A/N: ALMOST SEVEN HUUUUUUNDRED REVIEWS! This story is nearly at that mark! You guys are the best! When I first created this story I never once thought that it would graduate to become the massive and phenomenal hit that it is to day! And to top it all off, this is my longest chapter to date! Reviews inspire me to write like this so I just want to say...

...THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!

Still I return again! Things have been absolutely crazy for me as of the last few months what with the surgeries and all, but now at long last, I feel I can devote my attentions to this fic anew as I've intended to do! Of course, now that they're not cutting me OPEN anymore to work on my heart I've also come up with a quite a few new ideas! I can promise ya'll that the next few chappys are going to be nothing short of absolutely brilliant! So sorry for the wait! There's a bit of a long author's note this time, because there are a few matters I want to address.

But I also want to bring something to your attention. I've been putting this off for a while, but this needed to be done. I have PURGED many of my older works. That's right, I've delted or adopted off many of the stories that I will no longer be continuing. Fear not, my most popular fics will remain, but most of my old stuff from back in 2008 and 2009, when I had no idea what I was doing is being all but removed from the site. Out with the old, in with the new, as they say! Still, if anyone is interested in any of my old stuff, say the word and its yours to continue. But I've held ya'll up long enough!

Now that we've addressed all those issues, I just wanted to say: Thank you. To all of you who reviewed and have yet to review, and especially those who noticed my improved writing style. You all know who you are. I look forward to hearing more from you as we continue down the strange, convulted path that is this story. I honestly cannot believe I've already gotten so many reviews for all these chapters, and now the count is so damn high I could cry with joy! Hopefully I won't dissapoint you guys!

But I've held ya'll up long enough! Now...

...onto the next chapter! =D Fair warning, typo last chapter. I meant to have Itachi say a few DAYS before they reached the Elemental Nations. Not hours. My apologies! But how did Akatsuki find and respond so quickly to Naruto? You'll soon see. And a warning! Anna is radicallly different in this story as of this chapter given what happened in the last. I mean, something like that, couplled with having your heart broken...yeah, that'd drive anyone crazy...also!

THIS STORY JUMPS TO M-RATED IN THIS CHAPTER!

"So, basically, he could burn down the village in a fit of pique. I am the only who thinks it might be a bad idea for one person to have that much power? I mean, this IS Naruto we're talking about, right...? He might not remember us...but he's still the same person, right? Right?"

~Inuzuka Kiba.

Hearts Burst into Fire

Kristoff lurched back to life with a gasp.

His mind lurched even as his body scrambled into action, broken pieces scrabbling at reality that wasn't quite there. The gaudy walls of one of the palace rooms-Anna's room?-greeted his blurry vision, the burgndy color of the walls serving as an eerie reminder of the bloody slaughter he'd witnessed-of the assassins that had stormed the halls and attacked. But...that had been in Elsa's room. The walls there were blue, and its bed was a queen-sized, easily large enough for two or more people, not the small mattress and bright amber walls upon which he found himself.

Which meant, unless an interior decorator had visited the palace since his lapse of concsiousness, this was not, in fact, the Queen's room. He wasn't there. Shouldn't be there. But it was and so was he. He wasn't dead. They say your life flashes before your eyes, right before you die. They were wrong. He hadn't experienced any lingering flashes of himself or Sten

One moment he'd been bleeding out on the palace floor, watching in mute, despairing horror as the blood squirted between his fingers. Unable to move-unable to breathe-as the assassins set upon Anna. Blackness had taken him before he new anything else. But it was not to be. One moment he'd been a hairsbreadth from death's door, and then...he simply wasn't. He was alive. But how? His hands fumbled for the wound, grasping at the hole that'd once occupied his chest. He remembered being stabbed, experinceing the bonecrushing pan of having his heart preforated by the blade, falling forward, seeing Anna stand over him, then...

...nothing.

How was he alive, when he'd clearly been dead? He wondered at that for a moment, cringing at the bone-numbing pain in his chest. Dead, or so close to it that he'd thought it one and the same? Fingers fumbled at the dressings wrapping round his naked torso, trying to find the wound-

"Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn't touch that," a musical voice chimed from across the room. "I healed you as best I could, but if you open the wound...

