Okay all. Here's the fourteenth chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to all those who read and reviewed, and added me to their faves and story alerts. I really appreciate it.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Fourteen.
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(General P.O.V.)
Sai grinned at the group incredulously. "Well how would you all feel about taking down one of the most powerful Gladiator Schools to exist in the Five Nations?" Sai asked.
"How?" Sasuke replied.
"It's very simple. You help us fight the guards, and set the slaves free. We kill the boss in the process if we can. His home is well guarded, but I'm receiving back up soon." Sai stated.
"So why do you need us?" Neji asked.
"I don't specifically need you. But what better test of your loyalty?" Sai asked. Sasuke nodded.
"We'll help, but the women and Amaru need to stay out of this. They're not fighters, and Amaru is just a child." Sasuke stated.
"That's fine." Sai agreed. The boys felt nervous as Sai sat down and explained his plan for breaking into the Gladiator School compound.
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(Ten Ten's P.O.V.)
I was so tired. Every bone and muscle in my body ached. Tsunade's training was always intense. I looked out of the window and wondered exactly what was happening to my Aunt, Lee and Guren. I'd already eaten and bathed. But I don't even think that will keep me awake for long. I want to sleep so badly, but something doesn't feel right. I stared out of the window, and I also thought about Neji and how he's doing. It's my birthday in a week and I wonder how he's going to deal with his father's death anniversary. I hoped that he'll be okay, as I decided to go and ask Pein some questions.
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(Pein's P.O.V.)
I was sitting in my desk chair, hoping that Sai had found the royal runaways. His plan was to get them to help him break the Gladiator's School free. Of course if they refused I couldn't blame them. Some Gladiators were loyal to the ones that fed them and liked their way of life. It wasn't many, but enough to get a good chunk out of the men who'd agreed to go along with this. I heard a knock on my office door.
"Come in." I called out. I hoped it wasn't Konan with anymore reports. Konan on her own is great, but the reports are a pain. I looked up to see Ten Ten. "Hello Ten Ten. What can I do for you?" I asked her. She looked nervous.
"I wanted to ask you a few questions Pein. I don't know how to ask exactly. But..." She trailed off.
"Just be blunt kid." I told her.
"Do you know about an old village near the border between Kiri and Fire Country, that was attacked and burned to the ground? It was around seventeen years ago." She asked me. I knew what village she spoke about. In fact, three of our agents were from that same village.
"Yes, three of my best agents are from that village Ten Ten. Why do you ask?" I couldn't help asking her. I mean, I was bored and curious, sue me. She bit her lip.
"Is one of those agents called Ibiki Morino?" She asked me. Goodness what a small world. In fact he is one of the agents. He'd been keeping an eye out for us at Orochimaru's compound, on orders from Kakuzu.
"Yes, he is." I told her. Her face brightened.
"When he's around I'd like to meet him." Ten Ten said.
"You've never met him?" I asked.
"He saved my life when I was a small baby, only a week old. He looked after me until I was about six months old. He knew my parents. I just... I wanted to actually meet him face to face, when I can remember him, and thank him for what he did." Ten Ten said softly. I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
"Next time he's here I'll tell you alright?" I asked her. She nodded, and left my office, thanking me on the way out. Now all I need to stop being bored completely is for Konan to appear, without any paperwork for me to look over. That'd make my night.
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(The Boy's P.O.V.)
The group were sneaking up on a compound. It was just the males and Rin. Kushina, Mikoto, Yoshino and Amaru were back at their small camp. Kushina was a fighter, but had opted to protect those who couldn't fight. Sai and two other males, a boy called Haku and a man named Zabuza Momochi, were with them.
"We learned the weaker points of the compound are the side gates. Tazuna let me know once he figured out that we weren't actually slaves. He hates slavery as much as any of us. Gato, the guy who owns this damn Gladiator School, is a real piece of work. He's the King's personal supplier. If he wants a personal show, he orders Gato to select a couple of slaves. Gato brings them to a location and they fight it out. Whoever wins gets the honour of living. The King isn't nice about it." Zabuza stated.
"What about the gladiators?" Sai asked.
"Mostly teenage boys, bought at a young age. They've been trained well, and Tazuna looks after them. But they all have reasons to want freedom. Haku met a boy called Lee, who was separated from his cousin and mother, and wants to find them again." Zabuza said softly.
"Did he mention his cousin's name?" Neji asked. Zabuza and Haku looked at Neji curiously.
"He said his cousin's name was Ten Ten." Haku said softly. Neji nodded. Now he had a reason to fight his hardest. He could help Ten Ten at least in one regard. The group had managed to sneak into the compound, and had quickly found Tazuna, after killing Gato's personal guards. Tazuna, was with a young woman and child in one room. He held his hands up in a sign of surrender.
