Chilly Spring Air

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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[Kazahana Koyuki's POV]

Smile at the camera and wave. Turn your head sideways and gracefully walk out of the frame. Accept your subordinates' greetings and hand them your stuff. Heave out, drop the smile. The professional look returned and I became the Daimyō of the Land of Spring again. I should have stopped being an actress upon becoming a Daimyō, but old habits die hard. It was tiring, but I didn't think I was ready to let go of my acting career.

"Great work, Kazahana-sama."

"Thank you, Shiba-san. What is the next agenda?"

"A well-known merchant has requested to meet you for a business offer in three hours. However, someone else can attend the meeting in your stead if you feel tired."

"It is fine, Shiba-san. I will attend the meeting."

My secretary bowed her head and left somewhere, probably to prepare the things I needed for the meeting. I sighed as my bodyguard stood beside me and escorted me out of the studio. In truth, I didn't want to come. It was tiring to deal with those sly merchants. However, I wouldn't make a change if I shied away from those situations. I couldn't keep relying on my subordinates.

"Where are we going to have our meal, Koyuki-san?"

"It is a bit chilly now. I am in the mood for a bowl of hot ramen."

"A good choice indeed."

I snaked a glance toward my bodyguard. She was a girl three years younger than me. However, different from me, she could take out an army of men by herself. Just like him, she was a Shinobi. I sometimes envied her for being able to relate to him, but I realized that I was not cut out for the Shinobi life. I had long accepted that I could never stand side by side with him on the battlefield.

Is that why I keep my career as an actress? In the movie, I can be as powerful as I can, after all.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize I was already in the carriage. I sighed and looked out of the window. My bodyguard remained stoic and vigilant. No one was crazy enough to attack me in the village, but that didn't stop her from being alert. I told her to loosen up once and she told me I was naïve. Her partner had also told me the same thing once.

"I sense a strong presence nearby," my bodyguard announced.

"Is it an enemy, Haku?" I asked in anticipation.

"We will be doomed if he is," Haku answered with a mysterious smile.

Haku stopped the carriage and invited me to get out. I did as she said and saw a crowd ahead. Thinking something was happening, I rushed there. Haku was following behind with a relaxed pace, so it shouldn't be a serious issue. When I was close to the crowd, I could see them surrounding someone. I couldn't make out his features at first, but the crowd separated as soon as they noticed me, allowing me to have a good look at the person.

"It has been some time, Princess."

A blond younger male stared at me with his piercing crimson eyes. A small smile decorated his handsome face, charming and teasing me at the same time. I could see hearts in the eyes of the girls around him. It was hard not to feel attraction to a handsome male. Even more so when the said handsome male had done a lot for your country.

"… Naruto-kun," I managed to heave out.

My cheeks flared up. I was always speechless whenever I was in his presence. Every time I met him, he always looked better than before. Just a month ago, he was only as tall as me. Now, he was taller than me for a few centimeters. It was not that noticeable but still noteworthy. He was still growing and it sometimes made me afraid that we would drift apart the more he grew.

"Hello, Naruto-kun," Haku greeted.

"Hi, Haku. Where is Zabuza?" Naruto-kun greeted with a smile.

"He has an escort mission. Some pests have been testing the water in the border."

"Hoh? Is that a problem?"

The fluffiness in my chest was burned to cinder as the conversation between the two rolled. I also knew the state of the border, but I couldn't jump into the conversation. Unlike them, I didn't go to the field. I couldn't relate to the technical matters they were talking about. I hated it whenever that happened.

Clap!

"Are you hungry, Naruto-kun?" I asked, stopping the conversation between Haku and him.

"Sure. Do you have something in mind?" Naruto quirked an eyebrow as he offered me his arm.

"What about ramen?"

"Oh, I would love that."

As I led Naruto led me through the street, I sneaked a glance at Haku who fell a step behind us. She caught my gaze and sent me a smile. I smiled at her awkwardly, then turned my gaze away. I was hoping to see a different look. Gosh, I felt so petty. Haku was nothing but a good girl. She always acted professionally and I often failed to understand that.

Pathetic. I am not even somebody to Naruto-kun.

"Do you have something in your mind, Princess?"

"Huh!?" I felt like a child caught lying. "N- No. At least, that's what I think."

"Is that so?" Naruto gazed at me with his crimson eyes, making me feel bare. My cheeks flushed and Naruto-kun tilted his head to the back in surprise. "Is it that time of the month?"

"Huh!?"

"You seem more… enthusiastic than usual."

Pulling my gaze down, I pinched his side in embarrassment. I knew he was smirking without even looking at him. We decided to drop the matter and talked about mundane things as we reached the shop. He asked me about what I had been doing and I asked him about what happened to his eyes.

"I lost my eyes in a battle," he casually explained.

I could never understand the Shinobi life despite having interacted with quite a lot of them. They were always so calm whenever they talked about life and death matters. I guess you have to be that fearless to dabble in that kind of life. It slightly worried me that he had no regard for his life. I wouldn't want my children to grow up without a father.

Maybe Naruto-kun is right. I am more enthusiastic than usual.

"Are all Shinobi fearless?" I asked to distract me from my indecent thoughts.

"Fear is necessary for survival. We fear that we might lose those we protect and that pushes us to keep fighting. A man with nothing to lose only brings death upon this world," Naruto-kun explained.

"What are you trying to protect, Naruto-kun?"

He pondered momentarily before answering, "My life… and whoever deserves my protection." He smiled as he looked at me, making my heart flutter. "Either way, I won't lose my life to a stupid battle."

I expected him to put his village before other things, but I guessed not all Shinobi were the same.

Much to my delight, Naruto-kun would be staying for a few days. He wanted to stay at an inn, but as the Daimyō of the Land of Spring, I couldn't let the hero of the country do that. It would be uncouth to neglect our hero. As such, I invited him to stay in my mansion.

Some of my servants held him up as soon as they saw him, eager to strike up a conversation. He entertained them for a while until I rescued him from the curious bunch. Once I took him to his room, he told me he would take a rest. I didn't see him until midnight.

I couldn't bring myself to sleep, so I walked around the hallway. A swishing sound outside attracted me, prompting me to take a look. I found Naruto-kun and Haku sparring with each other. Haku relentlessly shot her senbon at him but always failed to hit him. His sword flawlessly danced in the air, blocking any incoming senbon.

Although I knew how amazing Naruto-kun was, the scene still mesmerized me. I had seen Haku take down a couple of bandits before. I knew how fast her senbon were. No one had managed to block a single one of them, so seeing Naruto-kun blocking them nonchalantly felt quite surreal. Then again, Naruto-kun had taken down Dotō and his lackeys when he was a lot younger.

"That's enough. You have run out of stamina," Naruto-kun stated.

Haku heaved out heavily before bowing. "Thank you for aiding me, Naruto-kun. Every time I fight you, I am constantly reminded that I am still not enough."

"Stop comparing yourself to me. Everyone has their own pace."

"So, you are conscious that you are special."

Naruto-kun only smirked. Haku smiled, but there was something in the way she looked at him. My heart beat in trepidation. When she lunged at him and hugged him, my heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach. Although I was not that surprised, I still wished I was imagining things. Haku was not as professional as I made her.

"Thank you for changing my life and Zabuza-sama's. We wouldn't have made it this far without you."

Naruto-kun said nothing and merely put a comforting hand on her back. Haku snuggled closer and that was my cue to make my presence known.

"It's cold. You guys should get inside."

Haku separated herself from Naruto-kun as if he was infectious. I'd like to think that my tone didn't reflect my mood, but the way Haku looked at me was a telltale sign that I failed.