Hinata's eyes fluttered open when hearing the steady sound of movement nearby. The subtle sound was followed by periodic grunts. Hinata rolled over to see Naruto laying restfully on his side of the bed, wearing an amused smirk.
"Sasuke is still the loudest of the two."
Hinata smiled sweetly.
"That's not hard to do when Haku barely makes any noise at all."
Naruto nodded in agreement while staring up at the ceiling.
"True."
Hinata moved over enough to lay her head atop Naruto's chest. They both listened contently to the noise coming from the next room.
"Naruto-kun…what do you think about the princess?"
Naruto raised a brow and looked down at Hinata curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"Like…do you think she is pretty?"
Naruto sighed and closed his eyes, understanding Hinata fully.
"Of course I do. You know that without even having to ask. She is the young royal blood of a foreign kingdom. Women like that are almost always pretty. I know the thought of me finding other women pretty upsets you, and you know I refuse to lie to you, so why even ask?"
Hinata's face reddened when hearing his question. She bit into her bottom lip anxiously.
"I could just kill her," Naruto stated nonchalantly.
Hinata's eyes widened, knowing that Naruto was completely serious.
"You don't have to go that far, Naruto-kun."
"Then maybe we could maim her to take away her beauty. Maybe tear out her teeth, chop off her nose. I bet she would be pretty unattractive without arms and legs."
Hinata pouted.
"You are just teasing me now."
Naruto sat up slowly and stared at Hinata with a sick grin.
"Am I?"
A shiver crept up Hinata's spine. She avoided his gaze and began drawing circles in his chest with a single finger.
"That won't solve anything," she stated gloomily.
Naruto leaned his back against the headboard and shook his head.
"I know. You always get this way when we meet pretty women. Just the mere fact that I honestly acknowledge that other women are pretty, upsets you. I am a straight man, Hinata-chan. If you don't like the contents of a straight man's mind, then you don't have to keep asking about it. You are just torturing yourself unnecessarily."
Hinata huffed and rose up, moving to the edge of the bed and putting on her slippers.
"Hinata-chan," Naruto said in exasperation.
"It's ok Naruto-kun, I just…need some air. I am sorry about being this way. I know it's silly and I only want to bring peace to you. I just really hate when pretty women are around you!" She squeaked.
Naruto chuckled and smirked.
"Wow. You know, if I didn't know any better I would say that you had a crush on her. If you wanted to make her your slave I wouldn't mind. It could be best to keep your enemy close."
If possible, Hinata's face became even more red.
"I don't care how pretty she is, I only want you!"
Hinata said in a fluster.
Naruto raised a brow.
"So you think she's pretty too? Honestly, I wasn't really paying much attention to her but you are making me want to take a second look."
Hinata's eyes widened in horror. Naruto laid back down in bed with a carefree attitude, rolling over with a yawn.
"I still vote we should just kill her so you can stop thinking about it. Up to you Hinata-chan."
Hinata stared at Naruto's back for a long while, contemplating his words. She shook her head and stood up. She walked over to a glass door leading out to a terrace which overlooked the snowy city. She leaned on the balcony and stared off into the distance in deep contemplation.
"Maybe I should?" She thought.
Hinata twirled a finger through her hair and bit into her bottom lip nervously. Her mind was filled with the images of the princess seducing Naruto.
Sudden movement snapped Hinata out of her thoughts. The steps were tentative. She could tell just by the sound that someone was trying to step quietly.
Hinata activated her Byakugan and immediately noticed the shadowy visage of a young servant girl in the distance. The girl was pretending to work in the courtyard but Hinata could see that the girl was constantly looking up to her.
The girl walked through the snowy courtyard holding a bucket. She was walking in circles around the compound instead of going straight to her destination. She mumbled to herself, as if trying to talk herself into doing something crazy.
"You aren't a very efficient worker."
