For all of those people who've wanted to see my original story again... here it is!
This will be my second attempt at my first DBZ/Naruto (the original) story!
Ki is not Chakra and vice versa, but at their core both of them are energy sources.
Ki (気 "Ki", lit. "Spirit"), also known as chi/qi, Yōki (妖気) or simply energy (エネルギー enerugī), is the life force energy of all living things. It is composed to these components as verbatim stated by Akira Toriyama: Genki (元気 lit. "Vigor"), Yūki (勇気 lit. "Courage"), and Shōki (正気 lit. "Mind"). Chakra (チャクラ, chakura) is the combination of two types of energy, Spiritual energy and Physical energy, which is granted only by the chakra fruits of the Otsutsuki.
WARNING: THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF CHARACTER DEATH, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Chapter 0: Zeno's Retcon
"A world like this..."
Two child-like blue hands rose in the sky, coating themselves with an unknown level of energy.
"Must disappear!"
And then, the entire Ludicrous Shinobi timeline was erased.
"We must retcon it immediately."
"As you command, Lord Zeno," an angelic figure with white hair, pale blue skin, lavender eyes, a turquoise gi with an orange triangular symbol, a luminescent halo, a red belt with a golden Zeno emblem in the center, and white boots with grey tips.
With a wave of his right hand, the Grand Priest reinstated the previously erased universe with the specific modifications meant to appease the Omni-King. Nobody likes a bad TV show after all, and to someone as powerful as Zeno, entertainment happens to be overwhelmingly important in his day-to-day life.
Entertainment was everything.
The timeline as it was had deviated too far away from what originally would have happened, and as such the story became hard to watch.
It needed a change of pace.
In an event not too dissimilar to DC's retcon punch by Superboy Prime, the timeline of The Ludicrous Shinobi had shifted.
For better or worse, only time will tell.
Chapter 1: Son Goku
The mountains of Paozu were some of the best places for meditation. Atop a rugged cliff, an elderly man sat with his legs crossed, eyes gently closed, his breath synchronized with the rhythm of the wind.
He continued his deep meditation, letting his energy flow freely.
Behind him stood a modest hut, a simple yet comforting abode that he called home. As the elder rose and walked toward it, the serenity was abruptly shattered by a distant, thunderous crash. He halted, turning swiftly to face the source of the disturbance. Not far from his home, a towering plume of smoke spiraled into the sky, the air thick with the scent of scorched earth.
His senses heightened, the man detected an unfamiliar Ki signature—a presence unlike any he had encountered before. In a world where only a select few, such as Muten Roshi, the Ox King, and the students of the Crane School, were adept in the use of Ki, this anomaly demanded investigation.
Driven by his role as a Turtle School elder and his natural curiosity, he swiftly made his way toward the source of the crash. Upon arrival, his gaze fell upon a metal pod of sorts, sleek and silver, with a crimson-tinted window at its front. His brow furrowed in confusion as he approached cautiously, nudging the pod gently with his foot. To his surprise, the hatch hissed open.
Peering inside, the elder's eyes widened, a gasp escaping his lips.
Nestled within the pod was a baby—though clearly not an ordinary one. The child's cries filled the air as it reached out, its tiny arms pleading for comfort. The elder, feeling an inexplicable sense of duty, leaned in and gently lifted the infant from the pod.
As he held the child, he noted its spiky black hair and laughed, a warm, paternal chuckle that echoed through the mountains. His amusement was interrupted when the baby, in a completely innocent yet unexpected gesture, peed right on his face. The elder couldn't help but laugh even more, wiping his face and marveling at the child's spirit.
"Hey there, little one," he greeted softly, his voice tinged with both awe and affection.
He quickly sensed something extraordinary about the child—its Ki, though innocent, was unlike any he had ever encountered. It radiated an otherworldly essence. "Wow, you're something special," he murmured, his curiosity deepening.
As he cradled the child closer, a small tail curled around his arm, catching him by surprise. The elder chuckled at the sight, recognizing the child's unique nature. "A tail, too? You really are a weird one aren't ya!"
Despite the child's oddities, the elder felt a profound connection. With a tender smile, he introduced himself, "My name is Gohan. And what might yours be?"
Of course, the baby offered no response, only gazing back with wide, curious eyes. Gohan's smile broadened as he considered the child's new life in this world.
