Master of Genjutsu

CH-35 Princess Rises!

It was late that night when Naruto was interrupted from his guard duties. Naruto felt Koyuki move above deck. Raising his eyebrow, Naruto's eyes panned around the deck from his vantage point by the bow of the ship. He spotted Samui standing at the stairs, a respectful distance from Koyuki but close enough to instantly respond to any threat, even if they managed to get past Naruto's net of shadow clones.

Naruto looked down at Koyuki and was a little surprised when he noticed that she was looking straight at him as she walked towards him. Naruto sighed lightly as he turned and looked out at the darkened sea, knowing that this conversation was probably sparked by his words earlier.

Koyuki drew up next to him and leaned on the handrail of the ship, looking out at the sea with him. The crash of small waves lapping at the side of the ship was the only sound accompanying their presence for a few minutes, both not wanting to speak, each for their own reason.

There was an invisible conversation being held, the woman standing next to Naruto was struggling with what she wanted to say, her pride and present state of mind leant her towards never thanking or ever showing true emotion but she was obviously intrigued by the man standing next to her. Naruto, himself, was thinking of other things, perfectly content in letting the woman remain silent and leave or speak on her own terms, especially since he didn't even wish to have a conversation with the woman.

Eventually, the silence was broken by Koyuki, "Why did you continue this mission?" she asked and Naruto looked at her with an incredulous expression.

"My reasons for continuing this mission were already stated Koyuki-san." He retorted slowly. Koyuki didn't even flush as she looked at him. Naruto knew that question was simply her wanting him to speak.

"Then why do you care about what Sandayu said about me?" she retorted just as slowly. Naruto looked at her sharply, seeing the intensity in her eyes was just like when she was acting, "You spoke as if you knew exactly what it was that Sandayu did and you hated the very mention of it happening to someone else." She said.

Naruto cursed inside his head, he had to go and open his mouth around one of the more perceptive women around. Naruto turned from Koyuki's gaze, "Caring about your predicament or not doesn't change the mission Koyuki-san." He said.

"Then why mention it at all?" she asked, "You could have stayed silent and still continued the mission but you criticized Sandayu for his treatment of me, why?" she asked persistently.

Naruto frowned, thinking over what to say before he spoke, "Because I am moved around like a board piece as well Koyuki-san, just like every ninja." He said and he could see Koyuki accept that reasoning slightly, "and despite what I said, the fact remains that you should not be acting the way you do about your own country." He retorted to Koyuki's shocked face.

"What do you mean?" she asked with a heated voice, the anger laced into her eyes now made her seem like a woman on fire as opposed to her normal reactions and Naruto had to wonder why it was he was capable of drawing such emotion from the women around him. First Samui broke her shell slightly when she complained about Koyuki in a roundabout way and now Koyuki herself.

"While I disagree with Sandayu's actions, the fact of the matter is you have an obligation to your subjects as the princess of their country Koyuki-san." Naruto said to Koyuki's scowling face, "Not everyone wants to be what they become but sometimes people have to do things they don't want to in order to better themselves or the people around them." Naruto explained, "Just because I don't think you should be forced into taking the position doesn't mean I think you should live acting and allowing the people who loved your father and you so much they give their lives for you to wallow under a tyrant that cares nothing for them." He said heatedly.