[x] Updates :: Sept.20 -Added gallery, TFTP Char. selector, People, Sidestories' links, special chapters, and 1 new link.
[x] Disclaimer :: All the Naruto characters used here and in this site are copyrighted by Kishimoto-sensei and other respective owners. All rights reserved.
[x] Map :: inside = the story in-depth // behind = TFTP extras // beside = media and interactive // outside = linkages
[x] Copyright :: The Frog and the Princess is an intellectual property of syaoran no hime. If you wish to post this on your site, MST it, whatever,
contact me first.
[x] Layout :: Encoded in Notepad; used the indispensible DIV layers; graphics by Arcsoft and PhotoShop 7; original art by HD Staffer
Nemmy. The scene was taken from TFTP's 16th chapter -- the Sasuke Snowman part hehe.
++ Inside TFTP ++
++ introduction
The Frog and the Princess is an AU (alternate universe) take on the Naruto series, with main emphasis on the pairing, Naruto x Hinata, but it also has SasuSaku, SHikaIno, NejiTen, and other minor pairs. Its main genre is lighthearted comedy and fluffy mush, so if you are looking for in-depth plot and Sasuke angst, let me tell you that you are in the wrong fic! :D
Anyway, the basic plot goes like this: a slice of life in a palace called Kingdom Leaf, the entrance of a lively but naive boy named Uzumaki Naruto, and its effect on the turn of the relationships among the characters in the main kingdom. This is further developed by the events that took place in Kingdom Leaf's history, and its threatened repeat that may just very well destroy the future of the palace.
++ the characters
Uzumaki Naruto
Hyper, naive, and adorably cute Naruto-kun is a boy who carries the spirit of Kingdom Leaf's most feared youma that everyone thought was just a legend. His fate takes a freaky twist when he unwittingly sets the devil serpent free, and in turn, gets cursed by the demon. The curse? Hot water can turn him into a frog, while male touch can turn him into an alluring naked young woman. He can only return to his human form when touched by a true princess, with true feelings for him.
By an unexpected turn of events, he gets involved in the affairs of the Leaf Kingdom, and later on, decided the fate of the ten kingdoms in the continent. And yes, he's not even aware of that.
Lady Hyuuga Hinata of the Main House
After the passing of the Kin Unification Code, the Main House of the Hyuuga Clan lost its traditional power. The heiress of the clan, the same one prophesied to bring even more greatness to the clan's already prestigious name, was unable to challenge the Code, so the Main Family was exiled into the barren land of Leaf kingdom.
This failed heiress is Lady Hyuuga Hinata, a timid, soft-spoken girl who now serves the Haruno Ladyship as a maid. She is perpetually haunted by the ghost of her failures, but has started to become happier when she met a friend in a talking frog named Naru-chan, and later, finds her inspiration in a young man with scratched cheeks. A boy named Uzumaki Naruto.
His Majesty Prince Uchiha Sasuke
His whole clan is assassinated, thus giving him the throne of rule over the Kingdom Leaf at age 10. This explains why he is always stressed, loose-tempered, and aloof, or what his personal guardian, Hatake Kakashi, term as "highly potent menopausal mode".
This does not deter the majority of the kingdom's female population from drooling on His Majesty, especially the two prettiest court ladies of Kingdom Hidden Leaf. It's not only his looks though: his amazing sharingan and other jutsus, his excellent general combat abilities, as well as his incredible leadership ability compose his sterling reputation. But mostly, it's his looks that cinch it.
Lady Haruno Sakura, the Haruno Court
If there is one person on earth that has set her eyes, hands, feet, muscles, bones, veins-- yep, EVERYTHING-- on getting the elusive Prince Sasuke, it has got to be the free-spirited court lady Haruno Sakura.
Back when she was young, she used to be shy, and was much more of a tomboyish loner. After striking friendship with fellow court lady Yamanaka Ino though, she became much more outgoing.
She soon meets the love of her life, Uchiha Sasuke, prince of the Hidden Leaf palace. At the same time, her father announces that she is to be reared as a "proper" and "fine" court lady in order to be worthy to be the bride of a certain man. That certain man turns out to be the prince himself. Thus she struggles to change herself into what the high society deems as standard for the prince's wife, yet the prince refuses to acknowledge her feelings. That does not stop her, however, from perpetually chasing after him, and in the process, rivaling her best friend for his affections.
She may act like a lovestruck airhead sometimes, but her loyalty to her friends cannot be undermined. She is also smart book-wise, thus reliable in information needed in crucial battles regarding the stats, weaknesses and strengths of certain jutsus. She also has some knowledge on medical treatment.
Sir Hatake Kakashi, Order of the [ **** ]
The time came when at age six, a boy was endorsed by the Fourth Hokage to become a Hidden Leaf Councilor. When asked what flower he wanted to be sworn into knighthood to, he was said to have mentioned a forbidden flower that "thrives only in the deep, damp darkness of Eve". Thus he became Sir Hatake Kakashi, Knight of the **** Order.
Later on, as a mascot of the Starlets, he also earned the title of Copy Ninja, with 1000 techniques under his belt.
He loves to read the Come Come Paradise novel, as much as he likes to tease the socially deficient prince of Hidden Leaf and poke fun on the naive Naruto. Much more than that, he relishes witnessing the various love stories of the people around him unfold.
Lady Yamanaka Ino, the Yamanaka Court
Bossy, talkative, and very much in love with the Prince Sasuke, Yamanaka Ino is the other court lady whose heart is set on the prince.
