Forced Hand

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Forced Hand
By 11


Chapter 02


It was a real pain. If guests for a party were going to show up, shouldn’t they do it with the rest of the party guests? Or did this jerk off think that arriving later than everyone else made his or her entrance far more spectacular than everyone else’s? Naruko huffily thought as she descended the stairs for the second time that night, Hinata and Ino on either side of her as she walked, forcing her glare to turn at least indifferent before she came into everyone’s view.

It was probably an unwritten rule about having to look at the royal person who emerges every time they do so, even if they happen to do it 500 different times in one night. Not that Naruko’s number of entrances had yet to exceed five in one night; that was completely beside the point as far as she was concerned.

Naruko wasn’t even the full half way down the stairs before she halted in her tracks blue eyes dilating as they settled on the dark-haired youth standing nearby the stairwell, where Tsunade and Jiraiya stood watching her expectantly. She had already stopped when the young man turned his eyes along with the other’s towards the stairway, dark onyx colored eyes locking on blue.

“Is something wrong, Mistress?” Hinata whispered softly, leaning a little forward to speak directly to Naruko in a discreet manner.

“Princess Naruko,” Ino whispered prodding her mistress from behind, “everything okay?”

“Fine.” Naruko whispered back, glancing away from the dark eyes of what was supposed to be the final guest, and continued her decent, hurrying a little more to reach the bottom so everyone could look away politely, which they did when she arrived at the ground floor.

It wasn’t right, Naruto could feel his heart beating so fast it caused a resounding thudding all through his body and head. No doubt because of this and extra blood circulation he was going to flush soon. But why would he be so worked up over that guy? It was just the guy from the woods! That was it of course, the fact that the youth might recognize the ‘girl’ from the woods was a terrifying idea… and if he mentioned something about it…

Naruto didn’t even want to know what kind of mayhem that jerk could cause with that kind of information. It’d be castrophic in any case no matter if it affected Naruko/Naruto and the kingdom or just Naruto/Naruko.

“Princess Naruko, glad you could make it down,” Tsunade greeted her, noting with some surprise that the silver pendant she gave her earlier had been removed, oh well, it wasn’t exactly the best thing to have given the ‘princess’, it was more of a private gift she guessed. “I know you weren’t feeling too well earlier, but it looks like you’re feeling better now.”

“I am, thank you Aunt Tsunade,” Naruko nodded politely.

“Princess Naruko, I would like to introduce to you our good friend and one of Konoha’s allies,” Tsunade began, “he traveled all the way from Somuhorm, that’s why they were so late getting here. This is the youngest Uchiha royal of Somuhorm; Prince Sasuke. Prince, this is our pride of Konoha Princess Naruko.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Prince Sasuke, it’s good that you made it,” Naruko nodded to the youth politely. Inwardly Naruko quaked, maybe all made up and decked out like this he wouldn’t recognize ‘her’…

A light of recognition seemed to shine briefly in the youth’s dark eyes, and fear clutched Naruto. “It’s nice to meet you as well, glad to be here.” He replied after a moment all signs of ever having recognized Naruko from anywhere other than here and now vanishing from his eyes. Like a black whole sucking up all emotion and letting no light escape. Naruto felt a familiar sting of anger run through his suddenly.

It was good that this… Sasuke… didn’t recognize him from the woods, but still… it was only a couple freaking minutes ago! How could he have forgotten that all ready, talk about unrealistic!! Yes this was rather annoying, despite being a good thing.

“Sasuke perhaps you would like something from the food or drink bar to refresh yourself after your journey,” Tsunade offered politely.

“No that’s all right,” Sasuke refused, just as politely. Actually all this ‘politeness’ was starting to make Naruto feels a little more than nauseous. “What about you Naruko? You look a little flushed is all.”

Yeah and it’s your fault, moron! Naruto thought spitefully. I hope you fall in a bog and get frogs in your pants! “Not at all, I feel fine anyway,” ‘Naruko’ replied a little more snippishly than intended, if Tsunade’s quick glare was of any significance that is.

“Really?” and still this jerk persisted! “Is it too hot maybe?”

“What?” Naruto hissed a little too low for a girl maybe, but seeing that ‘Naruko’ was annoyed maybe it’d be overlooked. Both Tsunade and Jiraiya’s eyes locked on her though warning her, what was it about this guy that made him lose tact of ‘Naruko’ anyway?

“I noticed on the way up here the evenings are a little warmer, or humid, than in other areas,” he noted, “If you were spending most of the time in your room… heat rises… do you need to go change into something more comfortable perhaps?”

