Patronus Maximus
Chapter L: Three is A Holy Number
Sapporo
Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido lies in the northern part of Japan's archipelago. Since it is more northbound than the other islands, colder weather dominates most of the year. In spite of that, the people of Hokkaido grew to love the cold weather and snow storms. Though for those in the clan, there are some who is not accustomed to said weather.
Lara and Medusa shivered despite their appropriate cold weather clothes. "Whose idea was it to choose a cold city as one of our vacation spots?" They asked, their teeth chattering animatedly.
"Hers." The others responded by pointing at Saeko who sheepishly rubbed the back of her head, chuckling all the same. Even the kids pointed at her.
"I've always wanted to visit Sapporo back home."
That was reasonable enough. The kids wanted to see snow in cold climates besides their home in Massachusetts. And their father always wanted all the prefectures' different cuisine. Especially since it is the home of this world's greatest meal ever known to mankind—no, every living being in the universe(s).
"I want to try miso ramen as soon as possible." Naruto's mouth drooled in anticipation. "The original miso ramen…" He licked his lips despite the cold weather. "Where should we go? Where should we go?"
Kuroka chuckled as she patted her excited husband's shoulder. "Don't worry, hubby, we'll eat your precious ramen soon enough."
"He can wait because we must visit the museum first," Saeko said excitedly.
"What museum?" chorused the adults.
"And others."
"Others?"
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(Three Hours Later)
Heaven's Place Ryokan
The clan visited almost all of the tourist spots Saeko picked out for their stay. The Hokkaido Museum, the Historical Village of Hokkaido, the Odori Park, Nakajima Park, Asahiyama Memorial Park, and the Chizaki Rose Garden. The Odori was the twins' favorite spot as they played in the snow with their parents. The younger set of twins were delighted seeing Ashla and Masaki with their father.
But the best has yet to come as they are searching for the best possible place to eat ramen. They got suggestions and all of them was the same: Susukino. However, there was one problem.
"A red-light district is no place appropriate for children!"
"I know~" Naruto pouted with puffed cheeks, miffed about missing to eat miso ramen. Luckily for them, the kids were upstairs in their room with their moms. Lara walked next to him as they went to get more blankets for tonight's sleep. The staff was extra busy due to influx of guests. "I guess I'll have to settle for the ryokan's ramen then."
Lara, carrying rolls of blankets, nudged Naruto's side with her elbow. "Be respectful, Naruto."
"Yes, ma'am~" Naruto chuckled when Lara nudged him again, even though he doesn't feel it. "I wonder where we will go on our next trip?"
"Maybe more mythological places."
"Like what?"
"Like… Asgard," Lara muttered under breath.
"Asgard?" Naruto asked skeptically, surprising his girlfriend. "One: Thor and I are not that close. Two: he can't go back for whatever reason." For the past two years or so, Stark had been working on ways to get Thor return home, but none have proven to succeed. "I feel bad for Thor, but at least he has his home."
Frowning slightly, Lara stayed silent for a minute, "Well, I guess we could find another mythological place."
"Like what?"
"Olympus?"
"But I don't know anyone from Olympus."
"Mount Meru?"
"I don't even know whom or where that is."
"You should since it is the home of other gods."
"Like who?"
A yelp of surprise cut off Lara's response. Then screams of indignant rage reached their ears, followed by rampant clattering as one of the fusuma broke apart. Naruto and Lara each moved to opposite walls as a person ran past them, chased by angry wet towel-covered women.
"Was that a crowd of women chasing a mischievous-smirking man?" asked Lara as Naruto nodded curtly. "I guess lewdness prevails everywhere."
Naruto stared at the direction the angry mob chased the man as memories of him and Pervy Sage in onsens flash through his mind. "I should avoid telling the girls about those trips." He nervously cleared his throat. "Well, we should keep going."
"Shouldn't we tell the owners?"
"One lady will have already informed them by now," Naruto stated in matter-of-fact.
Blinking at the relayed knowledge, Lara slightly narrowed her eyes with suspicion. "Sounds like you had experience." She didn't miss the not-so-subtle body flinch from her boyfriend. "I'm telling the others."
"Lara!" An indignant Naruto cried out as he dove for Lara's waist, stopping her stride. "Please don't, sweetie, especially not to the kids!"
"I wouldn't tell the kids, you know that." The Croft heiress scoffed at the god. "I was only kidding, but one of these days, you'll have to tell me about your experiences."
The shinobi recovered and stood up fully as he picked up his pile of blankets. "Love you, babe." They walked up the stairs. "You know I think we should visit China in the next vacation trip."
"That… actually sounds good," Lara agreed, "I've always wanted to study the country's temples and artifacts. Heck, maybe we'll even meet a Xian over there."
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(At the Same Time)
Somewhere in Sapporo
The peeping tom still being chased by the women out of the ryokan sneezed and tripped on his feet. "Oh man, someone talked about me!"
"Get him!"
