Okay, here's the next chapter. I hope you all like it. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed and added me to their faves and alerts lists. I really appreciate it. Anywho let's get on with the chappie, it took me about an hour to write this thing. Anways, you'll learn a bit more about Ino this chapter, and a bit more about Ten Ten. Also, Sasuke and Sakura meet again.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Nine.
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(The Boy's P.O.V.)
Sasuke, Naruto, Neji and Shikamaru walked into the great hall that afternoon. For some reason, all conversation stopped when they entered.
"What is the meaning of this?" King Fugaku hissed. "You four are interrupting a meeting of the royal council, for what reason?" King Fugaku added. Neji spotted Hanabi in a corner of the room. She watched on as the boys put on their performance. Sasuke looked at the others and then stepped forward.
"Father, our respective slaves have run away. We thought it best to inform you sooner rather than later." Sasuke stated coldly. The others nodded their agreement. Even Naruto acted the part of the well bought-up noble. Many of the occupants of the room seemed furious. A plan was discussed as Sasuke had thought it would be. When it came time to volunteer to search places, the boys all insisted that they take the desert route.
"We're young so the desert route won't hurt us." Neji replied when asked why they would take the hot and dusty trail.
"Fine. You four can take the desert trail. Head all the way to Suna if you have to. Minato-San?" King Fugaku called. Naruto gulped as his father stepped out from the crowd, with his mother right behind him.
"Yes, your highness?" Minato asked.
"You and Shikaku will go with them. Make sure they don't get into any trouble. You know how the Kazekage is about slavery." King Fugaku stated coldly. Shikamaru stared at his father blankly, trying to keep emotion from his face. Minato and Shikaku nodded, and the group felt worry seep through their beings, even though they didn't show it.
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(The Girls P.O.V.)
Ten Ten, Sakura, Ino and Hinata were sat in Temari's living room. Pein, Deidara and Sasori were also there. Pein held on tightly to Sakura, making sure she didn't leave his sight. Deidara stayed close to Ino. Hinata and Ten Ten stayed close together.
"What are you four planning on doing?" Temari asked.
"Well Ino and Sakura will be travelling with us." Pein said softly.
"If we're coming with you, we want Ten Ten and Hinata to have a place too." Ino stated.
"We all want to fight for the freedom of slaves." Hinata said softly.
"You're not the only ones to lose relatives. I've lost mine too, and I'd like to find them. Helping to free other slaves is a bonus." Ten Ten stated.
"This life is a dangerous one. That's something all of you need to understand." Sasori stated sternly.
"We already know that." Hinata quipped.
"We want to learn to fight, so that we'll be a help, instead of a burden." Sakura said seriously. Pein looked at her.
"Are you serious about this Sakura?" Pein asked her. She nodded vigorously.
"We need to learn to protect ourselves. We also need to help others like us." Sakura replied. Pein sighed deeply.
"Alright Sakura. But you'll have to listen to what we say to you. If you four, want to learn to fight, you'll have to be trained first. You can't run before you can crawl." Pein stated. All four girls nodded their understanding. "We'll be leaving in a few days." Pein said kindly. He, Sasori and Deidara left the house, and Temari grinned.
"I wish I could come with you all." Temari said sadly.
"Why don't you? Sasori will be there and he is your cousin, so it's not like you won't be protected." Ten Ten stated.
"Yes, but do you really think my father will be so easy to please?" Temari said softly.
"I'll tell father you and I, and Kankuro, are heading on a trip to see the outer provinces of Suna. He'll believe it, especially since he wants you and Kankuro to take me away somewhere." Temari and the other girls whipped round to see Gaara, the silent, youngest child of the Kazekage, standing in the doorway. Temari gave him a soft smile.
"Do you really mean that Gaara? I know it means convincing Kankuro, but do you really want to do something like this?" Temari asked.
