OK Naruto, let's be Fighters!

by Akito the Boxer

Cancelled Commission - A once lengthy commission which was shot down after the commissioner changed his mind. I may not continue it, but read if you want a prologue to what it'd be like if the first version of Naruto (the demon kitsune boy) had Kushina to take him to a new home away from the actions of his evil father at Lakewood Plaza. Single pairing with Naruto and Enid.

I OWN NOTHING

Check my profile for information on commissions.

-Lakewood Plaza Turbo-

A yellow sky with clouds wistfully moving over the lonely figure at a plaza, slowing down his ride at the parking lot. Besides the many shops one would see, the most notable one was at the front and center. It was a simple convenience store which was filled with everything the residents of one of the most bizarre worlds needed; a yellow shop, with a red roof, and a huge "UZU MARKET" sign on the front in orange letters and adorned with a red spiral symbol between the two words. Parking was a spectacle in itself for the lot had flashier than normal cars. Some had weapons, were huge tanks, or even a regular van with a stylish paintjob. But that was not all. The few people walking around weren't regular humans, and some weren't human at all, like anthropomorphic animals. One newcomer saw the likes of anthropomorphic food and even anthropomorphic objects passing by; humans who looked normal was actually rare. Exceptional was the norm.

"Boy, mom sure gave it her all to this place," said a boy in his mid to late teens.

Parking a white jet-moped hovering in the air – which was a small jet engine that had a motorcycle seat, handlebars, and a singular headlight –, a humanoid fox with the physique of a lanky teen got off his ride. He possessed a soft and rather spiky coat of golden fur with three thick black whisker marks on each cheek, deep blue eyes, and a rather spiky mane. On his forehead rested a pair of green riding goggles with transparent, circular lenses covering it like a headband. Donning a baggy, orange jacket with a high collar, black knee-length cargo pants fully exposing his ankles with a hole for a lone, swishing, fluffy tail, and white sneakers, he was a normal teen by the standards of the world he was brought to when born. As he got off his jet-moped, took a burlap sack which he slung over his shoulder, adjusted his black fingerless gloves… a growl from his stomach spoke up.

"Looks like you need some good eating," the teen turned to a large, burly man who spoke up in a gruff voice. "May I offer you something?"

Chuckling, the fox approached the man, a big, blue-skinned goblin with pointy ears, dark blue hair, and two short horns sticking from the top of his head. He also had two notable fangs poking out from his bottom jaw. Big and overweight, he wasn't just fat judging by the thick, hairy arms… and thin legs. For comfort, he wore light blue jeans, a grey, short-sleeve shirt with a dragon on the front, and a white apron hanging from his hip. And he was in charge of a burrito stand on wheels.

"Give me the biggest combo you've got," the boy told him with a grin, sitting down. "Also, what do you know of a woman named Kushina Uzumaki?"

"The owner of Uzu Market?" the goblin asked while preparing the meal. "She came around… let's see, 16 to 19 years ago?" he shrugged at that. "Began running the market herself, working to the bone, all to raise some son of hers. People think he's made up to keep any Casanova off her back, but she states that he often goes on long training journeys every so often. Eh, if you ask me, she just wants to do her job in peace, but that's my opinion."

"Neat," the fox said as he sat at the counter, eager to eat.

"So, who're you, stranger?" the goblin asked when placing the hot meal in front of the teen fox, five large burritos with chili, carne, and beans. "Name's Beardo, by the way."

"Naruto," the fox said calmly before grabbing one of the burritos to dig in. "And I'm-"

Just as he was about to take a bite without caring that he'd talk with his mouth full, everything shook. The sudden tremors caused him to drop his food on the floor with a shocked expression. His jaw hung low as he screamed silently in horror at his lost meal. And he hadn't even paid for it…

Right behind him, the one responsible for the shaking was heard cackling inside a massive purple, metallic box with BM in orange letters as a logo… "Hello there, Lakewood Losers!"

Opening itself, the box displayed a humanoid red robot with a slender and tall body. He only had a single large eye in the middle of his square head. Said metallic skull held a pink brain inside a light green crystal dome connected to the top. There was a yellow circle surrounded by a gray ring on his chest as a part of one of many mechanisms with matching the ones on the back of his hands, and he also wore grayish-black robotic boots. He wiggled sharp fingers to morphs his hands into a pair of cannons and gave the people of the plaza a grin filled with razor sharp teeth like a shark's.

"I, Darrell, shall be the one to take out that old hag of Kushina one and for all and-"

Darrell had half a second to react when the fox appeared right in front of him, fury burning in his eyes as Naruto stomped forward and swung his fist upwards, "You owe me a meal!" he roared out the instant his knuckles made contact with the robot's jaw and sent his head flying off into the sky. With a huff, he looked at the headless body trying to grab at air, then poked it to watch it collapse with a defeated expression he aimed at Beardo, "Um, can I get another order?"

"Sure, for that little display, it's on the house," Beardo told him with a small smile.

Putting his hands together as if praying, Naruto sat at the man's stool with his head hung low, "You are my hero."

"First time I've heard that," Beardo replied while cooking.

Eager to devour his meal with gusto, Naruto tapped his foot and waited, holding out his hands for the five burritos waiting to be digested…

Until yet another box landed atop the headless robot body!

"Oh come on!" Naruto exclaimed when his food touched the floor yet again, immediately turning to find the source of his ire. It was Darrell… another one, and he looked at him in equal fury, "I really need a bite to eat, you pile of rust!"

"Lunchtime, isn't it?!" Darrell exclaimed and took aim with both cannon arms at Naruto. "Feast on pain, misery, and doom!"

Quicker than before, Naruto dashed forward in a furious blur of speed to bring his right leg up in a powerful kick which knocked Darrell's head back into the sky. However, that cost him dearly, for his gut grumbled in protest of burning so much energy without filling it.

"So… can I still get a free meal?" Naruto asked with a deadpan, tired expression.

"My apologies, kid, but I run a business here," Beardo replied in an equally dull tone.

"I should've guessed…" the fox muttered under his breath.

-Uzu Market-

Entering the convenience store, Naruto was greeted by the typical sights. Rows upon rows of affordable fast food, regular house items, and the flair of the bizarre world. Laser swords, fire gloves, and helmets with night and laser vision. He adjusted his sack and looked into his empty wallet with a heavy sigh and a full belly. After such a welcome, he halfway expected the place transforming into a battle zone with turrets popping out and taking aim at him. Fortunately for customers at the store, those defense mechanisms were either turned off or non-existent.

Turning to the counter, he approached the cashier, "Hey, is the manager here?" he asked with a letter in his hand. "I need to see her. Kushina Uzumaki is her name. Ring any bells?"

"Unless you have a résumé and actually intend to work here instead of asking her out, she's not listening to anyone, dude," came the dull response from the girl behind the counter.

Looking her over, made easier by the fact her feet were up on the counter while she leaned back on her chair in a way which displayed a ridiculously curvy, bottom-heavy body, was a teenage girl who couldn't care less about the world. Defining aloofness and indifference by existing, she was nonetheless quite a looker. Tall with a thin waist, and wide hips and legs thick enough to be called drumsticks. Alluring mocha skin and thick, waist-length purple hair tied in a small spiky bun gave her an easily recognizable appearance. Big black eyes set in a permanently dull stare, a small angular nose, and thin lips granted an air of coolness to the girl. She was clad in a sleeveless blue crop top torn at the bottom to expose her midriff and flat belly, black compression shorts hugging rounded cheeks which could ripple endlessly if slapped, and brown boots along with white cloth wrappings on the upper half of her arms. It was those same wrappings which kept in check a hefty pair of mammary glands which would otherwise spill out of the top and reveal an obscene amount of skin, and he knew because of how she was seated. Judging that, they were the same height.

