A Father's Dying Wish

by Meatbroaf

Can a man be a father to a boy he doesn't know?

1. Chapter 1

The Tower of Heaven was an interesting place.

Certainly not the worst place that Naruto has ever been. Most definitely not the best place. Without a doubt it's not going to be the last place he ever visits. Yet when compared to the mental torture that was his childhood, well, it was a breeze.

The physical labor is exhausting for sure. There isn't much sunlight. The floors are as hard as concrete because, well, it is concrete. The guards lack creativity with their curse words. He wears rags as clothes. He doesn't have a working toilet. And the minuscule amount of water he is given is usually dirty and gross. But to be honest, none of that compares to two things:

Number one: The food that they are given sucks! It's gross, flavorless, burnt AND undercooked at the same damn time somehow, and it's smelly! His rations tasted better. And as much as it kills him to say it, even Sakura's 'soldier pill/ration supplement' tasted like a freshly crafted bowl of ramen -because making ramen is an art form and not a simple thing to do- on a rainy evening. Naruto gulped. He never thought he would actually miss those...

Number two: There is no orange! Anywhere. He has looked everywhere in this kami-forsaken place for some version of his favorite color, yet the only colors he can find on any given day is blue, red, white, black, and brown. What the hell!?

And he thought Sasuke-teme's place was dull.

But as he looked down at his half-starved, wide-eyed child audience, he knows that this abysmal home of his isn't known for the color, food, sights, exercise, money, or fun. No, what makes this place more memorable than miserable is the people with whom he shares a cell with.

These six kids and one wise old man had been through a lot together. Everywhere from working hard while keeping themselves under the radar of sadistic guards to learning math with nothing but their fingers to use as tools. Rob-jiji was doing everything he can to make their lives worth living for. Trying endlessly to keep that spark of innocence and joy that radiates within the heart and soul of every healthy child from blowing out into cinders, has been a tough job for the man.

He never talked about why he has tried so hard with the kids. Why he chose (when every other adult that has come and gone from their cell has turned their back to the children) to suffer for them. To give them food, to give them shelter, to give them warmth, both physical and emotional.

Naruto knows from his own childhood how haunting and lonesome it can be without anyone there to care for you. To pick you up. To encourage you.

Naruto was lucky, at least, he believed himself to be. If it wasn't for one brown haired, horizontally scarred chunin and a kind old man who looked out for him, he could of become the demon that everyone loved to call him. But those two made him feel noticed. Wanted. More than anyone else had. And much like that, his embers gained a second life, and his own Will of Fire was born.

But never mind Naruto and his musings! The kids have bestowed upon him a great honor. One of which he has never had the pleasure of doing. So with a gut full of air and his own memories running a mile a minute, he began...

Two children from two different lands.

Both blissfully unaware of what the future holds for them.

We begin with a girl. Her personality was as vibrant and alive as the red hair on her head.

"Red hair? Like mine?" Naruto's eyes refocused faster than his head did. It took a moment for his brain to catch up to the real world as the memory given to him by his mother receded back into its place.

With a expertly crafted kind smile he looked down at the girl, "Yes. Red hair as beautiful as yours."

She blushed.

It was the same shade, well, close to it. His mother's had been a tad lighter if he does say so himself.

Realizing the kids were waiting, he resumed:

She lived in a far away land full of unique and amazing people. Each one had red hair on their head and magic flowing through their veins. But even among people whose refuge lies in their community this girl felt left out. Alone. Her Fuuinjutsu skills are top tier. Her magical prowess was outstanding.

Even among these exotic people she was so unique, so brilliant, that they had to send her away. Her talent was being squandered. Thus, she went to a place hidden in the leaves. There she entered the great village of Konohagakure no Sato. A place where there are no mages. No Wizard Saints! But instead there is a different magical force that roams the lands. There she was in the land... of the ninja!

"Ninja!"

Yes! Ninja! They roam these lands; protecting those they care from the shadows because that is what a ninja is! A ghost in the night! They're fast. They're strong. They're cunning and dangerous. Their path is not a glorious one. Their future doesn't hold fame or fortune! There is no red carpet!

They are content knowing that the path they chose will lead to a better future for all!

And this is what the red hair girl shall become. A ninja for Konoha! So when she arrived in the hidden village she was enrolled in a school. The academy of shinobi where she'll learn how to harness her magic.

On the first day of class the students sat patiently in their seats. Or, at least as patient as a group of eight year olds can be on the first day toward the rest of their lives. Everyone arrived hours early because they couldn't handle the wait any longer!

Everyone but one girl.

So when the door slid open the class hushed. Dozens of sets of eyes stared at the newcomer. The instructor and all the students looked at the newcomer and the first thing they noticed was her vibrant red hair.

"You must be Kushina, yes?" the instructor asked. The school had been expecting her for some time. When she missed orientation the higher-ups in the academy were beginning to worry.

"Y-yes" she shyly spoke.

The instructor motioned for her to come inside. Her purple eyes looked up at his, held the stare for a fraction of a second before she looked away.

"Everyone! This is your new classmate. Please say hello."

There were scattered hello's and hi's from the class. Many were too entranced at her exotic appearance to bother to comment anything. Most had never seen scarlet-hair before!

"Why don't you introduce yourself."

'Just say your name. Just say your name. Just say your name.' she repeated like a mantra. She opened her mouth and for a few second nothing but dead air exited. She finally worked up the nerve but maybe just a little too much. "MY NAME IS KUSHINA UZUMAKI AND I AM GOING TO BE THE FIRST FEMALE HOKAGE!"

"What's a Hokage?" Naruto heard Erza ask. The foreign word felt unfamiliar on her tongue. It had an odd aftertaste.

"The Hokage is the leader of Konoha. They are supposed to be the strongest person in the whole village. Everyone loves and respects the Hokage. From the children to the elderly, they all love 'em!

"Hokage." Jellal whispered curiously.

The class sat there in utter silence. Seconds passed yet time was frozen. Kushina was frightened. Maybe it would come off as charming? or as a joke? God why did she have to say that!

Her eyes traced downwards and dared not look up. The class's eyes went from intrigue to surprise to condemnation and when she heard the class burst and her ears were filled with mocking laughter, she just couldn't look up.

She had been here for a day and she already hated this village.

"And look at that red-hair of hers!"

The instructor finally gained control of the class to the point he could calm their laughter but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't prevent the harassment that would arise from that statement.

But among the class there was one boy who stood up. He pounded his right hand over his heart and proclaimed "My dream too is to become Hokage."

"Assholes."

"Jellal!" Rob called from the corner, "Language."

"Sorry Rob-ojisan."

