Welcome Back…?

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me

A/N: I wrote on the latest chapter of my other story that I have been having problems with my laptop. I had it sent to be fixed for about 1 ½ weeks, but now it is back and in (hopefully) working order! :D I'm also done with midterms and spring break so everything should get back to normal!

Thanks to Chile of Darkness, Pride . Lucifer, Realynnie, Actingfreak, Ainman8755, Tamagoyakihime, and Killua17 for following!

Thanks to Chile of Darkness and FlariceFlame for the favorite!

Enjoy :)

The blond prince wandered through the garden with his fingers intertwined and resting on his head. He closed his azure eyes and let loose a long, heavy, sigh. After the pond incident, all four seasons had passed and it was summer once again. Naruto's year had been a rollercoaster of emotions; trying to figure out Sasuke's intentions, getting through rough times in the kingdom, and settling his own feelings for Sakura. The last time he saw the pinkette was about two months ago.

"Naruto! I need to talk to you in private!" She came running to the blond after stepping out of her carriage.

"Hi to you too Sakura." He stuck his lip out in an attempt to fake pout, "What is it you want to talk about?"

Sakura fidgeted with the hemming of her golden gown, her green eyes swirled with a mix of emotions, emotions that Naruto could not figure out. Though the look on her face screamed of desperation. Without a reply, Naruto took hold of the princess' palm and led her to his chambers. He stuck his head out into the corridor to see if anyone followed them, once he was satisfied with the empty hall he gently closed the door. Sakura instantly went to a lone chair sitting in front of the curtain covered window. Loose pink strands from her complex bun fell onto her exposed neck, lightly moving from the slightest breeze coming through the partially opened window. Naruto plopped himself on the edge of his bed, crossing his legs and placed his chin in both of his palms. "Have you heard of the arrangement?" Sakura asked the blond, turning her pink head his way and lifting pink eyebrows.

"Arrangement?" He raised a brow, "The hell are you talking about?"

"I heard that my parents had made an arrangement with your and Sasuke's parents when we were younger." She explained while starring into her lap. "That whomever I marry will be the kingdom my father will ally with. That it is up to me to choose who we will protect and who is left on their own." She twisted and played with the fabric of her dress.

Naruto lifted his head, his cerulean eyes widened as he realized the situation, "WHAT?" He yelled, catching the pinkette off guard and making her jump in her seat. "So our parents are using us as bargaining tools?" He threw his arms in the air.

"In a way, yes. I have to choose either you or Sasuke to marry…" She turned her gaze to the floor and said solemnly.

"Shit…" Naruto muttered as he ran a hand through his wild locks. The prince lifted himself off the bed and started to pace back and forth in front of the canopy bed. "Does Sasuke know?"

She shook her head, "I have no idea… I highly doubt he doesn't, you know how his father is."

"That cunning bastard…" The blond growled, "So that's why…" He thought aloud.

"What, Naruto?" She asked as she tilted her head to the right.

"Oh… Umm." He rubbed the back of his neck, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. "It's kinda embarrassing…" The prince explained softly.

Sakura stood and walked over to Naruto, her hands placed on her hips. "Spill." She instructed.

The blond prince sighed before reciting the events, "Sasuke and I were forced to go horseback riding. He was being a dick so I challenged him to a race, which I won of course. After leaving the back gates, we raced our way into the forest where we found an injured animal lying beside a deep pond."

"How do you know it was deep?" Sakura asked, bringing the prince out of his groove.

Uh, I'll get to that in a sec…" Naruto recovered, "So, I got off Kyuubi to help the creature since I am so nice." The pinkette rolled her eyes. "Before I could help it, Sasuke-teme threw a rock straight at it. The thing got up and ran off, IT RAN OFF! The fucker was faking it the whole time! And even worse, that royal asshole pushed me into the water!" He scoffed.

"What? Why?" Sakura asked, she had never heard of or seen the raven act so energetic around her.

"Some stupid reason." He pouted as he pushed the real reason to the back of his mind. "But I gave him what he deserved, I pulled him in!" Naruto grinned widely. "After we fought for a bit, we started to laugh at ourselves. That was when I-" He stopped short as he remembered the scene, a deep red spread over his whiskered cheeks.

