[Started on March 4, 2022]

[18:42 hours, Philippines]

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"Great chapter! I like this Naruto/AOT story better than Game of the Gods."

Thanks! I'm honestly agreeing. I do believe this shows more promise than… "Game of the Gods" although the proper title is "Game of Gods" if you're referring to the previous Naruto/AOT story I have.

Another one reviewed something about Mikasa's family… You'll find out here.

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=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

=== (Chapter 5: Aftermath) ===

Drenched in steaming blood, Naruto stands atop Wall Maria, his gaze overlooking the Shingashina District. The last boat should be well away now, and the hole through the gate is plugged. Albeit, temporarily.

And it won't last much longer judging by the steam rising from it.

For you see, the hole is plugged by the now slowly evaporating corpses of titans. The only thing keeping the titans trapped within the district is the density of the corpses stacked into the breach, and by the walls is it dense.

But such things are far from the blonde's mind.

Instead, he closes his eyes. His senses are enhanced by chakra, and the following pulse he sends out confirms the grim truth.

No one is left within Shingashina.

Still… it cannot hurt to check on his adoptive family. If they are still there, that is. Looking back, he sees the boat grow smaller and smaller. Now, while the chance is low, the chance of someone having access to a telescope is still there. Thus, he jumps.

Inside the district, he falls for a certain distance before sticking to the wall. Crouching, he rockets off with enough power to merely shake the wall without so much as a scratch. Landing on a roof close to the market square, Naruto surveys his surroundings. Bodies and boulders litter the streets, blood paints the walls, and the stench of rot and iron brings forth familiar sensations he hasn't felt in the last four years… two years if he's counting Sasuke's bloody death by his hands. But those memories are simply that; memories.

The important time is the 'now' he is living in.

Hence he summons his clones who all know his mental command. "Spread out and search for them," before his gaze settles onto the destroyed gate of Shingashina, where the sea of Titans seems endless.

It shouldn't be possible, of course, considering what his clone saw when he sent it out to scout during his first year in this world. A whole world with technology that far surpassed this island. And yet, only this island seems to have titans. Then again, his clone was sent on a simple quick reconnaissance mission, not one that had it walk amongst the outside world…

And his gaze returns to the market square. Dropping onto street level, he walks around looking for any sign of his adoptive family, and… instead of feeling any sadness, his heart, mind, and soul simply go numb. For as he walked around the destroyed stalls, he noticed his family's stall. Crushed by a rock. He didn't save them two years ago only for them to die by being crushed by a rock… but here they are. With a mental command, he wills his clones to disappear in puffs of smoke. He looks on in sadness. The upper half of Mikasa's father is gone, while Mikasa's mother… Missus Ackerman's lower half is crushed, by what Naruto can only assume to be his adoptive father's attempt to push the woman away. Even if, as the outcome shows… it was a futile attempt. As for his sisters…

Well…

As his vision clouds… as his body shakes… and as the stomps of a few titans draw near… he crouches down by Missus Ackerman's body… and untangles one of her… now cold and stiff arms from a bloodied cloth; her other arm extended, her hand holding her husband's severed arm

Sarada Ackerman, with her hollowed eyes, stares straight through Naruto's blue orbs. Her head… dented, and her neck… broken.

As for Mikoto… all that is left is another bloodied cloth… trapped under the rock, with chunks of meat splattered around.

Mister Ackerman… that man, that father figure in his last two years in this world, in this universe… "He really… tried to save at least the two of you," Naruto says as he looks at the empty shell that was once his sister. A sister in all but blood.

STOMP.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here," he stands. "May your souls find peace." Feeling for the familiar pull in the pit of his stomach, he tugs back at the chakra of a being he has only used when fighting in the last Great Shinobi War. "Lend me your power, Son Goku," he says and the power of the Yonbi, the four tails, comes forth.

Chakra with the power of lava surges out into Naruto's now outstretched palm, but he holds it back.

Instead, he splits it into the basic natures: fire and earth, and he uses fire for his purposes.

"May your ash set you free."

The torrent of flames roars as they engulf the bodies of four of his adoptive family members.

Looking around, Naruto's hollow eyes lock with the closest titan, now only ten meters away and bending down to grab him.

"I could easily seal these breaches, you know," Naruto hums before leaping over the hand and landing on it while somehow looking down on the titan that still towers over him. "But I won't. Something tells me you're all important to the future of this war… and if I took care of all of you, something tells me I won't be able to find that soul that that so-called 'god' wanted me to find. That damn 'god' that send me to this world." And in a flicker, he vanishes. "So, come." The titan screeches as it grabs its eyes while Naruto lands on a nearby roof. "I'll show you how powerless you truly are against me." And then he vanishes.

He could reappear back into the Trost District, yes, but questions will be asked and they are questions he needs not deal with. Instead, he reappears on Wall Maria before zipping down onto the inner side of the wall where one horse waits. It's no scouting horse, but it will have to do.

"Hyah!"

As he travels north… the blocked gate behind him starts to reopen.

