I'm gonna be in my death bed soon!!! I just know it!!! (gets armor) Okay now im prepared!! SOME COME A TRY READERS!!!! D I know you're probably angry at me for not posting......so i give you permission to hit me!!! (puts on more armor) So hit me with your best shot!!! XD Anyways..... Chapter 5 is up and ready to go!!! ^^ ENJOY!!

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Chapter 5

Gentle Meeting

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Both boys and beasts were then suddenly surrounded by shinobis. Naruto felt someone wrap an arm around his neck and puts something cold and hard against his tanned exposed neck. Naruto heard Kyuubi growl a low growl as well as Kurai.

"Don't you dare...." Kakashi's voice suddenly filled Naruto's ears. Naruto opened his eyes, which he didn't realize he had closed, and saw that Sai, Shikamaru, Lee, and Hinata were all poiting kunais at his captors. His azure eyes searched for his sensei, and spotted him. Kakashi was pointing a kunai at an enemy shinobi, who was also poiting a kunai at Kakashi.

"We could say the same thing to you..." Kakashi's oppenent said. Immediately, Naruto searched for Sasuke only to spot him in the same situation he was in, having Kiba and Shino as his captors. Naruto couldn't stand seeing Sasuke being held captive like that. It just made his heart break into pieces.

"R....R-release him!" Naruto stammered loudly. The kunai that was pressed against his neck, dug into his skin a bit deeper, enough to make a small cut and draw a bit of blood. Naruto winced, but said nothing. The atmosphere was tensed and was filled with shock. "I-I told you to release him! Release him now!!"

"You do the same!" Naruto heard Sasuke command his shinobi.

"But Sasuke-kun --

"Now! Release Uzumaki at once!" Sasuke growled. Naruto and Sasuke locked eyes as their shinobi released the other. Kurai and Kyuubi both relaxed, letting their bristling fur lie flat as the shinobi quickly stood behind their prince. Naruto and Sasuke stared at each other with blank looks, but their eyes contained warmth for each other.

"...I wish to speak with Uzumaki....alone..." Sasuke said, glancing over to Kakashi, who coldly glared at him. Naruto glanced between the two of them, feeling as if they knew something he didn't.

"I don't take orders from you anymore, Uchiha..." Kakashi said lazily, but Naruto senced the anger in each word. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. Anymore? Did that mean that Kakashi... His sensei...

"I clearly know that...." Sasuke said as he then looked at his shinobi. They immediately got the message, so they hesitated.

"But Ouji..." Iruka began in a soft tone, his mask was still on.

"Iruka...." Sasuke said, silencing the brounette.

"I-Iruka? Iruka-sensei!?"

Sasuke and everyone turned to stare at Naruto in shock, all except Iruka and Kakashi who both didn't say anything. Kyuubi had narrowed his eyes and his ruby eyes turned into slits, while Kurai watched silently, his tail twitching slightly. The blonde stared in disbelief at Iruka, his gaze soon saddening. Iruka was his favorite sensei before Kakashi had came along. When Kakashi came, Naruto had spent less time with Iruka and more with Kakashi. He didn't mean to make Iruka feel unwanted! He just wanted to make Kakashi feel welcome, but he guessed things don't always work out like they were planned.

'Iruka-sensei left because of me...' Naruto thought sadly as he had a flashback.

"What!? Iruka left!?"

Naruto stood there by his father's office door, clear blue eyes wide from shock.

"Yes... He left a note..." Kakashi said. Naruto heard a bit shuffling and the crackling of paper.

"Ousama... I wanted you to know that I left the castle for good... I feel as I am not needed anymore, so I decided to search for a place that does... It was a pleasure working in the castle and being Kimi's sensei...

Sayonara....

-Iruka.."

Everything was silent after Minato(NA: finally found out his name XD) read the note. Naruto had his head hung as Minato sighed deeply.

"It's my fault... I'm afraid I stoled Iruka's pupil and it made him feel unwanted..." Kakashi said.

"Don't blame yourself Kakashi... Iruka's very complicated to understand at times..... He might come back." Minato said. Naruto shook his head as he walked away.

"Iruka won't come back... He said he hated it when he isn't needed..." Naruto whispered to himself.

"I-Iruak-sensei?" Naruto said, his voice slightly hopeful.

"I'm not your sensei anymore.... Uzumaki..."

Naruto flinched when Iruka called him by his last name. He wanted to say something to his old sensei, but didn't know what. And just when he thought of something, he wasn't able to say it because Iruka began talking to his shinobi.

"Lets go..." Iruka said, his voice serious as well as his expression.

"Hai..." The other shinobi said before they suddenly disappeared. Naruto sadly stared at the spot where Iruka has been for a few moments, befo re he turned to his shinobi.

