Yami-Guy: the senbon scene yes under normal circumstances Naruto would have dodged it fine. As I've stated, Naruto isn't a god. He was on the verge of death, running on days without sleep, days without food, and he was completely caught off guard by Talia who is one of the best League of Shadows and as my boy Dig from Arrow simply put. "I was trained by the people that make Special Forces look like a kindergarten club". Hope that clears it up.

unknownguy: I have no idea what you are trying to tell me. Please recorrect your sentences so I can comprehend it.

Guest: Yes Naruto could detect emotion with Kuruma but Ras Al Ghul is also a master at deception. Hes lived over 500+ years

Guest: Yeah sorry, Expect some time skips, Yes the story needs to be fleshed out but I also know people want to get into the main story.

CarlosXvxx: I did some research on this as watched back some ep. I did not see a single ep where Naruto killed (fillers do not count as they aren't canonical) the only canon movies are Boruto and The Last (the last being one I watched) It doesent change much but I feel Kishomoto made it so Naruto never crossed that line as killing=bad.

"There are two battles every person faces. One that's across from you and one that's inside of you. Once you have control over the one inside of you, the other one doesn't matter. If you can not control your spirit, then you will never fully control the situation."

Human Speaking/Thoughts

Demon Speaking/Thoughts/Jutsu

November 25, 2007

League of Assassins HQ

Tibet Mountains, China

Earth 16

8:45 CST

Chapter 3

A New Beginning

Naruto awoke to the sound of someone knocking on his door. He got up slowly, stretched his muscles, waiting for the satisfying crack before he grabbed a black robe and threw it on himself.

He walked to the door and opened it slowly, allowing the light of the torches to seep through his dark room. Naruto's visible eye adjusted a few seconds to the light before his eye landed on a woman dressed in all black; It was Willow.

She flashed a short nod of greeting before she spoke. "Lord Ra's Al Ghul request your audience at the throne room. Get dressed and meet him there at once." Without waiting for a reply she grabbed the door handle and closed it. Allowing Naruto's bedroom to be dark once again. "Must be important if I didn't even get brought food." He muttered to himself before turned on the lights.

Adjusting the black forearm guards on his wrist making sure they were fastened securely. He grabbed the Choküto laid on top of his bed and sheathed it on the black leather sheath located diagonally on his back.

Naruto tilted the black face mask covering his lower face up, hiding all but his upper face and a single eye.

Dressed he walked out the door and made his way to the throne room.

He opened the same demonic looking sandstone doors and entered through. League members were lined up on all sides standing perfectly still like a statue. He spotted Darius and Nightstorm to the side, his eye landed on them but no exchange was shared. They were clearly itching for something. And that something was starting to leave a bad feeling in Naruto's gut.

He turned his gaze back to the throne room and walked the room until he stopped just before the 8 steps leading to the throne. His eyes landed momentarily on Talia who was standing 3 steps down from the throne room. She sported her typical black combat bodysuit with matching gloves and boots and her hair was tied in a ponytail this time. Strapped to her thigh was her standard P226 handgun.

She flashed him a quick smile and he nodded a greeting back before turning his attention to Ras. He lowered his head in a short bow. Despite being here for months and not trusting him, Naruto knew his show of defiance would lose its humour real quick. Ras was a very proud man and considered himself no less than a god. "Ah, there is my favourite guest. You clean up quick I see. Another thing that I like." Ras spoke in his rough but honeyed voice. His face always neutral but soft, hiding his true intentions like a snake.

"You summoned me?"

Ras nodded smiling without emotion. "Yes, yes. It has come to me that I have learned a limited but at the same time a lot about you. Just as you have learned a lot about me. I usually do not spend so much time with new recruits but you have really gained my interest. To lose what you knew of your past and find yourself back on your feet. It's a commendable feat."

Naruto nodded in understanding. "Yes, while I take it this isn't a sociable visit."

Ras chuckled to himself. "Straight to the point as usual. Always find that amusing about you." Naruto could see the small but honeyed words. Ras wanted something from him now. And that something was important.

He continued on. "Yes, well as I have said, you've been here for quite a while and have seen much about what we do here. I want to hear from you your own opinions on everything."

Naruto glanced at Talia who stood still. Her eyes softened when it landed on his and for a brief second Naruto could have sworn he saw a hint of guilt in them. "It's an order of highly trained individuals that follow a creed of sorts and fight the evils and injustice of the world." There was obviously a lot more and Naruto had grown suspicious about some of the locked and well-guarded locations he was never allowed to go to, for his own "security".

Ras nodded. "In a nutshell, yes. To fight the evils of the world. But what exactly does that entail? Corrupt politicians, power hungry supervillains, religious fanatics who use fear and intimidation praying on the weak. Where does that all start from? What is the seed that sows that destruction."

Naruto closed his eyes. He remembered the same words from Nagato. "Pain and hatred"

"Exactly. But to take that a step further. What causes one to experience pain? What is the greatest illusion we tell ourselves?"

Naruto remembered Obito has similar political and philosophical ideas. He knew the answer Ras wanted him to give. "Freedom is life's greatest illusion."

Ras smiled clearly impressed. "And that Toyohisa is the million dollar answer."

