Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or A Song of Ice and Fire.

The Iron Shadow

"Talking"

"Thinking"

Rhaella

"Bring in the prisoner!"

The doors to the Great Hall opened and the court watched as the prisoner was escorted in. It was the first time Rhaella Targaryen saw him. His appearance was strange to her. It wasn't that his hair could shame a Lannister or his eyes a Baratheon. It was that his features had a strange cast to them. They were…exotic. Even the strange, whisker-like marks on his cheeks.

And yet, even though his hands were changed behind his back and the clothes he wore bordered on rags, there was no doubting the defiance in those blue eyes. They searched everything in the hall, looking for what, Rhaella didn't know. But she did have the feeling if he found it, he would use it. Strangely enough, when those eyes fell upon Tywin Lannister's daughter, a small smile tugged at his lips.

The prisoner was stopped before the Iron Throne. He didn't kneel, instead standing tall. Aerys, Rhaella's brother and husband, looked down upon him. "Prisoner," he said. "You stand accuse of kidnapping my Hand's daughter, making threats against her, and an unwillingness to allow her safe company. Such accusations warrant death. But I am a lenient king and will hear what you have to say."

For a moment, nothing was said. The prisoner looked up to the king, tilted his head, and said a word. It was foreign, this word, yet Rhaella knew it was a question. But if he didn't speak the Common Tongue, he wouldn't be able to defend himself.

But Varys, the newest addition to her brother's court, stepped forward. "Your Grace, with your permission?" At the king's nod, he approached the prisoner and started speaking. Everyone was surprised that he knew the language. None more so than the prisoner. He jabbered at Varys, and he quickly answered.

"Well, Varys?" said King Aerys. "What does my prisoner say?"

The eunuch stepped forward. "His name is Naruto Uzumaki, your Grace," he began, saying the name as if it was natural. "And he asks if you're talking about Cersei Lannister."

"I do. He kidnapped her from Oldtown during her father's visit." Tywin's expression never changed, but Rhaella knew he was furious about what happened.

After a quick exchange between Varys and the prisoner, the Master of Whispers spoke again. "According to Naruto, there's been a mistake. Yes, Lady Cersei was kidnapped. But it was by another group. Who, he doesn't know. All he knew was he had seen a girl be taken and he could do something about it. So he did."

Men in the court nodded in agreement. It was something that an honorable knight would do, just like in the songs. Rhaella had her doubts. Surely there had to be a reason. "If that is what happened, why did he not return Lady Cersei to her father?" Aerys demanded.

"That is where the mistake begins, your Grace. Naruto is not from Westeros and had assumed the Seven Kingdoms were separate and possibly feuding with one another. He had seen enough women in Oldtown to realize Lady Cersei was not from there. He had bought a map of Westeros and encouraged Lady Cersei to point to her home. Once she did, he escorted her to the Westerlands, staying out of the sight from search parties because he feared they were more men coming to take her."

All eyes fell onto the young Lady Lannister. The king and the Hand especially so. "Did it happen as such, Cersei?" Tywin asked his daughter. His voice brokered no foolishness, as it always did.

She tried to stand tall, but Rhaella could see the uncertainty in her twitching fingers. "He did show me a map the night after the kidnapping, and I might've pointed at Casterly Rock because I knew I would've been safe there." Her veiled insult against House Hightower wasn't missed. Ser Gerold frowned slightly but otherwise did nothing.

Emboldened, the young lioness continued. "Regardless of his intentions, that savage still threatened me." She pointed an accusing finger at the prisoner. "Every night, he would try to attack me. I was in fear of my life and could hardly sleep!"

The king listened to her words before looking at Varys. "What does this…Naruto have to say against that?" he asked.

"That he wasn't trying to kill Lady Cersei. Quite the opposite," answered Varys. "He was trying to show how to protect herself." His eyes found Lady Lannister again. "He says that he encouraged you to attack him so he could show you what to do, but you stayed away." His tone was inquisitive, almost curious. Yet Rhaella knew it was false.

