Hey, everyone!
I apologize for putting an A/N at the start of the chapter, but this is important for my faithful old readers. I suggest you all go back and reread chapter one before going on with this one. I went back to change it to account for missing important characters (Iruka) and fix the pacing problem with the Servant Ritual. I hope you like the new version as much as the old one.
Speaking of changes, my writing style has been evolving, so you'll see that the format for inner thoughts has changed from italics to apostrophes. I like it better so far, but I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Furthermore, you'll notice that Naruto's language has grown a bit... more R rated. It's a conscious change, as I considered that to be both a natural way of speaking for a character that has grown up on the street and a good character flaw for him to overcome.
Speaking of character flaws, you might notice that Mordred is... grumpy. That is completely intentional and will be addressed in future chapters. That being said, I hope she's not too OOC and that I nailed their interaction. Let me know what you think!
Finally, to celebrate my coming back, I'm publishing two chapters at once. Yay!
Love being back with you!
Enjoy!
Chapter Two — Uncharted Waters
~ Across the threshold, a labyrinth awaits. Mist rises across the path forward, and whispers echo from the abyss ~
The moon bathed Mordred in silver light, and her skin gleamed like pearls in a river. Her breaths echoed through the clearing in a slow, steady rhythm, and her breastplate clinked and jingled with the clattering of chains in the wind. The scents of peaches and ozone flowed from her, ebbing and flowing with the breeze. She stood still as a statue, staring at him.
"I..." He gulped. "Um..."
'Fuck…'
'What am I supposed to say?'
"Master." She tilted her head. "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Just... not what I expected, ya know?"
She squinted. "In what regard?"
"Well... It's just... Um..."
"Spit it out."
He sighed. "You're just really pretty. Like... Way pretty. Prettier than Sakura."
She blinked. "Pretty?"
"Yeah... Please don't be mad at me..."
"What?"
"It's just... Sakura's always angry when I compliment her or ask her out..." He blushed. "And she's nothing compared to you... You're the first girl I've ever seen that's as pretty as those models in—"
A gust of wind exploded through the clearing, and Mordred appeared right in front of him, resting her sword against his neck.
"Call me a girl again." She pushed in until blood started leaking. "See what happens."
He froze. "R-Right. Sorry."
She stared at him for a few seconds before pulling back.
'Holy fuck…'
'That was scary.'
Her sword vanished. "Now, let's try this again."
"Alright..." He took a deep breath. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I guess I'm your master."
"That's good." She offered him her fist. "Nice to meet you, Master."
He bumped it. "Um... Nice to meet you too."
"Now then, what's the plan?"
"Well..." He sighed. "We should probably talk to the Old Man before we do anything else."
"Old Man?"
"The Hokage. See, the whole 'I summoned you' thing... I didn't really go about it in what you would call a legal way."
"I see..." Mordred frowned. "Will this man be hostile to you?"
"Hostile? Nah, he'll probably just yell at me."
"If you say so." She shrugged. "Rest assured, however. I will kill him if he tries to harm you."
He blinked.
'Did…'
'Did she just threaten the fucking Hokage?'
"Oh, um... Don't do that." He laughed. "It wouldn't really end well."
She raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"He's the leader of the village. Besides, he's supposed to be super powerful."
"Hmph… We'll see."
'Seriously…'
'Is she trying to get us arrested?'
He sighed. "Anyway, we should really get going."
'Gods only know how the Old Man's reacting…'
'The clone with Iruka hasn't dispelled yet.'
'It should know better, damn it.'
"Very well. Lead the way, Master."
They started walking.
The moonlight traced the sharp angles of Mordred's face, beaming burning on her high cheekbones and the strong line of her jaw with cold fire. It cruised across the curve of her lips, its essence rested behind her eyes. It glinted off the polished surface of her armor, transforming steel into a shimmering sea of liquid metal. Each intricate design etched upon the metal gleamed, catching the light like diamonds scattered across every battle she had ever fought. Her hair fell down to her cuirass in a waterfall of melted gold.
