A.N.

Guest / I have a few ideas but nothing set in stone. Naruto is 22 as of this chapter. So by the time, we get into the first avenger movie, and then the events moving on from there, he will be mid to late twenties, which gives him enough of a group that he could be paired with a few MCU and MSG girls... to make it clear this one is not a harem... one Naruto one girl story.

Today was December 1st, 2010. signifying the three-month mark of Naruto living in his Queen's apartment, and things couldn't be going better for the blonde. He was now a fully functional twenty-two-year-old brainwashed child-soldier member of society. Currently, at the moment, Naruto was waiting in his apartment for the arrival of Coulson for his monthly SHIELD debriefing meanwhile; while the blonde would typically be watching television while enjoying his breakfast, sometimes the news to keep up on current events, most of the time cartoons, especially the Japanese style of animation known as anime.

Instead, he was trying to stay as quiet as possible because there was an adorable little lady resting in his room, tired out from their late-night activities. As the blonde sat at his small kitchen table, waiting for his breakfast ramen to finish cooking, he looked around his apartment. It was much more different from when he first arrived. Based on Coulson's recommendations, he had picked up some paint, and now his once-white walls were an incredible shade of orange. Not only that, he had decorated his apartment for the coming holiday.

Having something similar back home Naruto could admit that the thought of Christmas excited him. Despite the actual holiday not being till the end of December, department stores had already placed Christmas decorations on their shelves halfway through November for sale. So Naruto decorated his apartment once Thanksgiving had ended. It was strange how many holidays his new world had regarding friends and family.

Once a long time ago, the mere thought of these things would have left his younger self hiding behind an allowed mask of idiocy and bravado. Now, however, he found himself in a completely different situation. Not only did he have his false memories of friendships and betrayals, but he had begun to make new bonds of friendship with those he met all around him. An excellent example of this would be the new neighbors he lived across from.

They were a lovely middle-aged caucasian couple who were raising their young nephew. It was for this reason that Naruto was initially a bit resistant in befriending them of the worry of their deaths being on his hands when they came for him. not that he didn't do the same with all the residents of his apartment complex. His behavior did little to stop the neighbors, specifically the middle-aged woman and her curious nephew, from prying into his life.

After his first month living in Queen's while trying to get into a healthy routine while also isolating himself, his plans were derailed when he had begrudgingly accepted an invitation to The parkers for dinner and the hopes that he went over at least once they would be satiated in their curiosity over him leave him alone. He had never been more wrong in his entire life, but for once, he was glad as he freely admitted he had missed human interaction. Sure he had his monthly visits with agent Coulson and the SHIELD grunts assigned to follow his movements whenever he decided to leave his apartment.

"KNOCK! KNOCK!"

Naruto was pulled out of his thoughts when the familiar repetitive beating of his apartment front door notified him of his monthly visitor's arrival. Pulling out his smartphone to quickly check the time, Naruto saw that Coulson was fifteen minutes early. Quickly scarfing down the last of the ramen he had left in his cup Naruto shouted out a hurried response as he got up to throw away his trash.

"It's open," with the invitation to enter, given Naruto was walking into his living room when he saw Coulson being closely followed by two agents entering his apartment.

"You have to stop leaving your front door open like that; it's not safe." came the scolding tone of the season field agent; however, instead of Naruto giving his usual response. At the two additional guests to his apartment, he froze. Instead of the atypical no name background SHIELD grunts, Coulson had brought in SHIELDS big guns, which had the additional effect of putting Naruto on edge.

It was a man and a woman; they were roughly about the same height, with the man a few inches taller. They both had athletic body types, although they wore their versions of the shield uniforms. These two were anything but the usual shield agent. The man was caucasian, with short sandy blonde hair, a little spiky in the front, and blue eyes. He was dressed in a black shield uniform, with the main difference being he was sleeveless and had on a tactical vest dark purple trip.

