Disclaimer: Fan of Fanfics21 does not own anything. Except for the imagination the author writes. Oh, and enjoy these characters from a different franchise that appear (Which I also don't own!)

Nione's Secret Files 3: The Dragons and the Gods

The Heavenly Dragons and Hell Dragons were known to be born at the dawn of creation, but they were at the time young hatchlings, whelps that did not know how to survive without parents. The two Primordial Gods, the Sky Father and the Earth Mother, progenitors of all gods and goddesses in every religion of worship adopted and raised them. Teaching them how to master their powers as they created their own paths and bonds with other gods; Heavenly Dragons stick to the eastern side of the globe where they were treated as benevolent beings and gods with their powers. They work alongside with the mystic side of the world, becoming one with the world's magical force as they aided the magical creatures threatened to become extinct from the Deluge Myth (unknown if it's the Surge of Utnapishtim or Noah's Great Flood) like unicorns, fairies, elves and such others and lead them to another world to thrive in. They wield the powers to grant any male human being the Authority of the Sky Father, who rules the heavens and cosmos and such, foreign invaders from beyond the stars cannot do anything without permission and use the stars and galaxies as weapons, even creating a Big Bang as a weapon.

The Heavenly Dragons seek to expand the cosmos and help discover more ancient mystic knowledge to share with all they deemed worthy. One time of sharing their knowledge helped created the great city of Atlantis before it sank deep within the sea long ago. If there was any god or goddess they respect, then it would be mainly solar, lunar, and storm deities as they are connected to the heavens themselves. Those who develop strong bonds with any of the deities of those categories, they are bestowed the weapons, tools, or powers of said gods and become literal incarnations of Heaven's Wrath.

The Hell Dragons traveled with the first pantheon of gods of ancient Mesopotamian and later Babylon origins and were taught many things by Enki/Ea and hailed him as the Master World-Shaper. They also build new planets with precise expert skill in homage to Enki/Ea and to fulfill their duty for the Earth Mother, a double tribute to both deities.

The Hell Dragons follow the ways of the Earth Mother and are considered the 'Serpents of Dark Salvation' due to their dual nature of inheriting good or evil into their ways of life. They nurture the land by making the soil rich for farming, raising mountains, purifying rivers, and at the same time, unleash plagues, release calamities, and also destroying life.

The cruel loving nature that is the Earth Mother as she nurtures and culls her own children, as the Hell Dragons are her claws and fangs. In a similar fashion to the Heavenly Dragons, the Hell Dragons can bestow a female human being with the Authority of the Earth Mother (I will not go into details of this one, far too terrifying her powers are).

Of the two Primordial Gods, the Earth Mother is truly the stronger of the two, and the most terrifying. I will not go into detail with these two and their powers, for even I dare not venture into their domains and earn their ire.

Now back onto subject with Enki/Ea and the Hell Dragons. Legends say that Enki/Ea will bestow knowledge of how to build one of two weapons (rarely both to the same dragon) bearing his two names to any Hell Dragon of high ranks that are deemed worthy of them. A sword that becomes a star that summons the Surge of Utnapishtim, and a cutting tool with which heaven and earth were cut apart shortly after creation. The latter one is said to contain the knowledge of the 'Truth' of how the World itself is created. The power to destroy the World by tearing it apart by reenacting Enuma Elish, the very same creation mythos that the Heavenly and Hell Dragons originated from. The sword that will show the primordial planet before genesis, before heaven and earth were separated. Hell itself in its truest form.

These to the Hell Dragons are sacred items that must not be taken lightly, so in battle under a mortal guise in the battle field, they will never use these weapons unless deemed necessary to utilize them. The Sword of the End (the one that summons the Surge of Utnapishtim) was dubbed Enki, while the Sword of Rupture (the cutting tool that calls forth the miracle of genesis) was dubbed Ea. Of both swords, Enki is the safe one to utilize and the easiest to craft; while Ea is the hardest one to create and the most dangerous one. Even I don't know the requirements to building such a weapon; if there was ever a Hell Dragon said to have created that sword, then it would be unheard of as none have successfully created this dangerous weapon since the knowledge was bestowed upon those who were chosen. Only the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh owns the original one Ea owned in life.

