Chapter 5
The next day of fights came and the first match was to be between Sakura Haruno and Kin Tsuchi.
As both contenders climbed on the ring the other remaining girls took their places around to observe and learn while Naruto, his mother, companions and newly made concubines reached their place on the royal balcony.
Sasame and Ayame had been given special outfits that left little to imagination but where the first constantly hugged her body to try and hide, the second flaunted her well-developed body much to Hinata's annoyance and Naruto's guilty pleasure.
Hinata guessed that it was Ayame's way of repairing the damage done by her poisoned ramen and to her chagrin, it was working perfectly alongside a generous breakfast that morning.
Sakura and Kin reached their spots and adopting their postures simply awaited for Naruto's signal to begin the bout.
"Ready to become the Prince's third screw toy?" said Kin with a smirk making Sakura make a disgusted expression.
Sakura didn't reply and instead gripping her Halberd tightly whispered "I won't lose here! Not to her, not to anyone!"
Seeing that the fighters were ready Naruto stood up and clearing his throat shouted "Begin!"
Waiting no more Sakura charged towards Kin swinging her large halberd in a murderous swipe that made Kin become slightly surprised over how direct the pink hair was.
Dodging the first swing of the large weapon, Kin jumped back starting to make her cymbals clang in a quick rhythm.
Sakura tried again to swing her weapon at Kin, but the nimble warrior was able to dodge time and time again without stopping the music of her instruments.
"What is she planning with all that noise?" thought Sakura starting to become irritated by the constant clanking of the cymbals.
Sakura charged once again and just as finally her halberd was going to strike home, Kin changed the rhythm with a loud clang from her cymbals that made the pink haired one to lose all balance and skid on the floor.
"W-What?" thought Sakura unable to keep a hold of her weapon and get back on her feet.
Sakura felt her head swim with confusion and unable to keep her equilibrium she constantly stumbled sideways every time she tried to get up or even support herself on her arms. Her vision became blurry and could feel something warm dripping from her ears.
"Wonder what magic is this?" said Kin approaching Sakura without worry and still playing her cymbals lightly in a soft rhythm.
Sakura couldn't speak for she was now feeling a deep nausea creeping her way inside of her.
"Do you know that a human's sense of equilibrium is highly dependent on its ears? Namely the complex and incredibly fragile body parts crammed in them?" said Kin circling Sakura like a wolf would a wounded prey.
Laughing Kin continued "And did you know that sound can easily disrupt those otherwise unreachable parts?"
Sakura took that information and though of plugging her ears but that would leave her quite defemseless in front of the musician.
"Wondering why I am not affected?" said Kin delivering a kick to Sakura's side and immediately regretting it over striking solid armor.
Kin opened her mouth and grinning said "Well, I might tell you after the battle if you grovel before me"
From the balcony Naruto and the others observed partly awed at the use of such an uncanny weapon and partly horrified over the rather brutal treatment.
Ten-Ten turned to Naruto and said "Shouldn't you do something? This could end up hurting her for good on the long run"
"Good…damaged goods are of no interest to men" thought Hinata not showing her more than obvious satisfaction with the battle's progression
Back on the ring Kin continued to deliver a few kicks of the less protected parts of Sakura's body including her head.
"At this rate I'll lose consciousness soon…But how do you fight something you can't even touch?" thought Sakura covering her head clumsily with her arms.
"Wanting to give up? If you don't you are going to end up being little more than a lump of meat…then again some men might find that quite alluring. Like playing with a doll" said Kin not stopping her cymbals for a moment.
In frustration Sakura yelled a solid war cry filled with anger and despair drowning all other sounds, even the roar of the crowd.
Sakura's head cleared for a moment and taking advantage of the small respite twisted her body around managing to trip Kin on her rear and stop playing.
Sakura's condition was still brittle but getting her balance back managed to reach her Halberd and use it to get back on her feet.
Getting up Kin growled "You are going to pay for that!"
Kin then began anew her playing but Sakura having taken a hint shouted a loud war cry once again and lunged forward with her halberd managing to cut one of the bells hanging from the musician's ears.
Kin was surprised over losing one of her instruments but needing to gain space once more made a flip back managing to deliver a kick to Sakura's chin.
But not losing momentum Sakura grunted and regaining her footing moved her halberd in a long swing that forced Kin to crouch unless were cut in half.