Naruto's boisterous laugh moved through the cell. Jellal was always defensive of the red-head. That's for sure.

After Kushina's unique introduction to the class, she has found a... hard time adjusting to living in Konoha. The mental harassment from her classmates cut her deep.

But revenge came in due time. While she couldn't stop them from calling her mean names, she was physically superior to many of her classmates. When they spared, she pounded many of them into dust.

That is until one day one of the 'bullies' got fed up with being beaten. So in an act of desperation he called on his older brother, who was maybe thirteen, to 'help' him.

A summer breeze rolled over Kushina's face as she walked through Hikari no mori. Sakura pedals glided through the forest. Their pink hue clashing with Kushina's red hair. Her heartbeat was steady. Her steps were riddled with confidence and a smile, however so small, caused her face to glow like a thousand suns.

"That's her nii-san!" And with those words that smile disappeared.

Kushina turned around when she heard the voice of one of her classmates only to be met with the unfortunate sight of one of her 'bullies' and his older brother.

"So I heard that you have been picking on my little brother?" The kid asked. He was a few inches taller than Kushina and was about three years older than her. Tied across his forehead was a blue bandana with a metal plate on it and a picture of a leaf. A symbol of the village. A symbol of a shinobi. It was still new and the child wore it with a smug pride! Almost as if he was better than everyone else!

"What!? NO I haven't! He has been the one calling me tomato-head and other mean names!"

The older brother smiled. "Well you are a tomato head."

Kushina's blood begin to boil.

"And it seems as if you should learn some respect. You weren't born here. You're a guest. You have no right to fight the people of the village so I'll give you a choice. Either you apologize to my brother..." His eyes took a menacing glint, "Or I kick your ass."

"I would like to see you try." Was Kushina's only response.

The brother then launched himself at Kushina with all of his might! Rage filled punches assaulted the boy but with experienced ease he blocked, deflected and parried the onslaught! She went for a high left kick that the boy blocked yet the power behind it sent wind rustling through his hair. But as every academy student is taught, he saw an opening and struck!

Kushina's vision darkened and she clutched her stomach as the fist removed itself from her stomach. The boy who still had hold of her leg grasped it with both hands and swung her around like a wrecking ball before throwing her deeper into the forest.

In an impressive feat of agility and dexterity she flipped herself around mid-air and slid to a stop. Deciding to forego her fight instinct she fled to the trees and tried to get away.

A magical presence made itself known. It was lagging only a second behind her and hoping to catch her assailant off guard, she landed on a tree branch, swiftly pivoted on her right leg, turned 180 degrees and delivered a nasty right hook straight to the boy's face!

A round of smiles from his audience.

...Only for him to fade into nothing. Surprise etched it's way onto Kushina's face until a kick to the back sent her flying into the tree trunk.

She quickly scrambled to get up and leaped to the next branch but a hand reached out and grabbed her by her scarlet locks and pulled!

Kushina yelped in pain and fell to the ground. Not wanting to faceplant, she recovered the best she could and landed on her two feet before stumbling onto one knee.

"Pathetic!" The older boy mocked. "You can't even tell the difference between a bunshin and a real person! How do you plan on graduating! You shouldn't even be a ninja!" The older boy's cruel words echoed in her skull as the boy lifted her up by the hair.

Kushina screamed out in pain and grasped the older boys wrist in a desperate attempt to force him to let go!

"You know having this stupid long red hair is more of a hindrance than anything! Look at what it does to you when I just grab and pull!" The boy's malicious laugh reverberated through the forest. He yanked, twisted, and pulled! Kushina tried to break his grasp of her hair but she couldn't! He was too strong!

'What to do?!' She thought to herself! A lightbulb went off in her head and she hoped it would work! She raised her left leg up as high as she could get it, threw it backwards and hit him!

Right in the balls.

His malicious laughter immediately stopped and he released her hair. She immediately turned around and shattered his nose with a single punch. He fell over onto his butt in agony and looked up with eyes of horror!

"You... you MONSTER!" The boy picked himself up and roan off in hopes to conserve some of his dignity! His little brother followed him like a lost puppy.

Then, ever so subtly, another presence made itself known to Kushina, yet she couldn't will herself to turn around. Her eyes were glued to the ground and she waited patiently for the other person to leave. She continued to wait. And wait. And wait. Slowly, without this person even doing anything, it ticked away at Kushina. She could feel her patience running thin and when it snapped she turned around with fierce purple eyes to be met with the boy who also proclaimed that he wanted to be Hokage. Minato was his name if she remembered.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" She called out in anger. She didn't wait for him to respond. She turned around and ran home.

Why didn't Minato help Kushina?" Jellal asked.

Naruto brought his hand up and scratched the back of his head. "Maybe he wasn't there in time. Maybe he believed that kushina could handle her own against the bully. Who knows?" Naruto chuckled at the unsatisfied looks they were shooting his way.

"That's not a very good answer..." Erza said.

But for Kushina, the day was only beginning. Later that night she resting in the house that was given to her. Alone. So when a faint sound echoed through the halls of her house, she panicked. She grabbed the practice kunai in her right hand. 'Maybe it was the guards?' She idly wondered.

She peaked down the hallway but was met with nothing but darkness. But much like they were taught in the academy, she didn't solely rely on her eyes. Sight was a sense people overestimate and she wasn't going to be a victim because she was cocky! She crept out of the room and made her way down the hallway. If something had, in fact, happened to her guards, all she had to do was make it outside and scream.

A platoon of shinobi would be here in seconds.

But as she moved down the hallway her instincts screamed at her to turn around. Thus, she did.

Many emotions ran through her heart over the next second. Instinct, fear, surprise, anger, helplessness, then a deep sense of loneliness.

And as she was knocked out and tied up, she knew that chances were, she was about to be taken.

She awoke sometime later. She wasn't sure how long she was out but her hands were tied behind her back with long metallic chains. She was resistant at first but ninja have a way of 'convincing' people to do what they need to do.

Thus, she walked.

But with every step she took she pulled out a piece of her vibrant red hair. She hoped that someone, anyone would notice she was gone or that they saw her trail. But with all of the pain and hatred she experienced so far, she doubted anyone in Konoha cared.

Sometime later, when they were beginning to approach the outside of the village, she sensed something she sensed before. But given the fact that her captors didn't seem to be suspicious at all, she thought she was just imagining things.

Suddenly, with a flash of yellow the group of three evil ninja were reduced to two. The one in the very back fell over. Knocked out. The one in the middle turned around when he heard his comrade collapse and he too met the same fate. The only thing they noticed was a blur. The one up front spun to meet his attacker who defeated his teammates. But his world turned to black as his own body fell to the ground.

