Chapter 1: Chapter One: Naruto
Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Naruto
Naruto rubbed her sore shoulders, glancing up at the overcast sky with a heavy sigh. It had been three fucking weeks—three long, miserable weeks of hauling laundry and doing manual chores for these pampered princesses. And for what? Why had she accepted this mission again?
She exhaled through her nose, scowling.
Right. Because she was a shinobi, and shinobi didn’t get to complain. Still, it didn’t mean she had to like it.
Naruto shifted the heavy basket on her hip, trying not to look too annoyed as she trudged across the courtyard. She’d been keeping a low profile, disguised as a humble fisherman’s daughter—supposedly ripped from the loving arms of her family and sold into servitude by black-hearted kidnappers. A tragically common tale in this gilded cage.
The disguise was… mostly Jiraiya’s idea. He’d suggested—no, insisted—that it would be best to alter her appearance somewhat. “It wouldn’t do for the daimyo to take a liking to you,” he’d muttered, scratching his chin. “You’ve blossomed into quite the attractive girl.” Naruto still hoped Tsunade had smacked him for that.
So, she’d bound her chest, used chakra to mask her whisker marks—something that made her stomach twist every time, like she was hiding a piece of herself. Kurama hadn’t been thrilled about it either, rumbling disapproval in her mind. She’d added freckles with makeup, dulled her hair to a muddy brown more common to the rural area she was “taken” from. And if anyone had noticed the oddity of her features or story, they hadn’t said anything. Or they didn’t care.
Getting a message out to Granny Tsunade had been harder than expected. Poor farming girls from the Land of Rivers weren’t typically literate, and even if she could write, every letter was monitored. But she wasn’t just some kidnapped girl—she was a ninja. A ninja with a summoning contract. Gamakichi had been less than thrilled to sneak into a filthy laundry room, but he got the job done.
The reply had been… interesting.
Apparently, the current daimyo of the Land of Rivers was fairly new—he’d taken over after his father’s death about a decade ago. The old man had reportedly died peacefully in his sleep, though based on the horror stories in the intelligence reports, he’d deserved something much slower and much more painful.
Not that the new guy was much better.
Reports of missing girls—and the occasional young boy—were constant in both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. The real question was whether this was a state-sanctioned operation or if powerful individuals were taking advantage of a shortage of “volunteers” to fill the palace’s ranks. There were even whispers of communication with Amegakure, though nothing solid.
So, the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand had decided to run a joint mission. Naruto, with her good standing in both villages and her knack for getting into trouble, was the inside man—or woman, in this case.
The mission was simple: keep a low profile, gather as much intel as possible, pass it to their local contact, and get the hell out. The only problem? As a “new,” young, and “uneducated” girl, she’d been assigned to one of the lowest tiers of servant work—delivering laundry to the lower-ranked concubines.
She scanned the courtyard. This area housed the washing stations, where eunuchs scrubbed clothes and linens until their hands bled. No men were allowed in the rear palace—except for the daimyo himself and his blood relatives. Or, in the case of the eunuchs, those who had been… altered.
That alone had made it hard to find a male shinobi for the mission. No one wanted to “cut it off,” and most high-ranking kunoichi were too well-known and bingo-booked to blend in.
Naruto grimaced. She was pretty sure she was in the bingo book too—but maybe they hadn’t recognized her. That stupid face paint! Of all the ridiculous things to come back and bite her in the ass…
She dropped to her knees, barely resisting the urge to scream into the laundry basket.
“You! Get back to work!” a supervising eunuch barked from across the courtyard.
Naruto gritted her teeth. “Tch.” She stood, grabbed her basket, and trudged forward.
Each laundry basket had a wooden tag tied to it, marked with a painted illustration and a number. Most of the girls here were from farming villages, where formal education was rare, and reading was a luxury. It was tragic, really. As rough as her own childhood had been, her old man—Gramps—had made sure she got an education, even if the teachers treated her like dirt. These girls hadn’t even gotten that. And somehow, their families still believed sending them here might give them a better life.
She found the basket labeled with a plum blossom and the number 17. That was her next stop.
Unlike the higher-ranked consorts, the lower-ranking women didn’t get private rooms in the inner palace. They lived in “luxury apartments” having to share maids. The next rank up had their own chambers and a small set of personal maids. And if you were lucky—or cursed—enough to become the daimyo’s favorite, you got your own palace.