That voice alone was more than enough to still his questing fingers. Kristoff jerked around, searching for the speaker, startled. What he saw took his breath away.

"Anna?"

Because it was Anna.

The crown princess of Arendelle sat no more than a few feet away from him, nimbly perched on a windowsill across the room. One long leg hanging languidly over the edge and the other tucked into her chest, exposing the slender expanse of a thigh. Kristoff colored at the sight of that much skin beneath that blue robe, but that embarassment faded when he caught sight of her stark blue eyes, glittering like diamonds in the night skies so much like her navy-colored hair, cut short. Honestly, if it weren't for her voice and the freckles, he wouldn't have recognized her at all. But that look in her eyes...it wasn't right.

Something cold plucked at the strings of his heart.

"Anna?" he repeated once more, speaking slowly this time so as to gain her attention.

"Hmm?" She didn't look at him, her bright blue eyes remained locked on the roiling waters in her hand. "Something you needed?" Water. Ebb and flow. Flow, and ebb. She nudged at it with her fingers, making different motions, shaping it into strange forms and figures, as he looked on. It felt wrong. She, felt wrong. One look at those big, bright blue eyes nearly sent him gibbering with fear; a single, solitary glance told him this wasn't the same innocent girl that he'd traveled across the mountains with in search of her sister. This was not her.

It wasn't.

"Are you...alright?"

"Fine," she nodded, still not looking at him. "Just fine."

"Oh, I don't think that'll work out." her voice came off as light and cheery, but there was an air of dettachment to the words that hadn't been there before. "You've been a wonderful friend, but I think," and here she had a small moment of pause, "That we should see other people. After all, Na-" she cut herself off ruthlessly, a dark shadow sweeping across her face. For a moment he couldn't see her eyes-those bright blue orbs hidden in behind the curtain of her navy tresses. "Well," she began again, speaking with measured, maddening calm, "I guess you could say I've decided to pursue someone...closer to the family."

Naruto? Was she going after Naruto? Oh. Ohhh dear. Kristoff blanched, a twinge of pain stabbing at his heart. He'd only met the man briefly, recalling little beyond the fact that he seemed to shimmer with an inner heat and a ready smile, sanguine and charming. And utterly devoted to Elsa. He'd seen the way he looked at the Queen and him; they were simply besotted with one another. No, Naruto as likely didn't have room in his heat of a heart for another, no matter how much Anna might wish it were so.

Unbidden, the blond's last words to him on the docks rang clearly in his mind now.

"Break her heart, and I'll break you."

Well, there was certainly no danger of that, now!

"Anna," he began slowly, choosing his words with great care, "What happened to men who tried to kill you?" She turned to look at him at last, then, and the look in her eyes...maker! From his perch atop one of the new chests, the newly-recovered Natsu let out an almost fearful squeak, as though sympathizing with him.

A blink. "I killed them, of course." she said it as though it t'were the most obvious thing in the world. "They wanted to hurt me." His eyes were drawn to a pale scar, running down the side of her cheek alongside the oh so subtle mark-silvery in the light-where a poisoned blade had bit into her face. It only seemed to enhance her beauty, but that beauty was a terrifying thing, no longer innocently bewitching as it had once been.

"And the guards?" his voice was little more than a dry croak.

"Had to kill some of them, too. They didn't recognize me."

Kristoff let those words stir in the cauldron of his mind for a long moment before deciding to lay back down. "I'm...just... going to go back to sleep now." Anna barely nodded, her attention already elsewhere. Dimly, he became aware of another prescence in the room. A guard? He couldn't see the man's face. But he could hear him.

"We are nearly ready for the voyage, my lady." the man spoke, sounding strangely hesitant, reluctant even, as though he feared angering her. "B-But, given the season, travel to the Elemental Nations might take many days, even with the maps provided."

"How many days?" Anna asked, her voice sounding very, very far away.

"At least a week, given our choice of craft. Even the best of our vessels lack the speed of lord Itachi's galleon. They will have a sizeable head start. And without the proper maps...

"But it can be done?"

...yes, m'lady."

"Yet you think it too great a risk." It was not a question.

"I do not wish to presume m'lady's wishes, but...yes."

