Forced Hand

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Forced Hand
By 11


Chapter 04


The morning was in short, capable of giving the people involved both seizures and internal hemorrhaging. Since that was the brief explanatory, Naruto seriously doubted that anyone would ever want to know the longer and more detail filled description of his morning. Sadly, he was the one to live through it.

The incident when something like this.

“Princess Naruko?”

Sleepy blue eyes peeled themselves open. “Good morning, Hinata… Ino…” Naruto greeted the two girls at his bedside, though because of sleep or the pillow, maybe both, his speech was slightly impaired.

“You need to dress, we’re scheduled to leave very soon, in fact as soon as your ready we should head out,” Hinata explained.

“The journey’s pretty long, and since the country’s all the way up north, it’ll take a while and we need to minimize the time spent here so we can maximize the time traveling.” Ino agreed, as Naruto sat up rubbing the sand from his eyes and giving her an odd look. “As a result we get there sooner; at least that’s the illusion it creates.”

Naruto nodded, glancing over at Kyuubi the fox probably woke up when the girl’s came in, they helped ‘her’ pickout a gown for the day, a plain blue one with golden trim line, and they headed downstairs as a group. That in and of itself wasn’t so bad, they explained that they’d be eating their breakfast on the way, they already had some waiting for her in the main compartment of their group caravan.

“Good morning, your majesty, we all hope you slept well, as we have a long day ahead of us.”

“Lee?” Naruko asked somewhat surprised to see several of the knights she knew as apart of the caravan. “Yes, I did sleep well. So all of you are coming with us?”

Glancing around she noted that Kiba, Shikamaru, and Shino along with Rock Lee were positioned around the compartment groupings. “Yes, we were all assigned, your aunt thought it would be best to have as many friends with you as possible considering the destination.”

Naruko only nodded, somewhat puzzled now. What could possibly be their destination? Somewhere in the far north, from what Ino had let her know in the brief conversation when she was getting up. That was good, she’d be able to see a new country, perhaps several outside of Konoha. But somewhere where she’d need as many friends as she had? It seemed puzzling, her aunt and uncle wouldn’t send her to an enemy kingdom or probably even near one. So then what? She was left to ponder this, though not for long since the arrival of… a certain object of distaste.

“Prince Sasuke, how good of you to join us,” Lee greeted, bowing to the prince as he had done when greeting Naruko. Naruto turned and glared, he hadn’t even heard the guy sneak up on them.

“Am I to understand that you are coming with us as well?” Naruko asked, not in any particular tone, just curious. Sasuke looked back at her, dark eyes searching blue. Naruto’s jaw set, what was wrong today? What was Sasuke looking for? Whatever it was, he didn’t find it, and that seemed to please him.

“Of course I am, I’d have thought you expected it,” he said, the smirk Naruto had come to known sliding easily into place. Naruto’s glare hardened. He was mystified. Why would Sasuke be coming along? Or was he just tagging along to be dropped off home.

“I see, you needed a ride then,” Naruko said, now understanding the situation perfectly. Kyuubi had disappeared to somewhere; he wasn’t by Naruto’s legs now. Where could he have gone? He better be back before the entourage leaves, or he’ll be left behind, and Naruto would not be happy with the red fur ball.

“But won’t it be you who’s riding?” he asked seemingly amused. Naruto flushed slightly, somehow in the way he said it bugged him, he was saying it like it had another meaning. But he’d be going home, and they weren’t married or something even remotely close. How dare he be so bold. Course he could also simply be referring to the fact that no one was in fact ‘walking’ on this excursion. But in the way he used the words Naruto doubted that was the case.

“How dare you be so bold.” He whispered angrily. If Sasuke backed off and said he was taking about the caravan then he’d find a way to cover for it, but he didn’t, and that was what was most infuriating.

“Yes, I’d prefer you to be writhing underneath me instead,” he said, as if agreeing. Naruto felt his cheeks burn hotter, the audacity of this jerk off! “Doesn’t that paint a far prettier picture?” he asked moving in closer to that there were barely two centimeters between their bodies.

He was playing with him, and Naruto recognized that. But he could play this game too.

“Hardly. I’d much prefer to see you on the bottom,” Naruto said, easily fitting on Naruko’s face of a taunt, the kind she’d use on the other girls whenever they’d pick on Sakura for her social class. It hurt somewhere, she wouldn’t be seeing Sakura for a while, but she would be returning, so it was fine.

“How could I be on the bottom?” Sasuke asked, his hand coming to rest on the side of Naruko’s face. Naruto was so proud that he didn’t flinch, he just kept glaring into the dark eyes above his. Darnit, they weren’t that far apart in age were they? Why was Sasuke taller? Not that he hadn’t noticed it before, but still, it would have been better if they’d have been an even height for this. “Unless there’s something you want to tell me about yourself, that might make such an arrangement possible…”

“There is nothing about myself I would love to tell you more,” Naruko said, “than that I loathe you.” She said turning and heading for her carriage compartment.

“Don’t be like that, you are now engaged into my family,” he called after her. Naruto paused and turned back, but Sasuke was already heading away, and he was still smirking. According to him, Naruto supposed, Sasuke thought he’d won that battle. Sadly, with the kind of confusion Naruto felt over those words, he had the horrible feeling the other boy did somehow win.

But he wasn’t engaged, he’d know about it if he was, wouldn’t he? “Interesting foreplay, never saw that side of you before,” Kiba chuckled from a ways away. Great, because of Sasuke people saw. Just peachy. Naruto glared at him, and he backed up.

“Hey, not my fault you’re engaged now,” he said before turning and walking away. So that’s what Sasuke was getting at… Naruko was somehow engaged. Kyuubi.

Naruto headed into the carriage, but the fox wasn’t there. His arms were shaking now with quiet rage, he forced himself to remember to breath, taking in long breaths. He was engaged… apparently to Sasuke…

“Kyuubi…” Naruto growled in his mind, out loud it was Naruko’s soft voice. “Come out Kyuubi. I need to talk to you. Please?”

The fox couldn’t hear Naruto’s voice but he knew he was calling for him anyway. It wasn’t urgent like a stressful climate, it was bordering but not really. This was a quiet call beckoning him to come near. The fox sniffed around the grass he lay in, and continued to watch the colorful butterfly flitting around among the taller grasses attempting to take a meal from the few flowers in it’s vicinity.

What do you think little butterfly? Should I go talk to him? Maybe he doesn’t know yet. Kyuubi thought, half to himself and half to butterfly. No, he already knew Naruto knew, not a lot but a bit. Now he wanted to confirm it, and Kyuubi had lied. No, not really lied, he just left out the whole story. With an inner sigh the fox stood and dashed off through the forest towards the Konoha entourage still waiting for a few more minutes before leaving. They left soon after Kyuubi hopped into the main compartment with Naruto. Ino and Hinata were around so whatever it was the blonde wanted to talk about would have to be delayed… for a while.

