A/N: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.
"Master! Your dinner is ready!" Sakura yelled.
Naruto dragged himself out of his room, yawning. "I didn't think it'd be ready so quick. All that training I did today really got to me. I need a little more sleep."
"After dinner, you can sleep all you want, Master. I don't want to tell Hinata and Tenten they wasted their time preparing food just for you not to enjoy it."
"I never said I wasn't going to eat, Sakura. Geez, sometimes I feel like we've got our roles reversed and you're giving me the orders."
"Don't be silly, Master. I'm just trying to look out for you, and if I have to be a little more assertive than usual, it's only because you force me to."
"All right, Sakura. Give me a break."
"As you wish, Master."
Sakura and Naruto continued to talk like this all the way to the dining room. Two weeks had passed since Sakura, Hinata and Tsunade wore the slave rings Orochimaru made, and through some miracle they, along with six other girls, accepted their new lives.
Naruto still couldn't understand how there was no suspicion among the other shinobi of Konohagakure, and even Sunagakure, that his new maids were missing. He was told that they had all come up with cover stories to explain their extended absences, but he couldn't help but shake the feeling that everyone was going to find out what had happened eventually.
After clearing his mind of these thoughts, Naruto sat at the head of the large table in the dining room while Hinata delivered his dinner to him. After Naruto was fed his dinner, his maids sat on either side of him at the table. Sakura and Hinata sat the closet to Naruto.
"So, Master, is there any progress to your training?" Shizune asked.
"Well, it's about the same. The only thing that's really changed at all with my techniques is my timing."
"Well, that's something to be proud of, Master!" Anko proclaimed. "Sometimes, the outcome of battle is determined by who strikes first. Speed is another important aspect of a shinobi, Master."
Tsunade said, "She's right about speed being important in battle, Master."
Despite Tsunade trying to act as normal as she could, Naruto noticed something different about the way she was acting tonight. "Is everything alright, Tsunade? You seem to be distracted by something."
"Well, now that you mention it, Master, there's something that's been nagging at me for a while now."
"What is it?"
"I've been wondering what we were going to do with the rings, Master. I mean, I don't think more maids are necessary around here, and I'm sure you wouldn't want another accident like with Ino, Kurenai and Anko to happen."
The cry of Kurenai's little daughter, whom she decided to name Kushina after her Master's mother, filled the room. Kurenai sighed and said, "Excuse me, Master, but I think someone is ready for bed. I'll be back soon." With that, Kurenai took Kushina to her room for a good night's rest.
Temari took the moment to say, "Tsunade has a point, Master. I would hate to have someone else unwillingly become your maid."
"You and me both, Temari. The only problem is that I don't want to be careless like last time."
Hinata said, "I'm sure we'll be able to think of something tomorrow, Master. Let's just enjoy our dinners for tonight."
Naruto grinned. "I can't say no to food this delicious, Hinata."
After everyone ate their dinner and Temari cleaned the dishes, the girls were getting ready for bed. Naruto made his way to his room.
"Finally, some nice, relaxing sleep."
"Master. May I talk to you about something?"
Naruto turned to see Ino nervously standing behind him.
"What is it, Ino?"
Ino blushed as she said, "Well, for the last few days I was just wondering if…you…I mean, um…did "it" with one or more of you maids."
Naruto was surprised. "What? Why would you think that, Ino?"
"Well, I've heard plenty of stories about some masters who take their servants and make them sleep with whoever they wished and…"
"Ino, you know I'm not like that. You're my friend, no matter what the circumstances are. You can trust me to not act in that way."
Ino breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's nice to hear, Master. Also, I wanted to know how you've adjusted to this new life. I mean, fancy house, impressive heritage, sexy girls at your beck and call. You've gotten something most people only dream about."
Naruto got a little depressed and said, "What's so great about it? I took away nine innocent lives that can never be reclaimed again. If this is a dream for most people, it's a living nightmare for me."
Ino got a worried look on her face and said, "Forgive me, Master! I didn't mean to say anything to upset you."
"Don't worry about it, Ino. Truth is I'm still getting used to it myself."
Ino chuckled and said, "I guess we all have something in common then, Master. The rest of the girls and I aren't used to being maids while you're not used to having maids. It's a learning experience for all of us."
"That goes without saying."
Naruto and Ino looked to see Tenten standing behind them. Tenten had a happy expression on her face, which surprised Naruto a little.
"I do agree that this is a learning experience for us, Ino, but I also think that this is a way of thanking Master for all the times he's helped us out. If it wasn't for Master, I don't think any of us would've gotten as strong as we are now. He's done nothing but pushed us to go beyond our limits in terms of strength, deed and spirit. I see this as a chance to thank him."
Naruto looked at Tenten and felt a sense of relief at the statement she made. He wiped away a few tears from his eyes and said, "Now you've gone and made me cry, Tenten."
Tenten said, "I'm sorry, Master. I was just saying what I was thinking."
Naruto said, "I know, and I'm glad that you did. Now get to bed."
Tenten smiled and said, "Yes, Master. As you wish."
Before following Tenten, Ino turned to Naruto and asked, "Master, before I go, why didn't you try to get other girls to be your maids?"
Naruto said, "I never wanted maids in the first place. I tried to get rid of the rings and they end up back with me with new maids in tow. I'm beginning to think they're cursed."
"That is pretty scary when you think of it. But don't worry, Master. We'll come up with a plan to make sure they don't cause any more trouble. Good night, Master."
"Good night, Ino."
Naruto wandered into his room and fell asleep as soon as he laid down on his bed, unaware of three shadowy figures lurking just outside his window, staring at the rings sitting on his dresser.