Chapter Five – The Orange Dawn
The Holding Cell
The containment cell deep within SPD Headquarters was designed to hold the most dangerous criminals in the galaxy. Energy barriers, reinforced walls, and constant monitoring - all focused on one man sitting quietly on a simple bench.
Naruto Namikaze looked nothing like the fearsome Psycho Silver Ranger who had battled seventeen heroes to a standstill. Without his armor, without his weapons, he seemed almost ordinary. Just a young man with blonde hair and tired blue eyes, wearing standard prisoner grays.
The Dragon Shield sat on a table outside his cell, separated from him by layers of security but still pulsing with a faint golden light. Beside it lay the Kyuubi Saber and Dragon Blaster - his parents' weapons, now evidence in SPD's custody. The Psycho Key and his corrupted morpher had been taken by Cruger himself, locked away in SPD's most secure vault.
It had been three days since his surrender, and the debate over what to do with him raged through SPD's upper command.
"Readings are stable," reported the duty officer to Commander Cruger, who stood observing through the reinforced viewing window. "He hasn't made any attempt to escape or access his powers."
Cruger nodded, his canine features thoughtful. "He keeps his word, at least. The question is what we do now that we have him."
The Offer
The energy barrier flickered off as Cruger entered the cell. Naruto didn't look up from his hands, which were folded calmly in his lap.
"Commander," he said quietly.
"Naruto." Cruger sat on the bench across from him. "We need to talk."
"About my trial? My sentencing?" Naruto's voice held no bitterness, only resignation. "I'm ready to face whatever judgment you think is appropriate."
"Actually," Cruger said, "I'm here to offer you something different. A chance at redemption."
That got Naruto's attention. His blue eyes met Cruger's for the first time since the commander had entered.
"SPD is creating a new position," Cruger continued. "Ranger 0. An independent operative who answers directly to command, works outside normal protocols when necessary. Someone who understands both the system's potential and its failures."
He leaned forward. "I'm offering you the Orange Ranger position, Naruto. A chance to use your power for the protection you originally wanted to provide."
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, then looked away. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because I have no light left in me, Commander." Naruto's voice was hollow. "Whatever part of me that wanted to be a hero died years ago. You'd be giving Ranger power to someone who's forgotten what hope even looks like."
Cruger's expression grew gentle but firm. "Is that what you told the orphans on Kepler-7?"
Naruto's head snapped up, surprise clear in his features.
"Did you think we hadn't been tracking your activities as a mercenary?" Cruger asked. "The food supplies you delivered to refugee camps. The medical aid you provided to war zones. The time you spent three weeks protecting a school from raiders without payment."
"That was just..." Naruto started, then stopped.
"Just what? Just you forgetting you had no light left?" Cruger stood, pacing to the energy barrier. "And what about taking that blast meant for Kat? Was that the action of someone who'd forgotten how to care about others?"
"That was different," Naruto said quietly.
"Was it? Or was it exactly who you've always been, underneath all that pain?"
Naruto fell silent, unable to answer.
"Think about it," Cruger said, moving toward the cell exit. "But don't think too long. The galaxy needs Rangers who understand what it means to be failed by the system. Who better to fix it than someone who survived its worst failures?"
Kat's Visit
Later that evening, the energy barrier flickered off again. This time, it was Kat who entered, carrying a tray of food and looking nervous.
"I brought dinner," she said, setting the tray on the bench beside him. "Ramen - the good kind from that place near the academy we used to go to. Not the standard prisoner rations."
Naruto glanced at the meal - clearly homemade, his favorite dishes from their academy days. The gesture was thoughtful, but he made no move to eat.
"Naruto," Kat began, settling carefully on the opposite bench. "About what I said before, after you saved me..."
"Don't," he interrupted. "Please."
"I need to say this. I love you. I've loved you since we were cadets, and I was too stupid and scared to admit it when it mattered." Her voice grew stronger. "And I think you should take Commander Cruger's offer."
Naruto finally looked at her, but his expression was unreadable. "Why?"
"Because you're exactly what SPD needs. Someone who won't accept 'that's just how things are' as an answer. Someone who'll fight for the people the system forgets."
"You're asking me to become part of the same organization that failed me. That let you break my heart for entertainment."
Kat flinched but didn't look away. "I'm asking you to become part of the organization that could prevent what happened to you from happening to anyone else."
"And what about us?" Naruto asked quietly. "What do you expect from me, Kat?"
She was quiet for a long moment. "Nothing," she finally said. "I know I hurt you beyond repair. I know saying 'I'm sorry' a million times won't undo the damage. I just... I want you to have the chance to be who you were meant to be."
Naruto studied her face, looking for deception, for manipulation, for any sign that this was another game. All he found was genuine remorse and hope.