The perverted man screamed as the women caught up and let him have it. "This is heaven." He smiled dreamily as the women slapped and kicked him as much as they can. "Not the face!"
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(Nighttime)
Heaven's Place Ryokan
"Daddy, I don't want to go to bed!"
"Sweetie, it's bedtime."
"But I'm not tired~"
"Masaki…"
Hearing her father's words in a non-playful tone, the eldest child pouted cutely, "Then I want a bedtime." Masaki declared with puffed cheeks and her arms crossed.
"Hmm…" Naruto gave her a pointed look before giving into her demand. "All right, but one story."
"Yay!"
Naruto glanced at Ashla next to her, sleeping soundly despite the outcry. "Thank God that he's a heavy sleeper."
In the other room sat the women in their yukata as they talked about their day in Sapporo. The clan has two more days in Sapporo before they start heading down southbound on the western-prone part of Honshu. So far, there have not been any weird events near the inn or anywhere in the city. Though they didn't voice it out to avoid jinxing their vacation.
"What do you think about China?"
The others looked at her quizzically, "Beautiful landscapes." Rhea commented before sipping her tea.
"Good but spicy food," Kuroka remarked with a click of her tongue.
"I've never seen the Great Wall of China," Medusa inputted as she fixed her futon. Despite her immortality, she spent the most of her life in Greece. It was three years before she met Naruto that Medusa relocated to Japan. "I would like to see the Forbidden City too."
Saeko nodded in agreement, "China does sound good, but let's enjoy our current vacation here in Japan." The ladies agreed with her as they all sipped their tea. "Have you girls ever wondered about moving out of the States?" The others blinked owlishly mid-sip in their drinks. "What?"
"Why do you ask, Saeko?" Lara queried the kenjutsu expert.
"Just a question, Lara." Saeko replied back before setting down her cup. She crawled to her luggage and pulled something out of it before returning to her spot. "Question: is anyone a fan of baseball?"
"Huh?"
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(The Next Day)
S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters
Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., United States of America
The acting director of the agency stood in front of the holograms that displayed members of the World Security Council. They are the agency's oversight members and report to the United Nations. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Council report weekly on Fridays for logistics, data analysis, and conflicts involving enhanced individuals.
"The Avengers must be a strike force under S.H.I.E.L.D. supervision."
{The Avengers are a private organization that protect the people and save the world when threatened.}
"But the destruction their battles leave behind…" Maria countered harshly. "And it is not just them. Heroes, whether in teams or solo, pose greater danger to the public."
{We agree on that statement for most heroes.}
"Most heroes?" Maria repeated questionably. "You don't mean—"
{Massachusetts' Patronus.}
"Him again."
{Whether you accept it or not, Patronus is a public figure who certainly made changes on a global scale.}
"He's a narcissist."
{He is selfless, Hill.}
Several but smaller holograms appeared beneath the council members' own as they played videos of Patronus's saves.
{His methods are concise and swift; they became more so after the Siege of Boston.}
{According to numerous police reports, he does not intervene in cases or crimes that he, and I quote "believes that the police can handle it."}
"That's ego talking."
{We thought that as well, so the council had experienced psychologists and retired law enforcement officers to examine the reports and videos.}
"And?"
{They found none and stated Patronus's behavior with the police in these situations is a positive one. He encourages the officers in their belief about their capabilities, but intervenes if the circumstances grow out of their control.}
"That is—"
{He inspired a state of ours, several organizations, and Japan to create an island to invite mutants to live there.}
"Which is in violation as no nation is allowed to create a new colony."
{That is why the island, Akatsuki, had its sovereignty declared at its inception.}
Hill and the Council knew that the technical term as it was determined by law that no nation can create a new colony or risk war. Akatsuki was given sovereignty to avoid this and the global world shared the same sentiment that mutants and other enhanced beings are like them. The MRD in the United States made it clear about the hatred and prejudice against them. And the one who revealed it as well as being the unofficial point person of mutant rights was Patronus.
"He is gaining too much power for one individual. We must pressure—"
{We know about your plan regarding enhanced people.}
"We must stand before Congress and have them pass this bill."
{Public support for heroes has been an all-time high for the past few years.}
"… I have proof that Patronus is not whom everyone deems him to be."
{Explain.}
"We all know about T.I.M.E. and A.R.M.O.R., yes?"
Temporal Irregularity Management and Eradication, or T.I.M.E, is a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. splinter branch created along with other similar divisions. Its mission is to handle any timestream-related threats or disturbances in their current timeline. A.R.M.O.R. stands for Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operational Response Agency and their main objective is to guard against contamination and conflict from other alternate realities as well as potential hostile enemies.
{Fury's projects that have yet to show any credible results.}
"These reports will show those credible results you crave." Maria opened the file as she watched said reports appear in a separate hologram for all to see. "In the last few years, both A.R.M.O.R. and T.I.M.E. detected separate breaches in their respective fields of security."