"You're my sister. I may not always be in control of myself, but I do care about your feelings. Besides, it'll give me a chance to practise my own skills and self-control, away from father." Gaara stated. Temari nodded knowingly. She knew that when Gaara lost control it was usually because he was angry at their father. "I'll convince Kankuro." Gaara said blankly, and left the room. The girls grinned at the thought of bringing Temari along with them.
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(The Boys P.O.V.)
They had gone to the stable and saddled their horses. Minato and Shikaku also saddled their own horses. They started to ride out, quickly, into the desert. Minato turned to Naruto with a look of slight anger on his face.
"Now we're out in the middle of the desert, you'd better spit out the truth." Minato said angrily. The four younger males looked at Minato with surprise.
"I know the girls have been missing since, at least, yesterday morning. I waited for you all to notice. Looks like you had your own plans huh Shikamaru?" Shikaku questioned his son harshly.
"We can't turn them in and get them killed. It's better to give them a chance." Naruto replied. The other boys nodded vigorously. Minato sighed.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with us, but your little stowaway will be in trouble, when we get back." Minato said happily. Neji blinked as he opened his large saddlebag to find Hanabi inside. Hanabi reached a hand out for Neji to pull her on to his saddle while Minato and Shikaku shook their heads sadly.
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(Ino's P.O.V.)
I sat on my bed in Temari's house, wondering if I would be strong enough for the road ahead. I wanted to be. I wanted to find Moegi and Father, and to be a help to Deidara, not a burden. Before I was Shikamaru's slave, my life had been a lot worse. I was grateful to the Nara family for taking me in. That didn't mean I couldn't want to be free. I was hoping that someone would teach me to read and write while we travelled. I heard a knock on my open door, and looked up to see Deidara standing there. "Ino, what happened?" Deidara asked me kindly. I know he didn't often use that tone of voice. He'd used it when he left, promising he'd see us again. I was young when that happened, but I still remembered it. I remembered the way he'd looked, how he'd spoken to us. His hair had been shorter then, his eyes had been brighter. Our mother had still been alive, and our family whole. But Deidara hadn't really changed that much in appearance. It was our experiences that had changed us. But not so much that we didn't recognise each other. I was grateful for that.
"I told you what happened." I replied.
"I mean as a slave. How did you end up with the Nara family?" Deidara asked. I felt like biting my lip till it bled. I didn't really want to tell him. I'd never told anyone how bad life had been before I'd become a slave for the Nara family. I felt ashamed of the details, even though it wasn't my fault. But I knew Deidara wouldn't let me stay quiet about it. He'd never let it go until I told him, so I thought it better to get it over with.
"It was a long journey before I got to be a slave to Shikamaru." I told Deidara.
Ino was sat in a slave wagon. Just a young girl herself, barely eight years old. Hoping that everything was a bad dream. She was grieving the loss of her mother, her sister and her father. She glared when she was pulled out of the wagon by a burly, tanned male.
"This one is just a kid, but she'll grow. Or you can do what you want with her now. She is just a slave after all." The man said roughly. Ino stared at the old man, who looked her up and down.
"Fine I'll take her. She can work in my kitchen until she's old enough to work in my bedroom." The old man said, leering at the barely eight-year-old girl. She bit her lip, not really understanding why she would need to work in a bedroom.
"Were they… was the man who bought you… nothing happened, did it?" Deidara asked. Ino trembled at the memory.
"For three years… I worked in the kitchen. I did the grunt work. Peeled potatoes until my hands bled, sometimes." Ino said. Deidara looked at her carefully.
"But?" Deidara asked.
"But I saw things I wish I'd never seen, things that haunt me." Ino said. She swallowed, trying to think of how to explain what she'd seen. But decided against it. "When I was eleven… things changed." Ino said.
