Manga/Anime: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto/Studio Pierrot
Words: 3 239
Publish: 01/25/2020
Summary: Sick of an unknown disease which paralyse his body little by little, the second prince of Uzushio, Naruto Uzumaki, has lost interest in life until the day a pretty street-dancer makes her entrance in his bedroom and gives him hope to have the future he wants to have.

Half-seated in his bed, Naruto didn't stop himself to yawn. He even didn't covered his mouth with his hand, clearly wishing to show to the people in the room that he was bored. Unable to move his body, his eyes looked outside through the window.

On the lush grass of the beautiful garden of the palace, he saw his elder brother Nagato wooing a princess from the Land of Earth while his younger brother Konohamaru ran after their dog, Kurama. He wished to be with them. He'd love to run between the hills and the trees, going faster and faster. Unfortunately, with his legs, he couldn't run, couldn't go out, couldn't walk, simply couldn't move. Jealous of the picture his brothers gave him, his cloudy eyes came back on the rope-dancer in front of him who was suppose to entertained him.

Just by the look of his eyes, Kakashi, his consuel, understood what was going to happen if that fanfare kept playing in his prince's ears. With a quick sign, he stopped everything and, while the musicien was pushed outside of the room, he called for someone else.

However, Naruto had already looked away. He was fed up of the same repetitive tricks he was watching all day long. He'd like his father to show him strategies of the wars to come. He'd like his mother to talk to him about the beautiful princesses to marry. He'd like his elder brother to stop moaching him. He'd like his little brother to not be the only one in the spotlight. He'd like not to envy his life before he discovers he was sick.

Suddenly, a scream brought his attention back in the room. Two enormous lionesses with a strange fur covered of soot had just entered his bedroom. Free like the air, they smelled every domestics. Meanwhile, Kakashi demanded not move and to protect the prince who - free from the wild beasts' look which petrified everyone - noticed that one of them carried a large box.

Avoiding all the bodyguards around the bed, this female put its paws on the edge of the mattress and, suddenly, came close to Naruto. Quaking with fear, he crawled backwards in his bed while the others were blocked by the other animal. But, at the same moment the first lioness was showing its big sharp teeth at only a few inch from the prince's face, confetti exploded and every tensed person jump in fear.

A sweet melody became louder, freezing the lionesses like a snake charmer would do with his snakes. Speechless, he saw a young girl getting out of the box in front of him. The music stopped while she was stretching her arms, never letting him go from her gaze. She suddenly dampened her red lips with her tongue before bringing her transverse flute to her mouth again.

At that moment, the melody of before came back and the lioness got down from the bed, leaving Naruto with a crazy heartbeat. It has been a while since he felt that feeling and before his servants could do something, he held his hand in the air to order them not to move.

The young girl understood she could continue the show and she stood up, showing her not so much cloth body to her public. Despite her being younger than him, he could see her milky skin, flat stomach, the thinness of her arms and legs and the curves of her buttocks and her breasts through the piece of cloth she wore as a top. Following her dance moves which make her skirt flies, he notice the pairs of earrings hidden by her long raven hair. This and her dancer costume might be her only belongings.

No doubts, she came from the poor city of the kingdom so how did she came to Naruto without someone to stop her sooner? Astonished that this creature was in his bedroom, he never let her out of his sight, enjoying the show which surprised everyone around him.

Suddenly, the tone of the flute became quicker which meant the entertainment was soon ending and this didn't happened for a while because Kakashi or the bored prince would always stop the performer before the end.

At the rhythm of the music, the lionesses had started to run in circle around the beauty who, without hesitation, was jumping on top of these huge cats like they weren't a obstacle for her thin legs. Yet, what was the more impressive was that her flute never left her mouth. Wasn't she out of breath? Was she breathing? God, how could she play in tune while moving around like that? Naruto wanted to know especially when he saw her run, slip and get back on her feet between the beasts' paws.

Little by little, the animals followed her moves and the contents of the box that the one carried ended at the feet of the young girl who - with great speed - dropped her flute, took a little box and did a beautiful forwards somersault to pass the bodyguards and for land on the prince's bed. Because they weren't allowed to move, they hesitated to intercept her but Naruto couldn't care less.

Leaned forwards him, her skin glistened of sweat and her breast violently raised and fell to catch her breath, the young girl was smiling. It was at that moment that he noticed the few details which confirmed his reflexions. This young dancer couldn't eat properly, couldn't shower everyday et couldn't sleep for long. He could tell thank to her skinny cheeks, her dirty hair and her dark circles under her eyes.

"Please, Your Highness, pick up the card you want."

He successfully freed himself from these two pearls full of pureness she had and, back at the present moment, he looked at the cards she was presenting in her petite hand. After a last look at her, he picked up a card with a tree full of impressive colours. He didn't know what it meant so he looked up at her.

"Luck is on your side my prince. You picked up the Tree of Life" she explained with a happy voice.