She believes she is whole-heartedly in love with the Prince Sasuke, so even if it means she has to break her friendship with one dear friend, she continued the pursuit.
Nara Shikamaru
He is the brilliant political strategist of the Yamanaka Court who is behind some of the most crucial decisions that the Lord Yamanaka did. At the young age of twelve, his fame and reputation has already spread all throughout the continent. Although lazy, he is very reliable in tough times, especially when it concerns the Yamanaka court lady, whom he secretly cherishes.
Earl Hyuuga Neji, the Hyuuga Court
The genius of the Hyuuga clan who, at a tender age, was able to author the Kin Unification Code, a law that demolished the centuries-old division of main and branch family in the Hyuuga clan. At the same time, he also became the proxy earl of the Hyuuga Court.
At first glance it may seem that nothing and no one can unnerve him, but actually, there are two people that can affect him the most: one is his hated cousin that is a child of the Main Family, Hyuuga Hinata. He blames her for all the misfortunes that befell him and his family. The other one is his teammate Mage Tenten. He could never complete a day without bantering with this fiesty strong-willed sorceress who's the only one daring enough to even cross the path of the Hyuuga genius.
He is every inch an excellent academic performer as he is in combat terms, thus earning him the reputation of one of the best fighters, not only in the whole Leaf kingdom, but also in the whole continent.
Mage Tenten
She is no ordinary kunoichi in the Leaf palace-- she mocks royalty and submission to authority, and she differentiates herself from the rest of the female population as a "woman", not a "lady" like Ino or Sakura.
In fact, Mage Tenten chose a path for herself that most girls would normally not even contemplate of -- sorcery. But she is excellent in her chosen craft, and is recognized in the whole continent as one of the best mages alive in the present. She is also skilled in debates, and is often the favorite adversary of the Hyuuga genius in court. Her skills in using strings and ribbons are unparalled too. The men and women of Leaf kingdom look up to her and respect her so.
Yet for all the sterling qualities she possesses, she still harbors one insecurity: that she will always end up looking like a weakling for her childhood rival slash teammate, Hyuuga Neji. Worse, all signs point to the fact that she may just be in love with him.
Earl Rock Lee, the Commoners' Court
He is not skilled in ninjutsu, but he believes with all his heart in the value of hard work. Thus he certainly fits his title as the Earl of the Commoners' Court-- he inspires the peasants and ordinary folks of the Kingdom Hidden Leaf to strive harder in life.
Rock Lee looks up to Sir Maito Gai as his idol, and so he became a disciple of this Starlet. Sir Gai was the one who made the earl realize that he was good for something--he was a genius of perseverance. This reflects in his excellence in taijutsu.
This usually laidback and approachable guy becomes dead serious though when anyone of the two most important women in his life is hurt: Mage Tenten, his acting "onee-san", and court lady Haruno Sakura, the love of his life.
Akimichi Choji
The assistant butler of the Yamanaka court is his official title, but basically, he serves as Shikanaru's sidekick and refrigerator demolition man of the Yamanaka wing. But beware of his appetite-- it serves as the firepower of his jutsu. Aside from food, his other hobby is to play spectator to the lovelife of Shikamaru.
Aburame Shino
Traumatized by what he felt was Kingdom Leaf's betrayal to his father and his clan, he became a spy for the Sound Kingdom. His task is to make sure that Hyuuga Hinata remains safe until the time Orochimaru decides to play with the Hyuuga descendant; this he does as he poses as a palace gardener. However, when he meets Hinata, he slowly softens, and eventually, this got in the way with his job. The Sound terminates his services at the same time that the Leaf starts to doubt his identity, making him a fugitive in both empires. Yet he remains steadfast in his vow he gave the Hyuuga princess before he left Hidden Leaf: he would be her knight until she wants him to be so.
Sir Iruka, Order of the Hemp
He served as the father figure to Naruto after he and Ebisu sees the boy wandering aimlessly arond the forest near their house. He becomes the first person that Naruto learns to care for and protect, and in turn, this Starlet is perpetually ready to risk his life for his boy that he now recognizes as his son.
Sir Maito Gai, Order of the Lotus
He's flashy, wild, and dynamic...and he's not apologizing for it. This is Sir Gai, the Green Flower of Konoha. He is proud of his looks, telling everyone that Bruce Lee copied his looks from him. But what he is really proud of is his 50-49 win-loss record over his eternal rival, Sir Kakashi. And yes, his students, especially his protegee, Earl Rock Lee.
He may seem harmless, and downright idiotic-looking, but do not even think of underestimating him -- he didn't win fifty times over Kakashi for nothing.
Sir Ebisu, Order of the Jasmines
He is an elite member of Starlet, who, after "committing a grave sin against the Hidden Leaf Starlets Council", chose to live in seclusion with Sir Iruka. Although he disapproved of the idea of Iruka taking the Kyuubi boy under his wing at first, later on he learned to love the boy like a son too.
the story
---pre-TFTP [conceiving of a fairy tale]]]
I wrote this fanfic back ____, after trying out writing some NaruHina oneshots and deciding that I can start a series on it. Anyway, back when I wrote this, I still do not have much knowledge on the series (Heck! I didn't even know Shikamaru's surname yet!) Nevertheless, I based the personalities of the characters on what I had managed to watch so far in the local airing of the anime in our country. Little by little, my AU started to have an "authentic" feel as my knowledge on Naruto grew more.
