A/N: Stop updating Ruby someone says.

Nobody likes it, yet another says. We'll, that's proper cruel, it is... T_T

Hopefully folks see this update, I know a lot of people are gearing up for Fourth of July over in the states. Here we are~!

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

References ahoy~!

"You can work with me and try to make the world a better place for you and yours...

...or you can live in the past. Stagnant. Forgotten.

Its your choice. I can't force you."

~?

Just an Army

Victory was his.

Re-Destroy lay broken at his feet, eyes rolled back in his head, sprawled out in defeat. He'd knocked him flat with that last punch, quite possibly knocked him out, even. He wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. All in all, Naruto considered it a win in his book. Sure, they'd made a massive crater with their fight. Sure, he might've gone a little overboard in beating the man down, and SURE he'd hardly been subtle, but victory remained his.

Freedom indeed! he scoffed and spat at the older man's feet. Re-Destro hadn't known the meaning of the word. Maybe he would now...

...and yet, somehow, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Uncertain in his victory, completed though it seemed.

Because even out cold, the leader of Meta Liberation Army was still smiling.

A rock bounced off Naruto's skull.

"...do you have a deathwish?" He craned his neck back, thoroughly annoyed to find a horde of people standing at the lip of the crater. They'd practically surrounded him-for all the good it would do them. He could feel their hostile intent from here. Their anxiety. Their fear. It was intoxicating. And not in the good way.

And there was...what was that, a car of some sort? Were those speakers atop it? Someone was standing on them, wearing a helmet of some sort. The second in command, perhaps?

"Everyone!" the man thrust a finger forth! "Go save the grand commander!"

High above them, the mass of angry civilians tensed.

Kurama snarled deep within him. "Allow me."

...have at it. I'm done being nice today."

And he was; he'd just about enough of this insane rollercoaster; in truth, he was all of three seconds from popping some heads. Maybe a few more craters would knock some sense into these suicidal fools. Did they really want to die that badly? Or were they just supremely stupid? He didn't know and he didn't care. He had reached the end of his rope. Here,in this moment, he wanted nothing more than go home, throw himself down on the sofa, and sleep.

If they wouldn't listen to words then maybe they'd listen to FEAR.

A muscle jumped in his jaw. 'I've had just about enough of you people today...!'

Kurma erupted into existence around him in all his golden glory, towering over the lot of them with a terrifying roar. He felt the very moment their courage evaporated; a bubble bursting beneath the sun. Because that was exactly what the fox he was to them. Blazing blindingly bright, he loomed large in their eyes. Giant claws grasped the edge of the crater as he leaned forward, bringing his face level with the crowd. More than a few shrank back in the face of his furious visage, his teeth gone sharp, eyes ablaze.

"ENOUGH."

One word. That was all it took to rattle them.

The man on the car tried to speak, tried to rally them-

Kurama swatted him off the car with one of his tails. He collapsed in a quivering heap.

Frightful cries went up from the mob. Some fainted dead away. Others sank to their knees, shielding their faces.

When he finally again, his voice boomed like a hurricane. "If you get in my way, I will EAT you! Who wants to be first?!"

..there's no need for that!" A hoarse shout at his feet had him looking down. "Please, I beg of you! I yield! Stand down! The lot of you!"

Naruto looked down and Kurama with him. Much to his chagrin, Re-Destro was awake and looking at him, right at him, one arm raised in a plaintive plea. And yet for all his begging there was no fear in his gaze. Awe perhaps, resignation maybe, but no fear. Curiosity broke through his anger. What was he up to..?

"All this time, you were holding back against me...?"

He leaned down and let Kurama speak for him, if only to put the fear of chakra in him. "I was."

For some reason, that made the man laugh.

"As you said, I picked a fight and lost." he chuckled ruefully. "If you're going to kill me, then do it. Such is the right of the victor." resolved hardened his battered visage as he drew himself upright. "I am ready to sacrifice myself for Destro's dying wish. Its become abundantly clear to me that you are that wish."

...pardon?"

"Which is why," So speaking, Rikiya knelt and bowed his head, pressing his face into the dirt. "I am Grand Command no longer. The Meta Liberation Army...will follow you. Our forces await your orders."

High atop her perch, Lady Nagan balked at what she saw. "HA?!"

Naruto never heard her exclamation. His mind was too busy absorbing this news.

