A/N: Gina Falcone is from "Fugget About It". I do not own the show, but it is extremely hilarious. Basically, she's an ex-mobster's daughter, and she acts like a Made Wise guy, just in case anyone was wondering.
LAST TIME:
Naruto smiled as he headed home, happy he had a friend besides claptrap.
NOW:
*TIMESKIP – 10 MONTHS*
Naruto grinned as he ran down the park, with Gina waiting for him at the entrance. It was October 10, a year after he had initially met claptrap. Since that time, he had met Gina and they had gotten to be good friends. Gina played the "Don" and Naruto played the muscle. As a result of that night when Gina was attacked, Claptrap had begun training Naruto, though claptrap insisted on wearing a karate gi along with a Chinese mans mustache.
It initially began with teaching Naruto the basics of hand to hand fighting, small exercises to help his still developing body be able to take more in the future, and some theories. Naruto had been given a beginners shield that could take a decent amount of damage before depleting. It was to help prevent him from taking too much damage, should some villager get out of hand. Claptrap had also informed Naruto of one last thing, .
was a program initially written by claptrap, but had been modified. Claptrap had told him that once he deemed Naruto worthy, he would allow the nano-claptraps to incorporate it into his physique. The whole basis of was that it had an ultra-intelligent AI that would analyze the current situation, then give him the powers of a vault hunter that could handle the situation accordingly. He also informed Naruto that once he reached age, he would go through firearms training.
The rest of the year was spent teaching Naruto how to do laundry, how to cook for himself, how to hunt, and how to garden for his own food. While Jiji did his best, there was only so much he could do, so Naruto had to learn to adapt. Speaking of Jiji, he still thought claptrap was a fancy toaster. He approached Gina and saw her with Jimmy, Cheech, and Cookie. "Hey Gina, what's up?" Naruto asked as he approached them.
"What's up, Naruto?" She replied with a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks. She was wearing a light pink Yukata with sakura petals, while the rest of the family were dressed normally. "My family wanted to experience the festival and we figured we'd take you around and buy you something for your birthday." Gina replied. Her family knew Naruto was an orphan, and McCool had taken Petey and Theresa out to the country side for a "Scared Straight" program.
Naruto grew nervous when he heard this. At the festival, he never dared show his face. He didn't know why adults hated him, but he knew this day it was amplified. He slowly nodded and showed the family around, taking them to a few game stalls, followed by Ichiraku Ramen. The family had gotten along splendidly, with Jimmy winning some stuffed animal for Cookie and Cheech getting drunk during dinner. He enjoyed the ramen they treated him to, but something felt off.
All through the festival, people had been shooting him glares. They had downright ignored him in some instances , so he decided to let the family have fun by themselves while he hung back. At the end of dinner, Naruto and the family had stepped outside, only to see a group of villagers waiting for them. "Alright, you damned demon!" a villager slurred. "You've corrupted this family and now you taunt us by showing up during the festival?! We can't forgive this!" The man yelled as he pulled out a butcher's knife and his group pulled out assorted weapons.
Naruto sighed, closed his eyes, and turned to the McDougal family. "Sorry about this." He said and began to walk away, only for a villager to lunge at him with a small knife. Before the knife could connect, the man's face connected with a metal bat. "What the fuck do you think you're doing!" Cheech demanded as he hoisted the bat over his shoulder. "This kid aint done nothing but help me and my family, and now you're claiming he's some demon? You guys are a bunch of idiots!" He yelled at them.
More villagers began charging at them, only for Jimmy to pull out a shotgun from his coat. "Alright, you sons of bitches. Leave the kid alone or you'se aint walking out of here alive!"Jimmy threatened. Everyone laughed, unaware of what the shotgun could do. Cookie pulled out a handgun and Gina pulled out a crowbar. "We ain't letting you hurt the kid!" Cookie yelled. The villagers charged forward, only to be shot in the face with a shotgun pellet. Another villager tried to stab Jimmy in the back with a pitchfork, only to be shot in the head by Cookie.
A villager tried approaching Gina, but the beat his kneecaps in. "Don't you know what that boy is?!" The man demanded of her. "Yea, he's my friend!" She replied as she approached the downed man with her crowbar. "That demon isn't even human!" the man replied. "Do you know why this festival is held?" The villager demanded, getting everyone's attention. "Who cares, it's a freaking festival. What kind of significance does this have?!" Gina demanded.
"8 years ago, our village was besieged by a fearsome demon with nine tails. One swipe of the tails could create earthquakes, cause tsunamis, and decimate mountains! Our leader knew there was no way to stop it, so he did the next best thing! He sealed it into a container so we would finish it off!" The man finished. "So break the container!" Gina replied. "That boy IS the container! He is no human, he is the demon!" The man finished. The McDougals turned to see Naruto, shock in his face.
