AN:1/24/2016...I stopped re-adding the line breaks at this chapter because I couldn't go over this story a second time this quickly...my bad.

And The Beast Cometh

Chapter 2:

Settling in...How Much Does That Cost?

Waking up in a cold sweat, shaking Naruto hugged him self to stop the termers in his body. "The dreams again?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Kurama knew he was right and sent a warming wave of chakra to his host.

"You need to meditate with natural chakra. It should help recede the dreams again. Balance you out," Naruto nodded at the advice before slowly standing up before opening his closet, clutching the kunai knife he kept hidden in his belt.

It wasn't a full size one, but it was large enough to do damage in the right hands. Seeing he was alone, he grabbed his pillow from the closet and placed it on the futon. Placing the one from under the covers back with the rest, he moved from the room, and eventually the house itself. Walking out into his backyard, Naruto found a good spot before sitting down.

Drawing on what the toads of Mount Myoboku taught him, Naruto breathed in and out slowly with purpose. Drawing energy in from one of his main chakra points, the one on the tailbone, he could feel his levels equaling out. The down side to perfecting sage mode like he had was balance.

He was now always connected to the balance, his personality was for lack of a better term the light. Kurama was darkness, and the natural energy he stored for sage mode was neutral. Three parts to the whole puzzle. And Naruto was thankful for the third part, for it reseed his memories of the past, and left him in peace.

He finished drawing in the energy, storing it in his chakra points for later use if need be, just as the sun was poking up from around the horizon. Walking back into his home, Naruto stripped off his two day old clothes. Reaching his room he was stark naked, but that didn't bother him one bit. He was use to being naked at weird times.

"Let's see what to wear today," he browsed through the clothes in his closet before picking up a black version of the pants he wore yesterday. An orange t-shirt with the Uzu symbol on the back in white, with the same black sandals. Grabbing his pack from out of the closet Naruto headed for town after locking up and sealing his place.

"Time to cash out big eh buddy?" Naruto asked the centuries old beast. "

Yes, but try not to spend it all in one day. It would be bothersome to take more of your packs there brat!"

Shaking his head Naruto continued a slow pace into town. Not bothering with running at normal shinobi speeds, figuring he'd rather take the scenic pace and enjoy the morning air.


Kara had woken up fairly early that morning. Clark never told her how restless being a hero made one. Sure helping him out in Metropolis was one thing, but going from fighting a one hundred foot tall robot that shot nuclear fire to hanging out on the farm was another. She knew she need some R&R, but dammit she was bored!

After helping Pa with the morning chores Kara found that she wanted to head into town and go shopping. "And hopefully run into that handsome guy again," oh she hadn't forgotten the man she literally ran into the other day, and was hoping she might be able to get a name. "Hey Ma!" Kara called through the house, "mind if I borrow the truck and head into town?"

"That's not a problem deary just make sure your home in time for dinner," Martha called back to her surrogate daughter. Smiling Kara grabbed the truck keys before heading out. While she enjoyed Metropolis life, there was one thing Smallville had it beat at. The morning sunrise, as it slowly peaked over the horizon bathing the once dark planet with light, Kara felt at peace.

Driving at a moderate pace so as not to get pulled over, Kara came upon an interesting site. The blonde haired young man she met the other day was strolling along the road into town with a pack on his back. "He's walking into town," she thought slowing down as to hopefully offer him a ride, "it's like another 5 miles in."


Naruto tensed as he felt someone approaching at high speeds, quickly glancing behind, he noticed it was one of those car things. Figuring to err on the side of caution Naruto slowly fingered the blade hidden in his pocket, "glad it only took one mission for me to learn from Kakashi-sensei to always be armed."

The vehicle pulled up alongside him idling at a slow pace while the driver, who he recognized, rolled down the window. "Hey there, learn enough yet to understand me," she asked with a smile,

Naruto smiled back. "I must thank you, miss," he spoke with only a slight accent, "for your understanding of my gestures." Naruto chuckled at her shocked look, "is there something on my face?"

Blushing Super-girl tried to recover some of her dignity, "no, no, nothing like that. Just you couldn't even speak a single word the other day in English and now I can barely hear your accent."

Nodding at her confusion to his seemingly amazing linguistic abilities, "I travel a lot, and have a flair for languages."