One report enlarged to a bigger size and showed the mentioned breaches that occurred in their specific years.
"T.I.M.E. Report-1287 stated there was a record of significant temporal energy and reset."
{It's unusual?}
"According to T.I.M.E.'s director, on this specific day, time was fractured but later stabilized in two hours."
{Which means…}
"Time was manipulated and our current present was in danger of being erased until other parties resolved it."
{And…}
"After this reset, T.I.M.E. investigated the disturbance's point of origin. CCTV showed only two certain individuals nearby." Hill swiped forward separate digital images that showed two heroes of renown. "I believe you are familiar with them."
{Spider-Man and…}
"And Patronus himself."
{Hill, if anything, you just proved the hero's valor.}
"This is where A.R.M.O.R. comes into relevance, Council."
Another report grew to similar size next to T.I.M.E.'s own with the other agency's acronym as the letterhead.
"After the incident, I've asked both A.R.M.O.R. and T.I.M.E. to correlate their findings. Both agencies found small breaches in space-times and they all are clustered in one city…" Hill displayed another photo of the green dots (breaches) around a city "…Boston."
{…Go on.}
"A.R.M.O.R. and T.I.M.E. traced backwards of these time breaches five years ago…when all of S.H.I.E.L.D.-related agencies detected that particular breach."
{You mean the one that blew out half of Massachusetts' power grid?}
"And six months later, the hero Patronus made his debut saving the city's mayor."
{You believe Patronus entered our reality from this particular breach.}
"And Director Fury himself has been searching for any entrants from that breach. I believe Patronus is the intruder."
{You believe he's a threat?}
"The way I see it, all heroes are threats, not just villains."
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Sapporo Dome, Toyohira Ward
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Sapporo Dome is the eponymous city's stadium for outdoor sports. It previously hosted the FIFA World Cup. It is the home for the city's two sport teams: the association football club, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and the baseball team, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. And it is the middle of the season for said team.
"Behind the batter's box? Nice!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly, his older twins sharing his excitement on his lap. He is a Red Sox fan and became engulfed in baseball. The ninja was actually surprised when he learned Japan too has baseball teams. "Excited?"
"Yay!" Ashla and Masaki replied happily. On their heads were Fighters' hats their mother purchased when they arrived at the dome. "Daddy, what are those big wrestlers doing?"
Masaki smiled when her father placed a gentle hand on her head. "Well, Masaki, those 'wrestlers' are baseball players." Naruto explained to his daughter.
The ladies on their left watched their loved one explain to the bundle of joys about the rules of the sport and goal of the two teams. Though they are still children, so he gave them the child version. Two spots next to Saeko were empty as Kuroka and Lara left for the restrooms before the game starts.
"Saeko, how long does this baseball thing last?" Kuroka asked while holding a curious Fujimai on her lap.
Saeko gave a 'I don't know' shrug and hum, "No idea, but we're here to have a good time."
"You know what make this an even better time?" Naruto asked rhetorically. Both Kuroka and Saeko sighed in resignation as they know what he is about to say next. "Some of Sapporo's delicious ramen! We have to try some today, ladies!" He pleaded with teary eyes.
"Oh, you haven't tried the city's ramen?" Naruto looked behind his shoulder at the row behind them to see a cheery man. He looked to be around Naruto's age with short spiky light-blonde hair and dark-gray eyes. His clothes are a red parka jacket over black jeans. Over his head was a brown cloth used as a pseudo headband. "Jin Mori is the name."
"Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto introduced himself. "These are my kids, Ashla and Masaki." The twins' heads popped over his shoulders and waved at the man. "You know a place that serves good ramen?" He asked hopefully.
"Yeah! The place where it all started," Jin retorted with a smirk.
"Where?!"
The outburst shook the people around them, but not Mori as he still smirked, "I actually forgot the name." A figurative depressing cloud appeared over Naruto's head, robbed of hope for ramen. "But I know where it is." Naruto beamed with happiness akin to his children. "Ramen lover?"
"Yes!"
"I'm also a food fanatic. I'm a food blogger."
"Cool."
During their conversation, Lara and Rhea had returned with the snacks and drinks. "What's going on here?"
"Naruto found a new friend who's into food," Both Kuroka and Saeko replied in unison.
Seeing the animated Naruto speak with Mori, Lara and Rhea asked the obvious to them, "Did he mention ramen?" The nekomata and human nodded. Even the twins, both sets, agreed with their mothers. "Now we can't leave Sapporo without eating ramen." This was their plan as Naruto's insatiable appetite for ramen is unparalleled. Worse, it would deplete their funds from the whole trip.
"Oh, the game's about to start," Mori said after hearing the music that signaled the game. "And this is something special."
"What makes you say that, Mori?"
"Daddy, daddy!"
Naruto faced his kids who pointed at the field. What all the occupants saw was not only the Fighters team, but also one of the famous baseball teams in history. "The Red Sox are here?!" Naruto cried out excitedly as he stood up while carrying his kids. "Is this an international game?!"