Sakura, still weak, couldn't hold on to the halberd and this one got thrown away over the power of the swing.
"Crap!" barked Sakura who instead of running for her discarded weapon, charged towards a rising Kin and before the musician could start her deadly play, grabbed her hands in her gauntleted ones.
"Play this!" growled Sakura bending the cymbals with ease making Kin's eyes to go wide in surprise.
Not letting down her charge and feeling her stomach twist around, Sakura delivered a powerful knee into Kin's exposed belly propelling her out of the ring and unto the grass of the ground below.
Naruto smiled at the Pink Haired demonstration of guts and standing up declared "Out of bounds, Sakura Haruno is the winner"
Sakura turned with a look of relief towards the prince that declared her victory but upon straightening she felt her stomach twist and couldn't help but barf in front of everyone.
Naruto laughed awkwardly and turning to Ten-Ten said "Have some medics check up on the girls will you?"
Ten-Ten smiled and turned to comply.
"Damn it! Well, throwing up should be a huge turn off for later memories…" thought Hinata grinding her teeth.
"Looks like we got ourselves a new playmate huh?" said Ayame to Sasame while cooking a batch of ramen on a steaming pot the poor orange haired girls didn't have any idea where it came from.
"She doesn't look very nice though…" sighed Sasame hugging her body to keep it from showing in her revealing attire.
Once the ring was cleaned and medics confirmed that the damage done to Sakura amounted to no more than the effects of a night out of heavy drinking. The next match was declared with Priestess Shion and Flutist Tayuya as the contenders.
"Will get you done in no time Bimbo!" spat Tayuya twirling her flute around on her fingers.
Shion's eye brow twitched a bit and with a smirk replied "Make certain to take a bath before the Prince takes you or he might confuse you with a bum"
Tayuya growled at that and impatiently looked to the royal balcony already eager to start the fight.
"They seem ready to go" chuckled Ten-Ten while Hinata simply wished them to tear each other apart down there.
Naruto sighed and standing shouted "Begin!"
At that, Tayuya twirled the flute once again and drawing it to her lips began to play a beautiful yet somber tune that made Shion's spine shiver with a bad feeling.
In front of Tayuya three bright intricate circular symbols appeared making Shion's eyes go wide with surprise and having her begin a silent incantation.
Tayuya continued with her play while the symbols became even brighter and the moment they began to spin, from within them three large humanoid monsters emerged. One had a giant wooden club on a hand, the next a white blindfold and long hair and the last one was covered in bandages.
They all had black pants and a purple sash as a common visage and none moved or made the slightest noise.
The sight alone was enough to make more than one on the public to faint and many made quick prayers for apparently Tayuya had summoned monsters or demons out of thin air.
Tayuya grinned with her lips still on the flute and upon playing a sharp discordant tune the three demons bared their teeth and with astounding speed charged towards the unmoving priestess.
Shion though finished her incantation and shouted with a complex flexing of fingers "Light Shield of the Goddess!"
A visible barrier of light formed in front of Shion and an instant later the three demons crashed against it with fist, claw and club but were unable to even crack it.
"Purify!" shouted Shion changing her hands position.
The shield started to spin while the demons were still touching it and now were starting to burn due to the energy being directed at their impure forms.
Tayuya played a quick note with annoyance written all over her face and with that the three demons leaped back to guard her from the front and the sides in case Shion followed the attack.
"Seems like I need to keep her distracted if I want my guys to pummel her down…" thought Tayuya changing her tune and starting a sweet tune that surprised everyone over its unexpected beauty.
Shion expected a new monstrosity to spring forth but instead she felt her body relaxing and suddenly the light began to dim until everything and everyone were cast in shadows.
"What's this?" wondered Shion not feeling very concerned.
"Let the show begin…" thought Tayuya seeing how Shion was falling deeper into her illusion as the rest of the crowd remained expectant of further development.
Shion had her shield still deployed and Tayuya was still surrounded by her demons making some wonder why no one was making further moves.
Shion now saw how from the corners of her vision dark purplish tentacles sprang forth coiling themselves around her limbs and body very tightly.
More tentacles started to arrive at Shion and this instead of keeping her in place began to grope her body in several private areas making the girl growl uncomfortably.
