Note: For Full First Chapter, Follow on Ao3. Naruto X Shenhe.

Where was he?

This didn't look like home. And what were these stupid cat beasts with what looked like wings on their back attacking him?! If he didn't have the kunai he nicked from class, he would be defenseless!

"Get away from me!" He shouted, driving the ninja knife down hard as the creature leapt onto him, contacting its skull.

But that hardly stopped its momentum as it came crashing down upon him, pinning him to the ground with its dead weight. He cried out as others pounced but came crashing down onto a cut log.

Sprinting away as quickly as he could manage, his breath labored. He was so glad he had paid attention in class for once!

"Are you kidding me?!" Cerulean eyes flickered as the beasts quickly caught up to him, surrounding him.

Gnashing his teeth, holding his kunai tightly clutched in his grasp, the young child glared at the stupid cats surrounding him. He didn't know what else to do! All he could do was stab them and run! Ugh! How he wished he had figured out how that clone technique worked! Maybe that would have distracted them!

"Yo!" He pointed his kunai directly at the closest beast; his eyes dilated before he spat out. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki! Don't think you can take me! You're dealing with the future Hokage, ya hear! I'll knock the stuffing… Oh shit!"

Before he could finish his defiant statement, all the cats pounced toward him at once, a strange aura building around them as he did. Each was ready to shred their claws into him.

Why did he have to taunt them?!

A gale of green wind swept around him viciously. He shouted as he could barely stand within the vortex, and he was forced to shut his eyes as grass and rocks smacked into him. No longer could he hear their roars or hiss. All he could hear was the gush of the wind around him before the winds receded.

His eyes blinked open and flickered wide. The beast all lay slumped against the trees and rocks around, motionless. He didn't know what just happened, but he was thankful!

"One has heard your struggle and witnessed your valiant attempt to survive. One could not allow such a light to be extinguished and intervened." An elegant voice resonated, and a soft patter of steps drew Naruto's attention to a tall woman adorned with a vibrant, skin-tight outfit. "But one has to wonder why you were out here alone, child."

"Where are you from?"

(Ten Years Later)

It was a damp, breezy morning as the sun rose, shielded by the mountains to the east. Every morning was cold here… They lived on one of the mountaintops.

The fire burning under the pot kept him warm despite the chilly weather. As he stirred the stew gently, the aroma filled the air, making his stomach growl in anticipation. Bubbles slowly began to form and pop within the stew, indicating that it was almost ready. He didn't want it to burn again. It took so long to clean it out the last time when Master forced him to rectify his mistake.

"May I?" A stoic voice calmly asked.

His heart fluctuated momentarily. He took a deep breath to calm himself before flatly looking upon the tall, slender figure behind him carrying various herbal flowers with her. She possessed silvery-white braided hair, which was once black when he first met her, with a red rope binding it as her hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, and her iridescent eyes glistened around her white pupil as she stared directly at him.

His face scrunched up in surprise, his eyes rolling. He could never hear Shenhe walking up on him. Couldn't feel her presence despite his best efforts. Might have made for a good ninja back home…

At least from what he remembered. He was but a child when he got lost in the forest and found himself near Mt. Xuanlin, a place where he had no recollection of being near his home. Master was still trying to uncover how he transcended worlds and had not sufficiently found an answer to her liking.

Shaking his head of his thoughts, Naruto snickered in amusement as his eyes glimmered at the flowers Shenhe had brought. "Trying to sweeten the stew again?"

"Hm?" Shenhe tilted her head, her iridescent eyes shimmering while staring at Naruto in confusion. "Wasn't the stew yesterday satisfactory?"

"It had a unique flavor to it." Naruto repressed his laughter and shook his head. "I could use the Qingxin. Those will pair well. It's supposed to have a savory flavor, not sweet."

"One does agree with this assessment." A small gust of wind gently whipped Shenhe's hair and ran through Naruto's spiky locks as an enormous white crane with mostly blue plumage and hints of black and gold feathers landed beside them.

"Good morning, master." Naruto and Shenhe greeted the crane with soft bows.

Then, with a dazzling light engulfing the crane, a mature woman with long navy hair with tints of light blue throughout tied in a high yet sharp ponytail strolled toward them. "However, one thought one told you you were not to cook for today. One had plans for a meal."

"I was hungry?" Naruto pursed his lips, keenly aware that he was informed of such. He simply took the initiative since she hadn't started cooking, and well… Everything Shenhe cooked ended up sweet.

