One Sign

Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331

Naruto hadn't thought his life would go like this.

It was pretty simple; he made it into the finals of the Chunin exams. His opponent happened to be Neji Hyuuga someone that brutalized and tried to kill his own family. In his eyes that is unforgivable, something that he had no right to do.

But he seemed too happy about what he did to her.

Sadly, his teacher Kakashi said that he was too busy training Sasuke and secretly told him that Sasuke had to be monitored. Kakashi was honest with him and stated that he wasn't the type of teacher that could bring out Naruto's potential and that Sasuke was monitored due to the fact he was classified as a flight risk. Due to the seal on his neck, as he guessed and Kakashi confirmed. He stated that it was better that someone that was already close to Sasuke could monitor his behavior and if necessary deal with him if he tries something funny.

Naruto appreciated the honesty but he wasn't happy was being stuck with Ebisu who is in his eyes was a joke. Compared to Kakashi and the others the man was more of a tool than an actual Jounin. However, he did help him with water walking so he wasn't all that bad.

Sadly, he was knocked out by some old man at the hot springs and when Naruto demanded that he do something to compensate for his lost of a teacher he tried toa avoid Naruto. Thanks to his sexy jutsu he was able to get him to go along with this, but what he was teaching him was summoning. Apparently, there was a complex sign ofh hand signs that he had to complete. More so, he had to do it with the proper output of chakra and he didn't specify how much was needed.

Ultimately, Naruto had to be pushed into a serious situation where he threw him into a fucking spikey canyon where he could seriously die.

That is where he is now, falling down from the sky, going through the handsigns and trying to produce the chakra necessary for this move to work but he just couldn't get it due to the fear.

Unknowingly, he did one hand sign and this ultimately created a new jutsu on the spot.

On top of that he demanded help from the fox which led to him glowing orange and ultimately, the move created a bright spark of light and he was blinded.

Once the light died down Naruto had his eyes covered. He couldn't make out where he was and he just didn't understand what was going on.

The bright light was so blinding that he couldn't make out the faintest thing.

"Ah your awake."

Naruto rubbed his eyes and turned to his left.

"Who, who are you?"

The person in question, he couldn't see their face but he could feel them frowning.

"Do you remember how you got here?"

"I don't know, I was panicking and trying to make this jutsu work but I think I messed up the hand signs."

"Jutsu? Handsigns?"

"Yeah you know chakr-,"

The light in his eyes cleared up and he saw a man standing there. He is wearing a white doctors robe and dressed in a formal worn shirt underneath and black long leg pants with sandals on his feet.

"Young man are you sure your alright?" He touched his head, Naruto slapped his hand away and jumped back.

"Get away from me!"

The man held his hands up,

"I apologize but I need to check if you have a fever."

"I've never been sick in my life."

"Hm, interesting." He wrote something down on a notepad and then looked at him, "Do you feel disoriented, body numb?"

"Um," He looked at the bearded man and shook his head, "I feel slightly numb and I don't know what that last word means but I do feel slightly dizzy."

The man nodded his head.

"I see it would seem I was right. You have a concussion. Meaning that you might have cracked your skull a bit. The good news is that it doesn't look too bad and you'll heal in time. For now though I suggest you rest."

"Wait where in the Elemental Nations am I?"

"I'm sorry Elemental Nations? Maybe you need some remedies."

"Remedies? I'm fine! Damn it stop talking in riddle and tell me-"

The man put his hand on his head.

"Calm down," the sternness of his voice made Naruto pause. "I understand you are confused but you are not well. Trying to find answers in your condition is not a good idea. So, I want you to lay down and rest and after we confirm your better we can have a longer talk understood?"

Naruto frowned, he didn't like the idea of bed rest in an unknown place. But he saw that there is no way out of this and he was stuck so what more could he do.

"Fine but after I heal I want answers."

"Of course now rest little one we shall talk in length later."

The man walked out of the room and Naruto laid down in the bed but after turning to his right he saw a city of sorts sprawled out. It was one of those towns he had thought were more like ruins but people were living in the buildings, having these weird signs hanging off their building, and it looked like the oddest dress sense he had seen. That is strange given his own choice of clothing, but he swore that these people were dressed in a very unique fashion.