A thick tentacle then coiled itself around Shion's neck and began to squeeze effectively cutting the air going into her and making her gasp.
Everyone noticed this and wondered what was going on as Shion was making slight coughing noises and blushing.
"Just a little more and my friends here will shred your clothes and throw you out of the ring for everyone to see…" wickedly thought Tayuya not missing a single note of her dreadful yet beautiful play.
This continued for a few more precious moments until Tayuya grinned thinking it was enough and the second she stopped playing her tune of illusions to command her demons, Shion gasped "Holy Cage!"
Spears of light then fell from the sky around the immobile demons holding them in place.
"H-How?!" thought Tayuya furiously playing the tune to make her demons move but to their surprise they weren't moving at all.
"Flame of Justice!" shouted Shion shooting a bright ball of white fire in tayuya's direction and engulfing the surprised girl in the searing fire.
"Naruto!" shouted Ten-Ten with horror upon seeing one of the contenders engulfed in flames and very likely suffering the worst kind of pain and lasting injury.
Naruto stood up and was about to declare the end of the fight but Shion's loud voice stopped him.
"Worry not for this sinner my good Prince for these flames won't end her life however much she deserves it. Please wait and see for they are the cleansing fire of the gods" said Shion with a malicious smirk on her face.
Tayuya meanwhile thrashed around screaming and having tossed her flute away to put the flames away but soon she stopped once she noticed that she wasn't being burn to death.
Instead with a gush the flames consumed her every piece of clothing leaving her completely naked and clean.
"There, she is pure once again. And by the way, choking me was a great way of focusing my mind beyond your illusion, so thanks" said Shion almost laughing and making Tayuya blush up and scream while covering her body.
Naruto blushed as well and with an awkward laugh in his voice said "Guess Shion is the winner by…injury?"
With that the bouts of the day came to an end and the people having enjoyed two fast but quite furious matches went on to make further bets and speculate on the results of the tournament.
The defeated contenders were taken, very much against their will, to the Harem Wing of the palace where they would receive treatment for any injuries and be given the garments of their new role in life.
The remaining maidens were escorted back to the palace as to avoid interested parties or people trying to fix the matches by hurting or poisoning them.
Naruto, wanting to know better his newly made concubines decided to share his meal with them in his chambers while Hinata and Ten-Ten remained on guard outside.
Ten-Ten didn't mind much being left out of the meal hour with Naruto but Hinata seemed seething with anger and frustration.
The weapon mistress was about to calm down Hinata when they both noticed one of the maidens approaching with a tray filled with more food than any proper lady would have for a meal.
They recognized her as Kurotsuchi from the Earth Kingdom and slightly stepping to block the door to the chambers raised their hands in a halting motion.
"This is not the area given to the Maidens Lady Kurotsuchi" explained Ten-Ten next to a downright frightful Hinata.
Kurotsuchi laughed awkwardly and said "Yeah I know but honestly, sitting around those girls is quite scary and no one speaks at all. So being bored out of my mind decided to pay my future…lover a visit to know him better"
Ten-Ten softened her glance and kind of understood Kurotsuchi's situation given that one way or another she would become part of the Uzumaki.
Hinata though didn't seem to have the slightest sympathy for the princess and instead approached the black haired princess with a slight frown. She then grabbed a piece of the meal on the tray and after sniffling it a bit ate it and waited for a moment.
"I can't forbid you from seeing Prince Naruto…but know that his interests and wellbeing are my highest priorities" warned Hinata stepping aside and going to open the door of Naruto's chambers.
Kurotsuchi gulped at the sight of the rather intimidating blind girl and nodding her thanks entered the room where a most unexpected sight greet her.
For Naruto was seating comfortably on a large cushioned chair with a scantily dressed Ayame sitting on his lap and feeding him steaming ramen while a blushing Sasame stood by his side holding a glass of juice.
"Such a great appetite your highness!" squealed Ayame shoving another mouthful of Ramen into Naruto's expecting maw.
"Y-You should drink something too your highness" said Ayame offering Naruto the glass of juice which the prince took and downed in one go.
"Guess they make the best out of a bad situation" thought Kurotsuchi approaching the feasting Prince.
"Greetings my good prince, I am glad to see you so well attended in your meals" said Kurotsuchi placing the tray with fresh fruit in front of Naruto as he finished his seventh bowl of Ramen.