"What happened next?" Sakura asked desperately.

"Well, um, we kinda just starred at each other for a bit."

"Starred at each other? Why?"

"Well… In the moment, He looked… really sexy." Naruto could feel the warm blush spread like wildfire to the tips of his ears. "He softly touched my shoulder and his warm palm was sitting in my hair." He explained as if he were in a daze, a tan hand unconsciously clutched said shoulder. Snapping out of it, he growled "But the asshole was just taking a piece of algae out of my hair."

The pinkette stood still throughout the story, her emerald eyes wide with excitement. Jumping up and down, Sakura gasped before squealing "Oh my god! You two are meant for each other!"

"What the hell? I thought you were head over heels for Sasuke." Naruto starred at her with bewilderment.

"Sure Sasuke is hot, but boy on boy is even sexier!" She explained, rolling her eyes like it was an obvious fact.

"Boy on boy? I don't like the teme like that!" He yelled a little too loudly. Now he wasn't sure if his reddened face was from embarrassment or anger.

"Don't worry, I'll support you two!" She playfully winked at the blushing blond, "Wait… How does this tie into the arrangement?" She asked once she snapped out of her fangirling mode.

"Duckbutt was just trying to throw me off so he could come sweep you up and get the protection!" The prince yelled.

"Uh huh…" She muttered doubtfully. "Or…Maybe he like-likes you?" Naruto scoffed, due to the absurdity of the idea, before turning his back on the pinkette. She smiled gently, "Now, I want to go have lunch in the garden." She instructed with her head held high.

Naruto smiled tenderly, "Alright, I'll call for Hinata." He said as he turned to open the door.

"Whoa!" She grabbed the prince by the wrist, "Why not call for someone else? Let Hinata take a break!" She had a smile on her face but her eyes screamed of some type of fear.

The blond prince shrugged and opened the door for the princess, his azure eyes focused on the pinkette in front of him. "I can't like Sasuke, it's not possible." He thought, "I'll foil his plan and steal Sakura before the teme even has the chance!" Naruto ultimately decided and grinned with full confidence.

Naruto passed by a familiar crowd of lilies, the raven prince's face popped into the blond's thought. "How should I act around him?" He pondered as he stood where he previously found the slumbering teen. "Now that I know his plan, should I act like I haven't figured it out?" Boney fingers pinched the stem of a blooming lily before separating it from the others and bringing it to his face. The aroma of the flower brought back the memory in more detail, the fluttering feeling returning as well. He could still feel the warmth on the tips of his fingers, blue eyes closed as he physically remembered the smooth skin his hand grazed. The blond was brought out of his strange trance by an elder servant, "Sir! Their Highness have requested your presence by the grand doors, the royal Uchihas will be arriving soon." His face fell, he gently placed the picked lily where Sasuke's head lay a year before. The same questions resurfaced in his mind as he made his way back to the castle.

Sasuke jolted awake as the embellished coach ran over a large object in the road, he rubbed his sleep filled eyes with a palm before glancing up towards his family. Mikoto sat beside Fugaku with her head turned toward one of the windowed doors. Upon closer inspection, the teen could see her eyes closed and a small, nearly inaudible snore escaped her throat. The king sat tall, his dark eyes focused on the multiple parchments gripped in his hands. It wasn't unusual for his father to bring his work with him, so Sasuke assumed it was of foreign affairs or some other importance. Itatchi was seated to the right of the younger prince, his long hair loose and hid the older teen's face. By the bob of his head with every lump the carriage rode over, the young Uchiha figured his brother was slumbering as well.

Sasuke moved his hand to the crook of his seat and removed a small letter he had brought with him. The raven had received word from the pink princess but procrastinated opening it due to dreading whatever she wrote. Quietly, he opened the parchment and began to read the ink note.

My dear Sasuke,

I am saddened to inform you that I will not be able to attend our usual get-together with Naruto, I am stuck in my kingdom. My parents are forcing me to attend the gala in celebration of a daughter of one of our dukes, stupid Ino-pig. So please tell the blond idiot of my absence.

