When Sasuke spoke next, Naruto hadn't been expecting it. In an odd way they had both been relaxing in the serenity of the day. The sunset approaching fast, and with all the excitement Naruto had indured in the past few hours his adrenaline was crashing. He was in a near sleep state when his dark eyed companion spoke again. "It used to be called Taka." He looked toward the man again, surprised by the topic. Sasuke gesture about the area, the RV's, tents and campers with beaten pickups in the vicinity. Taking a swing of his beer as he did so.

"This place, it used to be called Taka, before it turned into a battleground eons ago. There was a town here, a grand town where the rich would come to lavish themselves and the poor came to pray. There's still an old strine at the top of the hill, some of the older generation here clean it and ring the bells in prayer in the morning. Its ancient and falling apart, really, but I think its all they have to remember their ancestors by." Naruto stared at his companion's melancholy face for a moment, it was empathy not simple sympathy. An acknowledgement, an understanding which perhaps Naruto was not capable of comprehending- he knew his ancestors, and he had access to many of their heirlooms and atrifacts. After leaving Fireleaf, perhaps Sasuke did not have that option.

Still, with all his lessons Naruto furrowed his brow. "I always learned that it had been an outskirt town with hardly any resources, one with hardly a coin between each person." His lips thinned as he spoke, those teachings had always felt particularly off to him as it were.

"I'm sure you did. The history of war is written by the winners, at least, that is the only side most people want to hear about. No one wants to think that the losing side might have been the more morally correct party, so they ignore their writ of history and call it lies to feel more comfortable." Naruto said nothing, he could not make an objection, the man was not wrong. In most cases that was simply how history had worked, how many battles had been made with the corrupt side taking stance and erasing those texts which may paint them in a slightly different light?

"Answer me this." Sasuke sounded flippant as he spoke but his stare was piercing in intensity. Judging and pushing. "In the Greenleaf Fire war, do you really think there was a prison to house hertics?" That made the submissive jolt a slight, it was an odd question- a very specific question. Because everyone was well aware of that fact of history. The Greenleaf Fire war was not a pleasent aspect of history, certainly not one to bring up in light conversation, Sasuke wanted him to answer something for judgment purposes- whatever his answer was would dictate a fraction of how the man viewed him.

Naruto, with an edge of caution dictating his mind thought about what he knew. The Greenleaf Fire war was when the country itself split into two, a brutal campaign lasting nearly a decade. Greenleaf was the side that Konoha's Empress had aided, the Hyuga family had been in rule of the land and Fireleaf had been the rebelling party, a grouping of dominants claiming superiority fighting directly against the Hyuuga family's rule. Attempting to press their ideals of dominant superiority and aclaimations of the gods onto the mass populous. The prison of heritic's Sasuke had asked his opinion on had been a prison designed to hold the most dangerous members of the Fireleaf until the war was won and diplomacy could take its course. Even then, from what Naruto knew, none of them had been set free.

That considered, that was also the fact which was depict in stories. Sasuke was from Fireleaf, it would not be inconceivable to imagine he knew more as a former resident. Naruto stared at him for a long moment, in which he was watched in turn, no emotion shown underneath oblivion's eyes. The sun was taking its decent, and the Princess knew he should head back home, less he either be discovered or drive his family into hestira from his long absence. Or both. Still, he had to answer this question, but there was a truth he did not know, something Sasuke did, and he was entirely ignorant unto. Impactful.

So with a grasping uncertainty choking his words, he said "I don't know." Because he was uncertain now, despite the fact that he should not doubt his teachings so much. It went against the beliefs of his country, something he was nigh sworn to uphold, oath or not. Yet, for a reason he could not put into proper description a hole in his chest containing memories told him to trust what Sasuke said. Above what he had been taught.

