Ramen Doodles

By Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.

During Blood Prison...

"This is outrageous!" Iruka bellowed, slamming his hands on Tsunade's desk, "how could you send Naruto off to that prison?! Without a trial?!"

Tsunade glared back at Iruka, her hands folded in front of her.

"It was the only way to avoid an international crisis that could lead to war," Tsunade stated, "while we continue to investigate-"

"Investigate while putting him in prison?!" Iruka demanded. "After all he's done for us?! For the world?!"

"Hold your tongue, chuunin!" Tsunade roared back, glaring at him, "you have no right to question my orders!"

"I have every right if your orders don't make any sense!" Iruka shouted back. Tsunade retained her steely glare.

"You are dismissed, Chuunin Umino," she stated coldly.

Iruka grit his teeth, turned around, and stormed out.

He had never been this angry before in his life. He didn't register anything as he headed for his home, so single minded and focused on his destination.

He threw open the door, charged in, and slammed the door shut behind him. He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

Iruka clenched his fists tightly. He closed his eyes, trying to find his center.

He walked through his home, his eyes sweeping over the pictures on the wall. All pictures of his family, his life growing up... And plenty of pictures of Naruto. Growing up from a toddler, to a genin, to the strong, confident young man he was now.

Iruka touched the picture, the most recent one. He and Naruto with Ayame and her father at the ramen stand, all grinning happily. He remembered that moment, as though it was etched into his memory by a sword.

He shook his head.

Iruka had promised he would never give in again. Never go back on his word. Every mission Naruto had gone on, every time he had been in danger, he'd bit his tongue and kept his promise. He had had faith in Naruto, and in his friends.

Because before that, he was no real ninja. Just a killer, dripping in blood. He'd sworn he would never become that again.

Yet now, Naruto was completely on his own. Abandoned by his own village. By those who Iruka thought loved his boy as much as he did.

Naruto was his son, period. Blood and age didn't matter, that's what he was to Iruka.

A father wanted his son to succeed, to exceed and become greater than him. Naruto had been growing so much, excelling at so many things... But right now, he was trapped and helpless.

And he needed his help.

Iruka walked to a closet in his home. It had been kept clean-Iruka did not tolerate a dirty house, after all-but it had not been used in years. He undid the lock, and pulled it open.

He reached in, and took hold of the sword. He pulled it out, and turned it over in his hands as he examined it. It felt strange...

Iruka put the sword down. He then reached down to his hand. He pulled on his skin, warm and lifelike... But giving way like a glove with the right pressure. He dropped it onto the floor, and examined the truth underneath.

Metal, plastics, and synthetic muscles gleamed back. He tilted his hand around, examining it from every angle. He picked up the sword again, and tightened his grip.

He hated how right it felt.

The border between Fire and Grass countries was well defended. Given the heightened tensions, it was only natural. The leader of the local squad kept watch from a tree, scanning the trees of Fire Country across the imaginary line between the two countries.

He knew there were Konoha ninja out there. Keeping watch on him, just like he kept watch on them. But none of them would be stupid enough to violate the border...

Or so he thought.

A man walked down the road, dressed in a cloak and a broad straw hat. A sword was at his side. He was trying to be inconspicuous, but the squad leader had been a ninja too long to not recognize another shinobi's body language when he saw it.

He made a signal, and in a flash, he and his team surrounded the ninja.

"That's as far as you go, Leaf Ninja!" He declared, having shushined right in front of the shinobi. "Turn back now!"

The shinobi looked up.

"I'm just travelling between cities," the shinobi stated, "just a ronin-"

"Cut the crap!" The leader growled, "You can't hide what you are!"

The Lead Ninja grinned ferally, and his eyes flashed red. He grabbed his cloak.

"I guess I can't, no matter how hard I try," he replied, tossing his cloak and hat aside. The squad leader flashed through a fire jutsu, ready to unleash it with a single breath-!

But a sword through his chest stopped him cold. He choked, eyes wide, as he got a good look at the ninja.

And the squad leader failed to conceal his shock.

The man was tanned, with darker brown eyebrows over fierce blue eyes, and a horizontal scar over his nose... But the flesh stopped there. His lower jaw was made of some strange metal or plastic, with visible lower teeth. The rest of his body was fully metal and plastic, a complex and deadly looking pattern meant to emulate the human form.

The other Grass nin attacked the shinobi from behind, but he yanked out his sword, let it twirl in the air, and caught it-With one of his feet, which resembled interlocking heels. He spun around, slashing through the ninja's tendons and muscles like lightning.

In a second, the Grass ninja were all down, moaning and bleeding on the ground. Their leader fell back, gasping as he held his wound. The Leaf Shinobi stood over him, and tore up his cloak. He shoved the bundle of rags into the squad leader's hands, and helped him press it against his wound.

"You're just lucky I'm in a hurry," the shinobi growled. He flicked the blood off his sword, and sheathed it. He then took off running, as fast as possible.

He'd almost lost control there. Almost slaughtered them all. But Iruka didn't have time for that. He couldn't let it go. Not again.

But for a moment... Jack was back. And he might return sooner.

Iruka just had to get to Naruto before then...

Because Iruka's voice actor, Quinton Flynn, also voiced Raiden in Metal Gear. So I thought, what the hey: Cyborg ninja.