His eyes widened as he watch the young puppy freeze in fear, a petrified soul waiting for its imminent death in the squeals of the rubber tires fractioning with the rough gravel road.

Suddenly, something pushed the animal away. It was the mother wolf, which died as soon as the car hit her.

The puppy headed in the bushes trembling, but as soon as the car disappeared in the road, it went back to its mother, nudging the dead body as if begging it to move.

The fists of the young boy clenched as he trembled in fury and pain. He barely acknowledged the arrival of Sir Iruka who witnessed the same scene too.

"Naruto…let's go," he said.

"The mother wolf died…because of that pup…" His eyes crinkled in anger. Iruka was about to say something to dismiss his uncharacteristic anger when he suddenly noticed the overflowing chakra emanating from him.

Ebisu appeared, also alarmed by the amount of energy he was sensing. "What the—"

"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!" With that, the boy slowly evolved into a more brute form, his eyes changing into ones a dangerous wild animal has.

Iruka stepped back, shocked. "The Kyuubi…"

……………………………

Chapter Thirteen

Some afternoons ago, I decided to turn the TV on because I can't rack my brain for ideas for my column in my sister's school paper. To my shock, I heard, "Etong sa iyo! Yaaaah!!!" It was Rock Lee kicking Gaara's face.

I was stunned.

"Syet, may Naruto pa pala." ("Shit, Naruto is still airing").

I wasn't able to see my fave NaruHina episode last Monday because I thought ABS-CBN already took it off the schedule.

Nwei, gomen for not updating this story for some days. My physician ordered strictly that I need bed rest if I still want my fever and cold to die down. Sowee guys!

This chapter is dedicated to hikariko - thank you for avidly reviewing the story and I am very happy that you enjoy the fic, to the point that you sympathize with the characters already. Domo Arigatou!

Shortcuts:

Jiri = Hai! Please call me syao-chan I'm glad that you feel well already. To clarify, Snow White is their play five years ago while Beauty and the Beast is their spring play now.

White Witch = The story will last for…uh… 20 chapters or tops.

Chiharu-chan = Aaaw! Nichrome plushie! Do you have a Horo Horo one? He sort of reminds me of Naruto sometimes -

Wormkaizer = Hi! I was beginning to wonder where were you. It's been quite a while since you last dropped me a line! Syao-chan misses the all-the-way NaruHina fan

……………………………..

"Hinata! HINATA!!!" Naruto's heart seemed to stop beating when her eyes shut close.

"Lay her down the ground. I'll administer the antidote now," instructed Sakura.

The boy's eyes roved on the discolored skin of the girl, aware of the anger building resolutely within him.

"The paramedics of the Leaf will be here soon. Your first aid will help, Sakura." Sasuke, whose eyes were still on the masked long-haired man watching them curiously. "And you, Mist fighter, you are aware that you had just given us an evidence of the kingdom seizure rumors."

The man laughed. "Thank you for the benefit of the doubt you gave our kingdom beforehand. The heart of a young boy as a ruler truly astounds me."

"Asshole."

Both turned to look at Naruto, who was still cradling the body of Hinata. Aura was beginning to emanate from him.

The Mist warrior looked surprised. Such chakra…is it possible?

"I couldn't understand…Hinata…Hinata is the kindest person I've ever known…why could anyone hurt her…" He was breathing heavily now, and he placed the unconscious body of the girl down as Sakura quickly took care of her maid. He got up, his aura now multiplying unbelievably. "But I do understand one thing…" His enraged eyes—burning in infernal wrath—centered on the masked fighter. "I will make you pay hell for this."

Sasuke's mouth dropped open in shock. This amount of chakra coming from someone like him? Uzumaki Naruto looked like the last person in the world to carry this tremendous power, but how else could the aura emanating from him be explained?

The Mist man stepped back and then threw all his needles their way. They descended like rain on them, but Sasuke was quick enough to stand in front of Sakura and create a Fire Wall to block the attacks of the man. His eyes went to Naruto, who was stabbed by the pointed weapons. "Shit!" He knew that the needles were poisonous, and that the amount of toxin in all the needles that stabbed him was enough to kill him shortly.

