A/N: So school is starting back up in a week. Well like a week and a half it starts on a Wednesday isn't that stupid? Well I have been busy school shopping and registering so pardon the lateness.
1 Year Later
Twenty soldiers all stood in the throne room lined up in rows of five in front of the king, Kitsune, and his court. The Kitsune was behind his curtained throne next to the kings. One maiden stood on each side of it. The priest stood in front of the throne itself like guards. All with proud smiles on there faces as they stared upon their individual apprentices who had all manage to make it to the finals. Now was finally the time for the Kitsune to pick his knew court.
And also time for the previous court to retire and become the highest nobles in the country living out the rest of their lives happy in content. Of course they would loss their abilities bestowed upon them by the Kitsune and would never again be given the honor to look at him. But they had no regrets this last year of their service the Kitsune had taken to them more then ever before.
Once when all they could do was watch as he played or sat in silence thinking had become them joining in his games and being let in on his thoughts. Kurenai was no longer the only one he talked to. He shared his thoughts and conversation with them all. But the greatest and most amazing and shocking thing he had done for them was there good bye the moments before now.
"This is it my beloved court. I will miss you all dearly. And even though I will not be letting you keep your gifts I want to give this to you all." The Kitsune said holding out gold necklaces each with a red stone on the end that was in the shape of a small tear drop. "These are all drops of my blood. It will aid and protect you acting as a shield should you ever be in danger. As well as grant you great fortune and prosperity. I wish for all of you to have long and happy lives."
Naruto said putting the necklaces around each of their necks. They held the jewel in their hands looking at them with happiness and pride. Then he did something completely unexpected. He leapt into Anko's arms hugging her tight. Anko who was shell shocked for a second like the others didn't responded at first simply gasping in surprise.
But she soon reciprocated the hug with and awkward smile on her face. Kurenai would eve swear that she saw a single tear of joy roll down her face. Which Anko would later deny. After that Naruto went on to hug them all. And that was the moment that it really hit them that this would probably be the second to last time they would see the Kitsune. That was a thought that brought tears wanting to fall down all there eyes.
The only other time they would see him again would be at their death beds. Which is a time the Kitsune swore to be there to peacefully send them off on their finally journeys. After composing themselves they got ready for the ceremony.
It was a joyous yet sad moment. All they could do now was hope that there apprentices were chosen and became an even better court then they were. They looked at the faces of there apprentices. Kakashi looked at Sasuke. Though the boy might looked composed on the outside Kakashi could guess how the boy was really feeling. He sent him an encouraging smile. Which Sasuke return with an almost unseen grin.
Might being as competitive as ever decided to send a large toothy grin to his apprentice Neji. Who had been staring at the back of Sasuke head with silent unseen anger. He would not lose to that farm boy again. Neji was one of the highest born nobles there was he deserve this position! He would be the northern priests! He deserve nothing less then to be leader!
He had to have this position! To restore his honor in his fathers eyes. Neji had become his fathers greatest disappointment the day he returned not having been pick by the Kitsune as a child. It had only gotten worse when their family spy return saying the Kitsune had chosen some outskirts farm boy over him. After that his father had never truly looked at him the same.
This was his chance to get that look of pride back! He was even put up against that same stupid farm boy again. If he was chosen as the northern priests instead of Sasuke he would restore his family name. But Neji was no full he knew that the boy would still at least become a priests. He was cheating after all. A year ago when Neji had witness the Kitsune and Sasuke caring Kiba back to bed it all clicked.
It explain why all the superiors seem to favor those two and how they had manage to just get so strong so fast. They had to have been bless by the Kitsune. Well Neji didn't care he would beat them anyways despite their connections. That position was his.
Neji sent back a nod of acknowledgement to his soon-to-be previous master. Kurenai looked upon her apprentice with worry. She was clearly squirming in nervously. Kurenai locked eyes with her a mouthed that she would be fine a look of complete confidence on her face. Even though Hinata was shy and a little quite. She was one of the most promising of the candidates to be a handmaiden.