"Red Sox fans?" asked Mori with his present smirk. Ashla, Masaki, and Naruto nodded vigorously. "So am I!" The quartet high-fived each other.
The clan women sighed at the baseball fans just as two teams ran to the center of the diamond and faced each other in opposing rows. Then they bowed each other and shouted, "LET'S HAVE A GOOD GAME!" It is Japanese custom for all sports in the country.
All attendants' cheers continued as the teams took to the field. The Fighters are the defenders while the Red Sox the aggressors. A lone Fighter stood on a small hill, the mound, as he and his partner who crouched nearby the Red Sox player holding a bat. This confused Kuroka.
"Hubby, what is the Red Sox player doing?" She asked while blinking owlishly.
Instead of Naruto, it was Ashla who answered his mother. To him and his siblings, all the women in the family are their mothers. "The Red Sox are on offense and they must score runs to win the game. They're called batters when on the plate."
"And the Fighters are on defense and must get the batters out so they can get runs in," Masaki informed her Nekomata mother. "The pitcher must throw the ball to the catcher and strike out the batter. They need three outs."
Cue the blank face of Kuroka as she looked completely lost. "Say what?"
"The many turns a team gets around the diamond, the more they score and win," The trio of baseball fans said unison, laughing together afterward.
"PLAY BALL!"
The cheers got louder when the pitcher's thrown ball sailed past the batter's bat and caught by the catcher's mitt.
"Oh~ that was a nice fastball," Mori commented with little awe.
Naruto hummed audibly, "But it was a little high. The batter saw that and went for it, but the pitch was fast enough to avoid getting hit."
"… The next pitch, do you think it'll be outside or inside?"
"Probably but I wouldn't count out it being an inside pitch."
True enough, the pitch flew inside of the strike zone. Except it connected with the batter's bat and flew alongside the outside of the diamond.
A foul ball.
"Nice call."
"I was half-right."
"Daddy, the batter is at two strikes now. Do you think it'll be inside or outside?" asked Masaki to her father, obviously entranced by the sport. Naruto pondered for a moment before smiling at her, "We have to wait, huh?"
"Yep!"
The stands watched the pitch hurl towards the catcher's mitt. The Red Sox batter swung when it seemed like perfect contact. Suddenly the ball somehow changed trajectory somewhat sharply towards the inside. The bat and pitch made contact before the ball was sent flying with too much altitude.
"He popped it," Jin commented as the flyball landed squarely on the shortstop's mitt. "He got jammed and that led to the first out." The father and kids nodded, agreeing with his statement.
However, the ladies nearby were confused by what they saw just now.
"Naruto, what happened with the ball?" asked Lara. Since she preferred the company of adults and did not hang out with her peers during her academic career, Lara has no idea about baseball.
Naruto answered her, "It was a breaking ball. More specifically, a cutter." Cue confused expressions from those not in the know. "A breaking ball's purpose is to throw off the batter's timing and get a strike easier."
"Is it just a cutter?" asked Kuroka curiously.
Ashla shook his head answered this time, "There are many like the slider and curveball!"
"And shootball and screwball," Masaki inputted after Ashla cut off to eat his hot dog.
"There are others, but what is next?" Naruto wondered aloud as the new batter took to the box. "The next batter is up."
The Fighter pitcher threw the ball, but it didn't break from its trajectory and the batter hit it this time. It flew over the second baseman and hit the right outfield. The stands as did Naruto and the older twins when the Red Sox batter made it safely to first base while his teammate takes the box.
"With a player on first base, the pitcher either remains focused or his rhythm will go down," Mori commented lazily.
"It will depend on his next pitch."
The pitcher's form was perfect as he threw a fastball again. Both Mori and Naruto noticed that this pitch was slightly different as it seemed to grow slow across the stretch. The batter must have expected a fastball because he swung fully, missing the ball entirely without even touching it.
"A cutter and now a change up," Naruto whistled impressively. "This pitcher knows his breaking balls."
"And his ins and outs are good."
"Looks like the Red Sox has competition here."
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Imperial Palace
Takamagahara
The room filled with tension as four gods sat around a wooden platform. The three children of Izanagi and the god of agriculture and foxes, Inari. The latter's attendants, Chitose and her mother, sat seiza near the entrance on the east side. Both women gulped audibly as the gods emitted immense pressure, their eyes glowing and beaming like flashlights.
"It's getting hard to breathe," Chitose thought as the gods never made movements since entering the room.
"This is grave news," Susanoo said steely.
Amaterasu nodded, her concentrated expression unfaltering. "Yes, dear brother, it is." Without changing her stare, the goddess spoke again, "I'm surprised you two are sitting in the same room next to each other."
It looked that way, but to Chitose and the two gods, Inari and Tsukuyomi could barely stand each other. On the surface, they are focused on the top of the board, but underneath it, their feet covered by the kotatsu had engaged in a stomping match.
