Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
OMG I am seriously so sorry. I am a horrible, horrible person. I have not uploaded/updated in forever. It's summertime now though, so I will most definitely be writing more. I think I'm getting rid of my writer's block which is a good thing. I'm really sorry about not updating. I'm trying a lot harder now. I really hope that you guys like this chapter. Thanks for reading!
I unravel myself from my mother and walk into the main entrance. Sunlight leaks through the large windows; slowly getting dimmer as the sun falls behind the mountains. The Hyugas will be arriving soon, I realize. A frown forms on my face at the realization and I groan as I walk up the staircase.
Opening the door, I walk into my bedroom and find that the woman did a nice job. And she's into dusting. The floor glistens like it just experienced its first polish. My bed looks rather cozy with some new sheets and pillow cases. I stroll over to the welcoming bed to find a chocolate set on my pillow. I pop it into my mouth and let it melt on my tongue. I sigh, taking in the delicious flavor. Milk chocolate will always be my favorite chocolate.
I flop down on my bouncy mattress and stare up at my round ceiling. The orange paint gets darker and darker the higher it goes up. It's an odd color – not one commonly chosen – but my mom and dad thought that since their hair colors combined made orange, that my room should be orange. It's kind of my signature color now, which is kind of cool, I guess.
Taking a nap would be relaxing, but my father might behead me for sleeping when we have guests that will be arriving soon. It's always about the guests.
"Naruto, hurry down!" my mother's voice rings through the castle walls. I glance at my clock and notice that 4 hours have passed making it 6:54.
I glance out the window and see the carriage that carries the Hyugas climbing up to the castle. Swinging down the staircase, I land next to my smiling mother and straight-faced father. He was always so nervous when the Hyugas came around. I never knew why.
Horns blow from outside of the castle for the arrival of the Hyugas. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest. "Naruto, hands down by your waist and stand up straight," my father barks under his breath. I groan, but reluctantly follow his instructions. "And smile." I plaster the fake, wide smile on my face just to please my father. I'll never be the prince he wanted.
The large steel doors open as far as they can as four of the highest class walk inside. The guards seal the doors shut tight and bow; carrying on their way.
"Lord Hizashi and Lord Hiashi welcome," my father bows. "Lady Hinata and Prince Neji, you two have grown since I've last seen you." He always was more kind to the younger of the Hyugas. "Please, follow me into the study. Children, you may go play with Naruto."
"I'm very sorry my wife could not make it, queen," Hiashi apologizes to my mother.
"You have nothing to worry about. I'm perfectly okay with watching over the children," she smiles, waving him off. He bows and heads after my father and Hizashi.
I look over at Neji and Hinata; my blue eyes meet their pale ones. "So," I rock back and forth on my heels, "what do you want to do?"
"I want to go back home and leave this environment. I see dust everywhere and there are little specks of dirt. My home is much cleaner than this and I would prefer to be there," Neji states with no emotion in his face other than the slight narrowing of his eyes.
"N-Neji," Hinata stutters. She begins dwindling with her fingers. "Pl-please don't be r-rude."
Neji huffs and turns his head away from everyone else. My mother's eyes widen as she takes in the behavior of the Hyuga boy. She shakes it off and flashes a warm smile. "How about we go out to the garden? Would you like that Lady Hinata?" Hinata nods and links hands with my mom as they lead the way out to the garden.
I stand a fair distance away from Neji because I never know when he might strike.
My mom shows Hinata some flowers and plucks her one, placing it in her dark hair. Hinata blushes and glances back at me. She blushes even harder and looks away. What is it with that girl?
We spend several more minutes wandering the bushels of flowers before my father walks out with the rest of the Hyugas and says, "Time to come inside and eat."
Sitting around the long table, we wait for the servants to deliver our food to the table. I want to get up and help them bring it out, but I know that it's not prince-like. Quite frankly, I don't care about being prince-like, but when it comes to having guests over, anything will tick my father off if it's not what he wants me to do, and THAT could cause me to lose my privilege of going out into the town when I want.
The food is placed neatly on the table and I thank the servants for all of the hard work that they do every single day. I always say I want to help them, but I make them do things for me anyway. I guess when you grow up with that kind of stuff you just get used to it. Bad habit, but I was brought up that way.
We dig into the food with little chatter. The Hyugas find it incredibly rude to talk and eat. I find it incredibly stupid that I have to follow their standards when they are in my home. I opened my mouth to say that earlier, but I didn't want to be locked in my room for a month.
The Hyugas finish by patting their face with their napkins, making sure they wiped off all of their leftover food. My father clears his throat, bringing everyone's attention to him. "I would like to announce to you, Kushina, and the children, that we are going to be trading a lot more frequently with the Tensai Kingdom. Also, we have the protection and reinforcements from their kingdom if necessary." My father smiles after giving the news, but I can't express one. Does this mean I have to spend more time with the Hyugas? A family dinner with Neji's narrowed eyes? I can already imagine him shooting me down with random facts and irrelevant comments every single time I open my mouth. I shiver at the thought.
"Naruto? What do you think about that?" my mother smiles at me. I notice that I have no idea what she's talking about and that everyone is staring at me, waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry, what's the question?" I rub the back of my neck; my cheeks are bright red from embarrassment.
My father shakes his head and looks down at the table, disgracing me from afar.
