Chapter Text
The Uchiha clan, ruler of the kingdom for centuries, held all the power; every knight in the castle and kingdom was required to be an Uchiha, or very close to the clan. They sought power—more than they already had. Many people never did anything to try to do something, and those who did? They were dead. The people were content with what they were given and what they had, for they were afraid of what might happen to them. Everything was well in the Konoha Kingdom.
This didn’t mean there weren’t still thieves out there, or murders. Of course not—they just hid it well. They made deals with other kings and assassins. Very few questioned the clan because of this; it was a people ruled by fear. But there is one group, Akatsuki, always messing around with the uchiha clan. They knew they were doing the thefts to the clan and the nobles.
Sasuke was the second in command in the knights. His father being the first. Sasuke was fed up with this group. masked and fast, he could not catch them. He, Uchiha Sasuke was the best knight in the kingdom, losing to a group of thiefs? He cannot let that happen.
If only Itachi was here— No. He betrayed the clan. Thats why he was now the second in command. He could solve this problem without his brother. Who knows where he is now, maybe he's dead or something.
The group uses animal masks. the worst of them is the one with the fox mask, oh how he hates their guts. He has been chasing him for years, since he became an official knight. 3 years chasing the fox masked thief.
Sasuke walked in his room, they knew nothing about the group, they used animal masks and apparently they had some problem with the uchiha clan, most of their attacks are targeted to them. Why? There's no reason for them to be attacked... They're one of the best clans and kingdom. He just wants to get that masked fox and see who's the person behind the mask. The thief. It's too late to be stressing with this... he should go to sleep.
He will keep messing around trying to discover something new, failing eventually.
Naruto was walking in the main street. There was this big plan for tonight and got sent to see the place and routes. The market was full today, he could pickpocket the wealthy looking people. The ones with uniforms always worked for some high class man so it was easy to recognize them.
He walked past some knights and got some things. he stored them in his bag and kept walking. The Uchihas were going to throw a royal party or something and lots of wealthy people are going to be there. This was going to be the biggest move they have done until now. He was wearing a hood to hide his blond hair, it could make him recognizable, his mask was in the bag in case something happened.
He was thrilled to see what would happen tonight. Would the knight be there? Of course he will be there. He had so much fun messing around with him. They said he was one of the best, but he couldn't even get him. What's so good about that guy. There's so many things wrong with thath guy— He's the son of the king and doesn't even know how fucked up his clan is... It was fun to make him angry.
Naruto has seen the things they have done. Killing innocent villagers... merchants, even mothers and kids they were horrible. His family had been a victim of said clan. He hates the Uchiha so much... He will do justice for his mother.
He was so inmersed in his thoughts he didn't notice the person in front of him. He bumped with someone and fell to the ground and his hood fell a little and his hair was showing more than it should. He was quick to try to fix it the best he could without being suspicious.
"Uh— Sorry. Are you okay? Let me help you." Sasuke offered his hand to the blond while he stood up. The lack of sleep made him slow and a little clumsy. He didn't notice the person in front on him until both of them are on the floor.
"I'm ok!" Naruto said too quickly— fuck. "Sorry it was my fault I wasn't looking where i was going." He knew that voice. He was the knight— the prince! He wasn't wearing any armour now, he was wearing more of a formal attire, why was he in the market? Its weird to see someone from the clan outside.
He took his hand and stood up. "Thank you." The blond brushed off the dust from his fall.
"It was my fault too don't worry... But be present when you're walking so you don't bump someone again." Sasuke did the same as the person in front of him. For some reason, the blond looked somehow familiar? The people of the village look very similar because of the clothing it could be that. He looked at his face, at what he could. He had blue sky eyes. They looked so pretty... They look familiar even. Like he has seen them before, years ago.
"Well I have things to do. Goodbye prince Uchiha." He grabbed his bag and walked away, not without stealing a little bit from the uchiha. He would notice soon so he should dissapear fast.
"Okay... bye." That sure was a weird guy, Sasuke though. A lot of villagers who bump into him get very nervous. Well, theres people and people. That guy sure looked familiar from somewhere... his movements were familiar too. He shook his head, he still had to go to buy some things his mother asked for.
He puts his hand in his pocket expecting to have his coin bag. Where is it? He checks his other pockets. Did he forget it? No. Someone stole it from him. He looked around. Who would even steal from him. They knew who he was— Could it have been the blond?
