Maelstrom of Cold Steel

by MercenaryGrax

Arriving in a new world with no memory of how he got there, Naruto is taken in by Rutger, the Jaeger King, & given a place to belong. Eventually he winds up in Class VII with his closest friend. With all the chaos in the country of Erebonia & the social divide & massive corruption throughout the country, Naruto will certainly have his work cut out for him in this new world.

14. Chapter 14

A/N - Okay, finally here's a new chapter for this story! This one is a LOT shorter than the previous chapters. Only 17,799 words. Buuut, it's all original content that is not in the game. Still, I hope you enjoy it regardless!

I know I was eager to write this chapter, and I definitely enjoyed it. However, there's a reason it took me a while to finish writing it. My psychiatrist recently changed my antipsychotic to a different pill entirely. This one is making me so tired and I doze off FAST. The problem is, it just wears me out completely. It just won't let me fully wake up and I spend most of the day tired as can be. I keep having to take naps, but I never feel fully rested. I'm hoping I get used to it soon, because being tired all the time sucks. x.x

Anyways, if certain parts of this chapter feel kind of meh to you, I'm REALLY sorry about that. I honestly did the best I could. I highly enjoyed writing this chapter, regardless of how long it took me to do so.

Oh! Before I forget! There's something that happened recently that has me confused. REALLY confused. Mostly because I've seen it a LOOOOT for so long now. Just makes no damn sense to me.

Anyways, I've noticed that a LOT of people will enter a fic with the intention of finding anything they can to suddenly hate a fic and harass the author about it. Calling them a trash author, dissing their story, etc. All without ever giving the story a chance. They go into a fic with the intent of finding something to bitch about and it just makes absolutely no sense to me. So yeah. I'm sure there's a bunch of fellow authors out there who have encountered this problem. It's very weird.

Alrighty, I'm in dire need of something to eat, so I'll end this here. Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 14 – Royalty

"I assume you already know who we are?" Eugent asked Naruto.

The prince of Uzushiogakure nodded and looked at each member of the royal family, one at a time. "Emperor Eugent Reise Arnor III. Empress Priscilla Reise Arnor. Prince Olivert Reise Arnor. Prince Cedric Reise Arnor. And Princess Alfin Reise Arnor. It is my distinct pleasure to make your acquaintance, all of you. I am Prince Naruto Uzumaki of the island nation of Uzushiogakure. And, just so you are aware, I am also the man known as the Silent Shadow." Bowing to the five of them, he soon sat straight again and looked directly into the emperor's eyes.

The emperor chuckled a bit and said, "That is quite the introduction, dear Prince. It is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for being honest with us. Now, I have some questions I would very much like to ask you. If they make you uncomfortable, you do not need to answer them. I am simply curious." Seeing the young man nod in understanding, Eugent said, "I'm afraid that we had no idea of your existence until word reached us at the capital about a handsome new prince attending Thors Military Academy. You are a virtual unknown, and yet you have earned much respect throughout the Empire of Erebonia. You are also a very popular topic of discussion, even in Heimdallr. In fact, we have heard much about your compassion and your generosity. However, I must admit that I have never heard of the kingdom of Uzushiogakure. Could you enlighten us, perhaps?"

"Of course, Emperor Eugent. In order to explain everything you might be wondering about, I must first explain my origins to you. As well as where I originally come from." Naruto stated. After taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, he began to explain. "Sir, I am not from the world of Zemuria. I come from a planet called Earth in a completely different universe. I lived in a land known as the Elemental Nations. More specifically, I lived in the Land of Fire in a village known as Konohagakure."

Seeing their shocked expressions, Naruto nodded and said, "I was not raised as a prince. Instead, I was made the jinchuriki, or Power of Human Sacrifice, of a mighty beast known as the Kyuubi no Yoko. A large foxlike creature with nine tails that wields IMMENSE power. Even to this day, the Kyuubi still resides within me through use of a complex art known as fuinjutsu. The people called for my death…when I was but hours old." Hearing their gasps, Naruto closed his eyes and continued on. "The Third Hokage, the village leader at the time, protected me. Sadly, it was not for benevolent reasons. We jinchuriki were treated as monsters…and as weapons of war. Should they kill me, they would lose their most valuable weapon."

"Anyways, I wasn't raised by anybody. I was neglected and abused all my life. People formed mobs to try and kill me, especially on my birthday. I was never allowed to die, but they tried constantly to end my life, despite orders demanding otherwise." Shaking his head in disappointment, the blonde continued on. "Nobody informed me who my parents were. Nobody let me know if I was loved. The only friend I ever made in that wretched village was Anko Mitarashi."

"One thing you should know is that we were raised as child soldiers. We were given missions to complete, no matter the task, and we were expected to follow them through to the letter. Whether this meant assassinating a target, espionage, sabotaging an enemy nation's plans, or a simple bodyguard and escort mission, we did it. For a price, of course. We were a people known as ninjas. I am not sure if there is an equivalent to that in this world, but the closest occupation I can think of would be the various Jaeger Corps. throughout the world."

"Anyways, I received no real training and was expected to somehow use my power and worthless hand to hand skills to combat my enemies. I was placed on a team with a Jonin sensei, or instructor, named Kakashi Hatake. My two Genin teammates, the lowest rank in our military, were Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Kakashi and Sasuke were meant to be my 'handlers', so to speak. Should I go out of control or disobey orders, they were to use their Sharingan, a special type of eye with some very unique powers, to subjugate and control me. Kakashi never focused on training me and instead focused all of his attention on Sasuke. Sasuke was the golden boy of Konoha and was treated like a prince. He was spoiled and given everything he could possibly want. But it was never good enough for him."

Shaking his head again at this point, Naruto continued to speak. "Fast forward a bit, and Sasuke turned traitor. He craved power enough to kill all of his enemies, and he desired a shortcut to such power. A powerful traitor to the village promised him such power and Sasuke eagerly accepted it. I was one of those sent to recover him. However, I had to hold back so I wouldn't kill him. And Sasuke took full advantage of that fact, knowing I couldn't fight at my best. If I killed him…the people of Konoha would have called for my execution."

Sighing, Naruto stared around the room at the royal family and Principal Vandyck. "Sasuke broke my neck. He plunged two assassination techniques known as Chidori, through my chest, nearly destroying my heart in the process. I very nearly died because I couldn't risk killing him. So, while I was in critical condition and struggling to survive, Sasuke successfully escaped to join Orochimaru. Sasuke eventually became a truly powerful enemy of Konoha that could only think of one thing: revenge."

"Anyways, I had a powerful group of ninjas out to capture me and take my life. They were known as the Akatsuki and they planned to forcefully extract the Kyuubi from me for a plan of theirs that we did not learn until much later. However, forcefully extracting a bijuu from a jinchuriki will kill them. Very few people can survive something like that, and not through conventional means." Naruto explained. "I fought against them and somehow managed to survive through it all. It was during my battle with a man called Pain that I first learned the truth about the night of my birth…and about who my father was. My father was the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure, and quite the legend. Those people abused the son of their hero."

Shaking his head yet again, he said, "As I mentioned Sasuke and his desire for revenge earlier, you should know that after he exacted his revenge against his brother, the one that killed the Uchiha clan and spared only Sasuke's life, that traitor then declared he would take his vengeance upon Konohagakure. All he knew was the desire for revenge. He even joined the Akatsuki, the very group that had been hunting me. The worse he became, the worse his crimes became. Sasuke was a true monster."

"Anyways, after the Fourth Great War was declared and the villages united to form an immense, powerful army, I was taken to a location to be hidden away…and learn how to harness the Kyuubi's vast power. During my battle with the Kyuubi, I talked with my mother's spirit. I learned from her the truth about who I really am. She was the princess of Uzushiogakure, and when I was born and she died, the title of crown prince of Uzushiogakure fell to me. However…" Sighing sadly, he couldn't even look them in the eyes. "The kingdom I was meant to rule had been destroyed many years before my birth. I had no people left to govern. Everyone was gone…and I was once again all alone. I only had Anko…"

"At the end of the war, once we had emerged victorious…Sasuke declared his intent to rule over Konohagakure…and the world as a whole. He was so far gone at that point that I had no choice but to fight him again. I was given no other choice but to end his life to protect everyone. However…"

Olivert frowned at this point and asked, "You were labeled a traitor for killing their 'prince', weren't you? They planned for your execution."

Naruto nodded once and said, "Yes. I was tortured, humiliated, disgraced…and then they tried to publicly execute me. The only two people NOT to call for my execution were Anko and a girl named Hinata Hyuga. However, as they prepared to end my life…" Looking around at everyone, he smiled serenely and said, "Aidios saved my life and brought me to Zemuria. I will forever be thankful to her for that. I have no idea why She has taken such an interest in me, but I will never betray her."

Priscilla smiled at the young prince and said, "Then we must thank her for saving your life and bringing you to us. Regardless of her reason for doing so, it is obvious that you have earned her favor. You seem like a good man, Naruto Uzumaki."

Eugent nodded and thought it over for a moment. "Thank you for sharing this information with us, Prince Naruto. I have another question for you. I have heard you have multiple girlfriends, or mates, as I've heard you call each other. Can you perhaps explain why this is?"

Naruto nodded and said, "In order to explain that, I must first show you something." Extending his fist, he looked around at everyone and said, "Please, all of you press your fists to mine. Principal, you should do this as well. You will all understand in a moment."

Principal Vandyck and Prince Olivert were the first to press their fists to Naruto's. They didn't even hesitate. The last one to do so was Emperor Eugent. When he did, they all felt a strange pulling sensation before they appeared in one of the most beautiful places they had ever seen. Taking in the sight of the lush greenery and plains around them, as well as the nearby trees and a flowing waterfall nearby, they couldn't help but marvel at it all. Then, they laid eyes upon the massive beast that was currently sleeping. Looking at Naruto, they saw that his features had changed as well. He now had nine tails, fox ears atop his head, fangs and claws, and his whisker marks were more defined. "Wow." Alfin breathed in awe.