Sasuke let out a very small snort, taking his eyes away from Naruto's confused visage and looking towards the orange crested trees. Not a word spoken, in explanation, negative or positive, nothing. It would have annoyed the submissive in normal circumstances, instead however, he felt a tingling disappointment in himself for not knowing.

He shook his head, blinking towards the horizon of the west, the darkening of the sky, breathed deeply and stood up. "I have to get going, they might be worrying by now." It was a rather meager hope that his mother and Tenten had actually gone to sleep, but he often let optimism rule him when possible. Sasuke stood as well, nodding as they walked towards his bike in a comfortable silence.

They drove until they came to an area on the highway close enough for Naruto to conceivably walk back to the city -or rather in his case, close to the Namikaze manor.- Sasuke didn't question it, as he pulled into the shoulder.

The biker spoke again however. "I don't understand why I trust you, but I do, so listen up idiot. I'll be at the restaurant you were at the other night at six-pm tomorrow, meet me there." Naruto glared at the demand, not liking the tone beneath it very much, but not exactly annoyed either.

"Thats a pretty shit way to ask someone on a date you know?" A small smirk came across the pale man's face as Naruto pouted in response.

"Tough, we both know you'll come anyway." It came to his face by accident a wide smile as the red blush spread over his cheeks in a flaring scarlet. The lack of denial to it being a date making his stomach flutter with butterflies, warm and pleasant like hot chocolate. He had never been on a date, and in considering the numerous suitors whom had attempted to charm him into a courtship as the Princess, that was a rather ridiculous feeling to have. It was completely wrong, him, going on a date with a dominant- but he rationalized it with the fact it was only one outing, there was no promises of later pursuits and should he prove entranced by the man- surely he could deny himself? This was the only time he felt genuinely charmed, only having felt vaguely appreciative when bouquets were delivered to his door and compliments were given to him at social events.

"Asking me on a date when we've only had such short meetings, am I that endearing?" He laughed with nerves, a habit he had taken from both his grandfather and mother, they did just the same when feeling a slight warm on the ears.

Sasuke scoffed in turn, smirk just a slight bolder. "Well, it certainly isn't because of your looks." Naruto choked at the indignance of the words as Sasuke made a U-turn onto the other lane of the highway and roared away with righteous speed.

He regained his composure enough to yell as the bike disappeared down the highway, arms flailing in annoyance. "You are such a bastard!"

.o0o.

The next morning was pained, his ears still throbbing from the lecture he had received after crawling through his balcony the other night. His mother's small, but daunting, figure having been waiting in the dark for him to appear. Several yells and some tears were shed after the man had left with a sharp clap of the sliding door. Though it had been unpleasant, Naruto hadn't made a rebuttal as he was ranted at, figuring, internally, that it had been deserved enough to warrant the disapproval.

Nonetheless, he had voyaged into the dining room with the all the poise of a whimpering child. Taking his seat with a purposeful grace, in attempt to appease Iruka's considerable temper and Tenten's disarming gaze. Saying nothing as he sat straight -as all royals were taught- while waiting for his food to be served by the staff.

"The derby is this week, I trust you will be attending Naruto?" Iruka spoke. It was in truth, not a real question. An expectation, or in fact, an order by the simmering voice of his angered mother. With rare pacive form, Naruto made no protest unto the decision. Saying only a declare 'yes, of course mother,' in due course. No great trial luckily as he held a particular soft spot for the derby, it could be either invigorating or dreadfully dull, in dependence on the racers and the crowd in mutual course. Though he did cast a curious gaze in his mother's direction, for typically they went to the races together. As phrased it would be merely himself attending, while his Mother attended without escort -he was obligated to attend, he was the Princess Mother it would be scandalous for him not to.- Iruka made no attempt to elaborate on his supposed abstinence from his company, and with that lack of clarification Naruto simply made himself eat instead. The pear tasting rather bitter for the knowledge that they would not be going together, it had become something of a ritual between them as it were.