"I'll call you... Goku," he decided, his eyes flickering to the child's tail. "It seems fitting, doesn't it?"
Of course, the baby offered no response, only gazing back with wide, curious eyes. Gohan's smile broadened as he considered the child's new life in this world. "I'll call you... Goku," he decided, his eyes flickering to the child's tail. "It seems fitting, doesn't it?"
As if in agreement, the baby—now Goku—giggled with pure, unrestrained glee.
Seven years had passed since the day the mysterious child arrived from the stars, altering the quiet life Gohan had known on Mount Paozu. The once wild and untamed boy had become something of a prodigy. On this day, they were training as they often did, testing the limits of young Goku's growing strength.
Gohan ducked smoothly as the boy launched a quick punch at his head. "Not strong enough to hit me yet, Goku," he teased, his voice warm with encouragement. In a fluid motion, Gohan sent a playful punch toward the boy, who dodged with the agility of a seasoned fighter and countered with a swift roundhouse kick.
But Gohan, ever the experienced martial artist, anticipated the move. He caught Goku's leg mid-kick and used the boy's own momentum to send him tumbling into the bushes.
Goku popped up from the foliage, brushing off dirt and leaves from his blue martial arts uniform. "No fair," he grumbled, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I still can't hit you."
"You've only been training for a few years," Gohan replied, his tone gentle and reassuring. "You'll get better with time. I've been at this my whole life—you can't expect to get those kinds of results overnight."
Goku's eyes, filled youth, looked up at his grandfather. "Grandpa, is everyone as strong as you?"
Gohan chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Goku. Most people aren't even as strong as you are now. It took me many years of studying martial arts to reach this level. But don't get discouraged. Strength doesn't come quickly, but I know you'll surpass me one day."
"Really?!" Goku's face lit up with excitement, his earlier frustration forgotten.
Gohan smiled warmly at the boy's enthusiasm. Over the past seven years, life in the wilderness had been anything but dull. When Goku first arrived, he had been as wild as the forest creatures that roamed Mount Paozu. His boundless energy and primal instincts kept Gohan on his toes, and the boy's mischievous nature often led to broken dishes, torn clothes, and even occasional house repairs after one of his rampages.
The turning point came when Goku, in a moment of curiosity, fell into a ravine, bumping his head in the process. Gohan had feared the worst but was relieved beyond words when the boy not only survived but seemed to change completely.
The aggressive child he had struggled to manage became a gentle and pure-hearted boy, eager to learn and full of love.
From that day on, Gohan trained Goku in the martial arts, seeing in him the potential to become something truly extraordinary. He knew, deep down, that the child was destined for greatness—whether or not he lived to see it, it was as if the heavens had already decreed it.
As the day drew to a close, Gohan watched the boy with a tinge of unease that lingered in the back of his mind. Goku, however, seemed oblivious to any concerns. Instead, he stared up at the night sky, captivated by the full moon that hung overhead.
"Wow, the moon is so pretty tonight," Goku mused aloud. "I wonder why Grandpa never let me stay up to see it when it was full."
But before he could ponder further, something within Goku stirred. His body tensed, and his breathing grew erratic. In a flash, his eyes turned a fierce, glowing red, and sharp canine teeth began to push out from his mouth. His face elongated into a snout, and thick brown fur sprouted across his rapidly expanding frame. Goku's clothes shredded as his body grew to monstrous proportions, and within moments, the transformation into the Oozaru—the Great Ape—was complete.
This marked another turning point in Goku's life, a moment that would forever alter the path ahead. The boy who had fallen from the stars was about to unleash a power that even Gohan had never fully understood.
And he never would. This was his final day among the living.
The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked at the seven-year-old boy with apprehension and bewilderment. The boy had just regressed back from the terrifying Great Ape, one that had wreaked a level of havoc on the village. The Hokage's monkey summons had barely managed to distract the creature long enough for Hatake Kakashi to sever its tail, returning the beast to its human form. The devastation left behind was staggering—an entire sector of Konohagakure lay in ruins, the village walls breached as if they were paper.
The incident had sparked outrage among the villagers. Many demanded the boy's execution, fearful of what he might do next. But Hiruzen, known for his compassion, intervened. He shielded the boy from the council's wrath and classified the event as an SS-ranked secret.
