A/N - Hi everyone, I'll be sidetracked this weekend, so I've just decided to post this chapter today. Please consider commenting and voting! It does very much mean a lot to me and I really appreciate it! Enjoy ❤️

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Chapter 10: The Last Straw

"Fuyuka... or that Hanshin guy, huh? Ah! You're right! I totally forgot that chick can read minds like that!" Naruto gasped once he read what Nia had written on the ground. "Yeah... everything makes sense now... I can see that happening... but... how did you escape?"

"They mistaken me to be one of these "guardians" or so they called it," Akihiko explained. "It was indeed frightening and nearly more than I could suffice, my peasants. I remember waking up in a dark abyss with no one in sight. The only thing I could see or feel was the stone that surrounded me and caged bars that kept me from leaving. I remember hearing voices discussing about certain individuals and how they were going to capture or kill them."

"Wait so, they mistaken you as a target?" Kiba inquired. "If that's true then what you're saying is that they let you go? Are they even capable of such mercy?"

"Shockingly yes, but ever since then, I had returned to my village, yet was struck with dismay upon arrival."

Kakashi rested his hands in his pockets. "What happened?"

"Miss Nia!" He pointed at the girl, making her flinch. "She was no longer within the grounds of my palace! That low-class genin robbed her from me!"

"You're delusional, ya know!" The blonde gently brought Nia to his chest and made sure she wasn't facing the prince. "You always think she secretly wants you when she's already told you to get lost! Give it up already!"

Wanting to face the front, Nia attempted to lightly push away from the young man's chest only for him to hold her even tighter to him, preventing her from turning back around.

'I don't wanna be held right now,' She thought to herself as she kept trying to gently push away yet was unable to verbally say so as her voice was lost due to having strep throat.

"Nia, stop moving around so much," Naruto noticed this and wouldn't let her go. "I'm trying to protect you right now, 'kay?"

'But I can protect myself just fine, Naruto...' She said in her mind.

"Peasants, look for yourselves," The prince laughed. "She's dying to be in my arms! Look at how desperately she's trying to escape the blonde one's arms."

"I mean, he kinda has a point, Naruto," Kiba teased. "She looks like she doesn't want you holding her at all, man."

"Oh, shut up. Of course she wants to be held right now. She always does. Isn't that right, cupcake?"

Kiba cringed. "Please stop with the nicknames..."

"ACK! ACK! ACK!" Nia started coughing once more as Naruto became overly concerned and began making his way though everyone.

"Sorry, but you guys are gonna have to fill us in on everything later. I need to get Nia to the hospital asap!"

"My queen!" Akihiko followed the two back into the village. "What ever is the matter with her? Why is she wearing a doctor mask?"

Ignoring him, Naruto continued on his way to the hospital.

There, Nia would get checked on as it would be determined that she did have strep throat and a bit of a fever. Because Naruto wouldn't stop making such a fuss on how she couldn't speak, Tsunade herself came down to use his medical ninjutsu to restore the girl's throat to a more healthy state. However, she did also suffer from a high fever and was allowed to spend the day in bed there.

As that was determined there, Naruto would then promise to check on the girl later as his team was called out of the room and led to the Hokage's office by Tsunade who then would assign them with a D-rank mission instantly.

And so, hours went by as Nia waited for him to return. She was not aware of the mission he was assigned and no one came to visit her except for the nurses and doctor given to look after her. Soon though, someone did show up to see her. Someone she had forgotten was in the village.

"Miss Nia," Akihiko sat in a chair next to her bed as he held some flowers for her. "How are you doing? I've bought these roses for you."

"Oh um," The girl was surprised to see someone had bought her something. "I'm doing just fine, but erm... I'm sorry. I don't think Naruto would be really happy about me accepting that from you. Thanks for... visiting me though."

"Please take these, young maiden. They were bought at an expensive price, and besides... these are what they call, "get well flowers" are they not? I am still your friend and I wish for your health to get better is all." The prince then grabbed some chocolates from out of his bag. "I've also got you these chocolates also. I do hope you'll accept these too, my queen."

"Well, I guess... if you're just doing this as a friendly gesture, then maybe I can accept," The girl grabbed the flowers and chocolate and rested it on her lap. "I'll have to save the chocolates for later though until my throat gets better. I really appreciate that you took the time out of your day to get these for me and check on how I'm doing. It's... Erm... very rare for me to receive any sort of gift — actually, I don't get them at all I think."

