The Sage of Thrones

by VFSNAKE

Ned Stark, just before marching off to war against the Mad King, finds a message hidden by his brother to seek out someone who can help him fight the Mad King. Ned finds this person and in doing so changes the future landscape of Westeros forever with his help. Question is...with all the dust settling from two wars and a strained peace, do the Seven Kingdoms still want his help?

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3-To King's Landing Part 1

The King's arrival to Winterfell was imminent. Already his escort of Kingsguard and the red golden colors indicating Lannister soldiers mixed within it were visible from the high towers of the castle. The large carriage in the group held the royal family was seen from the towers of the castle and signaled for the members of House Stark to hurry and present themselves before the King's arrival into the castle gates. Quickly, Ned was able to get his wife, children, Jon, and even his ward Theon Greyjoy presentable for when Robert arrived. Not easy when Ned's youngest of his two daughters, Arya Stark was running around trying to be more soldier then lady. Ned's oldest daughter Sansa Stark was ready around the same time as her Mother was in being prepared to greet their very important guests, as it was what "proper women" did when around knights, Lords, Princes, and of course Kings. Brandon Stark who was Ned's second eldest child was almost as bad as Arya in running around and worried Catelyn over his constant desire to climb up stone towers to the highest windows they possessed.

Naruto found it amusing.

"Your encouragement of his climbing is not helping," commented Catelyn with Brandon running off to get ready after he came down to tell his Mother up close that Robert and his royal escort were now seeable from the tower he just finished climbing.

"He's a young boy Cat. Don't hold it against him. Bran the Builder was the same way when he asked me to help him make the Wall," said Naruto with his mask on and saw how some of Ned's children looked at him when he arrived in Winterfell.

"You knew Bran the Builder?" asked Catelyn in shock.

"Aye, I did. When he was just a boy. Brandon loved to climb up things almost as much as he wanted to make them. Buildings, towers, castles, and anything else that was climbable he wanted to climb. Including the Wall the Night's Watch sits upon. His Mother always worried about him when growing up. She didn't think his behavior was befitting someone of his station, but her mood changed a bit when he began building things. Of course, her mood changed again when he started to climb them to see if they were in fact climbable, but that's beside the point. In any case, I see a lot of your son in him. The best thing for Brandon now would be to have him read from the library about some of the things Bran the Builder made and challenge him to see if he can improve on their designs. Give him a proper outlet for his energy that is healthy and productive for him," answered Naruto before walking to the stable to see how the gentle giant of a man Hodor was doing with the dire wolves he was ordered to clean up.

"Father, is that masked fellow really the Sage you told us about when we were younger, and fighting in King Robert's Rebellion?" asked Sansa while glancing where the long haired masked man walked.

"Aye, he is indeed the Sage I told you about. The one who helped Robert and myself during the Rebellions," answered Ned while making sure his children and Jon were all presentable.

"He doesn't look so tough," remarked Arya gruffly with a scowl with her eyes watching Naruto too, but she was more fascinated by the man's supposed ability to crush all of his enemies with a single hand gesture or swing of the many swords in his possession.

"You haven't seen him fight Arya and I pray you never do. Many lives fell at his feet with a single swing of a sword of choice on hand he possesses," replied Ned since he had seen Naruto fight both with swords, magic, and hand to hand combat.

None of which he would wish on his worst enemy. Not even the Mad King.

"Do you think we could best him in a fight Father? All three of us together?" asked Robb curiously with Jon looking at his "Father" too.

"Sadly, I do not believe it is possible Robb. Not even on our best day and him at his worst could we best someone like the Sage in combat," said Ned with Rodrik standing beside the family and nodding in agreement.

"Aye, I have seen the man fight all by himself alone against entire armies. He wiped out his foes by the hundreds if not the thousands. Whole lines of banner men ran at the mere sight of the Sage. He soon became more feared by the enemy then even the Mad King," commented Rodrik since he had seen what Ned did when the Sage fought against the Targaryens.

"Do you think he would honor us with a spar? I would still love to fight against someone of his strength," asked Jon since he heard from his "parents" how the Sage had helped get him legitimize as a Stark.

Of course he had been told the truth behind his parentage just a few years ago when he was mature enough to understand things. Even still, Jon considered both Ned, and even Catelyn Stark his parents. They raised him. Loved him. Sure Catelyn took awhile in her warming up to him, but that was before she learned the truth, and on some level he even understood her initial dislike of him.

"Maybe. If you ask politely. Treat him with respect and he will return it," offered Ned since Naruto was like that with people.

It didn't matter if you were the smallfolk or not. King or not. Lord or not. Bastard or not. You treat the man with respect, he will return it, and then some so long as you continue to stay respectful.

"The King is approaching," whispered Catelyn before anymore could be spoken further about Naruto from her family.

Sure enough, King Robert Baratheon had arrived first on horseback with his escort right behind him. It took him some effort to get off of his horse because his rounded size made it difficult to get off the poor animal. Arya had to hold back her laughter that had wanted to come out at seeing the King and Catelyn sent her a glare to be respectful, though the woman herself did have to fight back her own smirk for a brief second.

"Your Grace," said Ned while bowing in front of Robert, who was appraising the man with a frown.

"You've gotten fat," remarked Robert while Ned looked up at the King from his position with a "are you serious?" look on his face after glancing at Robert's girth.

Before the two erupted in laughter and hugged in brotherly friendship.

"Its good to see you Robert," said Ned while Robert nodded.

"Its good to see you too Ned. Damn its been a long time," remarked Robert in an almost after thought kind of way.

"I've been taking care of Winterfell for you. The North is yours after all," replied Ned, as he motioned for Robert to see his family.

"So this is the young brood of Starks you have sired since being here in Winterfell. Quite a strong bunch the lot of them," said Robert while appraising each one from Robb to Jon to Sansa all the way to young Rickon Stark.

"Yes. Each one worthy of their House name and then some. I made sure of that," replied Ned with pride in his voice while seeing Robert looking impressed while shocked to see they had actual dire wolves being raised within the castle walls.

"Actual dire wolves. I didn't think they lived this far South. I know your House Sigil is the dire wolf Ned, but this is taking it to another level," joked Robert with a chuckle and glanced at each dire wolf now being attended to by their assigned owners.

"It was also a surprise to us too when we found them all as pups that day it seems was not that long ago. I took it as a sign from the Gods to bring them into our House to be raised by my children. One for each," replied Ned while leaving out how the female dire wolf that birthed them died in a fight with a stag.

"They do grow up big. They well trained?" asked Robert with Ned nodding.

"As trained as dire wolves can be trained. We treat them with respect and make sure they hunt in the woods so they don't let their natural instincts to hunt for food turn on us like my wife fears," answered Ned with Robert laughing at that last part.

"I bet Cat gets scared half the time seeing them sneak up on her or walking down the hall when she least expects it," remarked Robert with a smile before frowning when he sees one person coming toward them.

"King Robert, its been some time," commented Naruto while many of the Kingsguard and Lannister men quickly went for their weapons.

Much to the surprise of Cersei, Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella when they got out of the carriage to see Robert had been talking to his old friend.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" asked Robert coldly since while keeping his voice down so his children didn't hear him.

"We have much to talk about your Grace. Things that must be spoken in private," replied Ned seriously while Robert looked from Naruto to Ned and back again to Naruto before nodding.

"Fine! Let's go to the crypt and pay my respects. We can talk after about these important things of yours afterwards. I have to talk to you anyway about important matters of my own," said Robert with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Robert my love, surely the dead can wait. We only just arrived and everyone is tired," said Cersei while glancing from Robert to Naruto with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Now Ned! You too Naruto!" commanded Robert with Ned glancing at the Queen with an apologetic look on his face before sending a look to Catelyn to go help entertain their royal guests as best she could.

"Dog! Who was that masked man just now? The one that has upset my Father so much?" asked Joffrey with the giant of a man with half his face burned named "Dog" glancing down at the Prince and Heir to the Iron Throne.

"If what my memory about his appearance is true young Prince, he is the one called the 'Demon Sage', and the one who helped your Father take the Iron Throne. He also helped your Father keep it when putting down the Greyjoys in the Greyjoy Rebellion. The bards still sing the tale of how the man walked on water and cut through the sea with his sword that many say made the Drowning God bleed," answered "Dog" while finding he had his own hand gripping his sword on instinct at the mere sight of the Sage.