"Oh…Kurotsuchi right? What brings you here?" asked Naruto as Ayame got up from him and picked up the dishes.
"Well, the other maidens are too heated up to even have a friendly chat. So I decided to pay you a visit get to know the future man of my life a bit better" said Kurotsuchi picking a handful of grapes and not letting Naruto get up, dropped on his lap making him gasp and blush.
Naruto ate the offered grape and said "Listen, I am very sorry things turned out like they did but those are the rules given by my mother and she is queen at the moment"
Kurotsuchi laughed at that and giving Naruto another grape said "No biggie, being royalty myself I understand how parents can give all kinds of unfair rules and orders"
"So you aren't mad?" asked Naruto feeling a bit more comfortable with Kurotsuchi's friendliness.
"Nah, I was probably going to get married with some noble from my kingdom anyway so fighting for such a cutie like you isn't the worst of situations" replied Kurotsuchi narrowing her eyes.
Naruto blushed at the praise and happily accepted the girl's food until the whole tray of fruit was gone.
"Such appetite and you still remain this good looking, got to hand me over your secret my Prince" said Kurotsuchi slightly caressing Naruto's face.
"Guess I am lucky" said Naruto enjoying his time.
"Would you want to be even luckier and at the same time get back those who pull the strings of our fate?" asked Kurotsuchi breaking Naruto's good moment and making him eye the black haired princess more carefully.
"What are you talking about?" asked Naruto putting a little distance from Kurotsuchi.
"Well, I never had much interest in becoming a Queen. I am a more of a free spirit you see but I am not so childish that I don't reckon that my country needs a ruler. So if you, let's say, help me become Queen I would give you the whole of the Earth Kingdom without strings attached" said Kurotsuchi mischievously.
"W-What?" spluttered Naruto.
"Yeah, I mean you sure will become one of the most powerful monarchs in the world but the King of a tiny set of islands. Your role would be that of an arbitrator while as the leader of the Earth Kingdom you could dream of becoming an emperor and drive your destiny by your own hands" complimented Kurotsuchi.
"An emperor?" asked a baffled Naruto.
"Emperor Naruto Uzumaki…has a nice ring to it" said Kurotsuchi seeing her task done.
Naruto didn't knew what to say to such an outlandish offer and in his stupefied silence Kurotsuchi got up and blowing him a kiss said "You can consult with the pillow if you want…"
Kurotsuchi came out of the room and smirking at the two guards there strolled down the hallway humming a happy tone.
On the other side Ten-Ten and Hinata had heard everything that was said inside the room and could have nothing but the deepest frowns for the girl.
Still Hinata saw a chance in all this and already a myriad of schemes sprung forth from her recently devious mind.
Hours later Naruto left the Harem wing glad to get to know better the boisterous Ayame and the shy sad Sasame. Now he wanted a stroll around the palace gardens to clear his mind and reflect on Kurotsuchi's offer.
As he entered the flower garden he enjoyed quite a bit, there he noticed crouched by the daffodils the platinum gold mane of Ino Yamanaka who had eschewed her armor and instead wore a simple but tight purple dress.
Naruto stopped on his tracks and remained still as he observed the quite content looking Ino basking in the fragrance of the flowers and apparently enjoying the variety of the extensive garden around her.
Naruto made to move closer but sadly he stepped on a dry branch a gardener left behind unintendedly.
The noise brought up Ino's attention and like a cat she was on guard and had a wrist mounted crossbow aimed at Naruto's throat in a second.
Ino's eyes were hard and extremely focused but upon recognizing the Prince and noticing Ten-Ten behind with a set of kunai in hand she blinked and putting the crossbow away giggled innocently.
Naruto blinked and scratching the back of his awkwardly he said "Greetings Princess Ino, seems like you are enjoying the palace's garden"
Ino blushed at her actions and further on being caught here enjoying the flowers like a small child.
"W-Why yes! It's very beautiful and it's a nice change from sharing space with a bunch of belligerent ladies trying to peek at your every move to discern a weakness…But speaking of changing paces, what is the Prince doing here?" said Ino turning the conversation around.
