Hello! This is a new verse that I'm trying out after watching a lot of Chinese and Korean historical dramas. I was intrigued at how an Ancient China AU could be used, and decided to experiment with it.

While the title, inspiration and concept comes from the famous Scarlet Hearts/ Scarlet Hearts Ryeo dramas, the plot of this story will be entirely different. I'm fairly new and it's also my first attempt at writing such a lengthy story so I hope it'll be well received.

Reviews are much appreciated, because I'd be very glad to know what you think of it. I welcome constructive criticism and any opinions or questions as well.

Without further ado, please enjoy reading!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

- SCARLET HEARTS: KONOHA -

Prologue

The Fire Country is a grand one, its longstanding history narrating their many victorious feats over the multiple dynasties under wise rulers. Standing proudly with the prosperous and busy Konoha as its Imperial capital, their name resonates as one of the strongest Empires among the other neighbouring Great Empires. It was an accepted fact, albeit begrudgingly by their enemies, and nobody who knew of the Fire Country could argue with that.

From using the maximum potential of its rich natural resources, the strategic placing of the country as business ports to the widespread lands for its powerful military forces, the citizens enjoy the prosperity of their busy economy as well as the harmony of their safety.

However, as perfect as it may seem, it is also a complicated empire. Namely, with the monarchy of the empire.

Traditionally, following the ways of the previous rulers, the Emperor would pass his crown down to his firstborn son or the named Crown Prince, effectively announcing that Prince his successor and the automatic ruler upon his death. However, unlike previous dynasties, the current Imperial family of the Fire Country was facing a problem.

The Imperial couple did not bear any children, much less a son.

While the people have nothing but praise for the success of the dynasty under the rule of the Emperor Jiraiya and his wife, the Empress Tsunade, their childless marriage remained a common gossip topic for the people.

No, they did not truly mean harm. The people didn't bear notions of treason against the Imperial couple, they were very much satisfied. But, as people often do, they would criticise the marriage of thirty years that bore no children, whispering their own deductions, mostly along the lines of why wouldn't Emperor Jiraiya accept a concubine to produce an heir?

Like all his predecessors, the concubines of the Back Palace remain a custom, amassed from noblewomen of prominent families who wanted to build a good relation with the Imperial family, members of the Inner Court or even the Grand Council, be it for their business or to strengthen their placing and power.

However, unlike the ones before him, the number of concubines that resided in Emperor Jiraiya's Back Palace was minimal and other than on the wedding day, he had never met them personally again. He would admire them afar occasionally and watch when they displayed performances as a normal man attracted to beauty and entertainment, but that was it.

The citizens would always shake their heads in pity whenever they approached the topic. Those women were sent to the palace, mostly willing, as the Emperor's wives to enjoy a lifetime of luxury yet spent their whole lives never talking to him more than five times. Their intimacy with him would only be limited to the wedding night, and that was it. While they did try to catch his attention multiple times because bearing a child first would easily put them in the running for Dowager Empress, their efforts would always be fruitless.

Perhaps, the people sighed, it was better that they entered the Back Palace for wealth and power rather than love, and never form attachments to him. How could a woman who truly loved feel tolerant to sharing her husband with many?

Mainly, the citizens didn't understand why the Emperor would risk ending his line and passing his throne to an outsider, and they did not know the impact of their words on the strong-looking Empress.

Empress Tsunade had been much affected and depressed by the gossip in her earlier days, every remark had felt like a knife twisting through her. But as years passed, she had learned to harden herself and prove herself even more, striving for the success of their empire. She wouldn't give them anything else to talk about. And after years of hard work, she had effectively brought herself to where she stood that day- strong and powerful.

Yet, her disability to bear children would always remain a thorn in her heart.

"I would allow it, you know," the blonde-haired woman had said to her Emperor before when she felt like she had hit rock bottom once upon a time.

They were young then, married for a decade, her confidence shattered by words behind her back. Ten years they had struggled and when the royal physician timidly shook his head, she was at a loss of what to do.

