Hey everyone, this is by far my biggest story on this site. I'm loving writing it and people reviewing and liking it as well.
So I listed the final tallies for the pairings, and it seems mikasa x naruto is the winner.
Sasha x Naruto finished in second, but making this story a harem will take away the action-based canon series our god Isayama made for us. I will loosely follow canon, but once that bitch Gabi finds her way onto the storyline, best be knowing, Naruto Uzumaki gonna give her the wombo combo.
Season 4 Eren to me, is a total badass. For peace he's willing to sacrifice everything to destroy his enemies. I won't explicitly give any details knowing some people haven't managed to watch the entirety of Season 4 up to this point. This new Eren is ready to throw hands with any and all motherfuckers that cross his path, and that makes him Dangerous.
Aww man for Manga readers who had read the new chapters, shit is about to be fucking nuts. I can't wait.
Anyway, Chapter 4 is going to be transitioned for the time-skip in canon. Minor moments at the start, and then Training Camp with a special guest…
I hope you all continue to enjoy my work. I might be updating in later periods considering now my Volleyball Team for college is starting again. So sit back and enjoy.
Ja ne
Chapter 4: Restoration
Hange's HQ
Naruto had concluded his theory with a major sigh. All these developments he should've foreseen before he dropped down from the space-time continum. It was his duty to know such things about this dimension, yet he must've overlooked something. His naivety had bit him in the ass undoubetdly. Naruto had thought the Titans were the cause of this world's decline, but the cause for Shiganshina's fall was…
"Human Titans, huh. If your hypothesis is correct, that means we have people who not only can shape themselves into Titan Form, but have also been under our noses without suspicion this entire time." Hange slipped off her goggles using her other to pinch the bridge of her nose. The likelihood of Naruto's assumption being wrong was less than 10%. Oftentimes, it seemed like his 'hunches' as he called them were right on the money, therefore he was probably right in the end.
"There must be an explanation for all this. I mean, Hange-san is our top trump card when it comes to explaining the unexplainable." Hange's second-in-command and lab assistant, Moblit presumed cautiously, not trying to spike Hange's hunger for chaotic knowledge.
Naruto leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed, "I trust in Hange, although she left me to fight 200+ Titans and the Armored Titan by my lonesome. Which reminds me, when the Scouts get back, Levi might storm the Garrison Regime to find me, so I might have to go off the grid for a few days." The goggled woman and her assistant looked at the blonde boy puzzlingly.
"What did you do now, my cute little experiment." Hange cooed with her hands reaching for his cheeks. The blonde saw the attempt and swatted away the troubling maneuver.
What haven't I done. The blonde thought
Naruto's eyes shifted into the U-shaped smiling position, "Well considering my Kill Count is now more than double the infamous Captain Levi, in only one year of active duty, I'd say he'd be out for my head."
The brown haired woman shook her head in disbelief, "You are cynical, Naruto. I swear you two could be brothers with the way you act. Though, you do live with each other, which just proves my point nonetheless. If he catches you while evading his capture, he's going to punish you explicitly, but I don't think I'd have to remind you of his 'cooperative methods.'"
"Maa Maa Section Commander Shitty Glasses, Levi will 'try' to forge me into a complacent soldier under his tutelage, but I believe you all still underestimate me. Well I should be going, see you later." The black clad blonde lazily saluted, walking out with his hands in his pockets. The large blade stared back at the two occupants as his retreating form exited the makeshift HQ.
Moblit and Hange shot each other a glance, "Strangest and scariest 11 year old boy I've ever met." The Section Commander said with conviction, leaving the dirty blonde shaking his head in agreement.
Garrison HQ
Commander Erwin and Captain Levi sat patiently in front of the desk of Commander Dot Pixis.
Pixis was an older bald man with a thick grey mustache stretched across his upper lip. He wreaked wisdom and confidence in himself and his troop core. This had been the first time Pixis was tested by the Titans and their undying savageness for warm bodies.
Even then, with all his years of experience, the Garrison Regime was still unprepared and weak to respond against the spontaneous attack, leaving the loss of many of his troops.
On the return of the Survey Corps, they were witness to the destructive force which drove Shiganshina citizens out of their homes and either into the grasps of the foul humanoids or into the inner foldings of Wall Rose. The amount of death was unfathomable, and the loss of territory was even worse.
Trost was on the verge of extinguished resources for all of the mouths they had to feed. Upon consented help from King Fritz, 250,000 men and women over the age of 18 would be sent to retake Wall Maria in a couple of days.
The sacrifice would be heavy, yet the results would save humanity, no matter the inhumane way it had been done. It was the cruel truth, but it was evident that there wasn't enough to go around, and in the end, survival was priority over all.