For three years, Ino had struggled, working in the old man's kitchen. Ino had soon learnt what her owner wanted from her. She had heard the horror stories and seen them for herself. Other slaves, used sexually and abused until they were shells, and then they were tossed away. She'd seen the horror of young girls like her, becoming pregnant, and being killed, or forced to drink pennyroyal tea, to rid themselves of pregnancies. She was frightened to near death, when she realised what the Master wanted from her. But today, it seemed the day had finally come, as she was called to go up to the Master's bedroom and take him breakfast. This had been something she'd seen other girls do. All of them came back crying, shaking, and Ino didn't want to be one of them. But as a slave, she had no choice. She shook horribly, as she walked up the stairs, and she knocked on the door. The Master opened it, leering at her, with his yellow teeth. The tray rattled in her hands as she bought it into the room, unable to stop herself trembling. She waited to be told where to place the tray and was told to put it on the table. She shook as she placed the tray down.
"Well you've certainly grown from the tiny little rat I bought three years ago." The Master said. Ino was trying to think of a way out. She certainly didn't want her first experience of sex now. If she had, it wouldn't have been with an old man pawing her and leering at her. "Come and sit down on the bed child." He ordered. She moved as slowly as she could, hoping to prolong the inevitable. Once she got close enough to the bed the Master pulled her to sit down. She was shaking badly now. She knew her fear wouldn't help her, but fear was all she had to stop her going insane. At that moment everything went too fast, she felt herself pushed down on the bed and straddled, and a harsh whiskered mouth was practically sucking her face off, whilst trying to gain access to her mouth. She couldn't move. She was frozen in fear. All she could do was keep her mouth closed tightly, and pray this was a nightmare she'd wake up from. At that moment, someone came in the door. She heard a male cough, and the Master let go of her. She was shaking horribly, and she saw a dark-haired male, with scars on his face. His hair was tied into a high ponytail.
"Shikaku Nara. What can I do for you?" The Master questioned. He was obviously displeased by the interruption. But Ino was thanking every God that she'd ever heard of for the interruption.
"Not much. I was checking around your property. You owe a lot of money to the King." Shikaku stated tonelessly.
"I haven't got any money." The Master hissed.
"Money to buy a new slave to molest, means you must have some money." Shikaku stated. The Master glared.
"What do you think I can give you if there's nothing here?" The Master hissed.
"Sell one of your hundreds of slaves. You have plenty of them." Shikaku stated. Ino moved from the bed slowly, trying not to arouse any awareness in her Master, as she hoped to escape.
"Who am I going to find to buy any of these slaves?" The Master hissed.
"I'll buy that girl there." Shikaku stated. Ino froze in her tracks.
"Why would you want her?" The Master hissed.
"My son hasn't got a slave. You know it's customary for a first slave to be the same age as their owner." Shikaku stated. The Master glared at Ino fiercely.
"Fine take her. See if I care." The Master stated angrily. Shikaku gestured to Ino to come with him. Ino was happy to leave the room. She fled like hell was hot on her heels. Once she was down the stairs and outside the kitchen door, she practically dunked her head in the water barrel that was kept outside to catch rainwater for washing. She scrubbed her face over and over, hot tears streamed down her cheeks. The man who'd saved her from an inevitably horrible fate, came out of the kitchen door.
"What's your name, kid?" He asked. She looked at him fearfully.
"Ino, Sir. My name's Ino." She said softly.
"I'm Shikaku Nara. My son's name is Shikamaru. What I said is true. I am looking for a slave for him. You won't be molested like an animal on my estate. My son is the same age as you." Shikaku stated. Ino looked at him fearfully, unsure whether to trust this stranger, or not. But she knew she didn't have much choice in the matter, at any rate.
"Thank you, Sir." Ino replied. She felt self-conscious, and wasn't sure what else to say.
"Did you come here with anything?" He asked. Ino shook her head.
"No Sir. My family… we lived in a border village, between Fire Country and Kiri. The village was burned to the ground, and I was separated from my family." Ino explained softly. Shikaku nodded and gave the girl a kind smile.
"Don't worry so much kid. I decided to buy you to make sure you didn't get molested. That old miser buys young kids, like you, all the time. Always girls. So, if I'm honest I feel bad for your situation. The only rule I'll give you kid, is to be nice to my son Shikamaru, and not to run away. Runaways are treated badly if caught." Shikaku said. Ino nodded. That's how her life began with the Nara family.
