Good morning my dear readers, viewers, reviewers and etc! I come baring gifts in the form of this new chapter! I hope you all enjoy this chapter very much! Now there are some questions that you all have, I know. However, I don't want to spoil much. But I will leave you with this. The pairing will be Naruto X Annie but in due time. And yes, this Naruto will be OP. I'm not going to nerf him for the sake of 'fitting in' to the world.

If Naruto wanted to, he could easily solo the Seven and Vought, but he doesn't because he isn't some egotistical manic who likes to flaunt his power. He simply wants to do good. Remember, he has fought in the 4th war, to his knowledge everyone he knows is dead, because him and Sasuke never got to undo Kaguya's work. You'll see more of his post war development as the chapters go on because no sane man would come out of that without some form of survivors guilt or PTSD. With that said, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Vought was the most powerful company in the world. That was an undeniable fact. It was richer than most governments and companies and the fact that it employed Superhero's made it all the more appealing. It had its hand in ever major business, from Hollywood to Weapons Manufacturing, it was massive, but even Vought had to answer to its shareholders like many companies and like them Vought's main objective was to keep confidence in the company high to ensure the stock price didn't plummet. And it maintained that confidence with its products, Sups'.

"How exactly did he manage to hurt Homelander?" Madelyn Stillwell questioned here team, PR consultants, researchers, doctors and whoever else she saw fit was needed in the room. Homelander getting injured was a disaster if the stock price had anything to say.

"We are unsure how since we do not have the weapon that pierced his skin, and we have no other data." One of the researchers responded as Stillwell frowned before she turned to the PR consultants.

"What's the news looking like?" She questioned the team who were going through their tablets.

"We are currently running a smear campaign against the Fox, suggesting he attacked Homelander for no reason, but our feelers suggest that most people aren't buying it." One of the PR consultants answered as Stillwell nursed her forehead. Fox had always been an annoyance but now he was a PR nightmare.

"We need to get positive news out for Homelander right now. In the meantime, I want all of our Hero's to avoid the Fox. If he can injure Homelander then he can do far worse to the others." Stillwell ordered as everyone nodded and began to clear out the room as she sat down in her chair with a sigh.

"What the hell am I supposed to do now…" Stillwell questioned herself as she tried to brainstorm ideas. They knew very little of Fox's abilities, heck, they didn't know anything about him other then what few clips the media was able to get a hold off. They didn't know who he was or his allegiance. When he first appeared they honestly thought he was a Russian Sup, a relic from the Cold War after the whole Soldier Boy incident, but none of his actions indicated that of a foreign agent.

"And now we find out he can hurt Homelander." She let out a long sigh. Homelander was their poster boy, the strongest Sup they had, the pinnacle, the peak product of their company. Never had Homelander been wounded, he was advertised as this invincible human, impervious to all kinds of attacks. But the fact that there was someone out there that could wound him and wasn't under Vought? It shook the company.

"I see you're hard at work." A voice broke her out of her thoughts, a voice she didn't wise to talk too. Looking to her left she saw Stan Edgar, her superior, standing in the doorway with a stoic look on his face.

"Edgar, I wasn't aware that you were coming." She replied as she stood up from her chair. Edgar was not happy. Stan Edgar didn't like to come here often; he didn't like to micro-manage such mundane affair, leaving such business to Stillwell. However, matters had now developed to a level to which his attention was required.

"How did this happen." Edgar questioned as he walked towards her before stopping right in front of her desk, still not happy. Stillwell swallowed a lump as she looked up to Edgar's unforgiving eyes. She knew that it was the fact that he cared about Homelander, no, Homelander was just a product.

"W-Well, Homelander and Maeve were responding to an ongoing crime when they ran into Fox. We're currently pushing the view that Fox attacked Homelander, who was simply arriving on the scene..." Stillwell trailed off.

