Hiyas! So to everyone who didn't see the little addition coming, I barely brushed over it waaaaay back in chappie 6. However, we all know Kiba is brash, so his response shouldn't be too unexpected. Right?

A/N: Naruto, Greek Deities, and Rome do not belong to me

A/N 2: Incorrect usage of Greek mythological figures

A/N 3: All flames will be used to sacrifice to Jashin

The Value of a Soul

Chapter 10: Death's Best Friend

Naruto half-consciously watched the sleeping brunet. Said brunet looked so peaceful when he slept. So innocent. So free of everything that had him bound and gagged during the day.

His chest rose and fell at a sedate pace, his eyelids fluttering every now and then. Naruto smiled, and strolled over to the brunet, looking down at him. He sighed, and moved his gaze to the night outside.

It was mostly silent, and the stars glittered brightly on their backdrop of deep black. Naruto's smile turned a touch wistful. How he missed home. His aquamarine orbs trailed back onto the alabaster-skinned prince. But for some things, he guessed he would make sacrifices.

He closed his eyelids and relished the silence for a small moment. Unfortunately, it was short lived. Naruto could hear the door being opened, and before it could fully open, he jumped over, and faced the guard standing opposite of him.

"What is so important that Neji must be awakened?" he asked. "Because I would strongly suggest you do not disturb him in a rowdy manner, no matter how important."

The guard was obviously dishevelled, and he gazed nervously at Naruto.

"The prince's presence is needed immediately!" he whispered hotly. "Emperor Hiashi has been-" Naruto held a hand up, silencing him. He had a feeling that he knew what the guard was about to say.

"Not another word. I'll go wake him," he assured. He closed the door, ignoring the slightly shocked guard behind it. He dashed over to the bed.

"Neji!" he whispered. "Neji, wake up!" The prince slept on. Naruto groaned. Placing his hand on a shoulder, he shook it gently. Opalescent eyes snapped open, and a knife almost struck the blonde, had he not dodged. The prince glared at him.

"What do you want now?" he asked, rather peeved that he was awoken by the blonde. He was entitled to his rest, was he not? So what right did the youth have, to wake him up?

"Neji, your father has been poisoned. Your presence has been requested," Naruto informed. The brunet stiffened, and Naruto caught a completely unreadable expression run through his face. A moment later, his features were as impassive as ever.

The pearl eyes prince gracefully slid off the bed. Grabbing his coronet, he quickly slipped it onto his forehead before walking to the door. Unasked, Naruto followed.

Rounding a few corners, The two reached guarded doors. The two guards, caught sight of the prince, and bowed, opening the doors.

Neji stepped through, to find that Hinata was already there, her personal servant-girl standing worriedly beside her. The girl looked paler than usual, and her eyes were laced with fearful worry. Neji's default expressionless gaze moved to the bed in the room, where a pink-haired girl and a blonde woman were bent over his father, examining him furiously.

"What is going on here?" the brunet demanded. Hinata's eyes glazed over slightly as she turned her gaze to her brother.

"Father has been poisoned, and Sakura and Tsunade are unable to determine what was used to poison him, therefore, they are unable to make a remedy, brother," Hinata answered. Neji's eyes resembled twin shards of ice.

"For how long has Father been under the influence of the poison?" he asked. The blonde woman glanced up at him.

"Prince Neji, from what we can see, Emperor Hiashi has been suffering for at least two hours. He is a stubborn man. He refused to make any sound, therefore we have only just discovered that he has been poisoned."

Neji stiffened, and became as still as a statue, gazing expressionlessly at the scene, his chest barely rising and falling. Naruto found it amazing that the prince was able to even accumulate a decent amount of oxygen if he breathed that little.

Gently, he pulled the prince to one side. For some strange reason, the brunet submitted, barely even noticing. Naruto led him slightly away, so that no one else could hear them.

"Neji, do I have permission to help?" he asked quietly. Neji's eyes glazed over with something Naruto couldn't read.

"How can someone like you help?" he near spat, but to Naruto, he sounded tired. As if beyond his age. Naruto gazed right into his eyes.

"Please, Neji. Just at least let me try," Naruto requested. The blonde blinked. Why was he even asking? In any other situation, he would just barge in and do what he wanted. Why was the prince's opinion so important? After all, he never really acknowledged any form of royalty.

"Do as you wish. But it is hopeless," Neji replied, trying to sound indifferent. He was actually making a good attempt, but Naruto, being Naruto, could sense a hint of defeat in his voice. Had he been a normal person, he would have completely missed it.

Naruto nodded in thanks. The blonde walked up to the two women, and looked down at the emperor, who had blood covering his sheets and clothes, as well as his face. He shook, and coughed, another burst of blood leaving his mouth. He slumped tiredly, his eyes glazed over. Naruto wondered if he was even fully conscious.

"Allow me to help," he simply offered. The blonde woman raised an eyebrow.

"What can you do? You don't look like much at all," she judged. Naruto looked back down at the emperor.

"You don't know what I can do until I do it," he retorted. She smirked.

"You've got stomach kid, I'll give you that. I'm Tsunade, and this is my apprentice, Sakura," she introduced, pointing to the pink-haired girl. Naruto stepped away from them.

"I'm Naruto, but there's no time for introductions now," He said. "Do you have a knife, or anything sharp?" he asked. The pink-haired one handed him a scalpel.

He much preferred slitting to biting, as it proved less painful. Slicing his thumb, he handed the soiled scalpel back to her. Beding down so they couldn't see, he placed his bloody thumb on the floor, and muttered something under his breath.