"Oh come now Hound, such stories about him are for the bards to tell in song at bars, and the women to speak about the infamous 'Demon Sage' to their children in order to make them behave," said Jamie Lannister while not believing for one second the stories about the masked man despite the fact the stories came from his own Father.

And his Father was never one to lie. But even Jamie felt such stories from the aging lion were far fetched in some places.

"Where's the Imp?" asked Arya curiously and suddenly since she had wanted to see the lowest and equally the shortest member on the House Lannister pole.

"Arya! Behave yourself. That is no way for a lady to act!" Catelyn said in a reprimanding tone while glancing at Cersei with a "I'm sorry" look on her face.

"It's quite all right Lady Stark. My brother has that effect on people no matter their status in life. My brother Jamie will find him and hopefully be presentable to your family when the time comes," said Cersei while sending Jamie a "find your brother or else!" look that the man knew all too well.

While the two families mingled together, with Tommen and Myrcella actually enjoying their time with the Stark children, and even their dire wolves...another conversation was brewing below Winterfell.

(House Stark Crypt)

"Tell me about Jon Arryn? How did he die?" asked Ned while Robert walked over to Lyanna's statue.

Damnedest thing Ned. One moment, he was fine, and then the next a fever burned right through him. Whatever it was that did him in. I loved that man," said Robert mournfully while thinking back to the many years Jon had raised him and Ned under his care.

"We all did. He was a second Father to us both," replied Ned with Robert nodding in full agreement.

"I need you in King's Landing Ned. Not here in the North freezing your ass off where you can do little to no good. With Jon Arryn gone, I'm going to be up to my ass in problems. Granted, I already am up to my ass in problems, but Jon usually handled them all for me while I did other things. I would name you Hand of the King," remarked Robert after paying his respects to Lyanna in the crypt and refused to say what the "other things" were in her presence.

"As Hand of the King, I will do what I can your Grace. Though I don't think I'm worthy of the title and rank you honor me with," said Ned before kneeling and Robert scoffed at him.

"Get on your damn feet Ned. I'm not trying to honor you. I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink, and whore my way to an early grave," said Robert with a small smile before it became a frown and glanced at Naruto, who had kept silent during this whole event.

'Considering the state of himself, its a distinct possibility of that happening sooner rather then later,' thought Naruto before glancing at Ned and gave a brief nod.

"You helped me win the Iron Throne, now help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. Complications just prevented it back then we were young and still strong men. Damn it Ned, if your sister had lived we would have been bound in blood. Still, its not too late for that. I have a boy, you have a daughter around his age. We can still join our houses together before we're too old and die to see it happen," offered Robert with Ned thinking it over, but a quick glance from Naruto shaking his head with a "think about it later" look before shooting a glance over at the King.

"It is a great honor to be sure and I will talk to my wife about it first and with a great deal of thought before making a final decision in the near future Robert. However, one of the things I wanted to discus was you, is in fact my appointment as Hand of the King. You see my wife actually assumed you would make me the Hand after Jon Arryn's death. As such I will need some leeway from you regarding one of the things I need to do in order to fulfill my duties," said Ned while Robert now focused back on him.

"What leeway? You're the fucking Hand of the King! Short of putting my foot down on an issue, you can do just about any fucking thing you want!" exclaimed Robert before narrowing his eyes suspiciously and glanced again over at Naruto.

"The leeway I'm speaking of is to allow me to enlist Naruto to aid me during my time in King's Landing as the Hand," said Ned while Robert looked livid at his request.

"No! Never! No fucking way will I allow this...dragon lover to enter King's Landing ever again. Not after he allowed the Mad King's own Seven damned children to escape my brother's fleet!" exclaimed Robert angrily while glaring at Naruto.

'And Elia Martell and her children. But you don't need to know that,' thought Naruto with a small hint of amusement and wondered if the man would literally explode with rage at hearing such a thing.

A most, he'd probably have a heart attack, but Naruto could save his life...provided the man didn't try to have him killed, or imprisoned soon after.

"They were children Robert. Innocent children!" stated Ned angrily since he had this one conversation beforehand.

"They were and are Targaryens! The only good Targaryens are dead ones!" stated Robert angrily as he huffed and puffed, but stopped to look at Lyanna before calming down.

"I need Naruto with me in King's Landing. You know I do. You want me to be the Hand of the King and I will accept, but only if you allow him to aid me in my duties and my own personal quest to find out who killed Jon Arryn," said Ned with Robert frowning at him.

"Killed Jon Arryn? The man died of natural causes," said Robert in confusion.

"Jon's wife says differently. She sent a letter to Cat shortly following your own and says he was killed by the Lannisters. Possibly over a damaging secret they want kept hidden," said Ned before showing Robert the message.

"The ranting and ravings of a deeply crazed and paranoid woman. Her son is now what, six years old? And she still has him sucking on her tits for milk. Besides, even if what she said was true, which is a big IF, why would they kill Jon? Its too risky even for them and the Lannisters gain nothing from his death and we all know the Lannisters would only do something like this to gain something else back in return without being connected to it," countered Robert since he knew how Tywin and House Lannister worked in terms of their actions.

"You don't think they would do this because normally they do such a thing for monetary or political advantages over their rivals. But what if this wasn't to gain an advantage, but to prevent something else entirely from happening?" questioned Naruto at last while he saw Robert scowling at him.

"And what would they be preventing with Jon's Arryn's death after all these years? If anything, after I legitimized Ned's former bastard. I thought Cersei would hire a small army of assassins to kill your boy Ned. She bitched at me day and night for that," said Robert since he had gotten quite an earful from Cersei on the issue.

"That I do not know Robert. But deep down you know Jon's death was suspicious. I may not have been King's Landing when it happened, but my instincts tell me it was foul play, and whether the Lannisters are involved or not, we owe it to Jon to find out. He raised us both when were just children. I want to honor and protect his memory Robert. I want to find whoever killed him, if he was killed, and bring the murder or murders to justice," said Ned while Robert sighed and looked over at Lyanna's statue again.

"Aye, you are right. Jon was a good man. The best surrogate Father an old drunken fool like me could ever have had in life. When I became King, I instantly knew he was the perfect man for the job as Hand. I would have appointed you, but the North required a Stark stay there, and your brother had taken the Black so he couldn't rule over the North in your place. A Stark must always be in Winterfell and the North to rule over it. That's the old saying, right? Now that two of your sons are full grown, it seems the Gods have seen fit to give me a younger, and stronger Hand capable of helping me run the Kingdom. All the while, the North has a young able Stark to replace you," said Robert with Ned nodding, but saw the King wasn't happy with the Sage being apart of their group when returning to King's Landing.

"I know you don't like Naruto for his past actions Robert, but for Lyanna's soul, for Jon's soul, and our friendship...I ask you let the grudge against him go," said Ned with Robert waving his hand in a gesture saying he would let it go reluctantly.

"Do what you have to do Ned. I will do what I do best when I don't like how things turn out. You best have your servants bring out the finest wine in your cellar. I think I'm going to actually drink myself to death this time," replied Robert while walking out of the crypt without another word on the matter.

"Well...that went as expected," remarked Naruto with his arms crossed in front of him with his monk staff in hand.

"Aye, though I suggest keeping clear of Robert tonight when the feast begins. Even more when the wine starts being poured. Things will be said by him that he won't take back," said Ned in a warning to Naruto, who shrugged.

"Robert's words don't and won't bother me Ned. I have heard them all before since I was a child. Its nothing new to me," said Naruto before patting the man on the shoulder and walked out of the crypt.

(Winterfell-Dining Hall)

The festivities were soon underway and the feast was brought out for all to eat and enjoy with plenty of wine to go around. Robert was already halfway drunk and his arm around the waist of a girl he intended to no doubt bed later on. Much to his wife's ire at seeing him already in the mood to break his oath to be faithful to her yet again for what felt like the one hundredth time this month alone. Off to the side, she saw Jamie was standing guard, as was his duty, and noticed their little brother Tyrion, who she hated with a deep dark passion was nowhere to be found.

'No doubt the little monster went to a brothel after acquiring some wine in his skin for the long walk over to one,' thought Cersei angrily since she would have loved to have him be a target for her drunk husband to speak about in a humiliating way in front of the Starks.