The woman wore the standard black female agent catsuit-like shield uniform. With large metal wristbands on both arms and a small metal utility belt. She was a much lighter skin tone than the man, with long curly lush red hair that reached her back just past her shoulder and seafood-green-colored eyes. she was gorgeous, which was part of the danger Naruto was sensing as the image of an equally beautiful and dangerous blonde haired, blue-eyed woman dressed in an inappropriately revealing tan jumpsuits flashed across his mind.

"Clinton Francis Barton and Natalia Alianovna Romanova," Naruto said as he unconsciously fell into a CQC stance. Quickly realizing what the blonde actions were implying, Coulson moved in to diffuse a situation before it flew out of hand. Meanwhile, Naruto's seemingly offended reveal of their actual names had the same effect on both SHIELD agents. Clint and Natasha's bodies became tense as they watched the blonde ready himself for a fight.

"Stand down; Naruto, agent Barton, and Romanoff have been brought in on director Fury's orders," Coulson said as he moved forward to stop the blonde. At the older man's words and seeing that despite their bodies' reactions, the two agents did not move from their positions, Naruto also relaxed.

"Okey, why didn't you just say so sooner, y'know," Naruto's said cheerily as he scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed by his reaction. The two were a bit baffled at how the blonde's personality did a complete 180, and now he was Mr. happy-go-lucky.

"So, what's on the agenda for today," Naruto asked as he moved over and sat down on his recliner.

"As I stated, director Fury wishes you to be introduced to agents Romanoff and Barton. I'll be called away to oversee a research project soon and won't be here for our monthly checkups. Instead, agents Romanoff or Barton will come in my please," Coulson commonly explained as he took a seat on the couch and, reaching into his jacket, pulled out a file and placed it on top of the small coffee table in the center of the living room.

Reaching for the file, Naruto began to read through it; it was just a typical surveillance report and a monthly bank statement. As this was happening, Clint and Natasha began to look around the apartment. At first, Clint was slightly put off by the obnoxious shade of Orange the kid had decided to paint his apartment. However, he inwardly smiled at the Christmas decorations in the room; despite being the first of the month, the kid had already decorated his whole place for Christmas; the only thing he was missing was a tree.

Natasha was still on edge at the blonde, knowing her actual name, something that only a handful of people were privy to, two of which were in this room with her. Not only that, but as she stepped away from Barton to walk around the living room a bit, she also picked up on the fact that not once that the blonde's eyes ever leave the report he was reading. She didn't know if it was a dismissal or if it was trust; both answers were a bit disturbing to think about.

Being brought into this operation, Clint and her were given the report to read over the blonde. His kidnapping and unsuccessful brainwashing struck a chord with her as she was reminded of the Red room. However, the incident report on his escape from his hospital the day SHIELD picked him up showed that some of that training had stuck. Natasha didn't trust him, but she could admit that she respected him. He had gone through an ordeal and came out the other end stronger for it and still held on to himself; it was evident enough by the fact that he refused to be used even by SHIELD.

Clint, on the other hand, hadn't moved from his spot as he watched Coulson and the kid. He would be watching over the blondes this time, leaving him feeling uneasy despite his age and ability to live independently for the last three months. According to the medical reports and psychiatric evaluations, SHIELD had put the blonde through. Physically Naruto Uzumaki was twenty-two years of age; mentally, he shifted between twelve and thirty. He was a husband and a father first in a shield agent second, and Clint couldn't help the paternal part of him feel remorse for the blonde. But he was a good agent, and as long as SHIELD wanted to keep using the kid as bait, he wouldn't do anything to stop it.

"I like what you've done with the place very festive," Coulson said as he looked around but decorated the living room.

"Really? thanks," Naruto said, cheeks momentarily becoming flush as he accepted the company. At his bashful reaction, Clint and Natasha could easily pick up on the blonde's young mentality. Turning back to reading the report, Naruto stopped once he read over the personal list of those assigned to monitor his movements while in public.

"Coulson, I think we have something," Naruto said as his attitude did another 180, and he came completely serious. Placing the file down and turning it over, he pointed down at the personnel list.