Cersei didn't answer, which was answer enough. Aerys was becoming amused by the whole scene. Which was why he pushed forward. "And what about his refusal to allow the lady safe company?"

"That would be Prince Rhaegar escorting Lady Cersei back to King's Landing?" The court's eyes fell upon Rhaella's son. Rhaegar had been a part of the search parties. His was the one who found Cersei and brought her back to safety. Only they were ambushed by the prisoner just outside of the Crownlands. According to the stories, it was only due to Cersei holding a sword to his throat that the prisoner was taken captive at all.

Rhaegar considered the situation. "Perhaps young Naruto thought, due to his belief that the kingdoms were separate, that I was taking Lady Lannister for ransom and simply came after us to rescue her," he offered. Rhaella was proud of her son's thoughtful words. His calm voice defended the prisoner without making him the incompetent.

"That is the case exactly, my prince," Varys agreed. "If you had gone north back to the Westerlands, Naruto would've simply tracked you from a distance, ensuring that Lady Cersei got home safely." What he didn't say shouted itself to the court. Because Rhaegar's party had gone east, the prisoner followed so he could rescue his charge.

Aerys laughed, a slight cackling sound. "So, Tywin, instead of a savage stealing your daughter, we have what seems to be a man trying to do the right thing and bring her home," he told his Hand. "You shouldn't be so quick for harsh methods, even if they are because of your family." Her brother's hypocrisy didn't surprise Rhaella. Only this morning he was agreeing to Tywin's suggestion that the prisoner be subjected to said harsh methods.

The king straightened and waved a regal hand at his prisoner. "We find Naruto Uzumaki innocent of his accusations." Unlike Varys, he stumbled over the foreign name. "Also, we will welcome him as a guest in the Red Keep. Release him," he commanded.

After Varys explained, the prisoner smiled. It was an enchanting smile, Rhaella could admit, full of genuine warmth. Then, before anyone approached him, he jumped upwards and swung his arms low. By the time he landed, the chain holding the manacles rested before, as were his hands.

Silence reigned in the hall. Never before had Rhaella seen a move. By all rights he shouldn't have been able to bring his legs that high. But he had and he didn't seem bothered by the action. Instead, he looked at the nearest guard with an expectant look and jostled the chain. His intent was clear and made Rhaella laugh inside. It was funny, in a way.

But once the manacles, the former prisoner shocked everyone by walking up the dais, right to Rhaegar. The Kingsgaurd moved to block but stopped at her son's signal. Naruto jabbered in his own tongue before finishing with a wide grin.

Rhaegar stared at him for a moment before looking at Varys. "He apologizes for what happened, my prince," the eunuch explained. "He says if there's no hard feelings from you, then there won't be any from him."

Strange words they might've been, but it sounded like the foreigner wasn't going to hold a grudge over what happened. It certainly made Rhaella breathe a little easier. Her son thought the same. "Of course. We both did what was right." Naruto held up his fist before Rhaegar. It was a strange move, one that baffled the court. Rhaegar copied the action and placed his fist against the blonde's.

It appeared to be the right thing to do. Naruto's smiled widened, if that was possible. Then it vanished as he looked at Lady Cersei. His words weren't so much a jabber as they were a bark. Yet there was no doubt he had just issued an order at her.

Cersei was affronted by the words. "The lioness doesn't deal well with people ordering her about," Rhaella thought. It was a shame she wasn't more like her mother. Joanna would've reacted with calm and grace. "What did he say?" the young lioness asked Varys.

The eunuch's expression stayed serene. "Naruto said that he'll expect you in the training yard come tomorrow morning so you can continue your lessons," he explained. "And now that you know what you'll be doing, he expects you to pay attention and give it your all."

A blunt explanation, one that Rhaella found matched the blonde's tone and expression. Cersei looked half-scandalized, half-excited. But her father stepped forward and looked down at the former prisoner. "No," he declared. "She will not. She has no need to learn of such things. My daughter will be safe and protected."