"I can't love you, Kat," he said finally. "That part of me is broken. Maybe permanently."
Tears began to form in her eyes, but she nodded. "I understand."
"But," he continued, "maybe I can learn to trust again. Someday. If you're willing to earn it."
"However long it takes," she whispered.
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of years of pain and possibility hanging between them.
"I'll think about Cruger's offer," Naruto said eventually.
It was a small step, but it was a beginning.
The Crisis
Suddenly, alarms began blaring throughout SPD Headquarters. The red warning lights bathed the containment level in an ominous glow as the emergency klaxon echoed through the corridors.
Kat jumped to her feet, her ranger training immediately taking over. "Emergency alert. I have to—"
"Go," Naruto said, standing as well. "Do what you have to do."
Kat hesitated at the cell entrance, looking back at him. "Will you be okay here?"
"I've been in worse places," he replied with the faintest hint of his old humor.
As she started to leave, Naruto called out, "Kat."
She turned back.
"Take me with you."
"What? Naruto, you're still technically a prisoner—"
"Your Rangers are in trouble," he said, his voice gaining strength. "I can feel it. Whatever's happening out there, they're going to need all the help they can get."
Kat bit her lip, torn between protocol and instinct. The alarms continued to wail, and she could hear running footsteps in the corridors above.
"Please," Naruto added quietly. "Let me help."
After a moment's hesitation, she made her decision. Her fingers flew over the cell controls, and the energy barrier dropped completely.
"Stay close to me," she ordered, leading him quickly toward the command center.
They reached the main operations room to find organized chaos. Rangers were suiting up while technicians monitored multiple screens showing the battle in progress.
"Status report!" Kat called out as she took her position at the console.
"Sinuku has deployed some kind of electromagnetic weapon," one of the technicians reported. "He's calling them demagnetrons. They're disrupting all our technology."
On the main screen, they could see the Delta Squad Megazord struggling against Sinuku's massive robot. The Megazord's movements were sluggish, its weapons firing intermittently.
"The demagnetrons are interfering with the Zord's systems," another technician added. "Power levels are dropping rapidly."
Commander Cruger's voice crackled over the communications: "Rangers, fall back! Your Zord is compromised!"
"We can't retreat, Commander," Jack's voice replied through the static. "If Sinuku gets past us, the whole city is at risk."
Naruto watched the screens intently, his tactical mind analyzing the situation. "They're sitting ducks out there," he murmured.
On screen, Sinuku's robot fired another barrage. The Delta Squad Megazord staggered, sparks flying from its damaged systems.
"Systems failing!" Bridge's panicked voice came through the comm. "We're losing everything!"
That's when Sinuku's weapon charged up for what looked like a final strike. The demagnetron array glowed with malevolent energy, aimed directly at the helpless Megazord.
Naruto stepped forward. "I accept."
Kat looked at him, startled. "What?"
"Commander Cruger's offer. I accept the Orange Ranger position." His voice was steady, determined. "Those Rangers are about to die because your technology can't handle Sinuku's weapons. But my power isn't technological—it's spiritual, genetic. The demagnetrons won't affect the Dragon Shield's energy."
Kat's eyes widened as she understood. "Naruto, you don't have to—"
"Yes, I do." He turned to face her fully. "Remember what you told me earlier? That I could make a difference here, that SPD needed someone like me?" His voice carried quiet resolve. "You were right. Those Rangers out there—they're about to go through something a lot worse than what I experienced if I don't act. This is exactly why you wanted me to accept Cruger's offer, isn't it?"
For a moment, Kat just stared at him. Then she moved to a different console, one that had been sealed with maximum security protocols.
"The Blast Buggy," she said, her fingers working rapidly. "It's been in development for months. A Zord designed specifically for independent operations, equipped with hybrid technology that combines SPD engineering with..." She paused, looking at him meaningfully. "With power sources that don't rely on conventional energy matrices."
The sealed bay opened to reveal a sleek, powerful vehicle unlike anything in SPD's current fleet. It bore the colors of sunset—orange and gold—and radiated an aura of barely contained power.
"It was built for you," Kat admitted quietly. "Commander Cruger had it designed based on analysis of your abilities. Just in case you ever decided to fight with us instead of against us."
Naruto stared at the Zord, then at Kat. "You had this much faith in me? Even after everything I did?"
"Not faith," she corrected. "Hope. The same hope I'm asking you to have now."
On the main screen, Sinuku's robot raised its weapons for the killing blow. The Delta Squad Megazord couldn't even raise its arms in defense.
Before Naruto could move toward the launch bay, heavy footsteps echoed through the command center. Commander Cruger strode in, his expression grim but determined. In his hands, he carried a familiar case.
