The elder teenager arrived sharply at noon, in fine suit of brown and a purposefully carved stoic expression which twitched every other moment. Naruto was unsurprised as Tenten lead him kindly to the white gazebo they had in the rose garden, the man was not adept to being invited anywhere unless permitted by his Uncle. Thus he grinned as the brunet approached, kindly as he might, he had no wish to make the man more uncomfortable.

Neji was a handsome man and he well represented the simple beauty of the Hyuga family. His linage clear, though such a statement would likely drive Hiashi into an inner rage, for his nephew looked to be more of traditional Hyuga heir then his own heiress did. With his waist length, dark golden brown hair, smooth ivory toned skin, sharp diamond jawline and of course the signature lavender eye colour caused by genetic cataracts. Naruto always found the appearance quite beautiful, despite the cloudy vision often associated by the condition it had been written by historians that the dominants born into the Hyuga who had the condition, did in fact possess ad superior vision to most people. A fact which would likely go unproven until there was less bias amongst the secondary sexes.

Neji bowed to him, quite low in fact which Naruto hadn't expected.

"Your Royal Highness." There was a strength in his gaze as he looked forward which Naruto found a respect in, before he flicked the mans gaze flicked slightly down of course. It was considered improper to look him in the eyes, a fact which Naruto wanted to hit over the head, were it possible to hit a concept.

"Sir Neji, please come, sit with me." The man twitched at the respectable title but carried himself with dignity to one of the plush bench seats across from Naruto himself, as if he was adept to it. The blond man felt a spark of sympathy, for one of such an esteemed family to be so illequiped to being addressed respectably spoke heavily of the man's upbringing and current treatment by his family, and indeed, society.

There were some light appitizers before them, sandwiches and scones, along with a pitcher of chilled apple juice to fight against the hot day.

"I must admit Princess, I was hardly expecting to receive your summons." He smiled towards the nervous man, Neji kept himself well, he sat straight and his expression was sure set, on the edge of stoic while remaining polite, softened eyes and expressionless lips. Naruto could never fathom keeping himself so blocked from express, then again he was hardly expected to. He was the Princess of the Kingdom of Fire, his general demeanour was to remain well mannered and kindly unless called upon to be otherwise.

"I imagine so, but you see Sir Neji, you are in a unique position, and I could use your support." That had a flicker of interest come into the man's cool gaze, changing warming it just a fraction. He was making a gamble risking the knowledge becoming public, it was as of yet a strict secret amongst the royal family, but if he were to gain an advantage over Sakura, Naruto knew he would need to take some significant risks. "You are no doubt familiar with my cousin, Princess Sakura." He hardly had a need to ask, so he continued. "What is not widely known is that we are presently engaged in a... competition. That is for the title of Crown Princess. Because of each our unique situations the Council of Leafs has yet to proclaim whom is to inherit the throne."

Afore him, he noted he had no doubt caught the man off guard.He was taken aback and his broken posture reflected that, his once expressionless lips were lightly moving up and down, not gaping, but its less extreme sibling, shoc certainly. Naruto waited with patience for him to regain himself, taking a bite of a scone instead, and smiling kindly towards the man. Neji was kept far from politics the blond knew, but certainly he had been taught the basics, so such as statement must make little sense.

He took a moment but his speech was a slight baffled as he spoke. Not nearly as controlled as he had been.

"But surely Princess, you are the rightful heir. You are the after all, the next submissive in line, and to speak candidly, her Royal Highness Princess Sakura is only a rife." He did not sound nearly so assured as his words inclined, but Naruto merely shook his head to the logic, it was indeed properly thought out, and were his cousin not a factor Neji would be correct.

"Alas, she does hold legitimate claim, she is the adopted daughter of Her Royal Majasty Empress Tsunade which puts her at the same ranking as myself." One could laugh easily enough, but the royal family had kept peace within the Kingdom for hundred of years, and those places such as the Country of Lightning with its democratic system were mocked within their country, as was the martial law of the Nation of Mist. Many common folk did not understand the inequities of the royal and noble families, but were quite content with the leadership and roles they played.

However, Naruto was more then aware that not all were so content, such as those people secluded into the backways. The discimination in their land was as plain as the trunk on an elephant, dominants were not allowed into many trades outside of hard labour and the military. Many -most, shops outright refused to serve them, so dubbed 'blended-service' shops were extensively rare; that is those who served all types of secondary sexes and often fell out of buisness.

Most submissives had been influenced heavily by the historical propaganda about dominants that had swept over the Kingdom a couple of centuries ago, and marginalized them because of fear, logic not being a factor. They were put into segregated communities a few decades ago, and most never got the chance to escape those poorly maintained neighbourhoods. Naruto had grown up in a dominant majority neighbourhood and most of what one notices in such places, living there, was that people were desperate and that violence so many feared was propagated by their own marginalizing systems, not because all dominants were savages with the need to distroy and harm.

Naruto knew this and he knew an advantage when he saw one.

Neji himself seemed befuzzled, not entirely out of his depth but enough above water that he was gaping slightly. His brow was pinched and his face was a margin more twisted, its stone carving quite gone. The blond did not interrupt the throught process the man seemed to be originizing.