Your love,

Sakura

The young Uchiha rolled his eyes at the signature. Though the pinkette could be clingy, she was never boring to talk to. The prince felt a small giddiness at the fact that he would be able to spend time alone with the blond prince. Sasuke had decided at the end of his last visit that he would give up on his father's expectations and follow what he longed for. Every time Naruto spoke, every time the blond moved captivated the raven prince. He could not and refused to marry Sakura, he would hate everyday spent in that married life. Though he hadn't told his father or mother yet, Sasuke planned to change his target. "Uchihas never lose…" He chanted in his mind as pale fingers gently folded the letter back up and placed it in between the coach wall and his seat.

The young raven glanced out the window to his left, just in time to see a familiar house sitting on a grassy hill. Small energetic figures ran about the yard as the curly haired woman stood in the doorway with a gentle smile on her face. At the sound of the horses, the children stopped to wave at the foreign looking carriage. Sasuke kept himself from waving back, but he couldn't resist a small smile. "What are you doing Sasuke?" His father's deep voice brought him back to the inside of the carriage. Dark, piercing, eyes looked up and over a bundle of parchment.

"I was just distracting myself with the outside, sir." Sasuke replied as he adjusted his posture.

"If you have time to daydream, then you have time to plan." The elder man stated as he brought the papers back up to obstruct his face. "You must not let that blond boy win. Uchihas don't lose." His voice grew slightly loud as the king said the last sentence.

"This is my chance…" The words echoed in Sasuke's mind. "Father." He started, "I don't wa-." The prince was interrupted by a knock on the roof and a muffled whistle.

"We must be there." Fugaku announced and turned to wake his dreaming wife. "Wake your brother, we must look presentable."

Sasuke sighed as he reached out his arm and smacked the back of the elder prince's head. Surprised, Itachi swung his head up and bashed it on the back of his seat. Rubbing the crown of his head, the long haired male glared at the young prince. Instead of laughing at his brother's pain, Sasuke smirked with full confidence and a hint of cockiness. The older prince raise his hand in front of his younger brother's face and caused him to flinch backwards. Itachi smirked as he flicked his index finger forward and hitting the other prince's covered forehead.

"Ahem." Fugaku cleared his throat, "It is time." Mikoto smiled, her onyx eyes still retaining a sleepy glaze. The youngest Uchiha grabbed the princess' letter and stuck it into the waist of his dark blue pants. Itachi fixed his loose ebony hair then smoothing out his black and red ensemble. The usual coachman opened on of the doors and offered a hand to its occupants. Mikoto exited first and was followed by the king, then her two sons. Sasuke was last to step out and cringed at the sudden change in lighting. Once he recovered, the young man calmly looked over to the hosting family.

Jiraiya stood tall and strong, like usual, but his face seemed more worn or weathered. A closer look would bring attention to the light, but visible, bags under his neutral orbs. He offered up a smile and open arms to his friends, but the gesture fell short in his eyes. The blond queen standing beside him held her posture straight and her head up high. Her lengthy yellow hair hung down her back instead of in either a complex braid or duel ponytails. Deep brown eyes above a tender smile were cold and as hard as stone. Sasuke frowned at the sight of the blond prince, who was as unusual as his parents. On Jiraiya's other side stood Naruto, his blond hair grew since the raven prince last saw him. The golden locks fell and covered his ears, messy bangs poked out in every which way above ocean blue orbs. The blond teen was purposefully avoiding Sasuke's gaze and focusing all attention on Jiraiya and Fugaku's interactions. His tan skin seemed paler than last summer, the scars on his cheeks more noticeable with the lighter shade. "Uchiha, my friend, welcome!" The white haired man bellowed.

"Tsunade..." Mikoto called, her voice just above a whisper. Concern for her friend evident on her pale face. "What has happened?"

"Nothing, dear friend you mustn't worry." She smiled weakly, the corners of her mouth quivered ever so slightly. "Come, let's venture to the gardens where we may admire the blooming roses." She announced while turning to the entrance, her husband and guest following suit.

As the two royal families made their way through the corridors and rooms to the back doors, Sasuke made to note of the stationed guards. Tall, stoic men stood by all the entrances and any window that could be a vulnerable spot. The young raven prince tossed a side glance to his crush, Naruto walked just a few feet beside the Uchiha but tried his hardest to squeeze himself as close to the wall as possible. The blond prince could feel the gazes of the raven, but evaded them by jumping randomly into his father, Itachi, and Fugaku's conversations; sometimes without really any knowledge of what they were talking about.

