I know what y'all are thinking. IT TOOK A F*CKING 18 CHAPTERS FOR ME TO FINALLY GET THEM TO KISS! Geez! I have more patience that I thought. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.

Disclaimer: Only le plot belongs to me

A/N: Incorrect usage of Greek mythological figures

A/N 2: All flames will be used to sacrifice to Jashin

The Value of a Soul

Chapter 19: Blood and Tears

Lissome fingers touched pale lips. Neji uttered no sound as he wondered what exactly had happened. What had the blue-eyed blonde said? I love you? Neji was confused. "What is love?"

He didn't realize he had spoken out loud. His opals roved over to the blonde, who was still in his trance-like state. The brunet sighed, and laid down on his cushions, closing his eyes.

As soon as the emperor's breathing deepened to sleep, aquamarine orbs cracked open and moved over to the slender sleeping form of Rome's ruler. Had he really said that? Did Neji really break himself so far that he no longer realized what love was?

Naruto realized what a terrible notion that was. Not knowing what love was. Everyone at some point in their lives had to have felt love before. But some of them chose to forsake the emotion. In some cases, they chose to crush it, until they no longer remembered what it was-what it felt like.

Naruto stood up, and walked over to the slumbering brunet. Lounging beside the slim form, he watched the royal sleep.

"Do you really not remember what love is?" he murmured quietly, so as not to wake the brunet. Sidling over slightly, he gazed upward.

"Father?" he called. "Father, are you there?" he quieted, waiting for a reply.

"Naruto? What are you doing down there? Don't you know that we have agreed on a war? You shouldn't be down there, son!" he heard. Naruto laughed.

"So mother didn't tell you?" he asked.

"She didn't tell me what?"

"That I'm here on a mission, created by the Lady Athena," Naruto replied.

"What? And I didn't hear anything about this? Naruto, get back here this minute! This war is going to happen, and it's inevitable. I won't let you stay down there and die," Ares replied. Naruto sighed.

"Father, I'm sorry for the disobedience, but I'm afraid I cannot listen this time," he countered.

"Why not?"

"I can't leave the Emperor. He needs me in more ways than one, and I intend on fulfilling all those needs," the blonde answered. "And not even Lord Zeus can change my mind," he added.

"Naruto, I see I can't change your mind, but if you are injured badly, you are to come back immediately," Ares set his condition.

"I...I cannot guarantee that, Father. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but I can't leave him."

"Naruto, surely you can't possibly mean..." the god of war drifted off.

"Yes Father. I'm afraid I've fallen for him," Naruto confirmed. There was silence.

"All right. I'm not so cruel as to tear away my son from the one he loves, male or not. Naruto smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, Father," Naruto said.

"You're welcome son, but stay safe, or your mother will kill me," was the reply. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"You do realize you're immortal, no?" he remarked. He heard laughter.

"That's my boy," was the comment, before connection was cut off. Naruto realized something. Victory was not guaranteed to be their's. He sighed, before delving back into his mind.

"Hai, Kurama!" he called. A slitted eye cracked open lazily.

"Geez, Kit! Can't a fox get some sleep when he needs it?" asked the vulpine. Naruto sighed.

"Look Kurama, sorry I interrupted your sleep, but we need to talk."

"Isn't that what we're doing right now?" Naruto rolled his eyes.

"You know what I mean. Anyways, can you promise to not hurt any of our allies? I mean I know you're really strong, but we need all the help we can get," Naruto said.

"Fine. I'll give you that, Kit."

"Another thing. If I tell you to leave me, you leave me, got it?" Both red eyes snapped open.

"What? Are you suicidal, Kit?" Naruto bit his lip.

"Not suicidal, Kurama. Maybe desperate, but not suicidal."

"Do you realize that without me in you, there is a fifty percent chance of death?" the tailed beast asked. Naruto nodded.

"Which means there is also a fifty percent chance of life as well, and I'd be more than happy to risk it if it helps Neji," he replied. The fox snorted.

"You'd die to save that youth's skin?" Naruto grinned.

"I'd do more than die," he answered. The vulpine raised an eyeridge.

"You...you like that guy?" Naruto rolled his eyes.

"That's none of your business fox, so just pretend I never said that, and give me your word, that if I tell you to get out of me, you do it," Naruto ordered. Kurama rolled his eyes.

