Hello everyone, It has been a while and I took a few more of my stories off of hiatus seeing as I got used to my school semester schedule and work schedule again. Now I can write more and have been. A lot of things have been on my mind so I have been writing and putting stuff aside. I hope everyone liked my Valentine's Day stories. I have been writing other stories about other things but like I said I won't be posting anything until I get a little bit more of my stories done. My goal is to get all my stories done by the end of the year. Hard work and determination.
Sorry about the rant, Enjoy the chapter.
It has been about four years since I have seen Naruto. I even looked for him at the Mystical Forest but couldn't find him. It has been calm in the kingdom since he left I guess I should be happy, but how can I be?
My brother rose to power three years ago with his wife. My father is still around on the council to guide my brother. Me on the other hand I am in control of the soldiers of our land. I had to keep myself occupied is what my brother kept saying to me. For the first couple months of Naruto being gone I didn't talk to anyone and I thought he was going to come back, but he never did.
I wanted to know if the spell Naruto put on me was still there so I got cut in a battle once and it healed right away so I knew in a sense that Naruto was still protecting me that he still cares about me. So, when the opportunity arose where I could leave the kingdom, I took it. My brother didn't want to let me out the kingdom but he had no choice because I was the only one suited for the job along with three of my finest soldiers, one being Kakashi my guard. We had to go across the country to the country of the Cloud. Why is it named cloud? That is a stupid name.
"Captain, how long is it going to take us to get there?" My soldier Kiba asked.
"It's going to take a week to get there and a week to come back and we have to be there for a week for the treaty with their king." My other soldier Shikamaru said.
"Shikamaru is right. This should be easy but just in case you three had to come with me." I said.
"But Kakashi isn't even doing anything. He is just reading that book." Kiba said turning back to look at Kakashi for a second.
Kakashi sped his horse up and smacked Kiba in the back of the head with his book.
"You shouldn't be talking." Kakashi said as he moved ahead of me.
"Does he got eyes on top of his head or something? Because seriously who can see from the top of their head." Kiba complained.
"No, his senses are just sharper because he's old." I said smirking getting a glare from Kakashi.
"Prince Sasuke, you shouldn't be on this mission anyway." Kakashi grumbled.
He was right though, I wasn't supposed to be here but they wanted someone from the Royal family to come to the kingdom of the cloud to prove that we were serious about the alliance.
"Yeah, yeah. But I am the only one with Royal blood." I said smirking.
"You're just twenty you shouldn't rush into dangerous situations." Kakashi said looking at me from the side of his eye.
Kakashi was always in charge of looking at me ever since I was a kid but if I thought about it in the right matter he was like a father figure to me. He made sure I didn't leave the village anymore after Naruto left in fear of me running off to look for him and if I was being honest that's exactly what I wanted to do back then hell even now. Problem was that I couldn't stop this mission to do it because that leaves a war coming back to my family and I can't deal with the fact that it would be my fault.
Every time I wandered in the village and saw blonde hair I would chase the blonde head but it was never what I thought it was or the person I wished it would be. There weren't many people in my kingdom with blonde hair so I used to see things half the time. I still have dreams of Naruto and his beautiful smile but in the dream I never see his eyes. I remember the feel of his fur but I don't remember the color or the texture. It's like someone is erasing my memory. I do find myself getting headaches from time to time. I don't want to forget him. But one thing that hasn't left my mind was his smile or his laugh. I miss him and when I do find him again I am going to whoop his ass.
"Captain, we made it to the village near the Mystical forest. Do you want to continue past the Mystical forest or do you want to stay here for the night?" Shikamaru asked.
"We will stay here for the night. We don't want to go past the forest at this time. It is way more dangerous and ominous than usual." I said looking toward the forest.
I know for a fact if we go that way tonight we might all die. I know I will be able to survive but my men wouldn't so it is safe to say that we should just stay at a Inn for the night. I tied our horses up with Kiba while Shikamaru and Kakashi went to get our rooms.
"You were really in that forest for a month when you were a kid?" Kiba questioned tying his and Shikamaru's horse.
