Chapter 10
The beach was riddled with burn marks and various other damages, and in the middle of it was none other than Steven Universe. All day, Naruto had been attacking him non-stop in order to test the boy's endurance, reaction time, battle efficiency, durability, defense, attack proficiency, and adaptability. Judging by the various cuts and bruises along Steven's body, he'd done quite excellent. Better than Naruto's first student when he began training her. "That's enough for today." Naruto said with a smile. Steven fell to his back in exhaustion, after the day he'd just had, he deserved some rest. That and it was eleven o clock at night. "The kid is getting much better." He stated as he now stood at the edge of the beach "Making leaps and bounds really." Pearl sighed.
"Yes, but you must remember that Steven is still half human and he isn't as durable as we are." Pearl said with worry "I know that you said that you wouldn't do anything that would kill him, but today looked a bit more strenuous than usual." Her hand now lay upon the blonde's shoulder. "I know that the incident with that Gem really stirred you up, and you want to make Steven strong enough that he'll be able to defend himself if it came to it, but in human terms he's still just a child." Naruto looked down, Pearl was right and he knew it. "Please, just ease up a bit if not for Steven then at least me so I don't have to worry about him ending up in a hospital." Her hand caressed his cheeks "Please." The Gems knew exactly how to push each other's buttons, and for both of them it was slight physical interaction between them. In times like this it was a battle of will, and Naruto had just lost this battle. 'I was never like this with Rose.' She said as she walked back to the Temple, leaving Naruto to reshape his training regime for Steven. 'In fact, I never felt this way for anyone expect for…Naruto; I've only had these feelings for him.' she silently stated in surprise 'Never with Rose.' Flopping onto the couch she sat there in utter confusion; how was this possible? She'd been completely devoted to Rose for more than 5,000 years, but somehow these feeling never came up during all that time. From the Temple door, Garnet emerged instantly seeing her distressed friend.
"You talked to Naruto about Steven's training right?" Garnet asked though she already knew the answer.
"Yes I did." she paused. "Garnet is it possible that I wasn't fully devoted to Rose in a certain way?" Pearl questioned looking to Garnet, and though she couldn't see it, Garnet's eyes had just widened to the point where they looked like they could come out. "It's just that I—" she sighed "Never mind, but thanks Garnet you always know just what to say." She smiled as she went to her room. Garnet would stand there for a couple minutes debating on what she should do before she opted to do nothing.
"Their Gem warriors with battle experience, and this shouldn't be too much of a challenge." Garnet said.
"Oh, this is getting to good!" Amethyst exclaimed laughing "I'm not really into drama, but this is just too much to miss; oh man I think I'm gonna die laughing." She said before falling from the ceiling still laughing. "But for Pearl to question her devotion to Rose, isn't that a bit much?" she actually cringed at the thought. Even she'd noticed how much Pearl had changed in different way, but that was mostly around Naruto; aside from that, she was still the same Pearl that they knew for thousands of years. Whenever Naruto and Amethyst hung out, they were more laid back while eating mass amounts of food while having fun; sort of like brother and sister. That was it and that was all it would ever be thankfully, she'd seen Naruto and Pearl act whenever they were in private. It was mostly talking but sometimes Pearl would have Naruto rest his head on her lap or she'd lay on his shoulder. It was such a beautiful sight that made Amethyst want to puke, sadly she couldn't.
The Next Day – Beach City – Evening
He'd been watching them try to teach Steven the steps to fuse, however it had been clear that the boy couldn't do it; well not now maybe. "It isn't his body, it's the synchronization that's the problem." Naruto said after Steven was gone.
"What do you mean?" Amethyst questioned.
"Well, I guess you could say that for him it's more like how he feels in the moment that'll allow him to fuse with someone, remember, Steven is half human and thus his emotions take precedent more often than naught." He explained. "In fact the person he's most likely to fuse with is…" he paused. "Huh, that was quicker than I expected."
"What was?" Garnet questioned only for Naruto to smirk.
"3…2..1" immediately when Naruto got to one, someone ran into the house.
"Guys! I- we fused!" the unknown Gem stated "It's me Steven- Connie!" the three Gems stood there in shock, expect for Garnet who looked more than pleased. Average/athletic build consisting of Connie's slim figure with Steven's chubby, stocky features, curly black hair that reaches to the thighs, and a complexion slightly darker than Steven's. An attire consists of a cyan tank top over a pink T-shirt with a gold-yellow star on it, Steven's jeans as cutoff shorts, and bare feet.
"He fused with his friend Connie?" Pearl asked still dumbfounded.
"Pearl, look at Garnet." Amethyst laughed, the Gem leader looked extremely pleased with this.