“Wish I had hair as nice as yours,” Ino sighed, brushing her fingers through the silky strands. It really wasn’t fair that a guy her age had better hair than she did. A slight growl from Naruto told her that her comment wasn’t appreciated. On the boy’s other side, Hinata smoothed down the last strands, and smiled sitting back.

“I’m sure that wasn’t how Miss Ino meant it, Princess Naruko,” Hinata said.

“Didn’t mean to be offensive.” Ino agreed.

“What is the purpose of this journey again?” Naruto asked, his eyes locking on Kyuubi turning to look at the red fox from the corner of his eyes.

“Well it’s because of your engagement. Remember?” Ino offered.

“So it’s not just a long trip outside of Konoha?” Naruto asked, his eyes still watching the fox, who was starting to wonder if he should have just stayed in Konoha… but then his blood and his heart wouldn’t let him, would they?

“That’s one way of thinking of it, I suppose,” Hinata said quietly.

“Thank you,” Naruto said when Ino saw fit to let Naruto’s hair fall back against him no longer to be bothered with. “May I have a moment alone?”

The girls nodded and stepped out onto the platform, momentarily walking beside the caravan before falling back into their own carriage compartment behind Naruko’s. “Kyuubi,” Naruto started. But the fox wasn’t changing into his human form. Blue eyes narrowed, “You won’t talk to me then?”

With a shifting of energy a boy identical to Naruto appeared before him. “When were you planning to tell me the whole story?”

Kyuubi shuddered at the cold tone the boy used, “As soon as I could. You were so stressed yesterday, I thought it best to wait, it can’t be changed in any case. Your uncle was incredibly stupid and made it concrete already without your consultation early yesterday morning.”

“Why don’t you tell me exactly what arrangement he made.” It was an order and Kyuubi understood it perfectly. Naruto wasn’t looking at him anymore, looking straight ahead. The fox felt the cold anger boiling beneath the surface, and his throat was stuck briefly. Silence for too long would result in something painful for both of them, especially with his keeper in this kind of condition.

Yes, human hormones were really rough on this one kid, or it was the princess complex, or both. Or were all humans this powerfully provoked emotionally at any given time?

“In short, your uncle was stupid, he signed a contract that states that the princess of Konoha, you, must be wed to the heir of Somuhorm.” Kyuubi said. “It is irreversible. This is the journey to Somuhorm where you will most likely be wed.” Unless we can find some way of avoiding it, like you revealing your true gender, but that’d cause a ton more problems, not that your husband wouldn’t find out anyway once it’s your wedding night.

“Naruto?” Kyuubi prodded, noting that the boy hadn’t moved. Had he even heard him? Slowly Naruto turned his head to face the fox, and exploded. Kyuubi had no other way of knowing that happened to him, it was an explosion in the boy’s mind that went over into the fox’s as well. However while Kyuubi merely fell to the floor momentarily gripped with the worst headache of his life, the human had effectively knocked himself out, AKA, the state: fainted.

Well I think he took the news rather well… Kyuubi joked in his thoughts, a smile of dry mirth coming to his face, he didn’t pick himself up for a few minutes, the floor was cushioned for the travel and he was so tired for some reason, probably Naruto’s self still interfering somehow.

And that was the horrible morning, when Naruto’s head underwent internal combustion, when he woke up again, he understood what Sasuke had been saying before, and what Kiba had been saying. The things implied by what that jerky Sasuke said, and he wished desperately he had known beforehand so he wouldn’t have said such things, it just wasn’t right!

“How long was I out?” Naruto asked as he sat up, rubbing at his temples; the remnants of what could have been a hangover if he had never drunken a glass of liquor in his life, pounding in through his skull. “Or were you out too?”

“No. A few hours maybe, I know we’ve already crossed the borner into the Kingdom of Falcon.” Kyuubi informed the human.

“Falcon?” Naruto repeated in question.

“Yes.” Kyuubi confirmed.

Naruto leaned back against the pillows, Kyuubi must have moved him, or maybe he fell in a remarkably comfortable place on accident. “So, I’m, engaged, to that jerky Uchiha…?” Naruto asked, stressing the word ‘engaged’ as if he were repeating some forbidden curse, and the name spoken with unhidden anger, but there was no vehement hate the fox noted.

“Yes,” most likely. Kyuubi added in his mind. But they had only said the Somuhorm heir…

“And we are currently on our way to Somuhorm so I can be wed?” Naruto ground out, as if the question itself took great effort to state. Kyuubi didn’t answer this time, Naruto didn’t care if he answered, he already knew the answer, and it only annoyed him.

“Kyuubi, I’m going to kill you,” Naruto said quietly.

“It was decided by Jiraiya,” the fox defended himself, red eyes glaring at his keeper in annoyance, such easily frustrated and angry emotions, and the boy had only just woken up. “You’re uncle. Don’t threaten to kill me for being unable to do anything. You would not have been able to do better, except maybe throw a fit, which wouldn’t have done you any good anyway.”

Naruto didn’t answer and just kept glaring straight ahead of him at the ceiling of the moving compartment, as if the roof had done him some great injustice simply by coming into existence. Slowly he smiled, “Maybe I should run away,” he mused. The fox rolled his eyes.

“Oh, right, and that worked so well last time,” Kyuubi muttered recalling easily the boy’s first few escape attempts to rid himself of this trying existence. None had worked very well, he had always been dragged back one way or another, and as he got older it became increasingly more difficult to put such a lunatic plan into action.

A disruption in the carriage’s travel alerted both occupants that not all was well outside of the compartment. Kyuubi shifted back into the red fox and went with Naruto to peek past the entryway to the outside. The guards were being positioned around the caravan, had someone heard something? A light bird whistle sounded somewhere but it didn’t sound natural, there were no bird sounds earlier, they had gone because of a human presence, so then the call was…

From the foliage emerged with a torrent of sound, screams and war cries, as they descended like a wave sweeping across the caravan, their weapons swinging high over their heads. An arrow flew, and Kyuubi ducked back inside before it hit the side of the carriage, Naruto withdrew a second later after the weapon had landed to the side of the carrier. Outside the whole caravan was starting to fall apart, scattering, perhaps they’d be able to meet up later at the next town but for now the party was too large a target and if they spread it’d be more difficult.

Suddenly the carrier lurched into action, Naruko almost fell back, but caught himself going back to the window, the war scene was being left behind, glancing at the driver though, it was one of the bandits. Behind them in the attached carrier for Ino and Hinata he could hear their startled cries, they too looked out the window and saw the driver. Looking at Naruto, Ino’s face clearly spoke for her, ‘what are we going to do’?