Most men couldn't withstand the Lord of Casterly Rock's gaze. Rhaella knew how they felt. Those green eyes would bore unrelenting into a person, stripping away everything about them, until they were nothing. Even then, those eyes wouldn't stop. Lord Tywin suffered no fools, at all, and the gods help the man who dared to laugh before him.

But Naruto was not that kind of man. He returned the look with his own defiant yet disinterested one. He looked the Warden of the West over once, said something in his own language, and then turned his back. The court watched as he walked out, shocked into silence.

It was only when the door closed that anyone dare to speak. And that person was Tywin Lannister. "What did he say?" he demanded of Varys. "His exact words."

The Master of Whispers never lost his calm. "His exact words were 'Yes, and that worked out so well last time.'"

Aerys cackled on the Iron Throne. He knew, just as well as anyone, those words were insulting to Lord Tywin. Yet, to Rhaella, they were different because they were also honest. This Naruto was different from the lords and knights she had known. It was…interesting.

Catelyn

She could still remember that fateful tourney at Harrenhal, how the ruined castle loomed over everything. Even in its desolated state, Harren the Black's castle had been mighty.

That castle was gone now. A different castle, strange and exotic, had taken its place, along with a new town. All thanks to its new lord.

Catelyn had heard of Naruto Uzumaki. It was hard to find a person who hadn't. A foreigner who arrived in Westeros as a shiphand to Oldtown, who rescued the then-Lady Cersei from kidnappers and becoming a member of the royal court. She had even heard that he had been a good friend of the Mad King. It was ridiculous, of course. If he had been a friend of Aerys Targaryen, he wouldn't be alive.

But she had heard from Ned about how he became Lord of Harrenhal. King Robert gave to him as a peace offering to prevent him from continuing the war, ousting House Whent. It was meant as an insult, as everyone knew there was a curse on Harrenhal and its lords. Everyone felt the curse would cause the man, who clearly never ruled over a house much less a castle, ruin.

Yet, when the man came to his lands, he told his vassals to leave, head for the Isle of Faces and not to return until he called for them. As the stories go, they stayed on the Isle for two days. When they returned, Harrenhal had been utterly destroyed, leaving only rubble behind. Yet, their new lord was still alive. No one knew how, but they were certain he had caused the destruction.

In the years since, Lord Naruto spent the time rebuilding his lands, including Harrentown. It was only recently that he proclaimed the work was done. He took it a step further and invited the highborn families of Westeros to visit, see what had changed. It was an offer freely accepted and those who could had taken the journey to the new Harrenhal.

House Stark was only the latest to make the journey.

Catelyn had traveled from Winterfell with his children, and her husband's bastard. Originally, she would have refused to bring Jon Snow with them but Robb insisted on bringing him. That, and her own fear of what might happen if the bastard had stayed with his lord father, brought him along.

The day after their arrival, they broke their fast in their rooms. The fare was simple, but filling. Robb and the bastard took off once they were finish, eager to explore. Arya made to go after them, but Catelyn stopped before she could leave. They would be going to the sept, so they could give thanks for a safe journey.

Of course, finding the sept would be difficult to find in a castle she did not know. Thankfully, a guard was able to guide her and her daughters. The castle was different from what she knew. The interior was composed mostly of wood and bright windows, each filled with glass. It gave the corridor they walked through a bright feeling, helped by the sun shining through. Such construction must've beggared the new lord. Catelyn wondered how he could afford it.

They encountered other guests as they left the castle, Lady Tyrell, her daughter, and her goodmother. The Tyrells had visited at the same time as the Starks, albeit with a larger entourage and with enough food to supply their host. It was generous of them. "Lady Stark," Lady Alerie Tyrell greeted her with a polite nod.

"Lady Tyrell," she replied, returning the nod before giving the same to the older woman. "Lady Olenna." What brings you this way?"

"We've come for the sept and offer our prayers."

"How remarkable. That is our destination as well. Perhaps we should walk together?"

