Chapter 2 Learning

"I, Azumi, Queen of Azonia do yield to Namikaze Naruto."

Azumi was smiling happily as Naurto grinned in victory. On the sidelines so to speak, Jiraiya smiled proudly towards his student and gave a small nod. But when he started forward, the Royal Guard Leader raised a hand, turning to face him.

"Not yet Jiraiya-sama. While the match has been concluded, a choice still remains."

Jiraiya grunted, partially in understanding but mostly in slight embarrassment as he had indeed forgot that no one could approach the pair until Naruto made his choice. It had been nearly twenty-five years since he'd been in the young man's position after all. Well, unless they were invited over of course by the Queen before he made his choice that is.

With the two, Naruto finally realized the compromising position they were in and his face went dark red as Azumi's smile became an amused grin. "Are you planning to let me go Naruto-kun? Or were you planning to have your way with me right here against this tree? I certainly don't mind."

"B-but there are other people watching!" Naruto spluttered, though the thought did send blood rushing despite his best efforts to the contrary. "And I'd not do that with in eye line of that old perv."

"You say that, yet that rather stiff weapon of yours seems to like the idea." Azumi teased, wiggling her bottom to make the blonde groan.

Naruto moved away as he helped her to get back under her own balance, his face aflame. It only

took mere seconds for the pair to stand face to face with Azumi beginning to look nervous. Naruto could see that along with hopefulness in her green eyes. Actually, now that he was looking properly, he could see that while they were predominantly a forest green color, they had speckles of brown in them. The blonde blinked a moment before cocking his head to the side. "What's wrong?"

The woman sighed and wrung her hands. "Naruto...how much was Jiraiya able to teach you about my people?"

"You mean the 'If you win in a fight you get married to her or face exile' thing?" Naruto asked.

Azumi nodded and looked right into his eyes. Naruto felt a warmth blossom in his chest that seemed to spread a very pleasant tingling sensation all through out his body. It wasn't one of lust, he was very well aware of what that felt like from a certain book set he read as a guilty pleasure. And it wasn't something he had ever felt when he looked at Sakura. When he looked into those eyes of Azumi, he wanted nothing more than to be able to stare into them forever. They were so warm and filled with emotions that the blonde knucklehead couldn't really identify. He was so mesmerized he almost missed her starting to speak.

"Yes. So you understand that...well...you have a choice to make right now." She bit her lip before continuing, something that tugged at Naruto's heart at how adorable it was. "You can choose to accept me as your wife or...refuse."

Azumi looked at the ground, waiting to hear his reply. The man simply watched her, a small smile on his face as he took a step toward her. Almost as if driven by instinct, he used his forefinger to tilt her chin up and looked into her eyes, hoping to convey he wasn't upset by any of this. "Tell me why first. Tell me why I am the one that has caught your attention enough that you want to be married to me. Why do I deserve that? Do I deserve that?"

Azumi placed her hands on his face, running her thumbs over his whisker marks, eyes starting to well up in emotion.

"What do you mean do you deserve it?" She asked incredulously, "Namikaze Naruto, you most assuredly are worthy of any woman's love and affection! I've heard about you for years now. Stories from Jiraiya. And he didn't hold back on any details."

"I heard of how you were treated. Abused. Neglected. Yet despite the horrid things done, you never once gave up or gave in. You kept going no matter what was thrown at you. Never once did you let it break you. You have a strength of spirit that I admire. Have admired for years. Not only are you strong in spirit, but in body as well as mind."

"Wait...you told me that you hadn't heard anything about me until my mission with the Bridge Builder." Naruto pointed out, confused but enjoying her ministrations with her hands. Azumi blushed.

"Well...what I told you was true...from a certain point of view." She muttered sheepishly. "I said my people had heard of you from our merchants and that was true. But I had heard of you before from listening to the stories my Uncle would tell me when he watched over me as a little girl."

"Your Uncle?" Naruto was puzzled. "I know your Uncle?"

Azumi giggled and waved over to the others. "Of course. Jiraiya's wife was my aunt."

"No way!" Naruto looked from Azumi to Jiraiya, the latter of who nodded to show it was true. "Ero-sennin is your Uncle?!"

