The noise of calculated tapping filled the barely decorated room. The pencil was rapped rhythmically and predictably in callous yet femininely thin fingers against a notebook transcribed with rough sketches, arrows and long winded explanations which were more detailed than one look in a microscope.

"Get your ass down brat, dinner is ready..." A gruff and bitter voice filtered into the room and shaking the boy who held the pencil from his inner musing.

The boy was lean and wiry, the result of long rigorous training sessions, but a strange scent hung around him, odourless and seemingly a product of foul yet sickening thoughts overcooking. His lips weighed down by lead never could carry any emotion. While his two orbs were painted a vivid sea blue, churning and gushing violently in a spiral as if to suck you in and drown you until all life had left your body.

His fingers trailed lazily through his side swept bangs while the rest of his untamable mane of spiky hair was forcefully pinned down into some shape with hair pins. But the colours his possessed made many envious. His father was blessed with golden blonde hair but the boy, on the other hand, was gifted the colour of melted rays from the fiery sun.

Standing robotically he exited his room. It was all very spartan, no pictures, no sense of personality or comfort just a small neatly made bed pushed against the wall, the window was not draped however permanently kept open while the walls were painted a sterile white.

The Namikaze mansion was a splendour to see, being palatial from the outside with dark marble lofty sculptures and exotic wallflowers which had climbed into the boy's room from his open window much to his minimal delight, the structure was baronial and many always took a few moments to pause and revel in the presence of the building. The corridors that lead to the young boy's room was colder, even with the same amount of decoration as the other parts of the mansion his side always seemed to give his family the chills. They were always reluctant to retrieve him for dinner or any other farce.

Having trekked through the long winding hallways he inwardly frowned at the sudden warmth which permitted from the walls. He heard loud yet warm chatter between parents and children, it did not hurt anymore. Before he used to cry himself to sleep as grievous thoughts entered his mind about his heritage and his heart felt the telltale sting of a knife shanking it tortuously. Although he was used to it now.

He entered the room and did not bother to scout the room and simply made a bee-line to the kitchen to retrieve his dinner and planned to finish it in his own bedroom. He always did this and then washed up his mess early in the morning along with his breakfast, which he enjoyed in solitude. Once again it was ramen. He had nothing against the dish, he even liked it, still, it was hardly necessary to be served it every odd day under the pretence of a hearty meal. It barely gave him enough nutrients to survive training and he had to in the end, much to his distaste, rely on his teacher to provide him with the odd meal to make up for his mother's obsessive behaviour.

"Naruto!" He had taken too long. He was caught by the very person he wanted to avoid. "Let me serve you," the voice was calm and washed over him affectionately. Naruto seemed to reluctantly edge away from the stove and from the tall feminine figure which smiled brightly at him. This was Mito, named after a kunoichi who originated from Uzushiogakure's Uzumaki clan and married Hashirama Senju, the village's First Hokage, and later became the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, therefore, having to keep up with her predecessor's name. She had grown out her intense red hair and tied it up on her side in a messy bun with light waves and decorated with two black tama with a transparent bead artfully painted with miniature red flowers, something Tsunade had bestowed upon her after living up to the famed Mito Uzumaki.

Mito carefully ladled out some of the noodles and soup and handed him some chopsticks. "You are going to eat with us?" Her voice so hopeful that it gnawed quickly at Naruto's emotionless stare. With a stiff nod, Mito guided him into the dining room where the noise suddenly dropped to nothing. He sat at the very end of the table away from most of the other occupants but directly in front of Mito. The older sister could not wipe the smile off her face as she watched her younger brother take bites out the food, completely ignoring the other people in the room.

"Did I tell you, papa?" A keen voice spoke up. The boy's father, Minato, having the same but softer features compared to Naruto, turned brightly to his second daughter, Mito being the oldest. The youngster was an eye-candy, wearing whatever complemented and highlighted her assets, her twin tails shaking with excitement as the teen bounced in her seat. "We learnt the henge today and Iruka-sensei was astonished that I got it on my first go!" The father eats up the news like a dog dying of starvation as he too shared her excitement.

"That's great Naruko, it won't be long before I teach you more complicated techniques." The Minato glanced at his wife, Kushina, who frowned back. "What about you Naruto...did you learn anything?" Naruto froze at the question. He narrowed his eyes and scrunched his eyebrows.

"Yeah Yeah about that papa! My dear Nii wasn't even in lessons today!" The girl smirked, which the parents mistook for childish innocence, only to watch with uncaring eyes as her parents chewed out Naruto over the new revelation.

"Why weren't you in the lesson and you better speak fast or I'll chain you dattebayo!" The whole evening had gone down the drain. Luckily Menma, the second oldest, was not there, had he been there he would have cut in and answered for Naruto only to worsen the situation.

"Mother calm down and put down the spatula." Mito dejected firmly. Kushina was ready to explode but Minato placed a hand on her shoulder and eased her back into her seat and pulled the spatula out her hand. "Naruto why weren't you in the lesson?" The enquiry was not hostile nor was is evasive, it was softly spoken and seemed to relax his tensed shoulders.

"Uchiha-sama had invited me over for the day and I had already been excused by Iruka-sensei today." With that explanation, Naruto looked up at Mito, uncaring if his mother or father found the reasoning inadequate. "He wanted to talk to me about something important and today was the only day he was free from meetings for a while. I had already handed in and performed the henge in front of Iruka-sensei to show that I was not missing anything." Mito waved her hand in the air.