Lady Alerie smiled. "I see no reason why not. It would give our children a chance to befriend one another." Lady Olenna rolled her eyes at that but said nothing. "This is my Margaery," Lady Alerie introduced the child holding her hand.

Lady Margaery curtsied with perfect grace. "Good day, my lady," she said in a bright voice.

"Good day to you, Lady Margaery." Catelyn urged her own children forward. "This is Sansa, my eldest, and Arya, my youngest." Sansa mimicked the curtesy and Arya's was passible.

It quickly became clear that Sansa and Margaery had much in common, but Arya did not. Catelyn was disappointed she didn't try to befriend another noble daughter but said nothing. Still, seeing Sansa making a friend made her smile. It was the same for Lady Alerie.

As they journeyed through the yards, Lady Olenna turned their attention to the guards. "So, tell us, what is life living in the new Harrenhal?" she asked.

Catelyn was surprised by the blunt question, but the guards were not. "Beggin' yer pardon, milady. But we don't live in Harrenhal," the guard on the left said. "Lord Naruto said that name died when the old castle was destroyed. The townsfolk have taken to callin' it the Shadow's Hall and the lord hasn't stopped them." Catelyn felt it was an ominous name, yet the guard said it without fear.

"We're here," the other guard announced.

They came to a stop before a stone doorway, taking positions beside it. Catelyn looked at the doorway and the trees beyond. It was clear where they had been taken. "We're at the godswood," she told the guards. "We asked to be taken to the sept." She had been clear about that, and she could guess the Tyrells had been the same.

"Lord Naruto combined the two, milady," the second guard replied. "When you go inside, you'll find both a heart tree and the Seven. You may pray to whichever gods you prefer."

"Hmph, clearly the boy must've thought of something different," Olenna said. She shuffled forward without waiting, only to stopping to glance back. "Well, get a move on. This is what you wanted to see."

A strange sense of calm filled Catelyn as she walked through the godswood. This wasn't like Winterfell's godswood, dark yet primal and filled with many trees. She was almost tempted to say it was like the godswood at Riverrun, airy and bright. Yet, a feeling in her bones told that this wasn't a garden. It was a place to think and pray, to consider a person's place in the world.

The path led them into a small clearing where the trees circled them. The sound of water flowing filled the air, present yet distant. A heart tree held dominance over the clearing, standing opposite a series of statues. Each statue was placed in a spot between two trees, giving them their own spot, as it were. Not only, but they were also painted, giving them a sense of life. Catelyn counted them and found them seven. This was what the guard had meant.

She also quickly discovered there was someone else there. "Lord Naruto," she said, her courtesies quickly swallowing her surprise.

The Lord of Shadow's Hall sat against the heart tree, only moving at his name. He stood tall and with an easy smile. "Catelyn." Even though he had lived in Westeros for years, there was still a trace of an accent in his voice. He approached the group and knelt down before the girls. "These must be your daughters, Stark Sansa and Stark Arya."

Arya quickly frowned. "You said it wrong."

"Arya, don't be rude!"

Naruto's hand stopped Catelyn. "How did I get it wrong?" he asked her daughter.

"You're supposed to say my name first, then the name of my House." She made no attempt to hide how obvious she thought it was supposed to be. Even though Sansa didn't say anything, she agreed with the idea.

The lord wasn't offended by her brash words. "Ah, but amongst my people, you introduce someone by clan name first, then their name," he told her. "So you see, Arya, we are both correct and wrong." His words made Arya think.

Sansa thought too. "So," she said, getting his attention, "amongst your people, you would be known as U-U-Uzu…" She trained off in embarrassment. The name was strange to her tongue, and Catelyn knew she didn't want to embarrass herself.

"Uzumaki Naruto, yes," he said with a nod. "Don't worry, Sansa. Took me a while to figure out the whole name thing too." She blushed at his warm smile but returned it all the same. As he looked at Margaery, the smile never changed. "And this is Margaery Tyrell, are you not?"

"I am," Margaery answered with a perfect curtesy. "Good day to you, Lord Naruto."