He stood up, and the two females gawped.

"What is that doing here?" Sakura asked, slightly repulsed. Naruto glanced over to his right. Naruto held his arm up to his shoulder.

"Meet Loukas," he introduced. "Not venomous, but an expert when it comes to poisons," he added. The mountain king slithered onto his arm, wrapping itelf around the limb like a strange armband, and hanging loosely over his shoulders.

"And how are we supposed to heal our emperor with a snake?" Tsunade asked, incredulously. Naruto looked them in the eyes.

"Trust me," he answered. Lowering his arm, the reptile slithered onto the body of the emperor. Naruto watched it silently, tracking it's every movement.

The tongue of the scaled beast flicked in and out as it inspected the poisoned man. It hissed low and long.

My Lord Naruto. He is beyond out help, Loukas informed. Naruto's blue orbs widened.

"What!?" The two women looked at hi intently, but he blatantly ignored them, his focus all on the mountain kingsnake.

Isn't there anything we can do? And what was he poisoned with anyways? Naruto asked. The reptile reared up, and coiled around his bare torso.

The most we can do is make his last moments as painless as possible, Lord Naruto. As for what was used, a very potent mixture of Cicuta and the venom of the Inland Taipan, somehow slowed down to make death imminent, but suffering longer. The blonde blinked, then sighed.

Thanks Loukas. I'll send you back now. Just crawl through my hands, Naruto ordered, creating an 'o' shape with said body parts.

You're most welcome, Lord Naruto, the snake replied, crawling into to the cavity and disappearing.

The blonde lifted his eyes to the physician and the physician in training. The two were staring, wide-eyed. He immediately launched into an explanation before thy could question him.

"Loukas told me that death is inevitable," he stated. "He also said that the poison was created from water hemlock and Inland Taipan venom. The poison was somehow slowed to make him suffer more," he explained. Tsunade's eyes bugged.

"How did anyone get their hands on either of those ingredients?" she asked. He shrugged.

Ignoring them, he placed his hands on the emperor's torso. He flinched as his hands encountered the thick sticky liquid splattered on the prince's father. After a few minutes, his struggling ceased. His breathing was shallow and erratic.

Naruto glanced down, and saw the eyes of the emperor clear. As the man panted in a very vulnerable manner, his eyes again clouded over, but were focused on Naruto. His lips moved, and the word were barely audible, but thanks to his enhanced hearing Naruto caught them.

"It's an honour to have you grace my presence, son of Mars," he whispered. An amused glint entered his eyes. "Or should I say Ares. Although you do take after both your parents." Naruto inhaled sharply.

"How do you know?" he breathed. The emperor chuckled, and ended up coughing up more blood.

"When one is dying, ones eyes are opened," he answered. His eyes fully glazed over. "But I regret allowing Neji to grow up as he did. The blame lies partially on me." Naruto motioned for him to stop talking.

"No. He could have been strong enough to fight it," the blonde replied. "But I'm here to help him. Aid him. You need not worry," Naruto quietly replied. "I am sorry I was not able to come earlier...I might have had a chance at healing you. All I can do now is ease your pain."

"No...son of Ares, do not apologize to me. But please, help my son." Naruto lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"I promise," he whispered. The emperor let out a last rattling breath, before he stilled forever. Naruto took his hands off the late emperor. Hid hands were stained with crimson, and he gazed almost half-consciously at them.

Walking back to the prince, he gently guided the stiff youth back to his quarters. Once they were in, Naruto cleansed his hands of the crimson liquid, and walked back to the stoic prince.

"He'll be all right now, Neji."

The prince recognized that tone all too well. His gaze snapped up to stare directly into the twin pools of cornflower.

"He's gone, isn't he," Neji uttered an eldritch whisper. Naruto wrapped an arm around the prince, and for once, the prince did not even bat an eyelid to acknowledge the fact that the brunet was there.

For a few minutes, they remained in that position until Neji snapped back into the present.

"Get off me," he commanded harshly. Naruto obeyed. Neji stood, and stalked out of his quarters, Naruto following dutifully. He entered back into his father's quarters, and glanced at the two physicians.

"Where is Father's cupbearer?" he asked. He noticed that Hinata and her servant-girl were gone. Good. "Where is he?" he demanded. Tsunade's eyes briefly flicked up to him, before lowering back to her job.

"Servants quarters, kitchen area," she replied crisply, her voice betraying all she truly felt. Neji nodded in thanks, and strolled out of th room.

"What makes you think the cupbearer did it?" Naruto asked. Neji hissed quietly.

"I and my sister do not drink wine. We do not favour strong drinks. Our father was the only one who drank," he replied. Naruto bit his lip.

"It doesn't necessarily m-"

"We won't know unless we find out," Neji interrupted. Naruto sighed. He did have a point.

They silently stepped into the servant's quarters, and the brunet headed to a certain area. Naruto followed. Neji's opalescent eyes scanned the room of slumbering servants, his eyes falling on a certain one.

Stepping around to the youth, he grabbed a hold of the hapless servant's collar. Brandishing a secreted knife from his clothing, he unhurriedly, almost gently ran the edge along the youth's jawline.

Said youth's eyes fluttered open. Olive green orbs caught sight of the prince, and a shriek tore itself from his throat. Immediately, the other servants were awakened, just in time to see the prince question the royal cupbearer.

"Did you poison my father?"

Okay...I have no idea what to say about that. Huh. Oh and the cupbearer's an OC, cuz I don't wanna kill any actual Naruto characters...yet...

-Jeya-