"I'm sure Uchiha-sama had something important to divulge to you. Just make sure to tell me next time." Naruto nodded. Knowing the strained look she was sending him. Naruko had the habit of spouting lies about Naruto when he did not attend meals with them and the fact that Naruto avoids his parents like a plague did not help. "Good boy." Naruto froze on the spot and paused as if to silently bask in the praise before getting up and leaving the table. Washing his bowl and

Washing his bowl and chopsticks he dried them and placed them in their appropriate area. He nodded briefly in Mito's direction as if to wish her good night, before heading to the east wing of the house. Welcoming the sweet isolation he opened his door and pushed it closed and pumped some red chakra into his hands, activating some complicated runes in the door before they dimmed into nothing. It was for safety, just in case someone tried to force their way into his room without the correct chakra signature then the bombs on the other side of the door would detonate, something Naruto had created himself.

A whisper of scruffling came for the window and immediately Naruto ran to peer outside it to see a timid racoon grappling desperately at the vines of his favourite wall-flowers. He let out a chuckle, his voice light and silvery, attracting the attention of the animal which ogled him in surprise. Naruto reached out and clasped the animal by the middle and brought him up to his chest with satisfaction. The animal tried to bury itself deeper into the light embrace to be rewarded with another genuine chuckle.

"Now, now little one. I want the letter from my Ouji-sama."(Prince) The little racoon seemed to pout before summoning a scroll into existence in Naruto's hand. "I'm sure my Ouji-sama is worried about you but maybe you can stay longer." Naruto smiled at the animal who seemed ready to protest about leaving. Placing the animal onto his desk, moving all his study books onto the side, he pulled open a drawer and pulled out a few handful of dried pieces of meat. "Here, I like to keep a snack but we can share." The racoon sniffed intensively at the pile of meat but only took one when Naruto had taken a piece and munched on it, then only did it scoff down some pieces with renewed hunger.

Unsealing the scroll with the same red chakra, knowing it would burn immediately if forced open, and tore through the words on the page with ravenous eyes.

Dear Kitsune-san,

I'm happy to know that you are very fond of Tadashi, he is one of the younger ones of the pack and seems to always like an adventure. That is why I had chosen him to be our messenger until we meet face to face.

Naruto turned to the racoon who was now more reserved and modestly nibbling on a piece of meat. "Thank you, Tadashi." The racoon gazed up and dismissed the compliment with a simple nuzzle into Naruto hand which lay free on the table. Naruto laughed and scratched the racoon under his ear and allowed the animal to revel under his attention.

Your concern is noted however not needed, if my father does over step his bounds, which he most certainly will, I shall alway be on my guard. It is you who needs to be worried the most, the villagers only seem to be getting more violent and reckless by the day. I do understand as to why you wish not to finish them off under the pretence of their blatant stupidity as your father will be more displeased and in turn damage you worse than the villagers. I do wish I could take Tadashi's place and come to your side and kill all those who even look at you in an offending manner. But I can not.

Too many eyes watch me and too many ears listen for me. All I can say is that avoid them as best as possible my dear friend. It would be a pity to lose you to such bigotry. After all the intimate letter we exchange I would like to know someone is keeping me from falling into insanity even if I am gripping by threads. You are very dear to me, even mother approves of our relationship, which I find very puzzling as she has never shown a hint of approval to anyone but me.

My day has not changed however, you will be happy to know that father is leaving for a diplomatic meeting, therefore, I can send letters more frequently. And to address your previous questions I was able to obtain the herb you so practically begged me to gather from the village's green house. I hope I will never have to undergo the process of reading more than five large paragraphs about a specific plant. You might also be proud to know that the seed you had sent me to plant and care for had flowered today, as unbelievable as it may sound you were right in saying that a sense of accomplishment had gripped me. I hope to show it to you someday, however, I fear if I even touch it the plant will meet its untimely demise.

From your most trusted confidant and loyal friend Tanuki

At the very end was a seal which contained the herb that Naruto's Ouji-sama had sent. Naruto felt a range of emotions, wider than any spectrum he was normally used to. Having the emotional capabilities of a rock had its ups and downs, however, the ups outweighing the downs. But somehow reading a letter from his Ouji-sama always made his heart ache in the most wonderful ways.

"Come Tadashi, I hope Ouji-sama will not mind if I kept you for longer." The little racoon was on the verge of drifting off under the relaxing strokes Naruto gave him. Carrying the animal to his bed he pulled the white cover to his waist, allowing the animal to make itself comfortable next to him and stroked the large bushy tail to help him drift into dream land.

A lone figure surrounded by bountiful sand gazed into the sky. Cardenal hair ruffling in the nightly cool breeze which explored his village made entirely of sand based structures and glass as mint green orbs swept the sky lazily. His lips tugged into a smile as his mind flooded with images of a blonde beauty. Of all the things he imagined his Kitsune to resemble he had not even scratched the surface of his charm. Tadashi was not only adventurous but the racoon was bonded to the lone figure allowing him to look with Tadashi's eyes. Something he was now used to. The lone figure spent most his nights watching the sleeping fox, at first with longing as Naruto could sleep but later with rapped attention it came to the figure that he could not pass through a day without knowing his fox was unharmed and in a restful sleep.

So it let it be. After all, his mother approved of his interaction and he was not about to let go of the one person who offered acceptance.

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