That Fateful Day
Disclaimer: Nope, I wish... Would have been a totally different/better ending, just sayin'
I absolutely hate it when I am trying to do something (say writing this extra-extra-long chapter) and life decides to send everything it has at me (For example, being scheduled last minute to work all weekend so I can take next Sunday off for my commencement ceremony). –Siiiggghh- Anyway, I'm back from my break, couldn't stay away from my SasuNaru, so thanks for waiting patiently!
Thank you to Thehungrysock, TKM, Fefasz, My-Fair-Lady45, and Lorbang for following :)
Thanks again to Lorbang for the favorite!
Also, thank you to SagenWarrior, TKM, YuK, and My-Fair-Lady45 for reviewing! I'm glad you guys are enjoying this, I wouldn't enjoy writing these stories if no one liked them so it makes me happy people enjoy my work (goes for everyone who has reviewed previously too) :D
Naruto wandered through the grand halls, all the doors and windows merging in his mind. "Where the hell am I?" He muttered, passing a large vine curling around the masonry, "Have I passed that vine?" With a small groan of frustration he turned left, up yet another staircase, and into a similar corridor. The blond glanced out a passing window and spotted the creature he saw on a branch outside Hinata's room. Though this bird-frog creature was smaller, it had a blue coloring instead of the yellow he saw before. Naruto squinted his eyes, inching closer to the window in order to inspect the strange creature closer. Large bubbly eyes watched the injured man get closer to the window, "Do you know where Sasuke's room is?" Naruto asked softly, feeling ridiculous and desperate. The winged creature squawked, which caused a large bubble to pop out under its beak. The young man jumped backwards, surprised at the loud call. The blue bird seemed to watch something behind the blond before calling once more and fluttering off into the woods. Naruto stood confused, disheartened, and about to give up when he heard a small giggle behind him. "Hello?" He called as he turned to the sound, the hallway remained empty, though a small movement of silver fabric around the corner caught his attention. "Can you help me?" The blond asked, walking back towards that part of the hallway. "I'm look for Sasu- I mean Wood Sasuke's room. I'm new here and got lost in this maze of a castle." He explained as he turned the corner, "Could you-?" His sentence cut off when he saw no one around the corner, the only person in the quiet hall was his confused self. Another soft giggle echoed further away, followed by a sighting of the silver dress and flowing hair. "H-Hey!" Naruto ran towards the woman hoping she was leading him to his destination. This sequence continued as he made his way up and down staircases, around corners, and past some scurrying servants.
After jumping down the final three steps of a spiral staircase, the woman vanished. The corridor fell silent, no giggle or whisper was heard, and Naruto was alone again… "W-wait!" He called, "Am I here? Where do I go now?" The blond asked, just as puzzled as ever.
Sasuke slammed a fist against his shut door and grabbed the silver crown from his forehead, throwing it onto his bed. The plush cotton covered in green blankets made a soft sound as the lightweight headdress landed on it. The raven grunted in frustration as he ran a sweaty hand through his hair. "Why am I so angry?" He pondered. The image of his blond and the healer kissing while embracing churned his stomach, anger taking hold of his mind yet again. A defenseless chair sat beside his window gathering leaves which had snuck into the chamber. Sasuke stormed up to the wooden object grabbed it and threw it against the floor with all his might unitl successfully splintering it into large pieces. The prince sighed as he sat on the end of the bed held up by vines, "What am I doing?" He muttered to himself.
"Why do I care so much?" He asked himself, "Why do I care who that idiot sees?"
His mind replied to the angered raven with an image of himself embracing the blond man. Pale fingers brushing through golden locks which rested under his chin and tickled his jaw. Imaginary Naruto lifted his head to look into the prince's dark eyes and smiled softly before Sasuke leaned down to lessen the distance between their lips. Blood rushed to the raven's face as he realized his feelings weren't of sympathy or understanding. He covered his tinted face and tried to calm himself. Though remembering how Naruto and Hinata both confessed their feelings sent the Uchiha back into a frenzy. Rising suddenly, he grabbed his sheathed sword from its place beside the door and hurried out of the room.
With a strong swing of the door, Sasuke emerged from his room; the broken chair still lying in pieces on the floor. He stalked out into the corridor and turned to head to the training grounds, but stumbling upon a puzzled blond. Naruto stood in the middle of the hall frantically looking around, currently studying a lone corner. With his mind clouded with jealousy, the raven stormed up to the injured man and called out "Oi!"