In terms of knowledge, both species of dragons are the ultimate living archives that absorb the knowledge they seek and it lingers in them and can easily recall down to the very last detail. They can use this knowledge to create treasures, weapons, and even foods of such values they can be considered the ultimate NEETs if they ever went into human business.

"So Jimmy, what's with the sword and that mini gun ya got there?" asked an officer as Jim looked at the weapons he took from the boy. "I just confiscated them from some boy from Japan Tychus." Jim replied as Tychus looked at the weapons with a raised brow. "Hell…what's a Japanese boy doing with some sword that isn't I dunno…Japanese?" he asked as Jim frowned at that. That was a good question, this boy was an orphan and yet out of everyone there, only he (except for military and officers who were sent over to protect their own people in a foreign land) had weapons; very suspicious in Jim's book.

*Sewers*

"I tell ya man, that boy there be the key to restoring order!" a voice spoke up as other shadows looked at the one who spoke.

"Be very careful with this one. The spirits be pretty angry with the sudden appearance of these dragons."

"But the spirits quelled with that boy's appearance. They call him a 'sacred serpent' that even their ancestors worshipped." More whisperings brought out as they were unnerved by this development.

"Enough, the wars are beginning to brew, and my inside man is saying that the government be quarantining all of Los Angeles in fear of the disease the Jap's be bringing with them. We take care of those rivals of ours, and then see what this boy can do." The voice of the leader spoke as all was silent. The leader's words were final.

*Surface*

Naruto tossed the coins of the American currency in his hands. He was busy practicing with his Hell Dragon abilities that he had yet to utilize. Naraku had told him that there was a vast variety of powers both Heavenly and Hell Dragons possess, and right now, Naruto was learning the basic one with metal; magnetism, which in his opinion will be useful when dealing with weapons with metal. As long as no idiot calls him Mag-freakin'-neto, no blood shall be spilt. So far, he's gotten a handful of coins from using his powers, and this was small stuff. He had to begin testing his ability over metals a bit further as he eyed a bicycle nearby. A bike lock was on and there was no way he could unlock it without the key, unless…

Eyeing the lock, Naruto mentally analyzed the lock and began using his ability over metal and watched with slight awe as he heard a click as the lock was undone. He had a slight headache trying to do that, but now was the time to keep testing it on other locks. He had a feeling once he got better at using his powers over metals, he'll use them to pull off a big stunt. But for now, safety precautions must be made when testing one's powers. And he had better hurry back; it was getting into that time when the gangs of the streets start their weekly battles.

*Next Day*

"Naru-nī-chan, there's an officer out there!" the orphan boy, Yuji called out as Naruto exited the tent he was staying in, only to see Officer Jim there. "Hello Jimmy, what brings you down here with the rest of us here refugees?" he asked with a dry tone. "Well I'd like to ask you a few questions, and then once I'm satisfied, I got the OK from the chief to returning your weapons." He replied. "Be careful Naruto, he's telling a half-lie. His heartbeat altered a bit; probably about the weapons." Naraku warned him as Naruto kept his composure and smiled. "Fire away cowboy," he replied.

*2 hours and 42 minutes later*

"-and that was that." Naruto finished as Jim whistled at what he was hearing. Being a prisoner of the source of Japan's problem and escaping with his sister's help and escaping here to hone his abilities…unreal. "Son, you ever shot a gun before?" Jim asked as Naruto shook his head. "I haven't, and I don't want to waste my bullets. Don't have the money or the permit for those, ya know?" he asked as Jim nodded his head. "I hear ya buddy, so how about this…From what I'm hearing about how you escaped this advanced prison with just stealth alone, help me with taking down these gangs?" Jim proposed as Naruto raised his brow.

