Okay all, here is the next chapter of The Prince and The Slave. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks to all those who've read and reviewed, and added me to their faves and alerts lists. I'm very grateful to you all.
Just a small note. The next few chapters, involving the battle, will be, mostly, written in a general point of view. So rather than putting general point of view every time I change, I'll just put general point of view at the start. If there's a change in point of view, to a singular person, I'll write it as usual. Now without further ado, let's get on with the action.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Thirty-Two.
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(General P.O.V.)
Fugaku stood up, his face like thunder, and his fists clenched in rage. "Find the culprit! I want his head!" Fugaku screamed in rage.
"It will be impossible to find him because I am not a man!" Fugaku looked in the direction of the feminine voice that had spoken. So did everyone who remained, including Sasuke, Naruto, Pein, Ibiki and Idate. They were all shocked to see the soft face and kind features of Hinata Hyuga, the bow still in her hand, another arrow notched, and at the ready to fire.
"Hinata?" Naruto questioned softly. He looked at her as though drinking in her features. She smiled back at him, almost as if she knew the turmoil going on in his head.
"Kill her!" Fugaku yelled. Itachi stared at the young woman. He couldn't help being impressed with her skill.
"That is not happening!" Another female voice yelled. Naruto grinned as he recognised his grandMother.
"Baa-Chan! Nice to see you!" Naruto yelled. Tsunade glared.
"Shut up Gaki! You nearly got killed!" Tsunade yelled back. That was when the real fight broke out.
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(Naruto's P.O.V.)
I still had my hands tied behind my back. They were barely useable and I knew I was in agony. But that wasn't going to stop me from fighting this time. I looked at Hinata, who had taken two arrows from a quiver strapped across her back. She set them on the bow, pulled the string back and then I heard the neat thwack thump of the arrows being released and hitting their marks. I turned on the spot to see that the two arrows had sunk halfway through, into two guards who had been behind me. Pein had slumped to the ground. He was in a bad way. All we could hope for, was his recovery, at this point. I saw Shikamaru appear and cut Idate, Ibiki and Pein loose, while Hinata seemed to be taking out any guards that came close to us with her arrows. Since when did Hinata get so good at using a bow and arrows? I can't even think about that at the moment, because as Shikamaru was heading towards me, I saw someone else coming from another side. I recognise him immediately. It was Mizuki. My hands were tied still, but I didn't have time for those details, I needed to defend myself.
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(Sasuke's P.O.V.)
I couldn't believe it. Just in the nick of time, they'd gotten here. I felt the rope around my wrists grabbed, as I was yanked forward. My feet almost came out from underneath me, as my Father dragged me off of the royal dais and towards the castle. My Father obviously wanted to finish me off himself, and he wasn't going to let anyone get the opportunity. That was when I saw a white-haired male jump up onto the platform and head for Naruto. Hinata's arrows missed him as he ducked, and embedded into the platform. "Naruto!" I couldn't stop myself yelling, as I struggled, but I felt my Father tug on the rope harder. The tightness was cutting off the circulation to my hands and I could feel the pins and needles travelling along my fingers. I saw someone jump onto the platform next to the white-haired man, and I was almost positive that Naruto might just die in that moment.
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(Naruto's P.O.V.)
I quickly ran through my options in my head. I could head butt Mizuki, I could kick out at him, I could still bite, even if I couldn't hold a weapon. Then someone else jumped up on the platform. I recognised the uniform as one of Konoha's soldiers. I couldn't see the face, as it was hidden, but suddenly, the soldier turned around and backhanded Mizuki off of the platform. That was when he turned around and pulled off his mask, revealing brown, spiky hair, tied in a ponytail and brown eyes, along with a scar across his nose. I couldn't help grinning.
"Iruka! Where've you been?" I asked him. Iruka grinned at me.
"Well I heard that Naruto Uzumaki was a prisoner of the King, for treason. I thought it sounded a little strange, especially with the disappearance of your whole family. Seeing as you were always my favourite student, I couldn't just ignore it." Iruka told me. It was at the moment that I started to feel sick. My other injuries were still raw and fresh, and I wasn't sure what to do about any of it. I knew that if I had been able to look at my injuries, I'd be able to see my bones through the blood. The cat's paw could tear the flesh from anyone's body. I felt everything spinning on me. I knew that many of my wounds hadn't healed and were still open, and I could feel blood oozing from them. That was when everything started going hazy.
