Sage of Hearts

Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Naruto, Disney or any of its affliated properties. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this now would I?

"The connection of our hearts…" : Speech (Bold for yelling ,Bijuu, or massive creatures)

'The connection of our hearts…' : Thought

On a dusty trail somewhere, early morning

Naruto, Snow and Grimhilde had left their kingdom behind – they had been trekking on this particular trail for about a week; the massive Enchanted Forest a mere green blob at their backs. This incredible speed could be attributed to Naruto – his energy, when harnessed with Grimhilde's experience in self augmentation, did wonders on their steeds (not that Naruto really needed one but keeping a low profile never hurt anyone…). Naruto was riding a feisty brown stallion – the beast had refused to be mounted by anyone and it was only after Naruto had exhausted it in a rodeo that it submitted to him. Next to him Snow and Grimhilde were riding on two stately looking mares, one a pearlescent white and the other a midnight black respectively – they were royal horses and were well mannered, a fact that Grimhilde never failed to bring up when Naruto's horse tried playing some tricks on him. They had been travelling at a near constant gallop ever since they entered the Forest and now that they had made significant headway in getting to the next bastion of human civilization, they could afford to sit back and relax a little bit.

"When are we going to stop and make camp Naruto? We've been travelling for so long, my keister's all stiff now~…" Snow said as Naruto looked over to Snow, only to see her rubbing her bum with a pout on her face. As if sensing his gaze, she turned to him and gave him a saucy grin, complete with a wink.

Oh yeah – Snow had gotten a lot bolder with her affections for her blonde bodyguard – having nursed a fierce crush for him for over a decade, she now had nothing standing in her way of showing just how much she loved him. Gone was her shy attitude – she could still act demure but she was not so innocent (in fact, Naruto could be considered the naïve one in this relationship as Snow would sometimes creep up on him only to smother him in a flurry of kisses, leaving him breathless). Grimhilde found this endlessly amusing as when she wasn't teasing the poor boy with her new and improved body and attitude, she was teaching her step daughter the finer details on seduction.

Naruto couldn't really complain, he knew he drove them just as crazy about him just by existing sometimes (they once caught him bathing in a forest pool and passed out in a dead faint immediately after – a source of endless blackmail material he happily held over their heads when they did come to) and Snow and Grimhilde had never been closer. Breaking out of his thoughts, he nodded in assent and leaped off his horse (named Spirit in case you were wondering…) and walked over to a patch of grass off on the side of the road, Snow and Grimhilde sighing in relief as they pulled up with their mounts close to a group of trees close to where Naruto stopped. Spirit simply huffed at his rider's antics and cantered off to the mares, both of which decidedly ignored the 'lowborn' stallion with reserved whinnies, even if he outstripped them in strength in stamina. He didn't care though – he had yet to meet a mare that interested him so he simply started grazing, snickering in delight when the grass turned out to be delicious.

"At last, a time to retire. Naruto dear, I know you're positively bursting with vitality but you simply must take the time to consider our limits – you are a gentleman after all and I would expect no less from my lover." Grimhilde said as she laid down on a divan she conjured with her magic for both ladies, massaging her sides and butt as she did so.

"Alright, alright, you guys can stop scolding me now, I get it! I am sorry for pushing you guys so much but I just wanted to make sure that you would be able to rest in a proper bed and homestead before a week passed ya know? I don't mind roughing it out in the wilderness but I need to find a town or kingdom if we three are to make living beyond nomads…" Naruto said as he crouched down and dropped a pile of driftwood from the roadside that he had been collecting all day, breathing a gout of flame on the kindling as he did so.

A nice little campfire was then born; the flickering flames warding away the darkness as day gave way to night, the sounds of laughter and banter echoing on the deserted expanse of the road. Naruto had brought down a stag for provisions a few days ago and Snow had made it into fine venison stew and soup for the little group.