Nodding Kara looked forward onto the road before turning back to him, "well the town is still another few miles in, want a lift?"

Raising an eyebrow at the question Naruto responded, "you aren't scared I'm some crazy lunatic?"

"Nah, they generally are more eccentric" she responded with a laugh, "plus I am a big girl, I can take care of myself," she took one arm off the steering wheel to flex an arm jokingly. Nodding Naruto walked around the now stopped truck before dropping his pack into the bed, opening the door he hopped in and the two set off.

"So what brought you to Kansa," Kara asked trying to learn more about the blonde next to her.

Naruto regarded the question for a bit before answering, trying to think of a good cover story to go with the one he made up at the bank. "Change of scenery," he finally said with a sigh.

"Change of scenery from what," Kara asked again, trying to dig deeper into the engman next to her.

"I moved around alot in Asia," Naruto spoke, quietly, "doing quite of few different odd jobs here and there. just wanted a quiet place to call home."

Kara glanced and saw his mood had changed, become almost melancholy, so she felt like lighting up the subject, "well mister, there is nothing as quiet as little ol' Smallville," she said with an excited smile, "by the way what is your name?"

Blinking owlishly Naruto realized he had completely forgotten to introduce himself. "Ah! Where are my manners," he shouted at himself, "my name is Naruto Uzumaki. By the way, it totally means maelstrom, and not fishcake!"

Laughing at his introduction Kara introduced herself, "my name is Kara, Kara Kent."

Nodding at her, Naruto grinned a foxy grin, "it is nice to formally meet you Kara-chan!" Not understanding the add on to her name Kara just smiled at him.

"So what are you headed into town for," she asked her passenger. Naruto told her he just bought the old ranch a few miles back and he was looking at getting some stuff for the place. "So shopping then," Kara asked with a grin. "Gotta love a man who does his own shopping," she thought with an internal grin.

"Yeah," Naruto said letting out a long sigh after words, "I don't see how you women can enjoy it so much. It is so boring! You have to compare prices to find the best deal and still hope you aren't getting ripped off!"

Kara giggled at his reaction, "may do his own, but still hates it." Finally ending her giggle storm Kara tried to convince him otherwise, "true it can be. But when you find that thing that perks your interest you can't stop yourself. Clothes, shoes, swimsuits! Well that's what I look for anyway."

Naruto laughed looking out the window at the cornfields passing by, "unfortunately that's not what I am looking for today. I have to grab things for the house that need to be replaced and such."

"Ah," Kara said nodding. She knew not one person that enjoyed shopping for appliances and now understood his dread. "Well don't worry too much," she said again, trying to lighten the mood, "all the shops in town take care of the residents. Don't want them driving to another town to get what they sell, it's bad for the image."

Naruto nodded, but remained silent. is thoughts taking him back to his old world and how weapon smiths reacted if you didn't buy within your own village, "I remember that time Ken-ten about skewered Ten-ten for special ordering a set of kunai from Suna."

Kara decided to stop questioning her passenger further, instead letting him wander in his own thoughts. It didn't take much longer for them to reach the town, and Kara parked the truck in the middle of town. Hopping out and grabbing his pack Naruto bowed to the other blonde. "Thanks for the ride Kara-chan," Naruto spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Not a problem Naruto," Kara said with a smile and a wave, "hopefully we bump into each other again soon."


The bank was a long and tiring affair for Naruto. Mainly because of paperwork, Naruto despised paperwork probably more than anything else. But with his pack completely empty Naruto set out in search of the things he needed. First stop was breakfast however.

Swinging by that dinner from yesterday morning, Naruto order a sausage omelet based on the recommendation from the nice women. Making quick work of his breakfast and paying with the card he got from the bank, Naruto headed to the thrift store.

Walking in Naruto looked around before finding the furniture section. And of course his attention was drawn right to the burnt orange couch. Flopping down onto it and relaxing for a minute to see if he like it, he sensed someone approaching and cracked an eye open. "Hello young man! Looking at buying some furniture today?"

Sitting up and bouncing on the couch slightly Naruto smiled at the older man, "yup! And I found my first piece!"

"Well alright, were you looking for anything else," the store attendant asked, and before long Naruto had most of his house furnished. He had gotten a small square wooden coffee table, a high top kitchen table with stools instead of chairs, a few bookshelves and cubby style shelves, and a few mirrors for different rooms. Simple stuff for a simple man is what he told the attendant.