The fic was inspired by my fairytale AUs for other fandoms (i.e. An Untitled Fairy Tale - Fruits Basket). ALthough it was kind of awkward to do a Disney-que version of a shonen anime with ninjas and jutsus, I still gave it a shot anyway. The foundation of this fic is, of course, The Frog and the Princess. I thought of the princess-kissing-the-frog-and-turning-him-into-a-prince notion as a perfect metaphor to the NaruHina situation: the love of Hinata is what Naruto needs to fully realize what a great person --a prince-- he really is.
It doesn't hurt that Neji refers to Hinata as "Prinsesa" or "princess" in our locally-dubbed Chuunin Match episode, and that Naruto can summon frogs n_n
Naruto, being a boys' anime, also offers a lot of fresh materials for fluff writers-- so many what-ifs and maybes, which would be most fun to tinker with, especially for those authors who adore non-canon couples (like me! XD)
The personalities of the characters moving in the series are all well-sketched, each having a story to tell. Thus it was easy to dig deeper into them and create plots from them -- with a twist yet considerably familiar to the fans.
In a nutshell, writing it may seem so fun, so I gave it a try.
++ the chapters
Here is a summary of the story chapters, and a few details on them:
One :: The Frog, the Princess, and the Kingdom Hidden Leaf
Take a glimpse of the lives of the people who dwell in the continent's most powerful empire. Also, our main couple meets here for the first time.
Two :: Prince Sasuke
In focus is the young man seated in the throne of power in Hidden Leaf -- His Majesty Prince Uchiha Sasuke. It's NOT easy being a crown prince, especially when aside from being threatened by the seeming malevolent presence of a legenday devil serpent, he still had to deal with his harem.
Three :: A Devil's Curse Laid
Naruto and Hinata meet again. Also, the story behind the frog-girl morphing form of the boy is revealed. Meanwhile, a hint of romance begins with the other palace characters.
Four :: Hinata
What is it about the maid of the court Lady Haruno that took the Earl of the Hyuuga Court's attention? And why did the usually aloof gardener approached her and warned her?A chapter focus on Hinata and the boys that would soon make an impact in her life as the story progresses.
Five :: Back to My True Form!
Naru-chan and Hinata arrives in his house but discover his two Starlet mentors missing. On their way home, they encounter trouble with a Sound Nin. In his helpless frog form, how can he protect the first girl who ever cared for him?
Six :: Passion and Magic
Mage Tenten,deemed the best and the wisest among the sorcery practitioners in the kingdom, finds herself frustrated not by her usual magic spells, but by a mortal who acts like a domineering god: her childhood enemy-cum-teammate-slash-classmate Earl Hyuuga Neji. He's out to prove what a weakling she really is, but she refuses to be put down easily, even if she feels for him. Naruto, on the other hand, has returned to his human form and is now determined to find his missing mentors...and yes, Hinata too.
Seven :: First Heartbeat
After the incident in the sorcery laboratory, Mage Tenten begins to feel depressed, but she is bent on showing the condescending earl that she may be down, but not fallen. Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata finally meet again, only he is now a human whom she doesn't recognize anymore. Will this change the bond between them?
Eight :: Memories of a Cherryblossom Tree
The legendary cherryblossom tree holds the fondest memories between Prince Sasuke and Lady Haruno. What went wrong then? Meanwhile, Naruto is instructed to look for a certain man named Hatake Kakashi.
Nine :: Harmonia
Their beautiful friendship was broken because of the race for the prince's heart, but did Ino and Sakura really stop caring for each other? Also, Ebisu reveals the nature of the curse on Naruto to Kakashi.
Ten :: The Mist Kingdom Invitation
Lady Haruno receives an invite from the Mist kingdom amidst the rumors that the said kingdom is planning to invade Leaf. Naruto, on the other hand, meets Hyuuga Neji for the first time, and he has decided that he doesn't like him after he harshly mocks Hinata.
Eleven :: Neji's Three Rules
When it comes to dealing with other people, Hyuuga Neji bears in mind three rules, yet why is he starting to disobey them whenever his little witch is near? Also, Naruto starts his training with Kakashi, and Lady Haruno is unwittingly falling into the trap set by the Mist Kingdom.
Twelve :: Spider Trap
Sasuke fears for the court Lady Haruno's fate in the Mist kingdom, especially when he recalls what happened to his parents on his ninth birthday. He and Naruto dash to the Mist Kingdom, but will they make it in time before Sakura and Hinata falls into the clutches of the traitorious kingdom?
Thirteen :: Fury Unleashed
Witnessing what just happened to his dearest friend, Naruto unleashes the frightening spirit of doom that everyone in Konoha thought was just a legend-- the spirit of the youma, Kyuubi. Is he strong enough not to succumb completely to the demon fox?
Fourteen :: Just Like the Old Days
Sakura realizes that with chasing after the prince, she has hurt many people, especially her best friend. Will she give up on her most cherished Sasuke for the affection she never lost for her Ino-chan?
Fifteen :: Winter Greetings and Farewells
The season of winter arrives, bringing both hellos and goodbyes. Shino reveals to Hinata his identity before he leaves Konoha, while Naruto finds his home in the kingdom. Also, Sasuke declares war against the Mist kingdom in response to the ambush attack against Lady Sakura and her party.
Sixteen :: A Fight to the Finish! Sasuke Snowman vs Abominable Neji Yeti
Amidst the snow fight between the snow statues Naruto and company made, Neji finishes a document that would implicate the Haruno personal maid he now confirmed as his cousin, Hyuuga Hinata. Lord Yamanaka, on the other hand, is starting to dip his finger into the love affair of his political strategist...especially now that it concerns his only daughter already.
