Disclaimer: I certainly don't own Naruto, Disney or any of its affiliated 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
The Sherwood Forest, half an hour after Robin and Little John robbed the Prince…
Triumphantly returning from their impromptu robbing session, Robin and Little John were taking a load off by cooling their sweaty bodies in a medium sized pond. The two friends were enjoying the relative peace in their little isolated section of the woods while sharing a good laugh about how they outsmarted the foolish prince.
"Haha – Robin old pal, you really can pass as a vixen when you want to! I can't believe Prince John didn't figure it out, even when Hiss was literally telling him to be suspicious!" Little John guffawed as he floated on the water's surface on his back, a lazy smile on his face as he watched the morning sunlight pass through the leaves of the trees above.
"What can I say? It's a talent to be able to disguise yourself as anything you want – not that our resident prince needs any real strategy to deal with…he's a pretty childish man!" Robin said, mumbling the last part out since his ears pricked up when they picked up a series of crackles and snaps from the undergrowth. Someone was coming to the pond, someone quite heavy, if the cadence of the footfalls and the volume of the undergrowth being crushed was anything to go by…
"Hehe…looks like today is my lucky day! The infamous outlaw Robin Hood and without his bow…or even his clothes by the look of it – I must sneak up on the bugger lest he scurries into the forest!" The Sheriff said, 'sneaking' up on the swimming pair, unaware that his heavy footsteps have given his position away a long time ago.
Meanwhile, Robin had already warned John about their 'guest', allowing the bear to hide in the bushes while Robin clambered up a nearby tree. As such, it was a confused sheriff that burst into the swimming spot, his exultant expression falling away to be replaced by a lost one. Despite his wolfish nature, the Sheriff was unable to use any of his senses to discover that Robin was in a tree above him and it was an irritated Sheriff who walked back to town, his mood somewhat mollified by the prospect of filching the local townsfolk of every last farthing they owned (especially since one of his vulture assistants, Trigger came to tell him that the Prince had appointed him the royal tax collector).
Meanwhile, back in Nottingham…
"Man, time really changes a lot of things huh? I guess the locals really got busy in the last ten years…there are a lot more kids than I remember…" Naruto said, casually walking through the streets to Alan's house, attracting the attention of everyone around (he knew that walking around in his armor was a stupid idea but he didn't have a change of clothes – kind of par for the course when you spend a decade on the road, fighting soldiers, braving blistering winds and scorching deserts) as he did so. The years had been especially kind to our resident ninja, as his large but gangly body (Kurama's physique) had filled out nicely, with impressive musculature more appropriate on a lion instead of a fox. As such, he had grown into quite the heart throb, as women who never knew him could help but find the sight of him arresting at the very least.
Upon entering Alan's home, he was greeted by his erstwhile guardian, who had grown a little older in the tooth but still had the vigor of a much younger rooster.
"Oh my, do mine eyes deceive me? Is that Naruto, come home after ten long years away from good ol' Nottingham?" Alan said as Naruto laughed before darting forward to give him a hug. Alan tried to give as good as he got but his shorter wingspan couldn't hope to span his friend's chest, let alone reach around his back.
"Hey there Alan! Yeah, I am back, this time for good – I got Richard to the Holy Land and even made friends with the locals. It was quite the sticky situation before I came along and smoothened things out – they even gave me this cool armor! It's way better than the heavy, stiff chainmail armor that the English army wears!" Naruto said, gesturing to his armor, which was a leather set, with metal parts around the kneecaps and shoulders. On his back, he had a long customized scimitar, the curved blade gleaming in the light from the front door and a far cry from the broadswords that the people would normally see.
"Oh I can see that – you've really changed for the better it seems! If only I could say the same about us but alas, 'tis not the case, for poor old Nottingham is really in dire straits right now…" Alan said, watching as Naruto tilted his head curiously.
"What do you mean? I kind of rushed here and wasn't paying too much attention to the environs ya know…" Naruto said before Alan pulled him along, taking him out of the house and walking around the town.
"After you left with the King, Prince John increased the taxes of everyone here, saying that you were the reason that the town was able to keep afloat and with you gone, we had to pick up the slack or pay up!" Alan said, pointing to the poor in the town.
Now more than a little affronted, Naruto grabbed his shoulder before fixing him with a serious glare.
"Okay – that sounds like a load of hogwash! You guys work hard and all I did was provide basic labor! Looks like I have some stuff to clean up around here…" Naruto grumbled, unaware that in another part of town, the Sheriff had entered the town and was now in the process of taking the hard won earnings of the townspeople.
Back with the Sheriff, Otto, Friar Tuck and the disguised Robin Hood…
Otto the blacksmith was a humble bloodhound – after spending over half of his life as a purveyor of fine metal goods and a respectable craftsman to boot, he was looking forward to his imminent retirement with the modest nest egg he had managed to save up after years of work. However, this dream of his was in danger with how the Sheriff seemed to have an uncanny ability to sniff out money (and he was the bloodhound!) and due to an accident earlier in the month leading to him breaking his leg, he knew he didn't have enough money to give Bushel Britches. Thankfully, Friar Tuck came with a brilliant idea – why not hide the paltry coins he had in his leg cast!