I couldn't help sighing as I finished telling Deidara everything. I saw him glaring.
"If we ever see that bastard, I'll slit his throat." Deidara hissed. "Were they good to you?" Deidara asked.
"The Naras?" I asked him.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Yeah, they were great to me. But I wanted to know what happened to you, and Moegi, and Father." I told him. Deidara nodded at me and we sat in silence for a while.
"What Pein said, he meant, un. It's a hard life Ino. We travel a lot. We go around freeing slaves, or aiding rebellions. We fight hard, and when people die with us, it's usually not pretty. Is that really what you want?" Deidara asked me. I thought for a moment. What my brother said was true. It would be a hard life. Harder than the life I'd led with the Naras. But still, it was a life I wanted, a life where I chose for myself.
"Yes, it is what I want, Deidara. I want to learn how to fight, and how to be useful. I..." I trailed off, not really knowing whether Deidara would laugh at my request. Deidara looked at me strangely.
"What is it Ino, un?" He asked me.
"I want to learn how to read and write Deidara. I really want to. I never knew how. Mother and Father never got the chance to teach me, and… as a slave it wasn't important for me to learn. But… I'm not a slave anymore. I..." I trailed off again. I felt embarrassed, that I was the only one out of four slaves that couldn't read and write. Deidara just grinned at me.
"Hey if your friends can't help you with that, then there'll be someone on our travels that can, un!" Deidara stated happily. I nodded and I couldn't help throwing my arms around his neck. I'd missed him so much, and his optimism was something I missed the most. Just being around my older brother, gave me hope that I hadn't had for years.
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(Neji's P.O.V.)
I'd become curious again as to what Ten Ten had thought when she arrived at the Hyuga estate and became my slave. I had Ten Ten's diary in my hands again, whilst Hanabi was sleeping in front of me on the horse, using me as a leaning post. I started reading once again.
I've been in this cage every day for nearly six months now. I saw that snake man bring more slaves to be sold. I saw children like me. Another caravan like mine that had been attacked. There were adult men this time. They must have given up when the raiders came. I didn't see Guren-Chan with the snake man. I'd hoped I would, but I never did. The old man who'd come and bought Lee came again, and took the young boys and the men again. I called out to him and he looked at me strangely, but he came towards me anyways.
"What happened to my cousin? Lee? He has black hair and thick sorta eyebrows." I asked.
"Why should I tell you?" He asked me.
"I just want to know he's alright. Please Mister. Please tell me what happened to him. I know I'm a nothing, to anyone, but please." I begged. I never thought I'd beg so much for anything. I never thought I'd beg anyway. He gave me a funny look. I didn't get it at all.
"He's fine little girl. I didn't buy him to hurt him. I bought him so he could learn to fight." The old man told me.
"Can you please tell him I asked about him and that I'm okay so he doesn't worry? My name is Ten Ten Mister." I asked him. He nodded and said he would. He said something to the seller, and he glared at me but he nodded at the man. I was happy that Lee was alright. If they wanted him to fight, they'd feed him well and make sure he got sleep and that he was okay. I knew I didn't have to worry about the boys at least. I didn't understand what the boys would fight for, but I knew they were alright for now at least. The seller gave me a bowl of rice and fish to eat tonight. He said the old man had given him some extra money to make sure I had it. It was nice of him I guess, even though it was probably more out of pity than anything else. But I got to eat something tonight at least.
I bit my lip, wondering how Ten Ten managed to survive, living in a cage, every day. I knew what the old man had meant by fighting. From what Ten Ten described, and what she wrote the old man had said to her, he must've bought them to become gladiators. The king holds yearly tournaments, where the best gladiators come along and prove themselves. If they're lucky, the best one gets freed. If not, then at least they live. I skipped quite a few pages, and started reading again.
