"I can't believe what they are doing," Naruto muttered as he sat next to Howard while he was piloting the plane. Peggy was sitting in the back. "What do you mean Red?" Howard asked as he steered. "Steve. He could perfectly lead an army with the help of Peggy and you Howard." Howard blinked. "Okay, I understand Agent Carter but me? No that I don't understand." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Stark, you are meant to be genius. You are a very influential man. What would happen if you backed Steve up?" "He would be able to accomplish much more with more freedom," Howard realised. "Oh, I see where you're going." "You put a lot of faith in Steve," Peggy pointed out. "And you don't?" Naruto shot back. "I do. But I was wondering why you do," Peggy said calmly. Naruto turned back to the front and smiled slightly as the Italy camp came into view. "Let's just say my ninja senses are tingling."
"How many of you ready to help me sock old Adolf on the jaw?" Steve said confidently, only to be met by silence from the crowd of soldiers in front of him.
Steve shifted awkwardly. "Okay. Uh...I need in volunteer?"
"I already volunteered! How do you think I got here?" one of the crowd shouted out. Naruto, Peggy and Howard looked at each other before back at Steve as the soldiers laughed, wondering how he would take it.
"Bring back the girls!"
"I think they only know the one song. But um...let me...I'll...I'll see what I can do," Steve said clumsily.
"You do that, sweetheart."
"Nice boots, Tinker Bell!"
Steve straightened at the last comment and smiled a strained smile. "Come on, guys. We're all on the same team here."
"Hey, Captain! Sign this!" Naruto was already covering Howard's and Peggy's eyes. "Kids these days," Naruto muttered with disgust as the soldier mooned at Steve. Steve walked briskly off the stage. "Naruto," Peggy cried as she tried to peel his fingers of her eyes. "Red, I understand your concern but you do realise that I'm twenty four years old!" "Too young," Naruto said teasingly before he dropped his hands. "You know Naruto, you're only what, twenty seven by the looks?" Peggy said with a huff. Naruto smirked. "If I am then I am your elder aren't I? You're going to see Steve aren't you?" Peggy looked startled. "How did you-" "Please Agent Carter," Howard said with a roll of his eyes. "You're head over heels for him and he is for you." Peggy blushed red. "I am not!" she cried indignantly. "If I am with Steve then you're with your showgirl Maria!" Howard and Naruto snickered. "He is with Maria Peggy," Naruto said with a smile. "So does that mean…" "No!" Peggy said, still red as she stormed off in the direction of Steve. Naruto rolled his eyes around to look at Howard. He was staring at Naruto, impressed. "You can understand woman," he said simply. Naruto grimaced as he remembered Sakura and Tsunade and shook his head. "Trust me. They're a different species. I can just get away with it because of this," he said as he tapped the collar. "That thing translates woman language?" "Must do. All I can remember is getting beaten up every time I attempted to talk to a woman before I had it." Howard groaned. "And here I thought you could teach me." Naruto snorted. "Please. Steve's the one who needs teaching." They stopped when a medical van pulled in and brought out several dying soldiers. Naruto felt his hero complex kick in and he headed over, dragging Howard as he did so. "Red what are yo-" They entered the tent where many people were moving around frantically. "Anyone who is not a medic get out," Naruto said calmly, releasing a bit of killing intent. The soldiers quickly scuttled out. "You sure know how to clear a room Red," Howard mumbled as Naruto dragged him forward. "Thanks for clearing the room but excuse me for asking: Who the hell are you?" the head medic demanded. "Doctor Suzaku from Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Japan," he answered smoothly making Howard blink in surprise. "Well Doc," the head medic said, sounding relieved. "We could use your hand around here. I'm Casey Norton but I'm the only certified medic here." Naruto looked at the other 'medics' who were standing there nervously under his gaze. "Very well," he said reluctantly before walking up to the first person and placing a hand on them. Howard wasn't too sure but he was certain they glowed green for a second. "Broken arm, sprained ankle, three broken ribs on the right side, concussion," he said before moving onto the next person. Norton blinked before realising what he said and beginning to order the nurses around so he could treat the man. "Howard," Naruto barked. "I need you to write what I say down." Howard didn't even blink before doing as he was told, grabbing a pen and paper and writing down everything that Naruto diagnosed on each person. Howard was just writing the last one when Steve barged into the tent looking for them. "Stark," he said determinedly. "I need a ride." "What for Cap?" Naruto asked as he wiped some blood of his hands onto a towel. "A rescue mission," Steve answered, glancing at Naruto. "Doctor Suzaku!" Norton called. "A little help here!" "On it!" he called back, ignoring Peggy and Steve's shocked look. He turned to Howard. "What are you going to do?" "I'll fly them," Howard said as he placed down the pen and paper on the bench. "Don't die," Naruto warned before stalking off to the doctor, rolling up his sleeves. "Did you know he was a doctor?" his sharp ears caught Steve asking. "No. What about you Stark?" "Of course I did Agent Carter. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Naruto smiled slightly before getting back to work.
