Chapter Five: Shinobi.
"One word, one meaning, a lifetime of commitment."
-Old Proverb.
{Kuo Kuana Beach.}
[One Week Later, 10:00am.]
Naruto was jogging along the sandy shores as he slightly limped with his left leg. It was now almost completely healed, along with the rest of his body. Waves of crystal blue water crashed along the surface, foaming near it's cresting surge. The breeze from the shoreline washed over him.
Something awakened within him as he came here, and it was more apparent as he came back each day. Naruto had a love for the ocean water, the salty breeze, and sounds of ocean tides!
He continued his jog, whilst being watched closely by Cloud, who was sitting on a bench. His guard, due to them still being slightly suspicious of him, but now more of a caretaker. Naruto wasn't going to disrespect the man, he had been good to him since their little spat when they first met. Deciding to take the jog up a nudge, he began to sprint before flipping forwards onto his hands. The momentum allowed him to launch up, and land in a slide only to fall into the sand when his left leg screamed in utter pain!
"Gah!" He gasped, clutching at it, hissing slightly. "Damn it!"
"You good?!"
"Yeah, just my left leg still, sorry!" Naruto answered with a yell back toward Cloud, getting himself up from the sand. "Still not fully there, but it's almost there."
The blonde felt the warm sand in between his toes, sighing as he looked out into the open water. Deciding to walk closer to the water, he let it soak over his feet. Sighing, and standing amongst the flowing water, his azure eyes came to see the sun rising higher.
He turned back toward bench where Cloud was sitting, he was on his E-scroll as Naruto called it. That's when the boy got a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. Forming a hand seal, he whistled loudly over to cloud, and then announced his ploy with a plume of smoke emerging around him.
"What is it Narutaaaaah?!" Cloud screamed as he saw the bikini clad woman that looked like Princess Sapphire from the book Ninjas Of Love. Cloud's nose began to bleed, and then Naruto as Sapphire bent forward, and winked. "Whoa Momma!"
Cloud fell backwards as his nose bled profusely, comically his right leg twitched as muttered about something of Ninjas Of Love needing that sort of plot development! Naruto giggled as Sapphire before transforming back to normal. His yellow hair waved from the oceanic winds rolling inland.
The guard recovered slowly, casually wiping blood away from his nose with a paper hand towel. He coughed into his hand, "I was totally unaffected, that thing you do sucks!" He called over to Naruto, lying through his teeth whilst his right eyebrow twitched from the blonde's laughter. "Shut up!"
"Nope, you were got! I really need to meet that author, that stuff has been really helping me work on my Sexy Jutsu!" Naruto declared before walking inland. "Think I should call that, Sexy Jutsu: Ninjas Of Love Princess Edition!"
"Whatever, twerp." Cloud petulantly turned his cheek whilst biting it. "I wasn't affected too much by it, anyhow."
"You're such a crappy liar, ya know!" Naruto pointed out whilst chuckling before slipping on his sandals. "So, when are you going to get in on these exercises with me?"
"Pfft, please, I'm the peak of a faunus man's condition." Cloud stated pridefully before crossing his arms. "You're still a shrimp."
Naruto laughed a little, and then rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know man, Ghira draws all the ladies attentions, ya know!" He then thought about it, and snapped his fingers. "Hey, maybe when I start growing chest hair I should let it grow out, and go around shirtless!"
Cloud thought about it, cupping his chine. An image of an overly buffed Naruto, with chest hair like Ghira came into his mind. His mind shrunk back a little bit, and he shook his head in disgust. "Eww, no." He quipped before watching as he got onto the ground. "What are you doing?"
"Well since I'm nearly healed, what better time to get back to my daily routine. I usually go for a jog in the mornings, followed by some exercises like pushups, crunches, ya know!" Naruto began to do pushups with his left leg lifted off the ground. "Can you give me a countdown?"
"Sure, I guess, what's the number?"
"Two hundred." Naruto cheerfully stated before hearing Cloud spit out the water he had started to drink from a water bottle. "What?!"
"Two hundred is your daily?!" The guard exclaimed whilst looking down at the blonde. "You surely don't do all of those at once, right?!"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" Naruto asked confusedly before continuing. "So, where am I?"
"Um, you're about fifteen in." The man thought for a moment whilst scratching his cheek. "Why aren't you putting your left leg down?"
"Well, it's still hurting. Dr. Vista said I still have muscle tearing, and fractures in that leg. Don't wanna stress it out too much, technically I'm not supposed to be doing this." The blonde shinobi smiled before thinking. "Hey, so, I'm sorry if my presence in The Belladonna place is got their daughter on edge…"
'Blake's always been like that around new people." Cloud sat back down on the bench, watching as Naruto continued. "Her father has been the leader of Kuo Kuana and The White Fang even before she was born. They've been targeted, and one assassin actually stabbed Ghira in chest."
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed whilst as he continued, not breaking his pattern. "That's insane, why would anyone wanna hurt them, they're nothing but nice! I mean, sure Blake is…well…standoffish, but her mother is like a cinnamon roll, and her father is a big softy."
"You think Ghira is a softy?" Cloud teased the blonde.
"Shut up, you get what I mean. He carries himself the stern leader, but I'm telling ya, Lady Kali runs that house. His attempts at intimidation are like a kitten trying to yowl and growl. Lady Kali, on the other hand, puts the fear of Gods in me sometimes." Naruto laughed before looking down at the ground as sweat started forming on his brow. "Seriously, that guy is a softy when it comes to people he likes."
"So, he's a softy to you." The guard noted the shift in the blonde's face. "Did I say something out of the way?"
"Oh, no, it's not that. You see, well, I'm not sure how to feel about their treatment of me. Where I came from not a lot of people treated me kindly off the bat. It took years just for people to treat me like I was even apart of the village. Then, well, Teuchi and his daughter Ayame happened. They fed me when I too broke to get food on my own." Naruto stopped midway through another pushup. "Damn it, I wonder how they're handling me being gone, old man's ingredient stock is probably overflowed!"
"Who is Teuchi?" Cloud asked, writing the name down in a notepad.
"Ramen Master Teuchi as he's called in Konoha. Guys been around since The Third Hokage, and he's done nothing but make the perfect ramen. I even have the recipe engraved in my memory." Naruto pushed up with one hand whilst knocking on his head to empathize the point. "He taught me how to cook, how to properly clean dishware, and even offered me odd jobs like help cut meat in the back."
He felt something hot fall down his face a little, but quickly dried it up. "He was awesome, ya know, the coolest guy!"
"Naruto," Cloud smiles before looking at the blonde's left leg, "your leg is still heavily bruised."
"Well, luckily they aren't like bananas anymore." Naruto quipped before continuing his pace. "Hey, Cloud, have you ever had that feeling of just knowing you belong somewhere?"
"Well, duh, I wouldn't be a Kuo Kuana Guard if I didn't have that feeling." Cloud laughed, but then caught the look in Naruto's eye. "Are you meaning like position, or are you talking about job…or location?"
