Hiyas to Tigrezz-chan since she seems to be the only one reading this! I love an insightful reader, don't you? Annnnyhow, seeing the first genre of this story is supposed to be romance, but I still haven't gone any furthur than friendly hugs, one might begin to get suspicious. I sure am. Which is kinda weird seeing I'm the one writing this, but with a dominant personality, and a hidden one, it's hard to decipher myself at times.
Disclaimer: I no own Naruto (shame. NOT) or greek peeps or Rome, or romans, or falafel...
A/N: Incorrect usage of Greek mthological figures
A/N 2: All flames shall and will be used to sacrifice to Jashin
The Value of a Soul
Chapter 16: Metaphorical Wings
As the brunet headed for the throne situated in, of course, the center of the rear of the room, Naruto followed in close suit.
Sitting himself down, the emperor gazed down at the blonde, default expressionless mask pasted on his face.
"Do you have experience in wars?" Naruto asked. The brunet stilled, before deliberately shaking his head from side to side. Naruto blinked slowly.
"I see... How much of a threat would you take this...Orochimaru?" he inquired.
Sience was tangible as the emperor gave the question quite a bit of thought.
"Him alone, not much. However, he has turned my own people against me, as well as called on the Persian empire, who have decided to help him. The two sides together make a formidable force against the rest of Rome, since only about three sevenths are trained warriors," Neji replied, not giving away much else.
"Do you think you will need...help?" Naruto asked, sounding usure of himself. Neji wondered why he would ask such a thing.
"It honestly depends on the situation," he answered. "The odds however, have not been in our favour of late." A blonde shock of hair swayed as the head it was situated on, whirled from side to side, as if able to see something the brunet on the throne could not.
"Should we...pray?" Naruto barely whispered. Neji's eyes glazed over with something unreadable.
"There are no gods, Naruto. If there were, why would they allow this to happen?" Naruto's eyes saddened at the stubbornness of the royal.
"Ave Imperator! We came as soon as we read your message!"
Two heads snapped up to see another two appear in the room, standing stiffly to attention, hands held up in a salute.
"Rest at ease. We must wait for the others."
The two, who looked strikingly similar to each other, relaxed slightly, figures still tense. They both had black hair tied into ponytails on the top of their heads. Their hair was spiky, and Naruto had to admit that the hair reminded him of a pineapple. The notion made him mentally snicker, but he covered it well. The taller and older looking one, had two scars slashed across his face, and they both sported simple small hoop earrings that seemed to be made of iron as opposed to traditional silver.
The atmosphere became stiffly uncomfortable as the two stood staring a touch warily at the emperor, who averted his eyes from the three others in the room.
"Who are you two?" Naruto asked curiously. The younger one stared, almost in shock, waiting for a retaliation from the feared ruler. None came. The friendly glance Naruto sent him compelled him to reply.
"I'm Shikamaru," he replied. Naruto blinked. He looked no older than the blonde himself! Or maybe he was one or two years older, but since he was here, did it mean he was from the council?
"And I am Shikaku, Shikamaru's father," the older one replied, easing the tension in the room, seeing as the emperor made no move to hurt either of the three.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Naruto," he introduced. They lapsed back into not quite comfortable silence, broken, as another figure stepped into the room.
"Ave Imperator," he acknoledged, before dropping into dead silence, eyes closed, and a strategizing expression on his face. Naruto raised an eyebrow. This one wasn't much for small talk.
The hair of the man was ash grey, and shocking out like a lion's mane, just far smaller. Around his shoulders was draped some sort of fur. Ermine maybe? Naruto wondered if he felt hot wearing that.
Soon, another one came stumbling into the room, gasping, and glaring at the one that had come just before him.
He heaved a gasped "Ave Imperator," before walking up to the grey haired one, and whispering something into his ear. Naruto caught something about 'gambling' 'taverns' and 'ermine'. He had a feeling he didn't want to know what the newcomer was saying. The grey haired one simply sighed.
The newcomer had long brown hair that was in a lighter shade than Neji's, and an air of casualty, which Naruto was glad for, hoping that not all of the council had such stifff attitudes.