Smiling at the six of them, Naruto said, "Welcome to my mindscape. We are currently inside of my mind and the seal that has been placed upon me. As you can see, I am no longer fully human. I have become a creature known as a hanyou, or a half-demon. And this is my best friend: Kurama. He is the Kyuubi no Yoko."

Alfin approached the both of them and reached up, gently petting the mighty Kyuubi's soft fur. "What happened to him? He's missing his tails, and he looks so exhausted."

Naruto frowned sadly and said, "I was near death after being ripped from Earth and deposited on Zemuria. Kurama had to expend almost all of his life force to save my life. As a result, he lost all but one of his tails and was near death. I was transformed into what you see now as a result of him saving me. When he woke up, we talked about our current situation…and he informed me that if I wanted to ensure he survived and recovered his powers and life force…I would have to take multiple mates and absorb some of their life force into myself. The more mates I take, the more tails and power he recovers. I have currently taken three mates: Fie Claussell, Anko Mitarashi, and Laura S. Arseid."

Priscilla frowned for a moment before asking, "When you take a mate, do they become like you?"

The younger blonde nodded and said, "They do. However, we hide our true features under an illusion so as not to draw too much attention to ourselves…or scare people. But…as you can see, I'm not taking multiple mates for some sick pleasure dream. I'm doing it for him."

Prince Olivert smiled sadly at him before he stepped up to the mighty Kyuubi and began to pet his fur. "Thank you and Aidios both for saving this kind, young man."

Snapping his fingers, everyone was ejected from his mind and, once they had all recovered, he smiled at them and said, "I would never hurt my mates. And I won't accept anyone new into our family unless they agree upon it. We need to be able to trust in each other and anyone that wants to join our family. Yes, I have taken interest in some of the girls here at Thors Military Academy, but I will not act upon such feelings until my mates and I are ready."

Alfin looked at Naruto pleadingly and asked, "Can you please drop your illusion?"

Blinking, Naruto nodded and released his illusion, allowing the royal family and the principal to see his true form. Then, before he could say anything, Alfin began to pet his ears and tails. Blushing deeply, he said, "T-Those are really sensitive, Princess Alfin. Umm, if you want to do that, please be gentle. It kind of tickles."

The princess simply giggled and continued to pet the prince. "I'm sure they are."

At this point, Naruto looked at Prince Olivert and said, "Before we continue this conversation, I was informed that I should talk to you about something of great importance, Prince Olivert."

"Oh? What might that be, Prince Naruto?" Olivert questioned curiously.

Naruto frowned and said, "I was told that you've encountered members of Ouroboros before. During the field study we had over the weekend, Bleublanc, otherwise known as Phantom Thief B, approached us. He told me that his boss, the Grandmaster, has taken an interest in me. I don't know why or what she could want, but I doubt it's anything good."

Olivert's eyes widened considerably and he said, "That's NOT good for you, Naruto. And it can't mean anything good if Bleublanc has returned to Erebonia. It means that they are up to something again. Naruto, I have heard that you are an incredibly powerful, insightful individual. However, I do not know if you can stand against the entirety of Ouroboros, let alone the Grandmaster, by yourself. I will do what I can to aid you, but it will not be easy."

Eugent frowned and said, "I was not expecting to hear such a thing, Prince Naruto. This is worrying indeed. But again, thank you for confiding in us. Your trust will not be misplaced. If there is anything we can do to make your time here in Erebonia any easier for you…"

Alfin interrupted at this point and said, "Let's adopt him into our family! He would be well protected, he would be safest with us, and he'd have more influence to really make a difference here in Erebonia if he became a true prince of Erebonia. The people already really love him and respect him, too! Naruto has been making waves since he arrived in Erebonia."

Prince Olivert smiled at the idea and looked at his father. "I have to agree, Father. It would be for the best, especially for Naruto. But more than that, it would look good on us for taking in a prince who lost his people and his home. It would be a sign that we truly care about our people, as well as giving to those in need. As my sister said, though, the people already love him. He is talked about virtually everywhere in Erebonia. And, I have heard that he has a great deal of influence on people. People listen to him and they rely on him for a number of things. He has a great work ethic and treats everyone with respect and kindness. Or so I have heard from those here at the academy. I think he would make a fine addition to our family."

Emperor Eugent frowned deeply and shook his head. "I am not sure if that is the best idea. I agree that he is a good man and he would make for a fine prince, but…"

Empress Priscilla smiled at her husband and gently grasped his hand. "Dear, I think we should. It sounds like he has never had a true home or somewhere to belong. This would be good for him."

Eugent sighed and nodded his head. "I know. And it seems like you are all in agreement, aren't you?" Looking at Cedric, he smiled when his son simply nodded once. Returning his gaze to Naruto, the emperor said, "If we adopt you into our family, you need to know that you will have no claim to the throne. You would have no chance at becoming emperor upon my passing or when I choose to abdicate my throne. You would be my son, and you would be a valued member of our family, regardless of such a fact. Do you accept this stipulation that I have put forth?"

Naruto smiled at the emperor and said, "That is perfectly fine with me, Emperor Eugent. Becoming a ruler, in this case emperor, never even crossed my mind. It just wasn't something I ever thought about. So I have no objections. However, if I accept this, I must ask some questions of my own. What of my mates? Will you try to separate us? Or may we stay together and eventually all be wed to one another as I promised them? I cannot and will not betray them in such a way. They are my family."

Emperor Eugent smiled at Naruto and said, "It may be a bit unorthodox, and a bit awkward at times, but we would not try to separate you from your loved ones. And, it is not expressly forbidden, so you may marry the three of them if you wish it. However, I must ask another question of my own. Is it true that one of your mates is already pregnant? You are all still so young."

Naruto sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It's true. Trust me when I say it was NOT my idea. I was just so tired and Laura snuck into my room. She is more impulsive than I would expect from a woman in her position. She knows what she wants. It has yet to be truly confirmed, as she isn't showing symptoms just yet, but a girl named Beryl gave me some highly accurate predictions…and she knows EVERYTHING about me. Only Fie and Anko know everything about me. So I trust her. I know we are still young, but Laura just doesn't seem to care about the potential consequences. I don't want her to be ridiculed or humiliated…or worse, simply because she made this choice. I don't want her and her father to lose their noble status or…I don't know. I want them to be protected. I can't let anything happen to her or any of my mates."

Priscilla frowned and said, "If we adopt you, I think we can protect them from that kind of problem. If you need some time to discuss this with your mates…?"

Naruto shook his head and said, "We have already discussed a number of possibilities with each other about what might happen during this meeting. They have given me their full support and trust in me to make the right decision for all of us. So, if you are willing to have me, I would be most honored to join your family. It would be nice to finally feel accepted and have siblings and two wonderful parents. But…would I have to take the Reise Arnor name? Or would I be permitted to retain my mother's name? I do not want to betray my people, nor my mother, by discarding the Uzumaki name."

Eugent smiled at him and said, "You may keep your name, Naruto. It means a great deal to you, and it shows where you are from and honors the memory of your people. And we will protect your mates. I promise." Looking at Vandyck at this point, he said, "Principal, we will need to take Naruto with us to Heimdallr for a time. He will be back in time for midterms, I assure you. However, we must prepare him for his new duties as a member of the royal family. He must learn the ins and outs about what is required of us and how he should act. One week from today, we will call the people of Erebonia together to watch as Naruto is sworn in as a member of the royal family." Looking at Naruto, he said, "You will be expected to give a speech. You had best prepare yourself for that. We will help you as much as possible." Returning his gaze to Vandyck, he said, "Please make sure that Sara Valestein and the others instructors know that Naruto has returned with us to the capital. Make sure that they compile their notes and give them to Naruto upon his return to the academy. And finally, I want all the faculty and students to be in Heimdallr to witness Naruto's induction into the family. I'm sure he would like to see his friends there for him, supporting him all the way."

Principal Vandyck nodded and placed a hand gently upon Naruto's shoulder. "Everything will be fine, Naruto. Leave some of your clones to explain the situation to your mates and leave the rest to me. Go with your new family and prepare yourself for what's coming. Your classmates will understand, I assure you."

"Thank you, Principal." Naruto said. Afterwards, he put up his illusion again, much to Alfin's disappointment, and stood up. "Thank you all for giving me this chance. I will not disappoint you."

Olivert smiled at the younger prince and said, "You will be just fine, Naruto Uzumaki. Create your clones and come with us. I assure you that you will be safe with us. Happy as well."

Creating five shadow clones to go and take care of things, Naruto smiled gratefully at his new family and said, "Thank you again. All of you."

Alfin grinned as she took his hand and said, "Welcome to the family, Naruto Uzumaki! We're going to have so much fun together!"

The whiskered teen chuckled a bit and said, "I'm looking forward to it." Then, looking at Vandyck, he said, "Thank you, Principal Vandyck. I guess I'll see you again a week from now. I'm looking forward to the midterms."

The principal chuckled and said, "Most students dread them. It's refreshing to see you are looking forward to them. Be well, Naruto. We will be seeing you again soon."

Eugent smiled at the principal before walking up to Naruto and placing his hand upon his shoulder. "Come. Let's get you to your new home." And with that, he led Naruto and the rest of his family out of the room.

Once they were gone, Principal Vandyck left his office and ascended the nearby stairs. Making his way around to the Class VII classroom, he stepped inside and noticed that Instructor Makarov was now standing there. Smiling at the man, he turned and looked at the other ten members of Class VII. "Once again, I am sorry to disturb all of you during your lessons. However, I have something to inform you of. The royal family has decided to take Prince Naruto with them to Heimdallr. He will remain there for a week, learning what he can from them. Next Wednesday, we have been instructed to take the entire faculty and student body to Heimdallr for an important event and announcement. Naruto has left some clones to discuss some things with his mates and gather a few of his belongings to take with him to the capital. Should any of you have any questions, feel free to talk with his clones and learn what you can. I assure you that he will return to class with all of you sometime next week. He will be able to participate in the midterms and he will continue to spend his Free Days helping the student council and all of you as well. Right now, he is simply needed in Heimdallr. Please try to understand."

Rean frowned for a moment before nodding his head. "We understand, Principal. Should one of us continue to take notes for him so he doesn't fall behind in classes?"