But Naruto merely shook them off. At that time, he had already changed. His eyes turned wild and dangerous, his demeanor suddenly turning wolf-like.

The Mist warrior stepped back, alarmed by the show of power of his opponent. He poised himself for another needle attack, but the boy had already pounced on him. The strength of the fist stunned him, and he could only watch as another fist aimed for his face.

The impact made him stagger and he felt his mask shatter in the process.

Sakura, who was watching fearfu e raw fear visible in her face. His fists tightened into a ball. He then turned his gaze back at the battle.

"Gyaaaah!!!" Another power punch made the half-conscious Mist warrior moan in agony.

Sasuke cursed silently. It seemed he was watching his own fire of anger and revenge in the gruesome scene. He only knew too well how unstoppable a man temporarily swallowed by anger was. It wasn't just plain anger—it was an anger of vengeance.

He only knew too well.

"Sasuke-kun!" cried the pink-haired girl.

"Damn!" Sasuke went towards the two and used his Thousand Birds technique to aim a punch at the Mist soldier. This resulted to the soldier's body to fly away.  "Stop it, Naruto."

The yellow-haired boy turned to him angrily as if telling him not to interfere.

"You don't have time to kill that bastard," said the dark-haired boy quietly, but firmly. "We still have to save the girl." Without waiting for the boy's reply, he turned to the semi-lifeless figure. "And you, be sure to tell the Mist kingdom that this is a breach of the peace pact they had signed with my kingdom. I shall formally declare a break from the alliance with your palace as soon as I get back to my territory."

The man forced himself to get up and walk away.

Naruto was abo down on the ground, coughing.

"What the—" The prince's eyes widened in shock. "Iruka! Where did you come from?"

"Long story. I'll tell later." The haggard Starlet smiled wearily and then turned his attention to the still coughing blond boy. "I knew this was bound to happen. When his anger reaches a critical point, his chakra rouses the Kyuubi demon sealed within him."

"You know the conditions of Naruto, so it can only mean that this had happened before." Sasuke looked down at the boy. "And the Kyuubi…the demon that destroyed Leaf centuries ago…it exists within his body?"

"That's right, Your Highness." Iruka sighed audibly. "If we don't do something quick, the spirit will crush him."

"Do something…like what?" asked Sakura, worried too.

"Something to calm him down." Iruka turned to Sasuke solemnly. "Will you help me, Your Highness? Ebisu is not here so you are the only one who can help this suffering boy now."

The prince nodded. "Tell me what I should do."

"Stand here." He pointed to the spot near him. Sasuke went to that place. As soon as he did, Iruka pushed him down towards Naruto.

Poof!

Sakura's eyes widened. "Oh my god…"

Sasuke's face turned pale in horror. "Holy shit…"

A naked blonde with hair in pigtails was lying below Sasuke, blinking.

.

.

.

"The girl has no more hope to become the main family successor of the Byakugan."

The voice of the clan doctor shook her to the core. She was hidden behind the curtains so no one could see her easily.

"What do you mean?" Her father boomed. "She is the eldest daughter of the main family! She has the blood! She has—"

"She has a congenital heart disease," said the man sadly, shaking his head. "If you push her too hard, she will die."

Hinata stifled a gasp. Her father, meanwhile, gripped his rod tighter.

"Hiashi-sama, I am sorry to be the one to break the news like that. The clan hoped so much for her, especially now that there are talks that a boy from the branch family—a genius, they say—has made it to the Uchiha Court. Apparently, his father had egged him into doing something against the main family—"

"Get out! OUT!!!" Hiashi turned his back on the startled doctor and spun towards the curtains. "Did you hear that? You are now rubbish! Useless!"

Trembling, she stepped out from her hiding place although it was the last thing that she wanted to do—to face her father's wrath.

"And how could a child from the branch family be better than a product of the main house?" he continued, eyes burning in rage and contempt.

