I'm only Human

by NeonZangetsu

Humanity; Weak. Strong. Loving. Loathing. Kind. Cruel. Loyal. Disloyal. They can be all these things and more and yet, in the face of great adversity, when faced with insurmountable odds, they have managed to overcome and triumph time and time again. But even with a newfound ally on their side, do they stand any chance against the titans? After all...he's only human. NarutoxHarem!

4. Burdens of Succession

A/N: Argh! I blame Rikudo-75 for this! Here I was, content to update all my old stories, then HE has to go and suggest a new idea! I was happy! I was content! And then I was introduced to what I know regard as possibly one of THE best animes of all time. Shingeki no Kyojin. Otherwise known as Attack on Titan. A powerful script, beautiful music and damn good acting. I've already become acquainted with all of the anime, and am up to the most recent chapter of the manga. Naturally, I'm enjoying it, and I hope you are as well!

In that regard, I'm fairly certain no one has dared to try this before. And with that, I proudly present to you the long-waited and continuousl awesome continuation of...

...I'm only Human! Its a nice looong chapter, just like last time! A lot happens in this one, as we take a better look at the emotinal troubles Naruto's forced to bear as a shinobi. That's not to say its not going to be any less steamy, juicy, humoroursly delightful than of the others! Expect some pleasant surprises! On a lesser note-I would strongly reccommend that you listen to the Shingeki no Kyojin soundtrack(s) while reading this story. It really does help to set the mood =D

Once again, I own NOTHING!

"Cowards like you don't deserve the authority of command...

~Naruto (upon addressing Kitts Verman.)

Burdens of Succession

"SENSEI!"

"Bwah?!" Naruto cried out in surprise as he found himself swarmed by his students; nearly bowled over, when Mina and the others rushed him. He hadn't been expecting this! Were he in his titan form he wouldn't have budged so much as an inch. But now that he was human again it was another matter. He found himself knocked to the ground, wincing as a fresh lance of agony coursed down his spine when his back struck the stones and scraped across his skin. It hurt!

But it was a good pain; the kind one felt after surviving a long, arduous mission and returning to the welcoming arms of a loved one.

"Or loved ones, in this case. Plural! As in more than one! Oh, happy day-

'I know what it means, baka kitsune!'

"Well excuuuuuse me for celebrating! I'm just happy that finally have so many potential successors!"

'Can't argue with you there...

And thus, for the first time in centuries, Uzumaki Naruto found himself in the awkward position of having two girls fussing over him. Before he knew it Sasha had him by one arm and Mina the other. Christa herself was practically in tears upon seeing him alive and well; it took Ymir a good five minutes to calm her friend down and reassure her that the 'blond bastard' would'be be going anywhere anytime soon. For a bunch of kids who hadn't expected him to come back, Naruto mused, they'd reacted most prudently. Dissapearing for an hour must've had them worried sick, but it had been neccessary.

"I'm back." He supplied with a small smile.

Now nearly an hour later, here he was. He'd barely had time to make the excuse of searching for survivors before Mina and Sasha had tackled him! He could see Jean standing off to one side, carefully avoiding his gaze whenever he looked, trying-and failing- to hide himself behind a nearby table. Naruto was just about to ask what was bothering him when the girls began tugging on his arms again.

"Are you hurt anywhere, sensei?!" Sasha asked, her brown orbs flicking over his battered body. "Are you hungry? Do you need any food?" Absently, he noted the halfeaten loaf of bread in her hand. Oh the irony. Sasha was asking him if was hungry when she herself had food? Definitely his student! Not like she'd share though.

"I have bandages!" Mina added.

Naruto turned his head to regard the blackette; this girl who by all rights, should've been dead by now. A cross-schaped scar on her temple where a Titan's tooth had grazed her was the only indication that she'd nearly been devoured hours before. She had claimed her first kill minutes later. In her hands she clutched a roll of gauze, obviously not meant for her, but for him. Pity she didn't know about his regeneration.

"Sensei needs food first!" the brunette insisted, pushing past her. "Did you see how hard he was fighting down there?! He's probably starving!"

"What? Sasha, don't be silly!" Mina laughed. "You can feed them after I tend his wounds."

"He doesn't have any!"

"And how do you know that?"

"How would you know if he didn't?!"

Sparks shot between their eyes; Naruto knew that look all too well.

"Food!"

"Bandages!"

"FOOD!

"BANDAGES!"

"Okay, okay!" His grunts dissolved into laughter when they wouldn't let go of his arms. "Mina! Sasha! I'm fine! Really, I am!" Physically, at least. As far as his attire was concerned...not so much. He'd lost his cloak and half of his shirt in his maddened scramble to get up the wall, and no amount of regeneration could return those. Come to think of it wasn't this kind of awkward...? What with two girls clinging to either arm and another crying over him, with the former stealing the occasional glance at his scarred, muscular chest?

Really, it was. And yet Naruto found he didn't mind it as much as he should have now that the danger was past.

It was only natural that they were concerned, that they were staring...bleeding...wait a minute? That last one didn't make one iota of sense.

"Ah, Mina? Your nose..."

"Ha?"

...its bleeding."

The blackette blinked for a long moment, her hand slowly traveling to her face. Sure enough, it came away bloody. Her eyes grew large and wide. There was a silence; long and dreadful, as she finally realized everyone was staring at her. More pointedly, her noze.

"Kyah!" she cried! "Naruto no ecchi!"

"How am I a pervert for pointing that out?!"

The laughter that came next felt even better than before; it was as if a weight had been taken from his shoulders. It felt...good to be safe, after fightning all those titans down there.

He'd been more than careful; after giving Eren to Mikasa and the others in his Titan form, he'd said nothing, given no indication of who he was. It was simply too risky. There would already be an uproars once everyone learned of Eren's secret and he had no desire to add to that chaos. So like Annie he'd disappeared into the city-seeking a safe place to rip himself out of the folds of his neck in relative solitude. He knew she was around somewhere, just as he knew she wouldn't want to be disturbed. Least of all by him. She'd just betrayed her ideals-however briefly-to rescue him back in the square; forfeiting the priority of her mission to save his life.

Change wasn't an easy thing; it never was. It could be awful, painful, sometimes even dreadful, as he'd come to realize himself. And sometimes it could be wonderful. Annie would have to learn that on her own. Yes, he couldn't show her that, it was one of the few thing she would have to learn the hard way. He'd used Sage Mode to determine her whereabouts before-she was somewhere up here, somewhere atop these walls with their comrades, radiating sadness and sorrow, taking great pangs to avoid him. No matter. He would let her come to him when the time was right. Speaking of right...

"Oi, Jean."

His apprentice stiffened, suddenly aware that his master was no longer distracted by his fellow disciples. He grew even more stiff when Naruto rose and walked past and sat down beside him-ignoring the sniveling Dazz, who had yet to pipe down about his incessant fear of the Titans. Buffoon! Didn't he understand what was happening here? What he was doing? His irrepressible fear was slowly but surely eating away at their resolve, at the strength of those who had survived. of his students. Yes, moral was high here because Naruto had come to their rescue, but everywhere else their had been high casualties. Didn't Dazz realize this?! If he didn't shut his yap soon...there was going to be a panic!

"Y-Yes sensei?" Jean gulped, mistaking the murderous intent in his master's eyes for himself.

"I wanted to ask you about-

"I don't want to fight the Titans anymore!" Dazz's sudden scream earned a start from both shinobi, drawing the blonde's ire. Kurama seemed to agree, too.

"Noisy little shit."

"Tch." Naruto frowned in agreement. "As I was saying, have you seen-

"It's over!" Dazz was still wailing! "We're going to die! We're all-

"YAKAMASHI!"

Naruto struck down mercilessly at the recruit's head, driving Dazz's face into the ground with such force that his body actually bounced from the motion. The sheer force of the strike sent him skidding across the ground for several meters, his limbs pinwheeling wildly, tumbling end over end before finally rolling to a halt at the edge of the upper wall. Marco barely managed to catch him in time before he sailed out into the abyss; before he plummeted down towards the eager Titans below.

"Oi!" The boy exclaimed! "What was that for, sensei?!"

"If he's going to bitch, then he can do it somewhere else!" Naruto snarled, slamming his fist into the table! "I'm sick of cowards like him! At least mystudents didn't falter; they stood strong while bufoon like him were bawling their eyes out! They kept up the fight even when everyone else was devoured around them!" Had he been paying more attention to his surroundings and said students, he might've noticed, of all those present Jean, Mina, Sasha-even Christa...flushed with pride. Those were the first words of congratulation he'd ever spoken aloud since the day of graduation. And he'd said them now here before the eyes of the public. There's just something about that...

"Sensei's...being a little rough today, isn't he?" Christa murmurred to Sasha.

The brunette sighed and pushed a hand through her hair; she could understand Naruto's anger. She herself had nearly frozen up in the supply depot-if it weren't for his training she might've ended up Titan food! Thank kami for ninjutsu and her earth affinity! When she'd failed her strike from the rafters and her blade had glanced across the shoulder instead of the neck, she'd nearly panicked! But then her traiining had kicked in. She'd successfully buried the 3-Meter under a landslide of mud before it could even react, affording her just enough time to slice its neck. To the awe of her fellow classmates!

That had been her first kill; she'd held herself together and everything had come out alright. Naruto had taught her that. Always keep cool under pressure. Rely on your own strength, and if that failed you, rely on yours truly he'd said! But who did Naruto rely upon? Sasha could tell; he was shouldering the burden of leadership; shouldering all those deaths himself so that others wouldn't have to accept the burden of responsibility. He'd been so many things to her in the last three years: teacher, friend, obstacle, goal...but who had ever been something to him?