Inwardly, Cersei hated Winterfell. She hated the North. Always cold. Always windy to further make the cold bite her skin harder then usual. Barbarians the whole lot of them with the need for animal fur to stay warm and living off the land for what food they can get in the process. Why would anyone want to live here and enjoy it? Catelyn Stark was truly an odd ball for living here in Winterfell. She didn't understand how a woman from Riverrun would want to leave a moderately warm place for this cold abysmal land here in the North. Of course, it might have been due to Cersei living a life of luxury at Casterly Rock in the West, and being the daughter of Tywin Lannister that prevented her from seeing the truth. Still, the woman's pride as a Lannister, and wanting to be waited on everyday as Queen was no doubt another thing blinding her from the truth.

Glancing over at her children, she saw Joffrey talking with Sansa Stark, and trying to woo the girl with his boyish charms. On one hand, the Cersei was happy for her eldest child taking an interest in a girl as pretty as Sansa. It showed he didn't have any weird tastes like Robert's youngest brother Renly, who was rumored to have other tastes, and all centered around men of the Reach. But at the same time, the wood witch Maggy the Frog appeared in her mind with those words about the new more beautiful Queen taking over, and casting Cersei down from her position of power. Added to the fact her children would all die before her one by one did not help in matters either since she didn't know how they would die. Stabbing? Poisoning? Whatever the source, Cersei was not about to have her children die before her, or this new Queen take the Iron Throne along with the power that came with it.

She wouldn't allow that.

Outside the Great Dining Hall of Winterfell, one Jon Stark was practicing with his sword, and found himself improving greatly everyday. He sparred with his "brother" Robb and the two were nearly evenly matched. Both men knew the truth behind Jon's parentage, as Ned felt Robb should know as well as Jon so the two could have the other's back when in trouble. Robb instantly understood why Jon's heritage had been kept a secret since he had heard the stories behind his aunt's "kidnapping" and death at the Tower of Joy had sent Robert into a rage. Add what happened to Elia Martell and her children simply for being with the Targaryens by blood and marriage with King Robert approving of the actions leading up to their deaths all the more reason to protect Jon from harm.

At least until Robert's hatred for the Targaryens died with him.

"Impressive Jon. Very impressive," remarked Naruto while walking over to the young man with wolf and dragon's blood in his veins.

"Thank you uh...Great Sage," replied Jon since he didn't know how else to address the masked man in front of him and felt it best to use his title in terms of giving out proper respect.

"Just call me Naruto. A Sage I may be, but great I am most certainly not," replied Naruto with amusement in his voice and Jon let out a chuckle.

"Not to be direct, but is it true how you vanquished so many of your enemies? With your magic and different swords?" asked Jon with Naruto cocking his head slightly to the right for a second.

"I see the bards still sing my name and deeds in the Rebellions after all this time. You would think they had other tales to tell in brothels and bars. But to answer your question, yes I did kill several thousand people with one swing of my sword," replied Naruto with Jon looking at him in awe.

"How is such a thing possible?" asked Jon almost immediately.

"Training dear boy. Lots and lots of intense bone breaking training with a long life span beyond what any mortal man in existence has today to match," answered Naruto with a hint of sadness in them since he had seen all his loved ones die out and missed them each one dearly.

"Could you...could you teach me? Nothing magical mind you, but maybe some of the skills that made you such a great swordsman?" asked Jon while hoping the man would say yes and he could get Robb in on this later before the man went off with Ned to King's Landing.

"I don't see why not. So long as you are not going to ask me to give you any of my power or something like that. Roose Bolton already tried that years ago along with his bastard son Ramsey. And we all know what happened to their House," said Naruto before putting his staff down and went to the sword rack.

"I wouldn't dream of it," said Jon with a smile since he doubted his body could handle such power or he was worthy of being given it in the first place.

"Good. Let's begin," said Naruto while the two now circled the other and slowly drawing in a crowd.

Jon moved first after awhile. He deduced rather quickly enough that Naruto wasn't going to make the first move so making the first move was the only thing Jon could do at this point. The strike was instantly blocked and pushed back by Naruto with incredible ease and strength in his right hand holding currently holding the training sword against the real one Jon possessed. Motioning for Jon to try again, the young wolf did so, and the two had begun their little dance with the weapon of choice they possessed. The crowd around the two of them had gotten bigger, some people even placing bets, and cheering both duelist on.

'The Sage is good. Very good. I'm starting to sweat and he's not even breathing hard or looking tired from fighting. I could increase my skill from this one spar alone then if I sparred with Robb in twenty. I need to remind myself to have Robb fight him and see where we both stand in terms of skill level,' thought Jon before he began to fight Naruto again and yet the Sage still held his ground with a seemingly unbreakable defense.

"You're trying to hard now. Your moves are getting more desperate. More sloppy. Calm your mind Jon. Focus!" commanded Naruto while seeing Jon was beginning to tire from this fight with him.

Nodding at Naruto's words, the young legitimized Stark attacked him once again, but his movements were more fluid, and precise this time. One person gasped when they thought Jon had nearly knick the mask Naruto wore, but it was blocked by the Sage at the last moment, and the man himself nodded in respect at having someone so close do that.

Of course Naruto was holding back a great deal of his strength and skill, but it was most impressive for one so young to do that without chakra helping to give him an edge.

"Enough! The match is a draw, though respectfully I think the Sage is winner. Anyone with a sharp mind and eye can tell he was holding back," said Rodrik while seeing Jon wipe the sweat off his brow while Naruto just shrugged and didn't bother denying it.

"While true, Jon's got the skills to become a great swordsman. I bet the same could be said for Robb if I had a chance to test his own skills against me," said Naruto since he had heard the two were nearly equal when it came to their skills using a sword.

"I must say that was impressive Great Sage. Indeed, the bards songs, and stories of your skills do not do you justice. They should be flogged mercilessly for their inept failure to capture the description of your strength," said a voice near waist level and the three of them saw one Tyrion Lannister looking up at them with a smile on his face.

"Thank you for the compliment Tyrion Lannister, son of Tywin Lannister. Though I do wish you would keep the comment about the bards being flogged to yourself. I don't want anyone to get any ideas of punishing them simply because their stories are not up to the standards of others," said Naruto with Tyrion nodding with his smile increasing since he wasn't being "imp" or "dwarf" for his short size.

"Indeed. A humble man with such power is practically unheard of, but I will respect your wishes all the same. If only because you don't refer to me an the 'imp' and address me as myself. And as for you, you must be Ned Stark's former bastard," said Tyrion with Jon frowning a bit, but nodded all the same.

"I was a former bastard. I haven't been one for some time now thanks to my Father. Why do you want to know?" said Jon with Tyrion nodding and giving the young man a once over.

"No real reason. I can see why he made you legitimate. Your features are clearly that of a Stark in every sense of the word. Not many Lannisters have been known to sire bastards and if they do, the women, and the child in question don't receive the loving treatment you have with your own. Even if the bastards we Lannisters have produced have shown some promise of great potential. My advice to you is to milk this for all its worth like a baby sucking on his Mother's big tits before she weans him off it," said Tyrion since he knew the only reason he wasn't labeled one was due to his Father being Tywin Lannister and the man knew the sad painful truth.

That the creature for a baby, who killed Tywin's wife when bringing this deformed man into the world years ago, now currently standing in front of these two was his son. Tywin knew without question his wife had been faithful to him and never strayed to lay with another man. It was that reason and that reason alone that he accepted Tyrion as his son despite the fact he was a dwarf with his deformed body causing the woman to die from blood loss.

Cersei had made it clear almost immediately that she had wanted Tyrion dead from the moment news came to her of their Mother's death and her recently born little brother was the cause of it. Jamie had easily stopped such a thing at every turn since he didn't blame his little brother for it. Women died from such things all the time whether they gave birth to deformed babies or not. Birthing complications didn't distinguish between themselves from Queens, Ladies, or smallfolk women.

They simply happened one way or another.

"I will keep those words close to my heart Lord Lannister," said Jon respectfully though he was a little put off by the crude words mingled in with them.

"Jon, go inside and get something to eat and drink before the King devours it all. I wish to talk to Tyrion for a moment," said Naruto with Jon nodding before heading inside to eat with the rest of the family.