Anna made a small humming sound in the back of her throat, as though his reply pleased her. "Very good, captain. You are dismissed. I will bring you my final decision before the tide."

"Does m'lady desire some tea while she waits?"

Another hum.

"Make it so."

And then all Kristoff knew was the blissful sleep of slumber.

The ensuing journey to Konoha was wretchedly horrid after the naval battle.

Under Itachi's watchful eye, repairs were made, supplies scavenged from the bodies of the enemy and their last remaining ship. Survivors were interrogated and then dispatched with ruthless temerity. Elsa watched as their bodies were consigned to the sea, willing herself to look and not flinch. These men and women had tried to kill her, and Naruto. They deserved no mercy.

And they received none.

The voyage itself soon suffered mightily under a terrible storm-one in which Elsa promptly discovered that she was painfully senstive to sea-sickness. The incessant thrashing threatened to sink the ship at any moment, send it floundering amidst the towering, frigid waves and plung them into the abyss.

Eventually Naruto was called out onto deck with her to help tend to it. Fire crackled from his hands like a thing alive, turning ship-sinking waves into harmles steam. Once, she even watched him catch a bolt of lightning and redirect it, sending the jagged bolt screaming into the sea. Blue/black fire raged from him all the while, steam crackling from his shoulders as he fought relentlessly to keep them afloat.

In part Elsa worked her own gifts, shattering waves into harmless frost dust, erecting great walls of ice to shield the sailors from harm, plucking others from the sea when they fell overboard. Nearly all of her power was exhausted during that first night, further compounding her illness.

Looking back, it certainly explained her intense aversion to sailing henceforth.

The rest of her trip was subsuquently spent in the hold, trying to keep a bit of food down, inevitably heaving it back up. Nauto stuck dutifully by her side throughout, holding her hair out of the way and soothing with the occassional massage. Itachi surmised that Akatsku might've had something to do with the relentless waves and incessant rain; if he was right, she was determined to visit swift, icey vengeance upon them!

There was no rest once they reached land either; the moment they disembarked their guide force-marched the contingent of soldiers he'd brought, bringing them into the Land of Fire at a blisteringly swift pace. From there it had been a hard march westward and northward, even mostly across open roads. There were delays and problems at every halt, attacks by bandits, vagabonds and other, strange creatures human like in near appearance but with pasty white skin, always trying to kill them, absorb them, steal their chakra.

White Zetsu, Itachi explained to them later. The main foot soldiers for Akatsuki, little more than grunts, almost limitless in number. Hard to kill, hard to fight, and easily capable of taking on the appearance of nearly anyone. They were dispatched with fire and ice, immolated, and left to rot in the evening. Worse, by then, it had begun to rain. Again! By then, Elsa was thoroughly miserable and there was nothing anyone-Naruto included-could do to warm her spirits.

She didn't even speak to him, sch was her despondency.

When, at long last, they finally made camp and pitched tents for the first time, she all but threw herself onto her bedroll. The pleasant scent of dinner reached her nose, but at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be warm and dry. Her ice was good for that much at least, forming a protective sheathe over the already damp fabric of her tent. Meh, the cold never bothered her anyway. Getting wet however, was another matter, one of the few things her element couldn't aid her in.

"Finally!" she cried softly, delighting in the subtle comfort of her sleeping bag, as she let her hair down. It came loose around her shoulders in a tangled mess, causing her to curse quietly. She hadn't had time to wash it during the journey and now it looked bloody awful! And she, without a brush!

Briefly she considered divesting herself of her gown, but decided against it. Shucking it might be nice, but she had no desire to be seen naked by the men of the camp. Well, at least not by anyone other than Na-maker almighty, where did that come from? The sudden and treacherous thought brought a rising swell of heat to pleasant places, reminding her of their brief dalliance back upon the ship, his questing fingers...Stop! Stop, stop, stop! The Queen quietly cursed herself. She shouldn't want something so badly but she did, and she was beginning to fear that her relative silence had driven a wedge between them-

As if summoned by that very thought, her beloved blond poked his head inside.

"Elsa? You in here-oh."

