AN: Chapter title: Promotions and Celebrations Part 5

"Madness, complete madness." Naruto spoke to himself as he headed down the halls, shook his head at the insane mindset of the Hokage, of his willingness to continue little more than a farce.

The idea of two sharing power? The idea that those two would support each other? Would defend the other? It was a doomed situation.

Only one was allowed to rule, only one was able to rule.

If one ruled, he could see all who desired his power and crush them.

If one ruled, he could be decisive, waste no time when action was needed.

If one ruled, he would never have to suffer any number of fools like the Fire Daimyo.

Caesar found his Legate waiting outside the building. With the Daimyo gone, the samurai had left and had also left his weapons for Sasuke to bear until he emerged. In truth, two of his Praetorians had been called forth and now held his weapons. His Legate seemed to be in a less than stellar state.

One of his eyes seemed to have developed a permanent twitch.

"Legate?" Naruto approached him with some worry, settled a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"It looks that I'll be one of the personal escorts of the Daimyo for the duration of his stay Caesar." Sasuke closed his eyes, forced himself to calm down before he did something rash. "Would you be willing to switch places with me?"

"Not at all." If nothing else, Naruto was honest. He retrieved his weapons from his waiting Praetorians as he spoke, swiftly armed himself once again.

Sasuke sighed, ran a hand down his face.

"We'll have to come up with something while I'm occupied. With the speed we'll likely move at, I'll be away from the village for weeks at the minimum." Sasuke looked to Naruto. "Any ideas Caesar?"

"Not a single one." Naruto chuckled. "We'll have to come up with something in the next few days."

"Yes, we will." Sasuke managed a small laugh of his own. "I have to admit, this is rather awful timing for us. I've been overseeing the Fifth's recovery but if I'm occupied so thoroughly by this my oversight will become nothing short of random."

"I'll oversee things in your stead." Naruto waved off his concerns. "Once you return from the capital, you'll assume your duties once more."

"As long as you yourself aren't too busy." Naruto laughed at such an idea. He looked to his Praetorians. "You are dismissed."

Both answered with the salute of his Legion before they were gone through use of the seal they all wore.

The two spent no more time there, headed off into the village proper from the rather remote area they had met the Daimyo and the Hokage within.

In no time at all, they were walking the streets of the village.

"Legate?"

"Yes Caesar?"

"I must be honest with you."

"You are always free to speak your mind to me Caesar. What troubles you?"

"I've already grown tired of this ridiculous vest." Naruto was tempted to strip out of the Flak Jacket already, found the protective vest too light for his liking, found it too constricting when compared to his armor. He hadn't even bothered to wear it into battle and he found it nearly impossible to move in.

It didn't slow him down as heavier armor would nor would it protect him in the way his armor had. It wasn't even good for storage despite its bulky appearance seemingly lending itself to additional space. His armor was simply the superior protection in his eyes, in the eyes of his Legate as well judging from how he made an attempt to adjust it yet again. One of perhaps a dozen times since he had placed it on in preparation for the short promotion ceremony they had attended. Naruto considered little more than a miracle that neither he nor Sasuke simply threw the Flak Jackets off at this point.

"I can't deny that this is far from the most comfortable attire I've ever worn." Sasuke kept to his side, the lack of his Praetorians drawing eyes from those around them even if the villagers had learned to keep their distance. Most still stared at the two, some even dared to glare at the blonde when they guessed he wasn't paying attention.

A brief glance from black eyes was slowly but surely putting a stop to such a disrespectful habit.

"I prefer our armor." Naruto chuckled. "But it is nothing but a minor irritation in the long run." He continued unimpeded down the street. "For now, I wish to…"

Sasuke's Sharingan appeared in less time than it took to blink, one hand reaching for the sword at his side, the Dojutsu in his eyes searching for whatever had made Caesar trail off. He found nothing but the civilians that they traveled amongst, the scattered Shinobi performing their duties across the village, Caesar's own soldiers spread across the village.

There was no immediate threat to Caesar but still he searched in vain, made use of his clan's infamous Dojutsu in service of his Caesar.

He didn't see Naruto's hand come up to the earpiece he had returned to its proper place once his meeting with the Hokage was over.

"What?" Blue eyes burned away to red. "My orders stand. Keep the dogs there." His command was spoken with unmistakable fury. Red eyes were locked on something far off in the distance. Without another word, Naruto marched forward. He was all but running down the street with the swift pace he suddenly set. Sasuke followed after him without hesitation. His hand remained on his sword as he continued to search for what had drawn Caesar's attention so thoroughly, had set him off in pursuit.

He found nothing that could draw his Caesar into such a state.

Regardless of such a thing, he followed after his Caesar without hesitation.

He always would.

They had been traveling for only a few minutes when he spotted the Praetorians up ahead, groups filling the streets and providing a barrier made out of their shields while others watched from the rooftop.

Naruto reached the group first, a Centurion among the Praetorians snapping off a salute to Caesar before simply nodding to where another Centurion stood before a pair of Shinobi with his hand on his sword, a red haired Shinobi placed behind him using his other arm, his purple cape actually torn from his shoulders and wrapped around her.

