Twelve hours.
Only twelve more wretched hours until he could finally, finally have his freedom.
This was the only reason, Naruto Uzumaki, "housekeeper" for his toxic keeper, Madara. No one would know, though. Most thought that the head of the Uchiha clan was a smart man but cynical man, though not evil. Oh how I wish that it was actually true. Naruto reflected grimly, as he scrubbed the dank floors in the wine cellar. The area was infested with rats and all kinds of creatures, including the many Uchiha cats that resided in the manner. The only reason it hadn't become a total cesspit was because of your's truly. True, Naruto didn't mind working at the manor. In fact, the place was lovely, albeit gloomy and run down. Ivy was creeping up the entire west side of the house, like a green curtain that had been closed halfway across a stage. Though the building was large, it was simplistic. The first floor was the lounge area, which had large double doors opening into a small ball room. The fancy but again, simplistic area melted into large kitchens, and a door disguised as a grandfather clock. Though sometimes difficult to get large barrels in and out, it was a masterpiece and Naruto loved it. Above the first floors were all the bed chambers. The most elegant (and overwhelming, at least to Naruto) where on the second floor. These were the guest suites. Above that, were Uchihas' rooms. Simply, elegant and comfortable, these were the practical decorations seem to be limited to the Uchiha fan. Above that was the attic, and within the attic the servant chambers. All in all, a wonderful place to work and live, even as a servant. No, it was Madara that Naruto despised.
Though he was only five, he still remembered the day Madara had bought him. Naruto never really knew who his parents were, and the fact that he was so young when they died made the incident all that worse. Apparently, his father was a hero in the small village of Konoha and his mother was his partner. The day after they both died, Kyuubi showed up. Naruto's uncle was a man of bad omen, or so the village deemed him. He had swept in, claiming Naruto as his own. He didn't remember much about the man, but the few things he did he wished he could forget. When Naruto was ten, Kyuubi had sold him to this monster and never looked back.
Twelve hours. He thought, trying to cage his rage. Only twelve more hours in this rat hole.
Twelve more hours.
Only twelve more hours of his beautiful, wonderful freedom.
Sasuke Uchiha scowled. How the hell has it come to this? Sasuke used to be somewhat carefree, if his older brother was to be believed. The Uchiha clan was once a large, proud family, with ties all throughout the nation of Fire. However, the clan had suffered greatly when a terrible accident had killed both their parents, the-former, he reminded himself-head of the Uchihas. Then that weasel Madara had pushed in, claiming not only the head of the Uchiha clan but also his nephews Itachi and Sasuke also.
Which was the reason Sasuke was going for a long walk on their estate. One of the reasons Fugaku was a good leader was not only was he stern and commanding, but he could also be gentle, kind and wise too. Certainly, he had a distinctly different way of showing it, but that went for all Uchihas. His mother had been open minded. It was no secret to the two of them that Itachi and Sasuke did not want much to do with the formal and old fashioned ways of their clan. They knew that the two wanted to forge their own destiny.
Therefore, Fugaku had chosen to keep them on their estate in Konoha, close to the few people they respected, trusted and cared for, instead of shipping them off to be married to some ditsy girl in a far away kingdom.
Which was exactly what Madara was trying to do now.
He had forced them to move to a manor near the Fire capital. This place was run down, as it was virtually abandoned by the Uchihas. Konoha was the military capital. This was the political capital. The Uchihas were an elite military family. It wasn't hard to connect the dots. Itachi disliked it, and for once Sasuke had to agree with him. It broke his heart, to think that he would soon leave his brother, the only family he had left, the few friends he had made, and his personal instructor, Kakashi. Sasuke wouldn't never admit to it or show it, but he was deeply sorry for the older, masked man. Kakashi only had Iruka, an instructor back in the hidden village, not counting the youngest Uchiha. While Sasuke knew that Kakashi had an undying loyalty to the Uchihas, he also knew that with every moment the man was becoming more heartbroken. In twelve hours, our hopes are crushed.
Twelve hours until that damn dance.