Without permission, she sat on her heels and caressed his legs through the silk blankets. Unfortunately, he couldn't feel anything. They gaze met again and a knot appeared in his throat. Was she even real? Wasn't he dreaming about this young girl's beauty?

"Who allowed you to touch the prince, slattern?"

Her hand was pushed away from him by Kakashi who reacted to protect his sovereign. Because she was exhausted from her performance, she didn't resist and was pulled away from Naruto.

"Enough Kakashi!"

At the order, he let go of her like his hand had been whipped by Naruto. The latter looked down on the young girl now on her knees on the floor, surrounded by her two lionesses.

"You didn't answer my question." he said with a soft voice.

"My prince, I can see in the future with these cards and I can say without hesitation that you'll defeat the pain which eat you alive."

Surprised by this confession, everyone stayed silence in the room while Naruto was processing what she just said. Little by little, he felt a sparkle of hope grow. Was it possible that this girl knew a cure to help him become normal again? Flashes of him running, feeling the wind on his face or feeling the grass under his feet made him grin from ear to ear, surprising his subjects.

"Your turn is now over" Kakashi said. His proximity irritated once again the lionesses because no one was allowed to touch their mistress with such violence.

"I don't want to see the other performances of the day" Naruto stopped him. "And I want to be alone with this girl." Some subjects clenched their jaws but didn't disobeyed. Once they had bowed to say goodbye to their prince, they left the room. As soon as the door was closed, the blond looked at the young girl who didn't move.

"You bring some good news to me, beautiful dancer. Tell me your name." He asked.

"I'm just an entertainer with Hinata for name my prince."

"Look at me Hinata" he crooned "I like you and the ones I like, I keep them close to me" "His Highness is too good. I can't-" "I won't go back on my decision! You can be useful to me sooner or later but be careful! If you try to trick me, I'll kill you, understood?"

He still couldn't see her face but, silencely, she nodded. "Good. In that case, I make you my one and only entertainer. Now stand up."

Slowly, she did what he ordered her to do and, when she stood on her feet, Naruto witnessed the most beautiful smile he have ever seen on the lips of the girl who now belonged to him. 

***

Today had been an other windy day in Uzushio. Hinata knew it just because of how cold the stone walls of the palace were. She still wasn't used to this environment even if she was never went outside - prince's order that she happily never break. After all, without him, she would be still in the street, between Hiashi's claws. She shuddered with fear. What her father was going to say if he found her? She had completely forgot about the mission he had gave her to stay live with Naruto.

Since their meeting, the prince had changed so much, becoming someone as bright as the sun and, like a insect attracted by the light, she had brunt her wings by falling in love with him. But how could she not melt at the sight of his kindness? How could she not feel alive at the sound of his laugh? How could she not think about a bright future when he wouldn't stop repeat that she was the one who had changed him? The answer was simple, she knew it was wrong. It was her lie which helped Naruto enjoy his life again and so, helped him go out of his bedroom despite his condition. Not her.

Looking at the street where she used to live a nightmare, her thoughts were even more agitated than before.

Suddenly, a knock on the door stopped the torture she was imposing on her fingers. Once she had said that she had heard, she openned the door to her visitor who was no other than Kakashi.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but His Majesty would like to see you early tonight."

Surprised, Hinata asked herself what Naruto wanted from her at that time of the day. It wasn't usual of him to ask her to come early. Their appointments were normally after breakfast and after diner yet, outside, the sun just started to set. Despite all of that, she nodded and ran to her spectacle belongings but the man at her bedroom door stopped her.

"You won't need that or your lionesses. The prince just want to speak to you."

This is it! He had found out her secret and because she had lied, he might beheaded her. It was the only rational explanation Hinata found all the while she was walking to the rooms upstairs. He had warned her since day one and despite that, she had stayed quiet. She was such a fool!

With her dry throat caused by her worry, she waited for Kakashi to announce their arrival and for Naruto to invite her to come in the room alone.

There he was, on his wheelchair he had asked to be make for him to be more independent, the prince was focused on his feather which seemed to run on the scroll. Because he was closed to the window, rays of the setting sun were caressing his blond hair he had recently cut, accentuating his charisma. His fingers used to be without imperfections were now shot with small scares, showing he was doing manual work again. Unfortunately, those little changes weren't hiding the condition of his body. His movements with his arms were shorter and slower. However, the thing that Hinata loved the most was the smile which had never left his lips since she had told him the meaning of her card. Speaking of, it was near by him on the desk.

"I'm here my prince." She successfully kept her voice as natural as possible even if the fear was eating her alive.

"Sit on the bed."

While sitting on the bed, she thought that maybe he wanted their relation to become more passionate. Out of breath, she'd rather let him use her body than be kill by him.

"Do you want me to take off my clothes?"

"What?!" He said, finally looking at her. "Of course not. I didn't call you for that."

