Chapter 3: First Love's Sting

All around Lady Danbury's ballroom you could hear whispers all aimed at the trio in the middle of the floor.

'A prince from the Dominion?'

Violet Bridgerton looked on as she heard one mama whisper to another just as the music began to restart and watched as the trio that had just snatched the attention of the Ton moved off to the side while the dance partners began their waltz, including her debuting daughter Francesca, with a lord who filled in her card earlier that night.

"A Warlord? What does mean? Is he dangerous?"

Lady Danbury, surveying the ballroom from the staircase, cast a cautious glance towards the Queen to gauge her reaction to the future head of state of another nation.

'She looks intrigued about the latest arrival, in this game she likes to call a season,' the host thought before she was signalled over by the Queens right hand, Brimsley.

As lady Danbury approached the Queen and her party she glanced once more to the ballroom floor as the next set dances began to go underway spotting her original target for the evening.

'Timing is everything,' the elder woman considered before halting as she reached the Queen. She stood ahead of Brimsley and the Queen's ladies in waiting but slightly behind the Queen as to not obstruct her majesty's view, such offenses have been known to incur fatal consequences.

"My Queen," Lady Danbury began with a slight inclination of her head, standing just behind the Queen's seat.

"You kept his arrival closely guarded." The Queen remarked, her tone laced with veiled accusation.

"Yes, well I only discovered recently, and I figured for your peace of mind especially with you preparing for this season this maybe a nice surprise to help spice up this season."

"How do you mean?"

"His mother has requested my assistance in securing a wife for young Naruto this season."

"Oh, and why would she not ask me, Queen to Queen?" Queen Charlotte's interest was visibly piqued. "What ails the boy that he cannot find a bride in his own Dominion? He is quite handsome, those marks on his face, birthmarks if I remember. Adds a certain wild quality unto him, does it not?"

"Lady Kushina felt that as Queen you would be far too busy for such an endeavour as a fellow Queen, she understands your day-to-day duties." 'Thank you Kushina for preparing that answer' Lady Danbury thought before continuing. "Furthermore, according to Lady Kushina, there is naught wrong with the boy. However, when he was betrothed in an arranged marriage, his intended sought to assassinate him, acting upon the orders of her father, who had turned traitor during the Paramount War." Lady Danbury relayed the details imparted to her by Lady Kushina.

'His fiancé tried to kill him.' The Queen thought with a frown. "So, the basics are that he hasn't trusted anyone enough to even consider marriage. And am I also correct, in assuming with how quickly he has been sent here after the Paramount war it is to aid in his rest and recovery."

"Shrewd as always my Queen."

"Please, do not insult my intelligence, if I needed obsequious flattery, I would ask Brimsley. Now, so long as he aids in maintaining my interest this season, then I have no issues with you withholding this information."

"Yes, my Queen." Lady said as slightly bowed as much as she could with the use of her ornate cane. "Now then your Highness I believe it is time a play gracious host with my guests, unless you need me for something else?"

"Proceed and ensure your prompt return."

Lady Danbury just nodded before making her way to exit the balcony.

"I heard he is a brave warrior who ended that horrible Paramount War."

"How do the Bridgerton girl and your sister know him?" a man asked his wife who had a look of distaste written across her face.

"Clearly, they were childhood friends for one season a near decade ago and he was a short brat." Prudence Dankworth responded in a snipped and hushed tone.

"Well, the brat as you called him is all grown up now." Portia spoke up as she was still reeling from the last shock of her daughter wasting all that money on new clothes that were not flattering at all.

'They sent the prince as their representative, what is the Dominions game?' The Queen's right hand thought as while it was not news to him of the Dominion sending a representative, he was not made aware that the Heir would be coming.

"Your family is connected with the Dominion heir?" Kate whispered to her husband as she looked over at her sister-in-law conversing with the latest arrival to the ball.

"I heard on my travels across the territories, that he slew a hundred men in a night all by himself."

"I heard the Dominion is filled with barbarians and savages."

