Above, in an entire world of its own, the sky held a fluorescent beauty that was the moon. It glowed upon the children of the earth, adding a certain simplicity to the wonders of the night. Creatures were audible as they resumed their routines, the evening being when they rise. Cutting through the dense forest was a roadbed, a man-made trail of mud covered with stone. Hooves clanked atop the sturdy trail, adding to the noise of their surroundings.

Sasuke couldn't hear much besides the horses' steady walk, and the soft crunch of the wheels against the roadbed. The windows of the carriage were fogged over, a red substance smudging their clarity. He couldn't decipher what was occurring outside. If he was lucky, he caught an occasional glimpse of the trees rolling by. Inside, the carriage was cushioned with the finest material. Both sides of available seating were coated in various silks, velvets, and cotton. From what he could see through the darkness, the theme colors were navy blues and jade, outlined with blacks that accentuated the differences in shade.

"Nn…." Naruto released a moan, the sound being laced with purified suffering. Its rawness penetrated through the tight clench of his teeth. His body writhed, and it was then that Sasuke remembered he still had his companion in his hold.

"I'm gonna fix it, Naruto, just be patient."

Despite his rather terse response, Sasuke held sympathy for the injured male in his arms. It appeared to be that Naruto was always ending up injured. Although it wasn't exactly Naruto's fault, he was starting to quickly become a burden. Simultaneously, he was being too much of a hero. Archetypically, the sustaining of various injuries made for a better victor in the end. These thoughts made Sasuke question why he even bothered to ensure that Naruto survived. When his brain threatened to remind him of his perception of his companion, he quickly turned to a new topic.

Carefully, Sasuke balanced Naruto's weight with one arm, using the other to reach into the latter male's armor. Rolled neatly against his bosom was the map, in which Sasuke retrieved swiftly. The carriage rocked a bit, causing Naruto to release another fuddled noise of pain, though the Uchiha silenced it with a firm hold of his shoulders. Holding the map horizontally, he released the end to allow it to unravel. He successfully managed to reveal the appropriate side, in respect to their previous destination, and peered through the poor lighting to read.

According to its contents, they'd crossed Lupine already. From what he gathered through the red veil of the windows, their current location was associated with less forest life. The trees were tall and skinny, and a fog had settled over the area with an ominous undertone. These qualities did not correlate with the forest that he and Naruto had been pursued in; the luster was gone, and the color had been drained as they moved further along. The bright moonlight was useless, for there was nothing to reflect off of. Such characteristics were rather gloomy, and decipherable for what was to come upon them.

Outside, a muffled cough graced Sasuke's ears. He was startled enough to glance out of the closest window, trying hopelessly to check the setting around him. There was generally nothing to see; the bleak trees had remained in their positions, flaccid and crooked like the fingers of the wicked, working tirelessly at the burn of midnight oil. However, the Uchiha prince was able to notice that the subtle blurriness had subsided. The fingers of the forest had stilled, signifying that the carriage was no longer moving. In a moment of precaution, Sasuke singlehandedly rolled the map back up. After stuffing it into the armor over his chest, he extended his neck to look forward from out of the window.

Though it wasn't easy to do so, he was able to catch sight of a gate. Long bars of blackened steel stood as tall as the trees, having been perched firmly into the ground. Seemingly stretching on forever, the gate formed a barrier between the forest trail and its contents. The fog had thickened beyond the gate, making it impossible for Sasuke to steal a peek at what lay ahead. The only source of light belonged to Luna, who was too far up in the sky to provide adequate aid.

Coughing sounded yet again, being louder this time, before the carriage moved. It rocked gently under the influence of a shifting weight, and a small form jumped from the seat outside. Sasuke recognized the short, stubby old man that came into his line of sight as the carriage driver; dressed in a dark suit of formality, and missing a hand, he was an evidently tired soul. At this moment, he shuffled with achingly slow steps towards the front of the gate. Sasuke could no longer see him after he'd reached a certain point, for one of the horses blocked the way. Thus, Sasuke focused on his auditory senses.