Commander Pixis explained the explicit duties now assigned to ones in defense of Wall Rose and newly instated refugees, also adding in the constructive timeline of the Shiganshina siege,"That is all I have for now. My incompetence is faulted, and I accept my failure, yet continuing on is the only correct way. Also, it has come to my attention that one of my subordinates, Corporal Hannes, served under a boy in the Survey Corps, Naruto. Hannes explained the boy held the main defense line on his own."
Both sets of eyes widened, fearing the worst, "...this same boy was witnessed fighting the Armored Titan alone as well. He defeated the Titan, but near the end of the battle, it vanished. At first I didn't believe the reports at first, until I saw the destructive feat of his actions and the lack of a rotting carcass. Corporal Hannes then forwarded a message from the boy himself stating, '...tell Captain Levi that I fulfilled my promise to him.'"
The short black haired man grit his teeth in realization. The soldier must have thought he was relaying a message of important matters. 'That brat! I'm going to cave his face in with my heel!'
Erwin noticed the distress of his usual emotionless Captain. "Levi, does the message hold any value?"
The Captain turned his head towards his superior officer. "Yes it does. Although, I'm afraid Commander Erwin and Commander Pixis, that the message is nothing of seriousness. His 'promise' was that he'd double my career Titan solo kills before I hit two-hundred myself. The defiance of Military code will not go unpunished I assure you. The brat is dead when I find him." Levi scoffed in annoyance, nothing ever threw his emotions through the ringer. Yet, here the brat was once again, making him look like a fool.
The bald man stared on before popping the cork off a fresh lager. He swished the cool bottle around before taking a large swig. Pixis huffed in satisfaction and returned his gaze to the Corpsmen in front of him. "I see. So the relay had no subsistence...
I understand your anger Captain, but I feel this, Naruto, should be allowed leeway considering his outlandish and heroic efforts. I don't know and I won't ask how you got your hands on someone of such eccentric skill for such a young age, but understand this. He saved well over half of the regime stationed in Shiganshina from utter and definite slaughter by triumphantly holding the front lines. If that wasn't already enough, he also brought a 15 meter Armored Titan down to its knees and had it knocking on Hell's Gates. I'm intrigued how a soldier of such caliber and sustenance is not a high ranking officer of his own. I see the conflict in maturity concerning his age, yet he successfully commanded a battlefield without fear. If Captain Levi here says he's already doubled his career efforts, then if not rewarded for valiant efforts or promoted, I'd be shocked...
I mean, if you don't want him I can always offer him a Commanding position in the Garrison, god knows we need real front-lining troops." The man finished in a fit of convenient laughter, but still rather serious in his offer.
"I'm afraid he's under my ordinance. The rest is out of my hands." Levi replied stoically.
Erwin had been silent the entire time. His thought process gazed at successful actions and inactions with accordance to pros and cons of such decisions. Commander Pixis was correct entirely, a soldier of Naruto's caliber was never seen before and probably would never be seen for some time. So far in his short career, he was never placed in a leading role and was always hidden in the interior of expeditions as reinforcements.
The question remained, 'Should I continue to protect him under Levi's command and threaten his future with the Corps or should I liberate him, and give him the responsibility of being a superior officer within the ranks?'
The blonde haired man lowered his cupped hand from his chin, finished in thought. "Very well. I shall see to the promotion of Lieutenant Naruto and the formation of his own elite squad in stretch with Captain Levi's current squad. Your advice and professionalism is appreciated Pixis, I'm afraid even if we left Naruto to the Garrison he would become stir-crazy. And, shall I say, the boy is quite the handful."
The men stood and Commanding Officers shook hands in respect. "The pleasure is all mine, Erwin. I expect to see great exploits from that soldier of yours in the Future."
Erwin nodded in acknowledgment. "The Future is in his hands, as such, it is my job to guide that change."
2 years later
"I heard there's going to be some interesting recruits in this year's upcoming class. 104th I believe, aren't you excited Naruto?" An orange haired woman asked the blonde Captain.
The 5'8 13 year old turned his lazy eyes to the side. His sun-bright golden locks drifted in the breeze giving pass to his cerulean orbs. His all black attire had remained the same, although with growth came the need for larger clothes. Still instilled with his mask, Levi Squad had been one of the only fortunate ones to see his face.
The Survey Corps emblems were stitched into the clothing over the years, having been placed on his right shoulder and another on a headband strung up to keep his unruly hair out of his face.
"I didn't take any 'interesting recruits' from last year or the year before, what will be different this time. If Captain Levi would let me, I'd take you off his squad in a heartbeat. Though that would be seen as favoritism to Olou. Am I going about this the wrong way, Petra?" The orange haired girl shared a laugh with the blonde at the Oluo comment.