"Have you ever been to the Japans or anywhere in the dominion before the war? I swear to you if you think the British Countryside is beautiful you should try visiting places like Seoul, or Osaka and then tell me if you think this, this is the small island in Europe is the centrepiece of civilisation, Ms Cowper." An older gentleman advised as they both looked on over at the trio that included a Feathrington, a Bridgerton and a Uzumaki

"Lady Whistledown is definitely going to be an enjoyable read on the morn."

The heir to the Golden throne just glanced around at the whispers before focussing on his girls again.

"They do know we can hear them, right?" Naruto asked two of his most cherished friends.

"Just ignore them, you will be the hot topic for the next few days regardless of what Lady Whistledown writes."

"Lady Who?" Naruto questioned, not missing the flinch on Penelope's side from the mention of the name. "That's not a noble that I know, is it? I haven't heard that name before."

"No one of any importance," Elouise stated as a look of irritation crossed her face, a flash really if had anyone else they may have missed it, but to people who truly knew her could see it easily.

"Fair enough," Naruto responded, he wanted to help deal or listen to turmoil his friend was going through but as always. 'There is a time and place for everything,' the heir thought as he glanced around the room. 'And this is not it.' "Perhaps tomorrow I may call on the both of you we need a proper catch up without being in this watched by every single person here."

Both girls smiled at the idea of spending time with their friend who they thought forever lost.

"That sounds great, you can tell us about how we've not heard from you in almost a year."

"Erm surprise." Naruto answered weakly before his weak smile turned serious. "How about we talk tomorrow?" The prince said while looking pointedly at both girls.

Both Penelope and Elouise understood what the young prince meant. Any serious questions they may have, to save for tomorrow due to all the eyes and ears around.

The presence of Naruto's quartet of guards did not go unnoticed, though their primary concern was the pair of young ladies who had been his solace upon his return to their dominion. "So, these are the damsels for whom you were prepared to contest every inch of that forsaken isle. The very thought of never being in their presence once again spurred you to unlock what you needed into a fearsome monster," Uzui mused as he observed his prince engaged in amiable discourse. "Quite the flashy spectacle, Naruto-Sama."

"This might have been my existence had I not been forsaken," pondered Saraya, as she paid little heed to the elder lord attempting conversation, her focus instead upon the master with whom she had arrived. "He rescued me at my nadir, extending me the same compassion they had shown him whilst he was in Britain. It was their kindness, forged in a single summer and nurtured through years of correspondence, that enabled my survival," she reflected, her visage a complex tapestry of resentment and admiration for the young ladies who had, through their connection, formed an enduring bond with the prince.

"So, Lady Saraya, can I ask how you came to be entering alongside the Dominion party?" the elder lord asked.

The girl who had quickly grown bored of the attention decided it was time to move on.

"My apologies, it looks like my brother needs me." Saraya said quickly before leaving the older English lord on his lonesome to wonder the floor.

Suguru the warrior monk and personal guard of the Dominion heir had found a nice quiet corner of the room where he sat down and observed the floor. It was his first time this far west, and he was taking his time to drink in the differences between his own culture and what was on display before him.

"It's somehow disturbing but also comforting to find excess and nobility still go hand in hand on this side of the world." The monk muttered in English to himself.

"Is it not different on your side of the world my Lord?"

Suguru glanced over his shoulder to where the new voice came from, only to see two older ladies approaching him.

'Married already I would presume,' the monk thought before responding "Ah. My apologies my Lady but I am no Lord, just a humble servant of God, Suguru Geto." The man introduced himself with a slight bow towards the two older women before him.

"A priest then, then perhaps you could usher a prayer for daughter to find a husband this season." The woman asked as she glanced towards her daughter speaking to Lord Debling.

Back over on the other side of the floor three of the Bridgerton boys, both the dowager and viscountess had made ways over to their sister, who was so into the conversation she failed to notice her entire family minus Francesca who was still dancing with her latest dance partner, Hyacinth and Gregory who were too young to attend.

"Well, well looks like someone hit a growth spurt now didn't they." The second eldest of the Bridgerton clan spoke up towards the trio.

Naruto paused mid speech as he adjusted his position to face the newcomers.

