on her.

Sakura noticed that several women were staring shamelessly over at the handsome lord, and didn't bother to hide the fact that they were interested in him, even from their dates. Sakura couldn't help but wish that it were one of them in her place and she was at home, sitting on her couch.

As the song, a hauntingly beautiful piece, rang through the ballroom, Sakura allowed her head to rest upon the lord's shoulder and felt him pull her even closer than before. As he turned her, she caught sight of Naruto, his handsome face twisted into a sneer, and she couldn't help but admire him in his uniform.

His blonde hair was out of control, as it usually was, and his body was primed to perfection. To her, he looked stunning. Closing her eyes, and feeling a bit guilty for it, she allowed herself to believe that it was Naruto holding her, his arms wrapped around her in a protective embrace, and together they swayed in harmony as the night carried on.

Masahara was not by any means a stupid man. He knew that the young woman had feelings for the young man who sat at the table with her friends. His foolish younger brother had informed him of that. He had seen Sakura looking over at the blonde and though it stunned him that a woman preferred another to his own company, he couldn't bring himself to call her on it.

To many, he was cold and unapproachable. To those he cared about, he protected them viciously, and would listen to them, but would chose to give his reply when he wanted. After all, he had an image to maintain.

When he felt her snuggle against him, and place her head on his shoulder, he held her tighter, wanting her to be at ease with him. After all, he had an objective here, and he needed her cooperation. As he turned them, once more, he noticed the young man glaring over at them, his mouth set in a grim line.

It would be so easy to provoke the man, but instead, he simply smirked at the ninja, and then leaned down to whisper in her ear that he would like to speak to her, outside.

Pulling away from her, he reached down and gently took her hand within his. Leading her over to the large doors, he opened the door and led her outside, and onto the balcony.

He watched as Sakura moved over to the railing, and cross her arms. It was a nice night, though a bit cool, and so, he quickly moved to her side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, sharing his body heat as he got down to business.

“I understand that tomorrow, there is to be a trial for three men who attacked you. Is that correct?” He asked, his tone curt.

Sakura's eyes turned towards his, and she nodded. “The men were ravaging the villages in valley, and I stopped them, but not before one of them embedded a poisoned needle in my shoulder. Both Konoha and valley want them to be held accountable for the time I had to take to recuperate and for the damages that they caused during their raids.” She explained.

Masahara nodded. “I, too, will be in attendance and would like to escort you.” He said. “I would like to provide you not only my support, but also advice and instruction on how to act during events such as this.”

Her eyes grew wide as she looked up at him. It was true that she wasn't properly schooled in how to act among nobles, but he was willing to teach her, and that would be a huge benefit, especially during events such as this one.

Nodding, she gave him a smile and said, “Thank you. I would appreciate anything you could teach me. I guess you can already tell that I'm not used to things like this.”

Smirking, Masahara said, “Not many people do know the proper way to behave. Most of the people in that room were brought into noble society through marriage, or though the people they know. None of them have any real ties to nobility. However, people like your friend, Lady Hyuuga, know how to act and have mastered their roles.”

Turning around to look out at the night, she noticed that his arm moved from her shoulders to around her waist. He moved closer to her, and because of the chill, she was glad to accept the body heat he provided.

As they continued to talk, neither one noticed that they had an audience. Tsunade, being held up by Shizune, grinned and nodded her approval, just before she ogled the lord's backside. Hinata bit her lip and glanced over at Naruto, who was currently glaring at the ground. Sasuke had a scowl on his face, and was currently thinking of a way to gain Sakura's attention. Kakashi glanced over at the couple outside and then allowed his eyes to turn back to the page he was currently reading.

When the pair decided that it was time to return to the gala, the large group quickly moved away from the doors and watched as Sakura and Lord Akio reappeared. Sakura had a smile on her face and it only brightened when she saw Hinata.