Sasuke would ask his questions on all of this later, press for answers from the Praetorians, ask Caesar what was happening when the opportunity presented itself.

All of that would come later.

For now, he silently stepped to Caesar's side. Whatever this was, Caesar would have his support.

"This is her?" Naruto's red eyes focused on the fallen girl even as the Centurion standing before her nodded. "Get her on her feet." He turned his attention to the two foreign Shinobi, from Kusagakure judging by their Forehead Protectors. His red eyes immediately made them backpedal, trip and fall to the ground as the blonde all but growled at them. "You dare?"

Sasuke settled the red and black eyes of his Sharingan on them.

He could dimly remember the two of them from one of dozens of reports on the competitors from the Chunin Exams, remembered Caesar had been interested in their teammate above all else.

'For an obvious reason.' He had simply been too distracted by planning the counterattack, managing Caesar's Legion, to ask much about her beyond her name. 'Karin Uzumaki.' His eyes turned to the girl who still laid sprawled on the ground, who stared up at the two of them, stared up at Caesar, in nothing short of shock.

"Shall I escort her from here Caesar?" Sasuke asked the most logical question to him, didn't bother with keeping his hand on his blade with the two cowards already crawling back on the ground. They were of no consequence, already cowed into submission by the presence of Caesar's guard alone, let alone Caesar himself.

"No." Naruto's eyes left the two Genin all but sniveling on the ground, turned his attention to the trio of Kusagakure Shinobi who merely observed from a rooftop, had been approached from behind by a squad of ten Praetorians. "Legate, bring the dog to me."

Sasuke didn't wait for more information.

He had matched the face to a name, knew that Caesar was speaking of Karin Uzumaki's Jonin sensei.

He appeared behind the Kusagakure Shinobi and simply kicked him off the rooftop. His two partners, two Sasuke could recognize as Chunin, reacted too late to stop him or catch the falling Shinobi. He made an effort to recover at least before crashing into the ground in front of Caesar.

Naruto did nothing to the man as he lifted his head off of the ground, as he glared at him. The Chunin merely lifted a hand to stop any of his Praetorians from acting, from killing the man where he laid on the ground.

"Dog." Naruto made his opinion of the Jonin clear. "Karin is no longer yours. Now leave my home, scurry back to whatever hovel pests like you call home. I am merciful today when I should have you crucified."

The Jonin didn't speak.

Sasuke dropped down next to him, avoided driving his knee into his spine to snap it. He settled for using one of his kunai to pin the one the Jonin had drawn to the ground by the ring. The two Chunin above aimed to attack him, likely though the Uchiha was vulnerable, and he pulled on the wire strings he had attached to them, tripped them and let them crash into the roof beneath them.

He looked to his Caesar.

Red eyes met red.

"This one is mine." Naruto bid Sasuke to rise with those words.

"What the hell do you think you're doing you damn brats? This is an act of war on the Hidden Grass!" The Jonin spoke words that didn't matter to Caesar or his Legate. Sasuke would have normally simply outright laughed at such a threat if the situation was different. This was not such a time. Caesar's fury towards this Shinobi of the Hidden Grass was clear, his rage had been, and was, tightly bound. Even now, with the focus of his anger before him, it was still tightly bound.

"I have given you the chance to run. I suggest you take it." Naruto crouched down before the men his Legate had already so clearly proven himself superior to, ignored his empty words. His red eyes stared into ones that were swiftly growing in shock, either at his audacity or as he finally realized the identities of the two.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, the Jinchuriki of the Hidden Leaf and the last of the Uchiha Clan.

"That girl leaves with us." The Jonin rose to his feet only because Naruto gave a wordless order to Sasuke, silently commanded the Legate to let him rise.

The dog was his to beat it seems.

Sasuke stepped back, he and Caesar had carried out a silent conversation while the man picked himself up from the ground and the Uchiha had his task. He dismissed the Praetorians with a simple hand signal, headed to the redhead still on the floor, wrapped up in the cloak of a Centurion.

"Centurion, explain the situation to me." Sasuke's Sharingan ran over the girl, could see the fear in her eyes as he did so. He deactivated the Dojutsu, turned to the Praetorian in full instead. He kept part of his focus on the handful of Kusagakure Shinobi that Caesar found himself dealing with.

"The girl is Karin Uzumaki, a descendent of the Uzumaki Clan Caesar himself is a part of. He asked his Praetorians to continue surveillance on her and the duty was assigned to me." The eyes of the Centurion turned to the two Genin that had hardly managed to get back on their feet, one grab at the sword on his back with shaking hands. "This trash abused her, used her for her ability." His red eyes promised retribution.

"Focus Centurion." Sasuke spared them from such a gaze for now. "What did they do to her?"

"See for yourself." The Centurion turned away. "Your eyes see more than mine no doubt."

Sasuke spared a glance to the Centurion as he walked away, headed to the perimeter his Century had established on the street. He would normally reprimand one of the Legion for such clear disrespect, especially one of the Praetorians, but decided to let it go for the moment. After all, Caesar's Legion shared his fury.

