Uzumafia

by Nasha Rei-Kun

They'd known one another for as long as they'd been in middle school. Ryuji the energy, Ann the fun, Shiho the willing, and Naruto... Naruto was their 'Heart'. They became friends because of him, they knew him as their 'Sage' for times of wonder and emotional security... and then things went all kinds of crazy when they found out he was in the MAFIA. Or, really, his FAMILY was.

1. The Odd Kid

This is likely gonna be one of the shorter stories. I can guarantee that this shouldn't go past the two-digit mark… I hope.

Welcome to the Persona 5 fic that won't be going past Kamoshida, just so we're clear. It's Naruto x Shiho.

Side Pairings: Obito x Kawakami x Ryuji's mom, Kakashi x Sae x Rin, Ryuji x Ann

~NRK~

'Entering a new school! Time to make some new friends!' He thought with a grin as he walked the halls of his new middle school, having passed Elementary school previously but entering late due to some family business.

This new life had come with a ton of ups and downs, he thinks as he folded his arms behind his head, a set of limbs with a peach complexion coming out of a short-sleeved dress shirt.

He grinned his pearly whites as his blue eyes shined with excitement and his spiky blonde hair shifted with each step he took.

He came to a stop as he heard a slight commotion from around a corner of the hall.

"What the…?" He frowned as he put his arms down and sped around it. "What's going on?"

What he saw when he turned the corner was… annoying.

"I have to know your dye, Takamaki, surely that's not all real."

"I-It is, leave me alone."

"Come on, American, is talking to us really so bad?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Then why are you always so stuck-up? It really does get grating that you think you're better than us."

"Leave Ann alone!" Came a girl at a blonde girl's side as she defended the American from the half-circle of other girls. "What's your problem?!"

"And now it's the gloomy one!" Came one of the bullies with a sneer. "Honestly, you two-"

He made the executive decision come out now. "Is there a problem?" He asked as he came around the corner, gaining all the attention.

Now that he got a good look at the victims of the bullies, he blinked.

One of them was a girl with platinum blonde hair in a pair of small pigtails and blue eyes, like his own. She wore a short-sleeved dress shirt like he did but where he had black pants of his Gakuen uniform, she had a dark red skirt and leggings.

Next to the one he assumed was 'Ann' was the girl who defended her, a raven-haired girl whose tresses fell to a little below her shoulders in untamed glory.

Her skin, along with 'Ann's, was peach like his own while she had dark brown eyes that blinked at him. Wearing the same uniform as 'Ann' did, the blonde boy noted that all the girls were wearing a set of vests.

So they were all second-years if he was remembering right. "So, yeah, what the hell is going on?"

"Who let this kid in here?" Came one of the bullies as a vein popped in Naruto's head. "Beat it, kid-"

"Oi!" He growled an oddly threatening thing despite his… painfully familiar short stature. "I'm 13 dammit!" The boy said with a grimace. "Besides the point, what the hell are you doing?"

"... Is he also an American?" One of them whispered to the others as 'Ann's eyes widened. "Yeah… Hm, hm, he is."

"If I was, what would a bunch of clueless people like you know about it?" the boy said with a flat look as the bullies' eyes narrowed. "Oh, not sorry, that hit too close to home?"

"I'd suggest respecting your upperclassmen."

"Oh, you're seniors," he said with a cheeky grin, his six whisker marks pulling with the action. "Well, your skin certainly gives off that vibe."

The bullies looked like he'd smacked them while 'Ann' and her friend… blinked.

"So, move it, elderly, go home and play bingo or something," the boy said as he walked up to them with a flat glare. "Unless you want a fight I know you can't finish."

The girls looked incensed enough to try and take him up on his offer when a teacher rounded a corner.

"Hmm?" The bullies froze. "What are you all doing here? I heard that there was an issue in the hall? What's going on?"

"U-Uh, nothing, sensei!" One of the girls said as many of the others nodded. "We were just talking to this new kid."

"?" The man looked down to see Naruto grinning cheekily and making a whipping motion, much to the red faces of the bullies. "... Oh, yes, Naruto Uzumaki-kun," he said as he crouched down to the boy's level. "I thought you were supposed to be in your first class?"

"I heard the commotion and checked it out," the now-named Naruto Uzumaki said with a shrug. "Turns out they were talking super loud. It was distracting."

"I see, thank you, Naruto-kun but you really should have called a teacher."

"Oh, no, I literally just found them," the blonde boy said with a smile. "Trust me, I just got here as well."

"Hmph," the man nodded before turning to the girls. "I'm glad it was just some talking. All of you, please return to your classes, they're to start in 5 minutes."

Many of the students in the hall disappeared in that instant, as well as the bullies, leaving Naruto to hum and walk off.

"Take it easy, senpais," he said with a wave and his hands folded behind his head.

"Hmm, I worry he'll get involved in worrying situations," the teacher said with a sigh before turning to Ann and her friend. "Ann-kun, Shiho-kun, please get to classes on time, alright?" He said before leaving.

Ann nodded along with the newly named Shiho looking after the boy who'd left.

"Shiho-chan… Do you know him?" Ann Takamaki asked with a soft frown, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"Nope," Shiho Suzui responded with a tilt of the head before she blinked. "He's so short for someone who's thirteen."

Despite what had just happened, Ann snorted.

Neither noticed a pair of ears listening from the staircase before he headed upstairs.

~NRK~

Naruto learned that going through the school curriculum, as a 13-year-old, was odd the second time through.

Right now? He was in the gym and had already found himself as the target for attempted bullying. 'Attempted' because… duh, he was a ninja in his kid body.

No one was gonna come close to doing that.

Wearing a pair of blue track pants, white socks, and a white t-shirt, he stretched with the others, his 'detractors' around him with smirks on their faces.

Being short again, he hated to think that him being short was genetic, he was still shorter than the average kids in his grade, sadly. So it made people mistake him for being weak.

It sucked big time.

"Alright, kids," their gym teacher put her hands on her hips with a nod as the group of 13-year-olds got up. "Today's going to be a little different, we've got a new student, Naruto Uzumaki-kun," Naruto waved to his fellow teens. "So, we're actually going to see what your best times are, okay?"

Many groaned and shot the blonde the stink eye that he chuckled at.

"Grow up, some exercise won't kill you," he said cheekily, obviously not exactly endearing himself to them.

Across the way, in this large gymnasium, was the year above the blonde's, Ann and Shiho listening to their instructor before the latter turned her head to see Naruto moving to the front of his grade.

"Today will be free-form," their instructor said with a smile to the grinning kids. "Go wild."

They scrambled like cockroaches, much to his amusement.

The two looked at one another.

"What do you want to do?" Ann asked with a nervous smile as Shiho giggled.

"Coming through!" Came a boy from their class running past them. "Let's see what you can do, Freshmen!"

The two girls blinked at the black short spiky hair that passed them, the boy's soft brown eyes and peach complexion notable to most in their grade.

"Ryuji's his name, right? Sa-Sakamoto?" Ann asked Shiho who giggled and crossed her arms with a nod. "... Oh, right, he's the gym helper for the Freshman today!" The American-Japanese mix said with embarrassment as her friend snickered.

"He is, he beat me to it," Shiho said with a pout as Ann giggled before the brunette led the way. "Well, I'm still curious about that boy who stepped up, let's follow Ryuji."

"Sure!"

Back with Naruto, the boy stood before the climbing rope as a guy, in the year above him, demonstrated.

"Just try and keep it between your knees and stay calm!" The guy told him.

He seemed like a cool dude, this Ryuji Sakamoto guy.

"Thanks," Naruto said as he stretched his arms and went up to the rope as his 'bullies' tried to heckle him.

"Yo, man, ignore them," Ryuji said with a shake of the head and a frown. "Don't let guys like them take you down a peg."

His respect rose. "Nah, it's no problem, they're literally all talk, after all," the blonde said with a chuckle before gripping the rope and stomping down on the bottom. "I'm ready!"

Their instructor nodded as she held a stopwatch. "And… go!"

Ryuji had expected a decent climb, his underclassman had seemed relaxed in the gym… then the boy climbed like a lemur and his mouth dropped.

"?!" His eyes widened as he looked up to see Naruto midway to the top already. "F-For real?!"

The boy then reached top… and flipped around to land his feet on the ceiling with a tight hold on the rope.

He laughed upside-down at the group of astonished onlookers, looking like he was standing on the ceiling.

Flipping back around the rope, he allowed his form to slide down before letting go two meters from the ground and landing with little issue.

Arms behind his head, he grinned at Ryuji's dropped mouth, behind the older boy was Ann and Shiho's mouths were in the same position.

"Come on, let's do the next thing!"

---

Ryuji watched as Naruto benched 150 lbs, much to his shock.

"D-Dude, you're so short, what the hell?!"

"What?!"

Shiho started giggling at Naruto's indignation while Ann nervously chuckled.

"That looks… familiar."

"I have no idea about what you're talking about."

---

Several exercises later, Naruto stood supreme as the person in his class with the highest physical scores.

His bullies laid on the floor in heaps of their own sweat while Ryuji laughed, the two boys hi-5ing as the blonde's gym instructor looked amazed along with Ryuji's year's own.