'Fuck…'
"Master?"
'Shit!'
'Did she catch me staring?'
"Y-Yeah?"
"What's your wish?"
He blinked. "What?"
"The wish you want the Moon to grant you. What is it?"
"Why would the moon grant me a wish?" He scratched the back of his head. "How would the moon grant me a wish?"
"To be fair, the Holy Grail would usually be granting wishes." Her ponytail swayed, a lion's mane flailing through a battlefield. "However, there is no Grail here, and the Moon summoned me. Ergo, the Moon must be the one granting the wish."
"Um..." He frowned. "I summoned you, not the moon."
"I'm sorry to tell you, but no human can summon a Servant alone." Her lips gleamed like rubies. "Not only does it require an absurd amount of prana, the functionality of the Ritual is stupidly complicated. Why do you think you needed only one incantation? The Moon did all the heavy lifting for you."
'Huh.'
'That kinda makes sense.'
'Well, the help bit.'
'The moon bit is just stupid.'
"So, I reiterate..." Her lips twitched. "What do you want from the Moon?"
'That…'
Is a good fucking question.'
'Do I want anything from the moon?'
"I guess... I don't really have one." He rubbed the back of his head. "Not in the sense you're asking anyway. When I found the Ritual to summon you, it never mentioned a wish."
She frowned. "Then why did you summon me?"
"I..." He looked down and sighed. "I couldn't stand being alone anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I've never had anyone. Not really." He stared at the ground. "The Old Man has a chat with me every now and then, and I'm… somewhat… good with the people in his office. The ninja don't really have time for me, and the civilians can't stand me. People glare at me in the street, and parents never let their kids play with me. The Ichiraku love me, but they never really saw past my mask. The only one who acknowledged my true feelings was Iruka-sensei, and that only happened tonight."
"Does that mean there's no Grail War? No other Servants?"
"I have no idea what a Grail War is, and the Servant Ritual was super hidden."
"I see..." She hummed. "That's going to make making a wish challenging... Especially if the regular Grail War rules really don't apply..."
"Oi! Can we focus on me for a bit?" He snorted. "I'm sharing some sad fucking backstory with you here."
"First of all..." She smacked him on the back of the head. "Don't swear."
"Ow! What the hell?"
"Second, stop whining." She crossed her arms. "Not everything is about you. Do you think I answered your summons because I was bored?"
"Well, no..."
"Exactly. I have a wish for the Moon as well." She put her hands behind her head and looked up. "So, if we want it granted, we need to figure out how to get it done."
He sighed. "Right..."
They kept walking.
Leaves rustled around them, dancing to the tune of the wind like soldiers marching to battle. Mud clung to Naruto's shoes, and grass glistened beneath his feet like gold hidden in a mine. His jacket fluttered in the breeze, and his pants brushed against his skin. The trees thinned out, revealing Konoha and the Hokage Mountain like a curtain opening upon a play. Lights flickered throughout the village, glowing with orange brilliance like stars shining upon the horizon.
'Fuck…'
'I'm such an asshole.'
'I've never even considered that Mordred might want something.'
"Hey, Mordred..."
"Hmm?" She turned to him. "Yes, Master?"
"Look, I'm sorry for being a jerk earlier." He looked down. "I was just… Ugh… I'm just sorry."
"You really are silly, Master. Yes, we have a quest to complete, and it's a complicated one. However, we're still in this together." She ruffled his hair. "Who knows how strong you'll grow during your time as my Master?"
He grinned. "Thanks."
Buildings lined the streets like soldiers standing in formation, gleaming with silver radiance under the moonlight. Lanterns glowed above them and smoke wafted upwards from them. The scent of ramen, fish, and steel lingered in the air. Cats and dogs scurried across the empty roads. The Hokage Tower loomed ahead, gleaming red under the moonlight.
"Naruto." Mordred frowned. "Are you sure there are no other Servants lurking about?"
"Pretty sure. I mean, I only found the ritual by accident." He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. If anyone knows about it, it's the Old Man."
