Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji were having lunch with their Sir Gai in the garden when Lee called their attention.

"Hey, isn't that the attendant of Lady Sakura?" He pointed to the boy walking into the back entrance of the palace that was made for the common workers of the castle.

"That's the gardener, idiot," said Tenten, rolling her eyes.

"I know that the guy is the gardener, but look at the girl she's carrying!" Lee gestured towards the unconscious girl in the boy's arms. "I wonder what happened…"

"Lee, why not ask the gardener himself about what happened to Lady Haruno's attendant instead of guessing? You shouldn't waste your youth on such idle exercises."

"Yes, Sir Gai!" The boy immediately stood up and headed to the gardener.

Gai got up too. "I'm going to get more juice. Want some?" he asked Tenten. Neji was more of a tea drinker, so the Startlet didn't bother to ask.

"Yes, please. Thank you, Sir Gai," she said smilingly. He waved, and then ran off.

"It is her," said Neji, voice barely audible.

Tenten gazed at his face thoughtfully, trying to discern the emotions that lay beneath those unfathomable gray eyes and impeccably even face.

What was it about that girl that could arouse that kind of attention from this boy whom she knew was every inch as glacial as the Ice Prince himself?

Suddenly, he looked at her, and their eyes locked. The familiar twitch of sarcasm appeared in his small smile.

"Not again?" he asked mockingly. "Must you always stare, witch?"

"Why, does it bother you, Earl Hyuuga Neji? Afraid you'd fall under my power?" she murmured, careful not to let passersby hear their heated exchange.

"When you act like this, it gets me to think that it's not just your potions or your spells that you are fascinated with." He smirked. "Romantically."

"You think you're so heaven-sent? You think you're a gift to women?" She shook her head and gave him a pitying sort of look. "The Duke cannot even find you a suitable marriage partner because you have such a sorry personality."

He didn't even looked fazed. "I appreciate your keen interests in my prospects. I will let you know if our family ends up considering you to be shortlisted."

Gai returned, holding a pitcher of juice. "Here you go, Tenten!" he said cheerfully.

She took it, plastering a carefree smile on her face. "Thank you, Sir Gai!" And with that, she unceremoniously dumped the whole pitcher of orange juice over Neji's head.

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"Oh, damn it!" said Tenten through gritted teeth when her eleventh potion exploded right under her nose. She couldn't concentrate anymore after what happened this morning- she was too vexed to work.

And there was only one reason for that: her childhood rival, Neji.

She had always wanted to see herself as someone whose emotions couldn't meddle with her work. It was the earl alone who could distract her up to this extent, and for that, she could kill him already.

Even since childhood, she, Lee, and Neji had trained together under the expertise of Sir Maito Gai. Yet it was evident that Hyuuga Neji was far more advanced in combat skills when compared to them. Perhaps, that was the reason why she and Lee developed a special kind of closeness through the years, making them treat each other more like siblings than sparring mates. They shared the same envy towards the perfect warrior, which through the years, slowly evolved into a peculiar kind of respect.

For Lee, Neji became his ultimate taijutsu opponent. For her, he became her ultimate verbal adversary. If she would be able to defeat him in debates, she would be fulfilled for the day. Even if it means that she had to side with the Prince Sasuke (whom she secretly thought of as not as worthy an opponent as Hyuuga Neji was), she would immediately do so if only to annoy her childhood rival.

Yet everything changed when months ago, the timid dark-haired maid named Hinata came into the palace, applying as a maid. She vaguely remembered that she and Neji were engaged in a lively debate about sending spies to the Mist kingdom to confirm rumors that they were harboring A-List Konoha criminals in their territory.

All of a sudden, he noticed the quiet girl in the hallway, being briefed by the headmaid on her duties.

"New face in the staff, huh? Her eyes look like yours," she commented when Neji's eyes remained glued at the petite girl, the pale orbs showing a rare semblance of emotion. It puzzled her for in the whole time that the three of them were together, never once did he speak of his clan, may it be positively or negatively.

He didn't reply.

Since then, she would catch him several more times watching Hinata quietly. He would lose interest in anything else at hand, and this bothered her more than she would admit. She simply couldn't understand why that feeble looking girl could do this to a boy with such power, such strength that she and Lee looked up to.

So, she secretly resented the maid, for the girl took away her most respected rival.

But Tenten would have to die a most painful death first before she admits that to anyone, let alone to Hyuuga Neji himself.