“Jump, and roll when you hit the ground,” Naruko instructed them. Hinata’s eyes snapped toward her, her eyes fearful, was their mistress serious. The pounding of horse hooves came from behind them, but it was only another bandit, carrying an axe no less. The girl’s eyes widened, and Ino backed inside, emerging as she leapt through a momentary opening in the trees, rolling her body after she contacted the ground to minimize the damages of the impact. Standing she started off running back into the woods towards where the soldiers had been able to flee.

Naruto knew Ino well enough, no matter what happened she could survive, but it was Hinata he was most worried about. Her breathing had quickened and she was paler, she shook her head at Naruko and glancing back at the rider as he drew closer, she withdrew into the carrier.

“Kyuubi, stay with me,” Naruto instructed as he moved out of the carriage and started the slow climb back to Hinata and Ino’s attached carrier. Entering the open door he found Hinata sitting, she looked up at him fearful he had been the rider, she shook her head at him. She couldn’t do this.

“You have to jump Hinata, you’ll be fine, if you stay here you will die,” Naruto told her, taking her arm and dragging her to a stand. She only kept shaking her head.

“No… I’ll die anyway… I can’t… not here…” Hinata said in a shaky voice still shaking her head, being this close and holding her arm Naruto could feel her shivering, she truly was so afraid, but he couldn’t help her with that. He had to make sure she got out so she could stay alive.

“Roll when you hit the ground, then run and follow Ino,” Naruto instructed strongly into her ear, before propelling her out the door through the foliage safely to the crook of flat land just beyond. Hinata stood up after she stopped rolling and stood for a moment watching the carriage disappear before taking off after Ino. “Be safe.” He whispered after them. On the other side, the heavy axe of the bandit on horseback came crashing through the wall, once, twice, in a chopping motion until the whole side of the carrier came away.

Entering the carrier, he found the sole occupant of the carriage and his lips curled in a gnarled smile. Naruto glanced out the other side of the carrier, waiting for an opening. “There is no escape, missy,” the bandit told him, but his words were lost on Naruto who jumped only a second before the completion of the sentence. Rolling on the ground before taking off and running, Kyuubi close at his heels.

“They’ve got five guys trailing us,” Kyuubi’s voice growled in the back of Naruto’s mind, and glancing back briefly, Naruto gritted his teeth, they really did have five guys tailing him, how’d that happen? He hoped that Ino and Hinata hadn’t had guys following them, it would have been far worse for them then, and they didn’t have a secret weapon either.

Clearing a section of trees, Naruto planted his feet firmly to stop from continuing to run. The land fell away beneath them, and the foliage stopped, below them in continued, but Naruto had no intention of running off a cliff. The five man drew up behind him, circling on the edge. “Resistance is futile!” one told him.

“Kyuubi,” Naruto called to the fox. The red furred beast contacted his nose to the boy’s shin, and the red turned phosphorescent as his body melded into the boy, sliding up spreading from his leg to the rest of his body, a red energy emanating from him. Golden hair whipping upwards, blue eyes bleeding to red the pupils slit as it glared out at the men.

The bandits took a few steps back, “What the hell is she doing!?” one cried to the other. The voice betrayed the fear they all felt, and there was no answer. The being, neither Kyuubi nor Naruto, fell back onto it’s hind legs, like a beast, the red energy lashing out wildly.

Dashing forward, a single clawed hand mauled one of the men’s faces. The man cried out and stumbled away still screaming in agony, the energy still at his face, melting it from the bone.

The others watched in fear, but one had taken out a gun and it was pointed at the being’s head. A slow smirk spread over the thing’s face, lips curling back from pointed jagged teeth. To this being the whole situation was laughable. The man’s hand shook, but still managed to hold the gun steady enough when he shot.

The bullet penetrated skin, but the energy had deflected the blow to the shoulder. The creature hissed, and standing partway up, a hand raised, a sphere of swirling energy in it’s palm, a perfect sphere and yet with so much movement and energy… nothing contained that power but the creature’s will.

The men were screaming even before the blast was launched at the four of them, but nonetheless the attack was released tunneling them back through the forest, the aftershock knocking the being backward toward the edge of the cliff. The red eyed boy slipped from Naruto’s as they both fell over the edge, plummeting easily to the ground below, Kyuubi didn’t think he would be able to break their fall. Reaching back he took Naruto against him, so that as they fell, the fox would be the first to contact rather than the human.

When they reached the ground, Kyuubi waited briefly while his back started to mend itself. Before slipping the blonde off of him and reverting back into a fox, red eyes closed briefly, he felt exhilarated from the fusion, finally having a whole heart and blood supply, what took the most energy was falling back out of the fusion. It couldn’t last too long or he and Naruto would be fused together like that forever, and he doubted either of them would enjoy that for long. He managed to hold onto consciousness a little longer than the human, but Naruto’s energy too was spent, not from the fight, but from breaking their joining.

The state of unconsciousness claimed him, and his whole world went dark.

It seemed like only a few seconds that his eyes closed, yet when he opened them again he knew he must have been out for a long while. It was still daylight, or maybe it was a day later, his body ached in some places, but that was expected after running and the incident with those five bandits.

“So you’re awake,” a voice stated simply. Looking over a young girl with dark eyes watched him, her eyes were startling, they were just like Hinata’s. How odd, Naruto wondered. “That’s good. So, sir, would you like to explain what happened to you? The circumstances we found you in were curious, and I would like to know why that is.”

Naruto’s throat went dry. Oh yeah… he could feel it now, his dress was gone, not that it wasn’t probably already shredded from before, but this girl knew now that he was a guy… that could be trouble…

“Um… did you also find my fox anywhere nearby?” Naruto asked, attempting to sit up, a sharp pain went down his back in protest, but he could sit up. Glancing around he spotted the furred animal sitting on a pillow nearby.

“You mean that?” The girl asked calmly glanced over at the Kyuubi, “he wouldn’t let us take you at first, but then he gave up. We assumed you are his owner.”

Naruto only nodded to the girl, glancing at him, the fox didn’t look to be making a fuss of what had happened, so maybe he thought it was alright here, or he just knew that there was no way of getting out of it. Naruto figured as much himself as well. There probably was no way if she already knew. Looking over at the girl she waited patiently for him to answer her question… she didn’t seem all that bad actually, a little serious looking maybe, but not bad. She was actually kind of pretty. He felt like he could trust her, and Falcon was an ally of Konoha.

“I assume you know what happens to most young male rulers of countries,” Naruto started, she nodded, “I am Princess Naruko of Konoha. My actual name is Naruto and yes, I am a guy. Because of the fact that Konoha would have been dragged into wars early, I was supposed to be a girl until such an age that I can rule on my own and not risk having other nations attempt to take advantage of Konoha.”

“I see, that would explain the dress,” she said, “But then why are you in Falcon? You were found at the foot of a cliff, what about that?”

“I was traveling in an entourage, however we were attacked by bandits in the woods,” Naruto explained, Kyuubi’s ears bad perked up, he wasn’t going to tell the girl about them, that was something no one could know. Absolutely no one.