And the roars and moans of the titans start to seep through.

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Darius Zackly stands! His chair clatters onto the floor! The two men stand ragged before him, their smiles slight, as he seems to be looking at them.

But his mind is not on them. Instead, it wonders to the four special graduates who were on a boat to Shingashina.

And then a thought strikes him. "Did you tell the scouts?"

"We-uh… n-no, sir."

And then, Zackly calms. "I see. You bypassed them and went all the way to me, is that right?"

"Y-yes, sir! We thought it would be appropriate that the head of all three military branches was to hear this news first."

Zackly… sits back down.

One would expect an outburst. "If that is all, you may leave." The two men expected to be rewarded.

"Sir, if I may?"

"I told you to leave."

"But—"

SLAM!

Two soldiers of the Military Police branch burst into the room. Zackly slamming his fist onto his table tends to have that effect. And the two Garrison Soldiers freeze.

Zackly… Zackly stands with a cane now in his hands. "Lock these two away. I want our fastest messenger in this office yesterday."

"Yessir!" The two MPs do as they are instructed.

As the two men protest, Zackly looks at his pocket watch…

The time is forty minutes past eighteen hundred hours. 1840 Hrs… 06:40 PM.

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Above the gates of Trost, several green Garrison soldiers drink the night away. One soldier, another face in the crowd, however, does not join them. He is junior to these men, but one with a noble view of his duty. And what better motivation than the newly arrived refugees to rekindle his hope that his station shall once again be viewed with high regard.

So, it is to his surprise that he spots a small… whisp of light in the distance?

"What in the three walls—"

And then he sees it. A blonde man, clad in black, atop a horse. "WHO GOES THERE?!"

This catches the attention of everyone within earshot.

And the masses gather.

At the gates, Hannes stands at the forefront! His heart beats faster! Faster! FASTER!

"YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A chorus of celebration! The masses cheer! The blonde returns! Their saviour! The Blonde Devil! And as for Hannes! Hannes's heart… SWELLS! He is not the focus of the event. He is not the one being praised. But he, too, cannot help but swell with awe, hope, and pride at the young man entering the open gates atop a horse.

One phrase becomes commonplace this night.

"Welcome home, Hope of Humanity, Kinpatsu no Akuma."

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Korra, Nobura, and Mikasa wait for the blonde at the edge of the crowd. Their cries helped in informing the trio. All the more did the massing of the people. Korra and Nobura are warriors; their expressions show as much. Mikasa, on the other hand, is still a twelve-year-old girl. And so, when Naruto emerges from the crowd, the girl cannot help but tackle him.

As for Naruto, well… the blonde man has no idea how to… exactly respond to this. But then they lock eyes.

"What about Papa? Mama?"

Naruto freezes.

"Sarada?! Mikoto?!"

His eyes lock with hers… and his silence is telling. Looking over at Korra for a bit, the woman nods in understanding. Mikasa's eyes grow hollow.

"Mikasa."

Nothing.

"Mikasa?"

Still nothing.

"Mikasa!"

The girl's head snaps. Her eyes lock onto cerulean orbs.

Naruto's next words are a whisper. "I'm sorry."

Her heart sinks. Her grip on him tightens, She can't lose him too.

By now, the crowd has dispersed—although some stay nearby to listen in on anything. As for Korra, she has to gently pry the girl from Naruto before leaving the blonde and the orange-head while leading the girl back to Eren, Armin, and Carla. The other two early graduates give the two a short glace as they leave before Naruto speaks.

"Nobura… can you help me write a letter to Shikamaru's girlfriend?"

Nobura's gaze softens. "Sure…"

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock!

A blonde man raises a brow. "Who is it?"

"Commander Erwin, Premiere Zackly sends a message." The voice says from beyond the door. "Wall Maria has fallen."

Erwin's chair clatters to the floor. "What?!"

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Sometime later, while all the others sleep, Naruto remains awake. His thoughts go to the events that occurred earlier in the day. From the fall of Shingashina and Wall Maria… to the death of Shikamaru… to his return and the letter in his hands… "Fucking hell of a day…"

The voice of two men disturbs his thoughts.

"Naruto Uzumaki?"

The blonde teen looks up from his finished letter. He finds two men with muskets on their shoulders. "The Military Police?"

"Yes. Come with us."

"Wait, what?" Naruto stands. "Why?"

"Don't ask any questions. You're a soldier now. Do as you're ordered to do."

The teen's eyes narrow. "Understood…"

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

The next day comes far too quickly for the survivors' liking. Whispers are spread about the blonde teen, of course. Especially after his return from beyond Trost, from beyond Wall Rose, but as of this morning, not even his two fellow elite graduates have seen hide nor hair from him. Murmurs of seeing him last night become talks of "maybe he was a ghost" and the like.

Thus, their spirits once again sink.

And only graver news follows.