"Very well." She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "From now on,call me Saber."
"Why?"
"Hiding your Servant's name is a common practice of the Holy Grail War."
"Alright." He shrugged. "If it makes you happy."
"And don't forget to address me as 'he'!"
"I wasn't gonna..."
"Right..." Mordred put her helmet back on. "I'm sure you weren't."
They entered the Tower.
Carpets spread across the floor, crimson rivers flowing through the hallway. Banners hung from the ceiling, bearing the Leaf symbol. Windows revealed the Hokage Mountain, where darkness and light fought over each face. Their footsteps echoed through the halls like a hammer bashing into an anvil, and the scent of wood and leather drifted through the air. Shadows writhed around them, darkness rippling across the walls like water flowing down a stream.
Naruto knocked on the Old Man's door.
"Come in."
He opened it and walked in.
The Old Man sat behind his desk, leaning forward and rubbing his forehead. Smoke curled from his pipe in hesitant wisps, detaching themselves reluctantly, as if trying to cling to the warmth within the pipe before succumbing to the inevitable pull of the night air. They danced upwards, their forms shifting and twisting like phantoms in the moonlight and gleamed in pale, ghostly yellow as they ascended before dissolving into the inky blackness.
"Welcome back, Naruto." He turned to Mordred. "Welcome, Servant."
The smell of tobacco carried a faint sweetness, a fragrance that made one's brow crease and the pit of one's stomach gnaw in unease. With each exhale, the room shrunk, and the air thickened as if the smoke itself made the air heavier.
Naruto frowned. "How do you know he's a Servant?"
"You're not the first person to perform this Ritual. Although, I must say..." He stared at him. "I am surprised you succeeded... and with such ease."
"I didn't find it easy at all." Naruto scowled. "I almost passed out."
Mordred crossed her arms. "So, there are other Servants lurking about?"
"You needn't fret." He puffed on his pipe. "The last one that accomplished it was the First Hokage himself."
Naruto blinked.
'The First Hokage?'
'I've done the same ritual as the First Fucking Hokage?'
'That's fucking amazing!'
"I believe introductions are in order. My name is Sarutobi Hiruzen. As you can probably tell, I am the current Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves." The Old Man stood up and offered his hand. "It's an honor to meet a Servant during my lifetime."
Mordred shook it. "Saber. Pleased to meet you as well."
"Now..." He sat down. "Let's discuss the elephant in the room. You, Naruto, have broken multiple laws of this village."
"Oh, um... Right." He smiled. "Sorry about that."
"Your clone has brought me up to speed on Mizuki's betrayal and your reasonings for doing what you did. He even explained why I suddenly felt your chakra spike all over the village."
Naruto gulped.
'My own Clone ratted me out?'
"Don't be angry with him." The Old Man emptied his pipe and refilled it. "He was as fearful of my disappointment as you would be yourself. He is you after all."
"I guess..."
"Usually, I would be lenient to you. After all, Mizuki was your teacher, and no one would expect a student to doubt his teacher's words. However..." He lit his pipe and puffed. "I know you, Naruto. Mizuki is only a chuunin. He never would've been able to hide his true opinion of you well enough for you to fail to notice it. Why did you go along with his plan?"
'Damn…'
'The Old Man's smart.'
'Well…'
'Might as well fess up.'
'Not like I can play the fucking Hokage…'
He sighed. "Because it was the only way I could graduate."
"What?"
"The Academy Graduation Test requires the Basic Clone to pass." Naruto sighed. "And I have too much chakra. I always have. I needed a more chakra intensive alternative."
"Of course... Damn my old age..." The Old Man rubbed his temples. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to graduate on my own, damn it!" He clenched his fists. "I... I wanted to prove to everyone I wasn't useless! That they didn't have to treat me like dirt!"
"I see... I'm sorry it had to come to this... I..." The Old Man sighed. "I should've kept a closer eye on you."
"It's... It's fine." He smiled. "It's not really your fault, ya know?"
