DON'T OWN NARUTO
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Chapter 3
An hour from sunset and Naruto is preparing to leave his palace. He takes a deep breath and starts to march down the road that begins at the palace, across the city and ends at the last entrance wall.
Remembering Iruka's worries he laughs very softly.
Flashback
Iruka was very upset because the High Prince of Uzumaki was walking alone to the meeting point. Naruto just looks at his teacher and smiles.
"I'm sorry Iruka but a horse and guards are not necessary I can take care of myself inside my own city. Besides I could use the time to contemplate my life, I want to be alone for a while. It's not everyday that a person makes such life changing decisions and it's not that far."
"Fine, but you better stay safe, and you better be back before noon" says a resign Iruka.
He looks at his city, though it's too early, the market is still close and only a handful of people are up and about.
Only one thought invades Naruto's mind at the moment 'for them, for their peace, for my precious Uzumaki I'm not important only their happiness''.
Konoha's camp
"Ready?" asked the emperor when he finishes mounting his steed to the small group of mounted guards (the former envoys that went to Nihon).
With salutes and 'Hais" towards their emperor the group start their short journey.
When they arrived to the half point on their journey the emperor orders a stop.
"From this point on I go alone, you will wait for my return at this spot."
The guards start to grumble under their breath. Only Kakashi states what everyone, except for Itachi, are thinking.
"Majesty with respect but are you sure it's safe to continue alone? This is enemy territory after all. You could be ambush sire."
Madara just looks at Kakashi expressionless.
"This is Uzumaki Hatake. There are no ambushes here, the High Prince gave his word that he will meet me and I have no doubt about it. He will meet me at the meeting point."
With those last cryptic toneless words the emperor proceeded alone astride his great stallion.
The group just looked at each other and dismounted their horses to await their emperor's return. Only Kakashi notice Itachi's small smirk.
Madara was finally alone. He still cannot believe that soon he will see him again after almost four years. He's still angry at the other even after all this time.
With that in mind he remembers their last rendezvous.
Flashback
"Madara, where are you?"
Naruto's very nervous. He sneaked out of his room and if his father ever finds out about his clandestine meetings he knows he would be in a whole world of trouble. Yet he cannot stop meeting the other, it's like a force stronger than him.
This' the first time that he has ever felt this way, and so he continues to wait for the mysterious black haired man even though it's so late.
He looks at the full moon, with its silver and cold appearance is so mesmerizing.
Naruto is so enrapture with the moon that he fails to hear footsteps along the unfrequented garden path coming his way.
He's startle out his daze by the pair of strong arms that encircle his waist and a face that that buries itself at the junction between his neck and shoulder.
"Did you wait long?"
"Not much."
"Naruto, we need to talk. Soon I'll be returning to Konoha even though I don't want to leave you."
The blond reaches over his shoulder and caresses the other's hair.
"Why don't you stay here on Nihon? I'm sure the High Prince will allow you to."
Madara finally rises from his position and turns the other around. Now they're face to face and he knows that he will have to explain to the other why he must return to Konoha.
With his right hand on the other's chin he tilts up the blonde's face and kisses him softly. Then he looks into azure eyes the mesmerized him from the first.
"Naruto I cannot stay here. Why don't you come with me? We can be happy on Konoha, together."
"I can't, I have duties here. I cannot leave Uzumaki; I'm not even allowed to leave the palace's grounds. Why can't you stay?" asks the boy with something akin to a pout on his face.
"Naruto love, don't look at me like that. It's impossible for me to stay at Uzumaki; I have my duty to my people."
"I don't understand. What's so important that you cannot stay with me here?"
The moment of the confession, the moment that Madara has dreaded has finally come. He takes the boys face between his hands and sighs.
"Naruto I have returned to govern my people. Do you understand what I mean?"
Naruto just stares at him, he's speechless. He knows what the other means; he just can't bring himself to assimilate such news, such painful news.
"I am Madara Uchiha emperor of Konoha. I must return tomorrow, I have been away for too long as it is."
Suddenly blue eyes fill with pain and tears. Naruto takes a step back away from the raven.
"No, no that cannot be. Please it can't be true." Naruto brings a hand to his mouth to stop the sobs that are beginning and turns his back to his companion.
Well that certainly was no the reaction that Madara was expecting. He thought that Naruto might be angry with him, but not that he would go into such despair. Now he's the one that's getting confuse, something that's very un-Uchiha like.
"Naruto I know that I should have told you before but I wanted you to know me as a man not as an emperor. Now look at me and tell me the reason of your tears" demands Madara.
Naruto very slowly turns around completely to look at his raven love. With a tearful face fill pain he answers.
"I am Naruto Namikaze only son and heir to Minato Namikaze High Prince of Uzumaki."
Now it was Madara's place to be surprised. He could not believe that he had fallen for the Namikaze heir. His heart was breaking more each second, not that outward appearance showed any this.
The pair just stood there staring at each other.
After some minutes Madara hardens himself and extends a hand towards the other.
"Naruto take my hand and let's leave now. We'll leave Uzumaki together and no one will be able to stop us."