"Damn fox!"
"Crescent Moon jerk!"
Tsukuyomi was different from his siblings indeed. His skin complexion was as pale as the moon itself. Silver-white hair tied in a long samurai bun while two bangs framed his face; the left was longer and covered his eye. His right eye was visible and showed powerful purplish-blue color. His attire was moon-white with a black sash tied around the waist.
They visibly cringed when something heavy kicked both of their shins, ending the hidden bout. Susanoo growled as he shouted in a thunderous manner, "KNOCK IT OFF, YOU TWO!"
Inari and Tsukuyomi screamed as they both rolled out of the kotatsu and on the tatami floors, holding their shins. Huge, red bumps pulsated from the inflicted pain. "He's the god of storms, all right."
It's well-known among the Amatsukami that Susanoo is the physically strongest of them. Amaterasu holds immense power under the sun. Tsukuyomi, on the other hand, has abilities no one has seen except for his siblings. The general consensus is he has powers relating to darkness and the moon.
"Sorry~"
"Make your move, brother," Amaterasu told Susanoo.
"Hm…"
"I wonder what is making them so tense." Chitose thought internally. The tension in the room lightened when Inari and Tsukuyomi's contribution ended physically. "Seriously?" Inari gestured her to take a seat in his place. She gulped before heeding his nonverbal order. Chitose almost face-faulted in front of the gods, but kept her composure.
It was a game of Go. Four gods are emitting pressure that would kill humans over a game.
"Wait, who's playing who?"
The tension between the siblings ceased when a flying object entered the room. The inhabitants watched it glide around in the room before it perched itself onto Amaterasu's shoulder. It was a Japanese jungle crow with a relatively long bill as the upper one being thick and arched. Ruffled pitch-black and glossy furs covered its entire body. Instead of a dark grey plumage on the back of the head, neck, shoulders and lower body, soft sun-like gold contrasted with the glossy black fur.
Chitose's stare blinked three times and her eyes did not deceive the human. This jungle crow has three legs and three eyes rather than two. She'd heard about this bird from other servants in Inari's household. The creature was said by the humans to be the personification of the sun goddess herself. Other myths spoke of it being the messenger of the goddess.
"The Yatagarasu (Eight-span Crow)?"
"Sanshain, it's been a long time since we've seen you," Amaterasu greeted happily. Sanshain gave a purr-like sound as it nuzzled against the goddess's cheek. "Where have you been?"
"She named it 'Sunshine'?" Chitose thought about Yatagarasu's given name translated to English. "Lord Inari, is that really THE Yatagarasu?"
Instead of the fox god, it was the storm god who answered her, "It is, young one." Chitose was off-putted by Susanoo's polite response. "However, the last time we saw Sanshain was 400 years ago."
"W-why for so long mind my asking?" Chitose replied nervously.
His hum sounded like thunder, Susanoo replied the mortal, "Even we do not know."
"But its return may be an omen," Tsukuyomi commented under breath.
"This is no time to be gloomy, brother," Susanoo countered in a soft teasing tone.
"Being God of the Night does not mean I'm gloomy."
"That is not the consensus the mortals have of you in the living world."
Tsukuyomi kept a straight face before assuming a smug smile. "And I recall their legends depicted you as a god with anger issues."
"At least there are more legends about my deeds than there are of you."
Both Inari and Amaterasu exhaled sharply as this is rather a sensitive issue for the god of nighttime. Actually, he hates it when that is brought up in his presence. "Brother, out of my least amount of respect, do please be quiet."
For a moment, the room smelled like rain. "Or what?" Susanoo asked a steely tone.
"Enough, you two!" Amaterasu shouted to her brothers, ending their dispute. She rarely raised her voice, not since after Susanoo's prior banishment. "Tell me again, please." Sanshain purred and softly cawed. "Really? I should've gone with you." Sanshain purred again, "I've changed for the better?" Sanshain nodded curtly. "Thanks, it's thanks to my friend!"
Sanshain tilted his head and cawed once more in 'who' gesture.
"He's a new god, but…he saw me as a kid," Amaterasu said fondly, "He even calls me by my nickname." Sanshain tilted his head again, "Tamae." Sanshain's wings fluttered a couple of times. "You want to see him?" She pouted like the child she is. "So do I. We haven't play together since New Year~" The three-legged crow's eyes blinked at the same time. "Can you find him?"
Sanshain nodded and his left eye glowed, causing Chitose to flinch a little in her seat. "Do not worry, young Chitose, that is Yatagarasu's ability." Inari begin explaining, "As you may recall, Yatagarasu itself is a guide for those deemed for imperial rule or greatness in the future."
"Its three feet represents the three worlds: Heaven—Takamagahara, Ashihara—Earth, and Yomi—the underworld." Susanoo inputted after the god of agriculture. "His eyes can see into the three realms."