"This is unprecedented, a Gem fusing with a human being, it's impossible or at the very least inappropriate." She said.
"Wow, you two look great together!" Amethyst exclaimed smiling "How does it feel Steve, Connie… Stevonnie?!" that was now the official name for this new fusion, Stevonnie; it sounded natural.
"It feels amazing." Stevonnie stated with a gleeful smile.
"That's how your first fusion feels kid, it feels like the ultimate connection to the person you're fusing with; am I right?" Naruto questioned getting a starry eyed Stevonnie.
"It felt way better, like exploding into a billion stars and becoming a galaxy!" Stevonnie exclaimed.
"Huh, that's way better than my first fusion." The blonde said.
"Well, I'm glad you two are enjoying yourselves but you need to un-fuse this instant." Pearl said, she didn't bother trying to hid the fact that she was extremely worried at the moment.
"Wait, What? Pearl you were so worried that Steven wouldn't be able to do this, aren't you proud of him?" Stevonnie asked catching the Gem off guard.
"Of course I am, but" she looked to Garnet "help me out here." Garnet walked up to Stevonnie.
"Stevonnie listen to me, you are not two people and you are not one person, you are an experience and make sure you're a good experience; now go have fun!" Garnet exclaimed. Instantly Stevonnie leapt from the house in utter excitement.
"An excellent experience Stevonnie will be for both Steven and Connie." Naruto said. For the rest of the night, Naruto would sit there waiting for the two kids to get back after assuring the others that he would get Connie home as fast as he could. After all, he was faster than Greg's van.
A couple Days Later – Beach City
Naruto knew that the others had rigged the so called 'test' in Steven's favor, and it wasn't something that he would condone; likely Steven knew this as well. The boy's perception was higher than ever and he wouldn't fall for something like that. In Naruto's eyes it was an insult, but Steven had given them the response that they wanted to hear, but the test wasn't over yet. Thus was why Steven and an all to realistic clone of Kushina was standing a couple feet away for each other. "Steven, this spar will test out all that all that I've taught you so far and she will be fighting hard enough that he'll be trying to get you to surrender; your objective is to defeat her." Naruto said much to the others shock.
"This is going too far—"
"No!" Steven exclaimed cutting Garnet off "I can do this, and if I lose then I'll keep training until I can; this is my chance to prove that Naruto's training wasn't a waste of time." The boy looked to the others with a look of determination that told them that he wasn't going to back down.
"Alright." Garnet said as they stepped back far enough that they wouldn't get in the way. Cracking his neck, Steven took a breath before exhaling; everything that he'd been taught was going to be put to the test here and now. The sign was given for the spar to start, and instantly the fake Kushina went on the offensive dashing straight at the boy with broadsword in hand; intent on finishing this as quickly as possible. Adjusting his sword to the flat side he struck overhead only for Steven to dodge to the left and react faster than Allen thought.
'Earth Style: Ground Spikes!' Steven silently exclaimed pointing at the older Gem. Spikes of earth raged toward Kushina with speed and precision that forced him to constantly jumped away and dodge each spike that emerged. The 'Gem' jumped high into the air giving Steven the opening that he needed. Summoning a hardened swirling bubble the size of his fist, he launched it; she saw it coming just in time enough to block it with her sword. Blocking it wasn't enough as the attack drilled into the weapon, she was forced to abandon his weapon and the bubble split it and dispersed. Landing on the ground she looked to the boy, but Steven wasn't there. Instinct kicked in as she was forced to jump away once again, but this time from Steven's rock covered fist; sadly the boy was facing someone with more tricks up her sleeve. Kushina hit the boy with a ball of chakra that sent him back a few feet. Garnet was about to intervene "Don't! I've got this." he said getting up from the ground like it was nothing, he was smirking. Kushina on the other hand was still intent on finishing this, her hand crackled with powerful chakra the barrage began.
Large or small, it didn't matter as Steven bubbled himself as the barrage hit his defense. 'I don't know how long he can keep this up.' He silently said as he watched Kushina launch attack after attack, but that's when Steven saw that she was charging at him once again with sword in hand. A plan formulated in his mind as the clone got closer and closer; hopefully it would work. Concentrating, Steven waited for a few seconds before yelling out a technique that made Kushina pause for a second. "Water Style: Water Dragon!" from the sea a massive dragon made of water launched itself at Kushina and hit her dead on. Quickly un-bubbling himself, Steven ran to the edge so that he was closer to the water. Breathing in, he waited for a few moments before summoning his shield just in time to block Kushina's chakra covered sword. The Clone was injured with a massive bruise to her arm and leg, but that didn't stop her from attacking the younger Half-Gem. However she did look pissed off, but Steven simply smirked before reflecting Kushina's attack; the result being Kushina being harshly launched into the air.
