Disclaimers: This is my first fanfiction, so please go easy on me. I haven't written anything since High School, but I thought it would be fun to try something like this, especially since I haven't found any Steel release fanfics. I've always loved the idea of this kekkei genkai, and hopefully, I can do it some justice with how it's portrayed.

I don't own Naruto or any of its characters. I guess I own the OCs I may portray, but I don't care if someone else uses them.

I've always been content to keep to myself, to blend into the background and observe the world around me. But lately, something has been stirring inside me, something that I can't quite put into words.

As I walk through the streets of Konoha, I can't help but feel like I'm on the brink of something big. Maybe it's in the way the leaves rustle in the wind, or the way the sunlight filters through the trees. Whatever it is I know that my life is about to change.

I turn a corner and find myself face-to-face with a group of bandits. They sneer at me, their eyes glinting with malice. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I realize I'm outnumbered.

'What the hell?! How did thugs like this even get into the village? What do we have those gate guards for?'

"What do we have here? Little street rat caught all on his own? Turn around kid, there are things here you shouldn't see." Said a grisly-looking man.

I was going to do just that—no reason to get involved with those types—when I saw what exactly they were doing. Pressed up against the wall was a young lady whose mouth was held closed by one of the bandits. I couldn't hear her pleas as they were muffled by the hand, but the look in her eyes was more than enough to get her terror across.

"Wha- what are you doing with her?" I asked.

The man who originally talked to me narrowed his eyes and said, "I told you to get lost, kid. If you know what's good for you." His posture grew foreboding, as he brandish a long and curved dagger from his belt. He took a step towards me as a couple of the other thugs joined him at his side, each looking as dangerous as the other.

I took a step back and went to pull out the kunai I had on my side; recently issued by the academy and blunted for instructional purposes, but it was my best option. As I was reaching for it, though, I felt arms wrap around me from behind and tug me into the air.

"Seems we have a feisty one here, eh boss?" A smug tone from behind. The bandit I hadn't noticed held me still as I kicked at him, trying to free myself. The supposed boss with the dagger closes the gap between us and lays his blade against my cheek.

"I'll give you one more chance, son. Leave, and don't look back." He runs the blade down my cheek, gently enough to keep from drawing blood, but menacing enough to wreak havoc on my adrenaline. I look at the lady and see her eyes down, resolved to her fate.

I turn my eyes down when I feel something strange. My hands began glowing with a faint blue light, and I feel a surge of power coursing through my veins. The blade that was threatening my flesh started to seem to speak to me. I don't know how I knew but I could just feel that it was waiting on my command.

The bandit looks to see my hands and says, "The hell, is this kid a ninja? Whatever! I gave you a chance!" He reels the dagger back and goes to plunge it into my neck when just before it can meet my skin the blade seemingly flattens out, starting from the tip and moving towards the pommel, instead of a blade it becomes something more akin to a sheet, and instead of piercing my flesh, it smashes my face, sending my head backward and into the face of the bandit holding me.

"Ack!" my captor exclaimed, and in his recoil, I managed to slip out of his grip and back away from the group.

The boss looks at the blade in bewilderment and tosses it to the side while shaking his head and muttering something under his breath. The one whose nose I had smashed recovers and looks back at me with rage in his eyes. At this point, the other bandits take notice that the interruption hasn't been dealt with and start to make their way toward me.

"Get him boys!" proclaims the boss.

Then it all happened at once.

My world goes dark, but not before hearing the squelching of blade-piercing flesh and men groaning in pain.

"It appears he's just experiencing some chakra exhaustion, Anbu-san. There's no physical damage to the body." A doctor cloaked in typical hospital garb says. Next to him was a man dressed in standard Anbu gear, and whose mask depicted that of a Weasel.

"That's good to hear," he said, leveling a gaze to the clipboard in the doctor's hand. "Nakamura Ryota. Any familial relations here in the village, Doctor-san?"

"Not according to his medical file here. That doesn't mean he doesn't, though. Just none listed for emergency contact. He could be emancipated, seeing how he's training to be a Ninja. I'd check with the Historical Records department, they're in charge of maintaining any genealogical records for the village."

The Anbu nodded and left after casting a glance at the child in question, who was still asleep.

After a short time of searching through the files within the Historical Records department—access to which was afforded him by his Anbu status—Itachi found what he was looking for. File in hand he set his destination to the Hokage Tower, arriving in a kneeling position after performing the body-flicker technique.