"This is an ironic situation, seeing as before, you needed to keep me inside you," the orange fox replied. "But fine. Kit, if you die, I'm not going to happy if I have to get sealed in another bastard." Naruto smirked.

"Simple. I won't die."

"You have too much confidence, Kit."

"I'd rather be an optimistic idiot than a pessimistic idiot," was the reply.

Naruto glanced out of the tent at the dark sky. He assumed it was midnight, which was the next to perfect time. Glancing at the brunet beside him, he decided to take action.

"Neji, wake up," he whispered, shaking the pale shoulder lightly. Pearls cracked open, and turned to stare at the blonde.

"What time is it?" he asked. Naruto glanced out of the tent.

"Midnight. A good time to attack," he added. Neji's eyes snapped open completely.

"I see your point." He stepped out of the tent, and turned to the squadron guarding it. "Wake the camp. We attack now. Do it quietly," he commanded. They nodded, and scattered. Naruto could feel red-hot energy running through his veins.

"He'll be aiding us," he murmured. "Prepare for destruction."

A few minutes later, the soldiers, which were in groups of a hundred, were spread out before him in large groups. His twin opals swept ove them.

"Listen. This battle will be unlike any other you have fought before. Orderly fighting is useless against out opponent, so I leave you all with two simple rules. Kill. And leave Orochimaru to me." Naruto sidled up next to him, and whispered something into his ear. The brunet nodded.

"And I've got something to say too. Please stay out of my path. I'm not saying this out of arrogance, but I don't want to hurt anyone." Naruto heared disquieted mumurs run though the army. He spoke no more. He had delivered his warning, but it was their choice to obey.

"And, now we will go. Veni vidi vici," Neji proclaimed, feeling so cliché at his own words.

"Ave Imperator! Morturi te salutant!" was the unanimous reply. And for the five gladiators who stood aside.

"Alea jacta est, Imperator." And with the girls, who were too stubborn to stay away from the battle, Tsunade cracked her knuckles.

"And this is a gamble we cannot afford to lose," she remarked. A spiky haired woman barked in laughter.

"Hah! That's something for you to say, Tsunade! You're the worst gambler Rome has ever known!" The black and white dog next to her barked in agreement.

"Not when it comes to my life," Tsunade retorted. Hana gazed around at the army.

"So it's time," she muttered. Kiba was too busy glomping Akamaru to reply.

Neji flicked a hand at the gates, and they were opened. The trumpeters, and all forms of traditional Roman style of battle were forgotten, as the soldiers ran grimly for the opposition's foolishly unguarded camp.

Naruto ran alongside Neji, determination sparking in his eyes.

"We will win this," he vowed. The brunet made no comment.

Unfortunately, as they drew closer, they were met with the fully prepared opposition. The two youths were immediately separated as they were immediately surrounded.

Naruto found himself fighting with his bare hands, as he had no weapons handy. He could see that already about fifty of their soldiers had been struck dead. The others had forgotten normal battle, and were fighting tooth and claw, sword, spear, bow and arrow, and pretty much without an orderly manner.

Naruto had no time to think any more as he slowly backed from his opposition. He could see the dark sky rain blood as a certain redhead wreaked havoc on the opposition. Naruto fought his way towards him, and ended up back to back, only having to fight every so often, as Gaara's sand was their defence.

Naruto turned to the redhead.

"I'm heading out," he informed. "Do you have any weapons?" He was handed a broadsword, pulled from a sheath around the redhead's waist. He nodded in thanks, and jumped into the fray.

Yells were audible, as some soldiers fought verbally, as well as physically, and Naruto grimaced at their language. Luckily, there were no children to hear what had been uttered.

He ducked under one sword, and leaped into the air, as another swiped the air where his legs had been. Twisting skilfully through the plethora of arrows that were fired at him, he landed on the ground, starting to get into it.

Testing the broadsword almost casually as he was attacked, he soon parried, and began to attack himself. The order was pretty much duck, jump, thrust, parry, or get swiped here and there. Nothing big really, as his demon's energy made him heal impossibly fast.

He was actually beginning to enjoy himself. He knew it felt wrong to enjoy yourself in th- He dodged the volley of spears easily, even having the audacity to stick his tongue playfully out at the enemy, instinctively jumping, and landing on the javelin that would've speared him. He jumped onto the shoulder's of the carrier, and off to help Kiba.