"I'm surprised someone such as yourself wishes to have any kind of conversation with me. Normally, people tend to avoid my presence like they do a plague. Unless of course its in a brothel with a whore and my coin purse is swollen with gold dragons when I do," commented Tyrion, as he heard Naruto chuckle, and found the Sage to be an interesting fellow to be sure.

"Well, I am no whore for one thing. Second, I'm not here for the gold dragons you may or may not still have from your visits to the brothels near here. Third, my reason for talking to you revolves around your family," replied Naruto with him retrieving his staff and seeing Tyrion's smile leave him a bit.

"And what does a Sage with your reputation like yourself wish to know about my family? Wishing to offer your services to my House for a fee? While my family is considered the wealthiest in all of Westeros, I doubt even we could afford your services," said Tyrion while Naruto just shrugged before sitting down on a nearby bench.

"No. Nothing like that I assure you. I wish to ask about your Father and your siblings. I wish to know more about them and you are the only honest Lannister by far despite your reputation for drinking and whoring," answered Naruto with Tyrion raising an eyebrow at him since he wasn't expecting that.

"I'm pretty sure you have met my Father before now during both Robert's Rebellion and the Greyjoy Rebellion. So the real questions you wish to ask me surround my siblings and what they are like outside of their daily lives of the people," deduced Tyrion since he was still quite sober right now and his mind was sharp enough to know enough about the man to know a feint for a question when asked.

"Smart man. Though I do have one question or two about your Father, the real questions are about your siblings," said Naruto while impressed with Tyrion's mind being so sharp.

"I'll be happy to answer any and all questions about them. No matter how embarrassing or humiliating it might be for them in the future," replied Tyrion in a cheeky tone.

(Winterfell-The Next Day)

Naruto watched as Ned and Robert went off to hunt with a combination of Kingsguard, Stark, and Lannister men beside them. Watching intently as the two men talked while they set out to hunt dear, boar, or whatever else they found. Tyrion had provided him further insight into Cersei, Jamie, and above all else Tywin Lannister in terms of just how far they would go to get their way. Tyrion, despite being a Lannister Heir, the only one left legally capable of being Tywin's Heir to Casterly Rock at this point, held no such ambition, or rather one that didn't involved backstabbing or killing people to achieve his goals. Tyrion did have the ambition, but it was more for acknowledgement, and being considered more then just the "Lannister Imp". To be known beyond the stain of being the preverbal "Black Sheep" of the family, though it was amusing to think of Lannisters as sheep in the first place since the House Sigil told him otherwise.

Glancing to his right, Naruto saw Bran was climbing the old tower once again. No doubt wanting to see his Father and the King riding off before they were consumed by the forest where all the game was located. Indeed, Bran Stark was every bit like his ancestor Bran the Builder, and knew the boy would do wonderful things in the future.

Sensing himself being watched, Naruto turned to his left to see Arya staring at him with a scowl on her face. She did a lot of that lately. No doubt because her Mother kept having her learn to do all the things a "proper lady" would do and that wasn't Arya. She liked the idea of using swords over playing with dolls. She liked the idea of playing the mud over learning how to sew.

Arya was a tomboy in every sense of the world.

"Are you really a Sage? And can use magic? And wield weapons capable of killing well over a thousand men?" asked Arya in rapid succession.

"In order? Yes. Yes. And Yes. Why? Wish to become a student of mine?" asked Naruto curiously with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Would you teach me how to use magic?" asked Arya since she would enjoy using it to play all sorts of pranks on her siblings.

Mainly Sansa.

"No," replied Naruto with Arya frowning heavier now.

"What about how to wield a sword?" asked Arya since she wanted to use them like her brothers, but her Mother put a stop to that.

"I could, but I won't," replied Naruto with Arya scowling heavier.

"Why not?! Is it because I'm a girl? Because you are like everyone else and believe only boys and men can wield swords?" asked Arya with a sense of anger and impatience at being told no by everyone because what she wanted to do was considered unbefitting someone of her gender.

"No. Of course not. I'm not going to teach you because you are not ready to learn from me yet. You need to learn how to crawl before you can walk and you need to walk before learning how to run. Its the same way with swordsmanship in general. You need to have a competent teacher to learn the basics before I even consider teaching you how to use a sword," replied Naruto with Arya's scowl lessening slightly.

"But no one will teach me how to use a sword. My Mother won't allow it and the others here won't out of fear of my Father punishing them," replied Arya though her Father did give her more leeway since she reminded him a lot of Lyanna when growing up and not being as "girly" as other women folk had been.

"That's not exactly accurate. Its more like the instructor you need isn't here at Winterfell to teach you," answered Naruto with Arya's scowl returning.

"Where would I find one?" asked Arya with Naruto thinking it over in his head for a brief second.

"My guess would be in King's Landing. It is a central hub for everything and anything one could want for the right price. As your Father is now the new Hand of the King, he can get you just about anything King's Landing possesses...within reason. You would have to talk to him first, but I'm sure he would be able to acquire a proper instructor," said Naruto with Arya thinking it over in her mind before nodding.

"Do you have any students still alive?" asked Arya curiously.

"Oh I have taught a few over the years. Most of them are dead now. But they taught quite a few students of their own. Some became Braavosi swordsmen who use what is called the Water Dance and meant to use precision over brute strength. Something I find to be the best way to fight your enemy since anyone can pick up a sword and fling it around to hurt someone. I also taught Ser Barristan Selmy in his younger years," answered Naruto to Arya's shock.

"Ser Barristan Selmy? Also known as Barristan the Bold? Of the Kingsguard?" asked Arya in shock with Naruto nodding.

"The very same. How do you think a man his age is still considered the best swordsman in all of the Seven Kingdoms? He was a boy when I first taught him. Born from a minor house, he had wanted to do something grand with his life. To serve some higher cause and wield a sword to protect the Realm of Men with all of his being. I respected him for his beliefs and having them at such a young age. So I trained him. In fact, he became my very last student. Even now I'm proud of him. Not once has Ser Barristan swayed from his convictions and kept his oath to serve the King sitting on the throne despite the last one not being of sound mind," replied Naruto with Arya looking shocked that one of the Kingsguard had been taught by the Sage himself.

"I heard from my Father that Roose Bolton wanted to have Ser Barristan executed, but was pardoned, and became the Lord Commander," said Arya since she had her Father tell her stories of the knights and warriors who fought during Robert's Rebellion and Greyjoy Rebellion.

"That is true. Your Father and Robert respected Ser Barristan so they felt a man of his station showing such loyalty was to be rewarded. Not punished," replied Naruto with Arya looking more impressed by this.

"If you had been in King's Landing and faced Ser Barristan...would you have fought and killed him?" asked Arya curiously and Naruto had a far away look in his eyes.

"I was in King's Landing my dear. And I fought quite a few Kingsguard. But I made sure never to encounter my old student during the fighting. Not because I feared his strength and skill with a sword, but rather the outcome should we have clashed. If I did face him, then yes, I would have fought Ser Barristan. Killed him? I couldn't answer that until I had the sword poised to make such a strike," answered Naruto before he looked to his right and saw Bran falling from the tower and quickly used Kamui to appear below where he was falling to catch the boy.

Unfortunately, the poor boy had hit his head somewhere along the tower, and had lost any form of consciousness. Beside him, the dire wolf growled at him, but a quick look from Naruto silenced the animal into submission. Arya, having seen him act to catch Bran quickly ran to get her Mother, and tell her what happened. Moving swiftly, Naruto heads to the boy's bedroom, after asking a servant its location, to place him there, and was soon met by a worried Stark family with Bran's Mother a the forefront.

"Bran! Bran! Wake up my son. My child. Please wake up!" pleaded Catelyn while she was held back by Robb and Jon while Naruto gave him a once over.

"Its a good thing I caught him. The fall would have most likely broken his back and he would have been crippled for life," whispered Naruto while using his skills to heal the boy's head injury.

"Will my son be okay when he wakes up?" asked Catelyn while Naruto nodded.

"A bit sore with a headache. But that's to be expected, even when I finish healing him of his head injury. Curious though," remarked Naruto with a frown and his eyes narrowed.

"What?" asked Robb since he saw the Sage's eyes narrow.

"This head injury wasn't caused by the rock of the tower from one falling and hitting it on the way down. The force behind the blow is too strong. Someone grabbed his head and slammed it into the rock before throwing him off the tower. Most likely from the top of the tower where the window is located. Meaning someone pushed him," surmised Naruto with the Starks in the room looked shocked.

