The sun dipped toward the horizon as Naruto reached the outer walls, casting long golden shadows. The castle gates were closed and heavily guarded by armored soldiers — but Naruto, being Naruto, didn't even hesitate.
Sneaking in was way too easy.
The guards were normal humans, not shinobi. No chakra, no sealing tags, no traps. Naruto had spent most of his life dodging ANBU and prank-hunting Jonin compared to that, scaling the outer wall of this Castle was nothing.
He circled around to a less crowded alley, judging the height of the stone walls with a critical eye.
"Tch, easy," he muttered under his breath.
With practiced ease, he leapt up, using handholds and quick bursts of chakra to cling to the surface. His sandals barely made a sound as he scrambled over the edge and dropped down into a deserted courtyard.
Naruto straightened up, brushing dust off his sleeves, and looked around with a wide grin.
"I'm inside!"
Marble floors gleamed beneath the torches. Wide staircases spiraled upward toward towering halls decorated with banners bearing a snowflake crest.
It was like something out of a dream.
He wandered carefully, staying out of sight, letting instinct guide him deeper into the castle.
Somewhere inside, behind these heavy doors and elegant halls, was the mysterious Queen he had overheard the townsfolk talking about.
Naruto's heart raced with excitement—and just a little nervousness.
Who was she?
Was she really someone powerful?
---
He didn't realize that his life—and hers were about to change forever.
All because of a simple question burning in his chest:
"What kind of person is a queen?"
---
But the deeper he went, the heavier the air felt. Not in a threatening way—just… lonely. Like every hallway was waiting for someone to break the silence.
Why does this place feel so sad?
Naruto pressed forward, climbing a narrow spiral stair that led to a private balcony high above the castle grounds.
That's when he saw her.
A solitary figure stood at the balcony's edge, a royal cape draped around her like mist. Platinum-blonde hair shimmered in the fading light, stirred gently by the wind. She gazed out over the snow-blanketed valley, cloaked in a silence that didn't feel peaceful—it felt hollow.
Frost glittered faintly in the air around her.
Naruto's breath caught. Not from the cold but from the stillness of her presence. Like she was part of the view… and somehow apart from it.
Then she turned.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Naruto yelped and stumbled forward. "Ah!Sorry—sorry! Didn't mean to startle you. I was just—uh… sightseeing?"
She didn't move. But her eyes flicked toward him, sharp and searching—not afraid, just alert. Like she sensed more than footsteps.
"You climbed in through the upper terrace."
He scratched his cheek, grinning sheepishly. "Yeah… kinda. I heard people talking about a queen and some big coronation, and, well huge fancy castle? Had to see it for myself."
She studied him. No anger. Just… curiosity.
"You're not from Arendelle."
Naruto tilted his head. "Aren-who-now?"
A flicker of amusement touched her expression. "Where are you from?"
"Far," he said, with that trademark crooked grin. "Really far."
She didn't ask more. That caught him off guard.
He took a careful step forward. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Ninja of the Hidden Leaf. Though I'm guessing that doesn't mean much here."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Recognition—or maybe just intrigue—passed through them like a cloud across the moon.
"I'm Elsa," she said softly. "Queen of Arendelle."
His mouth dropped open. "Wait—you're the queen?"
She nodded, quiet but steady.
"…Huh." He blinked. "You don't really look how I pictured."
Her brows lifted. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean… I figured queens were supposed to be old and bossy. You just look… kinda tired."
That made her pause. Something shifted in her face—surprise, then the faintest trace of a smile.
"Maybe I am."
---