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(General P.O.V.)
Minato saw it happen in slow motion. He saw Naruto start to fall and he ran forward, but Iruka had caught hold of him. He placed Naruto gently on the platform floor. Minato could see blood leaking through Naruto's grey, prisoner's shirt, staining the material a wine colour. Shikamaru was there in an instant, cutting Naruto's restraints off and the trio laid Naruto out on the ground. Tsunade appeared next to them. "He's in a bad way. Some wounds must've reopened." Shikamaru told Tsunade. Minato looked horrified as Kyubi jumped up next to him. The platform was extremely crammed now. Tsunade pulled out a knife and slit Naruto's shirt open quickly. She saw bandages wrapped all around his body, but the bandages were stained crimson and the stains were spreading rapidly. Tsunade bit her lip and then began trying to fix the damage.
"Damn Fugaku for using a cat's paw on him." Tsunade said shakily as she saw the damage.
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Fugaku looked around angrily. "Damn rebels. Itachi!" Fugaku yelled for his elder child, but he couldn't see his son anywhere. That was when the tide seemed to go from fairly even to completely one-sided. Suna soldiers appeared and joined the Akatsuki rebels, hacking at enemies and causing a leap in the fight. Fugaku glared at Sasuke, who was still trying to get away from him. "Are you afraid, boy?" Fugaku asked him.
"I'm not afraid to die, Father. But I'd rather not give you the satisfaction." Sasuke stated coldly. Fugaku wanted to hit his youngest son, but that was when he saw Minato Uzumaki staring at him. A look of cold hatred in his eyes.
"I think it's time for us to go Sasuke." Fugaku stated, as he started dragging Sasuke through the gates. He didn't notice the shadow following behind him. The figure in the black cloak.
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Minato looked down at his son in horror. The wounds that Tsunade was revealing by cutting away Naruto's bandages, made Minato see red in every possible way. His Mother looked up at him sadly. "If they had flayed him they would've done less damage. I'll do everything I can to save him Minato. You know that." Tsunade told her son honestly.
"What are his chances Mother?" Minato asked, his voice choked on the words, but he managed to get them out. Tsunade bit her lip and looked down at Naruto, who she carried on treating for a few moments before she replied.
"The injuries are horrific. But he is likely to survive them. It's the risk of infection that I'm most worried about." Tsunade replied.
"What infection?" Minato asked.
"The Cat's Paw is used for torture. It's never cleaned, and such... such open wounds... wounds that... that reveal the bone in a human being. Wounds like that become easily infected. If Naruto should get an infection it will be very hard to help him. We can only hope that he doesn't get an infection and that he is strong enough to heal from this." Tsunade told Minato honestly. What Tsunade feared, was watching her grandson slip away before her eyes and she was watching that happen now. Tsunade knew that Minato would never let this go. Naruto was the baby of the family. Naruto and Kyubi were her son's children and to him, that meant everything.
"Iruka, who was the man you knocked off the platform?" Minato asked calmly. Tsunade felt shivers crawl up and down her spine as she saw the look in her son's eyes.
"It was Mizuki, sir?" Iruka replied without hesitation. Minato jumped down off the platform next to Mizuki's unconscious form. This was the man who'd tortured his son. This man had damaged his son beyond repair and Minato would make him pay for it sooner or later.
"Tie him up Iruka. Make sure he doesn't escape. I'll deal with him myself." Minato stated coolly. Iruka nodded. Once they were finished tying Mizuki up, the man came to and saw the enemy around him. "Did you really think, I wouldn't track you down and make you pay, for what you've done to my son?" Minato hissed at Mizuki. Mizuki felt sweat bead at his brow, as he looked into the cold eyes of the fourth Hokage of Konoha. One of the greatest generals that had ever existed in Fire Country and he was terrified.
"I was just following orders! King Fugaku insisted that we use every measure necessary on the prisoners! He was the one that gave me the Cat's Paw to use on the kid! I was just following orders!" Mizuki yelled in terror.
"You snivelling, little, coward." Minato hissed angrily, before back handing the man himself, sending Mizuki into unconsciousness again. Minato looked around the courtyard and that was when he took note that the Suna back up had arrived and Fugaku was heading into the castle. "Get back here Fugaku!" Minato yelled angrily. He saw the King who had once been a friend look at him, and Minato conveyed all the hatred he felt in a single look. Then he was gone, after Fugaku and after his own vengeance.
