Mate
/bleh/ Naruto talking to Kyuubi mentally.
Sometimes life can be one cruel son of a bitch, one minute you're due to inherit your father's fortune, and then the next you're being pushed down a well by your sibling.
Nineteen-year-old Sasuke Uchiha cursed beneath his breath how could he have been so reckless? He knew it was only a matter of time before his older brother tried to murder him. Hell, their father had done the same to their late uncle, so it was sort of a family tradition. The official heir would get their clan's entire fortune.
He could barely hear his older brother Itachi's words from atop the sealed-off well. "My apologies it had to end this way, but seeing as I'm our father's second favorite, I can't allow you to inherit his fortune. I can only hope your death is a swift one. Maybe, in another life, you'll find it in your heart to forgive me." And with those final parting words, his brother was gone, leaving him there to tire and eventually drown.
At that moment, Sasuke pressed against the annular-shaped brick wall of the Well to keep his body afloat. If his brother had not used a nerve-stunning Jutsu it would have been simple enough to get out.
At first, it took Sasuke a minute to notice the bubbles rising to the surface at the other end of the Well. The ebony-haired shinobi knew if he found that breach, he might find freedom even in the deep darkness of the Well. He was unable to judge exactly how deep down the Well goes, but he would have to take that risk.
And so, he sucked in a deep breath dipping his head beneath the cool water surface, following the trail of bubbles. Unfortunately, he had a rough time swimming, but with only half of his body functioning properly it was hard to dive any deeper.
Only a few feet down did Sasuke notice the bubbles were coming from an inch-long gap between the cobblestone structure? This would be his first time attempting his Chidori submerged, albeit there was a first time for everything.
With all the Chakra he could muster Sasuke had focused his energy into his palm until it glowed a bright blue and even then his Chidori was much weaker than normal. He was able to breach through and with one hard thrust of his fist. However, what the raven had failed to anticipate was the power of the well's suction, once it had collapsed. The water plus one Uchiha had broken through the cobblestone reservoir. He was thrashed around by the water before coming to an abrupt halt.
When everything stopped reeling and moving was when Sasuke sat up. Cautiously, he had clutched his paralyzed limb before climbing to his scandal-clad feet. There in the distance, he saw between the blanket of large pipe vines was a massive brick structure that stretched up towards the heavens.
"Well, what do we have here?" Sasuke turned in time to see two Shinobi wearing dark green vests, smirking at him.
The Raven vaguely thought what the hell had he just stumbled upon, as the two Chunin swooped in on him.
Defeated, fifteen-year-old Naruto Uzumaki had slouched in his seat, fighting the urge to flee.
As yet again, his mentor Kakashi Hatake showed the youth another potential mate. This time, however, it was a woman who looked like she belonged in a coffin. The elderly woman spun around giving the juvenile a good view of her shape before sending him a come-hither kiss.
The teen gagged, sticking his tongue out at her in disgust.
Most of the villagers wanted the perks of being a mate of the vessel. They wanted the title, the wealth, and also a share of that unlimited Chakra. Konoha had revered the youth for his sacrifice. He was selected at birth to harbor Kyuubi-no-Kitsune so that the demon could stay attached to their realm and guard the village of the hidden leaf and its powerful hidden scrolls.
It also helped that over the past centuries the Village of the Hidden Leaf was believed, by the other rival countries and villages to be nothing more than a Myth, which quickly turned into a Legend. Since no one has ever seen it, or Live to Tell the Tale for that matter.
"This is Ayame. She's seventy-six years old. Her spouse is recently deceased, so she's available and she's also the great-grandmother of four." The Ashen-haired Shinobi announced before winking at the youth who was forced to sit there and go through all his selected engagements.
"Alright! Just stop Kakashi! I'm done for the day. I can't sit through another one." He protested. Naruto has hopped out of the chair fully ready to run if need be. He had been at it for a total of three hours now, which felt more like three years.
Kakashi nodded before escorting the pouting grandmother out of the boy's Japanese-style manor.
/What's the matter Kit? Is she not to your liking? /Kyuubi's blooming voice rang throughout the boy's head.