"I can't touch Stark, he's rich and he's the army's number one weapons contractor. Nor can I touch his bodyguard seeing as he's under Stark's protection and also happens to now be a trained medic and is not part of the army. You are none of these things!" Phillips growled, slamming his hand down on the table.
"With respect, sir, I don't regret my actions. And I don't think Captain Rogers did either," Peggy said, though it was obvious that she was sad about Steve's likely death. Naruto, who was currently hanging upside down unnoticed above their heads, thought that they were belittling Steve's abilities. Naruto was sure Steve could do it.
"What makes you think I give a damn about your opinions? I took a chance with you, Agent Carter. And now America's golden boy and a lot of other good men are dead, cause you had a crush," Phillips said the last bit softly, well as soft as his grizzled voice could get. Naruto smiled a little, the Colonel was showing his soft side. He was like a big teddy bear.
"It wasn't that. I had faith," Peggy said firmly.
Phillips snorted. "Well, I hope that's big comfort to you when they shut this division down," he muttered before glancing up as there was some yelling outside. "What the hell is happening out there?" "We've got some visitors," Naruto sung as he flipped down, ignoring the guns both Phillips and Peggy pulled on him as he cocked his head to the side, listening to the many footsteps coming closer. "Where the hell did you come from?" Phillips asked in dismay just as Peggy said, "What visitors? Is it Steve?" Naruto smiled mysteriously before saying, "I was there the whole time Colonel. As for you question Peggy, why don't you have a look yourself?" Peggy ran outside, Phillips following slower and Naruto casually walking out Howard at his side. "Are you psychic too?" Howard mumbled. Naruto chuckled. "No. But in Japanese culture, foxes are known to have amazing luck." "Remind me to never play poker with you. Ever," Howard muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. Naruto grinned. "Will do."
Howard sat impatiently in the bar next to Naruto. "What're we doing here?" he finally asked. "You kind of have to give more explanation than 'my ninja senses are tingling' every time you run off and drag me with you. I have a job you know! I was working on hydra's energy-" "It's the Tesseract," Naruto said disinterestedly. "Don't even bother trying to harness its power. Johann is a fool if he thinks he can control the Norse God's power." Howard blinked and stared at Naruto incredulously. "You believe in that shit?" Naruto grinned lopsidedly. "Well I am the godfather of Thor and Loki, the two sons of King Odin." Howard gaped before shaking his head. "Not going to be surprised with you anymore. I'm just going to expect you to fly next." "I can do that," Naruto said thoughtfully, "though it really is a waste of chakra. I prefer running." "Will you shut up already!" Just then Steve walked in and sat down at the table, explaining his idea to the people sitting there. Howard leaned in. "Is this it?" "I think so," Naruto murmured. "You going to start making him a shield?" Howard just stared at him. "A shield? Really?" "He's attached," Naruto said with a small smile. "It's like me and my throwing knives. I could fight with a gun but I prefer my own weapon." "What the hell," Howard said as he threw his hands up in the air. "You already defy all logic anyway. So I'll listen to you and make him a shield Red. We'll even pain it red and blue with white stars," he said sarcastically. "Good," Naruto said, ignoring the sarcasm. "Have you figured anything out with my blood yet?" Howard sobered at that comment. "No," he admitted hesitantly. "I haven't. Well, besides the fact that it doesn't seem to be effected by anything at all. I put iodine into it and it just absorbs it, glows gold and grows in size. Your blood is weird. I think I would have preferred it being green." Naruto rolled his eyes and took a sip of the beer in front of him. "Wait, you're drinking!" Howard said with surprise before hitting his head on the table. "Not surprised. Not surprised…" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Of course I am drinking. Why shouldn't I?" "I don't know…maybe because you never do it? I only see you drink water and eat stale bread." "Maybe it is because I don't need to eat or drink so I simply eat as little as possible and what won't be missed?" Howard blinked before face palming. "Right. Immortal. I gotcha." "He's got his team," Naruto said as he gestured to the quietly talking group in the large crowd. "Let me guess, you can hear what they are saying." Naruto scoffed. "Please. I can hear everyone's heartbeat in this room. They are saying it loud enough to be yelling." Then he blinked suddenly. "Could you create some specialised ear plugs for me? Explosions and my ears don't get along." Howard grinned. "I'll have to take another look at those ears of yours." Naruto huffed in annoyance. "No touching," he mumbled into his glass before letting his blue eyes close.