"Someone tried to kill my son? Why? Who would do such a thing?" asked Catelyn while a sense of dread filled her in the belief it was one of the Lannisters or their men.

"Robb. Get Ser Rodrik and a few capable men. Go to the top of the tower where Bran was climbing and look for clues. Take your dire wolves if you must. They might be able to find the scent of the person or persons responsible for this action," commanded Ned with Robb nodding and motioned for Jon to follow since they had the two best trained dire wolves of their entire family.

"Do you think Bran will remember who pushed him when he awakens?" asked Catelyn with Naruto looking unsure.

"Maybe. Even with my healing his head injury, the boy might have memory loss. A few minutes, hours, maybe the entire day at most will be lost to him. Images and faces of the moment before the fall could be hazy. If words were spoken, he may not recall them, or who spoke them. I can only heal the injury. I cannot heal the memory. Whatever he does try to recall will seem more like a dream then a memory," replied Naruto before putting his hand away and smiled behind his mask at seeing the boy was now sleeping now rather then being in a coma.

"When will he awaken?" asked Catelyn while hoping it would be soon.

"In a day or two. I healed the injury, but his mind will wait until it feels its ready, and considers the injury healed enough that its safe for Bran to open his eyes," answered Naruto calmly while seeing Bran's still unnamed dire wolf sit on the bed and watching everyone in the room carefully.

"I want two guards posted at the door. Bran's dire wolf can stay as a last line of defense in case someone tries to harm him.

"I'm staying here with Bran. If anyone tries to harm my son, they will have to go through me as well," said Catelyn while sitting in a chair beside Bran and held her son's hand.

Maester Luwin wanted to protest, but Naruto put his hand on the man's shoulder, and shook his head no to anything he planned to say.

"Let her stay Luwin. Besides, a headstrong Tully woman is someone you can win against in any argument. Especially one protecting her son from possible threats. You would have a better chance getting the White Walkers to bend the knee to us," said Naruto with Luwin letting out a small laugh at that since it was true.

With a nod to the woman, Naruto left the family talk, and prepare additional defenses for their home against whoever violated the sanctity of Winterfell. Hours soon past and Ned returned with Robert from a good hunt, only to be hit hard by the news of Bran falling from the tower. Catelyn didn't dare risk telling Ned the truth with Robert and his escort around. As for Naruto, he made his way into the courtyard where some horses were out near the stable, but were resting comfortably. Near them was Sandor Clegane and Crown Prince Joffrey Baratheon being talked to by Tyrion over something.

"My Mother has been looking for you. We ride for King's Landing today," said Joffrey in his usual whining sound for a voice.

"Before you go, you will call on Lord and Lady Stark and offer your sympathies," said Tyrion since he knew all about proper etiquette from his Father, who drilled it into all three of his children's skulls, and oddly enough only his youngest truly embracing it.

Ironic considering the only one who listened was also the one most despised by Tywin himself.

Cersei felt she could do just about whatever she wanted in life simply because she was a Lannister, the daughter of Tywin Lannister to be exact, and then later as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Jamie felt no one would do anything to him simply because he was good with a sword, had a certain wit about him, and a charm that made women spread their legs for him if he wanted it.

And despite his oaths taken when being a Kingsguard...he had done just that.

"What good will my sympathies do them?" asked Joffrey to his uncle in confusion.

"None, but it is to be expected. Your absence has already been noted," remarked Tyrion, as he was sure it wasn't, but Joffrey didn't know that, and even if he did, the boy's Father would know before smacking his son over the head with a metal gauntlet covered fist.

"That boy who fell means nothing to me. Besides, I can't stand the wailing of women," said Joffrey with a grin while glancing up at the Hound like the man should be impressed with his decision.

Only to be slapped in the face by Tyrion, who was not amused by his nephew's idiocy.

"One more word like that and I will hit you!" stated Tyrion with a frown and saw out of the corner of his eye that even the Hound was impressed by the dwarf's sudden boldness in hitting the Prince right in the face.

"I'm telling Mother!" whined Joffrey in a way that every spoiled child whines when they don't get their way and hide behind the parent who spoils them rotten.

"Go ahead. Tell her boy. Tell her how you show no sympathy or respect for the Lord of Winterfell, who was just recently made Hand of the King, over the near death of their second young son. A boy, who if left this world for the next would have been unable to use his wonderful mind to make, and build new innovative things that would one day benefit the world as a whole. I also like to see you complain to her while in the presence of your Father," remarked Naruto while walking up to the group and interrupting what would surely been the second hit aimed at Joffrey's face by Tyrion.

Though Naruto felt a second strike was deserved.

"I won't forget this!" whined Joffrey before he took off running with his face red with embarrassment at being humiliated like this by his own uncle, the Sage, and in front of the Hound no less.

"The Prince will remember that little Lord," mumbled the Hound to Tyrion since he knew the boy had a long memory of those who unknowingly or knowingly crossed him.

"He's lucky I didn't hit him as well. I would have hit the brat with enough force to make him lose a few teeth, if not break his nose in the process," remarked Naruto while looking back at where Joffrey had gone and frowned in thought.

"It was a good lesson for him. If he forgets, be a good dog and remind him," said Tyrion in a mocking fashion toward Sandor before walking off.

"While it was suppose to be a good lesson for the spoiled brat, I doubt Joffrey is the kind of student who listens to his teachers unless they share the same interest," said Naruto to the Hound, who nodded slowly, and glancing around for any Lannister men who may have seen the altercation.

"Aye, the boy needs a good beating. His Father once gave him one such a beating when younger for killing a pregnant cat. It was actually the one that belong to the little Prince Tommen during his infant years so the boy doesn't remember it much," said Sandor, as he wished his own Father had defended him from Gregor when his older brother burned his face over a toy.

Sadly, nothing happened. It seemed even their own Father feared Gregor too much to do anything to the future Mountain that Rides when they were just children.

"That boy is messed up in the head. There is something in his mind that's broke inside. A budding madness to be sure. Better keep an eye on him Sandor. If I'm truly right about him, then killing pregnant cats, and the lack of respect to High Lords is just the scratch beneath the service that is Prince Joffrey Baratheon," said Naruto before walking off with Sandor Clegane looking at him in surprise at being called his actual name and not "Dog" or "Hound" like so many others did.

He didn't even realize his head moved to nod at the request until the Sage was gone.

(Winterfell-Great Dining Hall)

Breakfast was served on time for everyone who entered. If there was one thing about the North that even Cersei could respect were servants who were on time with food. And while she loathe to admit it, even to herself, some of the food was actually better then what was in King's Landing, and what the servants at Casterly Rock had ever made for her when growing up as a child.

It was just one more thing she hated about the North. About the Starks. About the Tullys. Everything that wasn't Lannister, herself, Jamie, or her three beautiful children by blood (Tyrion being the exception and didn't count in her eyes). Joffrey being everything she had come to nurture in him about what it meant to be a Lannister. Not Baratheon. Let Robert have his whores, his small army of bastard children, and the memory of Lyanna Stark. She had Jamie. She had Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. She didn't need anyone else. Nor did she want anyone else.

"Ah! Sister dear. Its so good to see you this morning. Hello brother. My dear niece and nephew," said Tyrion after walking into the hall and snagging some bacon from young Tommen's plate.

"Little brother. You're cheerful this morning considering where you slept last night," said Jamie with Tyrion shrugged.

"I have slept in worse places," commented Tyrion with a shrug and truth be told, he had slept in worse following a night of intense drinking.

"Is Bran going to die? I heard he fell and hurt himself," said Myrcella since she liked Bran and had talked with him while they pet his dire wolf and trying to think up names for it.

"Oh no, he'll be fine," said Tyrion in a confident tone and missed the brief look of worry on Cersei's face that mirrored Jamie's for that same moment.

"What do you mean?" asked Cersei while still sounding tired so Tyrion would assume she didn't understand his answer.

"Well luckily, it just so happened from what one of the servants told me before I walked in here, the Sage was walking about, and talking to Arya Stark when it happened. He saw Bran fall and caught him before the poor boy hit the ground. Not only is the Bran alive, but he is not paralyzed from the waist down thank the Gods. The poor boy would have been crippled if the fall didn't kill him," answered Tyrion calmly with his siblings more worried then ever.