Some looked like they were just wearing cloth with face and body paint, others were dressed pretty well in padded clothes, and some were wearing what looked like armor on their bodies. The one thing he was confused about is that he couldn't see chakra coming off of them. He wondered if they were civilians as this would make the most sense but most of them looked too rugged and rough and down right malicious to be just ordinary warriors.

That was until he saw one man threatening a woman with what looked like a knife and before Naruto could fully take in what was going on and try to help, someone pointed a small metal thing in his hand at them and it released a spark of fire. This released some kind of small projectile that he could see and it hit the man in the back of the head causing it to make the back of his head explode. The man slipped to the ground and was dead.

He had seen people do things with seals and stuff but he has never seen anything like that.

'Is that some kind of metal projectile weapon or something? That thing is devastating if you didn't know what it was and just stood there watching for it, the thing could kill you in an instant. Even veteran shinobi would be hard pressed against weapons like that.'

Naruto saw the people not reacting to the corpse. If anything they were pretty calm about the situation and he was confused.

If someone was just murdered in town people freaked out. But here, they looked as if it was expected and didn't even bother to hide their looks of what Naruto guessed was neutrality. More so, he was sure he saw someone doing something. He was putting his hand to the top of his head down to the bottom of his chest while then touching both of his shoulders. Forming what Naruto guessed was some kind of tilted x maybe?

He sighed and leaned back in his bed.

'Where in the world did I end up?'

"I'll tell you where in the middle of fucking nowhere!"

Naruto jolted upward,

'Where-'

"Take a guess you stupid fucking brat! I can't believe it! The one task you were given by a somewhat competent teacher and you not only failed at it but sent us to fuck knows where!"

'Kyuubi?'

"No it's the Easter bunny? Who the fuck else would be willing to talk to you even if that means they have to eat their tails to do it."

Naruto frowned,

'Hey the asshole could have just taught me how to draw out the chakra and how much I'm supposed to put into it. Instead he throws me into a life and death situation that had no guarantee that I would succeed. I would understand if I had been put in a valley or something where I couldn't get out and had to do the summoning to do so but this was not my fault.'

"You have a point; that part was on your teacher but the rest is on you. You fucked up your hand signs and due to me pumping as much chakra as possible performed a jutsu similar to that of the Fourth Hokage's Hirashin!"

'Really that sounds cool.'

"IT IS NOT FUCKING COOL YOU MORON! We are stranded somewhere beyond our realm you idiot! The sage warned me this is a possibility, but thinking that it would happen due to a mixture of dumb luck and my awesomeness is baffling!"

'So wait your saying we are beyond the Elemental Nations?'

"Dumbass we are beyond our fucking universe! Meaning we are not even in a world with chakra! There is no chakra, zip, zero, nada, absolutely nothing here to relate to the shinobi era! Meaning?"

'Meaning that we are basically the only one with chakra in this world and I think we have no way back.'

"Well what do you know a blind squirrel does catch a nut every once and a while."

'OKAY! I get it! I fucked up, but yelling at me isn't going to change anything.'

"No but it makes me feel better."

'Whatever,' Naruto leaned back in his bed, 'So we are stuck here until we can find some manner of transportation to get us home.'

"Brat, even IF we were to try and recreate the move there is no chance that it would work the same way twice! For all we know we could get dropped off in another world with flying apes and lizard people!"

'Huh?'

"Look my point is, we have no way home. We don't know if there IS a way, and more importantly we don't know anything about this fucking place and how to survive. For all we know, this could all be some kind of fucked up illusion or some shit like that. As of this moment were are stuck and have only two options before us; Adapt or die."

'Um,'

"Look," The Kyuubi sighed, "I'm angry about the situation but I don't want to die anytime soon and given what we just saw, we have a lot to learn about this world. So I think it is our best bet that we start by figuring out how this world works and how best to blend in and make ourselves useful."

'Yeah I was thinking that too considering that guy was killed with some kind of weapon I have never seen before. It would make sense that we do something about that mess.'

"Exactly. Now get some sleep while I heal you. Then starting tomorrow we are going to work on our survival and the Sage as my witness I will not die in some random shithole because of you so get ready I'm going to make sure we are ready chakra and all."

Naruto sighed,

'Got it.'

