Heavy is The Head That Wears The Crown// Neji & Ino AU
@proudxkunoichi
Original Post Here
Neji had been standing where he usually stood. At attention, always keeping an eye on guests or others who might have been a threat to the queen. it was always better to be cautious than to let anything slip by on the possibility of nothing nefarious happening. One should not be so foolish and always be on the alert. Though this was the kind of life he had been born into. A life of being someone who watched. Peeked out any sort of threat to the king or queen under his guard. Of course, that had been his entire families role. They were good at it too. He was very young when his father had died. The only parent he had. His uncle had given the former king permission to have Neji protect the princess. Something that the four year old in training really wasn't the biggest fan of. He was told to be Princess Ino's 'companion'. He had spent a lot of his time wondering, then, what good would it be to be close to the princess, when he could spend all of his time training to be a lethal killer instead. Like the rest of the boys. But the rest of the boys were of such low ranking birthright, compared to him. This sort of thing was in his family's blood. His uncle would say to him.
He had never did most of what Ino and her ladies in waiting would do. Spending hours in the gardens playing children's games, even at such a young age had never appealed to him. The girl had made friends a lot easier than he had ever been able. But he was always there, sitting against the tree in the shade, pretending to nap. Silently contemplating to himself. As Ino had made nice with the other children in the Kingdom that would be invited to the castle, or happened to be their due to their own parents status. Neji often stuck out like a sore thumb, even having rejected offers to play by other young boys of the castle. Noble's sons who were far to soft, Neji had thought. Too soft to play any games he would had preferred to play, without crying about it. Neji had remained this way their entire lives. Mind stuck in one focal point. On being a protector to the princess, and now Queen of Konoha. It was a long wait. But one he had been content with. Because this was the sort of thing he was good at. Silent, and deadly.
As he watched the red head be escorted out, Neji had narrowed his eyes on them. The newly appointed King of The Sand Kingdom had quite a bloody reputation. But the boy himself had seemed to be troubled until recently. Within the last few years that is, changing themselves almost entirely, into a fine King. At least that was as much information as Neji managed to gather. However, it was not HIS king, and Gaara was not his worry. Ino was, and he had to think of Ino first, before himself, before anyone else. At her question he continued to look toward the door. Dull pale white eyes locked on it for a moment before he turned his head slightly to look toward her "Most Kings only ever want wars, it is about taking as much as they think they deserve, land, women, the people, the treasures." Neji had said then glances down " Rumors about him have made it to this land, however. The young King once was compared to a 'murderous demon' in his youth... It is best we not take everything he says at face value." Neji informed.
Of course, it was best to avoid war, even if they might have been stronger than King Gaara, there was a lot that went into a war than just bodies. Anyone who wore the crown would eventually need to battle, whether it be with another kingdom, or their own people. Kings, Queens, and anything in between, would not get far without spilling a bit of blood every once in a while. His eyes narrow a little bit " No. But it is always better to be prepared for the worst. Rather than waiting till the last minute when the worst is already happening." Neji had said to her then. At her last question he let out a sigh "Double the guards at the entrances to the castle, make sure The Watch is also doubled around the kingdom. Leaves a little entry points open as possible, to the castle, and to the kingdom itself. Make sure Gaara's guards remain in their quarters with their King, double the guards there." Neji proposed to her then looked away " If he is up to something, he will more than likely try something at our most vulnerable. The night must be treated with greater care than usual."