"Forgive me, sensei… This must be done for the world to be at peace."
"Ahk! Who are you?! Where did you come from, and what are you blabbing on about? Wait… What are you doing?"
"Mouthy kid, aren't you… You're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
"Eh? The hell I am! You can't… Ow, ow, ow! Okay! You can…"
"Put him down."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi… You are too late."
"Old man! I'm sorry… I couldn't…"
"Naruto?! … Don't worry, my boy. This area is surrounded. This man isn't going anywhere."
"And that matters?"
"What are you… No! You are the one who… You bastard!"
"I am. And there is… What is this light?! What is this? A black hole?! No!"
"AAAHHH! Old Man! What's going on?!"
"Naruto! Hold on!"
[ X ]
With a deep sigh as he relived that memory, Naruto slid out of bed and headed to his bathroom for a shower. Sleep had been hard to come by last night. All he really could do was close his eyes and rest.
Naruto simply had too many questions eating away at his mind to rest after meeting Kakashi in that unique fashion as the scalding water pounded against his flesh. Learning that there were other shinobi from Konoha besides Kurenai.
He had been aware for some time that he wasn't the only person who arrived in New Eridu. Kurenai was proof enough of that. She was a kunoichi from Konoha who was training to become a Jonin at the time that the event transpired.
Naruto was honestly surprised there weren't more people from Konoha that had come to New Eridu—after that incident with that masked man who attacked him and his brief struggle with Grandpa Hiruzen before the Hollow mysteriously opened and swallowed them whole. It made sense there were others here, trying to make a living… Searching for a way back home.
Naruto grimaced and exhaled at the thought. He had been here in New Eridu for almost double the number of years he had been in Konoha. He had barely been accepted into the academy in Konoha when that incident happened.
And it raised a question in his mind that he had been mulling over all morning. Even as he stepped out of his shower and dried off, he went through his typical morning routine as he put on his school uniform.
Did he even want to go back to Konoha?
It was a question that perplexed him. For someone like Kurenai, it made sense to seek a way to return home or at least find out what happened to their village. There was an inherent sense of loyalty to the people of her village and their comrades.
That was something that was innate for Naruto. He was fiercely protective of his friends and of Kurenai-sensei. He believed in those principles, and that part of him wanted to return to check on the few friends… Sort of friends… Other kids who didn't look at him with the same mean look that everyone else gave him.
Naruto winced as he stepped out of the bathroom and had set his kettle on to boil, pulling out a cup of ramen. As he waited for the water to boil, he let out a mild sigh.
That was the reason he wasn't so sure he wanted to know what happened. Outside the old man, he hardly recalled anyone back in Konoha who cared for him. He didn't even have anyone whom he could call a friend.
Here in New Eridu, he had someone whom he could call family in Uncle Lycaon and responsible role models in Alexandrina and Kurenai-sensei. He had friends in Ellen Joe and Corin, whom he could hang out with, even if Ellen could be a pain in the butt sometimes and confused him!
The only people he wanted to ensure were okay in Konoha were the Old Man Hokage and that nice ramen shop owner who always served him with a smile without any malice. He didn't feel any connections with anyone in Konoha…
All he remembered was those cold, distant glares and the whispers of parents to their children to stay away from him… How Naruto wanted to forget those memories.
Hearing the whistle of his kettle blow, Naruto absently opened his ramen cup and poured the water in, letting the water settle. He had suspected that, upon hearing there were others from Konoha confirmed to be in New Eridu, he would feel conflicted.
Instead, Naruto wasn't sure what to feel. The only thing that mattered to him was confirming his suspicion by seeing if the old man was here or not. And if he was, it raised so many other questions that left Naruto in this autonomous state where he waited out the three minutes and had taken a reasonable bite of his ramen without savoring the floor.
Only to be knocked out of his stupor by a heavy knock at his door.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked several times, utterly confused at who could be knocking on his door at this time in the morning, before answering. Recognition slowly dawned on him as a shark Thiren glowered and snarled as their gazes met. "Oh."
"Naruto." Ellen sneered, her voluptuous tail swishing behind her. She had been quite upset with what had transpired last night and the lack of answers she still had.
Naruto couldn't blame her. He didn't have them either. He didn't know how to process this situation in the slightest. However, the cold look she was giving him was unnerving…
"You're late again." Ellen scowled and squinted, taking careful consideration of Naruto's appearance with a quick look over. There was a subtle sag of understanding in her puffed-out cheeks, which relaxed before she scoffed, turning her head away and pouting. "What kind of gentleman allows a girl to walk to school all by herself?"
