GOLDEN CAGE

The name of the little princess was Namikaze Naruto, a little girl who would be ten years old in two days. This afternoon she felt very happy, very happy because her father--the Emperor of the Konoha Kingdom; Namikaze Minato, promised to hold a special grand party to celebrate her birthday, making the smile never leave her beautiful face.

The northern pavilion was his favorite place to spend time. He loved the lush lotus flowers growing in the palace pond. Naruto could have stayed there for hours if Chiyo hadn’t insisted he return to the Magnolia Pavilion.

“Lady will there be a musical performance later?” Naruto asked hopefully. Her sapphire eyes stared straight at the elderly lady-in-waiting before him.

“Of course, Your Highness,” the elderly lady-in-waiting named Chiyo smiled, her voice soft and soothing. “In fact, I heard that His Majesty specially summoned musicians from the Suna Kingdom to perform at your party.”

The girl’s eyes lit up with joy at Chiyo’s answer, but in the blink of an eye, the smile vanished. “Will there be lots of presents for me too?” the little girl asked again, her hands clasped together, sweating nervously.

“Of course there will be many gifts, Princess.” Chiyo spread her arms wide, inviting Naruto to enter her embrace.

The little girl threw herself into the old lady-in-waiting’s embrace. Her head buried itself in Chiyo’s warm chest. “Is Big Sister coming, Lady?” her voice was soft as she asked this question.

Chiyo was silent for a moment. Her wrinkled hand gently stroked Naruto’s blond hair. “The Crown Prince will definitely come if he’s not busy.”

Naruto was silent for a long time, until Chiyo decided to speak up to comfort her. “Even if he hadn’t come, wouldn’t His Majesty still be here?”

Naruto shook his head slowly, “It won’t be the same,” she whispered hoarsely. “I want Father Emperor, Mother, and Big Brother on my birthday. But-”

“But?” Chiyo inquired as Naruto decided not to continue and kept his mouth shut. “But what, Princess?” Chiyo asked again, sounding curious.

Naruto bit his lower lip hard before finally looking away. Could she tell Chiyo his big secret? But wasn’t Lady Chiyo a very kind person? Her mind began to wrestle.

“Can you keep this big secret I’m about to tell you, Lady Chiyo?” Naruto looked up, hopeful.

“Of course,” Chiyo replied softly. Naruto smiled, seeing his nanny’s calm gaze somehow making him feel comfortable and at ease. Eyes that shone with loyalty to the end. “I would hate for Empress Sara to be present at my party.” Naruto’s head was bowed deeply as she said this. Her hands were fidgeting with Chiyo’s beautifully embroidered garment.

“Ah, so you don’t like Her Majesty the Empress, it seems.” Chiyo nodded in understanding. However, Naruto shook his head quickly, denying it.

“It’s not that. I don’t dislike her. It’s just,” she paused for a moment. “It’s just that the Empress scares me,” she admitted innocently. “I, I don’t like the way she looks at me when we meet. She makes me tremble with fear. And she smiles when she looks at me like that.”

Chiyo was silent for a long moment, digesting her princess’s innocent words. Naruto wasn’t a child who lied; having raised her since she was a baby had taught her that. Ah, no wonder Naruto often refused when Kushina asked her to go greet the Peony Pavilion. So this was the reason, Chiyo thought. “Perhaps it’s all in your head, Princess,” Chiyo consoled.

Naruto shook her head again. “No, you don’t understand, Lady. The Empress is only gentle when Father is with me. But her gaze turns frightening when Father is not around.”

“Shhh, keep your voice down, Princess,” Chiyo scolded softly, sounding panicked as her index finger pressed to her lips. Her eyes then darted around, afraid that someone else might be listening in. “Does Concubine Kushina know about this?”

“No,” Naruto replied, shaking his head quickly. “Mother would be worried if she found out, wouldn’t she?” Naruto asked back. “Mother already has a lot on her shoulders. I’m afraid to burden her any further.”

Chiyo smiled, her arms enveloping Naruto in hers. The old maid’s eyes blurred with tears. Oh, how could Naruto be so wise at not even ten years old?

If only Chiyo could hope, she would hope that Naruto was just a commoner girl, free to run outside the palace walls, laughing, enjoying her childhood with full happiness. Instead of being trapped in a golden cage with all the intrigues inside. Chiyo was afraid that her princess would get hurt later. “I will protect you as much as I can. As long as I breathe, I will take care of you, Princess.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” Chiyo said softly. “We’d better get back, Princess. Concubine Kushina will be furious if you don’t return on time. Aren’t you supposed to be studying literature this afternoon?”