*Slurp* "Alright, if my senses aren't mistaken, we should be coming up on a town soon – we'll be arriving on the morrow, at the apex of the midday sun. Better clothe lightly, you ladies wouldn't want to be caught sweating like pigs now would ya~?" Naruto said as he teased the mother-daughter duo, who gasped and looked mortified (it was all fun and games but nobody liked getting sweaty in a full set of heavy clothing) at his wording.

"While that isn't the way I'd put it, I do believe you are right – my magic is telling me the same. I can sense a human settlement four miles out – I do not recall whose kingdom we are entering however…" Grimhilde said, her long hair now bound and flowing down her back so that Snow could braid it.

"Oooh! I think I remember whose kingdom we are entering everyone! I remember my tutors teaching me that this is the kingdom of the Charming family – the King is called Peter and his heir is Henry Charming." Snow said, putting a finger to her lips in thought as Naruto and Grimhilde gaped at her prodigious memory.

"Damn Snow, that's some knowledge you've got. A veritable encyclopedia you are! Now that we know what to do, I guess I'll have to make some visits to the aristocracy there and offer my services. What do you girls think we should make our professions?"

"I believe my talents would be well suited as a potioneer – I could start an apothecary and sell remedies and such…"

"And I could work in the inn as a performer and help Grimhilde with her shop!"

"Alright – I guess I'll end up being a hunter, stablemaster or guardsman then. Looks like we have a plan so let's eat up and hit the hay, we've got a long day tomorrow!"

The next day, midday in the kingdom of the Charmings

The group had arrived in a small town at the foot of a magnificent castle set on top of a plateau overlooking it. They were the talk of the town, the commonfolk in awe at the beautiful women and handsome man riding in on magnificent beasts while wearing ordinary raiments ill befitting people who clearly looked like some kind of royalty.

"So much for keeping a low profile – the people are gawking at us anyway…" Naruto grumbled as he rubbed his face wearily as he looked over to the girls, Snow beaming at the people while Grimhilde was simply lapping up the attention with a quiet grace.

"It can't be helped – now let us visit the closest noble house and look for patrons for our respective professions." Grimhilde said, brushing her dress aside as her horse huffed at some peasants, scaring them a little.

"Alright, that sounds great – let me just ask some of the people here if they can help us." Snow said as she led her horse over to some young men and asked them for directions to the closest noble residence. After getting over their nervous blushing and stammering, they gave her the information she needed and ran off, their faces steaming in embarrassment.

Snow chuckled at this before returning to her smirking comrades, who had watched the entire situation with glee.

"So the closest noble residence is the chateau of the Montague family – the reigning aristocrat is named Francis and he has a wife and daughter. His wife is sick and slowly wasting away and his daughter is about my age – only around two years younger if I had to hazard a guess." Snow said as Naruto rubbed his chin contemplatively, Grimhilde's eyes glinting at the prospect of healing the noble's wife for a king's ransom's worth of gold.

"Alright – looks like we know who to visit. Grimhilde, control yourself – I can practically see your eyes turn into gold coins with how much you're thinking of fleecing the poor man. If we can help, we will but we aren't going to rob the poor man blind." Naruto said as he shot a pointed glance at Grimhilde, who blushed and looked away as Snow giggled at her antics.

The group then nudged their horses onward to the Montague chateau – unaware that the next heart to protect (and steal) was so close. But like all adventures, the first steps are always blind and this one was no different.

And that wraps up chapter 9! A shorter chapter but necessary as a segue into the Cinderella arc. Lady Tremaine and her daughters will be the primary 'villains' here and I honestly don't see Naruto associating with these grubby ladies but I will try to keep an open mind. If reviews lean to redemption, I'll open a poll on my P***eon profile about it.

If you'd like to support me you can find me on Patreon on the 'search for creators' bar under DudeWithaMac (I only get free time on Sundays since money's extremely tight-details on Panacea chapter 14). Alternatively, you guys can follow this link: p#at#re#on.#com/DudeWithaMac (remove the hash tags). Reviews and comments are always welcome!