Azumi's eyes widened at hearing the nickname and looked from Naruto to Jiraiya as the guards all began giggling in amusement. Jiraiya groaned as he saw the mischievous grin on Azumi's face. "Don't you even think about it Azumi. Him and his mother both called me that and I don't need my own niece doing the same."

"But Uncle, it's such a fitting name for you!" Azumi laughed at Jiraiya's deadpanned expression. It took a few minutes for everyone to stop laughing before Azumi turned her attention back to Naruto.

"You were almost all my Uncle spoke about. Especially when he would return from his yearly trips to your village. I know that you love miso ramen with extra pork. I know that you have six potted plants you care for." She began her list, making Naruto feel embarrassed yet happy to know someone actually cared for him enough to know things about him. "I know that you also have the most adorable froggy night cap and you have a fear of ghosts. I know a lot more but one thing I know very well is exactly when I decided my heart belonged to you and you alone."

"But...we just met." Naruto saw her smirk and furrowed his brow in confusion. "Wait...we've met before?"

"During your Chunin exams..." She began.

-x-Flashback, two and a half years prior at the Chunin Exams-x-

Thirteen year old Azumi, soon to be Queen of Azonia sat with her mother and seven year old cousin Yurika in the VIP section of the arena hosting the Chunin exams. Azumi was looking forward to meeting this Naruto boy that her Uncle spoke so fondly of, as was her mother and her little cousin. Yuirka was especially anxious to meet him as she viewed him as her older brother, despite having never met the boy. Her mother had joked that if the boy was half as good as Jiraiya claimed, then he'd been a good match for Azumi. The girl had blushed beet red at that thought she would be lying if she didn't think he was cute. Especially from the pictures of him that Jiraiya had shown them. She looked back to the arena floor where all but two of the Chunin hopefuls left.

"Is that him?" Azumi asked, eyeing the orange clad boy with interest. "He's pretty bold to wear such a flashy outfit as a shinobi."

"Come now Azumi." Her mother chuckled. "Surely his attire is less eye catching than your uncle's."

"Auntie is right." Yurika chirped happily as the watched the two boys below begin. "Pappa stands out like a weed among roses. Or at least that's what Mamma always said."

The group felt a moment of sadness as it hadn't been too long ago that Azumi had lost her aunt. They fell into a silence as they watched. Azumi felt herself become captivated by the display before them. She watched as no matter how much the Hyuuga boy struck down Naruto, the blonde would get right back up and fight on. "Truly an admirable drive to push on no matter what" she thought as the match continued. Things changed when the Hyuuga, Neji, caught Naruto in one of the most powerful moves of the Hyuuga clan. Her heart clenched as she watched the blonde get hurled away after the strike to his chest. Beside her, Yurika watched, her little hands clenching the railing as she silently cheered for her God Brother to get up and wipe that smug look off the other boy's face. Her mother narrowed her eyes, watching as Naruto rose back up. They could not hear what was being said but the feeling of power radiating from Naruto was awe inspiring. Azumi felt a wave of tingling sensations ripple over her and judging from the expression of her mother and cousin, they felt it to.

"He can harness that much power from the Guardian he carries?" Azumi whispered in awe.

"Indeed impressive." Her mother grinned and winked at Azumi. "But don't forget that up until now, it was all his own strength. And even then he managed to push a prodigy as much as he did. A good trait for a husband my daughter."

Azumi blushed while Yurika smirked. "Yeah, but Onii-chan isn't gonna use that power any more. I can tell."

And the youngest among them was right. After reopening his tenketsu, Naruto proceeded to defeat Neji on his own. Azumi was very impressed as was her mother. Yurika had a proud grin on her face as she rose to her feet and began clapping for Naruto. Azumi and her mother followed right after and not before long, the rest of the crowd were applauding the young man. The soon-to-be Queen blushed as it seemed Naruto's gaze landed right upon her, while her mother smiled warmly down at the boy.

Time passed as the rest of the first round progressed, though not any where near as exciting as the first match. They could hear others whispering and making comments about Naruto's match even as the one between the Uchiha and Gaara began. But not too long into the fight, Azumi began to feel strangely tired, her cousin already fast asleep. She heard panicked gasps and felt a hand on her shoulder. With in moments her drowsiness vanished instantly as the sounds of combat reached her ears. The sounds she remembered well from the attempted invasion by Oto. A sudden cry snapped her from her fear as she turned to see her mother fall, blood beginning to pool under her as an Oto nin prepared to strike her with his bloodied kunai.