Her only flaw was that she lack confidents. For some reason Hinata couldn't see herself as strong enough to stand next to the Kitsune. The only reason she had even signed up for the training was to follow her brother in his journey to finally be chosen by the Kitsune. Well that was her main reason anyways. The other a bit more inappropriate.
When they had been younger and were called as two of the many children to possible be picked by the Kitsune Hinata had not actually wanted to go. She knew at the time that it would be a great honor to be picked and would bring great wealth to her family. She had still been quite frighten at being picked by the Kitsune. She didn't know what being picked would entitle.
Would she be the Kitsune's pet? His adoptive child? Maybe even a snack? None of those options sounded to pleasant. But when the Kitsune had stood from his curtain and reviled himself to them even though Hinata hid her eyes as quick as possible she was still able to get a peak of him. And in that moment she wanted nothing more then to be picked.
The Kitsune was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. She wanted nothing more then to serve him! To be with him the rest of her life. Even if she was nothing more then a snack and her life would be ended very shortly. But all her dreams were crushed immediately when the Kitsune had deemed all the children unworthy at the spot.
She felt guilty the moment the words left his mouth. How dare she think these thoughts? She was worthy of such a divine being. Her self esteem only got worse when she heard that the child the Kitsune had picked was someone of such low status. Her whole life she was told by her family that such people were only worth the dirt they were covered in.
So did that mean Hinata was less then dirt if he had been chosen instead of her? From that day on Hinata had started to become much more reserve only ever really talking to her brother Neji. She had been excepting that because of her unworthiness that her father would probably just arrange a marriage for her for political gain. She was excepting of this fate. After all she had no right to decided how her life went.
But when she had heard her brothers plan to become a priests to try again a thought had come to her mind. Just because she wasn't worthy the first time maybe over the years she had gotten better some how. Maybe she would be good enough to be a hand maiden. So she trained. She trained so hard along side her brother.
When there father had learned of their plan he gave the most proud smile they had seen in a very long time. He hired them many tutors and work them day and night for the position. When it came time for them to in lists he had told Neji that he didn't ever want to see his face again unless he was a priests. Though he looked at Hinata and said that if she failed she would be welcome into their home for only a brief time until they could find a subtle husband for her.
When they had finally separated from their father Neji had swore to her he would become a priests not just for his own sake but hers to. He didn't have much faith that she would become a handmaiden because she lack the confidence. So he swore that when he was priests he would ensure she didn't have to go back to their father. He would protect her until she found would she wanted to marry.
Hinata was thankful for that but she knew there would never be any man she would want to marry. Now that she had seen the Great Kitsune she would never be able to view a man as beautiful as him. Hinata stopped her pondering long enough to give a weak smile to her master. Her master was a genius and if she thought Hinata could do it maybe she had a chance after all.
Kiba looked at his master Asuma with a glint of confidence in his eyes and Asuma knew he had nothing to worry about. His apprentice would go far with his strength and that strong determination. He sent proud smile Kiba's way and Kiba returned with a toothy grin his canines standing out. He did not even need to become a priests anymore. The Kitsune had already granted his wish and his family was safe and well looked after.
Edolas had become a peaceful and prosperous land again. His mom hand even been able to start a small pet shop/vet center she was making honest money and was very happy with life again. No he no longer needed to become a priests. He wanted to be one. because now he owed the Kitsune everything and wanted to spend his life repaying him. And he would see to it that he did.
Iruka looked at his own apprentice to see how she was doing. She was standing strong and confident in the row with the rest of the priests candidates. Which confused quite a few people at first. No woman had ever tried to be a priests. So most assumed that she was actually a handmaiden candidate and they just didn't have room in the line for her in the back.
Iruka smirked himself. He had no doubt that she would be pick as a priests and he would be proud to say he trained the first female priests ever. It was the whole reason he chose her to began with. When he had first met her and she told him about her goal to be a priestess he was taken with her. She said that she wanted to prove that a woman could do the job as good as a man and if given the chance she was sure the Kitsune wouldn't care about gender and would pick her.