If that had been anywhere else but here I’d have said… no actually even here that’s pretty damn weird… freaky person… or is this your sick way of hitting on me. Ugh! He’s worse than the others, all put together!!

“Prince Sasuke,” Tsunade asked in question, saving Naruto from having to reply. “Perhaps you could clarify what you meant exactly.”

“It’s just that your particular wear seems rather… tight,” he replied. Naruko shivered. Did he intentionally lower his voice to that husky purr on that one specific word on purpose?!

Concentrating on Naruko’s gown for the moment he had to agree it was most constrictive that the one he’d worn earlier… but he’d changed out this one with Kyuubi… was that fox seriously skinnier than him!?

“It’s all right Naruko,” Tsunade whispered, “Ino and Hinata will take you upstairs for a bit, it is a little tight on you, go ahead.”

And just because HE was the one who mentioned it, AND the elders agreed, that decided it. No matter how much tighter it was than the one from earlier, he would continue to wear it. Just to make them irritated. Served them right too!

“No. I see no need for that Aunt Tsunade,” Naruko said with a smile, almost a scowl, particularly directed at the dark-haired youth… crud… what was his name again… they said it once! Naruto was sure of it. Oh well, like it mattered.

“Are you sure mistress,” Ino whispered from behind her, “it would be fine, and you could escape early you know from the party.”

Darn, Ino too? That just clarified matters. Stay at the party and in the dress. He was feeling spiteful and if this got them riled then he’d do it. It wasn’t so uncomfortable anyway, just a little smaller than the one he had on earlier; it wasn’t really bad though.

“I’m sure.” Naruko whispered back as she turned her head to the approaching young girl, a smile spreading over the blonde’s face quickly. “Sakura!”

“Ah, Princess Naruko,” the pink-haired girl bowed, her aqua blue green eyes glancing up at the handsome boy her princess stood nearby. “…Prince Sasuke…” she acknowledged a faint tinge of pink staining her cheeks.

Hinata and Ino exchanged worried glances… this could not be good, and with ‘Naruko’ as on edge as she was chanced were bad things could happen…

“My name is Sakura, Sakura Haruno,” she introduced herself, “I have heard so much about your country from the travelers, fascinating stories… is it true that some of the last dragons still exist there?”

“Why yes, I did not know you were so cultured,” Sasuke sounded genuinely surprised, “Where did you read that? Or did you hear it somewhere?”

“A little of both,” she answered, her smile growing a ridiculous amount just knowing that she was being acknowledged by what had become in her eyes a beautiful dark-hair and dark-eyed prince of a foreign land. That was kind of what he was too… except for the beautiful part. Everything about the youth’s appearance made Naruto want to retch, just like in the woods… even if at first he’d thought the guy was gorgeous too… that was before he knew about the ugly personality it contained underneath.

Oh sure in the woods he wouldn’t be nice to a girl, as a princess he wouldn’t be nice to ‘her’ but here he was seeming to take a genuine interest in _Naruto’s_ Sakura. This had to be against the law or something!

It hurt… Ino’s tapping at his shoulder drew his attention momentarily away from the happily chatting couple before him. “You could go now, convenient escape,” she urged. Naruko frowned and glanced back at Sakura.

“I know how you feel,” Ino sighed, “But it’s okay, just come on.”

“I’m fine, you and Hinata can go ahead and enjoy the party. I’ll be fine,” Naruko told them with a smile turning away from the ‘happy couple’ behind her in exchange for his two best friends, they hesitated but eventually drifted away. Oh well, not much to do now, maybe drift and little and then head upstairs.

“Princess Naruko, what about you?”

“Hm?” Naruko asked turning, to where the jerky dark-eyed boy’s voice had jerked her out of her thoughts over a perfect plan for spending the rest of the evening.

“Have you ever seen one?” Sasuke asked, an odd mixture of a sneer and smile on his face as he looked at her. It felt like he was mocking her.

“One what?” Naruko repeated in question, “I wasn’t listening.”

“Tease,” he snorted.

He fought the blush well. After all that wasn’t how he had meant to save it… using that same stupid low purring, there was no other way to describe it. Did he do that on purpose, probably just to put him off balance.

“No I wasn’t listening, I didn’t plan to intrude on your conversation,” Naruko said, her tone dropping almost an entire octave. Out of annoyance! Otherwise a girl’s voice can’t get that deep.

“Have you ever seen a dragon?” Sakura asked with a smile.