"I have been failing in my duty the past few days, haven't I? Some butler I am…" Naruto recoiled and leaned away, biting his lip and muttering to himself
Ellen's expression and stance further softened upon seeing Naruto's uncharacteristic dour attitude and the dark rings of skin sagging beneath Naruto's eyes. "Are you okay? You look tired.
"Didn't sleep at all last night. I barely slept at all the previous night." Naruto admitted with a sigh, rubbing his eyes before retreating to grab his ramen cup and his school supplies that he quickly sealed away.
"I can see that," Ellen squinted momentarily before she rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her hips. "Fine, if you use your clone, I can cover for you and anything dumb it does if you need some rest on the rooftop this morning."
"Eh? You will?" Naruto quirked his eyebrow at Ellen's offer before scowling. "Mah, what do you want in return?"
"You already know," Ellen held out her finger and pointed at Naruto, sharply glaring at him as he closed the door behind him. "I am going to call Alexandrina and inform her we're going to take the afternoon off."
"You're going with me?" Naruto, mouth full of ramen, much to Ellen's chagrin, looked surprised.
"Of course I am, jerk." Ellen gave Naruto a sour expression after blanching. Then, with a sharp glare, she rolled her eyes, turned from Naruto, and huffed. "Don't act like you are the only one who lives up to a standard. We've known each other since we were kids. You told me all about the village you are from. I want answers as well. I'm going with you, so don't think about skipping and leaving me behind, got it?"
"Okay, okay, I won't." Naruto hid a faint smile after swallowing his bite of ramen, chuckling to himself while he kept pace with Ellen as they made their way through the complex. "Thanks," he graciously added as they made their way through the complex.
"Don't mention it. You would do the same for me." Ellen snorted, turning her head back, throwing a nasty, shaded glare back at Naruto. "So if I suddenly receive a mysterious letter claiming it is from my parents and they want to meet me, I expect you to return the favor."
"Like I would let you go alone to meet someone in suspicious circumstances like that!" Naruto gruffly grunted as he reached out and opened the complex door for Ellen.
"Good," Ellen smugly responded with a thin smirk as she strutted through the door, her tail brushing against Naruto as she exited the building. Drawing his attention to her…
"Where are you looking?" Ellen snapped, stopping in stride and giving Naruto a lackadaisical glare. "Eyes up, pervert. We're gonna be late if you keep dawdling and slowing us down."
"Yes, mam." Naruto lifted his vision and stepped in stride with Ellen.
Completely unaware of the sly, satisfied smirk on Ellen's expression and pep in her step as they walked to school.
[ X ]
Naruto exhaled, feeling slightly refreshed as they walked through a street that gave him a familiar vibe. It almost felt like he was back in a more modernized Konoha within the new Eridu.
People were strolling through this lone street, leaving a single complex on the corner either through the alley or out the main entrance, dressed much as he remembered back in Konoha. There were even a few wearing the shinobi vests he thought were cool when he was little. The same vest Kakashi had been wearing last night.
He frowned. After all these years, Naruto found it odd that he had never visited this place before. He had never known this area existed. It was a simple city street with no reason ever to visit; it was a residential district, but to not know a place like this existed in New Eridu?
Naruto found it peculiar, but believable, much to his own chagrin. There were many places in New Eridu he simply did not visit. He never had any reason to head to this part of town. The closest reason he had was that the address on the card he was given was similar to Kurenai's. On a few occasions, he had thought about visiting her when he needed something. However, whenever he thought that she had oddly visited him around the same time…
Curious. It was as if she knew what Naruto was thinking…
Wait! Did Kurenai-sensei know about how he felt about…
"Oh, I never knew there was a street in New Eridu like this," Corin stated, mesmerized by the rustic appeal of the street, having been granted the day off to come along with Naruto and Ellen.
"Neither did I," Ellen frowned, scrutinizing every aspect of the street before she gave Naruto a knowing look upon seeing his recognition of this place. "Is this… How it looked like back at your home?"
"It is very reminiscent of Konoha, just with newer buildings and structures," Naruto responded, struggling to process that there was a short stretch of street and street corner that reminded him of Konoha in New Eridu and that he was never aware of it.
"That's because this is where we all reside. This became the home of everyone who was caught in that Hollow and ended up in New Eridu." Kakashi's voice resonated, drawing all of their attention and snapping them into defensive positions for a brief moment.
As they relaxed, still reliving the memory of last night, Kakashi stepped forward out of a small alleyway tucked just behind the street corner. He simply waved at them, gesturing for them to follow him into the alley.
With a glance at one another, Naruto reluctantly followed after, leading the way for Ellen and Corin into the shady alley. He was honor-bound by his code to ensure their safety above all else, regardless of the circumstances. A gentleman would step in and protect a lady, even if they were capable of protecting themself.
