As Naruto retired to his office for the remainder of the day, he suspected that anything could happen, especially with how his duel had just gone. However, the last thing in his mind to see after the upset of the century was a pink-haired girl prostrate before the elevator on his level of the monolith.
What had once been a shining vinyl corset and arm-warmers that zipped at the neck and left her limited cleavage exposed were scuffed and marred but clear signs of beatings and whippings, while the thigh-high boots he could tell, thanks to poorly fitted straps, were cutting in painfully to her legs just above and below the knees. The locked straps around her wrists seemed to be limiting the circulation to her fingers, as they twitched with the low blood flow, and finally the skirt she wore was little more than a massive belt and tattered remains of a vinyl micro-mini skirt. What parts of her flesh weren't covered in the vinyl and leather straps showed old and new bruises warring for exposure, and more than a few cut marks. He suddenly got turned off by the outfit he'd seen for Hinata for a gift, since it was a dark purple version of the hooded dual-purpose outfit Sasuke had clearly misused.
As he gave her leave to look up, he was relieved to see that her face was completely unmarred by Sasuke's cruelties. Until he realized that the rest of the marks could easily be covered up by the matching vinyl poncho, clearly the missing part, since it was similarly damaged, he saw hanging on the wall as he walked into the hallway proper. Signalling for her to follow, he walked into his office, where he found a couple cups of still steaming tea, and a few messages waiting for them. "Sit down on the chair, and have some tea. You obviously want to talk to me, so let's start with a name."
"Y...yes m...master Uzumaki, S...Stupid Slut Sakura k...knows that the duel between her ma... former master Uchiha was influenced by outside influences. Stupid Slut Sakura..." she started, for Naruto to cut her off gently.
"What do you mean 'Stupid Slut'?" Naruto asked softly as he leaned against the desk, trying not to startle the already scared submissive. If she wasn't worse than Hinata could be sometimes, he'd be yelling those words right now.
"It... It is w...what M...Master Uchiha called Stupid Slut Sakura..." Sakura answered with her eyes locked on the cup of tea trembling in her hands. Naruto sighed. She'd clearly been programmed, broken and would be hard to turn into something useful. Plus she'd just wasted him several thousand ryo in a cancelled clothing order.
"M...Master Uzumaki... S...Stupid Slut Sakura would like to challenge Lord Master Shimura for interfering with a Master's duel... but Stupid Slut Sak-" she continued, for Naruto to lightly shush her.
"One, go get those straps adjusted. Two... If you say 'Stupid Slut' one more time, I'll have you wait one more day before I'll listen to your plea," Naruto stated firmly, only for his office slave Yuki to appear at his side, startling the both of them.
"Master, This One can get hold of a properly adjusted version of the Riding Hood suit for Ms. Haruno, and recommend that you do not cancel the ones you already had planned to buy. Properly maintained, they are one of the best ways to show love for a slave," Yuki stated while Naruto barely contained his shock at her sudden appearance, "I am surprised that Master Uchiha would even spend money on one of those suits, since they are incredibly hard to make, and incredibly expensive."
"Stu- Sakura was Master Uchiha's top slave... Master Uchiha... he... he was going to let Stu-Sakura bear his child..." Sakura answered with a whimper as she rubbed the straps with worry, as though fearing they were going to be taken from her.
"Let me guess... The instant he lost, he pulled them to tension, beat you to within a inch of your life and told you that it was your fault?" Yuki guessed, "Is it always your fault when he fails?"
"NO! MASTER UCHIHA WOULD NEVER!" Sakura screamed hotly, tears stinging her eyes painfully. "He loves Sakura, he... it was Lord Master Shimura... because... This one overheard, and tried to stop him..."
"My work is done," Yuki stated impassively as she set out a box of tissues and then seemed to vanish into thin air. Naruto once again swore he was going to put bells on every inch of her one of these days, but he'd got part of the truth out of her questions.
"Master Uzumaki, please sponsor this one in a fight against Lord Master Shimura... it is all I can think to do to avenge my Master," Sakura pleaded for Naruto to look thoughtful.
"On two conditions... You will tell Master Uchiha I wish to claim your collar. If he doesn't come to claim it in 7 days, you will work for me until you have paid off the repair or replacement of your outfit," Naruto started, causing the pink haired girl to look panicked at the thought of not only losing her master, but also the first outfit he had given her, "If he comes in the week, and does what I ask of him, I will sponsor you."
