Chapter 1: Broken promise
Crows were circleing around a mass battle field feasting from the remains and left over of a huge fight. Along with the birds were bodies laying liflessly in the dirt, some of them frozen in their blood. Thousands were called to fight here today and only a hundreds left. The imperial army was beaten by bunch of unhonorable barbarians of this land who were forced to fight by the land lords of this world. The mighty banners of the Golden Dragon are now stained with mud and blood; their carriers were beheaded while trying to flee. The vanguards were almost torn apart because they were the one who first experienced the steel of these people. The cavarly was also beaten; horses and both their riders were lying dead on the ground. They clearly fallen for an ambush, first they were lured in here and from both sides the enemy appeared and ripped them apart from both sides.
Even among all these death soldiers of a mighty empire one still breathed on the ground. He was cut several times and four arrows were sticking out from his armour, leaving only two to pierce his flesh. His limbs were hurting and his chest was burning from great pain, however the pain that was in his heart was the greatest of all. He felt weak, his wounds were bleeding hard and soon he will pass out and it will be over for him. Feeling that his end is near he only murmured one thing:
"F-Foregive me… fore-give m-me, I-I can … not keep my… promise to you… I-I don't want to… die, not without… seeing you… another last time." – his vison soon blured and a memory awaked in him.
(Flashback)
A few months earlier on a beautifull night a man and a woman were walking in the palace gardens. It was late night and only the few lanterns and the Moon gave light to the darkness. For them it was perfect since their relation is kept in secret infront of everyone since they meet and fallen in love with each other.
The man was around 24 and his body was well built enough to be strong and handsome. His face had a pair of marvelous blues eyes filled with love towards his partner and on each side of his cheeks three wisker like birthmarks. Some locks of his blond hair framed his face but mostly his hair is kept in a spiky form witch suited him the best. He softly smiled towards his lover and his hands were holding her's never wanting to let them go.
The woman who he was with was, well beautifull is not the right word to describe her beauty. Her waist length hair was night blue as the night sky. In the moonlight her fair skin glowed like ivory and the feeling of it was like silk. The kimono what she was wearing was made out of the expensive fabric a woman can ever get in this land. At some spots it clinged to her skin, revealing her curves witch could make every man's blood to boil at the mere sight of it. But the most beautiful sight on her was her sparkling silver with eyes; witch calmed and filled anyones heart with joy. She was also smiling at him, looking deeply into his eyes.
After a few minutes she was about to leave but then the youngman grabbed her writs gently to hold her back.
"What is the matter my love? You don't want to be with me anymore?" – He asked sounding a bit concerned.
The woman smiled and answered. – "No I…I just need to head back to my room, i-if they don't find me there the guards will start looking for me and…"
"Please, just a little longer since if I let you go now I…" – he stopped, knowing the next words would upset her.
"What? You look concerned, Naruto please what is on your mind?" – She asked looking at him with concerned eyes.
He sighted and then answered – "I don't know if I am ever going to see you again, Hinata. This might be the last occasion that I ever going to see your beautiful eyes, hold your gentle hands and… and feel the warmth of your soft skin." – He said sounding sad.
"Why? Is there something… no – she got a bit shocked – please don't tell me… you were called in again."
His only answer was a nod.
"No, Naruto I-I can help… I can ask the Empress, my status can…" – she was cut off when he placed his finger on her mouth.
"I know you being the heiress of the empire could save me from war but… I can't let you do that."
"Why? Don't you love me? Are you eager to die, what is your reason to fight and leave me in my worries?"
"Hinata, I love you with all my heart and I would die a thousand of deaths for making you sad but… I must, if I want to follow my father's legacy then… I have to go."
"Isn't there another way?"
"No – he shacked his head – I tried to look for it but there is not other way, my family wants me to take his steps and follow his path, my mother also gaved me this look but seeing it from you is much more painfull than I thought it will be."
He then hugged her embracing her tight, not wanting to part, he wanted to savour this moment and every bit of her warmth to contain himself in the battles. After a few moments Hinata said in a low voice, sounding almost like a whisper.
"Can you promise me just one thing?"
"Anything you like my dear, anything."