"Bendy?" the prince said using how he used to say Benedict's name as a child, fully turned and looked up the rest of the Bridgertons.

"Colin, Violet-Oba-Chan, and you I do not know you, but one can assume you are the loving wife I have heard so much about, correct?"

Kate Bridgerton offered a pretty smile and offered a hand to which Naruto shook with a practised ease of nobility before bowing low out of respect for his friend's wife.

"Yes, indeed and imagine my surprise when I found out that my husband was so well connected this very evening," the Viscountess said in a tone with no real heat behind it, but she did cut a husband a look that made Anthony look sheepish for forgetting to mention that tad, bit of information.

"To be fair my Lady, I did ask him to keep my arrival today a secret after I visited today."

'Wait he visited my brother, today?' Elouise thought.

Seeing the questioning looks being passed between the Prince and the Viscount, Naruto bit the bullet so to speak first.

"I was coming to announce myself to both Pen and El, so we avoid any messy reunions here but when both parties were not in, I decided that you two," Naruto paused to make pointed looks at the two girls, causing the pair to lightly blush under the stare. "Should not hear of my arrival through someone other than myself, so I asked for your brother's discretion on the matter."

Anthony looked relieved his brothers he could handle but from his own experiences sisters angry at you are so much worse.

"Also, Benedict, I that was eight years ago, you did not think I would stay that height forever, no." Naruto said towards the second son referring to the jab at his former height many years ago. "Are you ready to continue that losing streak from all of those years ago?" the prince taunted slyly as he knew Benedict's weakness at all things strategy and when they were Kids, Benedict taught him Chess and he taught Benedict how to play Shogi.

"You are so on your highness." Benedict thought as his Bridgerton competitive spirit began to awaken.

"Do not call me that, I'm just the prince I am not King, not yet." Naruto said before looking towards his favourite aunt.

"Violet Oba-Chan, looking radiant as ever. If you ever want to ditch this place my mother has a place for you in her court as always." Naruto charmed his favourite aunt, the reason she is his favourite because she was the only person he called aunty or uncle who never beat him during or after training.

'Even though we a fundamentally different she always showed me kindness and a softness I was not aware could exist.'

"Aww thank you, Your Grace." Violet responded with a small smirk knowing how much the boy just protested to her son referring to him as highness. "How is your mother doing, last time we heard anything Lady Kushina was pregnant?"

"Ah yeah she had twin's Mito and Choji are still little, but my mother is very happy with them and just encase something happened to me the Dominion had two more potential heirs." Naruto answered with a smile on his face as he thought about his family.

At the thought of Naruto dying a cold shiver was sent through Penelope's and Elouise's hearts and up their spine.

'Don't like the sound of that at all,' Elouise thought.

'He is one of three now like me, but don't like the idea of his siblings acting as replacements,' Penelope thought to herself.

'We just got him back; he is not going to die anytime soon.' Both girls thought at the same time.

"Uzumaki."

"Ah Bridgerton."

The third eldest male Bridgerton stepped forward offering a hand to the prince.

Naruto looked down at the hand with a quirked eyebrow and suddenly tension filled their little corner of the room as the Bridgerton siblings and Penelope all looked between themselves casting worried looks at each other.

'What is this feeling?' Kate Bridgerton thought to herself as this little gathering seemingly got a lot colder.

'Am I missing something?' Violet asked to herself.

Naruto looked at Colins hand for a few more seconds before ignoring it for a deep bow and on the way back up to standing straight he took the extended hand and shook it firmly.

"Look at you, everyone wants to comment on my height but look at you, definitely stronger than you were eight summers ago." The heir commented with a confident smirk as both young men squeezed hard on the handshake.

'Some rivalry's never end do they.' Anthony thought as he watched the exchange between the two younger men.

'I wonder if they know what or who this is about?' Benedict thought with a smug grin as he watched the drama while subtly glancing at the youngest Lady Feathrington and his book clever sister.

"Yeah, well you're not the only person capable of growing." Colin responded in almost a snappish way.

"Maybe we should test that out one day whilst I'm here, to see how strong you really are?" Naruto said ignoring Colins tone as they both released each other's hands.