'Wait, wait, wait!' he struggled to put his thoughts together, to no avail. "Wait just a minute! Did we just accidentally get an army?!'

"I think we did...congratulations?"

Congra-that hadn't been his intention! Not at all!

Re Destro remained where he lay, face pressed into the dirt, awaiting his answer. "What say you? Will you lead us?"

Naruto palmed his face. "What a pain...

Did he want this?

A part of him wanted to say no, to tell them off and leave. He nearly did.

But if he did, if he refused the mantle of leadership...what would happen then?

No point perseverating over it. He already knew the answer. They'd come after him. Maybe not all of them, but a good chunk would. He'd bested their leader, laid them low, and made quite the mess besides. They'd hound him to the ends of the earth for that, him and his family both. Tenko and Toya deserved a better childhood than that; better than a life on the run, to say nothing of Rei and the rest.

Alternatively, he could kill the Meta Liberation Army.

Slaughter them with his own two hands. Every last one. Every man, woman, and child in this city. Right here. Right now. He stood in the heart of their power and most-if not all-of their members were present here today. He could do it, too. A few tailed beast bombs would level everything and render all a charred plain. No one would be able to stop him.

.

..

...he liked to think he wasn't that far gone yet.

No, he wasn't about to slaughter a city just to make things easier for himself.

And besides, couldn't he use their resources? Make them better? Maybe guide them from the shadows? Didn't he owe it to himself to try? Leaving them be would just allow them to regress. Rikiya had boasted of immense influence across the whole of Japan. He certainly hadn't forgotten that bit about the satellites.

With security like this, his family would fear nothing, never again.

With power like this, he might make the world a better place.

With people like this, there was so much he could do...

It proved the driving force in his decision.

...I'll do it."

"Liberation warriors!" He was still speaking when Re-Destro sprang to his feet, pivoted, and spread his arms wide to address the terrified congregation gazing down upon them. "Henceforth, the metahuman liberation army shall be reborn! This is not surrender!" An arm swept forth, nearly slapping his chest now as continued his speech. "Naruto Uzumaki is the one who is truly free!" a wide smile spread across his face. "From this moment on, the Liberation Army recognizes him as our grand commander, and with that, its second coming!"

He stepped back.

"BEHOLD OUR LEADER!"

Naruto weathered their cheers with a strained smile.

(.0.0.0.)

Lady Nagant jumped him in the corridor a few minutes later.

There was probably a more elegant way to put, but Naruto couldn't think of any at the moment.

It was rather difficult you see, what with her pushing him against a wall and all. She didn't look much pleased with him.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Her fists flailed and railed against his chest, beating out a steady percussion rhythm he barely felt. "What were you thinking back there?!"

"That it would be easier this way?" He offered a selfsame smile and weathered her ire, hoping she would accept it.

Kaina most assuredly did not. "You almost got yourself killed!"

"Almost?" He laughed, not understanding her fear. He'd never been in any danger down there. "Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades-

Pain blossomed in his right cheek. His head snapped to the side, eyes wide.

Nagant staggered back, clutching at her right hand with a pained expression. She'd broken two fingers just by hitting him.

It didn't stop her from hanging her head.

"Never again...

"Ha?" he snapped back, both stung and confused by her sudden attack. "Didn't quite catch that over all the pain in my face. Why'd ya hit me?!"

"Never again!" Her head snapped up, eyes brimming with soft tears. "You don't get to throw your life away! Not after what you promised me!" her hands gripped his collar, all but reeling him into her. "You said I wasn't a weapon, remember?! Your life is my life! Next time TELL ME before you run off and do something like that. Or better yet, bring me with you!"

Just like that, he finally understood.

Nagant wasn't angry with him. She was terrified. Not for herself, but him.

"Alright." he relented.

"Promise me."

"I will-

"Promise me!" She bulled into his personal space, eyes wild, practically frantic. "Swear it, Naruto."

"Okay." He took hold of her injured hand, kissed her knuckles, and began healing them. "I promise I'll warn you next time before I do something that reckless. You'll be one of the first to know."

"And you'll take me with you." Her words were more a plea than a command. "Don't run into dangerous situations without me."

It made him feel oddly protective of her. He nodded. "I'll try not to."

Lady Nagant sniffled once; just like that, the damn broke; plentiful tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Hey, its alright." he reached around to stroke the small of her back. "I never go back on my word, ya know...