A Yamanaka's attempt to probe the boy's memories yielded nothing but blanks, leaving the child as much of a mystery as before. As the Hokage examined him, he noted that the boy seemed small and underweight for his age. Despite the chaos he had caused, the child appeared ordinary, save for the tail he had before it was removed. There were no seals or marks on his body—nothing to explain the transformation.
As Hiruzen mused over these thoughts, the boy's eyes slowly fluttered open.
"W-what happened?" he murmured, yawning as he blinked away the remnants of sleep. He then reached for his tail, only to realize it was gone. Panic flashed across his face. "Where's my tail?!"
Hiruzen snapped out of his thoughts and tossed the boy a gi, similar to the one he had worn before but with black pants instead of blue.
"Put these on. I'll explain everything afterward."
Goku quickly changed into the new gi, his eyes fixed on the Hokage, awaiting answers.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he looked at the boy. "Your tail is gone because we had to remove it to stop your rampage. You transformed into a giant ape and attacked the village. To protect everyone, we had no choice but to sever your tail and seal it away. Now, what's your name?"
"Son Goku," the boy muttered solemnly, feeling solemn and guilty for his circumstances.
"I see," Hiruzen mused, thinking it ironic to the event that took place the night prior. "I now hereby declare what I just told you to be classified as an SS-ranked secret. You're the only one allowed to tell the secret other than myself to anyone who you deem trustworthy. Those that break those rules will be executed without hesitation, Goku-san. Understood?"
"H-hai," Goku responded, the weight of responsibility having never truly been dawned on his small shoulders. He then asked, with innocent curiosity, "Where's Grandpa Gohan?"
The Hokage's heart sank. He had dreaded this moment. What will the boy's reaction be?
After taking a moment to steady himself, he spoke gently. "We couldn't find his body after we ended your rampage. But before he passed, he apparently left instructions about your future."
Tears welled up in Goku's eyes, his small frame shaking with childish sadness. He then clenched his fists, before he wiped his tears away. "S-So what do I do now?"
Hiruzen glanced at the instructions left by Gohan. "You are to live in this village for four years. After that, you will train with someone called Kame-sennin for one year. When you return, you will enroll in the Academy and become a genin."
Goku nodded, not saying a word.
"Good," Hiruzen said, his voice firm yet kind. "I'll arrange living quarters and enroll you in the Academy immediately. You are dismissed."
Nodding, the Saiyan strode out of the room, too much on his young seven-year old mind.
"Hey, wake up!" The sharp voice was accompanied by a light smack to the back of his head. Goku blinked groggily, the sting pulling him from the depths of an aching, muddled sleep. The first thing he saw was a mop of wild blonde hair and a pair of bright, impatient blue eyes glaring at him.
"C'mon, lazybones!" The blonde boy crossed his arms, his voice rising. "I'm not doing all the chores today by myself. You've got hands, so you're helping."
Goku sat up slowly, cradling his throbbing head. His surroundings were unfamiliar—rows of bunk beds, peeling walls, and the faint smell of bread.
"Where… where am I?" he murmured.
"The orphanage," the boy replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Who're you?"
"Son Goku," he said, pointing a thumb at his chest.
A grin spread across the blonde boy's face as he mirrored the gesture. "Uzumaki Naruto!" he said proudly. Before Goku could process what was happening, Naruto grabbed his hand and tugged him from the bed with a strength that belied his small frame. "Come on! We've got a ton to do!"
The whirlwind named Naruto dragged Goku through the orphanage, weaving past other children and dodging the watchful eye of the headmistress, a woman whose glare could kill Hidan. Goku followed, half-confused, half-amused. Despite the unfamiliar setting and the stranger beside him, he couldn't help but feel a sliver of comfort in Naruto's sunny demeanor.
Chores began in earnest: scrubbing floors, washing dishes, and hauling firewood. Naruto chattered the entire time, and Goku found himself smiling at the boy's relentless energy. But as the morning stretched on, his cheerful facade began to crack. By the time they stood at the sink elbow-deep in soap suds, the weight of reality came crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
His grandfather was gone. Dead, because of him.
The thought stabbed through him, sharp and unrelenting. Tears blurred his vision as his hands trembled under the water.
Naruto noticed immediately. "Hey… you okay?" he asked, his voice soft for the first time that day. Goku bit his lip and turned away.
The blonde frowned, then glanced over his shoulder. The headmistress was busy berating another unfortunate soul.
"Screw this," he muttered. Grabbing Goku's wrist, he yanked him toward the door. "C'mon."