Vandyck smiled and shook his head. "I will request that the instructors compile their notes and give them to Naruto upon his return. It will take him a bit of studying to catch up, but I'm positive that he will be just fine. Do not be surprised if he places high on the midterms. And I assure you that Naruto is just fine. The royal family simply wants to get to know him better and take care of him however they can. Besides that, I'm sure Prince Olivert would like to talk to Naruto about Ouroboros and help him understand them and whatever their goals may be here in Erebonia."

Laura smiled and said, "So they really decided to do it. I'm glad."

Fie nodded and said, "I just hope it all works out for the best."

"I'm sure it will. Besides, he needs this. He deserves to be happy." Anko said.

The others looked confused, but didn't comment on it for the time being. Instead, they smiled at the principal and Rean said, "We're looking forward to his return. Thank you for telling us this, Principal Vandyck."

"Of course. Have a good day." Vandyck said before he turned and left the room. It was time to return to his office and have a chat with a few people. Good luck, Uzumaki.

Heimdallr – Valflame Palace

As they entered the palace, Naruto blinked a couple of times before glancing back towards the city of Heimdallr. "I wasn't expecting so many people being so eager and excited to see me. That was insane!"

Alfin giggled a bit and said, "You'd better get used to it. I'm pretty sure the people you have already helped have told everyone all about you by now. People have heard nothing but good things about you, Naruto. That, and I think there's a story going around already about you buying a ring for somebody in Bareahard? How exactly do you have so much money?"

Naruto smirked at her and reached into his pocket and unsealed one of his books. Handing it to Alfin, he said, "I'm a world-famous author, Princess Alfin. My books are INCREDIBLY popular. I've got far more money than I know what to do with."

Alfin's eyes widened and she said, "I've read all of your books! They are soooo good! You're going to have to autograph all of them for me!"

The whiskered prince chuckled and said, "Of course. So, umm…"

Before anymore could be said, Naruto sensed a powerful presence approaching. Turning to stare forward, the blonde let a frown mar his face for a few seconds before putting on a pleasant smile. The Blood and Iron Chancellor, Giliath Osborne himself.

Eugent smiled at the chancellor and said, "Ah, Osborne. It's good to see you." Turning, he motioned to Naruto and said, "This is the young man we've been hearing about lately. Osborne, meet Prince Naruto Uzumaki of Uzushiogakure. He comes from the far eastern lands, beyond the lands we cannot cross. He has no idea how he came to be on this side of the world, but it is quite fortunate for us that he did. As he has no home to return to, I have decided to adopt him as my son. Prince Naruto, meet Chancellor Giliath Osborne. I hope you two can get along well."

Osborne looked at Naruto and nodded his head once. "I have heard much about you, Prince Naruto Uzumaki. I have also been informed about your time as the famed Silent Shadow of Zephyr. You are highly skilled and powerful for your age. It is impressive. As Emperor Eugent said, I am Giliath Osborne. It is an honor to make your acquaintance." Extending his hand for a handshake, he smiled at the boy and said, "The people already love you a great deal. I can only see this adoption as being a wonderful thing. I think you will be a great influence on the people of Erebonia."

Naruto did his best to smile politely at Osborne as he shook the man's hand. Inside however, he was screaming in outrage. Just seeing this guy up close, he just SCREAMS bad guy to me! My instincts are screaming at me to get rid of him! Taking a moment to steady himself and clear his mind of such negative thoughts, he said, "It's an honor to meet you as well, Chancellor. I've heard many things about you. About half of it is positive, the other half is negative. I would much rather get to know you personally and make my own judgment based off of what we learn of each other."

Osborne chuckled a bit and said, "You can admit it, you know? You don't yet trust me. You are guarded around me already. I would prefer to get to know you as an equal as well, good Prince. I'm sure we could have some thrilling discussions and even work together towards a brighter future, if you are so inclined."

The younger blonde chuckled a bit and said, "Perhaps. And you'll have to forgive me. It is hard to trust new people, especially ones as intimidating as you." Smirking at the older man, he said, "I'm looking forward the conversations we're no doubt to have. I'm afraid at the moment, however, I am quite busy with my new family. So you'll have to excuse me, Chancellor Osborne."

The Blood and Iron Chancellor smirked back at the younger man and said, "Of course. Perhaps we can sit down together for a few games of chess sometime? I'm curious to see which of us might win in a battle of wits and strategy. As I said before, I have heard much about you, Prince Naruto. You are an interesting person and I am very much looking forward to getting to know you."

Nodding, Naruto said, "It would certainly be interesting. Again, perhaps later, Chancellor Osborne. Have a good day."

As they walked away, Olivert placed a hand gently upon Naruto's shoulder and whispered to him, "You are wise not to trust that man, Naruto. I don't trust him either. Be careful though. There's no telling what could happen if you cross him unnecessarily."

"Of course, Prince Olivert. Thanks for the advice." Naruto replied.

Later that night – Class VII Dormitory

"So what exactly is going on, Naruto?" Rean asked one of the clones that were standing before the entirety of Class VII, Instructor Sara included. They were currently seated in the dining room, as it was the easiest place to hold this kind of important meeting.

"It happened just as Ferris predicted it would, didn't it?" Laura asked.

One of Naruto's clones nodded and said, "Apparently so. Boss confided in them the truth about a lot of things. He omitted a lot of details, which they're sure to ask about later, but he explained a lot to them about why he's here, what happened to his people, and more. He also showed them Kurama and explained his current situation." Looking pointedly at Naruto's three mates, the clone said, "And he made sure to ask about the three of you, as well. They have agreed to extend their protection to you and any other mates Boss might take."

Alisa frowned in confusion and said, "Mind explaining for the rest of us? They obviously know something we don't about this whole situation, but the rest of us are kiiind of lost here. What exactly is going on?"

The second of Naruto's clones said, "Welll, that's the thing. Princess Alfin eagerly made the suggestion to her parents to adopt the Boss into their family. Prince Olivert agreed with the idea, claiming it would grant Boss some kind of protection from Ouroboros and anyone else that might end up targeting him. Empress Priscilla was supportive of the decision as well. So Emperor Eugent kind of caved and went along with it. He was rightfully concerned about the whole thing, but they seem to genuinely want to help the Boss. They want him to stay in Heimdallr with them for a week so they can start teaching him about his new duties, what will be expected of him, the things he needs to know, and so on. We're not quite sure, but something big is supposed to be happening next Wednesday. I think the Boss is more nervous about this whole thing than we are. I mean, Ferris helped prepare us for this, but…"

Elliot and the rest of Class VII's eyes widened at this sudden revelation. The orange-haired boy said, "So…Naruto's going to be a real prince of Erebonia? What exactly does this mean for him in the long run?"

The third clone shook its head and said, "Well, it was already made clear to the Boss that he cannot inherit the throne, as he is not a blood relative of the royal family. He is simply being adopted, after all. Besides, that role will fall to Prince Cedric when it's time. But the Boss is perfectly fine with that. He's never been all that interested in ruling a country or a kingdom or whatever. He's just happy that he'll have a real family to call his own. Parents that will love him and three siblings he can really bond with. But…"

The first clone nodded and said, "This will improve Naruto's image throughout the Empire. As you're aware, he's already been making waves and people all over the Empire know of him now. He will have more political power now, and it could grant him the kind of influence he needs to start making a difference in Erebonia. I'm…not really sure what exactly his new duties will entail, though."

Laura frowned and looked at Jusis for a time. When he nodded at her in confirmation, she looked back at the clones and said, "Public appearances are a given. Naruto will be required to participate in a number of events, such as the Summer Festival and giving speeches and so on. With how popular he already is, the people will likely be expecting a number of public appearances to improve his image even further. Show the people that he's a person just like them. He is bound to be loved by the people. But…"

Jusis nodded again and said, "Naruto's time will be split between school and his new duties as a prince of Erebonia. I'm sure he will still be able to join us for our forays into the old schoolhouse and his duties to the student council. And I'm positive he will continue to journey with us on our field studies. However, the royal family is going to require his presence in the capital for a number of reasons. I hope Naruto and his mates are ready for such a drastic change."

Sara frowned and said, "I'm technically not supposed to be telling you kids about this, but next month's field study, your fourth one? It's supposed to take place in Heimdallr during the Summer Festival. Will Naruto be able to participate in the field study alongside the rest of Class VII? Or will he be expected to perform his princely duties during the festival?"

Jusis frowned and thought it over for a time. "I'm not entirely sure. It could go either way. Personally, I hope that he can continue to join us on these field studies of ours. It wouldn't feel the same without him. However, if his new family insists on him participating in the festival alongside the others…we'll just have to make do without him. Unfortunately."

Anko pouted and said, "Well damn. I wasn't thinking about all of that stuff. Still, I think this will be good for him. Besides, it'll probably help in the long run if he goes through with this whole prince thing. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes."

Fie grumbled a bit and said, "They'd better not try to hog all of his time. We still need him, too, after all."

Gaius chuckled a bit and said, "I am sure everything will work out for the best. Besides, I doubt Naruto would let them try and confine him and his movements. He can be…persuasive when he needs to be, after all."

Sara chuckled a bit and said, "Gotta agree with you there. Oh well. Let's get some grub in our bellies and then call it a night. We'll see Naruto again next Wednesday." And with that, they continued to converse while Emma and the clones took care of cooking a meal for everyone. I sure hope you know what you're doing, Naruto.

The Next Morning – Valflame Palace

Priscilla smirked at her daughter as they took a stroll together through the palace garden. "I didn't ask you about this yesterday because of everything that happened, but now that we have some time together, just the two of us, I need to ask. Alfin, why were you so insistent on adopting Naruto into the family?"

Alfin giggled a bit and smiled at her mother. "Did you see how cute Kurama is? And Naruto has those adorable ears and those tails! Of course I want to cuddle with them both! You should have petted Naruto's tails, Mom. They're so soft, and he's apparently really sensitive. I just want to play with him a bit."

The empress giggled a bit before smirking at her daughter again. "And the other reason? Are you absolutely sure about this? If you just spring this surprise on him like you're planning to, you're going to shock him for sure. But his mates might not be too happy with you either. Are you really sure you want to do this?"