"Humans are in constant conflict with themselves, breeding hatred and vengeance which shows, in turn, sows more death and destruction. Too much of this world has become perverted by greed and lust for power. It is a time of peace which has begun to breed a society of weak-willed men."

"That is why we exist. To be the leaders who carry that burden. To forge a path of peace and help those who have suffered at the hands of injustice, especially our planet. The governments of earth are polluting it and stealing its natural resources. Scum like this." He snapped his fingers and a door to his right opened up and in walked 2 League of Shadow recruits and in their hands they were dragging a bleeding and dishevelled man.

The dragged him to the throne and dropped him a few feet to the left of Naruto. Naruto eyed the man who was visibly shaking, body covered in bruises and his hair was drenched in sweat. The man didn't dare to take his eyes off the floor. Naruto turned to Ras and waited for him to explain. Ras got off his throne. "This man is part of an Engineering company called Echo Co. he managed the group that regularly dump toxic waste into our lakes, killing wildlife and causing local inhabitants to die from sickness. This vermin and those like him are tolerated because no one will do anything about it."

"Please don't hurt me. Please, I'll give you anything." The man on the ground begged.

"SILENCE! You insolent worm." Ras growled as he narrowed his eyes. Naruto for the first time watched that wrathful side come out, the one that had earned him the name Demon's Head.

Ras turned his attention back to Naruto. "As long as vermin like this live, the earth and its inhabitants will never be at peace. This is justice."

Naruto shook his head. "It's vengeance."

Ras raised an eyebrow. He was not expecting this. "Sometimes vengeance is justice."

He nodded at one of his guards who brought a large thin black case of some kind. The warrior clad in black placed it on the ground before removing the clasp. He opened up the case and revealed a pristine katana with a black hilt and a red dragon sewn into it. "This is from my personal collection. It was from the previous Ras and the one before. Please take it."

Naruto eyed the blade that was offered to him by the warrior. He grabbed the blade by the handle. It was beautifully crafted but Naruto knew he wasn't being given this as a gift. This was a test. "To become a full-fledged member one must show undevoted loyalty but also to be able to wield justice for the good of others."

"And you want me to do what? Kill him?"

Ra's licked his lips like the topic was exciting for him. "Do this and you will become a full-fledged member and one of my highest ranking. Think of the good we can do with you by my side. I will even let you be part of the operation that will destroy their entire infrastructure."

"I specifically remember to agree to be a guest and deciding if I was going to join or not," Naruto stared back defiantly.

"Oh come now Toyohisa. You must have figured out by now that I let you have all this freedom because I knew you would join. Don't disappoint me now." He turned his attention to Talia who had a sad look on her face. "Or my daughter for that matter. I know how you feel about her-"

"We are just friend-" Naruto began but Ras stopped him with a hand. "Please, I have been alive for hundreds of years. I'd give you my blessing you know that right? I see much of you in myself. A warrior who fights with a code of honor and who also have suffered tremendous loss. I'm sure in no time you could succeed me as the next Ras."

It was true that Naruto had started to have feelings for Talia, after all, she was the first friend he had made since escaping the hellhole that was the Fourth Shinobi War. She gave him comfort when he was in a dark place. He expected she won't feel the same way. He glanced at Talia when she started walking down the steps. She placed a soft hand on his shoulder and smiled softly. "Please Toyohisa. Listen to my father. You've become a great friend. What we are doing here is good."

"Doing good such as murdering innocent men like this." He shrugged her hand off his shoulder.

Ras chuckled loudly. "Innocent?" Please don't make me laugh. He's far from innocent. His group-"

"Exactly. His group. He is nothing more than a middleman. You would murder him in cold blood for doing his job?"

"Don't act like some kind of saint Toyohisa. You've taken lives too."

Naruto clenched his teeth. It was true. Just like his friends he was also accustomed to the darkness of the Shinobi world. During his limited training in the ANBU during the early stages of the war, he had killed many supporters of Madara. He had also killed Madara and Kaguya. But it was a necessary evil. "That was war, it was different. These people aren't soldiers. They are mercenaries."

"Look around you. We're at war now. Everyday people murder each other. We accept what we are, to fight evil with evil."

Naruto shook his head. "I won't do it, this man does not deserve to be killed."

Ras sighed shaking his head in disappointment. "Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share."

"That is why it is so important. It separates them from us."

Ras clenched his fist. He was annoyed now. Here he was giving everything to this man, his home, his attention, a spot in the League, and even his daughter's hand. And he was spitting it back in his face. "Did I ever tell you how I killed my first man?"

Ras turned and walked to the brazier of fire near his throne. He stopped and stared into it. Like he was watching memories of his past dance around in the fire. He began to explain. "I was eleven when I killed my first man. I remember the look on his face… when the light went out behind his eyes. Such a subtle change…. almost imperceptible. Between life and death. I felt ashamed, I had stolen from him the most precious gift: life. But I also felt something else: pride. Because I had taken up arms against someone who sought to do I'll against my family. I realized, that what I had done was necessary. You see, I had replaced evil with death. And that is what the League exist to do. And I have killed several thousand more men since then…. And the world is better off for it." He turned his attention back to Naruto. "Last chance. Join me now, don't deny our just cause."

