Sorry about this taking a week to come out, I've just been busy lately.
Three years, it had been three years since he first opened his eyes inside of that cot for the first time, even if it felt more like five.
Still, it wasn't as if he learned nothing, even if it was a bit lacking.
Romania was the country that he was the Prince of, apparently. He knows that for sure thanks to the whispers of the maids.
It wasn't a name that he previously recognised, probably because he didn't research the other continents too often.
He's really regretting that now.
That wasn't all either. The word ''vampire'' had been repeated an almost innumerable amount of times — in reference to the people living in this castle, him too.
At first, he believed the term to be referencing the people of Romania, though that idea was hastily crushed as another term came to his attention… thanks to the maids, again.
''Romanian.''
That term was decidedly far more appropriate, it fitted together almost perfectly.
Then another idea popped up, this one was most definitely unsavoury, like a rotten apple.
He and practically everyone else he's interacted with these past three years possessed some inhuman traits.
Teeth that were sharp as any Inzuka, perhaps more so. Skin which was paler than any Uchiha, almost corpse-like. Crimson, slitted eyes.
Now on their own, it wasn't anything he'd dwell on, but all together? He certainly would.
He'd only seen them a handful of times, but those memories stuck to him like glue.
Who knows, maybe I'm not a human any longer. He muses to himself in his mind, half-jokingly, half-serious.
It wasn't the first time such a thought had crossed his mind, he hopes that it isn't the case, being a human sounds far more appealing than turning out to be some Ōtsutsuki knock off.
Another thing that had been crossing his mind for these past few years, repeatedly.
Shalltear Bloodfallen.
He isn't quite sure what to think about her. She was dangerous, Naruto knew that for certain.
Even if his senses had greatly diminished thanks to being regressed to a child — a myriad of power was lurking beneath her facade.
It brought upon certain memories when he was a child — standing across from an old man, the Hokage at one point in time.
His lips thinned out. He doesn't like it, not in the slightest.
Sat on a chair, one that was brown as he was pale. His silver hair was already tickling the back of his neck. Shiny eyes curved ahead.
A few days ago — right after his third birthday, supposedly anyway. Shalltear informed him that they'd be starting lessons, he obliged, both vocally and mentally.
''Cassius,'' Shaltear said, her crimson eyes directed down at him passively. ''We Vampires, widely known as creatures of the night.''
''Vampires?'' Naruto started with a question. ''I'm pretty sure I've heard of them before.''
''As you should.'' Shalltear says, her voice as controlled as ever. ''As you, I — and everyone else in the kingdom are vampires.''
Naruto stares on, his eyes shining with curiosity. ''Everyone?''
After a momentary pause, Shalltear gives him an answer. ''No, not everyone. We have some animals in stock for food.'' Shaltear takes another pause, one that lasted for a few seconds. ''Mainly.''
Another thing, the food that he's been eating for the last few years have been different, to put it mildly.
It was some sort of meat, not one that he was familiar with. Although that probably had to do with being continents away from the Elemental Nations, he's almost certain of it.
''But, to answer your question. What are we vampires… truly? Some of us may refer to us as the superior race. Some of us believe that we are cursed. I, on the other hand, believe that the cover tells us what we truly are. Undead which suck Humans.'' Shalltear pronounces 'humans' in an almost loathing way. ''Dry.'' Shaltear's voice returned to its usually controlled tone.
His hands that were resting on his legs, under the table, form into a tight ball. His razor-like nails dig into his skin, almost shedding blood.
Fuck.
After a handful of seconds, his hands reopened, his already pale hands just seeming a tad more chalky.
Shalltears eyes began to inspect him, but just as quickly as it started it came to an end.
Knowing that this lesson isn't going to end any time soon, he sunk back into his chair.
So, Shaltear continued. Basically informing of the hierarchy that he was on top of.
Shaltear wasn't just the queen of Romania, but the Queen of all vampires as well.
And under Shalltear is where he could be found, even above the other Vampire royals.
When Shaltear was talking about the other 'Royals' she seemed a bit put out, it was hardly noticeable, but he picked it up.
Still, it's rather amusing that a baby could rank higher than the Kings and Queens.
The two other 'Royal' families were called the Tepes, a predominantly Male family. And the Carmilla, which were a predominantly female family.
They each owned a single kingdom, smaller than Shaltears, though, and a decent portion of land outside of it.
Then, there were the almost countless number of Nobles with conflicting importance,
Standing at the edge of an unlit, almost dead room, where only he and Shalltear could be spotted.
Yesterday Shalltear informed him that they'd begin combat training — which he obliged to faster than he did to the tutoring.
His lips resisted the urge to curve, he's been waiting to cut loose ever since he unlocked a certain something some time ago.
He pulls all of his attention onto the person in the room, she was frozen, almost like a statue.
After a few moments of nothing happening his feet began to blur, far faster than anyone his physical age had any right to be. And as he was approaching Shalltear he bounced up into the air, unloading a swift kick, but his expectations were torn apart, just as the air was sliced in two, so were his expectations.