Naruto jumped from the familiar voice, "Hey Sasuk- ?! H-hey!" He cried as the raven marched up, grabbed him by the shoulder, and slammed the blond against the cold stone wall. "What the hell Sasuke?" Naruto hissed with pain as his wound was agitated by the sudden impact.
Fierce black eyes under a deep brow pierced blue, sending shivers down the blond's spine. "Why?" He seemed to growl out, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"What? About me being human?" Naruto questioned before telling the angered raven "Didn't think you needed to know." He shrugged with his free shoulder.
"How could I…?" Sasuke seemed to be in his own world as he yelled at himself. "And with a human no less!"
"The hell is your problem? You were fine with me being a human earlier, you were the one who said I wasn't like the humans you know!"
Sasuke grumbled, remembering how he stood up for the blond. He looked down from Naruto and noticed what he had done. The prince and the outsider were too close for comfort, his pale hand resting on the other man's exposed shoulder. The warm skin underneath his fingertips sent electricity throughout his body and removed the furious cloud from his mind. The raven could feel warmth rise to his cheeks making them a light shade of pink. Sasuke released Naruto and abruptly started to walk away down the hall. Naruto stood against the chilled wall, his brain silently feasting on the image of the blushing prince. How the coloring of the raven's cheeks contrasted greatly against his pale skin. The blond stumbled with his words before regaining control and rushing after Sasuke. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"To train." The raven's dull voice echoed back to the injured man.
"Look," Naruto said after catching up to Sasuke and matching his speed. "I'm sorry for not telling you." He seemed to plead. "I just didn't think it was important!" The blond explained loudly while taking hold of the prince's hand.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks, asking Naruto one question without turning to face him. "Do you know why my people and all of our kingdom hates humans?"
"Nope." The blond furiously shook his head, "What'd they do? Steal from you?"
"They attacked Natorin, released the evil Orochimaru back into the world, and killed my parents in front of me." Venom dripped from the raven's words, he turned his head slightly so he could see Naruto's reaction in his peripheral. The injured man tightened his grip on Sasuke's wrist, his azure eyes widening and his face falling. Sasuke's expression faltered as he felt a twinge of guilt at the sight of Naruto's pained look. "I-I apologize… I know you are nothing like those monsters." The raven prince spoke softly, "Excuse me now, I'm going to go train off my anger." He dismissed himself, lightly pulling his hand out of the blond's grasp.
Naruto was left to watch the raven walk away and down a staircase, his shoulders slumped forward. He could still feel the warm touch of their contact in his palm which he clenched. A feeling of pain and loss clutched at Naruto's heart, he couldn't understand why fighting with the raven made him feel depressed… "Why would they do that?" The blond angrily thought, "How dare they… I need answers"
After a moment of silence, Naruto suddenly exclaimed, "Shit!" A tan hand rushing to his forehead. "I forgot to thank him! Goddamn it!"
The sun set and rose to a new morning, Naruto had not seen Sasuke since that run in after the trial. He felt agitated by the separation and fighting with the Duckbutt, the blond let loose a long sigh and sat up in his cot. Groggily, he looked around the healer's area. Wounded and sickly citizens lay in similar cots, Woodlanders in the same white robes as Hinata hurried from patient to patient. For a second Naruto wondered how he slept through all this commotion twice now, though Iruka did wake him up after he fell asleep at a friend's boxing match. Kiba threw a fit after Iruka told him, the blond could almost hear the feral growl now. He chuckled as he reminisced, sadness taking its place again soon after.
"Why so sad, Naruto?" A melodic voice asked, bringing the blond back to the fantasy world.
"Nothing, I'm fine Hinata!" He sported a toothy grin. The raveness placed her slender hands on her hips and raised both eyebrows. "Alright, alright. Maybe I'm a bit hungry?" Naruto shrugged.
"Of course you are, when are you not?" Hinata teased.
"Hey! That is no way to treat your new boyfriend!" The injured man falsely pouted, crossing his arms across a freshly bandaged torso.
Pink painted her features as she smiled brightly, "Come, let's eat in the garden; you need Mother's fresh air." She lightly took Naruto's hands and tugged him out of the bed, leading out the door and down the enclosed spiral staircase.
"What is the garden like?" The blond man wondered.