“I suppose somewhere in the fight I got down that cliff side, and just collapsed, after splitting up to avoid a bigger target they followed a few different people, I was one of the unlucky ones.” Naruto said. The girl nodded.

“I’m sorry you had to suffer such a thing while in Falcon’s borders, but we are trying our best to get the bandit problem under control. I think we’re very close to capturing that group, they’ve become particularly notorious lately it seems,” the girl told him.

“I have a favor to ask. About me being a guy…” he started. She looked at him, “does anyone else here know?”

“No. Only me,” she informed him.

“Well, because of the difficulties it would cause… is there any way that I could ask you not to tell anyone about me?” he asked.

“I understand,” she nodded, “your secret is safe with me.”

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you.” He grinned at her happily. The girl looked somewhat surprised at the look, but looked back at the floor. Oh well, she was probably raised in one of those proper type families anyway. Glancing around the room it looked nice enough to be a part of a wealthy family that would demand not to be seen smiling. A silly rule really.

She actually had a nice face, soft features, she was pale like Sasuke, a tone darker though, it looked healthy, her clear eyes were unreadable beneath perfect brows. Long dark brown hair falling down her back, a simple blue robe falling loosely over her body, a lot like Hinata, she didn’t seem to have a lot of chest, but that was fine, neither did Sakura really, and she was still pretty. Clear eyes locked on blue, and Naruto flushed slightly at being discovered looking over the girl’s body. “So, where are we anyway?”

“Excuse me, but there is a caravan from Konoha at the gate, and the Prince of Somuhorm is requesting an audience,” someone from outside the door spoke.

“Somuhorm?” the girl sounded confused, and rightly so, Somuhorm and Falcon were not allied, although they were not hostile towards one another. She stood and opened the door informing the man to bring the group in and that she would meet with them momentarily. “I believe this may be your group. Would you like to come with me?”

Naruto nodded and the girl instructed him to put on the green robe sitting by the futon to wear for now, and once clothed he followed after the girl to the main audience chamber… which looked a little too large to be just a regular lord’s audience chamber. It was like a palace… but…

Naruto looked out over the group Sasuke strode forward at the front, dark eyes looked up at him and he smirked just slightly before the look was gone and he was instead focused on the girl. She had seated herself in the main seat at the front of the room to receive the guests. “Welcome. You travel from Konoha?”

Glancing over the group, Naruto saw Ino standing at the end of the group, Shino, Shikamaru, Kiba and Lee were apart of the guard in separate areas, but he didn’t see Hinata immediately, and that bothered him. “Yes. We were attacked by bandits not too long ago, we lost an important member of our entourage,” Sasuke spoke, glancing up at Naruko meaningfully. “The fair-haired woman you have at your side, if she has not already told you, is the princess of Konoha. She was apart of our group until we were unfortunately separated.”

“Didn’t Hinata make it back?” ‘Naruko’ asked scanning the group again looking for the missing person. The girl glanced up from her seat, surprised, did she recognize that name, or was she merely surprised that Naruto was now speaking in a more feminine tone?

“Yes, she did,” Ino said, stepping to the side, attempting to shake the girl out from behind her. Pale hands clinging stubbornly to the back of the blonde girl’s loose shirt, hiding her face from all those around. Ino gave up after a moment, and only grinned back at Naruko, who breathed a sigh of relief. If Hinata hadn’t made it back… she wasn’t sure what she would have done to try and find her.

Suddenly the girl had risen from her seat and swiftly descended to the floor sweeping past Sasuke and the others till she came up beside Hinata. The younger girl shied away, but the brunette took her arm and pulled her from the blue-eyed girl’s relative protection.

“Hinata?” the girl repeated her name, watching the younger girl. She shook less now, but she still looked fearful, she only nodded.

“Where have you been?” the brunette breathed in a low tone, only Ino and the two guards standing close by could hear the words. What was going on here?

“I’m sorry…” she said, a small smile coming to her face, as she glanced away from the other’s eyes to stare at the floor. Naruko too left the platform, the red fox trailing after her curious as well. Naruko paused when she reached Hinata and the brunette girl’s side. The room actually was very big.

“Do you know Hinata?” Naruko asked.

“She is my sister, and the second born child to Falcon’s royal family, the Hyuuga,” the girl said. The other’s in the room drew back slightly amazed. So then, the eyes were a family trait, not just something that uniquely happened to Hinata and also somehow happened in this girl.

“You were stolen that night, you were only six, why didn’t you try to come home?” she asked Hinata, concern tingeing her calm and collective voice.

“I would have… but…” she paused glancing out of the corner of her eyes up at Naruko then back to the floor. “I’m sorry…”

The girl released Hinata’s arm, and something in the movement made it seem as if she was denying her body’s will to take the girl into an embrace. Naruko felt out of place, she had never known that Hinata was actually royalty… and yet she served so long as both best friend and lady in waiting. “You will stay in Falcon, Princess Hinata,” the girl insisted.

“Prince Neji, we have no objections that you keep your sister here, but if it’s allright we should be taking the rest of our entourage and continue on. We have a long journey.” Sasuke spoke, the group opening into a wider circle as Sasuke too crossed towards where Hinata, the girl, and Naruko stood. “Terribly sorry to have only arrived before we leave.”

“It is all right,” the girl said glancing over at Sasuke and nodding her head to him.

Naruko struggled to place the blocks into place in her mind: step one, the first princess of Falcon had taken care of her. The princess, Naruto found rather attractive. Hinata was her younger sister, and she was going to stay here. Okay, got it.

“Sasuke, how like you to make a slip of the tongue, calling her highness, ‘Prince’ Neji,” the blonde said to Sasuke, reproachfully. The dark-eyed boy only arched an eyebrow, then smirked amused.

“That would be because, it is his highness, the heir, Prince Neji of Falcon,” Sasuke told Naruko matter-of-factly. Naruko glanced over at the brunette, she had previously mistaken for a woman.

“You’re a guy?” Naruko asked turning back to Neji, okay she had just managed to comprehend the fact that she was taken in by royalty and that her hand-maiden Hinata was also royal… but that the hot girl who she had woken up to was a guy…? Wasn’t this too much for a single brain to process?

“Is it so difficult to believe?” ‘he’ asked the twitch of ‘his’ lips signaling he had almost smiled, but hadn’t. Was there a law against feelings here? He wouldn’t hug Hinata, and he wouldn’t smile… hmm…

Naruto shook his head, offering an apology to the youth. So… her name was Neji… and she was a guy… he didn’t know that… he was so sure it had been a girl! Then again, it was possible for guys to look like girls sometimes… wasn’t he just living proof of that? But that was different too, he was trying. Though apparently sometimes he didn’t have to try, it was scary sometimes how easy it was.

“We should head out soon,” Sasuke mentioned.