The two had grown close over the years, having been partners since the very beginning. Petra would never admit it, but Naruto was her favorite as well, whether it was because he was too damn good looking for his age or because of his legendary abilities, she wouldn't know.
"No. I understand entirely, but I'm not in your predicament. You can't always be Naruto Squad with one team member. I also agree Levi would never give me up to another squad, but it would be nice to be partners again. Not like you would need me anyway." She laughed at the last sentiment, foolhardy but true in every regard.
"Well," The blonde cupped his chin, "You do keep me in line and we do work well together. I'd steal you from Levi, but then he'd make me clean again. Your right though, I can't hold out forever. I just have to see what I'm dealing with this time around. Maybe I could scramble together a couple key contributions.
Anyways, I have to report to Commander Baldy for assignment in the training corps. Later!"
Naruto grappled away with his 3DM gear. 'He knows that's against the rules, yet he still does it.' The woman shook her head with a small smile on her face, 'Such a menace.'
Training Corps: Stage of 104th Regiment
Hundreds of new coming, aspiring militants gathered around a single Commander and his officers in charge of training the 104th recruits into respectable and valiant soldiers of vast prowess.
Most were excited for the chance to be assigned an easy life after training by hiding away in the inner walls as MPs.
Others who had seen the horrors of Titans, felt more obligated to attain more aggressive positions in either the Garrison Regime or the uprising Survey Corps under the infamous Black Mist and Captain Levi.
Chatters soon desisted as a booming voice etched out the murmurs. "We now begin the enlistment ceremony of the 104th Trainee Corps. I'm Keith Shadis and I had the misfortune to be assigned to train you bastards. Right now, you are nothing more than mere fodder for fattening the Titans. Over the next three years my...Hanz! Where is he?!"
All the trainees looked around confusingly at each other trying to figure out what was going on.
"Mikasa, what is he talking about?" A brown haired boy whispered to his left at his adoptive sister. She shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
Over the last two years, the friends from Shiganshina faced harsh times. They had watched as the troops dragged his injured mother and Armin's elderly grandparent to the battlefield helplessly. After hearing the retaking of Wall Maria was a failure, even with the massive army of civilians, was heart-breaking and a vicious grasp of reality.
After, they had been drawn into gathering the scraps of wages working in the fields, the three barely grazed by with bare minimum. Eventually they had been of age to join the military, just like Eren had wanted since he could remember.
In the end, the three would follow Eren into the Survey Corpsmen, where they would fulfill their promises to Naruto by serving his branch with honor.
Surprisingly to the other two, Mikasa was the most motivated to see it through. The girl was never suggestive or voiced her opinion on anything she didn't wholeheartedly believe or want.
They couldn't blame her, the deaths of the people in their lives left a gaping void of irreversible pain. In the end, it was their job to continue living on for the people that sacrificed themselves for them.
Ever since that fateful day, every decision they made was prepared for the day they'd join the military, and eventually the Survey Corps. They knew if they wanted to see the outside world, all of them would have to fight.
That was what all of them lived for. To finally see the world, and to finally rid the world of the Titans, that was their dream.
The three Shigshinainas were broken out of their stupor when a wisp of wind flew over the new recruits blindingly fast. All looked around bewildered on where the figure went, trying their best to catch a glimpse of the blur.
A thud was heard on the main stage, next to Commander Shadis. Standing next to him was an average height blonde, wearing all black and holding a massive blade over his shoulder. His blonde locks were held back by a Survey Corps headband, making his bnags drop down the sides of his face. He was chiseled in every inch of his body, an encompass of a raw-powered soldier.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin locked onto his figure in horror. Their eyes threatening tears and bodies fidgeting at the sense of wanting to blurt out his name. They couldn't believe their eyes. The blonde mophead was on the verge of fainting at seeing the ghost.
'Naruto! I knew there was no way he was dead!' Eren screeched out happily in his head.
'...it's really him.' Mikasa thought internally.
"You damn brat!...Trainees, as I was saying, this is co-instructor: Captain Naruto. He is widely known throughout the ranks of the Survey and Garrison troops for his efforts outside the walls as well as inside them. His skills and accomplishments are second to none and is currently the holder of the most solo Titan Kills in History with 697 confirmed kills. 226 of those came during the invasion on Shiganshina where he held the entire front-line by himself before facing the Armored Titan and causing it to vanish in defeat. Of course, if you don't know him by his own name, you'll know him by his alias, 'The Black Mist.' Now Naruto, I'll let my best soldier take over from here." The blonde nodded his head in thanks and faced the entire trainee core.
The recruits were lockjaw, with mouths agape throughout most of the newcomers. His eyes traveled across the rows getting to know and see their faces of bewilderment or terror.
