Uploaded: 7th February A.D. 2025, Feria VI infra Hebdomadam IV post Epiphaniam, S. Romualdi Abbatis ~ III. classis

3:30 AM AEST – Australian Eastern Standard Time GMT + 10

A Naruto and Game of Thrones Crossover

Disclaimer: "Naruto" is the property of Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, and Studio Pierrot. The HBO TV series "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" are the property of HBO. The book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" is the property of George R.R. Martin, who should finish The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, historical events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Reader discretion is advised.

A/N: Please join Aizen the Goat's Discord Server; it's a great place: kyTaRuVpBW

Genres: Action, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy

Warnings: Violence, Very Strong Language, Sexual Content

Universe: Animeverse/TV Series/Bookverse

Series: The Chronicles of the Maelstrom

"Jutsus/Time change/Place change"

"Otherworldly Beings Talking"

"Otherworldly Beings Speaking"

'Flashback'

"Normal Speaking"

"Normal Thinking/Telepathy speaking."

"Seek the Guardian of the Seven Kingdoms. Anointed by the One True God, only he can heal these lands."

- A missionary amongst the smallfolk

Act 1 - Winter is Coming

Chapter 6: A City in Change

Story Start.

Lord Beric Dondarrion rode with his hundred men before dawn to cross the country instead of using the roads, acting as the vanguard of the two cohorts that I called for and shadowing them for the expected ambush in their front and rear; a reinforced clone is leading them in secret. Jaime Lannister traversed the Gold Road and joined his father at the borders of the Riverlands. The raven Pycelle sent has reached the Lannisters, while the raven sent by Varys has reached Dragonstone. My clones keep watch in secret. Tyrion is staying away from Cersei. Apparently, he, too, suspects the parentage of his nephews and niece. Meanwhile, the great public works for King's Landing are doing well, especially beneath the ground. Good old Jaehaerys would be pleased.

-End of Entry, Fort Blackwater, 298 AC

"My lord Naruto, why have you called for Stannis, may I ask?"

Naruto looked up from his desk and met Varys' questioning gaze. It has been three days since he officially returned to King's Landing and since he ordered Tywin Lannister to come to the capital and answer for the Mountain's actions. From where he sat, the ongoing constructions that now spilled into the capital.

He leaned back in his chair, the golden rays of the midday sun streaming through his windows within his chambers in the Red Keep. He studied Varys, the Spider's ever-calm demeanour giving nothing away except that Naruto could sense his emotions, and he found the Spider confused.

"Why Stannis, you ask?" Naruto's voice was unwavering. "Because, unlike Robert, Stannis is a man of discipline and strategy. He may not have the love of the people, but he understands what I understand—order."

Varys nodded slowly, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "An interesting choice, my lord. Given that he is his brother's heir when, the public learns of the parentage of Queen Cersei's children. But summoning him could raise suspicions. The Queen will undoubtedly see this as a move against her house."

Naruto's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "She can see it however she likes. Let her wonder. But rest assured, my friend, I have no intention of making Stannis or Renly king."

The Master of Whisperers tilts his head slightly, knowing how bitter Stannis has been due to how Robert has treated him in the years past. "But he is still by birthright, heir to Robert."

Naruto nodded. "If you ask Ned, he will pursue that direction, but remember, Robert took the throne by force, and before him, Aegon the Conqueror made kings kneel."

"You are suggesting a precedent then, my lord?" Varys observed Naruto carefully, his gaze sharply measuring the ancient wisdom hidden beneath Naruto's youthful façade.

Naruto exhaled softly. "I am suggesting a lesson. The Targaryens ruled by fire and blood, and Robert won the throne by rebellion. But the true weight of the throne lies not in conquest alone—it is in governance, in legacy."

His blue eyes locked onto Varys, unblinking. "Do you think Stannis has that in him? He is just but not kind. He is disciplined but not inspiring. He would be a king that the lords would tolerate, but not the one they would love, and the Seven Kingdoms has had enough of kings loved by few."

Varys sighed, clasping his hands together. "Then why summon him at all, my lord?"

"Because I need his navy, among other things," Naruto replied simply.

The Spider blinked. "You mean to use the royal fleet?"

Naruto gave a slow nod, his sharp eyes meeting Varys'. "Yes. But it's not just about the fleet."

The corners of Varys' lips twitched into something that almost resembled amusement. "Ah. It is about the man who commands it, then?"

"In part." Naruto exhaled, folding his arms across his chest. "Stannis is disciplined, methodical, and above all else—predictable. If I give him a task, he will carry it out without deviation. And most importantly, he does not waver. I need that."

Varys hummed thoughtfully. "A wise choice, my lord. Stannis is many things, but malleable is not one of them. He will not yield to you easily."

"I don't need him to yield," countered Naruto. "I need him where I can see him, where I can use him. The royal fleet flies the King's Banner and idles at Dragonstone. That serves no one except the enemies of the realm."

"Enemies, my lord?" Varys asked, his fingers drummed together lightly. "Surely, you are not expecting a rebellion so soon?"

"If Robert dies, expect it," replied Naruto. "Also, Tywin will never answer the summons. He already knows that I know; he's intelligent. He expects Robert to die soon, I can feel it, and if we don't give the word to Robert about the royal children, especially that little shit called Joffrey, we'll have a much more difficult time."

The Spider regarded his lord carefully; his hands still steepled beneath his chin. "You say that Lord Tywin will not answer the summons… and yet, by calling him, you make his silence an answer in itself."

"Well… if we capture Clegane and bring him here, that would be different." Naruto's words made Varys contemplate.

Varys tapped his fingers together lightly, his mind already working through the words given to him. "Indeed. Ser Gregor is… a blunt instrument, but one that serves a master. If you bring the dog here and put him in chains before the Iron Throne, you will make his liege lord answerable for his actions. It truly is a bold move."

"That is also why I sent two cohorts, ready to interfere if Beric and his men come upon him," Naruto said with a steady voice. "My clone also leads them. Either way, the Mountain will be delivered to King's Landing in chains."