Beneath his disbelieving stare, Elsa felt herself begin to burn. It started slowly, a rising warmth in the back of the neck, then her forehead, now her face, her cheeks-gah! Because Naruto was staring at her. Really, truly staring, as though he'd just seen her for the first time. Her hair. Her face. In that insant she was almost certain she looked absolutely awful; but what came next took those dubts and crushed them into oblivion. He did a little double-take gawping slightly, then hurried into the tent, sealing the flap shut behind him. Idly, she noticed he was carrying a platter of steamed buns and a bit of venison, doubtlessly caught by their trapper only a few hours ago. Elsa's attention was decidedly elswhere.

"You let your hair down." He smiled, disbelieving. "Wow. Haven't seen that in awhile."

Embarassment burned her cheeks. "Y-Yes, welll...its stupid. I don't even have a brush."

"Ah, but I do!" Grinning, the prince pushed the platter aside and plunged a hand into the sachel he always kept at his hip. When it emerged, he was clutching a familiar comb in hand; a very familiar comb...

"Hey! That's mine!" Indignant she bolted upright, her hair trailing after her in a curtain of pale gold. "Give it!" Naruto offered no resistance when she snatched it from his hand, but when she made to move away, he was quick to snatch her wrist in return. Those bright, burning blue eyes danced, reflecting a sentiment she secretly shared. Grinning, Elsa gave him a hard shove-and realized too late that he was still clutching her arm. They went down in a sprawl of arms and legs, shrieking.

A squeal of laughter leapt from her lips. "Naruto!"

Of course, he could've easily overpowered her; but he didn't. Instead Naruto let her have her way with him, offering only a token resistance as she pinned his arms behind his head. Elsa frowned. No. She didn't want his weakness. She wanted him to fight her, to resist her, to challenge her in every way, as he had before. Not like this. She wanted the boy she'd fallen in love with. Not this stranger. Whatever he was plottting, she wanted no part of it. Almost cursing herself, she clamored off of him and scooted backwards.

Naruto gave her an odd look; she willfully ignored it.

"Something wrong?"

"No, its nothing." she replied.

Shrugging, he moved behind her and set to work on her hair. "I can be gentle sometimes, 'ttebayo."

Gentle? Her eyes glimmered wetly in frustration. She didn't want gentle! She wanted the fire and the flame. She wanted him!

"You're impossible. You know tha-ahhhh!" To Elsa's immediate dismay, she found herself purring like a contented kitten as the brush stroked her scalp. "Oh,yes. Right there. That's the spot." She aways loved it when he brushed her hair; it just felt so...wonderful. He hadn't done it since they were children and to once more experience this wonderous, glorious sensation...

Naruto's quiet chuckle rolled over her, sending her skin rippling in gooseflesh. "What can I say? I always come prepared." His breath was warm on her neck, dark and insidious, and it spoke to the blackest parts of Elsa's soul, promising all sorts of sweet, horrible, inappropriate things. Unbidden, her mind flashed back to the interrupted moment of intimacy on deck. His arms wrapped around her, the delicious warmth between her legs-a rich, heady feeling she'd never felt before, never dared to feel-

-and now, damnitall, she was experiencing it again. All the while, Naruto quietly administered to her hair, seemingly unaware of the effect he was having on her. Or did he?

Of course, it hadn't taken Elsa long to discover the ways in which Naruto t'was handsome. That devilish, knowing smirk, the way his eyes twinkled when he was planning mischief. The infectious laugh, the one that lit up his whole face and shook his body with mirth. The sheer physicality of him, his complete and total comfort with his own body and his willingness to use it; his assurance in his own strength. That voice, of course, smoke roiling through honey, that purred such dreadful, toe-curling things in her ear while she tried to work or think or read or do anything, really, that did not involve Naruto and some sort of mischief.

His hands, slightly larger than Elsa own, with their scarred knuckles and rough nails, fingers strong and calloused but as capable of being gentle as they were of leaving bruises. Those same hands, now massaging at her shoulders, easing away the awful knots there from a hard day's march. When he laid his lips on the back of her neck, something broke inside of her. All the feelings that she'd worked so hard to lock away, even after his confession, for fear of what might happen, came pouring forth.

She spun around in his arms, startling him when she leaned forward, crawling into his lap. Her lips boldly brushed the outer lobe of his ear.

"I was...thinking we could pick up where we left off."

"Eh?" he blinked, going very, very, very still against her.