He stumbled a bit at feeling the same signatures he felt in the Armored Titan amongst some of them. As he made his way down from the stage, the blonde started to introduce himself in a more...humble manner, "Well, thank you Commander for the thorough introduction. Anyways, my name is Naruto, I'm not really one for honorifics or titles, so just my name is fine. Some of you are actually older than me." Naruto laughed at some soldiers getting green in the face, eyes and mouth still wide open from before.
"As for my involvement in your training, I have none. I'll keep it simple, I don't care for being here, I only come to search for members that will be assigned to my Squad when your three years here are done. I'll continue to bloody my hands by myself, I'm content to leave without gaining a single member." Naruto continued to walk down the lines carrying his massive blade on his shoulder. The intimidating Zanbatou brushed inches from the shaking trainees as he strolled by with one hand in his pocket.
He stopped when he felt a Human Titan life force he had felt before in others. A blonde girl with her hair tied up in a bun and strays of hair covering the sides of her face. The girl's eyes showed the contingency of a battle trained and emotionless soldier, if she didn't stink of foul play, he would be inclined to see her limits.
Naruto glanced at the blonde who met his eyes and never faltered in her facade, "What is your name?"
"Annie Leonhart, sir! I'm from the Southeast Mountains, sir!" Now identified Annie saluted with her fist on her heart.
Naruto laughed, and his eyes curled up into a U-shape, "I don't really care where your from nor do I like your face."
Annie raised an eyebrow at the careless tone. 'He seems harmless compared to the way Reiner described him. Although, that comment was kind of hostile.'
The black clad blonde continued to the next row where he felt the two other signatures. Both familiar and faulting in their seriousness. 'The Colossal and the Armored, how interesting that you'd show your faces to me.'
Naruto stopped his stroll in front of the muscular blonde and lengthy brunette. "Hmm, What are your names?"
The blonde with the fixated indifference on his face responded first, "Reiner Braun, sir!" The lanky tall brown haired teenager next to him followed after, "Bertholdt Hoover, sir!"
The Corpsmen looked them up and down, narrowing his eyes in speculation, "I don't like your faces either." He slapped both of them on the shoulder marking them with his Hirashin Fuin. "Two softies who are larger than most here, how funny. You should meet Captain Levi and tell him you hate clean surfaces, that should toughen you up."
Naruto laughed and returned to his Titan hunting. 'This is fun. But, onto serious matters, I'll have to keep my eye on them. Since they are still within the walls, they're planning something, but for what? What are they doing this all for?'
He now stood face to face with a brunette with grey-brown eyes. She was about 5'7 and had light freckles on her tan skin, the girl was rather beautiful, but Naruto had the feeling she wasn't into the opposite sex. The daring brunette met his eyesight even as he was in her face, "Hmm, what's your name?"
The teenager straightened up, raising her first to her heart, "Ymir, sir!"
The blonde looked her up and down. Her life force was similar to the others, Petra was right in assumption of how interesting this 104th Cadets would be. 4 Human Titans so far, and if he was correct, he could feel one more. "Ok. I don't like you...Moving on."
"So my face is pleasing Captain Cutie?" The girl posed with her pon her cheek and the other on her hip. It was obviously sarcastic, but she was right.
"Yes, but it would be too much effort to argue." Ymir scoffed and smiled menacingly.
Standing a few spots away from Ymir was a short blonde with bright blue eyes like his own. Her life force seemed suspiciously different then the Titans in line, but yet her force was bright, and spurted irregularity that wasn't feasible to be a Titan's claim.
The girl noticed the black clad boy inspecting her with close proximity. She shivered slightly at his face inching closer to hers. He looked bored and unmotivated to be here, judging by his reputation, how could somebody like him be a Military Hero?
"What's your name?"
"Christa Lenz, sir!" She raised her head proudly, chining pointed to the cliffs behind him. The blonde pinched her lips, hoping he wouldn't comment about her face.
"You're lying, but I'm a liar myself. You're rather good at it too. Hmm, I can't decide if I like you or not...Moving on." He lowered Kubikiribocho to the ground and dragged it along, leaving a thin dirt trail in its wake.
The uneasiness of the trainees did not go unnoticed by the Captain. The only sounds heard were the steady pace of boots imprinting the dirt and the skidding of his blade being dragged alongside him.
'What should I have for dinner tonight? I do have to cook for the Cadets, so maybe…' Naruto looked up at the clouds passing by, simple and elegant. Their purpose is to glide along watching from a distance, and never holding the responsibility besides drifting away without care.
In a split second, Naruto raised his blade over his shoulder and pointed his finger at a careless guy with light brown hair, and a smug expression on his face. "What's your name?"