"This is my daughter and grandson." Tazuna said softly. The child looked frightened.
"We're not going to hurt you, but you're better off coming with us. Gato will definitely blame you if you're still here, alive and well." Zabuza stated. Tazuna nodded.
"I can ask these men if they're willing to help you in your cause, but I can't guarantee you that any of them will want to." Tazuna said kindly. The rest nodded, and they headed to the holding cells.
Tazuna looked out over the many faces. "I've known most of you since you were very young. I've watched you grow and become great fighters. Now you have a chance to make your own choices. These men are here from a group that plans to end slavery. This group is called Akatsuki. They've freed many other slaves. You can go with them, and help them, or you can leave on your own path and make your own destiny." Tazuna called out. A boy with black hair stepped out from the crowd of faces. Neji practically recognised him straight away from the picture in Ten Ten's locket. He may have become taller, stronger and leaner, but he was definitely Ten Ten's cousin Lee.
"I say we help them! We suffered and sweat and bled like animals for masters. Why can't we do it for a cause worth fighting for?" Lee called out. Six other boys joined him.
"We're going with Lee, and Akatsuki." A white haired one stated. Several teenage boys agreed and stepped forwards. Soon enough all those males who were there agreed and the whole group set off.
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Later that evening, Neji sat down next to Lee. He was staring into the flames of the small fire they'd created when they set up camp.
"Zabuza and Haku said that you were looking for your mother and cousin?" Neji asked softly. Lee nodded.
"I never knew what happened to them. I know my mother was bought before Ten Ten. She was still in one of those cages when Tazuna went back to buy more slaves. He told me. But my mother was gone. Ten Ten must've felt so alone. I know I would've if it hadn't been for the others." Lee gestured to six boys who'd been the first to agree to go with him.
"They were part of our caravan, before Orochimaru attacked and destroyed our world." Lee added. Neji nodded.
"This cousin of yours, Ten Ten, she has brown hair tied into odangos, and brown eyes?" Neji asked. Lee's eyes widened as he looked at Neji.
"You know my cousin?" He asked softly.
"I was her master. I let her run away so she could be free." Neji said softly.
"Do you know where she is now?" Lee asked. His whole demeanour appeared desperate to find a member of his family.
"She's with Akatsuki. She may even be where we're going." Neji replied. Lee grinned widely. Another man, who looked very much like Lee, came up to them.
"What is this youthful smile for Lee?" The man exclaimed.
"Gai-Sensei! Neji-San knows about my cousin Ten Ten! She's alive! I'll get to see her again!" Lee exclaimed back. Neji couldn't help but allow a small smile to grace his lips at the joy that seemed to emanate from the boy next to him.
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(Ten Ten's P.O.V.)
It had been a week, since I'd spoken with Pein. I was training with the other girls, when there was some sort of emergency. We just heard sirens, and Tsunade told us to go back to our rooms. We never argued with Tsunade. So here I am, sat in my room, wondering what's happening. I can hear footsteps and I jump up from my bed when my door opens. There is Neji. I know my eyes have gone wide.
"What are you doing here Neji?" I ask.
"I thought I'd bring you a late birthday present. I know it was your birthday three days ago. Right?" Neji stated. His tone of voice was amused as usual. That was when he moved aside and I saw one of the three faces I'd prayed to see for so long. I wasn't sure what to feel, what to say, in that moment. I only knew that I couldn't believe my eyes.
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(Neji's P.O.V.)
I could see the look on Ten Ten's face when she saw Lee. She smiled so widely I thought her face might split, and she jumped into her cousin's arms.
"Lee!" She yelled.
"Ten Ten-Chan!" He yelled back. It was a real family reunion. I had to admit I felt pretty good at that moment. I didn't know helping others could feel like that. Of course I wasn't expecting Ten Ten to turn around at that moment and kiss me.
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(General P.O.V.)
The boys and girls watched through the doorway in awe, as Ten Ten kissed Neji. Her arms wrapped around his neck, his arms around her waist, and both seemed quite lost in what they were doing. Ino, Sakura, Temari and Hinata all grinned at the sight.
"Well she's definitely happy!" Ino exclaimed. The boys were all completely shocked.
"Well, at least we know Neji's not asexual." Kyubi stated. This made Naruto and Sasuke smirk mischievously.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru stated, although he had a soft smile on his face, showing he was happy for his friend. Ten Ten and Neji separated and Ten Ten blushed madly.
"Uh... Thank you Neji. For bringing my cousin back to me." Ten Ten uttered softly.
"You're very welcome." Neji replied back. The two just looked at each other then, with blushes gracing their faces.
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Okay all, that's the end of this chapter. I hope you all like it. Next chapter... will happen. LOL! Anywho, please R&R and let me know what you think. I'm always happy to hear from my fellow readers. XD