"I'm...very grateful for all that you taught me!"

Sasha blinked at that, the memory coming back to her as she walked away from Christa, begging a half-hearted excuse. Why had she embraced him back then? At the time, the answer had seemed obvious; she'd been convinced that her sensei was about to die. But that was a lie-wasn't it? She'd known he wouldn't die. Naruto was too strong for that. But then Mikasa had kissed him. So had Mina. And yet she hadn't been able to even him or whisper soft words to him or do anything like Mikasa or Mina had. She didn't have the nerve, so she'd settled for a fierce embrace instead, unable to bring herself to do what she truly wanted.

'That Mikasa...I won't let her get a heard start on me!'

"Where's Mikasa and Armin?" Naruto was questioning Jean as she approached, Marco having finally relieved him of that noisemaker. "Didn't they make it up the wall with you?"

Jean blanched.

"They did, but...

"Ah, I see." Naruto nodded. "A gag order, huh? Why am I not surprised. The brass would definitely do something like that in this situation. Lets see now. Where are-" He inclined his head, eyes dusting with golden hue that was Sennin Mode. "They're over that way, then. Great. They're all in one place. It makes things easier for me, then." Pulling a scroll forth from his pocket, he effortlessly garbed himself in a spar army uniform and cloak almost before Sasha could blink. He looked absolutely stunning in those cloak; the very picture of perfection as he walked away.

But Naruto wasn't perfect; no, he was the furthest thing from it. He could be harsh, stubborn, foolish, even downright rash at times. And yet at others he could be...impossibly kind. He didn't like to see others suffer, so he tried to shoulder everything at once, so that he might suffer instead of them. Was he still suffering now, she wondered? Back there, he'd promised he would save everyone. But...he hadn't been able to keep his word in the end. So many had died; only twenty out of fifty had actually made it up the wall. Perhaps that was why he'd put Jean in charge at the end? Because he felt he hadn't lived up to his promise?

It was only then that Sasha harealized she was still holding the loaf of bread and no one else was making any moves to follow Naruto. Chance! She bolted after him, long legs chewing up the distance between them, until Jean and the others were nothing but a memory. Naruto noticed her at the last instant, his head turning a fraction of an inch to regard her approach. He didn't have to look down, nearly her as much as he once had to meet her gaze, these last three years had given her more than just strength and skill. Sasha was taller now than the others, nearly as tall as him. The thought brought a small, secret smile to her face.

"Did you need something, Braus?" Naruto didn't even break his stride as he spoke, it was up to her to force him to stop.

"You seemed a little tense back there...

"I wonder about that." his grim facade didn't soften in the slightest, nor did his brisk pace slacken. "Was there something else?" His message was clear. I don't want to talk about that. End of discussion. Sasha carefully ignored the warning signs and his body language, waited until they reached one of the few tents lining the walls...

...then she moved.

It wasn't a graceful trick by any means; she simply increased her pace a little until she got ahead of him. And then she stuck her foot out. The effect wasn't as disastrous as she'd thought it would be-the toe of Naruto's boot caught on her ankle but instead of planting his face into the ground he stopped halfway and grabbed her by the arms, whipping her against the wall with enough force to crater the stone. Sasha silently thanked his training; that impact would've shattered the spine of a non-shinobi. As it were, Sasha felt only the faintest tingle in her back. She'd have a bad bruise tomorrow, but nothing more..

"Braus...the hell?!" he glared at her, his eyes furious and crimson. "What're you doing?!"

"Sensei...here." Eyes downcast, Sasha lowered her head and thrust out her wrists, interposing the bread between his face and hers. It worked like a charm.

Naruto froze, his anger frozen dead in its tracks; apparently the significance of her gesture was not lost on him. Sasha never shared her food. Ever. He glanced at her, down at the bread, then back to her, his hard eyes softening, if only marginally as he realized her intent. He took her by the wrist and pulled her closer, bringing the bread up to his face. To her disbelief, Naruto didn't take it out from her hand. Quite the opposite. He ate it right out of her palm, his teeth sinking into the stil-warm bread and slowly pulling a chunk of it out, grazing her fingers as he pulled away.

Despite her best efforts, Sasha felt herself flush. She knew he posessed untold strength and yet there was something incredibly gentle about the way he'd done that, his eyes flicking up at her as he did so, that sent her heart fluttering, hammering against her chest like the drums of a great hunt, out for her blood. Ironic, considering she and her pa had once been hunters before she'd come inside the walls.

Life is precious. Treasure it while you can.

Who knew what might happen after this? She might die in the coming counterattack or worse; sensei might die. Sasha knew firsthand just how powerful Naruto was; she'd once seen him get hit by a cannonball and get back up again ,only muttering a half-hearted "ouch" to himself. Yes, he hadn't been hurt at all. But Mina had already told her an awful truth, Naruto had nearly died in a titan's stomach only hours before. She might see him as strong, nearly invincible, but her teacher was all too mortal. If he were to die...

"Shit." Naruto said suddenly. "You're crying. I didn't hurt you back there, did I?"

"Huh?" Sasha blinked, alarmed to find a single tear rolling down her cheek. "I was...?" Before she could think to brush the droplet aside he reached forward, snatching it up with his finger.

"Tis nothin'." The words came out without pause or preamble, revealing her country accent. "Ah!" Sasha gasped, realizing her mistake. That is...I mean...

"Oh?" his smile sent her blood boiling, in a good way. "So that's how you really sound, eh? Why didn't you tell me about it before? Its kinda...

...cute."

Sasha didn't know why she kissed him, only that she did. It was as if someone had hijacked her body; the moment she heard that word she was no longer in control of herself. One moment Naruto had her pressed against the wall with one hand, using the other to brush her tear away. The next, Sasha pivoted into him-shoving the bread into her back pocket-reversing their position .Naruto blinked, baffled by this flying act of thievery, but before he could speak, Sasha and her mouth met him in a frenzied rush, her tongue licking at his lips, silently asking for entry. Yes...Sasha didn't know why she'd kissed him. Why she was still kissing him, when she knew there was a chance-a huge chance!-that he'd only push her away. There was no way he could possibly care about someone so plain as her...so why hadn't she stopped?

I know I can be an idot at times, but this...this is too much! Why...Why can't I just let go of him?

There was just something about Uzumaki Naruto, something that drew her in, held her down, prevented her from even trying to think. She'd first felt it during her training when he'd taught her how to run. Not as she'd run before but to truly run, with every fiber of her being. Using these things he called the Eight Gates. She'd dismissed it as folly before...until he'd taught her. What a backlash! She hadn't been able to walk for nearly a month after opening just three! Yes, Naruto had taught her all that and more. And yet now she was facing the distinct possibility of losing him, once and for all-

Down, Sasha! She didn't want to think about those times anymore at all. She wanted to make a memory with him now-however tenuous it might be-before it was too late. And it already was too late. She could feel him beginning to respond to her now at long last, his mouth moving against hers, hand slipping from her face, moving to the still-subtle curve of her shoulder then her waist, looping round her to draw her in close. The heat of his body burned against her uniform like a furnace, forcing her legs to drift open-

"Mind if I cut in?"

Sasha froze; the sound of that voice sent chills shooting up and down her spine. Everything seemed to lurch beneath her, sending her mind into freefall. A deep sense of vertigo grabbed her, as if she were being droped from a great height. And then it stopped. Her eyes fluttered open -her hands reached out for Naruto and found him gone. All that remained was the lingering scent of him, hanging against her nose, her skin still tingling from where he'd touched her. It served as a subtle reminder that he had been-and still was-quite present, wherever she was, here in this neverending blackness. Where was she? What was this place?

"Turn, mortal." A deep, dark voice commanded her from behind. "So that I might see you with my own eyes." Reluctantly, Sasha did so.

Fear. Awe. Confusion.

All these thoughts paled in comparsion to the monstrosity looming before her. A fox. Sasha was staring at the king of all foxes, quite possibly the largest animal she'd ever seen. Easily larger than a mountain, its entire body bore a gleaming coat of crimson fur, nine tails of pure scarlet laying lackadasically behind it. Ruby red eyes bored into her, slitted pupils observed her every movement. At last, just when Sasha Braus thought she would go mad with fear, it spoke.

"Hello, Sasha." it grinned, exposing row upon row of razor sharp teeth, easily larger than her entire body. "Its so nice to finally meet you face-to-face." Something about the way he said nice made Sasha shiver in genuine fear. Whomever this being was, he most certainly wasn't nice!

"W-Who're you?"

"I?" the great fox pretended to consider her question for a moment. "I have been called many things. But for now, I suppose you may call me Kurama-sama. I reside within the boy you find yourself so verily smitten for. As do you...at the moment."

"You mean...I'm inside Naruto-sensei?!" Sasha felt her face heat through a million shades of scarlet; if her mind was here...then what the devil was her body doing out there?! Surely she wasn't...oh dear kami!

"Inside the seal that contains me," Kurama corrected with a bemused growl, "So more or less your concsiousness is inside his stomach. And as for your body...how should I explain it?" He tapped a claw to his forehead. "I suppose you could say the time flow here is distorted. Every minute that passes here, only amounts to a singe second in the outside world. I only transferred a portion of yourself to the seal to speak with me, but my...partner is bound to realize something's up sooner rather than later so I suggest you make up your mind."

"I...don't know whether to feel proud or insulted."

