Well, been sitting on this Naruto/Blake one for a while.

Small chance it evolves into a poly with Naruto, Blake, and Ilia.

So let's get to The Shinobi of Menagerie!


Ages

Naruto and Blake: 13

Ilia: 15

Adam: 16


"Are you okay?"

"Ah… Um yes… I, uh…"

"You're crying… And got a big bruise on your face? Are you sure you are okay?"

"Huh? Oh! I must have been bruised while practicing my swordsmanship…"

"Oh, you are training too? …Explains the bruise… But that is awesome! Maybe we can learn together!"

"You are practicing your swordsmanship?"

"I mean, a little! I'm practicing with all kinds of weapons. Katana, kusarigama, kunai, shuriken…"

"Ninja weapons? Are you trying to learn how to become a ninja as well?"

"Well, yeah! My Dad is a shinobi, and he's teaching me all the tricks of the trade!"

"You're Dad… Um, who are you? …I've never seen you here before."

"Me? I'm Naruto Uzumaki! We just got off the ship. Dad said something about this place being safe for me…"

"Oh… Was your Dad who was meeting with my father? You kind of look like him…"

"Yeah, that's him! Oh, so your big cat man's daughter? Cool! Nice to meet ya!"

"That's not! …We're not just animals!"

"I know that, but it helps me identify people… Bad with names, ya know? I remember features better… Dad says it has something to do with my hyperactivity disorder or something…"

"I see… Sorry for assuming. …It's nice to meet you, Naruto…"

"My name is Blake Belladonna."


"Hehehe…"

With a twitch of her ears followed by a roll of her eyes, a soft sigh left her subtle lips. Flipping her book close, frowning as she was lost in her memory and hadn't gotten as far as she wished, golden eyes shifted as she looked directly behind her. "I know you can be stealthier than that…"

"Not trying to be!" Naruto snapped his fingers, leaping over the bench Blake was sitting at, and sat next to her. "Got a proposition for ya if you are interested?"

"Oh no…" Blake's ears laid flat on her head, and she squinted and glowered at Naruto. "Last time those words left your mouth, we found ourselves stranded on a deserted island…"

"Hey, we weren't on that island for long!"

"Only because you didn't lose your father's kunai!"

"Do you want to hear my idea or not?!"

Glowering with furious intent, arms crossed over her chest, Blake huffed, and she turned and glared in the opposite direction. "And what brilliant scheme do you have this time?"

Blake repressed a snarl upon seeing the broad grin spread across Naruto's devious face. She really didn't like where this was going. This was gonna be another island incident…

"So I heard that a tournament is about to happen in Mistral…"

"No…" Blake seethed, her fear of the open ocean beginning to well inside her. "We're not going to sail a raft again…"

"That's not what I'm suggesting!" Naruto spat in annoyance and glared at Blake before his grin returned twofold. "I was thinking we buy ourselves tickets for the ferry… Get ourselves to the capital of Mistral, and we sign up! Show off to everyone what Dad has been teaching us!"

"...A shinobi is supposed to be secretive of their abilities." Blake frowned, repressing the burning desire and want to show the world just what she could do…

She wanted to see what she was capable of!

"Ya don't have to show everything off… Unless someone is that good." Naruto scowled momentarily before his smile quickly returned. "Come on… I know you wanna test yourself just as much as I do…"

"I… But we're not…"

"Heard the grand prize is pretty big, ya know? When we win, we could split it, ya know?" Naruto pounced on the wavering he could see in his friend's stance. "We could find the best sushi restaurants… Have a night on the town…"

Golden eyes flickered as drool dripped from the corner of her lips. She knew he was playing her… And she knew how often his plans backfired.

But her commitment to keeping the arts Minato-sensei had taught collapsed. She wanted the sushi!

"I'm in."


Guard duty was so boring… It was all they ever had him do.

He wanted to make a change. A difference.

How could he do any of that while on guard duty? Couldn't High Leader Khan find something more for him to do?

It's not like this new approach was working very well… He had an approach that could do it if they'd let him…

"Hey, best buddy!"

"Oh no…" Adam groaned, recognizing the voice immediately.

He palmed his face, closed his crystal blue eyes shut, and winced at what was about to follow. Last thing he needed was him around to make his day worse.

"Whatever it is… No." Adam growled, refusing to even look in his direction and give him the satisfaction of paying him a modicum of his attention.

He knew whatever would come of it would end badly for him. It always did…

"Adam… We need your help."

His eyes snapped open, and crystal blue eyes stared into glowing golden hues. No… He didn't wrangle her into his schemes.

