Chapter Four: Leaving Megaton and Flashbacks
A few weeks later found Cassandra and Naruto, with Kyuubi on his shoulder, walking out of Megaton City fully stocked, locked and loaded and ready for trouble. Cassandra had argued with both Naruto and Kyuubi about the child joining her in the Wastes, but their point about their world was well received. It really could help Naruto when he went to become a ninja, because he would go back, to have combat experience and the two really were probably safer with Cassandra than out on their own. Naruto was a great debater for an eight year old.
This brings us back to the two humans and one fox walking out of Megaton with more firepower than Cassandra had ever been able to carry on her own. See, Kyuubi had brought the scrolls that Naruto had been hiding in his apartment with them when he had brought the two to the Capital Wasteland and those scrolls would prove to be invaluable to the Wanderers. One of those scrolls was a sealing scroll, which would allow Cassandra to carry her Fat Boy without worrying about the damn thing weighing her down. The formerly Lone Wanderer wore the armor that she had taken off those Talon Company assholes, as did Naruto, though Cassandra had been forced to take the armor to Moira for adjustments. The proprietor had not agreed with Cass's decision to take the child with her into the Wastelands, but Cass's decision was final and Moira had left it at that. Cass pointed, her voice a quiet trill.
"We're heading for the downtown DC area, so follow me, but keep close. There really is no telling what we're going to encounter on the way."
Naruto and Kyuubi both nodded silently and the three were off toward Arefu on their way to DC, carrying a message from one of Megaton's many settlers.
Naruto had gotten to know a lot about his new guardian over the weeks that they had remained holed up in her apartment. He had been horrified the week that she had forced herself to become ill to help that Moira woman by drinking the water around the crater in the center of town, which had led to a discussion about radiation and the dangers of rads. Cass had discovered that lack of exposure to rads made it difficult for Naruto's system to accept irradiated food, so the weeks were spent not only getting to know one another, but also acclimating Naruto's body to the food and drink in the world. Naruto and Cass both had learned the basics of chakra use and had discovered, much to the surprise of Kyuubi, that Cass had a significant amount of chakra. The demon supposed that it was because of the high level of ambient radiation in the area and figured that all the humans around would have higher levels than the humans back home. The two humans had learned from the demon until Cass had decided that they were prepared enough to venture forth; they could learn more on the road.
FLASHBACK
Naruto woke to unfamiliar surroundings, dilapidated walls made of corrugated steel and wood covered in graffiti and a bed that was slightly more comfortable than the one in his apartment. He took the time to look around just a little, fearful of whoever lived here since he did not recognize the place as anywhere that Hokage-jiji would have brought him.
"Hey kid, you awake now?"
Naruto's head snapped to the side so fast that Cass wondered if the child hadn't injured himself.
"Wh-who are you? Where am I?"
Cass saw the fear in his eyes and cautiously sat near the bed, using the pile of clothing that she had slept on as a chair since the chair in the corner was on the verge of collapse.
"My name is Cassandra and you are in my apartment in Megaton. I've been speaking with the one who brought you here and I understand that you are not from this time; in fact he brought you both into the far past. Before I explain any further I need to know if you are all right?"
The child, unused to having any one really concerned for him, simply nodded as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that this woman really wanted to care for him. Not to mention the fact that he was apparently in the past.
END FLASHBACK
That had been the beginning of their relationship as family and after Naruto had met Kyuubi and understood why the fox had attacked the village the child had offered to let the fox join their little family. Naruto had been introduced to Moira, but Cass had kept him rather isolated as she allowed him to get accustomed to the food and drink in her time. The background radiation being what it was Naruto and Kyuubi both had gotten ill at first from just breathing, only to have it worsened by eating and drinking. It took them over a week to become acclimated and during that time Cassandra had taught Naruto everything she could about the weapons and environment of the time. She had described the radscorpions and yao-guai, the numerous robots and other creatures that they would face and the child and fox soaked up everything like a pair of sponges. Naruto had, for some strange reason, fallen in love with the Chinese pistol that she had (piece of shit that it was) and Kyuu found the flamethrower amusing, to say the least, but the two of them adapted quickly. The most stressful time was when Naruto met Wadsworth on his second day conscious. Cass had not let him out of his bed the day he woke, but could not keep him there the second, so the child had come down the stairs. Cass had struggled not to laugh as the boy's eyes widened until they could widen no more. His mouth dropped open and it was a second before he launched himself down the stairs and behind Cass, who had lost her battle against hilarity and was bent in half, trying to breathe and failing. Naruto had not appreciated the hilarity, particularly when Kyuubi joined in on the laughter, but everything was sorted out and the new family began to plan for what they would do in the near future.
*End*
Note: I know that it sucks, but I wanted to get this out of the way before I moved on to the quests and such. They start with Arefu in the next chapter, then I think I'll do the Those! Quest and then Paradise Falls and Oasis with some Wasteland Survival Guide mixed in for good measure. I am doing Operation: Anchorage for sure, just not sure when and I will also do the Pitt and Point Lookout, but those will be after Naruto goes home. Still need quests requests though, so keep 'em coming!