"If you're going to do this," Cruger said, approaching Naruto, "you'll need these."
He opened the case to reveal the Dragon Shield, gleaming with golden light, the Kyuubi Saber with its intricate fox-head hilt, and the Dragon Blaster resting in custom-fitted foam. But there was something new—an orange SPD morpher, pristine and unused, sitting at the center of it all.
"The Orange Ranger morpher," Cruger explained, lifting the device. "Coded specifically to your bio-signature and designed to work in harmony with your inherited powers."
Naruto stared at the items—his parents' legacy and SPD's faith in his potential, side by side. "Commander..."
"The choice is yours, Naruto," Cruger said firmly. "But choose quickly. Those Rangers don't have much time."
On the main screen, Sinuku's robot raised its weapons for the killing blow. The Delta Squad Megazord couldn't even raise its arms in defense.
Naruto reached for the morpher, his fingers closing around the familiar weight of SPD technology. Then he took the Dragon Shield, feeling its warmth spread through his chest as he secured it over his heart. The Kyuubi Saber found its place at his side, while the Dragon Blaster settled naturally at his waist—his parents' weapons where they belonged.
"S.P.D. Emergency!" Naruto called out, raising the orange morpher high.
Golden light erupted around him as the transformation began. The orange SPD suit materialized, but it was unlike any Ranger uniform seen before. The Dragon Shield gleamed prominently on his chest, its power integrated seamlessly with SPD technology. The suit bore the flowing designs reminiscent of both the Crimson and Navy Thunder Rangers—his parents' legacy made manifest in SPD colors.
When the light faded, the Orange SPD Ranger stood ready. The Kyuubi Saber hung at his side, the Dragon Blaster at his waist, and the Dragon Shield pulsed with warm energy on his chest.
"I'm going out there," the Orange Ranger declared, moving toward the exit.
"Wait!" Kat called out, rushing to another console. "You'll need this."
She activated a sealed deployment bay, revealing the sleek, powerful Blast Buggy. It bore the colors of sunset—orange and gold—and radiated an aura of barely contained power.
"The Blast Buggy," she explained quickly. "It was built for you, designed specifically for independent operations with hybrid technology that won't be affected by the demagnetrons."
The Orange Ranger paused, looking at the Zord. "You had this prepared?"
"Commander Cruger had it built based on analysis of your abilities," Kat admitted. "Just in case."
"Now let's show them what real teamwork looks like," the Orange Ranger said, heading toward his Zord.
Kat smiled despite the crisis, hitting the deployment sequence. "Blast Buggy, launching now!"
As the launch bay doors opened and alarms continued to sound throughout headquarters, the Orange Ranger stepped toward his destiny. For the first time in years, the Dragon Shield's warmth felt like a promise instead of a burden.
Orange Cavalry
A new sound filled the air - the roar of engines unlike anything in SPD's current fleet. A vehicle burst from the launch bay, sleek and powerful, bearing the colors of sunset. The Blast Buggy, Naruto's personal Zord, streaked across the city like a golden meteor.
"This is Orange Ranger" a familiar voice came over the communications channel. "I'm taking point."
Inside SPD Headquarters, Kat watched the screens with a mixture of hope and fear. "Go get them," she whispered.
The Blast Buggy opened fire on Sinuku's , its weapons systems far more advanced than standard SPD technology. Energy blasts struck the monster's demagnetrons, disrupting their field and allowing the Delta Squad Megazord's systems to come back online.
"Systems restored!" Bridge reported with relief.
"Who is that?" Syd asked, watching the unknown Zord engage Shinku in aerial combat.
On the ground, a golden light announced the arrival of a new Ranger. The Orange SPD Ranger materialized, his suit gleaming with the combined power of the Dragon Shield, Kyuubi Saber, and Dragon Blaster. But there was something different about this transformation - where the Psycho Silver had radiated cold power, the Orange Ranger emanated warm protection.
"Naruto?" Jack breathed.
"Rangers," the Orange Ranger's voice came through their comms, "let me show you what real teamwork looks like."
The Combination
"Blast Buggy, combination mode!" Naruto commanded.
His Zord transformed, its sleek form reconfiguring as it approached the struggling Delta Squad Megazord. Mechanical connections formed as the Blast Buggy merged with the larger robot, creating something unprecedented.
The Delta Squad Blast Buggy Megazord stood tall, its power amplified exponentially. Where the original Megazord had been mighty, this combination was transcendent.
"Impossible," Shinku snarled. "What is this power?"
"This is what happens," the Orange Ranger replied from the Megazord's cockpit, "when Rangers fight for each other instead of against each other."
