Naruto woke before Itachi, his core still sore from their activities. He felt violated and wanted to tear off his skin, to remove the feel, the smell of his husband. He found more bruises, as Itachi had done as he pleased, with no regard for the blonde.
Naruto again snuck out of the bed but this time began to run a bath. He slowly submerged himself and found the warmth to be enveloping and relaxing. Naruto sunk in deeper and tuned out, thinking of last night, if Sasuke was tricking him.
They had spoken of their dislike for Itachi, Naruto learning of his aggressive behavior and need to be the best. He learned the elder brother would use his little brother as a practice dummy and beat him, later reasoning he was refining his skill. All of this made Naruto fell sick. Although he had a new companion in this situation, he was still in it.
Naruto then had flashes to his assualt and submerged his head, and starting to aggressive scrub at his skin. While doing so he suddenly was yanked up by his hair, some of the braided hair ripping out. Naruto let out a cry and looked up to find Itachi looking down angrily.
"Why are you damaging MY body? Who gave you the right to wash away my touch from your skin?" He asked with no emotion, which made Naruto more scared. "And your hair. Is this fake? Is your hair short like a man's?"
Naruto then felt Itachi start pulling at his hair, ripping out the extensions. The blonde cried out and tried to stop the older man but found himself just getting pulled from the tub. When almost of the hair was out, the brunette stopped, looking down at the soaked blonde with hair laying around him.
"You disgust me. Wash yourself and go to the bed." Itachi commanded before leaving the room.
Naruto felt himself shaken by the events that were unfolding. He got back in the tub and washed himself quickly, almost in a trance. When he got out he wrapped a towel around himself and came in the room, hearing ripping.
Itachi had found his corset tops and was tearing them apart. When Naruto entered he approached the blonde and smacked him.
"You will never wear these again." The Uchiha commanded and then promptly left the room, his anger radiating from him.
Naruto stood in shock and looked at the ruined garments around him. He felt like crying but was still in shock, he simply got dressed and left the room as well.
The blonde found himself at the pond in your back of the garden again. He felt uncomfortable, his chest feeling exposed, his core hurting, his face stinging and his scalp aching. He moved to the pond and looked in, seeing his reflection and finding a red mark staining his face.
Naruto didn't hear someone approaching and saw a reflection in the water beside him. He jumped when he thought it was Itachi but snapped his head around and found a startled Sasuke.
"Are you- Did Itachi- Your face." Sasuke said and touched tenderly at the red cheek, Naruto now realizing he was crying.
"Sorry yeah, I... Did he follow you?" Naruto asked, looking behind the man before him, seeing no one. "Quick."
Naruto grabbed Sasukes hand and lead him off the palace grounds, to a field where they hid in the trees. Naruto panted and looked to the other man, both out of breath.
"Sorry. I didn't want to get caught. He's- Uh, he's angry." Naruto said, feeling awkward saying this to the man's brother.
"I can tell. Are you okay? I don't think even my father would approve of this behavior. Your hair too. Was it this short? Did he cut it?" Sasuke asked looking the blonde up and down.
"I- I had it short. The hair he pulled was extensions." Naruto said, feeling for anymore hair and carefully unwrapping it from his shorter locks.
"Hm." Sasuke said and looked away from the blonde, looking almost... ashamed? "Do you fight? When you were a knight?"
Naruto was taken aback by the question and found himself backing away, hesitant. "Yes? I practiced daily with our commander."
"I used to spar with our knights when Itachi would anger me. If you want..." Sasuke said, the offer hanging in the air, unspoken.
Naruto considered this offer and thought carefully. "Could we...? We are both princes? I-"
"Why not? I will let you take the first hit if it makes you feel as if you are hitting my brother." Sasuke offered, trying to seem nonchalant but the offer still was in a weird way, sweet.
"...Sure? I don't need a handicap though. I'm a strong solider." Naruto felt uncomfortable agreeing but appreciated the sentiment and offer to release tension.
Sasuke took a defensive position and with that they began to spar. They both began to bait each other with teasing remarks and when they grew tired they found themselves laughing.
"I told you I was a good solider. You're lucky... You're lucky I was going easy on you." Naruto lied in between huffs.
"Ah... And I was holding back because you are a princess." Sasuke said but then found himself being pushed to the ground. Naruto on top of him.
"I'm NOT a princess!" Naruto yelled at the Uchiha, for a moment seeing red. Then he saw the shocked look on Sasukes face and pulled back, apologizing under his breath.
"Sorry. I... I'm not used to-" Sasuke started weakly but Naruto cut him off.
"I get it. I'm not though. Thank you for sparring with me but I- I have to leave." Naruto said and got up, leaving quickly not waiting for a reply.
He quickly came back to the palace and beelined to his sisters room, knocking once before entering.
"Hinata?" He called out, not seeing her right away. Then she came from the bathroom, her brush still halfway down her hair.
"N- Naruto? Oh God your face. Are you okay? Come here." Hinata said rushing to his side, touching at every bruise and cut she could see, trying to assess the damage.
"I'm fine, is Sakura here? I haven't seen her." Naruto said and weakly swatted at his sister's hand, her touch a little too intrusive.
"No but I will call for her. Was this the Uchiha?" Hinata asked as she moved to the door, not taking her eyes off her brother.
Naruto didn't respond and just looked down, hearing the woman curse under her breath before she whispered something out of the door to someone. She then came back to the blonde and touched lightly at his hair, "You have blood and sweat in your hair... Do you need a bath?" She asked trying to not pry as much.
Naruto still didn't meet her eyes but nodded, his sister started to run a bath for him and he waited on her bed. When Hinata beckoned for him he undressed and went into the bubbly warmth, not caring for decency at this point.
Before he could start to wash himself though he felt his sister slowly run water carefully on his scalp. He hissed a moment then heard footsteps approaching, he tried to turn but heard Sakura before he saw her.
"NARUTO! OH MY GOD, WHAT HAPPENED?" Sakura asked and before he could respond she was at his side, using her magic to heal the handprint on his cheek.
"I'm okay. It's okay. I just... I'm adjusting." Naruto lied, but didn't want to go into details.
He knew without turning that the women doting on him didn't believe him but he just wanted them not to worry. He was still strong.