"I dare say, my lord, that you have a habit of bending the rules of fate to your liking," said Varys, letting out a soft chuckle.

Naruto shrugged in response. "Fate is just another force. It can be fought, redirected, or even broken—you just need to apply pressure in the right place."

The Spider studied him in silence for a moment before speaking again. "And if Robert dies before this game is finished? You hold no great love for the throne, and yet… you are gathering power, securing the fleet, preparing for war."

"For the realm, Varys," Naruto said, smiling at the Master of Whisperers. "Visenya and Rhaenys wanted me to sit on that throne after their sons, Aenys and Maegor—both kings, died. Granted, the realm believed Rhaenys died in Dorne decades before, and Visenya died within Maegor's rule. But history is rarely so simple."

Varys' expression did not change, though his eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Ah, yes. The lost histories of your own making. You were there, then, when the Faith rebelled against the Iron Throne? I read no word of you during those days, seemingly vanishing after Aegon the Conqueror died."

"After Maegor took the throne, Visenya asked me to keep Rhaenys hidden," Naruto answered, leaning back on his chair. "I did the same for Visenya; that's how I took them out of the realm."

"Fascinating. But why? Why keep them alive after all these years?" Varys asked him, and his curiosity was truly piqued.

Naruto exhaled. "That… is a question you should ask them yourself. They're usually at Fort Blackwater now that it is actually liveable; however, it is still under construction."

Varys shifted in his thoughts, and Naruto sensed it—the rare moment when even the Spider was caught off guard.

"Fort Blackwater," Varys repeated; his voice was light, almost amused. "Ah, yes. A part of your grand project. A fortress over the Blackwater River, serving as the southern end of your new wall that expands the city's borders. My little birds could never quite whisper the names of all those who dwell within."

Naruto let out a smirk. "Then perhaps you should visit and ask them yourself."

The Spider let out a quiet chuckle. "A tempting thought, my lord. But somehow, I suspect that Fort Blackwater is not so easily entered by those who do not belong."

"You're not wrong," replied Naruto with a nod.

Varys let his gaze wander toward the open window, where the sounds of hammers striking wood and stone echoed across the city. "The walls of King's Landing have remained unchanged since Jaehaerys the Conciliator died, and yet now they grow. More than that, your men do not simply build outward—they dig beneath the very foundations of the capital. My little birds whisper of tunnels, chambers, vaults, and structures, unlike anything Westeros has ever seen."

Naruto chuckled. "And yet, they still don't know everything."

Varys sighed theatrically. "It is as you say, my lord. It is quite the frustration."

His fingers tapped together lightly. "Your fortifications stretch far beyond the city walls, your sewers no longer flow with filth, and even Flea Bottom sees a transformation. From the streets to the depths below, you are reshaping this city into something… else. A true capital worthy of an empire."

"A stronghold should be able to withstand more than just men, don't you think?" Naruto's eyes returned to his writing as Varys watched him.

"A stronghold should be able to withstand more than just men, yes… but I wonder, my lord, just how extensive your vision truly is," Varys asked as he gestured toward the open window of the Red Keep, where scaffolding and newly laid stone stretched far beyond the city's ancient walls.

"How far do you mean to take this? The walls grow, the city expands, the tunnels deepen…"

Naruto simply smiled. "I'll make a full report at the Small Council."

Varys tapped his fingers together. "A full report, you say. I imagine Lord Baelish will have much to say about the treasury, Grand Maester Pycelle will feign disinterest while quietly questioning your authority… and Lord Renly will be more amused than concerned."

Naruto continued writing. "I expect Baelish to be quite vocal when I present my report."

Varys chuckled. "Ah, yes. The seven million gold dragons you so graciously provided to clear the Crown's debts. A gesture of unmatched generosity. You were quite generous in allowing Lord Baelish to handle it."

Naruto leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Generous? No, I was curious, and Littlefinger is ever so entertaining when he thinks he is the cleverest man in the room."

"And yet, one must wonder, my lord." Varys tilted his head slightly. "If the Master of Coin has been entirely… diligent in his task."

Naruto's smirk did not fade. "Oh, entirely diligent? No, that's why I let him do it."

For the first time since the conversation began, Varys allowed himself to laugh softly. "A trap, then?"

"Call it a test. I know where the money should have gone and has gone," Naruto said as he drummed his fingers against the polished wood of his desk. "The Iron Bank has been satisfied, and so has the Faith of the Seven. The fat High Septon has been happy, and so have many merchants. But to Lord Lannister, it seems we are still one million gold dragons short."

Varys thoughtfully hummed, his fingers now tapping idly against the armrest of his chair. "A curious discrepancy, my lord. Littlefinger is many things, but careless with numbers? That is not a flaw I would readily attribute to him. That said, given the possible war with Lord Tywin, giving him gold to fund his coffers seems unwise."

"Oh, I agree." Naruto kept up his smirk. "Tywin does not need the Crown's gold. He has plenty of his own. But it is not about need—it is about control. Tywin demands repayment not because he is desperate, but because he wants the realm in his debt."

"Also, Baelish is not careless. He's ambitious but made the mistake that will cost him everything."

Varys raised his eyebrows in question. "And what is that, my lord."

"Accepting my money."

Varys chuckled, shaking his head as he realised where Naruto was going with this. "Ah, yes. One does not steal from the legendary Guardian of the Seven Kingdoms and expect to walk away unscathed. I suspect Lord Baelish believes otherwise?"

Naruto leaned back, nodding as he smirked. "Oh, he does. He thinks himself untouchable. But he forgot the gold he's skimming doesn't belong to the Crown."

"It belongs to you," Varys replied, amusement clearly on his face.

Naruto nodded. "Every last piece of gold meant to clear the Crown's debts came from my pockets, not Robert's. Not to mention, it is tracked. Baelish thought that he could treat it as he would the Crown's taxes, moving numbers, shifting ledges, siphoning what he pleased, investing others while keeping the illusion of control."