"Incredible," he said as the female instructor nodded as well. "He's a little physical marvel."

"Hmmm, if he keeps this up, he could grow an amazing reputation and get into some of the top sports-focused schools!"

Naruto chuckled.

~NRK~

Come lunchtime, Naruto found himself on the roof of the middle school.

Dealing with his new 'fans' had been… draining, for lack of a better word. The blonde was not for that kind of attention, especially when it basically banked on him being the 'cool' new thing.

"Okay, maybe Operation Friendship isn't going perfectly yet," he said to himself before clenching his fist in determination. "I won't lose, though!"

"Huh?" Came a confused voice from behind him along with a trio of footsteps. "Lose to who?"

Naruto turned around to see Ryuji, Ann, and Shiho, the last having been who spoke.

"Uhh, well, myself?" Naruto answered with a blush and a hand at the back of his head. "... Sup?"

"... Yo," Ryuji said after a bit, the three upperclassmen walking over and standing by the railing of the school. "So, you tryin' to be an athlete, too?"

"Hmm?" Naruto blinked before shaking his head and waving his hand. "Oh! Nope, nope, nope, nothing like that," he said, shocking the three. "I've trained from when I was, like, six. I just want to be strong to protect what I want to protect," the blonde boy said with a shrug at the three's looks of confusion.

"... That sounds cool," Shiho said after a moment as Ann's eyebrows ticked. "Kind of grand scheme, though."

"Eh," Naruto chuckled. "Can't say otherwise. What's up?"

… "I didn't plan that far," Ryuji said after a moment, getting a laugh out of Ann and Shiho.

"Well, when in doubt… Sup, the name's Uzumaki Naruto, just transferred in."

"I wondered why we'd never seen you before," Ryuji said with a gun and a grin. "Name's Sakamoto Ryuji."

"Ann Takamaki," Ann said with a curious tilt of the head.

"Suzui Shiho," Shiho introduced herself. "Huh, I thought you were an American."

"Yeah, you said your name like a normal Japanese person," Ann said with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh, well, I'm a quarter American," Naruto said, surprising them. "Half Japanese and another quarter Italian."

"Whoa, that's a lotta blood!" Ryuji said in shock as the girls nodded. "Dude, you're basically from all over!"

"Hehe~"

"So why'd you come to Japan?" Ann asked.

"It's sort of because of Italy's… culture. It's dangerous over there," Naruto said with a nervous chuckle, gaining wide eyes from the older three.

"... L-Like… mafia?" Ann asked with a worried whisper.

"... Well… yeah, that's a big part of it," the blonde male admitted. "It's not as bad as it used to be back in the day from what my family tells me but it's still a good idea to stay in tourist areas you're visiting."

"D-Damn," Ryuji swallowed nervously. "For real?"

"That's so crazy," Shiho said.

"It's what it is. That said, I'm here not there," he said with a grin. "Nothing to really worry about but I DO want to change things and, to do that, I need to be strong."

"... okay, so you being super grand scheme," Shiho said and he grinned in response. "... I have no idea where to go from here."

"Well, tell me about yourselves."

That was the beginning of their friendship. A transfer in and a stand-out blonde.

And they wouldn't trade it for the world.

~NRK~

Three months later, the group found themselves in an interesting situation at lunchtime.

"So, u-um, yeah, you guys want to come over?" Ryuji asked with embarrassment, hand rubbing the back of his head as he sweated nervously. "It'll be my mom's birthday and…" He blushed harder.

"Sure!" Naruto said with a grin as the girls giggled or grinned. "It sounds like fun!"

"I don't mind," Shiho said with a smile. "Though, this is going to be the first time I've gone over to someone's house."

"Same!" Ann said with a grin. "I never really did this before. T-This is gonna be so fun!"

Ryuji's eyes widened before he grinned like an idiot.

~NRK~

After school, the group went their own ways to their own homes to get dressed.

The Uzumaki grinned as he entered the car, outside the school, waiting for him.

Closing the door, he grinned at the driver. "Hit, Obito!"

There, in the driver's seat, sat a familiar black spiky-haired man with peach skin and black eyes.

Obito Uchiha smirked at him before nodding, white dress shirt and black slacks creasing as took off.

"How was today?" He asked as they drove down the street. "Ann-kun try to have a full-on english conversation again? Shiho try to beat you at a sport, again… Ryuji got you into another hare-brain scheme this time to join the track team?"

"One… No… Not this week," Naruto said with a nervous chuckle as Obito snorted. "And, for the record, Ryuji wants us to come over for his mother's birthday."

"Hmmm, Himemura must have her hands full with him, hm, hm," Obito said with a chuckle as Naruto blinked at him.

"Wait, who's Himemura?"

"Oh, she's his mother," the blonde's mouth dropped. "I never told you but she, I, Takemi from the clinic in Yongen-Jaya, and my current girlfriend used to go to the same school. We went our separate ways with me finding Sadayo here in Aochome at Shujin further in the area."

"Whoa, way, Kami-nee-chan knew Ryuji's mom!?"

"Yup," Obito said with a chuckle as they pulled into an underground garage by a large building. "Come on," he stepped out before going to Naruto's door.

"Nope!" The blonde jumped out with finger guns at Obito. "Not today!"

"Snrt," the older spiky-haired male snorted before locking the car. "Very well, come along."

Entering the underground area of a large compound, the foyer area after the garage was a large square that was a foot lower than the wood-paneled floors with a carpet in it.

The lower two areas of the Uzumaki Clan Home were basically this floor, which was a large square of wooden panels around a block of cement painted a nice cream color. Down below, they had their personal training ground with up-top being their living area.

They went up a set of stairs before entering the 'home' level.

They were greeted by more wooden panel floors but to their left was an open area with stone pathways and a garden being tended to by a red, long-haired, woman who turned to look at them.

White skin and violet eyes brightened up as she got up in a yellow shirt and green pants before rushing over.

Naruto was tackled, embraced, and cheek-rubbed against by a happy woman.

"Naru-kun!" She grinned as he turned bright red, Obito chuckling behind a fist. "How was today my little shinobi~" Kushina Uzumaki kept kissing her son's cheek as the, currently short, teen wiggled to get away.

Yes, this new life of his came with more surprises, most of which had not only left him shocked but happier than he ever could have expected.

"M-Mom! I-I know but I need to get r-ready!" Naruto said with embarrassment as Kushina blinked at him. "I'm going over to Ryuji's for his mom's birthday."

"Hime-chan?" Kushina said and the blonde gawked. "Oh, well, Obito, Minato, and I went to college in Japan. Hm, hm, hm," Obito blushed while coughing off to the side. "Oooh~ Obito was quite the ladykiller in those days along with Kashi-kun!"

"K-Kushina-san, pl-"

"Kushina-san?"

"... K-Kushina-nee-chan," Obito looked ready to combust as Naruto snickered. "Ahem, the point is, Naruto does need to get ready… Yes?"

"Hmph!" She grinned. "Well, I'm coming! I haven't seen Hime-chan in so long!"

"... This is going to be-"

"Oh, you're coming too, Obi-kun."

"Fuck."

"Language!"

~NRK~

Naruto chuckled when he received the rather hurried text from Ryuji about where he actually lived, even if Obito already knew.

They drove one of the more casual cars they'd been forced to drive due to their station. That being a brown Toyota RAV4 and Naruto wouldn't lie, he liked this vehicle compared to the other one.

They reached Ryuji's house in record time, Obito stepping out and letting Kushina out as Naruto tore his way out of the vehicle before he could even try.

Standing in a black polo, dark blue jeans, and a pair of black-strapped sandals, Obito snorted as Kushina giggled in a pair of black slacks, a yellow dress shirt, and a pair of open-toed heels.

Naruto shot the older male a look in his long-sleeved orange v-neck top and black sweatpants, a pair of similar strapped sandals on his feet but they were blue in color.

"Let's go, yes?" Kushina said with a grin as the three walked up to the little home in a neighborhood of similar homes. "Hime's always been a rather outright bright person, I wonder what she'll do when she sees you?" The redhead asked Obito cheekily as the man's eyebrow twitched.

He knocked on the door as he answered her with a flat face.

"It's fine, she knows about Sadayo and me, and hasn't-"

"Hello?" Came a person opening the front door resulting in a frozen Obito. "... Obito-kun?!"

The man was embraced in seconds, a short woman slamming into his midsection and giggling he began to sweat as she looked up.

Light brown hair set into a well-done hair bun, peach skin, and yellow eyes peeked at him with a small set of glasses across her nose. Wearing a pair of white bunny slippers, a shin-length yellow skirt, and a white t-shirt, Himemura was a woman with an average build and kind eyes.

"Hime-chan!" Kushina in front of her in seconds, the woman giggling as Kushina hugged her. "How's life? Where's Ryuji-kun? Is everything going well at the new job?"

"Well, fine, he's inside, and, yes, thank you, Obito-kun," Himemura said with a bright smile as she turned and smiled serenely for the male brunette who nodded. "It's… w-well, I still don't know how you do it b-but it pays so well for a desk job!"

"Hehe~" Kushina grinned. "Hiruzen's a pretty kind man and he's been trying to have that position filled for weeks."