"Oh, Miss Nia," The young man shook his head. "You deserve so much better... you mean to tell me that rude, impudent boy doesn't buy or do anything for you? And where even is he? Shouldn't he be here with you right now while you're sick?"

Nia lowered her eyes. "He... has some things to take care of, but he said he'd come back to check on me. Also, no... he... doesn't really do much for me... now that I think about it... b-but I mean, he protects me and I can tell he really cares about me, so... that should be enough, right?"

"I feel for you, Miss Nia. Not only does he not buy you anything, but he only does the bare minimum in keeping you and holding your interest. Does he even take you out?"

"N-Not in a long time... but that's only because he's either usually away or because I am!"

"Doesn't this ever bother you?" The brown-haired guy questioned. "A man in love will buy his woman gifts, shower her with attention and compliments, take her out on dates and be at her side when she's ill. Miss Nia, this boy does not love you. Let me guess: He's always ready for sex though, yes?"

Hearing this, Nia's heart dropped to her stomach.

"D-Don't talk bad about him!" She scolded the prince anyway. "That's not it at all! He does care. He's just... clueless with love and stuff. He doesn't really grasp the whole thing like most people do."

"That may be so, but doesn't it make you bothered when you see all these other women going on dates regularly, having their man shower them with gifts, and especially being at her side when she's sick? Miss Nia, while searching for you, I've visited numerous rooms and you were the only female without a male companion at her side... it's very sad."

"I'm sure... that's not true," The kunoichi sounded hurt. "Besides, I already told you, he said he'd be back for me."

"When did he say that?"

"In... the morning."

"Miss Nia, it is midnight."

"...I know," She choked on her words as tears slowly brimmed along her eyelashes.

"If you were my girlfriend, I'd never treat you this bad," Akihiko reached for the girl's hand and squeezed it. "My heart breaks for you, my queen. You've put in so much effort into getting him to notice you then have been doing everything you could to be the best girlfriend you can be once he accepted and returned your feelings, only for him to feel that he need not put in any work to keep you as his. It makes me wonder... does he really value you as someone desirable?"

"W-What do you m-mean?"

"I feel... that he believes that you're not someone worth putting any effort into. Someone he believes... should just be grateful they even have someone. He believes that because he's out of your league, you're the one whom should be kissing his feet. He believes that he doesn't need to put any effort into you cause he thinks why should he when there's no one but him that'll ever want you... that'll ever love you. He thinks he can use and take advantage of you."

"No... that isn't true..."

"Oh, but it is," Akihiko stated. "He doesn't feel lucky to have you. He feels that since others consider you unattractive, it means he doesn't have to do much for you. He doesn't think your worth it. If others were to consider you beautiful, he'd be doing absolutely everything he could to assure that you'd stay with him: He'd buy you gifts, take you out all the time, do absolutely everything to keep you from being upset, would constantly be there for you... but he doesn't, does he? He's only there... when you offer him sex."

Tears dripped down the girl's face as she was told this.

"Akihiko... I'm sorry, but... please leave this room. I'd really like... to be alone right now."

"Miss Nia, just look at how he's made you feel," The prince cupped her cheek and used his other thumb to wipe some of the tears away. "You're crying... just admit it: You don't feel happy with him."

Nia gently pushed his hands away. "That's not t-true... It's just that s-sometimes I get upset w-with how h-he leads the r-relationship."

"And you're upset with how he doesn't shower you with gifts like other women get to have their guy do, doesn't take you on dates very much, hardly does anything for you, isn't very good at lovemaking, hasn't even visited you once the entire day while you lay sick and vulnerable in this bed, and puts in ZERO effort in your relationship while you dug, gnawed, and crawled your way into having him notice you in the first place then even now put your blood, sweat, and tears for him into maintaining this bond with him when he never has or never will do the same. You DIED for him and yet he treats you as if you should be grateful he's with you..."

Akihiko once more grabbed the girl's face.

"He could never appreciate you the way I would if you were mine! He could never measure up to all I could do for you, Miss Nia! Those at my village have nothing but respect for you. Come back with me and you'll get that respect you deserve. You'll be accepted and loved and never treated horribly. You'll be living in riches and the house of your dreams. Marry me and our children will be the future! Marry me and I'll give you the slow, romantic lovemaking that that nuisance can't possibly ever get right! Marry me and you'll finally have a good man who can love you and take care of you so what do you say, Miss Nia? Will you marry me?"