Naruto’s mouth curled into a cute pout, “I don’t like literature. Literature is really complicated. I’m not as smart as Big Sis, I don’t have a talent for literature and calligraphy.” Naruto complained.

“Nothing comes easily, Princess,” Chiyo reminded her wisely. “Everything has to go through a process.”

“But I’d rather learn the art of war and horse riding,” Naruto replied quickly. “Unfortunately, my father never allowed me to.” Again, the little girl lowered her head sadly.

“If you behave yourself, perhaps His Majesty will allow you to study someday.”

“Really?” Naruto asked hopefully. His hopes soared once again.

“Of course,” Chiyo replied with a reassuring smile. “Come, let’s go home.” Chiyo held out her hand, and Naruto smiled, taking the old lady’s hand as they returned to Magnolia Pavilion, where his mother’s palace was located.

And Naruto didn’t know, she didn’t understand what happened next. Everything happened so fast before her eyes. All she knew was that when she returned to Magnolia Pavilion, her father was there, standing with a grim expression. Meanwhile, her mother was prostrate, her face streaked with tears.

“You cheated on me, Kushina!” Minato shouted coldly, causing Naruto to hide behind Chiyo. Her body trembled at the sound of her father’s voice. The little girl was afraid, truly afraid at this moment.

“You may be my beloved concubine, but don’t expect me to forgive you for this sin!” Minato slammed his fist on the table beside him. His eyes were fixed on the concubine he had married eleven years ago. The concubine he loved so much, the concubine who had given birth to his most cherished daughter.

Kushina shook her head, her voice trembling. “I did not do what you accuse me of, Your Majesty. I never even thought about it.”

“Evil! You’re truly evil, Kushina!” Minato roared harshly. “I want to see how your face will look when you see your lover’s head cut off before your eyes!”

“Your Highness...” Kushina crawled trying to touch Minato’s feet, but Minato dodged and pushed the woman hard, Kushina groaned, her body was indeed in pain, but her heart was in much more pain. How could Minato believe the lies that were whispered so evilly to her? How could Minato have a love letter with Kushina’s handwriting in his hands? Even though, Kushina never wrote the love letter. Conspiracy? Kushina was sure this was an evil conspiracy to destroy her.

“Admit your mistake, Kushina!” Minato bent down, his mouth hissing harshly, his gaze piercing cold. “Admit your mistake!!!” Minato shouted again, loudly.

“Your Majesty,” Chiyo rushed over, prostrating herself at Minato’s feet. “It must all have been a misunderstanding. The second concubine couldn’t have betrayed you.”

Minato narrowed his eyes, glaring angrily at Chiyo, who was hunched over, begging for forgiveness. “You’re saying I misunderstood? After I have proof of your master’s betrayal, you still have the audacity to say I misunderstood?” Minato shouted, enraged. “Do you want to die?” he shouted again, making Naruto step back in fear, until her back hit the wall behind her.

“No, no, that’s not it, Your Majesty.” Chiyo prostrated herself again, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her tired eyes. “I only ask that Your Majesty conduct a more thorough investigation into this matter. I firmly believe the second concubine is innocent.”

“Guards!” Minato shouted loudly. Four guards rushed in, bowing, saluting. “Drag and throw this old lady into prison. And cut off her head tomorrow morning!”

“No!” Kushina screamed hysterically. Why did it have to be like this? Her heart was sad. “Forgive Lady Chiyo, you can cut off my head, Your Majesty.” Kushina begged in a hoarse voice. “Don’t punish the innocent, I beg you, Your Majesty.” Kushina begged again, wailing.

Unfortunately, jealousy and anger had blinded Minato’s heart. His heart was tightly closed, unable to open the door of forgiveness for his beloved concubine.

“Drag the second concubine into prison, and tomorrow morning, give her fifty lashes, then banish her and her daughter!” he ordered emphatically. The man refused to even look at Kushina’s wailing face, his heart breaking.

Kushina shook her head, “Don’t alienate Naruto, Your Majesty. I beg you, she’s your daughter.” The woman sobbed violently, her shoulders shaking, her tears never stopping flowing. “I beg you,” Kushina pleaded sadly. “You can do anything to me, but not to Naruto!”

Minato turned around, his ears deaf to Kushina’s wails. For a moment, his eyes glanced at Naruto, who sat in fear near the entrance. But his heart froze, Naruto would only remind him of Kushina, he thought. He had to get rid of that little girl too. He thought again and turned to leave. Minato simply didn’t realize that his current actions would come back to destroy him, making him live in regret for the rest of his life.