Hope you enjoy!
:Fading Echoes:
Chapter IV: A Day of Work
When awareness came, Steven knew things were amiss.
The sun rose like it always did, slowly and brightly. Scattered stratus clouds burned orange, touched by the glinting rays of the morning star. Light beamed through his massive window, shining on his face, warming the surface of his skin. He heard the soft sounds of the beach below, heard the washing of ocean water against a white, sandy shore. The squawking of seagulls roused him from his pleasant slumber, and his eyes fluttered open.
He had awoken earlier than normal. For a while, he laid on the bed as the cloudiness of sleep faded and alertness finally took hold. The first thing he noticed was that the storm had passed. It was also morning. This meant that the gems were back! He felt a surge of excitement, ready to leap from his bed and bombard them with questions concerning their mission. But he paused when the temple room opened, and he heard the hushed voices of both Amethyst and Pearl. They walked into the living room, which was centered just below his room.
As their voices reached his ears, he knew something wasn't right. He could feel it, a shiver crawling down his spine.
Beneath him, Pearl gracefully sat down on their couch, but Amethyst flung herself against another nearby cushion.
Pearl frowned, glancing tiredly at the purple quartz.
They didn't need sleep—hardly needed rest. But this didn't mean they never became weary.
"Can't you have some manners, at least?" she asked. Her brows creased in frustration. She had a sparking metal contraption in her hands, a significant piece of the escape pod they had discovered during the night.
"Sorry P, but this just feels right," Amethyst insisted with a yawn. She placed her legs upon the sofa, clasped her purple hands behind her silver tresses, then leaned back.
On any given day Pearl would have pursued the issue, but not today. She sighed and resumed her observation. She gazed at the piece of technology in her grasp. She carefully placed it on the table, eyed it further, and then she summoned a wrench and a screwdriver from her smooth gemstone. Simple tools, yes, but still highly effective. With this she continued her tinkering. She traced an overwhelming amount of circuitry, tapping sections of the shattered pod with tentative hands.
A spark erupted from the cube-like machine.
Pearl flinched, and Amethyst gaped. Yellow holographic screens suddenly appeared, hovering over their heads. They glowed, displayed numerous charts, a map of deep space, and patterns Pearl could not decipher. She was simply floored, overwhelmed by the sort of technology Homeworld now possessed.
For an instant, Pearl felt a tug from within, an inexplicable desire to be in space once again. To see Homeworld just one more time, to find out what had changed, to find out what was going on without her. The desire lingered. She hesitated, then swiftly shoved it aside. When she thought of Garnet, Amethyst, and Steven—when she thought of Rose's legacy—she had no choice but to abandon any longing for her former world.
Gem society had wonderful, beautiful aspects to it. The architecture, the culture, the regal atmosphere.
But that was only on the surface, for the bad far outweighed the good.
Especially for a Pearl like herself.
"That's freaking cool," Amethyst chimed quietly, gazing at the floating, golden screens above them. "Make them do something."
Pearl frowned.
"Amethyst, this is serious. I have to be careful. This device could spontaneously combust, explode, implode, or worse."
"Sounds fun," Amethyst continued.
"This isn't about fun," Pearl lectured silently. "We could be in danger. This thing could be a beacon. Homeworld gems could be receiving a signal as we speak."
"Geez. I'm just trying to lighten the mood. You and Garnet have been all quiet…" she glanced up at Steven's room, then whispered so only they could hear, "since we got back from the Kindergarten… ever since we found that onyx gem."
Pearl chanced a glimpse at Steven's room as well. It was early morning, and it was unlikely he would be awake. But she still whispered, kept her voice low. "You weren't there to see what he did to us. To our allies. Our friends. All the damage he caused. He's far too dangerous."
"Why?" Amethyst hissed silently, just like yesterday.
Pearl lamented, held her tongue. Because he cracked Rose's shield.
Amethyst's mood soured. Inwardly she wasn't convinced. He seemed genuine in his declaration yesterday. Amid the pouring rain, he looked lost and alone. He looked like he went through hell just to arrive on earth. Just the thought of him made her wonder. Was he shapeshifting? He looked noticeably more masculine than them. Spiky, jet-black hair. A handsome face. Strange whiskered cheeks.
Still.
Curiosity did not override her common sense. She couldn't outright trust a gem like that, right? He did, after all, attack them first—as Pearl had pointed out. It just felt like there was more to his story than she knew, than what Pearl and even Garnet knew.
The Warp Pad activated.
A dim flash of light, and someone stepped out.
"Garnet, you're back."
Pearl sat up quickly, then she sagged slightly. Garnet arrived empty-handed, fists balled. The fusion was soaking wet, and drops of water slid down her curvy, yet powerful body.
"Did you find anything?" Pearl whispered.
"Nothing at the Galaxy Warp," she returned smoothly, walking to the living room once she dried off. "What about you two?"