Nia sat on her bed curled up in a ball with her back against the wall. To her, there seemed to be an ache within her. Something eating away at her.

"I'm sorry," She answered. "But I just can't... I just can't do that."

This infuriated the guy. "Miss Nia, I don't understand! Is it just that you're not attracted to me? What? Give me a rating!"

"It's not that I find you unattractive or anything. In all honesty, I find you very attractive — you're very handsome. I don't like to do ratings, but since you won't leave me alone, I do think you're a ten. I just don't like you in that way — I like Na-"

"He can't even satisfy you in bed! What was it you said back then? That he's too rough and makes you say or do embarrassing or dirty things? That he hardly holds you, holds your hands, or can't even stop being selfish with his needs when you two are doing it?"

"..."

Silence.

Akihiko groaned and rubbed Nia's arms. "Miss Nia, if it were me, I'd give you the slow and gentle thrusts you'd always dreamed of having someone do to you. I'd make sure to keep our bodies close and intertwine our fingers and never let you go. I won't make you do anything you're uncomfortable with and trust me, I'll make your toes curl and your legs wobble. With me, you'll never be disappointed and frustrated."

"Please stop touching me," She moved away from him. "I don't want that experience with you. I'm sorry."

"Argh! When will you finally say, "enough is enough" with this guy, my queen! He doesn't value you at all! It makes no sense, wake up! I have loved you since the moment I-"

"Stop it," Nia raised her voice as this startled the prince. She then made her voice soft. "Please... just stop. I don't... wanna listen to this anymore... Please... leave me be for now..."

Akihiko growled as he clenched his teeth together. His hands curled into a ball as his blood began to boil immensely. He was absolutely sick of the girl's nonsense. Sick of her always rejecting him when he thought of himself to be irresistible. Women were always wanting him, yet somehow, he felt they wanted him only for his money. Never had he had someone reject him until Nia came around. He was used to getting everything he wanted.

Yet there she was... the first girl to turn him down. Even women with spouses couldn't resist his charms. He knew if he wanted, he could just swing by at their place and give them a good night, but he never did. He didn't want to marry any woman like that. He wanted a loyal one — someone extremely difficult to take away. Someone he knew would stick by his side no matter what. It gnawed at him that Nia was so dedicated to someone else, that she wasn't able to be swayed into getting with someone else. The more she refused him, the more he wanted to bring her back with him.

After being once more rejected by the girl no matter how hard he tried, the prince had reached his breaking point.

In rage, he snatched the girl's hair as she shrieked then front flipped her out of her bed, causing her to crash hard onto her back on the marble flooring.

"W-What the hell are you doing?!" She scurried to her feet before collapsing to her knees, groaning as she reached for her injured back.

Akihiko pretended to gasp and come to her aid.

"M-Miss Nia, oh no, I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

Nia only shoved him away.

"Miss Nia, you must believe me! I have forgotten to tell you all something important. I... have been suffering from intense involuntary movements since our last meeting. I've been trying to control it this whole time but-"

"All right, I believe you," The kunoichi stumbled to her feet. "You should really have that checked- MMPH!"

This time, the prince had forced himself on her and planted a heavy kiss onto her lips while using one hand to grasp a powerful hold on her hip while the other groped her bosom. Immediately, Nia began to push him off of her, though for some reason, the guy just overpowered her.

"Ugh! Let go of me!" She squirmed, not understanding why or how she couldn't free herself from someone whom she thought was always weaker than her.

Again, the prince found his way back against her lips, this time attempting to make out with her.

Outside of the room, in the hall, Naruto had just arrived on Nia's floor of the hospital with a few bags in his hands.

'Oh man,' He hurried down. 'I can't believe it took so long just to do that one simple mission! It's already past midnight! Nia's gonna be really upset with me! Damn it!'

In less than a minute he had managed to reach where the girl's room was and opened the door. The moment he did, however, it was instant regret. There in the middle of the room, he mistakenly believed Nia to have been cheating on him with the one guy he wanted nowhere near the girl. His bags dropped to the ground as in that moment, he was blinded by a five-course serving of rage.

"YOU BASTAAAARD!" All hell broke loose as he stormed right at the prince and jabbed him right in the jaw.

Upon impact, Akihiko crashed to the ground wailing in pain as Naruto began an onslaught of brutal attacks to the guys face as Nia screamed and tried to pull him off the guy.