Naruto blushed a bit and said "Well…it just happens to be that I enjoy this place quite a bit. Something like a guilty unmanly pleasure"
Ino blushed at seeing this side of Naruto and not wanting to disappoint she said "Well…It takes a real man to admit something like that. And in my book that gives you some heavy points"
Naruto blushed and laughed awkwardly making Ten-Ten cringe a bit over how easily flattered he was. She had been the first to praise him over his love for flora.
Ino then hooked her arm with Naruto's and holding it tightly against her bust she began pulling him forth to walk among the flowers of the garden.
"Did you know that in my Kingdom grows a very rare and unique breed of flower?" said Ino obviously enjoying the small chat and feeling a Queen already by the hand of her King.
"Really? How does it look?" asked Naruto truly interested.
"Well, it's basically a light purple rose that grows without thorns and has this amazing fragrance that can make you forget all your problems in a single whiff" replied Ino knowing well the plant.
"Wow, must be quite something to see" said Naruto trying to imagine the plant.
"It is…but it's not the only treasure my Kingdom holds my Prince" said Ino with a slight smirk.
"Really? Like what?" asked Naruto guiltily enjoying the feel of Ino's chest on his arm.
"Well, every now and then an amazing thing happens to fall on our laps…In your case, I think you would be most interested in an ancient book of spirits. It has plenty of names and descriptions from the old times…I think it was called the Journal of the Sage of the Six Paths…" said Ino knowing this was a most delicious bait.
"The Sage of the Six Paths?!" asked a surprised Naruto for it was rumored that his very clan was a descendant from the legendary Sage.
"Oh yes…It's a shame that only royalty of my homeland can even gaze upon the book…" said Ino unhooking her arm from Naruto's and began walking away grazing the petals of several flowers.
"That woman couldn't be more obvious…" thought Ten-Ten who watched Naruto look slightly confused and after sighing turn towards her looking somewhat tired.
"Is this all I can expect from them?" asked Naruto aloud as he made his way back to the palace leaving a struck Ten-ten behind him.
Night fell and Naruto decided to withdraw to his chambers for he sorely needed the rest from scheming warriors, overbearing concubines and a tournament that would decide who his wife would be.
By now Naruto had removed his shirt and was about to drop his pants when the door opened and through it came Sakura Haruno dressed in a bathrobe with her hair still wet and looking clean.
Both observed one another with stunned blinking eyes until they realized that one was getting naked and the other was so but for a simple robe.
With a short scream Naruto was quick to button his pants and look for his shirt while Sakura closed the bathrobe tightly around her and turned away.
"Y-Your highness what are you doing in my chambers?! I-I mean we are not…yet…" said Sakura not knowing if she should scream or run out the door.
"You chambers?! These are mine!" replied Naruto having trouble to fit into his shirt.
"W-What?" said Sakura turning slightly to observe the room she walked into and realize that indeed this wasn't hers and was actually three times the size.
"O-Oh my! I am so sorry your highness! I'll be leaving you and please forgive me…" meekly said Sakura with a blush of embarrassment on her face.
"Wait please…" said Naruto making the rosette stop on her tracks as she reached for the door's pommel.
Sakura gulped down fearing the prince's wrath and turning her face slightly to face him, said "Y-Yes your highness?"
Naruto chuckled a bit at the powerful warrior's shy demeanor and said "Relax and just call me Naruto. Highness is for boot lickers"
Sakura turned her head more and with nervous eyes observed the now more clothed Prince smiling at her.
"M-May I be of help to you…Naruto?" asked Sakura still not certain of what to do or say.
Naruto chuckled again and said "Just stay for a while please…As of late I feel like I have no one to talk about what I want and if I am to get married with one of you I would like to know you girls a bit more without pressure"
Sakura now forgot about her shyness and saw a man her age with worries not so different from hers. And she used to believe this would be the happiest man alive.
"Sure thing, I guess that's quite normal" said Sakura tightening the robe around her body and walking over to a chair while Naruto rang a bell to have his dinner be brought to him now.
Naruto sat across from her and not knowing what else to ask, said "So…would you mind telling me how your home is?"