"I…I will train harder, Father…"

The man paused and then laughed in mockery. "Imbecile. If you cannot even beat your little sister, how can you say that you can beat that Branch child?"

"F-Father…"

"Do not call me that again, I'm warning you. From now on, I only have one child that rightfully carries the name of Hyuuga." He turned to her furiously. "I have only one daughter, and that is Hyuuga Hanabi!"

"F-Father! P-Please—" She tried to run after him but his rod suddenly slammed her temple.

"The clan has no place for failures. Leave and never return, or I will personally kill you."

.

.

.

The first thing that her eyes saw when they flapped open was white. White ceilings, white walls, and white poles.

Am I…dead? Am I in heaven now?

"Princess Hinata."

She turned her blurry vision to the source of the voice. Immediately, recognition dawned on her. "Neji…nii-san…"

"You are in the clinic of Kabuto," he informed her. "Lady Haruno brought you here."

"S-She's safe…" she whispered happily.

He grunted. "You worry about others before yourself. That is one of your weaknesses, Princess." He crossed his arms. "Are you aware that you nearly died?"

"I-I am," she said after a thoughtful moment of silence. "B-But at least…I do not have to worry about Lady Sakura…"

"When you analyze the situation, it's evident that you do mustn't bow down to her. The clan name alone should separate you pedestals above that woman." He smirked. "But here you are, serving her hand and foot, and even risking your life for her."

"I risked my life for her not out of obligation…but because she is my friend," she said softly.

This was met by his mocking laughter.

"W-What's funny, Neji' nii-san?" she asked, confused.

"You. Don't tell me that you went all the way here just to enslave yourself…oh, how do you put it? To make friends." Heavy sarcasm dripped from his voice. "Why don't you just admit that the main family forced you to go here to try to defeat me?"

She looked down. "Neji' nii-san, my family has nothing to do with my decision. I came here to try to change myself."

"Change? Someone like you wants to change?" He aimed a punch at her face, and she instinctively shut her eyes, dulling her senses from the coming pain.

But nothing happened.

She opened her eyes and saw that he was staring hard at her, his fists inches away from her face.

"What happened to you should be a lesson," he said, exiting the room. "You are weak, and a weakling like you has no place in the Hyuuga cour rmal>"I need a dentist, pronto!"

Kakashi cocked an eyebrow at the grumpy prince who was being checked by Kabuto. "You got kissed by Naruto. Big deal. It's not like the kid has cavities or something."

"He's fine," asserted Kabuto, smiling.

"What you need is a psychiatrist," suggested the Starlet, shrugging.

"And you will need an orthopedic doctor after I'm finish with you," said the prince threateningly.

The Starlet quickly diverted the topic away from the branches of medicine and looked at the Naruto female lying asleep on the other clinic bed. "So how will we bring him back to his true form? It's nice to train female students with good endowments, but it can get distracting…"

"How can you kid about something like this?" barked Sasuke, ignoring the pleas of the kingdom physician for him to relax. "That boy…girl…er…person carries the Kyuubi! The spirit that destroyed Leaf centuries ago! Do you have any idea what this means for us?"

Kakashi scratched his cheek. "That I will have my first female shinobi student, and really cute at that?"

"NO. That he is dangerous." Sasuke eyed the Kyuubi-sealed body of Uzumaki Naruto. "It was sheer luck that he was able to calm down, but can you imagine what could have happened if we weren't able to suppress the Youma?"

"A dog does not bite the hand that feeds it." Kakashi smiled gently.

"Eh?" The prince looked at the Starlet blankly.

"The nine-tails is a mythical animal owing its origins to wolves, and if you must know, these animals have strong needs for them to belong. And once he belongs to a pack, he will fight tooth and nail for his comrades," informed the white-haired man before excusing himself out of the room.

"Sir Kakashi is right," agreed Kabuto, looking at the sleeping figure. "From what I heard you narrate, Naruto-kun only did that for his friend."

"Hmp. It is a virtual waste of my time deliberating on things like this." Sasuke got up at once and looked at the sleeping Naruto. "Look after that guy."

