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Well on to the next one. Hope you enjoy!
Iron will
The night air was dry, almost suffocating, heavy with the bitterness of blistering cold. It was a cold so unnatural for this time of year, so biting and chilling that it sent shivers down his aching spine. The world around him was dark and still, peaceful—undisturbed by the horrendous battle that had occurred just moments ago, and concluded even quicker than it had begun.
The young boy quivered with fear and pain, apprehension clouding his mind, agony gripping his body. He could barely move, let alone think. His body beaten and battered, pierced and bruised, he struggled to lift his trembling legs for even a single step.
Not only was his body weary, but also his mind. He could hardly keep his eyes open a second longer, because he had been awake for what seemed like days, never stopping, always moving, fighting—for himself, as well as for his people.
He was young, too young, far smaller than the soldiers in his unit, but still stronger than ten grown men at once.
His heart ached for those he'd lost, eyes burning with unshed tears. But they didn't fall. In the back of his mind, there was something that made him unable to shed a tear. As though long ago he had fought in countless battles that had taken ever tear from his eyes.
And he had. This night was not his first taste of battle. No, this was just one of the many he had lived through.
Joining the army at a very tender age, for the sake of his kingdom, and due to his… special gifts, he had been thrust into a world in turmoil. War was looming at every corner, his very home falling into a state of vulnerability.
And tensions had finally reached an all-time high, prompting war to break out between his homeland…
…and the foreign land he now inhabited.
He thought it was stupid, all this bloodshed and tension, just over matters that dated back centuries ago. How two kingdoms could be at each other's throats for so long, he could only wonder, and it was all because of some flower with unique, perhaps magical properties, apparently stolen from his home to save a single person's life.
The young boy trudged on silently, pushing the thoughts away from his mind. Whatever the reason for the two kingdom's disputes, he didn't care, as long as his home was safe.
As long as they're safe…
Every step he took was chore, his legs buckling beneath him, struggling to support his armored body. For a moment he contemplated removing the breastplate latched onto his chest, but decided against it. It was the symbol of his home, baring the sign of a leaf in the center, something he was never to remove in the face of danger or battle.
Around him was nothing but dense, leafy forest. The grass was overgrown, the trees reaching high into the night sky. A pair of wild rabbits scurried beneath his feet, startling him from his jumbled thoughts.
He didn't know where he was going, or what he was supposed to do. But he had to get away from them. The patrols potentially searching from him in this dark and silent place. Everything he saw was so unfamiliar, so different. Even though his homeland was surrounded and protected by massive, towering trees, this place felt too strange.
For a moment, he considered turning back. To see if any of his fellow soldiers were alive or possibly following him.
No…
He shook his head slowly, cringing at the small movement. Nobody in his plutoon, except him, had escaped. They were most likely captured, or dead.
All this fighting because of a stupid flower.
He gritted his teeth angrily, revolted by his king's decision to go to war because of so small of a plant. A simple flower. Ha. He almost found it laughable. Going to war because they couldn't let go of the past.
What was so special about that flower anyway?
He could do nothing but wonder. Why did his king—his father—choose to put his loyal men's lives at stake? For what reason? Supposedly, it was meant to put an end to the troubles occurring in his homeland.
A low growl rose in the back of his throat. Even if he respected and loved his king greatly, he just didn't understand. Why not use a peaceful, diplomatic approach, instead of this crude, bloody way.
I'll have to talk to him when I get back. The young boy thought.
If he ever got back, and didn't die alone in this eerie forest.
Was he going to die?
No. He would survive, like he always did.
He didn't even take three steps before he heard the pounding of feet against the earth. A spark of shock and pain pulsed through him, shattering his momentary reverie. He half spun, half swayed, just to get a look of what was behind him. The orange glow of a lantern filled his vision, and that was all it took for him to know.
They were still after him.
He spun around once more, wincing as agony overtook his left leg. But he ignored it, mustered up his resolve, called open the ancient energy that had been within him since he could remember. It pulsed through his veins, snaking around him with invisible tendrils, filling his legs, numbing the pain, and giving him strength. Strength to run with the swiftness of a horse, perhaps even quicker.
He could hear their voices in the distance, fading as his feet carried him through the forest. The world around became a blur, a mess of swaying grass and bending trees. He didn't know where was running and didn't care. All he knew was that he had to get away from them.
He ran and ran for what felt like hours, making sharp turns in his mild dash to escape his pursuers, leaping over freezing streams and slippery marsh, nearly losing his footing on the muddy ground.
When he saw a small entrance in a hollow cave, shrouded by overgrown vines and leaves, he took it, entering without care as his body approached its limit. Something that had never happened to him before. He stumbled, suddenly unable to keep his previous pace, the power pulsing through him all but used up.