Sakura blinked in surprise at the question but closing her eyes answered "Well, the Cherry Blossom Kingdom is a small realm in the Land of Fire bordering with the Land of Tea. It has farmers, carpenters, traders and some artists of some renown…pretty much like any other realm I imagine"
Naruto nodded as Sakura's face lit up with a warm smile that crossed her face as she continued "But what's unique to my land I think it's the huge Cherry Trees which bloom wondrously every year. Father, Mother and I would all go to start the festival. Father always gets so drunk that ends up with Mother chasing him while he drunkenly shouts to the whole world how much he loves her"
Naruto chuckled at the picture and allowed Sakura to continue.
"But my favorite time of the year is when the petals begin to fall from the trees and so it looks like a pink snow storm that renders the entire fields like a dreamscape…" finished saying Sakura opening her eyes staring straight into Naruto's blue ones.
Naruto blushed terribly at that for her gaze was full of emotion and had no other choice but to cough and turn slightly else he made a fool out of himself.
After a few moments in which Naruto calmed down and without looking her in the eye he asked "Wow, it sounds like a wonderful peaceful land…why come here then? Weren't you happy there?"
Sakura sighed and said "Of course I was happy and my heart yearns for nothing but to go back there…but my Kingdom needs me here"
Naruto now turned to look upon Sakura and asked "Why?"
"As beautiful as my Kingdom may be, it is also weak and in the way of stronger ones. So far we keep them in check with tithes and precious wood from our Cherry trees but I know that it's only a matter of time for one of them to want more" said Sakura sounding sad and making Naruto want to be able to give her some comfort.
Before Naruto could respond, Sakura continued "Like my mother I became a warrior proficient in the Halberd but as skilled as I may be, I just don't have the strength to protect my Kingdom and my people"
Naruto softened his eyes and said "So you came here to have the power to conquer your enemies?"
Sakura looked up at him with some reproach in her eyes and said "Never to conquer…Just to leave us alone for good. I care nothing for such grandiose ambitions, I just want to enjoy the beauty of my land and the happiness of my people"
Naruto smiled candidly at that and said "You sure are nothing like the others…"
Sakura blinked at that and realizing that she was being praised blushed and said "T-Thank you Naruto"
With that the door opened and in came Ten-Ten pushing a cart with Naruto's dinner while saying "That Ayame girl wanted to bring you ramen again but you must eat other healthier stuff every now and… then?"
"Hey there Ten-Ten…guess I'll be having dinner with Princess Haruno here" said Naruto scratching the back of his head while the weapons mistress stared at him and then at the robed Sakura.
Ten-Ten narrowed her eyes at Naruto and said "Just remember the rules moron…"
Naruto blinked in surprise and realized what ten-Ten meant when the girl was exiting the place and before he could say something she slammed the door closed.
"Who was she?" asked Sakura quite surprised herself.
"Something like a bodyguard of mine…but don't worry about her Sakura. Let's have dinner and please stay here a little longer" said Naruto with a warm smile hoping to further enjoy his time with the pink haired princess.
And with that Naruto and Sakura spent a good part of the evening talking to one another…
Meanwhile a blind but quite skilled girl made her way to the Harem Wing with meeting the newly added concubines in mind.
Having passed the guards she found the two new concubines easy enough over the sound of coarse language and finely tuned instruments.
"I am killing that dickhead if he even dares to give me a dirty glance!" growled Tayuya seeing herself at the mirror partly disgusted and partly delighted with the outfit given to her.
"And what do you guess will happen to you afterwards? Beheading? Quartering? Perhaps peeling off your skin and cooking you in burning oil?" said Kin not so bothered with the skimpy outfit she was given.
"I take it you are the newest concubines? Kin and Tayuya correct?" said Hinata sounding a bit haughty with a slight smile on her face.
That made both girls to direct her threatening glances and say "And who you are? The Prince's blind cunt?"
Hinata's brow twitched at the insult but didn't gave in and simply said "I am here to inform you on my Lord's preferences"
"And why would we care what that dickhead wants?!" said Tayuya clenching a fist with a smirking Kin by the side.
"Because he may still indulge your dreams if pleased enough" replied Hinata sounding almost out of patience with the rude girls.
Both Tayuya and Kin blinked at that and going silent allowed Hinata to start informing them on what they needed to know.
Done with the informing Hinata retired accepting the begrudging gratitude of the girls with a fake smile while simply thinking of Naruto and what was best for him.
Author's Note: End of chapter 5 and I would like to thank Tachman for his help in editing my fic.