"I strongly suggest the former." A low growl grated across Sasha's ears; too late she realized she'd crossed a line. "The brat doesn't let just anyone set foot in this place; only those he holds near and dear to his heart have ever entered here. If you wish it, I can alway send you on your away and make you forget this ever happened-

"No!" Sasha pleaded! "Wait!" Strange as it might seem, this could be her one and only chance to learn about her mentor!

"Oh?" The demon fox arched an eyebrow. "Having second thoughts?"

Sasha resolutely ignored the subtle jibe. "What can you tell me about Naruto-sensei? Do you know where he's from? What about his favorite ford? Or-"

"Silence!" Kurama thrust a claw to her forehead, getting just that. "If you want to know that badly, then I'll just show you! But I should warn you, he doesn't take kindly to others poking around in mind like this. He nearly killed the last one who did this. If your motives are less than pure...

"I want to see!"

"Very well!"

Sasha instantly regretted that decision.

Memories flowed into her mind like a river, one she couldn't afford to dam even if wanted to. Countless scenes of battle and bloodshed. Trials and Tribulations. Friends who became enemies. Of loves lived and lost. Life and death dealt like the wind, always unexpected and inopportune. Just when she thought she couldn't handle any more she was granted a glimpse of one last image. At the center of it all, a lonely little boy sitting on a swing, his fists clenched tight, his soul screaming with loneliness.

Why won't anyone accept me?

Gah!

Sasha recoiled, clutching at her head, reeling from the sheer pain that accompanied the image. It'd all felt so real...

"You truly are resilient, mortal." the fox mused, paushing to scratch at its head. "You've probably got a bit of Akimichi blood in you somewhere. It would explain your appetite..."

"Is there more?"

"Much more." Kurama snorted. "But that's not why you're here."

"It's not?"

"No." he replied. "I've summoned you to this place to give you a warning. And a gift."

"Sure you have." More and more Sasha Braus felt her normally cheery demeanor beginning to slip; having endured the deaths of her comrades was one thing; to deal with an insane, perverted fox was another. Now in the haze of Naruto's memories still clogging her mind she'd become almost despondent. How could one person endure so much suffering and still remain so kind-hearted? So pure? Throughout it all, that had been more than a constant; in all his years he'd remained, and would continue to remain, an unrelenting force for good.

"It seems my host has taken an interest in you." Kurama continued, ignoring her deadpanns. "Among others. They do not interest me. What does interest me is thus: who will be the one to succeed him? Eight of you there are, and yet I sense that one of you will die before today is done. That makes seven. My host is not yet aware of this fact, so I thought I should take precautions to make sure you don't lose your life in the next few hours. You don't exactly strike me as the cautious type."

"Eight?" Sasha wasn't listening, she was still reeling at the kitsune's implication. It didn't make any sense! Naruto had only trained seven! "Y-You're lying! Sensei doesn't keep secrets!"

"Am I now?" Kurama replied, sneering in the face of her confusion. "Well, it doesn't matter if you believe me or not about my host's secret student, but I'll give you his name anway. Marco Bott. Didn't you know? He's the only one amongst you whactually knows Senjutsu. I suppose Naruto finally recognized his own mortality last year and decided to start training a successor. Regardless of that fact one of you will be dead before the sun sets. It may be you. It may be Marco. It might even be that Jean boy. I don't know, little mortal. Personally, I think it would be troublesome to have any of you die; you and the others are one of the few things that keep him from losing his mind. But even I cannot alter fate. I can only influence it.

"Now, stretch out your hand and make a fist."

Sasha did so without hesitation, resolutely extending her hand and clenching her fingers.

"Now what?"

"This!"

Kurama met her small fist with his own, his giant knuckles pressing against her hand. Sasha felt something shift in her stomach; then there was only pain. Once more she thanked Naruto for his intensive trainings, she was able to endure the agony with only a soft hiss escaping her lips as the fire seared through her veins. It was as if a fire had been lit somewhere deep within her belly- slowly spreading to the rest of her body with an excruciating slowness. Somehow, she managed to rasp out a question.

"What the...?!"

"I've lent you a fourth of my chakra." Kurama told her, lips parting to reveal teeth set back in a snarl. "Now in a way, you're like that Ackerman wench. Minus the filthy Uchiha blood, of course. I don't care how diluted it might be, just the smell of her makes me sick! It may burn now, but you'll thank me later if you get in a tight spot." Tongues of whitehot fury licked across every inch of her even as he spoke; she could see the red chakra emanating from her stomach to scrawl out across her skin in a strange sort of cloak. Oh god. It was really starting to hurt now. Owowowowow...

"You should be grateful, mortal!" She could barely hear the beast's words over the pain. "It's not often I waste my own energy on peons such as you!"

And then it was over, the chakra receded into the pit of her stomach in a rush, leaving Sasha sore, but still standing.

"Ow." she snarled, glaring at him. "You...piece of...

"Bold, little one." Kurama commended her courageous fortitude with a grunt. "You come from a strong bloodine. Your chakra coils are many times more resilient than the others...stronger, even, I think than that wench who holds the last of the Uchiha blood! I see now why you were taught you to use the Eight gates. To think, he's already attracted three others like you!"

"Four?!" She knew Mikasa and Mina counted, as well as herself...but who else was there?!

"That crazy Hanji-bitch doesn't count." To her mild amusement, the fox actually shuddered. "Honestly, I don't know if she wants to dissect Naruto or rape him! I've never met a more frightening human in all my life! Not since Madara!"

"Ano...who is this Hanji-san?" Sasha asked, her curiosity piqued despite the dismay she felt. She vaguely recalled hearing that name as part of the Recon Corps...

"The most evil woman alive!" Kurama whimpered. "Don't believe anything she says! It's all lies I tell you! LIES!"

"I see." Sasha was feeling more than a little strange by now; her vision was beginning to blur, and her head now felt as if someone had taken a titan-sized hammer to it. It was probably best if she left here...before her sensei realized just where she was.

"That's why I've taken such an interest in you," The Nine-Tailed fox leaned forward, its snout now mere inches away from hers. "You were one of the closest things this world had to a shinobi before that blonde idiot activated your coils. You were a hunter when you were younger, were you not? But I digress. This form must frighten you. Allow me to assume a more...tolerable shape." Crimson light swirled about the kitsune as it drew back, its fur and snout slowly receding, claws assuming the shape of fingers, paws receding into the shape of open-toed sandals.

Sasha stepped back as the shadows coalesced around him, watching in awe as his body shrank and assumed human proportions in the blink of an eye.

Now that he'd finally, Sasha found herself staring at a darker version of Naruto. His hair was still blonde but longer, more matted around the edges; whisker marks that'd once tripled his cheeks were now rough gouges on either side of his face. When he lookd at her, smiled at her, she could see his sharp teeth and she knew that although this might look like Naruto, this was not Naruto. The brunette struggled to remember that but to no avail, her mind might know that this wasn't Naruto..but her body didn't. Besides, she was already lost in those deep crimson orbs.

"Better?" Kurama asked with Naruto's voice. Cripes! He even sounded like him!

"A-A little...

"Hmm." Naruto-No! Kurama!-looked her up and down, a thoughtful smirk pulling at the corners of his feral face. "Interesting."

"What're you smiling at?"

"Oh, nothing." The demon shook its head. "You see, its been so long since I took human form. And as such, I find myself in a certain mood. As a matter of fact, I've just thought of a wonderful way for you to repay me for my little gift, earlier." He pinnioned her with his gaze, rendering her body insensate with a single glance. Then he started forward, one step at a time, slowly closing the gap between them. Wait. What was he doing? Were he seriously trying to...no! Oh sweet god, no! He wouldn't dare! Oh, but he would, and now she was powerless to retreat; all Sasha's training was stripped away beneath his gaze as though she'd never had any to begin with. When she tried to call upon her chakra, none came.

"Wait! Stop!" Sasha pleaded! "What are you doing?!"

"Claiming my reward of course." Kurama replied. "Besides," He reached out and grabbed her by the arm, drawing her close to him, nudging her chin to met his. "If that idiot wants to indulge in a little pleasure, where's the harm in doing it myself?"

"But you can't!" she struggled to reason with him. "You're not Naruto!"

"Aren't I? We practically share the same soul now, the boy and I." His grip was like a vice around her waist now, drawing her body into his, forcing her terrified eyes to meet his bemused gaze. "All those secret thoughts he daren't let surface, all those desires he never acts upon...manifested in me."

"S-Stop it!"

His lips were close to hers now, perilously close.

"It's almost as if...

"What the hell are you doing, baka kitsune?!"

Sasha startled out of Kurama's arms as Naruto's voice exploded into life behind her, punctuated by gale force winds strong enough to shatter the darkness surounding them. She whirled in a panic, flabbergasted to find him standing only yards away; his face frozen in a rictus of furious anger.

"Couldn't wait could ya, kid?" Kurama chortled roughly, his true voice echoing in the empty open space. "And here I was just about to have a little fun on your behalf...

Naruto said nothing; he simply continued to stare at his darker half.

"Now's not the time for this, Kurama." he said at last.

"On the contrary." the fox disagreed. "Now's the perfect time. To ensure your legacy, that is."

Naruto bristled.

"What did you do?"

Kurama laughed. "Why don't you ask the wench?" Naruto didn't ask her. Instead he cocked his head, as though listening to a voice in his head. Abruptly, he rounded on her. A low growl left his lips.

"Sasha."

The brunette gulped despite herself, suddenly nervous in the wake of his gaze. "Naruto, I can explain-

"Out." he hissed at her. "Now."