He collapsed to the ground with a startled gasp, surrounded by the dark walls of the cave, unable to believe that he was so exhausted.
And then the pain returned, no longer dulled by the power flowing beneath his skin, within his veins.
He could see the blood that painted his body dripping to the ground.
So much blood.
It startled him. Never had he seen so much of his crimson essence flowing so freely.
Maybe he was going to die. A young prince gone to fight for his nation perishing in a strange land.
No. He staggered to his trembling feet, shivering harshly as a night wind blew through the cave.
He had to survive. And if not for himself, then for his people.
For his mother, who so desperately needed him.
He would not give up.
When he pushed away the vines and leaves that covered the other side of the dark cave, his eyes instantly went wide with surprise.
A... tower?
Truth be told, before him, was a tower reaching high into the night sky. It was a beautifully designed structure, undoubtedly constructed to protect and keep intruders out, because he could see no stairs to aid someone in their ascent up the tower, or their decent to the earth below.
He did know how he was going to do it, but was going to have to get up there if he wanted to live.
Even then, there was no guarantee that help would be found in the confines of that tower. Yet he trudged on.
His vision was blurring so much that he could barely see the striking details of the tower. The grass beneath him was slick and moist. The roar of a waterfall not too distant reached his ears.
If he weren't in such dire straits, then he would have paused to admire it.
For what felt like hours, he moved to closer and closer to the tower, mind and body slowly shutting down.
I'm not gonna die.
He repeated to himself.
I'm not gonna die.
It kept him going, kept his mind active.
And when he finally reached the tower, felt the icy touch of the stony surface, he collapsed against it, panting and heaving with exertion.
He didn't fall however, only leaned against the tower, using it to support himself. His dimming eyes traveled to the very top of the imposing structure, the only place where entry could be granted, and his heart sank with despair.
It's so high.
It had to be well over a hundred feet, perhaps over two hundred.
His eyes hardened with determination.
He would never give up. Not now, and certainly not later.
Before he attempted such a climb, something strange captured his attention. Something he had only heard of, but never actually saw.
He painstakingly turned his head so that he could peer into the night sky.
Golden lights filled his senses, lights so beautiful and captivating. They floated freely in the dark sky, shining brighter than any star, and moving as gently as snow fluttering in a breeze.
His eyes went wide.
The lanterns. He thought, truly in awe of the spectacle occurring before him.
He had heard about this event so many times, but had never seen it. From what he knew, it took place every year because of the mysterious disappearance of the princess of this land.
It was strange, yet admirable, that this nation would still do this even though they were at war.
He watched for a moment longer more before returning to the matter at hand.
Climbing this tower.
He rose his trembling hands to the chilling stone exterior and focused.
He felt it. A spark in his abdomen, a warmth churning in his stomach. He called upon this energy one last time.
His inner energy. His gift from birth. His Chakra.
It filled his hands and feet, steadily supplied by his stomach, using the last bits to save his life.
He climbed the tower like a spider, limbs sticking to the surface without slipping.
He grunted in agony and effort, left leg and right arm protesting his movements. He could feel the last bits of his strength fading, his eyes closing, heart thudding hard against his chest. He climbed and climbed, never stopping, never giving up.
Until he reached the top, his energy finally ceasing.
No.
He slipped. His limbs unable to stick to the surface any longer.
Before he could fall, he reached out to grasp the inside of the open window.
"Ugh!"
He grunted as he caught himself with a single hand, holding his bodyweight with one arm.
Then using another hand, he finally pulled himself through the massive window, expending the last of his energy, and collapsing into the tower with a groan.
Pain snaked up his body from the sudden fall. His back arched in agony. His fist clenched at his side.
When the pain faded, he looked up, and his heart leapt with surprise and optimism.
Before him was a girl, a girl more beautiful than any he had ever seen. She was young, younger than him, her long blonde hair falling to her feet.
The length of her hair reminded him of his mother.
Her emerald eyes were filled with uncertainty, her hands clenching into fists.
"Please, help."
He spoke, using his voice for the first time.
She stepped away from him, and disappointment filled his gaze.
"I-I…" She began, unable to form a single sentence.
Maybe he would die after all.
Even after all his troubles, he would die at the feet of this girl.
But to his utter surprise, she leaned down next to him, the warmth of her body reaching him.
He didn't know why, but he felt safe with this girl, content and sheltered.
And for the first since entering this strange land, Naruto truly felt safe.
Naruto isn't a ninja, but still has chakra, the only one who does. He is a prince, Rapunzel is a princess. Their Kingdom's are at war... over a flower?