"I mean, for some reason, I feel at ease here. Near the ocean, don't know why, maybe my family were sailors before they were shinobi." Naruto chuckled a little bit, and thought about it. "Ooh oh, what if I was to get a little boat, and change professions! I could be Naruto, King Of The Pirates!"
"Pirates implies that you're a villain."
"Pfft, I'll be a good pirate then, robbing bandits and giving the riches to the poor!" Naruto giggled childishly before snapping his finger on his right hand when he came up. "Like that one story, One Piece, with the rubber guy who's secretly a Sun God reincarnated."
"Ooh, you're talking about Monkey D. Luffy! Yeah, I read that story, man what a life! I'm not gonna lie, I'd join ye as your first mate!" Cloud laughed boisterously and got up, pointing toward the water. "We'd take to The Glowing Ocean, sailing the grand trading lines all the way to Argus City! Then we'd take to the west upon the waters of Solidas Ocean! Once we're done upon Anima, we'd sail across the pond toward Vale, and have a roaring good time in their commercial district there!"
"We'd eat the finest foods!" Naruto declared happily whilst stopping his pushups, having kept count despite asking Cloud to do so. "Ramen, steak, various spicy dishes!"
"Oh yeah, then we'd hit up casinos, blackjack, and slot machines!" Cloud continued boisterously declaring before flopping back down on the bench. "Then we'd find us a couple of wenches to take with on the old sail boat!"
"Yarg!"
"Yarg indeed, Captain Naruto!" The guard then stopped laughing before smiling softly. "What a pipe dream that would be to live."
"Hey, you say it's a pipe dream, but I bet if we pushed hard for it we could do it! Besides, since I'm probably stuck here, I have to find a new goal, and maybe I'd do best just exploring about." Naruto sat on the ground, cross-legged. "I mean, being The Hokage is all I ever dreamed about, it's what made me Naruto…well…now that's over with."
"Hey, what's that about giving up dreams? You know what, fuck it, you're Hokage too me." Cloud patted the kid's shoulder whilst beaming. "Whatever that is, you're it."
"Well that's the leader of our village."
"Ahh, well, that's Ghira's thing for right now then." Cloud corrected himself before chuckling slightly. "Wonder how Sienna would a blow a gasket if a human tried to run for the position of Chieftain?"
"Wait…isn't Ghira supposed to be Chieftain for life?" Naruto asked, slightly confused.
"Technically, yes, a Chieftain can stay in his or her position until death. However, it's usually pragmatic to find a second to replace them with eventually. No one wants to be a leader for the rest of their lives, and one day Ghira will seek to sit down in his garden for the rest of his days." Cloud explained before slightly chuckling. "I mean, then there's Blake, who is being groomed to basically take over when she's of age."
"You don't say…hmmm, and what about that Adam guy?" Naruto asked.
"Sienna's grooming him to be next High Leader of The White Fang after she decides to retire, or dies first. Sienna has always been a firecracker." The guard chuckled before scratching his chin. "It's sad really, she used to have a love for humanity, but now she's actively seeking fights with them."
'Why?"
"Don't know kid, rumor has it she had a human lover. Rumor has it better that he burned her, and did so out of spite for her race." Naruto frowned at Cloud's words; the man didn't let that go unnoticed. "What's up?"
"I never understood why people would just kick something so good away. I mean, I don't know Sienna personally. However, I've seen what two people are like in love, and let me tell you…if I ever find that, I don't care what I have to do, I'm holding onto to that before I go out." Naruto pointing a thumb at his chest. "Because, when I find that special someone, I'll hold onto them for life, ya know!"
"Heh, well kid, there is an old saying. You can't control someone's love, and if you care for them, you'll let them go." Cloud then frowned at those words, and his smile softened just a little bit. "I had a girl I was sweet on around your age, and she was the one. Well, I figured I was smothering her too much, and decided that if she felt the same way, she'd come back to me."
"Did she?"
"She…" Cloud took a deep breath sighing sadly, "she was killed by bandits in her village that landed on our shores two days prior to when we were supposed to meet again."
Naruto whimpered a little bit, rubbing his eyes and slightly crying. "Man, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to cry, that's just incredibly sad, is that why you became a guard?"
"Yes…because I swore to myself I'd never let anyone else feel that pain I felt." Cloud produced a small trinket from his left pocket, a pocket watch. "This was the last thing she gave to me, my Tifa."
He opened the watch, which played some music. "This is her picture." Cloud said before showing Naruto. The girl in question was a faunus of some kind with a bushy tail with different colored rings on it. "She was a red panda faunus, Gods above, she and I were a match…"
"Hey…you don't have to talk about it if it hurts." Naruto comforted Cloud whilst getting up, patting him on the shoulder before taking a seat next to him. "I…couldn't imagine though, if I lost the love of my life, I really don't know what I'd do."
"Burn the world…" He heard a dark whisper from The Nine Tails flood his head. Making crunch his face up to block out the monster's voice.
"You, okay?"
The blonde shinobi hums before looking over at Cloud, and smiling. "Yeah, sorry about that, small migraine." He lied.
"Hmph, guess that salt air getting to you. Hey, wanna check out that pier?" Cloud asked whilst pointing at the pier in the distance.
"Sure, I guess, let's go! Last one there is a rotten egg!" Naruto yelled out before hopping up.
"Hey, wait up, I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you! Ya moron!"
The Pier itself was made of oakwood. It sat over the ocean where the waters could be almost fifty feet deep. Upon the pier was various different people, some ocean gazing, whilst others got rods and reels out. Fishers lined the side of the pier, except the deeper parts. There was a small café on the pier as well named "Café Oceania." Where they supposedly served a variety of coffees, and fruity drinks if the sign was anything to go by.
Café Oceania is where Naruto ended going after getting onto the pier with Cloud. Both were now sitting on a bench. Cloud had gotten a smoothie there that was made of watermelon, and strawberry. Naruto meanwhile was slowly sipping on a strawberry banana mix. Both gave a contented sigh of satisfaction when their mouths left the metal straws.
The idea, which had been explained to Naruto once before, that metal straws were meant to be recleaned. It didn't hurt that Naruto found the idea smart, and thusly would follow through. Still, the blonde discovered something new today, he loved strawberries!
"We better get something to eat today before heading back. Lady Kali, and Chief Ghira are going to be busy all day today. There was an emergency meeting called at the city hall for this afternoon." Cloud stated before noting Naruto staring at something below them. "You see something?"
"Yeah, there's a massive fish under us just swimming around." The blonde shinobi pensively watched as it moved about. "Would Ghira, and Lady Kali be back for dinner?"
"More than likely, why, what's up?" Cloud noted the blonde's intense stare. "Your wheel house is cranking, I'm warning you, don't do that sexy thingy whilst I'm eating this…they're not cheap."
"No, not that, my wheel house is cranking. How high are we?" Naruto questioned, calculating something in his head. "Feet wise, and how deep do you think that big fish is?"
"That's a grouper, and we're above forty feet above it…why?" The guard eyed the shinobi curiously. "What's up, you wanting to go fishing, I can get us a couple poles."
"Oh, I'm wanting to go fishing, not sure how you'll like it." Naruto stated before quickly slurping down his drinking. "Plus, it's been a while since I've done this." He got up from the bench before stretching, kicking off his sandals.
