I don't own CA or N
Please read Nomad - How it all began before reading this for better understanding of Naruto's situation.
The sun was blistering down upon him. He could feel the heat, it didn't affect him but he could feel it. It certainly enjoyed making him uncomfortable. Naruto ran a hand through his red locks, careful not to touch the twitching fox ears perched on top of his head. He was draped in a simple plain black robe which didn't do much to stop the heat but at least it covered him. He couldn't master creating anything else with Dimension yet.
The element was as predictable as he was. Which meant not predictable at all. He was running faster than a car at the moment, but that was to just get out of the desert. He'd seen more deserts than he cared for in his elongated lifetime. Because you see, Naruto was an immortal half demon, cursed by Shinigami to travel continuously through dimensions, time and universes until he could control his strange new chakra. Once Naruto had balanced his chakra, he would be able to travel back to his home world, a world he had been torn away from more than five hundred years ago. Naruto never knew exactly when he was going to travel, but his phoenix tattoo on his left arm did give him some fair warning. When all six stones around his tattoo glowed gold, he would be forced to jump. Until then, Naruto planned to make the most of his time, even if it was in a desert. This desert wasn't as bad as some of the deserts he'd been exposed to. This one only had one sun. He shuddered when he remembered when he was only a novice at jumping and his 'vacation' had ended up being stuck on a planet that had had three suns and had been inhabited by cannibalistic creatures that came out when the suns went down.
That certainly hadn't been fun. He really should have been paying attention to where he was going as he ended up running straight into a man. Which must have hurt him, seeing as Naruto was running incredibly fast. Naruto would have apologised but the guy was unconscious. He used this to take a look at the man. Moustache. Rich clothes. ID said Howard Stark. Not that he was going through his pockets or anything. At least the ladies in the car didn't see him doing that.
What was this Stark guy doing out of the car anyway? Stark groaned loudly and opened his eyes blearily. "Man do you hit hard," he mumbled before taking Naruto's offered hand and getting to his feet.
He blinked at Naruto blearily and Naruto hastily put his hood up before he could spot his ears. "Why are you wearing the Grim Reaper's robes in the middle of a desert?" Stark asked rubbing his eyes before placing on his sunglasses.
Naruto blinked and looked down before shrugging. "Only thing I had."
"What's your name handsome?" one of the ladies asked as she stepped out of the car. Naruto blinked slightly but was rather unfazed. He was sort of used to woman throwing themselves at him these days.
"Naruto Suzaku," he answered with a slight bow of his head. Howard raised an eyebrow.
"You're Jap?" Naruto just stared at him dully but had to admit he didn't really look like a Japanese person as much as he used to. Hanyou blood did that to you. Stark turned back to the car. "I'll take that as a yes," he muttered before yelling over his shoulder, "You wanna ride Red?" Ignoring the nickname, Naruto slid in next him.
"You really shouldn't trust strangers," Naruto said as Stark started the engine. Stark smirked. "Well let's not be strangers much longer."
Naruto ended up becoming Stark's bodyguard, for lack of better words. He told Stark not to pay him (he didn't need money, he couldn't bring it with him) and just settled for a place to sleep for the night and some clothes. He'd been following Stark around for about a year before Stark was making his 'grand show' of his flying car in Brooklyn. "I bet it won't work," Naruto drawled, flipping the knife in his hand expertly as he leaned against the side of the stage. Despite Stark's pleas, he refused to use guns. Too noisy. He was an assassin, a ninja. Something he didn't really get when he was younger.
"You better not sabotage it," Stark warned as he checked it, just in case, fidgeting with this and that as he did so.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to sabotage your 'flying' car Stark. Besides, isn't flying cars a little too mainstream? Not to mention how dangerous it would be if your speech came true…" Naruto trailed off with a grimace.
Stark just looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean Red?" Naruto rolled his eyes and thought it better not to explain. He'd been to worlds where they had flying cars. The total number of crashes in a year had gone up by five hundred in the United States alone when they did so.