The girl turned around and fell on her butt in surprise when hearing the unexpected voice behind her. Hinata stood in a regal stance, her Byakugan flared, staring down menacingly at the girl.
"I-I am sorry your majesty. I mean your highness. Um, empress." The girl sputtered.
She crawled on her knees to pick up the items that fell out of the bucket. Hinata noted the fallen rope and a metal hook.
"This is quite pathetic for an assasination attempt."
Hinata commented matter of factly while picking up the metal hook.
"I am not trying to kill anyone!" The girl stated in alarm.
Hinata stared intensely at the girl. She was young, probably still a teenager. Hinata could see that her chakra level was very low, and her muscles were underdeveloped. She was clearly malnourished. She wasn't a warrior.
"What's your name?"
"Fiona, your highness."
"Fiona?"
It was a name Hinata had never heard before.
"It is a traditional name of my people."
"Your people are immigrants?"
Fiona shook her head.
"No. My family has lived here for generations. You would call us, indigenous."
Hinata nodded in understanding.
"Why are you sneaking around?"
Fiona squeezed the handle of the bucket she held. She paused for several long moments.
"Speak," Hinata demanded.
"I just wanted to talk to you so please don't kill me!"
Fiona whispered in a frantic voice while bowing her head and closing her eyes in panic.
Hinata was taken aback.
"Me or Naruto?"
Fiona avoided Hinata's gaze.
"I…well…I was hoping that maybe if I talked to you, you could talk to the emperor."
"About?"
"The rebellion. I'm sure the shogun has told you all about it. If he hasn't yet then he will. You can't believe a word he says."
Hinata frowned in confusion before her eyes widened.
"You're a rebel."
Fiona noted the way Hinata took a more defensive posture.
"Yes, but we aren't what you think. The shogun, the nobility, the people, they hate us. For good reason. We have a long and bloody history. They will try to paint us as villains but we are just trying to follow our beliefs and live the way we think is best. We have many differences in beliefs and customs with the shogun's people, so it has caused generational division, strife and war."
Hinata listened patiently, looking over to the shogun's villa.
"Our people lost the last war, now we are subjugated. He over taxes us, restricts our ability to work and support ourselves. Most importantly, he has imposed extreme restrictions on our beliefs. If he could, he would wipe us all out. Many of us have resorted to theft and banditry just to provide for our families because he's burned our farms, our villages, destroyed our sustainable way of life…"
"Ok ok, I understand."
Fiona was shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Just help us integrate peacefully into the empire. I've read Emperor Naruto's doctrine. We all want it. It would respect our beliefs and our way of life. Under Emperor Naruto we would have no reason to rebel. The shogun knows this so he is going to try everything he can to destroy us before the integration happens. The last thing he and his people want is for us all to coexist together peacefully. There is simply too much bad blood."
Hinata was lost in thought as she listened to the girl's story.
"Why should I believe you? I am only hearing one side of the story."
Fiona nodded and reached for something in her pocket. It was a dagger. Hinata narrowed her eyes.
"This dagger is sacred among my people. We only give this to those we trust. I want to give it to you."
Hinata hesitated but eventually opened her palm and took the dagger.
"When the shogun tells you his side, just ask him about the war, the reason why we rebel. Ask him why he thinks we resort to theft and rebellion as opposed to hard work. His answer will reveal all."
Fiona bowed at the waist.
"Thank you for listening, your majesty. I only ask that you consider everything I have said."
Fiona went wide eyed when Hinata cupped her face gently.
"Thank you for the dagger. I promise that I won't forget this conversation. Now you should go before anyone finds out you are missing."
Fiona smiled bright and wiped her tears away.
"Thank you."
She stated simply before turning about and running away with her bucket.
After Fiona faded from view, Hinata looked down at the dagger, and the intricate symbols carved into it.
Somehow her jealousy was starting to seem petty to her. There were clearly much bigger things at stake.
That's the end of the chapter. Thanks for reading. Please review.