One-shots! / Naruto

Much like the villain

-Naruto as a monarch AU.
-Read on to see if either Naruto or Sakura are ready to sacrifice themselves for the other when commanded by their captive.
-Includes: Naruto, Sakura, and Ororchimaru.

Naruto Uzumaki was the sole heir of the throne controlling the nation of Japan. He was destined to be king, following his father's footsteps.

Though it wasn't even in his wildest imagination that it would go down like this.

Naruto was lying on the floor in the hall of the palace, where he previously used to enjoy having dinner with his family. However, gone was the perfect state others usually found the crown prince in, for he now was bloodied and battered.

In front of him was Ororchimaru, his father's counselor, sitting on the throne only for the rightful king, "Break free from your thoughts, brat, and look at me."

Naruto looked up, his eyes full of hatred.

That man had just not only betrayed the kingdom but killed his parents as well. All done while Naruto was away at school.

So when Naruto returned from school with his closest cousin, Sakura, they were met by the dead bodies of his parents and a fraud on the throne.

"What more could you want now?" Naruto spat.

Orochimaru smirked in response, "Well, I thought being the king would be more fun, but I have been sitting here since morning, and it has been pretty uneventful aside from the show of your parent's death, of course."

Naruto said nothing. For the first time in his life, Naruto felt powerless. What could he do?
He racked his brain; no solution arose.

"Naruto," beside him Sakura whispered. It dawned on him that he had forgotten his cousin's presence in the midst of all this chaos.

Just like Naruto, Sakura had been taken captive as soon as she stepped foot in the palace. Both of them were then beaten mercilessly before having themselves presented before Orochimaru.

Naruto turned his head so he could face her. "What?"

"We should escape!" she shivered.

Naruto, despite the situation they were in, rolled his eyes. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Sakura thought for a moment; when she couldn't think of anything, she just shrugged.

Ororchimaru noticed the minor commotion, "Hush!".

Both Naruto and Sakura turned to look towards him.

"I have thought of the perfect idea to entertain myself! Listen carefully; it might benefit you too." Orochimaru grinned in such a way that Naruto barely resisted himself from puking at the sight.

When nobody said anything, he continued, "The idea is that you two will fight in a duel to death. Whoever of you comes out alive will have mercy from me and be released."

To everyone's surprise, Naruto chuckled.

Sakura's eyes widened. "He's obviously lying, isn't he?"

Orochimaru certainly was not, as moments later two guards came up and handed Naruto and Sakura their respective swords.

The snake was finally having fun, something that he longed for. It was getting immensely boring for him to give advice to the king all the time.

He looked at his victims more carefully this time. One was the heir of the throne; his life was full of luxuries and guaranteed inheritance. The other was a cousin, having no parents; she would be the heir to the throne if something happened to Naruto, and he had no children.

This was truly exciting. If Orochimaru had to guess, Sakura would give the first blow, and her eagerness for the throne would eventually show itself.

"Let us both go, please," Sakura whimpered.

Naruto, on the other side, had an unsettling look at him and said, "Have mercy."

It was asked in such a voice that it was hard to distinguish whether it was a plea or a command. It sounded much like the latter, though.

Orochimaru ignored them and ordered. "Fight."

Sakura's eyes once again widened in horror.

Orochimaru leaned forward. "You have 10 minutes. If neither of you acts, I will take on responsibility that you both die a gruesome death."

Silence filled the room at the weight of his words.

Naruto's hand tightened around the sword; Sakura's did too.

It was hard to guess which one would sacrifice themselves.

Ororchimaru knew that Naruto and Sakura grew up together; it was clear they loved each other just as any family did and knew this was going to be a tough decision.

Though he had a solid guess about who loved the other more, it was Naruto. During his time at the palace, Ororchimaru had noticed how Naruto always cared for his cousin and how he always looked at her with eyes full of affection.

Meanwhile, he had doubts if Sakura did the same, for he had seen some attempts on the heir's life done by her, which went unnoticed by everyone except himself, of course.

So when, in one swift motion, Naruto turned and impaled the sword in Sakura's chest, everyone gasped, even Orochimaru.

Blood splattered across the floor as the poor girl fell, her sword still piercing her.

Naruto dropped his sword and looked straight at Orochimaru, not bothering to spare a glance at his cousin's body lying on the floor. "I did it."

Orochimaru clapped, "You sure did."

It was then Orochimaru knew Naruto was no different than himself. He was just as capable of killing without reason. Naruto Uzumaki was much like a villain.

Orochimaru invited Naruto on the throne with a hand gesture.

Naruto followed and made his way towards him.

It was when Naruto finally sat on his rightful throne that he looked at Sakura's lifeless body and knew what he had done was justified.

As not only Orochimaru had known of the killing attempts done by Sakura, Naruto had too.