Chapter 11 - On Birds' Wings
Naruto was back in the confines of his castle. The only trouble he'd had had been at the gate, but pulling down his hood had proved him to be the heir to the throne and after some talking, they'd let him through.
He had just settled Rasiel into his new stall in the stables and was now heading into the castle. Looking at it, you wouldn't know someone had been murdered there so short of a time ago. He passed his father's study and his eyes darkened.
"I'm sorry...father..." he mumbled just before a large shriek made contact with his ears.
"AYEEEEEE! KING UZUMAKIIIIIIIIII!" a girl screeched at the top of her lungs.
BOOM! went through Naruto's head just then, as now everyone knew he was there and were suddenly around him.
"Where have you been?"
"We were so worried!"
"They told me you'd been captured!"
"Oh yea..." Naruto turned to the maid that had said that. "Is captain Fehrock okay?"
"He's fine, my lord." a soft voice said, but it penetrated the large crowd and they all shut up immediately.
"Ah! Hinata! I'm so glad you're okay!" Naruto smiled happily at her as the small girl made her way through the crowd to him. "Can I go see him?"
"Sure." she smiled at him. "He sent me a letter saying he thought this might happen." she explained as they began to walk away. Everyone just stared at them.
"Yea, he's a nut case...but he knows what he's doing." Naruto sighed as they entered the hospital area of the castle.
The white sterile feel of the room was suffocating to him...he hated hospital rooms...
"Captain Fehrock..." Hinata called softly as she entered one of the curtained areas, Naruto close behind.
"Huh? Ah! Naruto!" he smiled. "You are truly spectacular!" he went to sit up but winced and laid down again.
"I told you not to do that Kakashi-san." a blonde woman chastised. She looked like she was trying to hide how old she was.
"Ah! Ts-tsunade-sama!" Hinata gasped, not realizing the woman had been there. She received a glare.
"Not Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-chan! It makes me sound younger!" she insisted.
"Y-yes ma'am!" Hinata lowered her head slightly in a wince. Tsunade blinked.
"Oh, your highness...here for a checkup?" she asked with a smirk, Naruto flinched...She always scared him.
"No thanks baa-chan." he laughed nervously with a smile.
"Why do you insist on calling me that? I'm not that old!" she glared playfully. "Come here chibi..." she said softly, kindly.
Naruto walked over and was engulfed in a hug. It was tight, but lessened soon after. Tsunade had always been like a mother to Naruto, since his mother wasn't.
"I thought I'd never see you again...Why'd you go off and fight? You could have died!" she released him from the hold and wiped the tears that wanted to fall.
"I'm fine, I promise." Naruto smiled at her. "I have friends in...high places..." he forced himself not to snicker.
"Oh, Naruto, I met your little love interest!" Kakashi cheered from his laying position on the bed. "Very nice boy, really he is."
"Whu-bu-a...a boy?" Tsunade and Hinata turned to Naruto, who was staring disbelievingly at Kakashi.
-
"The prisoner has escaped!" the guards were yelling. A black haired boy sitting on a wall near the stables smirked.
'You bet he has...' he thought, a soft chuckle coming from him.
An old black horse turned to him, seemingly smiling as if it knew something.
-
"Hey Hinata..." Naruto asked.
He now wore his royal clothes again, but they were a king's clothes instead of a prince's...It was kinda depressing to him...
"Yes my lord?" she asked. Naruto shook his head.
"You can call me Naruto still, ya know...Anyways, can I borrow Mia?" he asked. Hinata blinked.
"Sure..." she began to lead him towards the aviary.
-
"Huh?" Sasuke blinked as a black bird flew overhead. "A bird?"
It circled above him for a moment before darting down and landing softly on his hand. He stared at it and it stared at him. Then, the bird held out it's leg, revealing a letter tied to it.
"Huh?" Sasuke reiterated as he took the letter off and set the bird down next to him. "For me?" he untied the string around it and began to read.
'Thank You Sasuke.'
He immediately knew it was from Naruto. Who else would thank him, huh?
'I'm now safely back in the castle...thanks to you. The bird's name is Mia, she belongs to one of the maids, and my friend, Hinata. She's agreed to let me borrow her to talk to you.'
Sasuke looked to the black bird who was now preening herself. Then he kept reading.
'I hope you weren't caught helping me. It'd be bad if you were punished for it. Captain Fehrock is ok, and Tsunade-baa-chan laughs at him whenever he tries to move...Oh, she the nurse.
I miss you already, and it's only been a day. Wearing these King clothes really annoys me, and reminds me of what I've lost. It's kinda depressing, huh? Oh right!
When I was first told that I was king and my parents were dead, they asked me what I wanted to do. I told them what to do with my parents bodies...and then...I had them give your brother an honorable warrior's send off...'
Sasuke didn't think Itachi really deserved that, but the thought put into it was worth remembering...
'I hope you write back to me soon.
Lots of Love,
Naruto Uzumaki'
Sasuke hurriedly ran to grab a pen or something to write with, Mia following close behind.
-
'Naruto!
This was a brilliant idea. Though, the fact that you have 'carrier crows' is kinda strange...I suppose it doesn't mater though, does it?
I miss you too. I feel I should thank you for the honorable send off of my brother, but really...I hated his guts so it really wouldn't bother me if you had burned his corpse like a magic bonfire to cook s'mores over. (lol)
Oh well. I'm sure your parents will be proud of what you accomplish as King. I believe in you. But I doubt I'll be becoming King anytime soon. My parents are still alive, thankfully or unthankfully is your own opinion. I don't want them dead, it's just...
If I had the power to, I'd work with you to stop this war...
Love (oh, sounds weird to me)
Uchiha Sasuke'
Naruto smirked at the end. Naruto had been writing mock letters almost his whole life, so the ending 'lots of love' didn't sound weird to him anymore.
"Naruto-sama!" Hinata called frantically.
-
"Hinata, I'm gonna do it."
"Do what?" she asked.
"I'm going to the Uchiha Kingdom. There, I will be united with my one and only love...Prince Sasuke Uchiha!" she acted like they were already married or something.
"B-but Sakura..." Hinata tried.
"Ssshhhh..." she opened the door leading out of the palace.
"Ohhh..." Hinata puffed out her cheeks in distaste. "She never listens to me..." and the black haired, petite girl ran off to find the king.
-
"You have to go stop her. The Uchihan border is-"
"I know. Don't worry, she'll be fine." he headed for his room. "I'll go get her myself..." his voice was low and held slight anger in it.
"Sakura...I hope you don't get into too much trouble..." Hinata clasped her hands together.
Ack, chapters are getting shorter...