"NARUTO, STOP!" She yelped as she was then shoved roughly back into the wall by the blonde.

"MAKING OUT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, HUH?!" He slammed his fist right onto the bridge of the prince's nose, breaking it and having his blood splatter onto the genin's fist. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Nia, frightened by the young man's sudden violence, again attempted to restrain the ninja.

"GET THE HELL OFF ME!" He glared at her, his eyes having turn red as he did so.

In the midst of their struggle, Akihiko, now struggling to get to his feet, laughed crookedly as he felt he had done the unthinkable: Destroy what was meant to be, an unbreakable bond.

"Didn't I tell you your woman wanted to be with me!" He taunted as he held onto his throbbing nose. "You should've seen how she was all over me. Desperately wanting me to get in her pants. Her sucking skills was a very pleasant surprise! She even swallowed down my load!"

"WHAT?!" The kunoichi was utterly in disbelief from the lie being told. "I never... I NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE-"

"ARGHHHH!" Naruto broke out of her hold, charged right at the feudal lord and tackled him so powerfully, the two had crashed through a wall.

Those who occupied the next room, screamed in terror as they witnessed a full on brawl between the two boys.

"Get off me, you nuisance!" The feudal lord threw a right hand as Naruto fell to his side.

Quickly though, he kipped up in time to meet the dark-haired male on his feet as well although Akihiko stumbled for a brief second to catch his breath before the two dived back at each other, eyes narrowed in determination.

This time, Akihiko dodged Naruto's fist and came up with his own; for a brief instant, the genin's slit blood-red eyes widened before he managed to tilt his head back and slam it into Akihiko's. Stars burst in his enemy's vision and in an effort to retaliate, the prince blindly threw a sloppy kick.

Naruto stepped back, easily evading the kick. He growled and threw himself at him, his blood hummed in his veins as determination and anger took over. However, because of this blinded rage, Akihiko managed to take advantage and hit the genin's jaw with such force, blood pooled into his mouth. Pain erupted from the point of impact.

In response, Naruto grasped his head in his hands and brought his knee cap up to Akihiko's nose as there was a blunt crack and he released his dark-haired head. Crimson leaked from both his nostrils and his nose was twisted right. However, still not having been brought down, the prince threw his fist back again and it ploughed into right into the young man's stomach.

The blonde repaid this action by punching his jaw once more, causing his opponent to stagger back, his blood making a mess out of his outfit and on the floor beneath him. At this point, Akihiko had enough, yet Naruto was nowhere near done with him.

"You're not making it out of here alive!" He summoned a clone as it began rotating a ball of chakra in his palm. "You can beg and cry for mercy for all I care! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR TAKING HER AWAY FROM ME, YOU ASSHOLE!"

Throwing his hand back and charging at the feudal lord, Naruto then reached and aimed his arm out toward the young man's stomach.

"RASENGAN!" He hollered as the blue ball of chakra sunk deep against his opponent's stomach and sent him flying through multiple rooms before just slamming him to the outside, roughly colliding onto the grass and dirt as Akihiko lost complete consciousness upon impact.

Now that the fury had been dealt with, Naruto's eyes returned to it's original color as he now had to deal with a new emotion: heartbreak.

"Naruto..." He looked over his shoulder to see Nia's face wet with tears.

"Nia, how could you do this to me?!" He faced her as his voice sounded as though there were a lump in it. "I've done nothing but be there for you whenever you needed someone. Since day one, Nia! DAY ONE! This is what you repay me after I had to listen to all that negative depressing talk you kept bringing up?! After all those times I've protected you, held you close to me, helped you improve your crappy ninjutsu, helped you become a chunin, and even got you to leave your village so you can have a better life here?! Are you serious?!"

"I didn't... I didn't ch- I didn't cheat on-" The girl was sobbing.

Naruto rubbed his face as his heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces. Never had he expected something like this to happen to him. He had thought Nia was not like that. He had thought Nia wasn't even capable of being that heartless. He had thought she cared about him. He had thought she was a good person who had morals and value like he.

"Nia... y-you have no idea... how much my heart... is killing me r-right now," He choked on his words and stared right into the girl's eyes as tears brimmed along his eyelashes and redness soon began to fill the whites in his own eyes. "While I was out putting my life on the line doing a mission, you were over here letting some other guy bang you?!"

