The cursed prince

{10}

"And we are, Naruto," the queen informed her son, enabling him to gaze down the mountains at the big and magnificent realm. The palace stood out among the kingdom's features. Large and lovely, with red banners fluttering in the breeze. There was a great stone wall enclosing their realm, with dragons engraved onto it. Naruto couldn't help but stare, causing Kushina to laugh at her son's expression. When they heard Kurama's loud and irritated yawn, both the queen and the prince came to their senses. Looking around, the heir was both irritated and surprised. After all, this was the young princes' first time leaving their palace.

"Mother, why did we come to a halt so close to the kingdom?" Kurama asked his mother, who sighed. Every morning, the queen wondered how the servants fared with the young heir. The prince appears to be a nightmare to work with. The queen, on the other hand, shrugged off the negative emotions in her head and motioned her son over to her. Following the king's command, Kakashi quickly made his way over to the family. Kushina turned around and told Kakashi to bring over one of the queen's beauty equipment in one of the smallest luggage's.

After receiving the equipment, the queen sat her youngest son in front of her and began to comb his unkempt hair, allowing Kurama to gaze at his reflection in the river that led to the kingdom. "Are we staying for more than a day, Mother?" Naruto queried, staring at the grass in front of him while his mother did his hair. Kushina nodded, knowing that her son could sense her nod, allowing her to continue combing in silence. Naruto couldn't help but be concerned as he looked down at the grass. The little prince never left his palace walls, which gave him shivers. Feeling his mother place his crown on his head, indicating that his mother is done with fixing him up.

Standing, Naruto ran over to his older brother and hugged him from behind, causing Kurama to jump out of his skin for a split second. "You look great, Naruto," Kurama said as he massaged his younger brother's head, trying to keep it the way his mother had kept it. "Thank you, Nii-san; Mother is waiting for you to do your hair," Naruto reminded his older brother, who grinned and stepped up, leaving Naruto to trail behind him. Kurama sat in front of his mother, untying his long, silky red hair and presenting it to her. Kushina has always admired her son's hair because it resembles her own, with the exception of Naruto's golden strands. Kushina took out the brush and began brushing her son's knotted hair.

Naruto lowered his gaze to his brother's crown. It is larger and more densely packed with blue gems than his own. The little prince was already familiar with the royal family's rituals and how the crowns represented their rank. Naruto glanced around, perplexed, after placing the crown on the lovely grass. The sound of whistling was loud and clear in the perspective of the prince. Standing up, the young prince began to go towards the dark woodland; even in the early morning, the forests in the fire kingdom were gloomy and mysterious. Kurama looked up to see his younger brother wandering slowly towards the trees, as if he were an enchanted ghost.

"Naruto! Where are you going?" Kurama inquired prompting the young prince to come to a halt and turn to face the dark forest. When the queen saw what was going on, she quickly placed the crown on her eldest son's head, symbolizing that she was done fixing him up. Kurama stood up and hurried towards his younger brother, holding his hand to turn him around. When the young heir looked into his eyes, he saw nothing but pure curiosity, but Naruto's eyes seemed to see a ghost. Kurama shook his younger sibling, attempting to bring Naruto back to reality. The little prince was brought back to his senses after a few more shaking, prompting him to glance at his mother, brother, and guardian in confusion.

"What happened?" Naruto inquired, perplexed as to what had caused his family and guard to stare at him with concern. Kushina sighed as the worry faded, but not completely. Taking her son's hand in hers, Kushina began dragging her children towards the carriage where the king was writing in a book. Minato looked up, closed the book, and smiled down at his children. Naruto grinned brightly at his father and leapt into his arms, forcing Minato to wrap his arms around his waist and lift him up. Kurama simply remained at his mother's side, seeking to conceal his displeasure with the guard behind them in order to keep the mood light in his family.