But Kushina continued to walk. Too tired to be aware of what happened around her, or too uncaring to bother to stop. Yet slowly her savior walked out of the shadows. She watched as his body slowly came into the moonlight and all words fell out of her mouth. It was the boy. It was Minato.

Only one word made its way out of her mouth: "How?" Minato, as if expecting the question smiled and held out his hand. There, wrapped tightly in a fist was a few strands of her hair. Her hair!

"Your red hair." He answered. He scanned over her body and his shoulders un-tensed as he found no bumps or bruises. No wear and no tear. "When I saw your beautiful hair laying a trail on the ground I knew something was wrong. So I followed it until I came upon you and them."

"So I rescued you."

"My hair?" She asked.

"Your red hair." He said.

She then collapsed, but Minato was there to catch her. He picked her up in a bridal carry and leapt into the trees to take her back to Konoha.

Never again did Kushina criticize her hair. Never again was she alone. She found her best friend and her closest companion that night. One she'll never stop loving.

The End.

Naruto looked down at his group of hooligans and found all of them sleeping except for Jellal, whose heavy eyelids were testing his resolve.

"Did you enjoy the story Jellal?"

Jellal fought through sleepy eyes and looked up at Naruto. "Yes." He answered, "That's the first story I heard told from the victim's perspective and not the hero's. I definitely want to be a mage like Minato."

Naruto smiled at the statement. His father is always a good example. "Minato is a good man to be like."

"But I have a question for you Naruto-nii." Jellal said. "About Minato."

Naruto motioned for Jellal to continue, "Well when it came to most of the characters in the story you always included some sort of detail. Kushina's purple eyes and red-hair or the big brothers height for example. But when it came to Minato, you never gave a detail. We don't know what he looks like at all."

Naruto's brow raised half in astonishment and half in pride. Out of the corner of his eyes he could of sworn he saw Rob smile from the question also. Many of the old man's stories had been the center of scrutiny from the blue haired boy sitting in front of him, much to the ire of the other children that just wanted to enjoy the tale. Now did Naruto leave out details purposefully? Yes. Kids are usually so engrossed into the stories they don't pay any attention to the small things. Jellal truly caught him off guard with the question.

"Really? I didn't notice. My bad. Haha." Jellal's eyes sharpened and Naruto began to regret his choice of words.

"Naruto-nii~ that's not an answer."

"Ask me again some other time Jellal. As of right now, you need to head to sleep. It's late." With a huff and a puff Jellal reluctantly agreed to let it go for now. He moved up to Naruto's left side where Erza and Simon have taken residence. He snuggled next to Simon and Naruto used his natural body heat to keep all of them warm. With there being no way to purposefully control the temperature of the environment, the tower can alternate between sub-zero cold to molten lava hot. But on those nights people are afraid of freezing to death, they cuddle up to keep warm.

Soon enough Naruto heard the steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat of Jellal signaling that he was entering sleep.

"Were they your parents?"

Rob was quiet. Very quiet. He often enjoyed interacting with the children and telling the great adventures of his old team when they were all together. But he only has so many stories to tell and with the children wanting a new story every day over the past three years, his adventures have begun to dwindle.

So when the kids asked Naruto for a story he very humbly (and very thankfully) handed their night time story over to him. But when Naruto mentioned the main character having red-hair, having the last name Uzumaki -which is a real clan and not some make believe stuff that some people out their ignorantly believe- and Naruto mentioning a few months back that he always wished he had red-hair, it was pretty obvious. Originally, everyone believed that Naruto said he wanted red hair because Erza was having a bad day and wanted to cheer her up but Rob realized though that there was a much deeper reason for that.

And with Naruto choosing this particular story and not an adventure he has been on himself, it had to be something close to his heart.

"And I was just over here thinking that Jellal was intuitive."

With a hearty chuckle Rob's body relaxed and his cheeks turned upwards.

"What can I say. It was a hunch... But you never did answer Jellal-kun's question."

Naruto glanced up at the blank ceiling and allowed memories to take over his thoughts. Different moments of his life entered his mind's eye before fleeting just as quickly.

There was a couple of reasons, but the first one he was embarrassed to say. Having no parents or guardians when he was younger made him jealous of others who had parents. Of others who could listen to the stories of how they met, or go home and have dinner waiting for them.

It makes him feel as if he was bragging. He knows that this is probably a childish way to think. A mental relic to a long time ago. But it was a reason, albeit a somewhat selfish one. And one that he wants to keep to himself.

"I wanted the kids to be able to place themselves in tou-san's position. If I didn't describe what he looked like then they would have an easier time of putting themselves in his position. Immersion. Every kid wants to be the hero and I just provided the story."

An image of the Hokage monument flashed in his eyes. "I was an orphan. I never knew my parents. Not even what they looked like. Not even their names. But I always looked up to the Yondaime, Minato Namikaze. The strongest of the Hokages." Naruto stifled an ironic laugh at the situation. "Who knew that the man I looked up to most was my father you know?"

Naruto looked back at Rob. "In some weird way, my father was always with me, guiding my actions without ever being there. I just wanted to share a little bit of that with them - give them a role model to look up to."

Rob stared at him with a look of… disbelief? "You underestimate yourself Naruto-kun. They might already have a role model and they might be snuggled up to him right now."

The conversation ended with those parting sentences and Rob turned away drifting off into sleep. Naruto's sky blue eyes were looking in the cell. Then equally as fast he was looking at the water that rested at his ankles in his mindscape. He looked up and stared into the opened gate that houses the greatest of all of the demons. But in there was not the strong and powerful Kyuubi that Naruto has come to know as Kurama. Instead there was a husk of the great demon. And instead of the nine ferocious tails only three limply rested on the floor.

"Don't worry Kurama." Naruto said partially talking to Kurama, wondering if he could hear Naruto at all, and partially talking to himself. "I'm going to save you… and those kids too."

"Believe it."

x.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.x

When the brutality of his existence haunts his dreams, Jellal usually finds himself awake, staring at the ceiling in an unfocused stupor- simply allowing his mind to wander through questions that have always plagued him.

What is a family?

What is Jellal's purpose?

Will he ever learn magic?

Why does he think the way he does?

And most often, including today, he thinks to himself: 'Why can't I just go to sleep?'

But for now, his inquisitive mind has been thinking about that first question: What is a family? Fantasies of his parents come to life. Both having blue hair, living in a small house overlooking some type of landmark. Both wielding incredible magic and patiently waiting to teach it to their son. Both having the same tattoo etched on their face, showing it to be less like some phenomena and more like a clan symbol. Like the red-hair of the Uzumaki's. An identifier if you will. The symbol of Fernandes...