"By the order of the Royal Family!" A man in military uniform speaks atop a stack of wooden boxes. "Due to sudden influx of refugees, all able-bodied people, young and old, are to start tilling the land! Furthermore! To prevent food shortages! Daily rations will…"

His words are drowned out by the cries of outrage from the crowd.

Korra clicks her tongue as she leans on a wall with her arms crossed. "All refugees are immediately forced to work, huh?"

"I call bullshit," Nobura says as she steps up beside her. "You mean to tell me that for some reason, news of what happed reached Wall Sina yesterday, as in the day of the attack?"

Korra hums. "Not to mention, even the scouts don't seem to know anything about it yet."

"UGH! Where's Naruto when you want him?!" Nobura storms off back to where the family is. Her presence, however, is replaced by… the older woman of the group.

"Excuse me. You're friends with Naruto, right?

Korra raises a brow. "Miss Jaeger, right?" She receives a nod. "I'm Korra. I don't think I ever took the time to introduce myself."

Carla gives a shy chuckle. "How polite. I don't suppose you can tell me anything about Naruto?"

"What's there to tell?"

"Sorry?"

"I've only known him for two months," Korra shrugs. "He is what you see. He's friendly but usually keeps to himself. I mean, he's friendly! Very friendly, but… there are a lot of things we still don't know about him."

"I see…"

Korra nods. "All I can say is… he's definitely been holding back in training if his display yesterday is anything to go by." And then, her gaze goes up to the clouds. "Shikamaru, the boy who died… I think Nobura would agree that perhaps he was closer to Naruto than either of us."

"Oh…"

"Yeah… not like we can ask a dead man about the living, now, can we?"

"… I guess not…" and Carla Jaeger asks the question every survivor wishes to know. "Where is he, anyway?"

"That… is something that neither Nobura nor I know…"

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Trost District, like all the other districts, is connected to the main walls. And, just like Shingashina, Trost's rear gate is the gate of Wall Rose whilst for Shingashina, its rear gate was of Wall Maria. And, it is behind this rear gate where more buildings can be found, albeit, far more than those behind the rear gates of Shingashina.

Here, specifically in its more run-down areas, is a man clad in black with O.D.M. gear… but this man's version of the gear looks highly different from what the regulars use. And the man smirks at Naruto as the boy is brought before him. He stands at the entrance to a small rundown inn. His stubbled face gives him a rugged look, but his eyes…

His eyes are ever examining.

And it is his eyes that scan Naruto's surroundings. The blonde is surrounded by the debris of abandoned houses. Houses which, he's sure, will be repaired for the sudden influx of refugees. His gaze goes back to the blonde before him, flanked by the two men who fetched him.

Yet, Naruto does not flinch. "Your men don't seem to have any manners or respect, Stranger in Black."

"Hoh?" The man is intrigued. "You're outnumbered," and as if on cue, more men and women with muskets pop up from behind cover, "and outgunned."

Naruto… smirks back at the man. "This is a pretty neat welcome. Don't you think you brought more than enough men, Mister… I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"My name isn't important. What is important is if you are willing to bend the knee, boy. I've heard a fair bit about your—"

"I'm not sucking anyone's dick, that's for sure."

The man can't help but stare… "Ohhh, a funny man, eh?"

"Ohhh! Sarcasm! You know it too! Amazing!"

WHAT?! "Listen here you little shit—"

"No, YOU listen here!" At this, the man in black can only stare with his mouth slightly agape. "I'm tired, I'm sleepy, I have a letter to deliver, and I already killed a bunch of titans before even making it back here! So! Unless you're actually worth my time, I suggest—" his speech is cut short as he dodges the supposed surprise strike the two men flanking him try and deliver. They try and silence him before he jumps and sends them away with a mid-air split-kick!

THWACK! "What the?" Naruto turns just in time to see—CLANG—an O.D.M. hook pierces into a wall followed very closely by the gear's iconic ZIIIIIIP!

Naruto tilts his neck just in time to dodge another hook before dropping to the ground and rolling away in time to avoid the oncoming man! Using his momentum, he flips himself right before noting a woman aiming at him with her musket!

And his ears catch it again! The sound of the man accelerating towards him using the uncommon O.D.M. gear!

Naruto sidesteps the man once again before grabbing one of the fallen men and holding him up just in time for the girl to fire her musket.

"Dammit!"

Not wasting his time, Naruto grabs the man's musket before aiming it at the immediate threat—the man with the odd O.D.M. gear who is once again zipping at him—and…

He fires.

The attacking man's eyes widen! The musket ball grazes his skin, passes just above his ear, and hits the wall behind him!

The stranger's reaction is understandable. "HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOUR FIRE! EVERYBODY CEASE FIRE!" He suddenly shouts with wide eyes and an even wider smile. "I've heard the stories… but to think there could be someone even better than an Ackerman…"

"Ackerman?" Naruto's eyes narrow while the rest of his senses remain on alert.

"Kenny Ackerman," he finally introduces himself. "Perhaps you've heard of my nephew? I hear he's pretty famous now."

Naruto remains silent.