"No." Mordred leaned back into her chair. "He's right to apologize. You are his responsibility."
"Um... Thanks, but..." He shrugged. "The Old Man's got a lot of stuff to do, ya know? He's got the village to look after, and I'm just a kid."
"Naruto." The Old Man exhaled smoke. "He's right. I entrusted your care to others when I should've done it myself. And I regret it."
"Regret?" Mordred scoffed. "That's all your charge gets after you abandon him to fend for himself? What kind of leader are you?"
"Saber!" Naruto glared at her. "Don't talk to the Hokage like that!"
"Why not?" She glared at him. "Am I wrong?"
"I..." He sighed. "Just... Just let it go. Nothing we can do about it now."
She squinted at him for a few seconds before snorting.
He turned to the Hokage. "Old Man, I—"
"It's alright." He puffed on his pipe. "I deserve it."
Flickering light and shadows danced across the Old Man's face, running down his wrinkles like a river down a canyon, as the lone candle on his desk fought the darkness. The flame cast a warm glow on the lower half of his face, and his beard and the lines around his mouth gleamed under the auburn light. The darkness held the upper half imprisoned. A furrowed brow emerged for just a moment before vanishing. His jaw twitched. He focused his gaze on the table.
'I don't hate the Old Man.'
'At least… I don't think I do.'
'Not really.'
'He's fed me. Talked to me. Taken me for ramen…'
'Besides…'
'He can't help everyone…'
'There's only one Hokage.'
'One for the whole village.'
The Old Man stood up and approached him.
Naruto blinked.
'Why is—'
The Old Man hugged him.
His beard scraped against Naruto's cheek, rough and calloused as the bark of an old tree. He trembled, shaking like leaves in the autumn breeze, and the scent of tobacco and earth flowed from him. He leaned on Naruto as if a man begging for shelter in the cold winter, and his breathing echoed as if a beast wheezing in its den.
"Old Man?" Naruto patted his back. "Are you alright?"
"It seems a man is never too old for tears." He shook his head. "The Will of Fire burns strong in you indeed, Naruto."
"Stop being such a crybaby." Mordred threw her legs over the chair's armrest. "You're the leader of this village. Act like it."
The Old Man looked up at her.
"No man is stone, Saber." He smiled and went back to his desk. "Yet, I have no doubt your words have been true in the time period of your life, which is why I take no offense."
"And because a Heroic Spirit will be a great boon to your military, and you will not risk alienating me."
He puffed on his pipe and grinned.
'Damn…'
'I guess that's why he's the Hokage, and I'm not.'
'I would've just told her to fuck off, consequences be damned…'
"I shall consider the matter of the legality of Naruto's actions settled." The Old Man puffed his pipe. "Naruto, you've explained your reasoning to me, and I find it more than acceptable. The only thing left is to congratulate you on your graduation."
'Holy shit…'
'It was official…'
'The Hokage himself confirmed it…'
'I'm a real fucking ninja!'
"Thank you so much!" He bowed. "I promise I won't let you down!"
"I know you won't." The Old Man chuckled. "However, we still have the problem of your team."
"What?"
"Originally, I would've placed you on a genin team with two of your classmates and a jounin instructor. However..." He looked at Mordred.
Naruto frowned. "What is it?"
Mordred sighed. "I create an imbalance."
"I cannot waste Saber on anything less than an A-rank mission, and even that is a grievous misuse of his talents." He shook his head. "I also cannot commit more ninja to your team to keep you and your teammates safe on S-rank missions. Saber makes having even your jounin sensei on your team a waste of resources."
'Damn…'
'So…'
'I'm not going to have teammates?'
"Therefore, I've decided to take you out of the genin roster entirely." His face hardened. "I will place you in ANBU."
"ANBU?" Mordred frowned.
"It's the Leaf's Black Ops division." He took a deep breath. "As you can imagine, it accepts only the best of the best and handles only the most difficult missions."
'Holy shit…'
'I'm joining the fucking ANBU?'