Seventeen :: To Become Stronger
Kakashi and Naruto leaves Konoha in order to train and fully realize the true warrior potential sleeping within the Kyuubi boy, but not without Naruto being made by Kiba to promise to return safely for Hinata.
Eighteen :: Me, Princess? Never! Mage Tenten's Principles!
Mage Tenten was no ordinary little girl-- she disliked playing damsel in distress, and had, in fact, swore to being self-sufficient. Now the question is this: why is she now obsessing on Earl Hyuuga Neji's kiss, a kiss of spite from the most chauvinistic, most arrogant pig in the world? On the other hand, Naruto begins his training under Sir Kakashi with a Water-Walking activity, while Shikamaru begins to confess his feelings to Ino.
Nineteen :: Onee-san, the Lonely Dragon Slayer
Konohamaru, not happy with the lavender brassiere he was able to obtain from Ino, decides to ask one more from Tenten. The mage refused, and instead challenged him into a duel. She didn't defeat him --he made himself lose. However, the little boy's heart was already Tenten's. Soon, she was telling him already about the legend of the dragon slayer...yes, legend, because fairy tales are meant for princesses only, and she is definitely no princess. Meanwhile, how will Ino react after Shika declared that he cares for her the way a man does for the woman he loves?
Twenty :: Sometimes You Just Know
Hyuuga Neji's plans for his cousin commences with the formal court interrogation to determine Hinata's innocence against the charge of treason, an act punishable by death. Meanwhile, Naruto continues his training, not aware of what is happening to his friend.
Twenty-one :: Bloodline
Hinata is absolved from the charge of treason, but not from Neji's anger. She is yet to face the bigger danger in the hands of her cousin. Will Naruto be there to protect her?
Twenty-two :: Farewell, Lady Ino
It has been five days, but Hinata still remains in comatose. Kabuto admits his inadequacy to cure her, but Sakura remains steadfast: she will find the medicine for Hinata, by hook or by crook! On the other hand, Shikamaru finally calls the Yamanaka court lady, "Lady Ino". Is he ready to start letting go of her already?
Twenty-three :: His Return
Tenten finally acknowledges her feelings for the earl that roots from childhood, but how can she tell him that when he seems to have no more plan to return to the Hidden Leaf kingdom? On the other hand, Sakura leaves tha palace with Earl Rock Lee and Kiba to find Hinata's medicine, while Sasuke falls for the trap set by the Sand and Sound kingdom, serving as an omen to the most powerful kingdom in the continent.
Twenty-four :: The Fangs of the Devil Serpent
Neji faces his worst fear -- his past that made him hold a grudge against the Main family-- by recounting it to Tenten. Hinata, meanwhile, is saved by the medicine that Naruto brought home for her. However, Sasuke is far from safe-- he encounters the devil serpent, Orochimaru, himself, and gets a symbol of malice imprinted in his body: the cursed seal, the fangs mark of the devil serpent.
Twenty-five :: Tsunade-sama's Puzzle
If they wanted her medical help, they must solve the puzzle of Tsunade-sama. Sakura has always been confident about her basic knowledge in sciences and math, but will these help her in solving the puzzle? And how the heck did simpleton Naruto manage to answer the puzzle anyway? Speaking of which, the guy asks Hinata out on a date...a date which meant everything but romantic. But it's a start, right?
Twenty-six :: Konoha's Christmas Spirit
While enjoying the date-- a walk around town -- Naruto and Hinata reflects on the unbreakable spirit of the kingdom that refuses to let the impending kingdom war get in the way of their celebration of christmas. Meanwhile, Neji and Tenten digs up some records pertaining to the questionable past of the substitute Leaf kingdom physician, Yakushi Kabuto. But the incredible guy the earl is, he still managed to prop in a big proposal to the mage: "Be my girl."
Twenty-seven :: Tea
Naruto and Hinata's "date" continues, Kakashi rescues the prince just in time as Kabuto reveals to him the beginning of the Leaf kingdom invasion, and Jiraiya finally shows everyone the solution to Tsunade-sama's puzzle. On the other hand, Ino refuses to believe that Shikamaru has disobeyed her father's royal decree to return to the palace as her butler. She crashes into his house, and catches him chatting and having tea with some flirtatious girl. Is this what Shikamaru meant when he said that he cares for her deeply?
Twenty-eight :: The Making of a Queen
With Sasuke down, the Leaf is left in helplessness without its ruler to direct the palace affairs. But Lady Haruno stands up to the occasion and shows everyone that as the future queen of Hidden Leaf, she will serve a purpose more than a decorative one. Meanwhile, Shikamaru heads for the Yamanaka Court to warn them about the impending attack against them. But first, he has to face the wrath of the young court lady Ino.
Twenty-Nine :: For Keeps
Tenten feels that she is now ready to confront Hyuuga Neji and his possible wrath he would lash out at her upon realizing what kind of sneaky manipulation did she use on him. Meanwhile, Naruto declares to Hinata just how much she means to him...only this time, it's Hinata who just can't get it.
Thirty :: The Invasion Commences...
The two-day deadline has finished, and the Sound-Sand assault has begun, shattering the palace defenses. The prince of the kingdom hasn't waken up yet, and the only thing guiding the people of the kingdom is their common desire to protect their home from the invaders.
Thirty-One :: The Fox and the Raccoon
Angered by the Sand Demon's heartless interference in his battle with Haku, Naruto angrily attacks Gaara, but the latter voices out his disappointment when he discovers how weak the temple of the youma Kyuubi is. He takes Hinata with him, telling him that if he wants to save his friend from the people who ordered him and his siblings to capture the Hyuuga descendant, he must find a way to make himself stronger. Meanwhile, Sasuke wakes up, brimming with the devil serpent's power, showing that he might just be the most powerful weapon to be used against Leaf itself.