"NO!" Azumi cried out in terror, tears welling in her eyes as the Oto shinobi brought the blade down. Time seemed to slow as the kunai bared down on her mother. But before the knife found it's target in her mother's chest, an orange blur shot by and she watched the Oto shinobi go flying into a wall, impacting with a sickening crunch. The Oto nin's neck was bent at an unnatural angle.

"You okay?"

Azumi tore her eyes away from the horrific scene and found a pair of warm, blue eyes staring back into hers. She felt as if she was falling into them as she felt that same warmth form in her chest again. "Y-yes. Yes I am."

Azumi blushed before she gasped, turning to her mother. The Queen was trying to stem the flow of blood from a wound on her leg. Azumi felt cold fear as she rushed to her mother. Her blonde savior followed and immediately saw what was wrong. "Damn it! Artery."

"Yes." The Queen spoke, feeling weaker as she tried to stop the bleeding. "I...need a...medic."

"No time." The boy spoke seriously, making a cross shaped seal. Five more Naruto's appeared, each looking serious. "You guys know what to do. I'll do what I can to stabilize this lady."

"Right Boss!" The nearest clone spoke before the five headed out. Azumi watched as Naruto began gathering green energy, placing his hands on her mother's bleeding thigh. The Queen's pale face began to regain color as the boy worked. Around them, the battle raged but it was almost muffled to Azumi. Naruto was sweating as he focused on what he was doing. After several minutes, he sighed and nodded to himself.

"Alright." He leaned back, catching his breath as Azumi's mother started to sit up, her expression grateful. "I was able to fix the artery. You'll be alright but I'm not as good as a medic nin so you'll have a scar unless you get a certified medic to heal it fully."

"I do not mind a scar young man." Her mother smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder. "But I am eternally grateful to you for saving my life."

Naruto grinned and nodded before his expression went deadly. Azumi was wondering why he was looking at her with such eyes when he disappeared in a blur. She heard a thud behind her and felt her insides turn to ice as she slowly turned to see Naruto behind her, his arm through the chest of an Oto nin that had tried to sneak up on them and probably would have killed her. He had just saved her life on top of her mother's.

"Sneaking up to attack unarmed civilians." Naruto snarled, the Oto Nin coughing blood. "Piece of trash."

The young nin yanked his arm out of the oto nins chest, letting the body drop to the ground. Naruto shook his arm to clear off what blood he could and turned to the three wide eyed women. "Get some where safe. Looks like war is starting."

The three watched as Naruto turned his gaze off towards the forest before vanishing in an orange blur. Azumi could feel a power off in that direction. The power of a Guardian. Azumi turned to speak to her mother and saw she had her foot on the railing, preparing to follow after Naruto. The Queen grinned at her daughter and niece. "What? Are you going to tell me you're not interested in seeing what your future husband can do?"

Azumi blushed red, sputtering. She really regretted mentioning to her Mother that she thought Naruto was cute in the pictures she had seen. But she nodded and the three headed off to watch the fight. But one thing was for sure. With in those few moments, Azumi knew that the one who had her heart was that blonde haired, orange clad shinobi.

-x-End Flashback-x-

"...and we watched the whole battle." Azumi explained. "I will admit, using the form of the Nine-Tails to beat the One Tail was a touch of class. And very, very dominant of you."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as his cheeks reddened, a grin on his face. "Well, Bunta asked for claws and teeth. What better form than the Fox."

The Queen giggled as the others listened. Jiraiya himself hadn't known some of the details such as Naruto healing the prior Queen.

"Where'd you learn a healing jutsu from any way?" Jiraiya asked and almost immediately regretted it upon seeing a flash of sadness in his Godson's eyes.

"I had to learn a few things to get by." Naruto replied before looking back to Azumi. "You said you watched the whole fight with me and Gaara?"

"Yes I did. And if you ever plan to use that secret tai jutsu move on me, I'd prefer something enjoyable and not a kunai wrapped in explosive tags." She teased, running a finger along his jaw.

