Yeah. I know. There's WAY too many of these anime/Disney stories. Well… here's another one!
Beauty and the Beast was always a favorite of mine, mostly for the message it brings that beauty isn't found on the outside, but inside someone.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Beauty and the Beast.

NOTE: I miss words and mispell occasionally, so if you spot a mistake, let me know so I can fix it.
Thank you!

EDIT! Fixed center aligning problems and ending.(hopefully)

Prologue

Once upon a time, in a far away land. A young prince lived in a shining castle.

Far away in the far reaches of the kingdom of Konaha, there stood the castle of the Namikaze family. The late King Minato had fallen in battle during the war with the Sound kingdom many years before, while his wife Queen Kushina died giving birth to their only son. On the day of the king's death, his son Naruto was only six years old. So by decision of the council, the king's councilman, as well as Naruto's godfather, Jiraiya was to rule in place of the king until Naruto's 18th birthday.

After many years, Naruto's 18th birthday came and gone and he stepped up as the rightful heir to the throne.

Although he had everything his heart desired. The prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind.

In the evening, Naruto, finished with his royal duties for the day, walked in the royal dining room and sat down at the end of the long oak table. When he looked at the fine china dishes and glistening silver utensils before him, his eyes flickered in anger when he noticed no meal on any of the dishes.

"Sakura! Bring me my meal!" he shouted towards the kitchen.

He heard the clutter of pots and pans and not but 2 minutes later, a young woman with hair as pink as cherry blossoms emerged from the kitchen with a food cart piled with many fine foods fit for a king. As soon as she wheeled over to the table, she began setting out the appetizers. The prince stared at the unfamiliar food and made a face.

"Sakura. What is this! Where are my noodles!" the prince demanded, always preferring a small bowl of noodles before the main course.

"They're a sort of pastry called 'kolache' or as the townspeople love to call them, 'pigs in a blanket.'" replied the maid.

Naruto gave them an unsure glance, but he picked one up and took little in his teeth. His eyes widened at the gritty taste and he spat it out on the plate.

"You call this an appetizer! It tastes like the bottom of my shoe!" He swiped at the un-appetizing appetizer sending it to the wall. "Now get my noodles!"

Sakura held back the urge to sigh but proceeded to clean up the pastry mess.

Naruto suddenly lost his appetite and stood up tossing his napkin from his lap.

"Your Highness. What about your dinner?"

"Not hungry!"

But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold.

Naruto walked down the hallway, passing by the many knight armors lining the walls. He made his way to his bed chambers, walking by the front door on the way. He froze in mid-step when he heard a soft "thud" from the door. He stood still for several seconds and slowly made his way to the door.

'Who would be knocking at this time of night?' He glanced out the window, taking in the freezing storm outside. 'In this weather none the less.'

He placed his hand on the brass handle and pulled it open letting a cold, wet gust blow inside. He shielded himself with his orange cape and stepped in the doorway. He saw a hunched figure clad in a grungy cloak. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a mere old beggar woman.

"Please kind sir." rasped the old woman. "Could you find it in your heart to give an old woman a warm bed for the night. I don't have any money, but I can give you this lovely rose in return." She extended the beautiful blossom towards the prince.

Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away.

Naruto's face visibly cringed at the woman's disfigured face.

"There is no place here for a repulsive thing such as you! Keep your worthless rose and leave this place!"

But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beauty is found within.

Despite his harsh words, the old woman stood her ground.

"I wouldn't act so rash young one. True beauty cannot be found outside, but within oneself." recited the old woman.

And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.

Naruto ignored her wise words and once again tried to rid himself of the woman.

"I couldn't care less what you have to say! Now get away from my castle you ugly old hag!"

He was suddenly blinded by a bright light from the old woman. When he opened his eyes he saw not the old woman, but a beautiful maiden with blonde hair dressed in green robes carrying a staff with a diamond mark on her forehead.

The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart.