"However, Naruto..." He sighed. "This means that you will not be working with your peers. Most ANBU members are older than you, and thus, it's unlikely that you will find friends amongst your unit if you keep being as childish as you are. Furthermore, due to the secrecy required of the division, you may not share your membership with anyone outside of it."
He blinked.
'Does…'
'Does that mean I can't tell Iruka-sensei?'
'Or brag about it to those assholes in my class?'
"Don't worry." Mordred put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll be right beside you."
"Thanks, Saber..."
"As only chuunin are eligible for ANBU, I hereby grant you an immediate field promotion. Your file will count the completion of an S-rank mission as the reason, and you will receive commensurate payment." The Old Man stood up. "Congratulations Uzumaki Naruto, you are now a Leaf chuunin."
'I'm…'
'I'm a chuunin?'
'Right after the academy?'
'This has to be some kind of record…'
'No, wait…'
'I got a promotion on the same day I graduated!'
He jumped up and whooped.
'This is definitely a fucking—'
~Slap~
Mordred hit him on the back of the head. "Stop celebrating. Can you not see the seriousness of the situation? You have the rank. Not the skill."
'Damn buzzkill…'
"Sorry, Old Man." He rubbed his neck.
"It's alright." The Old Man chuckled. "You are young after all."
"So..." Mordred crossed her arms. "When does he start?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"That's… fast."
"Having a Servant is an advantage we need to utilize as soon as possible, and Naruto must accompany you to the field. Isn't that right?"
"He does."
"Therefore, he must train, and he must train quickly." He stared at Naruto. "I've already sent all the relevant notifications. ANBU agents will pick you up at your apartment and take you to the ANBU barracks. You'll be staying there for the foreseeable future."
"Thanks, Old Man." Naruto smiled. "For everything."
"Don't thank me yet, Naruto. ANBU is not a walk in the park, and Saber's power will get you only the hardest missions." He shook his head. "You might just grow to hate me soon enough."
"I won't." He grinned. "I'll prove to everyone I'm Hokage material!"
"I'm sure you will." The Old Man smiled. "Before you go, let me just set your mind at ease about two important things. One, I did not forget about the Nine-Tails. I've discussed it at length with your clone, and you'll receive those memories sometime in the night."
"Oh yeah..." Naruto scratched his head. "How come my clone didn't dispel?"
The Old Man chuckled. "I had to punish you somehow, so I sent him to listen to Iruka lecture him for a few hours. It's not really you, but you'll still get the memories."
"You're mean, Old Man."
"As for the second thing." He sighed. "Though I disapprove of your need for attention, I know how important peer recognition is to you. The details will remain classified, but I've allowed Iruka to leak the fact that you graduated and that you're now a chuunin to your class during team assessment."
His eyes widened.
He rushed to the Old Man and hugged him. "Thank you so much. You have no idea what that means to me..."
"I owe you that and more, Naruto." The Old Man patted him on the back. "Now then, you're dismissed. Go home and rest. Tomorrow is a big day."
Wind howled through the village, smashing into them like a hurricane crashing upon the shore. Pebbles and twigs shifted beneath their feet, clattering and clinking like soldiers marching into battle. Mordred's breastplate clinked and jingled, chains rattling with the creaking of iron. Naruto's jacket fluttered behind him, and his pants brushed against his skin.
'The gods only know what's waiting for me tomorrow…'
'And I didn't even earn it…'
"Master." Mordred tapped his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" He shook his head. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" She crossed her arms. "You seem lost in thought."
"It's just... A lot happened today."
"Yes." She smiled. "But that's not what's bothering you."
'Should I tell her?'
'Will she really understand?'
He sighed.
'No harm in trying...'
"I just... I feel like I cheated my way into all of this. All I wanted was to graduate." He looked away. "But now... I'm a chuunin. I'm in ANBU."
"Master..." Mordred grabbed his chin and turned his head. "Look at me."
She stared at him, emerald eyes blazing like emeralds shining upon the sun.
"The World takes and gives. We do not get to choose our destiny." She frowned. "Do you think I chose to be born to a witch?"
