Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Sleepy Hollow, or the characters therein. I do own the character Abraham Crane, his taijutsu style, and the idea for this story. Please don't sue me. This story takes place in an alternate universe, which diverges from Sleepy Hollow shortly after Crane arrives, and from the Naruto storyline shortly after the defeat of Momochi Zabuza and Haku in the land of Waves. The chuunin exams haven't taken place yet, and Orochimaru is nowhere to be found. Enjoy, and please review. But no flames. I hate flames, the people who send them, and will not hesitate to destroy you in place if you flame me.
It was a sunny day in Konoha. Uzumaki Naruto, the town prankster and aspiring Hokage, was pigging out at a new local noodle bar. Not because the food was any better than Ichiraku's, but because it was new, giving out free all-you-can-eat buffets, and he was broke. He'd lost the last of his money to his landlord, and hadn't been on a mission in weeks. He was coming out the door when he heard footsteps, no, Hoofbeats, from a side road, and a person astride a huge black horse came barreling out. The beast was obviously in a bad mood, as it pitched and bucked, trying to dismount him. "Damn it, Daredevil! Quit your bucking and calm down! We're in a public street,and the public is watching!"
The horse came to a standstill, and the boy slid off. He was a tall, lanky boy, who looked almost fourteen. He began to fiddle with a strap on his saddle. Naruto approached. "Hello. Who are you? You don't look like you're from around here."
"Hello," said the boy dryly as he continued to focus on the saddle. "And I'll not give my name till I know who I'm speaking to."
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm gonna be the next Hokage!"
"Hokage, you say? Am I to assume, then, that I am in the Village Hidden amon the Leaves?"
"You bet! Are you lost?"
"Less lost than navigationally challenged. But the good news is that Hidden Leaf was my destination to begin with. My name is Abraham Van Brunt Crane, at your service. And this is Daredevil." The horse lifted a hoof and brought it down on Crane's foot. Crane smacked the beast across the head. "Devil, I said to calm down!" There was a pause, and then, "I know it was my fault we ended up lost, but you've got no room to complain, you were just as lost as I was!"
"Beast master?"
"More or less. I suppose you wouldn't be so kind as to direct me to a hotel, then the Hokage's office?"
"Follow me!" Naruto took off at a dead run, and Crane vaulted into the saddle and followed. Naruto led the way back to his apartment building. "The landlord rents rooms out by the day, week, or month, and he has a big back yard for Dead Devil."
"It's Daredevil. And thank you. I was simply going to check into a hotel until I could find lodging, but you seemed to have saved me the trouble." Abraham went into the landlord's house, and came out ten minutes later. "I've secured room and board for myself and Daredevil. Now I need to see the Hokage. Mount up, and we'll ride."
"I've never been on a horse before."
"It's really quite easy. You just sit here behind me on the saddle, and I'll steer. Just tell me which way to go." Naruto ran up a wall and jumped, landing on the saddle. They took off at a breakneck gallop, the iron shoes on Darevil's hooves throwing sparks at every step.
When they arrived, two ANBU checked Naruto's I.D. and let them pass. The two guards stood staring at the large, imposing, and possibly mad steed left loosely tied to a pillar by the door. Naruto led the way up to the Hokage's office. He knocked on the door, and a faint "Come in," came through. He needed no further invitation. "Hey, Old Man! You've got a visitor!"
The Third never even looked up. "I know, Naruto. The wall guards told me about a strange thin boy astride a huge horse, who said he was here to seek a job. Please bring him in." Crane stepped into the room. "Welcome to the Hidden Leaf. I'm the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi. You?"
"Abraham Van Brunt Crane, at your service, Hokage-sama."
"And what brings you to our village? I heard you were seeking employ?"
"That enough is true. I was told by my mother to give you this letter. I was trained by her in the ninja arts, as where I live there are no others. There is a genjutsu on it, as she did not wish the information on it to fall into any hands but yours." He took the letter from the pocket of the oilskin slicker he wore.
The Third examined the letter. On the surface it appeared to be nothing more than correspondence between friends. But when he dropped the genjutsu, he got a surprise. It was from a woman named Katrina Crane, in a small village named Sleepy Hollow. The name was vaguely familiar until he came to the second page. On it was a detailed family tree, tracing the boy's lineage back through the generations, all the way to Konoha! Sarutobi examined it further, and found that Crane was distantly related to both the Hyuuga clan, and Naruto! The letter went on to detail how Abraham had been home-schooled in the ninja arts, and held a level of skill equal to a Genin. He folded the letter, and said to them both, "This letter says that Mister Crane wishes to seek employ as a ninja. Naruto, spar with him. If you win, Abraham, I'll give you the job."
The two squared off. Naruto drew a kunai and rushed Crane, but his strike was blocked by a thick-bladed hunting knife. Crane threw the knife, and it entered Naruto's chest. The shadow clone vanshed in a puff of smoke, and the real Naruto fell from the ceiling onto him, intending to go hand-to-hand. As his first blow landed, Crane's shadow clone vanished, and behind him Naruto heard, "Akurei Tenohira Ryu: Shikon Rendan!" Naruto was pummeled mercilessly. It felt as if four sets of fists were beating him from wihout and within. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"Impressive. I do hope you haven't killed him. He is, as they say, kith and kin to you. You'll be on his team. I hereby grant you the official rank of Genin Ninja of Konohagakure. Welcome aboard, Abraham."