They slipped out unnoticed and sprinted into the bustling streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. Goku's heart pounded, but this time not from sorrow—it was the thrill of escape. Naruto led him with ease, weaving through alleys and leaping over fences until they reached their destination: the Hokage Monument.
"Up here!" Naruto called, climbing the stone-carved stairs two at a time. By the time they reached the top, the sun had risen fully, painting the village below in hues of gold and amber. Naruto turned to Goku, grinning ear to ear.
"Pretty cool, huh? I come up here all the time to think about my future. One day, I'm gonna be Hokage! The whole village'll look up to me!"
Goku, captivated by the view, barely heard him. The sight of the sprawling village and its cheerful energy was enough to dull the ache in his chest.
For a moment, he forgot his grief.
Naruto plopped down beside him, watching him closely. He didn't know much about this strange boy who'd suddenly appeared in the orphanage, but he understood loss all too well. "You're not alone, you know," he said after a pause. "I mean, we're both kinda alone, but we don't have to be."
Goku looked at him, his dark eyes softening. Naruto's grin returned. "We've got each other now."
The rest of the day was a blur of exploration. Naruto introduced Goku to every nook and cranny of the village, from the bustling markets to the peaceful training grounds. Goku marveled at everything, his curiosity endless. By the time they returned to the orphanage, both boys were exhausted, their laughter echoing in the quiet halls.
The headmistress was waiting for them, her scowl deep enough to leave permanent wrinkles. "Where have you two been?!" she hissed. "You're both insufferable! And you—" she jabbed a finger at Goku. "You're no better than that fox-brat. Mark my words, you'll both be the death of me!"
Naruto rolled his eyes and grabbed Goku's arm, pulling him toward their room. "Ignore her," he whispered. "She's a total hag."
Once tucked into their bunks, Naruto turned to Goku with a mischievous grin. "So, tomorrow? Same plan. Escape, adventure, repeat!"
Goku chuckled softly. For the first time since he'd arrived, he felt something other than despair. He felt a spark of hope.
"Deal," he whispered, before sleep claimed him.
"So do you mean to tell us what that booming sound was last night?" One of the civilians piped up from their section of the table.
Hiruzen had just concluded the first half of the meeting, addressing everything that was of concern to the civilians. This was definitely not something he was going to share with everyone.
"If you would please excuse us."
"Excuse you? What is the meaning of this Hokage-sama!"
"There are some things that must not be shared with the public, and to put it bluntly I do not trust you. There are very few people I would trust this information to in actuality but I must reveal the secret to some. The situation has been handled and the source of last night's disturbance has been dealt with. Now you will excuse us," the Hokage said more sternly, concealed anger in his eyes at their insolence.
He was the Hokage, which put him above everyone else in the village.
The civilians got up grumbling and left the meeting room. Only clan heads, the high-ranking Jonin, the two elders and Danzo remained in the room, along with the Hokage's hidden bodyguards.
"Neko, before we proceed did you inform the ANBU that were present last night of this meeting?"
The ANBU stepped from the shadows and nodded.
"Good, fetch them now, this involves them as well."
Danzo wasn't exactly happy that this was being drawn out. And why were ANBU allowed to hear what was said. He understood that they had been involved in subduing the beast-child, but this didn't have to involve them. Unless he was giving a command or something of those sorts.
He would just have to wait and see what his sentimental friend had in store, and what exactly he planned to share with them.
After all the ANBU had filed in to the room, standing at the back away from the table the Hokage spoke.
"As you all know, the village came close to being damaged heavily under a rampage last night. If it were not for all of your efforts, especially yours Hound," the Hokage said, turning his head toward Kakashi, "there would have been a major loss of life for sure."
"What was the threat?" Uchiha Fugaku spoke up. As the head of the police force he needed to know about all incoming hostiles, so he could use them in his planned coup d'etat.
"I was getting to that," Hiruzen said, annoyed at the interruption, "We came under attack from a monster that was handily dealt with."
"What are you not telling us father?" Asuma said from his position within the Jounin.
The old man sighed. "The vile monster was a child… a child I found within the forest while investigating a disturbance with my bodyguards. He turned into the monster during the night of the full moon that caused the destruction that you no doubt all heard and will see if you venture a few miles out from the main gate. I called for ANBU reinforcements, which arrived whilst I kept the monster busy and they all helped me deal with the problem, this is why they have been allowed to hear what I have to say."