"I'll make certain he behaves within code my Lady." Ten-ten added a rather sharpened tone colouring her words with intent, she was no more happy with him then his mother was. Naruto scaped at his plate with little to say, a small pit in his stomach from the silent scolding he was receiving. Iruka took a sip of his tea before rising, one last look cast to his solem son; this one not angry, nor even ired, but the simple soft, yet piercing expression of disappointment before leaving with that general disposition remaining as aura within the room.

Ten-ten's voice rang as loud in contrast to the quiet scraping his fork was making on the plate. "Come Naruto, we must begin preperations. It will take a great deal of effort with the sudden change." Herein she began to prod the young man until he rose from his chair. Them both making the journey back to his room. "We simply must make sure you reflect your status, it wouldn't do for you to be outshone by one of the lower families." As such it would take many hours to begin preparing but because of his stubborn nature, rather the fact that there were so many facets to make ready.

In the past it would have been immensely inappropriate for him to attend without proper escort, but as it were such a formality was often, but not always, ignored.

That isn't to say that having an escort would give him further crediblity, for it most certainly would- it was not necessary.

Naruto paid only a fractional heed as his handmaiden fussed about his wardrobe, mind in absent as it focused more sternly on the dream he had beheld in the night. That is after the had been scorned by his mother, in the few hours of sleep he had gotten; his subconscious had come up with a dream designed seemingly to give him as little rest as possible. For even now he was distracted by its contents.

------

Running, running through vast corridors of stone, the tap, tap, tap of his sandals against the echoing rock. The entire structure acting as a cave and echoing back every single sound he made, even the panting of his own breath as he ran. Doors, so many doors lining the halls- wooden and plain he had no idea what was behind each one, but he was hopeful. That hope was keenly felt within his chest everytime he slammed one upen, gaining further desperation with every empty room revealed. It was dark and the lanterns lining the walls made everything glow earily in an orange hue that in other circumstances may have been considered comforting.

He yelled at the next door he opened for nothing came out, nothing was shown, just an empty room with no significance. Then within the boundaries of a seemingly hopeless search he opened one door which showed what he desired. Or in fact what he did not, everything within him cracking at the fragile sight of a body lain over with a sheet of crisp white. He had collapsed onto his knees painfully, not a thought attributed to the weight of the fall, but it was not upon his mind. His pain lay only in his head as he cawled forward with lacking strength and held on with searching hands onto the bed of rock the body -the corpse- rested on. An absimal pit of loss taking place in his chest.

He knew what was underneath, whom, before lifting the thin fabric away from the face. Nevertheless he had done so, and was greeted with the cold, expressionless features of the man who lay still and cold. Dead and gone. Not a mark creased his features he appeared all but normal save the touch of his skin. The pale tone he naturally possessed could be death-like after all. A futile want to touch the face therein climbed within his gut, but he ignored its call for the sake of marginal sanity. His mind had no want to further iverserate itself with the truth of reality.

Yet he looked, he stared, and he looked for so long, willing the eyes to open so that he might see once more their colour- the lively soul of the man he cherished. It was not to be, he sat for hours in that spot not caring that he may be caught and drug away. He touched at his cheeks, the ones he had scarred, the ones he had cut in an act of devotion before the battle had begun.

Before they had been torn apart by their families and by enemy incursion -though there was no true separation of the war time enemies and the enemies which were their families in Naruto's mind.- He had drivin a sharpened blade against his cheeks every night for a week, in hope that scars would form. Scars which his beloved might use to recognize him in the next life, a sheer sign of his pledge of heart and soul. Surely the gods would graint a blessing upon seeing such devotion? Naruto had only prayed it to be so, but in staring listlessly at the cold corpse of his love's face before him, and the knowledge of the wound sitting as a hole within the mans chest- Naruto had little faith in the gods.

For why would they take him away so early?