Naruto could see the body language of some of the guards changed and were more alert. The senses the hostility in their master's voice. Any normal man would have been scared shitless or begging to be spared. Naruto was ice calm. He didn't fear death, he had nothing to lose. if he was going down, they were going down with him.

"Like I said Ras, No. You strive for your justice…. and I'll strive for mine." He pointed his sword at Ras and suddenly the room erupted as every League member unsheathed their sword.

Ra's narrowed his eyes. "Foolish boy. I have slain more men in duels than you have had days on this planet."

"What makes you think this is a duel? You have two choices Ras. Let me out of here."

"Or?" Ras said with a growl.

He pointed the tip of the blade directly at Ras. "I am walking out of here. And you aren't gonna like how."

"Such spirit, such anger, such fury. Oh, you would do well as Ras." He was absolutely enjoying this. The man in front of him was not challenging him with ignorance, to prove he was better. He wasn't boasting his skills. The man had ice calm presence and a promise of violence if he would not comply. Despite everything he had done, Ras wanted him even more now.

Talia reaches out. "Please Toyohisa. Don't do this…" Naruto could hear the conflation in her tone. She liked Naruto but she also loved her father greatly. Naruto glanced down and saw her hand resting on the holstered semi-automatic pistol. She was struggling to do her duty.

"Same old Tals, playing the loyal lapdog. Your father is just using you. He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Talia's eyes widened and she stopped. Naruto turned his attention back to Ras. "You remind me a lot of someone I had fought. But unlike you, he didn't turn to the dark path out of choice. He was corrupted in it. You are nothing more than a hypocrite that follows what he fights against."

"GUARDS! Take him down!" Ras ordered. As soon as those words left his mouth a dozen League members charged forward. Naruto pushed Talia out of the way before he spun around and blocked a strike from one of the guards. Naruto charged forward with inhuman speed cutting through League member after League member with his blade but not killing them. He raised his blade and brought it down on Ras who unsheathes his own Arabian style sword and swung at Naruto with both speed and hundreds of years in swordsmanship. Naruto channelled his chakra boosting his speed. He sidestepped the attack, slashing at Ras arm and slicing through his fabric, cutting his arm. He also simultaneously swept his legs, tripping Ras. The Demons Head fell on his back and came face to face with the blade now dripping his own blood. All the guards stopped. Ra's Al Ghul had been defeated and by a child no less.

"Do it then, kill me, take your place as the next Ras Al Ghul. You were everything I hoped and more."

Naruto shook his head. "No, I will not become a bloodthirsty assassin like you."

Ras shook his head and laughed, this time like a madman. "You will never get out of this Toyohisa, I will hunt you down for the rest of your life. YOU

WILL become the next Ras."

Naruto narrowed his eye as he dug the blade now resting against Ras throat deeper, causing a trickle of blood to flow out. "You can try Ra's Al Ghul. But just know, I too can replace evil with death. And it won't be the death you so willingly crave, but the death of your League. Remember that." He turned to glance one look at Talia who was frozen in shock, her face expressed a range of emotion. Shock, betrayal, anger, sadness, and hatred. No doubt hatred for him. He shook his head, dropping the blade, before disappearing in a swirl of leaves. Shocking everyone in the room.

"So he has other power besides amazing healing? Truly, I must have him." Ras said rubbing his neck where no doubt a scar would grow soon.

A week later

It has been hell trying to get out of the frozen Tibetan Mountains. Whatever Ras was, an idiot was not one of them. His fortress was strategically placed and not easily accessible. But pushing through the frozen land he had found his way to a fishing village which had offered him a ride to a trading port which in turn has offered him a ferry to Japan. The land closest resembling his own home yet so foreign to him. So much focus on technology, everywhere he looked. Giant cities, glass towers and cars. Naruto had found his way to a small restaurant which had offered him residence for the last few days. He had been reading on the Internet, trying to catch up more about the world. Now with his headband off, both of his eyes landed on a news article dated 2005

"Justice League Defeats Brainiac: World Is Safe Once Again"

The Justice League. Truth be told Naruto didn't know what he thought of them. Magicians, metahumans, demihumans, gods, martial artist. Men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the inhabitants of the earth both from domestic and foreign threats. Held in such high esteem that most societies around the globe regularly employed them for help. They reminded him a lot of what the Shinobi was back home. Those who saved lives, but they lacked one thing that Naruto found himself both conflicted and thankful for. They never killed anyone. The one rule of the Justice League. Having grown up in a world that shown the worst type of evil and An emphasizes heavily on the militaristic Shinobi. He was never trained to not kill, in fact even in the academy days he was trained to neutralize any threat to the village no matter the cost and even later in ANBU was taught that was the primary directive unless it was a capture mission.

An ANBU mission was to work from the shadows, to take down any threat with brutal efficiency. But here the Justice League never killed even when they had every right to, a repetitive cycle where a lot of the supervillains felt no remorse and once they escaped jail or got out for 'good behaviour' (the irony) went right back to their old life killing and causing chaos. Sure Naruto had learnt much about the world and due to Jiraiya's teachings held onto his code of destroying the cycle of hatred. But Naruto had also learned the hard way that sometimes it's kill or be killed.