"Ah-ah." His finger shot out and wagged at her. "Children don't need to be so formal. Just call me Naruto."

She froze briefly, surprise by the frankness. "But, but that wouldn't be proper."

"My home, my rules." He came to his full height, towering over them all, and looked at Lady Olenna. If it was possible, his grin became wider. "Granny Olenna, it's about time you came to visit."

His words shocked most of them. Not his intended target. "If you were my grandchild, you would feel my cane on your backside," Lady Olenna threatened, shaking said cane at him.

"You'd have to catch me first. And I can run faster than you." His grin was rather cheeky and boyish. It made him seem younger than he was. "So," he said, turning his attention to the mothers in the group, "have you come to pray?"

Catelyn nodded. She was glad to talk about what she knew. "We have. If we've disturbed your own prayers, I apologize."

He waved her apology away. "You didn't. Go ahead and pray."

Lady Alerie turned to the statues, walking towards the Mother, only to pause. "These aren't the Seven," she proclaimed with a frown.

While the children looked at her and the gods confusedly, Catelyn examined them herself. There were seven statues, yet none of them looked even close to what she knew as the Seven. None of them even carried the sacred objects associated with the gods. She couldn't even tell who the Stranger was. It was a strange sight to her.

"Don't be silly, girl," Lady Olenna chastised her gooddaughter. "They clearly are the Seven. There's seven of them and they're in a godswood."

She withstood the words, still looking at the statues. "But—"

"Perhaps I might explain?" Lord Naruto said from behind. "If that's alright with you guys?" The adults nodded in agreement. Then, to their surprise, he knelt down again before the children. "Those statues must be pretty big to you three," he told them. "Why don't I carry you up so you can see them from my view?"

It was a bold offer, one that would've been scandalous if he hadn't been so considerate. Margaery considered him for a moment, blinking. "All of us?"

His shoulders rose up and down in a shrug. "Sure. I have two arms." His eyes found Arya, the third and youngest of them. "Arya, how do you feel about riding on my shoulders?" Her eyes went wide and then brightened with a question. He inclined his neck, and she scrambled up his back with a happy grin. Sansa and Margaery didn't resist as he scooped them up in his arms and stood up. Catelyn found the scene a little funny, especially with how her Arya rested her chin on his head.

Lord Naruto approached the statues, first going to the Father. "When I decided to make these statues, I wanted them to reflect what I thought of the Seven. So I chose people from my past." His words got the interest of Catelyn and the Tyrells. Lord Naruto's life before Oldtown was a mystery to Westeros. There were plenty of tales, from his being a former Dothraki slave that fought his way to freedom to being from Yi Ti, a son of its emperor. Naruto never confirmed any of it. But now? There was a chance to learn something.

The children were more focused on what he said and the statues. "So, does that mean…?" Sansa asked, trailing off again.

Naruto nodded with a solemn expression. "Yes, this is my father, Minato Namikaze."

Catelyn wasn't the only one who looked more closely at the Father. Only a second was needed to see how he shared Lord Naruto's hair and eyes. There was a sense of kindness in those eyes and a hint of a smile. Catelyn was reminded of her husband.

Lady Alerie turned to the Mother, a long red-haired woman with a gentle and warm smile. "And this must be your mother?" she asked.

"Yes. Kushina Uzumaki."

As surprising as his taking his mother's name instead of his father's was, Catelyn put it to the side. She looked to the next statue. Unlike the first two, this was an old man. He had the wrinkled visage and liver spots to show it, along with the gray hair and goatee. His hands were folded behind his back, a position that reminded Catelyn of a maester. Like a maester, she saw wisdom in his eyes.

Sansa looked at the statue as they came over. "Who's he?"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage," Naruto answered. "For me, he is the Smith. He laid the foundation of what I am." The words were meaningful to him, but cryptic to Catelyn. She knew he had given the man a title, but she didn't know what it meant.