"I mean, you can capture them and turn them in to the authorities. There are some psychopaths out there that we've been meaning to hunt, and I'm willing to break a few laws to capture them." Jim explained as Naruto had a dry expression on his face. "You want a thirteen year old Japanese boy to go hunt down dangerous gangsters here and bring them to justice. Jim, are you drunk and high right now?" Naruto asked as he had a wry smile on his face. "Heh, very funny junior; but I know you ain't no normal kid." Jim replied as Naruto leaned back as he felt the ground vibrate as 38 miles away, a gang fight was erupting.

"What's in it for me though?" he asked as Jim smirked. "Gun training, ammunition, and all the guns you can use…with me responsible for sponsoring you and as your guardian with the permit." He replied. "Also, a place for your folks to stay in." he added in as he took his time and waited for Naruto's reaction.

…

…

…

"Jim Raynor, you have one hell of a deal." Naruto spoke up as he shook hands with his new guardian. "Alright then, since I've got a few favors with some big folk out there, I'm sure I can renovate a few buildings just for you guys…Well, at least having electricity and water running." He told him as Naruto shrugged. "Hey, at least it's a place safe from the outside, and a place to say under a roof instead of a tent." Naruto replied.

Several days have passed, and the refugees have begun making themselves at home in these old apartment complexes. While they would have to make use of what little they had, Naruto was planning something else to help them. And he was going to go target practicing with his guardian Officer Jim Raynor tomorrow morning. For now, he was going to sleep, and get ready to do some 'illegal vigilante' stunts.

*Dream*

Naruto was very smart guessing that this was no ordinary dream. He felt a power far greater than his own, even greater than that of Bahamut or Tiamat's as he looked for the source in the void he was in. All he saw was a massive variety of colors constantly changing and that didn't help much. "Wait…colors?" Naruto thought in realization as he looked at the colors, before looking up to see that it must be a planet sized dragon that was looking down at him. "Be wary Naruto, it's a Dragon God of the Creator archetype!" Tenryū warned as Naruto had heard tales of only one dragon that had these kinds of scales, and was a size far bigger than any known dragon. "Dragon God of Creation, Io…" Naruto whispered in awe as that single giant eye that was visible from above looked down at him.

"Cypher Naruto Uzumaki…You are worthy…" The great dragon spoke. Naruto felt his left hand burning as he looked to see the back of it bearing a disk shaped tattoo that changed colors in the light and angle it was in. "A fraction of my power is yours…" the wyrm told him as Naruto looked up, confused. "Why? Why give me this for?" Naruto demanded as the rumblings of the giant dragon echoed in the void.

"Tiamat has risked the safety of my children, and she must be punished for that. She had killed both of my sons, and yet she endangers the rest of the dragons as a whole to extinction." Io replied, his voice louder than thunder as Naruto had a hard time trying not to cover his ears in pain. "You who bear the power to devour souls of both mortals and dragons, one of two unexpectedly blessed by one called Akatosh with this soul devouring right on dragons, must be blessed by me, the one who created the first Dragonborns that he followed in his own way of creating, now dub you, the third generation; and the First True Dragonborn…The first of true unity of man and dragon." Io stated as Naruto felt the world around him collapse.

"I give you this right as my Champion, to devour the soul of Tiamat, as her fate must be one far worse than death. But limit the killings of other dragons, for only those who hold the potential of being a threat to dragons as a whole must be feasted on." Io thundered with a warning as Naruto nodded his head as he began falling into the void's depths.

*Ruined Apartment Complex*

Naruto awoke, gasping for breath as he began sitting upright and looked around, seeing that the sun hasn't risen yet as he looked at the back of his left hand, to see the Mark of Io as he dubbed it still showing off a variety of colors from itself. "I have discovered a unique ability that this mark is capable of using. There are more in there but they seem to require something to awaken them." Naraku spoke up as Naruto began getting ready for the morning. "So what ability is it?" he mentally replied as Tenryū was the one to speak up. "Teleport you to a certain distance, could be useful in traveling and in assassination." Naruto looked at the mark while getting ready, and decided it was time to give his new guardian Jim a surprise.