"We searched all over the Gem Battlefield. We even checked any abandoned Colony Ships. I… I thought for sure…" she trailed off.
The small, green piece of the escape pod began to spark and hiss, and then the holographic screen shut down with a slow, quiet hum. Pearl nearly yelped, leaned down to inspect the tiny box.
Amethyst groaned, stretching across the sofa.
"We searched all night, and nothing. I say we take a break."
"We can't afford to take a break," Pearl retorted. "Right, Garnet?"
Garnet hummed for a second. "We're taking a break," she concluded, then took a seat next to Amethyst. The soft cushions melded to the shape of her body. She rested both arms along the length of the chair as Pearl mumbled with disbelief. "And Steven? You can come down now. I know you're awake."
Both Pearl and Amethyst shared a look. A moment later, Steven descended the stairs that led to his open room.
"Uh, hey guys," he began, smiling softly, still wearing his stripped pajamas. He noticed Pearl and Amethyst tense up. "Good… morning?"
"Good morning, Steven," Pearl greeted with an apprehensive smile. "You're up awfully early."
"Hey, dude." Amethyst saluted.
Garnet nodded his way with a tiny smile. But her attention seemed distant, focused on different matters.
"Did you guys find anything cool?" he asked, bubbling in anticipation, despite their hushed tones early.
"No." Garnet. Blunt as always.
"It was just a silly old meteorite. Nothing special," Pearl added. "Highly radioactive, yes, but nothing special."
Steven's face fell, and he knew for a fact that they weren't telling the whole story. It seemed like they always did this. When it was something they thought he couldn't handle, they would withhold some information from him. It was just recently that he had been able to go with them on missions. He had even gotten to see Pearl and Amethyst's awesome fusion! But he still felt like they weren't treating like him like he was a full member of the team.
He then noticed the item on the table. A small, rectangular box. It was green and seemed to spark every other second. He had heard them talking about it.
"What's that?"
"O-oh, this?" Pearl began. "This little, insignificant thing? It's just…"
"Some junk from my room!" Amethyst cut in. "Found it last night!"
His eyes lit up, stars in his eyes. "Can I see?"
"No," Garnet said again.
"What? Oh, come on," he whined, crossing his arms tightly. "First I couldn't go on the mission with you guys. Now I can't even hold something from Amethyst's room? What is it? Keep-everything-away-from-Steven day?"
The gems remained silent, sharing various glances. Then Steven's growing anger dissolved. He looked at their faces. At Garnet. At Pearl. At Amethyst.
"Are… are you guys alright?"
"Everything is fine, Steven," Garnet spoke softly, reassuringly. They all smiled. Garnet, who sat closest to him, pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sorry if it seems like we're keeping things from you. In fact, I know it seems that way. We're only doing what we believe is best. For your safety. For the town's safety. For earth's safety."
Both Amethyst and Pearl nodded.
And Steven could not stay angry at them. Only concerned. He had caught snippets of Pearl and Amethyst's conversation. They were looking for something. They had searched all night for it. And this thing sounded dangerous. Even Garnet, so strong, so unwavering, seemed shaken by whatever was going on.
How could he not be concerned? They were his family.
Steven looked up. His eyes were sincere and full of worry.
"So, you guys are okay?"
"Duh." Amethyst chuckled, jumping up and putting him in a playful headlock. She rubbed her fist against his curly brown locks.
Steven only nodded, lips parting in a small, somewhat reassured smile.
"Let me make you breakfast," Pearl suggested.
"And we should watch something tonight," Amethyst added.
"That sounds good," Garnet supplied, glancing over at Steven. Even then, her gaze was far, almost as though she was seeing something in the distance. Something only she could see.
Steven grinned.
"Yeah, sounds good."
Naruto had a dream.
Actually, a series of dreams.
So long had it been since he dreamt. So long since he laid his head down to sleep. So long that he thought his dreams had been real. The images were vivid, so life-like. Only in waking did he realize they were just memories of the past, and that he had fallen asleep on Sadie's couch earlier in the night.
Now he was on their roof, and the images he witnessed still plagued him. He had seen his life laid out before him, a life akin to a winding road, with many twists and turns along its narrow path. He had seen everyone from his distant past. He saw earth as it was before, untouched by Gem technology and influence. He had seen all the events from start to finish. His birth. His mother and father's death at the hands of Kurama. His childhood. All the people he had ever known. His teenage years. And his death during the shinobi war.
His last dream, however, was far worse. He saw glimpses of the Rebellion. He heard the screams of human and gem alike. He saw fire. Billowing smoke. Living plants. A pink, unbreakable shield. Gems being poofed left and right. He witnessed Homeworld's humiliating retreat. Colony Ships soaring away. The Galaxy Warps radiating immense energy, and a bright, powerful explosion in the sky.
What truly struck him was the sight of one gem. A blue, tear-shaped gem.
A Lapis Lazuli.