"A week and a half ago, when I did my normal morning workout, I picked up on someone watching me who isn't on your detail list," At the blonde's words, Coulson quickly read over the list, concerned that they had not picked up on this.

"You sure about that?" Natasha asked, a bit dismissive of the blonde planes of being able to pick up something SHIELD wouldn't.

"I've kept the same routine for the last three months. Shield monitors my apartment with microphones; this building has already been set up with surveillance cameras. When I leave this apartment, there's a shield off of it stationed in the building across the monitors my apartment from the outside, and I've been going to the same park that's two and a half blocks away working out every morning. SHIELD has five agents set up one is Martinez, disguised as a woman walking a dog two are Johnson and Maxwell as a pair of workout buddies running laps opposite of me. At the park's north end, Smith monitors the whole area from the top of a six-story office building. At the same time, agent Bankston stays at the center of the park at a small bench while she feeds the ducks," Naruto said while looking the redhead in the eyes. The three SHIELD agents were equally impressed and put off by the blonde, not only knowing to wear his tails have been placed but seemingly not caring.

"If you knew somebody was watching you, why didn't you call it in, kid?" Clint asked, not comfortable with the thought of the kid being recorded.

"I already know somebody wants to capture me. If I'm going to use SHIELD to get my freedom, then I have to be willing to be the bait," all three agents were a bit cut off guard at the blonde's cold disregard for not only his safety but his willingness to use others.

"Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly," Natasha quit with a small smart as she looked at the blonde in a new life. She had read over the reports like Clint and quickly picked up on the kid having what would most commonly be considered multiple personality disorder. He was Naruto Uzumaki and Big Boss. No, not just those two but something else, a mix of both or a phantom of another altogether. No one could really be sure.

"I'll have to notify director Fury if you are right away. If someone was able to slip in at least once, this location might have already been compromised," Coulson said as he stood up, ready to inform his boss.

"Coulson, wait, let's not tell Fury yet; this could only be a hunch, but I'd like to play it out," Naruto said, stop being the older man.

"Kid, you can't be serious; this kind of thing isn't a game," surprisingly enough, it was Barton who spoke while Natasha and Coulson remained silent.

"You think I don't know that? Trust me, agent Barton I'm well aware that somebody's targeting me. Somebody that has been able to stay out of shield radar, but I'd rather risk them coming for me out there where they could have the advantage than them smashing their way through this building... the lives of the people that live here call this place home long before I show up are more important than mine." at the end of his little speech Naruto was now standing up pointing a finger towards the direction of the park where he did his morning workout.

"Fine, but once contact is made, you will be moved into a SHIELD safe house per your agreement with Director Fury," Coulson finally spoke after taking some time to process the blonde's words. Naruto didn't like this, but he knew that Fury had his safety above his comfort. He had the training and memories of one of the most outstanding non-supersoldiers in the world. If someone came for him and he couldn't stop them, he would have no choice but to join SHIELD.

"Deal, now let's finish up. I got to go get my Christmas tree," Naruto said with a big grin on his face. Shaking his head at the blonde's shifting attitude Coulson sat back down. Twenty minutes later, the debriefing was finished, and the three SHIELD agents were beginning to make their way out of the apartment. Naruto happily walked behind them, glad that he could get going with the rest of his day.

Just then, the sudden sound of glass breaking drew everyone's attention towards one of the apartment bedrooms. Instantly the three SHIELD agents pulled their sidearms. as Coulson remained near the front door, Natasha and Clint shared the look as they began to move towards the bedrooms. Romanoff is in front, with Barton a few steps behind her into the left. However, before they could get too far, Naruto was suddenly in front of them, arms outstretched, blocking them from answering the hallway.

"Stop, it's not what you think. Put the guns down," Naruto said, a bit embarrassed while also trying to look stern. However, Clint and Natasha didn't listen as they continued to move forward true to be a big mistake on their part.