"M...Master Uzumaki... M...Master w...would be displeased with this one going to the guild..." Sakura explained haltingly, as she looked at the ground. "He... he is going to hate this one... if he knew she came to you."
Naruto cupped her chin in his hand, slowly turning her head to look him in his gentle face, "If I'm right about him, he'll be furious, he'll be angry, but, well, you will not be hated..." Naruto explained calmingly. This was a gamble. He was effectively testing the loyalty of a Master to his slave, and this wasn't something any old master did.
Back by the elevator, Sarutobi smirked as a Judgeantrix stood in silent judgement over the actions of the young man she'd taken an interest in. "Exactly what I'd have done when I was younger." Sarutobi stated with a small smirk on his face, "If Sasuke doesn't come to his maiden's aid, he loses her. Turns him into the gallant hero, and the beating and destroyed outfit will be forgotten."
"That is why he is getting his promotion. Even if he doesn't know it, he's already doing things that a Grand Master Of The Guild would be doing in this situation," the Judgeantrix answered in response, "Well, he can't let her go, since that would achieve nothing. Save perhaps her death... While this gives, instead, Sasuke's redemption, as he gets one slave who will never leave him again."
"For being anti-guild he is not nearly as cruel as he is made out to be... apparently he was furious when his slaves were raped and beaten back at the beginning of his career. He didn't give Sakura her name by choice for example..." Sarutobi mentioned, puffing on his pipe, "Something to do with lending them out to Lord Master Shimura... By the way, have you got the last name of the submissive known as Tenten?"
"Yes, it's-" the Judgenatrix started, only for Yuki to walk up with a drink for them both, cutting her off, "I think we should be going..."
'How does she do that?' Sarutobi mused as he and the Judgenatrix took their drinks and bowed their parting. It was hard to do anything in Naruto's dungeon without Yuki silently walking up or just being there already... and she was definitely NOT a ninja. He had met a few of them, as the Intelligence branch employed a few, and each of them were noisier than her.
Back with Naruto, he'd finally gotten the pink haired girl to calm down enough to continue their conversation. "The second condition is simple, you will train under my slaves for the entire time until your battle. I will not have you enter a fight, only to be completely destroyed in the opening blows."
A couple hours later, when Sakura's message finally reached Sasuke, his thoughts began racing. As of this moment, he only had two slaves that had returned to him, two loyal slaves that he had gone to great lengths to protect from what Lord Master Shimura laughingly called 'training'. Ino had returned within the half-hour of his defeat, accepting her collar back on the condition that she would leave should he fall back into dishonorable practices. The other had been a girl that Sakura had taken under her wing, and to be honest, he couldn't figure out why she seemed so lost and distracted without the pink-haired girl around.
Had the head-slave really been that vital to keeping his slaves efficient and happy? What was this strange lonely feeling in his heart at the thought of losing her forever?
Putting his head in his hands, he wondered what the hell he'd been thinking in not only entering the duel in such a state, but also wagering nearly everything he had on it. Was his pride that much that he couldn't conceive the possibility of defeat, even after spending the entire night before with Lord Master Shimura. Reaching into his pocket, he clasped two of what little he had left in this world. If this wasn't a wake up call, than he should never have been considered a genius.
Hearing the faintest click of heels on the floor behind him, he turned and spotted the Judgenatrix had come as he had requested. This was it. This was going to be the moment in time where he would look back and realize that he had abandoned all his Uchiha philosophies. Taking a knee in front of the imposing faceless woman, he swallowed down the swell of pride and nerves that threatened to choke the very words he was about to speak.
"Judgenatrix... I wish to submit evidence against Lord Master Shimura, in exchange for protection by the Guild of slaves Sakura Haruna, Ino Yamanaka, and Aiko Nym. For too long, the Uchiha clan have been the swords and shields of the anti-guild faction," Sasuke stated quietly, his voice solid with solemness, "I hold no censor for my own actions, and will accept any punishment given."
He could feel her eyes on him, despite the mask, judging and gauging his worth in the eyes of the Guild itself. This was something the he needed to do, he had to protect them. They had tried to protect him, and he had ignored them. One of many failings that he'd given into at the encouragement of Lord Master Shimura.
He only prayed that it wasn't already too late for Sakura, she hadn't returned yet, and he couldn't figure out where else she might have gotten to. That was, until he'd gotten her message from Master Uzumaki's level at the Monolith.
