Ramen Doodles

By Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.

Author's Note: When I have writer's block, I often write a lot of random snippets of ideas, omakes, and continuations of other author's ideas that kind of petered out. As I'm afflicted with a bit of writer's block regarding Key Through the Heart (again), I've decided I'm not going to leave you guys in the lurch. Therefore, enjoy some writing I've been doing over at The Fanfiction Forum.

Orochimaru could not help but smirk in triumph. The attack was going just as he'd planned, his troops filled the streets, and soon, his dear old sensei would be dust.

He leered at his pitiful, aged sensei, glaring at him from his cage within the forest the First Hokage's Mokuton bloodline had summoned.

"Old fool... Your village is falling before me! There is nothing to save you now!"

Sarutobi opened his mouth to retort, before the loud bray of a horn reached the ninja's ears. Orochimaru turned, frowning, looking out towards the village walls. In the gap between the forest and the walls, there stood a single figure, dressed from head to toe in plated armor, sitting on a huge horse, dressed in elaborate adornment. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. He recognized that armor... Recognized the summon as well.

"Matsukaze," he hissed, knowing the Horse Lord from his readings of the old world. "But who...?"

Sarutobi's laughter made Orochimaru turn to glare at his old sensei.

"What are you laughing at, old fool?!"

Sarutobi just smirked, leaning against the bars of his self-made cage to defend against the wood.

"Laughing at? I'm laughing at the fact that I've lived, just long enough... To see all your plans fall into ruin."

Naruto's face was grim behind his steel visor as he saw the Sound and Sand troops ravage and devastate his home. His grip tightened on his spear, as Matzukaze whinnied.

"Today is a red day," the Horse Lord (for Boss was derogatory and un-befitting a creature of such nobility) spoke. Naruto nodded.

"Yes... And it will be even redder before the day is done."

Naruto was exhausted. He'd narrowly defeated Gaara mere minutes ago, leaving Sakura in the care of the exhausted Sasuke. His eyes were burning red from his use of the Kyuubi's chakra, and the feel of such rage, such burning hatred, was taxing. But now, he decided that rage would serve him best. Righteous fury was needed to bring down his foes, to avenge his fallen comrades.

"You have the strength to summon my army, Naruto?" Matsukaze asked. Naruto nodded, and made the handsigns.

"I do."

"And you can provide riders?" Matsukaze pressed. Naruto nodded again.

"I can."

"Then do so! I shall lend my power only to those willing to expend the strength needed to defend their home!" Matzukaze brayed. Naruto finished the handseals, his hand glowing with red chakra. He held his hand straight out and ancient runes spread in the air before him.

"KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!"

A burst of smoke covered the field, and when it passed it revealed hundreds of horses, smaller than their Lord but each one armored and differently colored and sized. Naruto called out more of the Fox's power and made a single handseal.

"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"

Another cloud of smoke appeared, and every horse had it's rider. Naruto held up his spear. words came to him that seemed appropriate, as the head of every ninja, every man woman and child turned to regard the shining army waiting outside their walls.

"Forth, and fear no darkness! Arise! Arise, Riders!" Naruto shouted. "Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises!"

Naruto pointed up at the shining sun, now directly overhead.

"RIDE NOW! RIDE NOW! RIDE! RIDE TO RUIN AND THE WORLD'S ENDING!" He bellowed, as Matzukaze charged with the rest of his army.

And the Sound and Sand nin could only stare in disbelief and growing horror as this army out of ancient texts, led by the strongest of all Horses and mounting a knight with a visage of fire, swept upon them like a river of steel.

This is an old idea of mine, but the basics are this: Naruto uncovers the concept of knighthood in old books which he takes to heart, and tries to make work in the world of ninja. My Sir Naruto would try very hard to train himself in the ways of a knight, but he could only get so far on his own. Telling the Hokage of his problem, Sarutobi (interested in seeing if Naruto can actually make this work) secretly asks an old friend of the Fourth Hokage's, Tenten's family, to help Naruto in his studies of etiquette and weapons use. Tenten's family agrees, being one of the families who do not hate Naruto for the Kyuubi, and Naruto and Tenten grow up childhood friends.

Naruto learns blacksmithing for the creation of his weapons. He learns tea ceremony, etiquette, and reads ancient tales and legends from his own culture in addition to those of the West. He learns sealing and takes to wearing a round shield he made himself around everywhere, in which he has learned to seal some of his weapons. Though his main weapon, his lance, is stored in a tattoo seal on his wrist. His use of weapons and seals advances and nearly matches Tenten's own skills, though he is a close-combat fighter at heart.

Despite his progress and advancement, he still cannot make a simple Bunshin-And even though he does well in every other aspect of his exams, because his Bunshins fail he is denied graduation. Even Tenten's family's help in chakra control doesn't help enough for him to master this simple jutsu, and with prejudiced teachers sabotaging his other grades he fails three times. This leads him to Mizuki stating (and using the law Naruto has learned against him) that there is a make up "exam" he can take by stealing the Forbidden Scroll.

Naruto manages to steal it using a different kind of trickery than the Sexy Jutsu, and from the Forbidden Scroll he gains two things-Kage Bunshin, and the sealed Summoning Contract for Horse Summons.

The Horse Summoning Contract was sealed away for a very important reason-Anyone who used it, even if they were trying for a low-level summon, will soon be visited by the Horse Lord himself, Matzukaze. The Horse Lord places extreme demands on anyone who tries to summon him or his people, and tests them to the point that ordinary ninja easily perish. Naruto, thinking that this is a definite means of becoming a better Ninja Knight, signs the contract but is unable to use it during the battle against Mizuki. The day after, Naruto attempts to summon a horse... And gets the Horse Lord himself, who is initially unimpressed by Naruto and refuses to have anything to do with him.

Naturally, Naruto's too stubborn to give up, and jumps onto the back of the Horse Lord. He declares he won't move until Matzukaze accepts him. Matzukaze, while secretly impressed by Naruto's tenacity, decides he's just going to shake him off, running at close to full speed. When this doesn't work, Matzukaze runs all the way to the ocean and runs through crashing waves to shake Naruto off. When he STILL is on Matzukaze's back, the Horse Lord runs on the air into a thunderstorm.

When Naruto is still gripping Mazukaze's mane for dear life, still refusing to let go, Matzukaze decides maybe there's something to this little human after all.

And Naruto thus becomes the first Horse summoner in a century who doesn't die from trying it. And the story goes on from there...