Jim was enjoying his nice mug of coffee as he looked at the latest news on paper and on the television. The gang crimes were rising up spontaneously since the refugees came into town, and a blockade is beginning to take over all of Los Angles to keep this plague that the Japanese have isolated from America. "They're gonna starve us all if we don't kill each other first." Jim mentally mused as he took a sip of his coffee.

"So what's on the board today Jimmy?"

"Ah!" Jim exclaimed in shock as he fell out of his chair, as his coffee was spilt all over his pants as he looked up to see one amused Naruto as he grunted in annoyance. "Damn it boy, you pop up like one of them Ghost Squadron." Jim told him as he got up and looked down at his own pants and mentally sighed. Those were his best ones he had just bought too damn it!

"Really? Then I'll have to see who the best at stealth is then if I ever met one." Naruto replied cheekily as Jim laughed at that. He really doubted Naruto can out sneak a Ghost operative like Nova Terra or his girlfriend Sarah Kerrigan. "You know you're gonna pay for it in gun training today." Jim spoke up as Naruto chuckled. "Hit me with your best shot Jimmy." He shot back with a grin. One that Jim replied with a smirk on his face.

*Several Hours later*

Naruto whacked the side of his head, trying to clear out the loud sounds from firing his gun without the protection gear for his ears as Jim looked at him with an amused expression. "Told ya that you'd pay for it in gun training," Jim told him as Naruto scowled at him. "So what's going on with the gangs?" Naruto asked as Jim merely shook his head. "All that training and you want to go bash some gang skulls…Bet you'd like this one." Jim told him as he handed Naruto a file. "The Bonechewer Gang and the Twilight's Hammer Gang are the main problems right now. Their bloodthirsty natures are too out of control and they've been recently starting to kill people and officers alike in their battles." He explained as Naruto flipped through the pages and noticed how very detailed the gory bodies looked like in the pictures.

"So what, you want to arrest these folks? They look a little insane to actually be locked in a cell." Naruto asked as Jim had a grim expression on his feet. "That's just it, trying to get these sons of bitches locked up is nearly impossible even for SWAT to do anything about it. These guys are prepared for anything the police can dish out. But…" Jim trailed off looking at Naruto. "They are not prepared for a ninja." Naruto deadpanned as Jim merely nodded. "Just capture the leaders and they'll all be runnin' round like headless chickens." Jim answered as Naruto looked at him. "They've got serious fire power for mere gangs; I can tell these guys must have some sort of inside men giving those guns and grenades." Naruto added in, tossing down the file as the pictures showed the gangs having high class machine guns and hand grenades at their disposal.

"Yeah…I did forget mentioning a few things like that." Jim replied with an attempt to look sheepish. "Don't get your head stuck in a noose Jim, if I ever find anyone who's been making these deals with the gangs, I'll have them tied up and gagged for you." Naruto told him, waving it off as Jim raised a brow. "You sure know how to cocky, don't ya son?" he asked. "Nah, compared to what I had to deal with back in Japan, this is nothing." He replied. Jim had nothing to say to that. "Get on my ride; she'll take us to our first target."

*Skid Row-Los Angeles-*

Once Jim's personal motorcycle parked, Naruto got off and looked around. There were so many homeless people here it was sickening in his opinion. "So who owns this territory?" Naruto asked as Jim looked at his young accomplice. "Some guy named Max Dowell, leader of the Twilight's Hammer. Rumors say he's a drug lord of sorts and runs his gangs, recruiting the homeless here to be part of his gang as they rule the underground here. He's got an army and you are just one kid, how're gonna outmaneuver all of them and possible security devices?" Jim asked, wondering if this bold plan was a little too suicidal for the both of them. "Strike them where it hurts and then once the leader's alone, bam; strike him down before he knows what hit him." Naruto replied with a calm tone. Jim could not believe how calm Naruto is in this kind of situation; then again, dealing with those dragons must make other people even with guns and that entire thing look like second fiddle right now.