--------------------

Then he had woken with a startling force, nearly sprawling out of bed with sheets sticking to his skin and the vague sense he was missing something important. Made more prominent by the tear which had been trickling down his face at the time. Some aspects of his dream blurred together as watercolour, others were more prominent then charcoal, yet he could not find the mind enough to rationalize any of it to reason within his head. He sat with his head slouched staring at the floor wondering to himself if he truely wished to know.

That is until his friend's loud voice and exasperated sigh woke him from his ponderings and his head snapped up again. Her hands were on her hips as she wore an expression of indignance almost pouting at him with a crooked gaze. "You alright?" He nodded, though it was rather minorly and as her gaze shifted to concerned he reaffirmed to passify her away from worrying.

"Of course." He smiled, her stared dropped though she didn't seem particularly convinced as she turned back to his wardrobe. Pulling out a few of his more extravagant dresses out, many different colours all cohesive with summer. Bright and lively as with his personality, this was no evening wear in the same manner of formality. It was daytime elegance brought to fore, wealth shown though the power medium of fashion- a medium well practiced and well mastered by the submissives of the nobility. Although submissives by their primal nature were hardly aggressive in nature, best avoiding fights of fisticuffs and the growling of an adrenaline fuelled match, that was not to say they did not fight.

It was a fact that Naruto had learned within the difficulty of court whence he had been introduced. Having known few of his own nature other then Fuu and his mother for the majority of his life. He had been ill prepared for the scale of malevolent scheming throught the noblity, the court of was nigh virulent in it methods- corrupting even the kindest submissive; it had certainly altered his method of thinking over the three years he had held his title. Maintaining oneself with empathy and true harboured benignity was a true challenge often enough. Especially when faced with the guileful plots swarming in another's eyes as they spoke to you with nothing but a chivalrous tone.

Nay, the fighting amongst the submissives and of rife's therein dragged throughout was the fight of cruelty. The sting of a properly concealed insult, the turn of a lip with a fakened smile while politely questioning another's judgement. Fashion played a vital role in this, in general the Empress's taste dictated how the rest of the court was to dress, if the highest of the land wore a fruit basket on her head at a function that was the integrated norm and the rest of the nobility would soon start wearing bananas and apples as accessories. To not follow thus would damage the influence one held and indeed the pride of one's family in turn. If one was not fashionable they were considered rather dishonourable.

However, that was to say one was to develop their own individualized fashion for more casual affairs and public appearences, in order to retain an independent dignity. This distinction, was something Naruto would have to further develop, as he was now officially a member of formal society at sixteen and would be expected to make more public appearances as a Princess of the realm.

For now however, a formal event was at play, individual taste was a limited luxury.

"Do we have anything that might suit?" This was more a contemplation Tenten made to herself, yet still, directed the question toward him with a curious -if sceptical- look, he shook his head as he stood from the bed.

The races were considered an impactful affair to the higher class for many reasons. Not least of which was the fact that it was one of the very few gatherings in which the dominants of the various families were invited to join without ridicule- that and the Empress's birthday masquerade ball. -Although... by technically any of the celebrations commemorating the birth of a royal family member delegated that the dominant's of the nobility could be invited without bias. That however, was entirely up to the royal whose birth it was. Naruto's mother, as an honourary adopted member of the royal family, could invite dominants to his celebration if he so wished, for example.

However this factor of equal attendence made it ever more important for the Princess of the empire to dress with the intent to show superiority over everyone, dominants, submissives, rifes, all.

The volume of his handmaiden's sigh could've rattled the walls were they less sturdy. "Maybe we should go into the city to find something more suitable, what you have right now is entirely unacceptable.." Also the trends had heavy changed. From what he had seen; a very, indeed completely, vintage appearance was now desired- perhaps because of the Empress's age, though he kept that speculation firmly to himself.- The fashion had switched, quite abruptly from a rather showful appearance of skin, miniskirts and long slit dresses. Her Imperial Majasty had, just a few weeks prior in early June switched to a rather archaic, rather prudish, look.