Ignoring him and giving her full attention to her phone, she scrolled on her social media while the fox sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "Look, I just want to talk to her, not to get any sass from a lazy girl sitting on her fat bottom for a living." He replied irritated once his eyes traced the curvature of her shapely legs, "If you don't mind telling me where she is, I can leave you to your afternoon nap without telling her that you need to wash the counter."

Pulling down her phone, she looked at him, inwardly noting that he could give as good as he took. Good, she thought, at least he wasn't a pushover, but was he all talk? One good way to find out was to see if he could walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

"Fine, how about a little favor?" she started, putting her feet down.

Giving her a stare as dull as her own natural one, he responded, "Are you serious or do you just want me to get lost?"

Okay, she added to her mental notes, he would call out bluffs well. Points given.

"Back of the store," she started. "Rad, my colleague, is supposed to do his job. If you can make sure he gets it done, then I'll call Miss Uzumaki and tell her you're here. Sounds fair?"

Staring at her to find any malice, he took a moment to rethink the options before nodding, "Alright, but you better tell her Naruto's here…"

"You could've asked if she's even here," she pointed out… and he blinked in confusion.

"Wait, is she?" he asked in irritation.

Alright, points taken… "Only one way to find out," she told him with a blank expression. "Just get Rad to do his job and I'll call."

"Unbelievable…" he groaned, obviously referring to her. He rubbed his head and muttered under his breath, "I thought she'd have trained her employees to not be sassy like she did with me…"

Going deeper into the store, he scanned the place for anyone else in the same top as Enid. He had no trouble finding his mark when hearing a snickering near the smoothie dispenser. Behind it was a tall humanoid with bluish green skin, a green shade small afro, and a pair of bug antennae on his forehead. Other notable features were the pointy ears, a fang popping out of the bottom of his lips, and rounded nose. Muscular and taller than Enid and therefore Naruto by half a head at least. Donning a pair of pink pants, the same midriff baring top, and black ankle-high pointy boots along his laidback grin, he definitely liked showing off. For starters, he was already displaying his eight-pack abs with the aforementioned blue top. Just hearing to him amuse himself with whatever was on his phone made the fox want to turn back and force the cashier to get him the manager of the store, but he may as well not get any extra sass.

Thus, he poked the alien on the shoulder, "Huh, what's the matter, dude?" Rad – Radicles X by the nametag he wore on his left lapel – asked. "If you want to ask Enid out, she's a bit too cool for y-"

"If you mean the slacker, I'd rather fight rabid dogs with my teeth than getting any sass from her," Naruto retorted, but mentally noted the laidback girl's name.

"Gee, seems you had the chat already," the alien shrugged. "Do you want something from me, though? I'm on my break and-"

"Explaining why you can't be bothered to do your job won't make me turn around," Naruto had started to lose his patience with Enid, and Rad trying to act all aloof wasn't helping. Dropping his bag with his belongings on the floor, he looked at the taller alien with his arms crossed. "Look, I want to see Kushina Uzumaki. That's all I need, and-"

"Dude, ain't she, like, a little old for you?" Rad asked dumbfounded and Naruto slapped his own face with a groan. "Like, I get it, she's a babe for such an old lady, but she ain't as young as she-"

"Why does everyone…?" Naruto grumbled, rubbing his face with his hand, and clenched his jaw in a fanged grimace. "Either way, I got told by Enid to check if you're doing your job and get it done if needed so she can tell me where to find your boss."

Looking at the exasperated fox, Rad smirked and held up his phone, "In that case, if you're offering to lend a hand, I was checking a few things to buy and-"

In the blink of an eye, Naruto snatched Rad's phone, ignoring the alien's shocked gasp while he spoke up, "I am already doing her a favor, don't think you can make this a pointless fetch game."

"Fair enough, dude, but…" Rad started to panic, nervously glancing at the phone's screen and the other teen's eyes in hopes that would keep Naruto from seeing what was on his social media.

"Get to it and-" the fox boy was cut off when a tiny fist poked his side – was it even a punch if he didn't feel it? "Huh?"

Looking down, he saw a tiny preteen whose brown, brush-like haircut seemed somewhat familiar. Iconic, even. For maximum innocence and to show he was an outgoing and hard-working lad, he had tan skin and the type of brown eyes you'd see in a puppy who would make you adopt it right away. Square-shaped hair at the top of his head was held together with a red headband. He wore a low-cut white tank-top with dark blue shorts, red wristbands, pink leg warmers, and walked barefoot. There was no denying it, while he looked like he would be at a gym working out with that getup, he would also be considered cute and adorable by many of his fellow friends and allies. Definitely marketable mascot material right there.

"Stop it, evildoer!" the kid beamed with his hands on his hips and a massive, confident, heroic grin which would make any motherly woman want to pinch those cheeks. "I, Kaio O. Kincaid, also known as KO for short, have started my journey to be a hero and my first order of business is stopping your act of bullying!"

"Kid, you're adorable, but I don't think you can warm up this dude's heart," Rad flatly told the boy.

"I'm actually blackmailing him to know where my mom is," Naruto bluntly told the puppy-like child who looked appalled by the statement.

"An act of evil in broad daylight and-" KO pointed at him in shock, only to stop and curl his finger with a pensive look. "Wait, you're looking for your mommy? That's terrible!"

Either he had ADHD or the purest heart to ever exist and, dang it, how could one be cruel to that?!

Rad eased up, "Wait, you just want to find your mom? You could've said that." He aimed a finger at a nearby stack of cereal boxes and from the digit a beam of purplish pink light came out, enveloped the cardboard vessels, and placed them at the shelves. "Done. You can tell Enid to let the boss lady know all you need."

Giving the alien a blank stare, Naruto sighed and handed him the phone, "I don't know whether to be mad that the talk was a waste of time or punch you now…"

"Um, don't you want to add another option?" Rad asked, slightly worried.

"Yeah, you shouldn't be so mean when he helped you, mister," KO told the fox with his arms crossed and a childish pout.

Darn it, now the foxy teen felt bad, "I just wanted to… Never mind, just…" rubbing his face with both hands, Naruto groaned, "I'll talk to the slacker and hope she gives me an answer."

"Let me help!" KO offered with a large grin and a fist up. "After all, today I will become a hero."

"Hey, if you want to be a real hero, you should look no closer than me," Rad hooked a thumb to himself before using his psychokinetic powers to stack cans from a box into a neat, tidy pyramid. "After all, I am training under the great Red-Hot Habanero as an employee."

"She's training you?" Naruto asked with a quirked eyebrow, obvious disbelief in his voice.

"Of course, I've even got my own POW card," the alien teen produced a card which had a picture of himself with his name and Hero Level of 2.

"What's a POW card?" Naruto asked, tilting his head to the side.