However, they each instantly relaxed upon noticing a figure leaning against an entrance into a set of stairs leading to a decrepit door.
"Kurenai-sensei?" Naruto recognized his sensei despite wearing a vest and uniform similar to Kakashi guarding the entrance to this place.
"Naruto," Kurenai flashed a warm, gentle smile. Then, with a heavy sigh, she motioned her head down the set of stairs. "I know you have a lot of questions… But he's waiting for you. It's been a long time coming for both of you."
Naruto's eyes wavered before he gazed down the set of stairs. He nervously swallowed the lump in his throat. With a tepid step down the stairs, he made his way to the door.
Ellen and Corin hesitantly followed, trusting Naruto's decision, watching as he opened the door. And despite the gloomy entrance as the door opened, a well-lit and warm oaken room lit up as they stepped through the threshold. It was a simple office with tan paint, with a wooden desk with a particular insignia on a mat draped over the desk that caught Naruto's attention.
It was the Konoha Leaf.
And at the center, city at the desk, was an old, familiar yet ragged figure that Naruto instantly recognized, even if the years had not been kind to him. He simply sat at the desk, looking through a pile of paper reports, occasionally glancing over toward a laptop screen now and then. Oblivious of the world around him, he went over and scrutinized every detail on the sheets and screen.
"Hokage-sama," Tears welled in Naruto's eyes at the sight as Kakashi coughed, alerting the Hokage of their arrival.
"Oh?" Hiruzen lifted his attention from the reports. With a wry, wrinkled smile and a twinkle in his eyes, his gaze landed on Naruto. "Oh, Naruto, my boy. It has been quite some time. Twelve years, in fact…" Sarutobi chuckled, squinting as he readjusted the set of half-rimmed glasses on his nose to get a better look at Naruto. "Hm, I have to say, it looks like you have matured into a wonderful young man. You are the spitting image of your father with a hint of your mother mixed in."
"Old Man…" Naruto's voice trembled. His tears that were building began to freely stream down his cheeks, unable to hold them back.
All the uncertainty of what had happened after the Hollow that swallowed them and the old man disappeared washed away upon seeing him. He now had an answer for what had happened…
That the old man, at the very least, survived the incident of the Hollow swallowing them and everything around them.
"It's good to see you," Hiruzen smiled before taking a deep breath, the lines in his skin sagging as he let out a forlorn sigh. "I suppose you have quite a few questions you need answered… But first, is this the lovely Thiren that Kurenai has told me about?"
"I think your mother would definitely approve."
[ X ]
It was a slow afternoon. Outside the usual customers, there was nothing of note.
Alexandrina didn't mind. It gave her time to spruce up the office, though it didn't need much touching up. It was kept prim and proper at all times, just a light cleaning to keep the office pristine.
They wanted to ensure that any potential customer knew precisely what they were getting when they entered the headquarters of Victoria Houskeeping Company.
"Hm?" Alexandrina, in the middle of dusting a shelf, heard the ring of the doorbell that signified a customer had arrived. Without even looking, she gave a courtesy bow to the potential customer. "Welcome to Victoria Housekeeping? How may we serve you today?"
"So this is where he works? How interesting." An amused male voice registered as a figure shuffled toward the front desk. "Never in a thousand years would I have imagined Sensei's son becoming a simple house manager and valet. Hah, I could see his wife finding that amusing."
Alexandrina repressed the urge to frown as her skin crawled at the man's voice. Typically, regardless of who entered and asked for them, she would graciously accept. However, as she stood up elegantly, Alexandrina's gaze fell onto a hooded figure running his gloved finger along the desk, raising it to his masked face.
"Hm, at the very least, you are competent in your duties," The masked man mused, evidently amused by Alexandrina's tense reaction.
"Sir, I am unsure of your intentions, but we here at Victoria Housekeeping Company do not take kindly to those who stalk our employees. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Alexandrina warned as she carefully crossed her hands, covering one to hide her finger movements as she began to control her Bangboo.
Her eyes sharpened as she felt the wires connecting to her Bangboo severed before they could move as the masked man turned his attention to Alexandrina. "Do not misunderstand. I'm not here to stir trouble. I'm here to hire him for his services, if you would allow it. I have a job specifically for him."
"And we respectfully decline," Lycaon growled as he stepped out from the back, stepping before Alexandrina as he locked his gaze with the masked man. "Leave."
"Alright, alright. I'll be on my way." The masked man held up his hands, placating their request. "As I said, I have no ill intentions… At least at the moment."