There were four of those. Naruto had dubbed them “The Fab Four,” though officially they were known as the Four High Consorts. Lady Gyokuyou of the Jade Palace, Lady Rifa of the Crystal Palace, Lady Riishu of the Diamond Palace, and Lady Ah Duo of the Garnet Palace.
Room 17 was occupied by a girl named Yuki.
Naruto smiled faintly as she approached. Yuki had been her first real friend here. Sweet girl, a little naive but kindhearted. She was probably fifteen or sixteen—Naruto wasn’t sure. Wore too much makeup, but that was common here. Most of the concubines were cruel to the servants, but not Yuki. She came from a poorer noble family in the Hidden Stone, her father the current ambassador. That was another red flag—Naruto needed to find out if any of the concubines were from the Hidden Leaf. Even in disguise, she couldn’t risk being recognized.
She knocked gently. “Hello?”
She was technically only supposed to deliver clean clothes and collect the dirty ones, but Naruto had never been one for following rules too strictly.
The door swung open.
“Oh! Naruto, it’s so good to see you again!” Yuki beamed, pulling her into a hug. “Come in, come in! I have snacks! Way too many—I’ll never eat them all myself.”
Naruto allowed herself to be dragged into the room, setting down the basket. Yuki chatted brightly as she handed Naruto a rice cake.
“The daimyo still hasn’t visited me,” Yuki said, cheeks flushing. “But I hope to fulfill my duty soon!”
Naruto forced a smile, stomach twisting. She hated hearing that—hated the idea that this sweet, starry-eyed girl thought it was a privilege to be summoned by that bastard. But she just nodded and patted Yuki’s shoulder.
They talked for what felt like hours, trading gossip, eating snacks, laughing quietly. For a moment, Naruto let herself forget the weight of the mission.
But eventually, she stood. “I should get back to work. Still got a few deliveries before sundown.”
Yuki pouted but let her go. “Come back soon, okay?”
Naruto nodded. “Promise.”
Outside, the courtyard was quieter, but the shadows were growing longer. She hoisted the basket again, her back already aching. Just a few more hours of pretending. Of blending in.
But every day she stayed, she got closer to the truth.
And when she found it—when she had enough to blow the whole damn palace apart—she would.
Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Two Consorts
Chapter Text
Chapter 2: The Two Consorts
Naruto sipped at her soup, listening carefully to the swirl of gossip echoing through the vast dining hall. Hundreds of serving girls sat on floor mats, chatting between mouthfuls of breakfast. The meal was simple—thin soup and porridge made from mixed grains. It didn’t taste like much, but it was warm, and it filled your stomach. That was all you could ask for in a place like this.
Today's favorite topic was the same one Naruto had been hearing murmurs of for the last few days—the supposed curse afflicting the babies of Lady Gyokuyou and Lady Rifa. Two of the palace’s higher-ranking consorts, both with infants, and both suddenly dealing with unexplained illnesses. Three children had already died in the past few years with the same symptoms. All were born to consorts. All could have been potential heirs. That, more than anything, was suspicious.
Naruto stirred her porridge slowly, keeping her expression neutral. Her first instinct was poisoning. That much was obvious. But why? And by whom? Two of the babies had been girls—unlikely to inherit, anywhere else and they would also be conceded heirs but this wasn’t the Hidden Leaf. Succession rules in the Land of Rivers were stricter. Only male heirs could take the throne. So why target the daughters, too? It didn't make much sense if this was about inheritance. No, this didn’t feel like a direct attack. It didn’t feel like a curse either—too messy. Too mundane.
Still, people were whispering. Servants said it was a spirit’s wrath. Others claimed it was a political curse cast by a jealous rival. Naruto snorted quietly into her bowl. As if a jutsu couldn’t do more damage in seconds than some half-baked ghost story.
She could write to Sakura. If she listed the symptoms clearly enough, Sakura might be able to figure it out. That was her best lead.
Later that morning, Naruto was assigned laundry duty again—no surprise there. That, and cleaning the banisters and windows in one of the lesser-used corridors. It was the kind of quiet, out-of-the-way job she didn’t mind. No overseers breathing down her neck.