Speaking of the devil, Neji arrived in her laboratory, fresh from the bath. His arms were crossed smugly, and when he was like that, she knew he had something cooking in his mind.

"I suppose you understand that my untimely bath is because of your doing, witch," he began, leaning against the doorway.

"No need to thank me, Earl Hyuuga," she chirped as she swiveled around to face him. "You smell like fresh oranges! Like, literally!"

His facial muscles moved only ever so slightly, but she felt triumphant. Her bad mood was now dissipating.

"If there's anything I hate, it's being embarrassed in front of many people," he spoke softly, dangerously.

She maintained a saccharine smile. "The only person who thinks Earl Hyuuga Neji is a flawless and perfect human being is you, so don't worry about how the lesser mortals like us feel about you."

"I wonder about that." In one swift move, he leaned forward and placed his arms on both sides of her chair, caging her between him and the worktable. Her potions, bottles, and cylinder tubes crashed down the floor, but she was only vaguely aware of the mess because all her senses were held captive by the dominating power that was Hyuuga Neji.

"W-What in Sir Gai's name are you doing, you idiot?" And she cursed herself for stammering.

"You can't even muster the conviction to fight me off," he murmured, a smug smile forming on his face.

He was right, she realized with a start, as his face lowered on hers, and all she could do was close her eyes in tense anticipation.

"The battle has not even commenced, and already you have submitted yourself to me." He exhaled sharply. "And I thought you were a challenge."

"Just as I thought," she retorted, albeit shakily. "You can't do it."

"Witch." His mouth claimed hers.

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"Look, buster. I told you, there are NO job vacancies here in the palace!" snapped Kiba as he glared at the yellow-haired boy who had been pestering him for almost an hour to hire him as a laborer in the Hidden Leaf main castle.

"But I really need a job!" Uzumaki Naruto pleaded. After he had transformed into his original form—something he had been wishing for to happen in the past two weeks—it was ironic that he had no idea what to do next.

His housemates were missing, and he had nowhere to go. It was then that he remembered Hinata.

He wanted to see her and check if she was alright—it had been two days since they parted ways in the boundary of Leaf and Sound.

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"Hinata!" Naruto yelled when he saw her faint in the arms of the gardener. He was about to rush to her side when the boy motioned him to stay where he was. The dark-haired lad proceeded to lift her limp body in his arms before he turned to him.

"You endangered the life of Lady Hinata, and that is beyond forgiveness. But you saved her from the rapids, so I shall spare your life. Do not attempt to come near her again, or I will have your head." With that, he turned his back and walked away.

"Where are you taking her?" he yelled.

"None of your business."

"I'm making it mine now!" He rushed towards the gardener, aiming a punch at him.

Suddenly, a large army of bugs appeared in front of the raven-headed boy, as if ready to protect their master. Naruto had to stop, his instinct telling him that the bugs were poisoned.

"Damn you!"

"I'm only doing my job, so you mustn't take it personally. She will not be harmed, I give you my word." The gardener walked away with his friend, and he could only helplessly watch them depart .

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"If you can make the crown prince go to me and order me to give you a job in the ranch, then I'll be your subordinate," said Kiba, smiling vexingly.

"Hmmm…fair enough!" With that, Naruto hurried away, wanting to find the prince as soon as possible.

Kiba scratched his head. "Well, if there's one good thing about him, it's his fighting spirit."

Akamaru sniffed the ground where Naruto stood, and then barked.

"What is it, Akamaru?" the Inuzuka lad asked. "You say that he smells familiar?" He also bent down the ground and examined the smell. "Hmm…you're right. My nose recognizes him. I wonder where we met."

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"You mean Iruka and Ebisu are missing in the hut?" The crown prince Uchiha Sasuke had asked Asuma and Kakashi to check on the two Starlets who promised to convene with him but did not appear.

"The house furniture are still there, and there was no sign of struggle. It meant that they left the hut voluntarily," reported Asuma, taking off his cigarette—the prince was allergic to smoke.

"They must have been ambushed on their way here," said Kakashi, frowning thoughtfully. "The forest where they live in is already far from the main grounds that our foot soldiers beat pounds."

"But normal bandits will have a hard time with them," said Asuma confidently. "They are not Starlets for nothing."