He saw glimpses of her. She had been by his side, laughing, smiling, splashing him with water.
She was beautiful.
Lapis Lazulis were powerful gems. Some of which could hold their own against him when surrounded by water. He saw many of them on Homeworld. At the moment, he didn't associate with any. They were noble, aristocratic gems, most residing within Blue Diamond's expansive court. Naruto was a soldier, and thus his assignments and duties differed greatly from high-class, high-society gems.
So, who was this Lapis Lazuli that plagued his dreams?
"During the war… I must have known her," he whispered. "At least, for a short time."
But now, with his recollection of the Rebellion as 'shattered' as it was, Naruto knew he would be hard-pressed to clearly remember a gem who hadn't been with him through the whole war.
When his gem had been broken, something in him broke.
Naruto took a deep, calming breath.
This whole thing was a complicated mess. Yet he knew that the solution to his Rebellion memories was time.
With time, all details would return.
For now, he would revel in the sun as it rose above the horizon, setting the skies ablaze with golden warmth. He let himself be bathed in the rays of earth's gentle star. He witnessed its journey through the sky, until it hung high enough to shower Beach City in cascading beams of light.
I missed this. So much.
Reaching up, Naruto touched his gemstone. He felt the tiny crack that marred his very being. A touch of concern sparked through him.
His body was certainly better; he estimated that he was at, perhaps, sixty percent—in terms of fighting ability.
Like last night, he heard the door of Sadie's home open. This time, however, it was Barbara that stepped out of the house. She was dressed in her postal uniform, complete with a teal shirt, blue shorts, and a pair of clean, white socks. She looked just as confused as Sadie had been. But instead of watching her spin around in a circle, Naruto stood up.
He slowly descended from the top of her house.
Barbara noticed immediately, hair ruffled by the sudden breeze.
"The roof?" She paused, then crossed her arms. "Actually, I don't really care. If you break something, you're the one fixing it."
Naruto felt a smile tug at his lips, already liking Barbara. She seemed unafraid to speak her mind.
He took a step closer, walked until he was standing before the protective, enthusiastic mother.
"The name's Naruto," he officially introduced himself, stretching out his hand. "Thank you for what you did last night. For letting me stay. All I needed was rest. I'm grateful to both you and Sadie."
"Barbara Miller," she said, shaking his hands. "Call me Barb, though. Sounds better."
"Barb, will do."
Barbara paused, then moved closer. She had a suspicious, maternal glint her eyes.
"Now, Naruto. Tell me. What are your intentions with my daughter?" she interrogated, lips pursed, eyes narrowed, hands falling on her hips.
"Nothing but the best of intentions," he returned easily, barely stopping the growing smile.
"The best of…" she could hardly finish, laughing. "I haven't heard something like that before. With an answer like that, I just might trust you."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Well, I'll do anything to win the trust of the people that practically saved me."
She liked his answer.
"So, mister Naruto, care to explain what happened yesterday?" Barbara asked curiously.
"It's a long story," Naruto answered with a sigh.
"Yeah, I hate long stories," she acknowledged, then narrowed her gaze. "But you weren't doing anything illegal, now, were you?"
"Of course not." He laughed softly, humoring her.
Barbara nodded, eying him closely.
"Have a family?"
"Used to," he shrugged. Team 7 came to mind. "A long time ago."
"Long time, huh? Makes you sound like a hundred-year-old with that kind of talk."
"I'm a lot older than I look," Naruto replied.
"I wouldn't be surprised. Those three haven't aged a day since I've been here," she said, referring to the Crystal gems.
"You know them?" he asked.
"Don't you?"
"No." Sort of.
Barbara crossed her arms as well. "Personally, I don't. But Greg and his boy? They do. I never really understood those three. Never really wanted to get involved, either. But here I am, talking to one of them." She shook her head at the irony.
"I'm not one of them," Naruto corrected gently. "In fact, I'm sure they hate my guts right now. Another long story."
"Good, we'll skip that," Barbara said. "What about a home?"
Naruto was taken by surprise. He thought for a moment—torn between earth and Homeworld. Which one was his home? He had been born on earth. But he had spent more time on Homeworld. If he claimed that Homeworld wasn't beautiful, he'd be lying.
But truly, the answer was simple.
"My home's here." He smiled warmly. "On earth. As for a place? I don't have one."
Silence took hold.
Barbara seemed to have been studying him with these pointed questions, judging his character, who he was, gauging his faults, his strengths. He didn't mind. To them, he was but a stranger. He was a being that could destroy Beach City. And he respected Barbara's concern with the safety of her daughter and herself.
"Come on in, then," she said.
Naruto stiffened, surprised. You don't know me.
But Sadie's words echoed in his mind: "You don't seem like a bad person..."
"Do you have somewhere to be?" Barbara asked curiously.
"No…"
Barbara opened the door. "Don't think you're leaving so soon, mister. You still have to fix that hole you made last night."