He was looking suspicious with the hood and the low visibility of his face... He looked behind him to see if he could see him. No hood— he walked to the direction the guy went. He could not see him. How did he dissapear so fast? There was no doubt he robbed him. Damn it. He would be laughed at when he comes back.
Naruto chuckled, the guy didn't even notice. This would sure affect him later, but he would do it again if he had the chance. That was enough for today. He kept walking to go to his house. Well it was more like a base, some of the guys crashed there to sleep. It wasn't even his house.
Minutes passed and he found the familiar path to the house. It was far from the center of the village, to avoid knights the best they could.
"I'm back!" Naruto left the bag at the table and found Itachi sitting with Tobi. They were probably talking about tonight's plan. "You won't believe who I saw Itachi!" He walked towards them and the other two stopped talking to see what the blond would say.
"Amaze me Naru, what did you see or do, please tell me you didn't make a mess..." Itachi could expect anything from the kid, well he was 17 but he will keep calling him a kid.
"I bumped into your brother today— literally. And I know hes your brother and all that but I stole him something anyway!" The blond heard the chuckle the raven did. He kept rambling about what he did in the market.
Itachi thought about how annoyed his brother would be, or is— "Wait did he see your face or something? It could be dangerous if he recognizes you tonight."
"Uhhh. I think so? But nothing too much, he saw my hair and a bit of my face probably. Nothing to be worried about." Naruto said calmly, he's very sure the guy didnt see that much.
"Okay...? I'll trust you buddy." It was lunch time, kisame should be here with food. He couldn't go outside much since he was framed as a traitor by the Uchiha, and probably presumed dead.
The rest of the day they kept organizing everything for the big party. This was gonna be amazing. They usually used the money they stole to help people in the village, and really just to annoy the King. There was a small part of the village who already started distrusting the king. That was good, their objective was working, they needed the clan to end the abuse of power. With the less loses they could achieve.
They were outside of the building, formal clothing and masks. The event being a masquerade made it a lot easier to enter without being noticed. The main targets where the Uchiha. It was pretty easy, enter, steal a little and make a little mess and leave. There were many knights at the place, just as they expected.
Naruto kept walking, pickpocketing what he could, easy-peasy. He even ate some of the food there was. It was good but he has tasted food way better than this. They had to go unnoticed until the King starts talking. There still was some time left for that to happen, he could check the places where he could escape later.
Minutes that feel like hours pass, he's seen familiar faces. He saw Kakashi Hatake— One of the best knights the Uchiha have, he teamed with Itachi when they were younger and then the clan Kept him as a knight. He used to take care of the prince when he was a little kid. He saw the king talking with other royalties he did not know. A lot of them came with their heirs. And he saw the Uchiha prince, wearing a cat mask. He could try to steal something from him again... when they had to go that was. He couldn't mess this up by mesing with the prince yet.
Sasuke spoke with some heirs but mostly kept to himself. He wasn't the talkative type, damn he didn't even want to be here. He was attending as a prince, but he kept doing the knight duty, he spent most of his time patrolling and avoiding his father until the talk he wanted to give.
He was searching for threats, this being a masked event made it hard. What if the Akatsuki made a move? It was obvious. Maybe it was a trap for them. He keeps seeing different animal masks and gets paranoid. They could be anywhere, could be anyone. He's been searching for a fox mask, he has seen some. But none ring a bell... Why is time passing so slow. He's getting bored.
He found Shikamaru and spoke to him for a while. He was a calm guy— too calm. Very lazy to say the least, but he was smart. His father was a strategist.
"Do you think the masked guys will appear tonight?" Shikamaru asked, knowing the answer already, probably.
"Yeah, there's no way they don't." Sasuke replied in that monotone tone of his. He kept looking to his surroundings waiting for something to happen. "And if they do I'm sure the fox will appear. And I will get him." He said more annoyed this time. That damn fox, that probably was the guy from earlier today. He had to watch out for blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Hard task considering theres a lot of blondes here...
Finally, the king's time to talk. Everyone reunited and the king spoke about the kingdom, the clan, on the future king who will make the kingdom prosperous like it is now. He spoke many things Naruto did not care about enough to listen. It was already time to act. He noticed the rest of the guys. They had things to cause smoke and paint. Most preparations are ready.
He finds the prince and bumps into him, without falling this time of course. Just a side bump and enough to steal something. Another pouch or whatever he had in his pocket. "Oops, I'm very sorry!" He said as he kept walking normally.
Sasuke was about to say something when he recognized the voice. It was the blond from before. He quickly turned his head to see the person well. There was blond hair... and then a lot of noise and smoke? Everything became chaos in minutes. He lost trace of the blond. He gathered himself, he could not lose him again this time.