This consisting of such long forgone objects such as corsets -though not ridiculously tight as they had gotten- they were to accent an old body ideal, often referred to as 'the pigeon look' in the past with a struck forward bosom and bottom acsenting the hips with a thin waist. As seen in recent on her majesty, her new style was long, heavily embellished and feminine dresses falling over the feet and dragging on the ground in an elegant and graceful, if completely impractical, way. With a chinched waist -often with a ribbon around it as accent, and filled with ruffles, her majesty seemingly favouring extensive amounts of lace collars and strips, along side floral prints. Seen with hues of rose pinks, lilac, ivory and cream colours, with some baby blues and gentle greens mixed along. All the while dorning large cartwheel hats with feathers and flowers -perhaps to hide her aging face from public eye and keep the attention on the hat instead of her- Her parasol to keep her balance as she walked.

Old fashion, nye antique by modern standard, but if it was what the Empress of Konoha wore- then it was fashionable and simply the expection. Though the common folk would likely attempt to keep such designs to practicality, rather then fitting exactly within her ideal.

"We are gonna have to go to a tailor, there is nothing even close to appropriate in here, and the stores are going to take some time to adhere to the new standard." He groaned, very loudly at that mention. He had dealt with scarce few tailors in his time as Princess, but none of those experiences had been particularly pleasant. Oh he enjoyed shopping well enough, but going into a office and describing what you want done five times over again was not a fun affair for him. Still, he consoled himself, when they got it right and made something perfectly then it was spectacular, and he could consider it worth it.

Then she glanced once more to his closet a frown on her features. "Well, for now, you can wear some of the new stuff I specifically ordered for you- I hope its what you wanted. You do need to establish your own individualized presence and you've been careless so far. I'll arrange an urgent appointment post-haste." With that, she spun on her heel and stode out of the room with the sound of her phone's keypad beeping as she walked.

He moved to look at the carefully packaged boxes in his room which he had been avoiding opening for the simple want to surprise himself. He wasn't particularly pretentious like his cousin, but he was no slouch when it came to his clothing either. In fact, he was rather like his great-aunt and grandfather in a way, for he held an appreciation for vintage oriented looks, though not as far back focused as his great-aunt certainly. His tastes steered towards bright colours and a free flowing look which could resonate his personality ever more fluidly.

It had been through vintage fashion magazines his grandfather kept on his desk that he found the inspiration. Though many of those issues were rather more ludicious in nature -somewhat subtle pornography in a way. Nevertheless, Naruto had loved the bell-bottom pants almost as soon as he saw them and the freeflowing boho skirts which floated about when caught with the wind. He'd fallen fastly for the design, as he had for the loose tied floral croptops, peasent blouses and tight fitted turtleneck sweaters, even kaftan dresses. Of course that was what he had requested, and it was what his handmaiden had gotten. Some garments having floral patterns with subtle tones and some with bold colours, generally autumn themed, bright oranges, deep reds, oak browns and bold yellows.

Tenten had gone so far as to order him wedges and platform heels- make no mistake, Naruto could rock a pair of stilettos -and he knew it, but they were considerably more hassle to wear casually. He did get a laugh as he reached the bottom of the box and found a flower crown of fake flowers for him to wear, it was perfect, a combination of white daisies and miniature sunflowers to fit in with his bright blond curls.

He happily disrobed and picked up a pair of bright orange bell bottoms along with a bow-tied crop top with a pattern of small flowers. There was a naturesque visual that the style portrayed which called to him, if old-fashioned. Once dressed he brushed his hair poofing it up a little more then he normally would in his small, but nevertheless, natural afro. Covering up his scars, he then put on a somewhat golden shade of eyeshadow and mascara, but he put on a lip-gloss a shade darker brown then his natural caramel skin tone.

He giggled at the mirror just a little as he stared at himself, feeling particularly beautiful.