"You can't die." she babbled the words and clung to him, uncaring of who saw. "You're not allowed to die, you hear? You don't get to die, not after what you did to me..."

He made a puzzled noise. "What I did?"

"Don't be coy." She smacked his chest, weakly this time. "You saved me. So you're not allowed to die. Not without me."

Huh. He really had saved her, hadn't he?

"You did." she said, echoing his thoughts. "So...

Naruto felt her fists tighten against his shirt a second before she looked up. He had an inkling of what was to come, but even then she surprised him with a wet, sloppy kiss, enough to fog his mind and more. Her arms did a lazy loop around his neck, pulling him closer, and his hands settled on her waist in return. She clung to him, tilted her head for a better angle, the better to deepen the kiss. A pleasant haze settled over his thoughts and, for once, he let it.

Had they been anywhere else, things might've escalated further.

Instead, Nagant stepped back, took a deep breath, released him and nodded to herself as much as him. "Okay...alright. That's enough for now. We should probably get back before the others start to worry-

Something struck Naruto from the side.

Distracted as he was, he sensed the danger a second too late; by then it was already over.

"YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD!"

Curious absolutely cackled as she leaped on him, locked her legs round his waist and drove him down to the ground. Something soft slammed against his mouth. Her tongue plundered his for a brief moment, then she was done, drawing back with a happy sound as she smacked her lips and plonked herself down in his lap. She grinned down at him, eyes half-lidded as she licked her lips, regarding him as one might a fine meal.

"Take me now!"

His jaw damn near popped open. "HA?!"

Of all the thing's he'd expected to hear, that wasn't one of them!

"Um...!" she coughed into a fist and looked away to hide her a blush, "I mean, that was amazing! Did you plan that coup all along?!"

Lady Nagant finally found her voice at last and sputtered at her. "Hey! What're you doing?! Get offa him!"

Curious flashed her a megawatt grin, beaming fit to burst. "Never~!"

Naruto's head kissed the back of the dirt as they began to bicker.

"This is my life now...

A/N: Aaaaand scene~!

I think we can all agree that "Just an Army" is referring to more than Naruto's newly acquired forces.

Boy's gonna have himself an army of wives if this keeps up...

Didn't see that coming, did you?!

Well? Whaddya think? Should this continue? Should it be a story? I await your feedback. As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story...well...I'll not be able to continue it. With two jobs and rent to pay, my free time is...at an all time low. I can't afford to write stories that no one enjoys. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review, Would You Kindly?

Here, have some juicy previews.

Well, future ones at least.

Potential ones, too..

(Preview(s)

"Dad's back~!"

The child she'd inadvertently saved laughed and clapped their hands. "Giant mommy!"

Mount Lady balked. "Eh?!"

The she saw him. HIM. Her heart leaped into her throat.

"Wait, wait, wait! I wasn't trying to start anything! Honest!"

Naruto slapped his forehead. "Here we go again...

Mirko tilted her head. Tilted it some more, now.

Naruto quirked a brow. "Can I help you?"

...I thought you'd be taller."

He twitched. "Ha?"

"Eh, doesn't matter. Can you fight?"

"I don't think I should answer that question-OI!"

His hand snapped up, catching her by the ankle when she tried to smash her heel into his head.

Her grin was wild. "And there he is!"

...good job, Izuku. Why don't you go play with Fuyumi for a bit?"

"M'kay!"

"You're good with him...

"Go on, then." they smiled at him as he dragged himself upright. "Pretend to be everything you are not. Teacher. Husband. Father. You cannot change. "I see the real you, the beast inside." that soulless smile became a mad grin now as they stabbed a finger his way. "You act all high and mighty, but you're not! You're just an animal. Passing on your cruelty and rage. You will never change. You will always be a monster.

...then you don't know me."

"I know enough. You weaken yourself with this "family" of yours.

"And who are you to say that? Everything I do, I do for my family. For those I swore to protect."

"Surrender. Society demands it.

He cracked his neck. "No."

"...Good."

EDIT: Hey, you made it! Congrats! Thanks for taking the time to read this!

As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story...well...I'll not be able to continue it. With two jobs and rent to pay, my free time is...at an all time low. I can't afford to write stories that no one enjoys. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback, big or small, matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!

~Nz.

R&R~!