Author's Notes. Second Naruto ranger fanfiction. This one with Naruto being the son of Sylvanas and him killing Arthas before he could become the Lich King.

—oo000oo—

She was good, the young man knew. At least as good as he was and probably better. He had to call upon all the tracking skill he possessed and more just to follow her. Often it was just the smell of death and a grave or the unease of animals from her passing that told him he was still following her. That he would die trying to kill her was almost a given. His Ranger-Captain, Jennalla Deemspring, and his unit had all been slaughtered while he had been scouting for food and supplies. He vowed that he would kill her or die trying like his mother had with Arthas. His name was Naruto Windrunner, the only son of Sylvanas Windrunner and a half elf by the name of Minato.

—oo000oo—

Hiding the best he could, Naruto waited until the Dreadlords left the Dark Ranger, watched as they conspired against Arthas. She didn't seem too thrilled about being freed from one master only to serve another but they parted on a 'I won't interfere' agreement. The Dreadlords finally left and Naruto acted. Drawing an arrow back even as he moved out of hiding, he let it loose and cut the string of her bow. "Don't move," he growled at her from behind.

She tensed but let out a long drawn out breath. "Do I get to know why you are about to kill me? Because I am this monstrosity or something personal?"

"A few days ago you killed my friends, the elves."

She nodded, "Ah, them."

He could hear the contempt for what she did in her voice. "But I am not without mercy," he said softly. "Tell me your name. I know you a ranger like myself and my mother so I will find your kin to return your remains."

She was already shaking her head as she faced him. "My kin are dead," she cursed. "My sisters dead or missing, my brothers killed by orcs…my son was a ranger when Arthas came. I have little hope he survived."

Naruto nodded, "Then let me see your face so I may send you unto the Court of the Sun properly." Taking another deep breath, she lifted her hood and revealed herself. He didn't take it well from what she could see of his face. Like all rangers, he too wore a hood to hide his hair from reflecting light and it hid all but his mouth. His mouth parted in shock, his hands began to shake, and tears began to be shed.

"You were one of my rangers," Sylvanas said softly.

"No…" he replied in a pained whisper before lifting his bow tip to his hood and moving it up out of the way. "I'm your son."

"N-Naruto," she stuttered in shock before beginning to move closer.

"Don't move," Naruto said, jumping back and keeping his bow trained on her head. More tears escaped as he said, "Please don't move."

Sylvanas nodded before glancing around. "My banshees," she stated. By ones or twos they came until they were surrounded.

"You will lower your bow now," one of them moaned out, "or we shall…"

"You shall do nothing," Sylvanas ordered them. "Even if he kills me, my son is not to be harmed." They hesitated but moved back. "…Naruto," she said in a scolding tone. "Your stance is all wrong! I know I taught you better than that. Adjust your lead foot, raise your back elbow."

Naruto gave a sad smile and did as his mother instructed once more. "Yes, mother." They stayed like that a moment longer before Naruto dropped his bow and stance. "I can't do it. I could to anyone else but you and I know it is about to get me killed. Please, mother, make it quick and don't raise me."

Sylvanas walked over to him and hugged him. "My boy, my silly little boy. I could never ever hurt you." Suddenly knowing her child had survived what she had not, Sylvanas felt less angry. She still hated Arthas and he would pay for what he had done but she felt better.

—oo000oo—

"Mother, if you give me a little time, I will find those that will aid you," Naruto said upon hearing the demons' plan to kill Arthas.

Sylvanas frowned in thought. He possibly could find those that would join her in revenge but she doubted they would work with her once they found out what she is. "No. No one will believe you that we are free. And I would rather you by my side than not."

"…Agreed, how do we proceed?"

"Varimathas and his brothers will attack soon. With Arthas growing weaker the chance to strike will present itself."

"What about the Lich," Naruto asked. "I doubt Kelthuzad will be far."

Sylvanas nodded as she looked at those forces loyal to her. "One of us will need to stall him. And it will be me. As powerful as those three are, I have little doubt that a straight on attack will fail but they will force him to flee. My banshee and I will find him in the wilderness, kill his escorts, and I will poison him. With luck, he will be without the Lich. If not or should he appear, we will engage him and force Arthas away. Then you will find him alone and defenseless and kill him."

Naruto nodded. He didn't like striking like an assassin but for what Arthas had done and all he might do, Naruto could make an exception.