"And the boy's memory? Did the Sage say anything about what the boy may or may not remember?" asked Jamie with Tyrion shrugged.

"From what the servants told me, the poor boy will have some kind of memory loss. A minute here. An hour there. Maybe the whole day at worst. But he will have full function of his mental faculties thanks to the Sage using his power to reduce the swelling in Bran's head in time," said Tyrion while eating some more food and drinking wine.

"And when is the boy expected to awaken?" asked Cersei while trying to keep her voice neutral in terms of tone.

"Later today or tomorrow. Still, the Starks for some reason feel foul play was involved, and have posted guards at his door with the boy's Mother at his bedside. I pity the fool who thinks they can challenge a protective Mother and a Tully of all things," said Tyrion with the last part being a joke and laughed.

All the while completely forgetting to mention the fact Bran had his dire wolf in the room for added security before talking about going to the Wall to see the grand structure made by Bran the Builder. Cersei of course didn't want his foul mouth to infect her children by having them repeating his words to others and make them seem uncivilized. To that end, she took them out of the grand hall with Jamie eating some more before joining her.

(Later that Day)

"I can't believe you pushed the boy out the window. And not only did he live following the fall, but that damn Sage healed his head wound you gave him. Now he might wake up and tell everyone what he saw!" exclaimed Cersei worriedly while pacing back and forth.

She was so close! So close to getting her son on the throne. A few more months of having to put up with her drunken pig of a husband and when the time was right, she would have her trusted agent make his move to put the man out of her misery. If Robert ever found out she was not only fucking her own brother, her twin brother no less, he would have her killed. Worse, if he found out all three of her children did not have one drop of Baratheon blood in them, they would either be killed, or sent up to the Wall where death would be merciful by comparison.

"Relax. He's a 10 year old boy. Whatever he tells them will make no sense in their eyes and they will see it as a weird perverted dream of a growing boy. Besides, I already took care of things to ensure the Stark child doesn't say anything. Soon our agent will make his move and silence the boy before he can awaken," said Jamie calmly while Cersei looked concerned by this news.

"What do you mean? What did you do?" questioned Cersei with Jamie shrugging.

"I just had one of our men from House Lannister take care of things after we leave this cold and disgusting place. I normally have one on call in the event someone might have seen us when we fuck," answered Jamie without a hint of remorse in his voice or eyes.

"And this man can be trusted? How do you know he doesn't know our secret too?" asked Cersei worriedly.

"The only thing the man knows is he's being paid to silence anyone who sees me fucking a woman. He also knows I pay himself well enough not to know WHO the woman is that I'm fucking," said Jamie with Cersei still not being convinced.

"Kill the man after you pay him. Make it seem like it was some kind of deal gone wrong. The few who know of our indiscretions the better," said Cersei while glad she had been able to get to her room and sprayed herself with some new perfume after her time with Jamie in that tower.

It successfully sent those damn dire wolves off her scent and trail when they picked up what went on in that damn tower. She had to spray some perfume lightly on Jamie's own armor carefully in certain places to make everyone believe he was outside of her room when Bran fell. But in a way to make everyone believe he was only guarding her body.

Not fucking it.

"Fine with me. I was going to do it anyway. He was asking for a bit more money and was no doubt getting suspicious of who the lucky woman was. If the Stark guards don't kill him trying to get to the boy, I will do it myself," replied Jamie with his usually charming smile.

Neither saw a single black inky looking mouse hearing their entire discussion before it had heard enough and rushed off.

(Winterfell-Elsewhere)

Naruto knew something was off after he recovered Bran from his fall at the old tower the boy loved to climb. The injury the boy suffered was someone grabbing him from behind his head and slamming it hard against the stone surface before giving the stunned child a push. An inspection of the tower by Robb, Jon, their dire wolves, and a few Stark men specializing in tracking had investigated the area. Aside from a single stand of blonde hair, there was no real evidence saying Bran had been pushed. When news had reached Robert after returning from the hunt, the man exploded with rage at the idea of his dear friend's son nearly being killed. Naruto had assured both Robert and a worried Ned there were some leads, but nothing definite. He only asked for both men to show patience and know Bran was recovering with his memory of the event possibly returning so he could identify his attacker.

But Naruto had no intention of waiting to see if the boy remembered what happened and the dire wolves had lost the trail when a new scent had invaded their noses. Someone had gone to great lengths to hide who they were and what they did before Bran got there to see it too. Judging from what the dire wolves smelled along with the Northern trackers themselves, two people were up there going at it sexually, and for quite awhile before the two individuals saw Bran and were discovered. So with foul play clearly being shown, a hunt was on for the attackers, and find out why they tried to silence Bran.

So Naruto decided to focus on finding out who was where within the walls of Winterfell at the time of the incident. He had suspicions on a few people. But his interrogation of them, which they would never remember in the slightest, revealed they were innocent, and thus the investigation started to narrow down the suspects. Joffrey himself was such a suspect, but the brat was actually innocent for once, as the Hound had been with him every step of the way, and not even the giant of a man was going to let the Prince do such an act on his watch.

So with the spoiled Prince and his siblings cleared of any and all wrong doing here, the Sage of ancient forgotten arts in the ways of chakra searched for other possible criminals capable of the crime. If children did not hurt Bran and given what clearly happened when the boy had made it to the top of the tower, the culprits were clearly adults. Meaning he was looking for two adults who smelled off from all others in Winterfell. So Naruto had followed the dire wolves from the shadows and inspected the hair found within the tower, which helped narrow down the list of suspects by far to those with blonde hair.

It was actually one of the reasons he suspected Joffrey until his alibi checked out and the hair itself being too long for it to belong to the spoiled shit. And it was feminine in nature so the hair belonged to a woman given the perfume scent behind it. Which meant it was a blonde haired woman, who had clearly done something with someone she wasn't suppose to be doing.

And since Myrcella was too young to be doing any such thing with anyone, it left only one blonde haired woman within Winterfell at the moment.

Cersei Lannister.

So with that in mind, Naruto traced Cersei's movements for the day, and found it strange her scent had a strong presence of newly applied perfume. Cersei may have understood the principle of throwing people and hounds off your scent by masking it with other types of chemicals like perfume. Given how she had to hide it from dire wolves just showed the Lannister woman was sharp and quick to act in throwing suspicion off of her. But Naruto had invaded Inuzuka hounds and Inuzuka Clan members in general since he could walk thanks to his pranks back during the days of old as a child. He was attune with nature and could see, hear, and smell things where others could not.

As such, Cersei's attempt to hide things from him were amateurish at best. In fact, such a description was generous on his end, and only considered as such given how Cersei had sprayed some of it on Jamie to make her story seem true on where she was at the time of Bran's near death experience. But Naruto knew otherwise. He knew a liar when he saw one and Cersei was the definition of a liar just as Gregor Clegane was the definition of a cruel heartless goat fucker who should have been killed before he learned how to walk.

So with one suspect in mind and the other being Jamie as the one person she could turn to for covering up her actions in the tower, Naruto sent a little ink mouse to scurry about, and follow Cersei around before everyone departed for King's Landing. If the news of Bran being alive and would awake frightened either sibling, they would react accordingly in some fashion, and the ink mouse he sent would record everything spoken before it ran back to give its report.

Speaking of his little creation...

"There you are my little inky spy. I wish Sai was around so I could thank him for leaving behind his understanding of using Ink Jutsus. Now get on this parchment and show me what you heard and put it into words," commanded Naruto with a scroll being unrolled that was blank for the ink mouse to dive into with a nice "splat!" before everything Jamie and Cersei said was written out word for word.

Frowning, Naruto was somewhat surprised Cersei was having sexual relations with her twin brother Jamie. He had lived long enough to see the Targaryens embracing such a practice, as well as clans back during the days growing up, and learning about the ways of the world. But to this extent? Not even the Targaryens went this far with inbreeding and incest relations in the belief of keeping the bloodline "pure". Sure they did it with brother and sister like these two had done, but they never did it with twins with identical DNA, and only the gender between them being different.

Not only that, but there was the issue of Cersei's three children. Were they even Robert's by blood and therefore the rightful Heirs to the throne? Joffrey was clearly not Robert's child, though Naruto suspected Robert couldn't see this because he was blinded by love for the late Lyanna Stark, his drinking, whoring, and not exactly in that order.