All was momentarily still, aside from Naruto's shallow breathing at his ear. After a minute or two had gone by, Sasuke began to wonder about the old man's whereabouts. Had he been harmed along his way to the gate? The night's circumstances could prove that theory correct, which paved the way for brewing apprehension. The horse that obscured Sasuke's view gave a light whip of its tail, emitting a grunt that cut through the overbearing silence.

Following that noise was a metallic click, before the screeching of the steel bars filled the air. With unrushed motion, the gate's doors spread open. The growing apprehension had caused a ball to form in Sasuke's throat, and he swallowed it when the passageway was accessible. It bobbed painfully in his throat, and his hold on Naruto's limp frame tightened subconsciously. The old man returned to the carriage seat as the gate finished opening, settling into his seat. A final cough left him before the horses were summoned to move, and the carriage resumed its rocking along the trail.

Initially, the fog had submerged them into an unsettling blackness. Nothing could be seen, and no sounds could be heard. Even the everlasting brightness of Naruto's hair, which was so close by, could not be detected in the absolute absence of light. Sasuke found himself in a state of irritable longing, for if he despised any of his feelings, it had to be suspense; being rid of his ability to see was torturous, especially in this case scenario, and he hated his lack of the Sharingan. An additional concern was Naruto's condition—if the worst commenced, he'd be defenseless. It would be a pathetic death.

Regardless of his insecurities concerning the situation, Sasuke remained stoic as he stared out of the window. He silently strained to see something, anything, in the surrounding pitch black blanket. It was no longer a fog, but rather a cloud of gloom. Dark eyes met the overcast, the former flickering around relentlessly with the intent to execute its purpose. The strain was soon unnecessary, for a thin path of light was created from a single ray in the distance. Said path expanded in its width, growing larger and more blinding as they drew closer. Abruptly, within a minute's time, the light had won over.

Welcoming Sasuke's sight was none other than Gehenna, his new destination.

Contrary to popular belief (and what was written on the map as a description), the city was not engulfed with the burning of the damned. Instead, it was bombarded in the beauty of advancing civilization. As the carriage rolled by, Sasuke relaxed enough to calmly observe. Buildings were constructed with the most interesting designs, being evident results of newfound industrialization within architectural tools. Intricate detailing added sophisticated beauty to the overall structures. Houses, markets, eateries, antique stores, and everything in between, held a touch of new-aged influence.

From inside the carriage, Sasuke caught the whiff of warm baguettes, and freshly brewed coffee. His stomach cried painfully from within his armor at the smell. Nevertheless, he continued to feast his eyes upon the many attributes of the city known for alleged melancholia. The aforementioned word seemed like an insult, for there didn't seem to be an inch of sadness detectable. It was then that Sasuke decided to focus his attention on the people.

Molding into their place of residence, the men held an air of status to them; their clothing was nothing short of extravagance. Hats of length covered their heads, and animal coats rested on their shoulders. Foxes, jungle cats, and forest creatures accentuated the look altogether. Women were equals to the opposing sex in that aspect. Like the woman that had battled Kurama, the females all roamed the streets in obnoxiously exquisite dresses. Jewels and sparkling rosaries countered the men's fur coats. Carriages moved in sync with the people, simulating fluidity.

To put it simply, Sasuke was amazed. Alongside this, he felt strangely comfortable. The preceding days of his and Naruto's journey were pretty rough. It didn't do for a good impression, considering it counted as the first time Sasuke had left the castle on his own. The many creatures that they'd come across was equally disturbing, and generally exhausting. Being around those that both looked and acted like him put Sasuke to ease. Naturally, familiarity brought relief.

When the carriage came to a stop for the second time, it was upon another gate. This one was shorter, and the bars were connected by the twists and turns of the city's numerous designs. A young boy stood at the front of it, his appearance reminding Sasuke vaguely of Naruto; sandy blond hair covered his head, though in pretty waves rather than Naruto's shagginess. His bright blue eyes widened, for the man that had offered to take Sasuke and Naruto to medical attention lept from his seat beside the old carriage driver. He approached the young boy calmly, but Sasuke could tell that his words were laced with urgency. The young boy nodded in affirmation, then rushed to the raven's carriage door.