"Jean Kirschstein, sir!" Jean saluted with his smirk never fading.
"You want to be an MP?" Naruto said with an eyebrow raised rhetorically.
"Yessir!" The tall, brown haired teenager smiled in recognition of his life's ambition.
"Commander write this one down for one of my potential recruits, I like this guy." The blonde eyes smiled in the familiar U-shape. The Cadet looked terrified at the development.
Jean blurted out, "Wait Sir, I said I want to join the MPs, no disrespect but the Survey Corpsmen is not for sane people such as myself." The blue eyed Captain patted his Cadet on the shoulder, smiling and chuckling away.
Naruto pulled away and returned the blade to the ground. He leaned on the handle with his arms crossed and his eyes lazily half-lidded, "Well I can't argue with that, wait till you meet Hange. I'm tempted to have Commander sign you off to me right now."
The bald Commanded belly laughed and wrote down the assigned name on the list. "I can if you want Naruto, a personal protégé right on the first day."
Naruto turned his body 90 degrees to where only half of his face was peering at his Ex-Commander, "Not yet Shadis, I would have to see what else he's got. Matter of fact, throw him into my Squad Regiment for training."
Jean paled at being placed with the Black Mist. 'I should have just been quiet. I can't believe this is happening.' Dark visages encircled his hazel eyes in a depressive state.
Everyone around him was silently praying for him and also themselves. The masked blonde was the same age as them but one of the most famous militants of all time. It would be an honor to serve under him, but there was a scratching feeling that the guy was more terrifying than he let show.
"Now we are getting somewhere...moving on." Naruto walked down the final line in front, eyeing each individual with content skepticism.
He came across a bald kid, a tad shorter than the rest and glaring green eyes shying back from the masked Captain.
"Name?" Naruto put the blade over his shoulder, making the people around him step back in discomfort.
The bald kid raised his left hand to the opposite side of his chest, "Connie Springer, sir!"
Naruto sweatdropped at the blatant stupidity, "Ok...You have the fist on the wrong side of your chest by the way." Connie quickly corrected himself while rubbing the back of his head with his other hand embarrassingly.
"Commander! Give me the buzzcut, I like anomalies and maybe Connie here will give Kirschstein some personality." The grey haired buzzcut boy grew chuckled nervously. It didn't seem like anyone wanted to be placed on his squad for one reason or another.
'Am I really that bad? What did I do?' the blonde thought internally.
*crunch* 'What the hell?' Naruto peered over the bald kid's left and saw a brown haired girl eating a potato without shame.
The blue eyed soldier walked over to where the girl was continuing to chow down on the boiled potato. He raised an eyebrow as the dark brown haired girl seemed to ignore him, "What's your name?"
Crumbs were scattered across her lips as she raised her fist to her heart and hid the boiled potato behind her back, "Sasha Braus, sir!"
All the Cadets sweatdropped as the girl raised her opposite hand to her mouth once again. "Where did you get that, and why are you eating it now?"
The girl swallowed the last bite, "Well, I found it in the kitchen and it was getting cold, so I thought I didn't want it to go to waste...So I ate it."
The blonde's shoulders slouched, "I'll make you a deal Sasha Braus, you give me half of your potato and I'll make you a gourmet dinner myself, but you have to be placed in my Squad Reg-"
The hazel eyed girl raised half the potato with hearts in her eyes. "You had me at dinner Captain Hott-, I-I mean Captain Naruto. I'm in!" Naruto smiled gently at his first volunteer of the day. She might be his favorite of them all, although she was pleasantly in good-shape even with her obvious love for all things involving food. "Good. Now, moving on with the last few membe...rs."
At the end of the line were three people he thought he'd never see again. They all had grown up slightly, maturely getting to that growing point in life, "Wow. Weirdo, Bowlcut, and the best of all Mikasa-chan, you have grown even more beautiful since the last time I saw you."
Mikasa had been waiting impatiently the entire time to see his face again, he had grown so…
"NARUTO! We thought you died! What the hell!" Eren yelled running up and getting face to face with Naruto although Naruto was about a half head taller than the brown haired boy.
"Me...died? When?" Naruto placed Kubikiriboho back into his metal sheath.
"During the Wall Maria siege by the Titans, we watched you die when the Armored Titan disappeared." The green eyed boy's friends nodded their heads apprehensively in the back.
"I don't remember dying, I only got the wind knocked out of me." Naruto brushd the comment off, it really wasn't a big deal. But to them, it seemed as if they really thought he had perished on that day. As if he could die, how laughable.
"Your body made a crater. How did you not have life-threatening injuries, with the assistance of gravity at the very least you would have been paralyzed!" Armin added in, making all the Cadets look terrifyingly at the Black Mist.