"You say a child turned into a monster? What did you do with this child? Is it dead?" Homura the elder councilman spoke up.
"No," the Hokage said to only a few shocked faces. Most of the people in the room knew what kind of man the Hokage was. He'd spare a life if he could. It was the reason Orochimaru was still at large, the biggest threat to the village as of right now.
"Then what became of him," Homura asked once again.
This time Danzo was interested. He would have had one of his ANBU tail the Hokage but if he'd been caught then there would be investigations. And investigations weren't the greatest way to keep a covert operation covert.
"I have put him in the orphanage," the Hokage said. Now people weren't exactly happy.
"A child that was a threat to the entire village and you just put him in an orphanage!" Koharu exclaimed.
"Sounds rather familiar doesn't it?" Danzo added slyly, getting a stern look from the old man in charge.
"I'll not have any of that! He is just a child and his monstrous transformation has been dealt with thanks to Hound, although I believe he performed the attack unknowing that the tail of the beast was the source of it's power."
"Tail? Beast? So we are dealing with a Jinchuuriki?" Gai wondered what particular beast it was if that was the case.
"No, he's not a Jinchuuriki, as far as I can tell, and like I said, I think it is in our best interests to let him live in Konoha. I know not where he is from, but I know that he is alone after killing Gohan-san." Now that caused many people to be shocked, THE Gohan? The one trained by the legendary Muten Roshi?
"Yes," Danzo spoke up from next to the elders, "For once I agree, it would be best to keep him under surveillance and alive. He may be useful in the future, and if we were to turn him out, another village may discover whatever power is hidden within him and use it against us."
Hiruzen's expression darkened, it was very rare that Danzo ever agreed with him.
"Yes, and on a final note do not inform anyone of this. If people ask what the disturbance was and questions are being asked, tell them that we were under attack from a rogue force and that the ANBU Hound was responsible for bringing them to justice. It is better that they focus on a hero within the ranks than a potential but unlikely threat within their midst. The punishment for this will be the same as the punishment for speaking of the nature of Naruto's secret."
One of the ANBU in the ranks at the back of the room, wearing a dog mask, looked to move to be in a position to speak when the Hokage finished.
"My decision is final, there will be no discussion nor debate," he said firmly. "The boy is not to be harmed and he will be watched. The fact that he and Naruto were observed getting along today will make observation easier."
"Now, I'd like to speak with you three," Hiruzen looked over at the three elder council members as he said this, "Kakashi, Ibiki, Shikaku and Inoichi remain behind also. Everyone else, you are dismissed."
The rest of the high-ranking jounin eyed Kakashi curiously, but knew not to make a fuss. They would get their answers if the Hokage deemed it necessary.
"Okay, to get to the really important information. I called the main meeting so that none of the ANBU made a move against the boy or revealed his true nature to the public. Now we must discuss the true nature of the child. What have you been able to determine from the old spacecraft, Ibiki, Inoichi?"
"The thing was pretty beaten up when we brought it in, and it doesn't seem to be able to power-up. Although it might just be because we don't know how. The technology involved is amazing, vastly ahead of our worlds. If we can reverse engineer even half of the tech from this thing we'll be well off, that's for sure." Ibiki said, the scars on his face moving animatedly as he spoke in the low light.
"What craft?" Danzo had heard nothing of a craft from his operative. This was definitely news to him.
"I said I did not know where the boy was from because he is from the stars. I have no idea how but he fell from the sky seven years ago in a craft that seemingly allows safe travel between celestial objects. How, I do not know. But what it means is that we aren't as alone as we thought."
Everyone who wasn't in the know, meaning the three elders and Shikaku, were in shock.
"Th-the implications," Homaru stuttered out.
"Yes we know," Kakashi said, "the question though is what we are going to do with this information."
"The people in this room are the only people that know of the nature of the boy and the craft. Everyone else that is working on the craft don't know the relationship it had with the boy and the ANBU that fought him don't know of the craft either. It was buried under rubble and covered in moss by the time they arrived," the Hokage explained. "What is worrisome is that a small child like him could not come up with technology like that. So there are others. We are not alone and who knows how powerful some of the beings out there are?"
Shikaku was still sitting stunned in silence as is mind ticked away at trying to comprehend the possibilities and implications. This was mind-boggling.