"It's beautiful! The first Queen Mother planted the Wood Grove and the Garden of Life." She explained while leading him through the large castle. "The Wood Grove has rows upon rows of Natorin trees, which bloom every time of the year. The Garden of Life holds many types of flowers and plants cultivated by the healing families, mine included, to aid in helping Mother's children. Both are connected to Mother and every Woodlander, many coming to meditate and ask for healing, which is why many Natorin citizens volunteer to help maintain the gardens." Hinata stopped by a large room filled with bustling servant carrying trays of food, swiping three small rolls of what looked like bread. Guards bowed slightly to the petite woman, sending small glares to the blond, and opened the large oak doors.
Naruto squinted as he stepped into the bright sunlight, shading his ocean blue eyes from the painfully bright environment. The two walked around the beautiful plant life, taking in the magnificence and beautiful colors. Hinata seated herself in between a bushel of vibrant blue flowers and a bunch of bushes holding orange and white berries. "Sit with me Naruto." She happily chimed, holding up one of the rolls.
"Okay, what are these anyway?" Naruto inspected the two rolls offered, the golden crust showing small blue objects inside.
"It is a Jurin roll." The raven smiled, "This here is a Jurin plant," A small finger pointed to the blue flowers beside them. "its petals help cleanse the body and gives strength to the muscles."
"So like a protein bar, but a bread roll…" The blond thought out loud, turning one of the rolls in his hands, the strange words confusing Hinata.
After a moment of thinking Naruto took a large bite of the bread. Smiling brightly after swallowing, "This is pretty good!"
The two sat in the garden, the sun's heat cooled by the occasional breeze, talking about various topics; what it's like in Naruto's world, favorite things, and more. Suddenly the blond went silent. He played with the last half of his second roll and stared at the long grass under his legs.
"What is bothering you?" Hinata kindly asked, placing her hands on tan ones to gain the man's attention.
"Hey, Hinata… Can I ask you something?" He asked the woman beside him.
"Of course!"
"Well… Could you tell me about the day the humans attacked Natorin and killed Sasuke's parents?"
Gasping quietly and then taking a moment to think, she replied with an unsure voice. "Sure."
The female raven settled her hands on her lap, the soft white fabric of her dress shined due to the sudden change in angle. "Well…"
"It happened around ten harvests ago; Wood Sasuke, Neji, and I were only eleven harvests old and Wood Itachi was sixteen. We were asleep in our rooms when we heard the horns from the wall."
Piercing horns blew after a loud explosion erupted, guards on the walls hurrying to their stations with their weapons in hand. "They've broken through!" The captain called to his sleepy guards.
"There were three tribes of humans in the Natorin woods, they had made a peace treaty with a past Queen Mother for settlement in the Woods."
The hairy beings climbed through the hole in the wall, black residue still on the stone. Their eyes wide with the primal desire to kill and rough hands clenching foreign weapons. Groups upon groups of human men and women filtered into the elven kingdom, greatly outnumbering the evening guards. Without paying much mind to the armored men jumping down from the wall, the tallest man from one of the tribes called to the rest, "Go. Castle. Get." Then started to bash any guards near him with his two-handed hammer. One tribe stayed behind to deal with the wall guards as the other two rampaged through the village to get to the castle. The journeying groups of attackers set fire to houses and shops on their way, luckily many Natorin citizens already abandoned their houses after the horn's call. The castle stood tall and dark in the extremely early light, though many lights could be seen moving through the open windows. The large doors opened to allow royal guards to run out and line up in front of the castle. Many nobles who lived within the castle volunteered to aid the guards in defending the castle.
"Leave now savages!" Fugaku yelled, taking his place among the line. When the group continued to advance the king turned to his men and instructed them. "We must protect the Queen Mother at all costs, Mother's love." He blessed.
A human woman leading the two tribes held a small black object in her free hand, throwing it at one end if the defending line once close enough. The raven haired king watched in horror as the round, black, ball exploded on impact; tearing his men to shreds. Their limbs scattered across the entranceway and their blood glistening in the setting moonlight. "No, it can't be." A noble beside Fugaku commented.
"Kabuto…" The king whispered right before another ball was thrown, this time landing at his feet.
"I remember hearing my mother's voice call to Queen Mother Mikoto before coming to my room to gather Neji and me."
"Wood Mikoto, you must leave! You must stay safe, at all costs!" The healer instructed the hurrying queen. Her long black hair, a small tone of purple shined in bangs which rested above round pale eyes, was styled into duel braids which were thrown over her shoulders and settled just above her hips. Her intricate while robe dragged along the floor as she ran to catch up to her queen.