The first thing he heard was the sound of a Television. Most likely broadcasting the news. He heard two announcers talking about "meteor damage" and the storm that had passed by yesterday. In the kitchen, Barbara began preparing breakfast. The smell of frying eggs and bacon struck his nostrils, and Naruto's eyes widened. When was the last time he'd eaten? He didn't know. But for as long as he'd been a gem, he hadn't tasted even a morsel of food. He didn't need to—because he was sustained by pure Natural Energy, forcefully sucked from the earth to give him life once again.
He leaned against a wall in the kitchen, letting the sweet smell of Barbara's cooking circle around him. For now, this was fine.
While at the oven, Barbara turned to him.
"What actually happened last night?"
"A lion happened," he explained.
"Lion? You're serious?"
"Completely serious, Barb," he assured. "A huge, pink lion, believe it or not."
"Well, considering how our town is, I shouldn't be surprised." Barbara continued to cook. She multitasked, gathering materials into her workbag, and readying breakfast at the same time.
Soon, Sadie climbed up the stairs which led to the basement. She seemed a bit tired, yawning. She was dressed in a purple shirt with a donut on it. She had showered. Her blonde hair was combed, and she looked ready for work.
"Wow mom, breakfast smells great," she remarked, glancing around. When she caught sight of Naruto she smiled. "Still here, huh?"
Naruto nodded slowly, leaning against their wall with his arms crossed.
"Still here."
Sadie sat down at the dining table after getting breakfast. "I guess this means you talked to him?"
Her mother nodded at her statement and ate while standing up, still gathering the things she would need for work. "Yes, I certainly did. Very interesting kid." There was a mischievous glint in Barbara's dark eyes.
"Kid." Naruto shook his head with a small smile. He really did like Sadie's mother. She seemed somewhat overbearing, but he could look past that—could see the love she had for her daughter.
"Hey… do you… want something?" Sadie asked, uncertain. Did gems need to eat? Sometimes it didn't seem so. Sometimes it did. Only the gem, Amethyst, occasionally dropped by to grab a bite with Steven at her place of work.
"I'm fine," he replied, shaking his head. "Thank you."
Sadie nodded slowly.
And Naruto hummed thoughtfully. "I do have a question, though."
She tilted her head slightly.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head rather sheepishly—the first time she'd seen him act like this. It was cute, she thought.
"Does earth… still have… ramen?"
"Ramen?" Sadie repeated, giving him an odd look. Even Barbara looked his way. "Yeah, of course we do. It's practically everywhere. At any grocery store."
He nodded slowly, attempting to keep himself composed. But how could he? Even after thousands of years, earth still had the greatest meal to ever exist!
Barbara finished her breakfast quickly. She began preparing something else. She made a sandwich, cut it into two triangles, then put it in a plastic bag. She took an apple, some grapes, a drink, pudding, and placed it into a bigger paper bag. Then she used a marker and inscribed Sadie's name on said bag. She moved to the table and placed the lunch in front of her daughter.
Sadie cleared her throat, blushing. "M-Mom. I told you that you didn't need to pack me lunch anymore."
"Whoops," her mother said innocently. "Guess it slipped my mind." Barbara swiftly glanced at a clock above them, and she instantly grew frantic. "Shoot. I'm almost late."
She slung her bag around her shoulder, grabbed her keys, rushed into the living room, returned, then paused.
She turned back to Sadie, then to Naruto. Her lips tightened, brows creasing in contemplation.
Even though she now had a more favorable view of him, Naruto knew Barbara wasn't exactly comfortable with leaving him in her home. He took no offense. Sadie seemed to realize the same thing.
"Don't worry, mom," she said, drinking a glass of orange juice. "I'll take him to the Big Donut today."
"I approve." Barbara turned back to Naruto, slightly worried. "You're not going out dressed like that, are you?"
Naruto knew she was talking about his tattered, torn, appearance modifiers. Glancing down, he realized just how bad he must have looked to them. So he focused, felt the energy that flowed from his damaged gemstone. He precisely channeled it through his body. He glowed a bright yellow, and his external physique changed.
His hair became lighter, a grayish hue. His eyes were now pitch black, two wrinkles running down the sides of his nose. His skin lost its pale complexion. He shifted dark pants and a blue shirt. Not only did he change his clothes, he also changed his facial features. He had such an accurate control over shapeshifting that he could even disguise the gem on his chest as a black, onyx necklace.
By the time he finished, he was the spitting image of Itachi. An excellent choice, if he did say so himself.
Barbara and Sadie stood there, gaping. Their eyes were wide.
"Yeah, I'll never get used to this," Barbara voiced numbly, rubbing the back of her neck, not willing to even question his reason for changing his entire appearance. With that, she departed for work, saying goodbye to Sadie and practically running out the door. "I'll see you two later! And Naruto, don't forget about that hole in the wall!"