Naruto looks at the emperor's hand. He wishes to take that hand more than anything in the world but he can't. He can't leave his father, his people behind.
The young prince extends his hand to grip the one in front of him but suddenly he retracts and clutches his hands together against his chest so as not to succumb to temptation.
Tears cascade down Naruto's face endlessly, while he looks at the ground.
"Please Madara I can't, do not make choose between my love for you and that for my people."
Madara can't believe what its happening, for a moment there he actually thought that Naruto would take his hand. He then lets his arm fall down and watches the prince's trembling frame.
In a very emotionless voice he replies, "You choose to stay here then. I know a High Prince never marries another country's ruler so that's that."
When Naruto heard the unemotional voice of his love he brings up his face to look at the other. What he sees scares him more than anything before, a face devoid of feelings with a pair of cold obsidian eyes.
"Madara please forgive me, please don't hate me" begs the golden haired boy.
Madara just gazes at the boy and with the same cold voice says, "goodbye Naruto".
With those words he turns around and leaves the prince behind to wallow alone in his own misery. He dares not turn and look at the other even though the sobs of the one he loves are breaking what's left of his heart.
The next day he left without seeing the young prince, after crossing the palace's wall he turns around atop his steed to take a last look to the place that brought him such happiness only to snatch it back at the end. Atop the ramparts of the wall something catches his eye, something that reflects the sunlight. He knows who it is, only one person has hair as golden and beautiful that can put the sun to shame. At that moment he vows that someday, somehow he will find a way to make Naruto his bride.
From his perch Naruto watches with a heavy heart his love's departure. He stood there for hours until the last of Konoha's convoy disappeared on the horizon. Covering his hair with his white cloak he goes to prepare. Since he cannot be with the one he loves he decided that he will work hard and become a sage powerful enough to protect his people, the only thing he has left to care for.
With Itachi and company
The guards are talking among themselves; they still don't understand the reason for the military incursion against Uzumaki. A kingdom, whose neutral lands are the only place where the leaders of any country can meet without fear of betrayal or reprisal, a mysterious magical kingdom that even the great nations respect.
It does not sit well with them that the possibility of attacking the holy city of Nihon exists, not only they are the only ones nervous but almost the whole of Konoha's army is too.
Kakashi is selected among his companions to ask their general about his opinion on the whole matter.
Itachi's sitting on a boulder some distance away from the others when Kakachi closes on him. He knows that the men are fidgeting while fallowing their orders, uncomfortable as they may find them.
Kakashi salutes his general and receives a nod of acknowledgment.
"Sir as I suppose you already know the men are confuse at the orders."
"Well, as far as I know you men are soldiers and as such all that your emperor requires of you all are to follow his orders."
"Sir you always say that when soldiers start questioning their orders a leader's responsibility is to address their doubts because soldiers are humans not stone statues. Real soldiers are those that are not afraid to question the reason of their orders."
Itachi turns to look at Kakashi and the rest of the 'men' with a smirk on his face. He stands up and addresses the small group.
"You all want to know the reason of all of this military campaign? Well I'm not at liberty to disclose such information at the moment. I can tell you something that will soon be known to anyone among the nations though. Soon this campaign will end with a marriage, or at least that's what I hope."
The guys look at each other, and then Kurenai asks "Sir, who is the couple that will marry?"
Itachi then looks at the rising sun on the west while smiling.
"Soon Konoha will have an empress that is if our future empress doesn't roast our emperor first."
It takes less than a minute for all of them to understand Itachi's words.
While to women squeal among themselves like fan girls, the men cannot comprehend their emperor's reasons.
This time it's Asuma that voices their question.
"General if the emperor marries the prince then, what about the issue of an heir? Marriage between people of the same sex it's common but usually they already have children."
Itachi knew this was coming so the least he can is assuage their doubts.
"Have any of you ever heard that the Namikaze family are descendants from the demon god Kyuubi?"
After they gave theirs nods of assent Itachi proceeded.
"One the reasons that that belief came to be is that men among the Namikazes are able to conceive and carry their young to full term. Prince Naruto's great-grandfather was actually born from a union such as this. Such ability it's not commonly known among the people outside Uzumaki, an ability that the present prince carries. If he marries our emperor he has the same chance to give birth to an heir as any woman would."
The group just looks at their general, they are astounded. For such an ability to exist surely the Namikazes have a god's blood running trough their veins.
.
Madara arrives at the meeting point. He's getting anxious though he will never admit such weakness not even under torture.
He has waited long for an opportunity to make Naruto his. When Minato died he knew that his chance was near and when he heard the rumors of others planning to move against Uzumaki he finally found the perfect opening to make his own move. He wasn't going to let some upstarts to take what was his, not that he's really interested in Uzumaki. No, his only interest lies on one Naruto Namikaze.
Suddenly he sees a small white spot moving towards him. He knows it's him, after four years they will see each other again.
Naruto can also see a black spot on the accorded meeting place, the middle point of the road between Konoha and Uzumaki. He doesn't want to admit it but his stomach is making funny things. No he won't call them butterflies, he's man damn it. It's probably because he didn't get any breakfast, possibly...
