I have update with another chapter. I did inform all of you beforehand that I would be making some changes to the story. Naruto is contemplating his situation inside the palace in comparison with his daily routine. No, he is not hated by the villager's just mistrust on his part of being a foreigner. The meeting between Iruka and Naruto is slightly different. The ending did not end with clothes coming off and sleeping together…oh wait it did but not in the way you probably wanted it. Everything will be explained in time. As for the lemons, they will be more abundant than the last.

Warnings: language, violence, yaoi/shounen-ai, historical inaccuracies, sad moments.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Misashi Kishimoto who brought us roughly 10 years of a legacy that will live on in our hearts for years.

Breaking Distrust

Naruto sat on that floor for what seemed like hours. His knees were pushed beneath his chin as tears ran from his eyes in trickles. It just was not fair. He was happy living his life the way it was. He shook his head with a bitter laugh. Happy? Was he happy? No he wasn't. He was simply content with living out his mundane, lonely life working a thankless job as a small shopkeeper's assistant. His boss treated him nicely enough and would pay him enough for rent and such. However like most of the villagers, that kindness was done out of weariness and pity rather than actual respect. His former employer, the people at the ramen place, and some of the younger children were but the only few who treated him like he actually belonged there. The rest of the villagers avoided the orphan boy who appeared out of nowhere all those years ago and wormed his way into their borders. (1) He was told once by the owner at Ichiraku's that the plausible reason was solely because the villages young people were simply jealous of his natural beauty and that they were threatened with the prospect of him stealing away any possible suitors. He laughed it off as a joke of course. Really, what royal would go after a peasant such as him?

It was not a taboo for same-sex marriages especially between nobles. However, it was highly discouraged by the masses due to religious reasons or stigma of having a village being associated with such practices (2). He spent the last couple of years trying to find his place in the village and he was not about to let it be ruined by jealous gossip mongers. He jumped up and donned a determined look.

"No way will that happen! Naruto Uzumaki is no one's trophy wench! I will show that teme. Once he steps through that door, I will spout off a few choice words that will make me so undesirable to him that he will have to let me go!"

Naruto laughed imagining the look on the prince's face as he said such things. The door knocked several times alerting the blond that someone was on the other side. Thinking it to be Sasuke, he stood still with fist clenched and a smug expression. The door opened. Naruto opened his mouth to speak but the words died. It was the man from earlier, the one who earlier failed at robbing him of his freedom. So he had to go and fetch his friends for assistance. Bloody coward.

The said coward opened the door with a tray in his hand and set it down on a desk with a wash basin on top. He smiled at the blonde.

"Greetings, young Naruto. I see that you are doing quite well. I apologize for the rudeness earlier but it was the only thing I could think of to get you here. And the prince did say, at any means necessary" the brunette greeted. Naruto glowered at the man sending killer intent at him. The man coughed sensing the trepidation.

"Once again, I do apologize for the little…upset. It was the only thing I could think of since you were so uncooperative".

"Fuck you. I was just minding my own business before you showed up and got your two hitmen to go in and kidnap me. What kind of prince orders a gang of hit men to go in and kidnap some random peasant just so they can throw them into a harem? Now thanks to you, not only did I lose my cargo, I also possibly might just lose my job and miss out on a payment to my landlord" he yelled out letting a few tears fall. The man looked away sympathetically. He sighed.

"I apologize greatly. I can understand how you must feel. However, his majesty thought it to better if I just come and retrieve you myself rather than have a group of soldiers approach you firsthand. And as for this so-called harem you speak of, no Uchiha has not ever had nor want of such a concept" he informed. Naruto nodded at seeing that the man had no intent to harm him. He sat down on the bed with his head bowed and clasped his hands. "By the way, those two men that were with you; the Cyclops and the guy that looks like a brigand…" he began. Iruka laughed.

"The Cyclops as you call him happens to be my boyfriend and the leader of the royal guards to the Uchiha with me as the second-in-command (3). He is not so bad once you get to know him although he has quite a right hook when angry. Mizuki very well learned the hard way. Oh speaking of which, try to avoid him as much as possible. He has nothing less than contempt for the lower class and will not hesitate to hurt you if given the chance. And you are right for assuming him to be like a brigand…he has quite an attitude that has gotten him in trouble in past. Not surprisingly, he is not well liked by the rest of the guards. Kakashi especially, which Mizuki learned the hard way not to cross him", Naruto nodded listening to the man. He seemed nice enough but then again so did all the other nobles that tried to court him in the past or guardsmen. Still, Naruto decided it was best to try to give the man a chance and see where it goes. Who knows, he could be a useful ally in the future.