'No' he thought to himself. That's just... no. He shakes the thought out of his head but the question still remains. It's a question he has asked himself often these past three years. And to this day, he still has no feasible answer.

A loud snore caused Jellal to turn. Naruto entire body was still except for his head - always turning, bending, and twisting to odd angles. Even in his sleep the man had an abundance of energy.

Jellal turned back to the ceiling. Being an orphan is very strenuous. Not having anyone to teach him how to read and write made it near impossible for him to learn. Having no one to turn to to ask the important questions in life caused him to lag behind. But, most importantly, not having anyone with whom he can talk to or confide in or... to be loved by, well, the feeling is indescribable. The way it made him feel was, well...

He'll confront those feeling some other time.

When he arrived at the tower, he didn't know what to expect. He was grabbed from his village, but when he arrived at the tower he didn't feel anything.

No sadness, no confusion, no pain. Nothing really.

He knew no one from that village would miss him. And he knew he wouldn't miss them either. Many on the ships were crying or praying for a savior, but Jellal just accepted his fate. He moved forward.

The jailers threw him into whatever cell was available. A more literal than figurative statement, but it was within this cell that he met Erza and Rob. The former being the first friend he ever had and the latter being the first mentor. It didn't come without its own share of difficulties, Jellal didn't know how to be a friend or how to be a student. He knew how to survive. How to be alone, but never in a group-

Another loud snore and Jellal turned back again, this time stifling a small chuckle at the angle of Naruto's head. But he didn't turn back to the ceiling, he just continued to stare at the whiskered blonde. Wondering.

Naruto was the last to join the group, a few years after everyone else. He arrived pretty badly beaten up, almost as if the jailers saw him, scooped him up while he was bleeding out, and brought him back here. But, even without medicine, the man made a full recovery, except for the strange markings on his left arm, he was back to new in only a few days.

The blonde was certainly different. Maybe different wasn't the right word. He was... unique! Being in a place where most people's only goal is self-preservation, Naruto seemed more genuinely interested in Jellal than himself.

On the night he arrived, everyone else was fast asleep but not Jellal. He was too intrigued to catch some Z's. The markings on his stomach, the strange tattoo, and the vastness of his wounds were like honey to a bear. He couldn't help himself. He still remembers the day like it was yesterday...

Dark brown met sky blue yet neither pulled away. The studied each other. They watched each other. Both were curious and both were unflinching.

"Oi, oi." The blond man said. He wasn't the pale blond that Sho was. It was more like a golden blond, reminiscent of the sun. "Whatcha lookin at Gaki?"

"Uhhhhh. Ow! That hurt!" A single tanned hand was outstretched. The point of his middle finger extended.

Jellal furiously rubbed his nose. It wasn't hurt but, if the scarlet dusting his cheeks has anything to offer, it wasn't something he wanted to repeat.

Naruto used his arms to prop himself up and met Jellal's glare with amusement. He ran a hand through his blond locks and looked at his left arm as he felt a slight itch. He looked away before looking back in surprise.

"WHA- WHA- WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" Naruto looked at Jellal and pointed an accusing finger. He opened his mouth to say something, but held back. The blond took a moment to look around his surroundings. "Where the hell am I?" He asked, "And who are you?" He threw in as an afterthought.

Jellal either didn't choose to respond or didn't notice Naruto said anything, so Naruto flicked him on the nose again.

"Hello~ Anyone there?"

Jellal had a small look of surprise before regaining his stoic facade again. "Umm- ye-yeah. Sorry. You're in the Tower of Heaven." he said dryly, going over his preplanned script for newcomers.

Naruto looked around his surroundings once again and noted the bleak ceiling, the concrete floor and the rags called clothes everyone, including himself, seems to be wearing.

"The Tower of Heaven huh?" He said in a mocking nature, "What a terrible name."

"Yea it isn't aptly named."

Naruto looked back at the kid in surprise. "What are you like eight years old? Why the hell are you using words like 'aptly'?" Jellal blinked. Then blinked again. He looked back at Naruto whom he realized was patiently waiting for an answer.

"Because it's part of my vocabulary...?" They both stayed for a moment before Naruto's lively laughter echoed around the cell. Jellal, worriedly, glanced over at his friends to find them still sound asleep, albeit surprisingly.

"Then you should have heard the way I talked when I was eight years old Gaki." Naruto planted his palms into the floor and, to Jellal's surprise, lifted his whole body up and turned so his whole body is facing him.

"So my name is Naruto. What's your name kid?"

"I'm Jellal."

"Nice to meet ya Jellal!" In a way of introduction, Naruto pumped out his fist yet Jellal recoiled back, fear in his eyes. Jellal stared at Naruto's fist, then his eyes. A spark of confusion lit up in Naruto's sky blue eyes before understanding took over. Given the rags for clothes, he should of realized that this wasn't a very nice place, and a scrawny kid like him probably got attacked.

Naruto retracted his fist before he bumped his fist with his own fist(?). What?

He bumped it again. Was he testing him?

Oh.

Naruto held out his fist again and Jellal bumped it with his own.

"Now this may seem weird but can I see your right hand." Jellal kind of sat there and stared at Naruto for a second before hesitantly giving him his right hand.

His curious side outweighing his cautious, Jellal gave the man what he asked for.

Naruto took Jellal's right hand and opened it up from the fist that is was to reveal his palm. Along the palm was a long shallow cut which recently scabbed over. Naruto looked at it for a second before running the placing his right palm over it. He applied just the slightest of pressure and Jellal winced slightly. Barely noticeable to someone who hasn't been trained to see the unseen.

When Naruto removed his palm he noticed that the scab was still there and looked down at it. "That's weird." he said before placing his palm over it again. He still had some magic in his system.

Once Naruto hovered his hand over Jellal's again, a pleasant warmth rushed over him. It was calming, comforting even. It was a wonderful contrast to the cold night.

Jellal almost got lost in the feeling- in the warmth.

Curious as to what Naruto was doing, he looked at the minuscule space between his hand and Naruto's and he noticed it. A light green glow was emitting from Naruto's hand and only one word came to mind!

'Magic!'

A moment later Naruto moved his hand away and Jellal glanced down at his palm. The light sting that always comes with a freshly scabbed over cut has disappeared. *Poof* gone.

He poked and prodded the non-existent cut but he found no pain. No agony. Sugoi.

"Was that magic? Your magic?!" Jellal felt as if he was yelling. He never before raised his voice in his entire life. But this is magic, He has never seen magic before!

"That was just a little bit of healing magic I picked up here and there. It is god-awful to learn which is why many people don't bother to learn it. But my teammate Sakura-chan forced me to learn it because 'I am a danger to myself and everyone around me.'".