"Naruto, what're you doing?" The guard questioned him, sipping on his drink, surely that kid wasn't that impulsive.
"Okay, so don't freak out, ya know. I'm a shinobi!" Naruto gave him a thumbs up before suddenly reaching down and yanking his friend's knife out from it's chest holster. "I'll meet you on the beach, believe it!"
"Naruto, what the hell are you-hey don't you dare!" Cloud panicked before getting up, watching as Naruto stood up on the guard railing. "Naruto!"
The blonde giggled before pivoting back, and his foot seeming slipping off the guardrail. Cloud was about to panic further he heard a thump. He looked down, in between the boards, and saw Naruto using his bare palm to hang onto them. His eyes widened as the blonde swung enough to plant his feet onto the boards, and now stood upside down!
"What the hell?!" He screeched whilst seeing the blonde bend over to look upward at him, giving him a foxlike smirk. "How are you doing that?!"
"Ninjutsu!" Naruto laughed before walking forward. "It's called The Tree Climbing Technique!"
"Gods above, get back up here before you hurt yourself, you numbskull!" Cloud declared whilst noting everyone's bewildering appearance around him. "So-sorry go about your days, ladies and gentlemen!"
The blonde shinobi just smiled before whistling up to Cloud. "Hey, don't worry, I'll be fine! I really can't thank you guys enough for being so kind to me, so let me please do this one thing! I promise, we'll be eating good today, tonight, and maybe even tomorrow! You count on that, ya know!"
He then produces a slice of strawberry from his smoothie, smirking. "I kind of dug into my drink when I first saw the big fish. Watch closely, I'm gonna show how awesome I am!" Naruto declared before dropping the piece down.
"Naruto, I swear to Gods above that if you drop down-" He didn't get to finish when he heard a large splash and saw the grouper emerge after the strawberry piece. "Naruto!"
"Woohoo!" The blonde screamed happily as he detached himself from the boards, air rushing past him as he readied the knife in a reverse grip. "One giant fish, comin' right up, ya know!"
"Damn it Naruto!" Cloud's voice faded away as Naruto focused intensely on the fish as it stayed toward the surface.
His blue eyes widened as he flipped forward, grabbing the long knife with both hands before pulling it back. He prepped himself before flattening his body. As the water came closer, the blonde smile broadened before he took a deep breath. He slammed his hands downward, sending the blade right into the head of the grouper!
The fish attempted to swim away on muscle memory, but the blonde grabbed it by the gills, and hung on for dear life as it sped through the water. He felt his ears pop from sudden change and pressure, but as red mist flowed into the water in strings he knew he'd gotten his target. Once the fish slowed down, Naruto withdraws the knife from it's head, grabbing it under the gills with one hand before using chakra to enhance his leg strength as he kicked against the water.
Coming up to the surface, he took a deep breath. Smiling brightly as he looked up to see a few stunned people, whilst looking at a Cloud who was staring at him mouth agape. He held his hand up with the knife.
"Yo, I got him!" Naruto called out whilst swimming slowly to the shore. "Hey, Cloud, this thing is huge ya know!"
"You're a moron!"
"I am not a moron! I'm The Number One Most Hyperactive Knuckleheaded Shinobi, Naruto Uzumaki, ya know!" Naruto called back before quickening his pace back to shore.
The blonde got near the shoreline when felt the sand come under his feet. He drags the massive grouper onto the shoreline. Smiling as he sat down onto his knees. Smiling brightly whilst looking at the giant ocean version of a bass. He saw Cloud jogging over to him, he tosses his knife toward him which he easily caught.
The guard should've been pissed, but upon seeing the size of the fish, he whistled. "Damn, you weren't kidding, that is a huge fish. It must weigh, what, one hundred pounds?" Cloud bent down to pick up, groaning under the weight. "Jeez, I might not be far off!"
"So…not so stupid now, huh?" Naruto jibed playfully before feeling something cold run up his spine. "Hey, do you feel that?"
"Feel what?"
"Grandpa!" A child's voice yelled out as Naruto's and Cloud's head snapped back toward the pier.
They saw an old man fall into the water as something tugged hard against his fishing line. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he saw a large shadow in the water. An old man, with actual whiskers on his face emerged out of water, breathing hard. He struggled as a massive sharklike beast emerged from the water, with bony plating over it's head.
"Grimm!" Cloud screamed out as he grabbed the gun on his waistband, and got down to one knee to steady his aim. "Razor Fin!"
He took shots that made the sharklike beast veer off away from the older man. Naruto's followed it as it went under the dock, and then started to circle back around. Quickly sprinting despite the pain in his left leg, Cloud was about to stab him when the boy performed a literal miracle.
Naruto didn't just fall back into the water as before, but instead, he was running atop it!
The blonde made it to the old man within no. Quickly picking the old man up from the water. He smiled brightly. "Hey, ya old man, you, okay?!" He asked before seeing the beast swim right for them. "You might wanna hang on, ya know!"
"Wait, sunny, how ar-ah!" The old man nearly screamed as Naruto leapt out of the way, sliding on the water's surface as the beast emerged where they were. His foxlike smile came over his lips. "Ah, jeez, I knew my idiotic stubbornness would get me killed! Should've let go of that pole!"
"Hey, you're not dying today!" Naruto shouted back before leaping backward. "I got you, damn it!" He stumbled on the water's surface when his left leg gave in. "Damn it, I'm still in pain enough to trip me up!"
"Naruto!" Cloud's voice filled his ears as he suddenly rolled to the side to dodge the large demon shark's maul, which threatened to take him and the old man in one go.
Leaping backwards again, this time falling to the side to avoid hurting the old man when his leg gave out. Naruto made sure the older man was okay before he got up. He saw the demonic shark mark a beeline for the ducks, seeing a little kid hanging on the railing.
"Hey kid, get off the railing!" Cloud screamed up at the kid when he noticed Naruto looking over at him. "Get off it, now!"
It was too late as the sharklike Grimm impacted the dock, sending the kid tumbling forward toward the water, and the beast's open maw. The old man screamed out his name, and Naruto formed hand seal that made a clone appear next to him.
The clone grabbed him by the left arm, and slung him hard as if he was launching a rock! Naruto careened through the air as he three more pops of smoke formed around him, all of them angling to deliver a combined flying kick into the shark's side that sent it skidding across the water!
Landing with a slide, right foot first, one of Naruto's clones caught the kid before he smacked the water. Everyone was stunned silent, with the blonde standing tall with two other clones as the shark began to circle back. Getting his pacing right, Naruto began to run parallel with the Grimm.
"Alright ya big bastard, come get me, I'm right here!" Naruto taunted it before leaping to the side as it suddenly leapt up at him. He slid across the water before reaching behind him…and feeling air. "Right, my pouches are at Ghira's and Kali's place, dang it, okay…well then…"
He landed with his right foot first to absorb the impact when he placed his left foot down. Naruto smirked before running toward the beast this time, sliding up on the waves as they came. "I'm just gonna have to kick your ass the old fashion way, run pounded fish fillet, coming right up ya know!" He declared before his hands reached out and grabbed his clones.
