an: happy holidays my dearest fellows and- smacked.

ok, I'm later with my update here than desired. But this chapter is more of an interlude, something I've been wanting to do ever since the pair was on the streets.

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The main room of the king and queen is silent. Gray hues seemed to be smeared over their fine tapestries, rich reds are the color of a faulty rose, and greens seem to only remind them of the springs they used to have.

Yes, the Namikaze family was missing a member in their castle. Naruto.

Ever since in the carnage of that day, they hadn't heard, seen, nor felt the joy of their son. They knew he was alive, but his whereabouts...home, sleeping conditions, and his pride were something unknown.

They had sent out several scouts, explorers, ninjas... No one bad come back yet.

Everyone from the previous turmoil had been willing to help rebuild, but snitching was the same without their beloved and benevolent prince.

And they blamed and hated the jealous uchiha for all of their misery and emptiness. Every. Single. One.

Kushina had been someone should would like to sew quilts with, make clothes, talk to... Now, she just stared at the wall, writing replies to business folk.

Minato was no better, he was seen as a king with no heir and a father without a son. The balance of a family had been ruptured and curled, all thanks to a jealous prince.

Today, was different, they both knew somehow. Something would go right for a change.

Intuition was never wrong.

A newer recruit had been enrolled a while back. He was...different to say the least. Minato had decided to give him a chance, let him try to prove himself.

Bad tempers will let you go far...

"Yarr magesties!" A distant yell, a crash and a flapping of wings broke the stale silence.

Minato opened the door with a mixture of 'oh my' and confusion.

White feathers littered the floor and Minato stood to the doors side. A white duck, dressed in a blue sailor coat (hat included) waddled inside.

"Buncha rubbish...hound swagling...fist dodging..." The duck grumbled in a barely understandable voice. Minato gave his wife a wide eyed glance and the duck hobbled onto her desk.

"Donald Duck, reporting from duty!" He quacked and raised his wing in the best salute he could. "I faeound somefing!" He said and jumped. flapping his wings as he pulled a folded piece of parchment out of his coat.

Kushina gave her husband a wary glance that clearly said 'what-were-you-thinking?'. The duck was known for his temper and positive outlook on life, but they didn't expect him to actually get anything... They were just being nice.

She unfolded the papers and smoothed out the wrinkles. She gasped when she saw a well done sketch of her son smiling smartly and telling off the artist with his body language. She didn't know who the one with black hair was, he had whisker marks and a smirking personality.

WANTED ALIVE

JEWEL-EYED FOXES

REWARD: 1,000,000 silver pieces.

"He's alive, alive and well!" Kushina said and brought her hand to her face. Tears of joy formed and dripped down her cheeks. "He's away from the Uchiha..!"

Within moments, the parents were making orders to search every portion of the southwest.

Their son had a chance, they would not waste it.

TBC

This is the first interlude, hopefully the last. I had this on my mind way back into September. Fun times.

Donald Duck is copyrighted to Disney. I put him in because Link would've been too generic :3

Until next update.