Anxiety threatened to overwhelm her. "Y-Y-Y-You know what I'm talking about! Don't tease me!" She flung a hand forward, freezing the tent solid; ensuring there would be no intruders. Naruto's breath spouted before her in a small cloud of warm steam. Her eyes glared down at him, hard chips of blue diamond.

His own widened. "Oh."

Oh.

Impatient, she kissed him. And he came alive in her arms. Now it was Elsa's turn to gasp as he grabbed her, bodily slamming her up against the icey walls she'd just erected. His mouth was hot and hungry against hers, so much like his element, and she opened for him eagerly, her tongue meeting his with equal fervor. Yes, her mind sang, body arching against him. This. This was what she wanted. No more interruptions. Not this time. Her mind committed itself to every moment, memorizing, experiencing, savoring every one.

When they finally pulled away for breath, Naruto's eyes shone red.

"I think I might be able to do something about that."

She laughed like a young girl as he tossed the brush aside and took her in his arms again. The tray of food lay in the corner forgotten, its pleasant smells a mere distraction at best. Because Elsa had other things on her mind.

Inexperienced as Elsa was, she started slightly when his hands peeled away the thin fabric of her dress, warmed against her back, exposing herself to him. Eeep! Her first instinct was to immediately stop what she was doing and cover herself. That desire faded as she felt him take hold of a breat and put his mouth...there!

A moan choked out of her.

"Wha-What're you doing?"

Naruto sighed and ran his fingers through her back in slow, circular motions, occupying his mind as best he could. Elsa smiled and turned toward his touch, her cheek brushing against his just in time for him to kiss her on the nose. She snuggled closer to him, making no secret of her desire for him; her fingers working at the leather straps of his vest. It wasn't long until he joined her in nakedness. It was...rather difficult not to droool, to marvel at him, to fret over the patchwork of scars on his chest, the gaping tear where something had nearly stabbed out his lung.

She wanted no gentleness; and he compied.

Delicate membranes had long since been stretched by hours of combat, leaving only pleasure instead of pain as he entered. And Elsa savored every moment, moving against him.

Her hips rocked slowly against him, savoring each moment.

She paused, memories-visions?-flooding in a warm rush. Languid morning spent abed, slowly exploring to find new nuances in each other's bodies. Being taken and marked, quick and hard, in a dressing room, over her half-hearted protests. The simple comfort of a warm, soft body nestled against her own, strong arms around her-

What remained of his control was slipping from his grasp. His body was so sensitive it felt like he was going numb. It was preparing for something, and it was something he wanted with such ardor it hurt. He couldn't concentrate, focused only on her mewls and cries of bliss when he hit particular spots that made her toes curl, dedicated solely on the beautiful agony that sent his every muscle into spasms when their hips made contact. He could feel now familiar contractions coming on, and grit his teeth in the blind desire to have her join him in climax.

"Elsa!"

Her legs wound behind him urgently, forcing him deeper still, and everything shattered at once. Her wail of release would have surely woken the entire camp, but it never left her mouth. Instead she found it mufffled in his mouth, her mind filled with the ecstasy of orgasm. With a hoarse cry his control broke, pain and pleasure mixed in an inescapable force that sent him over the edge and filled her willing body.

"Naruto!"

She moaned contently at the wet heat that flowed into her, meekly gasping as the last of their little icey tent melted, and she shuddered in the aftershocks of her strongest climax yet. He collapsed on top of her, their glistening skin rubbing frictionlessly together as he rested his head on her heaving chest while they both tried to catch their breath. His weight was nothing to her strength, and she quite enjoyed the feel of him resting on her breasts. She smiled down on him when he looked up lovingly, and he gingerly wiped some of her sweaty hair off her forehead.

"I love you." It snuck out of her in a rush as they lay there, her heart betraying her.

Naruto's reply, accompanied by a bright, warm smile, did nothing to assuage the sudden pang that seized her heart:

"I love you too."

And then everything changed.

They reached Konoha the next morning.

As ever, the sun was obscured by the gloomy clouds, the weary trek to the gate seemed to place an invisible burden on her, her shoulders tensed with the effort of not standing. She, didn't want to be here. Itachi'd told her she was here. The girl who loved Naruto. Nearly more than life itself. Could she honestly hope to compete with a love like that? She was determined to try, but the fear, it was always there, frosting at her fingers as she struggled to reign herself in.