Varys exhaled through his nose, thoughtful of what he had just learned. "And you have proof?"

"Of course," Naruto replied, tapping a pile of parchment on his desk. "The Iron Bank's records. The Faith's ledgers. Even the merchant guilds under his pockets. I have cross-checked everything against the numbers Baelish has been feeding the Crown. A million gold dragons never made it to the Lannisters. He thinks it's buried deep enough that no one else will find it."

The Spider's expression did not change as he spoke. "He has always been ambitious, but this? A calculated risk, surely, but it places him directly in your path. It seems… reckless."

"He thinks this is another game, not reckless." Naruto chuckled in amusement.

"And what will do you about it, my lord? Bring the matter to the King?" Varys asked, curious as to what Naruto planned.

"Perhaps, but then, Robert barely glances at the treasury unless it involves wine, whores, or a tournament. Unless Robert changes… after the truth of his children comes to light."

Varys nodded slightly; his expression was pensive. "A great 'if,' my lord. Robert Baratheon has spent his reign running from responsibility, drowning himself in pleasure while others rule in his stead. The truth of his children may awaken something in him… or it may shatter him entirely."

"I know him well enough to see both possibilities," Naruto said, exhaling as he leaned back in his chair. "He will rage like a storm. He will curse and drink himself into a stupor. But in the end, he is a man who hates being made a fool."

Varys leaned back. "And if he does not change?"

Naruto's eyes sharpened, and his smirk faded. "Then Westeros must move on without him."

"A bold statement, my lord. There are those who would hear treason in your words." Varys observed him carefully, his thoughts gathering. "You must have a course of action already in mind."

The Guardian nodded before standing up from his chair and walking toward the window to see the rest of the city move on despite the high lords playing about.

"… Visenya and Rhaenys have been urging me lately, Visenya especially, to strike and put an end to this farce of a game once and for all."

Varys remained silent momentarily, his sharp eyes watching Naruto as the mention of Visenya and Rhaenys caught his attention. "Ah, yes. She's not one for half-measures, is she?"

The words hung between them like a lingering shadow, yet Naruto merely smiled, unbothered. The revelation, though long suspected, was now spoken aloud. The Master of Whisperers had pieced together everything the moment he laid his eyes upon the two silver-haired women that followed Naruto. Their undeniable presence has thrown King's Landing abuzz with rumours—Targaryens have returned.

"My lord, if they reveal themselves for who they truly are, the realm will be thrown into chaos worse than if the truth of the royal children comes up. The lords of the Seven Kingdoms would not just see them as a threat—they would see them as an impossibility. Robert will be infuriated when he sees them."

"That really depends on the circumstances of their meeting, to be honest," Naruto mused, thinking about the King. "The Robert of seventeen years ago is not the same Robert today. He even barely remembers Lyanna Stark's face.

Varys watched his friend carefully, his mind working through the implications. "So, you believe Robert's rage has dulled with time?"

"Shifted, not dulled," Naruto corrected him. "He was a man burning with fury, driven by grief and vengeance. But time has worn him down. His hatred for Rhaegar remains, but the fire isn't as fierce. He drinks, he hunts, and he loses himself in excess because he no longer knows how to be the man he once was. He confided to me once that he'd rather abdicate the throne and be a sellsword if he had to continue like this."

"A king who no longer wishes to be king," Varys murmured, considering the weight of such a confession. "That is both a tragedy and an opportunity."

Then his eyes locked with Naruto, and realisation fell upon him. "Oh, I see… should the opportunity arise, you mean to let him walk away."

"I mean to give him a choice, among others, such as returning to Storm's End," Naruto stated, then looking to the side. "Though Stannis will hate that one."

Their conversation would continue further, and Varys enjoyed being able to converse openly with one of the few people in the world that he fully trusted. Unfortunately, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. It was a Legion guard—they have been stationed in the Red Keep as well, much to the consternation of the City Watch.

"My lord," the guard called out to him. "Lord Commander Visenya requests your presence at the Fort Blackwater."

Varys raised an eyebrow, his lips curving slightly; amusement gleamed from his eyes. "And now the Queen calls for her King."

Naruto chuckled, standing from his desk. "All we do, we do for the realm and her people."

Varys bowed. "That we do, my lord."

Naruto stepped out of the Red Keep, saluted by both his legionnaires and the City Watch; his cloak, still depicting his actual personal sigil instead of the Uzumaki Legion, billowed slightly as he descended the steps of Maegor's Holdfast. The sun passed its peak, casting a golden glow over the city below.

The air smelled different now. Fresher even.

He started improving the city's sanitation a year ago, and some months have passed. The stench of rot and filth that had choked every breath is long gone. The gutters no longer overflow with sewage, and the streets no longer reeked of unwashed bodies, spoiled food, and decay.

As he walked down the winding steps, he saw Arya chasing cats again.

Arya Stark was darting through the pillars, crawling across the stones like a shadow, her small form weaving through the narrow paths.

It was quite a familiar sight to him. He smirked as he watched her lunge for a large orange tomcat, only for the creature to slip through her grasp and leap onto a crate, hissing at her.

"Seven hells!" she swore, brushing dust from her tunic before immediately springing back into action.

Naruto chuckled, calling her out, "If you want to catch them, little wolf, you need to stop moving like a direwolf and more like a fox."

Arya froze mid-step, turning toward him. It had been some time since they had seen each other, and her grey eyes widened in surprise. Moments later, she scowled as if realising who she was talking to.

"I'm not little!" Arya huffed, crossing her arms. "And I don't need to move like a fox; I just need to be faster."

He chuckled as he stepped down onto the street as he approached her. "That's your problem, little wolf. You think speed alone is enough. But speed without control is just wasted movement."

She scowled. "So, what, should I crawl on my belly like a lizard?"

Naruto shook his head with a smile. "No, you need to learn patience."