"Well, if it's any constellation…I'm sorry for having punched you" he replied rubbing the back of his head. Iruka smiled. "It's fine besides I've had worse' he dismissed half-humouredly. "I would have probably done the same in your position. Anyways, I got you some food which you better eat before it gets cold. Oh and by the way um, you need not worry about tomorrow. Everyone in the palace already knows who you are so you will not be treated like a servant or intruder. Tomorrow, you may go to your cabin and pick up whatever things you wish to bring with you to the palace. With that, I shall leave".

Naruto quickly jumped up and shouted. "Wait, I didn't get your name!"

The brunette turned to him and smiled warmly. "I am Umino Iruka. Until tomorrow then" he stated then gave a bow. Naruto watched his new friend leave. He walked over to the tray and took off the metal lid. Inside were several slices of chicken, multi-colored grapes, a type of soup, and a red goblet filled with a reddish liquid. He glanced at the goblet thinking it was wine. He then noticed a rolled up scroll tied with a red string. He undid the string and read the message inside.

Naruto, you are most welcomed here. The liquid inside is black tea not wine. So no underage drinking for you ;) (Kakashi told me to write that one "_"). Also, try not to judge Sasuke-sama so harshly, he has had it harder than you know.

Iruka Umino

P.S. The bathrooms are located two staircases down and the third door on the left.

Naruto reread the letter three times. What did Iruka mean by that? Oh well, time to dig in. He ate his food and savored every bite. It wasn't Ichiraku's Ramen but it was just as good. Such a feast was rare for him, not including ramen. Once finished, he set down the utensils and made way to the dressing beaus. He noticed on of the beaus had his name marked atop the furnishing. The blond shuddered involuntarily. He also noticed a closet made for him exclusively. The other was for Sasuke obviously.

"He must have planned this for months now. Why else would he have a dressing beau carved out specifically for me?" he thought. "Oh well, at least I will have something clean to sleep in" he muttered to himself pointing to his now dusty clothing. He pulled them off leaving only his boxers on (A/N: que the fangirl screech XD). He did not need to know which one was the pajama door. He looked inside and selected a long sleeved orange shirt with a crisscross collar and a pair of loose red pants that billowed around his ankles. He then pulled off his hair tie to allow his back length hair to fall down a golden waterfall. He smirked at his own reflection. "Teme sure has good taste in pajama wear" he admitted. A yawn broke from his throat signaling that he was now tired.

"I think I'll take a bath in the morning. Then, I will have a word with Sasuke-sama". Naruto sluggishly walked to the bed and fell fast asleep. His necklace flashed momentarily before dimming back down.

()

Sasuke approached his door and stretched languidly. He knew he would most likely get a barrage of verbal abuses thrown his way and he couldn't blame him. However, Sasuke's pride as an Uchiha would not allow him to feel remorse. He finally had the brazen peasant where he wanted him and he would be damned if he let the boy slip from his grasps. A smile wound its way to the raven's lips. He slipped off his garments quietly as not to wake the beautiful creature in his bed. He slid down to his boxers and simply put on a blue silk robe before lying gently next to the sleeping teen and placed an arm around the slender waist. The younger would likely have questions he wanted to ask and the raven would be willing to comply. But first, some sleep. The rest of the night was filled with the sounds of light snoring.

Here is another chapter for the redux version. I am happy for the positive reviews I have been getting this by far. Many of the past followers have put this in their favorites. I promise to be more adept at updating and straying from peer pressure as possible.

Naruto has made a new friend. Naruto never does have it easy be it in real life or fanfiction does he? I swear that kid just cannot catch a break. Those villagers have no business tearing him down like that just for being different or a foreigner. Anyways, I have plans for this new version and it will contain a steady tandem with the plotline's events. Sasuke will have his work cut out for him if he wants to woo Naruto's affection and rid of some obstacles in the process.

Read and review.

Chapter Footnotes:
(1) You can't really have Konoha without an Ichiraku's ramen stand can you. I can also picture it being a one way gossip pit.

(2) In the middle ages, it was forbidden for people of the same gender to be married. However, it is fanfiction and whatever I say goes.

(3) I have read several fics where Kakashi is referred as such.