"But the mass doesn't buy it, do they?" Edgar questioned as he walked over to the large glass windows overlooking the city with dull eyes.

"Unfortunately, no. This Fox has a much larger following then we anticipated." Stillwell responded. Edgar took a deep breath before he sighed.

"Ever since this…Fox…appeared we have been taking a beating. People have more faith in him then our Superhero's and that's caused a dip in sales, revenue, and public opinion as well. For a while we were content with this arrangement, after all, we still earned plenty, but this changes things." Edgar stated as he turned to look at Stillwell and was plenty amused at the look of fear on her face.

"A-Am I being replaced?" Stillwell questioned nervously. She knew how Edgar responded to failure. Her question was answered by a light scoff.

"Why would you be replaced?" Edgar questioned as he walked around her office.

"Because I failed to stop Fox." She responded to which Edgar let out a light chuckle.

"Madelyn, there was no way for you to stop Fox. Fox is someone we know exactly nothing of. I know you tried to find out who he is, is abilities and what not, but turned up nothing. However, what you don't know is what I was also investigating him." Edgar responded as Madelyn looked at him in surprise. She wasn't aware of this.

"And?" She questioned to which Edgar sighed.

"Nothing. We found nothing. Just as you tried to find out, we found nothing. We have never come across powers like his. We don't have any leads on his family, his parents or who he really is. Our facial technology can't penetrate his mask to make out his facial features. All we know is that he is blond, but that's not much of a lead. The bottom line is we know absolutely nothing of him." Edgar finished as he took a seat, tired of pacing around. Madelyn for her part was also surprised at this development. Edgar had far more resources than she had access to and even he couldn't find out.

"So, what do we do now?" She questioned him, wondering what their next step would be.

"For a long time, we have maintained a policy of not allowing Fox into our folds because he is an unknown, someone we have no control or agency over. We have also maintained the policy of not going after him, a policy that was wise to follow as we now realize he is potentially strong enough to defeat Homelander. However, it is time to revisit the first policy." Edgar stated to which Madelyn shook her head.

"He made his intentions obvious; he doesn't seek to join us." Madelyn stated, but Edgar just scoffed.

"That's because he doesn't know what we offer. We have never tried anything but smear him. It's time we invite him, and I couldn't think of a better way than during the event tonight." Edgar suggested, but Madelyn just sighed. Edgar may have tried to investigate the Fox, but she was the one who had to deal with the day-to-day run in with him.

"This is a terrible idea…" She muttered to herself as Edgar began to purpose what they should offer Fox during the meeting.

With Naruto later that night:

"With all their fancy technology and all, they still can't see your Henge." Kurama scoffed as Naruto casually walked into Vought shareholder's meeting. Getting credentials and fake identities was as easy as breathing for him.

"And now its time to change." Naruto muttered as his henge effortlessly shifted into the one of a backstage staffer, his identity already changing.

"In combination with Genjutsu, you can seamlessly shift henges and these fools don't have the capacity or the ability to detect either."Kurama praised. To which nodded. When he was a kid, this would be a challenge, but he had come a long way since then.

"Now to find our recruit." Naruto muttered to himself as he entered the backstage arear, already heading to where he needed to go.

With Starlight:

Annie sighed as she checked herself in the mirror. She was a bit…disappointed with her current situation. All her life she had wanted to be nothing but a hero, someone who helped others, helped the weak, defend those who couldn't defend themselves. Sure, there was fame and glory to be had, but she never really focused on that aspect of her job.

"This was my mother's idea…" She thought bitterly. She had wanted to join Vought because of how insistent her mother was, always pushing her towards that path, never really allowing her to take her own path. She had come to New York because she was chosen by Vought to join the Seven. A few days ago, she would have been excited by the prospect, but now? Now she wasn't sure. It started with her run in with Fox and then she had become obsessed with his dealings. He was nothing like a hero from Vought. He was different. He didn't seek glory or fame, he just helped people and fight crime, something she had always wanted to do.