A small gasp fled from her lips as something jerked her backwards and out of the seal. When next she opened her eyes she found herself back in the outside world; Naruto glaring bloody red daggers at her, found herself being held at arms length. His eyes were wide and disbelieving, his features rough, sharp, and absolutely furious. Why were his eyes crimson? Sasha had never seen him this angry before. Come to think of it...she'd never seen him angry before! At all! Ever! The closest she'd come to seeing him angry was when she'd occasionally stolen his food during mess hall; and even that paled in comparsion to this.

"Sensei, I didn't mean to-

"Didn't mean to do what?"

Like an iron trap, Naruto's gaze locked onto Sasha's own. The sheer intensity of his stare, the sudden ice in his expression, was enough to silence her, nay, the entire camp. Nothing moved. Nothing at all. And then he spoke, voice black as pitch, eyes cold as the coldest winter.

"I have spent," he began softly, "Three years training you, Sasha. Teaching you. Breaking you down an rebuilding you from the ground up. Making you strong-stronger than you've ever been. And not once have I pried into your past-not once have I asked any questions you'd find uncomfortable and not once have I gone skulking behind your back, poking around in your brain and doing things that shouldn't be done!" The sage's voice had been rising with each syllable, now he was practically shouting at her, red in the face, practically choking on the words. "You went inside my mind! I'd expected the same courtesy from my favorite disciple!"

His words caught the ear of everyone nearby; Sasha was suddenly aware of everyone staring at her. She was only thankful that the'd left Jean and the others behind. This...was so embarassing! But not nearly so much as being caught with her hand in the cookie jar, both literally and figuratively.

Favorite.

The brunette flinched back and aside, stung by his words, and yet at the same time, oddly vindicated. His favorite? She'd always assumed Mikasa was Naruto's number one pupil-her grades certainly indicated as much-but now that she thought about it, He'd spent the least amount of time with Mikasa. She'd been a natural, taking to chakra like a duck to water. Sasha, on the other hand...had not. Naruto had been forced to drill both her body and mind until she caught up to the others. He'd often said that she reminded him of himself when he was young; having to work through so much to become the masterful Sage he was now. More than once he'd also compared her to someone named "Rock Lee" noting that she made up for her faults through sheer persistence.

This time, that persistence had backfired. Horrifically.

"I was your favorite?" she asked Naruto, her words little more than the most naked of whispers.

"Was, being the operative term." Venom dripped in his words, caustic enough to peel rust off a blade. "Not anymore; not after that stunt you just pulled." He drew back from her with a hiss. "You know what? Leave. I don't care where you go, or what you do, just get away from me." His head jerked away from her in disgust. "I can't even bear to look at you right now."

"But...I...

"You what?" Naruto all but growled. "You'd better have a damned good excuse for poking around in my head like that, Braus!"

"I JUST WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU!"

Now it was Naruto's turn to jerk back; he did so as though she'd slapped him across the face, eyes wide. He hadn't been expecting that answer!

"You...what?" he rasped

"I wanted to know about you!" Sasha could feel the tears coming now, and she didn't even try to stop them, they were pouring out of her eyes faster than she could hope to dry them, flowing into her mouth, rendering her words watery and weak. "Your likes, your dislikes! Where you came from! What you want to be! How you came to save us when you could've saved everyone else! Why you feel you have to shoulder everything and take all the blame-all the responsibility-even when its not your fault! I didn't want you to deal with it all alone! Is that so wrong?!" She could feel herself slipping back into her old accent again but by now she was angry far too angry too care. "Is it so wrong that someone as plain and stupid and simple as me actually cares enough about ya ta risk pissing ya off! God, I'm so stupid! All I ever do is burden ya for crying out-mmph?!"

Her eyes bulged as Naruto's lips collided with hers, stealing her words away. It wasn't a rough kiss by any mean- his mouth simply caged hers, stifling all sound. His palms cupped her cheeks with an infinite tenderness, cradling her face as though it were made of the finest china.

"You are not," He whispered, pulling away. "a burden."

Sasha was baffled! How could Naruto-sensei go from being furious to kissing her speechless?!

"I...you...what?"

"Sorry." he apologized, his words sorrowed and contrite. "That was rash of me. I shouldn't have shouted at you." he gazed at her for a long moment and to her infinite relief, nodded. "You really are too honest to lie, aren't you, Sasha? If you were worried about me, you should have just said so. There was no need for you go...inside my head. You saw something ugly, something I wanted to keep hidden. Up in my memories!" He turned aside and she could see the anger twisting at his normally placid face, warping his features into a livid mask of rage-not directed at her-but elsewhere. "I fucking hate when people screw with my head. Even if they claim its for a good reason. So?" Abruptly, his gaze snapped back towards her. "Was it for a good reason? Were you really willing to risk death me for me by taking on that much chakra?"

Sasha couldn't help it; she blanched.

"You...knew about that, huh?"

"I know Kurama has his reasons for doing whatever he does." Naruto replied, laying his hand upon her stomach, fingertips digging into the taut flesh beneath. "Doesn't mean I have to agree with them. Now I have to make sure he didn't fuck up your chakra coils. This might burn a bit." Turned out he was right; Sasha felt her face begin to burn all over again; she didn't care if Naruto was looking at her chakra coils or not! This was still supremely awkward! A thread of warmth from her stomach and spooled down between her legs in an instant, leaving her weak-kneed and woozy. Was...was this actually turning her on?! If he kept this up, if she'd...she..she would...!

"Sensei...

"Hmm?" Naruto purred back at her.

"S-Stop that right now!"

"Sheesh, you really are honest!" Naruto's laugh tore through her haze of pleasure like a thief in the night. "Naughty, Sasha. Naughty. Do I have to punish you, for thinking such things?" He took his hand away from her stomach and brought it towards her inner thigh, curling her leg up against him. As swiftly as his smile had come so too did it vanish, shattering like so much glass. He cocked his head aside at her, his blue eyes flashing in the setting sun as he took his hand away and stood to his full height. When he spoke this time, his words were serious and sombre.

"So now you know my dirty little secret. I've got a monster inside me. And you should also know why I'd prefer to keep that under wraps." He turned his gaze down to the recruits below. "I've already learned my lesson the har way; if I were ever to unleash my full power inside the walls-everyone would die. Not just the titans. Not just the people. Everyone. Everything. I transformed briefly three years ago and I nealy scared everyone half to death! If I'd had my way, no one would know about the truth of what I am. But now that you've gone and stuck your nose where it doesn't belong," and here he did flick her with his finger, "I suppose I'll have to trust you with that secret."

"That secret?" Unbidden, her midn flashed back to that mysterious titan she'd seen, running away from them and into the city. "You mean there's

Naruto laughed at her; it was a deep throaty sound.

"Really, do you think I'm going to tell you after the emotional hangover you just gave me? You're persistent, Sasha! But then again," He leaned forwards, mussing her hair with a hand. "That's what makes you who you are. You can't change that anymore than you can keep the sun from setting. And you shouldn't try." Without another word he was gone and past her, striding away as though their little heart-to-heart had never been a consequence at all. When he paused, she was momentarily taken aback.

"Oi, Sasha...hold the rest of that bread for me until I get back."

"Eh?"

"You were right about one thing." He was suddenly in front of her again, leaning in, lips brushing against hers for all of an instant. "I'm fucking starving." Whatever else her sensei might've said was cut off by the sharp discharge of a cannon. Naruto turned as he once more felt the faint tingle in the back of his brain; the sign of a Hiraishin kunai being activated. He spun aways from her with a delighted cackle-leaving her cheeks alight in seven shades of scarlet.

"Guess that's my cue!" A golden flash was the only indication of movement then Naruto was gone, off to wreak havoc and defy fate as only he could.

It was only then that Sasha realized something. In all the confusion and their heated arguement...

...she hadn't thought to give him Kurama's warning.

---

(Moments earlier)

"I'm human!"

"I see." Kitts Verman murmurred to himself, his terrified gaze never once leaving that of Eren Jeager's. "Don't resent me for this, brat. It's only natural. No one can prove that you're not a demon." Slowly, he raised his arm, fingers pressed into a single point. He took no pleasure in their grief-stricken faces, but in the end, his fear won out. They had to be killed! They had to be! Now! This very instant! There was just no way...that this whelp could be an ally! Not at all! He had to die!

Without thinking, he slashed his arm downward.

"FIRE!"

There was a deafening bang, punctuated by a wet popping sound, a sulfuric scent reaching everyone's nose as it discharged its payload. Eren watched, helpless, poised between biting his thumb and screaming in horror as the massive iron ball hurtled towards him and his friends. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Mikasa reaching for what looked like a kunai-her fingers wrapping around its sealed hilt. There came a faint sucking sound, then-

"Belay that order!"

Suddenly and without warning, an angel came down from heaven. There could be no other word for that blazing blonde blur-its figure sheathed in golden radiance; its eyes burning like hot coals in its skull. It seemed to hand there in the sky for a moment, invisible wings holding it aloft on streamers of golden light. Then the angel did the inexplicable -the unthinkable- thrusting itself firmly between the three cadets and the approaching shot with arms splayed, intercepting the cannonball and-

Shattering it.

Eren saw it all in that instant; their saviour raised a hand and bit down. Hard. Blood spurted and took solid form, something massive grew around them in recompense for his temerity, and the cannonball simply broke against its palm. It flew apart into a thousand different pieces, sparying shards of debris in every direction; some of which struck the pig-headed instructor who'd ordered them to fire on him in the first place, knocking him from his perch in a shower of bloods. Karma at its finest! Grunts of pain and screams of untold agonies echoed through the cloud of rust and rotten dust; he didn't need to see to know that panic must be unfolding beyond his line of sight.