"Your Grace I must ask if you will be dancing today?" Violet asked in a very loud and clear voice.

And just like that all the mama's and young debutantes nearby seemingly perked up.

"Oba-chan you're very troublesome woman you know." Naruto commented as he noticed the increase of hungry eyes watching him.

Foreign or not a Prince is a Prince.

"Well, I would hate to see all of my hard work go to waste." Violet said after laughing lightly as she thought back to the time teaching him how to dance like the grownups do when he was a child.

As she laughed behind her hand to keep it polite, she missed the glares sent her way by Elouise, Penelope and Colin for to differing reasons.

"Normally I would but since I am very tired from traveling today, I think I will give dancing a miss but maybe at the next ball I could take a few spots on your dance cards." Naruto while he said that back to Violet, he snuck a quick glance towards Penelope and then Elouise, further confirming what Violet already assumed to be true.

'Friendship can be a strong foundation but hard to overcome when matters of the heart are need to be addressed.' Violet thought to herself as she flashed back to her relationship with Edmund.

The prince decided to take a step back from Clan Bridgerton and Penelope, "Now then, it has been nice to have this quick catch up and to see all of you," the prince said before glancing at Elouise and then Penelope. "I do honestly mean that. Now I'm sure you all had schemes and plans for this evening so do not let me interrupt them. But I would like to formerly invite you all to the freshly purchased and renovated Uzumaki estate. It would be my honour to if my first guests were my first friends in this country."

"We accept!" Elouise and Penelope half shouted their responses before anyone else could get a word out.

"Alright then I will see you around tonight but tomorrow we shall have a proper catch up away from all of this pomp and circumstance." Naruto said with a smile and some managed to turn and disappear into the crowd.

Soon after Penelope shared an uncomfortable look with Elouise before glancing towards Colin and then glancing towards Naruto's retreating form, she left the Bridgerton family to their own devices.

"You seemed eager to accept little sister? Anything you would like to share." Benedict whispered in jest, laughing as his sister's face was tinged pink because her and Penelope's outburst.

"Erm, Anthony where is your sister?" Violet asked as she turned to the dance floor noting a new group of dancing partners and Francesca was not in sight.

Chika Shihoin had quickly ditched the main party and had gone exploring the manor. He grew tired of the obvious flirtations from party attendees, he knew looked different than most, striking white hair cat like amber eyes contrasting with mocha skin tone and that was wrapped up in a specially tailored tailcoat made of deep indigo silk, a colour that signifies both his noble standing and his distinct background.

'Even as Naruto-Sama's personal guard I am still a member of one of the oldest noble houses in the Dominion.'

The coat, fitted perfectly to his athletic build, features high-quality craftsmanship with silver embroidery along the lapels and cuffs, subtly echoing motifs from his family's crest.

Underneath, he dons a pristine white waistcoat adorned with delicate silver embroidery, providing a striking contrast to the indigo coat. The waistcoat, made of fine silk, fits snugly, highlighting his lean frame. His cravat, a rich silver-grey, is expertly tied in a manner that speaks of both sophistication and an air of effortless grace.

(Play Let it Be- The Beatles Piano Cover by Riyandi Kusuma)

A beautiful sound made its way into the personal guards' ears which halted his thoughts on his current attire.

'What is that sound?' Chika thought as he followed the noise till, he stopped shy of an alcove where a lone woman could be found playing the gleaming grand piano., Fingers already in motion bringing forth a melody that embodies both grace and melancholy.

In the soft, ambient lighting, the piano's notes resonate with a poignant beauty, weaving a tapestry of sound that tugged at even Chika's heartstrings. Each chord progression is like a sigh, echoing the bittersweet nature of life's inevitable trials. The melody, tender and reflective, evokes a sense of longing and acceptance, much like the quiet sorrow of unfulfilled love or the serene contemplation of a sunset over the English countryside.

As the music swells, it carries with it the weight of unshed tears and the silent strength found in resilience. The room, though filled with the refined society of the Regency era, feels united in a collective moment of introspection, each listener touched by the timeless beauty of the music's message: a gentle reminder to find peace and solace even in the face of sadness.