“But didn’t the bandits relieve us of any of our provisions?” Naruko asked him skeptical that they had gotten away unscathed. If Sasuke’s frown was any indication of the answer, “we should take some time to restock, another day won’t matter so much, we need a rest since the attack and we need to restock. It would be merciless to start out and keep moving now.”

Sasuke’s frown didn’t deepen, but nor did it improve. “You are probably right,” he nodded, “If it isn’t too much trouble, Prince Neji, we would request to stay in your capital until such time as we have a replete of our supplies and have had a day of rest.”

“You are welcome too,” Neji nodded, “Princess Naruko, if you wish you and your entourage may share quarters at Falcon’s palace; it wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“That is very kind of you, Prince Neji, thank you very much,” Naruko nodded with a smile to the clear-eyed youth. Their group looked happy about the news of a break.

Neji excused himself guiding his sister away, leaving the group, and allowing a group of servant to lead them to the quarters they would be allowed and to see to their needs. Naruko didn’t blame Neji for leaving early with Hinata, if he truly hadn’t seen her since she was six, then he must have been only seven or eight, they would have a lot to talk about probably.

The group had filtered out to different rooms to take their rest before a few would no doubt be sent out to the market to buy new supplies. Naruko headed to the room she specified for herself to take a rest, and maybe speak with Kyuubi, she hadn’t had a chance since the attack sadly.

An arm that wound around her waist from behind pulled her back against a lean warm body, dark hair falling against her neck, soft skin brushing against her skin, an equally soft voice whispering against her ear. “You weren’t hurt were you?”

“You really have so little esteem of the Prince of Falcon?” Naruko said, attempting to push Sasuke’s arms away, but he held her tighter, the other arm sliding the sleeves of her robe up her arm, his hand stroking along the skin. The contact making her shiver, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. Was he searching for a bruise perhaps? Or was he just touching her on purpose simply to touch?

“I was talking about those bandits that trailed you. Ino said they went after you, the next I saw of you was when I saw you at Neji’s side,” he spoke the last part with slight bitterness. It was barely there but Naruko picked up on it, curious, Somuhorm and Falcon had never been allies, but the way he said it made it sound like Neji had somehow been very rude to him.

“No. I wasn’t hurt,” Naruto said, sighing slightly, the tired boy’s voice slipping out somehow, but Sasuke didn’t seem to notice. Maybe he’d just heard it too many times when Naruko was tired to be suspicious of it.

“You’re sure?” he asked, the one hand had moved from the blonde’s arm and lightly brushed at the top of his chest. Naruto started and attempted to pull away, Sasuke’s arm held him close though, but his hand withdrew, brushing down his arm, grasping the other boy’s hand briefly before coming up to his shoulder, his lips pressing lightly against his neck. The hard length of Sasuke’s body against his whole backside was starting to make Naruto conscious of his single layer of clothing, the green robe Neji had given him, and the fact that Sasuke was so close, and so warm, his body heat seeping into him.

“I’m positive, now stop it,” he pulled away, more forcefully this time, and Sasuke let him go, again his eyes seemed to hold a sort of sadness to them. It was odd to be so close now to the person who he would probably have to marry once they reached Somuhorm. So why did it hurt to look at him with those eyes. But no sooner did Naruto acknowledge that much then the look disappeared, and Sasuke was as emotionless as the second time Naruto had seen him in Konoha.

“It’s good that you aren’t hurt then.” Sasuke nodded before he turned and started off down the hall. Naruto took a breath as he watched him go, willing his body to let it out and take a second. Just breathe, slowly the nerves leaping through his skin calmed and he turned to enter the room he had taken. Kyuubi was already there, sprawled over the bed in human form; Naruto wasn’t going to ask why or how he got there.

“So how’d it go?” Kyuubi asked, a teasing tone to his voice but Naruto didn’t want to hear it. If he was going to run away now would be the ideal time.

“I have to get away from here.” He muttered searching through the closet till he found a pair of leggings and a green tunic to change out for the thin covering the green robe had provided.

“Right. Uh… why?” Kyuubi asked, looking up at his keeper as the boy pulled on the new clothes and cast aside the thin robe covering.

“This will just keep getting worse, and worse.” Naruto explained, mostly ignoring Kyuubi’s question. The fox sighed frustrated. “Could you pretend to be me for a while, then meet up with me in the woods later?”

“Sure, but is it safe going without me?” Kyuubi asked his keeper, as he changed his eyes to blue and picked up the green cover robe.

“Hey, I know some things about fighting now,” not a lot, Naruto added in his head, but enough. “I should be okay for a time. Just come find me quick.”

Kyuubi nodded, and Naruto peeked out of the room heading down the hall to leave the estate, fleeing off into the forest. Kyuubi waited until his mind could no longer sense Naruto’s and his heart rate started to slowly decline. Then he knew the boy had left the main area. It was then he left the room.

Somewhere else in the castle meanwhile, Neji sat with his sister, conversing in light tones. “You were kidnapped and then went missing for ten years, after so long an absence of course most of us gave up hope of finding you.” Neji explained over the tea he held, watching the girl her eyes downcast to the tatami mats on the floor.

“I’m truly sorry brother,” Hinata told him.

“Why did you stay away so long?” Neji asked, his voice tinged with that same worry from before. “That you know me, that enough tells me you never forgot who you were.”

“I met Naruko…” Hinata explained, “They were so kind to me… she was such a sweet girl… I became her hand-maiden, Ino, Naruko and I grew so close… she’s very dear to me, Naruko.”

“You know Naruko is a boy though don’t you,” Neji said noting the glazed look in his sister’s clear eyes. Her eyes snapped forward alert.

“When I found Naruto in the woods, his clothes were mostly shredded, when I asked for an explanation he told me everything,” Neji told her. She sat back and nodded, that did make sense.

“He made me promise not to tell anyone. I don’t plan to,” Neji continued briefly. “So you’re just friend then?”

“No… and yes.” She answered, Neji waited silently for her to continue. “I really… love… Naruto… I’m sorry but I can’t stay here. I have to go with him…”

Neji’s eyes narrowed slightly. Hinata didn’t look up. But then what had he expected from her, it would have had to have been something like that to make her stay away from home, and as a princess ‘working’ for someone else. Neji sighed inwardly, it was sad. He hadnt’ expected this, or any of it for that matter.

Meanwhile, the fox had truly planned to just walk around for another five or so minute before turning fox and fleeing after the boy, he had planned it.

But after walking down the hall and finding Sasuke… it got a little difficult to worry about the boy to much when he was going to be a little preoccupied having some fun. Hey, it might be the last time he saw the youth if Naruto got away with this, so why not? It must have been very difficult for anyone to keep plans in mind when they concerned Sasuke, whenever anything concerned the boy people tended to get carried away, didn’t they? Kyuubi did wonder if it was the same for all the boy’s admirers.

“You’re not in hiding,” Sasuke noted when Naruko paused in front of him.

“Why would I be hiding from you?” She asked tilting her head to one side, eyeing him casually.

