Chapter 5
Early in the morning, Gaara woke up just at dawn. Naruto was still peacefully asleep. The thief stretched and set out on his plan, which had been in his head since the evening. He made a quick breakfast, which consisted of bread, cheese, a few eggs and milk.
Naruto woke up just as the thief prepared everything. It was almost as if he had woken up by smell.
„Good morning, Your Highness,” Gaara greeted him with a smile.
„Morning…” he replied between yawns.
„I made breakfast... and then I found a place nearby... where I would like to go with you,” Gaara squeezed and looked hesitantly into Naruto's eyes.
„Thank you very much and I can't wait!” he rejoiced and hugged Gaara. He was completely taken by surprise.
„I'm glad to hear that,” he said when Naruto released him from his embrace.
„Would you like to have breakfast with me today?” the prince asked. Gaara hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. He sat closer to Naruto and they went to breakfast together, during which they didn't talk much.
After breakfast, they finally left the cave. Gaara led the way. They zigzagged through the trees until they finally had a view of the giant lake, the surface of which shimmered with the sun's rays.
„Wow, that's a wonderful view. "Naruto marvelled, his eyes glistening like the surface of the lake. Gaara had something on his tongue, but before he could say anything, Naruto was already running to the lake, taking off his shoes and leaving them behind. The thief followed calmly and smiled briefly. He also took off his shoes and sat in the shade of a tree nearby.
The prince was shirtless and knee-deep in water.
„The water is nice! Come and join me, dattebayo!” he called to Gaara.
„I'd rather wait here!” he called back.
„Please!” Gaara just shook his head and smiled eloquently.
Naruto wanted Gaara to join him, so he devised a devilish plan. He got deeper into the lake, where the water was a little over his chest. He waved at Gaara, caught his attention, and took a step forward. He stepped badly, his foot slipped, and Naruto ended up underwater.
Gaara saw it all, and of course, he was on his feet. He waited a minute if Naruto emerges but in vain. He panicked. Without thinking, he ran into the lake. He reached the place where he had last seen the prince. He searched hopelessly for him.
„Naruto!?” he called, but in vain.
Turning his back to the shore, he kept looking. Naruto, meanwhile, had the whole situation firmly in his hands. He knew that Gaara would come for him, and without the thief noticing, he circled him. Gaara was looking for him in-depth, and it never occurred to him that he might be behind him. This gave Naruto an advantage. He quietly got behind the thief. At the best moment, he shouted, „I got you!” and jumped on him. Gaara was startled and they both fell into the water.
When they emerged, the prince smiled as the thief shot him a murderous look.
„Fun.…” Naruto laughed.
„You'll pay for this,” Gaara said. He looked upset at first, but his expression turned to a smile. Before Naruto could even think for running away Gaara was already splashing at him. What seemed like a bad end as soon as possible turned into an afternoon full of laughter and fun.
As time passed, the sun slowly set and the two settled by a small fire that warmed them pleasantly. They sat side by side, and without realizing it, the thief had his hand on the prince.
„I would never have thought that being kidnapped by a dragon would end up so well. The last few days, in particular, have been amazing.”
„I'm glad you're happy about that,” Gaara smiled.
„I wish I could be so free in the castle as well,” the prince dreamed.
After a moment of pleasant silence, the bushes behind them rattled and they both turned to see what was making that sound. When they thought it was just a squirrel or another forest animal, a young man a few years older than the two climbed out of the bush. At first glance, it was clear from his attitude that they were nobles.
„I finally found you, Naruto,” he said with relief.
„Kurama… ” the prince couldn't believe his eyes, „ what are you doing here?”
„That's what I should ask. What are you doing here with this?” he said in disgust, pointing to Gaara.
„Leave Gaara out of this! Without his help, I wouldn't have been able to get out of the dragon cave!” Naruto defended him bravely.
„Interesting,” was the only thing Kurama answered and studied the thief. „I saw you leave the city in a hurry…” he said thoughtfully and drew his sword in slow motion. „You are the one who kidnapped Naruto! You monster!” Kurama said angrily as he put all his tracks together and lunged at Gaara.
„Kurama, wait!” Naruto shouted, throwing himself in front of Gaara to protect him.
„No…” Kurama exhaled, realizing that he could no longer stop the attack and that he would hit his little brother.
But before the sword could touch Naruto, his medallion, which he had taken from the castle, glowed gold-red and wrapped its owner in a thick, red-blooded cloak. The sword broke on the cloak and fell out of Kurama's hand. The prince cried out in pain, and his whole body was completely wrapped in that cloak of strange energy.
Now he looked more like a humanoid fox with three tails, which gradually increased until there were nine. It no longer seemed that it was still Naruto, but rather a fox that growled dangerously. They both took a step or two away from him.
„Na-Naruto? "Kurama asked hesitantly. The answer was a warning growl. He tried to get closer to him but was thrown by one of the fox's tails.
„Naruto, can you hear me?…” Gaara asked cautiously. The fox turned on him. „... Do you understand what I'm telling you?” he continued, trying to calm him down, but he was roughly interrupted by the older prince.
„Get away from him, monster!” he shouted at the thief, stepped between him and the fox and drew a dagger at Gaara. The fox didn't like it and was about to jump on him.
Gaara noticed what he was up to and pulled Kurama aside. The fox became angrier and angrier. It increased in size as the rage grew. In a few moments, she was as big as Gaara in dragon form.
She waved her giant paw intending to hit both of them. Fortunately, Gaara was able to save both at the last moment. However, the fox still scratched his hand and he revealed a few scales.