Chapter Text
"The prince of jerks"
"Again? Another complaint?" The voice of the 15th king, King Minato, echoed the room. Sitting on the throne while looking down at the man kneeling in front of him.
He's full of disappointment, yet the one kneeling didn't show any remorse.
"Don't you have anything to say for yourself, Prince Naruto?" King Minato said again.
Naruto clicked his tongue before looking up to his father. Not even thinking twice, he answered straight.
"I didn't kill anyone. It's not a big deal, it's just a small fight. Can I go now?"
From the look of disappointment, to anger. The king's veins are showing in his neck.
"You were flirting with a married woman who's older than you, and got caught by her husband! You're a prince! The next in line-"
"I'm not." Naruto cut his father's words. "I'm not going to be the next in line."
King Minato's forehead furrowed. "You're the crown prince-"
"But I won't live long enough to be crowned as king."
Silence.
The throne where the shouts echoed earlier was filled with silence. King Minato was shut, as his face softened.
"Naruto . . . I know you're doing this because of your situation. But I'm telling you, everything will be-"
"It won't," Naruto said as he stood up. "You didn't even cure mother's illness. How can you cure mine?"
His father couldn't answer, which is something he expected. But still, even expecting it, he still felt the ache on his heart. He turned his back on the king without showing any respect or saying his farewell. He left the throne room feeling more down before he entered.
'Tsk, what a way to ruin my day.'
Following his shadows, who was also inside the throne room but didn't show his presence, the prince's right-hand man, and his closest friend—his knight, Sasuke Uchiha, cleared his throat.
Before he can speak, Naruto who knows what he's about to say, precedes him.
"I was just talking to the lady, not even flirting. She was the one who flirted with me, and I didn't want to be rude to her. Her husband is crazy for attacking me when we were just talking," he explained himself.
The sunlight from the huge windows peaks as they walk through the castle's hallway. With every step they take, they pass by the paintings of the previous kings and queens.
The day Naruto was crowned as the crown prince, he was supposed to have his painting, but the symptoms of his illness appeared. An illness his late mother used to have, which not even the greatest doctor of the kingdom managed to cure.
Sasuke heaved a sigh, hearing his excuse. "But still, it's the 4th incident you made this week. Do you know what the townspeople call you?" Sasuke has a serious expression on his face. "They call you the prince of jerks."
Amused, not offended, Naruto glanced at him and scoffed. "That's a great name for someone like me, I'm honored."
"I'm serious. You need to take your position seriously. You do know that the nobles are already rooting for your cousin, Duke Sasori. If you continue this, they can-"
Naruto stopped Sasuke's words by raising his hand in front of him. "I don't want to hear more about this. I don't care about those stupid nobles or that goody-two-shoes Sasori."
He continued walking, leaving Sasuke watching his back—slowly changing his expression. His worried face softens as he hears Naruto's next words.
"They can do whatever they want. And I will do what I want with the year I have left."
'Naruto.' Sasuke's face saddened as he watched the prince's back disappear.
Back in the throne room, the frustrated king is pinching the bridge of his nose as he remembers his conversation with his son. Noticing late the knocks on the door.
"Come in," he said. Followed by his words was the door opening, revealing a knight that is covering half of his face with a black mask. Hair white as ashes, with black eyes that pierce anyone who dares to look back at him.
He kneeled in front of the king, showing respect.
"Kakashi." The king's voice once again took over the room.
Still kneeling, with his head up, Kakashi looked at the king. "Your Majesty, King Minato, I've come back from my trip."
"So? Any news?" King Minato looked at him, full of curiosity and hope. But it soon disappeared when Kakashi looked down and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I haven't found any information about the prince's illness."
King Minato sighed in disappointment, resting his back on the throne. "I see . . ." His voice lowered. 'Despite the information we already had from Kushina's case, it wasn't enough to know more about this illness.' He clicked his tongue and was about to say something again when Kakashi spoke.
"But my king, I found a facility not far away from the kingdom."
He got the king's attention. "A facility?"
Kakashi nodded. "It was also an orphanage, but with kids who have different illnesses and diseases. There are doctors there who were trying to heal them and were finding cure. There are even diseases that I haven't heard of, but they managed to find a cure."
King Minato's eyes slowly lightened with hope.
"How come I haven't heard of this facility before?" he asked, confused.
Still looking up, Kakashi answered, "It was located between the border of Konohayera and Hinasora. It isn't part of the kingdom. And they are very discrete."
Eager, the king gave immediate orders to the knight, wishing that this information would be their hope to save his son, the prince's life.
"Very well. Inform Prince Naruto about his departure. Make sure to have a doctor look at his case, do whatever is necessary."
-to be continued