Naruto gained a gleeful smile. "But it's nothing too crazy! You should see all of my other magic!"

And thus the night went on. Jellal, enthralled with the stories and the prospect of meeting someone with magic, asked question after question and gave insights where he could. And Naruto, happy to tell this child about his amazing adventure, talked as long as Jellal wanted. Well into the night and early into the day.

Naruto is open to questions, forthcoming with answers and oddly trustworthy. The blond actually listens to what Jellal has to say. When he needs someone to talk to, Naruto is there with a kind ear.

But why? Jellal had been surrounded by adults for many years of his life, so why was Naruto different? His logical side ticked at that question but it could never settle on an answer.

Just who is Naruto Uzumaki to Jellal?

His thoughts drifted to something like an older brother, but it was like trying to put a cube into a hole meant for a triangle, it just didn't quite fit all the way in. Damn him for being a logical thinker.

He'll have to ponder the question later, for now he has something else to think about.

Sho came to him a few days ago, claiming to of found a way out of this 'heaven'. An escape route in the form of an abandoned vent. Jellal investigated it himself and he came to the same conclusion.

As the elected leader of the group he made the final decision, but everyone is on board. They all want to get out of here and send back help, yet something inside of him is telling him to tell Naruto. Screaming at him to tell Naruto, but that analytical side of his brain likes to whisper in his ear.

'He can claim that 'he didn't know' if we get caught.'

'If we get caught then he won't be racked with guilt for allowing us to go.'

'He would be amazed when we get out and send back help. We'll be the hero's.'

So, in the end, the group made the decision to escape. The less people that know the better.

Later that day Naruto and Jellal were assigned to unload the ships and he. was. ecstatic. He took careful time to analyze possible hiding spots before they finished up and were sent to do their basic duties. The whole time he made sure to make quiet conversation with the boisterous Naruto-nii to steer off any suspicion.

They then went to sleep after hearing the story of Minato Namikaze, the Greatest Hokage, and as his eyes fluttered closed after a round of questions about the Kyuubi no Kitsune and the Yondaime, Jellal knew that a full day from then, his life was going to change for the better. As Naruto would say:

"Believe it."

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Naruto slowly moved his arms out of the children's grasp, all the while sliding each one gently back into place to prevent them from waking back up. Once done and confident, he crept to the gate, and using a thin piece of metal he broke off of one of the locks from the crates, he picked the lock on his door.

It creaked and groaned as he pushed it aside. "Shhhh. Shut up gate." He whispered to the wind, annoyed at the sound. When he forced it open just enough, he exited the cell and slid it back shut.

Using his decade of training and real world application, he carefully descended the stairs and navigated the Tower. Sadly, due to the magic suppressor seal on his left arm -that he is surprised anyone in this godforsaken place knew how to create- he can only use a small portion of his magical power. Never before in his life has he been as thankful for being an Uzumaki and jinchūriki than right now.

As each day passes by, he gathers more and more. Albeit, each day it is such a miniscule amount even Lee would deem it useless, but it was something. A year long snowball effect.

But this gigantic fucking Lacrima has been making it more and more difficult. Constantly stifling his eternano. Constantly making his life more difficult. And it's the sole reason he hasn't been able to heal Kurama yet. That, and the seal.

So this is why magic has been off limits for him, even as he sneaks around this place. He's been having to store it and protect is like a mother doting over her children. But, as of today, his child has matured. He has obtained just enough to, hopefully, transport himself, the kids, and Rob-jiji back to shore.

Probably.

If he can figure out where the 'shore' is. His last memory before coming here was a giant explosion, then darkness, then Jellal staring right up at him. He has no idea where he is.

And getting lost at sea with six children, and old man, and himself is not his definition of a good time.

Thus, he has put all of his shinobi training to stealthily make his way to the harbor.

Now, he is no Kakashi. Or Sasuke. Or Sakura, or Shikamaru, or Shino, or Neji or any of the so called 'non-stupidly-boisterous shinobi who can, in fact, have some tact,' as Tsunade-baachan put it. In fact being sneaky in general reallyyyy isn't his strong suit. But hey, if he could hide from the shinobi chasing him down after an epic prank in his own village, then he could sneak past some half-assed guards who would rather be out pillaging than doing their job.

If it was just Naruto, it would be simple. He wouldn't even need to kill anybody. But that's not the case. He has to figure out which way to go and how to create a safe path for the children. How to circumvent the security. How to prevent them from following them once they get away. A lot of things to take into account.

But in the grand scheme of things, it really isn't so bad. Naruto's had to do much more with much much less. With the things he did for Konoha. The acts he committed in the name of 'Peace.' He knows he will find a way.

He knows.

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Naruto uncomfortably held his hands over his ears as he seeked to return to his peaceful sleep. He tried having them over. He tried having them in. Nothing worked.

"I'm trying to sleep here!" He hollered out, "Keep it down!" he said again to the children, all who looked at each other as one mischievous idea came to their minds.

"DOGPILE!"

"DON'T YOU GU-" A small chlid size body collided with his stomach, forcing his sentence into a hard stop. Closely following the first, five more bodies knocked the remaining air out of his lungs and any chance of getting more sleep.

Milliana, the smallest of his group stood over him, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Don't do it." He warned and he mostly meant it, but that warning fell on deaf ears, and she did what only one other person in the entire world ever did to him.

She pet his whiskers.

He wanted to purr. He really did. A small side effect of having a giant fox in his stomach is that it made his whiskers sensitive. Gosh, he is lucky that Kurama is in a coma right now. That fucking demon would never let him live it down.

Naruto continued to hoot and holler, all the while demanding to be released until the work bell sounded, and only then did they reluctantly decide to release him.

The rest of the day was not special. He went about his work like usual. He talked to the kids like usual. The guard picked on the prisoners like usual. And Naruto, as much as he hates to admit it, needs more time. He wants to get out of here. God, he wants it so bad, but he just can't. Not yet at least.

"You can think on your feet." Kakashi-sensei told him, "In fact, you can do it so well that in any hopeless situation, you would be the person I would turn to. You're just like your mother in that way. But when it comes to a plan... to leading a team..." He motioned around the room to his unconscious squad, all under recovery from the mission. "You need to take a step back and think."

It wasn't until Naruto got back to his cell did things get weird. The kids were somewhere between tired and anxious with an underlying hint of excitement. Very weird. Now, just like anyone after a hard days labor, they would be tired. But they would never be fidgety.

"You guys doing alright?" Naruto asked. "You guys are being weird."

Erza was the first one to make eye contact and respond, "Yea! Of course! Why wouldn't we be Naruto-nii?"