"He's like Odin's ravens," Chitose pointed out. Sanshain cawed angrily as if he was offended. "Sorry!" She flinched from the outburst.
Amaterasu chuckled sympathetically. "He's much more than Odin's ravens." She said while rubbing her long-lost friend. "Did you find him?" Sanshain nodded as the sun goddess's eyes turned into the crow's own pearl-rainbow. "Oh, the snow island?"
"Snow island?" Chitose asked curiously.
"She calls Hokkaido that," Inari informed the human soul. "What is Naruto doing there?"
"Looks like he and his family are having fun," Amaterasu pouted with tears at the corner of her eyes.
Her brothers and Inari freaked out when they saw this before scrambling out of the room with Amaterasu. The only ones left in the room was a bewildered Chitose and her mother. "What just happened?" They both asked at the same time.
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(Three Days Later)
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya, Chubu Region
The clan stayed an extra day in Hokkaido after their late night out of eating at all the ramen restaurants in Sapporo, thanks to Mori. Another reason was three unexpected vacation crashers. Well, four initially. Inari left after being demanded back home by one irritated Leone.
"Tamae, please don't run like that. You'll trip," Naruto called out for the child-like goddess. He chuckled when Tamae didn't heed him and continued to run along with the excited Ashla and Masaki. Like him, they treated Tamae like the kid she is. And she loved it. The women and the younger set of twins went off to another part of the castle and will rendezvous back at the main gate.
"Come on, you two, let's get some souvenirs!"
Meanwhile, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi looked out of place. The storm god's towering height and the moon deity's paleness akin to the moon drew attention. There is also the issue with their clothing. "How dare you…" Tsukuyomi seethed out a breath.
"I concur. We look like fools."
A confused Naruto turned around to address the duo. "What do you mean?"
"This!" Tsukuyomi countered, pointing at his and Susanoo's current clothes. Their yukatas were of divine tier and not the common trend for the modern mortal world. Susanoo is wearing an extra-large Hawaiian shirt and shorts with sandals, but the shirt was close to tearing because of his bulging musculature. As for Tsukuyomi, he wore black pants and a matching shirt that has emblazoned 'Got Mooned' on the front. "People are giggling behind our backs."
"Three things: those were the only clothes that fit you two; the second: I thought it would be funny; and third: I have no idea who you are." The last sentence stung Tsukuyomi so hard and so unexpected, that he actually fainted as Susanoo caught him in time. "And you're pale as hell, man. Get some sun in you," Naruto suggested firmly.
"In…Inconceivable," Tsukuyomi whispered in shock.
"Well, you never introduced yourself, whoever you are." Naruto pointed out. "You kept saying 'I do not need to introduce myself' or 'You already know of me.' So again, who are you?"
Putting aside his dislike for the clothes for a moment, Susanoo did the introduction. "This is Tsukuyomi, our brother."
"The god of the night?" Naruto asked in surprise before he started laughing while holding his sides. "I didn't even realize!" About the moon shirt and that caused his laughter to grow louder.
"And my attire?"
"For you, like I said, it was funny. But it may have worked out for you," Naruto said pointedly.
Susanoo glanced at the direction Naruto gazed and noticed a few women, both adult and teenager, gushing about him. "It is moot as I am faithful to my wife." He said sternly and the nearby females quickly scattered by his sudden intimidating presence.
"All right, all right, just take it down a notch," Naruto pleaded defensively with his hands up. "You'll wreck the castle." The storm god didn't have to notice the small cracks in some of the castle's inner walls. The trio of gods continued their pace until they caught up with Tamae, the children, and the ladies. "Anyone up for ramen?"
"No!" All group members refused. Even the trinity members chimed in as well.
A pouting Naruto crossed his arms. "Man!" They put it to a vote and decided to eat lunch at an izakaya. One establishment was four blocks away from the castle, but positioned where they could still see it from afar.
"What will we be having today?" asked the hostess. She gulped down her nervousness from being intimidated by Susanoo's physical appearance.
"Karaage."
"Ramen."
"Udon."
"Tempura."
"Tonkatsu."
"Okonomiyaki."
"Takoyaki."
The waitress took all the orders except the unknown Susanoo and Tsukuyomi. "And your drinks?"
"Soda/green tea/Amazake." Soda for Naruto, Lara, Medusa and the older twins while Saeko, Rhea, and Kuroka ordered green tea. The alcohol-based drinks were for the two gods.
The younger brothers stared at the cups that holds their mutual drink of choice. "What is this?" asked Tsukuyomi.
"It's a cup that holds your drinks," Lara answered the god, "Is there an issue?"
"There is."
"Oh?" asked Naruto after sipping his soda. "Like what?"
Susanoo answered for his brother. "Where are the big cups? In Takamagahara, we have cups bigger than these."
Making sure no one was around them via ki-sensing, Naruto whispered to his fellow gods, "This is Earth, you two, and this is how they serve their customers. Remember the people here don't even know you guys exist out of myths." Valid point since the Amatsukami do not interact with the Japanese population. Not since ancient times. "Now that I mention it, why don't you guys make yourselves known to the people here?"