"The things I do for you kids." A gruff voice hissed.

Mikasa gasped in confusion; Eren sympathized!

In the silence that followed Jeager found himself staring at the Wings of Freedom emblazoned upon a cloak, the bright white-blue emblem of the Survey Corps proudly standing between him and certain death. But what was a member of the corps doing here? It didn't make any sense! They'd all gone out on an expedition just this morning; there was now way they could've returned in such a short time! He peered up into the smoke to no avail, unable to make out the face of his rescuer in the haze created by the cannonball's explosion.

"Do not lose your composure, Eren Jeager." that same voice continued, speaking to him...and him alone. "Do not break your stance, stretch out your awareness; don't let your guard down for even a single second. And take that hand away from your mouth before you do something foolish. These imbeciles are ready to kill you at even the slightest provocation...and I'd rather not anymore of my students die today."

"Sesnsei?" Mikasa blinked, trying to peer into the haze.

It was then that Eren realized something else. This so-called angel, this man mistaken for divinity, wasn't an angel at all. He knew him. Recognized him. Although this man had not taught him the shinobi arts, he'd been responsible for beating the brutal art of hand-to-hand combat into him for the last three years all the same. As if on cue the smoke began to dissipate, revealing the figure of the one standing over him. Eyes the color of blue diamond peered down at him, past him, through him, staring into his very soul.

"Naruto?!"

"No, Kurosaki Ichigo!" They snapped back! "Who do you think I am?!"

Faced with the blonde's sarcasm, Jeager faltered.

"I don't even...know who that is?"

"Godamnit-shit!" The blonde was complaining now, waving his still-steaming hand about for the three of them to see. "That really hurt ya know? Seriously! Coulda blown my arm off back there if I wasn't careful! Jeager the least you can do is apologize to my poor hand for putting it in this damned situation." Even as Naruto spoke Eren could see the massive construct sheathing his limb; it was as if a giant hand had sprouted forth from nothingness to protect them, and he was waving the damned thing around as though it were some kind of toy!

"Naruto...what is-

"Oh, Mikasa!" Their teacher turned, as though just seeing her. "Thanks for activating the kunai back there. I might not have made it in time otherwise."

"No, I don't think that's the problem here...

"Hmm?"

Mikasa pointed, his eyes wide. "Your hand...

Naruto followed his student's gaze-watched flesh knitting back together on his fingers, muscle and skin growling over the skeletal hand that he'd sprouted to defend them. Within seconds, the massive hand was entirely untouched, as though it had always been.

"Ahhhh." he groaned in understanding. "Shit. Did I do that?! Damnt, first Sasha, and now this! I just can't seem to keep a lid on things today! Don't worry about that, Mikasa-chan." With a grunt, he pulled his hand free of the monstrous limb. "Since the cat's already out of the bag, guess Imma have ta say it...I'm like Eren."

"Like...Eren?"

"A shifter." Naruto said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Eren gawped at him as if he'd grown another head, to which the blonde simply sighed.

"Well, I had been hoping to avoid telling everyone about my little secret, but thanks to your little stunt back there," he turned his gaze back to the rapidly fading fog and the figures standing beyond, "I don't think that's possible anymore." Deprived of what strength it needed, the artifical limb began to collapse around them in great gouts of steam, kicking up still more dust and debris. "Now I sincerely hope the three of you have some sort of plan to get out of this with your skin intact, because I've got absolutely nothing. Armin?

"M-Me?!"

"You mean you haven't put that brilliant brain of yours to work yet?" Naruto questioned. "I was expecting more out my most brilliant student."

"I'm not that-

"Of course you are! Yer a frikkin genius!" Armin started in surprise as his mentor jerked forward, thrusting his face before him. "Don't you remember? You mastered the basics of chakra in a day! It took everyone else a week! Even Mikasa didn't learn that quickly! You may not be the most resilient, but you learned the most jutsu as well! You're not a burden! Your friends think the same! Stop underestimating yourself!"

Armin knelt there, the words soaking in. Not a burden...?

"Tch. Looks like I've got no choice now." Naruto sighed. "Armin, I'll buy you some time. Come up with a plan before I get shot, will ya?" Without another word he strode forward, making his way out of the smoke. Armin watched him go, watched his sensei stride to the death. Had he been doubting himself all along? Was it all in his head? If so...was he really handicapping himself? He glanced at Mikasa and Eren-saw the resolve there in their eyes. It was all in my head? They never thought of me like that at all...

Naruto knew none of these thoughts, he kept walking, slowing only when a shape from the smoke resolved beside him.

"I'm coming with you." Mikasa's voice, then her figure, resolved beside him. There was a hard glint to her eyes, one Naruto recognized all too well.

"Remind you of someone?"

'Urusai. I'm not talking to you after that stunt you pulled with Sasha.'

"It worked, didn't?" was the kistune's counter. "You finally opened up to someone."

"Stubborn." he muttered to Kurama, as much as Mikasa, quietly pushing a palm against his forehead. "I'm doing this for your sake as much as Eren's. Besides, shouldn't you be more worried about him anyway? He's your brother after all, and the only one you have left at that. I'm just someone who happened to teach you a few things." Unbidden, his mind flashed back to their kiss back on the rooftop. What the hell is with these kids...they're so damn willfull.

"Yes, you're just my sensei." The blackette replied blandly to his statment. "Nothing can change that."

"Good. Glad you see things my way-

Her hand lashed out, snaring him by the wrist and grinding him to a halt. N

"But I only have one of you, too." she finished with a raise of her gaze, dark eyes boring into his. Clashing with his. "And I know its selfish of me to say this, but I don't want to lose you either." Slowly, she wrapped her hand around his, pushing her fingertips between his own. "Is that so wrong, sensei?"

Naruto growled, a hiss snaking through his clenched teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "You stubborn, willful little...

"I'm coming." she repeated, the slightest of smirks pulling at her lips; she knew she'd already won. "Can you really afford to waste time trying to stop me?"

Gods girl...you remind me of Sasuke way too much!

"Tch...do what you will!" he stormed forward into the haze, leaving her to follow. The dust and debris parted for him, giving way to his furious pace.

Verman was there waiting for them as they departed the choking haze; his already pallid complexion became positively grey once he laid eyes upon the seething sage. "Stop!" he cried! Naruto didn't stop. He continued his relentless advance-his long legs eating up the distance beween them. Sweating bullets, the captain ordered his men to raise their rifles.

"Stop or I'll shoot!"

Finally, the blonde slowed to a halt, a mere three yards away.

"Uzumaki! What is the meaning of this?!"

"I could ask you the same question, Vermin." There could be no mistaking the deliberate insult in the blonde's tone. "Where do you get off firing on my students like that?"

"Silence!" The slimy little man backpedalled in the face of Naruto's malevolence. You have no authority here!" He was beginning to panic now, the shrapnel had inflicted more than its fair share of wounds upon him; his metal state left hanging by a mere thread. His left eye was already beginning to swell ups and his sword arm was bleeding from a nasty gash that would surely become infected if not treated forthwith. Did the last sage care? He did not!

"I have every authority." Naruto replied, his words growing colder still as he reached for a blade. "I may serve with the Scouting Legion but my orders...come from the monarchy. If I see someone at fault, I may correct them. And you, my good sir, are most certainly at fault! You've fired on three trainess without so much as hearing their side of the story! I could court martial you for that-no, I could kill you right now and no one would bat so much as an eyelash!" Slowly-almost casually, he pulled his sword free, and in an instant, laid its edge upon Verman's bleeding arm. "Is that what you want?"

"Ackerman!" Realizing his own peril, Verman rounded on the rookie instead. "What does your boyfriend have to do with this?!"

B-B-Boyfriend?! Mikasa felt her cheeks begin to burn. Of all the times to bring this up!

"He's my sensei, sir!"

"LIES!" Verman shrieked! "We have witnesses! You were seen kissing him atop the roof of the bell tower! Relationships between ranking officers and cadets are forbidden! Explain yourself!" Mikasa opened her mouth to deny it, to refuse the truth, only to find herself silenced by a finger to the lips.

"Mikasa," Naruto smiled serenely down at her, "What did I teach you about dogs?"

That got a blink from his pupil.

"That the weakest ones...

...always bark the loudest!" Naruto nodded sagely. "Very good! And as you know, sometimes, some dogs...

...need a muzzle!"

Verman's single eye went wide as his right arm was severed from his body, the limb now falling away from him in a flash. The fingers were wriggling slightly as the nerve endings within them struggled to receive signal from his brain once more, dropping the sword that they once held as his hand groped on blindly. He lunged backwards, his left arm stretched out in a vain attempt to staunch the blood flow.

"Yeaaaaaaaaargh!" The man tried to scream, tried to grab and wield his fallen blade-

Uzumaki Naruto buzzed into view, his body blocking the man's weapon, his eyes glaring out coldly from behind a veil of golden light. With a hiss, he swung his arm backwards, a streak of golden light rocketing out from the tip of his fingers and incinerating both the captain's arm and his sword within the bright energy. He didn't even give the man time to retialiate; his boots barreled forward and drove the bufoon back a dozen paces in the blink of an eye, increasing the distance between them.

"Now then," Naruto sheathed his bloody blade with a sigh, "Unless you'd like to lose your other arm, I suggest you refrain from such audacious accusations and return to the matter at hand."