"Lord Hokage," he said, with head bowed. Before Itachi sat the most powerful man in the village. Sarutobi Hiruzen was hailed as the second God of Shinobi and respected throughout the elemental nations for his long tenure as Kage.

"Rise please, Weasel. What information do you bring for me regarding the bandit incident?"

Standing, Itachi gave his report, "My lord, it appears as though a small gang has been forming in the red-light district. Their activities to date have ranged from petty thievery to the distribution of illicit goods throughout the village. I've already formed a dossier and will submit it to the Uchiha Police Force after our meeting here." Hiruzen nodded and motioned for Itachi to continue.

Itachi filled Hiruzen with the rest of the situation when he stopped on a certain detail.

"When taking the statement of the civilian the gang members had been physically assaulting, one Sato Emiko, she said that one of our academy students came to her rescue and that he had done something rather strange during the confrontation. She said that when what was perceived as the boss of the thugs was going to stab him, the metal of the blade bent out of the way, blunting the knife and preventing the death of Nakamura Ryota, our child in question."

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at this and stated, "Could it be?" Itachi understood the question and continued, "I thought so too. It seemed to me that the boy may have awakened some sort of kekkei genkai, my thoughts going toward the Steel Release to be specific. I did some research into the boy's family, and this is what I could find," he finished as he handed the folder to the Sarutobi.

"Thank you, Weasel. You are dismissed."

Now alone, Sarutobi looked over the document, which started to confirm some thoughts he'd already been having. Nakamura Ryota was discovered by a chunin team that had led a mission into Iwa. A mission to Grass to wipe out a bandit camp had led the team into Iwa, as the final remnants of the group could be found encamped just beyond the borders of the lands. The child was found in the camp, and while his parents are unknown, they're presumed to be among the bandits who were wiped out. The chunin team decided to bring the child back with them to Konoha, considering they had no leads as to who may have any agency over him.

The Steel Release was a kekkei genkai that had only appeared within the Land of Earth. Seeming as though the hardy lands had molded those people to be especially receptive to the uses of metals, giving a very small portion of them the ability to mold and shape metals. Some in the past had reached a level so high they could create steel from the minerals in the earth, making them very formidable enemies to battle. They could erect nigh impenetrable walls, and form spikes of steel capable of crumbling the standard defense jutsus of the primary elements.

'If something so powerful has emerged in this child, it would need to be honed,' thought Hiruzen, with a calculating gleam to his eye.

He huffed a deep breath and exclaimed it in a sigh wrought with the years of weariness this position gave him.

"No." He said. "I will not rob this child of his youth."

The village has been in a time of peace for quite a while now, and there's no reason to rush his development like those before him.

'Just this once I will let Hiruzen decide instead of the Hokage," he thought with a solemn expression. Too many before have been subjected to the horrors of this world and come out a shadow of their former self. Take Hatake Kakashi for example. Indoctrinated as a ninja since the age of 5, and now he spends all his waking hours in regret for his past actions.

No, the boy would not be hoisted off to a training facility, or worse, left with Danzo. He will grow in his ways, and he will determine his destiny. That being said, he cannot be left to harm himself or others, so…

"Tora!" He exclaimed.

"Yes, Lord Hokage?" Said a form as it dropped from the shadows into a kneel.

Turning to him, the Hokage spoke, "You are to maintain a close watch over Nakamura Ryota. You are best equipped to deal with kekkei genkai, so I trust that you'll be able to keep detailed notes of him and make sure he doesn't do anything reckless with his ability. It should go without saying that anything discussed in this room today is an A-rank secret. If our enemies were to find out about such an ability, young Ryota would have many people after his body for his secrets. Understood?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

And with that the Anbu, Tora, left the room, leaving Hiruzen to settle again into his chair with a sigh of effort.

"Ugh…," I awoke with a groan. Slowly, I opened my eyes to the plain hospital room I had ended up in. I looked around before recalling the events earlier that day. I looked towards my hands to see if they were still shown with that ethereal blue that filled me with power. I hadn't unlocked my chakra yet at the Academy, unlike a lot of the other students who came from clans and taught them from a young.

What I felt before must have been chakra though. The sheen of blue, the pure power that flowed through my hands! And the way the knife listened to my command…

Well, I don't know if the knife thing is all the way normal, but it must have been an act of the chakra. Maybe something I could ask sensei next time I see him.

"Hello, Nakamura-San."

My gaze jumped up as I let out a small "ah!" and saw a member of the Anbu standing at the foot of my bed. The mask portrayed what seemed to be a Weasel.