"Plus you're the Black Mist, you said you knew him, not that you were him!" Eren shook his fist at the blonde who continued to hold his palm outwards trying to calm him down.
Naruto looked over the other two where Mikasa continued to be quiet in her usual emotionless facade. Yet, the closer he looked, he could see the hint of hurt in her expression threatening to burst open. She really did get even more beau...
"I'm sure you're angry as well Mikasa-chan." The black haired girl raised her head and the expression made Naruto grimace. She had looked furious yet, she was angry in a sort of worrying way, like they had mourned his death.
"No. I'm not, but to make it up to us, we'd like to be in your regiment." The two boys smirked triumphantly. ' I got played by Mikasa-chan…' An almost invisible grin appeared on the girl's face, he'd only seen her smile a few times, but seeing it occasionally made him smile as well.
"I have to play your game because you thought I died?! Gimme' a break, Commander, you heard them place Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert under my squad." Naruto shook his head and lightly shoved the three back into line.
"Now that we got Captain Blondie's recruitment out of the way, I will now tell-" Keith Shadis started to begin to overview their expectations before being interrupted.
Naruto grabbed the man on the shoulder when he reached the stage again, "I want Annie Leonhart, Reiner Braun, Berthodlt Hoover, Ymir, and Christa Lenz. Don't announce it until we gather into our individually led platoons." Shadis's grin widened in a maniacal manner, nodding in his deceptive decision.
Commander Shadis returned to his talk, and Naruto went back to daydreaming about the clouds. 'Petra was right after all.'
He made a discreet glance at Mikasa, there was just something about her that he couldn't place. Her beautiful silk-like black hair swayed lightly in the mild summer breeze leaving him in a trance. Her eyes weren't lightly colored, but they glistened in the reflection of the sun, leaving an irresistible midnight glow.
'What am I thinking?'
Mikasa noticed the blonde looking at her, she was perplexed by his gaze. Had he noticed she kept eyeing him?
Naruto caught Mikasa's confused face glance over at him, 'Shit.' The blonde quickly swerved his head back to the attention, a tad flustered and face hot in exasperation. 'I'm a master of evasive maneuvers, no way she caught on.'
'Did I do something wrong?' Mikasa pondered while continuing to gaze between the masked blonde and Commander Shadis.
"NOW CATTLE! When I say your name follow your Platoon Officer to their designated Barracks. Captain Naruto's Squadron: Jean Kirschtein, Connie Springer, Sasha Braus, Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Annie Leonhart, Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover, Ymir, and Crista Lenz. Blondie take your band of misfits to Housing Slate 11." 'Blondie' smiled and motioned for his team to follow him.
It was unnerving to be under the tutelage of someone who has the most Titan solo kills in history, defeated the Armored Titan, and was younger than most of them!
They had no idea what kind of character this Black Mist was, and even more were afraid of what would happen to them. The fact that they couldn't see his face, carried around a 5 foot blade, and was made Captain at a young age was more than enough to throw their stomachs into knotting fits.
Three of them were more terrified than the rest. They all threw each other side looks expressing their hesitancy. 'Had their assignment been coincidental?'
Flashback: Day After Attack on Shiganshina
Annie and Bertholdt, sat flatly in silence next to the bed of their fellow Marleyan Warrior.
Reiner had barely escaped death and was currently recovering his wounds. Though he wasn't physically harmed, his haste in making his escape when he felt death clawing for his existence, shut his nervous system down momentarily.
When he ripped himself from his Titan form, he damaged the nerves on his legs making it difficult to get away.
The entire time escaping the unexplainable danger, he had serious doubts about their success in their mission. They couldn't do anything but continue to move on, but now with the knowledge of someone able to defeat him in his Titan state.
What that guy did to him, it was impossible, he moved too fast, way faster than anyone should ever be capable of. The soldier played him for a fool, although he was still inexperienced somewhat with his Titan, he couldn't fathom being beaten by one person 10 times smaller than him.
Annie and Bertholdt had found him dragging his useless legs to their point of meeting. Their plan was to sneak in with the refugees, because what would three more children be to the thousands fleeing from their attack.
From that point on, he was carried by the other two to a medic tent, to where he could recover privately and without suspicion.
"I was helpless. I couldn't do anything, even my armor was useless against the guy. We have a serious problem, a very threatening problem. We can't return home until we've successfully accomplished our mission, but now that there is someone like that out there...it's frightening." The blonde was already under tremendous pressure from their homeland, but things just continued to get worse. First it was Marcel, now it was this mysterious soldier who was impossible to track with the naked eye.
"However, we all know we can't return home without fulfilling our duty. We'll just have to carefully plan our next moves. I'm afraid that won't be the last time one of us sees that person." Reiner concluded while raising his head from the pillow.