"Tell your boss I'm forever thankful!"

"He knows," Obito said with a chuckle as the small, about 5'5, woman led them into her home only for them to hear a set of rapid steps. "Ryuji?" The man said to the surprised boy who came downstairs.

"H-Huh, yo, Obito-oji-san," Ryuji said with a bashful look, hand rubbing the back of his head as he stood there in a yellow tank-top, with a purple set of stars on it, and a pair of tan cargoes. "W-Wait, Naruto, how do you know Obito?"

"He works with my mom and dad at work, dad's currently doing some stuff at the job," Naruto said as he strove forward and the two fist-bumped. "So, yeah, he's been a family friend since forever."

"For real?!"

The adults chuckled and moved into the living room area by the foyer, Naruto and Ryuji took off towards the stairs only for there to be a knock at the door.

"... Oh, it's Ann and Shiho," Naruto said as Ryuji blinked, the two going to, and opening, the door to reveal the two girls. "How's it going, guys?"

Ann smiled in her black skirt, long-sleeved yellow top, and black sneakers with long white socks get-up, the quarter-American teen's hair in its signature pigtails.

"Fine, thankfully, someone," Ryuji quickly found the flower pot by the door interesting. "Sent the directions an hour before we were supposed to come."

"R-Right? Good thing you got here!" Ryuji said as Ann's eyebrows went flat. "... my bad."

Shiho giggled in a large light gray hoodie, a pair of black short shorts, long white socks, and a pair of gray and black sandals. The girl's hair was slightly long, coming down to her shoulders, and she grinned as she and Naruto hi-5ed.

"I'm glad you got here even with Ryuji's text," Shiho said as the black-haired boy sweat waterfalls as Ann threw him another raised brow. "Honestly, Ryuji-kun, you've got to be more on-time. Aren't you a track athlete?"

"H-Hey! This is more important than track!"

"And you still sent us the text late," Ann said and Ryuji coughed.

"U-Uh… I was focusing on my mom! That's how it goes! I made her a whole breakfast this morning and… Yeah."

From the living room, Obito shook his head with a chuckle as the women giggled, the group of teens turning to the two.

"... Who's this?" Shiho stage-whispered to the blonde in their group who grinned. "I thought he didn't have a dad," she said as quietly as possible.

"Oh, that's Obito, he's a family friend of both families, apparently," Naruto said as Ryuji nodded.

"Nice to meet you!" Ann said with a grin and a bow, Shiho following her example, to the mother of Ryuji. "Happy birthday!"

"Oh, you're so polite!" Himemura's hands came together in a clap of delight, her eyes shining as Obito chuckled nervously. "Ryuji, you didn't tell me you had such polite friends!"

"Uh, well, I mean, they're great," Ryuji said with a blush as the teens chuckled. "Yeah, they're super-cool. We'll be right back, mom!"

"See you in a few, honey!" Himemura smiled before turning her smile on Obito whose face grew nervous. "Now, Obito-kun, I told Sadayo you'd be over here and she seemed-"

They were up the stairs and in Ryuji's room quickly, the words from down below muting as they did.

"You're mom seems so nice!" Ann said with a sly grin. "Why's her son so not on it?"

"Hey! I'll have you know, I'm very on it!" Ryuji denied as Naruto and Shiho chuckled in the back. "Hmph, anyway, welcome to my casa! The Dragon's Den," he said as he pointed to a sign on his door.

"Not bad," Naruto said with a grin and a thumbs-up as they went in. "... Ya know, I expected something a bit messier."

It wasn't like it was spotless, though. There was a carpet in the middle of the room, a bed in the corner by a window, a TV in front of it with games and consoles messily set up, and a set of weights on three yoga mats put together to seem like a little square area for exercise.

There was a dirty clothes basket by a closet by the TV, half-full, and the sheets on Ryuji's bed were a mess. Finally, a laptop sat atop the black spiky-haired boy's pillows, a nearby wireless speaker on the windowsill playing some random music from it.

"H-Hey! I don't like sleeping in filth, you know!" Ryuji replied with annoyance. "I can keep my floor clean, at least."

"Not a high bar," Ann said as she walked around the room, looking at his weights before plopping down on his bed. "Hmph, the bed's not bad."

"Heh!" Ryuji grinned as he crossed his arms. "For good sleep, you've gotta have a Therapeutic… Thanks, again, Naru. Obito kind of really helped mom out with that," he said with some embarrassment as Naruto grinned.

"Nah, this was all Obito. He's way kinder than he looks, trust me."

"I-I wish I'd known that before we first met… but I'm glad we did," Ryuji said with a sour expression, confusing the three. "... you guys know how I told you I don't have a dad?"

Naruto frowned as Shiho sat next to Ann, the girls looking confused.

"Yeah, you said you never met him," Ann said before frowning at his conflicted expression. "Ryuji?"

"I'm guessing that was a lie," Naruto said, getting a wince from the older boy. "No, Ryuji, I can tell that this is more serious than just a lie… Did he walk out on you?"

"... Dammit, you're always so observant, huh?" Ryuji said with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "And… yeah, he did… the bastard wasn't exactly prime material for a dad, fuck, he was a piece of shit," he said with a grimace as Naruto crossed his arms and leaned against the back of his door. "... Haaa, the bastard used to abuse mom… and beat me daily."

"Ryuji?!" The three snapped up in disbelief. "What?!"

"Yeah, it's… it really wasn't pretty," he said with a hand rubbing the back of his neck. "He'd pull that kind of shit whenever he was angry or if we fought back," the boy wore a slightly satisfied grin. "One time, I was really able to give that dumbass a shiner, he was being way meaner to mom that day for a reason I only found out later… He learned about Obito who came over at just the right time before Obito beat the shit out of him… I'm so thankful he knew that Kakashi guy who locked his ass up."

"Kakashi's another family friend," Naruto said with a sigh and a relieved smile at Ryuji's surprise. "I'm glad Obito was able to get to you guys in time. Like I told you, he's way nicer than he looks."

"Yeah, I get that," Ryuji said with a wide grin. "It was a little rough afterward but Obito was able to get mom a good job that doesn't stress her that much. In that time, she was also able to finish getting her business degree and she's loved it ever since… A-And, I don't think he realizes it… b-but I think she has a crush on him," he whispered.

The three blinked before Shiho and Ann giggled with smiles as Naruto scratched his cheek with confusion.

"She does?" He asked as the girls laughed, Ryuji shrugging.

"I think she does. It's not exactly like I asked her out loud."

"You two are seriously…" Shiho sweatdropped. "Didn't you notice how they sat down on the couch, I had a feeling she did."

"Really? I think it was the way she smiled at him," Ann said in thought. "She really likes talking to him."

"... Is this another girl thing?" Naruto asked Ryuji who rubbed the back of his head.

"Dude, I really don't know," Ryuji said as the girls giggled. "Anyway, ever since I started getting a bigger allowance, I've been trying to find a way to thank Obito as well as get mom a good birthday present," he went into his closet, rummaged around for a bit, and then came back out with a large box. "Ever since mom's really been able to relax, she's told me she wants to pick up some kind of hobby but she's kind of swamped with choices," he said with a sweatdrop as the others chuckled.

"I'm glad these are the kinds of troubles she has," Ann said with a grin as Ryuji chuckled. "So, what'd you get her?"

"Well, mom likes doing way too much for me, sometimes," he said. "So, I figured, if she wants to then I'd get her something that can also give her stuff to do. It's a sewing machine, some sewing stuff like yarn and needles. I kind of had to look up everything and just… bought everything," Ryuji said in embarrassment as the others laughed.

"It's really thoughtful," Ann said with a grin as he blushed. "Who knew you could be like this?"

"H-Hey!"

"It is sweet, Ryuji-kun," Shiho said with a grin. "I'm sure she'd love anything you'd give her but this much thought is bound to make her really happy."

"Y-Ya think so?" Ryuji asked before grinning. "I hope so! Mom deserves the best and I'll be damned if she doesn't get it from at least me."

"It's really cool that you care so much," Naruto said with a chuckle. "I can tell you love your mom a lot," Ryuji blushed. "Hm, hm, what'd you get Obito?"

"... Uhhh, I don't really know yet," Ryuji said with a nervous chuckle. "I don't know his birthday."

"It's February 10th," Naruto answered with a grin at Ryuji's surprise.

"For real?!"

"Yeah."

"W-What's he like? Does he have a hobby?"

"Obito likes to cook and he trains a lot as well," Naruto said, gaining Ryuji's interest. "Outside of that… I think he also makes his own clothes, he gave me hand-made clothes for a few of my birthdays as well."

"H-He did the same for me!" Ryuji said as he reached into his closet with one hand and pulling out a dark purple hoodie of good-make bearing a set of lightning bolts and dragons along the back and sleeves. "H-He gave this to me for my upcoming birthday. He said he wouldn't be here for it and gave it to me last week."

"Oh, well, we're going on a trip in a few months, during the beginning of Summer. Family business, sorry."

"Nah, man, it's fine! I was just curious," Ryuji said as he put the article of clothing back before lifting his gift. "I've got an answer, that's about all I'd have ever wanted. Come on, let's go and give this to mom!"