"Hey, Dad." He piped up, "Isn't that the kingdom to the East?"

"Wha- Naruto?" Jiraiya asked from surprise, turning his head back toward the teen. "We were talking about that nation when you asked five minutes ago."

"If I am correct, your schooling has not reached that point. Once you have learned of this topic, I would love to hear you input." The Uchiha king said in a friendly manner, but his face was dry of emotion.

Naruto huffed in disappointment, slouching his shoulders and head. From habit, the blond looked up at Sasuke. He analyzed the prince's features, becoming mesmerized like before. Onyx orbs met cerulean, a small gasp and the younger prince turned his head back in front of him. The raven watched the blond with dark eyes filled with concern and sharp focus. Golden locks of hair fell and obscured the young teen's face, which kept the rose colored flush that took hold of the blond's face. "Stop it… Stop it brain!" Naruto yelled at his mind, "Sasuke doesn't look hot! Keep on track. We need to beat him at his own game."

"What is wrong with him? Something is wrong, he isn't being his usual amount of idiot." Sasuke pondered, his face twisting in frustration.

Itachi watched his brother and the blond with interest. The usual emotionless face he wore in public disappeared to reveal a knowing look in his charcoal eyes. Much like his mother, the elder prince knew of his brother's crush. The younger raven wasn't as skilled when containing heavy emotions, like love and anger. "Oh dear Sasuke… If only you knew." He thought with a chuckle and smirk. From his spot, a space in between the adults and the two teens, Itachi could see Naruto's flushed cheeks. His emotionless mask returned at the sight and analysis of the blond's whiskered scars. Without another thought, the elder prince turned back to the political conversation he once was a part of.

"Madame!" A feminine voice called from behind the group. "Your highness!" A stout servant was scurrying up to the group.

Tsunade whirled around and caused her free flowing hair to whip her husband in the face. As Jiraiya groaned in pain and cupped his cheek, the queen responded with "Maria?" and halted the group.

The plump woman took a moment and lowered her head to catch her breath. Her white apron smudged with dirt and grass stains, the tips of her fingers still discolored with earth. "Madame, *huff* the tailor has sent you a message."

The blond queen gasped, "No! I forgot our appointment."

"Yes, miss. He is asking if you are able to *huff* come to get your finished attire."

Tsunade looked at her guests and after a momentary thought, she decided how to fix the situation. "Maria. Please find Hinata and give her any errands that need to be run, including the tailors."

"Of course, your highness." With a curtsey, maid Maria left the group to finish their walk to the garden.

After the servant was gone, Tsunade placed herself back with Mikoto and resumed walking. Jiraiya still pouted, but also proceeded with his political conversation with the king and his oldest son. Naruto leaned forward and poked the back of his mother's head, eventually tugging on her loose hair. Tsunade would smack his hand away, only to find it tugging once more on her long locks. Angrily, the pale blond woman whipped her head around and glared daggers at her heir. "What. Is. It. Naruto?" She asked through gritted teeth and Naruto swore he could see one of her brown eyes twitching.

"I… uhh, wanted to ask if I could go hang out with Neji." He meekly replied.

"Fine" The queen sighed and rubbed both of her index fingers on her temples, "but Sasuke comes with you."

"Wha-?" The prince started to complain.

"Up-bup-bup!" She hushed him, "Do it." Tsunade commanded while Mikoto stayed quiet in the background and enjoyed the show, giggling from time to time.

`Giving in, he turned and lightly punched the raven on the shoulder, "C'mon bastard." He muttered so only Sasuke could hear. The last thing he needed was to be chewed out by the old hag for poor language. The raven prince lightly touched his shoulder and quietly thanked Tsunade for having Naruto take him. The blond prince had already started through the back door and toward the stables. Sasuke hurried to catch up to the other teen and kept a few step behind him, so Naruto wouldn't notice the raven admiring his every action.

Just wanted to mention that yesterday my family and I had to put down our 18 year old cat (One which I have known and loved since I was 1 year old) and I am going through some pretty heavy feelings at the moment. I really don't want this to poorly influence my writing in any way, I care about the quality of my stories.

Thanks :)