As they were checking out, Naruto remembered he couldn't just seal everything away into a scroll so figured he'd ask about delivery. "Hey do you guys deliver? Cause I don't have a vehicle thingy." Naruto asked scratching the back of his neck, while looking away trying to act embarrassed, "gotta keep up appearances, but man this sucks."

The gentleman behind the counter laughed a little at how embarrassed Naruto was, "of course we do. Just give us your address and for fifty dollars extra it will be waiting for you on your porch."

Nodding Naruto wrote down his address and paid the fifty extra. Leaving with a satisfied smile at his orange couch, Naruto had thought ahead to ask where he could get appliances and was directed to a hardware store nearby.

Finding the store didn't take Naruto very long. Walking in he started reading the signs above his head till he found the Appliance section. Walking up and down the aisle Naruto wondered what he should buy. The signs on each unit for the refrigerators didn't make much sense, so he passed those for now, and headed to the washers. Now those he was familiar with, and after selecting one washer and dryer by grabbing the slips for the register he headed back to the refrigerators.

Thankfully there was someone there who could help him, and shortly he was all paid up and had them delivered to his place. He told em to just leave them on the porch with the furniture that was being delivered as well.

Leaving the hardware store Naruto headed for the general store he saw when Kara dropped him off earlier in the day. But sure enough before he reached it, the black hole he called a stomach opened up and growled. "What time is it?" Naruto wondered while looking around for a clock. Finally spying one in the window of a shop, "Kami! It's one o'clock already! No wonder that damn thing I call a stomach is growling."

Moving through town Naruto found a small asian place, that actually served ramen. He ordered thirty bowls, which surprised the lady before she left. "Ramen! Ramen! Ramen! Ramen!" Naruto chanted loudly in his head, not breaking mantra once.

And of course drive Kurama insane. "Shut the hell up will you! That is super irritating!"

"Nah ah!" He retorted back, "you are just jealous of the awesomeness that is ramen!" Not bothering to dignify him with a response the kyuubi remained silent, but glad that he had stopped with the annoying mantra. The first bowl arrived shortly and Naruto dug in with gusto. Taking just enough time to savor the flavor. The waitress' eyes shot open to the size of dinner plates at his speed before rushing back to inform the kitchen staff to put the lead out of the other bowls.

Thirty bowels of the food of the gods, and Naruto was finally full. Patting his stomach and paying, Naruto started for the general store. "Wow!" Naruto turned to find Kara standing next to him looking into the restaurant's window at all the bowls on the table. "You didn't happen to see who ate all of that did you?"

Nodding sheepishly Naruto pointed to himself, "you!"

"Haha, yeah I kinda have a small ramen obsession."

Kara looked back to the window and back to him, "dude, that is way more than a small obsession."

Shrugging his shoulders Naruto continued on towards his destination with Kara following, "any reason you're following me?" Kara blushed not registering that she was following him till he pointed it out.

"Eh, I got nothing better to do," she said, "plus you seem like you could use some company." Smiling and thanking her the two continued to the store, "so what was in your backpack, it seems like it lost some weight?"

"Yeah," he confirmed, a bit suspicious, "you got some pretty sharp eyes to spot that!" She nodded letting him continue, "well certain parts of Asia use gold as currency. So I was just turning it all into spending cash."

"Really? Some people still use gold for currency," Kara asked quite surprised, considering people still tried to steal it all the time.

"Yeah backwater places mostly from what I can tell," Naruto said. They reached the general store fairly quickly, entering the store Naruto grabbed a shopping cart and the two started to grab stuff he needed. Which was pretty much everything, and it didn't take long to fill the cart. That was until they ran into the instant ramen aile. Naruto looked right at Kara with a very serious expression, "Kara-chan, please watch my cart, I will be right back." Walking slowly out of the aisle leaving

Kara with the cart.

"What the hell was that about? I thought he loved this stuff?"

Her mental questions was soon answered by the blonde haired young man riding on the back of a new cart come screaming down the aisle, "YATTA! Ramen! Oh sweet kami! Ramen!" Moving with speed that she would swear would make Wally jealous, Naruto had filled his new cart with every possible flavor they had.