"Yeah, but I was protected and survived." I said gently as I looked at the once beautiful forest.
I could feel Kiba's stares but I ignored it.
"You know when me and a few of the guys started working under you we heard that story but Shikamaru was the only one to believe it but now I can see why he believed it. You seem different looking at the forest like you lost something." Kiba said gently finishing tying Shikamaru's horse.
I can't be mad at them for not believing the story especially when I didn't come back with not even a scar. The only people that know the whole story are the Royal family and a few of the Royal guards. They know only so much though. Kakashi is the only one along with Itachi that know everything down to what I lost.
"It's because I did lose something and can't find it no matter what I do. But it isn't in that forest anymore. All that is there is malice and hate." I said not sure if Kiba heard me.
"Was it that fox that all the older guards talk about?" Kiba asked.
"No," I said finished my lips tightening into a thin line of irritation.
"I meant no disrespect," Kiba said throwing his hands up.
"I know," I said still irritated though.
I can't really hide my irritation even though I try. Kiba and I walked to the Inn to find Kakashi and Shikamaru.
"They got us three rooms but they didn't have any more they said." Shikamaru said.
"Okay, you two share and Kakashi you can get the other room and I will have my own room." I said.
Everyone nodded their heads and we descended up the stairs. I didn't even sleep in an Inn last time I was near this village. We slept in a tree. The thought alone made me laugh. That got Kakashi's attention.
"What?" I said looking at the odd expression he was giving me.
"You just laughed. I haven't heard your laugh in a while. I was just shocked. Since Naruto has been gone you haven't really expressed any emotions." Kakashi said rubbing the back of his neck.
"I had no reason to laugh in a castle where only certain people like or care about me. I'm shocked no one has tried to kill me." I said a bit too harshly.
I learned at a time in my life that not many people liked or cared about me in the castle. Many people feared me thinking I would get 'MY FOX' as they say and kill them. The only people I know care about me is Kakashi, Iruka, Itachi, my men, and my parents. I know Naruto cares along with Chibi but there gone and I don't think there coming back.
Kakashi just looked at me with sadness in the eye that I could see and walked into his room after giving me a silent bow. I walked down the hall to where my room was as I walked past a certain room I caught a certain smell that I recognized. It couldn't be Naruto, could it? It was I know it was. I walked up to the door and opened it to see a blonde but not mine. It was the other fox. The other fox turned to look at me with a glare but I ignored it.
"Where is he?" I said through gritted teeth.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Minato the fox said.
I stalked toward the other fox and gripped him by his shirt by the collar.
"Tell me," I said giving off my irritated vibe.
"The kit hasn't been with us for three days." Jiraiya the older fox said from the bathroom door.
"Where did he go?" I said letting the other fox go and turning around to face the older fox.
"He said he would be back but hasn't come back yet." Jiraiya said but for some reason I felt like he was lying.
"Why are you lying?" I asked not even knowing how I know that he was.
And from what I read off his face he was thinking the same thing I was but that confirmed it more that he was lying.
"The kit told us he was going to be back but hasn't come back to us in three years." Jiraiya said.
"What?" I said shocked sitting down on one of the beds in the room.
"Yeah we have been looking everywhere for him and we were about to head to your kingdom to see if he went back but seeing as you're looking for him too that means he isn't around you." Jiraiya said.
"Did either of you try the forest?" I asked looking between both of them.
"No we haven't," Minato answered.
"Let's go and check." I said standing up to head out the room.
Jiraiya stood in the way of the door though before I could move.
"Kid, are you out of your mind? You don't want to go in there right now." Jiraiya said looking at me like I was the one that was crazy.
"What do you mean? He might be in there." I shouted.
"I can sense him near but that doesn't mean he is in that forest. It's not the Mystical forest from the fairy tales that your parents once told you. It is a wicked place that could get people killed." Jiraiya said.
"Then stay here but I am going to see if he is there." I said pushing him out the way and walking out the door.
