Chapter 6
He stood there as if in a trance. This only happened to him at dusk, and not at all for the last few days. But he didn't have time to think about the injury, as the fox stretched out to strike again.
Maybe, his head flashed, maybe if he was in his dragon form, he would have a chance to calm Naruto down. He had never tried to transform into a dragon before, but nothing better occurred to him.
He decided to throw Kurama into a bush and hid behind a huge tree trunk. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to concentrate. As he began to think he wouldn't succeed, he felt the familiar heat that accompanied his transformation.
The fox, meanwhile, noticed him and was about to destroy the entire tree with a single blow. At that single moment, instead of Gaara, there was a dragon that could easily cover the foxes' attack and push it aside.
The dragon didn't waste a minute and launched a counterattack. However, his attacks were not deadly, but he tried to slow down or stop the fox. Unfortunately for him, as the foxes' anger grew, so did her strength.
The creatures exchanged attacks, but they didn't seem tired. To man, it might have looked like a duel of titans.
The dragon got behind the fox, grabbed her from behind and tried to hold her. In vain. She easily got out of his arms and bounced him back a few feet. The lizard flew into the cloud and circled over it for a moment before the ground beneath her feet turned to sand. She began to break into him slowly. She tried to dig out but instead sank deeper. When the sand was up to her chest, the dragon began to spew fire at her. It was so hot that the sand began to turn into glass. As soon as the fire stopped, the fox roared sharply until the treetops shook.
She was wearing no signs of fire. She was trapped in a glass hole. At least that's what the dragon thought. With several sharp and strong blows, she shattered the glass of a million shards and jumped out of the hole directly onto the dragon. They crashed into the lake together.
There, their duel continued for a long time before they surfaced. Both, already quite exhausted and with serious injuries, remained motionless on the shore, breathing weakly.
Naruto changed from a fox back to his form, and so did Gaara. But Gaara was much worse off. He was bleeding heavily from numerous wounds, breathing intermittently and weakly. He was paler than before, almost like death. Blood ran down his face and taped his eyelids. He opened his eyes slightly to see Kurama standing vaguely above him with a dagger in his hand.
„I guess you have a lucky day today because I'll leave you at your mercy for your injuries. I'm not in the mood for you and I don't have enough energy,” Kurama spat, tucked in his dagger, carefully took his brother in his arms and walked slowly with him, though he was also injured and could barely stand. Gaara just exhaled wearily and slowly closed his eyes.
Back to the castle
The prince lay bandaged in his clouded bed, covered with blankets and a small strip of light shone through the crack between the curtains.
The prince opened his eyes sleepily and had no idea where he was. He rubbed his eyes and sat up slowly. He didn't even make it fast. His whole body ached and he had no idea why. In the end, however, he knew his room easily. His eyes then fell on his hands. They were in bandages. Like the rest of his body. He grabbed his head and tried to remember what had happened.
He was with Gaara by the lake and they had a pretty good time. Then ... Kurama showed up and ... and attacked Gaara. He tried to save him and so he stood in front of him. That's all he remembered. As he tried to keep looking in his memory for what had happened, his head ached and all he saw was red. He sincerely hoped Gaara was okay.
A faint knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
„ Come in,” Naruto called, and his father entered the room with his mother. Before anyone could say anything, the Queen engulfed Naruto in a close embrace.
„Oh Naruto, I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried about you.”
„Just you?” Minato didn't forgive and sat down next to his son. „Welcome home, Naruto,” he smiled kindly. Prince was moved and tears welled up in his eyes.
„I missed you so much,” and he hugged them both.
„When you're better, you have to tell us everything that happened to you, don't you?” Kushina began after a moment, as their moment of emotion and hug passed.
„And, of course, I will punish the one who kidnapped you,” Minato said.
„I was kidnapped by a dragon,” Naruto replied, beginning to feel very bad.
„Honey, Kurama told us everything,” the prince paled noticeably.
„What exactly did he say?”
„The young man he found you with was also the dragon that kidnapped you. Although we don’t yet know the reason for his actions, it is clear that he will pay for them,” Minato replied seriously.
„No, Gaara would n’t kidnap me. He tried to help me!”
„That Gaara is very dangerous.”
„ He’s not!”
„Naruto, please try to understand us,” the King tried.
„No! Because Gaara can't be a dragon. He doesn't say much, but he's very nice. I know it.”
„What if we talked about it when you're fully recovered?” Kushina said, hugging her son once more.
„I'm fine,” he muttered angrily.
„Try to rest,” Minato smiled, and he and Kushina left the room.
The prince listened to his parents' footsteps, and when he was sure they were far enough, he jumped out of bed and quickly changed. He also took a cloak and a bag with things for the expedition. He walked to the door, put his ear to it, and listened. Silence. That's exactly what suited him. He opened the door, stuck his head out, and looked around. Fresh air. He closed the door quickly behind him and headed for the exit. He was about to turn the corner when a voice came from behind him.
„Where do you think you're going?!” Kurama said sternly. A chill ran down Naruto's back and he turned to his brother.
„Nowhere,” he replied.
„So why are you wearing things for the expedition?”
„…” the prince couldn’t find the right words.
„You're not going anywhere. Go back to your room,” he ordered calmly.
„Not until I find him!”
„I will not allow that!”
„I don’t care! I need to make sure he's okay!”
„He's most likely dead,” he snapped coldly. It shook Naruto completely.
„I don't ... I don't believe it!” he shouted, tears welling up in his eyes.
„He was seriously injured when I left. No one would survive this,” that was too much for the prince. He fled in an instant, but Kurama grabbed him lightly and trapped him in his arms. The prince tried to break free but in vain. When the prince finally calmed down, Kurama finally released him. Naruto wiped away his tears and glared at his brother. Kurama didn't know such behaviour in his brother.
„Naruto…” he tried to calm him down.
„Leave me alone,” he replied coldly and walked away. His older brother didn't even try to stop him.