They hurried out of the room, taking careful steps as they came downstairs.

When they did, they turned to hear the clamoring from the kitchen and came around to see Obito with an apron on and some frying pans in his hands.

He went about a grand display as Naruto saw the grocery bags they'd had in the car on the counter.

"Is there anything you all can't handle?" Obito asked the group of teens who blinked. "Oh, Ryuji-kun, I'm assuming that's for your mother?"

Ryuji blinked before nodding and turning to his mom with an embarrassed expression, the woman smiling brightly at him.

"H-Here, I know you said you were kind of bored of the… infomercials and stuff," he said with red cheeks as Himemura looked at the large gift. "And, well, I did say you could get a hobby and-"

"A sewing set?" Kushina asked as the large present was opened on the floor.

It was a large hard plastic case with a sewing machine, spools of thread and yarn, and needles of all sorts.

"... I love it!" Himemura squealed with excitement as Ryuji let out a breath of relief, Ann patting his back as Naruto and Shiho chuckled. "I was seriously getting bored with those ads on TV. I don't know how you watch those, Ryu-kun!"

"W-Well," Ryuji scratched his chin with an embarrassed expression. "I-It's not for you, so I figured you'd like this."

"Hmph," Obito turned his head for a moment as a large fireball exploded upward before being covered by a lid. "Oh, I know that specific machine. We have it at home, I'm rather familiar with it."

"For real?!" The teen group, minus Ryuji, nearly broke at the familiar phrase."Y-You can teach, Obito-kun?!"

"Sure, I don't mind."

"I'd love that! He~" Himemura grinned at her son who blushed further. "Thank you, Ryuji-kun!"

"A-Anything for you, mom!"

"Hmph, now, I was considering some fried rice," Obito said to the newly-arrived group who looked excited by the prospect. "Anyone have any preferences? I've got beef, chicken, vegetables, and shrimp."

"Beef!" Naruto and Ryuji said in unison.

"Shrimp!" Ann chose.

"Beef, please," Shiho asked.

And so the group ate an Obito-made meal, Ryuji eating more than his fair share of food.

"D-Dude, this is so good!" He cried tears of joy as he finished his third plate. "I-I thought you were an office dude!"

"Hey, I told you he cooks for fun," Naruto said with a smirk as two stacked plates sat in front of him.

"A hobby and these are two different things!"

"Huhuhuhuhuhu."

"Thanks, Obito-kun," Himemura said with a satisfied smile. "When it comes to cooking, Ryuji and I can't compare."

"Now, now, Hime," Kushina said with a happy moan on the couch, getting a chuckle from the single mother. "I'm sure Obi would be delighted to share tips with you."

"I've got no problem with that," Obito said with a smirk as Himemura blushed a bit. "Sounds fun."

"I-I'm looking forward to it!"

"... wow," Ann whispered to her age group. "It's like he doesn't even notice."

"... N-Now that I'm actually seeing it," Naruto began with a sweatdrop. "Is… Is this what it looks like from the outside in?"

"Dude, it's kind of crazy," Ryuji said as Shiho snickered. "I've never seen mom blush that hard. It's kind of weird, not gonna lie."

"It'll happen one day for you two," Shiho said with a teasing smirk as Naruto grumbled with red cheeks and Ryuji looked hopeful.

"For real?! Wait… b-but, dude, then I wouldn't know!"

"Hahahaha!" Ann started laughing along with Shiho as Naruto paled. "Yeah, you'd definitely be the type to never notice. God, that's so funny."

Naruto hoped he didn't have a repeat of what he did to Hinata.

'God, please! Not again!'

~NRK~

The next few months seemed to pass in a flash and they had a good couple of weeks off until September.

So, the Friday before their summer vacation, Naruto spoke with his group on the school's rooftop.

"So you're going back to Italy?" Shiho asked with a wince as Ryuji and Ann weren't there, grabbing the two candy bars from the vending machines in the cafeteria. "Naru… is that safe?"

"It's not completely, no, but we've got family there," he said. "Mom's got tons of relatives there and we typically visit about four times a year. We're on trip three right now. One more to go."

"How long?"

"Ehhh, I wanna say about five days once Sunday hits," he said. "Trust me, there is a lot of mom's family we have to deal with… he, he, he," Naruto began to nervously chuckle. "Oh boy."

"?"

"We're here!" Ann announced as she opened the door for Ryuji who held several drinks, the American girl's arms full of candy. "Ryuji figured we should grab some drinks."

"Oh, thanks," Naruto said as he and Shiho walked over and relieved Ryuji's arms of some of the cans. "Nice, Arizona Green Tea," he said as he popped open the can and drank half of it in one go.

"Hmph, I don't like that Corn Syrup in it all that much but the tea part really gets you," Shiho said as she drank her own, Zero-Calorie, version of Naruto's drink. "Hmmm, I really do love it."

"So what did you guys talk about?" Ann asked as she set the candy down on a little orange handkerchief that Naruto had on the floor before opening up a Hersheys. "Hmmm, chocolate."

He filled the two in on his trip and they gave about the same reaction Shiho did.

"You sure?" Ryuji asked nervously as Ann nodded.

"Naru… I know this is your family but is it alright?" She asked and the male blonde hummed before nodding.

"You know how strong I am. My mom, dad, Obito, and Kakashi are easily way stronger than I am."

"But…" Ryuji grimaced with a dark frown. "What if guns are involved?"

The girls flinched back and Naruto blinked before rubbing the back of his head.

"Now that's a good thing to note but, trust me, guns aren't a problem where my family is going, alright? Trust me, we'll be fine."

Shiho frowned a bit as she nursed her drink. "... Alright, Naruto-kun, we do trust you… Just don't get hurt, please."

"Sure," he said with a grin as he threw her a thumbs-up. "Now, what are you guys going to do?"

"Probably watch mom sew some more," Ryuji said. "And read some manga. It's really relaxing doing that in the same room she's in. Otherwise, Summer's gonna be running, video games, trying to see the fireworks, and so on."

"Hmph… Well, I'll be hanging with Shiho for just about all of it," Ann said with a strained smile. "My parents aren't going to be home and, well, I'm no loner, so…"

"You guys can come over to my place if you want," Ryuji said instantly, getting a blink from Ann as he blushed. "Y-You, we can hang, and then you'd have me around along with my mom. I think it'd be cool."

"... Hahaha, thanks, sure, I don't mind, Ryuji," Ann said with a grin that the boy blushed at before reciprocating.

"Awesome!"

Shiho giggled a bit as Naruto chuckled.

They were going to be fine.

~NRK~

They'd landed in Sicily and quickly went through customs before standing outside the airport in a low-level garage area. Around them were few, if not minuscule, numbers of people… their 'people'.

"Come on, Naruto," Kushina said with a small smile as the blonde boy messed with his collar.

Wearing a red dress that came down to her shins with short sleeves, Kushina tapped her white open-toed heels against the floor. Around her neck was a gold chain necklace with a red jewel pendant with a spiral within its depths that seemed to glow an ephemeral light. Finally, over her shoulders, was a long white coat that was held together by silver chains around the collar and upper buttons, keeping it on her.

Naruto grunted in a pair of black dress shoes, black slacks, an orange dress shirt, a dark red vest, and a red tie. "I don't like these fashion nooses," he complained as the other members of his group chuckled.

Obito wore a dark blue three-piece suit with a black dress shirt and dark blue tie. Atop his head was a black fedora and his hands were covered by black gloves as his black dress shoes tapped against the floor.

"A tie can be rather comforting, Naruto," Obito said with a smirk as he adjusted his hat.

"Naruto-kun, I understand," came a man to Kushina's right.

Having decently long blonde hair that had two long bangs down the sides of his face, he had peach skin, blue eyes, and a small smile on as he adjusted his tux.

It was a black thing that was as stereotypical in look but, over his shoulders, was a white jacket that had chains holding its sides loosely together that had flames over the bottom.

"Dad, I knew you'd understand me," Naruto said as Kushina pouted before getting a peck on the cheek.

Minato 'Namikaze' Uzumaki smiled at his wife who blushed before grinning.

"Hm, hm, hm," came a man at Obito's side, leaning on his friend's shoulder and grinning at Kushina's happiness. "I can tell she's enjoying this second go-around a lot."

Wearing a similar outfit to Obito's, with his three-piece suit being gray, was Kakashi Hatake. The silver-haired man grinned, peach skin pulling at the sides and black eyes filled with amusement.

"I'd say a lot of us are," Obito said. "Sad that Rin couldn't be here."

"She and Sae had a serious case," Kakashi said with a shrug and a chuckle. "Turns out, there's a bit on this guy called Shido Masayoshi. Thankfully, Rin's keeping her steady and since I saved their father eight months back, she's been willing to be more open to my words. So things are normal, for the most part."

Obito snorted. "Is that how this relationship of yours started?" He asked and Kakashi blushed a bit as a long black vehicle came around. "Last I checked," Obito and Kakashi leaned in close. "Being in a three-way relationship isn't called normal."

"You guys," Kushina called to the two with a grin and a wave as Naruto and Minato brought their bags to the limousine. "Come on, the car's here."