Barbara's voice echoed from outside, the door slamming behind her. Naruto moved, then took a seat next to Sadie on the dining table, leaning back and clasping his hands behind his now gray locks.
"Did I really do that much damage? I haven't checked it since yesterday. Was it that bad?" he asked curiously.
Completely amazed by his sudden transformation into a different person, Sadie nodded.
"Well, yeah… it's pretty bad. Actually, it's not really a hole. Just some caved in, broken wood. But don't worry! We'll just call someone to fix it."
He waved her off. "I'll fix it."
She tilted her head. "You will?"
"Sure." Helping Yamato and Tazuna and Inari rebuild Konoha after Nagato's invasion of the leaf had its benefits. Through the use of shadow clones, he had inadvertently acquired a working knowledge of carpentry. "I'm a bit rusty. But if I get a good look at the damage, and some tools, I think I can patch it up in no time at all."
That is, if people still make houses like back then.
"You don't have to do all that," Sadie protested.
"I want to," he replied, mirroring what she had told him yesterday. "If anything, it's the least I can do for you and your mother."
"Fine. I won't stop you then. I'm not even sure I can," she said, then finished the rest of her breakfast. Sadie stood up, went to the sink, dropped the utensils she had been using to eat, and began washing them.
She turned to him again, a very unsure look in her eyes.
"You're probably wondering who this is, right?" he asked, referring to the fact that he had taken on Itachi's likeness. At Sadie's timid nod, he continued. "Well, I'll tell you this. He was a good man. He was someone I knew before Beach City existed."
"Before… Beach City?" she whispered. "This world sure has a long history, doesn't it?"
There was so much she didn't know. So much mystery.
"Yeah," he said wistfully.
Sadie disappeared into the basement for a few moments, then emerged while putting on a thin, red hoodie. It wasn't cold outside, but she still liked wearing it.
"We should get going," she announced. "I hope you like donuts."
Naruto stood up and walked to the door. Behind him, he saw Sadie pause. She stared hesitantly at the lunch her mother had packed for her. She reached out, then stopped, torn between two decisions.
"Don't take for granted the things that she does for you," he encouraged. Once again, he thought about his own mother, and how he had never gotten to physically meet her. Only within the depths of his heart, while he fought against Kurama, did he finally earn a glimpse of Kushina.
Sadie seemed to take his words to heart.
She stared at the lunch, and then took it.
"Looks like that storm was worse than we thought," Sadie mentioned. "Weird, it didn't last that long too."
They were outside, walking next to each other. After taking a look at the damage he had caused to her dwelling—which wasn't too bad—they walked through a compound of homes, and Naruto had stood, studying the houses that people now resided in. Structurally, they weren't so different from what had been built in the Shinobi era. In fact, they appeared even less complex, but were more refined. Many of them were made of wood, roofed by clay tiles, and painted various shades.
Even as they moved, Naruto noticed what Sadie was talking about. A number of houses had minor damage from yesterday's storm.
Some neighbors were already outside, cleaning up what they could.
Nobody was paying much attention to him, despite them greeting and waving in his and Sadie's direction.
Besides observing the damage, Naruto was smitten by the town. It wasn't too small, nor was it too big. It felt comfortable, situated next to a beautiful beach.
Suddenly, the urge to stay reared its head. If he devoted time, got to know people, could he really end up staying? He promised Sadie he would stick around for a few days. But really, where else would he go if he decided to leave? Locating Konoha would be quite the task. Even then, his former village was certainly gone, buried under millennia of rock and encroaching plant life.
And there was still the issue of those gems.
Sadie didn't have the time to show him everything, as she was running late. He didn't mind. Just the sight of buildings and people walking around, going about their day in relative peace, was enough to make him smile. Earth seemed so calm now, so serene, so peaceful.
They picked up the pace, and in a few moments, Naruto was standing at the entrance of a single building. Glass windows. Brick walls. It had a large, circular item on top, and a sign that read: Big Donut.
Reaching into her pocket, Sadie pulled out a bundle of keys; she put one into the lock and opened the glass door.
"Welcome to the Big Donut."
The smell of sugar was what hit him first. Naruto's eyes widened. His senses were very sharp, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath. The place smelt wonderful. He held the door open for Sadie as she walked in.
While she turned on the lights and activated a number of machines, he looked around.
"Lion-Lickers?"
His fingers trailed the outside of a refrigeration system, and he was reminded of the massive, coral lion that had begun this whole chain of events.
Sadie came out of the employee room—a place in the back—carrying dozens of boxes, as well as a container of old, cold coffee. She could hardly see where she was going, spilling much dark liquid on ground while struggling to hold onto the items in her hands.
"Ugh, where the heck is Lar—!"
She slipped on the liquid mess, a yelp rising in her throat.
Naruto blurred.
Mid-fall, he caught her with one arm, while simultaneously using his other arm to catch all the boxes—long before they could crash to the ground.
"Easy there," he said, concerned, steadying her.