I walked out the Inn and ran straight toward the forest that was once so beautiful. Naruto couldn't be the one giving off that malicious aura, can he? I hope not. I finally got to the forest and started going in it. I felt the evil aura just trying to push me out but I couldn't ignore it.
"Damn it kid, you almost got swallowed into the darkness. You would have been a shell if you continued." Minato said carrying me out the forest in his mouth
"Damn it, I hate when you foxes put me in your mouth." I screamed.
"Haha," Minato laughed.
"It's not funny," I said as he put me down once we got out.
"Okay kid, listen, we haven't gone in the forest because it's not the forest you once knew or the forest Jiraiya once protected it is a creature of darkness and it will swallow you up and once someone found you, you would be a shell of a person." Minato explained.
"Where is your son? I know you know where he is." I said sitting down on the ground then laid back on the field and looked at the stars.
"Near you," Minato said changing into his human form walking away from me.
What does that even mean? If he was near me then why did he save me and not Naruto.
"NARUTO! WHERE ARE YOU?" I screamed. "Just come back home." I whispered tears coming down my face.
I felt someone or something staring at me but I didn't see anything. It was at that moment I decided it would be bad if I didn't get out of here. That was when I saw something rushing at me coming from the forest. Fuck I didn't bring my sword.
"WATCH OUT!" Someone screamed to me.
I knew that voice but it was different in a way. That person had a sword and they were fighting the beast that ran out the forest. His sword was crested as a wander knight but I haven't seen one of those since twelve men left my village when I was around six years old. But that is for sure our crest.
"Hey, you okay? You didn't get injured, did you?" The knight asked. "Holy shit, what are you doing out here? Your Prince Sasuke from the kingdom of Konoha." The red-haired man said holding out his hand to help me up.
Something about his eyes left a stain in my heart.
"Naruto," I whispered.
"Huh? Is that your name? Did I get you mistaken? Oh man not again." The red-head stomped around.
"No, you didn't get it mistaken. I was just looking for someone by that name." I said and started walking back to the village.
"You know I heard that name before a long time ago. But ever since I grew up I never heard that name." The red-head man said following me to the village.
"Was he someone important to you?" I found myself asking.
"My parents died when I was four-years-old and I guess before they died I had a brother that disappeared." The redhead said making me stop in my tracks to look at him.
I remembered that night before Naruto disappeared and remembered that they had lost a brother and a son.
"Did you ever see your parents graves or their bodies?" I asked can't stop myself from asking as I got excited about my findings.
"My mother died in front of me. I figured they killed my dad after that." The redhead said sadly.
"But you don't know that? For sure at least?" I questioned.
The redhead turned to me suspiciously raising his eyebrow.
"You know I heard you had a mental breakdown but I didn't think it will trail onto someone else's past." The redhead said rather rudely.
I was seething and decided to take a different approach.
"Are you a fox?" I asked not hesitating anymore.
The shocked reaction was enough proof to know that I was right on my assumptions. He pulled me to the side so no one could see us.
"How the hell did you know that?" The redhead seethed.
"Well let's just say I met at least four other foxes and two foxes that happened to be related possibly to you. Do you have a symbol on your stomach that shows your name?" I said shaking him off me.
"No way, there is no way you can know someone from my bloodline." The redhead said.
"Let me prove it." I said pulling him to the Inn.
When we got into the Inn Jiraiya was about to head out the Inn and I asked him where Minato was and he said in the hotel room. I didn't bother knocking just pulled the other man inside the room.
"What are you doing here? Oh yeah your sword." Minato said turning to give me back my sword.
When he made eye contact with the redhead though it was like the world stopped.
"What the hell?" The redhead said.
"No way is this possible." Minato said.
From what I learned is that a parent of a demon fox can recognize their young even if they haven't seen them in years.
"Show him the symbol on your stomach Minato." I said holding the fox from attempting to leave.
Minato did what I said immediately and showed his symbol making the other fox stop his moving and walk toward the older man.
"They said that you were dead too." The redhead mumbled.
"They said the same thing to him." I said grabbing my sword and started to head out the room but before I left I left with a parting message. "I want to know where Naruto is Minato. You at least owe me that." I said shutting the door.