Three days later

Naruto was excused from the medical area and was allowed to explore the village. Once he was out of the hospital he noticed the entire town was far more massive than he originally thought. He was impressed with the whole thing and how people were just trading and talking while also discussing politics from the sound of it.

Something about a man named Caesar who destroyed their ideals or just went completely off the rails?

Who knows.

Naruto over the period of two days got acquainted with the village and even found work for himself as a courier through town. While at first he hated it, he grew to enjoy his job because everyone seemed to be very friendly and welcoming.

He did think it was weird he was paid in some form of written script that they had but he didn't question it and even gotten bottle caps from what he was told they were the main form of currency. Apparently most regions near here were doing the same thing and using bottlecaps as it is easier to carry compared to goods.

Naruto didn't question it but he did find it interesting. He was told about the world before this one where apparently everything was so far advanced he couldn't believe it.

Medicine to cure almost everything?

Carriages that didn't need cars and were self-sufficient?

Weapons that could be sent at people from half-way across the land and the person never would have to enter that region?

Being able to transport news within seconds through communication devices?

Yeah Naruto had his entire world opened and he was amazed of the advances they made even without chakra.

But he did learn it came at a cost; greed. People were greedy and desiring their own advances and to enforce their will on one another. Eventually the conflict got so bad that people were willing to sign up for living underground out of fear what the surface would bring or go through.

Naruto eventually learned of something called Nuclear bombs that destroyed the world and groups that just shuffled off and hid away from the rest of the world. On top of that, even more chaos erupted among people and others; fighting for survival, turmoil, and mutated animals started to crop up over the ages and even sightings of things like mutants became more common.

In time Naruto learned that they just started calling it the Wasteland and people had different names for regions all over the place and that there were rumors of entire communities and towns built along both coasts of the country. Naruto was curious about that and wanted to see them but knew that probably would have to wait until he got a better bearing of this world.

He also learned that due to this nuclear stuff; people are terrified of the creatures that came from them supposedly the most fearsome one is called a Deathclaw, a monster that was massive, large claws, obviously, and quick and ferocious to anyone that earned its line of sight. Naruto didn't plan on finding this creature any time soon.

But he did encounter some of the creatures in question with a two headed cow called a Brahmin, apparently named after some kind of religion's sacred animal or god or something. He wasn't sure but the name stuck so people just went with it. He learned that they also had other creatures like Molerats that were just appearing out of tunnels and the ground and they were the size of dogs from what he could see. The things were ferocious but seemed to be more territorial to those that dare tread on them.

So Naruto made sure to watch his step and when seeing them he made sure to stay away unless necessary.

The good news for Naruto is that rumors of mutegens and other stuff enhancing people was not uncommon so he was able to explain away some of the stuff he could do as a shinobi such as running faster, hitting harder, and carrying more weight than the normal person for his small frame.

However, he kept his other skills hidden such as the shadow clone and some of his basic studies of chakra.

In truth, Naruto realizes just how defenseless he is thanks to everyone around him and his own lack of initiation. But he wouldn't be discouraged and he would try to adapt with the Kyuubi even offering its help reluctantly stating it just didn't want to die in this unknown world and possibly fade from existence.

In town Naruto had just dropped off a crate of booze for a nearby bar that the town had. The place was ran by an outsider but people allowed them to do business as long as trouble didn't come from their little set up.

Naruto had collected his money from the owner and walked out of the bar where he started hearing people talk in a hush and whispers. Their faces both torn in concern and anger about something.

Walking up to a dirty older woman he asked,

"What's all the commotion?"

The woman turned and gasped,

"Naruto I didn't see you there."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head,

"Yeah I get that a lot."

"Sorry, the town is quite stirred with our recent arrival."

"Oh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Are they somebody important from outside the village?"

The woman sighed,

"I guess you could say a prodigal child has returned to our home but worse for wear."

Naruto frowned.

"If he is that important why is everyone looking more concerned and angrier about his arrival?"

The woman rubbed his head,

"Your good at picking up people's facial expressions and tones Naruto keep that up and you might make a good negotiator for the town."

Naruto blushed.

"Thank you."