He looked at Bertholdt, who seemed to hold a steady stream of conflicting feelings, and then to Annie, who looked grim and motivated but cautious as well.
Reiner snatched both of their forearms, "We're Warriors, we can't forget that. I will be Marcel, I already promised you that. We'll return home one day,we can't lose sight of that goal."
Both kids nodded and helped the blonde lower his head back to rest.
'I hope you're right, not only for our sake, but for yours as well.' The tall brown haired boy sighed internally.
Barrack 11
The aroma that filled the mess hall of their private barrack, permeated the air with heavenly smells that left their mouths watering. Naruto said for their first night, he'd make them something of his specialty, but they'd have to wait to see it for the surprise.
Sasha was foaming at the mouth, drool cascaded down the sides of her face as people tried their best to hold her still. "Calm down Sasha, he said he's almost done! Wait! No-"
The brown haired girl chomped down on the person's hand to her right, "AHHH!"
The painful scream escaped from the lucid Eren trying his hardest to not burst into tears from the crunch and grinding pain of the teeth sunk into his hand. Mikasa and Armin tried to separate her jaw from the yelping Trainee but to no avail.
Off to the side Jean laughed at the bastard who said he'd kill all the titans.
"I can't believe I have to live with these loonies." Ymir sighed and placed her cheek on her palm.
"They're just hungry, once Sasha gets her food, then everything will be okay." The blonde girl to her left smiled shyly.
Before the conversation could continue, their Captain had left the Kitchen with a large pot and a spool in hand.
His right hand had Chicken, Beef, and Pork plated a lavender dining dish. Circumventing the dish was toppings for anyone who wanted to try their luck at new foods.
Held in the crutch of his arm was yet another pot of what seemed like pasta noodles, steaming with gleaming heat and humming freshness.
"Hey Sasha! I have the food, you can stop feeding on the Weirdo now." The hazel eyed girl followed her nose to the scent of the otherworldly preparation. She released Eren's hand from her mouth apologizing in between savage short breaths of anticipation for the best meal of her life.
Eren silently rubbed the bite marks on his hand forgetting about the pain in favor of quietly awaiting the dinner.
All of the Cadets were on the edges of their seats, some were better at showing their politeness, while others licked their lips absently and drooled shamelessly.
Even Mikasa and Annie to an extent had raised their heads with slightly widened eyes.
I forgot how much people enjoy my food. The first time I prepared dinner for Levi Squad, Petra held me down to kiss me on the mouth. Naruto shook his head in embarrassment, Good times...although, it is refreshing to know that you're appreciated for something besides fighting.
"Alright you animals, this is my famous dish, that even made Captain Levi, the most stoic person of all time, ask for seconds. I call this dish Ramen. You can eat as much as you want but, you should probably get your fills before *someone* eats it all. You have probably never seen anything like this so first, fill your bowl with the broth, then grab a fair amount of noodles to accompany it. Lastly, you can choose any toppings you want that you'd want to eat with your choice of meat. Anyways, since I'm spoiling you guys we'll have a talk while you eat. Understood?" All the Cadets nodded their heads in rapid succession, barely idly holding themselves back from thrashing the man in between them and the food.
"Fill to your heart's content, but try not to damage anything please. Alright...go ahead." Naruto retreated hastily to the table in the back of the room to avoid the carnage.
As soon as he removed himself, everyone in the room dashed to get their fillings before Sasha devoured the food and them. The pushing and shoving was slowly turning into the looks of a bar fight, but organized in a sense where everyone could still get their food and move back to their respective tables.
Reiner and Bertholdt took a table by themselves just to the left of Naruto. He could feel their nerves radiating off them as he looked at him in between bites of their food.
Bastards think I'm clueless, If only they knew I held all the cards.
Ymir and Christa sat at the table adjacent to the bastards, leaving the brunette to shove food down her throat elegantly while the blonde mannering savoured her own.
Two unknown entities, both accompanying each other, must have made allies already.
Annie had sat by herself at a table in the corner of the room, eating sharply and trying her best not to make eye contact with him.
Another unknown, but her soul is still conflictive and eerily similar to Bertholdts…Another watchful eye on her I suppose.
The remaining 6 sat at two tables pushed together, Jean across from Mikasa flustering to speak while stuffing his face, trying to decide what he wanted more. Eren and Armin ate while protecting themselves from the attack of the crazed Sasha howling down her food after coming back from her second bowl. Connie sat with his back to the hazel eyed girl, safe for the moment from attack as she had been interested in her own food at that point.
...and then his actual choices. Rather rambunctious, but enjoying each other's company already.
The peace of slurping and hums of pleasure brought a smile to his usually lazy face. If only life could be simple like these moments right here.