I took a steady breath and replied, "Um, hello Anbu-san. Can I ask why you're here?" To which he nodded and said,

"Yes, of course. I'm here following up on the incident from earlier today and was wanting to get your perspective on what happened."

"Oh, that makes sense." And so I went on to tell him everything I could remember about me finding the bandits, and the fight which ensued. When I was done, he thanked me for my time and disappeared into a body flicker.

'I see, the sounds I heard before blacking out must have been the Anbu rescuing me. Say what you will about those chunin gate guards, as long as we have the Anbu picking up the slack I suppose things will be fine,' I mused.

I pressed the button next to my bed to call the nurse, and in a few minutes what appeared to be a young woman walked in, wearing a cloth half-mask for protection and a standard nurse's outfit.

"Well hello, Ryota-san. Is there anything I can help you with?" Her voice was pleasant in a way you could tell she had practiced. I nodded my head and asked, "Yes, I was just wondering when I would be able to leave. I'm feeling fine."

"Of course! You've just woken up, so let me give you a quick examination, and barring any previously unknown issues you should be good to be discharged."

"Alright, thanks!" I said with a smile.

She went on to do whatever it is she needed to do, and let me know I was good to go.

After leaving the hospital I went back to my apartment which had been issued to me once I declared I wanted to be a ninja and fight for the village. It wasn't anything great but it was certainly better than living at the orphanage, and the village will continue to pay for it for me until I'm able to earn my living off of my missions.

'Guess there's some upside to being an orphan…,' I thought darkly. It's not something I'd ever given much thought to. Some people have parents and some people don't. I don't try to make a big deal out of it.

'It would be kinda nice though, huh?' My eyes glazed over in thought for a moment, but then I shook my head in an attempt not to let those thoughts in.

Stepping into my home I removed my shoes and unstrap the kunai pouch on my leg; setting it on the table with a clang. As that sound echoes through the room I turn my head to the pouch and remember the cool thing I was able to do with my chakra, so I decide to grab one of the kunai and sit down to see if I can replicate that.

I set the kunai between my two palms and try to enter a meditative state. Of all my times trying to unlock my chakra this is what I was taught to do and always tried, but previously hadn't been successful.

This time, however, I could feel the thrum of the mystical energy seemingly flowing from my core. It's there! It's actually there! I knew it must have been my chakra I unlocked! With that out of my way, I tried to see if I could manipulate the kunai as I had that man's dagger.

Focusing on the feeling of the kunai, trying to remember what I had felt at the time earlier, I tried to control it as I once did, but with no success. I tried again a couple more times to no avail. Frustrated I set the kunai on the ground and went into my kitchen to start up some dinner. Turns out that almost dying works up a fair bit of appetite.

While prepping, I hear a knock at my door. Opening up I find an Anbu in a cat mask looking back at me. 'What's with all the Anbu today?'

I didn't voice my thoughts and instead greeted the Anbu with, "Hello Anbu-san. Is there something you need me for? I gave my report of the incident earlier to the other Weasel Anbu."

"Yes, I need to talk to you, but not about the incident. This is about your ability. You've exhibited a skill recently that we've come to suspect could be a rare kekkei genkai known as Steel Release," Tora explained, while I connected the dots to exactly what he was talking about.

"Oh! I think I know what you're saying! I knew that wasn't a typical chakra thing!" I said while he nodded and continued. "Yes, this is specific to you, at least here in Konoha. The Hokage has assigned me to keep watch over you while you learn to hone this ability. That being said, I'm not here to train you so much as to let you know I'd be observing to make sure you're not going to hurt yourself. If you have any questions, you can direct them to Hokage-sama. Good day." With a curt nod, he disappeared in what I couldn't identify as either a body flicker or just pure speed. Those Anbu were good.

Reflecting on his words, I suppose I should have guessed that may have been a special ability. I've never heard of anything like what I did before. So I have some special ability, huh? Awesome!

I finished up dinner and took my kunai to my bed where I continued to meditate and focus my attention to get any sort of reaction from it. Unfortunately, again there was no change, but that didn't dissuade me. I would tame this power and use it to become a great ninja! I set the kunai on the table next to my bed and closed my eyes for the night. I knew I'd get it tomorrow…

Well, that's it for the first chapter. Let me know what you think and if it's something worth developing. I'll probably still work on it either way because I've been wanting to do something like this for a while. My original idea was to have Naruto develop the steel release through a childhood incident, but I found the idea of an OC more fun.

Question for you all: If you could pick a kekkei genkai from Naruto, which one would you pick, and why?

Thanks for any reviews, see ya in the next one.