"Hokage-sama," Inoichi spoke softly, getting the attention of everyone in the room, "There's something else. We found a small spherical object inside the house of Gohan, a golden orb with four red stars on it. Preliminary investigations show that it contains extremely immense power, easily enough to make a Bijuu look like an ant in comparison. We are unsure of just how to access this power though. It may not be possible."
"That is fine," the Hokage said, not one to miss the greedy look that slipped across Danzo's face for just a second. "For now we must focus on keeping the boy safe until he can tell us his story and continue trying to obtain information and technology from the craft. As long as this enormous power is contained and isn't a threat, it shall not be our top priority."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
The sun hung low over the open parkland, its golden glow glinting off the rippling water nearby. Naruto Uzumaki and his new friend, Goku, had made short work of their chores to get here. The vast grassy field promised freedom and fun—two things they both needed.
"Alright!" Naruto spun to face Goku, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement. "Let's fight!"
"Finally!" Goku grinned, dropping into the familiar fighting stance his late grandfather, Son Gohan, had drilled into him. "Bring it on!"
"Go!" Naruto yelled, rushing forward with reckless energy.
It wasn't much of a contest. Goku ducked low, sidestepped Naruto's charge, and effortlessly flipped him onto the ground. Before Naruto could recover, Goku straddled him and began landing light but insistent punches.
"Hey—ow! Cut it out!" Naruto protested, flailing his arms to block the onslaught.
"Lesson one: don't leave an opening!" Goku teased, grinning as he landed another hit.
Naruto growled in frustration, pushing Goku off with a sudden burst of strength. He scrambled to his feet and retaliated with a punch to Goku's chest. The Saiyan staggered back slightly but recovered quickly, launching into a backflip before rushing forward with a blazing speed that made Naruto's eyes widen.
Goku swung, Naruto dodged, but a follow-up sweeping kick caught the blonde off guard, sending him tumbling. Capitalizing on the opening, Goku grabbed Naruto's leg, spun him like a top, and hurled him across the field.
"Not bad," Naruto muttered as he twisted midair, catching Goku's wrist in a desperate counter. The two tumbled to the ground in a flurry of fists and elbows. Naruto landed a solid hit on Goku's cheek before the Saiyan retaliated with a roundhouse kick that sent Naruto sprawling backward.
Both boys scrambled to their feet, breathing heavily and grinning despite their scuffed clothes and aching bodies.
A soft giggle broke the moment. They froze, their heads snapping toward the sound.
Standing a short distance away was a small girl with lavender eyes and black hair that framed her shy face. She peeked at them from behind her hands, occasionally pressing her index fingers together in a nervous fidget.
"W-what are you two doing?" she asked in a timid voice.
"Sparring, obviously," Naruto replied, crossing his arms and scowling as if the answer should have been obvious.
The girl giggled again, her smile timid but genuine. "T-that's not sparring. That's j-just roughhousing."
"What's the difference?" Naruto asked, puzzled.
She shook her head, her expression growing a little bolder. "S-sparring has technique. My father says it's for practice, not… whatever this is."
With unexpected confidence, the girl stepped closer and raised her hands in a precise fighting stance. "H-here, I'll show you—"
"Hinata-sama," a stern voice cut in, "it's time to leave. Please do not associate with those… riffraff."
A tall man in formal robes approached, his disapproving gaze fixed on the boys.
"Hey, we're not riffraff!" Goku shouted, puffing out his chest indignantly.
The man ignored him, turning to Hinata. "Come along, Hinata-sama."
Hinata glanced back at the boys with a wistful expression. She gave a small bow and began walking away, her posture meek under the weight of the man's stern presence.
"What's your name?" Goku called after her, his voice hopeful.
The girl hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. "I-I'm Hinata," she said softly, just loud enough for them to hear.
"I'm Goku!" he shouted back. "And he's Naruto!"
Hinata offered a shy smile before disappearing down the path.
Naruto and Goku stood in silence for a moment, each digesting the encounter in their own way.
"DODGE!" Naruto suddenly shouted.
"Huh?" Goku turned, only to eat a fist to the face that sent him stumbling back.
"Gotcha!" Naruto declared, grinning triumphantly.
"Oh, it's on now!" Goku growled, shaking off the hit and charging back at him.
The two boys laughed and lunged at each other, their battle reigniting with renewed energy. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the pair was sprawled on the grass, grinning like idiots.