"We will!" Kakashi answered back with a casual grin as he and Obito pulled out masks and donned the black articles. "And, for your information… it just happened, alright? I didn't know this was going to happen. One moment, we're just friends, the next? I'm given a 'proposal'."

"Hmph, hmph, well, I'm glad Rin got what she wanted in this life," Obito said with a nod as they moved their things to the trunk of the limousine.

The redheaded chauffeur nodded to him, the young man's eyes violet and his skin peach-colored.

"Welcome back, aunty," the young man said to Kushina who smiled before approaching him. "... W-Wait, you can just sta-"

"Venny!" The man grimaced with red cheeks as she held him in a big hug. "How's it going, nephew? Anything wrong?"

"I-I'm fine!" He said with embarrassment as she smiled at him, letting him go. "... And, for your information… things are going fine. That's all, I've been working on some paperwork and… S-Seeing someone, on the side."

"I'm glad," Kushina said with a smile that he groaned at.

"Yes… aunty," he said with red cheeks before gesturing to the car. "Come on, we've gotta go. Grandfather has been expecting you for a while, Campana."

"Hmm, very well," Kushina smiled at him and he found the power within him to do the same back.

"I have missed you, aunty," he admitted as he crossed his arms. "We need the strongest family for this, the Medicis have been making too many moves."

Minato stepped forward with a frown. "Them?"

"Yes, uncle-in-law," Venna Rosso admitted with a frown as he and Minato clasped hands. "As it turns out, they've made a demand that we have to deal with. They're threatening the neutral zone of Venice… And they have the power to make that threat."

Naruto frowned along with Obito and Kakashi at that.

"The Uzu Familia is needed to deal with a big problem, once again."

Naruto sighed at his cousin's own look of pity.

"I know, Vortice, I know."

Yes, this was the 'other' side of his family. They were a part of the mafia in Italy composed of all the former members of the Uzumaki from the Elemental Nation, a grand reincarnation, it was said.

His great grandfather was the one who started all this and Naruto 'Vortice' Uzumaki was considered one of the five main families in it. They had the pure blood of his ancestor in them.

They'd kept their old names for when they were in Japan but had new ones for their birth home of Italy. Over the years, they'd taken the underground world by storm and basically tore it apart.

They'd tried to spread their influence for several reasons. One of which was finding other ninja like them but also to change this world at the behest of the Princess, the 'Bell', of the Rosso Familia.

Kushina 'Campana Rosso' Uzumaki.

Seeing as she'd take over the position in five years' time, she had lots of power amongst the underground. It was with the first 'sweep' that she'd found Minato, a quick romance later leading him to join the family.

Then they found Obito, Kakashi, and Rin, the old Team 7. Including them had involved some maneuvering to get them in but they'd worked it as them being the personal task force of Kushina's branch 'Uzumaki'.

"How have they decided to make problems this time?" Kakashi asked as Obito leaned against the limousine, eyes narrowed as he looked at the lone individuals in the distance around them. "Another kidnapping? Another bombing? Are Lorenzo's feet wetter than usual and he was angry about it?"

"Hm," Venna chuckled. "No, he decided that he wanted outright war with us and we're expecting his usual bullshit of sending Dahlia."

"Ah, time for that."

"It'd be preferred."

They got in after that and Naruto leaned back in his seat between his parents, their hands finding their shoulders.

"It's fine, you know. Once again, you don't kill anyone," Kushina said with a strained smile.

"You're a good boy, my son," Minato said. "If you don't want to, don't. While not in the 'Pure Ones' yet you've basically guaranteed that with him."

Ah, yeah, Pure Ones. Those who were considered the firstborn of the leaders before them who'd be kept from killing anyone. They were allowed to fight, mind you, but no killing was the rule for kids like him while others could choose.

It was a rule he'd take to his death.

This was his life and he'd do his best to keep those around him safe.

~NRK~

Two years passed by pretty quickly and, all things considered, not much changed.

Now fifteen, Naruto felt like he was in the same position he was in like he'd been when he'd returned to Konoha with Jiraiya from their training trip.

'I wonder how Ero-Sennin is doing?' The pervy man had long since found his hold in this world and became a well-known author for his perverted series. 'I'm still mad about the fact that people on this planet are such big perverts!'

How!? How had this happened twice?!

He grunted as he walked down the sidewalk with Ann, Ryuji, and Shiho, this would be their first day of high school at Shujin Academy, after all.

Ryuji wore the male uniform of maroon plaid slacks with black suspenders, a long-sleeved white top with the school's pin on the collar, and a black blazer with four red buttons coming up from the belly. Ryuji groaned as he tapped his brown dress shoes against the floor before letting out a huff.

"Who the hell decided these uniforms needed to be so damn tight?" He uttered to the group who laughed nervously.

Meanwhile, Shiho and Ann wore the girl uniforms. Said uniforms consisted of maroon plaid skirts with black suspenders and a similar top to Ryuji's. The two decided to wear stockings with it, black for Shiho and brown for Ann, which led down into their small black dress shoes with the both of them wearing the school's black blazer like Ryuji but with it closed, unlike Ryuji's open-front status.

"It is a bit… tight," Ann said as she tugged on the collar a bit. "But it is cute!" She said with a grin as Shiho chuckled, tugging on her skirt a bit.

"They could make the skirt a bit longer, though."

Naruto chuckled in his middle school's Gakuen uniform. "Maybe you can ask them about it? I hear that Shujin's dress code is pretty lax. I don't think they'd see a longer skirt as being against the rules."

"I'll look into it-Oh, we're here?" Shiho blinked before looking behind them. "D-Didn't we just go through an alleyway?"

"Uh, yeah," Ryuji rubbed the back of his head. "I looked it up in G Maps and it said the shortest walk is this way… Since when did it even take you through places like this?" He wondered along with her, confusion all over his face. "Why?"

"Ummm, maybe this place really needs special direc-" Ann began to say only for the four to see students coming from the left and right of them. "... Why?"

"I don't even know," the male brunette said before shaking his head. "I guess that's cool. So… This is Shujin, huh?" Ryuji said as he looked up at the school. "Man, this place is pretty big."

"This is the place where the legendary Kamoshida works," Shiho said with a grin, getting chuckles from the others. "The Olympic-level athlete who teaches volleyball! Think about it, this place has to be big to accommodate."

"Hmph, sadly, there's nothing here for the track team," Ryuji said before grinning widely with shining eyes. "Dude, I'm totally gonna become the top reason a track team gets noticed!"

"I'm getting so hyped!"

Over the years, Shiho had grown to love volleyball to almost 'Ryuji loves track' levels of enthusiasm. No, cut the 'almost'.

She considered volleyball her life and none of them could say otherwise.

"Hmph?" Ann blinked as they walked up a bit more and saw a man at the front of the building, greeting students. "Who's that?"

"T-That's him!" Shiho whispered and squealed at the same time, getting snickers from Ryuji and Naruto. "T-That's Kamoshida Suguru!"

Naruto hummed as he looked at the guy… before frowning as Kamoshida's eyes went about all the students.

That gaze was so… smug… no, there was something… worse about it.

Like Jiraiya's gaze when he saw a beautiful woman but times ten and with wave more negative energy behind it.

"... Hey, Shi-chan," Shiho turned to look at the male blonde. "You know all kinds of info about this guy, right?"

"Y-Yeah!" She grinned before taking out her phone and showing him a downloaded file she'd gotten off the internet. "See!"

Naruto read the article she'd shown him with a frown as he looked at the 'Background' section of the file.

'Something about him is off,' he thought, thanking his friend with a fake smile. '... I don't like him,' Naruto realized with a frown as the group walked up to the staircase.

"Hmm?" The guy hummed as he looked at them and Naruto got a real good look at him.

He was tall, broad-chested, and physically built. His skin was fair and his eyes black while his hair was dark brown and curly.

Dressed in white sneakers, blue tracksuit pants, and a white t-shirt that fit well across his frame, he smiled at the group before his eyes locked onto the female half of the four.

Naruto's eyes narrowed and the man's eyes snapped to him before the blonde smiled unassumingly, confusing the famous volleyball player.

"And you four look new," the man said with a grin quickly returning to his face as Shiho's eyes shined. "Kamoshida Suguru, I'm the coach for the volleyball teams."

"I knew it!" Shiho said excitedly with a grin. "So the rumors were true?!"

Naruto noticed how the man's eyes darkened for an imperceptible second before returning to their happy selves.

Ominous.

"Which ones?"

"That you're super famous!" Shiho said with a grin and Kamoshida's tense shoulders relaxed, an action that got a further frown from the male blonde. "I know I'm gonna have much to learn from you!"

"Of course, you will!" The man said before looking at Ryuji and Naruto. "And you two?"

"Heh, the name's Ryuji Sakamoto! I'm gonna be the rising star of the track team!" Ryuji introduced with a thumbs-up and grin, surprising the volleyball coach a bit before he wore a strained grin.

"That so?" Kamoshida said with a fake grin. "Well, I hope you don't mind it. The track team isn't exactly our best around."

"Hehe~ I'm planning on making it to the Olympics just like you," the boy said. "Once I do, I can make track here all kinds of awesome!"

"I'm sure you will," the man said before his gaze went to Naruto. "And you are?"