Arya narrowed her eyes. "That's what Syrio says. 'Swift as a deer, quiet as a shadow.' I don't need two teachers telling me the same thing."

Naruto crouched slightly, glancing at the cat sitting atop its crate, tail flicking lazily as it watched Arya with bemused eyes. "Tell me, how many times have you caught it?"

She hesitated before muttering, "None."

"Exactly. Because you're chasing it like a direwolf on the hunt, but a cat isn't prey—it's a trickster. If you want to catch it, think like it."

The little Stark frowned, chewing on her lip as she considered his words. "And how do I do that?"

Lord Uzumaki leaned in slightly, his voice quieter, as if sharing a secret. "You let it come to you."

"What?" Arya tilted her head.

"Don't chase it. Make it curious. Make it come to you," explained Naruto; then, with a flick of his wrist, and before Arya's eyes, a small swirl of golden chakra danced along his fingertips, twisting like a ribbon in the air.

The cat's ears picked up.

It stared at the glowing strands, both eyes locked in fascination.

Naruto stilled like a stone, barely breathing. The cat is intrigued by the strange movement and slowly creeps down from its crate, one cautious step at a time.

Arya's eyes widened. "That's cheating!" she whispered.

He only grinned. "No, it's understanding."

The cat came within a hair's breadth of his hand—then, with one swift motion, Naruto it by the scruff of its neck. The cat hissed in outrage, but when he scratched it behind its ear, it calmed instantly.

Arya crossed her arms. "I can't do that glowing trick."

"You don't need to," Naruto replied, handing her the cat. "All you need is patience and to make them want to come to you."

She hesitated but took the cat into her arms. It wriggled for a moment before settling down, allowing her to hold it. Arya's expression was caught between wonder and frustration.

"That's still cheating," she grumbled.

Naruto chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You'll figure it out, little wolf. One day, you won't need to chase anything."

Arya pulled away, scowling. "I told you, I'm not little."

Naruto laughed as he stepped past her, his destination still set. "You keep saying that. Maybe one day, I'll believe you. Perhaps Visenya can teach you."

She stood there and watched him go, her fingers absently stroking the purring cat's fur. And in the back of her head, she thought he might be right. Then, she blinked.

"Visenya?" she repeated in a mutter, watching Naruto walk away.

Arya heard rumours of two silver-haired sisters who arrived in the city, Naruto's wives, apparently.

Visenya and Rhaenys.

Names that belonged to legends in history were names she had read about in Maester Luwin's old books.

But names that should have been dead for centuries. And yet, she had seen glimpses of them in the Red Keep—figures in flowing black and red, warriors wrapped in Valyrian steel, eyes of purple.

She knew whispers when she heard them.

The Dragon Queens, one said, the other, the Lord Guardian's brides, and another, the ghosts of Valyria reborn.

Arya had dismissed it at first; after all, no one could come back from the dead.

But then again—Naruto was supposed to be impossible, too. She read stories and heard whispers of the tales from the North, of Naruto and the First Men.

She frowned, watching Naruto walk deeper into the city, heading for the outer gates, his cloak billowing behind him.

Visenya.

That name sat uneasily in her mind, not out of fear but from something else. Curiosity. Excitement. Challenge.

Syrio had told her once that a girl must learn from many masters if she is to be great.

A thought formed in her mind. "Maybe… maybe I should see who this woman is…"

She then turned away, the cat still in her arms and disappeared back into the streets.

Whenever Naruto finds himself walking through the city, he never rushes. After all, he knows that to rule well, one must understand the people, and to understand them is to walk among them, not just above them. He descended from the Red Keep, from Aegon's High Hill, onto the Hook, where the narrow, winding road curved steeply downward toward the city.

This road had, at one point, treacherous; its uneven stones were a nightmare for travellers, merchants, and carts. The rain would turn it into a slick hazard, and in the dark, it had been a breeding ground for cutpurses and footpads.

"Rhaegar used to sing down here…" he thought as he continued down. Smallfolk and nobles alike bowed as he passed.

Under his command, the Hook had been repaved with reinforced stone, making travel safer for both foot traffic and carriages. New handrails had been installed along the steepest portions, ensuring that even in the rain, one wouldn't slip to their death.

As Naruto walked, he noticed the absence of beggars.

Once, the Hook had been lined with the destitute, their outstretched hands grasping at nobles and merchants for scraps.

But the new houses of healing—medical establishment under his city-wide reforms—had taken many of them in. No longer were the sick and dying left to rot in the streets. A far memory of his old home surfaced when he had first established these houses of healing.

"Sakura would be quite impressed, given the difference in technology…"

"Hmm, perhaps," Naruto replied to his oldest friend. "But there is much to do."

A merchant passed by, pushing a cart filled with dried fruit.

"Move aside!" he called to some other people, but his voice was not of anger but relief.

A cart could actually roll smoothly down the Hook without breaking an axle.

Quite a progress.

Soon enough, he stepped onto the Muddy Way, one of the largest roads in King's Landing, and one of the four straight streets started at the great square in the centre of the city. Old King Jaehaerys built this road, among others, under a different name—Blackwater Way.

The name "Muddy Way" had not been a mere jest but a cruel truth.

For decades, it had been a filthy, disease-ridden stretch; its gutters clogged with filth and the cobbled paths crumbling under the weight of foot traffic and neglect. On stormy days, it would turn into a river of sludge and rot, forcing even the bravest merchants to avoid its depths.

But now? It has been reborn.

Building on and improving the plans of the old king, Naruto ordered new stonework for reconstruction. Its gutters widened and deepened, allowing filth and rainwater to flow properly into the newly constructed underground drainage system.

Where once the stench had choked the air, now only the scent of spices, baked bread, and freshly cut timbre filled the streets. The echo of hammers could still be heard in the distance as workers continued the restoration of the city, ensuring the last remnants of decay and ruin were swept away.

Merchants had returned in full force, their colourful stalls and wooden carts brimming with goods.