"Never mind. Show starts in two minutes," Naruto warned as he walked over to the place to pull the curtains. Stark hurriedly ran to the side and the ladies took their place at the cars. Rolling his eyes at what his life had come to, Naruto pulled the curtains. As Naruto pulled the curtains, out of habit he scanned the crowd for threats. Army person, girls, old people, girls, skinny little guy…
Naruto blinked slightly at the sight of such a sickly looking kid. He didn't seem all that interested in the flying car (which was funny, because everyone else was absolutely loving it) but instead was heading off to the army recruitment. Was he trying to get himself killed? A big bang as the flying car hit the ground and Stark was looking at the crowd sheepishly. "Well, I did say a couple of years didn't I?" Stark shot an accusing look at Naruto who put his hands up in defence.
"I didn't do anything," he said placidly before gesturing to a food stand. "I'm grabbing some popcorn. You want some?" Stark pulled a face and Naruto rolled his eyes, slipping his knife back into the pocket on his thigh. "Alright then." He grabbed snagged some popcorn by charming the lady running the stall before heading over to the recruitment tent. He didn't know why but he was curious. His gut said that kid was important. Naruto wanted to know why.
Steve Rogers. That was the kid's name. Naruto knew now why he had that feeling in his gut. He was the one for the super serum that Erskine was making with Stark's help. He just knew it. "Oi Red!" Stark's voice came with a huff as he walked up to him. "Where did you go for so long?"
Naruto gestured to the tent. "I found the perfect person for the super serum you genii are working on. Steve Rogers. Doesn't look like much but my ninja-senses are tingling." Stark rolled his eyes at the last comment, thinking Naruto was joking about his 'ninja-sense'.
"What makes you think that?" Stark asked him as they headed back to the lab.
"He doesn't look like much, as I said, but you've got to look underneath the underneath," Naruto said wisely. Stark looked thoughtful. He usually ended up taking Naruto's advice which was smart seeing as Naruto was hundreds of years old. Not that Stark knew that of course.
"I'll bring it up with Abraham," Stark said at last. "We'll see what he thinks. If he agrees and this doesn't work it's your fault okay?"
Naruto sighed deeply. "I know." But somehow, Naruto knew it was the right thing. Phillips was not amused in the private meeting later on.
"You're putting a kid who not only has asthma but at least ten other problems as well in my camp Erskine," he growled. "All because Stark's bodyguard had a feeling he was the right one." Naruto crossed his arms, unfazed by the director. Seriously what was he going to do? He had Stark on his side. He was practically untouchable. Sometimes Naruto loved his luck.
"He is the right one," Erskine said his German accent heavily on his words. "I also spotted it. He is a good man at heart and therefore will make a good supersoldier."
"When Red says something, I take his advice," Stark said seriously. "He's insanely lucky with his gut feelings. Going against it is like swimming upstream. Not worth the effort."
"Thanks for the comparison Stark," Naruto said dryly and Stark grinned. Phillips was looking annoyed they were all ganging up on him.
"What do you see in the kid?" he demanded. "All I see is a skinny kid with big words and nothing to put behind them."
Red leaned forward, allowing some of his killing intent to shroud Phillips, making the man stiffen and sit up straight. "You may not have noticed the bruises on him from the fights he's been in but I did. His beliefs are nothing to be laughed at. I hate bullies too." Then he smirked foxily. "Give him the super serum and I know he'll act on his words."
Phillips hadn't wanted to do it, but he gave in finally, grumbling about 'supposed genii' and their 'bodyguards'. They met up with Peggy Carter, an acquaintance of Stark. She greeted him warmly with an embrace – the two of them got on well, mostly because he didn't doubt her abilities just because she was a woman. He would never understand why people thought that. To him, woman were five times scarier than any men he'd ever met. See Sakura, Tsunade and Anko for examples.
Stark pouted at the fact that Peggy didn't give Stark the same benefit. "Naruto," Peggy said amiably, "Welcome to the recruitment camp. Are you planning on joining the army?"
Naruto snorted. "Hell no. I'm a Nomad. I can't attach myself to a country."
"Yet you do a fairly good job of attaching yourself to the people in the country," Stark muttered and Naruto punched him very lightly on the shoulder.
"Ow!" Stark complained and Naruto smiled sheepishly.
"Oops. Not as lightly as I thought. Sorry Stark."
Stark rubbed his shoulder. "I can appreciate that. I still have a bruise from when you ran into me."
Naruto winced. "Sorry about that."
"You should be."
"Can you drive Naruto?" Peggy asked.
"Of course," Naruto answered politely. "Would you like me to drive you to the camp?"