Naruto sighed closing the internet browser app and closed the lid of the laptop he had borrowed from the shopkeeper, who's third floor he was currently being rented to as a home. The room was pretty much barren except for a small wooden nightstand, his laptop, a single mattress with a brown blanket, and a handful of news clippings, Naruto was now out of his League of Shadows uniform and wearing a pair of blue jeans and a green T-shirt. Ever since he arrived here a few months ago, he had been battling with fitting in and what he was going to do. Despite knowing it was a frivolous endeavour Naruto spent hours upon hours going through every book and site he could trying to find anything on Space-Time, Dimensional Travel and Time Travel. Trying to find any semblance of something that could take him back to the Elemental Nations. He wanted so badly to swoop in as the hyperactive blonde Shinobi hero who would never go back on his word and bring back all his friends.

He slapped the empty coke can against the side of the wall in anger. He hated this, being here in this foreign place not knowing anyone, complete alone once again. But through these days of loneliness, he had begun to reminisce about his old mentor Jiraiya and his teachings. The Pervy Sage wouldn't want him to be in this dark place, he had a duty and even if he was in a different world. The mission still stayed the same; breaking the Cycle of Hatred. He would go this United States of America and he would help people, to protect them against evil.

Naruto climbed onto his single mattress and laid staring at the old creaky wooden roof. His nose still picking up the faint smell of his late dinner, chicken and noodles from downstairs. 'I damn well better hope they have some Ramen like Ichiraku's in America'

"Yes for the third time I'd like a plane ticket to the US" Naruto spoke in his tired but gruff voice. Naruto was now standing in line at the check-in after a night of nightmares from his past and now having to deal with this was not helping his mood.

The Japanese lady in uniform- a small black skirt and business top bowed in a smile as she typed into her system. Naruto handed her his passport, a dark red and golden passport detailing him as an official citizen of Japan. One that had been modified and created by the League of Shadows as a gift when Naruto wanted to leave. One that no doubt had taken time and effort to weave a believable backstory including a few stamps from other countries making it look like has been used a bit. Thanks to a computer modified photo of a younger Naruto with his vibrant yellow hair detailed him as Toyohisa Miyamoto born October 10, 1991, Kyoto Japan.

The lady at the front checked that everything was authentic and everything was in order before she handed him back the passport and he, in turn, trades it for a piece of paper with a checkbox of what he was bringing with him. He ticked a checkmark on everything with a no. She asked him politely if he wanted to check in any bags.

Truth be told Naruto did not have much of anything with him, the week spent in Japan he had bought himself the basic necessities and some clothes. In his worn down small bag, he had a few pairs of shirts jeans jacket toothbrush toothpaste and a wallet he was given by Ras, and the money he had taken from a gang of thieves after knocking them out. Can't be classified as stealing if it's from a thief. Naruto places the ticket inside his passport and then in the inside of his dark maroon flannel jacket. Which he had to constantly adjust due to uncomfortableness. Even the clothes here were much different. He sported a plain grey shirt under his jacket, dark blue jeans and a pair of grey sneakers. If one paid enough attention they could clearly see the young man was out of his element, a dimensional travelling ninja looking like some high school hipster.

Naruto with his new plane ticket quickly sped through the necessities of the airport. He noticed the sheer level of sophistication that had gone through the security of an airport. German Shepherd sniffer dogs, police fully equipped with MP5K semi-automatic submachine guns, security cameras some hidden and some noticeable no doubt scanning him and everyone around him, and state of the art metal detectors. Naruto despite all his vast training and experience had some trouble navigating the massive airport, constantly having to ask for directions and where to go next. He had, for the most part, studied everyone else and did exactly what they did.

He finally found his way to gate 13C his gate which would be boarding from Narita International Airport, Japan, to Washington DC in an hour and 45 minutes. Naruto had bought a Meat Lovers sandwich from a place called Subway earlier and was currently sitting on one of the blue leather chairs in the middle. Half of the seats were empty detailing many more were yet to come.

Naruto fidgeted with the white cloth eye patch covering his right Sharingan eye. Truth be told he could have used a henge but then it would have completely changed his eye colour during the retina scan he would partake as he entered the US. Plus there was no telling if a henge would bypass the technology here. Easier to explain an eye injury than a completely different eye colour and texture. His single blue eye landed on a small boy around 8 chasing what seemed to be his sister a year older around some leather chairs.

He glanced and noticed both the mother and father were fast asleep no doubt tired from their continued flights. Naruto gazed at another man who seemed to be around 24 with a pair of black headphones on, blasting music loudly not caring for his surroundings. In fact, Naruto noticed since interacting with the world that most citizens paid no attention to their surroundings. To busy in their own personal bubble. Their minds were in a constant state of relaxation and laziness. Something which had stupified Naruto greatly.

Granted he was a war veteran and his body was always in an aware state. Not completely relaxed but not hurting his body by being constantly on edge. Even walking through the airport he had subconsciously made aware of how many exits there were, how far away they were, how thick the glass windows were and if they could be penetrated with force, how many guards patrolled around the airport. Here people were herding around like sheep, no doubt in Naruto's mind if something happened they would not have the reactions necessary to survive.

Naruto finished his sandwich before sat and stared out the window. Scanning out the window he could see a massive sleek white Boeing 787-9 slowly prepare to dock for the passengers. Naruto watched with fascination as the crew of construction workers in their neon orange jackets prepared the 20-foot airliner with such skill it was like muscle memory for them. They were responsible for him and every other passenger to get to their destination safely.