"No? Well, that's fine, I suppose," Kenny says as he eyes the young boy in front of him. "We just want you to know one thing, Uzumaki-san…" he notes how his sudden shift to addressing the blonde in Oriental didn't even faze the blonde. He continues, "and that… is that the King has his eyes on you."

"The king?"

"Yes. The King. In fact, we've heard of your skill. And just now, we saw a glimpse of it. You can be certain that we will contact you again," He confirms before lighting a cigarette. "Now, off you go. You do still have family and friends to care for, after a—"

And then the air chills.

Contrary to what Kenny and his anti-personnel group expected, Naruto did not shiver in fear when they mentioned his family and friends. Oh no. Instead, it is they who shiver as the chill runs up their spine.

"Listen here, and listen well, Kenny Ackerman." He practically spits the name in disgust. "You and your men will do well to leave my family and friends out of this, or else, I'm going after the royal family after I torture all these people here in the worst ways known to humans."

"You don't seriously think—"

"You wanna play fuck around and find out, shithead? Or shall we leave things as they are?"

Kenny… exhales. "Fine then. But we will contact you again."

"Oh, that? I'm counting on it." And then, Naruto walks away.

But the blonde doesn't miss the presence trying to conceal itself many metres away. Still, he pays it no mind. If the royal family is watching him, then perhaps that presence is one of their agents. "Perhaps… but first, I need to go back to the others."

Kenny, for his part, watches the blonde leave with narrowed eyes. "That kid… He has more combat experience than anyone within the walls…"

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

It takes Naruto the better part of the day to make it back to the now makeshift shelters where the refugees can be found. Many of them still stare at him in awe, some dare to say hi, smile, and/or wave his way. He returns the gestures, once in a while going out of his way to help anyone he can. Occasionally, he also hears murmurs of "I guess he really did come back alive! I thought he was a ghost!" Or something along those lines.

Then he hears an old man's voice that calls out to him from the faceless crowd. "Hey, kid, where were you all day? A lot of people have been looking for you. Especially those two gals and that family or some shit they're staying with."

Naruto smiles. "Come again?"

"I said—"

A commotion saves the faceless voice. "HEY! WATCH IT!"

Naruto whips his head just in time to see a soldier—specifically an M.P.—shove a young hooded teen girl to the ground. "The fuck?" And then his eyes widen… because the soldier doesn't stop there. Oh no; the soldier grabs what Naruto realizes to be a pot of STILL steaming soup. "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" And before he knows it, he's already running.

"GAAAAAH!" Naruto cries out as he manages to tackle the girl away making him the recipient of steaming soup. But before anyone can do anything; before they can even comment or try and help him, Naruto gets up, slugs the solider on the chin, grabs the now-empty pot, bashes it atop the soldier's head, grabs the still warm ladle, and whacks the soldier on the head with it. Repeatedly. "YOU! -hit- ARE! -hit- A SOLDIER! -hit- OF! -hit- HUMANITY! -hit- YOU'RE! -hit- MEANT! -hit- TO PROTECT! -hit- THE PEOPLE! -hit- FUCKWAD! -hit-"

Naruto pants as his skin burns. His healing factor, however, makes it bearable. At least he won't have any scars. After all, if not even a Chidori through his chest when he was twelve can leave a scar, why should steaming soup? But he pushes the thoughts of scarring and shitty humans away. Instead, he walks over to the still-down teen who stares up at him in shock.

"Are you alright?"

The teen gives a hesitant nod before a hand is offered. They take it.

"Why did he shove you down like that, anyway?"

"I—" her voice shakes. "I don't know."

Naruto sighs and pats the teen—the girl, he guesses from her voice—on her head. "At least you're safe n—"

"HEY!" Another soldier shouts from behind him.

At this, Naruto rolls his eyes and looks back to where the downed soldier lies unconscious. There, another soldier stands with two more soldiers flanking him. "You Military Police never learn." Naruto pops his neck. "Come at me if you dare."

"Get him!"

The two rush the blonde who grabs the discarded pot again and whacks one soldier with it knocking him out, slugging the next, and before the third soldier—the supposed leader—can even think of charging in, Naruto spits on his face making him recoil.

The next thing the last standing soldier knows, he's sent gasping for breath before crumpling to the floor, courtesy of Naruto's punch to his gut.

Taking in a breath, the blonde asks, "Anyone else?" Silence reigns. "Good." He turns to go back to the girl… but stops. "Where did she..."

"She left while you dealt with them," a bystander says.

Naruto sighs and nods before making his way to where Mikasa and the others are.

"Hey, wait, dude! Are you okay?"

Naruto gives the concerned bystander a dismissive wave and heads off.

No one seems to notice the pair of blue eyes following him from the shadows of one of the shelters. The eyes then drift to the wet stain on the ground and a very dented pot.

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

"Naruto!" Mikasa cries out as Naruto steps under the roof of their 'shelter'. Not like the others have it any better. She receives an 'oof' as she tackles the blonde making the teen boy ruffle her hair before picking her up. The others watch him; Carla in relief, Eren in awe, and Armin… with far more awe than Eren. Korra and Nobura are nowhere to be found.