The others laughed as the blonde seemed to do a pretty good impression of a fish out of water before Jiraiya spoke. "So I'm guessing you agreed to marry her kid?"

Azumi looked down to the ground, her smile replaced by one of nervousness. Naruto took that split second to send a mischievous grin and a wink to Jiraiya who smirked while Naruto sighed in a slightly over dramatic sigh. The Royal Guards had spotted the exchange and bowed their heads so as to hide their smiles. Azumi looked back up to see Naruto's serious expression as he stared at her. "I don't know Ero-sennin. This is really a huge step for me to take."

"I understand kid, but you know what this means." Jiraiya responded, just as seriously as Naruto had. "And once you say it, there is no going back."

Azumi looked fearfully as Naruto bowed his head. If he rejected her...well she'd spend the next five years under the instruction of the Elders of Lonely Outlook. And even after that, she'd never be allowed to issue any challenge again, as this would call into question her ability to truly determine who was worthy. Her breath caught as Naruto looked back at her, smiling warmly. "As long as I can introduce my wife to my friends and Baa-chan, then it's perfect for me."

"Y-you mean...?" She looked at him confused for a few moments as the Guards began giggling while Jiraiya just looked onto the two with amusement. She clocked on to what had happened and began to pout as Naruto pulled her into an embrace.

"You were going to say yes all along but decided to prank me." She complained, her voice muffled from where she had buried her face into his chest. "That was mean."

Naruto couldn't stop the wide grin that spread across his face. "Hey, you tricked us first remember?"

"That reminds me." Jiraiya spoke suddenly, causing Azumi to look at his stern visage with a wince. "You and I need to have a word about that."

Naruto sent an annoyed glare at the old man. "Oh ease up Ero-sennin. You didn't realize what was going to happen. Besides, remember what you and Kakashi-nii-chan always harped at me?"

"Wear protection when intimate?"

"No you damned pervert!" Naruto growled. " 'A good shinobi always looks underneath the underneath'. Which you didn't do. Hell, you hadn't even considered she had an ulterior motive until I said anything. So you getting tricked was on you. Out of both of us, I should be the annoyed one."

He looked down at the woman in his arms and felt that strange warm feeling again, as if something was drawing him towards her. Yeah, he'd heard about love at first sight, but this seemed...different. As if on some instinctual level, this was supposed to be. That she was supposed to be the one. He had no real basis for this feeling, or any way to put it into words. But he ran his hand through her hair and smiled. "And honestly, I don't have any issue with how this has played out."

Azumi smiled brightly, tears welling in her eyes as she hugged Naurto. The young man wrapped his arms around her as she basked in his warmth. After several moments, she pulled back, eyes shinning as Naruto looked into her eyes. Almost as if by instinct, Naruto leaned forward. Azumi rose on the balls of her feet and the two kissed. The Guards cheered as the pair broke apart, their cheeks red as they smiled at each other. Jiraiya couldn't help but look upon the two happily. Despite Azumi's regal bearing and her status as Queen, she was a young sixteen year old woman that had found the one she wanted to be with. The Old Sage placed a hand on both of their shoulder, still smiling warmly on them.

"Well...despite the suddenness and rather underhanded way this was initiated." He gave Azumi a small glare that was quickly replaced once more by his happy expresion. "But I do say that I think you both do and will be a great match. I wish you both many years of happiness."

"Thank you Uncle." Azumi's voice was full of happiness as she gave Jiraiya a small bow. "I must speak with my guards for a moment. I'll be right back...husband."

Azumi practically skipped over to her guards, a dazzling smile on her face as the six guards seemed to swarm her, laughing and cheering as they hugged their beloved queen. Naruto pulled his gaze from his now wife and looked to Jiraiya with concern. "Hey, old man...um...I need to ask you something."

"Hit me kid." Jiraiya frowned as he saw how serious his student was being. "What's on your mind?"

"I...I don't really know what to think." Naruto begin, placing his hands behind his head, his eyes stealing glances at the woman that was now his wife. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I never thought any one would want me as a husband."

Jiraiya watched his godson's expression closely, remaining silent and letting his godson speak. Naruto sighed.