The heiress timidly walked over to her friend and was quickly introduced to the handsome lord. After introducing Kiba, Masahara noticed that he was being called over to where his small group stood and quickly excused himself, promising to speak to Sakura before he left for the evening.

Once he was gone, Ino rushed over and gushed, “He is totally gorgeous, Sakura. You have done well for yourself.”

Tenten and Temari appeared and both gave their opinions about the young lord. Sakura, however, was not listening. She watched from the corner of her eye as Naruto moved away from the group to stand against the wall. The frown on his face confused her.

Shouldn't he be thrilled that she had caught the attention of someone else? After all, he did tell her that he didn't want anything to do with her. So, why was he upset?

Turning her attention back to her friends, Sakura noticed that all four women were watching her, and finally, Ino asked, “So, what is going to happen now?”

“Lord Akio has requested to escort me to the trial tomorrow.” She replied. “He has also offered to explain how to act around nobles, especially during events such as this.”

Hinata nodded. “It would be a good idea to take him up on his offer.” She said, her pearly eyes staring into Sakura's green ones. “I'll be honest, it will do you a lot of good to learn how to act in the presence of a noble from a noble.”

Giving the woman a smile, Sakura nodded. “And, that is why I accepted his offer. Besides, I don't have anything better to do, tomorrow.” She said, and then shrugged. “I like talking to him. He certainly knows a lot.”

The women laughed and began to talk about what she should wear and how she should wear her hair. They moved her off towards a table, leaving the men to stare after them.

Neji glanced over at where Sasuke stood and quietly made his way over to where the Uchiha stood. Smirking, he said, “It would appear that a new wolf has moved in on your prey. What are you going to do now, Uchiha?”

Before Sasuke could reply, Lee puffed up his chest and exclaimed, “I can see the beginnings of youthful love blossoming for the lovely Sakura. Do not attempt to destroy the fragile foundation on which it is being built.”

Lifting an eyebrow, Sasuke calmly asked, “What is Gai doing over there?”

Turning quickly, Lee's eyes scanned the crowd. “Where? Where is Gai-sensei?”

Neji muttered, “I can't believe that he fell for that.” Shaking his head at the green-loving man, he turned and noticed that Sasuke was heading towards the table where Sakura was currently sitting. He wanted to walk over there, and would even offer to dance with Sakura, just to keep Sasuke from her, but was stopped when Lee grasped his arm and asked, “Do you see Gai-sensei, Neji? What if he needs our help?”

It was going to be a long night.

~!~

Sakura groaned and rubbed her eyes as she sat up. The previous night had taken a lot out of her, and she was glad when several of the ANBU were called to help with a disruption at the jail where the three men who attacked valley were being held.

Sasuke had come up to talk to her, but was grabbed by both Neji and Lee when their captain called for assistance to help break up the fight. She couldn't help but remember that he had asked her to dance before Tsunade-sensei pulled her away to address the crowd, and wondered why he even bothered.

Taking in a deep breath, she swung her legs out of her bed and grimaced when they hit the floor. It was clear to her that it was going to be a cold day, and she quickly rushed to the bathroom to take her shower.

The trial was to take place in the afternoon, meaning that she would have all morning to herself. So, she decided to take a walk. Once she was showered, and dressed, she left her apartment and began to wander around Konoha.

The village was bustling with people and she noticed that nearly every store had a sign telling their customers that their store would be closing early because of the trial. She passed by Ino's shop, and saw Nara Shikamaru standing outside, smoking.

The lazy genius gave her a nod, before blowing out a cloud of smoke. She grinned at him, before moving away, and into the crowd of people. Many called out her name and well-wishes. She plastered a large smile on her face, and gave polite nods, telling the people that she had heard them.

Finally, she found herself walking into the training grounds, and took in a deep breath. But, if she wanted to be alone, she was in for a disappointment.

In the middle of the large field, a lone figure was training. His kicks and punches were flawless, and his body gleamed with sweat, drawing attention to the muscles that were usually kept hidden from view by his shirt.