His face turned red but was it of embarrassment? No, surely it was because he was angry thought Hinata whose lips were becoming dryer and dryer by the seconde.

"So why do you want me here if it's not to be distracted by my flute or by my body?"

For a few seconds, they just stared at each other in silence. Cloudy blue was now so clear that lavender which was supposed to be pure couldn't look at it for long. She looked away, feeling her chicks warms up and her heart beats like crazy.

"So I was right." he understood.

Her body tensed up and Hinata suddenly felt cold. Yes, he really had understood the purpose of her presence here and, for that, he was going to kill her. Picturing his disappointed gaze, she felt her lips shook with emotion. Tears appeared on the corner of her eyes when she heard the wheel of the wheelchair coming closer and they fell down on her cheeks when he was before her.

"Hinata... Why are you avoiding me? Are you not happy anymore?" Her eyes shoot wide open. Did she heard correctly? "I can tell that something is on your mind. Is it the servants who disrespected you? Is your room too cold? Do you want to go back to your home? What do you desire?"

Finally, she dared look at his face and instead of disappointment she thought she was going to see, she saw worse. It was sadness and it could be heard in his normally so cheerful voice. Was it because of her? Was he worried about her? Him, the so call capricious prince? She knew that it was wrong whereas she wasn't worthy of his attention because her fears would pushed her away from him while her feelings for him would pulled her close to him. It was tiring, it was slowly destroying her and today, because of his worry, it was too much for Hinata who fell at his feet.

"My prince, you shouldn't be merciful with me because I'm lying to you since the beginning" She was now crying.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm not a true entertainer. I learnt all my tricks by copying others and if I came in your room, months ago, it was with only one purpose. I-I had to kill your father, the king. It was the order Hiashi gave to me. I had to sneak in the palace and, once done, I-I had to leave my hungry lionesses in your parents' bedroom. But, while I was waiting to perform before you, I instantly saw your hopelessness. I couldn't let you like that because I knew that death was waiting for you at the end of the path you chose. So I present to you m-my set-up cards. Whatever the one you'd chose, t-the result would've always be the Tree of Life because t-they were all the same. I just wanted to say what you wanted to hear and then, focus on my mission but y-you took me under your care. I could've take advantage of it b-but I didn't because... I lov... b-because I don't want to be the cause of your sadness... I should've tell you of all that from the beginning but my lies helped you live an..."

"Enough!" He finally cut her.

Her face was wet of tears, she was waiting for his judgment when he suddenly caught her hand and pulled her close to him. On her knees before him, her eyes wide open, she was looking at what her fingers, intertwined with his, were touching, were feeling. Under his chest, fast heartbeats were echoing hers which were strong in her ears.

"I-I... I don't understand... I..."

"Indeed, I'm hurt that you only confesse your secret now but, from what I understood, you didn't have a choice. It's either you kill my father or you are the one to be kill, am I right?"

Voiceless, she nodded while more tears were falling down. But, for the first one, someone was here to pull them away from her face. With an extremely soft move of his thumb, Naruto wiped away her cheek.

"Tell me who is this Hiashi guy" he demanded.

"M-My father... A rebel..."

At the sight of his tensed jaw, she knew he was angry even if he wasn't showing it. With a weak voice, she dared to ask that he was going to do because, despite she had suffered of famine, diseases and dehydration, she had never seen her future so unclear.

"I'm going to protect my family... and you..."

His hand squeezed hers while she was trying to remember how to breath. What was he trying to say to her?

"I-I... Me?"

"You didn't completely lied to me Hinata. You said I will be cured from the pain which was eating me alive and you're right. My heart don't suffer anymore thanks to you. I have accepted my fate thanks to you. Because, yes I'm going to die sooner or later, but I will be able to live with you."

Their hands let go, he slowly turned towards his desk and took the card before give it back to her.

"This is why I want to give that back to you. I don't need it anymore to live because I found someone who is loyal, kind, astonishing, caring and so much more.

Without letting go of Naruto's eyes, Hinata took the card with hesitation, waiting for him to angrily bust and to say that all of what he had just said was a lie but nothing came, confusing her even more.

"God, you still don't get it?" He asked and let his fingers caress her from her long hair to the nape of her neck. "I love you."

His hot breath which caressed the tip of her nose make her shiver but when his lips met hers Hinata was shaking from head to toe. Was all of this real? The prince was really kissing her? Her? He loved her? Her heart nearly exploded in her chest because of how fully happy she was.

"What about you?" He wanted to know when he set her free from his lips.

"Day after day, I had leant to love you and I'm ready to died with these feelings" she shyly confessed.

"Die?" he repeated. "The only ones who will die are the ones who will dare to be between you and me Hinata."

"My prince, I..."

"Call me by my name." he stopped her.

"Naruto, I love you."

The next OS is coming in February. I hope you'll be there ^^