No of course not. I’ve never been out of Konoha… damn it… that’s pathetic…

“I’m sorry, I haven’t,” Naruko answered trying to put a suitable amount of boredom at the current topic into her voice without making it sound too boyish.

“We were just talking about them, Sasuke’s seen several, since many of the remaining clans live in the northernmost parts of Somuhorm.” Sakura explained genially.

“They’re very big,” Sasuke said eyes still focused on the blonde, the last word a little too enunciated for Naruko’s liking, earning him a prompt glare, wouldn’t ‘large’, or ‘immense in size’ have worked just as well? “And their bodies are incredibly hard.”

A muscle somewhere near Naruko’s shoulder twitched, the last words was enunciated then too. Where did this jerk get off, huh? “That’s because of their scaly hides,” Sakura promptly spoke up saving Naruko from having to further think on the stupid jerk’s word choice. “They’re nearly invincible with them and dragon hide for materials is incredibly valued also because of this.”

Wow Sakura’s so smart… Naruto thought with a small smile, thankfully forgetting for the last couple seconds that Sasuke existed. Thankfully Sakura was starting to talk to him again and this would provide just enough time for Naruko to make her escape. Brilliant. It still kind of hurt that she was so interested in Sasuke… of course… Sasuke was an actual male… according to Sakura and everyone else Naruto, was Naruko, and a girl!

Nonetheless, if Sakura could be happy with that guy… as much as he’d hate it… it’d be fine. Sakura wasn’t royalty after all; it’d be very good for her family to marry the Uchiha. Of course where he got the horrible idea of them getting married from them getting along was a mystery. Except that when Naruto was finally released of the dress then he had always figured, he had planned, that he would go and marry Sakura, since he’d liked her since he could remember.

They were just kids then, and they had met at a few parties and she had always been so sweet and shy of other people, between Naruko and Ino, Sakura was well protected from other children who would have used the pink-haired girl’s own insecurities against her. Hinata hadn’t been around at that time, and she had been so quiet and shy when she arrived, yet again it had been up to Naruko and Ino to help the clear-eyed girl to express herself. They still hadn’t fully succeeded, but Hinata had gotten a lot better over the two and a half years that she had been with them.

Wandering outside to the empty balcony the wind had gotten softer, it was true it was warm at night, kind of humid maybe, but Naruto had grown up with it, it was actually a nice feeling. Somehow to him it felt that everything was always alive, no matter what. It was true too, no matter how bad things could get, death was the easy way out, living took far more courage and strength, but in the long run it would be worth it, to survive, and if you could survive… why not thrive?

Looking up to the sky, he noted that the moon had risen farther than when he’d last checked, it was getting pretty late by this time, ‘Naruko’ could probably retire to her chambers in a bit. He sighed, some birthday… oh well… it wasn’t so bad on the whole, presents from so many people, and tomorrow he would resume his regular ‘classes’. He could put up with such an ordeal once every year or so, and no one had managed to propose. Yay! That in and of itself was cause for celebration.

“I told you it was hot.” A husky voice whispered against Naruto’s ear, causing him to start and whip around, his arm hitting the speaker’s chest when he brought it around in an attempt to push the person away. Sasuke smirked back at him. “Didn’t I tell you? You really do know nothing about pacing yourself in a fight do you?”

Naruto’s eyes widened, so he had remembered… But then…

As if reading his mind Sasuke answered, “why cause a commotion in there, when I can have you all to myself out here?” he asked. Naruto’s eyes narrowed in a glare, and she shoved her arm against his chest, he backed up enough, but pulled on her arm to angle her back towards the nearby wall of the castle. Naruto hissed in surprise and anger when he felt his back contact lightly with the wall of the castle, and of course Sasuke now held the one arm immobilized in his inhumanly strong grip. Or maybe boys got to train to have that kind of grip… another thing he was missing because he had to be a girl!

Damn being a girl. He hated it! He hated being weak! He hated being looked at as weak! He just hated it! His other hand lashed up and struck against Sasuke’s face, curled enough to form an adequate punch Naruto had first guessed… but then he knew nothing about fighting, not his fault, and based on Sasuke’s reaction it must have just been glaringly obvious.

His other hand was seized… and now he looked really angry… oh gods… didn’t anyone see him come out here? But then, Naruto didn’t want anyone to see… he could handle this himself… if he couldn’t he could just scream for help, there were plenty of people in the other room, many. A majority were from Konoha and slightly less than half were his own guards.

Well this was a bright idea coming out here alone.