Thirty-Two :: The Perverted Toad-Sennin
Naruto wakes up and finds himself in a deep, dark cliff. He has almost abandoned all hope to get out of this place alive when suddenly, a white-haired hermit that looks like the one who directed him to Tsunade the Sucker for Hinata's medicines appears. The boy soon learns about the man's amazing power and jutsus, and begs him to teach him. Will the white-haired toad sennin agree?
++ the special chapters
All throughout the story, I used breaks when I couldn't finish my chapter updates in time. Anyway, here is the list of the said icebreakers.
01 :: Cinderella of Konoha
A reason why children shows shouldn't hire the likes of Hatake Kakashi for hosts. The Starlet Mascot's version of Cinderella, played by his fellow Starlets.
02 :: The First Time He Ever Said Her Name
A Neji/Tenten special set on Christmas back when they were nine years old. It narrates the first time that Neji acknowledged his rival with a name aside from his customary "witch".
03 :: Mourning in the Mist
Although defeated by Sir Kakashi already, Mist Mourner Haku refuses to give up on Lord Zabusa's dreams of conquering the whole continent. He and Naruto face off again, only circumstances are different this time-- now they are both fighting for the people they love.
++ the side stories
So far, the stories had two sidestories-- one of which is not my work. Anyway, read on!
:: The Heart of the Gardener :: penned by me
He speaks words in austerity, but his past speaks volumes about his identity today. Aburame Shino-centric.
:: The UNIVERSAL Question :: penned by
Sonata of the Shadows
What is love? No doubt you've seen this question in slam books for the umpteenth time, and answered it again and again. Well, read how Kiba answers this immortal question that defined the very essence of our teenybopper existence :D
Want to pen a sidestory about TFTP too? Contact syao-chan! ^-^
--- the epilogue
If you are reading this part already, then you must be the type who relishes spoilers xD Anyway, this is a continuation fiction of TFTP, and is less lighthearted than its main story. This fic will discuss the Uchiha clan story arc, and will take place years after the finale of TFTP.
Before you continue reading, I repeat my warning: this is a SPOILER section. If you want to keep yourself guessing in TFTP, skip this part. Click
here to be taken to the top of this webpage.
...
...
Okaaay, you really REALLY want to read eh? Fine, read on, tomodachi!
[ excerpt from Embers chapter 1 ]
"Heh. Really shameful of you, Nara Shikamaru. Why are you allowing yourself to play slave to your wife?" Hyuuga Neji looked at the distressed lord of the Yamanaka Court seated with him and the rest of the men who played their respective roles in preserving the Leaf Kingdom sovereignity after the failed seige of the unified efforts of the Sound, Sand, and Mist kingdoms.
"You've been married to your own wife for eight years, and you still do not know the answer to that damn question?" snapped Shikamaru. hand on his forehead. "Where had you been living all your life?"
His vintage smirk, reminiscent of those boyish grins he wore whenever debating with the then young Prince Sasuke, and more frequently, with Mage Tenten, spread on his handsome, more mature face. "Surely you jest. Tenten and I stand on equal grounds. Besides, we respect each other more than man and wife...we are partners."
"Respect...heh. When did I last used that word on myself?" Shikamaru smiled ruefully as Rock Lee handed him some more beer. "Just yesterday, I had to cross several kingdoms to reach the Waterfall territory and get those rare kind of pears that grow only in that region of the continent. I tried to reason with her, tell her that she can get pears in the own orchards of our kingdom, but did she listen to me? Oh no! She kicked me out of my room and told me not to dare show my butt in the Yamanaka Wing unless I have her precious pears!"
Inuzuka Kiba, now the appointed Earl of the Commoners' Court after Rock Lee let go of his title to become a Starlet himself, looked at Shikamaru curiously. "And she's like that every single day of your married life? Gee, now I'm having second thoughts about marrying too."
Uzumaki Naruto, the only one not touching the spirited drinks but was devouring the solid food on the table, paused long enough from emptying the mixed peanuts bowl to grin vexingly towards the former stable steward's direction. "As if you have a prospect!"
Hatake Kakashi, gamely reading his Come Come Paradise novel while sipping from his can of beer, joined the conversation again. "Ah, Naruto, I'm sure Earl Inuzuka has one...although I do not really approve of it. Maybe I'm just prude, but Earl Kiba and the dog just doesn't do it for me."
Kiba rolled his eyes. Twelve years hadn't changed the annoying ways of the grand Hidden Leaf Starlets mascot a bit. And worse, he still looked as cheeky and young as he was back at the prime of his career-- successfully looking after both the Sharingan heir and the Fourth Hokage's Legacy.
Aburame Shino, Earl of the Aburame Court, sipped his drink quietly, and then turned to Naruto. "What about you and the Lady Hinata?"
Naruto blinked. "What about us?"
"Have you proposed marriage to her already?" he asked, as if it was the most ordinary question to pose in this Guys Night Out session for this month.
Beer squirted out of everyone's noses.
"Marriage?" Now the Kyuubi boy looked confused. "But..."
"You told her that you love her, remember?" asked Neji, his voice turning low and dangerous. Over the years, his protective instinct for his cousin had grown, though his way of expressing it was often awkward and not very vocal. "Or were you just intetntionally playing with her feelings? Because if you are, I would have to remind that first and foremost, she is a Hyuuga and a court lady too, so I could personally deliver to you infernal pain and--"
Lee laughingly patted the Earl Hyuga's shoulders. "Calm down, Neji-kun! Of course Naruto-kun is just waiting for the right time to ask her hand for marriage. It's not a simple thing, you know!"