After a few more minutes of stiff silence, another figure walked into the room. This one had raven hair and scars marring the whole right side of his face. The scars strongly resembled wrinkles, and Naruto could not help but flinch slightly.
"Ave Imperator," he saluted, before walking off to one side, single eye flashing over briefly with crimson, but disappearing almost as soon as they had appeared. Naruto noted that he had only one eye, the empty eye socket sealed shut by it's lid, keeping closed by instinct.
Finally, a last figure dropped into the room, and saluted, his only visible eye curving into an upside down 'u' shape.
"Ave Imperator," he began, before quickly adding, "Sorry I'm late," seeing the other five were already present.
The newcomer wore a mask that covered his face from nose and down. To add to the, he wore a leather strap that covered his left eye. The blonde wondered why. His hair was a shock of grey that seemed to defy gravity, and his posture was what you could easily call impassive.
"Now that you all have been gathered, sit yourselves down, and this meeting will come to order."
Alongside the pathway that lead to the throne were six seats, three on either side. The council rested down in their respective spots, glancing at the prince.
Naruto stood next to the brunet, glad that no eyes were on him, seeing he technically shouldn't be there. Fortunately, no one questioned his presence, instead getting to the point.
"Whatever it is, this must be important for you to call as before dawnbreak," the scarred raven commented. Neji nodded.
"Indeed. You all know of Lord Orochimaru, do you not?" he questioned. There were nods.
"What of him? He never seemed like the trustworthy type. Too shifty, and an unhealthy obsession with snakes," the stoic grey-haired man remarked. Neji closed his eyes briefly.
"He has delivered to me a message. He was the one who killed my father and my sister, and now, he plans to wage war on us, with the aid of eight tenths of Rome, and the Persian empire," he answered. The youngest council member's eyes widened.
"Eight tenths? Are you trying to say that only two tenths of Rome are loyal to you?" Neji gritted his teeth.
"Unfortunately so," he spat. "It is clear to see that war is inevitable, but our chances of victory are quite slim."
"It would be wise to obtain allies for such an opposition, would it not?" the other long-haired brunet asked. Neji stared coldly at him, the old character sneeking back into him.
"And who, may I ask, would be powerful enough to defeat eight tenths of the strongest empire in the world, as well as the Persian empire?" That shut the brunet up.
"But why would he rather wage war on you, than simply assassinate you? It would save a lot of trouble, don't you think?" the indifferent greyhead queried. Neji's eyes narrowed.
"Who knows what is in the mind of that snake," he hissed. Naruto growled lightly. As the council continued talking and arguing, the blonde slipped down into the corners of his mind, to the dwelling of a certain person.
"Hey! Fox!" he called to the sleeping animal. The large orange vulpine opened an eye and growled.
"Well hello there Lord Naruto. What can I do to aid the son of Ares today?" he growled mockingly. The blonde narrowed his eyes.
"I would rather you didn't call me by my titles, than you mocking me with them," he informed. The large creature yawned, showing off it's large supposedly intimidating rows of teeth.
"Well then. We could be even. You know my name, you call me by my name. I'll stop -ahem- mocking you." Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Whatever Kurama! I know you were listening!" The fox blinked lazily. "Listening to what? That petty council his royal highness threw to save his sorry skin?" Naruto growled.
"Don't mock Neji either!" Kurama blinked owlishly.
"Oh? You're not a very reasonable vessel now are you?" Naruto sighed.
"Look Kurama. This is serious. I need your help. Please," he said in a quiet voice. The fox's eard perked up.
"Do my ears decieve me? Or did you actually say please?" The blonde clenched his fists.
"Kurama, this is no joking matter! Orochimaru is trying to take the Roman empire, and we are dangerously outnumbered!" The vulpine stiffened.
"What did you say?" he asked, a dangerous undertone to his voice.
"I said Orochimaru is tr-"
"Orochimaru!" the fox howled in anger. "That...that misbegotten son of Medusa!" he growled. Naruto blinked, surprised at the demon's outburst.