'Strong kid, but he's- wait what's he—'
"Dual Style: Water and Fire Dragons!" Kushina paled ass she'd forgotten about the other dragon, a dragon of flames exhaled from Steven's mouth; both dragons came at her in a scissor motion. Anger took over as his body glowed.
"Enough!" Kushina exclaimed letting out a shock wave of chakra, the dragons were dissipated. Faster than Steven could react he was sent into almost every direction before being sent downward, creating a crater that made the Crystal Gems minus Naruto gasped in horror. Nobody noticed what was truly in the crater, and when the dust cleared they were more than confused. A Crying Breakfast Friend plushy? "What the hell is that—" she paused upon feeling a sudden pain around her neck. Upon looking down he saw Seven shield.
"Back here!" the injured Steven exclaimed, he'd used the most low level technique that he knew; substitution. Kushina's neck wound glowed, indicating that Steven's shield had decapitated her. A second later she poofed leaving nothing behind. Steven was breathing heavily as he looked to the Crystal Gems with a smirk "Told ya, I could do it." he said before falling into unconsciousness. Upon taking Steven back into the house, Naruto would reveal that Steven's left arm was broken but easily repairable; though he'd need to take it easy for the next two weeks.
Beach City – Nighttime
'That was pretty intense.' Lapis said after seeing the fight via Naruto's memory 'And he can manipulate water like me is really cool, but you taught him all of this; you must really believe in him.' she said.
'Of course I do, and he's exceeded my expectations.' The blonde said happily 'But..'
'What?'
'This was just a spar, I'm sure that he could take on Gem monsters, but another Gem with intent to kill him, well I'm worried about what might happen if none of us are there to help or protect him.' he admitted.
'Don't dwell on it right now, besides from what I now know, Peridot won't be coming to Earth.' Lapis said trying to assure Naruto that Steven would be safe. 'Besides, you can protect Steven all alone with how powerful you are; makes me wish that I was back on Earth with you.' there was silence 'I mean that.' She said with as much courage as she could muster. Naruto smirked.
'Wish you were here too.' He said.
'Thanks.' With that the two were done talking for the night.
"Talking with Lapis again?" Pearl questioned coming from behind the blonde.
"Yeah, but things there aren't going as good as she hoped; there's some good news at least." Naruto said with a smile "Peridot isn't coming back to Earth."
"That's great!" she exclaimed.
"It is, but Lapis is still being held in custody as a forced informant; there's something about Earth that apparently interests Home World enough that they need more info about this planet." Pearl's mood went to that of fear. "Lapis doesn't know what's exactly going on with one of the higher ups, but whoever this Gem is, has some interests about Earth; ruling out other Gems from Home World coming here would be a grave mistake." He sighed. "I've been to Home World only nine times in my entire life, and my last visit ended with me and a few Gems that were extremely close to me exchanging some very unkind words." Pearl lay his head down onto her. "Sometimes I really do wish that I could take back what I said and what I did; at least then some of them wouldn't be dead now." Tears streamed down his eyes. "I do hate and fear her, but despite that, I still feel some sort of love for my mother." Leaning up Gem glowed and created a hologram of his mother.
"You'd throw away everything for them?! A bunch of weaklings with no real place or purpose?!" Naruto exclaimed using her voice.
"You're damn right I would, they've become family to me—"
"I'm your family, we're your family not them..." she began to shake, whether out of anger or sadness, they couldn't tell. "What will they think of you when they find out who you really are, what you really are?" Naruto cringed "In human terms you're my child, and you're just like me; you know that and so do we."
"I'm nothing like you!"
"Your past actions with me says otherwise…" she clenched her fist for a few moments before a tear dripped downward from her eye "Go if you must, but if you do, then don't come back…ever." Naruto nodded "I love you son." Naruto stopped.
"Love you too mom." The hologram ended and Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Sometimes, I look in the mirror and see her smiling face all those times when she was so proud of me." He chuckled. "She really did love me, but not enough in the way a mother loves her child; she never could and that's why…" he sighed. "Sorry, I shouldn't be boring you with my problems." Pearl didn't get to say anything as Naruto disappeared in a swirl of leaves leaving Pearl to digest this new information about Naruto's past complicated past. Naruto hadn't showed this side of himself to anyone since he came to this planet. Their Bond didn't need to be activated for her to feel Naruto's emotional pain; over six thousand years of regret still lingered inside and so did the love he felt for the Gem that was his mother. But he knew that she loved him as only one thing. A weapon.
Chapter 10 End
AN: Next chapter starts with "On the Run" and goes through "Marble Madness" and finally "Rose's Scabbard"; skips a few episodes because Steven is still injured.