The Hunchback of Notre Dame (A Naruto Tale)

Chapter 7: The Gypsy and the Bell Ringer

   "What is this place?" Sakura asks "This is where I live." Naruto answered her  as she fingers the mobile " Did you make all these things yourself?" " Most of them." he nods "This is beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't find me dancing in the streets for coins." Sakura smiled "But you're a wonderful dancer." Naruto said "Well, it keeps bread on the table, anyway." she shrugs "What's this?" she asks looking under the cloth "Oh, no, please oh, I'm not finished--I still have to paint them..." Naruto hurried over to the table " It's the blacksmith Iruka, and the baker Teuchi!" Sakura gasped as Akumaru sees the shepherd and his flock of sheep and begins to eat one of the sheep figures. "You're a surprising person, Naruto. Not to mention lucky. All this room to yourself."  "Well, it's not just me--there's the gargoyles, and of course the bells. Would you like to see them?" Naruto asks "Yes, of course. Wouldn't we, Akumaru?" she smiled as Akumaru slurps the unfinished painted figure into his mouth. 

    "Follow me. I'll introduce you." Naruto smiled as he climbed into the bell tower with Sakura and Akumaru following behind. "Never knew there were so many" Sakura replied as Naruto pointed at the different bells "That's Little Sophia" he pointed to the smaller bell "and...Jean Marie, Ann Marie, and Louise Marie. Triplets, you know." he said in a quickly manner "And who's this?" Sakura asked as she saw the biggest bell in the tower "Big Marie" Naruto answered as Sakura walks under the bell "Hello!"she shouts which echoes and resonates richly. "She likes you" Naruto smiled "Would you like to see more?" "How 'bout it, Akumaru?"she smiled. Akumaru walks under the bell and belches loudly, startling him. 

    "We'd love to." Sakura smiles "Good. I've saved the best for last!" he rejoiced. Naruto and Sakura proceed outside to a beautiful view of Paris and the Seine. "I bet the king himself doesn't have a view like this! I could stay up here forever." Sakura sighed taking in the sights of the city. "You could, you know" Naruto answered her. Sakura shook her head  "No, I couldn't." "Oh, yes, you have sanctuary!" Naruto explained "But not freedom. Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls." Sakura crossed her arms and sat on a stone bench. "But you're not like other gypsies. They're...evil." Naruto sighed " Who told you that?" Sakura rose an eyebrow "My master, Danzo. He raised me." he said as he sat down next to Sakura. "How could such a cruel man have raised someone like you?" Sakura asked him "Cruel?!?" Naruto said in surprise "Oh, no. He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would. I am a monster, you know." Naruto explained "He told you that?" she wondered "Look at me." Naruto sulked "Give me your hand." Sakura smiled as she takes his hand and looks at his palm. "Why?" Naruto asks "Just let me see it". The Gypsy begins to trace his palm lines with her finger.  "Hmm, a long life line...oh, and this one means you're shy. Hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm...well, that's funny..." Sakura paused "What!" Naruto asked "I don't see any" she answered "Any what?" he asked her "Monster lines. Not a single one. Now you look at me." she answered him as he looked as his palm in confusion "Do you think I'm evil?" she asked the bell ringer "No, no, no!" Naruto shook his head  "You are kind, and good, and--" he continued "--and a gypsy." she interrupted  "And maybe Danzo's wrong about the both of us." she explained standing up.

   Below, the gargoyles are straining to listen in. "What did she say?!?" Jiraiya asked Tsunade who was standing on top of him listening with her horn. " Danzo's nose is long, and he wears a truss." Tsunade whispered "Hah! Told ya!" Jiraiya looks down to Gai "Pay up!" he snickered as Gai hands him a gold coin. "You helped me. Now I will help you" Naruto stands up with Gypsy "But there's no way out. There's soldiers at every door." Sakura explained "We won't use a door"Naruto winks "You mean...climb down?" Sakura raises an eyebrow "Sure." Naruto nods "  You carry him (motions to Akumaru), I carry you." Sakura nods her head and sighs "Okay. Come on Akumaru." the goat hops into her arms as Sakura blindfolds him. "Ready?" he asks "yes" she nods as Naruto carries her bridal style. "Don't be afraid" he reassures her "I'm not afraid" she lightly laughs. Naruto leaps over the edge and holds on to a gargoyle head. "Now I'm afraid." Sakura yelps "The trick is not to look down." Naruto smiles as he says that Akumaru's blindfold comes off and panics, Sakura holds him tightly. Naruto begins swinging down the exterior of the cathedral. "You've done this before?" she asks him "nope" Naruto answered. As they reached the other side, landing on a slanted roof. "Wow. You're quite an acrobat" Sakura compliments him "Thank you--" Naruto's words get cut short as the tile they're on breaks free and they begin to slide down the roof as if they were on a sled. They're able to jump off their sled just before it goes sailing off into the air. It lands a few blocks away. The guards on the ground hear the crash and go off to investigate.

    "Check the alley!" one guard said "This way!" another guard added.  As guards pass,Naruto, Sakura and Akumaru hide as part of a statue. After they pass they hope down to statues feet "I hope I didn't scare you" Naruto chuckles "Not for an instant" Sakura shook her head Akumaru groans as his heart is only just now beginning to beat again.  "I'll never forget you, Sakura." Naruto smiles "Come with me" Sakura reassures him "What?!?" Naruto asks in shock "To the Court of Miracles. Leave this place." Sakura answers "Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again. You saw what happened to me today. No. This is where I belong." Naruto sulked touching the cathedral walls. "All right, then I'll come to see you." Sakura replies "What? Here? But, the soldiers, and Danzo, and..." Naruto stuttered "I'll come after sunset." Sakura smiles "At sunset, I ring the evening mass, and after that, I clean the kooisters, and then I ring the vespers, and--" Naruto said listing his chores then Sakura gives Naruto a little peck on the cheek making him blush "Whatever's good for you." he smiled. Sakura pulls a talisman off her neck "If you ever need sanctuary, this will show you the way." she whispers to him putting it around his neck "But how?" Naruto asks "Just remember: When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." she explains. Akumaru bleats as the guards are returning "Hurry! You must go!" Naruto shouts. Sakura swings down a rope to the ground and runs off into the dark as Naruto climbs back up to his tower.