"Very well." Xianyun frowned before nodding. "Our trip to the harbor shall take most of the morning, but keep the meal light and then store it for later consumption. One has plans for our meal once we arrive."

Naruto was unable to help squint at his master. Furrowing his brow, he couldn't come up with a reason why they were heading into the harbor city of Liyue. Containing his frustration, he shot his master a confused glance. "Is there something important today? I can't recall the last time we went into the city…"

"Oh?" Xianyun's eyes gleamed mischievously before she smiled. "Has one forgotten what today is? Why it is special?"

"Now I'm even more confused!" Naruto rubbed his hands through his locks, annoyed at his master.

"Today is the day Master brought you home," Shenhe answered for Naruto in her usual placid demeanor. As realization dawned on Naruto, his expression dropped, and a very light frown quivered on her lips. She turned to her master. "But I am confused as well. I thought you preferred avoiding the harbor unless absolutely necessary."

"The times are changing." Xianyun retorted, distantly gazing off into the clouds amongst the peaks. Sighing, she brought her attention back to her pupils. "One must adapt to this new era of man. Learn to co-exist. One has personally seen this change and believes it needs to be experienced if you are to reintegrate into society."

Her gaze fell upon her youngest pupil's more subdued and sullen figure. With a calm yet gentle tone, she continued. "One has not forgotten the vow one took to search for the cause of your arrival. One will find it but for now… Let us rejoice in what brought us together. For one to feel sorrow, there must be joy within, and that is what we celebrate."

The knotted pit of his stomach that had been growing the moment his master had announced what today was slowly began to fade. Replaced by a gentle but warm joy as he softly smiled. She was right… Without what happened… Who knows what would have happened? At least now… He had a family of sorts.

"Do not forget to stir. One thinks the stew may be burning."

"Ah!" Naruto fervently began to swish and swirl the pot; eyes widened in horror before a bubbling pit of rage built within him, the red vision attached to his hip glowing brightly. "No, no, no! Not again!"

"I will melt you down for parts before cleaning that gunk out ever again!"

He had only been in the capital city on rare occasions before this. Mostly when he snuck away from Mt. Aocang to try some local delicacies… Master was never amused.

Yet here they were, standing before the world-famous Wanmin Restaurant, welcomed alongside his master and Shenhe by a practical stranger. He knew her… But she so rarely visited that he didn't really.

"Ah, you made it. I was afraid you may have decided against it." Ganyu pleasantly greeted them, bowing respectfully to her master before gently smiling at Naruto and Shenhe. "It has been quite the time since we last met. It is a pleasure to see you once again, Shenhe. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Naruto."

"Um… Thanks?" Naruto awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, refraining from grimacing. He just didn't know her well, and to be welcomed so warmly…

Not to mention, she was standing beside a friend and a floating child , her gaze critically analyzing each of them while the floating one looked excited at their arrival! Who were these people?! It was only supposed to be Ganyu!

"Oh! I forgot to introduce my friend since you two have never met." Ganyu laughed sheepishly before motioning to her friend beside her.

"Well, I'm pretty sure we haven't met her either." The floating one announced, pointing at Xianyun, frowning as she did.

"Hmph! One does not recognize me!" Xianyun huffed, crossing her arms over her ample chest.

"Cloud Retainer?!" Paimon exclaimed, jerking away in surprise. "Wait, no, no, no! That's not what I meant… I… uh…"

"That your new look is positively marvelous." The young blonde woman responded with a bright smile.

"Hmph! One takes pride in her image! One would never allow tarnish to come to one's name!" Xianyun scoffed but appeased nonetheless. "Traveler, these are my youngest pupils, Shenhe and Naruto. We come to celebrate the day I found my young fox in the wilderness."

"Oh! You're a kitsune like Miko?" Paimon tilted her head in wonder at Naruto. "How the heck do you end up here?!"

"No, not really." Naruto shook his head and grimaced upon seeing Shenhe's expression darken. He knew precisely what was on her mind…

"I will destroy her if she comes here again and tries to lure him away again…" Shenhe muttered under her breath, her iridescent gaze shimmering with raw fury.

Naruto winced and withdrew into himself. He remembered that meeting well. She had made a lasting impression when she visited Mt. Aocong… When those in Inazuma were allowed to travel freely.

"I see." The traveler responded with a bright smile as she took everything in stride. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Lumine."

"And I'm searching for my brother."

R & R.