"So, you just have a habit of finding the foxes aside from the one you want." Kakashi said following my ignoring form to my room.
I just want him to leave me alone and go away.
"You know I was the one to find that boy when he was a kid. He found his way in my room and curled by my feet. It was sad he was completely bloody so I cleaned him up and made him my little apprentice until Sachi the army commander found out and took him from me. I didn't know he had another child until that day in the dungeon." Kakashi said gently.
I just listened and took off all my things so I could go to sleep. I didn't know what to say to what he was telling me.
"We need to wake up early and start heading out so be ready. I am about to go to sleep." I said ready to go to bed.
"Okay Prince Sasuke." Kakashi said and walked to the door with me following him so I could lock my door.
"Go say hi Kakashi you know you want too." I said gently and closed my door locking it.
I definitely am ready to get this mission over with so I can get back home and notify my brother what is going on and then tell him I want to go and find Naruto even more now. That's when I thought about something that didn't come to me until now. I never got the redhead's name. I fell asleep that night not sure if I would ever see that redhead again.
When morning came I was rudely awakened by someone jumping on my bed.
"Who the hell just jumped on me?" I said opening my eyes to see the redhead scratch that a blonde with red scattered in his hair.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?" I groaned.
"So I decided since you're looking to go to the cloud from what Kakashi told me yesterday that I will go with you." The blonde redhead said.
"Why would you do that?" I asked.
"Because I want to find my brother too. I didn't know anyone was alive and I feel like I missed a lot." The blonde redhead said.
"Okay you had all red hair yesterday but now it's mixed how did that happen more like when did that happen?" I questioned as I rose from my bed.
"Captain," Kiba said walking into my room making matters worse because I was half naked. "Excuse me sir," Kiba said and started to exit.
"Kiba, get your ass in here nothing is going on." I said and he walked back in here.
"Oh you're a captain. That's neat," the look alike of Naruto said.
The biggest differences between them were their hair and eyes. Naruto's were a pure sky blue only red when in his fox form and pure blonde hair. But this fox's hair was blonde with red scattered everywhere and his eyes were blue with red in them.
"By the way, what is your name?" I asked turning to the fox.
"Well my name by birth is Menma but I go by C." Menma or should I say C said.
"Okay, Kiba what is it?" I said looking at him.
"We are ready to go when you are. It's almost daybreak and you said you wanted to get an early start." Kiba said still not looking in my direction.
"Okay I will be out there in a few minutes. Meet me by the horses and take him with you." I said shooing C away.
"Bummer," C said as he walked out the room with Kiba.
"Captain," Kiba said once again.
"Yes?" I said by my clothes.
"Your lover is coming with us?" Kiba asked.
I face palmed. I can't believe this idiot.
"He is not my lover you idiot. My... never mind get out of here so I can get dressed." I said stressing out over what the idiot said.
I still remember what my first kiss was like when I was sixteen. It was soft and gentle unlike how that dream was that night. Only one kiss from that idiot really sucks. When I was completely dressed I walked out my room to run into Minato.
"My son is in the Cloud village. I don't know how long he plans on being there but I know he is there. I think he plans to make sure the deal between kingdoms goes through so be vigilant of him. Good luck Sasuke and thank you. I think I might go back to my home now happy that both of my boys are alive and running around to find their own path." Minato said walking away at the ending.
"Where is your home, Minato?" I called out to him.
"Your kingdom with my mate and your mother my mates best friend. Protecting your mother was my mates last and final wish of me." Minato said and walked down the stairs.
When I caught up with him he turned to me and smiled.
"Bring both my boys home Sasuke." Minato said with a smile.
For a minute there I could of sworn that I was staring at Naruto again. I wanted to cry but I knew I had to keep my composure. I gave the key to the attendant and left out the building ready to get on my horse.
"Who's horse is this?" C asked Kiba.
Kiba looked like he was about to lose his mind.
"That is my horse." Kiba said aggressively.
"OHH so aggressive... I like feisty people. I am going to ride with you until the next town and I can get my own horse." C said and Kiba's face twisted in horror.