He pushed his feet back up to the floor as fast as he possibly could. Pulling his eyes towards the other side of the large room.
Shalltear was standing at least a hundred feet away, probably more — as if nothing has happened.
If Naruto was perturbed he certainly wasn't showing it.
He moved again, rivalling the speed of a train, if not outright surpassing it. And as he was about to meet Shalltear she vanished from sight for the second time, only this time he didn't stop.
His feet came in contact with the wall, knees crouching, but just before he launched himself ahead his right hand opened, creating a tiny slash on his arm, blood jumped towards his hand, and just before the blood reached his hand it formed into a crimson kunai.
Naruto's kunai wielding hand moved backwards with his head, throwing it ahead, right towards where Shaltear was now standing.
His lips jumped into a smirk.
Pushing his legs off the wall, it almost seemed like he was flying just behind his kunai.
Shaltear tilted her head to the right — avoiding the kunai that was now stuck in the wall.
Smashing his fist ahead, directed right towards her face, and as it was about to land her hand secured his wrist at the speed of light.
Trying to escape from her vice grip just made his bones crunch, it at least felt like that. Gritting his teeth and as he expected her to ram him into the ground something crossed her face that could only be described as regret.
It didn't last long, however. Shalltears almost pained expression departed, returning back to her usual stoic self.
Her bone-cracking grip lightened — and Shalltear craned him back to the ground with such care that it was almost like she thought he was made out of glass.
He took a few, long skips backwards after he was let go.
''That's enough.'' She suddenly said.
His body came to a halt. ''What? But we've only just started?'' Naruto moaned, putting as much disappointment as he could into his voice.
''That's enough for today.'' She repeated, her voice which was as sharp as any blade echoed throughout the entire room.
After staring at her for a short period of time he finally nodded his head.
''Fine.''
Sitting on top of a pale windowsill, arm resting upon his knee, the bent one. His eyes spilling out of the closed window, the streets below — dark as they were lively.
But, that wasn't uncommon, it was dark 24/7, it was odd, at least he used to think so.
How long had it been since he felt the cool air? Hell, he wouldn't of minded the warm air.
''Young Sire.'' A kind voice called out to him.
His eyes twirled with his neck, a woman could be spotted. She looked as if she barely hit adulthood, sleek, purple hair falling just past her shoulder blades — and finally a kind smile to boot.
''Mariel.''
The newly revealed Mariel flicked her eyes out of the window, the same one that he previously was staring out of.
''What seems to be plaguing you today?'' Mariel questions, still wearing her tender smile.
Naruto shows a smile of his own, for a moment it seemed crooked, he quickly rectified that.
''Don't worry… nothing is wrong. I'm just bored.''
She took a few steps forwards, her bright eyes moving in between himself and the window.
''Ah, so that's what's plaguing you. Young Sire.''
His forehead couldn't help but crease for the slightest of moments, but his lips remained sealed.
''Her Highness simply wants to protect you.''
This time he couldn't help but crook an eyebrow. ''Protect me? Protect me from what?''
Mariel takes an unnaturally long pause. His eyes narrow in a way that was simply unnatural for any child. ''Is there somebody out there that wishes to kill me?'' He inquired softly.
Mariels blinking eyes seemed a tad lost for around five seconds, but when she spoke once again it slipped away.
''No, no, of course not. Nobody is after you, Young Sire.'' She didn't sound very sure — he thought. ''Nobody would dare, her Highness would make sure of that.''
Swallowing his voice down his throat, putting those little tidbits in the back of his mind for later.
Naruto looks out of the window once again, but he quickly looks back to Mariel. ''If I'm not in danger then why aren't I allowed outside?''
Not that he hadn't tried.
''Your mother, Her Highness, simply worries for you.'' Mariel beat him to the punch as he was about to speak. ''No, it has nothing to do with you being in danger… because you aren't in the slightest bit of danger. It's… political.''
''Political?'' He wonders out loud. ''Mother thinks that I'll get in trouble?''
''It's not that.'' She admitted, sounding more adamant than usual. ''It'll just be… better this way.''
He doesn't say anything for some time. ''Okay.'' He conceded at last, quietly too, it was more of a whisper than anything else.
After that, they talked for a few more minutes, but when she walked off he stayed on the windowsill, eyes glued to the excitable streets of Bludhaven, the kingdom that he's found himself in.
Thinking back to his conversation with the head maid, Mariel. Was he simply being paranoid? His head shook.
His eyes gained slits, then they narrowed, staring at the figures below.
No, he wasn't. It was clear now, someone was after him. A heavy sigh escaped from his mouth.
It wasn't the first time he had been targeted simply for being born.
Author Notes
Something that I want to clarify, Shaltear is only based on her Overlord version, mainly limited to some of her personality traits and combat abilities.
She's no Loli, just imagine her appearance as an adult version of her Overlord counterpart.