The Hunchback of Notre Dame (A Naruto Tale)

Chapter 11: The Fugitive and The Visitor

    As the gargoyles and Naruto celebrate, Sakura enters the bell tower. "Naruto?" she asks as she enters the bell tower. They turn and see Sakura "Naruto?!" Sakura shouts. "Sakura?!?" Naruto answers then hugs her "Sakura! You're all right! I knew you'd come back." he rejoices as he hugs her tightly. "You've done so much for me already, my friend" she smiles "but I must ask your help one more time." " Yes, anything" Naruto nods but then gasps as she and Kiba, along with Akumaru walk in with Sasuke unconscious. "This is Sasuke" Sakura explains "He's wounded, and a fugitive like me. He can't go on much longer. I knew he'd be safe here. Please, can you hide him?" she pleas "This way" Naruto motions to follow them to his bed. They lay Sasuke down on Naruto's bed. He moans gently and comes to. 

   "Sakura?" Sasuke looks up as he sees her "Shh, shh, shh" she hushes him "You'll hide here until you're strong enough to move." Sakura pulls out a flask of alcohol "Great. I could use a drink." Sasuke chuckles lightly as she pours it on his wound, and he cries out in pain. "Ah, yes! Hmmm!" he shrieks "Feels like a 1470 burgundy. Not a good year" he adds as Sakura begins to sew his wound with a needle and thread "That family owes you their lives. You're either the single bravest soldier I've ever seen, or the craziest." Sakura smiles "Ex-soldier, remember?" Sasuke reminds her "why is it, whenever we meet, I end up bleeding?" Sasuke asks her. Sakura finishes stitching him up "You're lucky. That arrow almost pierced your heart" Sakura explains. Sasuke then puts her hand on his heart "I'm not so sure it didn't." Sasuke replies as he cups her face and kissing her passionately. Naruto watches from behind and cries silently. 

NARUTO: I KNEW I'D NEVER KNOW

THAT WARM AND LOVING GLOW

THOUGH I MIGHT WISH WITH ALL MY MIGHT

NO FACE AS HIDEOUS AS MY FACE

WAS EVER MEANT FOR HEAVEN'S LIGHT.

   Akumaru looks out the window and begins to bleat excitedly. Naruto and Sakura rush to the window and see Danzo exiting his carriage.  "Danzo's coming" Naruto said as he rushes to the door with the gypsies following him. "You must leave. Quick, follow me! Go down the south tower steps." Naruto replies "Be careful, my friend. Promise you won't let anything happen to him." Sakura smiles as she walks out the door "I promise" Naruto sighs "thank you" Sakura replies then leaves. "Quick, we gotta stash the stiff!" Tsunade panics. They quickly drag Sasuke's body off the bed and underneath the table with Naruto's models on it. He hurriedly tries to set his models straight as Danzo enters. 

  "Oh, master, I didn't think you'd be coming--" Naruto acts as if he was surprised "I'm never too busy to share a meal with you, dear boy. I brought a little treat." Danzo smiles as he sits down with his basket. He clears his throat slightly, and Naruto realizes he hasn't set the table. He rushes off to grab the dishes, and is obviously flustered, dropping and breaking things. Danzo picks up on Naruto's behavior "Is there something troubling you, Naruto?" Danzo asks him "No. No!" Naruto shakes his head "Oh, but there is. I know there is." Danzo replies as he pulls out a bunch of grapes. One falls to the floor, near Sasuke. Naruto cautiously picks it up. "I think...you're hiding something." Danzo says. Naruto shakes his head "Oh, no, master. There's nothing--" " You're not eating, boy" Danzo reminds him. Naruto quickly gobbles down a handful of grapes "It's very good. Thank you." he mumbles as he eats. 

  Sasuke moans, Naruto moans similarly, indicating he enjoys the food. Sasuke sighs louder, Naruto kicks him, knocking him out in the process, then pretends to cough to cover up the noise. "Seeds" Naruto chuckles lightly. Danzo then looks at the models "What's different in here?" Danzo asks "Nothing, sir" Naruto answers him. Danzo notices the figure of Sakura. "Isn't this one new?" he asks the bell ringer as he picks it up "It's awfully good. Looks very much like the gypsy girl. I know." A nasty look creeps across his face as Danzo raises his voice "You helped her escape!" he roars causing Naruto to fall of the stool. "But I--" Naruto stuttered "And now, all Paris is burning because of you!" Danzo shouted "She was kind to me, master" Naruto tried to explain but Danzo smashes the table and the models along with it. "You idiot! That wasn't kindness, it was cunning! She's a gypsy! Gypsies are not capable of real love! Think, boy! Think of your mother!" Danzo yells, then takes a moment to recompose himself. 

  "But what chance could a poor, misshapen child like you have against her heathen treachery?" Danzo sighs then picks up the figure of Sakura with a knife and places it over the candle that sat on the table and burns the figure "Well, never you mind, Naruto. She will be out of our lives soon enough. I will free you from her evil spell. She will torment you no longer." Danzo flicks the figure off his knife and the remains land in the floor, charcoaled. "What do you mean?" Naruto asks "I know where her hideout is, and tomorrow, at dawn, I attack with a thousand men." Danzo explains then leaves the cathedral.