'Her mother was a witch?'
'Fucking heavy...'
"Well... No..."
"Then stop whining." She poked his forehead. "Be proud of yourself. Not everyone can say they achieved this much this quickly."
"Yeah... I guess you have a point."
"Of course, I do." She ruffled his hair. "You just listen to whatever I say, and you'll be fine."
"Yeah, yeah." He rolled his eyes. "You're super fucking amazing, blah—"
~Smack~
She hit the back of his head. "I told you not to swear."
"Oi!" He glared at her. "Stop that."
"Stop swearing."
"Get out of here with that preaching shit." He rubbed the back of his head. "You're not my fucking mom—"
~Smack~
~Smack~
"Ow! Stop fucking hitting me!"
"Stop swearing!" She made him dodge another smack. "And I'd be your dad, not your mom!"
"Fuck off!" He stuck his tongue out. "I'll fucking swear all I fucking want!"
"Alright." She smirked. "Be that way."
"Okay...?"
She clasped her hands behind her back and started whistling.
"Saber..."
~Whistle~
"What did that mean, Saber?"
~Whistle~
"C'mon, what are you up to?"
~Whistle~
'Motherfucker…'
'She's going to fucking prank me...'
He sighed. "Now I know what it feels like to be the Old Man."
"Keep complaining, Master." She grinned. "You're doing such a great job."
"Shut up." He rolled his eyes. "Let's just go home."
The streets stretched out around them in a labyrinth of stone and wood. Buildings loomed over them, glaring down at them with windows like eyes peering from a dark void. Lanterns and streetlights glowed in pools of light, warm and inviting as flames flickering in a fireplace. Smoke billowed out from the sky, drifting towards the moon and stars in clouds as gray as iron.
"Hey, Master." Mordred put her hands behind her head. "I just realized. We have a problem to address."
"What?"
"I just tried to communicate with you mentally and I failed."
He frowned. "What does that even mean?"
"It means I'm supposed to talk to you mind to mind, dumb-dumb."
"What, like... your voice appears in my head?"
"Precisely. Mental communication is one of the core tools masters and servants use to—"
"It's fucking weird is what it is.."
"And that makes five."
"What?"
She smiled.
'Fuck...'
'I hate being the one pranked.'
He sighed. "So, how do we fix the brain thing?"
"I honestly don't know." She shrugged. "We'll just have to find the solution along the way."
Insects rustled in the shadows, scuttling through the forest like demons prowling through the gates of Hell. Smoke drifted through the village, billowing from the taverns in tendrils of gray as gray as stone cracking under lava. A gust of wind blew across the street, sending paper and leaves flying to the corners of his vision like a flock of birds smashing upon the earth. The moon gazed down at them like an eternal fire above a lake of light. Its gaze followed them as they walked, pure white rays illuminating the horizon like lanterns in a cave.
His stomach growled.
'Shit…'
'I did not eat…'
'But where am I gonna find—'
He froze.
"Mordred..." He gulped. "Change of plans."
~Thump~
~Thump~
~Thump~
"Come on, Old Man!" He banged on the door again. "I know I woke you up by now!"
"Master..." Mordred's eye twitched. "Don't tell me you dragged me all the way here because you wanted restaurant food at this ungodly hour?"
"Of course not!" He banged again. "We're here to see my two most precious people in the world."
"Alright..." Mordred stepped towards the door. "It's time for plan B."
"Don't worry. It's not going to take— What the heck are you doing?"
"They're not answering." She cracked her knuckles. "So, I'm going to knock... politely."
"Are you crazy?" He grabbed her wrist. "You'll destroy it!"
"Oh, stop being such a woman. It's just a door."
"Saber, don't—"
~ Bang ~
The door flew off its hinges and smashed against the wall. Wood splintered across the floor. Shards of debris scattered across the room like warriors collapsing upon the battlefield.
Naruto facepalmed. "You're fucking insane."
"That makes six." She shook her hand. "I did not expect that to happen... You really have too much chakra."