"Not at the cost of my children!" Mikoto stopped to turn to her dear friend, "Sasuke and Itachi are in danger and I must get them to safety." The queen's ebony hair flowed freely down her back, pale hands held up the long navy and gold gown she wore. "Wouldn't you do the same for Hinata?" She questioned.
Without another word or enough time to hear an answer, the queen continued on down the hall. The raven haired healer followed suit and headed towards her daughter and nephew's chambers.
"Itachi." Mikoto softly called while opening the door to her oldest son's bedroom.
"Mother?" The teenage boy called, rising from his bed. The prince was already dressed and held the sword his father gave him seasons ago. "Where is father? What is happening?"
The queen hurried in and gave her son a comforting hug, the boy closing his eyes as he inhaled his mother's familiar scent. "Humans have broken through our wall, your father is out defending the castle." She explained while pulling away from the hug, still resting her hands on his shoulders. "We need to get your brother and find safety."
With a curt nod, Itachi and his mother headed down the hall to the young prince's room. Sasuke had blocked his open window with blankets and sat beside his bed, his bed shirt partially tucked into a pair of brown pants, an emptied candle stick in his hands. "Sasuke, I'm opening the door." His brother's voice called before opening the bedroom door.
"Itachi, Mom!" The younger prince ran to his family, "What is wrong, why did the horns sound?"
"We are under attack." The eldest son explained while lifting a corner of the blanket to peek out the window.
"We met up with Wood Sasuke, Wood Itachi, and the Queen Mother outside the royal study."
The queen motioned to the raven healer to get inside the room before ushering her own children inside. She stood in the open doorway and watched the four children interact before looking up at Hinata's mother. "No." The raveness whispered.
"I have to." Mikoto replied, leaning down and kissing her beloved children's foreheads. "Orochimaru must have something to do with this."
"Mom?" Sasuke asked while raising a hand to touch his forehead. Mikoto smiled a genuine smile before running off down the hall.
"Mikoto!" Hinata's mother yelled, running to the door.
The raven queen rushed down the hall and towards the prison wing. "That snake will wish I had given him death instead of life in a cell." She muttered to herself.
The wing was left unguarded and quiet, a lone man sat in a caged room. He faced away from the barred door, the only thing Mikoto could see was his long dark hair resting on the floor. "Nice of you to join me on this joyous day, your highness." The man said, still facing away, hatred dripping from the last two words.
"Orochimaru." She spat. "What have you done?"
He stood from the floor and faced the woman who charged him with treason. "I'm about to change the world." A smile formed on his lips which sent shivers down the queen's spine.
"What do you mean…?" Mikoto questioned, squinting her dark eyes, a loud explosion making vibrations spread throughout the castle.
"Soon." His smile grew. "Soon, the worlds will be mine."
"My mother kept us preoccupied for a while, though her face still held a worried expression. It was after the second explosion that she told us to stay put and left to find the Queen Mother. Then, another entered the room…"
Hinata's mother followed the direction Mikoto had run down a few minutes earlier. Worries about her dear friend and queen ran through her mind as fast as she was rushing down the corridor. She knew Itachi was old enough and trained well enough to protect the younger teens against some humans. The raven barged into the holding wing to see Orochimaru facing the queen and Mikoto turned to see who entered the room. "Your highness, are you alright?" The healer asked the queen, walking towards the closed cell.
"What are you doing here?" Mikoto yelled, "Where are the children?"
"They are safe under Itachi's protection, he is a skilled fighter."
"Maybe against a human, but not against Kabuto!"
"Kabuto?" The raven healer gasped, "He can't be here!"
"Orochimaru is planning something, Kabuto can't be too far behind." Mikoto thought aloud, causing Hinata's mother to regret leaving the children back in the study.
"I'll leave immediately to get the children." The raveness bowed her head before turning to leave again.
"There's no need for that." Orochimaru interjected.
Both women turned to the prisoner, a look of confusion evident on both their faces. Soft footsteps sounded behind the two women, a guard opened the wing, the four teenagers in tow.
"Guard, what is the meaning of this?" Mikoto asked abruptly.
"Your highness…" The guards greeted, removing his helm to reveal ash-grey hair. He smirked as he readjusted the circular black-rimmed glasses. One of the human tribes approached behind him, holding up their weapons to the children.
"Now shall we begin?" Orochimaru asked, taking a small dagger from Kabuto.
"We stood in the arms of monsters as we watched Kabuto open the cell and push the queen in, she complied when she saw one of the humans pressed their dagger against Wood Sasuke's neck."