He turned his eyes to the girl that remained on the ground, that had earned a guard of a quartet of Caesar's Praetorians.

In the blink of an eye, his Sharingan returned.

A moment later, it focused solely on the girl, on what little of her he could see beneath the cape covering her.

His eyes widened.

The Jonin had risen to his feet, joined by the two Chunin from the rooftop as they finally recovered from having the wind knocked out of them.

Caesar had clearly decided on what to do with the Jonin in front of him.

"Don't think trash like you can claim to be my equal. But I am not heartless. I will give you a chance in this beating you wish for so strongly as I will use neither my blade nor anything but one hand to discipline a mere dog such as yourself."

Naruto held his hand out before he made a show of forming a fist and placing it behind his back. He looked to his Legate.

"Sasuke, tie my arm into place." The Uchiha didn't hesitate, had severed part of the cloth he wore down his legs to make it so.

"Are you sure I can't be involved?" Sasuke worked quickly to tie Naruto's wrist. He didn't bother with anything but making the knot secure to Caesar's belt. Caesar could tear through such weak binds at any point he wished. This was merely to make a statement to the fool before him.

"If you are so driven to involve yourself, simply don't let any of the rest of these mutts interfere." Naruto gave his order and received a nod as Sasuke took a step back. He stepped forward and held out his free hand, wordlessly beckoned the Kusagakure Jonin to come forward as he curled his fingers back. "Now, come dog. I will show you the firm hand of your master."

Sasuke considered the Jonin, Zosui of the Hidden Grass Village, a complete fool for not taking Caesar's earlier mercy to flee.

His attempt to swiftly attack with a kunai proved fruitless, Naruto not giving him the chance. A backhand threw the man to the ground before he could react to the sight of the blonde now in front of him instead of across the street like he should be. Naruto spared the man yet another look of disgust and scorn before he let his hand fall.

"Come dog. Show me your bark." Naruto's laugh was cold, was mocking. His red eyes were focused solely on the fool before him, on the fool he would beat without mercy.

The two that were watching clearly had a plan, clearly intended to interfere in Caesar's battle.

Sasuke's still active Sharingan allowed him to see what the two Kusagakure Chunin were planning with nothing but a glance, could read exactly where they intended to throw themselves forward, how they aimed to try and restrain Caesar before he could continue beating the fool. He cowed the Genin that were looking on without the aid of the Dojutsu, a cold stare was enough for the two to once more drop to the ground, crawl back on their hands to avoid drawing anymore of his ire.

In the blink of an eye, he had a kunai to each of their throats, pressed the well sharpened blades to their skin to draw out a thin line of blood.

"If you move, I'll slit your throats." His warning was delivered.

They, wisely, chose to not test him.

He turned his focus back to the lesson his Caesar was imparting on the Jonin before him.

In the short time he had looked away, Caesar had already broken an arm, had decided such a thing was too easy for his foe, decided to break the fingers of each hand of the other one at a time. The man had decided to be arrogant for a moment, had dared to openly speak of what he had done to the red haired Genin, what her teammates had done to her.

Using her in an attempt to remove their own pathetic weakness, believed themselves equals to any Shinobi because they could abuse her abilities.

For a moment, the Legate considered Caesar too merciful in his treatment of the dog. He should tear out the cretin's tongue and leave him to die judging from what he had said.

"Tell me something dog." Naruto stood with one foot on the man's head, held up his unbroken hand as his eyes burned with crimson wrath. He allowed a blood red shroud to engulf his hand, to gift him with burning claws. The man's screams were worthless as he gifted them to the ground alone, pushed down with his foot harder on his head to make it so. "Before I go back to disciplining you, I have to know." He twisted the already broken arm, made the man scream, sob, beg for this to be over as the pain only grew with the red Chakra blessing all it touched with a ferocious burn. "How many times did Karin ask of you the same as you ask of me now? How many times did you delight in your power over her? How many times did you laugh at her screams? Her pain?"

He twisted the arm until he finally did pull it from the shoulder it was attached to, shoved the man's face into the ground to muffle his screams.

"That's what I thought." He dropped the broken and useless arm to the ground. He turned his crimson gaze to his Legate. "Legate, we are leaving." He made sure to stomp down on the man's head before he left. "Bring her with us."

"As you wish Caesar." Sasuke had no problem grabbing the rather stunned redhead by the hand to help her to her feet, guide her to follow after him and his Caesar, leave the collection of Kusagakure Shinobi broken and bleeding on the ground. The Uchiha spared a glance to the lot of them. "What of this abundance of trash? Shall I leave it to dirty the street?"

"As deserving of such a fate as they are, the Hokage will no doubt be disappointed if I simple leave this trash here. Have some of my Praetorians gather these dogs, dump them at the hospital or close enough to be found by the staff. It doesn't matter to me as long as they are out of my sight." Naruto looked to the redhead, dismissed the rest of the foreign Shinobi with his words. He smiled at her, held out his hand. "Now Karin, I believe we have much to talk about still. Please, come with me."