(And I'm back with another installment. Hope you enjoy it.)
It had been a year since Naruto left Konoha with Jiraiya for training. During the year Jiraiya had been teaching Naruto the beginner's stuff for those wishing to be ninja like chakra control and the basic transformation jutsu. Of course Jiraiya also had to make sure Naruto grew up with more than just the thoughts of being a ninja on his mind. He also taught Naruto some of the greater things in life to appreciate, like good food, and ladies, especially ladies.
In fact Jiraiya loved taking advantage of having Naruto with him by showing him off to several ladies he would flirt with at various cafes, lodges, or pubs. The ladies would gush over Naruto's cuteness, while Jiraiya would enjoy them in his own way. Of course, Naruto had no idea at the time how to appreciate the opposite sex the way Jiraiya did, but he did like the fact the women weren't looking at him like he was a freak.
Of course Jiraiya wasn't the only one supervising Naruto since departing Konoha. As promised by Oracle the maximals and predacons took turns traveling with the two, to either supervise Naruto when Jiraiya could not, as well as train Naruto to improve his strength and reflexes. And in the course of the year the two transformers groups rubbed off on Naruto, as he did to them.
One day down by a river, nine year old Naruto was busy training against Optimus, Megaton, Rhinox, and Tarantulus, while Jiraiya was in town getting his research done. Naruto was currently dodging blaster shots from Tarantulus and Rhinox.
"That's it, Naruto, move your feet." Rhinox instructed, as he kept shooting around Naruto making sure not to hit him fatally.
Naruto dodged the shots, before coming face to face with Optimus and Megatron who tried grabbing him, but using his speed was able to avoid getting grabbed by them for awhile. He was eventually caught in Megatron's T-Rex head arm and brought up to said Predacon.
"Well, I will say you've improved on not getting caught. By five minutes, but still an improvement."
"Thank you, Megatron." Naruto replied.
"Speed and Strength are part of the essentials to be a capable shinobi," Optimus noted, "And that's why we're training along side you."
"I understand, Optimus."
"I suggest we call it a day for now." Tarantulus suggested, before the four returned to beat mode.
Rhinox laid on the ground, "Boy it's a gorgeous day."
"It is pretty." Naruto admitted.
"Indeed," Came Oracle's voice, as she appeared through the communicator, "After a good work out you deserve to enjoy it."
"Thanks, Oracle."
"And I have a surprise for you, Naruto." the program continued, which grabbed the boys attention.
"A surprise? What is it?" he asked excitedly.
"I've decided to give you two more transformers to work with."
"Two?"
"Yes. I'm teleporting them from the base to your coordinates." Oracle explained, and in a matter of moments two creatures appeared before them.
Naruto looked and saw a White Tiger and a Peregrine Falcon, "Wow." Naruto marveled at them.
"Naruto, may I introduce you two the maximals, Tigatron and Airazor." Oracle introduced him.
"Sweet," Naruto said feeling impressed, "Though how did these two come to be? I through it was just the two teams that came to earth."
"Yes, but on board the Maximal ship were several stasis pods containing other transformers who had not been given life yet. Before the Axalon went down, they released the pods on board that landed in several spots on the planet. One by one each of those pods eventually scanned for organic life and gave birth to a new transformer," Oracle explained, "They either came out as a maximal, or if Megatron found one, he'd tamper with it by reprogramming it into a predacon."
"Whoa." Naruto gasped.
"Tigatron was one of the first to awaken, though due to some damage done to his pod he felt far more tiger than robot. He was regarded as a loner who was more connected to the Earth than any other Beast Warrior. He enjoys the planet's natural beauty and has often been concerned about the damage that the Transformers' battle is doing to it."
"Sounds like a real nature lover." Naruto noted.
Oracle continued, "When he woke he was unable to determine friend or foe, until he spotted the maximals and predacons fighting over his empty stasis pod. It was only when Megatron threatened him and the very animal he scanned for life he knew where his place was. Though he joined the maximals, he chose to instead remain in the wild feeling more at home there than on their ship. This of course made him a perfect scout and and infiltrator for his fellow maximals, but there was a time his connection to nature and his beast mode helped the maximals out of a tight spot."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, as the other four transformers listened as well despite having the memories of what happened.
"Naruto, do you remember why the maximals and predacons scanned for life upon arriving on the planet?"
"Yeah to protect themselves from energon radiation." Naruto recalled.
"Yes, however they also couldn't spend a long time in beast mode because that caused Optimus, Rattrap, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Dinobot to give into their beast-like behaviors making them think they were the animals they scanned the life of."
"How did that happen?" Naruto wondered.
"During a battle, the preds stole a device from the Maximal ship that allowed them to remain in robot mode on board with no threat from the energon radiation. Without that device, they were vulnerable to the energon radiation, and had to remain in beast mode for awhile. And as the days passed the five ended up succumbing to their animal minds, until Tigatron found them and with his wise words of accepting their beast modes are a part of them was able to bring them back online and take the fight back to the predacons."
"Wicked." Naruto smiled.