'If I was a Samurai, I would have a haiku that's captures the beauty of what I just listened to,' Chika thought as he stepped out from around the corner as the song came to an end.

"Excuse me, my lady. That piece you just played was as beautiful as it was melancholic. The seamless intertwining of contemporary sentiment with the enduring elegance of grieving sensibilities."

The woman turned around from her seat at the piano and quirked an eyebrow at the slightly younger man before her.

"Ah, allow me to introduce myself, I am Chika Shihoin." The man said as showed off a deep Japanese styled bow. "May I know your name as well?"

The woman seemed oddly please from the compliment of musical piece.

"That piece I wrote for my husband, you had mentioned grieving sensibilities? What did you mean by that?"

"Well, the piece that you were playing should a forlorn feeling, a feeling I am all too familiar with, when I lost my wife and son." Chika spoke up after deciding to choose his words carefully. 'With how she holds herself she must someone of high standing.

"I lost my husband too a few years ago now."

"If you don't mind me asking, was it a love match or an arranged?"

"Love."

"Those are the hardest to let go of I'm afraid but just know this our loved ones will always want us to keep moving forward no matter what." Chika said passionately referring to how he had to deal with his trauma.

The young noble and guard turned on his feet and began to walk back the way he came.

"Emmeline Maxwell."

That caused Chika to pause mid step.

"Emmeline Maxwell, interesting name."

"It is, isn't it well it used to be Danbury before I was married."

'Danbury, Danbury, Danbury,' Chika thought over before he realised that was the name of the host for this evening.

"And now you get it, my mother is Lady of this house."

"And now I understand another thing about how you play."

"Ans what is that."

"I think I'll save it for next time, assuming you will be sticking around this season.

"That wasn't the plan but considering the arrival of the Prince of the Dominion has arrived it might make this season in particularly even more interesting among some other things." The woman said pausing to look the man up and down like he was a piece of meat.

"Well then I will be definitely seeing you around my lady." Chika said before carrying on his way back to the main ballroom.

A couple hours had past and the ball was seemingly in full swing. The heir of the golden throne stood off to the side listening to some eager to please lord drone on about something, so he decided to people watch.

Penelope was conversing with Lord Debling by the supposed cold desert table.

Elouise was trying to track down her blonde friend on the other side of the hall, even though she was by Pen.

Anthony was trying keep an eye on his sister Francesca and sneak off with his wife.

Benedict was trying to run and hide from an eager mama and her child he danced with earlier that night.

Colin was talking to a couple of his school friends while trying to side glance at Penelope.

Chika, Suguru and Saraya had long left the ball to return home as the younger girl wasn't feeling to well. Leaving the prince with one personal guard not like the Uzumaki needed it.

Uzui was flirtatious and charming all the young ladies with his exuberant stories.

'Wait till they found out he has three wives.' Naruto thought before backtracking 'Nope he still too good looking, he may end up with a larger harem than grandfather.'

'This actually nice,' Naruto thought to himself no guns, no fighting, no posturing just being here in the moment, but that peace was shattered when Penelope stormed passed him towards the outside.

'What the?' Naruto thought as he looked towards where she was and seeing the blonde woman sending dagger like glares at the red headed girls back.

Naruto just turned to the man in front of him.

"My apologies Lord Hummingway, I must be on my way." Naruto said simply before turning to leave the same way Penelope just left.

"But my name is Huntington" the lord called out only to be ignored.

'With those dresses I should be able to catch up.' Naruto thought before he was stopped by the Queens right hand who just appeared in his way.

"Lord Uzumaki, may I have a moment of your time."

'Must not kill, must not kill, must not kill,' Naruto repeated the mantra in his head as he saw Colin go after Penelope. 'For some reason the idea of him supporting her pisses me off.' "Yes, Brimsley." Naruto said as if he wasn't annoyed at being stopped on his way out.

"Hopefully I haven't stopped you at an inconvenient time."

'Grr you know that you have, you teme.' Naruto thought to himself 'From the tone to the smug look on his face.' "No of course not, now what is it that you want."

