Sovereign Of The Dragons

Itachi's Back

The next morning Naruto listened to all that Sasuke had found out. Sasuke's suspicions were confirmed; apparently Hinata had helped her brother cheat. To get her to reveal what she had done Sasuke had used his sharingan on her. Under the immense power of the sharingan Hinata revealed that she had casted a spell on Itachi to control him during the duel. It had all been preplanned so Itachi had never even had a chance of winning.

"So, what does this mean?" Naruto murmured.

Naruto and Sasuke were on the long carriage ride back to Uchiha territory. Deidara was riding in a separate carriage with four other guards. The sun was setting in the blue sky and Naruto was clinging tightly onto Sasuke's arm. He hadn't let go of Sasuke since he had woken up from his nightmare. Neji's touch still lingered on his skin and the only way to get rid of it was by having Sasuke as close to him as possible.

"It means Neji didn't win and there will have to be a re-duel." Sasuke seethed.

"But how? Itachi-san is still unconscious." Naruto clutched tighter onto Sasuke, tight enough to bruise. He already knew what Sasuke was going to say next.

"I'll duel him in place of Itachi. As his brother I am the one who should fight in his place."

"No." Naruto murmured brokenly.

"What?"

"I said no!" Naruto yelled at the top his lungs. Everything he had done to prevent this outcome from happening had all been for nothing. He had endured the disgusting feeling of Neji undressing him and touching him for absolutely nothing. It was like a slap to the face. He wasn't strong enough to protect his mate. "You can't duel Neji!"

"Why not?" Sasuke questioned. He was shocked by Naruto's reaction. He thought the blond would be happy that Neji would finally get his payback.

"Because you just can't! I don't want you to get hurt!"

"I won't get hurt, I've been dying to fight that arrogant prick, I won't allow him to lay a single finger on me."

"B-but you can't! Not even Itachi-san could beat him." Naruto sobbed. His blue eyes were brimming with tears. "I don't want to lose you!"

"So this is what this is all about?" Sasuke sighed. He lifted Naruto up and sat him down on his lap. He cupped Naruto's chin and guided his face up so he could look at Naruto in the eyes. "You're not going to lose me, I'm going to defeat Neji."

"How do you know that though?" Naruto sniffled. His tears were still falling freely as he gazed into Sasuke's obsidian eyes.

"Neji only beat Itachi because he cheated. He's no match for me. I will win and after I do I will come up to the balcony and give you a kiss to show you that you haven't lost me." Sasuke wiped the tears from Naruto's cheeks.

Naruto kissed Sasuke's lips, all he could do was accept his alpha's decision. He had failed.

XXXXXXX

The duel between Neji Hyūga and Sasuke Uchiha finally came two weeks later. All of Fire Country was in attendance. This was the re-duel of the century. Now that everyone knew of how the Hyūga family had cheated they all wanted to see justice served. Across the arena the Hyūga clan royals sat in a similar balcony as the Uchiha's balcony. Hiashi Hyūga sat beside Haku and his youngest daughter Hanabi. There was a noticeably empty seat beside Hiashi where Hinata would've sat if she had been allowed to come to the duel but because of what she had done during the last duel between Itachi and her bother, she was banned from going to a duel ever again. It was a great dishonor for a once highly respected princess.

Naruto was ten times more nervous than the last time he had been at the coliseum to see Itachi duel. Maybe it was because unlike last time, he was actually deeply in love with the Uchiha dominant whom was dueling.