Chapter four

Naruto sighed as he dipped his feet into the pond. He has been at the palace for a week. His daily routine consisted of fighting with Teuchi and sitting by this pond, it was starting to get lame. He hardly ever saw Sasuke, and whenever he'd see him, the Uchiha would always 'have some work to do'. The blonde lay on his back and closed his eyes.

Naruto felt someone blowing air at his face. His eyebrows knitted together as he started to feel water drops hit his face. The blonde slowly opened his eyes, "Hey-" Naruto's eyes widened and he let out a scream as the horse neighed and stepped backwards. Naruto shot up and wiped his face with the back of his palm. The blond heard someone chuckle, it was an unfamiliar voice, a boy. He looked around his age, he had fiery red hair and his eyes were a beautiful shade of Jade . The redhead caressed the horse and used his leash to tie him to a tree.

"Sorry about Shukaku." The boy said with a smile, his voice was raspy and low. "I'm Gaara." The boy said extending an arm, Naruto grinned and shook his hand. "Pleasure, my name's Naruto."

"Do you work here?" Naruto nodded. "I have been, for a week, I help Teuchi out in the kitchen." The blonde said grinning sheepishly.

"Ah" Gaara snickered. "You're the one he's been complaining about." Naruto chuckled. Naruto spent the rest of his day with the red head. He liked Gaara. They went to the stable, which is where Gaara works since his job is to take care of the horses, Gaara also took the blonde to see his friends, Kiba and Hinata who were very nice. In the end they decided to have dinner together in Gaara's room. The redhead shared a room with seven others, including Kiba.

"So like." Kiba started as he chewed on his bread. "He brought you here just like that?" Naruto had just finished telling them about his story. How Sasuke 'kidnapped' him and brought him to work here. They were sitting on the floor, just the three of them. The blonde nodded in response. Kiba looked thoughtful for a second. "That bastard honestly pisses me the fuck off, royalty my ass." Kiba choked and Gaara's eyes widened as he clamped his hand over Naruto's mouth. Gaara looked around to make sure that no one overheard and looked back at Naruto. "Are you out of your mind?" He hissed. "Do you have any idea what could happen if anyone overhears you?" Naruto flinched, the redhead wore a solemn expression, which was a first for the blonde.

Gaara noticed and his eyes softened. Sighing, he removed his hand that was over Naruto's lips. "People here are not like you think." Gaara began. "There are some scum that are willing to rat you out for a few gold coins."

"That's right." Kiba said looking quite serious. "Careful what you say 'round here." Naruto leaned his back on the wall, not once had he spoken to the Uchiha in a respectful manner and yet, here he was. Maybe he was just lucky, he didn't know.

"Who do they tell on you to?"

"A guard."

"And the guard…?" Kiba's eyebrows furrowed. "Badmouthing royalty can get you decapitated."

It never crossed the blonde's mind that it could be this extreme. He thought maybe a good beating, but decapitation sounded ludicrous. He looked at the ceiling for a few seconds. "Sasuke didn't seem to-"

"Sasuke?" Kiba's jaw dropped to the floor. "The second crown prince." Gaara corrected him irritably. 'Second?' Naruto's face twisted in confusion.

"Naruto, you have to be careful around everyone, royalty, guards, nobles and even workers that you don't know very well." The blonde nodded. He was kind of irritated though. It was the Uchiha who brought him here, for a reason that was still rather unclear. Well at least he made new friends, he thought grinning. Gaara smiled softly. "So where do you sleep?"

"Down the hall, last room on the right."

"Who do you share it with?" Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment. He could remember most of their names. "Deidara, Sasori and some weirdo named Orochimaru.. I can't remember the rest..."Naruto said scratching the back of his head. Kiba grinned. "Sasori and Deidara are really good people, though Sasori can come off as a jackass sometimes but, he's actually a really good guy." Kiba paused for a few seconds. "Orochimaru isn't a good person, be wary of him, he's a manipulative snake." Naruto nodded, he would take that into account, he gave a long weary yawn and closed his eyes.

xxx

Sasuke scooped up a little bit of soup from his bowl eyeing it cautiously. He silently groaned to himself as he moved the soup around the spoon. Having the blonde work at the kitchen was probably the worst thing that Kizashi has ever done. Fugaku thought it was a great idea to have the blonde cook separate meals for Sasuke to 'test his abilities', which were by no means even remotely good.