Everything is chaos. There was little visibility and everyone was screaming. Knights searching for a way to calm the people they could and search for suspects, while others opened doors and ran everywhere.
Naruto grinned and started running, the work was done and they only had to get away from this place. And damn this place was big. He kept running, hiding with the panicked people until he found a path less crowded and went in. he slowed down and looked outside. He could get out of here pretty soon. Itachi would be waiting outside to escape with everyone.
Minutes passed by until he found an exit to a garden. This place was so big, he didn't know if it was a good or bad thing, it was easy to get lost. he froze when he heard a scream— fuck.
"Hey you— Stop right now!" Sasuke was checking the place in search of the blond, he ran so much and was getting tired, damn those stairs. He saw how the person in front of him, he wasnt that close but could obviously see the blond hair... The person turned his head and he saw, a fox masc, that was the guy he was searching for.
Naruto started running again, he needed to lose the raven. he could hear the other running behind him. They were already outside, it was a garden, too tidy for his liking, too fake.
It felt like forever until he felt his arm being grabbed and yanked— Both fell again and the raven didn't let go off his arm— what the hell, he was strong. and was putting his weight into him. "Get off!" He squirmed trying to get him off. He couldnt even see nothing and probably looked silly doing this.
"Stop squirming fox! You cannot escape this time." He was annoyed, but he caugh him! He actually did it. It was so easy? He grabbed his head and moved it to the side to see who was behind the mask when he got hit in the face and shit did it hurt.
He felt his grip slip and flipped the blond and used his weigh again, mask on the floor, he could see his face now, and wow— he had to admit he was pretty. He had some weird whisker marks on his cheeks, and his eyes were beautiful— Like looking at a sunny blue sky, those could be the most pretty eyes he has seen.
They both froze for a moment that felt forever until Naruto broke the silence. "What the hell are you looking at!" He shouted loud enough for both of them. He panicked and the first thing he thought was to use his head, so thats what he did he gave him a headbutt and pushed him back and ran as fast as he could.
Sasuke sat, frozen in place, shit that hurt a lot— He touched his nose, there was blood. Would you look at that— The blond managed to escape.
"Why did you take so long?! and your mask?— It doesn't matter you'll explain later, hurry up!" Deidara said angrily. They ran until they found the hiding spot for the night until verything calmed down.
The explanation came very later, the next day. Everyone was too tired the night before so they just went to sleep, Naruto had barely any sleep, he saw his face and that was bad, eughhh why did that happen. He was so angry at both of them, the guy just kept starring at him and that made him angrier.
The next day he sat with Itachi, Tobi and Deidara to talk about what happened.
"You aren't gonna like this... Your brother saw my face— He knows how I look now and I kinda headbutted him... very hard." He could hear how Deidara almost laughed at the end. But Itachi looked so worried, and angry probably, yeah. He was undeniably angry... He was so over now.
The 3 of them kept scolding him and in a part, laughing about how he managed the situation, 'A headbutt, really?' Deidara kept pestering him about it, he was angry too of course.
Days passed by and he hasnt gone anywhere, Itachi's orders. Got grounded until Itachi felt like it. He couldn't go outside since Sasuke saw his face and looks. Eughh how he wants to hit his face again... He just kept helping Itachi around, he probably was gonna be inside for some weeks. He could survive this. At least he could go out at night...
Sasuke was with Hinata now, who was treating his wound. She was the daughter of a noble of the party— their parents weren't that close and they had their differences but the alliance worked anyway.
Shikamaru watched him and chuckled—"And what the hell happened to you when you dissapeared, did you bump into a wall or something?" He was amused by all this. He was a little bit worried about him but not that much to not make fun of him, again.
Sasuke explained what happened reluctantly. Skipping the parts where he got to see the face of the guy. Just that he had blond hair. "And then he hit my head and nose and that hurt as hell."
Shikamaru almost laughs, but could stop it before it happened. "That sucks. At least you have more information on his appearance to find him. I guess." He says boringly. This whole situation was a drag. "It is too late for this. I'm going to sleep." He did not wait for an answer and just left.
Then Kakashi would appear to ask what happened to Sasuke. And he had to explain again what happened. Just to have him laughing at him too... How he hated this. He was going to find this guy again. But he felt so tired now... He needed to sleep.
After all went quiet, he could finally go back to his room and crash into his bed and fall asleep, a very needed sleep.