"Jiraiya...why is when I saw her, I froze? Why is it when she was in my arms I felt a warmth that felt like it came from my very soul?" Naruto looked to Jiraiya with confusion. "Why Jiraiya? What is this?"

"Kid, to me it sounds like love at first sight." Jiraiya gave a wistful smile as his gaze turned sky ward. "And it sounds just like how I felt first time I saw Akane and just like how your father felt when he first met your mother."

Naruto blinked in surprise, his expression changing to curious. "Really? This...is what love feels like?"

"Yeah kid, it is." Jiraiya chuckled, placing his hand back on the young man's shoulder. "In fact, when I first met my wife, the reason she even caught me, was because I was so enthralled by her that I hadn't realized I had gone too far onto the branch I had been using and it snapped, dropping me right into the onsen. Hell, even when I leapt out, I stopped and looked upon her again. Funnily enough, she was smiling so beautifully like she knew I had been there the whole time."

"She did know you were there." Azumi's mirth filled voice brought the gaze of both men. "Aunt Akane had heard your giggling and decided that a man that had infiltrated the kingdom, dodged the patrols, and managed to get into the Royal Onsen was truly a man worth her challenge."

Naruto grinned as Jiraiya gave an embarrassed chuckle. Azumi shook her head and looked back to Naruto, her smile filled with warmth and what Naruto was fast realizing was love. "If you both are ready, I suggest we make our way to the Capital. My two of my guards will head off to inform the council while the rest will journey with us."

The men nodded and started off in the direction of the Azonia Capital, with Azonia wrapping her right arm around Naruto's and lacing their hands together. Naruto felt the warm feeling again, not familiar with this kind of love, but the more he focused on the feeling, he realized that this was indeed similar to the feelings he had for his village and all those he considered precious to him. And despite Jiraiya having a history of messing with him, Naruto knew he could trust what Jiraiya told him. And if this wasn't a love a husband would have for his wife, Naruto didn't think it was better than what he felt now.

"Hey Azumi-chan?"

"Yes, husband?" Azumi replayed, smiling happily and enjoying saying that to Naruto.

"How big is Azonia?" Naruto asked. "And what's the Capital called?"

Azumi looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "Well, the kingdom is nearly a a third of the contient. We have seven major cities and the Capital is called Inari. The last count was nearly three hundred thousand souls."

"Three hundred thousands? That's quite a lot." Naruto commented before he realized something. "Wait, you said Inari? Like Inari Okami? The God of foxes, fertility, and agriculture?"

Azumi looked at Naruto, very impressed as not many in the Elemental Nations followed the old ways any more from what Jiraiya. "I'm surprised you've heard of the Old Gods. Not many outside our land even know any of the old ways. But yes, Naruto-kun. Our capital is indeed named in honor of Inair herself. In fact, the Temple of Inari is where we will end up once we arrive."

Naruto felt happiness at her praise. He also felt a sense of pride in earning that praise. How could he not feel that way when he was praised but such a gorgeous woman?

"You said your two Guards were heading off to alert your council? Guess that means a welcome party." Jiraiya smiled, looking at the other four. "Guess they were the chosen few?"

"Oh no, Jiraiya-sama." The Guard Captain smiled. "They actually lost. We get the honor of escorting out Queen and her Chosen all the way to the Temple."

"What did they lose in?" Naruto asked, craning his neck to look over to the Guard Captain who blushed at Naruto's gaze.

"Rock-paper-scissors Naruto-sama." The Guard Captain smiled brightly.

Naruto blinked a few times before shaking his head with a smirk. He should have figured. Beside him, Azumi giggled and rested her head against his shoulder.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Naruto eyed the gates of the capital with nervousness as the group waited patiently outside. He could hear the mass of voices, hear the sound of joy in the noise. Azumi squeezed his hand in reassurance and Naruto gave her a smile. "Remember Naruto-kun, this is in honor of you agreeing to take me as your wife."

"I know just..." Naruto chuckled. "I'm not used to something like this."