"Just to make it official and formerly invite you to the Castle on tomorrow's morn."

"You know this isn't my first time here right, you could have sent it straight to my estate so why…." Naruto responded his tone layered with confusion before his eyes widened as the grin on Brimsley face grew almost splitting for second before returning to neutral.

'You pranked me, you son of a.' Naruto thought in realisation before leaning forward and began whispering into the Queen's right hand's ear. "Ok so you got me good I understand that payback I see it, but you do know that this means war. And I accept your challenge any time any place you will not be safe."

As the prince continued his journey Brimsley looked as white as a sheet.

'Maybe that on-the-spot prank wasn't worth it,' Brimsley thought to himself before flashback to almost endless onslaught of pranks her suffered eight summers ago.

Naruto quickly caught the eye of Uzui, and he tapped his collar four times.

'Going for a walk, be back late,' Uzui translate the coded message quickly and nodded his head back while maintaining conversation he tapped his right trouser leg in a certain pattern.

'Do you need me?' Naruto translated in his head to which he promptly shook his head and continued on his way to the cloak room.

Naruto looked up at the night sky as he threw a kunai up into the air, his attire changed gone was the royal garb replaced with princes preferred attire.

'Full moon and clear sky, guess I can't be outside to long will definitely get spotted, by drunks on their way back home.' The prince thought from a roof top right next to the feat Feathrington home in Mayfair.

"And now." The prince whispered as he stepped to the side and caught the kunai he launched straight up into the air.

The prince was kind of bored waiting around when he had arrived, he realised the Penelope's lady's maid still up and about.

'Come on do the British not sleep anymore?' the prince thought before the deadbolt on the rear door unlock. The maid rushed clutching a leather purse and got up onto the carriage parked just outside the rear door.

'I thought it was weird she had left it there.' Naruto thought before he took that same kunai he had caught and let it fly until it lodged itself in between the stone floor and door blocking the door from fully closing. 'Oh, this is too easy.' The prince thought before he heard the horse begin to trot off with the maid.

'Now then is she in a new room or the old one?' Naruto thought because he always remembered Penelope having the smallest room compared to her sisters, but they had long since moved out so would she take a bigger room.

Coming up with a quick idea Naruto began crouch do low making sure to keep his movements silent he shifted over to the side of the house that overlooked the garden. A low flicker of light could be seen emanate from the room like a weak beacon in the darkness.

"Bingo."

Penelope had just returned to her room after handing in her latest edition of Lady Whistledown.

The young girl let a frustrated sigh from lips.

'Damn it.'

She knew she shouldn't write angry.

'Damn it!'

When she wrote angry, no good ever came of it.

"DAMN IT!" Penelope shouted knowing that she was home alone since her mother was still out with her sisters and Rae had just left on an 'errand'.

"Oh, so you do get angry, that's a first." A male voice said from behind her.

Penelope's eyes widen as she quickly spun around her eyes widening in surprise.

'Is that Naruto standing in the doorway of my room.'

The shadowy figure stepped forward.

She stepped backwards.

The figure stepped forward letting the candlelight hit his face.

"Gomen gomen, I am sorry for making you jump," Naruto said as he raised an arm to the back of his laughing lightly "Glad to see some fire in you even though you're still a Kowai Neko." The boy teased at the end offering a heart fluttering smile.

Penelope took in her whisker mark faced friends' appearance, gone was the bright and bold royal garments, and instead the princes attire consisted of his haori, a lightweight, open-front jacket, features bold, vibrant patterns, possibly reminiscent of his own heritage—perhaps a striking mix of orange and black with spiral motifs, symbolizing the Uzumaki clan. Underneath, he wore a simple, yet finely woven, black kimono with a high collar, fastened securely with a dark, medium sized obi belt.

'Somehow Orange suits him, really well,' Penelope thought as she looked boy up and down as subtly as she could, as last night's dream came back to haunt her present mind.

The kimono is paired with black hakama trousers, allowing easier of movement then the formal attire allowed. His headband, worn as a mark of his shinobi past normally it would around his forehead, but he wasn't on mission, so he wore the thing like a necklace the metal plate held the Uzumaki swirl engraved into the metals surface.