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Sasuke tried to get free of his Father's grip. He knew that if he didn't, that his Father would find the first viable opportunity and kill him. He didn't want everything he'd done and everything he'd learned to be in vain. He needed to make something of his knowledge. Sasuke was dragged along and thrown into the throne room.
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Ten Ten ran along one of the many corridors of the castle. She knew this place well enough, thanks to Mikoto's maps and her own knowledge of somewhere she'd visited often. She sped along, heading for one thing, the opportunity to avenge Neji.
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Minato headed along the corridors, only to find himself face to face with Hiashi Hyuga. "I should've known better then to sell that worthless brat in the Royal Auctions. I should've traded her in at the slave market." Hiashi spat. Minato smirked.
"It turns out your daughter, has more courage and strength, then you could ever hope to possess." Minato said harshly. Hiashi pulled out a sword and Minato pulled out his own. For now, Fugaku would have to wait.
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Sasuke looked at his Father angrily. "You were always the defiant one. You always had to have things your own way didn't you Sasuke? You always had to open your mouth just a little too much and you had to make your point. Letting a bunch of slaves go free was the last straw. You were necessary, but not that necessary. Soon Itachi will be married to a woman of my choosing and he will make sure that I have a worthy grandson for an heir, after he is gone." Fugaku told his son. Sasuke didn't say a word. He just stared up at his Father. His dark eyes bored into the King's soul. "You have her eyes." Fugaku hissed. Sasuke blinked then. Not sure what to say to that statement. People had often commented that Sasuke had his Mother's eyes. "You're just like her. Too soft, too willing to care for others. It always disgusted me. It still does." Fugaku hissed.
"Then why did you bother trying to hide my execution from her? Why did you try to keep my Mother happy if she disgusts you so much?" Sasuke asked.
"I never tried to keep her happy, you little brat." Fugaku hissed. That was when Fugaku pulled out a knife, ready to finish Sasuke off. But before the knife could hit it's mark, Sasuke was pulled out of the way. He looked up to see Itachi.
"I can't let you kill my brother, Father. Sasuke is a human being, a man. He used to be a child that you cared for. How can you want to kill him?" Itachi asked.
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Ten Ten found herself in the dungeons. She had followed her way down here by following Kabuto. Now, she wasn't quite sure where she was. This made her angry. Ten Ten took deep breaths as she tried to calm herself. She looked down each corridor as she tried to listen out for footsteps. She inhaled and as she finished inhaling, she heard something. It was barely a sound but she spun around, sword in hand, ready for a fight. Her sword clashed against another and she looked into the heartless eyes of Kabuto. "You've got good instincts, or probably just good luck, either way you'll be dead soon enough." Kabuto stated. That was when he lifted his sword and started on the attack.
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Minato jumped back, as Hiashi pulled his sword into an upswing. Minato wasn't going to be caught off guard by cheap tricks. He had been the top general of Fire Country for a reason. That was when someone attacked Minato from behind. Minato managed to dodge, but the sword grazed past Minato's arm. A thin stream of blood started leaking down Minato's arm. Minato looked at his other opponent, only to find another member of the Hyuga clan staring at him. "So, this is going to be a two on one fight? I like those odds." Minato stated, an evil smirk spread across his face.
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Tsunade looked down at Naruto, whose bleeding she had just managed to stop. "He'll make it. He has to." Tsunade said softly, as she stroked Naruto's hair away from his face gently. Then she took a deep breath and jumped down off the platform to tend to Pein, who was in a bad position. Hinata licked at her lips nervously.
"Hinata you have to keep going. This is a battle." Ibiki told the girl firmly.
"Who's going to take care of Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"I will. But I think, that with your sister in the castle, you might want to carry on looking for her and keep fighting." Iruka answered. Hinata looked at Naruto and gently pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"I'll be back Naruto-Kun. I promise." Hinata whispered. Then she was gone. Iruka nodded, as he smiled to himself. He knew that Hinata Hyuga would be back. He could see the love that Hinata had for Naruto, even in the small gesture of kissing his forehead. Yes, Iruka knew that Hinata would be back.
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Shikamaru fought off another guard as he saw a flash of pink hair rush behind him. He heard the clang of two swords clashing together violently, and then he saw Sakura pull a knife from her sleeve. Before her opponent could even utter a cry of fear, Sakura had embedded her knife into his throat. Blood spurted from his Adam's apple in short, sharp, fountain-like bursts. "Shikamaru, have you seen Hinata, Ten Ten and Ino?" Sakura asked. She raised her sword to block a downward swing from a guard. Then she swung sideways, the guard jumped backwards and Sakura lunged, her sword hitting the man in the stomach.
