Faery Tale - Chapter Forty

Chapter 40: Esteemed Guests


There were four figures standing next to the Platform gates, two of which wore long cloaks and the rest donned protective military vests.

"Namikaze? As in Minato Namikaze?" Sakura asked in a low voice, standing between Naruto and the rest of the group. Sasuke barely reacted to the revelation; if he did care, he didn't show it.

Kabuto was rambling about family names and discussions, but it wasn't important, just his usual fake flattery.

She looked at Naruto, who stood up. It made perfect sense; it was odd that he seemed to know so much about the ANBU. He was young yet so embedded in that secret world. Plenty of highly connected people knew him either personally or by reputation. And most importantly, he was still alive after all the immature stunts that he pulled on Kakashi. Anyone else would have been locked in an underground dungeon for life but he was spared, and the commander of the whole military even acted as his guardian.

Naruto was a prince, albeit from another family branch. And he was the last person she suspected to be a Noble, let alone a royal.

Today just keeps getting stranger by the minute…

If someone asked her how she would feel surrounded by high nobles, mind magicians from ancient clans and princes of the realm, she would probably laugh in disbelief. These things did not happen in real life, they only happened in fairy tales and Sakura was definitely not a fairy tale character. She was a spy coordinator and a resident of one of the many slums of Fire Kingdom. A commoner. Well, that was last month, this month she felt above social rankings.  

"He just had to keep that a secret," She muttered again and Sasuke pouted this time.

Yet another revelation, Sasuke is capable of normal human behavior now…

Kabuto ranted one more time about running late, and Sakura wanted to kick him. He just couldn't shut up about the time. The strange buzzing in her head was making her think all sorts of angry ideas.

Late this, late that, we have an appointment, stupid idiot…

But, he was their host, and without him they would probably be torn to pieces by the demons in the street or made into needle cushions by the archers on rooftops. She was in decent health now but she didn't fancy her odds against an army. At least, the bastard had the good grace to arrange a carriage ride all the way from the border.  But it was plain that Kabuto was coerced into arranging the ride, he wouldn't have offered Sasuke any kindness, not after the way he was treated. Sasuke had a special talent for annoying people. It was the mix of self-entitlement, condescension and hostility. But today his arrogance was contained and focused on the gray haired henchman.

After Kabuto stopped whining about being late for the tenth time, the group slowly marched up the hill toward the palace.  Sakura looked back one last time at the dark brown carriage with longing.

"Can't we take the-?" Sakura started.
"No," Kabuto was decisive; he didn't even turn to see her before interrupting.
"No need to be a bitch about it," She let the irritated words trail into silence.  

---

It was an hour later when they reached the palace gates, the boys were busy competing who gets to the top first. They ignored their wounds and weary bodies for the sake of that stupid male ego. Kabuto was eyeing them with a cold detachment. Sakura resisted rolling her eyes due to the severity of the situation. The buzzing was growing louder now. A couple of images flashed quickly through her mind, too quick to grasp. They disappeared as swiftly as they came without leaving a trace.
When they entered the great building, Sakura was shocked at the sight of human and nonhuman guards lining the corridors; two every other step. They wore the purple and yellow colors of the Sound army, and their uniforms looked more expensive than the foot soldiers back in Middletown.

Soldiers for show.

Kabuto took off his fancy black cloak before entering the reception hall, he handed it to one of the human guards. Sasuke did the same with the rough canvas of his cloak. The same guard wrinkled his eyes in disgust at the garment, it was stained with blood and smelled of old sweat, but he took it nonetheless.

"Wish I had a rich cloak to donate," Naruto commented wryly, he eyed the cheap cloth with amusement.
Sasuke smirked, "You'll have to earn it, your Highness,"
Sakura lightly punched Sasuke on the shoulder and he glared back, but not his usual evil glare, this one was an offended sort of look.  She wanted to communicate the need to be careful around Naruto. A Prince.

Sasuke finally shrugged and entered the room with his head held high, "I see nothing has changed, they still have the time to party," He was referring to the masses of finely dressed Nobles, High and Low, they filled the huge reception hall, and were wearing dresses and suits of every color imaginable. Purple and yellow banners decorated the great arches leading to two ballrooms beyond the hall. There was even an good attempt at lively music. Orochimaru had really planned this evening. He even considered appearances, seeing as the servants moving through the great party halls with platters of food were human.



Sakura unconsciously raised a hand to her forehead, which was starting to throb dully. It was probably getting worse because of the people milling around.

"Hey, do you think we're underdressed?" Naruto shouted above the throng.
Sasuke answered him with a disgusted grunt, and Sakura mumbled, "Really? The King is about to die and you're worried about being underdressed?" She couldn't raise her voice. The headache was gaining momentum. Images flashed more frequently now, faces and memories from a life past, and all of a sudden they disappeared leaving only the headache behind.

Please don't let it be damage from the spell, not now…
  
Naruto shrugged and let Kabuto lead the way to a service exit, but the other man just turned with a mysterious smile and nodded to a group of soldiers. They intercepted Naruto's path and prevented him from going through the door.

"You have to stay here, your Highness, the main event will begin soon," He bowed with mock grace.
Sakura saw the interaction from a distance, once her mind vision cleared, she noticed that the King, and his close attendants were nowhere to be found. The great ballrooms were open to each other, and a Royal entourage could easily be tracked when present.

People around her were conversing in nervous voices. They air of confusion did not hint at any knowledge of an invasion.

"Think they know what's going on?" Sasuke had reached the same conclusion.
"How could they not? Look at the guards in the back; they're not exactly human,"
"Could be an illusion, or  magic," he answered.

Maybe.  

Naruto finally came back, his face a dark cloud of emotion, "We have to get these people outside,"
"I guess we have to be the heroes today, right?" Sasuke smirked.

Today was really a day of surprises, Sakura looked at Sasuke closely. He had just suggested saving the same people that he probably hated with a passion.

"Heroes," Naruto repeated the word with a relish, "Fancy that,"
   
"So what's your plan, geniuses?" This time it was Sakura's serious voice to bring them back to reality.

"Um," the blond started then failing to find words he indicated in Sasuke's direction, who did not dignify that gesture with a reply.

"Great, both of you," the headache had thankfully receded a tiny bit, "follow me,"
They weaved their way through the crowd who parted ways, mostly due to the sight of bloody clothes and grim expressions. Naruto was right, they were sorely underdressed. They took prime spots near the Royal Entrance, where the King always made his presence known in any event. They stood carefully next to a great curtain, barely avoiding the guards who kept circling the area. Thankfully, the noble crowd stopped staring at them after a few minutes.

Guess we're not the entertainment anymore…

"Our plan is to save the King, Master and Lord Jiraiya," Sakura said undertone, "The Nobles are important of course, but if any of those three fall, the Kingdom is gone," she looked at her partners-in-crime. They nodded in agreement.

"Makes sense," Sasuke smiled.

"Wh—"

The big silver gates of the Royal entrance opened and figures streamed through; Sound soldiers in very fine uniforms, non-military prisoners (Sakura recognized a white eyed  Hyuuga Elder among the group) and bound Royal Guards of the King. The great door closed.

"Why are they just standing there?" Naruto murmured.

"Shhhh,"

After a minute, the door opened once more and this time there was a familiar figure. A weakened Uchiha Itachi in chains and surrounded by a full platoon of purple clad men.  

A wave of mixed emotion rippled through the crowd: hatred, confusion, pity, revulsion.

Sakura felt Sasuke struggle to stay still next to her, "We will save him, I promise," She whispered but he did not seem to hear her.