A loud, shocked gasp turned his and Rad's attention to KO, who looked at him with a gaping mouth as if the fox grew a second head before pulling out a large binder with countless cards like the one the tallest of the three boys had, "How can you not know of the best collectible to ever exist in the history of ever?! They're detailed proof of a hero's heroic deeds and true evidence of how strong and cool the best of the best are!"

And he produced a card of a red-haired woman, "Huh… Didn't know she had one." Naruto commented, "Then again, I've-"

"Been living under a rock, that's what!" Rad joked, patting him on the back. "What kind of hermit are you? Sheesh, you're really wet behind the ears if you don't know these things."

"I've been away for a while, okay?!" Naruto exclaimed, getting flustered before looking at KO's card. "Kushina Uzumaki, Red-Hot Habanero…?" he groaned at the silly name, "Level… 15?"

Kushina was a fair-skinned and slender feminine human woman with violet eyes, and tomato red hair. Said hair was straight and reached her ankles with shoulder-length strands that framed both sides of her rounded face and a black clip that parts her hair to the left. A mature woman, she had an hourglass body with lean muscle on her arms and long, shapely legs which added to her female appeal. Healthy and rocking a pair of plump assets at the top and bottom which would make any man a fool if they ignored her, she also had a motherly air around her which was carried in her small but gentle smile. In the picture, she was depicted wearing a high-collared, sleeveless blouse under a long, loose-fitting green apron with a wristband on her left wrist, black shorts, and short black boots. Many who looked at her would wonder how a seemingly normal woman like her had reached such a level, while others would keep the card because of the melons at the front and the pumpkins at the back… Even Naruto had to admit some idiots would try their luck seducing her.

"Yeah, you don't get to that level by not being a certified kicker of evil butt," Rad commented with a proud grin. "And Enid and I are learning things from her."

"Do you think I could learn from her?!" KO asked with hope in his eyes.

"Ha!" both turned to Naruto, who snickered at the two. "Right, you… you and the slacker train under her, then? Pfft… why not pull the other leg, then?"

Blushing at the accusation, Rad defended himself, "It's true, she did take Enid and I under her wing and taught us some of her best moves!"

"Like her ultimate technique the 1000 Years of Death?" Naruto asked with a smirk.

Gulping, Rad pointed at him, "Duh, of course I learnt it and can pull it off!"

Crossing his arms, Naruto gave him a smug smile, "So, care to show it off?"

Drops of sweat coated Rad's face at the calling of his obvious bluffing, but KO was too innocent and pure for the world, "Hey, he can't show it if it's an ultimate technique! You should know no hero would teach such a thing only for it to be wasted on show biz! My mommy says so!"

"I-Indeed!" Rad beamed at the save from the kid, too proud and quick to do so.

"Okay, whatever helps you two sleep," Naruto told them with a shrug and walked off snickering.

"Rude dude, isn't he?" Rad grumbled, looking away.

"Well, I think your powers are cooler than anything he could try to pull off if he's that mean," KO stated with a friendly pat on the alien's side, making the muscular teen smirk.

"Heh, then it's a good thing I showed you a taste of what I can do," the older male said, happy to have someone listen to his tales.

Meanwhile, Naruto had returned to Enid, "Said and done… Care to tell me where she is?" he asked the cashier while she was checking a magazine. Placing his hand on the magazine, he pulled it down to make her look him in the eye with a scowl, "Now."

Giving him a bored stare, Enid shrugged… and vanished into a cloud of smoke! Naruto gasped at the technique, especially when a log replaced the cashier.

"Okay, she may have taught one of you something…" he muttered while looking around, closing his eyes to focus on his surroundings… and kicked up!

His heel cut the air, slicing up a tile on the ceiling and revealing a finally more serious Enid looking at him with a shocked expression. She couldn't believe he not only found her, but used a technique which allowed him to split the air itself. Jumping down, she narrowed her eyes at him and took a fighting stance. And she was surprised when he mimicked the pose, copying it with a familiarity that had the purple-haired teen take him seriously. Bodies forward, backs straight, legs spread, knees bent, left feet forward, right hand next to the heart and the left at the waist level in the girl's case and forward at chin level for the boy with his palms open. Naruto narrowed his eyes while the cashier tensed, both getting ready for a fight.

"Come on, did you really think I'd give you info on the boss just like that?" she asked with a dull tone and serious expression. "Another suspicious dude after her, and not the first one I kick out."

"Let's see you try," Naruto taunted as a gust of wind passed by him despite being indoors.

Lashing out with her own low-kick, Enid simultaneously went further down and forward so that once her first strike missed its mark she could throw another to sweep the boy off his feet. Naruto did well in stepping back over the first attack, but was open for the second one… or so it seemed.

"What?!" Enid gasped when he jumped over her strike, arms crossed with his palms still open and putting her enough on edge to roll around and away.

Once they landed and retook their stances, the fox smirked, "I've got some pretty sweet moves, huh?" he quipped before dashing forward, using her same move and lashing with his legs twice… then used the momentum to get right up and throw a right hook at her, "Gotcha!"

His fist sailed into Enid's face, getting a solid hit… into a log!

"And I've got my own sweet moves, dude," he heard her say behind him to deliver a knee strike to his side… only to see the boy turn into a log himself once the rib-breaking strike made contact.

Reappearing behind her, he kept his distance as did Enid, the two staring each other down with a rather hard expression. It wasn't like wolves about to fight nor like stoic strategists studying even the most minuscule twitch to their advantage. Both knew each other's moves because they had learned the same techniques, albeit with some differences to fit each other.

"Alright, so you know the boss…" Enid lowered her stance first, eyes still narrowed. Once he did the same, she placed a hand on her hip, "Who… or what are you? You're not a hero. Someone with that kind of skill and power would have at least enough popularity for a POW card."

"Name's Naruto," he replied calmly and shrugged with a casual, confident smile. Pointing a finger upwards, he widened his grin, "And I don't want to be a hero. I want to be the strongest."

"You've got to act a little more like a hero for that, though," Enid retorted.

Waving dismissively, he chortled, "I don't care about being a hero, I just want to be number one. The top guy, you know?" he raised his arm, finger still skywards, and snickered, "Plus, it is way more fun fighting both heroes and villains alike, especially if they're tough."

"Okay, you've got a few issues, then," Enid commented with a dull expression.

"Ever heard of being professional?" Naruto growled, done with her attitude.

"I couldn't care any less, trust me," she stated with a small, smug smirk.

"Ugh, can't believe it," he gave her a deadpan stare with squinted eyes, gaining a rather foxy look.

It was that face which gave the cashier a reason to pause and consider where she had seen such a mentally exhausted expression before. The wandering fighter didn't have the patience to continue arguing and merely grabbed his belongings, ready to head out.

"Where are you going?" the girl finally asked.

"What's it look like?" the foxy teen nearly snapped. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he added, "I'm just going to keep looking. May as well given how helpful you've been."

Feeling somewhat guilty and curious about the weird fox, Enid said, "Okay, okay, you've made your point… I can try and call the boss, but you will need a good story for her. She's got some sort of secret missions and would skin Rad and I alive if she's called at a crucial moment."

"Yeah, she's not a morning person," Naruto commented.

"…what do you-"

-Boxmore-

A massive factory opposite the plaza, the building of Boxmore stood tall and industrially evil as dark clouds hovered over it. From behind its walls, peaking at the plaza through the curtains of the main office's window, was a lone figure who had seen Darrell's fight and failure. Once the head of said robot landed on the dark office's large desk, his lonely eye stared at his creator in shame.