The two shared a kiss before heading towards the twenty foot gates with Jiraiya behind them, looking over the pair with happiness. The muffled voices turned in to defeaning cheers as the Queen and her chosen entered the capital. Azumi smiled brightly as she waved to her fellow Azoniaians. Everyone seemed to be overjoyed that their Queen had found her match. Beside the Queen, Naruto gave respectful nods, feeling very out of place with the welcome they were getting. It made him very self conscious. He heard a male voice sounding joyously behind him and looked back to see Jiraiya with both his arms raised as if he were a victorious General returning from the battlefield, waving to all as they passed. Naruto snorted, grinning as he caught Azumi's eye and made a motion with his head towards Jiraiya. The Queen laughed and Naruto felt himself relax as the hijinks of the Toad Sage broke the tension he was feeling. The Old man of course knew the kid was tense and decided to be his usually outgoing and goofy self. And it worked. As the trio neared the temple at the center of the city, a group of seven women stood, awaiting their arrivial.

As they approached, a familiar looking woman to Naruto, raised her hand and the crowd settle though Naruto could still hear the excited whispers as they passed. Azumi bowed to the woman at the center of the seven women with Naruto following her lead. The woman smiled warmly upon them and bowed in return. "Queen Azumi. We have received the most wonderful news that you have found the one worthy of you."

"Indeed I have." Azumi turned her gaze to Naruto, a loving smile upon her face. "Naruto, allow me to introduce you to the Speaker of the Elder Council, Tomoe, the former Queen of Azonia and my mother."

Naruto's eyes widened before he grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "I knew I'd seen you some where before! It's good to see you again, Tomoe-sama!"

The woman's brown eyes sparkled in amusement as others near by began giggling at his statement. "Likewise Namikaze-san. I am most pleased to see my hunch was correct about you being a good match for my daughter."

Naruto's cheeks reddened at the praise and bowed his head in thanks. Tomoe turned her gaze back to her daughter, a mischevious look in her eyes.

"Well Azumi. I believe you are aware there is one task left before we can officially acknowledge your marriage." She stated with mirth, seeing her daughter's cheeks redden much like Naruto's had.

"O-of course mother." Azumi inclined her head in understanding. Naruto looked to Tomoe with curiousity.

"Another test?" Naruto asked, not bothered if it was. Tomoe grinned like a cheshire cat as she looked Naruto over. He heard a slapping noise and just assumed Jiraiya had did something stupid and earned himself another slap in the face. Beside him, Azumi covered her mouth, turning her face away as she desperatly fought to contain the laughter bubbling up.

"Well, yes I suppose." Tomoe replied with a mirthful tone. "It would be classed as a test of endurance."

"Well okay!" Naruto grinned bringing his hands together. "I can handle what ever test you throw at me! And as for my stamina, like I told Azumi-chan, I can go all day!"

The Elders started shaking with laughter. "Kid!"

Naruto turned to see a red faced Jiraiya. "What? You know first hand how much stamina I have!"

"Kid, shut up!" Jiraiya facepalmed. Despite Naruto being a fairly intelligent young man, there was still things that went right over his head. The blonde glared at his mentor.

"What's that look for?" Naruto demanded. "And I still remember I owe you for that pounding you gave me last month. It took two weeks to shakle that damn limp!"

This was too much for the gathered crowd and they began laughing. Tomoe had tears in her eyes as she fought to breathe. Azumi was chuckling as she walked over to a confused Naruto. He looked to her, confused. "Why is everyone laughing?"

"Naruto-kun." She giggled before motioning him to bend down a bit for her to speak into his ear. The young man's eyes went wide and his face was red as a tomato as he looked back to Tomoe, embarassed.

"O-oh...um...I uh..." Naruto coughed into his hand, clearing his throat. "I...I understand what you were talking about now."

The council grinned in amusement as the crowd began dissipating, shouting congratulations to the two while others gave respectful bows as they left. After a few moments, with Naruto wondering where Jiraiya had disappeared to, Tomoe cleared her throat and smiled once again. "As I was saying, you still have one task left. Azumi, you know our traditions. Naruto-san here does not."

Azumi nodded in understanding before Tomoe began speaking to Naruto.

"As I'm sure you were informed, we in Azonia still follow the old ways. This is especially true here in Inari. Behind me, is the temple of Inari. Inside, you both shall present yourselves as you become one before Inari herself. We hope that the Goddess blesses both of you."