The demon shark, longer than two dinghies put together emerged from out of the water. Launching his clones, they body slammed right into it with enough force to change it's direction! The white body armor around it slightly cracking. Though they dissipated after the impact, the blonde noted that the beast was wounded when some black goo leaked to the surface.
"Alright, I feel alive right now! Okay, where are you big overgrown demonic fish!" Naruto searched the area around him, scouring it with azure eyes before he saw the shadow in the water. "There you are, you're just a one trick pony with those attacks, ya know."
Running toward the beast, his foot flopped against the water as they powered their wave through crests. Taking a moment to form a hand seal, Naruto's glinted with fire as several shadow clones appeared around him. They totaled five all together, and when the beast leapt back up, it was met with two of them leaping up with it.
Both of them curled their bodies up before kicking upwards into the jaw of the beast.
"NA!"
Naruto was launched up by a clone with another one following behind him. The clone was grabbed by him, and sent upward like a missile when he landed on of the two falling clones. It impacted it, shattering the armor near its head.
"RU!"
He grabbed the opposite of the other clone as they began to fall. He smirked before righting the clone and then transforming into a demon wind shuriken which the clone grabbed. He threw it hard enough to send him flying into just right past the massive shark demon as it flopped in the air.
"TO!"
Flipping forward, and slamming his right foot against the things damaged head. Naruto roared out as he powered up his kick with chakra.
"Uzumaki Barrage!"
He smirked as more black goo leaked out from the beast than before. It's red eyes dulled over, losing a glow they had. The clones under it dispersed as it landed into the water. Naruto followed in soon after, but quickly swam back up to the surface. He spat out some errand water that made it into to his water.
He heard several people shouting over to toward him. Unable to decipher what they were saying, he cleaned the water out of his ears before feeling something salty in his mouth.
"Blah, saltwater!" He shouted before getting up on the water's surface with his feet, only for his instincts to blare warnings as he felt the chill crawl up his spine again! He rolled forward just the massive Grimm shark chumped the area he was just in. "What in the, hey, you're supposed to be down and out, ya bastard!"
It swam away, leaving a trail of black ooze as it began to circle back around. "Okay, you know what, you're really starting to piss me off, ya know!" Naruto declared before forming another clone, and holding his right hand out. "This'll do it for sure!"
A blue light began to form in his hand as the clone held both his hands out toward it. It screeched to life as Naruto then held the basketball sized orb in his hand. It spun rapidly, picking up water around him a small cone before he smirked. The massive shark Grimm leapt from the water, roaring as it opened up it's maw wide as possible.
Naruto's clone grabbed him by the left arm, tossing just up out of the way. The shark slammed into the clone but, Naruto found his opening before bringing the attack down with blinding speed!
"Rasengan!"
The orb hit the shark, breaking all armor around it before blasting it half and sending it careening into the bottom of the shoreline just under the waters. A massive plume of water erupted, showering the area within eighty feet of Naruto's impact with the attack!
He didn't see the beast come back, only black goo that slowly turned to black smoke. Still, he felt weird looking at it. For the briefest of moments, he saw it, some type of energy leaving the goo before he heard shouting more clearly now.
"He killed that Grimm, that was incredible!"
"Is he a Faunus, look at those fox whiskers, he's gotta be!"
"Was he just using multiple semblances, wow, what a legend!"
"He saved that kid, and old man!"
"He's just a kid himself, wow!"
"I got that in recording, holy crap, this was awesome!"
Naruto turned back around to see that he was merely twenty feet away from the docks. Having lost track of where he was fighting during it. He saw people cheering, clapping, even some with their E-scrolls pointed at him for some reason. For once, not since the Chunin exams, Naruto felt the heat of glow hit him.
Smiling brightly, practically beaming like sunshine, he held his hands out. "Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all day!" He gloated, basking in the triumphant of his admittedly first Grimm kill. "Well, that part was a small fib, I'm actually going…well I'm going to a friend's house!"
Cloud, who was on the shore watching all of this, was stunned beyond words. The old man who was standing next to him tugged on his shoulder. "Um, sir, do you know that kid?" The old man asked whilst getting the guard to focus on him.
"Yeah, I do, he's supposed to be my charge. Sheesh, what a reckless moron." Cloud said with a smile, seeing the kid waving up at the people. "Brave moron though, hey, what's your name old timer, you and your grandson alright?"
"Granddaughter!" The little girl corrected him with a blush.
"Man name's Tucker, and that's my granddaughter Matilda." Tucker laughed before noting the fish on the shoreline. "Guess that's why I heard you shouting, that kid's something else...I can't repay the debt I owe him for saving our lives."
"I doubt he'd care about such things." Then Cloud got some recognition whilst looking at man, snapping his fingers. "You're Tucker Fisher, you own that seafood market The Belladonna's go to."
"That is indeed the one!" He laughed in reply before looking toward Matilda his granddaughter. "I was on a fishing trip with my little one here, and well, my prideful ass thought I had me a giant grouper on the line. Err, wrong, turns out I was fishing ocean monsters!"
Cloud broke out in laughter with Matilda with that one. They both stopped when Naruto came back onto the shore, limping with his left leg. "Ouch, I really done messed up my leg, Vista's gonna be mad!" He laughed before limping over to the fish, dragging it up with his hand and slinging it over his shoulder.
"Hey!" Tucker screamed out, and pointed at Naruto. "Put the fish down, kid, I'll carry it for you!"
"Um, old man, this thing is super heavy and- "
"Bah ah-ah-ah, I don't give two craps in a basket!" The old man, though gray haired, walked over and slung the massive fish over his shoulder. "I'm a fisherman by trade! I'm used to this, and I owe you!"
"You don't owe me squat; it was just the right thing to do!" Naruto argued with a smile on his face, and then looked toward Matilda. "Your grandson, okay?"
"Do I really look like a boy, grandpa?!" Matilda screamed out, blushing madly.
"Eh?! You're a girl, I'm so sorry!" The blonde shinobi apologized profusely.
"You better be, gramps, what are we doing?" She asked her grandfather.
"Repaying a debt, the only way I know how!" The man stated before smiling toward Naruto. "It would be an honor to clean, and harvest this fish for you, sir."
"Don't call me sir, it makes me feel too mature, ya know!" Naruto laughed, blushing a little. "I'm sorry, I hope that wasn't rude! My name's Naruto by the way!"
"Naruto…wait as in Narutomaki, I love those things!" Tucker replied with a laugh. "Now I'm definitely cutting this fish up for you, you just tell how you want it."
"Sure, but I really don't mind cutting it myself, seriously you- "
"What did I just say, ya numbskull kid, I'm cutting this up for you and that's final!" The old fisherman yelled back before nudging his head. "C'mon, Matilda, time to see if you've been practicing your fillet skills!"
"What a frigging cinnamon roll of a kid." Cloud thought before patting Naruto's back. "Just let the old man do his thing, c'mon now, we better follow them before you start developing a fan club."
"Hey, Cloud, I was wondering…why were some people pointing their E-Scrolls at me?" Naruto inquired whilst walking with a limp next to the guard.