"Sorry for leaving without telling you. Did you behave?"

"Where were you?!"

"I had to talk with some people."

Nobura arrives with a quizzical look. "And that took you the whole day?"

"Military police," Naruto shrugs knowing Nobura would understand. "Where have you been?"

"Korra and I have been looking for you, duh."

"Korra?" Naruto raises a brow. "Where is she, then?"

"She's getting food. We had to ask Miss Jaeger here to keep Mikasa in check. She'd have gone lost looking for you if we hadn't."

Naruto raises a brow at Mikasa. "Really?"

Her reply is to blush furiously and look away.

"No way, really?!" Naruto laughs and ruffles her hair again. "I'm touched, Mikasa. But you don't know anything about tracking yet."

She grumbles something unintelligible.

"Come again?"

"I said…" Mikasa takes a breath… and then… "I guess I'll learn that during training."

"Training?" Naruto blinks. "Huh?"

"Yeah. I'm going to join the military with Eren and Armin."

"Mikasa! We talked about this!" Carla scolds the girl, but everyone else ignores her.

Naruto smiles. "Yeah, in four years, sure."

"We're joining tomorrow."

The blonde freezes for the nth time this day. "Huh?" Then he looks to Carla as if asking, 'Is she serious?'

Nobura leans on a leg with a hand on her waist and asks, "Where were you that you didn't hear the announcement?"

"What announcement?"

Nobura sighs. "They announced it this morning: From tomorrow onwards, anyone from ages of twelve and above is welcome to enlist. Anyone at age eleven is welcome as long they are either orphans or their parents accompany them. Among many other things, of course, but those bastards left that for last on purpose."

Naruto places Mikasa down. "Then she's not going." And he takes a seat.

"Naruto, she's already an orphan. She can—"

"NO!"

Nobura takes a step back in shock while looking down at the blonde. "No?" Simultaneously, she asks herself, "did he just... shout at me?"

"She won't! Not UNTIL she's twelve." Naruto's tone makes it final, but the pleading look of Mikasa and Nobura's questioning look pushes him to explain further. "First, she must train."

"That's precisely why she'll go enlist! It's FOR THAT REASON she can train!"

"I'm NOT stopping her, Nobura! Not forever, at least! Just until she's twelve! Twelve! Let her have ONE more year. JUST ONE! As a normal civilian."

"There's nothing normal about being an orphan to a titan attack!"

"No, but she must learn to survive on her own first!"

"Oh, and what, you'll teach her? We're supposedly only given yesterday off. If it wasn't for that attack, we'd already be reporting to our stations!"

"She's smart. She'll catch on quick."

"And what, pray-fucking-tell, will you be teaching her?"

Naruto pauses. Taking in a breath, he says, "I'll teach her the things I learned from where I came from. How to set traps, how to defend herself—"

"Those are all taught in the military, idiot!"

"You didn't let me finish."

"Oh yeah? And what else can you teach her that ISN'T in the military?"

"How to scale almost anything without the need for any gear. Tell me, Nobura, can you do that?"

"Of course, I can!"

"Can you pace yourself so that you won't tire? Can you duck and weave through buildings without flinching and second-guessing yourself? Can you climb a wall or tree so fast it's like breathing? If your gear breaks down, do you know to properly use your hook and wire to latch onto things with your bare hands?"

Nobura remains silent.

"I will teach her everything I can before she enters. Once she starts joining the cadets, she won't have time for it anymore. Now is the best time."

"And how will you teach her? You'll be on Scouting Missions most of the time."

"I have my ways," Naruto says with finality before turning to Mikasa. "Mikasa. Can you wait for just one more year before joining?" The girl remains silent, her eyes locked with his own.

"One year?"

"One. No more, no less."

Taking in a shaky breath, she locks eyes with him again. This time, her look is stern. And she nods. "Fine. One year. THEN I will learn to kill titans."

"Good. That's all I can ask. We start your training tomorrow."

"Uh-uhm… can… can we join?"

Naruto looks to the blonde who asked. A boy named Armin, a fairly timid boy if Naruto remembers right. "No."

"WHAT?!" All eyes turn to Eren. "WHY NOT?!"

"Eren! Calm down!" Carla shouts.

"NO! WHY CAN MIKASA LEARN BUT NOT ME OR ARMIN?!"

"I thought you're all already signing up tomorrow," Naruto shrugs. "You won't have time. You're not even allowed to leave camp until you graduate."

"THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"

Naruto gives off an amused scoff at that. "Right. I forgot. We never told you." He stands from his chair, looks down at the boy with murderous eyes, and says, "We graduated far ahead of everyone else. We're that good."

"YEAH RIGHT! THAT GOOD? I GUESS THAT ONE GUY THAT DIED WAS JUST A FAKE—"

A HEAVY SMACK followed by an equally heavy thud reverberates as all eyes widen at the two boys. The boy who is no older than eleven groans while the other boy no older than fifteen retracts his outstretched arm.