"Gotcha headset?" he asked as Naruto merely placed a Bluetooth headphone in his ear with a thumb up. But this one was tampered so that it can communicate with Jim like a walkie talkie does without the loudness. "Wish me luck," Naruto told him as he walked off with his sword and gun hidden under his coat, which made Jim wonder how the hell he was able to do that before finding a café to set up shop while looking like an online gamer chatting with a buddy online.

Naruto looked around the area he was in and sure enough, he saw some guy examine some of the homeless there and asking them a few questions before walking past him. And Naruto knew the smell of gunpowder used in bullets anywhere. He spent his time honing his sense of smell for the past few weeks at sea trying to build up a talent in tracking certain things by smell. So he was quite familiar with such things and had already found a target. Now to take him into an alley without being seen…

Jim set up his laptop, placed his sunglasses on, had headphones set, wireless mouse on, charger plugged in, and a nice mocha at his side as he began some hacking. "Naruto, this is Jim Raynor here, how's the raiding so far over?" he asked as other customers merely shook their heads at him as they thought of him as a gamer getting ready for an online raid. If only they knew.

Loud and clear Jimmy-man got me a lead. Plus the bastard won't speak till I threatened to cut off his balls.

Jim winced at the thought, "Kinda brutal method, don't ya think?" he asked as he nailed Naruto's GPS signal.

It got him squealing like a pig when I was about to do so. Knocked him out and left him tied up. I placed a beacon for pickup once this is over. The base is in a modified sewer system.

That got Jim's attention, "Wait, they modified the sewers down there?" he asked as someone overheard and assumed that the raid the geek was playing was taking place in a patched level of a sewer.

Yeah, but I guessed the guy had big dough to have construction workers modify things down there…I hate the sewers.

"Don't we all," Jim replied with an amused grin.

Naruto opened the manhole and climbed on down, closing the entrance behind him as he manipulated the sludge that was called sewer water to the side so he had no physical contact with it. He only wished that he could get rid of that horrible smell though as he continued his way through the sewers, listening to the echoes to find the underground base the Twilight Hammer gang owned down there. "Hey Jim, can I ask you a question? Can I kill a few of the guys that might be a threat?" he asked on his Bluetooth.

That's a negative sport. Every life counts on us since this lockdown can be catastrophic, who knows, maybe they'll help us out later if one of those nasty ass dragons come to America.

"Very funny," Naruto deadpanned as he heard footsteps on metal and was immediately silent. "Man, why do we have to patrol in this shit?" a voice spoke up. "Because Max wants to be sure no spy from other rivals gets their hands on Intel of whose giving us our ammunitions." The other one replied as Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Yeah sure, but who is smart enough to even look for gangs inside a sewer?" the other voice asked. "A smart man who knows how to think like us." Was the reply from the other man.

The footsteps then faded away as Naruto went to where the voices originated from and found a metal pathway over the sludge, which he jumped onto and felt the vibrations of the metal and the stone it was connected to and his eyes widened as he felt the heartbeats. "Holy shit…" Naruto muttered.

Naruto, what is it? What happened?

"There are at least a thousand people down here Jim, all armed like they are going to war." Naruto replied.

Shit…Retreat Naruto, this is out of hand.

"No, I'm going to scout it out and then let you know what everyone's gonna deal with if they get away with it." Naruto replied as he turned off the Bluetooth and began running towards the base, following the metal's vibrations towards the source.

Jim swore as he threw down his headphones, causing everyone in the café to look at him as he gave them a 'what are you looking at' expression as they turned and returned to doing their business. "Must've lost the raid." One guy commented as Jim narrowed his eyes. "This isn't a raid, its war." He thought.

Naruto leapt and partially transformed his hands into claws as he clung to the walls and began climbing up a tunnel and reached the top, slowly sneaking in a peak from above as Naruto let out a low whistle. It was an army alright, the part of the sewers in the location he was at was filled with thousands of men and women, and they aren't looking friendly at all as he eyed their garments. They were suited up like soldiers and were ready to fight, but they were annoyed for some reason.