Cloud paused for a minute, and then sighed to himself.
"Whelp, hope Ghira doesn't rip my head off."
{Tucker's Kuo Kuana Fishery.}
[Two Hours Later.]
Tucker was slicing the last bit of the giant grouper. Since Naruto didn't know what he wanted to have the slices as he cut them to common ones. There was some flanks, some grouper patties, and even entire slaps meant to broken up in a skillet. By the time he harvested everything he could, there was around fifty pounds of meat. It's skeleton hung off a hook, and he smiled as Matilda was cutting the last bit of the flanks.
"Alright there, good job!" He praised her before patting her head. "I'm proud of ya kid."
"Is uncle Tukson coming by?" Matilda inquired whilst cleaning her fillet knives. "I miss him, hopefully he brought me some more books this time around."
"I bet he did, well c'mon lass let's get this boy his fish." He laughed whilst patting her back before going to wash his hands.
Grabbing the bags for the meat afterwards.
Tucker came outside to see Naruto, and Cloud sitting. He presented the bags to them. "Alright there, my good sirs. I got you twenty pounds fillets, ten pound grounded, and twenty pounds flank. This order is free because I owe ya one! Just promise though, any big fish you catch, you bring it to me and me alone!"
"Sure, thing Old Man Tucker." Naruto beamed before looking at the bags. "Wow, will their freezer even fit all of this?!"
"Not too sure, but they have some storage freezers down the in some of the rooms for the guards." Cloud suggested before thinking. "Hey, we can throw a fish fry party, been a while for those!"
"No kidding, well, I'll cook the lunch!" Naruto laughed before rubbing the back of his head. "I think Vista might not see me today."
"Oh no-no-no, you're going to your doctor's appointment." Cloud chided him, patting his back with a laugh. "Yeah, I knew that was coming up. I called in some back up to help get this home."
"Back up?" Naruto wondered before seeing familiar faces walk in. "Midori, Castor…and Castor?"
The second Castor, one with shorter blonde hair waved. "I'm not Castor, I'm Pollux, so this is the guy huh?" He looked toward actual Castor, smiling. "I thought he'd be taller."
"Sheesh, the shrimp is making a name for himself. Did you not see the vid?!" Castor exclaimed before looking at Naruto. "You're something special kid, what are you supposed to be again?"
"Shinobi!" Naruto smiled brightly, giving a foxlike smile. "I was just doing what's right, besides, who would let a little kid and an old man drown?"
"Hey, I'm not that old, I'm just fifty!" Tucker lightly complained, but still maintained a smile. "You all be safe now, and good luck on that leg, I get having annoying little injury."
"Yeah, but it's healing pretty good." Naruto beamed with a bright smile before moving it. "It's actually feeling better, and I promise I'll be back when I catch another fish!"
"Heh," I'll look forward to see you nosedive off a dock to get!" Tucker yelled out as they began to exit his shop.
"Don't tempt me!"
{Dr. Vista's Office.}
[One Hour Later.]
Naruto walked inside of the dreary room. He saw the chair and walked over to it, sitting down. He didn't need the crutch anymore getting up the stairs. Which was very nice, he quickly got tired of using those things. Vista was engrossed in what he was seeing on his E-Scroll, and looked to see Naruto.
"Oh, Mr. Uzumaki, I failed to notice you entering my office. I'm sorry." He smiled before shutting off his scroll. "I was just watching a video that's currently trending on the Menagerie Video Network, you know the MVN."
"Actually, no, I don't." Naruto nervously laughed whilst sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. "What video was it?"
"You, killing a Razor Fin in single combat." Vista stated, his tone now serious before looking hard into Naruto's azure eyes. "I'm not going to dance around the subject, you've been telling us since day one of you being able to talk you're not from here. Well, let's just say, I'm starting to come around with that idea…or frankly another frightening possibility."
"Okay, well, I'm not from here. I keep saying I came from a rift." The blonde shinobi reiterated, and then felt his nerves on edge. "Wait, this isn't an interrogation, is it?"
"No, it's not, and frankly I couldn't hold you here even if I wanted to I believe." Dr. Vista got out some papers. "I've been taking you blood because I wanted to test a few things out, because your blood is an anomaly."
"What, really?"
"Oh, you don't know, do you?" Dr. Vista took a deep breath. "You're not fully human, at least, you never were. Your eighty five percent human, I noticed a shift in your DNA when I reran tests. Five percent faunus, compared to one percent it had been. Then there is the unknown ten percent."
Naruto blanked out for a minute, and Vista notices this. He sighed, pushing his glasses up.
"What I'm saying is, the theory of you being from another world has significant merit." Vista placed the papers down in front of him. "That, or you're a result of one of the many illegal biological experiments that some former Valeian doctor has been cooking up."
"Well, never been to Vale so…" Naruto rubbed his arm nervously. "Still, why would I ever have faunus DNA, I'm not…from here."
"Which means where your from at some point either had, or does. Naruto, I'm saying, that if you're from another world, and got here. Rather by divine providence, an act of pure chance, or science. I'm wanting to take these findings to a trusted friend. He'll seem strange, but trust me, he should know what it is like to be out of place…well more specifically out of time." Dr. Vista waved his hand before sighing. "Never mind that, just hear me out on this. Naruto, I watched the video…your telling us the truth, and have been."
"Okay, so what happens now? Do I get carted off to some black site, cut open?" Naruto shivered before thinking. "Or do you do other things to me…and others using me."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Look, doctor, the world I truly come from isn't for the faint of heart. I kind of get were your coming from with the Grimm having just fought one. However, imagine people much faster than me, and much deadlier…life is decided in seconds where I'm from." Naruto went back to rubbing his arm, and he sighed. "I'm glad you now believe me, so take my advice on this would ya, don't praise my world like some fairytale."
Vista nods his head, and pursed his lips. "I'll do my best to refrain from doing so next time. However, son, I think you've been telling us the complete truth then." He reached down and got pouches out. "Ghira had me hold onto to these in case you were lying."
"Wait, shouldn't he be the on-"
"Nah ah, I'm giving them to you. If you were truly an evil person, you'd never risk yourself for that older man, and his grandson." Vista smiled brightly.
"Well, technically he's not that old, and that's his granddaughter. They're nice, they own a fish shop!" Naruto felt the pouches, feeling the scroll in one of them. "Cool, now that I got my shinobi tools back I can really fight next time."
"You mean you were fighting handicapped?" Vista laughed nervously, stunned by the omission.
"Not really, but it would've been easier if I could've used my explosive kunai tags." Naruto admitted before placing the pouches around his beltline. "I wonder how Ghira is holding up for the video then…wasn't really doing it to make any sort of point."
"Well, you outta see the comments." Vista got his scroll back on, and showed Naruto with beaming smile. "Don't feel too bad if some of them are doubting it."
"That kids a superhero, look at those moves!"
"Isn't this a trailer for a movie?! Look at those graphics, and CGI!"
"This is fake news, this is just false, no way is someone walking on water!"
"I've seen that kid around, he seems weird getting escorted by a guard all the time."
"I was at the docks, this is 100% legit, kid saved two people, he's a hero!"