"No!" The girl grabbed onto his arm. "Naruto, you... you g-gotta believe me! He lied! I... I would never b-betray you!"

"Let go of my arm," He made a stern reply.

"I didn't cheat on you, honey!"

"I JUST SAW YOU KISSING THAT GUY!" He snapped and yanked his arm away. "YOU GOT CAUGHT, YA KNOW!"

"HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS KISSING ME! HE LITERALLY YANKED MY HAIR, TOSSED ME OFF THE BED, THEN WAS TRYING TO MAKEOUT WITH ME!"

"No... you've always liked that guy," Naruto didn't believe her. "I mean, why shouldn't I be surprised? You're always blushing and flirting with him whenever he calls you beautiful or showers you with attention."

"Naruto, you really are a serious idiot if you really believe I'd EVER notice a guy that isn't you! WHY THE HELL WOULD I WASTE MY TIME WITH YOU IF I LIKED AKIHIKO THE WHOLE TIME?! I LOVE YOU, NOT HIM!"

"I bet that's not what you were thinking when you were blowing him off!"

"OH MY GOD!" This infuriated the kunoichi. "I didn't do anything with this guy! Naruto, it took me so damn LONG to get you to notice me and took a lot of effort just to have you like me back! Why the hell would I be so stupid as to cheat on you?!"

"You tell me!" The blonde demanded. "Why did you just-"

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"

"You know what, Nia? I've had it..."

"What do you mean?" The girl inquired.

"I'm done... I'm honestly done with you..." Naruto wiped his eyes before any tears could spill from out of it. "I actually fell for you, ya know? What I felt wasn't a lie no matter how many times you nor anyone else didn't believe me. I really did think you were cute... I really did enjoy spending time with you. Seriously, I did. I let go of my crush on Sakura because I wanted to try things out with you. I genuinely believed you were head over heels in love with me and maybe you were... until recently."

"I still am in love with you," Nia told the truth. "I didn't cheat on you, Naruto. Why won't you believe me?"

"Listen Nia, for a while now I was planning on asking you to move in with me... I know I don't make a lot since I'm still a genin, but I've been saving all my money because I wanted to do something special for you." The young man pointed at the bags by the door.  "Over there are some things I bought for you... I spent all of my saved money on it and I've placed a few more gifts for you in my room, but now I just want my money back. Im returning everything."

"But you don't have to do this..." Nia cried into her hands. "I didn't cheat on you... I didn't do anything wrong. I still love you. I still wanna be with you."

"Nia... we're through," Naruto no longer could hold his emotions back as tears also rolled down his cheeks. "I c-can't forgive you. I'm breaking up with-"

"Please don't!" The kunoichi only embraced him and sobbed into his chest. Her breathing was shallow and she constantly had to sniffle to keep her nose from running. "Please, you're my hero! I wouldn't ever be so cruel to someone like that! Especially not you!"

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because when have I ever lied to you? When have I ever showed that I no longer wanted to be with you? When have I ever showed Akihiko I liked him in that way? When have I not rejected that guy? I'm telling the truth... he came onto me!"

"Then how is it you couldn't just push him off you?! You're like Sakura with that freakish strength! How the hell were you not able to-"

"I don't know! He was stronger than me somehow!" Nia answered as she looked up into his eyes. "Naruto, I don't know how to make you believe me! What do you want me to do?!"

"Just... let me go home... I need... to think about this whole thing," Naruto gently removed the girl off him as he dragged his feet to the bags on the floor then picked them up. "I can't stand being around you right now. I need to go... clear my head."

"Wait!" Nia stopped him.

Naruto looked over at her with very puffy eyes and a tear-stained face.

"I love you..." She softly whispered as she was only met with a very cold glare.

Without saying anything to her, the genin walked out of her hospital room and slammed the door shut so hard, it came loose and crashed to the messy floor.

And just like that, their relationship had been strained immensely, if not, broken up. However, as Nia turned to her left, there was Hinata... standing outside of the room, making a face that turned Nia's world upside down and made her feel like she could vomit.

She was... trying to hide a smile... it seemed like.

———

A/N - Wow, this crazy lol I HAD TO! I just had to y'all! And no, Akihiko's intention was not to rape Nia. Just to kiss her. I got some good ideas for this drama lol and don't worry, we will get back on track to what actually happens in the show but for now, we're not gonna do that lol.

Thanks for reading! Please comment and vote and have a good weekend ❤️

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