"I will inform you as soon as possible if there is an improvement in his condition," promised the kingdom physician.

"Do what you think is best for him. I shall not interfere." With that, the prince left the clinic.

Kabuto shrugged and started to gather his bandages. "I hope that you hold on to that promise, Prince Uchiha."

.

.

.

"We were ambushed by the Sand soldiers…it would have been easy for us to deal with them, but there was a powerful kid that stopped us. Ebisu and I had no choice but to retreat and take the longer route to the Hidden Leaf kingdom—the route of the Mist kingdom," narrated Iruka as he lied on the bed beside Ebisu.

Anko nodded solemnly. "I am relieved that you both survived."

"Iruka, Ebisu. Anko-sama, good evening." Sasuke entered the ward, and the three nodded to him politely. A minute later, the other Starlets followed inside the room.

"Yo!" greeted the Male starlets to their two bedridden fellows. The two waved back.

"We were talking about how the two survived," said Anko, crossing her legs elegantly. "Iruka mentioned something about a kid from the Sand that nearly killed him."

"Sand?" asked Kakashi, brows furrowed.

Iruka nodded. "I was glad that I even managed to reach the Mist territory with my situation. But I still wish Ebisu and I didn't separate ways, then I could have been rescued earlier."

"You missed a lot of excitement in the kingdom, Iruka." Kakashi grinned warmly at his friend. "Welcome back, man."

"You were there for a reason," said Anko. "The boy that carried the nine-tails demon…"

Silence.

"Naruto is anything but dangerous!" Iruka protested. "We had taken care of him for years, and never did he try to hurt us."

"So you still want to wait when it happens, huh?" The female ninja snapped. "Granted that he won't hurt us. But other kingdoms wishing to invade us can use him as a weapon."

"That's why we are asking for the kingdom's support, Anko-sama," said Ebisu. "We will make him our own weapon."

Through all these discussions, the prince remained silent, busy with his own thoughts.

.

.

.

Naruto, sighing, looked at his reflection.

Kabuto sweatdropped as he gazed at the dressing robe that barely reached his thighs. "Gomen…that's the only available hospital robe that I have. There were too many patients today, and they were all used."

"I see. Never mind." He walked out of the clinic, tugging on the hem of the robe. He would just have to devise a cute and clever way to get into the royal stable and change clothes without Kiba noticing anything. He didn't think he was ready to face the boy anyway.

He was passing by the hallway when he noticed a familiar door.

Hinata!

He cautiously pushed the door open and peeked inside. The girl was lying down the bed, asleep. She was trembling, as if really chilled to the bone. He headed towards the window and closed the glass partitions. He secured the curtains and looked back at the girl. She looked more comfortable now.

"I can't let her see me in this form now." He felt a sense of déjà vu. Wasn't this the same feeling he had when his frog form suddenly ceased to exist?

"N-Naruto…kun…"

"Gya!" He nearly jumped at her voice. When he realized that she was only dreaming, he sighed, relieved. He went to her bed and sat down, looking at her intently.

"Hi Hinata…" he whispered, and ended up sweatdropping. His voice sounded icky.

"Naruto-kun…" A small delicate smile blossomed on her angelic face, and he found himself slowly smiling back. He reached out and brushed the bangs off her forehead.

"Get well soon, Hinata." He was about to get up when his foot slipped on the blanket that dropped down the floor. He fell on top of her, and if not for his elbows quick enough to prop himself up, he could have ended kissing her. His mouth was a mere inch away from her slightly parted own. He was inwardly grateful that she didn't stir from her sleep, or how could he explain himself in this situation?

But damn him, for some kind of gravity was coaxing him to cross the miniscule distance between them. He shook his head vehemently, wanting to erase the perverted thought off his mind.

He was too busy exorcising his musings that he didn't notice Hinata's eyes slowly flapping open.

.

.

.

