II
~3 Months Later~
It was a glorious day for the Land of Spring, the Queen's only son Prince Yukirei Kazehana had just become a man. The age of sixteen years signaled that he could finally marry or rise to kingship alone, but no news of either event had come to the ears of the masses. Nor was there any truth to rumors floating in the air, gradually it had been accepted that this was a simple celebration for the Prince's birthday!
Many neighboring nations were invited to the festivities; it had just started to become autumn and temperatures fell. However the Land of Spring was forever toasty and warm, a welcomed relief by the vistors from other lands.
A fetival was established; civilians and shinobi alike were enjoying themselves. Queen Koyuki was chatting with old friends when Yukirei returned from getting ready for the long day ahead; "It's so nice to see you here! I wish you could stay longer to enjoy the food and festivities!"
"We're actually on a mission towards Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage was just assassinated. We wanted to stop by before we conducted an investigation," said Sasuke; while wearing his new standard look with a cloak, headband, and hair style blocking out his rinnegan.
"I apologise again for not assisting in the Great Ninja War, surely my technologically advanced Samurai could've helped." Queen Koyuki said with a sad look in her eyes.
"Don't apologise, you abandoned the Ninja Military ideals anyway. It was called a Ninja War, not the Great Ninja and Samurai War." The Seventh Hokage Naruto said with a bright grin, he purposely refused to mention that the Land of Iron has asisted in the war with their samurai to keep from hurting her feelings.
"We would've done fine," Prince Yukirei said walking out wearing a tight form fitting long coat with the buttons binded tightly on his torso to show off his physic under the clothes. He looked good, it was very regal, but it also looked like he was ready for a fight. "Do not sell us short Shinobi."
"Yukirei don't be rude! These are the incredible shinobi who brought me home when I was your age; Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha. They were only in their preteens when they pulled it off," Queen Koyuki said through a smile.
"I see," Prince Koyuki got on his knees and bowed before the three adult memebers of Team 7. "I apologize for my rude behavior; I thank you for saving my mother's life those many years ago."
"Y-You don't have to thank us!" Sakura said waving her hands, "We're were just doing our job!" She may have been saying that, but she secretly enjoyed it. "Say, weren't you Master Sora in that film; Born in Exile?" Yukirei groaned a little as he looked away cheeks red, "You are! My daughter loves you, or your character I should say."
". . ." Sasuke was staring at the boy for a long time. Seeing Yukirei and Koyuki together, they looked plenty alike asife from a few key details such as skin tone or facial shape. It was odd, but something was strange about the prince to him. "Let's go. We have a murder to investigate before this ruins the many years of peace we managed to hold onto."
"See you later Queen Koyuki," Naruto waved over his shoulder as Sasuke and Sakura followed. "Next time I'll being Boruto and Himawari, and their kid Salad!"
"It's Sarada!" Outside the doors Sakura looked concerned at Sasuke, "Is something wrong Sasuke-kun?"
"No, nothing is wrong." Sasuke said sharigan eye burning brightly, he leapt far off with Naruto and Sakura in tow. They needed to move fast before the Sixth Great Ninja War was set off.
Yukirei sat next to his mother crosss legged on the floor, shortly after the ninja left the room. The nobles and royalty from the neighboring countries were ushered in.
"From the Land of Honey; Kosuka Kinana! From the Land of Wind; the Kaze Daimyo! From the Land of..."
It persisted for a good 2 hours as a large half circle was formed facing the balcony where fireworks would set the night on fire as soon as it grew dark, but now Yukirei had to give a welcoming speech before the royal familiees of twelve different countries including his own. He had to practice this for a good three months, he practiced infront of many crowds to get this right.
He stood up and walked to the center, with various Princesses were shooting eyes at him, the various Princes were sizing him up. There was one Prince giving him the eyes as well, and even a little Princess bored asking her mother where the food was.
Prince Yukirei cleared his throat as he stood on the balcony with eyes on him from every direction around him. "Today is the day I have become a man in the eyes of not just my country, but many of yours. Its said that I will soon rise to be a king, one way or another, but there is still much for me to learn. I shall take my birthright when I fell as if I'm ready, however if this country should need me to do so. I will not hesitate to seize my kingdom and protect it." It was getting powerful, inspiring, and intimidating.
Yukirei closed his eyes leaving them in suspence before he smiled warmly, "Should that time ever come you may all rely on me. Be today you are all here to enjoy the festivities in honor of such occasion. So let us close this quickly so that we may continue to enjoy ourselves and each other's company. I look forward to keeping the peace between us all!" Cheers followed him, he waited a bit before continuing. "I look forward to be the one workng with you all," He gave the various single kings a glance.
As if to tell them; "You can keep your hands of my Mom if you planned on making a move. I will be King of my Land, not you." He received challenging glances back, but he ignored them.
"I would like to propose a toast; to my mother for having what it takes to keep a nation in one piece whilst raising a troublesome teenage boy!" That drew many laughs, "I love you Mom."
