Author's Notes: After much contemplating, I've decided to take a break from serious fics and bring you all some CRACK NejiTen. And not just any CRACK NejiTen. This fic is based on the animated feature The Swan Princess, which, in turn, is based on Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake.

So this is nothing serious. It may be out of character, it may even be absurd, but this is just for fun, and I'll do my best to keep it all as believable as possible (if at all). This is about as AU as it gets. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, The Swan Princess, or Swan Lake. I am making no profit from this fan fiction.

An Everlasting Vow

By Nessie

Chapter One

Once upon a time, a beautiful queen gave birth to a daughter on the very day her husband perished from illness. Golden hair damp with sweat, the queen's sorrow at the loss of the king warred with her joy at the birth of her child. She was a responsible woman and had aided well in King Jiraiya's mighty land, and so held herself up admirably. With a baby in the cradle, she assumed the throne with vigorous command.

The country of East Fire entered into its golden age under the rule of Queen Tsunade. The people were not concerned with its change in leadership, for now there was an heir to their kingdom. Rejoicing filled the land from border to border, spilling over into the neighboring country of West Fire.

Years ago, the two nations had existed as one kingdom, but battle had rendered it into halves. Over the passing decades, old grudges dissipated to give way to separate but benevolent rules; one by the family of Jiraiya's ancestors in the East, and the other by the Hyuuga family in the West, headed now by the oldest of the former king's twin sons, Hiashi.

Hiashi was a mostly serious man, but he had lived as a friend of Jiraiya and came to celebrate the birth of the late king's daughter upon Queen Tsunade's invitation. At the grand party, Hiashi introduced his children. His infant daughter, days younger than the new princess, was Hinata. Neji, the four-year-old boy, was not actually King Hiashi's son but his nephew and the child of his deceased twin brother. Neji, Hiashi explained to Tsunade, was older than his daughter by a year, and would be the one to inherit the kingdom of West Fire.

Standing together, the royal pair watched as Neji approached the silk-draped cradle which held Tsunade's child. His dark hair fell long upon the shoulder of his white traveler's cloak. As he peered into the cradle at the lovely baby within, his moon-like eyes were visibly curious. The gift of the Hyuuga royal family, a golden necklace hung with a golden heart, was in his hand. Young Neji dangled the necklace over the girl, his mouth tipping upward when tiny hands reached for the shiny distraction, before dropping it among her downy blankets for her to play with.

“What is her name?” Hiashi asked the question softly of the mother, who smiled using deep red lips.

“I have named her Tenten.” Placing a hand over her belly, flat once more, Tsunade seemed to recall the occupation there. “It means 'heaven'.”

The Hyuuga leader nodded appreciatively, though he kept his gaze trained his nephew. The queen knew of his protective urges toward the boy. The loss of his brother had affected Hiashi more than most people understood. “She certainly was a blessing.”

“Yes. There was a time when Jiraiya and I thought there would be none after us. We came close to messaging you about accepting this...” Queen Tsunade trailed, her voice lost to the amiable chatter and happy music that swelled in the festive court of her palace. “Kingdom,” she finished after several moments, gaining Hiashi's full attention at last. “Your nephew, Neji. Is he a good child?”

“He will find a rebellious day, I have no doubt,” replied Hiashi, one of his jet black eyebrows lifting. “But yes, he is a fine boy. Why do you ask?”

“Well, as you can see, Tenten is a very fine girl herself.” Unplanned brilliance lit the queen's gaze, though it looked like mischief in the dark brown orbs gleamed brighter than the jeweled diadem on her blond head. “I have a very good idea, King Hiashi.”

Hiashi paused. As long as he had known her, he thought Tsunade a competent leader but given to the occasional impulsive action as well. “And what is that?” he humored, keeping his wariness concealed.

“As you will agree, there has been no reason for years that East and West Fire should not be rejoined.”

With that, he did agree. “Yes.”

“Well, you are married, and while I am not too old for marriage, I'm afraid I am too dedicated to Jiraiya's memory to wed again.”

“I assure you, I only admire that,” said Hiashi politely, still waiting for what was sure to be a dynamic point.

“That being the case,” continued Tsunade, “I cannot imagine a better future than the joining of our two heirs to recombine us as the single land of Fire at last!”

Dynamic indeed, Hiashi thought, as the first vestiges of a smile began to reveal themselves. “Betroth them, you mean.” He turned his stark white gaze to the image of his young ward standing over the newborn princess. “Queen Tsunade, you do have a very good idea.”

“I know!” Tsunade crowed gleefully, brown eyes positively glittering now. “Now, we cannot simply thrust them together when they are of age. I will not toss my daughter to a prince due to convenience. I want her to know love, as I have.”

“Of course.” Romance, however, was not a strong point of the king. “What do you suggest?”

