Chapter 7
Naruto slammed into his room, letting his emotions surface. How could he leave him alone? What if he never sees him again? What if he's really dead? Such thoughts raced through his head. Finally, exhausted by tears, he fell into bed and fell asleep. In the evening, he was awakened by a knock on the door.
„Young prince, dinner will be in ten minutes,” the maid said.
„I'm not hungry,” he shouted sleepily at her.
„His Majesty wishes your participation.”
„Okay, I'll be there,” he grumbled. First, they tell him such bad news and then they act like nothing. He didn't like that. He got up and lazily went to the dining room.
He went inside and, without smiling, sat quietly in his place. Instead of swallowing his food quickly, as always, he poked around. He ate about three bites before announcing he had had enough and left the room. The royal couple just looked at each other worriedly, but they said nothing. As if they thought their son would sleep and be as before.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen. Instead, the prince shut himself in. All the joy disappeared from his face, replaced by sadness and moments of apathy. Not even the best court clowns could cheer him up. About a month passed, and Minato and Kushina were desperate. Arrangements, threats or shouting and tears didn't help at all.
„What are we going to do? I feel like Naruto is moving away from us every day,” Kushina began, walking back and forth across the throne room.
„I know. It can't go on like this... "Minato replied dejectedly, trying to figure out how to return a smile to his son.
„I took him to his favourite ramen yesterday and he looked like he didn't like it,” she collapsed at her husband. „What are we going to do?” she asked.
„What would Jiraiya say to that? "Minato smiled weakly at the memory of his father. „Of course, Jiraiya,” rejoined the King.
„Do you think your dad can help Naruto?”
„I'm sure of it. Naruto loves him very much. And from many aspects. Especially when he helps him with the knight training I forbade him.”
„I think you're right,” Kushina smiled at the memory of her little boy playing with his grandfather.
As decided, Minato began writing a letter outlining his concerns about Naruto. As soon as he finished the letter properly, he had it sent by a postal falcon.
Three days later, early in the morning, the whole castle panicked. None of the staff knew that the king was expecting a visit in such a short time. And they were all surprised when Tsunade and Jiraiya entered the castle discreetly down a side corridor. All the personnel could go crazy, even though the king warned them. And even though the castle was clean, tidy, the rooms were ready to receive a visit at any time, so all of a sudden everyone had problems, but that's a different story. The elderly couple headed to the throne room, where Minato was processing some documents.
„If you continue like this, it will engulf you in a moment,” Jiraiya smiled.
„I have to agree with him for once,” Tsunade added.
„Mom, Dad, I'm so glad to see you. "Minato immediately gave up his job and went to greet his parents. „I'm so glad you arrived, but I thought you wouldn't be here so soon.”
„As for Naruto, we wanted to help as soon as possible.”
„Is it that serious?” Tsunade asked.
„He has changed incredibly since that incident. I don't know how to help him. He doesn't even laugh anymore…”
„I don't need to know more. This is a very urgent situation,” Jiraiya interrupted.
„Don't worry Minato, I'm sure we can handle it,” Tsunade smiled.
„I hope so,” Minato smiled weakly.
Jiraiya and Tsunade set out to visit Naruto. Jiraiya quietly opened the door and peered into the room with a smile. He saw only a sleeping Naruto huddled in blankets.
„Naruto,” Tsunade said softly. No answer, of course. „Maybe we should wait when he wakes up. Sleep helps, too,” he walked over to her grandson, stroked him lightly, and headed for the door.
„Aren't you going?” she turned to her husband.
„I think I'll look around. You can go first,” he replied, walking over to the table, which contained a few letters to his parents and one to Gaara.
„Do as you see fit,” Tsunade turned and left.
„You fooled everyone else, including Grandma, but you just won't fool me. I know all your tricks. I taught them myself,” Jiraiya sat on the edge of the bed and turned to Naruto.
„Grandpa…” Naruto smiled weakly and sat down.
„I've heard a lot of bad news lately. And the worst part was that you didn't want to laugh or eat anymore, and I'm worried about you.”
„I just don't want to laugh. There’s nothing to laugh about,” he snapped.
„I heard you were kidnapped by a dragon, right?”
„The dragon kidnapped me,… and my brother took me back to the palace,” he replied sadly.
„Well, I'd rather not mess with it. Let's turn the page. Did you train during my absence? I wonder if you have learned any new tricks?” Jiraiya began cheerfully. Naruto just nodded in agreement. „And will you show me what you learned?”
„As you wish,” he replied apathetically, and together they set out for the training ground, which was deserted at the time.
Naruto fought the dummy but didn't have any fun. Jiraiya encouraged him, but that didn't help either, so he evaporated in the middle of the show. After a while, the prince himself noticed and stopped. Instead, he sat in the shade of a huge tree and closed his eyes. As soon as he closed them, he saw the bloodied Gaara in front of him. That didn't help his mood.
„After such a performance, what a little refreshment?” his grandfather's voice interrupted him. Naruto slowly opened his eyes and saw Jiraiya with two popsicles in front of him. He handed one to him. they sat on a small bench where they sat when the prince was smaller.
He only succeeded for a moment while trying to make him laugh. After a while, Tsunade joined in, but she had little patience and gave up after a few attempts. That's how Naruto spent the rest of the day with his grandfather. It was slowly approaching evening, and of course, it was time for dinner.
„What would you say if we had ramen from your favourite restaurant for dinner? ” Jiraiya asked as they were about to return to the castle.
„Really?” now, as if a spark of life had ignited in the prince's eyes. Now just keep it.
„ Super really,” Jiraiya smiled.
„Super,” Naruto was excited and took a brisk step to a small stall, which, according to the prince, served the best ramen in the whole kingdom. Together, they sat down next to each other and ordered each to their liking.
„That is if it is not my favourite customer. I haven't seen you in a long time, Naruto,” the chef turned to him with a friendly smile.
„Yeah, it's been a long time, but you can't forget this booth, old man,” Naruto replied jokingly.
As soon as everyone got their food, they went into it. It fell to the prince, at such a rate that before his grandfather could eat half, the prince already had a whole bowl in him. At that moment, Jiraiya cleared his throat.
„Naruto… when I found you in a miserable state and it gave me a lot of work to see you laugh… Tell me what happened? I'm sure it has something to do with the kidnapping,... and your heart,” he said seriously.
The prince looked at his soup. He had no idea what to do and felt tears well up in his eyes.
„That's good Naruto. If you don't want to talk about it, then…” Jiraiya tried, patting him on the shoulder. Naruto shook his head, wiped away the forming tears, and began to tell the story.
„I was indeed kidnapped by a dragon, but one thief,… Gaara brought me food and kept me company because when I tried to escape from the dragon, he caught me. Gaara helped me and took care of me. We had fun and… and…”
„You cared about him, didn't you?”
„More than I can describe, but Kurama…. Kurama left him…” the prince's voice dropped.
„Naruto, I'm sorry,” he said, hugging his grandson, who could no longer suppress tears.