Long time since I last updated. But here is a new chapter to Royal Pain.
Enjoy.
Torches.
Hundreds of torches lit up the area, illuminating markings on the ground.
Ancient chants boomed in the area, turning the red flame to violet.
A voice heard the loudest among them, a female.
She fiercely shouts "They will not destroy us!"
(Konoha, in a courtroom)
The courtroom was filled to the brim with people. Hiruzen sat at the judges podium, as he watched the defendants intently. The defendants, the outcasts of course, or at least most of them as one was missing. There sat at a table facing the judges podium, was Kiba, Naruto, Suigetsu, Tenten, and Rock Lee.
Shikamaru stood in front of the table, and hushed the chatter of the audience.
"We are gathered here because the defendants are charged with trespassing. Let us hear opening statements."
A royal guard steps forward and speaks, " My men caught these people inside of the castle during the engagement party. They were not invited, and are not from this kingdom."
Hiruzen strokes his chin and speaks. " My guard says you trespassed into my castle without invitation, an offence that some kings would punish with banishment. How do you plea?"
The outcasts look at each other, and Tenten stands up. "Your majesty, our friend was wrongfully detained and we merely wanted to help her escape."
Whispers could be heard through the audience.
The Royal Guard states, "You do realize helping a prisoner escape is a serious offence that will result in punishment, do you?"
"There seems to be a lot of that behaviour lately..." Shikamaru says out loud.
Hiruzen takes note of this, and something clicks.
"Was your friend the Haruno?" Hiruzen asks. Naruto's eyes brighten, and the outcasts nod in unison.
"She was indeed wrongfully detained, but she escaped. Where she is now, we don't know." He adds.
Tenten lets out a sigh of relief but it is short-lived as the royal guard speaks up.
"My lord, one of them were caught outside of your chambers. You cannot forgive them for this trespassing."
Hiruzen looks thoughtfully. Shikamaru speaks up, " Our guard says you are not from this kingdom, what brought you here in the first place?"
The outcasts look at each other nervously.
Hiruzen asks, "Which one was found outside of my chambers?" The guard points to Naruto.
Hiruzen looks confused for a moment, then pensive.
Shikamaru speaks, " Well, what were you doing?"
Kiba looks to Naruto, Naruto sighs in defeat.
Kiba speaks out, " We came here looking for something." Hiruzen raises his brow. Shikamaru asks, "For what?"
Kiba looks at Naruto. Naruto pauses.
The royal guard shouts, "Speak trespasser!"
Hiruzen hushes him and looks at the outcasts.
"Can I approach the bench?" Naruto asks. Hiruzen nods.
Naruto walks to the bench and gestures Hiruzen to look closer. He pulls out the drawing of his clan symbol and says " We were looking for this." Hiruzen gasps. Naruto continues. "Or rather the meaning behind it. My godfather told me it was my clan's symbol."
"Naruto..." Hiruzen mumbles. He gestures for him to return to his seat and looks deep in thought.
Shikamaru snaps him out of it, "Have you reached a verdict, my lord?"
Hiruzen looks into Naruto's eyes, and says "Yes, free them. They trespassed for noble causes and I am a forgiving king. You all are free to stay within the village for however long." He bangs a gavel. "And Naruto, we can discuss that drawing tomorrow morning in my chambers."
Naruto nods. The audience rabbles, and the guard looks angry but storms away.
The outcasts look at eachother. "What about Sakura?" Suigetsu asks. They look pensive for a moment. "We just have to hope she comes back." Tenten replies.
They all look uneasy.
A tap is felt on Rock Lee's shoulder and he turns around. It's the blue-headed beauty he met earlier.
She smiles at him, and he hugs her.
"Now that you're free, why not I show you around the village?" She offers.
He accepts and they leave together.
The outcasts split up into their own directions. Tenten goes for walk thinking about her lost friend.
Suigetsu tries to find a nearby tavern. Naruto is about to leave when Shikamaru stops him, "My lord has instructed me to provide you and your friends with a place to stay. We have prepared rooms for you." With directions to his room, he locks himself in tracing the spirals of the drawing in a hynoptic trance-like state.
Kiba was about to follow Naruto when a pair of brown eyes intrude his vision. "Tamaki-chan.." He says.
She beams at him and says, "I'm so glad you're free now." He nods and they embrace.
She buries her face into his chest and mumbles "We have been apart for too long."
He breaks the embrace and tilts her chin up, meeting her eyes. "Then I will stay with you forever."
She tears up and he kisses her.
He agreed, they didn't need to be apart any longer.
And that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the next.