It's been a year since I was made a slave. Today someone actually bought me. Lord Hiashi Hyuga bought me as a slave for his nephew. He didn't feel me like other potential owners had done before. He just looked at me, asked me a few questions, and then he paid for me. I was sat in the back of a wagon all day. I held on to my pack the whole time, hoping they wouldn't search it when I got to the compound. They didn't. I'm supposed to be introduced to my new master tomorrow. He's the same age as me, so maybe I'll have a friend. I don't think it will happen though.
I smiled a bit as I read the last part. I'd never been much of a friend to Ten Ten, but I prayed the fact I'd never abused her was something she'd considered. I turned the page.
I met my new master today. Neji Hyuga. He acted like I was annoying, but he didn't hurt me. He said I should call him Lord Neji. That doesn't bother me, so long as he doesn't start whipping me. I saw Lord Hiashi Hyuga whipping one of the slaves today. The man screamed so loud, but no one bothered to come and help him. I was happy that what happened to me was left up to Neji. He might act like he's better than me but at least he hasn't hit me. At least not yet.
I wondered if Ten Ten had spent every day wondering if that was the day I was going to beat her. She must have seen enough brutality in the slave market to last a lifetime. I decided to skip a few pages and read on.
Today was my twelfth birthday. I've been polishing my locket and keeping my little pack out of everyone's way. Neji wasn't around, but when I was sent to look for him, he was in this spot where they buried their dead. I hated going in there. It just reminded me of how my uncle, my parents and so many other people I knew had been left to rot without a grave. But orders were orders so I went to speak to him. He'd already turned twelve. He was bigger than me too. When I got closer I saw he was crying. There was a stone at the top of the grave that said Hizashi Hyuga on it. I guessed it must have been Neji's father. I decided to sneak back and run up the path, so Neji could hear me. No one wants to be seen crying. Especially not by a slave. So that's what I did. He told me off for running in there, but he wasn't too hard on me. I wish I could've said that I understood. But I couldn't tell him without saying I'd seen him crying. I said I was sorry and that I'd been sent to find him, and we walked back. I could see he'd been crying. But I didn't say anything. It was better that I didn't really.
I had always wondered if Ten Ten had been there from the beginning. It seemed that if someone was looking for me, she always came to fetch me on the anniversary of my father's death. Almost like she knew I'd been in the Hyuga burial plot on the same day. She'd always make noise when she was coming. As if she knew I'd want time to prepare myself to see her. I hadn't even known it was her birthday. I felt guilty that I'd never really appreciated her small kindness. Most slaves would want to know something they could snicker about later where their masters were concerned. I skipped a quarter of the book and started reading again.
Today I was hit for the first time as a slave. I turned thirteen a month ago, and the older women kept saying I'd become hormonal soon. I never realised what that meant until I'd actually been rude to Hiashi Hyuga. I can't remember what I said, but I can still feel the sting of the slap on my cheek. I fell on the ground and scraped my elbow, but that was nothing compared to the pain going through my face. He said it was lucky he knew I was a teenager or he'd have had me flogged. I begged my apologies. I hadn't meant to be rude in the first place. Then I left. I promised myself I'd learn to keep my feelings under control.
I sighed. I realised Ten Ten must have led a harsh life. The Hyuga family are better with their slaves than some people, but that didn't mean a slave led an easy life. I couldn't imagine not having my freedom. I just kept on reading about how Ten Ten had seen things from her side of the situation, and I found myself amazed at how Ten Ten survived. "No wonder she wanted to run away and be free." I thought to myself. It was the one thought that kept going through my mind, as I read Ten Ten's diary.
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(Sakura's P.O.V.)