But he knows for sure that it's not because in a few minutes he will see the face of that confounding black spot. The face of the one he still loves the one he sees every night in his dreams; nope he is not the reason.
In fact he has a few chosen words to tell (yell) to that damn spot.
After some minutes the white cloaked figure arrives at the meeting point.
The black haired man dismounts and walks to the other figure.
"Naruto it's been too long."
"…"
Madara it's getting a little annoyed. The confounding boy is wearing a white cloak that covers his figure, more importantly it covers the face that he's been waiting to see for four years in it shadows.
Naruto's POV
Meanwhile Naruto has not such problem. In fact he's cursing every deity that comes to mind. How in blazes can exists a man that looks like walking sin, like sex with legs?
It is not freaking fair, how can he be expected to form a coherent thought on his head much less talk with a mouth whose jaw has been totally floored.
Such creamy pale skin, such deep bottomless black eyes, long black hair that looks as shiny and soft as silk – must touch hair - and that deep baritone voice that comes from such a sinful beautiful mouth that appears to be moving at the moment. Even with that scary black and red armor he looks great, how can he carry such a look without being rape on the road. It's probably that big scary sword he has, but damn. Wait, focus Naruto I think the bastard' talking, something about being too long without seeing each other. Oh he looks really annoyed; he looks really sexy like that. Mmm…
At the moment he can only be grateful that his cowl covers his face, mustn't let this opportunistic gorgeous bastard see him drool.
Madara is really irritated now. Naruto is not talking. Why is Naruto not talking? Maybe he's mute, oh well doesn't matter he can find new things for that sweet mouth to do.
"Emperor Madara it has been long indeed. To what do I own the honor of Konoha's army visiting Uzumaki lands?"
Madara smirks at Naruto.
While Naruto repeats the same mantra on his head over and over again "Must Not Jump Sexy Bastard."
"Oh no my dear the honor is all mine. After all they are on Uzumaki accompanying their emperor on his bridal pursuit.
"Really is that so? So your bride lives within the borders of my poor, dear and small kingdom then? You should tell me your bride's name maybe I can help you on your search that way your visit can be shorten and you can return faster to your Konoha. I hear it's just beautiful this time of year, must be full of tourist I imagine." Insert sarcasm here.
"Oh no, you don't have to worry as it happens I just happened to find my bride."
With grinding teeth Naruto replies "Lucky you, then I must thank you for your short but pleasant visit to Uzumaki. I wish you and your bride the best and if that's all I must bid you farewell my lord emperor. You know how it is when you have to lead and govern your people, lots to do. Good bye have safe trip."
With that Naruto turns and begins to walk back to Nihon.
Madara have had just about enough of their verbal brawl. He reaches out with his hands and catches Naruto by his arms, and drags him back until Naruto's back is pressed against his chest.
"Enough of this Naruto, you know what I want and you know that you have no other choice but to give in" hisses the raven to the blonds ear.
Naruto struggles to free himself from the other's hold and so Madara crosses his arms and hugs the cloaked one to him.
"If I don't give in unto your demands, what will you do then?"
"Do you really wish to test my resolve Naruto? I always get what I want, and what I want is you."
"Let go you brute" with those words Madara releases Naruto from his hold.
Naruto turns rapidly around like an animal about to strike.
"You wouldn't dare. Uzumaki must remain independent and neutral no matter what. I don't think you allies would agree to attack Uzumaki."
Very arrogantly the raven replies "My allies think what I tell them to think, nothing more nothing less. Besides I don't want to annex Uzumaki to Konoha I just want YOU as my empress."
"Oh is that all? Talk about small wishes. What the hell do you think the nations will think? They will say that Uzumaki is in bed with Konoha – a statement which makes Madara's grin grow – which would be technically true" admits Naruto grudgingly.
With sternness that Uchiha's are known for he stops Naruto's rant.
"Enough, you have your choices Naruto but beware, should you choose not to accept my suit I will really invade Uzumaki and then I WILL annex it as part of my empire's territory. Choose wisely because you know that I am not bluffing".
Naruto can only fist his hands with frustration; he knows he has no other choice but to accept.
"Fine, I accept your marriage proposal. If we are going to do this then know that I must marry first on Uzumaki for the marriage to be legal among my people."
"That's fine with me. In two days we will marry on Nihon. In a week we shall marry on Konoha, the people must see their new empress after all."
"Whatever. Tomorrow there shall be a banquet at Kyuubi Palace to honor our marriage. I shall expect you on the afternoon since I imagine you would want to refresh yourself before the banquet."
"Of course, I shall see then my dear."
Madara then reaches out with his right hand and catches Naruto's left hand and like a gentleman he bows over it placing a fleeting kiss on it.
Without straightening from his bow he looks up and with a grin on his face says "I shall count the minutes until we each other again my dear".
Naruto with a brusque move snatches his hand back and replies "Well you do that, just don't expect me to do the same."
With those parting words he turns to return to Nihon, but not before the wind brings to his ears the chuckles of the sexy bastard he just left behind.
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Hope you liked the chapter.
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Next time: The banquet, first wedding, trip to Konoha and possibly (maybe) the beginning of the second wedding.
Stay tuned for next chapter folks.