"... Name's Naruto," the blonde said with a smile that was faker than the man's before him but it seemed that game didn't recognize game because the bastard accepted it. "I'm just scoping out the place for when I get here next year."

"An upcoming student? Why I can't say I'm not looking forward to your tenure here."

'Bullshit,' the blonde knew he was lying but knew when to not make a scene. "Glad to know that the famous Kamoshida is."

The man's chest puffed out more and the blonde barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes at the blowhard.

'I seriously don't like him,' he thought as the four walked past, the blonde's eyes narrowing when they were a bit into the school. '...'

Suguru felt excited by these new ones. 'Hm, hm, hmmm! I like that blondie, she's cute and has a set of legs that'll make any man shiver,' he thought with a grin as he turned to watch those girls' rears go. 'Thank you short skirts, that brunette doesn't have a bad-'

Red eyes peered back at him, the world seemed to darken, and the coach felt his throat constrict, his eyes widen, and his hands clench. Suspicious red eyes trailed in the dark before disappearing, the world returning to normal even as he saw the students nearby shiver a bit.

"Man, it is COLD," a male student said as she shivered and rubbed his arms. "I love the AC but damn!"

Kamoshida's eyes looked about and he noticed that group of four not being around.

'What the hell was that?'

~NRK~

"Meeting, now," Naruto said as they were in the courtyard, the Freshman orientation soon to begin. "I don't trust that Kamoshida guy."

His friends blinked at him, confused.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ryuji asked as Ann tilted her head and Shiho frowned. "Dude, you're not making sense."

"Something about him is off," Naruto said as he crossed his arms in thought. "You guys know how I can notice the little things, his eyes were leering at every female student. Never mind that, for a second, when Shiho said the words 'rumors', he did not look happy. I think something is up."

"U-Um, aren't you thinking too much about this?" Ann asked nervously. "Surely you don't think he's some kind of perv… do you?"

"We know someone with eyes like his. My Godfather's a total perv, we're talking, every beautiful woman he sees, he'll make sure to memorize her."

"... W-What if you're wrong about him, Naruto?" Shiho said with a frown as Naruto balked at her. "As you said, your Godfather's like this as well but he turned out to be a good person. Why can't Kamoshida-sensei be like that?"

"Shiho, my godfather doesn't look at kids like that."

"Aren't you assuming too much, Naruto?" Shiho asked with a frown as he frowned. "... Look, I'm not saying you're wrong but that doesn't mean you're always right. Come on, he's a famous athlete, he probably meets all kinds of women on the daily that'd be attractive than some high school girl."

"S-Shi-chan, look, I get that but have I ever been wrong?"

"..." She frowned. "..."

"... Haa, fine, fine, maybe I'm wrong," he'd hope he was. "Alright, Shi-"

A quick embrace shut him up before he returned it with a nervous chuckle.

"Thanks, Naruto-kun."

"Just, promise me, if something happens, you tell me," he said with a determined frown as he looked at Ann and Ryuji. "All of you. If something happens, let me know."

"... Dude, we will, promise," Ryuji said with a nod as Ann wore a conflicted expression but nodded while Shiho released their embrace and nodded which gave Naruto peace of mind. "I'd trust you over some random coach, anyway."

"Thanks."

~NRK~

"Obito," Naruto called to the front seat of the car where said man was. "Information. Do you know about some guy called Kamoshida Suguru?"

"?!" Obito blinked twice as they parked in the garage. "... Ah, yes, Suguru from Shujin, yes?" Naruto nodded. "... We were on the same volleyball team in college. It was close to two years before Minato-sensei and Kushina-nee found me and Kakashi. We'd gone far and, right before we went international, I quit because they wanted me."

"... Obito, I-"

"Naruto," Obito raised a hand with a shake of the head. "It's fine, I enjoyed volleyball but I never considered it one of my life's greatest pleasures. I was happier being able to somehow reconnect and make amends with your parents, I lost so much weight of the world that day."

"... I'm glad we have you around, you know," Naruto said seriously. "I'm glad you get to be on our side."

"Same. Now," he got up, walked around, and opened the blonde's door. "Let's talk."

It took the blonde several moments to realize what had happened.

"Son of a bitch!"

---

Sitting in some casual shorts and yukatas, blue and orange for Obito and Naruto, respectively, they sat in the former's room by his computer.

"Kamoshida," he typed in the name in the dark web's search engine before adding a few script commands next to it. "There are information engines on this part of the internet made for those of us tech-savvy in the underground."

The screen was ink black as the search engine went to work before they pulled up files upon files about a certain Olympic medalist.

"Let's see," Naruto said as he leaned on Obito's chair as the older man looked through the files. "Anything odd? Pervy?"

"Hmmm, no, nothing of that sort," Obito said with a raised brow. "He's connected to a man by the name of Shido Masayoshi, though. An upcoming runner for the leader of the National Diet."

"Sketchy but not exactly a worst-case scenario. Anyone could be connected, after all."

"Hm," Obito nodded. "... Hmm? He's connected to Kobayakawa and… well, that's it, for now. No worse behavior in his history."

"Can you make sure to do a check every now and then?" Naruto asked and Obito nodded. "Thanks. I don't like him, Obito. Something's off."

"Understood."

~NRK~

One month later was the beginning of his Bullshit Meter when, one day, as he'd gone to see the trio, Naruto found Ryuji alone outside the school with a frown on his face.

"... Where are Ann-chan and Shi-chan?" Naruto asked his friend with a feeling of alarm in his gut.

"Oh, they went to the girl's bathroom to clean up," Ryuji said with a face that confused the blonde.

He felt shame come across from the older boy as well as guilt.

"... Ryuji… what happened?"

"Dude, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ryuji," the older boy grimaced as the doors to the school opened. "What-"

"Oh, h-hey, you guys…" Came a nervous Ann's words, and her wave, gaining the two's attention as Shiho walked down the steps next to her. "How's it going, Naru?"

"..." Something was off about this whole picture and the blonde was getting annoyed by that fact.

Ever since learning of the school's more lax dress code, the three had changed the tops of their outfits quick enough.

Ryuji wore a normal white shirt under his blazer, the boy stating that it felt less constricting this way.

Ann, meanwhile, had stolen one of Ryuji's hoodie vests at one point and had taken to wearing it beneath her now-usually-open blazer.

Shiho, lastly, had taken to wearing short-sleeved white shirts without their blazer…?

The girl smiled at him with as much vigor behind it as she could. 'I can't… we can't make him see them,' and that thought alone nearly tore her apart and caused immeasurable guilt.

Ever since learning under the Kamoshida Suguru, Shiho had been prepared for some physical exhaustion… but not bruises.

Her arms and stomach were killing her right now and she knew that, should Naruto see them, he'd shut down any excuses and charge right into the school and cause a ruckus.

'He shouldn't have to worry about this,' she thought even as she'd sworn Ann and Ryuji to secrecy about it.

Oh, how she hated herself when she saw Ann's disbelief and Ryuji's anger. Shiho knew they were worried, she knew they cared.

Ann was her first friend and vice-versa, they were each other's best friends and Shiho could feel how much distress Ann was in.

And Ryuji… Oh, the idea that she'd just abused his trust for this… This boy who might have already had trust issues… The idea made her sick.

But if Naruto found out, there'd be no end to his continued attempt to right what was 'wrong'. Even if she'd felt this was doable, he always found a way to butt into sketchy situations and make himself known.

But she wanted this. This was her way towards her future.

If it was only a little pain, she'd endure it! Shiho couldn't allow him to just worry so much! She was the older one, after all!

"Hi, Naru-kun," she said with a smile that confused the blonde.

No guilt, no worries, no regrets? 'What the hell? Then what the hell are these all broken-up about?'

Well, at the moment, Ryuji and Ann looked as confused as he did. What the hell was going on?

"... Sup, Shi-chan," Naruto said with a raised brow. "Everything alright? Nothing crazy happening at this school yet?"

"Hmm, no, nothing yet," Shiho said with a determined smile. "I know how you feel about Kamoshida but, at the very least, you don't think the school is a bad place, do you?"

"What? No, I've met like half your teachers and they feel like cool people."

That was… rather relieving, actually. Naruto may not always be right but he knew how to feel for good people.

"Then, nope, things have been fine for the past month."

"... alright, alright, I'll chill for now," he said as his arms came around to the back of his head with a frown and a sigh. "Though I guess this is a good situation to leave on."

"?" Ann blinked. "What do you mean, Naru?"

"... In about a month or two… I'm gonna be dealing with some stuff in Italy," Naruto said with a wince. "The way I hear it is that crazy things in the family have happened and there's someone who's trying to snipe us all down," Shiho choked.

"What?!" W-What was she hearing?! "N-Naruto! What do you mean?!"

Naruto winced at the surrounding eyes turning to them before beckoning the group elsewhere.

"Let's talk somewhere else."

~NRK~

The walk to a karaoke bar had been… anxiety-building.

What did Naruto mean with them being 'sniped down'? Sure, they knew that Italy had gangsters b-but why was he in any way involved?!

When they were able to secure a room, Shiho found the blonde sitting on the small stage while he gestured to the large couch in front of it.