—oo000oo—

Arthas cursed as he escaped Lordaeron Castle only to be accosted by several Abominations. "We have no time for this! We must find our way around this!" Before more could be said, several banshees appeared and killed them. "You have my thanks, ladies, but where is your mistress Sylvanas?"

"She sent us to find you, great king. We've come to escort you across the river. Once we've crossed it, we're to take refuge in the wilderness."

The banshees led the way and Arthas followed. Quickly they crossed into Silverpine Forest. "This is the place, sister," the leader of the four told the others. "We will rest here, great king," she said to Arthas.

"Why aren't we pushing forward to find Kelthuzad?"

"They are waiting for me," Sylvanas said as she walked into the clearing, bow at the ready as she looked around.

"You look like you wish to attack someone," Arthas stated.

"This has been a night of many enemies," Sylvanas said while continuing to look around. "…Behind you!" Arthas spun around to see his guards from the city being destroyed by the banshee. An arrow pierced his back and began to burn. "That felt good, you son of a bitch."

"What," Arthas demanded while he pulled the missile from his back. "They control you as well," he growled as the burning began to spread.

"Nope, no one controls me," she said as she notched another arrow. "I will pay you back for what you did to me and my people."

Arthas began to growl at her. "Traitor, what have you done to me!"

"A special poison arrow I made especially for you. That horse of yours might be able to get you free of here but that won't happen. The pain you're feeling is a fraction of what you did to me!"

"Then kill me already!"

"A quick, clean death? Like you gave me? Oh no! You're going to suffer as I did." She pulled the arrow back to put in him as well when Kel'Thuzad arrived.

"Back you mindless ones! You shall not fall today my king!"

Arthas actually smiled at the sight of the Lich. "Good to see you, friend!"

"There are boats at the shore to the West! Go there and I shall meet you!" Arthas nodded and turned Invincible around to head that way while the forces of Kel'Thuzad and Sylvanas clashed. "You shall not succeed this day or any other!" Slowly, his soldiers began to overtake the banshees. The seconds ticked by and Sylvanas smiled.

"It was never for me to kill Arthas, Lich! My part in this was only to stop you!"

"So you did align with the Dreadlords!"

Sylvanas laughed even as she sniped down another of his Scourge. "No you fool! Though we have a common interest, I will serve no one else!" She shot another, also killing it with a single arrow. "Did you know I have a son? He survived that bastard's coming to Qual'Thalas. And yesterday he finally found me again. Did you also know he is almost as good as I am and knows Silverpine better than even I do?"

Even without flesh, Sylvanas could see the realization on his face. He had just sent his king where Death lay. Sylvanas used his distraction to slip away.

—oo000oo—

Arthas rode Invincible hard to get him to the boats but the trees weren't making it easy to escape. Shadows covered the forest and anything could hide here. Anything…

Invincible reared up in pain, throwing him off the winged horse. It ran a bit away with a limp on its right rear leg and an arrow above it right there. Getting back up, Arthas began to grab Frostmourne when an arrow hit his sword arm, laming it. One entered his stomach, pushing him back, and again above his heart. He fell back to the ground still trying to reach his sword. "Can't have that," his assassin said as he came over and with a leather boot kicked the sword away. He looked up to see a face he had long forgotten. "Long time Arthas."

"Heh," he chuckled while spitting blood up that was filling his lungs. "Naruto, I haven't seen you since…we both were children."

"Yeah," Naruto said to him before glaring at the sword. "You are going to die here, Arthas," he said as he went over to it. "My mother believes a quick death is too good for you and made me promise to make you suffer."

"Heh…should've known something like this would happen."

"Maybe you should have," Naruto told him. "But me, a quick death isn't too good for my enemies, just so long as they die. But first, the cause of all this pain." He reached down and grabbed Frostmourne.

Grimacing in pain, Naruto felt it try to assert its own will on him. You will bow to me. Arthas is weak but you are not. Submit to me.

Naruto growled and said, "Shut up." Stabbing it into a tree until about halfway up the blade. He felt weaker having touched the handle of the Runeblade. The steel blade was powerful, incredibly so, but no matter the magic and power, it was still a steel blade. Moving back from it, Naruto ran at it from the side and kicked it on the pommel of the hilt, transferring all his momentum to it. It strained to hold itself together but Naruto was no slouch in his physical strength, something he also augmented with magic. The blade broke with into several pieces. Taking a cloth, he gathered them all up so as to make sure no one ever put the blade back together. Looking back to Arthas, he could see the light from his eyes fading back to human.