“Not sure, you seemed to eager to get away last time I saw you,” he smirked slightly.

“Are you sure it’s not you who are running?” She questioned.

“Why would I have any reason to run?” he asked, “After all, I am on top in this circumstance.” He said leaning over her, backing the girl against the wall, not too difficult in such thin corridors.

“Are you sure? What qualifies the bottom and top is control,” the girl said smiling slightly, leaning her body up towards his, her leg jutting forward to rub at the inside of his right thigh. His eyes glanced down surprised at the audacious move. “And right now, I’d say I have the most control.”

If this was the only and last chance he’d ever see the boy then why not? It didn’t seem like a bad idea at the time, when the fox leaned his face upward, one hand stroking along one pale cheek. Soft lips brushing against the pale boy’s own mouth, sealing momentarily, a single taste of the boy’s essence. It must have been a bad idea though, because he was quickly thrown back against the wall, and this time it wasn’t in some kind of teasing play.

A pale hand knotted in the golden hair holding his head back against the wall, the fox yelped slightly at the rough movement. “You’re not Naruko.” He hissed dark eyes flickering with red somewhere deep inside of them.

The fox watched his face mesmerized, how had the boy known? He had thought this body was a total copy of Naruto’s had he missed something? “How?” Kyuubi mused aloud.

“Where’s Naruko?” Sasuke asked, his voice a deadly calm, hate etched on his features. He must think that he had kidnapped Naruto and put him somewhere. He’s worried, that’d be so sweet if he wasn’t trying to drill my head against the wall! Kyuubi thought irritated. “Where is Naruko!”

Kyuubi grimaced, noting Sasuke’s grip when he first tried to pull away, he was surprisingly strong for a human. But the fox was far stronger, and his hand gripped Sasuke’s wrist wrenching it away from the wall and freeing his body and the long hair that Naruto currently carried. It really would be better if the boy had cut it, but then it might be too obvious what gender the blonde truly was.

Sasuke hissed, and the slide of metal notified the fox that the dark-haired youth had drawn a weapon. Looking back at the human with a superior yet bored face, the Kyuubi glared in irritation. “I assure you, there’s no need for that.” He told the human. “‘Naruko’ is fine,” he mimicked the boy’s female name with sarcastic jest, “‘she’ just needed some time alone. As far as I know, ‘she’ left for the woods.”

Kyuubi stared at the boy allowing Naruto’s blue eyes to turn back to red, Sasuke gave him a look that said clearly ‘I’ll deal with you later’ before rushing out the door heading towards the forest. The fox watched with wide eyes, was he serious? Was the human really so stupid?

Oh well… reverting back to a red fox the Kyuubi followed after Sasuke in the wake of the human’s search for Naruto. The said blonde not being gone too long hadn’t gotten so far into the woods, but apparently had gotten far enough.

Through the short journey the boy had already had a few run-ins, no wolves, but there had been a wild cat that had attacked him a while back. With the sword he brought he had managed to ward it off, he was making it so far anyway, and for that he was glad, even if he was kind of tired from trekking all uphill so far.

Naruto let out a sigh when he finally stumbled through the last row of trees and found himself on the dirt path, figuring by the sun, if he headed back the road he would in reasonable time reach Konoha again. But did he really want to go back there? What could he do? There he was officially engaged too… was there even a way to build up a log cabin and live in the wilderness in this day and age? Maybe, but he had no idea about anything, maybe Kyuubi would help him out when he caught up with him.

“Hey, missy, you have to pay to pass through this here road.”

Naruto felt his body bristle slightly. Even with pants and tunic, he still looked like a girl? Must be the hair, he’d hack it off once he got rid of this guy. Turning around with a glare, the blonde was dismayed to realize it was several guys, in fact they kind of looked like they might have been apart of those same group of bandits that attacked their traveling group earlier. It was possible.

“Sorry, I don’t have any money with me currently,” he said not bothering to cover up his voice, maybe the rougher tones would discourage them from coming after him right away as he started off down the road.

“That’s all right, pretty miss, we’ll just take it out of your hide then,” the man said hopping after him, catching his arm roughly and yanking him back towards him.

With his other hand, Naruto pulled out the steel blade from his side, slashing at an angle digging sharply into the man’s arm. He cried out and retreated, “Little wench! Get her!”

Naruto already knew if he fought he wouldn’t stand a chance against so many so there were no options left; since Kyuubi wasn’t here; he’d have to run. Turning back toward the road, Naruto took off the sword weighted him down, but he might need it later, so it was too risky to ditch it.

Inevitably they caught up, but it was worth a try to attempt escape. Wound climbing a tree have worked any better? No, they’d have chopped it down and he’d have died. So what was to happen now? He’d probably die… eventually depending on how soon they found out that he was actually a guy.

A rough and gnarled hand raked through his hair tightening on the strands and yanking back pulling his body with it, a yelp escaping him. The blade came down swiftly, but Naruto was in enough of a panic that he cried and pulled away, not far but far enough that the blade missed his neck by inches. Naruto moved again, realizing that his hair was free, and that somehow there was a comfortable weight that had been lifted from his back somewhere.

As his shoulder was seized again and he was pushed down to the ground, this time the man’s grip allowed no leeway to move. Looking up a sword was raised above his head. It was amazing really how many thoughts could go through a person’s head in a single instant.

Naruto knew he was going to die.

He figured somewhere in the back of his mind past the fear and the idea he can’t escape and oh gods he didn’t want to die and where was Kyuubi there was the somewhat reassuring thought that at least it would probably be painless. Having one’s head neatly chopped off, he hoped if he was going to die that it would be that painless path rather than countless other more agonizing ones that came to mind.

Squinting his eyes shut, Naruto waited a hopefully painless death and braced for a possibly agonizing one. Instead the soft splash of something warm and thick hit his face; blue eyes jolting open momentarily before closing them again. Somewhere the sound of hurried steps over grass and twigs had been lost as being more of the bandits however there was a wonderful interference, or a damning one, depending on your opinion.

It came in the form of some person who dashed by a slashed off the bandit’s arm, causing a slight spray of blood to hit Naruto’s face before he was seized around the middle. It was a familiar feeling actually, and he was moved a ways away before he found his feet while his savior took a momentary respite. The protective arm remained around his waist, and slowly he managed to open blue eyes again, to glance up at his savior, somehow it didn’t disturb him so much to see who it was.

“Sasuke…” he whispered in a low voice. The bandits swarming around the edge of the small road area. Approaching with weapons and glowering at the two of them.

“With a group it’s best to try and lure only one out at a time and take care of that one, if we stay close, it shouldn’t be too terribly difficult,” Sasuke whispered close to his ear. His hand still lay across the blonde’s waist but was now guiding one hand to the second sword hilt he carried.