"Holy crap! Naruto, you're not even leaving a single packet for anyone else!"

Turning from his cart Naruto regarded her with a deadpanned look. Before throwing his arm forward, "let's not dwell on those poor naves! Forward to checkout and more ramen time!" Grabbing his cart with both hands, Naruto kicked off and rode his cart while Kara followed behind him laughing at his antics.

"Hello dears," the checkout clerk spoke to the two, "oh Kara, how are you?"

"I am good Mrs. Cloverfield, how about you," Kara asked the older woman who she came to know in her time in the small town.

"Just fine deary," Mrs. Cloverfield said, while scanning the items, "you and your boyfriend doing some shopping together?"

Kara immediately blushed, "no it's nothing like that ma'am! Just helping someone new around town!"

Naruto smirked before deciding to have some fun, faking a heart attack, "oh the kami have wounded me!" Naruto fell to the ground clutching his heart with tears streaming down his eyes, "the gorgeous Kara-chan has rejected my studly self! What is the world coming too!" Naruto cried rolling into the fetal position before rocking from side to side.

Both women just looked at him like he had grown a second head, though the younger of the two had a slight blush. But Kara quickly got over her embarrassment before punting him lightly with her foot. "Don't embarrass me! I'm being nice and helping you," Kara yelled at her new friend.

Chuckling at the two's antics Mrs. Cloverfield kept scanning the items till she realized the other cart was filled entirely with ramen. "Sweetie," she said getting the two's attention, "you do know you have an entire cart filled with ramen, right?"

Quickly standing up tears magically gone, Naruto took on a serious look, "is there a problem with that?"

Shaking her head in the negative, "no dear, I was just checking."

Finishing scanning the items, and figuring out how much of each ramen he had gotten, the total flashed on the screen. "How much for everything," Kara practically shouted while taking a double take at the total.

"The total is one thousand dollars," Mrs. Cloverfield confirmed for Kara.

"How much of that is the ramen?"

Checking her screen before responding, "seven hundred."

Naruto nodded before pulling out his bank card and swiping it, "that is a small price to pay for heaven."

Shaking her head at Naruto's love for the noodles and broth they walked outside, "well thanks for the company Kara-chan, but I need to get all this stuff home," Naruto smiled before preparing to leave with both carts.

"Um, you do know you're not allowed to leave with the carts right?"

Naruto stopped very quickly before raising an eyebrow, "but how am I to get all this ramen home?" He started to tear up thinking he would have to leave his haul and come back for it.

Thinking quickly, Kara figured she could spend a few more minutes with him before heading home for dinner, "if you wait just a few minutes I can grab my folk's truck and you can put it all in the back." The tears vanished once more in a flash, and Kara felt herself get wrapped up in a hug, one she enjoyed quite well.

"Kara-chan is an angel sent from the kami of ramen!"

While she enjoyed the hug, she felt embarrassed enough for one day, dropping a fist onto his head to get him to stop. "Enough," Naruto was on the ground nursing a bump growing up from his hair, "I'll be back in minute, try not to embarrass me any further. Please?"

Naruto grinned from the ground, "I make no promises Kara-chan!" Giggling at the downed boy Kara left in the direction of the truck.

"Really?" Kurama spoke up for the first time since the restaurant, "what is it with you and crushing on freakishly strong women?"

"Hey,"Naruto shouted back at his friend, "she is not freakishly strong! And what do you mean crushing on her?"

Kurama let out a deep rumbling laugh, "One, she was holding back incredibly both times she hit you. And two let us list the woman you have had a crush on: your teammate while it was a short amount of time but still counts, your Hokage when you first met her, that Mei chick, that big breasted Samui chick."

"Just because I tend to enjoy time with them doesn't mean I crush on every sexy woman that could kick my ass," Naruto said before thinking back to when Kara hit him, Naruto did see her muscles straining to reframe for using force. "Touche on the strength thing, but totally not crushing on her," Naruto retorted, but even he felt it half hearted, his thought drifting back to his home. All the people he lost.

"Che, you just aren't ready to admit it yet."

Naruto let the conversation die, as he saw the truck pull up, "gotta admit though, she is gorgeous!"

Kara hopped out of the truck, and noticed Naruto still sitting on the ground in the spot she knocked him down to. "So ready to get going?" Nodding Naruto flipped up before helping her load the stuff into the back.