Moving forward, Naruto grabbed the bottom of Natasha's wrist with his right hand as he brought his right foot behind her. all at once, he juked his hand upwards while pulling his right foot back towards him. In contrast, with his left, he brought it forward, delivering a hard open palm thrust into the assassin's right side. But Naruto didn't stop there as Natasha was falling backward. Now freed from her side of, Naruto continued onto his next target, Barton.

However, seeing what had happened to his partner, Clint wasn't going just to stand by and let the same happen to him. As the shot rang out in the apartment, Naruto thrown himself in front of the bullet, stopping it with his torso. Completely caught off guard by this, Clint was unable to prevent what happened next. this time slapping the man's gun down, Naruto shifted his weight forward and delivered a powerful head butt into the other blonde. Slightly stunned, Clint was not given a chance to recover as Naruto delivered three quick punches, successfully knocking the gun out of the man's hands and then grabbing him by the back of the head. Naruto brought his knee forward and knocked the wind right out of him before letting him drop to the ground.

"Naruto, that's enough; stand down!" it was Coulson's sharp words that caused the blonde to pause momentarily; almost looking a bit dizzy, Naruto suddenly realized how he had overreacted.

"Meow," As Clint and Natasha were trying to get up, everyone's attention was drawn to the end of the hallway where Naruto's bedroom door had been left open. They slowly made their way towards the four of them was; a tiny black kitten it's large green eyes was taking in the three strangers cautiously.

"Naruto," Coulson pecan signed, a bit exasperated as you put away his sidearm. Quickly recognizing that tone of voice, Naruto moved forward and swiftly picked up the kitten.

"It's not what you think, Phil. Let me explain," Naruto quickly said as he brought the kitten up so that Coulson could get a better look at it.

"It looks like you have a pet cat in an apartment complex that does not allow pets," at the moment, Natasha and Clint were off the ground and standing to the side, watching the back and forth between their boss's right-hand man and the guy that just put them both on the floor.

"I found her two weeks ago at the back end of the Chinese restaurant two blocks from here, I gave her some of my leftovers, and she started following me home," Naruto said quickly, explaining how he met his pet. and there it was all three of them knew never feed a strip because it'll follow you everywhere. Clint could speak from experience as he and his wife Laura had to turn away a few animals his son Cooper would bring home.

"Fine, you can keep her, but Fury will be notified of this development, and it'll be your responsibility to keep the building landlord from finding it," colson said, much to the shot of the other three occupants of the room. However, Naruto only knew the man for a few months. He, like Natasha and Clint, knew that Phil Coulson was a stickler for rules. "Consider it an early Christmas present," With nothing left to be said, the three members of shield moved to leave the apartment for good this time.

"Hey, about earlier, sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that," Naruto apologized as he moved to stand in front of Barton and Romanoff.

"Right, no hard feelings," Clint said as he rubbed his bruising forehead.

"Yeah, sorry about that am strong than you humans," Naruto said casually at the dismissal of his apparent above-average strength. Clint could only shake his head at this. "Right us humans,"

"CQC, that was some moves you got," Natasha stated as ye continued to observe the blonde. At her words, Naruto couldn't help but deflate a bit, and this was quickly picked up on by Natasha

"Thanks, but they're not really mine," Naruto said. He brought a finger up from his free hand and pointed to his temple.

"At least you can admit that; most wouldn't," and with that, the all left, leaving the blonde and his kitten alone.

"So what do you think," Coulson asked as the three of them got inside a SHIELD SUV that was parked in front of the blonde building.

"He's are literal man-child... this doesn't feel right; something's just off about the whole situation," Clint said after taking a moment to pause and think his words over.

"He's running away. At least he's trying to. He thinks if he hides away and pretends to live a normal life, he'll get just that... but he's just lying to himself; if Uzumaki is willing to be taken in by SHIELD, he knows it's only a matter of time," Natasha said as he looked back at the apartment complex.

"Director Fury believes as much, but he wants to let things play out naturally. He would rather have Naruto willingly come to SHIELD.