Gripping the steel Naruto unsheathed the metal, and the dark-haired youth released him. The bandits advanced, but their taunts went unheeded, Sasuke’s hand held Naruto back from making the first move, waiting for the bandits to come at them of their own initiative.

Sasuke’s movements were deft and precise, practiced and perfected, so that every blow he landed was extremely damaging if not lethal. Naruto tried not to watch him too much, but he was so skilled, it was impossible not to notice how well he performed each procedure, he seemed perfectly calm even though these weren’t simply sparring partners, he was so… care he think it… cool.

Naruto’s own blows needed work, but they were strong enough to knock the men down enough and startle them off their game enough to get in a second blow that discouraged further instigation. Why was there a draft along his back? He still felt like there was a weight missing at his back where they should have been one.

Regardless a lot of the bandits group was either unconscious or wounded by the time that heavy horse hooves padding along the road notified everyone of the arrival of reinforcements. Looking up Naruto smiled in unrestrained delight, it was Neji, and it looked like he brought a few of his guards as well as some of the ones in the group. Lee and Kiba were there in any case, so were Ino and Hinata, though they held up the tail end of the group. Sasuke’s hand covered Naruto’s easing the blade from his grasp, he frowned slightly at the loss of the comforting heavy weight in his palm.

Neji paused his stallion in front of Sasuke and Naruto letting his guards and the other soldiers of Falcon, Konoha and Somuhorm filter around to round up and arrest the remaining bandits. “Are you both all right, we got here as soon as we realize you both were missing,” Neji explained; though his eyes told Naruto that he wasn’t explaining it fully for other’s presence. Considering what Neji knew that almost no one else did; Naruto wasn’t surprised at the boy’s intelligent deduction.

“That’s a nice look for you,” Neji told him, a slight twitch at the side of his mouth squelched before he rode on to receive a report from the assembling soldiers, leading trails of the captive bandits.

Idly Naruto wondered what he meant. Soft dark hair tickled the back of his neck and shoulders, Sasuke’s cheek nuzzling the backside of his throat, warm and gentle. “It really is a better look for you,” he commented in that dark purr, a slight tremor gracing Naruto’s skin, he hoped it wasn’t visible to everyone, though undoubtedly that jerk Sasuke could probably feel it, with the way he was standing so close.

It suddenly made sense though, that Sasuke’s hair could now fall against the back of his neck, the missing weight on his back. Stepping forward suddenly, Naruto’s hand flew to the back of his neck where his long hair ought to be… it wasn’t there, jagged but soft ends greeted his fingers, falling loosely against the back of his neck. But when did that even happen?

Oh yes, when he managed to avoid that first blow attempting to sever his head it must have cut off his hair instead of his head, since he moved. Then Sasuke arrived and…

A small measure of elation filled him… he had short hair. He was one step closer to actually looking like a boy… but then would this cause problems? Since he was still officially a princess.

“Don’t worry about it,” Sasuke said, and Naruto was suddenly conscious of his thoughts, could this guy read minds? No, no one in the world could… it was said a few sorcerers and demons could, but Sasuke was neither… as least Naruto hoped not. “It looks good.”

He reached for the blonde and pulled him closer, leaning towards his face slightly, his other hand came up and wiped at his cheek, when it drew away Naruto noted the blood on it… yeah he’d have to clean off his face. “You don’t look bad in blood.”

Glancing up at Sasuke, Naruto didn’t much like the expression in the eyes he saw, something that struck him as somewhat predatory, and mocking, as if to say I know something you know but don’t know that I know. Not that that made much sense, but it still struck him as odd, and it made him uneasy.

He drew away from Sasuke’s arms, surprising really that being so close didn’t seem to bother him as much now-no he was becoming conditioned! Naruto moved off toward the end where Ino and Hinata waited, Ino looked horrified, “Naruko! You’re hair!”

“It’ll grow back, don’t worry,” Naruko told her sweetly, as she climbed up on the offered seat behind Hinata on her horse. Yes it would grow back… as much as he hated that fact, it would grow back.

“Well you are quite a puzzle Naruko,” said Neji as his horse trotted back towards their group, giving the signal to start moving out, his mount falling into step beside his sister’s.

“How so?” Naruko asked puzzled.

“It was reckless to run off like you did, you realize that,” he started, “you ran into some of the worst bandits in Falcon, their recent you know and have been causing a lot of trouble. Yet you helped capture the said bandits, and of course you brought back to me my sister.”

“And you’re wondering if I’m as big an idiot as I seem,” Naruko finished for him, turning ahead to not see the affirmation in his face.

“No. I was just pondering whether you’re more of a headache, or an angel.” Naruto looked back at the brunette, he wasn’t quite smiling, but if it was at all possible he was very close, there was no twitch of the mouth, but his eyes showed something less than unconcern.

Not sure what to say, Naruto only smiled before turning back to the front. He too had something he pondered over about the prince of Falcon. It was a question, why did he seem to like this person so much? He’d just met Neji, he’d mistaken him for a girl and yet his instinct told him to trust Neji. Was this going to hurt him in the long run?

“We should start out as soon as possible, so after we get the provisions and rest, we should leave, if possible before dawn.” Naruto glanced over as Sasuke’s mouth fell back to flank Hinata’s horse’s other side, opposite Neji. “We lost a lot of time.”

Naruko only nodded, “it’s logical.” She stated, with no particular tone or feeling to her voice. In truth it didn’t seem quite right to leave so soon, they’d just barely got here, and in the back of Naruto’s mind he noted to himself he would like to talk to Neji sometime, just talk, and perhaps find out more about Hinata’s brother. She had never mentioned him, or that she was from Falcon, let alone royalty.

They entered the town, and the crowds of shoppers moved aside to let the soldiers bringing captives, and the other horsemen through the streets. Scanning the crowd idly, Naruko’s eyes fell on a familiar and beautiful face, “Hold on,” she said turning in the back of the sadle glancing back at the girl in the crowd, “Sakura?”

Hinata paused her mount, Neji stopped too, but signaled the rest of the group to keep moving towards the palace, Ino, Sasuke, and a few of the Konoha and Falcon guards stayed behind. The pink-haired girl came over, and Naruko slid off her saddle to greet her.

“Princess Naruko? I’d heard you left, I didn’t know you’d be stopping here,” she greeted pleasantly her eyes looking over the blonde’s short hair questioningly though she didn’t voice the question her eyes asked.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here Sakura, are you here alone? Or with your family?” Naruko asked pleasantly. She noticed the girl’s stare at her new coiffure, but she couldn’t think of anything to tell her right away.

Aqua green eyes took in the group that stayed behind accompanying the blonde, and her cheeks pinked slightly seeing Sasuke riding close nearby. “Oh, no,” she shook her head, “Actually I’m here with Tenten.”

Right on cue the dark-haired girl exited the shop and joined her lighter-colored companion. Tenten was still pale, and her hair had grown longer, a dark rich brown color matching her chocolate shaded eyes. “Hello Tenten, it’s so nice to see you.” Naruko greeted just as cheerfully. The girl bowed slightly to her princess.