Sasuke stiffened when the door was opened, revealing him to the cold air of the city. The young boy briefly scanned him, then laid his eyes upon Naruto's injury. Said blond moaned in pain, for the chilly air from outside settled on his gaping wound. The man moved to stand behind the young boy, his own eyes looking over the wound. Unlike the boy's evident squeamishness, the man held a look of concern.

"Please, hurry and get him inside," the man ordered, his voice a soft tenor that left no room for opposition. The young boy's eyes flickered up to meet Sasuke's own with expectancy.

"Allow me to carry him," the young boy offered, holding his arms out invitingly. Sasuke was unable to detect the potentiality of foul play. If anything, the offer caused him to remember the genuine loyalty of his own servants back at home. In his state of comfort, he began to trust. Therefore, the Uchiha gently placed Naruto in the young boy's arms. The latter male was able to balance the weight of his new burden, surprisingly, while maintaining that Naruto's injury was not irritated further.

Freed of tending to his companion, Sasuke stood and stepped out of the carriage. His exposed skin quickly brewed with tingling goosebumps upon leaving. As Naruto was carried past the gates, which were presumably opened beforehand, the man silently led Sasuke along. It was then that he noticed the enormous palace that sat within the gate. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head; the building was extremely wondrous in its entirety. Being a prince, he was immune to large homes of royalty. However, he'd never seen anything like this. Even in its state of uniqueness, he felt as if it were his own.

The carriage was led inside the gate, then off the trail that led to the front. Double-doors posed as the entrance, fitting into place with the rest of the palace. Before the young boy could find a way to open them, while balancing Naruto, they'd done so from the inside. Another man stood within the doorframe, a look of surprise washing over him. Sasuke was quickly entranced by this man's face. To put it frankly, he was beautiful. His face was masculine, yet incredibly soft, and his eyes were fluorescent orbs of jade. With full lips, pale skin, and long dark hair that framed his face, he was a sight to see.

"My God!" he whispered in shock, taking a step back as he noticed Naruto's mangled leg. The young boy raised his arms, and Naruto's limp body.

"Monsieur Ange, he needs help," he pleaded, in which Ange collected Naruto in his own hold. Carrying the Uzumaki as if he were a dying bride, Ange turned to take him inside. Before he left, however, he took a moment to acknowledge Sasuke's presence. Sasuke fought from blushing under the strikingly piercing gaze, though was unable to stop the warmth that spread to his ears.

"Make sure that he is cleaned up, fed, and given a place to rest."

With that, Ange moved with a graceful stride into his home. The young boy, who Sasuke guessed by now was a servant, took his hand and began to direct him inside. He closed the door behind them, then started for the stairs stationed at the center of the expansive front room. The man followed Ange, his eyes trained on Naruto intensely. Sasuke noticed this, and frowned in suspicion. Once this action was made, the man looked up. Feline yellow stared at inky black, and a tenseness overtook the two of them.

"Sir," the young boy urged, tugging at Sasuke's hand. The Uchiha broke their stare, and glanced down at the young boy momentarily. In the short second that he looked away, Ange and the man were gone. This stirred Sasuke's suspicion, causing his frown to deepen before he began walking.


Gehenna was increasingly growing on him.

Sasuke had been taken to the second floor, where he was brought to a woman named Celeste. She was a dark-skinned beauty on her own, her small frame being covered in a simple dress. Her clothes matched the level of the young boy's, who was formally addressed as Bel. The two of them were indeed servants, who worked together to first remove Sasuke of his armor. They did so in a manner that prevented Sasuke from doing any moving. He only moved to take the map, which the servants respectfully pretended not to see. Having the heavy metal off of him was a mixed blessing; his limbs were released from the poundage, but his sour body odor was also free to take over the room. Celeste had inhaled sharply, then refrained from breathing for a moment, while Bel wrinkled his nose in disgust. However, they made no comment.

Shortly after taking his armor to be polished, Celeste took Sasuke to another room on the floor. In that room was a large wooden tub, which was set with steaming water and hemp oils. Rose petals floated enticingly, and Sasuke began to undress in desperation after bundling the map with his smelly clothes. He was given his privacy then, allowing him to soak for as long as he desired. The heat of the water unwound his stiff, tired muscles, and the oils helped to clean him off. He ran some of the liquid through his raven tresses, for it still held the musk of the dampness of Amphibia. Inevitably, the water had gotten darker in shade by the time he was finished.