"Silence! I will not tolerate this insubourdination!"

The blonde shrugged.

"Then I'll just take your other arm, then-

"Wait! Stop!"

Naruto turned his head aside, regarding the boy's sudden emersion from the steam behind him. Good boy, he mused softly to himself. He's finally come up with something. Its a shame, though. Another second and I've been rid of this buffoon for good...

"Eren isn't the enemy of mankind!" Armin declared! "We're willing to share all the intelligence we've gathered!"

"Begging for your lives is useless now! He revealed his true from in front of us! There's nothing left to say! If you say he's not an enemy, prove it! If you can't do that, I will eliminate the threat!"

'So,' Naruto thought, he thinks that was Eren back there...not me. And he's still driven by fear despite losing his arm. Interesting. I might not have to do anything after all.

"There's no need for further proof!" Armin barked! "Its unnecessary! The issue isn't how we see him!"

"WHAT?!"

Armin risked a glance at his teacher, and received Naruto had done nothing to interrupt him so far. Sensei trusted him! He could do this!

"You said everybody saw him!" he continued, plowing on in the face of adversity! "Then they must've seen him fighting those Titans too! And they must've seen all the Titans ganging up on him! Don't you understand it now?! They see him as prey, just like the rest of mankind! Nothing you say can change that fact!"

Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the ranks; soldiers lowered their blades, pulled their fingers from the triggers of their rifles.

"That's true...

"A Titan as an ally...

"That can't be...

For a moment, just a moment, Armin hoped that they'd see reason here. It didn't last.

"Prepare to Attack!" Verman screeched! "Don't fall for this clever trap! Their actions have always been beyond our comprehension! If they can transform into humans and speak our language, that's just another way for them to fool us! We can't let them do as they please!"

'No good...He's stopped thinking entirely...no! He's too scared to think!'

He risked a glance back at Eren and Mikasa, and his courage returned. I have to do this!

Almost before he knew what he was doing, Armin had slammed a fist into his chest, standing tall and proud despite his trembling knees. "As a soldier, I swore to devote my heart to the resurrection of mankind! There is no greater glory than dying for that belief! If we added his Titan power to the might of our armies, it might even be possible to recapture the town! For the glory of the human race-of our race-I beg you! In my final moments before I die, permit me to explain his strategic importance!"

There was a silence. And then, to everyone's horror, Verman began to raise his hand. This was it! He was going to fire on them again!

"That was a good try, Armin." Arlet startled as a hand settled upon his shoulder, momentarily alarmed to find Naruto scowling on the man ahead of them. "But I'm afraid it didn't work. See? The poor fool's gone and lost his feeble little mind." Taking his hand from his student's arm he started forward, his expression unreadable, his eyes hidden in those rough blonde bangs. "He's too scared to think anymore. So it'd be better if I showed him...the power you're talking about. For real this time."

"S-Sensei?"

"Oi, scum." Naruto called up at Kitts Verman. "You wanted proof that Eren's on your side, right? Well then...!"

"Watch this."

Sighing, Naruto raised a hand to his face bit down on his thumb...

Hard.

Mikasa and Armin braced themselves as best they could against the flash of life; but there could be no bracing against the monster that strode forth from that flash. It was as if Naruto's human form was just a shell; as flimsy and fragile as a caterpillar's cocoon. And the creature that emerged from this chryisalis-the result of this metamorphosis, could only be described in a single words. With its great towering height and six arm, long blonde hair scarlet eyes and armoured arms, a maw bristling with razor sharp teeth. Yes, there was only one word to describe this Asura-like entity.

Monster.

Screams of horror and dismay rose up from those assembled, nearly deafening Eren and the others. Witnessing a partial transformation was one thing, but to see a a full blown Titan standing there before them in all of its malevolent might...was another thing entirely. Soldiers scrambled backwards as Naruto towered over them, his jaws creaking opening before an exhalation of sinsiter steam.

Armin felt his heart sink into his stomach. "No way...

"Naruto...what?" Mikasa gawped up at the towering titan. And yet, she felt no fear. There was only awe. She remembered it now; this was the same Titan who had handed Eren to them back in the square. The aberrant who hadn't attack them! This then...was Naruto? Unbelievable!

"Yeah, its me." he growled, lowering his head to look her in the eye. "Sorry for deceving you back there. Are you afraid?" The blackette gazed back at him and asked herself that very same question. Did this big beast frighten her? No. She knew this was Naruto, just as she knew Naruto would never lay a hand on his disciples. She shook her head slowly, raven tressess bobbing from the motion. Stiffling her anxiety she stepped forward, placing a hand upon Naruto's massive ankle. His skin was searing to the touch, severe in its heat, and yet she felt nothing but comfort.

"No," she said softly. "I'm not afraid of you."

"As expected from a descendant of the Uchiha." the titan chortled softly, turning to face the cowering Verman. "You really do have ice in your veins."

Mikasa had no idea what an Uchiha was, but she chose to take that as a compliment.

"This the power that Eren and I posess!" Naruto bellowed, his words crashing down around them like thunder. "The power that can seal the breach and reclaim the town! Shoot me, if you must, but if you do...it won't end well for any of you!"

Beside him, Ian paused. If it was true, if Naruto-dono really could control this titan...

"Captain, we should consider wh-

"SILENCE!" If Verman had been beyond reason before then he was practically frantic now; staring up into those sinister scarlet orbs-staring into the eyes of a titan pushed him past his breaking point. "Prepare to fire all rounds at once on my signal!" His arm rose and fell in what felt like slow motion, his eyes wide and fearful as Naruto surged forward to intercept the incoming cannonfire.

"No matter how they plead for their lives, they're still rebels! Traitors! I bet those other two are Titans as well! Yes, they must be! That makes them the enemy! Those who threaten the safety of mankind must be killed without hesitation! They must be eliminated! That's what it means to be a soldier!"

His arm snapped down-!

"Cut it out already."

All eyes turned to find Verman restrained, an hand holding him at the elbow, preventing his arm from dropping any further. The one respsonsible was an aged, unassuming man in uniform-his only distinguishing feature being the red sash worn around said uniform and his deep hazel eyes. His mustache quirked in a slight smile as he held Verman back. Every man woman and child knew this man; commander of the southern teriritories and esteemed general by far.

"You haven't changed at all." The eldery fellow continued. "As big as you are, you've still got the guts of a scared fawn."

Verman gasped. "Commander Pixis!"

And there, standing beside him, impossibly, was...

Annie?

So that's where she was! Armin realized, unmoving. Sensei, did you have this planned out all along? No. That can't be right. He wouldnt risk our lives like that...would he? He risked a glance back at Naruto's titan form; his fellow blonde appeared smug, but there could no mistaking the brief uncertainty that flickered through his eyes. That settled it, then. His master was just as baffled by Pixis's arrival and Annie's prescence as he. Did he too, know just how lucky they were?

"Can't you see how magnificent his salute is?" Pixis said as he strode forward toward Armin, heedless of Naruto's Titan standing only yards away. "I just arrived, but the situation has already been relayed to me by this young lady over here." he indicated Annie with a nod. "You go organize the reinforcments. I think it'd be worthwile to hear what they've got to say."

"But-

"That wasn't a question, captain." Pixis's tone was kind, but it left no room for further arguement. "Dismissed."

Verman slinked off, tail between his legs.

To his credit, the commander waited until the coward was well out of earshot before finally clearing his throat.

"Uzumaki Naruto, I presume?" Pixis continued, addressing the giant.

Naruto nodded.

"Would you mind stepping out of that body for a moment?" Pixis asked. "I'm afraid you're frightening my troops back there. Unless you have any objections?"

Naruto's titan did something impossibly human just then; crossing all six arms before its chest.

"What guarantee do I have that you won't open fire anyway?"

"It spoke!" One of the soldiers gasped!

"I'm a 'he' not an 'it', thank you very much." Naruto's deadpann was barely concealed. "Don't compare me to the rest of those titans. As I've already said before, I have control of this form. Now," he turned his towering form back to the commander, "Answer my question. What's to stop your boys from trying to kill me the moment I step out of this body? As things stand...I think its rather obvious they'd sooner see me dead."

"Surely you can understand that we are both men of principle here?" Pixis sighed as he pulled a flask from his coat pocket and took a long hard draught. "I've absolutely no intention of causing you or your students any harm here. I certainly don't plan on opening fire like that bufoon Verman did. And as you can see, I'm rather fond of my arms. So no, I don't think I'll be harming you or Jeager-kun over there anytime soon."

"You should do something about cowards in your ranks." Annie seconded icily.

"Agreed, my dear." Pixis smiled at Annie as he replaced the flask within his coat pocket. "By all means, your teacher is free to mete out whatever discipline he may deem neccessary, but please, don't kill the man. Dead soldiers are bad for morale, you understand. Now, would you kindly come out of there, Uzumaki-kun?"

...sure."

The nape of his neck began to bulge and writhe as the man within fought for emergence. Soldiers squirmed restlessly as an arm appeared, followed by a leg, pursued by a torso. Slowly, but surely, Naruto's human form wresteditself free of the Titan's flesh, inch by painful inch. He hadn't been kidding when he'd said it was a bitch to reemerge. On his own, it took at least a few minutes, time in which he was left vulnerable to enemy fire and grasping hands. Then with a sickening squelching sound, Uzumaki Naruto burst from the back in a shower of gore. He alighted soundlessly between Eren and Mikasa, shaking himself like a wet dog.

