Deception, Love, and Assassination

A/N: Yay, my longest chapter of this story and I got it out in under a week. I’m sorry to those who have been upset by the lags between updates, but I honestly update as often as I can. I don’t hold my chapters hostage waiting for more reviews or anything like that. Just, sometimes real life gets in the way and the holidays were pretty frantic.





Special note: This chapter was getting much longer than my others and I want to keep them all roughly the same size so I split it in two. Chapter 5 will be finished and posted Sunday at the latest and sooner if I can.





Spoiler Alert: Thank you all for reading this story, but for those who are getting upset by the angst, just know that I love happy endings and will endeavor to give that to you.





Thanks for all the reviews!





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Sasuke caught his lover before the blond could hit the floor. Without thought, he maneuvered the unresponsive man to the nearby chair. He briefly contemplated moving Naruto to his bed, but didn't think he would be allowed. Once he realized what he had done and how it might look, he stepped away from the prince and faced the blond Emperor watching him speculatively.





"You shouldn't have done that." Minato crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at the dark haired young man. "You were obviously not taught to act before you came here."





Sasuke stiffened as Minato continued brusquely. "I don't know what Fugaku was thinking. Didn't he have anyone else to send?"





"My father thought that your son would like me. The prince hadn't shown interest in the women given to him. My father thought that his highness would appreciate the gift." Sasuke's voice made 'gift' sound as though it was a particularly vile curse.





The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, I know the cover story he gave us to get you into the palace. I meant, didn't he have a better assassin?"





The young Uchiha's back was ramrod straight and he met the cool blue eyes unflinchingly. "I acted alone. I was given in good will by my family; I just could not stomach this life. I was trained to fight and protect my clan. I wasn't raised to be a toy in some prince's bed."





Silence descended as the two men gauged each other. Minato weighing Sasuke's words and actions while Sasuke tried to figure out why the Emperor had not just sent him to their interrogator. Why was he bothering with Sasuke now that Naruto was unconscious and could no longer interfere?





"Well, maybe you're not so bad an actor after all." Azure eyes, brilliant like his son's, raked Sasuke from head to foot. He noted the lovebites on neck and shoulders. Sasuke was still only clad in his lounge pants and it was clear what activity had been occurring before his misguided murder attempt.





"So, were you just waiting for a time when you had the most privacy with my son or was the sex just that bad?"





His lips curled in disgust at the older man's question. "If you're asking if I planned to kill him, the answer is No. I realized what life I would be leading if I didn't do something. In my anger at going from being a lord to becoming the prince's whore, I attacked him."





"Have you ever killed a man, Sasuke?"





He was surprised by the question, but saw no harm in answering it honestly. "Yes."





"Tell me about it."





"My men and I were escorting my mother. She was visiting a friend in another village and we were attacked on the road. We killed them." Sasuke shrugged indicating how little he was bothered by the deaths of bandits who were stupid enough to attack trained Uchiha soldiers. He didn't think it necessary to mention how he had vomited afterward.





"You want me to believe that you are not an assassin sent by Fugaku to murder my heir? That in a fit of homicidal rage at your situation you tried to kill Naruto."





"Yes." Sasuke didn't hesitate, his voice clear and sure.





"Do you know how I'm aware that you're lying?"





"I'm not lying."





"You're in love with my son."





Sasuke nearly staggered from the accusation. "I'm not."





"Naruto was asleep when you went into your so called rage, was he not?"





"Yes, but he woke up before I could kill him."





"You caught him."





"What?" Sasuke's mind was scrambling trying to keep up with the man who kept jumping from one topic to another.





Minato gestured to the cup that had held the tea Naruto had been ordered to drink. "When the drug hit him, I was going to catch him, but you got there first."





"So?"





"You don't want him hurt."





He felt like he was drowning. 'Why did these damn blonds have to make things so complicated?'





"I wasn't thinking rationally when I tried to kill him. Of course I don't want him hurt."





"You're supposed to be a trained fighter but you couldn't kill a sleeping man? Are you that incompetent?"





Sasuke's pride would not allow him to answer.





"The only reason you would try to murder someone you love" - "I don't love him!" – “is if you were ordered to by someone you consider a higher authority. Your father."





"I told you I acted alone!"





"This is why I think Fugaku was a fool for sending you." He waited for Sasuke to open his mouth for another protestation before he cut him off. "You're not a murderer."





Sasuke did not know what to do. The Namikaze had a strong reputation for swift retribution. From everything he had been told, he should be dead already. He had been expecting torture at most to try to get him to implicate any accomplices. He had been conditioned for that. He had not expected the fun loving, usually peaceful royal family to be so damn perceptive!