"The guild cannot protect those outside the guild..." the Judgenatrix started, before cutting herself off, while resting a hand against her ear. A moment later she nodded stiffly to him and bade him to go. "We will look into this matter, you have somewhere to be. Leave the evidence here, our agents will retrieve it."
Sasuke blinked slowly as he tried to figure out how she could possibly know that. They had to have some sort of communications system in those hoods they wore. Picking himself up, he avoided looking at the woman that he had humbled himself before. It hurt his pride almost physically to ask for their help after having subverted them for so long.
"And Master Uchiha? Do not make us regret giving you this chance..." the judgenatrix stated coldly before vanishing into thin air. A bit of cold dread settled into Sasuke's stomach as he realized that he had just brushed a fate worse than death.
"Ino... you and Aiko stay here with this evidence, and trust only someone from the Guild or myself," Sasuke ordered firmly, without looking over at the doorway he knew her to be waiting behind. This was the most secure room in the entire Uchiha complex, they would be safe here.
Storming out of the complex, he wondered if he shouldn't have tried to use the Uchiha level of the Stone Monolith, but it was currently in the care of Master Uzumaki, the dead last in the class that had beaten him so soundly.
Pausing at the doorway, he ran his fingers lightly over the marks his mother had used to gauge how he had grown before her death. There were no marks for Naruto's growth after the academy, so he couldn't fault himself for not seeing it. What he could find fault in was he own lack of growth.
That was going to change, he would find Sakura and begin the process to grow. Heaven help anyone that had harmed her.
At the Monolith, he was guided to level thirteen by some male slave that had been stationed near the entrance. After the short trip up the elevator, he was surprised to find a girl in a schoolgirl uniform with glasses on standing at attention in front of the doors. He recognized her as an ofice slave by her greeting of a bowed head while holding a stack of papers he could only guess at. "Welcome Master Uchiha, This One will guide you to Master Uzumaki and slave Sakura," the girl stated simply while indicating for him to continue into the level. "If Master Uchiha will follow This One..."
As she walked, he frowned. There was a layer of thrush on the floor, and she wasn't making so much as a whisper of noise. Whoever this slave was, she was not a normal girl. Either she was exceptionally well trained, or there was something off about her. Either way, it just proved how different a league Naruto was in than him, though he was pained to admit it.
As they approached to the door, he found himself coming face-to-face with a Judgenatrix-in-training who briefly looked at him, before removing her mask and scratched the back of her head, which would have normally been a blasphemous act. "Master Uchiha, we apologize, but we had expected you another hour from now, the meal is not prepared yet.
"This One apologizes, Slave Haku, he was most insistent on coming up here as soon as possible," the office slave that had been acting as a guide answered in turn before indicating that he should continue to follow her. "This One believes that Master Uzumaki will be pleased to see you early Master Uchiha."
Sasuke barely heard the slave's comment, as he was staring at the departing form of Haku incredulously. His memory was suddenly retrieving the information about this particular Judgenatrix-in-training. She had been a fanatical loyal follower of her former master, and that seemed to have transferred over to her new one with the same ease as changing a shirt. It occured to her that he hadn't just been stupid to even think of doing the duel. Just as Sakura had warned him, he'd been too prideful to consider himself ready for the duel.
Sakura... would she still accept him as her master? Did he even deserve it?
He decided that if he ever was accepted back into the Guild, he would support Master Uzumaki with all the power he could muster. There was something special about the boy... no man, that he had faced against the other day to have matured out of the idiot he remembered from their classes together. As powerful an ally as Sasuke knew he was, Naruto would dwarf him in no time at all. Hopefully, their alliance will evolve into a friendship.
What he hadn't expected when he entered the dimly lit office was the usually smiling blond glaring coldly over the desk while a fire back-lit him. "Sasuke, I have one question for you before I take you to see Sakura..." Naruto stated calmly, though the Uchiha survivor could tell it was tasking him to do even that small mercy. "Do you love Sakura?"
"More than I could have ever have imagined..." Sasuke answered after a moment, his voice quiet and solemn. "She is more precious to me than any of the possessions my family had left me. W...When she didn't return, I felt that my heart had vanished, and been replaced by a gaping void."