Unfortunately, the old dog was about to pay a very painful price for his temerity, although not as harsh since Naruto was back…
"So, you know the old song and dance by now, cough up the money Otto. Time to pay your taxes old man!" The Sheriff cackled, delighting in the pitiful hangdog expression on the older canine's face.
"Oh come off it Bushel Britches! Can't you see the poor man has nothing to give you? He could barely work this month with his broken leg! Where's your sense of Christian charity?!" Friar Tuck said, trying to appeal to the Sheriff's better nature while Otto hobbled around his home.
The Sheriff was a crafty one though – his ears pricked up, noticing the tell tale clinking of coins coming from Otto's cast. This, in combination with the fact that the wolf had spied on the two men before entering the home meant that he had a devious plan in mind, both to get his money and have some sadistic pleasure all in one.
"Why, of course! I am a God fearing man after all! Otto, have a seat – I'll even raise your leg so you can rest easy!" The Sheriff said while the suspicious Otto and Friar allowed this to happen. The Sheriff then proceeded to whack the hound's leg, uncaring about Otto's pained yelps until a three gold coins dropped into his waiting paw.
Now knowing that the Sheriff had discovered their ploy before they realized it, the two men sagged in their seats, full of despair. The Sheriff then left with one last parting remark.
"Do not fret - it is all part of the pain of giving since after all, we all want a better society! Hahaha!" He said, leaving the home. Now that the wolf had left, Robin (disguised as a beggar) entered the home before pushing a small coin pouch into Otto's shaking hands.
"Robin! You shouldn't have come today – the Sheriff is in town!" Friar Tuck said while Robin simply waved off the worry, smiling at the happy bloodhound who grasped his shivering paws together before blessing the fox.
"Never mind that Friar – you know ol' Bushel Britches can never really catch me anyway!" Robin said, walking out of the home.
Meanwhile, back with Naruto and Alan…
Naruto and Alan were walking over to Mother Rabbit's home since it was her son Skippy's birthday (while Naruto didn't know the kid, he did know his mother and he wanted to say hello). After knocking on her door, they were greeted with a little rabbit girl, who gasped and blushed when she saw a hunky fox on her doorstep.
"Oh! Who are you sir? How can I help you?" The girl said, internally squealing at Naruto's looks while completely forgetting that Alan was with him as well.
Smirking at the girl's reaction to his adoptive son, Alan moved forward to the girl, her eyes lighting up in recognition.
"Hoy there Sis! My son and I are here to attend your brother's birthday and introduce Naruto here to your brother and sister!" Alan said as Sis turned to regard Naruto, playing with her dress before giggling and nodding.
"Sure~ come in! Just be careful – the nasty ol' Sheriff is here today and I don't know what he wants!" Sis said before guiding the two to their home's backyard, where they bore witness to a deplorable act.
Skippy was just opening his presents, the seven year old excitedly chatting with his sister, Tagalong and his best friend Toby under the watchful eye of his mother. Off to the side, the Sheriff was watching the proceedings. Once the rabbit opened his present, it was revealed to be a single silver farthing but just before Skippy could take the coin, the Sheriff took it from him; ignoring Mother Rabbit's scolding and berating. Smug as can be, the Sheriff was about to leave the house , only to come face to face with an irate, nine foot tall fox growling at him. Now more than suitably cowed, the Sheriff cowered away from Naruto.
"N-Naruto?! When did you return?! I thought you were still with King Richard on your crusade?!" The Sheriff said, shaking in his boots when Naruto snarled at him before snatching the farthing back from the wolf.
"I came back early – Richard will be back in a few days so you better get to explaining why you're robbing the people here!" Naruto said as the Sheriff stammered out some half-assed excuse about the crown's revenue falling because of the slacking of the labor force of Nottingham but Naruto didn't buy it.
"Come off it – you know that's all hogwash. If you want money, you have to let enough of it stay out of your hands so more of it can be made! Nobody will use your money if you hoard all of it and you can tell that to John yourself – now scram!" Naruto said, booting the Sheriff out of the house, the wolf yelping in fear as the house's occupants all laughed at the sight.
"Gee thanks Mister! Are you sure that was wise though? The Sheriff can get you thrown in the dungeons for that!" Skippy said while Naruto simply smiled at him before patting him on the head.
"Don't you worry about that – I am part of the castle staff and the Rhino guard know me well. Now, Robin, when are you going to take off that ridiculous disguise and give your presents to Skippy?" Naruto said as Robin sheepishly removed his beggar cloak before scratching his head good-naturedly.
"Welcome back Naruto! I am sure John, Marian and Kluck would love to meet with you so visit us later yeah?" Robin said, passing a small bow and his own hat to the ecstatic Skippy, who promptly rushed out of his home with his siblings and friend to try out his new 'toy'.
"Oh don't you worry about that – I'll be paying a visit to the castle in a few minutes…while seeing how Marian and Kluck are doing is appealing, there's the more worrying issue of Prince John's policies. Looks like I have to knock some heads together once again…" Naruto mused, looking out the window at the castle, where the greedy lion lived.
And that was chapter 57 – Naruto's involvement means that the mid to end arcs of Robin Hood will be a lot shorter since Naruto can toss aside all resistance from John and the Sheriff. Since the plot thickens after the archery contest, Naruto will take down any resistance, so stay tuned for the next chapter!
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