"... Look, I never told you all my whole deal, alright?" Naruto said with a sigh as Ryuji swallowed.

"Dude, what's going on? What did you me-"

"My mom's side of the family is being assassinated, Ryuji."

The three paled as Naruto said this with a straight face, Shiho feeling something build at the back of her throat.

"... My mom's a part of the mafia there, okay?" Naruto continued, getting chokes from all of them. "We're talking the Princess of the Uzu-Rosso Familia and I'm her first-born son. It's a whole situation down there that's become too dangerous for us to ignore."

"N-Naruto?!" Ann shrieked. "I-If that's true then you might-"

"I might, Ann-nee-chan, that's all," Naruto said with a shake of the head and a small smile. "Do you all remember when I said bullets weren't a problem? I was serious because almost everyone in my family, and family friends, could literally dodge a bullet. It's not the issue," they looked… baffled. "... Tell me, what do you know about assassins?"

"..."

"..."

"... They're, like, snipers and dudes in costumes… right?" Ryuji asked with wide eyes and a white face. "N-Naruto, dude, please! Don't try and fight them!"

"It's not just me, Ryuji," Naruto said with a small smile. "It's my family, Obito, Kakashi, Rin, my Godfather, they're also in on this. We're the Task Force of the Uzumaki branch, can't very well let our blood lose their lives and do nothing about it."

"!" Ryuji grit his teeth before grimacing.

"... Even Uchiha-san?" Ann asked before her eyes widened. "W-What about-"

"People that we're involved with?" Naruto asked and the girl gave a shaky nod. "Nothing," he said, confusing the three. "Look, unlike the movies, most mafioso wouldn't exactly do that to those not involved. There's a reason why movies play it up because it makes people think we're worse than we actually are. Making it so that people don't try and interact with people like us. Only some of the worst scum would do what's seen in movies, especially not with how my family runs things."

"..." Shiho gripped her hands together and bit her lip. '... Why is all this happening?'

Naruto might not come back from this, that was the fact of the situation.

"And, I didn't give you the realness of what an assassin, in current times, is like," Naruto said with a frown as he got up. "They're people who've gone beyond in a field of killing that can push beyond normal limits. Stealth, hidden combat, sniping, sleight-of-hand, knife play, close-combat." he listed off. "An assassin isn't just some dude from far away, he's someone who can meet you in the damn street and leave before you realize he'd done his job," he said before shredding his Gakuen uniform.

What the group saw was horrifying as, on Naruto's chest down to his stomach, was a scar that got chokes from them all.

"I was walking in Italy, at night, and was attacked by some kidnappers, last month. They had hired assassins to handle tougher customers like me and I fought for my life," Naruto said with a shrug before replacing his clothes. "Trust me, assassins come in all shapes and it's dangerous. Don't get yourselves involved, alright? I, my family, we can handle this."

Shiho felt that hole she'd dug herself growing as she didn't say anything.

"... F-Fine… No, I'm not fine with this," Ann said with a nervous swallow as Naruto's eyes softened. "But you're going to be fine, right? You're tough… you promise, right?"

"Of course," Naruto said with a determined stare before he fist-pumped. "I promise I won't die on you guys. Dattebayo."

"... He said the thing," Ryuji said with a body-wide sigh, slumping back in his seat in some form of relief. "Alright, I want you to be back for the days I get scouted, though. No take-backs."

"Hehehe~ Got it."

"A-And you have to see my first modeling career!" Ann said with a shaky smile.

"I wouldn't want to miss it for the world."

"..." Shiho grasped her hands together, tightly, before looking up with a nervous gaze at Naruto who tilted his head at her. "... You will come back… right?"

"... Yeah, no games, no jokes, no nothing, I'm going to come back."

"... Alright… alright," she said softly, confusing the blonde.

"... Come on," he grinned at the three as he gestured to the karaoke box on the stage. "We've got this room for an hour, after all."

Ryuji and Ann blinked before chuckling.

Shiho barely smiled.

~NRK~

Two months later, they saw Naruto off at… a hotel room?

Wearing a pair of black shorts, a yellow tank top, and a pair of white tennis shoes, Ryuji blinked as they were shown to Naruto's room by a red-haired woman who looked super strict.

He'd know, she'd been… monitoring him for the whole elevator ride.

"Stand up straight," he froze as he did as he was told. "No lowering your head," Ryuji's eyes snapped open as his head went up. "Arms out of your pockets!"

He felt like he was being taught high-class etiquette… actually, now that he thought about it.

Ann giggled a bit, wearing a white shirt, a blue hoodie wrapped around her waist, and a pair of red leggings, her sneakers squeaked against the floor, reminding her of how upscale this place actually was.

Obito had picked them up from their homes and brought them to this hotel. She'd expected him to actually bring them in but had the reigns taken from him by the redhead before them in her black tuxedo with a red swirl on the skirt.

Shiho wore a pair of blue denim shorts, a black shirt, a black tube band around her left leg, and an open white hoodie, she grimaced as she tapped her white sneakers against the floor, heard its squeak, and grimaced.

'Two months just seemed to fly by,' and one might think she'd think the same about the coming months but… Shiho grimaced as she gripped her lower left side, out of sight from everyone.

Naruto was a bright moment in her days and, over time… Her cheeks reddened a bit as she shook her head.

'No, stop, stop, stop, stop!' She couldn't be having such thoughts!

This wasn't a black and white movie with an airplane!

She grumbled as the elevator came to a stop, the suited-up woman hummed as she threw Ryuji a look that he swallowed at while Ann was just giggling like a madwoman.

"... Hmph," she adjusted her black sunglasses before walking out with a beckoning hand. "Come, they should be finishing getting ready as we speak."

The three teens swallowed as they walked out the elevator into a hall that smelled like grass and lemons.

"D-Dude," Ryuji balked in a whisper. "Every hotel I've ever been in has never smelled this good!"

"I-I know what you mean," Ann said with her eyes catching sight of an odd group of vases. "... D-Do those have gems in them?!"

Shiho sweatdropped at the two. 'You'd think they'd just get together already.'

It was a sort of running joke between her and Naruto. Ann and Ryuji seemed to share a brain cell at the most amazing of times and it never seemed to leave them not laughing.

Shiho let out a whimsical smile as they got to a room with the number '900' on it. She almost snorted.

Naruto must have been having a ball with his favorite number being at the front.

The woman knocked on the door eight times, four sets of double-knocks before they were let in.

When the trio of teens came in, Ryuji and Ann's mouths dropped while Shiho swallowed in disbelief.

"For real?!"

"Yeah, FOR REAL!?"

What was laid before them was extravagance. Numerous colorful rugs, a pair of large couches in the corners of the rooms, and a large TV on the wall across from both of them.

There was a hall that led to a door that opened to reveal their soon-to-be-leaving friend and when they saw him, they blinked.

Dressed in a pair of black slacks with suspenders, black socks, an orange dress shirt that was buttoned to the top, a black band around his left bicep, and, most shocking, was his hair.

The normally untamed spiky tresses were seemingly gelled down to make the top of his head flatter while allowing his, rather long now that they looked at it, hair to spike at the back and sides of his head.

"Oh, hey, guys," he said with a grin as Shiho's heart skipped a beat.

"N-Naru you look so handsome!" Ann cheered as Ryuji's head rapidly nodded. "It's so cute!"

Shiho's face resembled a tomato as Naruto chuckled, walking over with his arms out.

"Sup!" He said as he and Ryuji fist-bumped before Ann was squealing over him.

"You should do this more!" The American said with stars in her eyes as Naruto nervously chuckled. "Mmmmm! Imagine how nice you'd look with a tie!"

"No!"

"Come on… Naruuu! Think about it!"

"I did," Naruto balked at her before looking at the grinning Ryuji. "Aren't you amused?"

"Dude, it's hilarious!"

"God," Naruto turned to Shiho with a face of pleading. "Please tell me you're on my side."

"... O-Oh, well," Shiho broke out of her stupor to blush and then cough into her fist. "Ahem! What I mean is, you look fine, Naruto-kun… W-Wait, I mean, you're fine just the way you are!"

The currently not-spiky-haired blonde blinked as Ann giggled while Ryuji looked confused.

"... W-Wait, this is that thing?!" He whispered to her in disbelief as she nodded in amusement. "For real?!"

"Ryuji?!"

"Huh?" Naruto turned away from the now relieved Shiho as Ann slapped her hand over the loud boy's mouth. "You say something, bro?"

Mouth released, Ryuji laughed nervously as the redhead woman, behind them, rolled her eyes.

"He's simply shocked by the amount of space this area has, Vortice-sama," she said to Naruto who blinked, rubbed his neck a bit, and chuckled a little.

"Oh, thanks, Mela-oba-san. Dude, trust me, this place is crazy!" Naruto said politely as the woman shook her head before turning to his friends. "If you go to the right at my door, there's a whole pool table and, after that, there's a POOL."

The three gawked as another door in the room opened for Obito to step out of it in his three-piece suit and fedora.

"Hmm?" He raised a brow at them as he adjusted his tie. "Oh, Mela-san, apologies, I needed to handle something so it fell on you."

"Hmph," the woman shook her head with a grunt. "You're one of these closest to our… to Kushina."