"Thanks," she said genuinely. He's fast. " Lars should be here by now."
"Let me help," he suggested. He easily held the boxes in one palm. "It's not like I have anything to do right now."
"I guess you can." Sadie conceded with only a few moments of deliberation. "You'll need a uniform first. Let me see if we have one in the employee…" she trailed off when she saw him change his appearance once more. A white glow, and he was wearing the purple, Big Donut uniform. It fit his body, displayed his muscled physique. Sadie blinked, staring. "Or you could just do… that."
So, he helped her finish setting up, learning as they went along. He cleaned the spilled coffee mess on the ground, then dried the wet floor with a discreet blast of air. Sadie prepped the machines, making sure fresh donuts were stocked and ready to be eaten.
In the process of all of this, Naruto remained in a state of astonishment, of contentment, even. Who would have thought this is what he'd be doing? From dangerous, life-threatening assignments, managing the files of his subordinates, reporting to Yellow Diamond—to this.
"We'll be opening soon," Sadie said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Looks like everything's all set up. I still can't believe Lars is this late—actually, I can believe it. He… he does this sort of thing… sometimes."
Naruto brushed the gray locks from his face. "Maybe he has a good reason?"
Just then, someone stepped in. And Naruto knew this was Lars. He observed the teenager as he walked through the front door. Auburn hair, hands stuffed in his pockets, skinny as a twig, looking like he had something to prove.
"Lars? Why're you so late?"
Lars raised his hands in defense. "I hurt my knee this morning, Sadie. Really, really badly. It took me, what, thirty minutes to get to the store? But hey, I'm here now."
Sadie fumed, but quickly calmed down. She glanced to her left.
"Well, it's a good thing Naruto was here."
"Who?" Lars questioned, eyes roaming the store until they landed on him. "The hell? Who's this?"
"A friend of Sadie's," Naruto said calmly, unsure of what to make of Lars. He wasn't one to pass swifts judgements, but so far, Lars hadn't made the best of impressions. Naruto could tell he was lying about his injury. "Try coming to work earlier. That way she won't have to do all your work."
Lars didn't respond. He couldn't respond. From his body language, strolling in so confidently, so calmly, Naruto knew he did this often. Sadie was just too kind to call him out on it more.
Sadie smiled innocently. "Morning, Lars."
Lars mumbled incoherently, made his way to the counter. He glanced warily at Naruto, sizing him up.
"Who'd you say this guy was again?"
Sadie elbowed him in the side. "Don't be rude. Naruto's a friend. He's staying over for a bit."
Lars nearly choked.
"S-Staying over? You mean… like at your place?"
Naruto's curt nod answered the teen's question. He was sure he saw a glint of jealously Lars' eyes. Hidden, but still there.
"Whatever man," he murmured. "Wait, why're you wearing the uniform?"
"He's helping out today," Sadie explained.
Naruto saluted lazily. "Reporting for duty."
Sadie giggled, and Lars' frown deepened.
Thus, began a day of work.
Naruto liked it. Things began quite heavy—though, it was nothing compared to Homeworld assignments. As soon as 7:30 struck, customers flooded through the glass door. The majority were adults, coming in for a quick bite before heading off to work. The most ordered things were coffee and, of course, donuts. With three of them, the morning ran smoothly. Sadie took the orders. Lars packaged said orders. Naruto kept the machines stocked and full, and he cleaned any messes that were made.
"You're a quick learner," Sadie whispered to him as he effortlessly carried a massive box of ice cream in his left hand. Lars' glances didn't go unnoticed. "Good thing I didn't show you the training video. It would've been such a waste of time. No offense to Mr. Smiley."
"Mr. Smiley?"
"Yeah, he's the guy who works at Beach city Funland. I'm sure you'd like him."
With the number of people coming in, Naruto had the perfect opportunity to test something. Amid the customers entering, he took notice of their chakra. He could probe a person from a distance. All he needed was focus—a lot of it. And as he did this, he noticed one thing. Low levels of chakra. From almost everyone. Of course, it was still there, like a drop of dew in a dried-up creek. Nothing compared to humans thousands of years ago. Time must have taken its toll. With no use over many millennia, chakra pathways in humans were becoming vestigial. Near useless—most likely confused for veins and arteries.
Despite this, there were still some exceptions.
Take Sadie for instance.
Her chakra pool was a lot larger than the average person, but it still wasn't much. She had far less chakra than, say, a newly enrolled academy student. Even less than a civilian during his time.
Naruto found it both saddening and relieving. At least now, mankind couldn't weaponized their personal energy and use it to murder each other.
When afternoon came, the flow of costumers slowed to a trickle. Lars was taking his break in the employee room. Naruto stood next to Sadie behind the counter.
"This is… nice," he said softly. He leaned against the wood structure, staring out the glass window in contentment.
Sadie shrugged. "Nah, it gets pretty boring sometimes."