"Great Father, take this blood as ink for your story." The prisoner yelled to the ceiling, grabbing Mikoto's arm and slicing a line across her forearm. She cried in pain, her blood pooled and dripped from her pale skin. As it touched the floor, the red liquid shined and glistened gold. "With this ink, Father, draw open your doors. Let the worlds connect!" He bellowed, a loud boom sounded from the sky. A bright red light lit the early morning sky, spreading like pulsating waves into the distance. Orochimaru laughed darkly before exclaiming "I can see them! The doors have been opened!" His pupils replaced with redness. "You have done your part." He spoke to the injured queen, turning her to face her children. Before she could call to her sons, Orochimaru slashed the dagger across her neck. Mikoto fell to the floor, gold blood flowing from the wound. The queen sputtered, blood lining down her chin, until she and her body went quiet.
"Me, want. This, me son." The female human holding the weapon to Sasuke's collar spoke to Kabuto.
Orochimaru replied to the woman with a curt "Have him, we'd just kill him anyway." Kabuto opened the cell and leaned down to grab the bloodied queen. The grey haired man stumbled back as Mikoto's eyes snapped open, the once onyx eyes glowed silver.
"Mom?" The young Sasuke called, tears pouring down his cheeks.
Her body rose off the floor and into the air, her whole body engulfed in silver, long ebony hair turned a sparkling sterling color. "Mother…" The raven healer muttered.
"The part of Mother in Wood Mikoto had risen from the deceased body of the queen."
The shining woman waved a hand at Orochimaru, sending him flying back into the cell wall. She met eyes with the remaining tribe of humans and spoke to them. "You received the promise of my kingdom if you freed Orochimaru. As punishment, you shall leave the settlements given to you and will never return to my Wood." Her booming voice entered the human's heads and caused their eyes to gloss over silver, controlling their mind. Lethargically, the tribe dropped their weapons from the teen's necks and left the castle; leaving the Woods forever.
"Well hello, Mother…" Orochimaru sneered as he grabbed the floating woman and with one move, stabbed his dagger through her chest. The blade poked through her silver dress, just below her breasts. Kabuto caught the falling woman, laying her on the floor before helping the injured Orochimaru out of the cell.
"No!" Itachi yelled, Sasuke cried, and the two Hyuga's wailed.
"Stay where you are!" Hinata's mother called, visible veins pulsing around her cold, pale eyes.
"Can't." The freed prisoner smirked, "I have entrances to find and conquer."
The raven healer lifted and arm toward the retreating figure, "Mother! Blind his eyes from his mission! Keep your children safe!" She screamed, a blinding golden light radiated from her fingertips and engulfed Orochimaru. A guttural scream escaped his lips as he fell to his knees, clawing at his face. Kabuto ran to the healer, and slammed her against the nearest wall.
"What have you done?" He growled, pressing his elven sword against her stomach.
"It was then that she decided to trade her life for the rest of the Woodlanders."
Hinata's mother kept quiet, her mouth shut and a rebellious smile placed on her face. Out of frustration, Kabuto stabbed through her abdomen over and over again; until Orochimaru rose from his knees and commanded him to come. The two men disappeared into the chaos and out into the Wood.
The raveness slid to the floor, Hinata cried as she ran to her mother, sputtering blood as she whispered "He cannot… see… them anymore…" Using the last of her energy to turn her head to face the fallen queen. "I'll be… with you… dear friend." She whispered as her soul faded from their world.
Naruto sat, stunned and speechless, opening and closing his mouth trying to form a sentence in his mind.
"That is what happened that fateful day. Afterwards, Itachi was crowned king and we have been searching for those entrances." Hinata finished. "One of those entrances being what you fell though."
Taking it all in, Naruto rested his chin in his palm. "Thank you for telling me…" He looked up to see the pained expression on his girlfriend's face and sighed. "I'm sorry you had to relive that experience. Truthfully, I wasn't upset earlier because I was hungry… I guess I'm just upset that Sasuke and I are on bad terms."
Hinata glanced up, studying the face of the blond man beside her.
"I don't know why, but I don't like fighting with him…"
"Why do you connect so well with the prince?" She asked skeptically.
"Hmmm" He pondered the question for a moment. "Well, he was the only one who showed me compassion and understanding."
The raveness sat quietly, confused and hurt by his words. Hadn't she only shown understanding and kindness towards the blond? All of the recent encounters with Sasuke, since Naruto had been brought to Natorin Desam, played through her mind. She was a smart woman, never easily manipulated since that day with Kabuto, so it was easy to construct a theory.