Sasuke watched calmly as the blond stood up, and walked around his desk to stand in front of him quietly. Then Naruto did the strangest thing he could ever imagine. He gave Sasuke a huge grin and hugged him tightly.
"Let's go to her then," the better master stated warmly with a warmth that seemed a perfect counter to the ice cold tone that he'd been cutting into him with. "You've done many boneheaded mistakes in the past, so let's not make any more. You have something exceptional in Sakura, don't waste it again."
The advice normally would have grated on Sasuke's nerves, however it drew a sense of pride from him. As they neared the door to where he thought Sakura had to be, Naruto turned to him and put his hand on Sasuke's chest. "Before I let you into there, promise me this. You will not go after that jackass Itchi. If you do right by her... the Uchiha clan will never find the doors of the Uzumaki territory closed to them. Together our clans can stop those that would destroy people like Sakura."
Sasuke's nod was all the agreement that Naruto seemed to need before letting Sasuke enter the room alone. What he saw caused his heart to clench, Sakura was laying in a bed wrapped in so many layers of gauze that it was hard to tell where she ended and the bed started. The outfit that she had been given on her first day under him looked like a bear or something similar had been near it. There was several places that showed clear damage that he didn't like the looks of. Most of it would need replacement, and he didn't have any accessible money to do so.
"S... Sakura... what happened?" Sasuke asked, causing the girl to stir and open her eyes. Slowly her head turned so she could look at her former master sadly. After a minute her eyes closed and her head bowed as though awaiting punishment.
"M...Master... Master Uchiha, Stu- This One was beaten by Lord Master Shimura for trying to protect you... This One is sorry she has failed you..." Sakura answered hesitantly as she tried to push herself off the bed to assume the proper position.
Sasuke took her head carefully into his hands, cupping her cheeks tenderly, "Lay still Sakura, you are not my slave right now. And it was me that failed you, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"
"Absolutely Master Uchiha, This One forgives you with all her heart," Sakura answered while her eyes turned away, and he could see just a hint of the blush burning into her cheeks. She had been expecting punishment, and here was the man she'd once known as her master back again, asking for her forgiveness.
"One more thing..." Sasuke stated while pulling out one of the objects he'd been holding earlier from his pocket. "Would you be my bride?"
Naruto smiled from outside the room with a small chuckle as he heard the pinkette gasp and squeal happily. It would seem that Sasuke had done his part, and now it was time for him to do his. Pushing off the wall he'd been leaning against, he was surprised once again by Yuki's sudden appearance in front of him. He wondered once again if the Intelligence branch hadn't given her some special training. "Master, This One has just been informed by the Guild that they have sold the floors that were owned by the Uchiha back to their former owners, at half the cost of their original sales."
"This One will be remaining in contact with the new owners, to see about facilitating your plans for the future Master," Yuki continued as she flipped through the papers on the clipboard in her hands. "Also, the Guild has placed Master Uchiha on probation until such time as he gains a new submissive. The Guild recognizes his intended union with former slaves Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno, as that the remaining submissive, Aiko Nym, is to belong to the soon-to-be Mistress Uchiha, Sakura."
If they hadn't trained her, then he might want to see if they wanted her to train some of their agents. "How... But... he... and... HE JUST PROPOSED TO HER NOT A MINUTE AGO!" Naruto shouted, losing his composure. Thankfully he'd done it a few sound dampening rooms away from anyone other than Yuki, and if she was surprised, she certainly didn't show it as she readjusted her glasses.
"The Guild suspected through various rumors that he held onto two rings as the only part of his inheritance for the express purpose of proposing to two women in order to rebuild his clan. The rest has seemingly been misappropriated by Lord Master Shimura, who is currently being investigated for his role in that... and other related matters..." Yuki finished while nodding back the way they had came, indicating not only Sakura but Sasuke as well. "As the slave's challenge would have interfered with their investigation, and her new status as a mistress negates it as well, the Guild sends their sympathies with their rejection. They did say however, that should he survive their 'investigation' and be found innocent, she will be granted first rights to him. Her resubmission for a challenge can be performed in three to four weeks."
"Your duels with Masters Hyuuga and Inuzuka are scheduled for next week and the week following, to give you time to rest and recover from each. If this is unacceptable, This One will inform the Guild thus," Yuki continued as she showed him the official notices from the Guild. "Also, Supreme Master Sarutobi has offered to give you training should you desire such, but may have to defer you to other upper ranked Masters. Master Uchiha currently has one of the Guild's best wedding planners on reservation at their expense, as a welcoming present for his return."