"Sorry, dad, I tried, but that new hero-"

He was cut off by a high-pitched short man, "Darrell, tell me, did I make you to make excuses or did I design Ernesto to help with costumer service?"

The sign on the desk read a single name, Lord Boxman. Said man had a rather round, overweight body along with sickly-looking pale-yellow skin. Pale green hair hung in a small curtain on the right side of his head with golden cybernetics covering the other half of his face with a red robot eye which stared in silent, cold disappointment at his creation. Like all evil scientists in a Saturday morning cartoon, he donned a white lab coat, but his was part of a complete suit with a black tie, pants, and boots. Most notably of all, his left arm was a yellow chicken's leg, including the typical white feathers up to his shoulder and three yellow scaly fingers depending on the animator. Last but not least, he also had sharp teeth which he bared.

His anger was accompanied by a sound akin to a teapot filled with steaming hot water whistling as Darrell gave his best smile, "I can try harder next time? Like, maybe with a bigger cannon arm or-"

"I'm paying a fortune to make sure you are as cost efficient as you are supposed to be effective and deadly!" Boxman snapped, getting off his chair and jumping up and down with his hands on his desk, stomping the floor angrily. His face got red while his neck veins bulged in fury, "And that red-haired menace is always sending you and all your other copies back here as scrap metal! Why is it so hard to defeat such an annoyance who keeps on smiling and making that place so happy?! Do you know already how much I just hate, hate… HATE HAPPINESS?!"

"Um, a lot?" Darrell ventured to guess.

For his actually right answer, the robot got a prize of a quick trip to an incinerator, where his melting skull lamented his bad choices… only for a new model to pop out of the nearby wall with a grin and a positive attitude.

"Oh boy, I sure messed up," he chuckled nervously, "but I won't fail you again, daddy."

"Don't call me that!" Boxman snapped before turning to a dartboard with a picture of the plaza and throwing a dart… and hit a portrait of himself by mistake. "ARRGH! DO YOU SEE WHAT YOUR FAILURES MAKE ME DO?! I CAN'T TAKE THIS INCOMPETENCE! EITHER YOU DESTROY THAT PLAZA OR SO HELP ME I'LL-"

"Please, Lord Boxman, it's not like you haven't already made a better robot," said a girl as another robot walked in. "After all, a 2.0 is always better than a 1.0 when it comes to hitting a weak spot."

Darrell narrowed his eye at the newcomer, "Why don't you butt out, Shannon?"

"Silence!" Boxman snapped before turning to the other robot. "You were saying, my deadly and spoiled robot daughter?"

Just like Darrell, Shannon was a humanoid robot. However, her design was feminine with enough curves to give Enid some competition. Most of her body was orange with slim arms and thick legs which didn't possess a backside as meaty as the cashier's but still managed to turn heads. Perhaps her most notable feature, aside from said endlessly curvaceous legs, was her mushroom-shaped head with dark orange eyelids, dark skin for her round face with pouty lips, and red eyes. There was a triangular, neon green button on her chest, which was a hefty bust that could be considered large by all means and yet not overly so. Like Darrell, she wore boots, though hers were dark orange thigh-high boots which matched her arms, neck, and wrist joints. Her fingers were just as sharp as her mechanical brother's. And she tapped them against her hips in a casual pose.

"Darrell says a new hero's in town, so why not let me find out what makes this guy tick… and sink him when he's at his lowest?" she smirked, causing Boxman to giggle like a child at a candy store.

"Uhuhuhu, that sounds absolutely heinous… I love it!" the chicken-armed man pumped a fist and gave a nod. "Go, Shannon, and do me proud!"

Turning, the robot girl smirked as her left hand sunk into her wrist before a buzz-saw popped out of the stump to slice the picture of the plaza nailed to the dartboard, grinning confidently, "I will do more than that…"

-Parking lot-

Exiting the store, Naruto, Enid, Rad and KO observed the absolute chaos as civilians and heroes all panicked and ran around when yet another box landed; the fox asking, "Again?"

"So, who's it gonna be this time?" Rad asked Enid casually.

"I bet you five it's Jethro," the girl retorted coolly.

"Raise you five it's another Darrell," the alien said confidently.

"Who are you talking about?" KO innocently questioned them.

"Apparently, some robot who's going to pop out and make a mess of the plaza," Naruto shrugged at the kid. "I may as well ask, what is up with that?"

"Dude, you kind of answered the question," Rad told him with a smug smile. "But, if you need to know from the man, the one making those robots just loves sending them to try to ruin the plaza. We just return the packages to their as piles of scrap for Lord Buttman!"

"The Buttman…" KO said with a frown.

"It's Lord Boxman," Enid corrected them with a sigh.

"A regular pain at this place, huh?" Naruto ventured to guess as he crossed his arms.

"Pretty much," Enid shrugged while observing the box. "Although, I still have to ask why sending them in flying boxes after building the factory so close to the plaza?"

"Oh, I know!" KO raised his hand with a hopeful desire to assist. "It's Bad Guy 101: presentation!"

Putting his hands in his pants pockets, the fox turned to the store assistants, "So… is there any chance I can see your boss kick metal butt?" Naruto asked impatiently, tapping his foot on the floor, "Because I'm really getting tired of all these interruptions."

Unveiling its contents as if on cue, the box revealed a smirking Shannon who strutted out with her hands on her wide hips and a sway with her every step, emphasizing her bee-like waistline. Once she stopped before the teens and little boy, she eyed them with a snarky expression.

"Let's see what we've got here," she started arrogantly and started with KO, "a little brat…"

"I'm not that little," the boy defended himself but was ignored.

Continuing, Shannon glanced at Rad, "A poser and wannabe."

"All this muscle is not for show!" the alien exclaimed offended.

Glancing at Enid, the robot girl smirked, "An ugly try-hard…"

The air grew cold as Enid glared, "Try saying it to my face, Shannon."

Finally, she turned to Naruto, and winced, "And… a fashion disaster. Seriously, those goggles with those shorts, then that jacket? Plus, who seriously wears fingerless gloves now? Uh, yikes."

"Better than acting like a spoiled little brat," Naruto told her dully.

And that got a reaction from the robot girl, "Excuse me?! I am daddy's favorite spoiled daughter, thank you very much!" she said offended with a hand to her chest. "And I am all that's needed to kick you Lakewood losers to-"

"Wait, dad?" Naruto cut her off, turning to Rad without taking his hands out of his pockets, further showing just how little the fox cared about Shannon's threat, and angering her much more than her circuits could process. "Lord Buttman-"

"Boxman," Enid corrected him.

"Is her dad?" Naruto didn't care about the correction, nor did he seem to even register it. He just looked at the alien teen inquisitively, "How's that even work? Like, is he a machine or-"

"No, dude, he's their maker, so… technically their dad?" Rad commented, stroking his chin and then shrugged. "Honestly, I don't question it more than most things you Earthlings do. And that is saying something."

"Fair enough," KO nodded in agreement, trying a bit too hard to appear serious.

"Kind of simple, Boxman is just a dumb nerd with a dumb factory who wastes his time trying to destroy the plaza," Enid summed up without so much as acknowledging Shannon.