Iruka had respected her decision and wanted to help her make history. He had given her the option to spar with him to prove she was worth being his apprentice she mange to get in three hits. That was two more then the average man. She wasn't as good as Sasuke or Kiba but she was still way better then most. When Iruka had jokingly asked her how she got so strong so fast she said that she had grown up with six brothers and was often the but of their jokes. And one day she decided that that would never happen again.
Iruka could honestly say the look she made when she said that gave him nightmares for weeks. That was the moment he was convinced that even without his help she would definitely be chosen. He might as well help her along the way and train her. When Temari noticed Iruka's smirk directed at her she sent one of her own. No one had ever been as encouraging as that man. Her own family thought that the best she could ever do was be a handmaiden.
They expected her to come how sad and disappointed and then she would have no choice but to finally take up the family business and become a merchant like he many older brothers. She would prove them all wrong and would enjoy their shock pride in her when she gave them the news in person.
Anko looked at her own apprentice with pride like she had already been chosen. She maybe look like some prissy little doll at first sight but if you looked closer you would see the damage on her hands from work and hard labor. You would notice the small scar from battle hidden by her clothes. You would see the look of a soldier in her eyes.
Anko had not picked the most promising of soldiers like her comrades. No she had picked someone who would never become a handmaiden without serious coaching and a miracle. She had picked the pretty girl with the stupidest reasons of becoming one. When she had first met Sakura she had cared about nothing but being beautiful and was as weak as a child. The reason she had joined the trainees was so she could be with some boy named Sasuke.
She had heard he was on the road to be a priests so she thought the best way to get close to him was to become a handmaiden. She thought the job was just like any other handmaidens simple things like doing the Kitsune's hair. Helping him bathe or get dress. What she didn't know like many who tried out for the position was that you had to be just as good as fighting as you were at doing hair.
When Anko had taken her as her apprentice the first thing she did was beat those useless thoughts out her head. When Anko was done Sakura had become a harden soldier and a skilled handmaiden. And if you asked Anko herself she would say Sakura was the best. But the one thing Anko couldn't change was Sakura's reason to become a handmaiden.
She had given up on trying to get Sasuke out the girls head and instead used it to motivate her. Whenever Sakura was ready to throw in the towel Anko would say things like "Do you really think Sasuke wants to be with a quitter?" or "A man like Sasuke would never want a weak wife.". It worked wonders all it took was mentioning the boy name and Sakura was like a different person. She would go dying from exhaustion to running ten mile laps with no brake.
It was one of the most impressive thing Anko had seen. Love is a scary thing. Sakura locked eyes with her master and read her lips as she mouth 'For Sasuke'. Sakura nodded strongly and stood taller her demeanor hardening even more.
It was finally time for the Kitsune to pick. The priest moved a side so that the Kitsune could exist the curtained throne. Some people held their breath expecting to finally see the Kitsune. They all gave small looks of disappointment when they noticed the Kitsune was wearing his crown that covered his entire body in a white sheet.
They all looked on as he approached the front row. The Kitsune would first chose the first in command the Northern Priests, then the East, South, and finally the West. Next he would pick his left Handmaiden and then his right. You would know you were chosen the Kitsune stood before you. You would then have to bow your head to him and recite the pledge of loyalty and finally the Kitsune would leave a small kiss on your head sealing his power into you.
They all tensed as the Kitsune began to walk Neji prepared to bow as the Kitsune stared his way. But Neji wasn't sure if he was coming to him or Sasuke because Sasuke was standing right in front of him. Neji felt rage go through his body as the Kitsune stood before Sasuke.
Sasuke got on one knee and softly gripped Naruto's sheet giving it a small kiss before saying his pledge. "I Sasuke Uchiha swear to pledge my life before the Great Kitsune. I swear to give my life to you and sacrifice any and all in your name." He finished standing still as Naruto kissed his head through the sheet leaving behind a glowing light before it faded just as quickly as it came.
Neji wanted nothing more then to just stab the bastard right then and there. Even though he would probably still become a priests and his father would recognize that as a win he himself will always know he failed. He lost once again to that stupid farm boy. Now all he can do was achieve so much as a priests that the Kitsune revoked Sasuke's title and bestowed it upon him.