He lightly shook his head of thought.
That naive attitude would've passed with him a very long time ago, but now he knew the true darkness of the world, where in even moments like these, it still continued to linger without pause.
Now its time for the yearly pep-talk.
"I understand the hesitation to be here with me. I am not a good person, and I won't pretend I am. I know some of you are afraid of me for one reason or another and I'm okay with that." All the Cadets looked up from their food, faces red in embarrassment of some who had been caught in the line of thought. "I've chosen you for one reason or another, and I can't say I like some of you as well. I'll tell you why I'm this way, though." The trainees continued to eat, still having their eyes focused on their squad leader.
"I'm from Outside the walls." The few who didn't know that piece of information already choked on their food. Naruto ignored it, trying not to snicker, "I don't remember much, but I know some of you have been waiting for me to tell this story. I know this because, the three from Shiganshina stalked me for a year to tell them these things." Heads turned to the three shying away sheepishly trying to ignore the unwanted attention.
"I've seen the Ocean, the salty scent and cooling breeze are unforgettable. In every direction is water for what seems like forever. The peacefulness of the waves, crashing against the rocky shore, calm and evasive of the cruelty of the world. The grainy sand beneath your feet, burning hot, stretching miles down the shoreline connecting itself to the grassy meadows and the wake of the Ocean's ripples." Utensils and bowls were dropped momentarily as they listened intently to his stories attentively with wide eyes and surprised faces, like children listening to a fairy tale. The Marleyans gazed interesty, but even their deceitful natures needed work. "I met a school of dolphins, majestic and moving against the current, flying in and out of the water screeching in freedom. That's just the short end of it all though. I hope one day you can experience it for yourself, but that's why I'm here, so one day you can freely show your loved ones.
Do you know why I've never had anyone on my squad? That is because every Cadet I've come across can't and may never accept the fact that they might not ever see it themselves.
That is the reality of this world, I can accept the fact, and as such I'll continue to. I love, I laugh, I live just as anyone else would, but I'm also not naive. In this world, there are consequences to the choices you make. In order to love, you succumb to hatred when faced with losing it, therefore, you must be willing to do the unthinkable to protect those who seek to live life for in the light.
Commander Erwin and Captain Levi understand this, that is what makes them great leaders. They make the hard choices others would second guess themselves over. We slaughter, We torture, We shed our humanity when faced with our enemies, and if you can't do the same, you'll never serve under me.
But, that's what separates me from the others. They can't do what I can, and I will do it all by myself because I able to. I couldn't ask any one of you to face 200 Titans or go head-to-head against the Armored Titan, simply because you probably wouldn't survive.
Nonetheless, in the end if I were to choose any of you for my squad, you would never see action unless I trusted you to, because out there beyond the walls, I kill by the dozen and when I'm faced with the Armored Titan or any of its cowardly counter-parts again, they'll be sent to the grave. I can't have collateral damage in my way if you won't or can't protect yourself and your comrades. I have blood on my hands everytime I step out into Titan territory, they call me 'The Black Mist' because if you were to ever see my fight, I'm usually showered in it and sometimes It isn't even my own.I've embraced my role,in due time you will as well." Everyone around the room cowered in their seats. The words had done what they were meant to, but the truth hurts anyway.
They were all thinking the same thing, 'He truly is terrifying.'
The Marleyan Warriors struggled to keep up appearances at his proclamation. The terrifying part was that his burning blue eyes showed complete and utter belief that their demise would be the outcome next time.
Naruto noticed the grim expression around the room, deciding to lighten up the mood, he clapped his hands together. "Alright, now that's out of the way. Foods getting cold so come get the rest of it." Sasha was the first out of her seat although it took her longer, being hesitant at first.
Now for my other problem.
The masked blonde looked over at the table of 6. He met eyes with Mikasa for a brief second before he pulled his gaze to the others.
She probably thinks I'm a savage controlled by bloodlust.
"Weirdo, Mikasa-chan, Bowlcut, we need to talk."
Finished
That concludes part one of the training part of the story. We will start to break, a smidge away from canon.
Naruto lives in the Marleyan Warriors' heads rent free. Best be knowing next time Naruto is faced with one of them, they are getting bodied.
There were some minor Mikasa x Naruto moments, but nothing major as of yet. I think I'll take it somewhat slow, but they are my main pairing. Sasha and Petra had their small moments too but to clarify this isn't a Harem.
Next Chapter will timeskip and finish training. Will Naruto place anyone on his squad or leave them to the regular forces? Reiner is shivering in his timbers at Naruto.
I like to think of Season 4 Reiner's mindset of seeing Eren, while now those haunting nightmares are about our masked blonde.
Until Next Time, Ja ne.