Anyways, he knew it felt wrong to enjoy yourself in the middle of a war, but he guessed it was because of his father's blood. Helping the dog-boy up, he glanced over to where he assumed the prince was, instinctively dodging whatever attempted to kill him.

He could see him in head to head combat with a raven, but strangely enough, no one disrupted the battle. Leaping lithely over, he watched, fascinated, ducking the odd blow here and there, and completely ignoring the screams and whatnot that rang in the background.

Neji's eyes flashed, as he slammed his blade against that of the Uchiha, the steel screeching with an earpiercing shriek as metal ground upon metal. That traitor even had the audacity to smirk at him!

"You're mine, emperor," the raven sneered mockingly. Neji's eyes lowered to glacial temperatures, until he himself could feel the temperature drop.

"I won't let you and that snake of a man you call a master take my empire!" he hissed. The raven looked surprised.

"Master? You think that's what Orochimaru is to me? Oh no, he is nothing but a toy that was far too easy to manipulate. Did you really think I was with him? No. I am for myself. He was simply a tool," the pale-skinned youth growled.

"Why you... You're even worse than a traitor. You're a vagabond. You have no place on Earth," Neji hissed, slamming his blade against the other's, driving it back until he saw blood.

"A funny thing for you to say, really. I mean at least when I take a life, I have good reason to. I must be off now. Itachi awaits," he called, leaping into the fray. Neji growled in frustration.

"Hey Neji, how's things going? And who was that?" Neji almost rolled his eyes at the blonde, but Hyuuga do not roll their eyes, so he settled for an exasperated sigh.

"Things are going on pretty well, seeing this is a war, and that, was that bastard Uchiha, Sasuke," he replied. Naruto grinned. His eyes caught something at the edge of his vision, and his grin immediately dispersed.

He dashed off towards the scene. Completely disregarding his strength, he slammed into anyone that got in his way, sending many a soldier flying off into the distance.

As the soldier his eyes were on raised his sword, Naruto struck him upside the head. There was a sickening crack, and the man fell dead atop his victim. Dragging the soldier off of the body underneath, he gasped.

"N...Naruto? What are you doing here?...You should..." the brunet coughed up a pool of blood. "You should be...fighting right now..." Another pool of blood.

"Shut up!" Naruto near hollered. "Shut up! Don't talk! Don't you dare say another word! That's an order!"

Picking up the brunet, he dashed over to where the two physicians were situated.

"Tsunade!" he called. "Sakura! Guys, get over here!" At the sound, the two medics rushed over, and immediately began examining the dog-boy.

He coughed, and some more blood flowed out of both his mouth, and a puncture wound in his chest. Tsunade glanced up at the blonde.

"Whoever did this has punctured a lung, Naruto," she replied. Naruto grimaced. He knew this would use up energy, but he did it anyways.

"Hold on..." he muttered as he placed his hands on top of Kiba's wound. The dog-boy winced, and raised an arm, throwing off the blonde's hand. Naruto looked at him in shock as he glared back.

"Don't you...do that! It's...a..." he coughed. "A waste of...energy! You...need...need...all you can get. Don't...waste it...on me!" Naruto returned his glare.

"You matter you know!" he contradicted, returning his hands to their previous spot. Kiba shook his head. "No...Naruto..." he was panting as blood flowed into his injured lung, near choking him. "You need to help...Neji..." Naruto's eyes widened.

"What?" The brunet laughed dyly, before breaking off into a fit of coughing.

"It's surprising...how much one...can see...when one is dying," he remarked. "Go help him...he needs you...Rome needs you...hell...I need you...but...Others need you more...I won't be selfish...go...I won't stop...loving you though...even though you...love...another..."

The last word was barely breathed as narrow eyes lidded over, and the tanned body stilled. Naruto gazed down at him in shock, as droplets of water eased themselves out of the corners of his vision.

"Kiba..." he breathed. He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. "What sort of person am I? You thought me so powerful, yet...I couldn't even save a friend!" Naruto threw back his head and howled a freakishly animalistic sound.

Eyes cracked open to reveal red-orange irides, as his pupils became slits.

Uh-oh. We all know what that means. And it's not good. I needed someone to kill, so I decided to pick on everyones favorite dog-boy. Some of you may be wondering what happened to Akamaru. That will be for another chapter. Or something of the like.

Veni vidi vici: I came I saw I conquered

Ave Imperator Morturi te salutant: Hail Emperor Those who are about to die salute you

Alea jacta est: The die is cast

-Jeya-