"Can I get your attention everyone!" a voice announced as everyone turned to the source as Naruto realized it was Max Dowell himself. He immediately activated his Bluetooth, hoping Jim would be listening to it. "There has been a delay in the new supply of ammunition at the moment," Max announced, as groans and curses were thrown around. "But my accomplice, Narud, will have your ammunitions here in 30 minutes tops. Make sure to go to the 7-11 store, where he'll have your shipment waiting." He told them as Naruto whispered to his Bluetooth. "Did you get all of that Jim?"

You finally reactivate it, and yes Junior, I've got it all. And according to my GPS, the nearest one is above your location. On my way there to apprehend Narud, you get Max…alive.

"Gotcha," Naruto replied as he activated the Mark of Io as he 'blinked' away after Max Dowell.

He followed the leader of the Twilight's Hammer with great caution and from within the shadows, observing the security the man had around him and was surprised that he didn't sense any other presence besides his own and Max's. "What a cocky bastard. He thinks no one can breach his stronghold…well he's about to be proven wrong." Naruto thought as he saw the man open a door and walked in. Naruto smelt pot, weed, and sex in there. The man was probably getting wasted in there, and how Naruto knew what those drugs and sex smelled like, Jim gave him scent cards to identify them right off the bat, and wished he hadn't. They were unpleasant smells to his nose.

Gently, he placed his ear against the door, and heard a few things. Clothes falling off, some girls moaning, and the sound of a metal door clicking shut. "Oh…a safe. Let's crack that baby open and get some booty!" Naraku cheered as Naruto kept a straight face. "…Okay not that kind of booty since you're still young." Naraku added as Naruto carefully and slowly opened the door and peeked inside.

"Sweet mother of mercy, what a pig!" Naruto thought as the entire room was a complete pigsty. Clothes were scattered everywhere, food was on the floor that had mold growing on it, and so much more that made normal people gag at such filth. Said man was busy in his bedroom with the women as the smell of drugs and sex reeked in the room. Naruto wanted to gag at the foul smell as he held his breath and snuck in, finding the safe just near the bedroom door. "Time to get some loot, hope Jimmy loves the paycheck!" Naruto thought as he stealthily got towards the safe. "My turn," Naraku spoke as Naruto felt the Hell Dragon blood in his veins kick in as his right hand touched the safe door as the spinning lock moved on its own until a confirmed click was heard as he opened it.

"Holy shit…that is a lot of money…" Naraku spoke up as Naruto nodded his head dumbly. There were hundreds of bundles of cash lying in there, all one hundred dollar bills as Naruto had reached out, as his ability to store things in what he called the 'inventory realm' as not a single bill was left in the safe as he decided to lure Max Dowell out. He did it with the most simple thing by slamming the safe door shut, letting the metal echo loud and quickly leapt up over the doorway to the bedroom, clinging onto the ceiling as he heard the moans stopping as the sound of a gun click was heard. The leader of the Twilight's Hammer walked out with his gun at hand while in his underwear, cautiously looking around. Then, Naruto made his move and striked.

Narud drove his big black van to the 7-11 and parked it there. He was late behind schedule due to that idiot employee of his messing up on the time schedules; now all he needed to do was wait for members of the gang to come with his cash. But at the meantime doesn't mean he could get a nice cup of coffee and donut now could he? It was too bad he didn't pay heed to the motorcycle being fueled at the moment or the man who eyed the van from behind his sunglasses.

Once Narud got his coffee and donut, he noticed a man leaning against his van, as if expecting him. "Narud I take it?" the man asked as Narud nodded his head. "I take it you're here for the ammunitions? They're in the back." Narud replied as the man merely pulled out his officer badge as Narud froze in his tracks. "I'm Jim Raynor, and you're under arrest." Jim told him, pulling his glasses off as he quickly slammed Narud against the van and handcuffed him.

"You work fast man."

