Sorry to forget this!!

Disclaimer: Nope. Don’t own it.

Naruto walked down the street into the merchant alley. Many of the merchants bowed, except for the sleeping merchant girl on the Haruno Pottery stand. She remained snoring until Naruto rang the bell. She shot up, her head hitting the sign plastered on the top of the stand.

“Yes? How may I help you?” she asked, rubbing her head.

“Your most expensive pot please.” the prince replied, handing her the sack. She nodded and retrieved the clay. The board began to spin and her hands worked smoothly over the clay. She added the colors until the clay was a mix of colors, forming a rainbow.

Naruto took an overview of her: Her hands were worn and tired, obviously from much work. Her pink hair was dulled, from little wash. Her green eyes were gray and dull, and filled with sadness. Her clothing was worn and the color has faded.

“Okay, would you like an engraving?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts. “No thank you.” She nodded and handed him the pot. He nodded and told to keep the change.

Sakura opened the small bag the prince left her. Her eyes almost popped out. She counted fifty gold pieces.

“S-Sakuro!!” she cried. Her brother came running and gasped at the small bag. In current times, fifty gold pieces merely meant 50 cents. But back then, fifty pieces were worth five-hundred dollars.

“Oh my god… Who gave you that?” he asked. “The prince!!” she replied. “The prince… was here?” “Yeah!!” “He ordered something?” “No he stopped to say hi.” she joked.

Back at the castle…

Naruto emerged through the door, struggling with the huge colorful pot. Two servants came and removed it from his grasp, carrying it to the King’s room.

Naruto retreated back into his room after his mother scolded him to put on a new shirt, due to a small amount of clay that had dripped on his shirt.

“So, anyone down at the alley you found attracting?” Destiny asked. “Oh ha-ha.” Naruto joked, putting a new shirt on. “You know it’s against the code.”

“Whatever.” she replied. “So which of the princess’s are you gonna marry?”

“I told you already.” he snapped. “I have yet to decide. So stop asking me!!”

“Calm down!!” Destiny retorted. “Geez, if it’s one of the girl merchants you can tell me. Father will not know.”

Merchant Alley:

Sakura yawned as she flipped the closed sign down. She grabbed her blanket and soon fell asleep on her pile of leaves. She looked over at the rain meter. Needs to be refilled, she thought. She hoped it would rain tonight. Sakuro passed her a goodnight before he too was sleeping.

She awoke in the middle of the night as she heard a crash. She looked around. She was doused in water. The flash of lightning and the boom of thunder frightened her. She looked around. Everyone else had gone to the storm shelter but forgot to wake her up. She would have to trudge all across town alone. She was going to die alone and forgotten.

She rose and began to walk. Her blanket was left on the ground, not giving her much protection from the sharp brittle raindrops. She fell to her knees and lay on the ground.

She could go no further.

She heard footsteps approaching, and the water puddles splashing. She tried to look up but her head would not respond. She had been frozen, and her nervous system had failed her.

“Father!!” the voice called out. “Come here!!”

There were more footsteps and another voice. “Well I’d never.” it said. “She’s frozen stiff.”

“Shall we take her in?” the first voice asked. “Very well.” the second said. A pair of hands slipped under her and lifted her from her side and she felt soft cloth touch her side. Soon she was being carried away and she didn’t even know who it was.

She didn’t care now, as long as she was going to live.

Whew, was that long.