The younger blonde giggled again before looking seriously into her mother's eyes. "I know what you're thinking, Mom. I still want to meet Rean Schwarzer and get to know him for myself. Elise is always talking about him and clearly loves him a lot. But there's something special about Naruto Uzumaki. He intrigues me, and I can tell that he can be a bit mischievous as well. We're going to get along great!" Giggling conspiratorially to herself this time, she soon said, "Besides, I couldn't possibly steal Rean for myself. He's far too dear to Elise for me to pull something so dastardly. Just think about it: a forbidden romance between brother and sister. Sounds kind of fun, doesn't it?"

Priscilla shook her head in amusement and said, "I swear, I don't remember teaching you any of this, Alfin. But you do realize that you two aren't actually blood-related, don't you? Just like Elise and Rean. Where do you get these interesting fantasies from, I wonder?"

Alfin simply giggled some more and said, "You would be surprised the amount of tasty gossip and other juicy rumors you hear throughout St. Astraia, dear mother. And the things those girls say to each other are all quite amusing to listen to. And goodness, the stories they read in those naughty books of theirs! I've learned quite a lot during my time there, Mother. I do believe you would enjoy it."

The empress paused and blinked a couple of times as she stared at her daughter. "I'm beginning to wonder if letting you enroll there was a mistake. Then again, I'm sure you've learned quite a bit from dear Olivert as well. The things that boy says sometimes."

The princess simply smiled at her mother and said, "Regardless, I can't resist doing something to catch Mr. Ninja off guard. He'll never see it coming."

"No. No, he won't." Priscilla agreed.

Next Wednesday

Naruto was a bundle of nerves as he stood beside Alfin in the middle of the Dreichels Plaza of Heimdallr, just outside of Valflame Palace. His mind was racing and he couldn't help but worry about the possible ramifications that such an event and announcement could have on himself, his mates, and the royal family. At the same time, he knew he would likely have to give a speech of some kind as the new prince of Erebonia, and he wasn't sure what the hell he should say! As he was panicking inwardly, he soon felt someone grasping his hand. Looking at his companion, he smiled gratefully at Alfin. "Thanks, Alfin."

"Anytime, Naruto." Alfin said with a reassuring smile on her face.

Meanwhile, in the crowd of people that were watching the event up close and personal, Anko couldn't help but look around in awe. "Holy crap this is a lot of people. How do you think they're going to react when they hear the news?"

Alisa shook her head and said, "I have no idea. People are already coming to their own conclusions, seeing Naruto and Princess Alfin standing together up there. This is going to be interesting to watch."

Rean nodded in agreement and said, "I just hope people don't riot or something. Although…"

Elliot nodded as well and said, "Right. I think word has spread throughout Heimdallr by now about the things Naruto has done. He's gained quite the reputation already."

Laura nodded and said, "Indeed. However, it would seem Emperor Eugent is about to begin his speech. We should be quiet."

Sure enough, Eugent stepped up to the podium and smiled at the people. There were many cameras capturing video of what would happen, a number of reporters taking pictures and preparing to jot down notes in their personal notebooks, and so on. They were also well aware that people throughout Erebonia were watching what was happening via use of the orbal network and a series of TV screens carried about on orbal trucks and the like. Just thinking about all of this had Naruto feeling nervous again, but another squeeze of his hand by Alfin caused him to take a breath and steady his nerves again.

Smiling at his people, Emperor Eugent began to speak. "Allow me to say that I am glad to see you all doing well. It brings me great joy to hear such great things about my people. But, I'm sure you aren't here to listen to my well wishes." Chuckling a bit, he soon motioned towards Naruto. "You have all no doubt heard about Prince Naruto Uzumaki by now. You may be wondering why he enrolled in the prestigious Thors Military Academy, and why his identity has been hidden for as long as it was. It is a simple enough question to answer. Prince Naruto Uzumaki did not wish for his identity to be revealed in such a way until he had met with us. He is from a distant land past the eastern lands that have never been crossed. Naruto is the prince of a nation known as Uzushiogakure. We were set to meet on a date and at a time that were meant to be kept secret until we had been able to discuss the situation in detail."

"Not even the prince is aware of how he ended up on this side of Zemuria in the Empire of Erebonia. But I, like many of you, and like his many friends, believe that it was by Aidios' will that Prince Naruto was brought here. With no way to return home, he has been stuck here for the past two years. When we first learned about his identity, we scheduled a time to meet and communicate with one another as equals. However, through a simple accident of sorts, his identity as a prince was revealed and word quickly spread throughout the Empire about a benevolent new prince. We have heard many things about Prince Naruto, most of them good. He has garnered a great deal of respect in the short amount of time he has been here in Erebonia."

"We had originally planned to meet with each other a month from now, shortly before the Summer Festival. However, the sudden reveal of his princely status forced us to meet sooner, just in case. I'm sure many of you have theorized about what this announcement might be about. During our meeting with the prince, it was suggested to me by my children, and my darling wife, that we adopt Prince Naruto into our family. We quickly grew fond of him as we spoke with him. Prince Naruto is a compassionate, wise young man. He is kind and cares for the people of Erebonia as a whole. He wants to make a true difference here, and all he wants is to see everyone united as a people. You all deserve to be as happy as he makes us. So, I would like all of you to welcome our new prince of Erebonia." Eugent finished, motioning towards the new prince with a grand smile on his face.

As people all over began to applaud and cheer for him, Naruto blushed deeply and wasn't quite sure what to do. However, Princess Alfin soon tugged him along until he was standing before the microphones as well. "Go on, Naruto. I'm sure the people are waiting to hear your speech."

Naruto nodded slowly and looked out at all the people and cameras. Taking a quiet breath in, he let it out slowly and put on a bright smile. "I am very honored to be among you today. And I am even more honored that a family I respect so dearly have decided to take me into their home. During my time in the Empire, I have seen and experienced so many things. I've had the pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful people. I've been treated so kindly by so many people and I enjoyed learning more about this fine empire and its people. And yet, just as I have seen the light side of the Empire of Erebonia, so too have I seen the darkness. There is an old adage that comes to mind here: light cannot exist without the darkness, just as darkness cannot exist without light. They go hand in hand, and it is not necessarily a bad thing. However, I have always had a dream."

Taking a moment to look around at everyone, he gave them a serene smile and said, "I dream of peace. I dream of friendship and happiness. I dream of acceptance and love. I recognize the differences between the different factions throughout the Empire, and I can respect and understand both sides. I know my dream may be…difficult to accept. However, things that are worth doing are oftentimes difficult to achieve. Above all, I want our people to be happy and successful in their lives. I want us to come together and make the Empire of Erebonia truly shine. You mean a lot to me. All of you."

Closing his eyes for a moment, he thought over how much of a mess this speech must be sounding like. Shaking it off, he opened his eyes again and looked hard at the people. "As a new prince of Erebonia, and one not related to the royal family, I recognize and accept the fact that I will not succeed the throne. That was never my intention. I have never had a family. My parents were killed the night I was born. I was an only child with no siblings to call my own and no parents to hold me and shower me with love. It brings me great joy to be accepted as part of the royal family of Erebonia. I will forever be grateful to them, and to the many people of Erebonia who have accepted me as I am. I am not perfect. Nor am I infallible. I will make mistakes, and I'm sure some of my decisions will make some of you question me. And I accept that. But as your prince, I vow to do my best and uphold the honor of Erebonia. I wish to represent the very meaning of Emperor Dreichels' famous words. "Arise o youth and become the foundation of the world." I am yet young, a mere 19 years old. And, like many of my fellow students and the next generation of young men and women throughout the Empire, I truly believe that we can do exactly that. We will make a difference. We will see the dreams of the people come true. And we will become the very foundation that will raise this fine Empire to new heights."

"I promise you here and now that I will continue to act in the name of the people. I will work towards making your dreams come true. And I will continue to work towards a brighter tomorrow! I will become a prince that you can be proud of. One worthy of your respect. One you can look up to. I will not let you down. And together with my new family, I am looking forward to spending more time getting to know the fine people of Erebonia. I will continue with my studies at Thors, and I will continue to learn more about this fine Empire. It is my hope that I can inspire you to be your best and work with me towards a brighter future. Thank you very much for your time." Naruto finished.

As the people erupted into a thundering applause and began to cheer for him, Naruto began to blush again before letting out a heavy sigh of relief. However, when he went to step back, Alfin shook her head at him and made sure he stayed beside her at the podium. Once the people had calmed down, she smiled brightly at them and began to speak into the microphones. "I also have a small announcement that I would like to make. Many of you have speculated a number of things revolving around myself and my dear brother Cedric. I would like to inform you that, as a means of uniting our people and cementing Naruto Uzumaki's place in the family, we have entered into an arranged marriage plan. Everyone, I would like you to meet the man I have chosen to be my future husband: Prince Naruto Uzumaki of Uzushiogakure!"

Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he looked at her. "Wait! WHAT?!" Then, when she kissed him on the cheek, he chuckled nervously before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped to the ground in a dead faint.

As Alfin began to giggle to herself, the people began to worry for their new prince. They had not expected such an announcement, nor had they expected Naruto to suddenly drop on stage like that! Three young women, however, were feeling MUCH different. Fie, Anko, and Laura looked at one another and Anko said, "They have some explaining to do. Our mate should have told us of such an arrangement."

Laura shook her head and said, "Did you see how he reacted? I don't think he knew about this little surprise of hers. This was her decision alone."

Fie scowled and asked, "What are the odds we could kill her and hide away the body without being caught? I am NOT pleased by this."

Hearing this, Elliot whispered harshly to them, "You can't KILL the princess! Just talk to the two of them about this before you even THINK of doing anything drastic like that!"

Unfortunately for Elliot, he chose the wrong time to speak up. Turning towards him as one, Anko allowed a couple of snakes to slither out of her sleeves and smirked sinisterly at him. "Oh, you poor, naïve fool. You do realize this all happened because you couldn't keep it quiet, don't you? If you know what's good for you, you'll be quiet and refrain from telling us what to do."

