Chapter Twelve:
SHIVER
NOTE:
DO NOT be CONFUSED. Avoid thinking of Naruto's Characters and their relationship with the others in this story. Hahaha xDD
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO.
Osama= used by Naruto's trusted people to address him.
Kokuō Heika=used by Naruto's people to address him.
Daijō-daijin= Prime Minister (Kakashi)
Udaijin= Right Minister (Shikamaru)
Sadaijin= Left Minister (Danzo)
Proceed…
Naruto watched as Hinata darted at the castle's main hall where Princess Kurotsuchi and Karui are. She hurdled and dropped at his front bowing her head that reached the ground. Sakura and Ino ran after her crying for her to be careful of herself.
"Kokuō-sama, I beg of you!" he heard her yell. The King halted the masked persons from striking.
"What does the injured Princess doing here?" he looked at Sakura and Ino who are convincing her to get back. Both the maids looked at each other. They gave each other worried looks and bowed before the King.
"Hime rushed here upon hearing that Princess Kurotsuchi and her aid will be executed, Osama." Ino squeezed her eyes shut troubled of what the King will do to them. Naruto glanced at the Princess who's still has her head bowed to the ground. She was wearing a pink kimono with white flowers on it. He hoped for her to lift her head and face him but she didn't.
"Why is it?" he asked. He couldn't bring himself not to approach her. He bent at her allowing his left hand to travel to the Princess' cheek and to her chin. He felt her shiver on his touch. Gently, he lifted her face making her look at her. He is caught off guard when he saw her eyes directly looking at her. They're like Hanabi's.
"Please, Kokuō-sama… l-let them go," her trembling dry lips said. Is she afraid of him? Is she afraid of his eyes that's why she's trembling?
"Why would I?" he cleared his throat. He wondered why he met someone with those snowy eyes. The King frowned in confusion but he brushed it off. He still looked at her though. "Why would I let them go?"
"They're not t-the one w-who caused me t-this," Hinata said quietly. She's not afraid of him. She's just uncomfortable. His touch made her heart jumped and thumped faster. His crimson eyes like a fox felt like they're staring at her soul. This man is the one who saved her. She wanted to look away but when she did, Naruto asked him a question that alarmed her.
"Do you fear me?"
"N-no! I don't fear you! I mean… Kokuō-sama..! I-.. I'm just feeling… disordered," She answered blushing. Naruto studied her feature. He lifted his hand and placed it on her forehead. The Princess felt it again. Her banging heart inside her chest and the fluttery feeling she gets on her stomach. What are these?
"You should return to your chamber and rest," The king pulled his hand. "No, I order you to return to your chamber and rest." He signaled Ino and Sakura to get her out of the castle's main hall. Tsunade and the ministers quietly watched what just happened.
"Y-you shouldn't kill them Kokuō-sama. They did nothing w-wrong. Princess Kurotsuchi isn't the one who did this," Hinata cried. She wiped her tears with her kimono's sleeve. "Kokuō-sama … Please listen to me," She began to sniff as her chest tightened and her breathing quickened.
"Then, who harmed you?" The king growled making her heart drop. She is startled. Naruto, seeing that sight regretted what he did. He shouldn't have shouted at her since she did nothing wrong.
"D-don't hate me…" Hinata trailed. Her face is hidden by her sleeves. Naruto's eyes widened. Why would he hate her? He stayed silently listening to her sobs and pleas. Somehow, he felt his chest tightened.
"Leave us. Bring the prisoners inside the dungeon." The king commanded. Everyone bowed at him and did what he said. He is left with Hinata alone. Naruto sat at her front and waited patiently until she stopped crying. "What is your name, Hime?"
Hinata looked at him with her puffy eyes. Some of her tears are lingering on her eyelashes. She swallowed lightly with her point fingers bumping each other. "It's H-hinata, Kokuō-sama," her raspy voice said.
The King closed his eyes. The sight is agonizing to see. He had just made the Princess he save cry. He pushed back that thought and tried to find right words to say. Hinata tilted her head uncomfortable of the dead silence.
Why did you say you are not scared of me?
Do you mean what you just said?
Why did you say you don't want me to hate you?
Did I hurt you?
