DON'T OWN NARUTO

Chapter 2

The Kyuubi palace's throne room was one that spoke of majesty and splendor. It was done in blue, white, gold and silver colors. There were two floors to ceiling crystal windows that let the light in such a way that reflected the sun making a rainbow like effect across the room, they could only imagine how the moon would look like from the room. There were gilded chairs for visitors at the sides, tables to hold refreshments, two great crystal chandeliers on the ceiling and a long royal blue carpet that went all the way to a dais where a throne rested.

The throne looked to be made from gold and silver with intricate designs of vines and flowers and in the middle of the back piece was a big oval blood ruby; said stone was legendary because it was believe to be a gift of the Demon God Kyuubi no Kitsune to his descendants. The ruby was known as the Eye of Kyuubi because it was witness to every important event on Uzumaki, which of course almost always happened on this room. Once a year on the summer equinox the sunlight reflects on it and the throne room takes on a red color. Some say that in that day Kyuubi comes down to Earth to look for a special chosen person, no one knows what would happen exactly if said person was to ever be found. Some believe that Kyuubi would take that chosen one away with him to the heavens; others believe that he comes to grant that chosen person one wish. Whatever the truth of the legend, it does make for one good entertaining after dinner story.

After Iruka leads the group he leaves after closing the doors, a footman with a very long metal staff hits the ground with it and announces the entrance of the Prince and then walks to an ornate door on their right which he closes as he leaves. Everyone of the Konoha group is waiting with baited breath to finally see the famous prince. Of course what they see it's not exactly what they were expecting. What enters through a secret side door is a white cloaked figure preceded by a man with long spiky white hair caught at his nape and dressed in a short red tunic with green pants, dark boots and an open white cloak thrown over him. From the looks of it he seems to be a Sage, while the prince takes place on his throne, the man turns to them in a very cheerful manner and presents himself.

"Hello good people, the name's Jiraiya, and yes I'm the Great Sage of Uzumaki. Nice to meet you all, so what is it that you guys want?"

They delegation from Konoha is speechless. Their only thought is "Wow, so that's really the 'Great' Sage know through out the great nations?"

Itachi is the first to come out of his daze when he hears someone thumping their fingers nails on a hard surface, only to see that it was actually the prince doing it on the arm rest of his throne. He then looks more closely at the prince, and notes that his features are obscured by his closed cloak.

Itachi then proceeds to clear his throat, so as to get his companions attention back to their mission. The Konoha team then bows to the prince and goes immediately to the business at hand. Itachi starts by taking care of the common pleasantries like presenting every member of his group that is until a very impatient and annoyed Naruto interrupts him and says,

"Yes, yes I don't care about any of that. Tell me what it is that your so call emperor wants that he's willing to break the pact between nations about Uzumaki's neutrality?"

Everyone except for Jiraiya and Itachi have wide eyes after the prince's 'eloquence'. Itachi knew that this was not going to be easy, so he goes directly to the point of the whole visit.

The general takes out his emperor's missive and says,

"This, your majesty is the point of our visit, Emperor Madara of Konoha sends you on this letter his reasons for such military incursion against your kingdom. But it's for your eyes only otherwise the conditions and offers on the letter will be null."

The prince stills his hands and clenches them. In a very dangerous voice Naruto seethes out "are you threatening me general?"

"Of course not your majesty, I only pass along my emperors words" says Itachi very calmly.

Naruto growls at them and then gives a nod towards Jiraiya. The sage takes the letter from Itachi's hand and then gives it to Naruto.

The prince unclenches his hands and takes the letter. He then begins to read it after breaking the wax stamp. While Naruto reads the room is full on tension and silence that not even the cheerful Jiraiya dares to break.

Finally a loud growl from the prince breaks the silence as he tears the letter in his hand and burns it with elemental magic*, in this instance the one of fire. No one dares to say a word lest they suffer a blast of said magic. Itachi knew about the magic of Uzumaki but he definitely did not know that even the prince was possessor of it; apparently the prince was also as mysterious as his kingdom.

After a few minutes, that seem like centuries to Konoha's emissaries, Naruto snarls out "tell your damn emperor that I will meet him when the sun sets tomorrow outside of Nihon's wall alone, and tell him that he better abides by his word or Konoha will HAVE a very well roasted emperor come morning." With that said he dismisses them, gets up from his throne and walks out of the room through the same door that he used before.

The group from Konoha, with the exception of Itachi and Kakashi, takes offence of the way the prince talked about their emperor. The only one still in the room with them is the sage. Jiraiya laughs awkwardly and apologizes.

"Sorry about that, but the prince has had a very long and trying year. What with the sudden death of his father, the management of Uzumaki and now your emperor's threats who can actually blame him. Well then I'm sure you guys would want to refresh yourselves before going back to wherever you guys came from".