"Pen? You there?"

Quickly coming to her senses.

"What are you doing here?" Penelope accused hotly as her cheeks reddened after her imagination began to run wild with scenarios and situations.

"What do you mean what am I doing here?" Naruto posed back as he leant back slightly and crossed his arms like he was in deep thought. "I'm here for you baka," the boy said while offering a light insult.

"Huh?"

"I'm here for you, I saw run off from the ball I was coming after but by the time I had found you your carriage was leaving."

"Oh yeah I ran away right in front of you." The girl almost face palmed herself out embarrassment.

"Now then, you want to tell me what's got you so fiery today, I'm going to guess that it has something to do with whatever going on between you, El, Colin and tall blonde."

Penelope's jaw dropped.

"What I was gone 8 years that doesn't make me a blind, both you and El did not speak the entire night unless I was talking to both of you. Colin just looked like he got slapped after I reached the entrance and saw your carriage in the distance."

"And Cressida?"

"The blonde? Oh, when she ripped your dress, with her heel." Naruto said a scowl all over his face. "If you want, I could prank and make her a spinster forever you just say the word.

Penelope began giggling at the thought of Cressida getting her just desserts.

"As much as I would love that you can't you're not 10 anymore."

A mischievous look crossed the princes face before he crossed the distance in a heartbeat and swept the girl in a huge hug.

She would make Naruto swear on both her god and his that she never squeaked when she got all swept up.

"I may not be 10 anymore but nothing will ever stop me from cheering you up when you're feeling down." Naruto said as he sat down leaning against the wall. The boy smiled at her and patted the floor next to him like they would when they were children and she got upset, which was a lot back then.

The girl still looked unsure.

"Look how about this I'll tell you about some the things that's happened to me during the last three years." Naruto said in a serious tone, and you can talk about the last few years to. It doesn't have to be all the doom and gloom, tell me about your brother in laws and why your sisters look absolutely miserable."

A smile.

'Bingo,' he thought as he patted the spot beside him. "Come on what happened to fiery Penelope," the prince challenged with a grin.

'You know what, fine,' Penelope thought she turned to grab the small candle lantern before moving back towards Naruto and kneeling beside him and placing the lantern in between the two of them.

"You know we are breaking like all of the rules, right?"

"I'm Uzumaki, to an Uzumaki rules are made to be what Pen?"

Penelope rolled her eyes as she remembered him saying this years ago.

'He really is the same guy,' "Bent and broken."

"So, who goes first?" the girl smirked.

"You live in the country that believes in chivalry so how about you."

"Fine then oh lord of war." she asked with a quirked brow

"You mean Warlord?"

The girl just nodded.

"Well…"

The sun shone through the bedroom window waking the youngest Feathrington from her deep slumber.

'I don't remember putting myself in bed?' the red head thought before a flood of memories came flooding back to her a prince essentially broke into her home to speak to her. One of her oldest friends or not to her that was even the crazy part.

'We sat and spoke for what felt like hours.' Penelope thought as she felt herself getting warmer for some reason.

"Well that one is easy the title Warlord are giving to the nine most powerful and influential people within the Dominion underneath the Emperor, whether it be land, soldiers, or straight up wealth." Naruto explained "I'm currently the youngest Warlord in this iteration of the group.

"There is more of you?"

"Oh yes, there are two more around my age too Hajime Umemiya, he is from a noble house like me so he inherited a lot but he is still a force to be reckoned with. And then there is Sung Jin-woo from Korea. He is only a couple years older than me and a year over Ume and he was a rising star similar to Ume and myself and during the war we all earned our title as Warlords filling the remaining seats for the group."

"What does that mean?"

"Well basically we are not allowed to wage war on one another because any fight amongst the warlords has the potential to destabilise the Dominion and we are in charge of governing the selected area." Naruto paused and looked the girl. "Make sense?"

The girl nodded along she was listening, but she forgot how his eyes seemed to change in darkness, to her his lilac-coloured eyes seemed to be even more purple in colour.