"Because of the pledge," Tamae answered the shinobi.
The Uzumaki clansmen had figurative question marks above their heads, "Pledge?" asked them.
"Your order is ready."
The question was out of their mind at that moment as everyone watched the food arrive on their table. Even Tsukuyomi and Susanoo were entranced by the smell from mortal food. "Itadakimasu!"
"… What is this phenomenon?" asked a stunned Susanoo after taking a bite of his tonkatsu.
Tsukuyomi 'humphed' when he slurped a noodle from his udon. "How is this possible?"
"What is it?" Saeko asked the two before hearing Tamae make a similar sound, "You too?"
Before they knew it, the Shinto trinity dug into their meal much like Naruto with his ramen. "This food… is delicious!" They exclaimed vigorously.
"Mommy, why are they acting funny?" A confused Masaki asked before biting into a piece of her karaage.
Saeko drank her tea before answering her child's question, "Culture shock, dear."
"Shock?" asked Ashla tilting his head. "Did daddy hit them with a joy buzzer?" Naruto coughed into his drink and cleared his throat. "I thought he wasn't supposed to do that anymore."
"Huh?"
"You're mean, daddy."
"Huh?!"
"Yeah, daddy is a meanie!"
"But… I didn't even… do anything~"
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(Seven Hours Later)
The day ended when the group returned to the hotel that the clan was staying in the city. Though there was one person who did not want to part ways.
"I want to stay with them!" Tamae whined like a little girl.
Both Susanoo and Tsukuyomi groaned before the former responded, "Amaterasu, we must return home now."
"But I don't want to go back yet!"
"Is this what parents go through?" Tsukuyomi asked curiously. Only Susanoo nodded, but the Uzumaki parents gulped at the impending tantrums of their kids in the future. "I am very fortunate to not have progeny."
Rhea walked up to the crying Tamae and placed a soothing hand on her head, "Sweetheart, it's time to go home."
"B-but I want to stay," Tamae whimpered to the Titaness. "At least for the night. Please?"
Ashla and Masaki tugged on their mother's pant leg, "Can't she stay? We'll have a sleepover."
"… I say why not?" Medusa said, surprising her family of her decision. "I mean who can say 'no' to that face?" The adults looked at Tamae's curled lips and teary puppy eyes. Even her brothers were not immune to the look.
"Curses…" Susanoo muttered under breath. "All right, all right, Tamae. You can stay for the night…" Amaterasu beamed brightly. "But when morning comes, I'm picking you up."
"Thank you!" Tamae jumped onto her brothers, hugging them. "Good night, my brothers!"
With that done, the clansmen entered their hotel and left behind a stunned pair of sibling deities. "She… hugged us," Susanoo said in shock.
"…That's… that has never happened… right?"
"No…"
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An hour later, the kids were put to bed after their long day outside. One did not want to go at the appropriate time.
"Tamae…"
"One more hour please!"
"That's what you asked an hour ago."
The women watched Naruto and Tamae argue back and forth like they are father and daughter. Then most of them directed pointed looks at Medusa, "I know, I know; shouldn't have said anything."
"Do you want warm milk?"
"What's warm milk?"
"A delicious drink unparalleled in our worlds."
Tamae's eyes dilated as her head nodded childishly. "I want some!"
"Okay, okay, come with me," Naruto said to the goddess. They grabbed hands and left the room as Tamae skipped alongside Naruto. "You never had a sleepover, have you?" Tamae shook her head, "I guess being a ruler of a divine realm takes a toll."
"And sometimes the food can be meh!"
"Be grateful that you have food, Tamae," The ninja lightly scolded the goddess. Tamae nodded with a little pout, but it went away when they reached the serving station in the dining portion of the main room. Naruto asked for fresh milk from an employee and thanked her when she brought it to them. "Here we go." He poured into a cup and placed said object inside a microwave before putting in the appropriate amount of time. "And enjoy."
"Thank you, Naruto." Tamae said to her brother-figure before they took a seat outside on the bench. She took a sip without blowing on it, showing her innate immunity to heat. "Delicious."
"I'm glad you think so."
"… This is really good."
"It is." Both deities looked up at the sky and saw the half-moon brightening the night. "It's a beautiful night," Naruto observed, getting Tamae to nod in agreement.
"I never knew that nights would be like this in the mortal world."
"Maybe you guys should get out of Takamagahara once in a while."
Tamae gulped moderately before answering, "We can't. Not anymore. Not since then…"
"…" Naruto pondered before recalling something she mentioned early in the day. "Tamae, you spoke of a… a pledge?" She nodded. "What pledge are you talking about?"
Tamae took another, but small gulp this time. "Before… before I was ruler, my daddy, Izanagi, met with other pantheon's leaders on Earth. The pledge was that all deities from every pantheon are not to interact with mortals anymore." Naruto looked at her worryingly. "Did you take the pledge by the way?"