Lycaon simply growled, baring his fangs as the masked man playfully shrugged and turned around. However, as the door rang as he opened to leave, he stopped and menacingly glanced back with a sparkle in his crimson gaze. "It's not like any of us can return home without him or that beast within."
"So let Kakashi train the boy. It only hastens his demise." Left with a laugh in his throat, leaving a concerned Rina and a livid Lycaon.
Alexandrina immediately picked up her phone as Lycaon continued to growl. She knew better than to contact Naruto at the moment, knowing where he had headed with Ellen and Corin. However, she did have a friend immediately available. "Kurenai, we have an issue."
"A masked man with a frightful demeanor approached us about Naruto."
[ X ]
Naruto was left speechless. He couldn't find the words he wanted to say. How could he?
After all these years since that incident, to find out that the Old Hokage was not only still alive after that Hollow swallowed them, but was running operations lead for all those that were sucked into the Hollow, trying to find a way to return everyone home?
It left him shell-shocked and unable to speak! Even after the tears had come and gone, he simply stood there, unable to find his voice.
Something Ellen picked up on as she stood closely by his side. With a scowl, she huffed and gave the Hokage a shaded glare. "Since the idiot here has shut down, I'll ask for him. If you are really the Grandpa he talks about all the time, the one he held such respect for, where have you been?"
"Oh, he spoke about me in a positive light? I'm honestly surprised, given how he was treated back home. I was certain he had seen me as a failure." Hiruzen faintly smiled, his eyes twinkling with delight before they dulled.
"You are one of the few positive things this jerk ever talked about his home." Ellen glowered and sulked, recalling all the stories Naruto told her of his childhood in Konoha.
His life back there sounded similar to those of Thirens, who were far more animalistic.
"It's sadly true. He didn't have the best life in Konoha, and it has drastically improved, despite living in the middle of an apocalypse." Hiruzen grimaced, both at Naruto's treatment in Konoha and how that compared to living here in New Eridu, during what they classified as an apocalyptic event. The third one that this world had suffered. With a deep sigh, he turned his attention to Naruto and exhaled. "I think it's rather self-evident as to why I didn't… It has much to do with why I had asked someone from this world to take care of him in my stead and explained our situation."
"It's because you never intended to take me back with you if you found the way back home," Naruto, snapping out of his funk, stated with a deep scowl.
"Not at first, no. I had every intention of returning with you for the first few years if we found a way home. Konoha is your home. It's the home of your parents." Hiruzen sighed, leaning back in his chair while reaching into his desk. Pulling out a pipe, he lit it and took a drag before exhaling once more. "However, as the years wore on, I began to see that wasn't the case. The longer we stayed here, the more this place became your home. A place you were accepted and could be, frankly, who you were meant to be. In good conscience, take you while hoping to honor my predecessor and his wife."
"Predecessor?" Naruto raised his eyebrow before the color of his skin faded, realizing the implications.
"Yes, my boy. The Fourth is your father." Hiruzen gave a regretful sigh as Naruto recoiled in shock. "I know. I apologize for not telling you when you were younger. However, there were legitimate reasons at the time. From security risks to external dangers, there wasn't a right time to tell you. And it would have been awkward if Kurenai had revealed that information to you."
Taking a few moments to recuperate and process what Hiruzen had said, Naruto scowled momentarily before his expression fell. "So it was the same reason you didn't tell me about the fox… I imagine you let her tell me about that because it was the reason everyone hated me in Konoha, and it was reasonable she would know."
"Yes, unfortunately," Hiruzen bit his lip and nodded. "And for both of those reasons, I felt it was time to help assist you in your training in learning your father's legacy…"
"Lord Hokage!" Kurenai snapped the door open, rushing into the room.
"What's the emergency?" Kakashi's stance stiffened upon seeing Kurenai rapidly approach Hiruzen, his lone visible eye sharpening as she set her phone onto the desk. However, his lone eye narrowed at the number. "Isn't that…"
Naruto's eyes sharpened upon seeing his sensei storm inside, sweeping past them and the serious expressions on Kakashi and Hiruzen's faces. As Kurenai set the phone on the desk, his attention shifted to the screen, which was on speaker, and he recognized who was on it.
"Isn't that Rina?" Ellen scrunched her brow after sharing a look and nod with Naruto and Corin to confirm.
"Rina, I want you to tell everyone exactly what you told me. Down to every last detail." Kurenai spoke through gritted teeth.
"I'll do my best," Naruto, Ellen, and Corin each grimaced upon hearing their senior on the other end of the speaker. "While taking care of our office, we had a… Visitor. One with a mask who was looking for Naruto."
"One that almost seemed eager to make his presence known now that you've expressed interest in training Naruto."