"What do I do now…" She sighed as she lamented her next actions. She had no choice but to join the Seven, because if she didn't, she would be disappointing her mother and everyone who had supported her for this moment. But at the same time, she had come to realize that being a Vought Sups' wasn't all that great. She would have no agency over her crime fighting abilities, all of that would be handled by her team.

"You know, all that stressing out isn't good for you." A voice broke her out of her thought. Turning around and preparing to attack whoever it was, but she stopped upon seeing who it was.

"Fox…" She said in shock. How did he get in here? She didn't even hear him enter her room.

"Well, that is who I am." He responded with a chuckle as he crossed his arms. He was wearing his usual get up, but what was he doing here?

"W-What are you doing here?" She asked the question on her mind as she observed his movement. She knew he wasn't going to attack, because if he wanted to, she would already be defeated considering he had entered the room without her knowing.

"I am here for a simple reason; for you." He answered honestly as she blinked in confusion.

"I'm sorry?" She responded to which Naruto merely chuckled.

"I want you to join a new team I'm creating." Naruto stated as he walked over and took a seat.

"But I thought you worked alone?" She questioned she looked at him, letting down her guard a bit.

"Only because I haven't found someone worth partnering up with, until now." He responded to which she was plenty surprised.

"But I'm supposed to join the Seven and Vought. Don't you dislike Vought?" She questioned to which Naruto nodded.

"I do. I despise what Vought stands for and I don't like many of its 'hero's'. Most are self-centered, egotistical or in it for the fame, power, and wealth. You, however, are different. You are naïve, yes, but your hearts in the right place. Your actions prove as much." He stated as he lazily relaxed into the chair.

"So, you so know of me!" She exclaimed as she pointed at him accusingly to which Naruto just shrugged.

"I didn't before, but I looked you up after our run in. Which is why I am offering you a spot on my team." Naruto offered once more as Annie complemented her choices. Her heart was telling her to join him. What he did is what she had wanted to do all her life, but her mind was telling her to be logical.

"I-I don't know…" She stated as Naruto nodded as he reached for his mask.

"When I was a boy, I wanted to do nothing but be acknowledged, to be the strongest, to become a leader. And when everyone looked down upon me, when everyone doubted me, when did I do? I kept fighting for what I believed in. I didn't let others deter me from what I wanted, from my goal. You have to let go of your doubts, you have to forge your own path, not follow one made for you by others." Naruto stated as he took of his mask, allowing her to see his face. Her breath hitched as she looked upon his blue eyes, blue as the sky itself. Then her attention turned to his whiskered face. His skin was tanned as two bangs of blond hair strands flowed down from his head. In a way he seemed…exotic, but handsome.

"My real name…is Naruto Uzumaki. Fox is my alias." Naruto introduced himself as she realized how much he trusted her with his identity.

"So, will you join me, Annie January?" Naruto questioned as he extended his hand, inviting her to join his little band of hero's. Annie slowly took her steps as she extended her own and grasped his to which Naruto smiled.

"By any chance, if I didn't join you, what would you have done? Given that I have seen your face and know you name and all." She questioned him to which Naruto chuckled as he stood up and replaced his mask back onto his face.

"Well, I would have to kill you then." He answered, causing her to look at him with a dumbfound look.

"I'm just kidding." Naruto laughed as he walked towards the door.

"Wait, where are we going?" Annie questioned him as she followed causing him to stop as he turned around and tossed her a... scroll? Catching it, she unfurled it to find instructions.

"Follow those instructions and you will find me. For now, I have other business to attend to." Naruto answered as he exited the room. Annie followed after, but when she exited the room, she found no traces of him.

"How does he do that…" She questioned herself as she started walking down the hallway to the right, leading her towards the exit. She didn't know what the future held for her but at the very least she would be foreign her own path.