Naruto felt the rack of chairs shake as a man in a business suit carrying a black briefcase plopped down 2 seats from him. The man yawned as he downed the last of his cup of coffee. Naruto read on his plastic cup the words Starbucks under the green drawing of a girl. The man turned and noticed the stare. He nodded a greeting before he pulled out his phone and continued his work.

Naruto sat and watched the Airliner some more. It truly was amazing something so big could fly effortlessly without the use of chakra. Sure there were rare instances of people flying in Naruto's universe but a giant 20-foot plane that weighs 320 tons and carried 290 passengers was amazing. The man stuffed his phone back in his suit jacket and noticed Naruto stare out the window again. He noticed the excitement and anticipation of the man's face.

"First time flying?" The man asked with curiosity.

Naruto turned his attention to the man. "I'm sorry?"

"It's your first time flying right? Noticed you staring at the plane for 30 minutes now."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, first time being on a plane. That things massive."

The man chuckled to himself. "Yes, those things can get pretty big."

Naruto nodded as he turned back to the plane now connecting against a large white tunnel. They would begin boarding momentarily. Naruto couldn't help feel a bit nervous and it showed.

The man adjusted the black business tie around his neck and turned to look at Naruto. He smiled. "Bit nervous?"

"Yeah, just a little bit."

"Don't worry about it kid, these are some of the safest airliners in the world." The man remembered something his father used to tell him. "Besides, you're more likely to get eaten by a shark than to die in a plane crash. What are the chances, I mean what, 20,000 to 1?" He pulled out his phone again and started talking to someone.

Naruto flashed a sheepish smile then turned back to the Airliner. 'Yeah, thanks…. That's really reassuring'

Naruto waited another 15 minutes before a feminine speaker came on detailing that the passengers at Gate 13C begin lining up.

Naruto waited patiently, the passengers consisted of mostly families and businessmen and women, he did notice a few young teenagers travelling together and what looked to be a school soccer team noticing one young male teen around 16 sporting a white, red and gold uniform. The person in front walked past the reception and down the tunnel; that was Naruto's cue.

Naruto handed his plane ticket to the young Asian women. She flashed him a smile and a curious look when she noticed the man standing in front of her was a teenager but at the same time looked much older. She noticed a small vertical scar barely peak from under the white eye patch, she handed the ticket back to him without a second glance. "Enjoy your flight sir." Naruto replied back "arigato" before he walked down the tunnel.

When the line resumed Naruto stepped into the plane, he flashed a quick glance at the cockpit and widened when he saw how sophisticated it looked. Rows of buttons and screens detailing the Airliners every move.

Naruto followed a line of people and waited patiently for them to sit down. Almost all the passengers had a suitcase of luggage or a backpack which they stored in the compartment holders above. A few people sent him a curious glance but quickly returned to their own things, after all, it's not every day one sees such a muscled athletic 17 year old Asian with such vibrant blonde hair wearing an eye patch. The line moved and Naruto finally found his seat 12F, a 3 seater on the right. Two of the seats were already occupied. A young Asian woman in her early thirties sporting light blue jeans and light tan jacket, she was currently staring out her window seat, in the middle was a young boy around 10 with light brown hair also wearing blue jeans but sporting a puffy light orange jacket with a blue lightning bolt on the front.

Naruto titled the compartment door and stuffed his bag in before he got in his aisle seat. The woman paid him no attention she was staring out the window in fascination. Naruto plopped down and smiled at the kid who was staring at him with full curiosity. He glanced down at the kids orange jacket. "Nice jacket". He said.

Naruto waited patiently as the plane prepared for takeoff. He made sure the seatbelt was already fastened securely and listened to the pilot over the comms "-Also, we will be flying over a thunderstorm as we enter the US, we may have some mild turbulence as we enter through the US, so do please make sure your in your seats, with your seatbelts fastened securely and your tables in their upright positions. We hope you enjoy your flight and thank you for flying with Red Sun Airlines."

first. And with no luck trying to reach Kuruma, it would not be wise, plus he wanted to interact more with the world and seeing one mode of transportation that humans regularly used was a good way. 'What are the chances right, 20,000 to 1?' The man's voice rung in his ears again. 'Damn that guy, Kami-Sama protect me' Naruto silently pleaded.

The pilot's voice came on again asking everyone to turn their attention to one of the stewardesses as she explained all the safety procedures. Naruto noticed a basket under his table which had a handful of magazines, a white plastic bag of some kinds and a safety brochure. Naruto grabbed it and scanned it reading intensely. While listening to the stewardess as she explained the importance of the oxygen mask.

Naruto glanced around and checked if anyone else paid attention but no one was fully listening. In fact, most people were talking to someone next to them, reading a book, sleeping, or eating. No one had one of those safety brochures out. They were in their own personal bubble. Carefree as usual. Naruto prayed and hoped they all knew everything already if this plane was indeed going to experience some rough patches or hell even fall out of the sky. Naruto wasn't exactly an expert in aerial rescue. Trying to keep a 300-ton plane from crashing, and 290 passengers alive would be one tricky thing.

The kid voice knocked him out of his planning. "Are you some kind of pirate?"