Grabbing shotgun, while Kara once more climbed into the driver's seat, the two headed off towards their homes.

Once Naruto had been dropped off and his food placed in the kitchen Kara asked if he needed help with any of the stuff out on his porch. With a nonchalant wave and saying he got it Kara climbed back into the truck and headed a little further down the road to the Kent farm.

Getting home and pulling her bags of clothes out of the truck she headed inside, to a nice homemade dinner. "Welcome back Kara," Martha said from the kitchen seeing Kara walk in, "have fun shopping for yourself?"

Setting the bags down in the kitchen and sitting at the table, "yeah I did, got some cute new outfits." Smiling at her Martha nodded before heading out to call Jonathan in for dinner.

Dinner itself was a short affair, the three talking about their day. Kara leaving her second meeting with Naruto out of it. That is until she was in her room, calling Barbara. "Hey Kara, what's up?"

"Naruto Uzumaki," was the first thing out of her mouth to her best friend.

"What now?"

Laughing at her slip Kara explained, "that guy's name from the other day Barb. It is Naruto Uzumaki." "

Oh," Barbara finally got what she was on about, "guess he learned enough to give his name then?"

"Che, more than that," Super-girl scoffed, "guy apparently has a flair for languages, can already speak almost perfect english." Kara smirked at the gasp on the other end of the line. She could just image Barb's eye's widening.

"In two days," Barb asked still shocked, "that is impressive girl."

The two young women proceeded to talk more about her second meeting with him. Barbara of course laughed about the ramen obsession, and even more so at his antics at the general store. "Sounds like someone has a crush!" Barbara sang out on the other end of the line.

Blushing Kara responded, "I do not! he's just a nice, attractive, funny, interesting...I hate you..."

Barbara let out an almost uncontrollable laugh once Supergirl finished with her statement.

Kara was relieved that when Barbara stopped laughing the subject was moved from her, to Barbara's school life in college. And with no batsignal in sight, the girls talked well into the night about random things.

"Ya know," Kurama spoke up just as the last of the shadow clones finished putting Naruto's new furniture in place, "for a weak human technique, it does have it's uses."

Nodding, Naruto was slurping down some noodles from a cup of instant ramen. "Yeah it does, overwhelming week opponents, confusing stronger ones, training, and now doing boring shit."

It didn't take long for Naruto to get the appliances hooked up, thankfully the way they hooked up was the same in his world as it was here. With everything set into place and his noodles finished Naruto grabbed his sealing scroll once more and proceeded to unseal quite a bit of stuff. Everything from his shinobi tools and weapons, to small things to remember the people he cared for by.

Pictures of the rookie teams he and Kakashi helped bail out of trouble every so often. His godfather and second sensei, this one was taken right after the two of them had gotten caught peeping into the hot spring. Both sporting black eye's and busted lips, but smiles that could light up the world. A picture of him and the Sandaime when he was younger, before the man passed. It was him sitting in his lap wearing the Hokage hat, while Sarutobi smiled at him with his pipe in hand.

Another one of of him and the Godaime, Tsunade, who had become something like a real grandmother to him. Once him and Jiraiya managed to bring her back. The final picture was the one that made Naruto saddest. It was of his old team, Kakashi standing behind three kids. Naruto had his face mask on but had the same eye smiles as Kakashi. The other two in the picture, the pink haired Sakura, and the black haired Sasuke both had looks of accomplishments on their faces. "It took awhile, but we were finally able to work as a team."

"And then you recently got a demotion and had to do those terrible D-ranked missions until your team stumbled upon Zabuza."

Nodding at the demon's words, "Yeah the D-ranked missions sucked, but that mission is what truly made us a team." Kurama snorted knowing full well it was also a catalyst to the worst part of Naruto's past. However he refrained from commenting on it do in part to his tenant only looking at the happy side of the event.

As Naruto was putting his stuff away the kyuubi decided to question what they would be doing, "so figured out what we are going to be doing?"

Naruto mentally nodded, "yeah, I figured we could actually turn this farm into something. As well as selling the manuscripts for Icha Icha."

Sweat dropping at his human counterpart, "do you even know how to farm?"

"Not a clue!" He said back, "But I am sure there's books on it somewhere, and there's always that internet."