His bath left him feeling fresh, and lighter. Bel provided him with a cloth to pat himself dry, then dressed him in night clothing made of warm, fluffy cotton. The clothes were dyed a lavender color. It complemented Sasuke, and pleased him doubtlessly. Supper was also a moment of pure enjoyment. Roasted pork, minced beef, steamed vegetables, salted fish, rice, bread, and many more foods were offered for his indulgence. The dining area was down on the first floor, resembling the one at his own kingdom. Everything tasted impressively splendid, and Sasuke's comfort permitted that he feast like it was to be his last meal.

Such a great meal prompted Sasuke's drowsiness. Thus, when he was given a bedroom on the third floor. Although it didn't exactly compete with the size of his own room, back at home, it was suitable enough. Furnished with an oak dresser, blazing fireplace, large bed, and single window, it drew Sasuke in easily. The blankets of the bed had called for him the loudest, and were thereby awarded with his body. He enveloped himself in the warmth. His body involuntarily melted into the cushiony mattress, and he briefly noted that his own bed did not compare.

Before he could thoroughly unravel himself sufficiently for slumber, Celeste had quietly made her presence known. He sat up slowly, being slightly chafed at having been interrupted. However, any irritation at her arrival diminished when she made her announcement.

"Sir Uzumaki is awake."

They entered Naruto's room, her leading him the short distance down the hall. Naruto's room had the same components as his own, and the blond sat against the headboard of the bed. He didn't notice them come in, for he was absorbed in a small child that he held in his arms. The little child had her tiny arms around Naruto's neck, her mane of brown ringlets matching the rich darkness of her skin. She turned her head from his neck to face the newcomers, her cherubic face peering curiously at Sasuke. Like Ange, her beauty struck him significantly.

At Naruto's bedside sat another woman. Her hair fell in a golden stream down her back, which curled up at the ends. Her skin was terribly pale, if not transparent, and her eyes were as curious in their violet color as the child's. She, too, was exceptionally striking to look at.

"You must be Sasuke," the woman spoke, her tone holding tenderness. She rose from the bed, a black dress hugging her slim frame. "I'm Soleil."

The Uchiha nodded, turning back to the child. She met his gaze easily, and he couldn't help but to consider the heaviness of her eyes. They seemed out of place on her face, for they held an older look to them. The rest of her looked no older than four years of age. Hard and insightful, she stared with the eyes of a woman.

Soleil smiled proudly after following Sasuke's line of sight. "That is Estelle, my beautiful daughter."

He didn't miss the way Celeste deflated slightly from beside him, having caught the action from his peripheral vision. Estelle, the tiny child with a hidden intelligence, gently crawled out of Naruto's hold. He looked shaken from her sudden action, as if being lifted from a trance, then placed all of his attention on Sasuke. Instantly, he beamed.

"Hey! Did you meet Soleil and Estelle?" he asked enthusiastically. He still maintained exuberance despite having been terribly injured just hours ago. Typical bonehead.

"Obviously," Sasuke responded with a frown. Naruto chuckled sheepishly, having realized his mistake, while Soleil merely giggled. Collecting Estelle into her arms, she held the child against the swell of her breasts tenderly. Celeste wrung her hands together from her spot in the doorframe.

"Estelle is hungry. The streets await us," Soleil said, her smile never faltering as she made her leave. Celeste looked on longingly at Estelle, then left with them. She closed the door after them, leaving Sasuke and Naruto alone. The former male paid careful attention to the three females as they left, then sighed with the oncoming pressure of exhaustion. He moved to sit at the bed's edge, replacing Soleil from where she had been sitting. On that side of the bed, Naruto's injured leg laid in its bandaged state. His armor had also been taken off, and he was dressed in the same lavender night clothes.

"My leg's feeling better. We should be able to leave tomorrow."

Remembering the sight of the wound, Sasuke looked up at Naruto with incredulity. "I don't think so. That Kurama dog messed you up pretty badly."