"Straight up a hero, why was the guard on the shore just standing there?!"
"Fake!"
"These kids are just getting weirder and weirder semblances, I swear to Gods."
"I call total bullshit!"
"Bullshit!"
"Fake news!"
"My name is Matilda, he saved me, this is all 100% real! He's a hero!"
"Hero…huh?" Naruto felt a warm feeling in his chest before something slid down his face.
"Mr. Uzumaki, are you crying?"
It broke him out of his trance on the video. Naruto leaned, before smiling softly. "Nah, just got something in my eye doc, ya know."
"Sure kid, well, obviously this'll conclude my role. However, feel free to come by anytime. When you get older we'll see if anything changes with your bloodwork." Dr. Vista reached his hand out, and shook Naruto's energetically with a smile. "It was truly a miracle to have met you."
"Thanks for saving my life doctor, you're a great friend, ya know!" Naruto said with bright smile.
Then there it was again; Vista saw it when his semblance unintentionally activated. There was a glowing ember in his chest, a bright golden light flickering. It flickered when he made contact with Naruto, and for some reason, he saw some of it trail up into him. There was no set pathway, nothing, it was free flowing like aura would. This feeling, when it that tiny little smidgen entered him was as if he was enveloped in the hug of an old friend.
A friend he knew from the time he was child, to the time of being a man. A bond, connections, and for some reason he could see something leave him. It was his own aura, violet in color, as if it was trading off with the golden light.
Connectivity?
Vista got up, yawning before watching as Naruto began heading for the door.
"Naruto." He called out to the boy, getting his attention. Naruto turned toward the doctor, and watched as he smiled. "Wanna grab some ramen with me?"
"You bet!"
{Kuo Kuana City Hall.}
[2:00pm]
"Enough Sienna!" Ghira slammed his hand on a large round table as he shouted out toward the tiger faunus. "That is enough, we're not fully aware of what this means."
'It means that my team that I sent to arrest any illegal mining operation was killed." Sienna replied whilst crossing her arms, her earrings jingling slightly whilst she shook her head. "It's not that difficult to figure out, High Leader Ghira."
"Do not take that tone with me. We all heard the recording, and it wasn't a human that made that sound. Obviously, whatever was going on there isn't natural." Ghira stated whilst looking at the maps in front of him. "Whatever your team did, it caused a sandstorm to start forming."
"Please, as if my team caused some mystical cataclysm. We recovered the black box from the bullhead transport a week ago. What's on there is evidence of mercenary work inside of our borders. Great Wastes, or not, this violates the standing treaties we've had." Sienna jabbed her finger into the table whilst she spoke. "If we roll over, we might as well be inviting Atlas to come and rule us all again with open arms!"
Ghira slammed his fist against the table again. "As I would ever allow my forefather's legacy to ever go in vain. My family fought during The Great War, my grandfather was the only one of his brothers to survive. I understand completely what this means, Sienna, but we're jumping to conclusions!" He crossed his arms whilst looking at the various people at the table. "The White Fang isn't meant to be a military force."
"Then perhaps its time for a change." The tiger faunus stated whilst standing up. "Humans have Hunters, and what do we have? Warriors, warriors that are mostly untrained in modern combat arts against Grimm, and self-taught fighters. Why must be wait for things to be handed to us, Ghira?! We should form our own school, poach instructors from the other kingdoms!"
"Doing so increases risks for diplomatic disasters!"
"Not doing so puts us constantly on the backfoot! You can beautify the city of Kuo Kuana all you like, you can make the civilian architecture better, but what's it all matter if there is no substantial force of military power!" Sienna argued in reply before looking at the table. "You're growing soft, High Leader."
Ghira grumbled under his breath before sighing. "So, what cause the death of Explorer Team Alpha?"
Sienna and the table looked at each other. A larger man with ram horns stood up. Ghira greeted him with a smile. "Dr. Shepherd, what does our resident Grimm expert believe the roar to be?" He inquired before looking toward the rest of the table. "This roar doesn't sound like a Death Worm's."
"That's because it's not." Dr. Shepherd stated matter-of-factly before walking over to electronic board, and used his scroll to play the sound. "Notice the deep growl, and guttural depth. This isn't the chittering of a Death Stalkers, nor the screech of Death Worms. It sounds similar to a Beringel."
"Color me curious, but aren't Beringel just native to Sanus and Anima?" Saber questioned whilst looking around the table. "If The Great Wastes have ever produced anything close to a Beringel, it's just the Jackals."
"Yes, but I did some digging." Dr. Shepherd made the electric board change to an image. "What you're looking at is an ancient Grimm known as a Stalker."
"Stalker?" Sienna questioned.
"Some ancient Grimm were reportedly more humanoid like. These Grimm were bipedal, and large, usually two stories tall. They also had a proclivity to using tools. If Grimm had student of year awards, then the Stalker was a PHD graduated." The scientist played a sound from the image, which sounded eerily familiar to the roar heard on the black box. "These things did roam The Great Wastes around a hundred years ago…but they disappeared due to clearing missions for the camps that would one day become Kuo Kuana. They're highly aggressive, and used poison mist that spewed from their mouths to paralyze opponents before eating them."
Sienna frowned at that information, sighing. "You're saying that the possible illegal Atlas SDC mining operation in the Wastes was already confronted by these Stalkers?" She looked at her glass of water, wishing it was wine. "Gustav, and his team died for nothing."
"No mam, not for nothing." Dr. Shepard corrected her before looking toward Ghira. "These Grimm don't move without purpose, if one's on the move, no doubt it'll be forming a horde around it as any true alpha would."
"Which means we can get an early drop on a potential threat." Sienna realized before smiling. "Good, it gives us time to head off a potential scenario of having a siege at our Eastern Gate at the mountain pass into Kuo Kuana."
"I remember reading about the last time that happen, Kuo Kuana almost was breached." Ghira took a deep breath before getting up from the table. "Saber, gather a contingent, scout the potential locations of this horde and map the movement."
"Sir!" Saber saluted before getting up from the table. "Permission to retrofit the Bullheads Mark One's with faster engines. We'll have less flight time, but if any airborne Grimm are joining in like Shrikes, we'll be able to get in and out."
"I think every two fast movers for the mission should have a gunship." Sienna pointed whilst crossing her arms and getting up. "I can my side of the field get a couple of armored Bullheads ready to go. Thunder Spear Missiles and all."
Saber shook his head, "I don't that is a good idea at this time, best to save our Thunder Spear ammunition for when we really need it." He retorted before looking toward Ghira. "I do admire Sienna's tenacity to go on the attack, but it's best to know what were dealing with first."
"I agree with Saber's observation. If these are truly Stalkers, then we're better off having high speed reconnaissance." Dr. Shepherd stated before looking toward Ghira. "Your call High Leader."
"Reconnaissance takes the lead role for this mission. However, if you can equipped some Thunder Spear missiles onto the modified bullheads, they could do a quick bombardment before leaving. Lessening our foe is a viable option, especially of bigger Grimm if they're heading to Kuo Kuana." Ghira bridged whilst looking over at Sienna. "I'm finding some merit in throwing dirt into their face."