While Elliot began to panic and worry for his life, Rean shook his head and said, "Please, don't make such threats. I know you three may not like it, but the whole Empire just heard the announcement. There's nothing that can be done to cancel such a decision. Even if she did this as a prank or something, the fact of the matter is that it is now official. Please, as much as you might hate it right now, just talk with them. Like it or not, you're stuck with her now."

Fie growled and said, "I know. Doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. I was still trying to finish working things out with Laura. We were just starting to get along again. Then this happens. How are we supposed to feel?"

Alisa simply hugged the three of them and said, "Believe me, we understand. I don't think anyone expected this to happen. But, they haven't said that you three can't marry him as well. You need to look on the bright side! But, umm…"

Jusis nodded, seeing where she was going with her line of thought. "If anything were to happen to Prince Cedric, Princess Alfin would become the next in line for the throne. Should she and Naruto be wed, and Emperor Eugent were to step down…"

Anko's eyes widened and said, "Holy crap. Umm, I don't think he's really interested in that kind of thing. He's never been fond of the idea of ruling over people or having such huge responsibilities like that. If he knew something like that might happen…"

Fie nodded and said, "Yep. Naruto hadn't planned for any of this. It would seem Princess Alfin is a mischievous little fox."

Laura sighed and shook her head in disbelief. "To best Naruto at his own game. She might just fit in after all. But I swear, if she tries to hog his time to herself, we will be having words."

Seeing that their attention was now off of him and his life wasn't in any immediate danger, Elliot looked at Rean and said, "Thank you. I thought I was a goner for sure."

Rean chuckled nervously and said, "I doubt you're out of the woods just yet, Elliot. You were the one to let it slip that he's a prince, after all. They won't forgive that so easily."

Elliot slumped over at this point and said, "Yeah. You have a point."

For a good while, Class VII talked amongst each other and listened to the various conversations taking place around them. Most people were excited and pleased with everything they had just heard. However, a small handful of people were rather displeased with the prince's speech. Shaking his head at this, Rean thought, Naruto has his work cut out for him. I wonder how this will go.

When Naruto finally came to about ten minutes later, he saw a few doctors practically hovering over him, checking him for any injuries or illnesses. Assuring them he was fine, he was helped to his feet and offered the people a wave and a smile. My mates are going to kill me.

Hearing a quiet giggle beside him, Naruto turned his gaze on Alfin and listened as she asked, "Are you okay, Naruto? I knew your reaction would be priceless, but I didn't quite expect you to faint in front of all these people."

Naruto smiled awkwardly at her and said, "You're a sly one, Alfin. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into by doing this. And if my mates try to kill us for this, I blame you."

The princess simply smirked at him and said, "You only have yourself to blame for this, Naruto. You're just too darn cute for your own good. You intrigue me, and I am very much looking forward to getting to know you better. We're going to get along splendidly."

"I'm sure we are, dear sister. We should probably step back and allow Father to speak again. You really caught me by surprise." Naruto said before stepping back to his original position with Alfin beside him. He didn't even try to stop her when she intwined her fingers with his. I was never meant to live a normal life, was I?

Later that evening

Class VII and a number of other guests, such as Instructor Sara and Principal Vandyck, not to mention numerous others, had been invited to meet with the new prince inside of Valflame Palace that evening. Naruto couldn't help but groan inwardly as he stood with the Blood and Iron Chancellor. The older man was currently laughing before patting the young prince on the back. "That was quite the rousing speech you gave today! You really aren't afraid to speak your mind and make your intentions known. Regardless of how some of the people might have taken your speech, you sure motivated me, my prince. It was a most impressive showing. Although, the dear Princess Alfin sure caught us all off guard with her sudden declaration, didn't she?"

Naruto nodded once and said, "Indeed she did. And I'm well aware I probably incensed some members of both factions today, but that truly wasn't my intention. I stand by what I said though: I've always dreamt of bringing peace to the world and its people. It's a lofty goal, but one worth working towards. And thank you, Chancellor Osborne. I wasn't expecting you to be in my corner after everything I said."

Osborne simply smiled at the younger man and said, "Why wouldn't I support you in both your endeavors and your dreams, dear boy? You're an inspiration to us all! This is truly a glorious occasion that deserves to be celebrated most heartily! Though, I do believe there are others who wish to speak with you now, including your new fiancé."

Naruto sighed, but nodded his head. "Of course. Have a good evening, Chancellor Osborne." And with that, he walked towards his mates, more than eager to get away from Osborne. I REALLY don't trust that guy. I don't care how sincere he sounds or what he says, there's just something about him that I don't like.

Upon reaching his mates, he was about to say something, only for Fie to speak up first. "Before you say anything, we're not mad at you. Is it safe to assume you didn't know about this arrangement up until today?"

The blonde facepalmed and nodded once. "As if my reaction earlier wasn't enough of a hint." Chuckling dryly, he said, "As far as I was aware, I was simply being adopted into the family. This arranged marriage business caught me completely off guard. I had no idea it was coming. She waited to spring this on me until she knew there was no way to decline such an 'invitation'. Now that it's been declared for the whole empire to hear, it would seem I have no choice BUT to marry her. I would have preferred the two of us to get to know each other better as a family before we even CONSIDERED something like this. She knew exactly what she was doing and loved every damn second of it. Still, please don't start plotting how to kill her or something. I know you girls could probably do it and either make it look like an accident or get rid of the body so you would never be implicated, but it would be far too suspicious if she were to suddenly 'vanish' like that. Let's just get to know her and welcome her into our weird, crazy family. Aidios, I have such a headache right now."

Anko hugged her mate and said, "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. It sounds like Princess Alfin is a sneaky little fox. She might not know what she's getting herself into here. Do you think her family knew what she was planning?"

Naruto nodded and said, "I'm sure that they did. Or at least most of them did. And I believe they supported her decision without ever discussing it with me. I'm sure that was Alfin's idea. Normally I'd say that if she wants to prank me, then I'd make her regret it. But this is no mere prank. This is the rest of our lives we're talking about here. We're going to need to have a nice, long talk with her about this decision of hers. I would very much like to hear her reasons for doing this."

"Well, it looks like we'll be able to ask her right now. She and Empress Priscilla are coming to greet us." Laura pointed out.

Hearing this, the four of them turned and put on their most pleasant smiles as Priscilla and Alfin reached them. "Hello, Mother. Alfin. It would seem we have some important things to discuss."

Alfin smiled sweetly at him and said, "Hello, my dear fiancé." Seeing the looks on the faces of Naruto and his mates, she pouted cutely before she decided to explain. "I'm sorry, okay? At first, I was more than eager to meet Elise's dear brother, Rean Schwarzer. I simply wanted to tease him and Elise a bit and play a little. But then we started hearing so much about you, Naruto. I was curious about you, and when you showed us what you did, wellll…I couldn't resist! You're definitely going to have to let me cuddle with you when your fox features are showing. Your fur is so soft and you're adorable, too! And I want to spend more time with Kurama, as well. Besides, doesn't the whole idea of a faux incestuous relationship between a brother and sister sound like a rather 'intriguing' idea? So naughty!"

Empress Priscilla looked at Naruto and smiled pitifully at him. "I'm sorry, Naruto. We all knew what she had planned for you, but we were sworn to secrecy. She dearly wanted to surprise you. I know you would have preferred to discuss it with your mates first, but…"

Naruto sighed softly and shook his head. "Alfin, you have some interesting tastes. And quite the vivid imagination as well, it would seem. I am not angry or upset with you. Any of you. It's not what I expected, and I never saw something like this coming, but I won't hold it against you. However, my mates here are quite displeased. I would like all of you to talk this out and get to know each other better. After all, we're going to be quite the family together."

Alfin smiled at her new brother before turning to face his mates. "It is nice to meet you three. I assume you must be Fie Claussell, you are Laura S. Arseid, and you are the mysterious beauty, Anko Mitarashi. As you are aware, I am Princess Alfin Reise Arnor. I hope that we can become quite happy together."

Fie twitched a bit before saying, "It's nice to meet you as well, Princess Alfin. I'm sure we'll be the best of friends." After I rip off your breasts and cram them up your ass, of course!

Anko smirked at the princess and waited until Naruto had delved into conversation with Priscilla before she began to speak. "You've got some nerve, Princess. This is a dangerous game you decided to play. We won't do anything to you, but we're going to need to work on this relationship of ours. It would have been nice to have discussed all of this beforehand. Instead, you waited until the most opportune time to make sure the marriage would go through and nothing could be done to revert the decision. You're a clever one, I'll give you that. But is this what you really want?"

Alfin smiled sweetly at them and said, "But of course. Would I have made such a declaration if I wasn't intent on seeing it through? I am thinking of all four of you. It's not just my own wants and desires that drove me to such a hasty decision. Laura S. Arseid? Have you begun showing signs of your pregnancy yet?"

Laura blinked at the sudden question, but slowly nodded and said, "I think so, but I can't be sure without some kind of test. I'd rather not discuss it so…openly. It's best discussed in private and not in front of all these people."

"Of course, I understand. Let me put it this way: Naruto may have been adopted into the family, but he is still new to the empire and its traditions. He is still acclimating to his new environment and getting used to his new home. People may already respect and love him, but hearing he has multiple lovers and has even gotten his noble girlfriend pregnant out of wedlock would not look so good on him. It would also reflect poorly on us as a result. However, by marrying into the royal family and becoming my husband, that would afford all four of you even greater protection than you would have otherwise. Oh, I'm sure you all would have been just fine regardless, but wouldn't you rather have me with you as a member of the family? If you accept me, we can help keep you safe from any kind of negative backlash that might come your way. Fie, Anko. By accepting me, you two can be with Naruto unopposed by the people. There would be no question as to the love shared between you. Between us. Nobody would offer up any complaints. And if they did, they'd quickly be silenced by our many supporters! We would be free to love each other, and more importantly, our dearest mate, unopposed! Doesn't that sound wonderful?" Alfin explained, though inwardly she couldn't help but giggle to herself. We already promised you all our protection anyways, but they don't need to know that.

Fie frowned at her for a time before releasing a heavy sigh. "Dammit. You have a point. Just don't try to hog him all to yourself. And you have to know that you can't just change your mind now that you've done this."