Sighing at his stubbornness, "just remember, knowing how to do something is different than actually doing it. Or need I remind you of the incident with the rasengan when you were first learning it?"

Naruto's response was simple and elegant, "BITE ME!"

"It's been two weeks and I am still not even close to ready to grow anything. I don't even know what to grow," Naruto grumbled in his mind. He had many books checked out at home, a laptop running and downloading more from the internet he had installed the other day, but still no ideas.

"And you thought standing in this store would help," Kurama asked sarcastically to his jailer who was currently standing in Feed & Seed, Smallville's farm equipment shop.

"Yeah," Naruto responded, "I've always been a more practical learner. Figured I'd wing it."

"That is a terrible idea. Last time you tried to wing something you almost got your client killed."

"Shut up! Like ninety percent of my plans are winging it," Naruto let out a sigh before picking up another seed packet and reading it. About half way through he tensed up sensing someone approaching. Turning around he saw an older man a bit shorter than him, greying hair, wearing blue coveralls, and a wicker farmer's hat.

"So you're the new guy the town's be buzzing about," he said walking towards Naruto with what the blonde could tell was an over full cart.

Raising an eyebrow, "why are they buzzing about me?"

Shrugging his shoulders the man responded, "well it's not everyday someone shows up with a few hundred thousand dollar of gold. Buys a ranch with the gold, and the turns it into a farm."

Naruto nodded before turning his attention back to the shelves. "Yeah not one of my brightest ideas, I have no idea what to do."

The older gentleman raised an eyebrow, "you bought a farm, with no idea how to run one?"

"Yeah pretty much," Naruto replied.

"Why are earth would you do that," Jonathan asked while wondering if this guy was crazy.

"I wanted a change of pace. Seemed like a good one," Naruto sighed before turning to walk away.

However he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, a hand that was almost cut off, "well kid my name is Jonathan Kent," Jonathan said with a warm smile, "I am a third generation farmer and have been doing it all my life. If you need any help I would be more than happy to assist ya."

Naruto looked to the hand and smiling face of Jonathan Kent, "I don't feel any negative emotions coming off him, and barely any chakra whatsoever," Naruto thought mulling over the man's offer. Finally he spoke, "I would appreciate that very much Jonathan-sensei," Naruto responded with a smile of his own.

"Sensei," Jonathan asked confused.

"Yeah," Naruto said smiling and nodding, "it means teacher."

Chuckling Jonathan nodded, "fair enough kid. Ya know what you want to grow yet?"

Naruto scratched his head and chuckled a bit, "uh not a clue. Like I said first time really."

"Oh kid you are in it deep, aren't ya," Jonathan asked with a laugh to the nodding Naruto. "Well we are pretty much know for our corn, and it is fairly easy to grow, so why don't we start there," Jonathan said walking down the aisle with Naruto following, "by the way, hope you don't have a limit on your card kid. Things are gonna be expensive today."

Naruto nervously laughed following the older man, "what the hell did I get myself into."

"Oh Kara dear, don't look so depressed," the older woman walking next to her said. The two of them were currently shopping at the general store.

"I'm not depressed Ma," Kara shot back at Martha Kent grabbing a few things from the shelves, "just restless is all. My first assignment was awhile ago, and I am ready to be done with the R&R. I am ready to get back into the action."

"Well we are happy for any excuse to keep you around," Martha said with a smile as they turned the corner to the last aisle, "but today you seem to be moppy."

Kara shook her head, "Ma I think you're becoming senile. I am the same as I always am."

The two arrived at the checkout lane and once more Mrs. Cloverfield was working. "Well good afternoon Martha, Kara," she said smiling at the two Kents.

"Ah Bridgett," Martha said placing some of the groceries on the line, "how have you been? We haven't had a chance to talk lately with Kara here stealing the truck every chance she can get to come into town for us. I am beginning to think she wants to go live with Clark in Metropolis. Just the the two old people to themselves."

"Oh Ma," Kara chided helping her with emptying the cart, "I'm not gonna leave you alone. Plus there is no way I am gonna live with Clark. I wouldn't be able to do anything ever again!" Both giggled at Clark's over protectiveness while Bridgett shared a small smile that got bigger as the two women continued to bicker while she scanned.

