The Hunchback of Notre Dame (A Naruto Tale)

Prologue

Our story takes place in the city of Konoha, in front of the Notre Dame cathedral. On this beautiful morning. Shikamaru, a gypsy performer begins to entertain the village children with a puppet show.

(AN: Italicized is when the characters sing, enjoy!)

Shikamaru: MORNING IN KONOHA , THE CITY AWAKES

               TO THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME

               THE FISHERMAN FISHES, THE BAKERMAN BAKES

               TO THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME

               TO THE BIG BELLS AS LOUD AS THE THUNDER

               TO THE LITTLE BELLS SOFT AS A PSALM

               AND SOME SAY THE SOUL OF THE CITY'S THE TOLL OF THE BELLS

               THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME

"Listen, they're beautiful, no? So many colors of sounds, so many changing moods.  Because, you know, they don't ring all by themselves." Shikamaru smiles " "They don't?!?" Choji the puppet asks " "No, silly boy" Shikamaru shakes his head and looks at the bell tower "Up there, high, high in the dark bell tower, lives the mysterious bell ringer.  Who is this creature?" "Who?" Choji asks "What is he?" Shikamaru adds ""What?" Choji ponders "How did he come to be there?" Shikamaru wonders "How?" Choji asks "Hush!" Shikamaru scolds the puppet as he whacks him with a stick making the children laugh "Ohhh..." Choji pouted rubbing his head "And Shikamaru will tell you.  It is a tale, a tale of a man and a monster!" Shikamaru said.

A band of gypsies quietly proceeding down the Seine, hoping to avoid detection.  A baby in the woman's arms begins to cry.

Shikamaru:        DARK WAS THE NIGHT WHEN OUR TALE WAS BEGUN

               ON THE DOCKS NEAR NOTRE DAME

Haru:       Shut it up, will you!

Minato:       We'll be spotted!

Kushina:  Hush, little one!

Shikamaru:        FOUR FRIGHTENED GYPSIES SLID SILENTLY UNDER

               THE DOCKS NEAR NOTRE DAME

"Four gilders for safe passage into Konoha" the boatman said holding out his hand to collect the money, but an arrow had shot the boat by a band of guards and their leader.

Shikamaru:        BUT A TRAP HAD BEEN LAID FOR THE GYPSIES

               AND THEY GAZED UP IN FEAR AND ALARM

               AT A FIGURE WHOSE CLUTCHES

               WERE IRON AS MUCH AS THE BELLS

"Judge Danzo!" Minato cried

Shikamaru:THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME

               JUDGE DANZO LONGED TO PURGE THE WORLD

               OF VICE AND SIN

               AND HE SAW CORRUPTION EVERYWHERE EXCEPT WITHIN.

"Bring these gypsy vermin to the Palace of Justice." Danzo ordered. A guard looks at Kushina "You there!  What are you hiding!?!" He asked trying to rip the baby away from her. "Stolen goods, no doubt.  Take them from her." Danzo ordered.

"She ran!" Shikamaru gasped. As the gypsy mother tries to escape with her baby, Judge Danzo gives chase on horseback. Kushina reaches the doors of Notre Dame and pounds on the door "Sanctuary!  Please give us sanctuary!" she cried. Danzo finally catches up to her on the steps of the cathedral. He rips the still covered bundle from her arms, and kicks her, sending her crashing to the cement steps, where she is knocked unconscious.  The baby begins to cry. "A baby?" Danzo questions then uncovers the baby's head, seeing the deformed infant. "A monster!" he shouts then looks around searching for a way to dispose of the creature.  He sees a well, and rides over to it. He is about to drop the baby down the well when a voice (a lightning flash between Shikamaru and the Archdeacon shouts out. "Stop!" cried Kakashi, the archdeacon. "This is an unholy demon.  I'm sending it back to hell, where it belongs!" Danzo explained as the Archdeacon held the lifeless mother in his arms.

Kakashi:    SEE THERE THE INNOCENT BLOOD YOU HAVE SPILT

               ON THE STEPS OF NOTRE DAME.

"I am guiltless--she ran, I pursued." Danzo retorted

Kakashi:    NOW YOU WOULD ADD THIS CHILD'S BLOOD TO YOUR GUILT

               ON THE STEPS OF NOTRE DAME.

"My conscience is clear!" Danzo snapped

Kakashi:    YOU CAN LIE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR MINIONS

               YOU CAN CLAIM THAT YOU HAVEN'T A QUALM

               BUT YOU NEVER CAN RUN FROM,

               NOR HIDE WHAT YOU'VE DONE

               FROM THE EYES

               THE VERY EYES OF NOTRE DAME!

The Archdeacon points to the statues watching over Danzo

Shikamaru: AND FOR ONE TIME IN HIS LIFE OF POWER AND CONTROL

               DANZO FELT A TWINGE OF FEAR FOR HIS IMMORTAL SOUL

"What must I do?" Danzo asked the man "Care for the child, raise it as your own." Kakashi answered as he carried Kushina away from the church. "What?  I'm to be saddled with this misshapen--" Danzo pauses as a thought creeps across his face " Very well.  Let him live with you, in your church." Kakashi rose an eyebrow "Live here?  But where?" he asked "Anywhere" Danzo replied.

"JUST SO HE'S KEPT LOCKED AWAY WHERE NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE. The bell tower, perhaps.  And who knows--our Lord works in mysterious ways. EVEN THIS FOUL CREATURE MAY YET PROVE ONE DAY TO BE OF USE TO ME." Danzo smiled.

"And Danzo gave the child a cruel name.  A name that means half-formed... Naruto!" Shikamaru explained

               NOW HERE IS A RIDDLE TO GUESS IF YOU CAN

               SING THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME.

               WHO IS THE MONSTER AND WHO IS THE MAN?

               SING THE BELLS, BELLS, BELLS, BELLS,

               BELLS, BELLS, BELLS, BELLS,

               BELLS OF NOTRE DAME!