"Give us fifteen minutes...." Naruto said. Kakashi and the other knew at once that this wasn't a good time to protest against Naruto, all but one knew that.

"Excuse me for saying the Naruto, but are insane?" a boy with black hair, onyx eyes, and pale skin said. Sasuke stared at the boy for a long time, mostly because the guy looked a lot like him.

"Sai please do as you're told and listen to Kimi," Kakashi said firmly. Sai didn't budge, instead he stood his ground and glared at Sasuke, who returned the glare.

"Please Sai... Trust me I know what I'm doing..." Naruto said gently. Sasuke was somewhat jealous that it wasn't him who Naruto was talking so gently and warmly.

"I trust you Naruto.... Just not him..." Sai said, his glare still set on Sasuke.

"I won't harm him....if that's what you're worrying about..." Sasuke said immediately and defensively. Sasuke glared angrily at Sai. He would never harm Naruto!! Not in a lifetime.

"He won't..... I won't let him! Kyuubi won't let him," Naruto told Sai, who reluctantly nodded.

"Hai...." And with that, Naruto's shinobi disappeared. For a moment there was silence, and both princes' didn't move. But then Sasuke began walking towards Naruto slowly.

"What is he to you?" Sasuke said, watching Naruto closely as he continued to walk forward. The beasts watched silently as Naruto gave Sasuke a confused look.

"Who Sai? He's my most loyal shinobi, and he's a close friend..." Naruto said, smiling softly. Sasuke scowled and stopped in front of the blonde.

"I see...." Sasuke said.

"Is that all you wanted to ask me? Or is there something else?" Naruto asked, his azure eyes blinking innocently at Sasuke. The raven prince smiled warmly at the kitsune prince.

"There's more... I...I want to see you again..." Sasuke said hesitantly, his face turning pink. Naruto's face turned pink as well.

"Y-you do?"

"Hai..."

"Why?"

"Because..." Sasuke took hold of Naruto's hand and held it tightly, "we were sperated once....we probably can't remember how but... I-I don't want to lose you again..."

"You won't lose me..." Naruto said with a smile, his face red. Sasuke pressed Naruto's hand against his cheek.

"Perhaps.... but that still doesn't change the fact that i wanna see you..." Sasuke said, staring deeply into Naruto's pools of blue.

"We know a place..." Kurai's deep soothing voice said. Both pinces' looked at Kurai, who was staring at them with an amused glint in his amber eyes. Kyuubi nodded.

"A really special place....." Kyuubi said, his tails twitching impatiently. Naruto and Sasuke glanced at each other then looked back at the two beasts.

"R-really?" Naruto said, his clear eyes hopeful. Kyuubi and Kurai nodded. Naruto smiled brightly and suddenly hugged Sasuke tightly. The raven blushed but wrapped his arms around the blonde too. "We can see each other...."

"Yeah...." Sasuke said, smiling softly. Kyuubi and Kurai both stood up and began to circle the hugging princes'.

"But of course, if we're caught, there shall be concequences," Kyuubi warned, his ruby red eyes in slits.

"Are you willing to take such dangerous risks just to see each other?" Kurai said, calmly, watching them with intent amber eyes. "You Sasuke, no doubt will get harsh punishments from your father..."

"And you Naruto will probably be forced to let go any hope of being Ouji and the role of a shinobi and swordsman..." Kyuubi said.

"Well? Is it worth it?" both Kurai and Kyuubi said, their bright eyes watching the princes' as the continued to circle them. Both Naruto and Sasuke stayed silent...deathly silent... Sasuke knew his father well enough to know that he would probably get beaten till either he's close to death or just flat out dead... But that would be nothing....compared to not ever seeing Naruto...but he was worried about the blonde. He knew how badly the blonde wanted to be Ouji, not because he's ambitious but because of his people... Sasuke knew how deeply Naruto cared about his people... he shouldn't ruin the blonde's chances...

"Yes..."

Sasuke froze and so did Kurai and Kyuubi. They all stared at Naruto who was staring at the beasts with determined eyes.

"Are you sure Naruto? You'd give up the crown for Sasuke?" Kurai said, his amber eyes narrowed as he sat down.

"Yes...." Naruto said, a warm smile on his lips as he looked up at Sasuke. Sasuke felt so warm inside, just knowing that Naruto really did care about him...

"What about you Sasuke? Are up to getting beaten till you're an inch away from death?" Kyuubi said, sitting down as well. Sasuke smiled when he saw how pale the blonde got, and hugged Naruto tightly.

"...yes..." Sasuke said, letting go of Naruto to look at Kyuubi in the eye. There was a silence before Kurai began to purr a deep low purr, and Kyuubi was swishing his tail happily, a purr of his own came out as well.