"But you are the only heir of former Crown Prince Minato -my he rest amongst the leafs,- surely that puts you above her, if only minorly." Naruto found the statement melancholy, his expression reflecting this well. He remembered nigh nothing of his father or biological mother, but he knew that his father had been well loved within all classes of sex, even the dominants- one could tell that much easily by simply listening to the mourning voices of those in his streets as he grew up. Many dominates were greatly saddened by the loss, having felt their hope had been taken away. Perhaps that was why he had been assassinated.

"True, but at the time I was the only potential heir after my father, no one expected Empress Tsunade to adopt a child. Perhaps if I had not gone missing it would not be in discussion now, but here we are. Let us not forget, Prince Minato would not have been considered for the throne despite being born to my grandfather, had Empress Tsunade birthed a child." A sad fact, and despite his well maintained dignity -regardless of his previous shock- that comment had the older man flinching, everyone knew why Prince Minato would have been declined the throne despite being the eldest child born to the eldest son. Grand Duke Jiraiya was a dominant, and dominants were not allowed to hold the Crown of Hokage, his son had been made lesser by that fact, but as Empress Tsunade had never conceived an heir...

Yet, now she did have an heir in the form of Princess Sakura. Naruto was only truly in the running for the throne because he was a submissive, had he been born a rife such as she, his claim would be very weak indeed.

Thus, he needed to garner further support from the people, which in turn would hopefully influence the Council of Leafs, they whom dictated matters of nobility and house inheritances, they also frequently served as council alongside the noble houses to advise the Empress. Despite many noble's naive beliefs they were not impartial to the people's opinions, it did influence their rulings. Much of the council were made up of seniors with traditional beliefs, but they were slowly being replaced by the younger generation, those more open to knew ideas. Indeed, Naruto may not be the Crown Princess as of yet, but he was not oblivious to the fact that he did indeed hold a not-insignificant amount of power, and a fraction more respect in some circles then his cousin. A fact which he could greatly use to his advantage.

"How may I aid you Princess?" Neji spoke with an eager observance, hopeful in a manner that was both sweetened and somber. For it was obvious he was demeaning himself as he asked, still startled that he of all people whom had been called upon.

"I need discretion Sir Neji, I cannot make many prominent movements without being noticed. I need you to act as a type of... point of contact." Naruto had to admit the man would be ideal for the task, he could mask himself better then most persons he had ever met. A true talent at keeping well poised. For he simply stared with little reaction, awaiting further explanation. "Between myself and your fellow dominant children of the nobility, yours house of Hyuga is the most esteemed outside of the royal family, thus you will have more threads to reach towards. For those you cannot reach those in smaller positions may." He took a sip of juice, already feeling a tad nervous for his request sounded a margin...scupulous.

"You wish to form a dialogue between yourself and the dominants borne of the nobility." It wasn't a question but a clarification, and he nodded. Neji did the same, the man was understood to be quite intelligent and Naruto could rationally assume he had deduced the majority of his plan. "Would our support serve you well Your Highness? Ours position is not well respected, it could prove detrimental to you instead of aidful. There are not many of us whom have not been disowned by our kin, the support we could offer would be minimal, harmful at best and at worst it could distroy your entire reputation." It bwas about the logic he had expected, and out the corner of a blue eye the Princess saw his handmaiden attempting to hide her interest in while playing at attending to the roses. Tenten was a horrid gardener.

He knew well of her opinion, she was devout unto him and wanted for him to ascend the throne, her small frown indicated well her present mind.

Naruto kept himself focused on the dom afore him, his mind already quite made.

"Yes. However, this kingdom needs to begin to welcome change. There are many dominants whom sit in bad positions due to my family's negligence.I'd like to be the one to insite change. Even if it is only one step, welcoming all sexes into the descussion will prove a vital step, visibility is the first step to reform.Maybe I will lose favour, but I will bring eyes to those marginallized within our society by providing them with the opportunity to break the narrative imposed upon them, the chance to speak with their own voices. And well... to be blunt, having the support of the dominants of the kingdom will not go unnoticed, it will influence the council, be that negative or positive has yet to be seen." It was with a fraction of uncertainty, but Naruto smiled wide at the concept in his mind as much as to the man in front of him, he was confident in his idea- in what it represented, and he was quite resolute in his determination to make it work.

It had not been his plan originally, but the meeting with the bikers last night had kicked his mind into gear.The intense red glare of the woman, and the tender concern from the bulky ginger... the mystery of the dark eyed man, it had spoken in whispers inside his head.

Naruto was more then aware of his cousin's opinion of dominants, and regardless of the fact that he did indeed love her- that was a large juxtaposition between them. Not that she was aware of that fact. One of the first lessons he had learned in the game was to never reveal your alliances until you were sure the other party was in agreement; never real your hand as it were.