Deciding to switch up the routine after a week or so had passed, the two friends allowed curiosity to dictate their next set of moves.
"So what do you want to do today?" Naruto asked his one and only friend Goku
"Umm, how about we go look at the shops? I wanna see all the cool stuff they have," the boy responded.
"Surely it's the same stuff from your village," the blonde replied, confused as to why Goku was so excited about looking at things they didn't have the money to buy. "Besides, the shopkeepers don't really like me, and I don't know why," he added dejectedly.
"That's pretty weird, I don't think we did anything wrong," Goku commented with obvious boredom.
"Yeah well don't ask me, I don't have a clue."
"Hopefully they'll let us look around." Goku said. Aside from the bullies they constantly ran into, the Saiyan hadn't really met anyone mean in Konoha. He didn't think the head mistress at the orphanage was mean; she was just stern.
Sure people ignored him and Naruto, but he thought that was because they were "orphans."
Sure it was rude, but that never mattered to him.
Gaining the confidence to walk into a shop, Goku pulled Naruto along with him inside.
In less than three seconds they were being thrown out, "STAY OUT OF MY SHOP IF YOU CAN'T BUY ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY YOU BLONDIE!"
Goku was confident that it was just the one shopkeeper. But his firm confidence took blow after blow as they went to shop after shop and were thrown out immediately. Occasionally, a shopkeeper would let them look around for a little while before asking them to leave politely. Other times they wouldn't even get a foot within the door before they were yelled at to leave.
The only people Goku could say that were nice to Naruto and him were the old man and his daughter that worked at the ramen place. They didn't look at them with scorn or completely ignore them. The aged man even smiled at Naruto as they walked past to try and cheer him up, so he seemed like a nice guy. They even fed both of them a free bowl of delicious ramen to compensate for their rough lives, which made them instantly fall in love with the place.
At the end of the ordeal, both of them looked dejected as they sat down on a park bench. The wind was blowing their hair around and rustling the leaves of the trees nearby, making it more difficult for anyone to overhear their conversation. They'd need to be sitting in the tree directly above the bench to overhear the conversation; not that they were worried if someone overheard them.
"Told you they hate me," Naruto said sadly.
"What got em' to hate you?" Goku asked, a little vexed.
"I don't know. I mean I prank them sometimes, ya know that," He put his head in his hands as tears started forming at the edges of his eyes, "But that's only because they ignore me."
Goku was amazed, as his friend always seemed so full of life and energy. This was the first time that he realized that without each other they were both alone in this large, harsh, cruel environment known as the world. Even living out in the wilderness with Grandpa Gohan was better than being alone in the village, as he never had to deal with the amount of hatred launched at him everyday in Mount Paozu. He'd stick by his friend, and he wouldn't let anything come between them. Otherwise they'd be alone again, and Goku didn't particularly enjoy being alone, but he was used to it, living in the woods all of his life.
The Saiyan turned to his friend, pulling his feet up onto the bench as he wrapped his arms around his knees to stop his legs falling back to the ground. "What were those cool metal knives and discs that we saw in those shops?" Goku asked, wondering just what they were used for. They looked very deadly and lethal to him.
"They were kunai and shuriken," Naruto said wiping the tears from his eyes with a small smile forming on his lips. "Ninja use them, and one day I'm going to use them when I become the greatest shinobi ever and become Hokage!"
All Goku could do was laugh. "So you wanna be one of those cool guys with the green jackets?" Naruto had explained to the Saiyan that if you wanted to be cool, you had to be a shinobi and pointed out some of the coolest ninja in the village whenever they were around, namely the ANBU and the Jounin.
"Nah even cooler. The Hokage is the head of the entire village and he has an awesome hat!"
"I'm gonna go to the academy and learn to be a ninja and then I'm gonna be so awesome they'll just have to make me Hokage, dattebayo!" Naruto yelled to no one in particular, he stood up on the bench and raised a fist in the air, "No one's gonna stop me!" The blonde promptly calmed down and sat back on the bench, "So what do you want to do when you get older?"
"I dunno, I guess become as strong as I can be?"
"Where is your home?" Naruto asked, curious as to where his friend was from.
"I lived in Mount Paozu for my whole life until I got here."
Before he broke into a massive grin, "That is SO COOL, DATTEBAYO!"
Then Naruto realized what that meant for his friend.