"Naruto, Madame Hinata." A muscular guard approached the sitting couple. "Wood Itachi has called a meeting and requires you to attend." He addressed the blond sitting cross legged in the deep green grass. "Madame, you are also invited to attend."
"I'm sorry." She shook her head, "I need to care for the Garden of Life and also need to gather supplies for the healing wing."
"Are you sure?" Naruto asked, looking at Hinata with worried azure eyes. "Sasuke's going to be there right?" He whispered to her.
"Go on, shoo." The raven shooed her boyfriend, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
The blond man rose from her side, looking back to her before following the guard back into the castle.
"I don't like how Sasuke's behavior and Naruto's feelings correlate…" Hinata thought to herself, she remembered how the prince looked at Naruto during the trial. "Though he may be my good friend, I don't want to let Naruto go."
Sasuke panted and yelled as he launched himself at one of his guards. Their swords clashed loudly, a ringing clang sounded, sweat dripped from both of their faces. With a slight jab to the back of his foot, the guard fell onto his back and grunted from pain. "Next." The prince grumbled. The guard scurried out of the arena, the others who were watching looked at each other; dreading to go up against the Uchiha. "Who's next?" The raven called, frustration laced into his question.
"I'll go up against you." A voice called from behind the prince.
"Neji…" Sasuke sighed, "I'm not going to fight you. You're my childhood friend."
"Is that it, or is it because you know I'll beat you?" The pale eyed man smirked.
A silent reply consisting of a glare and a 'not having it' face was sent to the Hyuga.
"Come on, who will go up against the trained Sasuke Uchiha?" The prince yelled at the crowd, banging his free hand on his chest.
"Wood Sasuke," Neji called to get his friend's attention. "You have been out here fighting for almost a full day. You should take a rest." He said, honestly worried.
"Very well." Sasuke angrily spat and walked out of the training arena and into the guard house.
A man and woman sat at the table, still dressed in their armor, eating and resting. Both instantly stood at the sight of the royal bodyguard and prince. "Mother's love!" The woman blessed the Uchiha.
"Out." Sasuke replied.
The two guards scurried out of the building, too quickly to grab their scraps of food. "Sasuke…" Neji watched as they closed the door. "What is on your mind?"
"Nothing." He brushed off the topic. Sasuke stationed himself in front of the weapon rack to hang his now sheathed sword while he took off the armor he borrowed.
"Remember how you held in your fears and anger after your parent's deaths?" Neji asked, seating himself at the cluttered table. Sasuke froze at the mention of his parents.
"Yes…" He softly spoke, "What about it?" The raven inquired, slowly resuming the undressing.
"You became sick that following harvest, only to feel better after releasing all the demons in your mind to the Mother Tree." Pale orbs carefully watched hard onyx eyes relax. "I have known you since we were young woodlings, I never want to see you like that. So… I'll ask again." He paused, "What is on your mind?"
"Naruto…" The prince whispered almost inaudibly.
"Naruto?" Neji repeated, "Are you upset about trusting a human?"
Black spikes, coated in sweat, wobbled as he shook his head. "No… That's not it." The youngest Uchiha stayed silent while he debated to tell his friend what he figured was the reason.
"Then what?" The Hyuga questioned.
"That human won't leave my mind; the darker shade of his skin, the way his golden hair falls down his neck, and that idiotic smile of his." The prince recited while starring into nothing, loosing himself in the image of his blond.
"Sasuke…" Neji spoke, furrowing his brow.
"I was upset about him being human, though it did not bother me until he gave himself to your cousin." Sasuke growled. "All that I've done for that idiot… and this is how I'm treated?"
"How you're treated, or how you're feelings are treated?" Neji corrected the angered prince. "What are your feelings for the humans?" The bodyguard looked at his confused friend.
Hesitantly, after a short sigh, Sasuke replied. "He is an honest idiot… but that's what I like about him."
"Mm-hmm" Neji nodded.
"He understands my loss and doesn't treat me like some object to worship, treats me like an actual person and isn't afraid to called me a disrespectful name." Sasuke explained. "I think… I think I may like him."
"Like him?" Neji tilted his head, "Like a dear friend, a bodyguard, or a… lover?"
"I-I'm not sure." The prince stuttered, running a hand through his hair. "I mean… I daydreamed about holding him." He described, holding his hands in front of his face. "Embracing him, the touch of his hair, and the warmth of his skin… Sorry, you don't want to hear this right?" He apologized to his childhood friend.