She watched as he moved with more grace than a dancer, and smiled at the way his face crinkled up when he concentrated. He was truly a beautiful creature.

Her smile faded, though, when he performed a punch, using too much power, and put his fist through the wooden pole that was used to teach punching techniques. She could hear the loud cursing, and couldn't help but wonder if he had broken the bones in his hand. He was always getting himself hurt.

Naruto glared at his hand, the throbbing and aching causing him to clench his teeth. He knew that he had broken at least one of his fingers, but this time wasn't his fault. He knew that someone was watching him, and it caused him to lose his concentration.

He felt someone behind him, and turned to tell the person off, but froze when he saw that it was Sakura. The young woman took in a deep breath and quietly asked, “Are you alright?”

He slowly nodded, unsure of what to say to her. He noticed that she was staring at his hand, and simply stared at her when she asked, “May I see your hand?”

Thrusting the sore appendage towards her, he sucked in a deep breath when her soft hands encircled around his much larger, calloused one. He watched as she probed his hand, and then allowed her chakra to begin to heal the bones.

As she healed him, she said, “Last night was pretty interesting.”

“Yeah. Hinata looked beautiful.” He said, and instantly wanted to kick his own ass for saying such a stupid thing. What he meant to say was that she looked just as beautiful as Hinata, if not more.

Sakura numbly nodded. After all, what did she expect? They were not friends, and he had no reason to compliment her. “Yes, she did look beautiful.” She agreed.

As he watched her, his eyes were soft and moved over her face, memorizing each and every single detail. He could feel the ache in his hand lessen, but the ache within his heart seemed to grow with each minute of silence that loomed between them.

When she was done, she pulled her hands back, letting his hand fall to his side, and then stepped back from him. He stepped forward, intent on telling her that they needed to talk, to work things out. He intended to tell her that he missed her, and forgave her. He needed to tell her that he was lonely, and that without her, his life held no joy for him.

He was going to tell her all of these things, but a soft voice stopped him before he could even start.

“Ambassador Haruno?” A woman asked, her long, dark hair pulled up into a high ponytail. A pair of blue eyes and a pair of green eyes turned towards the woman and Sakura stepped forward and gave her a smile.

“Yes?” Sakura answered, and returned the bow that was given to her by the stranger.

“My lady, my name is Murocho Satchi, and I have been given the pleasure of asking to accompany me to my lord's temporary residence. He wishes to speak with you.” Satchi said, her dark eyes moving between the ambassador and male.

Sakura wanted to tell her that she was busy, but knew that Naruto was only stomaching her presence because she had healed him. Nodding, she quietly said, “If you don't mind, please call me Sakura. And yes, I will go to speak with Lord Akio.”

Naruto gritted his teeth. Damn it, was the world against him and Sakura? His eyes followed the women, and he was shocked when Sakura didn't tell him goodbye. The beast within him demanded that he go after her, and prove to the two males sniffing around her that she was not available. However, he wasn't going to give into the kyuubi. He needed to think of something fast, before things got any more out of hand than they already had.

~!~

Neji and Kiba stared at each other. Finally, Kiba said, “They're even worse at this than Hinata was when she approached me. What in the hell are we going to do?”

Neji's eyes narrowed. “We need to keep the Uchiha away from her. He isn't happy to have more competition, and I think that he might do something drastic. As for the lord, I suppose that we will need to keep an eye on them and deal with things as they come.”

“Hinata and I received a formal invitation to sit with Sakura and Lord Akio this afternoon, at the trial. I can watch over them, there.” Kiba murmured, his eyes moving over to where Naruto stood, watching Sakura retreating form.

Nodding, Neji said, “Good. While you are watching them, I want to have a talk with Naruto. He clearly needs all of the help he can get.”

For several minutes, the two men were quiet, but then Kiba asked, “How are things progressing with you and Tenten? I saw she was with Lee, last night.”