"Well I don't know. You're the ones being weird."

"No, we're not being weird." Simon chimed in, "You're the one being weird."

"Am not." Naruto responded.

"Are too!" Milliana then responded.

"Am not!"

"Are too!" The group chorused.

"Ughh." In exasperation, Naruto ran his finger through his hair. His spiky locks have grown much longer than he was accustom to, and everyday he wishes for a pair of scissors or a hair tie to put it back with so it isn't always resting in his eyes.

But his hair seemed to of copied his personality, because it seems to do whatever it wants.

With a sigh of reluctance, Naruto decided it was probably best to catch up on some of his lost sleep. He found an angle on the wall that would provide the least amount of cramps in his neck and back, and he closed his eyes.

As his consciousness faded in and out, he smiled. A small gentle smile touched his features. To think a group of kids would get a veteran like himself to go through all this trouble.

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There was no alarm clock. No sunlight breaching through curtains to wake him. No guardian hovering over him shaking him awake. It was Jellal's will that kept him awake. A need that burned deep inside him that even without sleep, has kept him wide awake.

Gently, he shook Erza awake. Her own brown eyes slowly opened and fluttered to remove the drowsiness. He put a finger to his lips to signal quiet and the duo went around waking everyone else.

Soon enough they all were gathered around in a circle. They all knew the plan, and they all knew the risks. Each one burned with determination and the unspoken message reverberated.

'Time to be free.'

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Naruto licked his lips in anticipation. He could smell the succulent taste of the broth and imagine the smooth yet firm texture of the noodles. Steam rose up from the bowl and washed over his face and the man just couldn't help himself.

"~Ahhhhh Ramen~" he said as he took that first anticipated bite.

"~Oooooooh Naruto~" Naruto heard, and with noodles hanging from his mouth he looked around the restaurant. No one in the seats and Teuchi and Ayame were nowhere in sight.

"~Oooooooh Naruto." Again he was called, but it sounded like it was coming from his... noodles? His weary eyes looked down and... there. A noodle moved. Not drift mind you.

Moved.

"Naruto." It mouthed and Naruto fell out of his chair.

"Naruto!" It chanted.

"Wha-What do you want from me!" Naruto exclaimed as he was crawling away.

"NARUTO!"

Drenched in sweat, Naruto woke up in a rush. He breathed deeply, regaining his bearings while another pair of hands grasped his shoulders and balanced him.

"Naruto." Rob said, releasing him from his grasp. "The children. They are gone."

"Wha-what?" Naruto asked still half-asleep. Hell, he could still be dreaming.

"The children. They're gone."

Naruto looked around the barren cell once. Then again. He peeked behind Rob just to make sure that he wasn't pulling a prank on him.

When Naruto let out a breath, Rob sat back down, perplexed. Unsure of what side of Naruto has emerged from hibernation.

Naruto sat for a moment with only one thought in mind- he owes Kakashi-Sensei an apology. If Naruto was as troublesome as these kids can be- how did the man ever survive?

Naruto stood up, stretched his legs, cracked his neck, popped his fingers and approached the door.

"Where are you going?"

Naruto looked back at Rob, a coy smile on his face. "Me? I'm gonna go save those kids. I'm gonna kill them when I find them, but I am gonna save them first." With those parting words, Naruto opened the door.

The kids never locked it behind them.

Naruto pushed the door open and locked it behind him before taking off down the stairs. And then halting on those same stairs. This would be the way he would go if Naruto was trying to escape, but that's not the case. The guards may all half-ass their jobs, but they still do them.

Wait. Who says the kids are even trying to escape? They could be going for some extra food or something. He dialed back his thinking even more.

"Look underneath the underneath."

Why tonight? Why this morning?

'The boats.' Naruto thought. They would be departing soon and they know the way back to shore. There will be plenty of space and hiding spots, and it is the best shot if they were trying to escape. There are a lot of assumptions being made.

So how the hell is he supposed to find the kids if he doesn't even know what their plan is?

He debated the question. Shadow clones first came to mind but the seal will stop that in its tracks. He can make maybe one. Maybe.

Wait. Naruto smiled. That's it!

'I can't say that this is my best idea, but, well, it's the only shot I got.'

And with that though in mind, Naruto took off down the stairs.

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*Knock, Knock*

Two guards were sitting in their chairs in the main control room. They both looked at each other, confused at the noise and already pissed off for drawing the short straw for night duties.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Go answer it." The shorter one said to the larger man, as if forgetting the man was twice his size and could pass for a juvenile behemoth.

"Fuck you." The bigger one said as he stood up and approached the door. He opened it and found a blond man in their guard robes standing there.

"Well... What do you want?"

With a large thump the bigger man plummeted to the floor with a thin piece of metal sticking out of his forehead. The shorter man stood up, alarmed at the death of his fellow guard. But before he could do anything, Naruto was there, faster than the man could see, and in one smooth motion, the man's body crumpled to the ground. His neck broken and eyes wide.

Naruto took a seat in the previously occupied chair and looked at the keyboard and computer screen. He scrolled through a images.

'Ocean view. Ocean view. Ocean view. Guess they were more careful than I first thought.' Seems as if they didn't want any ships to come snooping around without them knowing. He continued to scroll and found more cameras pointed at key areas: the docks, the cafeteria, the loading bay, storage area, guard quarters, so on and so forth. All good information but nothing he needed. He guesses he will just have to wait in the meantime.

Be patient.

He searched the dead guard's body and found nothing useful minus one walkie talkie. He put it into the pocket of the uniforms pants before searching around.

'What's this here?' He asked himself as he walked over to a door in the corner. He grabbed the lock that hung on it. He didn't find a key on the guards bodies, not that it matters. It's an outward lock. He dipped into his shallow reserves and busted the lock off the door.

With a twist of the handle, the door opened.

Their armory.

They have a magical suppression seal that reduces a Jinchūriki's, A fucking Jinchūriki's, magical power to almost nothing but they don't have a seal on their own armory.

What kind of place is this?

He searched the room. It was wide and contained a variety of weapons, staffs, magical guns and what not, nothing that really interested the blond. But he did find one interesting thing...

A giant red scroll

His giant red scroll.

There were ink markings all over it, sheets of different theories on how to open it, all sprawled out in different peoples handwriting. Good to know they couldn't get through Ero-Sennin's Fūinjutsu lock.

He bit his thumb, put a few drops of blood here and there, a quick flicker of magic, and using his index, middle, and pinky finger, rotated the entire seal clockwise 76 degrees causing it to unlock.