"I don't mind it, as long as it helps release tensions on your mind." Neji answered honestly, the dull look on his face held up by the palm of his hand.
Sasuke chuckled, "Or you are curious what it's like to fantasize about men." The prince wiggled his eyebrows playfully and showing his unclothed chest.
"Maybe." Neji smirked at the bewildered face his friend gave him. Three knocks at the guardhouse door interrupted their conversation.
"Yes?" Sasuke called.
"Wood Sasuke, Sir Neji?" An unknown guard asked.
"What is it guard?" Sasuke inquired as he opened the door, revealing a short man in full armor.
"Wood Itachi has called for a meeting to discuss the entrances. You have been called for immediately." He announced, saluting before turning to leave. "Mother's Love."
"Well then, worshipping object, let's go." Neji said as he moved around the prince to exit the building, tossing a white shirt his way. "I'm sure you would love to show Naruto your exposed chest, but I would highly suggest covering it for your brother." The pale eyed bodyguard teased.
The Uchiha threw on the thin fabric shirt, the buttons hooked halfway up which revealed the upper part of his chest. He grumbled as he followed suit, leaning his head down trying to cover the embarrassment coloring his face.
Naruto followed the buff guard with his hands in the pockets of his extremely dirty cargo pants. Bringing a hand to scratch an itch, he remembered he was wearing nothing but bandages on his chest and stomach. "Hey!" The blond called to the guard. "Can we stop somewhere to grab my shirt from Hinata's area?"
"No." The taller man strictly said, not even bothering to face the blond.
"…" Naruto plotted, coming up with a plan to 'convince' the guard. "I don't think you want me to tell my good buddy Sasuke about this, do you?" A mischievous smirk evident on his lips as the guard stopped in his tracks, his body stiff from fear.
"Y-you wouldn't…" The muscular man turned to Naruto, his face full of dread. "I don't want to go up against him again in the arena."
"Huh?" Utter confusion replaced the smirk.
"H-he, Wood S-Sasuke, has been fighting non-stop since this time yestermorning." The guard glanced side to side. "I-I'll take you right away!"
During the hurried walk to the healer's wing, the injured man thought of the raven prince. He knew their fight hadn't helped ease Sasuke's anger. Worries about Sasuke getting injured while training crossed his mind, which he shooed away once they arrived in front of the wing's door. Naruto quickly dipped in to grab the white shirt that lay on the floor beside his bed. He slipped on the stiff fabric, "Goddamn, I need to wash this…" The blond thought as he got a whiff of the shirt. The cartoon fox on the chest of the shirt held a paint brush in one paw and a grey clay pot in the other. Underneath, in jagged letters, read the pun: "What did the fox clay?" Naruto chuckled as he read his shirt, though upside down to him. He always was a sucker for a good pun.
The buff man opened the study door for the blond and ushered him in, saying a soft blessing before closing the door behind him. "Naruto, welcome to my study." Itachi greeted the human, his long dark hair in a ponytail and thrown over his left shoulder. "Sasuke and Neji just arrived as well." The king pointed to his brother and the bodyguard, both seated by a large bookcase.
Naruto quickly glanced at the raven he was quarreling with, his cerulean eyes drawn straight to the prince's exposed chest. An impulse to touch his tan fingertips to the slightly glistening exposed area tugged at Naruto's body. "Calm down boy… You're just tired and lonely." He convinced himself, further slapping his mental self by thinking "That's why I have Hinata, I'm not lonely anymore."
Sasuke walked up to the lost in thought blond and lightly punched him in the shoulder, keeping his gaze away from Naruto's. "I'm sorry about yestermorning. I was unfairly angry and took my demons out on you, I was honest during the trial when I said I know you aren't a monster. I trust you and think of you closely." The prince wasn't accustomed to apologizing or expressing himself in general, at least to no one other than the Mother Tree. This awkwardness made the prince seem awkward, Naruto noted the out of character sight and unconsciously stepped closer to the other man. Charcoal eyes looked up into ocean blue, seeing the bright smile the raven loved so much.
"It's really no problem, I get that way too sometimes." Naruto laughed, returning the fake punch with a nudge. "Next time, you should just come to me and tell me your problem. I guarantee I can solve it!" He pounded one fist against his palm, trying to be threatening but only seeming cute to the prince. Naruto's smile returned when he heard the raven chuckled softly.
"Sorry to interrupt your bonding, but I have a few questions for our new friend." Itachi poked his between the two men, an entertained look on his face as he glanced between the two.