"To Queen Koyuki Kazehana!" All the Royals raised their glasses and took a drink, "TO QUEEN KOYUKI KAZEHANA!" The people outside the castle yelled, Prince Yukirei's speech was a rousing success. With him walking back the food was served.
It was still mid day as everyone mingled, spoke of political affairs, or shared interesting tales. Yukirei was continously shakng hands and congradulations, it wasn't for a whole hour he was able to get food for himself.
He approached the long table of food from various nations taking rice with honey ham from the Land of Honey, "Excuse me Prince Yukirei." Turning around was a girl; "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you Princess..." He had forgotten her name, he clearly had a look of confusion on his face.
"Oh I'm not a Princess, I work for you. I'm one of the few Land of Spring Shinobi left; we've never met. I'm here to protect you incase anything should happpen, but I wanted to meet you. My name is-" Yukirei was going to thank her, but suddenly 2 girls move in pushing her into the crowd.
Yukirei was surprised there was a Land of Spring Ninja at all, let alone a female ninja that worked for him? It was certainly odd. She had firey orange hair with black tstreaks of hair intergrated with the rest. She was wearing an black and yellow Kimono with a sealed tanto tied to her back. The kunoichi smiled and vanished, "Hello Prince Yukirei!" said one of the 2 girls who made themselves the center of his vision, "My name is Ku Kinana Princes of the Land of Honey."
"And my name is Yunega from the Land of Dreams. We were wondering if you had to fall in love with one of us, who would it be?"
Yukirei wasmn't listening, he was looking for the kunoichi. After a brief look around he knew he wouldn't find her again, he turned to the two of them. "I happen to be attracted to a specific type of girl, I'll leave it a secret for now. Wouldn't want to spoil the fun, just know it's pretty common in other lands." With that he left them to their curiosity as he went to get himself some tea.
A lingering woman across the table smirked, "We're leaving. I have preperations to make..."
It grew dark with Yukirei lost in eating, speaking with other noblemen, or looking for that Kunoichi. It wasn't till it was dark that he gave up, "Yuki." He turned to see his mother, "Are you too old to dance with your mother?" Yukirei shook his head as the two of them took to the floor, the two of them danced like they've done it many times. Which was the truth, many times Yukirei saved his mother from dancing with other nobles and kings.
"Oh look it's dark, time to set of the fireworks!" She said sitting with her son on a mat as the first firework went off with a residual BOOM!
The remaining awake royals; mainly those who wanted to make a late night move on the Queen or the Prince watched the fireworks and in the backs of minds their targets were in their wision.
It was something that Yukirei hated, the two of them always felt eyes on them. They weren't people, they were goals, objectives, or objects of desire in the eyes of their peers. It was because both of them refused to be interested in relationships, nobody would take the hints.
The fireworks persisted as the rest of the world faded away; Yukirei leaned on his mother forgetting about everything except just enjoying his mother's company. He didn't care, he spent so much time training to protect his mother he had spent any meaningful time with her at all recently. He was an awful son, he thought misablely, but as if she read his mind Koyuki Kazehana hugged her son Yukirei Kazehana warmly.
As the grand finally went off the festivities started to die down, but not everything was so smooth. As the last of the lights died a new light appeared, the entire sky was set alight by burning red chakra in the shape of a dragon.
Yukirei got up; Koyuki looked shocked. "No, but that place is secret!" She said, turning around. "Everyone stay calm!" An explosion of chakra in the sky threw everyone standing onto their backs or stomachs except Yukirei who stood strong.
A figure of a woman standing on a wire was infront of them all was silohetted behind the red light. "Prince Yukirei! You are cordially invited to OUR wedding in six months! You and I, Queen Kagero of the Dragon Empire accross the Scarlette Sea! I expect to see you there within' six months or every last soul in your country will be frozen forever! But first the rings!" Yukirei in the midst of drawing his katana was suddenly in pain as molten gold flew onto his finger burning a ring onto his left hand ring finger.
A red crystal dome was starting to form around the sky, "I don't think so!" Yukirei leapt at her drawing his katana!
"No! My Prince she's too strong!" That Kunoichi leapt to Yukirei grabbing him, making him fall early onto a patroling dazed spear guard recruit.
"I see, I can't very well leave you alone." Queen Kagero snapped her finger as a Red Orb of chakra formed around the three of them, "See you in Six Monthes Sweetheart. I need to prepare the Wedding of the Millennia, Ciao!"
She held her hand up in the air as a portal opened, some serpent like dragon flew out and flew toward the three of them. Yukirei got up and summoned Airisu, but before he could do anything the dragon dove into the ground. ". . ." Yukirei looked around as the ground beneath the three of them broke apart and the dragon swallowed the three of them before flying skyward. Yukirei tumbled around with his screaming...associates. Yukirei tried to cut the inside, but a hard heavy object hit him in the back of the head and everything went black.