"As for the reason? The prodigal child was someone we all admired but after he left with that man, we chose not to speak of him. Not until recently at least." She sighed and looked on to the hospital. "He arrived in town in critical condition, to be honest none of us are sure how he survived."

"What happened to him?"

She gulped and looked at the child.

"You don't want to know."

"I do." Naruto narrowed his eyes, "I understand that dark things are happening all over the place and people are doing evil things to survive but I have seen some of these kinds of people before I came here. Don't shelter me please, I can take it."

She smiled sadly,

"Yes I forget sometimes." She turned back to the hospital with the people gathered around seemingly growing and waning constantly. "His name is Joshua Graham. At least, that is what we use to call him. Now we call him the Caesar's Butcher."

Caesar.

Naruto had heard that name before and knew it was some kind of figure. His eyes widened,

"Wait isn't that the missionary that came through here years ago people told me about. Someone that became obsessed with rebuilding the world in the ruins of an old ideal. He was conquering tribes and other realms adding them to his army and even having them sign up for his suicide missions just for some sense of honor and valor?"

"Yes and he is also someone that took our teachings and bastardized them as well with Gram."

"What did he do exactly?"

"The better question; What didn't he do? He murdered in the name of Cesear, put other tribes to the sword for him, enslaved men and women alike. Had them raped on the orders of their leader, and even took part in many massacres throughout the region." She sighed, "But I guess in a way it was something that could happen when surrounded by like minded people mind warped by that atrocious man."

Naruto nodded.

"So why is he back? Is he here recruiting?"

She shook her head and pointed at the hospital,

"He is in there. As for recruiting I highly doubt it if the rumors are true."

"Rumor?"

"Yes it is said that he lost a major battle for Caesar and was set on fire while thrown into the Great Canyon to be left for dead. Apparently he managed to survive, crawl his way out of there, and come all the way back here." She sighed before patting Naruto's head one more time and walking away. "It is best you stay away from him, who knows what he is bringing with him other than his sins."

Naruto frowned.

'He sounds like Zabuza in a lot of ways.'

"True. But we don't know if he returned because of looking for help or a place to help him get revenge."

'I don't know something tells me the later is unlikely. Plus no one in Canaan will agree with the idea. They might fight the tribes that come for them but they are more passive and just happy with trade business.'

"Very true."

Naruto soon walked away from the hospital but did look back every once in a while to wonder about the man that they called Joshua; why did he returned and what was his reason for coming here of all places?

Walking into one of the stores, Naruto picked up the next set of shipments he had to carry to one of the caravans that was about to leave. But his mind kept wondering back to Graham and why he came back.

It was clear to him that the village never forgave him for allying with a man like this Caesar and yet after being betrayed he comes back and looks for aid? While true he expects them to give it to him he wasn't sure the exact reason he came back and if he was going to stay. From what Naruto could tell this man was the opposite of the Canaan people; he was ruthless, aggressive, violent, and hell bent on getting his way. While the people here are no strangers to killing they are more settled on their land and not bother anyone unless they have to. They practice more peaceful avenues, and many nearby tribes and other factions seem happy with this.

Naruto sighed, bringing the supplies to the caravan and helping them latch it to the Brahmin one of the guards smiled,

"Thanks kid we appreciate the help."

Naruto smiled,

"Well got to earn my keep somehow."

The man smiled but he did frown,

"Have you taken a break though? I mean you probably have enough town credit to avoid trouble for a while."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head,

"Honestly, doing this and practicing on the firing range and helping with the occasional farmer and hunting party I don't really have a lot of down time."

He frowned,

"Look Naruto, it is wonderful you want to help out but should rest. Your body needs it. If nothing else you find a small hobby or something to do on your down time to take your mind off stuff." He then pulled his bag around and rummaged through it before handing him a book. "Here read this, I think you'll find it good to learn more of our ways."

Naruto looked at the book in his hand and saw that it had a cross on the front, or at least that is what they told him it was, and he opened it to the first page and read the first few lines.

Kyuubi stated that it was unclear how they could read and talk in the same language but he guessed it had something to do with their space-time travel. But he wasn't 100% sure himself.

Naruto just chalked it up to good luck and left it at that.

"Thanks for the book."

The man nodded,

"Keep the book and read it. You'll understand us better with it and who knows? Maybe you'll find a new path for yourself."

