incense sticks ||| sasunaru

four /// the palace

My wife was such a kind and caring person. She never turned a blind eye to those in need, even if that meant jeopardizing her own health.

Not a day passes where I don't think about her passionate attitude, contagious smile, and voice of honey. She left a parting gift for me: our son, Naruto, who possesses the same admirable traits.

I want to protect our offspring just like I wish I could have protected her from her woes. Maybe by sheltering the boy he won't meet the same fate as his mother.

I do hope my son will heed my guise and obediently follow the life plan I sought out for him. I truly want the best for him— a life without struggle.

Or else I fear my wife's final gift will be in vain and her legacy tarnished with it.

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four /// the palace

"Sasuke, look! How marvelous!" The excited blond jutted his arm out and pointed at a field of luscious greenery. There were a few workers and cattle in the far end of the field, contributing to the farm work.

"Farmers?" Sasuke leaned forward to stare at the field for himself.

"Why, yes! I've never seen a farm before, only in books. I do wonder how farmers manage their crops, especially in such a vast plot of land."

Sakura chimed in from the opposite side of the carriage, holding a newspaper with her legs crossed, "They have servants whom are paid decent rates to tend to the farm, young master."

"That is to be expected, of course. I meant with the infertility of this land. I've read countless geological studies that has reported a severe decline in agricultural productivity. How are there even crops to farm in these conditions?"

The young maid sighed. Naruto often went on these random tangents about facts he'd mulled over in a book before. His mind was an encyclopedia— a grand collection of information that doesn't come easy to most. With all that knowledge in his head, the blond has nowhere to express it but verbally at any moment available. She found it hideously annoying but it's not like she could shun her young master's ramblings.

Sasuke, on the other hand, adored Naruto for his memorization skills. It baffled him how someone so incredibly gifted could still be well-rounded, humorous, and enjoyable to be around. Usually these types are conceited or disconnected, like his brother. There was something youthful and naive about the way Naruto spoke that just made everything he said interesting to the raven.

So, although he didn't know anything about the climate changes of this region, he listened with his full attention to Naruto's words.

"Ah, that reminds me!" Naruto tapped his chin with his finger. "Do you believe the royal palace has some sort of farm on its estate? I'd love to see the animals and crops up close!"

"I'm sure we can stop by one of these farms if you so desire, young master," Sakura replied with a monotone voice, still preoccupied by the political section of the newspaper.

"Yes, I suppose we could..." He stared back at the field, blue eyes widening as he took a mental note of sights ahead. He didn't want to stop and delay their arrival to the palace. The palace was in a rising city with stands, merchants, new foods, and so much more. Naruto could hardly wait.

"Have you ever ventured out of our town, Sasuke?" he wondered aloud, still scanning over the various strands of wheat sticking out of the ground.