“Was that supposed to be a ‘thank you’,” Sasuke asked with a tinge of annoyance to his voice, “For saving your life? You can’t even hit a person properly. We’ll have to work on that, as well as your swordsman-ship.”

Stupid jerk! Naruto glared, right now he didn’t care what happened, next move this guy pulled he was going to knee him in the groin. His legs were still free, even if this guy held both his arms that were suddenly pressed up above him. The action drawing his whole body backward against the wall stretched out before the dark-haired youth, a gasp coming from Naruto at the sudden and foreign movement.

“So?” he asked, dark eyes boring into Naruto’s blue. One hand now held the blonde’s arms, the other coming to gently trace along his jaw, he wanted to jerk away, to swing his leg up and strike the jerk, but somehow he couldn’t move… he could barely breathe. “Don’t I get some kind of reward, for saving your life?”

His voice had turned to that low purr again, and a shiver involuntarily ran up Naruto’s spine, yes, suddenly it was too warm, he couldn’t move, he could barely breathe, and yet his heart was beating unbearably fast. “Something… like this…” he was too close.

Sasuke’s tongue just barely pressed against Naruto’s bottom lip. Naruto head snapped backward, hitting against the wall, the thudding in his head nothing compared to the disgusted screaming, the trembling that had started, trembling of anger, shaking his down to his core, heat rising fast to his face. This cocky son of a-! He’d kill him for that!!

“I’m so glad to know I have that effect on you,” he smirked again, Naruto scowled, he knew that arrogant jerk off was talking about the blush, or maybe something else, point, he was a jerk about it and Naruto would kill him for it. All he had to do was cry out and-!

Damn it he was getting to close again, and all breath and power to move beyond the frantic beating of Naruto’s heart faded away. This was so wrong, on so many levels. Sasuke’s eyes boring deeper into his blue… way too close… oh gods… he’s gonna…!

“Sasuke! I’ve got our drinks!”

Naruto’s head turned immediately the source of his savior’s voice, and glorious face. Pink hair framed the girl’s surprised pale features, aqua blue green eyes questioning the current proximity of the two of them.

“Sakura!” Naruko cried happily, quickly releasing herself from Sasuke’s grip, and thankfully he didn’t try to contest him with the other girl standing a little ways away, and quickly grasped the girl close in a tight thankful hug. “I’m so glad to see you!” would have been the perfect thing to say, but at the moment she didn’t much want to go into why, since undoubtedly the smart pink-haired girl would inquire why. After all, in her mind, who was she to stand in the way of the prince Sasuke and princess Naruko if they felt something for one another, they were both royalty.

“I guess I’ll be heading inside, it’s pretty this night,” Naruko gushed politely to the pink-haired girl. Naruto inwardly wished that it had been some other girl, anyone but Sakura who was smitten with the dark eyed youth, but then… he had already settled this dispute… no matter how much the choice was hurting. Then in a soft whisper only she could hear, “Don’t worry it wasn’t what it looked like, he’s yours,” Naruto didn’t want him, this was the reassure the girl’s whose smile had drooped noticeably when she entered onto the balcony area.

Sweeping past with a light wave Naruko reentered the ballroom. Damn it! That was close… too close for comfort! And his heart was still beating too fast from it. That stupid jerk! He should have cried out! He was scared… and disgusted… he knew it! But still he just stood there, he didn’t cry out. He wouldn’t let that happen again, any of it. All he had to do was head upstairs and then he’d never have to look at those evil dark eyes again. He wouldn’t see that infuriating smirk on impossibly pale features… He’d never see stupid gorgeous Sasuke again after tonight. Naruto’s breath hitched suddenly… probably momentarily forgot to breath. Stupid as that sounded the ulterior idea why was far worse.

She had been starting towards the stairs when a presence behind made her stop. Naruto felt his heart rate that he had just managed to barely calm started thumping faster all over again. He didn’t have to turn to see who it was behind him.

“That girl…” came the low annoyed voice that in the short time Naruto had come to recognize as uniquely Sasuke’s, “…has abhorrent timing.”

It was getting worse if just standing beside him was making his heart race. Maybe it was still the nerves from a while ago. His body was expecting him to pull something weird again. His mind knew he wouldn’t, not with so many people around, which was good, very good, not bad in the least. This overall was becoming a very stressful evening on the whole…

“Really?” Naruko asked making her voice short and snappish on purpose, “I thought she had impeccable timing.” Mustering as much malice into those words as possible. Turning to face the youth that stood by her side, hardened blue eyes glared up into dark orbs that swallowed all light.