Lady Olenna went to the next statue. "Hmph, I know this one," she said. "This is the woman that healed my grandson."

Catelyn had heard the tale. Willas Tyrell had jousted against Prince Oberyn Martell in a tourney, only to fall and have his leg crushed underneath his horse. Many had proclaimed he would be a cripple, that nothing could be done to heal the leg. Lord Naruto, who had been at the tourney, disappeared for a day, only to return with a woman. No one was sure how it happened, as all the maesters were thrown out of the room (some have said literally). But when Willas emerged, his leg was completely healed. According to the tales, the woman ignored all the praises and rewards offered by the Tyrells. The only payment she took was taking Willas as a student.

"Yes, I'm sure you would," Naruto said as he joined her. "This is Tsunade Senju, the Godaime Hokage. To Westeros, she would be the Crone."

The statue didn't look like an old woman to Catelyn. The woman was posed with a confident air, hand resting her hip while a green jacket rested on her shoulders. She was beautiful but in the mature way of a woman. The diamond mark on her forehead didn't detract from her beauty. It simply was a part of it. Yet the brown eyes announced they wouldn't tolerate any foolishness and they would handle problems if they appeared.

"She can't be the Crone," Lady Margaery protested. "I remember her. She looked just like that."

"And last time I checked, she was in her sixties." All eyes fell onto Naruto at that, demanding answers. Just how could a woman in her sixties look like that? "She cheats." That was all he said about it. "As for her being the Crone, she's a tough woman who'll tell you what you need, even if you don't want to hear it, keeps an eye out for you and what you do, and will not hesitate to smack the foolishness out of you." He eyed Lady Olenna before looking at Margaery. "Sound like anyone you know?" She giggled at the question.

The Queen of Thorns rolled her eyes. "The difference is I have my cane," she said. "And if I remember correctly, she punches instead of smacks." The look was full of implications as it was directed at the blonde. Catelyn wondered what it meant.

"I know," Naruto answered without pause. "Why do you think I made sure the doors were open before she did anything?" Margaery giggled again while Sansa and Arya were left confused.

Their mother was much the same. So, she chose to continue onto the next statue. It was easily the largest out of the seven. Arms folded before a powerful chest while a confident smirk look down upon her. A red streak ran down each cheek from the eyes, almost as if he had been crying blood. A horned band of some kind held back his white hair, which also fell down his back in a long tail. Yet what was mystifying to Catelyn was his footwear. They might've been sandals, yet they looked like no sandals she had seen.

As Naruto walked over, she said, "Would this be the Warrior?"

"Yeah. Jiraiya the Toad Sannin. My father's sensei…and mine. He took what I was and refined it into something more." His voice sounded thick for a moment and there was a sadness in his eyes. Clearly this man meant something more to him.

"What's sensei?" Arya asked, staring up at the man.

He smiled, losing the sadness. "It means teacher, Arya."

So this Jiraiya had taken Naruto as his squire. Not only that but he had also taught his father. For such a man to be able to do that, he must've lived for a long time, Catelyn figured. And if that was true, he must've been a strong warrior. Perhaps even famed.

Sansa looked to the statue, the Maiden. "And who is that?" she asked.

When Naruto looked at the statue, his smile faded. "…She is who I imagine what my sister would look like." His words made Catelyn look at the statue more closely.

Many statues of the Maiden depicted her in the bloom of her youth, ready to be married. Yet the statue was a child, about two and ten if she was to guess. Her hair was held up in two tails, a style she had never seen before. Her grin matched Naruto's perfectly, happy and eager, with more than a chance of mischief. For her, the day was best spent with friends and having fun. It reminded Catelyn of her own childhood, how things seemed easier and better. She found herself liking this idea of the Maiden.

The last statue drew Arya's attention and made her frown. "That's not the Stranger," she proclaimed.

As every eye fell upon it, Catelyn understood what she meant. The Stranger was usually shown as a dark man, garbed in a cloak with his face barely shown. This statue was a young man, of eight and ten. His expression was a stoic one, yet his stance was strong with a sense of quiet power. At first, Catelyn thought he was blind, given how white his eyes were. But the more she looked, the more she believed that was simply their color.