“Your majesties,” she greeted the two princes and the princess.

“We came to Falcon to get some sought after fabrics,” Sakura explained. “We have them now, and we would return home but… it’s such a surprise seeing you here. Did something happen that you stopped so close to Konoha?”

“We were attacked by bandits, and had to get new supplies,” Sasuke answered crisply in an attempt to cut off any further conversation. But because Naruko was no longer on the horse he couldn’t very well grab her in public and ride off back to the castle, as much as he wanted to.

Hinata dismounted behind Naruko, nodding to the two other girls. Neji followed his sister’s example to greet the girl’s, Sasuke glared slightly, cursing the situation in his mind before dismounting also, though he wasn’t happy about it.
“Would you like to join us at the palace during your stay?” The prince offered out of politeness. “A friend of both my sister and the princess Naruko is certainly a welcome guest in Falcon.”

“Thank you for your gracious offer, your excellency,” Tenten bowed to him, “But Sakura and I really do need to-” her companion cut off her friend’s polite decline.

“Thank you so much for the offer your highness, if its not too much trouble.” Sakura bowed quickly, shooting a look at Tenten, the brunette girl watching the green-eyed girl in question.

“Not at all,” Neji nodded, calling over two guards, Lee approached along with Shino, who got off their mounts offering to the two girls, Tenten climbing aboard Lee’s and Sakura mounting Shino’s. Sakura tried to get as close as possible to Sasuke but seeing as her horse was being led by Shino, as Tenten’s was by Lee, there really wasn’t much of a choice of where they rode exactly and next to whom.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but it would be wonderful to continue on this journey you will be taking on the way to Somuhorm. I would love to see the places you are undoubtedly to witness,” Sakura said rushing over to Naruko, nearby Sasuke, to speak with the blonde girl. “I was wondering if perhaps you needed another person or too on your journey, I wish I could accompany you, is that at all possible? Not meaning to be rude of course princess.”

“Of course you can come! You and Tenten can both come with us.” Naruko agreed, perhaps a little to quickly and too eagerly, though apparently no one had noticed, not even Sakura.

“Oh really? Thank you so much princess Naruko, you won’t regret this,” The girl smiled joyfully to the blonde as the group headed on inside the palace.

“No. Neither of them can come with us. If we were attacked again they’d be two more liabilities.” Sasuke pointed out, again using logic to his advantage.

“Nonsense. Her highness needs more female companions anyway, she will get too lonely on the journey otherwise,” Ino defended.

“I agree with miss Ino, the journey is long as you say, surely the princess would prefer to company of miss Sakura and Tenten far more than a smaller group of girls to speak with,” Lee explained. “If two people, including her highness, is a group.”

Sasuke glared again, in his mind attempting to think of another comeback to throw Lee and Ino’s arguments down the drain. It would come to him, in just a moment. “Please, Sasuke?”

Dark eyes looked over at the blonde ‘girl’ her face for once with her guard down, she really did want Sakura along… but why? The girl was so annoying, and she kept sending him odd looks. Then again… at the party it had seemed irritating to he blonde when he and she were together. He could put up with it; he didn’t stand a chance in this argument anyway. “Very well.” He ground out, not bothering to cover the cold in his voice.

“Actually, I wish to continue our journey as well,” Hinata told Naruko, “I still feel somewhat indebted to you, Naruko, for all the years you and the others in Konoha took care of me. The least I can do is see you off in Somuhorm.”

“Aw… Hina…” Naruko said, taking the girl into her arms in a tender hug, “you’re so sweet, how did I get such a wonderful friend?”

“I should probably come as well then,” Neji mused aloud, not standing so far away from their group, the guards having dispersed since entering the palace. “I have to keep an eye on my sister, if nothing else. It doesn’t seem right to just let her go without someone by her side after so long and finally having found her.”

“Absolutely!” Naruko cried happily, “This is going to be so cool since now everyone’s coming!” she giggled happily. Yes, Sakura, first crush, Hinata, sweetest friend in the world, and Neji, person who Naruto felt he could trust from the start were all coming along. This should be a lot better now.

A familiar bundle of fur brushed against Naruto’s legs and glancing down he saw the little red fox, curling against his leg, for some reason the fox seemed uneasy, Naruto made a mental note to himself to drag it out of the furball later. With a sigh, Sasuke turned away from the chatting group, rubbing a hand at his temple. Why did he feel like he had a colossal headache…?

That was probably because he did have a headache, but aside from the forested regions of Konoha and Falcon farther to the west in a vast sea of dust colored waves. There was always one reason for a headache, it meant that that creature was returning… sometimes worse depending on the headache. But this particular one the boy was receiving told him that the creature was merely returning from its hunt in the forests at the horizon.

Looking out across the burning country to the green fringed horizon, where dense forests of the other kingdoms began the boy watched, he could see a small sandstorm racing along the ground. He knew it was the creature, and he expected to see it’s actual form later on.

As it drew closer he could make out the image of the tailed brown and black beast. A small raccoon with dark rings around it’s eyes. This tower of the capital city in a desert nation was truly a desolate place. Spreading far and wide in almost every direction stopping only at the horizon with the tinge of green, the forests. He’d wanted to go there before, but he rarely got out anymore, not that he’d had a reason lately either.

The beast was close now, and it disappeared beyond the city gate, and soon the beast had scuttled up the tower wall and let itself fall into the room over the window ledge, it’s tongue hanging out of it’s mouth. It watched the boy, waiting for him to give him food and water from his run. The boy stood and lowered the basin of water to the floor, laying out a bowl of small chip shaped food for the animal, which both drank and ate greedily.

“You took a while getting back Ichibi,” he noted when the voracious appetite slowly started to wane. The raccoon looked up and glared at the boy it’s form shifting of that into a dark-haired boy with sandy gold tipped edges in his short jagged hair, slightly tanned skin, and dark golden eyes.

“Yeah that can happen when you’re attacked by some stinking fox.” He growled, going back to his water.

“You’re okay now though right?” the boy asked.

“Yes.” The raccoon answered between bites. A soft knock at the door caused the room to go silent, the raccoon pausing in his meal.

“Are you awake?” a voice asked through the door.

“Yes.” The boy answered her.

“Do you want breakfast?” the voice questioned, the tone unfeeling and cold.

“Yes.” He answered. Soft footsteps padded away down the hall behind the door. She would go and get the meal then leave it by the door. He’d have to open the door to get it himself, that was the process for anything he asked for. He’d always get it, and usually in a very short amount of time, but there was no true contact in the process. It wasn’t of his own wish that this was done, it just simply was.

The pounding of the steps died away, but even so the rhythm stayed, and seemed to beat a droning mantra, one that only he could hear. One word, one familiar and hated word… but he had gotten used to it over the years.

Monster.

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