The ship finally made it to the port and the rope was tied to the post. As soon as the coast was clear, Sasuke jumped off the deck and slid down the rope. Naruto took the stairs, for he was a "lady". Sasuke then hid behind a melon cart and looked at Naruto ahead. "Pssst!" he called.

Naruto followed the noise and found Sasuke. "What now?"

"Meet me back at the castle, ok?"

"WHAT?!"

"Shhhh! Just meet me there!" Sasuke looked around and found Ino resting on a bench. "There! Go ask Ino where it is!"

"She'll kill me!"

"I don't care. Just go!" Sasuke pushed the blonde over to Ino and ran off.

"Whoa!" Naruto cried as he fell on top of Ino. "Ow!"

"Eeeekk!" Ino shrieked and pushed the 'girl' off of her. "Naruto, get off of me you idiot!" She pushed him off and stood up, brushing the wrinkles away from her lavender kimono. "What the heck are you doing, anyway?!"

Naruto stepped back a bit and stammered, "I-I have to go t-t-to Sakura's castle. But Sasuke left me stranded here."

"Well good luck!" Ino snorted and began to walk away.

"No! Please help me!"

Ino looked around and saw a beautiful boquet. She gasped and said, "I'll make you a deal. Buy that boquet for me and I'll give you directions and a ride there!"

"WHAT?! But that thing's expensive!" Naruto searched for his money within his sleeves and pulled out a few coins and a Ramen coupon. "This is all I have."

"Ugh. Fine. A chocolate bar."

Naruto nodded and went to the candy cart across from them. He thanked the seller and gave the snack to Ino. "Great. Now I'm bankrupt."

"Oh, deal with it." Ino took out her purse and some paper money. She gave them to Naruto and said, "Here. Just say to the driver- 'Princess Sakura's Castle.' He'll take you there in an instant."

"But...it's dark out. And I'm a girl- naked under a kimono!" Naruto gulped.

"Stop whining!" Ino called a carriage and pushed Naruto inside. "Bye, Na-"

"Akari!" Naruto whispered desperately, "It's Akari!"

Ino realized her mistake and quickly said, "Namiko Akari!"

Naruto sweatdropped. This woman... I can't believe her. He handed the money to the driver and said, "Sa- I mean... Princess Sakura's Castle, please."

The driver took Naruto's money and drove off.

Sasuke made his way through fallen branches and twigs and was finally able to see the castle's light from the dark forest. "Yes!" He leapt onto one of the branches above and made his way to one of the towers. He looked around nervously when he didn't see Naruto. Where the hell is he?!

A carriage pulled up at the entrance and a blonde woman with a blue kimono stepped out of it gracefully. "Thank you," 'she' said and looked up. She saw Sasuke and gave him a thumbs up and a wink.

Sasuke glared at him. "Just distract Lee, Naruto!" he ordered.

Naruto flinched. "Okay, fine- geez!" He walked up the stairs and asked the guards for the Prince. They nodded their heads and knocked the door.

The door opened and revealed a tall, muscular, bushy-browed man. "Yes?" he asked, but nearly lost composure when he saw Naruto. "H-how may I help you...ma'am?"

Naruto's eye twitched. Wow. No wonder Sasuke wants to rescue Sakura so badly. This guy's hidious!

"Ma'am?"

"Oh! Ahem... I-I...uh..." Naruto looked up at Sasuke for help, who, in turn, motioned him to go on. "I seemed to have lost my way here. And I am very tired. Is it okay if I rest here for the night?"

"Well, I don't know. I already HAVE a fiance..."

Naruto knew this was rejection and quickly did a pout- showing off his lipgloss and indigo orbs. "Oh, please? I promise to not be of much trouble."

Lee took a good look at the blonde, but then finally approved. "Very well. You may stay in the guestroom."

"Score!" Naruto cheered loudly.

Sasuke mentally slapped himself. THAT IDIOT!

Lee rose an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Naruto realized what he did and quickly said, "S-snore! I hope you don't hear me snore. Not that I DO snore. Hehehe... Just for jokes!" He sweatdropped.

"I see..." Lee said suspiciously and stepped aside. "Come on in before you get sick from the cold."

"Err..um...sure."

Sasuke let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness that worked. He let out a small grunt as he slipped from his grip on the rails and gripped a metal pole, banging it on some bushes. He closed his eyes and hid his face. Please don't let them see me! Please!

"What was that?" Lee asked, stepping outside.

Naruto panicked and pushed him back inside. "I-I'm sorry..." he stuttered when he earned a confused look from the Prince. "I just... I just need this release."

"RELEASE?"

"I-I...I have to pee really bad and I don't know where the bathroom is in here!" Naruto hooked his arms with Lee's and ran off.

"Guards!" Lee ordered as he ran, "See to that noise!"

Naruto cringed. Good luck, Sasuke! You're gonna need it!

Sasuke heard what Lee said and jumped down to the ground. He then ran back into the woods and hid in the darkness. The guards arrived to where he was and searched the small, narrow area. His pupils became bigger in the shadows. That was close! As soon as the the guards had taken their leave, he jumped back into the tower and took a seat on the rail. "Okay, phase one: Complete. Phase two: Get inside and find Sakura."

"I'll be right there!" a voice yelled.

"Guh!" Sasuke hid behind a huge plant and peeped from behind its leaves. He nearly shouted when he saw the very Princess he was looking for coming inside the room and searching her jewelry box. He bit his tongue to keep himself from calling her over.