"Captain..." Kiba started but I held my hand up.
"Save it, he's riding with you until we get to the next village." I said saving me from hearing the argument.
"Fine, but he is riding bitch." Kiba said making Shikamaru and Kakashi chuckle.
I put my hand on my forehead to prevent me getting even more stressed then I remembered that we have to past the forest today.
"Don't worry Sasuke I will be guarding you guys." C said with a smirk.
"Be sure to do that." I said and started to get my horse to ride along with a complaining Shikamaru and Kakashi fully alert for a change.
"Surprised you haven't I?" Kakashi asked with a smirk like I cared.
"Why would you surprise me?" I questioned.
"Because I am not reading my book." Kakashi said.
"No, not really. Even you are smart enough to know to put your book down while we enter a dangerous area. And not only that but this is the same place as from when I was sixteen so I know you don't want that to happen again." I said and started to ride off.
We got to the forest of death is what it is called now and I hesitated thinking back to what happen to me when I was sixteen.
"Come on Captain," Kiba called for me.
When I came out of my daydream I noticed everyone aside from Kakashi went ahead of me. Kakashi stayed behind me in a guarding sense. It honestly didn't relieve the tension but I started moving anyway. It took only two hours to get past the whole forest but it took another hour to be out of view from the forest. Imagination is a wonderful thing I was starting to see things again and it felt like I was in a line of crazy. I couldn't get Naruto out of my mind now.
"Will you stop fucking with the saddle?" Kiba said agitated.
I looked behind me and noticed C was bothering the life out of Kiba and that Kiba was ready to punch him. Why are foxes so mischievous?
"C, can you leave him alone?" I asked.
Shikamaru turned to me and spoke. "Captain, we are about to enter the next village. We should stop to get more food and another horse for him." Shikamaru suggested.
"Understood," I said nodding my head.
When we entered the village something seemed off about it and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
"Sasuke, you should be careful." C said.
I didn't understand what he was trying to tell me. It all seemed suspicious and fake.
"We have to get out of here. This isn't a good place to get anything from." C said and everyone seemed to nod in agreement.
C came up to me and whispered "there is another fox here. Not a good one, I smelled him before but it is so vague. So he could have just passed through but I don't trust it." C said.
Kakashi overhearing what was being said started to look around more and be on his guard which said something seeing as Kakashi was lazy. We kept going and C kept walking beside my horse like something was going to jump at me and that something did jump out at me stabbing me right in the chest.
"SASUKE!" Kakashi yelled.
Before I fell off my horse I got caught by C, why are all the foxes around me saving me and not Naruto? I heard swords and noticed this was a pack wolf hide-out. C was trying to guard me from behind not knowing I have a spell on me.
"Hello Prince Sasuke," a wolf said rounding me.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"The same thing you want." The wolf said baring his teeth.
"Well all I want is to do this treaty for my older brother and go home." I said.
"You're lying, especially seeing as you have a fox with you. You're looking for the fox named Naruto and so are we." The wolf said.
"What are you looking for Naruto for?" I said my tone changing completely.
"To kill him of course," the wolf said smirking in a wolf way.
I pulled out my sword immediately and the wolf charged at me.
"I know they stabbed you. How are you not bleeding out?" The wolf asked me as it dodged my sword.
"You don't do your research." I said flashing behind the wolf. "I can't die." I whispered in the wolf's ears and stabbed it in the stomach with my sword blood, splashed all over me.
"What the hell?" C said as they all ran away.
He turned to look at me, I was completely covered in blood. There was a shocked look on his face like he didn't understand what was going on. It was Kakashi to approach me first.
"Damn it Sasuke, you look like you murdered a bunch of people." Kakashi said trying his best to clean me off at least on my face.
"He said he was trying to find Naruto and that he was going to kill him." I said in a tone that shook everyone around me.
"You know they can't kill him though." I said in a low voice.
"That doesn't mean let them get a hit off you. Would if you would have died?" Kakashi said in a worried tone while cleaning Sasuke off.
"What is going on?" C asked looking at us with a suspicious look.