"Good..." they both said. Naruto and Sasuke smiled and looked at each other. In less than five hours...they were attracted to each other... They had remade their invisible bond... Sasuke took Naruto's hand and intwined their fingers together, making the blonde blush.

"Nothing can break us apart this time..." Sasuke said softly, resting his forehead against the blonde's. Naruto stared into Sasuke warm obsidean eyes, his azure eyes glazed over.

"....Un..." Naruto mumbled, his grip on Sasuke's hand tightened.

"We should wrap this up... They'll be back soon," Kyuubi said, interupting their moment. Sasuke blinked and scowled.

"Can we see each other tomorrow?" Sasuke said, his eyes pleading. Sadly, Naruto shook his head.

"I-I can't... Not tomorrow... nor the day after..." Naruto mumbled sadly.

"How about one week from today? That gives you time to do whatever your gonna do right?" Sasuke said, his free hand grabbing Naruto's other hand. Naruto smiled and nodded.

"A week from today... I can't wait..." Naruto said. Sasuke smiled too before he pressed one of Naruto's hands to his lips. Naruto blushed as he stood there, his gazed locked with Sasuke's.

"Then I'll see you in a week... Uzumaki..." Sasuke said. Even though he had called him by his sirname, Naruto saw the affection in Sasuke's eyes and smiled.

"Don't forget... Uchiha..." Naruto said affectionately. Sasuke smiled and let go of Naruto's hands.

"I won't...." Sasuke said and stood in front of Naruto like nothing between them had ever happened. And it was right on time, because both princes' shinobis appeared.

"I think you've had enough time, Uchiha!" Kakashi said firmly as he stood behind Naruto. Sasuke's expressionless mask was back on.

"Very well.... Lets go..." Sasuke said, not even glancing at his shinobi.

"Hai," Sasuke's shinobi said, and with that, they disappeared, along with Kurai. Naruto stared at the place where Sasuke was, his face blank from emotion, but his eyes were swirling with affection and excitement. Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Sai looking down at him worriedly.

"What did he say to you...." Sai said the question everyone was dieing to ask.

"....He said he couldn't wait to have my throat.... and I said.... go ahead and try," Naruto said, his mind thinking quickly. He noticed Sai's grip tightened, but didn't acknowledge it. Naruto sighed and stretched tiredly. "Interesting birthday it was today ne?"

"Hai..." everyone mumbled. Naruto knew they were worried over the little lie he had just said, and wished he could tell them, but that would bring disaster...

"Ne, lets go clean up the place! Otou-san must be over worked," Naruto said brightly, walking towards the castle's entrance, his shinobi friends following behind silently.

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"YOU WHAT!?!"

Sasuke stood there unphased when his father brought down his fist on the desk hard.

"I didn't kill the prince...." Sasuke repeated. It was only about half an hour ago when he left Naruto's castle. The trip back was silent, and Sasuke had enjoyed the silence, knowing it was going to be loud when he reached home and faced his father. And he was right...

"WHY NOT!?" Fugaku roared angrily.

"It's like they said.... He's a skilled swordsman and shinobi... He matched my own and it ended as a draw...." Sasuke said calmly. Fugaku growled, his cold dark eyes glaring into Sasuke's.

"Did you follow any of my advise!? Did you try befriending him at all!?" Fugaku growled. Sasuke nodded.

"Yes... We seemed to be getting along very well up to the point when Kurai was discovered...that was when I attacked..." Sasuke murmered. Fugaku snarled viciously.

"That panther bring nothing but trouble!!! ....I'll send in some shinobi to kill it, put that stupid animal out of it's misery," Fugaku said more to himself. Sasuke's eyes widened slightly in alarm.

"No!!!" Sasuke blurted out before he could stop himself. Fugaku looked at Sasuke coldly.

"Why the hell not!?" Fugaku growled.

"Because! He was useful when the Uzumaki brought their fox out!" Sasuke said, thinking fast. At this, Fugaku's eyes shone with interest.

"Fox?"

"Hai... The same size as Kurai..." Sasuke said, more calmly now. "The fox attacked, and if it weren't for Kurai, I would have died along with my shinobi..."

"Hmm..." Fugaku said thoughtfully. "Very well.... The panther shall stay alive..."

"Domo arigato gozaimasu..." Sasuke said with a curt bow. Fugaku waved it off.

"Now that your mission failed... We'll have to get in another way..." Fugaku muttered, Sasuke not feeling guilty what so ever. "....Maybe I will take my advisors' advise and just plan and ambush... What do you think Sasuke?"

"Whatever pleases you Otousama..." Sasuke muttered, fear gripping his heart already when his thoughts wandered to the smiling blonde.

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FINITO!!!! I know...long time I know... Hontou ni Gomen ne!!!! I'll try my best to update sooner next time!!!!!!!!!!!! Please review!!