While scrubbing a high window ledge with a half-dry rag, Naruto glanced sideways at the girl working beside her. Xiaolan was talkative to the point of absurdity, the kind of person who’d narrate her own chores out loud if no one else was around and that was saying something coming from someone who’d survived years of Ino and Sakura bickering in her ear, Still that made her a perfect source of information.
“So,” Naruto said casually, wringing out her cloth, “what do you know about this ‘curse’ thing?”
Xiaolan paused mid-swipe, blinking. “You mean the one making the babies sick? It’s been going on for a while now. The doctor’s been to see both Lady Gyokuyou and Lady Rifa. But he’s been seeing Lady Rifa a lot more lately.”
Naruto frowned. “So, is it just the babies? Or are the mothers sick too?”
“Only Lady Rifa is ill. Lady Gyokuyou’s tired, but she’s not sick. The baby girl is weak, though. Lady Rifa’s son and Lady Rifa herself are both really bad off.”
That tracked with what Naruto had overheard. If the mother and child were both ill, the doctor would focus his time there.
“This is a long shot,” Naruto said, “but do you know the symptoms?”
Xiaolan frowned in thought. “People say Lady Rifa’s got headaches, stomachaches, and nausea. The baby won’t eat and cries a lot less than before. Some of the wet nurses said he’s gone limp—doesn’t respond much.”
Naruto hummed low in her throat. Arsenic? Lead? Contaminated water? It could be anything. “Hey, can you cover for me for a minute? I need to take a piss.”
Xiaolan wrinkled her nose. “Do you always have to say it like that?”
“Yeah,” Naruto said flatly, already walking away. “I do.”
She needed a cover. Something that would get her near the consorts’ quarters without raising suspicion. Halfway through the west wing of the rear palace, she snagged a basket of fine silk robes meant for mending. That would do. With it tucked under her arm, she walked with purpose toward the central buildings.
The air changed immediately. The rear palace was practical, bare. But the central palace? Gaudy. Ornate. Carved stone, red-lacquered beams, golden embellishments on every surface. It made her miss the cracked tiles of the Hokage Tower.
A commotion drew her attention. A crowd had gathered near one of the larger balconies. Servants stood stiffly at the edges, eyes wide and anxious. In the center of the commotion stood the two consorts.
Lady Gyokuyou looked tired, yes, but solid—her posture proud, her face clean of heavy cosmetics. She looked like someone who didn’t need to hide behind powder or silk.
Lady Rifa, on the other hand, looked like a corpse. Her skin was caked in thick white makeup that did nothing to hide her gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes. Her voice cracked as she shouted, accusing Lady Gyokuyou of cursing her son out of jealousy.
A plump, mustached man stood between them, sweat pouring down his brow as he tried—and failed—to calm her down. Probably the palace doctor. Naruto made a note of the red mark on Lady Gyokuyou’s face. This had gotten physical before she arrived.
Naruto folded her arms, frowning. There might have been motive on Lady Gyokuyou’s side if Rifa’s son was in line for inheritance. But if so, why risk her own daughter’s life? And what about the previous deaths—three in total. All daughters.
This wasn’t personal. It was systemic.
She slipped away from the crowd, ducked behind a carved pillar, and summoned Gamakichi with a quiet poof. She scribbled down everything—the symptoms, the timing, the affected individuals—and sent it off with a quiet instruction: Get this to Sakura. Fast.
It only took a few hours for the response to come back. Sakura’s message was blunt and horrifying.
The face powder used by the palace women contained arsenic. Absorbed through the skin, it was slowly poisoning them. And when they held or nursed their babies, it was being passed on—either through breast milk or skin contact.
Lady Rifa, being sick herself, was showing the most obvious symptoms. But all the women who used the powder were at risk. Their children were paying the price.
Naruto cursed under her breath. Of all the stupid, avoidable ways to kill a baby...
She stared down at her hands, callused from work but clean of powder, and took a breath. Now came the hard part—getting that information to the right people without drawing attention. If she wasn’t careful, she could wind up dead before lunch tomorrow.
Still, this was why she was here.
Naruto straightened her shoulders, tucked the empty silk basket under one arm, and walked back toward the outer halls. She had a letter to forge.
Boobearhazz on Chapter 1 Mon 12 May 2025 01:55AM UTC
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DramageekxAnimegeek on Chapter 2 Tue 27 May 2025 12:59AM UTC
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MalMachado17 on Chapter 2 Sun 13 Jul 2025 02:49PM UTC
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