Naruto couldn't believe it. He..was a demon? Is that why everyone hated him? If he was a demon and he destroyed their homes and killed so many people, maybe he did deserve to be treated the way he was. The boy fell to the ground, crying. It was all too much, and it broke his little resistance. Gina growled at the man before her. "That kid? That kid ain't no demon! He's too soft. Kid didn't even know how to fight before I met him. He's too nice and he values life! Now, you wanted a demon, you got one. Why? Cause I'm here!" She yelled as she caved the man's head in.
Jimmy and Cheech heard this, but they didn't care. After what they had done in their past lives, they weren't ones to judge. Besides, demons? All a bunch of mumbo jumbo. They continued to fight the crowd as Cookie picked him up and held him close. "There, there, little one. It's all ok." She said in a soothing voice. A villager tried to cave her head in, only to be stopped by a man wearing Kage robes.
"What the fuck is going on here?!" The man wearing the white robes with red coloring in them demanded. The villagers quickly dropped their weapons as they were surrounded by ANBU Black Ops. Jimmy, Cheech, and Gina remained on alert. "Who the hell are you?!" Jimmy demanded as he pointed the gun to the kage's head. The kage turned to see him, shotgun still pointed at his head. "I am the leader of this village, and this boy's welfare is in my hands." The kage replied.
"You call this taking care of him?! The boy was almost beaten! Twice since I've known him!" Jimmy yelled to the old man. "Unfortunately, I know I have failed the boy.." The kage said as he nodded to the ANBU. "Take the villagers to Ibiki. Tell him they have been sentenced to being torture test subjects. I will be heading to the tower with this family! And someone get me Kakashi! He was supposed to be keeping an eye on Naruto today!" The man yelled in anger. His men nodded and scattered as he escorted the McDougal family to the Hokage Tower, Cookie carrying the still crying Naruto.
*At the Kage Tower*
Hiruzen sighed as he lit his pipe and took a deep draught. He turned to the family. "I'm sure you guys have some questions.." He began. "Damn right! What the hell was that drunk talking about? Demons, trying to attack an 8 year old, and damn near everyone treats him like crap! What the fuck is going on here?!" He demanded. Hiruzen sighed as he told them to get comfortable. He then proceeded to tell them everything.
From the Kyuubi attacking the village to the forbidden technique used to seal the demon into Naruto, to his upbringing. "So now you know…" Hiruzen finished, looking at the family. "So wait, there really is a demon sealed in him?" Cookie asked. "Yea, but its sealed in him, not possessing him. " Hiruzen confirmed. "Cookie, that boy ain't no demon. He's been with our family how long? He's always been good to us, and if he is a demon, maybe all humans should strive to be like him!" Jimmy said. Cookie nodded, but still pressed her crucifix to his hand. When nothing happened, she felt satisfied.
"..So it's true. I am a demon.." a small voice spoke up. Everyone turned to see Naruto sitting up. "Why jiji? Why did the Yondaime choose me?" he asked. "Why did he make me into a demon?" He demanded with tears streaming down his face."Naruto-kun..Sealing is not becoming." He began as he pulled out a kunai. "See this?" He asked, and Naruto nodded. He then proceeded to seal it into the scroll. He then threw the scroll to Naruto. "You see that? Is it sharp like a kunai?" Hiruzen asked, getting a 'no' from Naruto.
"Is it made of metal like a kunai? Is it heavy like a kunai?" Hiruzen asked. Naruto replied "no" again. "As you can see, the scroll is not the kunai and the kunai is not the scroll. You are not the demon, you are the jail for the demon." Hiruzen finished. Naruto began understanding, but wanted to rebut. Before he could, he was grabbed by Gina and smacked. "Oh, shut up blondie! You ain't no demon! You heard the old man, all you are is the jail!" Gina yelled at him.
"She's right kid. You're just like a jail, except no wise guys. Just one." Jimmy finished. Cookie nodded and hugged him.. "You'll be fine, kid." Cookie said as she hugged him. Hiruzen smiled as he saw Naruto surrounded by people who accepted him after they knew the truth. "Alright all, now…" Hiruzen began, only to be stopped as McCool arrived. "Jimmy! You violated the terms of our stay here by assaulting civilians! I'm afraid my superiors want us back in Regina ASAP!" The man yelled.
"McCool, everything is alright. We were protecting a kid!" He replied, getting the kage to back him up. "This is indeed true, Mr. McCool." Hiruzen contributed. "Either way, we must leave ASAP! Witness protection rules!" McCool said. Naruto looked down sad. He finally had people who accepted him, and now they had to go away. "We leave in the morning! Get ready Jimmy!" McCool yelled as he sped away to prepare their transportation.
A/N: Read and Review!