Anko shook her head in amusement and said, "She won't be changing her mind. The princess is quite satisfied with how things turned out. And, as she has already proven, she's a truly clever girl. Believe me, I get it, Naruto has this strange animal magnetism going for him. It's hard to resist, isn't it, Princess?"

Alfin giggled at the pun and said, "Animal magnetism indeed. You are right, though. I can't wait to learn more about our dear betrothed. He won't be able to resist us. I guarantee it."

Laura shook her head as well and giggled a bit. "Truly, you are much different than I would have ever expected. And I can't really complain about what has happened. After all, I kind of forced my way into this relationship without first consulting it with these two. Things have been…rocky for a time, but we're starting to patch things up and get along with each other now. I would be a hypocrite if I were to criticize you now. And…I am truly grateful that you and your family are offering us such protection. It will help a lot."

"But of course, Laura! If we are to be sisters, it would be in our best interests if I used my power to protect all of you. We're going to be very happy together." Alfin said.

As the four of them began to converse about a variety of different things, Naruto looked into Priscilla's eyes and said, "I really do wish you would have told me about the plan. I'm not opposed to the arrangement, but I can't help but worry about how this might impact the relationship between her and my current mates."

Empress Priscilla shook her head and said, "I am sorry, Naruto. We gave Alfin our full support as her family, but I will admit it was wrong of us to keep it from you the way we did. She simply wanted to surprise you, and your reaction was pretty cute. She can be rather persuasive when she wants to be. I'm sure you've already found this out firsthand by now."

Naruto chuckled a bit and nodded his head. However, before he could say anything, the Empress began to speak again. "Naruto. I thought you did very well today. That speech you gave was wonderful. I'm proud of you. You don't walk an easy path, but you're doing the right thing. We will support you however we can. Both as your new family, and because you are a good man, Naruto. You will have our full support, and I will be more than glad to help you should you ever need me. I know that Olivert and Alfin will be more than happy to help you as well. Cedric is a bit shy, and tends to be nervous, but I'm sure he'll be willing to lend you an ear should you need it. As for your father…"

The younger blonde nodded and said, "He is a busy man and has enough on his plate as it is without me piling my problems on top of it. I know my speech earlier might have ruffled some feathers, but I believe in what I said. I'm sticking to my beliefs and I'm going to help make this world a better place. I've seen too much war, violence, and death in my life. I'm just tired of all the pain people have to go through every day. Peace is something I have dreamed of for almost all of my life. I want to help make it a reality here in Zemuria."

"An honorable dream, dear brother." Olivert said as he walked up to the two of them. "You certainly know how to give a rousing speech. "Arise o youth, and become the foundation of the world." I think you're on the right track, Naruto. You're an inspiration to the people, especially those in your generation. Together with your peers, and your dearest friends, I believe you'll rise above any adversity and make a real difference in Erebonia. Nay, the world as a whole! I am proud to call you my new brother and a prince of Erebonia. But, I think some others would very much like a word with you. You wouldn't want to keep your friends waiting."

Looking in the direction Olivert was pointing, he saw his fellow Class VII members, minus his mates, watching him and beckoning him over. He found it curious that Emperor Eugent and Prince Cedric were with them. Thanking Olivert, he soon bade goodbye to the group he was with and approached the remaining members of Class VII. He was about to start talking, but Eugent motioned for Naruto to stand beside him. Frowning in confusion, Naruto nodded and took his place beside the Emperor. I wonder what this is about.

"Naruto! Good of you to join us." Eugent said. "Cedric and I were just talking with your friends about your progress in the academy, as well as the midterms this month and what will be expected of you on the coming Free Day. It is my understanding that you have been helping the student council on your Free Days. Is that correct?"

Naruto nodded and said, "Yes, Sir. I volunteered to help Towa Herschel out as much as possible because of how overworked she is. It's amazing she can even function as well as she does with the amount of work she has to do each day. It is my desire to continue assisting her on our Free Days in any way I can. I enjoy performing such tasks for the people, faculty, and students of Trista and Thors Military Academy. You…aren't going to tell me I can't, are you?"

Eugent chuckled softly and shook his head. "No, I wouldn't dream of it. Continue to help Towa out. I'm sure she greatly appreciates it, and I'm sure she greatly appreciates your company. It's a commendable work ethic you have. But what of these field studies? I have heard some interesting things from your classmates about what has occurred during these first two field studies of yours. You're an obviously passionate young man, Naruto. I would like to hear the truth from you, in your own words. I believe in your friends, do not doubt that. But I want to hear what you have to say."

Frowning again, the younger blonde nodded once and said, "Our first two field studies took Group A, which included me both times, to two locations in the Kreuzen Province. I first learned the truth of Duke Albarea's cruelty towards his people in the town of Celdic. We learned that the provincial army were corrupt and would not lift a finger to help the people. Our second day in Celdic was…bad, for lack of a better word. We learned that an awful crime had been committed and acted where the provincial army would not. We tracked the criminals into the depths of the Lunaria Nature Park where we caught them red-handed. However, the provincial army soon surrounded us and made it clear that they were working with the criminals. I…was angry. And I wanted to put things right and protect my friends. So I went on the attack and knocked them all unconscious. If I had wanted to, I could have crippled them or even killed them. But I held back."

"In Bareahard, I learned even more than I had the previous month. I was…displeased with what I saw and learned in our first day there. The second day, just as before in Celdic, was much worse. Jusis Albarea was called to his mansion and held there under house arrest. And my dear friend here, Machias Regnitz, was arrested under false charges and held in custody in their underground prison. It was done in an attempt to gain the upper hand in future negotiations with the Reformist Faction. Holding the son hostage with the threat of violence would ensure Imperial Governor Carl Regnitz would not be able to put up any resistance to their plans. It was an attempt to forcefully get their way by use of rather cruel means."

"We came up with a way to enter the prison via use of the underground waterway. Our aim was to break Machias out of prison and then escape. Once we were free, we could have figured out what to do then. However, we were set upon by two horrific monsters that were clearly trained by the provincial army for unknown uses. Upon slaying these two beasts, we were surrounded by provincial army soldiers once again. However, they would not listen to neither Jusis nor his brother Rufus Albarea. Only when Rufus made mention of the fact that he had talked with his father did they listen and leave us alone. It was at this point that Rufus took me to meet with the Duke."

Eugent frowned and asked, "What was the conversation like? Did you threaten him in any way?"

Naruto shook his head and said, "No, Sir. I took the seat offered to me and told the Duke that I would talk and he would listen. There were no threats. No violence. No intimidation tactics. And no killing intent to frighten him. I simply laid out all the facts and explained to him about just how grievous his many crimes truly are. I told him that, even though I didn't expect anything to come of it, I would talk to you and your wife about what was happening in the Kreuzen Province under his rule. I made my displeasure with his decisions known…and then I left with Rufus escorting me back to the hotel. That was honestly all I did."

Eugent nodded in understanding before saying, "A wise tactic and a sound decision on your part. If you had acted with violence against the Duke, regardless of the circumstances at the time…I would have to rethink my decision to adopt you into this family. As it stands, I am placing my trust in you, Naruto. And thank you for bringing this to my attention. However, should I act to help the people of the Kreuzen Province and take care of Duke Albarea in the appropriate manner, I would have to do so carefully. It would require careful planning on my part so as not to upset the delicate balance throughout the Empire. The slightest action can cause a rift to form and chaos could rush forth. However…"

Cedric frowned in thought for a time before saying, "You want Naruto to handle the Duke on his own, don't you, Father? As a kind of test?"

Naruto's eyes widened upon hearing this. Looking into the emperor's eyes, he listened as the man said, "You are right. Naruto, I want to put your skills to the test. You may have just become a prince of Erebonia, but you already carry much influence and power. More than you thought you might. I want to see how you deal with this particular situation. Duke Albarea is a corrupt man full of spite and greed. I realize that. I trust you, Naruto. I know you can handle this situation in the right way. So, as long as you don't hurt him or kill him, I'm giving you free reign to do what needs to be done. Can you do this for me?"

Naruto nodded once and said, "Yes, Father. For the people of the Kreuzen Province, I will do what I can. Duke Albarea is a stubborn man, but I hope he will listen to reason. You can trust me to act accordingly and within reason. Your trust will not be misplaced."

"Of course. Now, I am sure you would like to speak with your friends. Cedric, come with me. There are a few people we must meet. Naruto, enjoy the rest of the evening." Eugent said before he turned and walked off with the crown prince in tow.

Once he was left alone with his friends, Naruto breathed out a heavy sigh before straightening himself again and smiling awkwardly at his friends. "Sooo…that happened."

The other members of Class VII chuckled a bit before Alisa smiled sadly at him and asked, "How are you holding up, Naruto? We've missed you. I certainly wasn't expecting Princess Alfin to make such an announcement. You looked like you weren't expecting it either. Are you okay with this?"

Naruto frowned and shook his head. "I kind of have to be. She's clever. She waited until there would be no way to take it back to spring such a surprise on me. I certainly wasn't expecting it. She's currently discussing things with my mates. Guess we'll have to see how that goes."

Rean chuckled a bit and said, "There really is NOTHING about you that could qualify as normal, is there, Naruto?"

Naruto chuckled in response and said, "Rean, my life has NEVER been normal. Anyways…" looking at Jusis at this point, he watched the noble nod to him in response.

Jusis asked, "Are you comfortable with the job Emperor Eugent has given you? This is quite the huge responsibility he's thrust upon you. Are you ready for it?"

Naruto shook his head and said, "I don't know. I need to focus on my studies and plan for my next meeting with your father. I can't force Duke Albarea to change his ways. I can't use the threat of violence to make him comply with my demands. I will talk to him again and impress upon him the seriousness of the situation and what he's done. If he's a smart man, he'll listen and try to change for the better. But something tells me he's too far gone for my words to make much of a difference. However, I get the feeling he fears me and the possible repercussions of his actions. He now knows that he has to tread carefully lest he incur my wrath. At this point, I think it will come down to a battle of wills. Breaking a few of his toes or something would be so much easier, but I'll abide by the rules imposed upon me and act in the capacity I am able to."