"Please, I know it will sound selfish but… don't die. I couldn't bare even the thought of it and if it happens I… I just don't know, so please forgive me for asking it but please don't die and come back to me alive." – It was indeed a selfish request but it was also a desperate one. After saying it outloud a drop of tear rolled down on her cheek and it was soon followed by another.
Naruto noticed them and wiped them away, now looking her in the eyes giving her a soft and friendly smile. "I swear to my name and honor that I won't, even if all odds are aginst it I won't die and come back to you, and you can take it as a promise, Hinata." – Then he leaned closer to her lips and kissed them gently.
The kiss started to last only for a moment but soon turned into a short minute then a whole. It was filled with love and passion.
"I love you." – Hinata said in bliss.
"I love you too." – Naruto answered with his heart overflowing with joy.
(End of flashback)
He was on the ground, each drop he lost from his own blood he could feel the chill before death. He was getting weak, soon a picture of his beloved apeared before him. She had that clam and warm smile on her face, she reached out for him and so did he. Their hands were about to meet when the mirage faded, when started to cry slowly. He got too weak from bloodloss to speak up but in his mind he sobbed.
"Forgive me, Hinata. I swore not to die, I swore that I will come back alive no matter whar happens. Please forgive me for not keeping my promise, forgive me since I was not enough strong to keep me alive this time. – he paused and thought back – The only thing that I regret is that I can't say goodbye to you, that someone else will tell wath happened and your heart will break because of it. I… I d-don't… – he gasped before gathering the will to speak up again out loud – I don't want to die."
His vision blacked out and he felt that he was being lifted up, his body was light as air and a feeling of floating came to his mind. Then it disappeared and he felt he was lying on solid ground but it was wet, like it was flooded. He opened his eyes and looked around in awe, was this the afterlife, is it heaven or hell? Suddenly he got strong enough to stand up, it was dark but he could clearly see a fade of crimson glowing coming from the distance. He was confused and even got more confused when he heard a maniac laughter.
"So, you don't want to die, boy? Well if that is your wish I can help you with it." – said a deep voice in the crimson light.
"Who are you? Where am I?" – He asked looking confused and nervous. – Am I dead and this is the Spirit World?"
Laughter was heard from the light.
"Answer me damn it!" – He shouted at it.
"No, you haven't died yet. You are on the werge of death and now my power is the only thing that keeps you between life and death."
"And who are you?"
"You seem to not remember me, but I'm not surprised, it has been more than 10 years since you and I last talked and met."
"I still don't remember, who are you?"
The crimson light started to glow brighter and it seemed that it was shifting to something. Soon a figure of a gigantic fox appeared from the swirling light. It looked like an ordinary fox but behind it was nine swinging tails. The beast's grin sent chills down on Naruto's spine; it was like a nightmare… wait, now it was clear to him. When he was only 13 he had a dream with the same beast in it. It grinned just like that one and sarted to talk to him, as a child he was shocked and panicked by his sight. His screams woke her mother up who thought he was in danger and rushed into his room, she then noticed that he was just having a nightmare. Later in the morning he told her mother about it, she only comforted him and explained that it was just a bad dream because he just lost his father and everything will be fine.
"Impossible… you… were just a dream. You can't be here unless I…"
"You can waste the precious time by figureing out how I came here or we can just get back to business, boy."
Naruto frowned and then looked him in the eyes.
"What do you want from me then?" – He asked.
"Clever, now I heard you don't want to die, and you weren't enough strong to fight for your life. I can help you; I can prevent your death and give you the power beyond your imagination to prevent this from happening again."
"I see, and what do you want in trade of this "hospitality" of yours?"
"Simple, just one bit of freedom, not now of course but later on."
"And how can I do this?"
"Just agree to my terms and weaken that seal on my chest, you will be both saved from death and will obtain my powers. So do we have a deal, boy?" – The fox grinned at him.
Naruto didn't trust a word from it but if this thing says the truth then he can go back to Hinata alive and on top of it he will gain power to prevent this from happening. He sut his eyes and started thinking, after a few moments of balancing the facts he agreed.
"Splendid, now this will hurt a bit, but don't worry what will come after it will worth the pain." – Then the swirl of crimson light grabbed him and started to meld on his body. It was like burning from both the inside and outside, like every bone broke then healed hundreds of times and feeling his skin coming off then reattach to his muscles again and again. He could only scream from this massive pain and the beast could only grin and laugh in silent about his work.