Neji frowned and pushed his friend's hand away. "What is so complicated about that? I love the witch, and I gave her my name. It's all so simple, mind you." He turned to the still clueless-looking man. "Marriage is the most honorable thing to offer to a lady like her. Nothing less should be given to her, do you understand?"
Naruto paused, and then grinned sheepishly. "Yeah!"
Shikamaru took one big gulp of the alcoholic beverage, and then got up. "I have to go. I still have to cook dinner."
The men in the table gaped at him openly.
"What?" sputtered the man. "Ino likes my cooking!"
Neji was the first one to recover. "Heh. I can never understand why you let yourself fall under the control of women. Tenten will never do that to me. She isn't bossy, and she is not a nagger." And the earl contemplated once more on how fortunate he was to have the Mage Tenten for his other half. She was perfect-- she was beyond cravings for pears or forced cooking, and she could give a GREAT back rub. He smiled at that thought. Ah, how his crotch tightens at the thought of him, his wife, herbal body oils, and a bath tub! Eight years of marriage, and she could still easily deprive him of his breath when she smiles seductively his way, or mentions body massage.
Kakashi noticed the goofy smile forming on the usually poker-faced earl, and then raised a thumbs-up at his face. He was all too familiar with those kinds of smiles, as often depicted by his daily bibliophile gospel.
"Today, Ino wants fried fish with Waterfall Kingdom pears stuffed in them!" whined Shika some more. "God, I could never decipher what kind of cuisine spirit had entered her system for her to think of those ridiculous menus!"
"Well, maybe she's pregnant," shrugged Lee casually.
Suddenly, Shikamaru's whole body froze.
"Don't tell me that thought never crossed your mind!" Kiba looked at the man, astonished. "I mean, what had you two been doing in your bedroom for the past few months?"
"That's not a proper thing to ask married couples, Kiba!" exclaimed Naruto, eyes wide.
Lee and Kakashi laughed, while everyone else's faces turned dark. Twelve years older, but Naruto would always be Naruto-- naive, innocent, and frustratingly unwitting.
"My wife...pregnant..." Slowly, Shikamaru smiled, trembling at that. "I'm going to be,,,a father..."
"You don't sound like you believe it," said Kakashi, smiling. "Were you hoping to be a mother instead?"
Suddenly, Shikamaru was on his way out of the room. "Guard! Get a coach ready! We're going to the Waterfall Kingdom and get all the wild pears they have! ON THE DOUBLE!!!"
Everyone sweatdropped. Was this the same man who was complaining awhile ago about wives tending to be too abusive domestically?
"Henpecked." Neji smirked. "Heh. That Yamanaka brat should be taught a lesson, you know. Shikamaru is already starting to forget the essence of being a man because of her, bowing down before a woman--"
"DADDY!!!"
"Baby!!!" Neji shot up from his seat like a bullet, just as the door burst open,revealing an eight-year-old girl with long raven hair tied behind her shoulders. Her eyes bore the Byakugan eyes the Hyuuga Clan prided on so much, but in Neji's eyes, hers were far more striking than any Hyuuga he knew. Those gray orbs were capable of seeing through a person's soul, and finding weaknesses that can be used to pound any man or beast to submission.
"Daddy, Konohamaru refused to play with me again!" Hyuuga Kaori crossed her arms over her chest. "Make him go here and play with me!"
Neji smiled weakly. "Er...sweetie, I don't think we can do that. Konohamaru is busy preparing for his Chuunin exams..."
"I'm not going to stop him from taking it!" she screeched, making the men around the table sweatdrop. "I just want to play with him!"
"Sweetie..."
"DADDY!!!"
Hyuuga Neji winced. He knew fighting his only daughter, his light and joy, was a lost cause. Tenten had often punched the back of his head for spoling their child rotten, but alas, his only flower was his ultimate waterloo. "I-I'll think of something," he promised her.
"Hmp! Whether he want it or not, he has to obey future father-in-law!" said the girl.
The men choked.
"Your daughter is crushing on the Third's grandson?" yelped Kiba.
"I heard he had taken the Chuunin exams only now because he had always found a way to escape it. But now he has no choice-- either he becomes a Chuunin, or tarnish the reputation of his grandfather." Shino had to smile at that.
"Konohamaru, huh?" Naruto grinned. "Well then, Kaori-chan, goodluck!"
The girl smiled sweetly at him. "Thanks Uncle Naruto! I love you even more now!"
A vein popped in Neji's head. "Uncle...Naruto? When had you started calling that guy THAT?"
"Well, Auntie Hinata said it was okay for me to call him that..."
"She did?" Naruto and Neji echoed at the same time.
Kaori winked. "But keep that a secret okay!"
Naruto slowly nodded as everyone else in the table laughed. Twelve years had passed, and the fairy tale of the frog and the princess is still yet to find its happily ever after ending, what with the cluelessness of the prince charming and the shy princess.
"She sure is high-spirited, huh?" said Kakashi, grinning. "A spirit that reminds me of the court lady Haruno..."
The men fell silent. As much as possible, they didn't want to bring to the conversation the name of the court lady. After the victory celebration of the Leaf kingdom twelve years ago, the court lady suddenly disappeared, telling no one of her whereabouts. The people working inside the palace immediately sensed the devastating effect of it on the prince-- his temper and irrationality had grown unbelievably unreasonable, which was bad, considering that he was already beyond reason at his normal state.