"Sadie… I've been around for a long time. So trust me. This—" he swept his hand through the air— "is much better than constant war and suffering."
She could see something in his eyes, his once blue eyes. Regret. Pain. Just like yesterday on the roof. Even now, she wondered about his past. Who he was, truly. He told her yesterday that he had done a great deal of wrong, implying that he was far from a decent person. She disagreed greatly. When she had slipped earlier in the day, when he had caught her, she saw such concern on his face, like it was him about to be hurt by the fall.
For a moment, she had even forgotten he was a gem. The way he spoke—the way he acted—was so… human.
They stood for a few minutes, then Sadie glanced at the clock.
"You can take a break, if you want." At his skeptical look, she shook her head. "Don't give me that look. I can handle this. I always do. Besides, Lars should be done his break soon."
He nodded slowly. Only out of his regard for her wishes did he comply. After all, he was the one who could stay awake for centuries. But he obliged, moved from behind the counter and made his way to a door behind him. He opened it, and he heard a television. The room was dim. Lars was sitting on a chair, skinny legs propped up against another chair as he laughed.
The moment he stepped in, Lars turned, then his face dimmed. "Oh, it's just you. Mind closing the door?"
And Naruto did. Calmly walking into the room, he grabbed a chair of his own and curiously observed the screen flashing images of a show. Homeworld technology was light years away from this, but what really interested him was the fact the modern earth technology was only a bit more advanced than that of the Shinobi era. Back then they too had fridges and light bulbs. They also less advanced TVs, something only the Daimyo and Kage had access to.
We really did a number on the earth, didn't we?
By the end of the Fourth Shinobi War, everything had been reduced to ash. Almost nothing remained. Most shinobi had been killed. So, it was only logical to conclude that knowledge had been lost in the flames of war and humans had to start from the beginning again.
"Lars, do you guys have a map around here?" he asked, taking a seat next to the teen. "Just a world map."
Lars titled his head, crossing his arms. "A map, huh? Why would Iknow where to find one? Only a nerd would know something like that."
Naruto sighed. This teen's attitude was something else. Seemed like earth still had its load of annoyances.
"Who're you trying to impress?"
Lars faltered for an instant, then regained his smug composure. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't worry about it," he dismissed. Lars wasn't a bad guy. Just very insecure. Naruto didn't get annoyed, because he had seen true evil before. And this wasn't it. "I still need a map."
Lars grumbled, arms still crossed. "Check up there. There's a bunch junk in this place. Maybe you'll find your precious map." He inclined his head to the right, then continued watching his show.
Naruto looked at the papers stacked at the top of one of the many storage shelves that surround this employee room. He flicked his wrist discreetly. There was a small gust of wind, and the papers and a small book fell from one of the metal shelves. He used his fingers to control the air, causing each page to glide safely to the ground next to him.
Lars jumped, turning to him. "What the heck was that?"
"I don't know. Weird, wasn't it?" Naruto said, feigning surprise, inwardly amused.
The teen stood up from his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… sure."
Naruto picked up the pile that had fallen at his feet and began to look through them; and to his satisfaction, he found what he was looking for. A book of geographic landmarks. He flipped through its pages, until he arrived at a full map of planet earth, complete with land formations, names, and distances. He gazed at it, marveling at how much had changed. He barely recognized the continents. Earth was no longer one, but had been torn into seven pieces.
After a moment of observation, he noticed Lars out of the corner of his eyes. The teen was about to leave the room because his break was finished. He turned off the television, then stood still.
"Seriously, who are you, man? I've never heard Sadie talk about you before," Lars questioned, playing it cool, hands in his pocket. Made it sound like he didn't care.
"I told you," Naruto answered, focused on the book. "I'm a friend. Honestly, I owe her a lot. She's a really kind person. I bet she does most of the work around here, too."
Lars scoffed, stuffing his hands deeper into his pocket. "What do you know?
Naruto smirked.
"Don't worry, Lars. I'm not going after Sadie, or anything like that."
The teen's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, but he suppressed his reaction well, walking out the Employee room as quickly as possible. The door closed with a distinct thud.
"Is this… the Land of fire?" Naruto whispered to himself.
He was presently looking at a section on the map. A massive area of land situated near earth's equator. Undoubtedly, this upper part of the continent would be very warm. It was now called South America.
The area he was looking at was colored green, indicating a massive number of trees and plant life present.
"Just like Konoha…"
Naruto didn't spend long in the employee room. He studied the map, drew some wild conclusions, engaged in some speculation concerning the locations of old, ancient Shinobi villages. Then he had fiddled with the Television—only out of curiosity. There he witnessed a very bizarre show featuring sentient, crying fruit. After that, he stored the map in his gem, planning to ask Sadie more questions about the world he had returned to.
He walked out of the employee room.
And he froze.