Rock Lee was about to go to his Sir Gai to inquire about Sakura's condition after the Mist kingdom ambush when noticed someone walking towards the direction of the courtyard. The figure was holding a knife grimly. The moonlight passed briefly over the silhouette and Lee was able to recognize who the person was.

Sakura!

.

.

.

"W-Who are you?" The baby breath fanned his face, making him stiffen. He quickly got up, panicking. "A-Ah…"

She feebly got up and tried to focus her eyesight at the female figure before her. "A-Are you a fairy?"

"A fairy?" he echoed, and it only hit him now that he was in his naked girl mode. He tried to laugh. "Y-Yeah! I'm a fairy, yup yup!"

"W-What will a fairy do in my room?" she asked.

He scratched his cheek, looking at the ceiling as if it would provide him the ans s of joy…

"M-May I see him?" she asked, voice shaky.

"A-All in due time," he replied panickedly. "But not now…he's uh…doing his toenails." Geez, stupid mouth!

Surprised, yet Hinata nodded. "I respect his need for privacy. Thank you, Miss Fairy, for taking care of my friend. Please tell Naru-chan that if he wants to talk to a friend, I am always available. I miss him."

"He misses you too. A lot." It was the truth.

She nodded and then clasped his hand. "Thank you again, and goodnight, Ms. Fairy. This will all be a dream in the morning for me to reminisce about."

"Hinata…" He watched as she smiled one last time and shut her eyes. Her hold on his loosened, but he reached for it again and placed his other hand on hers. At that moment, he felt himself slowly transforming.

.

.

.

Shino smiled silently as he watched the blonde woman transform back into his original form. He placed his hands back in his pocket and walked away. He needed not worry about Hyuuga Hinata anymore.

.

.

.

"Suicide?!"

Sasuke was already shocked by the fact alone that Rock Lee approached him panickedly. What he said next sent him to astonishment. end, he found his feet taking him to a familiar direction. The legendary cherry blossom of the court yard.

.

.

.

Sakura tucked her face in her knees, shivering in fright. If there was anything she hated, it was lightning and thunder. And if there was anything she hated more than THAT, it was being outside on open air and hearing the live concert of the loudspeakers and lighting system of Mother Nature.

Of all the days, why did it have to rain on the day that she planned to run away from the kingdom?

No, I will not marry any man! I will not grow up just to be a decoration of some guy! I'm going to find my own destiny!

Thunder crashed again, making her scream in fright. To an eight-year-old petite girl, booming crashes noises like this could rock her own little world.

Suddenly, her frightened eyes caught the shadow heading towards her. She buried her face in her tucked knees again, shivering in mixed chill from the rain and fear for the stranger.

"Help me…help me…" she whispered fiercely, folding her hands in urgent prayer. "Anybody…help me…"

She heard the footsteps end in front of her. She looked up fearfully, and her gaze was met by young Prince Sasuke's cool eyes.

"Get up." He offered his hand.

She looked up, dazed. What was he doing here? How did he know she was here?
"Take it." There was a trace of impatience in his curt voice, so even if she was still tensed, she took it.

"You're…trembling…" She thought she detected concern in his voice, but she knew it was not possible.

He took off his rain hood and slung it over them. "Step closer, or you'll get wet."

She nodded and got up. He shared the jacket cover over her head and he started to walk. When she didn't move, he looked back at her, annoyed.

"I'm not going back," she said firmly. "If I go back, I will just be forced to marry some guy."

"Some…guy?" he asked, bewildered.

"I want to be independent! I want to become like Tsunade-sama!" She shook her head firmly. "I don't want to be a court lady!"

"Idiot." He reached out for her hand and pulled her with him. "You will go back to the castle even if I have to drag you back all the way."

"Let me go!"

"You're so damn noisy!"

She burst into tears. "You are so mean!"

He paused, and then exhaled audibly. "Because you are stubborn."

Silence, except for her sobs. Suddenly, the thunder crashed again, making her jump. She buried her face in his shoulder, frightened.

"It's only thunder, you idiot." The initial harshness of his voice lessened. "When you hear the thunder, it means the lightning missed you, and you're still alive."