"Let's just find a horse and get out of here because nothing is good in this area. Shikamaru, you and Kiba find a horse." I commanded and everyone dispersed accept C and Kakashi.
"OH AND GET WATER!" Kakashi called to them.
"What are you?" C asked staring at me with a hard glare.
"I am a human," I answered.
"You don't smell like it. You did a trick of an animal. And not only that you got stabbed pretty deep, I would know I caught you after all." C said.
"I don't need to explain anything to you. I just need to get to Naruto before they find him." I said turning away from him.
"I want answers," C said persistently following me.
"Well you won't get them." I said turning around.
I felt myself get stabbed, I also heard Kakashi scream my name but I went down to quickly. I actually felt pain for once.
"So you got a spell put on you." C said. "Who did it? That is a hard spell to conduct." C said.
"None of your damn business." I grumbled feeling the pain for once.
"Why don't you trust me?" C asked with sadness in his eyes but I ignored it.
"Because you just stabbed me in the back." I grumbled as the bleeding stopped and the pain receded.
"…" C didn't say anything but he looked like he wanted to.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Your someone's mate." C commented.
I just simply ignored that by getting on my horse.
"I don't know how you know all of this but I will find out. How can you understand the animals? Who is your mate? Why do you have a spell protecting you? What is going on? Why did my father go back to the kingdom who killed my mother? Why did they send you out here knowing you could possibly get killed? What is going on, tell me?" C questioned.
Honestly, the questions were starting to irk me. How can he talk so much?
"SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY! THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT! IT'S FUCKING ANNOYING!" I finally screamed.
"I just want to know what is going on and what I am putting my life on the line for." C said with determination that reminded me of Naruto.
"I can understand animals because of the spell, I am assuming. I don't know what is going on and your father went back to my kingdom because your mother asked him to protect her friend. As for me having a mate I have no fucking idea because NARUTO never told me about any of that. And Naruto is the one that put the spell on me. Now shut the fuck up with all the god damn questions." I said screaming the last part.
"As in my brother Naruto? You mean to tell me he did this powerful magic and didn't die." C questioned with pure amazement. "I guess it works better on mates." C whispered to himself but me and Kakashi both heard him just didn't say anything about it.
"Captain! We found a horse. It's a bit wild but I'm sure he could tame it." Kiba said calling us over.
"Shikamaru, how long before we get to the Cloud?" I asked as Shikamaru round his horse to me with the water.
"Two days, shit if we keep riding through the night with breaks we might get there in a day." Shikamaru said handing me the water.
I put my head down and dumped the water on my head and face because it looked disgusting. I didn't need to see it to know that I looked bad.
"We're going to stop at the village before the Cloud so I can look more presentable instead of having dry blood in my hair and on my clothes. So we will get there in two." I said despite me wanting to find Naruto in the Cloud I still had to look presentable.
"Sir, if I may ask an honest question." Shikamaru asked.
"Shoot," I said.
"Are you sure bringing C with us was a smart idea? I know that we don't know everything about what happened in the past with you and that Naruto guy that all the guards talk about but do you think it's safe to let a stranger know?" Shikamaru questioned.
"I would say that I don't think so but he's Naruto's family. So I had to bring him with me. Don't let no one know we had this conversation." I said in a demanding voice knowing Shikamaru wouldn't say anything.
"DAMN IT!" Kiba said riding his horse away from the direction that C went.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"He's as crazy as that damn horse." Kiba said riding next to me.
"ALRIGHT LET'S MOVE OUT!" I screamed.
The rest of the ride to the Cloud basically was silent and non-eventful thankfully. I was quite relieved by that.
"We're at the gates of the Cloud Kingdom, Captain." Shikamaru voiced.
"Yes we are, let's get this over with." I said and led them in the gates.
This is most definitely going to be an eventful time and I hope that I see that darn fox that got away from me all those years ago.
Review..
Naruto will be in the next chapter. I haven't decided if I was going to have them talk or not yet but he will be making a few cameos in the next chapter. Especially seeing as his little brother is all over his mate.