"Well," Naruto gulped, "I guess this is it. Not too late to turn around is it?"

Itachi offered a wan smile. "I'm afraid not. You'll do just fine, Naruto-kun."

Elsa was not fine! Not at all!

'Relax, she told herself, just relax, it'll be fine, just fine. Naruto loves me. He'd never betray me.

Almost before she knew what was happening, they mighty gates swung open. Several shinobi were waiting for them-some of Naruto's friends perhaps-but her eyes locked opon one and in that instant, she knew.

Curse her, luck, there she was!

Elsa stood opposite him, icy disapproval still radiating from her like a roaring blizzard. He ignored the frosty gaze and simply examined the newcomer, trying to get a feel for the kind of woman she was. And then, out of the blue, it happened. Just like that. There was no want of a warning, no precursors to the actions that the pale-eyed Hyuuga would take. There was nothing. None at all. It simply happened. She stepped forward, toook him by the face, and kissed hi.

No.

The frozen princess drew back in shock, almost unable to believe what her eyes were telling her. What she was...seeing. The bag-and the items it contained-slipped from her numbed fingers, crashing to the ground. All thoughts of taking this first day off in the village, of spending time with Naruto, evaporated as she stepped the rest of the way through the gate. As she saw her.

Her.

No...

Hinata-for this had to be her-was kissing him. Him. Naruto. Her Naruto. And he was just...standing there. His eyes wide with shock, yes, but in the same vein, he did nothing to push her away. Elsa took a small step backward. Then another. And another. And another. She watched his arms rise, though whether to draw her close or push her away, she knew not. She didn't want to know. She didn't want to see. Every instant that she watched was like a hot, jagged knife in her chest, slowly cutting out her heart.

"NO!"

And everything fell apart.

"Elsa, it's not-

With a heartwrenching sob, heedless of Naruto's shout, she turned and fled.

A/N: And there you have it! Dun-Dun-Dun! Events are spiraling rapidly towards the center. Anna's gotten a big powerup, Naruto and Elsa have faced yet another new hurdle in their blossoming relationship and overcome it with flying colors! Sasori is dead, Hidan is well on his way...and there's plenty of fluff to come! and all of Konoha is about to experience a major upheaval here, folks!

...The events of Frozen ought to be quite different with them involved...will Naruto and Elsa make it out of this one alive? But the story doesn't end here! Now... at long last... we see the Elemental Nations in this ficlet! Naruto is the LAST jinchuuriki remaining, and all bloody hell is about to break loose!

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Would You Kindly Review the story of this humble man? Sadly, no fighting preview this time! Tis a surprise! And a major earthshaker!

(Preview)

"Will you just listen to me?!"

Elsa started as Naruto's fist obliterated a nearby tree, turning the towering oak to so much crumbling ash. The sudden display of violence-the pain in his eyes-genuinely frightened her. Flames flickered around him like a wildfire, black, red, blue, gold-white, even a smattering of green. Such were his emotions, raging across the color spectrum.

"Please," he croaked, "I'm begging you...I don't care about her! She took me by surprise, is all!"

"LIAR!" the vehemence of her shout sent him rocking back on his heels. "Kiba told me! You loved her!"

"But I love you!"

"Go away. I don't want to talk to you."

He didn't budge.

"Elsa-chan...I can't live my life without you. I see that now." When she didn't answer, didn't turn, he pressed his hands together. He was making something, forging an item of some sort, but she was determined not to look. It hurt too much to look him in the eye. She heard the sizzle of metal being made, created in his flames, and stubbornly clenched her jaw, fighting off tears. Then he did something strange. Instead of approaching her, he bent down, low to the ground. The sheer incredulity of such an act broke through the wall of her grief and caused her to turn around. What she saw there turned her blood to ice.

He'd dropped to a knee.

"What?" her heart stopped, hammered, then stopped all over again as he held out a hand. "No. Wait. Stop! What're you doing?!"

"Marry me."

Elsa felt her mouth work wordlessly.

"I...I...

What will her answer be?! FIND OUT NEXT TIME! R&R! =D