A/N: Yes, this is a fragment, and I'm sorry for that. I dearly wish this could've been longer.

Been away for awhile, I know. You all already know the reason.

Still trying to get back into Game of Thrones. Its...difficult, I won't lie, but House of the Dragon gave me hope, so much so that I'm willing to dip a toe back into this franchise. But I SWEAR if they screw that up I'm bloody well done with GOT forever.

Sorry, my health really isn't the best right now.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.

I'm really not happy with this fragment's length, but I promised an update today...

"Kings aren't afraid of a few bruises. What about you, boy? What do you fear?"

...things you can't possibly imagine."

"What does that mean?"

~A Discussion.

Clash with a King (Fragment)

Morning came as it always did, and it with it, Naruto's promise to the king.

In hindsight, perhaps agreeing to a duel with Robert was a bad idea. Unwise at the best of times, but here? Now? At the break of dawn? In the courtyard of Winterfell where all eyes could see them? Definitely not a sound idea. Still, he'd given his word and he wasn't about to back down now.

Robert's demand made it a near thing, however.

"What?" the blond recoiled, nearly dropping the weapon he'd been offered. "Fight with live steel?! Nonononono that's a bad idea! A very bad idea!"

Too much could go wrong where actual weapons were involved. He could trust the King to hold back -to an extent!- but he wasn't sure the same could be said about himself. There was a reason he rarely used his sword in a fight and not for the reasons one might think. Controlling his strength was a feat in-and-of itself these days. Better to use a dull blade than risk maiming the most powerful man in Westeros. First blood or not, he didn't much relish the idea of hurting Ned's friend...

...even if said friend was a fat, smelly old man.

"What's wrong brat?" The king's bristly beard concealed most of his smile, but it did nothing to hide his laughter. "Afraid to use that fancy sword yours?" he picked up the weapon he'd been given, a wrought iron hammer with wicked barbs on the ends. "Think I'll knock you on your arse?"

A muscle jumped in Naruto's jaw, pounding in time with a vein in his temple. Time stood still.

Somewhere behind him, he heard Sansa sigh.

"Lovely. Now he's done it...

Blues eyes narrowed to thin slits of purest ruby as the wayward shinobi looked upon the king. Say what you would about his means and methods, but Naruto had his pride, even in this world. He'd sooner throw himself on his own sword than willingly make a fool of himself in front of her. Frost sang from its sheathe as he brandished his blade with a wail of naked steel. It carved an azure arc in the air as he took a stance.

...I'm sorry, did I say something that you found funny?" his words were a hiss. "Wanna run that one by me again, your Chubbiness?"

Robert Baratheon went terribly still, his countenance gone blank as the deep dark sea.

For a moment Naruto feared he'd gone way too far. And then.

"Bahahahaha!" The king threw his head back with a mighty bellow. "There's the fire I like to see! Have at you!"

He rushed him with a roar, moving with surprising speed for his girth.

Naruto closed with him, caught the warhammer on his hilt, and nearly buckled before he shunted it aside. Their weapons collided once, twice, thrice now before he got the upperhand. On the fourth pass he stepped back and let Robert's momentum work against mighty weapon slammed into the muck of the yard and buried itself deep. Naruto stepped in. Not one to be deterred by such a setback, Robert threw a right hook at his head. The blond caught it with a grin, then, yanked him forward.

It was a decidedly brief exchange; because you see, instinct took over.

He saw the opening and reacted before he could think better of it. Air rushed over his head as clenched knuckles whistled harmlessly past. Blood singing in his ears, Naruto swept his legs. For one so large, Robert lost his balance quite easily. Time unspooled anew. For a single perilous moment the King of Westeros hung in the air, defying gravity...until a merciless elbow rammed into the man's protruding gut and slammed him into the mud.

Robert made to rise at once.

Frost flicked out, its tapered tip touching the king's neck.

"Yield."

Silence fell over the yard.

Naruto came back to himself, flinched, and lowered his sword. "...oops?"

The laughter that followed was even louder than before. "He's a keeper, this one!"

A/N: Ah, what could have been.

Yup. Super short. I'll understand if you don't want to review because of it T_T

Aaaand there we are.

So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews!

Potential ones!

(Previews!)

"I'll be king someday! Like my father before me. You'll see!"

Something cold and ugly flitted across Naruto's face. Sansa saw it. So did Joffrey. Too late.

"You're not a king, little man. You're not even a prince. Not really. And you touched Sansa." a hard shove sent him stumbling back. "Now here we are, all alone, no guards to save you, no Hound to protect you...

"My father will hear of this! Just you wait!"

"Ah, but dead men...tell...no...tales."


"Such a shame about the prince."

Sansa swatted his arm but he only smiled.

"What? I'm not going to shed any tears for him."

R&R~!