At the meeting an hour later:

Stillwell smiled as she clapped. The shareholder event was going well. The people were enjoying the show she had put up and as the Deep had taken to the stage she was checking the stock prices and sure enough there was an increase in the stock price, not massive, but it was a good indicator.

"We can't find Starlight." Her assistant, Ashley Barrett, whispered into her ear as Stillwell frowned. Apparently, Starlight was nowhere to be found and that was no good news. She was due to be on the stage any second, but with her nowhere to be found, Stillwell had opted to keep delaying the announcement as long as she could.

"Keep trying." Stillwell simply ordered to which Ashley hurriedly nodded and scurried off, no doubt worried more about her own career than anything else. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the stage. Deep had finished his part, sending of his farewell to Lamplighter. Then outwalked A-Train with his usual smile as he walked out onto the stage, greeting the crowed.

"Here goes nothing…" Stillwell muttered as she watched the proceedings. This could go either great or horribly wrong.

With A-Train:

A-Train walked out onto the stage with intent, a mission if you will. He had been tasked with inviting the Fox onto the Seven, well, the Eight considering that Starlight was to be the 7th member.

"How you'll doing!?" A-Train began as he spoke into the microphone as the crowed erupted into fanfare, as A-Train let a smug smile onto his face as he basked in the glory and fame he was getting from the crowed.

"It's nice to see everyone here, having a great time! Now, as you all know that the Seven will be getting a new member, Starlight, after the retirement of our good friend and hero Lamplighter. However! Vought and the Seven's leadership have extended an invitation to the hero Fox!" A-Train proclaimed as the crowed received the news with mixed reactions, but mostly positive. Vought had been pushing a negative view of a long time, why change now? But the majority of the crowed was delighted with the news. Fox was a strong hero and he'd be a great boon to Vought!

"Now, I'm sure that Fox will answer to this invitation in time, but for now – I don't think I will be." A-Train was interrupted midsentence as he turned to his right to find the Fox standing at the center of the stage, much to his surprise. Fox stood there, in his same attire that he wore, giving nothing away but his blond locks.

"F-Fox! It's nice to see you accepting our invitation." A-Train responded, as he tried to salvage the situation. He wasn't supposed to be here! Actually, how the hell did he get here? Naruto however scoffed.

"You misunderstand. I am here not to accept your invitation but to tell you to shove it up your collective asses because I refuse." Naruto proclaimed as the crowed was left flabbergasted at his statement. A-Train for his part was utterly shocked. Here was a man, standing at the heart Vought, and the Seven's HQ, telling them to fuck off.

"I-I'm sure he didn't mean that." A-Train chuckled out nervously.

"I did." Naruto quickly rebuked as the crowed went silent and began to mutter. Stillwell however was having a meltdown. In real time she was watching the stock price go from up to down, very much down. This was a total disaster.

"Vought can smear me all the want, but I don't care. I have one job and one job only, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Vought stands for everything I don't. I'll never join your organization or the Seven. I don't need you. I do what I do because I don't look for fame or glory, but because I want to." Naruto stated as he folded his arms, standing confidently.

"What take's the Seven of you to do, I can do alone. What take's Vought's entire organization of Sups' to do, I can do. And while I don't like to brag, I can also most certainly handle all of the Seven on my own, along with Vought itself." Naruto said confidently. He had fought warriors like Madara, Obito, Pain and a literally goddess. Each of them more powerful than any Sups' of this world. 'Hero's' like Homelander could be killed a hundred different ways in his world.

"So, I'll say it again. I do not want to join you. That is all. If the likes of Homelander wish to get in my path, then this is his first and only warning; I will teach him a lesson he won't forget." Naruto finished as he gave one last look before he vanished into a yellow flash, shocking many.

"Oh, we are so fucked…" Stillwell muttered to herself as she massaged her head. No doubt the shit storm that was going to follow would be of immense proportions.

Well, that is all guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter so please leave a like and review. Bye!