This only made her cry harder, and he sighed, incensed. Why didn't Kurenai-sensei teach him the important knowledge in life that could be applied to everyday practical living…like what to say to comfort a crying girl? For the life of him, he couldn't understand why he was so bothered about this pink-haired talkative girl.

Thunder boomed again, but this time, she didn't scream—her grip on his shoulder tightened though.

"Sakura?" he asked worriedly.

She looked up slowly, smiling shakily. "The lightning…missed us, didn't it?" she asked in an almost inaudible voice.

 "Idiot." Something like fondness passed his eyes, but then, she could have just imagined it. They didn't talk anymore until they reached the main palace.

.

.

.

Sasuke's thoughts were interrupted when he thought he saw the glint of steel blade weapon slash the air. He hurried towards the cherry blossom tree and stiffened.

Sakura was kneeling down in front of the tree and slicing her long hair into ragged, uneven patterns.

"Saku…Lady Haruno?" He drew towards her.

"This hair will not bring back their lives…" she whispered. "Because of my stubbornness, a mother lost a son, or a wife lost a husband. A child could have lost his father, or a young lady could have lost her beloved in the ambush. All because I wanted to prove something stupid…" She continued slashing her hair, crying painfully. "I want to hurt myself to appease my conscience, but I'm too scared to even try…my hair is the only thing I can touch…"

He sighed, and then knelt down beside her. "Stop it. This is nonsense."

"Nonsense for you…because you don't understand what I feel…because I am nonsense too." More bitter tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I hate myself…I hate myself so much…"

He didn't know what came over him. The next thing he knew, he had placed his hand at the back of her head. "No amount of punishment can bring them back, and they died to protect you. Do not let their sacrifices go to vain by hurting yourself." His fingers smoothed the shredded edges of her crimson hair. He knew how very proud she was of her crowning glory, and he knew that her heart was broken by what happened.

And he couldn't admit that he too was greatly troubled by her mood.

"Sasuke-kun, I'm so sorry…" she whispered tearfully.

"It's alright." He helped her up. "Let's go back. Everyone's worried about you, especially the Earl Rock Lee."

The evening breeze blew, and she felt some strands of her cherished long rose hair fly, but she didn't mind. Uchiha Sasuke was enough to free her from her sadness. She had learned a valuable lesson that she would keep forever, and she would use this to become a better person.

.

.

.

"Hey, why did you suddenly call me, Sasuke?" asked Naruto the next day as he entered the royal throne room. "I was in the middle of my work-"

"Work that consisted of sleeping idly on the haystack?" asked the prince warily. He was stunned to see the boy in his original form again, but decided not to ask anymore. Why should he interest himself with the affairs of other people anyway?

The blond was about to protest when Sasuke shot him a silencing look. "Anyway, Uzumaki Naruto, I didn't accept you to live in the main palace as a laborer anyway."

"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Naruto, frowning. "Are you trying to say that you have other plans for me, is that it?"

"Like I told you not so long ago. Your mentors talked about your unpolished skills in fighting. If you will be properly trained, then you can become a formidable weapon of the Hidden Leaf kingdom if worse comes to worst."

"M-Me?"

Sasuke opened his palm and revealed a blue band with the seal of Hidden Leaf on it. "From now on, you are already a citizen of this territory. As a citizen that will have all the privileges of being protected and cared of by this empire, you will also have the responsibility to protect the kingdom at all cost, even with your life."

Naruto looked at the blue bandanna, then back at the ruler. "Should I…wear it?"

"It's your choice, Uzumaki Naruto."

The boy grinned and eagerly took the bandanna from the prince. "Yeah!!! I'll try it on now!" He tied the cloth around his head as a forehead protector. "How does it look?"

"It looks good…as long as I focus only on the bandanna."

Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Sasuke." He happily touched the emblazoned symbol on the band. For the first time in his life, he felt what it was like to belong.

He was now part of the Hidden Leaf kingdom, and the Hidden Leaf kingdom took all part of him.

He was very happy, indeed.

…………………………

to be continued