"Nevertheless, organize a clandestine search party for them," ordered Sasuke. "The people of Hidden Leaf must not know about them, or they might doubt the stability of the kingdom and its revered Hidden Leaf Starlets."

"Consider it done." With that, Asuma disappeared.

He turned his attention to Kakashi. "What's your take on this?"

The Starlet looked away. "I can't say."

"Is it that bad?" the prince pressed.

The Starlet crossed his arm solemnly. "The truth of the matter is…" He shrugged. "I really have no idea, so I can't say."

"What?" sputtered Sasuke, face dark.

"You worry too much, man. You need to lighten up a little. Watch the stage plays. Go out on a date with one of your women. Read my Come Come Paradise collection."

"Remind me to assign you for guard duty on graveyard shift." Sasuke marched towards the courtyard, annoyed.

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Naruto looked around the vast grounds of the palace. He silently wondered where the throne room was. Why, he couldn't even remember where Hinata's room was!

Hinata… His eyes saddened. With all his heart, he wished that she would be fine.

Even if he didn't like the snobby gardener, he felt the truthfulness of the boy when he said that he would not harm the girl. But still, his worries could only be put to rest if he sees the girl safe personally.

And there was also the matter of his Sir Iruka and Sir Ebisu. Now where did the two go? They could have at least left a note to him if they knew they would be away for some time.

He shook his head vehemently. "Aaah! I'm never going to accomplish anything if I take matters all at the same time. I have to solve my problems one at a time!" First, he needed to find someone who could direct him to the prince. When he finds the crown prince, he would have to just find a way to make him go to the royal stable and tell that cocky Kiba to give him a job. Voila! One of his problems would be solved. He would be able to check on Hinata.

As if Lady Luck was smiling on him, a dark-haired boy his age was walking at the courtyard grumpily. He was dressed in a plain blue shirt and white shorts, therefore, Naruto thought, he must be a worker for the court.

He waved happily at the lad. "Hey you! I need to talk to you! Hey!"

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Sasuke sweatdropped when he saw a blond boy waving at him gleefully, calling him. There was no other person in the yard right now, so he was sure that the boy was talking to him.

Doesn't he recognize who I am? He wondered as he made his way towards him. If this person was really part of the Hidden Leaf kingdom, then he should know better than to talk to him this way. He couldn't be a spy either—he couldn't sense anything fishy about this idiotic-looking young man.

But then again, he could be wrong. This might just be a trick to fool them into loosening their guard against the espionage of the other castles.

"Why aren't you talking? Are you mute?" asked the boy, eyes wide.

"Idiot." Now he knew he wasn't a spy. He didn't even look like he knew who he was talking to. His eyes surveyed his appearance.

He winced at the color of the hair of the loudmouth. Ever since the naked girl kissing incident, he had grown allergic to the sight of yellow hair. This boy was certainly no exception, especially since he sort of reminded him again about that frog who suddenly became a naked girl that scandalized his good name in the court. "What do you want?" he asked snappily.

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Naruto rolled his eyes. "Don't be mad. It's too beautiful a day to get so pissed off at the world!"

That comment didn't help lighten the boy's mood. "Tell me what you want and let's get it over with."

"Help me find the crown prince."

"What?" The raven-haired stranger spitted out.

"You know! Prince Sasuke: that snobbish, arrogant, emo guy sitting pretty on his throne as he enjoys women kissing his feet," continued Naruto, grinning. "That's what my Sir Ebisu told me, but don't tell that to anyone that he said that, especially to the prince himself, okay?"

The boy nodded slowly. "What do you want from the prince anyway?"

Naruto had no choice but to explain the bargain Kiba gave. In the end, the stranger was nodding his head. "I'll take you to the prince. One question though. Don't you know the prince? All the constituents of Hidden Leaf kingdom knows who he is."

Naruto shrugged. "I don't live in the main town. I live in the forest with Sir Ebisu and Sir Iruka-they're part of the Starlets, if you don't know them." He didn't add that even if he had already seen (and kissed) the prince, his not-so-photographic memory would not help him. He reckoned that even if he bumped right into him in this very courtyard, he still wouldn't know that the person was the crown prince.

"Wait, your name is…?" Sasuke's forehead creased. He suddenly remembered the boy that Iruka and Ebisu said that was able to see the devil serpent in person, and survived.

"Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto," said the boy proudly.

I knew it. "You wanted to see the prince, right?"

"You betcha!"

"Follow me then."

to be continued