"That tears it!" they finally turned to the teenage robot girl before she jumped into the air to turn her hands and feet into buzz-saws. "No one badmouths daddy and gets away with it!"

Using the circular saws on her feet like rollerblades, she dashed at the quartet while Naruto gave Enid a small smirk, "Mind if I take it from here? I will want to fight you after dealing with her and seeing mom, though."

"What are you-" Shannon started mid-dash, throwing a kick which would have sliced Naruto's head off had he not leaned back… and spun to lash his right foot at the robot girl! "Bweh!"

His heel landed directly on her side, sending her rolling back while he simply held his foot upward. It was a simple attack which while requiring flexibility, equilibrium and much discipline to achieve, he added something to it that one could see. Narrowing her eyes at Naruto, Enid could tell there was more to that kick than he let on, and she was willing to bet on it. As he lowered his foot with a confident smirk, she noticed the air around his ankle swirling in small gales.

"So, when can I see-" he was cut off when Shannon flipped herself back on her feet.

"Little pest!" she snapped furiously. "You think you can beat me with one kick?!"

"I forgot you were mechanical…" Naruto groaned at her, ruffling his mane before taking his fighting stance. "Ugh, why did you have to look so human?"

Furious, Shannon merged her hands and feet together, throwing her conjoined arms forward with a larger buzz saw which she placed on the ground while her feet also fused into another bigger circular blade, practically turning herself into a deadly motorcycle.

"I'm turning you into roadkill!" the robot roared out.

"Do we help Naruto?" KO asked the other two teens.

"Nah, I could use the break," Rad commented with a shrug.

Enid for her part studied Naruto, "I don't mind seeing what other moves he's got."

"But he could get in trouble," KO urged them. "As heroes, we should always help the ones in need and Naruto wants to find his mommy!"

"Oi, don't make it sound like I'm a momma's boy!" Naruto snapped, blushing at the implication.

"Heh, then you'll be turned into past tense, momma's boy!" Shannon quipped and revved up, practically flying at the fox.

And then… the sky darkened…

"Get away…" A figure stood next to Shannon, causing her to freeze in fear to see a demonic shadow with nine flowing tails swaying around it, and it was raising a fist. "…from my baby boy…" The air grew colder as Shannon felt herself cry, tears rolling down her cybernetic eyes… "YOU OVERPRICED DOLL!"

Everyone in the parking lot watched Shannon fly off into the distance from a powerful punch, high into the sky, and turn into a bright dot on the horizon…

"Daaaaaaaang…" Rad whispered in shock and horror, and immediately saluted the entity covered in darkness. "I mean, n-nice to see you, ma'am! How's your day been?!"

"S-Sensei!" Enid saluted the large shadow as it approached them. "I'm so sorry you had to come here, but there was no reason as we could've handled that Shannon in seconds!"

KO gulped as the figure passed next to him, waving meekly with a thick layer of swear over his face, "Um… hi? Nice to meet you, miss… I-I'm-"

"Oh, you're KO!"

Suddenly, the darkness enveloping the figure was replaced with a smile and a sunny disposition as a beautiful woman kneeled to pat his head.

"Yes?" the fearful child replied in confusion with tiny tears in the corner of his eyes, still terrified of the woman ruffling his hair.

"Carol's told me so much about you, I'm surprised I've never seen-" and the woman was cut off when Naruto finally spoke up.

"So… how are you doing, mom?"

"MOM?!" Rad, Enid and KO gasped with their minds literally blowing up, the tops of their heads did a flip in the air as fire erupted from their skulls before the lids fell back down. They pointed at the fox with shock all over their faces, "He's your son?!"

Kushina Uzumaki, owner of the Uzu Market, nodded with a proud smile, "Naruto, my baby boy…"

"Ugh, do you really have to call me that?" he groaned, ruffling his mane.

"Shush, let me spoil you a little," Kushina said as she embraced a blushing, embarrassed Naruto, rubbing her face on his chest. "You've grown so much… Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"Why didn't you tell us you were her son?" Enid finally asked.

"I…" Naruto started, then placed his hand on his forehead with a confused expression. "I think I tried once, but then the robot came…"

"Come on…" Enid's groan and blank expression revealed how much she couldn't believe that explanation, but then she saw Kushina still hugging her child and sighed. "Welcome to the plaza…"

-Boxman's office-

Lord Boxman watched in fury how his daughter flew right into his office, crashing through the wall and in front of him with a sheepish, apologetic grin.

"Um, hi, dad?" she chuckled nervously.

"Shannon, care to remind me why I built you and others like you with a hive-mind?" the tiny mad scientist asked with a glare.

"To learn from all our mistakes?" she guessed correctly.

"And so I don't have to build NEWER MODELS OF YOU USELESS INGRATES!" Boxman snapped and jumped in place, stomping on the floor until he exhausted himself. Wheezing rather pathetically, he breathed raggedly like a spoiled kid, "Not only is there a new hero in the plaza, but you have the gall to lose to that Kushina yet again! Do you know how much her kindness disgusts me?! It's revolting how much she cares for her employees! She's sickeningly good!"

As he ranted, Shannon thought back on what happened, and her eyes widened, "Wait, I think I have something we can use against her!" her dad stopped mid-jump, quite literally. Seeing he was interested enough in her claim to freeze himself in time, practically floating before another stomp, she added, "The rumors are true, that old biddy's got a son!"

"What?!" Boxman exclaimed, his chair rolling towards him for the mad scientist to sit on and clasp his hands in great interest. "Explain in great detail."

"Yeah, he's this total lame loser with a stupid fashion statement set of goggles on his forehead, and he is a fox man… or man fox, whatever," she started with a scoff. "He actually hit me, but he seems to be a real softie. I heard him mutter how he thought I was human when kicking me. And if Kushina's son holds back fighting me…"

"…then he could be captured and used against her," Boxman smiled widely and cruelly, tapping his fingers in glee. "Oh Shannon, there may be hope for you before I make a 3.0 model."

"Oh, thanks," she beamed.

Pressing a button on his desk, Boxman nodded, "Now, to get a new, better daughter."

The beaten Shannon gasped when a trapdoor opened under her, falling to her demise in a trash compactor to be used as scrap metal. Meanwhile, another Shannon popped out of the conveyer belt in the office and shrugged.

"Better daughter ready to get that punk for you, daddy," she told him with a big smile and a salute. "He won't know what hit him when I pull all the right moves on him."

"Do me proud, Shannon," Boxman nodded with a small, evil smirk.

-Market's break room-

Once the three teens, young preteen, and red-haired mother got back to the market, the five sat in the mostly empty room. Nothing much to say: couch, kitchen counter, a TV, and a few old and new magazines. It was as normal as it'd be in such an unusual world. KO took a seat next to the owner, giddily bouncing up and down on a stool from the close proximity to a cool hero. Enid, Rad and Naruto took the couch with the purple-haired cashier between the two boys.

Kushina merely stood in the middle as she explained her story to her son and employees, "Before anyone asks too many questions, I think I need to introduce my son, Naruto Uzumaki. He is, well, not really a hero like me…" giggling, she rubbed the back of her head. "I started working here six months after he was born, right around the time the plaza was about to be built."

"When mom didn't train or homeschool me, I'd look for a good chance to test how strong I was," Naruto took over. "After seeing all I could from her, I began training around in a worldwide trip."

"And go on a journey of self-discovery and heroism?!" KO asked enthusiastically, looking at him with starry eyed wonder.