Dammit! Stupid Fox knew he couldn't say no to her!

Glowering as his stomach churned, Adam glued his gaze on a chuckling Naruto. "Exactly what are you planning?"

"Wanna compete at the Mistral Tournament! Realized our allowance wouldn't be enough to last us…" Naruto sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Then why aren't you asking your Father or Lord Belladonna?" Adam inquired with annoyance. He swore he was dragging Blake into this…

"You see… Ah, Dad wants us to keep our ninja skills as secretive as possible…" Naruto ran his hand through his hair.

"You're trying to sneak around them?" Adam snarled, causing both Naruto and Blake to grimace before exhaling and turning away from them. "No… Do it your…"

"I wondered who you were talking to." Adam froze as a feminine voice huskily resonated as the door opened behind his position.

Adam cursed. Lady Khan had stepped out to check on the commotion herself?! She must have heard them and come to check out.

"My, my…" Sienna grinned toothily. "Ghira's little girl and the shinobi's boy… How interesting… Here to converse with a friend?"

"Kinda…" Naruto grinned, his tail swishing behind him excitedly. "We wanted to see if Adam wanted to join us going to the Mistral Tournament with us!"

"The Mistral Tournament, you say?" A sleek smirk graced Sienna's lips. "Oh, so you've been sponsored for the tournament? Oh, wonderful! To see our youth enthusiastically go out and fight the cause for us. If one of you won, oh, I could only imagine the turmoil it would cause…"

Glancing at one another, Blake frowned at Naruto. He pursed his lips and tilted his head. "Sponsored? Um, what?"

"Oh, you idiot…" Adam palmed his face. "You need to be sponsored to enter the Mistral Tournament. You don't just get to compete by showing up!"

"Seriously!" Naruto stumbled, unaware of this condition, while Blake slumped in defeat.

"My night out on the town for sushi…"

Adam twitched. That was all it took? Was she really that easily swayed?

"Oh, Ghira didn't sponsor you both?" Sienna frowned momentarily before a fanged smirk crossed her features. "Well, give me a moment. As the High Leader of the White Fang, I have the power and influence to sponsor you."

"Really?!" Naruto beamed before bowing. "You're the best tiger lady!"

"Naruto! What have I said about that?!" Blake smacked Naruto in the back of the head while growling before she sincerely bowed. "We very much appreciate your generous offer, High Leader Khan. We are forever thankful for the opportunity."

Amused at their reaction, a sparkle tinted within her gaze, Sienna chuckled. "Think nothing of it… I merely wish to see change. A Faunus winning their precious tournament… Is more than enough of a reward for me…"

"But, two thirteen-year-olds heading to Mistral alone is quite worrisome." Sienna frowned, focusing her intent on Adam, and smirked. "I say you would need an escort… Adam, I know this hasn't been the most exciting assignment for you. While this isn't glamorous either, consider it a chance to see how Mistral treats our kind."

Adam's entire body was petrified as the High Leader's gaze focused on him. No… How did he always end up being the one punished for the damn fox's stupid…

"I'll assign Ilia as well." Sienna nodded, causing Adam's eyes to shimmer in horror.

No… Not her, as well!

How did this get worse?!


"Alright, world, listen, and listen good, ya hear!" Adam's twitch only grew as he leaned against the boat guard rail, looking down at the ocean swelling below.

He could only manage a weak glare at the blonde rushing to the front of the bow and leaping onto the bow as the ship began to set out. This was all his fault…

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! You best get to know it as I'm the best there is! You better believe it!" Naruto pronounced as he pointed through the ocean, vaguely toward their goal.

He almost immediately lost his balance as a petite, tanned girl with long brown hair leapt on his shoulders, grinning as she wrestled him down. "You idiot! You didn't tell me you had this planned! I'm so gonna beat your ass for this! Why wasn't I told ahead of time?! I could have helped out!"

"Ah, Ilia! No!" Naruto squirmed under her grasp as she dragged him to the deck and into a headlock with her legs. "Forgive me!"

Groaning at the energy of the two, along with the sheer attention they were drawing, Adam rolled his eyes. This was gonna be a long…

His gaze fell onto the subdued figure of the former High Leader's daughter as she tilted her head at Naruto and Ilia's interaction before huffing and turning around, angrily stomping away.

Furrowing his brow at the reaction, the slightest light gleamed within his eyes. "Okay, this trip isn't an entire waste…"

"I might get exactly what I want out of this."


Just like always, if you liked this or any other of the concepts that are posted, the more feedback I see for a chapter, the more likely I will post the first chapter!

And plus I like hearing from you anyway!

So until next time my friends,

Peace.