"Why did you guys clam up?" the girl wanted to know. "That Lady Haruno you guys said...she's not that bad, I hope."
Rock Lee answered for them. "She is very precious. She saved the life of Prince Sasuke, and in turn, the whole kingdom too."
--- the omakes
++ Behind TFTP ++
++ the quotes
Chapters 1-5
main quote::
“But your being a frog doesn’t affect the tone of your voice—vibrant, firm, and lucid. Few people speak that way, especially in the court where I work…”
- Hinata, when Naruto in frog form asked how she was able to understand him
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Sasuke: Are you coming with me or what?
Kakashi: What. [plops down the grass and whips out his Come Come Paradise novel]
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Shika: Now perhaps I can resume my interrupted siesta?
Ino: I never interrupted anything. Your life is nothing but a long chain of siestas anyway.
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(over the dining table)
Ebisu: Be grateful, Naruto, that you turned into a frog, not a toad. At least frogs have teeth--toads don't.
Naruto: Wow, imagine that!
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Sasuke: (notices Kakashi's silence) What, no punchlines for this evening?
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(talking to the frog-form Naruto)
Hinata: D-Do you eat cookies...or would you prefer something else?
Naruto: Something else?
Hinata: H-Hai...maybe you prefer f-flies...[blushes]
Naruto: [eyes bulged] FLIES?! Gross! Why would I eat flies when there's pizza around?
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(still talking with Naru-chan, this time on how he managed to enter the palace w/o Sasuke knowing it)
Hinata: And he didn't sense your presence?
Naruto: He didn't. I'm not sensible.
Hinata: Nani?
Naruto: I said, he didn't sense me because I wasn't sensible. I'm not capable of being sensed.
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(reflecting on Sakura)
Sasuke: And Kakashi thinks I'm going to marry someone like HER? Heavens forbid! If God wanted me to marry, he could at least had given me some nice options..."
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(on Shino)
Kiba: He has got to be the most anti-social person in the world. Maybe he and Prince Sasuke went to the same finishing school of remoteness and soundless speech power.
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(before the Hidden Leaf Royal Court)
Lord Yamanaka: Hey you, the one on the front seat! Yes you! Your fly is open!
(gasps)
Lord Yamanaka: Oh it isn't? Good. That's all I need to know to check whether you're listening to me or not. (looks at audience)
(Prince Sasuke is still looking down at his trousers, dark aura surrounding him)
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(after Hinata recited the specialty jutsu of the other neighboring kingdoms like Sand)
Naruto: And what is Hidden Leaf famous for?
Hinata: Prince Sasuke, I think.
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--- author faves
+ Top 5 Fave TFTP Characters
5. His Majesty Prince Uchiha Sasuke - I confess: I do NOT like him in the series...sure, he's cute and all, but his overall angst can become irksome after awhile. Plus, he's way too typical: mysterious, aloof, and popular with the girls. I tried to make him more human in this fic, with him relating more openly with the rest of the cast, esp. Sakura (who I tried to make less annoying too). I also used my fascination with the awesome student-teacher relationship between Kakashi and him for humorous effects, as well as his legendary love-hate relationship with Naruto. The result: I liked writing his scenes, and I didn't make him suffer too much in Orochi baby's hands.
4. Nara Shikamaru - another OOC treatment ehehe. Portrayed as someone who finds almost just about ANYTHING to be TROUBLESOME, it's quite a surprise to make him into a lovesick guy who is willing to continue loving even on his own. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed ficcating his part-- all my woes regarding unrequited love, I wrote down on his part.
3. Uzumaki Naruto - His naivety is the thing I like most to write about him in this fanfic. It's wonderful to turn this usual lead-character-inborn-airheadedness into an endearing and entertaining quality. But then again, who wouldn't adore Naruto-kun? Hehe
2. Mage Tenten - she is much more outspoken here than in the canon,making her OOC. But I enjoyed writing her parts -- she reminds me of myself too. She's frank, smart, and confident. When in love, she falls sensibly. Indeed, she is the perfect match for Neji's otherwise domineering ways.
1. Sir Hatake Kakashi - of all the characters in the fic, this guy reflects my personality the most: annoying, funny, blissfully single, perv-ish, and cheerful. I couldn't bring myself to pair him up with another person, may it be Anko, Kurenai, Sakura, or Iruka. It's so much nicer to think of him as a forever bachelor, existing to annoy and amaze other people with his wit, and make us fangirls happy =^_^=
--- reviews & flames
+++ people
One of my greatest pleasures when I write TFTP is getting to meet new people who adore the Naruto as much as I do, and maybe even more than I imagine. I especially remember them when they show a slice of themselves whenever they review or email me to comment about my fic, and even Naruto in general.
Here are some of them. I may have forgotten to include other people but blame it on my bad memory hehe.
The Pioneer Reviewers :: Jiri-chan, Xoni Newcomer, WormKaizer, immortalrin
Ever since the first few chapters of TFTP, they had already been reviewing. They patiently read everyday as the story slowly unfolded, and they had been very encouraging and helpful whenever I go blank on some details...like when I still do not know the surnames of Ino and Shika ^^;;. They encouraged me to think big for the fanfic and to not be afraid to experiment with the potential of the AU plot of the story.