"You should hear what the Chinese Republic call us. Now those names would make a grown man blush." Naruto said as he pulled a small, rounded flask from his hip.

Penelope glanced at the object curiously.

"You want some?" Naruto asked before popping the cork and bring the bottle to his lips and take a big gulp.

"What is it?"

"Rice wine, we call it sake." Naruto said before handing the bottle to the girl. "Remember this is not what your used to this comes with a kick."

Penelope raised the bottle to her lips and did what he did and took a massive gulp.

'3, 2, 1 and,' Naruto thought as he counted down till, she coughed and as soon he thought of one the coughing fit began.

"Well since you don't have any more questions on that my turn."

"Wait what." Penelope asked as she just recovered from the throat burn.

"You heard me."

Snapping out of that memory when she heard banging on her bedroom door.

"Lady Penelope breakfast is served downstairs and ready whenever you are." A voice called from outside her bedroom.

"Ok I will be down in a minute." Penelope responded as she flinched. 'What was that?' she thought as she raised a hand to her mouth, her lips specifically. 'Are my lips bruised?' More memories came back to the girl during their talk she began to fall asleep.

Glancing at the skies starting to become lighter Naruto new it would be time to leave soon, but to be fair the pair had been going back and forth for at least an hour. Penelope's maid came home about twenty minutes ago, but he had to assume she went to bed herself since he could not here any movement coming up the stairs.

'Better not risk it either way.' The boy thought to himself. "Pen, how about we continue this tomorrow?" the prince turned to ask only to find the girl asleep leaning against his shoulder.

"What am I going to do with you eh," Naruto muttered in Japanese as he reached over and brushed some of her hair out of her face. "Keiryo" he muttered before scooping the girl up into his arms.

Quickly he went to lay her down in her bed and just as he tried to stand up straight, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck.

Naruto looked to face his friend his heartbeat starting to pick up pace. "I think your drunk Pen let's get you to bed eh."

The girl didn't respond she just pulled down pressing her lips against his in a sloppy but tender kiss. It didn't take a few moments before his own instincts kicked in and his kissed back.

Naruto was on in the clouds his one of his childhood friends who he had a crush on was kissing him but the downside of it was they had gone through about two bottles of sake which is fine for me but for someone who doesn't drink on a regular wouldn't be able to keep up.

Penelope was also in the clouds she had her friend back in real life, and this is the second dream she had about him she was going to take fully advantage while she was somewhat lucid.

"Thank you for coming back to me," the girl said as she looked up at Naruto with love and admiration. "Best dream ever." The girl said as she passed out collapsing back into bed.

"Well that happened," Naruto said as he blinked.

"That wasn't a dream!"

Penelope was on autopilot as she got morning gown on and made her way downstairs to get breakfast, but she was honestly horrified that she kept trying to take massive gulps and keep up with the prince.

'Because I was angry from that whole night.' The Feathrington thought herself 'but we kissed, and he kissed me back, I'm I was drinking but he did kiss me back." Her fingers idled along tracing her slightly bruised lips discreetly revelling in the feeling.

"What does it even mean." She whispered to herself.

"Did you say something dear?" Portia asked before returning to her own worries.

The End

Next chapter: A Scarred Canvas

A.N

What did we think of the chapter.

This took me about a 6-8 hours to write give or take.

Also, Naruto was previously engaged, and she tried stab our resident shinobi

What are our thoughts on the personal guards?

Chika Shihoin (Bleach)

Suguru Geto (JJK)

Uzui Tengen (Demon Slayer)

Saraya (OC)

We get into them more next chapter.

We got some lore building to be doing for the next chapter.

Did we like the music choice being the Beatles Let it BE I kind of felt fitting for the pair of characters Emmeline, and Chika

Lemme know what you think on pacing and character interactions for this fic that's what I'm caring about most.

Also, Naruto and Penelope share her 1st kiss and she remembers things will be different some will follow the tv show.

Now Naruto has 3 more Bridgertons to say hello too.

One if Lady Danbury's kids is back for this season and I haven't even written the brother yet.

Word count: 6783 (roughly)