That was exactly the question she had been waiting for. “When she is older, I will bring her to your palace. They will spend every summer together. Playmates first. Then friends, you see. And once the natural way of emotions commences...”

He had to admit, the plan was ingenious. “I can find nothing wrong with the idea,” he said.

“Good. Then you will take care of Neji, and in – oh, let's say six years – you will see Tenten again at your gate.” Ecstatic, Tsunade clapped her hands, then rubbed the palms together, rings glimmering. “It will be something to see, Hiashi.”

Looking up from the cradle, Neji watched his uncle clasp hands with Queen Tsunade to seal a bargain he was entirely unaware of.

Elsewhere in the room, a pale-faced witness threw one disdainful look at the child and baby before turning on his heel and stalking out, black hair swaying with the motion. He held no concern for either of them, but in a rarely-seen lair a mile below the palace, he ran his bony, ice-cold fingers over jars and bottles filled with strange liquids.

“Tomorrow, Anko,” he said to a young woman in the corner.

Her dark violet hair was the color of smoke in the light of a green fire waving from the lair's hearth. “Yes, my lord.” She rubbed her hands over the dirty skirt of her dress, cleaning them of nervous perspiration.

“Queen Tsunade will die much more swiftly than her husband, and then I...” Through snakelike nostrils, the sorcerer inhaled sharply, and the breath he exhaled was nearly palpable with ill intent. “I will be rid of all obstacles.”

Before the subservient Anko could utter either encouragement or dissuasion, the neglectfully unbolted door was broken down, and on the other side of it stood Queen Tsunade herself, impeccably dressed in a satin gown from the party. She appeared even more commanding than usual with eight armored guards ready behind her and her sharp-minded advisor at her side.

“It seems Shizune was correct in her suspicions,” said Tsunade, her voice ringing powerfully throughout the small space. “You plot against me in the dark while I carouse in the lighted world up there.”

The sorcerer's eyes flicked from East Fire's queen to the aid, watching him just as steadily. “You surely are misinformed, my Queen.” The woman, Shizune, had been unnervingly attentive as of late.

“I dare say I'm not. I should have listened to her sooner, Orochimaru.” The queen's jeweled fingers curled into fists. “Shizune is steadfastly loyal, something that cannot be said for you. My husband trusted you and your tonics, and had he only accepted the cures of alternate physicians – masters of the normal arts, not the mystic ones – he would have lived to see our daughter's smile.” Tsunade paused. “No, in fact, it is my fault he lies dead. But the same fate will not befall me. Not yet.”

Orochimaru's grin came slowly, curling his sickly-looking flesh so that ridges spread in his cheeks. “What will you do to me, Tsunade? Kill me? Kill my girl here?”

Tsunade's eyes shifted to Anko, filthy and underfed. She was young, no more than fifteen, and somewhere in the royal's heart, pity opened wide for the girl. “Not her, anyway,” she answered.

“No!” cried out Anko, presenting her voice for the first time since the disruption of her master's plans. She rushed across the room to fall to her knees at Orochimaru's feet, clutching at the hem of his dark robe. She loosed silent tears. Above her, Orochimaru stood apathetically smiling.

“She will not leave me, as you can see,” said Tsunade's betrayer.

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. “I do not spill innocent blood. But the wicked do not go without punishment. Bind them both,” she ordered, and the guards flooded the lair to do as she told them. In moments both Orochimaru and Anko were manacled. “Take them to the border of West Fire and banish them into the following land. King Hiashi will not interfere. I wonder how you'll fare in that place, Orochimaru.”

She turned her back, and Orochimaru's smile had fallen away from his angular face. No doubt he was picturing the untamed, unoccupied forest only ever entered by hunters for game. He had never endured such lack of civilization. “Do not think we are done, Tsunade!”

“See that not a grain, ounce, or page of his materials goes with him,” was Tsunade's only response. As she and Shizune left the lair, she heard the crash of containers, liquids splashing, books crackling as they burned, and then a long, strangled moan by Orochimaru as his power seeped from his mind and body. Both women could feel it dissolve in the air around them like ash scattered by wind.

“Was it wise, my lady,” asked Shizune with utmost respect, “to be so kind?”

“He is no threat to us now,” Tsunade assured her as they entered the bright lights of her hall. The guests were mostly gone now, including King Hiashi and Prince Neji, and now servants had begun to tidy up. Stepping over to a seated maid, Tsunade took her daughter into her arms. “We have more important things to concern ourselves with, haven't we?”

“Such as?”

Love gorging her heart, Queen Tsunade riffled her thumb through the sprout of dark hair that had already grown on the baby's head. Brown eyes the color of her own stared up at her. “There is only six years until young Neji and my Tenten meet.”

To Be Continued...