"One more thing, Ghira." Sienna got her scroll out, sliding across the table. "Adam just sent me this, that boy you've been keeping in your house…explain this."
Ghira played the video recording on it that was on The MVN site. His amber yellow eyes widened as he saw Naruto running on water. Fighting a Razor Fin with ease, whilst also saving two civilians. He watched as the kid not only displayed, yet again, multiple semblances. He displayed superior speed, strength, and reflexes compared to anyone he's seen fight Grimm short of Hunters.
The screech filled the room as Ghira watch as the boy summoned forth some sort of blue orb, and killed the Razor Fin. He turned the video off, with him sliding Sienna's scroll back to her. The table felt their scrolls buzz, and also opened the video link. Watching it, and Dr. Shepherd gasped as his eyes lit up in amazement.
"That is no mere boy, who is this child?"
"An assassin sent to kill Lady Belladonna and Ghira." Sienna stated whilst putting her hands in front of her. "Nothing more, nothing less, and he's some sort of mutant freak by the looks of it."
"Mutant freak?!" Ghira slammed his hand on the table. "That child has done nothing but been kind to our people since arriving here. That is why I never gave him over, because I knew deep in my gut he is was not any clandestine operative sent to kill me, and my wife!"
"High Leader with all due respect-"
"No, Sienna, there is no respect coming from you. This child just risked his life to save people he never knew, and not to mention they were our people. I'm returning his weapons to him as of today." Ghira stated before getting up. "This meeting is adjourned for now, we'll reconvene tomorrow."
"Yes sir!" Saber saluted before standing with his arms behind his back. "Lady Kali's escort is ready to begin moving her from the green room."
"Good, have link up with mine as we move. Sienna, no offense to you, but sometimes good things just happen." The High Leader of The White Fang stated as he looked into the furious eyes of the tiger faunus. "If this boy meant my family harm, you'd had carte blanche to do with him as you pleased short of death."
"As you say, High Leader. I'll take my leave for now, but perhaps I should make my next suggestion…perhaps we can use him." Sienna suggested whilst crossing her arms. "Mutant, or not, he's powerful. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't use him."
"Maybe because he's a child!" Ghira argued.
"No, Lady Sienna has a point…" Dr. Shepherd said as he rewatched the video. "He's still in an injured state, favoring that left leg. If this is him whilst handicapped, and no show of strain…imagine what he could possibly do."
The Khan woman smirked in her victory, smiling as she saw Ghira frown. "High Leader Ghira is right, he's a child, but obviously trained wherever he's from." She turned to the table, and looked at Saber. "Saber, can you honestly tell me if you had a choice between ten men, or a super solider…you'd pick the ten men?"
"No…I'd choose the super solider. If he's powerful enough to kill that Razor Fin whilst injured…Sienna does have a point, Chief Ghira." Saber took a deep breath and crossed his arms defensively. "I'm sorry, but she does present a point. We all knew that kid wasn't normal when he first landed in that garden."
Ghira growled before leaving the room. Quickly linking up with the guard as they made their way through the city hall. There his beautiful wife was waiting for him. She looked worried as he met her gaze.
"What's wrong, my love?" She asked.
"Have you seen the video, Kali?" He asked, not sure if she had.
"No, but I'm hearing about it. Is it true, that this is the kid we keep in our house?" She inquired whilst walking with him. "I'm hearing mix responses…some are using the D word."
"Demon…I know, I saw some of the video comments. I think people are scared, but the child has done nothing but right by us. I might've just failed him for the first time today…Saber and Dr. Shepherd both agree that perhaps Naruto should be used as an asset." Ghira punched wall on the way out, shaking it. "Damn it all, why is it when our people get scared, they throw out morals…this isn't what I want."
"My love…" She brought her hand to his. "Perhaps we should calm ourselves because this isn't a definite yet. Besides, it'd be his choice if this is a true video, and if it's his choice to help…well…"
"No child should fight those monsters willing."
"Yet, my love, Naruto isn't our child. We've no say over him." Kali pointed out whilst they began walking down the road. "My love, it's going to be okay."
"I surely do hope so, my love." He said back to her before squeezing her hand.
{Belladonna Estate.}
[5:00pm.]
The skillet was boiling with olive oil as Naruto flipped fillet around. He took the aroma in as several more items were cooking on the stove. He surely hope that Lady Kali didn't mind him borrowing her apron. In fact, ironically, it was almost a perfect size for him. Green as it was, and for some reason, it felt just right.
Cloud was setting the table, intending to make a sweet apology dinner to Ghira. Naruto had a clone walking around with saucers, intending to distribute tea. The doors bursts open, with Blake walking into the kitchen. Not paying attention to who was cooking, she was sniffing the air.
"Mom is that grouper I smell, oh man, it smells so-hey, what the hell are you doing?!" Blake yelled out as she pointed at the blonde shinobi. "You, why are you wearing mother's apron?!"
"Because…I don't wanna get burned?" Naruto answered confusedly before rubbing back of his head, fumbling with the hairnet on top. "I think we both got started off the very wrong foot, Blake was it. I owe nothing but the highest respect to your mother and father for saving my life."
"Then why are you wearing her hairnet?!"
"This is hers? About my size honestly." Naruto laughed only to see the daggers that were her eyes stared into his soul. "Relax would ya, sheesh. I'm not trying to be mean, or nasty, ya know!"
"For all I know the food's poisoned!" Blake declared whilst glaring at him. "I will not let my parents eat your...your...filth!"
"Didn't you just say something about liking grouper, anyway, never mind. Look, Blake, I'm not an assassin, or anything, I keep my stories straight. I'm not from this place, yes, but I'm simply trying to use what I know of cooking to lighten the load on your mother for once." Naruto replied whilst flipping the grouper fillet over. "I'm not poisoning anything."
"Prove it."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Naruto asked her to make sure he heard her right.
"I said prove it, take a bite out of the dishes right now." She ordered him whilst moving her hand to her training sword. "I'm being deathly serious."
"Sheesh, fine, hang on a second I don't wanna burn my tongue." Naruto shot back before slicing a piece off with a fork,and blowing on it. "Three...two...one...umph!"
He took the piece into his mouth, chewing it greedily, and then swallowing it. He made sure to swallow it slowly, and then open up his mouth with his tongue sticking out to show her. She recoiled in disgust slightly, but sighed before he closed his mouth. His tongue was still out though.
"Are you okay?" Cloud asked Naruto, slightly concerned over the way Blake was conducting her 'investigation.' "Why's your tongue still out."
"Oh, this'm ism justm mem notm usedm tomm lemonm pepperm." Naruto slurred with his tongue out before sighing as the taste died down. "Yeah, I'm not used to this lemon-pepper seasoning."
"Hmph, well that's weird." Cloud chuckled before going back to his scroll. "Relax Lady Blake, I had a piece of his food earlier, and I'm still alive."
"Still, I don't trust him, something about him he's hiding. I can sense it!" She accused whilst pointing at him. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing important." He lied whilst shifting his gaze over toward the skillet. "You outta just be thankful for the free food, ya know."