“Tenten went with Lee because he begged her to go, and because I was with you guys. She plans on telling Lee that she and I are together, but wants to do it in a way that doesn't hurt his feelings. Personally, I think that she is wasting her time. Lee and Gai-sensei have it in their heads that she and Lee are perfect for each other.” Neji stated, his eyes narrowing.

Kiba smirked. Between Sakura and Naruto, and Neji, Tenten, and Lee, Konoha was going to have a lot to gossip about, and he had a front row seat. He couldn't wait to see what happened at the trial.

~!~

Sakura giggled as Satchi warned her about the holy man who was apart of their group. She laughed as she was told about how Satchi had been given the task of keeping him in line whenever a pretty girl was in the area.

“It sounds as if he and Jiraiya-sama would get along famously.” Sakura giggled, and laughed when Satchi's face twisted in horror.

“Don't tell me that I have to worry about another hentai!” She exclaimed, but sighed when Sakura shook her head.

“Don't worry. Tsunade-sensei keeps him in line, for the most part, but he is pretty predictable when it comes to women.” Sakura replied.

Both women continued to make small jokes as they entered the small house that held the members of Satchi's group. When they entered the room where the lord was, Sakura noticed that he was surrounded by several good-looking men, and that one of them looked like the lord.

Satchi bowed and quickly introduced the men, and explained that the man named Ichiro was the half-brother of Lord Akio. Sakura nodded and treated all of the men to a smile, but was stunned when one of the men swiftly approached her and asked, “My dear lady, might I have the honor of asking you...”?

He was quickly silenced when Satchi's fist connected with his cheek. Turning to Sakura, she murmured, “I told you he was a brave hentai.”

“Indeed.” Masahara said, rising from his seat. “You are all excused.”

Two of the men, one of them the brother of Masahara, quickly picked the fallen man up, and left the room, followed by Satchi. When they were alone, Sakura turned and bowed to the lord.

“I have been told that you wanted to speak with me.” She said, and quickly moved to the seat that he indicated that was on his right.

Masahara looked at Sakura for several moments before nodding. “I am sure that you have been told that I have an interest in you, Lady Haruno. But, I am sure that you do not know why.” He said, his voice even.

When she nodded, he bluntly said, “My interest in you is born out of necessity. I am nearly thirty years old, and I need a woman who is not only a good negotiator, but well respected by her village. When I heard about you, I was interested, but when I saw you, I knew that you would be perfect.”

She was afraid to ask, but took a deep breath and asked anyways. “Perfect for what?”

A smile crossed the lord's lips and he took a sip of water. “Perfect as my wife, of course.”

Sakura felt her entire body grow cold. She was sure that she was going to pass out from shock, but was quite proud of herself when she managed to stay upright.

She didn't know what to say. Words ran through her mind, phrases that needed to be said, but she couldn't seem to get her mouth to work properly.

Masahara regarded her with his beautiful eyes, and nodded. “You need time and you will have time. I am not leaving until the end of this month, and we will be able to get to know each other properly. I will be speaking with your sensei to gain her approval and with her blessing, my village and Konoha will enter into a treaty of our own. Our union will bring about many blessings for all those involved.” He said.

Glancing up at the clock, he stood up and offered Sakura his hand. She took it, still shocked, and nodded when he said, “The trial begins in an hour. We will go on over, and meet up with your friends.”

She allowed him to lead her to the door and outside. As they walked, her mind flashed to Naruto, and she closed her eyes. Perhaps this was what they meant by when one door closes, another opens. Maybe it was time to walk through a new door.

~!~

This chapter's theme is....

I don't wanna hear about it any more
It's a shame I've got to live without you any more
There's a fire in my heart
A pounding in my brain, it's driving me crazy

We don't need to talk about it any more
Yesterday's just a memory
And we close the door
I just made one mistake
I didn't know what to say when you called me baby

Can you take me higher by Damn Yankees