He smiled to himself when it opened. Good to know they hadn't fucked anything up. He would of killed them all if that happened. Naruto still hasn't figured out how Ero-sennin drew this lock. And if they messed it up he wouldn't be sure if he could get it back open. At least, not anytime soon.

Naruto rolled it open to the first seal and summoned the Fūinjutsu ink set. He's not sure how much time he has got, but he is going to make every second count.

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"This is group 4 reporting in from section 8. We found six kids attempting to escape through the boat. What would you like us to do?"

Naruto smiled a sad confusing smile. At one end, he is happy he now knows where the kids are. That makes the rest of his plan somewhat easier. But at the same time, he also wanted them to escape- to get away on their own merit. It would of made an amazing story.

Naruto knows one day they will have the competence and skill to do such a thing, yet today is not that day. So it's Naruto-nii to the rescue.

"Keep them there. I'll send a squad to pick them up and move them into the interrogation chambers. Once they are picked up you are to continue your route."

The guard understood and signed off the air. Naruto brought his hand up into his most famous seal and a second one of him popped into existence.

Both the original Naruto and the clone sagged in somewhat relief. happy to see that his copy didn't crumble into non-existence. He hadn't had much time to tweak the seal, and he was really hoping for three of him in total, but two would have to do.

The original smacked his left hand against his enormous red scroll and poof! The scroll disappeared into the newly made seal and with a nod to his clone, he took off out the door.

The clone smiled and took a seat. He crossed his legs and allowed his mind and eternano pool to drink in nature's magic. He won't be able to go full sage mode, not yet, but he might be able to achieve a partial mode. Give himself that slight boost he'll need.

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"Understood. Over and out" The leader of group 4 stated. He turned back to his squad as he put his walkie talkie back into its holster.

"Doesn't this seem weird?" The leader stated. The three men around him all nodded in agreement. But the leader doesn't know if they actually agreed or if it is their incessant habit of agreeing with what he says.

"Maybe we should send someone to check on them?" They nodded some more.

"Maybe, we should just kill the kids now. Sell their organs for some money? Right?"

"Yep."

"Sure."

"Sounds good boss."

"Maybe, and I mean maybe, you all should think for yourself you nitwits!" They began to nod their heads in agreement before they realized what their squad leader said before glancing at each other, expecting one of them to take the lead.

"Idiots." The man sighed. "Bear, Crowley, you're with me. Copper, go call group six, have them stop by HQ." They nodded, not voicing their own opinions- if they even had any.

Copper ran off in another direction while the leader turned and walked over to the kids. They were just close enough so they always had an eye on them, but not far enough away to where they couldn't catch them if they ran.

But as he stands in front of them, he can see them twitching. He can see the finger biting, he can read how they hold themselves, he can see them shaking, literally and figuratively.

Good.

The more terrified the better.

"Let's be short and to the point kids. I am in a... generous mood tonight, but I don't want to play the guessing game to determine which one of you..." He made sure his finger traced over every kid and his own eyes met theirs just long enough to have their hearts forget to beat. "...decided to plan on escaping from this heaven we provide for you."

The leader withdrew his sword and allowed the sharp edge to clatter against the ground. He traced it against the ground slightly, allowing a slight hum to be heard. He could see the smallest of the children tremble even more.

"Now, if the higher-ups heard wind of an escape attempt, especially one that made it as far as you six have, then there would be hell to pay for everyone. But more importantly, there would be hell to pay for me, especially if we can't figure out how you guys managed to get past our patrols, cameras, and spotters. Now, if you guys decide to be cooperative, I'll only punish the one that came up with the idea. That sounds fair right?"

"Right boss."

"See! Even my subordinates think it's a fair deal."

The kids stayed silent. They were musing things over. Each one contemplating what they should do. What the right thing is to do. And the leader who asked the question? He waited. The only noise heard was the scraping of his sword and it was hypnotic in nature. Distracting and interrupting their focus.

"Alrighty." The leader began. He lifted his sword and angled it at-

"I did it!" The blue haired one exclaimed. He had his hand raised high in the air like an eager kid answering an easy question in class. Some looked toward him, but a couple kids chose to look away. Maybe a little frightened for their friend, maybe a little guilty. But what all the kids shared for that first half second... Surprise. "It was my plan. I was the one who convinced them to escape."

The leader smiled devilishly, "How cute. We have a kid playing hero." Jellal's mouth sputtered. "It's easy to see that you're this groups little leader with a hero complex that's going to get you killed, probably today too. "

"It was me."

The leaders gaze shifted and now a red haired girl stood this time. Her head was downcast and her legs were trembling.

"So then it was you." He half asked half questioned the red haired girl. With the culprit found- if she even was the real one- he saw no need to be here anymore. With his mind still pondering the conversation he had with HQ, he pulled out his walkie and called out to his men. "We narrowed it down to one. Regroup with us."

Static. No response from Copper and the others.

He waited a handful of moments for the response. He was tempted to signal them again. His own finger applying a slight pressure. Not enough to activate the button but enough to show his immediate reflex. To scream and shout at the ineptitude of his subordinates. But the only reason they wouldn't respond was if they couldn't.

If something happened to them. He turned to his last two men. "We need to move. Grab the girl."

The two men also withdrew their swords. The closest one to the group of kids strided forward to follow his squad leader's orders. The kids shrunk back, Jellal- either consciously or unconsciously- put Erza behind him and stood in front of the worried girl, but the man never got there.

While only a few steps away from the group, he stopped and fell to the ground. A single Kunai embedded into the top of his skull.

The kids scurried away from the corpse, all except one. Jellal, always having the analytical side of his mind running, stared at the knife in the man's head. He noticed the ring at the end of the handle, noticed that it wasn't made for cutting like you would a vegetable, but rather for a type of trained finesse that comes with experience.

"What are you doing!" The leader shouted at his last subordinate who stood stunned, "Get the kids and go!"

The man, shaken out of his stupor by the orders given, then also made his way to the kids.

Only to meet the same fate of his comrade.

The leader turned to stare at his now other dead subordinate in surprise and he wasn't the only one. The kids also looked stunned at what was happening. The group of five kids didn't know where to go. They didn't know if they were the next target. They were in an unfamiliar situation and all parties were a little bit frightened.

Except Jellal. He stood a few feet away still in his original position. Still calm and composed. No sweat dripping down his brow, no concern etched on his face. Just... peace.

From the ceiling, Naruto dropped down on top of the first dead subordinate with only the slightest murmur of feet hitting concrete. And when his shadowed eyes looked up, Jellal didn't see the cool ocean blue that he has come to know, but rather was met with a confrontational steel that didn't give. It drew a line and you did not cross that line. It knew what had to be done and with such a blistering intensity, it got done. Even the hallowed grasp of death couldn't stop it.