"Your Royal Highness..." He flicked his gaze back to Neji, but held himself back from grinning because of the oh-so-tender resonance in lavender eyes.A watering of tears highlighting it. Quickly, the Hyuga grooming reasserted itself and the man's expression morphed back into its statueque nature. "I will do as you bid." He rose from his seat something brightened in his formerly blank gaze. Naruto stood as well in good grace. "But if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion?" blond hair bobbed with a bounce. "Should it please you Princess, I will endeavor to provide you information about my family's actions in this matter and if it is possible the opinions of the other noble family's as well." That had the young Princess fiercely shaking his head, a dread in his mind for the suggestion.

"No! Such an act amounts to spying, should you be discovered it could be judged as treachery upon your family! Your very life could be endangered with such a drastic charge!" He near yelled out at the ridiculous idea.

"Your Royal Highness, with all my devotion and respect, I don't care. Should it help those such as myself, any risk is one I am willing to take, your vision is something many of us have only contrived of in our dreams, and if we have the chance to make it reality me and my fellows will do all we can to aid you. Punishment be damned." It was frightening to the Namikame, a truly daunting idea the man presented to the Princess, but nonetheless in the face of such conviction- Naruto could hardly deny the man a second time. He nodded with a frowning expression stil avidlyl against the idea.

"I understand." He didn't, not fully, but he understood enough to know that fighting such determination would do nothing. Neji bowed once more, deeply. "Tenten, if you would escort Sir Neji out." His fair friend nodded quickly, and though clearly skeptic she too shot the man a timid smile.

"Sir Neji, when you contact me with your... Information, use letters under an alternative name, we cannot risk a trace. When updating me on the status with the other domaninats please contact me by cellphone, Tenten will provide you with my personal number." He nodded with a firm gaze, one which Naruto found respectable, strong and certain, even if he was being brash.

"Have a good afternoon Princess. May the Will of Fire be with you." He bowed low and followed Tenten out of the garden, the woman so poised for one who was clearly holding many questions under her modest bosom. With them both gone from sight Naruto lent against the pillars of the gazebo with a healthy weight leaving his chest.

"Do I want to know why there's a dominant leaving the grounds who I most certainly didn't know was visiting?" Steel suddenly replaced Naruto's spine as he straightened with a snap, his grandfather's prominent figure approching in his expensive olive green suit, his arms crossed and a stern look in his eye. The hard gaze he wore making the young teenager feel like he could fall into the ground in an instant.He didn't know if the man was mad or cautious but it didn't really matter, Naruto wasn't a weak submissive but to his mother and his grandfather he most certainly could be. He simply respected them to much. "Naruto?" One brow rose with a sharp angle.

"Well, I thought it'd be a good idea to contact the various dominants in the nobility to try and encourage dominant support in the community, and gain the trust of those in the lower city." He scratched at his neck and though he tried not to let it, his gaze fell to the ground.

"Naruto Namikaze! You know how dangerous that is! What if he had attacked you!?" Naruto flinched, despite his own secondary sex, his grandfather was actually quite wary around dominants, no doubt due to his upbringing and how he had been influenced to see himself. It was a sad reality "Oh my little fox..." A large hand held his cheek and he looked up to the softened face of the older man, a deep frown stretching the lines around his lips and straining those around his eyes too, it made him look so much older. But he leant into the warmth of the hand cupping his cheek softly. "I just worry, if he had attacked you I would never forgive myself. You wouldn't want your poor old grandpa to go to jail for murder would you?" It was spoken so lightly as a joke, but Naruto frowned at it, no humour in his chest.

"I can take care of myself." He could and his family knew that, often he couldn't help but feel they were much too protective.

Jiraiya kissed his forehead, "I know you can, of course you can, but forgive an old man his tresspasses, I worry.for you, I always will." A warmth filled him with the words, but there was a tingle of insult in his head regardless.

"I know you do, but Papa, you've gotta try to trust dominants more." He pulled away wanting to look more fully to the man's expression, already knowing what to expect when looking there."And if you can't trust them, then trust in me okay?" A deep sigh followed, and Naruto watched an array of painful emotions cross the man's brow.

"I do trust you. I'll try not to assume, but if they reach one toe out of line-" Blue eyes rolled towards the sky at the beginning of his rant.

"I know, I know, you'll rip their fvourite parts off, you've said it all before Papa." The man snorted.But Naruto kissed his cheek and his expression of indignant annoyance melted away in a moment.

"You're just... You're my precious little boy Naru, I'll always feel the need to protect you, even if you don't need it." Naruto said nothing. He buried his face in the man's chest and held him as tight as he could, trying to ignore the wet dropplets falling on his hair. Bad memories were creeping up the man's mind. Strong arms wrapped around him as the chest beneath his cheek shook.

Naruto tried not to let his own tears fall, but they did anyway. He didn't know his father and he never would, he did not feel much towards the man's death other then the remorse for a good man having been lost.

His tears weren't for Minato. But at the heaving chest beneath his cheek, at the choking sobs echoing in his ear, at the desperate hold on his figure and at the painful memorie of loss that protective grip mirrored.

He whispered, even if it couldn't be heard

"I won't leave you Papa. I'm strong, I promise."

He held his grandfather close in the rose garden.