Author's note:
Arigatou minna-san for your reviews *winks*
skdc8595 : yup, I'll continue this story of mine, don't worry *smiles*
lilyflower : (^v~)/ - you hinted little details but not all *grins*
others: thank you for your appreciation, I'll do my best 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, this is just a fanfiction (^_^)
Chapter 2: Fateful Encounters
"Yui-hime please refrain yourself from doing that", cried the servants
"Why? I'm ok up here, no need to worry ttene!" replied by the said princess who was grinning widely.
"My, my, what's the commotion about there?" the wife of the fire daimyo asked. She was walking in the rose garden when she heard the servants pleading.
"Oh thank goodness! Kurei-sama, Yui-hime's up in that sakura tree once again, she might get hurt from falling", one of the servants said.
"Well then, Yui darling please come down carefully from that tree".
The princess grunted but obeyed the order of her kaa-san.
"I told you how many times that a –hime does not climb trees and . . " she didn't finished her scolding when the said princess continued the talking.
"and doing stuff that only shinobis do" she finished with a pouting face towards her kaa-san.
"Exactly, that's the point dear". The wife of the said Daimyo came closer to her daughter and embraces her.
"You know dear, I know you want to be like one so I granted your request to experience to be one by staying in Konohagakure no sato for 3 weeks. Your tou-san at first didn't like the idea but granted it anyways", then she smiled cheekily towards her daughter.
"Arigatou kaa-san" *embraces tightly her kaa-san* then added
"Yosh! I'll be a kunoichi ttene!" , the princess said with sparkling eyes.
Minato, Shikaku and Mikoto arrived at the palace. They went off the village to pick up the princess.
It was huge and a pretty place – sakura trees and rose bushes everywhere, commented by Uchiha Mikoto. The two shinobi just nod in awe while continuing walking towards the guest hall where the wife of the fire daimyo is waiting for them.
"Welcome Namikaze Minato-san, Nara Shikaku-san and Uchiha Mikoto-san", the wife of the daimyo/ Kurei-sama greeted them then smiled warmly.
"Arigatou Kurei-sama" , the 3 responded then bowed.
"My daughter Yui will be here in 5 minutes, she's just fixing herself up for the journey to Konoha. Please take good care of her, as you all know she's our only child – we lost her once and we didn't want to lose her again", Kurei told the 3.
"Hai! Kurei-sama, we will protect her at all cost, we swear" , the 3 replied with serious façade.
"Kaa-san I'm here ttene!" exclaimed by a cheerful voice of a woman – her voice seemed so familiar, thought by the 3 ninjas specially Minato.
"Oh Yui, you look adorable even in that simple garment", commented by her mother. "By the way, please meet my daughter".
The 3 looked back then gasps. "How can this be possible?", Mikoto muttered that the 2 –Minato and Shikaku can only hear.
Minato's facial expression was utterly a shock. He felt every limp from his body freeze in that moment. His precious - no, his beloved was standing in front of her.
"Yo! Are you guys alright?" asked Yui-hime. Inwardly she thought that they look like they've seen a ghost or something.
"By the way, watashi wa no namae wa Yui-hime desu, dozo yoroshiku oneigaishimasu ttene!",she added with a sweet smile on her face that can melt every man who can see it.
Shikaku even couldn't believe what he's seeing.
His classmate and koibito of his friend Minato - Uzumaki Kushina or known as the Red Bloody Habanero looks strikingly like the princess.
" This is such troublesome", he concluded.
Red vibrant hair, Smoky grey eyes plus the way she talks – with a verbal tic that's so annoying (he thinks it that way but Minato doesn't) although its ttene not ttebane.
On the other hand, Minato suppressed what his emotions then signaled Mikoto and Shikaku through a nod.
It's says that gather more information before arriving to conclusions. It was a gesture that only trained shinobis and kunoichis can decipher.
"It s our pleasure to meet and escort you Yui-hime", Minato responded the princess.
Yui look at him for a minute then chuckled. The 4 people on the said hall were surprised by the sudden act. Then the concerned mother nudges the princess what's the fuss.
"Kaa-san its nothing" , replied by the princess
"Really? I don't believe you"
"Well uhmm *points at Minato* , he has a pretty eyes ttene! I think the color to be exact is ocean blue. Never seen that kind of eyes", commented the princess.
Inwardly, she meant to say it pretty cool but he looked a little bit flaky for a man.
After 30 minutes, they leaved the palace then begin their journey towards konoha.
All of them were wearing civilian clothes – the princess insisted the idea to wear civilian clothes so that no trouble may occur along the way.
While on the road, the trio had been quiet. They took glances at the princess. She looked really like Kushina.
It's like she's a reincarnation of her or maybe there's a possibility that she's really her although how it can happened to be?
"Hey what's up" she suddenly asks the trio when she noticed their stares at her.
"Nothing, you just seemed to look exactly alike someone we knew well", replied by Mikoto then she smiled weakly.
"Oh, really? Who was she if you don't mind Mikoto-san? , Yui cheerfully added.
"She's my best friend *glances at Minato whose face was sullen then proceeded to talk*, her name was Uzumaki Kushina also a kunoichi.
"Sugoi! Can I meet her then so that we could compare if we really look alike? Maybe she's a twin of mine then", she commented.
"Iie, you can't see her –hime", Minato said with a weak smile.
"Doushite Minato-san?"
"She . . . passed away already" , Minato's voice was emotionless while saying those 3 words.
"Oh, gomene", the princess answered back with a sorry façade.
"it's okay", replied by him although deep inside it wasn't.
He's not comfortable of bringing the topic of his beloved about "she died or she passed away". It's like a wound that is still in the process of healing then re-wounded again deeply.
To lighten the mood, Yui then changed the topic.
"Ano, uhmmm Mikoto-san?"
"Hai?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure –hime what's your question?" , Mikoto look at the red haired princess
"How's life being a kunoichi? As you know, I've wanted to be just like you. Even I had dreams of being one and it seemed happened to me before though I never told my kaa-san about this, just you ttene". She finished then winks at her.
"Life of being a kunoichi huh? *closes her eyes then re-opens them*
"It's wonderful although dangerous, As you can see, only few woman survive the trainings of being one and have the guts hehe, its dangerous because you can die anytime in missions if you let your guard down to the enemy",
she finished talking with a smirk that the Uchiha clan was famous of.
"Oh.. I see, by the way, guys please refrain from calling me with the suffix –hime. Just call me Yui ttene!". *smiles at the trio*
"Hai! Yui-chan", replied by the 3
"Are you tired Yui-chan?" asked Mikoto as she felt the energy of the princess depleted. They've been walking for an hour now yet she's not complaining.
"Huh? Uhmmm a little bit"
"If you like I can carry you?" Minato butt in the conversation – surprising Shikaku and Mikoto by the offer.
Yui looked at him then smiled before replying, "No thanks Minato-san". After that, her actions betrayed her.
She fell on her knees –- she thought she would end up in the grass but felt.
Terms used: (nihonngo/ Japanese)
~Yosh – alright
~ Hai – expression of saying yes
~ Shinobi – ninja
~ Kunoichi – a female ninja
~ Kaa-san – mother or mom
~Tou-san – father or dad
~ Ano – well
~ Sugoi – awesome/ cool
~ watashi wa no namae wa _ desu – My name is _ or I'm _.
~ dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu – Nice meeting you
~ minna-san – everyone
~ doushite – why
~ Yo! – expression of saying hey or hi or hello
~ -hime – princess
~ - sama – a suffix that means master/lord or lady.