Arthas actually looked thankful for that and he didn't struggle as Naruto moved back over him with an arrow pointed at his head. "…Thanks for not keeping that promise."

Naruto pulled the arrow to his cheek and let it go. Hearing the sounds of feet, Naruto went over to Invincible, having known the horse when it had been alive. "I'm sorry boy," he said, petting it and calming it down. "I need you to run and run fast. Can you do that?" The horse whinnied and Naruto took that as a yes. Taking a potion from his pouch, he poured some of it into the wound, healing it some before climbing up on the horse. A kick to the flanks and Invincible started running.

—oo000oo—

Kel'Thuzad arrived at the clearing with the body of Arthas lying on the ground, his sword and horse missing. "My king…" he said softly before closing his eyes. Hearing Invincible charging away, he looked after the horse and saw someone riding atop it. "Retrieve him! Alive! Bring him to me so he may pay for this!" The undead charged after the rider.

—oo000oo—

"Damn it! They're fast! You must hurry, Invincible!" Invincible gave another whinny as he pushed harder. Twisting around to see them, he pulled his bow and shot a ghoul that got close. It went tumbling to the ground and knocked several over in doing so. Seeing Kel'Thuzad coming as well, Naruto aimed at him and fired. The arrow's aim had been true and would have taken him through the head if not for him grabbing a gargoyle and pulling it into the way. Discarding the dead creature, Kel'Thuzad raised his arms and snow began to fall over the forest, building up power to become a blizzard. "You must hurry, Invincible! As my friend and Arthas', you must go faster!" The two objects that he had assumed part of his armor began to move. "Are those wings?" He swore that the horse nodded. "Fly, Invincible! Take to the clouds!" The wings spread out and the horse flew into the sky. Feeling the ground drop out from under him, Naruto couldn't believe this was actually happening. Being buffeted by wind and falling snow made no never mind to him at that moment. He was actually flying! Maybe he should've been a dragonhawk rider too? Flying out over Lordaeron Lake, Naruto headed to where he was to meet his mother.

It was dawn when Invincible landed on the ground, his chest giving several strong heaves, as Naruto slid off him. "You did incredible, Invincible. I'm going to look all over the land for a whole bunch of apples for you."

"Good to see you, my son," Sylvanas said as she came up to him. "…Funny," she said as she looked Invincible over.

"I agree," a voice said behind them. A portal had opened behind them and the red Dreadlord, Varimathas, stepped out to greet them. "Quite a trophy, elfling. I'm impressed."

"I didn't do this to impress anyone," Naruto told him. "I did this because Arthas deserved to die for what he had done and what he might have done."

"Oh, I agree, and the way it was done between the two of you was masterful to say the least. I must applaud your plan. And if I may ask your name?"

"This is my son, Naruto," Sylvanas told him. "Now, what is it you want, demon?"

"Why to offer the both of you a position in our new order, of course. My lady and lord Windrunner, you both hold qualities that we would find of use."

Naruto looked to him and then his mother. "Varimathas was it, yes? I must decline. I wish for nothing more to return home now that I have my revenge. This…place is against my liking," Naruto said as he looked around. "The forest is home, Qual'Thalas, not Lordaeron. Though maybe we will work together again. It was interesting."

Varimathas frowned but nodded. "What my son means is that our freedom is ours and we will not be so quick to give it away," Sylvanas said harshly.

"You could learn some tact from your son, my lady," Varimathas growled.

"So his father told me as well," Sylvanas replied. "But make no mistake, demon…"

"Mother!" Sylvanas glared at him a moment but calmed. Sighing, Naruto turned to Varimathas. "I understand that the Lich King was losing power and so Arthas was as well. But what was that about his enemies drawing nearer?"

Varimathas frowned. "I know not. It is something to look into. I ask that you reconsider your decision."

"We will not," Sylvanas told him.

Varimathas sighed but nodded. He liked the boy, he showed proper respect and he did deliver the killing blow to Arthas. "Very well, we shall send our reply soon."

Varimathas stepped through the portal and Naruto finally let his grimace out. "I hate demons." Windrunner ancestors were demon hunters and their hatred of the beast were passed down to him.

"I was wondering why you put up with him."

"…Mother, I don't like this. Arthas and Kel'Thuzad planned to go north. What if something is there that threatens our home here?"

"We can't go chasing after every single little thing, Naruto."

Naruto looked affronted at that. "The mother I knew would have," Naruto countered.