"Those women come in to become your concubines, yet you never visit them personally. You have a duty to fulfil, and they are there to help you," she caressed his face as she spoke, tone weary. "You should go to them. I see how you look at them, you know, and I understand that you've always wanted a family of your own. Go to them, they can give you the child I cannot."

Her usual lively amber eyes were then dull, filled with sorrow and pain, a look the Emperor would never forget in his lifetime. Dark circles marred the fair skin beneath her eyes, her hands fiddling with her silk dress.

She had meant every word she said back then, knowing the unspoken longing the Emperor had to cradle his own child one day. Even thirty years later, when their problem had received a solution, she wouldn't protest a single word if he wanted one of the concubines to carry his own biological child.

The Emperor Jiraiya had been quiet as he moved to sit down beside her, grasping her hands in his. "I promised you that I would only have you as my wife and none other. While I admit that I do watch them, it isn't them I want to build my family with," he had assured her gently. "It will not change just because we don't have any children of our own."

"But that means that the line will end with me," she said, her voice hoarse. "With us."

"That doesn't matter."

"Then," Tsunade hesitated to speak before shaking her head and proceeding. "How will you choose an heir in case of anything?" she had asked quietly.

Jiraiya patted her hand soothingly. "Do not worry about that, my dear. There is a long time to go before we are to face that decision. I'm going to live for a long time, you know," he joked, attempting to alleviate her mood.

The pair settled into a comfortable silence as they leaned against each other in their chambers, the Emperor's arms around his wife as she was deep in thought.

"We have the noble families, don't we? Those that govern the states of the country," Tsunade said slowly, remembering the many noble families that had pledged their loyalty, governing and maintaining order in each of the states. "If by the time we do not have an heir, why don't we choose one from them?"

Jiraiya's brows had furrowed together as he contemplated her suggestion. She observed him carefully, nervous of what his reaction would be at her rather abrupt suggestion. It was unheard of, but then again, their situation had never occurred in the past dynasties.

Finally, with a warm smile, he had finalised his decision. A decision that would create the solution for their situation many years later, and one that made her crack a small smile for the first time in a long time, a sigh of relief escaping her pink lips.

"I've met the families' children. They aren't bad children, but most of them are still too young now. In a few years – that's settled then."

After various seasons have passed along with seedlings that shrivelled up too early and hopes that bled crimson, the Imperial couple wiped their tears dry and sought each other's comforting embrace as they came to their conclusion – their efforts had unfortunately bore no fruits.

Thereafter, the heirs of seven selected noble families had been adopted into the Imperial family as their own children, groomed to be potentially someone who would be able to take over the throne someday.

Both Emperor Jiraiya and Empress Tsunade had handpicked the families that would send their children together, carefully screening through multiple factors to hope for the best. They knew what it meant to be a successor of the throne, and they looked for particular qualities that could ensure the seven children wouldn't turn to walk down the darkest, worst path one day.

In the shadows, each of the seven children's clansmen had elaborate plans for their own heirs. Menacing, nefarious, scheming.

No matter how loyal they were and no matter how the Imperial couple had selected those they deemed wouldn't bear a great darkness, these clans had greed and ambitions of their own and the Emperor's decision indirectly fuelled that. What the parent couldn't achieve, the children will – that became their philosophy upon receiving the order.

Politics for the throne was inevitable, but the children were to be stripped of their innocence for the purpose and glory of their clans' reputations. To emerge as the best became the only thing the children were to fight for, the only advice their clansmen bade them farewell with.

With their small shoulders squared, lips trembling and nervousness hidden beneath a then poorly-schooled mask, their brimming tears were the only indication of their fears. The children were sent off to the Imperial palace no longer as just children of noble lords, but as the one who would bring glory to the name of their families.

They became children of the Imperial Palace, the kids who were forced to grow up too early, suddenly loaded with burdens much too heavy for their young age.

And that was how that predicament a decade and two years ago led to the current battle of wits for the throne in the dragon's den.