Unfortunately for him, Naruto laughed, "Ha! I told you being a hero's not what I want." The fox gave the boy a smirk and held up a fist, "All I'm looking for is a chance to prove I am the strongest. And to do that, I needed to add to my repertoire to beat the best…"

Looking at Kushina, then at Naruto, once more at Kushina, and finally at Naruto, Enid gaped, "You went on a world tour for a good chunk of your life to find a way to beat your mom?"

"Dude… dark…" Rad commented, aiming a judging finger at the foxy boy.

"Oh, I don't mind," Kushina grinned, happily pumping up a fist with a determined nod. "If my baby boy can beat me, then he's got nothing to worry about. Although, that doesn't mean you can just come and ask for a match like that, young man. Nor that I'd face you seriously…"

"Come on!" Naruto snapped and got up, looking down at the petite redhead right in the eye with a serious expression on his face. "I've been training all around the world to learn from the best and beat them! And I even got to make my own style based on that!"

"Well, you still lack experience here," Kushina told him playfully and poked him on the chest. "Try being in this plaza where heroes from all places gather, and you may discover new ways to get a lot stronger. Believe it, you won't find a better place to be inspired and push yourself."

Giving him a wink at the end, she expected him to nod and go along, but Naruto frowned, "So… I basically have to go on another training montage at this plaza?"

Rubbing her cheek with a palm and a grin, Kushina giggled, "Even if you could effortlessly beat me, do you truly want it to be that easy?"

"Huh?" all teens and the little boy asked.

"Make it count by earning it," Kushina continued, patting her son's shoulder. "Or do you want to take an easy route and just win without seeing why I work here?"

Pondering on her words, Naruto rubbed his chin, then looked at Enid, "You've… been training her. Why? All my lessons were to make me less of a brat, as you stated, and she's just a slacker."

"Thanks for the compliment," the cashier told him sarcastically and genuinely indifferent.

"You are different, and I can see you still have to learn some manners," Kushina winked at him with a beaming smile. "Plus, I think you can learn more with someone like her around."

"So you say…" Naruto eyed his mother, who kept a patient smile. Pondering on her words and also ignoring Enid's glare, he asked, "You really think I can learn something here?"

"Exactly," Kushina nodded proudly. "And once you win, well, what then?"

"Like you've got to ask," Naruto exclaimed with a smirk, pumping a fist. "I'll broadcast it to the whole wide world and dare anyone to try and take the title of the strongest from me. And if they can, that means I've got to earn it back."

"Wow… that's a hero's ambition, but he's… almost like a villain," KO commented, then looked at Kushina and pondered to himself. 'If she can train someone to be like that, could I become a hero under her training? Do I qualify for that? How do I get to train with her like Enid?'

"Oh, KO, since I've heard your mom's training you, how about checking out some of our moves?" Kushina told the excitable kid, who gasped in shock.

"Y-You mean it?!" the child's jaw hit the floor as stars appeared in his eyes.

"And when did you get to be a mentor?" Naruto finally asked his mother, who kneeled to poke the brush-headed boy's cheeks.

"How can you not want this little face to be filled with happiness and joy and goodness?" she cooed while squeaky noises came out of the kid's squishy cheeks.

"Fair enough…" Naruto replied before pointing at Enid, who merely raised a brow at his next question, "What about the slacker? You really can't tell me you trained her to be my sparring partner and leave it at that."

"Don't be jealous that I'm cool enough to earn a few lessons with a master like sensei," Enid boasted calmly and coolly.

"Truth be told, I did want to expand on my teachings," Kushina admitted. "Enid's partially self-taught when it comes to her ninjutsu and taijutsu, but I helped polish those with pointers. Oh, wait, don't tell me you're jealous I am not paying attention to you."

"Ugh, I'm not a momma's boy," Naruto groaned with flushed cheeks, which made his mother pinch one and pull.

"Let your mother show you affection, young man," Kushina warned him with a deadly aura which threatened everyone in existence to take that motherly joy from her.

"I'm still getting a rematch with you," Naruto informed her after pulling back, taking his stance.

Grinning softly, Kushina held her cheek with one hand, "Well, you will have to earn it and I do want you to work here to correct that lack of discipline of yours. Remember?"

"Right, fair enough," Naruto grumbled, lowering his hands and placing them in his jacket's pockets. Then, giving his mother a side-glance while turning to Enid, he asked, "What about sparring with her? I've seen some of the moves you've actually taught her…"

"Only on your break time," Kushina warned him with a cheerful smile.

"Good," both Naruto and Enid replied in perfect unison, exchanging stares which caused sparks to fly… Rad himself even took out a hotdog to cook.

KO then turned to the red-haired mother, "Are you sure this is a healthy work environment?"

"Eh, a little competition never hurt anyone, and I'm a mom," Kushina smiled darkly. "I know how to keep rough naughty kids in line."

Cold sweat covered KO's face at the declaration, "I didn't know mommies could be so scary…" he let out in a squeaky, terrified voice.

-Later-

Back in the store, Naruto turned to Enid while adjusting his new blue vest with KO wearing a similar one, "So, what has mom taught you?"

"You really want to get straight to fighting?" she asked while back in the same position he found her at, with her feet on the counter and her phone on her hand.

"I wouldn't mind the warmup," he commented with a shrug.

"At least get something which doesn't boil you alive from the inside out," Enid remarked, sticking out her tongue. "Seriously, dude, I practically smell your future, and it reeks of old hotdog water with so many layers of clothes on."

"Oh, don't worry, I don't get hot easy, and I have a few tricks," Naruto replied with a shrug, then slightly unzipped his jacket to reveal he wore nothing but a fishnet top underneath. "This is my mom's special ninja clothing. I've been getting it on mail during my trips. Plus, my fur is a natural insulator. You've got no idea how good the air pockets on it help with cold and heat."

"Huh, not bad," Enid noted with a flat tone and blank stare, though she wasn't really talking about his clothes if her stare at the smooth stomach and hardened pecs was any indication. She tried not to blush staring at what she liked, "Don't show off next to Rad or you won't hear the end of it."

"So, what did mom teach you?" Naruto repeated. "You seem to have some of the taijutsu down."

"Fine, if you want to know," Enid flipped over the counter and stood on one foot, raising the other over her head with her legs split and forming a perfect ninety degrees angle with the floor. "This footwork is my own thing, but she taught me how to polish it. My ninjutsu, that's a secret."

"Well, now you've got me curious, and I really want to have that round," Naruto announced with a big smirk, aiming a finger at the aloof cashier.

"Give me a call when our shift is over," Enid told him flatly and sat down.

"Ah, I can't wait!" both teens turned to a cheerful KO bouncing up and down in place. "You two are amazing heroes! Enid's so cool and Naruto's strong! I can't wait to see your moves!"

Letting the ego-stroking get to him, Naruto smirked and shrugged, "What you see is what you get, a guy who wants the title of the strongest." Crossing his arms, he widened his grin, "And I'm going to make my own way to the top with all the challenges mom throws at me, all the way up."

"Count me in to see it, because I want to be a great hero," KO told him proudly but not arrogantly.

Snorting dismissively, Enid pulled a magazine she had been reading before the fox teen's arrival, "Do you think talking big is all it takes? At least the squirt's keeping it real… and with no hot air."