“You, prince Sasuke,” Naruto started, proud of himself that he kept a calm tone, though not necessarily female, “are the most uncouth being to ever walk this earth. For what you did there is no excuse. You are an utter scoundrel, I don’t know what you want with Konoha, but its not yours.”

Of course the only reason he was being weird on ‘Naruko’ was because of politics, Konoha was obviously some important link to Somuhorm… the question was what were they planning while the two kingdoms were supposedly allies at the moment. Was that about to change? Were they going to attack, or was their plan to become engaged? If that had been their plan it was puzzling why they didn’t go about it like everyone else did, besides he hadn’t proposed or anything, just been really, really weird. The only thing he’d succeeded in was making Naruko hating him, and Naruto made sure he knew that.

“No way, he really said that!” laughed one of the people in the crown behind Naruko, backing up and accidentally knocking her forward. Blue eyes widened in shock and horror as he tipped forward and into the dark-haired youth before him. But that wasn’t the worst part…

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I-!” the man’s words were cut off along with any other speaking in the room as all eyes locked on the pair. Some in shock, other’s semi disgust at the public display, others seemed to smile knowingly. Yet all of them were wrong… this itself was wrong.

It was so wrong that Naruto suddenly found himself, his lips pressed against Sasuke’s, dark eyes holding his, slight surprise but otherwise not bothered. How dare he! The twelve seconds they held were mortifying, the more time that ticked away the more solid the reality became. Naruto balked his reflex to pull away and start gagging, in fact he couldn’t move right now, every drop of blood in him had run cold. Yet his skin felt far too warm for his chilled blood, and his lips were on fire. The most mortifying thing in the entire world… it was a kiss, and not just a regular kiss like the one’s Naruko had been able to steal from Sakura on the occasion of being good friends as a light peck on the cheek, this was a real kiss.

It wasn’t just that either everyone saw… Sakura, and everyone!!! All was silent for the twelve seconds the contact lasted, but it still took too long before Sasuke was the one to slowly relieve the pressure and pull a bare centimeter from Naruto’s mouth. The blonde too in shock and inner mortification to move.

A smirk crossed the dark-haired youth’s face, “I didn’t know you felt that way about me…” it was a light enough whisper that no one around them heard. But it still sent Naruto’s blood suddenly hot and racing along with his heart all over again, the low purring voice raking an involuntary shiver all through his body.

Did he say that… about the whole you’re horrible part, or the… ‘kiss’… part? Oh gods! With the return of flowing blood Naruko felt her face flush and turned quickly dashing away to her room, up the stairs as fast as she could go.

Tsunade and Jiraiya approached Sasuke slowly, left alone in the wake of Naruko’s hasty retreat. “We’re… so sorry about that Prince Sasuke… are you all right?” Tsunade asked the guest politely, though at the moment she was more worried about Naruto upstairs.

“I apologize as well, I hadn’t meant to bump so hard, I didn’t even know she was there,” the man who had knocked Naruko forward said bowing his head in apology. Sasuke said nothing but nodded to the three in acknowledgement. Meanwhile Sakura stood a ways away with wide eyes. Naruko had told her that she could have Sasuke… and it was an accident but somehow it still hurt.

“Ino…” Sakura asked the young blonde who stood just as shocked beside her. “Is anything going on between… Prince Sasuke, and Princess Naruko… that I’m not aware of…?”

Ino broke herself out of her shock, Naruto was going to be so unhappy right now, she would do in his place, but right now Sakura’s words caught and held her attention. “What do you think?” she asked, keeping any mocking from her voice. Sakura didn’t even realize that most people adored her, and yet out of all of them she chose the one person who was completely uninterested. If Ino could discourage the girl, then maybe… but that was selfish of her wasn’t it.

But did it matter if there was a chance…?

“It can’t be though…” Sakura whispered sadly to herself as she watched Sasuke through the rest of the party, unhappily.

Ino watched the other girl as well, the sadness of the girl’s face reflected in Ino’s heart as she watched. But it would be better if Sakura forgot about him, he was royalty, and besides he wasn’t interested. “Sakura…”

No doubt that running away made everything all the more real and more cemented in people’s minds, and Sakura… Naruto scrubbed the back of his hand furiously against his mouth as he ran and banged open the door to his room and shut it behind him with a loud thud, jolting the napping fox on his bed, awake.