"Oh, so you know him?" he asked, stupidly. Kurama growled, nine orange tails waving threateningly.
"That scheming bastard," he growled. "His intelligence levels are dangerously high. He somehow managed to get to Styx, fake being a soul, enter Tatarus, and wreak havoc on our containment," he explained.
"It was because of him I and the eight other parts had to be contained within select humans, and you. Once we were released, we had to be kept separate, which was impossible because our strength grew the closer we were. Thus concluding we had to be separated in a different way," he finished.
"By sealing," Naruto added. The fox nodded, nostrils flaring angrily.
"And now that bastard wants to pick a bone with my kit's alliance!" Naruto blinked.
"Wait. What did you just call me?" The fox rolled his red slitted eyes.
"I called you kit, Kit. Why? Is that also invalid?" he asked. Naruto again blinked slowly.
"Why would you call me that?" he asked, still managing to sound stupid, despite his disguised intelligence. The vulpine barked in laughter, and grinned.
"Because you are my vessel. If you die, I die, therefore, I have to take good care of my kit," he answered. Naruto licked his dry lips.
"Kurama, that sounded wrong on so many different levels," he remarked. The creature reached through the gate separating them, and batted his playfully, ending up slamming him about one hundred and fifty metres back.
"Oi! Fox! Watch your paws!" Naruto yelled indignantly. He simply sat back and smirked.
"I'll help you, all right?" he said. The blonde pumped a tanned fist into the air.
"Yeah!" he exclaimed. "Thanks Kurama!" The fox glanced at him almost fondly.
"You're welcome, kit."
"Naruto."
The blonde's vision was blurred, and he was only half aware of the faraway voice calling to him. It sounded vaguely familiar. He blinked, trying to regain his sight.
"Naruto."
Glancing around, didn't see anyone, only smudges of colour here and there that seemed too bright.
"Naruto."
A hand on his shoulder snapped him back to reality. He was met with six pairs of eyes.
"Yes?" he responded. Neji gazed stoically at him.
"You were talking. To yourself it seemed." Naruto shook his head.
"I have obtained a means of help," he informed. "Unfortunately, usage may result in mass destruction." The blonde wasn't jesting. Kurama wasn't known in Olympia as 'The Nine-Tailed Destroyer' for nothing.
"Oh?" the brunet replied, urging him to go on. He shook his head.
"It'd best be kept confidential until the time c-" he broke himself off. His eyes narrowed as he glanced around the throne room.
Instinctively, they became red-orange with slit pupils. This time everyone could see it. The blonde, unaware of the surprised and maybe even fearful glances he was obtaining, allowed his fiery orbs to rest in a corner.
"I assume you heard everything? It's no use in hiding. Come out. I'm sure you may be able to give invaluable advice," he said, addressing the corner.
"As you wish," the voice replied, as a long-haired raven stepped out. Naruto smiled, then frowned as he dipped into a bow, not directed at the emperor. "Ave Imperator," he addressed before walking over. Shikaku raised an eyebrow.
"Itachi? You were listening to us?" he inquired. The raven nodded.
"Indeed. Our group has been following all the council meetings, as we have time to prepare for whatever surfaces," he informed. The stoic greyhead looked skeptical.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Itachi's eyes hardened.
"You are questioning my loyalty. From what I have heard, I must apologize as it seems I am partially at fault for my brother siding with the enemy. I never gave him quality time, thus most likely pushing him to prove that he is better than me, as my ignorance of him may have been taken as arrogance," he said.
"I have always been loyal to the empire, therefore, questioning my loyalty, is like questioning Obito's," he added, pointing at the one-eyed scarred man, who sat there, watching him. His eye calculating silently.
"Enough." Neji ordered. They looked at him.
"Currently, the most imporatant thing, is finding out when Orochimaru is going to strike. For now, the meeting is adjourned."
Damn...that seemed like so little. And I like Orochi-kun, I just needed a bad guy, and who better to use that Orochimaru? I also like Kurama, and believe he has a right to do whatever he did, since the humans were technically the ones at fault. So he's a good guy. Yeah.
-Jeya-