"Can you run out of snarky comebacks?" Naruto snidely retorted with a frown, placing his hands in his pants pockets. "Seriously, what do you need all that attitude for?"

"Do you see the usual customer?" Enid replied with a noncommittal shrug. "I've learned it's best not to care about what others think of you."

"That sounds really sad," KO commented with an unhappy pout.

"How about we ditch the Sass Queen and you show me your moves?" Naruto asked the kid with a wide smile. "Mom said your mom's Carol, right? I bet she's taught you a lot of cool moves."

"Wait, you know my mommy?" KO couldn't believe it, his eyes sparkling.

"Mom does, but I did see her," Naruto explained as the boys walked away from the cashier, who stared at them halfway curious and mostly to ignore a bipedal dog who had a rubber bone in his mouth. "She showed me a few moves when I was still little… and made great cookies."

"Her cookies are the best!" KO added while pulling a bag of the homemade goods. "Want one?"

"Do I," Naruto smirked and grabbed one, chewing on it with gusto in a split second.

KO examined the teen, noting to himself, 'Naruto seems to really want to be at the top of the world for a reason, but he's not a bad guy despite his attitude… Could it be he's putting on an act? Also, how come he doesn't want to be labeled a hero nor want a POW card? Is there something dark and sinister behind it all? Or is it something we can work through in a long and fun adventure filled with character interaction and development?'

Giggling to herself, Enid had to point something out, "Are you sure you aren't brothers? I mean, you two are a tad knuckleheaded, definitely simple-minded… but KO is the cute one."

"Eh, then I'll stick to being the cool one," Naruto smirked, which caused the cashier to snort.

"I don't think cool brothers have cookie crumbs on their mouths," she pointed out, which had him groan and wipe his muzzle. "Anyway, just a refresher, Rad is the stock-boy, I'm the cashier, and you two… Well, I think I see what one has decided to be."

Pointing down, she directed the annoyed Naruto's eyes to KO who was busy already sweeping the floor off cookie crumbs.

Naruto swiped his thumb under his nose, "I'm just here to test myself against my mom."

"Dude, you've still got to put the effort," Enid told him bluntly. "Unlike me, you ain't got the chill, let alone the mindset, to do your job and make it look like it is nothing," the cashier informed him and leaned back, arms behind her head. "Either find where you can help, or your mom isn't going to just say yes to a fight."

"Freeloading isn't going to help, I know," Naruto growled. "I'm better suited to fighting robots. And if that Buttman-"

"Boxman," Enid corrected, though she didn't know why she bothered.

"-wants to send more Darrells or Shannons, I'm up for it," the fox continued, ignoring her, which Enid replied to with a roll of her eyes.

"What about helping at the plaza?" KO questioned the foxy teen with an innocent smile. "You get to help others makes a great hero. Plus, it feels nice."

"Unless that includes fighting someone strong, I don't see what's so great about it," Naruto dully replied. "I mean, that's what you see heroes do, right? Beat up bad guys."

"There's a lot more to being a hero than fighting villains!" KO stated with fire in his eyes. "Like bringing smiles to people and making their day."

Both teens looked at him as if he was speaking a foreign language.

"So…" Enid changed the topic, "…you've got your own moves or just what sensei's taught you?"

KO froze in place, a small tear coming out of his eye upon realizing he was ignored.

"A little bit of everything I could get fighting heroes and villains," Naruto admitted with a shrug. "I found out I'm good at European martial arts and that I do well with all kinds of weapons. Like this one I won at a swordsmanship tournament."

Flicking his wrist, Naruto extended his hand as a Langes Messer materialized on it with a red handle. A flash of golden light later and he held what the Germans called a knife after extending it to the length of a one-and-half-handed, single-edged sword. It possessed the usual cross-guard seen in arming swords, a red texturized grip and a spear-shaped tip to ensure he could slash and thrust with it for any situation. Wielding it like a cutlass, he spun it around with flicks of his wrist to slice the air. Literally cutting through air as it was solid, leaving gashes that lingered around him until he finally put the sword back in. Then, he flicked his wrist again to make it return to whatever pocket dimension he had it stashed in.

"Handy, but I prefer my ninjutsu and quick feet," Enid commented and held up her right foot, the boot igniting and allowing her to make popcorn by holding a bag of uncooked corn next to it.

"Oh, me next!" KO beamed and brought up his fists in a boxing guard, energy flowing to his right hand for his attack which he called out, "Power Punch!"

And… a small, whimpering burst of energy burst forward, dissipating like candle fire blown out. It was the sight of that and more tears forming on the corners of the still smiling kid's eyes that had an odd effect in Naruto. He felt… sorry for the kid.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Naruto sighed, "Want some… pointers?" he didn't get a reaction from the still frozen KO, so he poked his nose, "Um, do you want help in using that type of move?"

"Give him time," Enid told him, though she did seem concerned for the child. "If he doesn't react-"

"Bring in the nachos!" Rad cut in, bringing a paper plate filled with tortilla chips and a greasy, blue glowing cheese sauce which sparkled with electricity. "Lightning nachos, that is. Squirt just needs a meal to give him some pep."

"Do you think that-" Enid's question was cut off when KO smelled and then gratefully grabbed the junk food with starry-eyed wonder.

"Lightning nachos!" he nearly cried as he started to scarf them down. "Wow, thanks Rad! How'd you know?!"

"Well, I just, uh, know things," the alien grabbed his chin to attempt to appear smart and cool. "I mean, it's me who you've got to look up to now that I am your sen-pie."

"It's pronounced senpai, dude," Enid corrected the green teen.

"Hey, I know what I am saying!" Rad defended himself. "Besides, I may as well impart some of my Rad Wisdom onto my young koh-hah-ee, right?"

"Kouhai," Naruto corrected the taller teen, and then frowned. "Wait… are you two my senpai, then?! Ugh, I am not calling either of you that!"

Enid smirked, "Well, I don't mind looking after the little guy…"

Groaning, Naruto crossed his arms, "There better be another robot attack soon."

-Evening-

"Right, that's enough out of me," Enid cracked a few joints as she and everyone else finished the last of the inventory checkups they had been assigned.

"Why do we have to check all these things every day?" Naruto questioned with a sneer. "It can't be because there are pickpockets or thieves who can get past mom, right?"

"Oh, due to the many battles around, we can't be too sure none of the stock gets damaged during Boxman's attempts to be an annoyance," Kushina replied with a patient smile and her hand on her cheek. "Besides, better to be prepared to stock up on whatever we need."

"Correct!" an ecstatic KO pumped a fist before saluting the woman. "For example, the lightning cheese machine needs to be refilled tomorrow before noon, there are only three boxes filled with nachos, and I already put in place all cleaning items and products!"

"Adorable," Kushina swooned and patted the boy's head. "Carol did a great job raising you."

"Lucky me, it was like the little man took care of himself more often than not," said a raspy-voiced woman after entering the store. "Hey there, Kushina. And Naruto, is that you?"