"No…I don't know." She lightly growled. "Why do you always keep saying that!"
"It's a verbal tic." He answered whilst getting the fillet out, putting some seasoning on it. "Will your boyfriend be joining us for dinner?"
"Yes, whilst you'll go eat up in the room, prisoner." She chided him. "Don't worry, prisoner, I'll make sure you get some food."
"Prisoner…look little girl, I'm not a prisoner. I'm actually going to be eating with your guards since Cloud invited me, and second off I don't like your attitude! I mean seriously, not everything I do is suspicious!" He turned back to her, after turning off the stove, glaring right back at her. "I'm being as nice as possible when I should be giving you a earful, ya know. Besides, haven't you seen the MVN site video yet?"
"What?"
"Oh, no, Lady Blake it's awesome, well what he did was awesome. Kid risked his life against a Razor Fin. You have to see it.' Cloud laughed before handing his scroll over to her. "Trust me, this is why we're all having a nice feast today!"
"Feast?" Blake then looked over at a folding table with paper plates on it, and plastic cups. "What in the world..."
Guards came into the room suddenly, with Naruto pointing toward a smaller table with his thumb. "I did my best guys, so don't chew my head off. If you feel like it, leave a tip for the chef!" He joked before the guards convened over the small table, grabbing the plates of food prepared whilst another Naruto handed them plastic cups.
"You're certainly making yourself comfortable in our house." She chided him. "Besides what does this video even show, all I see is…what…the…"
She watched as the very boy she was just chiding attack a Razor Fin in the video. He didn't seem to struggle, and he moved with grace whilst standing atop water. He didn't seem to break a sweat, in fact, she saw hints of a smile. She watched as the fight continued on, hearing the house guards getting served in the background before she saw the blue light in his hands, and then it slamming downward into the Grimm.
"Wha-what are you?" She inquired fearfully, looking over toward Naruto. "That's not any sort of aura technique I've ever seen!"
The blonde just beamed with a smile. "I already told everyone, I'm shinobi, ya know! Besides, your family is safe with me! I owe your mother and father my life, they've been nothing but kind to me…so…" He finished the last fillet. "I'm cooking tonight, and I'm at their beck and call as a servant!"
Cloud pursed his lips at that, shaking his glass a little. "Oh manservant, might I have another filling of tea?"
"You cut that crap right now, or I'll bite your ankle again." Naruto darkly replied whilst having an evil glint in his eye, and glint off one of his upper canine teeth. "Got it, ya know."
"The guards are much better unbitten." Naruto hummed at the new voice, and turned to see Ghira and Kali walk in. "Otherwise, we'll have to rely on you more."
"Pfft," he blew raspberries before serving the plates, "welcome home Lady Kali, Chief Ghira."
"Hmph, good to be home, what is all of this." Ghira asked as he saw the guards eating food as well. "Did you…cook all of this?"
"Sure did, every bit of it!" Naruto beamed with pride as he placed a thumb at his chest. "I owe you all so much, because you've done nothing but be kind to me! Anyone else would've just let me die, or worse, but you saved my life. The both of you, I'm forever in your debt because of it, ya know. Also, don't worry, I made sure to take a bite out of eveyrthing before cooking full servings of it...didn't wanna serve anything undercook or raw."
"Naruto…you saved two lives today; you've repaid your debt." Kali said, after having watched the video on the way home. "You owe us nothing."
"Well, that's not true, you're letting me stay under your roof for right now. Trust me, when I'm fully healed, and start doing what you guys call missions, I'll be out looking for an apartment." Naruto said with a smile, serving Blake's spot, watching as the girl reluctantly sat down. "I've never been treated so kindly by total strangers, it's almost surreal, honestly."
"Why would anyone treat you horribly?" Kali asked, but then notice Naruto look away. "Listen if you need time to tell somethings, then take the time."
"You've got no idea how that feels Lady Kali." He said with a soft smile, and then close dhis eyes as he beamed. "Hope you like lemon pepper!"
"I do so very much, Ghira?" She turned to him with a smile, thought it slightly fidgeted when she smelled the grouper that was slightly over seasoned. "What about you, my love?"
"Actually, I think it's the perfect seasoning." He sniffed his fish, and then nodded. "I like my seasonings strong."
"Oh, what'ya know, me too!" Naruto laughed before rubbing his head through the hairnet sheepishly.
Soon Adam entered the dining room, his eyes trailed over to Naruto who was wearing an apron and hairnet. He scornfully looked at him. "So, this is the hero, adorned in cookery clothing." He commented before sitting next to Blake. "Why is that?"
"I don't know, better than picking blonde hair out of your food. However, if you want extra fiber, give me a minute." Naruto shot back before placing tea saucers around the table. "I apologize for raiding your personal tea stash, Lady Kali."
"Don't mention it, this feels nice, having someone serve us for a change." She laughed it off, smelling the food. "This smells delicious."
"Hehe, well I never had a set recipe. So, please, go in with an open mind. Plus, I just used spices that I thought tasted good together." Naruto pointed out before they all turned to the spice cabinet and saw the various bottles out.
"He pretty much tested every single one." Cloud commented before grabbing his plate. "I'll go eat with my brothers and sisters of the guard. Castor, Pollux, and Midori stopped by to see Naruto since he was recovering well…I'm sorry I didn't clear through you first Chief Ghira."
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure they're good people." Ghira waved off before laughing a little. Watching as Naruto began to leave for the door. "Naruto."
"Yes, Chief Ghira?" Naruto turned around to face him, carrying a small plate for himself. "Is there something that you need, I'll gladly get it for you, ya know."
"Yes…I need you to sit down, right here." He pointed toward the empty spot at the table, next to Adam. "Eat with us, drink with us, let us talk about today."
The blonde stood frozen before he smiled. His slowly glistened before he walked over to the table, sitting down on his knees besides Adam. He took a deep breath, and smiled whilst looking at Ghira, and Kali. His heart was beating fast, what if he started off his side of the story horribly. This felt foreign to him, and all eyes were on him.
Yet, when he found Kali's eyes, they beckoned him to speak softly. To not be afraid, to not hide behind the wall of being a Shinobi. In a strange way, for whatever reason, Naruto felt the eyes look upon him in a motherly way.
Truly he was overthinking it just a little bit…
"So…?" Kali motioned with her hand, smiling slightly. "Tell us about how this Hero talk started."
The blonde shinobi took a deep breath, and then smiled brightly.
"Okay…so I was at the beach pier. Me, and Cloud had just got done getting smoothies at Café Oceania…"
Chapter End.
Trivia.
Tucker & Matilda are references to the song Waltzing Matilda.
Yes, Tifa is referencing that Tifa, and now you know OTP for FF7.
Dr. Shepard's name is fine, since he's a Ram faunus.
Thunder Spear Missiles are also known as Hanji missiles…if you know why, I cried with you.
The Theme Song to this story is Cafune' Tek It.
Dr. Vista's name is literally Sight in Italian.
Midori means green, hence her eye color being emerald, green.
Castor and Pollux, twin Greek gods.
As you can see I love writing this story, and I look forward to the eventual confrontation chapter.