"They know," Naruto said, shocking the woman as Obito raised a brow. "I told them the basics of our situation, didn't want them being too worried about me disappearing."

"N-Naruto!? We are mafioso, why would you…" the redhead grimaced as she looked at the three teens who wilted under her gaze. "..." Mela turned from them. "Why didn't you let me know?"

"Being fair, we didn't know you were coming," Obito said with a concerned frown as Mela's head looked down. "... Naruto, how much do they know?"

"Well, they know about mom being the 'Bell' but that's it. I told them how assassins actually work alongside how mafia handle… 'punishment'," Naruto said with a flat face as Obito nodded and Mela kissed her teeth a bit.

"Very well. You all probably don't know but Naruto, Kushina, and Mela are considered special even amongst the familia. They're people called 'Pure Ones'," Obito said as the female Rosso blushed with her hand over her face, turning away from the others as Naruto chuckled.

"What's that mean?" Ryuji asked as Shiho frowned.

"... Does it have to do with Naruto's blood?" Shiho asked and Obito nodded. "He told us he was the direct descendant of Kushina-san… So she's also a 'Pure One'?"

"... Yes," Mela said with a sour expression as Obito chuckled. "Campana… Kushina's Italian name," she explained for the confused three who nodded in understanding. "Campana and Vortice, Naruto are Pure Ones, people under fate to never have blood on their hands."

"... Huh?" Ann blinked before letting out a long sigh of relief. "S-So you mean he doesn't-"

"Have to kill people, yes," Obito answered as Naruto rubbed the back of his head and the other flinched before relaxing.

"... I-I know that you're from a mafia family but I'm seriously glad you're in this position," Shiho said honestly to the male blonde who grinned.

"I'm the same. I don't think I'd try to do otherwise, regardless, but I'm glad I'm basically told 'NO'. Hehe~"

Another door in the hallway opened to let Kushina and Minato through, the two dressed similarly to what they wore two years ago. The only change was that the coats they wore over their shoulders being black, now.

"H-Hey, Mr. Uzumaki!" Ann said with a blush at the finely dressed man, Ryuji's eyebrow ticking for a reason that eluded him.

"Oh, hello, Ann-kun," Minato said as Kushina snickered behind her hand. "I'm guessing Naruto informed you all, at some point."

"Two months ago," Ryuji said with his back straight. "... Sir."

"At ease, Ryuji-kun, there's no problem here," Obito said as he nodded to the other brunette male. "It's not as surprising as you all think. Naruto does his best to take care of his precious people."

Three blushed a bit, with Shiho doing it the most, as Naruto chuckled with some red on his own cheeks.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of! Dattebane~" Kushina said with a grin as Obito snorted off to the side and Minato smiled even as his expression twitched numerous times. "... Are you two laughing at me?!" She turned around to find two neutral, if not smiling, faces. "... Minato, I'm onto you."

"W-Wait, why just me?"

"So Obito was in on it?!"

"Way to go," Obito rolled his eyes off to the side to ignore Kushina's poutiness. "Real Team 7 energy up in here."

"... Apologies."

"Y-You two!"

Naruto chuckled as Kushina tore into the two men who nervously laughed at her grumbling face.

"As always, your mom's adorable," Ann said with a grin as Ryuji blushed a bit and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Hmph… She's kind of cute," the male brunette said with a grumble. "... ou're cuter, though."

"Hmph?"

"N-Nothing, I agree with ya."

Naruto's eyebrow ticked at how… obvious they were but felt retroactive embarrassment as he remembered Hinata. The blonde cringed so hard he felt the phantom pain from his past lives.

And he did mean lives, he knew Asura, and Hashiramafist-bumped were rolling in their graves because of this!

"Hmph," Mela pulled out a gold pocket watch, checked it, and grunted. "Campana, Minato, Obito, Vortice, we have to go. Kakashi and Rin should be at the airport soon."

The four owners of the room nodded, Naruto turning to his gaggle of friends with a sad smile.

"Follow us up?"

---

Ann's mouth fell as the group saw a helicopter on one of five helipads atop the high-standing hotel.

"T-This is crazy!" She shouted and balked at a slight echo she heard. "?!"

"Yeah, it's kind of a lot, ahem!" Naruto said with a cough into his fist. "A-Anyway, that's our copter."

It was big, long, and probably amazingly comfortable. Oh and it was red, couldn't forget that.

Mela nodded, moving towards the flying vehicle with a set of keys coming out of her pocket. "We'll take off in five minutes, sirs, ma'am."

"Gotcha, Mela," Kushina said with a soft smile as she turned to Ryuji, Ann, and Shiho. "We've already got someone coming to pick you all up and take you to your homes. I know this is going to be a… long trip."

"... A-About half a year… right?" Shiho asked with a grimace, stutter, and clenched hands. "... And Naruto can't contact us?"

"It's for the best," Minato said with a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair, Obito crossing his arms and Naruto frowning as he did. "The fact remains that it's dangerous. None of us know what or who's listening in either verbally or technologically. It's too much risk."

Ryuji sighed before Obito came forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I've informed Sadayo of my trip, she knows where you two live and is probably going to come over more often."

"... Oh, right, Kawakami-sensei for the second-years?"

"Yup. She's a good woman, she has a rather worrying issue that I've helped her deal with and she's someone who wants to help her students. Even if they're not in her year," Obito said with a pair of pats that Ryuji sighed at before nodding. "At most, it'll be a year, Ryuji-kun, I promise."

"... Alright, I get it, da-?!" The boy made to say something… rather personal before clamming up, his friend group blinking in disbelief. "I-Ignore that! That was just something… J-Just some stupid shit, ya know-"

"It's fine," he ruffled Ryuji's hair with a grin and a nod before turning away and walking off. "We'll meet again, Ryu, I promise."

Ryuji's eyes widened as his cheeks reddened, Ann and Shiho giggling at his embarrassment as Naruto's family grinned.

"He's aware of how close you all are," Minato said with a chuckle. "Trust me, he enjoys it as much as you two do."

Ryuji looked both embarrassed and hopeful at that.

"We'll leave you to say your 'laters', Naruto," Kushina said with her hands on his shoulders and a smile as she and Minato walked after Obito.

"... So this is it," Naruto said as he sighed before grinning sadly at them. "I keep my promises, you guys, I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back."

"We know, dude," Ryuji said as they fistbumped before hugging, patting one another's backs, and letting go. "Seriously, it's kind of… weird to think I know someone in the literal mafia," he said with a sweatdrop as Naruto chuckled nervously.

"I get that."

"Naarrrruuuu!" Naruto balked as he barely caught Ann's running hug, the younger blonde grunting as he leaned back up, the shorter blonde hugging the life out of him. "You have to remember to come back soon! Who knows what'll happen in a year?!"

"U-Um, Ann-nee-chan, that's kind of-"

"Think about all of Ryuji's newest dumb fads you'll miss!"

"H-Hey! I don't have any dumb fads!"

"Hush! And then poor, poor, Shiho!" Shiho went bright red as she stuttered out a response. "Why! She'll be a volleyball star before you know it!"

"A-Ann-chan! That's embarrassing!"

"Look at her! So lonely in fame!" Steam came out of the raven-haired girl's ears. "Why, you two might be the top 'percenters' of our group! Gotta keep one another motivated!"

"Okay, that's enough," Ryuji said as he wrapped his arms around Ann's midsection and plucked her off their younger friend. "Control, Ann! Self-Control!"

"I-I'm using enough, thank you!"

"No, you are not!"

Shiho and Naruto sweatdropped at the two's bickering once Ryuji let Ann down, the boy and girl shooting explanations back and forth, in their own little world.

"They're like an old married couple," the two said in unison, shooting one another side-eyes before laughing.

Naruto grinned as he and Shiho hugged, the girl burying her head into his shoulder.

"We're going to miss you," she said, muffled. "I… I-I'm going to miss you a lot, Naruto-kun."

He smiled softly as he held her close. "I know, I know. It's going to be… well, not the worst, I'd seriously be dunking on my family if I said that," Naruto said with a sweatdrop as Shiho giggled. "But it's going to be hard not having my crew around me for a while. No more of Ann's bad acting to get us into movie theatres."

"No more of Ryuji 'knowing a guy' and having us, somehow, end up in a kids store."

"No more of Shiho," she giggled. "Somehow getting me caught, on camera, and having the coaches at school hounding me to join a club. Thanks, by the way."

She laughed as he chuckled, nuzzling some more before separating.

"We'll manage somehow," she said with a grin. "Though, you not being here for your first year seems kind of… not good, doesn't it?"

Naruto wore a smile that said everything was okay-

"Not in the least."

"Snnnrt!"

God, she really liked this blonde.

And so Naruto Uzumaki left Tokyo for a time, a time in which everything had been going fine, for a while, before inevitably falling downhill.

All because of one person.

Suguru Kamoshida.

~NRK~

That's a wrap on this one. Gonna follow it up with 'NaruPrinny: Revive the Boos, Dood!' and then go all-in on 'Unlimited Courage' for a good bit.

So, yeah, this is basically going to end with Kamoshida's arrest and one event after, that's it.

See y'all in the next one.

Ciao.

Words: 15k

~NRK Out~