"So, Sasuke." Fugaku began. They were currently sitting at the dinner table, Fugaku seated at the opposite head position of the table with Kizashi to his right. "Good food?" Fugaku said grinning and raising his wine glass. Sasuke merely nodded and smiled meekly while raising his glass of apple juice. For the next five minutes, the uchiha stared down at the soup, whirling the spoon around the bowl.

"Sasuke."

"Hn?"

"We're fighting Tokohu to death." Sasuke let go of his spoon, staring at his father in disbelief. "They only asked for peace because their major general suddenly collapsed and passed away. Makes perfect sense now since they were clearly ahead of us in the war, now they've got a new major general and they clearly do not intend on staying peaceful at all, after attacking our soldiers and taking away our trader's goods."

"But father-"

"Listen to the king, Sasuke-sama. He definitely knows what he's doing." Kizashi said smirking. "Your majesty is wise."

Sasuke glared at Kizashi, 'That snake.' Fugaku nodded, smiling and slowly got up. "Sasuke, I've already made up my mind, prepare for war."

XXX

The Uchiha stormed towards the servants' rooms, scowling. Oh, he pissed. Kizashi was constantly doing this. His father has always been indecisive and swayed by words, and Kizashi knows exactly how to mess with his head and get him to do whatever he sees fit. There was no way it was Tokohu who attacked us, they went as far as sending us some of their own soldiers to help us in war against nations. Why would they have bothered if their peace proposal was not genuine? It didn't matter now anyway, it was all out of his hands.

He walked down the servants' hall and into the first room he saw. Most of the servants were fast asleep, but the ones who were awake bowed. Sasuke nodded. "You may rise." They quickly got up and stared at the Uchiha anxiously. "Gaara Subaku, where is he?"

"Room next t'us." It was one of the servants who were supposedly asleep. Sasuke walked out of the room and into the neighboring room.

"Gaara-"

"Y-YOU!" In a second, Naruto was on his feet, glaring accusingly at Sasuke. He was soon yanked downwards and forced to bow lightly by Gaara, who sent him a 'Don't test your luck' look. "Hn." Sasuke smirked. "As I was saying, Gaara, report to the king immediately." Gaara nodded and gave the blonde one last warning look and with that he was out of the room.

"Finally learning your place, peasant?" The Uchiha said in triumph, still smirking. "Ass wipe." Naruto muttered under his breath. "Hn."

"Oh by the way, how come you're the second crown prince?"

Silence.

"Do you have a brother?"

Sasuke, ignoring the blonde's questions, decided to just take his leave. "Oh I get it, you killed him too, huh? That's life, the throne for the survivor." Naruto said sarcastically, mimicking the Uchiha's tone. Sasuke's face jerked in shock as he stood frozen by the door. There's a silent beat, then Sasuke turned around, his face so livid, Naruto actually felt petrified. "You.. what did you say?" Naruto was swiftly grabbed by his neck and smacked into the wall. Sasuke continued to thrust his palm against the blonde's neck harder and harder. Strangling him and slowly suffocating him. Naruto started coughing vigorously.

"Hey Naru-" Kiba stopped dead in his tracks and bowed. He couldn't see what was going on, he lifted his head up and his eyes widened.

"Exactly what did you say to me, you filthy rat?" Sasuke's voice was so ominous, Kiba wanted to slink away. Kiba ran and bowed to the Uchiha. "Your highness, please forgive my friend, he lacks mental and physical alertness." The brunette pleaded. "Tch." Sasuke released his grip on the blonde's neck making Naruto drop to the floor, gasping for air while touching his neck. "Next time you won't be so lucky, peasant." With that, Sasuke was gone.

Kiba released a long sigh of relief, eyeing Naruto whose eyes were glued on the floor, breathless. "The fuck is wrong with this guy?" Naruto's voice was a little husky. The blonde felt his left cheek sting and his head turn to the right. Kiba had slapped him. Naruto was yanked by his shirt so his face was at Kiba's eye level. "I warned you, Gaara warned you, do you want to die and kill us with you?" His face was stony and infuriated.

"I-no," Naruto floundered. Kiba sighed and released the blonde's shirt averting his eyes to the forming bruise on his neck. "Whatever you were thinking, don't even think it again, you retard." Kiba smiled hitting his arm playfully.