"For me, he is," Naruto told Arya. This time, he was somber as he gazed upon the statue. "This is Neji Hyūga. He was a friend who…who took an arrow meant for me and his cousin. He died in my arms."

From the pain in his voice alone Catelyn knew it was genuine. She had heard men in Winterfell talk as such, about battles they had fought in during the war against the dragons and then against the ironborn. Her daughter didn't know that, but she could tell how he felt. "Are you sad?" she asked him.

His blue eyes glanced up at the little girl. "Only a little bit. But I know that when I die, he'll be there to greet me." His gaze followed the statues. "They all will."

Those words stayed with Catelyn, even after their prayers. While the children ran off to play, she stayed behind. So did the Tyrell. "Lord Naruto, if I might ask a question?" He considered Catelyn for a moment and nodded. "All these people, with the exception of the Crone and the Maiden, are they dead?"

"…Yes." He glanced at the statues again. "Some of them hurt more than others. I lost my parents the day I was born, so I never really knew them."

"I'm sorry," she said. "But women have been known to die in the birthing bed." It was a harsh fact but one that couldn't be ignored.

"She didn't die because of my birth." The godswood fell silent at that. Only then did Catelyn remember that both his father and mother had died on the same day. Naruto saw their looks, their confusion, and said, "My father had enemies." It was short, and vague. And it was all he said on the matter.

Perhaps Lady Alerie felt bold about the questions, since she had one of her own. "My lord, if you would permit me a question, what happened to your hand?" She glanced at the appendage in question. As did they all.

Ever since he had come to Westeros, Naruto Uzumaki's right hand had been bound in bandages. All agreed that he must've suffered a great wound to be bandaged so, perhaps so great that it still caused him pain to this day. But no one had dared to ask how it happened, until today.

The Lord of Shadow's Hall looked at his hand and smirked. "It happened in the same war Neji died in." His expression changed, turning bright and warm. "Now then, you guys should get back to enjoying yourselves. You've got a new castle to explore." A shriek of delight filled the air, followed by more. "And I think your girls just found the playground."

"Playground?" Catelyn replied.

"That's what he said, Stark," Lady Olenna said as she hobbled forward. "Oh, don't just stand there, boy," she told Lord Naruto. "Escort us to the children."

He grinned again. "As you wish, Granny." He stepped back just in time for her cane to swing past, missing him completely.

Catelyn found herself considering the heart tree as they left. So much time had been discussing the new gods, no one thought about the old. She had heard the face on Harrenhal's heart tree had a terrible visage. Yet this face reminded her of a serene old man, watching everything with a bemused expression.

She left, knowing that it had to be a new heart tree. Her attention was drawn to more important matters, such as her children. They seemed to like Lord Naruto, and he returned the affection. Perhaps, she wondered, he might be open to a fostering.

End

Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews you've sent me.

So this is the original version of The Fox and The Dragon. Since I was doing this whole slew of whatnot, why not write how I originally thought of it.

This bunch of chapters (and yes, I'm going to come back to it) will be doing something rarely seen in ASOIAF stories: Cersei will come a better person. For a very simple reason: Naruto isn't going to go away anytime soon, and he considers Cersei a friend. She's not gonna have a chance.

If you're wondering how Varys knows Naruto's language, he learned from it during his youth in Essos, from a pair of travelling shinobi. A married pair.

…I'll just leave it at that.

Naruto absolutely would call Olenna Granny. For him, it's just like being around Tsunade, albeit actually looking her age. She might get annoyed on occasion by him, but she doesn't mind treating him like she would one of her grandchildren, if it gets him on their side (or so she might think).

Okay then, this batch is done. The next round is certainly bigger than I had expected, so I'll have to break it in half when I start posting. It might come sooner than expected. Keep an eye out. In the meantime, leave a review. I like to know what you guys think.

I'll see you all next chapter!