"You disrespectful little shit," Naruto says, walking over to Eren. Carla Jaeger can only stare in shock. "I don't see you grieving so your dad must be alive. Your mom is here so she's alive so that's that. Are you feeling lucky because you didn't lose anyone, huh? I also remember your crazy-ass hating on AND HITTING people who disrespect the scouts. You mean to tell me that among Humanity's Finest, those Scouts that died were weak?"

Silence fills the group. A few passersby quickly shuffle away, some hearing the entire exchange, others only seeing what happened, but all try to move away from the Blonde Devil.

And then the only missing person arrives.

"Yo," Korra greets. "Why's everyone so silent? Did I miss something?"

Naruto uses this opportunity to walk away. "No," he replies. "Nothing of significance."

Korra watches the blonde walk past her before looking around until her eyes finally settle on Nobura. The orange hair girl groans and sighs before walking over and whispering the details to Korra's ear. And her reaction, "well ain't this little shit a bitch," is understandable.

Carla Jaeger, for her part, just stares at her son before tears start to well in her eyes. Not of pity, not even of feeling sorry for him. The only words in her head right now are… "Where did I go wrong with you?"

"M-mom?"

But Carla does not speak. Instead, she just sniffles and looks away. Usually, she'd defend him! Usually. But Eren's earlier words… she couldn't blame Naruto, not when she saw and heard everything first hand.

"M-mom, I—"

"J-just… just go join the Military, Eren. Maybe you'll change. I don't know what to do with you anymore!"

Korra, sighs. "I'll go after—"

"No."

The older teen looks down with a raised brow.

"I'll go."

"You sure, Mikasa?"

The girl nods before rushing off. She leaves the group with a hateful glare directed at Eren. Her scarf trails in the wind.

=== (Wings of a Butterfly) ===

Naruto sighs as he walks around the makeshift shelters. His eyes dart from one thing to the next, and his face grows grim. The people don't feel it much yet, and he can't blame them since they're just happy to be alive, but Naruto sees it. The signs of food shortages are showing. For some, they sleep to stave off their hunger. Others can already be seen trying to sneakily rummage through the trash—mainly adults, but a few children are also among their number. Some have purposely starved themselves earlier in the day to allow others to eat… that or they never got their shares.

There's no talk of food shortages yet, or at least last Naruto heard, but it's only a matter of time. They can try and hold on, sure... but it will come. "Guess we were lucky our war lasted for only a few days," he thinks back to his time in his old world.

Speaking of food shortages… his mind can't help but recall that pot of soup that was wasted earlier thanks to that soldier who was about to dump it on the girl! "For fuck's sake, I knew the Military Police was shit, but wow." Naruto shakes away his thoughts on the matter. Well, most of his thoughts, anyway. His mind partly wanders to what happened to the girl he saved from scalding. "Did she even get to eat?"

"Naruto!"

The boy blinks. "Oh! Mikasa. What are you doing here?"

"I thought you were mad?"

"Well, yeah, but what does that have to do with you running after me?"

"I-I-I… I wasn't r-running after you!"

Naruto smiles and pats her on the head. "Just teasing, Mikasa. Just teasing."

The girl pouts before aggressively shaking her head to get his hand off her head. What she gets in return is a handsome laugh that makes her blush. "A-anyway! What made you walk away like that?"

"Huh? You're asking me that?"

"W-well, I-I mean—"

"You mean you didn't see, you didn't hear what Eren said?"

"I-I g-get it, okay?! I get it! Sheesh."

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

The girl sends the blonde a glare but sighs and smiles as he laughs. "Idiot."

Naruto shrugs. "One of my charms." What he gets in return is a roll of Mikasa's eyes. "Oh, don't be like that. Now, come. Let's go back. You should get some proper sleep."

"I don't really wanna go back though…"

"Huh? But… why?" Naruto blinks. "I thought you guys were friends."

"Yeah, about that…" Mikasa trails off. She doesn't continue until Naruto clears his throat. Sighing, she explains, "He… almost got me killed yesterday."

"He what?"

By some miracle, Mikasa continues, "Yeah. He ran off to find Armin. A titan got me," and only now does Mikasa feel the sudden silence as Naruto stares at her. "Uhh…"

"No, no, don't mind me," He says whilst nodding and crossing his arms. "Continue?"

"W-well, that's when Hannes saved me?"

Taking in a deep breath (a VERY deep breath), Naruto asks a question so casually that Mikasa has a hard time discerning if he's serious or not. "Can I beat him up? I wanna beat him up. Can I beat him up? Is that legal?"

"N-no! I mean… I wouldn't really care, but…"

"Buuuut?"

"B-but I don't think… it's worth it?"

Rolling his eyes, Naruto says, "Puh-lease, Mikasa. For you, anything is worth it." And for some reason, the dense guy misses her, now, red-flushed face. "But alright, I won't beat him up since you asked me to. He's already on my 'to beat up when necessary' list though. Just saying."