"Hinata was with Naruto, last I checked. Ino went with Deidara to the dungeons." Shikamaru replied. He dodged a blow aimed for his head and then he jumped up as the guard swiped for his ankles. "They're hoping that if they free some of the prisoners then we'll have extra manpower." Shikamaru added as he swung his sword diagonally, at the guard and the man jumped back to avoid the blow. "Ten Ten went after Kabuto. She wants revenge for what he did to Neji." Shikamaru finished quickly, as he parried a blow meant for his heart and knocked back the guard by roughly shoving against the man's sword with his own blade. Sakura nodded her understanding as another guard came towards her. Sakura swiped her knife from the fallen guard's throat. Then she parried a blow from her new opponent, while Shikamaru kicked his own opponent in the stomach, and then waited for the guard to lunge again. He caught Sakura's opponent, also getting ready to lunge, from the reflection in his sword, and at the last second, he pulled himself and Sakura out of the way, leaving the two guards to ram their swords home into the other's guts. That was when Sai appeared in the corridor.
"I'm gonna try and find Ten Ten now that you have back-up." Sakura told Shikamaru. Shikamaru nodded his understanding and Sakura began to fight her way through to find Ten Ten.
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Minato was now fighting off two opponents. Hiashi and this other member of the Hyuga clan. He was careful in his defence. It was extremely difficult however to attack and defend at the same time, so Minato was finding himself backed into a corner. That was when he heard a voice ring out through the room. "This isn't a fight of fair conduct now, is it Father?" The three men looked to see Hanabi standing in the doorway of the room.
"Get out Hanabi. This isn't your concern. Go back to your governess." Hiashi hissed.
"If you can lie to me about one thing, why not everything Father? You're the one who taught me that a fight should be even. But you are showing me the exact opposite." Hanabi stated angrily.
"That's because our Father changes the rules to suit himself, Hanabi." The voice came from behind the younger Hyuga, and they saw Hinata step forward. Her dark hair tied up in a ponytail and a bow set with arrows in her hand. She looked at the other Hyuga member. "Cousin, I do not wish to harm you, but if you don't step out of this fight, I must." Hinata told the other clan member. He looked at her, and her bow and arrows, and laughed.
"You? The weakling of the Hyuga clan? Hurt me? Don't make me laugh!" The man said nastily. Then he raised his sword to attack Minato again. That was when everyone heard the twang of the bowstring as Hinata released it, and the thunk of the arrow hitting its intended target. The other Hyuga male fell to the floor dead, an arrow protruding from his eye socket.
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Ten Ten did have good luck. She arched herself backwards as Kabuto swung forwards. His sword would've sliced through her middle, but with Ten Ten's arch backwards, it slid through the air, harmlessly, over her stomach. Ten Ten's dodging abilities were a great defence. Tsunade had taught them all that sometimes dodging was the best thing a person could do. However, it was in this moment, that Ten Ten was able to spot one of Kabuto's weaknesses. He seemed to be favouring his left leg. Ten Ten crouched down and let out her own right leg, kicking Kabuto directly in the right knee. There was a sickening crunch, Ten Ten hadn't held back, and Kabuto fell to the ground. Ten Ten brought her sword up, swung it round and then bought it down, straight through Kabuto's heart. It was at that moment that Sakura came running into the corridor. "Ten Ten?" Sakura asked. Her unasked question hung between them.
Are you alright?
Ten Ten nodded without even needing to hear the words. She kicked Kabuto's sword far away from him and then leant down so that her face was near Kabuto's ear.
"This is for Neji Hyuga, who you stabbed in the back, last time you met." Ten Ten whispered. Then she stood upright and pulled out her sword. Kabuto made a couple of last ditch gasps, then stopped breathing and stopped moving. Ten Ten felt nothing as she looked down at the body of Kabuto Yakushi.
"Let's go." Sakura said softly. Ten Ten nodded and the two girls were gone within moments, leaving behind a dead body and a congealing pool of blood.
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Okay all, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter, a little more of what the hell Ino is doing, plus Sasuke and Itachi confronting their dad, also you may find out who the mystery person in the cloak is. But you might not. Please R&R and let me know what you think. I would much appreciate it.