"I didn't even know there was one."
Tamae pouted, her cheeks puffed out, "Lucky. You and that thunder god."
"Susanoo?"
"No, the one with the weird angel helmet," Tamae described more clearly.
Naruto clicked his tongue, "Oh, you mean Thor."
"Yes."
"I guess he and I are loopholes, huh?"
"Again, you two are lucky."
"…Is it enforced in any way?"
Tamae thought about it, but eventually shook her head, "I… I don't think so. I heard news of Hercules helping from time to time."
"Then you should get out of Takamagahara every once in a while."
"Or every day with you."
"… We'll talk about it."
"I'm… starting to… get sleepy," Tamae's eyes started to get heavy. "I… I think…" She yawned, forcing Naruto to do the same, "…this milk is causing… me."
"And she's out of milk," Naruto noted after glancing her now empty cup, "Want to go for a ride?"
"Yeah…" Tamae yawned out before she was carried on Naruto's back comfortably. "Where… where to?"
Naruto smirked confidently, "The entire city." He walked back to a nearby alleyway and checked for cameras. Once there were none, Naruto slightly bent his legs and said, "Hold on tight."
"Eh?" Tamae asked barely before they took flight to the night sky. "Yaaayyyy!"
It was that word when Naruto realized what he just did performed the opposite of his intentions. "Kuso (Damn it)!"
They didn't return to the hotel for most of the night.
TTIIPMxTTIPMxTTIIPM
(At the Same Time)
Imperial Palace
Takamagahara
Yawning as he walked to the imperial kitchen, Susanoo walked past a certain room. He barely turned the corner when a great surge of energy stopped him. "Is that…" He turned around and swiftly reached the room, opening it just as the bright light blinded him. "What does this mean?"
He heard rapid footsteps before looking at his flank and finding a panting, stunned Inari. "I felt it."
"He really is the fastest of us."
The glow gradually ceded and Susanoo closed the doors as he and Inari walked to the top floor of the palace. "It's happening."
"It appears that way, Inari."
"Centuries went by and not a single hint until tonight."
"Yes."
"Not since after that… day."
"That is… correct."
"What should we do?"
"…" Susanoo pondered about this for a good moment or two. "We keep this to ourselves. I'll tell Amaterasu when I pick her up tomorrow."
"And Tsukuyomi?"
The tension between the siblings is high when it comes to important relics in Shinto mythology.
"He doesn't need to know. Not now."
The gods stayed at the top of the building before going to bed with their respective spouses. Things are changing for the land of the Amatsu-Kami and their island of mortals.
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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Iliad
Above Hudson River, New York City
The signature aerial vehicle of the international security organization remained afloat near Manhattan. People in New York had gotten accustomed to their presence. With the city being THE center of major conflicts between heroes and villains, S.H.I.E.L.D. must have a body here.
If it was up to Hill, she would have Helicarriers posted in every major city in the country. S.H.I.E.L.D. presence in United States cities, that is real security. Government restraints and legal issues are the only things that stopped her predecessor and herself from committing this action.
"Director?"
"What is it?"
Coulson remained unfazed by Hill's blunt tone. "A.R.M.O.R. detected the recent space breach between Boston and Tokyo."
"Just now?"
"No… a few days ago," Coulson responded after some reluctance.
"A few days ago?" Hill did not like this. "What excuse do they have this time?"
"The server was being debugged and had to be shut down for the process."
Hill pinched the bridge of her nose at this news. "The world's foremost technologically advanced security agency and it is stalled by bugs in the system." She cleared her throat, "Where is he in Japan?"
"He seemed to be heading up north of the country," Coulson pulled up a digital hologram in front of Hill. "The Hero Association made a report of Patronus's presence at one of the cities in the area. After that, there hasn't been any news about his appearance since."
"Then A.R.M.O.R. will scan all of Japan for space breaches. I want to know exactly where he is the moment a breach is found."
"…Very well."
Hill watched the agent leave the deck before pulling live transmissions of multiple cities across the globe. London. Egypt. Morocco. Brazil. Mexico City. Los Angeles. New York. Boston. Washington, D.C. Tokyo. Everything is at her disposal, but she has limited pull regarding this venture about Patronus.
The Security Council have given her permission to bring in Patronus for series of questions regarding the breach years ago. Though she has a tight leash as Patronus is a famous public figure because of his actions. That is his weak spot. Anyone with reputation can be tarnished.
Despite heroes like the Avengers, Spider-Man and the X-Men, Hills observed there are civilians who have resentment towards them. Her agents posed as consensus people about heroes and found out about the train of thought. This already gave her ammunition for Congress about the bill. If there is evidence that can damage a reputation, she'll find it. The issue with Patronus in particular is that his whereabouts are vastly scarce.
The ultimate challenge for a spy and she will face it with all her might.
END OF CHAPTER