"Yes. At first the maximals believed their beast modes were just a form of protection, but they accepted they're more than that and were able to utilize their beast modes in conjuncture with their fighting tactics."
Naruto nodded in while committing it to memory, before looking at the eagle, "And what about that one? Airazor, was it?"
"Yes," Oracle confirmed, "When her stasis pod was damaged upon landing, it took Rhinox's genius to bring her online, along with Cheetor offering up a component of his for her to temporary use. Calm and confident, but also adventurous and brave, with a healthy supply of dry humor. Her aerial skill in either mode, incredibly sharp eyesight, and steady aim make her a dangerous opponent. Much like Tigatron she chose to remain in the wild having grown fond of the planet's beauty, while also chose to keep an eye on Tigatron. For more reasons than one." Oracle winked, much to Naruto's confusion.
"This pair is quite a team, I assure you, Naruto. And while Tigatron helped the maximals deal with their beast modes, Airazor's mission was to retrieve the device the predacons stole. These two additions will further your training process as well as help you when needing places to be scouted." the program continued.
"Very useful," Naruto admitted, before turning to the maximals and commanded, "Tigatron! Airazor! Awaken!"
At Naruto's command, the two maximals shifted into robot mode and yawned, "At last we are online." Tigatron told Airazor."
"About time too." Airazor agreed.
"Welcome back into the fold, old friends." Optimus greeted.
"Good to be back, Optimus." Tigatron greeted the maximal leader.
"We've missed you." Airazor said, as she hugged Rhinox much to his embarrassment.
Tigatron turned to Magatron and Tarantulus, "Including you guys." the two preds nodded in thank you.
"We have so much to catch up on, but first let me introduce you to Naruto Uzumaki." Optimus showed the two the boy.
Tigatron got down to Naruto's level, and offered his hand, "Very nice to meet you, Naruto."
Naruto shook his hand, "Thanks. I heard a lot about you and Airazor from Oracle. Nature lovers from the sounds of it." he snickered.
"What can we say? We like the outdoors." Airazor answered with a shrug.
"Naruto is our master now." Tarantulus explained.
"Master?" the two Maximals asked in surprise.
"While technically, I am your master. Just think of me as a good friend... That you obey." Naruto snarked, as Tigatron and Airazor groaned.
"You'll get used to it." Rhinox assured them.
"Hey, I'm back!" came Jiraiya's voice, as he walked over, "Hey, Naruto. How's your workout been... Going?" he asked, before stopping and saw the two new faces.
"Hey, Ero-sennin." Naruto greeted, as Jiraiya groaned, while the transformers minus Tigatron and Airazor chuckled.
"Naruto, how many times have I told you not to call me that?!" Jiraiya shouted, while ruffling the boys head.
"Hey, at least I didn't say it in public!" Naruto shouted back.
Jiraiya calmed himself before continuing, "So you mind introducing me to your new friends?"
"Right. This is Tigatron and Airazor," Naruto began, "Guys, this is my sensei, Jiraiya."
"And you call him, Ero-senin?" Tigatron asked.
"Nickname." Naruto smirked, only to get hit on the head by Jiraiya.
"Ahem, just ignore that last part," Jiraiya spoke to the two, before eying Airzaor. More specifically her bodily figure, "Well, you look like a maximal that keeps herself in shape."
"Uh, thank you." Airazor said feeling the awkwardness.
"Your welcome. By the way, ever thought of having a book character be based off you before?" the sage offered, while Naruto face palmed himself.
That night, as Jiraiya was asleep at the camp, Naruto was sitting by a tree with Tigatron in beast mode laying at his side, "Enjoy the beauty of nature, Naruto, in both day and night."
"I am." Naruto admitted, as he looked up at the night sky seeing all the stars were out.
"You know if you concentrate and clear your mind you can hear and feel what nature is feeling." the white tiger explained.
"Really?" the boy asked curiously.
"Yes. But you must really concentrate and open up to it."
Naruto taking Tigatron's words to heart closed his eyes and concentrated letting nothing else distract him. As he started blocking out all distractions, he could feel the wind blow, but could also hear it as if it was singing.
"I hear the wind." he spoke, while still keeping his eyes closed.
"And what is it telling you?" Tigatron inquired.
"I don't understand. Oh, now I lost it." Naruto groaned, as he lost concentration.
Tigatron could only laugh, "Well, communicating with nature isn't so easy."
"You seemed to have it down." Naruto noted.
"While I am not the original Tigatron, I do have his memories and experiences. Plus being part beast and spending plenty of time in the wild made it easier for me."
"Will I one day be able to communicate with nature the way you do one day?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"Maybe some day. You never know," Tigatron answered, "For now. Let's get you back to camp. You need some sleep."
"Right." Naruto said, as he hopped on Tigatron's back, as the white tiger took the boy back to the campsite.
(And there you go. So far it's just been a year since Naruto left the village and now he has two new maximals under his command. I'll jump ahead another two years drawing it closer to the set age for when he graduates the academy. Also I'm not going to make Naruto hide the maximals and predacons from people otherwise what's the point of him having them if he keeps them a secret. I'll see you all next time.)