Giggling, Mikasa looks to the sky and sighs. "Naruto…"

"Hmm?"

"I wanted to run to Otou-san and Okaa-san… would things have been different if I did?"

Naruto gives a silent sigh before scratching the back of his head. "Why are you so curious, Mikasa?"

"I want… I want to know how they died."

"Right… You're eleven, you went through the attack, and you're an Ackerman. There's not much point in lying—"

"What, you mean there's some point in lying?"

Naruto pauses. "When did you become interested in word games?"

"I'm a girl who lived with you for the past two years."

"Fair enough…"

"I'm still waiting, Naruto."

Giving a defeated groan, Naruto concedes. "A boulder crushed them."

"Th-that's it?"

"Well, yeah…"

"How did you find out?"

"I went to the other side… I thought that if they were still alive… if even one of them was still alive, you'd still have a family."

"I… I see… You didn't have to do that."

"I told you. Nothing's off-limits for me if it's for you."

"That's not what you said—"

"Same meaning. Don't get technical with me, little girl."

"Fine. But when I'm a big girl, you better watch out."

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Alright. I'll be waiting."

Mikasa smiles. "Let's go back."

"I thought you said you didn't want to go back."

"Heeeey!"

"You did it to me."

"That's unfair."

"What's more unfair, the fact that you're trying to be unfair and calling fair unfair, or the fact that I'm taking my fair shot at—"

"Stop it! My brain hurts now."

"Awe, does little Mikasa want me to kiss her boo-boo?"

"No!" But Naruto does it anyway! Thus, her face is now ten shades redder. "I hate you."

"Sure, sure," Naruto laughs. "I'll see you back home. I forgot I had something to take care of."

"But—"

"No buts, Mikasa. It's safer there with Korra and Nobura."

"Shouldn't you bring me to them, then?"

Naruto ruffles her hair with a slight chuckle. "I won't need to. Trust me. This time, I'll be sure to protect you. Besides, it's just over there," he points to their shelter... a roof over their heads, but no walls save for the wall the roof is attached to and the occasional foundation pillars holding it up. "I'll watch you until you get to them."

Mikasa sighs and lets a prolonged and defeated, "okaaay…"

He watches as she walks over to the group of two boys and three women. She gives him a shy wave good night which he returns with a smile. Once she lies down, he turns away and his smile fades. "Come out."

… Nothing…

Too public, perhaps? Naruto's eyes narrow. He walks onwards to a more secluded place. An alley with a lot of crates scattered about, to be specific. "Last chance. Or do I have to get violent?"

A silhouette appears from the shadows before walking out from them. A hooded figure, but… not a threatening one.

"You're stealthier than anyone I've ever met during my time here."

"Thank you…"

"Ah, a girl, I see. You're welcome. Now, I doubt you were stalking me just for me to give my compliments. What do you want?"

In response, the hooded girl locks eyes with him—albeit barely, but the blonde man can feel it. "I meant that I wanted to thank you for earlier," and Naruto's eyes understandably widen in realization.

"You're the girl from earlier!"

"Yes, I—"

"Wait, so were you able to eat?"

"I—huh?"

"Were you able to eat!"

"What?"

"Look, guy spilled soup, you vanished after I beat him and his friends up, so now I need to know if you were able to eat."

The girl blinks. "I, uh, uhm… yes."

"Ah, good, good," Naruto smiles. And the smile is quickly replaced by a scowl "Pity about the soup though. Could have fed more people if he didn't waste it."

And the girl just continues to look at him incredulously. "Is this how he always is?!"

"So, what's your name?"

"I—huh?"

"I think that's the second time you said that."

"Wait, you're keeping count?"

"Does it matter?"

"… I don't know."

"Great! So, what's your name?"

"Isn't it common courtesy to introduce yourself first?"

At this, Naruto's eyes narrow, but he smiles nonetheless. "I haven't had someone tell me that for a long time," he muses partly to himself. "Alright, which one do you want?"

"Ex… excuse me?"

"I'm just messing with ya. Name's Naruto."

And the girl remains silent. And the silence does not break until she finally asks, "Wait, that's it?"

The blonde shrugs. "Isn't it supposed to be your turn now?"

And the girl sighs, defeated. She lowers her hood, this time allowing all her facial features to come into the light. She has blonde hair, eyes that Naruto can only describe as enchanting as they reflect the moonlight… and what he can only guess as a mix of emerald green and cerulean. Her face is… well, definitely that of an attractive girl that makes Naruto blush. Just a bit, of course. "Looks like she and Mikasa will grow to be beauties one day," a rogue train of thoughts goes.

"Annie."

"Annie?"

"Yes. I'm Annie… And… Thank you again, for today."

Naruto smiles. "Of course."

"By the way…"

"Hmm?"

"How's your back?"

"Ahhh…" Naruto trails off for a moment before smiling again. "I'll live. I've been through worse."

"Let me see."