Sakura felt her heart flutter. Her Sasuke had did it! She wanted to run into his arms and congratulate him! But she couldn't not yet she had show him she deserved him first. She would make him see that she was strong enough to stand beside him!
Kiba looked on in pride at his friend. Of course he would be the Northern Priests. That wasn't a surprise in the slightest even without Naruto's undying love for the boy. Kiba made a mental note to get his friend a congratulation gift.
Hinata felt a bit of envy go through herself. She wanted a kiss from the Kitsune! What she would give just to stand that close to him! Now she just had to be chosen. She didn't think it would be that amazing looking to be kissed.
Temari felt a bit disappointed that she was not picked first. She would have loved to rub that in her brothers faces guess she would have to jjust settle for being the first girl.
Naruto didn't linger any longer next to Sasuke as he stood. He moved directly behind him to a boy with long dark hair and blind looking eyes. Neji bowed and kissed Naruto's sheet like Sasuke did reciting the same pledge. Hinata was so proud of her brother she just knew he would be pick she was actually kind of surprise he wasn't first.
At least even if she didn't get picked she wouldn't have to go back to her father. And she might even meet the Kitsune because Neji would be working for him. Neji did his best not to show his anger as the Kitsune moved on to the next person. It was the boy right next to Sasuke. Kiba was his name if Neji remembered correctly he was also another cheat if that night a year ago meant anything.
Naruto finally moved on going all the way to the back which confused a lot of people. The only ones back there was mostly woman with only a few men mixed in. It confused them more when he skipped all the men and stopped in front a woman.
Temari couldn't help but smirk at everyone's faces including the king and the court's as she bowed before the Kitsune and made the Priests pledge. All watched with wide eyes except Iruka as the Kitsune kissed her head making her the Western Priestess. Naruto didn't let the looks effect his pace he went on to pick his handmaidens.
He stopped next in front of Sakura who felt a small blush cover her face as she got on one knee. This was the start to her and Sasuke's future! She could see it all play out. The would get to know each other through their job. Then eventually he would ask to court her. Then the would be married with the Great Kitsune's blessing himself! And then after years of service they would retire together as high ranking nobles! Oh she couldn't wait!
She started her pledge "I swear to always be there for the Kitsune as not only a means of safety but to handle all his problem no matter how big or small. And I swear to always be a ear for him even when one if not needed. And a mouth for him when one is needed." Sakura finished the last part of the pledge had been added this year. They figured that the Kitsune chose Kurnai to speak for him first because she was his handmaiden and next was Anko so they believed the Kitsune had deem them his official 'mouth'.
Hinata watched this happen and closed her eyes she knew the chances of her being picked were one in a billion. Her eyes opened again when she felt something under her chin. She looked to see everyone staring at her as the Kitsune had his hand under her chin to lift it. She felt a large blush break across her face. She was close enough to the Kitsune that she could just see under his sheet. And she would later swear she saw him smiling at her reassuringly.
When she finally overcame her shock she dropped to her knee as fast as possible. Holding the Kitsune's sheet as gentle as possible loving the way it felt on her fingers. This was happening! This was really happening! She was being chosen. The feeling was more magical then she thought it would be. She could die happily right now! She placed her lips on the sheet. It was so smooth even more so then her lips themselves.
This was only the beginning soon when everyone not chosen was escorted out she would be able to see his face again! That would be perfect. When she had said her pledge and was all over. Everyone else was escorted out including the old court. But not before they congratulated there no longer apprentices and left the with their final goodbyes.
When it was over the court stood before the Kitsune and king in a straight line waiting to finally have the honor to see him. No one had except Kiba and Sasuke of course not even Neji had really seen. It had been so dark a year ago all he had seen were there body shapes. The only reason he knew it was Kiba and Sasuke with the Kitsune was because only there bunk was empty.
They all waited with baited breath as the Kitsune slowly lifted off his crown removing the sheet. When his face was finally reviled to them they let out gasp of surprise.