I was walking through the market place that morning. Not that there were any stalls out yet. It was far too early for any trade. But I hadn't been able to sleep, and I went to pick some flowers. It had been a calming influence on me before this whole thing started, and it had calmed me down now. I was carrying a small basket as I walked, surveying the light purple hues that washed over everything, signalling that dawn was here. For some reason I couldn't describe, I felt my black, knee-high boots, slapping the pavement, as I walked towards the gates of the village. My black knee-length skirt swished in the soft breeze, and I pulled my grey tunic closer to my body when I felt a chill. I saw people entering the village. But when I brushed my pink fringe out of my face, I saw Sasuke, Neji, Naruto and Shikamaru, dismounting from horses and looking around. There were two other men that I didn't know, who also dismounted. There was also a little girl, who was sitting on Neji's horse. I felt myself drop the basket I'd been carrying in shock, and that is when I was noticed.
Sasuke looked over and recognised me straight away. Before I could even run, Sasuke was right next to me.
"I don't want to cause you any trouble. I'm not going to take you or the others back. That's not why we're here." Sasuke whispered. I felt myself glare at him.
"Give me one reason why I should trust you?" I asked.
"Because if I had wanted to catch you I wouldn't have made it so obvious I was entering the village. We just want to talk to you all respectively. We're not going to take you anywhere." Sasuke replied. I felt myself nod slowly. I still felt fear, but I knew I didn't have much of a choice. Sasuke picked up the basket that I'd dropped in a panic. "You like flowers?" He asked.
"I pick them when I can't sleep. I used to do it before I was made a slave." I heard myself reply softly. I don't know why I replied, but I did. Naruto came running up to us with Neji, Shikamaru and the child that I didn't recognise.
"Is my sister alright?" She asked me. She sounded scared, and I didn't know how to answer the question.
"Hanabi is Hinata's sister." Neji said. Almost as if he knew what I was thinking.
"She's fine. We all are." I stated. I probably sounded a lot harder than I had intended.
"Please can you take us to where you're all staying? What we have to say isn't for public ears and eyes." A blonde male told me. I still felt frightened and I wasn't sure I wanted to show them where we were. Then I felt Pein's hand on my shoulder. I knew it was him without any doubt. Even before I heard his voice.
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(Pein's P.O.V.)
"What is it you gentlemen want with Sakura?" I asked. I didn't want anyone upsetting her. She'd already been through enough. The one I knew to be Prince Sasuke Uchiha, glared at me.
"Why is it your business?" He asked. I thought I saw jealousy in his eyes but it was gone in an instant.
"She's my little sister. I won't be letting anyone hurt her in any way." I told him. In truth, I'd been following her around since she got up to go and pick flowers. I know that I'm over protective but what is a big brother for if not to protect his little sister? I could see their resolve cracking.
"We really don't want any trouble." The blonde male told me. He seemed calm. I could tell he wasn't lying. I knew him as one of King Fugaku's generals, and the Hokage of Konoha, in Fire Country, Minato Uzumaki. The other male I knew to be the King's debt collector, Shikaku Nara, and also his main strategist in times of war.
"I won't give Sakura, or any of the other girls you've come searching for, over to you to take back into slavery." I told them bluntly. Unlike my sister, I meant the cold tone of my voice. I felt her move closer to me, and I hugged her with one arm, keeping her close. She was still so much shorter than me, that it always amazed me. I'd always expected her to grow tall, but she'd never seemed to reach any higher than my shoulders. It made me even more protective of my sister. Which was why I couldn't give any kindness to these people, not yet, not until I knew for sure that they were telling the truth. "Follow me." I told them. I decided it was better to take them to one of my group's private bars. It's definitely better than taking them to the Kazekage mansion. I knew that wouldn't go well at all.
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Okay all. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Next chapter, the boys converse with the girls and the girls are going to start training with a mystery trainer. If you can guess who it is, you get a cookie. (nods)
Oh, and I know that Naruto's father's name is Minato Namikaze but I just decided to make life easier on myself and give them the same surname. Once again, the italics were Ten Ten's Diary, and the regular print was Neji. And if you thought Sakura's P.O.V was rubbish, then forgive me because it was four in the morning when I finally finished writing it. Please feel free to R&R, because all reading and/or reviewing, or adds to faves or alerts lists, are very much appreciated.