Tommen and Myrcella were a coin toss. Tommen didn't really have anything that one could call "Baratheon features", but he wasn't a psychotic mess like Joffrey clearly was, and had a gentle disposition to him. He might make a nice gentle King if Joffrey were to suddenly die and Robert named Tommen his Heir, but it would just leave the boy a big fat target for all the snakes in King's Landing. His Mother certainly wasn't going to help him be a great King and would only raise more problems to combat if it meant she could be by his side to control Tommen from the shadows.

As for Myrcella, she clearly inherited her Mother's childhood form, and would become a beautiful women just like her Mother. Naruto only hoped if Myrcella didn't inherit her Mother's cruelty or hatred for all things not Lannister by blood. He liked to think Cersei's last two children had been saved from the sheer madness of the mind that Joffrey and the Targaryens themselves in the past had gained from the persistent tradition of inbreeding and incest.

Though one cannot overlook the nurturing of madness by someone being factored into the nature of inheriting the madness genetically. In any case, Naruto would have to watch everything Lannister from here on out, and make sure they didn't do anything to endanger the Seven Kingdoms in their current fragile state. Just because Robert was the King of all Seven Kingdoms didn't mean he was a good King and keeping things stable. There was a lingering unrest within the difference Houses thought it all and many of them were still secretly Targaryen supporters waiting for the fat and bloated Stag to die from his many life shortening vices.

As for Dorne, Prince Doran had kept Elia Martell and her children from being discovered for years since King's Landing had been sacked, but Naruto was sure a certain Spider for an eunuch living within King's Landing knew differently, and was keeping that tidbit of information in his back pocket to use at a later time for an emergency should his position become compromised. Not that the Spider would ever reveal it to anyone, even if the man really wanted to since Naruto was also a secret acquaintance of his for many years, and wouldn't allow it. Not without permission anyway. Both had done much in the shadows to keep the realm stable as a whole. Of course Varys had disillusions regarding how the current King ran the Seven Kingdoms and knew Joffrey being on the throne would be far worse to the point being the second coming of the Mad King. Naruto had agreed with him and felt the Targaryens were still the rightful rulers to the Iron Throne provided of course they weren't crazy, and didn't want to burn every single thing in sight.

So far, it didn't look good for the remaining members of House Targaryen. Viserys was showing signs of the madness even now from what Naruto knew of the boy. Thinking himself already as the King of the Seven Kingdoms, who was simply untouchable on that principle alone, and was going to every person stupid enough to back him financially to fund his campaign to raise an army to take back his family legacy. Elia Martell's children were living happily in Dorne and was keeping her children out of the game of thrones in its entirety. All she wanted to do was live happily in Dorne with her children away from the horrifying seat of tyranny the Iron Throne was known for in the past.

Not that Naruto blamed her. The Iron Throne really was a horrifying seat of tyranny and should have been destroyed by Robert to signify a new era without such means to rule being necessary.

But that was neither here nor there. What Naruto needed to do was focus on certain lions licking their chops at the sight of the dying stag and getting ready to pounce. Personally, Naruto didn't care for Robert due to his whoring, and drinking ways after the death of Lyanna Stark. The man was coping in all the wrong ways and in doing so made his wife spiteful to the point where she was clearly going to do something soon once Joffrey was old enough in her eyes to become King.

A King she could manipulate, control, and one who will help ensure the power, if not the very lifestyle as a Queen never leaving her as time went by.

Shaking his head at the thought, Naruto decided he would have to go to King's Landing, and help Ned fix what was clearly broken there. Ned was a good man. A rarity these days given how people found it easier to be dishonorable and cruel over honorable and caring. As he headed outside, Naruto focused on seeing Jon inspecting a sword the blacksmith had made, and saw Jamie approach him with his usual arrogant smirk and walk.

"A sword for the wall?" asked Jamie curiously at the sight of the weapon.

"Already have one," replied Jon while keeping the identity of who this sword went to a very close guarded secret.

"Good man. Have you swung it yet?" asked Jamie while glancing at the sword on Jon's waist.

"Of course I have," replied Jon since he had been trained by his Father at a young age to wield a sword and shown much promise.

"I trust you find training with a real sword is much different then fighting with an actual one," commented Jamie while Jon put the sword away.

"The Night's Watch has defended the North at the Wall for 800 years," replied Jon with Jamie raising an eyebrow.

"Oh! Planning on taking the Black and saying your vows?" asked Jamie since he was sure Cersei would find that soothing with one less wolf in the den to threaten the lion.

"No. Not yet. My Father wants me to go to the Wall and inspect it first before I make a decision. While he's serving as Hand, I will be helping out at the Wall to see what needs to be improved, and if necessary take the Black to strengthen their numbers further. I will report my findings to my brother Robb and if necessary send a raven to my Father to get further men sent up to the Wall when he arrives at King's Landing," said Jon with Jamie frowning a bit since he was sure the former bastard would take the Black at this point.

"Give my regards to the Night's Watch, and if you do fail...its only for life. No pressure," said Jamie before walking away.

"Don't listen to him Jon. You won't fail in your duty. Whether as a member of the Night's Watch or as a member of House Stark. Trust your instincts and remember to do what is right, even if other people don't like it, and only if you believe in it," replied Naruto while Jon nodded in agreement.

"I will. How did your sparring session with Robb go? He wouldn't tell me?" asked Jon curiously since the two had sparred earlier that morning before the issue with Bran had occurred.

"Let us just say Robb now knows what it feels like to fight someone truly stronger then himself. It was a very humbling experience on his end. The last thing someone like you or Robb need right now is your egos getting so filled with hot air that they equal the size of Jamie Lannister," replied Naruto with Jon letting out a chuckle.

"Thanks. Still, I wish the Kingslayer would be sent to the Wall. The only reason he isn't is because his family wouldn't allow it," remarked Jon with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Yeah, but even if the man killed his King despite the oath he took, it was probably for the best that he did," said Naruto with Jon looking at him in surprise.

"Why would you say that?" asked Jon with Naruto letting out a chuckle.

"While I despise Jamie for the many things he's done in life, killing the Mad King is not one of them. What the Mad King wanted done before his fall would have left only ash in his wake, and all the people of King's Landing being part of it. Through Jamie's act of oath breaking, he saved countless lives within King's Landing. You may dislike Jamie for what he did, but when you understand the reason behind it...I think deep down people would not call him Kingslayer with such disrespect," answered Naruto with Jon looking down for a second.

"So you respect him?" asked Jon with Naruto shaking his head no.

"Fuck no! I hate everything about the arrogant prick. The act he did to save the people in King's Landing from the Mad King is the only thing I do respect. Nothing else," replied Naruto before looking at the sword Jon had taken from the blacksmith.

"You like it? Its perfect for stabbing someone, provided the enemy on the receiving end is wearing little to no armor," remarked Jon while showing it to Naruto.

"Not bad. Though it is a bit small for a man to wield. But something tells me this isn't for a man or even a young boy. The handle here is designed for thin female fingers to hold onto it," surmised Naruto while appraising the sword in his hand.

"Aye, but don't tell my Mother who its for. Her wrath alone makes me want to take the Black to avoid such a confrontation," whispered Jon with Naruto smirking behind his mask.

"Angry Tully women are truly a force of nature unto themselves. When do you intend to give the sword here to its new owner?" questioned Naruto with Jon smirking.

"Right before we leave. Said owner will have to hide it until she gets to King's Landing and Father can provide her with a proper teacher. I still think you would be considered the best teacher for her in that regard. Many high born Lords would start a war simply for the honor," answered Jon while Naruto shook his head no.

"Which is why my last student is now the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and the best swordsman in all of the Seven Kingdoms. Still, if Arya can find a teacher capable of bringing out a good foundation for me to work with...I might consider it. Though I make no promises," replied Naruto while the two walked into Arya's room and saw her packing for the trip to King's Landing.

"I thought you packed already?" questioned Jon with Arya huffing in slight anger.

"I had it all set for days, but now I have to fold them again. My things weren't properly folded she says. Who cares how they are folded?! They're going to get all messed up anyway!" stated Arya in frustration while stuffing her clothing extra hard at the last part.

"Well its a good thing you have help," commented Jon while staring at Arya's dire wolf.

"Watch this. Nymeria, gloves!" commanded Arya while Nymeria just sat there on the bed and looked bored.

"Impressive," remarked Jon with a smirk.