Naruto stared in awe of her beauty and dropped to his knees.

"I-I…f-forgive me…I-" but the enchantress cut him off, "Silence you selfish brat! You had your chance and you blew it!" she shouted angrily. "It amazes me how heartless this kingdom's ruler is!"

And as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there.

"I bestow upon you and your castle a curse! A curse as dark as your heart!" She waved her staff and hit the kneeling prince squarely on the head. "Ah!" Naruto grasped his head as a wave of pain enveloped his body. "Aaah…uh..*pant**pant*..ugh…aaaaaah!" His bones began to shift and grind as his body transformed. He looked at his hands and screamed as his nails grew long and sharp claws. Pain went down his spine as nine orange-furred tails sprouted from his backside. "Gyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!" he screamed in excruciating pain as his ears grew out and a long muzzle extended from his skull.

When his pain subsided, he stood up feeling like a stranger in his own body.

"W-what? What did you do to me?" he hissed in beastly voice.

The enchantress spoke once more. "Listen well brat! The spell I placed on you will only break the day you learn to love another, and earn her love in return. But you must do this…" she pulled the rose she offered earlier, "before the last petal on this rose falls." It began to shine in her hand. "I wish you luck, and may God have mercy on your soul." She slammed the end of her staff on the ground sending a magical shock through the castle. The stunning castle began to turn black, the statues of angels and celestials reverted to demons and devilish beings, the stained glass windows morphed the biblical pictorials into Satanic imagery. The inhabitants of the castle began to change form as well.

*Inside the castle*

Sakura was cleaning the dining room table while Lee, one of many male servants, was mopping the marble floors. Lee looked towards Sakura, taking in her sullen mood.

"I take it he didn't like kolaches." Sakura shook her head. "It pains me to see our dear prince acting so selfish. What happened to youthful, exuberant Naruto that we grew up with?" Lee questioned while tears cascaded down his cheeks. Sakura sighed. 'Here he goes again.' "Our kingdom is in need of a kind hearted king with youthful ideals. But that will never happen unless Naruto lightens up and marries a woman with a beautiful mind AND body!" Lee concludes in a dramatic pose with his mop in hand.

"Two things Lee. 1. There's more to a woman than just 'beautiful body.' And 2. Naruto's the LEAST likely to ever get married because he so shallow. And furthermore-"BOOM! Sakura was cut short when a tremor swept her off her feet. "What-what's happening?" "Sakura! Are you okay?" Lee asked while helping her up. A sudden surge went through their bodies. A magical mist surrounded both of them and slowly transformed them as well as every single person in the castle. When the enchantress's work was complete, she spirited away leaving her rose and the cursed prince writhing in emotional agony over his beastly form.

Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world.

Naruto slashed at his portrait in self-loathing rage as he continued to trash his chambers.

'Stupid hag! She has no idea what she's done!'

He walked by a mirror and quickly smashed it to pieces once he caught sight of his grotesque vulpine face. He sat in the far corner of his bedroom and buried his face in his clawed hands and sobbed. After a while, he looked up and stared at the shining mirror on the table where, encased in a glass covering, the rose the enchantress had given him stood awaiting to bloom.

The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose which would bloom until his 21st year. If he could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time.

He stared at the rose for what seemed like an eternity while the words of the enchantress running through his mind.

'What would that old woman know about love? True love only exists in fairy tales!'

He stood up and walked on his fox feet to the balcony to stare at the eternally gray skies. The clouds rumbled loudly and shot angry lightning towards the castle, and eventually let loose a light rain. But the rain did nothing to quell his feelings of self hate and hopelessness.

As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope.

'Earn a woman's love in return.'He looked at his hands-no, paws and cringed in disgust at his orange furred digits complete with sharp claws.

'What woman in her right mind would love a monster!'

As the years passed, the prince fell deep into his hate-racked mind to a point of no return. But the question he asked himself before still clouded his thoughts.

Who could ever learn to love a beast?

Review plz