"That would be helpful," Peggy admitted.
"I have to go work at the lab anyway Red," Stark said, clapping Naruto on the shoulder.
Naruto pulled the cap on his head on tighter. "Roger that Stark. You want me to get you something on the way back?"
"Some scotch would be good," Stark mumbled as he turned around and walked away from the car.
Peggy and Naruto climbed in the front of the car getting ready for the long drive out there. "Peggy there is someone I want you to watch closer than the others at the camp," Naruto started as they drove out of town.
"Oh?" Peggy said, interested. After all, it wasn't every day that you heard Naruto request something.
"Steve Rogers," Naruto said, keeping his eyes forward on the road. "He reminds me…of myself really. He's going to do some stupid things and doesn't look like much but trust me when I say he will surprise you." Peggy was silent and he felt her eyes on his back.
"Was your hair always red?" she asked suddenly.
He jumped. "What?" he asked, a bit surprised by the turn of the conversation.
"Was your hair always red?" she repeated.
Naruto blinked several times before answering. "No. It used to be blonde."
"And your eyes," she continued. "Your eyes a different than they were before too right?"
Mentioned eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you getting at Peggy?" he growled in an animalistic way.
Peggy blinked but otherwise did nothing. "So you had blonde hair and blue eyes. Why did you change it?"
Naruto grinned forlornly his eyes darkening. "Let's just say a friend decided to forget to mention some side effects to the cure he used on me." Peggy wisely stayed silent, not going further into the conversation with his dark tone. This wasn't really a topic Naruto wanted to discuss his looks he was quite touchy about. He couldn't change his eyes and holding a henge on his ears for so long was very tiring, despite his large amount of chakra. Not to mention each time he used chakra it made his time in the world rapidly decrease.
"What does Steve look like?" Peggy asked interestedly.
"Blonde hair, blues eyes, short…" he trailed off at her knowing smirk. "It's not just because he looks like me!" Naruto protested. "He looks nothing like I did really. He's gangly. I was a runt," Naruto said bitterly.
"You know you would be perfect for the army," Peggy continued, making Naruto struggle not to roll his eyes.
"Look. I'll tell you what. If I can, I'll help out. But I'm not going to be a soldier to anyone. I don't follow orders."
"Not even Howard Stark's?" Peggy said, surprised.
"Not even Stark's," Naruto promised before pulling over. Peggy climbed out and began to address the men who were going to become the new supersoldiers.
"Gentlemen," Peggy began, the picture of a perfect soldier. "I'm Agent Carter. I supervise all operations of this division." A tall bloke grinned and Naruto winced, recognising that grin from one that he had worn when he was younger.
"What's with the accent Queen Victoria? Thought I was signing up for the U.S Army." Naruto snorted quietly and Peggy rolled her eyes slightly.
"What's your name soldier?" she asked politely.
"Gilmore Hodge, your Majesty," Hodge said with a large grin.
"Step forward, Hodge."
"Don't do it," Naruto whispered and Steve looked up at the noise. Naruto winked at him leaving the blonde confused. And then, Peggy punched Hodge in the face. Naruto winced theatrically before looking to the right as Phillips appeared around the corner.
Naruto got a grunt for a greeting. He waved back merrily. "General Patton has said that wars are fought with weapons but they are won by men," the Colonel began. "We are going to win this war because we have the best men." He paused and looked at Steve before throwing an incredulous look back at Naruto and Erskine who came to stand next to him. "And because they're gonna get better. Much better. The Strategic Scientific Reserve is an allied effort made up of the best minds in the free world. Our goal is to create the best army in history. But every army starts with one man. At the end of this week we will choose that man. He will be the first in a new breed of super-soldiers. And they, will personally escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of Hell."
Naruto leaned against the back of the chair, as he spoke to Erskine. "He's going to try and get you to pick Hodge," he whispered. Erskine raised an eyebrow.
"The big large one?" The German scientist said incredulously. "He is the worst candidate here."
Naruto shrugged. "No need to tell me Doc." He ran a hand across the language collar around his neck.
"I hear you loud and clear." Erskine looked at the collar with interest.
"I do not recognise what that is made of," Erskine said. Naruto tapped it lightly and it hummed beneath his hand.
