Naruto felt the next couple of days fly by as he focused on his "wedding training" as he had dubbed it. He heard of some of the families coming, Neji from the Hyuga family, Gaara from the Sabaku clan, Rock from the Lee family, Choji of the Akimichi, and Kiba of the Inuzuka. It seemed that as they trickled in they brought more and more chaos.
Kiba had started to harass the stable boys on their bonding techniques with the animals. His guard Shino doing nothing to hold him back or keep him accountable for a royal demeanor, instead staying a distance back and observing the prince as he stampeded around.
Choji practically overthrew the kitchen, trying to change the weddings menu and "improve" recipes with mystery seasonings, making sure to taste test everything. His "guard" Shikamaru would stay nearby but mostly stare outside aimlessly or be found napping in a field.
Rock Lee came with his mentor Gai, they immediately found Kakashi and began to pester him about training and fighting techniques. When Sasuke eventually showed up for training Rock Lee just found this as a challenge and they began sparring. Naruto found Sasuke with new bruises and aches from these fights which made him jealous as he wanted to spar with someone new. But he held out and focused on his own specialized training, mentally taking note to invite back the Lee family another time.
The Sabaku sent two of their children and many guards, who stayed mostly unseen but always around. The youngest and next in line, Gaara, seemed to be quiet and kept to himself but Naruto heard a lot about his brother. Hinata seemed to warm up to the eldest, Kankuro. From what Naruto heard he was outcast at one point for wearing make up and focusing on "women's crafts". Hinata told of how the three siblings banded together, deciding if Kankuro was outcast they all were, until eventually the king just moved the youngest to next in line. She seemed so happy to retell the tale and how the siblings supported each other, and how it reminded her of their relationship.
The Hyuga family sent Neji, with his guard Tenten. He seemed aloof and disinterested of the whole affair only wanting to speak to the Uchiha and Sabaku, but finding them busy. Besides that he welcomed himself to the library and began to research anything new whilst silently judging Naruto and Hinata. He rarely made eye contact with her and when he did, he would quickly look up and away, trying to show his superiority. It was never unnoticed but it was ignored by the two Uzumaki siblings as they went about their business.
Naruto barely had time to focus on the others though as the days went by, he found himself to be fully engrossed in training. He worked hard to build new muscle memory and gain a "elegance" that would last through the wedding. The blonde barely saw his fiance in the days before the wedding, only really seeing him on the night before, during rehearsal with Iruka.
When Naruto came he was wearing heels and his large skirt that went under his wedding dress, he was proud of himself for not stumbling as they practiced the motions and traditional dances. But he was so focused on his footwork he missed the looks of amusement from Sasuke, until the brunette stopped the dance. Leaning in and he whispered, "You need to look up every now and then."
Naruto went beet red and looked up, meeting onyx eyes and a smirk. "I will! I'm just making sure you're leading correctly." Naruto lied and looked at the prince seriously before they continued their practice.
Once they were done they headed back to the room together, Sasuke lightly teasing Naruto about how uncoordinated he was.
"At least I can learn in a week! Don't be so smug, asshole." Naruto retorted as they entered the room. He immediately fell onto the bed and gingerly toed off the heels. "I just can't make blisters heal faster." Naruto grumbled into the sheets, then got up to check his injuries.
When he met the other man's eyes, he found a pained look. "Is that from the shoes?" Sasuke asked softly, moving closer to the blonde.
"Yeah, Hinata said it's normal. But it hurts. I've been putting on a salve at night that helps but I can't wait to stop wearing these." Naruto replied with a laugh as he poked at the blisters, wincing every now and then.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know... It looks painful." Sasuke said and looked sheepish, like he wanted to help but also didn't know if he could. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Not really..." Naruto replied and laid back on the bed, then an idea came to him. "Wait yes. Can you fill the tub a little bit? With warm water, and put some salts in as well."
As soon as Naruto said it, Sasuke was in action, moving to the bathroom and getting to work. When Naruto heard the water stop he had already removed his wedding clothing and was just wearing shorts and a large shirt.
"Thank you." Naruto said and moved to get up but hissed in pain as his feet touched the ground and tried to adjust to the new arch, or rather lack thereof. The blonde sat back on the bed and tried to ease his weight onto his feet but before he fully adjusted he found himself being lifted.
"Ah! I can-"
"Sh. Just let me help." Sasuke cut off the blonde and adjusted the smaller man in his arms, carrying him bridal style to the bathroom. Naruto wiggled a bit before settling down and accepting the help, mumbling a 'thanks'.
Sasuke sat the blonde on the edge of the tub and helped the blonde balance as his feet were lowered into the soothing waters. Naruto gasped at the temperature change but felt relief begin to replace the ache, he closed his eyes and tried to relax, slowly wiggling his toes and flexing his feet. But blue eyes shot open when cold hands suddenly grabbed onto him.
"Ah! Stop! You don't have to! They probably stink- Ow!" Naruto panicked out and ended up slipping into the shallow water. "I guess I'm taking a bath."
"There is no need to react so dramatically to my touch, I'm your fiance. Why haven't you had Sakura come in and heal you?" Sasuke asked and grabbed again for the injured foot, gently rubbing and massaging it.
"She's- uh- She's been busy. You really don't have to." Naruto said again and felt his face heat up.
"It's okay. I'll have someone get Sakura. But this helps healing too. So I'll help as much as I can too. It's what people do for their spouses right?" Sasuke asked looking anywhere but at the blonde. "My father never did, but their relationship is strange. So I can't personally understand but... it's what I've heard."
"Yeah... Uh, yeah I guess... Spouses care for each other... But you're right. I can just just get Sakura." Naruto said and began to move to get up, Sasuke looked at the blonde, a look of hurt flashing over the dark eyes.
"Do you not want me to...?" The Uchiha asked, leaving the question open for any rebuttal.
"No! I mean- Yes! I mean- I'm sorry. I appreciate it but you don't have to- Ugh." Naruto stammered out before placing a arm over his face and hiding his red cheeks. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Sasuke said a moment later and began to massage the blonde again.
Naruto accepted the help and after Sasuke felt he was finished, he sent for Sakura. Sakura came looking tired and frazzled but lightly scolded Naruto for not getting her sooner. The rest of the night was uneventful but both boys slept restlessly, thinking of the next day.