For the first time in the city's long history, all four great straight roads—the Muddy Way, the God's Way, the Streets of Sisters, and the King's Way—have been remade in the same way, their foundations reinforced, their paths evened, and their sides lined with trees and gardens.

Naruto had ordered rows of carefully planted trees and shrubs, their roots woven between the stonework, breaking the monotony of the city's once-dreary streets. Some called it wasteful, others marvelled at the sight, but none could deny that their very feel of the city had changed.

The city could breathe, endure, and thrive.

In the year before Lord Eddard Stark was called to be Hand of the King. Naruto had countered Littlefinger's scheming—one by one, Littlefinger's men in the financial side of the city had been removed or forced to be accountable. The taxes were fair for the first time since the Mad King's reign, and the goods flowed properly through the city's markets.

And Baelish hated him for it.

Naruto had cut deeply into the Master of Coin's shadow network of skimming, bribery, and personal wealth-building. What should have gone to the Crown and the people had been lining Baelish's pockets for years. Perhaps that is why he stole one million gold dragons that were meant to pay Tywin Lannister.

For once, the coin collected actually went into the city's restoration instead of being funnelled into the hands of those who thought they could play the game unnoticed.

Baelish was losing his grip on King's Landing and the Seven Kingdoms.

As Naruto moved forward, a group of children rushed past him, their laughter ringing through the streets.

One of them—a young boy, barefoot and clutching a wooden carving of a dragon, no doubt seeing the sigil of the Uzumaki Legions, stopped and stared up at him. The boy's eyes widened, and he quickly bowed his head.

"M'lord," the child muttered, fidgeting.

Naruto crouched down, gesturing to the small dragon in his hands.

"Did you carve this yourself?" he asked softly.

The boy hesitated before nodding.

Naruto took it, inspecting the fine details. It was crude but well-made, the lines of the wings uneven, but the shape strong and recognisable. He turned it over, noting the roughness of the wood—scraps, likely taken from a carpenter's leftovers.

"You've got talent," Naruto said, handing it back. "Keep practising."

The boy beamed, clutching the figure to his chest before scurrying away, calling after his friends.

A woman, the boy's mother, stood nearby, watching. As Naruto turned his gaze to her, she bowed her head slightly.

"My lord," she said. "Thank you."

Naruto tilted his head. "For what?"

"For this," she gestured around the road. "For everything you've done. My son—he doesn't cough at night anymore. The air's cleaners, the streets are safer… we can live without fear of filth and sickness."

Naruto gave a slow nod. "It's only the beginning."

She smiled. "Then the beginning is already a blessing."

He left her with those words, continuing down the Muddy Way, past the thriving road, toward the next part of his walk.

But amidst the usual sounds, his sharp ears caught the unmistakable bite of an argument. Two men, one a fishmonger and the other a cloth merchant, stood nose to nose in front of a shop, their voices heated as they gestured wildly. A few bystanders lingered nearby, watching with interest but keeping a safe distance.

"This is madness!" the fishmonger, a burly man with calloused hands, growled. "The Guardian is spending more gold than a Lannister wedding! Stonework here, tunnels there, new wells, new pipes—where's all this money coming from?"

The cloth merchant, an older man with greying hair, scoffed as he crossed his arms. "You think like a rat living in a collapsed building. He's making the city better, and all you can do is whine?"

"Better?" the fishmonger spat. "Aye, the streets don't stink no more, but my taxes have doubled! You don't think the Crown's gold is going somewhere, do you?"

The cloth merchant sneered at him. "Your taxes? Your taxes?"

He laughed dryly. "I see more business now than in the last ten years combined. The roads ain't clogged with filth anymore—people can actually come and buy my wares. You think I care if I pay more coins in tax if I make double what I used to?"

A bystander, a young man with an apron stained with ink, muttered to himself. "Not all of us make coin like that, old man. Some of us barely scrape by."

A woman, her arms folded, stepped forward from the small gathering of listeners. Her hair was bound in a red scarf, and her face was sharp and lined from years of hardship.

"You fools argue about taxes and buildings while the real question is ignored," she said coldly. "Tell me—who truly rules this city now? King Robert? Or the Guardian?"

The fishmonger grunted. "Bah, the king drinks himself to death or hunts to die in the Kingswood. He ain't ruled since the Rebellion ended. The old Hand did it for him. And the Small Council? Corrupt bastards, all of them."

"Then maybe it's for the better." The cloth merchant shrugged. "Who would you rather see at the head of things? A man who drinks and fucks away the treasury or the one actually fixing the city?"

That set off another round of muttering.

"The Guardian ain't the king," someone said.

"Does he need to be?" another countered.

"He should take the throne when the king finally drinks himself to death," muttered a grey-haired carpenter. "I hear the royal children are all bastards anyway."

Naruto kept walking; his expression was neutral. "Varys is at work now…"

The murmurs rippled through the gathered smallfolk; a tide of discontent was slowly rising. Varys proposed to start spreading rumours about the royal children, and both Naruto and Ned accepted it.

"Watch your tongue, old man," a younger man hissed at the carpenter, darting his eyes around nervously. "You get hanged for saying such things!"

"And who's going to do the hanging?" the carpenter scoffed at the young man. "The Gold Cloaks? Half of them bend the knee to the Guardian already. Not to mention those foreign soldiers he brought weeks ago and made the work in the city faster."

Naruto continued his pace; his expression was unreadable as he listened to the conversations unfolding in the street.

"The Uzumaki Legion, you mean," a stout butcher interjected; his voice was hushed yet firm. "I saw them hauling stones at the docks, clearing the filth out of the sewers. Not a single one complains. I've never seen soldiers work like that."

"They ain't just soldiers," the cloth merchant muttered. "They build, they patrol, they enforce order—and not just in the fancy parts of the city. Heck, Flee Bottom is almost fully demolished to build proper housing."

The fishmonger shook his head. "And yet, the king rides off to hunt and drink while another man does the ruling."