"Nah," He waves her off, his smile almost disarming her. Almost. "It's probably pretty scared. Don't want you to see something with a different level of disgusting. You've already been through Shingashina."

And here, Annie's eyes soften before she shakes her head and pulls out a can of cream. "I got this for you."

"OH! Thanks!"

Annie raises a brow as Naruto puts his hand out as if asking her to give him the cream. "You do know you can't really reach your entire back by yourself, right?"

Naruto laughs. "I have friends. Didn't you see when you were stalking me?"

"W-what?! I-I-I—! I wasn't stalking you! I was… following you until I could give this to you."

"Stalking me, yes."

Annie groans. "Are you always like this?"

Naruto hums. "I never bothered to check, really."

And Annie, predictably, sighs. "Come on, turn around, I'll put the cream on you."

"Naaaah. You don't need to."

"Come on, it will only sting a bit."

"I told you, I'm—" but Naruto is cut off as Annie suddenly grabs his shoulder, spins him around, practically pushes him to sit, and lifts the back of his shirt… and pauses. "I think I should have been clearer," Naruto says, his tone now less carefree and more sombre. "I don't need it."

Instead of asking any of the many questions now swimming in her head, Annie just falls silent. After a few moments pass between them, she finally speaks with a sigh. "You could have easily avoided me, you know."

"Hmm?"

"We all saw how you fought yesterday."

Naruto lets out an understanding and prolonged "ahhh" before nodding. "And, your point being?"

"I mean—"

"That someone like you could have easily taken care of yourself earlier today but didn't because you knew it would cause more trouble than it's worth."

"…"

"Your silence is telling."

"For what it's worth, I think the way you beat them up was better than what I would have done."

"Well, they deserve it."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Do you think I can put my shirt back down now?"

"Oh, r-right, of course."

Naruto stands with a smile directed at the girl. This one is more teasing than anything. "Don't worry, I won't ask. We do what we have to for us to survive." And Annie's eyes widen at those words. "But in exchange—" Naruto's words are caught in his throat as Annie… sends him a seriously deadly glare. "You didn't even hear me out yet. What's with those judging eyes, huh?"

Glaring in silence for a few more moments, Annie concedes with a sigh. "Continue."

"Join me. Tomorrow. I'm training someone before they enter the military."

"Huh?"

"Yeah!"

"No, I mean… why me?"

"Well, duh! You're skilled in hand-to-hand already! Especially against bigger people. What are you… elven? Twelve?"

"Eleven."

"Even better! The one I'm going to train is eleven too!"

"Ugh… you're annoying. I shouldn't have bothered."

"Well, yeah, but hey! She needs a friend her age. A real friend."

"I don't like friends."

"That means you don't have any."

"Exactly."

"GREAT! You two are a perfect match!"

"How does that—"

"You two can be each other's first friend…s? Or something."

"I just said I don't like friends."

"Have you tried having friends?"

"If I said yes?"

"Then you'll have to tell me why you don't like them."

"… If I said no?"

"Then you don't have much to base not wanting friends on."

"Huh?"

"You don't have a reason to not like friends if you haven't tried, I mean."

Annie sighs. "Friends betray each other."

"Naaaah… only fake friends… or when the other one has no choice. Usually, it comes down to the point if they're shitty people or not."

"People are always shitty?"

"Aha!"

Annie blinks. "What?"

Naruto, nodding sagely, smiles and pats her on the head. "You don't hate friends—after all, you've never had any! You…" their eyes lock as Naruto pauses. "You hate people."

"So?"

Naruto shrugs. "Hate them, sure, fine. But have a friend or two. As long as you can trust them."

"There's no one I trust."

"Well," placing an… understanding hand on her shoulder, Naruto says, "when you do change your mind and want your first friend, you know where to find me." And with that, he walks away.

Annie Leonhart has never met such an eccentric man in her life.

=== (TBC) ===

=== (Announcement) ===

Hello everyone! So, as you saw earlier, I created a P atreon page to support this hobby AND maybe gain funds for my novel. YES, I am making a novel.

The details will be on the page, the link being:

P atreon. com (slash) snk209_TreyJ

You'll have many tiers to choose from, and of course, if you just want to support me, there is a 1 USD tier available if you're on a budget or something.

I'm also thinking of making some YT videos which will have me talking about fanfiction and other stuff, maybe also some games. But first, let's see the reception of my P atreon page. And you know how it goes! If they detect the full word and link, they delete it hence the reason why we have to put spaces and such.

=== (NOTES) ===

This chapter was supposed to be released way, way, way, way, waaay earlier. HOWEVER! I thought it would be best to write down more, and so! Now! You have a chapter with around 7,000 words (give or take). I hope you guys liked it!

Sending lots of love,

Trey *(Yaaaay! You guys finally see my real—first—name!)

HOPEFULLY, I also sent a good quality chapter! Oh, and of course! Please leave a review!

[Finished on May 28, 2022]

[17:56 hours, Philippines]

[Proofread on May 29, 2022]

[00:44 hours, Philippines]