"Most impressive," added Naruto with a smirk of his own, but couldn't be seen by his mask.

"Shut up! Nymeria, gloves!" commanded Arya with her dire wolf looking away.

'She probably doesn't want to be seen as a normal house trained dog doing tricks,' thought Naruto since he knew the dire wolf beside Arya was just as intelligent as the others of the pack.

"I have something for you. And it has to be packed carefully so its not discovered by our Mother," said Jon with Arya looking at him curiously.

"A present?" questioned Arya while Jon smiled and showed it to her.

"Something to take with us on the way to King's Landing. Jon had it made in secret since he knew your Mother would not only disapprove, but never let it leave Winterfell in your hands," replied Naruto while Jon showed her the present in question.

"Its not a toy Arya. Keep it tucked away until you're at King's Landing," said Jon while he showed her the thin pointy sword meant just for her.

"Its so skinny," commented Arya at the overall size of the sword.

"That's the point. Most swords are very heavy and thus most women lack the upper body strength to pick up, much less wield one. This was designed to stab people with pinpoint precision. You won't slice a person's head off, but given the right time, and angle of the opening...you can definitely stab someone in a vital spot with it, if you are fast enough," added Naruto knowing that a needle to the neck can be just as deadly as an actual sword hitting the same spot.

"I can be quick," offered Arya enthusiastically since she was faster and more nimble then any of her brothers or sister.

"You will have to train everyday with this. No slouching. No quitting. You want to be the best at something you have to earn it," said Naruto in a stern voice, which made the girl nod, and knew she would do just that with the right instructor.

"I will. And I'll do it with this sword. This...Needle!" stated Arya with Naruto smirking behind his mask.

"Interesting name for a sword, but I've heard worse. And it seems appropriate given its overall design. When we get to King's Landing, I will make sure you're Father finds a suitable instructor capable of teaching you," said Naruto knowing there were a few of them in King's Landing who could teach the girl and were more open minded about women wielding a sword.

"And then you'll train me?" asked Arya while Naruto chuckled and Jon smirked.

"You are a persistent little she wolf. Still, I won't make any promises to that effect. If you train hard and prove yourself, I just might. But don't take that as a guarantee Arya. If and when I train you in using a sword will ultimately be up to me in the end," replied Naruto with the girl pouting at first, but ultimately accepting his answer since she was young, and untrained in the ways of the sword.

He wanted to see if her foundation with using Needle from another teacher was worth the time in the future to train the girl himself.

With that business taken care of, Naruto walked to the stables, and saw Hodor preparing the horse for the Sage. Giving a nod to the gentle giant, Naruto sat on the horse, but with his legs crossed, and one hand on the reigns. Hodor was confused by this since he never saw anyone sit on the horse in that manner and wondered why the masked man was even making the attempt without securing himself further.

"Hodor," said Hodor while Naruto looked at his confused face and understood what he wanted to ask the Sage.

"Don't worry Hodor. I'm not most people so I don't ride horses like everyone else does. Besides, we'll be going at a slow pace with the escort of guards," answered Naruto with Hodor nodding.

"Hodor," said Hodor while nodding.

"Take care of the Starks while I'm away. Also, keep an eye out for anyone who should not be here. I know you know everyone here in Winterfell so if you see anyone who you don't know prowling around...they shouldn't be here," warned Naruto with Hodor's eyes going wide and he nodded quickly.

"Hodor! Hodor!" exclaimed Hodor since he understood what the Sage was asking of him.

"You're a good man Hodor. Stick close to Bran's room tonight and the following night too. While I trust the Stark guards, Bran's dire wolf, and Catelyn to watch over Bran until he recovers, I would prefer another pair of eyes and strong arms protecting him should the unspeakable happen," said Naruto with Hodor nodding eagerly.

"Hodor!" said Hodor while Naruto once more and wished his power could be used to help the one worded mini-giant of a man.

Sadly, even his own power had limits. At Hodor's age, the chakra placed into the man's body to fix the brain of its inability to say only one word would be rejected. Hodor's body would not only reject the chakra, but it would be as if the man had injected snake venom into his brain, and cause the poor mini-giant terrible pain until death finally decided to end it.

"Also, if someone does try to hurt Bran, you need to ensure he is captured, and kept alive for questioning. Under no circumstances is the assassin to be killed when caught. Do you understand?" whispered Naruto with Hodor nodding that he did though part of him was still confused on why such an attacker would be kept alive.

Nonetheless, Hodor knew his place in the world, and would obey the Sage's command to protect the Stark family which had been so good to him since he was brought into their service.

"Hodor! Hodor!" exclaimed Hodor while nodding his head.

Satisfied with the mini-giant of a man's response and understanding, Naruto commanded his horse to move to join the now larger escort of the King back to King's Landing. The men around him looked at him like he was riding his horse incorrectly and wondered why a strange man like the infamous "Demon Sage" was doing following their escort. Robert had made it perfectly clear following the end of his rebellion against the Mad King that he disliked the Sage immensely due to word getting out about how the masked man had helped the Mad King's children escape Dragonstone by a single ship when being hunted by Stannis's fleet of ships during the end of the rebellion. Some had called for the Demon Sage's head for his act of treason, but Robert knew better, and Ned had argued that it was senseless to kill innocent children.

Still, if their King wasn't going to order his death, none here were going to try.

"So this is where we part. For now anyway," commented Jon while he saw Tyrion and some men moving in front of him toward the direction where the Wall was located.

"Aye, but its only temporary. We'll see each other again. Whether its in Winterfell or on the Wall. Starks have defended the Wall for thousands of years. Your Benjen did it after I returned from Robert's Rebellion. Whether you choose to do so as well is your choice. I won't force anything on you. Get a feel for the Night's Watch. See if its something you know is right for you. Whatever your decision, I will support it with all my power," said Ned with Jon smiling at him and looked around to see if anyone was within hearing distance of their conversation.

There was none.

"Uncle, I just want to say...thank you. For everything. For raising me. Loving me as your own son," said Jon with Ned smiling lovingly at his nephew even if he couldn't call the young man that.

"You are a Stark. Both in name and in blood. I only wish Catelyn had warmed up to you sooner. I couldn't tell her truth because I feared what people would think if her reaction to you shifted from disgust to one of love. I feared Robert's wrath and it being aimed at you. An innocent child should not have to face such things," said Ned with Jon nodding, but he still smiled all the same.

"She's been like a Mother to me since learning the truth. I understand her frustrations and won't hold it against her. I'm proud to be a Stark and officially called your son by both of you," said Jon with Ned smiling more now knowing his wife's promise and contract with the Gods had been fulfilled completely with those words spoken.

His House and that of House Tully were saved from wrath sent forth by divine powers he could not begin to battle.

"We'll talk more about other things in the future. Namely more about my sister," said Ned with Jon nodding and soon the younger man rode to follow the group heading up for the Wall.

"So...did you say what needed to be said?" asked Naruto when Ned caught up to him.

"Aye, and more. I have you to thank for that," replied Ned with a sense of joy in his voice that Naruto easily picked up on.

"I do what I can," commented Naruto while they followed the royal escort with King Robert in the lead with their path for King's Landing out in front.

(A/N: YAY! I updated. A super long chapter for you guys. I actually had to cut a chunk of the chapter out to put into the next chapter due to the overall size of this. So expect the next chapter soon enough. The next season of Game of Thrones is coming up soon and we are all excited over this season. I know I am. Though I have theory regarding the fate of Jon Snow and his "death" since many say he will live while everyone on the show says he is dead. Well for those of you who can't read between the lines (and there are some of you who haven't), if you think about it, really think about it, Jon Snow as we know him IS dead. BUT with his death and rebirth at the hands of a certain red priestess, Jon would be able to rise not as a Snow, but as a Stark! Remember what Stannis said to Jon? "Kneel to me as a Snow and rise as a Stark." and the only reason Jon said no to the offer was due to his commitment to the Night's Watch with his vows binding him until death? So for those of you who say Jon Snow isn't dead, he is most likely dead in name only, but the man will rise again as a Stark. At least I hope he does. It makes the most perfect sense in the world so let's pray I'm right. At the very least, I'm hoping everyone in House Frey, namely one Walder Frey gets killed since those assholes along with House Bolton being killed off is long overdue. They should have never gotten away with that in the first place, even if it was part of the plot. Until next time...PEACE!)