"Very well. Just know that you have my full support, Naruto. I will do what I can to help you, should you need it." Jusis said.

"We will all help you however we can, Naruto." Gaius said, smiling at his friend.

"Thanks, guys. Heh. I doubt I'll ever get used to this prince thing or what's expected of me now. I'll do what I can, but I get the feeling I've already pissed some people off." Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

Elliot chuckled before saying, "I liked your speech, Naruto. I think you'll make for a fine prince of Erebonia. I think the only people who were upset about what you said were some people from both factions. There will always be people who oppose the very notion of peace. I'm sure you know that very well by now."

Naruto nodded and smiled sadly at his friends. "I do. However, I won't give up on my dream. I just hope I don't have to go through another war or two. One was more than enough for me. And at the end of it all…I was betrayed by people I was supposed to be able to trust." Shaking the negative thoughts off, he simply said, "That's all in the past. I just need to look towards the future and hope that we, as a class, can make a real difference throughout the Empire of Erebonia. Because I know for sure I can't do it all on my own."

Rean smiled supportively at him and said, "We're with you all the way, Naruto. I assume you still have to mingle with the people, though. So don't let us keep you."

The blonde nodded and said, "Sure. See you guys later." And with that, he walked off, looking for anyone else that he could meet. Might as well get to know the people here. Looks like a couple of students from St. Astraia are here. They're both pretty cute, too. I wonder if they're friends with Alfin. Shrugging, he approached the two of them and got a better look at them up close.

The first girl had long, black hair, though it seemed to have a purple tint to it. She stood about six inches shorter than him, making her seem rather short in comparison. This young beauty also had beautiful, turquoise-colored eyes. If he had to guess, he'd place her at Fie's age: 15 years old. Whoever this girl was, she also seemed to hold herself with a regal bearing and looked every bit the noble that he assumed she was.

The second girl had long, flowing green hair, a mischievous smile on her face, and purple eyes that reminded him of the color of lilacs. She looked to be about a year younger than the girl beside her, placing her at 14 years old. Like the first girl, he could tell that she had a noble upbringing just by the way she held herself. Though, he could also see something else when he looked into her eyes. She's not only a beauty, but she's cunning, too. If I'm right, she could give Shikamaru a real run for his money in the intelligence and planning department. I wonder which of them would win in a strategy simulation game like shogi or chess. I'd love to watch this girl kick his ass.

Chuckling to himself a bit at his stray thoughts, Naruto soon offered them both a smile and said, "It's a pleasure to meet the both of you. Since you go to the same academy as my apparent fiancé, are you two her friends, perchance? If so, then it is quite the honor to meet the both of you. I am Naruto Uzumaki of Uzushiogakure. Might I ask your names?"

The first girl performed a curtsy and smiled kindly at him. "My name is Elise Schwarzer, Prince Naruto. It is an honor to meet you. We have heard so much about you, and Alfin hasn't been able to stop talking about you ever since she met you last week. I didn't know she was planning this, though. I am so sorry. She can be a bit…mischievous when she wants to be."

Naruto chuckled a bit before turning his gaze on the green-haired girl. She performed a curtsy as well before smiling slyly at him. "My name is Mildine Juzalith de Cayenne. I am the niece of the current Duke Cayenne. I've been eager to meet you and see who the man behind the legend really was. I must say, I am not disappointed. I can definitely see what Alfin sees in you, Mr. Prince."

Smirking at her, he nodded his head once before returning his gaze to Elise. "You must be Rean's sister, then. He's been a good friend, if a bit awkward sometimes. Still, he's a good, respectable person, and he seems to enjoy helping out the student council, just as I have been. Although, I have noticed that he seems to carry a bit of a burden on his shoulders, and he has some self-doubts for sure. Still, I think you'd be proud of him. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing how much he grows during our time together at Thors." Smirking at Elise, he then said, "I bet you really care for him, don't you Lady Elise?"

Elise couldn't help but smile as she heard that her brother was doing well. However, she also worried deeply for her older brother and didn't like that he still seemed to be troubled by something. Then, when what Naruto said at the end registered in her brain, she erupted into a fierce blush as she realized just how she felt. "Y-You could tell? How?! Alfin and Mildine tease me all the time about it! I'm sure they didn't tell you!"

Naruto couldn't help but grin at her and said, "I had a suspicion. But, you're the one that just confirmed it for me. You took the bait and fell for my little trick so easily. Shame on you, Elise. I can tell, you're going to be a fun one to tease."

Elise's eyes were wide and her mouth hung open slightly as she realized that the new prince had just played her. Pouting cutely, she said, "I swear, you and Alfin are like two peas in a pod. I can't believe I fell for that so easily!"

Mildine couldn't help but giggle to herself as she looked from Elise into the prince's eyes. "Oh, I like you. You're tricky like a fox, aren't you? I'm going to enjoy getting to know you, Prince Naruto. Alfin has chosen her husband well."

Naruto smiled at her and bowed slightly. "Why thank you, Lady Mildine." Then, looking deep into her eyes, he said, "I can tell just by looking at you that you're just like me. Cunning, mischievous, and yet you possess an intelligence far beyond others you associate with. I once knew a man like you. His name was Shikamaru Nara and he was a true tactical genius. He was lazy as can be, but he was a genius through and through. Able to outsmart anyone and everyone. Although, he never could plan for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming to be some kind of super genius. I simply have a special gift all my own that confounded him. You, on the other hand? I get the feeling you could put him to shame. I'm definitely looking forward to getting to know you better, my dear Lady Mildine. I'm sure we'll be the best of friends. And I am so looking forward to testing my wits against someone of your caliber. I get the feeling that we're going to have so much fun together. I do find myself curious about something, however. Were you the one to encourage such dastardly thoughts in dear Princess Alfin? Or do you simply feed off of each other and encourage such wicked thoughts?"

Mildine smiled at him and said, "You're good. We should definitely spend more time together, Prince Naruto. And to answer your question: we both picked up such juicy gossip from some of the naughtier girls at St. Astraia. It would seem they've managed to get their hands on a certain book series. Something so risqué and devilishly naughty that they couldn't help but be…inspired by such tales of romance and passion. Then, their minds delved into some interesting territory. Dear Alfin and I couldn't resist the temptation. It was far too much fun to resist, after all. Now, we simply feed off of each other's naughtiest fantasies and encourage them." Giggling to herself, she reached out and began to trail her fingers up and down the prince's chest. "You are such a popular topic of discussion in the academy. Alfin and I couldn't help but wonder about you. Do be sure not to keep me waiting too long for our next discussion, dear prince. I promise you, I can show you a real good time."

Naruto chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Ah, an innuendo. Trying to lure my mind into thinking something perverse about you, when you clearly don't mean anything naughty would happen between the two of us. You are going to be a fun one, Lady Mildine. Perhaps I should toy with you a bit, hmm? I bet I could make you miss me dearly as I make you wait to see me again. But, I won't do that to you. I'd rather we have fun together. I'm looking forward to playing a little, dear Mildine."

Glancing past Naruto at Alfin and Naruto's mates, she soon returned her gaze to Naruto and grinned slyly at him. "Oh, we're going to have plenty of 'fun' together. I may be younger than you, but I'm going to make you really want me. In fact, I say we make a game of it. One way or another, I'm going to make you kiss me. A kiss that will take my breath away and make me weak in the knees. But, if I were to cave in first…"

Naruto smirked dastardly at her and poked her lightly in the forehead. "Oh, it won't be so easy for you, Mildine. I do believe you'll be the first to cave. And when you do, I'll be the one to sweep you off your feet. You won't even be able to control yourself by the time I've had my fun with you."

Elise was a blushing mess at this point and interrupted the two of them. "Okay, enough of this! Mildine, you shouldn't say such things! And Prince Naruto, you must behave yourself! Don't encourage her or lead her on! It's bad enough that Alfin decided to toy with you the way she did. You should probably go and mingle with someone else for a bit. I need to have a long 'talk' with Mildine."

Naruto and Mildine smirked at each other wickedly before turning their gazes on Elise. Reaching up, Naruto began to gently pet her hair. "Oh, my dear Elise. So innocent and so pure. We were wondering how long it would take you to react. You held out for quite some time. Longer than we figured you might, actually. Sorry, but you're just too easy to tease."

When Mildine began to giggle to herself, Elise's eyes went wide and she looked between the two of them in horror. "You mean…?! You two…?! Huh?!"

"It's as the prince said, Elise. We just couldn't resist trying to get a reaction out of you. It was worth it, just to see how red you've become. And here I figured you had some naughty fantasies of your own regarding that charming brother of yours. I guess I was wrong." Mildine said.

Elise pouted cutely and said, "You two are just…so unbelievable! You really are just Alfin's type, Prince Naruto. It was nice to meet you. But there are plenty of other people who want to talk to you. I would like to have a nice, long talk with Mildine and Alfin now."

"I'm sorry, Elise. You're just so cute that I couldn't help myself." Winking at her, Naruto bade her and Mildine goodbye before he walked off to continue with the meet and greet session. So that's Rean's sister. She's cute.

That night

As Naruto laid back in his lavish new bed in his oversized room in Valflame Palace, he couldn't help but sigh and think out loud to himself. "Well, today was certainly interesting. And very unexpected. Wasn't necessarily a bad day though. Still, to think my new sister would pull something like that." Shaking his head, he chuckled a bit and closed his eyes to relax. "Oh well. Just so long as my mates don't try to kill her, I suppose this will work out fine. Still, do I really need a room this…fancy? It's huge!"

Naruto heard giggling at this point and glanced towards the doorway of his room. He had sensed her outside of his room, but didn't say anything. "Talking to yourself now?" Alfin questioned as she approached his bed.

Chuckling a bit, the prince said, "Yep. You'd think I'd be used to this whole situation by now, including this room, but it still feels a little awkward to me. Meh. I'll get used to it eventually." Looking at his sister again, he asked, "So what brings you here, Alfin? I assume you want to cuddle or something?"