"Or she is here for the same reason she keeps coming downtown," Bridgett said grabbing both ladies attention.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Mrs. Cloverfield," Kara said with a nervous laugh, causing Mrs. Cloverfield's smile to get bigger.

Martha raised an eyebrow at that, "so Bridgett," she began, "what has my niece been up to in town then?"

"She's been stalking the new guy in town," Mrs. Cloverfield said with humor, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

"New guy," Martha questioned looking between her surrogate daughter/adopted niece and her long time friend.

"Oh I'm sure Jonathan is getting an earful about him at Seed & Feed," Bridgett began, "showed up about two weeks ago. I heard from Evelyn Blanch that he bought that old ranch house up from you guys with gold! She said he had a few hundred thousand dollars of gold."

Both Kent women's eyes went wide at that revelation. "He said he was paid in gold but damn! That is a lot of money," Kara thought.

"He's trying to turn that old ranch house into a farm according to Leann Young from the library. Stops in repeatedly to check out any book on farming he can get his hands on," Bridgette finished.

Martha nodded and smiled, "good to know some youngsters have a good head on their shoulders. But how does Kara come into this?" Martha stole a glance and caught her blushing.

"Well," Bridgett continued seeing Kara wouldn't, "she was helping him grocery shop for the first time. And she's run into him at the library quite a few times since then."

"Oh really," Martha said with a smirk glancing at Kara, "thanks for sharing Bridgett. It has been a great trip. Kara load up the truck," Martha said heading out of the store with a smile, "I'm gonna go find Pa."

Kara sighed shaking her head, "thanks a lot Mrs. Cloverfield. Appreciate it so much," she stated dragging out the 'o' before pushing the cart away to the laughter of Bridgett Cloverfield.

"Teenagers," she muttered to herself, "never appreciate the teasing of us old timers."

"Well kid," Jonathan said as the two exited the store, "they will have everything over there later this afternoon. So I should be there around five in the morning tomorrow to start your first lesson, sound good?"

Naruto nodded with a smile, "yes Jonathan-sensei. Shouldn't be a problem at all," he responded pushing an industrial cart with mud tires on it. If one looked closely they would see it was almost the same size as a grocery cart, just deeper and for use off road.

"Still though," Jonathan began while scratching his head, "why did you buy the cart? You won't really have a use for it growing the corn."

Naruto chuckled, "well this nice girl Kara gave me and my groceries a ride home a few days back. Figured instead of hoping for rides with my food I could use this," he finished tapping it with his foot.

"Did you say Kara," Jonathan asked surprised that Naruto still hadn't put two and two together.

The blonde nodded, "yeah. Is she distantly related to you by chance? I know you guys have the same last name, but she seems to spend a lot of time in town so I figured you were like a second uncle or something."

Jonathan just blinked, "so he did pick up on that we were related, but how come Kara never mentioned him. Martha probably knows something, she always knows something." "Well," Jonathan said finally finding his voice, "I am actually her Uncle. I'm surprised she hasn't mentioned you at all, or my wife and I to you. I didn't even know there was someone new in town until this morning. Very strange."

"Weird," Naruto thought both of the shared a look before shrugging their shoulders and at the same time said, "women."

Smiling at each other they both broke out in laughter, "you're a good kid Naruto," Jonathan said patting him on the back.

"Well don't you two look as thick as thieves," both turned to find Martha Kent standing there with a smirk.

"Hey dear," Jonathan said with a smile and wave, "you and Kara all done with groceries?"

"Yes we are," Martha said walking up and extending her hand to the blonde standing next to her husband, "I know Kara and my husband have both probably told you about me, but I am Martha Kent and it is very nice to meet you young man."

Not wanting to be rude Naruto smiled and took the hand giving a polite shake, "Naruto Uzumaki. I have a feeling we are gonna be seeing a lot of each other."

Jonathan smacked himself in the face when he saw the playful glint in Martha's eyes. "Oh you and Kara are already a couple? That was quick, even for her."

Naruto's eyes shot to the size of dinner plates before shaking his head no as fast as humanly possible, "nope! Not to be rude but we hardly know each other. What I meant was is Jonathan-sensei has offered to teach me how to farm."

Martha looked to her husband who nodded patting Naruto on the shoulder again, "yup dear. This young man has not the first clue on how to farm. Figured I pass down my knowledge to someone. Ya know since Clark has his reporting job and what not in Metropolis." Martha nodded with a polite smile as the Kent's truck pulled up.