At the mention of the demon fox, Naruto furrowed his brow. He scrutinized his lap solemnly, crossing his arms over his chest. The effect was drastic; the blond's energy decreased significantly. Recalling their encounter with the wolf pack, Sasuke was able to hear Kurama's words:

"I hear the kingdom isn't doing so well, not with you as the leader!"

That was right. Kurama had mentioned that Naruto was of a royal bloodline. Naruto was a king.

"I didn't know you run a kingdom," Sasuke spoke. Naruto's azure eyes snapped up from his lap. A sudden defensiveness washed over him, and the blue orbs darkened before he snapped back.

"Yeah, well I didn't know you're an Uchiha!"

His tone of voice made Sasuke bristle. As if there was anything wrong with his clan, his birthright. He wasn't afraid nor hesitant to voice this. "What's wrong with being an Uchiha?"

Naruto relaxed, for he didn't have a legitimate answer. At least, he didn't feel comfortable with expressing his insecurities in regards to the clan. Instead of speaking, he said nothing. Sasuke allowed the silence to relax him as well. It wasn't like he had enough energy to begin with. Fighting over anything seemed petty and unnecessary at this point. The silence stretched on between them, their eyes on each other while their thoughts in other places. Wood crackled and popped as it was consumed in the fireplace.

"…I'm the leader of my kingdom, in Konoha." Naruto suddenly murmured, his eyes having softened with defeat. A frown was still evident on his face, but it was too light to be of any real malice. Sasuke had released the tightness of his own chagrin, leaning in just barely. Keeping his body language from expressing too much, he became intrigued.

The raven's silence was a queue for Naruto to keep talking. "My father was Minato Namikaze. He was a pretty great hunter, a country boy. He did a lot of hunting in Lupine, hence why Kurama knows about 'im."

He looked down at his lap again, his fingers creating little patterns in the fabric of the blanket that covered him.

"He met my mom, Kushina, on a hunting trip. She was the princess of Konoha at the time, but I guess she snuck out of the kingdom to be the tomboy she truly was," he chuckled through his words, "and ended up recklessly falling in love at a young age."

Sasuke wasn't deaf to the hint of sadness in Naruto's chuckle. Being the perceptive type that he was, the raven was able to tell that Naruto had an immense amount of adoration for his mother. He spoke of her in lightheaded mockery, as if speaking about his own daughter. It made him wonder what had happened to her, but he kept his curiosity controlled enough to just listen.

"They visited each other regularly, in many forests outside of the kingdom. It stopped when her advisers found out about it. Of course, being a princess, there was no way she wouldn't be found out. They had people tracking her every move. When they learned that she had a suitor, they were okay with it. That is, until they found out that he wasn't of the acceptable social status. They urged that she marry a nobleman, or a rich landowner instead. Especially this one guy, Danzo Shimura. He was so insistent on getting her to reconsider. For the economic and reputational sake of the kingdom, he preached that she reconsider things.

"No matter what they said, she remained pretty stubborn. So, she followed through with marrying my dad. Although her advisers didn't approve, she exercised her power to do it anyway. They were able to stay together for a few years, and ended up having me."

Naruto smiled cheerfully when he mentioned himself. Sasuke snorted at the dorky look, thinking on the information he gathered. If Naruto was king, that had to mean his parents resigned. Either that, or they were no longer alive to run the kingdom. He chose to entertain the latter hypothesis—Naruto had regarded them in the past tense. Considering the sensitivity of the possible circumstance, Sasuke proceeded with the question carefully.

"Where are your parents, now?"

He asked the question slowly, tentatively. Naruto picked up on the precaution, and shortened the cheerfulness of his smile before replying.

"Dead. They were assassinated when I was a baby."


A/N: Ah, I've finally been released from the hold of writer's block. No, Jordan, I didn't forget about this story. I never will. I am determined the finish. Sorry that it took SOOO long. School got in the way.

I don't think I'll be able to update regularly, like I had done with the previous chapters. But, I will definitely work harder to update more frequently than recently.

I ended the chapter here, since I know a couple of you are wondering about Naruto's background. The next chapter will be a bulk of that, along with Sasuke's own backstory. Basically, some bonding between the boys. It's currently 4am where I am, so I'll wait until tomorrow morning to begin Chapter 10. Or, uh, a more rational time later today. Thank you for reading! Leave a review!