Naruto lowered his head and noticed the child staring at him with intense curiosity, a bag of candy was in his hand and resting in his lap was an action figure of Superman. Naruto shook his head in annoyance. Third time today he was asked if he was some kind of pirate. "Are you an alien?" The kid asked again as he placed a piece of blue hardened candy in his mouth.

Naruto shook his head even more annoyed. Running on less than 4 hours of sleep plus trying to run a billion Solutions in his head wasn't the best when a kid kept pestering him. "Why do you have an eye patch?" Naruto ignored him while he studied the different exits and where the life raft was.

"Why is your hair so yellow?" Kid asked again stuffing another candy in his mouth.

Naruto was about to tell him to be quiet when the plane now already in position began to speed up as it was preparing for takeoff. The speed increased and Naruto couldn't help but grip the armrest tightly.

The kid still chucking more candy in his mouth stared at Naruto with curiosity. "Hey, mister are you afraid of flying?" Naruto could hear the plane push against the air. "Just try to relax." The kid said again still staring at him.

"Just try to shut up." Naruto fired back. The kid eyes widened as he nearly dropped his bag of candy. He glanced down at his feet.

Naruto wondered if he was too harsh on the kid, he glanced behind to the mom who had one of those pillows that went around your neck and she was already fast asleep. He glanced back down at the kid. "Sorry, long day."

The kid turned back to him and smiled. He offered the bag of candy at Naruto. "Jolly Rancher Mr. Pirate?"

Naruto eyebrow raised before he sighed. This was going to be one long flight.

Naruto had been in the air for around 9 hours in total. Truth be told, he hated being in the plane. Cooped up for so many hours in one chair, barely able to move your legs, lousy food and the occasional baby crying which did not help Naruto's heightened hearing one bit. Naruto wasn't one to sit around for long periods of time doing nothing. Hell, a couple of months ago he was hell deep in a bloody battlefield watching the Ten-Tails completely obliterate hundreds of Shinobi with a single attack. Naruto tried to allow himself to sleep but with the constant loud noises and on edge feeling, his dreams were mostly flashbacks to the past.

Naruto spent half of his time working on simple breathing exercises and chakra control. Nothing to expose his power but just simple things to understand more about where he was and the control he had. He also had mediated a good while gathering up a large amount of Nature Energy, even with how mechanical and technology-based the world was, there was still a tremendous amount of energy. The rest of the time was spent learning about the cultural side of the world through the small tv screen built inside the seat in front of him. Most people had actually been either sleeping, working on a laptop, or watching on their screens. He had browsed through the selection of movies and tv shows. He had never seen something so advanced, sure he had seen a few plays and the occasional movie with his Jonnin friends, and even journeyed on a mission to the Land of Snow protecting a movie actress. But that had been years ago and it was never so advanced and had so many special effects. He never had time for such things when almost every week a new threat to the village or the constant state of fear the Akatsuki brought.

The blonde ninja found himself amused but intrigued as he watched a movie about a rogue ninja assassin trying to defend his home from foreign invasion. It was interesting to see how they portrayed ninja, especially without the use of chakra and made them look so shadowy only there to kill. Sure assassination missions were the majority of the ANBU Black Ops task but so were things like reconnaissance, espionage and infiltration, delivering intel, bodyguard duty, or something as simple as securing a supply line for an allying village.

Next, he watched a movie on the famed Justice League, they were fighting a large alien invasion of green rock-like monsters. One could easily be hooked from such a scene, to be whisked away from your boring mundane life and thrown into the lives of the Justice League, defending earth and being a hero. Fascinating stuff to a normal person. However, Naruto wasn't watching it for the action and special effects. He was studying the story, how they fought their, powers. Even if it was fiction, the way the characters interacted and their powers were real and Naruto needed a more understanding of these people.

He was particularly interested with the caped crusader himself Batman. Everyone was the shadowy bat that terrorized the criminals of Gotham City, using terror and deception to strike them down. One thing that he couldn't quite ignore was the man's fighting style, while this was an actor doing his best to portray the man, he had read that the Bat was an expert in every fighting style known to man, an impressive feat as Naruto saw forms he didn't even know, that wasn't what caught his attention though, it was how the man fought, he fought exactly like someone who was trained by the League of Shadows. Something he never expected one of such a group to work with those crazed fanatics.

Naruto finally landed after 14 hours on the flight. He had survived. True to the pilot's words they had experienced quite the turbulence and Naruto had to spend 15 minutes cleaning hot coffee spilt on his pants by the man in the row across from him. Luckily his skills were not needed and 15 minutes of turbulence was all it took before they landed without a hitch. Naruto was relieved it was over, he was never stepping foot in a plane again. Once was enough. It was a nuisance and frankly, he felt pretty vulnerable in one.

2 weeks later

December 16

Washington D.C

Naruto sat on top of a bridge overlooking the city. Gazing out at the large bright yellow lights that looked like dots in his vision. It had been two weeks since he landed in America and the culture was much more different than Japan. Everything here felt so open, so Independent which was expected on a country that was founded on the principles of independence and freedom.

Naruto had spent the majority of his time learning more about how people live in the US, he actually found himself a job working at a burger place called McDonald's. Naruto chuckled to himself. A Shinobi capable of summoning a giant toad the side of a skyscraper and breathe fire from his mouth was serving burgers to regular people.