"Hey Ma," Kara said hopping out of the truck, "did you find P," Kara stopped dead as she got out of the drive seat and saw a mop of blonde spiky hair standing next to Jonathan Kent. "Naruto," she said with a slight blush, "I figured you would be at the library. What are you doing here?"

Both Jonathan and Martha shared a look and smirk watching the two young adults converse. "Well I've never been to good with book learning so figured I'd just give it a whirl," Naruto said with a laugh, "but after staring at seeds for about forty five minutes before Jonathan-sensei came by and introduced himself I realized that it was a bad idea. But thankfully he has offered to be my sensei in the ways of farming!" Naruto finished his explanation striking a pose causing all three Kent's to sweat drop.

"Right," Kara said dragging out the 'i' and shaking her head, "I guess I will see you around the farm as well as the town?"

Naruto nodded, "yup. Hope ya don't mind too much."

Kara shook her and was about to speak again before Martha cut her off, "well it was nice meeting you deary, but we have perishables about to go bad so we are heading back. Would you like a ride home? You are on the way?"

"No, but thank you," Naruto said, "I have a bit more shopping to do, and I enjoy the walk back."

Martha smiled again before nodding, "very well dear. Stay safe and we will see you around." With one last thank you and handshake to Jonathan the four went their separate ways.

"So why am I doing this by hand if we bought that giant land tiller," Naruto questioned Jonathan as he was taking a slight break.

"Because once you learn how to do it by hand using the tiller is a breeze. Plus you won't be reliant on it when it breaks," Jonathan said with a smile in-between sips of iced tea.

"He is right ya know," Kara said with a smile cleaning up the last of the two's lunch. "Last year our tiller broke down three times. All of us how to go out there to keep everything running."

Naruto sighed before grabbing his hoe and nodding, "makes sense, but it still sucks." The two Kent's laughed at the blonde as the looked at the first field all most full tilled and ready for seeding.

It had been one week since Naruto met the rest of the Kents that currently lived in Smallville, and it had been interesting. Naruto helped direct the delivery of all the heavy equipment into the unused barn. The next morning just as promised Jonathan showed up at five in the morning and had Naruto working from sun up till sundown tilling the land. Jonathan Kent being the practical man he is didn't sit back and watch. Oh no, Jonathan was shoulder to shoulder with Naruto helping him every step of the way and teaching him as much as he could.

After the first day and Jonathan making a slight joking comment about Naruto's ramen habit to Martha, the two female Kents had been hard at work making the two lunch every day. Of course Martha had Kara deliver it once it was ready with a fresh pitcher of tea for Jonathan.

"It's not the fact that I think he's wrong," Naruto said taking one last sip of water before grabbing his hoe and heading off his porch, "it just sucks." Jonathan nodded somley and the two began the trek to the back of the first field. When she saw the two of them out of sight she smiled before dashing off at the speed of light back to the Kent's farm.

"Ugh," Naruto grunted plopping down onto his couch exhausted, "I think I would rather fight an 'S' class shinobi than hand till again."

"I told you," Kurama chided his jailor, "studying and knowing is completely different than doing."

"At least I have help, damn good help."

Smirking Kurama couldn't help but respond, "the blonde with a nice ass isn't helping you. Just the old man."

"And he's damn good help ya jackass," Naruto responded rolling over and staring up at his ceiling. "But I will say," Naruto continued, "I feel restless. Almost incomplete. I miss them so much," he commented looking over to the pictures of his smiling friends.

"You can't change the past kid. No one can," Kurama's voice rumbled soothing through his mind, "just keep doing what you said you would. Live the life they can't. Enjoy the peace they couldn't."

Naruto mentally nodded before sitting up and grabbing hold of the clay sake bottle sitting on his coffee table. "Bottoms up guys," raising the bottle to the pictures he began drinking.

AN: Updated 1/22/15 - All authors notes are being deleted and replaced with this. I am back baby! I have an SAO and Halo story now as well and will be fully committed to this story soon. Also I know while it won out in the Poll I am changing the writing style and it should be easier for those that complained before.

So just know Chapter 13 is coming….and so is what I promised…..a superhero war the likes of which we hopefully have never seen.

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