"What does that have to—?"
"Whoever is out there, get the hell away from here!" The Old Man peeked from the kitchen holding a knife. "I'm armed."
"It's me, Old Man!" Naruto grinned.
The Old Man blinked. "Naruto? Is that you?"
"Of course, it's me! Who else would it be?"
"A burglar..." He sighed and put his knife away. "Why on earth did you destroy my door?"
"Blame the psycho next to me."
The Old Man squinted at Mordred for a few seconds before sighing. "It's too early for this... Why don't you two come inside and tell me what you need?"
"Okay!" He rushed. "I'm starving!"
Mordred followed him. "You said we're not here for food."
The Old Man took them into the kitchen. "Sorry, Naruto, but the best I can do is some tea. No ramen until I open tomorrow."
"Ramen?" Mordred raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Only the best food ever invented!" Naruto bounced on his feet. "Seriously, if you haven't had ramen, your life is a lie."
"Really?"
"Every other dish pales in comparison."
"Well... You sure sound like you're in a good mood, Naruto." The Old Man put the kettle on the stove. "You look happier than I've ever seen you."
"That's because I graduated tonight." He poked himself in the chest. "I'm a genin now."
The Old Man's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yup. I... um... had to do some less than legal things to do it, but..." He scratched the back of his head. "It's done."
"Illegal?"
"Oh, nothing major... I just kinda... stole the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing and learned a technique..."
"You what?"
"What? It's not like it was my idea!" He crossed his arms. "That bastard, Mizuki, told me to do it."
"Oh, Naruto..." The Old Man sighed. "These things always have to happen to you, don't they? I—"
"I know."
"What?"
"I know why." He looked down. "I know about my... furry little tenant."
"The... The Hokage told you?"
"No, Mizuki did." He clenched his fists. "He did it to distract me so he could kill me. If it weren't for Iruka-sensei, it would've worked."
"I'm so sorry this is how you had to find out." The Old Man stood up and hugged him. "I could never say it before, but I want you to know you'll always have me and Ayame, the Nine-Tails be damned."
"Oh, damn..." He gulped. "Does... does she know?"
"No." The Old Man sighed. "But she wouldn't care. She loves you as much as I do."
"Yeah, yeah..." He wiped the tears from his eyes. "Enough of this sappy bullshit. Where's Ayame?"
"Sleeping." The Old Man sat down. "Like I was before you scared the life out of me and destroyed my door."
"Oh, damn..." He blushed. "I forgot about the door..."
"It's fine, I'll get a repairman in the—"
Naruto created five clones. "Yo, guys, do me a favor and go fix the Old Man's door."
"You got it, boss!"
The Old Man stared.
"Old man?"
~Stare~
"You okay?"
~Stare~
"Hello? Earth to The Old Man?"
~Stare~
He looked at Mordred. "What the fuck is wrong with him?"
"Seven."
"Stop fucking counting."
"Eight."
"Damn it!"
The Old Man shuddered. "Ninja are so weird..."
~Sizzle~
~Sizzle~
~Sizzle~
The kettle hissed and boiled, silver wisps flowing through the air like ghosts wandering through the night. Metal clinked and clanked, gears shifting and clicking with the groans of a machine in disrepair. Water bubbled within, boiling like a volcano erupting from the earth.
"I am going to make us all tea now..." The Old Man went to the stove. "Sugar?"
"None for me." Naruto grinned. "Black as midnight, bitter as death."
Mordred snickered. "What, are you a poet now?"
"Shut up."
The Old Man poured the water. "And for your demonic friend?"
'Demonic?'
'What is he...'
He looked at Mordred.
'When did she put the fucking helmet on?'
She shrugged. "I have no idea what any of that is, so I'll take your recommendation on it."
"Yeah, he— his name is Saber. He's my... teammate." Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "He's not a demon, he's just really attached to his helmet."
"I see..." The Old Man served the tea. "Odd choice of apparel for a ninja, but what do I know about that? I do have to ask, how are you planning on drinking your tea with that helmet on?"