Neji Hyuga sighs with a distasteful look on his face. He glares at me with those pale eyes and repeats what I had missed earlier. "My father, Lady Hinata's father, and your own parents were discussing how sooner or later, a prince or princess would need a rightful man or woman to sit next to them on their thrones and reign over the kingdom. Your mother brought up how she wasn't sure how she was going to take it when you found your true love, or your rightful queen. She said that she hopes she is someone who is worthy, someone who is deserving of you, and someone that she can like herself. Lord Hiashi shared the same feelings about giving Lady Hinata away to some man that most definitely would not take care of her as well as she should be. Then, the two of them discussed how why not set up an arranged marriage between you and Lady Hinata. They think it will be a wonderful thing to have the two kingdoms even closer than before. Lady Hinata is already fond of you," I took a note about how hard Hinata blushed when he said that, "and you, too, could become fond with her. They wanted to ask you and see if you would be okay with the arranged marriage, but you were too focused on whatever it was you were thinking about to notice that there was something far more important going on in front of you. So, Naruto, are you caught up now?" I didn't have to look in a mirror to know that my jaw had dropped and my eyes had widened sometime during his explanation.
I clench my fists and grind my teeth together. "You think you can just tell me who I can and can't marry? You think you can just tell me who I can and can't marry? Am I not worthy enough to find my own companion? Do you not trust me to find a suitable girl? What's the matter with you people? You can't expect me to fall in love with someone when I'm being forced to!"
"Naruto, it's not like that," my mother tries to calm me.
"Oh, no, it's exactly like that. I thought you already had this conversation with dad, mom. I thought you told him how I felt already. I thought you told him I wasn't okay with it. All you people think about is what is better for your kingdoms. You know what's more important than a kingdom? Your family. I bet if you could save one of the two, it wouldn't be your little baby girl or your only son. I'm so sick and tired of being told what to do around here! I understand that I have to represent the kingdom, I do, I get that, but the fact that now you want me to marry someone that I don't have feelings like that for? You're all sick." I stand up from my chair. "I'm so tired of being a prince! All you do is make me follow guidelines that are stupid! Every single time you people come over," I point an accusing finger at the Hyugas, "I can't even be myself! I have to be the perfect prince! Is that what you want? A fake child?" My blue eyes lock with my father's. I see the hurt in his eyes as I continue on, but at this point, I don't care. He's messed up too many times for me to count. "Want the perfect kid? Create a new one." I shove the chair under the table and storm out of the dining hall. Grabbing my knife and coat, I walk out of the castle and down towards the village, the darkness surrounding me.
"Your parents might come looking for you pretty soon," Sasuke says.
I explained to him that my parents were trying to set me up for an arranged marriage to a girl that I didn't like. I didn't tell him about the details on how she was a princess and that I'm the prince since I'm still keeping that a secret from him. He listened and nodded every once in a while. He was plenty shocked when I showed up at his house unexpected. He smirked though; replying with a "So you're back again? You must really want my help." I didn't give him the satisfaction, but I didn't want to argue with him either, so I just said, "I just like leaving home when things get rough." That of course led him to asking me about what happened, and that's how we got to where we are now.
"Hopefully not. My mom might try and convince my dad to let me cool off, or vice versa." Sasuke nods and takes a bite of an apple he brought. "So, are you going to help me train a bit more?"
"Naruto, it's getting kind of late, don't you think?"
"No."
"Well, I think it is, and plus, I have to get up early tomorrow and help my brother in the shop." I stand up from the rock that I was sitting on and cross my arms across my chest.
"I think you're making excuses."
"I'm not making excuses," his mouth forms a straight line; a small huff escapes his lips.
"Yes, you are, jerk." He narrows his dark eyes at the nickname.
"Alright, loser. Show me how you would normally stand." I get into my stance and watch as Sasuke walks around me in a full circle. He steps closer to me and I can feel his breath on my shoulder.
"Now, you need to stand up higher. You don't want to hunch too much because your body will put more weight on your legs, trying to hold yourself up, which will make it easier for the enemy to knock you down." I straighten my back, but lower myself a little bit.
"Like this?"
Sasuke nods. "Alright. Next thing is your hand position. You want to keep your hands up. Your knife hand should be angled so the blade is ready to stab. Your other hand wants to be placed slightly further than the knife hand so you can shove if need be." I arrange my hands the way he tells me to. Sasuke sees something wrong with my knife hand and grabs it, tilting it slightly downwards. "Better. Lastly, we want to focus on your feet position. Keep one foot in front of the other, but keep the spread out fairly well. Not too far apart that you'll be balancing yourself, but far enough where you aren't closing your legs shut." I angle my feet and grin. "That's how you stand in a defensive stance. There's other tactics with other weapons or other situations, but with the weapon you have, this is perfect."
I stand normally and rub the back of my hair. "Thanks Sasuke."
He smiles slightly, closing his eyes and nodding. "Time for you to go."
"Can't we just stay out here for the rest of the night?"
"I already told you have something to do for tomorrow. You need to go home and see your parents anyway."
"Just a little longer. Please?" I shoot him the 'please don't make me go home' look and he sighs.
"Fine. Not too much longer though."
I cheer with a huge grin on my face. Sasuke rolls his eyes. "Loser."
I narrow my eyes at him. "Jerk."
"Don't start this again, blondie." I resist calling him a jerk as I sit down in the grass.
The last thing I remember before falling asleep is staring at the starry sky with a smile on my face.
And that's a wrap! I'm sorry if you didn't like this chapter. I'm trying here! I know I'm not the best writer ever! If you like this story, try reading some of my other ones. It would mean a lot to me. Review if you want. I love getting your feedback. Please don't be negative though (: Love you guys. So grateful for every viewer. xo