Disclaimer – I do not own Halo or Naruto.
Background: A lone surviving Spartan is secretly sent off of Reach during its invasion in the year 2552. When a Covenant Carrier exits slipspace while the Spartan's pod enters its own slipspace, the pod is sent into an anomaly sending him over 150 years into the future. What only would be a matter of seconds, the pod carrying the lone Spartan exits slipspace over a not-so familiar Earth. Humanity is now in "The Second Age". The world is a far more different place than it had once been. Now, the Spartan must grow accustomed to his new surroundings, customs, and a whole new world.
Sarutobi sat at his desk filing budget paperwork for the market district for Konoha; something he frequently found himself doing yet highly disliking. He paused and wiped the sweat from his brow; he turned and opened another window, the humidity condensing on the window panes.
He situates himself at his desk when a knock at the door happily distracts him from his paperwork.
"Come in", says Sarutobi. A young jacketed man enters standing at attention.
"Relax Iruka, there's no need to be formal."
"Sorry sir," mutters Iruka. The ninja sat him upon a chair across from the Hokage.
The Old Man steeples his hands and leans against his desk pushing his paperwork aside. "As you know, within the hour, the Academy will be welcoming its new initiates…"
"Yes sir…" A stillness filled the room.
"I'll keep this discussion brief as I know you need to prepare; young Uzumaki Naruto will be attending this afternoon's initiation." Sarutobi's gaze turned stale. "It wouldn't be wise to let the boy enter the academy at this time."
"Sir; if not now, then when?" Iruka asked professionally.
"When Naruto has become… mature enough to enter."
The young man paused to ponder the matter but remained silent; nodding in agreement.
The Hokage stood from his desk and approached the window. "You're dismissed."
Iruka hurriedly exited the room.
(Scene Shift to Bar)
The five Jonin sat down at the bar as Kurenai left for home early.
"So," said Kakashi sitting himself down on the bar stool with the others. "Let's hear the real story this time."
After thinking to himself for a brief moment, Kai replied "Although I am no traveling merchant; it's true I'm from Whirlpool." Meanwhile thinking to himself, "Think dammit. Make something up on the spot; anything to sound realistic."
Inoichi took the Saki from the bartender, "So it's true you're from Whirlpool then?" Kai nodded his head in agreement taking a sip from his saki.
Shikaku chuckled holding his saki glass up to his lips with a smirk; "This isn't another lie is it?"
Kai shook his head 'no' sipping at his saki nonchalantly; his leg shaking violently hidden from the others view.
Kai set his finished glass on the bar table and slid it forward. Leaning forward and clearing his throat he said; "Let me start from the beginning and tell you where I'm from."
Kai took a deep breath and clasped his hands together; thinking how interesting the situation was about to become…
(Scene shift to Academy Initiation)
The children and parents gathered near the Academy Gates; the children eagerly awaiting the announcement of this year's new Academy initiates.
Naruto positioned himself in front of the gate, a wide smile on his face, anticipating the moment when he could finally begin his ninja career and show the others that he was ready to become Hokage.
"How is the Hokage allowing that thing to be trained as a ninja?," came from one of the parents. "Yeah", replied another.
"Honey, stay away from that boy; he's no good", said a mother to her child.
Naruto stood oblivious.
The gates slowly opened; revealing Iruka and his partner carrying the list of new students. "It's time to announce this year's new ninja academy initiates! Please arrive tomorrow morning for the first day of class if your name is called…" A long list of student's names was read from the list.
Minutes pass as young Naruto stood with a puzzled look upon his face; he approached Iruka's assistant. "Sir, my name wasn't called from the list; I think there's something wrong-." Iruka's assistant interrupted; "Oh, there's nothing wrong with the list. We wouldn't want something like you here."
Iruka turned to his partner; "Let me handle this Mizuki." Giving him a shifty look. He brought Naruto to the side and kneeled down to eye-level with the boy.
"Naruto, it's not that we don't want you at the academy yet; it's just that…. That now isn't the right time for you to enter the academy. There's time for you to grow and become a more… capable student."
Naruto stood puzzled, he didn't understand. Tears began swelling up in his eyes; why did the village people hate him so much? He couldn't stand it. He turned away from Iruka and started running; he didn't know where but he just kept running… running away was all he could think of.
"Naruto—wait!" This was tough for the boy he thought to himself; but as his father always said to him, "Good things come to those who wait." He wished he could say the same for young Naruto.
(Scene Skip to bar)
"Buahahaha!" Saki sputtered from Shikaku's mouth across the bar as he burst in laughter, the others along with him in drunken laughter.
"So…so wait. Your mother escaped from Whirlpool and died in childbirth weeks after escaping?" Kakashi reassured.
Kai nodded his head in agreement sipping the last of his saki placing the glass on the bar. "After my mother passed; I was an orphaned boy on the road living off begging and thievery. Then one day an older man who I happened to bump into on the road asked me to train with him… He taught me martial arts for many years… then he passed."
"You've lived through a life of many hardships then. What do you purpose for now?" said Inoichi.
Kai sat there and thought for a second. He answered, "I travel now to teach others of my arts and to one day find a place where I can call 'home'." There, he thought. That should do it.
"Question," Guy said. Kai turned to him on his right. "What chakra nature are you? You only seem to stick with Taijutsu." Kakashi slipped out a piece of small paper and placed it on the table.
"I-Im not sure actually. I've never bothered to find out."
"Then let's find out." Kakashi pushed the paper towards Kai. He sat there dumbfounded looking at the paper. "Ok, now what?" he said.
"Pick up the paper; that's all." Said Guy. Kai did so holding the paper between his thumb and index finger. "Okay, now what?" Kakashi sat puzzled; something should have happened. Kai handed him the paper as a small wind gusted through the bar. The paper fluttered to the floor. An absence of color faced Kakashi and the others.
"Is this some type of Origami trick Kai?" chuckled Shikaku. Kai went to grab the paper noticing the one side became dark while the other remained light. Holding it closer, he also noticed a small hole where his index finder laid before. Peering through it, he saw what seemed like white light. Flipping the paper over, almost the exact opposite; a light side with a small hole where his thumb laid; an absence of light."
"Well, maybe for another time then, I wasn't expecting to see an art show" Said Kakashi. The others chuckled.
"Well it's getting late, I think I'll be going," said Kai. The sun began to set on Konoha's horizon, an orange hue left in the sky.
He got up and waved goodbye as so did the others as they departed. He made his way through the village as the shops closed around him. His hand in his jacket, twirling the AI chips in his fingers."
Young Naruto came into view, sitting behind a shop-set. He walked by his side, tears streaming down the young boy's face. He kneeled down and picked the boy up; his arms wrapped around Kai's neck as the boy's head sat on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go home." The sun set and the stars shone down on the village.
I understand this chapter was a bit on the short-side but I've had my hands tied. I promise the next chapter will be one to remember. Thank you for your patience and please review.
~CryptoJenkins7