"Gah," he grumbled, "I really hate that part."

Dot Pixis arched an eyebrow at the sight.

"Interesting."

"Jeager can do the same." Naruto replied, dusting himself off. "Although he probably doesn't have the same level of control as me-

"So you can control it?"

Naruto turned his head to regard she who had spoken, one Rico Brzenska. The silver-haired girl was peering at him intently, as though she expected him to snap and eat her at any moment. It was almost laughable, to a fault. Ever since he'd met her on the wall three years before he'd been made aware/known of her fear for all things Titan. Then again...those fears were all too understandable. He needed to remind individuals like her that he meant them no harm; needed to remind these soldiers that he was on their side, before someone did something stupid and got everyone killed. He could feel Annie's gaze boring into his back; if he was going to reveal that she stoo was a titan-shifter, no was the time. Even now, her crystalline eyes were silently pleading with him for silence.

"Idiot." Kurama groused sullenly. "You're gonna shoulder everything again, aren't you?!"

Naruto mentally sighed, agreeing with his partner for what felt like the first time in a century. Yes, he was an idiot.

"Without a second thought." he readily affirmed. "I'm the only other shifter within the walls, though."

Annie's soft gasp barely reached his ears.

"Oh?" Pixis smiled strangely at this remark, unknowing of the crisis that'd just been averted. "Well then, if your level of control is as high as you claim, perhaps you and Jeager-kun can assist me with a plan I've been formulating. These students of yours might have a pivotal role to play as well," he said as his gaze glided to Mikasa and Armin. "I believe there were eight of them, correct?" Naruto frowned. He didn't like where this was going. Not at all. The commander was suggesting that he endanger the lives of his precious disciples for a second time and for what? Naruto had no way of knowing; how could that sit well with him?!

"And what plan might that be?" he asked guardedly.

Pixis's smile was practically beatific.

"Why...to reclaim Trost, of course."

There was a silence. Finally, Naruto sighed.

"Got anything to drink?" he asked at length.

Pixis offered him his flask; the blonde gladly accepted it from the man's hands and took a long, deep draught. Burning liquid coursed down his throat and warmed his belly, lending him just a touch of solace. Naruto had the succinct feeling he'd be needing a drink or two before this day was done. Gasping, he proffered it back to the commander.

"Strong stuff." he choked out.

"I only drink the best." Pixis affored him a slight smile. "

Naruto sighed as he followed

"We're in for one wild night...

---

Annie was waiting for him after their strategy session atop the wall, her cold eyes seeking his the minute she realized he was alone. A plan had been made, though she herself questioned the validity of it. Not because it was Armin's plan, not because it was foolish-she'd suffered far worst-but because everyone was relying on Naruto and Eren to make it happen. If those two failed then not only would Trost be lost, but so too would Wall Rose. She didn't need her shadow clone to know that. There could no doubt about that this time. And she couldn't risk revealing herself a second time just to help them.

She just couldn't.

So she stood there in the shadows, silent as a goddess, watching, waiting until Naruto finally finished his meeting with Pixis and came down from the Wall. Even now he continued to baffle her-he didn't bother to use his maneuver gear, he simply walked right down the wall as though it were the easiest thing in the world. Fearful gasps greeted his little publicity stunt, sending Annie's temper skyrocketing. This was why humanity needed to die. They'd become rotten to the core, so filled with fear and avarice that they no longer knew how to think for themselves. Kitts Verman was merely one such human. His insane paranoia had nearly ended Eren's life before it could truly begin, and the Coordinate with him. Had it not been for Naruto's intervention, she'd never have reached Pixis in time.

How do you do it, Naruto?

How did he throw himself headlong into impossible situations and still emerged the victor? How did he fight wit such ferocity, for so little? More importantly...how had he managed to worm his way into her heart? Annie hated that, more than anything. She'd long since locked tight the door to her heart and thrown away the key. But Naruto...he'd barreled right through it, that iron door meant to keep everything locked out and away in this fragile thing that was her pscyhe. And because of that, she'd nearly been exposed for what she

Why do you do it, Naruto?

Why did he waste his efforts on those who weren't worthy of them? Why defend them when all but a handful spat in his face. It didn't make any sense! These fools would sooner hang him then help him...yet he simply carried on, ignoring their suspicion. Even now, he finished striding down the wall, resolutely uncaring for all the eyes glued upon him. Some made no secret of their jealousy; they longed to learn his secrets so they too might escape the Titans as he and his students had. Others, a precious few, gazed upon him with the open awe and respect he deserved. They did not fear him-nay, they all but worshipped him. Men and women of age and children who were not, this group seemed intend to make his praises known.

"Naruto-sama!" one of them cried.

"We're so glad you're alright!" echoed another.

"Please destroy the titans for us!" still a third cried.

Naruto said nothing, neither to them nor to her as he passed by; because he didn't have to. He probably already knew what she was going to say. But that didn't mean she couldn't try. And so Annie fell into step beside her sensei-matching him stride for stride. He barely even glanced at her. They walked like that for a lititle while side by side, mingling amonst the troops, observing their despondent faces and mournful wanderings. She tried to ignore them, Annie really did, but there were just so many. It was as if everyone had been drained of their very hopes and dreams; all that remained were withered, despondent husks.

"Its almost sad, isn't it?" Naruto's voice jerked her out of her reverie. "They've all succumbed to their fear."

"You're an idiot." she said at last, but her words lacked rancour. "Its not your job to defend cowards." They kept walking, leaving the terrified soldiers and cadets in the dust. And stilll, Naruto didn't slow his pace. Annie began to wonder where he was taking her, even thought to ask her fellow blonde. Still, they kept walking until at long last, they reached a line of trees. Beyond them lay the territory of Wall Sina, likely to become Titan territory if Wall Rose fell today.

Naruto pulled up beside a tree and uttered a nameless earth jutsu.

"Doton."

The ground itself rose up behind him, forming an impromptu bench beside them. Her teacher promptly took a seat and leaned back to regard her, arms crossed before his chest.

"So I'm an idiot now, huh?" His lips quirked in a slight smile. "And what, pray tell, did I do this time?"

"You could've exposed me back there, but you didn't." Annie felt a muscle jump in her jaw as she claimed a place beside him, but she refused to drop the subject; she had to know if was just screwing around or not. He must have some greater plan for her in store, else he surely would've said something to Pixis. "Why?" she demanded to know, leaning. "Are you so saddistic that you want to keep me under you thumb? Use me as your own little slave until I've got nothing left? Or maybe-"

"You're thinking too much, Annie."

His words brought her up short.

"Huh?"

"I don't want to manipulate you." Naruto stared back at her, eyes shining like a sapphire sea. "I don't even want to use you. And why should I? You're my precious disciple after all. You came to save me when I needed it; not just against the Titans, but with Pixiis as well." He leaned back agains the bench, regarding the ever-sinking sun below the horizon. "If you hadn't come when you did I would've taken my chances, eaten Verman, and scaled the wall on my own. That's twice I owe you now; keeping silent is merely one way of repaying that dual debt."

"So techinically, you still owe me."

His gaze turned wary.

"I suppose so, yes."

Annie held her breath for a moment, considering. Daring to hoe against hope. This was her chance! If Naruto owed her, if he was the sort to repay his debts-

"Then help me." That got a reaction. "Help me kidnap Eren."

"I refuse."

"But why?!" she hissed, disbelieving. "If I possess the Coordinate then the attacks will surely stop!"

"And what guarantee to you have that they will?" his response was flinty, his gaze, dominating. "I already know the Armored titan and the Colossal titan are posing as humans-just like you. I may not know their current objective but make no mistake, I will find them. The only question is when. It doesn't matter what I owe you; that's one request I won't grant."

"Then...come away with me." With a great effort, Annie reigned her rapidly thawing heart in. "These people don't care about you; none of them do! You're wasting your talents here!"

"Can't do that either." Naruto shook his head. "I'm needed here no matter what you say; no matter how much everyone might hate me, so long as my actions make a difference in the life of one individual, and so long as that individual grows up to live a life unfilled with fear, that's all that matters. And I've already made a difference in so may lives, nothing you say can change that. Besides, where would I go? In case you've hit your head or something, its Titan country out there."

"My village would be safe...they'd accept you."

"After treading on the bodies of countless innocents to leave? I don't think so."

"You...insufferable baka!" Annie jerked to her feet, her face burning. "What's wrong with you?! Can't you see that I'm trying to help you here?!"

"Yeah, I'm an idiot alright!" Naruto jumped up right after her, shoving his face against hers, shouting right back at her. "An incredible idiot! An incredibly stupid idiot who took his worst enemy under his wing and taught her what it means to be human; that's what I am! Someone who spent the last three years of his life, who will continue to spend the rest of his life, making damned sure she doesn't fuck up hers because of some damn stupid mission given to her by some damn stupid father who doesn't know his ass from his-

SLAP!

Naruto's voice cut off in midsentence; his head snapping backwards with the force of the blow. Annie glared at him, her eyes brimming with fresh tears.

"Don't you EVER talk about my father that way!"

"And what're you going to do about it, huh?!" her teacher hissed. "It doesn't change the fact that he's a heartless prick for-

Annie's arm reared back to smack him again, but she underestimated his speed; Naruto had by the wrist before she knew it. Even as she thought to strike him with the other, he seized that limb, too. She was suddenly grateful for the distance between them and the Wall; this would've been horrifically embarassing, were anyone to see. Annie bucked, tangling her legs with his, yanking him forward, dragging him to the ground. Naruto choked in surprise as they went down together; he holding her wrists, and she kicking at him with all her might. Soon enough they were rolling around on the ground, each seeking the advantage over the other.