Idiot! That was brilliant! Brilliant!! He inwardly cried and scolded himself. Somewhere downstairs the light music had started again as the party continued… but no doubt that accidental kiss was going to be the talk of the party, and possibly the kingdom come morning. Oh he didn’t want to live anymore…

The fox crawled upward and nuzzled gently into the crook of Naruto’s arms, a fluttering of sensation against Naruto’s skin let him know the fox had transformed into his human form. “Crying is unbecoming for a prince, Naruto.” He commented gently, without mockery.

Naruto looked up, and wiped at his eyes, he hadn’t realized he’d started crying, how stupid. Sitting up he wiped them away, still furious his movements quick and filled with agitation. “So what happened?” the fox inquired. Naruto just glared and didn’t first answer instead going over to his wash basing to clean his face. He paused to glance at his reflection and his glare deepened.

After I wipe the tears away, there’s no sign I’d ever cried a moment ago. Naruto thought bitterly, truly a feminine trait, but then didn’t even some girls get blotchy faces when they cried and red around their eyes? It didn’t matter right now everything about his face and body irritated him, from his lanky body to his long hair to his clear innocent looking eyes and soft featured face. It wasn’t normal for a boy.

Taking up a knot of cloth he tied his hair back for bed, shedding the gown and changing into a more comfortable nightshirt. He didn’t look as much like a girl after he changed and with his hair back, but it still looked like it could be a girl. He glared at his reflection, but upon noting that no matter how much he glared the mirror wouldn’t crack he turned and was going to head for bed, but he just felt too awake right now. Also Kyuubi still sat there awaiting an explanation for the boy’s irritated behavior.

“It was that guy from the woods.” Naruto told the fox, “he recognized me. No trouble though, except he was really really weird. I think it’s something to do with the politics, he’s from Somuhorm, I think it was some freaky way of indirect proposal, but it was just weird. Then this guy knocked me and I kissed him. But it wasn’t my fault! Everyone saw… even Sakura…”

he finished his tirade in anger and looked up. Kyuubi had a contemplative look to his eyes, eyes that were currently carelessly trailing over Naruto’s mouth, a curious spark to his crimson eyes.

“Don’t even ask how good a kisser he was…” Naruto warned.

“What?” Kyuubi asked looking back up to Naruto’s eyes. “I wasn’t going to. Does that mean he was?”

“No!!” Naruto shouted angrily, “That’s what you were thinking, I knew it. See? That just proved it!”

“Ah… my prince Naruto, you know me too well,” Kyuubi said grinning at the blonde human with half lidded eyes, “What was his name?”

“Sasuke Uchiha, not that it means anything, or even matters.” Naruto growled crossing his arms. Footsteps fell outside the door, and Kyuubi quickly turned back into a little red fox before the door opened, and Naruto leapt into bed tearing the covers up over him in the pretense of sleep. He didn’t want anyone coming in and making his talk about it.

“Naruko?” Tsunade’s soft voice broke through the silence. From the sounds of their feet Hinata and Ino accompanied his aunt. “Are you all right Naruko?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Naruto growled, tingeing his voice with the femininity that was Naruko to set the female’s fears at ease. Of course they’re worried about their princess they need him to pose as her for a few more years after all.

“I know how difficult this is for you, Naruto,” Tsunade whispered gently, her hand coming up to squeeze his shoulder gently in a mother’s fashion. She used his actual name too, he breathed, at the least he did hope that aunt Tsunade and uncle Jiraiya had truly not forgotten that this was really the birthday of a 14 year old boy. “If you need to talk about it, go ahead.”

No that was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d just told Kyuubi and that was irritating enough, he didn’t want to go through it again, especially not in detail with them.

“No, I’m fine.” Naruto replied putting as much tire and fatigue into his voice, he hadn’t opened his eyes yet so they probably would leave him alone if they thought he was tired enough. “Just go away, it’s okay. I’m fine.”

Tsunade looked up at Ino and Hinata for guidance, Hinata looked a little troubled, and Ino just shrugged. If their prince really didn’t want to talk they shouldn’t make him. His birthdays were always really stressful for him, today especially so, he didn’t need them adding to it.

Silently they agreed, “Well if you need to later, or whenever, we’re here for you,” Tsunade assured him giving one last squeeze to his shoulder before the three of them withdrew. It was probably best to give him some time alone, and they left the offer open. Naruto sighed loudly when the door finally shut, forcing himself to drift into an uneasy sleep.

This was great… he’d never be with Sakura… his first kiss was with a guy… yeah, so far life was sucking a lot… but on the bright side, he endured his 14th birthday party and managed not to be proposed to, so at least he wasn’t engaged yet…

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