A wave washed over him. It was the same feeling he felt when he met that pink, crafty lion. It was familiar, alive, and powerful. A pink shield blurred to life before him, a vision of the past. The fog of war was his reality, and he witnessed himself drilling an Odama Rasengan into the face of this diamond-adorned defense. A moment later the vision was gone. Naruto shook his head, blinked the images from his mind.
"Are you okay?" Sadie asked, voice cutting in on his thoughts. She was looking over at him, somewhat concerned. Behind the counter, behind the cash register, both she and Lars stood, gazing at him.
"I'm fine," Naruto reassured.
"You too, Steven. Is…is every thing okay?" Sadie questioned.
Naruto blinked.
Steven?
Then he noticed the boy in front of the counter.
He was barely five feet tall. He wore a pink shirt adorned with a brilliant, yellow star. His hair was brown and curly, and his dark eyes were wide. The boy stood frozen, gaze locked on Naruto—curious, surprised, bewildered. His hands reached to touch his abdomen, and a chill seemed to run down his spine.
"Stop being weird, Steven," was Lars' exasperated statement. He was resting his head in his arms, staring with boredom.
Steven snapped out of his stupor, head tilting as he observed Naruto from a distance.
Sadie realized something, and she quickly grew nervous. She should have been more careful, should have alerted Naruto to Steven's presence in the store. Because of what he had told her last night, she knew about his confrontation with the Crystal Gems.
Naruto remained calm, giving Sadie a look that said: Don't worry.
This must have been the boy she had spoken of, the boy that lived on the other side of the beach, the boy who called those three his family. The son of a man named Greg. Naruto was both surprised and interested, but his feelings didn't show. Even then, this boy… was oddly familiar. There was something about him. He was different. Different from the people around him—Sadie and Lars—and he radiated an energy so unique, so vibrant, something far greater than anything normal humans now possessed. Yet, at the same time, he stood starkly different juxtaposed with gems.
Naruto just didn't know what it was. And he found no reason to be wary of this… Steven.
"And who might you be?" he asked nicely, gazing in the boy's direction. "It's my first time here. You look like a very valued costumer."
"Hardly," Lars murmured, and Sadie gently elbowed him.
Steven's eyes brightened, and he seemed to bubble with excitement, eager to meet a new person.
"My name's Steven." The boy smiled brightly. "Steven Universe. I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met before."
Something about that smile of his reminded Naruto of his genin years.
"Hey there, Steven. The name's Naruto." He moved out of the employee room, where he stood next to Sadie. "I'm from out of town, actually. So maybe that's why you haven't met me before."
"Hmm. That could be a reason," the boy pondered playfully, laughing gently. "I didn't know the Big Donut was hiring. You must be really good friends with Lars and Sadie."
"Sadie, yes," Naruto said with a smile, Lars glaring at him from the left. "But no, there're not hiring. I'm just… you can say, helping out for today. Nothing major."
"Steven," Sadie began hesitantly. "Naruto's going to be staying in Beach City for a bit, so I'm sure you'll have enough time to see him."
"Cool! When did you get here? Did you see the meteor? How about that crazy storm last night?"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down." Naruto chuckled, completely amused by this happy boy.
Steven's eyes widened, then he scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I just like meeting new people."
"As do I, Steven," Naruto reassured him gently. "And for your questions. Yes, I got a very close look at what fell from space. And yes, it was quite the storm, at least from what I've seen. I arrived just yesterday—though I haven't really seen the whole town yet."
The young boy beamed, eyes turning to stars.
"I can show you around. Beach City's really beautiful… well normally, it is. Some stuff is damaged because of the storm. But that doesn't matter. It's still great!" he smiled.
Sadie glanced at Naruto, brows creasing.
"I don't think that's the best idea, Steven," she suggested. "I mean, with the storm and all. Maybe another time."
Steven's face fell, and the look in his eyes really surprised Naruto. This kid was too nice. Why would he offer to show him, a stranger, around? He wondered if everyone in Beach City was like this—besides Lars, that is. But for some reason, something within him knew that this was a trait that was exemplified most in this young boy.
Naruto's interest was growing. He felt a tug of familiarity. Steven lived with them. Why? What did he have to do with gems?
Naruto looked at Sadie with a small smile, glancing back to Steven. "Don't worry, Sadie. I could actually use a full tour of the town." She was about to protest, but he continued. "Since you work, I wouldn't want to take away from your time."
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Certain."
Steven's smile returned. "I can show you all the places Beach City has offer before the end of the day."
"Sounds good."
AN: Naruto's "Chakra" is the Natural Energy that powers his gem. There is fundamental difference between him and humans, but there is an even bigger difference between him and normal gems—the fact that he can use Jutsu. Humans haven't completely lost the ability to use chakra, but as said earlier, it is lost knowledge. Naruto won't be teaching everyone how to use chakra. Only one person, maybe even two.
Seems like Naruto and Lars got off to a bad start. But no worries, they'll improve.
Will Naruto get a job? Of course.
Pairings? We'll get to that... later.