"Kuruma? You in there man?" Naruto closed his eyes trying to concentrate as he felt for the only connection to his former past. He had no luck in trying to connect with the demonic fox, but for some reason could feel his lingering chakra.

Naruto was about to try again when his ears perked up at the sound of a woman crying out in fear. He scanned the surroundings until he heard the sound of a woman crying in a parking lot near a diner. It was 10:30 PM so she must have been closing up. Naruto's heightened eyesight picked up what seemed to be a young woman around 20 trying to fight off 3 men as she tried to reach her car. Naruto narrowed his eye before he disappeared in a flash, leaving a trail of leaves.

The blonde Shinobi landed on top of the diner and saw one of the men a large brutish looking fellow wearing a black cap and dressed in all black was holding the women was being choked as she was slammed against the side of the diner wall. 2 men also dressed in black but much skinnier flanked the man. The man licked his lips like a wild animal before he reached out and grabbed her waist, his hand snaking up her yellow and blue waitress uniform. She tried to scream out again when she realized what he was trying to do, but the man's thick handheld strong and the only sounds that came out was a whimper gargling. "Come on baby girl, don't want to ruin the fun here. Don't want to hurt that pretty face of yours."

Naruto couldn't see much of their facial features due to the darkness and the fact that the man knew what he was doing as he brought her to a secluded area of the diner. away from onlookers and security cameras. He slowly lifted her shirt up inch by inch, exposing her soft skin to the night. She whimpered again and tried to squirm free but the man slammed her against the wall again. "I said, quiet bitch! Or I'll hit you again." She was on the verge of crying now.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small switchblade as he began to cut her uniform, eager to find what he wanted. "It'll all be over soon, sweet cheeks."

Naruto rescued into his back pouch, he had seen enough. While they were having their fun Naruto did a momentary scan of the surroundings making sure there was no other rapist around, the parking lot was empty. She was alone against 3 large men. No one to help. Until now.

Just as the blade was about to cut her top off complete open, the whistling sound of metal and a small star like object sped through the darkness and sliced the man's finger causing him to drop the blade. "Ow! What the fuck?" The man squinted and noticed what struck him look like a damn shuriken.

"What the hell was that?"

"Was that a shuriken?"

The small petite women stopped crying monetarily as she stared at the small object with curiosity.

"Could it be Bat…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Batman doesn't work in D.C. probably some punk kid, trying to ruin my fun." He caressed his tattooed finger on her cheek which now has a bruise on it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, less you wanna keep your fingers." A low voice spoke from the shadows.

All three of the men's heads swivelled around as the began scanning the darkness looking for their attacker. "Who's there?" The man in the black cap spoke out, his hand still holding the women firmly against the wall.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll beat it, tough guy." The man turned his attention back to the girl but before he could even lift a finger a shuriken came whizzing through the night and sliced his ear and buried itself into the diner. "Next time I won't miss." The voice spoke again.

The two skinnier guys one who had a tattoo of a star against the side of his face and grease slick back ponytail with a pointy nose pulled out a small pocket knife.

The other a stockier man in his early thirties with buzz cut short hair and a thick scruffy beard stood with his fist clenched. "Why don't you come put Mr. Tough Guy."

Out of the shadows a young man walked out, dressed in a black jacket and dark blue jeans stood still. Despite his tall and very athletic appearance, they could see he was just a kid. His face was covered in a black scarf of some kind as was the right side of his face leaving only one light blue eye. He looked like some strangely mismatched ninja.

Ponytail man snickered. "Ah look, Mac, we got ourselves a wannabe, Batman."

"Ain't it past your bedtime kiddo?" Beard man said with a low howl.

The brute of a man now named Mac turned his head and stared at the kid. "Look I don't beat on little kids, run home now and I won't bash your skull in."

The women Naruto could clearly see now she had a very pretty face with long brown hair and green eyes, she tried to speak through Mac's calloused hand, to tell the kid to run away and not be a hero. But she couldn't say anything.

"Be hard to bash my skull in with no fingers, no? Guess skull bashing by kicking isn't the worst way to go."

"We got ourselves a smartass eh?" Ponytail chuckled.

Mac turned back around to the girl. "All right beautiful, I gotta get rid of this pest but after you can show me a real good time right?" He chuckled before he pushed her into Beard dude who held her tight, a piece of white cloth now in her mouth to stop her from screaming. She could only watch in horror with what they were going to do to the kid.

Mac nodded to ponytail who nodded back before he approached the masked figure. "Alright you little shit, don't say I didn't warn ya." The man lunged out with his blade sloppily but the masked figure just slapped the hand out of the way and stood still, hand pointed out, baiting the man.

Ponytail grin changed to annoyance and he lashed out again with more furry. "Why you-"

But again the blade hand was slapped the side and the figure just stood egging him on like 'come on dude, I don't got all day'

Ponytail growled as he lashed out with furious aggression this time but the masked figure just slapped the blade out of his hand and with his right hand followed through with quick succession; punch to Ponytails throat. The man dropped the blade and reached out to his throat trying to gasp for air, Naruto hadn't crushed the man's windpipe but he had done enough damage. As ponytail walked forward gasping for air, Naruto stepped forward, ramming his elbow back into the back of ponytail guy's neck and dropped him to the ground unconscious.