Alfin nodded and said, "As your fiancé, I command you to drop the illusion and let me snuggle with you and the cute tails!" Nodding her head proudly, she then smirked at him and said, "I also want to say goodnight to Kurama. And he needs to know just how cute he is, too, of course!"

Naruto couldn't help but laugh for a moment before he patted the bed beside himself. When she took the hint and climbed into bed beside him, he revealed his true features to her and chuckled a bit as she began to nuzzle and snuggle with his many tails. Once she was comfortable, he placed his hand atop her head and took her into his mindscape.

Seeing Kurama, Alfin smiled happily to herself and rushed up to him. Hugging him as best she could, she nuzzled his fur and said, "You are just so cuuuute! I can't wait to see you back to normal, Kurama. We're going to be great friends!"

Kurama opened one of his eyes and huffed. "I'm not some cute, stuffed animal for you to cuddle with. That's his job."

When the mighty Kyuubi pointed towards Naruto with one of his claws, Alfin's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "You have a good point, Kurama! You have a good night, Kurama." Giving the Kyuubi a kiss on his soft fur, she skipped back over to Naruto and said, "I'm ready to go! It's cuddle time."

When Naruto and Alfin disappeared from the mindscape, Kurama chuckled to himself and said, "You meet the most interesting people, Naruto."

Naruto's Room

Once they were back in his room, Naruto smirked to himself as Alfin snuggled against him and wrapped a few of his tails around her, almost like she would a blanket. Smiling at her, he pulled his blankets over the two of them and said, "Good night, Alfin."

Kissing him on the cheek, she said, "Good night, Naruto."

Once she had dozed off, Naruto closed his eyes and wondered silently to himself. I wonder how that talk with my mates went. They didn't try to kill her, so that's a good sign. Then there's Elise and Mildine. I'm sure Elise wasn't too happy with her friends. Chuckling silently to himself, he decided to shelve those thoughts for later. Instead, he allowed himself to slowly drift off to sleep. For now, I'm going to focus on school. I'll worry about Duke Albarea and all my duties later.

The Next Day

Naruto stood before his new family, looking a tad nervous. "I'll take some time to think on the task you have given me, Father. I can't approach Duke Albarea without some kind of plan. Besides that, I do still have school to attend, and midterms to study for as well. My schedule keeps me rather busy, I'm afraid. I'll try to figure out how best to deal with Duke Albarea and I'll try to figure out the appropriate time to approach him with my concerns."

Eugent held up his hand to silence the prince. "It is fine. There is no set timetable for you to act. You are right: you have midterms to study for and another field study to prepare for. But I want you to be prepared for next month. The Summer Festival is coming and the people will want to see you participate in the event. I know such a thing might make you a bit uncomfortable, considering you are still so new to this kind of treatment, but you have your new duties as a prince to attend to. We will simply have to figure out how best to approach next month's field study when the time arrives. For now, you do not want to miss your train. Be well, Naruto."

Before Naruto could turn and leave, Alfin grasped his hand and said, "Please take me with you. I want to meet your friends! You also owe me a tour of Thors Academy!"

Looking at Alfin, he shook his head and said, "You have to attend school as well, dear sister. Do you really think it's the best idea to skip school just to follow me for a day?"

Before Alfin could respond, Priscilla began to giggle. "I'm sure they will understand. Take Alfin with you for the day. Introduce her to your friends. But do let me know if she starts to misbehave. I'll try to talk to her about her behavior."

Naruto sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Sure. See you later." Waving goodbye to his new family, he walked off with Alfin beside him. She was still holding his hand as they proceeded to leave the palace and enter the orbal car waiting for them.

As the car began to move, Naruto looked at Alfin and asked, "So how did things go with your friends last night? Poor Elise was so flustered when Mildine and I teased her. Then again, she's so cute it was hard to resist picking on her a little."

Alfin smirked at him and scooted closer to her fiancé, nestling herself against him in the process. "Elise was upset with us. But she did say she understood why I chose you to be my future husband. Mildine, on the other hand, seems to really like you. She said that you two got along really well, and she enjoyed the little back and forth she had with you. But, I bet you really want to know how things went with your mates, right?"

Naruto smirked at her and said, "Well, they didn't try to kill you, and they didn't approach me again last night, so I can only assume things went well. Did you get to introduce Elise and Mildine to them as well?"

The princess giggled a bit and said, "Your mates were very kind. They weren't too pleased with me, but we get along surprisingly well, all things considered. And they seemed to understand my side of things. But we'll have to wait and see." Nuzzling against her fiancé, she said, "They got along very well with Elise. Especially when they realized that she's Rean's sister. Although, they quickly realized that Mildine is more mischievous than I am. She didn't say anything bad to them, but I get the feeling they'll be watching her carefully for a while." Looking up at her new brother, she said, "They aren't mad at you, Naruto. I doubt they'll let you mark me as your mate just yet, but I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. After all, we're going to be married!"

The older blonde chuckled a bit and said, "By your design, yes. I won't complain, though. You are pretty cute." Winking at her, he smirked when she giggled in response. "You do realize that the other students are going to be shocked to see you, right?"

"I'm counting on it. Besides, think of the fun we'll have! I also want to meet your friends and see what your classes are like. I'm curious." Alfin said.

"And what you're not saying is that you want to see if there's any potential future 'harem' members. You're planning to be a little devilish again, aren't you?" Naruto asked with a grin.

When the car stopped and the doors were opened for them, the prince and princess stepped out of the car and followed their escort to the train that was waiting on them. "Awww. You know me so well now, Naruto! I'm so proud of you."

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle as he wrapped an arm around his sister. "We're never going to grow bored of each other, I swear."

Alfin simply poked his cheek as they entered the train and went to take their seats. "I could never grow bored of you, Naruto. I'm looking forward to learning all about you. I know there's still a LOT of things you haven't told me about yet. I'm not going to rest until I know absolutely everything about you. Just as I hope you'll want to spend lots of time with me. And I expect you to cuddle with me, too!"

After taking a seat, Naruto nodded once and said, "I'm looking forward to it, Alfin. And you're more than welcome to sit in on our classes for a time if you really want to. Although, I don't mind showing you around the school and introducing you to people, if that's what you'd prefer."

"Hmm, that's a tough choice. How about I observe your classes for a time and afterwards, you can show me around? There's no point in walking around if I can't meet all your friends. Unless you'd prefer me to wait with Principal Vandyck instead?" Alfin said, looking at him with an adorable pout on her face.

Patting her atop the head, Naruto said, "I don't mind. I just hope you don't grow bored. Sure, we tend to whisper to each other during class sometimes, but some of the instructors can be…strict. Although, I'm sure if you have any questions about the lessons, they'd be more than happy to answer them. They're kind of cool like that."

"That sounds nice." Giggling a bit, she said, "Elise is going to be jealous that I'll be spending time with her dear brother, Rean. I'm going to have to tease her about it later."

Naruto chuckled and said, "And here I thought you were more interested in me. Shame on you, Alfin."

Giggling conspiratorially, Alfin soon kissed him on the cheek and said, "You know I'm only teasing. I'm sure Rean is very nice, but you're the one for me. I promise."

Naruto simply chuckled some more and said, "I know. It won't take us long to arrive in Trista. I swear, I have no idea what to expect now. I get the feeling things are bound to just get even more awkward from now on."

The princess nodded and said, "You'll get used to it. I wish I could go with you on your field studies, but I have school to attend as well. Then there's the fact that I highly doubt Father would permit such a thing. He was hesitant to even allow you to continue with such dangerous activities."

"I know. It definitely took some convincing on my part, with Olivert's help, to get through to him that I was going to go through with them regardless. Besides, I want to be out there meeting the people and seeing what's going on in the empire with my own eyes. I need to know what I'm dealing with if I want to see my dream of peace come true. And…" Looking into Alfin's eyes, he smiled at her and said, "I'd bring you with me if I could, but you do have quite the busy schedule yourself. Sorry, Alfin."

Alfin sighed, but nodded her head in understanding. "I know. Thank you, Naruto. I hope you don't mind if I try to spend as much time with you as possible though. I'd miss spending time with you if we were apart for too long."

"Sure you would." Naruto said teasingly. "It's fine. We're bound to see each other pretty frequently, Alfin. You won't miss me as much as you might think."

Poking his cheek, Alfin said, "Oh, but I would. You're cute, and we are definitely going to have a lot of fun together!" Giggling again, she said, "Others are going to be so envious of the two of us. I'm looking forward to seeing how people react to the two of us being together like this."

Naruto shook his head in mild disbelief. "I swear, if people knew just how mischievous and devious you were, they might think differently of you. The pure princess suddenly enjoys her pranks and teasing her friends relentlessly. It would make for quite the story."

"Indeed it would. Now hush. Let's just snuggle for a while and relax. We'll be there soon enough." Alfin said.

Wrapping an arm around Alfin again, he held her snug against him and closed his eyes for the time being. "Sounds good to me." I have no idea what to expect from now on. I feel like there's a lot more pressure on me than before. I guess I'll just have to take it one day at a time and do the best I can. A prince of Erebonia. Fiancé to Princess Alfin. Heh. Hopefully I don't get too much crap for this insanity. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

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A/N - And that's the chapter! I know, pretty short compared to what I've been writing lately. lol. Still, I hope you enjoyed it. :)

As you can see, a ton of things happened in this chapter. Emperor Eugent is still a little hesitant about accepting Naruto into the family, but that's understandable, considering his situation. Still, the rest of the family seems to love him, so that's good! And Alfin's a sneaky little vixen. lol

I'm sure you can already tell, but Naruto is bound to have a LOT of interactions with Osborne. He doesn't trust the man AT ALL, but he'll be cordial with him and try to treat him as he would anyone else.

Anyways, I really hope you like what I chose to do with this chapter. I've had this stuff planned for a while now, and there's a lot more in the future of the fic that I'm looking forward to writing as well. For now, I might just need to relax a bit. Like I said in the beginning A/N, my new pill is wearing me out. I just don't have the kind of energy needed to continue doing much writing. It was a serious struggle just to finish this chapter. x.x; Oh well.

Nooow, time to get something to eat! Hopefully you're looking forward to whatever comes next!