Sakura pulled out a small card and hurried back out saying, "It's here!"

Sasuke hurried over to the screen door and opened it. He stepped lightly inside and closed the door. Before going after her, though, a small book on her desk caught his eye. He picked it up and kept it inside his cloak. "I wonder what it says inside?" he asked himself.

"Thanks!" Sakura's voice came again and her footsteps got closer to the room.

Sasuke looked around frantically and opened the door. He then closed it and leapt back into the trees. Crap! He lost balance in his jump and missed the branch, giving a big thud on the grass.

Sakura heard the noise and ran over to the balcony to inspect it. Due to the pitch black color of the night, she was unable to see the injured Uchiha below. She shook her head and walked back inside.

Sasuke held his ankle. "Owowow..." he whispered, his breathing short, "Hurts...so...hurts!" He held a breath then let it out ot help ease the pain. In a matter of minutes, his ankle was better and he was reading Sakura's diary.

Entry 458: Sasuke's being a big, egotistic jerk! He's also rude, he and Naruto always pick on me, and he threw a tomato at me! -angry face-

But in truth, deep inside, I really like him. Hehe. He's cute, cool, and he doesn't take most things girls give him too seriously. I think he's just himself.

Sasuke chuckled at this.

I think...he'll be a great husband someday. And- Oh no. I think he just stole my stuffed bear. /-/-/-

Sasuke continued to laugh quietly. Those words brought back so much memories he had left behind. "And she was a bit younger back then," he told himself. He took one last look at the castle before settling himself behind some bushes and falling asleep.

Naruto awoke in bed and looked around, trying to remember everything that had happened. "Oh, right!" he said, "The mission thingy!" Realizing that he was back in his male form, he transformed into Akari and put on the kimono.

"Naruto!" a familiar voice called quietly from the window.

Naruto turned around and saw Sasuke sitting on the ledge, drinking something red and cold. "Sasuke! What are you doing here?"

"Check it out! I got it from Sammy's Market. It's called Apple Ice-punch." He handed the drink to Naruto. "Try some. Hopefully it'll give you enough braincells to function."

Naruto took a sip of the beverage and smiled. "It tastes great!"

"Hn. Told you."

"You should get one!"

Sasuke sweatdropped and looked at Naruto hopelessly. "It's official. Your brain cells are all dead." He took out his cane. "Now, remember. This is it. I'm going to get Sakura out of here! So distract Lee as much as possible and DON'T MESS UP." He did a summersault and was back on the ground.

"Pfft!" Naruto stuck out his tongue.

"Miss?" Lee opened the door and found Naruto staring out at the window. "Umm...what are you doing?"

Naruto nearly fell off, but quickly turned around and laughed it off. "Ahahaha! Me? I am doing nothing strange! No-not at all! And I told you, call me Akari." He grinned.

Lee eyed the item in his hand and asked, "Okay, AKARI. Then explain to me how you got THAT?"

Naruto remembered that Sasuke had forgotten to take the juice back and turned blue in the face out of anxiety. "I-I..." He looked around. "I...had a passing guard bring it to me! Yeah, that's it!"

Lee was still suspicious, but decided to let the reason slide. "Very well. Come, follow me to the library. There's much you must see!"

"Of- Of course!" Naruto disposed of his beverage and followed the Prince out.

Sakura was in her bedroom, fixing her hairpins and her dress. "Hmmmhmmmmhmmmm..." she hummed and twirled around, admiring her reflection in the large mirror before her. But seeing her reflection, she sighed. "If only I looked beautiful for the man I actually love."

Sasuke arrived at her balcony and peered inside. "She's here." He knocked on the glass door gently. "Sakura!"

Sakura gasped and went over to the noise. She nearly screamed, but luckily, Sasuke pulled down his hood before that could've happened. "Sasuke?" she gasped, "What are you doing here?! You...you could get into trouble for this!"

"Just...let me in and I'll explain everything!"

"What if I don't want to?"

"Just open the dang door before I lose it!"

"Okay, okay!" Sakura unlocked the door and the Prince ran inside. "Now, start talking, wise-one." She took a seat in her soft chair, across from Sasuke. "I don't have a lot of time in my hands."

Sasuke let out a breath of relief. "Look, sorry if I offended you yesterday-"

"IF you offended me?" Sakura asked crossly.

"FINE. I OFFENDED you. Sorry I offended you! It's just that... I didn't know what to tell you. I'm kind of new at this love stuff. In fact, I don't quite know what it really is yet."

Sakura huffed. "If that's the case, it's the more reason I don't want to marry you."

"Aww, c'mon!" Sasuke groaned. He quickly silenced himself when he heard a knock at the door.

"Princess!" Lee's voice came, "What are those noises? Is there someone in there WITH you?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke, frightened, and Sasuke sent her the same look. "Uhhh...ummm..." she stammered, "NO...honey. No one is here. Just lonely little me." She grinned sheepishly.

"LONELY?! No! My Princess will NOT be lonely or alone! I shall come in to entertain you!"

"Crap!" Sasuke cursed quietly.

"Quick!" Sakura lead him to her bed and pushed him underneath it. "Stay here and be quiet!" She dropped the bedskirt, sealing him completely.

"C-come in," Sakura giggled nervously. Something bad is about to happen. I just know it!

Hai! Please review this chappy, hope you liked it. :)

Ja!