"Ah!" Jim exclaimed as he jumped and saw Naruto behind him with Max Dowell in his underwear, being carried over the shoulder by a 13 year old boy. "Damnit Naruto, stop doing that!" Jim swore as Naruto raised a brow. "Do what?" he asked innocently as Jim merely frowned. He'll get that kid one of these days. But the smell of something foul hit his nose as he realized Naruto came out of the sewers as he pinched his nose to block the smell. "Well Junior, can you drive a van?" Jim asked, knowing it was illegal anyways as somehow, he knew Naruto will pull it off somehow. After all, the kid reminded him of himself when he was younger. Naruto merely smirked at the question.

*Several Days later-Refugee Hotel-*

As Naruto distributed the groceries he bought from the nearest supermarket to the others who thanked him, he returned to his room where he enjoyed his comfortable bed and a regular old TV he had repaired as he watched the latest news. Since the arrest of Narud and Max Dowell, the Twilight's Hammer gang was arrested and serving life sentence for their possessions as Officer Jim Raynor was credited with the discovery. But recently, the Bonechewer gang was taking over, and is much aggressive in terms of taking over. So far, 42 people were killed by them from their weekly raids and a bounty was placed on them. Find and kill/capture Alex Lockhart and put an end to the Bonechewer gang. Of course, most police and SWAT were doing this and was the bonus on their paycheck as Naruto turned off the TV as he heard a knock on the door.

"It's open!" he called out as Jim Raynor walked in…along with two more officers. "Is this him?" one of the officers asked. "Yep, it's him. The one you should really thank actually." Jim replied as Naruto got up carefully. "We're the Los Angeles Police Force, and I can't believe I'm saying this to a kid…we need your help."

*Police Department*

"So let me get this straight…" Naruto started, looking at the Chief Officer Matt Horner. "You want me to help you and the Ghost Squadron take down the Bonechewer gang in their base?" he asked, wondering what he was listening to. "I'm sure it's hard to believe, but with what Jim's been saying about your stealth and talent for finding the target that fast, I need all the help I can get, especially since the quarantine over all of Los Angeles." Matt pleaded as Naruto got into a thinking position.

"…What's in it for me?" he asked. "Pretty much anything that is within our power." Jim replied immediately as Matt Horner looked at Jim like he was crazy. "My own firearms and gear?" Naruto asked. "Done," Jim replied, "…my own driver's license and car?"

Now Matt was feeling like this was getting a bit over the top. "…We'll think about it." Matt replied as Naruto nodded his head. "Alright, count me in." Naruto told them as Jim patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Welcome to the family, now let's get you geared up." Jim told him as Matt looked at Jim with minor annoyance. It was always like that for Jim to do things his way as said man was escorting the boy to the armory.

"Now that should do it. Hope it keeps nerdy happy now that I've finished this ridiculous request." A short man muttered as he finished using the drill and began fixing in lens. "Damn game fan, asking me to create something like this? What a joke!" the man grumbled. "-and this here is Rory Swann, specializes in creating new weapons and gears for the men." Jim introduced as Swann turned around and smiled. "Hey cowboy, long times no see!" he greeted with a hug as he looked at Naruto. "So who's the kid? Nephew?" he asked. "Nah, of course not Swann. This here is Naruto Uzumaki, the 'ninja kid' I told you earlier." Jim explained as the dwarf shrugged. "Eh, that special assassin that took on the gang leader? Kid's got brass balls for doing that hotshot."

"It was really nothing, though I wished his room was more pleasant smelling. I mean, his room was so bad, Jabba the Hutt would say 'DAAAMMM!'" Naruto spoke up as Swann looked at Jim. "He's been watchin' your Star Wars collection?" he asked as Jim shrugged. "So Swann, got the gear I requested for the kid?" he asked as the mechanic laughed. "Do I have it? Hell, I just finished this baby!" Swann replied as he picked up a mask and presented it to Naruto.