Naruto's eyes widened and before he could ask how he knew what he was looking for the caravan started on its movements out of town. Soon it was going down the road and going to be out of sight.

Looking at the book Naruto held it tightly and started back to his rented room at the nearby motel. There he greeted the inn keeper and told them that he would be in his room for the day and to send some food and he would have payment for them.

Entering his room he started reading the book and was fascinated by what he was reading. So much rich story and lore, so many interesting lessons, and so much to explain the origins of their world. Or at least one version of it.

Naruto had to admit, this book was a great read and it was very eye opening to the ways of the people in town.

Night soon came and Naruto had read quite a bit of the book before shutting it and yawning.

That is when he heard a commotion, it was coming from downstairs and he quickly raced out of the room.

There the Inn keeper, a slightly older man was on the ground with some rough looking individual wearing leather armor that barely held onto his body stood there with a glare.

"I told you, you old bastard give me a room!"

"And I told you there are no rooms available! All of them are booked by clients who lived here for weeks!"

"Then kick one of them out!" He gave a dark smirk and pulled out a small knife. "Or do you want this to get violent? I hate to remove a bit of a limb if that is what it takes for you to understand."

Naruto growled.

But soon the door behind him opened and they saw someone walk into the room.

The man turned and growled,

"Who the fuck are you?"

The man said nothing but it wasn't like he could, he was covered in bandages. Naruto was amazed the man was standing and just not in a bed at the hospital.

"You deaf!" He swung the knife at the injured man. "Who the fuck are-"

The man quickly grabbed the offending wrist, twisted it forcing the knife out of his hand, and with faster reflexes than he thought possible, grabbed it in mid-air, and slashed his throat.

Naruto's eyes widened as the man was gurgling blood and spraying all over the floor before the bandage man slammed it into his head making him stop moving.

Turning to the inn-keeper the man held out his hand.

"Are you alright Artam?"

The man's eyes widened,

"Joshua! It really is you!" He quickly jumped to his feet and backed away slightly, "I heard you were in the hospital how are you here?"

Joshua merely pulled his hand back and stared,

"I was uncomfortable there so I decided to find a place to stay."

The man frowned,

"Joshua while I would love to help, you know your reputation isn't that great around town."

Joshua sighed through the bandages,

"Yes I know. To be honest, I knew that when I came here for help but at the same time, I guess a part of me still held onto hope that the village would be a little more welcoming."

Artam frowned,

"Even if I had a room available I couldn't do that to my other clients. They would get worried with having you around. Please understand that it is nothing-,"

Joshua held his hand up,

"It is fine. I understand. You have to think of the wellbeing of those that have done good by you versus someone who went down a truly wicked path and can't be forgiven."

Naruto hearing enough rushed down.

"Your wrong!"

The man looked and so did Artam.

"Naruto-"

Naruto held up his book,

"The book and guiding principles is that no one is beyond redemption as we all face the lord in the end! Meaning that Joshua might have done some evil things and things that would be against the teachings of what we believe in! But the man has the right to earn his redemption and when his time comes face the judgement that followed."

Artam bit his lip in shame,

"Naruto you are right and that is the basic principles it is sometimes harder to put into practice given the situation with Joshua." He turned to the wrapped man who just stared at the boy defending him. "Also as I said, there are no rooms available."

"Then book him in with me."

The two looked at him one in shock and the other in curiosity,

"Naruto you only have-,"

"I'll put in some extra work and get another bed for down the line but as of this moment I will take him in if no one is willing to! I know this is your place and you have that right but I won't turn away someone that is just looking for a place to sleep."

Artam frowned and looked between the two. He was really at an impasse, but he realized that Naruto was right and while he could kick him out for this he wouldn't as he knew the backlash of doing so and the reason he did it wouldn't go over well with those in charge.

"Alright."

Joshua looked at the man and he glared,

"Don't you dare cause any trouble from here on out got it?"

Joshua nodded and then turned to the boy and walked up to him. He put his bandaged hand on Naruto's head and Naruto could make out a faint smile crinkling under his bandages.

"Thank you. I will return this good faith with condoning myself properly."

Naruto nodded.

"I hope so," he smiled, "My name is Naruto."

"Joshua, Joshua Graham."

Chapter End