The Pinoy Reviewers (New) :: xXx Liquid Fantasy xXx, ^^;; a.k.a chitosan, Kamui Archetype, izumi-17,hinata-chan, buta-chan, hikariko,bubblekid, orrie-chan
These are my kababayans (countrymates) that who proudly stated in their reviews that they are Pinoys too. They write some of the spiciest, funniest reviews in TFTP, mainly because they use Tagalog, and only Tagalog-proficient readers can get the gist of their messages ^-^. I guess that is one of the things why I consider them special hehe. Special children? XD Nah, special pals who understand why I rant on Kakashi and Sasuke's dubs, and how much of an [censored] those ABS-CBN people are for not at least finishing the Chuunin Exam Finals. May they be in the Philippines too, or somewhere else in the world, they proudly say, "PINOY Naruto fan ako!!!!"
The Familiar Faces :: Takari-san,Dark-hooded Eriol the Mag, Chiharu-chan,
They are the reviewers who, no matter what fandom I write for, may it be CCS, Furuba, IY, Mankin, Naruto, or what-have-yous, they still read and review. My 100+ stories from different fandoms are attributed also to their support. ^-^
The Hyper Reviewers :: Miko-chan, Refin-chan, chibihatsuharu, white witch, ms-aya-chan, kenchan_miyuki, ami-chan, Yami to Hikari, Nutty Scribbler, AnimeFreakPerson,
They are the type of reviewers that crack me up the most, because their cheerfulness and high-spiritedness reflect in their reviews. Whenever they are excited about the scene, they will write so, and even suggest plot twists, which I add to the story if I think it will add to the betterment of the plot. They also go as far as sympathize with the characters, curse the antagonists, and get involved in the flow of the events.
The Oneshot Memorables :: chisio no hime, Ah-Choo,Kakashis-Rabid-Fangirl, Kaguara Sohma, Maya Amano, Fluffy-chan
They reviewed TFTP only once or twice, but their reviews are so sweet that I still remember them while I'm stuck on one part of the fic. It helps me will my writer's block away, with the thought that there are those who wait for the continuation of the TFTP characters' lives, even without them saying so in review form.
+++ booboos and loopholes
I am not a nobody, therefore I am not perfect. I enlist the mistakes in the fic, as well as the loopholes of the story. Feel free to email me if you feel you have something that should be placed under this section too.
A. Dog-Wolf Thingie
Taken from Chap. 13
“The nine-tails is a mythical animal owing its origins to wolves, and if you must know, these animals have strong needs for them to belong. And once he belongs to a pack, he will fight tooth and nail for his comrades,” informed the white-haired man before excusing himself out of the room.
My sister pointed out that a fox cannot thank the wolves for its origin, for according to biological nomenclature, both the fox and the wolf come from the dog family. It's like she won't thank me for her existence because I cannot personally claim that I was the one who had undergone caesarian for her hehe. Thanks, sis!
B. Anko's Age
Because her local dubbing makes her sound matured, and because she seems to hold a higher status than most jounins like Kurenai, I thought Anko is older than them. But izumi-17 pointed out that, in fact, Anko is just 23! WOW! I was...shocked. So Kakashi's older than her? 0.o Nweiz, I'm doing a plot twist on that soon to correct that. I've learned my lesson: do THOROUGH research before writing!
--- deleted scenes
++ Beside TFTP ++
--- Gallery
Anyway, feel free to make fanarts for the fanfic, and I'll post them here for you.
--- Subscribe
Chicharong Flower Story ML
Chicharong Flower is a contemporary Tagalog NejiTen piece I wrote as an extra read for the Pinoy readers of TFTP. It chronicles the life of Tenten, a chicharong bulaklak vendor and her life and love affair told in an intellegent and compelling fashion of true-to-life telenovelas and fantaseryes. It is written in classic Nokia language that is liable to get burned by your incensed Language teachers if ever found.
What they say about Chicharong Flower
From: --=_Sheine_=--
Date: Sat Aug 7, 2004 3:23 am
Subject: chicharong bulaklak and ro the animation
grabe syaowee, iba k tlga! muka akong batang nakawala sa mental d2 sa internet cafe kakatawa sa gawa mo. Idol!!!! pinagttnginan ako ng mga tao d2 muka tlga akong baliw hahahahahahaha isang buong paragraph mo sakit ng tyan ko kakatawa sunudsunod, adik k tlga!!!! credits p lng sa cmula eh ahahahahaahahahah
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 03:14:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Alyssa Ang"
Subject: Re: Chicharong Flower ang sumunod n kabanata
...sobra syang nakakatawa na i had to stiffle my laughter
kc i was in my parents' room. ang galing ng sense of
humor mo. kapag binabasa ko 'to para akong mahuhulog
sa upuan ko sa kakatawa....
Curious already? Then SIGN UP for the ML! Get hot-off-the-AkocPC1 hard disk updates of the story, as well as other Tagalog Naruto ficlets and comic strips that I come up with everyday.
Libre 'to no! Hehe
(c) 2004 Chicharong Flower. Syaoran no Hime. All rights reserved. Naruto and its characters belong to Kishimoto-sensei, SO THERE!
++ Multi-Poll
Bored? Here's something to take up your surfing time. Answer these ten questions and check the stats.
+++
TFTP Character Selector
+++
TFTP Who Said That?
+++
TFTP Knowledge Challenge
++ Outside TFTP ++
Link to TFTP: The Website
http://www.oocities.org/tftpthesite
Do you read TFTP? Then send
me your site/blog/lj buttons + your site url and I will link to you!
(c)2004 The Frog and the Princess, The Frog and the Princess: the Website Syaoran no Hime. All rights reserved. No part of the fanfic or the site may be reproduced without prior permission from syao-chan.