"No clue. All I know is I can't get it off. Colonel Phillips," Naruto greeted as the man stalked back to them.
"I don't know what the hell you two were thinking, bringing that skinny little kid here," he growled. "He's probably not going to survive this camp, let alone the war."
Naruto held his hands up pacifyingly. "Hey, Phillips, easy there. Tell you what. I'll stay at the camp and give him a few tips. If he doesn't go up to my standards, I'll declare myself wrong and even join the U.S Army as a soldier. But if I am right and he becomes a super soldier…" Naruto trailed off, humming thoughtfully. "If that's what happens, you have to refer to me as Master Naruto oh and I've got a free reign on going wherever I want."
Phillips snorted at the absurdity. "Alright. I'll gain myself a good soldier than. You'll be doing training with the rest of those soldiers though. Go have fun talking with your standard boy." And with that, the old man left. Naruto rolled his eyes over to look at Peggy who was wearing a disapproving look on her face.
"You shouldn't act like that to the Colonel," she said, crossing her arms. "You're not untouchable you know."
Naruto jumped out of the car and landed with a perfect flip behind Peggy, drawing a knife so that it rested on her neck. She stiffened. "I'm an assassin remember Peggy," he murmured softly. "I'm as untouchable as your shadow." He removed the knife and she spun around gun aimed at where his head would've been. But he'd moved so he was behind her again, leaning against the car. "Is that all Agent Carter?" he asked politely and she jumped at the sound of his voice behind her.
"That's all," she said, a bit unsteadily and he smiled kindly at her before walking over to the soldier's tent, hands in pockets. He entered to see everyone was rowdy except for Steve who was pulling out some books.
They snapped to attention when he entered and he rolled his eyes. "At ease soldiers," he said lazily, waving a hand dismissively. He gestured down at his casual clothing. "Does it look like I'm someone in the army?"
"Then what're you doing here?" Hodge said, sizing Naruto up. Naruto was slightly taller but with the suit he was wearing on, you couldn't see his slim strong muscles. All Hodge would see was a good looking man who didn't seem like much of a challenge.
Naruto opened his arms wide in a welcoming gesture. "Welcoming you. Also, I have made a bet and will probably end up winning but if I lose I have to join the army," he said, sighing disappointedly.
"You don't wanna join the army?" a boy with glasses piped up curiously.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Does it look like I do?"
"What about protecting your country?" Steve demanded bravely, standing up.
Naruto smiled at him reassuringly. "I would protect my country, if I had one. I'm a Nomad." The looks on their faces were of dawning realisation but Hodge just flexed his muscles.
"Well if you're entering the army I'm going to have to give you the usual greeting for the little guys." He wound back his hand and pushed it forward. Naruto marvelled how slow it was, watching it with fascination. He took a step forward and ducked under the outstretched arm, grabbing it and pulling it downwards gently. He used his right leg to sweep under Hodge's leg as he stumbled from being pulled forward and he landed sprawled on the ground.
"Now, now," Naruto chided him. "There's no need to give me those pleasantries. I've had them too many times for me to count." The boys were all looking at him with a new light. Naruto smiled at Hodge pleasantly. "Please refrain from doing that to me or any of my acquaintances in the future. I do tend to get…protective of my precious people. I wouldn't want to accidently hurt you," he continued in the same polite tone.
"I do hope you aren't scaring them Naruto," Peggy's voice came around as she appeared at the front of the camp tent. Her lips were pressed into a firm line when she saw Hodge on the floor.
Naruto placed his hands up in surrender. "He attacked me first," he said innocently.
"You probably provoked him," Peggy said, sighing exasperatedly. "And you failed Stark. Because of your bet, Colonel Phillips is making you stay here. You can't go grocery shopping."
Naruto cursed. "Damn. I was meant to grab that scotch. Well, if you see him, tell him I drank it. It will piss him off." Peggy rolled her eyes before turning and walking out. Naruto's eyes wandered around until he saw the only left over bed was between Steve and the tall kids with glasses. He plopped down on it, ignoring the silence that followed.
Steve took this as something to introduce himself. "I'm Steve," he said, holding out his hand to shake. "Steve Rogers."
"Jordan," glasses said. "Jordan Cooper."
Naruto shook both of their hands at once. "Name's Naruto," he said with a small smile. "Naruto Suzaku."