"That Stetmann fellow wanted me to replicate a game character's mask, and when I saw it, I had to refuse to admit it was a nice design for a game like that. And it gave me the chills." Swann shuddered as Naruto looked at the mask. It was made of metal, and resembled a skull as cloth was behind it where he would put his face, serving as something to block out smoke and such, and he noticed a lot of tiny lights in there. "This baby has three levels of telescopic vision, night vision, heat vision, and also of course, regular vision." Swann told Naruto as he placed the mask on. "…hold on a second. Let me recalibrate that first." He spoke up as he picked up a screwdriver and began tweaking with the lens a bit before stepping back.

"Much better," Naruto told him with a thumb up. Jim looked at the now masked boy with a raised eyebrow and leaned into Swann's ear. "What game did that mask come from?" he whispered. "Oh, some game called Dishonored. Game gave me the creeps when I started playing it one time with all the supernatural powers." Swann replied.

"Well, the mask aside, we've got to deal with the insane Bonechewer gang now." Jim broke in, gaining Naruto's attention, "These guys are bloodthirsty killers, constantly murdering innocents for money and property. I'm not sure how they've done it, but now they're a bigger problem alive and well…" Jim briefed Naruto who merely shrugged. "You want me to kill a certain amount or what?" he asked.

Jim frowned at that, this boy was really carefree when it comes to killing others. "I'm tasking you along with two members of the Ghost Squadron to poison their rations and water supply. Me and the police will take the other on the front line." He told Naruto. "Ah…pincers attack right? While most of them are fighting you and fellow officers, I get to strike them from behind like an assassin. Alright, whom I with?" Naruto asked with a nod of his head.

"Girls, time to meet our newest member of the team." Jim merely replied as two girls walked in and Naruto immediately looked away. They were nice looking but…

"Blame the guy who designed these suits for us." The blonde woman told him as if she read his mind. "Yeah…blame him." Naruto said weakly as Jim chuckled. "What kid can't handle starin' at a few girls in those kinds of outfits?" Jim asked. "Well…Yeah, I just kinda find it rude to look at a girl like that." Naruto admitted as Swann and Jim shared a laugh. "No matter how heartless he can be, still a brat no matter what." Jim mused.

"I'd say hotshot, this kid will be quite fun to mess with then." Swann replied. The blonde coughed, gaining everyone's attention. "Back to the matter at hand?" she asked. "Thanks Nova," Jim nodded as he continued briefing. Once it was over, Naruto went to find something to eat. Can't kill anyone on an empty stomach now huh?

"You know, you're much different from your original self." Naraku commented as Naruto mentally rolled his eyes. "Please, while I may be his clone, I'm still my own person. I have my own way of living, my own beliefs, and my own path. I don't follow others like my original. I'm nothing more than a lost puppy or a puppet then." He mentally replied as he began ordering his food from the police cafeteria.

*Wholesale District-Los Angeles*

-Jim and Sarah-

"Damn, this place really has fallen to the doghouse." Jim clicked his tongue in annoyance as he saw a warehouse on fire as a helicopter flew overhead. "So Sarah, can you and Nova keep Naruto safe? I'd hate to tell the orphans he's with about how he died." He asked as his girlfriend merely smiled and looked at him. "Don't worry Jim, I'll be sure to-You pig!" she exclaimed as she slapped him on the arm playfully. "What? I didn't say anything yet!" Jim told her as Sarah looked at him with a smirk. "But you were thinking it, weren't you?" she asked as Jim looked away embarrassed. "Ah, right, telepath…Forgot about that." He grumbled. "Let's just get this mission over with."

-Naruto-

Naruto placed the mask on, letting the lens adjust themselves as he drew his sword and began practicing his attacks on imaginary enemies, but still on edge since he knew he was in enemy territory.

How long had he been here in America?

How long since he failed his mission as Bahamut's Champion?

How long must Shana serve Tiamat?

How long will he be considered a disgrace to the metallic dragons for his friend's death?

"There you are, Angel of Death, already practicing for the culling." A voice of a grown man with an accent spoke as Naruto turned to the source, blade pointed at the target as he remained silent. "Let me introduce myself brother, I am Tosh, leader of the Spectres. And you Reaper boy are going to be given an offer worth your while." The man told him as behind his mask, Naruto narrowed his eyes.

To be continued…