Mac's face was a look of pure shock, he never expected the kid to take out his friend so effortlessly, and with no difficulty whatsoever. "I'm gonna kill you." Mac stepped forward and cracked his knuckles. Unlike his friend Mac had been through his fair share of street brawls and had killed many a dude in an alley brawl with his blade.

Mac raised his hands up in a typical boxer stance, the blade in his right hand held in reverse grip. He eyed the man who was seriously pissing him off now. the wannabe ninja just stood dancing on the balls of his heal egging the man on to attack him. He was going to enjoy cutting this kid's throat.

Mac charged forward barreling towards the kid, he had easily 50 pounds over the kid so all he needed to do was give one wicked swing to the kid's temple and he would be lights out. He lashed out with a right hook and followed through with a slash of the blade but the kid just bobbed and weaved through the attack, flashing two jabs at the man's face.

Mac spit out a wad of blood before he wiped his face. The kid was quick and light on his feet. Mac sliced forward again and flashed out a sidekick but the man ducked under the wild swings before blocking the kick with his knee. And returning the attack with a powerful uppercut into the man's gut.

Mac dropped the blade as he held his stomach in pain. 'The kids got a wicked uppercut. Shit' Mac with one hand gripping his stomach and the other and went for a risky right hook but Naruto just sidestepped the attack and thrust in a jab. Mac was momentarily dazed by the attack, giving the blonde ninja enough time to whip his rear leg around and catch him in a spinning hook kick. The attack connected with the side of the man's face and sent him crashing into the parking lot ground hard.

The Asian girl watched in fascination as the young man expertly took down her two attackers. He was clearly well trained but something else. As she watched him attack she saw something in him that scared her a bit. Those weren't the eyes of a normal teenage boy. It was something else.

The blonde ninja stepped over the body and stopped a few paces from beard guy. "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Beard guy bent down grabbing the knife that had been dropped by Mac and held it against the girl's throat. She tried to scream but the gag made it difficult. "Don't come any closer or I'll cut her throat open."

Naruto narrowed his eye. "I'd advise strongly against that. Less you wanna keep your life."

Beard guy widened his eyes. This didn't sound like a superhero talking this sounded like a man who was promising him death if he didn't cooperate. Before he had a chance to react a shuriken came zooming through and slammed into the man's knife with such force that it pinned the knife to the wall. Beard guy clutching his bleeding hand shoved the waitress to the side before he bolted. "Fuck this," The man said before he disappeared leaving the two alone.

The blonde ninja slowly approached the young woman and tried to be as calm as he could. "It's ok miss, I'm not here to hurt you. Are you ok?"

She eyed him suspiciously after all she was nearly killed by three large men but she could see in his eye that he was trying to help. She nodded slowly before that tough exterior she was keeping up came down and the tears came down. Naruto didn't say anything but he reached out with one hand. "What are you-" her eyes widened in shock when she saw his hands start to glow green and her eyes widened even further when she saw the scrapes and bruises on her arms and face were slowly healing. She turned to look at him like he was from another planet.

"What the hell are you?"

Naruto just smiled under his mask. Ignoring the question he glanced at the two unconscious dudes. I'll get these guys outta your way and leave you to your business. Goodnight."

"Wait-" She said, she didn't know much about superheroes, but she always thought they did what they did for recognition or fame. He didn't ask for a single thing and even healed her wounds. "I don't know what to say… you saved my life back there."

"All in a day's work miss." The figure responded back.

"What's your name?" After all, it was only common courtesy who know who her mysterious saviour was

The blonde ninja turned his head sideways before he bent down and grabbed both men throwing them on his back like a burlap sack. He turned his head and noticed a streetlamp perfect view for the police. He reached into his pouch and felt his ninja wire. He snickered to himself. 'The perfect hangout for them' he turned his attention back to the waiting girl. "My name…" he hadn't really thought of it yet, every hero had a secret identity, a name to the public eye that sparked hope such as Superman or fear in the case of Batman. A billion names ran through his mind, ANBU, Yellow Lightning, Black Ninja, Orange Justice, but then he felt the green gem necklace that Tsunade had given him. He smiled to himself. At that moment he knew. "... My name is Fire Shadow." Without a response, he nodded one final goodbye before he disappeared into a swirl of leaves.

The waitress stood there for a few moments before she walked over to grab her bag which was on the ground. She glanced up before she plucked the shuriken that was still stuck into the wall and held it in the palm of her hand. "Fire Shadow huh?" She smiled, Washington DC had a new saviour. The Fire Shadow.

With the branching off of the League of Shadows Naruto is now whisked into the open world. Many of you gave great ideas of what his name should be. However, I decided to go with the 'Fire Shadow' Trope as it makes the most sense. It was something that was important up to him since the movement of his death.

As for pairings, I'm not sure yet, I have very little experience writing Romance in any of my stories lol. I haven't decided yet but I want to make it be believable and not some 14-year-old girls secret diary lovesick story lol.

ChunkyFunkyMunky: I used Ras from Batman begins because its a more realistic version of what I would consider someone as the Leader of the League of Shadows. Youll see its a bit of a mix (eco-terrorist Comic Book version and Knights Templar Assassin Batman Begins)

Tune in, next chapter will be up shortly.