Itachi very calmly answers "I thank you but you don't have to worry about us Great Sage, its better if we just leave right away since we are being expected back soon".

"Well then I'm sure your horses have been very well taken care of at the gates. Before you go be extra sure to warn your emperor about Naruto's words, you know about the whole roasting thing. I'm afraid he's very capable of making good of his promise, so good-bye and safe journey", Jiraiya finishes.

After that the emissaries bid farewell to the sage and depart from the palace and the city.

Back at Konoha's camp

Madara is very anxious while he waits for his envoy. He's pacing around his tent; it's been more than four hours. It was not supposed to take that long. The raven haired emperor can't help the worry that is taking over him, not exactly for his emissaries safety – they can take care of themselves - but for Naruto's reaction.

Not long after this he hears footsteps coming towards his tent. He looks up at the exact moment that Itachi and the rest of the contingent enters his private tent.

"General report".

"Well your majesty lets just say that on the morrow you have an appointment with the High Prince of Uzumaki."

Madara stares at his cousin and he sees something in his eyes and small smirk, he knows there's something else that the general wants to say but he won't with company present. With a very "good job", he dismisses the others, leaving him alone with Itachi.

He looks at the remaining person and smirks, "well Itachi, what else do you wish to report?"

"If I'm permitted to be frank let me just say that you will have your hands full with prince Naruto as your wife. For what I could see he has a very short fused temper." Itachi's grin grows even more, as Madara stays silent. With that he salutes his emperor and turns to leave, but before he goes he stops as he seems to remember something and action that Madara notices. Itachi turns his head back and over his shoulder and with twinkling eyes he says "before I leave I forgot to tell you a message that the prince sent you personally", the taller raven's attention gets picked, "he said to tell you that if you do not abide by whatever you said on the letter come morning Konoha will have a very well done roasted emperor". After saying and a final chuckle Itachi leaves a very shocked emperor.

Madara just can't believe that his dear Naruto would say something as threatening like that, then again what he's doing it's not something that would put him in Naruto's good graces. He smiles and thinks to himself "well I always wanted spunk in my future empress."

At Uzumaki

Naruto is livid, he's ranting about idiots and emperors who don't know just when to well leave alone, on his private study. By this time Jiraiya and Iruka had already catch up with him. They just look at him and listen, while Jiraiya smiles Iruka is very worry for his prince.

"My lord Naruto you must calm yourself so you can think about this situation".

"How can I can calm myself Iruka that jerk just sick an entire army at Uzumaki. You think I don't know what this is about? I know what he wants, and once upon a time I would have given anything to get away from here and just be with him, but after father's death Uzumaki is in turmoil I cannot just leave."

Jiraiya finally speaks up after letting Naruto exhaust himself by way of ranting.

"Well Naruto he just forced your hand, you know he's not bluffing, not with something like this. There is only one thing that you can do and that is preserved the peace of this kingdom at any cost, I'm sure your father would understand."

With a heavy sigh Naruto looks at the floor, then looks at his two teachers and closest friends and with a resign sigh of someone who has come to a very tough life changing decision he says "tomorrow at sunset I will meet with the emperor of Konoha outside of the city gates and this will all be over one way or another".

With those last words the prince enters his private chambers leaving his two teachers behind.

Jiraiya and Iruka turn and leave together.

"So Jiraiya, what do you think? I'm really worried for Naruto."

The other just looks at him and with a tone and eyes that only an old sage could posses answers, "Iruka my friend on the morrow will happen what it's suppose to happen nothing more nothing less, everything has already been pre-ordained by the gods."

After those mysterious words Jiraiya laughs.

"Don't worry so much Iruka, everything will be fine, you never know Naruto might end up the happiest that he could ever be" and then with a serious voice adds,

"You know him, and you also know that things at Uzumaki have been difficult since Minato's murder something that weights on Naruto heavily, he needs help with all of this. Madara may be just what our young prince needs".

With those last words the two friends' part and go to their respective rooms to wait for a morrow that will change the destinies of many, hoping and praying that everything will be for the better of their loved ones.

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* In the story, well there's no chakra. That would be weird; it's going to be call elemental magic, meaning there will be 5 kinds of it.

Naruto was wearing a white cloak, like Jiraiya, and can use elemental magic so if you didn't get it Naruto is also a sage. Through out the story we'll see just how strong a sage he is. Of course not only the sages can use magic, others can too but not with they same strength.

Minato was murdered, that will be explained throughout the story and the secret behind it will discover.

I gave the hint of Naruto and Madara knowing each other more deeply that I had lead on, well that will also be explain through short flashbacks.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter will have some flashbacks of Naruto and Madara's relationship, and finally these two will meet on present time. What will happen? Well, you're going to have to read the next chapter.

ADIOS, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS (just in case).