In front of Kushina was a tall woman with a curved but athletic build. Her breasts were those of a gifted mother and had yet to even begin sagging due to her body having a slim but defined layer of muscle from intense workout routines. Most notably, she shared several traits with KO, like large and expressive eyes, a short nose, and tanned skin rippling enticingly with the strength she built over the years, although most of her body fat seemed to go directly to child-bearing hips. She had a few odd yet cute traits, such as a prominent gap in her front teeth. Unlike the newly employed preteen boy, she had short, wavy blond hair that a red headband somehow managed to keep up in a shape similar to a bonfire. Her dojo outfit consisted of a sleeveless violet and blue bodysuit with two pockets on the front legs, white ankle boots, and red gloves. Of course, like Kushina, her outfit stretched and pulled nicely on her toned long legs, half-melon sized breasts, and meaty rear.

"I hope you're eager for a rematch," Naruto smirked, punching his palm.

Giggling, the blonde woman ruffled the boy's mane, "Whenever you're ready for a good match, kiddo. Just know I can't really go all that easy even if you're Kushina's baby boy."

"Don't let that nickname stick!" the fox snarled, cheeks flushing under his fur. Groaning, he used a hand to slick his mane back to its regular spikiness, "So, are you for real?"

"Not like I'm getting any younger, but knowing your mother, she will want for you to work out on that attitude," Carol smirked to the redhead, who beamed.

"Hotheadedness may be good for morale, but it can make you sloppy," Kushina smiled brightly.

"Uh, you're taking that too well, boss-lady, err, ma'am," Rad finally broke the silence, equally as intrigued and confused as Enid.

"Yeah, not to mention, you let him get away with saying a lot," the girl with the ponytail noted.

"For your information, I do learn lessons either the good or hard way," Naruto defended his ego with a sneer. "Plus, there's no way I can help wanting show that I can get to the top as the hardest fighter around. It comes natural to me, alright?"

"Oh yeah, it is also a scary thing, though," KO said softly, surprising most. "Like, you feel you want to throw a really heavy, strong punch because you can, but it's kind of scary for me. I don't like the idea of hurting or breaking, even if I want to be a true hero."

"Aren't you just the nicest future hero to be?" Kushina cooed, poking his cheek.

"Ehehehe, thanks," the boy was too pure for Naruto to be in a bad mood.

He was bumming out his bogus bummer, in 1990s slang.

Ending the discussion, Kushina looked at everyone, "I know Naruto's a tad unusual, but I know my son and believe he can do a lot of good when given the chance."

"Look, I mean no disrespect, sensei, but…" Enid pointed at the fox boy, who crossed his arms.

"It's free to say it to my face," Naruto growled.

"Case and point," the cashier stated.

"Don't worry, he may be a bit of a naughty boy, but he's not a bad boy," Kushina calmly told her.

"By the way, boss," Rad cut in, a tad nervous as he looked from Naruto to Kushina. "Uh… who-"

"Radicles, how about you treat your new kouhai to a meal?" Kushina's smile was far too sweet as her hair flared up like nine flowing tails, like a pack of vixens ready to lunge at the prey who stepped too close to their home.

Shrinking to the size of a grape out of fear, the alien shook his head, "Yes, ma'am…"

Jovially clasping her hands, Kushina beamed, "Good. Keep up a good example."

Once she was out of earshot, Naruto scratched his right ear, picking it with a finger, "Note to all, I am not answering what you wanted to ask her."

"Wow… a secret past," the boy said in awe.

Picking him up, Carol beamed at her son, "All families have their luggage, KO. You wouldn't want me to tell everyone how much you dislike olives, huh? Imagine a villain using them on you."

"Ew!" the boy grimaced, sticking out his tongue childishly.

"Just like that, Kushina and Naruto don't share things," Carol winked at the fox, who looked off to the side and frowned at the obviously intrigued pair of teens in the market. "Let's get you home, I think you're in need of a good night's sleep."

Yawning, KO curled into his mother's arms, bringing a nostalgic flash to the past for the teens, "So, uh…" Rad looked at Naruto, not daring to make eye contact with the fox but still trying to clear the air, "Do you want a bite? I can drive you home while the boss lady sorts out the paperwork."

"Are you paying?" Enid asked in surprise.

"Boss lady says good seniors treat their juniors from time to time," the alien grinned at the fox.

"Expect me to call you senpai in your dreams," Naruto scoffed.

"Hey, just showing you I can be a cool zen-pie," Rad replied trying a bit too hard to sound suave.

"Or you can see it as getting a free meal on Rad," Enid added with an aloof expression.

"Not a bad idea…" the blond commented mostly to himself.

-Naruto's place-

The suburbs and trailer park of Lakewood Estates left nothing to complain about regarding what one would know about having a house in a residential area. Neighbors showed good manners all around with some if not most of the whacky residents being friendly enough. Kushina's house was proud of being Japanese with sliding doors, red tiles on the roof, tatami mats on the floor, and wooden décor. Entering his room, Naruto was greeted by a simple bedroom which was part gym with the wooden training pole, scrambled scrolls depicting European martial arts moves, movie shelves around the TV with an old video game console, and a large bed.

Knocking alerted him that his mother had returned, "Did you have fun with your new coworkers, honey?" Kushina asked from the other side of the door, "Or do you want to keep hitting that log until you fall asleep again?"

Grumbling and putting away a wooden sword, Naruto opened the door, "Hey."

"Don't give me that and hug your mom," the redhead beamed, wrapping her son in her arms and giving him a big smile. "I miss you more than you can imagine when you go training. We may be as far away from our old home as possible, but I want this world to be a good place for you…"

"Says the woman that bonked me in the head for being a punk," he groaned but didn't push her nor try anything to break her embrace.

"You earned it there, and truly toned down the attitude as you grew," she told him and looked him in the eye without breaking her hug. "Sorry if I got too sensitive there…"

"It's fine," he looked away, feeling his cheeks flush, the yellow fur turning red.

"Look, I know you can't help but want to be the strongest, but I want to see more than fights for a chance of pace," Kushina nuzzled into his chest, hearing his heartbeat with a soft smile. "All I want is for you to find something that makes you happy without hurting you or those around you. Yes, fighting may be in your blood, but you have a chance to choose more than that."

"Not like I'm going to call you boss, but I'll see what the market has to offer if you feel so strong about it," he said in an attempt to put her at ease.

"Thanks, because I could really use the extra hands," Kushina sighed deeply…

…and deeper… and… she snored.

"Okay, you're doing a lot," Naruto noted to himself as he picked up his sleeping mother, walking to her room to gently place her on the bed. Exactly like he expected, his mother had a smile like she knew the fox boy would carry her, and he groaned at how predictable he could be, "G'night."

-Continue?-

Before anyone asks if I'll revive my old Naruto stories, go back to the usual crossovers, or continue this one, let me explain part of the reason I wanted to rebrand myself.

Everything you've read was once part of a commissioned story which was already over twenty thousand words long until the commissioner changed his mind.

After I started, I was asked for more girls to be in the harem, more powers for Naruto, and more stuff for it with nearly every idea and suggestion I shared being shot down.

He will remain unnamed, but the constant change as I was writing is part of the reason some ground rules about blacklisting and cancelling commissions have been set up.

Look, I was actually getting into it, but then it was like every conversation ended having my input immediately or eventually shot down, which grew increasingly tiring.

Once it was canned, I decided to cut the harem to a single pairing, remove powers for simpler ninja magic, and make Naruto a fox to see if that change would help.

Will I continue this? I won't get anyone's hopes up, but I'll say that getting this out like this feels like a good enough conclusion after having it sit on my folder for so long.

I'm Akito the Boxer, off to the next round…