"Then why exactly are you here?" Now it was Naruto's turn to be concerned for his friend.
"My grandpa named Gohan was killed somehow..." Goku said, the slight waver in his voice showing it was a touchy subject, "...by me."
Naruto remained silent for awhile, letting the realization dawn on him. Goku decided not to leave his friend worrying and broke the silence. "But it's okay, it was just an accident."
"Well hey, stuff happens. Why don't you become a shinobi like me! We can be ninja together and stop bad things from happening and I dunno, get stronger!"
"Sure! I'll be a shinobi and surpass my limits!" A slight smile touching his lips.
And at that moment came the most random attack. Literally.
A kunai flashed from a tree on the opposite side of the park with blinding speed.
CHINKKK!
A shuriken flashed from the treetops, intercepting the kunai mere inches from its target. The sharp metallic ring reverberated across the park as the ANBU operative known as Neko revealed herself, her blade already unsheathed, eyes scanning for the threat.
From the shadows, two figures emerged: one with a bear-shaped mask, the other with a sleek ferret design.
Rogue ANBU.
Neko dropped gracefully from her perch, landing beside the two boys. Her voice was calm but urgent. "Goku. Naruto. Stay close to me. You're in danger."
The boys stared wide-eyed, the predatory intent of the masked shinobi suffocating the quiet park. Nearby civilians, unaware of the deadly confrontation, played with their children, blissfully ignorant of the life-or-death battle brewing.
Bear stepped forward, his tone cold. "You think you can protect them? Two against one, Neko. Even if you survive, others will follow. You're wasting your breath."
Without warning, he lunged—straight for Goku.
"No!" Naruto yelled, moving to shove his friend aside.
Goku, his instincts honed from his life in the wild, moved just in time to evade Bear's furious strikes, though one blow landed solidly, driving the wind from his lungs.
Before he could recover, Bear's assault refused to relent.
Naruto, fed up with being useless, moved to tackle Bear from behind in attempts to knock the man off balance. The rogue ANBU countered with a swift kick, sending the child sprawling, but Goku was already back on his feet, defiant and ready to protect his friend.
This caused Bear to hesitate—just long enough.
Neko moved like lightning. Her blade shimmered in the sunlight as it severed Bear's arm at the elbow in a single, precise slash. The man let out a guttural roar, stumbling backward as crimson stained the grass.
At the same moment, Ferret darted forward, kunai in hand. But hesitation betrayed her—Neko capitalized, her body a blur as she closed the distance and drove her sword cleanly through the kunoichi's abdomen. Ferret gasped, the light in her eyes fading as she crumpled to the ground.
Neko spun back to the boys, her stance unwavering despite her age. She was only sixteen, yet her movements spoke of unmatched skill and discipline.
If the Hokage had trusted her to guard these children, there was good reason.
Naruto tried to thank her, but she silenced him with a raised hand, stalking toward the still-twitching Bear. He made a feeble attempt to hurl shuriken with his off-hand, but Neko's blade deflected them with ease. Her next strike pinned him to the ground, steel buried deep in his chest.
"Why?" she demanded, her voice sharp with controlled anger.
Bear coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he wheezed out his final words. "We... couldn't let a monster like him grow. We were... protecting the world..."
"You're wrong." Neko's tone was cold, her mask betraying no emotion. "You're the monster. They're just children."
With a twist of her blade, she ended his life. The park fell silent.
Goku and Naruto stood frozen, processing the carnage that had unfolded before them. The two attackers—elite shinobi trained to kill—lay defeated, their lives extinguished in mere moments by their mysterious protector.
Without hesitation, Neko retrieved a scroll from her vest, unfurling it and placing it against Bear's lifeless form. With a puff of smoke, his body vanished. She repeated the process with Ferret before finally acknowledging the boys.
"Thanks, uh… Neko?" Goku ventured, his voice uncertain but tinged with something unexpected: excitement.
Naruto, however, voiced the question that weighed on them both. "Why? Why did they want to hurt us?"
Neko paused, her gaze lingering on the boys for a fraction too long. "I can't explain now. But you will have answers. Someday."
In a blur of motion, she vanished in a Shunshin, leaving behind only the faint scent of steel and ozone.
From a nearby tree, another figure dropped silently into view. Hatake Kakashi, his single visible eye sharp and calculating, surveyed the scene.
Without a word, he turned his attention to the boys.
They weren't entirely alone. Not yet.