Mordred scoffed. "Don't you worry about that."
"Just ignore him, Old Man. He's been cranky all day." Naruto blew on his tea. "Can you go wake Ayame up?"
"Naruto, it's two in the morning—"
"Please." He clenched his teacup. "It's very important."
The Old Man sighed. "Alright."
He went upstairs.
Naruto took a sip of his tea.
It flowed down his throat like molten gold, radiating warmth through him in gulps of liquid fire. Bitterness lingered on his tongue. He sighed, and the steam tickled his nose.
'Fuck...'
'The Old Man really makes the best... everything'
"I can see why you care for them so much." Mordred sipped her tea. "He never berated you about the door."
"You broke the door."
"He doesn't know that." She shrugged. "And he's not going to find out."
"Why not?"
"Because you're not going to tell him, dumb-dumb."
"Oi! Stop calling me dumb-dumb."
"Then stop being a dumb-dumb."
"You..." He glared at her. "I'm going to fucking strangle you."
"Nine."
He sighed.
'Why did I expect anything different?'
The Old Man came downstairs. "She's awake."
Ayame trudged down, rubbing her eyes. She bore the weight of unfinished dreams and incomplete rest upon her sagging shoulders, and her yawn boomed through the hallway. The pink of her nightgown glimmered in the lantern light. Her hair fell over her back in a wild mane of dark brown.
"Naruto?" She plopped down into a chair. "What are you doing here?"
He smiled. "I have something really important to tell you."
"At two in the morning?" She scowled. "Can't this wait until later?"
"No, it can't. I..." He gulped. "I graduated tonight."
She blinked. "Really?"
"Yup."
"I'm so happy for you!" She jumped up to hug him. "I knew you could do it."
"Thanks." He blushed. "That means a lot coming from you."
"I don't get it though." She pulled back. "What's the rush? Why couldn't you have come tomorrow?"
"Well, um..." He sighed. "That's the thing… I... It's more than that."
She raised a shaped eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I graduated… and… uh…" He looked away. "I got promoted… to chuunin."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"Yeah..." He smiled. "I know it's surprising, but... It's true."
"But..." She frowned and scrunched her nose like a bunny. "The Chuunin Exams are, what, six months away? More?"
"I can't..." He gripped his tea cup. "I can't really talk about it, but... I did some things I shouldn't have, and Old Man Hokage gave me a field promotion."
The Old Man frowned. "I thought that was just how you graduated?"
"No. I... uh... can't talk about it. All classified. Sorry."
"It's alright." Ayame squeezed his shoulders. "We understand."
"Thanks." He smiled. "Anyway, because of the stuff I... can't talk about... um... I..."
"He probably won't be able to visit you for a while." Mordred leaned forward and put her empty cup on the table. "He just can't bring himself to say it."
"Oh..." Ayame sighed. "I see."
"I'm really sorry." He looked down. "I... I didn't know this was gonna happen when I... ya know..."
"Don't apologize, Naruto." The Old Man put his hand on his shoulder. "You're growing up, and we understand that. This is a great accomplishment. We couldn't be prouder of you."
"Yeah." Ayame smiled. "We'll love you no matter how long you stay away."
"Promise?"
She offered him her pinky finger. "Pinky promise."
He intertwined his pinky with hers. "Good. I'm... I'm gonna miss you both."
"We'll miss you too, Naruto." The Old Man ruffled his hair. "Now then, why don't I make us all some ramen?"
"Yeah!" He grinned. "That'd be awesome!"
"Alright, Ayame, Naruto, Saber, go sit down. I'll whip you up something good."
~Crash~
~Crash~
~Crash~
Clanging and smashing echoed from the hallway outside. Voices muttered and whispered, echoes rippling across the walls like water flowing down a stream. Boots stomped through the corridor.
One of Naruto's clones popped his head into the room. "Hey, boss..."
Naruto sighed. "What is it?"
"So... um..." The clone rubbed the back of his head. "We don't, like, know how to fix a door."