"The official paperwork is being processed, and should be finished in," Yuki started, pausing long enough to glance at the watch attached to the clipboard before continuing. "In about two hours, if you are willing to act as a witness... Supreme Master Sarutobi has suggested that three weeks would be an ideal time for Master Uchiha's wedding.
Naruto smirked. No master ever got married in public unless they wanted to be found. Naruto knew the code... Wedding to happen in 2 hours, public announcement to be done in 3 days when Sakura was healed, high ranked Guild members as congregation. Guests of honor to be Lord Master Danzo Shimura and gue- allies. "I'll be happy to," the blond master offered happily, "May I join the other congregation as well, along with Haku in 'work clothes'?"
"They have suggested that you fill the role of usher, or best man, and protect Sasuke himself. Slave Haku will be receiving her instructions at the marriage certificate signing," Yuki explained swiftly as they entered the waiting room for the slaves. "Is there further This One may do for you Master?"
"Umm... Take a break, and make sure that Sasuke has a chapel reserved for him by the end of the day," Naruto ordered as he tried to digest the sheer load of information, surprised that she actually had to ask that question. She'd never had time to ask for such before now.
"A... break?" Yuki asked uncertainly, looking a little lost. It seemed as though the very concept was completely foreign to her. What surprised him most was that she had slipped from the emotionless tone of voice she'd usually used, and now seemed so insecure and afraid. However, the break in her mask was very brief, and Naruto could almost believe that he had imagined the entire thing.
"Yes Master, I- This One shall follow your orders," Yuki answered, as she fiddled with her clipboard, turning towards the office as though to continue working. That's when Naruto got an idea on how to assert his control over the one girl he could never seem to get a grasp around.
"Hinata, I have an order for you..." Naruto stated loudly and clearly, "You and the girls are to ensure Yuki gets at least 2 hours of breaktime a day, any method, with whichever girl who catches her and gets her to stop doing her job getting their choice of fun with me."
"M...Master! T...This One c...can find something to do... the others do...do not need to..." Yuki stumbled over the words for the first time in Naruto's recollection, causing the young master to grin devilishly.
"They do. You're terrified of taking a break, so your submission to me shall be... At least 2 hours of it a day, enforced by the rest of the dungeon." Naruto said, with a evil grin, "The challenge starts... NOW. The two hours begins when you're having a break."
Yuki squeaked and vanished from view once again, trying to get away from the others as she tried to figure out what to do during the two hours that she was not going to be working. Maybe she could read one of those books she'd gotten from the Guild. They had said that those fantasy novels would be good for her.
Stopping off in her room, she straightened out her sheets, which were 0.9532 centimeters off and grabbed out the first of those novels the Guild had slipped into her single suitcase. As she headed out, Hinata and Tenten were standing by the doorway out, blocking her off. "You have a bed. Read on it, or we'll use one of the cells and train you for your break." Tenten ordered with a challenging smirk as Hinata poked her fingers together.
Looking back at the bed, she realized that she had made the bed perfectly before she left, and that unless someone had been in her room, there was no way it should have moved. She had been played, and was caught by her own perfectionism. Sitting down on the bed, she opened the book and began reading it, her back straight, her legs at perfect ninety degree angles, and the picture of stiffness.
Tenten pulled out several strings of bells, and began placing them at multiple levels across the doorway before leaving with Hinata. Yuki barely took time away from her book to look at the door in contemplation before returning to her book. There was something fascinating about these magic using knights, fighting in secret against corruption of other such knights. She barely even looked up from her book when the bells were removed... nor the report to Naruto of 'Mission Accomplished' from Tenten.
However at precisely 7200 seconds after beginning her break, as though the clock had been wired directly to her brain, she marked her place in the book, placed it neatly on her bedside table, and strode out of her room steadily to go ensure that dinner was nearly completed. She may disagree with the Master about taking a break for two hours a day, but it only felt right that she continued her excellence. After all, those two hours were not going to earn themselves by failing in her duties, nor would the new books purchase themselves.
She had to perform her duties and please her Master, and he would reward her. It was a simple calculation her brain could carry through without fail. After all, these breaks... they did not seem all that undesirable.
Omake: The Reward
Due to 's restrictions on content posted, the omake is found on my AFF account.