/Have you seen her!? She's too old. It's gross! /
/Don't be that way, or are you saving yourself for someone special maybe a certain Salmon-haired girl perhaps? /
The teen blushed / What no! /
/Pity, I thought I sensed her Chakra signature outside/
Naruto straightened up in his seat /Really? /
/No! Take my word for it Kit she's a young woman now, and not interested in a little boy. She wants a man/ He heard the demon's mocking laughter echo in his head before fading away.
/Sometimes I hate you/
Kyuubi did not respond.
Ayame and Kakashi didn't get very far. The pair had paused at the front steps as they saw a bunch of village people beginning to gather in the center of Konoha.
Curiously, he had poked his head between both adults, as the three watched the public spectacle that was taking place. Never had this happened before? Never had they caught an actual outsider and brought them back to the village!
Instinctively, Naruto had jetted off even as both Kakashi and Ayame protested, but he was already gone.
The sun had beamed down harshly on alabaster flesh as Sasuke was shoved to his knees, by the same two Shinobi who had found him. His arms were bound tightly behind his back by a thick woven rope, which was beginning to cut into his wrist. His ankles were shackled, making it virtually impossible for any escape and to walk, which was already difficult.
It also didn't help that half his body was still under the effects of the stunning Jujitsu. So, this is it? Sasuke wondered as a hand clenched tightly at the nape of his damp raven locks, forcing his head to tilt back heavenwards. A tense groan slipped from his lips, in one minute he was following his brother into the woods right outside of their family's estate, and the next he was having another attempt on his life! Life had always been funny like that or at least his life has.
The Shinobi that had yanked at his tender nape began to shout towards the rapidly increasing crowd attracting the attention of villagers, vendors, and other Shinobi.
"We have found this intruder snooping near our borders. We all know that our survival depends on Konoha going undetected throughout the years!" with that Sasuke received a sharp kick to his back bringing him to his knees.
The crowd had erupted into panic-stricken shouts to kill him and boos. Some villagers started throwing rotten food at him. They were scared. The Shinobi clenching Sasuke's soft mane had tugged his head back more until it became virtually hard to swallow. His Adam's apple had jutted out further than normal by this action.
By now, Sasuke had shut his inky black depths. If he were to die, then his only wish would be a swift one.
Just then, he heard the crowd start to quiet down as the shouting began to turn into bewildered whispers. He could hear light footsteps approaching, so this must be his executioner Sasuke wondered, as the almost silent footsteps drew near. Sasuke could feel the cool shadow of the other bathing his body like that of the grim reaper itself.
However, what had happened next was something Sasuke could have never conjured up not even in his wildest of dreams. He felt the sensation of tiny fingertips cupping his chin.
For some reason, his sharpened senses knew that something was bridging that gap, and subconsciously he braced himself squaring his shoulders. He did not know exactly what was happening and yet his eyes remained firmly shut as he accepted his faith, but something very strange happened.
In one abrupt motion, he felt the light pressure of soft and somewhat moist lips pressed against the corner of his mouth in a kiss.
It sure had felt that way, although a bit clumsy. He could hear the crowd that had come to witness his public execution all break into gasps and bewilderment at the scene. Why Uzumaki-sama! he heard one woman cry from the crowd.
Slowly, onyx-colored orbs opened at the soft sensation, on the corner, of his mouth separated from the other individuals.
What he saw was short spiky golden-blonde hair and bright cobalt color hues' staring back at him. But this was all wrong those eyes belong to a very young-looking face.
"I choose you!" The boy kneeling in front of him had announced loud enough for all to hear. He flashed Sasuke a cheese grin that lit up sun-kissed features before he was abruptly ushered away by two rather angry-looking Shinobi.
Curiously, the blonde kept looking back at Sasuke until he disappeared completely into the throng of bodies.
Tsunade The Hokage of Konoha was not convinced. She had an inkling Konoha's Vessel would pull a stunt like this.
Her mouth had drawn into a tight line at the announcement. What was the brat playing at? However, she had reluctantly, mind you, signaled for her Shinobi to release the raven from death's clutches.
Tsunade knew as soon as Naruto had seen them dragging this outsider and parading him around the village streets that the boy would find some absurd way to save his life but not like this.
Naruto practically belched his declaration, so there was no doubting that.
Thankfully, Sasuke felt his head being released with a sharp jerk. He had escaped death a second time.
"You got off lucky boy," one of the Shinobi grumbled.
Hopefully, everybody loves the first Chapter R&R to let me know how I did :)