"I hate you!" Annie railed at him!

"I hate you too!" he shouted!

"I hate hate hate hate you!"

"Oh, yeah? Well I hate hate hate hate hate you more!"

"Bastard!"

"Bitch!"

"Insolent man!"

"Troublesome woman!"

"I really want to kiss you right now!"

"Ditto!"

Naruto wasn't quite sure who initiated the kiss, only that someone did; somehow, his lips pressed against hers. Lips a world apart from his own; softer, somehow. He couldn't bring the words to bear. Her delighted gasp snaked through his ears like smoke roiling through honey, further piquing his desire. Her tongue rolled against his with the repressed passion of an eternity. Incredibly he found himself pulling away, only for her hands to lock around his head and draw him back in, smashing his mouth to hers in furious desire.

"No." the world was a hiss. "No you fucking don't. You don't get to back out now."

Firm fingers twined through his hair, tickling over his scalp, tormenting him. What was it about her that drove him crazy so? He was pretty sure it had something to do with the old saying. Opposites attract? If she was ice, then he was fire, determined to thaw her. There was just something about her cold demeanor that drove him to distraction, or in this case furious argumentative passion. It was exactly what he needed after losing so many students to the titans. Just a form of...

...release.

"Looks like you found an outlet for all that frustration after all." Kurama mused.

Naruto's smile grew another inch at the thought, his gaze shifting to the blonde beneath him.

"I hate you." she growled anew between kisses. "So freaking much."

"Love you too, Annie." Naruto laughed, his mirth muffled by her mouth. His actions earned him an angry hiss.

"Love this."

Her body smashed against his on a moan, another reminder of torment and desire, and he fought back a shudder. Too long. It had been too long since he'd experienced this; since he'd yearned to feel again. Unthinking, his hand closed around her jacket, intent on tearing it free from her body-

"Wait!" she hissed, her teeth sinking into his lower lip. "Wait."

Naruto froze, his entire body rigid.

"I'm calling in that favor you owe me." her eyes bored into his with unspoken need. "You. Me. Here. Now. For the next hour."

"Here?!" Was she serious? Even if one were to assume Pixis would wait that long...that was an absurdly long time. Now, Naruto was no stranger to intimacy; having already lost his to a certain Mizukage during his time, but the sheer audacity of Annie's demand actually left him a little taken aback.

"Now." her eyes told him she wouldn't take no for an answer. "Unless...you don't think I'm good enough." Another challenge, fire against ice, daring the former to yield.

Naruto had no words for that; he couldn't have found them even if he tried. Instead, he nodded. Then he rose. Annie barely had time to gasp before he yanked her up into his lap, forcing her body to rise with his. Then he drew back, receding further and further into the trees. He carried her as though she weighed no more than a child. A few paces later, and he lowered her just as gently, bringing her down to the floor, hands cupping at her cheeks and holding her fast, kissing, kissing, kissing...

"How much longer are you going to tease me, bastard?" she whispered in between a kiss, shrugging at her garments. "Do I have to take these off myself-hey?!"

RIP.

A hand flashed out like greased lightning, rending her shirt to rags in an instant and knocking her down. In an instant Naruto was there, forcing her down, mouth smothering an exposed breast, nipping with sharp teeth. The moan that fled from Annie's lips was like fire in his veins. A hand dipped down, closing around the edge of her pants, but gently. Rather than ripping them away as her had her jacket, his fingers proved deft; taking hold of the undergarments within, finding her nether lips to plunge deep into sensitive bundle of nerves beyond. Then followed his mouth,drawing a startled yelp from her.

"Better?" he grinned, raising his head.

"Kiss me up here, you asshole." Annie hissed, her voice leaden with desire.

Naruto hesitated at that, hanging over her like a ancient god. Though Annie panted and mewled beneath him, she never turned from him or tried to shove him away. Though glazed, her gaze remained firmly fixed with his; on occasion she would wander to see the scars on his bare chest and forearms. Though she seemed fascinated by them, she never once asked how he'd acquired them. Nostalgia warmed his eyes, reminding him of the very first woman who had seen these scars, gazed upon them with wonderment, and said nothing. Annie did not ask him now either, nor did she press him. A lone tear trickled down his right eye to land upon her cheek.

"Why're you crying?" she asked, staring at him in disbelief. Naruto had never cried since she'd met him. Never.

"It's nothing." Naruto laughed bitterly. "Just...an old memory."

The ice in her eyes softened for a moment; her lips moving almost inaudibly.

"..."

"What?"

"I said, lets make a new one, then." she replied softly, arching up beneath him to push her lips to his.

Naruto froze. Not once had he ever considered being intimate with anyone ever again. Not like this. He'd always thought himself too jaded after he'd lost Mei in the war. Until this very moment he'd thought Annie must have been messing with him; pulling his leg. Being her usual cold, callous, demanding self. Now he realized she actually wanted him, truly, shared his sentiment; because he felt the grip on his wrist slacken, slide, until her fingers were intertwining with his. The realization brought him more joy than he'd ever thought he could feel.

"Alright."

He bent to kiss her again, and was reminded once more of the strange bond they shared. Not that of a master and student, but of something else. One of pain. Each, knew what it was like to face adversity and emerge victorious out of that fire, forged into something strong and unbreakable. They each had cracks in their armor; weaknesses that the other loved to exploit. There was none of that now. None of that at all, as her tongue tangled with his, inflaming his desire to an almost feverish degree. Thoughts of Mikasa and Sasha and Mina flickered through his mind-lord almighty this wouldn't be fun to explain to any of them-but his passion pushed such thoughts down, leaving him only eyes for the young woman beneath him. A thought flickered in the back of his mind, surfacing as the young woman beneath him wriggled her way out of her pants, exposing creme smooth skin, and long legs that seemed to go on for miles. Only...

Oh, bugger.

"I...

...love you!" Annie gasped out suddenly-startling both of them. Naruto stared at her for a long moment, mouth agpe, utterly disbelieving in what he had just heard. Never once had he thought to hear such words again; certainly not from her mouth. Kurama shared in his disbelief.

"What...

...did you just say?"

To his infinite disbelief-and delight-the blonde beneath him burned brighter than a volcano. "I'm not going to say it again, idiot!" she sputtered, struggling to reclaim some of her pride. In that instant, Naurto was all but unable to take his eyes off of her.

"Annie...I..." he drew a deep breath, swallowed, exhaled. He'd said these words before to her in mockery; now he had to wonder; did he actually mean them? He knew the answer...already. He felt the same. Just as he felt for all his students, just as he felt for Mina, Mikasa, Sasha. Yes. Of course. he realized with an epiphany. I...

"Love you too."

He lowered his lips to hers again before she could speak and for the next hour, their world consisted only of the two of them. In those sinful sixty minutes, everything just...

...fell away.

---

A/N: Whew! I'm emotionally drained after writing this. I wanted this chapter to plunge deeper into the relationships; to remind Naruto that not everything is sunshine and butterfiles, that he can't save everyone, no matter how much he might want to. Sasha realized that-smart girl!-and tried to do something-anything-about it to help alleviate his buren. Did she try a little too hard? Maybe. But you've gotta give the girl points for trying. And Kurama, you clever bastard! Putting on an act like that! And at long last...

...NARUTOXANNIE FINALLY HAPPENED!

On another note, I know I promised I would wrap up the defense of Trost in this chapter and technically, I have. The counterattack begins and ends next chapter with Naruto and Eren on the front lines. I could've made that into this chapter as well, but I felt that if I did, I'd be rushing things. And I definitely wouldn't want to do that. I've worked long and hard on this, and with it put sooooo much emotion into each line. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it!

One of Naruto's student's is gonna die next chapter! WHO WILL IT BE?! Who will live, and who will die?! Look forward to it!

Hmm, decisions, decisions! Regardless, this world is going to be quite a touch different with Naruto around...just think of all the good he could do with his abilities, garned from the Fourth Shinobi War, not to mention the unfortunate agelessness he's acquired from it! And with that little tidbit, I bid you adieu, dear readers! We get to see their training and one more three year timeskip, next chapter, and the events of Trost take place with a startling alteration! Look forward to it, ya know!

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the preview!

(Preview)

Naruto frowned at Eren's Titan form. It was behaving strangely. Instead of lifting the boulder as had been the plan, it was just...standing there, gazing off into empty space, uncaring even as countles soldiers began to perish around them. Sasha and the others-his precious shinobi students, were out there buying time for Eren to lift the boulder-while the task of personally protecting him fell to Naruto's Titan form. And all because he himself didn't want any part of the glory. He was beginning to regret that decision. Tch!

At this rate he'd have to do it himself!

Striding forward, he reached out with one of his six arms, seeking to jostle the smaller Titan by the shoulder.

"Oi," Jeager." he growled. "Get your head out of yer ass! We need to move!"

No response.

Naruto shook him again, roughly this time.

"Eren!"

THAT got a response. The titan turned to face him, green eyes narrow. A low growl left his lips, causing the blonde to stiffen.

"What in the world...?"

"Dodge!"

Perhaps it was his confusion; or maybe the misguided belief that Eren wouldn't dare attack him for fear of what he'd seen earlier. Regardless, Naruto found himself unprepared as the rogue titan lurched to its feet, eyes little more than slits in the back of its head, hands clenched into fists-

Uh-oh.

Clenched knuckles barreled into his unprotected face...

...hard.

R&R! =D