Naruto picked up the dead guards sword and lunged across the way at the leader who stood ready to parry. But the strength was surprising behind the blond man's attack. He was on the defensive very quick from his unrelenting offense. The leader could feel his defense being prodded like a dead frog under a microscope.

As the rust shaked off of Naruto's limbs. He became faster. More unrelenting. Stronger. Quicker. Better. Better than the man he was dueling with. Better than what he felt for a while. Then, Naruto smiled, savoring the intensity of combat even against a weak opponent like the one across from him.

The veteran missed the the art of combat this past year. But the nostalgia has come to an end. With a few more strikes, Naruto knew where the openings in the man's defense was, and with a couple of precise strikes, he opened it. He forced the man into an uncomfortable position and with one slice, the man's right arm came off at the elbow.

With the loss of his primary arm, the sword fell and Naruto struck his neck, and his head flew. His detached body slumped to the ground, the leader's blood dressed Naruto's new sword like a battle scar and the blond knew he just found himself a new temporary toy. It was nothing special, but it would make due.

Jellal saw the man's body slump to the ground- his head lulling and rolling away in retreat. He had watched the fight, saw how Naruto-nii's unrelenting offense overwhelmed the man, and stood frozen enthralled and surprised by the display. He never thought Naruto-nii, with his positive, caring, and let-me-help-you attitude, would be capable of doing such things.

Surprising to say the least. But what stuck with him, and what hovers between his conscious and subconscious right now, is those eyes. The steel. The determination. The wrath that was lying dormant waiting to bubble to the surface like a volcano erupting.

Even with all that he was seen, he didn't tremble in his figurative boots, nor was he sweating. In fact, the boy was smiling, happy to see the young man with old eyes. And Naruto felt the same. When his eyes finally met Jellal's, he smiled back.

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but closed it just as fast. It continued to open and close, open and close, reminiscent to a gaping fish in water.

Jellal turned and looked over at his friends, who all remained frozen as well. Shock maybe? Or they could be just unsure of how to react to seeing Naruto act this way. Or just seeing three dead guards and the brutality of which the third one died.

Moving on his own, Jellal approached his friends. He... didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say if there was anything to say at all. In surprise- at least to Jellal- they all turned when he got there, looked at him, reached for him, and Erza wrapped him in a tight embrace, one he returned. And then, everyone else joined in. An impromptu group hug showing the bond gained through surviving the experience.

And then it dawned on Jellal- this is real. He doesn't know if everyone else understands, but now there is no going back. Three guards, probably more, are all dead. They chose to do this. They chose this path, and now, they must pay the consequences.

They broke the hug, and Jellal didn't realize Naruto made his way over to them, crouching close by. He has the two kunai from before, strapped to his waist with the sword resting on the ground next to him. Naruto reached up and wiped away the blood he didn't realize was on Jellal's face.

Jellal could see the caged wrath in Naruto's eyes. A thin leash put on the forces that rage tyrannically inside. It frightened him, seeing a man kill three others with such relaxed ease, how could it not scare him? But his fear was outweighed by his sense of curiosity and a sense of wonder at what was just accomplished.

At the end of the day, Naruto just saved them. The methods- he remembers how frightened his friends were- were messy and complicated, yet simple. Effective for sure. But he protected them. Naruto did what had to be done.

"Y'all scared the shit out of me." Naruto said to the group, drawing all of their eyes to him, "And I'm sorry for what you had to see. And I don't know why you didn't tell me all of you were planning to escape, but we can talk about that later."

Jellal felt that last statement very hard. "There is no going back now. There are consequences to your actions, sometimes good and sometimes bad, and you have to live with them. In this case, tonight, it means we either escape, or we die. Which means you are going to see a lot more death and destruction. In order to get out of here I am going to have to do things I hope you kids will never have to do. But life is dirty. It isn't fair. You guys are the brightest young kids I have ever met and you were forced to see things that many adults would never experience, and it isn't fair.

Within Naruto's head, memories of Kakashi-sensei, Ero-sennin, everyone he has killed, and all of friends flashed to the forefront of his mind.

"Despite what you're about to see, magic is not evil. Nor is magic good. One of the greatest men I have ever known and probably the reason I am the man I am today, imparted some words of wisdom to me once. Always look underneath the underneath. There is a reason for everything. Just be sure you guys know your reason and your enemies reasons before you judge them."

He smiled, slicing through the seriousness of the moment. Like a broken trance, Jellal blinked, and Naruto began to speak...

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"I've got great news Rob-jiji." Naruto said from the other side of their prison cell. Rob looked up when he heard his name in surprise. He hadn't heard anyone approaching. The guard clothes certainly didn't match Naruto's disposition, but what he found even more surprising was the yellow eyes and the faintest hint of orange shadow over his eyelids.

With a flash of a toothy grin he continued, "It seems as if you're going to see your old buddy Macky sooner than you thought."

"The kids?" He asked first in a rush. Rob didn't see them anywhere. "Are they alright?"

"Yes. From what I know."

Rob approached the gate as Naruto unlocked it. He was still sore and still hurting. Rob wasn't sure how much fight he still had in him. "Please pray and tell that you didn't leave them somewhere to wait for us."

Naruto waved off the comment with a chuckle, "No, no, They're with the real me." Naruto said, "I'm just a clone."

"I'm happy to hear that." And Rob was truly happy to hear they were safe. They were certainly more important than he was. "But I'm not in my prime anymore."

Naruto shook his head at what Rob was getting at. Instead, the blond held up a key ring with dozens of individual keys laced on.

"Chances are, you won't need to fight."

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There it is! The end of chapter 1! This is just an idea that I have had floating in my head and I have been wanting to write a fanfiction story for the longest time!I don't know if it was a good idea starting with a crossover since I am going to have to find a way to merge two different stories into one but we'll see.

Has anyone else had a odd time uploading stories before? I uploaded this chapter yesterday but a few hours later I got a message from GCAPDTL (Thanks again by the way! If it wasn't for you I certainly wouldn't of noticed and it would of been all the more embarrassing for me! I owe you one!) saying that there were no legible words or sentences. There were only random letters and numbers and what not. So I am going to re-submit this today and hopefully it will fix it. If anyone knows why it happened please do let me know!

Also, on a side note, this is the first time I have written any sort of fighting/action scene, especially one that doesn't use any jutsu/magic, so I don't really know if it is good or not. I am hoping you guys had an easy enough time reading and understanding it!

Lastly, this is a family based story! There will be some action but don't expect some every single chapter. Sorry to say.

A special thanks to GCAPDTL for pointing out the craziness that was my first upload.