"Then maybe it's for the better," the carpenter spoke again, louder this time. "Both the Guardian and the Hand are building more than roads and walls—they're building something new. Something better."

"Ah, yes, Lord Stark is also working," a younger man muttered. His voice was neither dismissive nor mocking, just thoughtful.

"Aye," the fishmonger agreed. "The Hand is different, stronger. He and the Guardian…" He hesitated, then let out a breath. "They actually give a damn."

Naruto strode forward; his steps remained measured and deliberate, and his cloak shifted with the breeze. The debate settled into murmurs as he passed by.

One of the younger men stiffened, his eyes widening as he recognised the figure moving through the crowd. The fishmonger faltered as he saw who had been listening. The cloth merchant, ever the pragmatist, merely sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Some others watched Naruto with something akin to curiosity.

Here was the man they spoke of, the one whose hand had reshaped their city, the one who had defied kings and lords, the one who, whether by force, by coin, or by sheer inevitability, was changing the Seven Kingdoms.

As Naruto moved forward, a young girl, no older than six, rushed out of a shop, nearly colliding with him.

He caught her before she fell, steadying her.

"Carefully there, little one," he said as he helped her stand.

The girl blinked up at him with wide eyes before giggling and running off, her mother calling after her from inside.

Such moments made him smile as Naruto watched her go.

Naruto continued to Fishmonger's Square, past vendors and common folk going about their day. Whispers still followed him, hushed voices woven between the hammering of builders, the sawing of wood, and the cries of merchants.

The square was alive with trade coming in from the Mud Gate, or the River Gate, officially, where vendors called out their wares, dockworkers unloading baskets of fish, and children darted between carts as their laughter mixed with the sounds of the bustling marketplace.

"The King's still hunting?" a man muttered near a stall of dried meats, his voice edged with doubt.

"Aye," an older woman grumbled, adjusting the basket on her hip. "Been gone too long. Should've returned days past."

"Maybe he finally drank himself into a boar's belly," a younger man chuckled, shaking his head.

A few more chuckles rippled through the gathered vendors, but another voice cut through their amusement.

"Lord Stark has been running the city with the Guardian and his legions."

Silence fell over the small group for a moment before another man, another merchant, grunted in agreement.

"And doing a damn better job of it too."

Another vendor, a vegetable vendor, stood nearby and scoffed. "Not that it's hard. The king never ruled—he drank, he fought, he whored. Jon Arryn kept the realm together, and now?" He gestured around. "Look at the city. It ain't the Small Council keeping things running. It's the Hand and the Guardian."

"They say even the Lannisters ain't moving against them."

"Tywin won't stand for it forever," someone muttered.

"Maybe, but he's been quiet," another countered.

The older woman who had spoken before shifted her basket and glanced toward Naruto as he passed by. "Maybe the realm already has its rulers…"

Naruto did not slow his step, did not turn his head, and did not speak. But murmurs lingered in the air as he walked on and stepped beyond Fishmonger's Square, heading for River Row, which hugged the southeastern wall of the city.

The newly paved road still ran parallel alongside the Blackwater Rush on the other of the southeastern wall, where ships docked, warehouses stood, and goods from across the realm and beyond were loaded and unloaded.

He strode down the lifeblood of the city's commerce. Its proximity to Blackwater Rush, the Bay, and the harbour made it the beating heart of trade, transport, and travel. However, it had also been one of the most neglected roads in the city.

Like the four straight roads, River Row was remade the same way all streets and alleyways were remade. The new drainage system, connected to the new underground sewers, ensured that waste no longer poured into the Blackwater Rush.

The difference was undeniable.

Naruto walked past the inns of varying sizes lining up the River Row, ranging from grand establishments catering to wealthy sea captains to modest taverns where common sailors and merchants found shelter. Their doors constantly swung open and closed, as the flow of travellers never ceased.

He walked past one such inn, where a group of sailors lounged outside, smoking clay pipes and drinking cheap ale.

"Tell me," one of them muttered, his voice just loud enough for Naruto to hear, "has the king drowned himself in a cask of wine, or is he still out chasing boars?"

A few chuckles followed a gruff, knowing sort of laughter that carried the weight of truth, but another sailor shook his head. "The king don't matter anymore," he said. "Look at this city. It ain't Robert Baratheon building this."

"Have you seen it?" another sailor muttered to another, his voice carrying in the little group.

"Aye," he grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. "They're calling it a viaduct. Never seen anything like it."

Another sailor, younger but already hardened by the sea, leaned forward. "What's a viaduct?"

"A bridge," one of the older sailors explained, gesturing upward, "but not like any we know. This one climbs the sky."

The group followed his gaze far across the city, past the inns and rooftops, toward the rising arches of stone, slowly stretching from Aegon's High Hill to Rhaenys' Hill. The outline of the viaduct, though still unfinished, was already looming over the cityscape—its massive pillars rooted in stone, arches climbing above the lower districts, higher than any had imagined.

They couldn't see it, but below was Flea Bottom, almost demolished.

"You ever heard of such a thing?" one sailor asked.

"Not in Westeros," another replied. "Braavos has the Sweetwater River, an aqueduct supplying the city their fresh water."

The older sailor nodded; his expression was thoughtful. "Aye. But this ain't just for water, is it?"

"No," a different voice chimed in, a younger merchant leaning against a barrel nearby, clearly listening. "This one's for people."

The sailors turned toward him, frowning. "For what people?"

"To walk," the merchant said, pointing to the distant outline of the structure. "To move between the Red Keep and the Dragonpit without ever touching the streets below."

There was a pause between them until it was broken by one of the sailors.

"Why? There ain't no dragons left."

"Not for dragons." The merchant smirked. "For something else."

Another sailor leaned in; his voice was lower, more speculative. "They say the Guardian is turning the Dragonpit into a fortress."

"A fortress?" one muttered. "Why? Ain't the Red Keep already enough?"

"A fortress for what?" voiced another. "Didn't the Guardian build two new additional barracks for the City Watch?"