As if he could say those words. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at her. The Princess at his front is difficult to handle. She's like a bunny. Soft, fluffy, innocent… bashful, fragile, and she cries easily. The king rubbed the back of his head. If he act terrifying, he might make her cry again. Should he reveal her the real him?
"Kokuō-sama?" Hinata broke the silence.
"Tell me what happened to you- the truth."
"Kokuō Heika is acting unusual," Danzo slurred. He is inside the Left Minister's Turf with Orochimaru and Kabuto.
"I disagree Sadaijin Danzo," Orochimaru argued. "He's an idiot King, of course he's like that," he spat.
"I approve with Orochimaru," Kabuto cackled. Danzo gave them a smirk. The King is getting weaker they supposed. Besides, the King knows nothing but cruelty.
"About Sasuke's, the girl he loves was already dead just like what he said…" Kabuto whispered as feeble as he could. The other two with him shot him with puzzled eyes.
"How did she died?" Danzo snarled at him. Kabuto swiftly bowed his head at him.
"She died in the war… she's gone."
"It can't be!" the left minister hissed clenching his jaw. They needed the girl to control Sasuke. Without her, they can't proceed to their plan. He slammed the table. The old man is pissed.
"Ay, Sadaijin Danzo.. Let me fix this," Orochimaru calmed him. He casted a wide malicious grin. "We will succeed."
Sakura had just finished checking Shino's condition in the castle's clinic inside the Castilian's Turf. He is now safe from any danger. Ino is there too staring blankly at the dark walls. Almost every minute she kept sighing.
"I heard that Shino-baka is here, where is he?!" Lee slammed the door entering the chamber where Ino and the others are. He saw Shino covered with white cloth all around his body and he had small band aids on his face too. Rock Lee grinned. "Nice, Shino," he chuckled doing his nice guy pose.
"Rock Lee-kun, you should let Shino-kun rest," Sakura complained crashing her palm on her forehead. She shook her head. Those two are best not in the same place at the same time.
"Still believing at times that you can get what you want by not wanting it…eh?" Shino retuned the grin to him. He slowly sat on his bed. "I'm still Udaijin Shikamaru's right hand,"
"Ugh, whatever. Just do your best and quickly gain your strength back. I'll fight you again. I'll win this time!" Lee stood proud with his quirky smile.
"I believe Shino-kun defeated you three hundred times," Sakura told him. Ino observed the three close friends bicker with each other. She's still not that close and open to them.
"I beg to disagree!" Lee protested. He get his small notebook and browsed it. "See, Shino only won two hundred and ninety nine times!" he showed his notebook to them and encircled the said number. Shino burst into laughter. Sakura chopped his head using her hand.
"You're not allowed to move recklessly yet!"
"But Sakura-chan, laughter is the best medicine," Shino stated. Sakura slapped her palm on her face.
"Hahaha, you get along well." Ino talked with a smile on her face.
"Oh, Ino-chan… how long have you been there?" the Right Minister's left hand inquired. He sure didn't felt her presence.
"Centipede Brows," Sakura sighed. "Anyways, why did you come here?" She asked changing the topic. Rock Lee's face became serious. He took a deep breath. Sakura's forehead wrinkled. It took a while for the idiot to say what he needed to say.
"The REAL culprits are in the dungeon."
"What? Isn't Princess Kurotsuchi the one who caused Hinata-hime like that?" Shino asked.
"My, my, Superior Shino… you are growing weak. The REAL culprits have deceived you."
"Ino-chan, Sakura-chan… help me get to the place where the real culprits are." Shino plead. Ino waited for Sakura's aprovement and when she did, she helped him to stand up.
"Also, there are pests in the castle. Please be careful." Lee said to them. Ino froze. What did the very thick eye browed person mean?
Author's Note:
Yay, two chapters a day. ^^
I'm thankful for AnimeGirl 144 for her heartwarming review. 3 3
Ah, and Sunflower… Shino is higher of rank than Lee. xD
Guys! I'm so sorry if my goal for this story is only 1500+ _
You see, I have another story that I'm working with. 3
Oh, btw… this story has no cover picture yet. I'm not good at drawing and editing… is someone out there kind enough to make one? PM me for details. ^^
How's this chapter?