"Oh, yeah!" Naruto remembered, stepping away from Sasuke. "What did ya wanna know?"
"Tell me what happened the day you fell into the lake, in detail if you can." The king instructed while pulling out an empty book of parchment and a writing utensil.
"Well," The blond started. "I got the day off so I could visit the orphanage I grew up in, since it was closing, and went 'round back to see my old treehouse." The three Woodlanders looked at each other, mentally asking 'a house in a tree?' or 'day off? Was it night?'. "I'd been feeling sick all day and it only got worse when I unlocked my old hangout, I even vomited!" Naruto finally connected the dots.
"Vomited?" Neji repeated.
"Uh… Got sick. Or emptied my stomach." The blond tried to explain.
"Interesting, how sick were you?" Itachi asked while writing down what the human had said previously.
"Pretty bad actually, to the point where I mostly black out… Oh, uh, fainted… Was fatigued?" Naruto shrugged, hoping he was explaining things well. "While I was fainting, I tripped on a nail and fell."
"And, after you landed was that when you saw the entrance?" Itachi questioned, looking up from his book briefly.
"Nope, I never landed!" Naruto exclaimed.
Sasuke cast a confused glance to Neji before asking the basic question "When did you land then?"
"I opened my eyes to see the lake getting close real fast, splashing head first into the water. When I dragged myself out of the water, I saw the portal floating in the sky."
"What did it look like?" Sasuke asked.
"It was round, clear, and I could see the ceiling of my treehouse in the center." Naruto pictured the last sighting of his home world.
"What happened to it? Shall we leave immediately for the lake?" Neji spoke up, standing from his seat.
"No point, it vanished while I was looking at it… What are they anyway?" The blond took a turn asking the questions. "I heard about the attack and Orochimaru from Hinata earlier."
"Orochimaru had been previously tried and found guilty of treason, or conspiring to overthrow the Queen Mother. He had been caught with Kabuto trying to conjure open the entrances, claiming they were to other worlds and are open to conquering." Itachi explained, setting the book onto his desk.
"Which we now know to be true." Sasuke added while pointing a finger upwards.
"So if it is open to the other worlds, then does that mean I'm not the only one to fall through?" Naruto asked, seeming to get excited by the thought of another person from his Earth.
"I'm afraid that isn't the case." Itachi shook his head. "The entrances were opened ten harvests ago, but remained inactive until this season. You are the only known subject to its choosing."
"Choosing? Did it choose me to drop into a lake?" Now Naruto was really confused.
"Orochimaru had sacrificed for the Father, a deity who controls time and days while Mother is an all-loving deity who takes care of the Wood." The king explained.
"So… He chose me to come to this world…?" It was obvious that the blond was still not getting it, until it dawned on him. "Oh! Fate! So you're saying it was fate for me to come here."
"Correct. You were brought here to help with closing the entrances and keeping not just your world safe, but ours as well." The eldest Uchiha nodded.
"Why has ten years gone by and Orochimaru still hasn't found the portals?" The blond asked, placing a finger on his chin.
"Hinata's mother cast a curse on him, making him unable to see their auras. He is now blind to their presence and is trying to gain knowledge on where they have opened or moved to. During the inactive ten harvests, Orochimaru and Kabuto tried to undo the spell cast on him… Only to find that the lone caster has the ability to retract the curse." Itachi told the quiet blond. "We must find a way to defeat that snake and close the entrances." The older Uchiha walked away from the group of younger men and pulled out his desk chair. "This has been enough for today, I must attend to some paperwork. You are dismissed."
Naruto wandered about in the gardens, the sun had set beyond the treetops making the sky a vibrant orange. Across from the garden stood a hill filled with nothing but tall grass and some stray weeds. The blond whistled a simple guitar rift, which he heard on Iruka's radio in Ichiraku once, while sauntering up the hill. A less than full moon peered over the horizon opposite of the sun. Naruto confirmed the spot would do well for his strange routine of chatting with his parents. Settling on his back, the injured man gazed up at the coral colored sky and pointed out all the slightly visible stars. His relaxing view was obscured by a bright flash of light, blinding him completely. Almost as if he had been struck by lightning… An uneasy feeling washed over Naruto, he could feel a change in the environment. "It must have something to do with the portals!" He decided, quickly getting up before rushing off to find the person who came straight to mind. "Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.
Holy crap… I wrote 15 pages… That's about 10 or 12 pages longer than any college paper I've written! Who'da thunk 7145 words would be so exhausting to write.
I hope you enjoyed! :)