"By morning your death will be announced and my generals will prepare to destroy your clan. I have met your people on the field again and again to defend my lands. Now, I have to protect my family from dishonorable assaults as well. I will not allow this to continue.”





Sasuke could not believe that everything had gone so wrong. He had done what he was ordered to do. He had been told that if he failed to assassinate Naruto – which his feelings for the blond had guaranteed would happen – then he was to protect his clan by assuming full responsibility. He thought he had been convincing when questioned by Minato. He had specifically not called Naruto by his name for fear that his emotions would be perceivable. He had made sure not to look at his lover once the entire time he was questioned by the older man.





So why was it that nothing he had done had saved his family? The might of the Namikaze and their allies will be brought down on the Uchiha clan and they will be slaughtered. Because he could not do what was necessary. Because of his father’s ambition.





He stood before the man who so easily discussed the destruction of Sasuke’s entire family and he knew what he had to do now. To save his people, the Emperor would have to die.





They were alone, but for how long?





Sasuke was unarmed, but that did not mean he was not dangerous.





After giving his verdict, Minato was about to call the guards to escort Sasuke to his cell and prepare for his execution. The infamously swift justice of the Emperor would again be shown to the people. However, in a burst of speed that surprised him, Sasuke had attacked.





Grabbing the teacup by the delicate handle and breaking it on the edge of the table in one move, Sasuke was nearly at the older man’s throat with the sharp edge of the destroyed china when he was abruptly restrained just out of range of his target. Gloved fingers gripped his hair harshly pulling back his head to expose his own throat where something sharp and metallic was pressing into his skin in warning.





Out of the corner of his eye, Sasuke could only make out the dark clothing of the person who held him. ‘Shadow Guard. I should have known.’ He and Minato had never been alone.





His makeshift weapon fell from his limp fingers. He had failed his father again. Sasuke awaited Minato's order for the strike that would end his life.





“Perhaps you have potential after all.”





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“How much longer until he’s awake?”





“I don’t know, Temari. It should be sometime soon. Tsunade told me how much sedative she put into his drink.”





“He’s going to be so upset.”





“Shh, Hinata. He’s waking up.”





Golden lids blinked open while his eyes adjusted to the afternoon light streaming in through the windows. Naruto took in the girls standing by his bed waiting for him to wake up.





The girls that lived in his harem: Temari, Sakura, and Hinata. They all carried expressions of sadness and sympathy. Each of the girls had been gifted to him by their families or traders intent on gaining royal favor. Every one of them had become his friend while they lived and continued their studies under his protection. He could take them to his bed if he chose – which he never had – and still be able to marry them off to other men if the opportunity presented itself.





It is the way of the world that people are traded to enhance alliances and a harem education was considered a valuable commodity by many. Yes, they were taught to give pleasure, but that only takes up so many hours of the day. Languages, art, history, medicine; whatever their interest, Naruto was more than willing to encourage their education. He was a generous young man.





Taking in the red rimmed eyes of his girls, Naruto felt a sinking sensation in his chest. “How long have I been asleep?”





They looked at each other, none of them wanted to answer his question. It was Temari, the eldest, who finally spoke. “Two days.”





Dread crossed his face as he thought of the time he’d been unconscious. “Sasuke?”





Temari nibbled her lower lip and looked away. Hinata had fresh tears in her eyes as she held his hand between her delicate palms. It was Sakura’s turn to speak. “Yesterday morning we were told what happened. Everyone was talking about how he had attacked you, but we didn’t believe it. Not until we were told that he had been executed on your father’s order.”





Naruto shook his head frantically. “No, I have to save him. I told him I wouldn’t let him die.”





“Your highness, I’m so sorry.” Hinata’s tears began to drip onto his hand that was now clutching hers, his knuckles white from the tension.





“No!” he shouted as he pulled away from her, his eyes begging the girls to deny what he was being told.





They couldn’t do what he wanted and were saddened by their inability to comfort the young prince.





Sasuke had not been with them long; only a few months. But in that time, they had seen him bring out a part of Naruto they had never witnessed. The blond had always been wonderfully caring and fiercely protective. He had always behaved like a particularly loving brother to them. However, with Sasuke, they saw Naruto become truly passionate. First in his fights with the dark haired young man because nobody could rile up the prince like Sasuke could. With a smirk at just the right time from the young Uchiha, Naruto would be shouting his head off to the amusement of them all.





Later, the girls had watched as something else blossomed between the young men and had been so happy for their beloved friend. Naruto had gone from yelling and threatening Sasuke to pursuing him, but for reasons they didn’t know at the time – and now understood – Sasuke had never allowed Naruto to get him alone. They were relieved when just a few days ago, Sasuke finally gave in.





And now they grieved for Naruto’s broken heart.







TBC



A/N: Please don't kill me. I promise the next update is coming soon.