The battle that followed was swift and decisive. The combined Megazord moved with perfect coordination, each Ranger's unique abilities enhanced by Naruto's tactical expertise and raw power. Shinku's demagnetrons were useless against the hybrid technology, and his massive strength meant nothing against opponents who fought as a true team.
"Final attack," Naruto commanded. "All Rangers, full power!"
"DELTA SQUAD BLAST BUGGY CANNON!"
The combined energy of all six Rangers focused into a single, devastating beam. Shinku's massive Zord staggered back as the attack struck it, dark armor plating cracking and electrical systems sparking across its hull.
"Shadow Ranger to all units," Jack's voice crackled over the comm from his Zord's cockpit. "Enemy Zord is disabled and pilot ready for judgment."
Inside his failing Zord, Shinku pounded his fists against the controls as systems shut down around him. Emergency lights flashed red as his machine began to collapse.
The SPD Zords formed up in formation as Shinku was ejected from his destroyed machine, landing hard on the ground below. The Rangers quickly departed their Zords and surrounded the fallen warlord.
"Shinku!" Jack called out, his voice carrying the authority of SPD. "By the authority of Space Patrol Delta, you are charged with terrorism, assault on SPD officers, piloting an unregistered combat Zord, and conspiracy to overthrow planetary governments. How do you plead?"
Shinku struggled to his feet, his armor smoking and damaged. "I plead nothing to inferior beings!"
"The defendant pleads not guilty," Jack announced. "This is Judgment Time!"
All six Rangers raised their hands, the familiar SPD badge appearing in the air above them, glowing with golden light.
"We find the defendant..." they called out in unison, "GUILTY!"
Shinku's eyes widened in shock as the judgment was rendered. "No! This cannot be! I am Shinku! I am eternal!"
"Nothing is eternal," the Orange Ranger replied quietly, raising her morpher. "But justice endures. SPD Emergency - Containment Card!"
A shimmering card materialized in the air, expanding as it descended toward Shinku. The dark warlord struggled against the pulling force, his form beginning to compress and distort.
"I will have my revenge! This isn't over!" he screamed as he was drawn into the card, his voice echoing until it faded to nothing.
The containment card sealed itself with a flash of light, Shinku's image visible on its surface before it solidified completely. Jack stepped forward and picked up the card.
"Suspect contained," he reported. "Another case closed for SPD."
After the Battle
Back at SPD Headquarters, the Rangers stood in the command center, still processing what had happened. The Orange Ranger - Naruto - stood slightly apart from them, his helmet under his arm.
"You came," Jack said simply.
"Kat asked me to," Naruto replied. "She said you needed help."
"And you listened?"
Naruto glanced toward where Kat stood at her console, monitoring the post-battle cleanup. "I'm trying to learn how to be part of a team again. It's... harder than I expected."
Cruger approached, his expression proud but cautious. "Does this mean you're accepting the Ranger 0 position?"
"On a trial basis," Naruto said carefully. "I'm not ready to make promises I might not be able to keep. But I'm willing to try."
Sky stepped forward. "For what it's worth, what you did out there - that was real Ranger work."
"Thanks," Naruto said, and for the first time in years, he almost smiled.
Epilogue - Small Steps
Later, as the excitement of the battle died down, Naruto found himself on the headquarters observation deck, looking out over the city he'd once planned to tear down. The Dragon Shield rested comfortably against his chest, no longer a burden but a reminder of responsibility.
"Mind if I join you?" Kat's voice came from behind him.
He turned, nodding once. She approached carefully, maintaining a respectful distance.
"Thank you," she said. "For coming when we needed you."
"Thank you for asking," he replied. "For believing I still could."
They stood in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of orange and gold.
"Naruto?" Kat said eventually.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to have coffee sometime? Not a date," she added quickly. "Just... coffee. Between colleagues who are trying to figure out how to work together."
Naruto considered the offer carefully. The boy who had once loved her was still buried deep inside, but the man he was becoming was someone different. Someone who might, someday, be able to trust again.
"Coffee sounds good," he said finally. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she agreed.
It wasn't love. It might never be love again. But it was a beginning - a small step toward something better than the pain that had defined them both for so long.
As the first stars appeared in the darkening sky, Naruto Namikaze, Orange SPD Ranger, began to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could learn to hope again.
The Dragon Shield pulsed once against his chest, warm and approving, as if his grandmother's legacy was finally being honored the way she had always intended.
Guys Please check out my p.a.t.r.e.o.n id by 'Mask Aggarwal" as chapter 6 to 10 are already been released on it.
A special thanks to Emmanuel Baptiste, Decoy_M9, Cory Toler, Jfax, Tsuna Dragneel0217 for buying genin membership and James Sampson, AniGamerReviews, Dan for buying academy student membership and for supporting me on p.a.t.r.e.o.n