The merchant shook his head. "Not for the Gold Cloaks. For something else entirely."

"A bridge ain't just a bridge," an old sailor muttered, stroking his greying beard. "It's a claim. The man's building roads, walls, and now bridges? He ain't just fixing a city—he's making a kingdom."

"Ain't he already got one?" another scoffed.

The old sailor shook his head. "Not in name. But in truth? Tell me… who stops him now?"

The murmurs deepened, and Naruto walked ever on.

He continued his pace and walked past the King's Gate, leaving the city proper behind as he moved toward Fort Blackwater. However, it was impossible to ignore what lay ahead—the new walls of the city stretching far beyond the old boundaries.

Where once King's Landing had been confined within a single set of stone fortifications, the new defences extended outwards, just as he planned with the Legions, pushing the city's reach across great distances beyond the original walls.

For centuries, the capital had been constrained, and its growth was stunted by overcrowding, filth, and poor infrastructure. But under Naruto's command, that was changing.

Naruto walked and saw the outline of the new fortifications, and they were unmistakable, their half-built walls stretching toward the horizon. He saw where massive stone blocks had been laid, forming the foundation of a defensive perimeter unlike anything in Westeros before.

The new city was already forming inside the expanded perimeter, with villages, work camps, and market districts springing up in the open land between the old and new walls.

Farmers, Naruto noted, were once forced to live beyond the city and at the mercy of bandits but now had protected farmland within the new defences. Merchants, once cramped within the city's narrow streets, now had space for greater trade, markets, and storage.

New roads and pathways were being carved between the old and new walls; this time, unlike the original building of the city, it was planned. Beneath them, the new sewers also lay alongside the underground aqueducts that carried fresh water.

In Naruto's mind, this city was built on conquest, expanded uncontrollably, and left to rot through neglect. But this time, it would be different. No child would starve in its streets; no soldier would loot its homes. It would be a city built for the future, not for the dead.

"Stretching to almost two leagues?" a labourer muttered as Naruto walked by. "I thought they were just repairing the old walls, not building a whole new city."

"It ain't repairs," his companion scoffed. "It's expansion. The Guardian's stretching the city outward."

"I heard tell that when it's done, King's Landing will be the largest city in Westeros," a merchant added.

"It's already the largest city in Westeros," a blacksmith corrected him, wiping sweat from his brow. "But it'll be twice as big now."

A few men glanced toward the towering fortifications; their expressions were a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Ain't never seen walls like that before," one of them murmured.

"The Red Keep used to be the safest place in the city," another remarked. "But I'm thinking… this Fort Blackwater might be even stronger."

To Naruto's right, walking southwards, the tourney grounds of King's Landing stretched far to the Gold Road. Once used only for royal events and grand celebrations, the field had taken on a new role under his command. Now, it was not just a place for spectacle but a place of training.

Naruto spotted young squires practising under the watchful eye of their knights, their wooden swords clashing as they drilled the basics of combat.

Further along, Uzumaki Legionnaires trained in formation. Their discipline is unmistakable, and their movements are sharper and more precise than those of any Westerosi force.

At one corner of the field, he noticed a few noble sons from different houses testing their mettle against legion instructors—men trained not just in Westerosi warfare but in techniques beyond.

He moved on, walking down the road from the King's Gate. From it, Fort Blackwater stood only a kilometre away, its stone silhouette visible against the evening sky, stretching across both banks of the Blackwater Rush, not unlike the Twins across the Green Fork of the Trident.

But there was no bridge here—no mere stone span connecting two keeps. Fort Blackwater was more than that. It spanned high across the river, its massive stonework reinforced with defensive measures unseen in Westeros.

The great gate that Naruto wanted has been built.

The Blackwater Rush, once a free-flowing and undefended route, now flowed through the very heart of Fort Blackwater. Two massive portcullises, buried deep into the riverbed, now blocked the river at the fort. If war came, no fleet could pass upriver, inland, without breaking through the fort.

Its gates loomed ahead, and the banners of House Uzumaki and the Uzumaki Legions fluttered in the wind.

However, this is only one fort in the Blackwater. But this was only the first step in securing the capital from future threats. Another fortress would rise soon, one that would genuinely make the Blackwater Rush impregnable.

Naruto had already planned the construction. This other fort will rise from the foot of Aegon's High Hill, then across the mouth of the river into Kingswood, entirely blocking and defending the ports of King's Landing. It will be connected to the Red Keep by a planned wall.

It should commence construction by tomorrow if that is what Visenya intended to talk about with him. It is a good thing, too, since Naruto approached the entrance of the fort. Its legionnaires saluted sharply, standing in perfect formation.

One of them stepped forward.

"My lord," the legionnaire spoke with crisp precision, a hint of something like a northern accent in his voice. "Lady Visenya is expecting you."

Then, after a moment, his tone shifted slightly as if repeating words passed on directly from the Lady Commander herself.

"And in her own words, you took a scenic route, it seems."

Naruto exhaled through his nose, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Visenya does love efficiency."

The legionnaire hesitated for a moment before adding, "She was… impatient, my lord."

Naruto smirked. "She always is."

The legionnaire exhaled, shifting his stance. "I've seen men twice my size falter under her gaze decades before, back home. There is… something in her, my lord. She does not just command respect—she demands it."

Naruto chuckled in reply.

"Then let's not keep her waiting."

Cersei Lannister sat by the window of her chambers, the moon's silver light spilling across the polished floor. She swirled her goblet of wine absently, her emerald eyes unfocused as she gazed toward the distant Kingswood, where her husband had ridden out days ago.

She was waiting.

Waiting for the inevitable, and she hated it.

Waiting for the final mistake Robert Baratheon would ever make.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She sighed, setting down her goblet before glancing toward the entrance. "Enter."

The door creaked open, and Varys stepped inside, his robes whispering across the stone floor. The two Lannister guards at the door exchanged uneasy glances but did not stop him. No one ever did as Cersei let out a slow exhale and leaned back in her chair.

"Lord Varys," she murmured. "You've been avoiding me."

Varys bowed slightly, his expression unreadable to her. "Your Grace, I serve where I am needed."

Cersei scoffed lightly; her gaze upon him was sharp. "And you think I do not need you?"

He offered a smile, smooth and effortless. "I would never presume to think that my Queen. However, I have found that in recent days, you seem… preoccupied."

Cersei's lips curved slightly, but there was no warmth behind them. "I have much to think about, Lord Varys. For instance, the men who whisper about silver-haired—Targaryen whores walking with the Lord Guardian."

Varys did not react to Cersei's words, laced with venom, nor did he break his carefully composed expression. He had known this conversation was coming. The Queen has been stewing in her chambers for days, not long after Tyrion was brought back to King's Landing with Lady Stark.

"And what do you think of these whispers, my lord?" Cersei asked, tilting her head, her golden locks glistening under the sunlight. "Do you believe them?"

"The people of King's Landing are always eager for gossip, Your Grace," said Varys, clasping his hands in front of him. "Whispers are like embers in the wind—some fade before they catch flame, but others…"

She merely scoffed, swirling her goblet. "And yet, these particular whispers do not seem to be fading. The Lord Guardian marched into the throne room, those two whores in tow, and declared my father's bannerman to be a criminal."

Varys sighed softly, inclining his head. "Yes, Your Grace. It was… an unprecedented move, both by Lord Uzumaki and Lord Stark."

Cersei's emerald eyes blazed as she leaned forward. "It was an insult. Not just to my father's bannermen but to my House. Summoning my father, the Warden of the West, to answer for crimes he did not commit is an insult."

She took a sip of wine, her fingers tightening around the goblet. "The people saw it as a show of strength. I see it for what it was—a challenge."

"You believe he seeks to provoke Lord Tywin?" Varys let out a slow breath.

"Oh, he knows my father cannot ignore such an act." Her grip on the goblet tightened. "Tywin Lannister does not suffer slights."

Varys observed her carefully. Tywin was still camped at the border of the Riverlands, waiting. If he had received word of the Mountain's condemnation and his summoning to King's Landing, then his next move would decide the future of the realm.

For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Then, Cersei's expression softened.

"I used to admire him, you know," she said suddenly. "The Guardian."

Varys raised an eyebrow, thoughts forming in his head. "Did you?"

Cersei smiled faintly, though it did not reach her eyes. "Perhaps I still do."

Varys allowed the words to settle between them, his mind already racing through the implications. Cersei Lannister did not give out admiration freely. She was raised by Tywin Lannister and was forged in her father's ruthless belief that power was something to be feared and controlled.

Yet here she was, openly admitting to a quiet reverence for the one man in Westeros who did not play by those rules.

"That is not something I expected to hear from you, Your Grace," Varys said smoothly, his voice now laced with curiosity.

Cersei let out a breath that was neither a laugh nor a sigh. "You mistake me, Lord Varys. I do not love him. Nor do I trust him. But I must admit… when I was a little girl, many of us dreamed of being with him. If not with Prince Rhaegar, then with the Guardian."

Varys raised an eyebrow at that admission, though he masked his surprise well as he often does. "Fascinating. One rarely hears of childhood dreams from a queen so… pragmatic."

Cersei let out a soft chuckle, swirling the wine in her goblet, watching the liquid inside. "You misunderstand, Lord Varys. It was never about love or fairy tales."

Her eyes become distant, now looking out. "Naruto Uzumaki was not a man. He was a legend. Whispered about in the halls of noble houses, in the songs of minstrels, and in the prayers of the desperate."

Taking a sip of her wine, she exhaled as she leaned back into her chair. "To be chosen by him, to stand by his side, was not about affection—it was about power. About standing beside something… unstoppable."

"I was a child," she continued, her voice becoming quieter. "And as children do, we saw power and thought it was something we could own. I believed that if I was to be queen, then it must be beside a man like him… and yet I was given Robert."

She laughed bitterly, and Varys understood completely why.

"When I look at him now, when I see the way he walks through this city like a king in all but name, I do not feel love but vindication," she said as Varys noted the slight amusement in her voice.

"Vindication, Your Grace?" Varys looked at her with an unreadable expression.

"Yes," Cersei breathed. "Because for all my father's wisdom, for all the power and fear he instilled in me… he was wrong."

That made Varys still. Cersei Lannister rarely, if ever, questioned her father.

Until now.

"You mean to say," Varys started carefully, "that Lord Tywin misjudged him?"

Cersei let out a humourless chuckle. "My father built his power believing that fear is the only way to rule. That men must be broken before they can be bent to your will."

She glanced back toward the city beyond the window, changing every hour of the day into something better. "And yet, the most powerful man in Westeros does not rule by fear. The people do not whisper his name in dread. They cry it out as if it is salvation."

"And that troubles you?" Varys observed her carefully.

She was silent for a moment, then she let out a slow breath and shook her head.

"No," she admitted, her voice was quieter now. "It angers me."

Varys raised an eyebrow. "Because it should have never been him?"

Cersei smiled, and again, there was no warmth—only the sharp glint of a lioness recognising that the game had changed. "Because it should have been me."

The Spider did not reply. He only watched as the queen turned back to her wine, with the weight of the unspoken truth settling between them.

In the Lord Guardian, Cersei Lannister saw for the first time that power that did not need to be seized, but simply existed, just the like the Guardian himself, who by all accounts of world history, simply existed.

And she hated it.

Or, in the depths of her heart… she envied it.

A/N: A long, world-building, peaceful chapter before any conflict. In short, Naruto is playing a city-builder.

If you have any questions, or if you want to play some video games with me, contact me on any of these accounts:

Discord: PiusPPXIII Join my private Discord server if you wish to: caVBu2K

(Aizen the Goat's server: kyTaRuVpBW)

Email: Ex-Durandal24 (*insert symbol for "at" here) protonmail. com